The Future Of Cool

Trendsetters.com

Really just another vehicle to sell (mostly electronic) crap that no one really needs, the folks at mailing list pruveyors Iconocast have launched this site that purports to keep u down with “tracking the future of cool.” With pointers to next week’s DJ confab Winter Music Conference in Miami Beach, new fashion alerts (skirts are out, cargo pants are in—still), trendy books (Pattern Recognition, The Tipping Point), market trends (health care, China, real estate), and tech trends (DVDs, flat-panel displays, digicams). We’ll keep our eye on this one in case you don’t have time, although trendy is not necessarily cool. 
Trendsetters.com

 

Public Service Message

On the front page of the Santa Cruz, CA Public Library web site: “Though the Santa Cruz Library makes every effort to protect your privacy, under the Federal USA Patriot Act (Public Law 107-56), records of the books and other materials you borrow from this library may be obtained by federal agents. That federal law prohibits library workers from informing you if federal agents have obtained records about you. Questions about this policy should be directed to Attorney General John Ashcroft, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530.” So it turns out Orwell was right.
Santa Cruz Public Library

 

Oscar Night at the Madstone Centrum

********************** SPONSORED LINK **********************
On Sun 2/23 7:30PM- Mark your calendar! Celebrity impersonators, a silent auction—plus a live broadcast of the 75th Academy Awards, on the silver screen! Valet parking, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres—don’t feel too guilty—all the proceeds from the evening go to the AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland. Call 357-2223 or check http://www.madstonetheatres.com/oscarnight
********************** SPONSORED LINK ********************** 

And don’t forget to claim your free popcorn and soda any day by clicking here

 

Spongi wins big in Austin

The South By Southwest (SXSW) Website Competition took place on March 9 with Cleveland-based Spongi winning top honors. Spongi.com, a streaming video website was awarded Best Online Movie/TV Site. The site’s Art Director, Kenn Louis and Content Editor, Andy Timithy accepted the award at the Four Season’s Hotel in downtown Austin. Spongi features videos from both Louis and Timithy as well as those submitted from artists around the world. Timithy, who currently has around 30 videos in it’s archives, happened to be videotaping the whole event for a documentary that will be featured on the site in the coming weeks. “Sort of a self-inflicted reality TV,” he quipped. Louis said later, “I feel like we’ve been embraced by what SXSW is all about… the independent creator!” The competition in the category ranged from other independents to corporate sluts like HBO and AOL Time Warner. See SXSW 
Spongi.com

 

Progressive Urban Real Estate

********************** SPONSORED LINK **********************
Do you like to look at the lake? Check out King’s Terrace, townhouse condos with outstanding Lake Erie and Downtown views, near the Shoreway and Cleveland Public Theatre. Features: 3rd floor lofts, fireplace, 2-car garage with carport, roof deck with dramatic views, ceramic tile, 9-10 foot ceilings, 15-year tax abatement. Support Cool Cleveland and dream about your own lake view by clicking on the link.
********************** SPONSORED LINK **********************

Check out PURE’s King’s Terrace

 

A/T/D/2 music now online

Did you enjoy the music mix at the recent Art/Tech/Dance party at Tower Press? Check the site below to download or stream a mix of the night’s tunes, put together by Deviant at Headrush Music. Check it out under “assorted flavors” at Headrush Music. Register now for A/T/D/3 at a secret location TBA. 
Register now for Art/Tech Dance v3.0 here

 

Springer is running for Senate

When will people start to realize that Jerry Springer is a viable candidate for the US Senate? Again this region is so blinded by it’s own embarrassment that it refuses to take seriously the fact that Springer has committed to spending $5 to $10 million of his own money to go up against George Voinovich. (Did you see Voinovich on C-SPAN the other day mumbling about partial-birth abortion? This is the most important issue of the day?) Springer, a former Cincinnati mayor and five-term councilman with a law degree from Northwestern who worked as one of Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign aides, whose family had fled the Holocaust and emigrated to the US for political and religious asylum, was an activist lawyer who spearheaded the effort to reduce the voting age from 21 to 18, even testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of ratification of the 26th Amendment to the Constitution. As for his television career, he has won seven Emmys for his nightly commentaries (remember when local news offered those?), which were a precursor to his Final Thought segments. With 98% name recognition (Fingerhut who?), a virtually unlimited campaign pool, and the debating chops to go up against any politician or media challenge, coupled with the lack of strong candidates in the Ohio Democratic party, Springer starts to look not only viable, but formidable. Read the last line of Mark Naymik’s Plain Dealer piece, and ask yourself how many people in this state would vote for Springer if (and when) he becomes the Democratic candidate.
See Plain Dealer

