Is Cleveland Waking Up

8.04-8.11.04

Is Cleveland waking up?

Dear Friend,

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland Interview with a re-forming SAFMOD
* Life at the Drive-In on sustaining B-movie culture
* Cool Cleveland writer Terry Provost’s The First Waking

Cool Cleveland Interview with SAFMOD

The multi-disciplinary performance troupe Sub Atomic Frequency Modulation Overdose, known to Cleveland’s art audience as SAFMOD, has evolved from an avant-garde collective of dancers, musicians and performers into one of Cleveland’s premiere dance and performance companies, appearing everywhere from corporate parties to theatrical presentations to street busking. One of the most widely-recognized groups in the region, their use of outrageous costumes and stilt-walking talents have revealed a photogenic and art-positive group that has managed to find enthusiastic audiences where others have found only blank stares. Instigated by co-artistic directors, drummer Neil Chastain and choreographer Young Park, they eventually were joined by stilt-walker Ezra Houser, who also manages the group and ran its administration, applying for grants and booking the gigs. Since Park and Houser recently announced their intention to retire, the future of the troupe is very much in question. The three key artists spoke exclusively with Cool Cleveland about their artistic challenges, their decision to move to Canada, and what it’s like to be an artist working and living in Cleveland.

Neil Chastain (N), Young Park (Y), Ezra Houser (E)

Currently the group is in transition, but throughout your career here, you have been remarkably successful. What would you suggest to other young artists who respect the level of achievement you’ve accomplished.
N: Don’t be afraid to start your own thing.
Y: It depends upon your definition of success. I think if you look at the foundations, they may not think of SAMOD as successful, but you get on stage whether people want you there are not. After a while, The Plain Dealer’s dance critic started saying, “Well, they’re not going away, so maybe I don’t hate them.” And it’s also about being a more fully developed human being who is curious about the world. You see a lot of artists in the classical music world who spend 8 hours a day sitting in front of a piano, but they are not fully developed human beings…
Young and Ezra, what are some of the reasons you decided to withdraw from SAFMOD, and what are your plans?
Y: A lot if it is personal, my mother has died this past year, and it felt like it was time to go. And I can say that George Bush has forced me to move to Canada.
Seriously?
Y: Half-seriously. I saw Fahrenheit 9/11, and now I feel like I have to stay to get him out of office.
How about you, Ezra?
E: I’m with her. The writing is on the wall for anyone who chooses the life as professional artist: arts educator, arts administrator, etc. It’s stressful and it’s demanding, and here it is not sustainable…
Y: The way the system is.
N: It’s hard to save up money; I play five to six gigs a week and combined, it’s not bad, but you can’t save money that way…
Y: And we don’t have health insurance…
N: And you’re not involved in investments; you can’t build up and let your money work for you…
Y: Or obtain a pension plan…
E: I don’t see that the company was being supported or sustained in the way that I could ease off, and I want to shift to support a family life. So is SAFMOD going to be my family, or am I going to go the other way?…
Read the Cool Cleveland Interview with SAFMOD here

Cleveland Arts Festival? A world-class, city-wide arts festival could transform Cleveland in a powerful and profound way. Many of us feel that Cleveland has the talent, administrative expertise, political will, and community passion to throw an arts party as good as anyone in the country and some of us are doing something about it. Read the well-researched article by Carolyn Jack in the PD detailing large city festivals like Seattle’s Bumbershoot, Charleston’s Spoleto, Chicago’s Humanities Festival, Pittsburgh’s International Festival of Firsts, Providence’s Convergence International Arts Festival and quoting among others CoolCleveland.com’s founder Thomas Mulready, along with Cleveland Public Theatre’s James Levin is pursuing a one to three week festival that would leverage and umbrella existing events such as Parade the Circle and the Cleveland Orchestra’s free Fourth of July concert. This endeavor would also add national quality area artists. Read it online at Cleveland.com

Thinking about your marketing? So is Cool Cleveland. As you put your Fall marketing plans together, drop us a line and ask us how we leverage “The Intimacy of the Inbox” with our weekly, much-anticipated vehicle. Your company can also benefit by sponsoring one of our popular Cool Cleveland parties. Tired of paying for marketing that doesn’t work? Contact Cool Cleveland Info@CoolCleveland.com

County Planning blog Interested in urban planning and development, but don’t have the time to page through the paper to read the latest news? The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission now features a Weblog providing links to stories about the proposed and current developments in the Greater Cleveland area. Updated daily, this website is a great source for information. Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Weblog http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/blog/

