A Love Affair

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7.21-7.28.04
A Love Affair

Dear Friend,

In this week’s issue:
* RoldoLINK on the PD’s affection for George Voinovich by Roldo Bartimole
* My Brain Is Crying on truth, creativity and provocation
* Cleveland Is Cutting on our city’s self-infliction culture
* Downtown Living Cool Cleveland’s party on 7/29. Reserve now and save by clicking here

RoldoLINK
The Plain Dealer and its Love Affair With George Voinovich
by Cool Cleveland contributor Roldo Bartimole

A headline in The Plain Dealer the other day read, “Jobless rate rises in Ohio.” The article contained some disturbing news. The unemployment rate here in June rose from 5.6 percent to 5.8 percent in a month with a loss of 14,300 jobs. We were being told the recession/depression was over.

Further shocking, the report noted that in Cuyahoga County the unemployment rate went from 6.2 to 6.8 from May to June. Even more jolting, Cleveland’s unemployment rate rose from 11.8 to 12.7 percent…

One of the principal architects of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and Ohio economic policy in the last several decades at each level is none other than Senator George Voinovich. Never has a politician, however, gotten an easier ride from the news media as this guy has.

Voinovich has always been the invisible politician when it comes to news media criticism, particularly where The Plain Dealer is concerned. Hear no evil, see no evil, and say no evil, PD editors aver.

You may not know it but Senator Voinovich is running for another six years on the public payroll in November. If elected, he’d be on your tab for 43 years…
Read RoldoLINK here

Scrumptious eats for Cool Cleveland’s party Perfect weather, perfect vibe: summer in Cleveland is ripe for another get together, and CC is on a mission to party. Reserve now for the Cool Cleveland Art/Tech/Dance event from 4-8PM on Thu 7/29 in Downtown Cleveland’s Warehouse District. Click here for your 50% discount now. The party not only includes Cool Cleveland’s famous open bar with beer and wine, but also hourly hot hors d’oeuvres served up from area restaurants such as Fresh Crab Summer Rolls from The Blue Point Grille, Duo of Lightly Smoked Turkey and Duck Tartlet from XO Restaurant, Stuffed Mushrooms, Broiled Spanish Sausage and Spanish omelette hors d’oeuvres from Mallorca Restaurant, and Coconut-Crusted Bay Scallops and Almond and Panko-Crusted Calamari from the new Titanic Restaurante. While you’re partying, join the free tours of the smashing Walker & Weeks designed Bingham Building, featuring tons of amenities: private balconies, a fitness center, indoor parking, and multi-level apartments, creating the urban atmosphere you won’t find in the suburbs. Watch for the gourmet supermarket on the first floor (just what Downtown needs!) with wineshop, gourmet deli and coffeehouse. And if that’s not enough, your admission gets you in free to SPY Bar, where you can partake in free salsa lessons and swing music until the wee hours. Click here and pass the word: July 29 is gonna jolt the town. Register and pay in advance online now and save 50% off the walk-up price of $20.
Click here: http://www.corpmeetings.com/register/thomas/atd9/index.html

More about cities attracting the young Cleveland isn’t the only place competing for young people. Michigan lost 43K young college graduates between 1995 and 2000, so their Governor started the “Cool Cities” program, which we’ve discussed in Cool Cleveland here. Now they’re getting some national press for renovating an old pie factory in Saugatuck into a center for the arts. See CNN.com here.

Cleveland is a “must-see” Going on the premise that tourists cannot live on the Rock Hall alone, this Best Fares travel advisory notes that “Cleveland stepped up to the plate with the expenditure of tens of millions of dollars on an array of attractions that increases its appeal for visitors and hometowners alike.” What else did they like? the Cultural Gardens, NASA/Glenn, Pro Football HOF, Frank Gehry’s Peter B. Lewis Building, Healthspace, Botanical Garden, Museum of Natural History, Western Reserve Historical Society, Zoo, Kirtland’s LakeFarmpark, Children’s Museum, Science Center, Playhouse Square, Lolly the Trolley, Cedar Point and Blossom Music Center. What didn’t they like? Nothing. That’s just how these travel writers are… See Best Fares here.

Making your ’04/’05 marketing plans? Cool Cleveland has a special rapport with its loyal audience, who notice the unmistakable style and substance Cool Cleveland delivers each week in the e-letter. Always anticipated, this significantly supplemented on-line package is sent around the Internet with tens of thousands of diligent readers absorbing it each week. When it arrives in their Inbox, it has a profound effect: readers spend an exceptional amount of time perusing the Cool Cleveland events and sponsored links. Want to be noticed next week? Contact Cool Cleveland and we’ll sit down and show you how Internet marketing works today. Drop us a line, and we’ll be in touch. Info@CoolCleveland.com

