Getting Centered

9.3-9.10.08
Getting Centered

In this week’s issue:
* A Rad-Spankin’ New CC Party @ Ray’s Mountain Bike Park!!!
* Ingenious Theater like a TV series? Matt Greenfield’s Oddy Fest
* Soundbyte Laureate A Letter from Santa to the Stock Market
* Revive Get Centered with Local Yoga options
* Interview Meet Matty Sayre: Production Stage Manager & Playwright
* GreenBiz Video Tom Morley, prez of Berea-based Lube Stop, Inc.
* Straight Outta Mansfield The Huff in Hough: Who’s telling the the truth?
* Preview The HD Ballet Series at Cedar Lee Theater
* Sounds CIM/Guitars Int’l pair up for a Classical Guitar Fest

* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, Brewed Fresh Daily here

Is balance a defining characteristic of our region? A case could be made that Midwestern values include a clear sense of purpose, a level-headedness, an embodiment of common sense. And in a complex region like Cleveland Plus, with its mix of European tradition, big city sophistication, Southern immigrants and suburban quintessence, our innate sense of balance is informed by an open-mindedness to diverse points of view. That’s why we’re the perfect swing state. We’re always looking for the center, looking for the balance, and we almost always represent the defining trends in the rest of America. This week, we seek balance with Matt Greenfield’s Oddy Fest, a look at the eco-policies and practices of local oil change experts Lube Stop, a survey of local yoga opportunities, guitars at CIM, HD ballet & opera at the Cedar-Lee, and a profile of all-around theatre maven Matty Sayre. Reserve your place at the season’s hottest event: Cool Cleveland’s Civic Innovation Lab birthday bash on Thu 10/16 at the unbelievable Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park, with online discount tix here. Proof that the center and the cutting edge can be fully in balance only in a place like Cleveland. –Thomas Mulready

Party @ Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park
Celebrate Civic Innovation Lab’s 5th birthday on 10/16

You won’t believe it until you see it with your own eyes. Ray Petro has transformed an abandoned Cleveland factory warehouse into 100,000 square feet of mountain bike and BMX trails, ramps, elevators and trick jumps, and you are invited to party while the best of Cleveland’s trick riders show off their awesome skills. To help you visualize, check the video here. Having received funding and mentorship from the Civic Innovation Lab, as has Cool Cleveland, we thought inviting everyone to Ray’s would be the most appropriate way to throw a party to celebrate the Lab’s 5th anniversary, with booths showcasing many other Lab projects. Join us on Thu 10/16 from 5:30-7:30PM at Ray’s indoor MTB. Details and map here. Order tix online early, as the price goes up each week: https://coolcleveland.net/tickets/101608

Here’s what you get:

* Party right inside the world’s first indoor mountain bike & BMX park, Ray’s Indoor MTB
* Open bar with red & white wine and unlimited Pabst Blue Ribbon samples
* Hot dogs & brats from the one and only Hot Dog Phil
* Delectable dishes from Constantino’s Catering such as hot german potato salad, a Mediterranean bean salad and a pasta salad, plus their delicious
* Unlimited desserts including Pecan Bar, 7-layer Brownie Bash, Granola and Fruit Meltaway, Shortbread Raspberry Sammies, Snickers Brownies, Cream Cheese Brownies
* Trick riders The best of area BMXers demonstrating Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park
* Civic Innovation Lab projects showcasing creative innovation fueling the region’s economy

Score your tix now with your best online price: https://coolcleveland.net/tickets/101608

Matt Greenfield’s Oddy Fest

Cleveland area playwright/director Matt Greenfield thinks going to the theater should be as easy as following a TV series. You should think, “Hey, it’s an Odd Wednesday night, time to see a show.” So tonight he’s opening the first installment of his Oddy Fest — a one-man show titled Vestibule — at the Centrum Theatre in Cleveland Heights. “It’s called Oddy Fest for several reasons,” says Greenfield. “The aesthetic is odd, it runs on every Odd Wednesday, and “Oddy” is my nickname for Odysseus, the wanderer. I’m a bit of a theatrical Odysseus myself.”

A graduate of CWRU’s theatre program and John Carroll’s graduate school of education, Greenfield just returned to NEO after 3 years of teaching school in Florida, where he ran the Boca Rats Theatre Troupe. “John Orlock, my playwriting teacher at Case Western, gave it that name,” says Greenfield. “He told me that rather than having my scripts sit in a drawer, the best way to get them out there was to find a few actors and produce them myself. So I honed my directing skills with things like radical 3-person Shakespeare adaptations of Troillus and Cressida, and mounted my own work…”

Read more from Linda Eisenstein here

Cool Cleveland wants you… You’ve got experience in sales, but you’re not fired up by your current job. Put the passion back in your career by joining the Cool Cleveland team, helping to promote the coolest stuff around. Send a short video of yourself to: InfoATCoolCleveland.com.

Do your kids have questions that Cool Cleveland Kids might be able to answer? Send your kid questions to InfoATCoolCleveland.com and watch future issues of Cool Cleveland for answers.

The Ohio Boychoir is seeking new members for the 2008-09 season. Membership is open to all boys ages 7 through voice change who may perform in either the training choir or the performing choir. Rehearsals are held on Monday and Tuesday nights in Berea, Ohio. For further information or to schedule an audition, call 556-2222, or visit http://www.ohioboychoir.org.

Vatican Splendors from St. Peter’s Basilica, The Vatican Museums and The Swiss Guard is in its final week at The Western Reserve Historical Society. The well-attended exhibit offers the rare opportunity to see the oldest known artifacts in the Vatican’s history — including works by Michelangelo, Bernini, Giotto and more. Ends Sun 9/7 Call 721-5722 or visit http://www.wrhs.org for exhibit schedules and directions.

