Blossom Party

Blossom Party

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland Night Out at Blossom this Sat 7/9: get your lo-price tix before midnight 7/7 here
* Cool Cleveland Book Review of 3 Andy Birol books by Jack Ricchuito
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here and CC blog click here
* Cool Cleveland Sounds Crisis by Diana Tyler

CC Party @ Blossom this Sat for $3.50!

Cool Cleveland and Blossom make it happen like never before. Put Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony in your planner and schedule yourself for a pre-concert party Cool Cleveland-style, just inside Blossom’s main gates. Call your friends and meet them for the social event of the season on Sat 7/9 at 6PM featuring the incomparable Cleveland Orchestra. Or better yet, buy tix for all your friends. The CC party is only $3.50 more than the included lawn seat when you buy the CC package here. Your CC Party ticket entitles you to a complimentary variety of wines, unlimited beer from Great Lakes Brewery and lots of specialty appetizers from Cabot Cheese and Orlando Bread before the concert, plus a lawn seat concert ticket! Parking is also complimentary and you can bring blankets, lawn chairs, Frisbees and whatever else you need to download your week and get the party moving (Hint: use your imagination). Bring your ID for bar service. Before Tchaikovsky makes it to center stage, groove to the tunes of DJ Anonymous. Your Cool Cleveland admission also gets you the full CC party and a lawn ticket to the concert. More info here.

Buy before midnight Thu 6/7 and you’ll get the wine, the appetizers, a lawn ticket and the CC party where you’ll meet Cleveland’s hippest group of young professionals, all for one silly low price! Click here for a great price and more details http://www.coolcleveland.com/tickets/nightoutsix

Cool Cleveland People
Michael Seifert from Ante Up Audio
By Marc Majercak

Keeping Cleveland’s Beat Alive

Look out Cleveland, Michael Seifert is on a mission to give Cleveland the credit it’s due. Cool Cleveland correspondent Marc Majercak caught up with Michael Seifert, a home-grown musical prodigy that recently opened a state of the art recording studio, Ante Up Audio, right here on the North coast. This twenty something award winning producer/engineer is on a mission to change the face of the Cleveland music scene and bring the city the credit it deserves. As the doors of the Ante Up Audio (AUA) opened, I immediately felt good vibes. The lobby walls were adorned with an array of gold and platinum records. The high ceilings and detailed woodwork made me instantly comfortable. I was then led into the main recording studio where Michael and his team were all gathered around the console mixing a great sounding tune. After a few moments, Michael [AUA Owner/Engineer] and I sat down in the studio with the rest of his team to discover what makes this place tick.

Cool Cleveland: Why have you decided to stay in Cleveland and build this beautiful facility? Were you involved in another recording studio and you decided to build your own? How did this all come about?
Michael Seifert: I grew up in a studio that my father [Bruce Seifert, AUA engineer, producer] owned, Great Tracks Recording. At one point in time, we were basically living on the middle floor of a converted house and there were two studios in the basement and two studios on the third floor. I grew up in the middle of all that and he gave me free run of the place from kindergarten on. So by the time I was in 2nd grade, I was recording tracks. I worked with my dad all the way through grade school and high school and even for a while after that. There came a point when I needed another facility just to do pre-production when I was doing a lot of hip-hop. That was about six years ago. I built a little project studio for that; it was just a little production spot. As far as, “why build this in Cleveland”, I was at a point where I could get out of Cleveland if I wanted to. I had some offers out on the West coast, Chicago and some possibilities in New York. But it’s always rubbed me the wrong way that people think you have to leave Cleveland to make it…
Read the interview with Michael Seifert here

County building controversy The Cuyahoga County Commissioners chose the former Ameritrust Corp. headquarters, located at East 9th and Euclid as the site for their new administrative building. However, the process left many of the developers who bid on the project and others involved in the project scratching their heads and wondering if anyone whose name wasn’t Richard Jacobs ever had a chance. Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, the only one to respond to the Free Times inquiries, chalked the complaints up to sour grapes. Read the story here and decide for yourself. Then send your thoughts on the new County administration building and the bidding process to Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Who pays for Convention Center? In a continuing shell game to decide who will pay (or rather how they’ll get us to pay) for the new Convention Center, there have been half a dozen ideas thrown around about what to do with the half-cent rollback from a temporary tax increase that ended July 1st. Read the PD’s article here and tell us what you think about footing the bill. Half a penny for your thoughts. Send your comments to Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Convention center is an uphill battle It seems that the convention center battle is being waged on battlefields throughout the country. Only one city seems to be climbing to the top of the race for convention dollars, good old Sin City. Las Vegas, with an unbelievable 125,000 hotel rooms and another 4000 + expected this year, stands high above even its nearest competitor, sunny Orlando. Can Cleveland stack up with our mere 4000 hotel rooms downtown and only about 22,000 in the region? Find out just how steep the convention center battle is nationwide and how an expert who tracks convention centers and their impact on economic development described our plan. Read the compelling Bloomberg article here. Send your thoughts to Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Cleveland vs. NYC Cleveland is up against the Big Apple in a bid to win the big city category of the America in Bloom competition which promotes public gardens and community space in America’s municipalities, big and small. While NYC certainly has the advantage of population and funding, creative use of limited available resources is rewarded in the competition, perhaps giving us an edge. What would be sweeter than Cleveland taking a bite out of the Big Apple? Getting props right here in our hometown during the organization’s annual conference. Read the story here and cross your fingers and toes in anticipation of the Sat 9/10 announcement of the winner. What’s your favorite public garden space in Cleveland? Tell us at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Cleveland population trends Think Brain Drain isn’t an issue? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Cleveland has loss nearly 20,000 residents since 2000; a loss of 5000 residents, just this past year, caused our population to nosedive to the lowest number since the 1900 Census. Our Planning Director feels that we’ve stabilized and are on the rebound, but David Beach of EcoCity Cleveland believes that regional solutions must developed. While other Ohio cities like Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo took big hits, too, outlying suburbs like Avon grew by leaps and bounds. Read the story here and see where the fastest growing cities are. Send your comments on Cleveland’s population to Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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Jump Start a Better Career at UCAP You’re a busy person with a job, a family, a life. That’s why UCAP, the Ursuline College Accelerated Program, makes it easy to complete a Bachelor’s degree. Five weeks at a time, one class per week – that’s how you do it. Earn a degree in Business Management, Health Care Administration, Humanities, Legal Studies or Management Information Systems. Then reap the rewards of an education from an esteemed local college with a 135-year tradition of excellence. Convenient locations, East & West. Our next session starts August 22. For information: www.Ursuline.edu/UCAP or call 1.888.URSULINE. Visit our booth at the Cool Cleveland party with the Cleveland Orchestra on Sat 7/9 and find out how to jump start your future.
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IdeaCenter ready to rock The highly anticipated opening of the IdeaCenter, the unprecedented collaborative effort of ideastream and Playhouse Square Center, is a mere two months away. The groundbreaking Center for the arts, technology, education and ideas has planned an equally impressive evening of festivities for its opening celebration. Party-goers will strut their stuff on the red carpet, get a tour of the center, designed to inspire creative thinking and self-discovery, be treated to award winning entertainment, world class dining and a night of dancing. The kick off celebration, dubbed Wired! ignite + invent + imagine, happens Sat 9/10 with the official VIP party and ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:30PM. Tony Award® winning actress, Bebe Neuwirth, (etched in our brains as uptight Lilith Crane on Cheers), will entertain the audience, accompanied by a 44-piece orchestra. Learn more here.

