Eclectic

Eclectic

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland Interview with entrepreneur Tim Mueller
* Cool Cleveland People with Internet radio broadcaster John Hannibal
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, CC Blog click here
* Cool Cleveland Sounds review of Force Majeure by 409

This week, all over the map, we consider Cleveland’s future by talking with the city’s former Director of Development and respected Internet entrepreneur Tim Mueller, who put aside his career for a couple of years to assist Mayor Jane Campbell in making the city a friendlier place for business. How well did they succeed, and where do we go from here, are some of the topics we touch on in this week’s Cool Cleveland Interview. As the city gears up for the upcoming Mayoral election, click below to listen to Cleveland’s bloggers interview the candidates. They, at least, are listening. Seek out Cleveland’s new CityMusic Cleveland, kicking off their second season of no-charge concerts, spreading classical music to whole new audiences all around town. Catch one of Cleveland’s most eclectic performance groups, SAFMOD (stands for Sub Atomic Frequency Modulation Overdose) with their new work, Spectrum, at MOCA Cleveland in the latest installment of their hot MOCA Mix. If you haven’t seen them yet, take a date and be a hero. Express Cleveland’s famous philanthropic zeal and pop into the Big Easy Ball at Fat Fish Blue, or give your boogie shoes a workout with Cleveland’s Dazz Band and the United We Funk All-Stars at Playhouse Square. Tune in your computer to Radio Hannibal, commandeered by the “eclectic but not esoteric” multimedia impressario John Hannibal, profiled in this week’s Cool Cleveland People. Read Cool Cleveland Sounds for a review of Force Majeure from Cleveland ambient electronic maestros 409. Finally, take a kid out to see one of the guaranteed non-boring events listed in Cool Cleveland Kids, and do it quick, before they grow up. Or before you do. Stay eclectic. –Thomas Mulready

Cool Cleveland Interview
Tim Mueller

Tim Mueller has worn many hats: a sucessful Internet marketing entrepreneur, the first Chief Development Officer for the City of Cleveland, a dad, a husband (to CC Interview subject Susie Frazier Mueller here), and now he’s involved in another tech startup. Cool Cleveland’s creator Thomas Mulready has a heart-to-heart with Tim about their humble beginnings, the City’s politics, the nascent startup, and Tim’s pick for the next mayor.

Cool Cleveland: Start from the beginning. We used to share clients back in the early 90’s when you had your own design business in Lakewood. How did you get to be so rich and famous?

Tim Mueller: I think it can be boiled down to following your gut on opportunities, and being willing to risk reinvention over and over. I would say we reinvented Vantage One four different times over 10 years to seize opportunities.

What four changes did you go through?

We started off as a pure marketing and design firm, then a CD-ROM based interactive design firm. Then that morphed into a web-based, web development firm. Then by the end, we were a strong IT firm that didn’t have the constraints of just design or just IT. I smile now, because I see firms today that are successful and that is their model as well, such as BrandMuscle…
Read the interview with Tim Mueller here

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Explore the Magic The Friends of the Cleveland Public Library are celebrating our region’s rich history with “Treasures: Experience the Magic,” a hands-on premier of an exhibit highlighting the Library’s Special Collections. Transport yourself to other worlds through rarely seen books and artifacts with Library curators, and delight in a silent auction and reception, all set in the enchanting atmosphere of the landmark Main Library. The event is Sat 10/1 from 7:30PM to 11PM, in Cleveland Public Library’s Main Building, 325 Superior Avenue. Proceeds from this fundraising event will be used to support, enhance, and preserve the rich resources of the Main Library, and maintain funding for children’s literacy programming. Tickets range from $100 to $250 (VIP). For more information contact 216-623-2821 or www.cpl.org.
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Cleveland Mayoral Candidate Forums Cleveland voters will get several opportunities to get a closer look at the candidates in the Cleveland Mayoral Race before the Tue 11/8 General Election. Mayoral candidate forums will be held at St. Mary’s Romanian Orthodox Church at 3256 Warren Road on Thu 10/13 at 7PM; Our Lady of Peace Church at East 126th Street & Shaker Boulevard on Sun 10/16 at 7PM and the Main Library Downtown on Tue 10/25 at 6:30PM. For voting info visit the Board of Elections at http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/BOE/default.htm.

Candidate interview podcasts Representing what is the most insightful and in-depth coverage of the upcoming Cleveland Mayor’s race, a small coterie of Cleveland bloggers has interviewed and podcasted virtually all Mayoral candidates here. Cleveland’s leading bloggers, led by Cool Cleveland CIO George Nemeth of Brewed Fresh Daily, Tim Russo of Democrary Guy, and Bill Callahan of Callahan’s Cleveland Diary conducted the audio interviews. You don’t need any special software to listen to these in-person interviews. Just click and listen. Cool Cleveland will endorse a candidate in the Cleveland Mayor’s race after the primary. In the meantime, listen to the candidates themselves and decide for yourself. http://www.brewedfreshdaily.com/category/meet-the-bloggers.

Mike’s Barn final Sunday Check out what will most likely be the last Sunday session of the year at Mike’s Barn. For regulars and all those players that haven’t made it out this season; this may be your last chance to visit the Barn. They are closing out the season with one heck of a session; call 556-4539 or email michaelyates@alltel.net to perform on Sun 10/2 at 4PM or to get directions to Mike’s Barn in Elyria. Last week’s Blues for the Delta drew hundreds to hear Robert Lockwood, Jr., Cats On Holiday, special guest Buddy Miles and rising stars Kristine Jackson and Mary Bridget Davies. Read more about these two regular barn stormers here. Feel like sharing Mike’s Barn anecdotes? Send them to Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Ohio is #2 in Biodollars Minnesota and Ohio are still leading the Midwest and account for 60% of all health care venture investment in the region. As if that’s not impressive enough, this figure doesn’t even include private angel financed deals which have a major impact in both states. Cleveland, in particular, is looking sweeter and sweeter to biodollar investors according to a survey conducted by BioEnterprise. Read the Midwest Health Care Venture Investment Report here. Read the survey results here.