HOT Guitars International Weekend Guitars International and the Cleveland Institute of Music present a concentrated series of outstanding artists in performances and master classes Fri 9/5Sun 9/7. This “Guitar Weekend” includes several concerts and master classes. On Sat 9/6 at 1PM, CIM guitar department Head Jason Vieaux will present a no cost master class to CIM students and non-students. Mr. Vieaux, soprano Jung Eun Oh and guest cellist Regina Mushabac will present a free recital on Sun 9/7 at 4PM. Full schedule and details are available by calling 752-7502 or visiting http://www.guitarsint.com or http://www.cim.edu.

Cookin’ with the Kids Are you the parents of a L’il Foodie? Do you have a sous chef-in-waiting (or two or more) that you tuck into bed every night? If so, this Children’s Museum of Cleveland’s hands-on family event is perfect for you and yours. Be a part of a cooking class designed specifically for the kiddos, where they can watch/learn how to make tasty, healthy stuff!! Clearly inspired by their Healthier Ever After exhibit, this looks like a blast. Check it out Sat 9/6 at 12:30PM. Program repeats again next month; see full online schedule for details. Call 791-7114 or visit http://www.clevelandchildrensmuseum.org.

HOT The Big Valley Cycling Festival and Race Take that buzz from Walk+Roll Cleveland to the next level! Also known as the “Manatoc Experience,” this multi-faceted cycling event at Camp Manatoc Boy Scout Camp hits Sat 9/6 and Sun 9/7 is sure to thrill all levels of cyclist. Event times can be found here Camp Manatoc, 1065 Truxell Rd., Peninsula. Questions and info should be directed to info@bigvalleyrace.com or cal 330-242-4737. Snag all the latest and greatest info and registration at http://www.bigvalleyrace.com.

HOT Cleveland Area Mountain Bike Association will be teaching a no cost, open to the public mountain bike skills clinic Sat 9/6 at noon during the Big Valley Mountain Bike Race Weekend at Camp Manatoc in Peninsula. The clinic will be a part of the weekend’s activities and is open to anyone and everyone. All you need is a mountain bike and a helmet! More information can be found here and here.

Fall Plant Sale & Harvest Market The Holden Arboretum will host its annual Fall Plant Sale and Harvest Market Sat 9/6 and Sun 9/7 from 10 AM – 4PM. Take your pick as some of the region’s premier nurseries and retailers bring their knowledge and collections to one location. Enhance your own landscape with many of Ohio’s best and most beautiful perennials, woody plants and rare wildflowers; the Harvest Market offers everything from fresh cut flowers and baked goods, to home-made ice cream, organic produce and even all-natural dog biscuits! Holden Arboretum, 9500 Sperry Rd., Kirtland. http://www.holdenarb.org.

9th Annual Cleveland Clinic Sports Health River Run Join runners (and some walkers) on Sat 9/6 and Sun 9/7 for a weekend of running in the Cleveland Metroparks! this family-friendly weekend features a 5K and “Kids Run” on Saturday at Wallace Lake in Berea and an “Inline Skate and Half Marathon” on Sunday. Sunday’s events start at Wallace Lake and finish at Memorial Fields in Rocky River. Details and registration here.

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.

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11.7% of Ohioans are without health insurance according to this story. Read
Poverty rates are rising in Northeast Ohio, covered in this WKSU story Listen
Former local TV anchor Martin Savidge scores his own PBS show called Worldfocus. Should be good. Click
Itching to take a photo class? This is right up your alley. Click
Up for a “Walk for Good” challenge? A healthy habit for families here
GREEN Holden Arboretum draws record numbers all detailed here
GREEN Many of us city folk are a little too removed from knowledge like this
Will the old Commodore Theater in Collinwood get the wrecking ball? Would be a shame if so. Click
GREEN CWRU’s Mano Singham hits the intersection of politics and food with this great blog post here
This year’s Mandel JCC’s Jewish FilmFest has an awesome lineup including docs about comedy legends and a “champagne spy” who makes James Bond look like a wimp. Details
GREEN September is “Green Checkup” Month for drivers Learn how to save at the pump and reduce emissions here
2 days, 200 miles, 2 charities and one cause. Learn about a North to South AIDS charity ride by clicking here
Tribe pitcher Cliff Lee wins 20 games, headed to A.J. Rocco’s for autographs as a part of their 7th anniversary. Check out the details here
Kids love bugs! Lake Metroparks celebrates their 20th annual Bug Day! Ick!

Wake Up, America: Kucinich’s Rant Lives On… in a drive to score 1 million signatures in support of Impeachment for President George W. Bush. The C-town political legend’s firebrand rant — suspiciously absent from any and all mainstream media summations of the DNC convention in Denver — has now metamorphisized into a full-fledged campaign to demand hearings.

The City of Cleveland proclaims September 7th as “Paul Brown Day” It’s about time, but actually timed very well. The father of modern American football (and what all call the NFL today) once led our mighty Cleveland Browns to championship tradition. The Norwalk-born Brown clearly dominated high school, college, and professional football and, for reasons that are both nauseating and well-documented, was fired in 1963 by Browns owner Art Modell. (Cleveland sportswriter Frank Gibbons likened the dismissal to “…toppling the Terminal Tower.”) Now city leaders have decided that in celebration of the legend’s would-be 100th birthday (Sun 9/7) to honor the man. Good call and great way to launch the football season here in C-town. Now, if we could just get that multistorie Superman statue erected in Voinovich Park in time for that Cleveland-bred superhero’s Diamond Jubilee (better get busy politi-peeps, ’cause 2013 will be here before you know it).

Solon Center for the Arts features Cle arts legend, Robert Conrad The Co-Founder and President of WCLV-FM 104.9 will be the narrator for the opening production of the 2008-09 opera season. Solon Center for the Arts, with Opera Per Tutti (Opera For All), opens Belle Nuit, A French Opera Gala on Fri 9/5 at 7:30PM in the Calvetta Bros. Floor Show Theater. The performance will be repeated at a matinee at 3PM on Sun 9/7. http://www.solonarts.org.

