10.14-10.21.09
Books & Beer

In this week's issue:

Take your pick With so many cool things going on this week, you can hardly make a bad choice. We'll give you the heads up on Cle Beer Week, the Octavofest book festival, LEAF's season-ending party, and the unveiling of a massive outdoor mural. Stick a fork in it, says our Soundbite Laureate, while Roldo suspects more economic voodoo and Mansfield laments the playing of the race card. We've got reviews of the coolest shows, John Stark Bellamy II's brush with fame, and a chance to win an easy $250 bucks. Plus, our early endorsements so you'll have plenty of time to take your pick. This week, books and beer is just the start of it. The choice, as always, is yours. --Thomas Mulready

For absentee and early voters, our capsule endorsements for the upcoming Tue 11/3 election. Either way, VOTE!

* Issue 1: YES: Bonds to compensate veterans of Persian Gulf, Afghanistan & Iraq conflicts.

SPONSORED: Young Professionals get discounted tickets for the Mad Hot Ballroom Gala! Don't miss Olympic Swimmer Diana Munz's ballroom dancing debut at Young Audiences' annual benefit on Sat 10/24. Food, music and dancing, all to support arts education. Contact Laura and ask about the discount: 216-561-5005 X17 or laura@yaneo.org.

Public Art Unveiled

International art dealer Paul Sykes has really outdone himself. He's transformed a dormant courtyard in front of the Beck Center into the lively Beck Cafe, featuring the Red Stage for musical performances, and now a massive outdoor mural by the Russian-born Montreal-based Natasha Turovsky.

Watch the video interview here and stop out to the mural unveiling on Thu 10/15 at 5PM at the Beck Center, with a special showcase performance by 12-year-old prodigy Vanessa Haynes. http://www.BeckCafe.com

Evaluating online advertising? Consider Cool Cleveland sponsored links & videos. We've been reaching your customers online for over 7 years in Northeast Ohio. Info@CoolCleveland.com

Click To WIN? Look closely. Here's $250 bucks.

Get the idea?

Now you can win $250 just for clicking on the SPONSORED: links and Sponsored Videos in this week's issue of CoolCleveland.com below.

Click as many times as you want. The more different SPONSORED links you click, the better your chances of winning. We'll be announcing another winner soon. Click to WIN

SPONSORED: Want $20 off your next flight to Ft. Lauderdale or Ft. Myers aboard AirTran Airways? Then just look for CAK's Florida is 4 Everyone coaster at one of these area restaurants. There's still time to enter Akron-Canton Airport's Florida is 4 Everyone contest and you may win a fabulous vacation package for two to Orlando or Tampa! Enter at http://www.AkronCantonAirport.com/fla. Good luck!

The Tim Buckley Story
by John Stark Bellamy II

Forty years on, I can't recall precisely whether it was the summer of 1967 or 1968, although the compulsive gravity of nostalgia inclines me to believe it was the former, the storied and drug-fogged "Summer of Love."

But I do remember what happened and how. It was one of my rare life encounters with a bona fide celebrity, and it's only justice to admit that it probably brought of the worst in both of us...

Read The Tim Buckley Story by John Stark Bellamy II here

SPONSORED: An ethical environmental challenge? Join us for Ethics and Climate Change, a free public lecture by Andrew Light, internationally recognized expert on climate change policy and author of Environmental Values on Thu 10/22 at 6PM in Amasa Stone Chapel, 10940 Euclid Avenue. Sponsored by the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities at CWRU. Registration recommended. http://www.Case.edu/humanities

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We got the Gay Games. Now can we land the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup? Sign the petition to bring the games to Cle. Sign

Travel+Leisure calls Cleveland #6 in culture in the US, beating out San Fran, Boston, DC, Philly, Vegas & LA. But we knew that... America's Favorite Cities

13 Miles From Cleveland. New literary and arts mag [pictured] sprouts up. Publishes nationally but is based locally (as if you couldn't tell). Read

HOT HELP Ingenuity organizers want yr input to make 2010's fest the best one ever. Share yr opinions and ideas at the Ingenuity Fest Focus Group on Fri 10/16, 5:30 - 7:30PM at Lkwd Park Pavillion. Email dhoffmanATwmf-inc.com for info.