 

Say Yes Goes to California

One of the more innovative and well-run approaches to saving Cleveland has selected seven companies and agreed to pay their way to a big networking party they are hosting in Silicon Valley on April 24-27. Say Yes To Cleveland has selected CardinalCommerce (online identity software), Copernicus Theraputics (gene therapies), Five Star Technologies (fuel cells, advanced materials), FLX Micro (MEMS), Overdrive (electronic publishing), PreEmptive Solutions (software code security), and Trivium Technologies (liquid crystal displays). While out there, principals of the selected companies will network, tour wineries and take in an Indians game. The ultimate goal is to tug at the heartstrings (“emotional equity”) of ex-patriots (excuse me, “non-resident Clevelanders”), showing them some of the cool tech companies in NEO and encouraging them to invest in Cleveland. We wish them the best.
See CrainTech

 

Athersys Death Watch

While Athersys visited Pittsburgh this week (see Cleveland.com), and area financiers and business leaders put together a package to help pay for the company’s new building, should they decide to stay in Cleveland (see Cleveland.com), it’s looking increasingly like area universities and governments won’t invest in Athersys as they are being asked to do (remember when the Governor came running up here with $100 million for our defunct steel mill?), and people are basically counting the days till Minneapolis, Raleigh/Durham or even Pittsburgh steals one of Cleveland’s top biomed prospects, although our area institutions aren’t worried. Research will go on once Athersys leaves Cleveland, say Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals researchers. Well, of course the research would go on. Cleveland just wouldn’t be benefiting from it… 
See Crain’s

 

The arts & culture levy and what you can do about

You know it’s coming this year. In one form or another. Attached to something else or by itself. But the Arts & Culture Levy is coming, you can be sure. And it has the potential to raise $10-20 million per year for the arts in this town, transforming us in ways we can’t even imagine. Every week between now and November is critical. What can you do this week? Write to your local public officials, especially your Cuyahoga County Commissioners. Give them localized examples and specific success stories based on your work. Show them what a valuable asset arts and culture is to this region’s vitality. Let them know that we appreciate their commitment to the arts and culture industry’s efforts to obtain local public sector support. Jimmy Dimora 443-7180; Peter Lawson Jones 443-7182; Tim McCormack 443-7181. You can write to them at 1219 Ontario St, Cleveland OH 44113.
Community Partnership for Arts & Culture

 

New Worlds 2003 Poetry Contest

Now in its eighth year, the Akron Art Museum offers cash prizes to Ohio writers, as well as the opportunity to read winning poems at the award ceremony on Sun 4/13 at 2:30PM. Poetry submissions will be accepted through Fri 3/14. For guidelines, visit the site. Instead of sports, wouldn’t it be great if events like this were televised? Go Ohio poets! 
Akron Art Museum

 

A Vision for Downtown

Listen to Ed Hill, professor and distinguished scholar of economic development at the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at CSU: establish neighborhoods of 25,000 each; don’t’ Disneyfy the Ninth Street Pier; make Downtown Cleveland a waterfront community; realize that Downtown pays for the rest of the city and stimulates everyone, including Inner Ring Suburbs; don’t build the city on the back of visitors, instead build “places of residential vibrancy and interesting streets;” remember that Downtown residential development is key; keep these numbers in mind: 10,000 residents for a major grocery store, 15,000 to support major retail, 25,000 to trigger a sustainable housing market; give Campbell credit for fixing the city gov’t related to housing, and developing a grass-roots vision around the lakefront. Now we need a vision that pulls it all together. And some real leadership.
See Plain Dealer op-ed

 

Film Festival passes available

There’s really too much to list here, use your browser and check out the site, and while you’re there, pick up a couple of Festival Passes and start practicing to call in sick. Choose from Cultural Journeys (encouraging ethnic audiences), FilmSlam for students, Central/Eastern European Film Competition, Midwest Independent Filmmakers Conference, Local Heroes (Cleveland connection), Women Make Movies, Family Fun Festival, and other special programs. Thu 3/20 thru Sun 3/30 Tower City Cinemas, 623-FILM 
Cleveland International Film Festival

