vYbe
In this week’s issue:
* Off The Hook! Cool Cleveland Urban Hop 9/16, get $13.50 tix by midnight Thu 8/25 here
* vYbe Snapspot: Eris Dyson Cool Cleveland’s interview with a dynamic twenty-something.
* Cool Cleveland Ingenuity Bash at the Galleria 9/2, get $14.50 tix by midnight Thu 8/25 here
* RoldoLINK Roldo Bartimole on the city messing up and the PD’s affair with Mike White.
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, CC Blog click here
Off The Hook!
Announcing the big one! Once again, Cool Cleveland collaborates with Sparx in the City on Fri 9/16 for Ohio’s biggest art party weekend of the year! Meet your friends after work, kick up your heels and plug into the hot action of belly dancers from Troupe Shabaana, open bar compliments of ABC Tavern and The Garage, delicious food from the local faves, including Citris Glazed Meatballs and Stuffed Grape Leaves from OPA!, and Mouth Watering Sausage and Dessert Pastries from Massimo da Milano. Jump on the included Cool Cleveland bus and tour some of the neighborhood’s newest residential projects at The Townhomes of Ohio City on W. 32nd Street and Stonebridge on the West side of the Flats. Plus, your CC admission gets you a comp ticket for any of the Sparx in the City Gallery Hop trolleys running back and forth all night long to over 100 galleries ($5 value)! Pick up the Sparx trolleys right at the CC party. Groove to live music from Cleveland’s own Rainy Day Saints in the inner studio sanctum, then take a quick walk down W. 25th to check out one of the best night clubs for Latin dance music: MODA, featuring complimentary dance lessons (Bachata, Merengue and Salsa) from 8-9PM and the world-reknowned Sammy De Leon y Su Orquesta at 9PM. Blow away your end-of-summer blues on Fri 9/16 at the biggest stop on the Sparx tour and one of Cool Cleveland’s wildest bashes on W. 25th Street (at Exhibit Builders, 1526 W. 25th, Cleveland, OH 44113) 5:30 PM to 8:30PM, with after-party at Moda. Get your $13.50 tix before midnight Thu 8/25 because this party will be Off The Hook! http://www.coolcleveland.com/tickets/nightoutnine.
vYbe Snapshot: Eris Dyson
The Cool Cleveland vYbe Snapshot focuses on Gen Y-ers who are making a difference. Eris Dyson has always been active in her city and moves at full throttle working for an Americorps program called City Year Cleveland since August of 2003. Recently her first book eZotEris was published, and she had her acting debut this February in the Vagina Monologues. When she’s not at work, she’s working her first play, music album, or performing her poetry under her stage name Zion Venia. Cool Cleveland spoke with her about urban perceptions, young women’s issues, and how Cleveland treats its artists.Cool Cleveland: Talk about things that arent appreciated enough about Cleveland. Clearly, we should be appreciating this weather more. How well would you say Cleveland treats its artists?
Eris Dyson: Two degrees above trash…
Ouch. Hows that?
People in Cleveland appreciate everybody else before they appreciate whats right in front of them. Its sad that you have to leave and make it somewhere else before you can claim and be proud of being from Cleveland.
You’re also very involved in helping other artists get established, what do you do for them?
I help them figure out what it is that their dreams are, and I give them the ability to order their steps systematically so they know which step to take first. Im not training them in how to be better singers, writers, or dancers or anything, but whatever their dream is, I want to make it come true, only because Im able to live out my dreams.
What would you tell an artist who wanted to be known, but didn’t yet have a name in Cleveland?
Its going to be hard as hell to get a name in Cleveland. The best thing to do would be to get involved with the community first. Thats the way to promote yourself; by being involved with Cleveland the community…
Read the interview with Eris Dyson here.
Cool Cleveland Ingenuity Bash!
Party after work Cool Cleveland style at Cafe Sausilito at The Galleria at Erieview on Fri 9/2 and score Ingenuity comp tix! You don’t want to miss this: Your CC party ticket will automatically entitles you to a complimentary weekend-long Ingenuity Festival all-access pass (a $25 value!). Get your best deal on discount tix here now, because the price will go up next week. Cool Cleveland and Ingenuity are extending an exclusive offer to you – our faithful readers and partygoers – check out the happenings all weekend long – Fri 9/2, Sat 9/3 and Sun 9/4, noon ’til midnight on Cleveland’s most exciting summer weekend! Your weekend fest starts at The Galleria on Fri 9/2 at 5:30PM. Feast on Cafe Sausilito’s scrumptous appetizers and S’Barro’s mouth watering pizza while checking out the cool Ingenuity art-tech exhibits throughout the Galleria. To top it off, take advantage of the complimentary underground parking for the party and all weekend long! After the party ends, check out the Ingenuity District at E. 4th and Euclid with your pass to sample the entertainment with several cool acts to choose from: HyperMix at the Cleveland Trust Rotunda, the Cavani String Quartet at the Hyatt Old Arcade, Verb Ballets at the McCrory storefront, The Cleveland Irish Roots at the House of Blues or Ohio Ballet and the red-hot Cherry Monroe on the Mainstage. See the entire weekend line-up at www.IngenuityCleveland.com
You get all this: Complimentary hors d’oeuvres from Cafe Sausalito and S’Barros, a full, cash bar that includes sangria, pina coladas and strawberry daiquiris and wine and beer, a weekend pass to the new Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology ($25 value), a tour of the art-tech exhibits throughout the Galleria and complimentary parking. Order before midnight 8/25 for only $14.50! How can you go wrong? http://www.CoolCleveland.com/tickets/nightouteight.
