02.01-02.08.2017 Liars in Fur Coats

02.01-02.08.17
Liars In Fur Coats

It’s the title of a whimsical dance/theatre piece at Baldwin Wallace this weekend inspired by the university’s research on the social and mating habits of squirrels, presented as part of “fyoo zh en 17,” their new music and dance project. But it could describe a whole range of folks busy at work this winter.

New music ensemble No Exit is trying their damnedest NOT to lie as they present honest contemporary classical music at venues like SPACES, CSU & Heights Arts. Cleveland concert photographer and ailurophile Joe Kleon is hosting an online auction of some of his stunning concerts shots to raise money for the Medina cat shelter. Lee Chilcote’s new book of poetry hones in on the exactitude of love, family and marriage. Claudia Taller experienced the legitimacy of resistance when she traveled to D.C. for the recent women’s march, witnessing a solid wall of Pussyhats.

You’ve got your pick of great, honest-to-goodness events all over town. Trinity Cathedral’s free weekly Brownbag Concerts start this week. CODA glows with veracity hosting Behind Glass, a new series of electronic musics. There’ll be an authentic Sausage Fest at the Music Box with DJ Kishka. Singer/comedian Theresa Kloos does her cabaret show at the BOP STOP. Take in a night of cold wave goth at Maple Lanes. Get active to support the arts & humanities under threat from the new White House. There’s plenty of principled truthfulness right before our eyes. Let’s just agree not to lie to each other. –Thomas Mulready

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Pussy Power

CoolCleveland’s Claudia Taller, and her daughter and friends, were among throng of more than half a million people who poured into the streets of Washington D.C. the day after the inauguration to take a stand against inequality and especially the treatment of women and the contempt for the expressed by the incoming president.

Claudia tells us about the excitement of being in that sea of pink pussy hats and part of this piece of history, resisting a president who is laying siege to human rights. Sat 1/21.

The Poetry of Cleveland

Lee Chilcote has been a big presence in the local written-word scene as a journalist, editor and the founder of the nonprofit organization Literary Cleveland to bring writers and readers together to grow that scene.

Now he’s tending to his own words. He’s just released his first book, a short poetry collection called The Shape of Home, which reflects on family and community. John Benson catches up with Chilcote to learn what inspired these poems and what he’s working on now.

National and Local Arts & Humanities Leaders React to White House Threats

Less than a week after President Trump took office, word quickly spread about his administration’s plans to cut funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as to privatize the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. To put this in perspective, the NEA and NEH total less than 0.0075% of the annual federal budget of $3.9 trillion.

CoolCleveland spoke with Peter Knox, director of CWRU’s Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities, about the threat of eliminating federal funding, and points to Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch, who sent out a letter calling for activism among those who create, enjoy and cherish the arts.

VIDEO: Electronic Music Series Debuts at CODA

Gazing deep into an aquarium, you watch as colorful creatures swim through the water, causing ripples seen through refracted light. Close enough to touch, all but a thin, transparent partition stands between you and the fish. CODA has teamed with local musician Matthew Ryals to produce a series of concerts called Behind Glass, dedicated to the fringes of electronic music.

This new series debuts on Sat 2/4 with Canadian musician Christopher Bissonnette, whose cinematic approach to ambient music creates an atmosphere that’s visceral yet clear and detailed on the tiniest of levels.

Rock the Kitties

Cleveland concert photographer and ailurophile Joe Kleon volunteers at nonprofit Medina cat shelter. To raise money to help the kitties, he’s hosting an online auction of some of his stunning concerts shots of artists like Stevie Nicks, Taylor Swift and Michael Stanley. Bid! Adopt! Through 2/7.

* Cleveland’s Year of Sustainable Transportation was last year, but biking’s popularity keeps growing. That inspired Shaker Heights resident Taylor Lacor to invent the Cyclist Card, a customizable, easy-to-carry, multi-function EDC card. He plans to have it to the market in time for spring riding.

Encouraging Little Readers

The Family Reading festival at the Akron-Summit Library’s main branch offers a day of activities, including live music, to lead kids to the idea that books are fun and cool. Sat 2/4.

* Great Lakes Science Center’s new medieval-themed Build It! exhibit will keep kids busy as active participants. The LEGO-based exhibit invites them to build and create as they enjoy a giant castle, a slide, a puzzle maze, digital parapets and more. Sat 2/4-Sun 5/14.

Click here for more CoolCleveland Kids events

February at Melt Bar and Grilled

Sandwich Special: Best of Melt Month: Feb 1-5: Hungry Hungarian Paprikash Melt, Feb 6-12: Winter Chicken, Feb 13-19: Primetime Prime Rib Melt, Feb 20-28: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Cowabunga Melt. Seasonal Sides: Spicy Curry Cauliflower & Root Beer Glazed Carrots. Bread Pudding: Chocolate Covered Strawberry Bread Pudding. Beer Feature: Revolution Local Hero. Cocktail Feature: For Lovers Only.

Melt Announces 8th location coming to Dayton, Ohio. A new staff hiring fair will be held at the location in early 2017. Now taking reservations in select Melt Bar and Grilled locations. New Happy Hour Menu is here! Big Cheese Club Rewards are getting even sweeter!

Out-of-town travel writers romanticize Cleveland’s Eastern European food heritage. Partake yourself when Parma’s State Meats provides samplers for a Sausage Fest evening at the Music Box Supper Club. DJ Kishka will be on hand with polka music to provide appropriate atmosphere. Fri 2/3.

* The West Side Market has adjusted its Sunday hours; they’re be open now from 10am-4pm. And they’d like you to know that parking is still free, for now. Sun 2/5.

