08.10-08.17.2016 Riding | CoolCleveland

08.10-08.17.16
Riding

We love to ride. And it gets easier around here every day. Everyone enjoys wine & food on the Ashtabula Bridges & Vines bike tour. If you want to go faster, check out the Cleveland Mods vs. Rockers Scooters & Motorcycle Rally. Or slow down as ciCLEvia opens up the streets to bikes, Zumba, dance and social engagement.

Now is the time to get active and protect your rights. SNL’s Leslie Jones and pop star Sia come together for All Access, and the tix are free. Get Loaded at MOCA with Tashi Dorji. ShopLOCAL at the East 185th Makers’ Market. Ride up to the Akron Farm & Flea in the Musica parking lot. Or glam it up at the Beachland with Vanity Crash.

The LGBTQ community is riding high with Pride in the CLE, and we couldn’t be happier. Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale do a meet-and-great at the Akron Art Museum. Mansfield suggests Obama for SCOTUS, but that will depend on the next president, and the Senate. And your vote could help drive it. –Thomas Mulready

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Photo by Elisa Vietri

Ride First, Drink Later

The Ashtabula Bridges & Vines Bicycle Tour gives riders the chance to explore some of Ashtabula County’s 18 covered bridges and several of its famous wineries, putting as much pedal power into it as they choose: 103, 74, 39, 25 or 13 miles. Everyone gets wine and food!

CoolCleveland’s resident winery expert Claudia Taller tells us what you will see, where you can stop and how to participate. Sat 8/13.

The Kids Are Alright

Anyone steeped in the culture of British-Invasion era England (especially if you’re a Who fan) knows about the rivalry between two teen factions of the era, the Mods and the Rockers.

That rivalry has long since passed into history, but those who have a passion for the vintage scooters and motorcycles these youth rode come together at Cleveland’s annual Mods vs. Rockers Rally to enjoy each other’s company, regardless of what they ride or wear or which group they identify with. Fri 8/12-Sat 8/13.

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SPONSORED: Chances are you have a corner or your garage that’s filled with stuff you just don’t know how to handle. Old paints, oils, can-this-be-recycled boxes? NEORSD’s Healthy Home Handbook has 33 tips, resources and recipes that can help you make sense of your mess while protecting the environment. Read More.

Equal Access for All Women

The upcoming election is a do-or-die situation for women’s reproductive rights, now under unprecedented attack. More than a dozen groups supporting those rights are coming together for a coast-to-coast series of events called All Access. The flagship event will be at Cleveland’s Wolstein Center with pop star Sia and comedian/actress Leslie Jones, among others. Sat 9/10.

CLE’s Vanity Crash Turns On The Mystery Lights

Cleveland’s favorite glam punk superstars Vanity Crash are appearing at the Beachland Tavern & Ballroom with a pocketful of surprises. Closing the bill are the Mystery Lights, having recently migrated from the West Coast to New York City, where they share an apartment in Queens and carry the banner for real-deal rock and roll,with the kind of conviction, immediacy, and raw power of their mighty ancestors – from the Velvets to the Voidoids and beyond. Sun 8/14

Learn How to #PitchThosePills Properly with NEORSD

If you have any prescription medications at home, it’s possible you also have outdated or unused pills in your medicine cabinet beside them. Not sure how to dispose of them safely?

In days past, it was common for meds to be flushed down the toilet rather than being thrown into the garbage where they could be a threat for children or pets. But the truth is that flushing them can be a threat too: A threat to the environment. Find the best way to pitch your pills safely through the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s #PitchThosePills initiative.

Making the transition to high school can be difficult for even well-prepared kids. MyCom’s True2U program is looking for volunteers to mentor 8th graders and help them succeed. Apply by August 15.

* The second annual FireFish festival in Lorain announced expanded hours and new riverfront location, plus a preliminary look at the line-up. Sat 9/17.

* The House of Blues is hosting a jobs fair for kitchen jobs, servers, bartenders, security and more. Thu 8/11.

Do You Pick Up After Your Dog?

Learn Why It’s Important with NEORSD

Nothing compares to a neighborhood walk in the late summer. Similarly, nothing compares to the frustration of a stroll being distracted by the sight or smell of pet waste on the tree lawn. Sorry, just being honest. The truth is, despite some dog owners’ insistence, that dog doo is not fertilizer.

