Turn The Page

12.26.07-01.02.08
Turn The Page

In this week’s issue:
* NYE Making Plans? We Can Help.
* Kids NYE for the Fam
* BFD Med Mart most popular topic
* Sounds Top 10 local releases of 2007
* Straight Outta Mansfield The Foundling
* RoldoLINK Disgraced Visitors Bureau Fed $100 Million by Cuyahoga County
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, Brewed Fresh Daily here

Turning the page on a New Year, opening another chapter, offers a fresh beginning, the chance to start anew. This is something our region desperately needs to do. The opportunity for annual analysis and renewal is our best shot for pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, acknowledging our strengths and building on our successes. Waking up on New Year’s day is the best time to make amends, commit to resolutions, and get back to the hard work of improving our community. Mansfield offers a grim holiday homily on the range of options for inner city children, while Roldo sees little difference between the political parties when it comes to public largess. And isn’t it interesting that the most commented postings of the year on our Brewed Fresh Daily blog related to the much-ballyhooed convention center and Medical Mart, and Emissions points to area blog action on Rock Hall inductions and Breuer Tower blogginess. Instead of pontification, Cool Cleveland offers links to music clips from our top 10 (plus 2) area releases of the year. Our podcasts and special listings turn you on you to soul-satisfying NYE activities such as the highly recommended First Night Akron. Need a good reason to get plugged in to our region in 2008? Scroll down, turn the page, and click your mouse. It may be easier than you think. —Thomas Mulready

Still Sorting Out Your New Year’s Eve Plans?
At Cool Cleveland, We’ll Tell You Where To Go

Don’t know what you’re doing on New Year’s Eve? We do. For at least part of the day, we’ll be working hard on the Wed 1/2 issue of CC. But there are planty of options for the Hard Corps staff here at CC and we’re all headed in different directions. Submitted for your perusing pleasure, we’ve gathered a list of possibilities for your fun night out. We also have a few choice selections gathered in our CC Kids section, if you’re looking for something with some family-friendly flair. We’ve been here for 5 years now, helping you figure out where to go… you don’t think we’d leave you hanging on one of the biggest party nights of the year. Well, did ya? Click below for some of the hottest choices in town.

HOT First Night Akron Now in its twelfth year, First Night® Akron is a New Year’s Eve celebration unlike any other Mon 12/31. The family-friendly, alcohol-free celebration brings the community together to experience a brief moment in time while creating lasting New Year’s Eve memories. Family-friendly entertainment and fun will delight everyone! And they tell us they might need some volunteers. For a complete schedule of events and volunteer details, visit http://www.firstnightakron.org.

The Blues Foundation has just nominated Nora Jean Bruso for Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year. She’s performing at Wilbert’s This New Year’s Eve, Mon 12/31 at 9PM with local ladycrooner Kristine Jackson opening up. Fans of Koko Taylor or Shemekia Copeland will love her; a delectably and savory Prime Rib Buffet accompanies the gig. Wilbert’s, 812 Huron Rd. E. http://www.wilbertsmusic.com.

Read more from Peter Chakerian here

This New Year’s Eve, Celebrate With the Kids

Cheers to you, moms and dads. You’ve survived trips to the mall with toddlers, you’ve toted bored tweens between family parties and you’ve finally conquered the self-replicating holiday to-do list. Now comes along a holiday that’s custom made just for us parents – New Year’s Eve.

Now, it may not have the most family-friendly rep, what with the late hours, pricey events and free-flowing alcohol that accompanies most traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations. But take another glance – it’s a couple of low-stress days off work and school and a chance to celebrate the fact that you and your family made it through the holidays. Perfectly timed, of course, before holiday bills arrive and life slows down for another endless Cleveland winter.

So if you’d like to make your New Year’s Eve a family-friendly one this year – without creating sleep-deprived zombies the next day – check out one of these kid-oriented events to ring in 2008:

First Night Akron
Dec. 31, 5PM to midnight, http://www.firstnightakron.org.
First Night Akron is the area’s biggest family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year’s Eve Party, and it’s the perfect destination for families wishing to ring in the new year together. At 21 venues throughout downtown Akron – from the Akron Civic Theatre and Akron Art Museum to the John S. Knight Center and Inventure Place – activities for adults and children abound. There’s music, theater, storytelling, visual arts, ice skating, lots of food and even a high school “First Night Idol” competition. For families with younger kids, stay till the 8:30 p.m. Kids’ Countdown and 9:00 p.m. fireworks, then head for home to tuck ‘em in. Older kids might wish to stay for the real countdown celebration, which starts at 11:30 p.m. and culminates with finale fireworks at midnight.

