Bloggapalooza

7.25-8.01.07
Bloggapalooza

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Community Forum More info coming to light on the proposed Med Mart
* Ingenious Collaborating in Collinwood
* Kids A summer job like no other
* Straight Outta Mansfield Polensek’s Rage
* BFD Weekly 50+ comments on the proposed Med Mart
* Sounds What’s the Story with the Knife? from Humphry Clinker
* Reads Whatever Happened to ‘Super Joe’?
* RoldoLINK Ratner, the PD and Sicko
* Ingenuity Karma Instant Karmas from this year’s Ingenuity Fest
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, Brewed Fresh Daily here

Blogs are coming of age, especially in Northeast Ohio. It was the word of the year for 2006, Cool Cleveland recently merged with one of the region’s most-read blogs, BrewedFreshDaily.com, and now Cool Cleveland is selling advertising on the Meet The Bloggers network, a dozen of the top blogs in the region (to inquire: Info@CoolCleveland.com). The blog community fills a void in our civic discourse and helped us flex our collective muscles earlier this month when Cool Cleveland, Brewed Fresh Daily and Meet The Bloggers collaborated on a Community Forum on the topic of public funding for a medical mart, covered in depth below, including your invitation to a final public meeting this week. And now this weekend, you can celebrate citizen journalism in person at the Beachland Ballroom for Bloggapalooza 2.0 with 4 bands, a bunch of comics, and plenty of camaraderie. Check out our sweet picks for things to do this week, and pointers to fun family events. If nothing else, log on and give us a piece of your mind. At least we’re willing to listen. —Thomas Mulready

Exponentially To the nth degree. Plus the square root. That’s what we’ve tried to deliver for 4+ years, and we’re thinking you must be diggin’ it or you wouldn’t be reading these words now. If ever you’ve wanted to high-five a CC writer, here’s how you can, while becoming eligible to win one of several iPhones or video iPods! Forward this to a fav friend(s), in-law or cell mate, stand back and watch the exponential potential. Please include a personal note in the subject line, encouraging them to sign up here. iPod winners to be announced in a future issue.

Medical Mart mash-up A flurry of pro-tax bloviation in our daily paper (see links here), including the entire Forum section a week ago Sunday (see Roldo’s column here), would make you believe that allowing the County to raise the sales tax by 1/4% is the only way to bring a medical mart and convention center to Cleveland. But Cool Cleveland’s recent Community Forum, co-sponsored with the Cleveland Public Library and Meet The Bloggers, brought up a number of unanswered issues and suggestions. For one, why isn’t the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority even exploring floating bonds to pay for a publicly owned and run convention center, while they have been so active in assisting private developer Scott Wolstein and his East Bank Flats project? For another, why is tax money being raised now, when debt won’t occur for over a year? And, most importantly, how can we fund a project that doesn’t exist? No plans, location, budget, or signed contracts have been secured for the convention center/medical mart project. The Merchandise Mart’s website (here, registration required) is voluminous, but mainly with logos of past clients. Absolutely no details about the Cleveland Medical Mart project appear on their site. Greater Cleveland Partnership’s site, www.AShotInTheArm.org with more research posted here, are more focused on our local issues, but also have no project details. When one of the 3 County Commissioners, Peter Lawson Jones, goes against his colleagues, Tim Hagan and Jimmy Dimora, we should pay attention (see Cool Cleveland interview for PC here, and for Mac here). Attend the final public meeting this Thu 7/26 at 11AM at the Cleveland Public Library Stokes Wing Auditorium, 325 Superior Ave, and let your voice be heard. The Commissioners plan to vote at the conclusion of the meeting. And immediately following that, we suspect will begin the referendum drive to force the tax onto the ballot. You can feel free to follow up on our Community Forum here, and join the conversation on Brewed Fresh Daily here: http://www.brewedfreshdaily.com/2007/07/03/coolclevelandcombfdmtbyoucool-community-forums

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Three Masterful Ways to Improve Your Career? The MBA at Cleveland State University is the region’s most practical, flexible, and effective graduate business education. You’ll gain practical experience solving real business problems for local enterprises. Whatever your schedule or location, we have a program that fits your needs. Attend part-time or full-time, day or evenings, weekdays or weekends. Specific programs include: an Executive MBA for qualified professionals, an 11-month Accelerated MBA for recent business graduates, and an 18-month Lock-step MBA at our Extended Campuses and corporate locations in Brunswick, Mayfield Heights, Solon and Westlake. Looking for a more specialized degree? We also offer Master degrees in Management and Labor Relations, Computer & Information Science, and Accountancy. Classes start in August. Make an appointment with an advisor today! Call 216.687.6925 or email cbacsu@csuohio.edu.
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Collaboration in Collinwood
Waterloo Arts Festival and Bloggapalooza 2.0

We here at Cool Cleveland are known to run regular interviews, providing you with insight on some of the region’s most tireless, stalwart advocates – both in the arts and beyond. We also do a fair share of pointing you to some great events in every issue. So, this week, we’re merging the two ideas together, and riding the crest of the wave generated by our recent community forum. This weekend, the venerable Waterloo Arts Festival in Collinwood is paired with Cool Cleveland CIO George Nemeth’s annual Meet.the.Bloggers* (MTB) celebration, Bloggapalooza. Each is surely a marquee event by itself; joined together, the whole Waterloo area in the neighborhood will be bathed in a giant collaborative spotlight.

To wit, MTB has turned a portion of the spotlight back on the people who make the Waterloo Arts Festival a triumph every year: ArtsCollinwood’s Sarah Gyorki. Last week, MTB interviewed Gyorki about the upcoming festival, her passions, the Waterloo Arts Fest and what makes ArtsCollinwood tick. Submitted for your approval and listening enjoyment are the podcast interviews with Gyorki — along with a preview of the Waterloo Arts Fest and Bloggapalooza:

Listen to the interview with Sarah Gyorki here.
Read all about the events at the Waterloo Arts Festival and Bloggapalooza here and here.
Like what you heard? Want to be a part of it? Join the citizen journalists at Meet.the.Bloggers* here.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com


A Summer Job Like No Other
Art and Job Skills Make ArtWorks One-of-a-Kind

If Chastity Wesley wasn’t practicing her jazz dance drills on Shaker Square this sunny July morning, “I’d probably be working at a restaurant or just kickin’ it with my friends,” said the Shaker Heights 11th-grader. But instead of responding to calls of “order up!,” Wesley’s heeding the call of her dance instructor that break’s over and it’s time to get back to practicing their “Jazz Through the Decades” number. She returns to her group under a cluster of white tents, which at the moment also houses a group of young painters and collage artists, a steel drum band and budding thespians practicing monologues. This isn’t summer camp. It’s Wesley’s job, a unique summer internship program called ArtWorks that brings Cleveland-area high school students together for six weeks to work with master artists in dance, visual arts, music, theatre and photography. They’re earning $7 an hour to learn from some of the best artists in the region, but more importantly they’re learning job skills like showing up on time, working as a team, professional behavior and how to price and sell their work…

Read more from Jennifer Keirn here


Shipwreck Camp Apps for Shipwreck Camp 2007 at Case are now being accepted. This day camp, designed to engage 12-15 year old youth in science and exploration. Inspired by the work of scientist/explorer Dr. Robert Ballard, the man who found the wreckage of the Titanic, this camp experience will engage campers in field science and exploration. Register now for this super cool summer camp! Info.

HOT Waterloo Arts Festival The annual festival is a vibrant and lively day of music, art and demonstrations that grows bigger and more exciting each year. Storefront exhibits, dazzling street performers, the city’s best music, great food to sample from local restaurants, public art installations and exhibits and more fun then your kids could shake a stick at. Read and listen to more in our Ingenious feature this week — which highlights podcast interviews with ArtsCollinwood catalyst Sarah Gyorki. http://www.artscollinwood.org.