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

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

Santa to Stock Market: “I’m Not Coming This Year”

Dear Wall Street: While I realize it is only September, my PR people thought it best for me to “Get out in front of this one,” as certain expectations have been established over the years regarding my annual visit. Therefore, it is with great regret and a heavy heart that I issue the following statement: “I’m not coming this year.” Why? You’ve Been Naughty!!

That’s right, you heard me correctly – I’m taking the year off – so I’ve decided to write YOU a letter for a change, to tell you simply, “You’ve been bad for goodness sake (especially the banks and credit-rating agencies) and you’re only getting worse!” With the help of Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, there were $85 billion in mortgage securities downgraded in the third quarter of 2007, $237 billion in the fourth quarter, $739 billion in the first quarter of this year, and $841 billion in the second quarter of 2008! Not exactly “Jolly” is it…?

Read more from Douglas O’Bryon here

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Joe Eszterhas signs his book Crossbearer: A Memoir of Faith on Wed 9/3 at 7PM at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Legacy Village. Needless to say, this is a little different for the one-time Clevelander who wrote the screenplays for Showgirls, Basic Instinct and other racy flicks. Crossbearer is a powerful, poignant and sometimes wryly humorous account of “a streetwise cynical man’s newfound faith” found in the most intimate and routine moments of life. He’s an interesting cat… worth checking out. http://www.josephbeth.com.

Oddy Fest Cleveland area playwright/director Matt Greenfield thinks going to the theater should be as easy as following a TV series. If you read Linda Eisenstein’s Ingenious feature on Greenfield, you’ll learn all about his most excellent theatrical plan, which launches at the Centrum in Cleveland Heights this Wed 9/3. Read more from Eisenstein here and then follow along with Greenfield & Co.’s plans for the stages at the Centrum and Cleveland Public Theater at http://oddyfestival.wordpress.com.

Skitzobill Skitzobill (nee Martin Malloy, Last Comic Standing) is a self-described “schizophrenic comedian” and he offers a “return to reality” with a no-cost (and gratis nosh) comedy show at the Ironwood Cafe Wed 9/3 at 8:30PM. Fellow entertainers Mr. Sunshine, Quinn Patterson and Michael Ivy round out the evening’s performances. The Ironwood, 688 Dover Center Rd., Westlake. http://www.ironwoodcafe.com.

SPONSORED: WCLV 104.9 offers a window to the world of orchestral concerts. Currently, on Mondays at 9PM you can hear in-concert broadcasts by the San Francisco Symphony; on Tuesdays at 9PM, concerts from the Amsterdam Concertgebouw; on Thursdays at 9PM, program from the BBC Proms; and, of course, on Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 4PM, the home town band. Full details on all of WCLV’s classical music programming at http://www.WCLV.com.

HOT Alixa & Naima: Hurricane Season The Brooklyn-based “soul-sister conspiracy of arts and activism” Alixa and Naima will bring their new multimedia performance, Hurricane Season: The Hidden Messages in Water, to Cleveland Thu 9/4 at 6:30PM as part of a 50-city tour. Through a melange of spoken-word poetry, video projection, dance, shadow art, and a sound collage of personal testimonies, Hurricane Season is a meditation on the issues and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It tackles global warming, environmental injustice, policing, prisons, militarization, corporate domination, gentrification, and displacement as they manifest from one gulf to another, with a powerful tale of resistance, resilience, creativity and survival. You don’t want to miss this striking sensory collage. Pilgrim Congregational Church, 2592 West 14th St., Tremont. Call 651-8372 for details. http://www.hurricaneseasontour.com.

Andrew O’Toole‘ signs his book Paul Brown: The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Football’s Most Innovative Coach on Thu 9/4 at 7PM at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lyndhurst. Brown was successful at every level of football from high school to college, from establishing fledging professional leagues to defining the modern-day NFL. Brown gained his reputation as an innovator during his time in Cleveland; being the first to use intelligence tests to judge players, establish a film library, instruct players in aclassroom setting and install face masks on helmets. O’Toole has written what is sure to become a classic book on one of the most important men in the history of the game. http://www.josephbeth.com.

Low Life Grand Opening & Kidrobot Dunny Party In the “global war on culture” two Collinwood staples are fighting back! Cle’s newest gallery, Low Life, opens for a sneak preview Thu 9/4 from 7 – 10PM with a three-person show featuring artists Ryan Kacsandy, Staci McNasty and Robert Saczkowski. With themes of alienation, despair and isolation in their work, expect deep thoughts. Low Life is located at 16001 Waterloo Rd. http://www.myspace.com/lowlifecleveland. Then, meander down to the evercool Shoparooni for their “Kidrobot 3″ Dunny Series” release party, which runs concurrently to the first event. A Dunny is “a vinyl platform figure created by artist Tristan Eaton, and Kidrobot founder Paul Budnitz.” The idea is simple: a vinyl figure that is loaded with whatever personality an artist assigns to it. It’s a blank, 3-D canvas made of rotocast vinyl, customized by artists around the world. Explore this unique artistic medium at Shoparooni, 15813 Waterloo Rd. http://www.shoparooni.com.

HOT The Cleveland Institute of Art Faculty Exhibition When they’re not teaching, the CIA faculty members are practicing artists and designers with amazing skill and ability. This exhibition of their recent work promises to be instructional. Held in the CIA’s Reinberger Galleries starting with an Opening Reception this Fri 9/5 from 5 – 7PM, expect the visually unexpected. The Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd. Exhibition runs through early October. Call 421-7000 or visit http://www.cia.edu for details.

An Evening with Richie Havens The Case Western Reserve University School of Law’s inaugural concert to benefit its Center for Social Justice will feature legendary folk musician Richie Havens at the intimate Ohio Theatre on Playhouse Square Fri 9/5 at 8PM. The Center for Social Justice was established at the law school last fall to assist students financially who wish to pursue a career in social justice and to encourage public interest work during and after law school. Proceeds from the benefit the Center’s mission. A discount is available for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum members. Tickets available here.

