Dare You To Think

Dare You To Think

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland Interview with Alternative Press Editor-in-Chief Jason Pettigrew
* Cool Cleveland Sounds review of Chris Nekvinda’s CD Picture Show by Peter Chakerian
* I Dare You to Think review by Tisha Nemeth-Loomis of Malcolm Gladwell’s book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
* RoldoLINK Rich Enjoy A Gilded “Gilded Age” with Bush by Roldo Bartimole

Cool Cleveland Interview
Jason Pettigrew

For 20 years, Alternative Press magazine has been ahead of the curve when it comes to rock talent bubbling up from deep underground. Careers have started for many at AP, not only for musicians, but for top entertainment journalists and photographers in the country as well. And best of all, this national music mag launched itself and emergent musical talent right here in Cleveland, Ohio.

At the top of that journalistic heap sits Jason Pettigrew, AP Editor-In-Chief and shrewd underground music pundit. Known for insightful reviews and interviews with teeth — some biting, others gnashing — his wit is equally razor-sharp. He recently talked to Cool Cleveland about the anatomy of the Cleveland music scene, this summer’s co-sponsored College Music Journal (CMJ) Rock Hall MusicFest showcase, trends, do-it-yourself ethos and AP’s impending 20th Anniversary.

Do you have a sense of expectations for the upcoming CMJ/Rock Hall MusicFest showcase here on June 9-11?
I expect that, in many cases, some bands will be playing to each other’s entourages. This is not a dis at CMJ or the Rock Hall. But sometimes the obvious escapes all of us, this ranter included. The city’s constituents need to be educated as to what the CMJ event means for Cleveland. Your average Clevelander has never been to a music-industry conference. They have had no massive exposure to a scope of different genres of music and artists. Clevelanders will support winners and popular events, so long as they see a chance to get bragging rights.

Has the collective at Alternative Press considered utilizing its intellectual capital and industry knowledge to take on a music showcase similar to the CMJ?
It’s crazy enough trying to run a magazine with only 15 full-time people. The logistics of a huge event seem terrifying to me. Some things I can’t see delegating to people. I can hear the message-board bitching now: “AP took our $500 fee and put our techno-pop band on a showcase with Blood Priest and Corpse Vomit.” And it would be the first time we heard about it, way after the fact. And don’t forget the politics: Say the CEO of a big mega-sponsor has a nephew who plays in a Creed cover band and they need a gig to work out their, ahem, “originals.” Catch my drift?
Read Cool Cleveland People with Jason Pettigrew here

Peter Lewis resigns from Guggenheim board Clevelander and philanthropist Peter Lewis recently jumped ship as chairman of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, due to disagreement with the institution’s plans for international expansion. He was a trustee of the museum since the early ’90s and also the top giver, having donated $77 million over the past several years. Maybe Lewis’ goodwill will overflow in Cleveland now that his contribution interests have shifted. See Newsday here

The Democracy of Hip-Hop Engaging Our Youth in the Political Process is storming the City Club. Bakari Kitwana, adjunct professor of political science at Kent State University is addressing youth at The City Club of Cleveland this week. New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today have acknowledged him as an expert on youth culture, hip-hop politics and activism. Kiwana is the author of The Hip-Hop Generation: Young Blacks and the Crisis in African American Culture, The Rap on Gangsta Rap, and the forthcoming Why White Kids Love Hip-Hop. In efforts to relate to the generation, he is also planning the upcoming National Hip-Hop Politics Convention, bringing together activists to recognize the potential of the Hip-Hop Generation as a voting bloc. He’s addressing youth this Thursday at The City Club. http://www.CityClub.org

Cool Cleveland’s Night Out gets ink It’s always a lift to us when Cool Cleveland gets noticed for improving the economy and the arts in Cleveland. Not only did the Cool Cleveland party on 1/14 flood the lobby of the State Theatre with hundreds of our friends and supporters jamming out with DanceCleveland’s Momix dance-illusionist troupe, we also snagged some sweet coverage of the event. But we were just doing what we do best: connecting Clevelanders with cool things to do and people to meet. Read PDQ here, and see some party photos here.

A cool market for Downtown Cool Cleveland Art/Tech/Dance-goers already know the spot – it’s where we had our massive networking party in The Bingham Building last 7/29/04 in the Warehouse District. Downtown residents are making the upgrade to their living environments, and they’re digging The Bingham Building’s food market in their building. Finally a supermarket in Downtown! See here

Hillcrest Council discusses regionalism It’s the oncoming train that’s headed in our direction: regionalism is being discussed by the Hillcrest Council of Councils, a consortium of East side Cleveland cities determined to overcome our region’s balkanized political structures and come to consensus on large regional issues and collaborate on solutions. Unfortunately, they are still thinking small (one suggestion was to reduce costs by sharing the services of an arborist), and should move more quickly to find bigger tax savings by eliminating entire departments from each of the individual cities and replacing them with one regional approach. See the article here

Why Walmart? Mega-cities such as Los Angeles are fighting to keep Walmart from their borders, so why is Cleveland on the verge of allowing the world’s largest welfare queen to set up shop in the proposed Steelyard Commons retail development planned for land on the Cuyahoga on the site of a former steel mill? Columnist and editor Pete Kotz summarizes nicely: the average Walmart worker is paid so little, they each have to receive $2000 per year in public subsidies for school lunches, housing, and especially health care. It’s so bad in California, that it costs taxpayers $86 million a year. Why? Walmart pays 31% less to their workers, and a Chicago study found their labor practices actually would cause a loss of 65 jobs in the neighborhood where a store was planned. If Cleveland doesn’t get a backbone soon, we’ll lose more than self-respect. See here