Harry & the Potters Cleveland Public Library sponsors this no-cost public concert featuring the Rowling-named pop culture ‘n literacy pop act. They jam out Wed 7/25 at 6:30PM at the CPL’s Lake Shore facility. Event runs in conjunction with the CPL Summer Reading Program: Rap, Rhythm & Read: Poetry in Motion. Seating is limited and will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis. Doors at 5PM, show runs for 3 hours. 17133 Lake Shore Blvd. http://www.voicesrisingcleveland.org

School of Rock All-Stars Redux Their first gig sold out, but the Winchester Tavern & Music Hall is bringing them back for another go. The School of Rock Allstars have roots in the school founded by Paul Green and made famous by Jack Black when they made the School of Rock movie. Watch these kids rock it out on Sat 7/28 at 8:30PM. The Winchester, 12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood. http://www.schoolofrock.com. http://www.thewinchester.net.

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“Photography Family Day: Take 2” is Sun 8/5 from 1-4PM. CMA has more fun family workshops to attend! There is no charge for these classes, which are open to the public: Families work together as a team to assemble multiple photographs that simulate movies in “Moving Pictures.” Ever wonder what the inside of a camera looks like? Come to the “Take It Apart” workshop and we’ll find out. Sign up when you arrive for timed tickets. Both classes meet in downstairs Education classrooms A, B and C. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. For more info contact 216-707-2182 or www.clevelandart.org. The Cleveland Museum of Art is a Cool Cleveland Kids partner.
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British Car Day Check out some of the finest vintage Austins, Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Austin Healys, MGs, Aston Martins, Triumphs, Morgans and newer Jaguars as a part of some 350 cars on display Sat 7/28 starting at 9AM. Just about all marks of British cars will be present; the NEO British Car Council and the Jaguar Club of Ohio sponsor the event. Check out the unusual designs and styles. For more information contact Tony Burgess at 614-899-2394 or morrisminr@aol.com Awards for both events follow directly after the show. Ursuline College, 2550 Lander Rd., Pepper Pike.

Nature at Night Celebrate the beauty of nature at night with this no-cost family event at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Sat 7/28 from 5-11 PM. Experience nocturnal animal presentations, natural history talks, nature night hikes, night insect discovery, crafts, nighttime animal maze, stargazing, campfire songs and storytelling. Then, be sure to bring lawnchairs and blanket to enjoy an evening concert under the stars with Unknown Reason. http://www.clemetzoo.com.

radKIDS Keeping your Cool Cleveland kids safe, self-aware and protected is very important. Tri-C and Prevonse are presenting two sessions of the radKIDS Personal Empowerment Safety Education courses for children ages 5-7 and 8-12 to help keep them safe. The 10-hour radKIDS (rape aggression defense) program gives children skills to recognize, avoid and escape dangerous situations and harm and replace panic and confusion with confidence, self-esteem, and personal safety techniques. Both sessions are based in fun, activity-based drills and run Mon 7/30 – Fri 8/3 and will take place at the Eastern Campus at 4250 Richmond Rd., Highland Hills. Details are at http://www.prevonse.com, or by calling 987-2248.

You don’t want to miss what 11-year-old Max has for you and your family this week. Listen here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolClevelandKids07.27.07.mp3. Click here to subscribe: iTunes or other.

Cool Cleveland Podcast You know how to do it. Click here to listen: Link. iTunes or other.
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CLE+ sneak peek Wanna score your very own Cle+ Euro-style bumper sticker for your Hybrid or Humvee? Send your mailing address, along with your favorite reason why Cleveland is so cool, to: ClevelandPlus@CoolCleveland.com Your sticker will arrive in the mail before they’re available to the public.

The Definition of Crazy is running the same local advertising over and over, even though it doesn’t yield desirable results. For fast, effective relief, try advertising in Cool Cleveland. Our customers are happy and we have measurable results.

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CPL Rocks with “Harry and the Potters,” a live concert on Wed 7/25 at 6:30PM, four days after the Sat 7/21 release of J.K. Rowling’s final book in the series: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. “Harry and the Potters” is a musical group that’s part of the Cleveland Public Library’s Summer Reading Program “Rap, Rhythm & Read: Poetry in Motion.” This much anticipated concert has no admission fee, is open to the public and will be held at CPL’s Lake Shore Facility at 17133 Lake Shore Blvd., Cleveland. Seating is limited (first come, first served). Doors open at 5PM and the concert will be approximately three hours. Opening for “Harry and The Potters” are “The Whomping Willows” and “Draco and The Malfoys.” Harry and the Potters merchandise will be available at the concert, For information contact www.eskimolabs.com/hp/ or www.myspace.com/harryandthepotters or 216-623-2948 or 216-623-2822.
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Every week, all of us here at Cool Cleveland pour through gads of fantastic things happening in CLE and NEO, all in an effort to answer that ever-nagging question: “What’s cool to do this week?” Submitted for your approval, here’s a snapshot of what we found. Got a unique event coming up? Know of something that is a totally Cool Cleveland worthy event? We want to hear from you about it; our tens of thousands of readers do, too. Be a civic and cultural activist and turn on your fellow readers.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Crushed Grapes & Small Plates Spend an evening using your “passport” to tour wine regions of the world. Five countries will be represented by fine wine, food, and music in the historic Glidden House Hotel Wed 7/25 at 6PM at Glidden House on University Circle. Tempt your palette with the culinary delights of Marigold Catering along with a selection of fine wine flights from Palette Wine Bar. All proceeds benefit Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. Glidden House Hotel, University Circle. RSVP to 566-5400. http://www.gliddenhouse.com.

HOT The Cleveland International Piano Competition will be held from Wed 7/25 through Sun 8/5. This biennial event features performances from 32 of the world’s most outstanding young concert pianists over a period of ten days at The Cleveland Play House and Severance Hall. Finalists perform with The Cleveland Orchestra to determine the winner of the $50K first prize. The event will conclude with Bravo Piano! a gala celebration to benefit the Competition. http://www.clevelandpiano.org.

Celebration of Preservation The group’s 35th annual celebration of historic preservation projects in NEO takes place Wed 7/25 starting at 5PM at the Hanna Theatre on Playhouse Square. A brief membership meeting and awards ceremony is followed by a reception. Hanna Theatre, 2067 East 14th St. http://www.clevelandrestoration.org

Bon Vivant! Wake up your Wade Oval Wednesday with a tasty Happy Hour presented by the Nature League Wed 7/25 at 5:30PM. Start with a wine tasting in the Courtyard of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, where you can sample French wines from Hammer Wine Co. Nosh on treats from Blue Planet Cafe and rock it out with singer/songwriter Bobby Lanphier (Whiskey Daredevils). Stroll through the museum galleries, check out a Planetarium show at 8:30PM. Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Dr. http://www.cmnh.org.

Monterey Pops Held in June of ’67, the Monterey Pop Festival changed the American pop culture landscape — launching rock and roll’s full frontal assault on the public consciousness and establishing a benchmark for every music festival from Woodstock to Lollapalooza. Learn all about its birth as an extraordinary influential event when co-founder Lou Adler speaks at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Wed 7/25 at 7PM in the 4th Floor Theater. From Ravi Shankar and Otis Redding to the Grateful Dead, Monterey Pop was a seminal moment in the “Summer of Love.” RSVP to 515-8426 or edu@rockhall.org. http://www.rockhall.com.

Inlet Dance Theatre It’s a highlight of every Cain Park Evans Amphitheater summer season, and this year is no exception. Check out two no-cost performances by Inlet Dance Theatre on Wed 7/25 at 1PM and Thu 7/26 at 8PM. Highlighted works include a meditation on consumerism called Semiotic Variations with music by the Future Sound of London; A Close Shave focuses on self-improvement; an original hip-hop piece called Gonna Get Better! and BALListic — an acrobatic comedy returning after a 4-year absence. Wed is a KidzArt matinee, with the full concert on Thursday. http://www.cainpark.com. http://www.inletdance.org.