Downtown parking is cheap in Cleveland Unhappy about the cost of parking Downtown? Dont be. Weve actually got it pretty good. A 2005 survey reveals that our median daily unreserved parking rate of $8.25 is about 40% lower than the national median of $14. Honestly, thrifty drivers who know where to park are paying a lot less than that. Download the survey here then tell us where you park cheap or share your opinion on Downtown parking at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
Cleveland’s young rockers Cleveland is a hotbed of Gen Y musical talent. Forums like the annual High School Rock Off, held at the Odeon each January, give aspiring young artists a showcase for their talent. Learn about regional Gen Y artists poised to become the next big thing like singer/ songwriters Kate Voegele and Victor Rasgaitis, both recent Bay Village High School grads, who are making waves in the local and national music scene and the group of 14 & 15-year-olds that got Tommy Lee of Motley Crues attention. Check out the Northern Ohio Live article here.
Convention center too big & costly The Convention Facilities Authority just can’t seem to keep the size of a planned convention center or the costs in check. Cuyahoga County Commissioners and Mayor Campbell have told them to plan for a $350 million facility, and advisors have urged a reasonable-sized 200,000 sf facility, but the CFA floats plans for a 300,000 sf center that could cost more than $480 million. Good luck getting County voters to approve increased food & bev taxes, and Commissioners are in no mood to raise the bed tax, either. See story here. Join the public meeting Fri 8/26 at 12:30PM at Colliers Ostendorf-Morris, 1100 Superior Ave, Suite 800, Cleveland. And send us your comments: Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
New foundation for arts The Human Fund is a new foundation in town dedicated to supporting arts education; and their aim this year is to help fund the All-City arts program of the Cleveland Municipal School District. Most of their funding this year will go exclusively to this purpose. High marks go to foundation chairman Andrew Rayburn who turned a Whats wrong with Cleveland? conversation with a few friends a year ago into a plan of action to help the children of Cleveland. Read The Plain Dealer article here. Send your comments to Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
Ohio blows it A 204-page report from the Voting Rights Institute of the Democratic National Committee reveals that most of the problems that occurred during the 2004 Election were caused by poor planning, inadequate training, and misinformation coming from Ken Blackwell’s Secretary of State office. Read local coverage here. This is a story that has national implications. Read the coverage in Harper’s here. How do you feel about this debacle? Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
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Cosmopolitan Living in the Heights Domain on Lee is situated in the heart of the Cedar Lee restaurant and theatre district amongst art galleries, coffee shops and eateries that are just steps from your door. These sleek, contemporary designed condos, flats and townhouse-style suites are available with open floor plans, polished and stained concrete floors, granite countertops, glass tile and other extraordinary finishes throughout, panoramic views from balconies and enormous terraces, floor to ceiling windows/abundance of natural light, energy efficient, environmentally green building, private, attached parking garage with 1-2 spaces per unit, fitness and secure storage areas and an 11-year 80% tax abatement. These units start at $199,900. For a complete list of properties and open houses this weekend please visit www.progressiveurban.com.
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Taft is guilty With the dubious distinction of being Ohio’s only seated governor to be convicted of a crime, Governor Bob Taft was ordered by Judge Mark Froehlich to issue an apology that must be distributed “from the shores of Lake Erie to the banks of the Ohio River” and pay the maximum fine, $4,000. Taft has apologized, but doesnt plan to step down, though there is a growing call for his resignation. While Ohio Senate Democrats have opted not to pursue impeachment; they are discussing a resolution urging the governors resignation. See the story here. Will former Cleveland Mayor Mike White be the next conviction? Read the story here. Read what Brent Larkin has to say about it here. Send your opinions to Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
Theatre classes for business people Playhouse Squares Arts Education Department, housed in the impending Idea Center at Playhouse Square, will offer a series of new classes in addition to ongoing community favorites. Lifelong Learning Through the Arts features classes for the business professional, art patron or retiree with an interest in a creative approach to learning. Speak Up! The Art of Speaking with Confidence; The Artists Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity and What to Do When PowerPoint Fails are just a few of the Fall classes which begin 9/26. Click here or call 348-7909 to learn more.
