MusiCleveland

2.02-2.09

MusiCleveland

In this week’s issue:
* Tuning In with performer, trumpeter and nomad J Scott Franklin by Daiv Whaley
* Cool Cleveland People with local DJ David Bishop by Pete Chakerian
* Cool Cleveland Sounds review of Blue Ash’s CD Around Again

Tuning In
On The Road with J. Scott Franklin

J. Scott Franklin is definitely pitching his tent in the camp of the often quoted “creative class” of Cleveland. An accomplished jazz trumpet player who has also been influenced by country and rock music, Franklin is a multi-instrumentalist with an innovative approach for performing to live audiences. Franklin has just recently returned from traveling in his automobile on a three-month tour of America, where he took his words and music to points North, South, East and West. It was an adventurous undertaking, and he brought back observations from his life on the road with some trenchant and experiential words-to-the-wise for Clevelanders.

Cool Cleveland: Returning to Cleveland after seeing so much of the country, how does the city strike you now after being away for an extended period, and is it easier to see her weaknesses and strengths?
J Scott Franklin: I know what I knew when I left; it was just reinforced, and I can prove it after seeing so much of the United States. Cleveland has just about everything you need. Cities are two things: what is there, and what people make of what is there. If you ignore the negative people, they’ll tend to dry up and fall away anyhow; then you will meet so many people who are making something of this town. There is going to be an exchange of benefits and advantages when comparing different cities; and while you can find things wrong here that are right in other places, you can also find many things right here which are wrong in other cities. One thing I do want that I’m not sure will happen for me here is: a record contract from a company that is somewhat established, even independently, but one that knows what they are doing, and can help me make a living in my art. I don’t know if that exists in Cleveland. If it does, I’ll find it. Maybe I’ve yet to bump into the right people…
Read Tuning In with J Scott Franklin here

Lobby for historic tax credit Help create new economic tools for the revitalization of historic Cleveland Heights. Senator Kirk Schuring will be introducing legislation that will create a 25% tax credit for the restoration and rehabilitation of Ohio’s vacant and underutilized historic buildings, encouraging private investment in historic properties, generating additional jobs, and stimulating economic development within existing communities. Learn more to help impact the quality of life of all citizens at http://www.HeritageOhio.org or http://www.FutureHeights.org

Biking the Euclid Corridor This week, advocates for bike lanes on Euclid Avenue live to fight another day. And, are main streets in Cleveland Heights and similar cities in the area unprotected? http://HotelBruce.com/01_02/bruceblog.php

The Power 100 With their annual ranked list of the 100 most powerful people in Northeast Ohio, Inside Business has always been provocative. Last year, they left Peter Lewis off the list (this year he’s on). But when they expanded the list to include the region, they couldn’t get folks outside of Cleveland to rank people, so this year, the names are listed alpha. “Call me yellow,” editor Lute Harmon, Sr. told Cool Cleveland, “next year we’ll probably go back to the rankings.” The regional view includes people such as James Crutchfield, publisher of the Akron Beacon Journal, and Luis Proenza, President of the University of Akron. What defines power in NEO? “The combination of professional success and dedication to the community.” And the list includes some pleasant surprises: Lev Gonick, CIO of Case, Dorothy Banach, director of Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition, Art Falco, CEO of Playhouse Square Foundation, and Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready. See Inside Business here.

Reach Cleveland’s business elite Who checks out Cool Cleveland for news, links and events on economic development? Cleveland’s business movers and shakers. Speak to them with your message in Cool Cleveland. Contact us and we’ll show you how. Info@CoolCleveland.com

Ohio Financial Educational Directory Check out their community and media event, launching the new OhioFinancialEducationDirectory.org, an online resource helping consumers find the help they need to manage their money, savings, and investing goals. Community leaders will talk about why financial education is so important and where to turn for help; afterwards financial resource providers will be available to talk with participants in a marketplace setting on Fri 2/4 at 10:30–11AM. Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Corner of East 6th St. and Superior Ave. Call 579-2903.

