Downtown Residents Association Knew the City Would Approve Dan Gilbert’s Bad Pedestrian Bridge, They Just Wish the City Had Listened to Their Concerns First
Mayor Frank Jackson put the final stamp of approval on JACK Casino’s proposed pedestrian bridge today, the second time the company will directly connect parking lots to buildings it owns as to minimize the inconvenience of folks having to face other people, some of whom may not be white, while walking from their car to…
‘Santa Fake’ Star Damian McGinty to Perform at the Winchester on Sunday
A classic Christmas movie featuring “holiday music, sentimental romance, family-friendly comedy, and colorful holiday spirit,” Santa Fake stars Damian McGinty as Pat Keeley, an undocumented Irish immigrant who happens to look a bit like Santa Claus. While delivering two suitcases for a New York-based crime boss, Pat winds up in Santa Fe, NM, where he…
Filmed in Northeast Ohio, Thriller ‘I See You’ Opens on Friday at Tower City Cinemas
At the start of I See You, a new thriller that opens on Friday at Tower City Cinemas, a number of strange things begin happening in the small Ohio town where Greg Harper (Jon Tenney) works as a detective. For one, a 10-year-old boy gets knocked off his mountain bike and disappears completely, triggering a…
Root Cafe to Host ‘Reintroducing Chuck Mosley: Life On and Off the Road’ Book Release Party on Friday
Next week, ScoutMedia will release Doug Esper’s Reintroducing Chuck Mosley: Life On and Off the Road, a book about the time that Esper, a local musician, spent working with the former Faith No More singer who died in 2017. “For 20 years I was Chuck’s fan, band mate, cheerleader, unknowing drug mule, AA plus one,…
EDEN to Receive 150 New Housing Vouchers for People with Disabilities, Most in Ohio
The Emerald Development & Economic Network (EDEN), alongside leaders from the Cleveland HUD office, announced Tuesday that the local nonprofit housing agency had received the largest HUD grant in the state of Ohio to provide new housing vouchers for people with disabilities, including those experiencing homelessness. EDEN will receive 150 new vouchers to subsidize rental…
New Single From Local Singer-Songwriter Doug McKean Addresses Human Rights Violations
Local singer-songwriter Doug McKean, a member of the Ohio City Singers and the Boys From the County Hell, has just released a new Christmas single. Recorded with Don Dixon (REM, Marshall Crenshaw, Smithereens) in Canton, “Dear Santa” and its B-side, ‘The Foul Stench of Bellaire,” represent the most topical songs that McKean has ever recorded.…
Leon Bibb Narrates Audiobook Version of Architect Robert P. Madison’s Memoir
Earlier this year, the locally based Act 3 released Designing Victory, Cleveland architect Robert P. Madison’s memoir. Written by Madison with local author Carlo Wolff, it chronicles Madison’s remarkable career. In 1954, Madison opened the first architectural firm in Ohio by an African-American architect. He would go on to design the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, the…
Cleveland Shoots Up Inequality Rankings in Bloomberg Analysis
A recent Bloomberg analysis of major U.S. metros found that Atlanta was the most inequitable city in the country. Cleveland, which was ranked 22nd last year on the same list, has skyrocketed to fifth place. The analysis used data from the 2018 U.S. census estimate to survey earners in the country’s largest cities, (those with…
Cleveland’s Pre-Thanksgiving Traffic is Nearly the Worst in the Country, Google Says, And Here’s How to Avoid That
It’s not all in your head, Cleveland has the second highest concentration of Thanksgiving traffic in the country the day prior to the holiday, a Google Trends analysis called Mapping Thanksgiving has once again reported. According to the 2018 data, as compared to Cleveland area traffic patterns on a regular Wednesday (because, duh, plenty of…
Artist Spotlight: Frank Oriti Examines Sneaker Culture and Chats About Process
Artists are constantly moving forward. The work has to evolve visually, but also so that the context becomes richer and more complex. We met up with Frank Oriti in his studio at the Screw Factory in Lakewood where we chatted about his latest series of paintings that aren’t moving away from his signature style, but…
Comedian Sam Morril, Who Plays Hilarities on Friday and Saturday, Explains Why We Need a Break from Trump Jokes
Touring comedians often stay up late performing, get up early for cringey morning show promos and then strap in on a plane and take off to the next city where they do it all over again. Comedian Sam Morril knows it’s a hard knock life, but he loves it. Morril’s been showcasing his latest material…
Cleveland City Council Ceremoniously Votes for Continued Undermining of Democracy in Cleveland This Evening
Another way to put that: Cleveland city council is expected this evening to vote to accept the resignation of Marty Keane and the approval of Charles Slife as his replacement. In keeping with city council’s most treasured and dear assault on local democracy, Keane announced his resignation exactly two years into his term, which, by…
14 Thanksgiving-Eve Parties to Hit This Year in Cleveland Before Dealing With Your Family
Part of coming home or just being around for Thanksgiving means getting drunk with old friends before having to spend the next day cooped up with your family. Here are 14 parties going on around Cleveland to get you out of the house this Thanksgiving Eve. Chip Tha Rapper The Odeon Concert Club, 1295 Old…
Mason’s Creamery’s Ramen Is Back for the Winter Starting Next Week
Fans of Mason’s Creamery’s soul-satisfying ramen will be happy to know that starting next week on Dec. 4 the ice cream shop will once again transform into a full-time ramen shop for the winter. For the second year in a row, the transition will mean no ice cream but ramen in a variety of styles,…
Some Browns, Some Buckeyes — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac are thinking turkey and gravy but they’re talking Browns, Steelers, Buckeyes and Harbaughs. Subscribe on iTunes here or stream below.
