09.14-09.21.2016 Telling Tales

09.14-09.21.16
Telling Tales

You could view CoolCleveland and our 2000 (give or take!) VIDEOS as an ongoing oral history project of our region for the last 15 years, which, in a couple of weeks, is how long we’ve been doing this. And for that, we owe a debt to Studs Terkel. The author of a narrative/oral history of his life speaks at Mac’s Backs this week. What we learned from Studs: let people tell their own tales, and our world comes alive. And as it turns out, this place has been cool for 15 years. At least.

Theater Ninjas presents a play with no actors, and Talespinner uses magic to tell the story of ISIS (the Egyptian goddess, not the other one). The reprise of the FireFish Festival sets Downtown Lorain alight, then sets fire to a 38-foot fish sculpture. In the Black River.

Stroll Lakewood and catch music at the library, check out the Blue Sky Folk Fest in Kirtland, discuss building a stronger local food system, hop the trolley to discover the arts, take in a revealing show on first responders, savor grilled cheese on Public Square, dig some Art & Soul on Whiskey Island, or be enchanted by a Baroque barn dance. Either way, you’ll have some stories to tell next week. –Thomas Mulready

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Photo by Elisa Vietri

Telling Tales

Author/raconteur Studs Terkel, who died in 2008 at age 96, was noted for his distinctive voice which he used to channel the stories of ordinary Americans caught up in extraordinary times. Now Cleveland native Alan Wieder has attempted to capture that voice in his new book Studs Terkel Politics, Culture but Mostly Conversation.

Wieder will be at Mac’s Backs to talk about how he went about putting together the book and what he uncovered about Studs in the process. Roy Berko gives us a preview. Tue 9/20.

SPONSORED: Tri-C Presents kicks off new season with Jose James Jose James likes to blur the lines. His soulful baritone voice hop-scotches across jazz, hip-hop, funk and R&B. James brings the whole lot to Nighttown on Wed 9/21 to kick off the 2016-2017 Tri-C Presents arts season. Get tickets here.

Can we help tell your tales? Consider CoolCleveland Sponsored Links, Sponsored Features and Sponsored Videos. Info@CoolCleveland.com

A Play With No Actors

Theatre Ninjas is known for doing the unexpected. Often that means staging a play in an unusual space, since it lacks a permanent home. Other times the production contains elements of other art forms.

This time, the ensemble is dispensing with actors entirely. The Last Game invites audience members to explore spaces inside the Gordon Square Arcade, solve puzzles and discover pieces of the story. It’s hard to explain but TN artistic director gives it a shot in an interview with CoolCleveland’s John Benson. Thu 9/15-Sun 10/2.

VIDEO: BW Now Offers The Only Acting BFA in NEO

Getting tired of seeing British actors taking all the good parts in films and on stage? So is Baldwin Wallace University, and now they’re doing something about it.

BW has created the only Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting in Northeast Ohio, and the only BFA in classical acting in the Midwest.

Take that Christian Bale & Kate Winslet!

Setting the Night on Fire

Last year, downtown Lorain saw the flowering of a new festival. FireFish brought alive some of its alleys, storefronts, rooftops and abandoned buildings which were filled with music, dance, theater, art installations and more. The piece de resistance was a giant flaming fish, set on fire after dark.

The festival is back, expanded to the city’s nearby waterfront; that flaming fish will end up in the Black River. Claudia Taller fills us in on all the magic, created by magician James Levin who co-founded Ingenuity on a similar principle years ago. Sat 9/17.

VIDEO: IngenuityFest Awakens in 2016

With a new mission, a new venue and a new theme (“Awakenings”), Ingenuity boldly carves a path into the future.

Alighting at the Osborn Industrial Complex at 5401 Hamilton in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood, Ingenuity sets the stage for the 2016 IngenuityFest, set to take place Fri 9/23 – Sun 9/25.

Ingenuity program director Emily Applebaum updates CoolCleveland’s Thomas Mulready on how IngenuityLabs turn pilot communities into permanent creative collaboratives, with the opportunity to share equipment, tools and resources to become permanent tenants in the space. Now everyone’s got a cool new place to call home.