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Stylish, Affordable City Living The Townhouses at Courtland Court, located in the Bridge Square area of Detroit Shoreway, could be your dream home. These 3-level units feature open, contemporary floor plans, 2-3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a 1st floor bonus room, vaulted ceilings on the third level, and attached garages. Special financing and 15 year tax abatement offer a great enticement. Close to new construction, with views of historic St. Stephen’s Church, you’re within minutes of Edgewater Park, Cleveland Public Theater, West 25th Street, downtown and so much more. With prices starting at $159,900, your monthly payment could be as low as $889 per month. (P&I payment with 5% down, sales price $159,900, 4.5% rate, 4.528% APR, 30 yr. fixed rate mortgage, $20/mo. taxes, PMI $98.74.) Located off of W. 54th St., just south of Bridge, the townhouses will be open Sun 1/30 2-4 PM. For a complete list of open houses this weekend, please visit www.ProgressiveUrban.com
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

County to fund smaller arts groups While the first round of Cuyahoga County’s first-ever public arts funding program (called ACE: Arts and Culture as Economic Development) gave almost all of its $206K to large institutions like the Musuem of Art and the Orchestra in 2004, they are reserving 40% of the next round for groups with budgets of less than $1.5 million. And the best part? They’ve upped the total they’re giving to the arts in 2005 to $575K. If you’re interested in learning how to apply for this money, come to one of the public meetings planned for Thu 2/3 from 6:30-8:30PM at Lakewood Library, 15425 Detroit Ave; on Tues 2/8 from 6:30-8:30PM at Cleveland Heights City Hall, 40 Severance Circle; and Fri 2/11 from 2-4PM at the Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Catch all the details at http://www.cuyahogacounty.us/development

Reach young professionals with Cool Cleveland
Pop us an email and we’ll show you how. Click here: Info@CoolCleveland.com

Neighborhood Connections is an enterprising program coming out of The Cleveland Foundation, directing small grants to community groups for neighborhood projects. Two sessions are scheduled for grant-seekers on Wed 1/26 at 4:30PM, at Lorain Library, 8216 Lorain Road and Mon 1/31 at 6:30PM at MLK, Jr. Library, 1962 Stokes Boulevard. Please attend one of the sessions to learn how to correctly fill out application materials, and to develop an effective proposal for your project. Deadline is 2/18 Call 861-3810. http://www.NeighborhoodGrants.org

What’s the strategy? Even the editorial page of the PD [here] questions the rush to assume we need a new convention center, especially in light of the new report from the Brookings Institution that the convention business, hurt by 9/11, is at a 12-year low, that 44 communities are building or planning new convention centers which have glutted the market, and that “incentives” such as deep discounts and publicly-financed hotels are being offered (on top of publicly financed bonds to build the centers), exacerbating the “arms race” with competing cities. Instead of focusing the debate on where a center might be built, the Convention Facilities Authority should determine a regional strategy that makes sense for a city of our size, with our cultural assets, for the new millenium. Download the Brookings report here and read it.

Mary Zone, RIP She served four terms as councilwoman on Cleveland City Council from 1974 to 1981 and was a well-known community activist: the founding board member of the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (CDO) and the Nolasco Housing Organization. And she helped create the Cleveland EMS after waiting 50 minutes for an ambulance for her husband. Donations can be made to Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, 1355 West 70th Street, Cleveland, 44102. Hospice of The Western Reserve, 300 East 185th Street, Cleveland, 44119, and the Center for Families and Children, 4500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, 44103. Call 244-3097.

Hard Hatted Women excelerated The SBC Excelerator Grant was awarded to Hard Hatted Women to implement the third phase of their technology plan, including an upgrade for the organization’s website to make it more interactive for trainees, donors and members of the community. In 2004, Hard Hatted Women provided technical assistance to 150 unions and corporations, introduced more than 1,000 school children to careers in construction and manufacturing, and provided career development services and training opportunities to more than 500 women. http://www.HardHattedWomen.org

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Is Mozart Seeing RED? Would you be mad if one of your favorite creations – a personal composition designed to delight ONLY your closest circle of friends – was celebrated by the masses after you demanded that it never be published? And if so, would you seek revenge by coming back centuries later? That would explain why pianos are mysteriously vanishing from Red’s exclusive showing of “3,2,1…Piano.” Check out the orchestra’s special one-day concert on Sun 1/30 at 3PM. RED aims to achieve two goals with this program: to show the changing role of the soloist in relation to the orchestra, and to accentuate it by moving from three pianos to two and then to one. This program features Sergei Babayan and Christina and Michelle Naughton (twin 15-year-old sisters). Contact 440-519-1733 or http://www.redanorchestra.com for more information.
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Call for rock’n’roll jewelry Artists, submit your jewelry or lovely objects (wearable or not) that are influenced by Rock & Roll – it may be drawn from a lyric, song title, album, artist or group, a style of music, or landmark music event. Work submitted must be original and made within the last two years, and a 25 pound weight limit is placed on all work. Works will be featured in a juried exhibition of Jewelry, Metalwork, and Enameling influenced by Rock ‘n Roll which will take place on 6/25 through 8/7 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. For info email jmdombcik@yahoo.com

