12.13-12.20.06
Hullabaloo

In this week's issue:
* Cool Cleveland Party Discount tix for Holidaze Hullabaloo 'til midnite
* Comment I'm a Mom... Can I Still Be Cool?
* 2006 Holiday Shopping Guide If you haven't finished yet, start here
* Interview Ken Warren of the Lakewood Public Library
* Signs of Life on Planet Cleveland Am I Crazy? by David Budin
* RoldoLINK Troubling Signs in Cleveland
* Sounds Unpopular by The Unknown & Midnight Surprise by Rio Neon
* Preview North Coast Men's Chorus
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, CC Blog click here

This is the time of year when Cleveland shines. The weather's not as bad as people think, and Cleveland culture starts to dress up, light up, and knock our socks off. We've scoured the Internet, and our recommendations for cool events and family events this week are below. Plus, a missive from Roldo, another from David Budin, and 2 local CD reviews. Check out Instant Karma reviews to help you plan what shows you want to see. Our Holiday Buying Guide is jammed full of local, artistic gift ideas. Finally, join us this Thu 12/14 for our Holidaze Hullabaloo at Fat Fish Blue, with discount tix here. We'll see you there, or out and about this week. Tell them Cool Cleveland sent you. -- Thomas Mulready


Cool Cleveland Holidaze Hullabaloo is this Thu 12/14!
Super low price until midnight Wed 12/13 here. Walk ups also welcome.

Have a Slammin' Holiday Season when Fat Fish Blue hooks you up with the finest ingredients for a phunking good time Blitzen-style on Thu 12/14 from 5:30PM - 8:30PM at Fat Fish Blue. Start (or end) with their Hot Chocolate Peppermint Schnapps drink special and move over to their non-stop mega Cajun buffet (see below). Next stop: Open bar with beer & wine, with thumpin' non-stop tunage from Cats On Holiday followed by the ever popular Latin Jazz trio, the Gaetano Letizia Band. Plus iPod and ticket giveaways. Discount tix still available until midnight Wed 12/13 here.

You get all this:

  • Complimentary Open Bar with beer & wine for 3 hours
  • Unlimited Cajun buffet, featuring:
  • Secret Recipe Cornbread
  • Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
  • Mini Crab Cakes with Cajun mayo
  • Pop-in-your-mouth Cornbread Hush Puppies
  • Chicken Tenders with Praline Dipping Sauce
  • Spicy Jalapeńo Caps
  • Delta Dip (black bean dip for us vegetarians)
  • Sweet Potato Chips
  • An array of Delicious Desserts
  • Hot Chocolate Peppermint Schnapps drink special
  • Tuneage by Swamp popsters Cats On Holiday
  • Special appearance by the St. Edward Trash Talkers garbage can percussion ensemble
  • Dancing till the wee hours with Latin Jazz from the Gaetano Letizia Band
  • Chance to win tix to see Bobby McFerrin live on Sat 1/20/07
  • iPod giveaway

Oh, What Fun It is when you meet us from 5:30-8:30PM at Fat Fish Blue at the corner of Prospect and Ontario in Downtown Cleveburg. See map here. Get yr tix online before midnight Wed 12/13 for the biggest bang for your holiday bux here.

Click here: https://CoolCleveland.net/tickets/121406/index.php


I'm a Mom... Can I Still Be Cool?

I rarely get the chance these days to take in the latest theater production at the Cleveland Playhouse, and the "new" Tremont restaurant I'm dying to try has been open two years by the time I get there. I'm embarrassingly ignorant of current music -- especially local music -- and I can hardly remember the last time I went to a concert. Each potential evening on the town must be measured against one almighty criterion: "Is this worth getting a babysitter for?"

Yep, I'm a mom. Or, more correctly, I have borne children... but must I shoulder such an un-cool label as mom? Just the sound of the word conjures images of minivans and diaper bags, baggy sweatshirts with leggings, dinners at Chuck E. Cheese and other un-cool endeavors. Does becoming a parent require me to hand in my cool card and retreat to my local McDonald's PlayPlace?