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Go to Town with the Brownstones at Derbyshire, a magnificent stone church being converted to luxurious townhouses! In addition, this development will feature new construction, Tudor-style townhomes, and one-bedroom, carriage house-style units. Located in the heart of the Cedar-Fairmount neighborhood in Cleveland Heights, you’ll be able to walk to shopping and restaurants, or stroll over to Coventry, Murray Hill or University Circle. Church units have many architectural features intact, and feature glorious windows and three floors of living space. The new construction townhouses also feature luxury amenities, such as 2,600-2,800 square feet, 3-4 bedrooms, granite countertops, soaring ceilings, glamour baths with Jacuzzi tubs, and elevated dining rooms. Live above it all! Prices start in the low $400’s. For a complete list of properties and open houses this weekend, please visit www.ProgressiveUrban.com
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The City as Playground Is Sarah Morrison and her company busy or what? If you missed MorrisonDance at last weekend’s Taste of Tremont, you can catch them this weekend Fri 7/23 from 4-6PM at the Lincoln Park Gazebo for their latest Tremont Neighborhood Workshop, or next weekend Fri 7/30 from 4-6PM at the corner of West 11th & University in Tremont. Then, on Fri 8/6 and Fri 8/13 they dance over to Ohio City. These Neighborhood Creative Dance Workshops are open to the public and anyone interested in dance or moving their body. Bring your neighbors, friends, and family to this fun workshop taught by professional choreographers. Learn some creative tricks to make up dances this summer in your own backyards! All ages are welcome, and no experience is necessary. MorrisonDance is also performing at Open Air in Market Square, across from the West Side Market on Sat 8/14 at 1-4PM, and on Sun 9/19 at the upcoming Tremont Arts and Cultural Festival. Then they are off to New York City on 9/9 and 9/10 for the DancemOpolitan Festival at Joe’s Pub at the NY Public Theater. Plus they are hosting a full summer of adult movement classes such as hip-hop, kickboxing, Flowing Vinyasa Hatha Yoga, and “Mixed Bag Dance” at their studios at 4201 Lorain. They’re calling it The City Is Our Playground ’04. Let’s play. http://www.MorrisonDance.com

What to give Here’s the dilemma: you want to give a gift that’s a little different, but the shopping mall just ain’t cutting it. We usually suggest giving real art from one of our fine galleries Downtown, in Tremont or on Larchmere. But here’s another swell idea. Give the gift of a live show, using Playhouse Square’s new gift card, the first performing arts institution in the US with such a program. Currently good only for show tix, eventually PHS will accept gift cards for concessions, parking, and their own OHvations! Gift shop. Gift cards now make up 10% of all holiday gift sales, and the number will surely grow, since gift cards, like gift certificates, allow the recipient to choose how they spend their value, enabling them to pick the show they want to see. http://www.PlayhouseSquare.com

Puerto Rican Constitution Day in Ohio Fri 7/23 is an important day in the history of the Puerto Rican community in Ohio, as the Office of Governor Bob Taft proclaims it Puerto Rican Constitution Day. A signed resolution by the governor will be read during an official ceremony at 11:30AM on the West Plaza of the Statehouse. In conjunction with the resolution, the Puerto Rican Flag will be raised and left flying at the Statehouse all weekend. Clevelanders are encouraged to join in to support the Puerto Rican community. For information, contact 939-1722 or 939-1721.

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All about Amphibians and Reptiles This weekend, celebrate the wonder of snakes, turtles, lizards, frogs and more, as the Northern Ohio Association of Herpetologists and The Cleveland Museum of Natural History host their two-day Herp-Extravaganza. This program, which is free with your Museum admission, will feature demonstrations on Ohio’s reptiles and amphibians, resources on conservation – even pet selection! This special weekend begins Sat 7/24 from 10AM-5PM and Sun 7/25 from Noon-5PM. There will be reptile-related craft activities and displays on the world’s ultimate reptiles – dinosaurs! Find out and discover the nature of your universe at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, 216-231-4600. www.cmnh.org
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The value of the arts Ben Cameron, the executive director of Theatre Communications Group in NYC, the major trade group for US theatre, is an inspirational guy who always shoots straight. On a recent trip to the Silicon Valley Arts Summit, he took the opportunity in his closing remarks to comment on the state of the arts in that high-tech haven: business leaders told him about “the unique power art has in providing meaning for their own lives,” and their “vibrant downtown civic creative center,” but also about “a waning commitment to the arts, especially among corporate leaders and a younger generation of workers,” and “that the depleted investment we are making in arts education is producing a paucity of creative individuals.” He sums it up nicely: “If you care about economic and civic vibrancy for Silicon Valley, you must care about the arts. If you care about educational achievement for your students and ultimate self-expression, you must care about the arts. If you care about race relationships and a better harmonious nation for us all, you must care about the arts.” See San Jose Mercury-News here.

My Mind’s Eye Records maintains the best of unsavory rock ‘n’ roll badness in the whole of NEO. With the demise of kick-ass specialty music shops, MMER has all the genres you won’t find in chain store music: prog rock, stoner rock, punk rock, classic metal. Tons of nostalgic vinyl for the old skoolers, and newfangled CDs for the turntable impaired. See them at 13727 Madison Avenue in Lakewood. Call 521-6660. http://www.MyMindsEyeRecords.com

Bold Fusion in Cincy We’ve heard recently from Akron and Cleveland about their efforts to stem the brain drain and attract young professionals. Now we hear from Cincinnati, where YPCincy.com are hosting their inaugural BOLD Fusion! Young Professionals Summit this Fri 7/23 featuring interactive panel discussions with people ranging “from regional image-makers to visionaries,” such as University of Cincinnati president Nancy Zimpher, reps from the Bengals, P&G and Cincy media, along with discussions on the region’s image and the future of “Cincinnati USA.” The announced speakers and “luncheon table hosts” seem light on arts and culture, but the crowd should be able to make their voices heard through a high-tech “state-of-the-art audience response system.” Read more at iRhine.com http://www.irhine.com

Colette returns Cleveland-area musician Colette has just returned from a 6-month gig touring the Mexican Riviera entertaining passengers on a cruise ship, which, depending upon your taste, could be either a dream come true, or a minimum-security prison sentence. Catch her on Thu 7/22 at 10PM on WRUW 91.1 FM, on the ‘’Live From Cleveland’’ radio show. She will be debuting several new songs, as well as playing favorites from her career. http://colettesongs.com

