Mayor Jane Speaks

Cool Cleveland 01.28-02.04.04
Mayor Jane speaks

Exclusive Cool Cleveland Interview with Mayor Jane Campbell

As the Mayor of Cleveland prepares for her upcoming State of the City address and arrives at the midpoint of her four-year term, the honeymoon she and her administration enjoyed is certainly over. A continuing sour economy has left Cleveland’s finances strained, and difficult negotiations with public safety forces have added tension. But the overriding sense is of an administration that has been unable to communicate a compelling vision for the public to engage with. Cool Cleveland sits down with Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell for an extensive and frank interview on subjects ranging from regionalism to politics, the economic development levy, and Cleveland’s creatives.

Cool Cleveland: I’ve reviewed your Economic Stimulus Plan and the 200 initiatives. Even though I’ve spent some time with the plan, it seems confusing. Could you talk about these projects and how they will be accomplished?
Mayor Jane Campbell: We’re looking at infrastructure. Historically, the way we’ve done things when it’s time to rebuild a road, there’s not the kind of coordination to turn it into an economic incentive. OK, we’re going to rebuild, say Kinsman, because of the real need and the symbolic value. And we rounded everybody up, from the sewers to SBC, because we don’t want to have to dig it up again next year, and you create efficiencies. So you have some resources to do a streetscape: you can do some lighting, you can change the way the street looks. You have a school building, and the county has a library there. In that way, when you get everyone planning together, you can make a huge difference. We’ve created an Infrastructure Coordinating Committee and they meet with the Community Development Corps. Now that we’ve wrapped up the W. 117th project we can be adding retail to that…
Read the exclusive Cool Cleveland interview with Mayor Campbell here

Commentary: On Ohio’s anti-gay initiatives “We are currently located in San Ramon, California in the Contra Costa Telecommunications Incubator, east of San Francisco. I have been entranced by your description of Cleveland as THE place for [my company] Missing Lynx to move its operations, building both factories and setting up our consumer and technical support divisions. Until now. As of this morning [1/22/04], I could not, in good conscience, move Missing Lynx to Ohio. This morning, Ohio’s Governor and majority party in the state house have voted the most vicious piece of anti-gay legislation proposed since Anita Bryant and Florida. Of the dozen engineers I know we are going to hire, three of them would be criminals in Ohio. Our domestic partners rights (written into our by-laws) would not be treated as normal benefits (for the sake of state taxes) and half of the families we’d want to bring to Ohio would be unable to legally keep their foster and adopted kids…”
Read more from Mary Mason, COO and Co-Founder Missing Lynx Systems, Inc.

One gay step forward, two steps back After an unexpected 2003 of national gains in gay rights, Ohio bans marriage and state worker benefits, while Bush stops just shy of backing a marriage ban amendment. More controversy spills as the Episcopal church plans split over gay bishop. See the Gay People’s Chronicle here: www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com Gay rights supporters provided legal arguments favoring the measure, criticizing anyone who’d suggested its support was equivalent to intolerance. See PD here: www.Cleveland.com. Columnist Sandy Theis describes the debate in the Ohio senate by saying, “observers could almost reach out and touch the senators’ discomfort.” For details, see PD here: www.Cleveland.com. The first couple to sign the domestic partners registery in Cleveland Heights spent the night in the cab of their pickup so their act could be a symbol for the fight for rights across the country. The certificate is not a legally binding document, but could help an unmarried couple if faced with a legal situation. See PD here: www.Cleveland.com For Sam Fulwood III, the stance of conservative Republicans in the Ohio Senate brings to mind the darkest days of the civil rights struggle. Sam says, “reactionary lawmakers don’t have the power to stop human rights.” Amen. See the PD: www.Cleveland.com.

Welcome to our new sponsors OnlyOne and CPT by clicking through to their websites! Every week the people behind CoolCleveland.com work hard to bring you compelling content. You encourgage us to do so and in turn, we are adding new sponsors like OnlyOne and Cleveland Public Theatre, who keep us growing.