 

Cool Cleveland This Week 3.5-3.12

 

Convention Center Public Meeting

Only about 100 people showed up for the first one, and the second one was swamped with economic development types mouthing the corporate line and supporting the current convention center location. Not only has no real debate emerged as to whether we even need a convention center or whether it is worth the costs, but the most logical and inexpensive option, the Galleria location, is being snubbed. Well, on Wed 3/12 at 6PM you have one more chance to listen & express your thoughts at 16000 Bagley Rd at the Middleburgh Heights Community Center. The Mayor has promised more public talks, but I wouldn’t hold your breath. And isn’t it funny how the I-X Center isn’t even discussed among all this? 
See Cleveland.com

 

Conversation Café

is the place to be on the second Wednesday of each month for lively, hosted, drop-in conversations among diverse people about their feelings, thoughts and actions in this complex, changing world, promoting spontaneity and inclusivity that can surprise us into new insights and greater understanding, moving from small talk to discussion of the larger issues. Joseph-Beth Booksellers at Shaker Square, Wed 3/12 7-9PM
Joseph-Beth Booksellers

 

Pilot Pitch Nite

Christine Hill is in town at MOCA building a TV studio and set in preparation for shooting a late-nite talk show on 3/28 right in the gallery, and she’s been looking for Cleveland “talent” to feature on the show. Signed-up to share their talent at this week’s auditions are a ”general showbiz roustabout” and the self-proclaimed ”best female blues guitarist in Cleveland.” One hopeful promises ”spoken word assault” while another claims ”I can talk trash till the cows come home.” Who will artist Christine Hill and collaborator Dave Herman choose to be the featured talent in the late-night television show experience? Come catch tomorrow’s “stars” Thu 3/13 6-8PM at MOCA 8501 Carnegie 421-8671 X44 Learn more about Hill, get studio tickets or sign yourself up on the site.
MoCA Cleveland

 

War Photographer

an Oscar-nominated documentary portrait of longtime photojournalist James Nachtwey, receiving its first Cleveland screenings on Thu 3/13 8:50PM and Fri 3/14 7:30PM, the film follows Nachtwey to Kosovo, Indonesia, and the West Bank where, thanks to a small video camera mounted to his still camera, we are there with him, in the midst of the action. Nachtwey also talks eloquently about how he hopes his pictures of war may some day lead to its eradication. Cinematheque, 11141 East Boulevard 421-7450
Cinematheque

 

Wood for Building Green:

Achieving the Wood-related credits under LEED. This hands-on workshop for architects, designers, general contractors, developers, and material distributors will demystify the credits under the LEED Green Building Rating System related to reclaimed, recycled content, and FSC certified wood. It will also place the broad issues pertaining to responsible wood use in a relevant local context. On Fri 3/14 8:30AM-1PM (lunch provided) Trinity Commons, Cathedral Hall 2230 Euclid. Register online or at 623-0033.
Cleveland Green Building Coalition

 

Home of the Brave

multimedia installation by American Indian artist and activist Charlene Teters (a member of the Spokane Nation), through 4/17, opening Fri 3/14 5-7PM, and catch Misuse of Native American Symbols in Sports and Media on Sat 3/15 1-2:30PM, Notre Dame College Performing Arts Center, 4545 College Road, S. Euclid
Notre Dame College

 

Tremont Art Walk

means music, dance and visual art work by artists like Jeff Chiplis, Ken Motz, Neil Safran, Gisela Townar, Eric Skarl, Alejandro Rivera, and many more. Some highlights: Art/musical performance by Chloe Galvanic, and art by Timmie Boose at DoubtingThomas, 856 Jefferson; AIGA Young Artists Exhibition, with aspiring artists from the Cleveland Municipal School District showing art work featuring their personal heroes, at The Limnis, 2438 Scranton; Ukranian Museum Archives, 1202 Kenilworth; Bruce Edwards at Brandt Gallery, 1028 Kenilworth. Fri 3/14
Main Street Tremont

 

