Feelin The Love

2.13-2.20.08
Feelin’ the Love

In this week’s issue:
* Party Cool Red Movie Music
* Comment At Least We Have a Lake
* Kids The right attitude about cross-country skiing
* Meet The Bloggers Podcast with Councilman Joe Cimperman
* Ingenious Cleveland Wine School
* Straight Outta Mansfield Two Winners and a Loser
* BFD Why is KeyBank promoting with an Etch-a-Sketch video?
* Emissions from the Blogsphere Conversations, safety nets, and nights out
* Reads The Franchise by Terry Pluto & Brian Windhorst
* Sounds Quiet Canvas by Jim Couchenour
* Roldo on taxpayer incentives to developers
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, Brewed Fresh Daily here

Don’t you just love it? That great feeling when you discover something cool, then send it to your friends, and then they think you’re cool for turning them on. Here’s a few hot links for you to forward this week: Our first Cool Cleveland party of ’08 featuring scary movie music; an appreciation of Lake Erie, while in Atlanta, they can’t flush their toilets; a guide to cross-country skiing for kids, just in time for our winter wonderful weather; a Meet The Bloggers podcast with Joe Cimperman, running against Dennis Kucinich in the 10th District; an introduction to the Cleveland Wine School; Mansfield tells how Cleveland’s “best band in the land” is trying to raise money to be one of only 5 high school ensembles invited to China for the Summer Olympics; we review Terry Pluto’s new book and Jim Couchenour’s new CD; Roldo wonders just how much taxpayers can subsidize private development; and you’ll find a stimulating collection of links for cool events, kid stuff, blog postings and news. A quick reminder about the upcoming 3/4 election: order your absentee ballot now, and watch for our endorsements and election coverage. As Plato has said, “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” Not that that’s ever happened around here… —Thomas Mulready

Don’t be scared!
You’ll love our cool movie music party 3/8
Order here for 33% discount

Everyone loves movie music Especially when it’s the impossibly scary Bernard Herrmann, who did the music for Hitchcock’s Psycho, Vertigo, and North By Northwest. Come hang with your Cool Cleveland friends on Sat 3/8 from 5:30-7:30PM for drinks & snacks before the show, then join the 8PM concert in the magnificent Masonic Auditorium for film clips, Hollywood music, and excerpts from Herrmann’s unproduced opera, Wuthering Heights, considered the greatest unknown American opera. Scope out photos of our past fabulous parties here, and order your tix before midnight Thu 2/14 here.

Does this sound scary to you?

Don’t delay Movie, clips, food, drinks, and the cherished goodwill of your fellow Cool Clevelanders await! Get the best possible price on a ticket by ordering online before midnight Thu 3/14 here: https://www.coolcleveland.net/tickets/030808/index.php

At Least We Have a Lake
by Chris Whipple

Have you ever told someone you’re from Cleveland and they immediately respond, with “Mistake on the Lake”? This term was originally coined for Mayor Kucinich and his term as Mayor of Cleveland. Unfortunately, many individuals ignorant of what Cleveland has to offer, still use this term to insult individuals from this area and the city itself. Anyone from Cleveland knows this is not the truth and while it might not be easy to come up with a quick retort, its time we start responding with, “At least we have a Lake.”

As more and more populations around the world are literally running out of water, this saying and the importance of a great lake has never been stronger. As our planet continues to warm up, the need for water will only increase. The Atlanta area is only the most recent example of an ‘instant town’ which has gotten itself in trouble. A friend recently stated, Atlanta is a success story after the Olympics. The population has grown from 2.5 million to over 5 million. Unfortunately the aquatic infrastructure was not in place to allow for this growth. Atlanta is running out of water.

Lake Lanier is the fresh water lake where most of greater Atlanta receives their drinking water and the lake is down 10 or 11 feet. The boat docks are all on dry land. Atlanta’s civic leaders have asked Army Corp of Engineers to divert more water from Chattahoochee River and unfortunately they have agreed to do so. This will only divert water away from Alabama and Florida. We don’t yet know the long-term consequences of this action.

There are many reasons why Atlanta is this short of water. One is the lack of summer rains and another is the lack of hurricanes. While everyone holds their breath that hurricanes won’t hit land and especially their land and/or home. The truth of the matter is the rain from these storms help replenish the water tables. The citizens in the Atlanta area are using the technique of not flushing the toilet after each use in order to conserve water. It has recently been reported that establishments in the area are posting the following signs in the restrooms:

If it’s Yellow, be mellow,
If it’s brown, flush it down…

Not a good way to attract visitors and patrons. What’s next for these restaurants and hotels, outhouses…?

Las Vegas is another example of over population drawing down the available water. Lake Mead is at half its normal level and if they don’t get more rain soon, the citizens of Las Vegas will be the first to feel it. Las Vegas gets 90% of its drinking water from the lake and seven other states rely on the Colorado River for part of their water supply. The water level is approaching one of the pumps the city uses and they are being forced to build a new pump lower in the lake. Believe it or not, the city of Las Vegas pays its citizens to tear up their lawns and put in cacti and desertscape landscaping.

Additionally, the Hoover dam generates its power from the water in Lake Mead. If Lake Mead goes dry, Las Vegas’s 1.8 million residents and the casinos will not simply be missing their drinking water but also their inexpensive source of electricity. It seems living in the desert isn’t all that it is cracked up to be. Las Vegas is building a 280 mile water pipeline from northern Nevada. To put this in perspective, that is a distance longer than Cleveland to Cincinnati. One can only imagine what that will do for their water bills.

Southern California is a desert and for the last 100 years they have piped in their water. One of their aqueducts is 600 miles long. This is the distance from Cleveland to Atlanta. Today, no one would advocate moving water that distance, 100 years ago, this is what they did. Even President Teddy Roosevelt assisted. He obtained the rights to move water over this area by declaring some of the land as National Parks. Southern California has another aqueduct and it is 400 miles long. This drains water from the Colorado River and is a constant battle between the western states. Mark Twain probably summed it up best when he wrote, “in the West, the whiskey is for drinking, and the water is for fighting over” This still holds true.

One way we can help in Northern Ohio is to slow the constant paving of our lands with roads and parking lots. This prevents rain water from returning to the ground and becoming part of the water tables. Instead the water is channeled into storm water sewers and piped into other areas. We should applaud an east side insurance company as they built a parking garage and left considerable green space. It would have been easier to pave over the green space. Let’s hope other communities, companies and developers follow suit.

Clevelanders appreciate the lake and this is evidenced by the number of yacht clubs in the area. As many well-heeled Clevelanders belong to yacht clubs as to country clubs. Few regions in the country have the number or quality of yacht clubs as Cleveland. There are numerous individuals from Columbus and from as far as Chillicothe who keep their boats on Lake Erie and drive north to enjoy the lake.

Over 200 years ago, Cleveland’s forefathers settled this area for one reason; there was easy and plentiful access to clean, healthy drinking water. Recently there have been “instant towns” which are created by adding water. Anyone who has ever made instant anything, knows what happens when the water is removed.

This area was previously known as the “Great Lakes Region”. Unfortunately with the loss of a few large industries, we became known as the “Rust Belt Region”. The good news is these old industries have been replaced with new more diverse and more permanent industries. We should again refer to ourselves as the “Great Lakes Region”, or the “Good Hygiene Region.” It will remind ourselves and others of how fortunate we are to be near these resources.

In closing, for those of us old enough to remember our mothers’ saying, “eat your vegetables, there are people starving in China”. We may have one for our children, “Don’t waste the water, there are people in the south who can’t take a shower.” And remember if you ever hear, “Mistake on the Lake,” please respond by acknowledging an overwhelming source of pride and sustenance for our region: “At least we have a Lake.”

From Cool Cleveland contributor Chris Whipple whippleusATroadrunner.com

SPONSORED: Calling all Choco-holics! Give into temptation and enjoy the sweet surrender of Chocolate: The Exhibition running now through – Sun 5/4 at the Great Lakes Science Center. Enjoy the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of these events: Complimentary Chocolate Strawberries: 2/9 – 2/29; Wine and Chocolate: 2/14 (adults only); Sundaes on Saturday: 3/15 & 4/12; Candy Chemistry Spring Break Day Camp: March 22 – 29; Doggone Good Chocolate: April 19 (bring your Chocolate Labrador for an outdoor group photo opp. Proceeds benefit the Animal Protective League). Members get extra special treats. Details: www.GreatScience.com.

Starting ’em Early
For Kids, Cross-Country Skiing is All About Attitude

Skiing is all about attitude. Just ask my two year old! My husband and I took our son Ronan to Pine Lodge Ski Center in Kirtland and had a blast. We weren’t sure how he would react to skiing though he has seen mice skiing down mountains in one of his favorite books and seemed to think this was something he would enjoy. My husband was only 3 the first time he skied and growing up in Colorado skiing is a little bit more accessible. I on the other hand grew up in Northeast Ohio where mountains are tough to come by. We would like skiing to become part of what we do as a family so we figured, why not enjoy what we have here in Cleveland. Lots of great parks with fabulous trails and lots of snow to enjoy cross-country skiing! Like most sports the earlier you start the better your chances of success.

It was a nice day in late January, not too cold but perfect for cross-country skiing because we had just gotten about an inch or two of snow the night before. I was so thrilled to see so many people out! It really helped me shake the winter blues to know that this little winter oasis is right here in our back yard! The Pine Lodge Ski Center is in Chapin Forest and is part of Lake Metroparks. It is about a 10 minute drive off of Route 90. There were a lot of families just like us out for the day for a fun and affordable day in the snow! Adults are just $5 an hour and $2 every hour after that or $15 for the day, and youths under 12 are $3 an hour and $1 for every hour after that or $9 for the day. Ski rental equipment includes boots, skis and poles. You can even enjoy a mile of lighted trails that stay lit up until 9PM; all of this is weather permitting of course.

Some families had sleds attached to them as they were skiing to pull their babies and other families were snow shoeing, which are also available to rent at the lodge. Not only is this a great family friendly activity but is it low cost and good for your heart! Don’t worry if you have never skied before, any day is a good day to start. The lodge offers different classes and camps for all ages and levels.

Ronan was very excited about having the actual skis on his feet and though he wasn’t coordinated enough to use the poles he insisted on having the straps around his wrists. Since cross-country skis are much easier to move in than down hill skis I think this was a great place to start. Cross-county skis allow your heal to come up while the ski stays down so Ronan was able to move in a walking motion while gliding his skis across the snow. Once he was comfortable moving around, at a snails pace mind you but none the less, moving, he said he wanted to go into the trees! He saw some people skiing along the trail through the trees and decided his 20 minutes of lessons was good enough for the big time! We did slowly make our way over but once we got into the thick of it he decided he was done. All in all it was a great day and a wonderful family friendly activity.

Unlike some families in Cleveland we are actually hoping for some more snow so that we can get our son on skis again this year. Though he may not be ready for any big mountains next winter we think that just exposing him to skiing in this way will help to make him more confident next year. Besides, we got some great photos!

Visit the Lake Metroparks Chapin Forest Pine Lodge Ski Center at 10381 Hobart Rd. Kirtland Call 440-256-3810 or find them online at www.lakemetroparks.com.

