Delicious

12.05-12.12.07
Delicious

In this week’s issue:
* Party Spice up yr dull holidaze party with Salsa!
* Kids An Interview with the Severance Hall-bound Bugs Bunny
* Holiday Buying Guide A Big List of Excellent Purveyors of Holiday Gifts
* CityScape Reflections on the Award-Winning RTA
* BFD Why Lead Poisoning is an Economic Development Issue
* Preview CityMusic Cleveland
* Sounds The Black Amps
* Comment A Dictionary on Cleveland Longing Through Sports
* Reads The Buzzard from John Gorman with Tom Feran
* Eats Where to Take Those Holiday Out-of-Towners for Cle’s Finest Flavors
* Straight Outta Mansfield A Modest Proposal to Help End Random Violence
* RoldoLINK Does Dick Jacobs deserve this honor?
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, Brewed Fresh Daily here

Get ready for a tasty week. And we don’t just mean the food, although we give you a heads-up on where to take those out-of-town guests to satiate their taste buds in our Eats section below. We’ve also got a Commentary on Cleveland sports, for the fans. And a review of The Buzzard by John Gorman, who was there the first time around. Supergroup The Black Amps are rocking 2 clubs in the same night, and you can hear a few tasty new tracks by clicking below. Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Bugs Bunny, headed to Severance Hall. Or our appreciation of the award-winning RTA. Check Mansfield’s deliciously modest proposal to reinstate dueling in our urban core, and read Roldo to find out why Cleveburg will never be called Jacobsville. Delicious doesn’t begin to describe our Holiday Salsa party, with open bar & food from Brasa & Mallorca, with sushi from Sunset and Salsa lessons included in the deal! And our #1 most clicked: Cool Cleveland’s Holiday Buying Guide: deliciously thinking outside the (big) box. Did we whet yr appetite? Quit droolin’ and start clickin’. —Thomas Mulready

Party with Salsa & Santa!
And we’re giving away an iPod!
Low priced online tix here

CC Holiday Salsa! Step out with Cool Cleveland and Tropical Rhythms for the sizzlingest Holiday party of the year! Stop in to Sunset Lounge at 8PM on Sat 12/15 for holiday libations (all you can drink), delicious hot hors d’oeuvres from the trendiest Warehouse District restaurants, plus complimentary Salsa lessons so you can look good in those famous Cool Cleveland party photos here. Imbibe in a massive Martini bar, learn to Salsa, dance all night, and feel good about yourself in the morning. Map & details here.

You know you want it So don’t wait until the last minute. Get your tickets now and save some bucks by clicking here.

You can have it all:

• Unlimited Open Bar with beer & wine selection from 8-10PM. Cash bar available with over 40 Martinis & specialty drinks
• Live music with Latin band for your dancing and entertainment pleasure
• A sensational complimentary buffet with Calamari from Mallorca Restaurant, Sushi Rolls from Sunset Lounge, Delicious Shrimp Salad, Antipasto Platter, Spanish sausage & chorizo from Mallorca
• Cool Cleveland video iPod giveaway
• Complimentary Salsa lessons at 10PM
• Dancing till all hours with the hottest DJs in the region

Ticket price goes up Fri midnight Snag discount tix online here: https://CoolCleveland.net/tickets/121507/index.php

“What’s up, doc?”
An Interview with the Severance Hall-bound Bugs Bunny

Wearing a royal blue satin smoking jacket over his gray trousers and crisp white shirt, the star sauntered into the greenroom, glanced around briefly, and plunked himself down on a comfy-looking sofa. He flashed that famous grin at me and said, ‘What’s up, er, doc?’ And laughed uproariously. Well, actually, cackled might be a closer description of his laugh, which was part chuckle.

“How do you do?” I said, a bit nervously. I wasn’t accustomed to being so close to such a major international celebrity.

He rubbed one white-gloved paw gently over the sofa. “This is pretty nice,” he commented. “But then, you wouldn’t expect Severance Hall to be anything less, would you?” I shook my head in mute agreement…
Read more from Kelly Ferjutz here

KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit org that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America, honored the City of East Cleveland as a “Playful City USA.” This is a national recognition program honoring cities and towns across the nation who are committed to taking action for play! With this honor, the City became eligible for a $25K grant for a new playspace. As part of the grant process, the City created a short video to demonstrate why it deserves the funding. Students and teachers of the East Cleveland City School District were instrumental in this vital process. To VOTE for East Cleveland, you must register first to enter your vote! Beginning Friday, November 30, 2007 until December 21, 2007, log onto http://www.playfulcityusa.org/grant to cast your vote for the City of East Cleveland and help make a difference!

Rock-N-Tot Not a kid’s rock band, despite the title. This is a locally-based monthly dance party for parents and their kiddos, taking place Saturday afternoons at the Velvet Dog. The long and short is that there is ‘something for everyone’ (from chair massages and eyebrow waxing for the moms and golf pro lessons for the dads, to face-painting and bubbles, dancing to non-kid music and more. New parent-created products are given away at the events, as well as demo features on safety products, nursing stations, quiet relaxation zones… the list goes on and on. Their first “Family Dance Party Where Everyone is a VIP” event doesn’t hit until Feb 08, but you can check out their newly christened website at http://www.rock-n-tot.com.

Cinderellas of the World is the world’s most popular fairy tale. Over 350 versions of this timeless story can be found in folklore around the world. Four such original Cinderella tales (Chinese, African, Russian and Native American) will be presented starting Fri 12/7 and Sat 12/8; each follows the classic story of a destitute young girl, alone and abused, who, being pure of heart, ultimately finds her one true love. Dramatic staging performances run for two weekends at the Cleveland Play House For tickets and showtimes, call 421-7690 or visit http://clevelandschoolofthearts.org.

Cleveland Public Library’s Staff Chorus will perform a no-cost, open to the public “11th Annual Holiday Concert” on Fri 12/7 at noon in the auditorium of the Main Library’s Louis Stokes Wing, 6th St. and Superior Ave. The chorus, formed in 1997, is comprised of Library staff and is under the direction of chorus founder, Library Director, Andrew Venable, Jr. For more information, call 623-2869.

HOT Bugs Bunny on Broadway Don’t be a schlemiel and let yr kids miss this one. The “cwazy wabbit” on the big screen accompanying the incomparable Cleveland Orchestra doing Rossini & Tchaikovsky at Severance Hall on Fri 12/7 at 7:30PM, Sat 12/8 at 2:30 & 7:30PM. Link.

Kuumba Festival This no-cost, open to the public event features an unforgettable musical play, “Kwanzaa,” performed on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s Main Stage by San Francisco’s The Third Theatre Troupe — a multiracial children’s performance group. The play is produced by the African American Drama Company, which is billed as the nation’s most extensively toured fine arts organization. The Kuumba Festival hits Sat 12/8 and celebrates the sixth principle of Kwanzaa, kuumba – the Swahili word for creativity. Kwanzaa is a unique African American celebration that focuses on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce and self-improvement. http://www.rockhall.com.

HOT Galapagos Sands: Exploring the Centuries Calling all adventurous families- the museum’s annual sand exhibit has returned. This truly immersive exhibit, comprised of more than 70 tons of sand inside the museum, will allow you and your child to explore the unique and amazing environment of the Galapagos Islands. Uncover tortoise eggs, sail a pirate ship, and search for artifacts from the past. Opens Sat 12/8 at 10AM. Call 791-7114 or visit http://www.clevelandchildrensmuseum.org. for details.

Christmas Traditions Two events on Sat 12/8: Christmas Traditions: Past and Present around a roaring fire with hot cocoa & cookies from 6-8PM, and Santa from noon -1PM, reading The Night Before Christmas. Blue Heron Bookstore, 1593 Main St., Peninsula 330-657-2575 http://www.BlueheronBookstore.com.

Breakfast With Santa Get yr reservations now for this pop event on Sat 12/8 & 15 at 9:30AM & 11:45AM, featuring b’fast buffet, crafts, Animal Encounters, Sleigh Bell Express rides & more. To book: 398-5750 X13 http://www.CleMetZoo.com.

A Christmas Carol Join Playhouse Square Center for the timeless and enchanting classic, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol throughout December. The holidays just aren’t the holidays without Scrooge. http://www.playhousesquarecenter.com.

