Dawning

01.21-01.28.09
Dawning

In this week’s issue:
* Comment Brynna Fish on her 15 Minutes of Face Time w/ Barack Obama
* Ingenious Tom Schorgl of Community Partnership for Arts & Culture (CPAC)
* Straight Outta Mansfield A New Day in America?
* Interview Local Author Deanna Adams on Confessions and “Personal Village Keepers”
* Sounds Wendy Poltorek’s Frame by Frame
* RoldoLINK Cleveland’s Burdensome Past Remains With Us
* Cool Cleveland podcast & kids podcast & BFD blog & Facebook & Twitter

We are witnessing the dawn of a new age, symbolized by a new leader who has inspired a different approach to politics, power and passion. The inauguration of President Barack Obama was made possible by taking full advantage of the goodwill of good people, and enabled by a savvy use of the Internet. Below you’ll find my triple interview with WCPN’s Dan Moulthrop, Cool Cleveland’s Mansfield Frazier, and Cleveland City Councilman Jay Westbrook, moments after the momentous occasion. Read the heartrending commentary by Brynna Fish, who keeps our goals focused on our country’s needs as we celebrate a new beginning. We profile not-so-good Catholic girl Deanna Adams, while Wendy Poltorek releases her first solo CD. We hear Mansfield confident in our new leader, with the onus now on us, and Roldo looks back to see if civic promises were kept. Thomas Schorgl of the Community Partnership for Arts & Culture masterminded the life-saving cigarette tax and has recently released a report on moving our region from a rust belt to an artist belt, if we’re ready to act on it. It truly is the dawn of a new day. –Thomas Mulready

Not one, not two, but three video interviews captured within minutes of Barack Obama being sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America. Hundreds of people attended the live HD feed of WVIZ-PBS at the Palace Theatre in Playhouse Square provided by partner and next-door neighbor ideastream. Listen as Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready welcomes the dawn of a new era with Dan Moulthrop, host of WCPN’s Sound of Ideas, Cool Cleveland columnist Mansfield Frazier, and Cleveland City Councilman Jay Westbrook, who was interrupted on camera with a big wet kiss from WCPN jazz host Bobby Jackson. Watch the videos here.

What I’d do with 15 minutes of “face time” with Barack Obama

President Barack Obama hopped on a a train to trail through America — from Illinois, to Washington DC — for his inauguration last week. He made stops in Philadelphia, Delaware and Cleveland. Bedford Heights to be exact. Within 10 miles of my humble, but teetering on foreclosure, home in Cleveland Heights. It got me to thinking what I would do with 15 minutes of sit down “face time,” as I’ve learned they call it in campaign parlance, with our new President. It also got me to thinking about how I might actually get 15 minutes of sit down face time with him. I realized I could do this. I could get it down on paper, send it out to the universe, and see what happens.

You see, I too, have The Audacity of Hope. And, perhaps even better, I have the Audacity of Action. I have the skills and resources to get things done, to pioneer through any challenge, to build bridges, to shake things up. My business card doesn’t say “rabble rouser” for nothing. So here it is: What I’d say in 15 minutes with President Barack Obama: You need me, Barack, and I need you.

I forgive you if you don’t remember meeting me, here in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, back in the early fall of 2006. You were in the Green Room at the Civic waiting to keynote in support of Sherrod Brown and Ted Strickland. I was on a photographic mission. The Green Room door opened long enough for Connie Schultz to catch sight of my camera-wielding sleuth, grab my arm and pull me into the private space of your company. “Have you met our friend Barack Obama?” Schultz asked me — the “our” referring of course to Sherrod who was casually chatting with you. Introductions were exchanged…

Read the comment from Brynna Fish here

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HOT President Obama’s inauguration speech text can be read in its entirety here
HOT Cle Public Library is the first public lib in US to offer EPUB eBook Downloads! Welcome to the future C-town — ahead of schedule! Click and then click again
HOT Rep. Kucinich’s idea for Dept. of Peace and Non-Violence is currently in Top 10 in a national online poll to determine the best “Ideas for Change in America.” Vote for it here
CityMusic Cleveland is looking for used instrument donations for their after-school youth orchestra. You can help; call 321-8273 or email info@citymusiccleveland.org
InterAct Cleveland sez local aid necessary to help 2,400 people at their annual event. Be a part of it
GREEN Earthwatch Ohio’s “Green Gala” features Ed Begley, Jr. as keynote/special guest. Coming in April
GREEN Earth Day Coalition ramping up for EarthFest and we think you should consider volunteering. Click
You headed to the MOCACleveland Family Art Studio this Friday? If not, we’ suggest a click here to change your mind
Occasional CC contributor Wanda Sobieska is thrilled with her new website, which has been in the works for many months. Free Gig Music dot com provides no-cost sheet music of her own arrangements of public domain works! Visit
GREEN Is House Minority Leader Boehner anti-bicycle and anti-walker? Follow along and see for yourself
Lake Erie Artists gallery has a new website and you can find it at the same URL as the original. Click
Akron’s Carousel Dinner Theatre cancelled 09 season and closed its doors effective Sun 1/4 after 35 years of service to the community. Click
GREEN DIY environmental punk resource GreenLight Zine is nearing launch. Learn more here and here
With Bop Stop quiet, will new Jazz 28 club steal some of their thunder? Click
Parents Without Partners, Inc. is the largest int’l NPO devoted to the welfare and interests of single parents and their children. Learn more and become active
Free dental exam? Got your attention? Try Sat 1/24 at CWRU during Prophy Day at Cornell Rd. and Emergency Dr. (UH of Cle) in Univ Circle. No appointment needed. 9AM – noon. Details
GREEN Cleveland Hts NPO taking bold steps to purchase and renovate vacant, foreclosed homes. Click

