Cleveland Psychic Who Scammed $1.5 Million From Victims Pleads Guilty to Theft Charge
Update: Gina Miller, the one-time psychic in Mentor who was arrested and charged with scamming nearly $1.5 million from 11 victims, has pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated theft. She had originally faced 28 counts that spanned crimes covering 20 years as she threatened clients into forking over dough that fed her lifestyle of…
UPDATE: Vandals Toppled Grave Headstones at Historic Erie St. Cemetery
Update: Of the 33 monuments that were vandalized at Erie St. Cemetery over Labor day Weekend, 22 have been raised and reset by Cemetery employees, said a city of Cleveland spokesman. The Daughters of the American Revolution and the Early Settlers Association have collaborated to raise the funding necessary to restore the 11 remaining monuments.…
The Pretenders to Play E.J. Thomas Hall in November
Update: When the Pretenders first announced tour dates in support of their forthcoming album, Alone, the band’s first new album since 2008’s Break Up the Concrete, they didn’t include a date in Northeast Ohio. That’s now changed, and the band will perform at E.J. Thomas Hall, the concert venue on the University of Akron campus, on Saturday, Nov. 26. Tickets go…
How Did an Ohio Kennel Get Involved in Dakota Access Pipeline Security?
An Ohio kennel made headlines earlier this month when a truck bearing its name and logo was photographed at the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota. There, thousands of Native American protesters have been encamped to stand in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and to rally against the construction of the pipeline on…
Writer-Director Joshua Marston On Why His Latest Film Isn’t Your Typical Stalker Flick
The premise for The Complete Unknown, the latest movie from acclaimed art house writer-director Joshua Marston (Maria Full of Grace, The Forgiveness of Blood), stems from a conversation he had with co-writer Julian Sheppard. Friends since they first met 15 years ago, the two wanted to write something that would be shot quickly and “below…
More Than 20 Musical Acts to Perform at Peninsula’s 8th Annual Music on the Porches
Now in its eighth year, Peninsula’s annual Music on the Porches, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, provides an opportunity for local artists to perform on the porches of residents and merchants like. This year, more than 20 musical acts will perform throughout the Village, offering free workshops…
Local Singer-Songwriter Uno Lady Releases New Music Video
Local singer-songwriter Uno Lady (Christa Ebert), who counts Roy Orbison, Laurie Anderson, Freddie Mercury, Mary Ford, the Shangri-Las, and the Shirelles as her influences, played her first show at Pat’s in the Flats in 2007 and has been a steady force on the local scene ever since. Since she manipulates her upper register voice by…
Recall Vote Set for East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton
East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton will face a recall vote in December, one that comes at a time of perilously depleted city coffers and a thick layer of political tension. City Council President Tom Wheeler will also face a recall vote. “This is a horrible expenditure of funds given the city’s current financial provision, and…
Inmate/Guard and Inmate/Inmate Incidents at Cuyahoga County Jail Under Investigation
[image-1] Two incidents that occurred in July of this year at the Cuyahoga County jail are under investigation. In one case, an inmate allegedly assaulted a guard. In the other, an inmate allegedly assaulted another inmate. The details of those altercations and the names of those involved haven’t yet been released. Scene first inquired about…
Local Hip-Hop Act Muamin Collective Works With a Live Band on New Album
The local hip-hop act MuAmin Collective has been doing its thing around the city and beyond over the span of more than ten years. During some of the performances, the duo of emcee Josiah “Zion” Quarles and producer Aaron “aLIVE” Snorton occasionally rock with a live band. This planted the seed for their latest project,…
It’s Now (Finally) a Felony to Harm a Pet in Ohio
[image-1]Starting today, with Goddard’s Law going into effect, it’s now a fifth-degree felony to “cause serious physical harm to a companion animal.” That’s something worth applauding, because for years sadistic chumps skated on misdemeanor charges — or no animal cruelty charges at all. The law is named after Northeast Ohio’s animal champion, Dick Goddard. He’s…
Night at the Museum… for Cleveland’s Robust Big Data Community
Before Cleveland Museum of Natural History Director Dr. Evalyn Gates delivered a crash course on Precision Cosmology and the impact of big data on dark matter’s deep-galactic frontier, software developers and system operators and Case undergrads wielding graphing calculators like sheriff’s badges and recruiters from the high-altitude peaks of cloud-based computing companies and a handful…
Justin Michael Will’s First Solo Show Lands at Canopy
Local artist Justin Michael Will is getting his first solo show this Friday, Sept 16, at Canopy. The highly anticipated show includes more than two dozen new works, as well as prints and pins. During Friday evening’s reception, the artist will be busy drawing live in the gallery. Guests will have an opportunity to submit…
El Puente Viejo Mexican Eatery to Join the Downtown Taco Fiesta
If you were of the belief that downtown Cleveland could use a new taco restaurant, today is your lucky day. That’s because today is the day you learned about El Puente Viejo (1220 Huron Rd.), a new “taco and tequila bar” scheduled to open in the Creswell, a high-end residential building in Playhouse Square. Owner…
Burning River Baroque and Four More Classical Music Events to Catch This Week
