Plea Deal Directs HIV-Positive Priest to ‘Early Intervention Program’
CLEVELAND POLICE McGonegal The Rev. James McGonegal of St. Ignatius of Antioch Church pleaded guilty this morning to soliciting sex from a Cleveland Metroparks ranger and omitting the fact that he was HIV-positive. (Read the original story below.) McGonegal will now participate in an early intervention program, per a plea deal that’s been in the…
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces nominations for Class of 2014
Joe Kleon Yes No real surprises on the list of nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. Prog rockers Yes were nominated for the first time but that shouldn’t come as a shock. The band stopped at the Rock Hall this summer when it came through town and several…
Cleveland is Metal Theft Capital of America
Ohio University alum Wilbert L. Cooper, now an Associate Editor at Vice, has written a vivid long-form piece about the scrap-metal community in Cleveland, Ohio — a bustling community indeed. Foremost among his revelations is that Cleveland ranks first in the U.S., by a substantial margin, for metal theft per capita. Cooper follows scrappers —…
Hazard Adams plays Scene Session
The guys in the local indie outfit Hazard Adams are putting the finishing touches on an album they hope to release before year’s end. They stopped by our office last week to debut a few songs from it and play a few songs from the self-released album they put out in 2012. They’ve never played…
Desperate Browns Fan Posts Wanted Ad on Craigslist for New Quarterback
A desperate Cleveland Browns fan has posted an ad on Craigslist for a new quarterback. The ad-ster poignantly requests: “Please no redheads, people named Brett, or any U. Of Florida alum.” Welp, that eliminates Weeden, Brett Favre, and Tim Tebow, yes? Compensation would run $125,000 a week. Not too shabby. Read the ad for yourself…
Lake Erie Monster Shows Up in North Coast Harbor
VIA LAKE ERIE MONSTERS FACEBOOK PAGE The Lake Erie Monster – quite literally the logo for the Lake Erie Monsters AHL team – has surfaced in North Coast Harbor. The stunt comes by way of the Monsters and the Downtown Cleveland Alliance. That’s pretty much it. It looks cool.
Cavs Season Primer aka The Dilemmas of the Understaffed aka “The Rotation Situation”
After yesterday’s practice, the Cavs announced an absolute slew of injuries. We already knew about poor Tyler Zeller. He strained his hip on the slippery floor of Baldwin-Wallace, under the blameless Brazilian heft of Anderson Varejao, during the Wine & Gold scrimmage two weeks ago and then required an emergency appendectomy on Friday. (Here I…
AOL Lays Off Remaining Patch Editors in Ohio
After an often rocky trip through the local news business, AOL laid off all remaining Patch editors in Ohio this week. No surprise, really, after AOL CEO Tim Armstrong leveled the blog platform’s workforce by 40 percent back in August. This latest round here in Ohio has been looming for awhile, local editors said in…
Top 14 Destinations to View Fall Foliage in Northeast Ohio
The transition from summer to fall can mark a painful and difficult time. No more sun, swimsuits or sandals. No more warm breezes or eating outdoors. While the birds may leave, most of us don’t have that option. But it isn’t all bad. There are lots of exciting things to ease us into autumn, like…
Plans Drawn to Convert Dormant Chippewa Lake Park Into Outdoor Concert Complex
Medina County’s Chippewa Lake Park, known to some as a relentlessly creepy abandoned amusement park and to others as a northeast Ohio landmark, rich with the memories of yesteryear, may be getting a makeover. The folks at Flying Cages LLC, a Cleveland-based real estate development company, have drawn up plans to transform the long-dormant amusement…
Lakewood Police Respond to Call of Street Fight, Find Zombie Re-Enactment Instead
Photo Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons When Lakewood police received a call on Saturday afternoon regarding a large street fight, they might have thought they’d be dealing with some good ol’ suburban riffraff. What they found when they approached a bus stop on Clifton Avenue, however, was far from the classic brawler- in fact, it…
14 Historical Celebrities Buried in Cleveland