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Thinking Public Administration? Think MPA! Get a nationally recognized Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Cleveland State’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs. An MPA prepares you for leadership and management positions in federal, state, county and local governments, nonprofit, and public service organizations, economic and community development, health and human service organizations and criminal justice agencies, to name a few. The MPA provides students with tools to build management skills and knowledge to improve their employment opportunities, advance in their organizations, or make a career change. The Program’s curriculum is designed to accommodate part-time and mid-career students, as well as full-time students. Courses are offered primarily during the evenings (some on weekends). Information sessions will be at CSU’s Levin College on Tue 7/31, 5:30-6:30PM and Wed 8/1, Noon-1PM. To register contact www.urban.csuohio.edu/
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Mulready at Muse Machine Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready keynotes the Muse Machine’s Secondary School Teachers Summer Workshop, offering a glimpse into how collaborative online networks are changing how we teach and learn, on Thu 7/26 at 126 N. Main Street, Dayton, Ohio http://musemachine.donet.com.

Med Mart Hearing Attend the final public meeting this Thu 7/26 at 11AM at the Cleveland Public Library Stokes Wing Auditorium, 325 Superior Ave

HOT The End of Suburbia Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream are the focus of this film screening presented by The Brooklyn Centre Community Association (BCCA). The End of Suburbia talks about dwindling fossil fuel supplies and the effect on our modern lifestyle. The film will be shown at approximately Thu 7/26 at 7:30PM, preceding the BCCA’s business portion of their regularly scheduled monthly meeting that begins at 7PM. Discussion follows the film. For details, call Darren Hamm at 741-7990. Archwood United Church of Christ (2800 Archwood) Brooklyn Centre.

I Got Your Back Joseph-Beth Booksellers features an evening with Eddie Levert, Sr., who will be signing the book I Got Your Back: A Father and Son Keep it Real About Love, Fatherhood, Family and Friendship on Thu 7/26 at 7PM. An intimate look into the lives of Eddie and his son, Gerald, this was their final collaboration together before Gerald’s untimely passing. 24519 Cedar Rd, Lyndhurst. http://www.josephbeth.com.

Brokeback & David Daniell Brokeback is Douglas McCombs, bassist for Eleventh Dream Day, Tortoise and most recently Pullman — an all-acoustic collaboration that features members of Come. David Daniell is a composer and performer working in the netherworld of acoustic and electronic instrumentation, composition and improv. The two perform Thu 7/26 at 8PM at Parish Hall Cleveland with special guests Moth Fight and Youngstown’s Giants of Gender. http://www.myspace.com/parish_hall.

An Imaginary Friend Have you come to rely on your relationship with Cool Cleveland with more regularity than some of your closest friends? If so, consider introducing us to some of them… it may enhance your relationships, giving you things to experience together.

HOT A Taste of Tuscany Even if your summer and fall travel plans don’t include a trip to Italy, you can still experience “A Taste of Tuscany” at Cleveland Botanical Garden starting Thu 7/26 at 10AM and running through the end of October. Stunning horticultural displays, a photography exhibit showcasing the Tuscan region, special programming, samplings of Tuscan cuisine, and special selections in the Garden Store are all part of the programming. 11030 East Blvd. http://www.cbgarden.org.

From Plate to Palette is a unique art exhibit that illustrates the bond between art, history and nature in our nation’s farming communities. Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association (CVNPA) and the Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy present this evening filled with great food and art at the reception Thu 7/26 starting at 6PM. Tour the art exhibit while tantalizing your taste buds with food prepared by chefs using fresh, local ingredients. Each chef has partnered with a local farmer to creat a seasonal specialty that showcases the region’s freshest and finest local ingredients. 1403 W. Hines Hill Rd., Peninsula. http://www.cvnpa.org.

Steven John Ross The Panorama Film Series summer lineup at The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) features filmmaker Steven John Ross in person on Fri 7/27 at 6:30PM. An advance screening of his new documentary Winslow Homer: Society and Solitude — detailing the celebrated American painter and illustrator– will also be featured. Q&A with Ross will follow. FYI: Two of the Museum’s Homer paintings are featured prominently in the movie. http://www.clevelandart.org.

HOT Tri-C MusicFest This inaugural event picks up where the JazzFest and CMJ Rock Hall MusicFest left off, with a no-cost, two-day music festival Fri 7/27 (4 – 11PM) and Sat 7/28 (noon – 10PM) downtown on Malls B & C. Soak up an eclectic range of musical offerings – from hip-hop to jazz, rock, blues, soul, gospel and funk. Headlined by Stanley Clarke; Medeski, Martin, Scofield & Wood; Ohio natives Red Wanting Blue and Freekbass and many others. More info at 987-4400 or http://www.tri-c.edu/musicfest.

Plastique Informale Artist Matthew Dibble is known for his large, abstract expressionist canvases that feature the intimate nature of smaller creations. His works comprise Plastique Informale, an exhibition at Art In The Village 5700 Gallery. A reception for the artist and his collection of abstracts hits Fri 7/27 at 6PM at 5700 Broadway, within the Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland building. No cost, open to the public. http://www.dibblepaintings.com. http://www.aiv5700gallery.blogspot.com.

Foulke Cotton Ball Ivy’s Catering Company has paired up with the Friends of Foulke Cultural arts for this 1st annual BYOB dinner and dancing event Sat 7/28 at 9PM. Groove to the sounds of DJ Larry McLemore and register to win a trip for 2 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas Steppin-on-Water Cruise. Casual summer white attire is required. Ivy’s Catering at Greenmount Party Center. 800 S. Green Rd., South Euclid. http://www.folukeculturalarts.com

Cary Brothers If you dig Bright Eyes, Aimee Mann, Josh Rouse and the late, great Elliot Smith, you should check out this indie rock singer from Nashville at the Grog Shop on Coventry Fri 7/27 at 9PM. Best known for the single “Blue Eyes,” which was featured on the soundtrack to the 2004 Zach Braff/Natalie Portman flick Garden State, Cary Brothers offers heartfelt, melodic songs influenced by 80’s Brit New Wave and 70’s folk/easy listening. Super tasty. Vega 4 and Priscilla Ahn open. http://www.grogshop.gs.

American Crafts Gallery If you believe in arts reincarnation, head over to the Dancing Sheep as the American Crafts Gallery rises again on the mezzanine of The Dancing Sheep on Larchmere. ACG owner Jeffrey Salkin says, “The street just didn’t want to lose American Crafts Gallery which had been a destination for 45 years.” Apparently, neither did Lynne Alfred, owner of The Dancing Sheep. Lynne offered Jeffrey the opportunity to open a downsized version of ACG; now the two galleries celebrate their commitment to contemporary crafts, wearable art and gifts on Fri 7/27 at 5:30PM with an open house shindig. Dancing Sheep, 12712 Larchmere Blvd. For more info, call 544-9597.

Beatles in Cleveland Author Dave Schwensen will sign copies of his book The Beatles in Cleveland at the Borders Express at Midway Mall, 4333 Midway Blvd., Elyria on Fri 7/27 at 6:30PM. Schwensen will discuss the book and show a rare 15-minute film of The Beatles’ 1966 concert at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. http://www.beatlesincleveland.com

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WCLVnotes The 2007 Cleveland International Piano Competition takes place from today, Wed 7/25 – Sun 8/5 at the Cleveland Play House and at Severance Hall. And WCLV 104.9 will be there to bring you every note. Host for the wall-to-wall broadcasts will be WCLV’s Mark Satola, Nancy Sinning, Jacqueline Gerber and John Simna. Rounds One, Two and Three take place at the Bolton Theatre of the Cleveland Playhouse. Then on Fri 8/3 and Sat 8/4, the action moves to Severance Hall for the Final Concerto Rounds with The Cleveland Orchestra and Jahja Ling. There will be several new twists to WCLV’s broadcasts of the Competition. From time to time, you’ll hear comments from the contestants – some background regarding why they entered the CIPC. We will give listeners the opportunity to guess the final ranking with prizes for those who come the closest. For details go to www.wclv.com.
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Helvetica Movie Cleveland Institute of Art’s Cinematheque features this documentary film with a special Q&A with designer Michael Bierut of Pentagram. Did you know Bierut is from Parma? He’s actually very entertaining. Definitely worth a look-see, especially if you’re into design. Check out the screeing Sat 7/28 at 7:30PM. http://helveticafilm.com. http://www.cia.edu/cinematheque.