Ball In The Bank

The season’s hottest benefit is also a showcase for the new green home of a half dozen of Cleveland’s most dedicated environmental groups, the new Cleveland Environmental Center (formerly Antiques at the Bank), Sat 3/15 8PM-1AM, 3500 Lorain Avenue, and for one night only is the scene for music, dancing, Ohio City food and eco-inspired art work. Just check out this line-up of cuisine: Fulton Bar & Grille, Touch Supper Club, Flying Fig, Johnny Mango, Nick’s Diner, Talkies Coffee Bar, Great Lakes Brewery, Market Avenue Wine Bar, Outrageous Endings, more. And the artists: Erin Austin Brown, Abe Bruckman, Rod DeFoe, Suzie Frazier Mueller, Sheryl Hoffman, Marine Marquez-Zenkov, Corrie Slawson, more. And the music: 10-piece latin Grupo Fuego, Ballroom dancing with dance instructor Tara Pappard, DJs Whatever and Thomas Anonymous, more. After party at Touch Supper Club, and after-after party (with 80 DJs!) at Metropolis. Don’t miss this green-tie event. See great graphic on just how green this building renovation really is, along with the article in the 3/11 Plain Dealer.
Ball In The Bank

 

Slava Modern Dance Company

making its debut performing works by artistic director Natalie Kapeluck and Cleveland’s Sarah Morrison, performed by MorrisionDance Sat 3/15 at Cleveland Public Theatre 6415 Detroit 749-0060.
Cleveland Public Theatre

 

The Classic Cleveland Poetry Slam

hosted by Michael Salinger, open mic MC’ed by Kelly Harris, featured poet: Nin Andrews, whose poems and stories have appeared in many literary journals and anthologies including Best American Poetry, The KGB Bar Book of Poems, A Mammoth Anthology of Minuscule Fiction, Best American Prose Poetry, The Best of the Prose Poem, an International Journal and Pleased to See Me, an international anthology of erotic poetry. She is the author of The Book of Orgasms and Other Tales, published by Bloodaxe Books in England, and Why They Grow Wings, published by Silverfish Press and winner of the Gerald Cable Award, and she has won an individual artist grant from the Ohio Arts Council. Quite a resume. Bring your own work for the open mic and it’s even cheaper (that’s the way to treat artists) Sun 3/16 open mic 7:30PM, featured performer 8:30PM, poetry slam 9:45PM. Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo 683-1134. 
Beachland Ballroom

 

Buzzard Sunday

Just like one-time Cleveland residents, the buzzards always return to NEOhio, and no one quite knows why. Ingrained as local folklore for so long, but have you experienced the naturalist-led hikes (including an “Early Bird” hike at 8:30 a.m.), refreshments, historical bus tours of Hinckley, crafts, live music, live animal programs, even an Official Buzzard Scoreboard. Sun 3/16 11AM-4PM Buzzard Roost is located at the corner of State Road and West Drive in Hinckley Reservation in Hinckley Township. 351-6300.

 

14th Annual International Folk Festival

featuring more than a dozen groups and a cast of hundreds, “the Festival features cultures from various lands that have established their roots in Greater Cleveland,” according to Festival co-chair Abdullah Mina, on Sun 3/16 3PM Allen Theatre, Playhouse Square 241-6000 or 800-766-6048.
Click here for tickets

 

St. Patrick’s Day

Besides the annual parade Mon 3/17, (kicks off at 1:04PM at Euclid & E. 18th) probably the biggest of them all around these parts (so many kids and teachers take off that Lakewood has closed the schools), and the closest Cleveland comes to having some sort of city-wide carnival or city festival, here’s a few more interesting ways to start ingesting beer prior to noon: begin with a breakfast at 7AM at the Flat Iron Café, 1114 Old River Road; Fat Fish Blue has live music right after the parade, 21 Prospect Ave; The Mercury Lounge, 1392 W. 6th has U2 tribute band Zoo Station along with bagpipes all day long; The Harp at 4408 Detroit has The Boys From County Hell along with homemade egg and bagel sandwiches and corned beef & cabbage; end with DJ Dave Grace, kicking out all the Irish punk rock (and there’s a lot of it) that you could ever ask for at the Capsule, 13376 Madison Ave, Lakewood.

