15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (Dec. 12-15)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 12/12 Black Nativity Way back in 1961, Russell and Rowena Jelliffe, founders of Karamu House, commissioned Langston Hughes to write Black Nativity. The retelling of the Nativity Story performed using gospel music became a…
Panini’s in Chagrin Falls Has Closed. Tavern Six to Open in Its Place This Winter
The Panini’s Bar & Grill in Chagrin Falls has closed after about a decade and a half in business. That brings the total number of standalone Panini’s locations down to nine according to the company’s website. But the building at 540 E. Washington already has a new tenant lined up. Dan and Teanna Vitantonio, who…
Cleveland Immigration Summit Talks Trump 2.0 Questions Amid Surge of Refugee Arrivals
On Wednesday, about a hundred people—politicians, students, policy experts and dozens of immigration attorneys—gathered in an auditorium at the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association in the One Center Building downtown. Organized by Global Cleveland head Joe Cimperman, Wednesday’s meet was a six-hour-long brainstorm intended to spark ideas and handshake connections to best prepare for an incoming…
LGBTQ+ Org Receives $800,000 to Address Housing Insecurity in Northeast Ohio
An Ohio LGBTQ+ organization has been awarded an $829,467 grant to create transitional housing for LGBTQ+ individuals on Cleveland’s east side. Haus of Transcendent (HOT) was launched in 2023 as a nonprofit organization to address the social drivers of LGBTQ+ health through outreach, case management, housing and art. In 2022, HOT CEO Jordi Luke purchased…
20 New Homes in Glenville, Delayed Since Jackson Administration, Set to Be Completed
When some people drive through Glenville, sometimes all they see is blight. But when Anthony Burton takes a ride through the neighborhood, which is located just north of University Circle, he sees nothing but possibilities. Burton, the African-American contractor behind Bequest Builders, is set to build 20 new homes here thanks to a deal with…
Reunited Jesus Lizard To Play Agora in First Cleveland Concert in Years
Jesus Lizard singer David Yow famously takes an interactive approach to live performances. During the band’s heyday in the ‘90s, he would often leap off the stage and dive into the crowd, sometimes sitting atop the shoulders of bouncers as he made his way through the audience, delivering his coarse vocals over the band’s relentless…
$800,000 Grant Means More Improvements for Shaker Square, But EDWINS Reportedly Mulling Move
Shaker Square is an iconic Cleveland property – it first opened in 1929 as the nation’s second planned shopping center. Yet in recent years, it’s been a bit down-at-the-heels, having gone through a foreclosure sale, fleeing merchants and, more recently, a rash of business break-ins. That story is beginning to change thanks to an infusion…
Cleveland Hopes to Land Modular Home Manufacturer to Aid in Affordable Housing Crisis
In order for Alexander Kolbe to build his modular homes, like those recently installed in Shaker Heights and Beachwood, he has to orchestrate a careful, long-distance process. Kolbe, the CEO of evoDOMUS, a luxury modular home builder in Cleveland Heights, has to send an architect’s plans to the manufacturing plant they use three hours away…
The Worst of Cleveland
Welcome to our semi-regular feature wherein we celebrate all manner of self-absorption, depravity, failure, incompetence, mediocrity and those doing their best to return Cleveland to the depths of big-city shame. Consider this a year-end palate cleanser as the calendar turns and we collectively set our sights on resolutions to improve in 2025. Let us huff…
Review: Newly Opened French Restaurant La Ville Lumière Could Use Some Seasoning
Despite some ebbs and flows, French bistros and brasseries never seem to go out of fashion. For eons, diners have been smitten by the elegant but relaxed atmosphere, the refined but approachable classics, and the professional yet unhurried service. The best places make it look effortless, fostering a celebratory vibe that goes well beyond the…
Hecks in Avon to Relocate to Former Melt Space Nearby
