Red Alert

2.01-2.08.06

Red Alert

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland Party on Sat 2/4 with Red. Get discount tix here before midnight Thu 2/2
* Cool Cleveland Interview Youngjin Yoo of Case Weatherhead School of Management
* Cool Cleveland Sounds unilluminated by Word of Mouth
* Only in Cleveland 2 of 4 from Cleveland’s leading satirist
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, CC Blog click here

Why the big red alert? Because I sincerely hope you get yourself over to the Masonic Auditorium this Saturday to see Red {an orchestra}. If you’ve been, you know what I mean. And if you haven’t, well, this is your chance to witness something really first-class and totally different. And I’m not just saying this because we’re hosting a Cool Cleveland pre-party to get you warmed up for the concert, although it will do just that. Join the growing legions of Red fanatics and join us for some fun.

What else to recommend this weekend? Plenty of kid-friendly stuff (photo show at Penitentiary Glen & Winterfest at Holden, Bashful Bassoon at Severance), and a number of interesting gallery openings (Corruption in China at Local Girl, The Love Show at Standing Rock), plus some avant performances (Experimental Electronic Music at Miller-Weitzel, Sanctuary at the Rockefeller Greenhouse).

To round out your weekly experience, check out the profile of Case’s Youngjin Yoo, a review of the new release by Word of Mouth, some great letters, and Roldo’s reminders of Dr. King and Gateway. With one of the mildest winters on record so far, we’re all set to warm things up this week. –Thomas Mulready

Share The Love
Cool Cleveland Party with Red {an orchestra}
Get discount tix before Thu 2/2 at Midnight here

Red Alert: 2/4! Only 48 hours left to get your discount tickets to see Red {an orchestra}, nosh on great food, share libations (a.k.a. “alcohol”) with your friends and carouse in general merriment. Shake that thang at Cool Cleveland’s next gig when film, tech and music collide Sat 2/4 at 5:30PM. You and your friends will start with open bar including beer from Willoughby Brewing Company, and delectable appetizers compliments of Fire Restaurant: Citrus Rock Shrimp Salad, Profiteral with Chicken Salad & Micro Greens and Crustad with Goat Cheese & Proscuitto. Top it off with sweet treats from Take A Bite Deli. Then at 8PM plug into the vibe of Red’s “Image/Sound/Image,” to satisfy your soul with a thumpin’ performance of Beethoven set to computer generated video. Get caught Red handed and get your discount tix here. The Masonic Auditorium is located at 3615 Euclid Avenue (at E. 36th, between Chester & Euclid). Parking is free, get details & map here.

Get discount tix if you order online before midnight Thu 2/2 here: http://www.coolcleveland.net/tickets/020406.

Cool Cleveland Interview
Youngjin Yoo
Case Weatherhead School of Management

Youngjin Yoo is fascinated with technology. A Lewis-progressive Associate Professor of Information Systems at the Case Weatherhead school of management, Yoo was born and raised in Korea and was drawn to technology at a very early age. Electronic gadgets and iPods are his bag, so to speak. One can find Yoo extolling the many virtues of technology and the impact it has organizationally on his blog “in an iPod world” (http://yoo.cwru.edu/). He softens some of the dialogue with some humor as well; one of his latest entries details a conversation he had with his son, attempting to differentiate the words “Dork,” “Nerd” and “Geek” to his 10-year old son.

Cool Cleveland: What does Management Information Systems mean to the lay person?

Youngjin Yoo: Management Information Systems is an academic field that studies the impact of technologies and communication channels used within an organization, as well as the design of information systems for the betterment of the world. Initially, it really revolved around computer systems that help run and support organizations and businesses. Now, information technology literally is everywhere. I just bought a shirt from the Gap the other day and found something sewn into the cloth. (reaches across desk for tag).

See? It’s an RFID chip, an automatic identification tag that enables transmitting and receiving information. These are becoming very common. So, you see… it’s everywhere. What I say to my 8-year old boy when he asks what I do, I tell him “That’s what nerds do!” (laughs)…
Read the interview with Youngjin Yoo here

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Year of the Dog Cleveland Public Library presents the “Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration, Year of the Dog,” celebrating the 2006 Lunar New Year: (Gung Hay Fat Choy – best wishes and congratulations for a prosperous and good year). This annual holiday jubilee honors the library’s Asian patrons, has no admission fee, and is open to the public. The event will take place at the Main Library, Louis Stokes Wing, E. 6th Street and Superior Avenue, Sat 2/4 from 2PM – 4PM. The program will include a fun-filled program featuring family-oriented entertainment, presentations commemorating the Year of the Dog, and refreshments. The George Kwan Family will be featured presenting The Lion Dance. This event commemorates the important contributions of Northeast Ohio’s Asians to the vitality and diversity of Greater Cleveland. For more information on this program contact (216) 623-2895 or www.CPL.org.
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Bye, Bye signature bridge? The Ohio Department of Transportation has chosen expediency over inspiration. Rather than work harder to find a way to build a signature bridge as suggested by Cuyahoga County planner Paul Alsenas, it appears that our children’s children will be living with the same plebian Innerbelt Bridge that we have now. Unfortunately, most elected officials are unwilling to pursue the matter further. Even the concerns of Midtown and Quadrangle businesses and retailers are being sacrificed to the streamlining of Downtown Cleveland exit ramps on the new Innerbelt. Great for passing through Cleveland at 65 miles an hour; not so great for getting on and off in the city. Still left to discuss: the significant property takings that ODOT has planned: 29 parcels in all. Check http://www.NeoBridge.net for a for an intelligent discussion on this issue. Watch this space for more reaction. See story here, send your comments to ODOT director Gordon Proctor here: gordon.proctor@dot.state.oh.us, and Cc: us here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com .

