Enough With The Snow Lets Dance!

Many of you have called & sent e-mail to say how much you like Cool Cleveland and to congratulate us on our success. But Cool Cleveland may also be an effective vehicle for you to reach the leaders of Cleveland’s creative class. The people who are paying attention, who care about the future of our fine city, the people who actually go out and do the cool stuff that’s all around us. Drop a line to request an info sheet with demographics, benefits and testimonials. It would be nice to continue producing Cool Cleveland each week, but it won’t happen without your support. Wake up Cleveland and support the good stuff before its too late. 
Write to Thomas@Mulready.com for more info

Join your fellow Cleveland arts, business and tech mavens for the region’s hottest networking and art showcase, Art/Tech/Dance, on Thu 2/20 4-9PM at the Tower Press Building (www.TowerPress.com), offering free tours of their awesome live/work lofts offering artist subsidies. With tech by IdeaStar (www.ideastar.com) and design by Nesnadny+Schwartz (www.NSideas.com), you’ll experience VJs blasting massive video screens of digital art by CWRU and CIA students’ recent project One Week In The Life of University Circle, refreshments and DJs spinning dance music. Bring a friend or come alone and meet someone while you check out Cleveland’s most interesting and eclectic after-work party. Our December bash was sold out-don’t be left out in the snow. 
Click here to register

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What does PURE have in store this week? Something for everyone, with prices ranging from $79,900 to $272,900 at The Grand Arcade, where loft units may feature exposed brick & beams, tin ceilings, hardwood floors, Terminal Tower views, new carpet & paint, you can even get a unit customized just for you. Check out the Open House on Sun 2/23 2-4PM at 408 W. St. Clair in the heart of the Warehouse District.
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Click here to take the virtual desktop tour and to support Cool Cleve

“It’s 15 minutes to midnight,” says Jon Alsenas, a Cleveland native and a portfolio manager for an Athersys investor, “my impression is that they’re more gone than staying in Cleveland.” According to Crain’s, since signing an exclusive licensing agreement in December to commercialize cutting-edge adult stem cell technology from the University of Minnesota, Athersys has become a hot commodity—possibly too hot for Cleveland. Alsenas: “Anybody who lands Athersys will have an inside track to hundreds of millions of dollars in research funding for a very hot and promising technology area. Athersys is the commercial center of that technology, and whoever gets Athersys will be the center of excellence” for stem cell research, which could lead to lucrative new drugs and treatments for inherited diseases and conditions. Duke University (which already recruited Athersys co-founder Huntington Willard away from University Hospitals in Cleveland), wants a 3-way partnership with Athersys and a pharmaceutical company. See more on Research Triangle at CrainTech: http://neohio.craintech.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?articleId=2463 
See Crain’s

It’s called monkeywrenching and it’s not always a bad thing, (just ask Abbie Hoffman), but a Cool Cleveland reader writes, “While I really dig the “Rice For Peace” idea you sent along in your recent Cool Cleveland, turns out that while the campaign is legitimate, the rice packages are clogging postal service machines, and causing lots of trouble for innocent folks (see below). I was excited about such a creative way to protest, but was sad to see it caused such problems. Peace, David Rosen DavidRosen2002@hotmail.com“ The solution? “Padded envelopes are perfect for this,” says Steve Cross, acting supervisor of the Glenwood Springs, CO post office, near the place where the campaign began, “We hand cancel them and they don’t get processed in our automated machinery.” For more info on the campaign, contact Lauren Martin 970-945-5245. 
See Glenwood Springs Post Independent

When was the last time an artist got a break like this? In a remarkable program based in part on a Cleveland Neighborhood Development Fund, artists can submit their work to a competitive, two-part jury process (Tom Hinson, Photo Curator at the Cleve Museum of Art is one juror), and if they meet income restrictions (under $24,000/yr), selected artists will be eligible to rent one of the live/work lofts at the stunning Tower Press Building at “below market rates” (probably around $480/mo, versus regular rates of $625-$2200/mo.). To apply, send resume, 10-15 slides (10 of current work), a slide description sheet, and a return envelope to: Tower Press Ltd, PO Box 91644, Cleve 44101-3644. Deadline for applications is 5PM on Wed 3/19. If you’d like to check out the lofts in person, the Cool Cleveland Art/Tech/Dance party takes place at the same Tower Press Building, 1900 Superior Ave, from 4-9PM on Thu 2/20. 
Register for this event at Tower Press Building

With enrollment growing by 30% over the last two years, Virginia Marti School of Design is doubling the size of their space and returning the facades back to their original 1920’s design at 1431 W. 117th. The project would not have been possible without extensive help from the City of Lakewood, who bought adjacent land and got a ½ million dollar Brownfield Redevelopment loan from the County to clean it up. Now that’s more like it.
See Crain’s

What started as a large one-off party at Pickwick & Frolic a couple of weeks ago now wants to turn into the latest non-profit economic development organization. This one may be different because they say it will be run by the entrepreneurs that will benefit from it, rather than a paid Executive Director, although those who have been there before know that you need full-time attention and expertise if the group will flourish. They are expanding from pure networking to offering services needed by entrepreneurs (to be determined by McKinsey & Ass), and they promise to avoid involving suppliers (who are always the ones helping to foot the bill in exchange for access to the members). Stay tuned to see which new grass roots economic development group gets formed next week. 
See CrainTech

Since so many people have been contacting us lately about the press that Cool Cleveland has been receiving, I thought I’d at least give you the links so you can check it out yourself. Usually personality profiles focus on the clothes you wear and what high school you attended; fortunately, these articles cut to the good stuff and reflected the true spirit of Cool Cleveland. Thanks to the media outlets for spreading the good word.
See Cleveland Magazine
http://www.clevelandmagazine.com/editorial/thismonth_features.asp?docid=351 
See Inside Business
http://www.inside-business.com/editorial/editorial_features.asp?docid=257
See The Plain Dealer
http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/living/1044614090247210.xml?cleve
What’s your reaction to all this?

Practically ignoring the fact that the demonstrations in 350 cities around the world last weekend amounted to the largest anti-war protests in the history of the world, most major media are instead focusing on Bush’s refusal to acknowledge it. But reality is starting to creep in: the NY Times reported this on Sunday, “Unlike the stereotypically scruffy, pot-smoking, flag-burning anarchists of the Vietnam era, yesterday’s protesters came from a wide range of the political spectrum: college students, middle-aged couples, families with small children, older people who had marched for civil rights, and groups representing labor, the environment and religious, business and civic organizations.” And The Plain Dealer did send reporter Tom Diemer to Iowa to hear Kucinich announce an exploratory committee in advance of his candidacy for President, acknowledging “Kucinich, little known to many in the room before yesterday, made a big impression…” Even US poets, rebuffed by Laura Bush when she feared they might actually express themselves about politics, went ahead with anti-war poetry readings in Vermont, Cleveland and around the US.
See “From New York to Melbourne, Protest against war in Iraq,” NY Times 
See “A New Power in the Streets,” NY Times
See “Candidate Kucinich comes out firing…” The Plain Dealer
See “Poets have their say, anyway, on prospects of war,” Associated Press
See “SF outpouring caps anti-war weekend,” Associated Press
See “Demonstrators around the world march against war with Iraq,” Associated Press
Did you go to an anti-war rally or poetry reading?