Erase piracy with disposable DVDs A new self-destructing DVD is heralded as a clever anti-piracy tool. The discs are created with an oxygen-activated chemical, and they’re shipped in vacuum-sealed packages. Once the disc is opened from the packaging and exposed to air, 48 hours later it turns black and degrades so that DVD players can’t play it. http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/people/columns/intelligencer/9548/index.html

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Get to the Pointe Cleveland’s affordable downtown living! The Pointe at Gateway offers economical, 1 and 2 bedroom condominiums that place you at the center of the lively, bustling Gateway neighborhood. Take your pick of light-filled one-bedroom units and spacious two-bedroom units with two full baths. Units feature historic details, and plush carpets with available upgrades to hardwood floors. Plus: lofty ceilings, modern appliances, ceramic kitchen tile and large windows – some with urban views! Pointe buyers can walk to the Jake and the Gund, dine at Fat Fish Blue, or catch a show at Pickwick and Frolic. One bedrooms start at $77,900 and two bedrooms start at $129,900, plus tax abatement and special financing. This property is open Fri 8/6 from 11:30AM-1:30PM and Sun 8/8 2-4PM. For a complete list of properties and open houses this weekend, please visit www.ProgressiveUrban.com
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Artist garage sale One of the coolest group of artists in Cleveland is throwing a garage sale. Artists collect the best stuff, and when they throw a garage sale, you’ll find some real treasures. More than 200 households and businesses in the W. 99th & W. 100th area will be participating on Sat 8/7 from 10AM-4PM just south of Lorain and Denison avenues. Parking is permitted in the Almira Elementary School lot located on the corner of Almira Avenue and W. 99th Street. Bargain hunters can find many nostalgic and contemporary treasures from gramma’s attic and kitchen, including bicycles, car parts, tools, televisions, microwaves, computer equipment, dishes, cook books, jewelry, antiques, silverware, drinking glasses, linens, furniture, art supplies, and tons of other bargains.

Gun safety Now this interesting. The National Council of Jewish Women is holding a gun program, not on gun ownership, or gun control, but on gun safety. Entitled, I Will Ask, the program will present free of charge to any parents’ group, in hopes of preventing accidental deaths and injuries due to accessible guns. They’re teaching parents how to ask about guns in a non-confrontation and non-judgemental way before their child visits someone else’s home. Contact Hope Ellis at the National Council of Jewish Women Office at 216-378-2204 to make arrangements for them to speak to your group.

American Community Garden Association Providing the basics needed for starting up a community garden, with tips on gardening to accomodate people of all abilities and ages. http://www.communitygarden.org

Billionaires for Bush Corporate cronyism is alive and well, and the well-heeled Billionaires For Bush are making a stop in Cleveland on their Get On The Limo Tour 2004. Everyone’s anticipating their Million Billionaires March in NYC on 8/29 for the Republican Convention, but you can join the billionaires in Cleveland this Wed 8/4 through 8/7 as they throw their considerable weight around. Stop over to Mac’s Backs on Coventry for a book signing by B4B on Sat 8/7 at 7PM (please note that valet parking may not be available for this event!) Billionaires for Bush is a strategic media and street theater campaign that uses a combustible mix of humor, savvy messaging, grass-roots participation, and Internet organizing tools to flesh out the truth of government actions and policies. There are already chapters in several states across the country, and now you can join the fun right here in Cleveland. http://www.billionairesforbush.com/blog/chapters

Free Outdoor Theater Unlike almost any other group, Cleveland Public Theatre has found a way to juxtapose avant-garde theatre with grass-roots arts education. They do it again this weekend with a free student enrichment program based around Federico Garcia Lorca’s classic play Blood Wedding, featuring over 20 teens working in the 11th annual production of their STEP program (Summer Theatre Enrichment Program), which engages at-risk teens in long-term theatre training and performance creation. The production will take place in two Near West Side neighborhood parks: Herman Park (W. 61st St & Herman in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood) on Thu 8/5 and Fri 8/6, and Lincoln Park (W. 14th St. & Starkweather in Tremont) on Sat 8/7 and Sun 8/8. Performances are at 7PM and admission is free. Lorca is considered to be Spain’s greatest playwright of the modern age, and Blood Wedding is his most famous work. The classic play follows the story of a man torn by desire, a bride who wants to forget the past, and a mother who has only one son left alive. Blood Wedding is a moving story of love, loss, and betrayal. No reservations required, but please bring a blanket or lawn chair.