Picking up after your pet is an act of common courtesy and even benefits water quality. Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s PUP program has the resources and materials to encourage your pet-owning neighbors to act responsibly. Check them out, and walk your dog with your head held high.

Birthday Party Games

The Cleveland Museum of Art game night, honoring the museum’s 100th birthday, should be especially action-packed this month, with games, puzzles, a scavenger hunt though the galleries and a quiz show in the Atrium. Bring the whole family for a single ticket price. Fri 8/12.

Click here for more CoolCleveland Kids events

August at Melt Bar and Grilled

Sandwich Special: Melt Pig Roast. Melt/Fat Heads Quarterly Beer Collaboration: Lean Mean Pilsner Machine. Seasonal Sides: Melt Potato Salad & Sweet & Smokey Chipotle Corn. Bread Pudding: Campfire S’mores Bread Pudding. Beer Feature: Breckenridge Mango Mosaic. Cocktail Feature: Loki’s Lemonade.

Melt News: Happy 10th Anniversary Specials 9/19-9/25! Melt Tattoo Family Reunion: Thu 9/8. Melt Themed Art Show at 78th Street Studios on 9/16-17. Sunday Funday Yoga: 8/14.

The “Dinner on Broadway” will shut down part of Geneva’s downtown main street for a special five-course meal and wine pairing made entirely with ingredients sourced from within 50 miles. Mon 8/15.

* Abbe Turner of Kent’s Lucky Penny Farm started Recycle Pots & Pans to give those in transitional situations the ability to make meals from some of our fresh locally grown food. They’ll be at the Countryside Conservancy farmers market at Howe Meadow this week collecting stuff you don’t use. Sat 8/13.

Read more of CoolCleveland’s picks for Eats and Drinks.

If you’re intrigued by the experimental music events we write about, catch Loaded, taking place at MOCA Cleveland’s loading dock, and check out the Mark Mothersbaugh show while you’re there. Fri 8/12

* Punk rockers Harvey Pekar celebrate a new record release at the Agora. Sat 8/13.

* Akron’s Tracey Thomas looks back on 40 years of music at Jilly’s. Thu 8/11.

* A rare appearance by Cleveland’s Long Road at Nighttown is a trip back to the ’60s folk scene. Thu 8/11.

* Cleveland garage pop trio the Moxies marks new album with Beachland show. Fri 8/12.

Read more of CoolCleveland’s picks for Cool Events.

WED 8/10
The Indie Gathering in Hudson is a week-long film feast, with the last night of the United Latino screenings tonight, and four days of vendors, screenings, networking parties, contests, panels, lectures, celebrity guests still to come. Through Sun 8/14.

* The Maltz Museum’s series on Cleveland immigrant communities looks at its growing and diversifying Asian community.

* Pablo Neruda open mic at Mac’s Backs honors the legendary Chilean poet.

* Beck Center’s Red Stage presents local original indie acts Uno Lady and Mike Uva.

Click here for more events on Wed 8/10

THU 8/11
Luckily the number of artisans, artists and makers in the area seems to be growing because the number of markets catering to those who want to shop local is exploding. New this summer is the East 185th Makers’ Market, which has two August dates – today and Thu 8/25.

* Performances of Eric Coble’s My Barking Dog raise money for convergence-continuum’s building purchase fund. Though Sat 8/13.

* Help artists clean out their studios at Good Goat Gallery’s Artist Hoarder Sale. Though Sat 8/13.

* Chicago Bassist Kitt Lyles plays music from his Real Talk album at the Bop Stop.

* One-night performance of The Andersonville Trial recounts Civil War atrocities.

Click here for more events on Thu 8/11

FRI 8/12
Six years in the making, Dancing Wheels will be premiering a new work based on the 1986 David Bowie film Labyrinth when they perform at Cain Park.

* Want to eat pasta while milling around in a large crowd? It’s Feast time in Little Italy again! Through Mon 8/15.

* Celebrate peak corn at the North Ridgeville Corn Festival. Through Sun 8/14.