Convention Center blues Our current convention center is old and uncompetitive and the reason that many conventions don’t come to Cleveland. But there are other reasons (competition, climate, personal preference) that meetings go elsewhere, and as we decide where to invest in a new Center, maybe we should be working harder to promote Cleveland’s assets to decision makers. See story here and send your thoughts here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com .

Cool Cleveland Podcast Cool things to do this week in Cleveland, at the click of a button. http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolCleveland02.03.06.mp3.

Ingenuity website redesign RFP available If you represent a Northeast Ohio-based web development company, you’re eligible to respond to our recently published Request for Proposals for the redesign of the world-class http://www.IngenuityCleveland.com website. Get the RFP at the site, or ask for it from Thomas@IngenuityCleveland.org.

Regional development fund discussed Newly-elected Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson is surprising suburban folks that thought he would be an impediment to regional solutions involving cooperation between the city and its smaller neighbors. Jackson and 30 other regional mayors and city managers voted to create a $25 – $50 million development fund proposal that would be presented to the Cuyahoga County Commissioners for their funding via bonds. The cash would help fund 3-4 large projects that bring businesses to the region (not relocated from NEO), and 50% of new income taxes would be funneled back into the fund. The most encouraging sign: Jackson’s comment: “There’s an understanding we have to work together for our cities to prosper.” See story here, and send your comments here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com .

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
RENT – the Tony-Award Winning American Landmark Musical – Returns to Playhouse Square Center, 2/7 – 2/12 The most exuberant and original American musical to come along in a decade, RENT has single-handedly reinvigorated Broadway and is taking the country by storm. Sweeping all major theatre awards, RENT has captured the heart and spirit of a generation. Inspired by Puccini’s La Boheme, RENT is a joyous, breathtaking and often heartbreaking musical that celebrates a community of young artists as they struggle with the soaring hopes and tough realities of today’s world. With the recent release of RENT, the movie, starring most of the original Broadway cast, a whole new generation has been introduced to this phenomenon. Tickets range from $20 – $54.50. Call 216.241.6000 or visit www.PlayhouseSquare.com.
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Residency requirements and home rule Now it gets dicey. Governor Taft signed a law prohibiting local cities to require that city employees must live in that municipality. But home rule suggests that cities can impose any such laws they feel necessary. Cleveland’s police and fire unions are suing Cleveland to follow the new state law and allow their safety workers to live outside Cleveland. Will that encourage safety workers to move to the suburbs, causing economic trauma, or will it open up safety forces to additional people who don’t live in the city? Which approach encourages a regional approach to our common problems, honoring home rule and keeping city employees in the city, or reaching out to the region? Read the story here and send your comments here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com .

Cool Cleveland Kids What to do this week with the kids? Listen to the short podcast by clicking here. See below for CC KIDS recommendations under Cool Cleveland This Week. http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolClevelandKids02.03.06.mp3.

Lakewood develops Winter will soon give way to Spring (or maybe it has already) – that means soon we’ll welcome the return of flowers, plants, trees and… development projects – yet another sign of renewal. Rosewood Place and Phase 1B of Rockport Square are scheduled to break ground as soon as the weather breaks. Also in the works, the demolition project that will signal the beginning of the new, expanded Lakewood Public Library, designed by nationally known architect, Robert A.M. Stern. Take a peek at schematics for all of the above projects at http://www.LakewoodAlive.com. Will development spur economic growth in Lakewood or does it signal the end of an era? Register your opinion at hidden-email:Yrggref@PbbyPyrirynaq.pbz?.

Keep your tax credits An innovative program, funded by Cuyahoga County, will ensure that more Greater Clevelanders claim the tax credits they’ve earned, with complimentary help (and without pricey fees). Workers without kids who earned less than $13,750, or workers with kids whose families earned less than $37,263 should check to see if they qualify for an earned income tax credit (EITC) – it could mean thousands of dollars. Click to learn about the Cuyahoga Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition, to read the recent Policy Matters Ohio report on the EITC, and to find a free tax center near you. http://www.policymattersohio.org/cuyahoga_EITC_coalition.htm.

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Where Film, Technology and Music Collide Red explores the reflexive relationship between music and visual imagery. Audiences will experience how music impacts a visual, exploring music composed for film. Then, Red boldly reverses the equation to explore how a visual can impact the music. Through new media technology, Red visually captures the sound frequency and movement of the musicians and the wave of the conductor’s wand, creating a new way of listening. Experience Image/Sound/Image on Sat 2/4 at 8PM in the Masonic Auditorium, 3615 Euclid Avenue. Concert tickets start at $15. For more information call Red {an orchestra} at 440-519-1733 or visit www.RedAnOrchestra.org.
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Call for NTA Minority Nominees The Cleveland Chapter of the National Technical Association is a professional nonprofit technical society for minority scientists, engineers, and technologists. They will be acknowledging the efforts of men and women of color who have made outstanding achievements in the areas of science and technology through personal and professional resilience and community involvement. The NTA welcomes nominations through Fri 2/10. The winners will be honored during the Nsoroma Awards Program on Sat 3/25 at 12PM at Windows on the River. Call 433-8288 or email to request a nomination form or ticket information.

Great Lakes Geek It’s not a bird, or a plane. It’s the Great Lakes Geek – Northeast Ohio’s newest superhero. “Entreprenerd” Dan Hanson has taken on the proliferation of information sweeping the nation and boiled it down to one ultra-sweet spot for Northeast Ohioans to get their business news and info. The site includes the Great Lakes Geek podcast show (which you can listen to on your PC or download to your MP3), a business calendar of events and a speaker’s bureau. Check out the new site at http://www.GreatLakesGeek.com/ then share your thoughts about it at hidden-email:Yrggref@PbbyPyrirynaq.pbz?.

