Endure
Dear Friend,
In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland Interview with University Circle, Inc. President Terri Hamilton Brown
* Life’s Varying Degrees of Excruciation on Cleveland’s humorous everyday frustrations
* Cool Cleveland People with bassist Derrick James; Talking Loud, Saying Everything
Cool Cleveland Interview
Terri Hamilton Brown
A University Circle resident, Terri Hamilton Brown is president of University Circle Incorporated, a nonprofit organization that manages development, police protection and parking. It also banks land for future development within the one-square mile that houses the Cleveland Museum of Art, Case Western Reserve University and Severance Hall. They are hosting a series of free events called Third Thursdays, featuring music, food and area vendors. This week, Third Thursdays takes place on Thu 8/19, featuring Doug Wood on progressive acoustic guitar from 11:30AM – 1:30PM, and Anne E. DeChant, playing folk, rock and jazz on the new Kulas Stage from 5-7PM. http://www.UniversityCircle.org
Cool Cleveland: What are the major priorities of University Circle, Inc.?
Terri Hamilton Brown: Were focused on development and making University Circle a destination in and of itself, separate from the institutions as we develop more housing, more retail. We look forward to people saying, “Lets go out to dinner, and then lets go to University Circle.” The improvements to Wade Oval include venues such as Kulas Stage, which is a cool place to come visit. My other focus is on managing the services that make this district a special place; we cant take it for granted. We have police, transportation and we have signage, things that identify it as a district. It’s all about development, destination and district.
What can you tell us about the planned collaboration between Case and the rest of University Circle that you’ll propose for funding to Peter Lewis?
That were working together; weve not been talking about it publicly, but some wonderful ideas are coming forth.
Read the Cool Cleveland Interview with Terri Hamilton Brown here
Don’t miss this one Register here for our next Cool Cleveland party on Fri 9/17 from 4-8PM on West 25th Street, and make it your first (and last) stop on the fabulous Urban Gallery Hop, featuring four free trolleys delivering you to the doorstep of over 100 studios, galleries and special events. Start at the Cool Cleveland Art/Tech/Dance, use our special parking, grab a snack and a drink at the open bar, tour the luxe Fries & Schuele penthouses, then hop on the free trolley to tour Cleveland’s Theater District, Lower Euclid Ave., Midtown, the Warehouse District, Ohio City, Tremont and the Detroit Shoreway area before heading back for a bangin’ after-party at Moda, all included in your A/T/D admission. Last year’s event was completely off the hook in a big way, so grab your reservation & pay online now to save 50%. Check out the party photos and register here: Newsletter/PartyCleveland’s gonzo journalist bags award Cleveland native Evan Wright has reached a certain pinnacle: his 3-part report on the Iraq war for Rolling Stone, which ran in the Summer of 2003, won the National Magazine Award. He follows fellow high profile writers Hunter S. Thompson and P.J. ORourke, who also wrote high-energy journalism for that mag. His collection of magazine writing, Generation Kill: Devil Dogs, Iceman, Captain America and the New Face of American War, has also been optioned by HBO. See story in Northern Ohio Live here.
Bye-Bye Quiet Crisis Great Lakes Publishing chairman Lute Harmon, Sr. finally articulates in print what community leaders and activists have been saying for months: it’s time to put the Quiet Crisis to bed. While we appreciated the focus on our region’s weaknesses and the desire to bring them to light, there’s nothing quiet about it anymore. And the relentless harping on problems, rather than offering solutions, is just boring. See Inside Business here
Cool Cleveland can help your image What’s it worth to be among the select few that appear in Cool Cleveland each week? How much are you currently spending to improve your public image? When Cool Cleveland’s tens of thousands of readers see your message, it gets remembered. Catch the buzz that makes people talk about what they’ve seen in Cool Cleveland each week. Give your image a boost and contact us today. Info@CoolCleveland.com
Mural unveiled This Sat 8/21 you’ll be able to see the results of over 2 years of preparation and work on a large mural that has been painted on the Lennox Road side of the Heights Center Building at Cedar Road. Stop by the Cedar Fairmount Street Fair for the fun all day from 11AM to 6PM and see the mural christened at 4PM. Cleveland artist Jesse Rhinehart worked on the piece in his Superior Road studio. For more information: 371-3344 http://www.heightsarts.org/projects/public_art.html
Jesus and Her Gospel of Yes partially shot in Kent, featuring Cleveland poets John Bennett, Michael Basinski & Cheryl Townsend, with music by Mike Hovancsek, has won its first award: the Best Experimental Film in the Las Vegas leg of the New York International Film Festival. The film will be shown in Kent at the ECC Cultural Center on Sun 10/9. Buy the film direct for $20 from Director & Producer Al Eaker at pinkfreudbluemahler@msn.com Watch the trailer at: http://gospelofyes.collectivekitz.com/prod.htm
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Welcome to Heritage Lane! A new community of spacious, single-family homes and contemporary townhouses, minutes from University Circle and Rockefeller Park. The historic homes feature magnificently restored exteriors, hardwood floors, 4+ bedrooms, 2+ baths, full front porches and 2,000 4,000 square feet of living space. The townhouses feature contemporary design, 2-3 bedrooms, 1.5-2.5 baths, bay windows, finished basements, second story decks and two car garages. You can live among the natural beauty and renovated homes of the Wade Park Historic District, while enjoying the cultural mecca of University Circle! Minutes from downtown Cleveland, the lakefront and more. The homes start at $274,900, the townhouses at $167,900. Dont miss our Grand Opening at 1449 E. 105th St. (between Wade Park and Ashbury) on Thu 8/19. The ribbon cutting is at 12:30 PM, with an open house from 2-7 PM. For a complete list of properties and open houses this weekend, please visit www.ProgressiveUrban.com
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Congress & Canada spank First Energy “The task force largely blamed Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corp. for allowing a local power failure that started with line outages near Cleveland to spread in less than a minute to the East Coast and into Canada.” See CNN.com here.
