Festivus For The Rest Of Us

Festivus for the Rest of Us

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland Commentary A Festivus for the Rest of Us: CMJ Rock Hall MusicFest 2005
* Cool Cleveland Sounds CD review Cory Ryan
* Talking Loud, Saying Everything Jazz Etiquette 101
* Cool Cleveland Preview Dancing Wheels at Tri-C East & Playhouse Square on 4/30

Cool Cleveland Commentary
A Festivus for the Rest of Us
CMJ/Rock Hall MusicFest 2005
By Pete Chakerian

I love Austin, Texas. Really. I have a weak-in-the-knees, toys-in-the-attic, “swooning with love” feeling about that faith-restoring town with the *people-first* ethos. I love where everything is located and how accessible it is. I love Sixth Street and their Warehouse District, the “Tropical Fish Bowl” beverage at Treasure Island, Coyote Ugly, Shiner Bock, Hoek’s hand-tossed pizza, the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue, La Zona Rosa, Mexican Martinis and Antone’s. I love all of it. But perhaps most of all, I love South by Southwest (SXSW), a three-ring-circus music/film festival and industry extravaganza known the world over. This isn’t any old “Lollapalooza,” “Vans Warped Tour” (or “World Series of Rock,” for some of you “old-timers”). It’s where unsigned artists get noticed, signed and often ride the slingshot to The Big Time. During SXSW, Austin spills over with electricity and revelry. The city shuts down a part of the neighborhood, so that all the hardcore devotees, tastemakers and industry pilgrims can wander the streets amongst celebrity royalty and hopeful rock stars. The buzz is deafening; your dance card, burgeoning. Grammy winner Norah Jones and the British rock band The Darkness broke big after performing at showcases in 2002 and 2003, respectively; the White Stripes and the Strokes had similar successes after touching down in Austin and joined an equally impressive charter. It’s not uncommon to sit down the bar from Elijah Wood, stroll by Robert Plant or Nick Lowe on Congress Avenue, bump into Mary Lou Lord busking in an ATM machine alcove, or brush past Janeane Garofalo or Shawn Colvin between showcase acts at Maggie Mae’s. Surreal doesn’t even begin to describe it.

When SXSW is over, I’m back on the plane with that dreaded Cleveland malaise. You know the one: it scurries across the floor, attaches itself to your skull (like those face-hugger creatures from “Alien”) and attempts to suffocate you again. In those moments as a life-long resident, I can’t help but wonder: “Why can’t this happen back home? We’ve got the goods, too. The infrastructure, brilliant minds and talent! Give us a crack at it!” Now, all of you in “e-land” have a chance this summer to give Austin (and several other music showcase cities) a run for their money, when Cleveland hosts a joint musical conference venture between the College Music Journal (CMJ) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, June 8-11. Too good to be true? Read on, true believers…
Read the Cool Cleveland Commentary by Pete Chakerian here

Cool Cleveland wins business award Cleveland appreciates alternative media, as the Cleveland chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators named Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready, “Communicator of the Year.” Mulready is the award’s first recipient, recognized for applying leadership and vision in business communications. See Crain’s here and IABC here.

Ohio blows higher ed Even the PD editorial director Brent Larkin is freaking out: Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell’s misguided constitutional amendment would automatically and forever limit the amount of investment the State of Ohio could make in higher education, driving a stake into efforts to develop our economy. Cleveland State University Michael Schwartz says, “It treats all government as an expenditure and none of it as an investment…It is absolutely designed to propel the state into the past.” Read the editorial here, let Mr. Blackwell know your thoughts here: blackwell@sos.state.oh.us, and cc: Cool Cleveland here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

5 best Mayors According to Time magazine: Chicago’s Richard Daley, Atlanta’s Shirley Franklin, Baltimore’s Martin O’Malley, Denver’s John Hickenlooper, and New York’s Michael Bloomberg. San Diego, Detroit & Philly have the worst mayors. See story here. Your opinion? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Get involved in Ingenuity Help us build our art-tech robot by offering your spare parts (keyboards, hospital gurney, tripods, a tutu, a top hat). Plus: Showcase your Cleveland-based tech company at Cleveland’s first-ever Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology, kicking off Labor Day weekend 2005 with Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready and CPT’s James Levin as co-directors: Hi-tech groups like NASA and Cleveland Clinic Innovations are already on board, engaged in mind-bending collaborative projects with area arts groups. Do you have a growing hi-tech company that’s interested in putting its cutting-edge technology in play with a theatre, dance or music group to collaborate on or sponsor a cool project that could be presented on the stage at Ingenuity this Fall, to show off the best our region has to offer? Learn more: Thomas@IngenuityCleveland.org.

Business plan study hall The COSE Business Plan Challenge is upon us again here, participants should send out their Letter of Intent by Wed 7/13, plans are due 8/3, and the winners will be announced in November for the $120,000 in awards. Entrepreneurs 4 Sustainability are hosting a Business Development Study Hall on Wed 4/27 at 5PM, especially for those entering the 2005 COSE Northeast Ohio Business Plan Challenge. Building a business is demanding, but here’s help for your finance, marketing or business plan. Local business development experts will answer your questions: Beth Yurich, Yurich Creatives, Marketing & Communications; Grant Marquit, COSE, Business Strategy; Bob Schordock, WECO, Finance. For info, call 371-1177 or email Businessdevelopment@e4sustainability.org to register.

