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12.19-12.26.12
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Connie Schultz is one of Cleveland’s strongest voices. It’s even stronger with her partner Senator Sherrod Brown and with her new project: a novel. Our own Man of Rust Belt Steel is honored in his hometown neighborhood of Glenville. CMNH announces an audacious expansion, and we have the video. Remember your neighbors with the Homeless Memorial Candlelight Vigil, catch Old Home Night at the Beachland, soak in Almeda Trio’s Solstice Concert under the Planetarium stars, and don’t miss the Christmas Night Latke Party & Matzoh Ball, only in Cleveland. What will you write on our blank slate this week?–Thomas Mulready

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I am from Cleveland. Nothing will ever change that, regardless of where I go. Sometimes while traveling this makes me feel like a strange visitor from another planet, but it’s a feeling with which one of our other native sons is all too familiar.

I am proud of whom we are as Clevelanders; it’s the same lineage as the man of tomorrow…
Read more from Hollie Gibbs here

Working on your online advertising budgets? Consider CoolCleveland Sponsored Links and Sponsored Videos. Info@CoolCleveland.com

Click on our SPONSORED links below for your chance to win $300. Find out How To WIN.

SPONSORED: Give the gift of peaceful walks through stunning gardens and rugged hikes through the woods. Membership at The Holden Arboretum provides year-round enjoyment of nature and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Learn more about the benefits of membership at HoldenArb.org. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer.

Connie Schultz, the self-described feminist, journalist and newspaper columnist, talks with Cool Cleveland on the streets of Downtown Cleveland after speaking at the Brown Bag Club at the Cleveland Public Library, and just off a brutal, and successful, re-election campaign for her husband, Senator Sherrod Brown. She’s about 40,000 words into her new work, a novel about (no surprise!) a working-class family in Ohio, inspired by her mom’s journals. “You and I, we’re here on purpose,” affirms Connie.

Pulitzer Prize winner Connie Schultz talks about her family, her work as a columnist, and the prospect of Hillary Clinton running for President.

In January, Connie helps inaugurate Cleveland Public Library’s Read in the CLE program and recommends a book she’s been reading. CPL.org

SPONSORED: Set the Night to Music with internationally acclaimed songstress Roberta Flack and the CIM Orchestra at Severance Hall, Sat 1/26 at 8PM. Listen to her Cool Cleveland interview here. Give the gift of music and give back! Tix start at $45, and support the musicians studying at CIM. CIM.edu or order tix at 216-231-1111 or ClevelandOrchestra.com.

Click here for more News and Biz

Susan Van Vorst was named Director of the Conservatory of Music at Baldwin Wallace University earlier this year, and she tells Cool Cleveland about the magnificent $20 million renovation that has doubled the square footage and doubled the number of practice rooms for music students. This innovative facility integrates brand new facilities with the adjacent, and completely updated, church building to give students and faculty an enlivened new space that blends the modern and the traditional.

Van Vorst describes the Conservatory’s focus on entrepreneurship and business administration, offering students the opportunity to collaborate with area groups like PlayhouseSquare and The Beck Center. A number of Cleveland Orchestra members serve on their faculty, and the school’s Musical Theatre program is considered one of the finest, if not the best in the country. BW.edu

SPONSORED: Did You Know: 85% of Tri-C Alums Work in NEO Cuyahoga Community College is actively engaged in the process of reconnecting with its alumni to build an active, ongoing network. Join the Alumni & Friends Association and enjoy the benefits of networking, mentoring, updated job search and resume resources. Plus, look for special alumni events throughout the year. Sign-up now, whether you live in Northeast Ohio or not! Tri-C.edu/alumni.

It’s official. For the first time in their 90 year history, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History just announced a major expansion and renovation. The $125 million project will bring the basement laboratories, research centers and bone collections out for public view while building two new wings and a spectacular new entryway.

Listen to Dr. Evalyn Gates, Executive Director and CEO of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as she describes the exciting changes coming to CMNH. “It is so exciting, it’s time for this museum.

