Walk+Roll

8.02-8.09.06

Walk+Roll

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland’s Get Wild Natural History party 8/10 Get tix here before midnight 8/2
* Access:Cleveland Lois Moss of Walk+Roll Cleveland
* Cool Cleveland Interview Donniella Winchell of the Ohio Wine Producer’s Association
* Signs of Life on Planet Cleveland Connections, connections, connections
* Cool Cleveland Comment Kelly McCloskey’s Cleveland Americana Revisited
* Cool Cleveland Sounds History and Geography from Home and Garden
* Cool Cleveland Preview Cirque du Soleil’s Delirium
* Cool Cleveland Eats Los Cubanosnew!
* RoldoLINK Mayor Jackson’s message plus the story the PD dropped
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, CC Blog click here

Doing the impossible is fun. Ask Lois Moss, who, after building Century Cycles into one of the top bike shops in the country, set out to close MLK Drive to traffic for two entire Sundays this month, allowing Clevelanders to walk, roll and generally enjoy themselves along Rockefeller Park, the Cultural Gardens and the Greenhouse. Watch our video interview and pick up on her can-do vibe.

This week, that same spirit infects The Indie Gathering, a networking confab for independent film poobahs, the first Buckeye Arts Festival, and a spectacular evening under the stars with the world’s best—Cleveland Orchestra. So here’s to doing the impossible. Every week. –Thomas Mulready

Party with the Primates
Cool Cleveland Thu 8/10
Super low price until Thu 8/3 midnight here!

Go Ape with Jane at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Cool Cleveland party on Thur 8/10. The Nature League is hosting a wild night of exotic food from University Circle restaurants and a lineup of entertainment that includes live music, open bar beer and wine, incredible appetizers, and mega comp admissions to the much talked about Jane Goodall exhibit, Verb Ballets performing on stage, a planetarium show, the observation deck, and a possible, yet unconfirmed report about a man with a snake.
  • Live music by the Gene Pool, with their alt rock/country music, from Austin, TX
  • Beer, wine and deliciously delectable appetizers
  • A comp ticket to the much talked about Jane Goodall exhibit
  • Another comp ticket to see Verb Ballets perform “Planet Soup” on stage at 8PM
  • And yet another comp ticket to the planetarium show hosted by CMNH astronomers
  • Plus, a secret rendezvous on the Observation Deck, open to view the night sky
  • Once-in-a-lifetime 50% off Nature League membership offer

Don’t Monkey Around! Get ALL THIS at one incredible low price before midnight 8/3 for your best deal: https://CoolCleveland.net/tickets/081006/index.php. See map here.

Access:Cleveland
Lois Moss
Walk+Roll Cleveland
Movies Behind the Scenes

Lois Moss doesn’t like the word “No.” Her polite, charming, low-key manner belies her inner strength, determination and persistence. Maybe it’s all that bike riding. After co-founding Century Cycles, with four Cleveland-area stores, making it a nationally recognized bike shop, she turned her attention to the wider community. “What if we shut down MLK and let people ride their bikes, and walk and explore the Cultural Gardens, the Greenhouse and other gems along the 2.1 mile Rockefeller Park?” She called her dream Walk+Roll Cleveland, got it supported with a recent grant from the Civic Innovation Lab, and fueled by all the folks she convinced to believe in her vision: the city, volunteers, artists and participants. The result? Walk+Roll takes place Sun 8/6 and Sun 8/13 from 11AM to 5PM each day. How did she pull off this near-impossible feat? Watch as Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready talks with her about the beauty of the park, all the events at Walk+Roll: Ultimate Frisbee competiton, a drum circle, tai chi, yoga, in-line sk8 lessons, face painting, chalk festival and bike safety lessons, and why she isn’t retiring to Italy any time soon. http://www.WalkAndRollCleveland.com

WATCH THE MOVIE Walk+Roll Cleveland organizer Lois Moss (PC) (Mac)

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Hey! What’s the Big Idea? Give us your opinion and we’ll give you $3,000 in NEO Bucks, a virtual currency you can spend to show how you think we should invest our resources to make Northeast Ohio an even better place. We want to hear your ideas on how to solve some of Northeast Ohio’s toughest challenges like public school funding, urban sprawl and racial isolation. To post your good ideas go to www.voiceschoices.org/choicebook, complete one or more Choicebooks, interactive exercises that describe the tough choices we face, then offer your solutions. The public priorities expressed and gathered through the Choicebooks will influence the Voices & Choices Regional Town Meeting and leader forums in the Fall of 2006, to produce our region’s economic action agenda.
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NewsLINKS

  • Eminent domain curtailed in Ohio The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously veered 180 degrees from a recent US Supreme Court ruling, stating that eminent domain could not necessarily be justified when redeveloping property for economic development purposes, even when a “public use” is promised. The case in Norwood, Ohio, outside of Cincinnati, sounds strikingly similar to a planned mixed-use development on the East Bank of the Flats where the Wolstein Group has convinced the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority to threaten eminent domain on its behalf, in order to force property owners to accept bids the owners feel are too low. Next step: a state task force may recommend changing the state constitution to allow more flexible use of eminent domain. See Crain’s here. And what do you think of all this? Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
  • To ensure you receive Cool Cleveland every week, take a moment now and add CoolCleveland@CoolCleveland.com to your address book, trusted sender list, or corporate white list.
  • Arts education benefits literacy Arts advocates and educators have been saying so for years, and here’s more fuel for the fire. According to the New York Times, students who took part in a recent Guggenheim-based student arts program showed literacy skills improvements over those who didn’t. Students scored better in critical thinking, hypothesizing and reasoning. Given the focus of math and science these days through No Child Left Behind, these results are sure to spark debate. Read the Times article here, and see our page about the Cuyahoga County Arts Levy here.
  • Cool Cleveland Kids Perhaps you’re going out of town and don’t need help planning events for your kids. If you do, take a hint from 10-year-old Cool Cleveland correspondent Max Mulready who has scoured the Internet looking for a few good events to recommend. Hear his short podcast here even if you don’t have special software. If you’re a whiz kid, you can download it to your iPod or your computer and listen with your own kid. Check below to see the events tagged CC KIDS under Cool Cleveland This Week for our recommendations for a fantastic family week. http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolClevelandKids08.04.06.mp3. Adding this link to your program that catches podcasts, will keep you up-to-date on the latest audio.
  • Toronto launches Ingenuity knock-off Toronto is creating a new arts festival to celebrate creativity, called Luminato, because “old traditional methods of bringing people to our city and province are starting to wear thin… within a couple of years, it should have global reach… a perfect fit with the city’s strategy to use culture to boost Toronto’s economy. Culture and creativity are the sharp edge of Toronto’s competitive advantage.” The province of Ontario is putting up $2 million and expecting additional corporate, city and federal funds. They have Monty Python’s Eric Idle doing a comedy based on Handel’s “Messiah,” and a major multi-media installation by Atom Egoyan. See Toronto Globe & Mail here.
  • Summer Restaurant Tour 06 Need a great excuse to go out for dinner and drinks at fabulous restaurants with your uber fab friends? From the first course to dessert, community members can support the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland through the 2006 Summer Restaurant Tour (SRT), a series of special nights at some of the area’s most talked-about dining establishments. Participating is easy; head to an SRT spot on the designated night, tell your server you are with the Center’s SRT and a percentage of your bill will be donated to the Center. Easy as pie. The tour begins tonight at the Old Angle Tavern at 1848 West 25th Street. See the rest of the stops on this tasty tour at www.lgbtcleveland.org. Bon appetit!