Library liability? Ohio’s public libraries and other local government entities may continue to fall victim to reduced funding. Let our legislators know the losses you would realize if your library could no longer provide the things you need—branch library, free Internet access, meeting rooms, homebound delivery, story times. There are many conflicting priorities in these tough economic times, but this is not the time to cut back on a vital community asset which actually supports our state’s return to economic recovery, and ensures access to information so vital to Ohio’s future. This is a time when libraries are needed most. Help us keep the legislature from chipping away library revenues and imperiling the future of Ohio’s public libraries. Go to http://www.lkwdpl.org/funding. Better yet, write to your representative: District 23: Senator Daniel R. Brady dbrady@maild.sen.state.oh.us; District 13: Representative Michael Skindell district13@ohr.state.oh.us; Ohio House of Representatives, Finance Committee Chairman: Rep. Chuck Calvert district69@ohr.state.oh.us; Ohio Senate Finance Committee Chairman: Sen. Bill Harris SD19@mailr.sen.state.oh.us; Governor Bob Taft Governor.Taft@das.state.oh.us. Then, copy Cool Cleveland here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Improve Your Life this Summer Begin, continue or complete a degree or professional certificate with flexible schedules and more than 900 courses to choose from. Many of the classes/programs are the same as those offered during the regular academic year. At Cleveland State’s Summer Sessions there’s something for everyone from sports management to biotechnology to historic preservation with courses in business, education, engineering, liberal arts, social sciences, science, urban affairs and law. And you can also choose from special workshops at our downtown location, Westlake and Solon. To view the Summer 2005 Course Schedule go to www.CSUOhio.edu.com and click on “Class Schedule.” For more information, call (216) 687-5411.
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Nexus of entrepreneurship & economic development To discover an accurate business barometer, take a look at the National Assessment of Entrepreneurship and Regional Growth and Development. Read the study by the Small Business Association here.

Lakewood develops? At his annual State of the City address, Lakewood Mayor Tom George hinted that another big development is brewing, similar to the successful Rockport project with housing and retail. Read the story here. How do you feel about development in Lakewood? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

MOCA wants your old mobile phone Do the right thing during the 35th Anniversary of Earth Day, as MOCA Cleveland, in partnership with Green Sweep LLC, a cell phone recycling and reprocessing company, has initiated the smART Campaign, a distinctive program designed to not only help improve the environment by reducing hazardous cell phone waste in landfills, but also has the dual-purpose of increasing revenue for the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland. Donate your “retired” cell phones through participating corporate partners and retail locations and MOCA receives a nominal sum based on the make, model, and condition of each phone. MOCA is also increasing the number of partners involved in smART and encourages any interested businesses and companies to contact Jude Goergen at 421-8671, x 44 or email jgoergen@MOCAcleveland.org.

Pittsburgh’s nanotech takes off Our neighbors in Pittsburgh are onto something big that’s also microscopically small. Local leaders and businesses in Western Pennsylvania are looking at nanotechnology as the newest tech offering to jolt the region, and they’re planning to “become the nanomaterials hub of the planet.” How? By joining local companies, universities and agencies in an effort to create nanotechnology centers. See Pittsburgh Business Times here.

Bridge Builders wants you Anyone can apply for the Flagship Program, and you can find out how Cleveland Bridge Builders builds leaders for our community’s future by providing training and development, serving as a leadership resource for the community. Applications are due on Fri 4/29 for the Class of 2006. CBB customizes their programs and services to emerging civic leaders and encourages the participation of everyone. http://ClevelandBridgeBuilders.org/application.asp

Out of Darkness now shooting Emmy-award wining Cleveland producer Alex Michaels is shooting his new TV series right here in Cleveland, and that’s not the only innovative approach he’s taking. He’s buying the airtime himself, and paying for it with sponsored product placement on the screen. Follow the progress at his site here, and view the news clip here.

US falls behind in broadband America has slumped behind its Asian rival to upgrade to high-speed broadband connections, and it has negative economic consequences. In this article, former U.S. Foreign Service Officer, Thomas Bleha, writes that America fell from fourth to 13th place in global rankings of broadband internet usage, and that our country has fallen behind in wireless broadband services on mobile phones. See The Economist here. Meanwhile, Philadelphia architects their own plan. See Government Technology here. And New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg announced a comprehensive technology and economic development plan that features a OneCleveland-like ultra-broadband strategy. See pages 17-20 of his plan here. Your thoughts? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Florida’s back The well-known and provocative author is at it again, delineating why our nation is on the cusp of losing its competitive advantage. Florida suggests that the biggest threat to the U.S. is not terrorism, but the loss of creative people who will not want to stay within America’s borders. See excerpts of his new book The Flight of the Creative Class, at Salon here.

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Dust off Your Sombrero and Get Your Piñata Swinging Arm in Shape Come party with Fat Fish Blue for Cinco De Mayo. Bourbon Street goes south of the border on Thurs 5/5. All day Cuervo Margarita & Fat Fish Blue Margarita specials are only $3 and buckets of Cerveza 6 for $12. And the food! Chef Adam has created some amazing Latin specials: homemade Tamales, Mole Chicken, Tortilla Soup and Chicken Fajitas with all of the fixin’s. The Damon Fowler Band takes the stage at 8PM for a sizzling stage show. This young trio plays edgy blues . . . that aren’t your daddy’s or your grandpa’s kind of blues. As always $2 parking with a Fat Fish Blue validation at Gateway Parking. Hard to believe – but true!! See you on 05-05-05. Contact www.FatFishBlue.com or 216-875-6000.
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Volunteers sought The 15th Annual Dr. John Carey Memorial AIDS Walk arrives this fall on Sat 10/1 with a University Circle Step off at 10AM from Wade Oval. The community is invited to get into the spirit of activism; and this “save the date” event attracts over 3,000 people motivated to erase HIV/AIDS and raise $200,000 for a consortium of nonprofit agencies. Volunteer to build walk teams, help out with marketing, and be a part of the festivities. For more information, contact David Fearn at 621-0766 x 275 or email dfearn@atfgc.org

Reading books improves your writing Check it out for yourself, in the new book by South Africa’s largest literary figure, Es’kia Mphahlele. He shares how reading books enriched his writing. Read the story here.

