Warm up with a cup of hot chocolate at CMNH’s MLK celebration with free admission. Generate some heat at the Transformer Station while cross-cultural multi-instrumentalists Larry & Joe lead sing-alongs and storytelling. Rub together Cleveland’s avant-garde No Exit and St. Paul’s Zeitgeist and out comes a flock of world premieres at Drinko Hall, BOP STOP and Heights Arts. Catch up with art collector David Burke as CoolCleveland contributor Bruce Checefsky investigates.Saxophonist Justin Tibbs heats up the Happy Days Lodge, while Dark Wave Dance Cave gets gloomy and goth. Be a part of Ray Caspio’s 27-hour duration performance at CPT and come and go as you wish (just be sure to wear a mask). Experience transgender fairy tales at Waterloo Arts, celebrate the life of Crazy Marvin at Beachland, and watch comedian Mike Polk inventing twisted tales based on historic Cleveland photos.
Learn how to grow a lush field of lavender, socialize with fellow cyclists at BikeCleveland’s annual gig, and speak out at the open mic storytelling workshop hosted by Wandering Aesthetics. Stop by Melt Bar and Grilled’s final garage sale for memorable local memorabilia, read the real history behind the state of Ohio and our vice presidential legacy from CoolCleveland columnist C. Ellen Connally, and learn the impact of vouchers on public education. Just don’t get so comfortable that you don’t want to venture out and engage with our community.
Visit the Cleveland Museum Of Natural History for free on Mon 1/20 for a meaningful exploration of Dr. King’s legacy and his connection to science, community, and Cleveland. Warm up with a free cup of hot chocolate, courtesy of Levy Restaurants, in Origins Café. No ticket or registration required.
Reflect on Dr. King’s profound impact through a series of posters featuring his inspiring quotes and historical photographs of his visits to Cleveland. Collect exclusive MLK-themed buttons at three stations throughout the Museum. Share your voice and dreams, aspirations and reflections with interactive installations. Don’t miss this special celebration of community, history, and hope. Read more.
David Burke recalls the first time he bought a piece of art. It was in the old Cleveland State University building on Chester Avenue. Douglas Max Utter exhibited paintings made with his signature black roof tar and spray paint. Burke, mesmerized by the sexuality and exotic work, bought several pieces.
“From there, I started paying attention to the William Busta Gallery in Little Italy,” said Burke. “I remember seeing a Don Harvey piece at the gallery. Don was living in the flats on the river in an old abandoned factory building. I went to a party at his place.”
CoolCleveland contributor Bruce Checefsky spoke with Burke about how he went about developing his collection, what excites him to buy a piece of local art, and what artists his collection includes. On Thu 1/16 at the Yards Project gallery in the Warehouse DIstrict, selections from his collection will go on view so that other art lovers can share his enthusiasms. Read more.
Anyone who encountered Eli “Guitar Man” Fletcher at an event around town — and he popped up at a lot of them — remembered that occasion. Dressed in his red and blue superhero costume and toting his guitar, Fletcher was always quick to oblige with a song for any occasion, improvised on the spot.
Sadly Fletcher passed away in December at the age of 64. His friends and fans will be celebrating his 65th birthday on Tuesday February 28 anyway, with a bar crawl down East 4th Street and an all-evening jam at Great Lakes Brewing in Ohio City. You’re invited to come in your own superhero gear. He’ll be there in spirit. Read more.
MON 1/20 Celebrate Dr. King
Numerous NE Ohio institutions that are usually closed on Mondays are open today with free admission and special programming to explore the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Ohio is known as the “Mother of Presidents,” sending eight native-born sons to the White House. But when it comes to Vice Presidents, the Buckeye State was barren until the 2024 election of JD Vance. Vance is the first person in the state’s history, who was both born in Ohio and elected from Ohio, to serve as Vice President of the United States.
The irony of Vance’s meteoric rise is that in 2016 Vance was a “never Trumper,” saying that Trump could be an “American Hitler.” His past anti-Trump position flies in the face of his current “bromance” with Trump. There must have been a lot of ring kissing or kissing of other parts of Trump’s anatomy to move Vance from foe to friend. It should also make voters question the mindset of someone that could take such a drastic change in position. Read more.
