Real

Real

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland Interview Barbara Reynolds of Realty One Real Living
* Cool Cleveland Reads Windsong by CC contributor Kelly Ferjutz
* Cool Cleveland Preview of the upcoming NASA Art Show
* RoldoLINK Roldo sets expectations for the Jackson Administration
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, CC Blog click here

This week, really, we have a chance to get serious about where we live. We take a closer look at the real estate industry with our interview of Realty One Real Living’s Barbara Reynolds and their real headquarters move from Independence to Downtown Cleveland’s Warehouse District. Real businesses putting their money, and their employees, where their mouth is. And we give you a chance to do the same with our focus on Cool holiday shopping, an artistic alternative to spending your cash on international corporations at soulless shopping malls and lifestyle centers. We’ll be pointing you to art galleries, museums and artist open houses where you can spend your real dollars where they can really have a positive effect on our community. The internationally important Kent State Folk Festival is still happening, Near West Theatre changes lives with their version of Godspell working with their neighborhood kids, NASA exhibits art, and Cleveland-based Alternative Press founders talk at the Rock Hall. Read the Instant Karma reviews about last week’s events, including Voices & Choices, the 900+ citizens who got together in Akron to talk and plan for our future. In case you were wondering, we’re playing for keeps. Get real, Cleveland… –Thomas Mulready

Cool Cleveland Interview
Barbara Reynolds of Realty One Real Living

Realty One Real Living is the most recent incarnation of Hilltop Realty. When the company formed over 50 years ago, the “flight to the suburbs” had yet to become a trend. Downtown living was real living. Big box stores, mega malls and the corporatization of outlying areas weren’t even a thought. Today they are the largest residential real estate firm in the Midwest, the fifth-largest in the nation (with nearly $7 billion in annual sales) and they’re on another mission: to bring the focus back on to big cities. Particularly Cleveland. Cool Cleveland recently spoke to their President Barbara Reynolds about Realty One Real Living’s “big move” downtown and other topics including the rebirth of Cleveland as it relates to real estate.

Cool Cleveland: A lot of pundits would say that businesses are still leaving and residents are still fleeing for the suburbs. Is that fed by the general negativity here and what is it about Clevelanders and their negativity towards the city?

Barbara Reynolds: Not all of Cleveland shares in that negativity, though. I think the “Believe in Cleveland” campaign going on right now is a step in the right direction and I’d like to hope we’ve had a little bit to do with that. It’s nice to see people focusing on the positive aspects of what’s happening here instead of just talking about the negative…

What kinds of long term benefits will the city realize, given a future that includes a retraction back to the city from the suburbs?

One of the single biggest things that will happen— something that could have a hugely advantageous impact on public schools— is the constituency. Our public schools have seen some improvements, but because schools are a reflection of the communities they serve, their improvement comes with added involvement and engagement. Business will see that as a benefit to employees, developers will see that as a means to create and improve housing and more people will move into the area…
Read Peter Chakerian’s interview with Barbara Reynolds here

Cool holiday shopping We know it seems like it’s too soon to think about shopping for holiday gifts. But it’s not too soon to get the jump on the holiday crowds. Or to start considering alternatives to the mundane, corporate shopping malls and lifestyle centers. Why not buy art and gifts from Cleveland artists this holiday season? Here’s a couple of opportunities this week:
Heights- A Holiday Store, is open now featuring art, crafts, CDs and books by Cleveland Heights artists, at 2173 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. Their hours are Tues – Sat 11AM-9PM and Sunday 1-5PM, although they are open Monday 12/19. Check them out at http://www.HeightsArts.org.
Local Girl Gallery Holiday Festival celebrates the harvest holiday season on Fri 11/18 from 6-10PM during an evening of art, food, drinks and good friends coming together to support a great cause, The Pilgrim St. Paul Lakewood Lutheran Church Community Mission. Acquire cool, artist rendered picture frames during a benefit auction or try for great door prizes or raffled items. Call 228-1802 for more info. Local Girl Gallery, 16106 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood.
MOCA Cleveland Holiday Sale gives you an early jump on your holiday shopping and gift-giving with MOCA and local “taste-maker” Heidi Lingg as they present ARTscape 2005 on Fri 11/18 and Sat 11/19. ARTscape offers jewelry, home décor, wearables, accessories, handmade seasonal gifts and more by more than 50 local artists and artisans. Get first pick at the cavalcade of jealousy inducing gift offerings during the Friday evening preview show from 5-9PM. Guests can munch on tasty complimentary hors d’oeuvres and sip cocktails from the donations bar while selecting gifts as unique as the people who will receive them. Saturday’s sale is open to the public without cost and runs from 11AM to 6PM. Visit www.MOCACleveland.org or call 421-8671, ext. 44. MOCA Cleveland, 8501 Carnegie Avenue.
Art and Soul Holiday Art Show Browse beautifully handcrafted artistry during a two-day show that blends therapy and art on Sat 11/19 and Sun 11/20. An exquisite banquet of gift ideas will be represented in the collective works of therapists/artists from across Cleveland in a range of media including jewelry, ceramics, collage creations, batik, botanical art, homemade sauces, chutney and apple butter, notecards and paintings between 11AM and 5PM each day. Call 320-1459 for more information. Center Art, 1930 Lee Rd, Cleveland Hts (next to Zagara’s Marketplace).
Local Author & Book Fair Dazzle your friends and family with an autographed book signed by the local author; a far more impressive gift than the unusual (read, butt ugly) scarf, socks or tie you’ll get off the clearance rack on Christmas Eve. Sam Fulwood III, Nina Gibans, Karen & John Godt, Marvin McMickle, M. LaVora Perry, James Robenalt, Les Roberts, Ted Steinberg and Sarah Willis are among the many local writers who will be in attendance for the Sun 11/20 event from 1:30-4:30PM. See the full list here. Shaker Heights Public Library, 16500 Van Aken Boulevard, Shaker Heights.
Do you know of a gallery or artists space that’s selling cool local art and gifts this season? Send us the details at Events@CoolCleveland.com and we’ll list as many as possible in the next few weeks.