Things Remembered at Golden Globes Ever hear about the incredibly swanky goodies that presenters at award shows get as gift baskets behind the scenes? Well it’s no urban legend – at this year’s Golden Globes the presenters received gift boxes with $62,000 worth of high-end merchandise, including items contributed by Cleveland’s own Things Remembered. While we always rejoice when NEO gets a piece of the proverbial pie, we like it even better when we get a yummy little bite of our own. Here’s your chance. Register for The Red Carpet Sweepstakes at www.ThingsRemembered.com for a shot at some of the same goodies that celebs like Gwyneth, Hillary and Clint walked away with. The deadline is Sun 2/5 – so enter now.

Lakewood Alive surveys priorities The independent, nonpartisan citizens’ group devoted to promoting economic development in Lakewood and enhancing how Lakewood is perceived inside and outside its borders, spent this past November and December taking the inner ring suburb’s pulse. According to the survey, housing and the importance of commercial development rate as “urgent priorities” for residents, while less than half were concerned about safety issues and less than a third cited city services as a high concern. Review the survey results and individual comments at http://www.LakewoodAlive.com.

Emissions from the blogsphere Scott Radke loses a UPS shipment of his marionettes. Midwestgrrl posts about the Garden Cafe on Payne Ave. Nortech’s Chris Varley uses Ahnald as a metaphor about the region’s future. Michael Leapheart relates a weird experience at the Great Lakes Science Center. Scott Kovatch is critical of WCPN’s signal. Check the Cool Cleveland weblog here, where Peter Chakerian talks about the residency (reflux) requirements for Cleveland Police and Fire, Candid (traffic) Cameras, the Pop Hall of Fame, Peter B. Lewis starring in “I Love the 80s,” and a little bioscience for your thoughts. And then there’s the best cliffhanger since “Who shot J.R.?” on “Dallas.” Does Case’s Mano Singham get beat up by Doug Clifton after Mr. Feagler’s class? You’ll have to read to find out. When you’re through, add your own comments, questions and attitude. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Remembering Cheryl Wallace “Colleen Clark introduced me to Cheryl soon after I came to Cleveland in 1979. They had been school mates at Ohio University. Cheryl came to perform at the Styrene Studios which were located in the Industrial Park at East 40th and Superior. It was a small shoebox of a room with large windows at what served as the upstage border. The halls were long, cavernous and the stairwells dark. I brought Herb Ascherman to meet and photograph Cheryl in the building. The image that still haunts me to this day is one that Herb took in one of the stairwells of that building. Cheryl was living in New York then, in a loft on Stone Street in the financial district…” See rememberance of Cheryl Wallace by Susan Miller and Herb Ascherman photo here.


Cool Cleveland This Week

2.01-2.08

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

M. Katherine Hurley New pastel landscapes by M. Katherine Hurley will be on exhibit from Wed 2/1 through 2/28. Call 621-0178 for more info. The Bonfoey Gallery, 1710 Euclid Avenue. http://www.bonfoey.com/exhibitions.htm.

Barbara Breen Exhibit Peruse a striking collection of black and white images of the Slavic Village neighborhood on display Wed 2/1 through 3/1. Gallery hours are M-F from 9AM-5PM. Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland at 5700 Broadway Avenue, Slavic Village.

Kent State Art Galleries is offering two events on Wed 2/1. The Sir Real Show features a brief talk by curator Kirk Mangus and visiting artist Carlos Gomez at 4:30PM, followed by a reception at 5:30PM in The School of Art Gallery. Janet Williams has a solo exhibit that kicks off with a reception from 6-8PM at The Downtown Gallery, 223 North Water Street, Kent. Call 330-672-7853. http://www.Kent.edu/art.

Valentines Preview Ladies will be “Seeing Red” on Thu 2/2 when ArteFino hosts their first Valentine’s Preview. Enjoy red wine, appetizers, and crimson desserts while perusing the gallery for that perfect gift for someone else, or better yet – you can tag your own wish item and the little birdies at ArteFino will drop your significant other a not-so-subtle hint. Call 830-1400 for more info. ArteFino Art Gallery & Cafe, 1900 Superior Avenue. http://www.ArteFinoGallery.com.

Nonprofit Professionals Focus Group The Center for Nonprofit Policy & Practice at the Maxine Levin College of Urban Affairs is in the planning stages of forming a new organization for emerging and mid-level nonprofit professionals in Northeast Ohio. Potential members can register their thoughts and ideas about the organization’s structure and how it can be most relevant, during a focus group on Thu 2/2 from 4:30-6PM. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP at 687-5492. Sweet Seminar Room, UR241, CSU Campus, Center for Nonprofit Policy and Practice, 2121 Euclid Avenue.

Guild of Nature Artists: Flora and Fauna Artists associated with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History will display their various artwork of flora and fauna in a range of styles and media. Come meet the artists and enjoy the natural world as seen by naturalists, nature aficionados and local artists during the Opening Reception on Thu 2/2 from 6-8PM. Show runs through 2/27. Call 795-9800. Annex Gallery, Loganberry Books, 13015 Larchmere Boulevard, Shaker Heights.

Cleveland Romance This one-act play is an intriguing show about love and relationships in the setting of our beautiful city, Cleveland. Written and directed by The Santa Brothers, two Case students, the play will run on Thu 2/2 and Fri 2/3 at the Eldred Theater at Case Western Reserve University. Call 368-4868 for more info. Eldred Theater, Case Campus.

CC KIDS The Bashful Bassoon Cleveland Orchestra bassoonist Phillip Austin will introduce children ages 3-6 to The Bashful Bassoon during Musical Rainbow concerts on Fri 2/3 at 10AM and Sat 2/4 at 10 & 11AM. Call 231-1111 for more info. Reinberger Chamber Hall at Severance Hall. www.ClevelandOrchestra.com.