Comment and Photo from Cool Cleveland contributor Patricia Neligan Barley neliganAThotmail.com

Slavic Village Winter 08 Snow Festival Morgana Park Leagues, in conjunction with Cleveland Public Library’s Broadway & Fleet Branches, and Broadway Public Art, host cool community event at Morgana Park and the Dan Kane Gardens Park @ East 65th St. near Broadway Ave. on Sat 2/16. Lead events include “Play the Conditions!” tournament slow pitch softball games, snow sculpture exhibit contests (both weather permitting), and “Walk Your Dog & Master!” competitions. For additional Festival info, call 548-0315, 441-0467, or 469-4806.

Snow White Based on the popular Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Snow White by master puppeteer Matthias Kuchta, tells the tale of a young princess who is on the run from a wicked stepmother and ultimately finds refuge in a small cottage in the forest inhabited by seven pint sized men who decide to adopt her and protect her from all harm. Snow White arrives direct from Germany for two performances Sat 2/16 at 11AM and 2PM as a part of the 2007-2008 Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Discovery Theatre Series at Playhouse Square. http://www.playhousesquare.org.

Giant Millipede Feet! Feel the sensation of a multitude of millipede feet tickling your skin at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center’s during their next “Meet An Animal” program Sat 2/16 at 3PM. The Giant African Black Millipede will be featured in this hands-on, family friendly program at no cost! These bugs truly are giants… growing up to 11 inches long and thicker than your thumb! Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, 28728 Wolf Rd., Bay Village. More than 100 other live animals are on exhibit inside and out seven days a week from 10AM – 5PM. http://www.lensc.org.

Tales of the Western Reserve Take sides in Cleveland’s Battle of the Bridges, enjoy a humorous tall tale about Ohio roads and hear other Tales of the Western Reserve at the Renaissance Center, 26376 John Rd. in Olmsted Township on Mon 2/18 at 7PM. This storytelling program is no cost, open to the public. Call 235-7111 for more info.

Paul Green School of Rock’s Open House is scheduled for Tue 2/19 from 5 – 8PM and Sat 2/23 from 1 – 4PM. The open house will give parents and kids the opportunity to check out the school, meet the music teachers and jam. Kids are encouraged to bring instruments (we have drums) and join in. Learn all about the school in their brand new location, 299 Alpha Park, Highland Heights. For info, call 440-684-7625 or email: clevelandeast@schoolofrock.com.

SPONSORED: Is CMA on Your Playlist for Sat Fun? Load up on creativity with classes for adults & kids! These classes are a real trip with a touch of funk. Spring session runs for six weeks (Saturdays) and highlights the permanent collection and our newest exhibit, “Arms and Armor of Imperial Austria.” General registration begins Sat 2/16. Classes: Mixed Media for Adults; Art for Parent and Child (age 3); Mini-Masters (ages 4-5); Wearable Art (ages 5-6); Art Experiments (ages 6-8); Medieval Mania (ages 8-10); Miscellaneous Materials (ages 10-12); Teen Drawing Workshop (ages 13-17); and Claymation (ages 11 and up). Sessions: Sat 3/15 – Sat 4/26. No class on 3/22. 10-11:30 AM or 1-2:30 PM. For information about classes for children/teens, call 216-707-2182. Register: 216-421-7350 or 1-888-CMA-0033.

Cool Cleveland Kids Podcast Weekly roundup of cool events for kids & families from 11-year-old Cool Cleveland Kids correspondent Max.

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

Clinton-Obama debate hits Cleveland! Might be one of the most desired tickets to come in years. Read
Good news on the Euclid Corridor Project with billions of development $$$. Is this project the “tipping point” Cleveland (and Clevelanders) have been waiting for? Read
Follow Along Scope It Out
Lake Metroparks has launched a 50th anniversary website to celebrate this historic anniversary of the park system. Click.
Progressive Urban Real Estate launches a blog! Get a look-see. Read
Check out the Heights Observer This cool new outlet is worth a look-see. Click Away and read about the public forum on the proposed income tax and library levies in Cleveland Heights Thu 2/21.
Lockwood, Jr. and Levert lock up posthumous Grammys. Click.
Leave your thoughts/ prayers for Viktor Schreckengost’s family in this virtual guest book. Click
Ah, election time… confusing? End the guessing in judicial races. Five major bar associations in Greater Cle rated Cuyahoga County candidates and offer bios as well. http://www.judge4yourself.com is a non-partisan website.
See how the arts are to be funded in our southern neighbor, Columbus. Click
Zagat, the restaurant guide publisher, has moved into doctor-rating. Click
Hopkins to get upscale new shopping mall-like experience? Gap? Aveda? VS? Read

Pop-Up City does Leap Night View the cool vids on their MySpace page & mark your calendar for Leap Night 2/29 from 6-11PM on the East Bank of the Flats, when Cleveland’s Pop-Up City, a Civic Innovation Lab funded project by KSU Urban Design Collaborative planner Terry Schwartz, launches a one-night-only pop-up experience with sk8ing rink, a videogame display, music, bonfires, performances by SAFMOD, a winter forest, snow & ice installation, a snowboard ramp and rail jam competition, a snowsuit fashion show, and food and drink vendors. Take the RTA Waterfront line, comp parking, no admission, and thank the Wolstein Group for donating space & funding. http://www.PopUpCleveland.com.

Did you know? The Cleveland Public Library loaned 5.4 million items to citizens at no charge in 2007? Did you know that most branches offer comp wi-fi? Did you know you can rent DVDs & CDs and download directly to your MP3 player? Did you know that over 3.25 million people took advantage of services at the 28 neighborhood branches of CPL in 2007? To volunteer for Issue #2 for the Cleveland Public Library in the March 4th election, call 721-2511.

Bogota, Columbia is talking about Cleveland In Cleveland, we call it Walk & Roll. In Bogota, they call it Ciclovia, where they close down 70 miles of streets every Sunday and on holidays to allow young and old, rich and poor, to bike, run, sk8 and participate in aerobics, performances, picnics, vendor stations and urban civility. Paris, Ottawa, Guadalajara, Santiago & others have started their own programs. Watch thru to the end where Cleveland is mentioned. Walk & Roll, started by Lois Moss and supported by the Civic Innovation Lab, has organized these events for the past two years, and they can use your help. Watch.

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Got cool news? Send it to EventsATCoolCleveland.com.

Cool Cleveland Podcast Weekly roundup of cool events.

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

Sparx is looking for artists! Do you think you fit the bill? They’re looking for energetic performance artists for highly visible, paid roles in downtown Cle’s cool outdoor entertainment series. Sparx Street Beats is seeking professional soloists and ensembles that integrate bold dance, music or visual elements into crowd-stopping acts for downtown patio diners and passersby. Artists must be available on various Thu evenings and Fri lunchtimes to perform in 2hr shifts. If interested, send in a bio, demo tape or DVD w/relevant material to Sparx, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, 50 Public Square, Suite 825, Cleveland OH, 44113. Attn: Lisa Kreiger. All materials MUST be received by 3/3 at 5:00PM EST. Questions? Call 736-7799 or email: sparx@dcacleveland.net.

SPONSORED: Be Among the First to Hear about the new Center for Regional Sustainability at the “green” party of the year! EcoCity Cleveland and The Cleveland Museum of Natural History invite you to celebrate their recent merger. “Emerge: A Celebration” will be held Sat 2/23 from 8PM to midnight. Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres made with organic/locally sourced ingredients, cash bar featuring organic wine selections, Great Lakes Brewing Company beer-tasting and live entertainment by rock and blues band AbbyNormal. Enter a raffle to win cool prizes. Proceeds benefit the new Center. Tickets: party only: $35 Museum members, $45 nonmembers; party plus private reception with Center for Regional Sustainability Director David Beach and Museum Executive Director Bruce Latimer: $100. Tickets: www.cmnh.org or call 216-231-1177.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

The People’s University Meets the Bloggers Holly Carroll and Fine Arts and Special Collections Librarian Pam Eyerdam sit down with meet.the.bloggers to discuss why Issue 2 is so very important to the future of Cle Public Library and our neighborhoods Wed 2/13 at 6PM at Gypsy Beans & Baking Co. Details.

Eat to the Beat Don’t miss a show at hearing Ashley Davis, Artistic Director of the Stax Music Academy Wed 2/13 at 4:30PM as a part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s Teacher Rock program and Black History Month celebration. 4th Floor Theater. http://www.rockhall.com.

Riot Girls & Rebels: A Celebration of Women Who Rock hits the InterContinental Hotel on Wed 2/13 at 6PM. The Rock Hall of Fame and Museum hosts the event — designed to honor women who are an inspiration both professionally and personally, and are involved in arts and cultural organizations. Music industry executive Barbara Carr and musician Joan Jett are honored, along with an area businesswoman, who will be selected from a pool of nominees. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are scheduled to perform. Call 515-1207 or visit http://www.rockhall.com.

Barley Wine Tapping What better winter warmer than a barley wine? And what better brewer than Great Lakes to offer it up? Exactly. Just in time for that mid-Feb hump, they tap their batch Wed 2/13 at 6PM. Specially aged since June 07, GLBC’s full-bodied Barley Wine presents a “smooth, velvety taste with a mellow hop nose.” Keep an eye out, as a certain CC Managing Editor wouldn’t miss this for the world!!! GLBC Beer Cellar, 2516 Market Ave. Details.

Ted Nordhaus & Michael Shellenberger The managing directors (and proclaimed “environmental bad boys”) of American Environics and founders of The Breakthrough Institute, will speak about their book Break Through: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of Possibility at noon on Wed 2/13 at The City Club of Cleveland. http://www.cityclub.org.

SPONSORED: How Cool is That? At Cleveland State University, the character of our students is one of the things you’ll find most engaging. Take, for example, Maria Weybrecht, an entrepreneur who earned both a Bachelor of Business and an MBA at CSU. As a student who was battling cancer at the time, Maria founded “Kids in Flight” www.kidsinflight.org, a non-profit organization that gives seriously ill children a chance to soar with their dreams, using aviation to encourage them. These children and their families were given the opportunity to experience the joy of flying through Weybrecht’s annual charity event. And she’s the kind of student you’ll find at CSU — someone who is engaged in their career and their community. Nance College of Business: 216.687.3730, cba@csuohio.edu or www.csuohio.edu/cba.

HOT Two Rooms In the first co-production between Cleveland Public Theatre and Charenton Theater Company, Two Rooms by Lee Blessing is launched. Beginning with a preview Thu 2/14 at the CPT Bookstore Theatre, the production is led by director Jacqi Loewy and follows an American professor who has been taken hostage in Beirut and held in a small room by a terrorist faction. Back in the US, his wife awaits word of his fate and struggles to win the war between the media and the State Dept. First produced in the 80s, this is disturbingly relevant today. Runs through early March. http://www.cptonline.org.

The Crush Party Single guys and gals looking for an excuse to wear a hot outfit and scope out other singles on Valentine’s Day should hit Silk Nightclub in the Shooters Complex Thu 2/14 at 6PM. Girls – gloss those lips and prepare your sexy pout! Men – practice your hard to get look. Northern Ohio’s 3rd annual Crush Party is a blast! Bid on great date packages presented by Cleveland singles featured in the February issue of Cleveland Magazine. Live auction and raffle, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, dancing. VIP tickets include drink tickets, wine tasting, and a gift bag and are part of the ticket price. All proceeds benefit Easter Seals Northern Ohio and helps to assist children and adults with disabilities here in the area. Silk, 1148 Main Ave. http://www.clevelandmagazine.com/crush.

