48 Hours in Buffalo: The Clevelander’s Guide to Visiting Our Great Lakes Friend
There’s probably never been a better time to visit Buffalo, New York, what with its own “Rust Belt renaissance” narrative unfolding much in the same way we’ve experienced here in Cleveland. It’s three-hour straight shot up I-90, and you’ll feel right at home as soon as you drop off the Skyway. It’s got the Great…
Cuyahoga County Corrections Officer Facing Charges for Alleged Domestic Violence Incident
In news that might have slipped under your radar during the hectic World Series week, the Cuyahoga County corrections unit was dealt another round of bad PR. 19-year correction officer veteran Kenneth Hairston was charged with felonious assault and released from county jail on Monday. The charge stems from an incident between him and his…
SPACES Will Host One Last Annual Benefit on Superior Viaduct Before Move
Since its founding in 1978, SPACES has presented the work of more than 9,000 artists in its three locations: Playhouse Square (1978-1981), Warehouse District (1981-1990) and the Superior Viaduct (1990-2016). After 26 years, SPACES will move into the Van Rooy building early next year. Before their highly anticipated move to the new location in Hingetown…
Zygote Press Turns Spotlight Toward Wide Network of SPACES Interns
Behind the scenes, the interns at local, non-profit arts organizations are always working hard to help the organizations and their art initiatives throughout Northeast Ohio. To celebrate these hardworking interns and their efforts, Zygote Press conceived its In-TURN exhibition to showcase the talents of these hardworking interns. “I was an intern many years ago at…
Proposed Rules Could Limit Medical Marijuana Growers to 18 in Ohio
[image-1]A draft of rules released today by the state would limit the number of medical marijuana growers in Ohio to 18 and slap a $20,000 application fee and $180,000 license fee on the top-tier grower positions. For now, the rules suggest 12 “Level I” licenses at $200,000 and six “Level II” licenses at $20,000. That’s…
Schools Levy Renewal, Income Tax Hike Face Cleveland Voters
[image-1]We know that most people are really only interested in voting for one race this year: the Marcia Fudge/Beverly Goldstein race in the 11th District. But don’t forget that there are other things to vote on when you arrive at the polls! Cleveland residents will confront a few “ballot issues” on Nov. 8 (or earlier,…
Last Surviving Member of World-Series-Winning ’48 Indians is Coming to Game 6
Ninety-five-year-old Eddie Robinson, the last surviving member of the Cleveland Indians team that won the World Series in 1948, will be watching Game six live from a suite at Progressive Field. At the invitation of the Indians, Robinson flew from his Texas home on Monday with his wife Bette, MLB.com reports. Robinson’s isn’t a famous…
Cleveland World Series Watch Parties Raised $330,000 for Local Charities
The World Series will officially come to an end soon (hopefully sooner rather than later), but its impact will live on thanks to the watch parties. Three watch parties were held at The Jake for the road games in Chicago, drawing more than 67,000 fans and raising more than $330,000 for local charities. The team…
Singer Mark Chesnutt Strives to Keep Traditional Country Alive
The more country music changes, the more singer-guitarist Mark Chesnutt, a Beaumont, Texas native, stays the same. Chesnutt delivered his first hit back in 1990 with “Too Cold At Home.” Major label deals followed. But when country went pop, Chesnutt and the majors parted ways because he didn’t intend to alter his sound. Produced by…
Artful Open House Will Showcase Future of Creativity in Cleveland Heights
Artful is a group of artists, educators, local business owners and attorneys seeking to bring affordable artist studio space to Cleveland Heights, polled as having the highest concentration of artists in Northeast Ohio. Artful recently announced that they’d found a home for their future studios at 2843 Washington Blvd. in Cleveland Heights. In addition to…
One More Win — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
