Fusion

4.23-4.30.08
Fusion

In this week’s issue:

Fusion might be a better concept than Regionalism to express Northeast Ohio’s brightest hope for collaboration, cooperation and, not to exaggerate… survival. This week, we showcase the best and brightest in our region, working together for everyone’s benefit. Read below to learn about everything from the “I Buy NEO” event on the Bocce courts in Little Italy to the final weekend of the Tri-C Jazz Fest to the innovative collaboration between Cleveland’s Dancing Wheels and Minneapolis’ Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theater. Heck, even Cool Cleveland exemplifies this spirit of fusion with u n c l o t h e d, our next Cool Cleveland party in collaboration with Fashion Week Cleveland on Sat 5/3. Plus, don’t miss my interview with Dina Kostis on Pickwick & Frolic’s new champage bar, Jeannie Fleming-Gifford’s fourth installment on Kids Camps, and Mansfield giving the high five to Condi for her rant on race. My video with the Cleveland Play House’s Michael Bloom on FusionFest says it all: collaborate with area arts groups, reach out to young people, and have a ball doing it. Time to fuse, Cleveland. —Thomas Mulready

u n c l o t h e d …is coming
Don’t get sold out of Cool Cleveland’s latest party

Don’t be caught without a ticket to Cool Cleveland’s upcoming party, in collaboration with Fashion Week Cleveland: u n c l o t h e d: A Mixed Media Runway Event on Sat 5/3 from 8PM to midnight at Sammy’s in the Flats. Fashion Week in Cleveland is hot, and in past years, all events have sold out. Secure your seat now, and receive the special online pricing.

You won’t believe your eyes It’s been called “a couture carnivale… an avant-garde parade.” Twenty hand-picked models collaborate with visual artists to create a runway fashion show of wearable art, special effects and never-before-seen creations.

Enter the world of artistic elegance, and you’ll receive your choice of a complimentary Fashion Passion vodka martini, then peruse a delightful selection of couture hors d’oeuvres: Iced Raspberry Soup with Mint Creme Fraiche; Wonton Cones filled with seared Tuna served on Painter’s Palettes; Smoked Salmon on Herbed Cream Cheese & Black Bread garnished with Cucumber; Saint Andre Cheese in Phyllo Cups with Peach Marmalade.

Hurry and claim your seat near the runway for the wildest fashion show you’ve ever been this close to. Artists collaborating with fashion designers offer outrageous creations, worn by the areas top models. After the fashion show, dance to DJ Santina, and hang out at the after-party until midnight. Info & map here. Get more info on Fashion Week Cleveland. Tix here.

Don’t delay This event is sure to sell out soon. Get your online discount off the $40 regular price by clicking here: Tix: https://coolcleveland.net/tickets/050308/index.php

SPONSORED: Are Collaborations the Key to Success? Find out at a symposium and demonstration sponsored by Case Western Reserve University called “Collaboration Technology and Engaging the Campus 2008” on Thu 5/8 from 9AM to 4PM. See a keynote address by Anthony D. Williams, co-author of Wikinomics www.wikinomics.com on “Mass Collaboration and the Future of Higher Education” followed by the President’s address from Barbara R. Snyder. Don’t miss the Panel Sessions that include “Learning 2.0: Making Sense of the Explosion of Web 2.0 Tools and their Relevance and Consequence in Higher Education,” featuring Cory Ondrejka, co-founder of SecondLife. Other topics include: “Collaboration Technology – What’s Next: Bold Predictions, Cautionary Notes and Take Away Lessons.” Break out discussions include topics such as “Community Engagement: From Local Impact to Global Influence, Mobile Discovery,” “The People Formerly Known as the Audience” and “Blogs and Wikis.” Space is limited. For more info contact www.case.edu.

A hot selection of tech and business news & events from around the region. Got business news? Send it to: EVENTS@CoolCleveland.com

16 Counties studying revenue sharing for the betterment of NEO. Click
New deal at Nat City causes stocks to fall. Good news for employees… at least for now. Click. Click Again
Cleveland Plus launches a new attraction website tomorrow, Thu 4/24, called http://www.clevelandplusliving.com
The Cle+ site arrives alongside planned improvements to Ohio job website http://www.ohiomeansjobs.com
K&D wins Ameritrust deal… again on second go-around. Breuer appears to live another day. Read
Are you planning an event? Corp, NPO and all pts in between, this might be useful to you. Click
Ideacrossing kicks out ideas for entrepreneurs. Read
Green Industry loan gets big approval. Read
Polymers in Cuy Falls get a spotlight. Read
Progressive plants 250K trees on behalf of customers. Goodness Greenness!
Kent State building wired with the future in mind. Read
Cle Clinic leads military effort to find new treatments for wounded in Iraq, Afghanistan. Read
Microbicides researched in Cle show promise in battling HIV infection. Read
Lorain co. taking a lead in green energy? Read more about that here
John Jantsch is coming back for another eMarketing techniques conference in May. Click
Work at a gret workplace in NEO? Nominate your POE by heading over here

Ivan Schwarz
Greater Cleveland Film Commission

Ivan Schwarz moved to Cleveland from a good career in the Hollywood film industry in Los Angeles, after scouting our fair city for the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers. Now he says he won’t leave for anything, and he’s fully engaged in developing our local film industry as well as bringing full-fledged Hollywood productions to shoot in Cleveland, where they spend up to $1M a day on local talent, technical assistants, hotels and entertainment. Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready meets with Ivan in Cleveland’s Chinatown to talk about his life-changing move to Cleveland and what has turned out to be his biggest issue: Ohio currently does not have a tax deduction to offer production companies who want to come here to spend money, so we’re not competitive with other states. One producer says he’s ready to spend $125M here if we offer tax breaks. Fortunately, legislation is working it’s way through the Ohio House, and the proposed date for the next House Ways and Means Committee hearing on HB 196 is Wed 4/30 in Columbus. Click here to contact your representatives and ask them to support HB196. http://www.ClevelandFilm.com

SPONSORED: Blending Milkshakes with thunder::tech :: healthy with just the right amount of ice cream:: We’re not just a plain glass of milk. We’re your favorite non-fat frozen yogurt, mixed with whole pieces of fruit and a bit of that trendy protein powder, blended up and poured into an overflowing glass of delicious. It’s kind of like having the combined knowledge of advertising, web, PR and design all together in one office, but without all the pain throwing us in a blender would cause. Thirsty for integration in your agency? Stop by the site, give us a call:: http://www.thundertech.com. 216.391.2255.

