10.09-10.16.2019 Midnight

10.09-10.16.19
Midnight

We’re always working late. You would think after 17 years, we’d have it down. But Tuesday nights, it’s usually past midnight before we’re satisfied that this little e-blast is good enough to send to you.

Organizers are getting an early start on the second FRONT International Triennial, planned for 2021, and creating a public outdoor dance space in downtown Akron. Summit County musician Jul Big Green is a graduate of UofA, has sung in gospel choirs and has collaborated with R&B instrumentalists the Admirables, so it’s time for him to drop his solo album 5am to Midnight this Friday. Euclid-based PetFix provides low-cost spay/neuter services and they’re hosting their No Balls Ball this Saturday to help pay for it all. We huddle with The Musical Theatre Project founder and narrator Bill Rudman about their new Irving Berlin show this Saturday and Sunday. And we also talk with Loretta Simon, formerly of Cleveland School of the Arts, about her setting Sheherazade Retold on Verb Ballets this Thursday.

We’ve got gritty pop/rock from Lilieae dropping their new EP at Stella’s, Arts Renaissance Tremont kicking off their season, Rust Belt University at the Happy Dog, Dancing Wheels at Trinity Cathedral, Creative Mornings at Ohio City’s Lush & Lovely Floristry, and our favorite Vanity Crash lands at Mahall’s this Friday. After 10 years of hard work, Sustainable Cleveland 2019 holds a summit to assess our progress and build on our successes. All those late nights are paying off. –Thomas Mulready

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The second FRONT International Triennial doesn’t take place until 2021, but news of the first project funded has just been released. It will feature a Swedish organization, Dansaba!, which creates public outdoor dance spaces, working with the local community to make such a space in downtown Akron.

* The decline in the Monarch butterfly population has been linked to the disappearance of the Common Milkweed, which they need to survive. Help out by collecting milkweed seed pods and bringing them to the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District office, now through Thu 10/31.

Midnight Music

Summit county musician Jul Big Green is a seasoned performer, with a degree in music from the University of Akron, gospel choir experience and collaborations with other area musicians, such as jazzy R&B instrumental group the Admirables.

But he’s only now, at age 29, releasing his debut album 5am to Midnight with a release show at the Grog Shop Fri 10/11, where he’ll perform with a six-piece band. “Rock is a big element and hip-hop is a big element, but I don’t like to stay in those,” he says, describing his eclectic approach.

SPONSORED: Hoppy Hour Game Night at the Garden Enjoy traditional lawn games such as badminton, corn hole, jenga, etc., as well as games run by Tabletop Board Game Cafe. Groove to live music by Diana Chittester and even win a prize at Botanical Bingo! Stop out tonight, Wed 10/9 @ 5:30PM for a variety of tasty brews from Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. $5 admission after 5PM. Beer extra. CBGarden.org

Cleveland Goes to the Dogs – and Cats

It’s a huge week for pet-related events in Cleveland. For starters, Euclid-based nonprofit PetFix]] holds their No Balls Ball Sat 10/12”’, their big annual benefit to help fund their work: they’ve provided low-cost spay/neuter surgeries to rescues, feral caretakers and private pet owners since 2006, helping reduce the homeless pet population.

* Out at the I-X Center, the CFA International Cat Show will host 1,000 cats under one giant roof. They include 45 types of purebreds, who will be judged for their adherence to breed standards, as well as household pets. Beware! Local rescues will have cats available for adoption! Sat 10/12-Sun 10/13.

* Berea ARF animal rescue has combined its Mutt Dash fundraiser and its Howl-O-Ween Party into one big gala family-friendly event at the Berea Fairgrounds. Get your dog’s costume ready. Sat 10/12.

A Greener, Cleaner Cleveland

More than a decade ago, Mayor Frank Jackson announced the Sustainable Cleveland 2019 effort to explore ways to make the city greener, healthier and more environmentally friendly. It dedicated each year to a different aspect of that initiative, including clean energy, vibrant green space, local food and sustainable transportation, among others.

It launched in the fall of 2009, with annual summits to sum up the projects of the previous year and plan projects for the next. The final one-day summit at Public Hall will look at the efforts and successes of the last 10 years and explore ways to build upon them. Wed 10/16.

Talking Musical Theater

The Musical Theater Project, that bastion of enthusiastic evangelism for musical theater and the great pop composers of the 20th century, opens its season with a tribute to one of the most prolific, Irving Berlin. Blue Skies – Irving Berlin and the American Dream, at Playhouse Square Sat 10/12 and Fairmount Temple Sun 12/13, features the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and the Joe Hunter Trio.

TMTP founder Bill Rudman, who narrates the program, fills us in on the organization’s background and what it’s done to keep composers like Berlin in the public eye (and ear), and where his enthusiasm for Berlin and his ilk came from.

Old Tale, New Dance

The story of Sheherazade, the talespinner from Arabian Nights, is a classic which has been re-set in many genres. Verb Ballets new version, Sheherazade Retold, is part of its season-opening program Akron Legends of Jazz and Dance. Choreographer Loretta Simon tells us how it came about and how she created it.

The program also features a dance by the late Ohio Ballet founder Heinz Poll and a tribute to NE Ohio jazz composer/pianist Pat Pace. His piece Excursions is the basis for a new ensemble ballet, Stellar Syncopations, whose music will be played live by local musicians. Thu 10/10.

Reigning Rock Everywhere

For the past two years each November, music photographers Joe Kleon and Anastasia Pantsios have done a big, one-weekend-only show of their work. This year they’re trying something different with Reigning Rock. The work will be up for a month from Fri 10/18-Fri 11/15 at 78th Street Studios’ Survival Kit Gallery and they’re planning some special events.