Shoot any good films lately? Cle Grindhouse Film Fest now taking submissions for its event on Sat 11/21. Email clevelandgrindhouseATgmail.com for submission info.

Cle Int. Film Fest also seeking film submissions. Films must be made after 6/08. Fest runs Thu 3/18/10 to Sun 3/28/10. Details

Summit Memory Project provides oral history of Akron's rubber industry. New collection contains historic photos & interviews of industry leaders, all in digital audio format [pictured]. Check it Out

Confused about the 2 county reform issues on the ballot? League of Women Voters offers series of public mtgs to clear up confusion. Call 216-781-8375 for location info. Info

GREEN Air pollution wasn't as bad this summer, thanks to cool weather. Only 3 days this summer were designated Ozone Action Days, when air pollution reached unhealthy levels. Yay...?

Cuy Co. not meeting EPA standards for fine particle pollution. Apparently one cooler summer was not enough to lower pollution levels. Time for a Change

Love from Florida. NYT publishes city love letter from former Cle resident and New Yorker responding to 36 Hours in Cle. Read

Hough community plants new time capsule to replace the one from '92. Want to submit an item to include? Contact Paula Gist before Fri 10/23 at 216-791-4801 to submit a Hough heritage piece.

Teachers just love Young Audiences

Jane King is thrilled to work with Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio. As the Magnet Site Coordinator for Lowell Elementary School in the Lorain City School District, Jane has scheduled over 20 artists from Young Audiences to work with students on a wide range of cool, curriculum-related projects: Learning the ABC's with Verb Ballets, or Hip-Hop History, or a Chinese Tea Ceremony.

Watch the video interview with Jane as Young Audiences artist Desmond Davis runs a dance and music class through the basics of movement. What does she love about working with Young Audiences? The help she gets in choosing appropriate artists, the customized programs they offer, the professional development for teachers, even help with fundraising to secure grants to pay for it all. No wonder she's so enthusiastic! http://www.YANEO.org.

Cool Cleveland Podcast Weekly roundup of cool events, in an easy-to-digest 3 minute audio format, for playback on your computer or iPod.

Click here to subscribe to the Cool Cleveland Podcast in iTunes.

SPONSORED: If you haven't read Ann Patchett, you must! She comes to Cleveland Public Library on Sun 10/18 at 2PM as part of the Writers and Readers Author Series, so grab a friend and join Ann at the Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium. Understand the fervor surrounding the author of Bel Canto and Run by visiting Writers and Readers at http://www.CPL.org. Doors open at 1PM.

A revolution is happening in Lakewood
And its season is about to come to an end

Every Wednesday, from spring to fall, the front of the Lakewood Public Library is transformed into a celebration of local food, local people and local art.

The Lakewood Earth and Food (LEAF) Community doesn't just pass out community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares of vegetables during LEAF night, they downright throw a party complete with live music and a selection of eco-conscious vendors.

This party gets even bigger on Wed 10/14 as LEAF wraps up their season with their 3rd Annual Harvest Festival.

Read the story on LEAF by Sarah Valek here

SPONSORED: The Open House that Opens Doors! Come to a Baldwin-Wallace College MBA Open House Tue 10/20 in Beachwood or Wed 10/21 in Berea and learn how the distinctive B-W MBA programs in business administration, entrepreneurship, human resources and accounting as well as International, Health Care and Executive Management can help you take ownership of your career today! For details visit http://www.bw.edu/academics/bus/programs/openhouse.

If You Give a Pig a Pancake and Other Story Books Watch bright and bouncy mini-musicals based on your favorite books, such as Fluffy the Classroom Guinea Pig and The Paper Bag Princess on Thu 10/15. Recommended for grades K to 4. Performances at 9:45AM and 11:45AM. Part of LCCC Student Matinee Series. Stocker Arts Center, Lorain Co. Comm. College, 1005 Abbe Rd., Elyria. Call 440-366-4040 for tickets. Info

Fall Festival @ Euclid Beach Halloween is at the beach on Sat 10/17! Bring the fam from 7 - 10PM for an evening of fall goodness. Check out a "family friendly" haunted house and hayride, stories, crafts, games and more. Make sure you dress in your Halloween finest so you can receive a prize. 16301 Lakeshore Blvd. Info

Spooky Pooch Parade is as much for kids as it's for dogs. After all, what kid doesn't love to see dogs [pictured] dressed as witches and goblins? Dress up your dog and parade down Detroit Ave. on Sat 10/17 at 2PM. Judges will award the "spookiest pooch" and "most creative dog and child." Kids ages 4 - 12 can enter the coloring contest. Check-in begins at 12:30PM at St. Charles and Detroit Aves. in Lakewood. Get info and register here.