HOT Bloggapalooza 2.0 After a successful beta launch last year at the Town Fryer, event founder and Cool Cleveland CIO George Nemeth found himself looking for a home for Bloggapalooza. He integrates this year’s venerable gathering of Northeast Ohio bloggers with the Waterloo Arts Festival, featuring comedy by the Chucklef-ckers, music by Word of Mouth, The Elderly Brothers and Ghetto Wisdom and a whole lot of thoughts to inspire NEO natives into action. Beachland Ballroom on Waterloo. http://www.bloggapalooza.net.

HOT Art for the Cure Passion, Interludes & Progress is the focus of the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, as it features former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary, Nancy G. Brinker and her world-class, personal collection of Hungarian art on Sat 7/28 at 6PM. This preview celebrates the 25th anniversary of Susan G. Komen Art for the Cure and features a private viewing of Hungarian Artists: An Exhibition of Passion, Interludes and Progress, guided tours of the Maltz Museum’s permanent exhibition, a special performance of Hungarian music featuring the Pink Strings quartet and a cocktail reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres and Hungarian wine. Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Rd., Beachwood. http://www.maltzjewishmuseum.org.

MOCA Mix Summer Edition MOCA Cleveland kicks off their “Summer Edition” with A MOCA Mix::film presentation by Robert Banks, accompanied by newly original scores from The Lusty Moors Sat 7/28 at 8PM. Music enthusiasts, movie-goers, film aficionados, art lovers, students, artists and the curious are all invited to experience the merge. 8501 Carnegie Avenue (between E. 83rd and E. 86th streets) on the second floor of the Cleveland Play House complex. http://www.mocacleveland.org.

Globe in a Glass Prepare your palate for a flavorful tour around the world of wine and cheese at the 2nd annual Globe in a Glass Sat 7/28 at 7PM. This mid-summer wine and cheese tasting, presented by “World Series of Wine” partners WVIZ/PBS and Heinen’s, features over 200 of the globe’s notable wines and 60 int’l cheeses, a silent auction, and plenty of knowledgeable experts on hand to offer advice and answer questions. Check out the “Perfect Pairings Studio,” an all-new feature delving into wine and food pairings. All proceeds support WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN ideastream. Idea Center, 1375 Euclid Ave. http://www.wviz.org/globe.

African Dance Conference Come experience the beauty, grace and power of African dance with master choreographers and instructors Mama Kadiatou Conte – Forte of Guinea and Babacar N’Diaye of Senegal who will teach dance classes for all levels, Sat 7/28 and Sun 7/29 at Tri-C Metro Campus’ First Annual West African Dance Conference. For more info, schedules and details, call 659-9674 or email tankaglemaskdancers@yahoo.com. http://www.karamu.com. http://www.tri-c.edu.

The Brewer’s Circle is the new feature of Blues & Brews, Stan Hywet’s popular ale tasting on Sat 7/28 starting at noon. A limited number of tickets will be sold to this exclusive tasting that takes place before Blues & Brews. Then from 2-6pm, microbreweries from around the world will be featured at Hall and Garden’s annual ale tasting. Area chefs will host cooking demonstrations and share secrets for cooking with ale. A variety of sandwiches and other fare will be available for purchase at the Winking Lizard tent. Music by the Bluestones. http://www.stanhywet.org.

Smooth Jazz Holiday features The Keith McKelley Project, Pieces of a Dream with Regina Belle performing live as a part of the “Rock the Lock” Concert series in Akron presented by WONE-FM. The schedule, which feature some of the best rock tribute bands in the country, offers up this snazzy, jazzy triple bill Sat 7/28 Lock 3 is located in Downtown Akron next to the Akron Civic Theatre at 200 S. Main St. Parking is sans charge for all city-owned parking lots and decks. http://lock3live.com.

Fiber Art Show Peninsula Art Academy’s Fiber Café holds their 4th annual Juried Fiber Arts Show from Sat 7/28 starting at 2PM with an opening reception. Categories for functional and non-functional works will be showcased, with prizes awarded to the artisans; attendees can enter a rug raffle for a show and some homemade wares. Exhibit runs through late August. Peninsula Art Academy, 1600 W. Mill St., Peninsula. For directions/info visit http://www.peninsulaartacademy.com

Mary Ellen Derwis Local photo artist shows her work at the Phoenix Coffee Shop, 15108 Detroit Rd., Lakewood. Opening night for the exhibit is Sat 7/28 at 7PM. Musician/poet Joe Balaz performs at 7:30PM. Call 226-4401 or email joma100@sbcglobal.net for details.

Single Volunteers of NEO holds their 10th Anniversary Picnic Party Sat 7/28 starting at at 3PM Single Volunteers Of Northeast Ohio are invited to come and celebrate a decade of serving the community and making great friends. Bring your own meat to grill and a side dish to share. Soft drinks, paper plates and charcoal provided. Call it networking for the common good of the region! Metroparks South Mastic Picnic Area Off I-480 and Grayton Rd. http://www.svohio.org/Events.htm

AsiaTown Scavenger Hunt Get your friends together and take it to the streets this summer for this one-of-a-kind scavenger hunt Sat 7/28 starting at noon. Discover the diversity, variety and culture of Cleveland’s own AsiaTown! The Scavenger Hunt will cover 30th-40th street, between Payne and St. Clair; every participant will be asked to scour the neighborhood, stopping in galleries, unique Asian shops, restaurants and other unique-to-Cleveland spots for answers to clues provided. Registration starts at noon at the Town Fryer, 3859 Superior Ave. The Fryer will serve as the “post-game” party location — enjoy southern-style complimentary apps, live music, prizes and more. http://www.stclairsuperior.org.

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Deadline Tonight: Complimentary Vegas Trips from Akron-Canton Airport! As if scoring a low $109 fare to Vegas aboard a comfy AirTran Airways wasn’t good enough, you may actually win a complimentary ticket to Vegas when you visit AkronCantonAirport.com/vegaswedding today and vote for the best entry in our recent “Say I Do” essay contest! By voting you’re automatically entered! But hurry, because voting ends today, Wed 7/25 at 11:59PM. While you’re visiting our website, you can check out all the other great fares to the other great cities, and discover why shorter lines and less crowds translate into a better travel experience. Go to www.AkronCantonAirport.com.
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Peter Kuper The artist signs his new illustrated autobiography, Stop Forgetting to Remember on Tue 7/31 at 7PM. In addition to having published numerous books in the past, Kuper is also the author of Mad Magazine’s famed “Spy vs. Spy” comic series. http://www.macsbacks.com.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

A wicked and woolly array of hot tech and business news & events from around Cleveland and around the region. Send your business news and events to: EVENTS@CoolCleveland.com

Cincinnati Post papers close after 126 years because of “so many media alternatives” Read
Innerbelt reboot ODOT rethinks closing Carnegie ramps. Are they actually listening this time? Read
MAGNET job site to push advanced manufacturing jobs Info
Soccer stadium on Route 8? Major league stadium to be paid for with sin taxes Read
Walkway between Mather Museum and Science Center may create blockage for bikers & hikers Link
Local grocers Heinen’s launch a new, improved site http://www.heinens.com.

Welcome to the burning river Have you seen the Convention & Visitors Bureau’s new digs at the Old Higbees Building on Public Square? A geek with white belt and leisure suit promotes “The Full Cleveland;” Lake Effect Snow is explained as “We Enjoy Four Dramatic Seasons…”, accompanied by a shot of the snowed-out Jacobs Field on Opening Day 07; even a graphic on the Cuyahoga River aflame, which kicked off the international environmental movement. Kudos for having the guts to present our visitors square in the face with our myths… and then selling the many benefits of life in Cleveland+. The CVB shares the beautifully renovated space with the Greater Cleveland Partnership and COSE. http://www.travelcleveland.com

Event Planners: Are you looking for new ways to get a new audience to your shindigs? Then you should know that as a result of reading Cool Cleveland 78% of our readers have attended an event. That’s 78%! For more info about advertising contact us at InfoATCoolCleveland.com.