Everyone knows about the mammoth Garfield monument in Lakeview Cemetery (the top of which, among other things, boasts one of the city’s most picturesque views of downtown), but that’s not the only gravestone of note in Northeast Ohio. In addition to politicians and industry titans, Cleveland’s subterranean chambers host a slew of innovators and quirky…
Judge Tells Ohio Man that He’s Legally Dead
KEV MUR VIA INSTAGRAM In the 1980s, a Findlay, OH man decided he would rather die than pay child support. Too bad he’s still alive today. According to the Findlay Courier, Donald Miller Jr. was found to be legally dead in 1994 by Probate Judge Allan Davis. At the time of the ruling, Miller had…
Browns Fan Burns Brandon Weeden Jersey
With yesterday’s depressing loss to the Lions staring us down in our rear-view mirrors on Monday morning, lots of people are pissed off. Ipso facto, the blame’s gotta go somewhere. The PD’s Dennis Manoloff gave quarterback Brandon Weeden an “F,” but one fan chose to express disdain in a more meaningful way. …By burning his…
A Northeast Ohio Man Is Hoarding Over 150 Snakes In His Home
When Youngstown, OH authorities stopped by the home of 46-year-old Joseph McCollum to check on him after he’d been bitten by a rattlesnake and had forgone proper treatment, they were shocked at what they found: over 150 snakes- including deadly rattlers and cobras- were being hoarded in the basement of this northeast Ohio home. “The…
October Chocolate Walk Coming to Downtown Lakewood
Support local businesses and be rewarded… with chocolate. Sounds like a pretty sick deal, eh? The Downtown Lakewood Business Alliance is holding the Chocolate Walk on October 24 from 6-9 p.m. More than twenty businesses along Detroit between Arthur and Olivewood Avenue will host Sweet Shops, which will each offer a unique chocolate confection. Lion…
10 Awesome Gyros in Cleveland
Some say “gyro” while others say “gee-row,” either way the translation is delicious. This Greek inspired classic has spread beyond the Mediterranean, and has found some serious roots right here in Northeast Ohio. From family owned restaurants to trendy gastro-pubs, Cleveland’s version of the gyro runs the spectrum from traditional to down right bizarre. No…
Man Jailed After Showing Up Drunk to His OVI Court Appearance
A Perrysville man was put behind bars last week bars after showing up intoxicated to his hearing for drunken driving. Upon observing Jason Blythe, 33, drunkenly bumble into a Norwalk Municipal Court courtroom on Oct. 1, Judge Eric R. Weisenburger immediately ordered Blythe to submit to a breathalyzer test. Blythe blew a hearty 0.154 percent-…
Air Canada Loses Medina Woman’s Dog, Sends Startling Email In Response
An Ohio woman is outraged after Air Canada straight up lost her dog and then sent out a startling email in response to her complaint. Here’s how the events went down- Jutta Kulic originally of Medina, OH promised her friend before she died of cancer that she would find a home for Larry, her two-year-old…
Reviews of the weekend’s must-see movies
Machete Kills Thinking about going to see exploitation action flick Machete Kills this weekend? You might want to think again. The film features some great roles for actors such as Danny Trejo, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Mel Gibson. But that can’t compensate for its flimsy plot. You’re probably better off with the Tom Hanks flick…
Alleged Credit Card Thief Escapes Courtroom Only to Strike Again
Sandusky Register Matthew Haller’s mugshot What are 14 minutes of freedom worth? If you’re Matthew Haller of Vermillion, two credit cards and probable jail time. Haller, 32, was in court being arraigned on charges of credit card theft when he made a run for it. According to the Sandusky Register, when the police officer who…
Search for Christina Adkins Continues in Field Off I-90: UPDATE
ERIC SANDY/SCENE Investigators gather along the I-90 ramp to the Inner Belt, just outside the crime scene UPDATE: The FBI says that remains have been found at the site they are searching today. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner arrived to determine if the remains are human confirmed Friday afternoon that human bones were indeed found.…
Cleveland Indians in the Midst of Heated Team-Name Controversy (Again)