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Urban Living Fit for a King or a Queen Kings Terrace Phase II features townhouse-style condominiums in the heart of the exciting Detroit Shoreway neighborhood. Starting at $249,900, you can enjoy outstanding lake and downtown views, 2,400 sq. ft. of living space, hardwood floors, 9-10 ft. ceilings, a 3rd floor loft, 2.5 ceramic tile baths, roof decks, a two car garage with carport, and a gas fireplace. While you’re living in the neighborhood, take a stroll to the walk/bike path to Edgewater Park, or jet over to the shopping, restaurants and clubs of Ohio City, Tremont, and Downtown. Ice the deal with special financing and 15 year tax abatement. Stop by the open house this Sun 1/30 2-4 PM at 1334 W. 54th St. (just north of Detroit Ave., at Herman). While you’re in the neighborhood, stop by the Townhouses at Courtland Court, off of W. 54th St. just south of Bridge. For a complete list of open houses this weekend, please visit www.ProgressiveUrban.com
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Wal-Mart ousted Legislation introduced last week by Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman would not allow large big-box retail stores to devote more than 5% of their floor space to selling groceries. Although it doesn’t name names, the law is targeted at Wal-Mart, whose supercenters typically use a third of their floor space for groceries. Last week, First Interstate Properties purchased real estate from steel maker ISG in preparations for Steelyard Commons, a $90 million big-box shopping center in the bowels of the Cuyahoga Valley that has been considering Wal-Mart as a tenant. Other cities in California and New York have used similar legislation legally to block Wal-Mart. Want to comment on this legislation? Send a note to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Lakewood schools celebrate During school’s recess this summer, construction & renovation will begin on four schools in Lakewood marking the beginning of a ten-year plan to rebuild our school district. What can we do to bring people in Lakewood together to celebrate this amazing time in our history? Plans are underway to hold a day of celebration – a day to honor our past and embrace Lakewood’s future; an event like this needs planning, ideas and energy from a large group of people with many skills. Volunteer and join in for the June 4th Community Celebration Planning Meeting on Wed 2/2 at 7PM. Call 529-4033. Civic Auditorium Catering Room or email Teresa.Andreani@lakewood.k12.oh.us

Report potholes Are potholes driving you off the roads? Call the Pothole Hotline at City Hall at 664-2510. The city needs your help in identifying these mini-crators that are safety hazards for your car. Just provide the location of the pothole when you call – it’s that easy.

Top ten most-looked-up words at Merriam-Webster Online A few of the more fun words are: Blog, incumbent, electoral, insurgent, peloton, partisan, sovereignty and defenestration. See the rest and learn the meanings at http://www.m-w.com/info/04words.htm

Local e-marketers to watch Sage and Rocky Lewis, co-founders of the 5-year-old online marketing agency SageRock.com, are entrepreneurs to watch in 2005 with their website marketing company that specializes in search engine optimization (SEO). Sage and Rocky were included last month in the PD’s tech column “Who to watch in the new year.” Other techno Clevelanders making waves in SEO are Paul Elliot EmergentMarketing.com, Leslie Carruthers TheSearchGuru.com, Optiem LLC, and Thunder::Tech. Read the story here

WRUW Rocks Always a great listen, WRUW 91.1FM is one of the few places to hear Cleveland music, Cleveland voices and Cleveland DJs, a phenomenon that’s becoming rare as time goes on. On-air personality Flannery O’Connor interviews new CVB Arts & Culture director Tami Brown on Fri 2/4 from 9-10AM, and on Fri 2/11 from 9-10AM, he talks with James Levin, co-director on the InGenuity Festival of Arts, Culture and Technology planned for Summer ’05. Click over to their just-released updated Program Guide, and listen up for the live broadcast of their 8th annual Homelessness Marathon taking place 7PM Mon 2/14 thru Tues 2/15 9AM. http://www.wruw.org

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Shocking diversions and risks Discovered by legendary record producer John Hammond, who signed Dylan to his first contract, pianist Ahmad Jamal went on to win the Jazz Masters award from the National Endowment for the Arts. His songs have been featured in the film The Bridges of Madison County, and The Sydney Morning Herald reported, “tsunamis of sound suddenly rose up from nowhere, then dropped away to the merest tinkling.” Now pushing age 75, he has influenced a generation of greats, including the incomparable Miles Davis. Hear what The New York Times calls “shocking diversions and risks” when Ahmad Jamal performs live on Sun 2/13 at 3PM at Severance Hall as part of the Jazz on the Circle series. Bring your sweetie for V-day! Get your tix by calling 231-1111, or click here.
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You can sponsor a TV show via eBay Cleveland-based Prelude2Cinema is offering businesses a chance to have their name on television. It’s being spearheaded by nationally awarded writer and director Alex P. Michaels. His new TV series, “Out of Darkness,” is a gritty cop sci-fi drama, based on a multiple Emmy awarded movie that just completed a national run on PAX. This offer expires on 2/9, so start bidding to get yourself some airplay at http://www.Prelude2Cinema.com/dark.htm

Zoo attendance dips slightly Cleveland Metroparks Zoo experienced an annual attendance of 1,273,519 visitors in 2004, marking the fifth year in a row that visitation surpassed 1.2 million. In 2003, the Zoo reported 1.3 million visitors; they blame weather issues and the absence of a new exhibit for the decrease in attendance. This summer, a new live animal demonstration debuts and the ever-popular butterfly exhibit returns; it’s a welcome addition that should draw more crowds. http://www.CleMetZoo.com

CMA’s Art Studio education 2005 The Cleveland Museum of Art has made several changes to its public educational program, including textile classes, jewelry making and printmaking. They’ve added all-day workshops in a variety of media and techniques: How Do You Draw from the Right Side of the Brain; Photo Silkscreen; Classical Figurative Sculpture; Explorations in Textiles; Raku; Chinese Brush painting; Beading and Jewelry; Batik; Textile scrolls; Portraiture and Silk Painting. http://www.ClevelandArt.org

Ohio City Merchandise Check out the cool, new Ohio City merchandise available from the Ohio City Near West Development Corporation, and visit its online store here. Proceeds go to support the work of OCNW here in the neighborhood: bringing communities together, helping neighbors in need, supporting the growth of this community in all of its many facets.

