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6.20-6.27.07
Partytime
In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland Party #1 Blossom blast before Mahler
* Cool Cleveland Party #2 with Wade Oval Wednesdays
* Kids INTERVIEW Karen Frye of Children’s Technology Workshop
* Kids COMMENT Reflections from a Downtown Walk
* BFD Weekly Reactions to Roldo on the Cavs
* Sounds Savory Hot Ham & Cheese
* Previews Conquering Autism and Fresh Thinking about Food
* Straight Outta Mansfield Coming of Age in the Ghetto
* RoldoLINK No Will in City to Solve its Real Problems
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, Brewed Fresh Daily here
When I sent the first Cool Cleveland e-blast out to a few bored Cirque du Soleil artists visiting Cleveland and looking for things to do, I focused on fun, cool events and shows. Eventually, Cool Cleveland began reaching thousands of NEOers and grew to embrace our region’s growing economic development ambitions, and now we showcase videos, blogging, business, art, technology, CD reviews, food, features, and the important issues of the day. But, almost from our first few weeks, Cool Cleveland has hosted Cleveland’s coolest monthly parties in exciting venues around town, offering open bar, snacks, entertainment and usually, a concert or museum tour included.
This week, we announce two parties designed to get you out & about, meeting other Cool Clevelanders, and catching some of our region’s highlights that you might otherwise overlook. On June 26, get your tix and join us for our first Wade Oval Wednesday party, with refreshments and a peek into the Botanical Garden, plus music on the Oval. Then, on July 14, we return to the glorious Blossom lawn for Mahler #1 preceded by a Cool Cleveland bash to rattle the rafters. Get tix now and be there for the swank Gypsy Beans & Bakery snacks, drinks and a social pre-party to get all the other concert-goers jealous. So scan the e-blast below, watch our vid interviews, check out our HOT picks for things to do, read Mansfield’s reflection on what it means to be a father, and hear Roldo’s lament on our region’s lack of will. But don’t let it get you down. After all, it’s party time in Cool Cleveland. Thomas Mulready
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Scream for joy at Blossom on Sat 7/14
Lowest Price Tix until Midnight Thu 6/21 here!
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Pack a blanket and snag your Cool Cleveland party tix here.
At the Blossom Blast you get all this:
- Pre-concert Cool Cleveland party from 6-7:30 PM
- Delicious and artful creations by Gypsy Beans and Baking Company
- Asiago/Fennel and Chorizo Flatbreads, Humus in Mini-Pita with Cucumber, Seared Eggplant and Wild Mushroom Polenta
- Open bar with unlimited beer and wine
- Comp tix to Mahler’s exuberant Sym. No. 1, at 8PM, considered one of the finest symphonies every written
- Special offers to Blossom 2007 concerts, including The Lord of the Rings Symphony
- Guaranteed parking just a few steps from party location
- Chance to win two Pavilion ticket subscriptions to Blossom’s POPs Summer Concert Series
Bodacious Blossom Music Center is less than a 30-minute drive from Cleveland, Akron and surrounding suburbs. For the complete 2007 Blossom Festival Calendar go here.
Screaming discount Get the best discount if you order by Midnight Thu 6/21 here. See map here.
https://CoolCleveland.net/tickets/071407/index.php
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WOW! (Wade Oval Wednesday) Cool Cleveland Party on Wed 6/27
Super low price until Midnight Thu 6/21 here!
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Make WOW! a regular part(y) of your summer fun: every Wednesday and see, hear and feel their tantalizing line up of live music, food, bev with discounted museum tix available every week at these fine UCI institutions: Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Museum of Art and Cleveland Botanical Gardens for your discounted tix. See the WOW! Summer 2007 schedule here. And the band line-up here. Meet your circle at the Oval Wed 6/27 and snag your Cool Cleveland party tix here.
At the Cool WOW! on 6/27 you get all this:
- Music and dancing at sunset from 6 – 8PM in the Beer Garden
- Delicious Naked Chicken Queso Burritos from Qdoba, plus Cilantro-Lime Rice, Black Beans, Adobo Marinated Chicken and Pico de Gallo Salsa with Signature 3-Cheese Queso Sauce
- Open bar with unlimited beer
- Comp tix to the Botanical Garden for the first 200 people
- Live music by Cats on Holiday, a crowd fave
- Discounted tix at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Cleveland Museum of Art
- Rain or shine (Rain location is the Cleveland Botanical Garden)
Close the Deal Get the best discount if you order by Midnight Thu 6/21 here. Meet us 6 – 8PM at Wade Oval. See map here.
https://CoolCleveland.net/tickets/062707/index.php
Can You Help Us? We need eight volunteers for o ur next CC gig. If you can help, feel free to bring a friend to volunteer with you. It’s always more fun with a friend. Details: WOW! (Wade Oval Wednesdays) party on Wed 6/27 from 6:00 – 8:00PM. Come at 5:30 if you can. Make friends with the coolest cats in town. Contact tl@coolcleveland.com
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A gala of hot tech and business news & events from around Cleveland and around the region. Send your business news and events to: EVENTS@CoolCleveland.com
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BioEnterprise doesnt like to toot its own horn, but click here to read about a milestone in NEO worth touting.
Case Comprehensive Cancer Ctr Rcv’s Outstanding Rating. Read
UAkron cuts deal for Shaker Sq. Increased office space, housing results. Read
Lorain Mayor Craig Foltin to become Tri-C exec VP for finance, leaves job early. Read
MAGNET has new president Steve Gage is retiring; replaced by Fatima Weathers Read
Was eminent domain necessary? One has to question the use of eminent domain, and the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s role in instituting eminent domain on behalf of a private corporation (Scott Wolstein’s Developers Diversified Realty), when virtually all property owners settled once they were made realistic offers. The agreed-upon prices were more than double what the Port and Wolstein had originally offered. The judge on the cases refused to institute eminent domain, and forced the parties back to the bargaining table. So is eminent domain a tool to allow private developers to force property owners to accept low-ball offers? Your thoughts? Letters@CoolCleveland.com
City votes to save Breuer Tower The Cleveland City Planning Commission voted last week to turn down a request to demolish the Breuer building at East Ninth & Euclid that the County purchased for their new administration building. The County Commissioners had voted 2-1 (with Peter Lawson Jones dissenting) to demolish, without involving their own County planning department, and without serious consideration for adaptive reuse of the historic structure.
Cle Visitors Center Visitors and tourists will now have an official location to ask questions and get information about the area before exploring. The new visitor center opens TODAY, Wed, 6/20 in the first floor of the former Higbee Building on Euclid Avenue. The facility will feature a large map of the area, plenty of travel brochures for attractions around the Cleveland Plus region, three computer kiosks where visitors can plot their travels and staff members to assist with reservations, directions, ticket purchases and other questions. This location will also house the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland staff and the Greater Cleveland Partnership offices. Renderings
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What Summer Camps are You Going to? More importantly, where are your kids going? Childrens Technology Workshop is offering late season registration to a technology camp that your kids will actually be up, dressed and ready to get to every morning! CTW is where kids (grades 2-8) can design and create their own Lego® robots, video games, movies, animations or other neat projects! Call for camp or workshop information: 440.484.2222! CTW also hosts parties held at your place or ours. CTW is in Chagrin Falls (38 River Street, 44022). Schedules: www.ctworkshop.com/glc. Childrens Technology Workshop is a portfolio company of Beta Strategy Group, Ltd, www.betagroup.us, a founding sponsor of Cool Cleveland Tech.
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Global Health Care Investing Conf @ InterContinental Hotel Wed 6/20 – Thu 6/21 Details
Monthly Luncheon sponsored by MT Business Tech at Maggianos Little Italy feat. Thomas Mulready of Cool Cleveland Info
E4S at Akron Zoo Green Bldg Event inc. include ops to tour Komodo Kingdom, LEED cert. bldg Wed 6/27 at 4:30PM. Register
Best Damn Tech Show Period Launch Party for Nov 14-15 event hits Thu 6/28 from 6-9 PM at Ideacenter at PSC Sponsored by ASM Int’l. Call 857-2628 for show info; RSVP for launch to mary.adams-morrowATasminternational.org
Web Association holds luncheon Fri 6/29 on online media planning. Details
Sm Biz Council of Gtr Akron hosts annual banquet/awards luncheon Fri 6/29 at 11AM. Info
Marketing Cle+ feat. Rick Batyko @ Exec. Caterers of Landerhaven Tue 7/10 @ 11:30AM. Info
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Cool Cleveland Podcast You know how to do it. Click here to listen: Link. iTunes or other.
