Which River

Which River?

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland podcast now available for download here
* Cool Cleveland Interview with festival and event producer Gary Jacob
* Cool Cleveland Night Out in the Heights on Thu 6/16. Snag $12.50 tix until midnight 5/19 here
* Birol’s Business explains the Curse of the Service Provider
* Cool Cleveland Sounds Nine Inch Nails CD review With Teeth
* Cool Cleveland Preview Luminosity/Luminous @ Gallery Ü 5/20 and Ohio Ballet @ Ohio Theatre 5/20
* Cool Cleveland Writer John Donoghue, his new book A Small Asymmetry is published by Cleveland State University

Cool Cleveland Interview
Gary Jacob

Gary Jacob is president of GMJ Events, and has produced events and festivals in the Cleveland area from the National Rib Cook-Off to the National Fireworks Championship and nationwide events, such as 23 simultaneous Millennium events for Kodak. Four years ago, he created Abbey Road on the River, one of the world’s largest Beatles conventions and concert festivals, right here on the Cuyahoga River at Nautica Stage, now Scene Pavilion. After three years in Cleveland, Jacob moved Abbey Road on the River to Louisville, Kentucky and another river, the Ohio River, next week, 5/27-29. See AbbeyRoadOnTheRiver.com, which has already generated sales of almost 2000 hotel rooms in Louisville. This Cleveland native and Shaker Heights resident talks about why Cleveland couldn’t keep his Beatles fest, his history of producing events in this town, and how Cleveland could better address its own problems.

Why are we obsessed with this idea of sports in this town?
We think that’s how we identify ourselves. It’s a relationship between the media and the sports teams that make it happen. They feed off of each other… It’s the same relationship that was pointed out in the documentary Super Size Me that the networks have with the fast food companies. Fast food is not good for people. I don’t think major league sports is necessarily that good for people.

When we lost the Browns, this town lost a huge opportunity. Say good riddance and take that money and call me idealistic, but I believe it; take that money and build the finest school system in the world and say to the rest of the country – we’re Cleveland – we do it a little bit different. They wanted eight days a year in a sports palace and that may never work out… I think Jacobs’s Field was a great investment for this city. But I don’t think the Browns were.

So you’re saying we could have taken that money and invested it in schools?
It could have been an incubator for entrepreneurs. I could go on with a hundred things they could have done with it. Instead of losing all of our kids we could have created a system to bring them in. In the Jewish community in Cleveland, I just read an amazing statistic that ten years ago, 26 percent of the Jewish population was between the ages of 20 and 30. What do you think that statistic is today, ten years later?

Between ages 20 and 30? It’s probably down to 10 percent.
Four percent. Think about that…We’re losing our best kids…
Read the Cool Cleveland Interview with Gary Jacob here

Cool Cleveland announces
Night Out in the Heights 6/16

Carouse into summer on Thu 6/16 from 5:30 to 7:30PM Cool Cleveland-style, with our Night Out in the Heights at the corner of Cedar and Lee Roads for an unbelievable $12.50 if you order online by midnight Thu 5/19 here. Enjoy our patented open bar with beer & wine, and savor complimentary delicacies from Lee Road’s flavorsome and diverse restaurants. Sink your teeth into savory Jambalaya and Braised Short Ribs from Brennan’s Colony; European Hungarian Peppers stuffed with Sausage from the Pub on Lee; and exotic Golden Veggie Siam Rolls from Lemon Grass Restaurant. Nosh on Jimmy O’Neil’s signature Mini Beet Cakes (really!) and Goat Cheese Spinach with Sundried Tomato Tarts. Your evening will also include selections from other discoveries, such as The Lopez Bar and Grille, The Tavern Company, The Stone Oven Bakery and Café, Phoenix Coffee and Chris & Jimmy’s Diner. Ground zero is at Studio You, at 2180 Lee Road, the magnetic gallery featuring enormous vintage glass garage doors which open wide in front and back, so you can bask in the Cleveland Heights vibe. Enjoy cool, cultural sounds by Cleveland Institute of Music students. Cool Cleveland party-goers will continue our evening with a complimentary ticket to The Secret Garden at Cain Park at 8PM (trolleys provided). You’ll enjoy this Tony Award-winning story about the restorative power of love. Order online here to receive special $12.50 passes to this Night Out in the Heights. Stop by after work, and don’t miss the fun. http://www.coolcleveland.com/tickets/nightoutfive

This is how regionalism works Southwest Cuyahoga County communities are collaborating with Baldwin-Wallace College in a study to examine cost reductions and improvement of safety services, such as fire and emergency. Berea, Brook Park, Parma, Parma Heights and Middleburg Heights are banning together to learn how they can link resources to improve the quality of their cities, while easing taxpayer’s financial burdens. Read the story here. Your thoughts on regionalism? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Survey says: Go Regionalism! A random phone survey conducted by students in the Master of Urban Planning, Design and Development Program found that 331 adults who were contacted earlier this year supported regionalism in various forms. Some suggested regional government coordination, while others thought wealthy communities should share taxes with their cash-crunched neighbors. Read the story here. Is the increased awareness of regionalism making headway? Send to Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

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Live Sky High The Condominiums at Stonebridge are the sleek, high-rise buildings that you’ve seen rising above the Detroit-Superior bridge. These awesome, new construction condominiums offer flats and penthouses with outstanding river, lake and downtown views. Unit features include gourmet kitchens with granite counters, hardwood floors, expansive windows, contemporary baths with ceramic tile, and heated indoor parking included with the price. Plus, you’re in the heart of the West Bank of the Flats, steps away from the buzz of W. 25th Street and the excitement of the Warehouse District. Top off the deal with special financing and a 15 year tax abatement. Visit our open house this Sun 5/22 from 12-4PM at 1500 Old Detroit (near the swing bridge in Flats). For a complete list of properties and open houses this weekend, please contact (216) 623-2800 or www.ProgressiveUrban.com
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Downtown business district moves forward The wave is rising as Cleveland gains momentum; did you know that the number of market-rate housing units has doubled in a few years, pre-development grants are jumping, and renovations are ramping up at an accelerated rate. Cleveland’s changing, and there’s more development up front happening with the Downtown Cleveland Improvement District. Check out the admirable efforts of the Downtown Cleveland Partnership’s community building at http://www.DowntownClevelandPartnership.com Your thoughts on creating a business district Downtown? Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Museum goes public Some connoisseurs are in culture shock to learn of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s decision to close its permanent collection galleries during its momentous renovation and expansion. For the next three years audiences will be re-routed to the Museum’s itinerant arts programs that will travel to bookstores and libraries, with family programs happening throughout the community. Read the story here. Your thoughts on the CMA and its program development? Send them to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Cool Cleveland now podcasting- click here Prefer to listen to your Cool Cleveland on your iPod, MP3 player or computer? Now you can hear a brief 3-minute Cool Cleveland Update highlighting a few cool events and enjoy the flexibility of having your information delivered your way. Stay tuned as we provide Cool Cleveland readers with podcasts featuring events, news, interviews and features in the coming weeks. Download the 3MB MP3 file here, and it should automatically launch in your Windows Media Player or other audio software. If you use an RSS feed reader and want to receive the Cool Cleveland Podcast every week, the podcast feed is here. Let us know how you like it: Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Ohio’s recession is over, but not Cleveland’s Senior researcher for the Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland and economist George Zeller reported that Ohio is more buoyant than what the media is reporting. According to the state’s most recent numbers, a new report shows that Ohio experienced two consecutive quarters in which it gained jobs, with a turnaround that occurred in the second and third quarters of 2004. Job losses in Cuyahoga County, however, have picked up speed just enough to cancel out job increases in the suburban counties located in the Cleveland metropolitan area. See story here. Your thoughts on recession, Cleveland, and job growth? Send them Letters@CoolCleveland.com

NASA awards partnerships Taking a number of technology transfer initiatives under their wing, GATE [Glenn Alliance for Technology Exchange] is a group fostering responsibility and relationships between the community, and they’ve announced the results from their Partnership Award Competition. GATE is a collaboration of NASA Glenn Research Center, Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI), and Battelle’s Great Lakes Industrial Technology Center (GLITeC); an initiative centered on NASA Glenn’s additional partnerships with industry, and increase national research and commercial application. Read more here.