HOT Better Off Dinner Shoparooni on Waterloo presents an alternative to the nonsense of Valentine’s Day Thu 2/14 at 7PM. Sick of all that sappy nonsense? Their Anti-VD Better Off Dinner includes a gourmet meal a la John Cusack, consisting of fruit-stuffed Fronch toast, Fronch fries, and side salad with Fronch Dressing; a “Gift That Keeps On Giving” Mystery Fun Box, and a screening of the Cusack classic, “Better Off Dead.” Enjoy the “priceless company of fellow social misfits, outcasts, and people who just hate Valentine’s Day as much as you do.” 15813 Waterloo Rd. Viva la Cusack! http://www.shoparooni.com.

Wine & Chocolate Pairing The Cleveland Wine School has paired up with the Great Lakes Science Center this Valentines Day for an educational experience Thu 2/14 at 7:30PM. Taste great wines and four delicious desserts, then explore the new Chocolate: The Exhibition. Great Lakes Science Ctr., 601 Erieside Ave. RSVP to 694-2000. More info at 831-9919. http://clevelandwineschool.com.

Gene’s Jazz Hot highlights a fine Loganberry Books V-Day gathering on Thu 2/14 at 6:30PM. Bring your sweetie to hear the swinging nostalgic and happy hometown band. Food and wine are welcome. Donations for the band gladly accepted. Loganberry Books 13015 Larchmere Blvd. http://www.loganberrybooks.com.

HOT Queen N’deye Gueye just finished blowing up NYC for New Year’s and Detroit in January. And she is coming to Cle with Papa Hamidou from Ballets Africains for a rare trio of performances and workshops. Get jiggy with Sabar, Guinea, Ivorian Drummers, soca music, reggae, hip-hop and more. Witness her magic Fri 2/15 at 6PM at The Cory Recreation Center, 10518 Drexel Ave. (sans Papa Hamidou); Sat 2/16 and Sun 2/17at 3PM at The Masonic Temple and Performing Arts Ctr., 3615 Euclid Ave. For more info or to pre-register: http://www.africansoulinternational.org. Email: sistajewel@yahoo.com, or call 451-SOUL.

Get (Oscar) Shorty For the first time, Cle audiences will have a chance to see all of the Oscar-nominated short films in a theater before the Academy Awards are presented. The five Best Animated Short Films and the five Best Live Action Short Films will be playing at the Cedar Lee Theatre, located at 2163 Lee Rd. in Cleveland Heights, starting on Fri 2/15. Details and show times: http://www.clevelandcinemas.com.

Hunka Junk 5 is a festival of oddball 16mm educational films, commericials, music performances and instructional films, virtually pulled out of garbage dumpsters. The series originated in Canada, but this latest installment premiered in Finland, where it beat out Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse at the box office! Check out the coolness at the Cleveland Cinematheque Fri 2/15. Times for screenings at http://www.cia.edu/cinematheque.

A Clark-Metro V-Day Fundraiser Clark Metro Development Corp. hosts their 1st Annual Valentines Celebration Fundraising Event Fri 2/15 at 6PM at the San Lorenzo Club, 3401 Clark Ave. There will be live music and dancing into the wee hours of the morning. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres are also part of a nominal cover charge. All proceeds benefit programs and projects in their service area. Call 741-9500 or email: dmartinez@clarkmetro.com. http://www.clarkmetro.com.

Louis CK Enjoy the jokes of David Letterman, Conan O’Brien or Chris Rock? If the answer is affirmative, Playhouse Square has just the comedy ticket: Louis CK, delivering his stand-up routines at the Ohio Theatre Fri 2/15 at 8PM. A comic super-hyphenate (stand-up star, comedy writer, film producer), Louis was a member of the original writing staff who launched “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” in 1993, and (take note, trivia buffs) was also the first stand-up comedian to appear on Conan’s show. He can be raunchy, but he’s hilarious and your sides will hurt on the way out. Definitely not for kids. http://www.playhousesquare.org. http://www.louisck.com.

SPONSORED: The Break Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical Dive back into the dating pool with Helen Hill, a 33-year-old lesbian who has recently been dumped by her girlfriend, as the Beck Center for the Arts premieres The Break Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical, 2/22 – 3/22 in the Studio Theater. This is the first production of this new musical outside of California. “Not since Reefer Madness has a production brought humor, spunk and creativity back to musical theater,” says Stacy Schupmann, Showmag.com, of the original L.A. production. Written by Patricia Cotter with music and lyrics by Lori Scarlett, Notebook received the 2006 LA Ovation Award for Best New Musical. For tickets to this hilariously insightful night of theater call Beck Center at (216) 521-2540, or visit their website at: www.beckcenter.org.

Ensemble Les Délices offers three NEO performances of their program, In the Apartments of the King in Cleveland, Akron, and Rocky River on consecutive evenings. Proceeds from the Sat 2/16 at 7:30PM show at the First Unitarian Church in Cle benefits an upcoming CD recording. Les Délices hits Westminster Presbyterian in Akron (presented by the 5@5 Series) on Sun 2/17 at 5PM and Rocky River’s West Shore UU Church (presented by the Rocky River Chamber Music Society) on Mon 2/18 at 8PM. Open to the public; a freewill offering is suggested. Program features music for “Sun King,” Louis XIV. http://www.debranagy.com.

The Meditations are among the most beloved and respected harmony trios to emerge from the roots era of reggae during the 1970s. Now they are back and better than ever with Ghetto Knowledge, their first album of brand new material since 1992. The group was formed in 1974 by three talented singers and songwriters: Ansel Cridland, Danny Clarke and Winston Watson. A quarter-century later The Meditations’ original line-up is intact and hits the Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd., Cle Hts. this Sat 2/16 at 9PM. http://www.grogshop.gs.

SPONSORED: Award-winning Journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault presides at Cleveland Public Library’s “Writers and Readers Series,” Sun 2/17, 2PM. Free and open to the public, the event will take place at the Main Library, E. 6th and Superior. Hunter-Gault made civil rights history as the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Georgia. Her memoir, “In My Place,” tells the story of those difficult years. In 1963 she was a reporter for The New Yorker and later joined the New York Times as a reporter specializing in coverage of the African American community. She joined the MacNeil/Lehrer Report in 1978 and served as chief national correspondent for The Newshour where she won two Emmy Awards and a Peabody for excellence in broadcast journalism. For more information: www.cpl.org or (216) 623-2800.

Suspicious Cheese Lords Don’t let their name deceive you – a whimsical translation of the Tallis motet, Suscipe Quaeso Domino – the group ranks among the top a cappella male vocal ensembles in the US. They specialize in music of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Since their inception, they’ve performed at the National Cathedral, the Smithsonian, Pope John Paul II’s Cultural Ctr, National Gallery of Art, Georgetown Univ and more. They make a rare Cle appearance at Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, 1007 Superior Ave. (at E. 9th). No cost, open to the public. Call 771-6666 (x5510) or email: gheislman@dioceseofcleveland.org.

Wanna Learn Salsa Dancing? Then register for the 4-week “Beginner Salsa Shine Workshop” through Cleveland Swing and Salsa! They launch the program Sun 2/17 at 7PM. This class will move slow and concentrate on simple, basic shine patterns. This workshop is at the studio at 4151 Mayfield Rd., S. Euclid. For more info or to register, call 440-350-9969 visit http://www.clevelandswingandsalsa.com.

Heights Chamber Orchestra continues to celebrate its 25th Anniversary Season with their second concert of the season Sun 2/17 at 7:30PM. Featuring guest conductor Eric Gratz and tenor Jermaine Jackson, the group offers works by Rossini, Vaughan Williams and Dvorak. Open to the public; donations are welcome. St. Ann’s Church, 2175 Coventry Rd., Cle Hts. Info at http://www.heightschamberorchestra.org.

10th Congressional District Primary Debate The Democratic Primary Debate takes place Tue 2/19 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 777 St. Clair Ave. Doors will open at 11:30AM and features candidates Councilman Joe Cimperman, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, and Mayor Thomas O’Grady. Tickets are sure to sell out. Corp and NPO tables available. Register here or call 621-0082.

Reclaiming the Constitution The Northeast Ohio Chapter of the American Constitutional Society hosts this interesting forum and debate at the Independence Library, 6361 Selig Dr. Tue 2/19 at 7PM. Gayle Horwitz is Co-Founder and President of the NEO Chapter of the American Constitutional Society (ACS), one of the nation’s leading progressive legal organizations. Details.

From Songwriters to Soundmen The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s 4th Floor Theater plays host to The People Behind the Hits with Al Bell, former owner of Stax Records this Wed 2/20 at 7PM. Part of the Rock Hall’s celebration of Black History Month. 4th Floor Theater. http://www.rockhall.com.

Arts-Related Business Symposium COSE’s Arts Network holds a half-day, multi-disciplinary symposium Wed 2/20 from Noon – 7PM. The begins with a keynote from Ali Pretty, founding member/ artistic director of Kinetika, a large-scale carnival arts and design company based in London. It ends with a networking session. Trinity Commons, 2230 Euclid Ave. Register online: http://www.cose.org/events or call 592-2203.

Strings Attached CityMusic Cleveland, the professional chamber orchestra and arts outreach organization, offers its next set of no cost, open to the public concerts beginning Wed 2/20 throughout NEO. Conducted by Music Director James Gaffigan, the program will be presented in six different cities, including Elyria, Westlake, Slavic Village, St. Clair-Superior, Cleveland Heights, and Willoughby. The program has a wide-ranging appeal, including the music of Grieg, Schoenberg, Schreker and Mozart. Locations and times at http://www.citymusiccleveland.org.

SPONSORED: It’s too late for you to enter WCLV’s Valentine’s Day Love Poem Contest, but today and tomorrow, Valentine’s Day, you can hear the ten winning poems read by WCLV’s Robert Conrad and Jacqueline Gerber. Maybe they will inspire you to start writing for next year’s contest. Next Wednesday, 2/20, WCLV 104.9 will be live again at the Cleveland Institute of Music’s boffo new recital hall Mixon Hall for a faculty recital by Cleveland Orchestra violinist Stephen Rose and guest pianist Christina Dahl in a program of Sonatas by Mozart, Beethoven and Faure. Complete details on all of WCLV’s classical music programming at http://www.wclv.com.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Councilman Joe Cimperman
Meet The Bloggers Interview 02.06.08

Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman sat down with Meet The Bloggers last Wednesday at Gypsy Beans & Baking Co. to discuss his political background and his recent decision to run against Representative Dennis Kucinich for his 10th District seat. The interview, with a panel of regional bloggers and a full cafe of citizens listening and participating, was audio recorded and is being posted as a podcast. Meet The Bloggers provides a platform for civic, political and community discourse, supported by listeners and advertisers. http://www.MeetTheBloggers.netClick the button below to listen.

George Nemeth of Brewed Fresh Daily moderated the discussion. Highlights include Gloria Ferris asking why Cimperman decided to run for Congress at this stage of his career; Anastasia Pantsios of The Free Times asking about his passions and vision for the District; Bill Callahan of Callahan’s Cleveland Diary asking why he isn’t running against Stephanie Tubbs-Jones. This podcast is 1:00:39 in length.