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John Farina is Red’s new CEO; was director of development at Beck Center Info
MOCA on civic space Open: New Designs for Public Space informs Triangle project Info
Lou Tisler quoted in USA Today on foreclosure fiasco: “We see them when they’re in way over their heads” Read
See Rembrandt, Rubens, Caravaggio, El Greco and others at no cost in the final weeks of a Special Exhibition, Masterpieces of European Painting from the Cleveland Museum of Art at the Maltz Museum. Details
East College St. Project (Oberlin) selected to participate in the US Green Building Councils new “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) pilot program. Info
Wine Country Too Pricey? Try a brewery hop. CNN offers a nod to Cle’s barley, malt and hops Read
Register for the Susan G. Komen Northeast Ohio Race for the Cure® Read
Case MSASS offers trip to India, El Salvador for local social workers. Read
County planning to raise taxes for convention center Rather than put it on the ballot, Cuyahoga County commissioners voted Tuesday to initiate public hearings to raise the County sales tax themselves by one-quarter of a cent, to 1.25%. Half the increase ($20M a year for 30 years) would go to fund the construction of a convention center and medical mart, a project which commissioner Tim Hagan has been discussing in private with Merchandise Mart officials from Chicago for over a year, yet no plan is in place as to location, size or cost. No doubt fearing (correctly) that a ballot measure put to the voters would fail, commissioners Hagan and Jimmy Dimora are opting to institute the tax themselves without a vote, while commissioner Peter Lawson Jones told Cool Cleveland he plans to vote against his colleagues, just as he did on the recent vote to demolish the historic Marcel Breuer tower to build the County’s new admin building. Commissioners Hagan & Dimora did not respond to our requests for their comments. At least 2 public meetings will be scheduled for 7/19 & 7/26 at 11AM on the 4th floor of the County building at 1219 Ontario. If the Commissioners pass the tax, activists could still put it on the Fall ballot with a referendum. The final vote will probably take place immediately after the public discussion on 7/26. We’re guessing it’s going to be a hot summer. Read the agenda. Your thoughts? Letters@CoolCleveland.com
$20M Issue 18 arts money workshops offered by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture to the 100+ non-profit arts groups eligible for operating support funding in this first round. Come learn about the guidelines & deadlines, and how to apply. Thu 6/21 at 3PM at the Holiday Inn Cleveland West, 1100 Crocker Road, Westlake. Tue 6/26 at 3PM at Baldwin-Wallace College Strosacker College Union, 120 E. Grand Street, Berea. Wed 6/27 at 3PM at The Free Clinic, 12201 Euclid Ave. http://www.CuyahogaArtsAndCulture.org
Year of the Pig St. Clair Superior Development Corp, straddling Cleveland’s Chinatown, has commissioned Cle genius Viktor Schreckengost to design a template sculpture to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Pig, which dozens of artists are decorating and placing throughout the neighborhood from E. 30th to MLK, North of Superior. Details
Tremont Arts and Cultural Festival puts out a call for Artists and Performers. The festival will be held in Cleveland’s Lincoln Park in the historic Tremont neighborhood on Sat 9/15 and Sun 9/16. More than 65 artists are expected to participate. Info about the festival and the artist application are available online here. The deadline for visual artists applications is Fri 6/29 at 5PM.
Thinking About Returning to College? Well, good. You should. And Cleveland State Universitys Womens Comprehensive Program is gonna help you navigate it. They’re hosting a no-cost reentry program for people thinking about starting/ returning to college. The program will be held at 9:30AM (repeating at 5:30PM) on Wed 6/27, in room 364 of University Center, 2121 Euclid Ave. http://www.csuohio.edu/wcp.
Green Energy Ohio helps Jacobs Field Go Solar The solar installation at the Indians ballpark will be on display during the National SOLAR 2007 conference scheduled at the Cle Conv Ctr from Sat 7/7. A Downtown Cleveland Tour scheduled Sun 7/8 from 8AM-noon will include a visit to Jacobs Field. More info at http://www.greenenergyohio.org/solar2007.
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This Time We Mean It! Win a Wedding in Vegas courtesy of the Akron-Canton Airport and AirTran Airways. First, well pay the airfare to whisk two lovebirds off to exciting Las Vegas aboard a comfy AirTran Airways flight. Next, well pick up the tab for two days and three nights of romantic luxury at the world famous Venetian Hotel. Finally, well even arrange and pay for the chapel, the wedding photos, even some fine toasting flutes. This fabulous Vegas wedding can be yours – with all these expenses paid! – by going to www.akroncantonairport.com and entering our Say I Do contest by submitting an essay by 11:59PM on Fri 7/6. If enough people vote for your essay, you could win!
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Every week, all of us here at Cool Cleveland pour through gads of fantastic things happening in CLE and NEO, all in an effort to answer that ever-nagging question: “What’s cool to do this week?” Submitted for your approval, here’s a snapshot of what we found. Got a unique event coming up? Know of something that is a totally Cool Cleveland worthy event? We want to hear from you about it; our tens of thousands of readers do, too. Be a civic and cultural activist and turn on your fellow readers.
Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com
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Tikkun Olam The 3rd-annual Jewish Music Festival, subtitled For Repair of the World, One Song at a Time, features Cool Cleveland contributor David Budin and 20 other artists. But not all the songs in this Wed 6/20 8PM show are Jewish in the traditional sense: They range from early Dylan to current Martina McBride, from modern Broadway to contemporary Israeli and so on. Cain Parks intimate Alma Theater, Cle Hts. http://www.cainpark.com.
Stop the Violence This no-cost, open to the public forum on Domestic Violence is co-sponsored by the Zonta Club of Cleveland Foundation in cooperation with Until the Violence Stops Wed 6/20 at 6:30PM. Cleveland Heights Main Library, 2345 Lee Rd., Cle Hts. Call 371-3742 or email: president@zontacleveland.org for details. http://www.zontacleveland.org.
Page Hamilton Helmet vocalist/guitarist Page Hamilton speaks about the band’s history, his career and inspiration for performance and composition and who Helmet paved the way for heavy rock luminaries of today at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Wed 6/20 at 7PM in the Hall’s 4th floor theater. Held in conjunction with the exhibit Warped: 12 Years of Music, Mayhem and More. http://www.rockhall.com.
Pink Martini Globally alter yourself with this delightfully delectable 12-piece band from Portland, Oregon on Wed 6/20 at 8PM. Formed by pianist Tom Lauderdale in 1994, Pink Martini blends samba, classical, and jazz with delightful results. House of Blues, 308 Euclid. 8PM. http://www.pinkmartini.com.
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An ICE Cold Kinda Cool Check out eight emerging ICE (Instrument, Controls & Electronics) companies that will spotlight their technology at the next Technology Showcase event on Tue 6/26 from 4-7PM at Tri-C Corporate College East. No charge registration at www.ohio-ice.org. See technology presentations from Bluetronics, FLXmicro, Orbital Research, Tegam and others. Attend a cocktail networking reception with industry leaders from Rockwell, Keithley Instruments, Valtronic USA, Swagelok and NASA as well as nationally recognized researchers from CSU, CASE, University of Akron and KSU. Connect with over 200 instruments, controls and electronics professionals, design engineers, entrepreneurs, university faculty and students, as well as potential funders. Contact 216-577-5780 or kross@ohio-ice.org for display opportunities.
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The Artist’s Way Learn a “Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity” based on the book The Artist’s Way on Thursdays beginning Thu 6/21‘ at 6:30PM at Ursuline ArtSpace, 2600 Lander. Experience author Julia Cameron’s process of freeing the artist within with weekly workshops through the summer; enjoy the process and satisfaction of your own personal creativity. No art experience is necessary, but the book is recommended. Call 440-449-1200 for details.
SAFMOD The latest installment of Sparx Street Beats features the performance ensemble SAFMOD (that’s Sub-Atomic Frequency Modulation Overdose to you) this Thu 6/21 from 6:30-8:30PM. They devastated at Ingenuity. Get your SAFMOD fix while you’re hitting the sizzling E. 4th St. district where they’ll be. You won’t believe your eyes! No-cost. Don’t miss them! http://www.safmod.org. http://www.cleveland.com/sparx.