Fall Family Fossil Fun Celebrate the opening of CMNH's newest exhibit, Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries, by going on a fossil hunt! After taking a brief tour of the new exhibit, Dr. Michael Ryan will take you into the field to make some discoveries on Sun 10/18. Be prepared for some hiking. 10AM - 4PM. For ages 10+. CMNH, 1 Wade Oval Dr. Register

SPONSORED: Hot Jazz. Cool Concert! Get ready to Rumba! CIM brings the Cuban Timba band, Tiempo Libre to Severance Hall on Sat 10/24. Performing with the CIM Orchestra, high voltage Latin jazz meets Classical with rhythms sure to bring you to your feet. Check out this fusion of urban funk and the polished sounds of a symphony. The result is a one of a kind night on the town. More info: http://www.cim.edu/promos/tiempolibre.

Cleveland Beer Week

Clevelanders' fondness for local breweries and brew pubs has taken Cleveland Beer Week to new heights this year. The calendar of events during the week of 10/16-24, renamed Cleveland Beer Week, is truly amazing.

Every venue that serves beer seems to have gotten on the bandwagon to celebrate Cleveland's brewing history...

Read more about Cleveland Beer Week from Claudia Taller here

A hot selection of tech and business news & events from around the region. Got business news? Send it to: EVENTS@CoolCleveland.com

Apply to many different jobs with one simple text message. Companies at Brunswick Job & Career Fair on Sat 10/16 accepting apps with new Text2Hire system. Flyer

The Economist plugs Y-town A Young Town Again spotlights the Youngstown Business Incubator and resident Turning Technologies, plus the town's plans to "shrink" the city. Read

GREEN Cuy Co. receives $5.7 mill to promote energy efficiency. Grant to be used for wind turbine pilot project and other activities. Read

Ohio submits federal application for 3C Passenger Rail service. Service would begin in 2011 or 2012, depending on fed's decision. Info

CWRU awarded $49 mill for research addressing economic development and job creation. Most of the stimulus grants goes to School of Med. Details

NEO would grow by $2.8 bill... if college attainment rate increased by just one percentage point, says study by CEOs for Cities. Info

HOT Got design skills? The 2009 Cle Design Competition is on! Design plans for Lakefront Station, a downtown multi-modal transportation center, and you could win big [pictured]. Details

Hometown Huddle brings out the best
Browns, United Way team up

Jim Petsock is HR manager at UPS, but in his spare time, he serves as United Way's Special Events Co-Chair and Community Investment Volunteer. Quite a mouthful, but it really means he helps pull together hundreds of volunteers to work on United Way's cool projects, like this one to build a fitness park for the recently homeless at Park Village Apartments on Hough.

When Cool Cleveland's Thomas Mulready caught up with him, Jim was painting a fence at United Way's annual Hometown Huddle, building an 8-station Fitness Zone with the help of Browns players, and thrilled to be giving back to the community. As they say, Live United. See more photos here: http://www.uws.org/news/huddle_followup.asp

Winning Others Over: How to Sell Yr Ideas One Person at a Time lecture at CWRU on Thu 10/15, 4:30 - 5:30PM w/ G. Richard Shell. No charge. Info

Finding Work in an Economy without Jobs 2-part series at LaCentre on Thu 10/15 and Thu 10/22 from 5 - 9PM. Register

Execution is Where Strategy Hits the Road breakfast lecture w/ Gary Harpst at Skyline Hotel on Thu 10/15 from 8 - 10AM. Email gmarquitATedgef.org to register.