CMA Modern Masters Family Day Be a master for a day. Join the Cleveland Museum of Art to learn about the art of the Impressionists and modern European masters and create your own masterpiece in two studio workshops: The Painter’s Craft and Cut, Chalk, Collage. No-cost, open to the public on Sun 12/9 at 1PM. Call 707-2182 or visit http://www.clevelandart.org for details.

SPONSORED: Be a Master . . . at Least for a Day! All ages welcome: Modern Masters Family Day at CMA where you can learn to be a master too! This no charge, no-need-to-sign-up class (drop-ins welcome!) is Sun 12/9 from 1-4PM. Join us and learn about the art of the Modern Masters and create your own masterpieces in two studio workshops: “The Painter’s Craft” and “Cut, Chalk, Collage.” Enjoy a short family tour in the exhibition at 2PM. All ages are welcome! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Come and make art with us! cma.org.

Cool Cleveland Kids Podcast Weekly roundup of cool events for kids & families from 11-year-old Cool Cleveland Kids correspondent Max.

Click here to subscribe to the Cool Cleveland Kids Podcast in iTunes.

To ensure you receive Cool Cleveland every week, take a moment now and add CoolCleveland@CoolCleveland.com to your address book, trusted sender list, or corporate white list.
Cimperman running for Kucinich seat as U.S. 10th Congressional Rep. Read
Area hospitals collaboration works to keep ownership local. Read
Case Med School gains $5.7M windfall. Read
Sutherland to run for County Commish. Who is Vegas picking as the BV mayor’s opponent — Tim Hagan or Peter Lawson Jones? Read
Cle gets an interesting take courtesy of the Columbus Dispatch. Read
WVIZ/PBS ideastream to preview Cle Orch broadcast of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 this Friday 12/7. Read
Arts Education Dept. at Playhouse Square is offering a cabaret class and three dance classes for adults this winter. Click
Strickland at 70% approval, getting it done in the Buckeye State. Read
Speaking of politicians, Cle Mag weighs in on Kucinich in their recent ish. Interesting reading. Read. ”Cle Mag celebrates 35 years of publishing this month.
DJ Mick Boogie featured in The Source this month! Click
Polka Legends Lead All-Star Line-Up at 20th Hall of Fame Presentation. For more information, call 261-FAME, toll-free (866) 66-POLKA, or log onto the website http://www.clevelandstyle.com.

Akron Independent Film Festival announced its 5th annual event will be held from April 3 – 6 at The Bang and the Clatter Theatre in the Summit ArtSpacebuilding (140 East Market Street, Akron, OH 44308). Filmmakers have until February 26 to submit their work to the festival. The submission form can be downloaded from the Fest site. All types of work will be considered, from features and shorts to experimental works. Previous festivals have been held on The University of Akron campus. This year’s new and more public location reflects a fresh emphasis on community participation. In addition to screenings, new workshops will focus on basic filmmaking skills, and a 48 hour video challenge will give filmmakers of all skill levels a chance to practice their craft and share their knowledge with others. Local Director Rob Lucas (interviewed here) remains on board as Director of Operations. http://www.akronfilmfestival.com.

And speaking of Akron Film… The University of Akron’s 2380 Project student organization has been named Ohio’s Distinguished Student Organization for 2007 by the Ohio Communication Association. http://www.uakron.edu.

SPONSORED: Looking for a Way to Expand Your Customer Base? Then check out IdeaCrossing, the online community resource from JumpStart that’s focused on creating connections within the entrepreneurial community. There is no cost to register and create a profile that will make your business visible to IdeaCrossing users looking for business assistance – so there’s no risk, only opportunities. While you are there, publish articles that demonstrate your expertise and post events put on by your organization and watch the leads come in! Service Providers have already found new business through IdeaCrossing; see what it can do for you! Visit www.ideacrossing.org.

Most AIDS groups are in serious financial straits A new study by the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland highlights “serious signs of financial and operational vulnerability” among AIDS service organizations across the United States, due to a combination of government funding cuts and lags, larger patient loads, and the increasing complexity of tasks they are being asked to undertake. A must-read. Click On a related note, the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland celebrates 25 years. Read

Cool Cleveland Podcast Weekly roundup of cool events.

Click here to subscribe to the Cool Cleveland Podcast in iTunes.

SPONSORED: Deck the Halls with Basketballs! Tis the season to get jolly and cheer on the 2007 NBA Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers while supporting your community through United Way of Greater Cleveland. Discount tickets are available for five exciting home games at the Q. United Way will receive $5 to $7.50 from each ticket sold. In addition to the five discounted games, there are two full-price games where a portion of ticket proceeds will also go to United Way. The Cavs play the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks here in December. Tickets for 2008 game dates make great stocking stuffers. Celebrate the season with Cleveland’s favorite basketball team. Order today! Download ticket order form here or order tickets online here.

Your One-Stop Source for Local Gifts, Wares and Sundries

The Holiday Season is HERE, and whether you’re prepared for it or not we here at Cool Cleveland are here to help you think outside the (Big) Box (stores). From Black Friday on, we’ll have a list of local shop owners, purveyors and proprietors to help you support NEO’s artisans, neighborhood Mom & Pop shops and crafty/creative types across the region. Buying local is a smart, equitable and sustainable business practice that helps of support your local economy. This week, we hip you to A TON of new local stuff. And check our old listings, some have been revised. We’ve got ya covered! New listings come each week, so bookmark the link below and check back every Wednesday for updates. And be sure to pour through the entire list; there are still plenty of other excellent purveyors you should zero in on. — Peter Chakerian, CC Managing Editor

Click here to start your holiday shopping, CC style!

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Winchester 5th Anniversary with Wishbone Ash Check out “the west side’s premier live music venue” for this special 5th Anniversary show with Wishbone Ash, who put out 1972’s “Best British Album of the Year” according to Melody Maker, on Wed 12/5 at 9PM, with drink specials, giveaways, and a general spirit of celebration. Winchester, 12112 Madison Ave, Lakewood 226-5681 http://www.TheWinchester.net

Nature Preserve at Dike 14 Come hear the Results of the Brownfields Environmental Assessment by the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District on Wed 12/5 from 5-6:30PM at Cleveland Lakefront State Park, 8701 Lakeshore Blvd NE, and on Thu 12/6 from 6:30-8PM at St. Phillip Neri Church, 799 E. 82nd St. http://www.CuyahogaSWCD.org/grantfundedprojects.

Alice Walker & Marsha Norman Playhouse Square & WVIZ/PBS & 90.3 ideastream present Master Moments taping Thu 12/6 at 1PM, with the author & librettist for The Color Purple discussing their careers & influences & the continuing popularity of that masterwork, at the Westfield Insurance Studio Theatre. Link. Iterested colleges & universities: 348-7913 jacksonlATideastream.org; schools & other institutions: 916-6360 john.ramiconeATideastream.org.

SPONSORED: Ring in the New Year with the most posh New Year’s party in town and Carousel’s own “Dancing with the Stars!” You get to vote for the best couple at the only New Year’s bash in Northeast Ohio with fine dining, a splash of Vegas excitement and the flair of Broadway — all wrapped into an unbelievable evening. The extravagant evening begins with an exquisite champagne reception and delicious dinner, followed by Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” and snow throughout the theatre. After the curtain closes, the luxurious Vegas-style showroom turns into party central with hats, noisemakers, dancing on stage, a midnight champagne toast and an elaborate hors d’ oeuvres breakfast buffet! It’s sure to be a thrilling night! Contact 800.362.4100 or www.carouseldinnertheater.com.

HOT A Bogosian Bang and Clatter Razor-sharp Armenian New Yorker Eric Bogosian’s Pounding Nails in the Floor With My Forehead opens Fri 12/7 at 8PM at The Bang and The Clatter Theatre Company. Thanks to TV, Bogosian says, “we float in a matrix of billions of image fragments, sound bites, plot-line, news reports and ad copy.” This vulgar, angry and hysterical set of diatribes attempts to sift though it all. Not for the faint of heart or ears. Enjoys a healthy run, see website for schedule and details. 140 E. Market St., Akron. Call 330-606-5317 for tix info. http://www.bnctheatre.com.