Tunick unveiling Now comes the moment that all 2,754 Clevelanders have all been waiting for: the unveiling of Spencer Tunick’s “final art image,” the result of the record-breaking nude installation he created on 6/26. [Read Cool Cleveland’s review here.] To see the photograph and video resulting from Tunick’s largest nude event in North America, drop in on MOCA Cleveland on Fri 8/13 from 6-11PM, but only those who posed will gain admission for the first hour. Participants with a photo ID will also receive the 8″ X 10″ version of the final image. Accompanying the oversized image (which measures 71 x 89¼ inches), will be exclusive video footage shot by Tunick’s assistant, Andrew Einhorn and a montage of extensive local and national television news coverage, including segments on CNN and The Weather Channel. 8501 Carnegie, 421-8671 http://www.MOCACleveland.org

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Your last chance for Africa Senenkunya: Many Voices, One Family, is the critically acclaimed exhibition of sub-Saharan Africa at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. But it wont be here forever – Sun 8/29 is the last day you’ll be able to experience this exhibition, so make your plans now! As visitors enter Kahn Hall, they will be immersed in an African village. This dramatic setting includes fabrications of a “Hogan” house reserved for a village leader, a hunter’s hut, a mosque, granaries, a “Toguna” where village council members meet, a trading center and more. The village setting also features more than a 100 stunning sculptures, carvings, textiles, ceremonial masks, musical instruments and Tutsi spears from 30 African ethnic groups. In addition, mural backdrops, dioramas, sounds and smells add to the African ambiance. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. Find out and discover the nature of your universe at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, 216-231-4600 www.cmnh.org/senenkunya
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NEO411.biz for entrepreneurs We’ve been talking about changing the atmosphere around here to be more welcoming to entrepreneurs, so it’s nice to see someone doing something about it. NEO411.biz was formed to give entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses access to resources in our fantastic region. Consisting of a partnership between groups like COSE, the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, CAMP, GlIDE, JumpStart, NEOSA and others, NEO411.biz offers operations consulting, business planning, group benefits and other services to help entrepreneurs in the 13-county region go from concept to prototype, to production to funding, all right here in Northeast Ohio. info@NEO411.biz 800-505-4811 http://www.NEO411.biz

Call for TV writers Emmy-winning Cleveland-area writer and director Alex P. Michaels has created a new TV series called Out of Darkness, and now he’s looking for non-professional writers to submit pitches for the show’s first season. He’ll give you the basic premise for the series and the cast of cops and characters; you create the criminals and the crime. The grand prize winner will not get rich, but they’ll receive $100, story credit and have your script appear during the first season of the show. For full details, contact Prelude2Cinema at http://www.prelude2cinema.com

Cleveland’s Kilgore Trout named Top 25 When MR Magazine named their “Top 25 Most Exciting Menswear Stores,” it was excellent to find out that Cleveland’s own Kilgore Trout was the only clothing retailer in the state to make the prestigious list. Named after writer Kurt Vonnegut’s favorite charcter, Kilgore Trout recently underwent a $1 million remodeling. Winners of the award will be featured in a Fall issue of Cargo magazine. 28601 Chagrin Boulevard, Beachwood. Call 831-0488

Cleveland artist hits Chicago Karen St. John Vincent’s gelatin silver print Newlyweds was selected for exhibition at Woman Made Gallery. Founded in 1992, it supports women in the arts by providing opportunities, awareness, and advocacy through monthly thematic exhibitions that recognize women’s cultural contributions. http://womanmade.org/show.html?type=group&gallery=members2004&pic=1

Work stress is as harmful as smoking New research suggests that work-related stress can be as harmful as smoking. Harvard University researcher Yawen Chang, Ph.D., surveyed more than 21,000 people, and those with the most demanding jobs and little control over their work environment were more likely to suffer from stress. Are the effects of stress worse than reaching for a pack of Lucky Strikes? http://www.psychologytoday.com/htdocs/prod/PTOArticle/PTO-20001101-000010.ASP

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What’s Brown, Orange and Barking all over? Cleveland! Let’s face it – Cleveland is Browns Town and Browns Backers worldwide and fans are invited to take a bite out of Cleveland during Brown & Orange Weekend, September 3-6, 2004. This will be an unforgettable weekend full of exciting Cleveland Browns events that will have you “barking” throughout Cleveland! BOW packages include: two nights accommodations, ticket to the Browns vs. Bears game, Loud & Proud pep rally, Browns Rookie Meet and Greet, and a Cleveland All-Access Pass to the Rock Hall, Science Center and Taste of Cleveland. Events-only packages are also available. To get more information on how you can bark your way into this great deal, click on The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland or call 877-222-4084. Tickets are limited, so act now!
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LA Film workshop Color fliers will be available next week, and if this event is a success, the LA Film Lab will be back to share their experiences in filmmaking. LA Film Lab presents Marketing Yourself as an Actor, a one day intensive workshop on 8/7 from 9AM-5PM. Herman Miller Workplace Resource, 1240 Huron Rd. For details and registration click on http://www.1421e9k.com/w-oneday.htm