HOT Sun Salutations Sun Worshipers, Earth Lovers, Yogis and Yoginis alike can celebrate the Summer Solstice with a celebration Thu 6/21 at 6PM at Edgewater Park. Organizers will be collecting donations for the Wendy Park Foundation based on Whiskey Island. For more details, visit http://www.deannablack.com or call her at 374-5934.
Miasha The rising street-lit superstar signs copies of Mommys Angel, a gritty tale that dramatizes urban New York on Thu 6/21 at 7PM. Publishers Weekly calls the best-selling author “a writer to watch”; her story of desperation and temptation finds a 15-year-old girl turning to the streets after her mother turns to heroin for solace. Borders in Cle Hts., 3466 Mayfield Rd. Call 291-8605 for details.
Oliver! The music, lyrics, and book of Lionel Bart combined with a very well-crafted tale make Oliver! at Cain Park irresistible. Based on the Dickens novel, this musical theater classic features the songs Food, Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, and As Long As He Needs Me The cast of 53 performs at Cain Thu 6/21 through Sun 7/8. All performances will begin at 8PM. http://www.cainpark.com.
WindWorks Cleveland Public Art dedicates WindWorks, a permanent public art installation surrounding the Great Lakes Science Center wind turbine. The partnership between CPA, GLSC and commissioned New York artists Allan Wexler and Ellen Wexler called resulted in the Shadow and Light installation — one that utilizes art as a tool for education about science and the environment. See the formal unveiling Thu 6/21 at 5:30PM in front of the Great Lakes Science Center (601 Erieside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio). Rain or Shine. Please RSVP to 621-5330 or contactus@clevelandpublicart.org. http://www.greatscience.com.
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Let Your Voice Be Heard WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN ideastream are once again turning to residents of Northeast Ohio to gain a better understanding of the areas assets and challenges, in order to more fully serve the community. Since 2001, hundreds of individuals have participated in The Listening Project. This years continuation of the project includes an online survey and a series of public meetings in August – two options for diverse community voices to discuss their thoughts and concerns. Help ideastream gather this important information by visiting www.ideastream.org and taking the online survey. You can also register for a discussion at The Idea Center at Playhouse Square in August. WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN ideastream listening to the community, looking for what matters.
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Take a Bite out of Art Cleveland painter Lee Heinen and traveled acrylic artist Adele Marihatt are exhibiting their artwork in Cain Parks Audrey and Harvey Feinberg Gallery, located in the Alma Courtyard Wed 6/20 through Sun 7/15. The four-week run of the exhibit debuts with an opening reception Fri 6/22 from 6 – 8PM Admission to the exhibit and the opening reception is no-cost, open to the public. http://www.cainpark.com.
HOT UnNatural Affair Come celebrate summer solstice with the Nature League of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as they present the 10th annual UnNatural Affair event Fri 6/22 at 6PM on the Museum’s Observatory Deck. Enjoy Cuban Cuisine by Devrings Catering, tasty bevvies, modern world-beat and eclectic dance music by DJ’s Go and Impure with live percussion by Jason Alias. Enjoy an observatory tour w/Astronomer Clyde Simpson, the newest CMNH art exhibition Interesting Faces, Colorful Wings (photographs of Kerela, India by Herb Ascherman & Dr. Unni Krishnan Pulikkal) and enter a raffle to win an Orion Telescope! Call 231-1177 or visit http://www.cmnh.org for more info.
Still Not So Obvious GroundWorks Dancetheater returns for a 5th season in Cain Parks Alma Theater beginning Fri 6/22 at 7:30PM. Works include Amy Millers reprise of U Me U; a collaboration with Seattle-based guest choreographer KT Niehoff titled Proximal, and Kabila, which showcases contemporary African vocalists Samite, Ayub Ogada, and others. Performances repeat Sat 6/23 at 7:30 and Sun 6/23 at 2PM. The Sun matinee features a special presentation by Univ of Akron Dance Institute students. http://www.notsoobvious.com.
North Collinwood Coming Together Check out this neighborhood benefit at the beachland Ballroom on Waterloo Fri 6/22 at 7PM. This “get together” features live by X-The Unknowns, Denny Carleton, and The Elements, plus samples from neighborhood restaurants, raffle prizes and more! http://www.beachlandballroom.com.
HOT Canton Blues Festival 07 The Canton Regional CoC kicks off this smokin’ event Fri 6/22 at 11AM with bands Cajun Butter, Big Daddy and the HooDoo Men, The Whiskeyhounds and Jimmy Thackery. The line-up for Sat 6/23 starts at 2PM and includes Voices of Unity, Inner City Blues Band, Jeff Poulos Blues Revue and Grammy award winner Robert Cray and his band. VIPs receive reserved seating, hospitality tent access, a visit from the performers, a t-shirt and other perks. http://www.cantonbluesfestival.com.
Twilight Benefit & Garden Tour Shaker Historical Society offers a view into a select group of Shaker Hts homes and gardens with their Twilight Benefit on Fri 6/22 from 6-9PM and self-guided tour of 7 beautiful and very distinct gardens on Sun 6/24 at 1PM. The former event features live music, great food and a silent auction in a Georgian style home. Call the Shaker Historical Society for details, 921-1201.
HOT Fresh Hop This first session in a series organized by local fresh food purveyors CityFresh discusses Adaptive Re-Use and Envisioning the Local Food District. Tour Mural Garden Park, see the Slavic Village Fresh Stop, enjoy Great Lakes Brewing Company beer and a screening of Real Low Calorie Diet — a film that profiles and NEO’s local foods movement. Watch the trailer here. All this and more Fri 6/22 from 3 – 7PM in Slavic Village. For details and sign-up, check out http://cityfresh.org/forms/freshhop.html.
Storage Space Artists explore invocations of memory personal, cultural, physical and ethereal with this opening reception Fri 6/22 at 6PM. Storage Space engages the viewer to consider the artists’ approach of memory as a vehicle for recapturing the essence of a moment. Engaging and visually arresting, the exhibit Fri 8/3. 2220 Superior Viaduct. http://www.spacesgallery.org.
Arts Education Day What role do the arts play in the context of educational reform? On Thu 6/21 (Arts Education Day in Cleveland) Cleveland State University will present a one-day, two-part event that examines the question from several perspectives — including that of former star athlete Lynn Swann, First Lady of Ohio Frances Strickland and some well-respected educators. Visit http://www.csuohio.edu/music/cai or call 687-5018 for details and reservations.
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WCLVnotes On Fri 6/29 at 8PM WCLV will mark its last broadcast of Adventures in Good Music with Karl Haas. The station has produced, broadcast and syndicated the program for 37 years. Adventures in Good Music began in 1959 as a daily one-hour program on WJR, Detroit. In 1970, WCLV and Haas teamed up to produce and distribute his programs to radio stations world wide. At its zenith, Adventures in Good Music brought musical enjoyment to millions of listeners and was for many years the most listened to classical music radio program in the world, carried by hundreds of stations in the United States, Australia, Mexico, Panama and world wide by Armed Forces Radio. Karl died in February of 2005. During the week of June 25, WCLV listeners will be treated to an Adventures in Good Music double bill daily, with programs at 10AM and 8PM. Complete details on all of WCLVs programs can be found at www.wclv.com.
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HOT The Bottle Rockets & Robbie Fulks The two critically acclaimed rural rock acts team together for the 1st Annual National Autism Association’s Northeast Ohio Benefit concert Sat 6/23. A private performance runs from 6-8PM, with the concert beginning at 9:30PM. Autism is still a mystery in a lot of ways; hit this show and thrill your ears as you help fund support for those dealing with it locally. For tickets call 313-0612 or email donnieapattison@yahoo.com. http://www.autismnortheastohio.org.
HOT An Indie Rock Triple Play Enjoy local acoustic folk-rock and blues with Alan Madej Band, Ryan James Wilkins and Derica at bela dubby in lakewood. The three acts share the stage Sat 6/23 at 9PM. Catch a coffee or beer buzz, some free Wi-Fi and great tunage. http://www.myspace.com/beladubby.
Cogswell Hall Solstice The non-profit org hosts its 4th Annual Solstice Celebration on Sat 6/23 from 3 – 8PM at their historic building located at 7200 Franklin Blvd. in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. Feast on delicious picnic fare, enjoy lively music, palm readings, take a chance on winning fabulous raffle prizes and shop local artistry. Cash bar will be available. Cogswell Hall helps women face critical life challenges who would otherwise be homeless; proceeds from the fundraiser will help continue supportive services for our residents. Call 961-1568 to RSVP.
