Quick-Witted

05.20-05.27.09
Quick-Witted

In this week’s issue:
* Big Cool Cats Our vid interview with Zydeco jam band Mo’ Mojo
* Hastily Made? Sweet vid of Lakewood Project offers big opportunity to CC readers
* Interview A Conversation with Satirist and Shaker Grad Andy Borowitz
* Ingenious Harvesting Cle Baseball from our Farm System
* Straight Outta Mansfield Oh, Now I Understand!
* Sounds Like Bells by Oberlin trio conjures Sigur Ros, Mogwai
* RoldoLINK Tax Freebies Continue Despite Economic Disaster
* Cool Cleveland podcast & BFD blog & Facebook & Twitter

How fast can we comeback? In this week’s issue you’ll get updates on the fast-developing Gordon Square Arts District, millions for Great Lakes restoration, and a B-W prof who was named Professor of the Year. We post our hastily made video, and you can win 2 huge prize packages if you’re witty and do the same. This weekend is the Veterans Memorial bridge tour, and TIE Ohio hosts an entrepreneurship event. We offer an exclusive interview with quick-witted political satirist and Shaker Hts native Andy Borowitz, as well as a look at the Indians’ Ohio-bred farm system. If you’re quick enough, you can get a 2-4-1 discount to the upcoming Big Cool Cats music festival on Sat 6/20 at Cain Park by watching our exclusive video of Mo’ Mojo’s Jen Maurer. Turns out we’re so quick here, you better not blink or you might miss something. –Thomas Mulready

Mo’ Mojo just loves telling people they are a Zydeco jam band from Ohio. In this interview with ”Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready, accordionist Jen Maurer talks about their 7-member band, including Bill Lestock on fiddle (their gig at the Big Cool Cats Music Festival at Cain Park on Sat 6/20 will be his birthday!), plus harmonica, guitar, bass, drums and rubboard. http://www.myspace.com/momojomusic

Watch the video and get ready to dance during their gig at Big Cool Cats. See more videos by the other featured bands and, for a limited time, take advantage of a sweet 2-4-1 ticket deal by using the discount code BCC50 at http://www.BigCoolCats.com

Big Cool Cats Music Festival at Cain Park on June 20 from noon to 11PM. http://www.BigCoolCats.com

To ensure you receive Cool Cleveland every week, take a moment now and add CoolCleveland@CoolCleveland.com to your address book, trusted sender list, or corporate white list. Learn More.

GREEN $475 mil for Great Lakes restoration? Where? How should the money be spent? Good stuff here
Lost novel by late, locally-based sci-fi great Zelazny turns up with much fanfare
This week’s LeBron news: He makes the all-NBA first team and details are here
Are you hip to Waterloo Walls No? Better click here
HOT Rubber City Clothing Co. honors Akron, LeBron with a supercool shirt that Chrissie Hynde likes. It isn’t any wonder: Akron Witnessed First
Speaking of LBJ & Akron, city glad for shout-out in Nike Kobe/LeBron puppet commercials. Read then Watch one of them …and then see what some NEO fans are hoping to do in time for 2010
Reports of the death of Northern Ohio Live are greatly, um, exaggerated? Trying to stay afloat
HOT Cle reality series Got City Game is making waves in the press. Read
HOT Grog Shop co-founder Matt Mugridge dies at 41 years old. He “helped lure acts like Oasis, the Offspring and the Flaming Lips early in their career.” Click
Lake Erie Nature & Science Ctr featured on “What Works,” WKYC TV-3, Cleveland. Click
Beck Center’s Cafe summer schedule was just released here!
Keeping up with the Gordon Square Arts District? If not, add this to your bookmarks
Waterloo Cafe is now open Scope it out here
Kindermusik is a big deal for kids and their brain power; you can help them explore it locally here
HOT Baldwin-Wallace professor Andy Mickley was named Ohio Professor of the Year Congratulations, Andy! Read
Check out Rajiv Joseph’s newest stripe The Cle Heights High School and Miami Univ of Ohio grad interviewed in the L.A. Times Click
Mike Polk’s a comedian, but are his “Hastily Made” Cle tourism videos funny? Great audio about the subject here and see Lakewood Project video below.
CC contributor Roy Berko named to Wall of Achievement at Brush High School His alma mater honors him this year! Click