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Montana Townhomes in Midtown feature 10 contemporary townhomes with impressive brick and stone facades, and private decks off the kitchens. Live in an open design with 2 bedrooms, soaring vaulted ceilings in the master bedroom, and 1 ½ – 2 ½ comfortable baths. Some units also contain studios! Located at East 36th St. and Prospect Ave., you’re only minutes from Downtown, CSU and Cleveland Clinic – near the heart of the city. You’ll also have a 1-2 car attached garage – some include carports. Priced from $159,900, you’ll enjoy the generous 1,200-1,800 square footage, and the fee-simple townhouse (no condo fees). As a sweetener, there’s the 15-year tax abatement and special financing. Support Cool Cleveland and view photos and project features at http://www.progressiveurban.com
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Regionalism: it’s not just for wackos anymore How much longer can the dozens of municipalities in our region pretend that we wouldn’t be better off working together? 1500 foundations across NEO are looking to raise $25 million to pay for development projects none could afford alone. See the PD here: www.Cleveland.com TeamNEO is all about the big boys from our 13-county region trying to overcome our bad image: “site selection consultants often eliminate our region in the early stages of their analysis,” read it here: www.Cleveland.com The PD put it on the front page last Sunday here: www.Cleveland.com See Mulready’s Free Times commentary on a non-political form of regionalism being discussed by area Mayors here: www.FreeTimes.com. Sure it’s been talked about before, and sure it will take some time, but is the subject of regionalism finally taking hold in the regional psyche?

Economic development front and center Tim Mueller, formerly Cleveland’s Chief Development Officer, becomes chief of strategic planning responsible for implementing the city’s Strategic Partnership Plan under a reorganization plan announced by Mayor Jane Campbell (read the exclusive CC interview above). The strategic plan is a blueprint to push Cleveland’s population above the 500,000 mark by 2010 by building public/private relationships and expanding economic and community development opportunities for Cleveland residents and the business community at large. See Crain’s Cleveland: www.crainscleveland.com See the PD here: www.Cleveland.com and editorial here: www.Cleveland.com. At the root of the Mayor’s moves is a realigned focus on economic development, and she’s not the only one shaking things up. NorTech’s NEOpreneur and CWRU’s EDI (Enterprise Development Inc) have combined and re-emerged as JumpStart (see Instant Karma for a review of their coming-out party below), as outlined in the PD here: www.Cleveland.com and PD editorial here: www.Cleveland.com

Register to vote by Monday or lose your voice It’s easy, get your registration form here http://www.electionohio.com or do it in person at these locations: any public library, any public high school or vocational school, any office of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Office of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, or the Office of the Cuyahoga County Treasurer. Complete the Voter Registration Card you can get at the above website and mail it to the Board of Elections – 2925 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115. Register, then Vote!

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New life for University Circle City Hall received plans for University Circle Inc. and Heritage Development Co. to pitch a $35 million development supplying 191 apartments, street-level restaurants, a student bookstore and possibly a grocery on the north side of Euclid Ave between Ford Dr and East 115th St. It’s going to bring life to a key parcel in University Circle, a currently-dead parking lot that might be the next hot neighborhood. See the PD here: www.Cleveland.com

Academia screwed up, writes Nicholas Maxwell, and we need a revolution to fix it. “We urgently need to bring about a third intellectual revolution, one which corrects the blunders of the Enlightenment revolution, so that the basic aim of academia becomes to promote wisdom, and not just acquire knowledge. Every branch and aspect of academic inquiry needs to change if we are to have the kind of inquiry, both more rational and of greater human value, that we really need.” http://www.philosophersmag.com/article.php?id=670

Issue 31 leader Managing the campaign for Issue 31, the arts and economic-development levy planned for Cuyahoga County on the March 2nd ballot, is Chris Carmody, President of Cleveland’s film commission. He’ll be on paid leave from his job to serve unpaid campaign duty. “I feel very passionate about this issue,” he stated, “it’s a different approach to economic development.” His challenge will be directing strategies to persuade voters to pass the property tax increase, which would raise $21 million per year for five years. See the PD here: www.Cleveland.com

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Trinity Cathedral Get set for a better weekend where you’re not stuck in front of mindless TV. Come to Trinity Cathedral Fri 1/30 and Sat 1/31 at 7PM for productions of Henry Purcell’s moving Dido and Aeneas and Giacomo Puccini’s entrancing Gianni Schicchi – this is not what you expect from opera! Cast includes students from the Oberlin Conservatory and Instituto Superior de Arte of the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires Argentina, in the culmination of a year-long collaboration across continents, languages, and seasons. Sets are by Cleveland’s Russ Borski and video artist Kasumi who have created a cool, modern, sculptural designs fitted to the nave of Trinity Cathedral with an extraordinary live and prerecorded video projection. Jonathon Field of Oberlin directs Dido and Aeneas, and Daniel Hathaway of Trinity conducts The Trinity Chamber Orchestra. Gianni Schicchi is directed by Jorge De Lasseletta and conducted by Bruno D’Astoli, both of the Teatro Colon. This project is produced in partnership with the Ohio Arts Council’s International Program with support from the U.S. Department of Education. Music & Performing Arts at Trinity Cathedral, E. 22nd & Euclid, 579-9745, www.mandpa.org
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Grim state of lakes, rivers “It’s now 2004, and we don’t have half of our waterways meeting the fishable and swimmable goals,” says Keith Dimoff, assistant director of the Ohio Environmental Council, a private, nonprofit advocacy group. Read about unsafe water that’s affecting our region. See the PD here: www.Cleveland.com

