Ohio Man Sentenced for Threatening Mass Shootings in Las Vegas
Update: A Cuyahoga Falls man was sentenced today to 17 months in prison after sending texts late last year threatening a mass shooting event in Las Vegas. The texts, which he sent to his estranged wife not long after the historic Vegas mass shooting by Stephen Paddock that left 58 dead and 851 injured, were…
These Adorable Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Otter Pups Now Have Names
Update: The nameless now have names. The three baby otters born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo back in September have officially been dubbed Adhi (first), Bejo (lucky) and Cipto (to create). The zoo announced today that the names are meant to reflect the Asian small-clawed otters’ heritage, and were selected by a naming contest open to the…
Court Goes Green, Nexus Pipeline Paused
The Summit County city of Green, Ohio won a temporary reprieve this week when a federal appellate court granted the city’s request to block construction of the Nexus pipeline there. (Scene has covered the Nexus pipeline project, and its local opposition, extensively. Start here.) Green Mayor Gerard Neugebauer told the Akron Beacon-Journal that the proximity of…
Cleveland Has the Worst Pre-Thanksgiving Traffic in the Country, But it Can Be Avoided
It’s not all in your head, Cleveland has the highest concentration of Thanksgiving traffic in the country the day prior to the holiday, a Google Trends analysis called Mapping Thanksgiving recently discovered. According to the data, more people are traveling through/from the Cleveland area than in any spot in America the day before Turkey Day,…
Federal Judge Puts Pressure on City for Backlog of Citizen Complaints Against Police
At the behest of U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver, the U.S. Department of Justice consent decree parties gathered on Tuesday to discuss the most glaring source of frustration in the 2015 agreement: the investigation of civilian complaints against Cleveland police. Hundreds of open complaints remain untouched, dating back to 2014 in some cases. Even with…
Beachland to Host Opioid Awareness Benefit Concert
Five local blues bands will perform at the Blues vs. Opiods Awareness Benefit Concert, an upcoming event at the Beachland Ballroom that’s designed to help fight the opioid crisis. The concert has an educational element to it as well. Speakers include the following: Dr. Teresa Dews from Cleveland Clinic Pain Management; Stanley Stone, a former addict…
Indie Rockers Pinegrove Drop Off Snowed In Bill After Sexual Coercion Allegations
After Pinegrove singer Evan Stephens Hall, who says he committed an act of “sexual coercion,” issued a lengthy apology for his actions on the indie rock band’s Facebook site earlier today, the band has canceled its fall tour. It will no longer perform as part of the Snowed In festival that takes place on Saturday at the…
In Advance of Janet Jackson’s Concert at the Q, Producer Jimmy Jam Talks About the R&B Singer’s Legacy
James Samuel “Jimmy Jam” Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis, the American R&B production team that worked behind-the-scenes to turn Janet Jackson albums such as Control and Rhythm Nation 1814 into monster hits and reunited with Jackson for 2015’s Unbreakable, first met in the early ‘70s at a summer program at the University of Minnesota…
Jeff Follmer Wins Election and Returns as President of Cleveland Police Union, Ousting Steve Loomis
[image-1]In a 387-349 vote, the Cleveland Police Patrolman’s Association voted former president Jeff Follmer back into the presidency this week. Steve Loomis will return to his detective work in the Third District. It’s an instance of history repeating itself at CPPA, as Follmer beat Loomis in a 2011 vote. Then, in 2014, Loomis beat Follmer.…
Exercise/Activity Heatmap Shows Just How Much Cleveland Uses the Metroparks
Pulling together some 10 terabytes of raw data, including 1 billion sporting activities covering 27 billion kilometers over 200,000 aggregate years, Strava, which makes apps that allow users to track exercise and activity, put together an updated global activity heatmap. There’s a detailed blog covering some of the more unique and interesting plot points gathered…
More Than 50 Applications for Medical Marijuana Businesses in Cuyahoga County
Across the state, 370 applications for medical marijuana dispensary licenses have been filed. More than 50 of those are for businesses located in Cuyahoga County. The state only has 57 licenses to issue — at least in this initial round. (Three licenses allotted to counties in western Ohio will go unused, as no businesses applied…
Comedian Jim Gaffigan Explains the Concept Behind his Noble Ape Tour
Earlier this year, Jim Gaffigan, one of the world’s highest grossing stand-up comedians, embarked on his Noble Ape international arena and theater comedy tour. While on the tour, he’s performed in China, Japan, England, Canada, Paris, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland. He brings the tour to Wolstein Center at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec.…