It’s not everyday that a restaurant operator moves a 10-year-old business to a new location a couple hundred yards away, but that’s precisely what Fadi Daoud is doing in Avon. Daoud operates Hecks locations in Ohio City, Avon and Beachwood. He also owns Antica, an Italian concept that has locations in Avon and Beachwood. After…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (Dec. 5-8)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 12/05 Ax Plays Mozart Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado leads the Cleveland Orchestra as it plays Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20. Pianist Emanuel Ax will join the orchestra for the concert. It…
Cleveland Street Chronicle’s Holiday Gift Wrap Edition is Now Available
The Cleveland Street Chronicle’s holiday edition, the easiest and best way to get gift wrap and support the city’s homeless population, is now available to purchase. Sold in print around Cleveland by on-street vendors, the Chronicle is the quarterly newspaper full of first-person essays and takes on news from current or formerly unhoused folks. Its…
Op-Ed: Politicians-First Mindset on Full Display by Cleveland City Council in Redistricting Process
We are at a defining moment for Cleveland City Council members. They have to decide whether residents have a right to see the current redistricting maps or whether they remain shrouded from the public eye. Put differently, will the secretive, backroom gerrymandering of maps by Council President Blaine Griffin and the consultants he controls remain…
Ohio Legislators, Medical Leader Fear Vaccine Hesitancy, Health Care Impacts If RFK Jr. Confirmed
State legislators and medical experts in Ohio are decrying the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Democratic lawmakers and a leader at the Toledo Lucas County Health Department expressed particular concern over access to health care and the future of vaccination requirements and information. “I think…
An Irish-Appalachian Christmas and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week
December is the month when we separate our picks of classical music events into “Christmas” and “Non-Christmas”categories, and there’s plenty of both this week. NON-CHRISTMAS CONCERTS – On Wednesday, The Cleveland Orchestra’s Piano Series features Kirill Gerstein in a new work by Francisco Coll and venerable pieces by Robert Schumann, Maurice Ravel, and Franz Liszt…
Vikings Win (Without Hitting a Three) and Lose Heartbreaker
The Cleveland State Thanksgiving Throwback Tournament certainly showed everything about this year’s CSU men’s team. An extremely difficult win against NJIT and a horrible first half against Morehead State this past week gave plenty of information for fans to digest. Home Game vs. NJIT Coming into this game, NJIT was 0-6 and by all accounts,…
Despite Some Pushback, Cleveland City Council Approves $20 Million for Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Progressive Field Repairs
After a lengthy and at times raucous debate, Cleveland City Council has approved legislation to spend $20 million in city funds to pay for repairs at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and Progressive Field. The legislation passed without comment at the council’s regular Monday night meeting – but only after two finance committee meetings where members vocally…
Provisions Removed From Ohio Bill That Would Add Accountability to Private Schools, Voucher Program
A Republican bill to provide more accountability for Ohio private schools had several provisions removed in a substitute version passed by committee, including the elimination of funding transparency and standardized testing requirements. State Reps. Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, and Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, introduced House Bill 407 earlier this year and Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur, R-Ashtabula,…
Big Bang Piano Bar in Flats to Close. Decades, an `80s and `90s Club, to Open
For much of the 1990s, the Basement on Old River Rd. in the Flats was the place to be most nights for partygoers in search of a high-intensity dance club experience. If Bryan Dall has his way, that level of energy and excitement will beat again in a new home just steps from the original.…
Cleveland State Women’s Team Dumps Lamar to Complete Big Easy Classic Sweep
When Chris Kielsmeier uses the phrase “Cleveland State women’s basketball,” he’s typically doing a lot more than simply identifying the program that he leads. Mostly, he’s describing a state of being, an ideal, some sort of self-actualized reality where the events on the floor during a game match perfectly with his always-present whiteboard. The Vikings’…
A Pastor Bought a Former Strip Club to Turn Into a Church. Can He ‘Purify’ Cleveland’s Adult District?