Stop explaining my art Astronomers in Texas determined that the famous wide-mouthed figure in Edvard Munch’s reknowned painting The Scream is actually reacting to a frightening and fiery Norwegian sunset, caused by the eruption of an Indonesian volcano. But some would like these astronomers and other art-explaining scientists to kindly stop telling us what our favorite paintings are about. “The eager detectives who ferret out the scientific details of these artistic experiences always argue they don’t mean to diminish the art, but that is the effect, however unintended, of their discoveries.” Read the article here.

Mission: Critical Dan Tranberg’s Art Matters column the other week peels back the cover of the art critic’s life. Much of his experience also parallels the always challenging CoolCleveland.com experience…
Read about the Parallels Here

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Issue 31 needs your list In an unprecedented collaborative campaign to help pass the Arts & Culture/Economic Development levy in Cuyahoga County, an urgent call is being made to arts and cultural groups throughout the County to donate their mailings lists for the upcoming appeal to voters. An agreement will be signed that the lists will only be used for the campaign, and thereafter destroyed. Join the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Play House, Playhouse Square, Lyric Opera and others in donating your list for this critical cause. Call Chris Carmody at 216-931-3130, or send a note to CCarmodyIssue31@aol.com. $20 million a year in economic development funding could be at stake.
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Investing in Creativity The new Urban Institute report on the arts in the USA contains information from the Investing in Creativity study, a national research initiative about the various factors enabling artists to pursue creative careers with artist support programs, policy initiatives, and characteristics of place. Watch for the upcoming breakout on the individual cities, including Cleveland. See USArtistsReport here: www.USArtistsReport.org

Cleve tech firm sells Mr. Damon Troyan last month sold his bill paying website PiggyBills.com to Mesa, Ariz.-based WebWaders.com Inc., a company that owns the bill payment website NoPaperBills.com. Now Troyan has launched a new web-based company, Bird Dog Email LLC, an e-mail tracking system alerting users when their e-mails have been opened. See CrainTech here:
NEOhio.CrainTech.com

It’s the connections, stupid Organizational network analyst Valdis Krebs cites the interconnectivity between grass-roots, bottom-up groups [click thru for the list] as evidence that the region is on the verge of explosive growth, similar to areas like Silicon Valley. See CrainTech: neohio.craintech.com

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…Smart, stunningly inventive… is the way the New York Times described Cleveland Public Theater’s February mainstage production Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, The Preservation of Favored Races In The Struggle For Life, opening Fri 2/6 in the beautiful Gordon Square Theatre. Based on the classic novel about a kindly slave sustained by faith and tested by vicious cruelty, UTC has gone from controversial, to popular, to despised, and now ignored. This new version is directed by co-adaptor Randolph Curtis Rand from New York’s Drama Dept. reviving the controversy and challenges of an American classic and the idea of race in the U.S. CPT also kicks off the Independent Theatre Club, offering three unique and original works for only $33! Use your membership at your convenience during any of the the shows’ runs. Series begins with the apocalyptic comedy Charge (a hit in last season’s BIG [BOX] series) opening Fri 2/13, check it out here at www.titlewavetheatre.com/charge.html. Then watch for The Cult, opening 4/23, and look for Dojoji, opening 5/20. More about the Independent Theatre Club in next week’s issue. For tix and info., call 631-2727 http://www.cptonline.org
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Jones Day is #2 in US The Cleveland firm is the second-biggest in the country and among the top 10 in the world. At the of the 2003 year, Jones Day had risen from No. 3 to overtake Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, a prestigious New York firm. See the PD here: www.Cleveland.com

Brainwave fault explains slip ups “Scientists have found an explanation for those mornings where you put coffee on your cornflakes and the cat in the washing machine. They say it is because of a change in the kind of brainwaves someone produces. But the researchers, who presented their findings to the Physiological Society Conference, said the change could have more serious consequences…” Finish the article at news.bbc.co.uk

Cleveland Wine School Are you into wine and computers? Check out the Interactive Wine Companion. Intended as a beginning guide wine, this CD is suitable for both Macs and PCs, guiding the user through winemaking processes while providing tips for tasting and pairing wine with food. http://www.airoldi.org