RTA Says HealthLine Efficiency Only Slightly Reduced Since Court Decision Nixed Police Fare Enforcement
At a Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) board meeting Tuesday morning, Deputy GM Floun’say Caver announced that the on-time performance of HealthLine buses was down only four percent in the aftermath of a local court decision that found fare-enforcement by armed transit police unconstitutional. Caver said that prior to the decision by Judge Emanuella…
MLB Network’s Chris Rose Joins the Fellas — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Native Clevelander and NFL Network/MLB Network TV host Chris Rose joins the podcast to talk Browns, Tribe, his career path, his Shaker Heights roots, the state of the media business, and play a little Glory Days
Flats East Bank Flip Side is Closed, Will Reopen as ’70s-Style Entertainment Venue
Given that Flip Side is a family friendly burger bar, owner Michael Schwartz concedes that perhaps the Flats East Bank wasn’t the best location for the concept. He and partners Tiffany and Shawn Monday will stick with their six other locations of that concept, but have shuttered the downtown location as of close of business…
Star Wars-Themed Burlesque Show Coming to the Beachland
The local burlesque Le Femme Mystique Burlesque regularly hosts events in Northeast Ohio. One of its most unique events, Star Wars Burlesque — The Return of the Tease, will return to the Beachland Ballroom at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1. Organizers promise there will be a 7-foot C-3PO drag queen, a Latina “hip-shaking” Captain…
Jersey Swaps, Rap Concerts and Bad Football — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac discuss the Jay-Z concert, the Browns’ 99 problems, on-field jersey swaps and the 2018 NFL Draft quarterback class.
Council to Vote on Ordinance Requiring Financial Disclosures with Initiative Petitions
A seemingly benign piece of legislation was subject to scrutiny at a City Council Finance Committee hearing Monday afternoon, spawning a long and heated discussion about transparency and campaign finance. The ordinance in question, 854-17, would require financial disclosures within five days of the filing of initiative petitions. It was met with skepticism by several…
Jay-Z Motivates and Inspires During Engaging Concert at the Q
There is an old adage suggesting that hip-hop is a young person’s game and that the pioneers and forefathers who paved the way for the new generation of upstarts should quietly make their way to the land of retirement — Jay- Z never got that memo. The soon-to-be 48 year-old rapper and businessman recently released…
Downtown PizzaFire Giving Away Pizza to Those in Need This Thanksgiving
Giving back to the community, the downtown Cleveland PizzaFire restaurant is once again offering free pizza for anyone in need on Thanksgiving. The offer only runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with employees fully volunteering their time for a couple hours on the holiday. Last year, more than 500 customers were served fresh, free…
Lawsuit Targets Homeless ‘Tent City’ in Akron
We’re reading an excellent piece of reporting from the Akron Beacon Journal’s Doug Livingston today. In the story, Livingston writes about a housing and homelessness conflict now playing out in a Summit County courtroom. You should definitely read the piece, linked here. Read the full lawsuit below. Samuel Adkins has filed his civil complaint against…
Progressive Caucus Will Host Forums for Ohio Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates
[image-1]The Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus has announced a series of forums to continue familiarizing Northeast Ohio voters with Democratic gubernatorial candidates. Beginning tonight (Monday) with Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, and over the next several weeks, the CCPC will host four Democrats at Newburgh Heights Village Hall, and the Green Party candidate, Constance Gadell-Newton, at CCPC…
Nela Park Holiday Lighting Spectacular Gets Even Brighter This Season
With Thanksgiving a few days away, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas and the lights that go along with the season. And thankfully this year, GE’s annual Nela Park lighting display gets even bigger. For the first time since 1958, visitors are allowed to roll through the middle of campus to take in recreations…
A Perfect Circle Revisits Its Prog Rock Past for Wolstein Center Concert
Even though A Perfect Circle singer James Maynard Keenan performed under dim lights that made it impossible to see his face last night at Wolstein Center, he still managed to have remarkable stage presence. His ability to give a commanding performance from atop a small circular riser positioned at the middle of the stage was…
Bill O’Neill Writes Apologies for Sexually Charged Post That Drew Widespread Criticism