Cleveland #24 for entrepreneurs A bit of unexpected (and seemingly hidden) good news for our region, Entrepreneur Magazine has ranked the Cleveland-Akron area as #24 in the large city category. We beat out cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle and Minneapolis…pretty impressive. Read the article here. What are your thoughts on the local climate for entrepreneurs? Send your thoughts to Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

JumpStart supports Cleveland entrepreneurs Two former Goodyear execs and their partner want to have a major impact on the rubber industry. Their company, Delta Plant Technologies Inc., is getting a generous cash infusion of $660,000 from JumpStart Inc. This will aid the company as they explore cultivating a cheaper, fast-growing source of rubber that will produce an annual crop, as opposed to the seven years a rubber tree grown in Southeast Asia must grow before it can produce latex. Read the article here. Visit http://www.JumpStartInc.org to learn more.

Hey New Orleans artists: Move to Cleveland! To address the dire needs of artists in New Orleans, a number of Cleveland-area arts organizations met to discuss combined strategies. The group has convened by the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture and Terry Stewart, executive director of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, himself a native of Mobile, AL. Ideas ranged from offering space, resources, exhibition opportunities, musical instruments, artists supplies and free tix, to actually offering housing and living support for displaced artists. If you have housing space to offer to relocated artists, drop us a line at Info@CoolCleveland.com, and we’ll help coordinate.

CLOUT tries to focus Ohio legislature Long-time Cleveland attorney Stuart Garson founded the bi-partisan group, Civic League of Ohioans United Together, or Ohio CLOUT. The idea was born out of his frustration with what he considers “a do-nothing legislature.” The group wants state lawmakers to focus on issues that will have the most impact on residents of Ohio first; instead of pandering on hot-button issues like covenant marriage and concealed guns. They acknowledge the importance of these issues, but feel that they have to wait their turn. Read the article here. Visit CLOUT’s website at http://www.OhioCLOUT.org. Do you have opinions on our do-nothing Ohio legislature? Send ’em to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Bruce blog discusses Mayor’s race, GenX This week’s installation of the Bruce blog asks “Where’s the Beef?” in the mayoral race, agrees with Roldo’s chastisement of the PD for not asking the hard questions and recaps Rebecca Ryan’s findings about local Gen Xers. Check the blog out here. Share your thoughts at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

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Experience an Exciting, Sensual Program of Evocative Music conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, the Cleveland Orchestra’s young, dynamic music director featured in the October issue of Vanity Fair. Grab your copy and check out pages 298 and 299 to read “The Austrian Connection.” Make this your weekend to hear Franz and the Orchestra – widely considered the top ensemble in the country and one of the best in the world – perform an exciting, sensual program of evocative music by Stravinsky and Messiaen, featuring internationally-acclaimed pianist Pierre Laurent-Aimard. Concerts are Thurs 9/29 and Sat 10/1 at 8PM at Severance Hall. Click here for tickets or call (216) 231-1111.
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Ohio, foreclosure capital of the USA The foreclosure rate for the State of Ohio during the first half of 2005 was more than three times higher than that of the national average. In a “toss the blame” game, critics cite Ohio’s loose regulations and lack of enforcement while the Ohio Commerce Department feels that they are already doing what they need and that the real focus here should be on consumer education. Read the article in the Columbus Dispatch here, the first in a series of four. Read the legislators’ response to the four part series here. What do you think is the real problem? Send your thoughts to Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Dine For America The National Restaurant Association will be raising funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina by giving proceeds from the Wed 10/5 Dine for America event to the American Red Cross. The restaurant industry raised more than $20 million for families impacted by the September 11 terrorist attacks with their last Dine for America event in 2001. Just visit http://www.DineForAmerica.org, find out which of your favorite restaurants is participating then have a hearty meal there with friends or family on Wed 10/5. Even your regular cup of morning Joe, or a light lunch can have a great impact on hurricane victims who are desperately in need.

Cool Cleveland Kids Our kids are Cleveland’s future. We can do more to stem the brain drain to attract and retain young professionals in the region. But let’s not forget our youngsters, either. Cool Cleveland correspondent Max Mulready picks a few cool events and gives them a shout in his short podcast here. You can click on it and listen on your computer even if you don’t have special software. If you know what you’re doing, you can download it to your iPod or your computer and listen with your own kid. Check below to see the events tagged CC KIDS under Cool Cleveland This Week for our recommendations for a fantastic family week. And listen to the podcast for hints on how to party with the stars, getting in the Kid’s Zone, and learning all about elephants. http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolClevelandKids09.30.05.mp3

Oct is Funding for Arts Month The Foundation Center will celebrate its fourth annual Funding for Arts Month with several no cost programs in the month of October. The programs include “Dialogue with Donors: Corporate Foundations and the Arts” at 10:00AM, a “Brown Bag Lunch: New Faces in Arts Funding” at 12PM, both on Thu 10/6. Visit www.FdnCenter.org for a full list of programs.

Writing at the Lit The Poets’ and Writers’ League of Greater Cleveland will be hosting a series of workshops on developing your literary craft throughout the month of October. There are workshops covering every aspect of writing including poetry, fiction, non-fiction, web content, blogging, etc. and a few workshops for teens, as well. Check out their impressive schedule of reasonably priced offerings at http://www.PWLGC.com. All classes, discussions and workshops will be held at the PWLGC Literary Center at 12200 Fairhill Road, Townhouse 3-A.