HOT HoJo on the Cle Shoreway to be Demolished? Fox8’s neighbor, once a majestic Howard Johnson’s hotel/drive-in, might finally be falling. There’s some interesting commentary on the subject, likening the situation to the Breuer Tower. Now, Cle City Council members Joe Cimperman, Ward 13, and Shari Cloud, Ward 8, are joining together to urge Judge Richard McMonagle of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas to reverse his decision to place a temporary restraining order on the demolition of the building off of E. 55th St. After being abandoned for over 30 years, does it make sense to protect the semi-historical building? Or should it come down? Why? Tell us: letters@coolcleveland.com.

HOT Take a Hike! Experience Cleveland’s rich history on three unique guided walking tours — complete with historical characters from Cleveland’s past! On Thursdays (including this Thu 5/21 at 6PM) meet at the historic Arcade at 401 Euclid Ave. and tour the Historic Gateway neighborhood. On Saturdays (including this Sat 5/23 at 10AM) Meet at Constantino’s Market at 1278 W. 9th St. and tour the Historic Warehouse District. And on Sundays (including Sun 5/24 at 10AM) meet at the Settler’s Landing RTA Station at 1025 W. Superior Ave.) and tour Canal to Harbor! Tours run weekly at those times now through September; each tour runs about 90 minutes and is FREE. Got your attention now? Call 771-1994. http://www.HistoricGateway.org.

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

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

The Lakewood Project puts on a thrilling show whether it’s for the 2000-capacity Lakewood Civic Auditorium [as shown in this video on 05.16.09], or in Lakewood Park for their annual Fourth of July fireworks concert for 20,000. Using innovative electric shoulder-mounted Viper violins, violas and cellos introduced to the band by Mark Wood of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, with a full rock band and complete string orchestra, The Lakewood Project is made up only of students currently enrolled at Lakewood High School. This hastily made video was shot, edited and posted within two hours of their concert, and only hints at the excitement this ensemble generates at their live events. Cool Cleveland is not eligible, but you can win one of two huge prize packages from Positively Cleveland if you enter your own video in their Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video Contest. Seriously.

HOT Natural Bridges Puppet Company NBTV presents a live puppet production by the Ohio-based Natural Bridges Puppet Company Thu 5/21 at noon. This no-cost, open to the public event features lunch, served at each event on a first come first served basis and is presented by Art in Everything! A Cleveland Initiative of Mayor Frank G. Jackson. Call 664-3298 for more info. http://www.JPPOhio.net/Natural.html.

Peninsula’s Annual Spring Stroll takes place this Sat 5/23 and it promises family friendly fun. Celebrate the natural world with a stroll through the village in search of fairy houses, fairy gardens, whimsical critters, birds and birdhouses, wood spirits, and toadhouses, miniatures, forest creatures, wonderful plants and fantasy galore. Details at http://www.ExplorePeninsula.com.

HELP Carnival for a Cure The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Rocky River celebrates, remembers and fights back in this spectaculay, two-day event Sat 5/23 and Sun 5/24 at Rocky River High School. Food, games, prozes, music and much more — all for a worthy cause. Score all the details at http://www.RelayForLife.org/RockyRiver.

The Veterans Memorial Bridge and Subway Tour starts up for the summer again this Sat 5/23 from 9AM – 3PM. Hit the corner of the W. 25th St. and Detroit Ave., at the Cuyahoga County Engineer’s Bridge Garage, 2433 Superior Viaduct and prepare to be transported back in time. Take a journey into Cleveland’s history, admire an array of displays, exhibits, pictures, films and the 1947 Presidential Conference Commission (PCC) streetcar. It’s a cool experience for adults and kids alike. Call 348-3824. http://www.CuyCtyEngineers.org.