Maria Muldaur Looks at Her Roots

Maria Muldaur was Americana before anyone ever heard that term. She was singing blues, bluegrass and mountain folk music back in the ’60s, long before she had that sultry hit everyone knows, “Midnight at the Oasis,” in 1974.

Now 73, she’s released her 40th album Way Past Midnight and she’s on the road taking a look at her long and diverse career in a multi-media retrospective. Ahead of her show at the Kent Stage, John Benson talks to Muldaur to look back with her and find out what she’s working on now. Sun 9/18.

SPONSORED: A Season of Drama and Discovery Apollo’s Fire launches its 25th Anniversary Season on Sat 9/17 with Last Night of Summer. “Never again even think that ‘classical music’ is boring. Never if it’s done as well as Apollo’s Fire does it.” – CoolCleveland. Special pricing for young professionals! Call 216-320-0012 or visit ApollosFire.org.

Run, kayak and bike through Cleveland Metroparks in the Ledges to Lake Adventure Race

Looking for the thrill of an adventure? Cleveland Metroparks Ledges to Lake Adventure Race in Hinckley Reservation on Sat 9/17 challenges participants on land and in water while running, cycling and kayaking. Challengers can compete individually, as a team or complete the race as a relay.

The course is perfect for both beginners and advanced racers; a limited supply of kayaks can be reserved for $10/person by contacting Outdoor Recreation at 216-341-1704. For more information and to register for the Ledges to Lake Adventure Race, visit ClevelandMetroparks.com. Part of the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Family Series.

Unwrapping the Mummies

Talespinner Children’s Theatre mines the myths and legends of various cultures to create engaging multimedia, interactive productions. For their latest, The Mummies & the Magic Prince, they look back to ancient Egypt for a tale of magic. Sat 9/17-Sun 10/9.

* If your kid loves anything on wheels, bring him or her to the Touch-a-Truck event in Parma to explore a fire truck, police car, school bus and more. Sun 9/18.

* Lakewood’s Front Porch free concert series outside the main library is extending its season with one more concert, especially for kids. Fri 9/16.

Click here for more CoolCleveland Kids events

Food Trucks, Vendors and… Sewers?

This isn’t your average festival: this is the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District Open House. Held on Sat 9/17 @ 9AM – 4PM at the Environmental and Maintenance Services Center, NEORSD is opening their doors and letting visitors tour their Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant and lab, play games, conduct hands-on experiments, and much more. All free of charge, and good fun for family and friends.

Seeing a sewer’s inner workings not cool enough? See our lab behind the scenes, explore the Metroparks NatureTracks mobile exhibit, learn from workshops and register for cost-saving programs, and enjoy Cleveland’s favorite food trucks, games, and treats. So get ready to get your hands dirty, and to learn what happens after the flush. More info.

VIDEO: Melt Opens on Public Square

Matt Fish is at it again.

Melt Bar and Grilled has opened another mouth-watering location right in the heart of Downtown Cleveland.

On the 3rd floor of 200 Public Square, you’ll find a scaled-down Melt tucked into the modern concept Cafe 200, offering their Top 10 classic sandwich favorites, open to the public for breakfast from 7-10AM, then again for lunch between 11AM-3PM.

Pop in when you’re Downtown, and grab your Melt favorites to eat in their dining room, or take out to enjoy on Public Square and discover the best that Cleveland has to offer.

SPONSORED: Send Your Camel To Bed at The Kent Stage featuring Fruition, Ekoostic Hookah, Taylor Hicks, Muldaur, Lake Street Dive, An Evening With John Mayall, An Evening With Graham Nash, moe., Joan Shelley, plus more. TheKentStage.com.

Come hear some of the area’s leaders in building a stronger local food system talk about growing that food and connecting people with it. There’ll be poetry about food too at “The Green Spirit” at the Euclid Tavern. Mon 9/19.

* Potluck in the Park, that community meal intended to bring local food lovers, growers and promoters together, moves to Rid-All Farms for its 5th year. Sat 9/17.

* Coit Road market manager Kevin Scheuring is hosting an Eat Local Food event at the market, featuring cooking demos, tastings, music and art. Sat 9/17.

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

SPONSORED: ONLY@OBERLIN Welcome autumn with a couple of glorious nights: Jazz clarinetist Eddie Daniels and friends kick off the 2016-17 Artist Recital Series on Sat 9/17 with standards and inspired original charts. The Zukerman Trio follows on Fri 9/30 with romantic Schubert and searing Shostakovich trios. $35; $30 seniors/military; $10 students.

