11.30-12.07.2016 Fostering Hope

11.30-12.07.16
Fostering Hope

Trauma from neglect and abuse causes suffering among our region’s foster children, but the local group Fostering Hope works year-round to help. This week, their Gift ‘N Greet program offers some holiday hope.

Classical music is not dead, as local composers prove with their concert at St. John’s in Ohio City. Some will be mourning David Bowie around his birth/death dates in January: we’ll be celebrating with a couple of exciting shows, complete with rare video, needle drops and live music. Chef and food historian Michael Twitty revives his Jewish and African-American roots with food at CMNH. Akron Art Museum hosts Misfit Toys workshops for the kids. And it’s the season for Ohio City Singers and their new album & concerts.

The Heavy Metal Food Benefit brings hope to the hungry, the Crooked River Groove reunites, and Slavic Village is on an upswing with Holidazzled. If you ask us, there’s always hope. –Thomas Mulready

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Bringing the Seasonal Cheer

Local singer/songwriter Chris Allen first brought together the Ohio City Singers as an informal group of friends who had a musical Christmas party. In 2008, they put out a real record and started playing the roster of end-of-year shows they now do every year, featuring their growing repertoire of original holiday songs.

The 10-member group has a new album Ring Out the Wild Bells, their fourth, and it’s raucous and jovial. Come share a cup of yule cheer and sing along with them at their Music Box matinee this week and other seasonal shows. Sat 12/3.

FREE For The Asking

If you own a local shop, restaurant or attraction that’s listed in our free ShopLOCAL or SUSTENANCE or CoolNEIGHBORHOODS listings, you’re eligible to receive a free window cling and as many Favicards as you can hand out to your customers.

On the other hand, maybe your local business should be included on CoolCleveland, in which case, feel free to get in touch. We’d love to tell the world about you during the all-important upcoming holiday season! Details.

Making the Holidays Brighter

Almost by definition, foster children have suffered trauma, often multiple traumas, of neglect and abuse to be taken from their homes. And these kids – almost 4,400 in Cuyahoga County – often don’t get much of a holiday, yet another blow when they’re surrounded by signs of seasonal cheer.

Local nonprofit Fostering Hope works year-round to help these kids cope with the difficulties in their lives. Their Gift ‘N Greet program gives them something for the holidays. Reporter Kendall Embrescia-Hridel tells us about the organization and this program.

Classical Music’s Not Dead

While we love Mozart & Beethoven, classical music did’t stop with them. Northeast Ohio is teeming with composers of new classical music, and the Cleveland Composers Guild exists to get that music heard. This week it’s collaborating with the Syndicate for the New Arts – a group of mostly young Oberlin grads – to present a concert of Guild members’ music at St. John’s in Ohio City.

John Benson spoke with the group’s chairman Margi Griebling-Haigh to learn more about the Guild – who they are and what they do. Sun 12/4.

An Evening With(out) David Bowie

Celebrating his birth and death dates, this acclaimed presentation on David Bowie’s life and music, featuring rare video, needle drops, archival photos and insider secrets by CoolCleveland’s Thomas Mulready on Fri 1/13/17 and Sat 1/14/17 at the BOP STOP, now in two sessions, presented back-to-back. Tickets are selling briskly.

Part 1 begins with his half-dozen failed attempts at stardom in the 1960’s to worldwide “Fame” with Young Americans, during which Bowie bottoms out, as the excesses of mid-1970’s stardom threaten to engulf him. Part 2 covers his Mid- to Late-Period, from “The Berlin Trilogy” through Let’s Dance to his mysteriously choreographed death and his final recordings. Tickets are now on sale. Last year’s shows sold out four times.

Creative Upcycling

Families who come to one of the three “Misfit Toys” workshops at the Akron Art Museum will find a pile of broken toys and toy parts waiting for them to reassemble into something new. Sun 12/4.

* “Stay & Play” after Sunday’s performance of Hook & Smee at Talespinner Children’s Theatre. Sun 12/4.

* Kids can drop in to Hudson’s Learned Owl Book Store and decorate a gingerbread house.. Sat 12/3.

Click here for more CoolCleveland Kids events

Chef/food historian Michael Twitty has an unusual background. He’s an African-American from Washington D.C., but he converted to Judaism as a young man. He’s interested in both Jewish food and the food of American slaves and how it expresses issues of culture and justice. He’ll be speaking at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Thu 12/1.