New Year’s Eve Eve, Great Lakes Science Center
Dec. 30, 5:30PM to 11:30PM, http://www.glsc.org.
Celebrate the New Year one day early with a range of family-friendly exhibits and activities, an OMNIMAX showing of The Polar Express and a buffet dinner. Hands-on experiments promise to allow guests to “explore the science of cold.” Tickets for the event are $25/each for adults ($22 for members) and $20/each for children ($17 for members).

Read more from Jennifer Keirn here

SPONSORED: We So Love This Join us for a special, one-time class at the Cleveland Museum of Art. It’s our “Puppet Making Workshop – 101” on Sat 1/5 from 10AM – 12PM. Come design and create your own unique sock puppet in this morning class. Open to everyone, ages 6 to 106. Parent required, kids optional. $15 per person. Limit 20. Check out the Jim Henson Muppets film after lunch at CMA or other times during the month of January (additional fee). Call the Ticket Center to register at 216-421-7350. For more info about CMA go to www.clevelandart.org/kids/.

Kwanzaa Camp This 7-day educational camp teaches youth the principles of unity, purpose, faith and more through interactive programming and the arts starting Wed 12/26. Ages 8-18 are welcome. Guest speaker Cedric Riley will share his experiences of being a foster child, and eventually being adopted. Cedric went on to achieve over $150,000 worth of scholarships to attend Ohio State University. Students will express their ideas through dance/theatre and music. Visit http://www.africansouinternational.org for more details.

HOT Here Comes Mars! Make your holidays sparkle with a celestial star show for the whole family. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in Bay Village has added family friendly programs in the Schuele Planetarium Wed 12/26 – Fri 12/28 at 11AM, Noon, 1PM, 2PM and 3PM for just a buck a person. The Center’s usual Saturday line-up of planetarium programs will take place on the Saturdays around Christmas week as well, with telescope viewing following a special 7PM show on Sat 12/29 (weather permitting). December telescope views of Mars are the best until 2016, thanks to a close encounter with the Red Planet this month! Head to http://www.lensc.org for details.

The Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars The original, performance based, interactive music school is showcasing their All-Stars — the best of the best from all of the schools around the States. They’re rockin’ out to classic hits as well as a few orignial tunes at the Grog Shop this Fri 12/28 with doors at 5PM. Opening set comes from your very own School of Rock in Rocky River! Family-friendly. http://www.grogshop.gs or email: rockyriver@schoolofrock.com.

HOT Little Red Riding Hood (and the Power Mutants) From the creator of Goldilocks on Trial comes the tale of Little Red’s Gourmet Catering and Home Delivery Service. Led by Little Red, and on a mission to deliver some goodies to Grandma’s house, she’s waylaid by Oswald The Big Bad Wolf — president and founder of Oswald’s School for Wolves. Oswald’s trying to teach his dim-bulb students how to steal baskets of goodies. Only The Power Mutants, a strange and mysterious group of mutant superheroes with rather silly powers, can help Little Red. Will the goodies get to Grandma’s house on time? Find out Sat 12/29 and Sun 12/30 at 2PM. http://www.karamu.com.

Cool Cleveland Kids Podcast Weekly roundup of cool events for kids & families from 11-year-old Cool Cleveland Kids correspondent Max.

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

Gasp! Report finds flaws in voting equipment across Cuy Cty. Read
Payday Lending leads to Cle foreclosures or so says CNNmoney. Those loans are an endless cycle that saps everyone that is sadly sucked in — homeowners and otherwise. Read
Quarries in Lorain turned into deluxe residential space to the tune of $500M. Really? Or is it Too Good to be True?
Local Chefs teach World Cuisine at Tri-C. Read
Creativity makes an urban area click as detailed in recent Toledo Blade article. Read
Detroit revival vies with industry’s decline. We’re not the only one with a Rust Belt bellyache. Read
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.

Cool Cleveland Podcast Weekly roundup of cool events.