NCMC partners with Borders A terrific teaming-up effort is on the rise: Northeast Ohio Borders stores are connecting with the North Coast Men’s Chorus’ 100 singing members. Shop and have fun while fundraising during this weekend, as 15% of the purchases from customers presenting a voucher at Borders stores will got toward North Coast Men’s Chorus. Prepare for Mother’s Day gift purchasing, as this offer is good between Fri 4/29 and Sun 5/1. Download your vouchers at http://www.NCMChorus.org. North Coast Men’s Chorus is a community-based musical organization presenting entertaining, quality performances for diverse audiences, providing supportive environments and promoting a positive presence in the gay community and beyond. See their upcoming events, including the release of a new CD, The Human Heart on Sat 5/7. See the group live at the Allen Theatre on Sat 6/25. Call 531-3156. Tickets for both events are available on the NCNC’s website, http://www.NCMChorus.org or email sjlouzos@yahoo.com

Early child care returns $13 for every $1 invested Read the recommendations that may improve the quality of work and family life. See report by MIT Workplace Center here.

Less is more? The National Endowment for the Arts will minimize a new initiative to circulate the best of American culture around the country, beginning with just a tour of visual arts. The plan will make use of touring programs to present art to communities outside major arts centers. The NEA revamped the project after funding cuts, removing the dance and music components. Read the story here.

Arts for Development Vision 2015 is the latest call-out from Arts For Global Development Inc. and the Millennium Campaign, organizing a contest with a mission to create opportunities for arts advocates to find new and complementary ways to improve communities around the world. Arts For Global Development, Inc. is a network which has become an important source to support the third sector and hence human development. Its youthful, international people-centered professionals are taking up activism, and all artists can become part of their mission by submitting art work to make a statement. Deadline is Tue 5/31. Find out more information at http://www.Art4development.net/home.html

Antidote is the newspaper hitting readers right between Cleveland’s eyes with truly liberal bias that’s fun but not for the faint of heart. With tidbits such as Mad Rants from the Right Wing and Gay Marriage Saves California, just check your political, emotional, and personal hang-ups at the door before you come in and read. It’s humorous, half-serious, and also super-serious, making it a readable contradiction and new local news source combined into one. http://www.AntidoteNews.com

Cool Cleveland This Week
4.27-5.04

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Flowers of Shanghai is part of the CMA’s monthly film/lecture series “Masters of Modern Cinema.” Directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien, this film is a deliciously sin offering from Hou, one of Asia’s top filmmakers. See this languorous drama of opium, opulence, and oppression in a late 19th- century Shanghai brothel on Wed 4/27 at 6:30PM. Call 421-7340. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd. Read more at CMA here.

Web Marketing seminar Since 1995, nationally known speaker Jan Limpach has helped small to medium businesses and non-profits learn how to do business on the Internet. He will be in Cleveland for a one-day Internet Marketing Best Practices Briefing sharing the 411 on search engine optimization, e-metrics for marketing success, pay per click (PPC) advertising, e-mail marketing and boosting conversion rates. Course will help Internet marketers, Web designers, marketing staff, small business owners, consultants, web developers and webmasters who provide advice to clients on Thu 4/28 8:30AM-3:30PM. University of Phoenix facilities, 5005 Rockside Rd., #130, in Independence. http://tinyurl.com/4c7vl or http://www.Keyphrase-Marketing.com

Patronizing the Arts Marjorie Garber, an expert on visual arts and culture, will provide important commentary the role and future of the arts. She’s the recipient of numerous distinctions and awards, and is the Director of the Humanities Center at Harvard University. Discover the finer points of art and the direction it is taking on Thu 4/28 at 4:30PM. Call 368-1040. Case Western Reserve University’s Clark Hall, 309, 11130 Bellflower Rd. http://www.Case.edu/artsci

Acordia VIP Party benefiting Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Eat, drink and be merry, all for a good cause. Acordia’s night of fun, food and billiards will supply party goers with plenty of amusement and an opportunity to display their skills in the optional co-ed billiards tournament while benefiting an important cause. Event is limited to 200 guests; the first 50 receive complimentary drink token, so don’t be late. Leave the J-O-B and head down to Jillian’s on the West Bank of the Flats on Thu 4/28 at 5PM. Call 575-0301 for info or see here. Jillian’s Billiard Club, 1148 Main Avenue, Unit 400.

Positioning Your Business Idea for High Growth Join JumpStart Entrepreneur-in-Residence Sam Gerace as he shares his experience starting and growing enterprises. Discover how to select a business opportunity that will both attract outside capital and create wealth for its founders, and learn what JumpStart can do to fund a high growth business or idea. This event, organized by the Cleveland Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, happens Thu 4/28 from 6-8PM. To register send your name and company to clevelandblackmbas@yahoo.com. Read about speaker here. Keybank Building, 127 Public Square, 9th Floor. www.ClevelandBlackMBAs.org www.JumpStartInc.org

The Nesnady + Schwartz Visiting Critics Program is bringing into Cleveland nationally recognized critics, curators, or other art world professionals from outside our region. They’ll offer studio visits with artists, and deliver a high profile public lecture which promotes critical dialogue. Join Amada Cruz, formerly the Director of the Center for Curatorial Studies Museum at Bard College, curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago and the other well-know museums on Thu 4/28 at 6PM. Call 421-8671. MOCA, 8501 Carnegie Ave. http://www.MOCAcleveland.org