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Be a party animal Twilight at the ZOO, presented by Huntington Bank, has been a monster success for the Cleveland Zoological Society – in the past ten years the event has raised more than a million dollars for the Zoo! The 11th year promises another wild event with something for everyone: 16 bands – from rock to reggae; as well as an array of mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres and plenty of liquid refreshments. On Fri 8/6 from 7PM to midnight, a modest admission price will have you swinging with the seals and boogieing with the bears to the background beats of some of Cleveland’s favorite musical acts. General admission tickets are still available, so treat yourself to a night out while supporting a great Cleveland institution. Click here for further information or to order your tickets today!
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Choose carefully This week, Thu 7/22-7/24 Cleveland hosts the The National Youth Summit, sponsored by the the Federal government’s Department of Health & Human Services, featuring the standard roundtables and speakers, “for youth and all those who support their healthy choices.” This year’s program focuses on how youth can be incorporated into leadership and decision-making for public and private organizations, and they are creating a mile-long art project. Sessions include topics like obesity and youth volunteers for the Head Start program, but watch for sessions on how adolescents are “hardwired” for religiosity, or the “Resistance Team,” advocating abstinence, or the National Guard’s new ChalleNGe Program targeting youth, or the ethics session on “Internet Lawlessness.” Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, 24 Public Square, 696-5600. http://conferences.ncfy.com/ncfy/agenda.htm

Your music, online Tired of corporate radio ignoring all the best music, including your band’s? Tired of record labels overlooking great local music, including your band’s? Here’s a small list of websites that allow you to upload your band’s music for promotion and Internet distribution, all for free. Once your music’s up online, you can point people to it so they can listen, download your tunes or samples, and contact you to buy your CDs or even book your band. This list, while not comprehensive, comes to us courtesy of Chris Anderson from O in Eye Recording in Portland, OR. Check these sites: Broad Jam, I M Gifted, Pure Volume, Song Ramp, Sound Click, Star Polish, IUMA, Acid Planet, Lulu, Sonic Garden, Song Planet, Nowhere Radio.

Cleve native opens online boutique Now living and thriving in Boston, former Clevelander and Webgrrls.com honcho Shannon Okey has recently opened a slick and hip online boutique called Anezka Handmade, (the ‘z’ should sound like ‘s’ in the word ‘pleasure’), featuring items such as Fender guitar pick earrings, knitted beaded wristlets, and K-Tel vinyl album cuff bracelets, all handmade and all at reasonable prices. She’s so enamored of our fair e-zine, that she’s offering Cool Cleveland readers 15% off anything you might pop into your shopping cart. Point your browser to http://www.anezkahandmade.com/catalog and enter code “2b4138” at checkout.

Great rock, bad poetry With lines like “God save the Queen/She ain’t no human being” (Sex Pistols) or “I’m feeling supersonic/Give me gin and tonic,” (Oasis), the music buying masses are subject to hilarious lyrics meant to be serious. This is what happens when bad poetry happens to good rockers. See Bostin.com here.

Fear of punctuation, or just grammatically challenged? Disabled by your fear of punctuation and grammar? Proofreading for punctuation and grammar is not just for dorks anymore, now you too can quell those fears and figure out the conventions that’ll help you become a more effective communicator. http://www.stpt.usf.edu/pms

Burning River Glassworks Boost the arts and familiarize yourself with area entrepreneur and artist Brian Benchek at his renovated studio downtown. This talented glass artist is taking a different approach to the business of the arts; he’s merging the beauty and value of downtown’s commercial space with his art studio, and inviting post grad glass artists to work, grow and develop a community of glass blowers right in the heart of Cleveland. Benchek is also offering art classes and studio tours for the public to experience the glass blowing process. Call 214-2120 for directions and info.

Corrections
On ways to fund the arts When printing Jim Gilmore’s letter to Cool Cleveland about How to pay for the arts (See Cool Cleveland’s 07.07.04 Yr Turn here),we inadvertently dropped the URL for another article he wanted to reference as an alternative point of view on the topic: http://www.libertarian.co.uk/lapubs/cultn/cultn039.htm

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“If Cleveland rocks, our Shrew rocketh.” Cleveland, this is it, time to make up our minds, step up or stop complaining: Do we want a hometown classical theater capable of great Shakespeare, theater that says something about who we are? Because that’s what Great Lakes Theater Festival has become, as evidenced by…an infinitely funny and sophisticated production of The Taming of the Shrew. But if we hope to sustain indispensable resources like Great Lakes, we can’t just take my word for it. We have to turn off “Married by America,” catch the downtown bus to the Ohio Theatre and actively participate in a work of art that lives and breathes and loves today as lustily as it did 400 years ago.” – Tony Brown, The Plain Dealer. Come discover Shakespeare’s Great Company. Great tickets are on sale now at great prices; $20 tickets for any show; plus, $11 student tickets – any show, any seat. Please visit www.GreatLakesTheater.org
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Cool Cleveland This Week

7.21-7.28.04

Send your cool events to: events@coolcleveland.com

Burning River Glassworks’ exclusive opening for CC readers: ArtMetro and Brian Benchek are collaborating to provide CC readers a private preview of Cleveland’s newest state of the art glass studio Burning River, with a special exhibition of locally hand blown glass Thu 7/22 at 5:30PM. Special on-site glass blowing demonstration begins at 7PM; please RSVP to Art Metro Gallery at 696-1942 or email artmetrogallery@yahoo.com. Located at 2218 Superior Ave. Parking available on East 22 and East 23rd Streets and on the Phoenix Coffee lot on East 22nd and Superior.