SPONSORED: An evening with The Cleveland Orchestra – full of surprises! Do you want to hear our renowned Cleveland Orchestra, but aren’t sure that the music on the program is up your alley? Delay no more! “Baroque and Beyond” is a crowd-pleasing concert featuring a charming flute concerto by C.P.E. Bach and Haydn’s famous “Surprise” Symphony. To make this evening even sweeter, take advantage of the exclusive Cool Cleveland “2 for the price of 1” discount for the concerts of Thursday, Feb. 21 and Friday, Feb. 22, both at 8PM. Call the Severance Hall Ticket Office at 216-231-1111 or visit http://www.ClevelandOrchestra.com TODAY and order using promo code 4752. Offer expires at noon on Feb. 21, subject to availability.

A Little Bit of Napa Passion
Warming Up, Thawing Out in Cleveland Wine School

The name of the Cellar Door Tasting Center, a few doors down from Moxie in Beachwood, conjures visions of stone steps leading to a dimly-lit cavern lined with wine bottles. That was sort of what I expected when I sought it out on a winter’s night. But I was surprised.

The brightly-lit storefront tasting room was minimally decorated and brightly lit. The space is warmed by wooden floors and walls painted the colors of California’s golden hills and burnt-red soil. On the walls are pictures that appear to be paintings, but they are in fact enlarged photographs of grapes and barrels taken during the wine-country travels of wine expert Marianne Frantz and her husband Jerry. Along one wall is a long serving bar beset with half-emptied bottles of wine. Wooden tables and chairs placed nearby are intimate, but well spaced, and the mixed crowd at one of two weekly tastings seemed intent on their blend of wine and conversation. Open shelving at the back of the shop showcases wines hand-picked for sale, including those being tasted on the Friday night when I visited.

It felt more like a Napa Valley tasting room than an Old European wine cellar. It felt like founder Marianne Frantz set out to define a space that was truly American without forgetting our European roots.

Two menus are offered at the Friday and Saturday night tastings—one for $15 and one for $20. I chose the $15 selection of Spanish wines, and I was not disappointed. The $20 menu included the French wines of Louis Jadot and Joseph Drouhin, which I know. I wanted a different experience, although the regions of France-Chablis, Macon, and Cote de Nuits sound romantic and intricate–I love reading French wine labels for that reason.

The Spanish wines I tasted were unusual, so I made a good choice. Jessica Brown and Casey Davis, two young women learning about wines and working in public relations and event marketing at The Cleveland Wine School, joined me during the tasting. I was impressed that, as employees, they are required to take the certification courses offered at The Cleveland Wine School. They talked about developing their palates and taking the tests, and as I talked to them I realized the story of The Cleveland Wine School and its tasting room is really the story of a woman’s passion for wine and her desire to share what she learned about wine with the Cleveland area. Like a photographer sharing a painting, Marianne Frantz wanted to show us the art of wine.

No, wine isn’t just about drinking. It’s an experience. I saw it all around me as people sat at their tables and lifted wine glasses to see the color of the wine, swirled wine in their glasses to see what “legs” the wine presented, put their noses to the brims of their glasses, and finally tasted the wine. This was after Marianne or Jerry came over with the next bottle to be tasted on each person’s wine list and poured it while introducing the wine region and what to expect from the wine to be tasted.

Marianne Frantz is a certified wine educator and holds a diploma in Wine & Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust of London. She earned the Advanced Sommelier qualification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and is a second-year Master of Wine candidate for the WSET Diploma in London. In addition to teaching, she has produced culinary events across the U.S. and in France, and writes about wine for our own Cleveland Magazine and the Wine Buzz.

The Cleveland Wine School was founded in 2002 and is the Midwest United State’s exclusive program provider for WSET’s systematic approach to understanding wine. Classes cover wine regions, wines, and food and wine pairings, and the School periodically takes students on trips to wine regions. Classes develop knowledge on the variety and structure of wines and how to distinguish a robust fruitiness from a dusky dryness. Knowing the difference between a Pinot Grigio, a Chardonnay, or a Reisling might be the first step, but knowing what region in the world the grapes hailed from is another.

Professional Intermediate and Advanced certification courses for serious wine drinkers and those in the hospitality industry cover wine-making techniques and flavor profiles. Intermediate Classes begin with Wine Tasting 101, then delve into the various varietals, and will be held Mondays from March 17 thru April 28 from 6-8. The Summer Immersion classes take place August 18 and August 19 from 10 until 5. The Advanced Certificate classes will be held in the fall starting September 8.

Since the winter series sold out before Christmas, the Wine School added classes at Three Birds in Lakewood. The Three Birds classes start on March 3 and will include the 4-class series. Anyone signing up for the six-course session receives a Vine.ology membership which provides members-only tasting events and vineyard trips, early-bid access to special events, discounts at Moxie Restaurant, a Cleveland Wine School Binder with Tasting sheets, among other perks. The monthly events include wine pairings with small plates prepared by Chef Bob Sferra, owner of Sferra Culinary Occasions and an Executive Chef Consultant who did time at The Cleveland Restaurant School, received education in France, and worked as a chef at the Inn at Turner’s Mill, The Harp, and The Foundation House of the Cleveland Clinic, and as Culinary Director for the Viking School.

The Cellar Door Tasting Center is a newer enhancement to the adjacent Cleveland Wine School. For three years the school operated in the Hilton Hotel in Independence before moving downtown to the Caxton Building for two years, and then to the Viking school. With its quarters in Beachwood and the opening of the Cellar Door, it seems like the School has found its home. Upcoming events include a sold-out chocolate and wine event at the Great Lakes Science Center and a Grapes of Italy event on March 19. The School is producing the Cleveland International Wine Show, “Meet the Growing Thirst for Wine in the Midwest,” at the I-X Center in early May; it is expected to feature over 500 wines from 100 wineries with up to 20 pavilions, including an Ohio pavilion. At summer’s end, the School will be set up at the Taste of Hudson over Labor Day weekend. In addition, the Wine School has a presence in Chicago: WSET Intermediate Certification classes are being offered four times a year at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Chicago.

When Marianne and Jerry poured the Spanish wines for me, it was as if they had just come from Navarra in the Pyrenees Mountains or one of the Rioja subregions where Tempranillo grapes are grown. They talked about Spain like people who had been there. The tasting sheet listed the wines by name with the price in parenthesis, followed by a full paragraph of description. For example, the first wine I tasted, a wine made from Albarino grapes in the wet and cool region of Spain known as Rias Baixas, is described as one of the few aromatic grapes native to Spain and as having “Pronounced aromas of peaches, apple blossom and lime fruits with a hint of mineral make the wine a natural partner for seafood.” At $15.99, the wine was affordable.

Later, when tasting the reds, I enjoyed tasting the difference between the 100% Tempranillo and the Rioja blend of Tempranillo, Granacha and Graciano grapes, and I learned that most Riojas are a blend. Tempranillo is a native grape, but it is grown alongside French grapes in the vineyards of Navarra. My taste buds were able to discern the differences in the grapes and the aging, but making a decision on which wine I enjoyed the most, and thus ending in a selection of wine, was tough. I liked them all—probably because the wines were selected by someone with good taste in wine.

The Cleveland Wine School and The Cellar Door are located at 3355 Richmond Rd., Suite 191, Beachwood. Food can be brought in to compliment the wines. The telephone number is 831-9919, if you get lost looking for it. Visit them online at http://www.clevelandwineschool.com.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Claudia J. Taller ctallerwritesATwowway.com

SPONSORED: Interested in C-Span/92nd Street “Y”-quality lectures and presentations, but no such professorial types in your neighborhood? Consider attending the no-cost and open-to-the-public annual Junior Faculty Colloquium at Lake Erie College in Painesville on Thu 2/21, 6-8PM, in Coe Conference Room of the Holden Student Center. Presentations will be made by faculty members in Entrepreneurship Studies (“Cleveland as a Brand Name in China”), Modern Languages (“The Linguistic pasticciaccio in Carlo Emilia Gadda”), and Equine Studies (“Best Practices in Feeding Programs for Equine Facilities”). Coffee and dessert provided as an added stimulus to discussion! For more information, call Richard Sax at (440) 375.7151 or email Kathleen Lawry at klawry@lec.edu. More information at: www.lec.edu/pr/news.php.

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

Key may be headed to Higbees? Three words: location, location, location. It sure isn’t for the chocolate malts. Read
Med Mart folks want to run the Convention Center as well. Hmmm… Read
Wells Fargo wants Cle subprime mortgage loan charges thrown out. Click
Inside Business and ERC announce applications are being accepted for the 2008 NorthCoast 99 awards! This is the 10th year of recognizing great workplaces for top talent. Click Here to Apply
Area industries applaud Gov. Strickland’s direction in speech, which cited creation of 80K jobs. Click
Will Green Energy jobs reenergize Ohio? Read on. Read
NCB woes yield editorial from every direction. As a power player they rode the Mortgage Boom. Now they’re looking to branch out
Obama angling on Ohio with health care focus. Click
Strickland speech yields this interesting question, posed in the Canton Rep. Click
10K Micro Ideas gets some much-deserved love in our daily. Read
Akron Mayor Don has an idea to mortgage the sewers for scholarships and education? Down the Drain?
Upcoming Tax Rebates help most if you work hard to spend them locally, and with area indie business. Read
Moen to close Elyria plant ops. No word on cuts in N. Olmsted. Click

SPONSORED: It’s Kinda like Heaven when people throw cash your way for your great business idea. And it could happen for you in as little as a few weeks, according to the latest success story from IdeaCrossing, an online community resource from www.JumpStartinc.org. IdeaCrossing focuses on helping entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio – and beyond – find the business assistance and investment capital they need to launch new business ventures. Score! There’s no cost to register and create a profile – so there’s no risk. IdeaCrossing is for Entrepreneurs, Investors, Service Providers, or Business Mentors, because connections are key. See what IdeaCrossing’s newest success story, Shawn Barrieau, co-founder and CEO of DimpleDough had to say about getting contacted by interested investors. Find out what IdeaCrossing can do for you. Visit www.ideacrossing.org.

How is advertising changing? Find out Wed 2/20 at 11:30AM w/ AAF networking at Windows on the River. Register
PRSA Ohio hosts a “Social Media” b’fast conf Fri 2/22 at 7:45AM. Shoreby Club, 40 Shoreby Dr., Bratenahl. http://www.prsacleveland.org
Cle Leadership Ctr’s Emerging Leaders Open House feat. Cle Bridge Builders, Cle Exec Fellowship and more Wed 2/27 at 5:30PM. Park Lane Villas. RSVP
Best Practices feat. Lessons Learned from Cleveland’s Best Business Leaders at CSU Wolstein Ctr Thu 2/28 at 8:30PM. Register
eVolution of Manufacturing Conference hits on Thu 2/28 at the MAGNET Innovation Ctr., 1768 E. 25th St. To register, email: dbaughman@sbnonline.com or call 440-250-7048.
Univ. of Akron’s Ctr for Research and Training in Info Security and Assurance hosts 6th ann. Symposium on IS Risk, Security and Assurance on Thu 2/28 & Fri 2/29. Register‘
Fight for the Lucite 2008 Addy show hits Fri 2/29 at Gray’s Armory. RSVP to 440-673-0020.
NEO Success Awards Luncheon hits Exec Caterers @ Landerhaven Tue 3/11 at 11:30AM. Register
Ohio-Israel IT Financial Trade Mission Mon 3/10 and Tue 3/11 starting at 7AM, Cle Marriott D’town at KeyCenter. Call 292-3399 for details.
Cleveland AMA Marketing Mixer and Bowling Night hits Winking Lizard Lakewood Wed 3/12 at 5PM. Call 440-646-9932.
Research ShowCASE 08 Scientists, scholars together for 2-day collaboration highlighting research done @ CWRU, OH Wed 4/16 and Thu 4/17. More
Networked Approach to Building Prosperity in Communities and Regions is a 2-Day Workshop at Punderson Manor Resort & Conf Ctr beg Wed 4/23. Details
Cleveland Opportunity + Expo 2008 is designed to provide small and mid-size businesses in Cle an opportunity to promote and introduce products or services and establish new relationships. It hits Fri 5/23 at 10AM at the Galleria. Click

Two Winners and a Loser
Visible Voice, Shaw’s Marching Cardinals and a Food Crisis

What do a marching band, a bookstore, and a fried chicken outlet have to do with each other? Absolutely nothing… unless they happen to be the disparate topics of my three-part column this week. The Mighty Cardinals Marching Band of Shaw High School, Visible Voice Books in Tremont (celebrating their first anniversary and pictured here) and a fried chicken outlet on Woodland… two of these entities are enriching and giving back to the community. And the third? Well, let’s say garbage in, garbage out. Read on.

