Destination Downtown

2.23-3.02

Destination Downtown?

In this week’s issue:
* Destination Downtown by Lee Chilcote on the remaking of East Fourth Street
* Cool Cleveland Night Out- Fri 3/4 ticket discount expires midnight Thu 2/24 here
* Birol’s Business Mardi Gras: Madness or Mantra for NEO? by Cleveland entrepreneur Andy Birol
* RoldoLINK on the myth of the “liberal” press by Roldo Bartimole
* Tuning In with Cleveland band Coffinberry by Daiv Whaley

Destination Downtown
The Remaking of East Fourth Street
By Lee Chilcote

So what has East Fourth got that will compete with the Crocker Parks? Take the street itself. Over the past few years, MRN Ltd., a 30-year-old, family owned real estate company and developers of East Fourth, has rehabbed older buildings and brought in Pickwick and Frolic and the House of Blues. Yet the planners didn’t stop at the curb. They’ve created an urban entertainment experience, starting with the sculpting of public space. This is an example of the uniqueness of East Fourth. Working closely with MRN and other community partners, the city redeveloped the street. The total cost of the project was just over $2 million. This included realigning East Fourth into a curvilinear shape, narrowing it to one lane, repaving it with brick and stone, installing decorative pavers (including the East Fourth Neighborhood logo), and placing heated coils beneath the street and sidewalk. Bright lights strung across the street keep it festive, and artistic light poles line East Fourth, their colors changing periodically. The long-term plan includes outdoor cafes and street festivals…
Read Destination Downtown by Lee Chilcote here,
and send your comments here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland Night Out
buzzes the Warehouse District after work on Fri 3/4

Link up with some new friends and gear up for a night out Downtown with your Cool Cleveland accomplices. Find dozens of diversions on Fri 3/4 after work as we land at ground zero of Cleveland’s hottest night life. Just announced: surprise yourself with live music from Cleveland’s jazz-funksters The Aphrodesiatics featuring horns, vibes and groovin’ rhythms. Enjoy Cool Cleveland’s patented open bar featuring both beer and wine. Sample the finest delicacies and hors d’oeuvres, and relax in the company of Cool Cleveland readers out for the evening. Check out the eye-catching tables and booths, and hang in one of Cleveland’s best neighborhoods for urban living, nightlife, and attractions. Explore the multiple levels at WISH from 5:30 to 8PM, then stick around for free admission and drink specials all night, with deep house by DJ Mike Metz and the Salsa Social Club featuring Sammy DeLeon y Su Orquesta. Mark your calendar and lock in your lowest cost by registering and paying online before midnight Thu 2/24 by clicking here: Newsletter/Party

Can volunteering improve your social life? If you have a knack for socializing, organizing, or if you just love to help out and meet people simultaneously, contact us to volunteer for the upcoming CC Night Out in the Warehouse District on Fri 3/4 at 5:30PM. Volunteers should arrive between 5-9PM at WISH, where you’ll receive a complimentary Cool Cleveland t-shirt for your efforts, delicious food for noshing, while meeting a great group of energized individuals. Learn more and sign up in advance at Info@coolcleveland.com

Gateway success story? Some people see the restaurants that have turned over four times since Gateway has been built. Others see the low-paying jobs that were created. Still others see the bad financial deal the city cut with millionaire team owners. The PD’s Steve Litt points out Gateway’s smooth architectural integration into an urban neighborhood, continued economic development in the neighborhood (including East Fourth Street), and an example of what this city can accomplish with intelligently executed mega-projects. Let’s hope the upcoming convention center, County administration building, and possible casino are also well thought-out. See PD here. What do you think? Is Gateway a fairy tale come true, or a work in progress? Send your thoughts to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Higher Ground The Brownstones at Derbyshire features a magnificent stone church converted to luxurious townhouses, as well as new construction townhomes! In the heart of the Cedar-Fairmount neighborhood in Cleveland Heights, you’ll be able to walk to shopping and restaurants, or head over to Coventry, Murray Hill or University Circle – and downtown’s just minutes away. There is only one church unit left, and it features many original architectural features, with glorious windows, millwork 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. Located at the intersection of Euclid Heights and Derbyshire Road. For a complete list of open houses this weekend, please visit www.ProgressiveUrban.com
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Art as economic development Last year, the Cuyahoga County Commissioners gave $350K to arts projects that stimulated the region’s economy as part of their brand-new Arts & Culture as Economic Development Grants (ACE). This year, they’ve upped it to $500K. You can apply for a $5k to $45k grant if you’re a non-profit 501(c)(3), are producing a new event going after new audiences, and can demonstrate an economic impact on Cuyahoga County. Because of their open public process, the Commissioners listened to community recommendations and are reserving 40% of the total ACE funding to be awarded to groups with budgets under $1.5 million, and groups who received funding last round will not be eligible this time. The deadline is Fri 3/4 at noon, for projects to take place 6/1/05 through 5/06. Send your app to Cuyahoga County Department of Development, 112 Hamilton Court, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. Get the forms online at http://www.CuyahogaCounty.us/development/ACE, and write Christine Nelson with your questions at cdcsn@CuyahogCounty.us

Home grown civic leaders A paid postgraduate fellowship is targeted for eight young professionals with potential to become civic leaders. In hopes of generating the city’s next council members or mayor, the program’s idea came from Ronn Richard, CEO of the Cleveland Foundation, in an effort to retain Cleveland’s brain-powered assets. The first of five classes commences this September, and is founded by the Cleveland Foundation. http://www.ClevelandFoundation.org/page21103.cfm

Cleveland blocks Wal-Mart groceries until 2013 Wal-Mart wants to come into Cleveland at Steelyard Commons, the new $900 million big-box center that developer Mitchell Schneider wants to build on Cuyahoga River valley land formerly belonging to ISG steel company under the Jennings Freeway. Cleveland City Council wants to limit their non-taxable (grocery) products to 5% of the square footage of superstores over 90K sf, fearing unfair non-union competition for neighborhood stores. Target and Home Depot also apparently tied their participation in the project to Wal-Mart’s. The compromise: No groceries in the big boxes for seven years after opening in 2006. Food Workers Union 880, Mayor Jane Campbell, Council President Frank Jackson and legislative sponsor Joe Cimperman all seemed to support the compromise, which says that any new taxes besides those earmarked for schools, would go to the neighborhoods. See PD here. So is this an adequate compromise allowing for jobs and development in the city, which has been losing retail taxes to surrounding areas, or is it the camel’s nose under the tent? Let us know your thoughts at: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Philly challenges Cleveland Everyone knows that Cleveland has the largest contiguous Wi-Fi area around the Case campus, don’t they? Then why is Philadelphia making a big deal out of their desire to become #1 in wireless technology? Maybe it’s because Philly Mayor John F. Street is 100% behind the effort and they are offering broadband for $15 – $25 a month; less for low-income users, although telecoms aren’t cool with governments wiring cities. See New York Times here