Supreme Court justice retiring While there was much speculation that Chief Justice William Rehnquist would retire, due to mounting health problems, it is Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first ever female Supreme Court justice who has resigned, causing the first vacancy in 11 years. Hailed for her contributions to equality for women and civil rights, Justice O’Connor has been the swing vote on many hot button issues including gay rights, affirmative action and abortion rights. The line has already been drawn in the sand as both political parties and special interest groups have mobilized to assure a favorable court. Liberals fear that President Bush will select an extremist that would swing the court far to the right. Read the story here and here. What are your thoughts on the selection of the next Supreme Court justice? Send your thoughts to Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Cool Cleveland Kids It can be tough for parents. You want to do cool things with your kids, but often all you hear about are watered-down, Disneyfied lame-o events. Cool Cleveland Kids aims to put an end to that. With so many awesome kid-friendly things going on in Cleveland, we’re making an extra effort to point some of them out to you each week. Check below under Cool Cleveland This Week for the CC KIDS tag on family-friendly events, and mark your calendar for kid-style fun. Then click on our Cool Cleveland Kids Podcast here to listen (right on your computer) to 9-year-old Cool Cleveland correspondent Max Mulready as he offers his kid picks of the best family-style events of the week. No special software needed! http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolClevelandKids07.08.05.mp3

Did Live 8 hit its mark? In another extremely ambitious effort, Bob Geldof, organizer of Live Aid back in ’85, organized Live 8 which took place on Sat 7/2. This convergence of hundreds of performers from a variety of genres including rock, pop, country and rap played for an audience of 1 million + during 10 free concerts in cities around the world, including a webcast on AOL that was so successful that Bill Wilson, AOL’s senior vice-president for programming bragged to The New York Times, “It was a defining moment for the medium – a tipping point.” See story here. Designed to raise concert goers’ and political leaders’ awareness of the need to fight poverty in Africa, Geldof’s success will most likely be determined by the effect it has upon the world’s most powerful leaders as they assemble for the Group of Eight summit meeting this week in Auchterarder, Scotland. Pope Benedict XVI echoed Geldof’s sentiments, calling upon G8 leaders to adopt concrete measures to eradicate poverty. Read more here and here. What are your thoughts on Geldof’s latest efforts and the likelihood of leaders taking heed? Send your thoughts to Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

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It’s back! The Cleveland Museum of Art’s popular “Summer in the Courtyard” series happens every Wednesday and Friday evening from 5:30 – 8:30PM now through September 2. Come after work for free live jazz, rock, salsa and more. Enjoy cool drinks and casual dining in the outdoor courtyard. Catch Ernie Krivda (Swing) Fri 7/8 and Sammy DeLeon and his Orchestra (Salsa) 7/13. And while you’re there, experience the highly anticipated NEO show featuring works by Northeast Ohio artists opening Sun 7/10. Be sure to see the special installation of highlights from the museum’s painting collection with works from Turner and Renoir to Dali and Picasso. And don’t miss the museum’s summer film series, too. Need more? Introducing “Sundays in the Courtyard” every Sunday from 1:30 – 3:30PM. For a complete schedule of museum programs, call 888-CMA-0033 or go to www.ClevelandArt.org
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Cool Akron Akron has proven it’s willing to spend resources to plug brain drain and attract young professionals. They’ve brought in big gun, Rebecca Ryan, the 33-year old “Hip Doctor” that has been making quite a splash with cities suffering from a lack of cool quotient. Her company, Next Generation Consulting Inc. helps the cities to map out a plan to attract the young, hip and talented. Nashville and Tulsa, past “patients” feel good about Ryan’s recommendations and the impact they will have on their cities. Learn what she’s done in Akron and elsewhere here. Some feel her ideas are being recycled from one city to the next and are just plain common sense; yet applaud her ability to get decision makers to take action. Read here. Can Cleveland learn from Akron’s bold move? Send your letters to Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Have you Passed the Book? Have you read the book Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald yet? Named in the Top Ten Best Books by the American Library Association in ’98, the book was selected by teens across Cuyahoga County last year to be the subject of the Pass the Book program. This tale of deception, fear and guilt will intrigue both teens and adults and promote the idea of getting everyone reading, sharing and talking about the same book. Meet the author at a book signing at Cuyahoga County Public Library Administration Building on Tue 7/19 from 2-4PM. McDonald will also conduct a Writing Workshop for Teens from 7-8:30PM. No-one’s passed you the book? Pick one up at your local library. Learn more about Pass the Book here and see a list of programs at participating library programs here. www.CuyahogaLibrary.org

Award-winning Cool Cleveland In the past few weeks, Cool Cleveland has won a First Place from the Cleveland Press Club here, and the Communicator of the Year Award from the International Association of Business Communicators: see the cool bobble-head award here. Then contact Info@CoolCleveland.com for info about advertising and sponsorship to see how Cool Cleveland can offer our award-winning talents to your organization or company.