The Nomi Song & Los Olvidados Find out what all the hoopla is about! The Nomi Song, a documentary on Klaus Nomi in high demand will be showing on Thu 4/28 at 9:05PM. Delve into the brief but indelible life of a classically trained German singer who became a New Wave pop sensation through home movies, vintage recordings, video clips, and recent interviews with friends. Los Olvidados, voted 2nd best Mexican film of all-time, is showing Fri 4/29 at 9:30PM. Call 421-7450 for prices and alternate showings. The Cleveland Cinematheque, The Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Boulevard. http://www.TheNomiSong.com or http://www.cia.edu/cinematheque

FashionWeekCleveland 2005 Attend the array of festivities, from posh to party, comprising Cleveland’s premier fashion event. Bring your hottie in fashion-forward attire to the Mercury Lounge Model Search on Thu 4/28 which kicks off the celebration. Next week, follow the coolest fashion at the MixedMedia Runway Event where you’ll be exposed to spring collections from Cleveland’s top fashion designers and boutiques. The Pre-Party, Fashion Nite Out and several others culminate in the Cleveland Fashion Show on Sat 5/28 at The Club at Key Center, 127 Public Square. For info call 338-6700. Check www.ClevelandFashionShow.com for a complete listing of events and pricing.

Hotel Bruce Issue 4 Release Party Take an extra heaping slice of the urban landscape, and familiarize yourself with Hotel Bruce, the favored journal of creative living in Cleveland. This month, experience the sights, sips and sounds of spring in the ‘Garden Spot’ of Glenville as Hotel Bruce showcases urban design concepts for an area in Glenville and presents the exceptional vision of residents, artists and professionals working in the area. Celebrate the release of HB’s fourth online issue is on Fri 4/29 from 5-8PM. Rockefeller Greenhouse, at 750 E. 88th St. at the foot of MLK Drive. http://www.HotelBruce.com and or email marc@hotelbruce.com

Lectio Divina Meditate with poetry, you’ll be surprised how great poems can deepen and illuminate your spiritual journeys. Through both guided and private experiences of holy reading, or lectio divina, you’ll concentrate on major contemporary poetry from around the world. Prepare to open yourself and the cares, hopes, humor, and wisdom that’s revealed within poetry’s eye-opening and heart-opening power. Retreat begins Fri 4/29 at 5:30PM; dinner will be served 6:30PM. Retreat runs through Sun 5/1. Call 440-884-9300. Jesuit Retreat House, 5629 State Rd. in Parma http://www.jrh-cleveland.org

Perren Hedderson Take in the cool vibe of Talkies old time movie theatre setting while sampling the delicious fare and enjoying live entertainment provided the ultra versatile Perren Hedderson who will be playing stand up bass on Fri 4/29 from 7-9PM. Talkies Film & Coffee Bar, 2521 Market Avenue, Ohio City. Call 696-FILM. www.TalkiesCoffee.com

One-Man Impressionist Show Calling all impressionist lovers and art enthusiasts! Korean born painter, S. Sam Park returns to Piccadilly’s Fine Art Galleries in Tremont for a one-man show Fri 4/29 and Sat 4/30 from 6:30–9PM. You may not own an original Monet or Renoir, but you can own an original Park; the artist will even hand-embellish pieces that are purchased during the show. Preview available pieces here. Call 344-1800. Piccadilly’s Fine Art Galleries, 2253 Professor Ave, Tremont. http://www.Piccadillys.com

Progressive Arts Alliance @ 1300 Gallery presents international mural artists Daze and Mode 2, who are installing a mural on the West 65th side of Cleveland Public Theater. New York’s Daze, and Mode 2, from London, will also exhibit works at 1300 gallery. An unveiling of the mural will happen on Fri 4/29 at 5:30PM, with DJing and live percussion by Neil Chastain of Pureplex, SAFMOD, and the Aphrodesiatics. A private, advance reception will allow attendees to view and purchase the works before the general public, and also to meet the artists from 6-7:30PM. The reception also serves as a fundraiser for Progressive Arts Alliance, a non-profit organization that provides contemporary arts-in-education programs in schools and community spaces throughout the year. A public reception will begin at 7:30PM. For more information, call 939-1300 and visit http://www.paalive.org/index_files/dazemode.htm and http://www.13Hundred.com

Historic Rebels Support these Lakewood Middle School Punk Rockers as they make their debut while opening for The Flat Can Co at Pats in the Flats on Fri 4/29 at 9:30PM. Call 621-8044. Pats in the Flats, 2233 West Third. See http://historicrebels.tripod.com/ or www.PatsInTheFlats.com

WCLV notes The Boston Symphony’s Saturday night concerts have been on local radio for decades. And now Cleveland can also enjoy its orchestra live on the radio – starting this week – when WCLV 104.9 broadcasts Saturdays from Severance concerts live each week for the rest of the season. The first two concerts will celebrate the 80th birthday of classical superstar Pierre Boulez as he conducts the hometown band. Then Music Director Franz Welser-Moest returns to the podium for the rest of the season, which will include Leif Ove Andsnes and the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 1, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, and music of Dvorak and Mozart. WCLV is installing new, outstanding digital black boxes to insure that listeners will receive “the best band in the land” as faithfully as technology allows. WCLV a Cool Cleveland partner www.wclv.com

ICASI Student Café Luncheons Skip the Cheetos and Diet Pepsi and go for a FIVE-course gourmet luncheon prepared by Advanced Culinary Arts students at the International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute. The Student Café will be open seven Saturdays this Spring, so come out Sat 4/30 through Sat 6/25 between 11:30AM and 1:30PM. Call 440-729-7340 ext. 31 for pricing, info and required reservations. ICASI, 8613 Mayfield Road, Chesterland http://www.ICASI.net

Jawbone Poetry and Pie Festival It’s the third annual poetry and pie event, and one of the coolest literary happenings which raises needed funds for SRCA with an open poetry reading, headed by Maj Ragain, Kent State University’s poetry professor. Listen to the Jawbone reading and connect with the writers’ community on Sat 4/30 from 11AM-2PM. Call 330-673-4970. North Water Street Gallery, 257 N. Water Street in Kent.