* Vocalist Amanda Powell and friends launch Underground Classical series at Praxis Fiber Workshop.

* The Cleveland Orchestra plays Bach, Handel and Mozart at Summers@Severance.

* Make an evening of it at Walkabout Tremont where the theme this month is Dancing in the Street.

* The Bacon Brothers, Kevin and Michael, bring their band to the Kent Stage

* Akron’s Wandering Aesthetics present Tails from the Witch’s Cauldron. Also tomorrow & Wed 8/17-Fri 8/19.

* New Cleveland Urban Winery features local women musicians in She Power series. Through Sat 8/27.

* Nighttown favorite, vocalist Nellie McKay, returns for two nights. Also tomorrow.

Click here for more events on Fri 8/12

SAT 8/13
The LGBT community and friends sprang into action after the last-minute cancellation of Cleveland Pride. In just over two weeks, they put together a replacement event called Pride in the CLE, taking place on the newly refurbished Public Square. Come on down and celebrate!

* Cleveland Bazaar and Platform Concert Series join forces for expanded day at Lake Affect Studios.

* Cleveland hosts its first “Open Streets” ciCLEvia event on the near west side.

* Try an “Arctic Squirrel” gelato at the annual Kent ice cream social.

* Local music, food & beer star at Feast to the Beat party in the Flats.

* Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale do a meet-and-great at the Akron Art Museum.

* Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble brings the world to Blossom Music Center.

* Find your favorite burger at the National Hamburger Festival in Akron.

* Re-enact the Civil War at Hale Farm & Village.

Click here for more events on Sat 8/13

SUN 8/14
Akron’s Historic Arts District is hopping today, with the Akron Farm & Flea in the Musica parking lot, and the Dog Days of Summer benefit at the Summit Artspace. Your dog is welcome at the former, and the honored guest at the latter.

* Guide to Kulchur’s RA Washington hosts Bop Stop concert to benefit for Books 2 Prisoners.

* There’s free outdoor opera today at Dunham Tavern and BAYarts.

* Get down to some Western swing with Asleep at the Wheel at the Kent Stage.

Click here for more events on Sun 8/14

MON 8/15
Suburban Clocks in Berea has been in business 60 years, selling more than 1,000 types of clocks and watches. So today it’s rolling out the barrel for a big party called Clocktoberfest. There will be ethnic food, German beer, polka music, vintage cars, a kids’ play area and lots of timepieces to ogle.

* Preterm Movie Night features new Lily Tomlin film Grandma.

Click here for more events on Mon 8/15

TUE 8/16
Jazz vocalist Denise Jannah and pianist Amina Figarova hail from very different parts of the world and don’t even live in the same city. But they frequently collaborate, and they’ll be bringing a show of Ella Fitzgerald tunes and their own compositions to Nighttown.

Click here for more events on Tue 8/16

WED 8/17
Long Beach funk rockers War became known for their initial collaboration with Eric Burdon. But they had a long list of hits on their own, charting every year from 1970-1983 and filling dance floors from coast to coast. They’ll be back in town at the Kent Stage to play them all.

* Rock Hall’s Summer in the City concert has a country twang with Honeybucket and the Gage Brothers.

* Jazz piano/vocal duo Matt & Atla DeChamplain perform at the Bop Stop.

Click here for more events on Wed 8/17

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Dying of Self-inflicted Wounds

Some people just don’t know when to stop talking. Examples abound of public or quasi-public figures who took a dicey situation and blew it into a crisis by running their mouth.

C. Ellen Connally reflects on two recent examples. George Zimmerman, who stalked and killed young Trayvon Martin in 2012 and was acquitted on self-defense grounds, earned a punch in a bar for boasting about it. And then there’s a certain presidential candidate who picked a fight with a Muslim Gold Star family …

How Much Is Enough?

When attempting to solve the difficult problems of systemic racism (which often causes poverty), drug abuse and other pathologies, the legitimate question is often asked, “Haven’t we spent enough on these problems (and peoples)?” The answer to that question…

* Obama for SCOTUS? If you recall the 2012 presidential election, Obama wasn’t declared the winner until the vote tally from Ohio came in; and the vote tally from Ohio wasn’t declared until…

Read other stories from Mansfield Frazier here