Got kids? Go to Ingenuity! No hoity-toity artsy-fartsy festival here: we’re building a whole Family Stage right on Euclid, plus a slew of kid-friendly stuff jammed to the rafters in the Colonial Marketplace. Magicians, jugglers, the Play House’s excerpts of “Alice in Wonderland,” a nifty collaboration between the Rock Hall and the Science Center, the Natural History Museum’s animal show… even the Rockin’ Robots! Hear CC Kids correspondent Max Mulready’s kids podcast just for Ingenuity, now being aired on Magic 105.7, Kiss 96.5 and Mix 106.5 here, the go to the Ingenuity site to see the robot, peruse the complete schedule and get your tix: http://www.IngenuityCleveland.com.Cleveland, Digital City Intel, Cisco, IBM and several high-tech partners have named Cleveland one of three worldwide technology pioneers and pledged $12 million to help develop and market the region as a digital luminary that enables faster computer networking for government, businesses and residents. OneClevelands crusade to bring ultra-broadband to governments, schools and non-profit institutions caught the attention of the Digital Communities Consortium and they want to help further their work. Check out the PD articles here and here. Share your thoughts about Clevelands good news at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
Origin of the species? Best-selling author and Shaker Heights resident Lawrence Krauss is on a mission. A recent essay printed in The New York Times by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna, inspired Krauss and two other professors to send a letter to Pope Benedict XVI asking the pontiff to clarify the position of the Catholic Church on evolution. What rekindled this science versus the church brouhaha? An earlier essay written by Krauss. Find out what he said in his essay and how the controversy could impact science classes in the US in the PD article here. What do you think? Share your thoughts at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
Private reception for Ingenuity Participate in the beginning of something extraordinary! On Thu 9/1 at 6:30PM experience Opening Night festivities to launch the Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology celebrating the creativity of Northeast Ohio. Join us for a private reception right on the exclusive indoor bridge at the BP Atrium overlooking Public Square (now called 200 Public Square), right in the heart of Cleveland and the heart of opening night of the festival. Enjoy light refreshments, entertainment by the Oberlin Conservatory and a stunning view of Traffic Jam a kinetic performance created by Robin VanLear involving some 400 local artists who will be performing throughout the quadrants of Public Square, with a new composition by Greg D’Alesio and Paul Cox to be broadcast live on the radio! Then enjoy VIP seating at the Ingenuity Mainstage for the All-City Marching Band, Roberto Ocasio’s Latin Jazz Project with steel drums by PANIC, a Cleveland Gospel Spectacular, and Cleveland Blues legend Robert Lockwood Jr., topped off with a fireworks spectacular. Make your $100 check to: Cleveland Festival of Art and Technology, and send it to: Ingenuity, Central Arts Medical Bldg #103, 2475 E. 22nd Street, Cleveland, OH 44115. To view the official fancy invitation, click here.
CPL & CSU Library Connection Cleveland State University, in partnership with Cleveland Public Library, is planning the grand opening of the CSU Library Connection Lounge on Tue 8/30 at 12:30PM. The Connection Lounge will provide the campus community with contemporary and popular books courtesy of Cleveland Public Library. All you need is a Greater Access Library Card and you can check out popular titles using the CPL self-check out station. The grand opening reception happens on the first floor of the CSU Library, located in Rhodes Tower at 2121 Euclid Avenue www.ulib.csuohio.edu.
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Its Cool to Care Join us at the It’s Cool to Care Carnival at the Galleria at Erieview to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association this Labor Day, Mon 9/5 from 10AM to 5PM. Dont miss out on the fun starting with a live Q104 broadcast, an appearance by Ali, Clevelands WB Kids Host who will spin the WBs Prize Wheel, a putting contest, appearances by American Greetings CareBear and Eva, the inflatable, 8-foot tall goodwill ambassador from the NASA Glenn Visitor Center. Check out the games, prizes, crafts, balloons, face painting & fun, fun, fun! Plus register to win bikes, CareBears & tickets to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo & Rainforest! Free parking! Labor Day weekend hours are Sat 10AM -4PM,* Sun 12 noon 5PM,* and Mon 10AM 5PM*. *Store/restaurant hours may vary. Contact 216-861-4343 or www.galleriaaterieview.com.
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Charities must hire auctioneers? The state of Ohio is cracking down on charities that conduct live auctions without a licensed auctioneer. Several non-profit organizations have found themselves scrambling to snag an auctioneer who wont put too much of a dent in their funds, but even a local auctioneer can cost a pretty penny. Is this a needless burden on already taxed non-profit organizations, or does the statute serve a greater purpose? Read the PD article here then share your opinion at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
You will be rewarded in heaven (and possibly with a t-shirt) Have you ever wanted to get more involved in the buzz of Cool Cleveland? Nows your chance. We need a dozen volunteers to help us Thu 9/1 through Sun 9/4 at the Cool Cleveland booth down at the Ingenuity Festival during the festival (location: at the intersection of Euclid and E. 4th). Bring a friend (or several) and help promote the buzz of Cool Cleveland while scoring comp tix and a t-shirt! We need you! Contact our street team coordinator TL Champion at: TL@CoolCleveland.com.
How you can help… Ingenuity is still in search of energetic guys & gals to help throw the festival of the year!!! Bring your boombox down to our big Opening Ceremonies on Thu 9/1, tune it in and turn it up- the soundtrack is broadcast on the radio. Let us know you can come. For the rest of the fest, we need walkers & runners, cleaners & screeners, pushers & pullers, fillers & fullers (?), for 3-hour shifts during the HUGE downtown arts & technology festival. It all depends on YOU! Send your name & best phone number to Brooke@IngenuityCleveland.org, and get your friends to sign up, too… comp t-shirts, drinks & snacks, and all the incredible art & technology you can handle! Like to move, skate and dance? Ingenuity Opening Ceremonies are for you. Contact Brooke@IngenuityCleveland.org and be a part of the biggest art event of the year!