Sokolowski’s University Inn Has the Second Best Cafeteria-Style Food in U.S., New Report Finds
Cafeteria-style diners and restaurants, not to be confused with buffets, have mostly gone the way of the dinosaurs. But there are still a host of delicious line-up-only joints around the country dishing up old-school food in the old-school way. Food and Wine magazine recently put together such a list, featuring cafeterias from all over the…
Rural vs. Urban Ohio: Similar Challenges, Unique Strengths
Research has shown that, since the end of the Great Recession, rural areas in Ohio and other states haven’t shared in the same economic recovery as metropolitan areas. But a new report suggests rural America has unique assets that shouldn’t be overlooked. Senior Economist at the Center for American Progress Olugbenga Ajilore said rural communities…
‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ Turns 30 This Year and of Course is Getting a Re-Release in Cleveland
It’s the holidays, and making the most money off of film lovers during this time of year is what the movie studios are all about. Going with that theme, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is getting a re-release in the theater in celebration of the film’s 30th anniversary. Playing at AMC theaters in the Cleveland area…
Ohio Arts Professionals Network (OAPN) To Host Its 60th Anniversary Block Booking Conference at the Music Box and Aloft in October
Founded in 1960, the Ohio Arts Professionals Network (OAPN) provides a forum for developing business relationships, partnerships and cooperative ventures among organizations that present arts and entertainment programming. It works with performers as well. Ultimately, it aims to help arts service organizations and artist management agencies doing business in Ohio and nearby states by strengthening…
Deadline Day to Opt Out of Federal Opioid Negotiating Class
Cities and counties in Ohio and across the country must decide by today whether they want to be a part of a possible multi-billion-dollar opioid settlement. In U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the National Prescription Opiate Litigation is a collection of more than 2,500 lawsuits against manufacturers and others in the…
There’s a New Pop-Up Selfie Museum Coming to Cleveland to Make All Your Holiday Photo Dreams Come True
Holiday pop-up experiences are all the rage in Cleveland, and this year one more is joining in the fray. Winter Wonder Cleveland, a pop-up selfie museum — seriously — is coming to the Hamilton Collaborative (5401 Hamilton Ave.), the same rambling building where IngenuityFest is held. Running Black Friday through Jan. 12, the event takes internet influencers/families/friends/haters through…
Cleveland International Records Offering a 20 Percent Discount on Merch to Scene Readers Through the End of the Year
Back in the 1970s when Cleveland became synonymous with rock ’n’ roll, the late Steve Popovich formed Cleveland International Records. The label had a huge hit right out of the gates with Meat Loaf’s 1977 album Bat Out of Hell and would go on to garner Grammy nods and other accolades. Recently, Steve Popovich, Jr.…
Rosso Italia to Open in Former Red Beachwood Space First Week of December
Last month, Red Steakhouse in Beachwood was permanently put to bed in advance of a new Red opening at Pinecrest, which it will do on November 29. That space, located next door to Blu (3355 Richmond Rd., 216-831-5599), will become Rosso Italia, an Italian restaurant. “I’ve always wanted to do Italian food,” says owner Brad Friedlander. “We…
Dear NFL: Release the Audio! — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
The Myles Garrett Saga continues. Andre and Zac talk that, Nick Chubb, the chances the Browns make a real run and more. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here or stream below.
Cleveland Once Again Earned a Perfect Score for LGBTQ Inclusiveness on National Scorecard
Cleveland may not be perfect, but at least in one key area the city is reportedly on the right track. Once again, the Human Rights Campaign has designated Cleveland as one of the top cities in the country for LGBTQ rights, scoring it a full 100 out of 100 on this year’s newly-released Municipal Equality Index.…
LaureLive Organizers Announce That Their Annual Music Festival Will Have a New Name and Location in 2020
Earlier today, the Elevation Group, the people behind the annual LaureLive festival, announced they’ve rebranded the event and found a new home for it too. The festival’s new name is WonderStruck in Cleveland, and the event will move from its previous location at Laurel School’s Butler Campus in Russell and Chester Townships to Lakeland Community…
Miracle Pop-Up Bar Brings Christmas Cocktails to East 4th Street Next Week
What began as a holiday-themed pop-up cocktail lounge in the midst of a New York City bar’s construction six years ago has now spread to dozens of bars around the world this Christmas season. And this year, the Miracle pop-up bar is hitting up a new spot in Cleveland: Society Lounge. Miracle on 4th Street’s…
Joe Walsh Joined the Black Keys to Play Glenn Schwartz’s “Water Street” in L.A.