I don't think so. I choose to consider my time as a parent of young children to be a brief sabbatical from my former, more social -- and yes, more cool -- lifestyle. While my responsibilities at home may have changed, my spirit and my passions have not. I still love theater and the arts, books that seize my eyeballs and won't let go, meals good enough to stay in my taste memories. I may have less time to indulge in these passions now. I must pick and choose wisely when a coveted night out arrives (thankfully I have Cool Cleveland as my guide). But I know they'll be waiting for me when I return.

In the meantime, I have an important task before me -- to raise two little Cool Cleveland-ers of my own. To expose them to the rich cultural experiences our region has to offer. To teach them to love music, fine foods, art, theatre and books, in whatever form or style speaks to their hearts. To expand their view of community beyond our suburban bubble to embrace the diversity of the Northeast Ohio region.

And that's an opportunity that I think is really cool.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Jennifer Keirn jenniferATjenniferkeirn.com

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'Twas the Week Before Christmas and all through the Library? . . . Enjoy live holiday music from the Celtic Clan on Sun 12/17 at 2PM at the Cleveland Public Library's second floor, Main Library, 325 Superior Avenue (no admission fee, open to the public). Enjoy an acoustic selection of ancient/modern seasonal music by this Kent folk group that features a mix of well-known carols and upbeat secular tunes from the British Isles, Ireland, France and the US. Members include Trish McLoughlin, on pennywhistle and Irish wooden flute, Katie Grigg-Miller on the hammered dulcimer, vocalist Calley Mitchell, vocalist and guitarist Pamela Mitchell, Rhonda Richardson, violinist and Nancy Barbour on the Irish hoop drum. For more information contact (216) 623-2881 or (216) 623-2848 or www.cpl.org.
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Your One-Stop Source for Local Gifts, Wares and Sundries
Keep on clickin', because this week, our Holiday Buying Guide has a ton of brand new listings... it isn't any wonder why the Guide is one of our most clicked links. Check it out here, print it out, take it with you, or pass it on to others struggling with gift ideas. Buying local is a smart, equitable and sustainable business practice, so support your local economy today by consulting our Buying Guide, compiled by CC Managing Editor Peter Chakerian. Here's a sample:

It might be cold, but the Mitchell's ice cream brothers have recipes to warm you up...
Koyono has tech-friendly clothing like BlackCoat, Slimmy and and a discount for Cool Cleveland readers...
Cleveland Clothing Co. celebrates the rebellious spirit of CLE with their gritty fashion designs and attitude...
Immortalize your favorite swervy with the quirky designs of Lisa B., who loves booze divas. Save your bottle and she'll transform it at boozelamps.com...
Don't forget The Red Geranium, "A Resale Shop" where recycling high quality gifts is the modus operandi...

Visit Cool Cleveland's Holiday Buying Guide



Amaryllis for Huntington's Order your kit complete with Dutch bulb, pot, soil & instructions, and your donation goes to help cure Huntington's Disease. 226-6633. Makes a great gift.

NYT story on Cle's Christmas Story house is in their own Top 5 most e-mailed articles. Read

Great Lakes Compact at risk The Sun Belt is eyeing our access to the world's largest body of fresh water, and now, after more than a dozen meetings of the Council of Great Lakes Governors, who have formulated a "delicate balance" between business and environment, the Ohio legislature is poised to be the first to approve this innovative agreement, which could serve as a model for the remaining 7 Great Lakes states which also must OK the Compact. The Ohio House will pass it, but State Senator Tim Grendell is single-handedly stalling the legislation because of possible threats to property rights, a concern that the bill's sponsors dispute. Read. If you decide to send him your comments (State Senator Tim Grendell SD18@mailr.sen.state.oh.us), please also Cc: Cool Cleveland at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Cleveland bids for Special Olympics Site selection comm in town last week to bring 2011 games here, worth $120 million plus positive media. Read. Cle-based sports marketing giant IMG and Sports Commission consider LeBron & others to help make bid. Read. How can you help sell Cle as a host? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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What's the Perfect Holiday Gift for Movie Lovers? Membership to Cinematheque at The Cleveland Institute of Art. Cinematheque is our region's premier showcase for independent and international films from six continents. Year-long adult membership is $30 which entitles you to a $3 savings for every admissions ticket. Individual passes are $8. No last minute shopping, please. We'll be closed Fri 12/22 for the holidays! For more information about Cinemstheque call (216) 421-7450. Did you know that CIA was recently honored as one of the "Top 25 Design Schools in the United States" by BusinessWeek Magazine? For more info about the Institute visit www.cia.edu.
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Calling all entrepreneurs The non-profit Entrepreneur's Edge has extended the deadline of their Leading EDGE Awards to Fri 12/22, for mid-market companies under $500M who sell, or plan to, outside the region. Apply