Cool Cleveland Podcast Listen to this week’s picks by clicking here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolCleveland11.18.05.mp3. Subscribe using this link: https://coolcleveland.com/wordpress/wp-rss2.php?category_name=CC%20podcasts.

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The Best Value in Downtown Condominiums is available at the Pointe at Gateway, a beautifully renovated, historic building in the heart of Gateway. Take your pick of light-filled, one-bedroom units and spacious two-bedroom units with two full baths. Amenities include tall ceilings, large windows filled with natural light, hardwood floors and ceramic tile. While you’re living there, you can walk to Playhouse Square, and take advantage of the excitement of E. 4th Street and the House of Blues. One bedrooms start under $100,000; two bedrooms start in the low $100’s. Tax abatement and special financing are available. Why rent when you can own, and enjoy a low monthly payment? Check out our open house this Sun 11/20 from 2-4PM at 750 Prospect. For a complete list of open houses this weekend, please visit www.progressiveurban.com.
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Suburban police departments should consolidate In an almost spooky reprise to last week’s story (See Suburban fire departments should consolidate here), now we hear about four Lake County townships that are considering one consolidated policing district to deal with the surging population. This may be how regionalism takes hold in our part of the world: practical, cost-saving approaches to common issues and problems. See story here. Your thoughts on regionalism? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Signature bridge still in jeopardy Why is The Ohio Department of Transportation still rushing forward with their butt-ugly design for the Innerbelt replacement bridge that Cleveland will be living with for the next 100 years? See story here. Even after scores of letters to Cool Cleveland (See Yr Turn below and here), ODOT still refuses to get a second opinion on proposals by Cuyahoga County Planning Director Paul Alsenas which could offer Cleveland a beautiful, useful bridge for the same cost. Plan to attend the public meeting on Thu 11/17 at 4:30 – 8:30PM at CSU’s Wolstein Center, 2000 Prospect, and see the County’s site here. Once again, it may be useful to write to ODOT project director Craig Hebebrand craig.hebebrand@dot.state.oh.us and other elected officials listed here, while Cc:ing Cool Cleveland at Letters@CoolCleveland.com. Cleveland deserves better. It’s time we stood up for our own future.

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What to Do When PowerPoint Fails and Speak Up! The Art of Speaking with Confidence are two new classes for business professionals offered at Playhouse Square Center. Learn techniques to resourcefully deliver a captivating presentation in spite of technical snafus in What to Do When PowerPoint Fails. Develop your voice into a powerful and persuasive tool in Speak Up! The Art of Speaking with Confidence. Veteran performers guide you in honing your skills to effectively engage any audience. Classes are held in the new Idea Center at Playhouse Square, conveniently located in downtown Cleveland’s Theater District. Register now for the Winter session. Visit www.PlayhouseSquare.com for a course schedule and registration information.
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Ohio legislature is at it again You may want to contact your legislators right away, since it appears that they may be voting on two issues critical to Ohio’s competitiveness. One bill being rushed through is the Ohio Patriot Act (SB 9), which, if passed, would trample civil liberties while not insuring additional safety. Urge your legislators to allow more time for discussion. The other bill that was rushed out of committee early Tuesday is (SB 210 & HB 355) which would criminalize the use of any egg-derived material or embryonic tissue, affecting a wide range of health care research in Ohio. Senators and Representatives may be voting as early as Wed 11/16. Find your State Representative here, and your State Senator here. Watch your trusty representatives vote live online at http://www.OhioChannel.org, Then send us a note and let us know how you feel: Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

High School Rock-Off Start doing your homework; it’s time to rock enroll for the 10th Annual Rock-Off at the Odeon in January. The event gives young performers the opportunity to perform on a professional stage with a professional lighting and sound crew in front of a large, high energy crowd. Interested band members enrolled in grade 12 or lower at the time of the competition can obtain an entry form here, at the Odeon Concert Club or Sam Ash Music. The complete application, a three-song demo tape or CD and $50 entry fee must be mailed or delivered to Belkin Productions, 44 North Main Street, Chagrin Falls no later than Mon 12/5 at 5PM. High school students are also invited to create the design for the Rock-Off Volume 8 CD cover. Art entries with completed artwork release forms must also be submitted to the same address by the above deadline. Call 440-247-2722 for more info.

Cool Cleveland Kids Check this week’s picks by looking for the CC KIDS tag below under Cool Cleveland This Week. And don’t forget to click here to hear a short audio clip by 9-year-old Cool Cleveland correspondent Max Mulready, who will point you and your family to a couple of fun family things happening this week. No technical experience needed. Listen here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolClevelandKids11.18.05.mp3, and subscribe to the CC Kids podcast using this link: https://coolcleveland.com/wordpress/wp-rss2.php?category_name=CC%20kids%20podcasts.

