07.27-08.03.2016 Talk of the Town

07.27-08.03.16
Talk of the Town

Words matter. Last week, we graciously accepted well-earned praise for serving as the perfect hosts with humble hospitality and Midwestern modesty. Meanwhile, our recent guests let loose an incendiary blast of verbal invective. Instead, this week CPAC’s Creative Intersections talks about building bridges, not walls. CoolCleveland photojournalist Anastasia Pantsios has created PHOTOSTREAMS of scenes from Public Square while commentator Mansfield Frazier offers some choice words of his own.

Words matter. With a stroke of the pen last year, Cleveland Inkubator launched Literary Cle, and this week the handwriting’s on the wall. Calling it (dis)ABLED BEAUTY, KSU’s latest exhibit promises to be true to its word. The best-selling book series of all time requires a bouncer for their Harry Potter midnight announcement at the Side Quest.

Local rock star chefs talk it up at CBG, and arias will be wafting from the Italian Cultural Garden. Family fun is the talk of the town at Cain Park & St. Clair Superior. Ohio City Stages takes their final bow of the season as Downtown@Dusk kicks off at AAM. And everyone’s feelin’ irie as the Mid West Reggae Fest celebrates 25 years of jammin’. You don’t say. –Thomas Mulready

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Photo by Elisa Vietri

Fashion for All

Just because someone has a disability doesn’t mean they don’t want to be fashionable. The new exhibit at the Kent State Museum, (dis)ABLED BEAUTY: The Evolution of Beauty, Disability and Ability, displays the creative ways people have dressed up hearing aids, prosthetic devices and other gear.

Kendall Embrescia-Hridel talks to one of the two curators to learn how this unique exhibit came about. Fri 7/29-3/12/17.

SPONSORED: If you’ve always wanted to write a book, why wait? Get your muse out of hibernation and your words onto the printed page. Fiction — Non-fiction — How-to’s — Memoirs. Talk to the Book Mechanic. We’ve helped others achieve their dreams, so why shouldn’t it be your turn? BookMechanic@Gmail.com or BookMechanic.wordpress.com.

We’ll find the right words for your online advertising Consider CoolCleveland Sponsored Links, Sponsored Features and Sponsored Videos. Info@CoolCleveland.com

A Way With Words

Last year’s Cleveland Inkubator was the launch pad for nonprofit Literary Cleveland, which packed that year with workshops, author events and other events. Last year’s Inkubator drew a big crowd and this year’s at the Cleveland Public Library downtown Saturday should be even bigger. There’s also a benefit at the BOP STOP Friday night.

Literary Cle’s founder Lee Chilcote talked to John Benson about its mission and what to expect at the Inkubator. Fri 7/29 & Sat 7/30.

Harry’s Back – Let’s Party!

Harry Potter is a grownup now! That’s the shocker in the latest book in the series, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which will be released at midnight Sat 7/30.

Bookstores across NE Ohio are keeping their doors open late and hosting special events, the entire town of Kent is holding a Potterfest and there’s even an adults-only party at Lakewood’s Side Quest. CoolCleveland’s Ilona Westfall provides all the details. Sat 7/30-Sun 7/31.

Turning Over A New Leaf at Holden

The New Leaf Plan is Holden Arboretum’s blueprint for new and improved gardens and facilities. Some of these exciting projects are completed: the Rhododendron Discovery Garden, the Tree Allee, improvements to the Corning Library and the beautiful Hourglass Pond, and the new Canopy Walk and Emergent Tower.

Still to come are a deer enclosure fence for the core gardens, improvements to Corning Lake and Lotus Pond, and the June Room and stream restoration. These improvements will attract more visitors, inspire guests, showcase exemplary trees, and demonstrate resource conservation and sustainable practices. Be a part of the future at Holden Arboretum by contacting James Pelowski, Ph.D. via email or by calling 440-602-3830. And thank you for your support!