Sparx lights up Art Business News Sparx in the City is making a mark with its high energy grassroots campaign to galvanize the Cleveland arts scene with its city-wide Gallery Hop and ongoing Street Beats program that has some of the hottest street performers entertaining huge crowds in Downtown Cleveland. Find out what Art Business News has to say about Sparx in the City here and send us your thoughts about this innovative program at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
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Exclusive Offer for Cool Cleveland Readers: If you toured the new Rockport Square sales center during the Cool Cleveland party on 8/11 you could qualify for a free stainless steel appliance package with the purchase of your new home at Rockport! We are now taking appointments to tour available units. Become part of a new urban community blending 126 modern living units, including townhomes and live-work lofts. The exquisite loft living starts at $185k and townhomes $259k, residences include open floor plans with two and three bedrooms, private porches and rooftop terraces, private interior courtyards, up to 2,500 square feet of living, and a 5 year tax abatement with special financing. Named One of the Best Communities of the Year at the 2004 HBA Cleveland Choice Awards. For more information call 216-210-2182. Visit us online www.RockportSquare.com.
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Online ads soar The number of times ads are rendered for viewing is skyrocketing. The number of online display impressions in July was nearly 103 billion, up from just over 97 billion the month before. Who do all these ads belong to? Youll be surprised at who is racking up top numbers. Read the article in Marketing VOX here. Got a comment about online ad impressions? Send it to Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
Looking for Ways to Impress Your Clients? Heres the scenario: You have a new client that you want to impress with hot, new concepts for their PR campaign. Or you have an established client that is tired of the same old, same old. What do you do? Mix it up by offering them an Internet-savvy option with CoolCleveland.com. Follow that up by giving them the opportunity to mingle with some of Cleveland’s finest at one of our events. This is what a sponsor had to say about our last event in Lakewood on 8/11/05: “All I can say is ‘Wow!’ We loved participating in the last Cool Cleveland party! The crowds were nonstop and the feedback was tremendous. It was a very positive, fun way to promote the Rockport Square development. I would definitely sponsor another CC party again.” — Heather Muro, Residential Sales and Marketing, Rysar Properties. Contact Info@CoolCleveland.com for info about advertising.
Cool Cleveland Kids Not happy with your options for cool stuff to do with your kids? Take a listen to 9-year-old Cool Cleveland correspondent Max Mulready who has a heads-up if you’re looking for stuff to do this Labor Day weekend. Hear his short podcast here even if you don’t have special software. If you’re a brain (or your kid is), you can download it to your iPod or your computer and listen with your own children. Check below to see the events tagged CC KIDS under Cool Cleveland This Week for our recommendations for a fantastic family week. http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolClevelandKids08.26.05.mp3
Verlezza wins dance teacher award Kudos went to Barbara Allegra Verlezza, Assistant Professor of Dance at Kent State University and former Associate Artistic/Education Director of Dancing Wheels as she took home Dance Teacher Magazines 2005 Dance Teacher Award in Higher Education. The Shaker Heights resident was presented with the award during the magazines August 8th conference of 600+ dance educators from around the country at the Hilton New York Hotel in Manhattan.
Ingenuity television Everyone’s watching it on Channel 3, and all the CC readers are watching it on their computers. Click here to see the cute TV spot running now on Channel 3, featuring the Ingenuity robot mascot: here. Here’s the complete schedule: http://www.IngenuityCleveland.com.
OneCleveland a worldwide hit Youve read about OneCleveland here, but were not the only ones talking about it. The Cleveland/OneCleveland/Intel story has appeared all over the world and as a top story in over 100 newspapers, online blogs, radio and TV. Check out international coverage from Australia, Germany and Canada. Then send your thoughts to us at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
Ranking the blogs Every month, the RSS search engine Feedster publishes a list of the blogs with the most links. Blog search engine Technorati publishes a similar list. While these lists readily identify which blogs get linked to the most (reinforcing the rich getting richer), they do very little to inform the curious why they should read the #1 blog. Which blog do you read and why? Let us know by emailing Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
Emissions from the blogsphere Lev Gonick is looking for feeback on A Model for Broadband Community Networks. Notice the title says nothing about WiFi. Doug Nagy recounts a bit of Cleveland history by visiting the site of a notorious rollercoaster. Andy Timithy posts pictures of the Sheehan Candlelight Vigil here. Jack Ricchiuto is looking for opinions on community dreaming. In the Cool Cleveland Blog this week, Peter Chakerian checks in on the Arts on the Loo festival in Collinwood and the Warehouse District Street Festival, ponders Tribe GM Mark Shapiros gastronomy during a wild card race, finds the clutter of McMansions disturbing and suggests Crawford, Texas as a premier military vacation spot. Check the Cool Cleveland weblog here, then add your own comments, questions and attitude. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
Correction In our Cool Lakewood issue on 08/10 we reported that Headfooters Art Gallery was the first and only gallery devoted to the exhibition of Outsider Art. Turns out that is only partially true. They are indeed the first, but Inside-Outside Gallery in Tremont has also thrown their hats into the ring of Outsider Art. And don’t forget about the House of Blues’ impressive collection. Clueless about Outsider Art? Read up on it here.