Free kids arts classes near Shaker Square How’s this for value? Chloë Hopson, featured in Cool Cleveland here, directs the Passport Project Global Community Arts Center, now offering classes in guitar, creative improvisation, songwriting, Afro-Cuban drumming, capoeira & West African dance; all totally free to kids 11-14. Adult classes available also. 12803 Buckeye Road, just blocks from Shaker Square. 721-1055 http://www.passportproject.org
CSU & NASA CREATE In an exemplary display of collaboration, Cleveland State University’s applied scientists and engineers from the Fenn College of Engineering are working with scientists at NASA Glenn Research Center to form the Center for Research in Electronics and Aerospace Technology, known as CREATE. They will work together on commercializing aerospace power system technologies, documenting knowledge capture to facilitate technology transfer to the private sector, and integrate these activities with educational programs. Ask CSU President Michael Schwartz more at the reception and tour on Tue 8/24 from 5-7PM on the 4th floor of the CSU Convocation Center. http://create.fennresearch.org.
Orchestra says bye-bye As the world-reknowned Cleveland Orchestra and Music Director Franz Welser-Möst depart for their second international tour together next week, from 8/19 thru 8/27, for concerts in Germany, Switzerland, Scotland and Ireland, we have to wonder if the city, county and state representatives are tagging along to make critical business contacts, utilizing the stellar reputation of the Cleveland Orchestra to open the doors of international commerce. Last tour in 2003, the Orchestra blew them away in Vienna, but our civic and business reps weren’t along for the ride. http://www.clevelandorchestra.com
Endure Every year, Cleveland used to host the world’s largest performance art festival, which was pretty cool, if I do say so myself. This week, B.K. Smith Gallery, run by PAF alum and Cool Cleveland columnist Lyz Bly, features an exhibition of endurance work, much of it performance, exploring the obsessive mania of the creative process that should prove as challenging as any area art event this year. This Fri 8/20, Kristin Bly-Rogers of Lakewood and Blake Cook of Ashtabula, will “trudge” 35 miles on foot from Lakewood to the gallery at Lake Erie College in Painesville; Shirley Wegner of Brooklyn, NY will spend five straight days sewing, stacking, and, ultimately, hanging hundreds of fabricated prickly pear (symbolic for both Jews and Palestinians) cactus leaves from the ceiling of the gallery; Cleveland artist and Cool Cleveland contributor Cavana Faithwalker will live in the gallery for 10 days, relying on visitors to bring him food and art materials; PAF featured artist Clevelander Bruce Edwards will spend the 3 hours at the opening reception lighting and extinguishing matches with his forefinger and thumb; Clevelander Mike Jones will spend 40 days living in a 3-person tent in the gallery, praying, meditating, and nomadically moving his tent around. Hit the free reception at from 7-10PM on Fri 8/20 at B.K. Smith Gallery on the east side of Lake Erie College on Gillett Street near Phillips Osborne School. Visitors are encouraged to join the trudge and bring food & materials for Cav to the gallery. Call 521-8582 or 440-375-7461 and visit http://www.lec.edu
Urban Gallery Hop returns It’s almost too much for one brain to comprehend. They’re calling it Clevelands Biggest Art Buffet, and it’s a veritable art jamdown with free continuous trolleys making 15 stops all over the city core, delivering you (for free) to over 38 galleries, 8 arts & culture events, 48 studios, and 8 restaurants and merchants and select loft living spaces. It’s the third Sparx In The City Urban Gallery Hop, which incorporates the Theatre District Discovery Tour, Playhouse Square’s popular Centerfest, CPT’s chaotic Pandemonium, a studio tour of the artist-infested Tower Press Building, and the Downtown Merchant Association’s Sidewalk Sale. Just to sweeten the pot, they’re offering a sweepstakes to win a $2K package including meals, attractions and a stay in the Presidential Suite at the Wyndham Hotel; register here: http://www.TravelCleveland.com/urbangalleryhop. It all takes place on Fri 9/17 from 5-10PM and again on Sat 9/18 from 10AM-5PM. Scroll the details at http://www.cleveland.com/sparx
Report on grassroots arts How can a community’s cultural sector come together to articulate policy and create change? At Cool Cleveland, we’re watching it happen in this region, but last year the the Center for Arts and Culture initiated “Cultural Policy at the Grassroots,” a project intended to build knowledge and networks for strengthening cultural policy in local communities nationwide. http://www.culturalpolicy.org
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Were you at The Bingham? Cool Clevelanders had a great time at our Downtown Living party on 7/29 (some cool photos here) at The Bingham, Clevelands newest renovation for city living. Party-goers were able to check out this beautifully restored urban apartment complex located in the Warehouse District. But even if you missed the fun, you can still find out more about The Bingham, which includes all this: fitness center, community rooms, neutral decors with original hardwood floors and brick walls, 9-14 ft. high ceilings and free basic cable. Plus, if you move in by 9/30, you’ll receive one month totally rent free. To take advantage of this offer, send an e-mail to leasing@TheBingham.com with the message ‘Cool Cleveland one month free offer’ in the subject line. Or just call 216.579.4000 and mention the ‘Cool Cleveland one month free offer’ on the phone. http://www.thebingham.com. The Bingham, 1278 W. Ninth St.
