Letter From Boston

11.03-11.10.04

A Letter from Boston

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland Commentary Letter From Boston by Cleveland expat Michael Devlin
* Cav’s Corner Interview with artist-activist Louise Gissendaner, President of Sankofa Fine Arts
* Cool Cleveland Sounds Cats on Holiday CD review by Greg Cielec
* RoldoLINK and his induction speech into the Press Club Hall of Fame

Cool Cleveland Commentary
Letter From Boston

Former Clevelander Michael Devlin relocated to Boston and is currently adjusting to east coast living, as Director of the Office of Communications, Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He reminisces about the idiosyncrasies of Cleveland, and makes a valid comparison of the two cities.

As a recent transplant from Cleveland to Boston, it’s endlessly illuminating to compare the two cities…Boston’s third-best university receives more undergraduate applicants in one year than Case gets in three… Clam chowder is better than perogies, the Charles is vastly prettier than the Cuyahoga, and the North End is to Little Italy what a case of fine Barolo is to a glass of cheap Chianti. Boston is world-class. Cleveland is working-class. Cleveland, Boston is your Daddy. So why am I yearning to go back? I’m dying for a Dortmunder Gold…Most of all, I miss being the underdog. As Red Sox fans are about to discover, the enduring satisfaction of trying hard is frequently more rewarding that the fleeting thrill of accomplishment. Cleveland is the Avis of cities. Clevelanders try harder… There’s a feverish attempt in Cleveland to fill the civic leadership vacuum. Cleveland may never again see a leadership group like Dick Pogue, Ed Brandon, Sam Miller, Mal Mixon, Ed Gillespie and Joe Gorman. But, by God, there’ll be a hundred organizations set up to find ’em.

Boston is complacent…things come easily to Boston. That, in part, is because Boston is what it is…it has the brains. And Boston’s just fine with that. Don’t like it? Leave. The city refuses to try to be something it’s not. Yes, that great abundance of brain power produces different output in different eras…No one knows what particular configuration of industry is going to sustain Cleveland in the next 25 years…Cleveland needs smart, ambitious people like the Conways at Great Lakes Brewing to hang around and start their businesses here. Keeping those people (call them entrepreneurs if you must, but it’s a daunting term) is the responsibility of every Clevelander. They won’t stay in a depressed city. But most of all, they won’t stay in a panicky city. Cleveland, relax. Be what you are. Be the quirky, working-class, art-loving, dog mask-wearing, cloudy, American, funny, four-season, spacious, beautiful, leafy, friendly city that you’ve been for years…
Read the Cool Cleveland Commentary by Michael Devlin here

Cool Cleveland interns are cool Do you read Cool Cleveland each week and want to increase your involvement? Editorial internship positions are available if you can write articulately, do web research like a demon, take direction without taking it personally; all this is yours if you get what Cool Cleveland is all about. Write a passionate letter telling us about your skills and availability to contribute 5-8 hours per week, and send along your resume or qualifications. Read the full job description here, then send your letter & qualifications to Internship@CoolCleveland.com

Zoo reduces rates for winter As the seasons gradually change, so do some of the exhibits at the Zoo and the best change is the reduced Winter admission, begining Mon 11/1 from 10AM-5PM daily. Families can visit informative and live exhibits, like the Gumleaf Hideout, home to koalas, tree kangaroos and an echidna. Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, easily accessible from Interstates 71, 90 and 480. http://www.CleMetParks.com

America’s Favorite Zoo Speaking of how cool our Zoo is, they’ve made it to the semi-finals and are officially one of the top five finalists in “America’s Favorite Zoo” campaign, along with North Carolina Zoo, Oklahoma City Zoo, Toledo Zoo and Tulsa Zoo. Here’s where you come in: click over and vote for the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and make them the big winner. “Voting is simple: slither, swing, pounce or sprint to the nearest computer and vote online at www.zootycoon.com or visit /www.clemetzoo.com and click on America’s Favorite Zoo.”

Max Hayes art project begins The Max Hayes/Soapbox Derby public art project, more than two years in planning, becomes a reality with final installation scheduled for Spring. The concept of arts integration, although becoming accepted methodology in academic subject areas in education, has taken a very different twist at Max Hayes High School, where they integrate art and the trades classes by inviting sculptors to work in the shops with welding classes and building construction students. By establishing a partnership with the Cleveland Institute of Art, numerous artists/professors were brought to the school to work with the trade students. The result is going to be a beautiful new entrance to the Cleveland Soapbox Derby Park, featuring an elegant sanstone wall and two stainless steel, art deco styled, soapbox derby racecars. Contact Mary Beth Matthews by email at mbmatt365@yahoo.com and visit her blog at http://mbmatthews.blogspot.com for more.

Attention college students Please take this 5-minute survey about your plans after graduation, sponsored by (i)Cleveland: http://www.Cleveland.com/contests/icleveland

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Sincerely Yours The Sincere Building Condominiums at Prospect and East 4th are located in the center of the exciting Gateway entertainment district! These luxury condos offer fabulous urban views, sleek kitchens with granite counters, large windows with original oak trim and hardwood floors, two spacious bedrooms, two glamour baths with granite counters and ceramic tile, in-suite laundry, and a convenient building elevator. Live at the center of Gateway and enjoy live shows at Pickwick & Frolic, or feel the blues at Fat Fish Blue! Soon, a new House of Blues will open, continuing the renaissance of the East 4th and Prospect district. Top off the deal with special financing and tax abatement! For a complete list of properties and open houses this weekend, please visit www.ProgressiveUrban.com
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Too many “squelchers” in Cleveland Akron’s activist and bright young thing David Giffels continues to beat the drum for Akron’s “youth movement” in a column that includes this tidbit from an interview with Richard Florida, “All cities have creative people and people who want to make their city more livable and dynamic. But some cities seem to have more ‘Squelchers.’ Squelchers are people who say things like, “That would never work in Akron” or “That’s not how we do things in Cleveland.” It’s time to squelch the squelchers. http://www.Ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/columnists/david_giffels/10035255.htm

Marketing the arts in Cleveland Potential Mayoral candidate Chris Carmody, who heads up the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, suggests ways Cleveland can stimulate her economy by promoting the arts similarly to how it is done in Toronto & Barcelona: advertising on RTA buses, turning the existing convention center into a low-cost film production studio, and providing public funding for the arts. See PD here

In search of visual arts writers Can’t get enough of art? Do you habitually hang out in museums or galleries? Tell us about your art fixations in an essay, commentary, or art criticism – whatever your style is, we’d like to see it. Contemporary, Ancient, Modern, or so wild it’s unclassifiable, CC is now accepting submissions on all topics art-related. Write reviews of area art openings. If it rocks your world (and our art-obsessed editor’s) we’ll publish it in CoolCleveland.com. Send your submissions to Info@Coolcleveland.com

The color of your car indicates crash probability A new study finds that silver cars are less likely to be involved in a serious crash than cars of other colors. Drivers in black, brown or green cars were twice as likely to suffer a crash with serious injury. The study team thinks it’s partly due to combinations of light color and high reflectivity. http://www.NewScientist.com

NEOEventResource.Org is a website dedicated to bringing greater visibility and awareness to non-profit organizations in Northeast Ohio. Visitors can search the event schedule for Northeast Ohio non-profit activities, events and volunteer opportunities.http://www.NeoEventResource.org