Vietnam outlaws performance art and “bad hair” The ministry of culture has imposed a ban on performing artists with shaved heads or dyed and unkempt hair from appearing on stage. The main offender being “hairstyles which inflict horror, painted or dyed hair, shaved heads or long, uncombed hair,” in an effort to maintain traditional arts and cultural propriety. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3913313.stm

The Community Toolbox A resource of practical guidance to develop healthy communities. With sections that cover cultural competence, the arts and community building, spirituality, analyzing community problems and promoting interest/participation in initiatives, it’s a cohesive web resource. http://ctb.ku.edu

Postmodern poop “Literary criticism is a pile of decomposing shit,” this article argues, but they mean it in a good way. The literati are either drawn to literary criticism or appalled by it, the latter citing that it’s an obsessive way to waste time. And while certain people are drawn to lit criticism, others are so critical of it that it sends them into a crit-bashing frenzy. What’s up with that? http://www.themodernword.com/kafka/review_corngold.html

First Night Akron looking for artists Cool Cleveland checked out Akron’s First Night celebration last New Year’s, and we were damn impressed by the cooperation of the community, the quality of the offerings, and the fun spirit with which it was all pulled off. Now they’re looking for artists to perform at this year’s fete. Artists from every genre are sought, and all artists will be paid. Artist applications are available at Downtown Akron Partnership’s office or by visiting their site http://www.downtownakron.com, clicking on “First Night,” then on “Artists.” For more info: 330-762-8555

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Bring Ohio Back with Martin Sheen & Susan Sarandon Now that the Democratic Convention’s got everyone fired up, it’s time to focus on the biggest battleground state of them all: Ohio, where so many have suffered so greatly during the current administration, with 6% unemployment and 270,000 job losses since January, 2001. Bring Ohio Back is the only Ohio-based 527 committee dedicated to educating Ohioans about the impact that President Bush has had on the lives of our residents, and about Senator John Kerry’s record and policy initiatives. Join Chad Lowe, Fisher Stevens, and Julianna Margulies on Sat 8/14 at 5PM for a Garden Cocktail Party in Cleveland Heights, along with special guests Martin Sheen and Susan Sarandon. Your $500 contribution will go directly towards getting the message out, right here in Northeast Ohio. For more info: http://www.BringOhioBack.org or to RSVP, contact caboyle@sbcglobal.net.
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Cool Cleveland This Week

8.04-8.11

Send your cool events to: events@coolcleveland.com

Crooked River Groove Hear music clips from over 50 local acts and to check out what Tri-C is doing with your county and state tax dollars! Surf over to http://www.crookedrivergroove.com to listen in on locally engineered sound, then head out to the Beachland Tavern to get in on the release of Adult Themes with their hot new rock outfit Wed 8/4 at 8PM. Event happens at the Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Rd. Contact Cuyahoga Community College, 2900 Community College Ave. Call 987-4252 or email tommy.wiggins@tri-c.edu

Innovative Approaches to Redefining Your Business: Executive Roundtable The impact of China, the Internet, and outsourcing have presented businesses with a clear challenge – to re-define what they offer their customers. Everything about business today is being questioned and re-imagined, from manufacturing philosophies to marketing relationships to the way we staff and grow our companies. Learn what strategies work best during this change, what characterizes a successful transformation, and how it’s accomplished with maximum effect. Panelists speakers are from Early Stage Partners, Management Recruiters International and NorTech. Session with full breakfast happens Wed 8/4 from 7:30-9:30AM. Register at nbruening@ggcomm.com and call 573-2300. The Club at Key Center, 127 Public Square. http://www.TheClubAtKeyCenter.com

Side by Side Sondheim A music review extravaganza delivering some of the most famous works of the world renowned lyricist and composer. Bring or purchase a pre-peformance picnic, and see the sumptuous and verdant greens of the historical Stan Hwet Hall Thu 8/5 at 5PM. Call 330-836-5533.Stan Hwet Hall and Gardens, 714 North Portage Path in Akron. http://www.StanHywet.org/