The Road to China

The Mighty Cardinals Marching Band of Shaw High School in East Cleveland is perhaps the “Best Band in the Land,” and it’s not just about the great music, the intricate marching steps, and the unbridled enthusiasm that has won the 47-member squad over 150 trophies in the last seven years; it’s more about what belonging to the band has meant in the lives of these kids who are so dedicated to excelling. And, coming from one of the most economically depressed cities in the State of Ohio, these young people need all of the encouragement and support they can get in their efforts.

Just in case you’ve been residing on the moon for the last couple of months, The Mighty Cardinals are one of only five high school bands in the nation to be invited to participate in events leading up to the Summer Olympics to be held in China this year. It is indeed a privilege and honor for this group of youngsters, who won out over some stiff competition. Far wealthier school districts from across America were vying for the honor, but the students at Shaw High School proved what inspired kids can achieve.

However, to make the China trip the band has to raise $220,000 by March 18 and the students are currently $60,000 short of their goal.

It would be extremely easy to dismiss this as just another field trip, but to these kids, the City of East Cleveland, and indeed the entire North East Ohio region, the honor of being invited to China demonstrates what’s possible when a heroic teacher/mentor/coach/father figure impacts on the lives of young people. The band’s director, Donshon Wilson has been all of the aforementioned things to his students… and more; a whole lot more. He’s been a stabilizing force in the lives of children that, in too many cases, have no other. And in the process he’s proven that any child — repeat, any child — can be successful with the proper mentoring and a whole lot of love. These are honor and merit roll kids, many of them from broken homes, that are all on track to go to college, and many of them will return after graduation and give something back. This is how communities are rebuilt… one child at a time.

This band, these kids, need and deserve our help — yours and mine. Lisa Lombardo, who works at Studio MZ Salon and Spa in Woodmere (27629 Chagrin Blvd.), read about the band and started her own fundraiser. She got the salon’s owner to donate salon and spa services, which she in turn raffles off. To date she had raised over $600 for The Mighty Cardinals. But you can do something too. If you can’t make it to the spa you can donate by making a contribution to:

Shaw High School Marching Band
14305 Shaw Ave.
East Cleveland, OH 44112
For more information, call 216-268-6570.

A Bookstore and More

The fact that Dave Ferrante opened Visible Voice Books (1023 Kenilworth Ave.) in Tremont on Valentine’s Day in 2007 is no mere coincidence; although he doesn’t come right out and say it, the book emporium (the term book “store” simply does not do the operation justice) is his “gift” to Northeast Ohio booklovers. Ferrante is giving the community what he loves… books.

“Books contain the thoughts that form, shape and move the world,” Ferrante explains, “and big box stores want to sell them like they’re mere commodities, like they’re widgets, and they’re not. They sell books the same way they sell wallpaper — there’s no love there, no passion, no respect for authors or the written word.”

This is not the case at Visible Voice Books; the moment you set foot inside you get the feeling that the floor space, wall shelves and racks were filled by people with an abiding love and respect for books and the people who write them. The cozy shop quite literally overflows with books; books, books and more books, but all displayed with a sense of order, propriety and purpose. The space is easy — and quite interesting — to navigate.

But don’t look for the top 10 or 20 bestsellers, you won’t find them at Visible Voice Books; they leave that end of the market to the big box retailers. “We don’t carry the most popular books, we just try to carry the best books by the most talented authors,” said Todd Whitten, the shop manager, “books you won’t find other places.” Indeed, shop has all of the titles by my favorite author, Tom Robbins — which is quite amazing, considering the space available.

The bookstore is a perfect compliment to the other businesses in the immediate area. Across the street is an art gallery, and within walking distance are dining establishments, shops and other amenities that are turning the Tremont area into a true “destination,” quite unlike the humongous, soulless, artificially created shopping districts created by developers. This is a real community, with real people.

Upstairs space at Visible Voice Books has been converted into a comfortable area for readings and other neighborhood events, and a brick patio will host an outdoor wine bar come summer. “I’ve attempted to create space people feel comfortable coming into, hanging out, and just spending some time browsing around,” said Ferrante, “and perhaps stumbling upon that magical, special book that can add so much to life.” A worthy goal indeed. Visit the store online at http://www.visiblevoicebooks.com.

Dying For Business Success

Which community in America isn’t interested in new businesses opening? None, that I am aware of… which makes this story somewhat difficult to write, especially when the businesses are opening in minority communities. But this business model is the equivalent of “burning down the village to save it.”

A new fried chicken outlet opened on Woodland Avenue near East 55th, and to my understanding others (all of which will probably be opened near housing projects) are on the drawing boards. Now chicken can be very healthy, but not the way it’s prepared in these modern-day, upscale-appearing, greasy spoons. Not that this outlet is any worse than the rest of them, it’s not. All of them are purveyors of unhealthy easting choices, offered largely to populations where little thought is given to eventual, long-term consequences of poor eating habits.

The jobs, although minimum wage, are probably welcomed by the community, but the eventual (and inevitable) clogged arteries certainly aren’t. The last thing — the absolute last thing — poor people need are more outlets for unhealthy foods … or foods prepared in an unhealthy manner in their neighborhoods. The health costs down the line will be staggering, and guess who’ll have to pay it?

I’m the chief cook — and therefore the chief shopper — for my family, and what I see in the shopping carts of young parents at my local Dave’s Market makes me shake my head in disgust and disappointment. Carts literally chuck full of sugary snacks and cheap drinks that can only euphemistically be called “fruit juices.” The FDA should be ashamed of itself for allowing what is essentially colored water to be sold as something healthy.

Do schools teach nutrition any longer? I know that I’m beginning to sound like an old fuddy-duddy, but we cannot allow junk food to be pumped into kids as a steady diet… and then expect kids to do anything other than act out. Garbage in, garbage out. I submit that a large part of the hyper-activity and aggression we see in kids today is, in large part, a direct result of what their parents are allowing them to put into their bodies.

While riding my bike mornings in my neighborhood of Hough I see kids coming out of the convenience store (conveniently located directly across the street from an elementary school) with their breakfast: A bag of chips, a Twinkie, and a can of soda. Both the store owner and the parents need to be hung up by their thumbs for allowing this.

Yeah, we need new businesses, and especially need them in minority communities, but at what cost to long-term health? Parents need education on this just as much as children… maybe more so. Geoffrey Canada has proven that both the parent and child can be educated with his program, the Harlem Children’s Zone in NYC… why can’t we do the same thing here? Why? Sorry, I didn’t hear you… why?

From Cool Cleveland contributor Mansfield B. Frazier mansfieldfATgmail.com

This week’s most active post on BrewedFreshDaily.com

KeyBank promotes it’s Colorado KeyClub with an Etch-a-Sketch video (similar to the one they did last year with LeBron James) on YouTube of the Denver Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony. Readers say:

See the video then add your comment here

Links to interesting NEO blogs

What sorts of conversations have you been having lately?
At one time there were safety nets for the middle class.
The PD endorsed the casino amendment in ‘06 but blasts video gambling now.
A list of 43 Things Christine wants to do in the Cleveland+ area this year.
A list of suggestions for Cleveland Nights Out.
Joe Cimperman meets the bloggers. Carole Cohen summarizes.

The Franchise
Terry Pluto and Brian Windhorst
Gray & Company, Publishers

It used to just be a game. Not any more. Once the players pass the age of about six or so, basketball (and nearly every other major league sport, as well) starts to show signs of becoming BIG Business — married without redemption to Entertainment. And this sliding scale becomes increasingly obvious the closer one reaches for professional levels. It’s best not to forget that fact while you rejoice in the wonder that is LeBron James. He is a transformative figure who certainly gets it! Apparently, he enjoys it all immensely, while never losing his head over it all. He seems to have been born to be a celebrity, as well as one of the greatest athletes who ever lived. And he’s barely twenty-three, which coincidentally, is the number on his uniform!

This book by area sportswriters Terry Pluto and Brian Windhorst analyzes the Cleveland Cavaliers in every way imaginable throughout the team’s 38-year-old history, with very special attention paid to the last seven years. If you have ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in a major league team office, here’s your guide. You will learn some amazing things, such as how to tear apart a team that’s just slightly started on the slippery slope downward, in order to build up a hopefully better one that will be capable of pursuing championships in a legitimate way.

It makes for fascinating reading. Also, there are 38 photographs, all but one in color, and several of them are full-page action shots of the air-borne James. It’s enough to take your breath away.

And to think, this is all happening right here — in Cleveland!

Chapter Ten, which describes in minute detail the events of the Lottery evening in New Jersey, could not be more tense or suspense-laden if it were an Alfred Hitchcock movie! And if you remember that evening, you’ll rejoice all over again, as Cleveland — finally! — got the grand prize.

There’s an entire chapter devoted to Carlos Boozer. You can judge for yourself who was honorable and who wasn’t as a result of that debacle. If you’ve followed the team during these last years (and who locally hasn’t?) you’ll find all the familiar players and coaches, as well as some maybe not-quite-so-familiar names. It’s truly fascinating, if for no other reason than the intimate looks at the many behind-the-scenes episodes related here, to which most of us peons can never get close.

Don’t be too misled by the photo of LeBron on the cover, however. This is not just a book about LeBron. The title is, after all The Franchise and that’s the thrust of this volume. Certainly, LeBron is (and will hopefully continue to be) a major part of the franchise, but basically, there’s much to be learned about the former owner Gordon Gund and the current one, Dan Gilbert. He really wants a championship, and seems willing to do whatever it takes to bring one here. I hope there will soon be a book of Gilbert’s ‘isms’ – that would be an instant best-seller!

The Cavs couldn’t quite pull it all off last season. So, we should all just hope that Mr. Gilbert gets his wish, come June of this year.

FYI: I do think it’s too bad that there’s no mention of the Cleveland Rockers, who, after all, did bring Mr. Gund a championship banner. I know. I was there when they won the 1998 WNBA Eastern Conference Championship. I was there the next fall when the banner was raised in the arena. It seems to have somehow gone missing. Not just too bad, but also too sad.
For more information on the book, visit http://www.grayco.com/cleveland/books/10282.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

Ballet Theatre of Ohio Fills in the Gaps

It’s a tough time for ballet in Northeast Ohio. If you’re a fan, you’re coping with the demise of Ohio Ballet and the dearth of touring ballet companies at Playhouse Square. We can only imagine the difficulties for dancers; most have moved away and those who’ve stayed have patched together part-time performing jobs, teaching, and other work to make ends meet.

