Young Cleveland

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3.23-3.30.05
Young Cleveland

In this week’s issue:
* Birol’s Business offering ideas how to make it in A Young Clevelander’s Guide to Success
* Cool Cleveland Jazz Night Out with Al Jarreau, your best price until Thu 3/24 here
* Cool Cleveland Red Night Out with Red {an orchestra}, discount until Thu 3/24 here
* Cool Cleveland Interview Part 2 with Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis
* Tuning In with Doug Gillard formerly of Cobra Verde and Guided By Voices

A Young Clevelander’s Guide to Success
By Cool Cleveland columnist Andrew J. Birol

Too many young workers don’t seem to grasp the obvious, which is that we all survive by exchanging our value for someone else’s money. Unions, laws, scarcity, egos, blind faith, and idealism can’t change this; hey, the flower children of the ’60s are AARP lobbyists today. Why, then, do I see so many young people who expect to re-create the marketplace in their own image? From arranging a job interview for a starving artist who neither shows up nor calls…to being admonished by a young restaurant manager for not tipping her staff’s terrible service…to seeing a rookie worker resent being trained to do his job well, I have seen too much entitlement and too little excellence. Look, you are the engine of your own destiny. If you idle around waiting for someone to figure out how much horsepower you have under the hood, sooner or later you will run out of gas. Instead of blaming the idiots who just don’t understand, you can put your life and your career on a fast track. Here are a few simple suggestions to get you started…
Read Birol’s Business here and here

Cool Cleveland Jazz Night Out 4/15
Lowest price tix available here thru 3/24

CC teams up with JazzFest for a Cool Cleveland Jazz Night Out on Fri 4/15 that starts with an open wine bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres at the secret Hermit Club, then heads over to the Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square for a featured performance by jazz legend Al Jarreau. Your discount ticket (purchase online before midnight 3/24 here for your best price) includes all this: pre-party with open wine bar & hors d’oeuvres from 5:30-7:30PM, featuring a performance by Kassaba, a Cleveland world, classical and jazz ensemble boasting four musicians playing 25 instruments simultaneously, with entertainment on each of the four levels of the private Hermit Club tucked away in the alley behind Playhouse Square. Hang with your friends and hook up with new ones when you score your ticket, which includes one admission to hear the incredible vocal work of Al Jarreau, winner of five Grammys in jazz, pop and R&B, when he performs at 8PM that evening in the Allen Theatre as part of the Tri-C JazzFest. Ticket prices go up after midnight 4/24, so order now before this incredible offer sells out. See the details here and click here for ticket discounts: http://www.coolcleveland.com/tickets/nightoutfour

Cool Cleve Red Night Out 4/2 selling fast
Discount tix available here thru 3/24
They’ve been called “The fiercest string quartet this side of hell!” Rock star string quartet Ethel joins Cleveland’s Red {an orchestra} for our next Cool Cleveland “Night Out” on Sat 4/2 featuring open wine bar and complimentary hors d’ oeuvres from Fire, with showcases from 5:30 to 7:30PM at the majestic Masonic Auditorium. Join the fun and chill with the cool Clevelanders who know a good thing when they hear it. Like no other classical music quartet you’ve ever heard, Ethel’s background reads like a who’s who of 21st century music. Their members have played with everyone from Sheryl Crow to Steve Reich, from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra to Roger Daltry. You can hear them on upcoming releases from Joe Jackson and Rickie Lee Jones. This amplified anthem-rock string quartet from NYC will lift you six inches out of your chair. Get in on the event to accelerate your Spring season here. Order by midnight 3/24 and save by clicking here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/tickets/nightoutthree

Cleveland as college town? With four major universities and a constellation of numerous smaller colleges within Northeast Ohio, we could be viewed as a large-sized college town. Ed Morrison, from the Center for Regional Economic Issues, sees the connection between college towns, jobs and economic development. He has pointed out some recent articles: The Christian Science Monitor here notes “America’s college towns are producing more than diplomas – they have become job machines.” The Missourian of Columbia, Missouri here reports that “plans for a small business technology incubator and a Health Science Research Center…stem from MU’s [University of Missouri] ambition to spur financial growth and economic development through technology transfer.” The Indianapolis Star here reported that Bloomington’s Indiana University [IU] president feels that “IU must become more focused and more aggressive in the economic development arena, and we will,” as he announced the results of a far-reaching study calling for expanded federal research, the creation of an economic development council, and fast-tracking technology transfer. In Albany, The Times Union reports here that tax breaks, equity guarantees and other governmental incentives are being considered for a “Midtown Plan” to spur a rebirth in a “student ghetto” near six universities, giving people an incentive to live where they work. Your thoughts on Cleveland as an over-grown college town? Send them to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Hildur Asgeirsdottir Jonsson is smashing Her current exhibition at MOCA has raised the praise factor among critics who are reacting favorably toward her 26 weavings, embroideries and drawings inspired by her native country, Iceland. Her abstract works are compared to artists such as Jackson Pollock, and the show is garnering momentum like few other regional exhibitions. The PD’s Steve Litt, not one for hyperbole, says her show “easily ranks as one of the finest by any artist in Northeast Ohio in the past decade.” Catch it at MOCA Cleveland before it closes on May 1. Read here and get more info at http://www.MOCAcleveland.org.

