Punch Yr Ticket

9.19-9.26.07
Punch Yr Ticket

In this week’s issue:
* Party Trip of a lifetime
* Interview CC columnist Mansfield Frazier
* Kids Stories from a Sunday in the Cuyahoga Valley
* Ingenious Playwright, actor, politician Eric Coble
* BFD Citizen editors, not citizen journalists
* CityScape Taking the terminal out of Cle’s most prominent address
* Sounds Blue from the Mike Petrone Trio
* Straight Outta Mansfield Snitch Power, Part Two
* RoldoLink Reporters Snooze to Avoid Displeasure of Bosses
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, Brewed Fresh Daily here

Think of this issue of Cool Cleveland as your own personal ticket to the coolest stuff around this week. Snag tix to our CC party on 9/28 and you might get 2 tickets to a mystery destination. Read our urban columnist Mansfield Frazier and click on his video interview for insight into our region’s most pressing issues. Claudia Taller validates your ticket with an insider’s view of the 3rd most visited National Park in the nation. Kids events from here to Sunday. HOT picks for the rest of us. A view from Kelly Ferjutz on how Clevelander Eric Coble the actor became Eric Coble the playwright, and now they sell tickets to see his plays. And from Chris Whipple, a provocative reason to drop the “Terminal” from our most famous Tower that was once the tallest in the world. We even have Roldo with a report card on area journalists, and reviews of Mike Petrone’s new CD & Chrissie Hynde’s benefit concert. If you’re just joining us, consider your ticket punched. —Thomas Mulready

You’re gonna love our party!
One lucky duo will win an instant weekend getaway!
Super low price until Thu 9/20 midnight here!

It’s the Trip of a Lifetime for one lucky winning ticket for two at the CC “Pack Your Bags” Akron-Canton Airport party on Fri 9/28. Be prepared to leave immediately with overnight hotel accommodations for two (Fri and Sat nights, return trip on Sun) and round trip tix compliments of the Akron-Canton Airport and AirTran Airways to one of six mystery destinations: Denver, Boston, New York, Vegas, Orlando or Tampa! This week’s hint: Pack your favorite jeans. Winner must be present to win at 7PM, and will depart immediately on a jet from the party with the friend/lover/significant other of their choice, returning on Sunday. So pack your bags and be ready to go! Get your best party price if you order online by Midnight Thu 9/20 here.

You Get All This:

First Destination Akron-Canton Airport Atrium, second floor, 5:30 – 7:30PM

• Open bar (beer and wine).
• Mega munchies including Salmon Pinwheels, Cajun Chicken Puffs, New England Crab Cakes, Stuffed Mushrooms with Goat Cheese, Zucchini Napoleon, Steak and Portabello Satays, all provided by the 356th Fighter Group Restaurant & Banquet Center.
• Winning ticket for two (hotel and round trip tix) to a mystery weekend getaway.
• CC iPod Forward to a Friend winner announced (attendance not necessary).

Second Destination MAPS Museum Hangar (Military Aviation Preservation Society), across the street, 7:30PM

• Live concert by deSol a Latin rock band, sponsored by Akron-Canton’s alternative radio station 91.3FM The Summit. Rentals from Canton Chair Rental.
• Get your groove on amidst a collection of vintage aircraft, including a F-14 Tomcat and a Soviet MiG.
• Comp ride from DT Cle to CC/Akron party on a bus departing from the Mallorca Restaurant on W. 9th Street at 4:30, returning after the concert. Park near the Mallorca Restaurant on W. 9th St. and look for the Rockin’ Cleveland bus, Cleveland’s premiere party bus service.

Snag your Cool Cleveland party tix here: https://CoolCleveland.net/tickets/092807/index.php

Mansfield Frazier
Cool Cleveland columnist

Mansfield Frazier has opinions. And those opinions are backed up with years of living in Cleveland’s urban core, examining our culture’s issues up close. His weekly column for Cool Cleveland, called Straight Out of Mansfield, is one of the most popular items in our weekly e-blast. Why? Mansfield pulls no punches. He’s not trying to please anyone, nor does he have a chip on his shoulder like so many editorialists. He calls ’em how he sees ’em, and he usually seems ’em pretty clearly. Whether it’s the education of our youth, participatory democracy, mentorship programs, the never-ending issues of race in our culture, or his recent series on snitching, continued in today’s e-blast here, Mansfield only focuses on the important topics that set him on fire. Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready met Mansfield, who biked to the meeting, in Downtown Cleveland and talked with him about his controversial ideas to pay volunteers to mentor at-risk youth, and New York’s controversial plan to pay inner city students for good grades, just like suburban parents are able to do for their kids. We also get his take on the possibly one-term Mayoral tenure of Frank Jackson, and Mansfield’s report card on Cleveland Schools CEO Dr. Eugene Sanders. Click and turn up your speakers. Letters@CoolCleveland.com

SPONSORED: Share Your Opinions and Get Rewarded! With a $10 Amazon.com gift certificate. Just fill out one survey about a health and wellness topic to get started and My Health Views will send you a $10 Amazon.com gift certificate. It’s that easy! After the first survey, you have the choice to participate in periodic health and wellness surveys. You can even choose the topics that are of interest to you. It takes very little time to offer a fresh perspective and you’ll have the chance to win other great prizes. To get rewarded for your opinions, sign up now at www.myhealthviewsoh.com/signup.

The Hidden Valley
Heart, History and Stories from a Sunday in the Cuyahoga

Canalway Visitor’s Center, which resides within 306 acres of Cleveland’s industrial heart in the Cuyahoga Valley, is located in Cuyahoga Heights on E. 49th Street. Through exhibits and interpretative programming, the Visitor’s Center shows the stories of the Hidden Valley–the Cuyahoga Valley. The Hidden Valley contains stories of native and immigrant people, of places born by a canal, and of industrial growth at the mouth of a great river. The stories tell of environmental action and a wilderness coming back to itself.

One Sunday morning, my husband and I rode our bicycles north of Rockside Road to Harvard, quickly leaving the National Park and entering lands conserved by the Cleveland Metroparks. I was surprised to find myself surrounded by deep and diverse vegetation, well-established wildflowers, and shade trees. We were riding in places were industry had once and still does flourish, but we were being trailed by butterflies and dragonflies. The flowers in the Valley are mostly ephemeral wildflowers native to the area, and in mid-to-late summer, tall goldenrod, prairie grasses, and asters. New high-tension bridges cross major east-west thoroughfares, each with Metroparks and Canal Plaques, showing the story of two establishments with a united vision…

Read more from Claudia Taller here

The Lake Front Ghost Tour Hear bone chilling ghost stories and local folklore that even keep true sailors awake at night throughout the fall. Find out where many of the sailors superstitions originated. Hear true stories of mysterious shipwrecks that have happen in our very own backyard. Find out for yourself if Lake Erie really has a sea monster swimming off the shores of Cleveland. Haunted Cleveland Ghost Tours departs from the parking lot of the Powerhouse, on the west bank of the Flats. See site for details and multiple dates. http://www.hauntedcleveland.net.

Monarch Tagging It’s a ritual at the start of fall for Monarch Butterflies to migrate; you see groups of them around this time of year in simultaneous flight. Meet at the Headlands Beach parking lot #1 north end by the entrance to the dunes for a walk to locate the Monarchs; groups will be tagging them as part of the survey through the group Monarch Watch on Wed 9/19 at 4PM. For more info, call 881-8141 x 3001 or visit http://www.clevelandlakefront.org.

A Linda Mae Fishing Trip Join a naturalist for a few hours of yellow perch fishing from a chartered boat Sat 9/22 at 1:30PM. . Bait and equipment will be provided; minimum age for children is 8. Anyone age 16 and older must have a valid fishing license to participate. Pre-registration is required. This program is funded through the ODNR—Division of Wildlife. For more info, call 881-8141 x 3001 or visit http://www.clevelandlakefront.org.