[image-1]Although all five of our “not to be missed” suggestions this week fall on Saturday evening, September 17, you’ll have a varied selection to choose from — or you can just throw a dart and pick one at random. Burning River Baroque, an ensemble that makes Baroque music an in-your-face experience, explores “Twisted Fate: Famed…
There Will Be Special Election for Cleveland Minimum Wage Increase in 2017
City Council approved legislation at its meeting Monday evening to put a revised, though still controversial, minimum wage increase before voters in a special election next May. The proposal would raise the minimum wage in Cleveland to $12 per hour (up from its current $8.10) the following January. Though the original petition, brought forward by…
Medeski, Martin & Wood to Play Two Nights at On Air Studio in November
The veteran jazz/jam band Medeski Martin & Wood has just announced that it’ll come to Cleveland in November to play two shows at On Air Studio on Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19. Special guests such as guitarist Marc Ribot, trumpeter Steven Bernstein and percussionist Cyro Baptista will join the band. Turntablists DJ Logic…
After Hosting Private Fundraiser for Donald Trump, TownHall in Ohio City Faces a Backlash Online
TownHall, the certified non-GMO and veg-friendly Ohio City restaurant owned by Bobby George and others, is among the more popular joints in the city — astoundingly successful, a favorite hangout of local athletes and coaches, and a venue for assorted events. In that regard, the Trump fundraiser, held last Thursday afternoon, was far from an…
Wheel of Fortune’s Wheelmobile to Roll Into Hard Rock Rocksino in October
[image-1]Since its inception in 1999, Wheel of Fortune’s Wheelmobile has logged over 350,000 miles and has visited over 300 cities. More one million Wheel of Fortune fans have attended Wheelmobile events hoping to get on the game show and win big money. From 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21, and from noon to…
Chalk Festival Will Color CMA Sidewalks This Weekend
[image-1]Over the past 26 years, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Chalk Festival has become one of the museum’s most highly anticipated annual community art events. This weekend, organizers anticipate more than 15,000 viewers, 3,000 participating artists and 1,000 colorful squares. “One of the aspects of art that has always fascinated me is the ways in…
Annual Taste of the Browns to Benefit Cleveland Food Bank
For every dollar donated at the upcoming 18th annual Taste of the Browns celebrity dinner, the Cleveland Food Bank can provide enough food for four meals. Last year’s event raised more than $224,000, which translated into more than 896,000 meals to agencies in six counties. The popular annual event takes place Monday, September 19, from…
Playing a Show in All 50 States, Rapper Astronautalis to Perform at Grog Shop on Thursday
On his fall tour, which includes a stop at the Grog Shop on Thursday, rapper Astronautalis (Charles Bothwell) and his band will play at least one show in each of the 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. The rapper says it’s something he’s always wanted to do. “When I first started touring, the best part…
Brunswick Schools Investigating Racism Against Football Player Who Kneeled During National Anthem
With the nation still collectively freaking out over Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest, Rodney Axson Jr., a high school senior playing football for Brunswick, joined the NFL player. On Sept. 2, WOIO reports, following a locker room discussion with his own teammates about their use of racial slurs, Axson and two other teammates took a knee…
Video: Joe Thomas Gets a Ton of Chick-fil-A, Talks Fancy Cars and Twitter, Reminds Everyone Why We Love Him
Browns offensive tackle exemplar Joe Thomas, perennial pro-bowler and resident iron man, is the first guest in a new web series sponsored by luxury car dealer Bernie Moreno, “Driving Cleveland.” Hosted by former TV personality Andrea Vecchio, “Driving Cleveland,” is a sort of local take on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, with regional celebs and…
Indians Magic Number: 14
The Tribe easily dispatched the Twins 7-1 in the final matchup of a three-game series in Twin Cities yesterday while the Detroit Tigers dropped a 3-1 game to the Orioles. The division lead now stands at 7 games with the Tigers heading to Minnesota and the Indians heading to Chicago. Both teams will be in…
Local Goth Act Midnight Syndicate Releases Soundtrack to Zombies!!! Board Game
Initially, Midnight Syndicate’s Ed Douglas, who learned to play organ as a child, was interested in film. In 1996, he made a straight-to-video film The Dead Matter, but discovered that he liked doing the music for the soundtrack more than the actual filming. As a result, he joined up with Gavin Goszka to form the…
Cuyahoga County Jail Supervisor Disciplined After Failing to Properly Review Use of Force Cases
Sgt. Mark Thevenin, who has spent more than two decades employed by the county with the sheriff’s department and at the county jail, was disciplined after failing to review and report on two excessive use of force cases involving Cpl. Brendan Johnson. That discipline involved a written reprimand and removal from the county jail’s special…
Indie Rockers Portugal.The Man to Play House of Blues in November
Although Portugal. The Man was originally formed as a side project for lead vocalist and guitarist John Baldwin Gourley, the band has risen to prominence in the experimental rock scene. The band has built a reputation as “one of the most exciting and sought-after live bands on the touring and festival circuit” and has sold…
What to Expect From the 2016 Cleveland Browns — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac examine the Browns’ last 9 months — and their next 18. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here. Download the episode directly here. Or stream below.