Blood Wedding A summer outdoor production of poet/playwright Federico Garcia Lorca’s most famous work. The classic play follows the story of a man torn by desire, a bride who wants to forget the past, and a mother who has only one son left alive. Blood Wedding is a moving story of love and betrayal. It’ll be performed by members of CPT’s Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP); join Cleveland Public Theatre for a family-friendly, lavishly poetic production taking place in two Near West Side neighborhood parks: Herman Park on Thu 8/5 and Fri 8/6 at 7PM. At West 60th St. & Herman Ave. Call 631-2727 ext. 203 http://www.CPTonline.org/seasoncalendar/event.cfm?eventid=170&eventdateid=988

Pointe of Departure dance ensemble takes its audience off in flight without leaving your seat, as they perform broad repertoires of modern and theatrical jazz dancing and ballet, with choreography that correlates with diversity of music. Watch the flowing Munecas, a pas de deux danced by two of the Cuban dancers to Cuban music, and 2-2 Tango, demonstrating various tangos “with a bite” on Thu 8/5 at 8PM. Call 371-3000. Cain Park’s Evans Amphitheater, on the south side of Superior Rd. between Lee and South Taylor Rds. http://www.CainPark.com

Pink Martini Ohio debut concert with an early evening array of European flavor and south of the border energy from the French band that seductively combines Cuban rumbas and classic French cafe tunes. Start the weeked off with Euro style, and stop in after work for an audial trip Fri 8/6 at 7:30PM. Call 421-7340. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd. http://www.ClevelandArt.org

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Recycled Before discarding an object or material, take a second look at its potential beauty and see beyond the object. Local artists take on the challenge of rendering works that transcend their mundane stereotype; check out the exhibition and meet the artists: Garrett Weider, Sean Burns, Rebecca Star Haviland at the opening reception Fri 8/6 from 6-10PM. Call 252-2099. Mosaic the Gallery, 16860 Lorain Ave.

Body Beautiful: Human Form in Mixed Media This month-long show will feature photography, painting, ceramic and jewelry, all with the body beautiful theme. Linda Goik, the gallery owner is known regionally for her hand painted silk work, and opened Local Girl to reflect a sense of community while serving as a showcase of up-and-coming artists as well as those who are more established. Goik is a Lakewood native who has been a featured artist at area art festivals during the past five years. Come out and meet her at the opening reception Fri 8/6 from 6-9PM. Call 228-1802. Local Girl Gallery, 16106 Detroit Rd in Lakewood.

Second Annual Wine Sip: Grapes Overboard The African American Women’s Agenda Education Foundation are a non-profit, community based organization that’s activating the neighborhoods by improving life for communities thru research of childhood lead poisoning, juvenile justice and predatory lending. Come out to raise funds for them while you sample wines by 57 Main Street Wine Company, and loosen up with live jazz Fri 8/6 from 6-9PM. Dinner selections will be provided by Ivy’s Catering. Western Reserve Historical Society, 10825 East Blvd. http://www.wrhs.org

Abbey Road on the River Beatles Tribute Festival is a two day outdoors fest that’s the biggest anniversary celebration in the nation. The best Beatles tribute bands in the world take over Cleveland; hear musicians and Beatles lovers from across the United States perform. Other activities include the lecture “All You Need is Success,” a revolutionary Beatles themed motivational seminar. Stay all weekend long for a Beatles overdose Fri 8/6 beginning at noon thru 8/8. For info call 378-1980. All outdoor events will be held at the adjacent Mall B, others will be at Cleveland’s historic Public Auditorium and adjacent Strawbridge Park. http://www.AbbeyRoadOnTheRiver.com

27th Annual Summer Youth Theatre Stephen Sondheim’s rebel genius hits full throttle in this play Anyone Can Whistle, an absurdist social satire about insanity and conformity, about a town that’s gone bankrupt because its only industry is manufacturing something that never wears out. The town Mayor stage a fake miracle ala “Lourdes” to attract tourists and chaos ensues Fri 8/6 and Sat 8/7 at 7:30PM. For tickets call 621-1919. Near West Theatre, with performances at Pat’s Club Building, 3606 Bridge Ave. http://www.NearWestTheatre.org

Distant An arthouse film par excellence and a study of loneliness and frustration says the Variety. Turkish auteur Nuri Bilge Ceylan conveys the profoundly beautiful and funny film that involves a melancholy Istanbul photographer, who deals with his gauche and unemployed cousin who comes to live with him. Both actors won the Best Actor prize at Cannes Film Festival; see it Fri 8/6 at 9:35 PM and Sat 8/7 at 7:45 PM. Call 421-7450. Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, 11141 East Blvd. in University Circle. http://www.cia.edu/cinematheque