Then you know how many interesting things are always going on in Cleveland, and you know how hard it is to check out all the possible conflicts or synergies that might impact your own planning. Just out, The Attractions & Events Task Force of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission is making available (for free) a Master Events Calendar listing the “major venues and large crowd events in Downtown, University Circle, Tremont and Ohio City that you Wished You Knew About before planning that event: parades, festivals, shows, major arts and culture offerings, big venue concerts, professional and amateur sports, and anything else that could conflict with — or possibly enhance — your potential event.” You’ll automatically receive an update every 4 weeks and you still won’t be able to keep up with this dynamic town, but it will help. 621-0600 or click below.
Click for the free master calendar of major events in Cleveland

Catch the fine John Petkovic PD piece on Beachland owners Cindy Barber and Mark Leddy, along with Kathy Simkoff of The Grog Shop, Nick Kostis of Pickwick & Frolic and James Levin of CPT, calling them “urban pioneers” who build their neighborhoods through arts & culture. See below for cool events at CPT & the Beachland. Kostis on East Fourth Street: “This street will be like a little Times Square…activity, life, energy.” 
See Plain Dealer

is sold out at the City Club on Thu 2/20 at noon, but you can watch the webcast at the City Club site. In this highly anticipated speech, the Mayor is expected to lay out her long-awaited long-term plan for the city and the region. And check out the City Club’s slick new website. 
Cleveland City Club

When CWRU CIO Lev Gonick and CIA T.I.M.E. director Jurgen Faust got together last year, they wondered what they could do to stimulate the region through digital media. They came up with One Week In The Life of University Circle, and threw 60 of their students into it feet first. The students came up with 26 projects: CD-ROMs, video games, digital videos, interactive pieces. And now you get to check it out on giant screens at the follow-up to December’s wildly successful Art/Tech/Dance event. This one is downtown at the Tower Press Building and features music, DJs, VJs, refreshments, loft tours, and the chance to play with the OneWeek projects. Don’t risk getting sold out. Register today and join your new friends in the technology, business and art worlds from 22 partner organizations in an after-work happy hour like you’ve never seen. Thu 2/20 4-9PM Tower Press Building, 1900 Superior 
Register now

was one of Brazil’s recent agit-prop hits that has been just as acclaimed at film festivals in the US, a merciless and controversial look at how wealth, race, sex, corruption and geography divide contemporary Brazil, through the story of the management, staff & clientele of a ritzy Sao Paulo restaurant. Thu 2/20 9:15Pm & Sun 2/23 7PM Cinematheque, 11141 East Blvd 421-7450 
Cinematheque

by Richard Maxwell and the New York City Players is a two-actor show about the claustrophobic, Freudian world of an adult metalhead drummer (played by Blue Man Group’s Pete Simpson) who still lives at home with his mom (the esteemed Ellen LeCompte), punctuated with hilarious power ballads, this is an American musical of failing strip malls and arrested adolescence. Thu 2/20 & Fri 2/21 8PM, Sat 2/22 3PM & 8PM, Sun 2/23 3PM, Wexner Center for the Arts, Black Box on Mershon Auditorium stage, Ohio State University, Columbus 614-292-3535 
Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus

Our community is struggling with how to best leverage the bounty of regional arts excellence the Cleveland area possesses. And soon we may even have the opportunity to begin seriously supporting the arts and culture via public funding. Come hear Dr. Elizabeth Broun, director of the Smithsonian American Art Musuem and one of the nation’s leading authorities on American art, as she talks about the tangible, rational reasons why it’s important to support and preserve regional art and artists Fri 2/21 noon City Club, 850 Euclid 621-0082 
Cleveland City Club

His first foreign release Ma Ya spent an unprecedented 3 months at the top of the World Music charts in Europe, and Koite’s music is described as “subtle, lyrical, compelling and accessible to Western audiences.” Fri 2/21 7:30PM Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd, 421-7350
Cleveland Museum of Art

with the goal “to promote, educate and celebrate Northeast Ohio’s music industry,” featuring The Clarks, Virginia Coalition, Oval Opus, Sponge, Unified Culture, Zach, TwistOffs, Hostile Omish, Cyde, Vacancies, The Sign Offs, Party of Helicopters, Mojo, American Rockstar, Abdullah, Switched, Bedroom Allstars, Ami Barr, Hudson Chase, Red Giant, and over 200 bands performing at eleven venues throughout Cleveland on Fri 2/21, Sat 2/22 & Sun 2/23. Special showcase and panel discussion (on exciting topics like, “How To Get Clubs To Work With Your Band,” and “What Record Labels Want And How To Deliver It”—we’re obviously training our artists well) at noon on Sat 2/22 at the Odeon. 776-9999 Maybe they’ll update the website soon to include venues & times
Cleveland Music Festival

As part of an unprecedented month of dance in Cleveland, Cleveland Public Theatre hosts the 2nd Annual Food for Thought Dance Concert on Fri 2/21 & Sat 2/22 8PM & Sun 2/23 3PM, featuring the premieres of nine original works by Jenny Burnett, Joe Booth, Chung-Fu Chang, Lynn Deering, Chris DiCello, Marissa Glorioso, Marlene Leber, and Nadeen O’Connor. CPT, 6415 Detroit, Admission: 3-6 non-perishable food items 631-2727 http://www.cptonline.org 
See Cleveland.com

Just in the nick of time, the Cinematheque programs MIT linguist and political professor Noam Chomsky (whom the NY Times calls “the most important intellectual alive”) in a film that chronicles a series of his talks across the US last year, both frightening and inspiring. Fri 2/21 10PM & Sat 2/22 7PM & Sun 2/23 4:30PM Cinematheque, 11141 East Blvd 421-7450 
Cleveland Cinematheque

Featuring a silent auction of work by excellent Cleveland artists such as Alexandra Underhill (just back from her tour with Cirque du Soliel), Anna Arnold, Linda Zolten Wood and others, plus live music 6-8:30PM featuring Ukranian Folks songs by Trinity Cathedral Soloist Olena Jatsyshyn, classical jazz guitar by Ryann Anderson, alternative guitarist Doug Wood and alt/folksinger/songwriter Craig Robertson. Sat 2/22 6-10PM Trinity Commons Euclid & E. 22nd, 738-1059
Art For All Auction