The Bop Stops When Cleveland’s Bop Stop closed a couple of weeks ago, they left a hole in the local jazz scene. But they also left behind a few lessons for Cleveland’s new era of cultural/economic development: don’t scare off your audience with “no talking” policies in a night club, don’t expect everyone else to have the same eclectic and intellectual tastes as jazz professors, and don’t expect the major media to promote your club – do it yourself. See Michael Gill’s piece here.

What artists think about the file-sharing A survey by American Life Project provides the first large-scale snapshot of what artists think about the Internet and controversial topics that include file-sharing. http://www.NYTimes.com/2004/12/06/arts/06down.html

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STOMP with the Wild Child Great Lakes Science Center will offer a special and complimentary showing of the film, Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey featuring a live performance by Keith ‘Wild Child’ Middleton, star of the original STOMP cast; additionally, Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre will also be performing at this very special event. This engagement will be held from 6-9PM on Thu 2/10 (film at 6:30); Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey, is an around-the-globe journey of sights and sounds, and of continents and cultures; your tour guides are cast members from the highly acclaimed and original stage show, STOMP. Light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be offered for your further enjoyment. Last time, this offer was gone in a day and seating is limited – so jump to your phone and book your reservation now by calling 216.696.3628. www.GreatScience.com
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Hot jobs in 2005 According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, education and health services, along with professional and business services, represent industries with the strongest projected employment from 2005 through 2012, growing twice as fast as the overall economy. Information technology, leisure/hospitality, transportation and warehousing are also very active. Read MSN here

Johnny’s gone – but you can still see Doc Doc Severinsen, the colorful and former Tonight Show band leader, will be showing students how performance play is done on Feb 17-18. Students will thrill to hit a master class held on Thu 2/17 at 2PM by Doc with hands-on happenings; it’s open to the public and all high school and college music students. On Fri 2/18 at 8PM, see Doc and his trio in action at Severance Hall with Carl Topilow and the CIM orchestra. Earlier on Friday, Doc will be on hand with CIM officials and city dignitaries to break the ice on CIM’s ambitious expansion project. All are welcome. Visit http://www.cim.edu/newsPrRelDetail.php?id=190

Cool Cleveland This Week
2.02-2.09

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Hungarian Expressions @ Budapest Blonde Stop in for a martini or a glass of wine in a continental bar featuring art and atmosphere that’s outside the norm. View David Szekeres’ recent oil paintings in a warmly laid-back opening reception on Wed 2/2 from 6-9PM. Call 328-8780. Budapest Blonde, 6901 Rockside Rd. in Independence

One Voice, Three Contexts with Christopheren Nomura, baritone and Modus Ensemble, the Cavani String Quartet, and pianist David Alpher. The Boston Globe heralds Nomura as “definitely a face to watch…his musical intentions are both subtle and direct.” Appearing in operas, Nomura polishes the art of recital, having performed throughout Asia, North America, South America and Africa. Hear Le bal masque by Francis Poulenc and other audially textured selections on Wed 2/2 at 7:30PM. Get tickets at 421-7350. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd. http://www.ClevelandArt.org

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Fat Tuesday is just around the corner and where can you go in Northeast Ohio to get that Mardi Gras feeling? Check out Fat Fish Blue’s 8th Annual Mardi Gras party on “Fat Tuesday,” Tues 2/8 from noon ’till midnight and get your mojo working. Experience Captain Morgan Hurricanes, live music, the joy of beads, an endless Louisiana-Creole buffet, entertainment that includes stilt walkers, fire dancers and more. Laugh, dance, and have a great time until the wee hours of the night! Then getta room and a special room rate at the Residence Inn – FFB’s Mardi Gras partner. It’s the party people come back to year after year! Wanna know more? Visit http://www.fatfishblue.com or give them a call at 216-875-6000.
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La Belle With a spectacular and sensual choreography, it combines unique sets and colorful, animated costumes in the spirit of Cirque du Soleil to create a remarkable, dramatic interpretation of the classic fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. Blending classical technique with modern movement, La Belle explores the complexities of the characters and showcases Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo’s trademark European splendor on Thu 2/3 at 8PM, Sat 2/5 at 8PM, and Sun 2/6 at 2 PM. Call 241-6000. Playhouse Square’s State Theatre, 1501 Euclid Ave. http://www.PlayhouseSquare.com

Arts and Culture As Economic Development Attend a workshop for the ACE grant which is available for non-profit organizations to support new projects or creative events that provide a measurable economic impact to Cuyahoga County on Thu 2/3 from 2-4PM. Lakewood Library, Main Branch, 15425 Detroit Ave. in Lakewood. http://www.CuyahogaCounty.us/development

Easter Seals benefit Their 3rd Annual Guys and Dolls Bachelor and Bachelorette Raffle takes place on Thu 2/3 at the Holiday Inn on Rockside Road in Independence. Doors open at 6PM and the Bachelors and Bachelorettes are presented at 7PM. If you would like to be a guest, please call 440-838-0990 X103 or jlawson@easterseals.org.