More jewelry shows “On The Verge” is a SNAG 2005 Juried Student Exhibition coming into our part of town on 6/24 through 7/25 at The Reinberger Galleries, The Cleveland Institute of Art. And “Learning Curves,” a SNAG Student Slide Exhibition 2005 is seeking entries for the Form Conference “Intersection” on 6/22–25 in Cleveland. The Society of North American Goldsmiths Deadline to receive entries is Tue 2/1. The Exhibition will open to the public on 6/24, with the SNAG 2005 Gallery tour and opening receptions on 7/25. For info call 798-6149, or obtain an entry form at http://www.SnagMetalSmith.org

Mentoring month in Cleveland The Mentoring Month Forum is inviting Carla Herra from Public Private Venture, a leader in program reviews and outcome measurements, and a National Big Brother Big Sister, to discuss the current site-based mentoring study being conducted in 10 cities in conjunction with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America. Also, nationally noted author Eric Lui will speak about his newly released book Guiding Lights, a compilation of mentoring success stories from around the country. Join them on Mon 1/31 at 8:30AM-3PM. Continental breakfast and a lunch will be provided. Maxine Goodman Levine College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University, 1717 Euclid Ave. Register at http://www.bbbs-cleveland.org/mentoringmonth.asp

Feelin’ healthy, Cleveland? The Cleveland Department of Public Health has some suggestions on how to keep that New Year’s resolution: Start slowly. Find an exercise buddy. Use your time wisely. Weight-loss pills, muscle-building powders, or muscle-triggering electrodes might sound like a quick fix, but there’s no proof that they work. You should try to drink up to eight, 8-ounce glasses of water each day and include more fruits and vegetables in your diet, and always check with your doctor. Call 664-4310.

Backstage Passes introduces students and community members to the many career options in the visual and performing arts. Get a “behind-the-scenes” perspective from SCA Staff and local professionals in the field of your interest – whether it’s in music, theater, dance or art. Discussions will be moderated by students from Solon High School. Take advantage of these complimentary sessions to ask questions with an in depth discussion about exciting futures in the arts on Tue 2/1 from 7-8PM, meet Richard Zimmerman, President of ZZ Design, at SCA to discuss his career in graphic design, architecture, city planning and management for over 30 years. Call 440-337-1400. Solon Center for the Arts, 6315 SOM Center Rd. http://www.SolonArts.org

Angle #18 Devour Doug Utter’s feature story titled Earth, Wind + Fire on Hildur Ásgeirsdóttir Jónsson’s new body of work, inspired by the poetic sparseness of Icelandic landscape, on view at MOCA Cleveland this Fri 1/28 through 5/1. Theatre aficionado Linda Eisenstein lays out What’s Missing in Cleveland Theatre?, and Amy Sparks reviews the most recent SPACES show, Home on the Edge, in which artists’ fetishization of household objects display a domestic autobiographical feast for the eyes. Find Angle at your fave alternative space or receive your own subscription by surfing over to http://www.AngleMagazine.org%% A Cool Cleveland partner

There She Goes Clevelander Dawn Zidonis of There She Goes introduces her handmade handbags and accessories which are featured at cool spaces such as Hector Vega’s Artefino Cafe, Buzz Gallery on W. 25th, and Artspace at MOCA. With more venues planned to take on her specialty items for 2005, she’s one Clevelander making fashion happen locally. Call 401-5146 or surf to http://www.There-She-Goes.com

R U Podcasting? Sounds odd, but it’s rad: it’s called poscasting. First you record Internet radio or similar internet audio programs. The recordings are then made available for download to portable digital audio devices, such as an iPod, which is the way to go if you want to listen to programs while you’re away from your computer. If you’d be interested in listening to a Cool Cleveland podcast, drop us a note to Letters@CoolCleveland.com and visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting

Clinic gives to schools In a welcome but somewhat surprising announcement, Cleveland Clinic chief executive Toby Cosgrove told the City Club last week that they would be spending $10 million over five years to help connect Cleveland Public Schools to the OneCleveland ultra-high-speed broadband network, and offering paid internships to top science students from every high school. The timing of the announcement appeared to be in response to a recent effort by Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis to encourage voluntary payments by the region’s plethora of non-profits, such as the Clinic, which pay no taxes supporting public schools. See press release here.

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Heed The Call of the Wild This Valentine’s Day! Feel the animal magnetism and jungle heat this Valentine’s Day at Animal Attractions, Cleveland Zoological Society’s annual winter benefit. Held on Thu 2/10 from 6:30 – 9PM, this hot and steamy party is happening in the Zoo’s RainForest – where you’ll learn fun facts about animal courtship and mating habits from the Zoo’s charismatic curators and keepers. Get a peek behind-the-scenes at the RainForest with the Zoo’s interesting and engaging animal care staff. Enjoy fine food from Fulton Bar & Grill, Sage Bistro, Johnny Mango, Fire, Sweet Mosaic, Inc., and Ben & Jerry’s. Quench your fire and heat your desires with cool libations from Jacob’s Creek and Sam Adams – all while touring the hottest place in town. Tickets are $30 for Zoo members and online reservations or $35 for non-members; proceeds benefit Cleveland Zoological Society. Click here for reservations or call 216.635.3324.
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Cleve tech companies hiring According to the NEOSA survey that Cool Cleveland pointed you to last week, 52% of the 100 Cleveland area tech firms who responded to the survey said they plan to hire in the next 12 months. 38% of those who responded said they were having a hard time or some difficulty finding top technical talent in NEO, and 83% thought their business will do better or much better this year when compared to the last 12 months. For complete results of the survey go to: here

The history of English can be found at the Online Etymology Dictionary, which maps the planks of modern English. Etymologies are not definitions; they’re explanations of what our words meant and how they sounded 600 or 2,000 years ago. http://www.etymonline.com