“There was this guitar player in Cleveland, his name was Glenn Schwartz,” said Dan Auerbach during the Black Keys’ show at the Forum in L.A. this week. “And you might not know him, but he was really important to me and he blew my fucking mind when I was 16. This was Glenn’s guitar right…
In Advance of Next Week’s Show at the Grog Shop, Guided by Voices Guitarist Talks About the Band’s ‘Arena Rock’ Approach to Its New Album
When the indie rock act Guided by Voices would come to Cleveland in the 1990s, either Cobra Verde or Gem, bands that featured local guitar hero Doug Gillard, would often open for the Dayton group. A big fan of the band, Gillard would regularly jump up on stage with the guys to jam. He and…
Ohio Health Care Reform: Doc says, ‘Start with Better Nutrition’
Democratic candidates running for president in 2020 have many ideas about how to fix the nation’s health-care system, but one cardiologist says they also should be addressing what’s making people sick, which often is the food they eat. Fifty years ago, when the population was exploding, said Dr. Dariush Mozzaffarian, a cardiologist and dean of…
Actor Ted Neeley to Appear at the Cedar Lee Theatre for a Special ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Sing-along Screening
Ted Neeley, the actor who stars as Jesus Christ in the 1973 movie Jesus Christ Superstar, will be on hand when the Cedar Lee Theatre hosts a special sing-along screening of the film at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. Neeley will introduce the movie and provide behind-the-scenes stories about the making of the flick.…
Immigrant Son, Lakewood’s First and Only Brewery, to Open this Spring
When Constantino’s Market closed its Lakewood grocery store, it was a sad day for the family-run business, which also operates stores downtown and in University Circle. But the closure also provided one family member with the opportunity he had been waiting for for years: the ideal property for Immigrant Son Brewery. “There are so many…
Plain Dealer Published Photos of My Lai Massacre in Vietnam 50 Years Ago Today
Fifty years ago today, the Cleveland Plain Dealer — what was, at the time, a newspaper with daily home delivery — published shocking photos of the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam. It was the first outlet in the United States to do so. Snapped by Ron Haeberle, a U.S. army staff photographer from Cleveland who’d…
8 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, NOV. 22 Falling Stars/Rumbling Spires Earlier this year, the local indie rock Falling Stars released the single “Let It All Go” along with an accompanying music video in advance of a new EP. The EP is a “guitar-fueled affair with songs that celebrate defying the odds, running wild and standing strong.” The band recorded…
The Fund’s Brad Whitehead to Step Down, Says Room Must be Made for New Leaders
Brad Whitehead, president of The Fund for our Economic Future, has announced that he will step down from the alliance he helped create in 2004. In an announcement Wednesday morning, Whitehead said that he made the decision expressly to make room for new leaders. The 59-year-old will move into an advisory role by March, 2020,…
The National’s Homecoming Festival to Return to Cincinnati in May
Two years ago, the National, an indie rock band with roots in Cincinnati, collaborated with the city’s Contemporary Art Museum, Cincinnati Art Museum, the Cincinnati Ballet and the Cincinnati Orchestra for a special weekend-long festival dubbed Homecoming. After putting Homecoming on hiatus for a year, the band has just announced that the festival will return…
BioEnterprise Subpoenaed Over MedMart Business
Well, things continue to go swimmingly at the Global Center for Perpetual Bad Headlines. Rumors that subpoenas had been served to BioEnterprise, the nonprofit accelerator that had taken over marketing and strategy at the MedMart two years ago, regarding its business at the county-owned facility were confirmed last night by WKYC’s Mark Naymik. BioEnterprise had…
Band of the Week: Sasha Sloan
MEET THE BAND:Sasha Sloan (vocals) A PIANO PRODIGY: Sloan grew up in the Boston area and taught herself to play piano when she was only 5. “I guess I’ve always been doing music.My mom had this piano in our apartment in Boston,” she explains. “I’m not that good at piano now, but I was pretty…
Savage Love: That Professor
I’m a 40-something gay male professor at a small college. I try hard not to get attracted to students, and usually succeed. But it’s tough to resist temptation when you’re surrounded by hot, smart, fun, horny young guys in a rural area with not many other options. Over the past several years, I’ve ended up…
The 2019 Cleveland Gift Guide
You probably have people in your life for whom you must, or at least should, procure gifts this holiday season. You hopefully have disposable income with which to acquire those gifts. You have, likely, not given much thought as of yet to what exactly those fine folks would like to receive from you, but you…
Get Out: Everything You Should Be Doing in Cleveland This Week (Nov. 20-26)
WED 11/20 The Band’s Visit This critically acclaimed Broadway smash-hit musical won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It also nabbed a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. The play “rejoices in the way music makes us laugh, makes us cry, and ultimately, brings us together.” Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at Connor Palace.…
Hot Chicken Takeover Delivers Damn Good Nashville-Style Birds at Crocker Park
Our nation is presently in the grip of a fried chicken frenzy. Celebrity chefs are unveiling fried chicken spin-offs, every other restaurant has added fried chicken sandwiches to the menu, and variations like Korean-fried chicken, fried chicken and waffles, and Nashville hot chicken continue to gain market share. Why are diners obsessed with fried chicken?…