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

SPONSORED: Real Honest Music at The Kent Stage with Doyle Bramhall II with Emily Gimble, Taylor Hicks, Albert Lee, Al DiMeola, Geoff Tate The Whole Story “Ryche” Acoustic Tour, Del McCourey Band, Beth Hart, The Walking Plaid, The Smithereens & The Motels, Norm Pikelny, Morgan James, Richard Thompson, plus more. TheKentStage.com.

A trio of musicians from the avant-garde new music ensemble No Exit will perform an evening of their favorite pieces, including a world premier, at SPACES, CSU and Heights Arts. Sat 2/4, Mon 2/6, Sat 2/11

* NE Ohio guitar star Neil Zaza plays the Akron Civic Theatre before leaving for overseas tour. Fri 2/3.

* Local jam band Vibe & Direct throw a music & art dance party at the Beachland Ballroom. Sat 2/4.

* Cleveland prog-rock legend Paul Fayrewether plays the House of Blues. Sat 2/4.

Read more of CoolCleveland’s picks for Cool Events.

WED 2/1
Music and dance blend in Liars in Fur Coats at Baldwin Wallace, a new production about student researchers observing the mating habits of squirrels, which start to take on real-life implications. No, really.

* The Happy Dog Euclid Tavern and the City Club of Cleveland have flash-scheduled a panel/discussion on the president’s immigration order.

* Trinity Cathedral’s free weekly Brownbag concerts start their spring season.

* The Capitol Theatre screens Groundhog Day, followed by a discussion on whether the groundhog myth has any scientific basis.

Click here for more events on Wed 2/1

THU 2/2
Ex-Project Runway contestant, designer Valerie Mayen, may have closed her Gordon Square Yellowcake Shop. But she’s bringing a showing of her new collection to a party up the street at Old City Libations, with contributions from neighboring Fount Leather.

* Opera star Stephanie Blythe sings for the Cleveland Chamber Music Society at Plymouth Church.

* Singer/comedian Theresa Kloos does her cabaret show at the BOP STOP.

* Two veteran bands bring the sounds to the Rockabilly Blowout at the Music Box.

Click here for more events on Thu 2/2

FRI 2/3
This year’s DayGlo Show is on display at Waterloo Arts. To really get the full impact, tonight’s DayGlo a GoGo party takes place under black light and features DayGlo faceprinting for adults, dance music and glow-in-the-dark cocktails.

* August Wilson’s final play Radio Golf is onstage at Ensemble Theatre through Sun 2/26.

* Margot Lee Shetterly, author of Hidden Figures, speaks at CWRU.

* Spring really is on the way! So it’s time for the Great Big Home & Garden Show at the I-X Center through Sun 2/12.

* Jazz pianist and Oberlin faculty member Ben Geyer plays with a trio at the BOP STOP.

* Waterloo’s businesses are oases from the cold during Walk All Over Waterloo.

* French piano sensation Lucas Debarge plays a recital at Severance Hall.

* Texas vocalist/guitarist Doyle Bramhall II comes to the Kent Stage.

* Winter wine and chocolates are on tap at Adult Swim at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

* Explore the theory of parallel universes at Baldwin Wallace.

* Spacy rock music lands at the Happy Dog in Gordon Square.

Click here for more events on Fri 2/3

SAT 2/4
Mardi Gras is more than three weeks away. But the North Coast Men’s Chorus is getting the party started early with their annual Mardi Gras benefit at Windows on the River in the Flats. So get your costume and mask together and get ready to have some big fun.

* The ice-carving festival in downtown Kent promises a 13th year of stunning frozen sculptures.

* Cleveland Public Library’s MLK branch hosts free, four-week acting workshop around the Hough riots.

* The SOUPERbowl at BAYarts offers gourmet hot soups, drinks and football-themed family activities.

* Cats on Holiday reprise their Kinks tribute at the Music Box.

* The music of legendary jazz bassist Milt Hinton is performed at the Beck Center.

Click here for more events on Sat 2/4

SUN 2/5
Each week the Music Box Supper Club’s all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch has a different musical theme. This week Akron singer/songwriter Ryan Humbert brings his traditional country band Shooter Sharp & the Shootouts in to play for the Classic Country Brunch.

* The Elysian Trio plays Russian composers at Baldwin Wallace.

* Contemporary sax duo performs at St. John’s in Ohio City.

* Take in a night of cold wave goth at Maple Lanes.

Click here for more events on Sun 2/5

TUE 2/7
Toledo’s Amy Gustine has just published her first book of short stories, You Should Pity Us Instead. She’ll be the featured reader at this month’s Brews & Prose at Market Garden Brewery where you can order some beers and food and enjoy some fresh literature. Cleveland writers Brandon North and Rebecca Spagnuolo will also read

Click here for more events on Tue 2/7

WED 2/8
Jews were often prominent in the Civil Rights Movement, working alongside African-Americans for equal rights for all. Come to the Maltz Museum to learn about the the late Rabbi Arthur Lelyveld of Fairmount Temple who marched and was beaten in the Deep South in the 60s.

Click here for more events on Wed 2/8

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Send in the Feds?

When will members of Congress begin to demand of the president that we do something in regards to urban and rural dysfunction that actually has a chance of working?

* Taking a Stand at Standing Rock Defeating Trump on the Dakota Access Pipeline is more than just standing up for our Native American brothers and sisters as they strive to protect their water …

* A Hand He Might Not Want to Play By signing an executive order to clear the way for the Dakota Access Pipeline, the new president just might be precipitating a crisis that could prove his undoing….

Read other stories from Mansfield Frazier here