Spirituality

11.10-11.17.04

Spirituality

In this week’s issue:
* vYbe Interview with performance artist Mike Jones on contemporary spirituality
* Cool Cleveland Commentary on civic engagement by PBS moderator Clevelander Eric Lutzo
* RoldoLINK How Charitable Should High-Paid Ballplayers be to Communties?

Cool Cleveland vYbe snapshot:
Mike Jones

In Cool Cleveland’s ongoing vYbe feature, we hook you up with 20-somethings who have something more to offer creatively and intellectually. This month we talk with Mike Jones who recently completed his performance Hiding Place, Meeting Place, the second installation in a series exploring intimacy with God, voyeurism, mediated reality, public and private space, social interaction, and endurance in a performance-installation based on the nation of Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the desert after leaving Egypt. During that time they worshiped God in a large tent called the Tabernacle, or “tent of meeting.” For 40 days and 40 nights, Mike Jones lived in a three-room tent inside the B.K. Smith Gallery praying, meditating, and studying the Bible. Cool Cleveland contributor DJ Hellerman spoke with Mike about contemporary faith and the crisis of belief, as science and politics have left a void in the communities’ collective self.

Cool Cleveland: Why select a name like Hiding Place/Meeting Place to identify your artist effort and statement? What is its origin of inspiration?
Mike Jones: It originated from an earnest desire for an honest, intimate relationship with God. In the last several years I have been very interested in how meaning is created and reality is mediated in contemporary image-based culture and, likewise, how understandings of Christianity are mediated in the West. Throughout the world right now a generation is being raised that will be greatly marked by intimacy with the passionate God of love, beauty and power. Time and effort will no longer be invested in churches or institutions that sound and look shallow and contrived.

How is faith relevant in a post modern society that doesn’t value the intangible?
More and more people are realizing their need for the intangible. Many call it spirituality. This is evidenced by the flood of interest in new age philosophies, occultism, etc. Science, politics, etc. — the tangible — has failed to meet all of our needs. We are designed with a longing for God’s presence in our lives. Every ache and yearning of the human heart is rooted in dissatisfactions with life void of a relationship with God. In such a climate, faith is relevant in that it provides hope. Faith is being sure of what one hopes for and does not yet see…
Read the vYbe interview with Mike Jones here

Top 10 things to love about Cleveland From Fine Living magazine, mostly the usual suspects (Rock Hall, Playhouse Square), but also a few interesting choices: the recent Urban Gallery Hop, where we recently partied [here], the Cleveland Home & Garden Show (lame) and RTA, which they suggest, “When making a quick trip into the city, don’t rent a car. Public transportation will take you everywhere you need to go! If you’re flying into Hopkins Airport, just jump on the RTA. The half hour ride will take you straight into the heart of downtown (Tower City) for only $1.50.” Read Fine Living here

Not our parents’ economy A top Intel exec, speaking in Portland last week, said that by 2050 China will be the world’s largest economy, and that India and China combined will be more than twice the size of the U.S. economy. “… as all of these things are happening, we at the same time are moving toward a knowledge-based economy,” he said. “And that means people will be able to live and work just about anywhere. That allows everyone to participate and changes the rules of business forever… This is not our parents’ economy” See the Clark County, WA Columbian here

Smart Growth America 2004 American Community Survey offers the newly released survey conducted for Smart Growth America. Learn what attributes Americans are looking for in their communities; it might help you understand what is important in the areas where you live. http://www.smartgrowthamerica.com/NAR-SGAsurvey.pdf.

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Stonebridge Condominiums Rise Up to Skyline The Condominiums at Stonebridge are the sleek, high-rise buildings that you’ve seen rising above the Detroit-Superior bridge. These amazing, new construction condominiums offer flats and penthouses with outstanding river, lake and downtown views. Unit features include gourmet kitchens with granite counters, hardwood floors, expansive windows, contemporary baths with ceramic tile, and heated indoor parking included with the price. Plus, you’re in the heart of the West Bank of the Flats, steps away from the buzz of W. 25th Street and the excitement of the Warehouse District. Top off the deal with special financing and 15 year tax abatement! Visit our open house this Sun 11/14 from 12-4 PM at 1500 Old Detroit (near the swing bridge in Flats). Top off the deal with special financing and tax abatement. For a complete list of properties and open houses this weekend, please visit www.ProgressiveUrban.com
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It’s not the economy, stupid: it’s the green hair Akron is serious about making itself a destination for young people, so the Greater Akron Chamber has hired consultant Rebecca Ryan to conduct a 6-month study, and they invited Richard Florida, who’s book The Rise of The Creative Class is the bible for understanding the mobility of young professionals, to speak in Akron last week. Here’s what they’re learning: Jobs don’t attract young people anymore. In fact, nightlife and social capital ranked higher than job opportunities – young people decide on a cool place to live, then they find or create a job. And the first thing a Chamber member looked for when Ryan met with them in Akron last week? Kids with green hair. Make your town attractive and liveable and cool, and young people and entrepreneurs (with or without green hair) will bring their talents, and that talent pool will attract businesses and start-ups. David Giffels of the Akron Beacon Journal is on this story relentlessly, and so is the business community in Akron. What about Cleveland? See ABJ here.

Clean up your company’s bottom line with effective marketing 2004 is coming to an end, and there’s no better time to re-assess your company’s marketing choices. Try out the alternative with Cool Cleveland.com to differentiate your business from the rest with our lightning-quick viral strategy: CoolCleveland.com, recommended from one satisfied reader to another. Advertising with CoolCleveland.com will place your weekly message into tens of thousands of our subscribers’ Inboxes, directly impacting your company’s bottom line. Find out more by e-mailing us a note to Info@CoolCleveland.com

Central bounces back Thanksgiving is happening early, as residents of Cleveland’s Central neighborhood won’t have to travel far this year to shop for their Thanksgiving meal. The Arbor Park Place shopping center will officially open for business on Wed 11/17 at 1:30PM. The 39,000-square-foot facility will welcome Cleveland City Council President Frank Jackson, Mayor Jane Campbell, County Commissioners Jimmy Dimora and Peter Lawson Jones, funding partners, and local neighborhood groups for the grand opening. The event’s emphasis will be on family, faith, and community celebrating the first large-scale retail development project in the Central neighborhood in over 40 years. Arbor Park Place will offer a convenient shopping experience for Ward 5 residents, who are growing in number, thanks to the construction of hundreds of new housing units. At East 40th and College Park.

Electronic voting questions Check out the difference between paper ballot states and electronic voting machine states. View the graphs here and read the story about how electronic voting machines are tabulated on standard-issue PC computers, potentially vulnerable to hacking. See Common Dreams here.

Community of Minds Register now for their next network explosion of people interested in the latest information technology and services being developed in our region. The event is complimentary and so are the ample hors d’oeuvres on Wed 11/17 at 5:30PM when guest speaker Len Steinbach, Chief Information Officer for The Cleveland Museum of Art will make a presentation regarding the integration of art and technology. Register at www.CommunityOfMinds.com

Gay marriage and the election Cleveland’s Gay People’s Chronicle may have found itself in the eye of the national storm surrounding the recent Presidential election, during which the issue of gay marriage was credited with firing up President George Bush’s base and getting them out to the polls in Ohio and other states where anti-gay marriage measures were on the ballot, and passed decisively. The charter article that barred the city of Cincinnati from passing sexual orientation anti-bias laws was repealed on November 2. Plus, two Democratic candidates for the Ohio House of Representatives defeated primary opponents that voted for Ohio’s “defense of marriage” act. See all the stories here.