Ingenuity art/tech proposal deadline extended Do you or your group or institution have an idea for a large art/tech project for the 2006 version of the Ingenuity Festival of Art & Technology. Ingenuity organizers James Levin (of Cleveland Public Theatre) and Thomas Mulready (of Cool Cleveland) are looking for some “big ideas” that combine Cleveland arts and new technology to create a project in the budget range of $25K to $250K for next Summer’s Ingenuity Fest. Will it be yours? The deadline for a Statement of Interest has been extended to Thu 12/1. You are encouraged to download the simple Call for Proposals http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/IngenuityRFPextended.pdf and submit the simple Statement of Interest by 12/1. Those moving on to the next round will be notified to put together a complete plan and budget. http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/IngenuityRFPextended.pdf

Eden Records Launches There’s a brand new record label in town. The indie-rock label Eden Records is looking for artists who have lots of talent and a great sound, but also something really important to say. Check out some of their artists currently making a splash on the national indie-rock scene at www.EdenRecords.org. Eden has a compilation CD and several shows planned including their showcase at the Grog Shopp on Sun 11/20 at 7PM and a CD release show at The Beachland Ballroom on 1/7/06.

Emissions from the blogsphere Emitting from the blogosphere of note this week are comments on Voices and Choices. Starting with Pho, who points out 3 fundamental issues which David Abbott, director of the Gund Foundation, feels compelled to respond to. Meanwhile on the Cool Cleveland weblog, Peter Chakerian touches on the recent Joe Lovano/Cleveland Jazz Orchestra pairing, the viability of the Bop Stop, the emPHAsis on the sylLABles for “Believe in Cleveland” and ponders plagiarism and a Pulitzer in the same house. Check the Cool Cleveland weblog here, then add your own comments, questions and attitude. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

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Hot Property: Only two left! MillCreek, adjacent to the Cleveland Metroparks, boasts an award-winning community of single-family homes on 58 exquisitely landscaped acres. With only two properties left, the first starts at $164,500 with 1550 square feet, an open floor plan, 2 large bedrooms, 1 and a half baths, and a formal living and dining room. The other home starts at $177,400 with 1730 square feet, open floor plan, 2 large bedrooms, 1 and a half baths, eat-in kitchen, porch, stainless steel kitchen appliances, washer, dryer, finished bonus rooms, 15 year tax abatement and 1.5% below market interest rate. MillCreek is 20 minutes from downtown, Beachwood Place, Great Northern and has a clubhouse, pool and parks within the community. Models by appointment only. Contact (216) 513-7030 or www.ZarembaHomes.com.
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Cool Cleveland This Week
11.16-11.23

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

The Jewish Journey: Frédéric Brenner’s Photographic Odyssey, a visual social history, chronicles the global diversity of Jewish life through an extensive collection of photos on display through 1/8. The French photographer, a trained social anthropologist, and past winner of the Prix de Rome, compiled the most extensive visual record of the Jewish Diaspora ever created by a single individual during his 27-year odyssey to more than 40 countries spanning five continents. Call 593-0575 or visit http://www.MaltzJewishMuseum.org for info. Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood.

Polygraph Lounge The duo of Rob Schwimmer and Mark Stewart, both accomplished solo performers and sought after sidemen, don the personas, Chuck McCubbin and Ernest Tuber and serve up a side of musical virtuosity seasoned with inspired lunacy. No facet of pop culture is safe from the duo’s arsenal of zany humor. Make a date with the duo, described as “Spike Jones for the 21st Century” and “Brilliant!” as they perform tonight, Wed 11/16 at 7&9PM. Call 795-0550. http://www.NighttownCleveland.com

Society for Environmental Graphic Design (SEGD), an international non-profit organization providing resources for design specialists in the field of environmental graphic design, architecture, and landscape, interior, and industrial design, will kick-off their local chapter with an event at the House of Blues, a testimony to classic environmental design, tonight, Wed 11/16 from 5:30-7:30PM. Design professionals can learn more about SEGD membership benefits while mingling with their gifted counterparts throughout the region. Call 251-2700 or log onto http://www.DimensionalMedia.com for more info on the event. Visit http://www.segd.org to learn more about the organization. House of Blues, 308 Euclid Avenue.

ODOT Public Open House ODOT will discuss proposed changes to the Innerbelt and the Central Viaduct Bridge design during this Thu 11/17 meeting from 4:30-8:30PM. Presentation at 6PM. Call 584-2007 with questions or visit http://www.Innerbelt.org. Enter at the Annex Entrance to the left of Gate A. Fourth Floor Conference Center, CSU Wolstein Center, 2000 Prospect Avenue.

Local Author Book Fair Join two dozen local authors, both self-published and nationally published, including Cool Cleveland’s own Kelly Ferjutz (read the review of Kelly’s book Windsong in Cool Cleveland Reads below), on Thu 11/17 from 5-8PM. These local literary heroes will discuss, sign and sell their books, of various genres. See which authors will be on hand here. Call 795-9800. Loganberry Books, 13015 Larchmere Boulevard, Shaker Heights.