Fashion for the Cure Raise your fasion quotient with emerging haute couture; many of Cleveland’s underground and big league designers will be gracing the catwalk from Macastoria, Nary Manivong to Chain Link Addiction. It’s an intersection of entertainment with spoken word, vocals and vibe by singer Cali Miles and fashion sprawl all night long Thu 7/22 at 8PM. Call 406-6325. The Velvet Dog, 1280 W. 6th in the Warehouse District.

Boatzz benefit show Help out a Cleveland band who recently had their van, all of their equipment and many of their personal belongings stolen after a gig in NYC on July 3rd of this year. Boatzz is made up of members from the Cleveland band Solo Flyer, who were also hit hard by the loss. Much of the stolen equipment was vintage and will be difficult and expensive to replace. They’d already completed work on a full length album to be released this fall on Exit Stencil, a local label that’s released works by This Moment In Black History, and The New Lou Reeds. Bands scheduled to play include Sounder, The Lockhearts, Boatzz, Solo Flyer, Red Giant and The A-10’s (Boatzz and Solo Flyer will be using borrowed equipment) Thu 7/22 at 10PM; ages 18 and over are welcome. Call 403-7617. The Hi Fi Club, 11729 Detroit Rd. in Lakewood. http://www.HiFiClub.info

Meet Me on the Mall: Roberto Ocasio’s Latin Jazz Project An after work event where education and entertainment dovetail, as audiences become part of an action oriented demonstration of indigenous percussion and other musical instruments. Hear musical mixtures of funk, fusion, salsa, mambo and rhythm & blues, you’ll visually and audially experiecne instruments that originated in Nigeria and recreated by the Yoruba (or Lucumi) people in Cuba. Make it out to this free event Thu 7/22 at 5:30PM. At Strawbridge Plaza/Mall C on Lakeside Ave. next to City Hall. http://www.latinjazzproject.com

WCLVnotes The second live broadcast over WCLV 104.9 from the Encore School for Strings in Hudson takes place this Thu 7/22 at 8PM. Although many of the performers are students, they are “students” in name only. These kids are loaded with talent. And the concerts take place in the historic chapel on the campus of Western Reserve Academy. A pleasant broadcast from a pleasant setting. And speaking of young talent, leapfrogging to next week, on Sat 7/31, WCLV will present a live broadcast of the finales of the Oberlin International Piano Competition featuring high school aged performers from all over the world. The broadcast begins at 7PM. Robert Conrad and Bill O’Connell host. a Cool Cleveland partner www.wclv.com

Afro Cuban Orchestra Delivering a mix of styles from Charlie Parker, Theolonious Monk, Beatles, James Brown and Marvin Gaye; this group reworks classics into new instrumental sounds with the flavor of Latin Jazz Thu 7/22 at 7PM. Step out to support area music led by Cleveland Heights resident Rob Williams. Concert is free, courtesy of Party in the Heights. Call 791-3172. Located at the Green, west of Nighttown.

Dive-In Movie at Ledge Pool Here’s a concept who’s time has come: watch the film from the heated pool while floating in an inner tube, or from a comfy spot on the lawn. Catch the free family flick Sinbad, Legend of the Seven Seas, this Fri 7/23 at Ledge Pool & Recreation Area, Hinckley Reservation. Doors open @ 8PM, cartoons @ 8:30, feature @ 8:45. Call for inner tube reservations at 330-239-2911.

Lick Bush Film Night @ Newsense Gallery Want to change the situation in our nation? Do it at this grassroots benefit for the Kerry Presidential Campaign. Hit scenic Lakewood and see great films like Unprecedented, plus food, drinks and fun to help *lick Bush* in the upcoming election. While you’re there, pick up hand designed (and altered) anti-Bush and pro-Kerry t-shirts Fri 7/23 at 7:30PM; films begin 8PM. If you’re going to hang for a while, please bring a pillow, blanket, or something comfortable to sit on. RSVP is required, email to reserve your spot at newsense@ameritech. Call 521-8582. Newsense Gallery, 1376 Fry Ave in Lakewood. For details on films and for RSVP surf to http://www.NewsenseOnline.com/gallery_lickbush_film.htm

The Fusion with musical hightlights from the Aphrodesiatics, who recently picked up The Free Times award for best Cleveland soul/hip-hop act; the six-piece soul/jazz outfit pairs up with Iron Triangle, one of Cleveland’s most slept-on hip-hop groups. The show will be rounded out with poet Basheer (aka Da Truuf) and the all-girl performance poetry ensemble Eve, dropping estrogen enhanced spoken word Fri 7/23 at 8PM. Call 431-6776. Gookies, 7800 Superior Ave.