If Cleveland has a Sex District, it’s nestled around roughly ten blocks of St. Clair Avenue. You have small-stage strip clubs like the Crazy Horse off East 14th, the pocket-sized Emperor’s on the edge of Historic Chinatown. There’s gay outposts like the Leather Stallion off East 22nd, the private cabanas at Flex Spas off East…
The Cleveland Orchestra Celebrates ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week
This week, we’re on the cusp between Thanksgiving and December holiday programs, which come up quickly beginning on the first of the month. – On Wednesday at 12 Noon, organist Linda Kempke plays “Thanksgiving and Praise” on the Beckerath organ in Trinity Lutheran Church in Ohio City. – This weekend, guest conductor David Robertson takes…
Historic Euclid Beach Arch Could Be on the Move to Former McDonald’s Site in Collinwood
On a forlorn stretch of Lakeshore Boulevard, across from a vacant grocery store, stands a remnant of the historic Euclid Beach Amusement Park that once drew tens of thousands of visitors with its thrilling rides. The North Collinwood park closed in 1969, but the arch that greeted visitors was saved, and it now sits astride…
Now Open: Vienna Corned Beef & Reuben in Ohio City
If you’ve been on the hunt for a combination sandwich and smoke shop, Vienna Corned Beef (1836 W. 25th St., 216-417-3949) is ready to serve. In the spirit of a New York City bodega, this small storefront stocks a wide array of smoking and vaping products and supplies. But it’s also the newest spot in…
Ohio Attorney General Appeals Decision That Struck Down State’s Six-Week Abortion Ban
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost will appeal a Hamilton County court’s decision to strike down the state’s six-week abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest that was put into effect for several months after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. Yost, along with Ohio Department of Health director Bruce Vanderhoff and the…
Cleveland Made a Multi-Million Dollar Push to Modernize 311 Service. Now More People Using It
Fix a pothole. Repair a cemetery headstone. Clean up broken glass in the street. Sweep up sidewalk trash. Restore downed traffic lights. Did you know the city will do this, and 47 other tasks, for you if you ask them? And it’s all improving after long overdue attention this year. City Hall has allocated $4…
Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Grand Opening of $150 Million Transformation Set for December
Mark your calendars, and get ready to indulge in an immersive journey through the new Cleveland Museum of Natural History. With more than 375,000 square feet of reimagined spaces thanks to a $150-million transformation and expansion project, the museum has plenty of new offerings that will finally debut to the public from Dec. 13 through…
Ohio Bill Would Crack Down on Intoxicating Hemp Products
On November 7, State Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) proposed legislation to prohibit the sale of “intoxicating hemp products” in Ohio. Senate Bill 326 aims “to protect Ohioans, especially Ohio’s youth, from untested, unregulated dangerous tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products.” While far less potent than marijuana, these products are sold without regulation at gas stations and specialty…
Ohio Lawmakers Move to Override Local Control and Mandate Mix of Religion With Public School Time
Funny how Republicans running red states have done a 180 on indoctrination of students in public schools — as long as it’s Bible-based indoctrination. Ohio appears on the verge of following Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and others in turning public schools into officially sanctioned Sunday schools with religious messages and mandates. The intensifying GOP push…
Cleveland Native Richard Patrick of Filter Discusses How KiTalbum is Changing the Way We Listen and Purchase Music
Scene: What is a KiTalbum? Richard Patrick: A KiTalbum is a little box you purchase. Upon opening the box remove the key ball chain and press it up against your phone and it uploads a digital album experience. You get access to the record digitally, all the videos, a chat room, and all the lyrics.…
Cleveland State Vikings Fall to Minnesota and Golden Flashes “Kent” Miss
Not much to introduce here. The Vikings fell twice this past week to Minnesota and Kent. There’s some parts to be encouraged about though, as CSU showed their strengths and how they can move forward into Horizon League play. Away Game at Minnesota Unlike a lot of the early season games, the Vikings played a…