Be a part of ArtsCollinwood’s annual meeting by surfing to this link here

SPONSORED: Artists: $20K fellowships now available Community Partnership for Arts & Culture invites you to learn about a new opportunity for professional artists in Cuyahoga County: the Creative Workforce Fellowship. Find out if you qualify to apply for this $20,000 fellowship, generously funded by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture by attending one of five upcoming informational meetings. Click here for details! http://www.cpacbiz.org/business/CWF.shtml

HOT Cleveland is one of many mid-market cities up for a nod at American Style magazine’s website currently tabulating votes for Top Arts Destinations in the US. Visit http://www.americanstyle.com and click on the “American Style Top 25 Arts Destinations” icon to select Cleveland as your favorite arts destination. Voting ends on Sat 1/31. We’re not saying stuff the ballot box or anything, we’re just saying… VOTE… and pass it on.

Stop The Hate: Youth Speak Out attracted 1200 essays from 75 school districts from kids in 6-12th grades (50% were in 11-12th). Watch for the awards ceremony on Sun 3/8 when the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage offers a grand prize of $100K scholarship to an Ohio university. “In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929-1968 http://www.MaltzJewishMuseum.org

HOT Doug Katz, the catalyst behind Fire Food & Drink tackles Suze Orman at least in a verbal sense. Oprah’s finance guru dishes here that people need to start cutting out all dining expenses in 2009 to save some cabbage. Katz responds about the implications of such a move on culinary biz owners and the economy and stands up for all fellow Cle/NEO restaurant purveyors here.

Generocity Cleveland “meters” are adorned with lime green and red colors and should be popping up in your field of vision downtown in locations where panhandling is prevalent. Rather than handing money directly to a panhandler, these donation meters that look like parking meters provide an opportunity to Clevelanders to give responsibly, reduce aggressive behavior and encourage educated giving. Change where it counts!

Cool Cleveland Podcast Weekly roundup of cool events, in an easy-to-digest 3 minute audio format, for playback on your computer or iPod.

Click here to subscribe to the Cool Cleveland Podcast in iTunes.

HOT Cabin Fever Trains will depart on Saturdays and Sundays from Rockside Station in Independence at 10AM and 1:30PM and from Akron Northside Station at 11:35AM as a part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s plan to liven up your winter! This National Park Scenic excursion is a 3-hour round trip allowing riders the opportunity to see the beauty of the CVNP dusted in the white stuff. Narration by a National Park Ranger on the historical significance of the area and the 33,000-acre park will be included each trip. Riders can choose to enjoy a layover in the Village of Peninsula or at the Canal Visitor Center. And tickets are a steal of a deal. Break up your winter!

Looking for art classes for the kids in 09? Might we suggest scoping out the schedule unfolding at Art House? Click

International Performing Arts for Youth Showcase 2009 hits PlayhouseSquare Wed 1/21Sat 1/24. Details can be found for entire program at http://www.ipayweb.org/showcase/schedule.php.

Robots + Us Kiddos love R2D2 and C-3PO? The Great Lakes Science Center (601 Erieside Ave.) offers a fun environment where “humans meet machines” in an educational journey to the world of artificial intelligence. Learn how biology and engineering are coming together to close the gap between reality and science fiction. Includes more than 24 interactive exhibits, hands-on exploration and an imaginative day for families and kiddos alike. Runs now through late April; accessible with admission. Call 694-2000. http://www.greatscience.com.

HOT The Lakewood Project In Concert If you’ve never seen them before, be prepared to get blown away Sat 1/24 at 7:30PM at the Lakewood Civic Auditorium. Lakewood High School’s “Rock Orchestra” (pictured) is one of the most exciting and innovative high school music groups to develop in this country in the last 20 years. The show will feature new music by The Who, Chicago, Johann Sebastian Bach and the Electric Light Orchestra. World-renowned jazz/rock cellist, Matt Turner, will take the stage with the group for a portion of the concert. 14100 Franklin Blvd., Lakewood. Tickets.

Spanish for Ninos! Tri-C’s Office of Community Continuing Education offers a new language and culture course for children ages 4 – 5 years old held on Saturdays starting Sat 1/24 and running through Sat 2/28 from 10 – 11AM at Tri-C’s Western Campus. Kids will learn the Spanish alphabet, greetings, games, colors, numbers, animals, and food! In addition to songs and dances, they’ll also learn basic vocabulary and phrases while having a blast! Parents: register your kid by calling 987-3075 and giving course number “CRN 18613”. More details? Call 987-2266.