How they did it When Fairview Park school district was one of the very few in the state to pass their recent levy, while also closing a school, people were asking, “How did they do it?” The community-based campaign, run by co-chairs Bob Kreps and Jim Starks, along with a slew of volunteers organized on committees (literature development, literature distribution, poll workers, student involvement, even a committee on absentee ballots), communicated to their local community via small group meetings and coffees. An informative website with extensive FAQs also helped to quash rumors and answer concerns. http://www.FairviewGemini.com/default.htm. Got any other success stories of community-based campaigns? We’re gonna need ’em here in Cleveland these coming months. Send your thoughts to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Now in 35mm See for yourself the film that Harvey Pekar describes as “warm and humane”. NightOwls of Coventry is set in an all-night diner with numerous unique & memorable characters. This special screening begins Fri 2/25 at 7:30PM and seats are limited… don’t miss it! After the film you can party with the director and cast from 10PM to 1AM while enjoying a selection of European short films, art, music, dancing, a cash bar and the sounds of Shinkoyo Collective, Roberto Ocasio’s Latin Jazz Project, Blues DeVille and Vince Robinson and the JazzPoets. Tickets to the movie preview and party are only $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Can’t make the movie? Then come down for the party only at 10PM for only $10 in advance or $15 at the door. For more information or to buy tickets go to www.clevelandart.org/fastforward or call 216-421-7530.
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Resolving Conflict Creatively is one of the nation’s longest running conflict resolution resources, and part of Educators for Social Responsibility. Discover the how-to on violence prevention and creating peaceful learning communities. Get involved at http://www.ESRNational.org

Cleveland salvages depression-era artwork A public-housing estate that’s schedule to be demolished will receive preservation and could even be displayed in the future for viewing. The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority is planning to remove historic objects such as glazed mosaics, as well as plaster and concrete pieces that decorated homes in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood. See PD here

The Region’s Resumé It’s a new multi-media series attempting to define which assets are needed to attract businesses, and whether we have the tools to compete with other cities who are also attempting to lure hi-tech to their regions. This week, discover which assets are needed to attract business. You’ll be able to talk to the city on 90.3 at 9 during WCPN-FM’s call-in program at 9AM thru Thu 2/24, connecting listeners with special guests to explore the steps needed to secure the region’s role in a hi-tech future. Then, don’t forget to watch WVIZ/PBS’s show Ideas on Thu 2/24 at 9PM, offering panel discussions with local business and government leaders. What needs to change within the region in order to make a hi-tech future more attainable? Tune in and hear how our region can flourish. http://www.wviz.org and http://www.wcpn.org Got other ideas? Send them to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Recharge your marketing strategy today The economy is the number one reason your business image needs remodeling, and Cool Cleveland can help. We customize your message and then send it out to our engaged, young professionals who spend the most time online at their computer, reading Cool Cleveland, delivered directly into the In-Boxes of tens of thousands of Northeast Ohioans. You’ll be attracting potential interest weekly from those who care about Cleveland. Email us; we’d love to share with you how to grow your company’s success. Info@CoolCleveland.com

Halting urban sprawl Groups are merging in a dedicated effort to reduce urban sprawl. The goal is to preserve forests and farmlands, and the eight groups coming together will form one of the largest mergers of land trusts in the nation. The strategy’s inception began a year ago, as the Chagrin River Land Conservancy has been focusing on expanding its efforts outside the Chagrin River watershed boundaries. Read it here

Center for Partnership Studies provides resources to aid communities in the areas of building models for education, business plans, and relationships that avoid traditional dominance paradigms. It also promotes non-violence, as well as gender and racial equality. http://www.PartnershipWay.org

Balanced Circle Campaign Spurred by Peter Lewis’ recent rejection of institutional plans for University Circle, several folks including “Friends of Hessler,” an informal group of Hessler Street Fair Committee members, created this campaign to add a community-based voice that will aid in the “pursuit of balance in the development of University Circle.” The site includes a list of resources and a survey to gain input and recruit volunteers for the admirable grass-roots effort. Stay tuned for an update in a couple of weeks. http://www.BalancedCircle.info What’re your ideas for a better University Circle? Drop us a line to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
The Other Basketball Teams in Town Want to see some great basketball action in town at an affordable cost? And you’ve got to figure out something to do with the kids for the weekend, too? Get hooked up with Cleveland State University’s Fan Appreciation Day this Sat 2/26 for a basketball doubleheader! Beginning 3PM at the Wolstein Center (formerly known as the Convocation Center) CSU’s women’s team takes the floor against Wright State. Then at 5:30PM, the men’s team hits the hardwood against UW-Milwaukee. One low price gets you a ticket for both games; plus, there’ll be hundreds of great prizes given away throughout the doubleheader and the Viking KidZone will be open with inflatables, clowns and more! It’s affordable family fun for families on a budget! For tickets or more information, please call 216.687.4848. CSU Athletics: the Best Sports Value in Town! CSUVikings.com
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Bye, bye, CSU dome Work has begun on the new Student Recreation Center, one of several exciting master plan projects that will soon bring a new look and new life to the Cleveland State University campus on Chester Avenue near East 24th St. The geodesic dome will make way for the new 130,000-square-foot recreation center, connecting the Physical Education Building, which houses Woodling Gym. The state-of-the-art facility will contain basketball courts, racquetball and squash courts, weight training and fitness areas, an indoor jogging track, and amazing parking. Design and construction of these new buildings will also adhere to environmentally friendly “green” principles. http://www.csuohio.edu and click on “Sidewalk Supervisor.” http://www.csuohio.edu/campusplan

Republic of the Imagination is a country worth building, and one with a future – somewhere we can truly know freedom. Read the idealism by by Azar Nafisi at http://www.WashingtonPost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30117-2004Dec2.html

Need advertising help? The Cleveland Advertising Association offers assistance to local nonprofit organizations that need to squeeze the most out of limited marketing budgets. Featuring top advertising, public relations, fundraising and media professionals, the workshop focuses on: Guerilla Marketing; Where to Find Grants and How to Get Them; Creative Thinking; Crisis Communications and Public and Media Relations. Get advice at the Third Annual Nonprofit Marketing Workshop on Wed 3/16 at 8:30AM-4PM. The Plain Dealer Conference Center, 1801 Superior Ave. To register, call 440-673-0020 or http://www.CleveAd.com

iCleveland finds interns Attend (i)Cleveland’s 3rd Annual Employer Internship Workshop with other area employers and learn valuable techniques for creating, expanding, marketing and diversifying your company’s internship program on Fri 2/25 from 8:30AM-1PM. As a bonus, they are offering complimentary admission to the first two companies who read this offer in Cool Cleveland. RSVP quickly and complete their registration form and fax it over to (i)Cleveland. Get the edge and contact pmanfroni@icleveland.org or call for info at 241-5587.

