Update: Akron Woman Sentenced for Trashing Supervisor’s Office with Glitter, Silly String and Toilet Paper
Update: Lockhart has been given a nine-month suspended jail sentence and placed on probation for 18 months after being convicted of a fifth-degree felony charge for vandalism, Ohio.com reports. She was found not guilty of a second felony charge for breaking and entering and a misdemeanor for vandalism. A neighbor and family member spoke on her…
Update: Man Killed in Parking Lot of Strip Club That’s Been Visited by Cops 130 Times in Past Three Years
Update: Make that 130 times. Police were called to the Ace of Spades strip club in Akron this weekend after a Canton man was shot and killed early Sunday morning. Cleveland.com reports: “Joshua Curtis, 27, was shot about 5 a.m. Sunday at the Ace of Spades parking lot in the 2500 block of Romig Road.…
Comedian Jen Kirkman Talks About ‘Drunk History”s Brutal Hangovers, Promises to Debut New Material at Grog Shop Show
Jen Kirkman, a smart, sarcastic comic best known for her appearances on Chelsea Lately, attributes much of her success to working on the late night TV show. She applied to work on the show back in 2008 when she wrote a couple of monologues and then got hired. “I was in Cleveland when I found…
Indians Start Construction on More Cool Renovations; Upper Deck in Right Field is Still Stupid
The Cleveland Indians yesterday announced that construction has begun on another round of ballpark renovations to Progressive Field. They look pretty great, right? Opening up the lower concourse walkways to add more dining options like the ones introduced in right field this year (we love food!) and beer (damn, beer is great!) and to allow…
Broadway Legend John Kander to Visit Cleveland for Concert in His Honor
If you’ve ever hummed the tunes from Cabaret or Chicago. or been stirred by the first few bars of the theme from New York, New York, you should “start spreading the news” that the man who wrote that music is coming to Cleveland. John Kander, the composer who teamed up for years with lyricist Fred…
Love, Loss and Beautiful Acting in “First Love” at None Too Fragile Theater
If you ever want to see a textbook example of how three actors can overcome an unfortunate script, go see First Love by Charles Mee, now at the None Too Fragile Theater in Akron. This play, about two oldsters who meet cute on a park bench and then go through a high speed time-lapse relationship,…
Five Classical Music Events to Put On Your Calendar This Week
The Cleveland Orchestra just left for a major European Tour (to play concerts in Brussels, Luxembourg, Milan, Paris, Cologne, Dortmund, Regensburg, and Vienna), but there are plenty of other events to keep classical music fans busy for the next three weeks while they are gone. Here are five (and some of them are multiple performances)…
Tracks Recorded at the Agora to be Included on Neil Young’s New Live Album
Set to be released on Nov. 13, singer-guitarist Neil Young’s new live album, Bluenote Café, represents another entry in his Archives Performance Series. Set to be released as a 2-CD/4-LP set, the album takes its name from the horn band that backed Young on his 1987-1988 tour before and after the release of the Neil…
Tearing Down the City to Save it? New Journal Article Shines Light on Cleveland’s “Demolition Coalition”
A newly published article in SAGE Publications’ Environment and Planning Journal explores the emergence of a powerful “demolition coalition” in Cleveland and the socio-political factors that have contributed to the popularity of demolition as a response to the housing crisis locally. “Tearing down the city to save it? ‘Back-door regionalism’ and the demolition coalition in Cleveland,”…
BottleHouse to Expand its Brews, Brand and Fans when it Opens Second Spot in Lakewood
Since opening three years ago in Cleveland Heights, BottleHouse Brewery (2050 Lee Rd., 216-214-2120) has continued to improve, grow and expand its offerings. Late last year, the brewery swapped out its makeshift 2.5-barrel system for an efficient 7-barrel system, while adding new fermenters, bright tanks, glycol chillers, keg washers… “The whole nine yards,” says owner…
Three More Suspects Wanted in Dexter “Deck” Mangham’s Murder
Details of the investigation into the Sept. 27 shooting in downtown Cleveland are becoming clearer, with three more suspects being named by law enforcement this week. Christopher Smith, Kevin Carter and Daniel Wingfield are wanted in connection with the shooting death of Dexter “Deck” Mangham, who was killed near East Fourth Street at around 2…
McGinty: ‘Any Suggestion That This Office is Protecting Police is Baseless’