Anyone Can Whistle an absurdist social satire about insanity and conformity, the show’s story leads to a town that’s gone bankrupt because its only industry is manufacturing something that never wears out, and the town council stages a fake miracle ala “Lourdes” to attract tourists. A solid gold soundtrack from Stephen Sondheim surrounds this entertainingly chaotic performance Fri 7/23 at 7:30PM. Show runs till 8/8, get tickets at 621-3242. 2012 West 25th St. Performances held at St. Patrick’s Club Building, W. 38th & Bridge Ave. in Ohio City. http://www.NearWestTheatre.org

Romance, anguish, sex, emptiness…and Jalousie! An evening of love, sex and betrayal with sounds that make the heart and pulse throb, filling the room with smoke, heat and haze with songs by KD Lang, Nat King Cole, Cole Porter, Patsy Cline, Evanescence and others. Imbibe “Moorish” spirits from five different Spanish wines, guaranteed to make your face flush along with steamed up sex tunes Fri 7/23 at 8PM. A smoke-free event; contact Bad Epitaph today to make your reservation, seating is limited. Call 556-0919. Performace located at Market Avenue Wine Bar, 2526 Market St. in Ohio City. http://www.BadEpitaph.org/jalousie.html

Delay in the Connection CD release party @Talkies with Emily Strand, a Cincinnati-based songwriter and chanteuse providing lounge atmosphere at Talkies. Recline in their comfortable cafe and savor gourmet beverages, cruise the internet with their WiFi or lounge in their outdoor seating area on Fri 7/23 at 7PM; event is free, so spend your cash on Talkies’ wicked caffeine concoctions. Call 696-3456. Talkies Film and Coffee Bar, 2521 Market Ave in Ohio City. http://www.TalkiesCoffee.com and visit http://www.EmilyStrand.com

Irish Cultural Festival Where Clevelanders can find Celtic art and Irish eats such as cup o’mash, bridies, meat pies and Irish sausage rolls without having to travel to the Emerald Isles. Find your way to the festival and experience true Celtic heritage with pipe bands, dancing and cultural events Fri 7/23 5PM-12AM, Sat 7/24 1PM-12AM and Sun 7/25 11:30AM. Call (330) 321-6174. Cuyahoga Fairgrounds on Bagley Rd. http://www.ClevelandIrish.org/main_new.shtml

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Brandt Gallery: Art by Nancy Prudic Now on view in Cleveland is the controversial construction of Prudic’s language-sculpture that dares you to read a tangible body of free speech, original poetry and prose. See the work up close now Sat 7/24 noon-6PM, and you can view it again next Sat 8/11. Hear her arts lecture on closing night Fri 8/13. Call 621-1610 for more info. Brandt Gallery, 1028 Kenilworth Ave.

Spanish Rhythms for Scholarships featuring “Los Lunares” a noted flamenco troupe of dancers, singers and musicians who perform in the traditional ways of Spanish Flamenco music, and they’ve appeared to critical acclaim and appreciative audiences throughout the Midwest. Event will benefit the Hispanic Scholarship for Student Success; over 800 Hispanic students attended Cuyahoga Community College in 2004, and 70% of them applied for some form of financial aid. Help meet the growing financial needs of multi-cultural students Sat 7/24 at 7:30PM. Call 987-5602. Cuyahoga Community College, Metro Campus Auditorium, 2900 Community College Ave. http://www.Tri-C.edu

Utter Trash 2nd anniversary party Local audial assault with music by Jacknife Powerbombs, One Day We Die, Dropgun and Mobscene presented in association with My Mind’s Eye Records Sat 7/24 show starts 9PM. It’s alt music at it’s best, and even better, this is not Clear Channel music! Pat’s in the Flats, 2233 West 3rd St. http://www.PatsInTheFlats.com and visit http://www.MyMindsEyeRecords.com

25th Annual Akron Arts Festival Akron is a place we love, and we’re plugging their two day arts gig where you can scope out 160 juried exhibitors, which means there’ll be some hot competition among the artists. The Ohio Ballet will be performing, and you can walk about the city while you taste the offerings. Bring the family, this is a kid-friendly event with a children’s area featuring costumed characters and it’s free Sat 7/24 from 11AM-6PM and Sun 7/25 from 10AM-5PM. Call 330-375-2835. Hardesty Park, at the corner of West Market St. and Wallhaven Dr. in Akron.

Trendroid of Transport 6, Kinetic, Renaissance, NYC backs up HeadRush Music Summer Series. For Pankaj & Matt Edwards (aka Trendroid/Brick City/PM Player) it’s been a dizzying climb up the dance music ranks; four years ago the legendary NYC club Twilo signed them as the debut artists for their new label increasing their exposure on the international scene. Trendroid’s unique and futuristic style of house music is frequently described as “the sound of the UK with the attitude and energy of NYC.” Their tracks have been licensed to the prestigious Cream and Global Underground compilations. Hear their sounds of cultural diversity Sat 7/24 from 9PM-4AM. Call 566-7278. Abbasso Underground Lounge, inside Bottoms Up, 1222 Prospect Ave. http://www.Trendroid.com

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Your guide to Cleveland Need a great tool for showing off Cleveland while you’re out of town visiting? Or to impress your Aunt Matilda who’s in town for a visit? Well, The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland has put out ‘The Lure’ – a new brochure which showcases all that Cleveland has to offer. The Lure covers theatre, nightlife, Lake Erie, sports, music and entertainment, ethnicity, shopping, arts & culture, some outer ring attractions such as Amish country and the Canton Pro Football Hall of Fame. You can receive copies by calling 800-321-1001 or 216-875-6625. Or, email the bureau at communications@travelcleveland.com.
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Heights Arts benefit Support the arts in our community at The Kious Homestead and overload on Cleveland Heights generous and varied food selections from Lopez Bar & Grille, Lemon Grass, Stone Oven Bakery, Pacific East Japanese Restaurant and others. Sidle up to Nighttown’s cash bar for margaritas and a few brews, and cool off with Hillbilly Idol, kicking out entertainment. We also heard there’s going to be a swimming pool, so bring a suit, ‘cos last time we checked, skinny dipping was illegal. Be there Sat 7/24 from 7-11PM. Get tickets in advance at 371-3344. At 12537 Cedar Rd. in Cleveland Hts. Parking is available on the west end of Cedar Hill Baptist Church lot. Email heightsarts@sbcglobal.net and visit http://www.HeightsArts.org