Ralf Peter Reimann via Flickr The Cleveland Indians are yet again being dragged through the mud in the national debate surrounding controversial names and derogatory team mascots. In the latest bout of racist team-name news, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder pulled the ol’ nostalgia trumps racism card. He’s currently wrapped up in a lengthy legal…
Open Casting Call for FOX’s MasterChef to be Held in Columbus
On the popular FOX show MasterChef, chefs Gordon Ramsay and Graham Elliot pair up with restaurateur Joe Bastianich to crown the next MasterChef from a new class of home cooks from across the country. Previous competitors have included stay-at-home moms, doctors, janitors, lawyers, teachers and truck drivers. The show is summer’s number one program on…
Convention Center Hotel Will Be a Hilton
Artist’s Rendering The PD’s Michelle Jarboe McFee broke the news this morning that Hilton Worldwide will be the likely operator of the hotel connected to the Cleveland Convention Center. The $260 million publicly financed project will replace the former County Administration building at Ontario and Lakeside. And on first blush, the renderings look totally swanktastic.…
Mohican State Parks Launches Inaugural “Instahike” Trek This Weekend
Mohican State Park is jumping on the social media bandwagon by launching its first-ever “Instahike” trek- a scenic three mile hike where participants are encouraged to snap pics and post observations to Instagram along the way. A park naturalist, geologist, and fall color expert will guide hikers to Big and Little Lyons Falls, Pleasant Hill…
A Conversation with Cleveland Photographer Chuck Mintz on his Compelling Project “Precious Objects”
Cleveland photographer Chuck Mintz doesn’t own a precious object. This may seem odd for a man who recently completed a photography project revolving around objects of this nature, that is, items that people have had for long periods of time, that hold special meaning, and that would not, or could not be replaced. When pressed…
State Report: Prison Logs Falsified in Run-Up to Ariel Castro’s Death, Which In Turn May Have Been Caused By Auto-Erotic Asphyxiation
Even in death, this jackass finds ways of making terrible headlines. Ariel Castro’s death may not have been a suicide, according to a state report released this morning. In fact, state officials may be suspecting auto-erotic asphyxiation, as Castro was found with his pants and underwear slung around his ankles in mid-air. “The relevance of…
VIDEO: Adorable Kid Asks Kyrie Irving If He’s Leaving Cleveland Like LeBron Did
Here’s a little vid to cheer you up on this Thursday morning: Welp, there you have it. Kyrie has no plans of leaving. Yet.
Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin tour coming to Ohio Theatre
Singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter doesn’t remember exactly when she met fellow singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin, but she remembers where. Carpenter was living in the D.C. area at the time, and Colvin came into town to perform at the Alexandria club the Birchmere. “It’s a great club,” says Carpenter, who performs with Colvin at 7:30 p.m. on…
10 Things Going on in Cleveland this Weekend (October 11-13)
We’ve got another bustlin’ fall weekend on our hands, Cleveland. There are several stellar acts coming in to town, including the likes of Over the Rhine, Wanda Sykes, and Dweezil Zappa- the late musician Frank Zappa’s oldest son. There’s also plenty of opportunity to eat, drink, and shop your way around the city with the…
The Spitfire Says They’ll Play Video Tonight of Couple Having Sex in Spitfire TV Room
There you are, out at the Spitfire, that sort of romantic atmosphere that has you saying, “Ya know, honey, why wait until we get home to have sex. Let’s go in the TV room over here at this bar and do it there.” Of course, you don’t know (or maybe you do), that the Spitfire…
Cleveland Blues Society announces line-up for upcoming challenge
The Cleveland Blues Society has announced the line-up for the fifth annual International Blues Society Memphis Challenge. Twelve local acts will participate in the event takes place at noon on Sunday, Oct. 13 at Bohemian National Hall in Cleveland. Winners go on to represent Cleveland at the 2014 International Blues Challenge in Memphis during the…