HOT functionalart Convivium33 Gallery presents CLE + design + style = functionalart 2007 beginning with an Opening Reception Fri 12/7‘ at 6PM. Curator/designer Greg Morris pulled together works by P.J. Doran, Freddy Hill, Michael Ina, Mike Moritz, Todd Pownell, Debra Rosen, Rose Iron Works, Streets of Manhattan, Ezra Taxel, Bradford Watson and P.D. White. Special Guest Artist, Cleveland legend Van Duzer, is also summarily propped. This promises to be a great show featuring many of Cleveland’s emerging functional art designers. 1433 East 33rd St. (off Superior Ave.) Call 881-7838 for details.

Susan Goldberg The editor of The Plain Dealer speaks about the lessons she learned as a newspaper editor in Silicon Valley and what she sees as the future of newspapers and Cleveland at noon on Fri 12/7 at The City Club of Cleveland. http://www.cityclub.org.

Dissolving Nature Lissa Bockrath’s latest show features some compelling visuals. Her exhibit opens Fri 12/7 with a 5:30PM reception at Wooltex Gallery, 1900 Superior Ave. There is plenty of parking behind the building as well as a few off the street. Email questions to bockrathg@aol.com or Elizabeth Davis at http://www.thewooltexgallery.com. Also, get a sneak peak at the works at Lissa’s updated site, http://www.bockrathgallery.com.

Delineate Seven expert Ohio artists using line in a sophisticated, expressive manner: Laurence Channing, Ken Nevadomi, George Mauersberger, Robert Robbins, and new to the gallery, the works of Julie Friedman, Charles Kanwischer, and Lowell Tolstedt, at Bonfoey Gallery, 1710 Euclid, with an opening on Fri 12/7 from 5-8PM. http://www.Bonfoey.com.

Scrooge’s Night Out X 20 Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of one of the coolest YP parties of the year, to benefit the Ohio & Erie Canal on Fri 12/7 at The Galleria, 13101 E. 9th St, starting at 6PM, with live performances by Cle Firefighters Pipes & Drums and Skinny, casino & unlimited food & drinks. http://www.OhioCanal.org/scrooged.

Best Party of the Year to benefit the Hunger Network with food, drink, music, dancing and silent auction, at InterContinental Hotel, 9801 Carnegie on Fri 12/7 from 6:30-11PM, to help feed 58K hungry Clevelanders. http://www.HungerNetwork.org.

Gigfest 07 The kids from Tri-C’s Recording Arts & Technology program take over, at the Beachland Ballroom on Fri 12/7 8PM with Showstoppaz DOC, Hardstone, Jackie Warren Salsa Quartet, Half Cleveland, casual Mondays, and Everyday People. http://www.BeachlandBallroom.com.

The Ohio Boychoir will begin its 33rd season with its new conductor, Dr. David Kienzle. Concerts will be on Fri 12/7 at 7:30PM in the United Methodist Church of Berea; Sat 12/8 at 7:30PM in Christ Church Presbyterian in Canton; and Sun 12/9 at 3PM in Trinity Cathedral. No cost, open to the public — but an offering will be received to support the work of the choir. Further info: http://www.ohioboychoir.org.

SPONSORED: The popular national radio show From the Top is coming to Cleveland as part of the celebration of the Cleveland Institute of Music’s new Mixon Hall. A program in the series, heard on WCLV, Saturdays at 5:00 PM, will be recorded on Friday, December 14 at 8:00 PM. Host Christopher O’Riley will shine the spotlight on some of the top young musicians from the Cleveland area and beyond. Tickets for Mixon Hall are sold out, but $10 tickets are available for a live video feed in Kulas Hall. Call 216 791 5000 X411 or on line at http://www.CIM.edu

Blue Lunch Holiday Latke Party Thr group’s lively shindig hits Wilbert’s this Sat 12/8 at 8PM to benefit The Gathering Place. http://www.touchedbycancer.org. http://www.wilbertsmusic.com. http://www.bluelunch.com.

Celebration of Lights Discover a candle-lit forest. Allow a naturalist to guide you in a trip across the globe, witnessing customs and listening to stories from Thai, Indian, Jewish, Christian, German, African-American and Swedish traditions. Sat 12/8 at Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. To register: 321-5935. http://www.ShakerLakes.org.

Healthy at the Holidays Learn about reducing stress, maintaining a budget, scrapbooking and holiday recipes on Sat 12/8 from 10AM-1PM by JD Breast Cancer Foundation at the Cle Hts Public Library. Register at 961-9447. http://www.jdbcfoundation.org

Debby Davies & Band Top female blues guitarist gently weeps at Cleveland’s most intimate venue for one night only: Sat 12/8 at 9PM at The Winchester, 12112 Madison, Lakewood http://www.TheWinchester.net

Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary Celebrate a boffo pre-holiday brunch on Sat 12/8 10:30AM-1PM at Fowler’s Mill Golf Course, Chesterland, with breakfast buffet & mimosas, silent auction, pet portraits, 50/50 raffle, more. Bring cat food & kitty litter donation if desired. Reservations: 440-729-1426 or 440-759-0076, dlazarusAThlcommunications.com, or click here.

Off The Wall 2007 This year, Monothon: monoprints by the area’s best non-print-based artists collaborate with Zygote artists, and you can take your art gifts with you at the reception Sat 12/8 6-9PM at Zygote Press, 1410 E. 30th. http://www.ZygotePress.com.

A Red Solstice Two nights. Two magnificent venues. One spectacular program. Heinrich Schutz’s A Christmas Story, Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances, and teen violin virtuoso Caroline Goulding with Vivaldi’s Winter, on Sat 12/8 at the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Tremont and on Sun 12/9 at St. Stanislaus Church in Slavic Village. http://www.RedAnOrchestra.org.

New Work Gala for the Poets’ & Writers’ League in their new digs at the Artcraft Building, 2570 Superior on Sat 12/8 from 7-10PM. http://www.pwlgc.com.

The Company of Heaven The Singers’ Club of Cleveland begins its 115th(!) season with a Christmas Concert, this year featuring Benjamin Britten’s beautiful cantata, plus other holiday faves. Sat 12/8 8PM at CSU’s Waetjen Auditorium. 556-4405 http://www.SingersClub.org.

Solaris Woodwind Quintet performs with dancers Amy Miller and Felise Bagley of GroundWorks Dance Theater, and young dancers from The University of Akron Dance Institute. Together they will present “Invitation to the Dance,” with choreography by GroundWorks founder David Shimotakahara, on Sun 12/9 at 7:30PM in Guzzetta Recital Hall at The University of Akron. Concert tickets are available in advance and at the door while seats remain. Call 330-972-8301, e-mail planasa@uakron.edu or visit http://www.uakron.edu/faa.

Accessible Arts The Cleveland Music School Settlement presents his exciting new concert series, targeted to individuals with special needs and their families. Its mission is to provide families access to the highest quality musical performance Cleveland has to offer in a warm, comfortable setting. The first concert of the series hits Sun 12/9 at 3PM and features holiday music with members from Burning River Brass. Glick Recital Hall. Call 421-5806, ext. 201 or email equellhorst@thecmss.org for details.

The Musical Box Using original ARP synthesizers, Leslie speakers and Rickenbacker guitars, plus surreal costumes and black light effects put you in the audience for a hyper-faithful recreation the 1973 Genesis album Selling England By The Pound, on Sun 12/9 at 8PM at the Palace Theatre. http://www.TheMusicalBox.net.

SPONSORED: One Night Only: CIA Artist’s Reception Meet the talented artists behind the impressive and provocative breadth of faculty artwork that includes an exhibition of photography, painting, sculpture, and work in glass, enamel, ceramics, fiber, metal and other media. Experience it all in The Cleveland Institute of Art’s “2007 Faculty Show,” running now through Fri 12/21, in the college’s Reinberger Galleries, located in the Gund Building at the corner of East Blvd. and Bellflower Rd. in University Circle. The Artist’s Reception is Fri 12/7 from 6 – 8PM. There is no admission fee and the event is open to the public. Contact www.cia.edu for more information. The Cleveland Institute of Art . . . Making Art Work.

