Homing In

Homing In

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland Commentary It’s Great To Be Home
* Cool Cleveland Holiday Appreciation Bash on 12/15, get $14.99 tix by midnight Thu 12/8 here
* RoldoLINK Roldo comments on size and the new czar
* Cool Cleveland Dispatch Cleveland as a Way of Life
* Cool Holiday Shopping The list gets longer every week
* An Open Letter from the famous resident of the North Pole
* Cool Cleveland Sounds Woodshed Mercy
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, CC Blog click here

This week, domestically, we welcome home and welcome back relatives, ex-patriates and the newly-relocated to our fair city. One thing about Cleveland that other bigger cities don’t share is the sense of “home” we feel around the end of the year—when relatives, long-lost and otherwise, find their way back to the Cleveland area to share food, drinks, love and grudges, while the other places empty out and feel cold. Think of it as our once-a-year recruiting opportunity.

Turn on your relatives or returning ex-pats to the Emerging Cleveland tours scheduled over the upcoming holidays. Read the CC Commentary by recently-returned young professional Michael Devlin, exclaiming, It’s Good To Be Home. Compare that with the Cool Cleveland Dispatch from Kevin Higgins, who has lived in London & D.C. and found them lacking in comparison to Cleveland. Take the Warehouse District Holiday Tour this Thursday, or do the Tremont Holiday Hop on Friday. Bring the neices & nephews to the incomparable Orchestra or to the inspiring Black Nativity or to see an art show or to hear John Lennon. Check the ever-lengthening list of Cool Holiday Shopping alternatives and keep your cash in the neighborhood. Go see a holiday show. Register for our 12/15 Birthday Bash. Then catch the Cats at 2527 this Saturday.

Whatever you do, be nice to an ex-patriate, bury a few hatchets, and take them out for a night on a town that they might not recognize. It’s up to you, homey. –Thomas Mulready

CC Holiday Thank-You Bash 12/15
Get a 25% discount before Midnight Thu 12/8 here

It’s one thing to wake up and realize you’re 3 years old, it’s quite another to do it alone. So Cool Cleveland’s giving away t-shirts, stickers and alcohol to all our friends, and throwing a party we’ll remember well into 2006. Register now to get the best price for our Birthday Appreciation Bash on Thu 12/15 starting at 5:30-7:30PM with open bar and spicy Cajun hot hors d’oeuvres at Fat Fish Blue, like only they can do: jambalaya, chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, cornbread, sweet potato chips, mini crab cakes with Cajun mayo, delta dip with black tortilla chips, praline chicken tenders with Jack Daniel’s sauce, southern fried pickles, beignets and cheesecake bites. While you’re there, register to win an iPod, chat up some of the Ingenuity Festival brainiacs who are cooking up our next wild art/tech festival, and dance to live music by the Bluestones starting at 6:30PM. Stay all night with no cover and $2 parking at the corner of Prospect & Ontario. Get details here. We’ve already got hundreds of our new best friends registered for this thing, so put on your Santa cap and get ready to pose for your holiday pictures, with a drink in your hand and a smile on your face. The terrible twos may be over, but we’re not ready to act grown-up quite yet. http://www.coolcleveland.com/tickets/121505

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Giving You the Gift of Music Come hear the Cleveland Public Library Holiday Chorus perform a free holiday concert as the Library’s “Gift” to the community on Fri 12/9 at 12 noon in the Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium of the Main Library. The chorus, formed in 1997, is comprised of library staff, under the direction of Library Director, Andrew Venable, Jr. This performance will feature a variety of seasonal songs and popular favorites. For details contact the Cleveland Public Library – The Peoples University – at 216-623-2800 or www.CPL.org.
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Cool Cleveland Commentary
It’s Great To Be Home

You may remember about a year ago I wrote a letter from Boston that you guys published in which I expressed my yearning to come back to Cleveland. Well, I’m back! I just took a job as vice president of marketing and communications for Tri-C. –Michael Devlin

It’s great to be back in Cleveland. I spent almost two years living and working in Boston, often daydreaming of returning to my adopted hometown. The right opportunity came along, and here I am. It’s great to be back.

It’s great to be house hunting, walking through gorgeous $200,000 homes that would be three times that price on the East Coast. It’s great to play 18 holes of golf at the outstanding Berkshire Hills golf course in Chesterland on a glorious fall afternoon, get change from a twenty in the pro shop, and see about a dozen other golfers during the four hour round. It’s great to go to a Browns game with my buddy Ming, leaving South Euclid at noon, getting to the corner of East Ninth and St. Clair at 12:15, parking for $5 on the first level of a parking garage, walking to the stadium, and being in our seats by 12:35.

It’s great to meet friends for lunch downtown, find a parking spot right in front of a terrific restaurant like Opa on West 25th or Juniper Grill on Carnegie, get a great meal for less than ten bucks a head, and be back at your desk in less than 90 minutes…
Read the commentary by Michael Devlin here
Send your own commentary here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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Like Heaven: Clubhouse, Pool and Metroparks Nearby MillCreek townhomes are award-winning single-family homes on 58 exquisitely landscaped acres, adjacent to the Metroparks. But they’re going fast – with only two left! The first is $164,500 with 1550 square feet, an open floor plan, 2 large bedrooms, 1 and a half baths, and a formal living and dining room. The other home starts at $177,400 with 1730 square feet, open floor plan, 2 large bedrooms, 1 and a half baths, eat-in kitchen, porch, stainless steel kitchen appliances, washer, dryer, and finished bonus rooms. 20 minutes from downtown, Beachwood Place and Great Northern, with a clubhouse and pool. Both include a 15 year tax abatement and 1.5% below market interest rate. Contact Don Picciano (216) 513-7030 or ZarembaHomes.com.
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Jackson ready to appoint regionalism czar Cleveland Mayor-elect Frank Jackson is surprising the cynics who thought he’d only be concerned with Cleveland’s wards by announcing that he will appoint a key member of his staff, possibly a cabinet position, to coordinate regionalism efforts. But with his inner-city street cred, Jackson may be the only person who can pull off a serious bid for a regional approach to our situation. See story here.

Home for the Holidays Series @ Nighttown How many jazz greats can you name that no longer live in Cleveland? Nighttown has booked the cream of the crop this holiday season: Thu 12/29 Euclid native Joe Lovano Sextet (Downbeat’s Jazz Album of the Year); Mon 12/26 Kelly Chapman & the Ken LeeGrand Quartet; Tues 12/27 & Wed 12/28 master drummer Jamey Haddad; Fri 12/30 The Local Girls, featuring Mimi Hart; Sat 12/31 The Dominic Farinacci Quartet. http://www.nighttowncleveland.com/music_schedule.html.

Cool Cleveland Podcast Hear cool things to do this week in Cleveland, at the click of a button here. Don’t forget, you can subscribe to this podcast and receive it every week by saving this link in your favorite program that catches podcasts. If you have an iPod, you can listen there, or on any MP3 player, or just on your computer. Try it: http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolCleveland12.09.05.mp3.

Naming rights for new Cleveland film studio Film Czar and Emmy-winning writer Alex P. Michaels has devised an innovative way to obtain necessary funding for his project, currently named the Knight Studio Movie Incubator. A generous benefactor can acquire the naming rights for the film and TV studio, much like the Quicken Loans Arena, The Staples Center, or Jacobs Field. Hey, if it works in the sports arena, why not in the film industry? If you’d like to help, but can’t quite afford to have your name emblazoned on the studio; you can make donations to the project at http://www.prelude2cinema.com/studio.htm. If you are interested in studio naming rights, send an email to dark@prelude2cinema.com.

NASA & Clinic need you The Cleveland Clinic and NASA Glenn Space Center are looking for volunteers for a space study. You must be between 21 and 50 years old, a non-athlete, and willing to spend 12 weeks to help in this study that will provide answers in the area of osteoporosis and extended space travel. http://www.researchscope.com/spacestudy.

