Ohio Redistricting Group Gives New Map Failing Grades
Grade: F. These are frustrating days for Jim Slagle. Earlier this year, the head of the non-profit Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting had taken on a tough cause: trying to get Ohio’s legislators to act their age when it comes to creating a plan to divide the state into 16 new congressional slices. But by…
Donna Chriszt Out as Chef of Fountain; Brian Okin Steps In
Brian Okin (Verve, Dinner in the Dark) has taken over the kitchen at Fountain (34105 Chagrin Blvd., 216-755-1225) in Moreland Hills, which opened just over three months ago. He is replacing opening chef Donna Chriszt. His first day on the job is today. “Whether it was me or somebody else, the owners were going to…
Cleveland Ranked in Top Ten Mustache-Friendly Cities
All awards and recognitions are not created equally. There’s a sliding scale, from the end where you scream out loud, thump your chest, and call your parents, to the end where you force a smile, nod quickly, and immediately toss the award in the garbage. City rankings are no different. Cleveland has been left off…
Ohio Pot Groups Stumbling In Medical Marijuana Effort
If only we had a pot superwoman. One of two groups trying to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio succeeded in garnering enough signatures to appease Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. Sadly, what did not go over so well was the group’s proposed ballot language, which DeWine lit up like a fatty at Reggae Fest. Further…
The Quality of Cleveland Life Report
Your guide to living in fabulous Cleveland. Doctoring the Books: MetroHealth reveals plan to offset massive debt by laying off 450 workers this fall. Hospital officials assure public that Sheila in hospitality services is a keeper — “and she knows her way around a first-aid kit.” Garbage In, Garbage Out: Mayor Jackson returns from Japanese…
Architect of Gateway Project Sells Stadium Dreams to Dayton
Back in the late 1980s, Cuyahoga County’s powers-that-were decided that Cleveland would sink into the abyss of irrelevance if it did not erect a couple brand-new sports complexes for the Indians and Cavaliers. So it approved an interminable sin tax on booze and smokes, set up the Gateway Economic Development Corporation to handle construction and…
Pic of the Day: Tribe Rookies in Speedos
Last night was rookie initiation night for the Tribe rookies in Detroit and that meant freshman meat in fancy underwear. Indians closer Chris Perez was good enough to tweet out a picture of the hazing.
Concert Review: Tune-Yards at the Beachland Ballroom
Leave it to a new buzz band to beat the turnout for the legendary Swans at the same venue less than a week later and practically quadruple audience feedback. Last night at Beachland Ballroom, Tune-Yards turned in a 65-minute set heavy on highlights. Tune-Yards’ Merrill Garbus graced the stage to lay the groundwork drum loops…
U of Akron Alum Sued by School for Unpaid Tuition
Fear the Roo. The shoulders of a lot of public institutions — universities included — are heavy with the weight of growing financial burdens. Budgets are getting the slash and burn everywhere and public funding is on a crash diet, which means a lot of these outfits have dispatched frantic search parties looking for every…
Video: Fan Celebrates With Browns After Touchdown
More fun from the Browns game Sunday, as the late September win against the Dolphins has provided more than its fair share of fun off-the-field moments. Here’s another one you probably caught live if you were watching: a Browns fan jumping onto the field from the Dawg Pound to celebrate with Mohamed Massaquoi after his…
Pic of the Day: Abandoned Rollercoaster in Chippewa Lake
For more history and snaps from the old abandoned Chippewa Lake amusement park, this page is a must. (Pic via Reddit)
NSFW: Browns Tailgaters Caught in the Act
Listen, up front, right here: NSFW NSFW NSFW. Both the video and the audio. Via Deadspin: Here’s a guy getting a Muni Lot blowjob behind a truck Sunday. The commentary is even worse than the blurry video. Just a warning. No, we’re not exceedingly proud of this one, but consensus vote in the office deemed…
Michael Symon’s ‘The Chew’ Hammered by Critics
The way Cleveland sees it, Michael Symon can do no wrong. Mr. Iron Chef, after all, is one of the city’s biggest cheerleaders, has helped put Cleveland on the food map, has systematically delivered some of the best food in town, and despite his 1,307 different TV obligations, remains a presence locally. We love Symon.…
State Senator Shirley Smith Living Outside of Her District, According to Channel 3 Investigation