Angle 11 This month Angle Magazine taps the pulse of Cleveland’s local arts scene, and tunes into interviews with George and Melissa Kozmon, owners of the new Thrive Gallery downtown, and local artist Brenda Stumpf, whose works are steadily gaining international recognition. Dive into photographs by Cleveland photographer Mike Levy, and check out the much anticipated feature story on red {an orchestra}. See penetrating reviews by local writers Toni Thayer, and look for Cool Cleveland contributor Michael Salinger’s book review deciphering the popular fiction phenomenon Da Vinci Code; Cool Cleveland readers can catch an exclusive online preview of it here http://www.anglemagazine.org/0401_rev_da_vinci.asp. You should pick up te hard copy of Angle at cool places everywhere, but in the meantime, visit them at http://www.anglemagazine.org A Cool Cleveland partner

Kansas, isn’t that next to Ohio? Refugees from overcommercialized art scenes like Santa Fe, NM have settled in remote Sedan, Kansas, and reinventing it as a prarie art colony. “Many troubled Midwestern towns are grasping for ways to fend off decline and, in some cases, extinction.” See the New York Times here:
www.NYTimes.com

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The Great Reds: From Russia With Love What else would you expect as Red {an orchestra} celebrates its second season with a gala fund raiser on Sat 2/7 from 7:30PM till midnight at the center of the universe, Public Hall at the Cleveland Convention Center in Downtown Cleveland. This Russian and red-themed gala allows both eastsiders and westsiders to meet Downtown for what organizers are calling “the best party since the fall of the wall.” Guests will be asked to wear their best red attire, and will begin their evening by making an entrance on the red carpet while enjoying cocktails, a vodka bar with caviar, buffet, and a silent auction. At 9:30PM, Red Artistic Director and Conductor Jonathan Sheffer will lead Red {an orchestra} in a private performance, featuring Russian music excerpts from Carmen, and other orchestral pieces that fit with the evening’s theme. The gala will be capped off with dessert, more silent auctions and dancing until midnight. Be a “Hero of the People” and sit right in the orchestra with the players! 440-519-1733, www.RedAnOrchestra.org
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Cool Cleveland This Week
1.28-2.4

Send your cool events to: EventsAtCoolClevelandDotCom

Photovision on view with works from artists pushing the medium and molding it to create art that is textured, romantic, caustic and thought-provoking. See it Wed 1/28 and discover George Kozmon’s selected artists who demonstrate the sheer breadth that photo images can reveal about the medium – an homage to the origins of traditional photography, the creative process, and ultimately the final image that’s rich with the human component and the surreal. Thrive at the Galleria 1301 East 9th St, second floor. 479-0303.

Year of International Cleveland taskforce was created to address economic development opportunities through internationally focused initiatives. Through this group, opportunities for greater economic development were identified; it’s comprised of various local and internationally focused organizations who’ve come together over the past year at the request of the Mayor, under the leadership of the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at CSU. Join them Wed 1/28 from 4-6PM for discussions about how Cleveland’s existing international communities, organizations, businesses and economic development agencies must be an integral part of our city’s future growth. Event will be hosted by Mayor Jane Campbell. For info email Abigail@urban.csuohio.edu At the Levin College of Urban Affairs, 1717 Euclid Ave.

Winter Wine Tasting presented by the Cleveland Winebrats welcomes Paul Bosc, founder and winemaker of Chateau Des Charmes, the jewel of Niagara-On-The Lake wine country. Founded in 1978, Chateau Des Charmes is one of the largest family owned wineries in Canada and it’s had exceptional success in major national and international wine competitions. Don’t miss this chance to sample 6-7 delectable wines Wed 1/28 from 6-8:30PM. Paul will discuss these wines and explain what makes the Niagara Peninsula a great place for both red and white wine. Traffic 1296 W. 6th St. Purchase tickets in advance at http://cleveland.winebrats.org/wbevents.htm

58th Annual Student Independent Exhibition Cleveland Institute of Art’s juried gallery exhibit, managed and curated by students at The Cleveland Institute of Art showcasing select work from its student body. This year’s jurors are Charles Le Dray?, Jeanne Dunning, and Patty Chang. Event is free and open to the public Thu 1/29, opening reception starts 5:30-8PM in the Institute’s Reinberger Galleries, 11141 East Blvd. 421-7407 or email reinbergergallery@gate.cia.edu Catch these kids before they drain away.