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The Reviews Are in . . . “Love, Janis” at Playhouse Square is a Hit! Don’t miss this amazing limited engagement musical tribute to Janis Joplin – a true rock and roll icon – now through January 15. “Love, Janis” goes beyond the music and offers a glimpse at the soul of a legend both through the letters she wrote home and the songs she made famous. Classics like “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Piece of my Heart” and “Mercedes Benz” come to life in this hauntingly intimate portrayal inspired by the best-selling book by Laura Joplin. Tony Brown from The Plain Dealer calls it “A rock-n-rollin’ good time…Packs visceral youth hypnotizing power.” To get tickets and to see a video preview, visit www.playhousesquare.com or call 216-241-6000 today.
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Boychoir auditions Looking for an outlet for your musical talents and energy? Boys ages 7 to voice change who love to sing can audition to join the Ohio Boychoir training or concert choir by calling Music Director Jon Simsic at 216-556-2222 or emailing him at jon_simsic@yahoo.com. The Ohio Boychoir program is designed to appeal to the boy singer, with challenging repertoire, fun team-building events, and travel. It’s cool to be a kid who can sing!

Cool Cleveland Kids We’re having fun putting together our Cool Cleveland podcasts (here) for adults, and 10-year-old Max Mulready is having fun putting together the Cool Cleveland Kids Podcast for kids (here). Just a heads up: there’s a ton of holiday stufff to do with your kids this weekend. Click here and see what Max is recommending for you and your family. No special software needed. Just click and listen on your computer. If you’re into such things, you can also subscribe to the Podcasts. Adding this link to your program that catches podcast, will keep you up-to-date on the latest audio versions of Cool Cleveland. Let us know how you like the Podcasts, and have fun listening this week. Then, check below to see the events tagged CC KIDS under Cool Cleveland This Week for our recommendations for a holiday week to remember with your kids. Podcast: here. Kids Podcast: here.

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Shop CMA @ Shaker Square! Just in time for the holidays, the Cleveland Museum of Art has opened a brand new retail and education space at Shaker Square. Shop the Museum Store at Shaker Square for fine jewelry, decorative reproductions, home accessories, specialty holiday gifts and more. CMA’s Shaker Square location also offers adult and children’s art classes (gift certificates available) and has an on-site ticket center where you can buy tickets to any CMA event or exhibition. Open 7 days a week with free, convenient parking in back. For more info, go to CMA.org.
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Case’s Nonprofit Innovation Award The Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Case Western Reserve University has recently established its Nonprofit Innovation Award to honor a charitable organization currently utilizing inventive methods to stretch increasingly elusive nonprofit resources while still advancing their organization’s mission. The inaugural honoree will receive their award during the Mandel Center’s Awards Luncheon on 3/28 at the Cleveland Renaissance Hotel. Nonprofit organizations and leaders can submit their nominations, with supporting material, by Wed 1/11. Click here for more info.

Emerging Cleveland tour for ex-patriates CSU Urban Affairs masters students Justin Glanville and Erin Aleman are organizing tours of “to show off some of the cool things that are happening in Cleveland most of them off the beaten path. Destinations include the live- work district, Chinatown, EcoVillage townhouses, the Viaduct, the Carver Park HOPE VI project, Arbor Park and more.” These Emerging Cleveland tours are scheduled over the holidays- Tues 12/27 and Tues 1/3, and targeted to young Cleveland ex-pats “who will be coming home for Christmas or New Year’s and will be stuck at their parents’ houses in the suburbs.” Make reservations by mailing them at jgville@gmail.com .

“No Child” not fair Calling the Federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) arbitrary and discriminatory to larger more diverse school districts, Lakewood schools Superintendent David Estrop is pushing back. Pointing out that Lakewood is required to meet 112 benchmarks while a neighboring affluent district is only required to meet 24, Estrop is calling for Lakewood residents to contact their public officials. In a letter to parents, he writes, “…there is a fundamental flaw in the NCLB penalizing large diverse school systems and communities and rewarding small homogeneous school systems and communities…” He also points to a Harvard study that backs him up here. See story here. You can reach him at david.estrop@lakewood.k12.oh.us and Cc: us at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Emissions from the blogsphere Audient writes about the coming of winter, buying snow shovels, getting the cars in the garage, then building a fire for the first time. The CEO of Phoenix Coffee posts another one of her poems. Ed Morrison summarizes economic development intiatives around the country for stopping the brain drain, including College360. Chas Rich isn’t surprised that Forest City underestimated the economic impact of their proposed convention center. Roger Zender reviews the Cyndi Lauper concert. A group of Northeast Ohio Bloggers interview gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland. Check the Cool Cleveland weblog here, where Peter Chakerian questions the detriment to unions that a Northeast Ohio grocers strike could cause, poses the “ex-pat factor” question and continues to tackle the Summit County Smoking ban. Blend in your own comments, questions and attitude. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Mulready vs. Feagler Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready goes toe-to-toe with Dick Feagler on WVIZ-TV last week, as the two discuss the Ingenuity Festival, Cool Cleveland, and setting the Cuyahoga River on fire. Check out the short video here: (WINDOWS or MAC). Your thoughts? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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The Puppets are Coming to Cleveland: 12/8 and 12/10 Celebrate the spirit of the season with the entire family and Red {an orchestra}. A New Amahl {a Red Christmas} is a story of poverty, wealth, sacrifice and miracles brought to life through the dreams of an urban boy with larger-than-life sized puppets by Basil Twist and video imagery by Ben Kinsley. Experience A New Amahl on Thurs 12/8 at 8PM and Sat 12/10 at 2PM in the Masonic Auditorium, 3615 Euclid Avenue. Concert tickets start at $15. For tickets call 440-519-1733 or visit RedAnOrchestra.org.
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Shocking! If you scroll down to our Top 5, you’ll see that the #1 most clicked link from last week’s 11.30.05 issue was actually for Progressive Urban Real Estate, one of our advertisers. Of all the hundred or so links our readers had to choose from, they clicked most on a link to one of our ads placed by a sponsor. This changes everything. Instead of avoiding advertisements, our readers make it a point to click on them. Alert the marketing professors! Cool Cleveland is leading a revolution. Do your ads get that much attention elsewhere? Let’s talk: Info@CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland This Week
12.07-12.14

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Inside My Head takes viewer’s on a journey into the thoughts and feelings of local artist, Anthony Van Rooy, through a series of drawing and paintings. Take a sneak peek here . The exhibition is on display through December at the Bridgeview Apartments Atrium Mon-Fri from 9AM-5PM. Bridgeview Apartments Atrium, 1300 West 9th Street, St. Clair.

Black Orchid Lounge Warm up at the Spiny Desert of Madagascar inside the glorious Glasshouse at the Cleveland Botanical Garden with a holiday cocktail and some new friends. Check the WinterShow 2005, do a little holiday shopping in the gift shop, and sip the special “Scroogebuster” eggnog with a modern twist. http://www.cbgarden.org.

Philanthropia Support your favorite local charity by attending a networking luncheon on Thu 12/8 at 11:30AM. Just write out a check for $50 (individual) or $500, minimum for a table of ten, to your favorite charity. This tax-deductible donation will directly benefit your favorite cause without it costing them one red cent. Organizations like Computers Assisting People (CAP) and Adoption Network Cleveland would benefit greatly from this no-overhead infusion of cash. Call 440-449-0700. Executive Caterers at Landerhaven, 6111 Landerhaven Drive, Mayfield Heights. www.CCatLanderhaven.com.

Historic Warehouse District Holiday Tour Revisit this charming district of work and living spaces, starting with an opening reception, on Thu 12/8 at 5:30PM. Next embark on progressive tours starting at 6:30PM that will take you to The Bradley Building, Bridgeview Apartments, Erie Building, 425 Lakeside, Grand Arcade Condominiums, Perry Payne and The Pinnacle. End the evening with a Grande Dessert Finale at Sammy’s and live music by The Prayer Warriors. Download your invitation here. Realty One Real Living Home Office, 800 West St. Clair Avenue.