SPONSORED: Attention dancers! Registration is now open for The Dancing Wheels Company & School summer intensive training programs. Dancers, dance instructors and choreographers will have the opportunity to train in this unique dance form that has global appeal. Master instructors Mark Tomasic, Lisa Lock, Kristen Stilwell and Mary Verdi-Fletcher will offer a wide range of classes that are open to those with mixed abilities. Join us for our Adult Workshop (June 15-20) and our Youth Workshop (June 22-27) For more information or to register, call 216.432.0306 or email proflair3@aol.com. http://www.DancingWheels.org

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

  • HOT Best Cities for New Graduates? Yep, Cleveland is ranked 5th on the list! Read
  • HOT Cleveland Fed sez root problem of Ohio foreclosures is not subprime lending, but over-lending. Six of one, half-dozen of the other
  • What’s the big deal about social media? IdeaStar’s Mike Wise has something to say on the subject here
  • Speaking of social media, did you know that Twitter ranks as America’s #38 website according to NYT piece here
  • Ohio education plan over the next 10 years requires “unprecedented increases in state funding.” Click
  • This story on the redevelopment of St. Vincent Charity Hospital is interesting; comment is encouraging. Click
  • Cle Council on World Affairs has some awesome programming this month and you should chek it all out here
  • Cle immigration expert quoted in Detroit: Can immigration loosen our rust belt? Read

Cleveland City Club features Ann O’Callaghan The founder/CEO of Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians speaks Thu 5/21 at noon. O’Callaghan received her training at the University of Dublin and has been a prominent advocate for immigrants for over three decades. Her focus will be on economic development opportunities in welcoming foreign-born newcomers — both for the New Economy and for neighborhood revitalization. Call 621-0082, or 888-223-6786 to register. Click and click again

SPONSORED: From ideation through production MAGNET’s Product Design & Development team works with clients who want to improve profitability by developing exciting new products for the industrial, consumer and medical marketplace. Our award-winning engineers, world-class facility and extensive network of industry experts can successfully guide you through the entire product development cycle. http://www.Magnetpdd.org.

TiE (Talent, Idea, Entrepreneurship) global org’s Ohio Chapter holds their latest event Thu 5/21 at Hilton Garden Inn and feat. Ray Leach, CEO of JumpStart and others. Register
AMPLIFY Luncheon feat. Joe Roman of Greater Cleveland Partnership and focuses on new and current development projects in NEO Wed 5/27. Details here
Engaging the Next Generation of Leaders What’s the role of Generations X and Y in advancing the success — and sustainability — of your organization? Find out Tue 6/2 at 8AM. Register: 440-525-7116 or click here
Show Me the Money: Deal Making Strategies in a Tight Economy is the latest “Ideas at Dawn” biz breakfast Thu 6/11 at 7:30AM @ Ritz-Carlton. Registration
Creating Brand Ambassadors within Your Board & Staff This BVU event hits Fri 6/26 at 9AM Learn more

Linda Chavez-Thompson Cleveland Jobs with Justice holds their 12th Annual Spring Celebration featuring keynote speaker Chavez-Thompson, Executive Vice President, Emerita, AFL-CIO, this Wed 5/27 from 12:30 – 2:30PM at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 777 St. Clair Ave. Call 440-333-7007. Tickets/sponsorship info at http://www.ClevelandJWJ.org/spring2009.html.

A Conversation with Satirist and Shaker Grad Andy Borowitz

It doesn’t take long to realize why Andy Borowitz is one of the country’s top political satirists: he’s about as quick-witted as they come. The Cleveland-area expat, Shaker Heights High School grad and Harvard University phenom (he was president of the prominent humor magazine, the Harvard Lampoon) reasons that some of that has to do with growing up here in Northeast Ohio: “There’s definitely an underdog culture here,” Borowitz told Cool Cleveland last week in an interview. “A sense of humor is a weapon, and a response to being downtrodden — which is not to say that Cleveland is downtrodden by any means… but Cleveland’s always been a little bit down on its luck. When you’re the butt of a lot of peoples’ jokes, it makes you a little bit more combative and want to fight back.”