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Winter got you blue? Explore the constantly changing nature of your universe at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Forget about the weather outside, there’s lots to see and experience inside: visit the dinosaurs, explore space in a captivating planetarium show, and observe live animals in the wildlife center. Kids can have fun learning about Balto the hero dog and see a real moon rock – all at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History this week. Don’t forget Cool Cleveland readers receive a special $1 off general admission, click here for details http://www.cmnh.org/coolcleveland.htm The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval in University Circle, 231-4600 x3270 or 231-2070.
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Experimental Behavior launch party it’s a new online community of hip and tragically underappreciated musicians, artists, performers and writers in Cleveland, putting the spotlight on premier innovators and forward thinking artists in Northeast Ohio. EB contains active forums where members can discuss upcoming events, interact and promote preferred bands/artists/websites. Introduce yourself to this cool group and head out to meet and hear EB members Infinite Number of Sounds, J Scott Franklin, Michael Salinger and others kicking off one hell of a party Fri 1/30 9PM at the Beachland Ballroom. Get involved in this inclusive group that’s rapidly growing and connecting Cleveland’s talented and influential artists and creative types. 15711 Waterloo Rd in Collinwood. 383-1124. Check it at http://www.ExperimentalBehavior.com

Flamenco Festival: An Evening with Spain’s Finest Get mesmerized watching Flamenco dancing’s balance between sensuality, grace and burning passion. Its singing combines direct energy and sweetness in range with precise choreography and lively spontaneity Fri 1/30 at 7:30PM. For tickets and info 1-888-CMA-0033. Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 East Blvd. http://www.clevelandart.org

The Strength of a View See the newest collection of kinetic abstracts and realism in glass, mixed media, photography and painting featuring Cool Cleveland contributor and artist Niko Angelis, works by Carolyn Lewis, Miles Budimir and others; hit the opening reception Fri 1/30 from 6-8PM. Exhibition runs through 2/29. Edge Art Gallery 1844 Euclid Ave. 241-7120.

Film and Other Feasts – Road to Sundance Meet friends at the Great Lakes Brewing Company to enjoy appetizers and hear what Sundance was like this year. Bill Guenzler, Director of Programming for the Cleveland Film Society will tell all – the films, the parties and the celebrities. The group will eat, drink, and dish in the brewery’s “Beer Garden” Fri 1/30. Sponsored by Film (and other arts) Feasts, a series of parties, soirees and gatherings of all that is film and art in Cleveland. 2516 Market St in Ohio City. Purchase tickets by calling 623-FILM, ext.10, or buy online at http://www.clevelandfilm.org

Strong Bindery Re-Opening Party join them along with Loganberry Books as they jointly unveil their new space with a special party for their grand opening at their new location. Strong Bindery is a one-of-a-kind hand book binding and book restoration business operated by Cleveland Heights resident Ellen Strong; come by Fri 1/30 at 5PM as they celebrate their new home at 13015 Larchmere Boulevard. 231-0001 or email Strongbind@hotmail.com

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Beck Center launches 2 famously modern classics Choose different settings, like pre-revolutionary Russia OR the dust bowl of the Great Depression. Imagine selecting your own playwright, whether it’s Anton Checkov or John Steinbeck. Pick your favorite director, like Cleveland theatre legends Thomas Q. Fulton OR Fred Sternfeld. Whichever you choose, the Beck Center for the Arts is where you can find entertaining modern classics: Anton Checkov’s The Seagull, AND John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Or, choose both. See Cleveland’s most consistently surprising theatre; Seagull runs in Beck Center’s Studio Theater through Sun 2/15. Mice opens Fri 2/6 and runs through 2/29. The Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit, 521-2540, www.BeckCenter.org
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Sirens, Nymphs & Goddesses translates the feminine mythology of the 15th to 18th centuries in this program that brings to musical life the captivating voices of Syrinx, Armida and the Muses, performed by our own Cleveland virtuosi Sat 1/31 7:30PM. Stay after to meet the artists for an informal Q&A session after each concert. Held at the beautiful and intimate Harkness Chapel on the Case Western University campus, 11200 Bellflower Rd. Call 368-2402 or visit http://music.cwru.edu/ccc

Heavy Petting A Benefit for The Place-A-Pet Foundation presented by Derek Hess promises a wide variety of music; Peabody’s stage will present heavy, hardcore and punk styles of music by Keelhaul (Cleveland), The Sign-Offs (Cleveland), Disengage (Cleveland), American Werewolves (Cleveland), At Wits End (Cleveland) and Murder Your Darlings (Dayton). Pirate’s Cove will feature emo and pop styles of music by Spitalfield (Chicago), Exo (Chicago), Front Row for the Meltdown (Dayton) and Wake Up (Cleveland) on Sat 1/31 at 7PM. It’s great local music, get out to support it while helping an important cause. At Peabody’s Down Under? and Pirate’s Cove 2083 East 21st St. For info call 776-9999 or Derek Hess Gallery 281-4868 and visit http://www.peabodys.com or http://www.derekhess.com