 

Art House Open House

enjoy hands-on activities for kids & adults, including fun at the potter’s wheel, plus music by Joe Jencks, Craig Robertson & Doug Wood, see demonstrations by Linda Zolten Wood (bead-making), Leanne Shafer (stone carving), todd with iSmudge.com (online gallery and kids craft activities), Lisa Kenion (painting), Rod DeFoe II (ceramics), Bryan Smith (ceramics), Linda Goik (silk painting), Deby Cowdin (glass), Lynn Jencks (stained glass), CheryLee Wilson (kids collage making), Rickey Lewis (painting), Augustus Turner (caricatures), and Dott Schnieder (painting) Free, on Tues 3/18 5-7PM, Art House 3119 Denision 398-8556.
Art House

 

Excursions

featuring Fertile Ground with special guests Zero and Cleveland’s tough Aphrodesiatics, to benefit Cleveland’s new arts & culture monthly Urban Dialect, whose first issues should be out any day, on Tues 3/18 10PM at Spy Bar 1261 W. 6th 621-7907. 
Urban Dialect

 

Namaste!

A cultural celebration in honor of International Women’s Day and to benefit International Partners in Mission, a nonprofit organization that selects projects that are community based and interfaith promoting justice, peace and hope around the world, featuring international dance, cuisine, art, drinks & entertainment. “Namaste” is a Nepalese welcome greeting, where one joins the palms and places them beneath the chin, with head bowed to honor guests and means “I salute the divine qualities in you.”Wed 3/19 6-9PM, MOCA 8501 Carnegie 932.4082.
International Partners in Mission

 

Reel Deal

short films by female directors in honor of Women’s History Month, featuring A Wise Decision by Clevelander Bernadette Gillota, the controversial film that used Cleveland Municipal School students and local politicians to talk about the importance of voting; The Gift by Tanya Byrd, based on a true story about a blind sculptor’s fear of regaining his sight when he is offered corrective surgery; Rendez-vous by Mariette Monpierre, about a woman who anxiously awaits a hot date in a restaurant (selected to compete in the 2002 Cannes Film Festival) on Wed 3/19 6-9PM Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd, 707-2281.
Cleveland Museum of Art

 

Community of Minds

featuring Michael Keresman, CEO of NEOhio’s Cardinal Commerce, who are planning to become a major authentication agent for Internet-facilitated transactions and commerce, particularly for banks, financial institutions, and debit and credit card issuers by definitively and easily identifying parties to an online transaction. Ask him to tell you what the banks in this region told him when he went looking for funding. Wed 3/19 5:30PM-7:30PM 1890 At The Arcade, located in the Hyatt Regency Cleveland, 420 Superior Avenue. Free, but make reservations by clicking below. 
Community of Minds

 

Cleveland On The Silver Screen:

A Panel Discussion On The Importance Of Filmmaking in Cleveland, featuring CWRU film professor Louis Giannetti, Chris Carmody of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, local screenwriter and director David Manocchio (whose film Haywire is featured at this year’s CIFF), discussing the reasons Hollywood film directors are choosing Cleveland as the location for future films, how movies filmed in our city effect area businesses, how the number of incredibly talented actors and production crew in our city have continued to find work here and why they choose to stay in Cleveland. Wed 3/19 5:30PM Cleveland City Club, E. 9th 7 Euclid, 621-0082 
Cleveland City Club

 

Focus

by Neal Slavin, is based on Arthur Miller’s play of the same name and stars William H. Macy, Laura Dern and Meat Loaf, the story of a mild mannered nebbish thrust into the ugly world of bigotry, hatred and racism when a husband an wife are mistakenly identified as Jews in the waning days of WWII Brooklyn. Wed 3/19 7PM Madstone Centrum 2781 Euclid Hts Blvd 321-1562.
Madstone Centrum Theatre

 

Instant Karma
quik reviews of last week’s events

Are you going to an event this week? Write down your impressions and send them to Thomas@Mulready.com

 

Lost Art delivers the sublime

Treasures of a Lost Art exhibition on view at the Cleveland Museum of Art features a one of a kind, comprehensive collection of Italian illuminated manuscripts ranging from the 13th century early medieval period to 16th century’s high renaissance. This didactic art of scriptural iconography is jewel-like: luxurious scrolls depict various Biblical vignettes resplendent in color, drawing one into its world of detailed minutiae. These miniature paintings display a tour-de-force of lavish and eye-catching detail, a technique known as lo stile bello, the beautiful style. Origins of illuminated manuscripts date to the 6th-9th centuries, when scribes of Celtic monasteries passed down their artistic tradition of illustrating the Gospel with pictures. Decoration of manuscript scrolls is Irish in conception but evolves grandly with the Italians’ classicizing sensibilities and use of gold leaf to create a liturgical drama. This exhibition truly is the museum’s best-kept secret.Thru 5/4 Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd 421-7340. 
Cleveland Museum of Art