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Roving Correspondent for National Public Radio’s Foreign Desk, Anne Garrels will appear at Cleveland State University on Thu 11/17 at 6PM in Drinko Hall (located in the Music/Communication Building, 2001 Euclid Avenue). Cleveland Public Library and CSU are partnering in this no-charge and open to the public program to promote the new CSU Middle Eastern Studies program. Garrels earned international recognition in 2003 by being one of 16 U.S. journalists to remain in Baghdad during the initial invasion of Iraq. Her around-the-clock reports from the city under siege gave listeners insight into the impact of the war on Baghdad. Parking available in the Visitors parking lot on Euclid, east of the campus book store. Book signing after lecture. Contact (216) 623-2822 or www.cpl.org.
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Cleveland Next Meeting Attend the follow up meeting to the September launch on Fri 11/18 from 8-9:30AM. Cleveland Next empowers individuals and teams by helping them to execute their ideas for improving our region. Visit http://www.ClevelandNext.com to submit an idea that you are committed to making happen, or to track the progress of ideas already in motion. Tri-C Corporate College East, 4400 Richmond Road, Warrensville Heights.

Don’t take our word for it Promoting your products and services (or your client’s) with the edgy, weekly e-newsletter delights the senses, ruffles the feathers and gets down like no other. If you think that’s us tootin’ our own horn, check these testimonials. Contact Info@CoolCleveland.com for info about advertising.

Movie & TV Studio Open House Join Prelude2Cinema for their Private Studio Open House on Fri 11/18 from 12-6PM for those interested in making Northeast Ohio a major player in the Movie and TV industry. RSVP to attend the Open House here. http://www.Prelude2Cinema.com.

Multiplicity Be there for the opening reception on Fri 11/18 from 5-9PM, for an exploration of multiples and obsessions. SPACES, 2220 Superior Viaduct, 621-2314 http://www.SPACESgallery.org

Annual Fete du Beaujolais Nouveau Be among the first in the world to sample the superb wines of the 2005 Buffet Campagnard harvest on Fri 11/18 from 6-10PM. Each year, wine aficionados in France and around the world celebrate this highly anticipated event. Tasty French pates, prosciutto, sausages, cheeses, breads and various tasty creations—prepared by local French chefs Dider Montarou and Guillaume Brard, of the InterContinental Hotel—will accompany this sampling of the superb Beaujolais Nouveau. Call 274-2354 for reservations and ticket info or download your invitation here. InterContinental Hotel, 9801 Carnegie Avenue.

CC KIDS KSU Family Folk Concert Grammy Award winners and multiple Grammy Award nominees, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer will delight families with their Fri 11/18 performance at 7PM during the Kent State Folk Festival. The prolific artists are the only children’s recording artists to win the Grammy two years in a row! They will perform music from their latest kids’ CD, Scat Like That – A Musical Word Odyssey, an entertaining and educational treat. Call 866-468-3401 or visit www.TicketWeb.com for tickets. Kent Stage, 175 E Main Street, Kent. www.KentStateFolkFestival.org.

Pajama Jam Who says pajama parties are just for kids? Enjoy scrumptious fare, steamy jazz and cool blues performed by House of Blues regular Tina Farmer and Company during this sleepover FUNdraiser to benefit the United Way of Greater Cleveland on Fri 11/18 beginning at 7:30PM. The evening includes a silent auction and an after hours party with more nibbles and libations. Guests will retire to completely renovated and ultra chic guest rooms featuring sumptuous linens and lavishly appointed furnishings and enjoy a delicious breakfast the following morning. Call 736-7047. Cleveland Marriott, 127 Public Square. www.uws.org.

WCLVnotes The live Cleveland Orchestra broadcasts on WCLV 104.9 resume this Sat 11/19 at 8PM. Robert Porco conducts an especially attractive choral program with soloists and The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus – Faure’s “Requiem,” Poulenc’s “Gloria” and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Five Mystical Songs.” Also, Sat 11/19 at 10PM, Weekend Radio with Robert Conrad presents a “Ghost Riders in the Sky” orgy including very funny Scottish and Spike Jones versions of the Stan Jones classic. Don’t forget the Detroit Symphony broadcasts on Sundays at 1 PM. Complete details on WCLV’s entire schedule can be found on our web site at www.WCLV.com. WCLV is a Cool Cleveland partner.

Godspell at Near West Theatre Take the family for a great night of theater with prices so low you’ll be able to afford a couple of extra holiday gifts. Join the intergenerational cast of Godspell as they bring the writings of Matthew to life, in a “soul-stirring” message of renewal and mercy. The show kicks off on Fri 11/18 at 7:30PM and performances run Thursday through Sunday through Sun 12/4. Visit http://www.NearWestTheatre.org or call 621-3242 for more info and ticket information. St. Patrick’s Club Building, 3606 Bridge Avenue, Ohio City.

World Premiere of T.I.D.Y. Award-winning Cleveland playwright, Eric Coble, one of Cleveland’s most successful and widely produced The dark comedy is directed by Roger Truesdell and carries a strong moral message as it examines our personal and political responsibilties. The show runs through Sun 12/18. Call 521-2540 or visit http://www.BeckCenter.org. Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood.

CC KIDS NASA Art Examine more than 30 original art pieces created by NASA artists over the past few decades during this Sat 11/19 family event from 10AM to 3PM. Families will enjoy interactive demos of NASA art design and tons of all ages activities including kids’ make-and-take-crafts. DancEvert will perform an encore presentation of Confluence, a dance developed in collaboration with NASA, for the Ingenuity Festival earlier this year. The routine uses wind, dance and flowing fabric to demonstrate the aeronautic states of balance and turbulence. Visit www.nasa.gov for important visitation guidelines. Call 433-9653 for reservations. NASA Glenn Visitor Center, 21000 Brookpark Road.