Unseen America newest show of photographs by members of the Service Employees International Local 1199. Opening reception happens Sat 1/31 from 7-11PM. Located at cig: creative impetus gallery, 2512 Church Ave 861-3062 or visit http://www.cigcleveland.org

Dido and Aeneas a moving and dramatic opera that features students from the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires paired up with the Oberlin Conservatory of Music Sat 1/31 at 7PM. Check out this unconventionally mixed cast of professionals in a rare Cleveland performance. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Ave. 579-9745

3rd Annual Artist Development for Visual Artists Learn the finer details associated with preparing and protecting your work, as well as professionally presenting it Sat 1/31 from 1-4PM. Art educators, gallery owners, legal advisors and artists will speak on taking your art to the next level. Pre-registration is required, call 791-2437. Cleveland State University Art Gallery 2307 Chester Ave. http://www.csuohio.edu/art/gallery

African American Reading Borders is introducing a national event to attract people of all different races, sex, lifestyle and ages to come out and read your favorite works by an African American author Sun 2/1 starting 2PM at Borders in Severance Mall. Poets and other artists are welcome at this event. It’s happening at all NE Ohio Borders Books locations, please call to receive more info at 291-8605. 3466 Mayfield Rd in Cleveland Hts

Authentic African Dance Classes With Idrissa “Pape” Diatta. Cleveland Heights presents authentic African dance classes Sundays open to all ages, offering beginner classes to advanced, starting Sun 2/1 with 5 week sessions. The Dance Studio, 1916 Lee Rd. 413-0143 or email dancewithidrissa@hotmail.com

X-Africa presents its exhibition of works that deals with African American experience in Northest Ohio. It’s curated by Askari Keita and co-sponsored by Sankofa Fine Art Plus and OMACR. See the exhibit Mon 2/2 running till 2/13 in Gallery C at Cleveland State University Art Gallery 2307 Chester Ave. For info 687-2103 or visit http://www.csuohio.edu/art/gallery

Community Leaders Breakfast Come by for conversations with business, educational, government, ministerial and volunteer leaders of our community Tue 2/3 7:45 AM-9:20AM. Special guest speaker is Dr. Thomas Bier, Director of Housing Policy Research Program at the Levin College of Urban Affairs. Topic will be “Crossroads: First Ring Suburbs Choose Their Future.” Enjoy a catered breakfast while discussing issues of current and future importance to our community. LHS East Cafeteria. To rsvp call 529-4092.

Practical Netwoking Continuing the theme of new connections to help further your professional and personal development, this session covers some of the practical techniques you can employ when networking – the what, how, and when of saying something, following-up in a way that makes an impression, and how to plant the seeds that ultimately bear the fruit of meaningful relationships. Visit http://clevelandevent.ryze.com to see who’ll be attending. It might just be someone you need to meet! Wed 2/4 from 5:30-9PM. Craig speaks at 7PM. For more info, email ryze-cleveland@ryze.com. The Club at Key Center 127 Public Square 241-1272 http://www.theclubatkeycenter.com

The Joy of Lying Down in Other People’s Backyards at Spaces Gallery, where visitors can directly experience a real life installation of a miniature fenced in back yard with grass, complete with white picket fence–and a video showing NY artist Ann Marie Lanesey’s public performances lying down in almost 60 different back yards. Inspired by personal anxiety from America’s current war on terrorism, this post-9/11 work seeks to relieve a distressed consciousness Wed 2/4 at SPACES. For info on event times call 621-2314. 2220 Superior Viaduct. http://www.spacesgallery.org

Send your cool events to: EventsAtCoolClevelandDotCom

Kucinich Beat
Cool Cleveland election coverage

Isn’t it just like a Clevelander not to give up a fight? If you know Dennis Kucinich, you aren’t surprised that he’s not giving up the race for the White House, despite his low showing in last night’s New Hampshire primary and last Monday’s Iowa caucus. Instead, the underdog from the Underdog City celebrated the delegates he did win in Des Moines at a reception webcasted live on http://kucinich.us. Kucinich reminded the media that he did receive delegates by getting at least 15% in precincts, which proves that his genuine grass roots campaign continues to grow. “We have taken the first step.” Kucinich also emphasized his committment to ending the US-led occupation in Iraq and sending the troops back home…
Read Charlene Coates’ article