Northeast Ohio Band Invitational 2009 This annual event is sponsored by the Case Western Reserve University Band Department and Severance Hall each January. The all-day event on Sun 1/25 at noon event features several different high school bands along with the Case Symphonic Winds and the University Circle Wind Ensemble performing in one of the most famous concert halls in the world. Call 231-1111 or visit http://www.clevelandorchestra.com.

The Underground Railroad in Northeastern Ohio Intriguing program for kids featuring speaker Joan Southgate at the Cuyahoga County Archives Sun 1/25 at 2PM. Part of the Cuyahoga County Bicentennial Lecture Series. 2905 Franklin Blvd. Details at http://www.cuyahogacounty.us/Bicentennial/default.asp.

Cool Cleveland Kids Podcast Weekly roundup of cool events for kids & families from 13-year-old Cool Cleveland Kids correspondent Max.

Click here to subscribe to the Cool Cleveland Kids Podcast in iTunes.

Joe Faust goes Around The World in 80 Days
50% off tickets with the code “COOL”

Joe Faust, if you can believe this, plays 18 roles in the Cleveland Play House production of Around The World in 80 Days. In this exclusive video interview with Thomas Mulready of CoolCleveland.com, Joe tries out some of his dozen and a half accents on the versatile Drury Stage. The Jules Verne classic is one of the greatest adventure stories of all time when a fearless adventurer braves stampeding elephants, raging typhoons and runaway trains as he attempts to circle the globe in an unheard of eighty days. Watch the video. Danger and romance at every turn! Playing now through Sun 2/1. Enter code “COOL” and get 2 adult tix for the price of 1. Great for the entire family. Take the kids, who always pay student fare of $10. They will love it & you will, too! ClevelandPlayHouse.com.

A hot selection of tech and business news & events from around the region. Got business news? Send it to: EVENTS@CoolCleveland.com

PNC bank of Pitt paints secure pic for Dayton/Cinci area but things are suspiciously quiet when it comes to Cleveland…? South of here…

Howard Hanna realty group moving HQ downtown in a bold move. Who will follow? Click

Companies attract millions in venture funds Taskforce says NEO on track to 5-year goal. Click

Learn about highly-anticipated wireless corridor in Akron by clicking on the story here

OneCommunity info-tech NPO will establish a 2,300 sqft think tank in the Idea Center Building (pictured). Click

MedCity News launches with $30K funding from Civic Innovation Lab, and Cool Cleveland’s Mulready as mentor. See CC video.

Fed ain’t painting pretty pic for C-town related to economic growth, activity. Click

Winter Haven, FL suing Cleveland Indians? Yep, for about 110K. Raising Arizona

Renaissance Communities Act of 2009 Encouraged by President Obama’s interest in historic preservation, Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) is in the midst of drafting vacant building legislation supporting the historic preservation Click

HOT More than 40K people in NEO work at a company’s HQ which is about 60% more per capita than the national average. Among the country’s top 20 markets, a survey shows the region ranks fourth, behind St. Louis, New York and San Francisco. An attractive stat to woo more companies here?

Downtown Cleveland Redevelopment was highlighted in the January 2009 ish of Urban Land Magazine (part of the Urband Land Institute). They noted several cities around the US for rehabilitation of historic warehouse districts and their conversion into entertainment districts and residential hotspots. From the article, re: Cle’s Warehouse District… “Public and private investment totaling $450 million has gone into transforming the eight-block Warehouse District into a hip neighborhood; 39 of the warehouses have been restored, 28 of which are certified historic structures. This redevelopment has attracted about 3,000 new residents to the area, mainly young professionals, as well as businesses with 2,500 employees.” Urban Land Institute.

SPONSORED: FITTech Alert What would you do if a disaster brought down your network? What if the impact lasted for days or weeks? At FIT Technologies, we offer a unique solution for disaster recovery. It’s a guaranteed seat – a fully operational workstation maintained 24/7, 365 days a year specifically for your company. FIT has designed our Continuum services to help you prepare for incidents (e.g., fire, flood, extended power outage, storm damage to communication lines, vandalism or other events) that could interrupt your organization’s daily functioning. Learn more @ http://www.FitTechnologies.net or call 216.583.0733.

Lisa McLeer from GE discusses their Ecomagination project Wed 1/21. Learn the do’s and don’ts of “green” marketing and meet AAF Scholarship Award winners! Details
NEOUPA 2009 Kickoff brainstorming meeting takes place Thu 1/22 at 6:30PM. Details and reg here
Summit on Leadership Cle Business Leaders of The Union Club present their 2nd annual affair Thu 1/29. Details, registration and guest speakers here
NorTech Innovation Awards program hits on Wed 2/18 at Windows on the River and feat. Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan. Click for tix
GREEN 2009 Evolution of Man’fg Conf Join the Green Revolution at this event at Hyland Software in Westlake Thu 2/19. Features town hall discussion, plenty of great info for everyone. Register here

Meet The Champions Breakfast! The latest Civic Innovation Lab winners are honored Wed 1/21 from 8 – 9:30AM at Trinity Commons. Lab Champs Michael Lagoni of Minds Matter and Jiazhou Yang of VPlay awarded $5,000 get the nod. This breakfast is no cost, but you must register Send an email with “Register for Breakfast” in the subject line to info@civicinnovationlab.org and include your name and company. Trinity Commons, 2230 Euclid Ave. http://www.civicinnovationlab.org.