SPONSORED: You’ll Flip Over This! Don’t miss the United Way of Greater Cleveland Campaign Kickoff and Pancake Flip on Fri 9/12 right on Public Square, from 7AM to 10AM. Civic leaders, local celebs (including Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready) and other volunteers will make delicious breakfasts, and this year’s campaign goal will be announced at 8AM. Pancakes, sausages and orange juice is only $5. Free coffee on site! Deliveries will be made to downtown locations (minimum order: five breakfasts; maximum: 20) by faxing a downloadable form or calling 216-436-2125 no later than noon on Thu 9/11. For more information, contact Michelle Battle at 216-436-2121 or mbattle@uws.org. For a downloadable PDF form go to: www.uws.org/pancakeflip/flipfax.pdf.

HOT Bi-Lingual SPACES gallery on the Superior Viaduct presents Bi-Lingual starting with an opening reception Fri 9/5 from 6 – 9PM. The exhibition curated by Cleveland artist Angelica Pozo and features African American and Latino artists “whose work speaks to this duality in identity and extends into the realm of art-making within the contemporary art landscape.” Each artist in this exhibition is engaged in the struggle between expressing his/ her visual lexicon in the contemporary art setting, while remaining relevant in his or her respective cultural communities. No cost, open to the public. http://www.spacesgallery.org.

Ante Up Audio will be hosting its “Ante Up Audio Artist Showcase” on Fri 9/5 at 8PM at the AUA studio complex, 1374 E 36th St. This will be a live music event featuring up and coming local acts the have had their music recorded and produced by Ante Up Audio. Nicholas Megalis, Will Bowen, Adam Heart, Ghost Town Trio, Ceterum, The Vig, This is a Shakedown, and Chuck Mosley (formerly of Faith No More) will all be playing the event. Tickets are a Lincoln in advance. Doors open at 7PM. For details, email: info@anteupaudio.com, call 432-8000, or visit http://www.anteupaudio.com.

Shaping the Spirit opens to the public at The Sculpture Center’s Main and Euclid Ave. Galleries on Fri 9/5 at 5:30PM with an opening reception and artist talk by exhibition artist Richard Hunt at 6:30 PM. The exhibition continues through late October. Richard Hunt: Shaping the Spirit includes small bronze and stainless steel sculpture and the “maquettes and photomurals of selected outdoor public commissions” from the sculptor’s last ten years. Hunt (b. 1935) was the first African American artist to receive a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art and has created more publicly commissioned sculpture than any American artist. Learn more at http://www.richardhunt.us and http://www.sculpturecenter.org.

Playing to the Rafters The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) screens five classic opera films in their “September Panorama” film series, Playing to the Rafters: Opera on Film, including The Magic Flute, Tosca, La Traviata, Moses and Aaron, and The Pirates of Penzance. While live HD transmissions of Metropolitan Opera performances have lured opera buffs to movie theatres in big numbers, these operas are still stage productions that can not match the size and scope of opera performances conceived and realized for the cinema. The series starts Fri 9/5 and runs through late September. Check out a full schedule at http://www.clevelandart.org.

Eva Kwong: Noetic Moments opens at the William Busta Gallery on Fri 9/5 with a reception for the artist from 5 – 9PM. Kwong’s brightly colored organic shapes are magnetic and range from large wall sculptures to delicate vases for which Kwong has achieved brilliant depth with glazes. Each work seems to expel energy. One of the most respected female ceramic sculptors in the world, this exhibition features new works including pieces completed while working at the Fuping Pottery Art Village in China. No cost, open to the public. 2731 Prospect Ave. Call 298-9071 for more info.

A Garden of Blues Come sing the blues with the Friends of the Cleveland Public Library Fri 9/5 at 6:30PM in the Cleveland Public Library’s Eastman Reading Garden. Enjoy music by Blue Lunch, feast on A Taste of Excellence catering, experience an exhibit on the History of the Blues from the CPL Collections and bid on silent auction items. Proceeds help underwrite Summer and Winter Reading Clubs and Children’s Book Week at the CPL. Call 623-2821 or or e-mail friends@cpl.org for more info.

Breathless: Godard from 1960 – 1967 Ten classic 1960s movies by Jean-Luc Godard, the most innovative and influential of the French “New Wave” filmmakers, will show from Fri 9/5 through early November at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, 11141 East Blvd., University Circle. The film series showcases trend-setting works from a decade that saw Godard working furiously, turning out one ground-breaking movie after another while seeming never to stop to take a breath. In all, he directed 18 features and 11 shorts during the 1960s. Soak them all up! Snag the full schedule by calling 421-7450 or visit http://www.cia.edu/cinematheque.

SPONSORED: That’ll Teach Ya The Cleveland Institute of Art’s esteemed 2008 Faculty Exhibition showcases new works by faculty members that do more than inspire and educate the next generation of artists – they themselves are practicing artists and leaders in their fields. View works by Sarah Kabot, Julie Langsam, Christian Wufflin, Kasumi, Dan Cuffaro, and the rest of the faculty. The show will open (to the public) with a no-cost reception on Fri 9/5 from 6 to 8PM in The Reinberger Galleries. Running through Sun 10/5, the exhibition will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10AM to 5PM and Fridays from 10AM to 9PM. Closed Sundays and Mondays. No charge to view the exhibit. CIA is located at 11141 East Boulevard. For information contact www.cia.edu or 216.421.7407.

HOT The Lit’s Writer’s & Their Friends is the 7th biennial literary showcase honoring and celebrating the award-winning, critically-acclaimed, and newly emerging literary artists who live and work in Northeast Ohio. Ten jury-selected works are woven into one unique dramatic (and often comic) script that is performed to a sold-out audience one night only… and you can be a part of it Sat 9/6 starting at 7PM. A Pre-performance reception, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, browsing booksale and more can be found at the Ohio Theatre! Call 694-0000 to reserve your tickets or click here. http://www.the-lit.org.

