11.13-11.20.2019 Diversion

11.13-11.20.19
Diversion

When you touch, buy or consume something, are you immediately thinking whether you’re contributing to the growing climate crisis, or helping to mitigate it? Our friends at Upcycle Parts Shop have diverted 27 tons of waste from landfills by hosting workshops, teaching recycling, and offering low priced castoffs to artists, crafters and teachers. Celebrate at their ReCollection event this week.

Diversions can be fun: whether it’s Brite Winter’s S’morefest benefit at Merwin’s Wharf in the Flats, a new doc on Cleveland metal superstars Mushroomhead, Les Delices playing a program of “Intoxicating” Medieval music in Akron, a session on increasing voter turnout at the Shaker Heights Library with the League of Women Voters, the 40 Lakewood eateries donating 10% of sales this Saturday to End Hunger in Lakewood, or Cleveland food maven Douglas Trattner discussing Cleveland’s lost culinary history over breakfast at Creative Mornings Cle at the Morgan Conservatory.

Can you think of a better diversion than enjoying a Brunch With Bowie, as we luxuriously explore the artist’s much overlooked and fascinating second half of his life, music and legacy, with a meticulously researched presentation followed by a blistering live music set from Vanity Crash, all accompanied by a delicious brunch in early January? First in Akron on Sun 1/5 at Jilly’s Music Room, then a week later in Cleveland on Sun 1/12 at BOP STOP. Don’t be distracted. –Thomas Mulready

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Brunch With Bowie

Today we announce the return of the popular Brunch With Bowie, featuring an entertaining and enlightening survey of the overlooked and consistently engaging second half of the music and life of David Bowie. Special noon presentations in Akron on Sun 1/5 at Jilly’s Music Room (tickets), then a week later in Cleveland on Sun 1/12 at BOP STOP (tickets). Because of the intimate nature of these venues, advance online tickets are recommended.

Acclaimed musicologist Thomas Mulready dives deep on David Bowie’s music, legacy and life after Let’s Dance, while Cleveland’s glam punk favorites Vanity Crash conclude each show with a rousing live music set of Bowie favorites and obscure tracks, alongside their own intense originals. Following David Bowie’s late era, the show traces a fascinating journey of experimentation (with guitarist Reeves Gabrels and Brian Eno), industrial noise (with Tin Machine), personal happiness (with second wife Iman and daughter Alexandria Zahra Jones), and eventually physical deterioration (near heart attack) and death from liver cancer. Along the way, we’ll discover overlooked masterpieces, revel in his greatest hits tours, and unravel his complex final albums (The Next Day and Blackstar ★), his stage musical (Lazarus), and his growing legacy. All ages. Parental warning. Put on your red shoes and dance the blues.

Five Years of Diverting the Waste Stream

No matter what you’re talking about, 27 tons of anything is, well, a lot. That’s the amount of waste Upcycle Parts Shop proudly advertises as having diverted from landfills since it started up five years ago.

The St. Clair shop has been recycling donated materials of all types that might otherwise be discarded, selling them at low low prices to artists, crafters and teachers, as well as hosting workshops at the store & in the community teaching creative recycling. Its ReCollection event this week celebrates and shares the work it’s doing. Fri 11/15.

A Brite Winter Preview

From now on, if you’re going to be outdoors, you’ll probably want to gather around a bonfire. That’s one of the highlights of the annual Brite Winter Festival, which will take place for the 11th year on February 20, 2002 – yes, outdoors.

Get some practice partying outdoors at Brite Winter’s benefit S’morefest, at Merwin’s Wharf in the Flats. You can gather around the fire while eating these messy, sticky treats, and listening to live music from some of the musicians who have played previous festivals – a little preview of what’s in store. Fri 11/15.

Only @ Oberlin

In 1986, a group of London musicians took a good look at that curious institution we call the Orchestra and decided to start again from scratch. They began by throwing out the rulebook. Put a single conductor in charge? No way. Specialize in music of a particular era? Too restricting. Perfect a work and then move on? Too lazy.