It Runs in the Family The Cleveland Cinematheque is presenting a rare theatrical showing of a film shot in Cleveland during the early 90s. It Runs in the Family, or My Summer Story, as it’s known in some circles, is a 1994 sequel to A Christmas Story and follows the Parker family. Based on Jean Shepherd’s writings, it was directed by the late Bob Clark and went virtually unreleased in America. The flick will show Sat 6/23 at 5:15PM at the Cleveland Institute of Art’s Cinematheque, 11141 East Boulevard. http://www.cia.edu/cinematheque.
Project SAVE Project SAVE will hold its first annual benefit concert and award ceremony at St. Procop Church. The evening will include performances from Progeny and 1 Accord, a live auction and refreshments Sat 6/23 from 6PM – midnight. Project SAVE is an initiative where homeless serve the homeless in a variety of ways: meals, job & housing referrals, and spiritual and recovery support. Call 376-0396 for more info and tickets. All proceeds go to Project SAVE. St. Procop Church 3181 West 41st St.
At the Learning Garden Cleveland Botanical Garden’s Learning Garden Festival features the CBG Green Corps, guided tours, live entertainment, refreshments and a plethora of kids’ programs, green gifts and gardening tips. The event hits Sat 6/23 at 1PM at the Hough Leaning Garden, 1945 East 66th St., at the southeast corner of Chester Ave. and East 66th St. RSVP to 707-2832. Co-sponsored by Petitti Garden Centers. http://www.cbgarden.org.
Hodge Open Forum Exhibition and Open Studios takes place in conjunction with ArtSpace/Clevelands Annual Trolley Tour of Artist Live/Work Studios on Sat 6/23 from 1-5PM in hte St. Clair Superior Neighborhood at 1075 E. 74th St. Event features resident artists Charmaine Spencer, Pamela Dodds, Lolita Wilson, the SAFMOD Performance Ensemble and many others.
Jesse Bryant Wilder The founder, publisher and editor of NEXUS, a series of interdisciplinary textbooks used in high schools around the country, signs his latest effort Art History For Dummies on Sat 6/23 at 3PM at Borders Severance Town Center. Wilder has written several textbooks on art and art history and served as the senior editor of Northern Ohio Live magazine. 3466 Mayfield Road Cle Hts. Call 291-8605 for details.
Doo-Wop To-Do The Iceman Jerry Butler reprises his role from the PBS-TV music special 50 Years of Doo-Wop with an all-star musical cast this Sat 6/23 at 7PM. Butler and others perform in The Ultimate Doo-Wop Shows Hall of Fame Spectacular at the State Theatre on Playhouse Square. Delight in the sounds of The Shirelles original lead Shirley Alston, The Flamingos, Jay Siegel & the Tokens and others. http://www.playhousesquare.org.
Summer Solstice Festival Get ready for an evening filled with great music, great food from local vendors, reasonably priced art from local artisans and cool kids activities Sat 6/23 from 5 – 10PM at the Shaker Colonnade on Lee Rd. between Chagrin and Van Aken Blvds. Musical performances from Panic Steel, Mo’ Mojo Mama, Horns & Things and Blue Lunch. At dusk, rhythmist Cindy Hill leads off a popular candle lighting ceremony and drum circle. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket. No-cost, open to the public. http://www.shakerartscouncil.org.
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Tech is the Future of NEO! and you’ll see what, why and how at the Best Damn Launch Party hosted by Studio ASM @ Idea Center on Thu 6/28, from 6 9PM at the Idea Center at Playhouse Square, 4th Floor. The Best Damn Launch Party celebrates two important new arrivals in town. First, mark your calendars for “The Best Damn Tech Show Period” (BDTSP), a monumental show coming this November . . . and an annual event that makes the declarative statement that tech is strong in Cleveland and NEO! For show info, contact Tech Czar Michael DeAloia at 216.857.2628 or mdealoia@city.cleveland.oh.us. Also, Everything is Material at ASM International, is the content chair for the BDTSP and the worlds leading materials society. Join us for the Grand Opening of our Studio at the launch party on Thu 6/28 and find out how materials are shaping the future of NEO. RSVP for the party at mary.adams-morrow@asminternational.org. For more info about ASM contact www.asminternational.org
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Icons of American Photography The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) opens the door on a century of photographs in this landmark exhibit beginning Sun 6/24. The 117 iconic works covering the period from 1850 to 1960 are from CMAs renowned permanent collection; the show will be on view in CMAs galleries. 11150 East Blvd., University Circle. No-cost, but tickets are required. http://www.clevelandart.org.
HOT Goat No joke, it’s the nom de plume for singer-songwriter Andy Rosen (son of Cleveland Indians great Al Rosen). His quirky, grizzled vox recall Beck, Randy Newman and the Rat Pack; his song Great Life was featured in Kia car commercial. He performs solo acoustic (and quite cheeky-loungy) at the Barking Spider in Cle Hts Sun 6/24 at 3PM. Read a recent CC interview of the Goatster by Peter Chakerian here. 11310 Juniper Rd., Cle Hts. All ages. 421-2863. http://www.goatrocks.com. http://www.barkingspidertavern.com.
Shiva as Brahma This latest Cleveland Museum of Art exhibition features a life-sized sculptural representation of one of the supreme deities of the Hindu pantheon. It makes its Cleveland debut alongside other key works from CMA’s holdings in Shiva: A Recent Acquisition, opening Sun 6/24 at 10AM. http://www.clevelandart.org.
Be-Heading of St. Alban The world premiere of an outrageously slapstick and somewhat irreverent drama hits St. Alban Episcopal Church in Cle Hts on Sun 6/24 at 1:30PM. Doubling as a no-cost, old-fashioned church potluck picnic, you get a bagpiper, great summer grub and a tour the church named for the first Christian martyr in Britain in the early 4th century. Cool, unique, quirky. St. Alban Church, 2555 Euclid Hts. Blvd. at Edghill Rd., Cle Hts. http://www.saintalbanchurch.org.
HOT Bang and Clatter Fundraiser The critically hailed, Akron-based theater company The Bang and the Clatter holds their first fundraising event at Nighttown in Cle Hts Sun 6/24 at 5:30PM. This is a capital fundraising event for an expansion into Cleveland. Ticket-holders will enjoy a 4-course meal and special performances by actor/ singer/ songwriter Thomas Ian Nicholas (of the American Pie films), and actor/ co-Artistic/ Managing Director of the BNC Sean Derry, who previews his one man show, Pounding Nails in the Floor With My Forehead by Eric Bogosian. Details at http://www.bnctheatre.com.
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Kassaba brings its eclectic sound to Cain Parks Alma Theater on Tue 6/26 at 7:30PM for an evening that draws on jazz, world music, classical, and rock. Kassaba features a dynamic performance on piano, saxophone, bass and 25 unusual percussion instruments. This Cleveland Heights-based group includes Greg Slawson and wife Candice Lee, as well as Mark Boich and Chris Vance. Their second avant-garde jazz CD, Dark Eye, was released in March. http://www.kassaba.com.
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Trailblazing Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corp. catalyst Tom Yablonsky will lead a panel discussion with community leaders on their efforts to connect the Towpath Trail to downtown Cle and the long-range impact of this green development to the regions economic growth, neighborhood revitalization, and quality of life Wed 6/27 at 5:30PM. The program will be held at the Leonard Krieger CanalWay Center, Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, 4524 E. 49th St., Cuyahoga Hts. http://www.cityclub.org.
Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com
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Karen Frye
Children’s Technology Workshop
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Karen Frye, as controller of the Cleveland-based innovation and tech venture firm The Beta Strategy Group, has been overseeing the launch of the Children’s Technology Workshop in Chagrin Falls. This innovative franchise offers kids technology instruction bundled with hands-on activity and creative time, allowing students in grades 2-8 the opportunity to explore adventure and skill-building modules in after-school workshops, summer camps, full-day or half-day sessions and birthday party settings. Their current summer iCamp program offers a choice of ten adventures, from animation to game creation to race cars to fashion design, where kids use the computer to learn skills and design their own project, then grab LEGO-style building blocks and modules to construct their vision. Finally, video cameras and green-screen are used to develop digital media and graphic design skills back on the computer. Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready stopped into their Chagrin Falls workshop while kids were building their adventures to speak with Karen about the curriculum, their focus on skills like game design & digital movie production, and the innovative meshing of computer skills training and hands-on adventure play. http://www.ctworkshop.com http://www.BetaGroup.us
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Reflections from a Downtown Walk
From time to time, Cool Cleveland contributor Claudia J. Taller submits an essay of memories she has from taking in Cleveland on foot. She’ll tell you there’s no better way to help your kids appreciate our great city than with a Cleveland walk on a beautiful day — whether during a special event, or simply as an event itself. If a walk can conjure these memories, imagine what it will do for your own Cool Cleveland kids. Taller’s latest installment appears this week:
The summer sun makes the city I call home, Cleveland, shimmer. Outside my downtown office window, Lake Erie is sun-tipped, glorious in its rippled surface, a great lake as vast as the ocean. From the 49th floor of Key Tower, the miniature-sized Rock and Roll Hall and Museum and teeny Science Center reflect their shine of white and gold. Browns Stadium is lit within from above.