Fire and Ice CityMusic Cleveland’s gratis December concert series explodes with Beethoven’s Prometheus, Suk’s Meditation on St. Wenceslas, Debussy’s Sacred & Profane Dances, Haydn’s Fire Symphony, Mozart’s Sleighride, Tchaikovsky’s Mozartiana, & Dvorak’s Legends, conducted by Julian Kuerti of the Boston Sym. Tue 12/11 at Fairmount Pres. http://www.CityMusicCleveland.org

Rockin’ the Elementary Classroom This session of Teachers Rock spotlights effective ways to teach elementary level students with popular music and explores the cultural impact of rock and roll Wed 12/12. Special guests will share engaging resources tested in Cleveland’s classrooms. For more information about Teachers Rock, visit http://www.rockhall.com/teacher/teachers-rock.

CityMusic Cleveland Complimentary concerts offered on Wed 12/12 at 7PM at St. Vitus Church; Thu 12/13 at 7:30PM at Willoughby United Methodist; Fri 12/14 at 7:30PM at Elyria First United Methodist; Sat 12/15 at 8PM at Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus; and Sun 12/16 at 7:30PM at Westlake Performing Arts Center. 321-8273 http://www.CityMusicCleveland.org.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Reflections on the Award-Winning RTA
Smile and Ride Free on the Trolley

Many people have been surprised that the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority was named the Best Public Transportation System in North America for 2007. As a loyal customer, I was not. The cheerful and professional drivers give me time to read during my half-hour trip from the Westlake Park-N-Ride to downtown Cleveland, and at $3.50 round trip, it’s a bargain. My own journey over the last 25 years started with hour long rides down Lorain Road on a local 75 bus that was rerouted away from Franklin and onto the Shoreway when it was decided Franklin could not handle the traffic.

Suburb dwellers have been taking express buses, rather than local buses, for years. But the express bus routes are being supplanted by luxury coaches running from Park-N-Ride lots from Solon to North Olmsted. Local routes, trains, and the rapid transit remain for city folks requiring stops between downtown and their starting point. The Transit Authority changes with the times…

Read more from Claudia Taller here

SPONSORED: Ya Better Watch out, For Goodness Sake ‘cause Santa’s coming to town with the national good news about the region, once again. In fact, all the stories can be found here, and here’s a sweet taste: The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported that cardiac care in the region rated among the best in the U.S. naming the Cleveland Clinic in top honors. The Gazette also ran an article on the restored house from the movie “A Christmas Story,” where Brian Jones, owner, had a convention over Thanksgiving weekend and fans were able to meet actors who played in the 1983 classic and enjoy a Christmas dinner, just like the Parker family, at the C & Y Chinese restaurant.

A hot selection of tech and business news & events from around the region. Got business news? Send it to: EVENTS@CoolCleveland.com

Cle Plus launches new e-card greetings, highlighting the “pluses” of the region. It can be accessed and sent for free by clicking here
Positively Cle details Convention Ctr requirements, inc. high ceilings, loading docks, flexible meeting space. Read
Jackson wants Cle to get 25% renewable energy in the city power supply by the year 2025. Click
Fingerhut refines goals for OH colleges. A good read. Click
LeBron, Inc. story in Money highlights our roundball star on his way to becoming a billion dollar brand. Read
Crain’s looking for their 20 in their twenties. Read
Biz mag and networking group to debut in Akron; Summit county gets a lift. Click
Akron Art Museum breaks 1-day attendance record with Rockwell exhibit. Previous record held 85 years. Read

ODOD Town Hall Meeting for Minority Business Owners Wed 12/5 at 6PM. Akron MCBAP, Akron Urban League, 440 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron. Call 800-848-1300, ext. 2-8254 to register.
Pine & Gilmore explain why your company must grasp, manage, and excel at rendering Authenticity Thu 12/6 at 11AM and how to go about it. Details
2 Chambers representing 9 Cities + YOU = 1 Super Networking event Thu 12/6 at 8AM. Tri-C East Campus, 4250 Richmond Rd., Highland Hills. Register
phil*an*thro*pi*a networking/fundraiser at Landerhaven Mon 12/10. Details
Networking at Noon feat. Jennifer Thomas of The Civic Innovation Lab Wed 12/12 at 11:30AM. Details
Meet The Champions Breakfast for Civic Inno. Lab winners Fri 12/14 at 8AM in Trinity Commons. Details
AAF-Cleveland welcomes Liz Garvey of USA Today Washington Bureau, for Wed 12/19‘ holiday luncheon/networking event that showcases Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival winners. Windows on the River. Details
Communications Career Day (CCD) The AAF event hits on Thu 12/20 at the Terrace Club at Jacobs Field. CCD features speakers with a wide range of backgrounds. Details
Cle Engineering Society announces meet and greet schedule starting Wed 1/9. Details and Winter Schedule
E4S Third Tuesday Networking Event hits Tue 1/15 Register
Acquiring Capital for Sm Biz keynote feat. Ray Dalton from PartsSource LLC Fri 1/18 at 7:30AM Tri-C East. 3 Panel Forum of experts follows. Show Me the Money!
The Next eMarketing Technique Series starts up at Tri-C East on Mon 1/28. Register

Yonezo Kanno
EyePlusPlus Inc.

Yonezo Kanno was obviously thrilled to win the recent 2007 NorTech Innovation Award for his Forehead Sensory Recognition System, a wearable computer that includes a miniature video camera lodged in a sight-impaired person’s sunglasses, that sends electrical impulses back to sensors on the person’s forehead, indicating the shape and size of objects. He likes to call it “Braille-O-Vision.” The big benefit is that the FSRS does not require surgery, a major consideration in serving a wider range of the sight-impaired public. Why Northeast Ohio? A professor at the University of Tokyo suggested he visit the Biomedical Engineering department at the Cleveland Clinic, and in 2005, they invited him to present his new prototype at their Medical Innovation Summit, and now his offices are based in Beachwood. In this interview with Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready, Kanno talks about how his invention could be used by itself or in conjunction with a white cane or guide dog, and how his innovation might be able to help the 35M visually impaired people around the world. http://www.EyePlusUS.com http://www.NorTech.org

Could your business or organization use a Cool Cleveland video or two? Contact us here.

This week’s most active post on BrewedFreshDaily.com, run by Cool Cleveland’s George Nemeth,

Ed Morrison writes “Among major cities, Cleveland has the highest proportion of children under 6 with elevated blood lead levels, according to a recent article in USA Today…”

Read and add your comment here

Links to interesting NEO blogs

Graffiti art is alive and well in Cleveland.
A different sort of holiday diet.
Cleveland’s Strategic Investment Initiative was the subject of a recent forum at The Levin College of Urban Affairs.
Thoughts on Downtown from a Clevelander who recently came back after a 3-year odyssey on the East Coast.
A rave review for the Bazaar Bizzare and supporting local artisans.
A review for a benefit for the Robert Lockwood Jr. Scholarship Fund at the Beachland Ballroom.
The Columbus Dispatch coverage of our town is decidedly different.

CityMusic Cleveland

It’s that time again – time for another round of concerts by the wonderful and peripatetic CityMusic Cleveland. The program – Fire & Ice – will feature harpist Megan Levin as soloist in the Debussy Danses sacrée et profane. Guest conductor is Julian Kuerti, whose grandparents were well known in Cleveland, as is his father, Anton Kuerti, still an active pianist, social activist and sometime politician in his current home of Toronto. The younger Kuerti, making his Cleveland debut, has just been appointed assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Other works to be performed are: Ludwig van Beethoven: Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus; Joseph Suk: Meditation on the old Czech chorale “St. Wenceslas”; Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No.59(“Fire”); Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: German Dances, K.605 (“Sleigh Ride”); Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Prayer from Suite No. 4 (“Mozartiana”) and Antonín Dvorák: Legends, Op.59, Nos. 6, 5, 9 and 7.