Musical kids wanted The East Cleveland Youth Orchestra and Windemere Chorus is accepting applications for kids ages 8-13 who play, or want to play violin, viola, cello or recorder and singers. Call 229-9125 for more info.

NEO gets jobs Westlake’s tech company Hyland Software will be adding 200 jobs over the next 15 months. Hyland currently employs 450 people and plans to increase revenue by 30% by the end of 2006. Fueling the growth will be employees hired from Northeast Ohio universities and recruited away from area tech firms. To quote CEO A.J. Hyland, “It’s not a Fortune 500 company moving 4,000 jobs to the area, but I do hope that at some level we are contributing to the brain gain.” Read it here.

Google now scans blogs The increasing popularity of web logs and their growing impact upon the mainstream has caused Google to take notice. The company took its first steps toward the blogosphere in 2003 when it acquired Blogger, a small startup company that makes software to publish and manage blogs. The company unveiled its highly anticipated blog search engine one week ago. The search engine scans blogs, not only in English, but several other languages, as well. Check it out at http://blogsearch.google.com. Can Yahoo! be far behind? Share your opinions about Google’s new foray into the blogosphere at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

ONA gives NEOBabble nod The Online News Association has selected a weblog by Chas Rich as one of the finalists in the category of Online Commentary (medium). Medium means 100,000 to less than a million unique hits to the overall site per month. Chas is up against some tough customers – most notably Mark Fiore’s hilarious animated political cartoons, who uses Flash the way it should be used on the web.

Got ideas? Get Lab The Civic Innovation Lab is looking for your bright idea to help grow Cleveland. Up to $30K and the assistance of mentors are available, and the application form (here), due Sat 10/1, is relatively straightforward, as is the entire process. Cool Cleveland was one of the first to be participate in the Lab, and we highly recommend putting your idea out there. It may lead to some much-needed support. http://CivicLab.org.

Emissions from the blogsphere With the Cleveland Mayoral primary fast approaching, the blogsphere in Cleveland is emitting all sorts of energy around that subject. Tim Russo AKA Democracy Guy analyzes the polls and declares Campbell’s support soft. The Right Angle Blog comments on an article in the PD, calling it a “nice piece” and noting “essentially Jane is the best of a medicore bunch.” Tina @ Distracted Mind explains why the incumbant isn’t getting her vote. Bill Campbell notes in his diary that Michael Nelson’s candidacy is being ignored by the mainstream media, and shouldn’t be. Bill’s comments are regarding a Meet the Blogger interview, and by the time you read this, an interview with current City of Cleveland mayor Jane Campbell will have been posted. When Cool Cleveland blogger Peter Chakerian wasn’t out there generating content for us last week, he hit a bunch of local arts and culture happenings, Jose Limon, Metroparks festivals, MOCA, the Cleveland Public Library’s offering on Black Music History and the Rock Hall’s 10th Anniversary… and a whole lot more. Check the Cool Cleveland weblog here, then add your own comments, questions and attitude. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Corrections The name of the tech column Henry Gomez writes for the PD is Tech Ink, while his blog is Tech Link.

Cool Cleveland This Week
9.28-10.05

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

The Works of Ora Coltman are displayed in the Cleveland Museum of Art and City of Cleveland Libraries. The Brandt Gallery is featuring nine paintings from this master artist’s body of work that demonstrate his versatility as a painter in both his use of the palette and his application of the paint. These familiar Cleveland scenes, though 70 – 80 years old, evoke colors unique to the late fall and winter Cleveland landscape. The exhibit runs now through 10/15 and will be part of the upcoming Tremont ArtWalk on Fri 10/14 from 6-10PM. Call 621-1610. Brandt Gallery, 1208 Kenilworth Avenue. http://BrandtGallery.org/.

CC KIDS CityMusic Cleveland a professional orchestra and arts outreach organization announces their second season of complimentary concerts, featuring 22 performances throughout Northeast Ohio. The first series of programs kicks off on Wed 9/28 at 7:30PM in Cleveland Heights and runs through Sun 10/2 visiting Elyria, Willoughby Hills, Slavic Village and Rocky River. All concerts are no cost and families with children are encouraged and welcome. For further information please call 321-8273, email info@CityMusicCleveland.org, or visit http://www.CityMusicCleveland.org. The first performance will be presented at Fairmount Presbyterian Church, 2757 Fairmount Blvd, Cleveland Heights.

Brown Bag Blog Discussion Pack your lunch and join the editor of the Brewed Fresh Daily blog and Cool Cleveland CIO, our own George Nemeth. George will discuss creating content and how to use blogger software to publish online. The no cost Thu 9/29 discussion from 12-1PM is geared for non-profits. RSVP to marc@ecocitycleveland.org and don’t forget to pack an extra snack for George! Cleveland Environmental Center, 3500 Lorain Avenue.

Clean Fleets (Biofuels & Hybrids) Workshop With all of us feeling the crunch at the gas pump, more and more people are recognizing the value of alternative fuel sources. This Next Gen Energy Workshop series offers the opportunity to learn about current and future energy options for your business. Find out how clean American fuels, like biodiesel and ethanol, can be incorporated into your fleet and reduce your reliance on foreign petroleum and who’s already using them on Thu 9/29 from 1-5PM. Call 451-7755 or register at Stephanie@E4Sustainability.org. Great Lakes Brewing Company Rockefeller Room, 2516 Market Ave. www.E4Sustainability.org.