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Cleve Arts Prize needs fixing Even the folks who run the 44-year-old program admit it could do a better job of identifying, recognizing and encouraging the regions most outstanding artists. Here’s your chance to do more than whine. Click on their site to complete a brief questionnaire; they promise, “If you see issues about which you have strong opinions, wont you please share them with us? Your comments will be read and seriously considered.” here.
NY State funds the arts If it passes in the legislature as expected this week, New York State will be one of the first to offer a check-off box on their state income tax return allowing citizens to directly donate to the New York State Council for the Arts (ours is called the Ohio Arts Council). The donation would not be tax-deductible, unfortunately, but it could generate a good chunk of change for the arts. They’re also considering extending COBRA health care benefits to the entertainment industry in NY state. See Backstage here
St. Stanislaus Church now a shrine This May, St. Stanislaus on East 65th Street in Slavic Village was designated a Shrine Church of the Diocese of Cleveland. This solemn liturgy recognized the church as a site for prayer and pilgrimage. The bilingual (Polish/English) Mass included a procession with the relic of St. Stanislaus with music from the time of the saint’s canonization to the present. Bishop Ryszard Karpinski, Auxiliary Bishop of Lublin, Poland served as celebrant. Bishop Karpinski also serves as the delegate of the Polish bishops to world Polonia, representing Polish people outside of Poland. http://www.ststanislaus.org/index.html
Skin used to transmit key data Unlocking cars and activating devices will soon be a matter of simply touching them, with a communications system that transmits data across the skin. A German company developed several prototypes of a system that transfers a tiny electric current across the skin, using the body as a signal transmitter. The code transmitted by the electric signal allows cars to be unlocked, doors opened or other devices started. See New Scientist here.
Done with X-mas shopping yet? If it’s your job to line up holiday gifts for employees or clients this coming season, Cleveland artists may be able to help. Vivid Art Gallery invites you to attend their Corporate Holiday Preview this Wed 8/18 from 4-7PM, to talk with artists and find the perfect holiday gifts handmade by area artists. Since they are custom-crafted, they can often be personalized to fit your company’s unique needs. Vivid Art Gallery, ARTcade, 530 Euclid, Suite #40, 241-7624
Film Fest wants your film Not only does the Cleveland International Film Festival hire Director of Programming Bill Guentzler to travel the international festival circuit seeking out the best films for next year’s fest, they also circulate a Call for Entries to invite filmmakers from around the world to submit their films. If you’ve got a short or feature length film made after 1/1/03, follow the links at their site to apply by 11/30 for the 2005 Fest schedule for 3/1-20/05. Interested in volunteering for the Film Festival? See http://www.ClevelandFilm.org
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As you like it “…as good as any Shakespeare being produced on the planet,” sayeth the Plain Dealer of Great Lakes Theater Festival’s Summer Repertory productions. And this is the last weekend remaining to catch GLTF’s The Taming of the Shrew and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at the Ohio Theatre in Playhouse Square Center before the Summer Repertory closes on Sun 8/22 order your tickets today. And theres more
beginning Fri 9/10, the Festival will turn another “double play” as it proudly introduces its Fall Repertory. On deck, Oscar Wilde’s hysterical comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest will play in rotating repertory with William Shakespeare’s political thriller, Julius Caesar. One company. Two plays. One stage. Six Weeks. Mark thy calendar and discover Shakespeare’s Great Company. Great tickets are on sale now at great prices; $20 tickets for any show; plus, $11 student tickets – any show, any seat. For more information, please visit www.GreatLakesTheater.org
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UnFound: A New Theater in a New Loft Space
Hope springs eternal: Cleveland has a new performance company, UnFound Theatre Company. In time-honored DIY tradition, its been founded by two recent area college grads. Kate Michel (Baldwin Wallace) and Mo Feldman (CSU) met while they were stage-managing the Marilyn Bianchi Kids Playwriting Festival at Dobama this year. The company will perform at Firewing Studioworks — a new 40-seat space in the warehouse loft of Austin & Mary Ruesch, 2310 Superior Ave. Their first production, Michael Hollinger’s An Empty Plate at the Café Du Grand Boeuf, opens Fri 8/27 at 8PM. Many major artists first cut their teeth doing loft-style theatre from Richard Foreman to Chicagos Steppenwolf. A Cool Cleveland kudos to young artists who are doing it for themselves. Call 330-958-0977 and email unfoundtheatre@hotmail.com
Akron Art Museum breaks ground Those who’ve seen the stunning plans are eagerly anticipating the new 64,000 square foot, $38 million expansion designed by Viennese architects Coop Himmelblau, which features an airplane-wing-like cantilevered canopy called the Roof Cloud. It will triple gallery space from 8K to 20K square feet and will also include a soaring steel and glass crystal lobby, and a large, flexible Gallery Box exhibition space. http://www.AkronArtMuseum.org