* 50 Greatest Photographs of National Geographic is on view through 1/13/13.
* Whales | Tohora is on view through 1/27/13.
* The Mystery of the Mayan Medallion opens 1/26/13.
* Megalodon: Largest Shark That Ever Lived opens 3/16/13. CMNH.org

SPONSORED: Music under the stars! Don’t miss one of the most distinctive concerts this season. The Almeda Trio will perform an eclectic musical mix under the stars and stunning imagery of the Shafran Planetarium at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Tickets are $20 and $25 for shows on Fri 12/21 and Sat 12/22. CMNH.org

Alisa Tyler left the University of Akron when she had her daughter, interrupting her studies. But she got back on track with an associates degree at Tri-C, which led to a 4-year degree at another school, and a recent new job at Dollar Bank.

“The counselors were right there for me. All of my credits from Akron U. transferred, which made it a very easy transition for me. It all started with Tri-C. I would recommend Tri-C to everyone.”

Watch the video shot at a Tri-C Alumni & Friends Association tailgate party before a recent Browns home game. http://www.tri-c.edu/alumni/Pages/Alumni.aspx

Click here for more Cool Cleveland Kids events

The best thing about pop-ups is how unusual they are. And the best way to find them is to be walking around Ohio City or Gordon Square or Coventry and discover one, a nice surprise.

The stores are jolly, and the gifts are one-of-a-kind. But we don’t have that kind of time now — the holidays are upon us…
Read more here

Hey, procrastinators! Check out Cool Cleveland’s Shop:LOCAL Guide, which isn’t just for the holidays. Use it year-round.

WED 12/19
Circle in the City The final event will feature The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus followed by the Cleveland Duo and James Umble. Marvel at the underused & gorgeous Ameritrust Rotunda.

Click here for more events on Wed 12/19

THU 12/20
Animal Warmth @ The Sculpture Center is on view only ’til Fri; so see it now. Animal Warmth No. 64 is a “minimal installation of only carbon filament bulbs, timed movements of light & composed sound, startles, perplexes & entrances visitors.”

Click here for more events on Thu 12/20

FRI 12/21
Homeless Memorial Candlelight Vigil Pay homage to those people who passed away this year & had previous experience with homelessness. Light a candle & make sure not a single person who has struggled with housing is forgotten.

Click here for more events on Fri 12/21

SAT 12/22
Old Home Night A night of reunions & cool collaborations @ the Beachland w/ Home and Garden, Saint Jayne, the Kidney Brothers (Numbers Band), Val Seely & Nicholas Deveney.

Click here for more events on Sat 12/22

SUN 12/23
Carols for Quire from the Old & New Worlds Medieval carols & holiday songs from ’round the globe, performed in the historic splendor of Trinity Cathedral.

Click here for more events on Sun 12/23

MON 12/24
Nightlife Christmas Eve Party Wanna get away? Go to the Treehouse, meet some new peeps & get your picture taken at the Leg Lamp. Organized by the Cleveland Nightlife Meetup Group.

Click here for more events on Mon 12/24

SPONSORED: Christmas music abounds on WCLV 104.9, including daily programs at 11:25AM featuring music from The Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus Christmas Festival concerts. On Christmas Eve, WCLV presents The Kings College “A Festival of Nine Lessions and Carols,” broadcast live at 2PM. That evening at 9PM it’s The Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus in a Severance Hall Christmas Festival. WCLV.com

TUE 12/25
Merry X-Mess! Unwind after unwrapping all your presents w/ live music from the Modern Electric and the Very Knees.

Click here for more events on Tue 12/25

WED 12/26
honeyhoney Comes Home to play the House of Blues. Check out this organic country/rock/blues outfit, featuring Ben Jaffe & Parma native Suzanne Santo.

Click here for more events on Wed 12/26

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

We’re in the midst of the busiest time of the year. Flash sales, mob crowds, deep discounts, holiday parties, family events, travel adventures. You’re running around, exasperated.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed this time of year. It’s also easy to lose one’s sense of self.

As you plan out these weeks, I challenge you to also make time for yourself, especially when it comes to your career…
Read more from Alex Sukhoy here

As I write this, President Obama is preparing to make the fourth visit of his tenure to families and loved ones of deceased gunshot victims.

Unfortunately, if the past is any indication, this visit won’t be his last…
Read this story from Mansfield Frazier here

Read other recent pieces by Mansfield Frazier here

Gail Ghetia Bellamy indeed looks back at holidays past in her new book Cleveland Christmas Memories: Looking Back at Holidays Past.