State lawmakers are saddled with very few restrictions. Don’t get caught with hookers, driving drunk, or driving drunk with hookers, for example. Don’t egregiously break campaign fund-raising laws. That’s another. The list of restrictions is so short, in fact, that it doesn’t even include a requirement to actually do anything of use for your constituents.…
Verb Ballet Show Goes On
In case you had been wondering what happened to last Friday’s Verb Ballet’s performance, here’s an update straight from the source: The previously scheduled Friday, September 23 performance of Verb Ballets at the Breen Center for the Performing Arts, on the campus of St. Ignatius High School, has been rescheduled for Friday, September 30, 2011.…
Video: Browns Fan Strips to Underwear, Tries to Fight
At first glance, any video involving a probably drunk Browns fan in the Muni Lot during a tailgate stripping down to his underwear to try and fight someone should be a cinematic burst of mirth. When the alleged instigator, who is also “DJing,” starts telling his friends to “fuck that piece of shit up,” the…
Here’s Your Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2012 Induction Nominees
Eric B. & Rakim learn of their nomination The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its list of 2012 induction nominees this morning. And like every year, they’re a mix of the cool, obvious, it’s about time, old, and WTF? Here they are: Beastie BoysThe CureDonovanEric B. & RakimGuns ‘N RosesHeartJoan Jett and The…
Afternoon Brew: Zombies in Lakewood, Akron Native’s Jimmy Fallon Gig, Bad Mushroom Trip, and Ed FitzGerald Across Ohio
Rick Uldricks Good afternoon, Cleveland. Here’s some stuff to read while you remember that you left your umbrella in the car this morning. — From over the weekend: The PD looks at the possible eventuality of Cuyahoga exec Ed FitzGerald in a statewide office. They call him a “big fish.” Hopefully he’s not a Asian…
Middle School Teacher Accused of Groping 14-Year-Old Girl (Updated)
Update: Prosecutors announced today that the charges against Jay Bloesinger, who was originally arrested for allegedly groping a 14-year-old girl, have been dropped “with prejudice.” That means they can not be filed again. The PD reports on the decision: “As the case progressed,” prosecutor’s spokeswoman Maria Russo said after the hearing, “additional information and evidence…
Atari Teenage Riot Cancel Tonight’s Peabody’s Concert
Tonight’s Atari Teenage Riot concert at Peabody’s has been canceled. There’s no official word on why the pioneer German electronic group pulled the plug on tonight’s show with such short notice, but we suspect tickets haven’t been selling that great. Still, you think they would have canceled a little sooner than the day of show…
25 Years Ago, Cleveland Released 1.5 Million Balloons Into the Air And Caused Some Problems
The Plain Dealer’s Michael O’Malley — who, should he ever lose his job at the paper, is clearly ready for a second career as an extra in recreations of the Continental Congress if his author photo is any indication — has a piece on a quirky bit of Cleveland history today. 25 years ago, on…
Patrick Coyne, Top Cuyahoga Dem, Indicted in Corruption Probe (Updated)
Another one bites . . . ? Ah! The dust. That’s it. Update II: Patrick Coyne was sentenced to 57 months in prison. (WOIO) According to the PD, the fact that Coyne scammed an 84-year-old out of over $32,000 weighed heavily in the sentence. Coyne told the judge “I’m a better person than that, and…
Jim Thome Will Get a Statue, Could Use a Bigger Umbrella
Friday night was Jim Thome celebration night down at Jacobs Field and yesterday afternoon was the Thomenator’s last game in a Tribe uniform at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario (again). Big weekend for high socks and Peoria muscle. The club announced, to Thome’s surprise, that they will build a statue of No. 25 to…
A Craigslist Missed Connection Over Scene and ‘3D Sex and Zen’
We like to think Scene serves many purposes: breaking news, music updates, lining your bird cages, political watch-dogging, your source for escort phone numbers, arts coverage, something to read at the bar when you’re by yourself so you don’t look totally lonely, etc. But at our heart, we’re all about love, which is why this…
Monday Morning Music Swag Giveaway
Mastodon’s excellent new album The Hunter comes out tomorrow. And to celebrate this most joyous occasion, we have a prize package consisting of a T-shirt, hat, and koozie. The Hunter is more streamlined than most Mastodon albums, but it still kicks plenty of ass. The songs are more structured — no 19-minute prog-metal epics about…