Green Panda Press request for submissions of artwork, essay, poetry, photos, concrete & such for their next anthology #5 You Can’t Hither Than That! due for printing in winter 2004. Works of one page in length or less are preferred, but all lengths are acceptable. Include a short bio and send work that hits on the urban, the smug and wry, or jazzy political zen. Send by mail to Green Panda Press, 14314 Superior Ave, Cleveland Hts, Ohio 44118 or via email as attachment(s) to greenpandapress@yahoo.com or wascobree@yahoo.com
Rocky River B2B expo One of the largest business shows on the West Side takes place 10/14 at the Don Umerley Civic Center in Rocky River, featuring over 100 exhibitors and 8 local restaurants, keeping area businesses current with new products and technology. To exhibit, sponsor or get tix, call 440-331-1140 or visit http://www.RockyRiverChamber.com.
Heritage Lane debuts The Famicos Foundation is a nonprofit community housing development organization founded in 1970 by the late Sister Henrietta Gorris, a member of the Sisters of Charity to provide housing to low income residents of Cleveland, specifically targeting families that earn less than 30 percent of the median area income. They have partnered with the City of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University and Progressive Urban Real Estate to build Heritage Lane, a project that has taken historic duplexes and transformed them into spacious single-family homes, while adding new construction townhouses at Ashbury Avenue and East 105th Street, just a block away from University Circle. Mayor Jane Campbell and Case President Edward Hundert will break ground Thu 8/19 at 12:30PM, with an open house from 2-7PM. 791-6476 info@famicos.org
Rick James RIP Besides setting the style with his proto-hip-hop anthem Super Freak in 1981, which was the inspiration for MC Hammer’s You Can’t Touch This as well as decades of imitators, many were not aware that Rick James was the cousin of former Cleveland area Congressman Louis Stokes. SF drops the bottom out of any party we DJ. He will be missed, but his music and his attitude live on. See CNN.com here.
Bring Ohio Back event photos Some Ohioans are actively making changes in the upcoming election, and when the new group Bring Ohio Back brought Susan Sarandon and other celebrities to Cleveland Heights last week, they shot a few choice photos. See Bring Ohio Back here.
Cool Cleveland This Week
8.18-8.25
Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com
The Agenda Latina Ohio quarterly luncheons series is coming up, and this is THE forum for Latino agenda setting at the Statewide level. Topics include: an education campaign, issues on cultural competence, the need for parental outreach, and formation of local advisory councils of the Ohio commission on Hispanic/Latino affairs this Thu 8/19 from 10:30AM-2PM. Holiday Inn Lorain/Elyria, Grand Ball Room, 1825 Lorain Blvd in Elyria. RSVP at 614-466-8333 or e-mail rosario.martinez@ochla.state.oh.us
Introduction: Doing Business with Government Discover how to capitalize on your capabilities in the government marketplace. In this session you will be introduced to the government marketplace, how they buy, what it takes to participate and how your local PTAC can help. Find bid opportunities, learn how to prepare bids and shipping documentation, and find out more about PTAC’s broad range of free services. If you’re a small business owner, sales and marketing professional, business development director, or a marketing consultant interested in an introduction on how to sell to the government, you’ll want to attend this seminar on Thu 8/19 from 7:30-10AM. Kent State University, College of Business, Room 115 in Kent. http://www.neosa.org/events/list.asp?Event_Id=92
Third Thursdays: Progressive Acoustic Get outside for folk acoustics, fresh food and culture in natural surroundings that hits every month in University Circle until fall. Skip out of work, have lunch outside and you’ll hear Anne E. Dechant plus other area musicians serenade the circle for an energized afternoon Thu 8/19 from 11:30AM-1:30PM. Call 707-5033. Kulas Stage, 1 Wade Oval in University Circle. http://www.UniversityCircle.org
Endure exhibition explores the ways artists incorporate obsession, mania, and stamina in their work via action or through the use of materials. Interactive with audience involvement, visitors will share the exploration of artists’ experiences dealing with intimacy, voyeurism, as well as private and public space. It’s an impressive gathering of artists from New York, Chicago, Boston and Cleveland; hit opening night Fri 8/20 from 7-10PM and see what happens when the boundaries are blurred. Call 440-375-7461. B.K. Smith Gallery is located on the east side of Lake Erie College on Gillett Street near Phillips Osborne School. http://www.lec.edu
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More Than a Picture Show: Drive-In Tales With summer hanging heavy all around and wanting a different entertainment experience, photographer Karen St. John-Vincent went to see a movie at a local drive-in, but the show going on all around her was far more interesting. Her work as a fine art photographer deals with the human form and experience, with images that are multi-faceted and open to a number of interpretations. Her photographs are taken at a variety of locations, different hours of the day and evening, and in both abandoned and functioning theatres. See this show of mixed media artwork that incorporates photography, paint, and written word along with an installation that provides a drive-in movie experience. Come out for the opening reception on Fri 8/20 from 5-9PM. Call 696-1942. Art Metro, 530 Euclid Ave., Suite 42.