Networked Approach to Building Prosperity in Regions 2-Day Wksp at Punderson Manor Resort beg Wed 4/23. Details
More than 40 agencies seeking employees are expected to attend CSU’s 1st ever Gov’t Career Fair Wed 4/23 from 9AM – 3PM @ Glickman-Miller Hall, Levin College of Urban Affairs, located at 1717 Euclid Ave. Click
Leading with Style OWBA (Ohio Women’s Bar Association) and the Rennillo Foundation will jointly host “Leading with Style” on Thu 4/24 from 5 – 8PM at 100 Erieview Tower. This cross-networking, shopping and pampering event aims at NEO’s top professional women. Call 574-9533 ext. 114 or 403-2341 for details. Click
SBIR/STTR and Grant Funding Proposal Preparation Workshop runs Mon 4/28 and Tue 4/29. Register online here, call 440-962-3141 or email: monicadumitriu@oai.org
Heights-Hillcrest Regional COC holds 14th annual Business Expo on Tue 4/29 from 3 – 7PM Executive Caterers at Landerhaven. Click
Innovation accelerator spon. Magnet/NorTech hits DoubleTree Hotel Cle South, 6200 Quarry Ln, Independence Thu 5/1 at 8AM. Info
20 in their 20s Crain’s/COSE event at the HOB hits Thu 5/1 at 6PM. Register
YP Networking in the Middle – Akron Edition hits Musica, 21-23 Maiden Ln, Akron on Thu 5/8 at 6PM. Details
Cle hosts 2008 Economic Development Administration Regional Conference and you are invited to attend! It drops Mon 5/12 – Wed 5/14 at the Crown Plaza and features 300 economic development professionals from 19 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. All you need to do is Register
Financial Decision Making forum helps newbie and longtime biz owner-ops navigate $ waters, find magnetic north Wed 5/14 at 9AM. Register
Federal Grants for Start-Up Companies workshop starts series for start-ups with cool programming Thu 5/15. See the full schedule and register here
JumpStart Annual Public Mtg hits Corp College East Thu 5/15, celebrating entrepreneurship. Details and Registration
Cleveland Opportunity + Expo 2008 is designed to provide small and mid-size businesses in Cle an opportunity to promote and introduce products or services and establish new relationships. It hits Fri 5/23 at 10AM at the Galleria. Click
Velocity/2008 celebrates NEO companies accelerating our economy with innovative practices, strategies Thu 5/29 at 4:30PM at the Idea Center. RSVP? Call 375-7974 or email: danyoung@dxysolutions.com

HOT Price, Wolstein & Zaremba Yup, all in one place for you to hear out. Three local developers will tell us why they’re investing in C-town and how they plan to bring their vision to fruition TODAY Wed 4/23 at noon at The City Club of Cleveland. Joe Roman, prez/CEO of Greater Cle Partnership, serves as moderator. http://www.cityclub.org.

An exciting day at the NASA Glenn Research Center includes a cool Business Opportunity Forum on Fri 5/16 at the Ohio Aerospace Institute. Registration will be limited to the first 125 guests. Reservations can be made here

SPONSORED: It’s a Buyer’s Market Donate your product or service to the WVIZ/PBS Televised Auction and receive valuable TV promotion and a tax deduction. Donations of all shapes, sizes and descriptions are encouraged so that viewers have the opportunity to bid on a variety of items. Contact 216-916-6154 or visit www.wviz.org

Dina Kostis
Pickwick & Frolic Champagne Bar

Dina Kostis knows her wine and champagne. After an apprenticeship at various restaurants and wine bars in the region, the daughter of Pickwick & Frolic creator Nick Kostis comes home to serve as sommelier and champagne evangelist in that East 4th Street landmark’s underground Kevin’s Martini Bar and Cleveland’s first Champagne Bar. Based on her research, and then matching wines and Champagnes and sparkling wines with the Rustic American cuisine served at Pickwick & Frolic. Offering 60 different champagnes, ranging from $28 to $470 per bottle, with a dozen offered by the glass, and creatively designed Champagne Flights, with tastings structured for educating palates on the pleasures of champagne, Kostis has also put together a Champagne menu to help with food pairings, vintages and growers. Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready went downstairs to speak with Dina about her three rules: drink what you like, with what you like to eat, and with people you enjoy being with. http://www.PickwickAndFrolic.com

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CSU’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs’ Master of Public Administration program is once again ranked second in the nation in the area of city management and urban policy according to U.S. News and World Report.
Free trees/admission at Holden Arborateum this weekend — Fri 4/25 – Sun 4/27 — to celebrate Nat’l Arbor Day Cool, eh? We thought so. Click… and Plant!
Ohio Bike Week What else can we say? Check out the details here
Live out Earth Day for generations to come with the grand plan you find here and here
Rock Hall featured on Travel Channel tonight, Wed 4/23 at 9:30PM. On the Tube
Bang and the Clatter launches Cle homebase for their edgy theater co. Read
Lake Erie Living mag launches photo contest Int’l Lake Erie contest invites amateurs to participate w/ Sept 2008 deadline. Click
Cle Met Zoo has their own photo contest going. Check it out here
Hey expats and travelers! Are you considering a move or visit to NEO? If you are, we’re guessing you’ll love this new site. Official launch coming soon. Click
Because everyone wants to be in fashion! Check out the Fashion Week Cleveland website here
Lorain Palace Theater turns 80 years old! Click
Actress Lisa Gay Hamilton attended Friday’s opening of Karamu’s production of The Blacks: A Clown Show and loved it. Click
Phoenix rising in new locations about town. Check it out. Click
PSC launch artist residencies Click yourself over here
Going to the Ohio Indie Film Fest this May? Click
Art on Wheels looking for non-gas-guzzling vehicle, need help identifying the right one. Call 702-4808 to help them. Click
The Cleveland Museum of Art’s Ingalls Library hosts 3rd Benefit Book Sale. Click
Want an Obama action figure? Call it this month’s “do the test” link. Click
Cle Jazz Orch blogs from Tri-C JazzFest for all the hepcats out there looking for that inside scoop. Read
Shaker Square concert series has been announced. Good times, great sounds. Click
Have you seen The Story of Stuff web film yet? If not, you need to. In the spirit of Human Footprint on NatGeo, this will rock you to the core. Watch
Coventry gets the CSU Cauldron folks excited for summer. Click
CC contributor Jeannie Fleming-Gifford inks a deal with Wildfire Publishing, writing kids books! Click

Play That Funky Music, Rock Hall! Patty Smyth (Scandal), Rob Parissi (Wild Cherry), the Sugarhill Gang, Lou Gramm (Foreigner) and others are gonna rock Public Hall with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum’s 7th Annual “It’s Only Rock and Roll” Benefit Sat 5/10 at 7PM at Public Hall, and you can get special $15 balcony tix. It’s all for a great cause — proceeds benefit the Museum’s educational programs and ticket buyers have a shot at winning 2009 Induction tix and an Inductee Summer Concert Package! Schweet. http://www.rockhall.com/support/gala.

Easy way to get $300 floor seats for the Rock Hall’s “It’s Only Rock and Roll” Benefit on Sat 5/10 at 7PM at Public Hall: send us an e-mail telling us what you love about the Rock Hall, we’ll do a drawing for a pair of top-priced floor seats, and you could be rubbing shoulders with the celebs on the main floor, with open bar & snacks all night long! Send your love to: Info@CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland Podcast Weekly roundup of cool events, in an easy-to-digest 3 minute audio format, for playback on your computer or iPod.

Click here to subscribe to the Cool Cleveland Podcast in iTunes.

SPONSORED: What is FusionFest? It’s the fusing of the performing arts in a single festival – highlighting Cleveland artists with local and national performing arts talent – at Cleveland Play House starting this week! Check out these performances and events: All Hail Hurricane Gordo: 4/18 – 5/11; New Play Film and Poetry Festival: 4/23 – 4/25; Verb Ballets Performances 4/25 – 4/26; Ronnie Fiorentino: 4/25; In the Continuum: 4/29 – 4/30; A Handsome Woman Retreats: 4/30 – 5/4; Runt of the Litter 5/1 – 5/3; Peaches Plums and Pontifications: 5/2 – 5/3; The Black Ice Showband (at Stages Restaurant): 5/2 – 5/10; Frankenstein (A De-Monstration): 5/5 – 5/6; Before I Die – The War Against Tupac Shakur: 5/7; Twenty-five Questions for a Jewish Mother: 5/8 – 5/10; The Cleveland Plays, Part 1: Migration: 5/8 – 5/11. Contact www.clevelandplayhouse.com for more info.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

HOT CIA Spring 08 Design Show Explore student designs in industrial, communications and interior designs at this three-day exposition starting Wed 4/23 at 9:30AM and running through Fri 4/25 at 5PM. See their incredible work, then interview them for internships, full-time work, or just explore their creativity. This CIA 2008 Spring Show includes a Closing Reception Fri 4/25 from 5:30 – 8:30PM. RSVP: events@cia.edu.