Cuyahoga County Arts and Culture Roundtable The Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC) is providing a forum for a high-stakes discussion on the arts and cultural scene in our region. Arts and culture leaders will enter a meaningful exchange of ideas with artists and art lovers throughout the region during this meeting, open to the public. Here’s an opportunity to add your creative energy to this extremely significant dialogue. The CTIX Website, Ingenuity, Sparx in the City, the Cleveland Municipal School Levy and Regional Arts and Cultural District (RACD) are on the agenda. Get involved in the future of the Cleveland arts and cultural scene on Fri 7/8 from 8:30-10AM. RSVP to cpac2001@aol.com or by calling 575-0331. Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street

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CIM Heads South for the Summer! It’s cooled down at the Cleveland Institute of Music, but it’s heating up at our summer home at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson. ENCORE School for Strings, a six-week program in which faculty work with gifted young students from all over the world, is well underway. You can hear these talented musicians at one of many student recitals. Plus don’t miss special Blue Ribbon concerts by ENCORE alumni, faculty and renowned guest artists. All concerts are free and are going on now through Sat 7/30 in the chapel at Western Reserve Academy. Visit www.cim.edu for a complete schedule. Did you know? CIM is 1 of only 8 independent music conservatories in the U.S. with an annual economic impact of $90 million on Ohio.
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Cleveland’s land bank There is a quiet revolution going on in our city. Brooke Furio, the city’s first land revitalization manager has big plans. Item #1: Initiate a city-controlled industrial land bank to assemble contaminated industrial sites currently abandoned or ill-used (called brownfields), clean them up and sell them to private companies. Item #2: Change the less than Flash Gordon-like way we often get things done around here so that he can accomplish Item #1. See the PD article here and find out just how many of these contaminated sites are around town, how little available industrial space there is now and why Furio feels circumventing City Council is the best way to get it done. How do you think Cleveland should revitalize her brownfields? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Imagination Writers’ Conference gives aspiring writers an opportunity to connect with award-winning authors from NEO and beyond. The nationally known CSU conference runs from Tue 7/12 at through Sun 7/17 and it will attract writers from around the country who want to improve their craft and get meaningful feedback. The focus of the conference will be strong, imaginative writing of all genres. Learn from outstanding writer / teachers like urban poet Wanda Coleman and best-selling novelist Karen Joy Fowler and award-winning fiction writers Sarah Willis and Dan Chaon from Greater Cleveland. Read more here and here. Call 687-2532 to learn more. Trinity Commons, 2230 Euclid Avenue

Final call for Ingenuity Art/Tech Time’s up! Attention artists and artist teams from Northeast Ohio: you are invited to submit proposals for ingenious exhibitions or installations that fuse the expression of art with the progression of technology. Proposals are due Sun 7/10. Three to five artists or artist teams will be selected to exhibit their proposed work within storefront spaces in the Colonial ARTcade during Cleveland’s first Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology over Labor Day weekend, and through the month of September 2005. Each selected artist/artist team will receive an honorarium of at least $500. Send a one-page outline of the proposed project and appropriate supporting visual materials on disk (jpeg or pdf), or on a 30″ x 40″ presentation board to: 530 Euclid, Suite 43, Cleveland, OH 44115. Artists selected by the jurors will be notified by 7/29. For detailed information, contact ArtPower@Yahoo.com

Ingenuity call for volunteers Cool Cleveland readers: Be part of the most exciting local event to take place in your lifetime! Volunteer for Ingenuity: A Festival of Art & Technology, playing out on Euclid Avenue over Labor Day weekend. Join hundreds of artists, performers, geeks and gawkers at over a dozen sites downtown. Help us present music, dance, theater, video and various technologies over a four-day period. We need help staging, running, checking, replenishing, building, shuttling, cleaning, selling, guiding and most of all, smiling. Send a note to: Volunteers@IngenuityCleveland.org with your availability (Sept. 1-4), interests and abilities and we’ll find a good spot for you. Thanks!!!

Downtown@Dusk 2005 The Akron Art Museum kicks off their Outdoor Summer Concert Series on Thu 7/7 from 6:30-8:30PM with R&B and soul group, The Wanda Hunt Band. Enjoy cool music, delicious catered foods, and extraordinary art every Thu through 8/25. Listen to ArtTalks by museum staff and area artists while the band takes a break around 7:30PM. An event for the entire family gets even better on Family Fun Nights when your little Picasso or Cassatt can participate in hands-on art projects inside Summit ArtSpace from 6-9PM. For more information or to see the full schedule, visit www.AkronArtMuseum.org or call 330.376.9185. Summit ArtSpace Parking Lot, 140 E. Market St., Akron

Theatre community STAGES growth The Cleveland Theater Collective initiated STAGES (Strategic Theater Agenda for Growth Excellence and Success) 2005 and Beyond to strengthen professional theater in our region. Theater artists, producers, and community leaders have been enlisted to help build a more ambitious vision for the theater community in this area. The dialogue generated between these groups will help CTC implement a strategic plan that fosters greater artistic achievement, increased cooperation, greater attendance, and a community environment conducive to professional theaters and artists that serve our region. The first meeting “Growing the Audience” is scheduled for Tue 7/12 from 8-10AM at the Cleveland Play House at 8500 Euclid Ave. Successive meetings will be held on the second Monday of every month. Learn more and see the full meeting schedule at www.ClevelandTheater.com .

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WOW! Wade Oval Wednesdays in University Circle WOW! yourself this summer with live music, museum hopping, and great food and drink all in University Circle. University Circle Incorporated (UCI) is teaming up with several Circle museums to make Wednesdays sizzle this summer. Throughout July and August the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Western Reserve Historical Society will remain open Wednesday evenings. Cleveland Museum of Art will offer free concerts in their courtyard and to add to the fun UCI will present free lunchtime and evening concerts on Wade Oval, the park in the heart of the Circle. The free evening concerts from 5:30-7:30PM feature: 7/6 – Hillbilly Idol; 7/13 – Robert Lockwood Jr.; 7/20 – Ernie Krivda; 7/27 – Anne E. DeChant; 8/3 – Carlos Jones; 8/10 – Dance Afrika Dance; 8/17 – Sammy DeLeon; 8/24 – Prayer Warriors; and 8/31 – Colin Dussault’s Blues Project. For more information contact 216-707-5033 or www.universitycircle.org
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What’s your excuse? Zachary Lewis’ article in the PD explores lots of standard excuses that may be preventing Clevelanders from enjoying the cornucopia of arts and culture that our region has to offer. While tourists may travel quite a distance to be wowed by the Cleveland Orchestra or experience any number of the other institutions that Cleveland is privileged to have, there are still lots of locales who haven’t ventured in their direction. Check out the article here to see if one of these “creative excuses” has been holding you back from experiencing the joys of Cleveland arts and culture. Speaking of excuses, what is your favorite excuse for not enjoying Cleveland’s cultural riches? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