Last Call Cleveland announces their “Last Call Cleveland’s Corvette Summer” stage show coming to Cleveland’s Black Box Theater. The show is a multimedia concert that is based around comedy sketches performed live and peppered with music, video, and audience participation. It’s their sixth stage production, following on the heels of their self produced sell-out performances “Live On Ice!,” “Takes Manhattan”, “Comes Home (to see your Mom)”, and “Never, Never, Shakes It’s Baby”. This will mark Last Call’s first long running production, yet the show will be different every week. Their stage shows are always met with critical acclaim and roaring laughs Fri 8/20 at 8PM. Cleveland Black Box Theater, 1210 West 6th St. For reservations and tickets visit http://www.CabaretDada.com/blackbox.html
Datafields: Matthew Robinson is an exhibition on the process of assimilating information in contemporary culture, with paintings that reference familiar images from illustrations and stock photography while combining provocative, sometimes fragmented, text. The final paintings are dense fields of visually disparate information. The paintings, or data fields echo the speed and complexity of our global information culture, showing that the connotation of a given word or image is subject to the state of cultures constant flux. The opening reception rocks out on Fri 8/20 from 6-10PM; show continues till 10/1. Call 522-1836. Buzz Gallery, 1836 West 25th St., Suite 1B in Ohio City. http://www.BuzzGallery.com
Latino Del Norte Music & Arts Festival Now in its second year, educating and sharing Latin culture with Cleveland. Savor Spanish food, Latin art and exhibits, informational workshops, carnival parade and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra and The Aguila Negra Band this Fri 8/20 thru 8/22. Call 440-233-5072. This event is hosted by the Latino Cultural School of Arts. located at the Black River Landing in Lorain. http://www.LatinoDelNorte.com
WCLVnotes The price of admission is a pint of blood. And youll participate in a fabulous social event in elegant surroundings with good food, wonderful entertainment and gift bags. And youll feel great for having given the gift of life. On Wed 9/1, the FALL FEST BLOOD DRIVE will take place at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven, presented by WCLV 104.9 FM and Senior Circle Plus of Euclid, Hillcrest, Huron and South Point Hospitals in co-operation with the Plain Dealer. WCLV air personalities will be on hand to broadcast live from Landerhaven all day long. a Cool Cleveland partner www.wclv.com
Neighborhood Family Festival and Open House The St. Clair Superior Development Corporation and Goodrich-Gannett Neighborhood Center are hosting this year’s bash; discover a community rich in cultural diversity with live entertainment, local merchants, ethnic food and enriching activities for the entire family. This year’s festival will include performances by Asian Lion Dance, Live Salsa, Meringue, Latin Jazz, SAFMOD, Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theater and live music by Noel Quintana’s 10-piece Latin Jazz band. Artists from The Hodge School will be on hand to guide children through creative activities while street performers entertain the crowd Sat 8/21 from noon-7PM. Call 881-0644. Located at Goodrich-Gannett Neighborhood Center, East 55th and St. Clair Ave. Email csmith@scsnda@scsnda.org,
Grown and Sexy The Urban League of Greater Cleveland Young Professionals are coming out to represent, and you’re invited to meet, mingle and socialize with Cleveland’s tenacious young people working locally to make a difference in our region. Join them for a laid back evening with DJs spinning house, hip-hop, old skool, reggae and classics Sat 8/21 at 9PM. Call 566-7575. Club 75, 75 Public Square. http://www.ulcleveland.org
Mignarda The Cleveland Ensemble Mignarda specializes in music from 16th century England, France and Italy, and they’ll perform a lush program of music for voice and lute from the Renaissance’s 16th century. The program, entitled “Italia Mia”, will focus specifically on the Italian repertoire Sat 8/21 at 7:30PM. Call 341-9091. St. Stanislaus Church, 3649 East 65th St. http://www.Mignarda.com and visit http://www.StStanislaus.org/index.html
Community Drum Circle A very special activity which combines self-expression, exercise and music-making as part of a whole person; a therapeutic approach to wellness at HealthSpace Cleveland, Northeast Ohio’s new destination for health education with shared learning and family fun. Although drums and other percussion equipment will be available, guests are encouraged to B.Y.O.D.- bring your own drum Sat 8/21. The family-friendly public drum circle will begin around 2PM at HealthSpace on the front lawn or inside, depending on weather. This engaging activity is the perfect complement to the current exhibition at HealthSpace, The Healer Within, presented with the support of The Cleveland Academy of Osteopathic Medicine. The exhibition will remain until mid-October. Call 231-5010. HealthSpace Cleveland, 8911 Euclid Ave. http://www.HealthSpaceCleveland.org