On Sun 10/20 in the gallery music manager David Spero will interview Michael Stanley for an oral history taping, and there’ll be a large display of Stanley & MSB photos through the years. And on Sat 10/26, The Classic Metal Show will broadcast from the gallery, where they’ll be interviewing Cleveland metal musicians past and present.

Cleveland gritty pop/rock band Lilieae releases its debut EP this week with a show at Stella’s Music Club. Fri 10/11

* Arts Renaissance Tremont kicks off its season with piano/cello duo. Sun 10/13.

* Submissions are open for the 24th annual High School Rock Off, through. Mon 12/9.

* Nonprofit Roots of American Music hosts a musical benefit at the Beachland Ballroom. Sat 10/12.

* East Cleveland rapper Ty Bri debuts new release at Grog Shop show. Sun 10/13.

WED 10/9
Rust Belt University at the Happy Dog, sponsored by Rust Belt Publishing, looks at what maps reveal about Cleveland’s history, its people, its landscape, its economy and its pastimes.

* Art House artist/teachers discuss their work at 78th Street Studios.

* Local ensemble Great Day pays tribute to Thelonious Monk at the BOP STOP.

* Dancing Wheels performs for Trinity Cathedral’s Brownbag concerts.

* Humorist/film critic Joe Bob Briggs talks about rednecks at the Capitol Theatre.

Click here for more events on Wed 10/9

THU 10/10
Creative Mornings Cleveland is a monthly series featuring a speaker and a light breakfast. Its nomination party for next year’s speakers is open to the public for the first time, taking place at Ohio City’s Lush & Lovely Floristry and featuring a pop-up art show.

* Jazz sax player Branford Marsalis performs at Playhouse Square for Tri-C Presents.

* Author talks about the Russian punk scene at Mac’s Backs on Coventry.

Click here for more events on Thu 10/10

FRI 10/11
Fresh off a series of shows dedicated to the moment When Andy Met Lou, Cleveland’s premier glam rockers Vanity Crash will be doing a high-energy set of their own originals, plus some choice covers from The Velvet Underground, David Bowie and the Zombies.

* Pop Life wellness and yoga center on Waterloo is finally set to go, with a soft opening party tonight.

* Artists Rob Hartshorn and Sharon Pomales look at the watery world at BAYarts.

* Pints and Pies festival at the Akron Civic Theatre features pizza and beer. It’s just like college!

* SPACES’ benefit this year is an installation called End of Days, with a preview party tonight.

* Bluegrass-y Illinois band Old Salt Union returns to Oberlin’s Riverdog Barn.

* Carve or decorate pumpkins and trick-or-treat at this month’s Walkabout Tremont.

* Family Campfire Night at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes includes hiking, crafts and ‘smores.

Click here for more events on Fri 10/11

SAT 10/12
The African-American Garden is a work in progress, with one element completed and others in the works. A benefit at the Global Center for Health innovation will help fund construction and maintenance of the awe-inspiring space.

* Come talk about the 1919 Black Sox scandal at the Baseball Heritage Museum.

* The Western Reserve Herb Society hosts its annual herb fair at the Cleveland Botanical Garden.

* Playwrights Local debuts work by a dozen area playwrights at its 5th annual Cleveland Playwrights Festival.

* Ashtabula County has 19 covered bridges, which it celebrates at its annual covered bridge festival, taking place today and tomorrow.

* Cleveland Drafts offers readings of new works by local authors at seven Larchmere businesses.

* Parsons Dance brings breathtaking special effects to Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall.

* Folknet presents Pittsburgh acoustic duo The Early Mays in Lyndhurst.

* African-American art collector Kerry Davis talks about his passion at Artists Archives of the Western Reserve.

* Chicago’s Joe Policastro Trio is back at Nighttown with diverse, jazz-based album.

Click here for more events on Sat 10/12

SUN 10/13
The Textile Art Alliance of the Cleveland Museum of Art will again host its Wearable Art Market at Eton, where you’l find distinctive, handcrafted garments and accessories you won’t see on anyone else at your next big event.

* The Silver Keys Quartet salutes the funding of the U.S. Navy at Waterloo Arts.

* Seventeen-year-old Mexican pianist Daniela Liebman returns to the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Click here for more events on Sun 10/13

MON 10/14
With the negative effects of vaping all over the news, this month’s Science Cafe at the Music Box Super Club takes a holistic look at nicotine delivery systems, exploring how tobacco companies are marketing their products and how to confront that.

* Rocky River Chamber Music Society launches its season with program of Hungarian folk and classical music with cimbalom player Alexander Fedoriouk and Cleveland Orchestra members.

Click here for more events on Mon 10/14

TUE 10/15
Former U.S. ambassador to the UN under President Obama, Samantha Power, speaks with journalist Connie Schultz at the Parma-Snow Library about the good old days when U.S. foreign policy wasn’t, in the words of former Secretary of State Colin Powell, “a shambles.”

Click here for more events on Tue 10/15

WED 10/16
The Refresh Collective is a multi-pronged project that uses hip-hop as a tool for youth empowerment and entrepreneurialism. Now it’s releasing Stories of Struggle and Success (vol 1), featuring a batch of local MCs, poets, singers and beat makers, telling their life stories. They’ll debut it at the BOP STOP tonight where MC/poet/songwriter Kuf Knotz and classically trained harpist/pianist/vocalist Christine Elise will perform.

Click here for more events on Wed 10/16

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