Return of Latin Perspective The radio show featuring Afro-Cuban music hosted by Tony V is rising out of the ashes, returning to WRUW 91.1 FM every Saturday evening from 5-6 PM. After much controversy when the show was pulled, we’re encouraged to see diversity supported on the airwaves. The show can also be heard on the web at http://www.wruw.org or email latinperspective@hotmail.com

C-town rocks As part of its Black History Month celebration, the Cleveland State University Black Studies Program is propping up local musicians who have a history of performing in other countries. Musicians who make the cut will be recognized at “C-Town Rocks the World” on Fri 2/11 at 7PM in the University Center Auditorium, Room 6, 2121 Euclid Ave. Featured performer is Dub Flex, with a special guest presentation on Motown by Harold Keith Taylor, author of Motown Music Machine. Four musicians and a top awardee will be recognized in each of the following categories: Negro Spirituals, Contemporary Gospel, Traditional Gospel, Reggae, Blues, Traditional Jazz, Rhythm & Blues/Soul, Contemporary Jazz, and Hip Hop. Find info by calling 687-3655. http://www.csuohio.edu/blackstudies

Accessorize for Success The Junior League of Cleveland is in the business of developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. This Sun 1/30, they are hosting Accessorize for Success to collect shoes, purses, belts, scarves, and accessories as a benefit for the organization Dress for Success. Bring your donations to League House, 10819 Magnolia Dr. in University Circle between 11AM – 2PM.

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
School of Rock & Roll The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum is offering a monthly series of educational, discussion-based night classes offered free of charge from 7 to 8:30PM on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Jason Hanley, musicologist and Education Programs Manager at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum, will lead classes, which are geared towards adults interested in gaining more knowledge about rock and roll history. Each class will include presentations, music, video clips, and group discussions. The first class will be held Wed 1/26 at Harkness Chapel on the Case Western Reserve University campus. For more information and directions please click here
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Cool Cleveland This Week
1.26-2.2

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

It’s Time We Got Along With competition and communication breakdown in the workplace, this workshop from the American Marketing Association will direct business professionals onto the right track. President of Effective Training & Communication, Inc., Phil Stella, will lead the way to reducing or eliminating tension while enhancing communication strategies for sales and marketing specialists on Thu 1/27 from 8AM-Noon. Call 440-527-0191. The Forum Conference Center, 1375 E. Ninth St. http://cleveland.marketingpower.com

Smart Start Serving up freshly squeezed creative thoughts and warm words of wisdom, along with a delicious continental breakfast at HealthSpace Cleveland’s all new professional speakers’ series. This month, Hal Becker, internationally known customer service and sales expert, will dish on his experiences with numerous companies: IBM, Disney, Blue Cross, AT&T, Nordstrom’s, New York Life, American Greetings, Continental Airlines, and hundreds more. He’ll present “Going to the Next Level,” concentrating on valuable coaching and leadership skills, plus insights that have proven effective for several Fortune 100 companies on Thu 1/27 from 7:30-10AM. Register by calling 231-6937. HealthSpace Cleveland, 8911 Euclid Ave. http://www.HealthSpaceCleveland.org

Chalk Outline Party CD release They’re screeching in from Pittsburgh, and they’d love to make Cleveland their home away from home. They’ve got a new album A Plan Lost in Dreams, with a salutary nod toward noise-making and rigid rock ‘n roll. They’re pairing up with tech-tweaking special guests 20GOTO10 (remember Gary Numan and the Eurythmics?) and Travelogue’s throw-back analog synthster scene on Fri 1/28 at 9PM. Hi-Fi Club, 11729 Detroit Ave. http://www.ChalkOutLineParty.com

Connect is a fusion of performance, process, and party in an intense experience of live music, dance, visual and new media art and interactive performance. Cleveland composer Ryan Lott explores the potential of artistic partnership across several musical genres, from hip-hop and experimental electronica to rock and chamber music, and across a variety of visual media, including dance and video. The evening is arranged in three parts, two of which feature live performances, and a third which allows patrons time to view the art in the space, visit the video installation area, and relax as a DJ spins on Fri 1/28 thru 1/30. Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Ave. http://www.cptonline.org

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
This Valentine’s Day, romance your sweetheart in Cleveland Explore all that Greater Cleveland has to offer this Valentine’s Day weekend with a package from our many participating partners! Get out of your igloo and indulge in romantic dinners, a journey through galleries, catch a live show, or barrel down an ice chute!…then unwind with one of our many relaxing overnight hotel packages. Show your sweetheart something other than your living room sofa and show your city some rediscovered love with tickets to one of the many exciting events taking place in Greater Cleveland! From gallery hopping to Cavaliers games to arts and cultural events, there is something for everyone to enjoy – and who knows, you might even get some loving! For a complete list of restaurants, hotels and events, log on to www.TravelCleveland.com/valentine
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Esplanade, Continuo, and Appalachian Spring For one perfect night of visuals and movement, Verb Ballets New Classics Collection ignites your imagination out of the cold with newly conceived sets of scenic designs, costumes and contemporary movement in a set of four bills that’ll mesmerize the eye, including the Carmina Burana world premiere from Hernando Cortez and Carl Orff on Fri 1/28 at 8PM. Call 241-6000. Playhouse Square’s Ohio Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave. http://www.VerbBallets.org and http://www.PlayhouseSquare.com/Events/EventsCalendar.aspx