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Urban Living Fit for a King or a Queen Kings Terrace Condominiums offer 3-story townhouse-style living in the heart of the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood. With prices starting at $249,900, you can enjoy 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a roof deck with dramatic views of the lake and downtown, a 3rd floor loft, hardwood floors, ceramic tile, 2400 square feet of living space, a gas fireplace, and a 2 car garage. A 100%, 15 year tax abatement is also available. While you’re in the neighborhood you can grab a pint at the neighborhood watering hole, the Happy Dog, check out the Old Angle Pub on a revitalized West 25th Street, or zip downtown in minutes. Kings Terrace is open every Sunday from 2-4 PM, except holidays (closed Easter weekend). For a complete list of open houses this weekend, please visit www.ProgressiveUrban.com
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Cleveland has more graduates than dropouts The numbers give reason to cheer on Cleveland Municipal Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett, as the graduation rate for Cleveland high school students exceeded 50 percent – up from only 28% six years ago. Cleveland’s school district graduation rate has moved up from the lowest in the nation and it’s creating confidence for our region’s next generation of leaders. The schools are doing better than ever by this important measure and they should be given the credit they deserve. Read here. Your thoughts? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Convention center discussions The Convention Facilities Authority is tossing around ideas to offer public perks in the convention center, such as a visitors’ center, an art gallery, music and exhibits. While the ideas are plausible, the discussions have not involved much public comment, which is necessary to engage the community on options for convention center use, location and financing options. The CFA meets at 9:30AM every first Tuesday of the month at One Cleveland Center, 1375 East Ninth Street at St. Clair. Unfortunately, and ironically, the April meeting has been cancelled. See story here and Cool Cleveland columnist Roldo Bartimole’s recent comments after he attended a public CFA meeting here. Send your comments to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Are we not creative? Inside Business puts out its list of Cleveland’s best enterprises that use creativity to drive their growth, including musical hometown hero Cindy Barber of the Beachland Ballroom, and attorney Todd Tucker, who helped The Sign-Offs court bigger record labels. Other headliners include Malone Advertising, the solution-driven media planners and marketers whose accounts include prestigious national accounts such as Isuzu Motors American and Dannon. Learn about Glazen Creative Studios, the cookin’ Cleveland video firm and “hybrid boutique” snagging the coveted Sherwin-Williams account. With offices in New York as well as Cleveland, around 90 percent of its clients have connections with Cleveland. And that takes creativity. Read Inside Business here

Visiting Edgewater Park will cost you The gutless leaders in our State Legislature are charging visitors a $5 parking fee at all 74 state parks (which we already pay for with our taxes, btw), including Edgewater and Euclid Beach Parks, used by urban residents and workers as a quick respite from the daily grind. The Cuyahoga County Commissioners say this move has “padlocked” the entrance to the lakefront by imposing this fee. Mayor Campbell fired off a letter to Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Sam Speck, with an appeal that the parks should remain accessible; she also threatened legal action. You can lend your voice to this by emailing Sam Speck at dnrmail@dnr.state.oh.us. Then cc: Cool Cleveland at Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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26th Annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland Tickets on Sale Now Two weeks of star-studded performances. One great jazz festival. Check out our line-up: Al Jarreau; Wynton Marsalis; Sergio Mendes Brasil 2005; Bobby Caldwell & Down to the Bone; Latin Jazz Night with Bobby Sanabria and Ascensión; The Heath Brothers featuring Jeb Patton; the Charles Lloyd Quartet; Geri Allen; the Charlie Hunter Trio; Jack DeJohnette’s Latin Project; Howard Johnson; Jazz Meets Hip Hop – Part 3; plus daily free concerts on the JazzFest Stage at Tower City. All between April 14 – 24, 2005. For detailed information, visit
www.TriCJazzFest.com or call 216-987-4400. Tickets on sale online now at www.Tickets.com or by phone 800-766-6048. 2005 Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland – ALL THAT’S JAZZ!
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NEO becoming SEO center Cleveland’s fast becoming a center of excellence in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and folks around the country are taking notice. HR and recruiting guru John Sumser of San Francisco gives props to CC and to Clevelander Joel Cheeseman, formerly of CareerBoard and now heading up HRSEO, a smart site designed to leverage the Google searching that job seekers are already doing on the web, and developing strategies to have your employment webpage pop up high in the search results. Sumser’s site Electronic Recruiting News here is required reading if you’re looking for talent, and brilliant if you’re looking for a job, and keep an eye on Cheeseman’s project here: http://www.HRSEO.com

New port official has revitalization mission The new vice president of regional development, Deb Janik, has priorities centered on economic development, creating jobs, and increasing our region’s growth through finance programs. She distinguished herself as Mayor Campbell’s Chief of Staff. One of her first assignments will be finding ways to heat up the scene in the Flats; a potentially Herculean task. Read here

First Energy pays $1.1 billion fine to the Envioronmental Protection Agency for excessive pollution generated by its coal-fired power plant in Steubenville on the Ohio River, the country’s second-largest emitter of sulfur dioxide, which permanently damages the lungs and is the main cause of acid rain, which contaminates rivers, lakes and forests. Co-plaintiffs included the states of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, which complained they could not meet their own Clean Air Act standards because of the Ohio coal plant. As part of the settlement, First Energy is required to reduce pollution at its Eastlake plant in Lake County. The fine was the second largest civil fine ever imposed on a utility. First Energy is forbidden to recover the costs from consumers until their current rate cap ends in 2009. Read about it here and send us your comments here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Franklin Castle Club is a new Cleveland members-only club, located at one of the most architecturally distinguished residences in Ohio City, and it has just been purchased by real estate investor Charles Milsaps. This private social club will offer 16,000 square feet with a main dining room, club lounge, private dining rooms, library bar, billiard room, English solarium, private guest suites, rooftop terrace, and grand ballroom. Members will have access to additional amenities such as elaborate guest suites for overnight stays and limousine services. Perks including quality culinary delights that will be featured in daily lunch and dinners to members, along with services that include dining, banquet and meeting facilities. The building’s architects, Cudell & Richardson, were Cleveland’s most prestigious architectural firm in the 1880s, and the renovation maintained all the original details to preserve the building’s identity. It’s a gorgeous facility located at 4308 Franklin Boulevard in Ohio City; for more info, call 631-2582 or visit http://www.franklincastleclub.com or Email info@franklincastleclub.com