Lake Erie, smoothly rippled inside the break wall, waves cresting in whitecaps beyond, appears cool and refreshing, like ice in a tall glass. Dark blue-gray water touches a clear blue sky, glossy to matte. To the west, Gold Coast towers rise above the contoured shore, but nearer, hills of salt rise from the ground and the marina of stilled sailboats follows the landscape. The mouth of the Cuyahoga is crossed with dark industry, and the meandering River, center of our economy, disappears from my view as it crookedly finds its way south to Akron and then north again…
Read more from Claudia Taller here
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Enter at Your Own Risk! Have you ever been to the Cleveland Museum of Arts Kids website? Its totally awesome with cool things for kids to do. Check it out by surfing here. Cyber kids love taking an animal safari across ancient Egypt to find their way home. And you can make your own stained glass window! And the CMA website has hieroglyphic coloring pages to print out and color on your own (off the hook!). You can also find out how much you know about the city of Cleveland. Learn why every day was a bad hair day for Medusa and check out The Attic, a favorite kids hideout! The Cleveland Museum of Art is a Cool Cleveland Kids partner.
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HOT NY-CLE Conspiracy This summer, company members from the NY theatre company Slightly Askew will invite high school students from all over the Cleveland area to participate in artistic workshops in film, photography, sound design, costuming, movement, music, and animation using as inspiration the historical Birdtown neighborhood in Lakewood. Challenging students to penetrate one of Cle’s oldest ethnic neighborhoods is only the beginning. Workshops are limited to 25 students. For info and registration details, email NYClevelandConspiracy@slightlyaskew.org, visit http://www.slightlyaskew.org or call 548-1920.
Passport Summer Session The explorative Passport Project still has some openings for their Summer Sessions starting Mon 6/25 through Sat 8/4. Classes are offered in: Hula, Zumba (salsa and samba-based fitness class), West African Dance, Yoga, Salsa, Capoeira, Guitar Lessons, Basic Computers, Graphic Design and Webdesign, Photography, Line Dancing, Nutrition and Cooking… basically if you want to learn how to do it, they’ve got you covered. Voice (call for more info), and more! Register today! 12801 Buckeye Rd. http://passportproject.org.
Art House Summer Camp The non-profit art center located in historic Brooklyn Centre, announces its Summer 2007 Multi-Media Mania art camp for children 9-13 years old on beginning Mon 8/6 from 10AM – 4PM. This camp is no-cost to all Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD) children. Register immediately because spaces are limited. http://www.arthouseinc.org.
Woolfest Discover the luxurious feel of hand-spun yarns and various products processed from sheep, llamas, alpacas, angora goats, and angora rabbits the Lake Metroparks Farmpark Woolfest Sat 6/23 and Sun 6/24. Fiber workshops offer workshops on knitting, felting, weaving, spinning yarn, dyeing, beading, and more! http://www.lakemetroparks.com.
Train Day! CanalWay Center serves as host for elaborate model train displays Sat 6/23 at 10AM. Watch as they roll down miniature tracks More than 40 trains a day rumble over the nearly 2,000-foot long bridge visible high above Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation. The bridge, built in the late 1800s, is part of the Cleveland Short-Line Railway. Children can create train crafts and ride the kids’ train, and learn from trainspotters and experts on railroading. For more information, call 216-206-1000.
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You don’t want to miss what 11-year-old Max has for you and your family this week. Listen here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolClevelandKids06.22.07.mp3. Click here to subscribe: iTunes or other.
BrewedFreshDaily.com, run by Cool Cleveland’s George Nemeth, scans over hundreds of area feeds everyday and provides links and commentary on a range subjectsfrom coffee to economic development in Northeast Ohio. Here’s an excerpt:
Last week’s RoldoLink which was #1 in the Top 5, was also the post receiving the most pageviews on BFD. In case you missed it, Roldo said:
Here’s some of your reactions:
Read and add your comment here
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Links to interesting NEO blogs
Nortechjobs.com launches with 5K jobs listed that you can search if you’re member.
A recent Census Bureau report ranks several Northeast Ohio cities in the top ten of the country for refusing to carpool.
A handout from Let Rachel Speak! has a list of 10 things you can do to keep the sense of wonder and awe alive.
Property owners by Fulton Road come home to find their backyard destroyed.
Apparently this can happen anywhere in the city, like over in Little Italy.
EcoCityCleveland’s David Beach previews the presentation he’ll be giving at this year’s Solar Conference.
The Mayor of Lorain takes a job at Tri-C and leaves a mixed legacy.
The NYTimes covers the Breuer building today and Christine excerpts the choice quote.
NewsNet5 is reminded that they need to report the news.
Check Brewed Fresh Daily here, where Peter Chakerian comments on the news of the week in the Cool Cleveland newsletter and beyond. When you’re through, add your own comments, questions and attitude. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
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Hot Ham & Cheese
Hot Ham & Cheese
Jib Machine Records
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HH&C began in February 2005 when longtime acquaintances Robby Mitchell (drums) and Charlie (guitars/vocals) decided to get together and jam, playing a few live shows as a duo. Louie Styx (bass) was added to the group and by that summer, the trio had enough material for their self-titled debut EP released on Cleveland indie label Jib Machine Records. While none of the three have the chops of a Les Claypool, songs like Cocaine Billy and Pleasantly Insane are cut from the Primus/Sausage cloth; the remaining four tracks on Hot Ham & Cheese are something of an angular, alt-rock WYSIWYG, e.g., perfect programming for extreme radio stations across the country…
Red the review by Peter Chakerian here
Wanna get reviewed? Send your band’s CD (less than 1 year old) to: Cool Cleveland, 14837 Detroit Avenue, #105, Lakewood, OH 44107
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Fresh Thinkin’: CityFresh’s Fresh Hop
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CityFresh is a joint initiative beteween the New Agrarian Center (NAC) and Ohio State University Cooperative Extension. The goal of City Fresh is “to build a more just and sustainable local food system in Northeast Ohio,” said Brad Masi, Executive Director of the New Agrarian Center recently. “Everyone knows of the Fresh Stops as the place in the neighborhood to get fresh local food and nutrition information. There’s a couple of levels of work we’re trying to do with these events — mainly mixing of people neighborhoods in the region. Most people buy shares [of produce] and pick up in their own neighborhoods.”
“We hope the ‘Fresh Hop’ inspires people to meet some of the farmers, explore some of the neighborhoods and learn the potential of food sharing and distribution as a means for community development goals. We can all learn from each other, and that’s the idea… engage in some of the opportunities in Northeast Ohio.”
The first of a series, this Slavic Village “Hop” will provide an introduction to the Broadway neighborhood and help people learn the potential for local food production and community brainstorming on how the old Carnegie Library at E. 55th and Broadway might be reused, as well as sessions on rooftop agriculture, food processing and canning, urban and rural mixing, culinary arts and more.
“We’re hoping people come to the ‘Fresh Hop’ with open minds and creative ideas,” Masi told Cool Cleveland. “There’s a lot of vacant space in Cleveland and Lorain and Youngstown — with old buildings either under utilized or unoccupied. We spend $7 billion as a region on food every year and we at CityFresh see the future as a value-added process: bringing together local food production, neighborhood revitalization, economic development and other elements together. That’s what CityFresh is all about.”
For details on CityFresh, the scoop on the “Fresh Hop” and to sign-up for fresh, locally-grown produce (who wouldn’t want some?!?), check out their website at http://cityfresh.org.