Calling Mayor Jackson Columnist Sam Fulwood III laments, saying "Jackson must stop acting like the Invisible Man." Read Your thoughts? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Cle Chamber Symphony box set nominated for GRAMMY and they win a $25K Argosy Foundation grant to promote contemporary music. Buy the box & see their next concert on Sun 1/21 http://www.ClevelandChamberSymphony.org

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Can Lost State of Franklin win a van? The Lost State of Franklin is participating in the Pabst Blue Ribbon Sponsorship Finals, where the band with the most friends wins a new van. Visit http://www.LostStateOfFranklin.com to learn more. Group will perform at the Hi-Fi Club (11729 Detroit Ave, Lakewood) on Fri 12/15 at 10PM.

PHS launches "Launch" for area artists Performance creation residences designed to support invention and innovation in performance and to foster new relationships between local artists and the public. Modeled on a successful program created by the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Proposals for two week-long Launch residencies in spring 2007 accepted now through 5:00PM on 1/26. Application at http://www.PlayhouseSquare.org/arts-education.

Cool Cleveland Podcast Cool things to do this week in Cleveland, at the click of a button. http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolCleveland12.15.06.mp3. Add the CC Podcast to iTunes using this link. Don't forget, you can subscribe to this podcast by saving this link in your favorite program that catches podcasts.

We Dig Your Vibe and maybe you dig ours . . . if so, introduce us to your circle and you will all be eligible to win a Video iPod complements of Cool Cleveland. No purchase necessary. Enter as many friends as you wish. The more friends you enter, the greater your chances of winning. Sign up by going here.

Cool Cleveland Kids Take a hint from 11-year-old Cool Cleveland correspondent Max Mulready who has scoured the Internet looking for a few good events to recommend. Hear his short podcast here even if you don't have special software. If you're a whiz kid, you can download it to your iPod or your computer and listen with your own kid. Check below to see the events tagged CC KIDS under Cool Cleveland This Week for our recommendations for a fantastic family week. http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolClevelandKids12.15.06.mp3. Add the CC Kids Podcast to iTunes using this link. Adding this link to your program that catches podcasts will keep you up-to-date on the latest audio.

To ensure you receive Cool Cleveland every week, take a moment now and add CoolCleveland@CoolCleveland.com to your address book, trusted sender list, or corporate white list.

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What's Wrong with Shooting for the Moon? Ask for (or give!) the two-performance dance series "Dance by the Light of the Moon" - starting at $35 - with Luna Negra Dance Theatre in February, followed by Momix's newest "Lunar Sea" in March. First, on Sat 2/3 at 8PM at the Ohio Theatre you will witness Luna Negra Dance Theatre, known for their Latino roots and fresh dance moves that speak to modern audiences. Then on Fri 3/9 or Sat 3/10 experience Momix and their newest, magical multimedia piece "Lunar Sea." Shows at 8PM at 2PM at the State Theatre. This performance defies concepts of weight and gravity! Audiences have been known to shout out, gasp and applaud furiously. Co-presented by DANCECleveland and Cuyahoga Community College Performing Arts. Starting at $35! Contact 440-914-0744 or www.dancecleveland.org.
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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


CC KIDS December Days at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has something for everyone. For cold weather fans, polar bears, reindeer, tigers and wolves in Northern Trek. Those who prefer to be warm and toasty can visit their favorite tropical animals in The RainForest where it's always a balmy 80 degrees. Live music, ice carving, crafts for kids, Get-Close animal programs, Santa and much more for an unbelievable price now through 12/30. Call 661-6500. http://www.clemetzoo.com.

