11.18-11.25.2015 Think Ahead

11.18-11.25.15
Think Ahead

Some of us have been here before. The place starts moving, then we get sidetracked. We should be grateful for our good fortune, and plot our next steps strategically.

Plan ahead for the holidays by checking CoolCleveland’s ShopLOCAL listings on our site and mobile apps, then make our local shops your first stop before spending all your money online. Discover Susie Frazier’s transformative, organic art at 78th Street Studios. Come home for the holidays at Mulberry Creek Herb Farm’s open house and be prepared for the upcoming festivities at your home. Get ready to giggle at the Cle Comedy Festival at BOP STOP and around town.

Looking ahead also requires that we know where we’re coming from, which entails preserving the past. Find out how ICA meticulously conserves our treasures while renewing our culture. Prepare the next generation with Family Science Workshops at the GLSC. Need help planning your week? The Rhondas reunite at the G.A.R. Hall, blues/soul/jazz vocalist Erin Neal lights it up in her own Collinwood neighborhood, United Nonsense lands at the Artcraft Building, Scott Ashey talks work at Creative Mornings Cleveland, and Damien Nova performs Queersong at Guide to Kulchur. Nothing going on? Think again. –Thomas Mulready

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Photo by Elisa Vietri

ShopLOCAL: Boutiques

Find a little bit of everything at one of our local boutiques – be it a fair-trade shop selling goods from all over the world for your home or wardrobe, or a quirky store selling handmade knickknacks of all kinds. And during the holidays, be sure to shop at NEO’s local boutiques instead of those annoying big-box retailers or online dinosaurs. Instead, discover CoolCleveland photographer Elisa Vietri’s Moonstruck in Little Italy, or the incomparable Fra Angelica at the 5th Street Arcades.

Visit our ShopLOCAL listings on CoolCleveland.com or our free mobile apps for Apple and Android.

Conserve & Renew

ICA – Art Conservation is one of Cleveland’s lesser known arts institutions located in a hot neighborhood that’s becoming rapidly known – Hingetown. As a nonprofit it holds an annual public meeting, but that’s a formality: it’s inviting the public to come tour its facilities and the surrounding neighborhood, hear from area developer Graham Veysey and even catch a show at BOP STOP up the street.

CoolCleveland writer John Benson learned about some of the fascinating projects ICA is working on that you’ll be able to see, and he shares them with us. Thu 11/19.

Strategically planning your online advertising? Consider CoolCleveland Sponsored Links, Sponsored Features and Sponsored Videos. Info@CoolCleveland.com

SPONSORED: Take an extraordinary journey into the unknown at Dark Universe, opening Sat 11/21 in the Shafran Planetarium at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. With renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson as your guide, you will uncover the deepest secrets of our Dark Universe. CMNH.org.

Lotsa Laughs

If you can’t find something to laugh at in Cleveland this week, you aren’t trying very hard. The Cleveland Comedy Festival is back for its 8th year, running from Wed 11/18-Sun 11/22. Dozens of local and national comedians of all types will be performing at venues all over town.

Headlining at BOP STOP Saturday is Boston comedian Jim McCue. John Benson spoke with McCue to find out why he’s excited about coming to Cleveland for the festival and how he’s become known for his “crowd work” audience interaction. Sat 11/21.

VIDEO: Geiger’s Opens Downtown On Euclid Avenue

Retail is coming back to Downtown Cleveland!

Geiger’s has been serving the public with quality sportswear for 83 years in Lakewood and Chagrin Falls, and has now opened their third location on Euclid Avenue at East Ninth Street, adjacent to the new Heinen’s grocery store.

Watch Christy Geiger, representing the fourth generation of this family-run business, as she describes Geiger’s quality brands, their impeccable customer service and the funny story behind how that buck’s head found its way up onto the wall. ShopGeigers.com

Transforming Lives Through Art

Susie Frazier’s beautiful, tranquil space at 78th Street Studios has always drawn in souls in need of healing and growth, her nature-based art seeming to speak to people going through periods of change. Now she’s going through some changes of her own, designed to offer her work and the spirit behind it to a wider audience.

While she’s demonstrated her own knack for marketing herself and her ideas, she’s hired Clevelander Julia Toke as managing partner to help her look for more outlets and take her creative philosophy national. Stop by during the 78th Street Studios Third Friday Art Walk and see if her work speaks to you too. Fri 11/20.