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts This venerable institution has helped countless artists and organizations nationwide with their legal challenges: censorship, copyrights, and other legal wrangling. Now the Cleveland chapter has kicked it up with a reinvigorated VLA subcommittee of the Cleveland Bar Association. Karl Bekeny, attorney for Tucker, Ellis and West, spoke at the recent Cultural Roundtable of the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture, and announced that the group is now gearing up to assist the Cleveland arts community with their legal issues. Mary Groth, director of pro-bono and community programs can be reached at 696-2404 X5004 or mgroth@clevelandbar.org.

Cool Cleveland This Week
2.23-3.02

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Members of Red {an orchestra} at Beachland In the Beachland Ballroom’s continuous efforts to connect the Cleveland community, hear this exotic opening act with musicians from another part of Cleveland’s music scene. Two cellists from the ever-hot group, Red {an orchestra}, Ida Mercer and Julie Myers King, will perform an eclectic mix of duos for cellos by Bartok and others. They’re opening for Antony and the Johnsons; Antony has sung on Lou Reed’s albums and toured with Lou internationally in 2003. Hear the exceptional sound on Wed 2/23 at 9PM. Call 383-1124. Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Rd. http://www.BeachlandBallroom.com and http://www.Redanorchestra.org

Neo-classical Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal Make way for contemporary spunk in dance that’s youthfully re-structured and solidly established on the international dance scene. Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal master the act of movement with vitality and openness that have been the company’s hallmark since its inception in the early ’70s. Watch dance infused with a new personality that embodies the new century on Fri 2/25 at 8PM. Call Dance Theatre at 440-914-0744. The Ohio Theatre, 1511 Euclid Ave. http://www.DanceCleveland.org http://www.PlayhouseSquare.com

Long Story Short is a thought-provoking dance/theatre work by Michael Medcalf, artistic director of the Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre. This production is a re-examination of our lives and shortcomings within, contrasted with those whose struggles came before ours and paved our way. Celebrate your freedom and rejoice with this performance in honor of Black History Month, as CCDT performs this work and two others on Fri 2/25 at 8PM through Sun 2/27; Sunday shows begin 3PM. Call 791-9211 for reservations. Karamu House, 2355 East 89th St. http://www.ccdt.com/main.html

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Looking for an Elite Residence in the Heights Area? Just minutes from University Circle and downtown, The Coral Company offers the award-winning Courtyards of Severance in Cleveland Heights. The Courtyards of Severance has designs and features to suit any lifestyle, from first-floor owner’s bedroom retreats to traditional three-story townhomes with optional elevators. Offering the finest finishes and options available, these exclusive homes feature hardwood floors and granite countertops. In addition, all residents receive a 50% tax abatement, saving them thousands of dollars. The Courtyards of Severance has become one of the most prestigious addresses in the Heights area. For a true neighborhood experience featuring sidewalks, tree-lined streets, and walking and biking paths in its own park area, visit The Courtyards of Severance today. Contact http://www.thecourtyardsofseverance.com/index.htm.
*************** SPONSORED LINK***************

Party at the Speed of Light Take a few hours and get festive in a diverse environment where people intermingle and art intersects. See a screening of NightOwls of Coventry, written and directed by Laura Paglin, a film shot in Cleveland about an all-night deli filled with hippies, bikers, and elderly consumers. Screened at the 2003 Cleveland International Film Festival, it will be shown on Fri 2/25 at 7:30PM at The Cleveland Museum of Art. Then stick around for an incredible late-nite after-party starting at 10PM in the Museum after the film. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Boulevard in University Circle. Call 421-7350. http://www.ClevelandArt.org

AHA! At Home with the Arts invites you to indulge in a comfortable environment at Loganberry Books. As you enter the bookstore, you will immediately be surprised with fresh poetry featuring Kathleen Cerveny, performances by Ioana Missits and Eliesha Nelson of the Cleveland Orchestra, and Omowumi, a multi-cultural dancer. Wine and refreshments will be served at the event on Fri 2/25 from 7:30PM to 10PM. Call 752-4661. 13015 Larchmere Blvd. http://www.LoganberryBooks.com

HeightsArts presents Inlet Dance Theatre as both groups are partnering with Wiley Middle School Students, bringing youth new dance opportunities through a residency program. See dance transform lives through an exciting educational outreach on Fri 2/25 at 7:30PM. Call 382-0201. Wiley Middle School, 2181 Miramar Boulevard in University Hts. http://www.InletDance.org

21st Century American Cirque du Cabaret Directed and created by dramatic arts assistant professor Claude File, The Cleveland State Dramatic Arts Program will present an evening of contemporary urban monologues, rock music, dancers, audience participation and the glitz and glam of theatre. Imagine a 23-member cast performing monologues from performance artist Eric Bogosian’s Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll and Drinking in America. It’s a hard look at contemporary life in America; characters range from heroin addicts and workaholics, to walking, talking advertisements. Head out to the performances on Fri 2/25 and Sat 2/26; both shows start at 8PM. The Sun 2/27 show begins at 2PM. Runs through 3/6. For tickets call 687-2109. The Factory Theatre, 1833 East 23rd St. http://www.csu.edu

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
From the hills of Tuscany Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Writers Center Stage 2004-2005 series rolls on, with an appearance by bestselling author Frances Mayes on 3/15 in Playhouse Square at the Ohio Theatre. Ms. Mayes wrote the hugely popular books: Under The Tuscan Sun, Bella Tuscany, In Tuscany and her new work, Bringing Tuscany Home; all of which are based on her experiences of living in Italy. This series offers stimulating presentations by the authors and opportunities to purchase books and have them autographed. Single ticket sales are available at the Playhouse Square Box Office, 1519 Euclid Ave., through Tickets.com, or by calling 216-241-6000. Cuyahoga County Public Library – providing your community open access to resources that inform, entertain and enrich. www.CuyahogaLibrary.org
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Feathered Dinosaurs make a monumental appearance at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in the new 4,500-square-foot exhibition. Where else can you see nine robotic creatures, from Tyrannosaurus rex to the modern-day ostrich, attempt to share the same space? New findings and an investigation on the evolutionary links between avian and dinosaur will also be on display along with text and graphics. The exhibition begins on Sat 2/26 and runs until 5/29. Regular museum hours apply. Call 231-4600. 1 Wade Oval Drive. http://www.cmnh.org

Workout for a Weekend Revitalize possible failed attempts at New Year’s resolutions by attending a Fitness Fair presented by numerous organizations around the Cleveland area. Sample some healthy snacks, participate in a free fitness screening, and watch the film Super Size Me with a panel discussion afterward. Become a Clevelander in motion and start shedding the pounds on Sat 2/26 from 10AM-4PM. Cleveland State University Student Center, 2121 Euclid Ave. http://urban.csuohio.edu