Performances (some of which offer childcare, for which reservations are necessary—the childcare, not the concert) will be as follows.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007, at 7:30PM
Fairmount Presbyterian Church (http://fairmountchurch.org)
2757 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights 44118; 321-5800

Wednesday, December 12, 2007, at 7PM
St. Vitus Church
6019 Lausche Ave., Cleveland 44103; 361-1444

Thursday, December 13, 2007, at 7:30PM
Willoughby United Methodist Church (http://www.willoughbyumc.org)*
15 Public Square, Willoughby 44094; 440-942-9068

Friday, December 14, 2007, at 7:30PM
Elyria First United Methodist Church
(http://www.elyriafirst.org/tp40/Default.asp?ID=71222)*
312 Third St., Elyria 44035; 440-322-6622

Saturday, December 15, 2007, at 8PM
Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus (http://www.ststanislaus.org), Slavic Village
3649 E. 65th St., Cleveland 44105; 341-9091

Sunday, December 16, 2007, at 7:30PM
Westlake Schools Performing Arts Center
(http://westlake.k12.oh.us/PAC/index.html)
27830 Hilliard Rd., Westlake 44145; 440-250-1050

• Free childcare available — phone the venue to make a reservation for your

child. All concerts & exhibits are FREE FOR ALL & everyone is welcome.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

The Black Amps

The word “supergroup” often conjures the horrific cross-pollenating of 70s arena rock group members, with endlessly overwrought power ballads and eight finger Fender tapping abounds. Yet, somehow the term applies to The Black Amps — the relatively new alt-power-pop sensation emerging from the ashes of several popular Cleveland bands. It’s not that these musicians are going all Damn Yankees or Bad English, mind you; they’ve just decided that their influences and experience is better as a sum of its parts. Featuring former members of Jericho Turnpike, Paranoid Lovesick, The Waynes, Superkreme, and Alien Fashion Show, the group mines a lush and lovely that they describe as “Elvis Costello Having Tea With The Traveling Wilburys.”

If you’ve followed the Cleveland music scene long enough, the names should be familiar: singer/guitarist Mike Allen recorded the amazing Pale Hollow record. Todd Thurman and Nick Perry played with a group called Mobile Crime Lab USA. And bassist Derek Poindexter is nothing less than a luminary in his own right, having anchored The Waynes and others. All four members share influences that are equally dirverse and sophisticated, with influences ranging from Big Star and Matthew Sweet, to Badfinger, the Beatles, the Zombies and a venerable who’s who of both 60s pop and early 80s alt-rock and 90s Americana jangle. And it all comes together beautifully.

Think accessible and hopelessly melodic, but still intriguingly complex.

Catch the Black Amps this Friday, December 7 at both the Hi-Fi Club AND the Winchester in Lakewood. (Yes, on the same night!) Details can be found at http://www.myspace.com/theblackamps. Check out their clips online, they’re a delight for the ears.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

SPONSORED: Dazzle + Delight = A Red Solstice This concert features the works of two remarkable Italian composers and a special arrangement by Red Artistic Director/Conductor Jonathan Sheffer of Heinrich Schutz’s “A Christmas Story,” on Sat 12/8 at 8PM at the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Tremont and Sun 12/9 at 3PM at St. Stanislaus Church in Slavic Village. “A Red Solstice” features a bracing performance of Vivaldi’s “Winter” from “The Four Seasons,” performed by local teen violin virtuoso Caroline Goulding. Also featuring soloists Soprano Jeun Eun Oh and Countertenor Andrew Lippian, and a chorus prepared by David Gooding. Red promises to dazzle and delight with this special and unusual holiday program. Tickets start at $15. Contact 216.361.1733 or www.redanorchestra.org.

A “Groupie” Says: “Stand Up and Take a Bow”
A Dictionary on Cleveland Longing Through Sports

Current mood: aggravated

”Hope (n): A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.”

One would think Clevelanders would not have hope when one of our teams makes it to the play-offs.

Wish (v): To long for; want.

One would think Clevelanders would know better than to wish for the outcome to be different, each time.

”Expectation (v): The act or state of expecting or looking forward to an event as about to happen.”

One would think Clevelanders would know better than to expect a trophy.

Pride (n): A sense of one’s own proper dignity or value; self-respect.

”Pride (v): Pleasure or satisfaction taken in an achievement, possession, or association.”

One has to understand Clevelanders have a sense of pride in all of their teams…

Read more from Rebecca Mahovlich here

Caroline Goulding
Red {an orchestra} violinist

Caroline Goulding is barely into her teens, yet she’s already gathered more accolades than musicians three and four times her age. At 15, she was the second-youngest in 55 years to win the prestigious Aspen Music Festival this summer. She started violin at age 3 and a half, and is now studying with Paul Kantor at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her articulate enthusiasm comes through in this engaging interview with Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready inside Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in Tremont, where she will perform “A Red Solstice” with red {an orchestra} on Sat 12/8, moving to St. Stanislaus Church in Slavic Village on Sun 12/9. In this video, she plays an excerpt from the first movement of Vivaldi’s “Winter” violin concerto on the Lobkowicz violin by A&H Amati, built in 1617 and loaned to her by the Stradivari Society, appraised at over $1M. She reveals her favorite hall to play in, why she loves Cape Breton Island fiddle, and what’s on her iPod. www.RedAnOrchestra.org

Find out how a Cool Cleveland sponsored video can help supercharge your communications plan. Contact us here.

The Buzzard
John Gorman with Tom Feran
Gray & Company, Publishers

Five years in the making, lobotomized from a bloat of 1,500 pages to a

shade under 300, John Gorman’s The Buzzard was well worth the wait. The Gray & Company book, graced by period photographs from the likes of Anastasia Pantsios, Janet Macoska and Bob Ferrell, is a largely riveting read. It’s essential for Clevelanders who lived through the glory days of WMMS, the FM station that virtually symbolized the city from the mid-’70s through the mid-’80s.

Co-written with the incredibly patient Tom Feran, a Plain Dealer veteran, The Buzzard covers 1973 through 1986, when Gorman, a refugee from South Boston who followed colleague Denny Sanders to Cleveland, became first music director, then program director, the general manager of WMMS and its sister AM station, WHK. It would be fair to say that Gorman, with the astute support of Sanders and a knowledgeable staff with tons of personality, built the station into a national powerhouse and in so doing helped get Cleveland through particularly rough times.

The anecdotes are priceless, like when the druggy Lou Reed, in full bitch mode, visited Cleveland to promote his “Sally Can’t Dance” album or when Dennis Wilson, the most volatile Beach Boy, broke down behind a Murray Saul “Get Down.” The attitude is, too: Gorman has no love lost for Mike Belkin as a manager, suggesting Belkin’s stinginess kept the Michael Stanley Band from breaking nationwide, still calls Eric Stevens, the tastemaker of M104, “the Chimp” and makes Milton Maltz out to be a little tyrant. There’s no making amends here, no balance. Instead, there’s a lot of salt, along with occasional doses of sugar.

And there’s regret. Gorman’s recounting of the decline of WMMS – he says it peaked in 1986 – is sad; the stuffed Rolling Stone ballots, designed to consecrate ‘MMS as the best rock station in the United States, were the final nail in the coffin, in 1988. At times, Gorman goes into detail that will mainly enthrall radio junkies. But most of the time, he keeps the narrative flowing. And even if you question his taste (some of the local bands he wanted to celebrate on 1980’s Pride of Cleveland weren’t good then and are badly dated now) and wonder why ‘MMS, for all its lip service to local talent, barely tapped the underground music scene, you can’t deny his way with a yarn.

Love it or hate it, WMMS was the stuff of talk, controversy, brilliant marketing schemes, fabulous graphics (nice David Helton cover of the Buzzard, an icon that shouldn’t fade from memory) and, at least into the early ’80s, great tunes. Gorman is a personality and an astute radio guy; he also surely alienated a lot of people in the industry with his aggressiveness. But his energy and ingenuity – and the requisite ego – shine through here, making The Buzzard a vivid, entertaining addition to the Cleveland rock story. (Full disclosure: Gorman is featured in my book, Cleveland Rock & Roll Memories, also a Gray & Company publication.)

From Cool Cleveland contributor Carlo Wolff carlo.wolffATgmail.com

A Holiday Case of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?”
Where to Take Those Out-of-Towners for Cle’s Finest Flavors

Surprise! It’s the holiday season, and while you might still be recovering from your tryptophan induced coma from Thanksgiving, thoughts on what to get your foodies for gifts are likely weighing heavy on the mind — nevermind the guests you’ll all welcome to Cleveland for the various wintery holidays. To wit, we here at Cool Cleveland have professionally reviewed 10 top-notch restaurants for upscale dining ambiance, creativity in flavor and range of culinary expression, all with the idea that they might make a great gift-giving option for you.