Cool Cleveland event volunteering rocks Put yourself in the pulse point of Cool Cleveland and get into the center of what goes down behind the scenes at our infamous Art/Tech/Dance events and other cool events. Volunteers are needed for a couple hours of fun and action-oriented activity on either 12/16 or 12/17. Contact us to find out how you can help; you’ll receive comp entry, food, and a t-shirt, while you meet new people and make new connections. Send us a note at Internship@coolcleveland.com

Cleveland as a top-tier city Out of towners continue to recognize what’s hot in our city, while civic leaders are putting voice to the various ideas on improving Cleveland, pointing out that we can be a first-rate city again. See Cleveland Jewish News here

Cleveland upgrades its customer service Every year, Brown University ranks the services provided via the web of 70 metropolitian areas. In 2003, websites in the Cleveland metropolitian area ranked 58th. This year, we ranked dead last. You can view the report as a PDF here. The City of Cleveland is investing $30 million in software that will give the public and city employees quick access to information about permitting, licensing and code enforcement with a geographic information system (GIS) that will put the data on maps. It’s expected to save time for citizens and companies doing business with the city and to give them greater online access to city permit and land management services. But is it enough? The study visits 1,873 websites, so e-government services throughout the region need an upgrade. Some of the features assessed: foreign language access, having privacy policies, security policies, allowing digital signatures on transactions, an option to pay via credit cards, email contact information, areas to post comments, and an option for email updates. See CrainTech here.

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Take Your Holiday Party to the Wild Side Are you looking for the purrrfect location for your company’s holiday party and a gggrrreat year-end tax deduction for your organization? The Cleveland Zoological Society’s Corporate Membership Program is your answer. Your corporate dollars go farther at the Zoo than most places – reaching a huge audience of 1.3 million visitors annually; all while offering your company substantial discounts on some of the most popular party locations in the city. Corporate Zoo membership is beneficial to your employees, too – with up to 20% off regular Zoo memberships! Plus, your gift of Corporate Zoo Membership means you’ll be supporting one of Cleveland’s most treasured civic assets and making a significant contribution to Cleveland’s economic future. Be proud to say you’ve helped ensure that Cleveland Metroparks Zoo continues to be one of the top tier zoos in the nation – become a Corporate Zoo Member today! Click here to learn more about the great benefits of Corporate Zoo Membership.
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CVB is hiring The purpose of the Manager of Arts and Cultural Tourism position is to build partnerships, increase awareness, and implement activities between the arts and cultural community and the tourism industry that result in a quantifiable increase in tourism. These efforts will help build audiences for the arts, increase tourism’s economic benefits to the city, and help market Cleveland as an urban destination with quality artistic, cultural, and historic offerings. Must have at least seven years professional experience in one or more of the following areas: communications, marketing, public relations, arts administration, or tourism. To apply, please review the job description at http://www.travelcleveland.com/Contact_Us/jobs.asp, then send a letter, resume, and salary requirements by Wed 11/17 to: Dennis J. Roche, President, Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland, 3100 Tower City Center, 50 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44113-2290. Call 875-6614 or email droche@travelcleveland.com

Forensic insects Crime Scene Insects is a traveling exhibition that spotlights crime solving with forensic entomology. Ohio’s new destination for health education, shared learning and family fun, presents the traveling exhibition, CSI: Crime Scene Insects, running now through Sun 1/30/05. It employs the use of insects such as flies, beetles and maggots to reveal critical details of a crime scene. Give this exhibit a look and see if you can solve the crime. See it Wed-Fri 10AM–4:30PM, and Sat and Sun at HealthSpace Cleveland. Call 231-5010. http://www.HealthSpaceCleveland.org

Applause for Irish punks WVIZ’s Applause looks at the Irish music scene, how it has evolved and changed over time and its ties with the Irish in Cleveland. The Prodigals will perform in-studio and talk with Dee Perry about how they combine old rebel songs with Irish music to make the modern, hard edge sound that is popular in today’s Irish Jig punk scene this Thu 11/11 at 7:30PM. http://www.WVIZ.org

Towards a Greater Ohio Greater Ohio co-released a new national survey recently, conducted by the National Association of Realtors and Smart Growth America. It indicated that an overwhelming majority of Americans want their state legislature to pursue public policies that reinvest in existing communities instead of promoting unplanned growth into the countryside. Most Americans also prefer to live in smart growth communities, rather than sprawl communities being built far outside of cities. For more on the survey visit http://www.GreaterOhio.org. See PD here. Encourage your state legislators to support this tax credit provision. 961-5020 X208.

Cool Cleveland seeks tech intern Got a few extra hours a week, and looking to make a real difference with your tech skills? Cool Cleveland can use your help to keep our newsletter, site and tools in tip-top shape. You should be familiar with Internet searching and browsing, e-mail newsletters, online pubs and blogs, and you should know your way around HTML, WiFi, Office software, and how to talk to non-techies. Knowledge of Wiki, FTP, databases and scripting language a plus. Gain experience with a cutting-edge online publication, and help make Cleveland a little more accessable. Please send a passionate letter and your qualifications to Internship@CoolCleveland.com if you’re interested.

Bruce Blog This month, Hotel Bruce talks with developer and Cleveland native Peter Rubin of Coral Company about his recent purchase of Shaker Square, their signed leases with Dave’s Supermarket, Sergio’s restaurant and and East Coast Original Custard, plans for a covered performance stage and a reading garden, and how they expect to compete with newer shopping destinations such as Legacy Village and Eton Chagrin Boulevard: “The answer is that Shaker Square will not try to compete with Legacy and Eton because we can’t. We will try to remain this sort of iconoclastic, community-based, walking, mass-transit oriented, interactive place that people go to because they want a more urban experience – the real thing. They want the real urban experience.” http://www.HotelBruce.com/subscribe.php

Best and worst cities for sleep Cities with the most sleep problems? Detroit and Cleveland scored lowest, with Cleveland having the least number of good sleep days — 20 per month. Also, Cleveland’s Happiness Index was the sixth lowest in the study. On the bright side, Cleveland residents don’t spend much time in traffic. http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/95/103306.htm

Call for art on film Seeking video, film and Web-based works that interpret pieces of art such as dance, music, poetry or visual art for the Festival for Art on Film. The festival invites media artists to submit interdisciplinary works and documentaries on art and artists. The location will be Daum Theatre at The University of Akron on 4/9/05. Deadline is 12/1 with no entry fee. Entry forms available at http://www.ArtOnFilmFestival.org/entry.html or visit http://www.ArtOnFilmFestival.org or e-mail artonfilmfestival@wigged.net

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Look, Listen, Celebrate! Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey is the new film showing now on the Great Lakes Science Center’s OMNIMAX screen! This cinematic journey is led by the original cast members of STOMP and was inspired by that highly successful Off-Broadway production. Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey was filmed around the globe and features the rhythms, songs and dances of our world’s continents and its cultures. Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey is flamenco dancing, a Japanese taiko drum ensemble, the bellringers of England’s Winchester Cathedral, the Bushmen of South Africa, Native American music and dance, and so much more. This phenomenal presentation is ideally suited to the Great Lakes Science Center’s OMNIMAX screen and sound system – be prepared to be visually and physically shaken by the beat of the world! The movie is open now — call 694.2000 for a schedule of theatre showings! www.GreatScience.com
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Studio Sessions ’04 is a yearlong project designed to provide ongoing support for Ohio artists in the creation and production of high quality contemporary work. Cleveland State University Dance Program Studio Sessions offer workshop sessions in creative process, directed by a world class roster, with Claire Porter Wed 11/17 thru Fri 11/19, with sessions to be held in the CSU Dance Studio. Activities include master classes, individual critiques, adjudicated panel review and performance opportunities for participants who sign up. All Studio Sessions ’04 activities are open to the community, with undergraduate or graduate credit options. Register early; space is limited, and get all the details at 687-4883 or email l.deering@csuohio.edu