Damjan Kozole: Slovenian Auteur Catch the Cleveland premiere of another one of Kozole’s films, Labour Equals Freedom, on Thu 12/8 at 7PM. The film is a tragicomedy about a man who loses his job, hope and optimism when Slovenia enters the European Union, and his difficult journey to reclaim them. Call 421-7450 for more info. Visit www.cia.edu/cinematheque for tickets. Cleveland Cinematheque at CIA, 11141 East Boulevard.

Dark Room If you are serious about your stagecraft or musicianship and ready for some unique exposure, step into the Cleveland Public Theatre’s Dark Room, an “open mic” for new short performance work on Thu 12/8 at 8PM and every second Thursday of the month. Whether you’re a playwright, poet, performer, musician, or a spectator with an eye and ear for exciting new work, the Dark Room is the place to be. Just arrive at 7:30PM, sign up to perform a 10-minute piece and bring enough copies for any cast members, plus a stage manager, to be recruited from the audience. Suggested donation is just 5 bucks. Parish Hall, 6203 Detroit Avenue.

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Kick off Your Holiday Season this Friday at Severance Hall! The Cleveland Orchestra and Choruses invite you to enjoy some of the most popular music of the holiday season in the splendor of Severance Hall. Bring the entire family for Christmas Concerts featuring classic holiday favorites like “The First Noel,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and more! The holiday festival runs Fri 12/9 though Fri 12/23 and also includes Handel’s glorious oratorio Messiah, Holiday Organ and Brass, and Musical Rainbow programs for children up to age 10. Tickets for these magical performances are selling very quickly, so order today at (216) 231-1111 or online at www.ClevelandOrchestra.com.
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CC KIDS CPL Staff Chorus Concert Cleveland Public Library’s Staff Chorus will perform in their 9th Annual Holiday Concert, open to the public without cost, on Fri 12/9 at 12PM. For more information, call 623-2869. Auditorium of the Main Library’s Louis Stokes Wing, 6th Street and Superior Avenue.

Make the Connection Actress, Beverley Mitchell, best known for her long-running role as Lucy Camden on WB’s 7th Heaven, joins forces with the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation (CRPF) to help raise awareness of cervical cancer (which kills nearly 3,000 women in the US each year), and its cause, a common virus called human papillomavirus or HPV. Local women and girls are invited to the Fri 12/9 event from 4-6PM, for an informative talk by a medical expert from Avon Women’s Health Center, and to make bracelets demonstrating their support for cervical cancer education. Richmond Towne Square, 691 Richmond Road, Richmond Heights. http://www.MakeTheConnection.org.

CC KIDS Tremont Holiday Hop Celebrate the holidays in fine style, on Fri 12/9 from 5-9PM and Sat 12/10 from 12-6PM, as you shuttle throughout Tremont aboard Lolly the Trolley. Hop off at various points to explore incredible edibles and robust wines at area eateries, not to mention the fine art and unique gift items at distinctive galleries and shops in this charming Cleveland neighborhood. Visit the landmark A Christmas Story House, now converted into a museum, and listen to the Brecksville Center for the Arts Choirs singing Christmas carols along Professor Avenue on Sun 12/11 between 1-3PM. Tremont.

Launching Zorcutt The Sculpture Center’s “Window to Sculpture” series kicks off with an open, public exhibition on Fri 12/9 from 5-9PM and will feature sculptor Zachary Orcutt. Experience the unique sculptures of “fantastical flying machines” created by the artist to express metaphors surrounding flight and hear him discuss his work during a gallery talk at 6PM. Call 229-6527. The Sculpture Center, 1834 East 123rd Street. www.SculptureCenter.org.

Convivium 33 Gallery Opening The sassiest, classiest opening of the year blasts off at the brand new Convivium 33 Gallery Fri 12/09. Join the cocktail reception starting at 5:30PM as the latest works of Thomas Frontini are unveiled in the high style a dual grand opening can offer. Celebrate the debut of the exhibition, which runs until 1/29, and of the gallery itself – the newest gallery to explode onto the Cleveland art scene. Call 881-7328 or visit http://www.josaphatartshall.com for more info. Josaphat Arts Hall, Convivium 33 Gallery 1433 East 33rd Street.

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Give Yourself a Gift for the Future Enroll in UCAP (the Ursuline College Accelerated Program) and reap the rewards of an education from an esteemed local college with a 134-year tradition of excellence. If you want to hone your management skills, change careers or complete your bachelor’s degree, UCAP makes it easy. One class a week, five weeks at a time with convenient locations East and West. Evening or Saturday courses are designed for your busy schedule. Prepare for a great future with a degree in Business Management, Management Information Systems, Legal Studies, Health Care Administration, Allied Health or Humanities. Call 440-684-6130 today or visit www.ursuline.edu/UCAP. Next session starts Mon 1/9.
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Scott Lahodny’s who knew? Exhibit Discover the beauty of historic cities like Amsterdam, Paris, Venice and New York without venturing any farther than Downtown Cleveland as you step into brilliant black and white prints which capture the essence of these historic cities with a fresh new perspective. Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres during the artist’s first photo exhibit and take home one of the signed, framed photographs available for sale during the Fri 12/9 reception beginning at 5:30PM. The Bancroft Gallery, The Colonial Marketplace, 530 Euclid Avenue, Suite 44.

I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night Explore dreams, escape and fantasy in contemporary culture through this interdisciplinary, collaborative exhibit between the Cleveland Institute of Art and e. gordon gallery. The CIA student exhibition kicks off on Fri 12/9 with a reception from 6-10PM and runs through 1/14. Visit http://www.egordongallery.com for gallery hours. e. gordon gallery, 2026 Murray Hill Road.

Stains Help Inside-Outside Gallery celebrate its first birthday during the opening reception for the exhibit on Fri 12/9 from 6-9PM, during the Tremont ArtWalk. This unique group show features local female artists Alexis Savon, Angela Oster, Meri Ruble, Brittany Kovacs & Brittany Hudak, Maureen Walsh, Sally Smith, Jesse McGuiness, Joan of Art, and Kristen Plambeck. The mixed-media show centers around the theme of “stains” in a way that is completely open to the interpretation of both the artist and viewer. Performances by the bands To Be a High Powered Executive and Vox Humana will lend to the highly festive mood of the event. Inside-Outside Gallery, 2688 West 14th Street.

Holiday Happening Savor culinary creations reminiscent of yesteryear, imbibe seasonal spirits and partake of holiday hors d’oeuvres while perusing the work of over 40 local artists, including framed paintings, blown glass and unique sculptures on Fri 12/9 and Sat 12/10 from 7-11PM. Call 575-1416 for info. Eikona, 2180 West 11th Street, Tremont.

Kent’s Home Grown Music Concert Explore the rich musical history of Northeast Ohio during this series of musical performances that will celebrate the genius of local musicians. Sway to the sounds of Guy Pernetti, John Reynolds, Jack Delasandro, Rio Neon and friends, each a force to be reckoned with on their own…pure TNT when they perform collectively. The performance kicks off on Fri 12/9 at 8PM. Call 330-903-2055 for more info. The Kent Stage, 175 East Main Street. http://www.StandingRock.net.

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Cleveland Botanical Garden’s Annual WinterShow is a Dazzler, warming hearts and bringing smiles to Clevelanders’ faces now through Sat 12/31. Kids of all ages will love the magical decorations, from a dream tree bedecked with dozens of toys to charming vignettes and lifesize storybooks, from Alice in Wonderland to James and the Giant Peach. Great shopping in the Garden Store and holiday refreshments in the Garden Café make for a delightful holiday afternoon. (Tuesday – Saturday, 10AM – 5PM; Sunday: Noon – 5PM; closed Mondays except 12/26. Adults: $7.50; children: $3.00; members and children under 3 are free.) Sponsored by Judson at University Circle. Visit www.CBGarden.org for a complete schedule of programs.
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CC KIDS Black Nativity This 20-year-old Karamu tradition carefully crafts the performances of experienced, professional, singers and dancers with those of gifted young performers from the Cleveland School of the Arts. An uplifting story for the entire family, Black Nativity features the poetry of Langston Hughes, stirring gospel music, brilliant costumes and magnificent dance numbers. The magic begins on Fri 12/9 at 8PM and runs through 12/30. Performances are at 8PM Thursday through Saturday and at 3PM on Sundays. Jelliffe Theatre, Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street. http://www.Karamu.com.