Window to Sculpture series The Sculpture Center features So Yeon Park, who creates solo sculptural and emotionally cathartic structures, including her casket series representing the grieving and healing process. Using materials such as cotton string to form a woven bed adorned with tissue paper flowers, each casket signifies a special ceremony and a tangible form of release for emotions. On opening night the artist will perform a symbolic ritual procession, and the public is invited to participate in incense lighting and paper flower making. Window to Sculpture showcases emerging Ohio sculptors. Free public receptions with the artist Sat 8/21 from 5-9PM. Call 229-6527. The Sculpture Center, 1834 East 123rd St. http://www.SculptureCenter.org
Jondi & Spesh For over a decade this duo has generated dance tracks of admirable quality that has the worlds DJ elite seeking out their underground sound. They’ve been hailed by Mixmag as “dons of west coast progressive house.” Get your electro/house jones satiated Sat 8/21 starting 9PM. Call 902-WISH. Wish Nightclub, 621 Johnson Court. http://www.jondiandspesh.com
Discover Cedar Fairmount Festival In one day, you can do everything and have entertainment for the entire family. Hear Scottish Bagpipers, grab a henna tatoo, see Dancers of India, a Sari demonstration and check out the Greyhound adoption. Shop for glass art, jewelry, pottery, enamels and ride the famously bizarre aluminum rocket car. It’s free culture with a live Latin concert by Sammy De Leon y Su Orquesta playing hot salsa and cool love ballads on Sat 8/21, concert starts 6PM. The Green West of Nighttown. http://www.FutureHeights.org/site/futureheights
Considering Lee Road: An Exhibition of Community Ideas and Plans highlights approximately fifteen projects, both real and imagined, along the Lee Road corridor. The purpose of the exhibit is to show the public what planners, architects, students and everyday citizens have dreamed about for the Lee Road corridor. The projects to be showcased include several commercial storefront improvement projects, the Cleveland Heights/University Heights Library, an addition to Church of the Savior, as well as residential developments. The layout of the exhibit is designed to solicit comments and suggestions from the viewers which will be compiled and published following the close of the exhibit. Be there for the opening reception Sat 8/21 from 6-9PM; it’s open to the public. Sponsored by Future Heights, a community-based nonprofit in Cleveland Heights. Call 320-1423. Exhibit will be shown at HeightsArts Gallery, 2173 Lee Rd. in Cleveland Heights. http://www.FutureHeights.org
Arts Collinwood arts festival With 20 vendors covering wearable art jewelry and pottery, home-baked pastry and great food from area restaurants. Show up and shop for fresh local produce while listening to three up and coming Cleveland bands. Other activities include street performance with stilt walkers and face painting on Sat 8/21 from 11-5PM, rain or shine. Call 404-0751. In the parking lot of Beachland ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Rd. in Collinwood.
Ohio Independent Film Group Come in with a few friends, load up on caffeine and get set for a showcase of filmmakers’ short films and talk with directors. Discuss new trends and hear guest speakers; there’s also a showing of foreign films, and if time permits, a discussion about its style will be scheduled afterwards on Sun 8/22 from 1-4PM; event is free. Call 696-3456. Talkies Film and Coffee Bar, 2521 Market Ave. in Ohio City. http://www.MdiFilm.com/indieclub.html and http://www.TalkiesCoffee.com
A Taste of… benefit wine tasting for Cleveland Public Theatre that celebrates the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood, with featured grand opening of Bela’s Four Season’s Italian restaurant. Support Cleveland’s alternative theater while indulging in a decadent wine tasting, sneak a peek at CPT’s ’04-’05 season with entertainment by CPT artists, and dig in the appetizer spread of roasted eggplant tapenade, chicken marsala, cheese ravioli and anti-pasto bar. Be there to support our theatre resources Tue 8/24 from 6-9PM. RSVP at 281-8861. Cleveland Public Theatre’s event takes place at Bela’s Restaurant, 5800 Detroit Ave. http://www.CPTonline.org
Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com
Life’s Varying Degrees of Excruciation
Your Coffee Break Just Got Better
Cool Cleveland contributor TL Champion shares her humorous frustrations with the daily rituals of modern life in Cleveland, exploring the idiosyncrasies of human beings and the world around them, wondering why they don’t all just go home and quit bothering each other.