The CIM Orchestra Director Carl Topilow conducts the group through works by Paul Schoenfield, Liszt, and Rachmaninov, with CIM Concerto Competition winner Eri Nakamura featured as pianist on Wed 4/23 at 8PM. The next generation of professional classical musicians is right in your own backyard; don’t miss them performing on the Severance Hall stage. http://www.cim.edu.

Feist Although singer-songwriter Leslie Feist was “(super) grateful to win the five Juno awards, she couldn’t help but announce that the best day of her life happened recently,” when she filmed her hit “1-2-3-4” with the Muppets on Sesame Street. A founder of Canada’s cool band Broken Social Scene, Feist’s record The Reminder ended up on many Top 10 lists for 2007. A critic’s darling, her work is starkly beautiful and compelling. Check her out live at Playhouse Square this Wed 4/23 at 7:30PM. Hayden, who’s Field & Town CD was just released on Fat Possum Records, opens the show. http://www.listentofeist.com. http://www.playhousesquare.org.

Rock Hall on Travel Channel on John Ratzenberger’s Made in America on Wed 4/23 9:30PM, in good company as one of America’s iconic buildings, right along with the Sears Tower. Ratzenberger got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hall, and loves the rock and roll. Who doesn’t. Look for a future episode to feature the Old Arcade. Made In America.

HOT Return of the Cuyahoga Repeat after me: it wasn’t a national embarrassment. The burning of the Cuyahoga River in 1969 (for the 7th time since 1868) spurred the modern environmental movement, the first Earth Day, the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts and the EPA. If we did a performance art piece, and set the river on fire, and used it to found a National Environmental Museum, would that change things? Catch this groundbreaking film about the history and future of this important river on WVIZ Wed 4/23 thru Sun 4/27, and let it change your thinking about the Cuyahoga. Watch.

Me as I Am, Me as I Will Be Cleveland Public Theatre Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan presents an evening of new work from the CPT/Elyria YWCA Women’s Voices Project Wed 4/23 at 8PM. An evening of insightful, delightful and powerfully original works of drama, story and poetry performed by women in transition. Established in 1999, the Women’s Voices Project is a collaboration between Cleveland Public Theatre and the Elyria YWCA’s Women’s Campus Project. The no-cost performance is open to the public; donations accepted. Post-show discussion and reception follows. http://www.cptonline.org.

HOT FusionFest For the third consecutive year, The Cleveland Play House at 85th and Euclid presents this multidisciplinary performing arts festival starting Wed 4/23 and running through mid May. The festival offers a sampling of new and innovative works never before been seen in C-town. Performances by Judy Gold, Verb Ballets, Kim Wayans, former NFL star Bo Eason, and a collaboration with the Humana Festival of New American Plays are among the highlights. http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com for details.

Nobel Prize-winning economist Dr. George A. Akerlof will present the 18th Emile Grunberg Lecture, titled “Economics and Identity,” on Wed 4/23 at 2:30PM at The University of Akron Student Union’s Gardner Theatre. The lecture is no cost and open to the public. For tickets, visit UA’s Bierce Library, or call the Department of Economics at 330-972-7546.

SPONSORED: Tonight at 8PM on 104.9, WCLV is live at Severance Hall for a concert by the CIM Orchestra conducted by Carl Topilow. Eri Nakamura is the soloist in the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2. Also on the program, Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. Tomorrow, Thu 4/24, at 9PM, Theodore Bikel and the Western Wind tell and sing the story of Passover. And on Saturday at 8PM, you’ll hear The Cleveland Orchestra live with Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra. Details on WCLV’s classical programming at www.WCLV.com.

Professor of Poetry Visible Voice Books proudly presents yet another in a series of monthly poetry events by Allisun Hovater, “the Professor of Poetry,” with Steve Goldberg. The interactive, assignment-based class with readings included hits Thu 4/24 at 9PM with the “class” portion of the evening lasting about an hour, followed by an open mic. B.Y.O.B. Visible Voice Books, 1023 Kenilworth Ave. Call 961-0084 or visit http://www.visiblevoicebooks.com.

Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend (CLAW) CLAW is a pansexual 501 (c) 3 tax exempt leather charity weekend beginning Thu 4/24. The official opening is Fri 4/25 at 7:30PM with the “Under the Big TOP Party” held in the Grand Ballroom at the Wyndham Hotel, E. 14th & Euclid Ave. Live entertainment, games of kinky chance, 30 regional leather titleholders (including the International Mr. Leather from Los Angeles) will auction off their jocks in the Titleholder Jock Auction, loads of kinky fun. Then Sat 4/26 it’s the “Tits & Tatts Breast Cancer Auction,” held on the Wyndham’s 2nd floor. A 10PM musical review rounds out the weekend. http://www.clawinfo.orgwww.clawinfo.org.

She Stoops to Conquer Cleveland State University’s Dramatic Arts Program will present Oliver Goldsmith’s 18th century comic masterpiece, She Stoops to Conquer, at Cleveland State’s Factory Theater. The production launched last week and is directed by Michael Mauldin, Ph.D., director and associate professor of Dramatic Arts. Performance times are Thu 4/24 – Sat 4/26 at 8PM; Sun 4/27 at 2PM. Goldsmith’s First performed in London in 1773, Goldsmith’s work is a comedy of errors and has has enduring appeal. http://www.csuohio.edu/theater.

Adrienne Zurub The former Cleveland Clinic nurse and member of the National Speakers Association of Ohio signs her work Notes from the Mothership on Thu 4/24 at 7PM at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lyndhurst. Zurub’s work is more than a biography — it’s a poetic, tragic look at life in general. Writing about her various life experiences (including her tenure at the Clinic, which led to her firing) she has created a wonderful debut novel. Buzz on the book is a big deal; event is rescheduled from last month. http://www.josephbeth.com.

Support Fair Housing In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, the Housing Research & Advocacy Center is holding a Wine and Cheese Reception, as they recognize the Honorable Raymond Pianka and George and Cheryl Williams for their dedication to fair housing issues in the community Thu 4/24 at 6PM. The Gallery at Trinity Commons 2230 Euclid Ave. Call 361-9240 for info and details.

SPONSORED: The Way I Spent the End of the World is but only one of the cool films featured at CIA for the New Romanian Short Film Series. Find out why Romania may be the hottest filmmaking center on the planet. See the link below for dates and times of films running Thu 5/1 – Fri 5/9. Featuring five short films (shown together in sequence) and five feature length films with titles like “Traffic,” “Cigarettes and Coffee,” “Liviu’s Dream,” “The Tube with a Hat,” “A Trip to the City,” “The Paper will be Blue,” “Occident,” “California Dreamin’,” “Stuff and Dough,” “The Way I Spent the End of the World” and more. Located at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque and at 11610 Euclid Avenue. Info: 216-421-7000. Film schedule: www.cia.edu/tomorrow.

HOT Crispin Glover at The Cinematheque The Cleveland Institute of Art’s film arm welcomes screen actor and iconoclast Glover, who presents a menagerie of undefinable entertainment. The cult icon will also offer up his directorial debut — a noir comedy where a man coming of age battles his psyche. A Q&A follows each evening, Fri 4/25 and Sat 4/26 at 7PM. Call 800-223-4700 or visit http://www.cia.edu for details and ticket info.

The State of Poetry in Cleveland Tri-C East Liberal Arts Division Presents this 7th Annual Tri-C East Poetry Dialogue Fri 4/25 at 7PM at Heights Arts Studio, 2340 Lee Rd., Cleveland Hts. Moderator Mary Weems (2008 Poet Laureate of Cle Hts) leads the discussion, featuring panelists Douglas Hoston, Suzanne DeGaetano, Michael Salinger, and George Bilgere. No cost, open to the public. Email: john.panza@tri-c.edu or call 987-2047 for more.