A Short Note to the Assholes Who Knocked Over Headstones at the Erie Street Cemetery
This past week, vandals knocked over numerous headstones at the Erie Street Cemetery, which is the final resting place of over 8,000 Clevelanders, including 150 veterans. I get it – cemeteries are creepy and who cares about headstones anyway? I mean, they belong to dead people. They’re just meaningless hunks of stone that the relatives…
Six Local Bands to Perform at House of Blues’ Whiskey & White Lightning Music Festival
[image-1]To celebrate a love of both whiskey and rock ‘n’ roll, House of Blues will host the Whiskey & White Lightning Music Festival on Oct. 1. Regional and local distilleries will be onsite to provide samples of bourbon, rye whiskey, moonshine and other spirits. Six local bands, including The Caliber Band, Shooter Sharp & the Shootouts, Thor…
I-X Center to Host Prince Tribute Concert in October
Morris Day and The Time (“Jungle Love”) and Sheila E. (“The Glamorous Life”) have had a long history with the late, great Prince. Now, they’ll bring their tribute, Purple Rain: A Tribute to Prince, to the I-X Center on October 15. “We’re thrilled to welcome Purple Rain: A Tribute to Prince to the I-X Center,”…
Cleveland Beer Week Director Accused of Stealing $40,000 of Donated Scholarship Funds
The program director of Cleveland Beer Week has been charged for allegedly stealing more than $40,000 from the organization. Christine Montague, 49, was the public face of the organization — you probably saw her on morning TV in the leadup to the event each year. And that public face doesn’t look so good anymore. She…
Early Rock n Roll Influenced Tiger Army’s Retro-Leaning New Album
Tiger Army, the punk rock group that formed some 20 years ago in Northern California, doesn’t draw from the same musical well as most other punk bands. Frontman Nick 13, the sole constant in a group that’s gone through numerous lineup changes, possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of early rock ’n’ roll. Those influences have always…
Plain Dealer Makes Subscribers Opt Out of Special “Investment and Retirement” Guide
It seemed prudent to ask. Your cracker-jack sleuths here at Scene were prepared to report the following annoying news: those with subscriptions to the good ol’ Pee Dee will receive a mammoth 100-page “Investment & Retirement Guide” with their paper on Sunday, Sept. 18. The insert will cost $2.99 unless you opt-out. Instead of…
8 Concerts to Catch This Weekend
FRIDAY, SEPT. 9 Florida Georgia Line Since breaking out in 2012 with the smash hit “Cruise,” the country act Florida Georgia Line has received all kinds of awards and previous releases, Here’s to the Good Times and Anything Goes, have gone platinum. Currently, the soulful piano ballad “H.O.L.Y.,” the lead single form the band’s new…
Kent State to Honor Wonder Woman’s 75th Anniversary with Three-Day Symposium
Seventy-five years ago, the comic book super heroine Wonder Woman made her first appearance. To commemorate the anniversary, Kent State University’s College of Arts and Sciences, the Ohio Humanities Council and the Cleveland Public Library have partnered to organize a symposium at the Cleveland Public Library that celebrates “the historical trends that have changed the…
An Ill-Fated Move to L.A. Fueled the Songs on Frightened Rabbit’s New Album
While it might be hard to imagine, there was a time not long ago when underground music wasn’t simply a click away. Frightened Rabbit singer-guitarist Scott Hutchison is old enough to remember that time. Growing up in the Royal Burgh of Selkirk, a town in the Scottish Borders Council district of southeastern Scotland with a…
Cara Mangini, the ‘Vegetable Butcher,’ Coming to Countryside Conservancy Events
Since her inaugural cookbook “The Vegetable Butcher: How to Select, Prep, Slice, Dice, and Masterfully Cook Vegetables from Artichokes to Zucchini” (Workman Publishing) was released in April, chef and author Cara Mangini has been on a non-stop book tour that has landed her in countless cities across the country, on the pages of the New…
First Tenants at W. 25th Street Lofts Have Finally Moved In
After several lengthy delays, the first 22 units at the W. 25th Street Lofts project have been approved. Tenants began moving in last Thursday and through the Labor Day weekend. “Finally!” read the subject line in an email from developer Rick Foran, who spoke with Scene in July about frustrating delays during the construction process.…
In WaPo NFL Franchise Optimization, Browns Move to Mexico City