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
Stimulate your senses! The weather is getting colder and Spring flowers are a distant memory, but the Cleveland Institute of Music Opera Theater will warm you with a taste of Spring when they present An Operatic Bouquet – scenes from great operas based on the lovely (and sometimes dangerous) effects of flowers. Under the direction of David Bamberger, with the CIM Orchestra conducted by Steven Byess, the evening’s festivities feature scenes from Parsifal, Manon, L’Elisir d’Amore, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Carmen and many more! Performances begin Wed 11/10 at 8PM and run through Sat 11/13. To order your tickets today, call 216.791.5000, ext. 411, Mon-Fri 10AM-3PM. Plus, mention you read about it in Cool Cleveland and receive $2 off your ticket! Support Cleveland and take pride! Did you know CIM has an annual economic impact of $90 million dollars on the state of Ohio? Visit www.CIM.edu to learn more about one of the nation’s leading music conservatories!
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

GuitarMania auctions the goods Eddie Vedder, Flea, Graham Nash, Blondie, Marky Ramone and other celebrities play lead in United Way’s GuitarMania® II, Encore 2004 Live Auction on Sat 11/6, and will offer 75, monster-sized, 10-ft-tall fiberglass replicas of Fender Stratocaster® guitars painted and sculpted by celebrity and local artists. Rock-heads can get in on the action early with online bidding available at http://www.Guitarmaniaauction.com. Pick up tix for the event at 436-2121, or show up at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame+Museum. For info surf over to http://www.RockHall.com

Beware print media: The printed word has reached its twilight! According to research studies and speculative technophiles, words on paper will be a casualty of the throttle of technology, but small, specialty magazines are poised to thrive. They’ve provided blessed outlets for writers to publish what was too edgy, avant-garde, deviant, or experimental for the mainstream. It’s that spirit that is the driving idea of many lit journals which have big literary ambitions. http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/arts/books/documents/04141917.asp

The Rosetta Project is a global collaboration of language specialists and native speakers working to build a publicly accessible online archive of every documented human language. It’s aiming to create the most broad and complete reference work on the languages of the world to date – a reference work of relevance for academic researchers and educators as well as native communities looking for materials in support of language revitalization work. http://www.RosettaProject.org/live

Music writers come hither Want to review CDs for CC? We’ve got more music than we can handle, and are currently seeking more ears to hear and review it. You must be able to communicate well, have solid knowledge and opinions about music, and be able to back up your article with passion. If you’re up for the challenge, contact us at Info@CoolCleveland

NeOhioPAL The Northeast Ohio Performing Arts List includes performing arts news and announcements from theatres, artistic directors, film companies, producers, directors, playwrights, agencies, music directors, choreographers, production managers, actors, musicians, dancers, designers, educators & technicians. Get the 411 on auditions, job opportunities, production openings, The Cleveland Theatre Collective, PACT News, classes, workshops, reviews & editorials, AEA news, SAG/AFTRA news & cut-rate or free tickets. You can receive your messages individually or in a daily digest. It’s free, so what are you waiting for? Sample the prior postings to the list by visiting the archives at http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/pipermail/neohiopal http://www.FredSternfeld.com

Hi-tech robotic capsule to crawl through intestines It is not science fiction, but healthcare taken to a new level. A new capsule has been designed to crawl though a patient’s stomach, enabling doctors to view and treat internal ailments non-invasively. Developed by an international research team. The patient swallows the capsule which is equipped with a camera that transmits images outside the body. http://www.NewScientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996488

CCS returns The Cleveland Chamber Symphony is alive and well and performing again in Northeast Ohio; this is a reason to stand up and support them. The award-winning ensemble, a mainstay of the classical music scene in Cleveland for more than 23 years, will perform at Gamble Auditorium at Baldwin-Wallace College, Kulas Musical Arts Building, 96 Front Street in Berea on Sun 11/7 at 4PM. The concert, free and open to the public, is part of Baldwin-Wallace College’s FOCUS Festival of Contemporary Music. Cleveland Chamber Symphony will be conducted by Steven Smith, former assistant conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra and current music director of the Santa Fe Symphony. Call 795-3177 or refer to the CCS webpage at http://www.ClevelandChamberSymphony.org

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
American Music Masters This week, there are so many events and concerts being held in conjunction with the Lead Belly tribute concert this Sunday at Severance Hall, we can barely list them all – but we’ll try. Tonight, Wed 11/3 at 7PM in the Rock Hall’s Fourth Floor Theatre, check out author and Lead Belly biographer Kip Lornell. Fri 11/5 at 8PM, the Beachland Ballroom presents Oscar Brand and Josh White Jr. Sat 11/6 at 9PM there’ll be a special tribute concert at the Beachland featuring the Tarbox Ramblers, Jon Langford and Dan Zanes and friends (Dan Zanes will also be on the CASE campus on Sun 11/7 at 1PM in the Harkness Chapel). Finally, at Severance Hall on Sun 11/7, 7:30PM, the Lead Belly tribute featuring Robert Plant, Los Lobos, Odetta, John Hiatt, Robert Lockwood Jr. and many more. Don’t miss these rockin’ events – visit www.RockHall.com for details!
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Quirky-cool afterschool programs including Middle Eastern dance, yoga for children and hip-hop classes are just a few of the offerings now available through Passport Project, a multicultural project that brings the arts to the community and its youth. Get yourself or your child enrolled by calling 721-1055 or preview their plethora of classes at http://PassportProject.org

More than affordable housing & retail mix Sometimes the obvious solutions to urban economic development aren’t always the successful ones. Cleveland cultural sociologist and psychologist Frank A. Mills points out that key factors sometimes include a shared grassroots vision and a city government that doesn’t give up on its worst neighborhoods. http://UrbanParadoxes.blogspot.com

Claim your multimedia CD Youngstown’s Alternative Christian Funk band SounDoctrine are offering you a complimentary copy of their new Special Edition multimedia video CD if you voted in yesterday’s election. Simply send your “I Voted Today” sticker on a piece of paper, along with your signature, e-mail address and phone number to: 269 E. Judson Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44507-1938. One entry per household, must be postmarked by Sat 11/6. http://www.DetroitGospel.com/DG-SounDoctrine.htm

CVB struggles Convention and visitors bureaus nationwide are struggling, and Cleveland’s is no exception. The Cleveland CVB lost over 100 members since 9/03, although the bleeding may have tapered off. New business development director Kim McCarty has her hands full, especially since her job sat vacant for over a year. With their budget continually being decimated by County withdrawls to fund the Convention Facilities Authority and other fees, the CVB is still reorganizing. Now they have a smaller board (on which Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready serves), and they are looking to fill high level positions in Marketing and Arts and Cultural Tourism, positions which have also gone unfilled for months. See Cleveland.com here, and http://www.TravelCleveland.com.


Cool Cleveland This Week

11.03-11.10

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Word Crafters Literary Festival Cleveland celebrates the written word and all aspects of literature and writing while introducing Northeast Ohio’s award winning literary talent to the public. Try your hand in workshops, energized readings, and seminars with demonstrations throughout 30 venues, where you’ll meet and interact with our city’s award winning writers. Attendees will also hear authors read from their works, and rub elbows with literary organizations, small presses, publishers, libraries, and lit journals beginning Wed 11/3 running all week and culminating with spoken word performances on Sun 11/7 from 1-5PM. Cleveland Public Library’s Louis Stokes Building, 325 Superior Ave. Call 421-0403. For a complete list of events and locations visit http://www.pwlgc.com/wordcrafters.html

Vocalists from the Courts of Burgundy The Grammy nominated vocal ensemble brings to life music once heard at the famed court chapel of the Dukes of Burgundy. The New York Times recognizes it as “the standard by which early music vocal groups are measured.” Hear one of today’s finest a cappella ensembles on Wed 11/3 at 7:30PM. Call 421-7350. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd. in University Circle. http://www.ClevelandArt.org