WCLV’s in love and saluting Valentine’s Day with its annual love poem contest. Create a Valentine’s Day love poem in any style or form: limerick, haiku, sonnet, rhymed or unrhymed, but no longer than 14 lines in length. The 10 winning poems will be read over WCLV on Fri 2/13 and 2/14 and all winning poems will be posted on WCLV’s web site for national recognition. Winners will receive great prizes: the “Beyond Compare” full day spa package for two from Charles Scott Salon, a Waterford Crystal Vase from Ricky C. Tanno Jewelers, a romantic dinner for two at Lockkeepers Restaurant, boxes of Malley’s Chocolates, gift certificates from Riverview House, and Joshua Bell’s CD Romance of the Violin. Deadline is Tue 2/10 at midnight. Mail poems to “Love”, WCLV 26501 Renaissance Parkway, Cleveland 44128, or simply email to love@wclv.com All poems become the property of WCLV 104.9 FM. A CoolCleveland.com partner http://www.wclv.com

Commentary: Reflections on Experimental Behavior

In the Cool Cleveland This Week section above, you’ll notice the launch event for a virtual community of creative Clevelanders called Experimental Behavior. Cool Cleveland contributor J Scott Franklin, poet, songwriter, performer and educator, shares his thoughts on this convergence of talented people from around the area.

Once I almost died in a girlfriend’s car. She was planning her future, I was planning the past, and we were both sitting still in the motionless car. We were listening to a pop station at the time, when through the speakers a song came on by Nora Jones, and for the next few minutes it was like 1952. I pinched myself about 45 times because I couldn’t process what had just happened. It was the shock that almost killed me, because in the middle of mostly mindless music programming, out had come this stripped down jazz composition, the likes of which hadn’t slipped onto mainstream radio since the early ’70s…
Read J Scott’s Commentary here

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Are you registered? One of the most important elections in city’s history will take place in a little over a month, on March 2. By Ohio law, you must be registered at least one month prior to voting, so you have until Mon 2/2 to get yourself registered. Pick up a form at your local post office or library, or visit http://www.electionohio.com for an online Voter Registration Form.
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They Say
Excerpts from conversations with Kristin & Lyz Bly at their home/gallery

If you don’t know Tony Sias, it would be surprising, because a single afternoon outing with this krunk Clevelander proves to be an exercise of introductions, when folks that do know him approach to offer kudos on any number of creative endeavors. As a respected actor, director, singer and occasional dancer, Tony Sias has been on every stage in Cleveland and elsewhere. And if Tony’s hand is in a production, the end product will be pure gold. Kristin Bly finds out how he does this.

Kristin Bly: It’s safe to say that you’ve been no stranger to nearly every theatre company in town and your list of credits as a director/actor/singer/dancer are immense. With all these proverbial irons in the fire, where do you tend to situate yourself in the performing community? Which “role” do you prefer?
Tony Sias: I think my greatest strength is as a director, and my perspective is derived from the ranks of being an actor first – the ideology and pedagogy of acting. It’s because of this I am able to direct with an actor-friendly approach. I mean there are so many crazy directors that say stupid shit, and people still will just do anything for a role – and I don’t believe in that. I understand the collaborative nature of directing and believe that people need to feel nurtured during the process of production…
Read They Say here

Instant Karma
Qwik reviews of last week’s events

Classic Cleveland Poetry Slam 1/18 @ Beachland Ballroom Tavern Absolutely one of the most fun nights we’ve had, and there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. Lots of new faces braved the arctic Cleveland climes to heat up their evening with some fine spoken word. The open mic sizzled with veterans of the scene including Kathy Walker, Russ Vidrik, Terry Provost, and the haiku duet from Brian Taylor and Vladimir Swirynsky. Our featured poet was Nick Fox from Florida/Arizona/Chicago, who lit the stage with alternating machine gun fire delivery and lyrical wonderment. The Slam itself (a competition scored Olympic style by audience members) was the tightest we’ve ever seen; though the judging was all over the place, the dust finally cleared and we had a tie. Shouts from the audience for a haiku death match were honored, and the two last standing poets Tariq from Columbus and Beth Ann from Kent had 5 minutes to compose a haiku for the stand-off. Beth Ann squeaked out the win and scored the 20 American dollar prize and a chance to compete in finals to represent Cleveland at the national poetry slam happening this year in St. Louis. Special thanks goes out to our judge from Toledo whose consistent low scores kept the audience screaming for his head. From Cool Cleveland contributor and Slam Master Michael Salinger http://www.clevelandpoetryslam.com