Artist Christine Hill of New York (after serving time in a punk band in Berlin) spends five weeks at MoCA building a complete television studio in the MoCA galleries in preparation for a fictional late-night TV talk show that she will tape before a live audience at MoCA on 3/28. Between now and then, visitors can watch the studio & set being built, view writer’s meetings, watch as her host persona is developed, view technical walk-throughs and band rehearsals. Equal parts Duchamp, Warhol and Madonna (with a bit of Ernie Kovacs and Wayne’s World thrown in), Hill’s performance art is totally open to Cleveland’s input—she even wants you to sign up for Pilot Pitch Nights, where you pitch your talent or concept to convince her to make you one of her guests on the night of the taping. There’s no art to look at for the opening on Fri 2/21 5-10PM, although you can catch the usual MoCA opening buzz with DJs Bradley P and Jugoe, and I’ll even be there to say a few words about what a cool project this is. Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, 8501 Carnegie 421-8671 
Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

directs Charge by Eric Kaiser, in which you lounge in bed your entire life in a giant steel room watching your veins disappear and betting your toes away while directing electronic assistants to act our your every whim and desire. Part of CPT’s Black[BOX] series in which artists are given the keys to the theatre and set free, this has been described as a cross between Boyz N The Hood and Samuel Beckett. Fri 2/21 & Sat 2/22 8PM, Sun 2/23 3PM, CPT, 6415 Detroit, 631-2727 
Cleveland Public Theatre

is one of Cleveland’s best live bands, in the hardcore honkytonk tradition, now they are holding a CD release party for their new plastic The Fire of Misery Fri 2/21 9PM Tavern. Plus, Link Wray (you probably know his Rumble, which introduced the distorted electric guitar), Bill Kirchen (for sure you know his Hot Rod Lincoln) and Jet City Fix (you probably don’t know them) slingin’ guitars in the Ballroom Fri 2/21 9PM, Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo 383-1124 
Beachland Ballroom

from Seattle, grew up in Cleveland listening to Kiss (am I the only one around here who didn’t?) but now spins a blend of funk, deep house and intense techno, with Cleveland’s Dan PetrovSat 2/22 Touch Supper Club, 2710 Lorain Ave 631-5200 
Touch Supper Club

from the SPACES World Artist Program, Merta hails from North Moravia, and he spends six weeks in Cleveland creating work and culminating his visit with an exhibition. Spend an afternoon with the artist and talk with him about his experiences and his thoughts on Cleveland. Sat 2/22 & Sun 2/23 1-5PM SPACES, 2220 Superior Viaduct 621-2314 
SPACES

is a guaranteed good time and very season-appropriate, as you are lead on a hike through the Sugarbush Trail, watch Native American sap-collecting techniques, stop at the sugarhouse to see the sap being boiled into maple syrup. Guided tours every 20 minutes. Maple Grove Picnic Area, Rocky River Reservation Sun 2/23 thru ?? 10AM-3PM weekdays, 10AM-4:30PM weekends 440-734-6660
Cleveland Metroparks

one of Cleveland’s most respected writers, critics and performance artists, featuring Coffinberry, The Perfect Guy, Val Seeley, Viva Caramel & more, Sun 2/23 8:30PM Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo, 383-1124
Beachland Ballroom

with Cleveland’s DJ Santina spinning latin jazz, jazz-funk, soul jazz, straight-ahead jazz and “some of the jazz soul of Stevie Wonder,” Sun 2/23 10PM Lava Lounge, 1307 Auburn, off W. 14th in Tremont 589-9112 

If you’ll be in the Los Angeles area between Fri 2/21 thru Sun 2/23, catch the US premiere of the “rogue opera Mirror Man,” featuring appearances by Pere Ubu, Frank Black, Rocket From the Tombs, Bob Holman, Van Dyke Parks, Keith Moline, Andy Diagram, Georgia Hubley and more at the UCLA Freud Playhouse. For over 10 years, Holman has been wanting to put together a huge theatrical/musical/poetical collaboration with Cleve Hts High alum David Thomas (now a Londoner) and a crew of edgy artists—it looks like they’ve finally pulled it off. Too bad it’s not premiering in Cleve, but maybe someone will bring it here before it’s history. As they say, “We call it Disasto so nothing can go wrong,” but since it’s David Thomas, you know something always does. 310-825-2101 
UCLA Freud Playhouse

What started out last as a way to introduce the Campbell administration to the business community of Cleveland, has captured the imagination of hundreds of business people (including myself) who have been self-organizing as coaches, leaders, and CATs (Community Action Teams) on four themes: Selling Cleveland to Clevelanders, Selling Cleveland to Non-Clevelanders, Selling Cleveland to Cleveland businesses, Selling Cleveland to Non-Cleveland businesses. This fourth confab will again feature Jane Campbell and Tim Mueller, probably building off their State of the City address of 2/20. Join the stimulating breakouts and put your brain into the mix figuring out how the hell to sell this city. Tues 2/25 5:30-8:30PM The Club at Key Center, Marriott, 127 Public Square, 241-1272 Register below.
Register here for Connection Series 4

hosted by Commercial Real Estate Women, Inc. of Cleveland, featuring the Hon Mayor Jane Campbell, Terri Hamilton Brown, exec dir., CMHA; Pamela Marshall Holmes, regional VP, community service and development, The Cleveland Clinic Health System. Tues 2/25 11:30AM-2PM City Club, 850 Euclid 696-3711
Cleveland City Club

“I’ve been getting your newsletter for several weeks and like it. I often don’t agree with the opinions or politics of many of the articles forwarded each week, but the fact that I still read it top to bottom shows the value in your endeavor. Whether readers agree or not with the opinions expressed in Cool Cleveland is not as important as encouraging them to develop informed opinions (one way or the other) on regional (e.g., convention center) and national (e.g., war w/ Iraq) issues – which your newsletter does. Three quick issues with the latest Cool Cleveland and its inclusion of the Roldo Bartimole’s story on the proposed convention center. First, taxpayers will have the final say on the convention center when they VOTE ON IT in November. Second, how does one compare the development of a recreation center that has no revenue generating ability (albeit a worthy cause), to a renovated or new convention center that will generate regional revenue and jobs by attracting more of the multi-billion dollar trade show industry to Cleveland while giving the local economy a sustainable boost? Third, the statement “So we have the business community – fronted as stated here often by Cleveland Tomorrow (CT), the PD’s well-funded instrument of community control…” is ridiculous. Is Bartimole concluding that CT and the PD are in cahoots? The statement is so inaccurate it doesn’t warrant further response.”