The Cleveland Indians lost Game 5 in Wrigley but bring a 3-2 advantage back home to Cleveland. Andre and Zac caught up and talked about needing just one more win to take the 2016 World Series from the Chicago Cubs. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here. Download the episode directly here. Or stream…
Two Channel 5 Anchors Fired for ‘Political Activity’ (Waiting in Line for Jay Z Tix)
TV industry news and gossip site FT Live is reporting that WEWS morning news anchor Jackie Fernandez and weather anchor Somara Theodore were fired after posting to their social media accounts that they were standing in line to get free Jay Z tickets on company time. The Jay Z concert was in support of Hillary Clinton.…
Hip-Hop-Themed Birth of a New Nation Tour to Kick Off at the Agora
The trailer for Birth of a New Nation, a 28-city tour featuring artists on the New York-based 300 Entertainment, includes caricatures of presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The tour, which features some of the label’s best hip-hop acts including Dae Dae, Shy Glizzy, PNB Rock and London On Da Track, kicks off on…
Three Men Facing Charges for Selling Fake World Series Tickets and Passes
It’s the hottest ticket in town. And with people happily dropping hundreds if not thousands of dollars on tickets to the World Series in Cleveland, it’s no surprise that scammers saw an opportunity to make some money. Several men are facing charges after selling fake passes for last week’s games. Some fans who bought the…
The Ohio State Highway Patrol Sent Troops to North Dakota This Weekend
Responding to a call for aid from the state of North Dakota, the Ohio State Highway Patrol sent 37 troopers to that northern plains state this weekend. They departed from Dayton on Saturday. Clashes between security forces and indigenous protesters increased in North Dakota last week, culminating in the arrests of more than 140 protesters.…
‘For Freedoms’ Town Hall Will Blend Art with Politics
Just days before what is widely considered the most important election of our generation, MOCA Cleveland is bringing For Freedoms co-founder and legendary African American artist Hank Willis Thomas to Cleveland for a Town Hall-style discussion with special guests. “Artists always play a role in the political climate,” says Thomas, “but it’s really difficult to…
Cocktail Pioneering Velvet Tango Room to Celebrate 20 Years of Spirit Superiority
While most of us were too busy getting buzzed on Zimas, Cosmos, White Russians and Chocolate Martinis to notice, Paulius Nasvytis was quietly launching a cocktail revolution in a gritty corner of Cleveland. Next month will mark the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Tango Room (2095 Columbus Rd., 216-241-8869), Cleveland’s first real cocktail lounge that…
LeBron James Hosted His Annual Cavs’ Halloween Party Last Night
Another one of LeBron James’ annual Halloween parties is officially in the books. In case you’re wondering who he was this year, remember Jerome from the ’90s television show Martin? Check out the crew (which includes the recently cut Dahntay Jones in the mix) below, including Kyrie Irving as the red Power Ranger. Dude’s got…
Once Again, Someone Dumped a Giant Pile of Manure Outside the Warren County Democratic Party HQ
UPDATE: Police arrested James Pinell for the weekend manure escapades in Warren County. He also took credit for the 2012 incident. (See full story below.) *** In what’s become something of a rather involved four-year tradition, someone dumped a giant pile of manure outside the Warren County Democratic Party headquarter this weekend. The same thing…
Someone Broke Into a Medical Office in Bath and Performed a Procedure of Some Sorts
The scene of a break-in at a doctor’s office in Bath Township looked more like a game of Operation than a crime. The puzzling facts: Nothing stolen. Used medical equipment. The UH Ghent Family Practice was the scene of the crime. Someone entered and left behind used operating tools and surgical clothes, according to NewsNet5.…
Browns’ Andrew Hawkins Has the Best Takedown of the NFL’s Crackdown on Touchdown Celebrations
[image-1] Andrew Hawkins is a smart dude. He’s thoughtful and engaged (as evidenced by his choice to wear a “Justice for Tamir” shirt and even more so with his emotional explanation for why). He’s also a perceptive guy, as evidenced by his no-celebration celebration a few weeks ago after scoring a touchdown against the Patriots.…