Around the World in 8 Wines Lou Radivoyevitch of the Cleveland Wine Club, will lead our tastebuds on a winetasting journey with stops in Italy, New Zealand, France, Germany, Oregon, California, and Australia. Complementing the wine will be a wide variety of delectable savory and sweet treats. Check out this benefit for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at 6:30PM on Thu 2/3 at 806 Wine & Martini Bar, 806 Literary Road, 371-9979 vstakes@adelphia.net

Seedfolks What happens when a trash-filled vacant lot in Cleveland is transformed by a multi-cultural harvest? This total theatre experience is directed by local literary artist Jimmie D. Woody, featured a few weeks back in Cool Cleveland. Check this Actors’ Equity Membership Showcase on opening night Thu 2/3 thru 2/5 at 8PM. Call 987-2438. Performing Arts Center at Cuyahoga Community College – Eastern Campus Studio Theatre, 4250 Richmond Rd. in Highland Hills Village. http://www.tri-c.edu/EAST/Default.htm

Soundings of a Weightless Line Sean Derry is a sculptor and performer who has created a new exhibit derived from his outdoor experimental flight of a tethered, large red balloon in the sky, along with the use of recording devices in an effort to hear the clouds. See this site-specific installation based on experimental environmental interactions using helium, balloons, water, electronic speakers and microphones. The artist will perform an environmental sound installation to accompany his exhibition opening on Fri 2/4 from 5-9PM; performance begins 6:30PM. Exhibit runs till 3/4. Call 229-8044. The Sculpture Center, 1834 E. 123rd St. http://www.SculptureCenter.org/downloads/wts0405season.html

Adaptation Life is a game in which the participants create a picture of man from birth to death with all its madness, familiarity, and nonsense in a non-stop rollercoaster of entertaining theatre. See this production that deploys incident after incident that will cause you to laugh, think, and maybe even laugh at yourself. Presented by The Other Theatre Project Fri 2/4 at 8PM and showing till 2/14. Call 696-4242 ext. 3. Cleveland Black Box Theatre, 1210 West 6th St. http://www.CabaretDada.com/cbbt.shtml

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Party at the speed of light when the Cleveland Museum of Art presents Fast Forward, an after-hours party on Fri 2/25 from 7:30PM till 1AM in the morning! Rock it out with short films, digital art, animation, live music, DJ, dancing, and cash bar. Explore the museum’s galleries and check out the new exhibition, Masterworks from the Phillips Collection featuring some of the world’s most famous masterpieces. Join hundreds of cool and cultured Clevelanders in a special preview at 8PM of the locally shot film The NightOwls of Coventry followed by Q&A session with Cleveland director Laura Paglin. Advance tickets just $20 ($25 at the door.) For tickets or more info, go to http://www.clevelandart.org/fastforward or call 216-421-7350.
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Patrick Kelly at Bonfoey An abstract artist known for a strong gestural style and severe colors, Kelly’s new exhibit Magic/Mystery reveals his works fluidity similar to a sort of martial art practice. A man with an international and lengthy career, his works point to depths rather than surfaces of common contemporary experience. An opening reception will be held for the artist and the public on Fri 2/4 from 5-7:30PM. Call 621-0178. Bonfoey Gallery, 1710 Euclid Ave. http://www.Bonfoey.com

bits & pieces featuring the artwork of Rachel Kohler & Colleene Daugharty at Local Girl Gallery, 16106 Detroit Road in Lakewood. Kohler’s unique urban lanscapes are created through the use of etching techniques integrated with a variety of painting materials and styles. Daughtery’s paintings, pastels and illustrations are abstracts inspired by Asian calligraphy and ancient cave drawings. Check out the opening this Fri 2/4 from 6-9PM 228-1802 http://www.localgirlgallery.com

Mardi Gras Tune-Up Art House is heating it up for a Mardi Gras party to benefit their programming. Make a stand for the arts, come along for some New Orleans style partying, and prepare for a leisurely, sinful time. Mardi Gras attire is encouraged; be there Fri 2/4 from 6-10PM. Call for reservations at 398-8556. Lava Lounge, 1307 Auburn Ave. http://www.ArtHouseInc.org