MOCA Cleveland’s Winter/Spring opening Run out to get busy at their opening party unveiling two new exhibitions by Jim Hodges and Hildur Ásgeirsdóttir Jónsson. Hodges will lead an informal discussion about his exhibiton in the galleries to start off, followed by a wine tasting courtesy of Langdon Shiverick and complimentary hors d’ oeuvres from Bossa Nova, OPA and The Old Angle. A Latin-infused soundtrack will heat the eve provided by Detroit’s John Beltran of Ubiquity Recordings on Fri 1/28 at 6:30PM. Attend the opening and receive admission a complimentary beverage at the after party hosted at the B-Side Liquor Lounge in Coventry. Call 421-8671. MOCA, 8501 Carnegie Ave. http://www.MocaCleveland.com/exhibitions/exhibitions_current.asp

Vintage SOUL The hyped and hot SOUL Art Collective are hosting their second art exhibition, partnering with All City Classics, a vintage urban wear store. Featuring the works of local Cleveland artists as well as clothing from the store. In addition to the artwork, participants will enjoy hors d’oeuvres SOUL Art Collective’s mission is to provide opportunities for increased exposure to Greater Cleveland’s growing artistic community by hosting events in various, diverse venues around the city with a perfect mélange of excellent artwork, entertainment and cultural enlightenment on Sat 1/29 at 7PM. Call 849-6436. All City Classics, 1649 Lee Rd. http://www.ClevelandSoul.com

Film (and other ARTS) Feasts is a series of parties, soirees and gatherings to celebrate all that is film and art-related in Cleveland. Their next event features special guest Les Roberts, voted “Cleveland’s Favorite Author,” Les Roberts came to mystery writing after twenty-four years in Hollywood, having written and/or produced more than 2,500 half hours of network and syndicated television with an intimate dinner with this remarkable man on Sat 1/29 at 7:30PM. Receive more details on this event and purchase tickets at 623-FILM, ext. 10 or surf over to to http://www.ClevelandFilm.org

Xela at Arabica Tried and true as a visual artist, a writer of poetry, musician, and a teller of tales, Xela is always in creative motion as an ever evolving work in progress and a vocalist capable of sweet mellow blues and jazz tones. Xela has three of four full length professionally self produced CD’s (for sale at every show) which run the gamut of musical creativity from original solo acoustic sounds, to full band studio concocted mayhem. Hear what happens on Sat 1/29 at 9PM. Call 791-0300. Arabica Coffee House, 11300 Juniper Rd. in University Circle.

The Yoga Room at Eight Limbs offers complimentary yoga classes all day in honor of Yoga Day USA – a national celebration of yoga. Classes are for all levels including new beginners. 90 minute sessions begin at 9:30; 11:30; 1:30; and 3:30 and include bend yourself like a pro with basic postures, breathing, and relaxation on Sat 1/29 from 9AM-5PM. No prior yoga experience is necessary. At 2026 Murray Hill Rd. upstairs, near the corner of Mayfield Rd & Murray Hill. No need to register, just drop in. http://www.TheYogaRoomAtEightLimbs.com

WCLVnotes One of the great college choirs of the nation visits Severance Hall next Mon 1/31, at 7:30PM – the internationally acclaimed St. Olaf Choir conducted by Anton Armstrong. And WCLV 104.9 will be there to broadcast the program live. Sunday at 3PM on 104.9, two women college presidents will be the guests on “Arts on the Air”. Georgia Nugent, President of Kenyon College; and Nancy Dye, President of Oberlin College; will be interviewed by Barb Galbincea, Education Reporter for the Plain Dealer. a Cool Cleveland partner www.wclv.com

Cleveland’s Feminist Chorus Windsong fuels positivity for women through their participation in the performance of music and is focused on establishing social change through their performance of music that supports women and women composers, while fostering diversity, and environmental responsibility. If you’ve never heard a feminist voice-fest, this is one that builds community and provides education through partnerships with organizations.; hear their winter concert Sat 1/29 at 7:30PM. Call 368-6522. St. Alban Church, 2555 Euclid Hts. Blvd. (corner of Edgehill) in Cleveland Hts. http://www.geocities.com/windsongchorus

Hip-hop/Jazz Funk Based on jazz, hip-hop and a bit of modern movement; find your body’s ability to move with focus on body isolations, precision, line and rhythm. Open to men and women of all levels who want to get down with the groove on Sun 1/30 from 7-8:15PM. MorrisonDance instructors guide and and move you to a new level of exhilaration. Call 281-9558. W. 42nd or Lorain Ave. http://www.MorrisonDance.com

Last Piano Standing Red, an orchestra conducted by Jonathan Sheffer, is putting on a new show, and as usual, the atmosphere will be relaxed and engaging. Narration and visual effects will add to the ambience as the orchestra plays a program that covers three centuries and features Mozart’s Concerto for Three Pianos, the Saint-Saëns bestiary, Carnival of the Animals and Sergei Prokofiev’s rarely preformed Fifth Concerto. Catch it on Sun 1/30 with a concert talk at 2:15 and concert at 3PM. Call 440-519-1733. Masonic Auditorium, 3615 Euclid Ave. http://www.RedAnOrchestra.org

Disappearing Wetlands The JASON Expedition is exploring the threatened wetlands ecosystems that provide a habitat for an incredible diversity of plants and animals. The public is invited to participate Mon 1/31 through February 4 at Case Western Reserve University during these complimentay public broadcasts. Related activities commence at 4PM in Case’s Ford Auditorium in Allen Memorial Medical Library, 11000 Euclid Ave. Be part of the JASON Expedition broadcasts and call 368-5057 or email kmk21@case.edu. http://www.cwru.edu/artsci/csm

