06.26-07.03.2019 Common Not Common

06.26-07.03.19
Common Not Common

Unique? We think so. No place else is known for a burning river. Rock and roll’s hometown. Eternal underdog. But you knew that.

Yes, we have issues. And we’re working them out with conversations happening at more than 90 (!) host sites repeating the mantra, “My environment was…, My environment is… My environment will be…” We’ll be standing in for 1000s of homeless youth, living a plastics-free July, rocking the docks in Akron, hanging out on the front porch of the library, and learning why it’s not a good idea to punch a Nazi in the nose, even if you really wanted to.

We’re also going to have some good clean fun with the GlamCore Drag Show, a Stiv Bators DVD release, the Akron Honey Market Day, the new Edgewater Street Fest, the Rock Hall’s Fam Jam and a JazzFest for the ages. This week’s CoolCLE PODCAST turns to face Fairport Harbor and, as is common, throws the spotlight on some new music from our home. Enough said. –Thomas Mulready

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CoolCLE PODCAST #34: Celebrate Independence Day in Fairport Harbor

On this episode, we’ve got Casey Conrad with us to talk about a couple of growing events happening in Fairport Harbor this summer – Fill the Hill and Mardi Gras. Fill the Hill concerts happen every Thursday evening until August 8th with Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S. band, Country Redford and The Dark Side of the Moon on the docket. Mardi Gras kicks off on July 3rd with a parade and closes out on July 7th. This year’s theme is “Village Pride”.

And we have brand new music from Cleveland’s Tropidelic and a track from singer/songwriter Brenna Lynn.

Breaking Bread & Sharing Conversation

In 2017 the first Common Ground event recruited organizations and individuals to host community conversations over shared meals. More than 2,000 people participated. That grew to 100 events in five NE Ohio counties last year with an even larger number expected this year.

This year’s conversational theme was inspired by the Cuyahoga50 celebration. Centered around various aspects of how physical, natural, cultural or community environments shape our lives, the discussions will springboard off “My environment was…, My environment is…, My environment will be…” Sun 6/30.

Tri-C JazzFest Turns 40

This is the 40th year for Tri-C JazzFest but the event certainly isn’t showing signs of age. Every year, it grows its footprint at Playhouse Square, packing a weekend with more concerts and activities than any one person could take in.

Several of the theater concerts have a Cleveland angle, including tributes to soul singer Bobby Womack and jazz arranger/composer Tadd Dameron, and trumpet player Dominick Farinacci debuting his new arrangement of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Meanwhile 17 local & regional bands will play on the free outdoor stage, there’s dancing, food, a beer garden, kids’ activities, jazz talks, cooking demos. jazz trivia games, and if you’re not ready to drop, after-hours jam sessions in several Playhouse Square venues. Thu 6/27-Sat 6/29.

Asian Lantern Festival is back and bigger than ever

Don’t miss the Asian Lantern Festival presented by Cleveland Clinic Children’s at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Each night of the festival, the Zoo is transformed with hundreds of illuminated lanterns including a 100-foot-long shark tunnel, a 30-foot-tall giant panda made of 20,000 ping pong balls and an all-new interactive zone sponsored by the Illuminating Company with moon swings, interactive stepping stones and more.

Enjoy live performances on the Fifth Third Bank Stage, shop the Asian craft market, and taste a robust variety of culturally-inspired cuisine. Thursdays-Sundays through July 28 (excluding July 4). Get your tickets in advance and save at FutureForWildlife.org/lanterns.

Sharp Looks for Summer Shindigs

The next few months tend to be heavy on weddings and other special social affairs. And if your family or friends are in that marrying cohort, you may be tearing your hair out about what’s appropriate or fashionable to wear this summer.

Never fear – we have local designer Dru Thompson of Dru Christine Fabrics and Design studio here with us to offer some tips and ideas about how to look and feel your best without being under- or overdressed or in danger of upstaging a potential bridezilla.

Something – or rather someone – will be missing from this year’s Workmen’s Circle Yiddish concert at Cain Park, featuring Israeli musician David Fisher. The event will pay tribute to sax player Norm Tischler, director of the Workmen’s Circle Klezmer Orchestra, who died in January. Sun 6/30.

* Local photographer Steve Manheim signs his new book of Delta blues musicians at Mac’s Backs. Fri 6/28.

* Stiv Bators documentary screens at the Beachland Tavern, with sets by four local bands. Fri 6/28.

* Paul Stranahan brings his gongs and singing bowls to the Lakewood Library. Sun 6/30.

* The Akron Art Museum opens its 35th Downtown@Dusk season with Sammy DeLeon’s Latin jazz. Thu 6/27.

* Lake View Cemetery kicks off its free concerts on the Garfield Memorial lawn with … Sammy DeLeon! He’s everywhere! Sun 6/30.

WED 6/26
The Capitol Theatre’s Happy Hour Classic Film Series must have a crystal ball, because they’ve scheduled the 1964 film Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb, just as the war talk is getting louder. Viewers may need that Happy Hour mini-cocktail that comes with the ticket.

* Get an early start on July 4th celebrating with Carlos Jones & fireworks at Wade Oval Wednesday.

* HEDGE Gallery hosts visit to artist Matthew Gallagher’s studio.

* Try some vegan Mexican food at La Plaza Supermarket’s Vegan Wednesday.