From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com
Conquering Autism with a Touch of alt.country
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Pattison (pictured here with Evan) had the idea to create an organization to help families in Northeast Ohio with support, help and direct financial assistance. The NAA-NEO was “conceived last fall [with] another parent who turned out to a pretty good friend of mine,” Pattison added. “We sought to create an organization that would provide direct financial assistance to parents struggling to pay for autism related services for their children, since we knew first hand of the enormous costs and challenges facing these families.” And with the organization’s first-ever benefit concert at the Beachland Ballroom this Saturday, June 23 — featuring national alt.country recording artists the Bottle Rockets and Robbie Fulks — Pattison and others hope to take the NAA-NEO mission to the next level.
“Moreover, as parents, we knew that the demand for such an organization as ours was high due to the fact that existing resources to pay for autism services were insufficient and the growth in autism cases has exploded locally consistent with the rise nationally,” Pattison added. This was the impetus for the NAA-NEO is two-fold, according to Pattison: NAA-NEO assists families by offering financial assistance to help defray the cost of treatments; second, “we educate people about autism and connect families to the available resources so that they have access to necessary treatments and interventions.”
With that kind of aggressive program, funding is always critical; Pattison thought that an annual benefit concert might be the way to go. “We wanted to create an event that would be just as much fun planning as it would be attending,” he said. “I love alt.country music and have a sentimental attachment to the Beachland. We needed to do a fundraiser in order to raise funds for our Helping Hand Grant program, since foundations typically do not fund these types of activities.
“I did not want the fundraiser to be arduous or seem like a chore, so personally, I wanted to organize a concert and have it at the beloved Beachland. Mark [Leddy] and Cindy [Barber], the owners of the Beachland were extremely helpful and generous in helping us stage this event,” Pattison added. “Going to the Beachland and attending other cultural activities in the area are important elements in my respite diet and I would expect other families caring for an autistic child to enjoy these type of activities as well. We are hoping to do this on an annual basis with the event getting bigger each year.”
This year’s NAA-NEO benefit features the Bloodshot Records’ recording artists The Bottle Rockets and countrified troubadour Robbie Fulks. The former artists released the album Zoysia (produced by the legendary Jeff Powell) last summer. The latter man is perhaps best known for his anthemic shunning of Nashville, called “F This Town.” More information about the show and the organization is available at http://www.autismnortheastohio.org or by contacting Pattison directly at dpattison@autismnorthestohio.org.
Visit the Beachland Ballroom at http://www.beachlandballroom.com.
From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com
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Coming of Age in the Ghetto
I would venture to guess that few men can upon reflection years later recall the instance or incident whereupon they started to become men; where, when and what happened that caused them to take their first, tentative, mental step onto the bridge that would ultimately lead them across the yawning chasm that separates soft, carefree puberty from the onset of the hardening of eventual manhood. Fortunately for me I can recall the time and date of the beginning of my personal transition with such an evocative clarity I swear it seems as if the vignette played out only yesterday.
It was not something I did but rather something I, in the waning moments of my childhood, was about to witness. It was to be one of those father/son lessons that have been transmitted down from generation to generation since the beginning of time. The type of lesson that is taught by doing, not by telling the type which becomes permanently ingrained on the psyche of the young person on the receiving end in such an indelible manner that it lasts a lifetime. A lesson learned simply by the witnessing of it; not by being told how to be a man, but by simply watching a man be a man…
Read more from Mansfield Frazier here
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No Will in City to Solve its Real Problems
Cigarette smokers paid some $4.5 million in tax revenue in the first four months of the newly voted Cuyahoga County arts tax. They also paid another $904,376 in smoking taxes to help pay for the Browns Football Stadium in the same period.
I bring this up because recently another reporter asked me, What I would do to solve the citys problems. I didnt give him any good answers. I dont have them. Im not a policy maker.
What to do about city problems, however, can be solved. The will to solve, however, isnt there…
Read more from Roldo Bartimole here
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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
Fine Arts Fair @ Crocker Park 6/10 Summer time in Cleveland means art fairs, art walks and any number of unique exhibits throughout the city. It seems like every weekend there is something in the art world going on somewhere. The trick is finding something out of the ordinary. That is exactly what could be found at the Crocker Park Fine Arts Fair.
The fair, in only its second year, is produced by the Guild of Artists and Artisans and attaches over 130 juried artists from Ohio and surrounding states. According to their brochure, The Guild is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to promote understanding and appreciation of the visual arts and to provide a support network for established and emerging artists.
On the community level, the fair is supported by practically every art and theater interest in the Westlake/Bay Village area. Among these are Baycrafters, The Weslake-Westshore Arts Counsel, and The Red Brick Building Center for the Arts and The Huntington Playhouse.
On June 9th and 10th, the streets of Crocker Park were lined with tents filled the unique and unusual. The day was a perfect, seventy-five degrees and sunny. The tent lined streets and side walk cafes give the visitors a very European flavor. Using a little imagination, it could have been a small town somewhere in France. Romantic music filled the air, preformed by such talented musicians as Pat Tamburro, IAccordeoniste, of North Olmsted. Mr. Tamburro specializes in “music from the first half of the twentieth century.”
People of all shapes and sizes, from every walk of life came together in this place for one reason, the love and enjoyment of art. Even the kids were included in this celebration of the arts.
The Imagination Station, sponsored by Cleveland Family, invited young artists to try their hand at what every struck there fancy. Beading, clothes pin art, drawing and sidewalk chalk art where just some of the things that the kids were invited to try. But the main thing was to let them have fun, no matter what they tried. Chalk, paste and beads where flying everywhere. Some of them had more of the art on themselves than on the paper but they were having fun, mission accomplished!
From the whimsical to the magical to the just plain beautiful, every art form in every price range was available for discerning customer or browser. Everything from painting to ceramics, puppets to jewelry, photography to sculpture, was available. If you couldnt find it there, you just couldnt it.
While artists from several states were represented, local talent and Ohio artists were featured prominently at the fair. Working in every medium under the sunny, it was amazing to see how many extremely talented people live and work in the area. Some could very well be your neighbors.
Neil Doren of Westlake specializes in photography. Concentrating on nautical themes and scenes from nature, he blends extraordinary subject matter with extraordinary color. The thing that turns his photos into art is his method of printing them on canvas instead of paper. After printing, they are then given a coating of UV protection, eliminating the need for glass. The process also gives the finished print an oil painting quality. It also seems to create a sense of movement in his subject matter. Neil likes to choose themes that he terms relaxing. The combination of subject matter and Neils processing technique draws the viewer into the photos.
In the mixed media category, Diane Dekany and Sue Motika of Sylvania use, of all things, feathers to create unique and brilliant shadow box type wall hangings. Feather from exotic birds, such as red/green and blue parrots, as well as more common varieties, such as duck and turkey, are arranged in different patterns and accented with complementing clay pieces painted with iridescent acrylic paint. The technique give the clay a metallic quality and are used to bring the composition together. Very pleasing to the eye, no two works are exactly the same.
Representing sculpture is David Petlowany of North Olmsted. His specialty is animal sculpture, primarily bears. Starting with Colorado alabaster, marble, limestone and sandstone, he takes chunks of seemingly lifeless rock and though his craft, gives them life. His creations are smooth and flowing. Some have an abstract quality but not so abstract that it hides what the artist is trying to depict. In fact, the combination of smoothness and abstractness give movement to the work. David likes to call his art honest stone sculpture.
Working in maple, oak, cherry and walnut, David and Virginia Ross of Bryan, Ohio create jewelry boxes and sculpture that are unique in style and a pleasure to look at. The graining of the wood and the richness of its color used in different combinations give their creations warmth. The smoothness and finish of the woods make them eye-catching and a delightful to view. Warning, all of Dave and Virginias creations contain secret draws, another hallmark of their craft. You might say they bring out the spirit living in the wood.
I mentioned the whimsical. Thats exactly what describes the style of Susan Stargill of Columbus. Her drawings have a comical, cartoon like flavor that is both colorful and fun. Her specialties are cats and birthday cakes. When stepping into her tent to view her work, one cant help but smile, especially those of use who own cats. Though her drawings she has been able to capture their personalities in a way that is thoroughly enchanting.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Ernie Papp epappATssd.com
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels @ Playhouse Square Center 6/12 Do you want to get away and vacation at a fashionable resort? Come see how the rich and famous spend their summertime on the French Riviera in the Broadway hit musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, now being performed at the Palace Theatre through June 24. This show has all the ingredients of a light hearted, energetic musical complete with top notch singing, dance, music, and staging, along with the twists and turns of men/women relationships. The dialogue is humorous, the repartee quick and cleverly written.