Man Steals Cop Car From Shooting Scene in Flats
Cleveland police received a call about a shooting at Club Alchemy (1575 Merwin Ave., just around the corner from the Flat Iron) around 4:30 a.m. early Saturday morning. It seems the gunshot victim accidentally bumped into the alleged shooter while pushing his cousin around in a wheelchair. We have no idea what goes on at…
Concert Review: Swans at the Beachland Ballroom
The legendary New York no wave band Swans are thriving once again, pummeling audiences with their sweeping, all-enveloping sound. And one by one, band members took to the Beachland Ballroom stage Friday night, each to their respective stations to construct an ominous extended intro. Frontman Michael Gira was the last of the wild bunch to…
Afternoon Brew: Councilman Kelley Running for Prosecutor, a Vintage Browns Grill, Orlando Brown Dies, and Don’t Beat Your Kid With a Baseball Bat
Good afternoon, Cleveland. Here’s some stuff to read while you get ready to drink vodka with us tonight. — Councilman Kevin Kelley officially declared his candidacy for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor. From the press release: “Cleveland City Councilman Kevin Kelley today announced his candidacy for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor. Kelley’s plans for the office include expanding the…
Cleveland Crush Takes the Field Tonight
Our dead tree edition (you remember those things right? In the boxes on street corners? They’re like the internet, except you have to manually “click” to the next page) this week features the ladies of the Cleveland Crush. The Lingerie Football League franchise team plays its first game tonight down at Quicken Loans Arena. Squatting…
East Side Outpost of Popular ABC the Tavern in the Works
Alan Glazen has just signed a lease to open an East Side outpost of his popular Ohio City bar ABC the Tavern (1872 W. 25th St., 216-861-3857). Slated to open this spring, ABC will be located in the new Uptown project in University Circle, directly behind the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). Like the original,…
Video: Ohio University Bobcats Are Mildly Excited to Wear Black Jerseys
Despite protestations from old-schoolers and traditionalists, Nike and the rest of the apparel giants continue their experiment to make players look like mutant robot armies from space. The public may hate the garish get-ups, but if you doubt for a second that the players themselves love them, check out this video of the Ohio Bobcats…
Peter B. Lewis: “Our Marijuana Laws Are Stupid”
Noted pot enthusiast, billionaire, and Progressive chairman Peter B. Lewis, though a proponent of marijuana reform, has been quiet in the past year even as a couple of groups push for medical marijuana initiatives in Ohio. Earlier this spring, he put a call out through his lawyer for proposals for Ohio, but has been publicly…
Here’s a Prototype Indians Uniform The Team Never Wore
You think you know everything about your favorite team, and then bam, something new. UniWatch has a phenomenal post today about the pic above, which is a 1958 wire photo showing a uniform prototype for the Wahoos that never made it on the field. Neat, right? Both of these were actually prototypes at the time,…
Someone Stole the Lake Erie Crushers’ Mascot’s Head (Updated)
Update II: Worry not, baseball fans, Northeast Ohioans, and Americans, the cherished and recently missing head of Stomper, the Lake Erie Crushers mascot, has been returned to the team. It was found under a tarp outside the stadium. All things are now right with the world. (Fox 8) ***
Afternoon Brew: Thugs Want the “Stuff,” Local Philanthropist Passes Away, OverDrive Updates the Library, and Downtown Commutes Are Going to Get Worse
Hello Cleveland. Here’s some tasty news bits to chew over while you plot a new route home on your commute from downtown. — In Akron, three armed men held a family, including two children, at gunpoint last night, demanding they hand over “the stuff.” What exactly the said “stuff” was, the thugs didn’t divulge. They…
Anthony Calabrese III and Sanford Prudoff Indicted in Cuyahoga County Corruption Saga
A grand jury handed down more indictments today in the ongoing Cuyahoga County corruption saga, this time against attorney Anthony Calabrese III (son of former judge Anthony Calabrese Jr.) and Sanford Prudoff, former community development director in Lorain. If you guessed the charges center on conspiracy, bribery, fraud, tampering, and more — basically the A…
Streetlight King of Cleveland Making Progress?