On this, the opening day of an NFL season destined to be among the Browns’ most depressing, the Washington Post has engaged in a thought exercise. They envisioned a total league free-for-all where every current franchise could stay or move to any market it wished, based only on market factors. “What if every owner was…
John Carroll University Addresses Namesake’s Slave Ownership in Message to Alumni After Georgetown Report
[image-1] Yesterday afternoon John Carroll University President Rev. Robert L. Niehoff, S.J. sent a message to JCU alumni. He was shocked, he said, (though others might not have been) to learn that Archbishop John Carroll, the namesake of the school, “not only took part in the management of the Jesuit plantations and in slaveholding at…
Hilton Bike Lane Update: There was Never Supposed to be a Bike Lane (all the way to Lakeside)
The uproar over a perceived encroachment on a downtown bike lane Wednesday was, in fact, a misunderstanding caused by an oversight by a striping contractor, according to Cleveland spokesman Dan Ball. When the Convention Center construction zone was removed, Ontario Street was repaved, Ball said, and the striping folks did not “immediately replace all the…
Beachland to Show Documentary Film About Influential Garage/Punk Band the Seeds
Directed by Neil Norman, The Seeds: Pushin’ Too Hard examines the influential L.A.-based garage punk band’s story using vintage footage, rare photos and interviews with band members as well as notable fans. Led by singer Sky Saxon, the band helped pave the way for punk and garage rockers to come with songs such as “Can’t Seem…
Indie Rockers Of Montreal Embrace Electronic Music On Their Latest Effort
A Rocky River native who still thinks of himself as a lifelong fan of Cleveland sports teams, Of Montreal front man Kevin Barnes, who also spent some time in Mentor, moved to Athens, Ga. nearly 20 years ago because he consciously wanted to embrace the city’s rich musical history. Inspired by watching Athens, Ga. Inside/Out,…
Downtown Hilton Fails to Grasp Meaning of “Bike Lane”; Cleveland Transportation Theatre Continues to Plumb Absurdity’s Depths
Cleveland’s Transportation Twitterati (CTT) have been duly up in arms all the blessed afternoon, after Dave Schalmo (@courier429) noted that which is depicted above: The dedicated bike lane on Ontario Avenue, painted pre-RNC outside the Downtown Hilton, has been weirdly halved, spliced and thereby right-triangularized to preserve and protect the hotel’s curbside valet service. “I…
Music Near the Market and Three More Classical Music Events Not to Miss This Week
After Labor Day, classical music events gradually build momentum until by the middle of September the machine is running full speed ahead again. Here are four events to catch early on. Music Near the Market runs 52 weeks a year at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ohio City, on W. 30th St. across from St. Ignatius…
Black House Gallery Invites People to Spray-Paint Vacant Home in Weekend Event
Althea Jones, owner of the Black House Gallery, is the first local gallery owner to openly encourage visitors to “vandalize” her space. It might sound crazy, but Jones is inviting the public to a BYOS (Bring Your Own Spray [Paint]) event. No surprise, this isn’t your typical gallery. The gallery is a repurposed vacant home…
R.I.P. The Swinging Door
With sharp hangovers finally subsiding, it’s worth a moment of our time to acknowledge the weekend passing of The Swinging Door. Stationed out in the commercial borderlands of Fairview Park and Rocky River, otherwise mostly devoid of the iconic American dive bar genre, the Door was a westside haven for those in need of strong…
Maxwell and Mary J. Blige to Bring King and Queen of Hearts Tour to the Q in November
Touring together for the first time ever, soul/R&B singers Maxwell and Mary J. Blige have teamed up for the King and Queen of Hearts World Tour. Produced by Live Nation, the 24-show run of dates follows a European tour. Singer Ro James will join the tour as a special guest on all dates. “Mary is…
Here’s the Cavs’ NBA Championship Ring
Thanks to Cavs forward Richard Jefferson and his beautiful Snapchat account we’ve got a first look at the pieces of hardware the team receives tonight to commemorate their NBA championship. And they are hardware in the most precise sense. Look at these things. Richard Jefferson just snapchatted what the Cavs' championship rings look like: pic.twitter.com/sOaF7YRpwa…
Expanded Minerva Monster Day to Feature Lectures and Bigfoot Films