Art and The Animal The 43rd annual fine arts exhibition Art and The Animal opened at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Kahn Hall and is now on view Wed 11/3 through 1/23/05 in a juried show organized by the Society of Animal Artists in NYC. Animal enthusiasts will appreciate the 65 paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings of domestic and wild animals, and local artist David Rankin has a watercolor featured in the show, as does former Museum staffer and sculptor Walter Matia. While at the Museum, be sure to also check out Linda Butler’s photographic exhibit Yangtze Remembered: The River Beneath the Lake. Call 231-4600 for museum hours and information. Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Dr. in University Circle. http://CMNH.org

From Tugboats to Polar Bears touring collection of short films by Matt Mc Cormick? award winning independent filmmaker Matt McCormick will be here in Cleveland at the Gallery of Photographic Arts presenting “From Tugboats to Polar Bears,” a collection of short films he has made over the past five years that is being released on DVD by the Peripheral Produce video label. His film The Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal was also named as one of the Top 10 Films of 2002 by both the Village Voice and Art Forum magazine. Matt’s work blurs the between documentary and experimental filmmaking, and fashions abstract and witty observations of contemporary culture and current issues on Wed 11/3. Call 861-3062. GOPA, Gallery of Photographic Arts and the Home of the Digital Darkroom, 2512 Church Ave. http://www.Rodeofilmco.com

PNE Power: Professional Networking Entrepreneurs Attention busy professionals – grab the opportunity to learn “How to Market Your Business on a Shoe String Budget” at this hybrid networking mixer and panel discussion on Wed 11/3 from 6-8PM. R.S.V.P. by 10/29 to 451-6464. Dollar Bank, F.S.B, 1301 East Ninth Street, 3rd Floor. PNEcommittee@yahoo.com

Blonde Redhead These 4AD recording artists blend otherworldliness and bittersweet tension in their new single Equus, released earlier this year, includes the haunting stop-frame animation video that was directed by Chris Hopewell of Collision films, who also made Radiohead’s There There and Franz Ferdinand’s Matinee. Dig their oblique melodies and underground American rock music Thu 11/4 at 10PM. Call for tix at 440-775-8169. Dionysus Discoteque, Wilder Hall at Oberlin College, 135 West Lorain St. in Oberlin. http://www.4ad.com/artists/blonderedhead/index.html

African AIDS As HIV/AIDS continues to impact growing number of individuals in Cuyahoga County and around the world, International Partners in Mission has chosen to focus on this global pandemic for its Second Annual Luncheon. Lynn Stratford, UNICEF Office of HIV/AIDS will be addressing the audience on the topic of “AIDS in Africa: A Growing Crisis for Children” on Thu 11/4, 11:30AM at the City Club of Cleveland. Purchase tickets at 932-4082 and visit http://www.ipm-connections.org or http://www.CityClub.org

Ongoing Challenge: Balancing Family, Work and Community Martha Finn Brooks, President of Alcan Corporation and President and CEO of Alcan Rolled Products Americas and Asia, will share her experiences and philosophy on how one can balance the many demands of family, work and civic involvement. As a mother, President and CEO of a $4 billion company, and an active member of numerous professional and civic boards, Martha will talk about the challenges she has faced and how she has managed to find balance in her life Thu 11/4 from noon-1:30PM. Reserve your space at this informative event, contact the CBB office at info@clevelandbridgebuilders.org or call 776-6166. Trinity Commons, 2230 Euclid Ave. http://www.TrinityCleveland.org

Integrating Northeast Ohio’s 5,000 international students as part of our areas most valuable resources, discuss collaborative ways that we can work together to better welcome youth studying in the region’s colleges and universities. Chuck Hickman, Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education will also be on hand to help lead the discussion on the potential for regional, cross-campus efforts to connect the international students to each other, the mainstream community, their ethnic communities, and prospective employers on Thu 11/4 at 8:30AM. Call 987-2224. Global Issues Resource Center East 1, Cuyahoga Community College, 4250 Richmond Rd. http://www.Global-Issues.org/about/directions.html

New World Performance Laboratory Northeast Ohio’s own world-class alternative theatre company will be in residence and will present two performances in repertory: Jean Genet’s Deathwatch and Stairway to Paradise (A Cabaret Soul Journey). Directed by NWPL artistic director and Clevelander James Slowiak and Jairo Cuesta, a Colombian actor and co-director of the company, Deathwatch is Genet’s first play, rewritten shortly before his death in 1986, a story of three prisoners locked in a sacrificial rite of passage from division to wholeness. The play promises to be an intimate and intense experience that demonstrates the company’s unique physical acting style, which has won them acclaim on four continents; see it Thu 11/4, 5th, 6th, and 13th at 8PM and 11/12 at 10:30PM. Call 631-2727 or call NWPL at 330-867-3299. The Parish Hall next to Cleveland Public Theatre’s Gordon Square Theatre, 6415 Detroit Ave. http://www.CPTonline.org

Holiday Hop in Ohio City For this festive evening, eclectic Ohio City merchants on West 25th Street and Market Avenue will open their doors for extended hours for patrons to shop and dine in support of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. You can start your holiday shopping and socializing guilt free, knowing that twenty percent of what you spend will be donated to the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, an organization dedicated to providing free sexual assault crisis intervention and prevention services. Shop, eat, drink, and be merry, and hit the VIP Pre-party from 5-7PM at The Garage, the newest hang out on the block. Get tix at 619-6194 for tickets. You’ll enjoy hors d’oeuvres, happy hour drink prices, door prizes, a special gift, and lots of good karma Thu 11/4 from 5-10PM. At West 25th St and Market Ave. in Ohio City.

Support poetry and free speech! Nia is but one of a handful of spoken word/free speech programs working in collaboration with a major institution such as the Cleveland Museum of Art. Now in its 7th year, the Nia coffeehouse will feature Vince Robinson and the Jazz Poets with a live open mic and $30 prize for the Nia “mini-slam” winner on Fri 11/5 from 6:30-8:30PM. Note to performing poets: This is not a sanctioned slam for points. Cleveland Museum of Art, located in H and I in lower education, 11150 E. Blvd. Please check at the Information desk for further details on location. http://www.ClevelandArt.org

Whose Eye Is On Which Sparrow? Join us for an A gripping and intimate conversation with Oberlin-based Robert Taylor, as he shares with you his stories — and the story of his life as a gay author. Robert will also read from his new book, Whose Eye Is On Which Sparrow?, a novel which asks the question, “What happens to love when life gets in the way?” Whose Eye strikes just the right balance between head and heart as its characters struggle to find the courage to give up the lives they have for the lives they want. Stop in to meet people with diversity and personality on Thu 11/4 from 5:30-7PM.Call 651-LGBT. Lesbian/Gay Community Center, 6600 Detroit Ave. http://www.lgcsc.org

Lark Experience the trial of Joan of Arc as a play within a play, in a graceful freedom and interplay of time and sequence that present a sardonic picture of politics, morality and religion, with a not so distant echo of current events. The life of an exceptional and often provocative figure, in conflict with the standards of the world around her, should resonate with contemporary audiences. See it Fri 11/5 at 8PM thru 12/11. Call 241-6000. Kennedy’s Down Under, Playhouse Square, 1501 Euclid Ave. http://www.PlayhouseSquare.com

Information Security Summit Seven leading associations; HTCIA, InfraGard, ISSA, ASIS, Cleveland Honeynet Project, NEOSA and the Cuyahoga County Police Chiefs Association have come together to provide professional insight from the business, legal, law enforcement, and technology perspectives in one conference. A futuristic and elucidating event covering topcis: Monitoring (Spy) Software: Is it for You?, Open Source Security, Data Recover, Preservation and Elimination, Digital Evidence Vulnerability Management and several others. Receive hands-on training, access to industry-leading vendors, and a chance participate in the 2nd Annual Hack Tour & Challenge for two days beginng Fri 11/5. Embassy Suites, 5800 Rockside Woods Blvd. Visit http://www.InformationSecuritySummit.org