Whiskey Island Walking Tour Take a sneak peek of Northeast Ohio’s Newest Regional Gateway Park – Wendy Park, scheduled for dedication on June 25, 2005. Take a walking tour of the park on Sat 4/30 at 12PM followed by Commissioner Dimora sharing Cuyahoga County’s vision for acquiring the Whiskey Island Parkland and Marina for continued public access and recreation at 1PM. Call 651-3476 for more info. Wendy Park, Whiskey Island Marina, 2800 Whiskey Island. http://www.CitizensVision.org and http://www.WhiskeyIslandMarina.com/wendypark.html

CHABAM (Children Have Active Bodies and Minds)The Educational Play Center offers dynamic programs for young children and their families. Bring your little people to the newly opened center across from Eton on Chagrin Boulevard to experience dynamic music, art and movement curriculum facilitated by degreed educators. Create works of art, make music and move to the beat! A tree house, puppet theater, bridge, bell tower and refreshments mean a good time for all. Attend the Open House and Party on Sat 4/30 from 1-5PM. Call 464-8500. CHABAM, 28700 Chagrin Blvd. in Woodmere. http://www.CHABAM.com

Heights High Spring Exhibition The 50th Annual Event features art by Cleveland Heights High School Seniors, with the opening reception on Sat 4/30 from 6-9PM. The exhibit will remain on display through Sun 5/8. Call 371-3344 for information. HeightsArts, 2173 Lee Road in Cleveland Hts. http://www.HeightsArts.org/projects/gallery.html#April

Harvey Wasserman @ Mac’s Backs The senior advisor to Greenpeace USA and the Nuclear Information & Resource Service will discuss current events, and his book, Harvey Wasserman’s History of the United States. As a political activist and author of several books, Harvey helped coin the phrase “No Nukes.” He moved back to central Ohio in the mid 1980s, where he has helped organize successful campaigns against a regional radioactive waste dump, Columbus’s now-shut trash burning power plant. Hear first hand about activism on Sat 4/30 at 7PM. Call 321-2665. Mac’s Backs Books on Coventry, 1820 Coventry Rd. in Cleveland Hts. http://www.MacsBacks.com

2nd Annual Women’s Business Center of Cuyahoga County Reception It’s a gala event for the WBC, a program of the U.S. Small Business Administration that offers business training, counseling, and other technical assistance in the areas of business finance, business management, marketing and research to women business owners, and women who want to start one. This hard-working center also provides special outreach to women who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Hear Guest speakers award Jacinda Walker, president of Inerge Impacts, and Tanesha N. Kendrick, president of A Fuller View Incorporation, a motivational training program for youth. Event begins Sat 4/30 at 6PM. For tickets, call 707-0777. Fairhill Center, 12200 Fairhill Rd.

Songs of Prayer and Praise Share in the inauguration of the West Shore Chorale’s new home, a 1000 seat state of the art auditorium with comfortable seating, terrific acoustics and plentiful parking. Conductor, John Drotleff, will lead the 85 member chorus and 35 of Cleveland’s finest instrumentalists as they perform the concert, a “greatest hits” of the choral-symphonic repertoire featuring Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Handel, Mendelssohn and Fauré on Sun 5/1 at 7:30PM. Call 221-1639. Magnificat Center for the Performing Arts, 20770 Hilliard Blvd. in Rocky River. www.WestShoreChorale.org

6th Annual Symposium on Democracy features a wide range of artistic and cultural programs that support the theme of “Democracy and the Arts: Voices and Choices.” Special attractions include keynote speaker Jehmu Greene, president of the Rock the Vote Foundation scholarly papers, gallery talks, poetry readings, dance and musical performances, and interactive sessions with Animating Democracy, an initiative that promotes artistic responses to contemporary issues on Mon 5/2 and Tue 5/3. Call 330-672-8514. The event is open to the public. Kent State University’s Student Center, 500 E. Main St. in Kent. For complete list of events and times, visit here and see here and here.

Cuyahoga County Young Democrats Spring Social will feature guest speaker, Columbus Mayor, Michael Coleman, the 2006 Democratic Candidate for Ohio Governor. Enjoy appetizers and draft beer while networking with various community leaders on Tues 5/3 from 5:30-7:30PM. For info send email to cuyahoga@ohioyd.org. See the evite here. The Treehouse, 320 College Avenue. www.CuyahogaCountyYoungDemocrats.com.

Rufio This pop-punk quartet from CA are gently punked out in the contempory sense of the word, with their debut CD on Revelation Records label, Perhaps, I Suppose. Their follow up recording, MCMLXXXV (1985) was released on Nitro and recorded with the producer Nick Rasculinecz, who worked with Foo Fighters and Rancid. These boys got their feet wet with a series of Warped Tour dates a few years back, and are playing it hard on Tue 5/3 at 7PM with Gatsby’s Dream, Over It, and The Fight. Call 321-5588. Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Hts Boulevard in Cleveland Hts. http://www.GrogShop.gs/main.html

The Continuing Significance of Neighborhoods FutureHeights is at it again, providing stimulating discussion on the topic of neighborhoods and their role within our community. Philip Star, Director of the Center for Neighborhood Development at the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University, will start the discussion by reviewing basic principles of neighborhood planning. The Audience will consider questions such as, “Why are neighborhoods important?” and “What makes a neighborhood a community?” during this community-building event. Hear what’s happening on Wed 5/4 at 7PM. Call 320-1423. Church of the Saviour, Calvary Hall, 2537 Lee Rd. in Cleveland Heights http://www.FutureHeights.org