“Wonder why e-responses to Cool Cleveland don’t have names and/or e-mail addresses. The anonymous response seems odd if one of your objectives is to foster and support a community of ideas. Also, I remember when we thought the Fries and Schuele Department Store would be an anchor of a revitalized near-west side. It was a nice place to shop.”
Submitted by Cool Cleveland reader Bill Busta

“I just got wind of your Cool Cleveland newsletter and find it very helpful and insightful. My wife and I are currently living in Hollywood Hills, Ca. and would like to find out about meeting some local Cleveland investors to bring some motion pictures to film in North East Ohio. Knowing that Cleveland is strong in Fortune 500 companies, we believe the film making process would be mutually beneficial to all parties involved. My wife and I have several feature film projects under our belts and are developing several more. As a former Clevelander, I would like to bring them to Cleveland. My ultimate goal has always been to return to the area to open a production company and make films. My wife has worked with investors here in LA, but the big push for Los Angeles investors is to keep films in Hollywood. I would like to meet the people interested in bringing productions there to Cleveland. My wife is a producer with multiple credits to her name and I have dozens of production credits to mine with a combined 27 years working in the industry. With the buzz of Harvey Pekar’s film “American Splendor” doing well at Sundance this year, we feel now is the best time to strike. If you have any insight as to approaching film investors living in the
Cleveland area, I’d appreciate the help.”
Submitted by Cool Cleveland reader Kenneth Yakkel & Lawreen Kayl Yakkel, SoDak Productions

“It seems that our choices in the matter are no pedestrian lanes (a bad prospect), or have pedestrian lanes, lose the truck route designation with its Federal Highway money, and eventually have no usable bridge or no bridge at all (a far worse prospect in my mind. I LIKE that bridge!). I am reminded of what might be another way out of this: the bride has the structure in place to lay a second deck BELOW the existing roadway. My understanding is that the deck was originally intended for streetcars or Rapid Transit trains, and I have heard mention of plans over the last few years to lay the decking for a walkway and shops(!) down there. What happened to this plan? It seems like it would enable the bridge to keep its truck route designation (and the associated Federal Highway funds) AND provide a safe pedestrian access across the valley away from the auto exhaust on the top deck.”
Submitted by Cool Cleveland reader Serafin Garcia

“What was the score when you did the quiz? I took it twice and tried to be generous the second time and still just barely got to second tier.”http://www.fastcompany.com/feature/02/cityquiz.html (p.s. when I did it, Cleveland got a score of 45—TM)

“2 requests to make transportation Cooler in Cleveland : Time traffic lights on Carnegie up-town all day, Chester down-town.. and advertise it. I’d love to know how and why lights are currently timed.. its trial and error error error for me now… Someday, make them both one-way? Put a few (tv monitors?) OUTSIDE the airport at arrivals so if you’re picking someone up you can see when there plane is due, or has arrived. By the way.. Scott Plate was knock-out at the Show of Peace, and Russian Ark was jammed, thanks to you??? Anyway, I thank you.”
Submitted by Cool Cleveland reader Clurie

“I just wanted to note how much your service is appreciated. It’s truly good to see such insight into the activities in Cleveland that would otherwise go unnoticed. Keep up the good work.”

“Just received a forwarded copy of your e-newsletter. Excellent stuff. Your finger is definitely on the pulse of the body of Cleveland that is screaming, a la Monty Python, “I’m not quite dead yet!” Looking forward to more. Plus, I will try to contribute when I can.”

“I am very impressed with the newsletter and the amount of information that it contains. Sometimes it is a lot ,but keeps everyone abreast of what is going on in Cleveland.”

“Thanks for the link to Roldo! As usual he cuts to the chase. I have bookmarked the site and sent it on to numerous friends. Thanks again.”

“Please add us to the “Cool Cleveland” e-letter list. We’re thinking about moving to your city!”

“I just wanted to thank you so much and say how enthusiastic I am about your email newsletter. Oh it just seems so timely and so helpful and I can’t say enough good things about it. I especially recently enjoyed the article about why a city thrives (“the number of people in creative occupations provided a better forecast of a city’s economy in the 1990’s than the percent of a region’s population with college degrees”.I love that, and we all KNOW it’s true!!!), and your editorial comments on Cleveland as compared to Austin. Also the $20 claim, and the suggestion about how to protest the war without freezing your butt off. Kudos, kudos, kudos. Keep up the good work.”

“Please send me e-mail on any upcoming events. I am movie producer in town working on a digital TV Series. Thanks.”

Anything you want to say to Cool Cleveland?

On Geeks & Gurus, 2/6 at TriC West: “The first of the Geeks & Gurus Visual Communication & Design lecture series was Thu 2/6. Eric Meyer, Standards Evangelist for Netscape Communication and author of “Eric Meyer on CSS” talked about the “New Language of Web Design.” The response exceeded all but my wildest expectations: we had to take over an adjacent room to hold the crowd of nearly 100 people. Some drove in from as far as Columbus (also Canton, Loudonville, etc.) to hear Eric explain the mysteries of Cascading Style Sheets. The mix of people in the audience was great: old pros, young designers, teachers, students, former students… the diverse audience that makes teaching in a community college both challenging and great fun. The evening started off – as all in the series will – with free light refreshments at 7 pm, the presentation from 7:30 to 9:00, and a giveaway at the end, the prizes in this case being two signed copies of Eric’s latest book. Next in the series is Bernadette Gillotta, Co-Artistic and Executive Director of Independent Pictures (a.k.a. Ohio Independent Film Festival) who wil speak on March 6th about the Independent Filmmaking “scene” here in Cleveland – how you can get involved. She is an accomplished filmmaker and producer who works primarily in film. She is going to bring along a digital filmmaker to discuss working in digital format. The two of them may duke it out over which format is best. The title for Bernadette’s talk is “Cleveland’s Independent Film Scene.” All lectures are in Rm. G4A/B, (Galleria lower level) Cuyahoga Community College Western Campus, 11000 Pleasant Valley Rd., Parma.”
Submitted by Cool Cleveland reader Al Wasco

Because of the advanced software tools we use (powered by IdeaStar.com), we can track which articles were most popular and received the most clicks. Here’s the Top 5 from our 2.12 issue:
1) Wanna claim an easy $20 from the scumbag record companies? http://www.musiccdsettlement.com
2) Those Wacky Pittsburghers and their tribute to their city: http://www.angel9oh7.com/pittsburgh.html
3) PURE’s cool new Fries & Schuele Block townhomes. Support our sponsors by clicking here: http://www.progressiveurban.com
4) Don’t Get Fooled Again and risk being sold out for Cool Cleveland’s Art/Tech/Dance party: http://www.corpmeetings.com/register/thomas/arttech2/index.html 
5) Looking for an entertaining and disturbing interactive quiz on how Cleveland ranks? http://www.fastcompany.com/feature/02/cityquiz.html

and associates on the Cool Cleveland list? Forward this message to them or send us their addresses at Thomas@Mulready.com, and we’ll turn them on to the best Cleveland has to offer each week—for free!
Thomas@Mulready.com

talk to us about sponsorship. Send e-mail to Thomas@Mulready.com or call 216-221-6017 to hear about the fantastic success our current sponsors are enjoying. 
Thomas@Mulready.com