Cool Cleveland This Week
8.24-8.31
Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com
CC KIDS Back to School Bash Dont miss one last go round before it’s time to hit the books again. This no cost concert on Wed 8/24 from 5-9:30PM is a party for the entire family. The event features music by Tommy Wiggins & the Crooked River Groove All-Stars, special guest XeLa Kooschtik and many, many more. Delicious Q dinners will be offered by vendors onsite. Key Plaza, in front of Rock Hall. www.RockHall.com.
SOUP @ Nite The Society of Urban Professionals is hosting their monthly networking at night event on Thu 8/25 from 5:05PM-9:05PM on the patio of the Riverwalk Café at 2000 Sycamore Street on the west bank of the Flats, next to the Powerhouse. For more info email souplunch@yahoo.com.
Viktor Groschedl View the artists exhibition of black and white photographs of Cleveland on Thu 8/25 from 6-8PM at the Ascherman Gallery, 1846 Coventry Village, Suite 200, Cleveland Heights. Call 321-1283 for more info.
Taste of the Caribbean Don your Urban Chic attire and come to this event, sponsored by the CSU Black Alumni Organization (BAO) on Thu 8/25 at 6PM. Party goers will enjoy entertainment, refreshments and door prizes at this no cost event thats open to the public. The party is a precursor for the BAOs upcoming all-inclusive trip to sunny Puerto Vallarta on Oct 6-12 that will benefit the Wanda M. Coleman Scholarship Fund. Call 451-3518 for info. Caribbean Flavor Restaurant, 321 Babbitt Road, Euclid.
Leadership in the New Economy John Koten, Editor-In-Chief of Inc. Magazine, believes that the dwindling of big business has led the way for a new flag bearer of our future small businesses. Join Koten, recognized as one of The Journalist & Financial Reporting Groups 100 Most Influential Journalists, on Fri 8/26 at 12PM for a rousing discussion on Small Business: Leadership in the New Economy. Call 621-0082 or visit www.CityClub.org for more info. City Club, 850 Euclid Avenue, 2nd Floor.
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Do You have a Special Musical Talent? Is there something youd like to perform on stage? Take a shot at fame! Compete in our annual $1,000 Talent Search! How does it work? Every Tuesday night, Fat Fish Blues house band will back you up while you do your thing! Or if an entire band wants to compete, our band will get outta the way and turn the stage over to yours for a tune or two. The search began 8/2 and we are still looking for great performer-wanna-bes. There are only four Tuesdays left: 8/30, 9/6, 9/13 and 9/20 is your last chance! Enter by 9/20 to be in the running for the Grand Prize – $1,000 cash – awarded 11/22. Come to FFB to sign up any Tuesday night by 8PM. Contact 216-875-6000 for more info or go to www.FatFishBlue.com.
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A Woman of Affairs Greta Garbo portrays a Jazz Age socialite whose disappointment over not being able to marry the man of her dreams drives her into a path of reckless abandon. The lushly filmed black & white, silent film directed by Clarence Brown and also featuring John Gilbert & Lewis Stone, will be shown on Fri 8/26 at 7PM. Call 421-7350 or purchase tickets at http://www.ClevelandArt.org/tickets. Cleveland Museum of Art, Gartner Auditorium, 11150 East Blvd.
Indian Music & Film will be the focal point of this Passport Project event on Fri 8/26 at 8PM. Hear performances by Omkara, an eclectic world music trio that blends Eastern and Western instruments to explore classical & contemporary Indian music, Shri Nandakumar and Joshua Geisler. See a screening of the documentary Take Me to the River about Maha Kumbh Mela in India, the largest gathering of people in the history of the world. The film will be accompanied by live music. Visit http://www.PassportProject.org for ticket info. Passport Project, 12803 Buckeye Road, 1 Block southwest of Shaker Square.
Convention Facilities Authority public meeting Join the discussion at the CFA Planning Committee Meeting as they plan “to discuss next steps in designing the Mall site based on newly released cost estimates.” See story above. Join the meeting on Fri 8/26 at 12:30PM at Colliers Ostendorf-Morris, 1100 Superior Ave, Suite 800, Cleveland.
Sidewalk Cinema Watch Jack Black in School of Rock on Fri 8/26 at 9:30PM as he portrays a wannabe rock star in need of cash posing as a substitute teacher at a prep school under the stars following Kent State Universitys Stars and Streetlights event. Call 330-673-4970 for info. Home Savings Plaza at the intersection of Main and Water, Downtown Kent. http://www.standingrock.net.
Sand Mandala Painting Three lamas from the Namgyal Monastery will lay millions of grains of brilliantly colored sand into an intricate design of a Kalachakra mandala. Spectators can watch, join the monks in their daily meditation at 10:00AM or ask questions. The event begins with a traditional ceremony to honor the sand mandala on Sat 8/27 at 10AM and runs through Sat 10/8. When the mandala is completed, the blessed sand will be returned to Lake Erie for its next cycle of existence, and to bless the environment and the community. Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Avenue, Downtown Cleveland. www.ClevelandArt.org.
CC KIDS Giant Garage Sale Browse incredible finds during this giant garage sale put on by musical groups Windsong, Good Company and the Cleveland Gay & Lesbian Alliance Marching band on Sat 8/27 from 10AM-4PM. The sale will include a variety of collectibles and treasures. Archwood United Church of Christ, 2800 Archwood Avenue (off West 25th Street).