As seen on TV We here at Cool Cleveland always like to see new businesses being opened – especially in the heart of Downtown. Cleveland, get ready to experience the grand opening of Segway: manufacturers of the cool little upright personal motorized vehicles (imagine a popsicle-like stick-on-wheels). In cities like Chicago, they give tours of the city on these. See one for real in the Colonial Market Place on Sat 11/13 at 11AM. Check it out and see what all the fuss is about. Segway of Cleveland, 530 Euclid Ave., Suite 8, 241.6100. http://www.GoSegway.net


Cool Cleveland This Week

11/10-11/17

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Wine and poetry/art/drama Slam is landing at the always intimate Grovewood, and if you perform, a free glass of house wine is yours! Spend time with a group that knows how to give good verbal play: Emily Tan, Cleveland’s Slammaster Michael Salinger, Joan of Art, Steven B. Smith of Art Crimes, CMA’s Cavana Faithwalker, David Schwartz, Charlene Coates, and other poets of all varieties crawling out of the woodwork Wed 11/10 and 11/24 at 9PM. Call 531-4900. Grovewood Tavern & Wine Bar, 17105 Grovewood Ave. For info surf over to http://www.ClevelandMetroNews.com

Dangerous Flowers Cleveland Institute of Music’s Opera Theater will offer Spring flowers when they present An Operatic Bouquet – scenes from great operas based on flowers. Under the direction of David Bamberger, with the CIM Orchestra conducted by Steven Byess, the evening’s festivities feature scenes from Parsifal, Manon, L’Elisir d’Amore, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Carmen and many more; performances begin Wed 11/10 at 8PM and run through Sat 11/13. Cleveland Institute of Music, 216.791.5000, ext. 411, Mon-Fri 10AM-3PM. www.CIM.edu

Shop Cleveland The importance of retail to a city’s survival is a panel discussion about the challenges of developing retail in the city of Cleveland and the importance of retail within a larger development strategy for the city; hear panelists John J. Carney of the Downtown Property Owners Council, Peter Rubin of The Coral Company and Dan Saltzman of Dave’s Supermarkets on Wed 11/10 from 4-6PM. Call 523-7330. Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Atrium, Glickman-Miller Hall at Cleveland State University, 1717 Euclid Ave. http://urban.CSUOhio.edu/ruth_ratner_miller

Distribution Channels for Marketers: Why Loyalty Matters is the AMA’s next topic with speaker Reed Stith of idc3, a management-consulting expert, who’ll share strategies and successful programs that help marketers reach their targeted customers though effective distribution channels. His concepts have been proven to work with industrial manufacturers and channel partners, which can be applied to business-to-business and consumer markets. The event include dinner on Wed 11/10 at 5:30-8PM. Holiday Inn – Cleveland South, 6001 Rockside Rd. in Independence. http://Cleveland.MarketingPower.com/content22933C4545.php

Public input on The Lakefront Plan The City of Cleveland’s final meetings of 2004 for the public’s input is absolutely integral in shaping the Lakefront Plan, as comments gathered at meetings both large and small have molded the vision for Cleveland’s waterfront. Further, stakeholders have been given the opportunity to voice their perspectives on best practices and the interests of individual groups along the Lakefront. CC encourages your attendance to speak your mind during this final phase of public input. Be there Wed 11/10 from 6:30-8:30PM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, 1355 West 70th St., and Thu 11/11 from 6:30-8:30PM at Cleveland Public Library’s Louis Stokes Auditorium, 325 Superior Ave. Call for info at 664-2210.

Cleveland Today and Tomorrow: A Place for Young Professionals to Thrive For the first time ever, the Mayor of Cleveland is giving a specific state of the city address just for young professionals in their 20s and 30s, and her long-term vision for their future. Cocktails & hors d’oeuvres will be served on Thu 11/11; speech begins promptly at 5:30PM followed by an exclusive Q&A session and networking. Call 391-2255. MK Ferguson Plaza, 1500 West Third St. The venue is connected to Tower City Center and parking is available in Tower City Parking. Please register in advance at http://www.Cleveland2030.com

Bend Your Mind: The Future Forum NEOSA, the Center for Regional Economic Issues (REI), and The SBC Foundation present periodic public forums that host regional and national thought leaders who discuss transformational technologies and ideas that will be instrumental in shaping the future. Audience discussions will focus on the impact of disruptive technologies and trends on Northeast Ohio. Our experts will help us to visualize the opportunities, as well as the risk, inherent in all change. Audiences can dig into the Q&A opportunities with the following panelists: David Beach, Executive Director, EcoCityCleveland will be discussing Sustainable Development: Designing NE Ohio in Balance with Nature, and Dr. Lawrence Krauss, Chairman, Department of Physics, CWRU covering Nanotechnology and Information Processing. Other professionals will round out the session Thu 11/11 from 4-7PM. Call 592-2323. Myers University Club, 3813 Euclid Ave. Register early at http://www.NEOSA.org

Good times for a good cause The Center for Families and Children’s (CFC) Young Directors’ Holiday Benefit for a night out after work with live music, dinner buffet, cocktails, and chances to win cool raffle prizes, the event supports the CFC’s Adopt-A-Family for the Holidays Program, which helps struggling Clevelanders get through the winter by providing winter clothing and non-perishable food to families in need on Thu 11/11 6-9PM. Call 631-6626. Sammy’s Metropolitan Ballroom, 21st floor of the Huntington Bank Building (E. 9th & Euclid). Buy your tickets at http://www.YoungDirectors.org/benefit.htm

WCLVnotes This Thu 11/11 is WCLV’s remote broadcast from the Life Share Blood Drive and Health Forum, being held at the Spitzer Conference Center at Lorain County Community College from 8AM to 6PM. WCLV will be on hand with regular broadcast reports by air hosts Jacqueline Gerber, Bill O’Connell, John Simna and Bill Rudman. All who donate blood will receive gifts from LifeShare, a spin at the WCLV Prize Wheel to win jewelry, apparel or dinner gift certificates. There’ll be great food and live entertainment by such performers as pianist Larry Kass. On Fri 11/12, WCLV will be “on-the-spot” at the Great Big Food Show Day at the IX Center. And that evening, Randall Avers’ guitar recital from the Music from Western Reserve series will be broadcast at 9PM. a Cool Cleveland partner www.wclv.com

Akron Art Museum Gallery Hop is a week-long spending spectacle that enables you to make purchases from over 33 area galleries and retailers. Participating galleries will display a sign indicating their involvement in this year’s Gallery hop, and Akron Art museum members can simply visit any of the listed galleries on the special days, show their membership card and receive their discount. Make the short drive over to our scenic sister city on Thu 11/11 thru 11/14 happening at area galleries throughout Akron. Find out locations, times, and get your own membership to join this special group at 330-376-9186 x225. Email sfielder@akronartmuseum.org and visit http://www.AkronArtMuseum.org

Exit Stencil Recordings presents The New Lou Reeds ES is hosting a monthly nights of nefarious Cleveland rock. Each night is centered around a featured artist affiliated with the Exit Stencil family allowing them the freedom to host as they see fit, which means things could get out of hand. The Parkview will be having drink specials and great food, so show up early for a late dinner Fri 11/12 at 9PM. Parkview, W. 58th and Cass in the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood.