 

Van Gogh: Fields

A Toledo road trip is well worth the effort to catch a glimpse of this wonderful museum’s formative exhibition of Vincent van Gogh, providing an intimate look into this complex artist’s innovative painting technique. The show is produced in partnership with the Kunsthalle in Bremen, Germany and features van Gogh’s vivid interpretations of fields in central and southern France. Van Gogh is recognized for his use of the imposto technique and his sweeping, expressive brushstrokes. This exhibit is guaranteed to engage not only the eyes but also the mind and spirit. While you’re there, don’t miss the Museum’s unparalleled collection of glass through the ages. At the Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St, Toledo, now thru 5/18. 800-644-6862. 
See Steve Litt’s review at Cleveland.com

 

Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers speak out

 

On the Kucinich Presidential candidacy

“I suppose your role is to impartially report the “goings-on” in Cleveland. However, no matter how remote it is, the possibility that Dennis Kucinich could wind up in the White House as anything more than a visitor is a frightening thought. As Mayor of Cleveland, he did more damage in a short period than all the combined (negative) results of some of the worst leaders of this city. One of the hallmarks of a great leader is his (or her) ability to surround themselves with top quality subordinates who can think for themselves and offer the leader a broader perspective on which to make decisions. President Bush is showing that ability by surrounding himself with high quality, knowledgeable people like Candy Rice, Colin Powell, Dick Cheney and many others. Contrast that cabinet with Kucinich’s staff of the Gardina sisters and Hatchet Man Bob. Kucinich’s ineptness was exacerbated by the sycophants he chose to help him run this city ….right into default. Aside from their ridiculous blind loyalty to a cause that nearly destroyed the city and made it a national laughing-stock, they were completely inept at their jobs. God help us if this man ever gets into a position of power in our federal government.” From Cool Cleveland reader Douglas R. Brown

 

On the Athersys Death Watch

“Squiggly thinking: I been noodling on how to buy Athersys, but since I don’t have 25 million to invest, I stated wondering how it could get done. Didn’t Green Bay, WI buy their football team! Why not get Charlie Boulton of Primus, Pat McCartan (Jones, Day- retired, sounds like good hobby) or one of the venture groups to create a public trust and sell little baby pieces, and probably a few bigger chunks (5-8 mil) of Athersys to the citizens of Cleveland, I’ll bet there are lots of folks who would love to be part a private placement with a warrant for some stock, and the excitement of High Tech investment in the city.(money where mouth is) There are people who are willing to plunk down thousands for the right to buy tickets for teams that barely can hit home runs, why not a company who is trying to make a big hit from the plate. I think the odds are even or maybe better with Athersys.” From Cool Cleveland reader Crain Smith crain@eggplant.com 

 