Cleveland hotels doing better When it comes to price, Cleveland hotels are still one of the best bargains in the nation compared to the national average. Local occupancy rates are looking up as well, predicted to increase within Cleveland and its suburbs which should cause the local hospitality industry to breathe easier. This climb in business is overdue from the residual effects of post 9-11 setbacks, and many see this as the industry’s comeback. Read the story here. Ideas on the hospitality industry spike? Send them to Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Commissioners buy Cleveland Trust building According to reports, the Cuyahoga County Commissioners have purchased the Cleveland Trust/Ameritrust complex at the SE corner of East Ninth & Euclid, which includes the beautiful bank rotunda and the deserted attached tower, for $25 million as the site for the new County Administration Building. Since they don’t have the money to start the renovation immediately, the elegant property will be left intact for now, allowing the Ingenuity Festival the opportunity to utilize it over the upcoming Labor Day Weekend for high art and high tech performances. Read more below.

Brand your company with Ingenuity Many of Cleveland’s leading companies are working with the upcoming Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology to gain awareness for their brand, offer complimentary ticket packages to their employees, recruit fresh talent, and even collaborate with the finest Cleveland-area artists and arts groups. Co-directed by Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready and CPT founder James Levin, Ingenuity is attracting growing area firms who want to be associated with the hottest showcase in Cleveland. Interested in seeing how your company can get involved in unique sponsorship opportunities? Thomas@IngenuityCleveland.org

Digital billboards Seeing into the future of advertising, Clear Channel Outdoor switched on seven digital billboards in Cleveland to debut the unconventional highway advertising. Plans to go national are in the works, but locally Clear Channel is anticipating real results: According to their estimates, 1 million drivers a day will pass the billboards. With a captive audience like that, TV ads will soon become an outdated advertising tactic of the past. Read the story here. Are digital billboards the future of advertising? Tell us your thoughts at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Fuel cells are Ohio’s future Governor Bob Taft is pumped about fuel cells and putting aside money raised by the $2 billion jobs bond issue on the November ballot to further development and commercialization of fuel cells. This type of technology heralds the shift from our nation’s reliance on non-renewable earth resources such as oil and gas; producing electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen. (It’s an alternative that’s currently researched by the big 3 auto makers to switch from conventional, gas guzzling engines.) Read the story here. Are fuel cells part of our future? Tell us at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

East Bank of the Flats redevelops Revitalization plans for the east bank of the Flats have been filling the air, and now it’s taking shape with a campaign proposing support for the $230 million project. The plan, which of course, involves generous public financing, is coming together as developer Scott Wolstein envisions a mixed-use development comprising 300 housing units of condominiums and apartments, along with a multiplex theater, bookstore, grocery, and other retail. Read the stories here and here and here. What do you think about the Flats’ revival? Send it to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

NEO scores high-tech funding The Third Frontier grants for technology and research are getting Northeast Ohio noticed, as state officials awarded the most recent round of support to outstanding projects. One was led by the Cleveland Clinic and another directed by Case Western Reserve University which secured a total of $36.8 million in grants from the Wright Centers for Innovation program, and the Biomedical Research and Technology Transfer program. Read the story here. Your thoughts on high tech funding? Tell us at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Cleveland direct from Miami The Miami Performing Arts Center has a 10-year agreement with the Cleveland Orchestra, importing Cleveland sounds to Florida for three weeks each winter starting in January 2007. The ground-breaking residencies are comprised of subscription concerts, programs for families and educational collaborations with Miami-area music institutions, which make CO more international and visible in the cultural entertainment arena. Read the story here.

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Best Fingers in the Business Vanity Fair’s “Best of the Best 2004” dubbed 34-year old Norwegian Leif Ove Andsnes “Best Fingers” in the business in a feature about the highly-regarded pianist. Andsnes is a sought-after soloist and is currently featured in Carnegie Hall’s seven-concert “Perspectives” series – an honor reserved for major figures of the field. Andsnes, at 34, is the youngest player ever to receive it. Hear this international sensation perform with The Cleveland Orchestra this weekend at Severance Hall. The program also features a world-premiere composition by composer and Cleveland native Susan Botti. Get 2 tickets for just $40. Click onto www.clevelandorchestra.com
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Sing it loud at the Oklahoma auditions Near West Theatre is accepting area students to bring their voices to the production of Oklahoma!. Students between the ages of 13 to 19 years are invited to try out for a large singing and dancing chorus; all roles are open. Come early to register on Tue 5/24, Wed 5/25 and Thu 5/26 from 7:30-10PM. Come one of these nights at Near West Theatre’s performance space at St. Patrick’s Club Building, 3606 Bridge Avenue. Anyone arriving after the starting time will not be able to audition that night. http://www.NearWestTheatre.org

Ohio BoyChoir sings The Ohio Boychoir with Jon Simsic, Music Director, presents Rains, Rivers and the Rolling Seas, a vivid choral which features the Ohio Boychoir singing folk songs and sacred music that resound to a nautical theme. The program also includes a semi-staged performance of The Golden Vanity by Benjamin Britten; this “mini” opera is based on the old English ballad about a sea battle between sailors and pirates. Performances begin on Fri 6/3 at 7:30PM at St. Christine Catholic Church, 840 E. 222nd St. Euclid; Sat 6/4 at 7:30PM, St. Mark Lutheran Church, 11900 Chillicothe Rd., Chesterland, thru Sat 6/11. For more information on venues and schedules, call 226-6974 or visit http://www.OhioBoyChoir.org

FUSE: Detroit’s Electronic Music Fest Integrating musical and visual artistry, creativity, diversity and state-of-the-art technology, Detroit’s annual electronic music festival is the largest electronic music festival in the world, firing out a hot list of DJ heavyweights as well as some great lesser known artists: DJs Bangkok Impact, Dan Bell, and Egg. With more than 70 world-renowned acts performing on multiple stages for over one million fans, in the birthplace of Techno Music, this event is the place to be seen on Memorial Day Weekend. This year’s festival is called FUSE. The Detroit Techno Festival happens on Sat 5/28 thru 5/30 at Hart Plaza. As Detroit’s premier festival, Fuse-In (formerly known as Movement) was jeopardized this year by a lack of funding and lower than expected sponsorships. Fortunately the City of Detroit, along with Detroit City Council, approved an entrance fee to help the Memorial Day Weekend Festival survive. http://www.Fuse-indetroit.com and find tix at http://www.WantTickets.com. Your thoughts on creative, city-wide events to spur cultural and economic activity? Send them to:Letters@CoolCleveland.com

100 top high schools in the country Politicians, business leaders, educators and parents across the country are fixated on this topic. Newsweek found the ratio by taking the number of Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests taken by all students at a school in 2004, divided by the number of graduating seniors. It’s one of the better measures to compare a students’ readiness for higher-level work. Orange High School in Pepper Pike rated 170 on the list. Read the story at MSNBC here. Your thoughts on Ohio’s ratings? Send them to Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Get Intimate with Cool Cleveland Besides the content, Cool Cleveland readers like having their weekly news distributed through the intimacy of their inbox. And the proof is in the numbers: Tens of thousands of loyal subscribers and growing. Contact Info@CoolCleveland.com for info about advertising. Click here for testimonials.

Cleveland novelist locked away to write in NYC The world has its eye on Grant Bailie, a Cleveland-based writer and artist. The Cloud 8 author has received the nod from the Writer’s & Poets League of Greater Cleveland and has been a featured speaker and reader at book events in both the US and Canada; but it’s his new NOVEL that’s got him under the microscope. He and two other writers will remain on display at the Flux Factory in NYC in individual habitats for 30 days while they write their next novels. Each writer will emerge on June 4th with a completed manuscript. Want to know more? Visit here.