The Designated Mourner Cleveland Public Theatre presents the Cleveland premiere of Wallace Shawn’s stage production which follows a famous, controversial author caught on the wrong side of a political upheaval. He, his wife and her father experience an emotional and intellectual freefall which ends in tragedy for two members of this family, and a discovery of what is beautiful and important for their “designated mourner.” The show previews on Thu 9/29 at 7:30PM and Fri 9/30 at 8PM and opens on Sat 10/1 at 7PM; it will run Thursday to Sunday through Sat 10/22. Call 631-2727 x501 or visit www.CPTOnline.org for tickets. CPT’s Levin Theatre, 6415 Detroit Avenue.

SPECTRUM SAFMOD, the Cleveland-based multimedia performance art ensemble utilizes projected digital animation, aerosol art installations, stilt dancing, live music, inventive costumes and audience participation to deliver an always fresh performance that captivates the audience (see the Cool Cleveland Preview by dancexperts Victor Lucas and Elsa Johnson). The group will present SPECTRUM, a collection of performances from their DanceWorks ’05 series and a reprisal of some favorites from the last 14 years on Thu 9/29 from 8-10PM. At their last concert, (CPT’s DanceWorks ’05 last April) SAFMOD’s multimedia approach to performance included cutting edge percussion performed live, an eclectic modern dance style that effortlessly included elements as disparate as belly dance and break dance, stilt walking and eye popping urban fashion. We were floored and the audience, which included choreographers and dancers from many of Cleveland’s dance companies as well as the SAFMOD faithful, were similarly impressed. But press agentry and preperformance hype are just not their style. What will they do at their next concert? Few specifics are available beyond, “a collection from Dance Works ’05 as well as other repertoire.” Given the improvisational nature of much of that repertoire, we don’t think we’ll be bored. Call 421-8671. MOCA Cleveland, 8501 Carnegie Avenue on the 2nd Floor of the Cleveland Play House Complex. www.MOCACleveland.com.

Big Easy Ball Help raise money for the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina efforts. All the money raised during this happy hour show on Fri 9/30 from 5:30-8:30PM will be matched by generous corporate sponsors in the Cleveland business community. The show, sponsored by the Cleveland 20/30 Club and the Free Times, will feature live entertainment by local rock band, Heater, complimentary food and happy hour drink prices. Fat Fish Blue, 21 Prospect Avenue.

Street Magic This group show features the work of some of the most compelling street artists in North America and Europe. It brings the work of New York artists Swoon and the team of Downey and Darius together with Akay and Adams, Jorge Rodriguez Gerada, and Zevs from Europe. Every artist in this exhibition challenges the understanding of exactly what is and who controls public space. The opening reception on Sat 10/1 from 6-9PM includes a gallery talk by NYC artist Downey at 7PM and the screening of his film Public Discourse. If you can’t make the opening visit during the Tremont ArtWalk on Fri 10/7 from 6-9PM. Call 623-8510. Inside-Outside Gallery, 2688 West 14th Street.

Put Some Clothes On! You don’t have to stand on your doorstep in your pajamas or haul recycling to the curb when receiving Cool Cleveland’s weekly news. Not only are we fashionably and environmentally conscious, but you can pass a free “green” copy onto friends or family members today.

Poetry with John Fox The poet, certified poetry therapist, and author will offer two events centering on “The Soul’s Language: Poetry of the Sacred”. The no cost session on Fri 9/30 at 7:30PM will demonstrate how poetry can be accessible and useful in a way that fosters greater self-awareness and understanding between people. The cost of the Sat 10/1 workshop from 9:30AM-4:30PM includes lunch. Call 321-7698 or email dick@nccw.net. Church of the Saviour, 2537 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights.

The United We Funk All-Stars What happens when you take the best of the funk bands and toss them into a mixer? You get United We Funk, featuring artists from The Dazz Band, SOS and Confunkshun. Spend the evening reliving the days when music was much simpler, but still an awful lot of fun on Fri 9/30 beginning at 8PM. Odd shaped sunglasses, platform shoes and spandex jumpsuits aren’t necessary; just bring your love for the funk and prepare to have a great time. Palace Theatre, 1615 Euclid Avenue www.PlayhouseSquare.com.

The Irish Sopranos Enjoy a magnificent performance by Ireland’s latest musical sensation on Fri 9/30 at 8PM to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Kay Lynch, Wendy Dwyer and Deirdre Masterson are three classically trained sopranos who bring a young and fresh style to classical singing. These former Riverdance soloists have become an international sensation. Visit http://www.JDRFBenefit.com to learn more or purchase tickets online. Magnificat Performing Arts Center, 20770 Hilliard Boulevard, Rocky River.

Plenty This Travesty Dance/Cleveland multidisciplinary contemporary dance work is designed to heighten awareness of clinical depression and anxiety disorders in society. This is a powerful and affirming experience for anyone living with these orders and the families and communities that support them. The nationally acclaimed photo/text exhibit “Nothing to Hide: Mental Illness in the Family” will run in conjunction with the performance. See Plenty on Fri 9/30 at 8PM, Sat 10/1 at 8PM or Sun 10/2 at 3PM. Call 631-2727 or visit www.CPTOnline.org. Gordon Square Theatre at Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Avenue.

Starloft Event Check out indie sounds in a variety of flavors at this 18 and over show on Fri 9/30 which will feature Nate Campany, K-ration, Goodbye Ohio, Plasma for Guns and Bryan Karas. Doors open at 8PM. The Hi-Fi Club, 11729 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood. http://www.StarLoft.com.