Cedar Valley Settlers Celebration & Music Festival Celebrate the life of Ohio’s early day citizens and hear some great old-time and new folk music Sun 9/23 starting at 11AM. Relive the sights, sounds and smells of Ohio’s frontier days in this celebration of the past! Wander the trail between Frostville Museum and Rocky River Nature Center to enjoy a cornucopia of old-fashioned crafts, folk music, games, food, and hands-on activities. The event is free and is held rain or shine. Frostville Museum & Rocky River Nature Center, Rocky River Reservation, North Olmsted. http://www.clemetparks.com.

SPONSORED: See and Make Great Art! Fall is a great time to enroll in studio classes at the Cleveland Museum of Art! Sign up now for 6 Saturdays, 9/13 – 11/17, either morning 10-11:30AM or afternoon 1-2:30PM. Classes are taught for children and teens ages 3 to 17. Some examples are: “Mini- Masters” (ages 4 & 5), “Animal Safari” (ages 5 & 6), “Color Your World” (ages 6-8), “Teen Drawing” (ages 13-17) and many more. The six week session is $72 for non-members or $60 for CMA members. Register at the Ticket Center in person or by phone: 216-421-7350 or 1-888-CMA-0033. For more info go to www.clevelandart.org.

Yankee Peddler Festival It’s a bit of a roadie to the south, but kids and their parents love this venerable fall favorite, with hundreds of master artisans — some of them working live demos of their craft, fun music and entertainment, and amazing food cooked over open fires. Check it out at Clays Park Resort, 13190 Patterson Rd., North Lawrence on Sun 9/23 from 10:30AM – 6PM. http://www.yankeepeddlerfestival.com.

Scenic Sunday will be held at Dike 14 Nature Preserve at Cleveland Lakefront State Park Sun 9/23 from 7:30AM – 1PM. This is a unique opportunity to explore an extraordinary natural place Cleveland’s lakefront. Walking tours and a special hour long guided hike, led by renowned Northeast Ohio naturalists, is a part of the fun. The Dike 14 Environmental Education Collaborative hosts Scenic Sunday in conjunction with Walk and Roll Cleveland, and the Red Ribbon Ride Ohio. Gordon State Park, Cleveland Lakefront State Park (E. 72 St. and N. Marginal). http://www.earthdaycoalition.org.

You don’t want to miss what 11-year-old Max has for you and your family this week. Listen here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolClevelandKids09.21.07.mp3. Click here to subscribe: iTunes or other.

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture announced 72 local arts and cultural organizations are eligible to compete for its initial program, a three-year General Operating Support (GOS) grant. These organizations have been approved by the CAC Board to advance to the Grant Application Panel Review. The Grant Application Panel Review will be held October 15 and 16 starting at 9AM at the Myers University Club Ballroom located at 3813 Euclid Ave. The panel review is open to the public. Call 515-8303 for more info. http://www.cacgrants.org‘.

Rockport Square offers NPOs the hook-up They’re offering its restored fire station building as meeting space to nonprofit organizations at no charge. Groups of up to 40 can be accommodated, and Rockport will provide the table set-up. Food and drink (catered) can be brought in. Contact Cathy Deininger at cathy@rockportsquare.com to make arrangements. http://www.rockportsquare.com/lakewood_firehouse.asp.

Calling All Ingenious Visionaries Astronomers, Biologists, Bloggers, Ceramicists, Chalkers, Chemists,Composers, Dancers, Designers, Drawers, Ecologists, Electronic Artists, Engineers,Experimentalists, Geneticists, Glassblowers, Illustrators, Inventors, Mathematicians, Musicians, Painters, Performance Artists, Physicians, Physicists, Poets, Programmers,Sculptors, Singers, Street Performers, Theoreticians, Thespians, Visionaries, Video and Film-Makers, and Writers (phew!) are all invited to submit RFP’s for the Ingenuity Festival 2008. They’re looking for some big ideas. Deadline is Sun 9/30. To request an application, email apply@ingenuitycleveland.org, or call 589-9444.

Cuy County Commishes bucking a trend with tax hike. Read
New Fund to Assist Middle Income Homeowners to Avoid Foreclosure Info
Strickland’s New Homestead Exemption offers tax break for seniors and disabled. Info
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Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

The Grog Shop’s 15th Anniversary celebration kicks off with a week’s worth of spectacular live music starting Wed 9/19 with underground hip-hop MC Aesop Rock. During the rest of the week, Martin Sexton, Turbonegro and the Brian Jonestown Massacre will rock it out on Euclid Hts. Blvd. Check their website for dates and times on the remainder of the shows and don’t miss out. They’re a great club that continues to push the envelope and they’ll only turn 15 once! So get out there and shake something loose. Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd., Cle Hts. http://www.grogshop.gs.

Just Write Have you ever wanted to write a book? Ever wanted to finish the one you’ve started? There are a few openings left for the every-other-week “How to start and finish your book in three months” workshops at the Cleveland Hts-University Hts. Main Library at 2345 Lee Rd. The fiction class begins Wed 9/19 and the non-fiction sessions a week later on Wed 9/26 Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz (a multi-published author in both fiction and non-fiction books) is the instructor. Write to her at booksATnetlink.net (replace the AT accordingly) for more info.

d.a. levy reading As part of The Art Gallery at Cleveland State University’s exhibition The Ineffable Object — featuring works of conceptual art and material evidence of aesthetic thoughts and ideas — there will be a poetry reading celebrating levy, whose artwork is included in the exhibition. It hits Wed 9/19 at 7:30PM. The gallery is located at 2307 Chester Ave. The reading will be hosted by Markk Kuhar of deep cleveland, with other featured readers and an open mic. http://www.csuohio.edu/artgallery.

CIM Orchestra On Wed 9/19 at 8:00PM, the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, conducted by Carl Topilow, will perform at Severance Hall. The concert will feature pianist Chaoyin Cai. Works by Rossini, Rachmaninov and Bartók will be performed. Presented in cooperation with the Musical Arts Association, the event is no-cost. However, tickets are required, and can be obtained by calling the Severance Hall Box Office at 231-1111. This concert will be broadcast live on WCLV 104.9 FM, sponsored by Audio-Technica. http://www.cim.edu.

PSP Oktoberfest Playhouse Square Partners – one of Cleveland’s premier young professionals groups – kicks off a new season of fun, networking and assisting the performing arts at Playhouse Square with their Oktoberfest at Star Plaza Wed 9/19 at 5:30PM. This no-cost event features German-themed food, live DJ, raffle prizes, give-a-ways, activities and a cash bar. Attendees will learn about the Partners’ initiatives and bustling 2007-2008 season, with opportunities to join; be first “in the know” about their expectedly hot upcoming event, the Jump Back Ball. RSVP by Mon 9/17 and get a cold bevvie voucher! Star Plaza, Playhouse Square Center, downtown. Call 348-5265 or visit http://playhousesquare.org/partners for more.

SPONSORED: With More than 150 Programs to Choose From, we are Cleveland’s graduate school. Increase your professional success with a graduate degree from Cleveland State University! Choose from programs in business, healthcare, the arts, public administration, education, nursing and so many more. Join us for an information session on Sat 10/6 at 10AM in CSU’s University Center, 2121 Euclid Ave. (Free parking at East 19th Street and Chester Ave.) Enjoy continental breakfast, meet with faculty and advisors, and learn more about our many master, doctoral, professional, certificate and licensure programs. Classes are offered during the day, evening and weekend, at our downtown campus or in Solon, Westlake and corporate and community sites. For details, visit www.csuohio.edu/gradcollege/admit or call (216) 687-5599.

{the Red letter} Celebrate the 6th season of the stunning Red {an orchestra} with a Kick-Off Party at SPACES Gallery Thu 9/20 at 6PM. The orchestra will be on hand to perform works by guest conductor Tan Dun and other special selections. Learn about the season from Red’s new CEO John Farina and Artistic Director Jonathan Sheffer (via video). Light snacks and beverages will be available, along with subscription deals and a few select giveaways – including tickets, subscriptions, music, signed posters and more! Everyone who attends will get a special free gift. RSVP to info@redanorchestra.org or by calling 361-1733. SPACES Gallery, 2220 Superior Viaduct.