Economic Development Starts with the Development of our Young Children Strengthen the foundation of our region’s economic transformation by tightening the connection between early childhood education and regional economic development, at this two-part forum to encourage a new type of economic development thinking. Long term regional economic development depends on quality care for our young children; this initiative will bring together professionals in our region. Show up on Tue 2/1 from 4-6PM. Cleveland Museum of Natural History, University Circle, Rare Book Room. Register online at http://www.weatherhead.case.edu/rei/events/register.cfm

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

I Dare You to Think (Without Thinking)
Review of Blink:The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
by Malcolm Gladwell

Recently there has been a noticeable palaver filling the air in Cleveland, and you might have heard it: the increased communication among business professionals, educators and politicians, with some resultant strategic alliances, partnerships, and collaborations newly infused into the city. While these conscious decision-making efforts and conversations between divergent groups in Cleveland have increased, can these conscious-driven discussions transcend to a new level? Could we learn the underpinnings of unconscious intellect, and perhaps mine it for answers within the underrated and often overlooked instinctual unconscious? I’m talking about our capability for spontaneous thinking.

Many of us have shared the universal experience of spurning a gut instinct to react or act upon a fleeting feeling that washes over us automatically. What happens when you give in to these feelings and instincts, and is it trustworthy? Making split decisions in the blink of an eye, in a knee-jerk or instinctive gut reaction, is highlighted in Gladwell’s newest book, giving a nod toward progressive thinking and alternative answer-mining of the intellect. Perhaps our guts are leading us in the right direction when it comes to listening to our inner selves; it’s clean and immediate, while the normal process of decision making is often prone to a cluttered “over thinking” and rational analysis. Blink dares you to think beyond the conscious din of thoughts, citing research that points to the human ability to make decisions on an unconscious, instantaneous level. Here, the unthinkable option is presented: sometimes it is preferable and advantageous to go with our “heart instead of our head.” Gladwell provides gripping research and well-written stories that confirm what we never would’ve expected: gut feelings can be an untraditional, legitimate way of executing real thinking…
Read the review by Tisha Nemeth-Loomis here

Cool Cleveland Sounds
Picture Show
Chris Nekvinda

You can call him “jangly” or “rootsy” if you like, just don’t call Cleveland singer-songwriter Chris Nekvinda trendy. The cosmopolitan-cool found in Nekvinda’s Midwestern folk sound is merely a side-effect of character development and sincerity. Nekvinda’s style owes as much to Boston as it does to Austin – evidenced by last year’s semi-live EP, People Like You. His new, full-length release Picture Show is not a note-for-note redux of that disc, but it does feature more fleshed-out and realized versions of the best tunes from People. His songs are filled with wounded idealists, rustbelt denizens and yearning souls filling in road diaries as they enjoy blue plate specials. As with People, each character’s testimony takes on the glowing hum of fading streetlights at dusk. Yet there’s always a glimmer of hope in everything Nekvinda writes. The arrangements are tight and his voice sounds stronger than they have in the past – particularly “Drink Another Round,” the reverent “Lost in America” and chiming “Faith.” And in the couple instances where he vocally veers off-key, it’s totally within the character he is singing from (see the pint-glass contemplation “Darwin”). If you’re the type that digs the No Depression sound, but longs for a little more hopefulness, then Nekvinda’s yarns should be right up your alley. The guitar playing is delicate and the mix is never overwhelming – it transmutes any frustrations the characters have into a moment of melodic clarity. The full-blown arrangements of his songs are filled with contemplative beauty are really. Accompaniment clearly translates well in the studio and the live setting for him. He cites Ellis Paul and Glen Phillips (of Toad the Wet Sprocket) as influences, but Nekvinda’s postcards have a sweet, low-down feeling that owe as much to Cheryl Wheeler, BoDeans, Richard Shindell and Peter Stuart. http://www.ChrisNekvinda.com

from Cool Cleveland contributor Pete Chakerian peter_chakerian@yahoo.com

Cool Cleveland Preview
? and the Mysterians, the Hentchmen, New Planet Trampoline
@ the Beachland Ballroom 1/29
It’s gonna be an organ-grinding kind of night at the Beachland when this three-way Farfisa fracas hits the Ballroom stage. Headliners ? and the Mysterians are justifiably legendary for creating what might be the first and last word in classic ’60s garage rock – “96 Tears,” and nearly 40 years on, they still put on an incendiary show. Detroit-based openers the Hentchmen take inspiration from the same raw sound and add pure gearhead muscle, with a bevy of hooky songs about cars and girls. It’s local boys New Planet Trampoline, though, who might send the show into the stratosphere. While equally attached to an organ-driven vintage sound, the band’s whirling blasts of psychedelia set them apart from much of the garage rock fold. It’s a night to stomp, shout, groove and, maybe, trip out a little. Bring your sunglasses; you’ll need them in the morning. http://www.BeachlandBallroom.com
from Cool Cleveland contributor Leslie Basalla lbasalla77@msn.com

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
CoolCleveland Delivers with Optiem When CoolCleveland needed to improve email deliverability and ensure legal compliance, they turned to the Opticast™ email platform from Optiem. Opticast™ allows organizations of any size to design dynamic communications – which leverage the personalization that email affords. Use surveys, segmentation, and dynamic content to build greater loyalty with your customers – all while leaving the IT hassle to someone else. To learn more about Opticast™ or any of Optiem’s other interactive marketing solutions, contact Optiem at info@optiem.com. Optiem. Fuel For Bright Companies. www.Optiem.com

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

RoldoLINK
Rich Enjoy A Gilded “Gilded Age” with Bush
By Roldo Bartimole

Many years ago, while at The Wall Street Journal, I participated in a round-up story the paper was doing on how wealthy people spent their money. Each WSJ bureau (Cleveland had one at that time) would come up with what it could, and send it to New York where one would hope to get a line or two in the article consolidated with other contributions. I remember one call was to Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns and active in other Cleveland businesses. I don’t even remember whether I spoke to him personally or to one of his spokespersons.