Icons, Idols, and Inspirers is an unlikely gathering of faces and an exhibition of mixed media portraits depicting figures that’ve shaped urban American culture both positively and negatively. Meet artist Ron Sims II, the founder of Art for the People Movement at his opening reception Fri 11/5 at 6PM. Call 647-3154. Lava Lounge in Tremont. Email ron@rsims2.com

Foreign Affairs VII This year, the 7th annual Dresden Residency Exchange, sponsored by the Ohio Arts Council, brings German printmaker Fredericke Aust to Zygote Press. In exchange, two Ohio printmakers went to the Grafikwerkstatt in Dresden for a six-week stay. The Exchange Program is an important part of Zygote’s programming, connecting artists from different cultures in an active workshop atmosphere. Aust favors metal plate etching for its strength as well as for the surprises that occur in the development of the image from sketch to completed print. She embraces the unpredictability of the process and through her work she looks for those happenings that are hard to describe: the revelation of the secret stories within. Make it out to the opening reception Fri 11/5 from 6-9PM. Show runs through 11/19. Zygote Press, 7209 St. Clair Ave. in the Buckeye Ribbon & Carbon Building.

Land Use and Prosperity in the Western Reserve builds upon the 17th annual Western Reserve Studies Symposium, “Regional Foods and Markets: Reconnecting Farmers and Consumers in the Western Reserve.” Mary K. Holmes, co-founder of the North Union Farmers’ Market and a leader in regional land use issues will moderate a case study on land use decisions, and session leaders will provoke discussion on conservation tools, farm viability and local foods, balanced growth and conservation development and local community planning on Fri 11/5 at 8:30AM. Call 368-4117. Case Western Reserve University’s Squire Valleevue Farm, 37125 Fairmount Blvd. in Hunting Valley. http://library.case.edu/ksl/ecoll/collections/wrs/index.html.

16th People’s Art Show at Cleveland State Art Gallery is a free, unjuried, uncensored exhibition celebrating creativity, diversity, and imagination. The exhibition and all entries are exhibited. This year’s show features approximately 500 pieces by more than 300 artists, according to Art Gallery director Robert Thurmer. Works include paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, digital art, printmaking, and mixed mediums Fri 11/5 from 5-9PM. Call 687-2103. Art Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10AM-5PM, Sat noon to 4PM; exhibit runs through 12/10. East 23rd St. and Chester Ave. http://www.csuohio.edu/art/gallery/gallery.htm

Inanimate: Paul Kochanowski This solo exhibition relies on industrial process to create discarded or over-looked objects in aluminum, bronze, and polyester resin. Take part in the complimentary observations, lectures, and post-modern labor from Fri 11/5 through 12/3. Nancy Prudic, multi-media artist and assistant professor of visual art at Lake Erie College will lead a gallery talk with the artist at the free, public reception opening on Fri 11/5 from 5-9PM. Call 229-8044. The Sculpture Center, 1834 E. 123rd St. http://www.SculptureCenter.org

WCLVnotes You may have seen Jonathan Sheffer on the PBS series on the history of Broadway. He’s also the founding music director of Cleveland’s Red {an Orchestra}. Jonathan is the guest on WCLV’s Arts on the Air, this coming Sun 11/7 at 3PM. He’s interviewed by WCLV’s Mark Satola. A new program takes to the air on WCLV 104.9 this Sunday at 8:30 PM. The hour-long show is called The Singers’ Art and is hosted by Fadel Fulkerson. It’s about the legendary divas and divos of the operatic and concert world. And coming up on Thu 11/11 is WCLV’s remote broadcast from the Life Share Blood Drive and Health Forum, being held at the Spitzer Conference Center at Lorain County Community College from 8AM to 6PM. a Cool Cleveland partner www.wclv.com

The AB Cs? of Starting a Business The Womens Business Center provides training, counseling, and technical assistance to women business owners, women who want to start a business, and others in need of such services. Whether you are just getting started in business or been in business several years every woman entrepreneur should take this high energy motivational informational course – Do You Know Your AB Cs?? And if you cannot attend this session, the course will be offered each month until 6/’05. Sat 11/6 from 9AM-noon. Call 707-0777.The Womens Business Center of Cuyahoga County, 12200 Fairhill Road, Fourth Floor Conference Area, Buckeye Shaker neighborhood

Famicos Fabulous FunRaiser holding its second annual gala event benefit, and this year’s Mistress of Ceremonies Terri Hamilton Brown, President of University Circle, Inc. will hold court, along with Arnold R. Pinkney and Frank Sinito as co-chairs; Mayor Campbell, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, Ward 8 Councilwoman Sabra Pierce Scott and Ward 9 Councilman Kevin Conwell are Honorary Chairpersons. Glide around with the beautiful, power-people with a silent auction of fabulous items, and an awards presentation for individuals dedicated to revitalizing Cleveland neighborhoods on Sat 11/6 at 6:30PM. Call 791-6476. Health Space? Cleveland, 8911 Euclid Ave. http://www.HealthspaceCleveland.org

Cats On Holiday One of Cool Cleveland’s fave bands makes a much-anticipated appearance at the ParkView Nite Club, a great place for excellent food and sweet music. Check out the unbelievably delicious fried asparagus, exercise your arm on the old-school bowling machine with real balls and hear rockin’ laid-back swamp tunes on Sat 11/6 at 9:30PM. Call 961-1341. ParkView, 1261 West 58th St., North off Detroit Ave. See review of their latest CD, appropriately entitled, Cats On Holiday below in Cool Cleveland Sounds http://www.CatsOnHoliday.com

Fashion Victims A survey of costume and fashion illustrations from 1996-2004 by Los Angeles transplant Arabella Proffer. Her lines are retro, elegant and new to the eye; check out her opening reception to meet and speak fashionese with the artist on Sat 11/6 from 6-10PM. Show runs through 11/30. Mosaic the Gallery, 16860 Lorain Ave.

20 Years of Poetry Readings @ Mac’s Backs has hosted a monthly poetry reading on the 2nd Wednesday each month since 1984, with hundreds of our area’s literati lending their voices to wow the masses: Phil Metres of John Carroll University, Angle Magazine founder Amy Sparks, Cuyahoga County Poet Laureate Daniel Thompson, Cleveland’s slam master Michael Salinger, and Urban Dialect founder and editor Daniel Gray-Kontar amongst others. In addition to this series, Mac’s Backs has an active events calendar that also features poets on book tour. Head out to the open house & open mic on Sat 11/6 from 6-9PM. Call 321-2665. Mac’s Backs Books on Coventry, 1820 Coventry Rd. in Cleveland Hts. http://www.MacsBacks.com

Complimentary Master Class Come experience Ronald K. Brown/Evidence Dance Company in a class that is open to the public and without charge. “One of the hottest choreographers now working in dance” states The New York Times, and hailed by critics as one of Americas hottest up-and-comers. Brown’s high-energy blend of modern dance with African, Brazilian and Cuban influences has enthralled audiences worldwide. A fan favorite in his native New York City, Brown continues the legacy of African-American choreographer and mentor Alvin Ailey on Sat 11/6 from 11AM-1PM. Call 771-8403 or 440-914-0744. Ohio Theatre, The Playhouse Square Center, 1511 Euclid Ave. http://www.PlayhouseSquare.com