Jump Back Ball is Playhouse Square Partners’ primary fundraising event and royal occasion with a spectacularly creative black-tie affair. This year’s affair is themed, A Knight On The Town; Party Like it’s 1399! The party with a reputation as one of the “hottest” annual events in town with creatively themed décor and top-of-the-line entertainment, the Jump Back Ball has thrilled over 100,000 guests for fourteen years. Get into the energy, jugglers, gambling, wandering minstrels, caricature artist, fortune tellers and live music. Dream up an inspired costume on Sat 2/26 at 8PM. Call 348-5267. Playhouse Square Center in the State Theatre, 1511 Euclid Ave. Email partners2@playhousesquare.com or visit http://www.PlayhouseSquare.com

Art Fur Animals is a benefit and hyped-up silent auction to make a difference in a pet’s life. Get involved and get over to this event that’s raising money for the homeless animals’ care at the City of Cleveland Kennel. Swing to live music provided by Cleveland musician, Anne E. DeChant, and taste local food and beverages. Break into the bidding spirit for artwork that’s up for auction and designed by ten of Cleveland’s own artists on Sat 2/26 from 5-9PM. Call 658-4250. Artefino Gallery Café, located at 1900 Superior Ave. in the Tower Press Building. http://www.FriendsOfClevelandKennel.com or email info@friendsofclevelandkennel.com

Sankofa Arts 4th Annual Artist Development Workshop for visual artists will provide presentations by state and local funding institutions, professional artists/entrepreneurs, legal advisors and art educators, as well as a portfolio review session by gallery owners. Get set for the agenda titled, Resources for Capacity Building: Financial, Legal and Technical on Sat 2/26 from 1-4PM at the Cleveland State Art Gallery. The workshop is complimentary, but space is limited; call 791-2437 to register. Located at the corner of East 23rd St. and Chester Ave. http://www.csuohio.edu/art/gallery/gallery.htm

WCLV Notes Tonight Wed 2/23 at 8PM WCLV 104.9 presents a CIM Live broadcast from Kulas Hall. Renowned pianist Sergei Babayan picks up the baton to conduct the CIM Orchestra in Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate and a suite from Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet. On Fri 2/25, WCLV presents another live broadcast from Baldwin-Wallace’s Gamble Auditorium featuring the BW Orchestra conducted by Dwight Oltman. Sat 2/26 at 1:30PM, the Metropolitan Opera live broadcast from New York is everyone’s favorite opera pairing – Cav and Pag – Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci. a Cool Cleveland partner www.wclv.com

Insider’s VUE: Symposium for Educators of Visual Art & Culture conducted by art education pioneer, Philip Yenawine, a founding director of VUE (Visual Understanding in Education), a non-profit organization based in New York City that conducts research and publishes curriculum materials for educators. This cool symposium will focus on Yenawine’s Visual Thinking Strategies curriculum, designed to develop new ways of thinking and communicating through art exploration. You’ll dig into understanding the nature of aesthetic development, applying childhood developmental theories to a visual thinking curriculum, and practical strategies for engaging young people in viewing and talking about art. Event begins on Sat 2/26 from 9AM-5PM. Call 330-972-5951. Student Union located at the University of Akron campus, 302 Buchtel Mall in Akron http://www.uakron.edu

Contemporary Conversations with Don Harvey with Hildur Ásgeirsdóttir Jónsson is a gallery conversation surrounded by Jónsson’s PULSE exhibition, Energy Forms in the always inspiring Ginn Gallery. Both artists use landscape as a subject in their work; in 2001, Harvey’s work was targeted for a ten-year survey at MOCA Cleveland. See art that ignites your interest on Sun 2/27 at 1PM. MOCA Cleveland, 8501 Carnegie Ave. http://www.ContemporaryArt.org

Cleveland Oscar Night is presented for the second year by Independent Pictures, as Oscar Night America returns to our city for an inside look at the glamour of the Academy Awards. Since its inception in 1994, the program has generated funding for a wide spectrum of charitable organizations – with every cent staying within the community where it was raised. Feel the excitement of the Academy Awards ceremony at this event that’s featuring a live broadcast of the 77th Academy Awards Presentation, televised by ABC’s affiliate WEWS Channel 5. Get hooked up into the hype on Sun 2/27 at 7PM. Event supports Independent Pictures, a member of Greater Cleveland Community Shares. Call 651-7315 for tickets. Grays Armory, 1234 Bolivar Rd. http://www.CommunityShares.org

Fund for Our Economic Future annual meeting See unprecedented collaboration happening with the philanthropic sector of Northeast Ohio; they’re stepping up to promote economic development within our city. Over 60 organizations are involved to better our community, with featured national speakers Manuel Pastor, author of Regions That Work, and public officials such as Lt. Governor Bruce Johnson and Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell. Event begins on Mon 2/28 8AM-2:30PM; it’s open to the community. Call 330-762-4463. National Inventors Hall of Fame, 221 South Broadway S. in Akron. http://www.FutureFundneo.org

Getting the “Word” Out: How to Market Religious Writing Provide insight into the broad field of writing for religious publications and publishers, while discussing ways to sell faith-based stories to the media. Ted Schwarz has written extensively in this field, beginning with his first New York Times best seller, Delorean from Zondervan Publishing. His writing has covered both denominational and nondenominational material; many of his stories about triumph over adversity appeared in publications such as Today’s Christian Woman, Family Circle, and Woman’s Day. Take part in the event on Tue 3/1 from 7-9PM. Call 421-0403. Poets’ and Writers’ League of Greater Cleveland, 12200 Fairhill Rd. http://www.pwlgc.com

Here Comes the Sun: Solar Energy in Cleveland Solar energy in cloudy Northeast Ohio really is a viable option in our sun-challenged area, and Erika Weliczko of REpower Solutions will tell you how, when he presents information and data that illustrates how solar can light up Cleveland on Tue 3/1 from Noon-1PM. Call 321-5935 ext. 228. It’s part of the Environmental Town Hall Brown Bag Lunch Series. The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd. http://www.ShakerLakes.org

Building New Communities In Old Neighborhoods Award-winning architect, Stefani Danes, built a career in architecture and urban design with teaching and public service. Her work includes urban housing, housing for special populations, urban design, and planning for neighborhood revitalization. As a principal in the firm of Perkins Eastman, she is responsible for several award-winning housing developments and urban design projects and she’s appearing at the Butler Getty Campus Heritage Series this Wed 3/2 at 7PM. Call 330-941-3493. Zona Auditorium of the Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave. in Youngstown. http://cfweb.cc.ysu.edu/sacredlandmarks

Muddy Water Clayworks Maybe you’ve taken ceramics in school and want to get back into it, or perhaps you’ve always wanted to dabble in it. If you love to work with clay and would like to increase your knowledge on hand building and working with the wheel, this is the class to take. You’ll create both sculptural and functional pieces while mastering wheel techniques; classes begin on Wed 3/2 and run each Wednesday till 3/30. All ages and abilities encouraged; call 941-7643. Art on Wheels, 1284 Riverbed St. http://www.AowInc.com