Killer kickboxing All levels are welcome to spend an hour of sweaty cardio workout with jabs and sharp hooks while you develop strength and physical flexibility; get going on a healthy fitness kick while you learn to defend yourself Sun 7/25 from 6-7PM. Call 281-9558. MorrisonDance, 4201 Lorain Ave. Suite A. Find out more at http://www.MorrsionDance.com

3rd Annual Row for The Cure Cleveland’s rowing community, comprised of over 700 rowers and scullers from high schools, colleges and the region’s adult rowing club will be competing to raise monies and donations. Featuring local politicians, media and sports celebrities (most of will be rowing for the first time ever!), the event happens Sun 7/25 from 7AM-4PM. Join the rowing madness; participants will enjoy a cookout, T-shirts and other spiffs and goodies – proceeds go to help The Northern Ohio Breast Cancer Coalition. Cleveland Rowing Foundation Boathouse, 1948 Carter Rd. on the West Bank of the Flats. Registration forms and pledge sheets are available online: http://www.ClevelandRows.org

The Foluké Cultural Arts Center’s Summer Dance Intensive Get out of your summer haze to pick up new skills: Jazz Dance, West African and Modern dance for beginning, intermediate and advanced participants. This inner-city community-based organization offers training in performing arts for all ages regardless of race, religious affiliation, or economic background and are family oriented with focus placed on at-risk youth. Learn how to choose art as a weapon through education and exposure with positive alternatives to increase self-confidence through self-expression, discovery and discipline. Dance camp begins Mon 7/26 9AM-3:30 PM thru 7/30. In-person registration and placement to be held Sun 7/25th noon-3PM. Call 529-1861. Masonic Temple Performing Arts Center, 4th Floor, 3615 Euclid Ave. email ask@folukeculturalarts.com.

Moods by the Shore: Acrylic Painting Class Summer memories often include those lazy days at the shore. In this four week course, explore different techniques to successfully create your own personal vision of the shore. Watercolors and tempera paints will be our prime medium. Bring your favorite snapshots or magazine photos of the shore as an inspiration Tue 7/27 from 1-3PM; this is a four week class. Call 791-9303. Center for Therapy through the Arts at Ursuline College, 2600 Lander Rd in Pepper Pike. http://www.TherapyThruArt.org

Send your cool events to: events@coolcleveland.com

My Brain is Crying
Creativity Can’t Manifest Itself Without Provocation
Dueling dialogue that’s unsafe at any speed

Deb Remington: As a spokesperson for a school system, anything I say relating to my “personal” perceptions, comments or frustrations concerning my community is viewed as a statement represented by the district. I’ve been passionately involved in community activism for over 25 years, yet my voice is no longer my own. I’ve found that groups and establishments are unable to respect an individual, personal voice, even when I make it very clear I am representing myself – no one else.

Tisha Nemeth: Speaking and working within range of the public is a balancing act. In the public arena, people become uncomfortable when an idea is expressed that challenges the conventional ways of ‘group thinking.’ Creative and unpredictable communication from an individual is often criticized because honesty is not a quality that’s valued in our city, and those who speak and live by it in the work place are thereby set apart – it’s considered dangerous if you’re truthful…
Read My Brain Is Crying here

Cleveland is Cutting
The Self-Infliction Culture
by Cool Cleveland contributor DJ Hellerman

Self infliction is an acquired taste, a taste for its feeling that is connected to a moment, one single moment to escape and be in complete control of feelings, anxieties, pleasures and frustrations. Those who practice it want to stop but are mired in addiction; as they indulge, they’re able to escape and experience the precious moment of controlled ecstasy. It is a time when vulnerability and self-punishment becomes a way to deal with uncontrollable circumstances in life that spin out of control.

Self-infliction, according to East side Cleveland therapists Pam Land and Karen Hall, is a common pathological disorder that can be explained in different ways: self-mutilation, self-injury, self-harm, S.I. or the common pop culture reference “cutting.” Cutting is not a phenomenon unique to pop culture, it has existed for generations and is common among people who have been sexually abused. It is the purposeful and intended destruction and extreme stimulation of the body in places either visible or not. More common in women than men, the disorder is not suicidal but can easily be misunderstood as a failed attempt at suicide. However, as a person continues to cut, the chances of accidental suicide are common due to the lack of attention and care to the actual details of the S.I. act…
Read Cleveland is Cutting here

Instant Karma
Quik reviews of recent events
Going out this weekend? Take along your PDA and your digital camera. Scratch out a few notes to send us with a picture of it for our Instant Karma real-world reviews of what’s really happening. We’d love to hear from you. Send your stuff to Events@CoolCleveland.com