Last year we introduced you to Henry Senyak, the man who, for no money and no reason other than to keep Cleveland lit and safe, monitors, reports, and double-checks Cleveland streetlights. His time and dedication, while manic and a little scary, are seriously impressive — thus his moniker: The Streetlight King of Cleveland. Cleveland Public…
Blogger Thinks Akron Hospital’s Use of ‘OMG’ on Billboard Degrades God, Hospital Pulls Billboard
Akron Children’s Hospital will remove a billboard that read, “OMG! There’s an Akron Children’s ER in Montrose!” because one loony mommy religious-leaning blogger was “completely disgusted” by the hospital’s use of the super-common, every-day, dictionary-approved abbreviation, and thought it degraded God. AHsdh. AOSInvdsav. AHhhhhhhh. OMFFFFFGGG OK, we think we’re composed now. Let’s just go back…
Matt Harlan Promoted to B Spot Regional Mgr.: First Up, B Spot Casino!
Matt Harlan has been promoted within the Michael Symon Restaurant group to Regional Manager of all current and future B Spot Burgers. He is replacing Greg MacLaren, who is no longer with the organization. Taking over Harlan’s post as GM at Lolita will be Abrahm Noufer, who currently works as manager at Lola. Harlan has…
Two Scary Bank Robbers Have Been Arrested, Two More on the Loose
That’s a pretty scary visual over there to the right. Halloween masks. Guns. Not what you want to see at your local bank. Maybe in a Ben Affleck flick, but only if the Boston accents are done well, and even then not really. Yesterday afternoon reports broke that the Fifth Third Bank in Rocky River…
BREAKING: Cleveland Is Poor
The 2010 Census is continually being mined for new data and overarching trends. From the humble answers provided by you, me, but not that shady guy who never answers his door and probably deals drugs, we get a better picture of America Today. How many people live in a given place is just the start.…
Major Chef Shift at Newly Risen Flour in Moreland Hills
Less than six months into its run, Flour (34205 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills, 216-464-3700) has lost its opening chef and partner Chris DiLisi. “I wanted to move on,” says DiLisi, whose last day was a week and a half ago. “We had drastic differences of opinion on how to run a restaurant.” Despite working for…
Ron Paul Wouldn’t Actually Give Dennis Kucinich a Cabinet Post
U.S. News and World Report says that during a breakfast with the press Wednesday morning, Libertarian GOP Ron Paul said he’d consider giving Dennis! Kucinich a Cabinet post should Paul win the Presidency. Maybe State or Defense. While Paul and Dennis! seem to have a mutual respect, and while diametrically opposed on some issues (taxes),…
Afternoon Brew: 75 Arrested for Meth Operation, Most Corrupt Lawmaker, Internship for Baron Davis, East Bank Developer Mad, and Don’t Do Heroin Around Your Kid
Good afternoon, Cleveland. Here’s some stuff to read while you ask your boss if Baron Davis can have an internship at your company. — 75 around Northeast Ohio were arrested after yearlong investigation into a meth-making operation that also involved a horde of other criminal activities. None of the suspects, sadly, are as cool as…
Elyria Mom Leaves Kids Home Alone While She Drinks in Bar
“I lik yoo, buddy. Can yoo keep a secret???” So you’re behind the bar, watching the shadows darken the doorway and head for the counter top, just waiting for the clock to grind the evening down so you can clear out the regulars and call it a night. As you pour the drinks, you make…
Delonte West Explains What Happened the Night He Got Arrested With a Small Arsenal