Happy Birthday Loganberry Books! The independent bookstore is celebrating 10 years of holding their own amid national bookstore chains with their “perfect” mall locations and cutesy coffee shops. To thank the community for its support over the years, Loganberry is offering us a gift on their birthday: 10% off of every book in the store, all day on Sat 11/19 and a big party from 5-10PM. There will also be tons of prizes, give-aways and tasty foods and drinks. Call 795-9800. Loganberry Books, 13015 Larchmere Boulevard, Shaker Heights. www.LoganberryBooks.com.

CC KIDS Calling and Collaring Coyotes For nearly 15 years, sightings of the elusive coyote have elicited fear, curiousity and excitement. The growth in the coyote population has prompted the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to study their range, travel and hunting patterns, as well as their interactions with other animals. Join a CVNP park ranger for a no-cost, multi-media family program on the fascinating and controversial coyote on Sat 11/19 at 7PM. Call 524-1497. Meet at Happy Days Visitor Center, 500 W. Streetsboro Road, Peninsula. www.DayInTheValley.com.

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Get an Inside Look into who really makes music happen. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum presents: “From Songwriters to Soundmen: The People Behind the Hits.” Join us Wed 11/16 at 7PM to kick off the second annual series with Alternative Press journalists Mike Shea and Jason Pettigrew. This event is no-charge with a reservation. Call 216.515.8426 to RSVP. In December, the Rock Hall switches gears to hear from the number one “Country Bassist” of all time, Bob Moore. The man behind such hits as the Beach Boys’ “SMiLE,” Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” will be here on Wed 12/21 at 7PM. Tickets go on sale Mon 11/21 for $5. For more info contact www.RockHall.com.
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An Evening with Tony Maimone & Scott Krauss, the former rhythm section of Pere Ubu and the founders of Home and Garden, will include a delicious pierogi dinner on Sat 11/19 at 7PM, visual art and a jam session with the two experimental pioneers who will be joined by their friends. The suggested donation for this event is just $5. Call 939-9099. The Miller – Weitzel Gallery, 5304 Detroit Avenue. http://www.MillerWeitzelGallery.com.

The Art of Pizza Enjoy an exciting evening of good food, cocktails and great company for a great cause on Sat 11/19 at 7PM. The benefit will help support arts education at Cleveland Heights High School; all proceeds go to Heights Arts for its programs in “The Mosaic Experience at Heights High,” which offers a professional development program to create successful models of integrated arts curriculum. Call 371-3444 for more info or reservations. Download flyer here. Dewey’s Pizza, 2194 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. http://www.HeightsArts.org.

Battle of the Bands – Cleveland-Style Ernie Krivda & The Fat Tuesday Big Band faces off against The Swing City Big Band, on Sat 11/19 at 8PM. Enjoy four straight hours of the best in Cleveland Big Band during this absolutely live, no DJ’s allowed (except as spectators) event. Get your swing on and take a chance on winning cool door prizes like an Acoustic Guitar Package. Arrive at 7PM for your complimentary swing dance lesson. Call 440-250-9338 or visit www.GottaSwingDance.com for tickets. Springvale Ballroom, 5871 Canterbury Road, North Olmsted.

Matisyahu The Hasidic Reggae Star (no this is not an example of Googlewhacking) will demonstrate his ability to convey messages of faith and spirituality in a manner that melts skepticism and opens the soul on Sat 11/19 at 9PM. His artistry combines the sounds of Bob Marley and Shlomo Carlebach, yet remains wholly original. The Odeon, 1295 Old River Road. http://www.HasidicReggae.com/.

Discoturkey A special Thanksgiving event to benefit the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, featuring DJs Dan Stark & Deviant, this Sat 11/19 from 9PM-2:30AM at Abbasso Underground Lounge, 1222 Prospect, 375-5425, http://www.HeadrushMusic.com.

CC KIDS Soulful Sunday Brunch Bring the family on Sun 11/20 from 11:30AM-3:30PM for a smorgasbord of delectable delights including a variety of meats, vegetables, salads, desserts and beverages. Call 561-8177 for tickets and info. HealthSpace Cleveland, 8911 Euclid Avenue.

Tellabration! The ageless wonder of once upon a time lives on through this annual international storytelling celebration for adults. The doorway to delight opens on Sun 11/20 at 2PM when enchanting tales of everyday life and magical worlds collide in a celebration incorporating the rich tapestry of cultural and traditional diversity of greater Cleveland. Light refreshments will be on hand as you enjoy the mystical aura and timeless nature of storytelling throughout the afternoon. Visit www.HeightsLibrary.org or call 932-3600. University Heights Library, 13866 Cedar Road, University Heights.