September at Melt Bar and Grilled

Sandwich Special: Winner Winner “Anniversary” Chicken Dinner; Seasonal Sides: Cheesy Cheddar Broccoli & Jerk Sweet Potatoes; Bread Pudding: Happy 10th Anniversary Bread Pudding; Beer Feature: Ayinger Oktoberfest.

Melt News: Fall Seasonal Cocktail Menu begins Tue 9/6; New satellite location: Melt Public Square opening Mon 9/12; Melt Tattoo Family Reunion: Thu 9/8. Melt Themed Art Show at 78th Street Studios on 9/16-17. Sunday Funday Yoga: 8/14. MeltBarAndGrilled.com.

It’s the end of summer and the start of an exciting new season for Apollo’s Fire, Cleveland’s baroque orchestra. To celebrate, they’re hosting a party and barn dance tonight at the Baroque Barn. Sat 9/17.

* Cleveland hip-hop duo Muamin Collective, known for working with live musicians, celebrate their first live album at the Euclid Tavern. Sat 9/17.

* The family-friendly Blue Sky Folk Festival in Kirtland offers a day of performances, jam sessions and workshops. Sat 9/17.

* Cleveland indie rock trio Blaka Watra releases new album with a show at the Happy Dog. Sat 9/16.

Read more of CoolCleveland’s picks for Cool Events.

SPONSORED: Celebrate 20% of the world’s fresh water when you check out Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s Open House happening on Sat 9/17 @ 9AM – 4PM at their Environmental and Maintenance Service Center. Tour the Southerly Wastewater Treatment plant, see what happens after the flush, see educational exhibits, and much more.

WED 9/14
Artist/urban visionary Theaster Gates is transforming abandoned spaces on the south side of Chicago into art spaces of all types. He’ll talk about how he’s doing that tomorrow at the Akron Roundtable at Quaker Station. Tonight he and the Black Monks of Mississippi will do a performance at the Akron Art Museum called “A Cultural Revival.”

* The Slovenian Sausage Festival at the SNPJ Farm will decide who provides the klobasa at the annual Thanksgiving Polka Weekend downtown.

* Cleveland punk rock guitarist Cheetah Chrome is back in town to play the Beachland.

* Todd Clouser’s Future Dance finds a groove at the BOP STOP.

* Maltz Museum’s series on Cleveland’s immigrant communities focuses on Latinos.
Click here for more events on Wed 9/14

THU 9/15
Global Cleveland and the Cleveland Council on World Affairs want to encourage curiosity about the rest of the world and get Clevelanders to travel. So they’re hosting a Passport Party at Market Garden Brewery where admission is your passport or filling in an application for one.

* Ensemble Theater presents a new play by Clevelander Peter Lawson Jones. Through Sun 10/2.

* Anna & Elizabeth add visuals to traditional American folk music at Peninsula’s G.A.R. Hall.

* Author/commentator Sarah Vowell speaks at the Akron Public Library.

* Cleveland Greats series at the BOP STOP features jazz trumpeter Jack Schantz.

* The 5th annual Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival opens tonight and runs through Fri 9/23.

* Portland, Oregon’s Fruition fuses rock, pop and soul at the Kent Stage.
Click here for more events on Thu 9/15

FRI 9/16
The 7th Annual Cinema show at the Kenneth Paul Lesko Gallery features interpretations of both particular films and the idea of movies in general by local and international artists. It opens tonight during 78th Street Studios’ Third Friday.

* Sarah Kabot’s collages at Heights Arts look back on a year in the news.

* Nature’s Bin’s Event in the Tent raises money for training programs for people with disabilities.

* Herb Ascherman shows portraits of first responders in and out of uniform at the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve.

* The Hispanic Comedy Festival at the Lorain Palace Theatre will tickle your funny bone in English and Spanish.

* Columbus jam band Ekoostik Hookah returns to the Kent Stage.

* Something Dada presents new comedy about bigfoot baby at Blank Canvas Theater.

* The Elyria Apple Festival celebrates the harvest with vendors, contests, a vintage car show and entertainment on the town square.