The Screw Factory Holiday Art Sale There might be a pun intended here, or maybe not – but either way, take a quick walk around the sale to support and get the goods from over a dozen local artists providing quirky, quality gifts that make a difference on Fri 11/12 from 5-9PM and Sat 11/13 from 10AM-5PM. For info call 330-376-9186 ext. 230. At 13000 Athens in Lakewood.

sounds:: TEMPO Hear experimental sound at MOCA as they transform their space into a multi-media montage; you’ll get down with the best new-form music, see original video installations. Surround yourself in video projection and participate in a finale drum circle with a free form experiment of sounds on Fri 11/12 8:30PM. Call 421-8671. MOCA, 8501 Carnegie Ave. http://www.MOCACleveland.org

European chanteuse Jane Birkin The exquisite British-born singer with a voice that touches the ethereal makes her Ohio debut with an airy, sensuous rendition of Serge Gainsbourg’s tender and world-weary satires on Fri 11/12 at 7:30PM. Get tickets at 421-7350. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd. http://www.ClevelandArt.org

Our Friends Electric Artists presenting works in mixed-media assemblage and sculpture, light boxes, stained glass, installation, reflective vinyl, candle wax, and light projections. If “light art” brings to mind images of laser lights and fog machines from a Prog-Rock concert in the Seventies, Whaley is quick to pull you into the 21st century. Several of the artists in this show have recently had solo shows in the city, as well as showings and work in Philadelphia, Europe, and Chicago. Modern Rock and Beats-based DJ Plastic will be spinning his eclectic mélange of music during the opening night reception Fri 11/12 from 6-11PM, as part of the Tremont Art Walk. Call 330-304-8528. Regular gallery hours are from Noon to 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays, or by appointment. Asterisk Gallery, 2393 Professor Avenue in Tremont.

Understanding the Hispanic Market: Business Opportunity or Matter of Survival? workshop will cover Hispanic market insights; changing demographics in the Midwest, Ohio and Cleveland; case studies regarding what some companies are doing to engage this market; and plenty of time for discussion and question and answer. The seminar is targeted toward mainstream business, it also provides valuable date for non-profits and other organizations looking to build a case for corporate support or for grantwriting on Fri 11/12 from 8:30AM-12:30PM. Call 987-2000. Tri-C Metro Campus, Humanities Building, Room 102, 2900 Community College Ave. http://www.LaverdadMarketing.com/Seminars.htm and http://www.Tri-C.edu/home/default.htm

Spillway: Blobs and Halos is Douglas Max Utter’s fourth one-person exhibit at Dead Horse Gallery, and will be the gallery’s final show. More than a dozen recent paintings and a number of prints continue Utter’s examination of portrait, landscape, and still-life subject matter, but with a much stronger emphasis on abstract qualities of paint and color. In these works, latex paint, pooling and cracking, is itself a major subject, as Utter has covered and uncovered images, trying to make visual sense of the way we fit into the world. See his transformative works Fri 11/12 at the opening reception 6-9PM. Call 228-7214. Dead Horse Gallery, 14900 Detroit Ave. Suite 311 (side entrance on Cook Ave.) in Lakewood. http://www.DeadHorseGallery.com

GroundWorks Dancetheater will perform a dynamic program of live music and dance at Tri-C in hopes to revitalize interest in the venue as a center for dance presentation. The Program will feature two Cleveland premieres choreographed by GroundWorks Artistic Director, David Shimotakahara and guest choreographer, Gina Gibney. These performances are co-sponsored by Tri-C Metro Campus on Fri 11/12 at 8PM through 11/14. Sat shows start at 8PM, Sun shows at 2PM. Call 691-3181.Tri-C Metro Campus Theatre, 2900 Community College Ave. http://www.GroundWorksDance.org or email info@groundworksdance.org

Christopher Pekoc: Drawn to Nature Pekoc prints photographic images on paper and or polyester film that he treats with a combination of the following mediums and techniques: varnish, shellac, paint, gold leaf, perforating, sanding, hole punching, scratching, wrinkling or folding. These prints are then pieced together and stitched with other portions of “treated” paper or polyester film. The finished product is a textural, colorful and all around visually lush image that is both beautiful and strange. Meet this prolific and widely recognized Cleveland artist at the opening reception Fri 11/12 from 5-7:30PM. Call 621-0178. The Bonfoey Gallery, 1710 Euclid Ave. http://www.Bonfoey.com

Holiday Stroll @ Historic Downtown Willoughby will offer a step back in time during its annual street long stroll featuring the Wine Vault holding tastings all weekend long, complimentary demonstrations, food and drink, carolers, a candlelight walk and alluring gifts of art and good taste from over 30 must-see merchants of vintage, antiques, fine art and specialty items. See miniatures from the Whiskey Painters of America, a society of artists who use whiskey to paint watercolor miniatures, and fuel up at any of the hep restuarants and blast off for a weekend of shopping and people sightings on Fri 11/12 from 5-9PM, Sat 11/13 from 10AM-6PM and Sun 11/14 from 12-5PM. Call (440) 946-8001. At Erie St. in downtown Willoughby. http://www.WilloughbyOhio.com/visit_willoughby/downtown.htm

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Fervor for Fashion and Fashion Show The twenty-first century’s fashion world, with its glossy, fantastical advertisements, dangerously thin models, and fickle, changeable nature is rooted within fashion culture, and now an unconventional exhibit will challenge this with fashion illustrations, garments, patterns, and graphic and multimedia designs in an exhibition of work by artists who create, reference or critically address fashion. Check out this exhibition featuring Virginia Marti College students and alumni, as they address the complexity of all things fashionable; opening night hits on Sat 11/13 with a complimentary reception and informal fashion show from 7-10PM. Exhibitions remain on view through 1/5/05. Call 440-375-7461. B.K. Smith Gallery, Gillett St. near Phillips Osborne School on Lake Erie College campus. http://www.LEC.edu

Skinny Puppy Industrial strength, take-no-prisoners power noise – want some? After quite a hiatus, this group who rocked the ’80s with audial abuse, goth anxiety and other fun ideas are back to rough it up with audiences Sat 11/13 at 9PM. Get tix at 241-5555 or at the day of the show at the door. The Agora, http://www.ClevelandAgora.com

2nd Annual Cleveland Leadership Summit This November, Cleveland residents will be empowered to learn, address and share their solutions with each other for the challenges facing their neighborhoods. A series of workshops touching on diversity, parks & greenspace, health care, housing, education, and safety will be conducted by residents and for residents as a means to share one neighborhood’s success story with another on Sat 11/13 from 8:30AM-1PM. RSVP at 479-3320. St. Ignatius High School, Loyola Student at W. 30th & Lorain.