Tracing Light @ Cleveland Museum of Art 7/7 Inspired by the work of JMW Turner and Gwen John, Garry Fabian Miller’s Tracing Light exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art is a beautiful study of the use and manipulation of painting with light. The JMW Turner installation, composed of 15 pieces, was created during Fabian’s 1999 summer residency at the Petworth House in England as a result of Millers knowledge of Turners fascination with light. Miller used light filtered through water filled blue glass containers and wooden obstructions manipulating the light to compose these photos. These pieces resembling a moon lit window all reference a crucifix and emanate somber feelings of cool and calm. To create these images Miller focused himself on Turner’s study of light as well as “a singular light entering a dark room.” Burning (with Gwen) is a five-piece installation created during a summer residency at Graves Art Gallery in Sheffield England. These non-objective photos taken on five consecutive days in August explore the work and life of artist Gwen John. Miller was especially attracted to the warmth of color and the angular forms as well as the Parisian light in Johns A Corner of the Artist Room. These pieces radiate color and light that impress feelings of glowing and pulsating just as staring at the sun would. His manipulation of minute details such as slightly altering the rectangle from one piece to the next allows the pieces differentiation and connection at the same time. All 20 pieces of work combine offer an excellent study of light. Individually the pieces contain an intrinsic beauty that allows them strength to stand-alone. The exhibition is a fantastic depiction of the technical issues and studies submerged in contemporary art. Gary Fabian Miller’s exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art offers a body of work unique and playful to the eye. from Cool Cleveland contribtuor DJ Hellerman

The Taming of the Shrew @ Great Lakes Theater Festival 7/18 What: Shakespeare’s most viciously knockabout battle of the sexes, where rough Petruchio breaks down the fiercely independent Kate, so that her younger sister Bianca can marry.
Reasons to go: Director Drew Barr has created a surreally handsome, metatheatrical production framed as a male wish-fulfillment dream, which takes place inside Narelle Sissons’ marvelously askew picture frame set. Andrew May bellows and capers and torments, while Laura Perotta morphs from brazen sexpot to hollow-eyed victim to pseudo-Stepford Wife in polkadots and gloves. There are many memorable images, from Perotta’s mud-spattered bridal dress to Dierdru Ring’s submissive Bianca on a long blue leash.
Caveats: Even though Barr makes parts of the “taming” feel like a mutual S&M game, there are enough mixed messages that the over-the-top capitulation at the end still reeks. And Barr trowels on so much additional slapstick in the interminable subplot of Bianca’s suitors, it’s relentless — after the play’s 3 hours, you may feel a bit beat up yourself. Still, it’s one of GLTF’s most daring productions and well worth seeing.
Backstory: This is GLTF’s return to summertime repertory, its first since 1990. Producing Artistic Director Charles Fee has added a festive pre-show with Queen Elizabeth I (actor George Roth in drag) greeting the public in a horse-drawn carriage.
Target audience: Lovers of populist Shakespeare.
Details: Great Lakes Theater Festival, Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square, Cleveland. (216)241-6000. Thru 8/22. http://www.greatlakestheater.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein Linda@coolcleveland.com

Freddy Cole @ Nighttown on 7/8
Brother of Nat “King” Cole and uncle to Natalie, he played to a packed house at Nighttown Friday night. In contrast to his brother’s velvety smooth voice, Freddie’s warm, gravelly, baritone voice provided the inspiration for an elegant and expressive collection of pop tunes and love ballads. His intimate style of jazz offered a mixture of pop, Brazilian and blues. A man who obviously enjoys what he’s doing, Cole’s choice of contemporary American music ranged from slow and easy to groovin’ and swingin’. The quartette included a talented ensemble with Curtis Boyd on the drums, Zachary Pride on bass, Jerry Byrd on guitar and Freddy Cole at the piano. The joint was jumpin”. My favorite songs were Home Fried Potatoes and In the Name of Love. Cole recently cut a new album called I’m Not My Brother, I’m Me, which is actually a tribute to Nat. from Cool Cleveland contributor T.L. Champion TLChampion@sbcglobal.net

Miss Saigon @ Beck 7/19 What: A Vietnamese bar-girl falls in love with an American soldier, with tragic results. A rock opera adaptation of Madame Butterfly set during the Vietnam War by Les Miz writers Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg.
Reasons to go: A don’t miss! From the opening moments to its final tableau, this production is electrifying and deeply moving. Scott Spence has assembled a spectacular cast, where each of the lead characters vies for your sympathy. Tiny and fragile, Robin Lee Gallo is a heartbreaking Kim. As her G.I. lover, Connor O’Brien’s Chris has post-traumatic stress written all over him, with haunted eyes and a dark, tortured voice. Paul Floriano’s pimping Engineer/M.C. burns up the stage, especially in the show-stopping The American Dream. Maggie Stahl-Wirfel shines as Chris’ American wife, while Ian Atwood has a trenchant turn as his friend John.
Caveats: No, there’s no helicopter, but with voices this thrilling, who needs one? A new war in the headlines has made this Broadway megahit feel razor-sharp again — it delivers a stab to the heart.
Backstory: Spence has made the Beck Center the most reliable local venue for seeing area musical premieres, from the epic (Chess) to the small and snarky (Reefer Madness). He’s been setting the bar ever higher. This one, among the year’s best productions, delivers Broadway-caliber voices at a beer-budget price.
Target audience: Adults and teens.
Details: Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. 216-521-2540. Thru 8/8. http://www.beckcenter.org from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein Linda@coolcleveland.com

Menopause: The Musical @ Playhouse Square’s 14th Street Theatre 7/11 If you’re a woman of a certain age and haven’t yet been to see Menopause: The Musical, what on earth are you waiting for? And even if you’re not a woman or not yet at that certain age–what’s your excuse? Here’s your opportunity to find out how the other half lives. Be prepared! The only persons who should not see this show immediately are those recuperating from recent major surgery. All that laughter is hard on stitches, or that portion of your anatomy where the stitches used to be. (Just wait a month or so after they’ve been removed. By then you should be safe.) Otherwise, there is no acceptable excuse for your delay. None. Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers write