I have a great marketing idea. Why not combine two morning rituals into one, and give people what they really want in one easy-to-use product? Of course Im talking about coffee-flavored cigarettes. They havent come up with any new, fun flavors for cigarettes in a long time (something about the Surgeon General…(blah, blah, blah), yet they have hundreds of coffee flavors that could become terrific cigarette flavors. For example, hazelnut cappuccino, almond nutberry expresso or mocca fudge latte so much more adventurous than boring old menthol…
Read Life’s Varying Degrees of Excrutiation by TL Champion here
Cool Cleveland People
Derrick James: Talking Loud, Saying Everything
Cool Cleveland culture correspondent Vince Robinson investigates our city’s diverse creative class; bringing to light the personality and mindset of local individuals who produce music and literature, revealing the person behind the artist and identifying the foundations of Cleveland’s urban culture.
He walks softly, but carries a big bass. Thats what you might notice about bassist Derrick James… James took an interest in guitar at the tender age of six when he received his first instrument, a plastic guitar. Shortly thereafter the two higher pitched strings broke. After playing the four remaining strings, he began to realize that playing bass came naturally for him. As a result, he decided to focus on bass. He grew up taking a liking to rock bassists, following those who played with the Jimi Hendrix Experience and John Paul Jones of the group Led Zeppelin. Eventually he discovered Stanley Clarke, the first bassist in history to double on acoustic and electric bass, and the inventor of the piccolo bass and the tenor bass. The exposure to these artists changed James’ whole approach to playing… “I usually play with my eyes closed. Its like Im outside of myself watching the performance on stage…” Read the Cool Cleveland Interview of Derrick James hereInstant 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
The Dumb Waiter @ Charenton in Lincoln Park 8/14
What: Harold Pinters 50-minute one-act play about two guys killing time as they wait in a crummy basement room for instructions to a mysterious job. Free in neighborhood parks.
Reasons to go: With a strong cast and taut pacing, Director Mindy Childress nails Pinters sinister mix of absurd humor and suspense. She gets an Odd Couple Oscar-and-Felix chemistry out of a barking, sweaty Allen Branstein and nervous Andrew Narten. Their physical comedy with the on-stage dumbwaiter, as they try to fulfill bizarre demands for complex meals from unseen customers, is funny without descending to sitcom shtick, and always keeps the tension up.
Caveats: You may get a bit ahead of the plot, but thats not Pinters fault: the 1967 premise has been hijacked by decades of mob movies. Bring a lawn-chair — and a jacket, for unseasonably chilly August weather.
Backstory: Since the resignation of founding Artistic Director James Mango, Charenton is still holding to its course: producing free theatre productions of avant garde classics in unusual spaces. Next up will be a touring production of Jean Genets The Maids.
Target audience: General audience, though preteens might find it puzzling.
Details: Absurdity in the Streets, Charenton Theatre, forthcoming in Rockefeller Park (8/19-8/21) & Edgewater Park (8/26-8/28) http://www.charenton.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein Linda@coolcleveland.com
Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers write
Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com
On loving Cleveland Loved the comment from The Charlotte Observer (CC news item “Everyone loves Cleveland” here). Recently as I was riding with a Cleveland cab driver, she randomly sparked a conversation about how “out of towners” always love our town and rave about the culture, things to do, lack of traffic, and its cleanliness. Its good to hear that others view us in a positive light, now we need to keep working on our own attitude!
from Cool Cleveland reader Carrie Drozdz CDrozdz@Penton.com
On loving Cleveland Just wanted to tell you I spent 5 weeks in Germany in June and July and one day I turned on CNN international and lo and behold there’s a story about the Spencer Tunick show in Cleveland! To see all those people participate in an art event like that in my city really warmed my heart. As a person who sometimes fakes being Canadian when traveling abroad, I can’t tell you how proud I felt to be a (suburban) Clevelander.
from Cool Cleveland reader Bonnie Thiel, Broadview Hts bonnie.thiel@case.edu
On loving Cool Cleveland I love your newsletter…it reminds me that life in art still exits in Cleveland. Thanks.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jerry Jividen jjividen@adelphia.net
On Cool Cleveland I’ve been meaning to write you for awhile to tell you how much I enjoy the Cool Cleveland “e-zine”. There is always great information about what’s going on around in the city that I, and others, most probably would’ve never known if not for receiving it from you. You really do an excellent job without all the unwanted, and unneeded “between the pages” B.S. You are just straight to the point, the way promoting Cleveland should be! I am really liking the idea of a Cleveland arts festival…how cool that could be! If, and when, it becomes a reality, and they are looking for bands, I would be most interested in participating. If you could direct me to who I should send information to, it would be most appreciated. Thank you so much and keep up the great work!
from Cool Cleveland reader Myrtle myrtle@myrtleband.com
Cool Cleveland reply: Stay tuned to Cool Cleveland for updates on the development of the Cleveland City Arts Festival project. We will announce any calls for bands or artists.