CC KIDS Stan Hywet's Deck the Hall See the Manor House transformed to portray Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet, The Nutcracker, plus a winter wonderland of lights. Now through 12/30. Call 330-836-5533. Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, 714 North Portage Path, Akron. http://www.stanhywet.org.

CMA's American Portraits at Oberlin College's Allen Memorial Art Museum (AMAM). This small installation of works from the Cleveland Museum of Art collection is on display now (Wed 12/13) through Sun 12/17 and features works by Benjamin West, John Singleton Copley and Gilbert Stuart. Call 440-775-8665 or visit http://www.oberlin.edu/amam for more.

Les Fleurs Modernes & The Fields of Solomon, 2075 A.D. Cool Cleveland contributor Daiv Whaley's 2 exhibitions are both on display at Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, today (Wed 12/13) through Mon 1/8. Located in the Music-Armory Building. http://www.beckcenter.org.

Time Flies exhibit by Jean Alexander Frater of Cleveland at SPACES, 2330 Superior Viaduct, thru 1/5 http://www.SPACESgallery.org.

Threads of Remembrance: Artistic Visions of the Holocaust Holocaust Wall Hangings by Judith Weinshall Liberman with portraits by Herbert Ascherman, Jr. is a stirring exhibition that visually complements the Maltz Museum's permanent collection by addressing the horrors of the Holocaust as seen through the eyes of survivors and their families. On display Wed 12/13 from 11AM to 5PM through 2/18. http://www.MaltzJewishMuseum.org.


The Holiday Art Sale and Exhibit at the Glenville Enterprise Center (540 East 105th St.) - the new home of Sankofa Fine Art Plus - on Thu 12/14 from 11AM to 6PM. Light refreshments throughout and live entertainment from 4 - 6PM. Call 541-ARTS.

HOT Recycle Cleveland The Rita Montlack exhibit includes images exhibited at the Ingenuity 2006 Festival which projected 244 animated photographs of Cleveland. Opening on Thu 12/14 from 5:30-8:00PM. Call 991-8350. Woodmere. www.RedDotProject.org.

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Over 80 Sweet Reasons to Celebrate the Holidays at Cleveland Botanical Garden's delicious Gingerbread Dreams exhibit. Create a new tradition this year starting Fri 11/24 through Sun 12/31 at the WinterShow where unique gingerbread houses are on display among the Garden's magical holiday decorations. Check out the programs offered for all ages, great shopping in the Garden Store and lunch in the Garden Café. Plus fabulous trains from Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum and the amazing Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse "the best butterfly house in Ohio" are included with your admission. Adults: $7.50; Children 3-12: $3; Children under 3 and CBG members: no charge. Tue - Sat: 10AM - 5PM; Sun: Noon - 5PM. Closed Mondays. Contact www.cbgarden.org or 216.721.1600.
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Smart Growth America Hear Don Chen, Founder & Executive Director of Smart Growth America and an internationally recognized author and lecturer on land use, transportation, social equity and environmental policy, on Fri 12/15 at 9:30AM. Cleveland State University. www.urban.csuohio.edu.

Ohio Boychoir will give a complimentary Christmas Celebration concert on Fri 12/15 at 7:30PM. Works include Leaf, Kodaly, Praetorius, Page, Willan, Willcocks, Wilhousky, and Berteau. St. John the Evangelist, 1007 Superior Ave.

HOT The Waxwings, a group recently profiled in Cool Cleveland, will be performing this Fri 12/15 at 8PM at the hip and cozy Lakewood Phoenix Coffeehouse, 15108 Detroit Ave between Gladys and Andrews. Check out Waxwings singer Pete McDonald's website: http://www.petemcdonaldmusic.com.