Music Through The Storm Three performing women artists of different nationalities will share their experiences on war and their vision for the world today during Music through the Storm: Women, War Music and Identity. This musical festival and lecture series at Case Western Reserve University sets out featured artists Faytinga, a highly acclaimed national singer from Eritrea who went into battle at the age of 14, and Evelyne Accad, a survivor of the 15-year civil war in Lebanon. Hear their impassioned voices on Fri 2/4 at 6:45PM. Call 368-2233. 309 Clark Hall, 11130 Bellflower Rd. http://www.case.edu/artsci/womn

WCLVnotes WCLV 104.9 FM has broadcast the concerts of The Cleveland Orchestra each Sunday at 4PM since October of 1965. And now, beginning this Sat 2/5, at 8PM, the number of Orchestra concerts on the station will double with the addition of Saturday Night at Severance, full-length concerts by the Orchestra, a number of which, beginning on April 9th, will be live. This Saturday, the first Saturday Night at Severance offering will be the block-buster concert performance of Richard Strauss’ Elektra, given last May under the baton of Franz Welser-Moest. If you didn’t attend that concert, or didn’t hear its subsequent original broadcast, don’t miss it this time around. It’s proof positive that the best thing Cleveland has going for it is The Cleveland Orchestra. a Cool Cleveland partner www.wclv.com

Robert Lockwood, Jr. at The Winchester Perhaps the most important living bluesman today, this man is the only mortal to ever take guitar lessons from the legendary and mythical Robert Johnson. Mr. Lockwood has performed with nearly every giant of the blues, and he has relocated back to Cleveland to continue the blues tradition in our city. Bust in at the show Sat 2/5 at 8:30PM. Call 226-5681. The Winchester Tavern & Music Hall, 12112 Madison Ave. http://www.TheWinchester.net

A Reading/Book Signing/Open Mike & Reunion of The Jazz Poets is a night of partying and props to the new literary effort The Maverick Room, written by CWRU Professor/Poet, Thomas Sayers Ellis. Feel the fresh funk, as wordsmiths Kelly Harris, Joe Primes, Skyline, Thomas Sayers Ellis, Hashim El-Ramun, and Vince Robinson & The Jazz Poets get the room lit. Downshift with the DJ and chill out at the cash bar on Sat 2/5 at 7PM. Call 932-1966. The B-Side Lounge/Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Hts Blvd. http://www.GrogShop.gs

Studio Sessions Dance Concert featuring Certified Movement Analyst, Claire Porter, recipient of numerous awards including several Choreographic Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. Her work has been produced throughout the United States and abroad in venues including Dance Theater Workshop, PS-122, Joyce Soho, Danspace Project at St. Marks, Jacob’s Pillow, Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy, Holland Festival in the Netherlands, Tour of Comedy in Germany and the Korea International Festival in Seoul. Ms. Porter will also moderate a post concert discussion among the choreographers and audience on Sat 2/5 at 7:30PM. Call 687-4883. Euclid Avenue and 21st, Drinko Hall of CSU’s Music and Communication Building http://www.csuohio.edu/dance

Complimentary Dental Exams The dental clinic at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine will be offering people 18 years old and older a free dental exam, teeth cleaning and x-rays as a community service on Sat 2/5 from 9AM to 2PM. Call 368-3570. Walk-ins accepted until noon. University Hospital, Emergency Drive on 2027 Cornell Rd. http://www.cwru.edu/dental/site/main.htm

Galgozy & Ingersoll Catch the folk duo that draws from country, jazz swing, Celtic and pop to “completely destroy original arrangements,” creating a down-home sound that will have you on your feet. Get set for this new Music & Performing Arts event, presenting a new series of folk, blues, bluegrass and other traditional music called Sundays@5. Next one starts Sun 2/6 at 5PM. Call 771-3630. The Nave of Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Ave. http://www.TrinityCleveland.org

Local Media: The Best of Times/The Worst of Times A Sunday Forum presented by the First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, featuring a panel discussion with Ton O’Hara, Managing Editor of the Plain Dealer, and Adam Shapiro, Anchor of Channel 5’s Good Morning Cleveland and moderator Dr. Jae-Won Lee, Chair of Journalism at CSU, on Sun 2/6 from 9:30 to 10:50AM at 21600 Shaker Boulevard, between Warrensville and Green Roads. 751-2320 http://www.FirstUnitarianCleveland.org

GroundWorks Dance Theatre It’s standard practice in many parts: an artist-in-residence is invited to create work within an institution and everyone benefits. Now the Cleveland Botanical Garden presents their first artist residency. DanceWorks artistic director David Shimotakahara offers, “The different settings allow the audience to experience dance in new ways. There is also the potential to enjoy a heightened experience by virtue of the audience’s proximity to the action.” Come catch the beauty of one of Cleveland’s finest dance companies in the incomparable splendor of the Botanical Garden this Sun 2/6 at 2PM at 11030 East Boulevard. Tix are available by calling 721-1600 http://www.CBGarden.org

