11.11-11.18.2015 Superstars

11.11-18.15
Superstars

They’re all around us. CoolCleveland’s own Mansfield Frazier is my personal hero, rising from a life of crime to creating the Vineyards & BioCellar of Chateau Hough, producing an offender reentry engine alongside an urban farming experiment and an award-winning vintage. And he’s become our region’s finest social commentator. He’s a dynamite speaker, too. Read his column below and hear him at CWRU this week.

Whether it’s Station Hope telling the story of Cleveland’s role in the Underground Railroad, or artist Joseph Minek talking about his work at 2731, or the Ohio Legends of Rock at the Akron Civic, or Dinofest at CMNH, or sportswear retailer Geiger’s opening their 3rd location next door to Heinen’s downtown, our own local heroes continue to improve our community. We have 2 of the 4 best libraries in the nation, and a massive new hotel going up featuring CLE artists.

Some, like Apollo’s Fire, collect accolades from around the world before returning to blow us away again. Others, like Fred Ward, provide assistance in relative obscurity. Homegrown Blues Night will evoke emotion at The Kent Stage, while Ringworm and State of Conviction bring the heavy to the Agora, and the Akron Symphony swings at EJ Thomas.

Be a star and get your holiday shopping started with a little help from CoolCleveland’s ShopLOCAL listings. We’ll feature a different cool category each week. Stop by MOCA for their Artscape event, or the humongous Hollywood poster auction, or the Beachland’s vast vinyl Record Riot. Capture local stars at their best by becoming a CoolCleveland writer. Volunteer with Morgan Conservatory, peruse 3 Ohio printmakers at Akron’s Stanton Harris, giggle with Cleveland’s funniest rabbis for charity at the Maltz, or join the stitch & bitch at Gypsy Beans for women’s rights. It’s your town. And the brightest superstar is you. –Thomas Mulready

Subscribe to CoolCleveland here
Download our free mobile apps for Apple and Android
Got some cool news? Click here to tell us about it
Get help receiving the Cool Cleveland e-blast here
Photo by Elisa Vietri

Kids, Toys & Fun

You’ve got nieces, nephews or little ones of your own. The holidays are coming, but the last thing you want to do is get them Star Wars or Disney. Check out cool local stores like Paisley Monkey in Lakewood (pictured) or Big Fun on Coventry or R&R Gift Shop in AsiaTown or the new Rocket Fizz Soda & Candy Shop at 5th Street Arcades.

Check our free ShopLOCAL listings for more than a dozen suggestions under Kids, Toys & Fun. Or try one of our other categories like Handmade, Pets or Biking. And don’t forget our cool museum shops like the one at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Kids love those dinosaurs! Visit our ShopLOCAL listings on CoolCleveland.com or on our free mobile apps for Apple and Android.

Morgan Papermaking Grows Its Own

The Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory has made a whole range of eastern-influenced paper-based arts accessible to Clevelanders with its classes, workshops, equipment-filled workspace and gallery shows.

They also grow their own kozo trees to make paper from the bark. This weekend they’re inviting volunteers to come down and help them harvest it. CoolCleveland’s John Benson tells us how Morgan has brought a whole new art form to town and how the whole kozo thing works. Sat 11/14 & Sun 11/15.

Supercharge your online advertising Consider CoolCleveland Sponsored Links, Sponsored Features and Sponsored Videos. Info@CoolCleveland.com

SPONSORED: Cleveland Restaurant Week: Now through November 14 It’s the food event of the year! Sample cuisines from some of northeast Ohio’s best locally-owned, independent dining establishments as Cleveland Independents celebrates its 10th annual Cleveland Restaurant Week. Three course, prix fixe menus for $33 (prices may vary). For menus and information, visit ClevelandRestaurantWeek.com

Black Girls Can Dance

The New York-based dance company Camille A. Brown & Dancers previewed a new work-in-progress called Black Girl: Linguistic Play here in Cleveland last January. It’s since been completed and premiered in NYC.

Clevelanders can now see the finished piece, which incorporates vernacular elements of black culture such as stepping, tap and double dutch, at PlayhouseSquare’s Hanna Theatre. Learn more about the work and the ensemble from CoolCleveland dance writers Elsa Johnson & Victor Lucas. Sat 11/14.

SPONSORED: Hear violinist Gabe Bolkosky’s Spanish repertoire Straddling classical and jazz worlds, violinist Gabe Bolkosky brings his quintet to Tri-C’s Metro Campus Fri 11/13 to explore his Spanish repertoire, including Miles Davis’s Sketches of Spain. Tri-C.edu

Spreading the Baroque

Apollo’s Fire, Cleveland’s superstar baroque orchestra, had a busy summer with two major festival debuts and multiple local concerts. The fall shows no signs of being any slower for them.