When Chickens Fly Becky Bristol’s one-woman show features exploding fantasy-laced panoramas populated with animals and people surrounded by twisted roads, architecture and fauna. Bristol creates a storyboard painted in bright colors and exaggerated forms that force the viewer to question the subject matter, oneself, and what one sees. The show kicks off with a wine and cheese reception on Fri 2/3 from 6-9PM and runs through 2/25. Arts Collinwood Gallery, 15605 Waterloo Road.

Chris Kowalczyk Benefit Even if you didn’t know Chris Kowalczyk, you probably have seen his work. The talented Lakewood artist, who died unexpectedly in March 2004, had his artwork all over Northern Ohio and beyond. Amongst his many endeavors were electronic greeting cards for American Greetings; being the design guy behind the popular Dead Ravens Sportswear during the years of the Browns absence; doing the book covers for local novelist Greg Cielec’s My Cleveland Story and Miami, Florida,‘ short story writer Richard Guran’s Tales from the Irish Club and I Used to Love Her; and CD and album designs for local groups such as Cats on Holiday. Chris’s friends and family will be gathering to remember him and toast his art on Fri 2/3, at 2527 on West 25th Street from 5-9PM. There will be drinks at Happy Hour prices, and live entertainment by singer/songwriter Jim Boardwine (of Know Peace) and Cats on Holiday. A donation is requested for the Griff Kowalczyk Scholarship Fund. 496-8286.

CC KIDS Nature in Contrast This black and white photography show features unique vistas of local, state, and national parks – the work of local award-winning photographer Don Bensman, Jr. Take a sneak peek of the new show during an informal, meet the artist reception on Fri 2/3 from 7:30-9PM. Wine and cheese will be served following a short gallery talk by the artist at 8PM. The exhibition opens Sat 2/4 from 9AM-5PM daily, through 4/2. Call 440-256-1404. Penitentiary Glen Reservation Nature Center, 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road, Kirtland. http://www.LakeMetroParks.com.

Snowshoe/Mud Hike Explore the outer reaches of The Holden Arboretum during a 7-8 mile, rugged, day-long hike. The trip will be made on snowshoes (if there’s any snow) otherwise, it will be a foot hike fit for only the hearty. Layer up Northeast Ohio style, put on your toasty, waterproof boots and pack a lunch for this Sat 2/4 event from 9AM to 4PM. Call 440-946-4400 for info. Holden Arboretum, 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland. http://www.HoldenArb.org.

Zero Energy H-Haus Take a tour of a full-scale house cleverly designed to reduce land use and conserve energy – without sacrificing luxury and style – on Sat 2/4 from 10AM – 9PM and through 2/12 at the Cleveland Home and Garden Show. According to the builders, Energy Wise Building Systems of Cleveland, the green design and careful selection of building materials will equate to a monthly heating/cooling cost of just $50. Yes, 5-0. Tour this innovative home, and several others on the Boulevard of Dreams at the Cleveland Home and Garden Show at the IX Center. http://www.HomeandFlower.com.

CC KIDS Summer Opportunities Fair It’s never too early to begin planning how you will spend your summer. The Summer Opportunities Fair on Sat 2/4 from 10AM to 1:30PM will feature lots of great options for great summer adventures with close to 100 exhibitors from the U.S. and Canada showcasing their programs including boys, girls and co-ed camps and both day and residential camps. Call 440-423-2066 or email hidden-email:ovexrgg@unjxra.rqh? for more info. Hawken School, 5000 Clubside Road, Lyndhurst.

CC KIDS Winterfest Load up the car and enjoy good old-fashioned Northeast Ohio winter fun – snow or no snow – on Sat 2/4 from 10AM-4PM. Kids and their families can enjoy outdoor fun, winter games, scavenger hunts, storytelling, Audubon bird hikes, music, clowns, puppets and ice carvers – all for just $5 per carload. Just don’t put any kids in your trunk! Call 440-946-4400. Holden Arboretum, 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland. http://www.HoldenArb.org.

CC KIDS If you Give a Mouse a Cookie In a romp through the pages of popular children’s books like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, by Laura Joffe Numeroff, Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, and Math Curse by Jon Scieszka, among others, audiences will encounter a girl who wakes up one day to find she has grown antlers; a hungry, demanding mouse, and a family dog who literally becomes outspoken after dining on alphabet soup. Designed for children 3-8, this fun-filled musical revue on Sat 2/4 at 11AM, is edutainment at its best. Get tickets at www.PlayhouseSquare.com. Allen Theatre, Playhouse Square, 1407 Euclid Avenue.

Laura Watilo Blake Exhibit The Corruption in China series (so-named as a result of an equipment malfunction in a Chinese motel room that produced a visual feast of vertical and horizontal lines, split images, and over saturated colors in the original digital photographs) showcases imagery reflecting two distinct moments in history that produce a visual clash between the traditional and the modern in China. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and tempting beverages during the Sat 2/4 show from 7-10PM. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Adoption Network Cleveland. Call 228-1802 or visit http://www.LocalGirlGallery.com for more info. Local Girl Gallery, 16106 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood.

The Love Show is a mixed media art exhibition by Teresa Bosko Carlin. The exhibition is an opportunity for the artist to show love to the community – all proceeds for the exhibition will go to the charitable organization, Helping Hands. Join the artist for the opening reception on Sat 2/4 at 8PM. The show runs through Sat 2/25. Call 330-673-4970 for gallery hours. North Water Street Gallery, 257 N. Water Street, Kent. http://www.StandingRock.net.

Image/Sound/Image will conclude Red {an orchestra}’s season with a bang as audiences are thrilled by a lush audio/visual extravaganza that will excite the senses. Red {an orchestra} will perform Academy Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Corigliano’s film score, A Red Violin, and a world premiere film score, Filmusic #2, by Jonathan Sheffer on Sat 2/4 at 8PM. Order tickets at http://www.RedAnOrchestra.org. Masonic Auditorium, 3615 Euclid Avenue. Come early at 5:30PM and join the Cool Cleveland pre-party. Register in advance and save here.