–Thomas Mulready thomas@mulready.com

Many of you have called & sent e-mail to say how much you like Cool Cleveland and to congratulate us on our success. But Cool Cleveland may also be an effective vehicle for you to reach the leaders of Cleveland’s creative class. The people who are paying attention, who care about the future of our fine city, the people who actually go out and do the cool stuff that’s all around us. Drop a line to request an info sheet with demographics, benefits and testimonials. It would be nice to continue producing Cool Cleveland each week, but it won’t happen without your support. Wake up Cleveland and support the good stuff before its too late. 
Write to Thomas@Mulready.com for more info

Join your fellow Cleveland arts, business and tech mavens for the region’s hottest networking and art showcase, Art/Tech/Dance, on Thu 2/20 4-9PM at the Tower Press Building (www.TowerPress.com), offering free tours of their awesome live/work lofts offering artist subsidies. With tech by IdeaStar (www.ideastar.com) and design by Nesnadny+Schwartz (www.NSideas.com), you’ll experience VJs blasting massive video screens of digital art by CWRU and CIA students’ recent project One Week In The Life of University Circle, refreshments and DJs spinning dance music. Bring a friend or come alone and meet someone while you check out Cleveland’s most interesting and eclectic after-work party. Our December bash was sold out-don’t be left out in the snow. 
Click here to register

*************************** SPONSORED LINK ***************************
What does PURE have in store this week? Something for everyone, with prices ranging from $79,900 to $272,900 at The Grand Arcade, where loft units may feature exposed brick & beams, tin ceilings, hardwood floors, Terminal Tower views, new carpet & paint, you can even get a unit customized just for you. Check out the Open House on Sun 2/23 2-4PM at 408 W. St. Clair in the heart of the Warehouse District.
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Click here to take the virtual desktop tour and to support Cool Cleve

“It’s 15 minutes to midnight,” says Jon Alsenas, a Cleveland native and a portfolio manager for an Athersys investor, “my impression is that they’re more gone than staying in Cleveland.” According to Crain’s, since signing an exclusive licensing agreement in December to commercialize cutting-edge adult stem cell technology from the University of Minnesota, Athersys has become a hot commodity—possibly too hot for Cleveland. Alsenas: “Anybody who lands Athersys will have an inside track to hundreds of millions of dollars in research funding for a very hot and promising technology area. Athersys is the commercial center of that technology, and whoever gets Athersys will be the center of excellence” for stem cell research, which could lead to lucrative new drugs and treatments for inherited diseases and conditions. Duke University (which already recruited Athersys co-founder Huntington Willard away from University Hospitals in Cleveland), wants a 3-way partnership with Athersys and a pharmaceutical company. See more on Research Triangle at CrainTech: http://neohio.craintech.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?articleId=2463 
See Crain’s

It’s called monkeywrenching and it’s not always a bad thing, (just ask Abbie Hoffman), but a Cool Cleveland reader writes, “While I really dig the “Rice For Peace” idea you sent along in your recent Cool Cleveland, turns out that while the campaign is legitimate, the rice packages are clogging postal service machines, and causing lots of trouble for innocent folks (see below). I was excited about such a creative way to protest, but was sad to see it caused such problems. Peace, David Rosen DavidRosen2002@hotmail.com“ The solution? “Padded envelopes are perfect for this,” says Steve Cross, acting supervisor of the Glenwood Springs, CO post office, near the place where the campaign began, “We hand cancel them and they don’t get processed in our automated machinery.” For more info on the campaign, contact Lauren Martin 970-945-5245. 
See Glenwood Springs Post Independent

When was the last time an artist got a break like this? In a remarkable program based in part on a Cleveland Neighborhood Development Fund, artists can submit their work to a competitive, two-part jury process (Tom Hinson, Photo Curator at the Cleve Museum of Art is one juror), and if they meet income restrictions (under $24,000/yr), selected artists will be eligible to rent one of the live/work lofts at the stunning Tower Press Building at “below market rates” (probably around $480/mo, versus regular rates of $625-$2200/mo.). To apply, send resume, 10-15 slides (10 of current work), a slide description sheet, and a return envelope to: Tower Press Ltd, PO Box 91644, Cleve 44101-3644. Deadline for applications is 5PM on Wed 3/19. If you’d like to check out the lofts in person, the Cool Cleveland Art/Tech/Dance party takes place at the same Tower Press Building, 1900 Superior Ave, from 4-9PM on Thu 2/20. 
Register for this event at Tower Press Building

With enrollment growing by 30% over the last two years, Virginia Marti School of Design is doubling the size of their space and returning the facades back to their original 1920’s design at 1431 W. 117th. The project would not have been possible without extensive help from the City of Lakewood, who bought adjacent land and got a ½ million dollar Brownfield Redevelopment loan from the County to clean it up. Now that’s more like it.
See Crain’s

What started as a large one-off party at Pickwick & Frolic a couple of weeks ago now wants to turn into the latest non-profit economic development organization. This one may be different because they say it will be run by the entrepreneurs that will benefit from it, rather than a paid Executive Director, although those who have been there before know that you need full-time attention and expertise if the group will flourish. They are expanding from pure networking to offering services needed by entrepreneurs (to be determined by McKinsey & Ass), and they promise to avoid involving suppliers (who are always the ones helping to foot the bill in exchange for access to the members). Stay tuned to see which new grass roots economic development group gets formed next week. 
See CrainTech

Since so many people have been contacting us lately about the press that Cool Cleveland has been receiving, I thought I’d at least give you the links so you can check it out yourself. Usually personality profiles focus on the clothes you wear and what high school you attended; fortunately, these articles cut to the good stuff and reflected the true spirit of Cool Cleveland. Thanks to the media outlets for spreading the good word.
See Cleveland Magazine
http://www.clevelandmagazine.com/editorial/thismonth_features.asp?docid=351 
See Inside Business
http://www.inside-business.com/editorial/editorial_features.asp?docid=257
See The Plain Dealer
http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/living/1044614090247210.xml?cleve
What’s your reaction to all this?

Practically ignoring the fact that the demonstrations in 350 cities around the world last weekend amounted to the largest anti-war protests in the history of the world, most major media are instead focusing on Bush’s refusal to acknowledge it. But reality is starting to creep in: the NY Times reported this on Sunday, “Unlike the stereotypically scruffy, pot-smoking, flag-burning anarchists of the Vietnam era, yesterday’s protesters came from a wide range of the political spectrum: college students, middle-aged couples, families with small children, older people who had marched for civil rights, and groups representing labor, the environment and religious, business and civic organizations.” And The Plain Dealer did send reporter Tom Diemer to Iowa to hear Kucinich announce an exploratory committee in advance of his candidacy for President, acknowledging “Kucinich, little known to many in the room before yesterday, made a big impression…” Even US poets, rebuffed by Laura Bush when she feared they might actually express themselves about politics, went ahead with anti-war poetry readings in Vermont, Cleveland and around the US.
See “From New York to Melbourne, Protest against war in Iraq,” NY Times 
See “A New Power in the Streets,” NY Times
See “Candidate Kucinich comes out firing…” The Plain Dealer
See “Poets have their say, anyway, on prospects of war,” Associated Press
See “SF outpouring caps anti-war weekend,” Associated Press
See “Demonstrators around the world march against war with Iraq,” Associated Press
Did you go to an anti-war rally or poetry reading?