Careers Beyond the Newsrooms With journo newsroom layoffs at pandemic levels, the Cleveland Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will hold a morning seminar Sat 1/24 to hone job-search skills for journalists and communicators forced to reenter the job market or bold enough to continue trying to move up. SPJ-Cleveland will host three career tune-up sessions between 10AM and noon at the Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake. RSVPs for the program are required by 6PM on Thu 1/22, to allow notice in case bad weather forces a cancellation. RSVP with your e-mail address to Tom Moore at tmoore56@msn.com or 440-454-3282.

HOT The “Big Idea”: Technology Entrepreneurship in NEO Web Assoc. luncheon forum hits Wed 1/28 at 11:30AM at Windows on the River’s Bridge View Room. Moderated by Jason Therrien of thunder::tech, panelists include Michael “Tech Czar” DeAloia, of FITtechnologies. Register

Thomas Schorgl saved the butts of Cleveland’s arts groups. The cigarette tax his group Community Partnership for Arts & Culture (CPAC) helped pass is a major reason Cuyahoga County, if it were a state, would be the 3rd best-funded state in the country. Now, generous $20K fellowships are available to individual artists, some of the largest artist grants available in the nation (details).

CPAC recently released an important white paper, From Rust Belt to Artist Belt, which outlines the assets and challenges that artists and our region bring to each other, and sets the table for community action, rezoning and marketing the arts. Watch the video interview with Mulready at Artefino Cafe in the Tower Press Building where CPAC has their offices.

CPACbiz.org

SPONSORED: SALE * SALE * SALE – Recessionistas, take note Annual Clearance, discounts up to 80%, beginning Thu 1/29 Very cool stuff including home and decor, holiday pieces, books, toys, exhibition merchandise and more at The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage. Last chance for pop culture treasures from the recent hit Superhero exhibition (t-shirts, magnets, mouse pads, posters and more), and fun and practical items from our year-round stock. Don’t miss your golden opportunity to stock up on gifts for upcoming weddings, anniversaries, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs – or for yourself. Through Sun 2/1 during regular Museum hours, free parking, 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood. http://www.MaltzJewishMuseum.org or call 216.593.0575 for details.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

HOT Cleveland Food Co-op Check out the New Certified Organic CSA!! 2009 brings a cool and convenient opportunity for a direct connection with local farmers: a new certified organic CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) project will be accepting applications for membership in University Circle Wed 1/21 at 6:30PM and Sat 1/24 at 1:30PM. Meet with member farmers of Geauga Family Farms and eat healthier in 2009. No cost, open to the public. Call 408-7719 for details and location.

Manuel He made Johnny Cash the “Man in Black” and put the “sparkle” in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum’s Sparkle & Twang Exhibition. Renowned costume designer Manuel will be the first guest of 2009 for the Rock Hall’s no cost, monthly program From Songwriters to Soundmen: The People Behind the Hits. He will be interviewed at the Rock Hall on Wed 1/21 at 7PM in the Museum’s 4th Floor Theater. In addition to his western wear, Manuel is best known for designing signature garments for Cash, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, the Grateful Dead, the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and various athletes, actors and politicians. RSVP to edu@rockhall.org or call 515-8426. http://www.rockhall.com.

Harry Bacharach offers up an evening of “heavy easy listening” every Wednesday night at the Brothers Lounge’s wine bar on Detroit. Tasty, kitschy fun — seeing and hearing is believing. http://www.brotherslounge.com. http://www.harrybacharach.com.

HOT Cavani String Quartet Celebrates 25th Anniversary with a Mendelssohn concert called “Mostly Mendelssohn” Wed 1/21 at 8PM. In addition to their own birthday, they celebrate the 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn’s birth. Violinists Donald Weilerstein (guest artist) and Peter Salaff, Erika Eckert (viola, guest artist) and Paul Katz (cello, guest artist) will join the group. The program also includes a touch of Mozart. No cost. Cleveland Institute of Music’s Kulas Hall. Call 791-5000 ext. 411 or visit http://www.cim.edu.

SPONSORED: Tonight, Wed 1/21 at 8PM, WCLV 104.9 resumes the CIM Live broadcasts with the Cavani String Quartet’s 25th Anniversary Concert, which celebrates the 200th birthday of Mendelssohn with a bushel of guests – Donald Weilserstein, Peter Salaff, Erika Eckert and Paul Katz. Cleveland Orchestra live concerts return Saturday at 8:00 PM with Leif Ove Andsnes as soloist in the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 1. Complete details on WCLV’s 24/7 classical music at http://www.WCLV.com.