CSU Wind Ensemble Get blown out of the room with beautiful and powerful wind instruments during this complimentary concert that’s open to the public for live entertainment. Be there as Howard Meeker conducts this talented group on Wed 3/2 at 8PM. Presented by Cleveland State’s Department of Music. Call 687-5100. Cleveland State University’s Waetjen Auditorium, 2001 Euclid Ave. http://urban.csuohio.edu

Link off to read more events here

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Correction A point of clarification: the Downtown Resource Assessment Team (D.A.R.T.) is coming to Lakewood as a result of a joint effort between the City of Lakewood and the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce… not LakewoodAlive. LakewoodAlive reported on the pending workshop because this is good news to Lakewoodites interested in Lakewood’s economic future. Thank you for keeping LakewoodAlive on the Cool Cleveland radar….and for the good work on reporting all things “cool” in the Cleveland area.
from Cool Cleveland reader Mary Anne Crampton, President, LakewoodAlive

Mardi Gras: Madness or Mantra for NEO?
By Andy Birol

Why is it that so many eyebrows shoot up when I tell people I went to Mardi Gras? From this most foreign of all United States, the very phrase seems to roil the morality of many of my neighbors as they imagine inebriated mobs, public indecency, voodoo sacrifices and, in a word, sacrilege. Raise the topic of Mardi Gras and chances are the conversation will end with an admonishment as flat as a Midwestern vowel: We certainly don’t want any of that around here! With the sounds of zydeco fresh in my memory, I ask Northeast Ohioans to park their preconceptions at the door. Yes, everything you’ve heard about Fat Tuesday is true, but you don’t have to lose your inhibitions to enjoy it. Speaking as someone with a vital interest in reigniting this region’s economy, I wonder how a city in a swamp manages to throw one of the world’s greatest parties year after year after year. Yet, Greater New Orleans is one of our nation’s poorest regions, with high rates of unemployment, illiteracy, and violent crime. The local economy is overly dependent on the “smokestack” industries of gas and oil, and the relentless humidity combines with particulates to create air quality worthy of hell. Known for its brutal politics and murder rates, the city simply doesn’t have a lot to be thankful for. Except Mardi Gras, which has evolved into a region-wide collaboration of the wealthy, middle-class, and poor alike. The fact is that New Orleans is a city much like Cleveland…but it has created an international brand. What can we in Northeast Ohio learn from the Big Easy?…
Read Birol’s Business here and here,
and send your comments here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

RoldoLINK
Liberal Press? My Experience Says Absolutely Not
By Roldo Bartimole

I’m sick of hearing about the “liberal press.”

The press is hardly liberal unless you define liberal only as culturally permissive. Critics might have a point there.

Usually, however, when people refer to the liberal press they are speaking of it in political terms. Through the last forty years, there has been a purposeful attempt to make the word “liberal” a term of derision. It’s a tactic used by right-wing forces in the nation.

Applying a liberal labeling to the media bothers me personally because it isn’t so.

I’ve always found the liberal label for media people to be pretty much nonsense. That’s been my personal experience, limited as it may have been in what I’d call the straight media. Most reporters, particularly today, are middle class people essentially divorced from people in lower economic circumstances. They are more concerned about their personal advancement and careers than ideology. That makes them attuned to the desires of their bosses, who hardly reflect any liberal ideology.

When I first came to Cleveland in 1965 to work for the Plain Dealer I was one worried young man, unsure if I would be able to compete against those who, to me, were big city reporters. They obviously would be interested and alert to what was happening around them. Cleveland’s urban problems had been one reason I was attracted to the city.

I was quickly surprised…

Read RoldoLINK by Roldo Bartimole here
and send your comments here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Tuning In
Raising the Dead with Coffinberry

But during 2004, while hearing a pal’s band play at the venerable Beachland Ballroom, my ears perked up, my heart started palpitating madly, and I couldn’t help but tap and bounce to the sounds that crashed into my head. It wasn’t Pop-Punk (thank God) and it wasn’t Thrash-Metal. It wasn’t Newer Wave, and it certainly wasn’t Rockabilly. It was… well, Rock and Roll by a bunch of young twenty-something upstarts, naturally. It was short, and it was loud, and it was melodic, with just the right splash of dissonance and feedback splattered about like a fun Jackson Pollack print. It was Coffinberry, and it was good. And Rock wasn’t dead after all. At least not in Cleveland. See them live this Sat 2/25 at 9:30PM at the Beachland Ballroom Tavern.

Cool Cleveland: Coffinberry’s sound is very exhilarating and refreshing — I hear bits of the Libertines and Sonic Youth and the Replacements all mixed up in there. Who are the band’s influences, and is there a certain sound you’re shooting for when you perform?
Tony Cross: The band is influenced by many things, but I don’t like Sonic Youth or The Libertines. We all enjoy The Monster Mash any time of year. When we play we’re not shooting for anyone or thing. I’ve never given a name to our sound ‘cos that would be dumb…
Read Tuning In with Coffinberry by Daiv Whaley here

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Search and Be Found With Optiem Get the clicks with a search engine marketing (SEM) strategy from Optiem. Through our proven approach, we identify the keywords that online consumers are using every day to locate your products and services. We then formulate an SEM program uniquely tailored to your needs. Where appropriate, we optimize your site content to improve Google™ and Yahoo!® rankings. And if immediate traffic is your need, we create pay-per-click and paid inclusion programs that deliver highly qualified visitors to your doorstep. To learn more about Optiem’s interactive marketing solutions, contact Optiem at info@optiem.com. Optiem. Fuel For Bright Companies. www.Optiem.com
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers write
We encourage our readers to speak out by sending us letters and commentary. Send your letters to Letters@CoolCleveland.com. You must include your full name (required) and you may include your e-mail address (optional). You may also create a new Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail e-mail address and submit it with your letter. Letters submitted to Cool Cleveland, or edited portions, may be published in an upcoming issue of Cool Cleveland at our discretion.

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

On remembering Johnny Carson’s Cleveland Here’s a funny Johnny Carson clip I just got and there’s a Cleveland reference in it. Thought it was cool, so to speak. See video clip here
from Cool Cleveland reader Regis Garrity rgarrity@shamrockcompanies.net

On University Circle [See Invigorating University Circle here] I thought you might appreciate this due to the invigorating university circle article, MY HALLOWEEN costume last year… See the images here
from Cool Cleveland reader Shelli M. Snyder shelli.snyder@case.edu

I read with interest the article Invigorating University Circle in last week’s edition of Cool Cleveland. The author had a number of good ideas—some of which, such as a food market and rental housing, we are actively working on; others we are considering; and a few of which were completely original and yet to be explored. Are we making progress in the Circle? Definitely. Is it as fast as any of us would like to see? Probably not. That said, I encourage your readers to visit www.universitycircle.org to find out more about University Circle Incorporated’s efforts and initiatives underway. University Circle is a remarkable district that attracts more than 2.5 million people annually to live, work, study, visit, pray, receive care, and be enlightened and entertained. But that’s only the beginning, we want many more people to explore and experience this magnificent place. And it is open forums, such as the one Cool Cleveland provides, that help to engage our community in our efforts to make the Circle a premier urban district. I agree wholeheartedly with the author, “University Circle is Cleveland’s gem.” With the community’s active participation and involvement we will continue to find new and inspired ways to polish the gem.
from Cool Cleveland reader Terri Hamilton Brown, President, University Circle Incorporated comments@universitycircle.org

