You’ll find it this week in our region, from Shop Small Black Friday events at local galleries, collectives and pop-ups, to cultural celebrations of the season as intimate as a photo with Krampus to a full-blown Nutcracker. Stroll Downtown Cleveland’s Winterfest, Downtown Kent’s holiday walk, or a Winter RiverFest at Merwin’s Wharf. Not to be too Cleveland, but this is the week Thanksgiving Polka Weekend hits Independence, and Frankie Yankovic’s protege celebrates a new polka reissue.CoolCleveland editor and master photographer Anastasia Pantsios is teaming up again with Joe Kleon to offer their local music photo collection on sale this Saturday only. Enjoy pop-up movies on Coventry, a Tom Petty tribute at the Rock Hall, a Last Supper Jam at the Grog and a chance to share your personal story on World AIDS Day.
CoolCleveland columnist C. Ellen Connally, a former judge, examines the Rittenhouse verdict and asks what would have happened if he were Black. And in the wake of the governor signing into law a redistricting map that many have said is unconstitutional, we revisit a column by Mansfield Frazier from 2011 where he warned us of this very thing. So if you’re anticipating change, here’s my suggestion: don’t wait too long.
The magic of The Nutcracker returns to Playhouse Square December 3rd-5th!Watch Northeast Ohio’s premiere professional ballet company alongside School of Cleveland Ballet students perform this holiday classic at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace! Read More
Cool Cleveland columnist C. Ellen Connally reverses the Kyle Rittenhouse scenario, spelling out the story if the fully-armed teenager had been Black. “Unlike the black man in my scenario,” she says, “Rittenhouse always seemed to have gotten the benefit of the doubt with the media. His youthful appearance was touted. He was always shown in a positive light. No one mentioned that he was a high school dropout.”She suggests that before you try to justify the verdict that “Maybe those who don’t understand should follow the Native American Indian proverb and walk a mile in another man’s shoes before we lower the flag and fire on Fort Sumpter.” Read More
Stop fretting about gifts for friends, coworkers and relatives! Cleveland Independents has the solution! The Cleveland Independents Gift Cards and The Deck 2022. Perfect for stocking stuffers, office grab-and-go gifts and everyone on your list, The Deck features 48 CI member restaurants and four Joker cards… each valued at $10 off $30 dining.Cleveland Independent Gift Cards are the only dining cards redeemable at all Ci member restaurants. So, let your recipients make their dining choices! Cards act like cash. Five year expiration. In plastic with directories or e-card for last minute purchases. Visit Ci’s Merch page on www.ClevelandIndependents.com.
You could probably get all your holiday shopping done this weekend without ever setting foot in a big box or chain store, as opportunities to shop local makers and entrepreneurs abound. Designer/business owner Dru Thompson has put together a listing of Small Business Saturday events, taking place at various area businesses.But there’s a lot more! With events such as the Larchmere Holiday Stroll, the Little Italy Holiday Art Walk + Small Business Fest and Akron’s Crafty Mart, plus kickoffs of holiday shops at Waterloo Arts and Morgan Conservatory, and an open house at the Hildebrandt maker/artist building, you’ll never have to buy a made-in-China gift again. Read More
Two of the area’s top music photographers, Joe Kleon and Anastasia Pantsios, will have many of their huge collection of photos of Cleveland concerts — from Michael Stanley to Britney to Bruce — on display and for sale at the Beachland Ballroom one day only, Sat 11/27 @ noon-6pm.Snag Christmas presents for your rockin’ friends, and enjoy food and drink from the Beachland bar and kitchen. Read More
Christa Ebert, who performs as Uno Lady, is always surprising us with new projects that are not quite like her previous projects. Known for music created solely by processing her own voice, she’s now recorded her voice in various European cathedrals — without permission. Read More
Last year, while it was closed, the Akron Art Museum came up with Akron Art Mail, inviting the public to design and send in postcards. It’s open now, but people enjoyed the project so much, they’re doing it again. Send them in before 1/1/22. Read More
Veganish is the new Cleveland-based company by Mansfield Frazier’s daughter Ashley Smith and her partners Michele Jefferson and Tinishia Moore. Besides their ongoing video series, Veganish is launching a line of vegan food products. Their first product is a gourmet Vegan popcorn in the flavor Caramel Turmeric just in time for the holiday season!Grab a 12 oz bag for $8 or an 8 oz bag for $5 as the perfect stocking stuffer or grab it for yourself. You will not be disappointed! Click here to place your order today!
THU 11/25 Gobble on Mic Pretty much everything is closed this evening — except the Grog Shop, where Apostle Jones frontman Mikey Silas will be hosting the Last Supper Jam and Mic Night.
MON 11/29 Rolling by the River Every day through January 2, Merwin’s Wharf and the Adjacent Rivergate Park in the Flats will be hosting Winter RiverFest where you can nosh in an igloo, drink by a fire pit and skate on a real ice rink by the Cuyahoga.
On Friday our state legislature passed congressional maps that give lopsided advantage to Republicans and basically make your vote irrelevant. The whole process violated guidelines voted into the state constitution by more than 70% of voters. Gov. DeWine, who admitted the process was corrupt, quickly signed the map into law. Mansfield Frazier warned us about it back in 2011, and his words are stunningly relevant today.
Close to 20 years ago Republicans began engaging in a long-range strategy to control Washington politics. They accomplished their goal by maintaining control over Congress for most of the last two decades. The logic was simple: If Republicans held a majority in state legislatures, they would be able to control the redistricting that follows every 10-year census.
While redistricting is supposed to ensure that everyone is fairly represented, the politicians in power at the state level draw districts to give themselves or their party an unfair advantage. So instead of voters choosing the representatives, it’s now the other way around. Read More