Bioneers Brown Bags The Cleveland State University Levin College of Urban Affairs is hosting the newest addition to their Forum line-up — Bioneers Brown Bags. Bring your friends, bring your lunch, hear a talk, watch a DVD, and enjoy an informal discussion. On Thu 1/22 at noon in the Sweet Seminar Room, check out Rebecca Moore, founder Google Earth Outreach, and the program Visualizing Change, Mapping the Future. This sounds like a great intro to Google Earth for those who want to use it for social action. http://www.urban.csuohio.edu/forum.

HOT Dalai Lama Renaissance Directed by Khashyar Darvich and narrated by Harrison Ford, this flick debuts at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s First-Run Film Fridays Fri 1/23 at 7PM (repeats Sun 1/25 at 1:30PM). On the cusp of the 21st century the Dalai Lama invited 40 of the West’s most innovative thinkers — from quantum physicists to religious scholars — to come together at his residence in the Himalayan mountains and brainstorm about how to solve the world’s most pressing problems. This award-winning documentary records that extraordinary gathering. California-based filmmaker Khashyar Darvich, a Baldwin-Wallace College alum, answer questions after both screenings. http://www.dalailamafilm.com. http://www.clevelandart.org.

Beautiful & Dangerous: Honey Lazar Fawick Gallery at Baldwin-Wallace College (95 East Bagley Rd., Berea) launches its next exhibition featuring the large-format photographic works by Lazar (pictured) beginning with an Opening Reception Fri 1/23 from 5 – 8PM. This showing is no cost, open to the public and will run through mid-February. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 2 – 5PM, or by appointment by calling 440-826-2152. http://www.honeylazar.com.

The Godfather & The Godfather Part II were together voted the fourth best movie of all time in a 2002 poll of international film critics conducted by Britain’s Sight & Sound magazine. (International filmmakers polled in the same issue chose them the 2nd best movie of all time.) This weekend, this two-part saga is back on the big screen, in new and restored 35mm film prints at the Cleveland Institute of Art’s Cinematheque! The first part of Francis Ford Coppola’s sweeping account of the Corleone family, a Mafia dynasty caught up in internecine warfare, stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, and many others. It screens Fri 1/23 at 7:30PM and Sat 1/24 at 3:30PM. Part II: Sat 1/24 at 7:30PM and Sun 1/25 at 2:30PM. http://www.cia.edu/cinematheque.

3 Amazing Improv Comedy Groups headline the Powerhouse Pub this Fri 1/23 at 8:30PM (doors at 7:30PM). Last Call Cleveland, Friends with Benefits and the Rockwell 9 will kick out all kinds of comedy (shortform, longform and sketch) for a ten-spot. Tickets are available by calling 479-3353 and leaving a message. 18 and over welcome, 21 and over for beverage service. Powerhouse Pub, 2000 Sycamore, Powerhouse Bldg., West Bank of the Flats (between Improv and Howl at the Moon). http://www.lastcallsketch.com. http://www.fwbimprov.com. http:www.myspace.com/rockwell9.

HOT Frost/Nixon It’s the talk of the pop culture and political vernacular right now; don’t miss your final shot at Stacy Keach (he of “Mike Hammer” fame) in the role of Nixon at PlayhouseSquare. It’s getting raves. Details here.

The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till Keith Beauchamp, producer and director of that documentary on Till will be the keynote speaker for CWRU’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration — offering a no-cost public talk on Fri 1/23 at 2:30PM. Part of a week-long celebration in honor of the the Rev. Dr. King Jr. Amasa Stone Chapel, 10900 Euclid Ave. For a complete list of MLK Celebration activities, visit http://www.case.edu/events/mlk/history.

Deep Energy “Extreme Energy Efficiency in New and Existing Homes” is the basis for this Cleveland Environmental Center program Fri 1/23 at 2:30PM. Join Jim LaRue and Matt Berges, EHW’s Affordable Green Housing Center, and Mark Hoberecht, HarvestBuild Associates, for an exciting in-depth discussion. Cleveland Environmental Center, 3500 Lorain Ave. Registration required, call 961-4646. Environmental Health Watch. Details at http://www.ehw.org.

SPONSORED: It Is, It Is Not and Superlight are the two new exhibitions at MOCA’s “Winter/Spring 09” show starting Fri 1/23 with an opening party (7PM) and running through Sun 5/10. Curator’s talk at 6PM. Free and open to the public. Check out the Family Art Studio for kids. Info: www.MOCAcleveland.org or 216-421-8671.

HOT 6th Annual Standing Rock Int’l Short Film Festival Enjoy independent short films and videos from around the world on Sat 1/24 at 8PM. Explore animations, music videos, experimental shorts and other feasts for the eyes. Opening Remarks and a short film by acclaimed film director and former Kent State University film professor Richard Myers will be presented; featured shorts from last year’s “People’s Choice Award Winner” Julia Pott of London, England round out the event. Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., Kent. http://www.juliapott.com. http://www.standingrock.net. http://www.kentstage.org/index.html.