The Consciousness of Peace: Transcending Fear, Revenge, Victimization Youth Peacemakers Conference are bringing a culturally diverse group of youth to address issues of negative stereotypes, prejudice, and dehumanizing. These multi-cultural community sessions teach respect and compassion for all living things, and promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs. Youth will learn to become empowered by proactively managing differences and appreciate diversity with workshops, plenary talks, and roundtables: Cultivating Conflict Transformation and Healing in the Arab/Isreali Conflict, Inclusive Spirituality vs Exclusive Institutional Religion and Dogma, The Role of Media in Conflict and Conflict Transformation, Psychological Concepts and more Fri 8/6 at 9AM thru Sun 8/8. Call 288-5496. Holiday Inn Cleveland West, 1100 Crocker Rd in Westlake. Register at http://conference.peacehealing.org/registration/youth_online_reg.html http://www.PeaceHealing.org

2nd Annual, Overlook Park Film Festival This one’s gonna be good. You’ll sit in front of a gigantic 20 foot screen that overlooks Lake Erie to see over 20 short films screened at sundown. To keep it competitive, local and international film-makers have been juried into this eclectic mix of shorts including narrative, political, and experimental. Cool off at the cash bar and kick back for serious cinema in a natural setting Sat 8/7 at 6PM. Call 481-9058. 312 Overlook Park Dr. http://www.OverLookPark.com

Ohio City Street Fair See what all the hype is about in Ohio City and get a taste of dozens of local merchants showcasing their wares for this inaugural event with hot live music, cutting edge cultural events, and art displays in conjunction with Open Air in Market Square Sat 8/7 from 10AM-7PM. This event is free and open to the community. Call 287-4911. Market Square Park, corner of W. 25th St. and Lorain Ave. http://www.OpenAirInMarketSquare.com

WCLVnotes On 6/18, Live from Cleveland Heights – It’s Broadway Tonight, a benefit for Musical Theatre Education Programming was taped before a sell-out audience in Cain Park’s Alma Theatre. Produced by Bill Rudman, host of WCLV’s Footlight Parade, the two-hour long show featured many talented Cleveland area musical theatre personalities in comedy skits and songs from Broadway. It will be broadcast over WCLV 104.9FM this Sat 8/7 at 7PM. Note that on Fridays and Saturdays when there is a Cleveland Orchestra concert at Blossom, you can hear the music to be performed that evening at 104.9 while driving to Blossom from 6:05-7PM on Blossom Festival Preview. a Cool Cleveland partner www.wclv.com

Lakewood Arts Festival Now in it’s 25th year, this is one of the more professional street arts festival that holds itself to a higher level of quality as it features a juried exhibition of fine art from creatives from across the United States. Rain or shine, you’ll be able to stroll the colorful scene and hear live music, enjoy selections of local food, or involve your family with kids’ activities Sat 8/7 from 10AM-6PM. Call 529-6651. Located on Detroit Ave. between Belle and Elmood Aves.

Finestra Gallery summer art party and opening One of the best kept secrets is open for the public in this exhibition’s modern collage of custom raku pottery, sushi sets, lighting and lifestyle art by Glass Bubble Project, plus urban jewelry. Make it out to the opening Sat 8/7 from 7-10PM. Call 440-946-3313. Finestra Gallery, 4076 Erie St. in historic Willoughby. http://www.FinestraGallery.com

Baroque piano masterpieces National and International award-winning pianist Jason Peterson performs a solo concert of Baroque and Romantic Period composers: Franz Peter Schubert, Frederic Chopin and compositions by Sergei Rachmaninoff. This 22-year-old pianist prizewinner was the first four-time recipient of a grant from the Chopin Foundation of the United States, and he’s been awarded by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. Recent performances include solo recitals in Chicago, London, Cleveland, Phoenix and Vienna; hear him locally Sat 8/8 at 7:30PM. Call 861-2371. Zion UCC of Tremont, 2716 West 14th St. http://www.ZionChurch.org/checkjp.htm

Jazz on the Mountain Listen to the crisp sounds of the Madison Jazz Project while relaxing to a candlelit dessert session in a romantic arbor. Take in the sights of the ground’s historic summer estate while you wind down the weekend Sun 8/8 from 5-9PM. Call 440-255-8979. Lake County History Center, 8610 King Memorial Rd in Kirtland Hills.