The Cleveland Orchestra and Music Director Franz Welser-Möst will open the Orchestra’s 2007-08 season with a program featuring Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique) and Mozart’s Symphony No. 28 at Severance Hall on Thu 9/20 at 8PM; Fri 9/21 at 11:00AM; Sat 9/22 at 8:30PM and Sun 9/23 at 3PM. The program for the September 20, 22 and 23 concerts also features the United States premiere of Matthias Pintscher’s Five Orchestral Pieces. Each of these works will be performed by the Orchestra in October at Carnegie Hall and during the subsequent European Tour. http://www.clevelandorchestra.com.

Fido Sounds cute and cuddly, but definitely for adults only. Set in a 1950s small town, this touching tale of a boy and his dog-zombie is bound to slay you. Fido (Billy Connolly) is one of the town’s many flesh-eating, walking dead — domesticated and beholden to his pal, 11-year-old Timmy. Fido’s high jinks and eating of an occasional neighbor is hilarious. Think Pleasantville meets Shaun of the Dead, with a pinch of Benji thrown in for good measure. With Carrie-Ann Moss, Dylan Baker and Tim Blake Nelson. The Cleveland Premiere hits Thu 9/20 at 8:30PM. Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, 11141 East Blvd. http://www.cia.edu/cinematheque.

Freedom Tour The ACLU of Ohio will host Declan McCullagh, chief political correspondent and senior writer for CNET’s News.com for UnReal: What the New National ID Means for You on Thu 9/20 at 7PM. As the first online reporter to join the National Press Club, one of the first online journalists to receive credentials from the press gallery of the U.S. Congress, and former Washington bureau chief for Wired News, McCullagh is no stranger to technology, law, and politics, and speaks and writes frequently on these subjects. Should be intriguing. West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church’s Baker Hall, 20401 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River.

SPONSORED: The Big Question is . . . can sustainable business practices help your company achieve a competitive advantage? Many successful companies have adopted a “triple bottom line” (People-Planet-Profit) approach to doing business, and in doing so have improved employee retention, strengthened stakeholder relations, and improved their brand image. On Thu 9/27 from 11:30AM – 1:00PM, the Nance College of Business Administration will present Noon at Nance, the first in a four-part series on Sustainable Business Practices. You’ll learn to evaluate the benefits and risks to your organization in making a shift to more sustainable business practices. A panel of experts, including Margie Flynn (BrownFlynn) and Tom Morley (LubeStop) will share their experiences in using market analysis to make the business case for sustainability. Bring your lunch to this brown bag seminar. To register, visit www.csuohio.edu/cba.

Harlan Ellison Cleveland Public Library will host a tribute to the legendary writer — born and raised in Cleveland and Painesville — in the Louis Stokes Wing auditorium, at Superior Ave. and East 6th St. on Fri 9/21 at 6:30PM. There will be a reception, followed by the Midwestern debut screening of the documentary Dreams with Sharp Teeth: A Film about Harlan Ellison, at 7PM. The also features live tributes to the renowned author by special guests, as well as an appearance by Ellison himself. Call 623-2881 for more info.

Music Saves Low Dough Show Our pals at Music Saves on Waterloo often bring in some great acts in conjunction with the Beachland Ballroom. This time out, it’s Trouble Brooks, Brian Straw and Muttering Retreats Fri 9/21 at 9PM. All for less than the cost of most domestic beers and well drinks. That means more cashola to spend on Saves’ divine tunage. Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, 15711 Waterloo. http://www.beachlandballroom.com. http://www.musicsaves.com.

Act a Lady The gender-bending farcical comedy by Jordan Harrison is launched at convergence-continuum Fri 9/21 at 8PM. When the men of the Elks Club of a small Midwestern town in 1927 decide to put on a play, a romantic 18th century melodrama dressed in women’s clothing, it has an effect on the entire community. As gender lines start to blur, eyebrows are raised, identities explode, realities unhinge and life and art are forever entangled. It’s campy comedy and thoughtful social commentary — not to mention fun. convergence-continuum @ Liminis, 2438 Scranton Rd. Call 687-0074 for more. http://www.convergence-continuum.org.

SPONSORED: WCLVnotes Tonight, Wed 9/19 at 8PM, WCLV presents the first of this season’s CIM (Cleveland Institute of Music) Live broadcasts with Carl Toplow conducting the CIM Orchestra at Severance Hall. Chaoyin Cai will be the soloist in Rachmaninoff’s very romantic Piano Concerto No. 2. Also on the program, Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra. The live Saturday evening concerts by The Cleveland Orchestra resume this Sat 9/22, with Franz leading the band in Mozart’s Symphony No. 28, Pintscher’s Five Orchestral Pieces and Tchaikovsky’s super goopy Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique.” Note that this week only, the concert starts at the special time of 8PM. Full details on all of WCLV’s programs at www.wclv.com.

HOT Burning River Roller Girls It’s hard to believe that their inaugural season is coming to an end! This Sat 9/22 from 6 – 9PM marks the “Championship Bout” for the BRRG at the North Olmsted Soccer Sportplex, 31515 Lorain Ave. Battling for the 3rd and 4th place title will be The Rolling Pin-ups vs. The Cleveland Steamers. And for the title? The Hard Knockers vs. The Hellbombers. It’s hot, it’s cool. And if you’ve never been, you’re in for a real treat. http://www.burningriverrollergirls.com.

Forbidden Broadway This send-up of huge Broadway hits is a classic. It launched Wed 9/12 and will run through December at the Hanna Theatre on Playhouse Square. Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit spoofs musical theater faves like RENT, Phantom, Les Mis, The Lion King, Spamalot, Wicked and a ton of other box office beauties. Check the show out this Sat 9/22 at 8:30PM. Call 771-4444 or visit http://www.playhousesquare.com for ticket and schedule info.

St. George Romanian Festival Fabulous Romanian food, an outdoor grill and pub, fresh-baked pastries, the famous Transilvania Orchestra, dancing, and kids activities are just the beginning of the fun. No-cost admission and parking. Check it out Sat 9/22 from 11-AM – 11PM and Sun 9/23 from 11AM – 8PM. St. George Romanian Orthodox Church, 144 30th St NW, Canton. Call 330-492-4592 for more.

SPONSORED: Galileo Was a Lute Player? Join us at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Wed 9/26 at 6:30 and 7:30PM as we discover Galileo’s personal interest in music, his early participation in designing scientific experiments in music with his father, and his own precocious talent as a lute player at a special planetarium program: Galileo’s Lute. Renowned lutenist Ronn McFarlane joins local musician Kenneth Bé in an innovative recital on this Renaissance instrument. Enjoy music from Galileo’s world – including lute works composed by his father, Vincenzo, and younger brother, Michelangelo – in The Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium as we examine the Renaissance view of the world and Universe. McFarlane will also perform some of his own compositions included on his recently released CD. Tickets: $10 members; $15 nonmembers. Purchase tickets online www.cmnh.org or (216) 231-1177.

10th Annual Taste of Little Italy Benefit presented by Little Italy Wines is Sun 9/23 3 – 7PM at the Holy Rosary Churchyard in Little Italy. Guests will feast on delectable foods and wines from Cle’s finest Italian restaurants, bakeries and distributors. Live Italian music, traditional folk accordian and Cle legend Rocco Scotti will fill the air with music; former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano and player Dante “Gluefingers” Lavelli are honored guests and speakers. Silent and live auctions feature dozens of items donated by Clerestaurants, businesses and art galleries. Tickets include all food and drinks. 12009 Mayfield Rd. http://www.montessori-holyrosary.org/tastelittleitalyhome.htm.