Trinity Special Olympics organization with fresh alternative pop-rockers Minor Setback, Nothing Blue, and folk rock favorite Anne E. DeChant for a benefit concert offering a varied bill. Show up and help send a local Special Olympics athlete to Nagano, Japan for the 2005 Winter Games; it’s a great way to send the diferently-abled abroad to compete. Event happens on Sat 11/6 Phantasy Nite Club, 11802 Detroit Ave. Get tickets at http://www.Ticketmaster.com and visit http://www.PhantasyConcertClub.com

*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************
CoolCleveland Delivers with Optiem When CoolCleveland needed to improve email deliverability and ensure legal compliance, they turned to the Opticast™ email platform from Optiem. Opticast™ allows organizations of any size to design dynamic communications – which leverage the personalization that email affords. Use surveys, segmentation, and dynamic content to build greater loyalty with your customers – all while leaving the IT hassle to someone else. To learn more about Opticast™ or any of Optiem’s other interactive marketing solutions, contact Optiem at info@optiem.com. Optiem. Fuel For Bright Companies. www.Optiem.com
*************** SPONSORED LINK ***************

Writing for Money Seminar When it comes time to make money from their work, they don’t know where to begin that process or how to go about marketing their work. Poets’ and Writers’ League of Greater Cleveland, with the support of Cleveland State University, offers the Writing for Money conference to introduce new and established writers to the business aspect of the writing life. The program will teach them to succeed financially without compromising their own ideals; Les Roberts, a best-selling mystery author from Hollywood who has written for both network and syndicated television, will open the conference. Also included are “choose your path” sessions lead by various instructors and panels who have turned their writing into income. Check it out Sat 11/6 from 9AM-6PM. Register at 421-0403. Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Ave. http://www.pwlgc.com/writingformoney.html

Aesthetics and Consumer Culture: 2004 Arts and Culture Symposium. Mel Chin, considered one of the most influential artists of our times, will present the keynote address at CIA’s upcoming symposium. Chin is known for his politically engaged and socially aware site-specific works, that have been featured on PBS’s illustrious Art in the 21st Century, MOMA and the Whitney. His dialogue will be part of a two-day symposium on art and consumer culture on Fri 11/5 at 7PM and Sat 11/6 at 6PM. Aitken Auditorium at The Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd. http://www.cia.edu

Bada-Bling Check out what all the lingo abuse is about at SPACES party celebrating their 24th annual benefit with fancy eats and adult beverages; then strut it out with DJ Impure and Go, but ya gotta dress the part. Wear your suavest three piece suite, little black number with dangerous heels and roll up in your old school Cadillac or pimped out Escalade. It’s the be-all-end-all silent auction in which you’ll be bidding on classy items from regional artists on Sat 11/6 from 8:30PM-1AM. Get into supporting financially the best local and risk taking art; get your tickets by calling 621-2314. SPACES Gallery, 2220 Superior Viaduct. http://www.SpacesGallery.org

Treasures Tour of the Special Collections at the Cleveland Public Library will unveil the Library’s rarely seen collections; patrons can experience art and artifacts that celebrate our region’s history. The evening’s honorary event chairs are retired Congressman Louis Stokes, literary advocate Mary Louise Hahn, and architect Robert Madison on Sat 11/6 at 7:30PM. Call 623-2821. Cleveland Public Library, 325 Superior Avenue, N.E. http://www.cpl.org

2004 Ohio Indepdenent Film Festival A week long film buff’s fantasy. On day one, get out from behind the sidelines and take part in the Director of Photography’s signature event, a wildly popular workshop with Tiffany Laufer of L.A. and Cleveland scripterati Robert C. Banks, that allows participants to help DPs light and shoot scenes on 16mm film, which is then screened later at the festival. Sign up early for this one, happening on Sun 11/7. A complimentary film and art opening night hits with the Ohio premiere of the film Noise on Mon 11/8 at 7PM with film showing at 8PM. Catch more events through 11/14. Call 651-7315. All events are presented at Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Rd. http://www.OhioFilms.com for festival schedule. Visit http://www.ticketweb.com for directions and advance tickets, and attend the festival for details on after-festival parties Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Email OhioIndieFilmFest@juno.com

Commemoration at Tri-C in remembrance of the Martyrs of Central America and Colombia, this program includes interfaith prayer, dinner and a speaker who will address the challenges of human rights in Latin America Sun 11/7 at 4:30PM. For reservations call 961-0003. Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus Performing Arts Center, 4250 Richmond Road in Highland Hills. http://www.Tri-C.edu/campus/default.htm

NEOSA CIO Symposium 2004 brings together the top technology leaders in Northeast Ohio for a full day of outstanding keynote presentations as well as panels discussions and briefings with CIOs and senior technology representatives from the region’s major companies. Network with your peers, share ideas, find local IT resources and stay abreast of the latest development and issues in technology – all while providing critical input to Northeast Ohio technology solution providers on Wed 11/10 from 7:30AM – 4PM. Call 592-2257. Avalon Event Center, 11409 State Rd. in North Royalton. http://neosa.org/events/more_info/2004CIOagenda.htm and see the List of Companies w/ CI Os? and/or IT Managers registered to attend. http://www.neosa.org/events/more_info/2004CIOattendees.htm

Wine and poetry/art/dance Slam is finally landing at the always intimate Grovewood, and if you perform, a free glass of house wine is yours! Spend time with a group that knows how to give good verbal play: Emily Tan, slammaster Michael Salinger, Joan of Art, Steven B. Smith of Art Crimes, CMA’s Cavana Faithwalker, David Schwartz, Charlene Coates, and other poets of all varieties crawling out of the woodwork Wed 11/10 at 9PM Wed 11/24. Call 531-4900. Grovewood Tavern & Wine Bar, 17105 Grovewood Ave. For info surf over to http://www.ClevelandMetroNews.com

The History of Another Questions of memory, place and identity are brought to light using modern Rome as a backdrop, as internationally acclaimed photographer and installation artist, Shimon Attie, projects fragments of historical photographs of Roman Jews onto the city’s excavation. He marries archive photography with contemporary large-scale color photography to provocatively pull past events into the present and recover untold stories of forgotten communities. Opening reception begins Wed 11/10 from 5:30-7:30PM a lecture from 7-8PM; show runs through 12/23. Call 421-7403. Reinberger Galleries at The Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd. http://www.cia.edu

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland Sounds
Cats on Holiday
Cats on Holiday
(COH Tone Records)

Cats on Holiday’s latest album, simply titled Cats on Holiday, is their best and most polished work on CD. The band’s current core line up has been in

place for several years’ worth of gigs, and their talents and cohesiveness shine through on this disk. Lead guitarist Rick Chrysten’s work really stands out, and leaves band leader Denis DeVito to songwriting (which has always been good and on this disk is outstanding), and singing (which is vastly improved on this disk). Cats on Holiday the band is often compared to some of the touring Zydeco/Cajun national acts they have opened for, like Buckwheat Zydeco and the Iguanas. Cats On Holiday the album shows the band with one foot still planted in New Orleans, but the other in late ’60s and early ’70s British pop and bands: the Beatles, the Kinks, and Small Faces. DeVito’s catchy lyrics on songs like “Invisible Man” and “Walk Johnny” are melodic ballads that fit this bill. “Drinking,” and “Rolling Stone” show the zydeco/Cajun side of the band, and are all solid studio versions of the band’s more popular dance and party tunes. Also included on the album are two surprises, a tribute to the late Johnny Cash with a cover of the Cash classic “Ring of Fire,” and the album closes with an uncredited Christmas ballad. If you are unfamiliar with Cats on Holiday’s music, check out this disk. This is a very good album filled with pop/rock songs for adults. To check out the band’s schedule, or to find out where you can pick up their music, visit http://www.CatsOnHoliday.com. See them this Sat 11/6 at 9:30PM at the ParkView, 1261 West 58th St., North off Detroit Avenue.
from Cool Cleveland reader Greg Cielec cielec@hotmail.com

RoldoLINK
Cool Cleveland contributor Roldo Bartimole was recently inducted into the Press Club Hall of Fame and made observations on his involvement in the media due to his dissatisfactions with its coverage. Read his speech made recently at the Press Club Hall of Fame dinner.