Local Holiday Shopping Made Easy at @ClevelandBazaar @5thStreetArcades

“Do it yourself” is the keyword for Northeast Ohio’s longest-running independent craft show, the Cleveland Bazaar, which boasts a succinct but apt mission statement: “DIY, baby.” Founded by Shannon Okey, the craft show, which is in its 11th year, attracts artists from our area and across the region, as well as customers supporting local artisans.

While Cleveland Bazaar has events throughout the year, the holiday season is its bread and butter, with three different affairs offering shoppers the antithesis of the Black Friday experience at Winterfest 10AM- 8PM on Sat 11/28 in the 5th Street Arcades. followed by Sat 12/5, Sat 12/12 and Sun 12/13 around town.

Experience Science

The Family Science Workshops at the Great Lakes Science Center provides hands-on experiences with different aspects of science and technology. This weekend, learn about how to harness energy by creating a battery or how to engineer a Mars exploration vehicle. Sat 11/21-Sun 11/22.

* What little girl wouldn’t love to put on her nicest party dress and go to a Nutcracker-themed Sugarplum Tea? Sat 11/21.

Click here for more CoolCleveland Kids events

SPONSORED: Dive into megatrends in sustainability at Baldwin Wallace University’s 5th Sustainability Symposium on Thu 12/3 and Fri 12/4. Featured speakers include John Hodges of the international Business for Social Responsibility, Ed Pinero of Veolia North America and Tom Carpenter of Waste Management, Inc. Registration and details can be found at BW.edu.

Mulberry Creek Herb Farm has been providing farmers and gardeners in the region with both familiar and exotic organic herbs for two decades. Come to its “Home for the Holidays” open house to browse local vendors and learn about some of the things you can do with herbs. Sat 11/21-Sun 11/22.

* The Holiday Wine & Dine at the Music Box Supper Club offers guests samples of a dozen different wines, along with a taste of its seafood-heavy menu (vegetarian options available). Live music and vendors too! Sun 11/22.

Read more of CoolCleveland’s picks for Eats and Drinks.

SPONSORED: Think how great it sounds at The Kent Stage with performers like 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.

Carlos Jones’ upbeat reggae has made him one of the area’s most popular performers for decades. Now a horde of his friends will pay tribute to him with an evening of music at the Beachland Ballroom. Sun 11/22.

* Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter honors Parma’s Metal Mayor, the late Jim Konya, at the Parma-Snow library. Thu 11/19.

* Much-travelled Bay Village-bred pop singer Kate Voegele returns to perform at the Music Box. Fri 11/20.

* Local pop-rockers These Knees celebrate new EP release at the Grog Shop. Sat 11/21.

* 80s Cleveland rockers Beau Coup do an encore reunion show at the Rocksino. Wed 11/25.

Read more of CoolCleveland’s picks for Cool Events.

SPONSORED: Warm up for Cleveland’s Winterfest at Cleveland Public Library on Sat 11/28. Get up close to live reindeer, explore interactive model trains, and listen to the live music while enjoying free cookies and cider. The excitement runs from 10AM-6PM, just in time to cross over to PlayhouseSquare for the annual tree lighting. CPL.org

WED 11/18

Classical pianist Conrad Tao is, at age 21, a star on the rise, with four CDs and a string of international dates under his belt. Akron’s Tuesday Musical Association is giving area music aficionados the chance to hear him at the launch of his career at EJ Thomas Hall.

* CoolCleveland columnist Mansfield Frazier talks at CWRU about how he’s used urban farming to build community.

Click here for more events on Wed 11/18

THU 11/19
The Cleveland Comedy Festival kicked off last night and continues through Sun 11/22 at venues all over town. Tonight local comedian Mike Polk Jr. hosts a tribute to TV hosts Big Chuck & Lil John where they’ll tell stories and show clips of their beloved show at PlayhouseSquare’s Outcalt Theatre.

* Cleveland Orchestra viola players step into the Severance Hall spotlight in world premiere concerto. Through Sat 11/21.

* Canada’s Cowboy Junkies perform at the Music Box Supper Club.

Click here for more events on Thu 11/19

FRI 11/20
The Holiday Flea features all the local food, handmade and vintage dealers that visitors to the Cleveland Flea love and more, with a focus on holiday decor and seasonal items. It offers not just one, but THREE big days of shopping indoors at Tyler Village.

* The Cleveland Public Library hosts a weekend of “Talk Talk Talk” – comedy & storytelling. Also 11/21.

* Two-night Autumn Encore fest at Agora features nearly two dozen local bands. Also Sat 11/21.

