04.17-04.24.2019 Fire

04.17-04.24.19
Fire

Things are heating up. And we mean all across the planet, not just here in our river valley. And it’s time to do something about it.

The infamous Cuyahoga River fire(s) offered a visceral, visible symbol around the globe, sparking the environmental movement. As we mark our 50 years of progress, celebrations are happening everywhere: stop by Kent’s “Who’s Your Mama” block party, help clean up Forest Hill Park with the Doan Brook Watershed Partnership, learn about conservation hands-on at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Party for the Planet, or take in Fire Museum historian Paul Nelson’s talk at CWRU’s Kelvin Smith Library.

This week’s CoolCLE PODCAST features the Chardon Polka Band as we gear up for Dyngus Day. Time to get fired up. –Thomas Mulready

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Cleveland has been dubbed “America’s Polka Capital” or “Polka Town USA” and it’s identified with a particular style of polka music. From the early 1920s through today, polka has featured heavily in our local culture with the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame opened in 1985. The Chardon Polka Band, led by Jake Kouwe, is keeping the genre alive and relevant. We’re talking to Jake to learn about how he does just that, including the band’s community outreach activities with schools, churches and senior citizens, as well as details of one the shining jewels of its performance calendar, Dyngus Day on April 22nd.

We have music from the Chardon Polka Band as well, so get ready to POLKA!

It was a blow to northeast Ohio’s observance of Earth Day when the Earth Day Coalition folded last year, ending the long-running Earthfest. But environmentally minded Clevelanders can continue to celebrate at the Cleveland Metropark Zoo’s Party for the Planet.

There visitors can learn about conservation, with a focus on protecting the wonderful creatures in the world, such as the snow leopard, and check out the zoo’s three cubs (pictured), now a year old. The display of eco-friendly electric vehicles and vendor village hosted by local environmentally friendly organizations also return for this year’s event. Sat 4/20.

Cleveland-based writer Claudia J. Taller is best known for ferreting out things to do in our own backyard, spotlighting intriguing day trips, with a special focus on the area’s many wineries. But recently she traveled much farther afield, spending two weeks in that unfairly maligned country on our southern border, Mexico.

She didn’t find anything scary there. Instead, she found friendly people and lots of fascinating history: spectacular vestiges of ancient native civilizations, beautiful Catholic churches built by the Spanish, streets bustling with people, musicians and Aztec dancers, lush plant life and tasty food. She takes us on the journey with her.

Last week in Columbus, the Republicans succeeded in doing something they’ve attempted for years: they effectively banned abortion, stripping Ohio women’s control of their lives. While the so-called “Heartbeat” bill is on hold due to legal challenges filed, it sends a clear message to educated, talented young people and forward-thinking businesses: don’t come to Ohio.

That’s bad enough. But if it stands, the economic impact on the state would be far-reaching & devastating, as it would increase poverty and put a strain on social services, including already underfunded public schools, while massively increasing inequality: affluent women would leave the state to get abortions while those without the means to do so would be trapped in a downward spiral of desperation.

Eggs are fascinating! And tying in with Easter, the Great Lakes Science Center presents its EGGSperiment, a program of demos and activities that explore the properties of the egg. You can also learn about protecting the Great Lakes, operating a remote-control robot, and how those gooey Peeps relate to the atmosphere. Fri 4/19 & Sat 4/20.

* Lock 3 in downtown Akron offers a family breakfast, followed by an Easter egg hunt for the kids. Putt-putt and free admission the Akron Art Museum are included with the ticket. Sat 4/20.

Click here for more CoolCleveland Kids events

The Countryside Market kicks off its outdoor season in Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Howe Meadow this week with an array of nearly 75 vendors offering locally grown, raised and produced goods, including meats, dairy products, greens, grains and value-added items such as sauces and seasonings. Live music and cooking demonstrations are weekly attractions, and during “Yappy Hour” from 11AM-noon, your dog is welcome at the market too! Sat 4/20.

Read more of CoolCleveland’s picks for Eats and Drinks.

Guitarist Dan Wilson, based in Akron, is one of the area’s brightest young jazz talents. When he returns to the BOP STOP with the Dan Wilson Group, he’ll be enhancing it with a couple of vocalists. Fri 4/19

* Dreadlock Dave spreads his good vibes at Tremont’s Visible Voice Books. Fri 4/19.
* The George Martins and friends play the Beatles’ White Album at the Beachland Ballroom. Sat 4/20.
* The Music Settlement’s Youth Latin Jazz Band led by Bobby Sanabria, showcases at the BOP STOP. Sat 4/20.
* Kent’s Numbers Band plays in Nighttown’s heated, enclosed patio. Sat 4/20.

Read more picks by Anastasia Pantsios here

WED 4/17
Project Snapshot is a 16-week program at the Cleveland Print Room where teens explore old-school film photography and darkroom developing. In the process they learn to use photography to interpret the world and their own place in it. The result of their work goes on view at the CPR tonight.