CC KIDS Cleveland Orchestra Christmas Concerts Revel in the sounds of the season as the renowned Cleveland Orchestra performs traditional seasonal music, Christmas classics and sing-along selections during holiday concerts from Fri 12/9 at 8PM through Sun 12/18. Families can arrive early on December 10, 11, 17, and 18 to have lunch with Santa in Severance Restaurant from 12-3PM. Call 231-7373 or email reservations@clevelandorchestra.com for reservations. Severance Hall. www.ClevelandOrchestra.com.

Camp Phoenix Benefit Rock to the sounds of Mystery of 2, Ohms Law, Harlem Airshaft, and more in this benefit for the camp, run by Aluminum Cans for Burned Children at Akron Children’s Hospital. Bring your aluminum cans on Fri 12/9 at 9PM to help children who are burn victims. Pats in the Flats, 2233 West 3rd.

CC KIDS Computer Generated Works of Art Artist Jerry Jividen will take students step-by-step through the process of using their own digital files to create masterpieces that will quickly exceed the cool quotient of your typical photo and earn a spot on your wall, during this Sat 12/10 workshop from 9AM-4PM. Call 330-657-2681 for fees and registration. Peninsula Art Academy, 1600 West Mill Street, Peninsula.

CCKIDS Wrapping Paper Wizardry is a one-day workshop, on Sat 12/10 from 10AM-1PM, designed for kids 8-15, teens, or anyone else who thinks that traditional holiday wrapping paper is snore city. Fire up your imagination during this chilly NEO weekend by using potatoes, sponges and erasers to create vivid, patterned wrapping paper that will earn oohs and ahs before your gift is even opened. Call 330-657-2248 for fees and registration. Peninsula Art Academy 1600 West Mill Street, Peninsula.

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New Year’s Eve 2006 at Fat Fish Blue Always the best party in town! Reserved seating for 6, 8 or 10PM. Choose from a sumptuous selection of Appetizers and Entrees. Followed by a Chocolate Fondue Dessert Buffet and Champagne Toast. Starting at 8PM, dance ’til you drop to the 8-piece Eugene Ross Band who will rock the house. $55 per guest! Call today! 216-875-6000 or www.FatFishBlue.com.
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CC KIDS By Hand If you’d like something personal and handmade to give to Aunt Thelma, but lack the time or talent to do it yourself; visit this annual assemblage of more than 200 local and national artists at the I-X Center on Sat 12/10 from 10AM-9PM and Sun 12/11 from 10AM-5PM. Browse the wealth of one-of-a-kind art and handcrafted pieces ranging from fine oil paintings to functional pottery and textiles. Visit http://www.ByHandEvents.com for more info. I-X Center.

CC KIDS Holiday Artist Show Peruse the fine art of local artists, including Deb Evan, whose abstract pieces convey a bold, feminine feel, on Sat 12/10 from 12-4PM. Listen to smooth renditions of holiday favorites by the Jazz band, Friends, and feast on complimentary goodies, like tasty Middlefield Swiss Cheese, offerings from local bakeries and vino. Call 440-632-1124 for more info. Vancura Gallery of Fine Art and Custom Framing @ Settler’s Village of Shops, 14279 Old State Road, Middlefield.

CC KIDS Instant Karma, Peace, Love & Music Though he has been gone for 25 years, the love, spirit and music of the late Beatle, John Lennon, is still having a major impact upon music and people today. The Concert for John on Sat 12/10 at noon is a celebration of his life and legacy. Performing artists include Tim Piper & Working Class Hero; British Export; Instant Karma; All You Need Is Love; Hal Bruce and Mark Staycer’s Imagine John Lennon with more to be announced. The tribute begins with a special screening of Imagine, followed by 9 hours of the words and music of John Lennon. For tix call 881-2221 or visit http://www.abbeyroadontheriver.com/concertforjohn/. The Cleveland Agora Theater.

Cats On Holiday @ 2527 Cool Cleveland’s favorite Cleveland band, holiday or no, playing the cozy, wood-lined room at 2527 this Sat 12/10, starting around 9PM. In addition to their rockin’ original tunes about living a hard life, their smokin’ version of Johnny Cash’s Ring Of Fire has gained popularity lately, probably having more to do with Hollywood. Get a complimentary CD single of their holiday song, It’s Christmas Day when you mention Cool Cleveland. 2527 W. 25th Street, 771-2527 http://www.CatsOnHoliday.com.

Cleveland’s Screaming View vintage photographs of Cleveland area misfits from the late 70’s to mid-90’s, as seen through the lens of photographers Janet Macoska, Anastasia Pantsios, Steve Wainstead, Theresa Kereakes, and Jim Lanza on Sat 12/10 starting at 12PM. Call 221-4479. bela dubby gallery, 13321 Madison Avenue, Lakewood. Then, at 7:30PM at the Beachland Ballroom, check out the History of ClePunk Fest, featuring The Offbeats, The Plague, The Chrome Kickers and more, plus vintage video of Cleveland punk legends Pagans, Dead Boys, Starvation Army and more. 15711 Waterloo, 383-1124, http://www.BeachlandBallroom.com

Michelle Levigne a prolific Northeast Ohio author of over 29 books in various genres ranging from paranormal to comedy and romance, will be signing copies of several of her titles on Sat 12/10 from 1-3PM at Northrop Bookstore in Grand Pacific Junction, 8080 Columbia Road, Olmsted Falls.

Cleveland’s Contemporary Youth Orchestra comprised of more than 100 of the region’s best young musicians, from more than 40 high schools, launches its 11th season with a Sat 12/10 concert at 7PM. Concert highlights will include Gustav Holst’s The Planets, Tan Dun’s Dragon and Phoenix and Paul Creston’s 1940 Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra. Call 321-3525 for info. Tickets available at the door. Waetjen Auditorium, CSU’s Music and Communication Building, 2001 Euclid Avenue.

Trans Europe Express Feel like there’s just not enough monophonic analog synthesizers in today’s regurgitated pop tunes? Then this Sat 12/10 event from 8PM-2AM will have you in TechnoHeaven. Angry Red Planet, Amy Kasio, whitechapel, Travelogue and 20goto10—some of the most innovative synth acts around—will rock it out as they pay homage to the old guard while resurrecting vintage gear during this event, named in honor of the legendary Kraftwerk song. Call 221-6431. HiFi Club, 11729 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood. http://www.HiFiConcertClub.com.

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Eat. Drink. Shop. Be Merry. This Holiday season visit Shaker Square for all your shopping needs. There’s a store for every person on your list. Surprise the food fanatics with gift cards or dinners from Shaker Square’s award-winning restaurants. Please your artistic, fashionable – even furry! – friends with gifts from the wide variety of shops and galleries that grace the square. You can even find something practical for those hard-to-shop-for folks, too. Come early to Shaker Square and stay late. Shop, have dinner, sip a cocktail, relax and experience Shaker Square to the fullest this Holiday season! There’s nothing like it. For a complete list of merchants, visit www.TheCoralCompany.
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Winter Bicycling Commuting for Anyone addresses both the advantages and hazards of bicycling in inclement weather, and will also double as the December meeting of Cleveland Car-Free. Sample hot beverages and veggie chili while listening to veteran blizzard bicyclists relate practical information on choosing equipment, riding techniques and dressing for all types of weather. Potential winter bikers, environmentalists who want to reduce their reliance on cars, and those who just want to know, what would possess someone to ride their bike in a blizzard, are all welcome to join the symposium on Sun 12/11 from 4-6PM. Call 830-2667. Ohio City Bicycle Co-op, 1823 Columbus Road. http://www.OhioCityCycles.org.

Industrial Niche Marketing Whether your organization is currently struggling with marketing, or would just like to raise the bar in 2006, you’ll find the David and Goliath story of Arzel® Zoning, a local tech company that has managed to grow in excess of 35% every year, for the past 7 years, despite unbelievable obstacles, both instructive and compelling. Register for the Wed 12/14 event, which kicks off at 5:30PM, with dinner and networking, before a presentation by the president of Arzel® Zoning, David D. Laughlin, at http://www.ClevelandAMA.com. Hilton Garden Inn, Downtown.