What’s your favorite Cleveland blog? We think the Cool Cleveland blog by Peter Chakerian is stellar, with his perspectives on MBNA, Fourth of July activities, and reader mail. Check the Cool Cleveland weblog here, then click on the blog to add your own comments, questions and attitude. To review other NEO blogs, check Cool Cleveland information officer George Nemeth’s www.BrewedFreshDaily.com and find links to over 195 blogs originating from Northeast Ohio! Let us know your favorite: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland This Week
7.06-7.13

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

CC KIDS Amphibian Show & Tell Spend the afternoon with Ohio frogs, toads and salamanders and Roberta Muehlheim, a Cleveland Natural History Museum staff member whose love for all things amphibian will fascinate kids and parents on Wed 7/6 from 3-6PM. She’ll tell you all about her froggy little friends and why they need our help. Pint-sized biologists can take part in a craft project that they get to tote home. Call 231-4600 for museum admission info. Smead Discovery Center, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive www.cmnh.org

Caribbean Island Breeze Dinner Cruises are the perfect way to beat the summer heat. Enjoy a well-deserved mid-week getaway any Wednesday in July and August, beginning Wed 7/6 from 7-10PM. Sip cool Island drinks, savor zesty Island dishes and delicious Latin fare while grooving to the sounds of the Caribbean. If you’re feeling really feisty you can take part in the Limbo contest. Call 696-8888 or visit www.NauticaQueen.com for more info. Nautica Queen, 1153 Main Avenue, West Bank of the Flats

Self Publishing Workshop A growing number of authors are taking their destiny in their own hands by self-publishing. The Cleveland Public Library Youth Services Department is offering an ongoing workshop to help young adult writers wade through the sea of confusion about the process. Attend the workshop on Thu 7/7 at 3PM and every Thursday in July. Main Library, 325 Superior Ave N.E www.cpl.org

CC KIDS Movie Under the Stars Watch last summer’s blockbuster, Spider-Man 2, on Thu 7/7 at dusk. Purchase concession items and enjoy a family night out in Downtown Cleveland. ParkWorks, Inc., in collaboration with the City of Cleveland, will be showing movies on Mall B throughout the summer. Call 696-2122 x116 for more info. Mall B, off Lakeside Avenue

CC KIDS A Midsummer Night’s Dream Enjoy an evening of Shakespeare under the stars as The Ohio Shakespeare Festival performs the Bard’s original wedding play which explores his lighter themes including love, dreams and the creative imagination in this enchanting comedy of legendary heroes and romantic misadventures. Performances begin on Thu 7/7 at 8PM. Visit http://www.StanHywet.org to see the entire schedule. Call 330-315-3205 for tix. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron

Mixed Media & Significant Events is a gallery discussion featuring fiber artist June Bonner, sculptor Jamie Davis and artist/educator Jean Sommer. All three artists currently have exhibits that express significant events in their lives through the use of mixed media. Davis’ Affected runs through Sat 7/9 and Bonner’s and Sommer’s Interweavings runs through Fri 7/15. Hear their perspectives on Thu 7/7 at 7PM. Refreshments will be available at 6:30PM at this admission-less event. Call 229-6527 for gallery hours and exhibit info. The Sculpture Center, 1834 E. 123rd Street www.SculptureCenter.org

Cultural Roundtable Whether you are a stakeholder in the Cuyahoga County arts and cultural scene or you just love art, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to make your voice heard. Join the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC) as they host this lively discussion of important issues to the art and cultural sector on Fri 7/8 from 8:30-10AM. RSVP to cpac2001@aol.com or by calling 575-0331. Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street

CC KIDS What’s NOT in a Cigarette? Did Body Worlds 2 leave you wanting to know more about human anatomy? Then you’re in luck. HealthSpace Cleveland is presenting another workshop Fri 7/8 at 2PM at the Great Lakes Science Center. Dynamic activities, interactive programs and props will demonstrate important lessons about anatomy, physiology and health, designed to help both kids and adults make healthier choices. Call 694-2000 for more info or visit www.GreatScience.com. Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Ave

Joseph Motto: A Jazz Age Journey from Cleveland to Florence. View various 3-dimensional pieces of the “Cleveland School” sculptor, borrowed from collectors around the world. Several of his large scale pieces, many of which were commissioned for the Cleveland Catholic Diocese and are still on display in our area, will be displayed by means of photographs. Attend the opening reception on Fri 7/8 from 7-9PM. The exhibit runs through 9/10. Call 227-9484. Cleveland Artists Foundation at Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Avenue

StarLoft.com Event Spend an evening enjoying indie, punk, rock and experimental sounds when Boatzz, Living Stereo, Goodbye Ohio and Six Parts Seven take the stage on Fri 7/8 at 9PM in an 18+ show at the Hi-Fi Club, 11729 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood http://StarLoft.com http://www.HiFiClub.info

WCLVnotes The Cain Park Art Festival takes place this coming weekend and WCLV 104.9 will be there with regular on-the-air reports on Fri 7/8 from 3PM to 6PM and Sat 7/9 from 11AM to 5PM. Stop by the WCLV broadcast booth next to the ticket office and say hello to the WCLV on-air personalities. On Sun 7/10 at 3PM, the summer edition of the Mighty Wurlitzer Radio Hour with Larry Kass at the console of the Wurlitzer and a cast of thousands will be broadcast live from the mythical WCLV Theatre of the Air. The BBC radio series The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (it’s really much better than the movie) continues on WCLV’s Weekend Radio, Saturdays at 10PM. For more information, log on to www.WCLV.com. a Cool Cleveland partner.