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Groove with NYC’s GrooveLily (and Buy One/Get One Tix) at Cain Park Tue 8/8 at 8PM. With backgrounds in classical music, musical theater, jazz and rock, GrooveLily is making new music that’s all their own. Intelligent original songs with no shortage of wit, connected with lush musical textures and soaring vocals. Add the blazing six-string electric violin of Valerie Vigoda, the lightning-fingered piano of Brendan Milburn and the joyful drums of Gene Lewin. Clevelander Robin Stone has the energy of Dave Matthews with the elegant delivery of Natalie Cole, pulse of Erykah Badu and eloquence of Joni Mitchell. This is intelligent groove. Supported by WKSU 89.7 FM. Get two tickets for the price of one ($16) when you buy at Cain Park and mention that you’re a “Cool Clevelander.” For tickets contact 216-371-3000 or www.CainPark.com.
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

NewsLINKS

  • Natural History Museum to expand The CMNH is planning on public polling, hiring architects, and pitching potential donors on a $30-50 million expansion project. It would be the largest and “most ambitious” undertaking in the museum’s 86-year history. See story here. Adding to the buzz, The Canton Repository reported on an anonymous “lead gift” of $6.2 million to CMNH here, suggesting those bucks might help launch the project. Check out the upcoming Cool Cleveland shindig at CMNH and discuss what such a wild expansion might look like. Get tix here.
  • Cool Cleveland Podcast Cool things to do this week in Cleveland, at the click of a button. http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolCleveland08.04.06.mp3. Don’t forget, you can subscribe to this podcast by saving this link in your favorite program that catches podcasts.
  • Gordon Square development inspires MSM This is the kind of thing we love to see featured in mainstream media news programs. Check out the footage here. Not that’s more like it. What do you think about preserving old v. tearing down to rebuild? Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
  • A Cool Cleveland High Five goes out to CC volunteer extraordinaire Doug Morris, who won our Ingenuity volunteer contest! He will receive party passes to the CMNH “Get Wild” party on 8/10 and a FFB all-he-can-eat lunch with CC staffers. Congrats, Doug!
  • How to Kick Silicon Valley’s Butt Blogger, VC and tech evangelist Guy Kawasaki, based in Silicon Valley, offers his views on how to become the next Silicon Valley: educate engineers, encourage immigration, forgive your failures, be patient. Interestingly, Kawasaki fawns over California’s natural beauty, stating that Cleveland is “always going to have people wanting to move away,” no matter how entrepreneurial we become. And to him, that’s one success factor. Read why Cleveland will never become Silicon Valley, and that’s OK here.
  • Marketing Alliance picks home team The Greater Cleveland Marketing Alliance has awarded their regional brand development project designed to brand the region to visitors, businesses, college students and young adults to advertising and marketing firm Doner. There’s been some chatter about the firm’s headquarters being based in Detroit; but in fact, Doner employs 80 people in its Cleveland office, where the account will be managed. Read the GCMA’s news release here. Find out what’s got everyone’s panties in a bunch on www.BrewedFreshDaily.com then send us your thoughts at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Emissions from the blogsphere These are the people in Steve FitzGerald’s neighborhood. Chas Rich does a round up on what newspapers around the state are saying about Ohio Supreme Court’s decision on eminent domain. Scott Bakalar commiserates with the owners of flooded basements around the region. Norm Roulet hangs out with Rocket from the Tombs’ Dave Thomas after their soundcheck at the Beachland Ballroom. Check the Cool Cleveland weblog here, where Peter Chakerian touches on Gordon Square’s development, 19 Crackhead News’ “heroism,” Akron’s Triple-A formatted station (why not here?), “smoking for success,” rolling blackouts, and hits a few news items from the “CHQ” news desk. When you’re done, add your own comments, questions and attitude. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Is it Love? Do we make your heart pound a little faster every Wednesday morning, as you scroll through CC, looking for the absolute best things to do with your weekend? Show us the love and introduce us to your significant other(s). You will both be eligible to win a Video iPod compliments of Cool Cleveland. No purchase necessary. Enter often. The more friends you enter, the greater your chances of winning. Sign up by going here.


Cool Cleveland This Week

8.02-8.09

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

THU

  • CC KIDS A Taste of Tradition This multicultural neighborhood celebration, on Thu 8/3 through Sun 8/6, features traditional music ranging from polka to opera and contemporary music that will bring a little Vegas bling and sultry Miami heat to East 185th Street. The Taste of the Beachland Neighborhoods is a regional restaurant expo under one tent featuring wine tastings and food demonstrations. The Children’s Expo Area includes more kid-friendly rides and a children’s area double the size of previous years. Kids will be entertained by clowns, musicians, live music, a puppet show and they can show off their stuff with kids’ karaoke. There will even be a bit of gambling – for a good cause. Forward questions to kathisen@yahoo.com. Oliver H. Perry Elementary School, 18400 Schenely Avenue, Cleveland.
  • Pointe of Departure Led by co-artistic directors Karen Gabay and Raymond Rodriguez, the broad range of dancers in Pointe of Departure go from classical ballet to tap, modern to theatrical jazz dancing, while the choreography interprets the diversity of the music. See the company perform on Thu 8/3 at 8PM. Visit http://www.CainPark.com for ticket info. Cain Park, corner of Lee and Superior Roads.
  • HOT PICK CC KIDS Delirium Don’t miss Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever live arena event on Thu 8/3 through Sat 8/5 at 8PM (See Peter Chakerian’s Preview below). Take a sneak peak at the explosive multimedia extravaganza by visiting www.CirqueSoleil.com. Tickets are pricey for this one, but chances are you will still be talking about this show for years to come. Hot Tip: Attend the specially priced matinee on Sat 8/5 at 2PM. Quicken Loans Arena, 1 Center Court.