G-Rated Yuks

Props-based comedian Alex Zerbe isn’t strictly a children’s entertainer but that’s all the more reason to bring the whole family to his “kids’ matinee” at Cain Park. He incorporates music, magic, juggling and stunts into his fast-paced, clean-humor shows ideal for kids’ shorter attention spans. Wed 8/3.

* The St. Clair Superior neighborhood invites kids and families to a free Family Fun Fest with games, crafts, bouncers and free food. Sat 7/30.

Click here for more CoolCleveland Kids events

Cast iron cookware fans will be back at the Coit Road Market to buy and sell, pick up tips and enjoy a potluck. Sat 7/30.

* The Cleveland Botanical Garden has some local star chefs lined up for its August Gourmets in the Garden Wednesday evening cooking demonstrations, starting with Crop Kitchen’s Steve Schimoler. Ben Bebenroth, Ali Barker, Ricardo Sandoval and Doug Katz are coming up. Wed 8/3.

Read more of CoolCleveland’s picks for Eats and Drinks.

SPONSORED: Words and Music at The Kent Stage Brett Dennen & Esme Patterson, Anders Osborne & Oliver John-Rodgers, Hot Tuna Acoustic, The Bacon Brothers, Asleep At The Wheel, An Evening With WAR, The High Kings, Al Stewart, Gary Wright & The Empty Pockets, plus more. TheKentStage.com.

One of the year’s most charming musical events is Opera in the Italian Garden where singers from Opera Circle Cleveland regale listeners with well-known arias, while they spread out picnics under the trees. Sun 7/31

* The 25th annual Mid West Reggae Fest at Clay’s Park Resort features reggae acts from around the country, as well as Northeast Ohio. Fri 7/29-Sat 7/30.

* Cleveland singer/songwriter Rebecca Wohlever celebrates new CD with a full band at the Beachland Tavern. Wed 8/3.

* The biennial Cleveland International Piano Competition offers two weeks of performances, films and other activities before the Grand Prize winner is announced on Sun 8/7.

Read more of CoolCleveland’s picks for Cool Events.

WED 7/27
As with so many childhood toys, you never should have let mom throw out your PEZ dispensers. If you’re pining about the one that got away, come to PEZamania in Independence, the largest gathering of PEZ dealers and fans in the country, and someone’s likely to have one for sale. Through Sat 7/30.

* The Beck Center’s Red Stage series kicks off with jazz singer Ki Allen and her quartet.

* Louis Prima Jr. plays for special swing dance at the Music Box.

* Guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli is back at Nightgown with his quartet. Also tomorrow.

* Final Ohio City Stages features Brooklyn-based Moroccan band Innov Gnawa.

Click here for more events on Wed 7/27

THU 7/28
It’s not your imagination. The Akron Art Museum’s free summer concert series Downtown@Dusk is off to a late start. There’s a good reason: its new garden space just opened in mid-July. Gypsy jazz band Moustache Yourself kicks it off tonight.

* Talented teens who participated in summer intensive perform Greek tragedies at Dobama. Through Sun 7/31.

* CPAC’s Creative Intersections talks about building bridges not walls at the Bohemian National Home.

* Summer film series Magic of the Movies kicks off at PlayhouseSquare. Through Sun 8/14.

Click here for more events on Thu 7/28

FRI 7/29
Photographer Herb Ascherman is known for his exquisite platinum prints. That’s why he was commissioned to shoot the historic Halle House in Shaker Heights across different seasons. You have one last chance to see the prints and meet Herb at a reception at the Shaker Historical Society tonight.

* Come down to AsiaTown and soak in the ambiance of Night Market Cle.

* The Cleveland Orchestra plays its July 4 Star-Spangled Spectacular on Public Square a little late.

* MonsterManiaFest brings a bunch of scary characters to Akron’s Quaker Station.

* Solar cars roll through the Cuyahoga Valley in the American Solar Challenge.

* Acoustic trio Webster, Carr & Cuddy performs a Shaker Heights House Concert.

* Enjoy two leisurely days of shopping, eating & music by the lake at the Avon Summer Market.

* Rock Hall Sonic Sessions features New York duo the London Souls.