Santo vs. Frankenstein’s Daughter In the mood for wrestling, monsters and go-go boots? Then SynthCleveland’s “Unsilent” version of this 1971 classic Mexican Wrestling/Horror film is just for you. Check out the improvised live score performed by members of SynthCleveland on Wed 5/4 at 8PM. Call 330-626-2985. Rain Nightclub, 4142 Lorain Avenue. http://www.SynthCleveland.com

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland Sounds
Cory Ryan
Blank Slate
CR Music

A Cleveland native who graduated from Brush High, Ryan moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University, the city’s famed music school. Having finished off his studies there in 1996, you can think of Blank Slate as Ryan’s post-graduate thesis. “Far From Good” is a faint echo of Del Amitri with a buzz saw running in the background, not a bad thing, as “Changed” has the top line of the disc via “you didn’t take my heart, you took my youth.” Drummer Marshall Richardson drives the project, be it “Good Now That You’re Gone” or the love/hate ditty “Lauren,” that has enough of a punch to wake the comatose. “Too Far Gone” is a solid number about a break-up and letting go as “Fair Weather Friend” gets in touch with Ryan’s Bruce Hornsby slow jazz side, thanks to Steve King’s piano. The only downside on Blank Slate might be the slower tunes drift too much and go out of focus, yet Ryan shows some good hook in the other numbers, with the previously cited songs as the examples of his better writing tendencies. The one pet peeve that always sets me off is a disc with a hidden track and there’s one here. My theory is if the song’s good enough to be recorded, it’s good enough to have a title and be listed on the jacket. Ryan neatly dodges that bullet by having the last track a short commercial for his web page. I can live with that. Blank Slate is Cory Ryan’s first step in a journey. It’ll be interesting to see which direction he heads from here. Plus, one disclaimer: a little birdie told me that the new pressing will have a different cover for the cd along with a couple songs being remixed to bring out the band more. http://www.coryryanmusic.com

from Cool Cleveland contributor Peanuts hostofthenorthcoast@yahoo.com

Talking Loud, Saying Everything
Jazz Etiquette 101, or
Will the guy in the back with the big voice please SHUT UP!
By Vince Robinson

How many times has this happened to you? You’re in a nightclub for an intimate evening of jazz. A group is on stage performing as if it’s the last time they’ll ever play together again. They reach a quiet moment in a song where the violinist takes a solo and the guy at the table behind you continues his conversation in tones that completely overwhelm the melodious strings singing at that moment while you bristle at his ineptitude.

What just happened here? You might say it was a breach in jazz etiquette.

One of Cleveland’s premier jazz clubs recently closed its doors. It had been described as an excellent venue because of its acoustics. It was an ideal place for musicians because of this, but unfortunately, it was criticized because its owners were very adamant about requiring patrons to be quiet during performances. Their attitude could be seen as extreme, by some, but if you ask any musician, it would be undoubtedly be whole-heartedly embraced, particularly if they play traditional jazz…
Read Jazz Etiquette 101 by Vince Robinson here

Cool Cleveland Preview
Dancing Wheels at CCC East and Playhouse Square 4/30

Dancing Wheels performs more than any other Cleveland dance company but seldom in Cleveland. Other than Snowman, its Christmas holiday special, it does only a very few performances here this year. The current offering, four premieres by four different choreographers, represents a change for Dancing Wheels; they used to rely on a single artistic director/choreographer but now they’ve outsourced choreography, in this case to three locals and a New Yorker… It’s easy enough to accept Founding Artistic Director Mary Verdi-Fletcher’s premise that dance is an expression of the human spirit and truly for all people of all abilities; but finding entertaining, meaningful dance works that truly utilize people of diverse abilities is problem solving of the first magnitude…
Read the Cool Cleveland preview on Dancing Wheels here

Instant Karma
Quick reviews of recent events
Going out this weekend? Take along your PDA and your digital camera. Scratch out a few notes to send us with a picture of it for our Instant Karma real-world reviews of what’s really happening. We’d love to hear from you. Send your stuff to Events@CoolCleveland.com

Inlet @ Cleveland Public Theatre 4/16
Our hopes rose for Interns Traveling/Wondrous Beasts, a premiere. We’ve noticed that much of Wade’s best choreography is for student dancers, relative beginners. Alas, for whatever reason the mix of Pilobolus based partnering and Wade’s chemistry with the interns produced a dance that failed to move us or, by the sound, the rest of the audience. But the second half of the program was all that the first half was not, and proved very satisfying. Dream of Sleeping (2004) wins Victor’s seal of approval for sleep studies by not treating the subject too literally and introducing extravagant body shapes and dynamics into the mix. Again, Lott’s score is a plus. Kristin Wade’s pajama costumes let just a little bit of the sleepers’ sexiness show through. Wade’s choreographic invention and his theatrical timing are in full evidence. Read the review by Victor Lucas here

Takacs Quartet @ Reinberger Chamber Hall 4/18
Well all great things must come to an end. And the end came to the three year Beethoven string quartet cycle performed by the Tackas Quartet. These concerts will easily be at the top of the greatest concerts I will ever hear. Performances of this caliber remind you of how really great live performances can be. And as I jotted in my program “concerts like this make you want to toss your whole record collection out.” The final installment of the string quartet cycle brought us String Quartet No. 7, (“Rasumovsky”) in F major, Op.59, No.1 and String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat major, Op. 130. These are some of the greatest quartets ever written, and the performances were on par with the works. No. 7 began the program with the quartet beautifully weaving lines through the opening allegro. Following in the second movement a call and response was heard which involved extremes that included some of the most delicate play on one end and an aggressive gritty “rock out” play at the other. The adagio was performed with a since of frailty. And the final movement brings more of the above to a rousing end. The second half of the program brought us one of Beethoven’s late quartets No.13 which enters a whole new territory for the string quartet of its day. And these extremes were heard through out the piece but culminating in the Finale: Grosse Fuge. It is a bit like a multi layered exploding cake. The opening movements are an accumulation of one new idea after another but the Grosse Fuge wallops you and leaves you stunned. The aggressiveness of the Tackas play left horsehair blowing in the wind, and the audience screaming. It was the end.
from Cool Cleveland contributor Brian Schriefer briancpa@msn.com