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FRI

  • HOT PICK The Indie Gathering Cleveland hosts the largest networking event for the Independent Film Industry on Fri 8/4 to Sun 8/6. If a weekend of brushing shoulders with the future of film isn’t enough to get you to dialing for advance tickets then consider the film screenings, live music, vendor exhibitions and much more! Check out their incredibly cool website at http://TheIndieGathering.com/ or call 651-5441 for details. Holiday Inn in Independence, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence.
  • CC KIDS Twins Day Festival An event so good it will have you seeing double. Visit the annual totally twins event beginning Fri 8/4 at 9AM through Sun 8/6. Note: Friday’s event is for twins and their families only. The non-twin public is welcome on Saturday and Sunday. Visit http://www.TwinsDays.org to learn about the host of family fun in store. Twinsburg.
  • Vintage Ohio Brace yourself for an incredible vino adventure during this wall-to-wall wine fest on Fri 8/4 and Sat 8/5 from 1-10PM. Make sure you read the interview with Donniella Winchell below. The family-friendly event will have lots for everyone to do, including two stages of music featuring acts like Horns N Things, The Vibe, Forecast and Klass Act. Designated drivers – the friend that draws the short stick – will get a special low admission price, unlimited soft drinks, and they can buy bottles from the carry-out store to take home. Go to http://www.VisitVintageOhio.com to learn more. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Chardon Road, Kirtland.
  • Arterial The Buckeye Arts Festival will showcase gifted and emerging artists in the Cleveland area by giving them a venue to showcase their work. This new and exciting event will have plenty of food, fun and entertainment for the entire family on Fri 8/4 through Sun 8/6 from 2-8:45PM. The Buckeye Arterial Mini Park, 11800 Buckeye Road.
  • Lakewood Arts Festival Starry Night is the Lakewood Arts Festival kick-off event on Fri 8/4 beginning at 6PM with a VIP Artist Reception followed by cocktails and gourmet food stations from 7-10PM. Mingle with friends, enjoy music under the stars and dine on several different types of cuisine – all while helping to raise money for two worthwhile causes — the Lakewood Arts Festival Scholarship Fund and the expansion of Lakewood Hospital diabetes services, including community education and wellness programs. Call 529-7009 to reserve your tickets. Belle Avenue at Detroit Avenue. http://www.LakewoodAlive.com.
  • Twilight at the Zoo Stay ahead of the pack as wildlife is redefined at this event, on Fri 8/4 from 7PM till the witching hour. If rocking it out to the tune of sixteen bands, unlimited Samuel Adams and delish hors d’oeuvres aren’t enough to float your boat, then up the ante and go for the VIP party. Get your tickets www.ClevelandZooSociety.org. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way.

WCLVnotes Help WCLV 104.9 FM celebrate the delightful season of summer by letting us know what classical music helps you relax and kick back. What piece of music simply says “summer” to you? Each Saturday morning at 11AM between now and Sat 8/26 we’ll present a special hour of summer music that creates a calm and soothing atmosphere. If we play your suggested selection in our Simply Summer hour, we’ll send you a CD from Sony by the same title. Send your summer selections to wclv@wclv.com – and put in the subject line: Summer. Or mail to WCLV, 26501 Renaissance Pkwy, Cleveland, OH, 44128. For more info contact www.wclv.com. WCLV is a Cool Cleveland partner.

SAT

  • British Car Days Bentleys, Aston Martins and Jaguars…oh my! If the mere mention of high-end British driving machines make your break out into a sweat – this event will have you dancing naked in the living room. Get within new-car smelling distance of 350 of the finest vintage and newer British cars around this Sat 8/5 from 9AM to 4PM – just don’t forget to get dressed again first. Tasty foods will be provided by Café 56 at this exciting, no-cost event. Learn more here. Ursuline College, 2550 Lander Road, Pepper Pike.
  • The Vinyl Years: Album Cover Art Revisit some of your fondest memories connected to the music you grew up with during this exhibit on Sat 8/5 from 12 – 5PM, through 10/1. Browse more than 100 album covers and learn about this art form. Visit www.JHMuseum.org to learn more. The Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum, 300 North Whitewoman Street, Coshocton.
  • Arc Ancient Anniversary celebration with live jazz & blues by Gloria O’Neil Savage & Bob Frazier, plus comp massage, hors d’oeuvres & readings on Sat 8/5 from 1-6PM, 1391 Sloan Ave, Lakewood, 458-1444.
  • Gadi Zamir Attend a meet and greet, on Sat 8/5 from 6-10PM, for featured artist, Gadi Zamir, whose self titled myGrain, a Collaboration of Stain, Grain, and Imagination‘ is currently on exhibit at True Art. Gadi’s work incorporates wood burning and metal detailing on wood surfaces and he utilizes the natural grain of the wood to make his images. Call 383-0230 to learn more. True Art, 410 East 156 Street, North Collinwood.
  • HOT PICK Operatic Orchestra Spectacular Spend an evening under the stars, on Sat 8/5 at 8PM, entranced by powerful operatic music including Verdi’s Forza del destino Overture and Aida Ballet Music, plus Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries”. Meistersinger Suite and Rienzi Overture will round out a simply perfect evening. Visit www.ClevelandOrchestra.com for more info or to purchase tickets. Blossom Music Center, 1145 West Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls.
  • Red Krayola w/ Home & Garden, and Blk Tygr Check out the sounds of Red Krayola on Sat 8/5 at 8PM – on one of only six US tour dates. Home & Garden (ex Pere Ubu) and Blk Tyger will open the show. Visit http://www.ParishHallCleveland.com for more info and ticket purchase locations. Parish Hall Cleveland, 6205 Detroit Avenue.

Stupendous Event Lister of the Month Take a bow Passport Project. This top-notch community program, founded by Chloë Hopson, builds community through the arts, encourages respect for diversity and rejects racial bias by fostering cultural understanding. Passport Project listings include all essential info: Physical address; website address and contact info, and their events are posted on their website. We salute Passport Project for offering a much-needed community service and for making it easier to tell our readers about it. Need a checklist to make sure that your listings will make it to the top of the pack? Click here then scroll down to Hints. Send your polished up listing to us at Events@CoolCleveland.com or submit online.