I feel a little like Groucho Marx. He’s the one who said, “I do not care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as a member.” I say that because some people might think it strange for an outsider to be here.

However, I think I’ve been given this opportunity because some believe I’ve set an example that others may copy – to stray from the conventional path. Phil Porter wrote me when I left The Plain Dealer, that I had a bright future there. Truth be told, I would have had a frustrating life there, straightjacketed into a conventional view of the world.

Before I get too serious, I am doubly grateful to be here tonight because I heard that if I hadn’t accepted this award, it would have been given to Alex Machaskee. It would have been his 500th community award this year, breaking the previous record held by Tom Vail.

My short tenures at The Plain Dealer taught me other lessons. I saw how power – both individual and institutional – influenced public decisions. This was particularly true in the tumultuous 1960s. There were many examples in Point of View of how that worked. Even the mild Plain Dealer column by Tom Andrzejwski hassling Dick Jacobs and the opening of the Galleria appeared in only Point of View after being censored by the Plain Dealer. Reporters pick up from editors, who pick up from their bosses, what’s acceptable and what’s not. They more often than not stay with those bounds. Sacred cows, particularly corporate, are rarely the target of the conventional media. So that was another lesson I learned that put me on a different course.

In 1968, I started Point of View because I felt there was a need for a voice that didn’t share the worldview reflected by conventional news outlets and their corporate dominated thinking.

Though from time to time a story will get into the paper that’s critical of power, I still feel that need I saw isn’t being filled by The Plain Dealer. I pick on it because it’s the biggest and it’s the media leader. This community needs dissent. It must be nurtured. I think it’s the responsibility of the news media to foster debate. But there needs to be critical reporting on big institutions for that to happen. They’re all accepted as “good.” Why? Who gives them their reputations? They don’t get the spotlight thrown on them. The brand of debate seems to be to bring these leaders together to tell us what we – not they – do wrong.

I want to know a lot more about the people and institutions making decisions in this community. I don’t get it in my morning newspaper… Read RoldoLINK here

Instant Karma
Quik 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 photo 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

Video Psychotherapy @Beachland Ballroom 10/30
Video Psychotherapy was a cure for the insane world. Heads exploding. Blood gushing from human flesh. Vomit spewing and endless screaming. How can people in their right minds find any of that amusing? They can if they are Shut-Ins at the Asylum or, in saneman terms, if they attended the Video Psychotherapy (VPT) DVD Party on October 30 at the Beachland Ballroom. VPT was first introduced to Cleveland as a local cult cable show in the 1990’s. Due to its wild popularity, 2 new sessions were released on DVD and premiered last Saturday. A pompous, dictatorial, arrogant puppet, otherwise known as The Doctor, who wears a turtleneck and sunglasses, conducts each session. (Just by reading that description, even the sane should crack a grin.) After showing a few minutes of visual/audio shock treatment of gush and gore, The Doctor appears and offers you much needed analysis. It guarantees to induce intense laughter and attempts to correct your inept view of society—much like the real dummies do in Washington, D.C. Read the review of Video Psychotherapy by Rosemary Musachio here

Words and Weirds @ convergence-continuum 10/29
What: Two off-beat one acts by Cleveland’s most knockabout theatre ensemble. In Mac Wellman’s Whirligig, a punkster chick encounters a space alien in a bus terminal. Joyce Carol Oates’ Tone Clusters is a drama with black comic overtones, showing media interviews with the zonked-out suburban parents of a kid accused of murder.
Reasons to go: The Tremont company really knows how to do Mac Wellman proud — each production has been better than the last, as the company aces the brazen theatricality that lets Wellman’s language-barrage actually make sense. Everyone’s a hoot, especially Amy Bistok’s bratty green-haired heiress and Brian Breth in silver makeup as the deadpan Xuthus, who interprets her teen angst as a sign of human happiness. Lucy Bredeson-Smith’s bravura tics and twitches make Tone Clusters worth watching — blinking wildly like a Thanksgiving turkey at the chopping block.
Caveats: Tone Clusters is overlong by half; we’re way ahead of the story’s few revelations. But the madcap Whirligig is well worth waiting for.
Backstory: Director Clyde Simon is a great Mac Wellman devotee, having worked at Wellman’s NYC base, The Flea Theatre, before founding convergence-continuum. This is his 4th production of Wellman’s experimental work in a few years.
Target audience: Those who love language, theatricality, and clever use of multimedia.
Details: thru 11/20 at convergence-continuum, The Liminis. http://www.convergence-continuum.orgfrom Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein Linda@CoolCleveland.com

Triple Espresso @ Playhouse Square
If you want to laugh ’til it hurts, be sure to see Triple Espresso at the Hanna Theatre in Playhouse Square. This storyline percolates with a comedic trio, reunited after 25 years together in show business. With plenty of audience participation that will keep you on your toes, travel back in time as they relive the laughs, bumps and bruises that brewed along the way. Set in a coffeehouse in the year 2000, Triple Espresso, performed by Danny Jacobs, Brian Kelly and Keith Reay, uses humorously reengineered musicals refrains, slapstick comedy and yes – even shadow puppets – to make you laugh until you cry. Kleenex optional. Call the Hanna Theater for more info about this highly caffeinated comedy.
from Cool Cleveland correspondent TL Champion TL@CoolCleveland.com

Seeing Red: The Experience @ Masonic Auditorium 10/23
Experiencing a performance of Red {an orchestra} is the musical equivalent of a full body massage: It soothes the aching soul, heals an otherwise dreary existence, and electrifies a murky mood. Last Saturday night, Red’s top-notch ensemble created contemporary masterpieces from Franz Schubert that were so invigorating, yet relaxing that the music eased into the auditory nerves in a wave of sheer pleasure. Known for its uniquely original programming, Red’s mission in reaching new and broader audiences includes the practice of presenting programs that explore the interconnections of all kinds of music coupled with performance art. Though the full 40-plus piece orchestra should be complimented one accomplished musician at a time, the conductor, Jonathan Sheffer also deserves a round of applause. A prolific composer whose range of work includes television and feature film scores, Sheffer is an innovative artist that successfully manipulates classical music into our contemporary world. When he’s not working in Cleveland he can be found conducting the Eos Orchestra in New York City, another innovative collaboration. The intensity of Saturday evening’s performance elevated when soprano Arianna Zukerman took center stage. Her breathtaking performance and crystal clear voice reached deep into the soul. Darrett Adkins, an accomplished cellist also lit up the evening with a solo performance that electrified and dismayed the audience. Red, in its third season, has proven to be an innovative and artistic force in our city. Please take note of future performances and support this terrific new orchestra by making an otherwise ordinary evening incredible. Go to http://www.RedAnOrchestra.org for more information about their concerts on 1/30 and 4/2 2005.
from Cool Cleveland correspondent TL Champion TL@CoolCleveland.com

Ryze Cleveland @ Buzz Gallery 10/20
It is the human experience to carry around all sorts of odds and ends of truncated thoughts, unanswered concerns, unacknowledged prejudices, lingering denials and observations of the work place that are rarely expressed in the work place. And the positive side often is overlooked. One’s business acumen, among other things, depends on how good you are at shepherding your bundle. In a civilized society there are places to take such dis-affections and turn them into affections. Ryze Cleveland is one of a few event stagers in Cleveland that provide a crowd that can inspire insight-into-self through others…
Read the review by Lee Batdorff here

Cav’s Corner
Interview with Louise Gissendaner

Louise Gissendaner is Vice President and Director of Community Development of Fifth Third Bank, Northeastern Ohio. She’s also the founder and president of Sankofa Fine Art Plus. She was honored, along with Tom Schorgl, at the Cleveland Public Theater gala in September. Cavana Faithwalker met up with her and discussed arts growth in Cleveland’s East Side, African American’s enthusiasm for art collecting, and Sankofa Fine Arts’ evolving role in the ethnic arts community.