On a convention center in Cleveland I wanted to give you a slightly different perspective, to at least hear out the proponants of the convention center. Still down here in Mississippi…and recently Jackson MS, passed a tax to build a new convention center. It is hard for me to describe Jackson. It is about the size of Ft. Wayne, but has absolutely no downtown. No restaurants, no bars, no museums. Well, maybe they have a few places, but I would say less than 10 places are open within a mile of the capitol building on any evening. But if you listen to the Jackson supporters, they talk about what great things the convention center will bring. New bars, restaurants. Hotels, maybe even pro sports. The city will grow and people will move downtown. So that made me think of our own discussion in Cleveland. I know people site studies saying that convention centers are a huge waste of money. Well, in Jackson I agree, but by studying Jackson I think that maybe Cleveland’s situation may not be all that bad. We already have downtown restaurants, pro sports teams, museums. Basically we already have everything that Jackson hopes a new convention center will spawn. We actually have a worldwide tourist attraction in the Rock Hall, Gateway buzzes nearly year round, University Circle is stronger than ever, and there are more places to get drunk in Cleveland than in most cities in the country. In fact, my thought is that we actually need the convention center to keep these cultural assets flush with money from people who are outside the region. My preference would be to renovate the original convention center. The convention center itself may never be a cash cow, but it would be a worthwhile investment into the city. Keep up the fabulous work.
from Cool Cleveland reader Patrick Staunton patricksta@yahoo.com

On another interchange in Avon [See Stopping sprawl here] Westward ho! I appreciate the information that you posted regarding the potential interchange in Avon; however I would like to make a few comments. Help me to understand how Crocker Park (and other developments in Cuyahoga County) can open up and put the final nail in the coffin of Westgate and Tower City (in your own County) but Avon is causing the demise of Cleveland for wanting to receive an update to a transportation system that cannot handle the increased traffic from new housing, retail and industrial growth. (please note that this growth has already occurred and the time for speaking out against this “sprawl” has passed although I understand the growth is not over). Isn’t the idea to have a regional vision and a regional focus anyway? And don’t even get me started on the regional decision making. In my previous planning job I was an alternate on the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) of NOACA (and attended the meetings monthly) and I know firsthand how projects are decided (I will let you form your own opinions, please attend a meeting sometime as they are open to the public). As for the Avon project…
Read the letter from Cool Cleveland reader Karen Johnston willowjewel@hotmail.com here

On Blackwell’s arrogance [See Blackwell ignores Congress here] Dear Secretary Blackwell: I am still shocked and disgusted with your arrogance around the many irregularities of the November, 2004 elections. You have insulted the voters of Ohio by your indifference to people trying to look honestly and openly at what did (or did not) happen here in Ohio prior to, during and after the presidential election. I shudder to think of you “serving” in any higher office in the future.
Cliff Berns kacb@earthlink.net

Dear Mr. Blackwell: I and many other citizens of Ohio would like to know why you have refused to meet with the House Administration Committee to talk about irregularities in the November election, even though you were in Washington, DC when the meeting took place. This is very important for you to attend and if there is nothing for you to hide from this past election, then why don’t you attend this meeting? One of the committee members have said “the arrogance of those secretaries of state not to be here today is an affront to those who elected them to office,”. Well, it’s not an afront to me, because I didn’t vote for you. However, since you are a public servant and I help pay your salary, then we the people are entitled to explanations for your refusal to meet with this committee. Thank you very much for your time.
from Cool Cleveland reader David M. Volk

On Ohio’s “immoral” school funding [See School levies fail once again here] Why is funding schools in part on property taxes “immoral” as you stated in Cool Cleveland on February 16th? One belief most citizens have (and a mantra of both Democratic and Republican politics) is the concept that local control and local decision making is best and a preferred form of government. So, if the citizens of, say, Solon want to tax themselves to improve their schools, why shouldn’t they? Conversely, if the citizens of Cleveland Heights don’t want to tax themselves more, that is their right too. Why would you deny them the right to say yes or no to additional taxes and take away the right of local school districts to tax themselves? Did you ever think that the problem with our school system doesn’t primarily have to do with money? The single most important factor that determines the success of a student in school is having a supportive, healthy family environment where education is valued and encouraged. The involvement of parents makes all the difference in the world. Other important factors include…
Read the letter from Cool Cleveland reader David Levey jdl@copper.net here

First of all I’d like to congratulate you on the success of your newsletter, and applaud you for the effort you are making to do what you think is right to help the city and the region. However, at the end of the day don’t you think at least some of the voters who turned down levies for much more straightforward reasons, such as: we can’t afford to pay for this; or we don’t trust these school boards with carrying out this duty; or for the money they are already spending, shouldn’t the product be a little better. If you bought a car and it didn’t work very well, would the typical consumer offer to pay more than the already agreed upon price, or petition his neighbors to raise funds for the automaker in question so they could do their job better, unlikely. What might start to happen is that people would lose their loyalty to that manufacturer and stop patronizing it, they would seek out other alternatives, and they would demand accountability from their new choice. The region continues to tax investment, at some of the highest rates in the nation. When you add the weight of the additional taxes to the investment, it makes the job of the entrepreneur much more difficult. When you discourage and take away the incentives to invest, there go the jobs. You need investment to create jobs. It’s that simple, and until that changes, nothing will happen here. For all the good you do, please don’t detract from it by espousing the philosophies that got us into this mess in the first place.
from Cool Cleveland reader James P. Breen jbreen@breenfox.com

On Wal-Mart coming to Cleveland [See Wal-Mart deal still alive here] As much as I dislike Wal-Mart’s business practices, I am of the opinion that Cleveland needs this one. Along with the other big-box stores in the cluster, the location will become a destination rather than an empty space. Despite your good intentions, any effort to save Tops, Giant Eagle and other grocery stores from competition is an uphill death march through knee-deep mud. Legislation created to distort economic forces is, in this case, misplaced and does not serve your constituency. By constituency I mean the people who vote, not the stores with their hands out grasping for tax breaks. Tops, BTW, is closing at least one Cleveland store even without Wal-Mart’s competition.
from Cool Cleveland reader Robert E. Chalfant Chalfant@ComSenseTech.com