Jazz Vespers This Cleveland Jazz Orchestra special event celebrates the release of the group’s latest CD, Jazz Vespers this Fri 4/25 at 8PM (rescheduled from a snow-out in March). This new CD was recorded last April; Paul Ferguson’s compositions explore the beauty of sacred music set to the powerful sound of a jazz orchestra. Don’t miss out! The CJO is a incredibly talented group of music educators from all over NEO and beyond. Cleveland Bop Stop 2920 Detroit Ave. http://www.clevelandjazz.org. http://www.clevelandbopstop.com.

Nao Bustamante The internationally known performance and video artist from the San Joaquin Valley of California hits the Cleveland Institute of Art this Fri 4/25 at 12:30PM. Her (often precarious) work encompasses performance art, sculpture, installation and video. Most recently, she was one of four winners of the Chase Legacy Film Challenge grant in partnership with HBO and Kodak, presented at the Sundance Film Festival 08. Currently Bustamante is on sabbatical as a visiting scholar at the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center. She holds the position as Associate Professor of New Media and Live Art at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 11141 East Blvd. http://www.cia.edu.

The McDades On Fri 4/25 at 8PM, the Canadian band The McDades take to the Happy Days stage as part of the Cuyahoga Valley Heritage Series in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP), presented by the National Park Service and Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association. Celtic, World and jazz sounds abound. Call 330-657-2909. http://www.nps.gov/cuva. http://www.dayinthevalley.com. http://www.themcdades.com

To Feel… Verb Ballets Cleveland’s National Repertory Dance Company returns to the Cleveland Play House’s FusionFest for a two-night stand with an eclectic evening of works on Fri 4/25 and Sat 4/26 at 7:30PM. A world premiere, the return of a modern dance classic, and a “poignant soul stirrer” are included in this run. Verb has been an anchor of FusionFest thus far. http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com. http://www.verbballets.org.

HOT John Hammond The Grammy winner and four time nominee John Hammond opens the 13th season of Mike’s Barn in Elyria on Sat 4/26 at 7PM. This will be Hammond’s second visit to the Barn; he last shared the stage with the late Grammy Award winner Robert Lockwood, Jr. in 2006. Seating is limited to 125 persons for this cozy evening in a real 100-year-old barn. The stage show will be followed by a bonfire acoustic show (weather permitting) at 10PM, hosted by Kristine Jackson and Duane “DC” Carnes and supporting players. Reservations are required. http://www.mikesbarn.com/hammond.html.

Double Exposure! Two compelling companies, immersed in dance, dedicated to elevating the human spirit! The Dancing Wheels Company & Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theater feature three world premiere dances during their shows Sat 4/26 at 7:30PM (reception to follow) and Sun 4/27 at 2PM. Unconquered Warriors, Sweet Radio Radicals, and Big Trucks and Leverage see the stage for the very first time. Cuyahoga Community College-Eastern Campus Performing Arts Center. http://www.dancingwheels.org.

Rock Goddess Festival This musical benefit for the Akron Battered Women’s Shelter takes place Sat 4/26 from 2 – 6PM at Musica, 51 E. Market St. Songwriters Tracey Thomas, Lisa & Heather Malyuk, Raw Purr and o’clock Khearan Morgan (of Lia Fail) all perform. Get your jangle on, and do so for a good cause. http://www.myspace.com/rockgoddessfestival.

Snoop! The Hanna Theatre Don’t miss the Cleveland Restoration Society’s latest SNOOP! (yes, exactly what it sounds like) of the Hanna Theatre at 2067 East 14th St., this Sat 4/26 at 11AM. Tour the facility, check out all the nooks and crannies, enjoy lunch at Bricco and a showing of The Crucible (optional). http://www.clevelandrestoration.org.

Bowling for Babies This annual fundraiser for Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital hits the Put-In-Bay Lakewood Lanes (18206 Detroit Ave, Lakewood) this Sat 4/26 from 6 – 10PM. A fantastic evening of bowling, food, drinks, prizes and a fun silent auction is promised. Details and registration by email: bowling4babies@hotmail.com.

Sufi Music Don’t miss this performance Ali Ozkan Demir, the famous nayzen, Sat 4/26 at 3PM. He comes all the way from Turkey to perform at John Carroll University’s Donahue Auditorium, Dolan Science Center as a part of a week of Islamic Art & Culture programming. Should be intrigung. http://www.jcu.edu/religion/nursi.

HOT Poetry Scenes In recognition of National Poetry Month, Cleveland Public Library will host the debut reading from a new book on the poets and poetry of Cleveland, Cleveland Poetry Scenes: A Panorama and Anthology, on Sun 4/27 at 2PM in the Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium, 325 Superior Ave. Edited by Clevelanders Nina Freedlander Gibans and Mary E. Weems, and Bottom Dog Press publisher Larry Smith, the collection features writings and essays on the city’s historic and current literary scene; dozens of poems by Cleveland writers are included. The editors, as well as nearly 20 of the poets whose writings appear in the book, will be on hand for the event and will read from their work. No cost, open to the public. Call 623-2881 for more info.

BBQ 101: Celebrity Chef Cooking Class taught by Steve Lorenz, KCBS Certified Barbeque Judge, plus wine tasting by Constantino’s Market, on Sun 5/4 at 4PM at Old Stone Church, 91 Public Square, with proceeds going to Tremont Montessori School and Transitional Housing. RSVP before 4/28 to CarrieATOldStoneChurch.org or 241-6145 http://www.OldStoneChurch.org

Rain Barrel Construction Workshops Ever thought about harnessing all that rain, so you can cut back on water consumption? Rain barrels are a great way to capture all the pure rain water that your garden plants prefer — free of pollutants, salts and other additives found in city water. Create your own rain barrel and learn about the benefits of rainwater harvesting on Sun 4/27 at noon at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. Carry forward that Earth Day vibe from last week into regular action! Call 321-5935 or visit http://www.shakerlakes.org for details.

Cleveland Women’s Orchestra With their 73rd Anniversary Concert, this group founded in 1936 celebrates as the oldest established women’s orchestra in the country. Featured soloists Caroline Goulding (violin), Regina Mushabac (cello) and Emanuela Friscioni (piano) perform the Beethoven Triple Concerto, Shubert’s Symphony No. 8 in B Minor and Les Preludes by Liszt. Open your ears at Severance Hall Sun 4/27 at 3PM. Call 231-1111 or click http://www.clevelandwomensorchestra.org.

High Stakes, Next Steps It’s a word on everyone’s mind in NEO: foreclosure. Learn about the housing and foreclosure crisis Sun 4/27 at 9:30AM as moderator (and County Treasurer) Jim Rokakis leads a panel of experts through the rocky world of mortgage defaults, bank solvency, falling home prices and tax revenues that affect us all. Who’s in charge? What are the answers? Join the discussion at this community forum at First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, 21600 Shaker Blvd., Shaker Hts. http://www.firstunitariancleveland.org.

HOT Let’s Get Fresh North Union Farmers Market will host a Northeast Ohio’s premier food and wine event at Eton Chagrin Boulevard in Woodmere Mon 4/28 at 6:30PM. The non-profit organization operates authentic producers-only farmers markets in Lakewood, Parma, Shaker Square, Woodmere, Westlake and Bath in order to educate the public about the benefits of eating locally grown food and to improve the local and regional economy by creating vibrant community spaces. Feast on delectables from 25 area chefs with lively music, adult bevvies and a stellar silent auction. 28601 Chagrin Blvd. Call 533-1994 for more.