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

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

HOT Emerging Cleveland Tours They’re looking for “ex-pats” — those who lived here once but have left — and other young people in and outside of Cleveland to show the city to. Do you have a son or daughter, sibling or friend who left for school or a job? Or maybe you know someone who just moved here and hasn’t had a chance to explore much? If so, have them check out the December tours Wed 12/26 from 1 – 4PM and Thu 12/27 from 10AM – 1PM. http://www.emergingcleveland.com.

HOT CMA’s Fantastic Flicks Celebrate the holidays with CMA’s Holiday Film Festival: Modern Masters on Film, showcasing five films about selected artists featured in the current Impressionists and Modern Masters exhibit beginning Wed 12/26 at 1:30PM. With films running through the weekend ending Sun 12/30 that include Vincent & Theo, Modigliani, Camille Claudel, The Wolf at the Door, and The Mystery of Picasso, you’re bound to be moved. http://www.clevelandart.org.

Annual Kwanzaa Celebration at Mt. Zion Congregational Church promises to be a very special celebration of African-American heritage and culture. Join in this exciting event and a Karamu Feast immediately afterwards. No cost, open to the public event hits Thu 12/27 at 7PM. Call 791-5760 for details.

Full Throttle Start celebrating New Years early with Cleveland’s Improv Comedy machine, Torque… Full Throttle Improv at The Powerhouse Pub on the West Bank of the Flats Fri 12/28 at 9PM. Enjoy a night of fast paced, highly energized and absolutely hysterical improv comedy with giveaways throughout the show! http://www.clevelandimprovinstitute.com.

The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus of Yale University offers an a capella return to form with an evening of blissful music and laughter Fri 12/28 at 8PM at Orange Village Hall. Contact Jan Braverman at 410-1315 or JanBrave@aol.com for tickets. http://www.orangevillage.com.

Hometown Jazz Pianist/Vocalist Joe McBride performs with Roger Hines on bass and Elijah Gilmore on drums Fri 12/18 at 7PM and 9PM at Nighttown. Material from McBride’s 2005 release, Texas Hold ‘Em Live at Nighttown and new tunes will be performed. Check out one of our town’s favorite jazz sons! 12387 Cedar Rd., Cle Hts. For more info or tix, call 795-0550 or http://www.nighttowncleveland.com.

SPONSORED: WCLV 104.9 joins in celebrating the arrival of the New Year with two special broadcasts. On New Year’s Eve at 8PM, Franz Welser-Moest and The Cleveland Orchestra present a Severance Hall gala concert with music by Schubert, Mozart and the Strauss Family. On January 1st at 11AM, WCLV presents the annual New Years Day concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, direct from the Musikverein in Vienna. Georges Pretre conducts. Complete details on all of WCLV’s classical music programming can be found at http://www.wclv.com.

Moko BoVo returns to the Parkview Sat 12/29 at 9PM for a lively, rhythmic pre-NYE party. With Dan Bode (Vocals/Harmonica/Effects), Al Moses (Guitar/Guitar Synth), John Stebal (drums) and Rick Kodramaz (bass). 1261 West 58th St., 3 Blocks North of Detroit Ave.

See Our Lead Stories on New Year’s Eve Celebrations for adults and families and figure out how to ring in your New Year.

Tommy’s Pancake Breakfast They don’t care if you’re in your PJsor what your New Year’s resolution is — they just want you to join in a Tommy’s tradition of welcoming the New Year with a Pancake Breakfast to benefit Heights Arts on Tue 1/1. Flower Clown and the “Greatly Appreciated but Unwanted Holiday Gift” annual raffle round out the festivities. http://www.tommyscoventry.com. http://www.heightsarts.org.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

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

JumpStart named by Entrepreneur Mag as 9th most active early-stage investor in the nation. Read
Speaking of JumpStart, they recently launched IdeaCrossing online community that connects entrepreneurs with investment capital and business assistance. Click
Tech firm Zin wins $1.3M award from NASA to build zero-gravity treadmill for astronauts. Read
Gene therapy at UH to help cancer patients. Read
Ohio.biz relaunches and expands coverage with additional features. Read and then Try It
Another new site, grayboxx.com is a next-gen local search portal with rankings, recommendations. Read and then Try It
Think we’ll see these bits on Euclid Ave. once the reno is done? Read
IBM Corp. awarded the company’s 2007 Technology Grants of computer equipment to nine NEO nonprofits at United Way of Greater Cleveland’s offices last week. Learn More