Never Mind the Pollocks Check out Action/Re-action, an exploration of the personal/artistic interaction between Jackson Pollock and noted Swiss-born photographer and graphic designer Herbert Matter on Sun 9/23 at 2PM. The two men and their wives were close during the 1940’s, and Landau’s new, groundbreaking research strongly suggests that Pollock found inspiration in Matter’s work. Dr. Ellen G. Landau, considered a leading Pollock expert, will speak at the event. Murch Auditorium, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, University Circle. http://www.clevelandart.org.

SPONSORED: Backwards Hamburger is one of the many cool flicks you’ll be able to enjoy during the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival on Sat 10/6 at 6-11PM with a 6PM reception. Meet representatives from local environmental nonprofits and enjoy food, bar and entertainment at an opening reception. Then share the powerful messages of the film fest which brings together award-winning environmental films to raise awareness of the natural world and motivate viewers to make a difference locally and globally. Hosted by the Nature League. Other films include Seeds, Hope, and Concrete, Birdsong & Coffee: A Wake Up Call, Nomads: Wandering Women of the Whitewater Tribe, among others. Members: $10; Nonmembers: $15; At door: $18. Purchase tickets online or call (216) 231-1177. For more info about CMNH go to www.cmnh.org.

KRS-One Lawrence Parker’s alter ego is one of the more well-known hip hop MCs; he grew up in the South Bronx and has been known by many handles (Kris Parker, Blastmaster, The Teacha). As KRS-One, he’s been a significant figure in hip hop and redefining what an MC can be. He’s been called one of the greatest rappers to ever shock the mic. Check him out Sun 9/23. Doors at 6PM, show at 7PM. PLUS: Don’t miss his lecture at the Rock Hall, slated for Mon 9/24 at 7PM. That program will take place in the Museum’s 4th Floor Theater and will be moderated by Bakari Kitwana The Beachland Ballroom, 15117 Waterloo Rd., http://www.beachlandballroom.com. http://www.rockhall.com.

HOT Red Ribbon Ride Bicyclists of all ages and abilities will explore Cleveland and the Lake Erie shoreline on Sun 9/23 at 9AM for the inaugural Red Ribbon Ride Ohio. The cycling event, which features 5, 15 and 25 mile routes, will benefit the nonprofit agencies supported by AIDS Walk Cleveland and increase awareness of HIV/AIDS in Northeast Ohio. The ride is a partnership between AIDS Walk and Walk+Roll Cleveland, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the exploration and discovery of Cleveland’s Rockefeller Park and the Cultural Gardens. All rides will begin and end in Rockefeller Park on MLK, Jr. Dr. in University Circle. Check-in begins at 8am http://www.walkroll.com.

A Healthy Beautiful Affair Check out the wares and wisdom found in aromatherapy, natural health and beauty care, hand crafted clothing, natural house cleaning products, massotherapy, reiki, yoga, tai chi and so much more Sat 9/22 at 11AM. Hand crafted jewelry, natural gift items, healthy refreshments, kid’s crafts, face painting, lectures, a raffle and a performance by Brian Henke round out the festivities schedule by Shining Light Outreach. A small suggested donation for entry helps support the non-profit organization whose mission is to assist individuals and families in their collective spiritual growth. Kids 10 and under bring a canned or packaged food item to donate to the Children’s Christian Home. Brecksville Community Center, 1 Community Dr. (off of Rt. 21/Brecksville Road, south of Rt. 82) E-mail shininglight1@peoplepc.com for more.

Holly Hofmann Quartet Flute virtuoso, native Clevelander and CIM graduate returns for hometown gig with Mike Wofford on piano, Dave Morgan on bass, and Glenn Schaft on drums Sun 9/23 at 7 PM. She is widely regarded as one of the top flutists in all of jazz; her resume includes work with jazz masters Ray Brown, Frank Wess, and Houston Person. Nighttown, Cleveland Hts. http://www.nighttowncleveland.com.

Iron & Wine is the moniker for singer-songwriter Sam Beam. He hits Cleveland in a rare gig supporting his new CD/LP The Shepherd’s Dog. Check him out Mon 9/24 at 8:30PM with special guests Arthur & Yu and Sin Ropas. Perfect music for a Monday. Beachland Ballroom on Waterloo. http://www.beachlandballroom.com.

SPONSORED: I Must Scream is one of the many literary works of Harlan Ellison, a legendary writer that the Cleveland Public Library will pay tribute to on Fri 9/21. Join us in the Louis Stokes Wing auditorium, at Superior and East Sixth with a reception at 6:30PM, followed by the documentary Dreams with Sharp Teeth: A Film about Harlan Ellison, at 7PM. A resident of LA, Ellison was born and raised in Cleveland and Painesville. His work includes scripts for TV: Star Trek, Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone and the Alfred Hitchcock Hour and his books: Dangerous Visions (1967); thirty collections of short stories including I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream (1967), Angry Candy (1988), and Slippage (1997). For more information, contact www.cpl.org or (216) 623-2800.

Pianofest Directed by Paul Schenly, this Tue 9/25 event combines performances by Cleveland Institute of Music students and faculty with lively commentary, bringing the great piano literature to life. A reception will follow the performance. The Cleveland Institute of Music, Studio 113. Call 791-5000 or visit http://www.cim.edu.

deSol Curious about the band performing at the Cool Cleveland “Pack Your Bags” party at CAK? Check them out Wed 9/26 at 8:30PM at Wilbert’s Food & Music downtown. Straight outta Asbury Park, NJ, this bilingual-flavored Latin rock band is scheduled to jam for us in the huge MAPS (Military Aviation Preservation Society) museum hangar. Get your groove on! http://www.wilbertsmusic.com.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Help Us, Help You: The weekend’s coming and your “peeps” are counting on you for the lowdown around town. For years you’ve used CC as your underground resource, but you know it’s time to clue them in and let them find the next jazz concert, art exhibit or wine tasting event by hooking them up. Do so and you could both win an iPhone or video iPod! Forward this to your buddy list, put a personal message in the subject line encouraging them to sign up, and you’ll both be eligible to win here. Winners announced in future issue.

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

Get Growing 2007 Business Expo hits Corp College East on Wed 9/19. Learn More
The Entrepreneurs EDGE NorTech and Magnet host CWRU alum Robert Herbold a luncheon Fri 9/21 at 11:30AM at Corp College E. Register
The Future of Design explores Biomimicry with Janine Benyus on Tue 9/25 at CIA. Part of E4S Third Tuesday series. Details
Joseph-Beth & COSE host Steve Homolak, Bus Dev Advisor with Compelling Business Solutions on So You Think You Know Your Business Tue 9/25 at 4PM. Register
Web Assoc’s 3-pt series begins with The Role Of Paid Search Marketing feat. Sage Lewis of SageRock.com & Cleveland SEO at Windows on the River Tue 9/25 at 11:30AM. Register
AAF Clambake feast adv networking event Wed 9/26 at 5PM. Register
CSU College of Business hosts panel of experts Thu 9/27 on The Business Case for Sustainable Business Practices. Register
Cisco’s SVP Howard Charney talks “Collaboration: Maximize Business Interactions and Increase Productivity” on Thu 9/27 from 8AM – 3:15PM at the State Theatre. Register
Make the B2B Connection w/ no-cost B’wood COC show Mon 10/8 starting at 2:30PM. Hilton Cle East, 3663 Park East Dr., Beachwood. Call 831-0003, e-mail mail@beachwood.org. More
Maia Beatty asks “Are You Engaging Your Circle of Influence as Powerfully as You Can?” Wed 10/10 Details
Crain’s CFO of the Year Awards hit the Hyatt at the Arcade d’town Thu 10/25. Register
2007 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, Marriott Downtown at Key Center Fri 11/2 at 6PM Details

SPONSORED: Are you a Technology Entrepreneur in Northeast Ohio? Would you like business assistance at no cost to you? Then you could benefit from TechLift, a new initiative of the Third Frontier Project being led by NorTech. A series of five events taking place throughout NEO will give you a chance to meet the TechLift Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, learn about the services being offered, and network with local business leaders and other entrepreneurs. Join us for one or all of these exciting events. We’ll be in Youngstown on Thu 9/20, here in Cleveland on Thu 10/4, and off to Lorain on Tue 10/9. For more information and to register, check out the event listing here.