Cleveland’s Sparx up for top award Cleveland’s innovative street culture series Sparx in the City is one of 15 national finalists out of 100 entries around the country for the Annual City Livability Awards, presented by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Sparx was selected as one of the best city programs in the country (competing against brownfield remediation programs, carpooling programs, etc.) because it’s street-level entrepreneurial art experiences support better city livability. Final awards will be announced on 7/11 at the USCM conference in Chicago. Sparx street programs for 2005 start up on sidewalks in the Warehouse District, Public Square, Playhouse Square and some cafes in Ohio City and Tremont on 7/3. http://www.Cleveland.com/sparx

Top Green Cities Growing concern for our environment prompted the Green Guide to investigate which cities go easiest on both the environment and our health. Their criteria included air and water quality, efficient use of resources, reliable public transportation, green building practices and affordability, among others. Check out the surprising list of cities that made the top ten here. Share your thoughts on what Cleveland must do to the join the ranks of the Elite Green Team by sending them to Letters@CoolCleveland.com

CPL’s site wins Buddie award is the prize for Best Unknown Database, honoring a website’s widespread importance, significance and quality, and it was recently bestowed upon Cleveland Public Library’s website http://www.cpl.org. Criteria for the award included CPL’s delivery of the following standard library services online: reference, available 24/7 with real-time chat, homework assistance 24/7, including real-time, chat-mediated, one-on-one tutoring and interactive programs for seniors and young adults. The site also gained accolades for its user-friendliness and its success, partnering with Over-Drive, a Cleveland-based e-content distribution company. For info, call 623-2869 or just surf over to http://www.CPL.org

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Take Your Company’s Summer Picnic to the Wild Side Are you looking for the prrrrfect location for your company’s summer picnic? Support one of Cleveland’s gggrrreatest treasures by becoming involved in the Cleveland Zoological Society’s Corporate Membership program. We will help your corporate dollars go further by reaching a substantial audience of 1.3 million visitors annually while offering your company substantial discounts on some of the most popular party locations in the city. Corporate Zoo membership is beneficial to your employees too, with up to 20% off regular memberships! A gift of Corporate Zoo Membership means that you’ll be making a significant contribution to our community’s economic future while helping to provide the best care for some of the world’s most rare and endangered animals. Click here to learn how your company can become a Corporate Zoo Member today!
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Cool Cleveland This Week
5.18-5.25

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition’s Fourth Annual Conference Fresh from the labs and into the market place, fuel cells are changing how the world acquires energy, and how we will use this energy is sparking the commercial, industrial and residential markets. Hear about Cleveland’s collaborations with this technology that’s taking shape on Wed 5/20 at Cleveland State’s Wolstein Center, 2000 Prospect Ave. Register is required; call 361-3100 for event time or visit http://www.cesnet.org. Ohio was recognized a month ago as the leader in development of fuel cells, acquiring $36 million dollars in research grant funds, and the Edison Center is taking the lead with the fuel cell supply chain, locating Ohio companies capable of manufacturing systems and components that will integrate this technology. Read the story here.

Not Your Average Political Party Some of Cleveland’s best known musicians will participate in what promises to be an all-star jam session to further the election of Municipal Court Judge Robert J. Triozzi as Mayor of Cleveland. The Thu 5/19 concert at 5PM will feature veteran blues guitar master, Alan Greene, legendary blues harp player, Mr. Stress and a variety of special guests. Support your mayoral choice while treating yourself to a fabulous night of music and delicious hors d’oeuvres. Visit www.TriozziForMayor.com to see the list of special guests and purchase tickets. Wilbert’s, 812 Huron Avenue.

Taste the Best of the Brewery If you’ve been looking for a good reason to visit Willoughby Brewing Company, how about 3 great reasons instead. They are introducing their new menu, bigger and better than ever, tapping the 100th batch of their famous signature beer and having a special “Thank You” party on Thu 5/19 from 5-9PM featuring the dynamic R&B sounds of The Conway Band. Call 440-975-0202. Willoughby Brewing Company, 4057 Erie Street in Willoughby. http://www.WilloughbyBrewing.com

In ?uest of Something New? Check out the funky hip-hop sounds of guest DJ ?uestlove, drummer extraordinaire, and member of The Roots, appearing at the B Side Liquor Lounge on Thu 5/19 at 10PM. Read more about the fierce drummer here. Don’t miss your chance to hear ?uestlove rock the joint sporting his signature SuperFro complete with afro pick the night before The Roots concert at House of Blues on Fri 5/20 . Call 932-1966 for ticket info. B Side Liquor Lounge, 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd, Cleveland Heights http://www.BSideLiquorLounge.com http://www.TheRoots.com

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You Are Building Your Small Business in Cleveland, you need a location as dynamic as your young company and a landlord who understands the entrepreneurial needs of a budding business. The Galleria at Erieview offers beautiful space, a perfect downtown location, and the creativity to help make your retail or commercial business succeed. You think ahead of the curve, and your office or store should reflect that. The Galleria. Change your perspective. For leasing opportunities, contact Eddy Eckart at 216-401-1262 or www.GalleriaAtErieview.com
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The Role of the Board Searching for a way to increase the effectiveness of your non-profit organization? Non-profit organizations are highly effective when their boards and staffs recognize their respective roles and work in concert. Attend BVU’s high-acclaimed seminar on Fri 5/20 at 7:30AM where speakers will discuss the roles and responsibilities of nonprofit board members. Call 736-7711. Key Tower, 127 Public Square, 27th Floor. www.BusinessVolunteers.org

REpower Solutions Receive classroom instruction on the basics of solar electricity, the equipment, and their functions during a three-day workshop for solar energy supporters. Participants will learn how solar electricity works and what enables the technology. Participate in the installation of a real solar electric system funded in part by the Ohio Department of Development Office of Energy Efficiency Energy Loan Fund Grants, with classroom sessions located at Cleveland Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Center. Workshops begin on Fri 5/20 through 5/22 from 9AM-5PM. Register in advance; call 402-4458. 9333 Sweet Valley Drive in Valley View. http://www.RepowerSolutions.com/education.html

Memento Mori: Artists Grapple with War and Peace The Latin translation of Memento Mori means “remember that you must die,” stirring artists’ visual interpretations of it and their objects that serve as a reminder of mortality. The exhibit offers various and sensitive observations in the form of slide presentations, poems, songs, yoga workshops, mesmerizing film and discussion from Albanian artist Maks Velo. Events start off on Fri 5/20 with an opening gallery talk by the exhibit organizers at 4PM. Shows and highlights continue through Sat 6/18. Call 687-2103. Cleveland State University Art Gallery, 2307 Chester Avenue. http://www.CSUohio.edu/art/gallery

MOCA Summer Season Opening Out There: Landscape in the New Millennium introduces artist Alicia Basinger. Be among the first to view the video and photo-based work of eight national and international artists and the ceramic sculptures of regional artist Alicia Basinger, the latest in the Wendy L. Moore Emerging Artist Series. Take a look into her show Shiver and Craze, beginning 6PM on Fri 5/20. At 6:30PM, visiting Dutch artist Ellen Kooi and exhibition curator Margo A. Crutchfield will lead an informal discussion on the art and the artists featured in Out There. Afterwards, enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres from area restaurants including Fat Fish Blue, Halite and Vivo, a wine tasting courtesy of Langdon Shiverick Imports, libations from our donations bar featuring Grey Goose and a soulful, summer soundtrack by San Francisco’s J. Boogie of OM Records. Call 421-8671. MOCA, 8501 Carnegie Ave. http://www.MOCAcleveland.org

Summer in Europe Travel abroad visually with this underground film series which includes 12 classic European films. It kicks off with the 1966 French Jean-Luc Godard film, Masculine Feminine, in which a young Parisian leftist and would-be literary lion falls hard for a pop star in this stylish, sexy, and satirical portrait of “the children of Marx and Coca-Cola” in 1960s Paris. It’s an effervescent comedy and Cleveland revival premiere opens the series on Fri 5/20 at 7PM. For complete film listings, call 421-7450. Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, 11141 East Blvd. http://www.CIA.edu/cinematheque

All Mozart Chamber Music Concert WCLV’s Bill O’Connell will host the concert featuring five members of The Cleveland Orchestra, Franklin Cohen (clarinet), Isabel Trautwein (violin), Chul-In Park (violin), Joanna Patterson (viola) and Bryan Dumm (violoncello) who will join efforts to benefit the Broadway School of Music & the Arts and its financial aid fund on Fri 5/20 at 7PM. Afterwards, enjoy a reception featuring yummy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine. Call 641-0630 for info and pricing. Broadway School of Music & the Arts, 5415 Broadway Avenue.