Travelers and locals alike consider the Cleveland scene as a “food destination” – Lola’s Michael Symon earning the “Iron Chef” kudos recently only adds to that buzz – and after reading the reviews of these ten hot locations, we’re sure you’ll understand why. We hope you’ll sample all the culinary delight there in the offing, or at the very least, consider treating your out-of-town family and friends with fine dining at one of these hot establishments…

Read more from Peter Chakerian here

In Defense of Dueling
A Modest Proposal to Help End Random Violence

Dueling as a method of settling disputes fell into disfavor close to two centuries ago. However, for much of recorded humankind it was a favored — and effective — method of settling disputes and keeping the peace. And, due to the present violent cultural climate in Cleveland (as well as a growing list of other suburban places) perhaps we should take another look at this archaic practice — in spite of the fact some undoubtedly will consider it barbaric.

A bit of history is in order. What eventually became known as dueling came into existence in 590 AD, in the Burgundy region of France under King Gundobad. The good king reasoned that since his subjects were willing to risk their souls by lying under oath during court proceedings, they might as well risk their bodies also. Thus “Trail by Combat,” “The Judgment of God,” and “Trail by Ordeal,” as dueling was variously known over time, came into being. It should be noted by Clevelanders that the murder and mugging rates in Burgundy declined immediately and quite dramatically upon the institution of dueling. In other words, people started giving each other their props when their ass could be put on the line…
Read more from Mansfield Frazier here

Does Dick Jacobs deserve this honor?

County Commissioner Tim Hagan tossed a spasm recently over an I-Team report that the FBI was investigating an aspect of the deal for the Dick Jacobs property. The County paid Jacobs $22-million for the long abandoned and empty buildings at E. 9th & Euclid Ave.

The TV report involved the awarding of a contract by the commissioners for asbestos abatement to a bidder some $1 million more than the low bid. (See Roldo’s commentary on “How much can this community stand…” here). Hagan and Jimmy Dimora voted for the deal and Peter Lawson Jones against.

Since purchasing the properties, Hagan and Dimora have decided the County does not have the dough for a planned new administration building. The properties are now up for sale.

I have said before that the County deal with developer and multi-millionaire Jacobs stinks. This never should have happened…

Read more from Roldo Bartimole here

Quick reviews of recent events
Submit your own review or commentary to Events@CoolCleveland.com

Reflections @ Kalliope 11/28
Reasons to go: This new cabaret show is more entertaining than its bland title, featuring hot licks by the accomplished John Perrine on saxophone, who leads his onstage combo and quintet of singers in a pleasant program of jazz standards. Smoky-voiced Liz Rubino aces Stormy Weather, rueful Katrya Oransky-Petyk croons Old Boyfriends, and tiny Kris Comer can scat like crazy, especially in My Analyst Told Me.
Caveats: Although the solo work is strong, sometimes Perrine’s Manhattan Transfer-like arrangements seem too complex for the quintet. The women have more chops than their two young male counterparts, though both Jared Simpson and Chris Pohl have good voices, and Pohl has great fun with Minnie the Moocher. And what’s up with casting a jazz/blues show with all white performers?
Details: Thru 12/15, http://www.kalliopestage.com
From Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein lindaATcoolcleveland.com

Machinal @ CSU Factory 11/29
Double wow!: This superb yet rarely seen 1920’s expressionist masterpiece by feminist Sophie Treadwill isn’t just a great college production: it’s one of the most exciting shows this season, period. All the cast does fine work, but special kudos to the haunting Christine Miles as the beleaguered, alienated heroine. Director Holly Holsinger surrounds her with an army of grotesques, from Lydia Chanenka as her sharp-eyed mother to Lew Wallace’s pasty-faced husband. That makes her love scene with the one warm-blooded character, an easy-going drifter (Val Kozlenko), even more tender, sexy, and heart-breaking.
Striking images: Holsinger has always been one of the area’s finest actors; her work on this production catapults her into the first rank of area directors. She has honed her student ensemble so that it works like a Swiss watch: the opening scene, choreographed into an office symphony of ratatat typewriters, adding machines, swivel chairs, and file cabinets, is breathtaking. Don McBride’s set, with giant gears and precipitous catwalk, and original music by Margaret Richardson, add to the sinister effects. Don’t miss it.
Details: Thru 12/09, CSU, http://www.csuohio.edu/news/releases/2007/10/14380.html.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall 11/29 Visiting conductor James Conlon led a spot-on bang-up concert by the Cleveland Orchestra from the opening bars of Ravel’s creepy Tim [“Corpse Bride”] Burton-style “La Valse” to the skippy happy ending of Beethoven’s “Leonore” Overture No. 3. Every one-two-three step in “La Valse” seemed to crunch over the metaphorical bones of the dying society (just before World War I) that Ravel envisioned. The violins played faster and faster as the macabre undercurrent became more insistent (“Bolero” shows a similar obsession with pattern, only happy and sexy). One wanted to hand each instrumentalist a little white sweat towel after it was over. Debussy’s “La Mer” followed, allowing us all a cool, enchanting wash in the sea (and showing again just how effective a pattern can be). After intermission Jonathan Biss (seemingly) allowed Beethoven’s great Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major to inhabit his musical soul. His supple, urgent treatment, working in synch with the orchestra, was thrilling, beautiful–all good things from a soloist who spun pianistic gold from his own rich talents. Conlon conducted the final piece from memory to close a wonderful concert whose memory can probably serve as cheery corrective to too many renditions to hokey holiday songs played over too-loud PA systems. (Why can’t we shop in peace? Not even the grocery store? Sorry, off topic.)

From Cool Cleveland contributor Laura Kennelly lkennellyATgmail.com

Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall 11/29 Throughout Thursday evening’s concert by The Cleveland Orchestra, two words kept repeating themselves in my head, going around and around and through. Sonic splendor, they whispered, or shouted as the case may be. Of course, Severance Hall is noted for its spectacular acoustics, but the four pieces on this program are especially sonic in nature, even if the dynamics require an extra-hushed quality.

Impressionistic music is truly grand for showing off the sterling qualities of an orchestra, even more so sometimes than the really bombastic sort of showpieces. An orchestra that can handle the quiet interludes as well as the ‘rattle-your-ears’ variety is one of superior quality. But of course, we here in Cleveland, know that only too well. Still, it’s good to be reminded, every now and then.

La Valse by Maurice Ravel and La Mer by Claude Debussy are first-rate examples of the Impressionistic style. Both composers were French, and both pieces were written during the first two decades of the 20th Century. La Mer was first, dating from 1903-05, while Ravel’s piece was begun in 1906. However, the war intruded, changing his original direction, delaying the completion until 1920.

The subtle sonorities and nuances of each work were brought to the fore by guest conductor James Conlon. Especially noteworthy was the magnificent depth of the low brasses, reeds and strings. Throughout, the orchestra played with precision and clarity.

After intermission, it was a different world entirely. Moving back almost exactly a century (Beethoven composed both works in 1806) it was a return to the drawing room for the intimacy of the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G major, Op. 58; followed by the Overture No. 3 to his only opera Leonore. Jonathan Biss was the excellent piano soloist, in his Cleveland Orchestra debut.

This concerto, with it’s poetic nature illuminates another side of Beethoven than the one we usually associate with the composer. Perhaps that’s why successful performances of the work are not as frequent as the others of its kind. It’s not particularly showy, for one thing, and the pianist, after the brief solo introduction, then sits for reasonably long periods of time as listener rather than participant. It would be easy to lose one’s way, but that didn’t happen this time.

Mr. Biss, for all his youth (he’s 27) never lost his sense of involvement in the music, demonstrating both a delicate touch and the muscularity required for the passages of octaves running up and down the keyboard. He has technique to spare, exhibiting a finely-honed control whether the music asked for more or less volume.

His youth was never more apparent than during the applause that followed his striking performance, as he seemed genuinely awed by the warm recognition accorded to him. He was most generous in sharing in the accolades. I suspect he’ll become a frequent visitor.

It’s not too often that a concert ends with an overture, but this one did, to good effect. The orchestra sounded fresh and vibrant, and Mr. Conlon allowed the brave coloration to soar. The music is filled with tension, which was accented by the precision of the playing, whether the off-stage trumpet or the on-stage winds. It was a grand concert.