The New Martini Show Dinner Spectacular The music of Sinatra’s Vegas returns to Pickwick & Frolic bigger and better than ever starting Sat 9/6 at 8PM. Party like the Rat Pack in a full evening of fine dining and entertainment. Experience the exciting new supper club version of Pickwick’s famous Midnight Martini Show — the long-running Cleveland sensation that paid sizzling tribute to a cool era. Dine in Pickwick’s Vegas-style cabaret. Choose from one of four entrees prepared especially for the occasion. Interact with showgirls and crooners. Then sit back with a cocktail and thrill to the music that made the Rat Pack and their friends synonymous with great entertainment. 2035 East 4th St. Call 241-7425 or visit http://www.pickwickandfrolic.com.

HOT Rajmohan Gandhi The biographer and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, will deliver a message of nonviolence titled Guns Don’t Decide who is Right, Guns Decide who is Left! at 10AM on Sat 9/6 in the Tri-C Metro Campus Auditorium, 2900 Community College Ave. Another talk followed by a reception and book signing will be given at 10:30AM on Sun 9/7 at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, 8712 Quincy Ave. in Cleveland. Both events are no cost, open to the public. Rajmohan Ghandi’s acclaimed biography of his grandfather The Good Boatman: A Portrait of Gandhi was published in 1995. His new book, Gandhi: The Man, His People, and the Empire, was just recently released. For more info, call 440-268-0893.

Through the Glass Greenly Standing Rock Cultural Arts in Kent features fused glass artworks by on exhibit by Marianne Hite and Colleene Daugharty Sat 9/6 at 8PM with an opening reception. Marvel at what can be done when glass is pliable; exhibit runs through mid-October. North Water Street Gallery, 257 N. Water St., Kent. Call 330-673-4970 or visit http://www.standingrock.net for details.

Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland hosts their 4th annual afternoon shindig with live music and tasty vegetarian (and “non-veggie”) nosh Sat 9/6 at 3PM at the Barking Spider Tavern. This fun, family-friendly event has something for all ages; two lucky attendees will win no-cost access to The Clinic’s Microbrew Extravaganza. Learn more about the fun at http://www.barkingspidertavern.com and http://www.thefreeclinic.org.

Jazz at the Rockefeller Greenhouse This sixth annual event will take place Sat 9/6 from noon – 5PM at the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, 750 E. 88th St. Tour the grounds and dig the sounds during this show, which features local jazz ensembles Annette Keys & Road Trip (trio) and The Jazz Heritage Orchestra Septet (from the Black Studies Program at Cleveland State University). An art show produced by Sankofa Fine Art Plus, Lolly the Trolley rides through the Cultural Gardens, a voter registration table; and a fun kids center round out the day. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets; light refreshments will be available. Rain date: Sun 9/7 Call 664-3103 for more info or visit http://www.rockefellergreenhouse.org.

HOT 10,000 Visions of Cleveland The Galleria at Erieview is ground zero for a massive public exploration of what it takes to create jobs and improve the Northeast Ohio region’s economy Sat 9/6 from 11AM – 4PM. Learn about what the Greater Cleveland Partnership and its partners are doing to solve the aforementioned concerns. Then take the HealthLine from the Galleria to West 6th St for a celebratory block party afterwards. Registration and more information can be found at the website http://www.10000visionsofCleveland.com.

Anne E. DeChant The Winchester Tavern & Music Hall welcomes back the Cleveland expat singer-songwriter who now calls Nashville her home. DeChant hits the club Sat 9/6 at 9PM for her first live gig since moving to Tennessee. A former member of local folk act Odd Girl Out and a seasoned solo artist, she’s gonna have a full band backing her up… so head on out to see her because it’s hard to know when she might be back in town. 12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood. http://www.thewinchester.net.

Third Annnual Evening For Chuck This benefit show hits Musica in Akron on Sun 9/7 from noon – 6PM. The day’s activities include live music by the Just Love to Sing Gospel Choir, Lost State of Franklin, Faces Made For Radio, Winslow, and an inspiring headline performance by Zach. Raffles (including one for a 2008 Chevy Cobalt!), family-friendly activities like balloon art and coloring contests, speakers, dancers, spoken word performances, photography showings, and complementary food from Chrissie Hynde’s VegiTerranean restaurant round out the day. Proceeds benefit the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Musica, 17 Maiden Lane, Akron. http://www.eveningforchuck.com.

Cruise for a Cause The Cleveland Tenants Organization will be hosting its annual fundraiser Sun 9/7. This year’s event will take place on the Nautica Queen Cruise Ship, docked in the Powerhouse complex on the West Bank of the Flats. Registration is required prior to the event, which is open to the public. The Cruise features Keynote Speaker Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis, a dinner buffet (a cash bar will be available), silent auction, raffle and love music by the Calypso Gypsies Steel Drum Band. Soak up stunning views of the skyline and shoreline as summer winds down. Call 432-0617 or visit http://www.clevelandtenants.org.

Dobama Theatre Presents First Mondays Readings of old and new work by local playwrights, poets and fiction writers begins Mon 9/8 at 7PM in the Heights Arts Studio at the Library at 2340 Lee Rd. (west side of the street). The “first Monday” of each month from there on in will feature similar programming. This Monday, hear Excerpts from Lives of the Saints by Jean Cummins, read by Glenn and Jean Colerider, Bernice Bolek and Bernie Canepari. A lively Irish American “sibling family” confronts their shared past. Reservations by calling 932-3396. http://www.dobama.org.