Playwright, actor, politician Eric Coble
Keeping the CH-UH Schools Front and Center

It isn’t always easy to know what you want to be when you grow up. It’s even harder to know what you’re going to be when you get there. Eric Coble decided rather early on to be an actor, and that’s the career path he pursued for the first twenty-few years of his life. As part of his grad school training at Ohio University, Eric came to Cleveland in the fall of 1992 for an internship in acting at the Cleveland Play House. He did a lot of acting there, as well as at Great Lakes Theater Festival during the next two years, but somehow, what with the acting and teaching activities there, he ‘accidentally slid’ into playwriting. And there he was. “You can have the best of intentions, but still end up as a playwright” he says with a big grin.

Born in Scotland, Eric was mostly raised on Indian Reservations in the western United States—New Mexico—to be exact. It was another ingredient of the stew that becomes a playwright’s mind. His undergrad experience was at Fort Lewis College in Colorado, where he studied math and English and history. While at OU, Eric met Carol Laursen, who came to Cleveland with him. They married in 1994. She became a lab tech at University Hospitals, and from there it was a simple decision to stay on here for a while. The ‘while’ has turned into thirteen years, because they realized it was a “‘great place to raise children.”

“I came to Cleveland all those years ago with no intention of staying here. Now,” he reflects, “I have no intention of leaving.” The two Coble children, Trevor, who is 12 and in the 7th grade, and Miranda, now 10 and in fifth grade have each done some writing and some acting—in the Marilyn Bianchi Kid’s Playwriting Festival at Dobama Theatre. “They’re not averse to theater,” says the proud Pop with a smile. “Now we do know it’s a great place to raise children, and I’m committed to keeping it that way…”

Read more from Kelly Ferjutz here

SPONSORED: Are you a Technology Entrepreneur in Northeast Ohio? Would you like business assistance at no cost to you? Then you could benefit from TechLift, a new initiative of the Third Frontier Project being led by NorTech. A series of five events taking place throughout NEO will give you a chance to meet the TechLift Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, learn about the services being offered, and network with local business leaders and other entrepreneurs. Join us for one or all of these exciting events. We’ll be in Youngstown on Thu 9/20, here in Cleveland on Thu 10/4, and off to Lorain on Tue 10/9. For more information and to register, check out the event listing here.

This week’s most active post on BrewedFreshDaily.com, run by Cool Cleveland’s George Nemeth,

Ed Morrison links to a BBC story on a report that studies 3 popular user-driven websites and highlights a quote by one of the reports authors—”People are re-aggregating the news in the style of citizen editors rather than [citizen] journalists.” Comments:
Other permutations, that have a broader scope in terms of topics, might be NewAssignment.net which is a place where readers/citizens collaborate with journalists hooked up with print media, and also NewsTrust – which is a service that allows readers to rank the traditional journalist news according to how trustworthy the reader/citizen thinks it is. comment by Jill Miller Zimon
Are there applications we should be thinking about in the region? It seems to me that in covering economic development, the Toledo Blade leads the pack, followed by the Akron Beacon Journal and the Vindicator. The PD is at the bottom, in my view. (Witness the damage the PD inflicted on itself in the casino issue.) Is there a way to be more rigorous about this process of evaluating the press? How could BFD, MTB do that? comment by Ed Morrison
This is a critical distinction, about being aggregators/editors, more than just merely journalists. It takes the discussion down a totally different path. comment by Tim Ferris
In an ideal news/perspectives/information world, we should sample liberally from the best of what’s available. And just because it comes in blog form doesn’t necessarily make it valuable, just as surely as something in print and/or from a traditional journalism outlet doesn’t make it less valuable. To ignore the best of what either camp has to offer seems to me a form of self-induced blindness. I prefer to keep my eyes open to the possibility of being enlightened from every possible source. comment by John Ettorre
Read and add your comment here

SPONSORED: 2-for-1 Tix for Date Night/Family Fun, Fri 9/28 It’s a fantastical voyage that traces the exploits of Peer Gynt around the world with action-packed musical scenes and theatrical staging for scenes like “In the Hall of the Mountain King” (watch out for those trolls!). This special offer for CC readers allows you to bring a friend/sig other at no charge. See The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall in a rare performance of Edvard Grieg’s “Peer Gynt” Fri 9/28 at 8PM with Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting. English narration by Narrator John de Lancie, known for his portrayal of “Q” in Star Trek. Limit 4 tickets per customer at 2-for-1 price. Use promo code 4076. Contact 216 231-1111 or www.clevelandorchestra.com. Hurry! Offer expires 9/27 at 6PM!

Been to the “Vanview” Tower?
Taking the terminal out of Cle’s most prominent address

Cleveland’s leaders are quickly moving this resource-full area to a truly exciting, winning, wonderful 21st Century region; however they are overlooking one much needed change. Cornerstone to our current transformation is the medical community and as such, why is our most famous building still “terminal”? Imagine if the Medical Mart moves into the Higbee building, it would be next door to the terminal tower. Not a comforting thought for those visiting Cleveland for medical treatment. Think of the names: Empire State Building, Chrysler Building or Sears Tower and what those bring to mind to understand the impact of a building’s name.

Why not honor the Van Sweringens, as they would not allow themselves to be honored when they were living. These two brothers were the largest railroad owners in the country and should have their name along side the Vanderbilt’s and other railroad tycoons. It is time to honor two of the greatest Clevelanders to live near the shores of Lake Erie. Let us remember not simply the Terminal Tower, but also the Shaker Rapid line, and the beautiful homes and landscaping of Shaker Hts, Cleveland Hts and Hunting Valley. Their influence, class and quality are seen and felt every day in Northeast Ohio…

Read more from Chris Whipple here

Do All Write for Yourself Share a good story (or more) regarding your take on the region by writing for Cool Cleveland. Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Links to interesting NEO blogs

Instead of standing up for the PD’s use of Jeff Darcy’s satirically-charged artwork to hammer home a point, Goldberg chose to apologize
Don Plusquellec’s primary win shouldn’t have been as close as it was.
The City of Lorain installs a new sewer valve at a blogger’s home to prevent future flooding
1.87% over these past 24 years is the return on investment for a home purchased in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood. No wonder people are leaving.
An anonymous commenter outs Wood County Commissioner Tim Brown (R) for being gay.
Chef Rocco Whalen of Tremont’s Fahrenheit does Q&A w/ cleveland foodie.
Treez Please is restoring Youngstown’s trees.

Blue
Mike Petrone Trio
Goblin Bee Records

What can you say about pianist, entertainer and Lakewood native Mike Petrone that hasn’t already been said? It’s tough, actually. He’s a talented singer/songwriter, a crafty composer, a well-regarded jazz and studio session musician and a band leader to boot. Petrone has written for film, television and stage for over 20 years; his original scores include the films Flattered, The Longest Day, and War Story, an award-winning silent film. He’s also worked with a Rolodex full of brilliant musicians. And on any night of the week, you can see this hep cat tickle the ivories at Johnny’s Downtown. Kinda rare, wouldn’t you say?

Petrone’s 16th studio affair is called Blue, released with fellow musicians Lamar Gaines (acoustic bass) and John Stebal (drums). Gaines is one of the last “old school jazz bassists,” with a stellar, 50-year career under his belt. Stebal’s work, which is also found on Petrone’s previous trio effort, Blooming at Nighttown, is beautiful in its simplicity. These three musicians together as The Mike Petrone Trio offer warmth, charm, and elegant sophistication wrapped up in a jazz unit. Blue clocks in at 7 tracks and 45 minutes, delivering tasty vibes and classics like Irving Berlin’s “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home” and the W.C. Handy classic, “St. Louis Blues.” In all, Blue is a return to the heyday of the jazz trio; it might be meant for the jazz piano aficionado, but it’s no so highbrow as to be inaccessible. Perfect as a backdrop for your cocktail hour, dinner party or Sunday morning ritual, Blue is local jazz at its finest.