Cool Cleveland: Let’s start with arts and politics; tell me about your interaction with Ward 8 Councilperson Sabra Pierce Scott. Ward 8 has potential and a lot of opportunities for development, although the challenges and dollars don’t always match up, Sabra is looking at working with Sankofa and the projects slated for the Ward. It’d be great for the East Side to see the same kind of involvement that the Westside receives for community arts…

Louise Gissendaner: Sankofa Fine Arts Plus was actually started before Art House [on Denison Avenue]; and many arts granting organizations, however, have given Art House a lot of support. When Sankofa has gone before some of those same organizations, the response was, “What? Who are you again?” It has been a challenge for Sankofa to get the same focus and attention from the funding community at large. Sabra has a lot of organizations that she supports within her constituency; she supports Famicos Foundation, Glenville Development Corporation and others. Sabra and I have talked, and I hope in the future she’ll be in a position to provide additional financial support to Sankofa. It would be great to get the funding community to take us seriously and support us, so we can do the job we know we can do in the area of ethnic fine art for this community….
Read the Cav’s Corner Interview by Cavana Faithwalker here

Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers write
We encourage our readers to speak out by sending us letters and commentary. Send your letters and please check them for spelling before you send ’em off to Letters@CoolCleveland.com. You must include your full name (required) and you may include your e-mail address (optional). Letters submitted to Cool Cleveland, or edited portions, may be published in an upcoming issue of Cool Cleveland, at our discretion. We will run them just the way you send ’em, warts and all. Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

On Roldo [here] It’s one thing for CoolCleveland.com to endorse John Kerry. I’m glad you took a stand. But it’s quite another thing to run a piece by Roldo Bartimole that compares the Bush administration to the Nazis and states that the President is a neo-fascist. Maybe Tom Mulready has his porkpie hat on so tight that it has impaired his editorial judgment. But there is nothing cool about Roldo’s distortions. In fact, it’s downright uncool… I think CoolCleveland.com is a real asset to our community, and I admire the hard work you do to raise awareness for the cool things here and to improve the quality of life. And I’m REALLY impressed that you have a sense of humor about your porkpie hat. Don’t stop being you!
from Cool Cleveland reader Richard J. Clark http://www.501Inc.biz richardclark49@aol.com

On Cleveland’s chronic complainers A little P.S. to all of Cleveland’s chronic complainers who like to whine and say, “Nothing ever gets done in this city,” “People have no vision here,” “Clevelanders don’t know how to work together,” or “It’s all just a lot of talk,” “New ideas don’t stand a chance,” and “The Cleveland Schools suck.” At Max Hayes, we refused to get caught up in all of that negativity…We’re makin’ it happen.
from Cool Cleveland reader Mary Beth Matthews mbmat356@hotmail.com

On Issue 112 for the Cleveland Municipal Schools My only regret is that I cannot vote more than once against Issue 112. It’s not that I am anti-kid or anti-school, instead I am “anti” old school thinking. We need to be more creative in how we fund our school system. The easy answer, the only answer that I keep hearing from our tired school board and tired politicians is to raise taxes. I don’t know about you but I am taxed out. In your column you cite the moderate amount of taxes that this will equate to on a $75,000 home. Are there still homes standing (even in the inner city) for $75,000? Issue 112 equates to lots of money for the moderate homeowner when most people are getting hit for more dollars from everywhere else. Now for one answer that our tired political leaders do not want to hear. Let a private developer build a casino with their money on the condition that 50% of the profits go to fund Cleveland schools. The casino would not cost the taxpayer a nickel and would probably more than fund Cleveland schools. People love squandering their money in casinos. Every other state has figured it out. It’s why our state is surrounded by casinos on all four sides. But we could never do that? It might bring in the wrong element. Yeah right!!!
from Cool Cleveland reader Tim A. Schultz

On Cool Cleveland’s endorsements:
Great summing up of Bush’s accomplishments. Yesterday evening, my wife, daughter & son-in-law sat with me at our dining table and cast our votes for John Kerry. We can do that here in Oregon with the entire state voting by mail. Actually, today, my wife placed our ballots, under the watchful eye of our County Elections Clerk, into a locked box in our Courthouse. The Clerk is a longtime family friend and a former Democratic Precinct Person. So she is running our show “by the book.” Every Oregon ballot is its own paper trail. I hope the Clerk in charge of Cuyahoga County’s election is as honorable and your vote gets included in John Kerry’s taking back of the White House. Thanks for all the fun articles and for continuing to include me in your mailings.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jim Russell, Deer Island, Oregon

Thank you for sharing your thoughtful endorsements. This is the most important election of my life-time and I am an old lady. I do believe the greatest threat to world peace and the civil liberties we fought so hard for is George W. Bush and his administration. Please also encourage your readers who have recently registered to vote and have not received their confirmation to call the Board of Elections. My husband lived in Columbus earlier this year and last month, registered at the Cleveland Heights library. He called the Board of Elections today and they have him listed as “moved out of the country”. He has not been out of the country since Vietnam. He was told he cannot vote in this election. He is furious. Thank you again for your efforts in providing this most important information.
from Cool Cleveland reader Sylvia Easley

Thank you for an excellent edition. You insights into the candidates and issues helped me firm up my decisions for next Tuesday. Roldo, as usual, put it on the mark! I interpret the The PD’s decision to not endorse as an admission that the candidate closest to the philosophy of the paper is unacceptable. Maybe that will send a stronger message to the NDC that we need (deserve) better candidates. I think the old guys that run both parties count on us not voting because the choices we are ALLOWED are unacceptable. That way doing business as usual with the lobbies continues to fill their pockets. George V has made a career of that.
from Cool Cleveland reader Larry M. Kendra eastecon@adelphia.net

Be more open-minded. I agree with 4 out of 7 of your political endorsements. But it’s obvious that your newsletter is 100% partisan. In the future you should show some wisdom by occasionally endorsing a Republican or by occasionally saying no to a tax increase or government expansion. I love your newsletter but I think you need to be more open-minded. I know that you are a big supporter of the arts. I recently opened a world-class recording studio on E. 36th, near St. Clair. I also helped launch a new music publishing company (http://www.AnteUpAudio.com).
from Cool Cleveland reader Paul Shaia

Thanks for making me laugh this morning, I appreciate it. In your latest newsletter you began with “Our endorsements” for the big 2004 vote. You could have saved a lot of space and simply said “Vote Liberal Democrat Across the Board.” People who give endorsements should seriously consider both sides to every candidate and issue – quite frankly I do not believe you did that. Giving endorsements is more scientific than simply taking an ideology and running with it. How about a friendly wager, I will bet you a lunch that you will lose on the first three (Kerry, Fingerhut and Issue 1)? I do enjoy reading your newsletter.
from Cool Cleveland reader Tony Pietrocola