WCLVnotes WCLV’s live broadcasts of The Cleveland Orchestra’s Saturday night concerts at Severance Hall continue this week at 8PM with Franz conducting the band, chorus and a plethora of soloists in Stravinsky’s Requiem Canticles and Messiaen’s Turangalila Symphonie. This is an offbeat concert with wondrous music to be discovered. Sat 10/1 at 2PM, WCLV will be live at the Cliffside Visual and Performing Arts Foundation’s fundraiser for Kent Classic Arts. The Miami and La Catrina String Quartets perform. More and more live music from WCLV, probably presenting more than any radio station, no matter what the format, in the country. For complete details on all of WCLV’s programming, go to www.WCLV.com. WCLV is a Cool Cleveland partner.

Ohio Solar Tour Take a clean energy journey conducted by Green Energy Ohio and the American Solar Energy Society on Sat 10/1. Encompassing sustainable features beyond solar energy, the statewide event features simultaneous tours in all corners of the state and highlights over 150 solar, wind, biomass, green design and energy-saving technologies. Call (330) 733-3112 or e-mail joycedumire@greenenergyohio.org for info or visit www.GreenEnergyOhio.org.

CC KIDS Elephant Awareness Day Ever wonder what elephants eat, how they communicate and if they are really afraid of mice? Learn the answers to these questions and many more during Elephant Awareness Day at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on Sat 10/1 from 10AM-5PM. Visit www.CleMetZoo.com for more info. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way.

CC KIDS Prairie Peddler Festival runs Sat 10/1 from 10AM-6PM, Sun 10/2 from 10AM-5PM, then again on Sat 10/8 and Sun 10/9, same hours. Situated on scenic State Route 97, the festival will provide a day of fun and entertainment for your entire family. This year there is even more for your little festival goers, Kid’s Zone, in Black Bear Park, offers kids an opportunity to get hands on with their choice of crafts from building their own stuffed animal or bracelet to decorating pumpkins. Visit http://www.ShopThePeddler.com or call 419-663-1818 for more info. Check out the incredible list of artisans here. Prairie Peddler, 3170 State Route 97, Butler.

Gospel Brunch Enjoy warm fellowship, joyful music and terrific food in an event that will benefit Transitional Housing, Inc. on Sat 10/1 from either 11AM-2PM or 4-7PM. Call 781-2250 to reserve your tickets. Slovenian Society Home, Recher Hall, 20713 Recher Avenue, Euclid.

CC KIDS Party Under the Stars Share the excitement about the Cleveland Museum of Art renovation and building project in this unique, no cost festival open to everyone on Sat 10/1. “Laying Foundations for the Future” starts off with a special ceremony at 12 noon, family tours and activities from 1-4PM and an opportunity to party under the stars from 7-11PM. Enjoy music, dancing, a DJ after dark, yummy foods and beer and wine. Call 421-7340 for info. Reserve your complimentary tickets at http://www.ClevelandArt.org/tickets. Cleveland Museum of Art, Outdoor Sculpture Courtyard, 11150 East Boulevard.

C-Space Silent Shoutout / Nightout C-Space is a new community center designed to bring a diverse array of Clevelanders to work on artistic, educational and political programming. The Center has plans to open this fall. They are holding a silent auction benefit on Sat 10/1 at 5PM, hosted by Xela, that will feature art pieces from local artists, gift packages to local businesses, appetizers and drinks. Six Parts Seven will headline a night of local music and poetry. Visit http://www.ClevelandSpace.org for a full listing of available auction items. Detroit Avenue Arts’ Parish Hall, 6205 Detroit Avenue.

Dancing Wheels Gala Spend a memorable evening at this highly anticipated Sat 10/1 event which kicks off a year-long celebration of Dancing Wheels’ 25th anniversary. The “Silver Screening Benefit Gala” will be emceed by WKYC-TV’s Dick Russ and Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Neal will make a special appearance. Dancing Wheels will perform a selection of dances ranging from ballroom to disco and will feature the world premier of 25 Years of Integrated Dance in America, a made-for-television documentary. For an evening of dinner, dancing and silent auction goodies call 432-0306 or visit www.DancingWheels.org. InterContinental Hotel and Conference Center, 9801 Carnegie Avenue.

Raucous Bacchus Party Sip a variety of wines to celebrate Bacchus, the Roman God of wine during Art House’s party/fundraiser on Sat 10/1 from 7-11PM. There will also be a 50/50 raffle to raise funds for Art House. Call 398-8556 for more information. Hector Vega’s Artefino Gallery Café, 1900 Superior Avenue. http://www.ArtHouseInc.org.

Tommy Amato All Star Jam This concert by Cleveland area rock bands to honor the life of drummer Randy Castillo, who lost his battle with cancer, will be held Sun 10/2 from 6 – 11PM. Drummer Tommy Amato, has assembled musicians from legendary Cleveland-based rock bands such as Souvenir, Lovers Lane, Star Fleet, Beau Coup, and Andy Gerome. This will be a music marathon. Tickets can be purchased at the Agora Box Office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 241-5555. All proceeds will benefit the Tommy Amato Cancer Fund. Agora Theatre, 5001 Prospect Avenue.

Tierra Madura Experience the lush, literary paintings of Augusto Bodelois and the sensuous ceramic sculpture of Angelica Pozo, both Cuban artists, in the main gallery space at Tri-C’s Gallery West. In the secondary gallery “Bones of Contention: The Skull and Skeleton in Art,” is a group exhibit of smaller works related to upcoming cultural and religious celebrations such as El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead), Halloween and All Saints Day. The work of Joy Ayala, Salvador Gonzalez and several others will be featured. The exhibits run from Mon 10/3 through Sat 11/5 with a public reception for both exhibits on Sat 10/29 from 1-3PM. Call 987-5322 for info or visit http://www.Tri-C.edu/ArtGalleries. Tri-C West Gallery, 11000 Pleasant Valley Road, Parma.