Then you know how many interesting things are always going on in Cleveland, and you know how hard it is to check out all the possible conflicts or synergies that might impact your own planning. Just out, The Attractions & Events Task Force of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission is making available (for free) a Master Events Calendar listing the “major venues and large crowd events in Downtown, University Circle, Tremont and Ohio City that you Wished You Knew About before planning that event: parades, festivals, shows, major arts and culture offerings, big venue concerts, professional and amateur sports, and anything else that could conflict with — or possibly enhance — your potential event.” You’ll automatically receive an update every 4 weeks and you still won’t be able to keep up with this dynamic town, but it will help. 621-0600 or click below.
Click for the free master calendar of major events in Cleveland

Catch the fine John Petkovic PD piece on Beachland owners Cindy Barber and Mark Leddy, along with Kathy Simkoff of The Grog Shop, Nick Kostis of Pickwick & Frolic and James Levin of CPT, calling them “urban pioneers” who build their neighborhoods through arts & culture. See below for cool events at CPT & the Beachland. Kostis on East Fourth Street: “This street will be like a little Times Square…activity, life, energy.” 
See Plain Dealer

is sold out at the City Club on Thu 2/20 at noon, but you can watch the webcast at the City Club site. In this highly anticipated speech, the Mayor is expected to lay out her long-awaited long-term plan for the city and the region. And check out the City Club’s slick new website. 
Cleveland City Club

When CWRU CIO Lev Gonick and CIA T.I.M.E. director Jurgen Faust got together last year, they wondered what they could do to stimulate the region through digital media. They came up with One Week In The Life of University Circle, and threw 60 of their students into it feet first. The students came up with 26 projects: CD-ROMs, video games, digital videos, interactive pieces. And now you get to check it out on giant screens at the follow-up to December’s wildly successful Art/Tech/Dance event. This one is downtown at the Tower Press Building and features music, DJs, VJs, refreshments, loft tours, and the chance to play with the OneWeek projects. Don’t risk getting sold out. Register today and join your new friends in the technology, business and art worlds from 22 partner organizations in an after-work happy hour like you’ve never seen. Thu 2/20 4-9PM Tower Press Building, 1900 Superior 
Register now

was one of Brazil’s recent agit-prop hits that has been just as acclaimed at film festivals in the US, a merciless and controversial look at how wealth, race, sex, corruption and geography divide contemporary Brazil, through the story of the management, staff & clientele of a ritzy Sao Paulo restaurant. Thu 2/20 9:15Pm & Sun 2/23 7PM Cinematheque, 11141 East Blvd 421-7450 
Cinematheque

by Richard Maxwell and the New York City Players is a two-actor show about the claustrophobic, Freudian world of an adult metalhead drummer (played by Blue Man Group’s Pete Simpson) who still lives at home with his mom (the esteemed Ellen LeCompte), punctuated with hilarious power ballads, this is an American musical of failing strip malls and arrested adolescence. Thu 2/20 & Fri 2/21 8PM, Sat 2/22 3PM & 8PM, Sun 2/23 3PM, Wexner Center for the Arts, Black Box on Mershon Auditorium stage, Ohio State University, Columbus 614-292-3535 
Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus

Our community is struggling with how to best leverage the bounty of regional arts excellence the Cleveland area possesses. And soon we may even have the opportunity to begin seriously supporting the arts and culture via public funding. Come hear Dr. Elizabeth Broun, director of the Smithsonian American Art Musuem and one of the nation’s leading authorities on American art, as she talks about the tangible, rational reasons why it’s important to support and preserve regional art and artists Fri 2/21 noon City Club, 850 Euclid 621-0082 
Cleveland City Club

His first foreign release Ma Ya spent an unprecedented 3 months at the top of the World Music charts in Europe, and Koite’s music is described as “subtle, lyrical, compelling and accessible to Western audiences.” Fri 2/21 7:30PM Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd, 421-7350
Cleveland Museum of Art

with the goal “to promote, educate and celebrate Northeast Ohio’s music industry,” featuring The Clarks, Virginia Coalition, Oval Opus, Sponge, Unified Culture, Zach, TwistOffs, Hostile Omish, Cyde, Vacancies, The Sign Offs, Party of Helicopters, Mojo, American Rockstar, Abdullah, Switched, Bedroom Allstars, Ami Barr, Hudson Chase, Red Giant, and over 200 bands performing at eleven venues throughout Cleveland on Fri 2/21, Sat 2/22 & Sun 2/23. Special showcase and panel discussion (on exciting topics like, “How To Get Clubs To Work With Your Band,” and “What Record Labels Want And How To Deliver It”—we’re obviously training our artists well) at noon on Sat 2/22 at the Odeon. 776-9999 Maybe they’ll update the website soon to include venues & times
Cleveland Music Festival

As part of an unprecedented month of dance in Cleveland, Cleveland Public Theatre hosts the 2nd Annual Food for Thought Dance Concert on Fri 2/21 & Sat 2/22 8PM & Sun 2/23 3PM, featuring the premieres of nine original works by Jenny Burnett, Joe Booth, Chung-Fu Chang, Lynn Deering, Chris DiCello, Marissa Glorioso, Marlene Leber, and Nadeen O’Connor. CPT, 6415 Detroit, Admission: 3-6 non-perishable food items 631-2727 http://www.cptonline.org 
See Cleveland.com

Just in the nick of time, the Cinematheque programs MIT linguist and political professor Noam Chomsky (whom the NY Times calls “the most important intellectual alive”) in a film that chronicles a series of his talks across the US last year, both frightening and inspiring. Fri 2/21 10PM & Sat 2/22 7PM & Sun 2/23 4:30PM Cinematheque, 11141 East Blvd 421-7450 
Cleveland Cinematheque

Featuring a silent auction of work by excellent Cleveland artists such as Alexandra Underhill (just back from her tour with Cirque du Soliel), Anna Arnold, Linda Zolten Wood and others, plus live music 6-8:30PM featuring Ukranian Folks songs by Trinity Cathedral Soloist Olena Jatsyshyn, classical jazz guitar by Ryann Anderson, alternative guitarist Doug Wood and alt/folksinger/songwriter Craig Robertson. Sat 2/22 6-10PM Trinity Commons Euclid & E. 22nd, 738-1059
Art For All Auction