Click here for more events on Wed 6/26

THU 6/27
State legislator Larry Householder has his undies in a bunch over teens turning into drag queens. But if you take your kids to Anhedonia Delight’s GlamCore drag show at the Grog Shop, they’ll have more fun than he’s probably ever had.

* The Millennial Theatre Project stages Sister Act at the Akron Civic Theatre, through Sat 6/29.

* Want to punch a Nazi in the nose? Learn whether that’s a good idea at a discussion at Visible Voice Books.

* Asian Lantern Fest illuminates Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Thursdays-Sundays through Sun 7/28.

* Dobama Theatre world premiere 33 1/3 gets nostalgic about 70s music. Through Sun 7/14.

* Chef Rocco Whalen introduces new culinary cultural literacy program at Parma-Snow library.

* Camp it up at the Capitol Theatre when it screens disco classic Can’t Stop the Music.

Click here for more events on Thu 6/27

FRI 6/28
Akron’s Rock the Docks at Springfield Lake through Sun 6/30 offers a sensory overload of fair/festival activities: rides, music, games, food, magic shows, fireworks Saturday at dusk and much more. Chill by enjoying a free pontoon ride on the lake Saturday or Sunday.

* Front Porch concert series at the Lakewood Public Library starts its season with the Pocket. It runs every Friday through 8/30.

Click here for more events on Fri 6/28

SAT 6/29
The Ukrainian Museum-Archives in Tremont is one of the area’s lesser-known institutions, but its Kupala Ukrainian Festival, which started last year, shares its culture – food, dance, music and educational workshops – with the community. Also tomorrow.

* Photographer Abe Frajndlich talks about shooting culture stars at moCa Cleveland.

* The City Mission invites people to “stand in” for homeless youth on Public Square.

* The Waterloo Arts Fest takes food, art and music out into the street.

* Rural Virginia band The Wildmans bring their traditional sounds to Oberlin’s Riverdog Barn.

* Go upstairs! There’s improv comedy happening on Mahall’s attic stage.

* Kenyan ensemble Kenge Kenge Orutu System performs at Kent’s North Water Street Gallery this evening and does a workshop there in the afternoon.

* CIA Cinematheque screens uncut version of Kurosawa film that inspired Star Wars.

* Go on an epic firefly adventure at Geauga Park District’s Swine Creek Reservation.

* Rock Hall’s Fam Jam brings all-ages fun.

Click here for more events on Sat 6/29

SUN 6/30
Brett Wesley’s 6-year-old Akron Honey Company is introducing a line of new products and a new brand identity at this year’s Akron Market Day, taking place at his Crestland Apiary. The event features a variety of local food & drink vendors and craftspeople and a laidback hangout spot.

* The Clifton Arts Fest has morphed into the Edgewater Street Fest, with a laser-focus on the community.

* Crocker Park hosts free “Liberty Rocks” music festival.

Click here for more events on Sun 6/30

MON 7/1
Plastic pollution has become a hot topic, with plastic bag and straw bans being proposed everywhere. A program at Summit Metro Parks’ Goodyear Heights’ Metro Park will share the kinds of dangers disposable plastics present & challenge people to a “Plastics-Free July.”

Click here for more events on Mon 7/1

TUE 7/2
Dr. Lisa Damour’s specialty is empowering young girls and helping them to succeed. She writes a New York Times column and has published two books on the topic. And that’s what she’ll be talking about when she’s the speaker at the next Chautauqua-in-Chagrin program.

* Brews + Prose enters its eighth year with its 84th reading and a benefit in Ohio City.

Click here for more events on Tue 7/2

WED 7/3
Give the kids a chance to see things go BOOM in safety at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center’s Family Rocket Night. They can also learn some of the science behind rockets and no one will blow off a hand.

* The Blossom Festival Band performs its annual “Salute to America” at Blossom Music Center with fireworks & the 1812 Overture, of course. Also tomorrow

Click here for more events on Wed 7/3

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Who Does Phillip Morris Really Speak For?

The Plain Dealer is known for its roaring, fire-breathing columnists – on the right. Anywhere else on the political spectrum, the paper’s op-ed writers have only cautious, finger-in-the-wind opinions to offer. Our columnist C. Ellen Connally cites Phillip Morris as one of those.

“Morris may be the sole voice of the black community at the city’s only daily newspaper, but he is hardly the soul voice,” she says. “He seldom if ever sees issues from the black perspective. For several years Morris made a career out of writing about the late Judge Jean Murrell Capers, a story that was interesting the first time around but rambled on ad nauseum when he repeated it in varying forms time after time. Leave it to Phillip to make the white community feel warm and fuzzy. Controversial stands in support of minority issues are not in his playbook.”

Something Is Rotten in Euclid

The law department in Euclid, OH has hired a Mayfield Heights attorney known for his defense of police officers who find themselves in trouble to serve as a special prosecutor in the case of a Euclid cop that was fired for beating a motorist in that city. Yes, you read that right…

* Dems Should Play the Long Game The best strategy for Dems at this point is to rally behind Joe Biden (warts and all) as long as he names the ablest politician in the country as his VP: Elizabeth Warren. And he should assure progressives that she will not just sit on the sidelines…

* A Sexual Breakthrough? When an Associated Press article reported that, “U.S. women will soon have another drug option designed to boost low sex drive: a shot they can give themselves in the thigh or abdomen that raises sexual interest for several hours,” my immediate reaction was…

Read other stories from Mansfield Frazier here