They’ll present Benjamin Bagley doing his Beowulf concert Friday, Saturday & Tuesday with an “Afterglow” party after Friday’s concert. Then on Sunday, they’ll join soprano Amanda Forsythe in concert at BW celebrating her new album, prior to accompanying her on a regional tour. Claudia Taller tells us about what’s coming up for the ensemble the rest of this year. Fri 11/13-Tue 11/17.

VIDEO: Melt Bar & Grilled Opens Party Room in Independence

Melt Bar & Grilled has expanded their Independence location by opening up a “party room,” that can comfortably host up to 100 guests at a time. The recent construction has also given rise to Melt accepting reservations for the first time in the restaurant’s history.

CoolCleveland’s Marty Bielat met up with Melt’s Matt Fish, to get the details. Fish explained that not only can guests now make reservations at the Independence location, but at any location guests are permitted to call in advance for parties 12 or over. Book a party, and make donation in their new Melt Charity Pig. MeltBarAndGrilled.com.

Our Libraries Are Superstars

We may have losing sports teams but in northeast Ohio, our libraries are winners. Library Journal‘s America’s Star Libraries 2015 named both the Cleveland Public Library and the Cuyahoga County Public Library in the top four among the country’s largest library systems, providing books, Internet services, special programming and more.

* Sneak peek VIDEO of massive new Hilton Cleveland Downtown hotel at the Convention Center, opening June 2016, and featuring the work of a dozen Cle artists.

* In yet another sign that Downtown Cleveland is becoming a full-fledged CoolNEIGHBORHOOD, Geiger’s sportswear opens its third location, next door to Heinen’s off E. 9th & Euclid, with a grand opening celebration this weekend. Thu 11/12-Sat 11/14.

* Ready to join the CoolCleveland team as an intern? We’ve been waiting for you.

Agents of Ingenuity Live Conversations

A program of Ingenuity Cleveland focused on our region as a globally competitive hub for innovation and manufacturing. Join Jack Schron (Jergens, Cuyahoga County), Ethan Karp (Magnet), Jeff Epstein (Health Tech Corridor), Erika Anthony (Cleveland Neighborhood Progress) and moderator Michael DeAloia, Tech Czar, for a live recording in our series joining business, entrepreneurship and the creative community. IngenuityCleveland.com.

Join us Mon 11/16 and Thu 11/19 from 5:30-7:00PM at BOP STOP at The Music Settlement, 2920 Detroit Avenue and enjoy a full bar with your live conversation. Register now.

Science Kids

If your kids have shown interest in the STEM subjects, bring them to the Lincoln MINES gaming event at Lakewood’s Harding Middle School. Video game Minecraft will be the centerpiece but there will also be sessions on Pokemon and Toys-to-Life, LEGO building, arts & arts, a costume contest and a dance party. Sat 11/14.

* It’s all dinosaurs all day at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Dinofest. Sat 11/14.

Click here for more CoolCleveland Kids events

SPONSORED: Hear all the stars at The Kent Stage with performers like Hometown Blues Night, Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root, and Danksgiving. Get your DISCOUNT tickets now and SAVE $10 with the promo code “cool10” for Eric Burdon & The Animals on Mon 11/30 and An Evening With Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals on Sun 12/13. Get your tickets now. TheKentStage.com.

The performance at Severance Hall by the Israel Philharmonic ties in with the Maltz Museum’s Violins of Hope exhibit; both emerged from the Holocaust to offer a message of survival through music. Mon 11/16.

* The FiveOne Experimental Orchestra explores sacred space in Sacrum Silentium. Fri 11/13.

* Ohio legends of Rock at Akron Civic Theatre is a local music nostalgia trip. Sat 11/14.

* Bluewater Chamber Orchestra features its own flute players as soloists in French music program. Sat 11/14.

* The Beachland Ballroom’s Record Riot gives vinyl collectors another way to go broke. Sat 11/14.

Read more of CoolCleveland’s picks for Cool Events.

VIDEO: Ride The Rails with Wine, Beer, Tastings and Gifts!

Ride the rails with Kathleen Sapola of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad as we experience Grape Escape wine sampling tours and Ales On Rails beer tastings with chef-prepared food pairings on a lovely excursion through the incredibly beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

With the holidays just around the corner, and Polar Express already sold out, volunteer slots are still available. And now is the perfect time to grab Gift Certificates and Memberships as stocking stuffers. Join CVSR for Dinner Along The Cuyahoga and the Murder Mystery Train for even more fun. And a vintage train is perfect for corporate outings and private parties! CVSR.com.

WED 11/11
The Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir has become known around the world for vibrant music and dance performances rooted in their native South African culture, but also incorporating southern gospel, pop music and reggae. They’ll perform at Lorain County Community College’s Stocker Arts Center.