Shakespeare Cabaret & Phoenix Coffee The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival and the Phoenix Coffee Company team up to present two evenings of entertaining and rousing Shakespeare, while you taste smooth French Press coffee, savory homemade desserts and luscious wine while you watch the show. Actors roam the room, and switch from character to character, its highly amusing and the ultimate in actorly multi-tasking! Mon 8/9 and Tue 8/10 from 7:30-9:30PM. Proceeds benefit Cleveland’s only free, outdoor Shakespearean company. Shows sell out fast, make reservations at 522-9744. Phoenix Coffee, 2287 Lee Rd in Cleveland Hts. http://www.PhoenixCoffee.com

Send your cool events to: events@coolcleveland.com

Life at the Drive-in That Refuses to Die
An overview of drive-in theater as temples of B-Movie culture
by Bob Rhubart

“ASTRONAUTS WALK MOON,” reads the half-page headline in the Monday, June 21, 1969 edition of the Plain Dealer. On page 11-A there is a Jane Scott review of Led Zeppelin’s first Cleveland appearance the night before. The movie listings on page 7-B include seventeen drive-in theaters. That week, the double feature showing on most of the outdoor screens included Stilleto, with Alex Cord and Barbara McNair, and Can Heironymous Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humpe and Find True Happiness, with Anthony Newly and Joan Collins. Three and a half decades later, fourteen of those drive-ins and Anthony Newly no longer exist. The most recent edition of the Plain Dealer’s Friday magazine lists the area’s three surviving drive-in theaters. Built in 1953, the Memphis Drive-in, on Memphis Ave. in Brooklyn, Ohio, is the oldest. It’s a west side entertainment institution that, like Joan Collins, refuses to die.

It’s about two hours before show time on a perfect summer Friday evening. In Judy Kissel’s office in a corner of the squat concrete block building that houses the drive-in’s concession stand, the phone rings every twenty seconds. The stream of people flowing through the cramped space — young women preparing the concession stand, young guys picking up their reflective vests and two-way radios for security detail — brings to mind an anthill. They all have questions for Judy, and she has the answers – she’s the general manager. Most of the time she’s deftly handling three conversations at once, with the ease and efficiency of an air traffic controller. On a typical night it takes a staff of thirty people to make it all work, and on this night there are moments when it seems that they’re all in Judy’s office. But the lady is in her element, and the Memphis Drive-in is in her genes…
Read Life at the Drive-In by Bob Rhubart here.

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

Ohio Dance Theatre @ Bolton Theater 7/23
Dance is an ancient art form, always growing, always changing, combining new and old styles and techniques. What then, to make of the spoof “Bullet for a Ballerina” performed in the Bolton Theater at the Cleveland Play House by Ohio Dance Theatre. Subtitled La Ballet Flup presents an Evening of Dance it was part benefit, part buffet, part dance production, part murder mystery—and entirely enchanting…
Read the review by Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz here

Imagination Series 2004 @ Cleveland State University 7/17
At CSU’s Business of Writing Colloquium I discovered that Cleveland’s homegrown publications rock: Imagine that! As I’m a student wrapping up the final year of my undergrad, about to enter Cleveland’s art and writing world as a “professional.” The high octane sessions at CSU’s Imagination series served up an opportunity to meet writers and editors, while revealing a lot about the publishing world…
Read the review by Cool Cleveland contributor DJ Hellerman here

Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers write

Send your letters to: letters@coolcleveland.com

On My Brain Is Crying [here] I love your “inventory of confessions.” My soul feels satisfied when I read your banter. Sign me up for your forum of activists. I have a habit, mind you not a bad one, of speaking my mind and I cannot tell you how people have tried to “hush” me up. My motto is: conform and be dull. What makes my brain cry is the mispronouced words by the news commentators or anyone in the public sector. One word that makes my brain cry is vice versa. Please show me the short a, as in vice (vice a versa)! It is pronouced as it is written.
from a “loyal reader” Karen Wolf akdwolfie@hotmail.com

Roldo responds I must answer the letter from Al Oberst [here] about my piece on George Voinovich [here]. As a long-time Republican apparatchik, of course, Oberst wants to blame labor unions for this area’s economic decline, not a 43-year politician. Labor’s power has diminished to the point that it’s hardly visible in our society. Just look at the minimum wage and you can see the lack of labor’s power and influence. He also mentions that he himself worked on economic development for both the county and city, not mentioning he worked for George Voinovich. However, if economic development is so bad, I’d hardly proclaim that I have been working for years in that very area of decline here. I love the way people want to come to the defense of Sen. Voinovich. It would take too long to go into all the damage he’s done. Here’s one striking example…
Read the response from Roldo Bartimole here

On Cool Cleveland’s Downtown Living party [here] Thanks so much for putting on these events. Yesterday was the first one I’ve been able to attend, and I will definitely make a point of coming to all of them now. It was a great way to meet interesting new people. It felt more like an evening in New York than in Cleveland!
from Cool Cleveland reader Claudia Lynch shoes@claudialynch.com http://www.claudialynch.com

Send your letters to: letters@coolcleveland.com

Top 5
Cool Cleveland uses Opticast tools to track which articles were clicked the most. Here are the Top 5 from last week’s issue, with one more chance for you to click.