Sanctuary Join the Radical Site Specific Art Music and Dance Project for a special performance described as “the subversion of dominant paradigms,” with indie musical group Otters and Pinwheels performing the “lost lullabys” with the Contact Improvisation Dance Ensemble along with visual artists Darryl Nichols and Rich Steiner, and improv by Cats On Holiday violinist Kristine Jares. Check out this interesting alternative to the Super Bowl this Sun 2/5 from 1-3:30PM at the Rockefeller Greenhouse, 750 East 88th Street, http://www.rockefellergreenhouse.org.

Small Business Contracting Opportunities The Cleveland Matchmaker event on Tue 2/7 and Wed 2/8 will give local small businesses the opportunity to hook up with companies in the market for their products and services. The event features one-on-one meetings, workshops and networking opportunities. Call the Urban League at 622-0999 x 221 or the Small Business Administration at 522-4180 x 218 for more info. Register for the event here. Jacobs Field.

Experimental Electronic Music LoVid (NYC) scrambles ordinary TV output into hyperkinetic audiovisual abstraction using homemade electronic devices, repurposed analog toys, and low-res video loops. Whether projected on a large screen or worn on the body as mini-monitors, the static sizzles and mesmerizes in an orgy of post-consumer creative destruction. Cleveland groups, All have Numbers and Fancelions will intensify the experience during the Tue 2/7 event from 7-9PM. Call 939-9099. The Miller Weitzel Gallery, 5304 Detroit Avenue. http://www.MillerWeitzelGallery.com.

First Ring: Developing Opportunities Economic Development Directors from Bedford, Bedford Heights, Brook Park, Cleveland Heights, Fairview Park, Lakewood, Parma and Shaker Heights will be present to discuss potential office and industrial opportunities and to provide details on their communities’ zoning and building codes on Wed 2/8. The program kicks off with a breakfast buffet at 8AM and the presentations begin at 9AM. Call 291-2855 to RSVP. Marriott Cleveland East, 26300 Harvard Road, Warrensville Heights. http://www.fscdc.org

Decorate the Perfect Valentine’s Day Treat during a special workshop on Thu 2/9 from 2-4PM. Learn from the pros at the West Point Market as bakery artisans lead a hands-on demonstration of gourmet cake decorating. Pre-registration deadline for this class is Thu 2/2. Call 330-376-9186 x230. Mrs. Ticklemore’s Tea Room, West Point Market, 1711 West Market Street, Akron. http://www.AkronArtMuseum.org.

WCLVnotes WCLV 104.9 probably has more local live music than any other radio station in the country. Witness this: Tonight at 8PM, David Lobel conducts the CIM Orchestra in a live concert from Kulas Hall. Fri 2/3 at 8PM, it’s a live concert from Baldwin-Wallace College featuring the Elysian Trio. The Cleveland Orchestra’s Saturday night on Sat 2/4, concert conducted by guest Marc Minkowski is live. Featured is the rarely heard complete Incidental Music from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Mendelssohn. Then on Sun 2/5 at 8PM, WCLV will broadcast that afternoon’s Norton Memorial Organ Recital from Severance Hall. Details on all of WCLV’s programming can be found in the WCLV Program Guide at WCLV.com. WCLV is a CoolCleveland partner.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland Sounds
unilluminated
Word Of Mouth
1304

I’ve been at this music criticism gig a long time now; I’m as skeptical as the next person when I read the word “indescribable” in a band’s press kit. It conjures up a rare combination of influence, mystique and serendipity… but it certainly fits this group of five based in Lorain called Word of Mouth.

For the past few years, singer-songwriter Scott Bakalar and the band have been gigging all over Northeast Ohio, offering up what they call a “sonic gospel” of sorts. Their latest 12-track offering is called unilluminated and each tune is rooted in a different musical style.

It’s prime audio soup for the aural bouillabaisse fan.

Consider this “rock music” with diverse influence and undertones; sometimes it can be difficult to track with. One moment, you’re square in the middle of a 90s-grunge-rock inspired anthem, the next moment reveling in synthesizers from the very prog-70s and then channeling something square out of 80s roots rock.

The band does a great job of combining energy, humor, social commentary, spirituality and joie de vivre… and yet, somehow, the CD still doesn’t seem to do them justice in a way live performance would. I guess that’s the drawback to being challenging. Word of Mouth really do defy any particular labeling, if only because they love ALL of their influences so much that they’re not sure of where to focus first.

As a listener, you’ve got 12 starting points… all of them intriguing.
From Cool Cleveland correspondent 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

Hey Writers! Wanna write about Cleveland music? We’ve got a slew of recently-released CDs and DVDs by Cleveland-area musicians that could use your critical commentary for Cool Cleveland Sounds. If you’re interested, send us a note at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Four Things You Can Only Do In Cleveland
Part Two
Cleveland’s leading satirist tackles unique subjects

Dr. James Henry (JH) Salisbury had a problem. It was during Our Civil War. The War Between The States Over Slavery And Other Ridiculously Evil Concepts Of The Era. This was the war where the boys wore blue and gray, thus not blending in with the forest well, thus getting slaughtered like Turkish chickens.

In contrast to the average poor male of the period, Dr. Salisbury was an English nutritionist who had been given the task of developing a “meat cure” to help with the Northern (Blue) soldier’s chronic constipation from tainted beef provided by unscrupulous meat purveyors whose products can still be found in impossibly re-sealable plastic bag-like devices at the Giant Eagle…
Read Four Things Part Two here

RoldoLINK
County Tax Scam Team Ready To Ride Again
By Roldo Bartimole

If you do not want to read the word GATEWAY stop right NOW.

However, if you want to know more about how power works here and how government is ready to tap into your pocket, read on.

The Cuyahoga County Commissioners are posed to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars – likely more than a billion dollars – for two projects. Yes, that is billion.