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment was born. Today, they still push for change and stand for excellence, diversity and exploration. Hear them in Oberlin with countertenor Iestyn Davies in Baroque masterpieces by Italian composers on Fri 11/22 at 7:30PM. Tickets $10-$35.

Impeachment Blues

The impeachment process is roaring through the U.S. House of Representatives, and impeachment is looking likely to pass, given the Democratic majority and the president’s virtual admission of having betrayed the nation, corroborated by multiple sources. That could soon present six sitting senators with a dilemma.

Impeachment is analogous to indictment, but then the trial takes place in the Senate (assuming Mitch McConnell lets it happen. If it does, it could take place at the beginning of 2020 – just as the Democratic primaries are starting. And six sitting senators are running for president. Do they belong on the campaign trail in Iowa or in D.C. hearing evidence? Our columnist C. Ellen Connally suggests it’s the latter.

The second iteration of FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art doesn’t take place until July 17-October 2, 2020, but planning is already speeding along.

Following the recent announcement of its first funded project, FRONT has announced three key hires: Sarah Spinner Liska as deputy director, Meghana Karnik as associate curator, and Lo Smith as curatorial assistant. Both Karnik and Smith are native Cleveland’s returning home to be part of the team working on this major event, demonstration of one of FRONT’s many positive aspects.

In 1999 the Streetsboro High School radio station was set to present a benefit, Spring Mosh 99, headlined by Cleveland metal superstars Mushroomhead. It ended up getting cancelled after a series of events captured in a documentary film which will screen at the high school tonight. Sat 11/16.

* The Akron Symphony plays Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and more at E.J. Thomas Hall. Sat 11/16.

* Cleveland’s Cabaret Project brings “Hungerlust” to Nighttown. Fri 11/15.

* CSU’s Cleveland Winds celebrate their 10th anniversary with a little help from some friends. Sun 11/17.

* Les Delices plays free program of “Intoxicating” Medieval music in Akron. Sun 11/17.

WED 11/13
The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership’s annual meeting at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History is a great way to meet other environmental activists and learn about how to get involved in programs and projects that restore and protect the Cuyahoga River ecosystem.

* Friends of the Cleveland Kennel holds fundraiser tonight at BottleHouse Brewery in Cleveland Heights and Fri 11/5-Sun 11/17 in Slavic Village .

* Join the League of Women Voters at the Shaker Heights Library to learn how to increase voter turnout.

* Melt Bar and Grilled in Avon hosts pro-choice fundraiser/information event today, with its Mentor location doing so tomorrow and its Lakewood store on Mon 11/18.

* The 12th annual Cleveland Comedy Festival offers performers of all ages, styles & career stages, through Sun 11/17.

* Tri-C Metro hosts tour celebrating the 80th anniversary of Blue Note Records.

* Father and son jazz musicians Michael and Peter Formanek play at Mahall’s Apartment.

* Belt University at the Happy Dog takes a look at Cleveland architecture.

Click here for more events on Wed 11/13

THU 11/14
The Distance of the Moon at the Akron Art Museum looks at the moon in photography and video/film through a scientific and artistic lens. Take in a tour of the show and an art talk tonight in the gallery.

* The Cleveland Orchestra plays Mahler Symphony No. 4 & John Adams’ 9/11 tribute. Also Sat 11/16 & Sun 11/17.

* Film exploring homelessness among Akron school kids screens at Tri-C Metro campus.

* Two artists talk about their work currently on view at the Cleveland Print Room.

* Oddball songstress/comedian Nellie McKay is back at Nighttown for two shows, tonight and Sun 11/17.

* convergence-continuum mounts new play about a young woman in search of herself. Through Sat 11/16.

Click here for more events on Thu 11/14

FRI 11/15
Cleveland food writer Douglas Trattner possesses a collection of pilfered menus from legendary Cleveland restaurants. He’ll talk about Cleveland’s lost culinary history this morning over breakfast at Creative Mornings Cle at the Morgan Conservatory.

* You’ve got one last chance to see Reigning Rock: The Music Photography of Joe Kleon & Anastasia Pantsios, tonight at 78th Street’s Survival Kit Gallery, and snag some photos of iconic rockers as holiday gifts.