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Convert your Kid into a Human Alarm Clock! It’s time to throw away your clocks and rely on your child to wake you because kids, grades 2 – 8, are getting up early so they won’t miss a minute of Children’s Technology Workshop. Take advantage of this phenomenon by registering your child for a day camp where kids design, make and take home, video games, movies, animations and groovy projects! We offer Lego® robotics as well! Call us for late season registration (same affordable price): 440.484.2222 CTW holds workshops and parties in Chagrin Falls (38 River Street, 44022), around Cleveland or at your place. Schedules: www.ctworkshop.com/glc. Children’s Technology Workshop is a portfolio company of Beta Strategy Group, Ltd, www.betagroup.us, a founding sponsor of Cool Cleveland Tech.
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SOUP and Nat’l Black MBA Assoc. hold joint luncheon w/ guest speaker Fred Nance of Squires, Sanders & Dempsey LLC Wed 7/25 at 11:45. Mariott Downtown. RSVP
SEO and Web 20 How Does Your News Rank on Search Engines? Find out Wed 7/25 at City Club. No cost. RSVP by Fri 7/20 to Melissa.Davis@businesswire.com
Dr. Bridget Duffy of Cle Clinic speaks at B’Wood mo luncheon Wed 7/25 @ 11:30. Register
New Biz Plan Svc Intro w/ Melissa DeGennaro, Principal at marketQUEST, Inc Thu 7/26 at noon. Write a biz plan to take your initiative to the next level. Cle Foundation 1422 Euclid Ave. RSVP to jthomas@civicinnovationlab.org
Morning Buzz focus on Importance of Corp Wellness Wed 8/8 feat. Dr. Thomas Stover Details
TechSkills career wkshp feat. Aaron Boyce. “What is the Net Worth of Your Job Network?” hits Fri 8/17 at 2PM. Amphitheater of the Crown Center, 5005 Rockside Rd., Independence. RSVP to Bob McDonald at 216-446-1010 or at rmcdonald@techskills.com
CAAO Black L’ship Retreat feat. Paul Hill, ED of East End N’hood House Sat 8/25 Read
Maia Beatty asks “Are You Engaging Your Circle of Influence as Powerfully as You Can?” Wed 10/10 Details


Polensek’s rage

Anyone struggling with (or even concerned from afar about) the inner-city issues of drugs, violence and persistent crime has to be able to identify with — and to some degree understand — Ward 11 City Councilman Mike Polensek’s frustration that fueled his harsh letter of condemnation to a young Black man who has repeatedly broken the law by selling drugs in Collinwood. If Polensek’s assessment is accurate, the only thing that will beat this kid to prison will be the headlights on the bus…
Read more from Mansfield Frazier here


BrewedFreshDaily.com, run by Cool Cleveland’s George Nemeth, scans over hundreds of area feeds everyday and provides links and commentary on a range subjects—from coffee to economic development in Northeast Ohio. Here’s an excerpt:

Why is the GCP supporting the Medical Mart/Convention Center without seeing a completed business plan?

* Amanda, How’s that documentation of the claim of $331 million in “direct spending” coming along? Your board member Tom Mulready said the “numbers and analysis” would be available very soon, but that was a week ago. comment by Mark Schumann

* [N]o banker or venture capitalist would buy such a shoddy explanation and the taxpayers of Cuyahoga County shouldn’t either. And those of you who are charged with the task of explaining the figures to us should be ashamed at the shipshod way this is being handled. comment by Gloria Ferris

* I have no reason to be ashamed. We got a website with valuable information online a week after GCP announced it would get involved in Medical Mart. Information is being added to website as soon as it becomes available. And the website includes a blog with posts from both the GCP and CVB to assist with providing real time information… comment by Amanda Marko

* The numbers are remarkably high, it seems to me. As I recall, average conventions for major market cities are more in the neighborhood of 3,000 visitors, not 6,000. This number needs checking. Then, you estimate that a new convention center will be having on average one significant convention a week through the year. That doesn’t make much sense to me. I’d check that number, too. As for expenditure spill-overs, the non-convention spending of visitors are generally concentrated within a three to five block circle of the convention center: Another assumption to test with experienced analysts… comment by Ed Morrison

* I have a couple questions. First, I’m all for making Cleveland more attractive for medical cos. doing business here (i.e. validating and strengthening our claim as the medical capital of the world) but is the Medical Mart concept the best idea we have? And with all the smart people at BioEnterprise and elsewhere in NEO do we really need to partner with a company from Chicago that derives its revenues from what some think, in the Internet Age, is an outdated concept…? comment by Doug Craver

There’s 50+ comments already. Check it out and add your thoughts here

Links to interesting NEO blogs

The National Journal predicts Ohio will lose two congressional seats when the House of Representatives is reapportioned after the 2010 Census.
199 sheriff’s deeds were filed with the Cuyahoga County Recorder’s Office last week.
“What the CVB can do is put together the information needed so that gays who are thinking of stopping by — to see the Art Museum for example — aren’t deterred by a false impression that we are the sort of intolerant backwater where they would have nothing to do and would not be safe.”
Highlights from a visit to the Akron Art Museum.
Video on green/alternative/renewable energy issues from GreenEnergyTV.com.
Ohio Manufacturing may come back, under certain conditions.
Kucinich’s challenger is getting in the game early.

Check Brewed Fresh Daily here, where Peter Chakerian comments on the news of the week in the CC e-blast. When you’re through, add your own comments, questions and attitude. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

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“Unequaled in Cleveland?” Be seduced by “NINE,” a sultry and enchanting musical directed by Victoria Bussert, who, according to the P.D., is “unequaled in Cleveland in her direction of musicals.” Based on Fellini’s comic masterpiece of biographical filmmaking, “8 1/2,” “NINE” follows the life of world famous film director Guido Contini as he prepares his latest picture and balances the numerous women in his life. Cain Park invites you to experience what the N.Y. Times has described as “a galloping fantasy [with a]…ravishingly inventive and tuneful score,” Thu 8/2 – Sun 8/19 in the intimate Alma Theater. Introduce yourself as a Cool Clevelander at the Cain Park Ticket Office 216-371-3000 and you’ll get a cool $2 discount off full-price tickets August 8-19, while supplies last. Limit 2 tickets per person www.cainpark.com.
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Jot It Down Interested in writing for Cool Cleveland? Let us know your area of interest, cause we’d love to hear from you. Letters@CoolCleveland.com

What’s the Story with the Knife?
Humphry Clinker
erroneous exegesis

On its quirkily named debut, the five-piece indie pop act Humphry Clinker delivers a grimy, jittery sound that’s as “straight outta Cleveland” as anything released this year. Guided by voices (natch), caffeine, overstimulation and the oblique non sequiturs of lead vocalist Becky Goede, the band is all about the struggle for sonic balance. More often than not, the results are stunning — with sanguine, garage-y pop moments shattered by Goede’s vocal histrionics.