Mike Petrone performs at Johnny’s Downtown, 1406 W. Sixth St., Monday through Friday. Visit him online at http://mikepetrone.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

SPONSORED: Quite Possibly the Most Beautiful 3,500 acres you’ll ever witness! Take a relaxing break (only 30 minutes from Clev) to an extraordinary living museum of forests and woodlands, meadows and display gardens, rock ledges and wetland, with an abundance of wildlife – at Holden Arboretum. Entertain the kids with the Holden Express: A Garden Railroad, now through 9/23 – only 5 days left! Marvel at enchanted gardens set in an outdoor wonderland with 2,000 feet of winding track. Holden Express is open 10AM to 5PM (and until 9PM Wednesdays) daily through Sun 9/23 with no-cost admission for members; Nonmembers: $6 adults, $3 children ages 6-12 and $2 children ages 2-5. Seniors: no-cost admission each Tuesday. Holden Arboretum is located at 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland. For more info contact www.holdenarb.org.

Snitch power, Part II

The question someone should be asking, now that Eric “Big Willie” Wilson is in custody, is, how many other “Big Willies” received a “Get Out Of Jail Free Card” last year, and in years prior? How many other young dope dealers and gangbangers were allowed to return to Cleveland streets armed, dangerous, and empowered because they work for a Cleveland detective as a snitch? Add to that number all of the other the young men who were allowed to “plead down” a firearms possession case and it’s no wonder Cleveland is beginning to resemble Dodge City.

Read last week’s column to understand how the snitch game works, and here’s how the “plea bargain game” works: Getting caught with a gun while in possession of drugs is supposedly an automatic trip down I-71 for a three-year sentence. The only thing that should beat the miscreant to prison should be the headlights on the bus … but like I said “supposedly.” What really is happening in many cases in Cuyahoga County is that prosecutors are allowing the “gun specifications” to be dropped (in layman’s terms this means everyone in the judicial system says in unison “Gun? What gun? I didn’t see no gun. Did you see a gun?). In return, the thug is allowed to plead to simple drug possession and get probation (a sign over the door should read “Don’t forget to pick your gun back from the Bailiff as you exit the courtroom”). This way they’re able to be back on the street in time enough to sell more crack to the White dudes driving in from Mentor and Strongsville…

Read more from Mansfield Frazier here

SPONSORED: In Extraordinary Times, there Are no Ordinary Lives “The War,” the newest Ken Burns documentary, will air on WVIZ/PBS over two weeks beginning Sun 9/23, 8PM. This epic film focuses on citizens from four American towns and the dramatic affect WWII had on them, their families, neighbors and fellow countrymen. As part of a national effort to showcase this series, and to preserve the firsthand telling of WWII, WVIZ/PBS has partnered with Cleveland State University to interview area veterans. Entitled “War Memories,” these moving stories can be seen in between programming on WVIZ/PBS, heard on 90.3 WCPN, and streamed online at www.wviz.org. This is a chance to know this part of history through the perspective of Northeast Ohio neighbors who lived it.

Reporters Snooze to Avoid Displeasure of Bosses

Do you ever get a feeling reading the morning newspaper that it isn’t in the business of news anymore?

The news that does slip into the PD is sparse and not very tasty.

Back in the 1970s when Cleveland newspapers were grasping for ways to upend Dennis Kucinich (you may notice the Pee Dee’s addiction remains), the press critic at the Village Voice Alexander Cockburn wrote, “There is almost nothing so repugnant to humankind as a newspaper in Cleveland.”

Times may have changed; that criticism stands.

You want to ask the old hamburger ad question – Where’s the beef…?

Read more from Roldo Bartimole here

SPONSORED: The Longest Running Show in Chicago Theatre History is here – don’t miss it! “Pump Boys and Dinettes” is showing now through Sat 10/27. With a sound reminiscent of John Mellencamp, Jimmy Buffett and the Eagles, Carousel’s newest show features five guys at the station and three gals at the dinette performing a musical tribute spanning across the genres of rock and folk. The score includes “Highway 57,” “The Best Men,” “Be Good or Be Gone” and “The Night Dolly Parton Was Almost Mine.” Join them in a tribute to living and working in America, complete with electric and acoustic guitars, piano, bass, fiddle, drums and more. Purchase tickets online at www.carouseldinnertheatre.com or by calling the Box Office at 800.362.4100!

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

Chrissie Hynde & Friends @ Akron Civic Theatre 9/15

In an economic development dream come true, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chrissie Hynde decided to return to Akron to be with her family, buy a condo at the incredible new Northside Lofts (with nightclubs, art galleries and Downtown living deluxe), and open a new restaurant, VegiTerranean. Then, to kick it off, she puts together a concert to benefit the historic, atmospheric Civic featuring (a few too many of) her old Akron friends: Chris Butler from The Waitresses with players from Chi Pig & Tin Huey presenting a well-rehearsed set of old & new numbers under the rubric Half Cleveland, quintessential NEO off-kilter swingers The Numbers Band, now together for 38 years, a delicious solo guitar & vocal set by Patrick Sweany, The Diffi-Cult (Akron Beacon Journal columnist David Giffels, his brother, and Lime Spider owner Danny Basone) acting like early Elvis Costello without the bi-polar swings, watered-down hip-hop gospel by Judah E, and The Bizarros, still showing off on new material after 28 years. Finally, after an organ intermission and an introduction from Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, Chrissie sat down in knee-high leather boots and a PETA t-shirt with guitarist Adam Seymour for a stellar unplugged set featuring Sense of Purpose, Talk of the Town, Biker, Don’t Get Me Wrong, Back on the Chain Gang, Brass In Pocket, and My City Was Gone, apologizing “No offense, Mayor,” after the line, “…a government that had no pride,” all the more delightful for the crystal-clear sound showcasing her brilliant, emotive voice. In between, she cracked wise about her vegetarianism and sang a few verses from the old O’Neils department store jingle. Akron is still in her bones. The night ended climactically with The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis himself on piano doing CC Rider with Chrissie on backgrounds, Great Balls of Fire, and Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On with the whole ensemble singing along. Her recent embrace of Akron has everyone shaking, and after a trip to England to record her new CD, she’ll return to open her restaurant in Mid-October. http://www.AkronCivic.com

Reflections (Peggy Sings Leiber & Stoller) @ Beck Center 9/14
Reason to go: Husky-voiced jazz stylist Laura Theodore’s vocal recreation of Peggy Lee is, in a word, spectacular. When she connects with the best songs — “Kansas City”, “I’m A Woman”, “Is That All There Is?”, and an impossibly sexy “Some Cats Know” — you are riveted to your chair. It’s worth the trip to Beck to hear her, period.
Back to the drawing board: The best you can say about the book of this world premiere bio-musical, co-created by Theodore and director Tom Fulton, is that it needs a huge overhaul. There are too many actors (there are 3 Peggys), lugubrious reminiscences, banal dialogue, and odd use of video, and several of the obscure Leiber/Stoller tunes are bizarrely inappropriate (“Professor Hauptmann’s Performing Dogs”?). Prescription: more music, less chatter. Theodore is a treasure, and the show needs to be tailored around her substantial talents.
Details: Thru 10/7, Beck Center, Lakewood. http://www.beckcenter.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

Reflections (Peggy Sings Leiber & Stoller) @ Beck Center 9/15 Frank Sinatra once said of Peggy Lee, who is the subject of Reflections (Peggy Sings Leiber and Stoller), now on stage at Beck Center, that “Her wonderful talent should be studied by all vocalists; her regal presence is pure elegance and charm.” Norma Deloris Egstrom, better known to the world as Peggy Lee, was born in 1920. Her mother died when she was young. Her alcoholic father abandoned the family, leaving the children to be brought up by a verbally and physically abusive step mother. Eventually, Norma Deloris left home to pursue a musical career. Her march toward fame took off when she was offered a singing gig by band leader Benny Goodman. Lee, who is often recognized as one of the “classy” vocalists of the century, alongside Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan, was noted for her soft, sensual and cool singing style.