The screenwriter, television producer, blogger, author, National Press Club award-winner and all-around good-guy is seemingly inexhaustible. Borowitz created the Will Smith-led TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire (winning an NAACP Image Award for it); produced the Oscar-nominated film Pleasantville; has written five books and has served as a commentator for NPR’s Weekend Edition and MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann. He has also contributed to The New Yorker, Newsweek, Vanity Fair and other publications — when he’s not sitting at the helm, so to speak, of his syndicated blog The Borowitz Report. Borowitz and wife Olivia Gentile (pictured) pop in on Cleveland for a no-cost stand-up comedy show/book signing and Q&A this Saturday May 23 at 2PM at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. It seemed like the perfect time for a follow-up. The conversation covered a lot of territory…

Read more from Peter Chakerian here

Trevor Clatterbuck’s idea for a “virtual farmer’s market” is not only a brilliant concept, but timely as well. In order to connect local restaurants to local farmers they designed an oursourced logistic solution. What they are working on now is allowing small regional farmers to use collaboration and networking tools to set up their own delivery networks.

The Civic Innovation Lab heard a proposal from Fresh Fork Market and offered it $30,000 of funding and professional mentorship early on in their business cycle. “We’ve had absolutely great access to mentors,” says Trevor, who admits that Civic Innovation Lab funding kept him and his colleagues out of trouble with their strong, early committment to his business. http://www.FreshForkMarket.com http://www.CivicInnovationLab.org

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Eastern Culture Through Cuisine Professional chefs, amateur cooks and food lovers can indulge in a dose of culture and cuisine during lectures on Chinese and Japanese delicacies at two events at the Cleveland Museum of Art! Marjorie Williams, CMA’s director of education and public programs, will talk about each culture’s food during two separate lectures, on Wed 5/20 and Wed 5/27. Each begins at 10:30AM. Details at http://www.ClevelandArt.org.

The Enemy Within with Peter Earnest The former CIA operative and Executive Director of the International Spy Museum, talks about Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage’s The Enemy Within exhibition — with the emphasis on what’s changed in since it was created. He speaks Wed 5/20 at 7PM, offering recent highlights and changes, especially as it relates to the FBI and CIA. Earnests 36-year career includes over 20 years in the Agency’s Clandestine Service. He was awarded the Medal of Merit for “superior performance” throughout his career. http://www.MaltzJewishMuseum.org.

HELP Hair of the Dog The Lakewood Animal Shelter Celebrates its 25th Anniversary with the 5th Annual Hair of the Dog Happy Hour and Silent Auction Thu 5/21 from 5:30 – 8:30PM. The event includes a silent auction, several Chinese auctions and a 50/50 raffle, as well as live music by Kristine Jackson and Pitch the Peat “trad” Irish band. All proceeds will benefit the Lakewood Animal Shelter. Sullivan’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, 13368 Madison Ave., Lakewood. Call 386-4604 for more info.

50 Words This powerful stage production at the Bang and the Clatter’s Cleveland location features Sean Derry and Alanna Romansky and it has scored raves. See what happens when a couple’s kid heads to a sleepover, leaving a husband and wife to sort out years of psychic relationship toxicity that has been perpetually put on the backburner. 50 Words centers around one tumultuous night in their marriage. Run ends with shows Thu 5/21 and Fri 5/22 at 8PM. http://www.BNCtheatre.com.

Live from Madison Square Garden We rarely need a reason to hit The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum, but their Live from Madison Square Garden: From the Lens of George Kalinsky photography exhibition is definitely worth a trip. On display starting this month in the Museum’s Ahmet M. Ertegun Main Exhibit Hall, the images include many never-before-seen portraits and represent some of the seminal moments in the history of rock music. You can go Thu 5/21 or anytime during regular hours through late January 2010. http://www.RockHall.com.

HOT Orquesta Carnaval This is an “old school” band classic Salseros and their sound incorporates the acoustic guitar into a lively salsa sound (pictured). Don’t miss this group of local Cle musicians live at View Nightclub, 618 Prospect Ave. this Fri 5/22. Call 440-263-5842 or click here for more info.