Lawrence Jameson, the good-looking, older con man played by Tom Hewitt, is trying to get financial support from women tourists so he can regain his position of royalty. Freddy Benson, played by D.B. Bonds, is the younger budding con man with a different approach wanting to learn the tricks of the trade from Lawrence. Christine Colgate, the wealthy soap heiress and target of these mens attentions, is convincingly played by Laura Marie Duncan.
The actors are delightfully self-centered. Miss Colgate visits Jameson at his home, looking around she says, This is gorgeous. He replies, Oh I just got a haircut. No, she says, I meant the villa! The changing scenery, costumes, dance, music, and humorous script all keep the audience engaged and bemused. The surprise ending is the clincher. A wonderful romp and highly recommended.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Susan Schaul susn1ATatt.net
La Traviata @ OperaCleveland, CPH Bolton Theatre 6/15 Opera is spectacle. Its also, of course, music, but it was designed and created to be bigger than life and includes movement, costumes, sets, singing, and sometimes animals and vehicles and all manner of unexpected ingredients.
It can be performed all-out, fully-staged, including all of these items, or it can be performed in concert with the singers on stage in front of the orchestra. In between, is what weve had in recent years at Severance Hall the semi-staged version, in which sets are minimal, and sometimes costumes are simply concert dress, but there is a bit of room for the singers to move about over or behind the orchestra.
Obviously, some operas are not meant for the semi-staged concept: one could not imagine Aida, for instance without the triumphant march (featuring a cast of thousandsincluding a zoo full of animals on stage!) By the same token, patrons are entitled to feel a bit cheated when an opera is supposedly being presented in a fully-staged version, only to find it isnt, really.
La Traviata, the second presentation by the new OperaCleveland in the intimate space of the Bolton Theater of the Cleveland Play House, at times resembled a game of musical chairs almost more than anything else. The chorus, so necessary as by-standers and party guests, and in formal dress, were constantly moving a couple of dozen gilt-colored straight chairs around the perimeter of the stage area, as well as around the outer edge, facing away from the action and the audience. I kept waiting for the unlucky soul who had come up short, but fortunately that didnt happen. This might have been the most unimaginatively staged opera Ive ever seen.
Okay. Enough of that. Except for the fact that poor Violetta had to collapse and die on one of those chairs, without even a bed to call her own. My other quibble was the placement of the screen for the supertitles, high up over the Bolton stage. Trying to read them resulted in missing a good deal of what was happening on stage, and occasionally causing a crick in the neck.
Musically, however, it was mostly excellent. Soprano Gianna Corbisiero was the Violetta wed want her to be. A superb singing actress, she was entirely immersed and ultimately, very believable in the role. Her beau, the Alfredo of Dinyar Vania, was her equal musically, with a beauty of voice and range so necessary to the tortured suitor. (His Italian was truly impressive!) At first, baritone Lester Lynch came on almost too strongly as Alfredos father, Giorgio Germont. However, his later scenes were then the more believable as he pleaded with Violetta to give up his son to save his daughter from societys ridicule. (Considering Georgios sophistication, one wonders why his son should have appeared at a ball in street clothes, rather than the evening attire of the rest of the cast.) It was good to see and hear local tenor Timothy Culver as Gastone. Another of Clevelands own, dancer Michael Medcalf, choreographed and starred in an entertainment for Violettas salon.
The orchestra sounded like a much larger group from where I was sitting, and conductor Richard Buckley kept the pace steady, with clear attention to dynamics and intonation. Director Leon Majors concept of modern dress didnt interfere with the drama of the operaexcept for Alfredos suit, but his direction was quite static. The set was most interestingvery large abstractions of pastel camelias (a la Georgia OKeeffe) by Erhard Rom, against the outer walls of the stage. On the floor was a large platform, on which all the action took place, and overhead were chandeliers, which were occasionally lowered. Lighting design by Benjamin Pearcy was unobtrusive, and for the most part, costume coordination by Kim Brown, with wigs and make up by Mary Schilling-Martin served very well.
The next production of OperaCleveland is Benjamin Brittens Turn of the Screw, also at the Play House, from July 11 to July 22. Due to the demand for tickets, dont wait. Visit the website for more information: http://www.operacleveland.org about availability.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net
Pump Boys and Dinettes @ Porthouse 6/15 In 1982 Pump Boys and Dinettes, a version of which is now appearing on stage at Porthouse Theatre on the grounds of Blossom Center, was the Tony Award winner for Best New Musical. It ran for 573 performances on the Big White Way.
If you go to see the production at Porthouse, dont expect to see a story line show. The script is tale-light, though this version is talent heavy. The story, at least the general plot outline, centers on the goings on of 4 males (the pump boys) and 2 females (the dinettes) who work at a gas station/dinette somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, North Carolina.
The music, which is mostly from country/hillybilly rock/pop music genres, including some pump rock, is mostly unknown. None of the songs went on to any great fame, but they all kind a sound familiar. Titles include Fishermans Prayer, Vacation, No Holds Barred, and Serve Yourself.
The Porthouse cast is excellent. The talented musicians, who play everything from piano to harmonica to guitar to electric base to accordion, are wonderful. The singing is also mighty fine.
Since many of the lines are ad-libbed, right from getting a volunteer out of the audience to play Uncle Bob, to handing out fresh baked apple pie, to having a raffle for a real honest to goodness car air-freshener, the performers have to be up on their quick thinking game. They pass the test with flying colors, especially Chris Blisset, the guitarist and chief trouble maker. Besides his fine joking around, his version of Mamaw was a vocal highlight.
Ian Lowe not only plays a mean pie-ana, but has a charming presentational style. His T.N.D.P.W.A.M (The Night That Dolly Parton Was Almost Mine) was one of the evenings delights.
Laura Cook, could have used more animation and playfulness, but her The Best Man was presented with a nice country sound. Gary Thobaben, he of the wild black Mohawk wig and no facial expression, made quite a presence, though he only had a single line. Laura Beth Wells was a hoot as the sexy come-hither waitress. She teased with the audience, and rocked through Be Good or Be Gone. W. James Koeth was dynamic in Mona.
Director Eric van Baars paced the show well and kept the tone well-focused.
”Capsule judgment: Pump Boys and Dinettes is perfect summer time escapist entertainment. If you just want to sit outdoors amidst the chirping of the birds and insects, and hear some good-ol music encased in down home talkin, then this is your thang. Youll find yourself Taking It Slow, until Closing Time and then taking Highway 57 (or Route 8) home.
Pump Boys and Dinettes continues at KSUs Porthouse Theatre, through June 30. For tickets call 330-672-4102. or 800-304-2363.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com
Roy Berko’s blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info.
La Traviata @ OperaCleveland, CPH Bolton Theatre 6/15 Opening night for OperaCleveland’s La Traviata brought much of the magic of Verdi’s popular opera to the Cleveland Play House. Conductor Richard Buckley and the Opera Cleveland Orchestra turned the overture’s shimmering, suspended notes into a thing of quietly glowing beauty. Despite occasional slips into exaggerated dynamics and odd silent pauses, the sweepingly lovely score shone throughout this opera directed by Leon Major.
Gianna Corbisiero as Violetta Valery, the courtesan with a heart of gold, and Dinyar Vania as Alfredo Germont, the country boy who loves her, seemed comfortable vocally in their roles, but there was little chemistry between them–which is unfortunate since the dramatic line turns on their passion.
Most passionate by far were Corbisiero’s scenes with the formidable Lester Lynch who sang the role of Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father. Lynch owned the stage whenever he appeared. It seemed perfectly logical that his striking presence and richly nuanced baritone would appeal to Violetta’s tender heart and her impulse to self-sacrifice.
The freelance singers of the chorus sang tunefully. They seemed uncomfortable wearing cocktail dresses and tuxedos and suits–clearly not 2007 party garb for today’s fashion-forward “smart set.” Perhaps it’s easier to create a sense of gaiety onstage if flirtatious chorus ladies are armed with fans and decked out in 19th-century hoops and full skirts of traditional stagings.
Dancers Gina Artino, Terence Greene and Michael Medcalf brought a special magic to Act II with a dazzlingly lovely and first-rate interlude that showed why ballet and opera can meld seamlessly and beautifully if done to perfection (as this was). When set designers decide to re-envision traditional operas, the results can be sort of like those observed when a dear friend gets a face lift. Sometimes the result is a stunning improvement, but most often they just look–well–different. Such was the case with the minimal set Erhard Rom designed for La Traviata.