CC KIDS City Xpressionz is an aerosol and urban art festival that brings graffiti artists out of the shadows and to the center of the action as they provide live demonstrations, creating art for the crowd. The no cost community event will showcase breakdancers, artists, and MCs from around the region who will add to the electricity of this celebration of urban street culture on Sat 8/27 from 10AM to 7PM. NYCs COPE 2 and Queen Andrea will be joined by Puerto Ricos ZORI 4 for a live graffiti demonstration, a b-boy/b-girl battle, an MC battle and spray chalk demos for kids. Market Square Park, corner of Lorain Avenue and West 25th, Ohio City. http://www.clevelandpublicart.org.
CC KIDS Slavic Village Harvest Festival Going strong since 78, this festival attracts more than 75,000 visitors each year to the historic Warszawa neighborhood, one of the richest Polish-American communities in the country. All facets of Slavic culture, history and traditions are celebrated at this unique event offering delicious ethnic foods like pierogies, and kielbasa, lively music and polka dancing. Join the Slavic community for this festive event on Sat 8/27 from 1-9PM & Sun 8/28 from 12-9PM. Even Lolly the Trolley will be there offering festival-goers rides. Download the Event Schedule here. Fleet Ave, Slavic Village www.SlavicVillage.org.
WCLVnotes The Cleveland Orchestra chorus and music director Franz Welser-Moest are off on a European tour to Lucerne, Switzerland; Ludwigsburg, Germany and the biggest music festival of them all, the BBC Proms in London. The Fri 8/6 Lucerne concert including the world premiere of Chen Yis Four Seasons will eventually be broadcast here in Cleveland on WCLV 104.9. Stay tuned for date and time. On Tue 8/30 and Wed 8/31 the band and chorus will perform Mahlers Symphony No. 3 and Beethovens Missa Solemnis at the BBC Proms. We are scheduled to broadcast the Missa Solemnis on Sat 9/3 at 8PM and the Mahler Symphony No. 3 on Sun 9/4. Again, stay tuned for details. Also, assistant conductors James Gaffigan and Andrew Grams will be making daily reports on the tour for WCLV. A series of five BBC Proms concerts featuring other ensembles and a reprise of the Cleveland Mahler 3rd begins a daily run on Tues 9/6. Programming details can be found at www.WCLV.com. WCLV is a Cool Cleveland partner.
Kym Sellers Foundation Gala WZAK, 93.1 radio personality Kym Sellers will host the 6th Annual Gala for her foundation which is dedicated to providing education, support and resources to individuals and their families affected by Multiple Sclerosis in the Greater Cleveland area. This years event on Sat 8/27 from 7PM to midnight will feature songstress Miki Howard. Visit www.TheKymSellersFoundation.org or call 691-6551 to learn more. HealthSpace, 8911 Euclid Avenue.
Smooth Jazz Festival An evening of mellow jazz from some of the genres premier artists is but a short drive away. Head to Akron for an intimate evening of jazz with Forecast, Pieces of a Dream and Richard Elliot on Sat 8/27 at 7PM for crazy affordable prices. Buy your tickets here. Call 330-945-9400. Lock 3 Live, Main Street, Between the Akron Civic Theatre & the O’Neils Building, Downtown Akron http://destinationdowntownakron.com/lock3/index.html http://www.RichardElliot.com/ http://www.PiecesJazz.com/.
Around Noon Summer Book Club Join Dee Perry and local authors Thrity Umrigar, Sarah Willis and Maureen McHugh on Wed 8/31 from noon to 1PM for an interactive book club discussion of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. The book examines the life of a gifted and quirky 9-year-old who struggles to deal with the loss of his dad in the 9/11 World Trade Center tragedy. After the program you can log on and chat live with Dee and her guest authors. Learn more at www.WCPN.org.
Celebrate Cleveland will enlighten us about the triumphs occurring in our city and region during two public forums that will be open to the public without cost. The first forum Dynamic Developments on Wed 8/31 from 4-6PM will focus on the many large-scale developments being made from Public Square to University Circle that will have a long-term impact on our regions economy. Ari Maron of MRN Ltd., Michael OBoyle, COO of The Cleveland Clinic and others will take part in a panel discussion. Call 523-7330 or visit www.Urban.CSUOhio.edu for info or to register. Levin College of Urban Affairs Atrium, 1717 Euclid Avenue.
Woodshed Mercy Support regional music (and get your party on) during the CD release party for these eclectic Americana rockers on Wed 8/31 at 7PM. Their self-titled debut was recorded, mixed and mastered at Track Six Recording here in Cleveland. All five band members contribute to the lead vocals in their curious and catchy brew of rock, bluegrass, hillbilly and post-punk music. Sample their sound at http://WoodshedMercy.com and get a copy of their CD onsite at the event. Call 383-1124 or visit www.BeachlandBallroom.com for tickets. Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Road.
Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com
RoldoLINK
Give Until It Hurts, And Then Give More
Memo to: Chris Ronayne
From: Roldo Bartimole
Chris, you f’ed up again. Lost OfficeMax. It was born here. Why Chicago?
I know you and the gang wanted to give them two million, maybe three million dollars, maybe four or more, to stay but they turned you down.
You learned a lot from the experience, they say. I wonder what, though.