HOT UBS Holiday Festival includes nine Christmas concerts with the Cleveland Orchestra and Choruses; two performances of Handel's Messiah: A Baroque Christmas featuring the Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah and Bach's Magnificat, given by the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra Chamber Chorus, and soloists; and two performances of Holiday Organ and Brass featuring organist Todd Wilson, Burning River Brass, and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus from Fri 12/15 to Sun 12/24. http://www.ClevelandOrchestra.com.

Jimiller Band CD release party on Fri 12/15 at 9PM at the Winchester. Yummy food, giveaways, music and dancing.

Christmas on Carnegie is a sharp adaptation of Christmas on Erie Street by Graydon Goss put on by Assumption Academy's 8th Graders at the Assumption Family Center, 9183 Broadview Road, Parma. The show begins Fri 12/15 at 7PM and repeats the following night, Sat 12/16 at 7PM. Reservations are encouraged. Call 440-582-2552 for more info.

HOT J. Scott Franklin and his band Lost State of Franklin work hard at recapturing the spirit of Americana with their roots-rock hybrid sound. They play the Hi-Fi Club this Fri 12/15 and though the cost of the show is nominal, you can get in at no-cost with Toys for Tots donation. http://www.loststateoffranklin.com.

Le Bang with Tittsworth @ Mercury on Fri 12/15 at 10PM. http://www.TheMercuryLounge.com. http://www.tittsworth.com.

A Joyful Noise Choral program by the North Coast Men's Chorus at Waetjen Aud., CSU on Fri 12/15 thru Sun 12/17. http://www.NCMChorus.org

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WCLVnotes WCLV's quarterly live broadcast of "The Mighty Wurlitzer Radio Hour" happens this Sun 12/17 at 3PM, from WCLV's mythical Radio Theatre of the Air. Organist Larry Kass and the Radio Hour vocalists present "Everywhere It's Christmas." Looking for a great holiday gift? Go to ArkivMusic, where there's 70,000 classical CDs and DVDs through the WCLV website at www.wclv.com. Your purchase will support classical music on the radio in northeast Ohio.
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CC KIDS Gingerbread House Family Workshop Your brood can join Stephanie Paganini of the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking in decorating pre-assembled gingerbread houses. Sat 12/16 from 9:30-11AM. http://www.CBGarden.org

HOT A Hip-Hop AESOP Written by New York Drama Desk Award winner Je Franklin and composed by Sheryl Robinson Pattilo. Talented local actors and poets put a slam-poetry, hip-hop twist on classic Aesop fables on Sat 12/16 thru Sun 1/7. http://www.Karamu.com.

CC KIDS The Nutcracker Marie, a Cleveland teenager, is miserable at the thought of her family's annual outing to see The Nutcracker ballet. She'd rather stay home and listen to rock music. Despondent, she lies down and falls asleep. She dreams of a life-sized Nutcracker who takes her on a musical journey that includes stops in Candyland and The Land of Snow. Along the way she discovers the value of imagination and reconnects us all with the spirit of the season. Show begins Sat 12/16 at 1 & 3PM and runs through Sat 12/23. www.ClevelandPlayHouse.com.

CC KIDS TubaChristmas The magical and musical holiday tradition returns, conducted by beloved founder Tucker Jolly. More than 600 tubas will play all your favorite holiday songs on Sun 12/17 at 4PM & 6:30PM. Call 330-972-7570. http://www.AkronCivic.com. Call 330-972-7570. Akron Civic Theater, 182 S. Main St., Akron.

Rock Around the Clock Two showings of the classic film at 1956 prices (50 cents) in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Aitken Auditorium. Sat 12/16 at 6PM and Sun 12/17 at 4:15PM. Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd., University Circle. www.cia.edu/cinematheque.