Wild Things Bring your children to a play written and performed by their peers. In this hilarious adaptation of the story “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak the lead characters encounter pirates, killer whales, and the queen of Atlantis as they take a journey to the island where the wild things are. Join The New World Children’s Theatre for the adventure on Fri 5/20 & Sat 5/21 at 7:30PM or catch the matinee on Sun 5/22 at 3PM. Call 330-673-4970. The African Community Theatre, Oscar Ritchie Hall, Kent State University Main Campus, Terrace Drive Get directions here. http://www.StandingRock.net

A Decade of Dada Be a part of history. Come and celebrate Cabaret Dada’s tenth year as Cleveland’s premiere improvisational theater. Join the Something Dada cast past and present on Fri 5/20 at 10PM. Then head over to Panini’s with the Dada cast at midnight for more fun, fabulous food and happy hour drink prices. Call 696-HAHA (4242) for tix. Cabaret Dada, 1210 West 6th Street, Warehouse District http://www.CabaretDada.com

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Cleveland State University alums and friends are invited to a Star-Studded Extravaganza at the Galleria on Sat 6/4. At 5PM a VIP reception with specialty food and drinks will feature CSU President Michael Schwartz and movie star Rodney Perry, who starred as Cousin Lump in “Johnson Family Vacation.” At 6:30PM taste delectable delights from fine area restaurants. At 7:15PM laugh with the LA-based Comic View All Stars. At 8:30PM dance or listen to the Dave Morgan Jazz Sextet and guest vocalist Nicole K, Colin Dussault’s Blues Project, and the latest sounds from DJ Ant Dog. Plus, be sure not to miss the official after party at Shooters. Get more details or order tickets by contacting 216-687-2078 or www.csuohio.edu/alumni
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Dike 14 Nature Preserve Want to sneak-a-peek at one of Cleveland’s future parks? Come to the Cleveland Lakefront State Park for bird walks, live animals, displays and an hour-long ‘Hike the Dike.’ Learn more about this nature preserve on the shores of Lake Erie on Sat 5/21 from 7:30AM to 12PM. For more information click here. Gordon State Park, North Marginal and MLK Blvd.

Hessler Street Fair Enjoy live music, poetry readings, hands-on activities, arts and crafts vendors, workshops and eclectic food offerings at the fair, presented by Hessler Neighborhood Association. This event has been a music and arts tradition in University Circle for more than 35 years. The fair will be held Sat 5/21 and Sun 5/22 from 12PM to dusk. Hessler Road & Court between Ford and Bellflower Roads, one block north of Euclid and Mayfield in Cleveland http://www.Hessler.org/fair.html

Starloft.com Mini-Festival Check out the outrageous sounds of 8 area bands at an all-ages mini-festival. A good time will be had by lovers of punk, indie, metal, progressive rock and ska punk at this event featuring locals from Strongsville, Medina and Mayfield Heights. Come and rock out with The Heroics, Fight The Flood, Northcoast, Tricked By Nixon and others on Sat 5/21 at 6PM. Call 281-4044 x255. The Pit, 4309 Lorain Avenue, 3rd Floor. Get ticket info and hear MP3s at http://www.StarLoft.com

Alzheimer’s Association 25th Anniversary Gala Join Honorary Co-Chairs Kate Mulgrew and Commissioner Tim Hagan in honoring those who have helped build the Association’s foundation and who will help lead it into the future. Dine with local researchers and dance to the sounds of The Jerry Bruno Orchestra at the Sat 5/21 event at 6:30PM. All proceeds support Alzheimer Association programs and services. Call 721-8458, x451 or click here for ticket info. Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, 24 Public Square

Jesse Bransford Exhibition The striking and exquisitely executed large-scale works of the 33-year-old New York based artist have been exhibited extensively in solo and group exhibitions at galleries and museums in both the U.S. and abroad. Come to the opening reception of his first one person exhibition in the Midwest on Sat 5/21 from 6:30-9PM. The show runs through Fri 6/17. Call 830-8888. Shaheen Modern and Contemporary Art, 740 Superior Avenue, Suite 101.

Reds, Whites and Brews: A Toast to Literacy Sample delectable hors d’oeuvres and taste fine wines and beers from America, Germany and Italy while raising money for Cleveland Reads, an organization which serves as a central resource for literacy. A silent auction and raffle will add to the evening’s excitement on Sat 5/21 from 7-10:30PM. Call 436-2220 for ticket info. Sammy’s in the Flats, 1400 West 10th Street www.ClevelandReads.org

Fritz Lang Event Did you miss out on the last Fritz Lang Event? Then you are in luck; Talkies Film & Coffee Bar is doing it again. The digitally remastered silent film Metropolis will be musically scored live by LINGUA for a unique experience which begins at 7PM on Sat 5/21. Call 696-FILM for tickets and info. Talkies Film & Coffee Bar, 2521 Market Ave, Ohio City. http://www.TalkiesCoffee.com

Contemporary Vision Series: Take 6 Known mainly in recent years for their heavy jazz influence, Take 6 is deeply rooted in an all voice, no instruments gospel music tradition. Since their early days, the six-man a cappella sensation has expanded their repertoire to include other genres of music, such as jazz, doo-wop, R&B, pop, ’60’s soul, and hip-hop. Sway to the sounds on Sat 5/21 at 8PM. Call 987-2741. Presented by Tri-C Center for Arts & Culture. At Playhouse Square Center’s Palace Theatre, 1615 Euclid Ave. http://www.PlayhouseSquare.com

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Does Nature Move You? A new collaboration between the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Verb Ballets, Cleveland’s National Repertory Dance Company, will present an exciting new program of dances called Nature Moves. Open to the public, Nature Moves will launch Fri 6/3 and Sat 6/4 at 8PM. Performing together will be members of Verb Ballets with Hernando Cortez, artistic director, G.D. Harris, a highly acclaimed solo dancer from the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and Huang Dou Dou, considered China’s leading dancer. Performances will include The Man and the Echo, The Envelope, Awassa Astrige/Ostrich and Planet Soup. Ticket are $25 or $40 (which includes admission to a reception, hors d’oeuvres and an open bar). Reserve seating. Contact (216) 231-1177 or 800-317-9155, ext. 3279, www.CMNH.org or www.VerbBallets.org
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Cleveland Entertainment Conference 2005 This conference will converge in Cleveland’s hottest venues on Sat 5/21 from 9AM to 4:15PM to form the largest event of its kind ever held in Cleveland. Our regional entertainment industry will be promoted through an educational forum. Participate in your choice of more than 10 panels covering topics on acting, various aspects of production, and marketing. Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready serves on a panel entitled, Connecting as a Community at 3PM. Download registration form http://www.clevelandentertainmentconference.com/CECregForm.pdf and call 556-2322. See their website for list of venues, and read the article here.