CC KIDS CityMusic Concert Hear some of the finest freelance musicians in the area during a series of complimentary concerts throughout the region. The remarkably talented group of classical musicians consistently delivers an exhilarating performance worthy of any concert hall, so their Italian Holiday Concert is sure to enrapture audiences. See them perform on Wed 12/14 at 7:30PM at Fairmount Presbyterian Church, 2757 Fairmount Boulevard, or at concerts in Elyria, Willoughby Hills, Slavic Village, East Cleveland and Rocky River through 12/18. See the full schedule at http://www.CityMusicCleveland.org.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Manchester Place at Falls River Square is a one-of-a-kind mixed-use residential building located in the heart of Cuyahoga Falls. Featuring approximately 48 new homes that include luxurious lofts and spacious penthouses, Manchester Place will neighbor the breathtaking Cuyahoga River, scenic Riverfront Parkway, and exciting Falls River Square in Riverfront Centre. The central location is convenient … homeowners can walk to many shops and restaurants along the riverfront mall or the new Natatorium Community Recreation Center. A 15-minute car trip can take you to Kent, Fairlawn, Akron, or further destinations by means of the adjacent State Route 8 to the Ohio Turnpike, I-271, I-77, and I-76. Model hours: Open Daily 1-5:30 PM or by appointment. Closed Friday. Contact Gina Homrock-Mahn (330) 920-9760 or www.ZarembaHomes.com.
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Cool Cleveland Dispatch
Cleveland as a Way of Life

I may just be a farm boy from Kansas, but I’ve been fortunate enough to have lived in two great world cities, London and Washington, DC. Both of which have appealed to my desire for the urgency of city life, and more importantly, for strong diverse cultural institutions. However, I’ve found something lacking in these cities, something I could not pinpoint. The void, I’ve come to realize, is the gap between city life and city pride. Many cities are so busy shuttling people back and forth and developing at an exponential rate that they fail to appreciate the value of having an identity. They build and grow certainly, but in the process they lose the sense of where they came from and a shared sense of local pride and heritage. Their energy is directed into what comes next as dictated by global trends. Perhaps this is because so much of their population is transient. In any case, one is constantly being propelled forward, so far forward and so fast, even at times, to the point of whiplash. You can’t turn around to see what you missed because someone or something is always pushing you right on through. I believed one city to be the same as the next, save geography and minor colloquial differences. I took this for granted…that is, until I discovered, through the insistence of a friend, Cleveland. Yes, Cleveland, Ohio. It’s a city that fills the chasm between “living” and “way of life…’
Read Cool Cleveland Dispatch from Kevin Higgins here

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Seen any Good Erratica Lately? Don’t miss The Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s newest exhibition, Glacial Erratica: The Art of Charles Herndon, running now through 3/05/06. Herndon’s breathtaking artwork reflects the natural history of Kelleys Island. His sculpting material includes erratics, boulders that were left on the shores of the island by glaciers more than 10,000 years ago. More than 35 sculptures, paintings and photographs will be on display. And while you’re at the Museum, stop in to see What’s New?, an exhibit of new acquisitions of the Museum, including gross things in jars, an 18 foot python, cultural artifacts from the Oaxaca region of Mexico, and skulls from a now extinct animal. For more information visit www.cmnh.org.
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RoldoLINK
City Council Obsolete? Is Jackson Buckling?
By Roldo Bartimole

A number of issues popped up on the community agenda this week.

One is the movement to reduce Cleveland City Council.

When I first frequented City Hall, there were 33 Council members. It was a simpler time and a simpler body. Council members were complaint expediters.

I remember they worked in one large room with a few cubicles with telephones. There was no such thing as cell phones. The 33 competed for phones to do their business. It was essentially a low-cost operation. It has grown. Big time.

Now there are 21 Council members, each with a computerized office. Each has publicly paid aides, ample expense accounts and additional support staff with at least two or three times the office space of the dowdy old cramped office.

Council also has gone on an extravagant spending binge on “consultants” and private legal counsel in recent years.

Expansion in all ways has been Council’s modus operandi for years. Bigger, however, may not be better…
Read RoldoLINK here

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Ho, Ho, Ho! Kids, get breakfast with Santa and his reindeer, an OMNIMAX® movie and admission to the Science Center – all for only $15. What a deal. Join us for a hilarious battle for Christmas in “Santa Vs. the Snowman” at the Great Lakes Science Center’s OMNIMAX® Theater. Movie-only tickets are $8.95/adults, $6.95/kids and the combination OMNI/Science Center admission is $12.95/adults and $8.95/kids. Visit www.GreatScience.com for show times. This not-so-traditional tale is included with Breakfast with Santa on Sun 12/11 starting at 8:30AM with a visit from Santa and two of his real reindeer! Your ticket also includes full breakfast, “Santa Vs. the Snowman” and admission to the Science Center exhibits – all for $20/adults and $15/kids. Call 216.621.2400 for reservations.
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Cool Holiday Shopping
Nix the national chain stores. Spend your 2005 holiday dollars on local businesses, especially area artists and entrepreneurs. Keep your dollars in the region where they build jobs, create growth and generate taxes. The short list below should get you started, then check our full list at Cool Holiday Shopping

Shaker Square/Larchmere for unique gifts – the new CMA gift store at the Square is darling. You could leave your kid on Saturday to take an art lesson while you shop and dine – how fun would that be!

Shop at Big Fun and Bigger Fun on Thu 12/8 from 6-9PM and 20% of your purchases will benefit the arts in our community. Shop at either 1827 Coventry (the original) or 1814 Coventry (old High Tide space), both in Cleveland Heights.

Southside Cleaners & Concierge at 1020 Kenilworth, in Tremont, offers Holiday gifting, gift baskets: ready-to-give and custom order, gift wrapping supplies, and a gift wrapping service, with a 10% discount on all holiday items purchased at neighboring Tremont galleries and retail shops. Goodies available include aromatherapy cleaning supplies, handmade satin/jeweled laundry bags, candles, and bath & body items. Shop Mon-Fri from 8AM-1PM or 4-8PM, Sat 9AM-4PM.

Give Cleveland music for the holidays With a local group for every musical taste, there is bound to be one that will make each of your giftees squeal with glee. Try these on for starters: Kassaba, North Coast Men’s Chorus, and The Burning River Brass. Azica Records offers jazz and classical selections, including several holiday tunes. Apollo’s Fire has a variety of CDs available. And the soundtrack to the original Cleveland play, Holiday Hotline, is up for grabs, after Thu 12/15, at http://www.LindaEisenstein.com.

Give Cleveland books to the discriminating readers on your gift list. You’ll find a huge selection of books by local authors at Loganberry Books on Larchmere in genres ranging from children’s books to romance and mystery. You can order on-line or by telephone, and they’ll ship anywhere.

North Union Farmers Market holiday markets Support local farmers by picking up your holiday grocery needs, including holiday turkeys (fresh, frozen, or smoked), and a host of fresh meats, veggies and sweets, from North Union Farmers Market holiday markets, running Sat 12/10 & 12/17 from 8AM-12PM on Shaker Boulevard at Shaker Square.

Lucy’s Sweet Surrender offers holiday cakes, pastries, old world party trays, and corporate gifts that will have your clients coming back to you for more. Check out some of their tasty creations at http://www.LucysSweetSurrender.com. Call 752-0828.

Tremont Holiday Hop Hop Lolly the Trolley and shuttle between more than 15 participating Tremont businesses where you will be treated to wine tasting, holiday décor, exciting raffles, and more as you browse a host of intriguing art and unique gift items and explore charming local eateries, on Fri 12/9 from 5-9PM and Sat 12/10 from 12-6PM. Visit www.RestoreTremont.com.