Roots of American Music benefit concert with Livingston Taylor ROAM is a non-profit that goes into inner city Cleveland Schools for extended residencies to teach students about blues, bluegrass, rock’n roll, and jazz, as they record music, and learn about the various cultures and peoples that have shaped America’s music. Hear major force Livingston Taylor (called by Songwriter Magazine “the ultimate crowd pleaser”) on Sat 11/13 at 7PM. Open your wallet and give till it hurts while you snarf hors d’oeuvres and liquid refreshments. John Carroll University, Dolan Science Center, 20700 North Park Blvd. in University Heights. http://www.RootsOfAmericanMusic.org

7th Annual Microbrew Extravaganza The Associate Board of The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland will open up Massimo da Milano to raise vital funding for healthcare for those in the community who are without. Show up and take part in strengthening community one person at a time by providing your finacial support for an exceptional human services group that fosters hope, dignity and purpose. Make it out to the event Sat 11/13. Call 432-7200 x267. Massimo da Milano, 1440 West 25th St. http://www.C4FC.org

Chris’ Warped Records bangin’ shows thrashing out some of the finest experimental rock being produced today with an immediate sound that’s high-energy tempo interplay. With rooms full of sweaty audiences to testify their rocking presence, it’s definitely anti-tempo, rhythmically melodic, and heart-stopping music to move you Sun 11/14 at 6PM. Call 521-4981. Chris’ Warped Records, 13383 Madison Ave in Lakewood. http://www.Warped-Records.com

Dine Originals Week Show your support for Cleveland’s best independent restaurants during Dine Originals Week Sun 11/14 thru Sat 11/20, when nationally renowned chefs will join local chefs to provide a fabulous tasting menu so you can savor the local flavors. Taste a 3-course guest chef dinner on Sun 11/14, 6:30PM at Moxie. Call 831-5599 for reservations. Moxie, 3355 Richmond Rd. in Beachwood. Visit http://www.ClevelandOriginals.com

Get linked Open networks will propel our regional economy to the next level, and you can witness how this cutting edge approach to economic development is making strides. Learn about RealNEO, the new network platform for civic entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio, and interact with others as you define opportunities in: creative arts & industries, sustainable economic development, and building prosperity in inner city neighborhoods. Connect with the new Universities Collaborative, and find out what’s really happening in Northeast Ohio on Mon 11/15 from 7:30AM-1PM. Call 368-5540. Center for Regional Economic Issues (REI) Case/Weatherhead School of Management is hosting this event at the Ritz-Carlton Cleveland, 1515 West Third St. Register online at https://www.123signup.com/event?id=ffkkf http://www.RitzCarlton.com/hotels/cleveland

Election Dissection Regardless of the election outcome, the battle to protect fundamental rights and liberties rages on. Plan on coming by to join a panel of scholars and activists to discuss the impact of the elections on the issues that we can about the most. Bring your own thoughts and concerns on the future of the Patriot Act, reproductive rights, racial profiling and any other civil liberties issues you’d like to discuss. Refreshments will be available to get y’all cooled off after the heated debates on Tue 11/16; doors open 6:30PM, program begins 7PM and it’s free. RSVP at 472-2220. Max Wohl Civil Liberties Center, 4506 Chester Ave. http://www.ACLUOhio.org

Eliane Elias Quartet Bluebird Jazz recording artist pianist-vocalist and sexed up siren/songstress Elias vocalizes rapturous Brazilian bossa novas and originals. Elias was featured in the Thelonious Monk Institute’s televised Second Annual “Celebration of America’s Music” at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the JVC Festival with Sting, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, and Caetano Veloso at Lincoln Center in New York. Hear this elegant pianist and vocalist play music from her new RCA disc Dreamer for one steamy show on Tue 11/16. Make reservations at 795-0550. Nighttown, 12387 Cedar Rd. in Cleveland Hts. http://NightTownCleveland.com or visit http://www.ElianeElias.com

Meet The Champions Hear the Civic Innovation Lab’s newest champions share their exciting initiatives and how they will contribute to economic development in Greater Cleveland. Introduce yourself and learn more about Terry Travis’s Cleveland365.com endeavor, and Randy McShepard, Tim Goler and Marc Batson, co-founders, Policy Bridge, an African-American led think tank. Learn why these champions received mentorship and funding on Tue 11/16 from 8-9AM. Trinity Commons, 2230 Euclid Ave. Register for this event at info@civicinnovationlab.org and provide your company name. http://www.CivicInnovationLab.org

How Not To Be a Target of Opportunity CrainTech’s next breakfast will cover Information Security and You from firewalls and viruses to identity theft, intellectual property and trade secrets, you’ll leave this event better prepared to defend both yourself and your business from electronic crimes. Local experts will discuss this important topic as it pertains to both you and your business, offering a unique, behind-the-scenes look at security on Tue 11/16 from 7:30-9:45AM. Call 522-1383. The City Club of Cleveland, 850 Euclid Ave. Register online at http://www.CrainsCleveland.com/events

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
She’s down with Spike Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Writers Center Stage series for 2004-2005 continues on Tue 11/16, 7:30PM at the Ohio Theatre, with the appearance of Suzan-Lori Parks who is not only a successful novelist, but a provocative and critically acclaimed playwright and screenwriter. She has been commissioned by the likes of Spike Lee, Oprah Winfrey and Disney; additionally, Ms. Parks serves on the faculty at CalArts School of Theatre. She has received numerous fellowships and grants, has won two Obie (’90, ’96) awards and received the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play Topdog/Underdog. This conversation is not to be missed! Individual tickets are $35 each and may be purchased at the Playhouse Square box office or through Tickets.com (fees apply). Student tickets are available at the box office for $10. Cuyahoga County Public Library – providing your community open access to resources that inform, entertain and enrich. www.CuyahogaLibrary.org
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

The Fund For Our Economic Future A panel discussion about the creation of this unprecedented collaboration, its grantees, and an assessment of successes and challenges thus far with Lynn-Ann Gries, Chief Investment Officer, JumpStart Inc., and Brad Whitehead, Senior Program Officer for Economic Development Initiatives, The Cleveland Foundation. Wine and light hors d’oeuvres will be served Tue 11/16 from 6-8PM. RSVP at 921-3367 or email TimTibbitts@aol.com. The Temple-Tifereth Israel, 26000 Shaker Blvd. in Beachwood.

Cultural Crossings Lecture Series: Irshad Manji discusses her book, The Trouble with Islam: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith, as Cleveland State University continues its 2004-2005 lecture series by welcoming this best-selling author, media entrepreneur and queer Muslim, whose book explores why and how the Muslim world can move beyond anti-Semitism to embrace diversity. She promotes innovative thinking as a leader of Islamic reform initiatives on Wed 11/17 at 5PM. Call 687-2290. Drinko Recital Hall in the Music and Communication Building, 2001 Euclid Ave. http://www.csu.edu/crossings

Making History in New Arenas: Extraordinary Women in the Media Latina, a leading group on a mission to create professional and personal opportunities for the Hispanic Women, are implementing an effective information network. Their luncheon will include panel speakers Lydia Esparra, Weekend Anchor of Channel 3 News, Margarita De Leon, Owner and Publisher of BRAVO! Magazine, and Susan Ruiz Patton, Regional Philanthropy Reporter for Cleveland’s Plain Dealer. Come by with a friend to their luncheon highlighting accomplishments of Cleveland’s Hispanic women, while sharing and listening to their experiences, traditional values, language and culture on Wed 11/17 from noon-1:30PM. Call (440)-871-1302. The City Club, 850 Euclid Ave. http://www.CityClub.org or ClevLATINA@aol.com

Slow Food Northern Ohio Dive into the buffet supper with the Terra Madre Delegates. 5,000 people from 131 different countries who produce, process and distribute sustainable food came together for the first time at an event called Terra Madre in Turin, Italy. Gathering of the world’s Food Communities – the networks of farmers, fishermen, shepherds, artisans, cooks, promoters and organizers who feed the world – was organized by Slow Food, an international non-profit organization that supports a bio-diverse, sustainable food supply, local producers and pleasures of the table. Join in the benefit Wed 11/17 at 6PM. Great Lakes Brewing Company, 2nd floor of the Brewery in the Schlather Tasting Room, 2516 Market Ave. http://www.GreatLakesBrewing.com/index.cfm and http://www.SlowFoodUsa.org/events/terramadre.html

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

RoldoLINK
How Charitable Should High-Paid Ballplayers be to Communties?
Cool Cleveland contributor Roldo Bartimole investigates local sports celebrities’ charitable (or uncharitable) efforts in their hometown cities, and what they owe fans and the cities they play in.