Ohio features several festivals devoted to the mythical creature Bigfoot, but there’s only one Minerva Monster Day. Last year’s event was reportedly the biggest Minerva had seen with over 1200 people packing the tiny theater downtown that was the event’s epicenter. As a result of outgrowing the theater, this year’s event will take place at…
Rib Sticks Will Approach Barbecue a Little Bit Differently
[image-1]There already is loads of science behind the art of barbecuing, a process that relies on chemical reactions to transform that pale, tough hunk of meat into a dark and quivering mass of deliciousness. But some chefs aren’t content to rely simply on heat, smoke and time when there are other, more technical ways to…
Axl Rose Capably Leads AC/DC’s Triumphant Return to Town
Earlier this year, AC/DC singer Brian Johnson had to leave the band’s U.S. tour after being advised by doctors that he risked total hearing loss if he continued to perform live. The group courted controversy when it recruited Guns ‘N’ Roses singer Axl Rose to take his place; purists objected to the band’s decision to…
Oberlin Gallery Hosts Works by Conceptual Artist Fred Wilson
On Tuesday, Aug. 30, Oberlin’s Allen Memorial Art Museum debuted both a new exhibition and site-specific installation by world renowned conceptual artist Fred Wilson. Locals may remember Wilson from his solo exhibition, Fred Wilson: Works 2004-2011, at the Cleveland Museum of Art from December 2012 to May 2013. Returning to Northeast Ohio, Wilson draws inspiration…
Band of the Week: Above This Fire
MEET THE BAND: Andy Hoffman (vocals), LT Magnotto (guitar), Oliver Barrett (bass), Jon Morgan (drums) HARDCORE HEROES: When Morgan joined in 2009, Above This Fire had already been going strong since the other members had formed the group while still in high school. The band played its first-ever show with the post-punk act Thursday at…
Mike and Dee’s Diner Keeps it Simple and Delicious
Along with every additional barstool, table, chair, menu item, specialty cocktail and employee comes untold additional headaches. Add too many to the mix and we’ll likely be seeing that business on the next episode of “Restaurant Impossible.” While some operators elect to go big or bust, others follow the mantra that the smaller and simpler, the better…
Merchant Street Provisions Gets Lay of the Land in Tremont
On the corner of Lincoln Park in Tremont, Merchant Street Provisions & Eatery (2391 W. 11th Street, 216-415-5865) is the new kid on the block. The casual market and sandwich shop has been open for just six weeks, but already there have been some big changes as restaurateur John McDonnell gets a feel for the…
Browns Tight End Gary Barnidge is a Pro Bowler, but Mainly Wants to Talk About Movies and Art
The ketchup in Browns Tight End Gary Barnidge’s B-spot platter — an extra platter requested expressly for said ketchup — has now assumed the precise dimensions of a Cracker Barrel pancake. He’s continuing to squirt, though, and in the meantime he’s asking me to pull no punches in my appraisal of Suicide Squad. “Be honest,”…
‘Sully’ Struggles to Turn a Flight Captain’s Heroic Act Into Cinematic Gold
Director Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, American Sniper) loves a good story about an American hero. If the hero has a flaw, as was the case with American Sniper, all the better. As a result, Eastwood is the perfect guy to helm Sully, a film about how US Airways pilots Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger…
National Prison Strike Turns Spotlight Toward Industry’s Problems
Thanks to a mass influx of inmates, the prison industry is humming like General Motors in the 1960s, except the labor is way cheaper. Exploited is the word, according to prisoners and their advocates. So on Sept. 9, prison inmates are planning what’s said to be an unprecedented national work strike, “a call to action…
Savage Love: Milk Money
Dear Dan, My husband left the picture recently, and I’m now a single mom supporting an infant in Toronto. I work a retail job and am drowning financially. I hooked up with a guy I met on Tinder, and I didn’t warn him that I’m still nursing because I didn’t even think of it. Luckily,…
20 Plays to Keep You Entertained While You Agonize Over the Election
Sure, you’re in a panic about this year’s election, motivating you to stand in your driveway in the middle of the night screaming, “Why, God?! Why?!” This means it’s time for you to calm down and see a nice play. There are 20 of them and they are neatly categorized below by theme, starting with,…