Ballet Theatre of Ohio provides one of the few bright spots. Professional dancers, many of them familiar faces from the former Ohio Ballet, mix with student dancers and present satisfying concerts. In everything we’ve seen, BTO’s women’s corps de ballets looks good on their pointes and their professional dancers get a chance to shine in soloist and principal roles.

When we learned that BTO had a winter repertory concert coming up, we exchanged a few e-mails with Artistic Director Christine Meneer and googled the choreographers. What we learned told us that BTO’s Winter Repertory Series should be well worth the drive.

For a part of the ballet audience a title says it all. Carmen evokes familiar music and characters and implies that staple of ballet programming, the pas de deux. Jurijs Safonovs, who we’ve known until now as a dancer with BTO and Pointe of Departure, has choreographed something that promises to fulfill those expectations, excerpts from ‘Carmen’ using highlights from the familiar Georges Bizet score.

Safonovs casts familiar faces as Carmen and Don Jose. Jennifer Moll, a relative newcomer to the local ballet scene, and Brian Murphy, long a local, both performed with Verb Ballets at the Ohio Theater on January 26th. We cannot imagine Moll or Murphy doing less than a terrific job with such an assignment. Nor is this a maiden voyage for Safonovs; Meneer tells us that he is already an award-winning choreographer.

Another part of the audience wants to see something new, contemporary ballet that uses the special abilities of ballet trained dancers in original ways. For those audience members, BTO company member Eric Carvill’s I Had the Same Dream may be the hot ticket. We’re already fans of Carvill’s dancing through his tenure with Ohio Ballet. Meneer tells us Carvill’s 9 minute piece is for 3 women on pointe with Damien Highfield, another familiar face from Ohio Ballet, Verb, and Ground Works Dance Theater. Music is from a recent recording by Papadosio, an Ohio band with an improvisation-heavy, “jamtronica” sound.

A quick google search identified choreographer Joseph Morrissey as Moll’s former classmate at Indiana University’s ballet program. Morrissey’s offering for the Akron concert, One, is award-winning choreography. Meneer describes it as a short, innovative contemporary pas de deux incorporating pointe technique and making beautiful use of the unique score. “Two bodies blending together as one.”

We remember Richard Earley, choreographer of Swingity, as a dancer for Heinz Poll in the early days of Ohio Ballet. Set to the music of Count Basie and Benny Goodman, the world premiere Swingity draws on Earley’s long experience with ballroom dance at his southeast Ohio studio to create a piece for 15 dancers in 3 movements. Says Meneer, “We love working with Richard and he’s been very good for our company.”

Not to ignore Meneer’s own contribution, the premiere of Beyond the Planets, which uses contemporary music by William Joseph instead of the familiar Planets by Gustav Holst. Meneer seems to have fun with the premise. “Nine planets plus the sun; I include Pluto and a sad pas de deux when she gets her title stripped away.”

Experience BTO at the Akron Civic Theater with their Winter Repertory Series this Friday, February 15 and Saturday, February 16 at 8PM. At 11:30 am Friday, the doors open for Dance-A-Fair, an interactive carnival with games, prizes and light refreshments, and at 1pm the curtain goes up on a one hour concert designed especially for families, Swingity and Under the Big Top, Meneer’s charming circus ballet.

All tickets for these performances are available at the Akron Civic Theatre Box Office (330-253-2488) or through Ticket Master? at (330-945-9400). Visit BTO’s website http://www.ballettheatreohio.org to receive a special discount ticket offer for evening performance only (Dance-A-Fair tickets not included on this special discount). Doors open one hour prior to each evening performance and the doors will open at 11:30AM for the Dance-A-Fair event.

From Cool Cleveland contributors Elsa Johnson and Victor Lucas vicnelsaATearthlink.net

Quiet Canvas
Jim Couchenour
Tejai

SounDoctrine keyboardist Jim Couchenour’s latest solo effort is far different than Living Colour, released on that funk band’s own Niayana Recordings label. Most listeners are used to Couchenour getting his funk, R&B and smooth jazz phrasing out. This time around, he mines much more plaintive and reflective territory: solo and minimally accompanied piano with an occasional vocal. If you think about how the melodic, “rural folk” piano style of George Winston would pair with native Clevelander Jim Brickman’s romanticism — and you add a pinch of New Age pathos — you’ve got a handle on his all new Quiet Canvas. Produced with SounDoctrine bandmate Jere B and recorded & mixed in his personal studio, Couchenour delivers 19 peaceful melodies that are perfect for a romantic evening, a Sunday morning or hunkering down when the weather goes Full Cleveland on us. Anything but complicated, Quiet Canvas is certainly reminiscent of Winston’s Seasons suites, defining moments for what’s generally dubbed mood or lifestyle music. With equal parts soul and sap, you could do far worse this Valentine’s Day. Open that bottle of wine, find that favorite sweater and enjoy this gem.

Enjoy a sample of “In the Know” by Couchenour by clicking here. Purchase the disc by visiting http://cdbaby.com/cd/couchenour2.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

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

Can we give you anything else?
By Roldo Bartimole

Ladies and gentlemen, if you have money and resources, step right up.

We’re giving away money by the truckload. Wait, you taxpayer/suckers, please leave, you’re not eligible. However, we’ll send you the bill.

That’s the message I got from a deal presented by Mayor Frank Jackson with the full and hardy cooperation of a feeble, led-by-the-nose City Council. Is there a single council member worth a dime of the $70,000 or so they are paid? I don’t think so.

Let’s start this way. RTA is spending some $200 million in tax funds to redo Euclid Avenue. RTA says, “The goal of the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project is to improve transit, as well as support increased development along Euclid Avenue [emphasis mine].” Since buses have been operating already along Euclid Avenue for years, I’d say that most of that $200 million is for the “as well as support…”

Here’s the breakdown of the money: $83 million from the feds; $75 million from the State of Ohio; $21 million locally from RTA; $10 million from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Committee; and $8 million from the City of Cleveland. I know that only adds up to $197 million but let’s stipulate it will be a lot more before the project is completed.

Should that public subsidy suffice to “support” development, as RTA says?

Apparently not.

City Council passed legislation last week that further subsidizes development for the rehabilitation of buildings in the 600 block of Euclid Avenue. Council approved in a single day a $5.1 million loan for K & D Group, Inc., the firm that supposedly bought the E. 9th & Euclid corner from the County. I say “supposedly” because I’m waiting for the money to go to the County and suspect that won’t happen as it should.

The $5.1 million “loan” for the K & D development from the city will be paid back not by the developer, as you would expect, but by the city.

Yes, the city loans the money for the development and then the city pays back the debt itself. You cannot ask for better loan terms.

The $5.1 million comes from two city funds – Core City 1, $2,574,500, and Core City 2, $2 million and a third source, the city’s UDAG repayment fund, $525,000. Ironically, both funds are financed by bonds backed by revenue from Chagrin Highlands, another developer-favored (Dick Jacobs) project, which was supposed to help the city’s finances.

This rehabilitation project will involve creating 765 apartment units of housing. But guess what? They all will be tax abated for 12 years at 100 percent. Neat gift. The project will also have a 900-space garage and a 268-room hotel.

The hefty loans will actually be paid back via future property taxes. This relieves the developer/investors of payment of its loan. Since the abatements last 12 year and another two years of free money will be included in the deal, the payback won’t begin until 14 years out.

That’s when the development supposedly will start paying property taxes.

Typically, property taxes are divided among the schools, city, county and city libraries. However, in this case only the schools will get the property tax revenue on these properties. The city, county and city libraries property tax share will be diverted to pay off the $5.1 million loan. It will take a long time.

The loans are for 28 years!

How sweet can it get?

Oh, it can and does get much, much sweeter. The sugar in this deal comes by the ton.

In addition to the $5.1 “loan,” the project also receives a $14.4 million Federal Historic Tax Credit. In other words, the developers, or someone else who buys the credits from the developers, will get the opportunity to write off $14.4 million on their federal taxes over five years. Only available to the very rich.

Oh, that’s not sweet enough.

The generous, though fiscally busted State of Ohio will award a $7.4 million state historic tax credit. Once again, the developer or someone who buys the tax credit will write off that amount from his or her state taxes.

But it’s not quite over.

Because the developers are doing us such a favor in taking our money, the three stooges at the Cuyahoga County Commission will throw them another $800,000 in commercial development money and another $300,000 in another development incentive.

Oh, to be fair, I have to mention that developers Doug Price, III and Karin Harrison, 50 percent owners each, are not going to let the public carry the full burden. They’ll be chipping in $500,000 as equity. At the same time they will TAKE a $1.85 million developers fee! Isn’t that the kind of deal we’d all appreciate having?

Does anyone care how their tax money is spirited away?

I noticed that our daily monitor, otherwise known as the Pee Dee, spent all of one paragraph telling the public this deal had been done.

To be fair, the Pee Dee did have a story about this deal before Council ratified the gifts. However, the details were rather meager, as usual.

The sad thing about this dirty deal is that there isn’t a single political voice in the city that even attempts to inform people of what is really happening. I guess a dead city deserves dead leadership.

The neighborhoods are dying or dead but they are flushing cash into downtown, over and over again.

In the book Free Lunch – How the Wealthiest American Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You with the Bill), David Cay Johnston writes: “For the bottom 90 percent of Americans, a group we will refer to as the vast majority, annual income has been on a long, mostly downhill slide for more than three decades. The vast majority’s average income peaked at $33,000 way back in 1973. By 2005 it had fallen to a bit more than $29,000. Even with three decades of economic expansion, the vast majority has to get by on about $75 less each week than it did a generation earlier, tax return data show.”

What does it mean when we subsidize some and allow others to deteriorate financially and emotionally?

Cay writes, “Today, all over America, state and local governments lavish funds on commercial ballparks while holding public parks to a starvation diet and allowing buildings to deteriorate, grounds to go to weeds, and activities to grind to a halt. The number of full-time recreation professional fell during the eighties and nineties. Adjusted for population growth, park staffing by full-time professionals is below the levels of the sixties.

“Starving parks … means idle young hands do not have opportunities to play games, learn skills, and interact with others in a healthy ways, but instead turn to what opportunities are available, often in the ‘devil’s workshop.”

It means supporting private interests while thumbing our civic noses at public needs. We know, if we watch the news, what that does for our youth and our community.

From 1995 through 2006, Cay reports, local, state and federal governments spent “more than $10 billion subsidizing more than 50 new Major League stadiums and countless minor league facilities.”

Just as the Romans offered circuses to deflect the public from its societal ills, we offer Super Bowls and other extravaganzas. By depriving families and our children of some necessities of well-being we are damaging our civic life.

We are and will pay the price for our circuses.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roldo Bartimole roldoATroadrunner.com

Fred Franks
IT Assessment by FIT Technologies

When SchoolOne recently changed their name after eight years of serving the public & private K-12 education markets, they acknowledged that their business had grown to become an important IT provider to not only schools and the educational niche, but also to the larger corporate market as well. Their new moniker, FIT Technologies, also indicates their philosophy in customizing solutions for each and every client. An important element in that customization is their unique IT Assessment service. Their Director of Managed IT Services, Fred Franks, spoke with Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready recently about the types of clients that can use a FIT IT assessment, the most common weakness areas found in the assessment process, and what exactly is included in that 20-30 page evaluation. FITtechnologies.net

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

10,000 Little (micro) Ideas to Keep You Believing in Cleveland @ Huntington Bank Bldg 2/5 What a crazy name for an event! Yet close to 500 people strong crowded into Sammy’s Metropolitan Ballroom on the 21st Floor last Tuesday night in support of Cleveland. They came from professional services, technology, business, healthcare, and non-profits; they were high school aged through older aged adults; native Clevelanders and people who have moved here, different races and nationalities and religions. This non-profit organization, 10,000 Little (micro) Ideas to Keep You Believing in Cleveland, offered these people a chance to brainstorm ideas and put into place an action plan to strengthen the future of Cleveland.