SUN

  • CC KIDS HOT PICK Walk + Roll Cleveland Park your car (or arrive by bike) and stroll Rockefeller Park and the Cultural Gardens along Martin Luther King Drive, which will be closed to traffic on Sun 8/6 and Sun 8/13 from 11AM to 5PM, creating a 2 mile funway where you can bike, sk8, walk, jog, picnic and explore with live music, a chalk festival, yoga & tai chi, ethnic dancing, bike safety classes, an Ultimate Frisbee Tournament, and youth theatre productions in the Slovak Garden. http://www.WalkAndRollCleveland.com
  • Discover the Valley Rally Drive scenic roads throughout the Cuyahoga Valley learning interesting facts about the valley and Cuyahoga Valley National Park then answer a few questions for a chance to win some prizes. Driver check-in begins on Sun 8/6 at 12:00PM with a mandatory driver meeting at 12:30PM. The rally will end at the Ledges pavilion in Cuyahoga Valley National Park for tasty food and beverages from 4-8PM. Register your group at http://www.913thesummit.com or http://www.CascadeAutoGroup.com. Event kicks off at the Cascade Auto Group, 4149 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls.

TUE

  • Spider Cents is a unique panel discussion on Tue 8/8 at noon that will discuss the public-private partnership that brought the filming of Spiderman 3 to Cleveland; the efforts made to leverage the economic impact of the film; and the potential to attract more film crews to Cleveland. The panel includes Chris Carmody, president of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission; Peter Martorano, Cleveland location manager for “Spider-Man 3”; Steve Millard, executive director of the Council of Small Enterprises; and Ken Silliman, chief of staff for the City of Cleveland. Attendees also will get a sneak peek of early footage of the film, scheduled for a May 2007 release. Call 621-0082 or visit www.CityClub.org for more info and tickets. City Club of Cleveland, 850 Euclid Avenue, 2nd Floor.
  • Special Cooking Class This special cooking class is designed to nurture the soul and feed the stomach of those touched by cancer. “Grilling in the Garden” is a no-cost, hand-on cooking class on Tue 8/8 at 7PM for those touched by cancer. The event will be held in the highly-acclaimed healing garden under the tutelage of Chef Michael Lyons, owner of Cleveland-based catering company Accessible Gourmet. Students will help the chef prepare a grilled vegetable salad with roasted orange bell pepper vinaigrette, grilled pizzas, cedar plank salmon with summer salsa and lamb kabobs with mint tzatziki. For more info, or to reserve your spot call 595-9546. The Gathering Place, 23300 Commerce Park in Beachwood. http://www.TouchedByCancer.org.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland Interview
Donniella Winchell, Executive Director
Ohio Wine Producer’s Association

Donniella Winchell is the Executive Director of the Ohio Wine Producers Association (http://www.OhioWines.org) and she has a blast winning the cynics and naysayers over. The Ohio Wine Producers Association (OWPA) has been at promoting the breadth of wine in the state for decades—their work culminating every year with the Vintage Ohio wine festival (http://www.VisitVintageOhio.com), which takes place this Friday and Saturday, August 4-5, at Lake Metroparks Farmpark.

Our conversation takes place Friday afternoon, t-minus one week until Vintage Ohio lift-off. Flooding has taken place out east, where she’s located. Tensions could be high, with all the phones ringing off the hook and details on the event being cinched. But she’s peaceful. People are looking for tickets, placing orders and congratulating her on the placement of Vintage Ohio in USA Today (see below). In the middle of a three-ring circus, it isn’t any wonder why Winchell sounds blissfully happy. Our conversation was upbeat, intriguing and went like this:

Cool Cleveland: Thanks for taking the time. I read that Vintage Ohio is now the largest wine event in Ohio. Outside of the 35,000+ who know because they attend, what does that mean exactly for a casual reader?

Donniella Winchell: USA Today did a January/February “round up” of wine events across the country. In that story, they listed Aspen, Monterrey, the New York Wine Experience and Vintage Ohio as their four key events. It’s been gratifying to see Vintage Ohio mature to such a level of significance. Certainly we’re the biggest in the state, and in the top 10 in the country.

Vintage Ohio is the current model for the Zinfandel fest in California, and yet it’s different from most other wine festivals. We don’t sell bottles, because we don’t want you to drink… we want you to taste. Based on your wine travels, you know what the other side looks like! (laughs) We pride ourselves on being “An experience for all of your senses.” That’s our new motto. From a potential consumer’s perspective, the average street festival’s patron will stay at an event for 2 hours; at Vintage, we get 6 hours, so there’s a tremendous value, too. And our arts package alone this year is worth the price of admission, and because of our approach, we always seem to draw well.

Local and regional partnerships have been key for Vintage Ohio.

It’s definitely an affinity group replica, much in the same way that MBNA built businesses in concentric circles. Think about it: only so many people drink wine, and of those people, only so many have the first Friday and Saturday in August available because of vacations… the growth comes with opportunities to promote to a lot of people who are potential customers. You get the [Ohio] Farm Bureau to explain agriculture to an increasingly urban audience. You bring cheese producers, restaurateurs, producers of wine accoutrements… it’s built completely on relationships and partnerships, which also helps keep our audience engaged…
Read the interview with Donniella Winchell here

Signs of Life on Planet Cleveland
Connections
By David Budin

A few things happened on the same day that all connected me with old friends. It was the Sunday of the Cain Park Arts Festival and the Ingenuity Festival. At Cain Park, I ran into Jane Berger – she’s an artist and art teacher, and she’s an old friend who went to Heights High when I did. We talked about art and teaching and old friends and Heights High. And we agreed that there’s something about old friends that’s different and unique.

I was thinking about that later the same day, on my way to the Ingenuity Festival to hear the brilliant young New York City-based pianist Spencer Myer III, who was born and raised in the Cleveland are and whose parents still live here. I believe he’s a brilliant young pianist, anyway. I can prove that he’s young and a pianist, but I guess you’ll have to judge his brilliance yourself. If you missed him at Ingenuity, there will be other chances to hear him in the Cleveland area during the next few months; watch for his name.

Spencer’s father and I were rock musicians in the 1970s who sometimes played in groups together. One day in August 1978, Spencer II called me to ask if I could fill in for him at a club where he was doing a solo gig, because his wife had just gone into labor with what turned out to be Spencer III. Now Spencer III is winning classical piano competitions all over the world…
Read the column by David Budin here

Cool Cleveland Comment
Cleveland Americana Revisited
By former Clevelander Kelly McCloskey of Abingdon, England

British resident and Cleveland ex-pat Kelly McCloskey wrote Cleveland Americana here, and Cool Cleveland reader Nick Stallard responded with a letter to Cool Cleveland in Yr Turn here. Following is McCloskey’s subsequent reaction to Stallard’s response.

Whilst I obviously prefer happy emails – or at least emails that have some sort of logic associated with them and have been composed by someone with a brain stem, I do quite enjoy these slices of vitriol. If he’s [Nick Stallard is] this pissed off then I’ve most definitely hit a nerve which means he’s thinking – hell, maybe he’s even fuming about it right this second.