Jack DeJohnette Latin Project @ Tri-C JazzFest 4/21
Trophy drummer Jack DeJohnette brought his busy, enervating Latin Project to Tri-C Metro Auditorium Thursday night. The music was large and loud, despite some incredible, more intimate moments from each musician. This was DeJohnette’s group and concept, so it made sense that the drummer, who first gained notice for providing the shifting rhythms in the Miles Davis Bitches Brew band, be front and center. But DeJohnette and his percussion mates overplayed so frequently the concert wound up feeling like more like heavy metal than jazz. And it didn’t supply the theatrics that can make a heavy metal concert enjoyable….
Read the review by Carlo Wolff here

Jack DeJohnette Latin Project @ Tri-C JazzFest 4/21
Jack DeJohnette is regarded as one of the great drummers of Jazz. He’s played with many of the major talents of the genre; Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Ron Carter and Herbie Hancock to name just a few. His current project, the Jack DeJohnette Latin Project, unites him with five musicians with superior musical skills: Don Byron – clarinet and tenor sax; Giovanni Hidalgo – congas; Edsel Gomez – piano; Jerome Harris – bass; Luisito Quintero – timbales, percussion. All six played together as if they’d been gigging with each other for years and they played a super-tight, six song set. All of the tunes are heavily Latin influenced numbers – but heavier. Think industrial-strength Latin laid on top of the Jazz.
Read the review of Jack DeJohnette Latin Project here

Apollo’s Fire @ St. Paul’s Church, Cleveland Heights 4/22 The French Horn is one of those truly strange and unruly creatures. It’s not really French, nor is it really a horn, even though it is made out of brass or other metal. Its usual place is with the woodwinds, and that’s okay, because it blends well with them. The major problem is, it’s so darned difficult to play! Although popular, originally, in the natural state, it is, even with the addition of valves, still a contrary beast. Bravo to James Sommerville who gave a marvelous demonstration of how to tame the thing during the Friday evening concert presented by Jeannette Sorrell and her Apollo’s Fire Orchestra. The program consisted of three parts Mozart to one part Salieri; a good mix. Antonio Salieri, who was about six when Mozart was born, and outlived the younger man by some thirty-five years, is generally conceded to be a somewhat ordinary personage rather than the evil-doer of Amadeus. Ms. Sorrell selected and arranged a handful of the twenty-six Orchestral Variations on La folia di Spagna which date from 1815. They are variously jaunty, tuneful, lugubrious, genteel or spirited or a combination of these effects. In one of them, two violinists played from off-stage, providing a surround-sound effect. Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

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

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

On moving back to NYC (See Sorry it didn’t work out here) It seems to me the writer would have made Hawaii a miserable place to live as well. Picking up a Scene or Free Times could have steered her into the areas she was looking for. Working at the Plain Dealer she could have checked the Friday magazine. There are numerous ads for singles. I believe she didn’t want to make this work and she even mentions where it went wrong. My question is, why did she even bother to write this article? To help others? Or to convince herself moving back home was the right choice. On a happier note, thanks to Cool Cleveland for keeping me updated on the latest and greatest around town. I look forward to your weekly emails. I am not a 20 something, I am approaching a 50 something, and there is still so much to see and do for us “old folks”!
from Cool Cleveland reader Sue Barberio BARBERS@ccf.org

You kidding me? That complaining young lady from New York City writes for the Wall Street Journal? She had a Plain Dealer internship? Unbelievable. Her article reads like a kid doing a summer vacation paper. Almost every sentence begins with “I”. You can look it up. No wonder she didn’t like living in Cleveland. She’s too “me-oriented” and we’re not a “me-oriented” town. And that’s one of our most liveable qualities. Her loss. Our gain. Good riddance.
from Cool Cleveland reader Regis Garrity regemail@att.net

I have only recently become a reader of cool Cleveland and think it shows great promise ,value and inspiration.i noted a column a few weeks back from a gentlemen who recently moved to boston from Cleveland. i as well am an ex-patriot. I on the other hand , have planned to move back to the city, shaker heights to be specific, from my residence for 20 years of Chicago. I like him share the same sentiments, that clevelands biggest issue is the brain drain and inability to attract young, upwardly mobile ,creative citizens. I left a lifetime ago for this reason alone. I can now afford to return on my terns to a home I never wanted to leave. I hope in returning to do my little part in making a difference. What alarms me, is there is nothing wrong with the bricks and mortar, nothing wrong with the location and in fact , I would argue Cleveland has more going for it potentially now then ever. There is a lot of money in the northeastern ohio area, attractively valued housing, trained workers, arts,sports,mass transit.. what is wrong with this picture? Cleveland has the feel as only an old venerable city can have, of coolness, city life, niches and history. It has a port, which today is a marvelous opportunity. Some say that the rust belt issue is why, our that everyone is leaving to lower priced areas.. this is loser speak.. Chicago and other old cities have survived the loss of the stock yards, manufacturing and so on.. they have not lost there ambition to win, and leadership to execute a winning city based strategy. You can only imagine what a passion to win attitude would do to the entire city ethos. Success is contagious in many ways, and we may acquire instead of being acquired. We may lead instead of being led. We may create instead of complain. My hopes is that the younger generations who are readers, see what our friend from boston saw, but stay.. they have an opportunity to make a statement, be an architect for there future in a city that they can have a direct affect on. This is a real opportunity and a real situation. Stand up, make noise about it, insist on excellence and a strategy that builds a city not fractionates it. Cleveland has it all, except one thing. The answer to the above referenced whys , is it has absolutely the worst string of politicians and leadership that modern history can remember. Certainly, a few have been solid and the growth that followed was pavlovian. Voinovich being a star, and from what an outsider can see, white wasn’t so bad either.. unfortunately, the Kucinich style ,self promotion , style political hack is the rule.. it isnt a matter of color as those detractors would like to say. In deed, the people of color have been hurt most by there misleading pretend to be protectors. The fact is, look what they have done and facts don’t lie. Leadership and focus, is all you need. You have ,our would have all the other items with this catalyst.. be smart, make it clear, stay in Cleveland and demand a daley type not a Kucinich type. Scream at the city council meetings, who are trying to pray on the bones of of what is left of the businesses in the area,and neighborhoods.This is the time, this is the order of the day.. Its your time! p.s. I would love to see boston come back in a few years and find things have changed..
from Cool Cleveland reader Jordan Rahal Jordan@RahalFoods.com

