12.31.14-01.07.15
Superheroes
This town is full of them.Whether it’s neon artist Jeffry Chiplis appropriating and slyly re-imagining advertising signage, or the Kickstarter that’s capturing the legendary Swingos Celebrity Inn on film, or CC columnist Alex Sukhoy’s greatest hits among her 100 posts for this humble online pub over the past 5 years.
Maybe it’s blues/jazz/gospel songbird Sydney Ellis, returning to Cle to sing at the Music Box, or Signals Midwest landing back at the Grog. For New Year’s Eve, lots of local superstars are appearing: see our roundup. Do something heroic just by eating pancakes at Tommy’s on 1/1 to benefit Heights Arts. Heroes of the modern women’s movement are celebrated in a new Cle-produced doc at CMA.
Not so heroic, as the controversy around police “unreasonable and unnecessary use of force” continues to build, CC commentators Mansfield Frazier and Larry Durstin weigh in as the biggest story of 2014 looks to become even bigger in 2015. As everyone here at CoolCleveland wishes you and yours a truly cool and happy new year, we ask: is peace on earth too much to ask? –Thomas Mulready
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Photo by Elisa Vietri
Cleveland artist Jeffry Chiplis lets his material be his muse and guide his creative vision. And his material happens to be neon — bits and pieces of old signs that accrue to him because people have come to know what he does over his more than three decades working with the gas-filled glass.
“I have a reputation,” he says…
More from Anastasia Pantsios here
Ready to be a superhero in 2015? Consider CoolCleveland Sponsored Links, Sponsored Features and Sponsored Videos. Info@CoolCleveland.com
“We’re a small, Cleveland-based production company that is telling a great Cleveland story that shows why our city is a really important city to the nation’s culture,” says Director Andrew Marquard of River Valley Films, which is looking to produce a film about the legendary Swingos Celebrity Inn.
Marquard and his wife Catherine are a husband-and-wife-team that have a love for filmmaking and telling stories about our region…
More from Kendall Embrescia-Hridel here
When Eric Adams, an African American who is the current Brooklyn Borough president (and a retired NYC police captain with over 30 years of service), recently spoke on MSNBC, he — in no uncertain terms — expressed shock and outrage at the behavior of the rank and file police officers who, on more than one occasion, have turned their backs on NYC mayor Bill de Blasio…
More coverage from Mansfield Frazier:
More from Mansfield Frazier here
Five years ago this December I submitted my first piece to Cool Cleveland. I got my foot through the door at this publication by sharing my concert review of Chrissie Hynde’s HOB performance. Thomas liked it and welcomed me to his team.
Reaching piece #100 and celebrating five years with Cool Cleveland wasn’t planned. In fact if I was aiming for this kind of numerical coincidence, it probably wouldn’t have happened. But it did. And that’s cool.
I asked both Thomas and Sarah what would make for a memorable anniversary piece and we decided to list my top 10 favorite articles…
More from Alexsandra Sukhoy here
SPONSORED: The Kent Stage Presents 2015 Everyone from local faves Glass Harp & Hard Day’s Night to legends like Al Stewart, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band & Beth Hart join major talents like Justin Townes Earle, The Robert Cray Band, Leon Russell and Joan Armatrading at the acoustically superior Kent Stage in 2015. Get your tickets now for TheKentStage.com.
Blues/jazz/gospel singer Sydney Ellis was raised in Cleveland and raised her own family here. But you don’t know her because she had moved to the west coast by the time she started her singing career nearly 25 years ago at the age of 44. Now you have a chance to get to know her, because she’ll be performing at the Music Box Supper Club. Fri 1/2.
Read more picks by Anastasia Pantsios here
Who said principals aren’t cool? Check out this fun video made by Collinwood High School students as they teach their Principal, Maria Carlson, how to dance. The students challenged Carlson to attend all of the school’s “family time” groups and to learn a dance from each.
The gender-based family time groups meet with an adviser every day for about a half-hour and concentrate on what is called “social emotional learning.” During that half-hour, students learn to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, and how to make responsible decisions. Cool video guys!
Winter Weekends are a blast (literally) @ the Great Lakes Science Center. Watch fruitcakes explode, skate indoors on carpet skates, make fake snow & enjoy fire and ice science shows. Sat 1/3 – Sun 1/4.