The Cleveland Rally to End AIDS The Campaign to End AIDS (C2EA), will travel across country this October, composed of 10 caravans of HIV/AIDS advocates. This will culminate with 5 days of training and action in Washington, DC, from Oct 7 – 12. The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland (ATFGC) will host the arrival of the caravan on Tues 10/4 late in the evening and a rally on Wed 10/5 at 10AM before C2EA’s departure for Akron and their continued journey to Washington, DC. For further information please call 357-2221, or e-mail epike@atfgc.org. AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, 3210 Euclid Avenue. http://www.CampaignToEndAids.org/.

Trinity Chamber Players Brownbag Concert Spend lunch listening to the sounds of violinist Susan Britton, cellist Linda Atherton and pianist Elizabeth De Mio as they perform Ravel’s Piano Trio of 1914 on Wed 10/5 at noon. You can pack your lunch or purchase one onsite. For more info or the full schedule of Brownbag Concerts visit http://www.mandpa.org or call 575-9745. Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Avenue.

COSE’s Safari in the City Ready to go on a business safari? The Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) will hold their popular Business After Hours (BAH) on Wed 10/5 from 4-7PM. Unlike previous BAH’s, this event is without cost to attendees. Noted business consultant and author, Steve Kaplan, will conduct a pre-show marketing seminar entitled, “How to Bag the Elephant.” For exhibition registration and further detailed information call 592-2207, email aflood@cose.org or visit www.COSE.org. CSU Wolstein Center, 2000 Prospect Avenue.

Tell Your Greatest Story Networking Event This Wed 10/5 SayYES! to Cleveland event from 5:30-8PM offers an excellent opportunity to meet incredible Clevelanders over hors d’eouvres, sip exotic drinks from the cash bar and share your story. The event will be held in the opulent Foundation Room at the House of Blues Cleveland, an experience not to be missed. House of Blues, Foundation Room, 308 Euclid Avenue.http://www.YesCleveland.org.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland Preview

Random Acts: Travesty Dance/Cleveland @ CPT Three friends from Kent State University’s dance department co-founded Travesty Dance in 1997. Like many college friendships, they moved apart – Rebecca Malcolm-Naib is now in Philadelphia, Karen Stokes is in Houston and Kimberly Karpanty remains at Kent – but they continue to get together to perform.

The upcoming performance at Cleveland Public Theatre on Fri 9/30 at 8PM, the group’s Cleveland debut as far as we know, features “Plenty”, a one-act multidisciplinary contemporary dance work that focuses on clinical depression and anxiety disorders in society. It’s described as a powerful and affirming experience for those living with these illnesses and the families and communities that support them. Choreographed and directed by Karpanty, this performance of “Plenty” will be accompanied by a photo/text exhibit, “Nothing to Hide: Mental Illness in the Family.” Both the dance and the exhibit have toured nationally.

On a decidedly lighter note, the concert also includes “Time Trials” by Malcolm-Naib, “She” by Stokes and the jointly-choreographed “three”, an imaginative romp through the roots, clichés and symbolism of the number “3”. http://www.CPTonline.org.
From Cool Cleveand contributors Elsa Johnson and Victor Lucas vicnelsaATearthlink.net

Cool Cleveland People
John Hannibal

The thrill of discovering new music mixed with classic sounds of the past is alive and well in local Cleveland streaming audio “broadcaster” John Hannibal and his “Radio Hannibal” show, which you can find at http://www.live365.com. The mix is, as Hannibal himself describes it, “eclectic but not esoteric.” There is a pop sensibility to Hannibal’s format; the station celebrates in the style of great Album Oriented Rock (AOR) stations of the past. Back in the day, AOR rock stations were simply undeniable, new and exciting. These days, most listeners—those who aren’t considered radioheads anyway—think AOR these days means “Stairway to Heaven,” “Free Bird” and “Money” every 45 minutes. Cool Cleveland recently spoke to Hannibal about his little pirate-radio chunk of cyberspace and an iPod full of other topics, both radio- and Cleveland-related.

Cool Cleveland: Tell me a little bit about the technology and the timeframe it takes to put together “Radio Hannibal” as it exists today.

John Hannibal: Let’s just say I need to get a new computer sometime soon! (laughs) I’m still working out of Windows 98 and it’s bare-bones. Somewhere down the road, it will become a more hi-tech endeavor. Right now, I send out an email letting people know what’s on the show. Soon, I’ll have radiohannibal.com up and going.

My whole thing is to mix in the music and segues together and a lot of the disappearing art of radio magic and personality that has been lost over the years. It’s not “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” quite yet. (laughs) What I do—and this is rather archaic by today’s standards, but it works— I take a 2-CD mixer and a mike and record a 74-minute show onto a MiniDisc in real-time. Then I take that MiniDisc, which I can edit on in case there’s a snag or a mistake, and record to my hard drive. Most of the time, I listen to that in real-time as it records. Then I upload it to live365.com and put it on as a show.

Most people on live365 do it two different ways: they’re either live streaming, like the “Radio Paradise” guys… or they’re just posting one song after the other, creating a play list without any bumpers. I lean more toward the former.

So you’re not podcasting then? My next line of questioning was related to podcasters and the Library of Congress implementing royalty fees requiring Webcasters to pay labels when they play a song.

Podcasting is where I could get in trouble. Nothing on my show is ever in mp3 format. That’s where labels would get involved and say, “We’re gonna sue you because you’re taking commercial music and not paying the licensing fees for it.”

But aren’t you doing that now?

