12.04-12.11.20 Regional Rebirth

12.04-12.11.19
Regional Rebirth

The signs are everywhere. Our economy is still shaky, our leadership is still stuck in neutral. But we’ve turned the corner with our confidence and entrepreneurial spirit. Echoing the transformative start-up mindset of industrialists of a century ago, we’re feeling a new vigor and courage among regional entrepreneurs and artists to stick out their necks and put in the effort to succeed.

Michael Loderstadt is stepping forward to take over a derelict building in the heart of North Collinwood to open a a gallery and digital/film processing business, launching this weekend at Walk All Over Waterloo. Ohio Arts Professionals Network is celebrating 60 years of collective efforts to improve live performance opportunities, and their new ED, Clevelander Jessica Rosenblatt, says hi at a networking party at CLE Urban Winery this week. Joe Kleon shows his cat photos to help a Medina-based rescue.

Loganberry turns 25, West Park Kamm’s Corners CDC hosts a fundraiser/holiday party, and Ryan Humbert sings Americana at the Akron Civic to benefit the Akron Canton Food Bank. BOP STOP and The Music Settlement have transformed the cultural landscape on Cleveland’s near West Side, and in January we’re hosting a benefit for them with an all-request night focused on the life, music and legacy of David Bowie, all part of David Bowie Month. The rebirth is happening, it just needs your support. –Thomas Mulready

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Bowie Benefit for BOP STOP

Celebrating the life and music of David Bowie comes naturally to this region. Now four years after his passing, a special benefit evening is being planned to honor the role The Music Settlement and BOP STOP are playing in the rebirth of Cleveland’s near West Side, the site of their new arts campus. Tickets are available now for this special benefit in the intimate BOP STOP.

January 10 is not only David Bowie’s death anniversary, it’s the date we’re hosting a special event to benefit the BOP STOP and the Music Settlement. An all-request evening is being planned with lots of fun, contests, trivia and giveaways. As with all the shows during David Bowie Month, the event will be capped with a sparkling live music set from Cleveland’s own Vanity Crash. Wed 1/10. [Photo of Bowie in Cleveland 1990 by Anastasia Pantsios]

Cleveland’s Scenic Johns

78th Street Studios has a random collection of public restrooms scattered around its four floors, some bland, some brightly painted. They caught the eye of local painter Arabella Proffer who, about three years ago, joked that she’d like to do a book of photos of them.

Laugh no more! That book has become a reality, a new tome called The Restrooms of Cleveland. It’s expanded well beyond just 78th Street Studios, featuring restrooms in restaurants, bars, coffee houses stores, museums, schools, dental offices, auto garages and even churches. Join Proffer for a release party at Judd’s City Tavern in the Cudell neighborhood. Thu 12/5.

A Rebirth on Waterloo

It was a good sign when the derelict “gold building” in the heart of the Waterloo Arts District was wrapped in Tyvek earlier this year. That signaled that the building, long slated for demolition, was going to meet a different fate: rehab and reuse.

In fact it was taken over by local artist Michael Loderstadt, who is opening a gallery and photo services business during Walk All Over Waterloo this week. He plans to show photo-based work by artists from around the country, as well as provide both digital and film processing and printing services, adding yet another arts-related component to the mix on Waterloo. Fri 12/6.

The Ohio Arts Professionals Network, the Columbus-based nonprofit which aims to expand performance opportunities in Ohio, turns 60 next year. It will celebrate by holding its biennial conference in Cleveland in October. Stay tuned for details!

In the meantime, go meet OAPN’s new executive director, Clevelander Jessica Rosenblatt, at a networking party at CLE Urban Winery in Cleveland Heights. She’ll share more information about what the group does and her plans to expand its reach, while you get to know some of the other performance art-related people in town. Wed 12/4.

* It’s another big weekend of holiday bazaars, sales and open studios, so check out some places to go this weekend to shop for unique, handcrafted gifts. Fri 12/6-Sun 12/8.

December 2019 at Melt Bar and Grilled

This December, Melt Bar and Grilled is all about the 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon Melt: Hickory smoked bacon, Black Pepper Crusted slab-cut Bacon, Maple Bourbon glazed Smoked Pork Belly, Italian Pancetta, Herb cream cheese with bacon bits, In-house made bacon infused with mayonnaise, sharp Cheddar, fresh Romaine and sliced tomato.