HOT IABC Heritage Regional Conference at Marriott Downtown from Sun 10/18 to Tue 10/20. Communications, social media and technology. Register

Creating Community, Engaging Customers AAF-Cle luncheon at Windows on the River on Tue 10/20 at 11:30AM w/ David Alston [pictured] and Shawn Morton. Tickets

Lessons in Risk Management w/ Myron Scholes at Kent State Univ. on Tue 10/27 at 5:30PM. Part of Pilliod Lecture Series. No charge. Info

Utilizing Search for Fun and Profit SEO trends + tactics panel at Windows on the River on Tue 10/27, 11:30AM - 1PM. Register

SPONSORED: Beck Center Celebrates Lakewood's Newest Outdoor Public Art! See Lakewood's newest public art on Thu 10/15, 5PM, at Beck Center for the Arts. Mayor Ed FitzGerald will lead the unveiling of the outdoor mural by international artist Natasha Turovsky and dedication of the Red Stage Courtyard at the Beck Cafe. Complimentary reception and concert follow. http://www.BeckCenter.org.

Put Down the Beer Stein and Grab a Book
It's Octavofest 2009!

Throughout the month of October, you can help the members of Art Books Cleveland (ABC) celebrate the art of the book. ABC is sponsoring eight book arts-related activities this month, all under the umbrella name of "Octavofest."

The octavo is a traditional book format that refers to the size for pages used in the printing of early books in which a large sheet of paper or parchment is folded three times to produce eight pages...

Read The Art of the Book by Susan Petrone here

SPONSORED: People across Cleveland know Mayor Frank Jackson provides proven leadership you can count on. That's why Cuyahoga County Young Democrats and Cleveland Stonewall Democrats endorse him, along with Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Marcia Fudge. See MayorFrankJackson.com. Paid for by Frank G. Jackson for a Better Cleveland, Scott C. Finerman, Treasurer, 3029 Prospect Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44115.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Throw Down Your Heart Who doesn't love the pluck of a banjo? In this doc, banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck travels to Africa to discover the mysterious roots of this beloved instrument. Winner of Audience Award at SXSW Film Fest and is back at CMA by popular demand. See it on Wed 10/14 at 7PM. Cle Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd. Synopsis

HOT Con on the Cob is totally geeky (and proud of it). Billed as the universe's most "off the cob" gathering of all things geeky, Con on the Cob is 4 days of gaming, sci-fi, art, fantasy, anime and cult films. Experience workshops, seminars, the Mama of All Marketplaces and even kids activities! (Plus an Adopt-A-Geek Fund!) Runs from Thu 10/15 to Sun 10/18. Clarion Hotel, 240 E. Hines Hills Rd., Hudson. View schedule and register at http://www.ConOnTheCob.com.

GREEN Think Green! Preservation and Sustainability in Your Older Home Learn how to make your older home eco-friendly without changing its historic character and without breaking your bank. Jamie Bertram from the Cle Restoration Society shows you the way on Thu 10/15 at 7PM. Lakewood Public Library, 15425 Detroit Ave. http://LkwdPL.org/calendar/historical

Why Torture is Wrong and the People Who Love Them is billed as a hilarious, absurd, sometimes offensive and sometimes disturbing play. This black comedy turns political humor upside down while satirizing our country's rabid homeland insecurity. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you won't know what to think. The Ohio premiere opens on Thu 10/15 at 7PM. Cle Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Ave. in the Gordon Square Arts District. Tickets

The Dark Side of the Universe New research suggests the universe is made of "dark energy," a form of energy that opposes gravity's pull and accelerates the Universe's expansion. Sounds cool, right? Learn more about this elusive-sounding dark energy [pictured] and other revolutionary observations with a lecture from Princeton Univ.'s Dr. Neta Bahcall on Thu 10/15. 8PM. Part of the 2009 - 2010 Frontiers of Astronomy Lectures. No charge. CMNH, 1 Wade Oval Dr. Details

HOT HELP No Sleep Till Harvard The Progressive Arts Alliance All-Stars are the essence of real hip-hop: socially-conscious, energetic and homegrown. This group, made of young artists from PAA's summer camp, will perform at a special benefit on Fri 10/16 at 7:30PM to raise funds for their upcoming performance at Harvard. Locally-grown and internally-known emcee Jahi will share the stage. Idea Center at Playhouse Square, 1375 Euclid Ave. Info