Responding to the outpouring of criticism after his officer released two independent reports ruling the shooting death of Tamir Rice “justified” and “reasonable,” County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty is snapping back at those who are questioning his prosecutorial intent. “Any suggestion that this office is protecting police is baseless and soundly rebutted when our record of…
Any Reason to Care the Cavs Are Still Winless in Preseason? No, But We Still Have Concerns
If watch gears moved like downtown traffic, it might describe the fits and starts of the Cavaliers preseason offense. At times, things are clicking, but those times inevitably end, generally short of the basket. It’s way too early to start worrying, so just take it and file it away for later. In six months no…
Up-and-Coming Singer-songwriter Dylan LeBlanc to Play Music Box Supper Club
Cleveland has reputation as a great rock ‘n’ roll town. Sometimes, it lives up to the hype. Sometimes, it doesn’t. When Louisiana-born singer-songwriter Dylan LeBlanc passed through town earlier this year to play the Beachland Ballroom with local singer-songwriter Jessica Lea Mayfield, it certainly did. LeBlanc, who plays Music Box Supper Club tomorrow night with…
Cleveland Public Theatre Features A Play Written by a Conscientious Objector in Iran That Gets a New Actor for Each Performance
It would seem that claiming conscientious objector status—in Iran!—would be one of the scariest things to do. So maybe that’s why Nassim Soleimanpour decided to come up with a theatrical concept that is even more terrifying, not to mention quite humorous. As a CO in Iran, playwright Soleimanpour is not allowed to travel. So he…
Celebrating a Rare Browns’ Win Over the Ravens — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
The Cleveland Browns beat the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore and regardless of everything else, that’s worth celebrating. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here. For Android users, here’s the RSS feed. Download the episode here. Or stream below. Here’s what else Andre and Zac discussed in today’s episode: Garth Brooks and Prince concerts Corey…
Mahall’s Hosts the Cleveland Print Room’s Foto Brunch Fundraiser This Sunday
If you’re looking for the perfect brunch this weekend, stop by Mahall’s on Sunday Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the Cleveland Print Room’s (CPR) fourth annual Foto Brunch fundraiser. The event also includes silent auctions, 50/50 raffles, cash bar and more. “Foto Brunch is the Cleveland Print Room’s primary fundraiser,” explains…
Confusion, No Sparks in ‘Mothers and Sons’ at the Beck Center
In the abstract, it would seem that Terrence McNally’s play about the mother of a deceased gay man confronting his former lover would have sparks flying. Unfortunately, this production of an enormously flawed script never generates anything but confusion and torpor. For a playwright who has often written some absorbing works about gay relationships (Love!…
Here is Every Ohio High School With a “Redskins” Mascot
Happy Columbus Day! Or, if you live in a forward-thinking U.S. city like Minneapolis or Portland: Happy Indigenous Peoples Day! Chances are you probably live in Cleveland, which means you live in a city that has long been behind the eight ball when it comes to respecting the dignity of Native Americans. It should come…
Cleveland Institute of Art Hosts Art-Making Open House This Sunday
In celebration of its recently unified campus, the Cleveland Institute of Art hosts Kaleidoscope, an art-making open house, this Sunday, Oct. 18 from noon to 4 p.m. Families are invited to drop in any time during the event for an eclectic variety of demonstrations showcasing the wide spectrum of CIA’s offerings from art and design…
An Uneven Version of ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ at the Cassidy Theatre
It kind of makes sense to have a musical starring Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, since those Depression-era felons grew up wanting to be in the spotlight. At least that’s how this show (book by Ivan Menchell, lyrics by Don Black, music by Frank Wildhorn) tells it. The production at the Cassidy Theatre has some…
Crazy Final Seconds of Boardman vs. Harding Football Game
Ah, high school football. Friday evenings bring us the rarefied drama and dreams of Sunday afternoons, but with slightly smaller bodies and heads less addled by years of concussions. But where were the heads, one might ask, of the Warren G. Harding Raiders Friday night? (Or at least its special teams unit.) With seconds to…
Cleveland SGS Releases Third ‘Behind the Sign’ Installment