Why did people attend? “It sounded interesting, and somebody at work emailed me about it.” “We just moved here and we wanted to find out what is going on.” “I am looking for a job.” “My company is supporting this.” “Our professor at Cleveland State suggested we come tonight and report back to class.” The diverse responses most certainly mirrored the event’s content.

The first featured speaker, Jose Feliciano, Baker & Hostetler, told the audience how the Hispanic community was eager to help support programs to strengthen northeast Ohio. The next featured speaker, Chris Ronayne, president of University Circle Inc., said, “Thank you for being here tonight, give yourselves an applause. We are made stronger by our diversity. Cleveland can only change with efforts like these. We don’t just need to think outside of the box, we need to throw the box out,” he exclaimed. “Cleveland needs to be Cleveland again and sponsor innovation,” he said reminding the audience of lighting products and other inventions originating from this area. The program continued with three simultaneous breakout sessions where attendees could discuss the Next Generation of Leaders, the Entrepreneurial Tool Kit, and Sustainability, and how to keep these efforts moving forward.

In the Next Generation of Leaders session, we found out about a new initiative 10,000 Little Ideas is facilitating, a student apprenticeship program starting in Beachwood and Solon High Schools to engage the kids in Cleveland. Students are offered internships in downtown companies to get them directly involved in the city. The thinking is to reach the students early if we want them to return to Cleveland after college graduation. Working at a high school internship and seeing firsthand the benefits of Cleveland will strengthen their ties with Cleveland.

At the conclusion of these sessions, people returned together to report on their progress and plans for action. This is the organization’s second annual event having launched with its first brainstorming, action-packed meeting back in March 2007. Look in Cleveland.com blog for a report on their new action plan. Every success story begins with a simple idea. This organization is building steam and momentum with the help of its 10,000 volunteers and corporate sponsors. We look forward to the next step and the next event.

Visit http://www.cleveland365.com/10000littleideas for more information.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Susan Schaul susn1ATatt.net

Gee’s Bend @ Cleveland Play House 2/6 Theater, art, education, sewing, and history come together in Gee’s Bend, currently being presented on the Baxter Stage at the Cleveland Playhouse. Elizabeth Gregory Wilder was commissioned in 2004 to write a play based on the lives of the women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, and the quilts that they made. The women and their quilts made a splash in the art world after the quilts were put on display at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York City in 2003.

The play was first performed in 2007, and the Playhouse is currently presenting it until February 24. Gee’s Bend is being presented in an intimate setting, with both the stage and the seating fitted onto the stage of one of the main theaters. It is small and simple, and the set is surrounded by no more than nine rows of seats on three sides. Before you make it to your seat you first walk past displays in the main lobby telling the historic facts behind the play, including photos of the real town of Gee’s Bend, its residents, and, of course, the original quilts.

You then travel through a temporary gallery showing off quilts that were made by several local quilting societies, including the African American Quilting Guild of Warrensville Heights and Saint Peter Church. They are simply and complex at the same time, and very beautiful. The play creates fictional characters based on the original quilters, and revolves around the lives of two sisters from their teen years to old age. There lives intertwine with the events of their lives, both big and small, from picnics to marriages, to race conflicts to a visit to a near by town by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The small cast is very talented, especially Shanesia Davis (Nella) and Erika LaVonn (Sadie) as the sisters. Wendall B. Franklin plays Sadie’s husband, while Wandachristine opens the play as the sisters’ mother, and ends it as one of Sadie’s daughter. The play, which does not have an intermission, is ninety minutes of two and three characters scenes telling the story in chronological order from the 1960’s to the present. It is an enjoyable evening, and if you plan to attend come an hour early to hear a presentation by one of the cast members, as well as having time to view the quilts in the gallery. It would be a great show to introduce live theater into the lives of the pre-teens and teens in your life.

The Playhouse still has several major productions coming in the next few months, including the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning Doubt from February 29 to March 23, and an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice from March 21 to April 13. Visit http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com for more information.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Greg Cielec cielecAThotmail.com

Gee’s Bend @ Cleveland Play House 2/6 Dismissed for hundreds of years as just pastimes or hobbies of women, quilts have come into their own in the last few decades as works of art. It might even have been another off-spring of Title IX, but for whatever reason, they are now recognized as more than merely functional. For many years, kitchens of country homes held a quilt-frame where the busy home-maker could put in a few stitches while waiting for the bread to rise, or the soup to cook, or the baby to wake up from a nap, or perhaps just to occupy the precious few stray moments in the day when nothing else demanded her attention.

It was on just such a project that I first learned to sew, more years ago now than I care to remember, but one that has, since then, stood me in good stead, nevertheless. I still have that quilt, which is full of treasured memories, and not a few tatters from age and wear. Gee’s Bend, Alabama spawned generations of talented quilters, as evidenced by the exhibits at various museums around the country, and the set of postal stamps from a few years ago. Now, Gee’s Bend is a theater piece by Elyzabeth Gregory Walker.

Three women of one family – mother and two daughters approach life and quilting from entirely different directions. Beginning in 1936, when the daughters are teen-agers, the play takes us through several decades of life in Gee’s Bend. Set against this backdrop is the campaign for civil rights and especially voter registration by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Owning one’s home was an important mark of progress for any family, but especially for Black families. For some, being able to vote was more important than for others, and thus we find Sadie (the oldest daughter, now married and the mother of eight children) on the front lines of the civil rights movement, while her husband and mother are on the other side. Erika LaVonn is marvelous as Sadie at any age. Shanésia Davis seems more real as her Nella ages a bit. To be sure, she gets the best lines in the final scene. WandaChristine is effective as both mother Alice, and granddaughter Asia. The three women combine for some terrific—and rousing–singing at various times.

When her husband Macon (the down-to-earth Wendell B. Franklin) raises his hand to her in violence, Sadie defies him and does her thing, anyway. Her quilts have always meant a great deal to her, and they are the glue that keeps her together through all the struggles. They provide a bit of income to her through the years, but in the end, it is her triumph we share when her quilts are taken to New York to be on exhibit at a museum.

Several times during the 90 minute, one-act production, Sadie refers to her talks with God, out in the back woods someplace. She is teased about this by her relatives, but we only see this happening twice in the last few minutes of the play. I found myself wishing she’d do more of it, throughout, by way of explaining what was happening.

With the same four actors taking different roles, on one set that really doesn’t quite match up to the action, it’s also confusing when there is no clear delineation from one time frame to the next. One minute we’re in 1936 and the next in 1963, with no clear idea of how we got there. Generally, the subject matter is handled well, and the acting is terrific. I just wish the playwright had made things a bit more clear—more dramatic, perhaps. Perhaps an intermission at the main place of forward progress would help. Aging would seem more natural with such an option.

Sound by James C. Swonger and lighting by Victor En Yu Tan were excellent, but the small stage area of the Baxter Stage (which is a great space for such an intimate production) still needs more than just a painted floor to adequately convey the essence of a place. Michael Vaughn Sims was the scenic designer, while Myrna Colley-Lee’s costumes were unobtrusive and mostly appropriate. Edward E. Ridley, Jr was musical director and John Godbout was stage manager.

Director Shirley Jo Finney kept things moving smoothly.

As you walk through Studio One on the way to the Baxter, you’ll pass by a gorgeous display of quilt art. Be sure to take a few minutes to admire them. You’ll be glad you did.

Gee’s Bend continues at the Play House through Feb. 24. For tickets or other information, call 795-7000 or visit the website http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

Confessions of Punch and Judy @ CPT 2/7
Sharp: Performed with brio by Ker Wells and Tannis Kowalchuk, this couple’s “all night fight” goes back and forth from the uncomfortably real to the bizarrely absurd. Full of storytelling, jokes, dances, mask work, Punch and Judy routines, and many delightful transformations, it’s an anti-Valentine exploring the dance of intimacy. Raymond Bobgan’s direction is, as always, full of precision and grace, and Trad A Burns’ set design is a stunner – simple perfection.
Backstory: The show opened at CPT several years ago, and has since toured the world. The second time around, the knockabout physicality is a tad less bravura, but that’s no surprise: Bobgan had to do some reblocking to accommodate Kowalchuk’s pregnancy.
Details: Thru 2/23, Cleveland Public Theatre, http://www.cptonline.org.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

Monsieur Chopin @ Cleveland Play House 2/7 Monsieur Chopin enters the theater/studio from the rear, pauses briefly to look at those persons seated and waiting for him. He nods his head, then moves to the stage on which is a chair, a table with washing utensils – and a grand piano.

As he greets us, we discover that we are here for a Master Class; he is the instructor, we are the students. He speaks to us, in a warm, mellifluous voice, his English lightly accented in French. “Welcome to my studio. I am your professor, Monsieur Chopin, and I hope you have all prepared something to play for us today. However, it will be better if you wait for our next lesson, and today, I will do the playing.”

Considering his expertise at the piano, it’s much better this way, to be sure. So begins a beguiling nearly two hours of theater in which Hershey Felder performs another of his one-man creations – this one about the Polish-born, half-French composer/pianist, Fryderyk François Chopin.

One of the great aspects of the pianist/performer of the 1800s was the ability to improvise, and thus provide extra entertainment at the soirées and salons at which they were present. During this lesson, Chopin explains how this happens, and what each part of his compositions entails. Thus, for instance, in his “Military Polonaise” we hear the footsteps of the Russian army as it invades his beloved Warsava, trampling out the sounds of the dancers in the stately polonaise—the Polish national dance, as the waltz belongs to the Viennese.

The melancholy which pervades a good deal of his music had a logical basis, beginning with the death of his beloved sister while still in her teens. Shortly after that, the family was forced to leave their home due to the invading troops, upending everything they’d cherished for so long. He knew great joy in his fairly short lifetime, but not nearly as much or as often as the sadness.

George Sand, was of course, prominent in his adult life, but even she was unsteady for him. Mr. Felder never breaks character as he tells the story of his life and his music, while still demonstrating for his avid students the ways in which his life affected his music, and vice versa. The most important lesson for us all, however, is that we should “make beautiful music because you are an artist, not to please someone else.”

There are humorous little episodes, such as his distaste for the showiness of Franz Liszt. Silent but telling bits are his frequent ablutions. Perhaps the most amazing element of all is how much of the music he wrote is so familiar to us all today. Without words, the music is yet ultra-familiar.

As in his Gershwin play, there is an encore of sorts: rather than playing a batch of ‘his’ greatest hits, he answers questions about Chopin, his life or his music—as Chopin. He doesn’t object to words having been added to a few of his tunes during the mid-1900s (mostly for movies – I’m Always Chasing Rainbows, or Till the End of Time.)

His burial location provides ‘lots of fun’ – he’s between Jim Morrison of the Doors and the Italian composer Cherubini, in a Paris cemetery. This statement is followed by an explanation of how his (actual, physical) heart ended up in Poland. Of his nearby compatriots, he says with a grin “We have some good times.”