Art & Soul of Buckeye Community Park Dedication Join the Honorable Mayor Frank Jackson, Councilman Ken Johnson, Buckeye Area Development Corporation, Cleveland Public Art, and ParkWorks for the dedication of this new neighborhood public space Tue 9/9 at 4PM at the Southwest Corner of E. 118th St. and Buckeye Rd. Refreshments will follow ceremony. Call Buckeye Area Development Corp. at 491-8450 for more info. http://www.clevelandpublicart.org.

HOT Lynne Taylor-Corbett GroundWorks Dancetheater’s first guest artist of its Tenth Anniversary Season — renowned director-choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbett — will be presenting a talk about her accomplished career in both theater and dance on Wed 9/10 at 5:30PM. Taylor-Corbett will speak at Drinko Recital Hall in the Music and Communication Building, 2100 Euclid Ave. at Cleveland State University; the program is presented in partnership with CSU’s Dance Department and the National Endowment for the Arts. No cost, open to the public. http://www.notsoobvious.com.

Got Election Fever? If so, you should check out the “Election Preview 2008” shindig at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven Wed 9/10 at 11:30AM (Program & Luncheon starts at noon). Hear what’s happening locally from featured panel speakers Jimmy Dimora (Chairman, Cuyahoga County Democratic Party), Rob Frost (Chairman, Cuyahoga County Republican Party) and local reps from the McCain and Obama campaigns. Moderated by Ted Henry, Anchor, NewsChannel 5. 6111 Landerhaven, Mayfield Hts. Details at http://www.ccatlanderhaven.com.

Kelly Harris On Wed 9/10 at 7PM, the Mac’s Backs on Coventry monthly poetry reading features Kelly Harris — staffer at the Cuyahoga Public Library and Poet in Residence program worker at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Harris has read and performed her work in schools and venues including Gallery 324, Kamikaze and Mac’s; she received her MFA in creative writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She has published two chapbooks and her poetry has been included in various anthologies including Cleveland Poetry Scenes (Bottom Dog Press 2008) and The National Poetry Slam Anthology (2003). Learn more about her here. http://www.macsbacks.com.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

SPONSORED: If you’re a Veteran who has recently returned home, you can benefit from a series of library programs targeted to assist you and your family in areas such as Health Benefits, Stress Management, Financial Planning, Transitioning Back to Civilian Life, and Reinventing Your Career After the Military. Brochures listing all of these programs are available at any branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library. To register, call the host branch or visit http://www.CuyahogaLibrary.org. These programs are free and open to the public and are presented by Veterans Upward Bound in partnership with Cuyahoga County Public Library and Cuyahoga Community College. http://www.CuyahogaLibrary.org

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

Tom Morley
President, Lube Stop

Tom Morley, the President of Berea-based Lube Stop, Inc. is interested in pursuing the triple bottom line: People, Profits, and the Planet. Their recently launched EcoGuard Oil Change uses re-refined oil that reduces carbon emissions, reuses existing oil supplies, and prevents environmental contamination. Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready met Tom Morely at their Lakewood facility, which sells more EcoGuard oil changes (over 50%) than any other store. With 37 locations in the Cleveland Plus region, they service more than 30,000 NEO cars each month. Watch the vid and hear how their own environmental programs at the store level (recycling toner cartridges, turning off computer monitors overnight) have driven results to their bottom line, while benefitting the region. www.LubeStop.com

Doesn’t your business or organization deserve a series of Sponsored Videos from Cool Cleveland? We produce, host & post them, you put the links on your website & emails. Find out how easy it can be. InfoATCoolCleveland.com.

GREEN The River is burning again but in a much different (and positive) way. Read
“Nothing plain” about what’s going down at the Dealer (literally and figuratively speaking) according to this article
GREEN Wanna implement sustainability practices at your business? Then you’ve gotta check this out
Do you have a vision for Cleveland? Join the 9,999 others angling for change here
Downtown Cleveland Alliance launches new site and it looks pretty cool. Click
How are you feeling about the daily paper’s latest rendition of their website? Eeehhhh?
If this video doesn’t warm the cockles of your Cle-loving heart then we’re not sure what to tell you. Watch
Hollywood wants tax breaks to film movie in Cleveland Details here

SPONSORED: Cleveland Plus Healthcare Plus Communications As you know, NEO has received national acclaim within the healthcare industry. But national awareness research indicates that only 10% of the U.S. population associates the healthcare industry with NEO. Attention communications/marketing professionals in these areas: Hospitals & Medical Centers; Medical Device Manufacturers; Bio Science; Medical Research & Medical Education; Pharmaceuticals and Publishing. We have a Healthcare Communicator’s Summit just for you on Fri 9/12 at the Holiday Inn Independence, 8AM – 1:30PM. Contact 440-899-1112 or www.eventbrite.com/event/138083010.

30 for the Future award recipients are honored at Greater Akron CoC event Mon 9/8. Details here
I-Open Education: 2008 Leadership Retreat hits Punderson starting Wed 9/10. Info and registration here
BVU’s Role of the Board details roles of board and senior staff at NPOs feat. Dr. Linda Abraham-Silver of GLSC Fri 9/12 at 8AM Details
Exploring Entrepreneurship hits Corp Coll. East Tue 9/16 at 7PM. Details
Manf’g woes? Can’t find qualified workers? Hear from a panel of employers who have identified unique strategies to address workforce challenges. Wed 9/17 at 7:30AM, Corp. Coll East. Register
2008 Innovation in Business Conference features 4 key executives talking about global economy adaptation. Lt. Gov Lee Fisher guests at Thu 9/18 event. Register
Investing in weak economy is subject of n’working b’fast seminar at City Club starting at 7:30AM on Fri 9/19. Details here
2008 NanoMedicine Summit drops into Cle on Thu 9/25 and Fri 9/26. Learn more and register here
GREEN 3rd Ann NEO Energy Conf Learn energy cost-cutting/savings strategies, help save on bottom line and learn ESPs and MROs on Tue 9/30. Details
6th Ann Medical Innovation Summit This amazing three-day event starts Mon 11/10 and runs through midweek. Jim Tobin, Pres/ CEO of Boston Scientific headlines. Learn about it all here