Stewardship and Fund Development Workshop Boost your fundraising skills as an effective tool of leadership, then see how you’ll become a more effective steward for the organization you serve. Learn how to cultivate donors and become comfortable with making the ask; get the 411 on the why and the how of these integral components for civic leadership on Tue 2/8 from 5:30-7:30PM. Myers University Club in Midtown, 3813 Euclid Ave. Register at http://www.ClevelandBridgeBuilders.org/lifeline_descriptions.asp

Great Expectations Defeated? NAFTA and Its Effect on Collective Bargaining Law? or How Free is the NAFTA Version of Free Trade? Quite a mouthful, and you can catch the no-charge public lecture by Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Visiting Professor Law Eric Tucker, a Canadian employment and labor law scholar, this Tues 2/8 at 5PM in the Joseph W. Bartunek III Moot Court Room of CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, East 18th and Euclid. 687-6886 http://www.law.csuohio.edu

Carnevale Little Italy On Fat Tuesday, there’ll be a lovely dinner to set you straight before the upcoming holiday fasting; take in entertainment at one of Cleveland’s most appealing neighborhoods with an early evening designed to lift the spirits on Tue 2/8; dinner and unexpected exploits happen at 6PM. Trattoria on the Hill, 12207 Mayfield Rd. http://www.LittleItalyCleveland.com

NEOSA Webcast Wednesday Paul Elliott, President of eMergent Marketing will lead a discussion on Search Engine Optimization on Wed 2/9 from 11 to 11:45AM as part of the monthly NEOSA NeTT Cast. To join the webcast, click here.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

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This Valentine’s Day, avoid a romantic massacre Don’t get shot down this Valentine’s Day, because Greater Cleveland has so much to offer! Plan a Valentine’s Day weekend with a package from one of our many participating partners. Experience romantic dinners, gallery tripping, live shows, or even take a ride through the woods! Then unwind later with one of our many relaxing overnight hotel packages. Show your sweetheart something other than the local dive and get some tickets to one of the many exciting events taking place in Greater Cleveland this Valentine’s weekend. From Cavaliers games to arts and cultural events, there is something for everyone – you might even reap some romantic benefits for your efforts. For a complete list of restaurants, hotels and events, log on to www.TravelCleveland.com/valentine
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Cool Cleveland People
Detroit native and DJ David Bishop

Cleveland DJ David Bishop has a perspective that few people do in Cleveland. He grew up in Detroit in the ’80s, when our rustbelt sister was considered the cradle of techno/house music. Names like Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May weren’t exactly household yet, and Movement, Detroit’s Electronic Music Festival at Park Plaza, was but a glint in Detroit’s post-industrial eyes. Years later, Bishop was spinning house music in the heart of New York City – fulfilling residencies at the Leopard Lounge and the Rubber Monkey and sharing showcases with DJs in many other clubs. To hear Bishop tell it, this was teeth-cutting in the truest sense of the word; sometimes his biggest performances were in battling older sound systems and attracting more partitioned tastes. Cool Cleveland spoke to Bishop about the state of the DJ union.

Cool Cleveland: Cleveland’s DJ scene doesn’t seem to “cannibalize” itself like it used to, with multiple events competing and dividing the scene up. What do you attribute that to?
David Bishop: People have started to collaborate together and trust each other a lot more than in the past. And there aren’t as many competing things going on…Doug [Burkhart] over at Grand Poo-Bas Record Shoppe up on Detroit [Road] set up clevelandnightlife.net, which has helped the scene a lot. He’s a mainstay. I don’t want to call him a granddaddy – because he’s not an old man – but he’s definitely entrenched and important. He started that site up for people in the business and for those who are interested in electronic music as a place to go and have debates and discussions…
Read the Cool Cleveland People interview with DJ David Bishop here