Click here for more Cool Cleveland Kids events
WED 12/31
For music lovers in Cleveland, there’s a lot to do on New Year’s Eve whether you’re looking for a noisy, upbeat, get-up-and-dance event or something quieter and more relaxed. For starters, both Cleveland and Akron are hosting big end-of-year events.
Click here for more events on Wed 12/31
THU 1/1
Join your friends & neighbors & welcome 2015 at the much-loved New Year’s Day Pancake Breakfast @ Tommy’s. Eat for art — funds benefit the projects of Heights Arts. So bring your kids & fill up.
Click here for more events on Thu 1/1
FRI 1/2
Celebrate the captivating art of storytelling at this month’s MIX party @ the Cleveland Museum of Art. Hear real people telling real stories at Keep Talking: A Storytelling Show, see glimpses of The Neverending Story & learn how to tell your own tales.
Click here for more events on Fri 1/2
SAT 1/3
It’s been more than eight years since Cleveland-based blues legend Robert Lockwood Jr. died at the age of 91, taking a big piece of the area’s blues history with him. And still — there are plenty of other area musicians carrying the flame. They include his old band, the Robert Lockwood Jr. All Stars, performing @ the Beachland.
Click here for more events on Sat 1/3
SUN 1/4
She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry is a new documentary tracing the early history of the modern women’s movement (1966-71). Go from the founding of NOW by ladies in hats & gloves all the way to the emergence of radical feminists. Writer, activist & Cle native Alix Kates Shulman will be there answering Qs after the screening. [Photo: Diana Davies]
Click here for more events on Sun 1/4
MON 1/5
According to Celtic tradition, it’s the end of the 12 day winter solstice celebration. Ring it in with a brisk cold-weather hike & return to warm your body with the traditional drink — wassail!
Click here for more events on Mon 1/5
TUE 1/6
The Brews + Prose series at Market Garden Brewery pairs — what else? — great craft beer with interesting writers. This month hear from Hugh Martin & Tess Taylor.
Click here for more events on Tue 1/6
WED 1/7
Did you know your favorite superheroes spent time battling figures like Hitler, Mussolini & Tojo? They did. Discuss the how & whys at a lively discussion w/ comic experts @ the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Click here for more events on Wed 1/7
Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com
Arguably, the three biggest “national” Cleveland stories of 2014 were the return of LeBron James to the Cavaliers, the drafting of Johnny Manziel by the Browns and the Department of Justice’s stinging report on the Cleveland Police Department’s “unreasonable and unnecessary use of force,” a governmental finding that Mayor Frank Jackson has continued to defiantly deny…
Quick previews & reviews of recent events
Submit your own preview, review or commentary to Events@CoolCleveland.com
Comment on our blog here: http://www.CoolCleveland.com/blog
My 2015 Top 10 Cleveland Bucket List
You MUST put Lake View Cemetery, in SPRING, on your bucket list!! The flowering trees and shrubs are amazing, and there are literally thousands and thousands of daffodils on display. Not to mention the graves of some VERY famous people…
Joyce Hoffer
MANSFIELD: Top 20 Cop Excuses
Warning! 2 police killed in NYC, now NYPD is talking stupid in a dangerous way…
Kevin
How about this for an excuse. 100% of the young black “youths” recently reported as getting shot were in the process of committing crimes, resisting arrest, or attacking police officers. Tell them not to act like uncivilized animals and they won’t get shot…
Cicero
Read and comment here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/blog
Most clicked
Here are the Top 5 most clicked links from last week’s issue, with one more chance for you to click.
1) My 2015 Top 10 Cleveland Bucket List
2) Your 2015 NYE Hot Spot Guide
3) MANSFIELD: Top 20 Cop Excuses
4) Get Out of the Yoga Studio and Into the Brewery @balanceandbrews
5) MANSFIELD: Cities Held Hostage
Our writers are superheros in their own right. Thanks a million to Marty Bielat, Kendall Embrescia-Hridel, Mansfield Frazier, Anastasia Pantsios, Alexsandra Sukhoy, Sarah Valek & Elisa Vietri. 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.
Happy New Year!
–Thomas Mulready
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