Signature Chefs Auction Join the March of Dimes as they host twenty of the area’s finest chefs who will perform their culinary wizardry during this prestigious annual benefit on Mon 11/21 from 5:30-9PM. Culinary masters from area eateries like Blue Point Grille, Hunan by the Falls, LaDolce Vita, Lockkeepers and many more will be on hand to share their genius as they create delicious meals and appetizers. The top auction package in this year’s event is an all-inclusive one-week vacation in Germany. Call 518-1663, ext 28 for tickets. Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, Downtown Cleveland.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

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Located in the Heart of Cleveland’s Cultural and Medical Hub, Woodhaven is close to countless Cleveland landmarks and work places including Severance Hall, University Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic, Little Italy and Case Western Reserve University. The Woodhaven townhomes range from $206,650 – 220,650 at 1901 – 2088 square feet. These 2-3 bedroom, 2½-bath homes have master suites, 2 car garages, second floor laundry rooms, separate living and family rooms, eat-in kitchens and formal dining rooms. They are maintenance-free and feature private courtyards. Three Classic Coach Homes, starting at $234,000, are currently available with 1930+ square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2½ baths, a full basement and optional bonus room over the garage. Enjoy a 100% 15-year tax abatement and discounted interest rates 1.5% below market. Contact (216) 231-5353 or www.Woodhaven.net.
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Cool Cleveland Preview
NASA Art Show 11/19

The interaction of art and technology as well as another chance to see Dance Evert’s “Confluence.” [See Linda Eisenstein’s review of Confluence on the Cool Cleveland blog here.] Even if you made it to the Ingenuity Festival, there was so much to see that you might have missed Dance Evert’s “Confluence,” which uses wind, dance and flowing fabric to demonstrate the aeronautical states of balance and turbulence. Originally developed in collaboration with NASA, the piece gets a 1:30 pm reprise at the NASA Art Show.

Also on view are numerous artists’ depictions of NASA achievements past and future, from the Space Shuttle to interstellar travel. At 11 am artist Les Bossinas will talk about his interactions with NASA. Other activities include make-and-take crafts for kids and flight simulators that allow prospective pilots to fly 6 different types of aircraft.

At the NASA Glenn Visitors Center. Admission limited to U.S. Citizens. All Adult visitors must have a government issued photo ID. Reservations for the 11 am and 1:30 shows advised. 216 433-9653.

Cool Cleveland Reads
Windsong
Kelly Ferjutz
Forest Hill Publishing LLC

Despite the fact that romance novels sell big, they are frequently put down as fairy tales of a sort, fluff with not much in the way of redeeming literary value. Gorgeous boy and luscious girl meet, there’s instant love and/or lust, but complications keep arising, first on one side, then on the other, until after a few hundred pages, love finally conquers. But judging by Kelly Ferjutz’s Windsong, this is an attitude both unfortunate and inaccurate. Windsong is a fantasy, rather than a fairy tale, and like other artistic examples of fantasy, it provides the reader excellent insights into and understanding of particular problematic matters in human society.

Windsong takes place in Michigan in 1837. The title character is a beautiful Indian woman who, the year before, had been forced to marry the young chief-to-be of a local tribe, who managed to get her pregnant before he died of smallpox. As the story begins, Bear Dancer, the old chief and Windsong’s father-in-law, has set out to find an acceptable new husband who will be a proper father to the two-month-old baby, Sky Warrior, next in line to be chief. But first, Bear Dancer and his entourage of advisors stop on Mackinac Island to report the death of his son to the Indian agent there, and given that it is January and freezing-cold, he leaves Windsong and Sky Warrior on Mackinac until spring, when he will presumably return with the new husband. On Mackinac Island, Windsong meets young Etienne Nicolet, an Indian scout. Their exchange of glances probably melted snowbanks for miles around. Etienne engineers the situation so that Windsong and Sky Warrior get a room at Mrs. Haggerty’s home, where he himself just happens to be staying. Under the sympathetic and not-too-watchful eye of Mrs. H, the romance blossoms. Etienne is as taken with Baby Sky as he is with Windsong…
Read the review of Kelly Ferjutz’s Windsong here

RoldoLINK
What We Can Expect From Frank Jackson
By Roldo Bartimole

Frank Jackson becomes the first progressive mayor since Clevelanders narrowly elected Dennis Kucinich in 1977. That does not mean he’s anti-business. He just wants economic activity to benefit more people and especially people it doesn’t help now.

That may go against the corporate community’s desires in a Cleveland mayor. Power people enjoy subservience rather than independence. Therefore, there may be early problems.

Jackson is not a Kucinich urban populist who is ready to lead an economic revolution. (That reminds me, why was Kucinich in Jane Campbell’s camp and not with Jackson? It remains a schizoid political stance for him; left positioning nationally; a more conservative home posture.)

However, Jackson may face the same resistance Kucinich did. What reminds me of that was a casual encounter with one of the more perceptive Plain Dealer reporters just before the recent election…
Read RoldoLINK here

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

Viva La Musica @ CSU 11/13 An appreciative audience in Drinko Hall experienced a mixed bag of Spanish and Latin American music Sunday evening at the third annual concert of Mvsica D’Arte, a Cleveland organization which encourages recital of small musical ensembles. The undisputed star of the evening was Jason Vieaux, Cleveland’s coolest classical guitarist. His solo Suite del Recuerdo, by Jose Luis Merlin, provided a wonderful vehicle to showcase his sensitivity and brilliant technique. CSU and B-W faculty member Sean Gabriel teamed up with Vieaux to bring magical clarity to Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango, for flute and guitar. Also featured was the Athena Quartet, which presented a lovely muted treatment of Joaquin Turnia’s La Oracion del Torero.
from Cool Cleveland correspondent Kathy Warren