Sylvia Ullman American Crafts Gallery just one block north of Shaker Square, at 13010 Larchmere Boulevard, features the work of more than 350 artisans in mediums ranging from pottery, to glass, wood and jewelry. Get one-of-a-kind gifts for the original characters in your life, Tue-Sat from 10AM-5:30PM and Sun 1-5PM. Call 231-2008 or visit http://www.AmericanCraftsGallery.com and http://www.Bliswear.com for a sneak peek.

Candlelight Christmas House Tour and Art Sale – Bring the entire family for a day of fun and a celebration of tradition and culture on Sun 12/11 from 1-6PM. The fun begins at Art House, 3119 Denison Avenue, in historic Brooklyn Centre. Sip complimentary hot beverages and discover the work of exciting local artists, or purchase goodies from the bake sale. Call 398-8556, Ext. 2, for info on Christmas House Tour tix. The art sale is without cost. http://www.ArtHouseInc.org.

My Town Baskets offers baskets full of yummy treats made by local vendors. Check out some of the available baskets at http://www.MyTownBaskets.com.

Holiday Traditions – Shop Local Chagrin Falls Nibble on complimentary cookies and enjoy cocoa, coffee and tea as you shop the merchants, galleries and boutiques of picturesque Chargin Falls Village. Visit Township Hall at 83 North Main Street weekdays from 11AM-3PM and weekends from 11AM-5PM, through Christmas Eve. See the locally-grown, mini-tree festival, Santa’s Shop, where all gifts are 5 smackeroos or less, take a festive horse and carriage ride, and get the kids’ pictures taken with Santa, (on weekends, only) as a no-cost bonus. http://www.ChagrinFalls.net.

Cleveland in Prose and Poetry edited by Bonnie Jacobson, with cover art by area artist Hector Vega, features the works of over 70 writers who penned their thoughts about our beautiful city, from Mark Twain’s observation of Euclid Avenue to performance poet Ray McNiece’s Revenge of Cleveland, a rage against nouvelle cuisine. Order here or pick a copy up at Mac’s Backs on Coventry or Loganberry Books on Larchmere.

NONA at 2254 Lee Road, in Cleveland Heights specializes in one-of-a-kind gifts, like their Rescued and Reloved line of candles, jewelry and handbags, each made of 100% recycled materials. Store hours are Tue, Thu, Fri & Sat from 11AM-6PM and Wed 11AM-3PM.

By Hand Discover extraordinary gifts for discriminating friends and family members during this first annual festival of local artists and artisans on Sat 12/10 from 10AM-9PM and Sun 12/11 from 10AM-5PM at the I-X Center. Visit http://www.ByHandEvents.com for a list of participating artists offering everything from fine oil paintings to functional pottery and textiles, and ticket prices.

HDSA Amaryllis Campaign Give a special gift that keeps on giving. When you purchase an amaryllis bulb kit which contains a decorative pot, growing mix and a Dutch imported amaryllis bulb for indoor growing, for just $10, you will help support the local efforts of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. You can call your order in at 226-6633.

Cleveland Orchestra Chorus Pick up the new, limited-edition, sound recording by the Cleveland Orchestra, entitled, Gloria! A Holiday Celebration, a collection of sacred and secular music selected from live Cleveland Orchestra Christmas Concerts performed in Severance Hall between 1998 and 2004. Call 231-7374, or pick your copy up at the Severance Hall Ticket Office, or in the Grand Foyer of Severance Hall during December Cleveland Orchestra concerts.

Loganberry Book Club Can’t decide which book is right for the avid readers on your gift list? Then don’t just settle for one book, give this book-of-the-month club membership at one of three different price levels. Each month your giftee will receive a new book, based on a profile that you complete. Loganberry Books, 13015 Larchmere Boulevard, Shaker Heights.

www.aromatherabooze.com Created by a local restaurant veteran, Bar Girl Productions is the source for all that is boozy goodtime swag– from sexed-up aromatherapy spray and candles to your favorite hooch bottle manufactured into a fashionable lamp!

City Buddha invites you to spread the love even further with your holiday gifting. You supply at least 10 friends, some merriment-inducing beverages, and the place, and City Buddha will bring the shopping to you and your friends with 20% of the receipts going to your favorite charity. Just pick an evening between now and 12/22, between 6-8PM. Call 241-6416 or email Info@CityBuddha.com for more info.

Visit Lock 3 Park’s Holidayfest for shopping, delicious foods, ice skating, live music and arts and crafts nearly any day of the week. Sample lots of tasty German goodies including authentic German brats, potato pancakes, soup, gluehwein (hot mulled wine) and beer and see ice skaters, dancers and musicians from Akron’s sister city of Chemnitz, Germany, perform. Visit http://www.HolidayFest.org for a full schedule of events. Lock 3 Park, Main Street, Downtown Akron.

Tell us about a gallery or artists space that’s selling cool local art and gifts this season by e-mailing us at Events@CoolCleveland.com and we’ll list as many as possible in the next few weeks. Check out the full list at Cool Holiday Shopping.

WCLVnotes If you spend the winter months elsewhere – say Florida or Arizona – or if you travel a lot, and don’t want to miss out on WCLV’s classical music programming, including The Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony and the San Francisco Symphony, remember you can take WCLV with you via the Internet. Simply log on to www.WCLV.com. Not only will you be able to listen to WCLV in real-time, but you can also plan your listening with the detailed WCLV Program Guide. Read about special programs and WCLV events, and even publish your thoughts and opinions about things musical, including WCLV, in the WCLV Forum.

An Open Letter
To The Citizens Of Cleveland From Kris Kringle

Holly Hey HoJo Hecky-Heck everyone! Did I confuse you with the other name? I usually go by Santa Claus or the unfortunate “Little Saint Nick”, but Rudolph noticed that Krispy Kreme had become a popular donut brand, and thought I should capitalize on the ‘k’ thing. He’s one hell of a smart reindeer.

Since I have magical powers, I have made everything you asked for come true. You have a new mayor who appears to be a vaguely African-American Abe Lincoln. He will certainly emancipate you from your malaise. You have saved 430 government accounting jobs from moving to the South Pole with OfficeMax. The war in Iraq is going great… Ms. Claus-Kringle tells me it should be over soon. The Raspberries re-united…
Read the letter from Kris Kringle here

Cool Cleveland Sounds
Woodshed Mercy
Woodshed Mercy

Initially, the name Woodshed Mercy might conjure up visions of a B-reel horror film, starring a recklessly annoying hotel heiress who gets whacked about halfway through the flick. But once you get a load of the locally-focused “Nobottom Blues,” a track halfway through this band’s self-titled release, you already understand what that mercy really is all about.

Born from the reunited core (four of the five current members) of one-time local act Tumbleweed Jo, Woodshed Mercy takes on rock n’ roll, bluegrass, alt-country with a pinch of post-punk ethos. They distill it into the best batch of aural moonshine you’ve ever had; the results are what Wilco’s Jay Bennett might have thought of when he dubbed the phrase “rural contemporary.” With five unique singer-songwriter approaches to the craft, Woodshed Mercy creates a melange of Americana music that ages well, but never grows old…
Read the review of Woodshed Mercy here

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.