* Hawaiian uke master Jake Shimabukuro returns to play Cain Park.

* Russian food and culture take center stage at the Cleveland Russian Festival in Parma. Through Sun 7/31.

* Beachland hosts benefit for ailing local blues guitarist Elton “Smoky” Rose.

* CSU Campus District’s Elements Bistro holds happy hour with music.

Click here for more events on Fri 7/29

SAT 7/30
With ironic facial hair all the rage, why not take it WAY over the top? That’s what participants in the Great Lakes Regional Beard and Mustache Championships do! The 5th annual event takes place at the Agora.

* The RNC Host Committee thanks Cleveland for a peaceful week with a party on Public Square and free admission to the Rock Hall.

* Soul and jazz headliners provide the soundtrack for the annual free hangout Family Unity in the Park.

* Percussion master Tatsuya Nakatani collaborates with local musicians at the BOP STOP.

* Violinst Pinchas Zuckerman plays Mozart with the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom.

* Join the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival for “Open Mic Shakespeare” at the Cleveland Heights Library.

* Northern California singer/songwriter Brett Dennen performs at the Kent Stage.

* Celebrate summer with a day of outdoor local music, food and drink at the Beachland Summer Fest.

* Akron neighbors join to create Middleburg Better Block. Through tomorrow.

Click here for more events on Sat 7/30

SUN 7/31
Kids with the urge to sing and perform have populated Cleveland’s children’s show choir the Singing Angels for more than 5 years. Could your kid be interested? Bring him or her to their annual free concert at Cain Park and find out.

* Cleveland’s Lovestargalaxy jewelry hosts trunk show at Dru Christine Design on Waterloo.

* Cleveland rockers Supposed So play a CD release show at the BOP STOP.

* Relive death metal’s glory years with Cannibal Corpse and more at the Agora.

Click here for more events on Sun 7/31

MON 8/1
Raquy Danziger isn’t middle eastern, but after years of study and residence in Istanbul, she’s become known for her mastery of Turkish drumming. She’ll be playing at the Bop Stop with her percussion quartet and offering a master class before the show.

* The weekly Slow Roll ride rolls out of Waterloo Road.

* Michael Feinstein brings Broadway to Blossom with the Cleveland Orchestra.

Click here for more events on Mon 8/1

TUE 8/2
Cleveland Public Theatre’s STEP program brings urban teens together to create theater productions that speak about issues they’re concerned about and perform them for free in community parks. Their latest, Awakening Heart, kicks off tonight at Herman Park. Through Fri 8/14 .

* Accordion music returns to Collinwood with Those Darn Accordions and the Chardon Polka Band.

* Hear Clevelanders tell their tales at Story Club Cle at the Bottlehouse Brewery.

Click here for more events on Tue 8/2

WED 8/3
The Rock Hall has really ramped up its music programming this summer, with something going on every week – or more often. Best of all is the increased number of free outdoor Summer in the City concerts, featuring almost all local acts. This week it’s durable Cle pysch rockers New Planet Trampoline and Heavenly Queen, the “sweet” side of metalheads Queen of Hell.

Click here for more events on Wed 8/3

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

GOP Scare Tactics

That smell emanating from the Q as the GOP presidential candidate made his acceptance speech was the smell of fear, precisely what he was trying to evoke in order to get people to agree to give up their liberty and live in a police state because people unlike themselves were making America a dark, scary place.

The really scary thing is the megalomania of someone who can announce “Only I can fix” the country’s problems when the average 4th grader appears to know more about how government works. Equally scary were the demands to throw his political rival, who is guilty of nothing, in prison, as if the U.S. were some third-world country collapsing into civil war. Read more from Anastasia Pantsios

Notes on the Convention

One telling fact that most commentators elected to overlook – and hopefully a harbinger of things to come – was the number of empty seats at the “Scare Fest.” The reason might have been…

* How Hillary Should Handle Trump in Debate We might as well be prepared to throw probity, honesty and good manners right out the window – these debates are going to get…

Read other stories from Mansfield Frazier here