Melt Bar and Grilled gift cards are the perfect stocking stuffer. Purchase $100 worth of Melt gift cards and get a bonus $25 gift card! This awesome holiday deal is available at all Melt Bar and Grilled locations and online through our website for the entire months of December!

Going to the Cats

Local concert photographer Joe Kleon loves cats as much as he loves music, with two feline “helpers” at home, named Geddy and Alex after members of his favorite band, Rush. Five years ago, he began to donate his skills to the Medina-based rescue Kitten Krazy, going down every couple of weeks to photograph the cats so they could share professional-level photos to increase adoptions.

Kleon’s shown his concert photos many times but now he’ll have his first show of cat photos at the Saymo gallery in Kamm’s Corners. It’ll be a holiday party with his specially built cat photo studio onsite for photos, along with Santa. You are invited to bring your cat or dog! All proceeds go the Kitten Krazy. Sat 12/7.

Singer/songwriter Kate Voegele dazzled local audiences as a teenage Bay Village student. She went on to national success on the TV she One Tree Hill. She’s coming home to celebrate her 33rd birthday at the Music Box Supper Club. Sun 12/8

* The Ohio City Singers perform their annual holiday matinee at the Music Box. Sat 12/7.

* Cleveland indie rockers Public Squares share new “soundtrack” album at the Beachland Tavern. Sat 12/7.

* The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra celebrates “A Motown Christmas” Fri 12/6 at Akron’s BLU Jazz+ and the Chagrin Falls Performing Arts Center Sat 12/7.

* The Trinity Cathedral Choir and harpist Jody Guinn perform Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” at Trinity’s Brownbag Concert. Wed 12/11.

WED 12/4
The Dobama Theatre has a recent tradition of presenting a family-friendly, magical fairy-tale type production during the holidays. This year it’s the midwest premiere of The Old Man and the Old Moon which opens with previews today and tomorrow and kicks off its official run Fri 12/6.

* Hickory Hideout cast & crew reunite for Cleveland stories at the Music Box.

* Artist Christopher Kier talks about his work now on view at HEDGE Gallery.

* Loganberry Books on Larchmere celebrates its 25th anniversary with wine, cheese and live music.

Click here for more events on Wed 12/4

THU 12/5
If small town Christmases seem romantic to you, come out to Peninsula tonight where a tree lighting is followed by the chance to stroll down the luminaria-lit Main Street and browse little, locally owned boutiques serving cider and cookies to shoppers.

* Selections from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty highlight Cleveland Orchestra concerts, through Sat 12/7.

* Artists chose colleagues and friends for Yards Project’s Artists Select show.

* Three local band leaders join forces for songwriter evening at Nighttown.

* Blues Chronicles play benefit for homelessness nonprofit Front Steps at BOP STOP.

* Prosperity Social Club celebrates the anniversary of the end of Prohibition.

* West Park Kamm’s Corners CDC has a fundraiser/holiday party at Puritas Nursery.

Click here for more events on Thu 12/5

FRI 12/6
If bicycles are central to your life, you’ll HAVE to be at Ohio City Cycles’ Holiday party, which in addition to food and drink, features a bike fashion show, a symposium on winter cycling, and raffles and silent auctions in which all the prizes are bicycles or cycling-related.

* Get lots of holiday shopping done with the Hale Farm Market tonight, the poinsettia & green arts sale at Rockefeller Greenhouse tonight and tomorrow, and the Little Italy Christmas Art Walk all weekend.

* Waterloo Arts District’s Winterloo includes food trucks, carolers, fire pits & shopping opportunities.

* Crafting Democracy at the Sculpture Center shows how fiber arts have been used for political protest.

* Zygote Press kicks off its holiday sale and winter showcase with a reception tonight.

* Cleveland Museum of Art’s MIX party celebrates iconic artists in its collection.

* More than three dozen artists share their take on Cleveland at BAYarts.

* Get to know Slavic Village at the Fleet Street Holidazzle.

* Cleveland Dragon Boat Association holds holiday party and fundraiser at Li Wah.