I Love You Because is a hilariously fresh, modern-day musical love story which opens Sat 1/24 at 8:30PM at the 14th Street Theatre, PlayhouseSquare for a limited engagement. The production will run through mid-May and is directed by Cleveland’s own Victoria Bussert. The uplifting, romantic New York comedy about four 20-something friends follows their quest to find love in the big city. A smart and sexy musical. http://www.playhousesquare.org.

Yoga Day USA To help spread the health and wellness benefits of yoga, Independent Studios, LLC is hosting a no cost workshop as a part of the national celebration of yoga. In the practice of karma yoga, they offer three gratis offerings: 10AM, 11:45AM and 1:30PM. Students of all levels, including beginners are welcome to all classes. Open to the public; complimentary refreshments and door prizes will be offered. Visit http://www.independentstudios.net for more info or call 440-835-9794.

One Step Job, Legal & Health Fair Need resume help, Employers, Legal advice? Anyone who has trouble finding a job, needing help with resume building, how to interview, issues with the law, or wanting information on job training can find answers at the the first annual One Step Fair, held Sat 1/24 from 10AM – 4PM at Pilgrim Church UCC, 2592 W. 14th St. The event is to ease access to both employment and help employers connect with qualified workers. Many large and small employers will be present to discuss employment opportunities. Lunch, no-cost haircuts from Aveda, clothing assistance, no-charge HIV testing and help from numerous social agencies will also be provided. No cost, open to the public. Email maya.simek@law.csuohio.edu for info.

Ensemble Theatre’s The Good Doctor is currently running at the Brooks Theatre of The Cleveland Play House, 8500 Euclid Ave. Neil Simon’s work, based on Checkov and directed by the infinitely talented Jacqi Loewy, has been getting some good lip service around town. It’s sure to warm the cockles, so why not check out a matinee Sun 1/25 at 3PM, or find a Friday/Saturday date before it closes the following Sun 2/1. Call 321-2930 for reservations. http://www.ensemble-theatre.com.

Share Your Memories of Cuyahoga Valley National Park on Sun 1/25 from 1 – 5PM at the Happy Days Lodge, 500 W. Streetsboro Rd. (S.R. 303), Peninsula. Western Reserve PBS is working on a new documentary about Cuyahoga Valley National Park and they want your oral histories, home movies, photos and other relevant memorabilia. Have you been touched by an experience in the park? They want you (and if this date doesn’t work for you, two others are scheduled later this spring). Those who wish to share photos or memorabilia should bring their items. For more information, or to make an appointment for a videotaped oral history, call Western Reserve PBS at 800-554-4549.

HOT Michael Furdyk One of Canada’s leading technology entrepreneurs and one of Teen People magazine’s “20 teens that will change the world,” Furdyk is the featured speaker at the Lorain County Community College’s “Meeting Great Minds” speaker series Mon 1/26 at 6PM at the LCCC Stocker Arts Center. He’s the co-founder/director of Technology for TakingITGlobal.org, an online community for young people interested in cross-cultural connectivity and engaging over 300,000 users in over 200 countries re: change to impact the world. But that’s just the beginning of what this cat has done. Learn more about him at http://www.furdyk.com. For tix/info, call 800-995-5222, Ext. 4949, or visit http://www.lorainccc.edu/mgm.

Art Freaks Unite!!! The Cleveland’s chapter of Dr. Sketchy’s Anti Art School holds their latest event Tue 1/27 at the Beachland Ballroom (15711 Waterloo Rd.) The event starts at 7:30PM and goes to around 11PM. Drawing starts at 8PM. Check out photos, drawings and iTunes playlists from the last event at their site http://drsketchycleveland.com.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

A New Day in America?
Obama is capable of leading, are we capable of following?

Today we have a new President of the United States of America. For the first time in our nation’s history a man of color occupies the White House. As a nation we should be proud of ourselves – whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians and everything in between, for voting for character over skin coloration.

Perhaps his ascendancy can help us become a better nation in other ways. Perhaps now we can put an end to some of the systemic racism that pervades our country… racism so embedded that most whites don’t even see or think of it — they totally ignore, overlook, and accept it as quite normal. And the reason is simple: It doesn’t really affect them or their lives in any substantive manner…

Read more from Mansfield B. Frazier here

This week’s most active post on BrewedFreshDaily.com

The former director of the Empowerment Zone comments “Missing from Jackson’s paper is the role and funding from the federal empowerment zone.” Whatever happened to the Empowerment Zone? More importantly, what happened to the federal money that created the EZ? Where did that all go? You’d think for $200M in investment, that area would have something to report. Excerpts of the discussion:

Hocus-pocus… Take tax dollars generated in NEO, send the money to the federal government, have the federal government send it back based on the “poverty quotient” after skimming some here and there, see local “leaders” make it disappear. And, the ultimate insult… they don’t live here… Let’s please watch this money… where will it go? comment by Laura McShane

The Empowerment Zone [national] is in its last year of operation. It is a federal program that still has $130M in capital creation in Cleveland. comment by Hershel Daniels Junior

Anthony’s question is still unanswered: Where did all the money go? comment by Ed Morrison

Since this was federal funding, the city would have had to file copious documentation on what they did with the money, which is of course all public record. comment by John Ettorre

Join the discussion by clicking thru to the BFD post Federal Empowerment Zone?