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

SPONSORED: Hope to See You at The Kent Stage with The Subdudes, 16th Annual Woodchoppers Ball, Marcus King Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Dale & Ray, Sara Watkins, Taylor Hicks, Al DiMeola, Beth Hart, Norm Pikelny, Morgan James, plus more. TheKentStage.com.

Help the hungry, help shelter animals, get your eardrums shattered! It’s the annual Heavy Metal Food Benefit at the Beachland with 13 bands and German metal fan Iron Ingo hosting. Sat 12/3.

* North Coast Men’s Chorus dons their gay apparel for three shows at the Hanna Theatre. Sat 12/3 & Sun 12/4.

* Funk/reggae/hip hop group Tropidelic celebrates CD release at the House of Blues. Fri 12/2.

* Crooked River Groove reunion brings together former participants in Tri-C’s RAT program at the Beachland. Sun 12/4.

* The women of the Trinity Cathedral Choir perform Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. Wed 12/7.

VIDEO: Gordon Square Rises Up with Wintertide Fest

Cleveland’s Gordon Square neighborhood comes together to celebrate the holiday season, its many small businesses, and the arts at this all-ages holiday arts festival! Video the video here.

Visitors to the Gordon Square’s specialty shops, storefronts, bars and restaurants will enjoy an immersive, art-infused experience of holiday shopping, with pop-up music and theatre performances taking place in neighborhood venues, as well as Cleveland Public Theatre, the Near West Theatre plaza and inside the Gordon Square Arcade.

Read more of CoolCleveland’s picks for Cool Events.

WED 11/30
A panel discussion and networking party hosted by 4 Walls Design and Wallcovering brings together local art, design and architecture experts to share the ways in which art can be used to enhance our environments.

* Dress up those little girls and bring them to PlayhouseSquare’s State Theatre for the Pennsylvania Ballet’s and Cleveland Orchestra’s Nutcracker. Through Sun 12/4.

* The Gateway Band celebrates a Jazzy Christmas at Trinity Cathedral’s Brownbag concerts.

* NE Ohio author Mike Olszewski talks at the Music Box about Christmas-related productions, fiascos and stunts at local TV stations.

Click here for more events on Wed 11/30

THU 12/1
Cleveland’s newest reviving neighborhood, Slavic Village, kicks off the season with the festive Holidazzled. There’ll be music, food, drink, vendors and the ceremonial lighting of a Christmas tree and street decorations.

* Japanese duo heads adventurous musical lineup at Mahall’s.

* Savor the beauty of the season at Peninsula’s Candlelight Walk.

* The Ohio City Holiday Hop is a chance to explore this hoppin’ neighborhood.

* Akron Art Museum screens film about influential 1960s sculptor Eva Hesse.

Click here for more events on Thu 12/1

FRI 12/2
Last year Dobama Theatre mounted the magical fantasy Peter Pan prequel Peter & the Starcatcher. It was such a hit they’re producing it again, with an expanded schedule of performances for the holidays. Through Sat 12/31.

* convergence-continuum’s final show of 2016 is a “noir comedy mystery thriller.”

* Member and student shows pack walls of the Cleveland Print room. Through Fri 12/16.

* Le Femme Mystique’s Star Wars-themed burlesque is back at the Beachland.

* Screw Factory artists open their studios for two-day holiday sale. Also tomorrow.

* New Orleans roots music group the Subdudes is back at the Kent Stage.

* The Waterloo Arts District is in holiday mode for December’s Walk All Over Waterloo.

* Jazz flutist Jamie Baum does a concert and master class at Blu Jazz Akron.

* Shop and party at the 5th Street Arcades to benefit Friends of the Cleveland Kennels.

* New works by Allison Bogard featured in one-weekend show at Battery Park’s Vita Urbana.

* Zygote Press holds holds sales at both its locations. Also tomorrow.

* New music concert at KSU features works by Marilyn Shrude.

* Hive Mind’s winter charity show benefits homeless women in Akron.

* Nine Akron artists featured in group show at the Box Gallery.

* Two Ohio artists explore the urban environment in a show at Bonfoey Gallery. Through Sat 1/7/17.

* Quire Cleveland does three performances of its Carols for Quire. Through Sun 12/4.