Peruvian Artisan Discusses Free Trade Yannina Meza Reitveld, co-founder of Manos Amigas, a Ten Thousand Villages artisan partner in Lima, Peru, will discuss her work and the difference fair trade makes in the lives of the artisans. The visit, on Sat 5/21 from 10AM to 2PM, demonstrates the unique relationship Ten Thousand Villages has with its artisan partners. The store sells fairly traded products handcrafted by skilled artisans in Africa, Asia and Latin America and creates cross-cultural connections between artisans and consumers. See and hear free trade in action. Call 440-333-7709. Ten Thousand Villages, 19321 Detroit Rd., Rocky River. http://www.TenThousandVillages.org

Women Who Are Shaping the World Women Entrepreneurs of America, Inc. is hosting their 3rd Annual Gala Membership Drive and Dinner Award Ceremony on Sat 5/21 at 6PM. Five outstanding women in business will be honored at the event which typically attracts both business and community leaders. Call 287-1743 for info and small business exhibitor opportunities. Bloomfield Hall, Lyndhurst Community Presbyterian Church, 5312 Mayfield Road. www.WeaInc.org

Lakewood Project Concert If you’ve never had the opportunity to experience the amazing Lakewood Project come to their spring indoor concert on Sat 5/21 at 7:30PM and see what everyone is talking about. Their unique sound features electric Viper violins and cellos, custom-designed by Trans-Siberia Orchestra leader Mark Wood, along with rock drums, electric bass and guitar, synthesizer, plus a full string orchestra section. Support these local artists while treating yourself to an unforgettable experience. Call 529-4047. Lakewood Civic Auditorium, 14100 Franklin Blvd. in Lakewood. http://www.TheLakewoodProject.net

UNCLOTHED Experience unique fashion and meet the intellect behind it. Artists from all over Northeast Ohio including The Cleveland Institute of Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Kent State University, and Case Western Reserve University will share their designs. Wearable cocoons, flower-balloon bustles, Limited Edition Hats, feather-form costumes and fashions made from human hair are among the unique creations that will be on display. Participate in this free event Sat 5/21 at 8PM which includes film shorts, a performance piece and music. Learn more here. Don business casual to artsy attire and come to the Colonial ArtCade, 530 Euclid Avenue.

2nd Annual Taste of Lakewood Spend a day walking the eclectic neighborhood of Lakewood, where you’ll be introduced to contrasting, sights, tastes and sounds. Fine food is available from the distinct and highly acclaimed Three Birds Restaurant, free-trade coffee from Phoenix Coffee Shop, Italian panini and dozens of selections from over twenty participating eateries. Overdose on excellent offerings on Sun 5/22 from 4-7PM in Lakewood. Call 226-2900. http://www.LakewoodChamber.org

The Heart of Rock and Roll Spend the evening dancing to your favorite classic rock and roll hits, hear Norm N. Nite’s live broadcast, “The Heart of Rock and Roll” over WCBS-FM in New York and enjoy live performances by the Skyliners, the Reflections, the Edsels, the Hesitations, and special guest, Cousin Brucie. The Sun 5/22 event begins at 6PM and runs till midnight. Call 781-ROCK for info. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, One Key Plaza www.RockHall.com

WCLVnotes All of the opera arias that you can whistle to, and have come to love, will be presented Sat 5/21 at 1:30PM on WCLV’s “Opera Aria Orgy” hosted by Nancy Sinning and Fadel Fulkerson. Fadel is the host of the WCLV Sunday night feature “The Singers’ Art.” On Saturday you’ll be awash with tunes by Puccini, Mozart, Verdi, Leoncavallo, Wagner and others – two and a half hours worth. And don’t forget WCLV’s live broadcast of this Saturday’s Severance Hall concert by The Cleveland Orchestra. At 8PM, Franz Welser-Moest conducts the world-premiere Translucence by Susan Botti, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Leif Ove Andsnes as soloist, and Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra. You can find detailed information about WCLV’s daily programming in the WCLV Program Guide available online at http://www.wclv.com. a Cool Cleveland partner

Best Practices in University Technology Transfer Join CWRU technology gurus on Tue 5/24 at 7:30AM to learn how businesses can best connect with universities in research commercialization. An overview of the technology transfer process will be discussed and you can hear examples of how ideas have been translated into new products, prototypes, and services with commercial potential. Call 363-3416. Myers University Club, 3813 Euclid Avenue. http://www.MyersUniversityClub.com

Calling All Techies Are you the first one on your block to have every new gadget or cutting edge technology? Then check out TRG Studio’s new service, CGI Photography at the next Tuesday at REI series on Tue 5/24 from 4-5:45PM. The process involves taking client CAD files, converting them to be used in high end film and animation programs and producing photographic quality images so real you can’t tell they are CGI products. Read more here. Peter B. Lewis Building, Room 201, on the campus of Case Western University. http://www.TrgStudios.com

What is Sustainability and how it relates to economic development will be answered during this high-octane seesion. Holly Harlan, Founder and President of Entrepreneurs for Sustainability and her colleagues will discuss the promise of sustainability, how it’s taking hold in our region, and how you can make a difference in your workplace or business. Don’t miss this enlightening discussion on Tue 5/24 at 5:30PM. Call 371-1177 or download registration form here. Great Lakes Brewery, 2516 Market Avenue http://www.E4Sustainability.org

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

See more events for 5/18 – 5/25 here

Birol’s Business
The Curse of the Independent Service Provider
By Andy Birol

If life’s tough for all NEO entrepreneurs and even large businesses bemoan our community’s lack of support for taking risks, consider the burden of the Independent Service Provider (ISP). Copywriters, engineers, consultants, appraisers, artists, inspectors and planners are all examples of ISPs who have plunged into the brave new world and set up their shingle. While these companies who sell their expertise comprise the majority of our region’s and nation’s startups and successful businesses, why do local metal-bending, plastic-melting, rubber-molding folks still get more respect? I see two reasons:

•Large employers and factories are nostalgically perceived as examples of real, traditional Cleveland businesses.
•ISPs are not looked upon as adding value, creating jobs, or buying much from others.

Why should ISPs get more respect?

•In the most innovative and growing knowledge economy, ISPs are the seedlings from which big trees grow.
•If creativity is our nation’s best defense against losing jobs to low wage countries, it starts with ISPs…
Read Birol’s Business by Andy Birol here and here

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Ugly or Beautiful? Did you ever wonder what the human body looks like undressed? Explore BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies at the Great Lakes Science Center. View 200 real human specimens preserved though a unique method called plastination and experience the complexity of the (healthy and unhealthy) human body in meticulous detail. Hours: 9:30AM – 5:30PM Monday through Wednesday; 9:30AM – 9PM Thursday through Sunday. Tickets start at $16 for adults and $9 for youths. Thursday evenings enjoy our full cash bar on the terrace overlooking Northcoast Harbor from 6PM – 9PM (weather permitting). Combined all day passes for “BODY WORLD”/Science Center and “Rock Your World”/Rock Hall are available at the Science Center Box Office. For more information contact the Science Center at 216.694.2000 or www.greatscience.com
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Cool Cleveland Sounds
Nine Inch Nails
With Teeth
Interscope/Nothing

Such a whiner, that Trent Reznor. But so persuasive and so exciting. Western Pennsylvania native Reznor cut his recording and performing teeth in Cleveland in the last two years of the ’80s, and now the first studio album in five years from the Nine Inch Nails mastermind might be his most cohesive ever. It blends the pop punch of his trail-blazing 1989 debut, Pretty Hate Machine, with the density of Downward Spiral, the 1994 album that cemented Reznor’s reputation as a brilliant hard-rock auteur. Sparked on several tracks by Foo Fighters/Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, With Teeth furthers Reznor’s preoccupations such as the fine line between seduction and servitude, the pleasures of submission and how very hard it is to break free of depression. For Reznor, depression is the hand that feeds; it’s his muse. Perhaps that’s why “The Hand That Feeds,” four tracks in and as driving as anything NIN has ever released, is the first single. It’s infernal disco for sure, and while it doesn’t build into anything, its mass and bile are thrilling. What follows “Feeds” is the more ambivalent and revealing title track. It’s not a stretch to see the title as Reznor’s euphemism for vagina dentata, a psychological term that translates to “vagina with teeth.” The song, one of the most attenuated on this otherwise singularly efficient CD, is about ambivalence, about being swallowed up by love… It’s to his credit that several tunes here approach the love song, a relatively new field for our man of itch and release, of ambivalence and yearning, our specialist in self-hatred…
Read the review from Carlo Wolff here