The smell of new taxes is heavy in the air. Taxes voted without taxpayer consent.

Taxing regressively is the way the system works. Public officials serve special interests by not seeking revenue from those who have money. They sell the public on what they call “progress and jobs.” Have you heard that before?

As has been said here before, the Commissioners are prepared to pass a one-fourth cent (.25 percent) sales tax for a new convention center. It may seem small. However, it could raise some $30-million each year for 25 to 30 years, possibly forever…
Read RoldoLINK here

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

THE COLORED MUSEUM @ Karamu 1/28
WHAT: George C. Wolfe’s hilarious satire of African-American identity crisis told through vaudeville-like sketches and monologues, in a smart and energetic production for Karamu’s 90th anniversary season. From Aunt Jemima to drag queens to unwed mothers, Wolfe takes a whirlwind tour through the images and stereotypes of black America. It’s one of the great plays of the late 20th century, still as funny, shocking, and relevant as ever.
REASONS TO GO: A terrific quintet of actors do a bang-up job with the multiple roles. Stephanie Stovall shakes the rafters in the bluesy “Cookin’ with Aunt Ethel”, rules the roost as an Oscar-clutching Mama in the “Raisin in the Sun” parody, and finds a wide-eyed pathos as simple-minded Normal Jean, hatching an unexpected egg. Elegant and suave, G. Carlos Henderson sparkles as a sleek Ebony model and ambitious businessman, then morphs into the delightfully bitchy snap queen “Miss Roj”, downing rum in Tina Turner wig and leopard-skin capris. Jimmie Woody, intensely dramatic as a Vietnam War grunt, shows a giddily goofy side as a gay waiter and shufflin’ peapicker, and his resurrection from “murdered by The Man” victim into cake-walking coon show dancer is sublimely funny. Kimberly Brown has smart turns as the helpful stewardess on Celebrity Slaveship and the Josephine Baker-like Lala Lamazing Grace. Tiny Katrice Monee Headd bristles with ‘tude as a talking Afro wig, and brings it on home as party-hearty girl Topsy Washington. Henderson & Headd’s choreography is marvelous throughout.
EVEN MORE REASONS TO GO: Director Caroline Jackson-Smith’s production finds all the laughs yet brings out the rock-serious underpinnings. “The Colored Museum” is brilliantly specific to African-American culture, yet its concerns are universal. How do we come to terms with our “baggage” — culture, race, heritage, and history, and all the images we are bombarded with -– to create authentic identities that acknowledge them without being chained by them?
BACKSTORY: In 1986, Wolfe’s satire shocked and delighted with his daring, not just by taking on stereotypes but by the un-P.C. send-up of black icons as well. It’s particularly fun to see Kimberly Brown emote as the Ntozake Shange-inspired “Lady in Plaid” after appearing in Karamu’s critically acclaimed “For Colored Girls…” last season.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Teens and up. Don’t miss this one. You’ll laugh your ass off all night, and then think about it the whole next day.
DETAILS: Karamu, 2355 E. 89th St., Cleveland, thru 2/19, http://www.karamu.com
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

A Number @ Dobama 1/27
What: Caryl Churchill’s haunting, futuristic two-hander about a man and his cloned sons (all played by a single actor). Dramatic, yet inflected with humor, it’s an emotional exploration of heredity, environment, parenting, and what makes us us.
Reasons to go: Director Sonya Robbins gets a lot out of Churchill’s tersely enigmatic script, Todd Krispinsky’s DNA helix-inspired set is simple and elegant, and the strong acting and provocative premise make this a fascinating and intense hour in the theatre. One of the area’s most affecting actors, Joel Hammer has a slippery charm as the doting yet devious father, who has given up one son and cloned another in order to have a “second chance” at more perfect parenting. Krispinsky gets an actor’s dream of playing 3 “identical” yet emotionally different young men – the cherished son, freaked out by the discovery that he’s a clone; the furious, abandoned original; and a nerdily placid “extra” clone, who’s had a happy life away from the sturm and drang of the neurotic father-son pair bond.
Caveats: Sometimes the twists and turns of Churchill’s plot didn’t land, and Krispinsky seems to impersonate menace rather than exude it as the original Bernard. Occasionally Robbins’ confrontational thrust staging has you looking at haircuts rather than faces. But it’s a compelling evening with lots to chew over.
Backstory: After decades of undeserved neglect, the brilliantly theatrical Churchill has had a Cleveland renaissance in the past few years with a rollicking Cloud Nine by Bad Epitaph, a controversial Far Away at the Play House, and a lovely Blue Heart by Cesear’s Forum. Churchill’s plays have gotten shorter and denser over the years – this one is just an hour, though it feels very much a full length. Dobama extends the evening by providing post-production discussions about the science and bioethics.
Target audience: Teens and up; a good choice for anyone up for a bracing discussion about the issues.
Details: Pilgrim Congregational Church, W. 14th & Starkweather, Tremont. 216-932-3396. Thru 2/5. http://www.dobama.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein lindaATcoolcleveland.com

Kevin Mahogany & the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra @ Bop Stop 1/27 With a voice reminiscent of the late jazz great Joe Williams, Kevin Mahogany breezed into town Friday night—playing the role of helmsman to the simply divine Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. Featuring selections from his latest effort, Big Band, Mahogany commanded the stage and set hearts-a-flutter with his dusky, soulful vocals and near-perfect comedic timing. Just the night before, Mahogany had performed with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra at an Ohio Music Education Association conference at the Cleveland Convention Center. Earlier in the day, Mahogany conducted a clinic for educators on the “Art of Scat Singing.”