HOT Cleveland Pride Fundraiser hits this Fri 5/22 at 11PM at Bottoms Up, 1572 W. 117th St. “Equality Through Unity” is the call of the night; the fundraiser benefits the 2009 Cleveland Pride celebration, parade, rally and festival. The show includes raffles, prizes, performances and more and will be hosted by Erica Martinez. Drag Queens, Cleveland Kings and Girls (drag kings), Cleveland Fetish Community, He Said She Said (drag kings), and Anthony Covatta perform. No cover; donations accepted. Details here.

Kings of the Iron Mike This 10th anniversary show & Emcee Battle drops Fri 5/22 at 9PM at the Grog Shop, 2735 Euclid Hts. Blvd., Cleveland Heights. Mad beats, rhymes and serious semantics delivered live in performances by Tut, Vigatron Vs. Ohm’s Law, D. Roof, The Muamin Collective, Eddie Hands, The Kids and All Power Experience (complete with live band). Hosted by D. Dorand; DJs Know1 and Marty MkFly spin in-between. Call 322-4182 or visit http://www.GrogShop.gs for more.

The Visual Poetry of Nature: Photographs by Diane Seskes debuts at the Holden Arboretum’s Warren H. Corning Visitor Center this Fri 5/22 from 6 – 9PM. Presentation at 6:30PM. No cost to Holden members or paid gate attendees. 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland. http://www.DianeSeskesPhotography.com. http://www.HoldenArb.org.

HOT Andy Borowitz & Olivia Gentile The authors will be discussing & signing The Borowitz Report and Life List: A Woman’s Quest For the World’s Most Amazing Birds respectively this Sat 5/23 at 2PM at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. “Fake journalist” and ultimate satirist, Borowitz is a Shaker Heights native who was the first-ever winner of the National Press Club’s humor award. Gentile is an award-winning journalist in Vermont and Connecticut. Borowitz offers a free stand-up routine for all attendees. Read the CC interview with Borowitz in this issue! 24519 Cedar Rd., Lyndhurst. http://www.JosephBeth.com.

Natural Areas Wine Tours North Kingsville Sand Barrens and Markko Vineyards are the focus of this Cleveland Museum of Natural History program Sat 5/23 at 10AM. They’ve paired tours of Museum natural areas with opportunities to taste vintages produced by NEO wineries. After a search for wildflowers and other natural delights at the Sand Barrens in Ashtabula County, enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at Markko Vineyard in Conneaut. Part of a series. Learn about this and other related CMNH events here.

Larchmere’s Spring Sidewalk Sale hits Sat 5/23 from 11AM – 5PM. Start the summer with a stroll down the historic blocks of Larchmere Boulevard. Enjoy browsing in the unique antique and specialty shops that line our street. Relax over breakfast, lunch or dinner and make a leisurely day of it (pictured). Loganberry Books offers 20% off all stock of books; with 70K titles to choose from, summer reading and early holiday shopping just became a no-brainer. http://www.Larchmere.com. http://www.LoganberryBooks.com.

HOT Fiesta en Blanco @ Sunset Lounge It’s an all-white-attired shindig celebrating Memorial Day Weekend this Sat 5/23 starting at 9PM. They’re calling it a supreme tropical fusion dance experience; we call it sizzling summer fun. Complimentary pina coladas for ladies and gents until 10:30PM if you arrive en Blanco. DJ Corre Camino spins salsa, merengue, house, Top 40 and Reggae; dance lessons begin at 9PM. 1382 W. 9t St. Call 280-0407 or visit http://www.TropicalRhythms.net for more.

Organic Compounds This live music event, the first of the season at Mike’s Barn, features Bruce Katz and Tony Monaco on Sat 5/23 at 7PM. We’d tell you more, but we’ll leave it to Mike; there’s no better storyteller than he. Was he “born in a barn”? We’ll leave to you to figure out. Learn more here.