Livewire: 10 of the Best Concerts to Catch This Weekend in Cleveland
WED 11/27 Charity Evonna To date, the local R&B singer-songwriter has released three projects, and her most recent album, It’s Better To Give, came out just about a year ago. She performs with Buddy Von, Sadhu and Mc Tae tonight at 7 at House of Blues Cambridge Room. 308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com. Gene Schwartz…
Downtown Heinen’s Vacates Second Floor of Rotunda Partly to ‘Reduce Operating Costs’
After nearly a decade of proving that Downtown Cleveland can sustain an urban grocery store of scale, Heinen’s on Euclid and East 9th is deciding to downsize. Following months of preparation, Heinen’s corporate is now moving to vacate its space on the second floor of the rotunda where the bulk of its wine and beer…
Local Rappers Nahzzy and PRESSPLAYMJ Killed at Shaker Heights House Party Over Weekend
Local rappers Nahzzy and PRESSPLAYMJ were both shot and killed at a late-night house party on Shaker Boulevard on Sunday morning, according to police and posts on social media. The motive behind the shooting, which broke out around 3:30 a.m. on November 24, has not yet been announced by Shaker Heights Police and the Ohio…
Ohio Supreme Court Can’t Agree on Transgender Birth Certificate Resolution
Justices on the Ohio Supreme Court said state laws do not allow transgender individuals to correct the “sex marker” on their birth certificates, but also admitted the court could not come to a resolution in a case related to the topic. It’s up to the General Assembly — one that has already created laws banning…
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Hold Audience Rapt With Beautiful Folk Music at Akron Concert
Partway through Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ show Saturday night at Akron’s Goodyear Theater, audience members started yelling out song titles. This went on for a little while, until someone loudly said “play whatever you want,” eliciting applause. And it appears the duo took that to heart, even if the show progressed as they originally…
Cleveland One of Three Finalists for NWSL Expansion Team
Cleveland has made the cut to the final three U.S. cities vying to claim the next addition to the National Women’s Soccer League, along with Cincinnati and Denver. The news, which was announced by the Cincinnati Enquirer Friday, verifies that Cleveland Pro Soccer’s bid in the past two years was quite credible, one backed up by…
‘Model, Actress, Whatever’ Suki Waterhouse Pushes Her Songs to Center Stage
Suki Waterhouse got her start in the entertainment industry, acting and modeling at a young age. The singer-songwriter released “Brutally,” her debut single, independently in 2016 after many years of writing and “trying things out.” It was the first song she’d written that she truly loved. The melancholy track may have kicked off her artist…
Joe’s Barbecue in Kent to Open Brick-and-Mortar Eatery at Same Locale
Since late 2017, Joe Menendez has been holding court on a gravel parking lot in rural Brimfield Township. His bootstrap barbecue business started with a small smoker and a pop-up tent, from which he sold ribs. Along the way, he upgraded to larger and larger smokers while adding items like brisket, pulled pork, half chickens…
This Week in Cleveland Food News: Artis Makes Noise in Lakewood, Whiskey Bar Opening Downtown and More
– Whiskey Bar, that glorious eight-year-old hidden gem in Cleveland Heights, is opening a second location downtown. Here’s what to expect. Related – Rising Star has settled into its new Cleveland Heights home. Related – More east side bagels? Always. JB Bagelry is now open in Mayfield Heights. Related – Royal Docks Brewing Tied House…
Public School Religious Instruction Release Bill Gets Support, Opposition in Ohio Senate Committee
More than 400 people submitted a mix of proponent and opponent testimony on a bill that would require Ohio public school districts to put a policy in place that would allow students to be released from school for religious instruction. Supporters of the bill say this would leave the decision up to the parents, not…
Cleveland Entrepeneur Turning Abandoned, Trash-Filled St. Clair-Superior Warehouse Into a Hub of Design
When Candy Mashmoor bought the building at 1030 E. 62nd St. in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood, at first she wondered if she’d made a huge mistake. “The day I signed, I got the keys and I was like, ‘What have I done?’” said the Brazilian-born entrepreneur and founder of YaYa & Co., a textiles…