Heres where you made your mistake, Chris.
These guys that run the company have their homes in the Chicago area. Im told they dont want to give up their homes.
You messed up. You offered them tax abatements. You offered loans. Low interest loans. Some they wouldnt have to pay back. (Those are not really loans, Chris; theyre gifts!) Free parking? What, no BMWs?
You forgot about the homes. Why didnt you buy the estate of the late Al Lerner and offer that tract for the OfficeMax chairmans new Cleveland home? Free. No taxes. Limo service back and forth to the Cleveland or Shaker OfficeMax executive offices…
Read more from Roldo Bartimole 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
Latin Jazz Project @ MODA 8/19 You cant sit still when the Roberto Ocasio Latin Jazz Project plays their delicious combination of original music harvested from African, Indian, Caribbean, and Spanish speaking countries. Powered by fluid Latin rhythms, this bands musical mixture of funk, fusion, salsa, mambo and rhythm & blues gets right down to the soul, creating electric currents that make you get up and dance. Ocasios group of highly trained and talented musicians leads audiences through unique and vibrant pieces, turning some numbers into dynamic straight-ahead big-band material which has become the groups trademark. With a following that is as original as the music, Ocasio attracts a diverse audience that includes all ages and nationalities. The winner of the Free Times award for Best Jazz Band in 2002 and 2005, Ocasio himself was a talented man that was accomplished on eight instruments from woodwinds to percussion and keyboards. His ongoing project is a legacy that still plays strongly to this day almost two years after his death. From Cool Cleveland contributor T.L. Champion
SCORE’s One Night Stand @ the Hanna Theatre 8/20 Some 150 savvy opera-lovers who really know the SCORE, survived an operatic performance they wont soon forgetif everon Sat 9/20 at the Hanna Theatre.
Following a buffet of hors doeuvres, attendees of the One Night Stand were subjected to the umpteenth Annual Farewell Recital of the renowned traumatic soprano Madame Vera Galupe-Borszkh and her accompanist, Maestro Sergio Zawa. Perhaps a few of the more enlightened opera patrons in attendance questioned their hearing during the presentation, but all laughing apparatus seemed to be in excellent working order. Fortunately.
Madame, in a dark blue velvet gown with exceptionally-long train, plentiful jewelry and big red hair, began her recital with a winsome version of an aria from La Grande Duchesse de Geritol, er, Gerolstein by Offenbach. Her voice has lost none of its range or expressiveness, and neither has her piquant face. Her breath control is awesome as is her vibrato. At one point, Maestro Zawa utilized an electronic addition to the piano to provide marching sounds, a more suitable background for Madames acting than the usual keyboard could offer.
In between musical selections, Madame offered vignettes about her past lives and current foibles, including a side comment about having had to cancel a golf outing with the governor…
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here
Cleveland Theater Collective Benefit @ Cleveland Play House 8/22
“The envelope, please.” Those were the much-awaited words at the annual Cleveland Theater Collective benefit Monday night. For the first time in its five year history, CTC had a panel of area critics vote on seven “Bests” in the past years theater season. Awardees ranged from the big Equity houses to the smallest, feistiest local theater companies…
Read the results here
Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers write
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Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com
On favorite hangouts in Tremont (See Focus on Tremont here) Favorite hangout – Treehouse of course, best freindliest bar in the city of Cleveland
from Cool Cleveland reader Timothy Burns tburns1204ATyahoo.com
On sustainability (See Cleveland goes green here) Simply wonderful. Enhancing public transportation use is a suggested project. I would like to see the schools and the transportation system work together more closely: look at who uses public tranportation to go where and why and adapt bus routes somewhat, But otherwise we have a pretty good system, under used?
from Cool Cleveland reader Clurie Bennis cluriebennisATyahoo.com
On whose rust really sleeps (See Iron Oxide, a different kind of metal music here) Good to see Jeff Curtis getting props in Cle again with Iron Oxide, so thank you. But as a vessel of worthless information, I feel compelled to correct Daiv Whaley that the Devo braintrust fed the legend RUST NEVER SLEEPS” to Mr. Neil Young all those years ago. Viva the Akron/Cleveland/Tacoma noise triangle!
from Cool Cleveland reader Jason Pettigrew, Alternative Press pettigrewATaltpress.com
On why the Cleveland school levy failed (See Why did the school levy fail? here) This is in respone for readers to share their opinions as to why the Cleveland school levy failed: When it comes to theories examining why the Cleveland school levy did not pass yet again, there are apt to be as many theories as individuals willing to offer them. First, the Ohio Supreme court has declared the way Ohio funds its schools as unconstitutional, but made the choice not to enforce their own ruling. If the Ohio Supreme court does not care about creating financial equity among Ohios school districts, them how can the residents, who are unconstitutionally slapped with property taxes care? Another fact not to be overlooked is the fact that all four Cuyahoga County school levies on the August ballot failed. We have to think about the message that was communicated across the county. Could it be that this region is in such a fragile state of economic decline and uncertainty that taxpayers feel they truly cannot afford yet another increase? Education is key. That is the resounding message weve heard over and over and over again through town hall meetings, poverty task forces and the like. If education truly is key, then elected officials at the state level need to make education a priority. Not sub-bar, bare bones education, but quality education. What can be expected from the largest poverty-stricken city in America? Should it be expected and accepted that we will have the weakest, least effective school district in the nation? Why should the taxpayers continue to accept base educational standards for the poorest district in the nation? Our children are starting out life at a disadvantage. Let us not compound the challenges against these children. Our problems are more fundamental than voters not passing a levy. Let us work with our leaders, foundations and local officials to not only provide resources to combat poverty, an ineffectual school system and an economic downward spiral, let us eradicate these labels that for far too long have come to mean Cleveland.