If you haven’t yet checked out Clevleand SGS’s “Behind the Sign” documentary series, then please do amend that issue. Episode 1 features Earl Phillips, owner of U-Need-A-Sign Company on East 131st Street. The second episode documents the workings of McMahan’s Wrecking, a 17-acre auto-salvage complex that employs 40 people. Today, the latest from Cleveland SGS focuses…
Hillary Clinton Weighs In On Tamir Rice Case Evals on Twitter
Following the release of reports this weekend claiming that officer Timothy Loehmann and his partner Frank Garmback acted “reasonably” when 12-year-old Tamir Rice was shot and killed last year, folks are taking to social media and other platforms to express their distaste with the conclusions, including Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton who tossed her two cents into the…
LoveMuffinPalooza Showcases Spirit of Cleveland’s Music Community
LoveMuffinPalooza took over the stages at the Barking Spider and Happy Dog at Euclid Tavern this past weekend, delivering terrific sets from a nice variety of local bands. Oct. 8 featured Luther Trammell, Mal San Marco, Michael McFarland, Dave Smeltz, Lonesome Ranger and Joe “Rollin” Porter at the Barking Spider. Oct. 9 featured Melladramatics, Xtra Cripsy, Listen Little Man and…
Tamir Rice Case Evaluations Raise Questions About Prosecutor’s Intentions
Two expert reports were released to the public Saturday evening, each independently claiming that officer Timothy Loehmann acted “reasonably” when he shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice last November. In the 11 months since the shooting, County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty has not issued an indictment against Loehmann — nor his partner Frank Garmback. It’s unclear…
Country Singer Garth Brooks Makes a Triumphant Return to Town
Watching 53-year-old country singer-guitarist Garth Brooks perform last night at the Q in front of an extremely appreciative crowd during the first of two sold out shows (two more sold out shows take place tonight at the Q), it was hard to imagine he ever retired from touring. The guy seemed to be enjoying himself…
Grog Shop to Host Benefit for Local Musician Jeff Benko
Local musician Jeff Benko has never been short on friends. Whether he’s playing his trademarked skuzzy, intellectualized brand of radio rock on the road with Jonathan Richman or goofing around with bar-band-greats NRBQ, Benko has a knack for making buddies. On Saturday, Oct. 17, Benko’s friends at the Grog Shop will host a benefit show…
Cleveland Firefighters Had Better Start Trimming Nosehairs Under Interim Chief Angelo Calvillo
The NEOMG’s Leila Atassi has reported some of the more frightening anecdotes from the personnel files of Angelo Calvillo, newly appointed interim Chief of Cleveland’s Fire Department. Rank and file firefighters — the bearded among them, anyhow — have claimed that, exemplary scores and supervisory reviews notwithstanding, Calvillo is a demeaning guy who gets a…
Greater Cleveland Film Commission to Host Special Screening of New Star Wars Film
The Greater Cleveland Film Commission has announced that it has dibs on the first public screening of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Set to take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 17, at Cinemark At Valley View, the screening serves as a GCFC benefit. “Star Wars is a cultural touchstone that resonates…
9 Concerts to Catch This Weekend
FRIDAY, OCT. 9 Wesley Bright & The Hi-Lites Record Release Show Akron’s Wesley Bright & the Hi-Lights played their first gig a little more than two years ago and the band has been going strong ever since. Because of its terrific live show — sharp-dressed Brent “Wesley Bright” Wesley is a real dynamo on stage…
Ohio State Marching Band Alum Making Some Noise with Huntertones
Coming from what he says is a “musical family” certainly helped trumpet player Jon Lampley. Lampley, who grew up in Tallmadge, says his cousins all sang or played an instrument. They inspired him to take a musical instrument, and he’s now one of the leaders of Huntertones, an up-and-coming jazz act that’s building a name…
Cleveland Woman Helps Restore Faith in Humanity with This Simple Gesture
A Cleveland woman visiting Austin, Texas last weekend proves , yes , there are still good people out there despite the onslaught of disturbing headlines this month both locally and nationally. A simple act of kindness has earned Clevelander Karen Mehollin accolades from the reddit community (and certainly from this humble magazine staff) after she…
NEOMG’s Mark Naymik Says Boycott the Browns Until You Feel Comfortable Tattooing a Player’s Number on Your Body