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Unparalleled living in Cleveland Heights Located on Mayfield Road between Warrensville Center and Taylor Roads in Cleveland Heights, the award-winning Courtyards of Severance offers you unparalleled maintenance-free living in tune with your lifestyle. These inspired townhomes come in five different style floor plans, which vary from two-story layouts (featuring a first floor owner’s bedroom retreat for one floor convenient living) to three-story designs that exude urban living for today’s uncompromising buyers. The Courtyards of Severance carries an unequaled sense of community that is missing from newer developments because each townhome building has a common central courtyard that fosters neighborliness, communication and inclusion. See for yourself. Visit The Courtyards of Severance today or go to www.TheCourtyardsofSeverance.com
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CSU celebrates women Did you know that March marks Women’s History Month? Take part in events at Cleveland State University’s complimentary and open to the public happenings this month and next, kicking off with Outreach Program for Re-entry Women, a workshop for women whose educational goals have been deferred and are now hoping to return to school happening Wed 3/23 at 9:30AM and 5:30PM at the University Center, room 364. Engage further with the Women in Action Speaker Series during the brown bag lunch presentation with Jan Purdy, formerly of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum on Tue 3/29 at noon, located at the Sweet Seminar Room, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, 1717 Euclid Ave. Next up is the Cultural Crossings Lecture, presenting “Hip-Hop Music (History, Technology, Commodification, Sexism),” with a book signing to follow on Fri 4/15 at 5PM, the Dively Auditorium, Levin College of Urban Affairs. Hear the lecture African Ethnicities in the Americas by Dr. Gwendolyn Midlo Hall, coming in from Southern University of Louisiana on Wed 4/20 at 6PM, located at the University Center, Room 1. Finishing up the series will be Women’s Art Invitational: Works By and About Women now on view thru Mon 5/16 at the University Center third floor gallery. For info, call 687-4674.

WAGE: Women Are Getting Even The WAGE Project is a new national organization working to close the wage gap between men and women. Led by former Massachusetts Lt. Governor Evelyn Murphy, author of Getting Even: Why Women Don’t Get Paid Like Men and What To Do About It, WAGE [Women Are Getting Even] provides women and employers with tools to eliminate gender bias in the workplace. The website will present a collection of stories from women workers who feel they are paid unfairly and who have taken action to remedy workplace injustices. Help build the initial collection of women’s stories by submitting yours, which will document the pervasive discrimination women are experiencing at work. If you’ve been paid less, denied promotions, experienced sexual harassment, or been treated differently in the workplace as a woman with discrimination affecting your paycheck, send in your stories. The website is not yet open to the public, so sign in and form completions is necessary. For more information on the WAGE Women’s Stories Project, e-mail Jennifer Jackman at jjackman@wageproject.org

Cleveland and Richfield collaborate Strange as it sounds, the cities of Cleveland and Richfield are putting together a new joint economic development district (JEDD) to share taxes and water. Using the technique that Columbus wielded to annex its small suburbs, the City of Cleveland has finally realized it can leverage its access to water to build regional collaboration. Clean water for the suburbs, tax revenue for Cleveland, and an expanded customer base for the water department – it’s a small but symbolic step towards regionalism. Read the press release on the City of Cleveland’s website here, then send us an email with your thoughts on regionalism. Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Gonick blogs and compares the situation in Cleveland with the classic film, Quo Vadis, in which Emperor Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Case CIO Lev Gonick asks: Why are some in Cleveland following this modern “Nero complex” when it comes to our city’s future? There are always naysayers eager to pipe up their negative predictions, but more engaged conversations should be happening between not only the major players on the scene, but also the community at large. http://blog.case.edu/lsg8

Fingerhut blogs on developing a comprehensive alternative to Governor Taft’s budget and tax plan which focuses on job creation: the Growth & Reform Agenda. Read on about Eliminating Tangible Personal Property Taxes (TPPT) on Ohio businesses, the creation of a $2.4 Billion Ohio Regional Jobs Plan, and the introduction of a Local Government Innovation Fund (LGIF). He explains how Ohio’s political problems stem from not enough new ideas coming out, and he comments on differences in the quality and quantity of good policy analysis available at the federal and state level. He also deconstructs last week’s Wall Street Journal article, Ohio Offers Clues On Cause of Low Growth discussing what distinguishes high-growth states from low-growth states like Ohio. http://www.MakingOhioGreatAgain.com

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You’re invited! Help us celebrate Grammy nominated Robert Lockwood Junior’s 90th birthday at Fat Fish Blue Downtown on Sat 3/26, music starting at 8PM. The party kicks off with Colin Dussault’s Blues Project. The Magic Touch Band performs at 9PM and the Legendary Cleveland Fats takes the stage at 11PM. Other special guests include several monumental blues artists: the famous “Honey Boy” Edwards, Henry Townson and Mr. Sonny Payne from “King Biscuit.” Lockwood and his band will take the stage at 10PM and midnight. A spectacular guitar, compliments of Sam Ash Music, will be presented to Lockwood to commemorate the night’s performance. An amazing menu of Robert’s favorite dishes will be available for dinner and late night dining. Please come by to wish this legend a very happy 90th! Tickets for the event are only $10. Contact Fat Fish Blue at 216-875-6000 or www.FatFishBlue.com for more information.
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Online discount tix The CTIX ticket kiosk at Star Plaza has never really lived up to its potential like the TKTS kiosk in Times Square has. The Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) of Greater Cleveland will be hosting the final public forum to present concepts for the development of an online marketplace for sales of surplus tickets to events in Cleveland through CTIX. The Community Partnership for Arts and Culture and the CVB of Greater Cleveland encourages your attendance and would appreciate your input; take this opportunity to make your voice heard. Final forum will be held on Thu 3/31 at 8:30AM. Call 575-0331 or email cpac2001@aol.com to RSVP. Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Ave.