Ohio Supreme Court Justice and gubernatorial candidate Bill O’Neill has spent the weekend apologizing for a Facebook post on Friday in which he boasted about sleeping with 50 “very attractive” women and “speaking on behalf of heterosexual males” in the wake of allegations against celebrities and politicians. The post drew widespread criticism, especially for conflating…
Indie Rockers Parquet Courts Showcase Their Uptempo Style at Grog Shop Show
Indie rockers Parquet Courts took the Grog Shop stage last night looking like members had just left an Urban Outfitters photo shoot, opened with a song about sweeping up dust (literally) and left the stage without playing one of their most popular hits. This is the sort of odd show fans can expect of Parquet…
Insiders, Pet Peeves and Glory Days — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac talk shop, play a little Glory Days and wonder if anybody is watching early college basketball.
The 5th Annual Coventry Village Holiday Festival to Take Place on December 9
An annual tradition that’s taken place for the past five years, the Coventry Village Holiday Festival will take place from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. The event will include complimentary photos with Santa, Rudolph, Frosty and the Grinch, ice carving demonstrations, a Coventry merchant holiday window contest, a Lolly the Trolley Holiday…
Ohio Supreme Court Justice, Gubernatorial Candidate Bill O’Neill Writes About Sleeping With 50 Women, Wants to be Voice of ‘Heterosexual Males’
Yikes. That’s Bill O’Neill, the only Democrat on the Ohio Supreme Court and a recently announced candidate for Governor. The dude’s very big on weed. In the wake of reports about sexual misconduct by Senator Al Franken and other meticulously reported accounts of abuse by prominent figures in the worlds of politics and entertainment —…
Senator Sherrod Brown Out Here Pissing Off Republicans by Stating the Obvious
Via ABC News, here’s Senator Sherrod Brown in a shouting match with Senator Orrin Hatch, of Utah, over the new Republican tax bill. Hatch, who says he comes “from the poor people,” resents Brown’s “spouting off” about how the tax bill actually benefits the rich, despite Republican slogans to the contrary. “I like you personally…
83 Reports of Sexual Assault at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Since 2013, Newly Released Database Shows
While the Pentagon has previously released aggregate totals of reported sexual assaults in the military, breakdowns of reports at specific bases had been withheld. That decision was out of caution for the privacy of victims. “We were very, very concerned about victim privacy,” Nate Galbreath, the deputy director of the Department of Defense’s Sexual Assault…
Mural on Clark and W. 25th Vandalized
“It’s Up to Us,” the mural that John Rivera-Resto and his team painted in 2012-2013 on Clark Avenue and W. 25th Street, has been vandalized with a large graffiti tag. The mural is a tremendous artistic achievement that took months to produce. Its images are meant to capture the evolution of a neighborhood and the…
‘Justice League’ Struggles to Give Its Superheroes Equal Screen Time
The first in what will likely be a multi-part series that includes superheroes such as Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), the Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher), Justice League, which opens today areawide, struggles to tell a cohesive story and give its heroes equal screen time.…
ACLU of Ohio Challenges Madison County Judge’s Practice of Denying Marriage Licenses to Inmates
In a letter to officials in Madison County, Ohio, the ACLU of Ohio argues Probate Judge Christopher Brown’s practice of denying marriage licenses to inmates is unconstitutional. “Madison County is essentially enforcing a ban on legal marriage,” Elizabeth Bonham, staff attorney at the ACLU of Ohio, said in a press release. “An individual’s incarceration status…
Next Year’s Jamboree in the Hills to Take Place in July
A long running country music festival that takes place in Belmont, Ohio, Jamboree Hills will return this coming summer for the 42nd year. The four-day event kicks off on July 19 with the Charlie Daniels Band, Travis Tritt, the Marshall Tucker Band and the Outlaws. Toby Keith headlines on July 20, Brantley Gilbert headlines on…
Celtic Thunder’s Keith Harkin to Play a Special House Concert in Cleveland
For nearly a decade, singer-songwriter Keith Harkin toured the States with Celtic Thunder. Harkin, who now has a solo career and will release a new album, In the Round, on Dec. 8, embarked on a Christmas house concert tour last year. He’s back on the living room circuit this year and will perform in Cleveland…
Bikers for Trump are Not Congressman Jim Renacci’s Private Security Detail
At a meet-and-greet for Ohio Congressman and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Jim Renacci earlier this month, two men wearing Bikers for Trump jackets removed a disruptive attendee and threw him on the ground outside. According to the original report by the The Brunswick Post, neither the disruptive man, identified as John Leonard, nor the two men who…