* New local nonprofit The Food Shed hosts a “SHED Talk” at Market Garden Brewery to connect farmers and consumers.
* Chicago bluesman Paul Butterfield’s life & career are explored in a new film screening at the Rock Hall.
* The Western Reserve Herb Society presents a program on Chinese herbal medicine at the Cleveland Botanical Garden.
* Multi-generational Spring Quartet brings together jazz greats for Oberlin Artists Recital Series.
* Toronto artist Bridget Moser brings her SPACES installation to life with two performances in the gallery tonight.

Click here for more events on Wed 4/17

THU 4/18
The animal world’s superpowers inspired the creation of some of our beloved superheroes, such as Batman. The Think & Drink with the Extinct adult evening at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History will give guests the chance to explore some of these extraordinary powers.

* Chicago-based curator/artist Michelle Grabner, who curated FRONT last year, also oversaw selection of artists for the Kent State undergrad show, opening tonight in its downtown Kent gallery. She’ll present awards tonight & speak at KSU tomorrow.
* Learn about domestic abuse and forced pregnancy at women’s health clinic Preterm.
* Tuesday Musical program at E.J. Thomas Hall honors the music of Leonard Bernstein.

Click here for more events on Thu 4/18

FRI 4/19
The highlight of this month’s Third Friday at 78th Street Studios is the show of work by prominent veteran Cleveland artist Douglas Max Utter at HEDGE Gallery, covering his entire career. As always, there’s plenty else to see, and live music to hear during and after the art walk.

* Sip and Shoppe invites Third Friday visitors to check out Gordon Square boutiques.
* Curator Andrea Gyorody talks about the current exhibit of Land Art at Oberlin’s Allen Memorial Art Museum.
* American Roots Music Festival fills 23 Kent venues with free music.
* Young singer/songwriter Hayley Reardon is back at Oberlin’s Riverdog Retreat.
* Neos Dance Theatre joins with other artists for a multimedia program at the Akron Library.
* Two authors give two views of Appalachia at the Grog Shop.
* Pinch & Squeal bring their Wizbang! circus back to Cleveland Public Theatre. Also tomorrow.

Click here for more events on Fri 4/19

SAT 4/20
Kent celebrates Earth Day with its 13th annual “Who’s Your Mama” block party. It closes down a section of Main Street for displays of alternative energy, environmental vendors, a reading of kids poetry about the Cuyahoga River fire, a parade of “Eco-Heroes,” and music and dance performances.

* Help clean up Forest Hill Park with the Doan Brook Watershed Partnership.

Click here for more events on Sat 4/20

SUN 4/21
Today is the last official day of Lake View Cemetery’s Daffodil Week, when its Daffodil Hill sports more than 100,000 blooms – a great place to take your family for a drive after Easter dinner. But the blooms don’t just disappear so don’t worry if you don’t get there today – go tomorrow!

Click here for more events on Sun 4/21

MON 4/22
That post-Easter Polish Party Dyngus Day keeps growing and growing. Its hub is still at Gordon Square where the Miss Dyngus Day pageant and accordion parade take place. But Ohio City, Hingetown & Tremont keep adding venues to the celebration, and Tremont even has its own bus this year to take visitors between locations.

Click here for more events on Mon 4/22

TUE 4/23
The famous 1969 Cuyahoga River fire was its last and the most influential. But the river had burned 14 times previously, including in 1952 (pictured). Fire Museum historian Paul Nelson talks at CWRU’s Kelvin Smith Library about those fires and how they were fought.

Click here for more events on Tue 4/23

WED 4/24
The East Bay punk scene most famously produced breakout supergroup Green Day. The band executive-produced the 2017 film, Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk, which screens at the Rock Hall tonight.

* The Silence of the Lambs is the next offering from the Capitol Theatre’s Happy Hour Film Series.

Click here for more events on Wed 4/24

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Plastic debris is everywhere, with Americans using 380 billion plastic bags a year. Many local governments have started to address this proliferation with bans on plastic bags and straws, and Cuyahoga County councilwoman Sunny Simon has introduced legislation to reduce their use here.

CoolCleveland columnist & former county council president C. Ellen Connally shares her thoughts on this legislation, the potential problems with enforcement and how it could help make the county more eco-friendly. “We owe it to generations to come,” she says.

One thing is for sure about incarnation at any level: It ain’t no fun when the rabbit got the gun. Some C.O.s are without a doubt the scum of the earth. They were that way when they got hired. Others turned into pieces of shit…

* Black Folks: tRump Needs You But what tRump’s strategy is going to be is this: He’s not going to try to convince black voters to vote for him (he knows we’re not that stupid), but what he’s going to do is try to convince black voters to stay home…

* Go Get ‘Em Tiger Tiger Woods’ fall from grace over a decade ago was as public as it was dramatic and painful to watch. An addiction to sex caused his wife to drive him out of their mansion…

Read other stories from Mansfield Frazier here

A look back at the last week
Submit your own review or commentary to Events@CoolCleveland.com

PHOTOSTREAM: Open house at Morgan Conservatory by Anastasia Pantsios

MUSIC REVIEW: Bach Festival @ Baldwin Wallace by Laura Kennelly

THEATER REVIEW: Art @ Blank Canvas Theatre by Roy Berko

Read and comment here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/blog

You’re fired,

–Thomas Mulready

Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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