Dalai Lama Birthday Picnic Commemorate His Holiness’ 70th birthday, “Trunglha Yarsol,” by participating in a potluck picnic on Sat 7/9 beginning at 11AM. Charcoal will be provided for grilling along with ice and some beverages, but feel free to bring more in anticipation of another NE Ohio scorcher. Make your favorite meal to share then sample other picnickers savory fare. A special “long life” ceremony will happen at 2PM and Open Mic begins at 4PM so bring your poems, short stories and music to share. RSVP to bagger@stratos.net or call 440-785-4214. MetroParks Rocky River Reservation, See map here.

Cool Cleveland Night Out @ Blossom With a ridiculously low price, this is the bargain of the summer. Open bar with beer & wine, snacks from Cabot cheese & Orlando breads, DJ Anonymous, and a few hundred of the most interesting people in Cleveland will begin the party this Sat 7/9 at 6PM just inside the Blossom Music Center gates, then the brilliant Jahja Ling leads the incomparable Cleveland Orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s rousing Fourth Symphony at 8PM, which you’ll be enjoying from your included lawn seat. Get in on the good deal before the price increase at midnight 7/7 by clicking here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/tickets/nightoutsix

NEO Show + ONE Make it a full day of fabulous NEO art. First visit the NEO Show at CMA then pop over to the nearby Murray Hill Galleries to see “the ones that got away” during the opening reception on Sat 7/9 beginning at 6PM. The exhibit, which runs through Sat 9/3 features the work of talented NEO artists who weren’t able to make the cut in a show that is both an extension of and challenge to CMA’s show. See each artist’s rejected piece, plus one more for good measure. Call 721-1722 for gallery hours. Murray Hill Galleries, 2026 Murray Hill Road, Room 103.

CC KIDS Latin Music Festival Samba on down to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Amphitheater for an exciting evening of Latin music featuring Jose Alberto “El Canario” & his Orchestra, Grupo Fuego and “Elvis y Javi” on Sat 7/9 at 8:30PM. Tickets can be purchased by calling 661-6500 or clicking here. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Amphitheater,3900 Wildlife Way www.CleMetZoo.com http://www.ElCanario.com/ http://www.GrupoFuego.com/

Ideology is Policy Peruse politically motivated paintings by Alan Pocaro and new work by Ryan Kerns and Rob Hawkins during the opening reception on Sat 7/9 from 6:30-10:30PM. Take in this visually and intellectually exciting exhibit while sipping wine, beer, and soft drinks and sampling art gallery fare. Having hosted 9 openings in the last few months, the gallery is quickly becoming the center of Akron’s contemporary art scene. Visit http://www.KernsVision.com to survey past shows. Want to learn more? Email alanpocaro@gmail.com. KernsVision Gallery at the Church, 379 E. South St., Akron

The NEO Show The much-anticipated replacement for the heralded May Show, which presented regional art at the Cleveland Museum of Art for over 75 years, from 1919 thru 1993. This year’s inaugural NEO Show features work by artists who have lived, worked or attended school full-time in any of the 15 counties in Northeast Ohio. Over 1290 applications were considered: 80 works of art will be exhibited. The show runs from Sun 7/10 through 9/4. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Boulevard, 421-7340 http://www.ClevelandArt.org

CC KIDS One Man Star Wars Trilogy Enjoy a galaxy of laughs at this critically acclaimed, high energy, non-stop blast through the first 3 Star Wars films featuring… Charles Ross. He’s embodied the entire cast of all 3 movies and all the music and sound effects to boot. See for yourself why he was asked to perform at Lucasfilm’s official movie release convention. Performances begin on Tue 7/12 at 7:30PM and run through Sun 7/17. See a full schedule and buy tix at www.PlayhouseSquare.com. Call 771-4444. Hanna Theatre at Playhouse Square, 2067 East 14th Street http://www.OneManStarWars.com/

Living Legends Spend an evening schmoozing with a veritable who’s who of Corporate Cleveland while sampling an array of Morton’s signature dishes and a selection of fine wines in an event that will raise funds to support the programs and services of the Center for Families and Children (CFC) while honoring this year’s philanthropic champ, Cleveland Indians Charities. The premier corporate social event on Wed 7/13 runs from 6-9PM. Goodies up for grabs in a silent auction include a 5-night cruise, tix to Celine Dion’s show in Vegas and a 2006 Cleveland Indians Fantasy Camp package. Call 432-7200 ext. 335 for tickets and sponsorship opportunities. Preview items here and brush up on your networking skills here.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland Sounds
Crisis
Diana Tyler

Many consumers are discovering contemporary music for the first time. The self-titled CD by Crisis and Diana Tyler is a very entertaining project featuring solids vocals, sincere songwriting and enjoyable tunes. At a time when Christian music is filled with women vocalists trying very hard to be unremarkable, with their high-strung vocals and repetitive refrains, Crisis and Tyler are a breath of fresh, soulful air. Their combination of old-school rock, gospel and folk gel nicely with Tyler’s gritty alto on tunes such as the uplifting “Love Somebody” (Holes in your stories and holes in your heart/That ain’t the way to make a new start) and the sweet, contemplative “Closer to Home.” The acapella “The Rock and the Light of My World” contains excellent harmonies, the only drawback being that it tries a bit too hard to achieve a ’50s sound. (One doesn’t actually have to sing the words “Shoo-Bop” to evoke that era) but that is easily forgivable on such a strong outing. In short when you get tired of the cookie cutter, Ultra-Brite models passing for singers in the Christian genre, Crisis and Diana Tyler provide an excellent reprieve. from Cool Cleveland contributor Marcia Bryant

Wanna get reviewed? Send your band’s CD (less than 1 year old) to: Cool Cleveland, 14387 Detroit Avenue, #105, Lakewood, OH 44107

Hey Writers! Wanna write about Cleveland music? We’ve got a slew of recently-released CDs and DVDs by Cleveland-area musicians that could use your critical commentary for Cool Cleveland Sounds. If you’re interested, send us a note at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Cool Cleveland Book Review
Accelerating Your Growth, Growing Your Business During Succession or Transition, and Returning Your Business to Growth
By Andy Birol
Review by Jack Ricchuito

Business growth consultant Andy Birol has a passion for helping business owners stretch their courage and confidence to their limits. In his recent hat trick, Birol delivers three concurrent titles into the still booming business advice market: Accelerating Your Growth, Growing Your Business During Succession or Transition, and Returning Your Business to Growth.