* The Rape of Lucretia by Benjamin Britten, plus accompanying discussions @OberlinCollege Wed 11/11- Sun 11/15.

Click here for more events on Wed 11/11

THU 11/12
The bombing of “The Thinker” at the Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the most famous examples of art vandalism. Learn about the meaning of such acts at a panel discussion at MOCACleveland.

* Wayne County teacher talks at St. Paul’s in Cleveland Heights about losing his job due to animal rights activism.

* Legendary activist Angela Y. Davis headlines three-day social justice conference at CWRU. Through Sat 11/14.

Click here for more events on Thu 11/12

FRI 11/13
The huge Hollywood Poster Auction & Convention at the Airport Sheraton will bring movie memorabilia collectors in from all over the world – but there’ll be plenty there for the casual fan too. Through Sun 11/15.

* Start your holiday shopping this weekend at MOCACleveland’s annual Artscape event. Through Sun 11/15.

* Singer/songwriter Heather Maloney comes to CVNP’s Happy Days Lodge.

* Violinist Gabriel Bolkosky interprets Miles Davis & Astor Piazzolla at Tri-C Metro.

* Local bands Ringworm and State of Conviction bring the heavy to the Agora.

* Akron’s Stanton Harris Gallery shows the work of three Ohio printmakers.

Click here for more events on Fri 11/13

SAT 11/14
Station Hope was launched in 2014 to tell the story of Cleveland’s role Underground Railroad in theater, music, dance, visual arts and discussion. Help Cleveland Public Theatre plan next year’s event and learn how to participate.

* Geauga Parks’ Holly Days offer local holiday shopping and the chance to help local service organizations.

* Cleveland Peace Action has a new home at Pilgrim Church & they’re having an open house to celebrate.

* The Akron Symphony brings a touch of jazz to EJ Thomas Hall.

* Learn the true cost of cheap fashion at West Shore UU film series.

* Cleveland artist Joseph Minek talks about his work at 2731 Prospect Gallery.

* Enjoy an evening of local blues at the Kent Stage.

* 70s cult rockers the Flamin’ Groovies & Cincinnati’s Wussy play the Beachland Ballroom.

* Gloomy industrial music veterans Skinny Puppy come to the Agora.

* Folk/blues artists Pete Madcat Ruth & Micah Hesserling host an intimate evening at the Riverdog Gallery.

Click here for more events on Sat 11/14

SUN 11/15
Guide to Kulchur, the adventurous little bookstore/performance space in Gordon Square, presents a program with Glenville’s Fred Ward who’ll talk about his new book and how he turned around from his troubled past to help others in the community through his Khnemu Foundation.

* The Blind Boys of Alabama bring southern gospel harmonies to Trinity Cathedral.

* Pianist Halida Dinova joins Fairmount Presbyterian Orchestra & Choir for all-Mozart program.

* Cleveland’s funniest rabbis compete to raise money for the Maltz Museum.

* Eclectic Twin Cities band Davina & the Vagabonds return to the Music Box.

Click here for more events on Sun 11/15

MON 11/16
Spain’s Cuarteto Quiroga is one of the up-and-coming string quartets. Northeast Ohioans have the chance to hear them twice this week for free, playing two completely different programs. They perform tonight at the West Shore UU Church and Wed 11/18 at Oberlin College.

* The Calder Quartet returns to the Transformer Station with old and new music.

Click here for more events on Mon 11/16

TUE 11/17
With the escalating attacks on women’s rights, it’s easy to feel angry and overwhelmed. NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio is hosting a “Stitch & Bitch” event at Gypsy Beans where you can knit or do needlepoint as you vent your frustration to a sympathetic group.

* Local China expert Paul Schroeder speaks about America’s relationship with the country at Peace at the Pub at the Market Garden Brewery.

Click here for more events on Tue 11/17

WED 11/18
CoolCleveland columnist Mansfield Frazier broke new ground in urban farming with Chateau Hough Vineyard and Biocellar. He’s not just growing crops: he’s also helping grow and strengthen the community, offering opportunities for those coming back from prison. He’ll talk all about it at CWRU.

* 21-year-old piano prodigy Conrad Tao performs at Akron’s EJ Thomas Hall.

Click here for more events on Wed 11/18

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

On Mentoring … And More

As I left Cleveland State’s Waetjen Auditorium after listening to the brilliant Ta-Nehisi Coates’ presentation at a City Club-sponsored forum, I was approached by a longtime friend who solicited me to become a volunteer at a literacy/mentoring…

* Will the Real Tim McGinty Please Stand Up? When County Prosecutor Tim McGinty was running for the office I noted a mean streak in his demeanor that was troubling. And while he has …

Read other stories from Mansfield Frazier here