A Conversation with Author Deanna Adams
On Personal Village Keepers, “Bad-Boy Syndrome” and her Confessions

Not-so-good Catholic girl Deanna Adams grew up in the little-known Village of Lakeline, Ohio. She’s stuck there. If that were the whole story of writer Deanna Adams’ life, she could not have produced the series of crisp, witty, honest, and specific essays that comprise her memoir Confessions of a Not-So-Good Catholic Girl. Deanna’s a good storyteller, but she also has some things to tell us about living. “It’s not where you live, it’s knowing where you belong… and sometimes, it takes most of our lives to realize where that somewhere is… I actually belong right where I started in the first place.”

Adams shares memories of meeting the Loving Spoonful when they stayed in the cottage next to her grandmother’s at Euclid Beach Park and how seeing the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show gave a generation a license to rebel along with an attitude and lifestyle all their own. This author of Rock ‘n Roll and the Cleveland Connection accomplishes what a memoir is meant to accomplish — connection with the reader by telling the story of a life while showing us the lessons learned along the way. Like any good story, the protagonist changes, in this case from a girl who so badly misbehaved her mother sent her to an all-girls school to a woman whose grown daughters are given a list of instructions in the essay “What I Want to Tell My Children” and mourns the loss of her waist…

Read more from Claudia J. Taller here

Links to interesting NEO blogs

How about a food garden at Cleveland City Hall?
Art openings are more about the people than the art on the walls.
A European-style rail system for Ohio, and America, stands at the crossroads, ready for its citizens to waive it forward.
73 NEO companies received $259M in venture capital in 08.
Barack Obama describes the American he wants for his children and every child who lives here.

Frame By Frame
Wendy Poltorek

Music has always been a passion of Wendy Poltorek’s — from the moment she was a school girl to her tenure as backing vocalist in local act Otis & The Shoreway Saints (look for a review of that band in an upcoming issue of CC). This NEO-based singer-songwriter is delivering her own original music these days, mining her niche while gigging with the likes of Brent Kirby (The Jack Fords), Mike Petrone, Will Cheshier and Chris Nekvinda & Veronica Darby. Poltorek’s first solo disc Frame by Frame is a rootsy, jangly 10-track affair that owes as much to Jewel and Sheryl Crow as it does to her local influences. Poltorek’s songwriting shows great promise — from the strains of mid-tempo road tune “48 Hours” and “Home” to the pensive spirit of “Meant To Be,” spiked with gal-comes-of-age existentialism. Her voice does have moments of vocal pitchiness (chalk that up to being a backing singer stepping out front, always adjustments there) but Poltorek is definitely on the right track with Frame by Frame and these songs are good — sure to succeed admirably in a live setting, where she can tweak the delivery of them.

Poltorek performs in the “Songwriters in the Round” showcase at the Happy Dog (W. 56th and Detroit Ave.) this coming Thursday, January 29 from 8 – 11PM. She’ll be joined by Kirby, Cheshier and G.S. Harper (The Lonesome Tomatoes). Visit The Happy Dog online at http://happydog58.com. Visit Poltorek online at http://www.myspace.com/wendypoltorek and purchase her CD online at http://www.cdbaby.com/wendypoltorek.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

Wanna get reviewed? Send your band’s CD (less than 1 year old) to: Cool Cleveland, 14837 Detroit Avenue, #105, Lakewood, OH 44107

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

Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall 1/8 Until word got out Friday (the day after the concert) that conductor Franz Welser-Most had the flu, I thought it was Dmitri Shostakovich’s masterful Symphony No. 7 (“Leningrad”) that did him in. The work lasts over an hour and at concert’s end, Franz looked flushed and sweaty. (One expects conductors to be a little sweaty; it’s very hard work — try waving your arms for an hour.) Ticket-holders for Friday were offered a substitute program. Welser-Most was scheduled to be back on the podium on Saturday. But the concert Thursday delighted from start to finish…
Read more from Laura Kennelly here

Frost/Nixon @ PlayhouseSquare 1/13 David Frost’s 1977 interviews with Richard Nixon, following the Watergate scandal and the President’s humiliating resignation, drew the largest audience ever for a television interview. What led up to, and the interview itself, is the lynch-pin of Frost/Nixon. Frost, a lightweight entertainer with a playboy reputation, had no obvious political convictions and no special interviewing skills. Could he could get Nixon to admit something that none of the “real” media journalists could elicit? Much to everyone’s surprise, he did! What motivated British dramatist, Peter Morgan, to believe that two people sitting and talking would be compelling enough to hold an audience spell-bound? He obviously accomplished the impossible as evidenced by the play receiving an Olivier Award, a Tony Award and a Drama Desk nomination for Best Play…
Read more from Roy Berko here

Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall 1/15 For about the first half of the Piano Concerto No. 3 of Bela Bartok, soloist Radu Lupu was “the unruffled.” He just simply sits in a chair (rather than a traditional bench) and plays. All the notes, the dynamics, the emotion, the everything comes from his fingers to the keyboard, and magic emerges. It was gorgeous music-making that he and music director Franz Welser-Most indulged in, to the benefit of the mostly full house. But then, midway through the delicate and ethereal adagio religioso (second movement) we were all rudely interrupted by a cell phone. Mr Lupu seemed to shake himself a bit, then continued. More delicate music followed, as did yet another barrage from the bloomin’ noisy thing…
Read more from Kelly Ferjutz here

Opera Per Tutti @ Solon Center for the Arts 1/16 Although both Show Boat (1927) and Porgy and Bess (1935) were written for Broadway, they’re really hybrids — adapting as readily to the opera house as they do to the musical stage. It’s pretty safe to say that without a Show Boat there would have been no Porgy, as the former was the first stage musical to introduce mature subject matter into what was previously primarily lighter, comedic material…
Read more from Kelly Ferjutz here

Tri-C High School Rock-Off & more @ HOB 1/16 Before I headed out to the Beachland for last Friday’s Leon Russell show, I stopped at the House of Blues to catch some of the bands in this year’s 13th High School Rockoff. I am so glad I did. I worry about rock and roll, the music I grew up with back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, sometimes I think its on the verge of extinction. The kids at the Rock Off proofed me otherwise. In this world dominated by American Idol, Clear Channel country, and where almost every genre of commercial popular music sounds the same, it was so good to see talented young people playing real rock and roll, with guitars and drums and songs that they have written themselves…
Read more from Greg Cielec here

The Good Doctor @ Ensemble/CPH 1/16 Neil Simon, the king of American theatre comedy, is referred to as “Doc” because he is often called in to “cure” (read: doctor) scripts that just don’t seem to be ready for public acceptance. Anton Chekov, the well-known modern Russian playwright, is also known as doctor. But, in his case, he actually has a medical degree. The Good Doctor, now being staged by Ensemble, has the distinction of having been written by both of these doctors. Chekov wrote the original skits and stories, Simon glued them together and adapted them for the American stage…
Read more from Roy Berko here

Blackbird @ Dobama/CPH 1/17 Participating in the life changing experiences of the characters in Dobama’s Blackbird, in the intimate Studio Theatre of the Cleveland Play House, is a compelling and disturbing occurrence. Blackbird, according to author David Harrower, was inspired, in part, by the real life story of Toby Studebaker, a former U.S. Marine who abducted a 12-year-old British girl in 2003. Though Studebaker seduced the girl via the internet, Harrower, in his play, changes the incident to a man who had a sexual experience with his pre-teen neighbor… If you appreciate David Mamet plays, you’ll like Harrower’s works…
Read more from Roy Berko here

Cleveland’s Burdensome Past Remains With Us

I was going through an overstuffed file that had been resting on a shelf in the cellar. The broken fake leather file held old letters, cards, complaints and even some compliments going back to the 1960s.

A note from 1989 that I can barely read said, “I hope you’re still around 20 years from now… Nobody else will monitor to see if the Jacobs brothers keep their promise to help the neighborhoods.”

Well it’s a surprise to even me that I’m still around.

But even if I were not I could have answered that message correctly 20 years ago. The answer: ABSOLUTELY NOT. Jacobs was never a giver but always a taker.

However, longevity gives real advantage in watching a community as I have done. I’ve remained a very local viewer of a narrow slice of Cleveland politics and history. I did it with intense persistency. Some would say obsession.

It has enabled me to have been around at historic times as this city declined. I’ve watched decisions made and how they were made. And who did what to whom. I tried to do it with a critical and non-conventional eye…

Read more from Roldo Bartimole here

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

1) Are you hip to the new Urban Core project?
Innerbelt.org

2) The Roots of Black Homophobia? by Mansfield Frazier.
CoolCleveland.com

3) Exclusive video interview with Mayor Frank Jackson discussing Medical Mart upon his return from Chicago.
CoolCleveland.com

4) Weatherhead launches new biz mag with a “fresh look” at business.
Weatherhead.case.edu

5) Cle is 4th largest home to HQ employees, according to TeamNEO report.
TeamNEO.org

Your Personal Village Keepers bring the HOT picks and deliver them to your inbox every week. We call them the Hard Corps; you can call them on-the-spot. Word up to Peter Chakerian, T.L. Champion, George Nemeth, Laura Kennelly, Kelly Ferjutz, Mansfield B. Frazier, Claudia J. Taller, Greg Cielec, Jeannie Fleming-Gifford, Brynna Fish, Roldo Bartimole, Douglas O’Bryon, Marcus Bales, Roy Berko and the STAR Reporters. 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.

Facing down the future coming fast,
–Thomas Mulready
LettersATCoolCleveland.com
Cool Networks LLC / 14837 Detroit #105 / Cleveland, OH 44107

All contents (c)2008 Cool Networks LLC all rights reserved

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