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

A Christmas Story @ Cleveland Play House 11/30 True Confessions time. I’m a Christmas Story virgin! True. Oh, to be sure I’ve heard about the leg lamp, and the air rifle, and getting your tongue stuck on a frozen metal lamp post, but – I must be one of the only two or three people in the city who haven’t seen the movie on which this play is based. Or read the book, either. On the other hand, this gives me a unique perspective on the new production now on stage in the Bolton Theatre at The Cleveland Play House through December 18. It’s a wonderful, colorful, bright and spritely Christmas treat for the entire family…
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

Holiday Hotline @ The Orthodox 12/1 Last spring, a few actors, musicians and writers opened the Dark Room, sponsored by the Cleveland Theater Collective, an experimental space where writers and performers could test stories, songs and scripts for small audiences. Back when the flowers bloomed, writer Linda Eistenstein tested some holiday songs and stories, which is now full-blown, part of a troika of satirical holiday stories at Detroit Avenue Arts on the Cleveland Public Theater complex. Eisenstein, joined by writer Michael Sepesy, present Holiday Hotline, which fits in comfortably along with Mrs. Bob Cratchitt’s Wild Christmas Binge and the Santaland Diaries…
Read the review by Kevin Cronin here

Holiday Hotline @ The Orthodox 12/1 Is the pressure of Christmas, or Channukah or Kwanzaa or Solstice or whatever getting to you, baby? Well, you don’t have to take it any more! No, there’s help right around the corner! Just pick up the phone and call Holiday Hotline a delicious new musical comedy revue, birthed right here in Cleveland! All you have to do is take yourself to the almost-near-West Side to the Orthodox, at 6203 Detroit Avenue. (Phone is: (216) 491-1709). Okay. (Whew.) Got the commercial out of the way, now then – on with the show! Sometimes all you need to ease the pressure a bit is a good laugh. Or a happy song. You’ll find lots of both in this happy creation. Just as there’s something to please everyone, there’s just as likely to be something to offend anyone; it’s sort of an equal opportunity example of good spirits run amok…
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz

Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall 12/1 When the newest work on the program garners the most interest and the most lively performance of the evening, it’s time to sit up and take notice. That’s exactly what happened at this week’s concert by the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall. The Neruda Songs by Peter Lieberson—written for his wife, mezzo Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, who brought them to scintillating and heart-felt life—was, without doubt the highlight of the evening…
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

The Elixir of Love @ Cleveland Opera 12/2 So, who needs a set, anyway? To be sure, some operas would not work so very well without a real stage setting in which to house the action and the songs. But The Elixir of Love is not necessarily one of them, as Cleveland Opera proved at the opening of the second production of the season. The vast stage of the State Theatre at Playhouse Square Center was almost entirely bare and entirely exposed to the ticket-holders as they entered the theater. A wooden platform, a chair or two and a couple of step-ladders of differing heights were all one could see. With the help of a backdrop which presented a blue, blue sky with fluffy white clouds (and the man in the moon during the second act); brilliant lighting—swags of colored lights interspersed with balloons—and a few other assorted pieces of furniture, the opera unfolded in a perfectly normal fashion…)
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

The Vagabond and Friends @ Powerhouse Pub 12/4 As the Vagabond, Fred Taylor, playwright, actor, director/producer and singer spins a tale to portray the pitfalls of living a life consumed with negativity and hatred. He reveals history before our eyes — with visits from characters such as Moses and Ramses, Jack the Ripper, The Mad Hatter, the Neo-Nazis and more. Educating his audience with the portrayal of wicked characters throughout the ages, Taylor’s message of good versus evil transcends over the generations with the clear message that we all create our own heaven or hell. From Cool Cleveland correspondent T.L. Champion TLatCoolCleveland.com

Brunch-Recital @ the InterContinental Hotel 12/4 There are those who think that an Invitation to the Dance will lead you to a dance with the Devil. However, if the invitation is extended by the very capable hands of Konstantin Soukhovetski, you should definitely accept it. You may be rather out of breath by the ending, but you’ll have had a wonderful experience in the meantime. A nearly full house (100 or so) shared the dance Sunday afternoon in the Six Continents Lounge at the InterContinental Hotel on the campus of the Cleveland Clinic. It’s gorgeous room for a recital such as this, with lively acoustics, but an atmosphere redolent of a salon or living room in a stately home…
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

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 Jonathan Sheffer’s “Cleveland Low Life” shirt (See Cool Cleveland Interview here) i want jonathan sheffer’s tshirt really bad!!!!! where can i buy it?
from Cool Cleveland reader julie dornback julieATsandvickarchitects.com
Ed: You can get Johnathan’s shirt at: Revival, 822 West Market Street, Akron, 330-762-4845, http://www.bctzcleveland.com

On the Summit smoking ban (See Summit County bans smoking here, and Yr Turn here) I couldn’t agree more. I am big on socializing. However, I typically go to events at museums, plays, etc…, where smoking is prohibited. Having a cancer scare myself, I feel that it is my right not to breath other people’s cancer sticks. It’s nice eating a meal without having to breath smoke, and the food smells and tastes a lot better without the stench of cigagrette or cigars. I won’t even date anyone who smokes; it’s like kissing an ash tray. Do you have a visual? I hope Cuyahoga County follows suit.
from Cool Cleveland reader Linda Zajac lzajac2001ATyahoo.com

Oh, for pity’s sake, is this really all that difficult? Polluter pays. Let the state license smoking in bars and restaurants as it licenses alcohol service, and require top-notch ventilation equipment in licensed facilities. Owners who insist that their livelihood depends on creating a carcinogenic preserve for addicts can pay for the privilege, passing the cost on to their customers – and those funds can be diverted to prevention and treatment.
from Cool Cleveland reader Mati Senerchia senerchiaATsbcglobal.net

Thank you for addressing the smoking in restaurants issue. After happily returning to live in Cleveland after seven years, I was unhappy to hear the words when visiting local restaurants, “smoking or Non-smoking.” Uggggh. I smell like I’ve walked out of a bar after eating brunch every Sunday after church. I make sure I wear washables, because the clothes go in the wash as soon as I get home! Call me “sensitive” to cigarettes. A good thing, too. It’s cigarettes that killed a very close friend. I’m all for Cleveland joining most US cities in being smoke-free in restaurants. Non-smoking in restaurants is COOL! I’ll be writing the PD and our state officials. Please join me!
from Cool Cleveland reader Janet Gaydosh janetgaydoshATadelphia.net

Dear ODOT: (See ODOT still doesn’t get it here) [ed: The following are letters sent to Ohio Department of Transportation Deputy Director David Coyle (david.coyle@dot.state.oh.us), and/or ODOT Project manager Craig Hebebrand, and Cc:’ed to Cool Cleveland] Mr. Coyle, Please take the necessary time to ensure that the bridge which will be erected in Cleveland is one that will impact the region positively. We have a great town here and a signature bridge could do wonders for the region. We’ve had too many public projects that were rushed into in this town that we are still trying to work ourselves out of. Please try to alleviate and not contribute to our problems. I’d be happy to discuss this with you if you have the time.
from Cool Cleveland reader Kevin Patrick Murphy

Mr. Coyle, I am new to the city, having just moved to Tremont in August, and am very interested in the inner belt bridge project. My bus takes me across the I-90 Bridge to work every day. From what I have read ODOT has done a good deal of research into the best alternative for a new bridge. However, it is somewhat distressing to hear that local businesses and residents still have misgivings about the project…
Read more here

Mr. Hebebrand, I urge you and the Ohio Department of Transportation to fully consider all alternatives to the rerouting of the innerbelt. As ODOT’s position now stands, the recommended solution will a) impact economic growth in core areas of downtown Cleveland, including the new development zones created by the Euclid Corridor project; and b) deprive the city of a truly beautiful signature bridge known worldwide. I am a frequent visitor to Charleston SC, and their new Cooper River bridge is something to behold. If they can make neighborhood adjustments in the cause of beauty and development, so can we.
from Cool Cleveland reader Steve Hunder shunderATstrategylogic.com

Dear Mr. Coyle: Please support Paul Alsenas’s idea for a new innerbelt bridge. A new bridge would create more room for development, improve the flow of traffic and create a more beautiful approach to the city. The Greek Orthodox Church would NOT need to be damaged. ODOT’s plans to rehabilitate and maintain the existing bridge is a mediocre compromise that will not achieve the highest potential in either beauty or economic development. Cleveland needs to stop being mediocre. Let’s think outside of our sense of safety and do something wonderful for once. Let’s build a amazing new bridge that would be a landmark and a piece of architectural beauty.
from Cool Cleveland reader Tom Lewis skysightATaol.com

Dear David: I am a lifetime resident of Cleveland and a saleperson who is always on the road. I live on the East Side of Cleveland and travel all over the city and to my office in Brecksville. I cannot imagine your Department making the kind of changes you are proposing (closing 4 exits off and seven entrances onto the Innerbelt) without taking into account how it will effect the residents, businesses and overall welfare of the City of Cleveland…
Read more here