Overworked and overwhelmed Americans The Families and Work Institute released findings that confirm what most of us already knew: workers surveyed said they were subjected to taking on too many tasks at the same time and worked longer hours, with job responsibility and workload becoming more demanding. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7190211/

Welcome NONA on Lee Road Fun, quirky and cool, this new gallery is a welcome sight to Cleveland Heights, with most of the merchandise items produced on location at the shop. Clients are encouraged to stop in see one-of-a-kind pieces that are specially designed for fashion-savvy and funky individuals. You’ll also find an exclusive line of handbags utilizing a historic photographic process to print on the fabric, and the “Rescued Jewels” line made out of all recycled parts. Call 321-1932. NONA, 2254 Lee Rd. in Cleveland Hts.

Get access to public records The PD has done a great service with their recent series on how to access public records of government and community sources. Check their articles for consumer info, hospital data, school info, and police and court records. For example, when public records became searchable Internet documents, a new, online and very popular pastime emerged: house surfing. Anyone with a computer can now review price histories, building styles, or trace property ownership over many years. Plus you can search for ethics violations or illegal acts committed by brokers or real estate agents. Read here and send your comments here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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Ethel/Red, a Unique Collaboration Between Two Ground-breaking Ensembles Ethel, an avant-garde string quartet from New York, has been called a mighty amplified force that has a rock-n-roll spirit. This unique, high energy concert with its eclectic mix of sound and light will REDefine the way you look at classical music. Experience Ethel/Red on Sat 4/2 at 8PM in the Masonic Auditorium, 3615 Euclid Avenue. Concert tickets start at $15. For more information call Red {an orchestra} at 440-519-1733 or visit www.Red{an orchestra}.com
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The one minute high-tech body scan is turning into the newest health craze for those who worry about potential physical ailments and want to receive instant results, but is it a good idea? Read NewScientist here

A signature bridge for Cleveland? Ohio has an opportunity to beautify the I90 bridge over the Cuyahoga River, but the project has not been given the thought and careful planning it deserves. The current solution would renovate the existing bridge simply by removing rust and adding new lanes, and in the process adding a horrendous ramp. For the same cost to renovate, why not build a beautifully designed, high-tech bridge that could be a cool landmark? It might become a visual signature that would identify Cleveland. County Planning Director Paul Alsensas is the visionary who championed the idea for the new bridge; let’s hope more idea generators like him are appreciated and utilized in the road renovation process. Read here and visit here. How do you feel about this opportunity to beautify Cleveland while updating our infrastructure? Send you comments to the director of ODOT here: Gordon.Proctor@dot.state.oh and copy Cool Cleveland here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Got biz stories we should know about? That’s right, CC is looking for inside stories on Cleveland businesses. We want to hear it all; so send ’em in. Ever wonder why some sector, process, or example of Cleveland business works (or doesn’t work) a certain way? Are there some business leaders, owners, or figures whose behavior is exemplary, abhorrent, or irrational? Let us know, and we’ll consider featuring coverage for that company in Cool Cleveland. Send your stories to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Looking for rock and roll performance art You don’t have to be a musician, but can you do performance art with a rock and roll edge? Are you able to spend $250 in expenses and stay in an artist’s apartment in Pittsburgh while putting together your piece for presentation on Sat 5/21 at the Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh’s premiere experimental art venue? Contact Heather Mallak of SARROGIT at heather@pghmonkeyhouse.com

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Trust and Betrayal Just one of many themes from E. L. Doctorow’s, The Book of Daniel, which was penned using elements of historical fiction, along with the Red Scare of the 50’s as a backdrop. Based loosely on the infamous Rosenberg spy trial, The Book of Daniel focuses on government’s role in quelling the fears of its people – and the terror of such over-zealous actions. E. L. Doctorow will be Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Writers Center Stage 2004-2005 series final presenting author on Tue 4/5, 7:30PM in Playhouse Square at the Ohio Theatre. This series offers stimulating presentations by the authors and opportunities to purchase books and have them autographed. Single ticket sales are available at the Playhouse Square Box Office, 1519 Euclid Ave., through Tickets.com, or by calling 216-241-6000. Cuyahoga County Public Library – providing your community open access to resources that inform, entertain and enrich. www.cuyahogalibrary.org
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Cool Cleveland This Week

3.23-3.30
Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Laudable Lawns: Sustainable Landscaping Temperatures are rising, and your yard will require attention to recover from the cold weather that affects its appearance during spring. Radically transform your lawn into a visual treat for the eyes, as Kathy Hanratty of Enviroscapes Design will demonstrate the art and necessity of sustainable landscaping on Wed 3/23 from 7-9PM. This session is limited, so RSVP at 321-5935 x 234. Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd. http://www.ShakerLakes.org

From Pleasant Valley Road to New York City and back again best describes Cleveland native Michael Bierut, the headline-maker described by Fast Company magazine as “one of the more accomplished and celebrated graphic designers practicing today.” As a partner in the international design firm Pentagram, Bierut will talk about his Cleveland roots and what inspires him to create award-winning work. His pieces have landed at the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; and his appearance is part of the Geeks+Gurus Visual Communication & Design Inspiration series at Tri-C Western Campus on Wed 3/23 at 7:30PM. C Building Atrium, Cuyahoga Community College Western Campus, 11000 Pleasant Valley Rd. in Parma. RSVP at http://www.GeeksAndGurusonline.com or download it at http://www.awdsgn.com/geeks/events/Mar23-BeirutFlyer.pdf