What do ballplayers who earn big salaries owe to fans and others… Their earnings are derived from revenue from heavily publicly financed, often tax abated stadiums and revenue from advertising and pay TV using the public airwaves.

Here in Cleveland, the tax returns of the Cleveland Indians show that some ballplayers, though a small number, do directly support the team’s charity. The Plain Dealer, too, has the capacity to examine this issue. The paper further has the responsibility because of its editorial promotion of the teams and of the taxing of area residents to fund the facilities.

The latest Indians Charities’ IRS finding, easily available on the internet via the Guidestar site [http://www.Guidestar.com] (identification number 34-1618536), reveals that some players have been generous, some not so and some absent. Further, the team, which derives favorable publicity from the charity, seems to use it more as a promotional vehicle than a true charity…
Read RoldoLink here

Cool Cleveland Commentary
Deliberation Day
by Eric Lutzo

As a Moderator for the PBS special, Deliberation Day, Eric Lutzo was asked by Ed Morrision of The Center for Regional Economic Issues [REI] at Weatherhead to write on the Deliberation Day 2004 conversation. This article below was broadcast on 10/16 on WCLV FM. Take part in REI’s next Making Change series on Mon 11/15 held at the Ritz Carlton at 7:30AM. https://www.123signup.com/event?id=ffkkf

Citizens from all over the region came together at Case Western Reserve University for “Deliberation Day 2004” hosted in partnership by the Case Center for Regional Economic Issues and WVIZ/ideastream and randomly selected to participate in a structured conversation titled “By The People.” Northeast Ohioans care, have passion for their beliefs, and hope for the future. It was a gleaming example that working together we really can make a difference and reclaim our right to free speech. Somewhere along the way while working longer hours, buying bigger houses, putting our kids through school and worrying about our region losing economic viability, we forgot that if we just gather to converse or deliberate we just might awaken to new possibilities and ideas for our communities on local, regional, national and even global levels. Northeast Ohioans can be proud. Not only will they be highlighted on a national level for their participation in an extraordinary event, but also because they have proven themselves to be collaborative, diverse individuals who value choice and the democratic process….
Read the Cool Cleveland Commentary by Eric Lutzo here

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

Fresh Flames: Emerging African American Poets @ Studio You 10/30
I’m no poet, but ever since last Saturday I’ve been seeing the world in words. How would I describe my last breakup? Could something as mundane as reading the dictionary or making a cup of tea be fodder for a poetic masterpiece? If I wrote it, probably not. But if I were to suggest these topics to the poets who performed last weekend, the result would be dynamic, inspiring, and certainly fresh. Last Saturday, Kelly Harris, a local literary event coordinator and a poet featured in CoolCleveland.com along with a dozen or more other wordsmiths took to the microphone in an event that attracted an intimate yet energetic crowd of published poets, amateur writers, and those like myself, who simply sat wide-eyed in admiration of their lyrical prowess. We gathered around tables and on plush couches munching on pizza and chicken wings, as poets cast off their 9-to-5 personas and gave voice to their sensitive side, their sensual side, their angry side. Topics ranged from romance to reality TV. Harris, who organized the event, capped off the evening and earned a standing ovation for her poem addressing the mindlessness of racism. The author of two poetry books, Sanctuary and Native Tongue, Kelly Harris currently is editing a recording of the Fresh Flames event, and the CD is due out after Thanksgiving. For more information about Fresh Flames, contact Harris at kahpublishing@yahoo.com
from Cool Cleveland reader Dalia Wheatt dalia_wheatt@hotmail.com

Deathwatch @ CPT
What: On the eve of one prisoner’s release while another awaits execution, three male prison cellmates play a series of power games and rituals in the New World Performance Lab’s production of Jean Genet’s Deathwatch.
Reasons to go: The experimental NWPL under director James Slowiak always presents intensely physical productions with memorable images, starkly but beautifully staged. Colombian actor Jairo Cuesta has many powerful moments as the haunted murderer Green Eyes, who dominates his two younger cellmates yet is seized by existential dread. Justin Hale is effective as a butch LeFranc. But the big surprise is sexy, manipulative Christopher Buck, who nails the flirtatiously femme Maurice, the pretty-boy who knows how to use sex to get taken care of. It’s nihilistic as hell, but also hot and homoerotic.
Caveats: Although he’s always physically compelling, sometimes Cuesta’s thick accent gets in the way of making sense of Genet’s poetic dialogue.
Backstory: The NWPL is based at the University of Akron, where Slowiak is a Professor of Theatre. (Note: That’s where I saw the production, in early October.) The Lab frequently tours in European and South America festivals, but rarely in the U.S. The production is now appearing at CPT’s ORTHODOX space, where Genet’s iconoclastic “dark sainthood” should appear even more ritualistic. It plays in repertory with Megan Elk’s cabaret piece Stairway to Paradise.
Target audience: Devotees of experimental performance.
Details: ORTHODOX, 6203 Detroit at CPT, Cleveland. Call 631-2727. Through 11/13. http://www.nwplab.org.
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein Linda@coolcleveland.com

Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey @ Science Center 11/4 If you’re a fan of the garbage-can percussion of Stomp, or even if you’re not, you would enjoy the way Stomp member Keith “Wild Child” Middleton has constructed a film that contains not a single spoken word, but manages to translate the indiginous beats of South Africa, Spain, India, England, Asia, Brazil, and Middleton’s hometown of Brooklyn using the common language of rhythm. Seamlessly seguing from flamenco to rap to ancient ankle bracelets, the on-location filmmaking couples with IMAX-size peripheral audacity and the in-your-face sound system for an audio-visual journey that is not too intimidating for the kiddies (often a problem with IMAX), and beautiful enough to inspire even the most jaded hardheads. This large-format film has won the La Geode International Film Festival’s Grand Prize as well as its France Inter Public Choice Prize, and for good reason. Without ever once replicating a stage or film set, the in situ performative environments discovered around the world and captured on film lend themselves to the bigger questions of a world connected by rhythm and sound and dance and pulse. There is no better time to see this film with your loved ones, than during this contentious and bitter political season. There is no better place to see it than at the Great Lakes Science Center, as part of the first public art event funded by the Cuyahoga County Commissioners’ new Arts and Culture as Economic Development grants, and as one of new director Linda Abraham Silver’s first flagship events. There’s more excitement to come, but don’t wait. Feel the Pulse of the earth’s rhythms at the Science Center before it slips away. www.GreatScience.com
Review by Thomas Mulready