Goede careens through the band’s melodramatic pop sound like a bull would a china shop – her striking, Karen O homages starkly posing against the warm, savory guitar energy that propels the rest of the band. To wit, it also sounds like a wild sum of its parts. What better name could suit Clinker than that of an Epistolary novel nod? None that easily come to mind…

Read the review by Peter Chakerian here

Wanna get reviewed? Send your band’s CD (less than 1 year old) to: Cool Cleveland, 14837 Detroit Avenue, #105, Lakewood, OH 44107

Hey Writers! Wanna write about Cleveland music? We’ve got a slew of recently-released CDs and DVDs by Cleveland-area musicians that could use your critical commentary for Cool Cleveland Sounds. If you’re interested, send us a note at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

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It’s Only Rock n’ Roll, But I Like It, Love It, Yes I Do! Greater Cleveland’s famed community art project, GuitarMania®, has returned. The guitars are displayed on Cleveland streets for residents and visitors to enjoy from June through October 2007. The project, which raised over $1.6 million for United Way of Greater Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s education programs, features oversize Fender® Stratocaster® guitars transformed into works of art by local artists and national celebrities. Organizations and individuals sponsor and select local artists to paint, sculpt or decorate the guitars. The guitars are auctioned at a gala event on Fri 10/20 at the Rock Hall. To find the guitars’ locations, visit and www.cleveland.com/guitarmania click Guitar Finder Map. .
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An American in Paris
There’s nothing quite like a star-filled night at Blossom Music Center. Making no guarantees about the weather—you’ll most often find me on the lawn, watching the stars overhead while listening to those on stage. An evening of music by one of America’s greatest composers, George Gershwin, is a terrific reason to indulge. This Saturday, July 28, brings an evening titled “An American in Paris” under the leadership of Loras John Schissel conducting the Blossom Festival Orchestra. Guest artists are vocalist Helen Welch and pianist Spencer Myer making their Blossom Festival debuts.

The program will feature a variety of music by George Gershwin, including the Second Rhapsody for Orchestra with Piano, with Spencer Myer (a laureate in the 2005 Cleveland Piano Competition) as soloist; songs from Girl Crazy and Lady, Be Good! with Helen Welch as soloist; Music for Fred and Ginger: Hoctor’s Ballet from Shall We Dance; Cuban Overture; and the Overture to Girl Crazy. The program concludes with An American in Paris, A Tone Poem for Orchestra.

In addition to conducting, Mr. Schissel—a senior musicologist at the Library of Congress—has prepared critical performing editions of the Cuban Overture, the Second Rhapsody for Orchestra with Piano, and An American in Paris.

Prior to the concert, patrons may partake of a Beer Tasting beginning at 5:30PM at the Special Events Plaza just inside the main gates at Blossom. Tickets for this extra event are an extra charge per person. A valid photo I.D. is required to purchase the Beer Tasting ticket, which entitles the bearer to five samples of premier brews from local breweries, imported favorites, assorted snacks, and a commemorative Blossom pub glass (while supplies last).

The concert is sponsored by National City, a Cleveland Orchestra Partner in Excellence. Media Partner for the concert is 107.3 WNWV-FM The Wave.

All Pavilion seats for children aged 12 and under are half the adult ticket prices. Lawn seating for children ages 6-12 is half price. Lawn seating for children 5 and under is no charge.

For tickets, call 231-1111 (Cleveland) or 800-686-1141 during the regular Severance Hall Ticket Office hours, or visit the orchestra’s website at http://www.clevelandorchestra.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net

A Taste of Tuscany
There is something about the word Tuscan that conjures a wistful, peaceful feeling. Even the ancient Romans migrated to the Tuscan hillsides to get away from the exhausting events of daily city life. Now Clevelander’s can get ““A Taste of Tuscany” in our own backyard from July 27 though October 31 at Cleveland Botanical Garden. And, like many of the events sponsored by CBG, you don’t have to be a gardener to enjoy it.

Tuscan style is predicated on simplicity. It is design, al fresco or otherwise, that is rustic, warm, and inviting but also crisp and geometric. Geis Terrace is being transformed to reflect the exacting architectural style of the Tuscan garden with potted fruit trees and flowers bordering the lily pond. You’ll see structural plantings and small garden “rooms” that recreate the romance that is Tuscan. Water features and statuary, intrinsic to this style, invite you to sit a while, enjoy a glass of Italian wine imported specifically for this event, and feel at peace.

The inspiration for “A Taste of Tuscany” came from a special photographic exhibit produced by the Tuscan Region Cultural Board making its American debut at CBG July 27 through September 30. “Giardini di Toscana” (Gardens of Tuscany), consists of fifty, 52” high color panels showing authentic Tuscan Region Gardens and villas. But this is no ordinary photo exhibit. Photographs will be hung in vignettes with items on loan from Solari Home in Rocky River (http://www.solarihome.com) that give the exhibit an authentic and three dimensional feel.

In the gift store, buyer Kate Fox, has created a beautiful display of items from Italy to take your breath away. There are large scale ceramic containers, serving pieces, dinnerware, textiles, cookbooks, food items and glass that bring the essence of the Italian countryside to Cleveland. New pieces are arriving daily.

In The Garden Café, not only will you find Italian wine, but menu items that literally have the taste of Tuscany: sage, rosemary, garlic, plum tomatoes and olive oil. And speaking of food, don’t forget Wednesday night’s “Gourmets at the Garden”. There is a different restaurant every Wednesday but for a truly Italian demonstration, don’t miss Baricelli Inn on August 8.

The Cleveland Botanical Garden is open seven days a week. Times vary so check out the website, http://www.cbgarden.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Nan Frost nanettefATsbcglobal.net

Inlet Sparks Cain Park
Your friendly writers on dance will be walking over to Cain Park to watch Inlet Dance Theatre on Thursday night, 7/26. We’ve looked over our files and current press materials, but as always it’s a question of how things will play out with the student dancers.

Inlet Artistic Director Bill Wade describes Inlet as “the YARD on a bigger scale”, referring to the award-winning ensemble he built from 1990 – 2001 using Cleveland School of the Arts students. And there has been a great deal of continuity of intent, means and method from one company to the other.

Throughout the transformation from the YARD, a student ensemble, to Inlet, a partly professional one, Wade has kept his interest in training and mentoring youth. And as he did with the YARD, he holds an annual Summer Dance Intensive that feeds into a performance at Cain Park — this summer marks Inlet’s 7th Cain Park appearance. We’ve remarked before on how much we like Wade’s dances for young student dancers; it is possibly what he does best.

Aside from the unpredictable, sometimes show-stealing new choreography for the student dancers, Inlet’s doing a few pieces we’re familiar with. BALListic (2002) is just about our favorite of the many modern dances that employ physio balls; the conflict between a masked intruder and 6 dancers in little tasseled caps jealously guarding 6 precious orange balls creates a context for the many skillfully executed “Oh wow!” moments.

Inlet displays it’s mastery of Pilobolus-style partnering in Close Shave, a male duet in which the dancers literally wrestle with the negative aspects of themselves.

We’re also looking forward to a new hip-hop piece, Gonna Get Better by guest instructor / choreographer Mariesha Griffin.

Inlet Dance Theatre will perform at Cain Park Evans Amphitheater: Wednesday, July 25th at 1PM (a KidzArt matinee) and a full concert on Thursday, July 26th at 8:00PM. Admission is no charge! Cain Park is located at the intersection of Lee Road and Superior Road in Cleveland Heights. Visit http://www.cainpark.com for more details.

From Cool Cleveland contributors Elsa Johnson and Victor Lucas vicnelsaATearthlink.net

Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival

It’s brand new this year but to the eyes of many it’s exactly the same as it’s been for the last 30 years. There’s still a whole lot of free dance concerts outdoors in Akron. You can still take the kids, a picnic, and a lawn chair if you like. But a lot has changed.

Heinz Poll, who started giving free outdoor ballet performances with his company in 1975, has passed away. Ohio Ballet, his company, has folded — as was his oft-expressed wish. And Cleveland has changed; the cultural Mecca of northeast Ohio no longer has a professional ballet company in residence at Playhouse Square; it has no ballet series, virtually no ballet performances year round.

Last summer, the City of Akron came up with the money for Ohio Ballet’s final outdoor performances and immediately formed a task force to begin looking for a way to continue Akron’s 30-year tradition of free outdoor dance concerts. The festival they’ve come up with is financed by funds from the City of Akron, the GAR Foundation, the Knight Foundation, and others. In order to honor Poll, each company in the festival will perform at least one work by him.

Ballet Theater of Ohio started out performing for children and their program seems aimed particularly at younger audiences. GroundWorks shows Poll’s roots in German modern dance by performing his Tristeza, a dramatic solo. Verb performs Poll’s Bolero and brings a live Cleveland-style polka band for their latest dance, Polka Madness. We’ve seen little of Ballet Met but they’re the festival headliners by virtue of their big budget ($5.2 million) and their national ranking; they too are performing Poll’s Bolero along with a dance to the music of Simon and Garfunkel and a romantic pas de deux from their production of Romeo and Juliet.