1) Interview with Tim Mueller In a surprising move, City of Cleveland Strategic Planner Tim Mueller announced his resignation from Mayor Jane Campbell’s administration last week. Tim Mueller

2) Self annihilating sentances Are you using them? Stop the habit!
http://www.ling.upenn.edu/%7Erclark/gorn.html

3) More Tunick “I participated in Spencer Tunick’s fabulous Pose Nude event. It was so fun, I put up a website to try to re-unite fellow participants and give us a chance to get to know each other.” http://posenudecleveland.com

4) Fund for Our Future makes their first move.
http://www.futurefundneo.org

5) Cleveland-based Prelude2Cinema is producing a TV series, Out of Darkness, offering businesses a chance to have their product inserted into the series. http://www.prelude2cinema.com/dark.htm

Remove yourself from mainstream media There’s a wave of Clevelanders who understand that celebrating and supporting diversity in our community (and in our media!) is a good thing. Thanks to our readers for connecting into our city and alternative media by checking out CoolCleveland.com. Now you can have everyone you know engage with our city by visiting CC and finding out what’s new in town. Send along friends and co-workers to register for the e-zine at http://www.CoolCleveland.com (and check out the new site) or have ’em send an e-mail to signup@coolcleveland.com

Marketing with momentun The competitive edge means everything in this current economic climate. Blast past the typical marketing with the successful and far-reaching guerilla advertising offered in CoolCleveland.com. Weekly we are invited into tens of thousands of our subscribers’ inboxes, where they dive into our e-zine and visit the links to our sponsors, and then forward the CC e-zine to more readers who are exposed to our advertisers. Find out more by emailing us a note to info@coolcleveland.com and we’ll get right back to you.

Hard Corps are so very hardcore These people demonstrate a love for our city to the point where it’s scary! We appreciate the people who help us coordinate daily the Cool Cleveland experience: Tisha Nemeth, Deb Remington, Bob Rhubart, Bill Nagode, George Nemeth, Kelly Ferjutz and everyone who partners with us. Want to volunteer and contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, articles, or story ideas to: events@coolcleveland.com

See the Cool Cleveland column each month in Cleveland Magazine. Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time. Send your cool events to: events@coolcleveland.com. For your copy of the free weekly Cool Cleveland e-zine, go to http://www.coolcleveland.com

Cool Cleveland Writer Terry Provost

Terry Provost is an educator, performer, rampant social commentarist and performance poet. A graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a major in physics and an MS in medical physics, Terry balances the scientific mind with creativity. He is a past winner of both the Cleveland Public Library’s haiku contest, and the Cleveland poetry Grand Slam. His poetry has appeared in Cleveland State University’s literary journal, Whiskey Island, as well as Split City, and Many Waters. His first book, Compassionate Imperialism (and its “links to terror”), was recently published by Deep Cleveland Press. You can purchase his book online at http://www.deepcleveland.com/press.html

The First Waking by Terry Provost

We begin
as dreams.
Paintings in a parched aboriginal continent of painless disaster,
move to the next scene as if another life were only a rapid-eye-movement
away. As if the past had no consequences and the point of all being
was play, make-
believe.

Modeling ourselves in the metallic sheen of a bluebottle fly,
a frenzy of speed immune to gravity,
unaware its destiny
is a frog’s tongue.

Then, the green of our wet skin as one with the pond of our life,
the chubby puff of our onepiece bellythroat bobbing
as webbed feet plush and we surge through our liquid home, or
uncoiling the fleshy might of our bent-kneed
thrust splurge
into sky,
in the rapier talons
of a falcon’s eye. Soar
in a suit of feathers whelmed in windsong
rush. Where whirling swirls and swarming thermals buoy our
spiraling glide and we
survey the fleeting pyramids of ants, and
the color symphonies of elms and autumn maples until one unexpected day
we dream ourselves
in the words of others as they
dreamed back in ours.
After returning repeatedly, begin to imagine an entire history
of shared conversation and others’ being, and christen that whole
with the name, reality. The
reality we wake from,
returning each night
in dream.

Wake up, Cleveland!

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

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