SPONSORED: This coming Sat 5/23 at 8PM, on WCLV 104.9 FM, Franz and the local band will blow you away with Richard Strauss’ An Alpine Symphony, the perfect way to begin the Memorial Day weekend. On Memorial Day itself, Mon 5/25, WCLV observes the holiday with an all-American music day… Gershwin, Copland, Rodgers, MacDowell, Ives… all that gang. Complete details on all of WCLV’s classical music programming at http://www.WCLV.com.

Commemorating Stephanie Tubbs-Jones On Tue 5/26 at 4PM, check out a forum celebrating the public service of the late congresswoman. The Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University hosts; Jeff Johnson, BET host and producer, radio commentator with NPR’s News and Notes and “political motivator” delivers the keynote address. County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones and State Senator Nina Turner are among the other speakers. Glickman-Miller Hall, Atrium, 1717 Euclid Ave. Call 523-7330 or click here to register.

Cleveland Indians’ Hall of Famer Bob Feller will be signing his book Bob Feller’s Little Blue Book of Baseball Wisdom on Tue 5/26 at 7PM at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Feller’s a Cle institution; his statue graces the outside of the Prog. Line tickets are required for this event and are given with a purchase of Feller’s book; memorabilia cannot be signed and won’t be permitted in the signing line. 24519 Cedar Rd., Lyndhurst. More details at http://www.JosephBeth.com.

Poetry Back in the Woods Poets Cavana Faithwalker and Kisha Foster, read their original poetry, and Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones reads from his works, this Wed 5/27 from 7 – 8PM at the Bertram Woods Branch, 20600 Fayette Rd., Shaker Heights. Call 991-2421 or learn more here.

HOT Our Own Backyard: Terrorism in Northeast Ohio Hear the inside story from law enforcement officials who have investigated local plots/ weapons caches, groups and other terrorist activity in our community Wed 5/27 at 7PM at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Beachwood. Speakers include United States Marshal Peter J. Elliott and bomb expert, retired Police Chief Edward Kovacic. Moderated by Eric Wellman, host of Morning Edition on WCPN. Part of the Maltz’s Enemy Within programming and exhibition. http://www.MaltzJewishMuseum.org.

Maintain Your Brain Learn how with Kerry Lanigan, a care consultant with the Cleveland area Alzheimer’s Association, presents lifestyle and nutritional advice and strategies for all ages to help keep your memory sharp. The program will be held at 7PM this Wed 5/27 at Shaker Library, located at 16500 Van Aken Boulevard. Call 991-2030 for details. http://www.ShakerLibrary.org.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Oh, Now I Understand!

When I first started covering City Hall well over a decade ago, I asked someone who really knew their way around city government (they’ve since retired) what was up with the Department of Building and Housing (B & H). Why couldn’t it be reformed and brought into the modern age of government? The cryptic answer I got, along with a knowing smile, was, “They’ll never be able to make reforms there.” I pressed my source for more information over the years, but all I ever got was that wry smile…

Read more from Mansfield B. Frazier here

Harvesting Baseball in our Farm System
Tribe’s Future “Starts, Stays and Ends” in Ohio

Last year, a friend of mine convinced me to watch the ABC TV drama Lost. She told me that I had to watch the first three seasons first or I would be lost. But I’m really good at picking up on things; I figured I could piece it together if I started watching from the start of the fourth season. Turns out, I wasn’t as smart as I thought I was. I couldn’t even figure out who the main characters were. So I went online, watched the very first episode that night and was immediately sucked in. By the following Wednesday I had seen all three seasons. I even started putting up my own Lost theories on message boards as if I was an original member of the Dharma Initiative. So how does this correlate with “America’s Favorite Pastime” and our beloved, 100+ year old baseball franchise? Stay with me…

Read more from Jeff Biasella here

Like Bells
Like Bells
Exit Stencil Recordings

Formed in 2006 by three Oberlin College/Oberlin Conservatory of Music students Like Bells delivers a sonic landscape like no one else in town. With a quiver of influences ranging from Mogwai and Sigur Ros, to Zappa and Aphex Twin, Gabe Baker (guitar), Garret Openshaw (violin/voice) and Will Mason (drums/ keyboards) offer the beautiful, the sweeping and the dramatic all in one lo-fi/hi-tech sitting. This is minimalist post-rock — cinematic, warm, universal, evocative. Exit Stencil says that Like Bells “is what happens when you mix a violinist, a jazz drummer, a laptop, and a guitarist with an aptitude for unique tunings.” We can’t exactly argue.