Voices & Choices Regional Town Meeting @ Akron U. 11/12 Assembling an impressive 900+ citizens from 15 NEO counties remarkably representative of the demographics of the region, and showcasing surprisingly efficient handheld technology that created a unifying intimacy on the floor of the vast Rhodes Arena, the America Speaks-led team worked quickly to establish a shared vision of regional history, culture and attitudes, then, utilizing highly trained “theme teams” to compile actions designed to change regional behaviors and attitudes to better compete regionally, the largest assembled civic conversation in the country drilled down on five challenges that must be overcome in order to realize our future: employment & economic growth; fairness & equity; education & skills; quality of life & place; and cooperation & governance. For each of these, two top issues were identified, along with a wider range of approaches: “public school funding is flawed, inequitable and unconstitutional” and “need to educate for skilled 21st Century workforce” were the top two for education & skills, for example. With two visual artists and a team of hip-hop poet slammers accompanying, the day-long event was a thrill to behold. The $3 million, 18-month process, funded by 70 area foundations, has conducted thousands of citizen interviews and 1100 leadership workshops, and still has a year to go until another massive town hall meeting to begin implementing change in mid-2006. Next up: community forums and online dialogue. Throw your voice into the conversation. http://www.VoicesChoices.org

Cleveland Orchestra Family Concert @ Severance Hall 11/12 A charming and enthusiastic James Gaffigan welcomed Cleveland families to Severance Hall on Saturday for the first of this season’s Family Concerts, a program of Russian composers. He introduced the different instruments, which were held in the air and roundly applauded. The pure, crisp sounds of Khachaturian’s energizing Sabre Dance held the audience in rapt attention; the lovely strains of Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise were a bit less interesting to the children in the audience. The main part of the program, Stravinsky’s Firebird, brought all attention immediately and completely to the stage. With only the front of the stage lit, the Enchantment Theatre Company performed the magical story of the Prince, the Firebird and the Evil Sorcerer with graceful movements and wonderful props. Characters and costumes were changed cleverly onstage, and the performers synchronized their movements beautifully with the music. I have heard this music numerous times, but have never before been so moved by its power. As the lights came up, the child in front of me said, “I wish it wasn’t over.” What better accolade than this?
from Cool Cleveland contributor Kathy Warren

Joe Lovano/Cleveland Jazz Orchestra @ the Bop Stop 11/12 It may have been the final night of three SRO performances at the Bop Stop for this cool Cleveland pairing, but with the first notes it felt like things had only just begun. Cleveland native Joe Lovano breezed into town and performed with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra last weekend, including a students-only education-outreach program attended by local high school music students Thursday night. The musicians were spot-on throughout, conveying a complex range of musical emotion and testing their embouchure for the fans. The combo’s two sets showcased the world premiere of CJO bassist David Morgan’s The Surprise of Being jazz suite and the warm, affable Lovano’s mastery of improv on tunes like Oh, Emperor Jones and the divine Cymbalism.

Plenty to consider on this fair evening: 1) The beleaguered Bop Stop venue is an auditory utopia deserving of more support by Clevelanders than it has had in the past; 2) The level of musical talent in the veteran CJO outfit is a venerable “who’s who” of world-class Northeast Ohio jazz luminaries… look them up sometime; 3) The opportunity to hear a Grammy winner and Downbeat “Artist of the Year” in a club of 140+ doesn’t happen every day; 4) A world premiere of a locally-composed jazz suite doesn’t happen often, either. Perhaps that’s why fans from as far away as Pennsylvania and New York bopped in. If you lived in a much larger city, you would have paid 50 times as much for such greatness. And if you were traveling to a much larger city, you would have planned your entire trip around a show like this one. Absolutely stellar show in every way. From Cool Cleveland contributor Peter Chakerian

Funky Diva Purse Auction @ Tower Press Building 11/12 The past Saturday evening at the Tower Press Building took a turn for the bizarre, as supposed patrons of the arts participated in a fund raiser for a local non-profit organization. The traditional silent auction of non-profit benefit events now is supplanted with an auction of objets d’art, decorated by local area artists who donate their professional time and talents for charitable causes such as these.

Although the intent behind these good will activities is noble, these auctions actually have the counterproductive effect of devaluing the artists’ work, by being auctioned at a lower worth than their fair market value. For this event, the decorated items were Funky Diva purses. Minimum bids began at $50, which belies the time and effort that some of the artists put into their creations…
Read the commentary on art patrons by Cindy Plagata here

A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Triumph of Love 11/9 & 11/10 Rotating repertory is no longer the main-stay of theater that it once was, yet it’s essential for tomorrow’s young actors to live the experience. The CPH/CASE program shoves them into it, by scheduling two classic plays to run on alternating dates for ten days, with both matinee and evening performances scheduled during that time. This intensive program is no cake-walk, but in the nine years of its existence, it has grown unbelievably in stature. This past spring, some 1800+ aspiring actors auditioned for the eight openings! (We’ll see that group next spring in Lillian Hellman’s Little Foxes…)
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

I Am My Own Wife @ Cleveland Play House 11/11 Living as one’s own wife is more than mind-boggling. To have done so in Germany, while at the same time living through the Nazi and Communist eras is beyond comprehension. Yet, that is the premise of the Pulitzer-Prize winning play I Am My Own Wife. I dare say that having once seen this play, you will never forget it. In fact, you might well want to see it again, to pick up any stray little nuances that might have escaped your notice the first time around. The play is packed with them…
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

I Am My Own Wife @ Cleveland Play House 11/11 When you live beyond the pale, secrets and lies are expected. If you’re a crossdresser, if you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or whatever, it’s expected that you’ll have a secret to keep and that you will lie to keep that secret. You expect others to have secrets and to lie to you as well. The stories we tell about ourselves are suspect. If we accept ourselves, our own nature, we may still tell stories to deflect attention. We can be our own Peters, denying not Jesus, but ourselves far more than three times before the cock crows, day after day, year after year. And if we don’t accept ourselves, the lies get even worse, as we can lie to ourselves, to the face in the mirror with the same desperate need we lie to those around us…
Read the review by Diane S. Frank here

No recycling necessary One of the things people like about reading Cool Cleveland is that we deliver this week’s news without cutting down a single tree. Feel free to pass your “green” copy onto friends or family members today.