Currently a Solon resident, Birol has worked with over 250 businesses here and abroad to leverage his “Best & Highest Use” approach. He holds an MBA from Kellogg School at Northwestern and boasts a place in the gurusphere as a three times Weatherhead 100 winner. This trilogy targets business owners who according to Birol should be eternally unsatisfied with the status quo. Writing in an uncomplicated narrative style, all three books feature a brisk pace of tips and models, scenarios and case studies, peppered with provocative questions and client testimonials. Anyone connected in the Northeast Ohio business community will recognize some of the success stories he uses to drive home the applicability and credibility of his lessons. A follow-up to the examples appearing in this set of books a few years from now might be able to provide a local version of a good-to-great approach…
Read the review of Andy Birol’s books by Jack Ricchuito here

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

Cleveland Orchestra @ Public Square 7/5
Thousands of camp chairs. Trombones. Tube tops. If it’s not the single most inspiring event of Cleveland’s cultural summer, it’s close. Cleveland Orchestra Music Director and conductor Franz Welser-Möst flew in from Europe the day before, and was flying back again the next day, but from the stage, he said he had to be there for this special free concert, an annual tradition. And so did tens of thousands of Clevelanders, respectful, quiet, listening closely. The Cleveland audience is sophisticated, even when it’s rock-concert large and consisting of many people who only listen to classical music once a year. And they know their classical music. Obviously unfazed by the recent controversy over his conducting style and the role of the critic in the cultural life of a city (see Yr Turn letters below), Franz displayed his usual formal, almost nervous quality on the podium, as always offset by his youthful vigor. He doesn’t seem curious (the program of marches doesn’t call for it), but he’s always confident and subtle with the Cleveland Orchestra, as if he doesn’t worry much about the players; as if he knows their capacity is quite limitless. And for one night, so was the massive Cleveland audience’s. See the Orchestra in action again this Sat 7/9 at the Cool Cleveland Night Out at Blossom here.

Summerfest ’05 @ Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds 7/2-3
Summerfest ’05 was a blast. With fifty bands on five different stages over the two-day holiday weekend, there was something for everyone. Since they played simultaneously, the challenge was deciding which band to watch – fearing that other great bands were being missed. I got there late Sunday night, just in time to catch the fireworks show, which was probably the best I’ve ever seen. Packy Malley sure knows how to celebrate Independence Day with a bang! Other highlights included Zoso, a cover band from L.A. that Rolling Stones Magazine called the “best Led Zeppelin experience around.” Zoso induced uncontrollable head banging and psychedelic memories of decades gone by. The band members were great at portraying the image and playing styles of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones. Another amazing Group was 17th Floor, an incredible 7-piece Hip-Hop ensemble that bills themselves as the “Best Party Band in the nation.” And they may be right.
By Cool Cleveland correspondent T.L. Champion TL@CoolCleveland.com

BABY @ Kalliope Stage 6/30 Once they’re here, babies are pretty much adorable and universally loved. It’s the getting them here that disrupts everything. Sometimes, it seems that those who want one can’t manage it, while those who either don’t want or don’t need another addition to the family are the folks who have no problem at all in having one. Or more. This is the premise of the 1984 musical “BABY” by composer David Shire and lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr, with book by Sybille Pearson. They use three couples of varying ages to show the effect of getting pregnant—or not—on not only the people involved, but also their marriage. Or lack of one…
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

Michael Feinstein @ The Allen Theater 6/25 It was either a love letter from Broadway or a love letter to Broadway, but regardless of direction, Saturday evening’s performance of the North Coast Men’s Chorus with special guest Michael Feinstein was nothing short of superb. The list of composers represented was a ‘Who’s Who of Broadway show tunes’: Gershwin, Ellington, Waller, Sondheim, Arlen, Berlin, Webb. It was everything you’d hope to hear on such a program—and more. The chorus appeared first on the stage of the Allen Theater at Playhouse Square Center, warming us up as it were. Dressed in their tuxes with white shirts and cobalt blue ties, the first piece was a rhythmic medley of two Gershwin classics. “Who Could Ask for Anything More” led off in a somewhat straightforward presentation, followed by a delightfully offbeat “Fascinating Rhythm” full of constant changes of beat and tempo…
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

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

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

On the Welser-Möst controversy (See Rave reviews & wake-up call here) These two articles have done more for me in understanding how to view and listen to an orchestral piece than any others in my lifetime. While I was young I played (badly, I admit) in my high school orchestra. I never learned the elements to look and listen for when seeing a piece live. Both authors are to be applauded for helping this novice broaden her understanding.
from Cool Cleveland reader Holli Mallak hmallakATbcfcharity.org

In response to the question in your 6/29 issue “Do we really need someone to tell us what to think, or do critics serve a greater purpose?,” I would argue that good criticism does not tell people WHAT to think; it encourages people TO think. In the case of art, the goal of criticism is (in my mind, at least) to encourage a dialogue, to encourage understanding and engagement with the work and the ideas at hand. Making a simple “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” judgment is, I believe, a very small part of it.
from Cool Cleveland reader Dan Tranberg trandan@core.com

Some musicians I know have come to refer to our conductor as “Frankly Worst-than-Most.”
from Cool Cleveland reader Robert O. Staib cnrosATcuyahogacounty.us

On barriers to regionalism (See Will regionalism benefit African-Americans? here) You wrote that “two key issues stand in [regionalism’s] way: suburban residents who don’t want to face the problems of the city, especially the Cleveland Municipal School District; and urban residents, mainly black, who don’t want to give up their majority political base.” What you say is conventional wisdom and yet I find both issues grounded in such self-defeating, zero-sum gaming (i.e., if I win, you must lose) principles that I have to ask: Have there been any wide-spread, systemic efforts (e.g., surveys, grass-roots civic engagement projects) to test that conventional wisdom? I know lots of suburbanites who understand that the region’s future depends on the academic success of Cleveland’s poorest children and who know their own children leave the region for places with a compelling core city. And I know lots of African-Americans who want political leaders to address their concerns, not the color of their skin. I don’t know enough of either group to confidently challenge the conventional wisdom, but I hope someone else does. If it isn’t wrong, what clues do we have on how to change it? As long as we really are so trapped in our own little pixels that we can’t see the big picture, that picture will continue to fall apart.
from Cool Cleveland reader Peter Robertson robertsonsohioATyahoo.com