Ragtime @ JCC/Tri-C East 11/5
What: A stunning epic musical version of E. L. Doctorow’s Great American Novel, the stories of 3 families whose lives entwine at the turn-of-the-20th century: a prosperous white family, a black ragtime pianist and his lady love, and a struggling Jewish immigrant artist. With a cast of 60 and an orchestra of 20, this 1998 Tony Award-winning show is a “don’t miss”. It’s equal in quality to most of what you’ll see on a Playhouse Square Broadway tour –- but with top local actors, for a fraction of the ticket price.
Reasons to go: A wheelbarrow of accolades aren’t enough for this triumphant production captained by director Fred Sternfeld. Without shortchanging the epic scope of the storytelling –- with its vaudeville turns, parade of historical figures, and social criticism — Sternfeld brings us into the intimate heart of the families’ struggles. Among a cast of consistently strong, passionate performers, Kyle Primous makes a charismatic Coalhouse Walker Jr., whose journey from graceful, sexy entertainer to heartbroken revolutionary is utterly compelling. So are Marc Moritz’ Tateh, fiercely protective of his Little Girl, a luminous Emma Wahl; Maggie Wirfel Stahl’s compassionate Mother; and Amiee Collier’s fiery Emma Goldman. Beautifully designed and well-sung, it’s a feast for the eyes and ears, while providing fuel for many an after-show conversation about the making and meaning of the American dream.
Caveats: Get your tickets in advance: between the word-of-mouth and the unanimous critical raves, the 600-seat theatre ought to fill up fast.
Backstory: This is the Jewish Community Center’s first production since it closed its Halle Theatre and took a year off to regroup. Major kudos go not just to all the artists involved, but to philanthropist Roe Green who made a major gift to underwrite the new season.
Target audience: Adults to preteens.
Details: Thru 11/14. Cuyahoga Community College – Eastern Campus, 4250 Richmond Rd. (at Harvard near I-271). Call 382-4000 X 274.
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein Linda@coolcleveland.com

Lead Belly: Shine A Light On Me @ Severance Hall 11/1-7

Lucky Cleveland. Every year, because we live in the backyard of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame+Museum (or vice versa, depending), we get to experience a 360° view of the finest American musicians, from Woody Guthrie to Robert Johnson, for the past nine years as part of the American Music Masters series. This year’s featured artist, Lead Belly, was examined in a full-day conference at Case on 11/6 with a panel examining Lead Belly’s relationship with Library of Congress archivist John Lomax, who discovered the artist in prison (for “assault to murder”), recorded him and used the recordings to convince the governor of Texas to give him a pardon, then taking Lead Belly on tour to unusual places like the annual meeting of the Modern Languages Association. Other panel sessions explored Lead Belly as an entertainer, and as an “archival treasure.” Throughout all last week, the entire city shared in the joy of Lead Belly: the Cinematheque screened Gordon Parks’ film Lead Belly, biographer Kip Lornell discussed his book, the Beachland Ballroom presented two concerts with artists such as Oscar Brand, Josh White, Jr., the Tarbox Ramblers, Dan Zanes and Friends and Jon Langford of the Mekons. But each year, the ultimate highlight is the concert, this year held at Severance Hall, featuring the above artists, plus Odetta, Dave Alvin, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Cleveland’s Robert Lockwood, Jr., John Hiatt, Los Lobos, Alison Krauss, and Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant. Besides the surreal sound and sight of Plant and Krauss backed up by Los Lobos, the evening was notable for it’s almost perfectly surprising and serendipitous collaborations that exhibited Lead Belly’s mass appeal and versatility. An unexpected bonus was the extemporaneous and extended introduction offered by musician and humanitarian Harry Belafonte, who spoke of human rights, art in the service of mankind, and how the gatekeepers of culture, in this case referring to record companies, have done more to “corrupt” culture than bring benefit to it, a sentiment fully understood and appreciated by the Severance Hall crowd. By the time Los Lobos backed up John Prine on Lead Belly’s famous Midnight Special, the crowd was fully into it. Jon Langford of the Mekons brought the proceedings to a higher level with his enthusiastic ukelele strumming and punk energy. When Robert Plant pulled out the English folk song Gallow’s Pole from Led Zeppelin’s third album, a song that Lead Belly was known to perform, the audience began feel the influence that this great musician must have had on the entire world. Part of the fun after the show was watching some of the younger fans with their Led Zep t-shirts hanging in the pristine lobby of Severance Hall. www.RockHall.com

Review and images by Thomas Mulready. See more images here?

Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers write
We encourage our readers to speak out by sending us letters and commentary. Send your letters and please check them for spelling before you send ’em off to Letters@CoolCleveland.com. You must include your full name (required) and you may include your e-mail address (optional). Letters submitted to Cool Cleveland, or edited portions, may be published in an upcoming issue of Cool Cleveland, at our discretion. We will run them just the way you send ’em, warts and all. Send your letters to Letters@CoolCleveland.com

On Cool Cleveland Commentary by Michael Devlin [here] [Michael Devlin wrote: Cleveland, relax. Be what you are. Be the quirky, working-class, art-loving, dog mask-wearing, cloudy, American, funny, four-season, spacious, beautiful, leafy, friendly city that you’ve been for years. Be proud of that. Be more of that. Good things will happen.] Wouldn’t this make a great sign to replace those monstrosities that RiteAid (or is it CVS?) just had refreshed on the giant buildings on I-90 W and I-77?! I SOOO want to see this every morning and every night as I drive into and out of downtown! Until it’s painted on the side of a giant building, I guess I’ll just print it out and tape it to my dashboard. Here’s an idea to raise the funds: hold a contest to choose the adjectives used. For the first month, Clevelanders are invited to suggest adjectives to add to the fabulous list Michael created. You buy an adjective for $10. Then, the voting begins. Each vote costs $5, and the voting continues until there’s enough money to buy and paint the space. The top twelve vote-getters win. Thanks for sharing Michael’s great advice!
from Cool Cleveland reader Judi Pfancuff JudithSPfancuff@Eaton.com

On the recent election I believe everyone should have a right to vote for the person they think will do the best job as President of the United States, but regardless of whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, it’s hard to explain to out of town recruits why Northeast Ohio doesn’t seem to value diversity or education. We let virtually every school levy fail and Ohio basically banned gay marriage and many gay rights. Last week I spent 15 minutes on the phone with a six figure recruit from the west coast who Cleveland would be LUCKY to have (he has two competitive offers on the table) and he said “Is Ohio really as backwards as the election made it seem? I told him that if you look at an Ohio map that shows how the votes went down county by county, he would see that he is moving to the most progressive place in Ohio, Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, but he remains very skeptical and I don’t blame him. We already have some of the highest taxes in the country, why give people/companies one more reason not to want to come here?
from Cool Cleveland reader Margy Judd Margyr@ameritech.net