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 being a college town (See Cleveland as college town here) Is Cleveland perceived as a college town? While there are many universities in NEO, I don’t think of it as a “college town” per se. I have lived, worked, and studied in 3 “college towns”: Athens, OH, Ann Arbor, MI, and Seatttle, WA (the University District located near University of Washington, specifically) and have actually spent a lot of time thinking about what characterizes college towns and why they are such nice places to live. Cleveland Heights and Little Italy feature some of the characterstics of college towns (density, walkability, businesses catering to a student population, café culture, proximity to CWRU)…
Read the letter from Cool Cleveland reader Carrie Lanza here

On Cleveland Clinic’s non-non-profit status (See Clinic suburban offices are not non-profit here) If the Beachwood and other Clinic facilities are actually profit making establishments posing as “non-profit” shouldn’t Beachwood and the other cities enforce the non-profit status rather than squeeze millions of dollars out of the Clinic? This won’t have any effect on the Clinic, they’ll just raise their prices and the people who need the no-cost or low-cost care still won’t be getting it. Sounds to me like the government in Beachwood is lining its pockets at the expense of the little guy again.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jack McGuane jmcguaneATworldnet.att.net

On Cleveland’s uncollected taxes On November 1st the Plain Dealer published a list of thousands of people who have failed to pay their property taxes. According to the County Treasurer’s office the total amount of uncollected property taxes approaches a billion dollars! Probably half of that is in Cleveland. I say, let’s collect the taxes levied before passing new ones which just puts more burden on those who already pay.
from Cool Cleveland reader Mary Holmes mkhconATyahoo.com

On a signature bridge for Cleveland Just FYI, this is a letter I received today in response to an email I wrote to ODOT (in response to your article about the Innerbelt bridge two weeks ago). Thought you all might be interested.
from Cool Cleveland reader Beth Mastroianni bethyATsmastro.com
Dear Mr. Hebebrand, As a resident of West 14th St. (southern end) for the last 9 years, I am deeply concerned about the new Innerbelt design project coming up. I have high hopes. A useful AND dynamic bridge design would be a huge asset to downtown Cleveland and it’s surrounding neighborhoods. I always look at the bridges at night and wonder how anyone can NOT think that Cleveland is a beautiful city with an amazing skyline. I am writing you in hopes that you will consider my voice as a resident of one of the areas that will be highly affected by the design, and as an artist who would love to see another beautiful bridge in this city. Please take your time making your decisions on this one, we’ve already waited this long…
Sincerely, Beth Mastroianni

Ms. Mastroianni, Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your comments and concerns. The City of Cleveland is the Ohio Department of Transportation’s decision-making partner regarding the reconstruction of the Cleveland Innerbelt which includes I-90 from the Innerbelt Curve south to the I-90/I-71 split. ODOT considers Cleveland to be its partner in this endeavor and has no intentions of making decisions without their input and consensus, as well as the input and support of the Greater Cleveland community at large…
from Craig Hebebrand, Ohio Department of Transportation
Read Mr. Hebebrand’s complete reply here

I live on West 11th St. in Tremont very near to the existing Innerbelt. The recent and sudden opposition to ODOT’s plan—which has been in the works for several years with ample opportunity for public comment—is both bizarre and misguided. I don’t think those who advocate a new bridge alignment are taking into consideration that moving a massive highway closer to the Tremont neighborhood will almost surely negatively affect the nearby homeowners. Why cause harm to an existing neighborhood in order to create “better views” for highway travelers and some magical new affluent neighborhood near Gateway? I’m tired of those in this city that continually call for pie-in-the-sky development projects instead of focusing on actually improving the quality of life in Cleveland’s neighborhoods. I appreciate that ODOT has so far placed a priority on not causing further harm to the homeowners living near the Innerbelt.
from Cool Cleveland reader Eric Dunn edunn5000AThotmail.com

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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

1) Election results Numbers from the Cuyahoga County Board of Election.
http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us

2) Arts and the Community: What are the Benefits? A PDF of the RAND Corporation study that explores the idea that the measurable and instrumental benefits of the arts.
http://cpacbiz.org

3) Clinic suburban offices are not non-profit and it could cost the Cleveland Clinic millions.
www.Cleveland.com

4) A&Q w/G: Jay Yoo CC’s CIO interviews Cleveland’s digital lifestyle entrepreneur.
www.CoolCleveland.com

5) RTA calls for poets Looking for writers to display their poetry on buses.
www.RideRTA.com

Muchos Gracias to the Cool Cleveland caballeros Peter Chakerian, Roxanne Ravenel, TL Champion, George Nemeth, Kelly Ferjutz, Elsa Johnson, Victor Lucas, Roldo Bartimole and pardners who wrangle content every week. 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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What are you doing, really?

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

all contents ©2005 MulreadyGROUP all rights reserved
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