Gala Concert Defy gravity at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where a trio performs mystifying variations of gypsy music from all across Europe. Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg stars along with two brothers Sérgio and Odair Assad on the guitar. Get ready to be astounded by energetic performances by all three as they float musical chords throughout The Cleveland Institute of Art on Wed 3/23 at 7:30PM. Call 421-7350. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd. http://www.ClevelandArt.org

Annual Buckeye Regional FIRST Competition The adventuresome group known as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) excites young people and increases their interest about the accessibility, fun, and importance of science and engineering. Students are inspired to look at apply skills in mathematics, science and technology, as FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge and life skills while motivating young people. See creations that defy the imagination at the raging Robotics competition happening on Thu 3/24 starting off at 7:45AM-8PM and running thru 3/26. Find out listing of events and schedules here or contact Carol.Galica@grc.NASA.gov

Steelyard Commons Project developer at WIRE-Net Developer Mitchell Schneider will share a timely discussion about one of the most exciting and controversial economic development projects on the horizon, Steelyard Commons, at the Thu 3/24 networking event from WIRE-Net (the Westside Industrial Retention and Expansion Network) from 5-7PM. Schneider, President of First Interstate Properties, Ltd., will discuss the situation as the featured speaker; meet up with the man whose Beachwood company recently opened Legacy Village lifestyle center. Call 631-7330 X 114. The “Old” Denison School, 1700 Denison Ave. or visit http://www.wire-net.org

vanityCrash Glitter will glimmer, feather boas will float, painted faces will prance and the diggers will dance, as vanityCrash with their fellow glammers, The Gutter Vamps and Decadent hit the HiFi. Come out in your best attire and rock with the finest if you dare to glom on the glam rockers scene this Thu 3/24 beginning 9:30PM. Call 521-8878. The HiFi Club, 11729 Detroit Ave. in Lakewood. http://www.vanityCrash.com

SPACES Art Mart 20th Annual Members’ Show Isn’t it time you began your art collection, or are you ready to update what you already have? Over one hundred artist members will present wall-to-wall offerings of all media to spike your creative interests: prints, sculpture, installations, painting, jewelry and other one-of-a-kind items for sale. Meet and speak with artists while you downshift in a mod atmosphere with live music; there’ll also be edibles from local restaurants at the opening reception on Fri 3/25 from 6-10PM; show remains on view till 4/1. Call 621-2314. SPACES, 2220 Superior Viaduct. http://www.SPACESgallery.org

Rules of the Game This French vintage film directed by Jean Renoir is a celebrated tragicomedy rollercoaster. A weekend at a country estate turns into a psychological roundup where characters from a cross-section of pre-WWII French society partake in a romantic roundelay. Voted best movie of all time in the 2002 Sight and Sound magazine poll, it’s a film that’s not to be missed on Fri 3/25 at 7PM. Call for tickets at 421-7350. Cleveland Museum of Art, Gartner Auditorium, 11150 East Blvd. http://www.ClevelandArt.org

Drawn In: Seduction of Line Check out this head-turning exhibit with works and words by visiting Berkeley artist Jan Wurm, in which the unstretched canvas communicates unfurling images. The artist manipulates moments glimpsed between having and losing, marked with transformation. See works from this internationally recognized art maker, with divergent imagery springing from his transformative process of creation on Fri 3/25 with an opening reception from 7-11PM. Call 939-9099. A gallery lecture on Sat 3/26 begins at 7PM. Show runs through 4/16. Miller-Weitzel Gallery, 5304 Detroit Avenue Front. Email MWGallery@adelphia.net

Vernal Thaw Verlezza Dance, under the direction of Sabatino Verlezza, present daring new choreography for “Dead Can Dance”, named one of Cleveland’s Top 10 Dance Events of 2004 by The Plain Dealer. This group is committed to contemporary interpretation of movement and its artistic evolvement; see the Springtime Celebration of Dance on Fri 3/25 at 7:30PM and 3/26 also showing at 7:30PM. Seating is limited for these popular shows; call to reserve your spot at 491-1360, for info call 225-8320. Shaker Heights Community Building, 3450 Lee Rd. in Shaker Hts.

Enjoy the Orchestra from the comfort of home WCLV 104.9 not only presents two broadcasts per week of The Cleveland Orchestra concerts – Saturdays at Severance at 8PM and The Cleveland Orchestra on the Radio, Sundays at 4PM, but it also offers two other Orchestra related programs. Cleveland Orchestra Previews presents recordings of the works that will be heard on the Orchestra concerts. It’s heard Wednesdays at 3PM. On weeks when the Orchestra is not performing at Severance or Blossom, the program becomes Cleveland Orchestra Archives. Host John Simna delves into the recorded archives of “the best band in the land”, including in-concert recordings not generally available. On Monday nights at 10PM, Cleveland Orchestra Showcase delves into the band’s vast commercially recorded library featuring such conductors George Szell, Louis Lane, Robert Shaw, Lorin Maazel and Christoph von Dohnanyi. And don’t forget that beginning 4/30, the Saturday night Cleveland Orchestra concerts will be broadcast live over WCLV. a Cool Cleveland partner www.wclv.com

Pamela Dodds: LoveDance This series of nine linoleum block prints cuts to the essence of an intimate relationship, revealing a passionate duet. Native to Canada and a resident of Boston for 20 years, Dodds has made Cleveland her home, and her work has been exhibited throughout New England. The artist completed a residency in the south of Spain, and her work Prickly Pear, a pastel drawing created during that trip will be unveiled. See the exhibit every Sat, including this Sat 3/26 at noon. Show runs till 4/9. Call 621-1610. Brandt Gallery, 1028 Kenilworth Avenue in Tremont.