She was not only a stage and night club singer, song writer and recording artist, but appeared in numerous films including Pete Kelly’s Blues for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. She contributed to the score and was heard in the soundtrack of Disney’s cartoon feature Lady and the Tramp.

Lee’s life was not a bed of roses. Aside from her miserable childhood, her marriage to guitarist Dave Barbour, the one man she really loved, ended in divorce, as did several other marriages. In an attempt to hide from her pent-up emotions she became a workaholic and in the 1950s the intense work load took its toll. She suffered a long period of illnesses. In spite of her poor health she continued to perform into the 1990s, often seated in a wheel chair. She died in 2002, at the age of 81, of complications of diabetes.

Reflections is not the first play that has been written about her. In the early 1980’s she appeared in Peg, which was a flop.

Over the years, Lee, noted for her perfectionism, repeatedly used the same songs over and over. This tended to make her shows predictable. Her laid-back sexuality and teasing neuroticism eventually became, in the opinion of one critic, “underwhelming.”

The Beck show is also “underwhelming.” In spite of a fine performance by Laura Theodore, who has perfected Lee’s vocal and oral sounds, there is a flatness to the evening. Much of the problem is the script which glosses over and underplays the trials of Lee’s life. Yes, Lee was self-contained, rolled with the punches, and that doesn’t necessarily make for good theatre. So, maybe Lee wasn’t the best choice about whom to develop a musical drama. Maybe a musical review highlighting her many hit songs would have been a better decision. As is, there is little in the way of drama, little to no comedy, and little to any action in Reflections.

The exclusive use of Terry Leiber and Mike Stoller’s music, is also problematic. Much of the music, at least in the arrangements used, tends to sound very much alike. The orchestrations, even to such songs as “I’m a Woman” and “Is That All There Is?” are understated.

The script, by Tom Fulton and Laura Theodore, is sometimes confusing and lacks texture and fails to create the needed emotional levels to engage an audience. There is a lack of emotional highs and lows, a lack of the needed creation of empathy. Time jumps back and forth. Conflicts are glossed over. Even death is understated.

The use of multi-media often distracts the flow of ideas. To add to the problems is that the quality of the videos is sometimes poor. The sync between the spoken word and the visual image is occasionally off. Our attention is unnecessarily drawn away from the stage by the inserted audio-visual.

The sound of Larry Goodpaster’s orchestra is outstanding. Martin Cespedes’s choreographed segments provide some of the few exciting segments of the production. Bravo to dancers Jose Ayala and Devon Shriver.

The cast is good. Given the weakness of the script, they do extremely well. Jeff Grover is fine as Dave Barbour. Erin Bunting is properly nasty as the stepmother. Tween-aged Lisandra Stebner makes for a believable young Peggy. Don Irven is a pathetic father.

”’Capsule judgment: Beck should be praised for attempting to mount a world premiere production. Unfortunately, the script, or maybe it’s the subject matter, just doesn’t allow for the quality production that we have become used to at Beck. The experience isn’t bad, but one must ask, in the words of one of Ms. Lee’s signature songs, “Is That All There Is?””’

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Roy Berko’s blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info.

Cleveland Goes Modern: Design for the Home 1930-1970 @ the Cleveland Artists Foundation, 9/19 Nestled amidst the mansions and modest Colonials of Cleveland Heights are a few gems of early Modernist, International-style design. These homes, with their simple, clean lines, noticeable lack of decoration or frills, large glass windows, and flat or gently-sloping roofs seem today to fit within this eclectic community. It wasn’t always so, however. After the Depression, suburbs such as Cleveland Heights clung to traditional and Classical notions of design – architects had to fight city hall to gain approval for their ideas.

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Cleveland chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Cleveland Artists Foundation (CAF) has brought together a collection of images and archival materials highlighting Modern home design in Northeast Ohio. The CAF is a non-profit, regional art history organization housed within the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood.

Long before the Swedish furniture chain IKEA brought high-style knock-offs into many a college dorm room, architects such as J. Byers Hays, Chester Lowe, George Mayer, Harold Burdick, Ernst Payer and Don Hisaka pioneered Modern residential architecture. They left a good share of their work sprinkled throughout Cleveland’s suburbs. The CAF exhibit contains photographs of their work, archival materials, recorded interviews with architects, and an annotated essay by curator Nina Freedlander Gibans.

Some of the photographs are quite beautiful, and they reveal how well these now historic homes have aged. Features of these architects’ work include the innovative use of open space (an early hallmark of the modern lifestyle, very different from the defined rooms of earlier styles); the incorporation of natural and rustic features such as wooden ceilings and stone fireplaces; and the use of large casement windows to enhance the feeling of openness and connection to the outdoors. Some of these changes were aesthetic. Others were a part of technological changes that allowed large, open spaces with fewer walls. One can also glimpse in these homes the precursor to today’s urban lofts, which also incorporate contemporary materials and open space, and do so in a new context.

This exhibit is the first one dedicated to our region’s architects in several decades, says Gibans. More information on “Cleveland Goes Modern” can be found at www.clevelandartists.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Lee Chilcote leechilcoteATgmail.com

Groundworks @ Akron Icehouse 10/7Groundworks Dance is like the little engine that could. It is a small company which selects unusual places to perform its programs and succeeds in making each its psychological home. For nine seasons, since its inception, the company has performed in Akron’s Icehouse. The Icehouse was, as its name indicates, a storage site where blocks of ice from the river were brought and kept in the cavernous building. Later, when refrigeration was invented, ice was made and stored there. Now the facility is in the midst of an area which is becoming Akron’s arts center. It is an unusual place for a dance company with its pillars, high ceiling and dank atmosphere. But use it Groundworks does. And, they use it well.

For this year’s two weekend residence, David Shimotakahara, Groundworks’ Artisitic Director, decided to present a two dance and musical interlude program.

The first selection, Nano, was in its Akron premiere. The piece was performed to a composition by Gustavo Aguilar, the company’s musical director, using only the sound of a snare drum. As is typical of Shimotakahara’s choreography, the moves perfectly fit the music. Though overly long, it showcased Aguilar’s skill in producing sounds from a single instrument. nano found the dancers creatively bumping into each other, pushing and lifting their own and other’s bodies, while gliding, turning, twisting and sliding. Arms were in constant motion. Amy Miller, the epitome of bodily control, did an audience-pleasing solo segment. A sector by Felise Bagley, Mark Otloski and Sarah Perrett was compelling. Dennis Dugan’s lighting helped highlight the dancing by casting moving shadows on the Icehouse’s dark and deeply scarred walls.

Music Interlude featured a trio of musical compositions created by John Luther Adams and performed by the Akros Percussion Collective. The musical sounds were supplemented by a dance segment performed with creative competence by Amy Miller and video images by Tug Video. The percussion music, using bells, marimba and gongs, was intriguing but overstayed its welcome. Each segment could have been shortened to heighten the overall effect.

Annie Redux was a creatively devised piece by choreographer David Parker to the recorded music of Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun. Interestingly, instead of using the well-known singing versions by Ethel Merman (Broadway’s first Annie Oakley) or that of Betty Hutton (who portrayed the sassy female wild west gunslinger in the film version), vocalizations by Judy Garland were used. Garland, who was originally cast in the film role, either dropped out or was fired, depending on which version you wish to believe.