Short Film Festival Organizers Looking for a Few Good Music Videos
[image-1]Local rapper David “Vigatron” Norris regularly hosts hip-hop-related events around town. Now, he’s turned his attention to film. He and “some colleagues” have organized a short film festival that will mostly cater to music videos. Dubbed Levels Film Fest, the event takes place on Nov. 17 at Tower City Cinemas. “We are accepting any style…
Tribe Pitcher Trevor Bauer ‘Raises Horns’ in Amon Amarth Music Video
Despite taking the loss in Game 2 of the World Series, Tribe pitcher Trevor Bauer remains one of our favorite players. The guy displays a real intensity both on and off the field. And now, we have another good reason to like him even more. He appears at the 3:54 mark of the music video…
Kid Cudi Calls Out Drake: ‘Say It To My Face, Pussy’
[image-1]If you’re not up to date on the latest developments in Kid Cudi’s beef with Drake, then take our hand. This is important news. Today, Cudi tweeted at Drake and ratcheted up the tensions between the two hip-hop artists. @Drake Say it to face, pussy. You think it's a game. I wanna see you say…
Definitive Ranking of Friendly World Series Wagers Between Cleveland and Chicago
HOT TAKE: Friendly wagers on pro sports championships between competing city agencies or representatives make for feel-good press releases and decent diplomacy, but are by and large very lame. No less so this year, as Cleveland and Chicago find themselves tied 1-1 on the precipice of Game three at Wrigley Field Friday night and publicists…
6 Concerts to Catch This Weekend
FRIDAY, OCT. 28 An Evening with Elvis Costello & the Imposters When singer-songwriter Elvis Costello came through town to play House of Blues in 2005, he emphasized the hits, playing rousing versions of songs such as “Watching the Detectives” and “Pump It Up” much to the delight of a crowd clearly ready to revel in…
Local Indie Rockers Cereal Banter Embrace ‘Fuzzy Fidelity’ on New Cassette-Only Release
By indie rock standards, Joseph Joseph was a late bloomer. Joseph, who leads the highly prolific locally based experimental indie rock act Cereal Banter, didn’t play on stage until he was 24. But that hasn’t stopped him from devoting a serious amount of time and money to the band. The group will celebrate the release…
Kyrie Irving and J.R. Smith Are Giving Their Championship Rings to Their Parents
LeBron James may be the best basketball player on the planet, but he couldn’t have delivered a title to Cleveland without J.R. Smith and Kyrie Irving. Smith dropped 16 three-pointers in the 2016 NBA Finals—the most on the team—and says his journey there wouldn’t have been possible without the support of his family. It wasn’t…
Cleveland DIY Spot the Dag House Has Hosted Its Final Show
After years of hosting DIY shows in a cozy basement and serving as a practice space for a host of local bands, the Dag House is no more. It hosted a final show a few weeks ago (the bill: Makewar, Barons, Living Room, Adder, All Dinosaurs, Two Hand Fools). The property owner has ideas other…
150 Trees Coming to Cleveland, Baby
The City of Cleveland announced Thursday that it had received a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Forest Service as part of the agency’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. With the funds, the city will plant and maintain 150 new trees in Cudell and Buckeye-Shaker, the two neighborhoods serving as pilot areas in the implementation of the…
Ryan Kaston Jumps from Executive Chef to Owner of Popular Bistro 185
Last year as part of our recurring Rising Star Chef series we profiled Ryan Kaston, who at the time was the executive chef at Bistro 185 (991 E. 185th St., 216-481-9635). Kaston recently purchased the 10-year-old business from owners Marc and Ruth Levine. After graduating from Hocking College’s culinary school, Kaston worked his way through…
Stop Doing This, Indians Fans
[image-1] Just stop. It’s embarrassing and racist. The world noticed (hard not to when Fox put him on the screen for ten full seconds). Don’t be a “clown-ass doofus.” For fuck’s sake, stop. Read this instead.