Nitty Gritty Presents Jazzanova the collective that has been recognized for developing the sound known as Broken Beat. Together with 4 Hero and Bugz In The Attic, they lead the broken beat/future soul and nu jazz movement, where its roots took hold in both Berlin and West London. Don’t miss this sophisticated, Euro night out featuring Jurgen Von Knoblauch with djs Jugoe, misterbradleyp and Mercury Lounge resident Mike Filly on Sat 3/26 at 10PM. No cover to get in, so no excuses for not showing up; kick it during Mercury’s 5th Anniversary weekend. Call 566-8840. Mercury Lounge, 1392 W. 6th St.

Punks In Pajamas A new music club is being slated to open, and this benefit show parades a crunk lineup featuring four Ohio-based punk/pop acts: Damn Near Killed Him, Pop & Fade, Toothfuzz, and Nightbreed. Wear your pajamas and match the party theme mood on while supporting Cleveland’s musical causes on Sat 3/26 at 8PM; show hits at 9PM. The Hi-Fi Club, 11729 Detroit Ave. in Lakewood. Check out links to mp3s at http://www.StarLoft.com

Bugged Out at Botanical Gardens Treat yourself to a day of extraordinary experiences: test your bug bravery in the touch tanks, see live bugs, preserved insects, or jump around in the meal worm races. Insect experts and garden entomologists will be on site, along with Aaron Rosenberg, the Medina County Bee Keeper and a slew of guests will bring their stories on Tue 3/29 from 10AM-5PM, 4/2 from 10AM-5PM and Sun 4/3 from Noon-5PM. Call 707-2839. Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. http://www.CBGarden.org

Showcase for Sustainable Business Development in NEO The CIA Design & Technology Transfer Center is launching an exciting and futuristic initiative to build businesses based on creative digital media. Jurgen Faust, Dean of Integrated Media, Professor, Chair of T.I.M.E. (Technology and Integrated Media Environment), at the Cleveland Institute of Art will guide listeners through this surprising effort that breaks away from the paradigms of our region’s industrial background. Join the technorati at this session on Tue 3/29 at 4:15PM. Call 368-5535. REI, Center for Regional Economic Issues, 11119 Bellflower Rd., Peter B. Lewis Building, Room 201. http://Weatherhead.cwru.edu/rei

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PianoFest is a progressive music salon combining performances by gifted and insightful CIM students, along with commentary by Paul Schenly to bring the literature of piano to life. Schenly holds the prestigious Avery Fisher prize and has played extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe with the world’s leading conductors at his side. Join in and hear music that moves the world on Tue 3/29 at 7:30PM. Call 791-5000. Le Pavillon at Cleveland Institute of Music, 11021 East Blvd. http://www.CIM.edu

SeepeopleS With notable musicians ex-Morphine sax player Dana Colley, Spearhead’s Dave Shul, and funk stars Peter Keys and Ray Davis from Original Parliament, this group is “stunning” and “a bonafide radio rock masterpiece,” according to Homegrown Music Network. They’ll be racing into town on Wed 3/30 at 9PM and are guaranteed to leave you jonesing for more. Call 902-4663. Catch them at Wilberts, 812 Huron Ave. http://www.wilbertsmusic.com or http://www.Seepeoples.com/press.html

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Cool Clevland Interview
Jim Rokakis, Part 2
Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis has seen extraordinary action and battles in Cleveland’s business and political arena. With over 19 years on Cleveland City Council, this first-generation Greek-American challenges the status quo in our city with his focus on facts and truth, a rare commodity in a politician. Cool Cleveland speaks with him about the impending problems on the horizon with non-profit organizations not paying their share in the form of voluntary fees, his definition of regionalism, and how every student in this region could be guaranteed a college education. Read the first installment of the interview here and follow the second half of the interview below.

You scared a lot of people with your proposal on consolidating the Libraries.
I admit that I may not have been the most articulate guy when I raised this. When I did raise the issue, I may have frightened library patrons around the County when I made this proposal; but I can tell you with certainty that this funding they rely upon will be reduced this summer. So, here you have this revolution-gone-crazy in Columbus, where they are going to eliminate the Personal Property Tax on the equipment, inventory and machinery on businesses, and they don’t have any idea how they are going to replace that tax revenue. You can go to http://www.MVRPC.org, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission; they’ve put a tool on their site where you can scroll to see what the effects will be, and what will happen when they cut the Local Government fund. One part shows the effect on cities, and the other shows the effect on libraries – it is devastating.

What other areas do you think might be ripe for consolidation?
If we can’t cooperate on something as relatively benign as library books, just think how difficult it will be on police and fire. We’re sitting at the corner of W. 117th & Detroit, and within four or five blocks there are two fire departments. I realize this debate doesn’t have any traction now, but after the cuts come in July, maybe we can sit down and talk about it. I abhor what these people have done in Columbus, and I think we should fight to the death, but these cuts are coming. And I think we should have a plan for when the cuts come.

Why are you doing this?
They say I’m ego-driven. What? So I can continue to be the tax collector. I’ve been in government service for 27 years and I’ve worked my way up to being the tax collector?