Positively Plexus Plexus is hosted by Positively Cleveland re: the LGBT Visitor’s Guide Tue 1/8. Want to check it out? Click and Click Again
Future of Design: Biomimicry An E4S Workshop with the Biomimicry Guild Mon 1/7 – Wed 1/9 at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Details
Cle Engineering Society announces meet and greet schedule starting Wed 1/9. Details and Winter Schedule
Don Tapscott Author of Wikinomics speaks at EJT @ UofA Thu 1/10 at 7PM. Part of 2008 Forum speaker series. Details
E4S Third Tuesday Networking Event hits Tue 1/15 Register
Disaster Recovery is subject of Crain’s January 2008 Biz B-fast Wed 1/16 at 7:30AM @ City Club of Cle. Register
Acquiring Capital for Sm Biz keynote feat. Ray Dalton from PartsSource LLC Fri 1/18 at 7:30AM Corp Coll East. 3 Panel Forum of experts follows. Show Me the Money!
The Next eMarketing Technique Series starts up at Corp Coll East on Mon 1/28. Register

This year’s most active post on BrewedFreshDaily.com

Keeping with the spirit of reflection that happens when the old year passes, I thought we’d look back over 2007 and see which post was the overall most popular. Turns out, it’s still a hot topic–the Medical Mart/Convention Center.

Back in April, Thomas Mulready posted “City leaders are finally moving forward on a Medical Mart that could attract 6000 visitors for 50+ medical trade shows per year, generating $331M annually. Hooray, and it’s about time. But there are questions: Why has the lid been clamped on this story, instead of a collaborative effort to woo the project to town? Why has Forest City been the only developer involved to date? Why, if the project generates so much profit for the businesses involved, are County Commissioners considering adding 1/4 to 1/8 of a cent to the County sales tax to help pay for the Medical Mart and an attached convention center.

A few of the 55 comments:

Read comments from regular BFD’ers and add yours here

Links to interesting NEO blogs

Kent city employees caring for Kent.
If blogs weren’t in the equation, rumors would only stay quiet longer.
Attorneys need to clean house, the bottom-feeder subset into which foreclosure attorneys fall have made a mockery of the law.
Beginning in 2009 and every three years after that, the city which hosts the physical Rock n Roll Hall of Fame will actually get to host the induction party as well. Fancy that.
A video of four trips from Public Square to Market Square.
Ideas on how to leverage the Rock Hall Inductions.
Breuer Tower ranked 10th Bloggiest Place in America.
Poet Sara Holbrook connects her poem, the Story of Stuff.

Every music publication seems to have a year in review bit these days. Rather than pontificate on the bloated, self-importance of relative worthiness and emotional importance of certain releases, I thought it best this year to turn the scene from Almost Famous on its ear. In the film, the late, great Lester Bangs tells his young apprentice that being a rock critic means you have to “be honest & unmerciful.” The only thing that would seemingly be unmerciful is to give you more to read than where this paragraph ends. Contrary public opinion won out; I thought CC readers should get a chance to click through and let these musical selections speak for themselves. Click the artist’s name below and get an earful. Hope you enjoy them. Happy Holidays!

Top 10 local releases of 2007:
10. TIE God Dam Dogs – Coffinberry and Welfare Poet – Ghetto Wisdom
9. Monet’s Orbit – Susan Weber
8. Every Hour is a Dollar Gone – Patrick Sweany
7. Tempest in a Teapot – The Twilight
6. The Surprise of Being: Live at Birdland – Cleveland Jazz Orchestra with Joe Lovano
5. Afro-Electroniqué – Mifuné
4. Doug Johns – Doug Johns
3. Sunbeamed – The Afternoon Naps
2. Dark Eye – Kassaba
1. Rest – The Dreadful Yawns

Honorable Mentions
Music for Parents – Machine Go Boom
Saffron – Return of Simple
(yes, we know, Saffron was released late 2006… it was worth a second mention anyway…)

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

The Foundling

The following column first appeared (in a shorter version) in the author’s book, From Behind the Wall.

Every Holiday Season an incident that occurred well over a decade ago thrusts its way back into my mind. Right before Christmas in 1993. a story concerning the finding of a newborn — a foundling — in a trash bin was the lead item on the evening news.