Adam Wasserman
President & CEO, Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority
Cleveland Plus

Adam Wasserman runs the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, which is in charge of the ports in the region. The organization is also a major engine for economic development in this part of the country. His career has caused him to call many places home: he and his family have lived in the UK, Washington, DC, Texas, and Arizona, among others. Before moving to the Cleveland Plus region, he had heard about the “Comeback City” that Cleveland became known for in the 1980’s. So how does our region stack up? Adam likes the fact that Cleveland is mature, yet not so large you get lost. He and his family enjoy the area’s rich arts scene, and the major airport access to the rest of the world. The family likes to spend time on Lake Erie, which is something you can’t do everywhere. In fact, Adam’s office overlooks Lake Erie, which he compares to the Mediterranean Ocean. To top it off, his commute is an “absolute pleasure,” spending only 12-22 minutes traveling to work each day. http://www.ClevelandPlusLiving.com

Who’s Telling the Truth in Hough?

In America, the people are afraid of the government;
in France, the government is afraid of the people.

Is a lie no longer a lie because it’s written on City Council stationary? Was it communist dictator Joseph Stalin who said, “A lie can be turned into the truth if it’s repeated often enough by enough people”? These are the hard questions we residents of Ward 7 have to ask ourselves as we prepare to vote for the future of the Hough community on October 12.

The truth is, someone is lying on our esteemed, deceased Councilwoman Fannie M. Lewis. City Council President Martin Sweeny is stating — now in writing, on stationary that bears the seal of City Council — that Fannie wanted him to name Stephanie Howse to take Lewis’ place on Council. However, our ward club president, Charles Demore, who was very close to Fannie for many, many years, steadfastly maintains that she made no such recommendation. In the presence of numerous witnesses, Fannie dictated her wishes to Jackie Mohammad, who was acting as the ward club secretary. (Click on the agenda for the August 8 ward club meeting, as well as the letter from City Council).

Fannie — in the presence of witnesses mind you — stated “If anyone wants to be councilperson of Ward 7, they have to go to the people and convince the people they are the best person for the job.” Her exact words were read at the ward club meeting while Ms. Lewis was still alive; if they were not an accurate reflection of her intentions, she certainly would have made it known loud and clear. She never was known to bite her tongue…
Read more from Mansfield B. Frazier here

This week’s most active post on BrewedFreshDaily.com

Some dude flips out at Gypsy Beans. Watch the video here. BrewedFreshDaily.com readers react:

Assuming this is real, this is a lesson on why one makes backups: so you don’t freak out when the laptop dies. Because laptops are more likely to die than other computers. comment by CJC

Was that guy using VISTA? comment by Valdis Krebs

hasnt this guy ever heard of hard disk recovery? if the data is sooooo sensitive, there may be a good chance he can still retrieve it. Of course, after banging on his laptop so much he seriously lowered his chances. But heck, they recovered data from one of the molten hardrives inside of the Columbia shuttle… comment by Frank

Watch the video then comment on Brewed Fresh Daily here

Read and add your comment here

Local Yoga: One Path to Wholeness
As Nature Pulls Its Energy Inward, So Can You

Yoga has become more popular in the last few years than it had been. Many people associate it with relaxation. Some think of uncomfortable pretzel poses. Others see it as worthless spiritual bumbling. Regardless of your perspective, Yoga practice really is a great way to relax, rejuvenate, stretch, tone muscles, develop physical strength, and achieve inner harmony. And yes, to answer the question from doubters and current non-practitioners, it is possible to achieve all that in an hour.

An hour-long yoga class leaves me physically limp. Tightness in my shoulders and neck disappears. My body’s more supple, my mind’s clearer, and my emotions are stable. My arms and legs ache with physical exertion. My breath slows and I can let go of disharmonious outside interference.

I began yoga years ago, when as a teenager I practiced in front of the television to “Hatha Yoga and You.” In college, I picked up a book about yoga with the history of practice in India and an introduction to pranavasana (breath), meditation, and asanas. The book showed a proper shoulder stand, took me through the warrior poses, and showed the advantage of a cobra twist. I was able to go into a meditative trance after practice, and that felt inherently healing. I learned that prana, our breath and life energy, can be harnessed through ugi breath to fuel our physical, mental and spiritual development.

The more I participate in yoga classes and workshops, the more I realize that yoga should be a state of mind and a way of life… Read more from Claudia J. Taller here

Links to interesting NEO blogs

Everything you wanted to know about the Torso Murders movie but were afraid to ask.
Abe Zaidan retired ABJ columnist and long the dean of NEO political commentators has jumped into the web 2.0 world with Grumpy Abe, a blog of ‘politics and whatever comes to mind’.
Three local chefs rock themselves silly behind the mike at Rock & Roll Wine Project: Karaoke Edition.
A new video from the DCA highlights Cleveland city living.
Farmer Jason is back to shake things up at the Beachland for a kids show 9/14.
45 years ago Roldo would have never imagined Barack Obama accepting the nomination of the Democratic Party for the Presidency of the United States.

Meet Matty Sayre: Production Stage Manager & Playwright

When Matty Sayre enrolled at Bowling Green State University some years ago, his goal was opera performance. His teachers had other ideas, and convinced him that he should find another path. So he did. And yet, he didn’t really. He switched to theater-acting and directing, with a secondary specialization in music. He ended up as a professional (Equity) Production Stage Manager. There have been times when he was the only backstage tech person for an opera production who could actually read the music!