Everyone remembers the Desperado Delonte episode. Mr. West, one of the most colorful, talented, and enjoyable members of the Cavaliers at that point, the guy who rapped at KFC and wanted his donuts, was pulled over before the 2009-2010 season near D.C. on his motorcycle. He happened to be carrying a shotgun, a knife, and…
Cuyahoga County Council Has a Survey No One Is Answering
The new Cuyahoga County Council has discovered Survey Monkey, and wants your opinion. The topic for the county’s first-ever foray into the wilds of public thought: how to carry out the county charter mandate to provide residents with financial assistance to cover higher education costs.The five-question survey appeared on the council website September 6, but…
On View This Week
At the Museum of Contemporary Art: Set in WoodK For the final exhibition in its Carnegie Avenue location, MOCA offers Ursula von Rydingsvard: Sculpture 1991-2009. Von Rydingsvard’s trademark construction of deceptively rough-edged, monumental-scale works in cedar displays a high degree of continuity throughout the two represented decades — something the artist is slightly self-conscious about.…
Sushi Underground
Diners who make the short descent into Ginko, the subterranean sushi bar beneath Dante likely will feel like they’ve entered a foreign land. That’s by design, says chef and owner Dante Boccuzzi – and also why the project is a few years late. “I wanted the restaurant to have a true Japanese feeling that you…
At the Arthouse
!Women Art Revolution Documentary about the feminist art movement taps the feminine and arty insight of Yoko Ono, Miranda July, and Cindy Sherman. The director — Lynn Hershman Leeson — graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art but now lives in San Francisco, where feminine arty types tend to go. At the Cinematheque at 8:35…
In the Flesh
It’s been a pretty rough decade for Flesh-n-Bone, the most troubled member of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. He was the first member of the Cleveland-bred rap crew to release a solo album, but he torched his own career almost immediately with a series of gun-wielding run-ins with the law. Last year’s Bone reunion show at House of…
Suck It Up
When Jonathon Sawyer first described the rationale behind Noodlecat, he said he was looking to have some fun. Why not? “It’s noodles in a bowl for $10 to $13.” As a result, Noodlecat now stands in direct contrast to Sawyer’s ambitious, elaborate Greenhouse Tavern: a laid-back noodle bar built around the swift and generous pleasures…
Game On
The smack of football pads — a dull thunk in the sonic neighborhood of a fender bender — is gender neutral and decidedly unsexy. Quarterback Abbie Sullivan takes the snap, jackknifes straight back, and delivers a perfect spiral into the hands of an open receiver camped 20 yards downfield. A chorus of hits rings out…
Money Shot to Hell
The reputation of 3-D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy far precedes the movie itself. Hell, its reputation is also way more stimulating than the actual movie. The film broke all sorts of sales records upon its release in Hong Kong — not because it’s good or anything like that, but because it’s soft-core porn with…
Get Out!
Thursday | 22 Visible Voice Books Bikes, Booze, and a Band Trying to balance your yen for bicycling with a yearning for a good glass of wine? Well lucky you: Tonight’s fun from Tremont’s Visible Voice Books will help you do just that. Tote the two-wheeler to Happy Dog (5801 Detroit Ave.) at 6:30 p.m.…
Home Movies
Bridesmaids (Universal) Why do boys get to have all the fun? That’s the big question hanging over this distaff Hangover. But once the raunchy movie settles into a groove — which is almost immediately — it turns out to be a whole lot better than just a bunch of cooter jokes. You can thank a…
Stay In!