A youngster, who was playing in the vicinity of the trash bin (which was located in the inner-city housing project where he lives) heard the infant’s crying and ran home to summon his mother. It wasn’t long before the neighborhood was swarming with police, news cameras, and would-be anchorpersons. The television reporters were so anxious for an interview with someone — anyone — I could swear I saw one of them attempting to question a nearby lamppost.

The next morning the story was making worldwide headlines, and hot-off-of-the-computer editorials decrying the incident abounded. The writers wondered aloud who could have done such a heartless thing. Indeed, who could have been responsible for such a mind-boggling act?

Read more from Mansfield Frazier here

Disgraced Visitors Bureau Fed $100 Million by Cuyahoga County

It’s a good thing that Republicans don’t run Cuyahoga County.

But then, how would you know?

Well, you might expect Republicans to feed the rich more generously than Dems, wouldn’t you?

I guess, however, Democrats really act Republican when in office.

I come to that conclusion as I look at the openhandedness of Democrats when it comes to corporate desires here.

Here’s another sickening example of the grand similarity of Democrats and Republicans when it comes to fulfilling corporate interests. How else can you read it?

In the last 16 years, Cuyahoga County has bestowed more than $100 million upon the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland, which recently was renamed “Positively Cleveland.” The new name goes with other new slogan – Cleveland+ – “clever” soubriquets for clueless Cleveland leaders…

Read more from Roldo Bartimole here

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

An Organ & Brass Spectacular @ Severance Hall 12/18 It never grows old. The warmth and joy of the Holiday Season is indeed a wondrous thing to behold, especially in the grandeur of Severance Hall. Since the renovation of a few years ago, technical wizardry is more available, with colored lighting on stage and in the house itself. Not only are there beautiful shades of various hues projected on the walls and ceilings, but also moving images projected as well. When combined with the sonic splendors of the Norton Memorial Organ and the Burning River Brass, one would be hard pressed to ask for anything more.

Festive lights and images were already in place when the audience filtered in for the concert, drawing oohs and aahs and heightening the anticipation. They set the stage—literally—for a fabulous arrangement by brass wizard Anthony deLorenzo of Felix Mendelssohn’s beloved carol, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. A suite of Renaissance carols followed, reminding us that the minor mode of the Coventry Carol had special significance as did the sprightly and upbeat Riu, Riu, Chiu that followed…

Read more from Kelly Ferjutz here

The Sussex area of England was represented by three pieces: A Sussex Mummer’s Carol by Percy Grainger was heard in a brass arrangement, followed by the carol itself on the organ, and then in a still different version by the brass, in an arrangement by Roger Harvey. Even with the family resemblance, these were very different renditions, with variations in rhythm, volume, and instrumentation. From the low brass chorale with trumpet descant to the delicate organ melody that built to grand complexities, all were well done.

Veni, Veni Emmanuel is one of the older carols to come down through the centuries for us. This arrangement was by Leslie Pearson for organ and brass, with a charming stanza for the two horns.

More repetition followed, with two versions of In Dulci Jubilo for the organ. Talk about contrast! The first, was an introspective and purely gorgeous arrangement by the great French organist, Marcel Dupré, which sort of drifted on clouds throughout the auditorium. This was followed by an arrangement by the young J. S. Bach, or as the splendid organist Todd Wilson commented, ‘Bach as impetuous youth.’ Indeed. it was not singable in the least, although very enjoyable for listening.

The first half closed with a medley of ‘Festive Cheer’ by organ and brass. Sleigh Ride, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, with a stanza for horns, one for vibes and one for percussion which provided a real workout for Feza Zweifel (who would get another one in the second half!), Jingle Bells with bluesy lines for the trombones and We Wish You a Merry Christmas with a tuba solo, accompanied by the organ. For all of this the stage was bathed in red, with white strings of mini-lights across the rear wall.

The three selections performed by the brass from the Nutcracker which opened the second half, were accompanied by dazzling lighting effects. The Arabian Dance was all shimmery blues and greens and silver snowflakes; the brisk Trepak was pinkish lavender with silvery swirls. Gorgeous.

Mr. Wilson used every stop on the organ, I think, for the Variations on an Old Carol, Op. 20 by Marcel Dupré. This is a true showpiece for both organ and organist, demonstrating the delicate bells at one end of the volume selection to the thundering bass notes of the 32 foot Bombarde, which rattled the building.