Police Raid Homes of Wade Park Gang Members Following ATM Smash-and-Grab Crimes
Cleveland.com’s Adam Ferrise reports on a series of Cleveland police raids and arrests this morning, all connected to an organized “ring” of ATM “smash-and-grab” crimes committed over the past few months. Two men were charged today for their roles in a Sept. 19 incident in University Circle; a third man was arrested last week for…
Singer-Guitarist Steve Earle to Play His Debut Album, ‘Guitar Town,’ In Its Entirety
Released 30 years ago, Guitar Town established singer-guitarist Steve Earle as a tremendous talent in the alt-country world. Inspired by a Bruce Springsteen concert, Earle penned songs with a narrative approach, and they struck a chord. “Nothing ever happened around my home town,” Earle sneers on the opening title track, a twangy tune that benefits…
Ohio University Professor Totally Forgives Student for Skipping Class to Go to World Series Game
It’s official: attending a World Series in Cleveland is a perfectly logical and reasonable excuse to skip a college class. Here’s real-life proof. After his dad got him World Series tickets, Ohio University student and avid Cleveland Indians fan Charles Turner had to choose between going to Geology class with the strictest professor of all…
Thomas J. Knab: An Appreciation
[image-1]The passing of Grammy-winning audio engineer and information specialist Tom Knab on September 25 at the age of 61 was devastating not only to his family and friends, but also to a long list of colleagues, artists, ensembles, and institutions with whom he worked, and who treasured his expertise in recording and post-producing their music,…
Cleveland’s Dia de Muertos Celebration Goes All Day Saturday in Gordon Square
Since 2008, Cleveland’s Dia de Muertos festivities have taken place in and around Cleveland Public Theatre’s campus in the Gordon Square Arts District. Organized by Cleveland’s Artista Latinos Unidos artist collective, the 12th annual Dia de Muertos takes place from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 29. “We just kicked off our 2016-2017…
New Bill Would Finally Make “Ballot Selfies” Legal in Ohio
[image-1]Posting a picture of your completed ballot is currently a felony (yes, dumb), but that could be reversed soon. The reason? The law is essentially overkill, and it limits a voter’s freedom of speech and freedom of expression. It’s obviously too late for such a law to be put in effect in time for this…
The Indians Are Giving World Series Tickets to the Guy Who Helped Kenny Lofton Make His Flight to Cleveland
Kenny Lofton threw out the ceremonial first pitch at yesterday’s World Series game at The Jake. That happened, in part, because a guy named Ken Kostal gave up his seat on a flight from LA to Cleveland two days ago so that No. 7 could take his place. Lofton had been on standby for the…
Loren Naji Will Talk About His Month Living In His Spherical Sculpture This Friday
Local artist Loren Naji spent nearly a month living inside his ArtPrize installation, Emoh, located outside of Kilwin’s Chocolates and Ice Cream. Emoh (titled “Home” backwards as a statement on society’s values) was created to raise awareness of homelessness and poverty in Northeast Ohio, but made an impact with ArtPrize audiences in Grand Rapids, MI.…
MetroHealth Asks Employees Not to Wear Wahoo-Branded Indians Gear
That’s the MetroHealth crew, gathered on their quad Tuesday afternoon for a photo celebrating the Cleveland Indians in the World Series. Per the encouragement of MetroHealth, many staff members wore Tribe gear to work. (And MetroHealth was obviously not the only local employer who invited its staff to dress down Tuesday). But MetroHealth sent a…
MLB Commissioner Says He Plans on Talking to Indians Ownership About Chief Wahoo Logo
Let us start by saying the best thing about the 2016 Tribe’s roll through the postseason is obviously just that — a phenomenal roll through the postseason. After last night’s victory, the Indians hold a 1-0 lead in the World Series. A secondary benefit of the playoff run has been the further discussion and exposure…
Video: New Nike Ad Highlights LeBron’s Game-Saving NBA Finals Block, Will Probably Make You Tear Up
Nike’s newest ad campaign with LeBron, “Come Out of Nowhere,” brings all the emotions for Cavs fans and Cleveland natives and anyone else who needs a little motivation. The storyline focuses on James’ epic, game-saving block (right before Kyrie Irving’s epic, game-clinching three-pointer) to lead the Cavaliers to one of the most exciting Game 7s…