Cleveland Melts 352 Guns at ArcelorMittal
Carmen Angelo, WTAM 1100 Whether or not the act of melting firearms that citizens have voluntarily surrendered will produce any effect on violence in Northeast Ohio remains to be seen. But ArcelorMittal, in partnership with Mayor Frank Jackson and the city, today melted 352 guns obtained in the 2013 City of Cleveland Gun Buy-Back. In…
Here’s an In-Depth Profile of the Haslam Family
Jimmy Haslam, toting a Diet Coke Here’s one of the more relevant passages from a story by Elizabeth Merrill at ESPN.com about the Haslam family: When it comes to business, Jimmy Haslam is hands-on and intense. He’s a truck-stop savant. Mention a city, anywhere on the map, and he can rattle off where the Pilot…
200 Pound Statue Stolen from Ohio Golf Tournament in Dublin
Golf in Dublin, OH has been anything but boring as of late. Just a few days ago, a female streaker sprinted her way through the Presidents Cup. Today, news has come in that a 200 pound golf ball sculpture has been stolen from the Ohio Memorial Golf Tournament. Police are offering a mulligan to the…
Jukebox Bar to Open in Hingetown Area of Ohio City
There have been bars built around live music. Many others have been constructed as temples to craft beer and cocktails. And there certainly is no shortage of those that cater to sports and the people who live (and die) by them. But when Jukebox, a City Tavern opens early next year in Ohio City, it…
Greyhound Bus Traveling to Cleveland Crashes, Sends Dozens to the Hospital
A Greyhound Bus traveling from New York City to Cleveland crashed in Pennsylvania early this morning, killing one and sending dozens more to area hospitals in critical condition. The Associated Press reports that around 1:45 a.m. a Greyhound Bus struck a tractor trailer from behind on Interstate 80, near White Deer Township in Union County,…
Cavs Pound Milwaukee Bucks in Preseason Opener
The Mike Brown era has returned to Cleveland, and folks, it looks awfully promising. We’ve said it before, but one of the things which makes Coach Brown so unique is the extent to which he actually coaches during games. Last night, in a 99-87 victory over the visiting Milkwaukee Bucks, a game in which the…
Reunited Del-Lords to play the Winchester
What’s a good way to make a cynical music geek a true believer? Show them a reunion or two of some obscure bands in their collection that they swore would never take the stage again. Take the musical rebirth of the Del-Lords, who play the Winchester on Tuesday. After more than two decades, a grand…
Famous Local Blimp ‘The Spirit of Goodyear’ Retires, Heads South
VIA GOODYEAR The Spirit of Goodyear, that glorious Akron-based blimp that hovers over sports stadiums, is heading to Florida for its imminent retirement. The company will be rolling out its new Goodyear NT airships next spring. These new rigs are about 25 percent larger and more efficient. “The Spirit of Goodyear gave up its hangar…
Northeast Ohio’s Lesser Known – But Still Beloved! – Home-Grown Inventions
Cleveland: Home of Superman, one of our favorite inventions. Northeast Ohio has always been a hotbed of innovation. Still is, really. Today’s Cleveland-area badasses are churning out unique products and services via our plethora of startups and tech companies. Hell, Akron is known in some circles at the City of Invention. And not without reason,…
Slice of Death: Murder and Cannibalism are on the Menu in this Tasty Production of Sweeney Todd
So a bald man with a family is on a rampage, killing people as he attempts to settle scores with those who have wronged him. No, it’s not Walter White, the middle-aged meth cooker who, sadly, has baked the blue for the last time on Breaking Bad. This play instead is about Sweeney Todd, the…
Band of the Week: Zora
Meet the Band: Zora (vocals, keyboards, production, songwriting), Xhausen (synthesizer, production) A Classical Case: Zora and Xhausen met three years ago by chance while attending at classical concert at Severance Hall. “We had no idea that we’d be writing music three years later,” she says, adding that she describes the group’s music as “dystopian” and…
Quick Change: Eddie Cerino Ditches Burgers in Lakewood in Favor of Casual Italian