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

On Tunick’s Instant Karma Just wanted to drop a belated Thank You for deeming my write-up on the Tunick shoot worthy of inclusion in your online tome. The post-shoot discussions, with folks who were fortunate/stupid enough to have partaken in it and with those who didn’t, have been just as much fun as the event itself. Cheers to Thomas and Cool Cleveland.
from Cool Cleveland Brian Asquith http://www.britishbrian.com britishbrian@hotmail.com

On Cleveland Heights’ “problem” This is a website for the people of Cleveland and Cleveland Heights to do something about the “epidemic” (according to Cleveland Heights Police) that cars are almost every weekend being broken into in the Cleveland Heights Municipal Lots. An online petition (http://www.gopetition.com/online/4629.html or (http://www.gopetition.com/online/4642.html) is linked to the site (http://www.geocities.com/cheightslots) to get people to sign so we can forward it to the City of Cleveland Heights in September. If you think this is worthy, please note it somewhere on your site. If not, that’s ok too. Pretty good site you folks have going here!
from Cool Cleveland reader Jarrod Johnson, new Cleveland resident from Cincinnati cheightslots@yahoo.com

On the defeat of Ohio’s Issue 1 I enjoy your newsletter but you’ve got the facts wrong in your comment on the CSM’s story comparing New York and Ohio. (See Some states get it… and then there’s Ohio here.) Issue 1 was not “narrowly defeated by the agriculture lobby” – the opponents of Issue 1 were massively outspent by the proponents. Although the only visible opponent of Issue 1 was a coalition of agricultural groups, they spent virtually nothing, ran few (if any) ads, and got little press. A better explanation for Issue 1’s defeat is that the people of Ohio, despite a massive spending campaign by virtually every interest group and politician in the state and the endorsement of virtually every major political figure, business leader, etc., simply do not trust the state government in Columbus with decisions about the economic future of the state. The vast array of interest groups lined up in support of Issue 1 was pretty strong evidence that a great deal of pork was going to be served at the taxpayers’ expense. Given the massive spending in favor of Issue 1 and the negligible spending against it, it is not credible to attribute its defeat to a “lobby”. Keep up the good work in promoting interesting events in Cleveland.
from Cool Cleveland reader Andy Morriss, Columbia Station andrew.morriss@case.edu

On the Digital MOMA Thank you for a terrific write-up on the launch of The Digital Museum of Modern Art. Traffic to DMOMA in the week since the piece appeared in Cool Cleveland has more than doubled from the preceding period. And maybe–just maybe–DMOMA will get a truly cool show from one of Cleveland’s art legends.
from Cool Cleveland reader W. Logan Fry, Director The Digital Museum of Modern Art http://www.dmoma.org

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Top 5
Cool Cleveland uses Opticast tools to track which articles were clicked the most. Here are the Top 5 from last week’s issue, with one more chance for you to click.

1) Cool Cleveland’s Downtown Living bash at 50% off Summertime is the ideal time to let loose in Cleveland, and we’re ramping up another occasion to party. Mark your calendar for Cool Cleveland’s next Art/Tech/Dance event from 4-8PM on Thu 7/29 in Downtown Cleveland’s Warehouse District.
http://www.corpmeetings.com/register/thomas/atd9/index.html

2) Cinema At The Square Big screen fun at small town prices. For 5 bucks a head ($4 for students, seniors and kids under 12), from 8/11 thru 8/29, you can see 14 of the best classic films of all time on the largest non-Imax screen in the state of Ohio.
http://playhousesquare.brinkster.net/cinema/default_good.asp

3) Love. Moore. Bush by Lyz Bly examines male double standards, the media’s ploy to distract audiences from relevant issues, and American culture’s fixation with the absurd.
Love Moore Bush

4) Courting Your Dream House is what you’ll be doing when you check out the new construction townhomes available at Courtland Courts
http://www.progressiveurban.com

5) Digital Museum of Modern Art from Cleveland Add another museum to Cleveland’s pantheon. But this one’s just a click away from everyone in the world.
http://www.dmoma.org

Creative synergy It’s all about Clevelanders syncing up with our city’s artistic enterprises, distinctive cultures and happening events to revive our city, and our readers are helping achieve this by checking out CoolCleveland.com – we appreciate it, and so does Cleveland. Now readers everywhere can find out what’s new by visiting CC.com, and send along friends and co-workers to register for the e-zine at http://www.CoolCleveland.com (and check out the new site) or have ’em send an e-mail to signup@coolcleveland.com

Massive voltage marketing Want to burst past your company’s competition during this challenging economy? Seize your marketing with the successful and far-reaching internet advertising: CoolCleveland.com. Every week we reach tens of thousands of subscribers who support what we do, and prove it by visiting the links to our sponsors. Find out more by emailing us a note to info@coolcleveland.com and let us hear from you.

Hard Corps deliver high impact content, helping Cool Cleveland remain sustainable with jamming events, critical commentary and all the goods that fill your in-box week after week. Props to our people who make CC a reality: Tisha Nemeth, Deb Remington, Linda Eisenstein, TL Champion, Bill Nagode, George Nemeth, DJ Hellerman, Kelly Ferjutz, Roldo Bartimole and everyone who partners with us. Want to volunteer and contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, articles, or story ideas to: events@coolcleveland.com

See the Cool Cleveland column each month in Cleveland Magazine. Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time. Send your cool events to: events@coolcleveland.com. For your copy of the free weekly Cool Cleveland e-zine, go to http://www.coolcleveland.com

Our love affair’s with our town,

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com (:divend:)

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