HOT Rap Sessions Experience ACLU dialogues with hip-hop scholars on the 2008 presidential election as hip-hop scholar and Rap Sessions Executive Director, Bakari Kitwana leads a community dialogue and national tour presented in a town hall style. Check it out Tue 4/29 at 7:30PM. Trinity Cathedral Commons, 2230 Euclid Ave. The event is no-cost, open to the public. To RSVP, call 472-2220 or email: contact@acluohio.org.

Colbie Caillat OK, we don’t usually go all pop on you, but this girl’s voice is just really sweet. The University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall presents the singer-songwriter Caillat, who currently has hits in “Realize” and “Bubbly.” She performs live in concert Tue 4/29 at 7:30PM. http://www.ejthomashall.com.

HOT Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready speaks at COSE’s Tales from the Trenches at 8AM on Wed 4/30 at COSE’s new HQ in the Higbee Building, on The Rise of Cool Cleveland, highlighting the humble beginnings of this viral e-blast you’re reading now, recently awarded “Best News Site in the State” by the Society of Professional Journalists. Come see just how far a good attitude and a great idea can take you. Register.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

SPONSORED: Don’t miss Double Exposure, a compelling concert of new works that will touch the soul and move the spirit presented by Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater and The Dancing Wheels Company. Featuring Pimsler’s Big Trucks and Leverage which will unite the two companies in a powerful theater work that explores highly-personal images and stories revealing common barriers as sources of humor, insight and challenges. The concert on Sat 4/26 & Sun 4/27 will also include world premieres Unconquered Warriors choreographed by Nai-Ni Chen and Sweet Radio Radicals choreographed by Dianne McIntyre for the Dancing Wheels Company as well as Mr. Pimsler’s work Ways to Be Hold performed by his Company. Call (216) 432-0306 for tickets http://www.DancingWheels.org

Michael Bloom
Cleveland Play House artistic director & FusionFest creator

Michael Bloom is accomplishing the heroic. Since taking over as Artistic Director of the Cleveland Play House 3 1/2 years ago, he’s managed to get key Cleveland area arts organizations to collaborate on his brainstorm, CPH’s annual FusionFest, which kicks off Wed 4/23 and runs thru Sun 5/11. Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready pinned the ever-busy Bloom down on the front lawn of CPH’s Philip Johnson-designed theatre complex, just next to Cleveland Clinic construction, while their MFA students warmed-up in the background, to discuss those interesting muti-disciplinary collaborations with groups like Cleveland Public Theatre, U of Akron’s New World Performance Lab, Verb Ballets, Cleveland School of the Arts, Tri-C and Dobama & Karamu Theatres. They also discuss ways that the Play House is reaching out to young people, both through it’s education program, as well as events like the massive kick-off party this Sat 4/26 to celebrate the opening weekend of FusionFest. http://www.ClevelandPlayHouse.com

SPONSORED: 1 Ship. 5,000 Stories. With nearly 2,000 hours of video shot during a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf, “Carrier” provides a revealing story of life aboard U.S. aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz. Watch WVIZ/PBS Sun 4/27 – Thu 5/1, 9PM for this unprecedented access to the ship and its personnel. Visit www.wviz.org.

A Hot Summer w/Cool Camps, Part 4!

In this final part of our four-part series, we offer a few more suggestions for great summer camp experiences for your kids. Learning and fun, paired together? What a concept! We here at Cool Cleveland know that our focus on kids’ camps the last few weeks only scratches the surfaces of what’s available; we encourage you to watch our “Kids” section every week for more great kids programming happening all across the region. Send your kids events to events@coolcleveland.com.

CHABAM, The Educational Playcenter: What is your plan in early August when many of the summer camps are over? Here’s one idea… CHABAM! Locally owned, CHABAM stands for “Children Have Active Bodies And Minds.” Located right off 271 in Woodmere, you’ll find music, art and movement programs for toddlers, preschoolers and young school-agers. Weekly summer camps (9AM – 12PM or 1PM – 4PM daily) run throughout August. Before August, check out their classes and their drop-in program (where kids can be onsite, as needed – no reservations required – for up to 4 hours per day). During the dog days of summer, kids will love the coolness (air-conditioned!) of CHABAM, which includes a spectacular tree house. Prices and times of camps vary by age. Call 464-8500 for details…
Read more from Jeannie Fleming-Gifford here

Dr. N. Gerry House The prez/CEO of the Institute for Student Achievement, will discuss the report, Cleveland Schools That Are Making a Difference, at noon on Fri 4/25 at The City Club of Cleveland. Probably not for the kiddies, but parents will surely be interested in the findings. http://www.cityclub.org.

Go, Diego, Go Live! Nickelodeon brings the national touring production of Go, Diego, Go Live! The Great Jaguar Rescue to Playhouse Square Center’s Palace Theatre Fri 4/25 – Sun 4/27 for six performances. Fans can visit http://www.nickjr.com to look for additional local market tour dates and to buy tickets. This show is part of the Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Family Series at Playhouse Square. http://www.playhousesquare.org.

Math & Money Magic Celebrate the return of the Cleveland Childrens Museum’s “Family Fun Night” and their newest traveling exhibit, Abracadabra! Everyday Magic Sat 4/26 at 4PM. Learn fun ways to teach children to be smart about math and money. Kids of all ages can try their hand fun games, an A.G. Edward’s “Money, My Community and Me” scavenger hunt, and a raffle for one of three limited-edition piggy banks. We think this is a great way to start teaching financial literacy at a very early age. Learn more by visiting http://www.clevelandchildrensmuseum.org.

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory The Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School Drama Club performs Richard R. George’s beloved translation of Dahl’s Charlie & the Chocolate Factory in three spring theatre performances Fri 4/25 – Sun 4/27. The Friday and Saturday shows start at 8PM; Sunday’s performance starts at 2PM. Adults and children of all ages are encouraged to enjoy the Wonka experience. Get your Golden Ticket today. 18491 Lake Shore Blvd. http://www.vasj.com.

Piano Ohio Final Rounds Six Ohio students have been selected to compete in the final rounds of “PIANO/OHIO 2008,” a piano competition for high school students organized by the Cleveland International Piano Competition. The six finalists will compete for top honors and cash prizes at the final round, being held Sat 4/26 from 2 – 5PM at Cleveland State University’s Drinko Hall (Music & Communications Bldg., 2121 Euclid Avenue). The event is no cost, open to the public, and will be broadcast live on WCLV 104.9-FM. Details at http://clevelandpiano.org/announcements.html.

HOT I Buy NEO The Council of Smaller Enterprises’ (COSE) “I Buy NEO” program celebrates local businesses in Little Italy with a Street Festival on Sun 4/27 from noon – 5PM. The festivities will take place at the Bocce courts and the park in Little Italy (The Alta House will serve as an alternate location due to weather). Festivities include face painting, balloon animals, caricatures, music, Bocce and Cornhole tournaments and wine and cheese at participating merchants and galleries. IBuyNeo.com is a new initiative from COSE that encourages people to buy locally and help keep dollars in the region’s economy. A good message for us all. http://www.ibuyneo.com. http://www.cose.org.

Cool Cleveland Kids Podcast Weekly roundup of cool events for kids & families from 11-year-old Cool Cleveland Kids correspondent Max.

Click here to subscribe to the Cool Cleveland Kids Podcast in iTunes.

You Go, Girl!

Utilizing a phrase of brutal accuracy and ugly eloquence, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice — to some degree — altered my negative opinion of her by stating in an interview last month with the Washington Times, that “the United States still has trouble dealing with race because of a national ‘birth defect’ that denied black Americans the opportunities given to whites at the country’s very founding.” Those two words “birth defect” sums up the underlying cause of our continuing national dilemma over race in a manner most succinct and accurate, and I applaud Rice for her bravery (however belated) on this issue.