“It was a tough year for me,” admits Eddie Cerino, who in addition to losing his older brother Dominic had to make the difficult decision to shutter and rebrand his Lakewood restaurant. That restaurant was Eddie ‘N Eddie Burgers, Bourbon and Apple Pie, which lasted less than a year in a high-profile spot before succumbing…
Perfect Pairings: Gigi’s Wine Cafe on Fairmount is a Labor of Love
Gia Ilijasic and her husband James Patsch have a motto that faithfully guides their personal life: “Eat. Laugh. Wine.” The outgoing Shaker Heights couple works to live, habitually dining at the city’s finest restaurants, knocking back the best bottles of wine, and throwing the most elaborate parties. Like others before them, the enthusiastic amateurs hope…
The Cleveland Craft Beer Report
Southern Tier Brewing Company has recreated I-90 American Pale Ale for Cleveland Beer Week 2013. This special beer first hit local taps for the 2011 edition of Cleveland’s official craft beer celebration and was so well received that it’s been brought back for an encore. The name is a tribute to the highway that connects…
Here’s What’s Fresh (and Seasonal) at Bac Asian American Bistro
In just a few months, Bac Asian American Bistro (2661 West 14th St., 216-938-8960, bactremont.com) will cross the four-year mark in one of Cleveland’s toughest culinary proving grounds: Tremont. Chef and owner Bac Nguyen chose the name Bac for his restaurant because its Vietnamese translation, “north,” aptly described the focus of the menu on foods…
The Last Ride of a Cleveland Hells Angel Informant
When the trash collector talked to the old man sitting in a bluish Jaguar outside of a burning house in Avinger, Texas, in the early morning hours of July 8, the old man said he knew the house was on fire but he “was more worried about the bullets that may start flying.” After driving away…
Film Review of the Week: Captain Phillips
Having followed the outbreak of Somali piracy and its feverish media coverage, which began and promptly crested in 2008 and 2009, I went into Captain Phillips, which opens area-wide on Friday, knowing the general story. Richard Phillips, the real-life merchant mariner on whom the film is based, wrote a memoir about the 2009 hijacking of…
Film Spotlight: Escape from Tomorrow
A hit at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Escape from Tomorrow, which opens at the Cedar Lee Theatre on Friday, certainly is a novel concept. Director Randy Moore decided to shoot most of the movie guerilla-style inside the Walt Disney World Resort; Moore’s decision is highly ironic since the family drama that unfolds contrasts sharply…
Barenaked Ladies Frontman Explains how the Canadian Band got its Groove Back
Throughout their 25-year career, Barenaked Ladies have always seemed like a band that’s up for being in on most any joke. Video of a recent promotional interview found BNL singer-songwriter and guitarist Ed Robertson riding up and down the elevator at New York’s historic 70-story building 30 Rock, fielding song requests from surprised passengers and…
Regional Beat: The Alan Greene Band
No Stranger to Blues (self-released) Veteran bluesman Alan Greene and his band have been kicking around Northeast Ohio for decades now. Greene and his terrific band are in good form on this studio release. The raucous album opener “Little Black Mark” has ZZ Top-like swagger as Greene kicks out the jams. Greene is at his…
In the Nude: A Trip to a Clothing-Optional Resort Inspired Robin Spielberg’s “Naked on the Bench”
In her new self-published memoir, Naked on the Bench: My Adventures in Pianoland, pianist Robin Spielberg writes about her career and explains how the Atlantic Theater Company, which she co-founded with playwright/director David Mamet and her close friends, actress Felicity Huffman and actor William H. Macy, helped launch her musical career. Spielberg, who plays classical,…
Savage Love: Coast
I visited Halifax, Nova Scotia, last week—for my geographically illiterate fellow Americans, Halifax is the biggest city on Canada’s Atlantic coast—to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Coast, Halifax’s kick-ass alternative weekly newspaper. The paper brought me to town to do Savage Love Live. I took questions for two hours in…