You’ve taken on the powers-that-be in Cleveland by suggesting that non-profit organizations such as The Cleveland Clinic pay their fair share in the form of voluntary fees, which happens in cities like Baltimore. How has this proposal gone over in our part of the world?
Well, in order for this proposal to work, we need the support of the Mayor and the superintendent of schools…
Read the Cool Cleveland Interview part 2 with Jim Rokakis here

Tuning In
Doug Gillard, formerly of Guided By Voices and Cobra Verde

In 1999, Cleveland guitarist Doug Gillard was described by WFMU music director Brian Turner as “one of the Ohio ‘lo-fi’ scene’s most hidden treasures.” This was around the time Gillard was shedding the skin of his former Cleveland band, Cobra Verde, and becoming the main guitarist for Ohio’s arguably greatest export, the sonically psychedelic rock-popsters known as Guided By Voices. But Gillard has explored music in more ways than his involvement in either Guided By Voices or Cobra Verde. In the Eighties, he was a member of Cleveland’s ambitious Death of Samantha. He also had his own band, Gem, and released an EP as Malamute Jute in 1999. Gillard has also scored soundtracks for films for festivals for the last seven years, including a bossanova version of Gershwin’s “A Foggy Day” that played as first runner-up at 2004’s Vail Film Festival. And, for street cred props, there was his appearance in the Strokes’ video, Someday.

Cool Cleveland: Musicians would give anything to be in a successful rock band, let alone one of international Indie repute like Guided By Voices. Yet here you are, playing guitar with Mr. Pollard’s band, and before that you’ve played in Gem, Cobra Verde and Death of Samantha. On top of all that, you have your own CD out in the marketplace, and you’re being played on radio stations. Is it somehow a surreal experience for you in the end?
Doug Gillard: No. But I certainly don’t feel too lucky or surreal. I am glad, however, that everything I’ve been involved with, such as Gem, Cobra Verde, and DoS had integrity, even though few people are even aware of those projects. But I’m proud of my involvement in them, and also to have had the experience in Guided By Voices. Everything I’ve experienced or been asked to play in, I feel I have earned; it was because I did the work to get there, not just because I was somebody’s acquaintance….
Read the Tuning In interview with Doug Gillard here

Cool Cleveland Preview
Cleveland Jazz Orchestra @ Fairmont Temple 3/26
A fresh way of hearing and playing will be in full operation Saturday night when the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra presents the rarely heard, severely underappreciated music of George Russell. The 8PM concert at Fairmount Temple Auditorium in Beachwood, the fifth in the CJO World Class series, will be an audacious one, even by the standards of a group synonymous with pushing the cultural envelope. Not only will it showcase the best jazz group in Cleveland, it will present works by a retiring, elderly jazzman many consider one of the most influential composers of the last 50 years.
Read the preview by Carlo Wolff here

Instant Karma
Quick reviews of recent events
Going out this weekend? Take along your PDA and your digital camera. Scratch out a few notes to send us with a picture of it for our Instant Karma real-world reviews of what’s really happening. We’d love to hear from you. Send your stuff to Events@CoolCleveland.com

Red Hen Feminist Theatre @ Lesbian-Gay Community Center 3/3
The Lesbian-Gay Community Center of Cleveland turned into an “outlaw” hideout as the Center welcomed the original body outlaw, Ophira Edut, editor of Body Outlaws: Rewriting the Rules of Beauty and Body Image to a fundraiser for Red Hen Feminist Theatre. The book (which was entitled Adios, Barbie before objections by Mattel led to a title change) was the impetus behind the Body Outlaws stage play and outreach project by Red Hen. Body Outlaws debuted in 2001 as a series of staged monologues about beauty, body image and acceptance based on the book’s writings. Essays with titles like “Klaus Barbie and Other Dolls I’d Like To See,” “The Art of the Ponytail” and “My Brown Face,” are brought to life by the members of Red Hen’s talented ensemble. The play, performed at SPACES, received such an enthusiastic response that Red Hen, with support from the Women’s Community Foundation, is taking the show into nine inner-city schools, conducting a crash course in media literacy and body image for a generation unfamiliar with Title IX and influenced less by Barbie than by The Bachlorette…
Read the review by Marcia Bryant here

ReThink Pink @ Gallery Ü 3/11
Neither boring or pornographic, and very colorful and healthy, ReThink Pink, a show of prints at Gallery Ü in downtown Cleveland’s ArtCade 530 Euclid Ave. was a joyful hit this year. It will return next year according to gallery owner Patsy Kline. Many of the images in this show, which closed on March 11, were composed by placing or swooshing paint-wetted breasts on paper by about 100 breast bearers, including three men…
Read the review by Lee Batdorff here

On the Town @ Beck Center 3/19
What: An uptempo wartime dance musical by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, & Adolph Green, showing three sailors on a 24-hour leave in 1945 New York City and the girls they pick up.
Reasons to go: Sean Szaller has a sweet tenor and a winsome way as Gabey, who falls for “Miss Turnstiles” (the lithe Katelyn Blockinger) when he sees her picture on the subway, with Colin Cook and Joe Fornadel fine as his supportive pals. Pamela LaForce has an over-the-top goofiness as a dipsomaniac diva. There’s occasionally clever staging, especially with the collapsible dinosaur and the caveman diorama, colorful period costumes, and Martin Cespedes runs his young cast ragged with an encyclopedia of Broadway dance numbers, from conga lines to dream ballets.
Caveats: Director Fred Sternfeld has troweled on the schtick to try to keep the energy up, but the unbearably dated material makes for a veritable dance marathon — it’s a butt-busting 2 hours, 40 minutes. As the other 2 love interests, both Maggie Stahl & Amiee Collier have strong belt voices, but their scenes are so similar (aggressively horny girl, surprised sailor) it becomes deadly repetitious.
Backstory: Sternfeld loves his musicals, and loves ’em big — he’s assembled a cast of 40 on the Beck Center stage. But his usual flair for bringing out the subtext flops this time — the material is so relentlessly “feel good”, it’s as shallow as a puddle.
Target audience: Retro lovers who want escapism with flashy Broadway-style dance numbers — teens and up.
Details: Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. 216-521-2540. Thru 4/10. http://www.beckcenter.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein linda@coolcleveland.com