Jumpstart @ Pickwick & Frolic 1/22 They used to be called NEOpreneur and CWRU’s EDI, and once again they attracted 800 smart young entrepreneurs and V Cs? to mingle & network. For this grand unveiling of their new name (Jumpstart) & mission, CEO Ray Leach “you gotta love a guy who brings a .ppt to a cocktail party…” outlined how they’ll invest their $2-3 million/year of seed & pre-seed funding: based on the core values of risk-taking, accountability, focus, quality, integrity and teamwork, Jumpstart expects to attract 200+ business plans a year, take 80 meetings, offer consulting to 40 applicants, and invest in 8-20 start-ups with up to $750,000 each over a 3-year period. We also heard from Jamie Ireland of Capital One Partners encouraging the region to “stop dreaming and start investing…” by increasing the level of “alternative investment” (venture, tech and higher-risk) from current levels of 1% or 2% up to 4% or even 8% of available investment capital in foundation, state and regional endowments and pension funds (why is this region still so risk-averse?). Brad Whitehead, who not only heads up Economic Development at the Cleveland Foundation, he has recently been made a permanent program officer, giving him the clout of funding, and he urged a regional approach to the $6 billion in area foundation and philanthropic endowments available for investment in a coordinated fashion. “It’s time for us to live our values,” he said. Closing the show in the 450-seat Hilarities comedy room was Office Max? founder Michael Feuer, who not only grew a $3 billion company in 9 years, but has now started Max Ventures with the proceeds of his recent sale of Office Max to Boise Cascade. He offered sane advice to entrepreneurs about borrowing from attornys and physicians (“they have lower expectations…”), S/T (not L/T plans, always having a Plan B, and leading from your head, heart and guts. It will be interesting to see how the region reacts to this promising new program that promises to jump-start our entrepreneurial culture.

A night on Coventry After an aborted stop at Legacy Village, a new pseudo-small-town retro outdoor mall consumer destination disguised as a Disney attraction (sorta the worst of both worlds, forcing you to walk the heated (!) sidewalks from store to store, freezing your heinie around massive big-box warehouses full of not a single thing you really need), we finally hit upon one of Cleveland’s soon-to-be-rediscovered gems, Coventry Village. We parked in the centrally-located garage (street construction is finally done) and enjoyed a meal at Sal & Angelo’s, one of a half-dozen good restaurants on the street (although chain-creep is in evidence: Winking Lizard & Caribou), then hit two of Cleveland’s cultural highlights: Dobama Theatre and the Grog Shop. Volta Sound opened up at the Grog with 4 guitars all on the same single note–very Velvet Underground. Over to Dobama for an 11PM(!) performance of Clevelanders Christopher Johnston & Greg Vovos’s top-volume meditation on life inside a punk band and “the healing power of music” except when the drugs get in the way, a variation of which you may have seen on Behind The Music but this version has an actual real kick-ass live loud punk band The Mutilators, with standout Jen Paulsen on guitar & screaming vocals. Included in your ticket price is the soundtrack CD, so you can hum along with the punk melodies all the way home. Back to the Grog for Bloom’s brief and loose 45-min set (“That’s all we know…”) anchored by veteran drummer Scott Pickering and ex-Guided By Voices bassist Todd Tobias. Overall, a great night on a great street in a great city.

Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers write

On regionalism, and other thoughts “My dear cool friend: I read with interest your thoughts on regionalism and noticed you keep talking mostly to folks with sharp axes to grind. Have you checked out the diverse and numerous plans the Cleveland LWV has proposed for decades? If not, do call Anda Cook at 216-651-0486, she can fill you in on the many studies on regionalism done so far, but also on some internal politics that kept the League herself from actually regionalizing. Now for my own thoughts on the matter: would I love living in the 6th largest city in the country? Perhaps…
Read letter from Dagmar Celeste

A Tough Sell, but Worth It: Preventing ‘Flipping’ in the City of Cleveland Everyone knows it’s harder to sell real estate in the city than the suburbs. The problem isn’t a lack of interested buyers. The problem is that it’s tough to sell aging housing stock in older neighborhoods; that buyers are afraid of that old axiom, “you never know what you’re going to get” when it comes to these homes; that city housing inspectors are too few to systematically inspect every property; that sometimes the city is a bit bureaucratic, bouncing you from department to department like a pinball. These are just a few of the challenges. Any realtor could shock you with the horror stories…
Read letter from Lee Chilcote

Correction Thanks for including the link to the voter registration card in this week’s newsletter. However, the requirements changed on January 1st, and the board of elections site doesn’t seem to have updated their registration card. The new card requires either the last four digits of your SSN or your driver’s license number. It’s mentioned in this editorial: www.FreeTimes.com By the way, Cool Cleveland’s existence was a part of my decision to finally ditch Columbus and move back after 12 years.

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