Iman Shumpert, Teyana Taylor Finally Score a Reality Show on VH1
The Sexiest Couple on Earth is getting their own reality TV series on VH1. That’s right, Cleveland Cavaliers’ own Iman Shumpert and his wife R&B singer/model Teyana Taylor come to the small screen with Teyana & Iman in February, the cable channel announced. In case you didn’t know, the couple really, really likes each other (as…
Tim Hagan Doesn’t Even Know What the Med Mart is Called These Days
[image-1] Chris Kennedy, the son of the late Robert F. Kennedy and former president of MMPI, is running for governor of Illinois. Since announcing his candidacy in February, the businessman has mined his resume and successes on the campaign trail, but one thing he hasn’t mentioned has been the $465 million, taxpayer funded convention center…
Bassist Tony Levin Explains Why It’s Important for King Crimson to Continue to ‘Push Forward’
Since forming in London in 1968, the prog rock act King Crimson has gone through numerous mutations over the years. And yet, the latest incarnation of the band might be its most adventurous yet. The group performs at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24, at Hard Rock Live. The current lineup features three drummers (Pat…
Do You Want This Clevelander’s Partially Used Bottles of Shampoo?
Behold, two partially used bottles of shampoo that could be yours for free. Sound too good to be true? It’s not! For the offer is indeed real and all the details on how to collect are in a helpful Craigslist post: I have two partially used shampoos. One head & shoulders, the other is for…
Paid Parking Will Start Soon in West Side Market Lots
One year after the city finished $3.3 million of renovations on the West Side Market parking lots that brought an additional 128 spots to the congested area, the second portion of the plan — paid parking — is about to begin. The city expects the parking equipment to be installed and enforced within the next month.…
Warped Tour Hits Blossom for Potentially the Last Time Next Summer
It’s OK to get emotional punk fans, festival season will never be the same again. Yesterday, Vans Warped Tour founder and producer Kevin Lyman announced the event would cease its full run of stops after next year. FOREVER WARPED :: 2018 will be the final, full cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour.ℹ️ https://t.co/yfY8C1XxFo#foreverwarped #vanswarpedtour…
5 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, NOV. 17 Parquet Courts/The Cowboy/Obnox Fans of New York rock group Parquet Courts — it’s pronounced “Parkay Quartz,” for those out of the loop— won’t have to wait too much longer for their next dose of post-punk goodness. In a recent interview with Vulture.com, frontman Andrew Savage revealed that the Brooklyn-based quartet is back…
Rock Hall Adds Fresh Items to Its Right Here, Right Now! Exhibit
In the attempt to keep up with contemporary pop and rock music, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Right Here, Right Now! exhibit features artifacts from musicians who are currently touring and recording but not yet eligible for induction. The Rock Hall has just announced that it’s added some new items to the exhibit…
Ohio’s Execution of Alva Campbell Delayed After Medical Personnel Could Not Locate Vein
The state execution of inmate Alva Campbell has been delayed indefinitely after personnel on hand were unable to locate a vein for the lethal injection procedure. The event follows a history of botched and questionable execution attempts over the years in Ohio. Through the attempted execution today, personnel stuck Campbell multiple times in multiple locations…
Pilot Flying J Trial: Haslam ‘Absolutely’ Knew About Scheme to Defraud Truckers
The trial against four former Pilot Flying J executives is ongoing in Chattanooga, Tennessee. On Tuesday, the trial’s sixth day, the big news was that jurors were played a secret recording in which a former vice president said that CEO Jimmy Haslam “absolutely” knew about the company’s rebate scheme. Not only that, he “loved it.”…
Cuyahoga County Plans License Plate Scanner Program for 19 Municipalities
Cuyahoga County Council will debate a proposed program that would place license plate scanners at intersections in 19 municipalities, including Cleveland. Already, police departments around the county use license plate scanners in their patrol cars, allowing officers to immediately detect outstanding warrants and additional information. This county program would mount these scanners in one intersection…
Gordon Square Featured in New York Times
Detroit Shoreway and its commercial heart, Gordon Square, were featured in the New York Times Wednesday. The article was a standard progress report on a hip arts-and-entertainment district that mentioned a number of the area businesses by name. (Meaningless “must-visit city” pap this was not.) Readers of Elaine Glusac’s piece in the Travel section, “A…
Band of the Week: Charles Hill Jr.