Dear [Cleveland City Council President] Mr. [Frank] Jackson: I do agree with Mr Cimperman regarding the sale of groceries in Wal-Mart. Basicly because the other issues associated with their sale of food products have generally been ignored or not addressed publicly. Lets be honest, the quality of meat and produce they sell is not equal to that of traditional grocery stores, nor is it comparable to the quailty of the West Side Market. Their entry into our area also raises a few questions for me. Will the additional “jobs” created by the sales of groceries (mostly at a low wage) at Wal-Mart make up for the loss of revenue, taxes and employment lost by other local stores and the retail and wholesale vendors? Will the decrease in sales by local meat, produce and fish proveyours cause more layoffs and closures of local businesses? Truthfully, how much will the average person save and for how long? Once they establish marketshare through price cutting, prices will increase to realistinc levels and the “economy of scale” benifit will become increased profit with fewer loss leaders. I hope you see the need to protect our city and county from more empty stores, more low wage jobs and a continued loss of revenue provided by local businesses. When tax abatement is given how much money does the city lose and for how long? (Studies show that tax abatement does not increase total revenue for the city and it is not the primary factor for locating a business in a given area). Regardless of the outcome of Mr. Cimperman’s proposed legislation, PLEASE make sure that you pass legislation requiring that “big box” stores that close, move or leave the area MUST either sell or lease or rent the building and property and cannot leave it sit empty. Wal-Mart is know for opening a store, building a larger one in the same area and shuttering the old store. They will not rent, lease or sell. If you doubt this, check with the city of Port Clinton and Ottawa County. This is not a once and done policy, check with other major cities (Oklahoma City comes to mind) you will find this practice is the norm not the exception. Whatever happens, please make your decision based on what is really best for Cleveland over the long term.
from Cool Cleveland reader Keith Keller kbkeller@sbcglobal.net

As a resident of the near west Tremont area, Metro North Block Club, I am appalled at the idea of having a big box retail strip in my backyard. I am thrilled to hear that Councilmen Cimperman has proposed legislation to restrict Wal-Mart from selling groceries. I think we should think even bigger than that. Do we really believe that big box stores are going to bring people from the suburbs into Cleveland? The thing that draws people into our fine city are neighborhoods like Tremont and Ohio City with trendy, funky, locally owned, decent-wage-paying, restaurants and stores. My next-door neighbors need to be educated on the harms that stores like Wal-Mart bring to communities, not encouraged to shop there with a more convenient locale. Not to mention given job opportunities that will pay them a decent wage so that they do not have to shop at stores like Wal-Mart. We are not just talking about grocery stores here, we are talking about all the small businesses that line my neighborhood streets that are in jeopardy, the hardware stores, the jewelry stores, the mom and pop delis and shops. As Councilman Cimperman stated at the Tremont West Development Corporation annual meeting, “How can we jeopardize the development that we have already made with more development?” Keep up the good fight Councilman Cimperman!
from Cool Cleveland reader Laurel Domanski ldomanski@ipm-connections.org

Dear [Cleveland City Councilman] Joe [Cimperman]: I applaud you on your efforts to disallow Wal-Mart to sell groceries at the proposed development site. Personally, I dispise Wal-Mart for their unethical business practices in dealing with their vendors and their anti-union mentally that keeps wages below poverty level. I do not shop there and make it known to my friends and family members that Wal-Mart is puts on a fascade to the public. I would prefer to NOT see Wal-Mart ever in the downtown area. I thought the goal was to improve the shopping in Downtown C Leveland?, not deter folks from wanting to shop there. In fact, I am against the entire proposed Steelyard Commons as for the reasons indicated below. I work Downtown and enjoy walking around during the summer months and taking in the sites of the city. I would love to see Euclid Ave. actually become something big like it was in the “old days.” With the investment of the high-speed train running from University Circle to Tower City, one would think this would be the area where the city would want to focu son developing shopping, restaurants, etc. I love to see more young people living in the city as I once lived in The Flats and my boyfriend currently does. Why would someone who lives Downtown or in the Warehouse District or Flats want to travel to the proposed Steelyard Commons to breath in polluted air and to shop at Wal-Mart? The whole shopping complex proposal does not make any sense to me, no matter how much money the city would be reaping from taxes. Let’s become a bit realistic about the type of clientele who will shop at Steelyard Commonsand realize no big bucks are going to be spent there anyway. Thanks for your time and I love to see a younger person take a stance for their political beliefs. Keep up the good work, Joe.
from Cool Cleveland reader Annette Polski alpolski@adelphia.net

I wouldn’t listen to anything the guy who built Legacy Village says. After one year, that place is a ghost town. He has no vision for the community.
from Cool Cleveland reader Doris Wishner Doris.Wishner@tri-c.edu

On the proposed Lakewood smoking ban [See Lakewood Chamber against smoking ban here] Regarding the smoking ban in Lakewood. I currently do not frequent very many Lakewood establishments even tho I live nearby. However, I have an allergy to smoke which means that when I do go out I’m miserable. If Lakewood had a smoking ban, I would be more apt to frequent Lakewood establishments.
from Cool Cleveland reader Denise Hoffert kotadak@yahoo.com

I live in Lakewood and smoke when I go out. I respect the fact that not everyone wants to sit in a smokey bar, and if there were more bars in Lakewood with patios where smoking patrons could seek refuge then I would support a smoking ban. Until then I vote “no.” At this point, if the ban passes, I will be heading to other surrounding cities for a night out, my money will spend just a good…Or I’ll save myself some money on the pricey bar drinks and will cocktail at home with my friends.
from Cool Cleveland reader Amy Cosgrove amy_cosgrove@yahoo.com

Has not hurt the bars in New York ONE BIT. People step outside and smoke and then go back inside. Many non-smokers welcome the cleaner, fresher air inside the bars.
from Cool Cleveland reader Dan Morgan, New York City rex@straightshooter.com

This is always a debate issue…there are a number of bars and restaurants that have suffered NO ILL EFFECTS because of their non-smoking policies. Smoking is an option outdoors before entering. If a smoker can’t make it through a dinner without lighting up, they have more serious issues. To name a few…Brew Kettle in Strongsville, Cornerstone Bar & Grill in Berea. These establishments have actually attracted a new crowd of health conscience folks that enjoy eating and drinking, without coming home smelling like an ash tray. Many years ago businesses thought they would have a hard time attracting employees because of their non-smoking policies, most offices now provide a healthier environment for all employees. I am looking forward to restaurants and bar owners taking the same track.
from Cool Cleveland reader Michelle L. Mead Michelle.Mead@Hylant.com

If big cities like New York and LA can do it, and even Columbus… Lakewood can too! People forget that the ban on smoking protects the employers as well as the employees from working in a “toxic” enviornmnent. I’m all for it! I would go out of my way to frequent establishments that offer a clean enviornment. Johnny Mango’s and Great Lakes have both been non smoking and are still doing great business. I’m sure that I’m not alone in this. Many “part-time” smokers only smoke when others around them are. The die-hards already are good to go outside. BRING ON THE BAN!
from Cool Cleveland reader Mary Mabry