Let’s all take a moment to send Mister Nick Stallard some happy pink-fuzz thoughts, shall we? He’s obviously a sensitive, insecure man boiling over with rage he can’t seem to get a grip on.

More disturbing, though, is the fact that he couldn’t see past his own child-like and sycophantic love for the current Administration. No doubt that sentence alone scared him off from reading the rest of the article (which I thought was overall very upbeat and even bordered on happy!) for fear that I would dare to say anything else negative about Bush or America in general….
Read Cleveland Americana Revisited from Cool Cleveland commentator Kelly McCloskey here

Cool Cleveland Sounds
History and Geography
Home and Garden
Exit Stencil

A phoenix from ashes, Home and Garden began with the deconstruction of legendary Cleveland art-rockers Pere Ubu back in the early 1980s. Drummer R. Scott Krauss and bassist Tony Maimone launched the group with guitarist/keyboardist Jim Jones and vocalist Jeff Morrison; at least part of the intent fixed on separating themselves from Ubu iconoclast David Thomas.

The results were courageous–falling somewhere between atmospheric psychedelia, free jazz and the avant-rock cacophony of Fripp’s King Crimson.

The group released History and Geography in 1982; the touchstone has been remastered, and reissued by Exit Stencil Recordings this past May and features liner notes and interviews of the band by author/artist Mike DeCapite. The package also includes a slate of session tracks for History and Geography, along with the How I Spent My Vacation EP.

And it’s incredible. Nearly 25 years after its release, History and Geography isn’t the least bit dated. It still sounds as fresh, brave and abstract as it did upon its initial release. The avant-garde sound of the “Marco Polo” suite, “Monkey Town” and “King Penguin” sound sound über-modern, just as they did upon their first release. And Morrison’s vocal timbre certainly can give the listener a David Byrne-like buzz every now and again, which isn’t a bad thing. His spoken-word delivery on “Geography” is chilling.

As if this updated release weren’t enough, Maimone and Krauss have also resurrected Home and Garden as a live act, too. The group’s return to expressionist rock on stage came at the Beachland Ballroom for this disc’s release; the lineup featured Robert Wheeler (keyboards), Keith Kornajcik (vocals/clarinet) and and original Pere Ubu guitarist Tom Herman. I tell you all of this Cleveland, because you have a really rare opportunity to see and hear true rock history.

This disc is a must-have. And if you’ve yet to see the resurrected group live, you had better get at it. Opportunities like this don’t come around very often, if ever.

Having just performed recently at the Ingenuity Festival and at MOCA Cleveland, Home and Garden will perform on August 5 at the Miller Weitzel Gallery, Cleveland Parish Hall. The group opens for equally legendary avant-rock act Red Krayola. For more information, visit the Cleveland Parish Hall at http://www.millerweitzelgallery.com/ and Exit Stencil Recordings at http://www.exitstencilrecordings.com/homeandgarden.html

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

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.

Kindred Spirits Does Cool Cleveland Speak to You? If so, first check your Prozak prescription for expiration dates. Then if everything’s okay, consider sharing your Cool Cleveland friend with other friends who would also enjoy a good read by forwarding it now.

Cool Cleveland Preview
Cirque du Soleil’s Delirium

OK, I know what you’re thinking. Why on earth is Cool Cleveland doing a preview of Cirque Du Soleil? Isn’t that a touch too mainstream? I mean, c’mon, a gigantic arena-touring endeavor? Every other outlet in town has “had their say” already, right? Well. Aside from Delirium being in the Cool Cleveland “sweet spot” (art, theatre, technology, multimedia, live music), Cirque Du Soleil’s new production has two critical messages that all Clevelanders need right now.

The first? Our protagonist is lost in a sea of self-absorbed society. Conflict has digested personality, creativity has been lost, and all 5 senses are seemingly out of kilter. Networked with technology to the hilt, no one character seems to know who they are or how they fit in. Sound familiar? We all fall into this morass every day (admittedly or not) walking through Cleveland like some dazed denizens in a Romero flick (sans brain-eating). A lot of what we see is taken for granted. We’re preoccupied by deadlines, bills, commitments. Rarely do we stop and take in the world unfolding around us.

That’s the Delirium message: Wake up. The Delirium event is an emotional, multi-tiered story celebrating imagination, counting blessings and offers a message of reconnection to the world. It showcases 44 musicians, singers, dancers, acrobats and main acting characters, who infuse acrobatics, aerials and an overload of multimedia to tell a super cool-and-creative storyline. It’s as close to a Pink Floyd-sized spectacle you’ll find today… it just might just help you reawaken.

The other message? Don’t take your own arts community for granted, either. Cirque Du Soleil was formed in 1984 by two street performers in urban Montreal, Quebec. Now look at them, they’re huge. CDS have played to over 50 million people worldwide. Use that as a reminder at how lucky you are to enjoy local outfits like SAFMOD and other Ingenuity artists with regularity… unobstructed and affordable. And if you don’t already partake of our own riches, extend your Cirque Du Soleil experience by engaging our impressive, homegrown talent. It’ll keep you sharp.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

Cool Cleveland Eats: Los Cubanos

A Cuban sandwich (aka “Cubano”) is deliciously toasty, a submarine-style meal treat popular to southern Florida’s loncherias and favorite to the large Cuban-American populations in Key West, Tampa and Miami. Passionate fans of the Cubano love the layering of roasted pork, ham, cheese, pickle and various combinations of veg on a sliced length of crusty, Cuban bread. The key to a great Cubano lies in the sandwich-press grilling on a “plancha.” This fuses all of the ingredients together into something robust and decadant. Even Fidel is said to love them secretly.

Looking for a spectacular Cubano in Cleveland? Lelolai in Ohio City has a fantastic one (left) that comes on bread baked fresh on site every day. Lelolai’s Cubano is a fairly traditional composition focusing on a generous serving of gloriously roasted pulled-pork. Savory ham, Swiss, lettuce and tomato, a “secret recipe” garlic aioli and crisp-toasted bookends round out this delectable meal. Go for the Malta Goya, too. Visit Lelolai at http://www.lelolaibakery.com.

A Better Place focuses on Caribbean and Cuban fare (try their conch fritters!) and their Cubano melds a more classic style (pickles), with zippy jerk pork, ham, Swiss and a savory spread. Visit A Better Place online at http://www.abetterplace4u.com. Though not quite as crunchy as the Lelolai, Key West Cafe’s Cubano is also on freshly baked bread and served with fries. Check out their menu at http://www.elunchclub.com.