Cool Cleveland Preview
Luminosity/Luminous Show @ Gallery Ü 5/20
Seeing differently from the every day visuals is the goal of New York City painter and Swedish immigrant Anders Knutsson in his Luminosity/Luminous show at Gallery Ü through early June. Some might call his use of phosphorus pigment paints and costumes a gimmick. I call it “better than the 1960s,” which I also witnessed. Knutsson, 67, immigrated to the U.S. in 1967 and is a U.S. citizen. He’s studied light for many years. “A lot of interesting things go on with the retinal system at low light levels,” he said. “You have only indirect vision. You experience a body system that you don’t normally encounter. It is like seeing stars at night. Sometimes you’ll only see a star out of the corner of your eye and can’t see it when you try to look at it. The most colorful luminescent show however, is in the blacked out main portion of Gallery Ü. In normal light the paintings are very colorful. When the lights go out, your eyes experience a “shift.” Among the new set of colorful images that appear are of people dancing wildly. The shift to seeing the glowing paintings is a subtle roller coaster for the eyes. While dimming all the time, the luminosity of these paintings lasts for several hours….
Read the Cool Cleveland Preview by Lee Batdorff here

Cool Cleveland Preview
Ohio Ballet @ Ohio Theatre 5/20
Ohio Ballet, Playhouse Square’s small but excellent resident ballet company brings a varied and satisfying spring program. Consider this a review-preview; this last Saturday we traveled to Akron to see Ohio Ballet at Akron’s (visually rambunctious) Civic Theatre. The program starts with Peter and the Wolf, an always-charming story ballet with a score that can’t miss. Choreographer Victoria Morgan has given things an interesting spin by staging it on a school playground. Voice-over narration keeps everything crystal clear and the dancers happily enter into their characters and some manic business with monkey bars, duck feet, pom poms, a basketball, and a very long kitty tail. A few things went wrong on Saturday night (a halo fell off, literally, not figuratively, and the basketball wandered back on stage when it wasn’t supposed to) but these things do happen, even to professional companies. Choreographer Sam Watson’s aptly named Hijinks keeps up the pace with a rapid fire series of movement and costume gags “inspired by numerous television variety/comedy shows of the mid 1950s and 1960s.” It’s all for comic effect; there is hardly a ballet step in sight, but the dancers deliver the bumps and shimmies with sharp unison and comic timing…
Read the Cool Cleveland Preview by Victor Lucas 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

To Know Him @ Halle Theatre 5/15
What: Albi Gorn’s new play about a dying man and his hospital visitor: a female rabbi-in-training who tries to get him to reconcile with his estranged father. A drama with a surprising amount of humor to leaven its “carpe diem” message.
Reasons to go: Brian Zoldessy’s riveting performance reminds you why theatre is so powerful: it’s only when it’s incarnated this brilliantly that you can understand the deeper meanings of a script. With painstaking physical work, Zoldessy shows us exhaustion, anger, pain, and spiritual despair – yet instead of being depressing, the effect is exhilarating. You can’t take your eyes off him. Alicia Kahn grows into her role of a well-meaning caregiver who has father issues of her own. Reuben Silver is affecting in a small but powerful second act role as Rick’s father.
Caveats: Gorn’s script is talky – filled with philosophical discussion – and could use editing. Director Dorothy Silver too often tries to make it move along by making the actors move. Nevertheless the relationships ring true – and the performances elevate it into a memorably moving play.
Backstory: Gorn’s drama is the winner of the 2002 Dorothy Silver Playwriting Competition, and the last show in the Halle Theatre space. It’s a fitting swan song.
Target audience: Anyone who values acting shouldn’t miss Zoldessy’s performance.
Details: Thru 5/22, Halle Theater, Jewish Community Center, 3505 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights. (216) 382-4000 ext. 274.
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein Linda@coolcleveland.com

Paul Taylor @ State Theater 5/14 I took my niece to the State Theater on Saturday night where we sat in awe of the creativity and athleticism of the Paul Taylor Dance Company. Taylor, who is considered perhaps the greatest choreographer in the world, has 122 original dances to his name and continues to create two more each year. This year is his 50th anniversary of the company and Saturday’s performance showcased his celebrated talent with a wide and unpredictable range of inventiveness that engaged the audience with vivid stories, exceptional choreography and imagination. His daring performances seem to defy gravity with an airiness of movement that suggests spiritual renewal and enlightenment. Because his works showcase the tragedy and rebirth of the human spirit, Taylor has been awarded numerous times for his humanity and imagination. Three examples include the National Medal of Arts given to him by President Clinton in 1993, being elected to knighthood by the French government in 1969, and receiving France’s highest honor, the Legion d’ Honneur, for exceptional contributions to the French culture in 2000.
from Cool Cleveland contributor T.L. Champion TL@coolcleveland.com

The Secretaries @ Cleveland Public Theatre 5/14
What: A trashy comic pop culture send-up by the Five Lesbian Brothers, about a quintet of diet- and sex-crazed secretaries who, in between SlimFast shakes and office backstabbing, cut up lumberjacks with chainsaws when they’re in terminal PMS. A sexy, gory laughfest.
Reasons to go: Randy Rollison and his 5-woman cast have a blast with the over-the-top antics. Meg Chamberlain’s killer physical comedy rules in the dual role of bun-wearing lesbian Dawn and horny lumberjack Buzz – watching her vibrate right off a motel bed’s Magic Fingers in her seduction scene is a highlight. As dominatrix office manager Susan, Ali Hernan’s whiskey voice and impeccable camp sensibility is so hot, you could fry eggs off her black leather bustier. Liz Conway is adorable as the naïf who falls in with these bad grrlz. Denise Astorino as sneak-eater Peaches and Sheffia Randall as passive-aggressive Ashley round out the excellent cast. The production is gorgeously designed in film noir black-and-white with red accents from Trad A. Burns’ set and lights to costumer Esther Montgomery’s lingerie. Props – literally – to Sharon Epstein for a bloody arm worthy of a Bruce Campbell flick.
Caveats: This is probably not your mother’s cup of tea, unless she grooves on heavy girl-on-girl action, severed limbs, and on-stage tampon use. Half the opening night crowd was screaming with laugher; the other half had jaws agape like audiences for Springtime for Hitler.
Backstory: Originally slated as a show for the edgier experimental space, The Secretaries got promoted to the main stage after CPT cancelled its production of a Durang comedy for budget reasons. CPT resident designer Trad A. Burns also designed the original Obie-award winning production in New York.
Target audience: Lovers of camp trash who dote on in-your-face comedy. If you love Rocky Horror, you shouldn’t miss this. Aside to Mom: Sorry about that.
Details: Thru 6/4, Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. 216-631-2727. http://www.cptonline.org.
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein Linda@coolcleveland.com