Rice continued: “Black Americans were a founding population. Africans and Europeans came here and founded this country together — Europeans by choice and Africans in chains. That’s not a very pretty reality of our founding. Descendants of slaves did not get much of a head start, and I think you continue to see some of the effects of that. That particular birth defect makes it hard for us to confront it, hard for us to talk about it, and hard for us to realize that it has continuing relevance for who we are today. America doesn’t have an easy time dealing with race…”
Read more from Mansfield B. Frazier here

This week’s most active post on BrewedFreshDaily.com

Cuy Co Commish Jimmy Dimora goes off on PD reporters, who record his outburst in a shocking MP3. BFD readers comment:

What do you think? Read and respond here

Jockstraps and Assless Chaps for Charity

Who would have thought that assless chaps and charity would fit so well together? The 7th annual Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend (CLAW) will once again prove that leather men and women — and their admirers — are among the most generous. “When we see all those people havin’ such a good time,” says Dennis McMahon, president and founder of CLAW, “and then when we present those checks, like to the [Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community] Center and to the AIDS Taskforce, for thousands of dollars… it’s just money that these organizations need.”

Since 2002, CLAW has raised over $100,000 for local and national charities, including Camp Sunrise, the Center for Integrated Therapies, and the Leather Archives and Museum, among many others. CLAW is a four-day, multi-venue leather event that draws thousands of people — and tens of thousands of dollars — from around the country and across the globe to Cleveland each spring. The entire Wyndham Hotel at Playhouse Square is reserved for CLAW guests and various features such as their unparalleled three-day auction, the largest leather vendor mart in Ohio (showcasing over 20 American and international vendors), a Sunday brunch and some spectacular parties. There’s also a juried BDSM art show (one of the few in the country) downstairs in the Halle Building, as well as field trips that will take attendees to the Rock Hall, the Christmas Story house, and a Tribe vs. Yankees game. It’ll be hard to miss 30 guys all dressed in leather at the Prog…!
Read more from Dana Aritonovich here

Links to interesting NEO blogs

When it comes to LGBT equality, Ohio ranks the same as Mississippi.
The Tech Czar has a new book of poetry out.
Dr. Patrick Michaels is not a a new convert. Just a well-funded warming denier.
Cleveland City Council has voted to allocate $250,000 for the design and architecture phase of the North Collinwood Recreation Center.
A recent report shows immigrants are a benefit to the U.S. Economy.
Another report compares business costs in Youngstown to U.S. and international regions.
A Piece of Cleveland launches its website.

“Citizen” Ed Hauser Replies

I was very flattered when Kelly Ferjutz contacted me to do an interview for Cool Cleveland. I spent a significant amount of time with her on the interview traveling the Cleveland shoreline and sharing my thoughts about the past, present and future plans for our waterfront. She got it, and I want to thank her and Cool Cleveland for the opportunity to tell my story and encourage people to get involved in the things that are important to them -or- others will make those decisions for you. Kelly was also very creative in how she portrayed an alternative to the Port Authority’s “all or nothing” billion-dollar relocation plan.

However, I wanted to elaborate on what I feel is the most urgent lakefront news that is not being discussed or mentioned is the port authority’s threat to acquire Whiskey Island- AGAIN! Here is what I would like to share with you and hopefully get our public servants to put the Whiskey Island saga to rest once and for all…
Read more from Ed Hauser here

Douglas O’Bryon
Why no “Men’s Hospitals”?

Douglas O’Bryon, Cool Cleveland’s Soundbite Laureate, has just one simple question:

“Why is it that you never see ‘Men’s Hospitals’ anywhere?”

http://digitalcasserole.blogspot.com

Tri-C JazzFest Winds Down, Ramps Up

Cuyahoga Community College’s JazzFest may be winding down after yet another successful run, but it’s still not too late for you to take in the peerless musicianship, magical improvisation and vibrant virtuosity. Tri-C’s got the JazzFest down to a science — specifically, chemistry — and the mix of jazz variations and venue locations is a balanced chemical equation. Tonight, Wed 4/23 at 8PM, former UC Berkeley student Vijay Iyer and his quartet deliver a multi-culti blend of jazz and traditional Indian music. They perform at MOCA Cleveland. The Joshua Redman Trio takes to the Tri-C Metro Campus stage the next night, Thu 4/24 at 8PM; the jazz sax player is a Monk Award Winner and extraordinary tonal talent. And then there’s the unforgettable Natalie Cole, who takes to the Playhouse Square Center’s Allen Theatre stage Fri 4/25 at 8PM.

But that merely gets you to the weekend! There’s a no-cost Downbeat Invitational at Tri-C Metro; “RnR,” which pairs jazz cats Rick Braun and Richard Elliot; a delectable (nay, succulent) Jazz Brunch with Dominick Farinacci at Pickwick and Frolic; a no-cost performance by the Marcus Roberts Trio at the East Cleveland Public Library and so much more. For a complete schedule of remaining events, visit http://www.tricjazzfest.com.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

Deliver This Creature
Mr. Gnome
El Marko Records

They had me at “hello.” The minimalist, post-punk duo Mr. Gnome has impressed from the get-go — conjuring a psychedelic whirlwind in their first two EPs. With influences ranging from alt-rock and metal to progressive rock and ethereal, singer/guitarist Nicole Barille and drummer/pianist Sam Meister are infectiously abstract and yet quite accessible. Confused? It’s understandable if you’ve never heard them before; the comparisons to Massive Attack, PJ Harvey, Black Sabbath, Death From Above 1979 and Cat Power do little to eschew obfuscation. Hearing really is believing.

Barille and Meister pair malevolence with delicate, feminine brushstrokes and chug full-bore into apocalyptic dirge territory. It all adds up to a spectacular full-length effort called Deliver This Creature, irreverent and easy to get swept up in. The duo prove again that they are a force on their first long-player; from the opening strains of “Pirates” and “Rabbit” to enigmatic cuts like “Thief,” “Tied” and the white-knuckled title track, they pivot well, decorate in very stark, organic ways and change the tempo and moods frequently to keep any listener engaged. They can be soft when need be, but Barille and Meister sure can shred very persuasively. Espouse elucidation; listen to this band immediately.

Check out Mr. Gnome at their CD release party at the Beachland Ballroom this Friday, April 25. For more information on the band and gig, check http://www.mrgnome.com and http://www.beachlandballroom.com.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

Wanna get reviewed? Send your band’s CD (less than 1 year old) to: Cool Cleveland, 14837 Detroit Avenue, #105, Lakewood, OH 44107

Quick reviews of recent events
Submit your own review or commentary to Events@CoolCleveland.com

In the Continuum @ CPT 4/11 In the Continuum, the two-woman play which is now being staged at Cleveland Public Theatre, began as a graduate school acting project. When Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salter were students in New York University’s graduate program, they discovered that each was working on a play about AIDS and its effect on black women. Gurira set her story in her home country of Zimbabwe. Salter’s script was set in her native Los Angeles. The two decided to combine their two scripts into one. Obviously, the idea was good as the resulting work, In the Continuum, went on to be named one of the ten best plays of the year.

The play centers on Abigail and Nia, the play’s protagonists, who appear to have nothing in common other than being black and pregnant. Abigail is a newscaster in Zimbabwe, married to an accountant and pregnant with their second child. Nia is an outspoken unmarried pregnant teenager living in LA.