Well, I’m buying all of my music retail and not ripping it off of Kazaa or one of those places. And I’m promoting it as well… and you see, live streaming is in no way comparable to mp3 quality. It is done as one continuous piece, which makes it more difficult to strip anything of value out of it…
Read the interview here

Cool Cleveland Sounds
Force Majeure
409
http://www.four09.org

I’ve got a thing for the ambient electronic aesthetic. And I’ve got a thing for numbers and the symbolism and coincidences hiding in them—whether real or perceived. Call it a pseudo numerology fetish with a soundtrack. So, I know before I drop 409’s Force Majeure into the computer CD player that the number 409 is a prime number, a centered triangular number that has a remainder of 1 when divided by 3 and the quotient (if positive) is the previous regular triangular number.

Whoa. Heavy. But then, as the tunes start playing a bunch of really weird stuff starts happening. I attempt to upload a file to my measly little website server and I get a “version control conflict” message bearing the conflict code “409.” Hmmm. I decide to try again later, opting to hit a more popular Hurricane Rita blogspot instead. And there, big as life, are some relief phone numbers bearing the (you guessed it) “409” area code… which covers Beaumont, Galveston, Port Arthur, Jasper and other impacted areas of Southeastern Texas…
Read the review by Peter Chakerian here

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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

The Goat @ Dobama 9/24
What: Edward Albee’s masterfully provocative tragicomedy about a “perfect marriage” that implodes when it’s discovered that a successful husband has been having a secret love affair: with a goat.
Reasons to go: Hilarious, profane, tragic, and deeply disturbing, Joel Hammer’s edge-of-the-seat production of The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? is a “don’t miss” evening of theater. Scott Miller is unforgettable as the distracted, obsessed Martin, his eyes feverish as he describes the ecstasy of his compulsion. As his poleaxed wife, Tracee Patterson is every inch his equal, moving from disbelief to heartbroken betrayal to blind fury. Scott Esposito as their gay teen and Charles Kartali as practical family friend Ross round out the excellent cast. Trad Burns’ elegant living room set heightens the absurdity and the tiny Studio One space raises the stakes to almost unbearable heights — it puts you squarely in the middle of this emotional meltdown, flying crockery and all.
Caveats: Between the subject matter, the very adult language, and the close quarters, this isn’t for the easily offended. But it’s a brilliant play, sublimely realized — one to think about for days afterwards.
Backstory: The Goat won the 2002 Tony Award for drama. This is Dobama’s first “traveling” show since its long-time Coventry Road space closed. Don’t grieve: in the pristine Studio One, it’s easier to see the superb quality of the production and the company.
Target audience: Adult lovers of serious drama. You will never see anything like this on TV — and it couldn’t have the impact of seeing it live.
Details: Studio One, Cleveland Play House, 8500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland Hts. 216-932-3396. Thru 10/16. http://www.dobama.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein linda@coolcleveland.com

Jose Limon @ The State Theater 9/24 This weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the special preview of a new Lar Lubovitch work, especially commissioned for the renowned José Limón Dance Company, Recordare, or Remember. The piece was debuted in between a joyful and exuberant revival of A Choreographic Offering, Limon’s tribute to his mentor and co-founder, Doris Humphrey and The Moor’s Pavane, a signature piece of the company which chronicles, in dance, the tragic tale of Othello.

The first piece, A Choreographic Offering, was choreographed to Johann Sebastian Bach’s Musical Offering. The composer was a favorite of both Limón and his mentor, Doris Humphrey. Based on movements from several of Humphrey’s dances, the performance seemed to be a perfect balance between grace and power. The dancers, performed individually, as couples and as a group. Many of the movements required an amazing level of balance and control, which some of the dancers found to be a challenge, initially. One female dancer heroically held on to a precarious pose with impressive diligence as she waited for the next group of dancers to reach their positions onstage. Nevertheless, we were completely taken with many of the moves, including circle dances in which each couple, in turn, would enter the center and perform. The effect was often like seeing a beautiful flower blossoming right before you…
Read the review by Roxanne Ravenel here

Jose Limon @ The State Theater 9/24
Limon Dance Company came to Cleveland last week with a special preview performance of a new piece by Lar Lubovitch, Recordare (Remember), sandwiched between Suite from A Choreographic Offering (1964) and Moor’s Pavane (1949).

Recordare was inspired by the Limon Company’s residence in Mexico City in 1951 where Jose Limon created his first large ensemble works, his “lost” Mexican works, and collaborated directly with internationally important Mexican composers and designers…
Read the review by Vic and Elsa here

Cabaret @ Kalliope 9/23
What: An intimate, in-your-face rendering of Kander & Ebb’s powerful musical about a decadent cabaret in 1930’s Berlin during the rise of the Nazis, full of enough leather, studs, and bare skin to rival a fetish club.
Reasons to go: With his environmental staging, director Paul Gurgol puts you at tiny tables in the middle of the Kit Kat Club, with drag queens overhead in swings, bruised chorus girls, and people doing lines of coke at the next table. Jodi Brinkman is a bravely brittle entertainer Sally Bowles: a fine singer, she’s unafraid to make an ugly sound when her Sally is drugged out. But the heart of the play is the tragically tender older couple — Kathleen Huber’s lonely landlady Fraulein Schneider and Jay Strauss as her Jewish grocer beau Herr Schultz. They’re heartbreaking.
Caveats: As the Emcee, John Paul Boukis goes over the top in an over-the-top production, pushing his voice several clicks too big for the space — although he’s effective in several numbers, especially “I Don’t Care Much”. Gurgol makes the ending even more grimly ghoulish. But overall it’s both entertaining and disturbing in the right ways, and the intimate setting (under 80 seats) makes it especially memorable.
Backstory: Kalliope’s Artistic Director Gurgol has been planning this production for years, and it shows in the details, from a choreographed pre-show (come early) to excellent historical lobby displays.
Target audience: Adults who want to experience an adult version of a classic musical.
Details: Kalliope Stage, 2134 Lee Rd., Cleveland Hts. 216.321.0870. Thru 10/16. http://www.kalliopestage.com
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein linda@coolcleveland.com

Cleveland Orchestra opening night @ Severance Hall 9/22
The street banners around Severance Hall shout “Celebrate” and appropriately, the first concert series of the new season was one big, happy, celebratory occasion. This is, after all, the 75th Anniversary of the opening of Severance Hall, one of the most beautiful—and acoustically splendid—concert halls in the world. A newer tradition—broadcasts of the orchestra concerts over local radio station WCLV-FM—is also having an anniversary this year, the 40th!