With a pair of performances Friday night at the Bop Stop, the one-time Telarc artist stole the spotlight and offered a clinic of his own to the fans in attendance. Both affable and likeable, Mahogany offered up swinging versions of “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” a sultry “Three Little Words,” “Centerpiece” and “One For My Baby.” Though he has established himself as a leader and innovator in vocal jazz, Mahogany was as humble as he was nimble. His spot-on vocals, scat singing and silky baritone soul made a perfect match for bandleader/CJO artistic director Jack Schantz’s solid horn solos. The night bore witness to a fine evening… one that gave testament to the fact that great jazz can also be great entertainment.

A great follow-up to the CJO performance in November with Cleveland’s Joe Lovano. In a word, delicious.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Peter Chakerian hidden-email:crgre@pbbypyrirynaq.pbz?

Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers write
We encourage our readers to speak out by sending us letters and commentary. Send your letters to Letters@CoolCleveland.com. You must include your full name (required) and you may include your e-mail address (optional). You may also create a new Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail e-mail address and submit it with your letter. Letters submitted to Cool Cleveland, or edited portions, may be published in an upcoming issue of Cool Cleveland at our discretion.

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

On painting Cleveland red (See Yr Turn here) In (deeply confused) response to Anita Brindza’s comment on the headline “Paint the Town Positively Red:” taggers read Cool Cleveland? Really?
from Cool Cleveland reader Mati Senerchia senerchiaATsbcglobal.net

On Fingerhut for Governor (See Fingerhut for Governor here) Fingerhut should drop out of the race for governor. Of course, he has a right to run. He also has a right to indulge himself in this ego trip. Ted Strickland has successfully run for Congress six times, covering 20 counties from Cincinnati to Youngstown due to redistricting. He has the best chance of defeating the ultra-right GOP candidates. He has the widest support among non-Republicans. By entering a race he has zero chance of winning, Fingerhut can only offer another diversion in the effort to change the political direction in Columbus (and Washington). Golly only knows the Democrats have enough baggage and dead wood without another one to drain finances and energy. And those “ideas” — wow, he’s for jobs, education, and against corruption. He’s also against taxes and for business “incentives”. Maybe he’s running in the wrong primary.
from Cool Cleveland reader John Gallo jgalloATclevelandaflcio.org

None of these “Cleveland on the Rise” shenanigans amount to beans if somebody doesn’t roll up their sleeves and begin the process of removing the new growth-restricting Ohio marriage amendment from the State constitution. Apparently,before the election, nobody (that people would be influenced by) was willing to dig up some statistics on entrepreneurs and big businesses that have progressive, inclusive agendas for staff and employees making it impossible for them to feel welcome in our sweet little, marriage-worshipping state. And now it appears that people have chosen to ignore this fact and forgotten all about that little, old law!
from Cool Cleveland reader Timothy Johnson rocproductionsATgmail.com

On Peter Lewis’ “palaver” comment (See Peter Lewis pinpoints Cleveland’s “palaver” here) I heard about the article but apparently there are 2. I did not see them but I just read this one and Mr. Lewis is absolutely right. The creative people such as myself have wonderful ideas but we don’t necessarily have the millions or billions to develop cultural events or facilities. The people with the millions should become more cosmopolitan and get the creativity started by bringing more people to the table. Many of us have to collaborate and get work out of town because of the lack of collaboration in this town.It is amazing that you can leave here and get work that can be incorporated hereIt is really ashame we could be doing so much more here. Let the creative class (whoever they are) come together with the business class and put some plans together that can benefit us all. This isn’t black or white anymore I do not think because when the city suffers economically we all suffer.
from
Cool Cleveland” reader Tammy L. Kennedy tamlynken69ATyahoo.com

While I absolutely respect Peter Lewis’ right to give his hard-earned and inherited money to any institution that he wishes, I think the saddest thing about his anti-Cleveland establishment tirade is that it really doesn’t hurt the Cleveland establishment *at all.* The people that it hurts are the ordinary people slogging every day to make Cleveland a better place to live. I am a Cleveland-import, an out-of-towner who has moved here for work and who has come to care very much about my adopted city. I am an educator and artist who would love for my institution to receive $101 million here in town, not for the glory of my bosses or the board of trustees, those “establishment types,” but for myself and my students to have better facilities in which to create, think, and work. I guess I would ask Mr. Lewis to think about who he is really punishing. Those bullies who don’t want him in their social clubs, or his employees who must live in this city and experience it every day. I would think that the greatest revenge on them would be to donate *to* the institutions these “establishmenties” supervise, endowing projects that Mr. Lewis thinks matter but that they, with their lack of vision, don’t … forcing the institutions to use that money for the projects that Mr. Lewis feels are important and sticking it to them good. Right now, all he is doing is hurting the rest of us, and that’s not very civic minded at all.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jerrold Scott jerrold.scottATsbcglobal.net

Profuse and idle talk; chatter. Of course! Our opinions just add to the palaver.
from Cool Cleveland reader Francis Martin martin5638@sbcglobal.net

On income inequality Income has become drastically more concentrated at the top in Ohio and the U.S. over the past two decades according to this new study: http://www.policymattersohio.org/pulling_apart_2006.htm. The top five percent of Ohio families now earn more than ten times as much as families in the lowest twenty percent on average, after taxes and benefits are figured in. This disturbing trend is in marked contrast to the broadly shared increases in prosperity between World War II and the 1970s.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jeff Miller, Policy Matters Ohio jmillerATpolicymattersohio.org