Performances for the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival will begin at 8:45PM on Friday and Saturday evenings, with a children’s program starting at 7:45PM each night:

July 27, 28 – Ballet Theatre of Ohio at Hardesty Park. (Akron’s Art Expo)
August 3, 4 – Ground Works Dance Theater at Cascade Plaza
August 10, 11 – Verb Ballets at Goodyear Metro Park
August 17, 18 – Ballet Met at Firestone Park

Also part of this year’s festival are an Ohio Ballet photo exhibit and a panel discussion on July 25 at the Francia Albrecht Studio at the University of Akron’s dance center at Guzzetta Hall. The Festival’s founding committee will discuss “The Poll Legacy.”

From Cool Cleveland contributors Elsa Johnson and Victor Lucas vicnelsaATearthlink.net

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Sip, Sample and Savor “Globe in a Glass” Prepare your palate for a flavorful tour around the world of wine and cheese at the 2nd annual Heinen’s/WVIZ Globe in a Glass on Sat 7/28, 7-10PM. Join us at Idea Center in Playhouse Square, the home of WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN ideastream, for this mid-summer wine and cheese tasting featuring over 200 notable world wines and 60 international cheeses, a silent auction, and plenty of knowledgeable experts. Plus, added this year, “The Perfect Pairings Studio” offers the chance to discover (and sample) how wine and food can each heighten the enjoyment of the other. Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 at the door. Visit www.wviz.org or call 216-916-0110. All proceeds support WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN.
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Whatever Happened to ‘Super Joe’?
Russell Schneider
Gray & Company, Publishers

Have you been living in Cleveland for more than –oh, 15 years? If so, you’ll certainly recognize some of the faces on the cover of this entertaining book. All of these pictured gentlemen played baseball for our Cleveland Indians at some point between the two World Series competitions in which our tribe was not successful: 1954 and 1997. The names roll trippingly off the tongue, and stir up dozing memories of times past. Some of them should probably not be disturbed, but still – it’s fun to encounter some of these players once again, and imagine – what might have been.

With 43 years of frustration and futility elapsed between those two World Series, and this book tells us about 45 of the men who mostly passed through here on their way to fame or obscurity. Possibly the most successful of the bunch was Jim Bibby (75-77), a pitcher who arrived just in time to take advantage of the beginnings of free agency. He went to Pittsburgh and a World Series. Others, such as Gomer Hodge, had just one season (1971) of the ‘bigs’ before being sent down to the minors. He became a coach, but that didn’t last too long, either…

Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

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Last Performance Sold Out – Reserve Your Tix Now! A tribute to a musical legend, “Always . . . Patsy Cline” is now playing at the Carousel through Sun 8/26. Guests are already saying it is better than the 2003 production! The six-piece band on stage accompanies the sound that still echoes in our hearts today and will reach to the rafters with memorable hits like “Crazy,” “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “I Fall to Pieces.” Good Seats are available! Dinner plus this phenomenal production – all for under $55.00! Purchase tickets online at www.carouseldinnertheatre.com or by calling the Box Office 800.362.4100!
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Ratner Handouts, PD Embarrasses, ‘Sicko’ Shames Us

Someone sent me a copy of a column from the New York News entitled, “Atlantic Yards gets a deal so sweet it’s sick.”

Welcome to Cleveland, all you New Yorkers.

The project involves Cleveland’s Ratner family and Forest City Ratner Cos., formed for this $4-billion deal, including, of course, a new basketball arena. (We build Roman Colosseums in all our cities, not for the rabble but for those who can afford the price of admission.)

Sometime ago, Forest City Enterprises Chairman Al Ratner, at a meeting where his firm was first presenting its plan for Cleveland’s new Convention Center, engaged me in conversation.

He told me that I’d have a ball observing Forest City’s operations around the country. He said that they were getting federal subsidies all over the country. I guess his comments emanated from my reporting over the years about his and Sam Miller’s local hunger for government handouts…

Read more from Roldo Bartimole here

Ingenuity Festival Thursday 7/19

Weather magic: The 6:30 gale that nearly upended the tents and cancelled the outdoor events barely dented the drumming shamans at the Samba for 1000 Drums at CSU Plaza. Led by Brazil’s amazing Marcus Santos, players and audience headed under the Rhodes Tower overhang, and jamming continued during the half-hour downpour, with capoiera dancers kicking and whirling.

Top flight: The incredible Lisa K. Lock transfixing the audience in the 10-minute Gravity Well Movement: Lock’s ultraslow movements hanging over parallel bars with her impossibly long limbs turned her into an insectoid space alien.

Most fun chillin’: Playing Mindball hooked up to electrodes, making a tiny ball move toward my opponent by cooling down my alpha waves.

16 [R]evolutions @ Ingenuity 7/19
What rocked: New York City’s Troika Ranch showed a winning combination of computer-generated backgrounds, dramatic lighting, motion capture, and live dance in their exploration of the animal versus the civilized. Of the 2 man/2 woman quartet, dancer Lucia Tong was always the focus, thanks to her expressive face and strangely Neanderthal postures.
Caveats: With the intermissionless show at nearly 70 minutes, choreographer Dawn Stoppiello seemed to run out of ideas — 16 movements were about 4 too many…
Read the review by Linda Eisenstein here

Photo by Scott Muscatello from the Ingenuity Flickr Group with 1000+ pics

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

Shaw Festival @ Niagara-on-the-Lake 7/11-14 For those readers looking for a continuation of Roy Berko’s coverage of the Shaw Festival, please visit his blog at http://royberko.info.

Mame @ Mercury Summer Stock 7/18
What works: The splashy Jerry Herman musical has showy costumes and a stageful of eager college kids who give their best to director/choreographer Pierre-Jacques Brault. Miles Sternfeld is sweet as the young nephew, and Timothy Mark Adkins is a gruffly charming Beauregard, both enamored of the glamorous Mame.
What doesn’t: Though she has the most professional polish on stage, Jacqi Loewy seems miscast: she has a smallish voice and an imperturbable smiling poise that more befits a campaigning First Lady than the eccentric, lovable flapper. And Brault makes some directorial missteps, like unforgivably upstaging Loewy in the title number and allowing Daniel Marshall to make the giggling “Oriental” Ito truly cringe-worthy.
Details: Thru 7/28 @ Parma Little Theater, http://www.mercurysummerstock.com
From Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein linda@coolcleveland.com

Billy Joe Shaver @ Kent Stage 7/21 I know that Rascal Flatts sold out the “Q” last week, and a few weeks ago Kenny Chesney packed over 50K fans into the Browns Stadium for a concert. And I know both shows went smoothly (well, save for that well-documented plumbing debacle during the latter), and that all the “hits” sounded just like they do on today’s country radio ala Clear Channel, and that everyone waved their cell phones at encore time. Too bad those “country music fans” missed a chance last Saturday to see the real thing at the Kent Stage as Billy Joe Shaver performed in front of 300 or so of the dedicated. It was a night of genuine country music, story telling and perspective from a guy who helped make guys named Jennings, Presley, Cash and Nelson legendary.

You knew things were going to be a little different when all the musicians came out and tuned their own instruments, including Shaver who took the stage dressed in denim and a real cowboy hat on top of his head. He opened with a long ago ballad he called one of his “getting back in the house” songs, composed for his wife to get back in her graces after he had disappeared for three days of drinking and hell raising. It was dedicated to a dislocated Texan in the audience who had used it as his wedding song.

Shaver filled most of the night with the songs the audience came to hear, woven in and around his monologues filled with happy and sad stories taken from his sixty some years on the planet. The topics ranged from growing up dirt poor to a teenage mother in the cotton fields and honky-tonks in and around Waco, Texas; to struggling in Nashville as a young songwriter; to the deaths of his wife to cancer and his son to a heroin overdose. His stories were just like his music, he cut no corners.