However, the answer I got, as I remember, was that Modell was selling his yacht, one of his major expenses as a “rich guy.” The reason: Too many hangers-ons had to be wined and dined on the boat, making it too expensive. What made me think about this again was a story in the Wall Street Journal before Xmas. “New Luxury Goods Set Super-Wealthy Apart Of Pack.” The article should be sent to anyone with less than a $100,000 income who voted for George Bush because those cited in the piece certainly benefited from Bush’s class war tax reductions against ordinary folk, carried out at the same time he’s trying to slice back, if not destroy, Social Security.

It might wake up some people to find that their and their children’s welfare is being eroded at an amazing clip by the conservative movement…
Read RoldoLINK by Roldo Bartimole 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

MOMIX @ State Theatre 1/14
It was an exciting night for dance in downtown Cleveland. DanceCleveland and the Cuyahoga Community College Center for Arts and Culture combined to bring Momix Dance Theatre to the State Theatre. This, combined with pre- and post-program parties sponsored by Cool Cleveland, produced an announced audience of 2500. Under the creative direction of Moses Pendleton, MOMIX is noted for displaying its dancer/illusionists via a unique mix of breathtaking images, creative humor and eclectic music. Opus Cactus, the program presented in their Cleveland appearance, a botanically-inspired creation, is a series of hallucinatory visions of the great American desert landscape…
Read the review by Roy Berko here

Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall 1/20
The Beethoven Piano Concerto Festival began this past week with pianist Radu Lupu performing Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58. Mr. Lupu, one of the finest pianists performing these days, gave us a beautiful but greatly understated performance of this great concerto. The opening movement contained an exquisite piano solo by Mr. Lupu. The understated play may have been most profound in the sublime second movement with its infamous call and response between the orchestra strings and piano. Mr. Lupu’s response to the aggressive play of the orchestra strings was defiantly passive…
Read the review by Brian Schriefer here

Tape @ Dobama’s Night Kitchen 1/21
What: Stephen Belber’s thriller about two old friends from high school — one now an aspiring filmmaker, the other a slacker drug dealer — whose reunion weekend at a local film festival goes dark-and-dirty as they recall a secret from their past.
Reasons to go: Director Adrienne Moon keeps the tension popping between her young cast. Justin Tatum is a properly poleaxed straight man as Jon, whose cooler-than-thou attitude toward his old stoner buddy Vince gets upended when he’s tricked into a confession about a drunken sexual encounter from senior year. Kristen Aschenbach is spot-on terrific as their nemesis Amy, who extracts her pound of flesh in a most satisfying way.
Caveats: Greg Wentz has plenty of goofball energy as the sleazy Vince, but his teddy bear looks make him less menacing than the script needs him to be. Belber’s “who’s playing who” dialogue has a few too many repetitions, but there are enough plot twists and turns and good performances to make for an enjoyable evening.
Backstory: Under Dobama’s shortened season, its late-night young company The Night Kitchen is playing at 9 pm instead of 11 pm, which ought to give regular theater patrons a chance to see their work. Belber’s “Tape” was made into a barely-seen film by indie slacker-meister Richard Linklater, starring Ethan Hawke & Uma Thurman. See it live with smart area actors for less than the price of a flick: tickets are $5 & $7.
Target audience: Fans of Tarantino and “True West”, this one’s for you.
Details: Dobama, 1846 Coventry, Cleveland Hts. 216-932-3396. Thru 2/6. http://www.dobama.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein linda@coolcleveland.com

The Children’s Hour @ Beck Center 1/23
What: Lillian Hellman’s 1934 drama about two schoolteachers accused of being lesbians by a vindictive student, and the havoc the lie wreaks in their lives.
Reasons to go: Mary Jane Nottage flutters splendidly as the narcissistic drama queen whose venom fuels the whisper campaign against her niece (a brooding Kristie Lang) and her friend Karen (the always sympathetic Jennifer Clifford). Heather Farr does a “Bad Seed” turn as a spoiled, bullying student, with Rhoda Rosen as her foolishly indulgent grandmother. Don McBride’s set — a slightly seedy schoolroom, contrasting with a swanky formal drawing room — is swell. Director Sarah May gets decent performances from her cast, including the kids, although Nicholas Koesters is subdued as Karen’s too-nice fiance.
Caveats: It may have been daring seventy years ago — when the “L-word” was so unspeakable that children were forbidden by law to act in Hellman’s play — but this dated, overlong melodrama doesn’t hold up well. It’s still topical, but the dramaturgy fairly creaks with a labored setup and purple characterizations, and the overheated handwringing of the climax is almost unwatchable.
Backstory: How’s this for loyalty and love of the art? This is set designer Don McBride’s 400th set for the Beck Center.
Target audience: Devotees of the classic American “serious” play.
Details: Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. 216-521-2540. Thru 2/13. http://www.beckcenter.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein linda@coolcleveland.com

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 Beachland Ballroom [here] We can’t thank you enough for all the support over the last few weeks -we’ve just had our rooms bursting at the seams with crowds that have left our bartenders reeling! The last few days have been no joke, either: our Peelander-Z/Lives of the Saints show was a wall-to-wall display of utter rock and complete fun; Neko Case and the Sadies charmed a packed room on Saturday…if you missed either of these gigs, for shame, for shame! from Cool Cleveland reader Katherine Isenhart katherine@beachlandballroom.com