Cool Cleveland Sounds
Around Again
Blue Ash
Not Lame Records

During the early 1970’s, they were the area’s darlings of the power pop genre. They had many local fans, and the critics, by and large, liked what they were doing. They finally got signed to a record label and did some touring, influencing many young rockers along the way. If you assumed I was talking about the Raspberries in Cleveland, that would have been a good guess, but, in this instance, I was talking about Blue Ash down in Youngstown. The mainstays of the band (guitarist Bill “Cupid” Bartolin, lead vocalist Jim Kendzor and bassist Frank Secich) were so prolific in their writing, Blue Ash recorded demos by the score down at the Peppermint Studios in Y-town. Luckily for them, as it became cost prohibitive to obtain their recorded material that had been released by Mercury and Playboy Records, the band turned to their demos to make Around Again, a two disc, 44 song set that is a wonder to the ears. A handful of the tunes showed up on their released projects, starting with “Abracadabra (Have You Seen Her),” which later on was covered by The Records on one of the British act’s EPs in 1979. If you like harmonious vocals on a song, Around Again is loaded with them, beginning with “Start All Over Again,” “Halloween Girl,” “Here We Go Again” and the audio deluxe “Baby I Just Want You.” A mix of influences that include the Kinks, the Who and the Beatles, Blue Ash would wander off to ride the psychedelic “Silver Horses” and then head back to their influence trail via “The Boy Won’t Listen.” The vast majority here are originals with the exception being “Sweet Virginia,” from the Rolling Stones’ Exile On Main Street, though “Give Your Love Away” sounds like something lifted from a Yardbirds’ release. It isn’t. It comes from the valley called Mahoning. Here’s the bottom line for fans of Oasis, the Gin Blossoms, the Odds and the Rainy Day Saints: if you’ve always wondered what prompted your favorites to head musically in that direction, Around Again would be a great place to throw light on the mystery. http://www.BlueAshMusic.com
from Cool Cleveland contributor Peanuts, a longtime Ohio music critic and writer hostofthenorthcoast@yahoo.com

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

Johnny Taylor is Gone @ Karamu 1/27
What: A good-natured, funny ensemble comedy about an old-school African-American corner bar — think “Cheers” meets “Barbershop” — which faces changes when a young hiphop entrepreneur threatens to make it over in a “New Jack” image.
Reasons to go: Ten character actors seem to be having the time of their lives playing the barflies and employees of the Golden Zodiac Lounge, with their teasing, romances, and life challenges. Standouts are Marvin Hayes, sublime as the henpecked Pace, holding court in the center of John Konopka’s superb tavern set; the regal Eva Withers-Evans as an underappreciated waitress; and Desmond Jones as the bling-bling-wearing youngblood, but everybody has good scenes. It’s warm and well-observed, and there are plenty of genuine laughs.
Caveats: It unfolds at a leisurely pace, and there’s more character than plot, but the characters are charming and engaging enough that you’ll enjoy spending an evening in their company.
Backstory: Gregory S. Carr’s script was developed in last year’s Arenafest, Karamu’s 11th annual Festival of New Plays. For a new play, it comes off professional and assured, thanks in no small part to director Caroline Jackson-Smith.
Target audience: General audiences. If you enjoyed “Barbershop”, you’ll like this, too.
Details: Karamu, 2355 E. 89th St., Cleveland. Call 795-7070. Show runs through 2/20. http://www.karamu.com.
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein Linda@coolcleveland.com

3, 2, 1…Piano! Red an Orchestra @ Masonic Temple 1/30

Red {an orchestra} continued its improvisatory ways. The theme of the concert was immediately apparent as one entered the concert hall. The walls around the outer edge of the stage area were bathed in red lights, adding warmth to the chill of the afternoon. But there, in front of the orchestra seating were three—count ’em—three! shiny black Yamaha concert grand pianos. This is a sight not often seen on concert stages around here, and it sent an extra tingle of anticipation up one’s spine. Jonathan Sheffer, Artistic Director and Conductor programmed three works for piano — from pretty (Mozart) to witty (Saint-Saëns) to dramatic (Prokofiev). Four pianists were required to do justice to this marvelous concept: Sergei Babayan, Christina and Michelle Naughton, and Mr. Sheffer, himself…
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

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

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

On Cleveland Clinic’s donation to public schools Clinic donation to area schools – philanthropy or hush-money? You report the Clinic’s $10 million, 5-year gift “surprising.” PolicyMatters Ohio recently estimated that the Clinic’s property would be generating $17.8 million a year in property taxes if it were a for-profit entity, here. Nobody can make them pay that, but it’s legitimate to see that as its annual “debt” to the community – certainly a benefit it gets in using city services without paying as other property owners do. So approximately $2 million a year is nice, but a tiny fraction of what the Clinic “owes.” Only time will tell if it’s truly a philanthropic down payment on the Clinic’s debt to the community, or only hush money to try and make Rokakis and others go away…
from Cool Cleveland reader Peter Robertson politicsthatmatter@yahoo.com