On RTA’s new website (See http://www.GCRTA.org) Wow! It is beautiful! I love the new look and feel of the website! I am so impressed! This is just what has been needed! Bravo! I just wanted to report that once I got through my trip plan, I tried to click on “more fare info” and “riders alerts”, I got the old 404. I know this is easily fixed. Oops and Citizen’s Advisory Board roster link doesn’t work. What a great Idea is the Smart Commute? But this link doesn’t work… RTA Smart Commute Plus Initiative Brochure You might want to add Cleveland Bikes to your list of bike links. http://clevelandbikes.org/ Somehow, the awesome trip planner is not even mentioned on the how to ride page? What’s up with that? How to ride: use the trip planner (or all that other old school stuff). I hope this is a transition with the maps in PDF format. I sure would like to have a key or a legend to help me know what those squares and dots with numbers on them are. That stuff is just so unintelligible for someone who is lost in a strange place. The folks who have to ride have figured it out, but the folks who don’t are hindered by the time it takes to interpret. Still, with a few tweaks, you guys look awesome. I look forward to seeing more cultural venues and parks locations in your trip planner as well as on the popular destinations. Can popular destinations have links to them? Where is the CVB link? Still, it is wonderful! Let’s get those “ride here” links up on the “directions” and “contact” pages of the businesses, govt. and nonprofit sites. Can we do that? So that the PHSq link that says “ride here” links you to the trip planner with PHSq already selected in the trip planner? You fill in the departure location and time? Then we need to get the arts and cultural orgs to give discounts to people holding a valid pass. Get into the Rock Hall or MOCA or PHSq for X% off with your valid RTA transit pass. Go CPAC! I know this should be for all the businesses, like downtown restaurants, too, but culture leads the way, eh? Cool to ride? You bet. More people riding, means cleaner air, better transit service and less need for ugly surface parking that pollutes our water and takes up space that could be used for high rise IT office buildings or orchards or windfarms, or whatever.
from Cool Cleveland reader Susan Miller millerbowenATadelphia.net

On Cool Cleveland (See Instant Karma review of Windsong here) On behalf of Windsong, we would like to thank you for posting Kelly Ferjutz’s article on Cool Cleveland. So many nice things have happened because of this article. Not only have many of our friends written to say that they were “very impressed” that we were on Cool Cleveland, but we have two women who are going to sing with us because of the article. There was such a positive response to the article that I don’t know where to begin to express our gratitude. Simply stated, we thank you for this kindness.
from Cool Cleveland reader Bunny Gandolfi, President, Windsong skitzy3000ATaol.com

Correction
On Ohio’s bioscience competitiveness (See Ohio #2 in bioscience here) Thanks for the mention of the region’s success in this week’s edition of Cool Cleveland. Your combination of information, though, from Crain’s and the PD has created an error in the way the numbers are reported. Attached is the regional information we sent across to Crain’s and a copy of our Midwest Year-End wrap-up. The error is both the dollar value attributed to Lifeline Screening as well as to how the total is reported. FYI, the distinction we make in ranking the states is a comparison of only publicly reported numbers vs. numbers that have been disclosed privately to us. That at least keeps the rankings fair as there may have been deals in other states that we are unaware of still.

Total Private Capital Raised by Companies: $171 million by 16 companies. Compare this figure to previous year totals of $61 million by 21 companies in 2004, and $32 million by 13 companies in 2003. The figure includes all known equity infusions into private health care companies in the region.

10 Companies Publicly Reported Capital Raises: Cleveland BioLabs, Imalux, Axiomed, IntElect, Synapse, Lifeline Screening, Orthohelix, Memberhealth, Roscoe Medical, NextMed ; an additional 6 regional companies have raised equity funds but have not publicized their success

Type of Funding: $153 million in professional capital; $18 million in angel funding

Breakdown by Sectors: $118 mn health care IT & services (5 deals); $47 million in medical devices (10 deals); $6 million in biopharma (1 deal)

Notable Disclosed Investors in Deals: New York: Investor Growth Capital, Welsh Carson, Sunrise Equity; Boston: Polaris Venture Partners; Minneapolis: Thomas McNerney Partners; Cleveland: Primus Venture, Early Stage Partners, BIOMEC, JumpStart, Mutual Capital; Columbus: CID Equity, Reservoir Ventures; Tennessee: MB Ventures, River Associates

Investment Banks in Deals: Presidio Financial (San Francisco); Viant Group (New York); MelCap (Cleveland)

15 companies were awarded >$13 million in SBIR/STTR grants from the NIH. Companies receiving these funds in 2005 include Arteriocyte, Cleveland Medical Devices, BIOMEC, Novelmed Therapeutics, Bioflexis, Ideas Inc., Nanomimetics, Think-A-Move, ChanXpress, Cleveland BioLabs, Orbital Research, PMI Industries, Icon Interventional, Interventional Imaging, and H-Cubed.

Hope that is helpful.
from Cool Cleveland reader Baiju Shah, President, BioEnterprise bshahATbioenterprise.com

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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

1) RoldoLINK Bartimole suggests it’s better to ignore Peter B. Lewis.
www.CoolCleveland.com

2) Cool Cleveland People An exclusive with Jeff Mannies from Kelly Ferjutz.
www.CoolCleveland.com

3) Peter Lewis pinpoints Cleveland’s “palaver” “Cleveland’s not high on my list because it’s all palaver… It’s people not cooperating with one another.”
www.Cleveland.com

4) Four Things You Can Only Do In Cleveland Cleveland’s leading satirist starts a new series.
www.CoolCleveland.com

5) Cleveland365.com Connecting a progressive, forward-thinking urban community with unparalleled innovative technologies, community-based content and often elusive resources.
http://www.Cleveland365.com

Always on High Alert is our Hard Corps—regular contributors who put the cool in Cool Cleveland. They are: Roldo Bartimole, Peter Chakerian, Roxanne Ravenel, TL Champion, George Nemeth, Linda Eisenstein, and Clyde Miles. Thanks to them 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 podcast each week at http://www.CoolCleveland.com. Click on the Cool Cleveland Blog here. Read the Cool Cleveland column each month in Cleveland Magazine here. 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. For your copy of the free weekly Cool Cleveland e-zine, go to http://www.CoolCleveland.com.

What will you be doing
Saturday afternoon?

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

all contents ©2006 MulreadyGROUP all rights reserved
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