Tremont Entrance Ramp to Inner Belt Bridge Opens
The Innerbelt Bridge is complete. It opened fully on Monday, just in time for hella traffic for the Indians and Cavs. One of the few remaining touches after the east and westbound lanes — some final touches on entrance and exit ramps, including the Tremont entrance to the highway, which has been closed for years.…
A Chicago Native Living in Cleveland Debates Indians vs. Cubs Fandom
I am from Chicago; I now live in Northeast Ohio. And the Cubs are playing the Indians in the World Series. So I have a serious dilemma. I don’t regularly follow baseball and therefore need to jump on a bandwagon, but which bandwagon do I choose? The bandwagon that was my home for 14 consecutive…
Video: The Annual Pumpkin Roll Took Over Main Street Hill in Chagrin Falls Last Night
A hill in Chagrin Falls was covered in crushed pumpkins and teenagers dressed in Cleveland Indians and Cavs gear last night, which means it was an ordinary October night in the Northeast Ohio town. This year’s annual Pumpkin Roll on Main Street hill went off without a hitch (in previous years kids have gotten busted…
Beck Center’s Body Awareness Too Small and Coy for Its Own Good
There’s nothing wrong with a small play that has modest goals. God knows it beats some of the gargantuan productions that aim high and fall miserably short. Still, sometimes a play can be a bit too small and coy for its own good. Such is the case with Body Awareness, now at the Beck Center.…
A Brief History of Presidents
How does it feel for a woman to be president of the United States? According to Tanera Hutz, it feels amazing. “I’m a history buff and being able to perform as president is very empowering.” Even though there may be an actual female occupying the Oval Office in a couple months, there are seven women…
Band of the Week: Hello Violet
MEET THE BAND: Eric Hellinger (guitar), Annastacia (vocals), Austin Harpel (drums), Phillip Martin (bassist) THIS TIME IT’S SERIOUS: The band came together about a year ago as singer Annastacia, who says she “knew of” guitarist Eric Hellinger from other musicians, heard the guy playing at Mohawk Studios in Huron where she was recoding her “folk-y”…
The Ohio Division of Liquor Control is Taking Aim at ‘Low-demand’ Bottles
To all outward appearances, the recently released statement sounded like an innocuous bureaucratic detail issued by one of the most bureaucratic organizations in the state of Ohio: the Division of Liquor Control. “As part of the evolving liquor enterprise in Ohio, it is necessary to perform a warehouse inventory reduction and optimize the inventory available…
Bounce’s New Brunch Attracts the Locals
Bounce Nightclub (2814 Detroit Ave., 216-696-0831) was in need of a facelift after closing its doors this past January after a solid 13-year run. New co-owners Joseph and Robert Jackson not only have renovated the interior, adding a lounge, updated bar and high-top tables, but they also have devoted themselves to cultivating a regular clientele…
Dredge Report: Port Authority and Army Corps Battle Tooth and Nail for Your Sympathies
First, a spot of news and a brief summary: The Cuyahoga River will be dredged very soon, certainly by the end of 2016, at a cost of $3.7 million. After the second consecutive year of intense bickering about when and how the river should be dredged (and crucially, who should pay for it), the U.S.…
Latest Robert Langdon Mystery is Its Own Circle of Hell
In the same way that watching Indiana Jones evading bad guys was downright sad in 2008, when a grizzled Harrison Ford donned his fedora for the Crystal Skull fiasco — you don’t know AARP? — watching Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) hobbling through gardens and basements to escape international police and rogue health organization agents is…
Film Spotlight: The Handmaiden
Now this, ladies and gentlemen, is a movie. Park Chan-Wook, the Korean mastermind behind Oldboy and the exquisitely titled Lady Vengeance and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, brings you The Handmaiden, a film in three parts that’s about as sensuous and surprising as a movie can get in two-and-a-half hours. It opens Friday at the Cedar…
Savage Love: Seven Nights
Dear Dan, I love my wife, but I have a lot of resentment, disappointment, and insecurity over our sex life. After four years of marriage, huge angst remains that I have yet to get a handle on. Right now, with kids and our busy lives, she’s content with sex once a week or so, and…