Rom used low platforms, bright chandeliers and at least two dozen formal dining room chairs. The chairs were moved around as needed by the performers. This worked fine for the party scenes (though everyone spent too much time sitting down while they sang). But when Violetta was dying and draping herself over first one chair and then another, it looked odd. “Why,” one wondered, “can’t they find a bed for the poor thing?”
It is important (evidently) to note that the summer opera season is at the Play House and not at the Playhouse Square because what was billed as a “sold out” performance featured many empty seats just before curtain time.
Executive Director Jeff Sodowsky told the audience that owners of the empty places were frantically making their way from downtown, having mixed up the two venue names–an easy thing to do and evidence of growing pains caused by combining Lyric Opera Cleveland and the Cleveland Opera companies.
Violetta may die each performance, but La Traviata seems in excellent health, able to overcome a few slight falters and to create a worthwhile June evening’s entertainment enthusiastically applauded by Cleveland’s most ardent opera fans.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Laura Kennelly lkennellyATgmail.com
The Robber Bridegroom @ CSU Factory 6/15
Reasons to Go: Everett Quinton, Everett Quinton, Everett Quinton! The superb drag farceur from Charles Ludlam’s Ridiculous Theatre Company as the battleaxe stepmother-from-hell rules this dark fairytale musical like a demented evil queen. Director Michael Mauldin has also brought in 3 other capable pros for the leads: Andrew C. Call as the hunky robber who likes to take his women, Jessica Anderson as the Ditz of Steel Mississippi heiress who falls for him, and Carl Whidden as her dim but goodnatured planter father. Mauldin’s broadly physical production and a strong bluegrass quintet give it plenty of pep.
Caveats: The larger ensemble in this new Summer Repertory Theatre needs seasoning, but that’s partly the point: to give area students the opportunity to work with nationally acclaimed professionals. This coming weekend, they open a second show, Austin Pendleton’s Booth. Kudos to Cleveland State for putting the bucks behind it.
Details: Thru 7/15, CSU, http://www.csuohio.edu/news/releases/2007/06/14303.html.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com
A Time for Us: North Coast Mens Chorus @ CSU Waetjen 6/17 A Time for Us is the most personal performance by the chorus that Ive seen, featuring several personal stories by members of the chorus. They were heart-felt, heart-wrenching and heart-warming all at the same time. As always it was a multi-colored, multi-media extravaganza. Actually, make that the all-singing, all-dancing, multi-colored, multi-media extravaganza!! There were the usual all-out production numbers, plus one absolute show-stopper, Broken Vow as sung by baritone Cesar Morales, which prompted an immediate and well-deserved standing ovation in the middle of the show! The other heart-breaker was I Shall Miss Loving You, sung by the entire chorus with guest artist, flutist Tom Kruggel, who also contributed to Every Long Journey and Acceptance from “Requiem”.
The program began with Everybody Rejoice, which nicely demonstrated the various sections of the chorus, and was followed by an a capella version of Kiss the Girl. Then came the rootin tootin, boot-scootin, foot-stompin, hand-clappin paean to football and sex, The Aggie Song from the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Dressed in boots and jeans and colorful shirts, the guys were really into it, although Mark Fant was perhaps a bit more equal than the others. He was showier, thats for sure, with his silver spurs that complemented his otherwise black and white outfit.
For the Straight Guys even had rainbow-colored covers for the mikes! They think of everything, these guys! The Coastliners were the performers here as in Cant Help Falling in Love and Im Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta my Hair, for which they decorated themselves with multi-colored towels draped around their necks. The other big production number was Mama, Im a Big Girl Now. They certainly had big hair!
Bass Daniel T. Reynolds outdid himself as Patsy Cline in Walkin After Midnight, complete with crinolines, white boots and sequins. He was wonderful! Fight the Urge was demonstrated with great poignancy by Ralph DiLudovico, Don Ferencz and Bryan Fetty, draped as they were in bath towels. Hey, guys, you should be aware that girls have troubles with locker rooms, too, you know! Maybe not exactly the same kind, but . . .
And then there are those songs that allow the performer to just stand there and sing, paying clear-cut attention to the words and the meaning. Two marvelous examples of this were I Promise You a Happy Ending by James J. McPeak and Gimme Gimme by Ralph DiLudovico. (One line in this song bears repeating: We cant trip if we hold each other. True in any situation.)
Who Will Love Me as I Am featured a straightforward (you should excuse the expression) performance from the chorus, as did Hooray For Love. The Fundamental was enacted by Dr. Donald Longbottom as the evangelist, exhorting his southern style church members to pay attention to the fact that God hates shrimp. And prawns and crabs, etc. A bit of impromptu audience participation contributed to the fun.
Are You There featured Clinton C. Condon and Eric Alan Unhold. Condon also soloed in I Know Where Ive Been, which had a gospel aura to it. Virgilio P. Fajardo was high-lighted in Still I Rise, and Patrick Wickliffe sang in the encore Why We Sing.
Music Director Richard Cole continues to draw musical virtuosity from his troops, ably assisted by principal accompanist Robert Day, and his assistant, Patrick Wickliffe. They were assisted by Adam Tully, bass and Andy Pongracz, drums.
Lora Workmans astonishing choreographer makes all the dancing gentlemen look like Gene Kelly, and now shes added another feature choral-ography which is a very clever term to describe the actions of the entire chorus while standing in place. By coordinated arm movements and finger snaps, an attractive and fun new element is brought into the program. Delish!
As always, Michael Rich enhanced the production with his ingenious lighting and technical direction.
The 2007-2008 season marks the 20th anniversary of this marvelous addition to Clevelands musical scene. To purchase their CDs (great gifts for any occasion) or tickets, or other information, visit the web-site http://www.ncmchorus.org or call 556-0590.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net
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On Parade and Disney (See Instant Karma review of Parade the Circle here) For the most part I agree with Susan Schaul: Parade the Circle was sensational, as always. My only disappointment was to find, after the parade itself, that two of the hour-long musical slots were allotted to Radio Disney. Given that parade participants are cautioned not to display words of any kind, it seems a little ironic that the organizers included such a blatantly commercial outfit in the festivities. It was fully in keeping with Disney’s role as the premiere international purveyor of ersatz kids’ culture that it’s perky representatives bopped away to prerecorded music. Surely the organizers could have found some performers of family music who at least played their own instruments. I much preferred a performance that occurred later in the day, when several dozen young kids commandeered the dance stage to hop, twirl and skip to the music of Panic Steel Ensemble. What a great example of authentic, spontaneous, collaborative art! Unfortunately, after about 20 minutes of this, several staff members showed up and gently herded the kids off the stage — perhaps there was a question of liability? It would be great if next year’s event could include a designated dance area for audience members of all ages.
from Cool Cleveland reader Deborah Van Kleef dvankleefATigc.org
On Roldo’s pride for Cleveland (See Cavs take over news media, create false spirit here) I love Cleveland. Yes, I love living in this city. But to read such a spiteful article like Roldo Bartimole wrote on being disgusted with all the Cavs coverage ruined todays Cool Cleveland for me. Did you, Roldo, participate at all in the Fan Fests that were held for Free at the “Q” or on the Gateway Mall? If you would have, you would have seen thousands of Clevelanders enjoying their city, enjoying the fact that their team is doing something to be proud of. You would have seen Moms, Dads, Grandparents and kids of all ages and all races laughing and particpating in the many events made available at no cost. This was happening in OUR city – in Cleveland – we have a championship team and we are enjoying it, no matter what happens in The Finals. I feel sorry for you Roldo – you don’t know how to enjoy your city. I believe it was a mistake for Cool Cleveland to “thank” you for being one of the Cool Cleveland contributors “having Pride in our City, Our People and Our Region”. You don’t know what Pride is.
from Cool Cleveland reader Patty Nagel PNagelATAndrewsSoftware.com
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Hot Enough For Ya? It’s not the heat or the humidity, it’s your friendly, neighborhood Hard Corps. Something cold to drink? Thanks to Peter Chakerian, T.L. Champion, George Nemeth, Claudia J. Taller, Kelly Ferjutz, Roldo Bartimole, Mansfield B. Frazier, Ernie Papp, Linda Eisenstein and Susan Schaul. And lastly, though certainly not least, thanks to our readers and everyone who partners with us. Want to volunteer and contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, articles, or story ideas to: Events@CoolCleveland.com.
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