Do you want all of those poor bar owners to go out of business? I would think twice… People who smoke will go to different bars in the next city over and those bar owners will all lose TONS of business. I might understand you wanting to have a non-smoking place, but then it needs to be state wide so that the bar owners are not discriminated against. If it was state wide people would not travel to another state to go to a bar but they would go to another city… DO NOT MAKE THE BARS NON-SMOKING!!!
from Cool Cleveland reader Lori Sveda mailto:lsveda@berea.k12.oh.us

I am for a U.S. smoking ban. Why should waitresses & myself have to inhale second hand smoke. It is one thing for someone who smokes not to care about lung cancer, and all of the related illnesses; however, why should the rest of us who don’t smoke have to be exposed to the scientifically proven cause (cigarettes) of many diseases. As a patron who usually frequents bars in Strongsville or Downtown Cleveland, I would travel to Lakewood if they would ban smoking!
from Cool Cleveland reader Gina Marie Suppa Gina.Suppa@va.gov

I would much rather dine in a smoke free restaurant than one with a smoking area. If smokers FLEE to another area, they will further antagonize the non smokers, and the game goes on and on.
from Cool Cleveland reader Dave Hawley davehawley@adelphia.net

I live in Lakewood and would love to patronize more Lakewood bars and restaurants but will not because of the smoke. If you took a poll of bars and restaurants that ban smoking, I think the owners would tell you that it does not affect their business. Maybe even improve it. Knowing what we know about the detrimental effects of smoking on nonsmokers it is unconscionable that it is still allowed in any public place.
from Cool Cleveland reader Kate Howley Kmhowley@aol.com

It has been my experience in the Akron area that the restaurants that have voluntarily gone smoke free have had waiting lines as compared to the restaurants that still allow smoking. It seems that the smoke-free restaurants are doing a better businesss than the ones that allow smoking. I go to the smoke-free restaurants and am thankful for them. The smoke does not know how to stay in the smoking sections, and it makes it difficult for me to breathe if a restaurant is not smoke free. I have asthma from working in a smoke filled environment. I don’t believe that restaurant and bar workers should have to continue to have the highest death rates of any employees. There has been no proven negative impact on business anywhere that such legislation has been enacted. In fact the opposite is true. Clean air is good for business. The deadly impact of environmental smoke on employees health has been proven.
from Cool Cleveland reader Carol Quillen Haas peace2u48@sbcglobal.net

On the topic of the smoking ban in Lakewood, personally I would start going to those bars that are smoke free even though I don’t currently go out in that area. A smoke free bar in Cleveland? I’m there!!
from Cool Cleveland reader Cassie Parker cassieparker071@hotmail.com

I live in Lakewood, I support the smoking ban…I think it would improve business as I (and many of my peers) have stopped frequenting perfectly good restaurants, bars, and bowling alleys because they stink (from smoke) I can’t eat there and have to take to a shower as soon as I get home.
from Cool Cleveland reader Dawn Golba dgolba@stockerfoundation.org

My name is Sarah, age 24. I live in Lakewood and I am a smoker. I think that the smoking ban is a great idea. I also think that it would not hurt the bar business. I frequent the bars in Lakewood and I know that many of my friends are for the ban and some of them are smokers as well. Lakewood bars attract a lot of business and I believe that a smoking ban would only help that business. It works in New York and L.A., it can’t hurt Lakewood. I don’t know too many people that go downtown with so much at our disposal so close to home.
from Cool Cleveland reader Sarah Minko sminko@yahoo.com

I am a 23 year old Lakewood resident and I go out to bars just about every weekend. All moral judgment of my weekends aside, I am part of the target audience that bar and night club owners seek to reach. I enjoy going out to bars and hanging out with friends. And I would like to continue to go out in Lakewood, but there is a problem. There is not a 100% clean indoor air ordinance. I know that some independent business owners have been fearing such a law, but they should not. I have attended City Council meetings, public hearings and the Lakewood Clean Indoor Air advisory committee meetings. City Council has appointed an advisory committee to examine all aspects of the issue and make a recommendation to City Council sometime in March. I don’t agree with the Chamber saying that this is a unilateral decision. There are nine members of this committee hearing public opinions by the dozens and receiving expert testimony from multiple sources. How could anyone assert that this decision is unilateral? I sympathize with the bar owner’s fears, but they are unfounded. All legitimate research points to the ordinance having little or no impact on the hospitality industry. No one that I know goes to a bar to smoke. They go to a bar to enjoy the atmosphere, hang out with friends, listen to a neighborhood band, and kick back with a few cold ones. For those who say that smoking and drinking go together, I’m sorry to inform them that the old cliché is out. It’s out in California, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, Delaware, and hundreds of other cities and countries worldwide (Ireland, Bhutan, and Norway). My family has been involved in the restaurant industry for over 15 years. I understand the investment and the volatility of being in the hospitality industry. To invest in clean indoor air is investing in a healthier workforce, with less absenteeism and higher productivity, in clientele that could not go out before now bringing their business in to your establishment. To invest in Clean Indoor Air is to invest in everyone’s wellbeing.
from Cool Cleveland reader Alaina Wolfe alainajwolfe@comcast.net

Smokers are drug addicts. Smoking should be illegal. I fully support a full ban in any community.
from Cool Cleveland reader Doris Wishner Doris.Wishner@tri-c.edu

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 Commentary Invigorating University Circle University Circle is Cleveland’s gem. Home to a plethora of museums, parks, universities, hospitals, non-profits and community organizations, it may be the most cultured single square mile anywhere. www.CoolCleveland.com

2) Cleveland Art History A beautifully, slick website that’s a new resource for classrooms to use as an aid to see and learn about important works of art. http://www.ClevelandArtAndHistory.org

3) Stopping sprawl By building a third interchange off I-90 in Avon, Cleveland’s Western suburbs suffer. Can’t we stop this insanity? www.Cleveland.com

4) Cleveland Mom is a super source for busy parents. Use this colorful site to get the best our region has to offer, where you’ll find up-to-date listings of kid-friendly events and helpful tips. http://www.ClevelandMom.com

5) The Bop never stops On the heels of its anticipated demise, Cleveland jazz club The Bop Stop announced this week that “We are currently gathering information on how to proceed with our next phase.” http://www.ClevelandBopStop.com

Don’t bogart the cool Pass along your issue of Cool Cleveland to your worthy friends by clicking the “Forward” button at the top of your e-mail. Your best friends will adore you, and they’ll never forget who first turned them on to the mystical wisdom of Cool Cleveland. Or, send everyone to the site so they can register themselves: http://www.CoolCleveland.com

Hard Corps energize the content Lots of props to the involved individuals who incorporate Cool Cleveland into their lives week after week: Tisha Nemeth-Loomis, Lee Chilcote, TL Champion, Linda Eisenstein, Bill Nagode, Daiv Whaley, Rachel Jacobs, Kevin Risner, Andy Birol, George Nemeth, Ivan Jackson, Roldo Bartimole, and all our contributors who work behind the scenes. Want to 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

Where do you go for excitement?

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

all contents ©2005 MulreadyGROUP all rights reserved (:divend:)