Those who grew up in Cleveland in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s will exclaim over what they remember, and those who did not, like me, wish we had experienced the Higbees windows, the holiday-bedecked Halle’s Department Store and Euclid Avenue sparkling with lights…
Read more from Claudia Taller here

We’ll select random winners and ask you to send us a photo of yourself with your cash winnings! You don’t even have to tell us what you’ll spend it on (but we hope you spend it local!). Download your free iPhone or Android app now and share the love. It may just pay off.

“Your app is fantastic! I have recommended it to a lot of people,” says Molly Mulroy. And in the holiday spirit, Molly has asked us to donate her winnings. “If you can donate the $20 to the Valley View Animal Shelter, that would be great! I found a lost dog this weekend and they took her in and are getting her ready for adoption, and were just great about it,” Molly told us.

We appreciate our readers downloading our mobile app and sharing the cool stuff with their friends. That’s why we’re sending a check for $20 to the Valley View Animal Shelter in Molly’s name. We’re giving away 20 bucks a week, and you (or your charity!) could be next!

It’s really quite easy. Just download the FREE Cool Cleveland app for iPhone or Android and start finding cool stuff to do. You can even forward the coolest stuff to your friends on Facebook, Twitter and email.

Try the Cool Cleveland app and see if you don’t start recommending it to your friends.”’ Download it and maybe you’ll be a winner next week.

Geez, those Plain Dealer comments can really be tough.

They zeroed in on poor Brent Larkin for his praise of former school superintendent Barbara Byrd Bennett. Oh, I almost forgot. She wasn’t superintendent. She was the CEO here. Such pretension…
Read this story from Roldo Bartimole here

Read other recent pieces by Roldo Bartimole here

Quick previews & reviews of recent events
Submit your own preview, review or commentary to Events@CoolCleveland.com

REVIEW: Bela Fleck + Cleveland Orchestra 12/7/12 by Laura Kennelly

REVIEW: A Carol for Cleveland @ Cleveland Play House by Laura Kennelly

REVIEW: THE SECRET SOCIAL Holds Special Meeting @ CPT by Roy Berko

REVIEW: MY MOTHER’S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN WEDDING @ Actors’ Summit by Roy Berko

REVIEW: 4000 MILES @ Dobama by Roy Berko

Comment on our blog here: http://www.CoolCleveland.com/blog

The Young Cometh, the Future Be Taken Away? It seems like every generation has some variation on this complaint. Young people eager to make their voices heard, if only their elders would get out of the way. But in Cleveland, I’ve always found a great receptiveness to new ideas, regardless of who is voicing the idea…
Read the comment from Terry Schwarz here

2013 Rock Hall Inductees Named I would be really interested in seeing the result of the public vote. I don’t understand how so many in the music industry and the public can have such a gap in their views of who is an appropriate inductee to the Rock Hall unless the gap isn’t as large as we think and it only appears that way because those that are disappointed in selections are the ones speaking out…
Read the comment from Amanda here

MANSFIELD: A Police Riot? In the movie, “A Civil Action” John Travolta, the young lawyer who’d bet the ranch on an environmental case, and Robert Duval, the opposing counsel with 40 years or trial experience, were waiting in the hallway outside the courtroom for the jury to return….
Read the comment from JWR here

The truth is essential if the community is to heal and move forward. I truly believe that this investigation should be done by those other than the local communities involved. I join those in calling for a FEDERAL investigation…
Read the comment from Mary Hills here

Read and comment here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/blog

Most clicked
Here are the Top 5 most clicked links from last week’s issue, with one more chance for you to click.

2) BOOK REVIEW: Damn Right I’m From Cleveland by Mike Polk, Jr.

3) Downtown Chipotle Is a Milestone of Sorts for Latest Comeback

4) KLEZMER GUY: Keep the Plain Dealer dealin’

5) MANSFIELD: A Police Riot?

Cheers to our writers: Roldo Bartimole, Roy Berko, Mansfield Frazier, Hollie Gibbs, Laura Kennelly, Alex Sukhoy, Claudia Taller and Sarah Valek. And lastly, though certainly not least, thanks to our readers 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.

Cleveland is a blank slate,

–Thomas Mulready

LettersATCoolCleveland.com

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