Daughter of a Buffalo Soldier@ Karamu 5/05
What: A dance-theater piece based on the life and work of 95-year-old Clevelander Marjorie Witt Johnson, a dancer, educator, storyteller, and social worker. It includes a recreated dance concert from the Karamu Dancers at the 1940 World’s Fair. One of the “must-sees” of the 2004-05 theater season.
Reasons to go: This celebration of a life both entertains and inspires. Three accomplished female dancers portray Johnson at various ages: as a child in Cheyenne, WY (Venetia Whatley), as an Oberlin College student in love with dance and experiencing racism (Natasha Colon), and as a young social worker inspiring at risk teens with dance (Kashanna Brown). The whole company shines, with Michael Medcalf in a distinguished cameo as her father. The comic dances are especially delightful — particularly “Tea Time” and an untitled duet about kids stuffing themselves on Hot Sauce Williams’ ribs.
Caveats: The show slows down a bit in the 2nd act during taped narration with Johnson, but overall it’s wonderful.
Backstory: This is a labor of love between 2 Cleveland dance/theater powerhouses. It was conceived jointly by Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theater Artistic Director Michael Medcalf and his acclaimed mentor Dianne McIntyre, who has moved home to Cleveland after a distinguished directing/choreography career in New York. It’s a masterpiece of collaboration.
Target audience: General audiences and dance-lovers.
Details: Karamu, 2355 E. 89th St., Cleveland. 216-795-7070. Through 5/22. http://www.karamu.com. from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein Linda@coolcleveland.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 development in Lakewood (See Lakewood Builds here) The modest building projects of Rosewood and Rockport will bring in new retailers and provide new housing without changing the face of Lakewood. Hooray for me and all of the other Lakewood residents who opposed the West End Project. There are plenty of usable storefront properties in Lakewood for retailers interested in expanding their businesses. Lakewood is one of the most densely populated cities in the United States. It is wonderful to live in a community where one can walk or ride a bike to the local grocer, library, or pub. Seniors can catch the RTA shuttle and get to just about anywhere. The last thing Lakewood needed was to tear down neighborhoods and change the very essence of our Lakewood lifestyle in the name of almighty commerce. Save your Legacy Villages and Crocker Parks for other cities with more space. Sure, Lakewood is crowded and the homes are old, but we like it just fine.
from Cool Cleveland reader Rose Sexton rjs339@sbcglobal.net

On a convention center (See RoldoLINK Here Comes Another – Anyone Learn a Lesson Yet here) Simple statement on the Convention Center, “If you’re not in it you can’t win.” Right now Cleveland is not even on the map and people want to talk about cost and if it will work, while we send every show possible out to Brook Park and the IX Center. Where does Cleveland benefit from sending everything to the IX center? Last time I checked, Cleveland benefits nothing from it. Cleveland has great assets the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, major sports teams, Arts, Nightlife, Cedar Point an hour away, and the list goes on. There needs to be an influx of new money into this town so Cleveland can be a destination city, but we need to get into the game.
from Cool Cleveland reader eric julian erjulian@yahoo.com

I applaud Mr. Dilling for speaking up in support of something he, as a tradeshow professional, knows something about — the urgent need for a new convention center. The mere inertia of a major new urban project injects spurs a domino effect of development and jobs, not to mention a boost to the sorely lacking energy in Northeast Ohio’s core. I am alarmed at other people dispensing such negative suburban-basement wisdom about complex issues of downtown growth. Tourists are a lot more than mere houseguests. They keep the restaurants and retail hopping much better than the residents who live 30 miles away, driving in on their SUV’s for an occasional concert. Some of those tourists even make decisions on relocating themselves and their businesses to destinations that they enjoy. Just check out Chicago or Seattle (no need to compare Cleveland to Las Vegas). But if we think small, then we’ll stay small. Roldo keeps harping about how it would have been better to have more beer and cigarette money than keep our baseball and basketball teams and develop the eyesore backside of downtown Cleveland. He and his ilk seem to prefer Cleveland back in the 1970s.
from Cool Cleveland reader Howard Gollop howieeg@hotmail.com

On the proposed Lakewood smoking ban I live in Lakewood and think it is ridiculous that a city like NYC can pass a smoking ban, but a small city like Lakewood, even Cleveland, it is such a huge commotion! Get with the program people!
from Cool Cleveland reader Roxanne Smith smith_roxanne@hotmail.com

i think it’s awesome! we all have the right to clean air! bring it on!
from Cool Cleveland reader Nancy Agacinski nagacinski@yahoo.com

I think a smoking ban should be put into place at restaurant’s and public places but not drinking establishments. I think it should be a policy of the building manager or restaurant manager to set rules for smoking or non smoking. It should not be a city wide ban everywhere, this could hurt business owners and take away freedom of choice.
from Cool Cleveland reader Eric Julian erjulian@yahoo.com

Austin (by far the most liberal city in Texas) just passed a smoking ban that goes in effect on September 1st. Austin banned smoking in restaurants years ago but now all bars and nightclubs will be affected as well. If the coolest city in the US (according to Forbes) can do it why can’t Cleveland follow suit? [See story here].
from Cool Cleveland reader Ivan Jackson, Austin, TX ivanejackson@yahoo.com

Isn’t it about time we join Montana, FL. CA,CO, Boston, Ireland and others in banning smoke in work places – yes that includes bars and restaurants. Smoking jeopardizes people’s health including mine and why are we allowing that to happen? Second hand smoke is as serious as smoking when evaluating the carcingen levels. Let’s allow people the right to be healthy!
from Cool Cleveland reader Pat Kitzel trishkit@gwis.com

I applaud the non-smoking efforts in Columbus and Franklin County. I am curious about the possible role that any public officials there. For example, was Columbus mayor Coleman involved in any way? The politicians in Cuyahoga County are cowards on this issue. Absolutely terrified of the vocal and militant smoking lobby. Shame, shame !! That’s why the Smoke Free Ohio campaign is necessary because the will of the vast majority is ignored by politicians. A ban in Northeast Ohio is laudable, but a statewide ban is best because the excuses of the bar lobby that smokers will just go to the next jurisdiction will be rendered moot. The compromises on smoke-free policy are silly. Smoke is not any less dangerous in a bar than it is in the workplace, a hotel lobby or a restaurant. Smoking is a public health measure, not a matter of individual rights to be determined by allegedly free-thinking adults who are addicted to nicotine, a drug that weight for weight is more powerful than heroin. Enacting smoke-free legislation is just another step in protecting the public health based on science. In addition, the rights of the vast majority must be respected. The most recent polls indicate that less than 25 percent of Ohioans now smoke. I am weary of having this minority tyrannize the other three-fourths of the population. It is well past time that something be done. When a Smoke-Free Ohio petitioner asks you to sign, please do so.
from Cool Cleveland reader John Lusk jl726@cox.net

On Regionalism (See Regionalism in action here) Subject: Wreckreational Regionalism. Many ideas related to regionalism are based on matters related to distance, time and perception of both. When we consider community recreation centers, perhaps we should be thinking for out of the box innovative solutions that take into consideration more carefully those factors. For example, there is a “45 minute” rule regarding how far people are willing to take to get to work. No matter if you walk, take public transportation or drive, people are willing to take 45 minutes to get to work. For most people a 125 years ago, that meant walking or taking a horse. Having a horse made it so that you could indeed live out further from work. 75 years ago, that meant you could work downtown and drive out into the heights. With highways, that meant what is now the outer suburbs could be developed, and so on. Of course many people travel more than 45 minutes to get to work, but it begins to be a burden if a commute is longer than that. People look for housing and/or work that are closer to one another at that point. I’m not sure the same 45 minute rule applies for recreation centers. People want to be able to walk to them, or at least take just a few minutes in the car or travel on public transportation to get there. Perhaps when it comes to recreation centers, we need to consider a different, perhaps more sophisticated paradigm on regional ventures than on some other regional services. I am on the board of a condo association at the far southwestern corner of South Euclid. Already, we are quite a distance from South Euclid’s recreation facilities…Cleveland Heights and their pavilion and University Heights and their Purvis Park are closer. In fact, Purvis Park is walking distance. South Euclid’s facility, which we pay for, is 7-10 minutes by car and is in a practical sense unwalkable. If South Euclid, Lyndhurst and Richmond Heights decide to build a recreation center in Richmond Heights, it will be so far from us here in our development in South Euclid as to be almost unusable. Children would really be challenged to use the facility. Adults would go to more convenient private facilities, which exist all around the area (though not with the same level of amenities). We have other facilities down the street, which are preferable for us to use, if only by distance. Perhaps we need to think more broadly about this issue, including allowing nearby suburbs to use one another’s facilities at or near residential prices. Perhaps we need to think more about what facilities we as communities really need, that compliment rather than compete with privately run facilities, and find ways to leverage both.
from Cool Cleveland reader David Levey jdl@copper.net