from Cool Cleveland reader Emily Lockshine emlockshineATyahoo.com
It’s all about money. Who has any? I live in the inner city and a home owner…..most people do not have money to spare. A lot of people I talk to are still paying on their exhorbitant gas bills from last winter! And not to mention that in March of this yr. the gas co. came on my street & turned off the gas in 50 homes in my area! I was sick. The children & old people……!!!! I’m still paying on mine. The money is just not there. I don’t know why the school board can cry the blues when they’re “broke” and here we are “broke” too, but we are not allowed to get on the news & cry about our horrible financial situation. We have to cope one way or another. The Catholic schools can do it, right? I busted my butt to send my children to Catholic schools. And I never donated any extra money because they were “broke”, just paid the tuition. Why don’t they just shut up already & leave us alone.
from Cool Cleveland reader Mary Bowling inafogATplanet-save.com
I think that there were three reasons for the Cleveland School Levy failure. The first issue was economics. People in the city felt that they could not justify raising their taxes and adding an additional burden to an already stretched to the maximum budget. The second was the appointed school board and mayoral control of the schools. The preception in the community is that there is no accountability regarding school policy and administration. People can no longer vote school board members off when they are dissatisfied with the direction the school system is heading. Now the only one who can be held accountable is the mayor. An unfortunate situation for Mayor Jane Campbell. The third was the levy campaign’s manager. The strategy was flawed from the beginning. Voters needed to be shown all of the positive things that are happening in the city school as well as how the negative things would be addressed when the levy passed. People want tangible results for money paid. I think that Chris Carmody’s comment which was basically state legislators need to find a unique solution to Cleveland’s situation tells it all. The state legislators already gave us a “unique” solution–mayoral control. What we need is a rehaul of the way the our state funds our schools. This levy failure was not uniquelly Cleveland’s. My hometown defeated a school levy for the sixth time–overwhelmingly white, middle class and unable to afford more taxes. Everyone who believes that education is the key to the future needs to bombard all elected officials with demands that the state change the way schools are funded. Remember we have the state Supreme Court in our corner. FOUR times they have ruled our funding of schools unconstitutional. Voters should not be forced to raise their taxes to pay for schools that should be paid by state funding. Oh, by the way, when a voter stays away from the polls it is considered a “no” vote or indicates someone who feels so disenfranchised and unempowered that they can not see any reason to vote. I would say that this school levy was overwhelmingly defeated on all sides of the city whether at the polls or by those who stayed home. I am so tired of the talk of the east/west side divide and/or the black/white divide or even now the public school/private school divide. Let’s end with what is our reality and where we are all alike eastside, westside, black, and white. Costs are going up, wages are flat or going down. It’s economics, folks. And it is time for our government to work very hard for us to contain costs and give us value for the dollars paid.
from Cool Cleveland reader Gloria S. Ferris geeferrATattglobal.net
Three reasons. 1) The school administrations is too top heavy. Can someone show me where to get a copy of the school budget? 2) The people are sick of Mayor Jane Campbell’s support for Barbara Byrd-Bennett. The Mayor will start looking for another job, after the October primary. 3) Property tax levies are becoming less and less popular. Corporate tax abatement has soured many home-owners and there is a going movement to revamp funding for public schools. It seems interesting that the levy was supposed address the rehiring of teachers and a few days before school starts, 250 teachers are rehired without the levy passing. Who’s doing their books. It seems that this information should have been made available prior to the election.
from Cool Cleveland reader Buzz Dickerson buzzharvey_61ATyahoo.com
“Do the math” why levy failed? It’s interesting that CC decided to ask why we think the levy failed. What we all really want to know is why the schools are failing. The levy doesn’t seem to convince us that its passage will help!
from Cool Cleveland reader Lara Lebeiko laralebeikoATyahoo.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) Cool Cleveland Night Out Photos Either you wanted to see what you missed or wanted to see if your photos was up there. www.CoolCleveland.com
2) Ingenuity Fest Guidebook A PDF of the bands and events is a handy way to plan your Labor Day Weekend. www.IngenuityCleveland.com
3) Focus on Tremont The PD’s vignettes of the popular inner-city neighborhood. www.Cleveland.com
4) Why did the school levy fail? A study from CSU breaks it down. www.Cleveland.com
5) Ingenuity television See the Ingenuity Festival ad that’s running on WKYC. www.CoolCleveland.com
Rust never sleeps and neither does the staff and volunteers here @ Cool Cleveland. Thanks to Peter Chakerian, Roxanne Ravenel, TL Champion, George Nemeth, Roldo Bartimole, Kelly Ferjutz, Linda Eisenstein 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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Feel the vYbe,
–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com
all contents ©2005 MulreadyGROUP all rights reserved
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