On a convention center The PC stance on not building a convention center seems to be more knee-jerk and short sighted than the convention center proponents. I can only imagine what the same thinking would have done to the public projects Roosevelt initiated during the Great Depression, or any great civic project, for that matter. The cities that have grown in the past few decades Seattle, Denver, San Diego (and all of them SMALLER THAN CLEVELAND until recent times), are the cities that looked ahead a few decades, not just a few years. Of course 9/11 put the breaks on the convention business, as that touring anti-convention “expert” made a cottage industry of pointing out. But already, according to a recent USA Today report, analysts are forecasting a turn-around in convention business. Cleveland, once again, may be out of the loop because it clung to its “conventional” wisdom that somehow the city will spring back to life with a few new park benches and temporary galleries in empty stores. Doesn’t work. I don’t think anyone has delusions of a convention center suddenly popping out big money in a year’s time. That’s not why the ever-tight, profit-centered hotel industry is backing it. It’s a piece of a puzzle that would help Cleveland revitalize its center core. The sheer inertia of a big building project injects into the area the kind of energy that Cleveland enjoyed all to briefly during mid-’90s with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Most importantly, why do people turn this issue into and either/or proposition? No gallery is going to close; no precious arts institution is going to have its endowment raided; no school funds are going to be diverted. We can proceed to cultivate our arts, renovate warehouses into condos and have even more incentive for retail to return to Cleveland’s core. Heck, we can even put up more park benches and galleries. Instead of lowering ourselves into thinking Cleveland is too small for big convention center, we can realize that a 2.9-million metropolitan area is not “too small” for anything, and certainly too big for that kind of pessimism.
from Cool Cleveland reader Howard Gollop hgollop@morningjournal.com

On Cool Cleveland Cool Cleveland is awesome! I’ve been gone for 12 years, lived in Miami (South Beach) for 10 year and L.A. for a year. Moved back for family reasons and thought after living in “uber” trendy areas…how do you come back to Cleveland and re-mingle? After all, I’m way past 20-something but consider myself somewhat “with it.” Unfortunately, my old friends and acquaintences are married or just plain, old and act old…is there a place for the “not 20-something” individuals to be a part of? Incidentally, I would love to find a way or form an organization to welcome new or welcome back people to our wonderful city and give them a sense of community, friendship and people to party with. Also, I am appalled at how the outside world, (the rest of the United States) views Cleveland as a burned out, broken, dismal, city. Whenever I’m asked where I was from originally, and of course, I indicated Cleveland, the response was, “You poor thing,” or “What an awful place.” Thanks to the media and others, we can’t seem to shake this horrible image. Anyway, I could ramble about this forever, but I love the web-site and what it’s doing to bring people together.
from Cool Cleveland reader Iab6868@aol.co

On a crazy idea Also…here is a crazy idea…the TV show Trading Spaces also has extreme makeovers. The new season plan is to go into “little towns” and transform them…Cleveland should find a sponsor and have extreme makeovers of the neighborhoods. Larchmere and Shaker Square being first on the list, of course…I think it’s a much more savvy and interesting idea than little towns…neighborhoods struggle so much to survive against urban sprawl – everywhere…what do think? Is it possible to pitch this to someone here? It’s certainly fun to think about…Investing in living places, small businesses, etc. How does one go about “selling” something like this?
from Cool Cleveland reader Pamela Pemberton ppemberton2000@yahoo.com

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) CC’s Night Out gets ink It’s always a lift to us when Cool Cleveland gets noticed for improving the economy and the arts in Cleveland. Our event on 1/14 flooded the lobby of the State Theatre with hundreds of our friends and supporters. Very cool, indeed. Night Out One

2) Why Walmart? Mega-cities such as Los Angeles are fighting to keep Walmart from their borders, so why is Cleveland on the verge of allowing the world’s largest welfare queen to set up shop in the proposed Steelyard Commons retail development planned for land on the Cuyahoga on the site of a former steel mill? www.CleveScene.com

3) A cool market for Downtown Cool Cleveland Art/Tech/Dance-goers already know the spot – it’s where we had our massive networking party in The Bingham Building last 7/29/04 in the Warehouse District. www.Cleveland.com

4) Cool Cleveland Interview with Jason Pettigrew Jason Pettigrew, AP Editor-In-Chief and shrewd underground music pundit, is known for insightful reviews and interviews with teeth — some biting, others gnashing — his wit is equally razor-sharp.www.CoolCleveland.com

5) Peter Lewis resigns from Guggenheim board Clevelander and philanthropist Peter Lewis recently jumped ship as chairman of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, due to a disagreement with the institution’s plans for international expansion. www.NewsDay.com

Hard Corps do it digitally They’re helping CC do what we do best, with results that ramp up Cleveland. Thanks to the super support system we know as HC, keeping CC an experience you want to return to week after week. We’re definitely digging on Tisha Nemeth-Loomis, Deb Remington, TL Champion, Peter Chakerian, Bill Nagode, Kelly Ferjutz, Peanuts, Linda Eisenstein, George Nemeth, Rachel Jacobs, Ivan Jackson, Kevin Risner, 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

Send cyberspace news and entertainment: forward CC to a friend People don’t pay attention to unwanted and uninteresting marketing come-ons. Instead, people listen to their friends. Did someone turn you on to Cool Cleveland? Now you can do someone you know a favor, and pass on CC to them. The bonus? You’re the tip off connection for Cleveland’s cool stuff, and your friends receive the benefits from Cool Cleveland’s content. Send them to http://www.CoolCleveland.com, or drop us a note at Signup@CoolCleveland.com.

Singing about Cleveland,

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

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