This weekend, it’s something entirely different – as Bugs Bunny On Broadway will be presented at Severance Hall with The Cleveland Orchestra, conducted by George Daugherty on Friday, December 7, and Saturday, December 8 at 7:30PM plus a 2PM program on Saturday, December 8. For tickets or other information, call 231-1111, or visit the orchestra’s website: http://www.clevelandorchestra.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

Pulp @ CPT 11/30
Campy fun: Performers and audience seem to be having a ball with this campy lesbian musical send-up, about an ex-army butch (spunky Maggie Arndt) who finds herself in a 1950’s Chicago dive run by “Miss Viviane Blaine”, a silky, closeted society femme — cast against type with Alison Garrigan in a platinum blonde wig. Elizabeth R. Wood has a sweetness as Winny, a rifle champion who longs to shoot with the men, and wide-eyed Sheffia Randall Dooley steals the show as Bing, a catty femme seductress.
Caveats: Patricia Kane’s play itself is intentionally on the silly side, with lame narration and groaner double entendres — and the most of the cabaret songs aren’t up to snuff, although Wood has a swell drag king number. Nevertheless, the performers make it a lot of fun.
Details: Thru 12/22, Cleveland Public Theatre, http://www.cptonline.org.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein lindaATcoolcleveland.com

Pulp @ CPT 11/30 Pulp, now making its Ohio and regional debut at Cleveland Public Theatre, is a parody of lurid lesbian fiction of the 1950s which centered on the “love that dare not speak its name.” The script, which was written by Patricia Kane, concentrates on the themes of many of those fictions novels: the outsider, the tough broad, the siren and the hyper-sexuality of a renegade sub-society, all of which take place in a gritty urban setting.

The play’s outsider is Terry Logan, a butch woman from Texas, just discharged from the Women’s Army Corps. On a train bound for Chicago during a hot summer in 1956, she meets Pepper who figures out that Terry is a kindred spirit and invites her to The Well, a Chicago (gritty urban setting) lesbian nightclub where she works. The club, which features drag performances (women dressing as men) is owned by Ms. Warren, the ice princess (the siren). Terry lets her libido draw her initially to Eva (the hypersexual). As a plot developing device, several other characters have hidden or misguided loves, but by the time the lights go out after 90-minutes of sexual innuendos, sexual explicity, and sexual trysts, three couples have been formed and, if fairy tale endings are your thing, you’ll accept that they will live happily ever after.

An original score of period-sounding songs, with music by Andre Pluess and Warren, are performed with various degrees of proficiency as nightclub numbers. The score sounds familiar, but careful listening will reveal, like pulp novels, that the songs contain strong, overly ripe lyrics. Lyrics like, “Lips that taste of tears lose their taste for kissing.”

The script, which is a combination of melodrama, farce and musical review, lends itself to an over-the-top production. How can a play which repeats and repeats and repeats the line, “I’m a lesbian plain and simple. I don’t make any bones about it,” be done seriously?

Fortunately, for those who will venture to CPT, director Scott Plate uses asides, over-exaggeration and physical underscoring to accomplish the generally well-done production.

Plate keeps the goings centered. The laughs come from the overdrawn characters and the way they are over-played. The cast, with the exception of Maggie Arndt (Terry), are excellent. Arndt is not macho enough, not sure enough, not cocky enough to make us believers. She has an underbelly of vulnerability that is off-setting. Her singing also leaves much to be desired.

Sheffia Randall Dooley, the only Equity member of the cast, and purely the audience favorite, overdoes the role of Eva/Bing, with appealing certainty. She effectively wails her musical vocals.

Allison Garrigan as bar owner Viviane, develops a clear and convincing character as the rigid appearing ice princess. Her opening musical number sets the right mood for what’s to come.

Kimberly Lauren Koljat is consummately sweet as the bartender who befriends Terry. Her crush on Sarge/Winny, one of the drag entertainers who is also an excellent marksman (hey, what did you expect, this is a lesbian-centered script), is tenderly developed. Elizabeth Wood is convincing as Sarge/Winny.

Butch Marshall, the Music Director, plays one mean piano to back up the cross-dressing devas.

”Capsule judgment: CPT’S production takes an appropriately contrived script, and makes it into a well planned over-the-top production that generally works well, in spite of a weakly portrayed linchpin character. Will non-lesbian audience members enjoy the show? The very conservative will not. They will probably be uncomfortable with all the same-sex kissing and touching and sexual innuendos. Those of the more liberal ilk probably will appreciate the cleverness for what they see and hear.”

Pulp runs through December 22 at Cleveland Public Theatre. For tickets call 631-2727.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Roy Berko’s blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info.

Masumi Hayashi, Meditations @ CSU 12/1
Luminous: The largest of four memorial exhibitions featuring the work of slain area artist Masumi Hayashi, CSU’s tribute is an eyeful, with dozens of her meditative large-scale photocollage work and smaller early pieces that show the development of her technique. Between the prisons and temples, I kept being drawn magnetically back to her gorgeous 1992 study of Edgewater Park, with bands of sky that move from grey-blue to storm-yellow and receding ice and chunks of breakwall that shift in color with each subsequent C-Print segment. It’s both a pleasure to see a major retrospective, and a stab to be confronted with the magnitude of her loss.
Teacher and mentor: It’s fitting that CSU has included work and essays by Hayashi’s former students. There are some corkers here, too, including a marvelous collage portrait of Masumi by M. Ishi, T. Kellog, & S. Wienstead, surreal color photos of Las Vegas’ “Neon Boneyard” by Paul Jacklitch, and a near-abstract water series by Deanna Clemente Milne.
Details: Cleveland State Art Gallery, Chester @ E. 23rd, thru 12/15. http://www.csuohio.edu/art/gallery/main.htm Other tribute shows are at the Akron Art Museum, Spaces, and MOCA.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

Demon Baby @ convergence-continuum 12/1
Reasons to go: Erin Courtney’s dark comic play uses surreal images to portray the breakdown of a corporate wife when she relocates to London. It’s centered by the fierce, courageous portrayal of Wren by Dawn Youngs, whose bizarre reactions include pinned-to-the-floor panic attacks, inappropriate party games, and an unforgettable nude come-on to her gay children’s book editor (the gob-smacked Curt Arnold).
Fun with the usual suspects: In his directorial debut, convergence-continuum regular Geoffrey Hoffman uses a smart mix of new faces (Youngs, Arnold, and sleek Teresa McDonough) and company mainstays. Amy Bistok prances and prowls as a expatriate fashionista, and Wes Shofner is both cherubic and sinister as the Demon Baby, the come-to-life garden gnome who sits on Wren’s chest and begins taking over her book illustrations.
Details: Thru 12/22 at The Liminis, http://www.convergence-continuum.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

An Excellent Amahl, etc. @ Tri-C West 12/1 Sometimes, hidden treasures are to be found in the most unexpected places. When you think of Cuyahoga Community College, you might not immediately think of music or theater departments. But maybe you need to change that. Last weekend, the Tri-C West Theater and Music departments combined for a Gala Holiday Concert and fully-realized production of the one-act opera Amahl and the Night Visitors. The latter was especially well done.

The Western Campus Chorale directed by Kira Seaton was a bit thin-sounding in places, but they made up for that lack with enthusiasm and a generally good sense of musicianship. They sang in tune and together, and seemed to be having as much fun as the audience. That’s always a good sign. The excellent accompanist was Maureen Wallis Hartung, who repeated for the opera. Witness and Praise His Holy Name! done in gospel style with much hand-clapping were especially well done. The Chorale served up a goodly portion of ham in its own version of The Twelve Days of Christmas, which prompted much merriment throughout.

Amahl and the Night Visitors was commissioned by NBC-TV in the early 60s for broadcast on its network. (Imagine that!) Gian-Carlo Menotti had no idea that his short opera would soon become a holiday classic, but it is perhaps now even more than that. This production which featured mostly professional singers from the area, (with the chorus members filling in a shepherds and townfolk, etc.) was musically and visually top-notch. Of particular note the night I attended were Tia Karaplis as Amahl, Lydia Hall as the Mother, and as the three Kings –Jacob Tolley, Bradley Paller, and William Clarence Marshall. The dancers were also excellent.

The costumes were colorful and appropriate, and combined well with the set and the lighting. Ms. Seaton directed.