Season’s Greetings was another happy medley by the brass, arranged by Dean Sorenson. Rudolf, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Oh Christmas Tree, Let it Snow (jazzy with a tuba solo) and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. As always, the Paul Ferguson arrangement of Little Drummer Boy (who meets the Pink Panther) brought down the house, providing Feza Zweifel with his second stint in the limelight. He took advantage of every second! There was a neat solo for trumpet, and again the two horns (new players this year, and both women, which really caught my attention!)

After this rambunctiousness, we all needed a breather, which was suitably provided by members of the Cleveland Orchestra Chamber Chorus led by their conductor, Robert Porco. Lined up across the front of the stage, they produced an amazing amount of beautiful sound for two carols by the remarkable contemporary composer John Rutter. The Shepherd’s Pipe Carol also featured the feather-light bells of the organ, while Deck the Hall featured the chorus unaccompanied. A notable feature here, however, was the beautiful projections of holly leaves and berries on the walls of the stage behind the singers. It was magical!

As always, the evening ended with a sing-along. Chorus, brass, organ and audience made a mighty and joyful noise in Angels We Have Heard on High, Silent Night, and Joy to the World. Of course, there was an encore – Good King Wenceslas, again with the warm red lighting on stage, amid swirling silver snowflakes. At least this time they were all inside the building!

After this happy-natured performance, there’s no excuse for not having an abundance of Christmas or Holiday spirit!

Music Director Franz Welser-Möst returns to lead The Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Chorus when concerts resume the weekend of January 10-13. For tickets or other information, call 231-1111 or visit the website: http://www.clevelandorchestra.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

Cool Cleveland readers write
All letters must include your full name (required) and you may include your e-mail address (optional).
Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

On the Convention Center Our company does trade shows around the country, including the Beauty Systems Group Fashion Focus here every spring. The current convention center is an embarrassment to the city. It’s old and dreary looking. It’s depressing. It has that old “bomb shelter” or parking garage look. The new convention centers are more open, airy and bright. They have modern meeting rooms with updated lighting and AV services.

The convention center also needs to be downtown! People want to be where their are plentiful hotels, restaurants and bars, entertainment facilities like the Rock Hall, the Q and Jake, plentiful parking and taxi service. We have an obligation to support the existing hotels that are running at low occupancy rates and the restaurants that are just making it.

That is not to take anything away from the Medical Mart idea. I believe it’s a great idea for a city that has the Worlds #1 Heart Hospital – The Cleveland Clinic. It is a first class organization and with the opening of the Miller Family Heart Pavilion it will become the showcase of the medical community.

But, let’s do the city of Cleveland a favor…a new state of the art convention center, downtown where it belongs!
from Cool Cleveland reader Dennis Lubin DEELUBE@aol.com

On pollution The Cleveland Brown stadium is a great sport venue but do they need to have the ‘gazillion’ watt external billboards run 24 hours a day 365 days a year. It is wasteful, and for those of us fortunate to live downtown it lights our homes so brightly at night that shades are required. Does anyone else think we should give the signs a rest in the wee hours of the morning? Maybe look at stars over the lake once in awhile.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jay Holmstrom jay@holmstrom.us

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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

1) Holiday Buying Guide Help for Procrastinators.
www.CoolCleveland.com

2) The Story of Stuff The most important film since An Inconvenient Truth.
www.StoryOfStuff.com

3) Road Trip Sit Back and Relax on the Megabus.
www.MegaBus.com

4) BizTech News Architecture/design firm to land in Ohio City with $1M bldg reno.
www.CrainsCleveland.com

5) RoldoLINK Is This Forest City’s Bow-out & Jackson’s Cash Cow?
www.CoolCleveland.com

Baby, New Year When we see you again, it’ll be 08. We hope your resolutions include your friends, the Hard Corps, here at Cool Cleveland. Pass us along to your friends in the New Year and share the love. Hurrahs, hizzahs and so forth to Peter Chakerian, T.L. Champion, George Nemeth, Mansfield B. Frazier, Jennifer Keirn and Kelly Ferjutz. This episode was brought to you by… working ahead so we could have Monday and Tuesday to share with family and friends this week. 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.

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–Thomas Mulready
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