Northeast Ohio Media Group’s resident angry man Mark Naymik dropped a take this morning calling for fans to boycott the Cleveland Browns. Naymik’s been down the wormhole of public financial support for sports teams before, and that’s a worthy endeavor worth many more words and minutes than most in the city have devoted to the…
Singer-Songwriter Chris Cornell Makes the Most of Lakewood Civic’s Intimate Setting
With its plush seats and spacious stage, the Lakewood Civic Auditorium is better suited to high school plays than rock ‘n’ roll shows, though it has hosted a number of rock and pop acts over the years. It’s the perfect place for Soundgarden/Audioslave singer-songwriter Chris Cornell to present an acoustic show. Cornell, who played the…
Veteran Singer-Songwriter Jesse Malin Talks About How Music is His ‘Medicine’
When Green Day performed at House of Blues in Cleveland earlier this year, the band recruited a long-time friend, singer-guitarist Jesse Malin, to open the show. He started things off with a 30-minute set that drew mostly from New York Before the War, one of two albums he’s released this year (the second album, Outsiders,…
Local Singer-Songwriter Carlos Jones to be Honored at Tribute Concert
In order to “recognize and celebrate those who have filled the cultural coffers of our beloved Northeast Ohio, especially with their music,” local folk singer Charlie Wiener launched an annual tribute concert a few years back. Local singer-songwriter Carlos Jones will be the fourth honoree following tributes to Alex Bevan, Pat Dailey and Michael Stanley.…
Mentor, Lyndhurst Lose Old Carolina BBQ but Gain Crooked River BBQ
Todd Schafer admits that he essentially served as guinea pig when he purchased the very first two Old Carolina BBQ franchises, in Lyndhurst and later Mentor, from the Akron/Canton-based chain of eateries. But after only a few years in operation, he understood that the relationship needed to be terminated. “I always wanted to go local,…
Melissa Etheridge Rocks Columbus Jailhouse
Like Johnny Cash before her, Melissa Etheridge has a passion for helping out local jailbirds. She made a pitstop Wednesday to perform a half-hour set at the Ohio Reformatory for Women to encourage inmates to make more productive choices. The singer was inspired to drop by the prison after seeing a video of inmates singing…
On Equity Planning in Cleveland, Segregation, CDCs and More — A Long Chat With Norman Krumholz, Former City Planner of Cleveland
Norman Krumholz arrived in Cleveland in 1968 with a big idea: to build a more equitable city. Appointed City Planner by Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes, Krumholz set out to “promote a wider range of choices for those who have few, if any, choices.” He and his office rejected traditional efficiency-first models of city planning, and…
Former Cleveland City Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett Indicted for Receiving $250,000 in Bribes
Anyone who can remember Barbara Byrd-Bennett’s tenure at the head of CMSD will remember an era of fudged numbers, scandals, and the brand of general incompetence so valued in a $300,000+ salaried employee during that time. Of course, other cities like incompetence too, and so after she resigned from CMSD following a levy failure in…
Former Put-in-Bay Police Chief Cleared on Two Charges; Awaiting Hearing on Menacing Charge
Former Police Chief Ric Lampela, the self-proclaimed “God of Put-in-Bay,” has been cleared of charges relating to falsification and dereliction of duty in the Lake Erie island’s saga of drug-and-rape cover-ups within his department. A menacing charge remains on the table, as Lampela was accused of using his power to threaten a victim of rape, saying…
Feds Announce Indictments Against Former East Cleveland Officers
Federal prosecutors today indicted former East Cleveland police Sgt. Torris Moore for her role in a conspiracy to commit illegal searches and seizures in several drug trafficking and possession cases. In all, three former officers are accused of fabricating evidence and using false, confidential informants to obtain search warrants to enter the private homes of…
Shots Fired at CSU Apartment Building
No one was injured after an unknown gunman (or gunmen) fired about 20 shots from a vehicle into the Langston Apartments at E. 24th St. and Chester on the Cleveland State University campus early Thursday morning. But CSU officials are urging students and staff to remain on alert. The vehicle was described, in a CSU…
WATCH: LeBron Takes a Selfie with a Kid’s Phone During Last Night’s Pre-Season Game
LeBron James is all about the kids, as evidenced both by his summer kindness crusade and by last night’s mid-game selfie with a bunch of youngsters in Cincinnati while the refs were reviewing a play. All you really need to know is that the kids were stoked. Give the video a watch below.