Where do you get your favorite Cubano, Cleveland? Write in and tell us: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

RoldoLINK
Frank Jackson and the Message He Sent
By Roldo Bartimole

Doesn’t Mayor Frank Jackson have anything to do?

That’s the obvious question to ask after reading in the Plain Dealer that Jackson spent two days at the trial of his granddaughter, Janesha Jackson.

Shouldn’t he be working?

As PD reporter Jim Nichols put it. “Her acquittal ended a two-day trial that the mayor watched his subordinate prosecute start to finish.” (Emphasis mine.)

What message does that send to employees of the City of Cleveland when the mayor sits in judgment of his employees in that manner?

It says don’t cross the boss. It says special treatment should be extended his family members. It says he doesn’t trust his own law department…
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

Les Claypool @ B-Side Liquor Lounge 7/22 Sometime in the hot summer of 1991, on a boring late Saturday evening, some friends and I were settling in for a night of MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball. The host, Riki Rachtman, was introducing videos from the likes of Poison and Ratt and other hair-metal and glam-metal bands. “Yawn.”

Then, darkness. A race-car engine starting. And a crazy-ass sound; half bass guitar, half alien, double-time, acid-tripped-out funk . “Who the hell is this” everyone asked, jaws dropping. “Holy shit!”

For my friends and I, Primus had arrived with the video for their newly released single “Jerry Was A Race Car Driver”. Les Claypool’s distinctive bass-playing technique and the band’s hard-to-define style dominated the 90s alternative music scene. Since that time, Les Claypool has gone on to do a number of solo projects, including Les Claypool’s Flying Frog Brigade and Oysterhead.

His notoriety and virtuoso bass playing have earned him legions of devoted fans. Several hundred of those fans packed the B-Side Liquor Lounge in Cleveland Heights on July 22nd to hear Les read from his just-published first novel South of the Pumphouse. Co-sponsored with Mac’s Backs Bookstore, several dozen copies of the book sold out before the event even began…
Read the review by Miles Budimir here

Brian Auger and the Oblivion Express @ Nighttown 7/25 I attended the late show of the second night of the two-night, four show stand Brian Auger did last week at Nighttown. As I walked in, fans from the early show were walking out raving about the concert, and Auger could be seen in the back bar area drenched in sweat signing CD’s and talking to fans. I said to myself maybe I should have come for the early show, or maybe even the night before. How much was he going to have left after doing three shows in the last thirty hours?

Auger took the stage with his four-piece band; beside himself on keyboards it included his son Karma on drums, daughter Savannah on vocals, and a talented young bassist Mark Meadows. They put on a show that was as much rock as jazz, and I don’t think those old pictures on the walls at Nighttown have ever shook as much…
Read the review by Greg Cielec here

Lyric Opera 7/26 Oh, dear. I always knew this would happen. I’d attend a performance of something in order to review it, and be thoroughly confused by what I saw. And this was it.

Florida by Randall Eng and Donna DiNovelli has been under construction for nearly fifteen years, although DiNovelli as librettist has been working on the idea for longer than that. During the pre-opera talk, the composer admitted that they’d wavered between their child being an opera or a musical theatre piece. I was glad I’d heard that, when, afterwards I didn’t know what it was, either. My companion, who is more a theater person thought it very operatic in nature. On the other hand, I was brought up on opera and classical music, and thought it more suited to musical theater…
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

Nat King Cole @ Actors’ Summit 7/29
What: A one-man cabaret featuring songs and autobiographical stories from the life of Nat King Cole. A world premiere created by Actors’ Summit Artistic Director A. Neil Thackaberry and performer Kent LeMar.
Reasons to go: With his light tenor and appealing manner, LeMar is nearly ideal in the role. He sings the familiar songs beautifully, he’s effective in the between-song patter, and he so ably switches into other characters, it makes you wish the book gave him more opportunities to do this. He’s even a credible pianist, although most of the time he’s accompanied by the smooth David Williams. The stories he tells make it clear that no matter how easy Cole made everything look, we need to remember how hard it actually was for African-American performers of his era.
Still needs work: Because the show doesn’t ever leave the public persona, it could use more meat. The book starts to plumb emotional depths, then quickly skates away, sometimes with awkward song segues. Opening with a sing-along doesn’t work. Nevertheless, it’s entertaining and promising.
Details: Actors’ Summit, 86 Owen Brown, Hudson. (330) 342-0800. Thru 8/13. http://www.actorssummit.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

Beggars in the House of Plenty @ The Bang & the Clatter 7/30
What: A blisteringly funny/tragic memory play about a Bronx Irish family by John Patrick Shanley. Think Eugene O’Neill on LSD.
Reasons to go: What’s in that Akron water? The two Seans (McConaha and Derry) have been turning out some of the best work in NE Ohio, doing terrific but unknown plays by top-notch playwrights that are challenging but always emotionally gripping. McConaha gets some of the best performances ever out of local actors: Doug Cusak burns up the stage as Derry’s drunken brother, while Michael Regnier does a memorable turn as his hellish butcher father.
Heat Alert: The upstairs performance space isn’t air-conditioned, though the gallery and concession area are. But the play was so gripping I barely noticed — and that’s on a 95 degree afternoon.
Freebie Alert: Every Thursday night thru 8/24 @ 8:50-9:20 pm, the company is presenting 2 short comedies by David Ives — SPEED THE PLAY and FOREPLAY, OR THE ART OF THE FUGUE — in a free performance in their parking lot. They’re doing it as part of Akron’s Thurday night summer series downtown.
Details: Thru 8/27 @ Summit Arts Space, Akron. http://www.bnctheatre.com/
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

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 parking in Cleveland (See Cleveland parking rates are expensive here) I’m surprised to read that Cleveland has above average parking rates for major U.S. It’s worth a try to buy up the parking garages and us parking rates to pressure parking lot owners into becoming property developers. One of the advantages of having a large mass of downtown parking garages under one management is that it makes it more possible for parking management to be done on a large scale. A system that shows where parking spaces are available and reservable on computers and personal information managers as well as digital output street displays at parking garages and at major entry points to downtown would be good customer service to downtown visitors. This would make part of the case for eminent domain. If the city or some parking authority tries to purchase parking garages by eminent domain they better budget in legal fees and parking garage renovation. Salt drops off autos while parked and parking garages suffer. Have you ever heard a jack hammer in a parking garage? Parking is a major transportation issue that must be delt with before our region becomes more sustainable. University Circle’s parking rates are about one-half of downtown rates. It is said that the Circle keeps the rates lower than downtown because suburbanites really expect free parking. This is while Circle institutions are investing big bucks in above and below ground parking garages.
from Cool Cleveland reader Lee Batdorff LbatdorffATadva.com