* New exhibit Curiosity Carnival at Great Lakes Science Center uses fairground-style attractions to teach scientific principles.

* HEDGE Gallery shows Christopher Kier’s new mixed-media encaustic works.

* Inlet Dance holds its Big Bash benefit at Cleveland Public Theatre’s Parish Hall.

* Akron church hosts racial justice event with speaker tonight and all-day workshop tomorrow.

* Holden Arboretum opens nature-inspired holiday show and sale with shopping party; open through Mon 12/30.

Click here for more events on Fri 11/15

SAT 11/16
Last year’s End Hunger in Lakewood, organized by Melt Bar and Grilled’s Matt Fish, raised $11,000 to provide hungry people in the city with fresh produce. This year more than 40 Lakewood eateries are participating, donating 10% of their food sales.

* Work by mid-20th century local artist couple goes on view at Cleveland History Center.

* Have a Thanksgiving supper with President Lincoln at Hale Farm & Village.

* No EXIT New Music performs evening of cutting-edge string music with violinist Mari Sato at Kent State University.

* Three rock bands and three drag artists share the stage at the Happy Dog Rock & Roll Drag Show.

Click here for more events on Sat 11/16

SUN 11/17
The 2103 film Comedy Warriors: Healing Through Humor follows five wounded veterans learning to use comedy to overcome their trauma. The film will screen at the Capitol Theatre, with one of those veteran/comedians, Joe Kashnow, performing a stand-up set, along with Family Ties‘ Mark “Skippy” Price.

* The Arcadian Wild plays eclectic, acoustic roots music at Riverdog Retreat.

* Forghorn Stringband brings traditional North American music to Peninsula’s G.A.R. Hall.

Click here for more events on Sun 11/17

MON 11/18
Ohio Shakespeare Festival actors will offer a taste of the bard, performing beloved scenes from plays such as Romeo & Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing and Macbeth at the Hudson Library & Historical Society, followed by a discussion about staging his work and what OSF does.

* Organ and trumpet duo play for Rocky River Chamber Music Society at West Shore UU Church.

* Own a piece of Cedar Point’s history at Gray’s Auction.

Click here for more events on Mon 11/18

TUE 11/19
Certified cat behavior consultant and animal behaviorist Tabith Kucera can tell you what your cat is plotting behind your back. Maybe. Anyway, she’ll be doing a presentation at Forest City Brewing to benefit Neighborhood Pets Resource Center, and each ticket includes a pint of beer or cider to drown your sorrows if your cat doesn’t listen to you.

* All ages can come contra dancing to live music at Chagrin Falls Township Hall.

* Keyboard player Thollem McDonas plays a solo piano set at BOP STOP, then join local improvisers in Outlab session.

Click here for more events on Tue 11/19

WED 11/20
Comedian Deena Nyer Mendlowitz’s project This Improvised Life starts with storytellers who create their tales around a given word and then improvise on them. The ensemble will perform at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, exploring the meaning of identity and how it changes over time.

* Indiana guitarist Charlie Ballantine plays Dylan, jazz standards & originals with his trio at Nighttown.

Click here for more events on Wed 11/20

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

ADOS Nonsense

Over the years I’ve written extensively about reparations, an idea I strongly support. But alas, I know that politically it’s not going to be embraced by enough politicians to make it a reality, at least not in my lifetime, and probably not yours. For the nonce, it’s a third-rail political issue…

* Can You Believe This Shit? About a month ago a black man called into my radio show to debate me about the orange-faced clown’s record on racism. When I enumerated the racist incidents perpetrated by him over his career, the man’s retort was “What has he done that’s racist since he’s been president?” as if his prior record…

* The Untimely Demise of Bloom Bakery It’s one thing for folks to attend resume-enhancing meetings and plan elaborate strategies to attack the social ills plaguing Cleveland, but evidently it’s quite another to plunk down your money for a blueberry muffin or make sure that caterers and others could keep Bloom Bakery alive…

Read other stories from Mansfield Frazier here