Thanks to James Levin and Judge Ray Pianka My thanks to Jim Levin and Judge Ray Pianka for organizing a stunning evening of chamber music featuring the great Polish composer, Frederic Chopin, this past Sunday April 17th. The performances were world-class, the location (in the “Orthodox”, the former St. Mary’s Romanian Orthodox Church on Detroit Avenue at West 65th – built in 1907) truly transporting, and the leadership that made it all happen fantastic. Keep your eyes open for chances to support these kind of performances west of the Cuyahoga in the months to come!
from Cool Cleveland reader John Colm, President & Executive Director, Westside Industrial Retention & Expansion Network (WIRE-Net) john@wire-net.org

On RTA (See Pass The Pump here) Hey, I am all for eco-friendly transportation. I used to bike to Dobama Theatre in the neighboring town of Cleveland Heights whenever the weather was nice, but after being laid off nearly a year ago, I’m doing freelance PR out of my home for arts clients, small businesses and non-profits. When that scratch doesn’t stretch far enough, I do lifeguarding and swimming instruction. Why am I telling you this? Because the pools I work for are not adequately serviced by the RTA. I have been talking about this for years, like when my husband and I first moved back to Ohio and lived in North Royalton for a couple years while we searched for a house. We never thought we would have to buy a second car, because I worked then in neighboring Strongsville at their Rec Center. But you can’t bike in the snow, at least not with my bike! Just to give you a taste of how Cuyahoga County runs its RTA, if I wanted to go that five miles down the same road, I would have had to take three buses, one of which came once an hour. Do I think our RTA is any better now? Do any of your readers?
from Cool Cleveland reader Marjorie Preston PrestonWmn@aol.com

On Warehouse District culture (See The business of entertainment here) I think what [nightclub owner] Terry Barbu has done for the Warehouse District is awesome! If we had more of his entrepreneurial spirit to go around this whole city would have a thriving warehouse district feel to it. I only hope that as time goes by the district sustains itself as a entertainment and social mecca. I think it’s important to bring in a vast majority of entertainment venues to the area to cater to all ages. I don’t know if I’ll be a die-hard W. 6th kind of guy in 10 years when I’m in my 30’s with the same bars and clubs that are there now.
from Cool Cleveland reader Patrick Manfroni pmanfroni@icleveland.org

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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

1) Sorry it didn’t work out Not every young 20-something that moves to Cleveland from New York City for a job at the local daily paper will fall in love with Cleveland. www.WSJ.com

2) The business of entertainment Cleveland’s king of club culture, Terry Barbu, is a young professional responsible for invigorating the Warehouse District with his collection of nightclubs: Fusion, Liquid, Tramp, Funky Buddha, and the new Tequila Ranch. http:// www.Inside-Business.com

3) RoldoLINK Smart Guys Guys Take But Make Believe They’re Giving By Roldo Bartimole. The importance of being able to influence public opinion – especially among the young – can’t be overstated. www.CoolCleveland.com

4) Moving On Up in Midtown The Montana Townhomes offer ten, contemporary townhomes with airy, open designs, 1200-1800 square feet, a striking brick and stone facade that extends to the edge of both streets. http://www.ProgressiveUrban.com

5) Cool Cleveland People Guy-Vincent Ricketti is internationally acclaimed; his recent exhibitions include La Vie Moderne which traveled to Rome, Termoli, and Spoleto, Italy. www.CoolCleveland.com

Content with a mission Is Cool Cleveland your choice for news and events in Cleveland? Weekly we send out compelling news, articles, interviews and events that improve your experience in Cleveland. Thanks to our readers who support our city by actively engaging in it, while sustaining alternative media by checking out www.CoolCleveland.com. Visit our website and discover what’s coming up that’s worth paying attention to. Send along friends and co-workers to register for the e-zine at www.CoolCleveland.com.

Hard Corps bring the zing Cool Cleveland is supported by our dedicated contributing writers who deliver cultural, arts and business content to round out your week in Cleveland. CC pushes out mad props to Tisha Nemeth-Loomis, Pete Chakerian, Vince Robinson, Brian Schriefer, TL Champion, George Nemeth, Kelly Ferjutz, Carlo Wolff, Roxanne Ravenel, Rachel Jacobs, Peanuts, Victor Lucas, 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

See the Cool Cleveland column each month in Cleveland Magazine. Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time. Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com. For your copy of the free weekly Cool Cleveland e-zine, go to http://www.CoolCleveland.com

Rock on, Cleveland

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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