On Issue 112 for Cleveland Public Schools Although I voted for the Cleveland schools levy, I agree with the part of Tim A. Schulz’s letter [here] that called for more creative thinking about how we fund public schools. But let’s not blame school officials for seeking property tax levies to fund operations. State law, including the crazy rollback provisions (Does everybody know about them?), put school officials in a bind and they don’t have good options. The legislators who write those laws have clearly shirked their obligation to come up with a fair and sensible funding system. The governor has appointed a commission to recommend a new approach but even if that group can overcome its conflicting viewpoints there isn’t much chance that action will be taken because neither the governor nor the legislature has the backbone to tackle the issue. But, you know what? We all bear responsibility for this state of affairs. It is too easy for us to retreat into our separate little communities or jobs or sectors and not do the hard work that goes with making change. I’m not against casinos, but it’s also awfully easy to point to an option that doesn’t exist and that Ohio’s voters have already rejected at the polls. The schools in this city and elsewhere in Ohio are already in crisis. This crisis will worsen and all of us will suffer — sure the kids will suffer the most, but all of us will pay a steep price for our failure to fix this mess and it would take too much space here to explain why. That price far exceeds the cost of the new property taxes that were attached to Issue 112.
from Cool Cleveland reader Dave Abbott, George Gund Foundation, dtabbott2@earthlink.net

On Cool Cleveland letters Just wanted to comment on Mr. Clark’s taking issue with Cool Cleveland presenting alternate view points on the election and candidates [here]. While I don’t agree with all that is written or opined in CC, I greatly appreciate the diverse viewpoints represented. Please don’t stop representing alternative views. If readers don’t want to explore controversial viewpoints there is always The Plain Dealer.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jay Holmstrom jay@holmstrom.us

On being in Cool Cleveland I feel honored to be included in this issue of Cool Cleveland [here]. I was moved by Sylvia Easley’s letter. Once again we all feel that the election was tampered with and stolen.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jim Russell npjruss@crpud.net

On Cleveland being a world class kick ass city Hey Thomas, Keep up the good work. I guess a bit of a complaint here though. I am not sure it was intended, but the author of the letter [Cool Cleveland Commentary Letter From Boston here] wound up sounding like one real arrogant bastard. It sounded to me that he was saying he missed his quaint life in his sleepy old city, now that he is in a real city that has things like real universities. His letter is the reason why people who grew up and stayed in Cleveland have such a low opinion of the city. We always hear about the real cities. We are treated to stories about how Cleveland is no where near the league of these cities (meaningless games at the Jake? Did this guy become a fan this year, oh wait the Boston bandwagon thing) but the simplicity of small city America and other crap. We are gullible enough to fall for it. Well I’ve got news for people who never left Cleveland, WHY WOULD YOU! CLEVELAND IS A WORLD CLASS, KICK ASS CITY, AND THIS IS THE BEST TIME IN A GENERATION, MAYBE A CENTURY TO LIVE HERE. Anywho, thanks – keep being the glue that is accelerating our WORLD CLASS, KICK ASS CITY to heights it has never been.
from Cool Cleveland reader Patrick Staunton patricksta@yahoo.com

On Cool Cleveland’s “partisan” bias I’m very glad that you are partisan. Most national media is conservative, and as its control is more and more consolidated, it will be even more so. The term liberal media no longer applies. As the ownership and control of the media; newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations is changed from private ownership to corporate ownership, we are seeing less and less fair and objective news reporting. Who wants to report bad news about themselves or their buddies… i.e. the wealthy elitists that control these things. Its like the police doing an internal investigation on its self. If most people had to audit themselves, a lot less people would be found guilty of tax evasion. I mean, if it weren’t for Michael Moore’s movie, we would have never been told about the Bush family connection to the Saudis (who made up most of the 9/11 hijackers as we know), nor how he allowed the Bin Laden family to flee the country before they could be interrogated… (we’ve held less important people for more than 3 yrs. in Cuba now). The Saudis and Iraqis were enemies (they’re competitors in selling oil, just for one reason), Iraq and the US are (were) enemies, from Kuwait and before…. hmm, very interesting to me, and still remember math, and probability theory. So I have some ideas from the scenarios this equation might lead to. There’s more that I learned from watching that movie, THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE MEDIA, but was not. It’s a shame, that we have to get the other side of the story from a documentary film maker. The publisher of the PD wouldn’t even allow the paper to follow its own rules, and endorse Kerry, as the editors decided. I’m sure he would’ve had Bush’s name in half page high letters in the front page if the editors would have decided that they wanted to support Bush. We would have never even known what REALLY happened, if it not been for internet blogs like this one. I sure didn’t see hear mentioned on the local TV news, did you? I thought that was news, don’t you? That tells us right there, that there is much partisanship, and lack of objectiveness in the media, AND IT SURE AIN’T LIBERAL. My point is this, we need more liberal media outlets, because we sure aren’t getting it now. And I’m glad you’re one of them…Thank you! (now then canna brotha get a free ad or an interview for his new, photography, videography, and graphic design business? lol)
from Cool Cleveland reader Frank Mixson frank@time-lineproductions.com http://www.time-lineproductions.com

On Cleveland Schools Issue 112 Open Letter To Barbara Byrd-Bennett: With reference to Issue 112, the people have spoken loud and clear. Considering the fact that you benefitted from the largest number of people to vote in years, which certainly included plenty of younger voters and renters who had little to lose financially, it speaks even louder and clearer. We recognize the problem, but we are taxed out! We want more creative answers! Ms. Bennett, I understand that you are already talking about presenting another levy that offers much of the same in the very near future. If that is the case, please be prepared for an even bigger defeat because you will not benefit from the same advantage. In closing, I understand that you make in excess of $280,000 a year (a good salary by anyone’s standards). You are paid that much to find creative answers to difficult problems. I suggest you start doing your job and earning your money.
from Cool Cleveland reader Tim A. Schultz

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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

1) A Letter From Boston Former Clevelander Michael Devlin relocated to Boston and is currently adjusting to east coast living, as Director Office of Communications, Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He reminisces about the idiosyncrasies of Cleveland, and makes a valid comparison of the two cities. www.CoolCleveland.com

2) America’s Favorite Zoo Our Zoo has made it to the semi-finals and is officially one of the top five finalists in “America’s Favorite Zoo” campaign. Here’s where you come in: click over and vote for the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. http://www.ZooTycoon.com

3) NEOEventResource.Org is a website dedicated to bringing greater visibility and awareness to non-profit organizations in Northeast Ohio. Visitors can search the event schedule for Northeast Ohio non-profit activities, events and volunteer opportunities. http://www.NeoEventResource.org

4) Marketing the arts in Cleveland Potential Mayoral candidate Chris Carmody, who heads up the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, suggests ways Cleveland can stimulate her economy by promoting the arts similarly to how it is done in Toronto & Barcelona. www.Cleveland.com

5) Comments from My Hall of Fame Induction The following are remarks made at the Press Club Hall of Fame dinner by Roldo Bartimole, inductee. www.CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland: views you can use We hear quite a bit from people around town about how they appreciate our product. To us, CC is more than a product; we do it for our readers who enjoy us so much, they invite us into their lives and Inboxes every week. CC‘s new media cuts into the different aspects of life in Cleveland, and people are noticing. We wanna thank everyone for doing their part by checking out Cool Cleveland; you’re working your own alternative media network by reading CoolCleveland.com. Now you can tell people you regularly engage with to visit our website and discover what’s new. Tell your friends and co-workers to register for their own free copy of the Cool Cleveland e-zine at http://www.CoolCleveland.com or have ’em send an e-mail to Signup@CoolCleveland.com

Ya want Hard Corps? Good karma to the fine people who make time every week to ensure Cool Cleveland maintains its killer diller quality on a reliable basis. Thanks to Tisha Nemeth, Linda Eisenstein, Deb Remington, TL Champion, DJ Hellerman, Eric Lutzo, Bill Nagode, George Nemeth, 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

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

Cleveland rocks out…

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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