Backed by a talented five piece band, Shaver performed amongst the seventeen song set “Fast Train to Georgia,” “Honky Tonk Heroes,” “You Wouldn’t Know Love,” “Thunderbird,” “Cranking Up My Old Truck,” “Devil Made Me Do It The First Time, The Second Time I did it on my Own,” “I’m just an Old Chunk of Coal,” and “When the Fallen Angels Fly.”

It was a great night with one of the true surviving outlaw singer songwriters of American music. Look for Shavers’ new album of inspirational music this September, “Everybody’s Brother.” Visit his website at http://www.billyjoeshaver.com. The Kent Stage has a strong line up of concerts ending up the summer and going into the fall, including Tab Benoit on August 24 and Leon Redbone on September 15. Go to http://www.kentstage.org for more information.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Greg Cielec cielecAThotmail.com

Malicious Bunny @ 4th Wall, Kalliope 7/22 On the way out of Kalliope Theatre, where Fourth Wall Productions is staging their newest offering, Malicious Bunny, I said to the script’s author, Matthew Sprosty, “You have a twisted mind! A brilliant, but twisted mind!” He responded with an innocent grin which split his cherubic blushing face.

Fourth Wall Productions is just completing its first year of activity. Made up mainly of Ohio University theatre graduates, the company, who are mainly from the Cleveland area, thought that there was a need on the North Coast for a company which performed new works by new writers. They are mainly looking at scripts from OU’s Playwriting Program. If Malicious Bunny is any example of the quality of the scripts and production values that we will be seeing in the future, Fourth Wall is a welcome addition to the Cleveland scene.

Sprosty has a wonderful way of leading his audience down one path, doing a quick detour, allowing the viewers to find themselves guessing at what will happen next. In Malicious Bunny he has given us a black comedy/mystery that is cleverly conceived.

The author contends that the play is not autobiographical, but did germinate from experiences with his last girl friend and her parents. He emphatically insists, and states in the program that it was his LAST girl friend, not this one. (Okay, Matthew, now that it’s officially in public print, hopefully this saves you from your present main squeeze’s parents not dragging her out of the theatre and forbidding her from seeing you when they attend next Saturday’s performance.)

The plot? A couple of twenty-four year olds have hit the one-and-a-half year point in their marriage. She (Angela) is an artist, who is on a sabbatical from creating. He is an engineering graduate who is working as a janitor because she wants to live in Cleveland, near her parents, and he can’t find a job in his field on the north coast. She is bored and manipulates her somewhat naive husband (Jonathon) to do her beckoning. She may be named Angela, but she is no angel! Her list? Kill her parents, get a million dollars, and buy the penthouse condo in their building. To go any further with the plot would blo the whole premise. It’s enough to say there are enough twists and turns to make the surprise ending a head shaker and allow you to leave with a smile on your face!

Director Rebecca Cole has paced the play well. She is aided by a cast that understands the plot and their characters. (Having the playwright on-hand to work with during the production and explain his concepts obviously turned out to be a great aid in the staging process.)

Nate Bigger, a blonde with the look of total innocence and a voice to match, is wonderful as Jonathon. He gets totally wrapped in the role and takes us right along. Though Stephanie Ford’s Angela could have sounded a little more vocally manipulative, she is quite believable as the spoiled little rich girl who gets everything she wants (or, so it seems). Dash Combs is both properly delightful and menacing as Jonathon’s buddy, Greg. Steven Hoffman and Kat Gallagher do well as Angela’s parents, but are much better as the detectives. (Hmm…. and why are there detectives? I’m not going to tell!)

Capsule judgement: It’s been a while since I’ve had such a good time at a theatre production. The twists, turns and “oh my goodness moments” in this production keep the audience laughing and thinking of what’s going to happen next. Bravo!

‘Malicious Bunny” is being staged by Fourth Wall productions at Kalliope Theatre (the corner of Cedar and Lee Roads) through July 29. Tickets: 330-283-2442 or visit http://www.fourthwallproductions.com. For a sneak peek of the show, go to http://www.myspace.com/fourthwallproductions”’.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Roy Berko’s blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info.

Spawn of the Petrosexuals @ convergence-continuum 7/22 Christopher Johnston, the playwright of Spawn of the Petrosexuals, which is now being staged at convergence-continuum theatre, states in the playbill, “I won’t try to articulate my anger and frustration over an America I no longer know, nor our unconscionable lack of concern for consequences.”

Yes, Johnston is angry and frustrated. So am I.

Both Johnston and I are angry that America has lost its course under the corrupt Bush administration and the business overlords as well as the the over-consumption of resources and the breakdown of ethical values. Yes, unless there are some drastic changes we are on a sliding board to becoming a second-rate nation. Beyond that, my frustration centers on the playwright and convergence’s artistic director.

I believe that theatre should be purposeful and meaningful. The author has an obligation to the audience to present a message in a way that they can reasonably understand the author’s intent. In my opinion, Johnston does not write a play that clearly states the problem or shows a way out of the void. Instead, he writes a script filled with unnecessary abstract imagery, abstract situations, and the use of profanity for the sake of using profanity. He creates abstraction for affect, rather than effect.

He also creates happenings that gross out the audience for no reason (eg., one cast member realistically urinating into the mouths of two others in order to “rehydrate” them). During this scene, the person sitting next to me moaned, “That’s disgusting.” It was! Gross can be an effective tool, but what was the act’s real purpose other to gross out the viewer and show how avant garde the author was?

The question that Artistic Director Clyde Simon has to answer is, “why did you choose to stage this script?” Yes, you wanted to do an original play, and the author wrote this specifically for your theatre, but that does not mean you have to do a script of questionable quality. On the way into the theatre, one of the patrons said to Simon, “Am I going to understand this one?” Obvioulsy, the patron has been to convergence in the past and been confounded by Simon’s “unique” selection of scripts. I didn’t get a chance to ask the man after the production about his understanding, but the odds are he was as lost as most of us.

Part way through the first act a character in Spawn of the Petrosexuals says, “Who’s listening to this crap?” I almost yelled out, “Not me… I turned off the whole proceedings long ago,” and from observing those around me, most of the audience had joined me. The “crap” statement was followed by another of the author’s lines, “I thought and I thought and there is nothing worth saying.” My first reaction upon hearing the line was, “So, Mr. Johnson, why did you write the script?” And, the second was, “Why am I sitting here enduring this?” So, for only the second time in all my theatrical experiences, I left at intermission.

”Capsule judgment: I have sat through many, many theatrical productions. I would have to rank seeing this production at convergence as one of the most uncomfortable experiences of them all. A Side note on this review: I don’t like writing critiques that discourage people from attending the theatre, but I would be disingenuous to my readers if I was less than honest about this script and production”.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Roy Berko’s blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info


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.

On last week’s Straight Outta Mansfield on Educating Our At-risk Youth here I liked your article this week. I agree on “bribes”, although I prefer to call them financial incentives to reach a goal, or in academic-speak, a stipend. I was the director of a program last summer that tied course attendance to stipend. Attendance was also connected to the course grades. Nobody calls this a “bribe”, although the students’ “jobs” were to attend this program of study.
From Cool Cleveland reader Ed Caner emc15@case.edu

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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4) Cool Contest iPhones & Video iPods.
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5) Hyland Software The region’s largest tech company sold to private equity group.
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Speak Your Truth Mad props to Peter Chakerian, T.L. Champion, George Nemeth, Mansfield B. Frazier, Nan Frost, Roy Berko, Linda Eisenstein, Kelly Ferjutz, Roldo Bartimole, Greg Cielec and Roy Berko. Special thanks to Chris Galagaza, an extraordinarily cool volunteer for CC, who is the winning “Ingenuity Volunteer!” Props to to Chris! We thank him (and all the volunteers) for all his (their) help at the Fest this weekend. And lastly, though certainly not least, thanks to our readers and everyone who partners with us. Want to volunteer and contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, articles, or story ideas to: Events@CoolCleveland.com.

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