A quick review around the country reveals that Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio are not as far behind as we might think when it comes to regionalistic endeavors. We already have regional agreements for parks, transit, planning, sewers, 911 and Emergency Management. Smaller scale agreements between local governments, such as those outlined in the article, include County and City of Cleveland joint ventures in providing homeless shelters and services, creation of a shared, countywide geographic information system (GIS), the upcoming merger of the County and City of Cleveland Workforce Investment Boards (WIB’s) and more. With the exception of a few truly regional minded parts of the country (Portland, OR; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Baltimore, MD to name a few) or those that have gone to the next level and completed complicated mergers of government (Indianapolis and Marion County Unigov; Greater Metro Louisville being most recent examples), Northeast Ohio is well ahead of the curve. In more recent events, especially in the wake of budget woes at every level of government, the call for more cooperation and collaborations to reduce the costs of local government and increase efficiency in service delivery have increased. Cuyahoga County Commissioners have created a new position to do just that. The new Government Service Coordination Manager is tasked with facilitating a cooperative environment for local governments to expand these collaborative initiatives across the county and beyond. The Northeast Ohio League for Leadership and Advocacy was formed earlier this year, of which Cuyahoga County is a founding member, to pursue the common goals and interests of Northeast Ohio. The recent efforts to save the local government fund from cuts in the current state budget talks is just one example of such cooperative advocacy. This all comes in the wake of a series of regional cooperation summits between the local governments of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina counties and beyond. It is the fervant hope that together, solutions and ideas can be found to accomplish the lofty goals of efficiency and cost saving and renew the entreprenuerial spirit of the region in both the public and private sectors and make Northeast Ohio shine again.
from Cool Cleveland reader Hugh B. Shannon, Government Service Coordination Manager, Cuyahoga County cnhbs@cuyahogacounty.us

On finishing the Scenic Railroad (See Scenic rail from Tower City to Akron here) Thanks for your recent story on extending Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) excursion rail service into downtown Cleveland. CVSR President/CEO Doug Cooper, staff, and trustees are redoubling their efforts to make this a reality by 2008. In conjunction with the Towpath Trail’s pending downtown extension and possible Tower City area convention center, CVSR is very excited about someday linking downtown Cleveland with the nation’s 3rd most highly visited national park. Once CVSR’s downtown station opens on Canal Road near Tower City’s Amphitheatre, the railroad will provide easy access to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) and ski areas for residents, tourists and cyclists from across Greater Cleveland. The terminal’s proximity to the nexus of the region’s entire public transportation system will be especially important for those who choose not to or don’t drive autos (e.g. the very old, the very young, the transit dependent, and those wanting to save money). Furthermore, numerous other attractions in Cleveland, Akron and Canton will be opened up by the railroad such as the Metroparks in three counties and the Rock & Roll, Inventor’s and Football halls of fame. CVNP, Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association, Ohio and Erie Canal Association, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, Forest City Enterprises and Heidtman Steel have emerged as CVSR’s principal partners in this effort. Through CVNP, CVSR has contacted trackage owner CSX to start exploring the technical feasibility of the extension. This Fall, with help from the Ohio Rail Development Commission, CVSR is planning a meeting with CSX to learn whether it believes the project is financially. If so, a full court press will be needed across Northeast Ohio to establish the project’s political feasibility and secure local and federal funding to begin the needed planning and engineering. That also includes identifying the funds needed to upgrade the track, build stations and pay for daily operations. With CSX approval, public awareness and political support will be crucial to the project’s success. To that end CVSR has done several things. Over the past year it formed three advisory councils of local leaders, one each in Cleveland, Akron and Canton. It also launched its “All Aboard for Cleveland” (ABC) campaign. Part of the ABC campaign involves a powerpoint presentation on CVSR history and the extension that is given to local interest groups. And preparations are in full swing for CVSR’s All Aboard Ball black tie fundraiser event on June 4, 2005 at Heidtman Steel in the Cuyahoga Valley. For more about CVSR visit http://www.cvsr.com. To schedule an ABC presentation, contact Doug Cooper at president@cvsr.com . And for tickets or information about the All Aboard Ball call 1.800.468.4070 ext. 3004. Again, thanks for the great story!
from Cool Cleveland reader Richard M. Enty, Chairman, CVSR Board of Trustees richard.enty@sbcglobal.net

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) Cool Cleveland Interview Peter Rubin Coral Company president and developer Peter Rubin is customizing Cleveland’s neighborhoods with his brand of real estate development. Read here.

2) Cleveland Music Festival 2005 Rock to the sounds of 400 amazing local and national bands during this year’s event, the largest of its kind in Cleveland. http://www.ClevelandMusicFestival.com

3) RoldoLINK Here Comes Another – Anyone Learn a Lesson Yet?
Read www.CoolCleveland.com

4) Expanding Progressive Progressive Corp. in Mayfield is growing again, with plans to add a third campus and 1,800 to 2,400 jobs. www.Cleveland.com

5) Largest outdoor flower show in North America The Cleveland Botanical Garden Flower Show is one of the biggest events blooming in Cleveland, and it’s coming up on Memorial Day weekend. http://www.CBGarden.org

Hard Corps on a mission The writers and networkers at Cool Cleveland direct our enthusiastic readers to Cleveland’s assets which is boosting the region. If you’re craving critical reviews, cultural content and events with momentum, thank Cool Cleveland’s core team: Tisha Nemeth-Loomis, Deb Remington, Linda Eisenstein, TL Champion, Carlo Wolff, Roxanne Ravenel, Andy Birol, George Nemeth, Victor Lucas, Marcus Bales, Lee Batdorff, Rachel Jacobs, and everyone who partners with us. Want to contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, articles, or story ideas to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

See the Cool Cleveland column each month in Cleveland Magazine. Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time. Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com. For your copy of the free weekly Cool Cleveland e-zine, go to http://www.CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland Writer
John Donoghue

John Donoghue’s second published book of poetry, A Small Asymmetry, was published this year by the Poetry Center at Cleveland State University. John Donoghue’s poetry has appeared in Agni, Alaska Review, The Lancet, Prarie Schooner, The Virginia Quarterly Review, and elsewhere. His previous book, Precipice, was published in 2000 by Four Way Books, and he holds an MFA from the Warren Wilson Program for Writers.

Labyrinth
By John Donoghue

They left her Aunt Mae’s by midafternoon-up the steep Bronx hill,
then a right under the El, sun through the overhead tracks
a blinding strobe. If ever I get that old, she said,
just kill me. I will, he promised, a child’s promise-just words

then and now: dutifully, he counts out her nineteen pills
into four small cups, lays out her diaper, helps her
up from the bed:

Who are you?
Is this a house I’m in?
How do I get to the outside?

In the myth, Theseus had Ariadne to lead him out,
the Minotaur slain, the sacrifices over, but this
goes on and on, and in his heart he knows
he wants to do it-for himself: withhold some pills,
lead her in, not out, she
his gift-but then with no one but himself
to guide him back.

Like knives, she said, the pulsed light from the El so bothering her
she improvised a new route
home to Queens-smoking cigarettes, her left hand
draped out the window for turns, the other on the wheel, shifting,
her high heels on the pedals.
She was beautiful then, and wise,
and years younger than he is now.

Let’s pay attention
to local entrepreneurs!

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

all contents ©2005 MulreadyGROUP all rights reserved
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