Feathered Dinosaurs @ Museum of Natural History 3/20
The state of the art of animatronics is on display at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in Feathered Dinosaurs: The Bird/Dinosaur Connection, currently on exhibit thru May 29. We were blown away by the seemingly life-like movements of the dozen life-size dinosaurs, growling, snapping, feeding, and taking care of their young. Based on recent fossil finds showing conclusive evidence that “all birds are dinosaurs” although “not all dinosaurs are birds,” these robotic creatures, built by Kokoro Dinosaurs of California, are freakishly real with eyes that blink, tails that wag, and mouths that roar. Every visitor is riveted immediately by the full-size Ostrich that greets you at the door, slinks its long neck, looks you in the eye, cocks his head and looks away. One Velociraptor rips the flesh off a fallen foe, another stares you down. Get right in front of him, and his blinking eye sizes you up, his nose sniffs at you, then, shockingly, his arms spread wide, his jaws fly open, and he lets out a howl, causing you to jump back at least a foot. It’s a good idea to hold your babies tight during this graphically entertaining and educational show. Similarities between dinos and birds: they stand on their back feet, they have hollow bones, they have a three-fingered hand, and many of them have feathers. Don’t miss the imposing adult Tyrannosaurus rex, standing 15 feet tall and over 30 feet long, swinging his tail, arching his neck, and growling loudly while showing off his six-inch teeth. You’ve seen nothing quite like this. http://www.CMNH.org

Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers write
We encourage our readers to speak out by sending us letters and commentary. Send your letters to Letters@CoolCleveland.com. You must include your full name (required) and you may include your e-mail address (optional). You may also create a new Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail e-mail address and submit it with your letter. Letters submitted to Cool Cleveland, or edited portions, may be published in an upcoming issue of Cool Cleveland at our discretion.

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

On a more bike-friendly Cleveland [See Cleveland is Bike Town 2005 here] I wish I could say that Cleveland was a bike-friendly city, but, right now, it still has a ways to go. During the spring/summer of last year, I would often bike from my Tremont home into work in Independence, not only to save on gas, but also because I’d arrive into work more energized and mentally sharp. But, except for the stretch on the Towpath, it was rarely a pleasant ride, mainly due to Rockside Rd. Because of the seemingly constant construction, not only is Rockside a pain to drive on, with its complete torn up streets and sidewalks, but also riding in a safe, straight line was almost impossible. In addition, the attitude of your average driver puts cyclists on the rights level with pedestrians (which is not the case, according to state laws). Unfortunately, this attitude was not limited to Rockside. I consider myself a very defensive cyclist, but I still would find myself in conflict with drivers. I would encourage everyone who bikes on Cleveland’s streets to check out: http://www.noaca.org/bikemaps.html. The site contains color-coded (based on bike friendliness) PDF maps for Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina County.
from Cool Cleveland reader Patrick Coleff patrick.coleff@thomson.com

On Cool Cleveland Great Newsletter. Keep it up. As a librarian and artist, it’s the one best way to keep up with things.
from Cool Cleveland reader Bruce Biddle bruce.biddle@cpl.org

We are all concerned about the sprawl, the rash of Walmarts and shopping centers, but someone needs to pay more attention to the local small businesses that are doing cool things. Maybe it could be you.
from Cool Cleveland reader Shannon Morris nona2254@ameritech.net

Just signed up to get Cool Cleveland and I think it’s GREAT. Keep it up…the future of media is in your hands!
from Cool Cleveland reader Ed “Flash” Ferenc, Host of America’s Workforce, 7-8am M-F on 1300am WERE djbflash@aol.com

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Top 5
Cool Cleveland uses Opticast tools to track which articles were clicked the most. Here are the Top 5 from last week’s issue, with one more chance for you to click.

1) NEO young professionals survey Help (i)Cleveland better serve the community by telling them your opinions. It doesn’t matter how old you are or if you currently live in the region. http://www.cleveland.com/contests/icleveland

2) Cool Cleveland Interview Jim Rokakis has spent over 19 years on Cleveland City Council, and as the current County Treasurer, he has ushered in broad amendments to the Treasurer’s office. www.CoolCleveland.com

3) Pump up your party quotient with Red Cleveland gets entertained with a combustible evening of fiercely fun entertainment, networking, spirits and substance featuring Cleveland’s hottest new classical ensemble, Red {an orchestra} on Sat 4/2 starting at 5:30PM. http://www.coolcleveland.com/tickets/nightoutthree

4) New lit theory maintains that the best writers can describe anything. The words actually outstrip reality, giving language a huge advantage. http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,12084,1405376,00.html

5) Smoke Free Cleveland This year, Cleveland and some of its suburbs may make all workplaces smoke-free for the health of all workers and families in the area. http://www.smokefreeohio.org/Cleveland

Hard Corps hit it by delivering the attention-getting content you’re so into week after week. Are you enjoying the brain candy of Cool Cleveland? Thank the people who move around the city and make the news, reviews and events accessible to you. CC salutes its trend tippers and content mavens: Tisha Nemeth-Loomis, Linda Eisenstein, Carlo Wolff, Andy Birol, Daiv Whaley, Marcia Bryant, Lee Batdorff, TL Champion, Bill Nagode, Rachel Jacobs, Ivan Jackson, George Nemeth and everyone who steps up. Want to be part of Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, interviews, previews and other word-friendly content to Letters@CoolCleveland.com

See the Cool Cleveland column each month in Cleveland Magazine. Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time. Send your cool events to: Events@coolcleveland.com. For your copy of the free weekly Cool Cleveland e-zine, go to http://www.CoolCleveland.com

What are you doing to make this place
interesting for young Clevelanders?

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

all contents ©2005 MulreadyGROUP all rights reserved
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