Best of Cleveland Party Party with the hottest people in town on Fri 10/16 at Cle Magazine's annual Best of Cle Party. See the winners up close, chow on some truly amazing food and get down to the best grooves in town. What more could you ask for? Starts at 7PM at the Rock + Roll Hall of Fame. http://ClevelandMagazine.com/bestof

SPONSORED: On Fri 10/16, at 8PM, WCLV 104.9 airs a Mixon Master Series recital from CIM's Mixon Hall. Ms. Kwuon and pianist Teddy Robie l perform Mozart's Adagio in E, K. 261, and Rondo in C, K. 373; Enesco's Violin Sonata No. 3; Schubert's Fantasie in D; and Tango, Song and Dance by Andre Previn. On Sat 10/17, WCLV is live at Severance Hall. Franz conducts the Orchestra, Chorus and soloists in the Brahms' "A German Requiem." Full details on all of WCLV's programming at http://www.WCLV.com.

Memorial Bicycle Ride for Sylvia Bingham Sylvia was an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer committed to making the city a better place. Tragically, she was killed in a traffic accident while riding her bike to work. Celebrate her life with a day of cycling, serving the community and a discussion of how to improve bicycle safety awareness on Sat 10/17 from 10AM - 4PM. Rides last 5 to 25 miles with activities afterward. Edgewater State Park - lower pavilion. More info at http://IRideFor.blogspot.com.

HOT Fall Art CTownArtParty fuses up-and-coming artists with distinct venues to bring you events full of progressive people, interesting art and sweet music. Check out an autumn art show housed in a former meatpacking plant on Sat 10/17 at 5PM. 3700 Clark Ave. http://www.CTownArtParty.com

PORCH @ Vine and Bean Cafe PORCH is urban backyard acoustic music. If that description leaves you puzzled, just picture a day lounging on your porch without a clock, watching grass blowing in the breeze, and you're moving along to the day's natural rhythm. Sounds pleasant, huh? That's kinda what PORCH is like. See for yourself on Sat 10/17 from 8 - 10PM. 12706 Larchmere Blvd. http://VineAndBeanCafe.com. http://www.MySpace.com/porchonline.

Dixie's Tupperware Party If you haven't caught Dixie's performance, you better do it this weekend. Sat 10/17 at 5PM and 9PM, and Sun 10/18 at 2PM are the last times to see this Tupperware Lady at PlayhouseSquare. Dixie Longate [pictured] talks Tupperware (and tosses out giveaways) in this inventive play bent on audience participation. See how she became the #1 Tupperware seller in the world. Described as "not your grandmother's Tupperware Party." 14th St. Theatre. Tickets

Weird Al Birthday Bash & UHF You're invited to Weird Al Yankovich's 50th birthday bash (as thrown by Cedar Lee Theatre Cult Film Series) on Sat 10/17. He won't be there, but his movie UHF will be shown. And there'll be cake! Plus, all patrons get to spin a "Wheel of Fish" and win cool prizes. Don your best Hawaiian shirt and show up at 9PM. 2163 Lee Rd., Cle Heights. Info

HOT Sister Spit- Next Generation Sister Spit is a female-centric, queer literacy arts org based in San Francisco. Described as a "multimedia literary explosion of zinesters, fashion plates, novelists, performance artists, poets and fancy scribblers," Sister Spit is a vanload of eclectic talent making its way across the US. And they're coming our way. See graphic novelist Ariel Schrag, queer luminary Michelle Tea and more on Sun 10/18 at 7PM. The Nickel Bar, 4365 State Rd. http://www.RadarProductions.org

ACLU Ed Likover Memorial Lecture Celebrate the 90th anniversary of the ACLU of Ohio and the birthday of legendary activist Belle Likover at this no charge event on Sun 10/18 at 2PM. Law prof and nationally-known voting rights activist James Sample to speak about corporate influence in elections. Maybe you've seen his work in Slate.com or the WSJ. Call 216-472-2220 or email contactATacluohio.org to RSVP. College Club of Cle, 2348 Overlook Rd., Cleveland Hts. Details