* Billy Naininger’s Christmas Art Show at E11even 2 Gallery focuses on film A Christmas Story.

* Local power-pop trio the Lakewood Beat celebrates CD release at Bevy in Birdtown.

* Funk/Jazz fusion band SounDoctrine plays Jazz@the Civic at Akron Civic Theatre.

* 20th-century choral works by Ralph Vaughan Williams performed at Trinity Cathedral.

* All Dinosaurs and Queen of Hell bring the heavy to the Happy Dog.

* EDM duo Designer Drugs crank up the beats at the B-Side Arcade & Liquor Lounge.

* Up-and-coming sax-playing brothers Will & Peter Anderson make Cleveland debut at Nighttown.

* Scott Ashey talks on “Work” at Creative Mornings Cleveland at Kalman & Pabst photo studio.

* CAN Journal launches its winter issue with a party at Heights Arts.

Click here for more events on Fri 11/20

SAT 11/21
Do you find extreme snow sports thrilling, but you’d rather let someone else break their neck or freeze to death? Come to the Akron Civic Theatre and watch hotshots do their thing in Warren Miller’s latest vertiginous ski film Chasing Shadows.

* Tamir Rice will be honored at Cudell Rec Center where he died with a discussion, potluck & vigil today and a remembrance tomorrow.

* Cleveland’s No Exit music ensemble performs the work of Erik Satie and others at SPACES Gallery.

* Russian guitarist Grisha Goryachev displays his passion for flamenco at Shaker Heights’ Plymouth Church.

* Pianist/vocalist Harry Bacharach’s quartet features trumpeter Kenny Davis at Nighttown.

* United Nonsense is an international art party at the Artcraft Building.

* Damien Nova performs his “Queersong” at Guide to Kulchur.

* Karamu presents a work-in-progress by Ntozake Shange.

Click here for more events on Sat 11/21

SUN 11/22
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra gives talented young people from across the region the chance to work with Cleveland Orchestra members and perform at Severance Hall, which they’ll be doing tonight, playing Schumann & Bernstein symphonies and a work by contemporary composer Kevin Puts.

* Ex-Cleveland jazz trumpeter Dominick Farinacci comes back to Nighttown with an all-star sextet.

* Jazz sax star Joe Lovano and his vocalist wife Judi Silvano perform at the BOPSTOP.

* Music of Bach and Shostakovich featured in chamber concert at Dunham Tavern Museum.

* PianoPalooza at 2731 Prospect Gallery features art, music & refreshments – but no pianos.

Click here for more events on Sun 11/22

MON 11/23
Blues/soul/jazz vocalist Erin Neal is one of those local talents you never heard of who could blow you away with the level she’s at. She leads Erin Nicole & the Chill Factors who will play at the Beachland Tavern as part of its Neighborhood Night series, featuring musicians who live in the Collinwood area.

* Crossgenerational jazz guitar duo, Frank Vignola & Vinnie Raniolo, perform at Nighttown.

Click here for more events on Mon 11/23

TUE 11/24
Competition TV shows have a leg up on ordinary reality TV shows in that they showcase people with talents. And shows like So You Think You Can Dance have helped revive interest in all forms of dance. Catch winner Gabby Diaz and other competitors from the last season doing their thing(s) at PlayhouseSquare.

* Learn about the strange life of the Case prof who won the 1907 physics Nobel Prize at Life, the Universe & Hot Dogs at the Happy Dog.

Click here for more events on Tue 11/24

WED 11/25
Kick off your holiday weekend by dancing away the night at the Martini Experience party, taking place at Hotcards’ Red Space art gallery in AsiaTown.

* The Rhondas are back for another reunion show at Peninsula’s G.A.R. Hall.

* Rusted Root’s Michael Glabicki performs a solo show at the Kent Stage.

* Vintage store This Way Out celebrates 10th anniversary with New Planet Trampoline at the Beachland.

* Burning River Ramblers vocalist Conor Standish releases solo EP at the Music Box.

* Peanuts All-Star Thanksgiving Jam is back for the 41st year, this time at Ace’s Grille.

Click here for more events on Wed 11/25

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Coates on Religion

Coates didn’t make a big deal of it in the book, but he was very clear in stating that he was raised in a family that didn’t engage in religious practices, and as an adult, neither does he. And, while he didn’t flat out state that…

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* Tim McGinty Let’s get one thing real clear: Tim McGinty is not a racist. I repeat: He’s not a racist. Now he might be a prick (something that all available evidence points towards), but he’s…

Read other stories from Mansfield Frazier here