Though channeled through indie pop, Like Bells songs tremble dreamily in many of the ways Sigur Ros’ ( ) disc does — violin sawing, wordless vocals, film soundtrack-like exposition. The first half of the disc delights and challenges with peaks and valleys found in the Takk-like “Atlas,” “Yeti” and the highlight “Can I Say Something To You?” all speak to the universal language of music and its innate ability to move the soul. But stick around for “Fragments” and the set-closer “Certain Types of Conversation” and you’ll find yourself having something of an orchestral rock bliss-out. As a fan of electronica and minimalist soundscapes, I don’t think I’ve been this happy (on a personal level) with a record since last year’s Muttering Retreats record. This is deliciously brilliant, ambient-minded stuff. Tune in and soar off.

Check out samples of Like Bells and purchase the CD here.

Like Bells performs at The Matinee, 2527 W. 25th St. this Saturday, May 23 at 10PM. Visit the band online at http://www.MySpace.com/LikeBells. Visit The Matinee at http://www.TheMatinee.net.

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

Tax Freebies Continue Despite Economic Disaster Here
Plus: Economics of the Wolstein Project Stall, “Opportunity” Pee Dee & Terry Egger

What’s the problem with tax abatements, tax exemptions and tax incremental financing (TIF), all incentives that reduce property taxes?

Why shouldn’t Cleveland give developers as much property tax relief as they want? After all, developers are producing something in return. They are producing what should result in economic development, right? Making jobs. Revving up economic activity, right?

There has been an argument about this issue in comments to a couple of items I’ve written here for RealNEO — particularly on the Wolstein East Bank Flats project. The stalled project is loaded with freebies…

Read more from Roldo Bartimole here

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

Heaven’s My Destination @ Cleveland Play House 5/8

Read more from Roy Berko here

Explosion From Paradise @ Bonfoey Gallery 5/9 Read more from Carol Drummond here

Evil Dead: The Musical @ Beck Center 5/10 Read more from Roy Berko here

Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra @ Westlake Performing Arts Center 5/11 Read more from Kelly Ferjutz here

Opera Per Tutti: I Pagliacci @ Solon Center for the Arts 5/15 Read more from Kelly Ferjutz here

Dream/Home @ Dobama 5/16 Read more from Roy Berko here

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

1) Big Cool Cats Music Festival Just announced. Get 2-4-1 tix for limited time with discount code BCC50. Plus, watch band videos.
BigCoolCats.com

2) Losing and Winning Mansfield asks, “How can any black person, after all our race has been through, deny any rights of others?”
CoolCleveland.com

3) Short end of the MedMart stick Roldo Bartimole comments, “So it isn’t abatement. It’s exemption. They never pay a penny of property taxes on the buildings EVER.”
CoolCleveland.com

4) Weekend in Ohio City was sold out, but you can plan for Open Air in Market Square on Sat 5/23.
OhioCity.com

5) A Vision for Cleveland in 2020 Maybe what we need is a new Constitution: Wii the people…
CoolCleveland.com.

Do We Have Your Attention? Good. You’ve got the Hard Corps to thank for it! Nods and winks to Peter Chakerian, T.L. Champion, George Nemeth, Kelly Ferjutz, Jeannie Fleming-Gifford, Roy Berko, Mansfield B. Frazier, Laura Kennelly, Diane DiPiero, Roldo Bartimole, Carol Drummond, Susan Schaul and introducing Jeff Biasella. 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.

What’s your comeback, Cleveland?
–Thomas Mulready
LettersATCoolCleveland.com
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