“It’s kind of amusing when the lighting designer points to the score and says, ‘Put the light cue here on this batch of dots’,” Matty says with an unassuming smile. But if you’re a go-to PSM as he is, you learn to work with all sorts of tech folks, even those who can’t decipher the page of hieroglyphics they’re working with. On the other hand, he adds, “Just because you can read music and count to four doesn’t mean it’ll be pretty the first time around.” Of course, it’s the job of the PSM to make it look as good as it can, while performing a balancing act that would challenge any circus juggler…

Read more from Kelly Ferjutz here

The HD Ballet Series at Cedar Lee Theater

No one has complained louder or longer than we have over the dearth of professional ballet on local stages, so when we hear about a ballet series at the movies, our interest is piqued. All the better, these ballet movies were made fairly recently and show some very good companies performing interesting works that are completely new to us. Beginning with the Bolshoi Ballet’s Pharaoh’s Daughter this Sunday, September 7 at 1:30PM and Tuesday, September 9 at 7PM, the series presents two more ballets on the same timetable in the next two weeks. Catch it all at the Cedar Lee Theater, located at the corner of Cedar and Lee Rds., Cleveland Heights. Tickets and information are available at http://www.clevelandcinemas.com.

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

CIM & Guitars International Pair Up to Great Effect

When Armin Kelly, the founder of Guitars International, first partnered with the highly lauded Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) on an annual “Classical Guitar Weekend” several years ago, it had to be a revelation. Kelly’s company is one of the world’s largest new, individually handcrafted flamenco and classical guitar dealers, headquartered in Shaker Heights. The CIM is the preeminent music education facility in the Midwest and draws top notch students. Separately, both entities were likely to incorporate classical guitar concerts and master classes in their programming; together, theirs is an example by which other arts organizations can learn from. The lesson? It’s simple, really: abandon that dreaded fiefdom mentality that appears in Cleveland from time to time, because a lack of cannibalization really works. Big time.

This extraodrinary musical collaboration starts Fri 9/5 and carries on throughout the weekend on the CIM and Case Western Reserve University campuses. With a slate of music from Spain and Brazil and an impressive lineup of performers helmed by Jason Vieaux (pictured) musicians and aficionados alike are in for a treat. Vieaux, CIM’s Guitar Department head, former CIM student and the youngest winner of the Guitar Foundation of America International Competition, plays an integral role in the weekend’s festivities. He’ll hold a Master Class for students on Sat 9/6 at CIM’s gorgeous Mixon Hall, with a Faculty Recital the following afternoon, Sun 9/7 in CIM’s Kulas Hall. Other participants throughout the weekend include guitarists Colin Davin and Ricardo Gallen, vocalists Jung Eun Oh and Ellen Hargis, chitarrone player Paul O’Dette and cellist Regina Mushabac.

Get the skinny on the “Classical Guitar Weekend” by visiting http://www.cim.edu and http://www.guitarsint.com for more info. Learn about the view from Vieaux by clicking this NPR “Artist-in-Residence” link.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

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All letters must include your full name (required) and you may include your e-mail address (optional).
Send your letters to: LettersATCoolCleveland.com

Loving on Cool Cleveland again after falling out of touch When my old computer died, I lost my contact with Cool Cleveland. Three years passed and now Cool Cleveland… wow! What a difference! The graphics and contents have improved enormously. Fantastic coverage and clickability. You guys are doing it! Glad to have found Cool Cleveland again. From Cool Cleveland reader Robert Vance rjmvanceATgmail.com

On “Let’s Be Positive, but Let’s Not Overdo it” (See Yr Turn Letter to the Editors here) One thing obvious about J. Norris’ letter to Cool Cleveland: There’s no shortage of kvetchers in Cleveland. It’s relatively new Ingenuity Fest may not have been overflowing with people, but I hardly think such a cutting-edge weekend-long event would do better in Norris’ former homes in Memphis, Detroit, Boone, N.C., nor even New Orleans, which is great if you want to run around half-clad and throw up beer with frat boys. No, on that particular weekend during the Ingenuity Festival, Cleveland’s blue-collar denizens were also enjoying classical music at Blossom; light opera productions in Wooster; dozens of galleries and gourmet restaurants in Little Italy the Warehouse District, Shaker Square, East Fourth Street and Tremont; cutting-edge experimental theater and Broadway hits from Cain Park to Huron Playhouse, world-famous masters at the Museum of Art; some of the most famous Vatican treasures in the history of mankind at the Case Western Reserve Historical Museum; strolls though a growing Chinatown, or just vistas the coastal sunsets at one of Cleveland area’s beaches. I have many friends who live in – not just visit – New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London and – yes, Paris – and they all said Cleveland has a lot going for it – especially for a city with such deep roots in America’s heyday as a manufacturing powerhouse. RTA’s recent national award for public transportation, which Norris derides, was based on the system itself, not amount of users. Norris should help out by hopping aboard and learning more about Cleveland. From Cool Cleveland reader Howard Gollop howieegAThotmail.com

Send your letters to: LettersATCoolCleveland.com

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

1) BizEd magazine publishes neat feature by Weatherhead prof David Cooperrider. #1 for a 3rd straight week!
Weatherhead.Case.edu

2) Rep. Dennis Kucinich electrifies the DNC with a rant for the ages. Wake Up America!
Kucinich.us.

3) Straight Outta Mansfield Stephanie Tubbs Jones: No Better Champion.
CoolCleveland.com

4) Cleveland foodies should be tuned in to this page early and often.
ClevelandIndependents.com

5) Bloomberg reports Cleveland leading the rebound after the housing crisis.
ClevelandCityLiving.blogspot.com

Bullseye That’s what the Hard Corps strive to hit every week. If you click away at every CC issue, you might just find yourself on target for the week, too. Thanks to Peter Chakerian, T.L. Champion, George Nemeth, Brian Tommasone, Claudia J. Taller, Kelly Ferjutz, Linda Eisenstein, Victor Lucas and Elsa Johnson, Mansfield B. Frazier and Douglas O’Bryon. And lastly, though certainly never 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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Finding your North Star on the North Coast,
–Thomas Mulready
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