* Talk at KSU Museum explores counterculture and mainstream fashion in the 60s and 70s.

* Blank Canvas Theatre presents a holiday play based on the Die Hard movies, through Sat 12/21.

* Cleveland Print Room Off the Wall show and sale features members’ work, through Fri 12/13.

* Convergence-Continuun opens two-character romantic play, Constellations, playing through Sat 12/21.

* Euclid lights up the holidays with a celebration at Shore Cultural Center.

* Take in an evening of outdoor fun at Uptown Winterfest in University Circle.

Click here for more events on Fri 12/6

SAT 12/7
Akron’s Soul Train provides monthly artist residencies to create new work. Its SOULstice party will share the work of its 2019 artists such as Jenniffer Omaitz whose work is pictured, and announce its 2010 lineup.

* The Superior Arts District will be bustling, with the Tower Press artists open studio and the Cleveland Bazaar at the Lake Affect Studio today, and the ArtCraft building holiday event today and tomorrow.

* Cat lover Jessica Manko again hosts her Meow-y Cats’Mas party at the Fillmore on Waterloo. All cat lovers are invited!

* Star Wars Burlesque is “an intergalactic space invasion of the nerdy” at the Beachland Ballroom.

* Mahall’s monthly Pro Shop market takes on a holiday flavor today.

* Everyone’s invited to kick off the holidays at Light Up Lakewood.

* A profusion of pies will be for sale at Kent’s Standing Rock Cultural Arts Pie Festival fundraiser.

* North Union Farmers Market holds its holiday market at the Van Aken District.

* Do some vintage gaming at Akron Art Museum’s Open World Arcade.

* Praxis Fiber Workshop holds Fiber Affair benefit.

* Nine acoustic finger-syle guitarists converge on the Kent Stage for the Woodchoppers Ball.

* The Blazing River Freedom Band’s alphabet concert series hits “H” for holidays at Tremont’s Pilgrim Church.

Click here for more events on Sat 12/7

SUN 12/8
Holiday CircleFest, an afternoon of special events at University Circle institutions, culminates with the Winter Lights Lantern Festival, a procession of homemade lanterns carried by community members lighting up Wade Oval.

* Photographer Arron Bound hosts show of new work and music/poetry performances at BOP STOP.

Click here for more events on Sun 12/8

MON 12/9
The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation’s holiday party and benefit at the Polish American Cultural Center in Slavic Village includes dinner and a classical piano concert.

* Hathway Brown music students perform music by and associated with Leonard Bernstein at the Maltz Performing Arts Center.

* Learn about the technology making space missions smaller and cheaper at the Music Box’s Science Cafe.

Click here for more events on Mon 12/9

TUE 12/10
Beer and cookies don’t sound like a natural combination. But at a pairing at Goldhorn Brewery, homemade holiday cookies will be matched with appropriate brews. And the ticket price includes a pint of beer & cookie recipes to take home.

* Ryan Humbert’s Holiday Extravaganza returns to the Akron Civic Theatre with three evenings of Americana music to benefit the Akron Canton Food Bank. Also tomorrow and Thu 12/12.

Click here for more events on Tue 12/10

WED 12/11
How did a guy who lives in Florida create one of Cleveland’s biggest tourist attractions? Find out when Brian Jones, who owns A Christmas Story House & Museum in Tremont is the guest at the Music Box’s Cleveland Stories program.

* Mirth Stellar Regions Trio takes off for parts unknown at the BOP STOP.

Click here for more events on Wed 12/11

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Keeping People Out of Ohio

If further proof is needed that Ohio is a really a Southern state that just happens to be located in the North – a state basically governed by a bunch of knuckle-dragging political Neanderthals that gather in Columbus and come up with bills that shout to the world “We want to go back to burning people at the stake” – simply consider the latest abortion bill introduced in the legislature.

The bill is sponsored by Representatives Candice Keller who hails from Butler County (which, sitting between Dayton and Cincinnati, is rumored to have the lowest median I.Q. of any county in the state) and Ron Hood from Pickaway County (where, allegedly, snake-handling is still prevalent at Sunday church services), and is co-sponsored by 19 other simpletons who belong to Ohio’s 99-member House…

Read other stories from Mansfield Frazier here