On a great offer I have been getting the skinny on cleveland quite fully from your emails… it’s great to see the organization and fun going on up north… I currently live in El Paso Texas… but am a native of Canton, Ohio…each year i visit the area from sept to nov to do several things… the first is to dj and play in a band that does monster rock and roll at cedar point for their halloweekends and play live on the morning show on TV8… second to fill the rest of the week up with gigs… i have become extremely active on the Kerry campaign down here and the results are incredible… so what is the focus of my email… i know you are well connected and I plan on donating every monday from sept 13th till nov 1 to work a political event in ohio or pittsburgh… i am a dj with an amazing collection of music that spans nearly 100 years of cool culture…i have all my own sound equipment and just want to let you know i am available for anything anti-bush event you may hear of… i may also have my band available for an event as well… to know a bit more about all i do simply check out http://www.zomboworld.com
from Cool Cleveland reader Michael “Zombo” Devine zomboco@aol.com
On Cleveland’s brain gain Great of Cool Cleveland to cover the Brain Gain event in Akron last week. It was a fabulous event, and I know that Clevelanders dedicated to Brain Gain were very pleased to be there. Those Clevelanders, with both personal commitment to the cause and representing organizations that seek trend reversal, have been working closely with our friends in Akron for many months. Our friends in Akron have been very open to sharing the opportunity to learn from Rebecca Ryan, to gain insight into the work she is doing for Akron, and to build relationships among people and organizations that are working for Brain Gain in both cities. This work has taken form by individual initiative – reaching out to each other and inviting one another to our respective home cities’ events, and by keeping open channels of communication among all of us. Our organizations support our work, and we are eager to realize success from work still to come. Those organizations include (at a minimum): Cleveland.com, Cleveland Bridge Builders, Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club, iCleveland, Young Lawyers Section of the Bar Association, and SayYES! to Cleveland. The next major Brain Gain event in Cleveland is on September 30. Information on it is attached. We’d all be happy to provide more details on the Cleveland event, and on our growing partnership with our friends in Akron. from Cool Cleveland reader Laura E. Steinbrink, Cleveland Bridge Builders http://www.clevelandbridgebuilders.org
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) They love Cleveland A cathedral to rock music, top-tier art museum, walkable ‘hoods and ethnic eateries enable the city to chuck its Rust Belt in Lake Erie.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/travel/9348380.htm
2) They love Cleveland Part Two Isn’t it funny how people who visit Cleveland from out of town rave about the city at the top of their lungs, while most of our natives just grumble. Check out the raves from The Charlotte Observer and a wine connoisseur out of New York.
www.SportsNetwork.com
3) Cool Cleveland’s Art/Tech/Dance events are a fun way to spend a few hours after work meeting the right people in Cleveland who are making a difference in our city.
www.CoolCleveland.com
4) Cool Cleveland Interview Parma Mayor Dean DePiero Recently elected Mayor Dean DePiero is a Parma native and seen by many as a popular and welcome voice for reform.
www.CoolCleveland.com
5) Coventry Street Fair redux Another Coventry Street Fair/Farmers’ Market is scheduled for Thu 8/12, and according to Cleveland Heights Police estimates, their last go-round drew 4,000 people.
http://www.coventryvillage.org/market.htm
Fresh media means fresh content Finally, Clevelanders have a choice and they’re supporting the new media resources in town. If you’re digging diversity, then you’re helping us out at CC; thanks to our readers who improve our city by getting involved in it, while sustaining alternative media by checking out CoolCleveland.com. Now you can tell people you regularly engage with to see our website and discover what’s new in town. Send along friends and co-workers to register for the e-zine at http://www.CoolCleveland.com (and check out the new site) or have ’em send an e-mail to signup@coolcleveland.com
Souped up marketing action Get it with advertising that works hard for you; the future of business depends on internet viral marketing that has proven effectiveness. How to get it? Advertise with CoolCleveland.com and witness firsthand how weekly advertising into the tens of thousands of our subscribers’ inboxes can impact your company’s bottom line. Our readers visit the links to our sponsors, and then forward CC e-zine to more readers who are exposed to our advertisers. Find out more by emailing us a note to info@coolcleveland.com and we’ll get right back to you.
Hard Corps intervention With their frenetic weekly contributions, they deliver abundant events, critical reviews and cultural content with aplomb, thanks to Tisha Nemeth, Deb Remington, Vince Robinson, Linda Eisenstein, TL Champion, 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 endures…
–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com. (:divend:)