Full Moon & Searching for 4-Legged Friends @ Lake View Cemetery You don't need to enter a phony haunted house to get spooked. Sometimes all it takes is a moonlit walk in the cemetery to get the chills. A naturalist will lead you by moonlight to search for signs of deer and red fox on Sun 10/18 from 5 - 7PM. The event isn't billed as scary but, hey, it is in a cemetery at dusk. 12316 Euclid Ave. Info

Fra Fra Sound is a Suriname-Caribbean band from Amsterdam that plays a delectable blend of Latin, jazz, soul, blues and world music. The band has played in 50 countries since its inception in the late '70s. Catch this eclectic septet on Sun 10/18 at 7PM. Nighttown, 12387 Cedar Rd., Cle Heights. Check 'em out.

GREEN Coit Road Farmers Market Presents A Taste of Autumn Feast on a fall harvest dinner buffet of local food--all prepared by local chefs--on Mon 10/19 from 6 - 9PM. Celebrate the awesomeness of East Cle's Coit Road Farmers Market [pictured], which started back in 1932! Live music, silent auction and cash bar also available. Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Rd. http://www.CoitMarket.org

The Merling Trio @ Rocky River Chamber Music Society Formed by a small group of residents in 1958, the RR Chamber Music Society strives to bring diverse, high quality chamber music to the west side--at no charge. The Merlin Trio stops by to perform on Mon 10/19. Consisting of piano, violin and cello, this trio is known for its "magnificent precision and an impeccable blend of sound." The Society is self-sustained by residents. 8PM. West Shore Unitarian Univ. Church, 20401 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River. http://www.RRCity.com/chamber.html

Interreligious Impact Festival You don't have to be religious to be inspired by people putting their differences aside and coming together for a good cause. InterAct Cleveland is just that--a group of over 40 congregations coming together to do good things. Witness the strength and compassion of local citizens working together on Mon 10/19 at 6:30PM. Be inspired at the difference we can make while enjoying food and entertainment. Fatima Family Cntr, 66000 Lexington Rd. Details

The Nia Coffeehouse @ Coventry Village The Nia Coffeehouse is a traveling community of jazz musicians, poets and spoken word innovators committed to sustaining a bond between artists. Join the Coffeehouse on Tue 10/20 at 6PM for open mic. Bring your own work to share or sit back and enjoy the show. CHUH Coventry Village Library, 1925 Coventry Rd. # 2, Cleveland Hts. Event details and Info.

GREEN CSU Sustainability Day is a celebration of sustainability in higher education. Learn what CSU is doing to become more sustainable, discuss critical environmental issues and pick up some swag at the Green Fair on Wed 10/21. The Fair, from 11AM - 2PM, features vendors, student performers, prizes and info. Alvidas Jasin from the Climate Change Project speaks at 12PM. The day culminates in a Rooftop Garden Party at 7PM. Schedule

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Do you want to Beat The Donkey?

First, pianist Mitsuko Uchida, in a flourescent green see-thru jacket, beat the hell out of the Steinway on Beethoven's Piano Concerto #4, then it was The Cleveland Orchestra's turn with his Symphony No.5, a blistering triumph served up by music director Franz Welser Moest at a breathtaking tempo.

But if #5 was knocking on fate's door, the Fridays@7 after-concert with Beat The Donkey in the lobby of Severance Hall on Fri 10/9 was the apocalypse rattling the rafters. Watch this video and see if it doesn't make you want to Beat The Donkey, or at least pee your pants. Also see reviews below under Instant Karma. ClevelandOrchestra.com

America Uncoupled
Wall Street and Main Street At a Fork

America has finally come to a fork in the road - at the intersection of Wall Street and Main Street - and that fork is being clutched in the quivering hand of the American Consumer.

After walking in lockstep through thick and thin, it appears that this fiscal and fraternal pairing are preparing to part ways. Or are they...?

Read Soundbite Laureate by Douglas O'Bryon here

Playing the Race Card
Plus, The Giveback, and more...

Last week I wondered in print if the backers of Issue 3 (the measure to bring casino gambling to Ohio) were playing the race card with some of their literature.

Most of the slick pieces I've been receiving in my mailbox at my inner-city Eastside home only have images of black folks on them. The suborning and patronizing mailers purport to tell us how much power and control we have over the fate of the referendum.