On the Convention Center debate

“In my long and myriad career, I have attended many conventions, tradeshows, and expos in many of the major “convention cities” and some of the not so major. I know which venues I preferred and why as both an attendee and as an exhibitor. Before the Galleria option popped up, I was not too excited about any of the proposals. They all seemed focused on making money for a developer. Of course, this in of itself is not a bad thing, but it seems that that was to the exclusion of the purpose of serving the customers, i.e. the exhibitors and attendees. If the venue is not comfortable to the people using it, it won’t be used and not even the developers will make money. Of course, the developers will try to shift that risk to the city and county, then we the taxpayers get the screws on top of the economic drain of low visitation to the city. This is frustrating since I am convinced that we do need a new convention center. The existing convention center is on both my attendee and exhibitor “not-too-crazy-about” list . It is dated and does not have the amenities that modern venues have ie enough electric power access, Ethernet access. Loading is difficult, getting there with big trucks is difficult. It is not an easy walking distance to hotels and decent restaurants, which is important during the long winter season. The IX center is isolated. What makes a good venue for both exhibitors and attendants can be boiled down to convenience and options. This translates differently depending on the user. Both want good food, fast, but most exhibitors only have a limited time for lunch, while the attendee might go a little farther for something good. Yet, dinner meetings are important for both and some luxury is appropriate. If getting to the hotels are more than 15 minutes, neither party will like it much. Whether for a quick nap, or small meeting what ever. Exhibitors want to be able to show anything, size does matter. You can always put a small display in a big space but not visa versa. You see options. The halls that I didn’t like limited my options. Like Chicago’s Rosemont at the airport, you’re stuck eating at the hotel restaurants. But I like the Navy Pier because it has convenient food, interesting attractions, and it’s easy to go somewhere else (tons of taxis). I would just hate to set up there because it is a long way from the street and no Radio Shack/Kinko’s nearby. St. Louis’ Jones Dome is okay because of the proximity of the historical section. The Moscone in San Francisco and the Morial in New Orleans are the best for convenience, option, capacity, and setup. The Haynes in Boston almost makes it except that hotels are just a little to far away. The point is that except for the Galleria proposal, the others do not satisfy the people that will actually be using it. They are out of the way or focused on Tower City or isolated from the city that it is supposed to highlight. I hope that ALL these factors as well as cost is considered during the selection process.” From Cool Cleveland reader Steve Goldberg steveg@ieee.org 

 

Thanks to Cool Cleveland 

“You are just the kind of visionary this town needs. I’m right there with you. I’m a artist | writer | musician — with a day gig as Creative Director at EDR/Beachwood Studios. I would like the chance to dig into what you are doing, and see if there is any way I can contribute to the greater cause. This town has so much potential. What is it with the underdog, cynical attitude? Hats off to you for your positive commitment.” From Cool Cleveland reader David Allen Moss moss@edr.com

“I sit here at lunchtime on the South Side of Chicago reading my Cleveland Magazine. The City Life article lists your email address to get a subscription to Cool Cleveland. I would very much like to subscribe, please let me know what I need to do or can do in the Chicagoland area to further the cause.” From a Cool Cleveland reader.

“To the Beachland. We headed for the club where we called home The music was real and raw, celebrating the lives of each person there drinking a Pabst and nodding their head to the consoling drum beats. To the uncaring ear the music just all sounded the same. We cared about it more than religion. It was a classic roller coaster ride that will close if it’s not for the rusty blue-collar kids who have nothing else to do but to take the tickets. It was a section of land that corporate America is dying to get its hands on and pepisfy into a teen consumer orgy. To us it was a favorite book about to be banned, then burned at 451 degrees. This was one of the last places on earth where you knew that old blue jeans were real old blue jeans; bought at a thrift instead of a mall. No one asks for your sign or to upsize a goddam thing. For 10 bucks you can escape behind the lights and hide in the shadow of a dieing generation of proletariat children. It was the cheapest shortcut to salvation I knew.” From Cool Cleveland reader Charlene Coates.

 

Top Five Links
from last week’s issue

We use IdeaStar.com tools to track which articles were clicked the most. Here are the Top 5 from our 3.5 issue, with one more chance for you to click.

1)Madstone Centrum Theatre’s offer for free popcorn and soda
http://www.madstonetheatres.com/coolcleveland 
2)Progressive Urban Real Estate’s Dollar Bank Condominiums
http://www.progressiveurban.com
3)The Ball In The Bank, the season’s hottest benefit taking place Sat 3/15
http://www.ballinthebank.org
4)V-Energy, fifty powerful women artists donating work for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center http://www.cptonline.org 
5)Where Is Cleveland’s Creative Corridor story on CrainTech by Shasta Clark
http://neohio.craintech.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?articleId=2506

 

Cool Cleveland readers really read

Almost 35% of Cool Cleveland readers who opened the newsletter read it all the way through and clicked on the very last link. If you are thinking about reaching these thoughtful readers with your message, drop us a line at Thomas@Mulready.com and inquire about sponsorship.
Thomas@Mulready.com

 

Who is still not receiving Cool Cleveland?

Send them the e-mail address Thomas@Mulready.com, or send us their address and we’ll add ’em. 
Thomas@Mulready.com

 

This struggle against the mainstream will not be easy, nor will it be quick, but it will be worthwhile.

 

–Thomas Mulready
Thomas@Mulready.com

 

Post categories:

Comments are closed.
[fbcomments]