Artist Christine Hill of New York (after serving time in a punk band in Berlin) spends five weeks at MoCA building a complete television studio in the MoCA galleries in preparation for a fictional late-night TV talk show that she will tape before a live audience at MoCA on 3/28. Between now and then, visitors can watch the studio & set being built, view writer’s meetings, watch as her host persona is developed, view technical walk-throughs and band rehearsals. Equal parts Duchamp, Warhol and Madonna (with a bit of Ernie Kovacs and Wayne’s World thrown in), Hill’s performance art is totally open to Cleveland’s input—she even wants you to sign up for Pilot Pitch Nights, where you pitch your talent or concept to convince her to make you one of her guests on the night of the taping. There’s no art to look at for the opening on Fri 2/21 5-10PM, although you can catch the usual MoCA opening buzz with DJs Bradley P and Jugoe, and I’ll even be there to say a few words about what a cool project this is. Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, 8501 Carnegie 421-8671 
Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

directs Charge by Eric Kaiser, in which you lounge in bed your entire life in a giant steel room watching your veins disappear and betting your toes away while directing electronic assistants to act our your every whim and desire. Part of CPT’s Black[BOX] series in which artists are given the keys to the theatre and set free, this has been described as a cross between Boyz N The Hood and Samuel Beckett. Fri 2/21 & Sat 2/22 8PM, Sun 2/23 3PM, CPT, 6415 Detroit, 631-2727 
Cleveland Public Theatre

is one of Cleveland’s best live bands, in the hardcore honkytonk tradition, now they are holding a CD release party for their new plastic The Fire of Misery Fri 2/21 9PM Tavern. Plus, Link Wray (you probably know his Rumble, which introduced the distorted electric guitar), Bill Kirchen (for sure you know his Hot Rod Lincoln) and Jet City Fix (you probably don’t know them) slingin’ guitars in the Ballroom Fri 2/21 9PM, Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo 383-1124 
Beachland Ballroom

from Seattle, grew up in Cleveland listening to Kiss (am I the only one around here who didn’t?) but now spins a blend of funk, deep house and intense techno, with Cleveland’s Dan PetrovSat 2/22 Touch Supper Club, 2710 Lorain Ave 631-5200 
Touch Supper Club

from the SPACES World Artist Program, Merta hails from North Moravia, and he spends six weeks in Cleveland creating work and culminating his visit with an exhibition. Spend an afternoon with the artist and talk with him about his experiences and his thoughts on Cleveland. Sat 2/22 & Sun 2/23 1-5PM SPACES, 2220 Superior Viaduct 621-2314 
SPACES

is a guaranteed good time and very season-appropriate, as you are lead on a hike through the Sugarbush Trail, watch Native American sap-collecting techniques, stop at the sugarhouse to see the sap being boiled into maple syrup. Guided tours every 20 minutes. Maple Grove Picnic Area, Rocky River Reservation Sun 2/23 thru ?? 10AM-3PM weekdays, 10AM-4:30PM weekends 440-734-6660
Cleveland Metroparks

one of Cleveland’s most respected writers, critics and performance artists, featuring Coffinberry, The Perfect Guy, Val Seeley, Viva Caramel & more, Sun 2/23 8:30PM Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo, 383-1124
Beachland Ballroom

with Cleveland’s DJ Santina spinning latin jazz, jazz-funk, soul jazz, straight-ahead jazz and “some of the jazz soul of Stevie Wonder,” Sun 2/23 10PM Lava Lounge, 1307 Auburn, off W. 14th in Tremont 589-9112 

If you’ll be in the Los Angeles area between Fri 2/21 thru Sun 2/23, catch the US premiere of the “rogue opera Mirror Man,” featuring appearances by Pere Ubu, Frank Black, Rocket From the Tombs, Bob Holman, Van Dyke Parks, Keith Moline, Andy Diagram, Georgia Hubley and more at the UCLA Freud Playhouse. For over 10 years, Holman has been wanting to put together a huge theatrical/musical/poetical collaboration with Cleve Hts High alum David Thomas (now a Londoner) and a crew of edgy artists—it looks like they’ve finally pulled it off. Too bad it’s not premiering in Cleve, but maybe someone will bring it here before it’s history. As they say, “We call it Disasto so nothing can go wrong,” but since it’s David Thomas, you know something always does. 310-825-2101 
UCLA Freud Playhouse

What started out last as a way to introduce the Campbell administration to the business community of Cleveland, has captured the imagination of hundreds of business people (including myself) who have been self-organizing as coaches, leaders, and CATs (Community Action Teams) on four themes: Selling Cleveland to Clevelanders, Selling Cleveland to Non-Clevelanders, Selling Cleveland to Cleveland businesses, Selling Cleveland to Non-Cleveland businesses. This fourth confab will again feature Jane Campbell and Tim Mueller, probably building off their State of the City address of 2/20. Join the stimulating breakouts and put your brain into the mix figuring out how the hell to sell this city. Tues 2/25 5:30-8:30PM The Club at Key Center, Marriott, 127 Public Square, 241-1272 Register below.
Register here for Connection Series 4

hosted by Commercial Real Estate Women, Inc. of Cleveland, featuring the Hon Mayor Jane Campbell, Terri Hamilton Brown, exec dir., CMHA; Pamela Marshall Holmes, regional VP, community service and development, The Cleveland Clinic Health System. Tues 2/25 11:30AM-2PM City Club, 850 Euclid 696-3711
Cleveland City Club

“I’ve been getting your newsletter for several weeks and like it. I often don’t agree with the opinions or politics of many of the articles forwarded each week, but the fact that I still read it top to bottom shows the value in your endeavor. Whether readers agree or not with the opinions expressed in Cool Cleveland is not as important as encouraging them to develop informed opinions (one way or the other) on regional (e.g., convention center) and national (e.g., war w/ Iraq) issues – which your newsletter does. Three quick issues with the latest Cool Cleveland and its inclusion of the Roldo Bartimole’s story on the proposed convention center. First, taxpayers will have the final say on the convention center when they VOTE ON IT in November. Second, how does one compare the development of a recreation center that has no revenue generating ability (albeit a worthy cause), to a renovated or new convention center that will generate regional revenue and jobs by attracting more of the multi-billion dollar trade show industry to Cleveland while giving the local economy a sustainable boost? Third, the statement “So we have the business community – fronted as stated here often by Cleveland Tomorrow (CT), the PD’s well-funded instrument of community control…” is ridiculous. Is Bartimole concluding that CT and the PD are in cahoots? The statement is so inaccurate it doesn’t warrant further response.”