I thought this newsletter was about Cleveland and not about partisan politics. Kerry is advocating “Guns and Butter” in a style that we haven’t seen since Lyndon Johnson and promising not to increase the retirement age for Social Security which is a formula for disaster – as we all live longer everyone knows the retirement age has to be increased. His “Tax-the-Rich” rhetoric is bad for entrepreneurship (which is Cleveland’s only way to get on the road to recovery) and his economic policies will turn Cleveland from the poorest major city in the US into a poorer city (by encouraging overseas entrepreneurship). I suggest you focus on what is good for Cleveland.
from Cool Cleveland reader Bob Pavey bpavey@morgenthaler.com

My reply to your missive: John Kerry for President. Because President George W. Bush has enacted tax refunds and fiscal policies that have driven up record deficits, and successfully gotten us out of a recession that would have slipped into a depression. Do you not understand economics? Or are you so blinded by class warfare that you swallow the ‘give money back to the rich’ propaganda? because he has shown he would stack Stack is used here pejoratively the Supreme Court with ultra-conservative It is FAR preferred to have justices who interpret the constitution strictly rather than liberally. Liberal decisions erode our values and our behaviors. Doubt this? Just look at out-of-wedlock births, the end of the Black family in America, et al. Justices (up to four may be nominated by the next President), because he has squandered American treasure Do you mean money? If so, money is to be spent for the greater good. President Bush is doing so. and blood on a disingenuous This is Michael Moore think and has been and is being demonstrated as being fallicious and…
Read the letter from Cool Cleveland reader Randy Martin here

Just on question, after loosing to Dr. Dean, and the changing his opinions, away from where they were almost the same as President Bush, how can you possibly endorse John Kerry. I am assuming your intelligence is high enough to realize this, it is more than apparent that you know how to read. I must assume that you, like many others are simply voting against President Bush. John Kerry is lying about Social Security, just as Gore did, remember? John Kerry is lying about Iraq – Ever read the Joint Resolution Authorizing the Use of Military Force? John Kerry is lying when he says there was a “Surplus” – There was a projected Surplus, but those figures were revised prior to Bush becoming President do to the Downwards Trend in the Economy. The Tech stock bubble burst, everything fell… John Kerry is lying about his own Health Care Plan – http://www.JohnKerry.com/issues/health_care/ Here is the link, show me the $$$’s, Kerry can’t give a straight answer to the question. I could go on… But it will only be seen after the election, so why bother. It would have been fair to ask for opinions from your viewers about the election, and posted them with your opinions. Even a progressive news letter is tainted by Democratic Media Control. I’m not surprised.
from Cool Cleveland reader Alex Forbes

On the importance of buying local You rock. I was so glad to learn about the unchained America event that you featured in your last newsletter. I just made a flyer (I’ll send it to you when Julie from our Lakewood store has approved it) for Unchained America day. On that day, anyone who brings in a friend who would have otherwise patronized a national chain will get a FREE POUND OF COFFEE FOR BOTH THEMSELVES AND THEIR FRIEND! I figure it’s a small price to pay if it really enhances the local economy as much as the studies show that it will. I just can’t get over that number that $ spent at Phoenix generates 3 to 3.5 the amount of local economic activity that the same $ spent at Starbucks would generate. That’s just shocking. Then, I read the letter from Jim Gilmore who wrote the Experience Economy. It got me thinking about the whole premise of his book, and it led to me coming up with another great idea, a tour of the Phoenix “empire” starting with a coffee trivia contest over French press coffee and Seballos pastry at Lee Road, vacuum pot coffee and Gilly’s (formerly Presti’s) donuts on Superior, oriental display tea and scones in Lakewood, and ending at the Roastery, roasting coffee with Carl Jones, cleveland’s coffee guru. Something like that. Even if I don’t ever pull it off, I just appreciate the fact that you spawned the idea with your awesome content! Keep it up, somehow! It is really important what you are doing! You will be influencing Cleveland’s Renaissance singlehandedly. Or not so singlehandedly but I think you know what I mean.
from Cool Cleveland reader Sarah Wilson-Jones http://www.PhoenixCoffee.com sarah@phoenixcoffee.com

Thanks Cool Cleveland Just a quick Thank You for helping to publicize our going-out-of-business sale [here] to all the artists and other Cool People in Cleveland. The sale was an enormous success, and one of the most fun parts for us was being able to donate some really great stuff to arts orgs like the Cleveland Opera, Play House, Beck Center, Rabbit Run Theatre, schools and individual artists, students and teachers. A great many of the people who came said they’d seen it in Cool Cleveland, so we know your newsletter gets read, virtual cover to virtual cover. Thanks again!
from Cool Cleveland reader Claudia Lynch shoes@claudialynch.com http://www.claudialynch.com

Corrections We ran the incorrect email address for SayYES! to Cleveland. It should read sdr@yescleveland.org

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Top 5
Cool Cleveland uses Opticast tools to track which articles were clicked the most. Here are the Top 5 from last week’s issue, with one more chance for you to click.

1) Rating the judges One of the most challenging parts of any election is deciding which judges to vote for. Finally there’s an impartial organization that has interviewed and rated the judicial candidates. http://www.Judge4Yourself.com

2) American Idle Whether you’re a woman or not, you’ll find this 80-second animated webtoon amusing, and it’s message disconcerting: more young women voted for a contestant on the TV show American Idol than in the last election. http://www.SaveRoe.com/americanidle

3) PD editors Bushwhacked (again) Strangely absent on Sunday was The Plain Dealer‘s endorsement. According to E&P, “the paper’s nine-person editorial board decided earlier this week that it wanted to endorse Kerry, but Publisher Alex Machaskee, who has final say, has decided on Bush. The paper backed Bush in 2000.www.cleveland.com

4) Vote absentee Unable to visit your polling location on Election Day between 6:30AM and 7:30PM on Tues 11/2? Be sure to submit an absentee ballot. http://boe.CuyahogaCounty.us/boe/default.htm

5) Gund launches site gives away $5 million The George Gund Foundation, one of the region’s largest foundations, has re-launched their site, http://www.GundFoundation.org, which now provides grant guidelines, news, staff contact info and a database of all grants. http://www.GundFoundation.org

Cool Cleveland is your urban navigator We always like to thank our readers’ efforts for pushing our city onto a higher level of altitude, and everyone is helping out by reading the 411 in CC. We couldn’t do it without y’all making choices to support everything excellent in Cleveland. If you’re actively committed to our city and what makes it tick, then you’re helping us at CC to offer alternative media by checking out CoolCleveland.com. Now you can tell people you regularly engage with to visit our website and discover what’s new in town. Send along friends and co-workers to register for the e-zine at http://www.CoolCleveland.com or have ’em send an e-mail to SignupCoolCleveland.com

Bump up your company’s exposure effectively There is hope for your business if you’re searching for something alternative: employ advertising that differentiates your business with the new viral strategy: CoolCleveland.com, recommended from one satisfied reader to another. How to get it? Advertise with CoolCleveland.com and witness firsthand how inserting your weekly message into tens of thousands of our subscribers’ Inboxes can impact your company’s bottom line. Find out more by e-mailing us a note to Info@CoolCleveland.com

Hard Corps get hectic Their jamming and unwavering determination keeps us current on the tidbits that flavor up Cool Cleveland. Thanks to CC’s krunk kids Tisha Nemeth, Greg Cielec, Cavana Faithwalker, Linda Eisenstein, Rosemary Musachio, Roldo Bartimole, Deb Remington, Michael Devlin, TL Champion, Bill Nagode, George Nemeth, 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

Relax, Cleveland…
be quirky

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com (:divend:)

Post categories:

Comments are closed.
[fbcomments]