On the best use of grant money for Cleveland Every city in the country is trying to provide the best nightlife, education, safety, housing, jobs, etc., and most cities fail or don’t know how to reach that goal. I propose we create “SIM Cleveland”, and create a virtual city where everything works, people work, people are happy, entertained and educated. We all have access to the lake for leisure, yet we can still use this tremendous resource to ship all of the steel and products our small manufacturers produce. We create a city without a divide, where young, old, and the Gen-Xers have everything they feel they must find in other cities. We build this virtual city, ideal city, with grant money as a benchmark of how to deliver services, education, jobs, and see what works and what doesn’t. It can be the model for all urban environments given a blank slate. We then see where we are now, and work on what is feasible to get to that goal. This may sound crazy, but how do you truly know what works or what will be a tremendous failure unless you can model the behavior of a decision. You create a “SIM-city”, a virtual city to see what happens and what works. What evolves is a type of research could be applied elsewhere to model other scenarios, other cities; so while we are solving our regional problems we are creating new areas of research that lead to growth. Example, everyone talks of regionalism, but how can we really know it will work! My big ideas, my small brain, my 2 cents.
from Cool Cleveland reader Edward Cardenas e2carden@hotmail.com

On a rock festival for Cleveland With everybody wringing their hands over the future of our city, we seem to be overlooking the obvious. New Orleans has a huge Jazz festival, Chicago a Blues festival. We are the supposed rock and roll capital. I love the Rock Hall but let’s expand this idea a bit. Why can’t we develop an International Rock and Roll Festival, celebrating rock and roll of the past, present and future. We have a huge number of venues that could take part, everything from area clubs to riverfront amphitheatres to arenas and stadiums. Our old Riverfest was a great start. Unfortunately, we needed to beef up the security and make sure they enforced the rules and remove people that have no intention of actually taking part and were just there to cause trouble. We have a great town. A little innovation is all that’s necessary. While I’m sure there are many forward thinking entrepreneurs out there, there are also quite a few small business owners out there masquerading as “visionary innovators” who are just there to rake in some money of their own while taking advantage of those who work for them and steal their ideas and attempt to make them their own. Please think of this on occasion instead of attempting to recognize such people as the future of our city.
from Cool Cleveland reader Dave Collins GoodguyDav@aol.com

On Cleveland’s convention center debate The Cleveland Restoration Society strongly urges that our community leaders coordinate their efforts to decide the locations of a new county administration building, a new convention center and other developments in downtown Cleveland. With the county leaving its current location on the Mall, we have a golden opportunity to finish the Mall Plan, link a hotel to the convention center and have county administration housed in one of Cleveland’s greatest historic landmarks: the Rotunda Building at East 9th and Euclid. New construction can be integrated with the old to create state-of-the-art facilities that capitalize on our region’s unique character. Historic preservation is a logical partner to Green Building techniques. Moreover, studies show that rehabilitation is more labor-intensive –more dollars are invested in local labor instead of in the purchase of building materials from outside the local economy…
Read the letter from Kathleen H. Crowther here

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Corrections
The photography credit for the gemINi photo in last week’s preview is Rosemary Marincil.

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) vYbe Snapshot Social activist, performer, and writer Kelly Harris is one the youngest full-time employee for the City of Shaker Heights, forging a new definition of up-and-coming young African American females in Cleveland. Vybe Kelly Harris

2) RoldoLINK Awaken Citizens, The Pickpockets Are Coming Again A brief conversation with a member of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Convention Facilities Authority reveals how seriously the city-county commission sees its job to determine the need of a new convention center. Roldo The Pickpockets Are Coming

3) CC Night Out was an unequivocal success, as Cool Cleveland jazzed up January with over 500 Clevelanders who spend a few hours with us at Playhouse Square before experiencing the unbelievable dance theatre of MOMIX. Guests jammed in theatre, networking, fine vintages, hors d’oeuvres, and tours of the mod art and murals in Cleveland’s theatre district. Night Out One

4) Urban Scrawl Speaking of innovative ideas, The Civic Innovation Lab’s Urban Scrawl is on display at the Cleveland Foundation. Cool Cleveland’s friends, colleagues, and other greater Clevelanders scrawled over 150 ideas on the Lab’s mural at the December Cool Cleveland Art/Tech/Dance event.http://www.civiclab.org

5) Convention center obsession Now, without resolving the question of whether or not the community needs a new center, the Convention Facilities Authority, itself funded in part by bed tax dollars that used to flow to the Convention & Visitors Bureau, is forging ahead with two proposed sites.here

Hard Corps are on it These people keep the CC experience readable, by delivering interesting ideas, people, and events which bolster up Cleveland onto the leading edge. Mad props to Tisha Nemeth-Loomis, Deb Remington, Leslie Basalla, Brian Schriefer, TL Champion, Peter Chakerian, Linda Eisenstein, Bill Nagode, George Nemeth, Rachel Jacobs, Ivan Jackson, Roldo Bartimole, Roy Berko, 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

Forward CC to a friend We know people don’t pay attention to aggravating marketing come-ons. Instead, people listen to their friends. Did someone turn you on to Cool Cleveland? Now you can do someone you know a favor, and pass on CC to them. The bonus? You’re the tip off connection for Cleveland’s cool stuff, and your friends receive the benefits from Cool Cleveland’s content. Send them to http://www.CoolCleveland.com, or drop us a note at Signup@CoolCleveland.com.

What are you thinking about?

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com (:divend:)