And so did we all. It was a delightful pre-announcement during his pre-show talk that prompted yet another ovation. He’ll bring his version of “Beethoven” to the Play House soon. Perhaps even next season. Mr. Felder’s creations may not exactly fit your description of a play, or a musical, or even a musical play, but they’re still a delightful evening of theater.

Directed by Joel Zwick, the pacing is perfect. The set by Yael Pardess seems evocative of the time and place, and is aided immensely by the atmospheric lighting of Michael Gilliam. Sound by Benjamin Furiga was perfect in the acoustic Drury Theatre. Stage manager was Gigi Garcia.

Monsieur Chopin was a limited run production, and is no longer on stage. For other events at the Cleveland Play House, call the ticket office at 795-7000 or visit their website: http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall 2/7 Pierre Boulez returns! In 1775, Franz-Josef Haydn wrote a symphony that contains more dissonance than was heard from the stage at Severance Hall Thursday night. It was his Symphony No 60 in C, known as Il distrato, which has been performed here many times. I find it a very strange thing that when the orchestra plays this Haydn symphony, the invariably full house erupts in laughter at the unfriendly notes. But yet, when purely romantic, totally non-dissonant music of the Second Viennese School is performed, the house is determinedly half-empty.

I have a solution for this dilemma: one that will not be well-received, I’m quite sure. But I’ll offer it anyway. I think we should change the names of the three composers. Taking them in alphabetical order, Berg could be Anonymous One, Schoenberg could be Anonymous Two and Webern – of course, Anonymous Three. Since their own, original names strikes such fear and loathing in the ordinary concert-going populace, it only makes sense to change the names! That way, there would be no pre-conceived notions of what would be considered listenable and what would not.

Okay. Enough of that. This program, conducted by the very estimable Pierre Boulez, who can do no wrong anymore by anyone’s standards, and quite rightly so, featured one piece each by the Anonymous ones. There was not one objectionable note in the entire program. Not one!

Anton Webern didn’t really write the first work we heard, he just rearranged one by Johann Sebastian Bach, the Fugue (Ricercata) from Musical Offering. Imagine if you will, that Bach was suddenly without his usual pipe organ (it was sent out for repairs, maybe) but he did have an assortment of very talented musicians, although perhaps not really enough for a true orchestra. There was maybe only one of each of the brass and wind instruments and a handful of string players. So with Bach’s usual versatility, he transcribed his Fugue for pipe organ into this orchestral (sort of) version. It’s a happy work, meandering along quite nicely. Had you been at Severance Hall, that’s exactly what you would have heard.

The splendid Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos was the soloist in Berg’s Violin Concerto. The four sections are melded into two portions, but distinguishable for all that. Mr. Kavakos played with great feeling and intensity, all the notes emerging with confidence and beauty. Had one never heard the expression ‘twelve-tone’ one would never have a suspicion that the concerto was anything other than hauntingly beautiful and expressive. The low winds were gorgeous: contra-bassoon, bass clarinet and there was even a saxophone. The soloist exerted a brief bit of body English (body Greek?) in the final section, assuring the emotion and notes would be just as they should. He was rewarded with a fine ovation, as well he should have been.

Anonymous Two’s contribution here was a very early work, before he discovered dissonance and atonality and twelve-tone and all that. Truthfully, it’s hard to tell it from Wagner or Richard Strauss, especially if you look at the size of the orchestra required for this Symphonic Poem Op. 5 by Arnold Schoenberg, Pelléas and Mélisande. Any time you see a tuba, five trombones, four trumpets and eight horns lined up across the back of the orchestra (in front of nine tympani!) you should know you’re in for some serious music-making.

The inspiration for this work was the somewhat fanciful play of the same name by Maurice Maeterlinck, which also inspired large musical works by Debussy, Fauré and Sibelius. It is a fairy tale, a romantic triangle, if you will, and one that ends unhappily, as always. You can easily discern all these elements in the music, which was superbly performed.

If you missed this program, you get another chance. This week, Mr. Boulez returns to lead works by Janáček and Bartók. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the ticket office at 216.231.1111 or visit the web-site: http://www.clevelandorchestra.com

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

Wicked @ State Theatre 2/7 Wicked, that wonderful, often wacky Broadway smash hit is back at the State Theatre. The touring company went through town in June of 2006 and played to sold out audiences. This version should also pack the place. One of the fears of seeing a retreaded tour is that it will be a wattered down version. Do not be concerned. This is a full-blown, Broadway level production with impressive sets and a professional cast that wowed the audience. Wowed, in spite of the fact that during the first act on opening night, the orchestra drowned out composer Steven Schwartz’s oft-clever words. The sound techie must have been on the rebound from a rock concert and didn’t realize that, in theatre musicals, the words of the performers must be heard. Someone must have gotten to him during intermission, because the second act was under decibel control.

The show has everything to make for a hit! Great music and lyrics, creative staging, and a delightful yet philosophical story line with a message which includes comments which could be applied to the Bush administration’s diminishing of personal rights, and what happens when a small group of zealots determines what is “best for everyone,” and tells lies to get their way.

Wicked is the “behind the story” tale of two young women, Glinda and Elphaba, in The Wizard of Oz story. You know them better as the good and the wicked witches. The script also reveals “truths” about Oz. Do you know how Dorothy got the red slippers? Are you aware of how the tin woodsman, the cowardly lion or the scarecrow came to be? Think that the wicked witch really was melted by a bucket of water? All of these questions are answered in the Stephen Schwartz, Winnie Holzman musical which is based on a novel by Gregory Maguire.

The sets are amazing. They include a dragon whose wingspan is the same as a Cessna 172. There is enough electrical current on stage, according to the show’s press release, to supply twelve houses with power. Monkeys fly, Glenda appears and disappears in a magical bubble, large gears grind, bubble machines spray rainbows and 175,000 pounds of scenery cover the stage.

Carmen Cusack, slathered in green makeup, gives a lustrous performance as Elphaba, generally known as the “Bad Witch.” Bad, as we find out, she isn’t. Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda, the blond, air-headed “Good Witch,” is also wonderful. She glows on stage. Cliffton Hall, he of pumped up body and an Elvis-hairdo, has a nice singing voice and effectively develops the role of Fiyero, the playboy whose goodness shines through.

Canton’s Lee Wilkof disappoints as the Wizard. He just doesn’t have the pixie-yet-evil quality of Clevelander Joel Gray, who was in the Broadway production. Alma Cuervo starts fine, but loses her characterization as the evil Madame Morrible, the brains behind the evil goings on (think Dick Chaney in drag). The show also has a strong Cleveland connection — Matthew Rego, Michael Rego and Hank Unger are the ARACA Group, one of the shows producers.

Capsule judgment: This is wonderful and worth seeing. If you missed it the first time around, go! If you saw it before, go! And don’t miss this special offer: Two-hours prior to show time each day of Wicked” people who come to the box office at the State Theatre can enter their names for a drawing which will take place thirty minutes later. The winners will be allowed to buy a maximum of two tickets for the show at a cost of $25 each.”

Wicked runs through March 9. For tickets call 241-6000 or visit http://www.playhousesquare.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall 2/7 If you want to “get” modernism (at least musical modernism) then there’s no better master than French conductor Pierre Boulez to direct the musical proceedings. Thursday night Boulez convincingly shaped, disassembled, and re-shaped three modernist approaches to symphonic music. That J. S. Bach’s Fugue (Ricercata) from Musical Offering hardly qualifies as “modern” didn’t matter since Anton Webern’s 1934-35 transcription made it so. As each instrument passed the music, note by note at first, around the orchestra, Bach’s work appeared in surprising ways. It had something of the magic process that sculptors claim they follow when they remove everything from a block of stone except the figure hidden inside. Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto, played with fervor and feeling by soloist Leonidas Kavakos and the orchestra, again revealed the architecture that lies within.

The work, it turns out, is a tribute to that classic poetic inspiration, a beautiful woman dying young (think Love Story, but in this case it was Alma Mahler’s daughter). To conclude what turned out to a ravishingly beautiful evening, Boulez led The Cleveland Orchestra (in good form as usual — and perhaps a bit tanner after a sojourn in Florida) in a romantic (and still modern) Pelleas and Melisande, Arnold Schoenberg’s symphonic poem. It’s a work with great dramatic sweeps of beauty that reminded me of Brahms (the enlightening pre-concert lecture by Michael Strasser pointed out Schoenberg’s debt to the Romantic icon). This work, too, ended with the death of a beautiful woman — Melisande. Looking around the concert hall afterwards, however, it appeared that all the real beautiful people were doing just fine, thanks, and very happy that the Boulez-Cleveland Orchestra team made such magnificent music together.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Laura Kennelly lkennellyATgmail.com

Big [Box]: Costumbrismo, or Kandihba Wars @ CPT 2/8
Oddball opera: Deborah Magid’s comic opera about a utopian society that creates the ultimate candy bar has some funny moments, but it only starts to spark when the delightful villainess shows up trying to clone a cheap knockoff. As Feuilettine Sneckoretta Gianduja, mezzo Lydia Hall is one helluva find — she’s charming, effortlessly sexy, and appealing, and manages to motivate her every moment onstage, which isn’t easy given Magid’s confusing libretto. Two of Magid’s chorales are great fun, especially the finale: “A society without variety, and not a hint of impropriety, is a big fat honking bore.”
Caveats: Except for the chorales, the music wasn’t memorable, the cast was uneven, and the libretto doesn’t really work as an allegory of sexual orientation. But how often do you get to hear a one-act opera with jokes about dressing someone in discount store clothes? High marks for originality.
Details: Cleveland Public Theatre, http://www.cptonline.org. Big [Box] continues thru 2/24.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

Julius X @ Karamu 2/9
Malcolm X meets Julius Caesar: Al Letson’s adaptation sets Shakespeare’s play in 60’s Harlem just after Malcolm X has returned from Mecca, a fascinating idea that is generally well-executed. Young Jason Dixon is the most sympathetic Brutus I’ve ever seen, an idealist torn between the arguments of envious Cassius (a credibly snaky Jonathan Wray) and his loyalty to Julius. Kevin Holt makes Octavius look like a young hood happy to let Harlem burn, and powerful Saidah Mitchell steals the show as Calpurnia, Julius’ wise but ignored wife. The two hiphop soothsayers accompanied by live bass make a fine Greek chorus.
Caveats: As Julius, Abdullah Bey has a weary dignity rather than the fiery charisma we associate with Malcolm X, and Justin Emeka directs the cast to shout a bit too often. But it’s a dramatic and interesting evening.
Details: Thru 2/24. http://www.karamu.com.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

Most clicked
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1) Wind At Our Backs by Sarah Taylor.
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2) Indoor bike park is a Mecca.
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5) Roldo questions the sincerity of an editorial.
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We {heart} Cleveland We’re sure you’re not surprised. Give up some love for the Hard Corps, the candy hearts of the e-mailbox world! Thanks to Peter Chakerian, T.L. Champion, George Nemeth, Steve Copley, Chris Whipple, Linda Eisenstein, Kelly Ferjutz, Roy Berko, Mansfield B. Frazier, Roldo Bartimole, Victor Lucas and Elsa Johnson, Greg Cielec and introducing Patricia Neligan Barley. This episode was brought to you by Excedrin. And lastly, though certainly not least, thanks to our readers and everyone who partners with us. Want to volunteer and contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, articles, or story ideas to: Events@CoolCleveland.com.

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