Interestingly, when Abigail speaks of her dreams she sounds more American than African. Nia, in her unschooled ways, sounds more like a resident of a Third World country. Then we find out that Abigail’s husband cheats on her, and Nia has no hope of marrying the father of her child, a highly recruited high school basketball player. And they both have HIV, given to them by their philandering sex partners.

The script, which is not preachy, is mesmerizing. Though the concept sounds depressing, it isn’t. The play is creatively developed, often filled with laughs, and makes it points without lecturing.

It was interesting sitting in an audience on opening night that was composed of many African Americans. As is the oral tradition of many American blacks, based on the oral tradition of church preachers and political speakers, there was much talk back to the cast. Agreement as to the statements being made and disagreement with some of the decisions the characters make were accented by audience vocal reactions. It made the experience encompassing and added to the realism of the authors’ words.

The CPT production, under the wise direction of Tony Sias, is well paced, of high intensity, and filled with the proper humor. Kimberly Brown as Nia and Bianca Sams as Abigail are excellent. Their talent goes beyond playing the two women, as each also portrays numerous other characters. They are believable throughout.

Capsule judgment: This is an excellent script, that receives a stellar performance at Cleveland Public Theatre. This is a play that says much about world conditions and the international AIDS crisis, in a real and compelling way. It is a must see!

In the Continuum runs through May 3. For tickets, call 631-2727 or visit http://www.cptonline.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Roy Berko’s blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2008, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info.
Comments? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Bach Festival @ Baldwin-Wallace College 4/13-20 Another excellent Bach Festival (76th) has come and gone at Baldwin-Wallace. This year’s performance of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion conducted by Dwight Oltman, plus other shorter works presented over the week brought the now-expected happiness to the hearts of Bach stalwarts. Two newcomers added extra zest to this year’s events. Gary Relyea, bass-baritone, stepped in at the last minute to sing the role of Christus in the Passion. (Cleveland Orchestra patrons may remember the stunning performance of his son, John Relyea, in last fall’s concert production of “Bluebeard’s Castle”–now we know where John gets it–both were impressive presences on stage and vocally.) But it was the guest Baroque Trio with a catchy program title “Madcap, Red Priest, and Angel” that brought out the timeless character classics enjoy when inhabited by the right musicians. Harpsichordist Lars Ulrick Mortensen used his whole body to keep time, bending over the keyboard (and around it) like a sinuous Jerry Lee Lewis, while the more relaxed John Holloway (violin) and Jaap ter Linden (violoncello) moved with the air of relaxed (way cool, man, cool) jazz performers as they played works by French and Italian composers Leclair, Couperin, Corelli, Vivaldi and others.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Laura Kennelly lkennellyATgmail.com

Open House @ NASA-Glenn 4/17 NASA = Nice Activity for a Saturday Afternoon. In the escalating (twisting) “arms race” of family-friendly weekend entertainment juggernauts, it was refreshing to visit one of Cleveland’s hidden, understated, and portion-controlled treasures recently. NASA’s Glenn Research Center was featuring “Countdown to the Future” as the theme of their free monthly “Third Saturday” event last weekend, and it provided the perfect 2-hour diversion for a family with elementary-school-aged kids, anxious to exchange their mouse pad for a launch pad, if only for an afternoon. (Note: This is NOT to be confused with Cleveland’s other Air and Space Exhibit – now known as Euclid Avenue).

While the lectures may have been a little smarter than my 5th grader, the self-administered exhibits offered a range of hands-on experiences, including a replica cockpit and various space-related memorabilia. Over the course of the tour, we learned the difference between a meteorwrong and a meteorite, as well as the distinction between hemorrhoids and asteroids. Amazingly, the highlight was not the high-tech landing simulator, or the Pluto Memorial, but rather the low-tech high-touch craft area, where kids scotch-taped wrapping paper around empty 2-liter bottles of Sunkist, and affixed stars and planetary bunting to create their own satellite dishes (contract not included). Throw in a free digital picture of the kids superimposed inside a spacesuit, and you’ve got more than enough memories for a day exploring the final frontier.

Mark your calendars now for Saturday May 17th, when NASA celebrates their 50th Anniversary (which I believe is the Kryptonite Anniversary) and includes 2 days of Open House activities and a special “Goddard Only Knows” lecture series for visitors.

By Douglas O’Bryon, Soundbite Laureate
Comments? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Research ShowCASE 2008 @ CWRU 4/17 With so many cutting edge research reports and exhibits on display at the Research ShowCASE event, my cerebral cortex shifted into overdrive as I walked the aisles at the Veale Convocation Center talking to researchers and academicians about their projects. This sixth annual no-cost, open to the public event highlights research and scholarship from Case Western Reserve University and its collaborating institutions, including University Hospitals Case Medical Center, MetroHealth System, the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic.

Interactive multimedia exhibits abounded, including electronic research posters on plasma TVs complete with moving graphics and text giving visual examples of research findings. When I donned special glasses, I could view a monitor showing a Mather modern dance performance on stage in three dimension. At another exhibit, I saw new imaging technology revealing a three-dimensional scan of the head, mouth, and jaw, facilitating a more comprehensive dental view and diagnosis. I watched a graduate engineering student steer a robotic lawnmower as it remotely traveled over green carpet.

iStan, the most advanced wireless human simulator designed by Medical Education Technologies, Inc. (METI), was also there sitting up in a wheelchair blinking his eyes and crying as a demonstration of some of his capabilities. Medical and nursing students retain more of their education when they can practice their procedures on these life-like mannequins.

Where else could I hear a panel of expert speakers talk about harnessing wind to generate electrical energy? Another symposium panel discussed the ramifications of viewing dental health as an indicator for the status of overall physical body health. Esther Erb, a senior music and cognitive science double major at Case, displayed her research on the positive outcomes for distance runners when they listen to iPod music as they run. She has successfully combined her love of music and distance running in her research. Erb is considered the best female runner in Case women’s sports.

For more information, visit http://ora.ra.cwru.edu/showcase. Do not miss this fascinating event next year. Highly-recommended for non-scientists as well.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Susan Schaul susn1ATatt.net
Comments? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

This is How it Goes @ The Bang and the Clatter 4/18 The Bang and Clatter Theatre Company, which moved into its new home in Cleveland, chose to produce a Neil LaBute play as its premiere piece. LaBute and B&C have a lot in common. They are both entities that do not fade away from the “in your face” kind of theatre. B&G, was founded by two modern day Don Quixotes — Sean Derry and Sean McConaha, who, in 2005, “dreamed the impossible dream.” They started a theatre with $4000 in Akron! Sounds like a sure highway ride to roadkill, right? In spite of the odds, the unconventional dynamic duo envisioned a venue for the production of “innovative, challenging works of exceptional quality and imagination with a particular emphasis on modern American plays never have been seen in Ohio.” And, have they succeeded! The plays have generally been impressive, gaining many critical bravos. (Including almost a dozen Times Tribute Outstanding Theatre awards last year alone!

The many Cuyahoga County residents, along with a few Akronites, who have trekked out to the Rubber City to attend B&G shows is impressive. Last year their production season operated on about a quarter of a million dollars. They sold over 500 season tickets and charge only $15 per ticket. And, if you can’t afford that, you pay what you can.

Their new Cleveland home is the old Cole’s Shoe Store, next to the vacant May Company Building on Euclid. MRN Ltd., the developers of the East 4th Street walking street, downtown’s new entertainment mecca, with such restaurants as Lola’s and Saigon and entertainment venues, including The House of Blues and Pickwick and Frolic, had such faith in the Seans, that they have given them the space rent-free for five years. Real estate developer Cliff Hershman, the George Gund Foundation and the City of Cleveland also are strongly backing the project.