Swearing in Front of Kids, Plus Joe Haden and Justin Gilbert — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre Knott and Zac Jackson discuss the Browns’ upcoming game against the Ravens and whatever else comes up. Here are the show notes. Crain’s Cleveland Business talks about The A to Z podcast Swearing on the podcast and in front of your children Swearing versus using the F word Do you remember the first time…
Cleveland’s Browns Alternative Has Arrived: All Hail the Cavs!
Ladies and gentleman, it is ON. Like “Mother’s Little Helper” the Cavaliers are here to relieve Cleveland of the burden that is the Browns, and shine a light into our otherwise sad and pitiful sports life. No judgment. We’ve all been there, though not everyone can turn it into song like Morrissey. The Cavaliers kicked…
Cleveland Comedians to Stand-Up for Pro-Choice Ohio
Bombastic, outspoken and hilarious, Cleveland comedians aren’t afraid to share what’s on their minds. This month, they’ll gather in hopes to dish out laughs and opinions for change, or rather, choice. NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio is hosting Comedy for Choice Oct. 16 at the Nash to raise awareness and bring the funny about reproductive rights in…
Despite Distance from AIDS Crisis, ‘Angels in America’ Delivers Dynamite Production
It’s a weird feeling when a play that once rocked you to the soles of your shoes becomes something that is taken for granted by most people. When Tony Kushner’s Angels in America first hit the stage, it lighted audiences’ hair on fire. Here was a play that, in 1993, was speaking about the AIDS…
Rock Hall Announces Nominees for Next Inductions
Some familiar names made it onto the list of nominees for inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016. Acts such as Chic, Deep Purple, Nine Inch Nails [pictured], N.W.A., the Smiths, the Spinners and Yes have been nominated in the past while the Cars, Chaka Khan, Chicago, Cheap Trick,…
Freebie Alert: Watch The Goonies in Akron on Saturday
Imagine the beauty of Chunk’s Truffle Shuffle like you’ve never seen it before: under the stars and on the big screen, courtesy of Free Akron Outdoor Movies. The volunteer group will show The Goonies Saturday, October 17 on the Akron library amphitheater. The night is completely 80s-themed, meaning movie-goers should come with leg warmers, cassette tapes…
Cleveland Metal Veteran Jim Konya to Be Taken Off Life Support After Suffering Debilitating Strokes
A veteran of the metal scene who’s played with local acts such as Nunslaughter, Schnauzer and Gravewurm, Jim Konya recently suffered two strokes not one. He was actually in rehab from the first one for a day or two and showing signs of recovery until the second and more deadly one hit. Last month, a…
Here’s Why 7 Criminals From Florida Were in Northeast Ohio Stealing Credit Cards, Checkbooks and IDs
The surface details of a recent Cleveland.com report leave a few questions we think we can answer for you. The basics: Seven people from Fort Lauderdale were arrested in Westlake. A cop noticed drug paraphernalia in a rental car in a motel parking lot and waited for someone to get in. Once the driver did,…
The Zombies Revisit 1968’s ‘Odessey and Oracle’ on First American Tour in Support of the Album
The music business can be rather fickle. When the Zombies issued their final album, Odessey and Oracle, in 1968, the lukewarm response from both critics and the general public helped drive a stake into the group, which had had a handful of hits prior to its release, causing it to prematurely splinter. The band didn’t…
East Cleveland City Council Meeting Briefly Interrupted by Bed Bug Sighting
Things will come to a head one day with East Cleveland’s future. The city, perpetually in the red, has been repeatedly chastised and warned by state officials. A merger with Cleveland looks like the best solution. If and when that ever gets closer to reality is anybody’s guess given EC’s leadership, but for now East…
City Council Gets Long Hard Look at Matthew Barge, New Consent Decree Monitor