The music selected by Music Director Franz Welser-Möst was festive as well, leading off with the Academic Festival Overture of Johannes Brahms. Written in 1880 as a ‘thank you’ to the University of Breslau for awarding him an honorary doctoral degree, the piece abounds with enthusiasm and high spirits, much as students do…
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

Urinetown: The Musical @ the Beck Center 9/16
Scott Spence and the Beck Center have taken just the right attitude toward this show: they got Moen to sponsor it. More importantly for the audience, though, the cast members enjoy the hell out of sending up the conventions of musical theater while performing musical theater. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and the show roars along like a Harley hog: it sounds just as it should.

This show is excellent, and the performances are outstanding. You won’t see as good without leaving town, and maybe not then. Not so much a tale as an excuse to poke fun at politics, commerce, and The Musical, while singing and dancing in a musical, the basic idea is that a 20 year drought has resulted in a company town that requires its citizens must pay to pee. But though commerce and politics are skewered for corruption, the idealism of the hero and heroine, Bobby Strong (played with compact skilled energy by Colin James Cook) and Hope Cladwell (the marvelous Maggie Stahl) is as savagely mocked. This is satire that doesn’t close Saturday night because it’s neither mean-spirited nor one-sided…
Read the review by Marcus Bales here

Flood @ Doubting Thomas Gallery 9/9
The fast acting Doubting Thomas Gallery, 856 Jefferson Street in Tremont, provides the thrill of visiting an exhibit about a national calamity that is still in progress. This is “Flood,” which is made of installations by Scott Matthews and Laureen Deveney, and on display till Oct 3. (Open Fri and Sat 6-9PM and by appointment). Mr. Matthews installation, “Too much of anything,” consists of one ton of crushed blue glass in zillions of granules appearing to have washed into the gallery’s front rooms from the front door like shoals on the floor and steps. Ms. Deveney’s installation in the back room, “Katrina,” consists of many large translucent plastic bags strung from above. To move through the room gallery patrons must part the bags in front of them with their hands and arms. In a room between the front and back of the gallery a muted TV plays live CNN coverage of Katrina. The sound of old New Orleans jazz standards by mid-20th Century clarinetist Sidney Bechet waft through the gallery. Without a lick of water viewers wade through “Flood.” “It’s scary having these bags in your face,” said Teresa Polk of Parma. “The exhibit is very good at communicating the feeling of trying to get through a flood.” “This is the most amazing thing I’ve seen in a long time!” said Norm Roulet of Shaker Heights and operator of the RealNEO.us blog. The Doubting Thomas Gallery and gallery director Teresa Boyd can be reached at 216-241-7800. Find the gallery on the Web at: http://www.geocities.com/doubtingthomas2005/. From Cool Cleveland contributor Lee Batdorff batATadva.com

Yr Turn
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On Ingenuity It was a great event! Good luck for next year. I regret that I couldn’t bring the kids down on Thursday night because Friday was a school day. Maybe next year Ingenuity could start on Friday evening so we wouldn’t miss anything.
from Cool Cleveland reader Fred Jarosz ohiozonaATyahoo.com

On Cool Cleveland Thanks for this name, your enthusiasm and great information. Cool Cleveland represents the fun we really have here in Cleveland, which is our no-longer, best kept secret.
from Cool Cleveland reader Joy G. Willmott jgwillmottATalltel.net

Just want to Congratulate Cool Cleveland.com for winning top honors at the Society for Professional Journalists Awards held this past Saturday night in Cincinnati, Ohio. (See “Best of Show” and “Best General News Site” awards here) These are statewide awards and it was cool to have your site honored! Keep up the good work!
from Cool Cleveland reader Susan M. Adams Susan.AdamsATlakewood.k12.oh.us

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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

1) ClevelandBrew.com CC readers must like the idea of a nationwide happy hour search engine. http://www.ClevelandBrew.com

2) Cool Cleveland Interview Scott Spence Linda Eisenstein gets the story from the Beck Center’s artistic director. www.CoolCleveland.com

3) RoldoLINK The Plain Dealer blows the election coverage – big time. www.CoolCleveland.com

4) More Ingenuity feedback Joe Yachanin of the Sun Newspapers highlights of Ingenuity’s aptly named Traffic Jam parade. http://www.sunnews.com/whatsleft.htm

5) In the Heart of the Cedar Lee is a new development – the Domain on Lee. http://www.ProgressiveUrban.com

Wed morning? Already? It seems like Peter Chakerian, Roxanne Ravenel, TL Champion, George Nemeth, Marcus Bales, Kelly Ferjutz, Victor Lucas, Elsa Johnson, Linda Eisenstein, Lee Batdorff and everyone who partners with us just got done finishing up another week’s edition. Here it is, time to start next week’s already. A special Thank You to them for all their hard work. Want to volunteer and contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, articles, or story ideas to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

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–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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