In an age of soaring fuel prices and mounting evidence of car-dependency’s contribution to global warming, I am disappointed by your advocacy of cheaper and more plentiful parking downtown. If we want a greener, more vibrant and more accessible inner city, the answer is clear: better mass transit, coupled with transit-oriented development to encourage ridership. Downtown is already glutted with cheap parking, with some city-financed, rarely-used garages in Gateway costing Cleveland millions a year. Instead of subsidizing more costly dead space in our city’s core, as you suggest, we should be boosting transit funding — a lot. Ohio spent $18 million on transit funding in 2004, compared with Illinois and Pennsylvania, which spent more than $700 million each. If we can start closing that gap, parking won’t seem like suchan issue.
from Cool Cleveland reader Justin Glanville jgvilleATgmail.com

Clearly governing bodies have the power to create incentives or disincentives to accomplish some perceived “greater good” for the public. Tax policy is frequently used, such as the so-called sin taxes. A retailer can’t sell liquor on Sunday. We’ll close a public street so that the restaurants can have extra alfresco seating at no cost. But you are suggesting that the city use eminent domain to drive a company out of business! That is the worst possible use of a government’s power. And I’m pretty sure it’s unconstitutional.
from Cool Cleveland reader Bob Chalfant Batting.ChiefATgmail.com

On leadership in Cleveland (See Cleveland needs leaders and Revolting economic developments here) I’m not being critical, but I’d like to raise our consciousness just a little bit. I have had the honor and privilege to work with some of the most committed, talented and energetic grassroots leaders in greater Cleveland. Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland, though widely ignored and discounted is a partnership between NCA and now for the last 4 years, the Neighborhood Leadership Institute and the Center for Neighborhood Development at Cleveland State University. We’ve been doing this work 12 years. GED to Phd,African-American,Asian,Jewish, Muslimn,income-challenged or not, our folks are the backbone of the neighborhoods, but as always race and class serve as a barrier toward acceptance and understanding.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jacqueline E. Gillon gangstagillATyahoo.com

Please check this website www.neighborhoodleadership.org. You’ll be delightfully surprised!!
from Cool Cleveland reader Jacqueline E. Gillon gangstagillATyahoo.com

On retail in Cleveland (See Retail economic development here) After having just come back from the Mall of America in Minnesota and convincing my wife not to stop into IKEA because we couldn’t fit anymore into our car, I would say that IKEA would be a huge store to land here. We have made more than a few special trips in the past to the Pittsburgh IKEA and would love one locally. Knowing that IKEA is very eco-centric, it would make sense for them to develop a brownfield site somewhere highly visible in Cleveland. Aside from specific stores, one big key for any development in Cleveland would be parking. If I know where I want to go, I also want to know where I can park. For those not familiar with the area knowing that there is a specific, safe place to park can be a deal breaker. Hunting for a street spot is not my idea of fun. Another key is a cluster of retail that is unique and of varying affordability. Currently the only things that bring me downtown are sports, theaters, museums or a couple of restaurants and nightclubs. Note the lack of retail in that list, but remember it has to be unique, I will not come to shop for just anything that I could have found closer.
from Cool Cleveland reader Matt Nelson mnelsonATbrewer-garrett.com

On economic development in Cleveland (See Revolting economic developments here) I would have to concur with the other 105 people [who posted to Brewed Fresh Daily here) who feel that there is a definite void here. My concern is this #1) Cleveland a city that has a population of over 50% African Americans and I am not sure the demographic breakdown of the other people of color in this city but we are not represented in these so called economic development organizations. The inner city is comprised of a disproportionate amount of people of color but ALL of these organizations to do not look like the actual makeup of the city. Come on people it is about time that ALL types of people are at the decision making table. My belief is that this is the REAL problem with Cleveland. Everyone knows that there is an old boys network and they have had their hey day and are doing what they do but this is not only a new day but we are in a new Era a new millenium and a new century. It is time for us to engage ALL of the creative classes, young, old, black, white and brown etc. to build this city into a cosmopolitan mecca where ALL of the citizens can enjoy a good quality of life. #2 Culturally Cleveland has a lot to offer but as an event planner there is never enough cultural entertainment that celebrates all of the wonderful ethnicities that this city offers. These economic development organzations should take a look at Detroit, Chicago and Atlanta to name just a few cities that have embraced all of its cultures to create events and tourism for everyone. EVERY week there are events for the people many are free downtown and in the neighborhood parks. I constantly hear how slow people in Cleveland are (that is one of the reasons for the brain drain) particularly with young people and intelligent people WE want something to do. Tourism is a BILLION dollar industry and we have not capitalized on our assets here to develop the city into a cultural tourism destination. I know we have the people (those who are left) and the energy to collaborately create events that would change the perception of this city. We cannot JUST depend on Lebron James to create excitement for this city. The city has The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Playhouse Square, University Circle and all of its wonderful museums, cultural institutions and green spaces, the Cuyahoga River/Flats area adjoined to the Warehouse District and Lake Erie. Is it just me or is it something wrong with this picture? So I suggest that we make these organizations and our leaders accountable. This city needs some new blood whether it is homegrown or coming from other areas. A perfect example was last week when several hundred people (SRO) attended the wonderful event coordinated by Terry Travis and the new Cleveland Connextion and the Civic Innovation Lab. It was a wonderful event that looked like the makeup of this city. Cleveland’s best and brighest were there. Mayor Frank Jackson actually impressed me so I have to give him a shout out. “Great job mayor who knew you were so charming and engaging.” The energy from those creative classes together could be felt and I believe everyone had a great time. The mayor didn’t even want to leave. Here is my suggestion. A commission needs to be developed with the different players that look like this city demographically this commission would develop a 5/10/20 year economic development plan around the different industries that would attract more people and more money (jobs) to the region. And for gods’ sake the commission needs to look like that audience that was at the Botanical Garden. Count me in! Cleveland is ready to do this and the time is NOW.
from Cool Cleveland reader Tammy L. Kennedy tamlynken69ATyahoo.com