Dear Mr. Coyle & Hebebrand. As a tax paying citizen of the state of Ohio I am appalled by ODOT’s attitude towards the largest city in Ohio. It is very obvious that our region is held in utter disdain by those in power in Columbus. The current slap in our collective faces by the state government and ODOT regarding the inner-belt bridge reeks of payback for not being a Republican stronghold…
Read more here

Mr. Hebebrand & Mr. Coyle: Downtown businesses and residents require better access to the innerbelt than the current plan provides. I further strongly support a signature bridge and urge you to consider the proposal by Cuyahoga County Planning Director Paul Alsenas. Respectfully, our tax dollars will pay for this project and the City deserves a voice in this project.
from Cool Cleveland reader Amy E. Marquit Renwald, Assistant Director of Law, City of Cleveland Department of Law AMarquitRenwaldATcity.cleveland.oh.us

Dear Mr. Coyle and Mr. Hebebrand, I am writing to express my opposition to ODOT’s current plans for Cleveland’s Innerbelt. As a City of Cleveland resident whose place of residence will be directly affected by ODOT’s current plan, I demand the following measures be undertaken before a final plan is recommended: 1) Completion of an economic impact study examining not only the effects of removing four exit ramps and seven entrances to the Innerbelt, but also the demolition of a significant number of downtown buildings that are currently home to viable, job-providing businesses; and 2) Cooperation with the County in examining the viability of a southern alignment for the new Innerbelt Bridge. ODOT has thus far failed to persuade city residents that its plans for the Innerbelt are necessary or justifiable. By undertaking the above measures, the agency stands a better chance of galvanizing public support for this project.
from Cool Cleveland reader Justin Glanville jgvilleATgmail.com

Hi Craig, Just to drop a note, I am a life long Clevelander and I am a bit concerned about some of the planning going on with the Bridge. From what I understand, you are decreasing the number of exits (!). Have you done an impact study on this? We are trying hard to revive downtown. Also, while I appreciate your concern for the Tremont area, I think we should consider the benefits of having the bridge be replaced going farther south. This would free up some space downtown and could truly spark a renaissance. Finally, I don’t think I have to emphasize how beneficial it would be to the community to have some stellar structure rather than a plain looking bridge. Cleveland has so many unique bridges in that area. Why relegate the new innerbelt to has been status? Thanks for allowing me to give my input.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jim Simler jimsimlerAThotmail.com

Mr. Coyle & Mr. Hebebrand: In response to Cool Cleveland’s call for us all to voice our thoughts on the future of the Innerbelt, I am attaching below a letter I sent to Steve Litt (unpublished) some months ago. Thanks for listening. We can figure this out together… In my 6th floor office overlooking the CSU campus, shared with the executive director of the Quadrangle, there is no end to the variety of plans that adorn the walls, easels, and often the floors surrounding my desk…
Read more here

David and Craig, Please consider an economic impact study for the Interbelt bridge in Cleveland. Antoher ecenomic impact study was already forgone in the same area (Steelyard Common) and the potential to discover that we’ve possibly made two extremely large, expensive, and important mistakes in the same area could be devastating. A mistake with this bridge can be detrimental to the already fragile Cleveland economy. I am a Law and Urban Planning student who plans to make a living in Cleveland. I am trying in my own work to encourage people to have a greater sense of vision and forethought in making planning decisions. Cleveland does not need a new bridge. Cleveland needs a new VIABLE bridge. Moreover, an architecturally notable bridge can be a further boone to the economies of Cleveland and NE Ohio.
from Cool Cleveland reader Adam Saurwein fotomadaATyahoo.com

Dear David Coyle: I know you-are-probably-an-innocent-man-caught-up-in bureaucracy… But, do you know how important it is to achieve an aesthetic/architectural resolution to the Cleveland:. Innerbelt/Bridge issue? Of course, you do. Please opt-for the world-class, beautiful, people-friendly way. Please create something that your children’s children can be proud of… Thank you for you consideration.
from Cool Cleveland reader David A. Szynal daszynalATsbcglobal.net

After reading the recent letter to the editor in the PD, I’m getting very annoyed with ODOT’s “we’ve been listening” stance. It appears that you are not listening, or at least you’re not hearing what is being said. We know that the Southern alignment option for the Innerbelt was considered and then removed. What is upsetting to people who are actively following this debate is that fact that getting ODOT to get a second opinion (after B&N’s rejection of the southern alignment) has been so difficult. Try poking around the transportation forum at http://www.urbanohio.com if you want to see what people who really care about Cleveland are saying about ODOT’s performance.
from Cool Cleveland reader Paul J. Heney PHeney@penton.com

It is imperative that Cleveland along with ODOT jumps at the chance of making the skyline of this city more independent than that of other midwest cities. I believe that Cleveland has (or used to have) the tallest building between Chicago and New York City. The potential of having a great bridge, whether in terms of design or technical achievement, would not only infuse pride into Cleveland, but also provide this city with face time (people would talk about “that new bridge Cleveland is building.”) As reference, please consider the bridge in downtown Milwaukee and downtown Boston (Charles River). These bridges are examples of what can happen in Cleveland. These seemingly small attributes, contribute greatly to conversations in business settings. A well thought out bridge design and route through the city is the only option that this town deserves, nothing less. I strongly suggest the managers of the current inter-belt bridge project reconsider current plans and give more time to hear out the people of Cleveland.
from Cool Cleveland reader Maciej “Mac” G. Zborowski maciej.zborowski@gmail.com

Having just read that “In 1888 Charles F. Brush designed and erected the world’s first wind-powered electric generator in Cleveland, Ohio…” is both thought-provoking and exulting. (See http://www.brushwind.org). Please envision an assemblage of white windmills nested on the Gordon Park Landfill, linked to the nearby power plants, perhaps in an arc that extends-out into-the-lake, continuing perhaps connected-in-a-scenic-drive by a San Diego/Coronado Bridge-like structure over the Cuyahoga shipping lanes, that connects to Edgewater Park and provides, not only power but also recreation and beauty…
from Cool Cleveland reader David A. Szynal daszynalATsbcglobal.net

I got this form letter back today; you can read the whole thing, but notice the key portion: “However, based upon public comments received to date, ODOT commits to reviewing our alignment recommendation [to cut north of Tremont]. Also, please be advised that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will conduct an independent review of the bridge alignment recommendation as a part of their review of the Alternatives Report…
Read more here

On Cool Cleveland << ...spend your gift dollars in Cleveland on area artists and entrepreneurs, and let's stimulate our own economy... >> Amen, brother! And to that end, thanks for your patronage of Kalliope’s Opal, and for helping to spread the good word.
from Cool Cleveland reader Halle Barnett wordsATmedia-schmedia.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) You Can Live just steps away from University Circle.
http://www.ProgressiveUrban.com

2) ODOT still doesn’t get it The Ohio Department of Transportation already has made up their minds about the Innerbelt Bridge, even though they’re having public comment. Typical bureaucrats.
http://www.Innerbelt.org

3) New to Cleveland? Another way of using the internet to find cool things to do around town.
Meetup.com

4) 18th Annual Open Studio Holiday Sale featuring the work of over 60 resident and visiting artists.
www.ArtistsOfCleveland.com

5) Historic Warehouse District Annual Tour Revisit this charming district of work and living spaces.
www.NorthernOhioLive.com

5 reviews in one week Special recognition to Kelly Ferjutz for accomplishing the number of Instant Karmas she did. Where else do you get that kind of coverage? We appreciate her work, as well as that of Peter Chakerian, Roxanne Ravenel, TL Champion, George Nemeth, Roldo Bartimole and everyone who partners with us. Want to volunteer and contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, articles, or story ideas to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Download the Cool Cleveland podcast each week at http://www.CoolCleveland.com. Click on the Cool Cleveland Blog here. Read the Cool Cleveland column each month in Cleveland Magazine here. Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time. Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com, and your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com. For your copy of the free weekly Cool Cleveland e-zine, go to http://www.CoolCleveland.com.

Welcome home, Clevelanders,

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

all contents ©2005 MulreadyGROUP all rights reserved
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