Yeah, right, black folks with some kind of serious statewide political power in Ohio - now there's a real joke...

Read more from Mansfield Frazier here

More Economic Development Voodoo?

If Dan Gilbert had even a smidgen of real interest in Cleveland and its people he would show it by volunteering to pay property taxes on Quicken Arena.

Don't make this bet unless you're on the Pee Dee editorial board.

We are being offered - again - a lot of nonsense about economic development and jobs. This is the corporate and Pee Dee mantra for subsidizing rich people...

Read more of Roldo Bartimole here

Quick reviews of recent events
Submit your own review or commentary to Events@CoolCleveland.com

Wise Up @ Nighttown 10/4/09

Read the review by Christine McBurney here

Fridays@7 Cleveland Orchestra 10/9/09 Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

Fridays@7 Cleveland Orchestra 10/9/09 Read the review by Victor Lucas & Elsa Johnson here

Twelfth Night @ Great Lakes Theatre Festival 10/9/09 [pictured] Read the review by Roy Berko here

80 Years of Contemporary Dance @ Verb Ballets 10/9/09 Read the review by Roy Berko here

The Man Who Came to Dinner @ Ensemble Theatre of Cleveland 10/10/09 Read the review by Roy Berko here

Cool Cleveland readers write
All letters must include your full name (required) and you may include your e-mail address (optional).
Send your letters to: LettersATCoolCleveland.com

On health care in France vs. USA (watch video here) Living in France is a joy when it comes to quality healthcare. Similar to to the British NHS, everyone living or visiting France is taxed and that amount goes into help funding our superb system. While visiting Cleveland last year, I had cut myself cooking on a late Saturday night. Because my hand wouldn't stop bleeding I hesitated but decided it was best to go to the Lakewood Cleveland Clinic Emergency room. I had no US health insurance and ending up handing over my credit card an shelling out $2,300 bucks. That was more painful then the shot of novocain and 2 stitches that I received! I could have flown back and forth 2 times in first class for that price...

Read more letters here

On health care in Canada vs. USA (watch video here) Since we moved to Toronto in 2005 we've tallied: - pre-natal care (we chose a midwife) - hospital birth (we planned for a home birth, but Xavier was over 10 lbs so we ended up with a C-section) - * post-natal care - * pediatric checkups and booster shots - * adult booster shots - * MRI for Young's knee - * Arthroscopic surgery for Young's knee - * ER care - injuries and stitches - * ER care - x-rays, morphine, cast, follow up treatments - * regular check-ups, visits for illnesses and injuries. As OHIP card holders (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) we present our cards at each visit. We see no paperwork, no invoices, no bills. There are no deductibles and no payments. Zero dollars for all the above...
Read more letters here

On traditional journalism vs. whatever this is i appreciate receiving your email blasts with current cleveland events. but perhaps i have not been paying attention. i just finished reading the current cool cleveland and my eyes are bleeding. what's with the "cle" usage? that's only the airport designation. are we allowing the faa to change the name of our city. are you trying to tell me that i have been involuntary relocated to cle, oh. not cool...!
Read more letters here

Send your letters to: LettersATCoolCleveland.com

Most clicked
Here are the Top 5 most clicked links from last week's issue, with one more chance for you to click.

1) A Cautionary Tale of the Sixties by John Stark Bellamy II has CoolCleveland readers enthralled. CoolCleveland.com

2) Northeast Shores buys the LaSalle Theatre after foreclosure and near-demolition. northeastshores.blogspot.com

3) What state sends the most people to Ohio? And what state does Ohio send the most people to? CommunityResearchPartners.org

4) What next for Eric Brewer? wonders CoolCleveland columnist Mansfield Frazier. CoolCleveland.com

5) Are you smarter (or cooler?) if you do some kind of arts? It's likely, says Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio. YANEO.org.

Time for a beer? All our writers have been working hard this week, and we want to thank them, especially Roldo Bartimole, John Stark Bellamy II, Roy Berko, Kelly Ferjutz, Mansfield Frazier, Douglas O'Bryon, Susan Petrone, Claudia Taller, and Sarah Valek. 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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