“Wonder why e-responses to Cool Cleveland don’t have names and/or e-mail addresses. The anonymous response seems odd if one of your objectives is to foster and support a community of ideas. Also, I remember when we thought the Fries and Schuele Department Store would be an anchor of a revitalized near-west side. It was a nice place to shop.”
Submitted by Cool Cleveland reader Bill Busta

“I just got wind of your Cool Cleveland newsletter and find it very helpful and insightful. My wife and I are currently living in Hollywood Hills, Ca. and would like to find out about meeting some local Cleveland investors to bring some motion pictures to film in North East Ohio. Knowing that Cleveland is strong in Fortune 500 companies, we believe the film making process would be mutually beneficial to all parties involved. My wife and I have several feature film projects under our belts and are developing several more. As a former Clevelander, I would like to bring them to Cleveland. My ultimate goal has always been to return to the area to open a production company and make films. My wife has worked with investors here in LA, but the big push for Los Angeles investors is to keep films in Hollywood. I would like to meet the people interested in bringing productions there to Cleveland. My wife is a producer with multiple credits to her name and I have dozens of production credits to mine with a combined 27 years working in the industry. With the buzz of Harvey Pekar’s film “American Splendor” doing well at Sundance this year, we feel now is the best time to strike. If you have any insight as to approaching film investors living in the
Cleveland area, I’d appreciate the help.”
Submitted by Cool Cleveland reader Kenneth Yakkel & Lawreen Kayl Yakkel, SoDak Productions

“It seems that our choices in the matter are no pedestrian lanes (a bad prospect), or have pedestrian lanes, lose the truck route designation with its Federal Highway money, and eventually have no usable bridge or no bridge at all (a far worse prospect in my mind. I LIKE that bridge!). I am reminded of what might be another way out of this: the bride has the structure in place to lay a second deck BELOW the existing roadway. My understanding is that the deck was originally intended for streetcars or Rapid Transit trains, and I have heard mention of plans over the last few years to lay the decking for a walkway and shops(!) down there. What happened to this plan? It seems like it would enable the bridge to keep its truck route designation (and the associated Federal Highway funds) AND provide a safe pedestrian access across the valley away from the auto exhaust on the top deck.”
Submitted by Cool Cleveland reader Serafin Garcia

“What was the score when you did the quiz? I took it twice and tried to be generous the second time and still just barely got to second tier.”http://www.fastcompany.com/feature/02/cityquiz.html (p.s. when I did it, Cleveland got a score of 45—TM)

“2 requests to make transportation Cooler in Cleveland : Time traffic lights on Carnegie up-town all day, Chester down-town.. and advertise it. I’d love to know how and why lights are currently timed.. its trial and error error error for me now… Someday, make them both one-way? Put a few (tv monitors?) OUTSIDE the airport at arrivals so if you’re picking someone up you can see when there plane is due, or has arrived. By the way.. Scott Plate was knock-out at the Show of Peace, and Russian Ark was jammed, thanks to you??? Anyway, I thank you.”
Submitted by Cool Cleveland reader Clurie

“I just wanted to note how much your service is appreciated. It’s truly good to see such insight into the activities in Cleveland that would otherwise go unnoticed. Keep up the good work.”

“Just received a forwarded copy of your e-newsletter. Excellent stuff. Your finger is definitely on the pulse of the body of Cleveland that is screaming, a la Monty Python, “I’m not quite dead yet!” Looking forward to more. Plus, I will try to contribute when I can.”

“I am very impressed with the newsletter and the amount of information that it contains. Sometimes it is a lot ,but keeps everyone abreast of what is going on in Cleveland.”

“Thanks for the link to Roldo! As usual he cuts to the chase. I have bookmarked the site and sent it on to numerous friends. Thanks again.”

“Please add us to the “Cool Cleveland” e-letter list. We’re thinking about moving to your city!”

“I just wanted to thank you so much and say how enthusiastic I am about your email newsletter. Oh it just seems so timely and so helpful and I can’t say enough good things about it. I especially recently enjoyed the article about why a city thrives (“the number of people in creative occupations provided a better forecast of a city’s economy in the 1990’s than the percent of a region’s population with college degrees”.I love that, and we all KNOW it’s true!!!), and your editorial comments on Cleveland as compared to Austin. Also the $20 claim, and the suggestion about how to protest the war without freezing your butt off. Kudos, kudos, kudos. Keep up the good work.”

“Please send me e-mail on any upcoming events. I am movie producer in town working on a digital TV Series. Thanks.”

Anything you want to say to Cool Cleveland?

On Geeks & Gurus, 2/6 at TriC West: “The first of the Geeks & Gurus Visual Communication & Design lecture series was Thu 2/6. Eric Meyer, Standards Evangelist for Netscape Communication and author of “Eric Meyer on CSS” talked about the “New Language of Web Design.” The response exceeded all but my wildest expectations: we had to take over an adjacent room to hold the crowd of nearly 100 people. Some drove in from as far as Columbus (also Canton, Loudonville, etc.) to hear Eric explain the mysteries of Cascading Style Sheets. The mix of people in the audience was great: old pros, young designers, teachers, students, former students… the diverse audience that makes teaching in a community college both challenging and great fun. The evening started off – as all in the series will – with free light refreshments at 7 pm, the presentation from 7:30 to 9:00, and a giveaway at the end, the prizes in this case being two signed copies of Eric’s latest book. Next in the series is Bernadette Gillotta, Co-Artistic and Executive Director of Independent Pictures (a.k.a. Ohio Independent Film Festival) who wil speak on March 6th about the Independent Filmmaking “scene” here in Cleveland – how you can get involved. She is an accomplished filmmaker and producer who works primarily in film. She is going to bring along a digital filmmaker to discuss working in digital format. The two of them may duke it out over which format is best. The title for Bernadette’s talk is “Cleveland’s Independent Film Scene.” All lectures are in Rm. G4A/B, (Galleria lower level) Cuyahoga Community College Western Campus, 11000 Pleasant Valley Rd., Parma.”
Submitted by Cool Cleveland reader Al Wasco

Because of the advanced software tools we use (powered by IdeaStar.com), we can track which articles were most popular and received the most clicks. Here’s the Top 5 from our 2.12 issue:
1) Wanna claim an easy $20 from the scumbag record companies? http://www.musiccdsettlement.com
2) Those Wacky Pittsburghers and their tribute to their city: http://www.angel9oh7.com/pittsburgh.html
3) PURE’s cool new Fries & Schuele Block townhomes. Support our sponsors by clicking here: http://www.progressiveurban.com
4) Don’t Get Fooled Again and risk being sold out for Cool Cleveland’s Art/Tech/Dance party: http://www.corpmeetings.com/register/thomas/arttech2/index.html 
5) Looking for an entertaining and disturbing interactive quiz on how Cleveland ranks? http://www.fastcompany.com/feature/02/cityquiz.html

and associates on the Cool Cleveland list? Forward this message to them or send us their addresses at Thomas@Mulready.com, and we’ll turn them on to the best Cleveland has to offer each week—for free!
Thomas@Mulready.com

talk to us about sponsorship. Send e-mail to Thomas@Mulready.com or call 216-221-6017 to hear about the fantastic success our current sponsors are enjoying. 
Thomas@Mulready.com

–Thomas Mulready thomas@mulready.com