Sunday’s article in the PD was interesting. I thought it would be helpful to put a few facts regarding the region’s progress in one specific area — health care ventures. Cleveland health care companies attracted $171 million in investment capital last year, an amount that finally puts this region in the same league as Minneapolis and Research Triangle – both notable for their strong bioscience start-up sectors. The $171 million is nearly five times the level that this region experienced from 1996-2002. And the money was invested across 16 companies in 2005 and 21 companies in 2004. Again, this is a significantly higher level of deal activity for the region, about four times the level of recent prior years. Last week, Cleveland BioLabs successfully completed an IPO on NASDAQ, a feat for any company but especially for a biotech company in today’s markets (only eight US biotech companies have gone public this year). Investors across the country have not only taken notice, but have voted with their dollars to get connected to the region. Last year, 12 national investment firms placed money here (from Boston and New York in the East to Silicon Valley in the West). 2005 was not a fluke. We have already had 11 transactions occur in 2006. The burgeoning success is due to a number of collaborating institutional and community initiatives including the significant investments in institutional technology offices (Cleveland Clinic Innovations, Case/UH Technology Transfer Office, Summa Enterprise Group), new seed and venture sources (Early Stage Partners, JumpStart, and many seed funds), and also through wise public investments advocated for by NorTech (The Third Frontier). Capital investment is the single metric by which the region’s progress for health care start-ups should be measured (or for any other sector). It is the metric that we use to benchmark Cleveland against the regions that we aspire to be (Minneapolis and Research Triangle), and to track our progress. And it is the metric to which we at BioEnterprise (organizationally and individually) are held accountable. Four years ago, the community set an ambitious target for the region and for ourselves: to be the equivalent of Research Triangle or Minneapolis in five years and to sustain that success. Cleveland achieved that standing in 2005, and the full network is working furiously to sustain that performance. I am confident that Cleveland will achieve that goal in the next few years. And when that has been achieved, BioEnterprise is committed to ending.
from Cool Cleveland reader Baiju R. Shah, President, BioEnterprise bshahATbioenterprise.com

On the arts levy (See Arts Levy here) I am amazed that you did not catch the irony in your own statement, “Cuyahoga is culturally rich beyond even our own comprehension, even while we suffer the indignity of being the largest city without public funding for the arts…” That indignity that you speak of should be viewed as a source of pride. Did you stop and think for a moment that the reason for this artistic cultural greatness is precisely because it is NOT funded by the city? The arts community in Cleveland has to compete for patronage in a free market. Getting the city involved in the arts is a bad idea. Cleveland’s problem has never been a lack of cultural sophistication or a dearth of the arts. Cleveland’s problems stem from loss of the entrepreneurial spirit that was at the very founding of the city and saw it’s dramatic rise in the early part of the last century. Rather than finding yet another way to tax ourselves to “prosperity” Cleveland should focus on ways to better take advantage of Case, CSU, Kent, BW and John Carrol’s potential as economic engines. Cleveland has made some real strides in this regard, but there is so much more than still needs to be done.
from Cool Cleveland reader Charles Hall, Columbia, SC charles.hall46ATgmail.com

I fully support arts levy. Since moving to the Cleveland area I’ve made an effort to take advantage of the arts and culture assets we have here. The quality of the organizations and events is unmatched compared to the other cities I’ve lived in. I think we need to support this levy to keep these great resources and preserve this asset to the community.
from Cool Cleveland reader David Bettes david.m.bettesATsherwin.com

Once again, the old “shame based” taxes are back! Didn’t Cleveland use so called sin taxes to build stadiums? Now another sin tax on smokers to fund the atrs….where of course said smokers will not be allowed to smoke. Ironic?? Cleveland turned down a property tax to help fund the arts, which would spread the pain of yet another tax across many people. Instead, it appears there will be no problem taxing a smaller number of smokers. Tea party anyone?
from Cool Cleveland reader Rick Pouliot rpouliotATfuse.net

No way in hell am I voting for this tax increase. If you need tax payer dollars to fund your art, it can’t be that great. Plus, will it make a ticket to an event any cheaper? I highly doubt it. Just like with most taxpayer handouts, the money will be used to justify unneccesary employees etc. I hope the citizens of Cuyahoga County soundly reject this. Have a fundraiser with like minded souls if you need to raise money–STOP counting on taxpayers.
from Cool Cleveland reader Angela Guinther a_guintherATyahoo.com

On the Ingenuity Festival (See http://www.IngenuityCleveland.com) Yes it was a good fest and some people were lucky enough to be given a drawing of themselves just for posing for THE FRIDAY DRAWING GROUP who drew in public from 12 – 3 on Friday 14 July. If yousaw us I hope you enjoyed watching.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jean Sommer jean_sommerATyahoo.com

On Cool Cleveland videos Your artsy-fartsy camera work on the Fingerhut interview here (and the Schwartz interview a couple of weeks ago here) was making me seasick. I actually had to look away while still listening to the very interesting and important words being spoken. Zooming in and out is fine but why all the tipping and wavering? This isn’t a new departure in camera work, it’s just a damn nuisance that seriously detracts from the good stuff you’re doing.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jack McGuane jmcguaneATsbcglobal.net

Where do you read Cool Cleveland? I read Cool Cleveland this morning at home. Always a fun and informative read.
from Cool Cleveland reader Stephen Schechte sschechterATlandaupr.com

the emails r very long wich is understandable becouse cool clevland has a lot going on and cant leeve things out just to shorten a leter but i hav some advise here as a regular reaDER AND PARTRON OF LOCAL EVENTS IS THERE ANY WAY U CAN ON THE EMAILS SENT THROUH THE SITE MAKE DATES CLEERER SO A PERSON CAN ROLE TRHOUH AND JUST SKIP OVER DATES NOT INTERSTED IN RAHTER THEN HAVING TO READ THROUGH LOOKING AT EVERTHING EVEN THINGS I CANT GO TO BASED ON SDEDULE THANKS
from Cool Cleveland reader Tommy Heil liberal_djATyahoo.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) How wild are Cool Cleveland parties? Photos by Herb Ascherman
here and Thomas Mulready here. Also pics from previous parties. www.CoolCleveland.com.

2) Experience Ingenuity Fest 06 This year’s festival in pictures.
www.IngenuityCleveland.com.

3) Revolting economic developments The PD’s ED team rips groups like Greater Cleveland Partnership, TeamNEO, JumpStart, NorTech and BioEnterprise for their ineffectuality, while Cleveland’s blog community generally concurs, generating 117 comments.
www.BrewedFreshDaily.com.

4) Cleveland one of the safest places in the US Tied for 3rd as a city with the lowest natural disaster risk.
www.SustainLane.com.

5) Cool Cleveland People Style maven Kristen Kaleal.
www.CoolCleveland.com.

Hard Corps do the walking so you can do the rolling. And the heat’s been a killer on the Hard Corps this week, so be kind. Thanks to Peter Chakerian, Roxanne Ravenel, TL Champion, George Nemeth, David Budin, Miles Budimir, Kelly Ferjutz, Greg Cielec, Kelly McCloskey, Linda Eisenstein and everyone who partners with us. Want to walk with us? Volunteer and contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland. We need your reviews, articles and story ideas. Send them 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.

Keep on rolling,

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

all contents ©2006 MulreadyGROUP all rights reserved
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