* Blue Arrow Records hosts double record release show at the Beachland.

* Tony Cuda’s Jazz Cats play record release show at the Bop Stop.

* The “Best Party of the Year” at the downtown Westin benefits the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland.

Click here for more events on Fri 12/2

SAT 12/3
There’s a huge outdoor street party going on in Lakewood this afternoon and evening, so bundle up to enjoy choirs, food trucks, ice sculpting, a vendor village, a tree lighting and fireworks at Light Up Lakewood.

* Do your holiday shopping at three artist studio buildings near AsiaTown.

* Support worthy causes at Women Speak Out for Peace & Justice’s Holiday Bazaar in Tremont.

* Old Bop Stop house band plays new Bop Stop for the first time.

* Cleveland’s FiveOne Experimental Orchestra invites you to hang out with them at Lakewood’s Bottlehouse.

* Tour the studio of the late Cleveland sculptor David Davis with Artists Archives of the Western Reserve.

* Upcycle Parts turns into handmade boutique Collective Upcycle for the holidays. Through Fri 12/23.

* Melissa Urian shows her art at Akron’s Hive Mind.

* Cleveland Jam Conservatory celebrates its opening in Old Brooklyn.

* Cleveland 80s faves Beau Coup reunite for a show at the House of Blues.

* Mystery writer Les Roberts signs books at Oberlin’s Mindfair Books.

* Dancing Wheels presents its seasonal offering The Snowman at the Breen Center.

* Technology recreates vintage ballparks at the Baseball Heritage Museum.

* Blues rockers Exploding Lies unleash their latest release at the Happy Dog.

* Hale Farm & Village lantern tours begin tonight. Through Fri 12/23.

Click here for more events on Sat 12/3

SUN 12/4
In December of 1933, the failed experiment of prohibition – which didn’t stop the 20s from roaring – was repealed. Celebrate at Prosperity Social Club’s Prohibition Party. Come dressed as your favorite 20s icon.

* Hudson merchants host afternoon holiday walk, with cocoa and carriage rides.

* Learn the basics of burlesque glamor from Bella Sin at Lakewood’s Retro Rosie.

* Holiday Circlefest offers a full afternoon of activities all over University Circle, ending in the Lantern Procession at dusk.

Click here for more events on Sun 12/4

MON 12/5
Cleveland native Dave Lucas followed an unlikely pursuit for a boy from a blue-collar town: he became a published, award-winning poet (we produce more poets than you’d think!) Lucas will be giving a free talk at the Cleveland Clinic about myth-making in contemporary lyrics.

* Tongue Party headlines evening of dense heavy-hitting music at Hive Mind.

* Baldwin Wallace music theatre students perform golden Broadway classics at Nighttown.

Click here for more events on Mon 12/5

TUE 12/6
On a weeday evening Ohio City’s Townhall is a relaxed place to hang out, have some vegan, non-GMO food and – paint? Yes, tonight you can sign up for a Canvas + Crafts workshop and be creative while you eat and drink.

* With a relatively young lineup, the venerable Juilliard String Quarter plays at Plymouth Church for the Cleveland Chamber Music Society.

* Learn how the Heights communities fought destructive freeways in the ’60s and saved Shaker Lakes.

Click here for more events on Tue 12/6

WED 12/7
Jennifer Lopez, Jon Voight and Ice Cube starred in the 1997 adventure movie Anaconda, which screens tonight at the Capitol Theatre as part of the Reel Science series. Afterwards an actual scientist discusses the plausibility of the movie’s events actually occurring.

* CWRU/CPH acting students tackle Clybourne Park, a play about race and housing issues. Through Sat 12/17.

* Come hang out at Coffee Phix and hear an acoustic solo performance by Carlos Jones.

* Local author Greg Deegan talks about Cleveland’s sports triumphs and mishaps at the Music Box.

Click here for more events on Wed 12/7

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

The White Right Part II (The Fear)

At the end of the day the fears of unreconstructed racists are all based around sex – they always have been and they always will be. But if these racial throwbacks want to be mad at any anyone, their anger should be directed at Kim and the whole Kardashian clan. While interracial dating…

* BOOK REVIEW: They Can’t Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore and a New Era in America’s Racial Justice Movement by Wesley Lowery

Read other stories from Mansfield Frazier here