However, she had recorded the songs before departing from the filming. Like the recent Broadway hit, Movin’ Out which was choreographed by Twyla Tharpe to the music of Billy Joel, the viewer needs to listen to the music, but accept that the words they hear are not going to develop the story of each song. Once that separation is accomplished, the piece becomes pleasurable. Consisting of some unusual lifts and captivating movements, the dancing parallels the sounds of the music. A wonderful simulated tap dancing without taps highlighted “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” In an interesting take, the role of Annie was danced by Miller, Bagley, Perett and David Shimotakahara. Bill was danced by Shimotakahara, Damien Highfield, Otloski and Perett. Each used his/her distinctive style to develop the character. All in all, this was a positive experience, especially for musical theatre buffs.

”’Capsule judgment: Shimotakahara is not afraid to take risks. His inclusion of a musical interlude sandwiched between dances was a different take on dance concerts. As always, the overall effect of the evening was positive, but several segments tested the theory that the mind can absorb what the seat can endure, and two of the segments definitely tested the audience’s endurance limits.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Roy Berko’s blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info.

Rounding Third @ Actor’s Summit 10/8 When our son was six he participated for the first time in Little League baseball. During his initial game a player on the other team dropped a fly ball. When the kid came off the field his father charged over to him, yelled, “What in the *#&% did you do out there?,” and smacked the kid. Our son, his eyes wide with wonder said, “Do I have to play Little League?”

With kids no longer having the freedom to play pick-up games, but participate in organized sports organized by adults, questions are often raised. “Is the game for parents or the kids?” “Are parents living out their dreams through their son or daughter?” “Is this supposed to be fun or is it competition for winning which teaches that “life is not fair and you’d better learn that right now!”? Richard Dresser’s comedy is a journey of two Little League coaches from their first meeting to the climactic championship game. The audience is the stand-in for the team, so the coaches speak directly to the viewers about competition, character, punctuality, and the importance of wearing the right equipment.

Don is a blue-collar, macho, win-at-all-costs veteran coach whose son is the star pitcher. Michael, a corporate executive, has always been the odd-man out, the last picked for any team. He believes that the job of a coach is to shield the kids from the intense pressure of competition and make sure they have a good time. Obviously, they are going to conflict. The results are hilarious, touching and thought provoking.

By the end of the play, both of the coaches’ lives and attitudes have changed and the audience leaves asking, “Whose philosophy is right?” And, incidentally, “What is my philosophy concerning winning, losing and life in general?”

Dresser is a good writer. His lines are real people speaking. Male viewers will easily see their neighbors, relatives and maybe even themselves in the well etched characters. Women might see the men in their lives.

Actor’s Summit’s production, under the adept direction of Constance Thackaberry, is on target. She has a good grasp of Dresser’s concept and has a keen understanding of the workings of the male mind. Maybe directing her husband (Keith Stevens) has something to do with that.

Stevens (Don) fully develops the win-obsessed baseball coach. He is consistent in his guy talk, interpretation of male friendship and womanizing. He reflects the highs and lows of his life with clarity.

Daniel Taylor (Michael) is not quite as consistent as Stevens , but does a good job of making Michael real. The character’s motivations seem clear, but Taylor sometimes loses the flow of conversation and some of his actions seem forced.

Capsule judgment: Rounding Third is both a delightful and thought provoking script. It gets a very good production at Actors’ Summit. This is definitely a “Yes, go see!”

Rounding Third runs though September 30 at Actors’ Summit, 86 Owen Brown Street, Hudson. Call for tickets now at 330-342-0800.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Roy Berko’s blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info.

Social Media: What are the New Rules @ Independence DoubleTree Hotel 9/11 Human beings are social animals – we like to gather in groups and relate to each other. But what does the expression “Social Media” mean? The annual PRSA Business & Media Event (a sell-out luncheon), held in conjunction with IABC, the Akron Press Club and Cleveland Press Club brought together a terrific panel of speakers to explore what Social Media is (definitely a hot topic). Lisa Chamberlain, contributing reporter and blogger with the New York Times, Lev Gonick, CIO at Case Western Reserve University, John Kroll, Impact editor for the Plain Dealer, and Thomas Mulready, creator of Cool Networks LLC shared their insights into how blogs and websites like Myspace.com, Youtube.com, and Linkedin.com are changing our world.

Moderator Chris Thompson with the Fund for Our Economic Future started off the presentation with a Wikipedia definition of Social Media – “It describes the online technologies and practices that people use to share content, opinions, insights, experiences, perspectives, and media themselves.” Social media has no space or time limits like the traditional media. It is participatory, the audience can add comments and in some cases, edit the text. The content material is determined by the readers and their responses. Different formats are utilized, sometimes using feed with feed readers.

Chamberlain works in the traditional media and social media and sees the benefits of blending both channels to arrive at the best form of communication. She covers the real estate beat for the New York Times but uses her blog as an extension of her professional life. “A blog is not just a diary, sometimes it is material that just didn’t fit into an article, and other times it gets more play than my newspaper writing,” she said. “The more links, web sites, and blogs you have, the more accessible you are and the better chance you have for exposure,” she emphasized.

“Daily newspapers were the first social media,” said John, “but times have changed to networking with computers.” Before the mid-90s, people needed to know HTML coding and have a website. Now the popular blogging tools (like Flickr) and blogging platforms (like TypePad) have made it easy to simply connect with a mass audience. John expressed concern that the social media channels need to do a better job of reaching out to diverse communities.

Gonick shared with the audience recent survey results from approximately 27,000 college students who were questioned about their Internet and media use. For these young people, “community” was at the center of their Internet experience. Their preference is to break away from wall connections and go mobile. They want instant messaging, they think email is for their parents.

Mulready used his weekly e-newsletter, CoolCleveland.com, as an example of social media. He started the newsletter in 2002 when Cirque du Soleil was visiting Cleveland. Knowing some of the performing artists, he emailed them a list of events happening in the area, and also emailed friends. A community need was met, and a business was born. Starting podcasts four years ago, he puts these interview links in the newsletter and has seen a strong increase in the demand for video and podcasts.

The event concluded with a lively discussion centered on the impact of social media in our professional and personal lives.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Susan Schaul susn1ATatt.net

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On Cool Cleveland Thank you again for your keynote intro to the 24th Annual Western Reserve Writers’ Conference at Lakeland Community College this past weekend. You are amazing. I am tuning in to WCLV-FM to listen for you specifically. There are a multitude of well-hidden cultural and artistic events ongoing in this great city- that deserve the honor of your discovery and promotion. Thanks for doing what you do so well! Please include my e-mail in your weekly subscriptions- I look forward to observing the increased economic successes of our Cleveland Culture firsthand. My husband and I have lived here 25 years- and are excited about getting this.from Cool Cleveland reader Terri Lagerlof

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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

1) Bob Taft opines on the state of schools But, where was he when he was Governor?
www.Dispatch.com

2) Tremont ArtWalk & Arts and Cultural Fest Part of a weekend of arts celebration across the City of Cleveland.
www.TremontArtWalk.org

3) Cle Clinic explores dropping Case link for Columbia.
www.Cleveland.com

4) Sparx Gallery Hop Ohio’s largest art walk, celebrates its 5th anniversary.
www.Cleveland.com

5) County also forks over $1M for Flats lot cleaning.
www.CrainsCleveland.com

Ticket to Ride Props (and wings) to Peter Chakerian, TL Champion, George Nemeth, Mansfield B. Frazier, Susan Schaul, Lee Chilcote, Roldo Bartimole, Roy Berko, Kelly Ferjutz, Claudia J. Taller, Linda Eisenstein and Chris Whipple. And lastly, though certainly not least, thanks to our readers 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.

Download the Cool Cleveland podcasts and videos each week at http://www.CoolCleveland.com
Join the conversation at Brewed Fresh Daily http://www.brewedfreshdaily.com
Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time
Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com, and your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com
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The Sky’s the Limit,
–Thomas Mulready
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