TOP PICK – VIDEO GAME Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Square Enix) This sequel not only stomps all over the original, it’s also one of the best games of the year. Loaded with a gripping narrative (rife with conspiracy theories) and gameplay (almost every single decision you make along the way will come back to haunt…
CD Review: Jens Lekman
If Ben Folds grew up in Sweden and played guitar instead of piano, he might have been Jens Lekman, whose smart-ass wit, geeky charm, and lingering melancholia evokes Folds’ literate NPR rock. This five-song EP is Lekman’s first release since his 2007 breakthrough, Night Falls Over Kortedala. Whether singing about a fellow who regales co-workers…
Film Capsules
Moneyball (PG-13) This low-key, somewhat downbeat movie, based on Michael Lewis’ book about Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s pioneering effort to build a winning team using statistical analysis, was fraught with cast, crew, and script changes. But like the A’s, it emerges unexpectedly competitive, an engrossing if overlong view of the back-office deals and…
We Get Mail
Brazilian Intrigue I was visiting Cleveland over Labor Day weekend, and I picked up a copy of the Scene. Your “Dead Run” story [August 31] was truly fabulous. I’m a journalist myself, so I can’t help but pick up papers when I’m traveling, but I really just grabbed Scene to see what was happening in…
CD Review: The Jayhawks
On their first album together since 1995’s Tomorrow the Green Grass, Jayhawks founders Gary Louris and Mark Olson sound like two old friends getting together to shoot the shit and play some music. Mockingbird Time is laid-back, straightforward … and kind of boring. Louris has kept the Jayhawks alive with rotating personnel over the years…
Local Band in Focus
Meet the Band: Kenny Royer (drums), Michael Shea (guitar, vocals), Aaron Shay (guitar, vocals), and Bill Govan (bass, vocals) Shay (or Is That Shea?) Anything: Cousins Royer and Govan, along with schoolmate Shay, got together to play covers for a family party before trying original material. The current lineup came together around 2008, when they…
CD Review: Megafaun
The guys in this mostly bearded North Carolina trio used to play in a band with Justin Vernon, before he started Bon Iver. These days they seem to be competing with Bon Iver for the title of the World’s Most Mellow Dudes. Based on their languid and pokey third album, we’ll give the belt to…
Nerve Damage
It’s always good news when an original play by a local writer hits the stage. New work is, after all, the lifeblood of theater. And that’s why it’s sad to have to report when new local efforts go seriously awry. Such is the case with You Got Nerve!, the world-premiere showing at Karamu of a…
Concert Calendar
Uproar Festival Avenged Sevenfold are one of heavy music’s most polarizing groups. Last year’s Nightmare was slammed by critics, but the album (the California band’s fifth) was a hit with fans, debuting at No. 1. The record is a tribute of sorts to drummer James “The Rev” Sullivan, who died in 2009 from a prescription-drug…
Fox News
Robin Pecknold’s speaking voice is more tentative than his singing one, which soars high and crisp, often over layered strings. This might have something to do with catching Fleet Foxes’ frontman in the middle of his band’s longest tour ever. “I think playing a show is enjoyable,” he says with a sigh. “But playing a…
Two Games In
As hard as it is to say anything about an NFL season after only two weeks, a full one eighth of the 2011 schedule is in fact, in the books, and we can certainly say the Browns have given pundits little reason to pick up the red pen with their 1-1 start (first place!). The…
Flight Plan
A lot of formerly underground rock bands are making money by lurching back onto the scene, playing old songs and sometimes entire old albums for fans. Swans won’t have any part of that. According to frontman Michael Gira, “99 percent” of his band’s back catalog will never be heard again. “We’re doing one [old] song…
CD Review: Tinko
(tinko.bandcamp.com) This five-song set of slow and spooky roots pop is only the second release from this Cleveland band since it formed seven years ago. Lazy, lush, and low-fi instrumentation floats around warm and weird ballads like “Captain” and “Mister,” as guitars, ukulele, mandolins, banjos, drums, lap steel, and violins vie for attention behind frontman…