On a casino in Cleveland (See Gambling and casinos everywhere here) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE open a casino here. I have been traveling hours in all directions just to sit at a slot machine or enjoy a buffet. I am not an “undesirable”. I have never done drugs. I have a master’s degree. But I still want to gamble without planning a weekend trip and spending hundreds of dollars in states other than my own. Cleveland had a very backwards view of gambling and casinos if the idea continues that they would harm rather than help our communities. We have legal horse racing within our city limits…why isn’t anyone squaking about the riff raff and crime being brought to Northfield as a result….oh that’s right…IT’S NOT!! Banning casino is equivilent to banning a pub…people will become drunks no matter what. We have to start considering the majority, and the majority would frequent a world class casino and pour dollar after dollar into our own backyard if allotted the opportunity. Please trust us enough to give us the opportunity to prove that Cleveland, like EVERY other city with a casino, would do nothing but benefit from its prescence here. I am tired of driving 3 hours just to pull a one armed bandit.
from Cool Cleveland reader Janine Anderson TheJanineATpeoplepc.com

On Wi-Fi in Cleveland (See Cool Cleveland Interview with Scot Rourke here)SBC needs to back off. The wifi movement is happening in other parts of the country, and this is an area in which we are actually leading the country. Wifi will bring nothing but positive results for the city and for the region, and SBC playing hardball with something that isn’t even competing with it is not helping the situation.
from Cool Cleveland reader Geoff Englebrecht toronagaATameritech.net

On a convention center in Cleveland (See Tower City bows out of convention center contention here) I think the withdrawal of the Forest City design may have been propitious for the convention center’s further feasibility. Now a new center on the present site, with expansions in either of two directions is proposed. And the idea has a lot of merit. The financial resources could be focused on the integrity, usability aspects, and eye appeal of the interior without any need for contention about the exterior appearance, compatibility with adjoining structures, and so forth. Wouldn’t it be practical and innovative at the same time for Cleveland to be the only large city to have a totally underground convention facility? I say go for it. It’s a good idea.
from Cool Cleveland reader Chuck Thomas Charles.ThomasATey.com

On Steelyard Commons and Wal-Mart in Cleveland (See Wal-Mart’s first unionized store in Cleveland? here) The Steelyard Commons project has the potential to be really great for Cleveland. The plans call for a world class playground, designed to look like a steel mill. Unique bridges and other structures from the mill will be saved and remade into public art. Another mile and a half of the towpath trail will be built. The space is close to several interstates and has the potential to become a regional shopping draw. That means sales dollars normally spent in the suburbs will be spent in Cleveland. Finally, this project is not being built with public monies, yet the city will benefit from the city income taxes deducted from worker wages. And let’s face it, banning Wal-Mart from the city doesn’t prevent residents from shopping at Wal-mart stores located elsewhere. Banning the store might even drive sales spending from the city of Cleveland to the suburbs, if residents seek competitive pricing. If the store is built, then residents who can afford to shop at full price grocery stores may continue to do so if they so choose. And those who seek the lowest prices will be able spend their dollars at Wal-Mart. Protecting one business (grocery stores) from incoming competition is almost like requiring residents to pay a hidden tax on groceries. Government should not prohibit competition, and should not be allowed to make value judgments on behalf of their residents. And those who object to the business practices of Wal-mart are free to shop elsewhere, without inflicting their views on their neighbors.
from Cool Cleveland reader Nancy Keene nckATdantmoore.com

On the slowdown of immigration into Cleveland (See Does Cleveland attract immigrants? here) Welcoming Immigrants: Start EARLY! The recent attention to the slowdown in immigrants coming to Cleveland is not only justified but absolutely critical. Our non-profit organization, Kulture Kids, brings the world’s cultures to very small children using the arts. Like anything else, if you get children when they’re young (not just comfortable but FASCINATED with the world’s many cultures, you’ve got them for life. That creates adult citizens who embrace rather than resist. The recent efforts by organizations such as the International Community Council (the non-profit which is building the new International Heritage Center in downtown Cleveland) are necessary steps which must be encouraged and supported. And believe me, having seen how much kids love the many stories, games, recipes, music, and other customs from around the globe, I can attest to the interest in and importance of enhancing and promoting diversity and multiculturalism. We literally can’t keep up with the demand for our programs at schools, libraries, child care centers, and elsewhere. Thank you for bringing this issue into brighter light and sharper focus. It’s never been more critical to Cleveland’s economic, social, and cultural well-being and future.
from Cool Cleveland reader Tom Kerr, Executive Director, Kulture Kids, http://www.kulturekids.org kulturekidsATyahoo.com

On Roldo’s commentary (See Non-profit leaders find charities profitable here) Roldo rants and raves about nonprofit salaries when he should be aiming at the people on the corporate side of the aisle making obscene amounts of money and focusing on returning value to shareholders and themselves, not their community, or their employees. I have no problem paying a nonprofit leader a good wage. These individuals raise money and work to better people’s lives through economic development, arts, social services and health. Roldo uses salaries as an excuse to beat up on organizations with which he does not agree. You do not cite the salaries of CEOs at the local hospitals, arts institutions or educational institutions. The comparison to the Governor is just a lazy attempt to make his point. The Governor, like our President, has a benefits package with housing, food, and travel that would surely surpass those mentioned in the column. The nonprofit sector needs good managers and needs to hold those managers accountable for their decisions, paying them less is not the answer.
from Cool Cleveland reader John J. Guthrie john.guthrieATcase.edu

On Cleveland’s vision (See Cleveland needs vision here) We already have plenty of vision among the young folks and the young at heart here in Cleveland. Dan Gilbert has vision for his new team. LeBron knows that he wants a championship. Eric Wedge knows that he wants to regain the dominance of the AL Central Division for the Indians. Romeo and his crew know that they’d enjoy having another SuperBowl ring on their fingers, and are working towards that goal. Joe Calabrese of RTA knows that he wants to see Euclid Avenue become another centerpiece of urban transportation. Construction is well underway. Ed Hundert envisions CWRU as a leading research and undergraduate university. He has new buildings to show for his efforts. Geoff Mearns wants to take CSU’s law school to new heights. As does his boss for the entire university. And, given their successes already, no one could ever convince me that Dr. Toby Cosgrove or Franz Welser-Moest doesn’t want to maintain the worldwide class and fame of their respective institutions. We already have folks leading the charge who have plenty of vision. Let’s stop fussing. The whining only slows their progress.
from Cool Cleveland reader Dennis G. Terez njcdgtATyahoo.com