* Shari Wilkins and John Carlson reprise their show Destruction of Form at 78th Street Studios.

* The Corn Potato String Band channels the sound of old-time folk at Peninsula’s G.A.R. Hall.

* Poet reads from his book Heaven at the Museum of Natural History’s planetarium.
Click here for more events on Fri 9/16

SAT 9/17
Once sleepy Jay Avenue in Ohio City is now home to a couple of cool motorcycle/outdoor lifestyle shops. One of those, Ohio City Moto, has put together an “End of Summa” block party, a free day of music, food, craft beer and fun.

* The annual Sparx City Hop takes trolley-riders to a bunch of Cleveland’s hot arts & culture neighborhoods.

* Crazy Cat Person Party at Fillmore’s on Waterloo is a evening to wallow in all things feline.

* Veteran jazz/classical clarinetist Eddie Daniels performs at Oberlin’s Finney Chapel.

* The Tremont Arts & Cultural Festival reflects the community’s ethnic diversity.

* Love Lunes Over Buckeye celebrates the community in music, dance, song and art.

* Museum of Divine Statues hosts fundraiser to restore Catholic icons.

* See what goes down the drains at the NE Ohio Sewer District’s annual open house.

* The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes celebrates 50 years with a festival and run.

* Cleveland’s Mushroomhead marks 20 years since the release of Superbuick with a show at the Agora Theater.

* ARTneo benefit at 78th Street Studios honors area artist Phyllis Seltzer.

* Reiki Room’s Art & Soul Festival at Whiskey Island benefits homeless dogs.

* CWRU Harvest Festival gives visitors a glimpse of its farm in Hunting Valley.

* Rowers row to the beat of a drum at the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival.

* Cleveland Play House season opener All The Way looks back at LBJ’s first year. Though Sun 10/9.

* Cleveland Museum of Art’s Chalk Festival gives visitors a chance to create temporary art. Also tomorrow.

* Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek performs in Port Clinton.

* Rhys Miller brings his “Quiet Storm’ jazz/pop vocals to the BOP STOP.

* Head of the Cuyahoga regatta shows off rivers recreational side.
Click here for more events on Sat 9/17

SUN 9/18
The Lithuanian Cultural Garden is one of the oldest of the gardens, founded in 1936. Now in this centennial year for the garden, it’s celebrating its own milestone with a program of speeches and music.

* Annual Heights Heritage Home Tour showcases beautiful Cleveland Heights architecture.
Click here for more events on Sun 9/18

MON 9/19
The romantic coming-of-age film Dirty Dancing was an ’80s blockbuster set in 1963. But it also had a sub-plot about getting an abortion in the pre-Roe v. Wade era. Preterm women’s health clinic screens the film on its movie night to tell women “We won’t go back!”
Click here for more events on Mon 9/19

TUE 9/20
You don’t need skills or training for contra dance, a traditional folk dance designed for community participation. If you decide to try it out at the monthly dance at Chagrin Falls Township Hall, there’s a short lesson beforehand to give you confidence.

* Being your soundmaker to the BOP STOP for the monthly Outlab collective improvisational jam.

* Author of book on Clevelander John Demjanjuk, accused of being a Nazi war criminal, to speak at CWRU law school.

* Chicago blues duo Joe Filisko and Eric Noden perform at Happy Days Lodge.
Click here for more events on Tue 9/20

WED 9/21
Sustainable Cleveland 2019. the city’s climate action initiative, celebrated the Year of Sustainable Transportation in 2016. Its annual Summit at Public Hall will look back at the progress it made and look ahead at 2017, the Year of Vibrant Green Space. Also tomorrow.

* Cleveland joins national network of staged readings of Brecht play to protest rising fascism in the U.S.

* The Musical Theater Project presents depression-era classic The Cradle Will Rock at the Beck Center. Also Sun 9/25 at KSU.

* Lake Street Dive brings their new album Side Pony to the Kent Stage.
Click here for more events on Wed 9/21

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

For Obvious Reasons

While the civil rights battles of the 60s – some of which are still being fought today – were engaged in primarily to secure voting rights, equal pay for equal work and the right to live anywhere one could afford was also on the agenda. However, just because we blacks now have the “right” to do something…

Read other stories from Mansfield Frazier here