Their opening show, This is How it Goes, is a typical B&G script selection. The Sean’s, who are fans of LaBute, produced an amazing production of Fat Pig last season. LaBute is noted for his realistic language, edgy topics and unsettling portrayals of human relationships. It is impossible to be an impassive viewer of his plays. He sweeps you in, often with his vivid language, his clear character developments, with his blatant use of words (the “N” word has great prominence in this script), and always with his subject matter.

On the surface, This is How it Goes is a play about a love triangle between a white male and an interracial couple. The seed for the plot evolved from a damning letter LaBute received after directing the film, Nurse Betty, in which there is a kiss between a white woman and a black man. Yes, racial hated is alive and well in this country, in spite of all the strides that have been made to eradicate it.

The play confronts race, morality, and American ethos through the use of humor, drama, intrigue, and a clever plot twist. Using the theatrical device of alienation, in which the audience is constantly made aware they are in a theatre, LaBute includes multi-locations with all set changes being made in clear view, and a narrator who not only guides the journey but steps into the action, playing one of the lead characters. He does this because, as he states, “Theater only needs someone to stand up and say: ‘Listen to this.’”

The play is set in a small Midwestern town. Cody, who is African American, was once the star of the high school track team. He has become a successful businessman. His white wife Belinda, a former cheerleader, stays at home with the baby. When a high school acquaintance returns to town and rents the room over their garage, he upsets the delicate balance of their relationship, raising questions about who they want to be, who they are, and what made them that way.

From the audience’s standpoint, the question becomes, “Which of the tales we are watching is real, truthful, authentic?” Who is fooling who? Is it only the characters who are playing with each other, or is LaBute playing with us, the viewers? B&B’s production, under the adept direction of Fred Sternfeld, is squarely on track. Though a long sit at a little over two hours with no intermission, the pacing is appropriate and there is little time for the mind to wander.

The cast is excellent. Doug Kulak, who has a wonderful way of playing with words and the mobile face to amaze and amuse, is tremendous as Man, the high school acquaintance. The role was played by Ben Stiller in the New York production, and it is difficult to believe that he was any better than Kusak. Michael May, who was outstanding in Dobama’s production of Take Me Out, again hits a homer as Cody, a man driven by early-life demons. Leighann Niles DeLorenzo, though she sometimes seems to lose concentration, is believable as Belinda. Rachel Zake moves the set pieces and highlights Cody’s insecurities as the Waitress.

”Capsule judgment: Walking into the Cole Shoe Store, where I had my very first job as a high schooler, and seeing it transformed into an attractive and functioning theatre space, was a surreal experience. Seeing a quality production of the show by the B&C family was not surreal. Clevelanders should open their arms and pocketbooks wide to welcome Bang and Clatter to the area. Good luck Seans!!!!!

This is How it Goes, runs through May 10 at The Bang and Clatter Theatre, 210 Euclid Avenue. For tickets call 330-606-5317. Go early, eat dinner at one of the E. 4th Street restaurants or stay down after the show and hit one of the bars, comedy shows or entertainment features. The next Cleveland production is Blackbird by Adam Rapp on May 23. The Akron home of B&G at 140 E. Market Street is still in operation. Cagelove by Christopher Denham opens on April 25.

For more information, visit http://www.bnctheatre.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Roy Berko’s blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2008, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info.
Comments? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

La Bohème: Opera Cleveland @ State Theatre 4/18 Opera Cleveland opened its 2008 season Friday night with Puccini’s La Bohème – arguably the most popular opera ever written. In spite of the problems on display in the opening night performance, it’s easy to see why. With gorgeous music throughout, the story is lushly romantic. Opera Cleveland was wise to cast younger singers who were more believable as the young lovers or young Bohemians who hadn’t yet quite found their way to responsible—and possibly boring—adulthood.

There were severe balance problems in the huge State Theatre, as the orchestra frequently overwhelmed the singers. Conductor Dean Williamson, whose day job is the company’s new artistic director, will no doubt get a handle on this situation for future performances. It’s tricky at best, and perhaps this somewhat new-to-him circumstance also contributed to the rather elastic tempos at times.

The sets, which came from Opera Theatre of St. Louis (designed by Erhard Rom) were very evocative, especially the third act winter scenario. It was all too familiar to us, having seen so much snow here during the past few months. The garret scenes (acts I and IV) allowed the young Bohemians plenty of room to indulge in their horseplay without tripping over the furniture, while the second act Café Momus was colorful and vibrant, even with its huge population of partiers. Chorus Master C. M. Shearer had his large forces in good voice. Director Tomer Zvulun set an energetic pace for everyone throughout. Costumes were designed by Martin Pakledinaz and came from Seattle Opera. Robert Wierzel’s lighting design both captured and enhanced the action on stage.

The ill-fated young lovers, Mimi and Rodolfo were sung by Melody Moore and Mark T. Panuccio, respectively. Ms. Moore’s voice was well-suited to the quirky acoustics of the theatre, always able to be heard and understood. Mr. Panuccio was not always so fortunate. The other couple, Musetta (Laura Z. Pedersen) and Marcello (Michael Todd Simpson) were well-matched visually, if not always vocally. (Perhaps it was placement on the stage, but she was not always able to be heard over the orchestra.) Derrick Parker as Colline had no such difficulty when singing the poignant farewell to his trusty old coat. He and Schaunard (Kristopher Irmiter) added to the general frivolity, but also displayed sensitivity, leaving Mimi and Rodolfo to say their final farewells in private.

The final performance of La Bohème is this Saturday evening, April 26. Call 241-6000 for tickets, or visit the their website, http://www.operacleveland.org. The next production will be Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro in September. The 2009 Season has also just been announced, and more information is available at the above website.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com
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Asia @ House of Blues 4/19 Alongside the late magician Doug Henning, the 1980s prog-rock heroes in Asia were made a punchline for geekdom in the recent movie, The 40-Year Old Virgin. But judging by the thrilled classic rock crowd at the House of Blues on Saturday, the four original members of Asia — guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Carl Palmer, bassist/vocalist John Wetton, and keyboardist Geoff Downes — are having the last laugh. They’ve reunited for the first time in 25 years and put on an outstanding show that included the hits from their landmark early 80’s albums and fresh new material from their just recently released CD, Phoenix. The foursome went even further into the past, digging out some from their individual bands — Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, King Crimson, and the Buggles, respectively.

They opened with crowd pleasers “Daylight,” “Only Time Will Tell,” and “Wildest Dreams,” with the first of several extended Carl Palmer drum solos. Over the course of the evening other songs from their first two albums included “Look into Your Eyes” that closed the first set; “Heat of the Moment” which closed the second set; and “Don’t Cry” and “Soul Survivor” which were the encores.

The highlights for many in the audience were the tunes that went back to each players roots: “Roundabout” with Steve Howe’s great guitar intro and Wetton more than respectiably subbing for Jon Anderson on vocals; A jazzy arrangement of ELP’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” featuring Carl Palmer’s percussion skills; and King Crimson’s “In the Court of the Crimson King” with Wetton on vocals and Downes playing all sorts of keyboards to fill out the sound. There even was a fun version of “Video Killed the Radio Star,” a song Downes recorded with another former member of Yes, producer Trevor Horn.

The songs from their new album sounded good and were received well by the audience, the best of them being “Never Again” and “Extraordinary Life.”

Judging by the crowd’s reaction, Asia could well be making another run at superstardom — albeit without the benefit of arena-sized crowds. It was terrific show. For more info on Asia and their new CD Phoenix visit http://www.originalasia.com. Amongst the shows coming up at the House of Blues are the B-52’s on April 29, the Average White Band on May 8, the Breeders on June 3, and Mahogany Rush on July 15. Check out http://www.hob.com for more info.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Greg Cielec cielecAThotmail.com
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