On America’s free press (See How America’s free press ranks here) What crap! Who does these “studies”? Who seriously believes this bogus ranking? BTW, I am a liberal democrat, not a Bush stooge. I also have traveled widely outside the USA, and know that we have more freedom than any nation on earth, even other democracies. Tom, you missed the mark on this one. This “article” isn’t worthy of Cool Cleveland.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jennifer Tucker jtuckerATjcu.edu

On the selling of the BP Building (See BP Bldg sold here) When I read the BP Building has been sold, it reminded me of the birthing changes Public Square went through to make room to build BP. At the time of the implosions of several other proberties including Womens Federal, I was chief estimator for Broadway Wrecking Inc. The city daylight went pitch black from the smoke. Preparations took months, but it came down perfectly in seconds! I have seen other building demolition implosions on the Discovery and History Channels but nothing can compare to the view that day from the Sheraton!
from Cool Cleveland reader Erika Redling (“Nostalgic in Florida”) redling5@hotmail.com

On land grabs for bridges (See Build a new Innerbelt bridge here) Re: I read with interest the comments about proposed bridges through Tremont, Whiskey Island and other areas, having just come from a public meeting on the Innerbelt Plan where I listened to the ODOT officials dissemble quite nicely when asked direct questions by the residents involved. We still don’t have the answers. Eminent domain is a very useful tool for politicians, being on the “cutting edge” of it myself with the Fulton Road Bridge Project, and it looks as though Cleveland and Cuyahoga County really don’t care about their residents at all. As one of the property owners involved in the land grab for the Fulton Road Bridge, I can say firsthand how we’ve been mislead, lied to, and sloughed off by both County and City officials. While we acknowledge the necessity of replacing the bridge and are not adverse to new ideas, the City’s insistence on two ten foot sidewalks and two five foot commuter bike lanes (that begin at one end of the bridge and end at the other with no future plans for continuing them on Fulton Road either north or south of the bridge) will cause two of the property owners to lose most of their back yards, bringing the bridge to within about three car lengths of their homes. With the whole Big Creek Valley to expand in on the Westerly side of the bridge, it certainly makes no sense to so drastically affect the few homeowners involved. From what we were told, the land grab will also include about 15 trees, some of which are large, older, graceful and beautiful flora that shelter us from the winds from the valley and afford shade and coolness to our yards on hot summer days. It will also entail demolition of part of our historic brownstone wall, not to mention the County’s intended use of explosives to bring down the old bridge while being quite aware that our homes sit on an unstable sandy ridge and the vibration could possibly damage not only our house structures and foundations but those of all the other residents along that ridge as well. And then there’s the noise factor… Our elected officials are completely unwilling to work with us on this. Who will protect the “little people” from the unreasonable confiscation of our homes and help maintain our right to the peaceful enjoyment of the properties we worked so hard to acquire and maintain?
from Cool Cleveland reader Marge Pauls mmpaulsATsbcglobal.net

Thanks Cool Cleveland Thanks for sharing many of the promising and positive happenings in Cleveland from development to arts and culture. sure cleveland has its fair share of problems like any place else, but the biggest problem is the perpetual negative milieu so deeply imbedded in the collective pysche of our community. this city and region has much to offer. its time our leaders in all sectors start acting like it, and marketing that message to ourselves and the rest of the world. yes, there are some major issues that need addressed, but a first step on the road back is a positive self image!
from Cool Cleveland reader Andrew Cox CoxaAT@ccf.org

On Cool Cleveland Kids (See Cool Cleveland Kids podcast here) Hey Thomas, I love Max’s podcast, he’s quite the correspondent!!
from Cool Cleveland reader Carrie Drozdz CDrozdzATPenton.com

The Cool Cleveland kids podcast with Max is a great idea! Is there anyway to post or send information on an event to be included in the broadcast? Thank you for your time.
from Cool Cleveland reader Sarah Christie

Reply on Cool Cleveland Kids: We’re glad you like the Cool Cleveland Kids podcasts. You can send your kid-friendly events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com, and we’ll give it full consideration for publication in our Cool Cleveland Kids section and podcast.

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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

1) RoldoLINK Working for social justice even though he’s “retired”, Roldo Bartimole point out that Lee Fisher’s salary is right up there with corporate, sports and entertainment salaries, but no one mentions it. www.CoolCleveland.com

2) REI neutered? Cool Cleveland readers know blogs like Ed Morrison’s are where you get the straight story. Read Morrison’s account of his firing here

3) Summer In The City at the Rock Hall Check out stuff to do on select Wednesday nights. www.RockHall.com

4) Lakewood Observer hits streets A new rag that’s “smart, compelling and professional with articles more interesting than they should be”. http://www.LakewoodObserver.com

5) Wade Oval Wednesdays If you don’t want to hang at the Rock Hall (see #3), you can always hang in UC. WoW PDF

Hard Corps intervention With their frenetic weekly contributions, they deliver abundant events, critical reviews and cultural content with aplomb, thanks to Roxanne Ravenal, Marc Majercak, Marcia Bryant, Tisha Nemeth, Jack Ricchiutto, Linda Eisenstein, TL Champion, George Nemeth, Kelly Ferjutz 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

Sit, Stay, Forward . . . We double dog dare you to forward your favorite e-zine to several friends that you think would enjoy it while supporting the online newsletter that was recently awarded the “Excellence in Journalism” award from the Society of Professional Journalists. Click !.

Download the Cool Cleveland podcast each week at http://www.CoolCleveland.com. Click on the Cool Cleveland Blog here. Read the Cool Cleveland column each month in Cleveland Magazine here. Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time. See the Cool Cleveland TV Update on WKYC NBC TV by clicking here. Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com, and your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com. For your copy of the free weekly Cool Cleveland e-zine, go to http://www.CoolCleveland.com.

We’ll see you this Saturday,

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

all contents ©2005 MulreadyGROUP all rights reserved
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