MEET THE BAND: Charles Hill Jr. (vocals, guitar) FOR THE LOVE OF A BYGONE ERA: Hill grew up in Lorain but, since his grandparents came from Kentucky, he listened to plenty of Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and George Jones. He played drums in a punk rock band before beginning to write songs that sound like…
University of Akron Alumnis’ Work at Emily Davis Gallery Shows the Real Importance of Art
Several years ago, in a discussion with my former employer on the subject of art, I was challenged with one simple question: “Why is it important?” That question has permeated my decision-making process in the studio and in writing reviews for this fine rag. As we traveled to the current alumni shows by Joe Bartram…
Much is Revealed in a Short Span of Time in ‘The Lake Effect’ at Karamu House
As a playwright, you are entitled to stretch the boundaries of what is expected, so you can present incredible events as possible and even probable. This is why we have one famous play where children fly off to Never Never Land, and another where people who die can interrupt their dirt nap and come back…
Greta Gerwig’s Directing Debut ‘Lady Bird’ is In Top Five of 2017
Lady Bird, the debut directorial effort from indie darling Greta Gerwig, is instantly a Top-Five film of 2017. Maybe even Top-Three. It’s that good. Filmed in the twilit hues of the Californian magic hour, this loosely autobiographical coming-of-age tale marks Gerwig as an artist with equal talent and creative force — originality, spunk and heart…
Savage Love: Orpheum Theater
I was honored to appear with Esther Perel at the Orpheum Theater in Vancouver, B.C., a few weeks ago to discuss her new book, The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity. Questions were submitted on cards before the show — some for me, some for Esther, some for both of us — and we got to…
Northeast Ohio-Native Todd Lieberman on the Challenges and Joys of Producing ‘Wonder’
Mandeville Films and Television, a production company run by Cleveland-born producer Todd Lieberman, has had a busy 2017. Earlier this year, the company produced Stronger, a movie about a man who lost his legs in the Boston Marathon bombing. And now, it’s produced Wonder, the film about a young boy with extreme facial deformities. Based…
Get Out: Everything You Should Do This Week in Cleveland (Nov. 15-21)
WED 11/15 Casablanca 75th Anniversary In the classic film Casabalanca, Humphrey Bogart stars as Rick Blaine, owner of a nightclub in Vichy-controlled Casablanca that’s frequented by refugees desperate to escape German domination. He manages to remain netural, but all that changes when an attractive young woman (Ingrid Bergman) walks through the front door of his…
Sit Back and Make a Delicious Mess at Seafood Shake in Cleveland Heights
It doesn’t take an investigative journalist to blow the lid off the recent trend in seafood-in-a-bag restaurants. In the past two years, Cleveland has welcomed three spots devoted to the concept: Boiling Seafood Crawfish, Boiler 65 and Seafood Shake. But we hardly are alone in that arena. Boiling Seafood, which launched just two years ago…