There are other presentations that you might find of interest at this campus or either of the other two, but they certainly don’t make it easy for one to find out the who, what, when, and where. If you’re persistent, you can sometimes stumble over the information. Here’s a start: http://www.tri-c.cc.oh.us/west/default.htm You could be pleasantly surprised!

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

Ballet Theater of Ohio’s Nutcracker @ Akron Civic 12/1 Ever since George Balanchine’s first American Nutcracker in 1954, the numerous productions of this strange but charming amalgam of student recital and star vehicle have demonstrated that this is a rewarding ballet to watch on many different levels. For audiences new to the ballet, Nutcracker gradually creates a rationale for the radical abstraction of ballet and draws the viewer in. For the more sophisticated viewer, there is the reward of the fact that the unusual demands of the production force ballet companies to draw on promising younger dancers, providing a real life counterpart to Nutcracker’s narrative of coming of age and succession.

We went to see Ballet Theater of Ohio’s Nutcracker at the Akron Civic Theater on Saturday, 12/1/07, which proved to be the traditional holiday entertainment with some very pleasant surprises. The party scene in Act One went pretty much as expected, with some minor variations on the many, many Nutcrackers all of us have seen. Artistic Director Christine Meneer’s version got us through the basics, establishing characters and setting up the dream ballet that follows.

Even in the early party scene, however, we couldn’t help noticing the abundance of dancing kids onstage – more kids dancing more steps than in any Nutcracker we can think of. More than in the Nutcracker that Pennsylvania Ballet performed here, though that one was Balanchine’s Nutcracker. More kids dancing than in the Dennis Nahat Nutcracker concurrently playing in Cleveland, which, as we remember, uses kids only as mice and supernumeraries. Indeed, Ballet Theater uses junior company dancers in virtually every non-staring role.

A Junior Company dancer, middle school student Abigail Wilhite at the performance we saw, danced Clara, the girl protagonist. More surprising was seeing Junior Company members dancing the first acts’ mechanical dolls – Columbine, Harlequin, Girl Soldier and Boy Soldier; roles that Balanchine typically gave to exceptional adult dancers – and doing it well.

How well? Well, not with the technical achievement that adult professionals could be expected to bring, but well enough that a couple of snarky dance critics like ourselves watched with pleasure. As a choreographer, Meneer finds dancing that is interesting enough to watch but within the abilities of her students. And, like Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet, the young dancers of Ballet Theater of Ohio seem to be committed to their performing; whatever expertise they lack they more than make up for with youthful charm … and better technique than one might expect from a various cast of children.

This is Ballet Theater of Ohio’s first year as a professional company. As Financial Development Director Elynmarie Kazle explained to us later, this means that they’ve added professional dancers to what used to be Children’s Ballet Theatre. Some of these are dancers we’ve been watching in various area companies for years; Damien Highfield as the Snow King and the Cavalier, Robert Wesner as the Spanish Senor, and Andrea Blankstein as Dew Drop brought to their roles the artistry we’ve learned to expect from them..

Saturday’s performance also introduced us to the considerable talents of Meghan Dietz (Snow Queen) and Jessica Schroeder (Arabian Princess). Schroeder is a longtime member of Children’s Ballet Theatre and a recent graduate of Indiana University with a ballet minor. Dietz is still in high school.

Jennifer Moll, formerly of Virginia Ballet Theatre, is also a longtime member of Children’s Ballet Theatre and a graduate of Indiana U. Her Sugar Plum, partnered by Highfield’s Cavalier, brought this Nutcracker home with a beautiful, confident grande pas.

Ballet Theatre of Ohio demonstrated a lot of depth at the corps de ballet level, a seemingly endless supply of girls with strong pointes and high extensions. While their dancing wasn’t flawless – the corps’ pirouettes en pointe were marred by a bit more hopping than we’d consider acceptable from professionals – their energy, enthusiasm and professionalism over-rode flaws.

Other positives included good stagecraft. We were especially impressed by the smooth transition from drawing room to snow scene: kudos to set designers Ballance Scenic and Design, stage manager Jennifer Lehane, and the stage crew, Local I.A.T.S.E. #48.

BTO’s deep roots in the community payed off with record attendance for this year’s Nutcracker, attendance that Kazle tells us will allow BTO to do their February ‘Winter Series’ and May ‘Cinderella’ in the black. Certainly Ballet Theatre of Ohio is at least partially the answer to the dearth of local ballet. Learn more about this company at their website www.childrensballettheatre.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributors Elsa Johnson and Victor Lucas vicnelsaATearthlink.net

Holiday CircleFest @ University Circle and Wade Oval 12/2 Including cross-cultural artwork, music, and festivities, the Holiday CircleFest was a remarkable collaborative effort and just plain fun. Hats off and thumbs up to the University Circle museums, churches, schools, and organizations for opening their doors this past Sunday and welcoming all the visitors at no charge. Even the parking was free. Hearty Clevelanders did not let a little weather dissuade them from enjoying the exhibits and live holiday music. It was a winter holiday version of the summer Parade the Circle event.

Several adults wore bright red Santa hats to get in the spirit, and one tired slumped fellow sitting at a table in the Art Museum wore a stuffed green and brown deer antler hat. Visitors, equipped for the outdoors with jackets, hats, and even plastic rain covers for their baby strollers, trudged across Wade Oval to check out the Music Institute and the Historical Society and the Natural History Museum. And if people chose not to walk, University Circle Incorporated provided two large buses and six shuttle buses to transport people from building to building. There was so much to see and hear, and so little time.

An incredible display of 53 gingerbread houses grabbed people’s attention at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. A first place ribbon was awarded to Dr. John Learner, a Cuyahoga Falls dentist, for his “Classic Kent Victorian” entry. He made layers of gingerbread with red icing in between to create the red bricks for his gingerbread house. There was a nearby photograph showing the real life house which he used to duplicate his gingerbread house design. Learner starts his projects six months ahead of schedule because they are so complex.

The highlight of the CircleFest event was the Winter Lights Lantern Procession, the concluding activity of the day. The Cleveland Museum of Art sponsored this event. The Wade Oval Environment of Lights Installation, a series of unique outdoor sculptures lit from the inside added to the Lantern Procession. Children contributed to the parade by first cutting, pasting, and decorating their own construction paper lanterns with little candles secured inside to light the way as they walked. Professional artists added their own elaborately-designed lanterns and carried them in the Procession. Art Museum staff in costume added large animal puppets and decoration to the moving lantern display. A not-to-be-missed Cleveland Holiday tradition filled with good cheer, and maybe next year, filled with better weather!! From Cool Cleveland contributor Susan Schaul susn1ATatt.net

On the resurrection of the Flat Iron Cafe (See Culture Club issue here) in regard to the article on the FLAT IRON CAFE in this weeks cool cleveland. it is [t]rue that billy chambers was an owner. sally boone (now kennedy) sold it to the wasmers in 1986 when the new construction took place. i was on the opening team in 1987 while going to culinary school at tri-c. pm bartenders included gw, greg “clancy” savoy, nick montoni, and buddy longo. the am bartenders were the legendary billy barrett( whose picture is abve the bar) and the “colonel” jerry coleman. they opend at 5:30 am, mon through fri. jerry coleman was never an owner. he died just this last year. they named a stool after him at michael carney’s bar where he had ” lunch” every day. slainte, From Cool Cleveland reader Flanery O’Connor flaneryoconnorATyahoo.com

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Here are the Top 5 most clicked links from last week’s issue, with one more chance for you to click.

1) Holiday Buying Guide Think outside the (Big) Box (stores) from Black Friday on, and support local businesses.
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3) Bazaar Bizarre Handcrafted DIY wares and an offbeat entertainment extravaganza.
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Especially for You The Hard Corps work tirelessly to make every week something special. Give a hand to Peter Chakerian, T.L. Champion, George Nemeth, Roy Berko, Linda Eisenstein, Claudia J. Taller, Roldo Bartimole, Mansfield B. Frazier, Kelly Ferjutz, Susan Schaul, Victor Lucas and Elsa Johnson, Carlo Wolff and introducing Rebecca Mahovlich. This episode was brought to you by the Credits. And lastly, though certainly not least, thanks to our readers and everyone who partners with us. Want to volunteer and contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, articles, or story ideas to: Events@CoolCleveland.com.

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