Cleveland City Council’s safety committee convened for a special meeting Wednesday morning to meet and probe Matthew Barge, Deputy Director of the L.A.-based Police Assessment Resource Center. The firm, a non-profit, was just selected as the Independent Monitor to oversee the Cleveland Consent Decree. PARC will be paid nearly $5 million for the job, and…
City of Cleveland Appeals $5.5 Million Verdict in Death of Kenny Smith, Shot and Killed by Off-Duty Cleveland Officer in 2012
Just a few weeks after Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty requested a County Sheriff’s Office review of the case of Kenny Smith, the 20-year-old who was shot and killed by an off-duty Cleveland police officer in 2012 downtown while sitting in his car, and about a month after a jury awarded $5.5 million to Smith’s…
Johnny Manziel’s Grandfather’s House Burned Down Last Night, Arson Suspected
A lake home in Whitehouse, Texas belonging to Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Johnny Manziel’s grandfather was destroyed in an early morning fire, CBS19 reports. Crews responded to the scene at approximately 1:30 a.m. this morning where the Tyler Lake home was already fully engulfed. CBS19 reports that neither Paul Manziel nor his girlfriend Beverly Green were…
Mysteries abound in latest Peter Pan adaptation
Mysteries abound in the latest Peter Pan adaptation. Of course, the biggest mystery is for whom this film was made. Your guess is as good as mine on that front, but if the PG rating is any indication, this one’s for the whole family. Good news is, most of us have happily forgotten the…
Cuyahoga County Clerks Are the Latest Workers to Unionize
Jeff Cardenas never knew what to expect when he fetched files from the “asbestos room” in the parking garage of the Cuyahoga County Justice Center. Among the piles of documents from decades-old asbestos cases and shredded court documents strewn on the floor, he found signs of life: rodent nests, animal feces, a dead bird. When…
Ohio’s Dog Breeding Regulations Aren’t Solving the Puppy Mill Problem
The fire spread fast and flickered madly against the trees along Daniel Miller’s property line. At 10:54 p.m. on Feb. 8, 2014, six Loudonville firefighters arrived by truck to find Miller’s dog kennel completely ablaze. According to the fire department, the fire was “under control” by 12:10 a.m. A record of the fire appears in…
Fans of Korean Barbecue Will Be Thrilled with the Return of Seoul Hot Pot
At the end of the meal, the two of us with the largest appetites were fighting over the last nugget of beef, which had been languishing in a corner of the grill until it was crisp and charred from the heat. It was precisely the sort of singe that only comes from an open flame,…
Is Hopkins Reducing Staffing Because It’s Running Out of Money?
When the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration slapped the City of Cleveland with $735,000 in fines last month for failing to plow and de-ice runways at Hopkins International Airport during the past few winters, there didn’t seem to be too much consternation about planes becoming disabled because the runways were too iced up for their brakes…
Three Cartoonists Present Their Works at BAYarts
Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No! It’s three cartoonists doing a Triple Lindy! What? You were expecting someone else? This weekend, BAYarts’ three cartooning instructors, Randy Crider, Ryan Finley and the Rev. Jim Giar, present new and recent individual and collaborative works. Triple Lindy opens with a reception this…
Band of the Week: Chomp
Meet the Band: Joe Boyer (vocals, gutiars), Jeff Latimer (bass) and Scott Reid (drummer). From Nothing Comes Something: For about three years, Joe Boyer played with Cleveland’s indie rock sensations Cloud Nothings, a group that records and tours incessantly (and has attained a cult following too). He started Chomp at about the same time that…
The Regent Is Playing Checkers While the Others Are Playing Chess in ‘King Lear’ at Great Lakes Theater
If many contemporary playwrights were writing a play about a powerful and impetuous 80-year-old man with three grown and often scheming daughters, you’d expect to get a ton of exposition about their histories — all that back story yadda-yadda. Not so with William Shakespeare, a man who knew a little something about putting on a…