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Celebrate New Year's Eve "Big Easy" Style - at Fat Fish Blue! Reserved seating on Sun 12/31 at 6, 8 or 10PM. Start with a sumptuous selection of appetizers like She Crab Bisque and Ponchatrain Calamari Diablo ... then move on to delicious entrees that include Uptown Blackened Delmonico with a Guinness demi Glace or Pan-seared Grouper with Crawfish Mashed Potatoes . . . Finish with a special dessert trio and champagne toast! The Swamp Boogie band kicks the party into high gear at 8PM. Drink specials, Confetti Blasts and Mardi Gras Mayhem! Advance Reservations Required. Hurry, they're going fast - 216.875.6000! Ring in 2007 at Fat Fish Blue, 21 Prospect Avenue (corner of Ontario), Park at the old May Co. building for $2 with FFB validation. Visit www.FatFishBlue.com.
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CC KIDS Santa at the Symphony Come see Santa and his elf conduct Holiday favorites. Fun pre-concert events activities with Santa and his friends on Sun 12/17. Pre-concert activities begin at 2PM and concert is at 3PM. Call 330-452-2094. Umstattd Performing Arts Hall, 2323 Seventeenth St NW, Canton. http://www.CantonSymphony.org.

A Christmas Cabaret Bill Rudman's seasonal Christmas card has been called a "treasure trove" of holiday songs covering 20th century classics from Berlin, Martin, Gershwin, Bacharach and Rodgers & Hammerstein. The show runs Sun 12/17 at 7PM, repeating at the same time Mon 12/18 and Tue 12/19 and features Nancy Maier, Sandra Simon, & Jarel Leal. Nighttown in Cle Hts. http://www.nighttowncleveland.com.

HOT Jingle Bell Swing British vocalist, Helen Welch, now calls Northeast Ohio home and has developed a large fan base following regular performances at the Carousel Dinner Theatre, Nighttown, and a number of other jazz clubs around town. Helen makes her Playhouse Square Center debut on Sun 12/17 at 3PM. Get tickets at www.PlayhouseSquare.org. http://www.HelenWelch.com.

Listing Tip of the Week It's a mystery to us. Being mysterious has its place. Extra digits, bodily functions and strange relatives probably should remain a mystery on first dates and job interviews. But, when you are trying to get over 30,000 Cool Cleveland subscribers to your event or to check out your website: mysterious is not so good. So, when you list your cool event don't forget the URL and physical address that go along with it. Anything else is not so cool. Get a checklist of items to include here by scrolling down to Hints. Events@CoolCleveland.com.


HOT Rock 'n' Roll and the Cleveland Connection Local writer, Deanna R. Adams, will be signing copies of her book, Rock 'n' Roll and the Cleveland Connection at the Crooked River Reading Club on Wed 12/20 from 11:30AM to 1:30PM. The Crooked River Reading Club, Galleria at 1301 East 9th St.

An Evening with Jerry Heller The Rock Hall will host an evening with the co-founder of Ruthless Records, a label that became synonymous with West Coast rap, on Wed 12/20 at 7PM. No-cost, but reservation required. Email edu@rockhall.org to RSVP or call 515-8426. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, 1 Key Plaza. http://www.RockHall.com.


Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

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Need a Hot Concert for a Cold Winter Night? Don't miss An Evening with Bobby McFerrin and the CIM Orchestra at Severance Hall Sat 1/20 at 8:30PM - a benefit for the Cleveland Institute of Music presented by the CIM Women's Committee. Bobby McFerrin is a vocal explorer who has combined jazz, folk and world music influences and now extends his gifts to orchestral music. The Los Angeles Times proclaims, "Bobby McFerrin's greatest gift to his audience may be changing them from spectators into celebrants and transforming a concert hall into a playground, a village center, a joyous space." Tickets are $58; $45. Call the Severance Hall Box Office at 216-231-1111 or order online here.
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A wild and wonderful 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



Ohio is most competitive manufacturing state followed by IL, MI, PA, TX, according to eMvoy Info
Cle fiber makes news in Tucson Cleveland-based OneCommunity's ultra broadband network is a national model. Read
Meyers Univ's Club move caused cash flow & federal financial aid problems, may merge Read Read
DDR is 4th largest developer in US CEO Wolstein on Flats & Summit soccer projects Read
Poverty growth in Cle's suburbs is 47% since 1999, vs. only 9% in city, from Brookings Read Read
Chinese delegation visits Cle courtesy of World Trade Center Cle, visiting Barcelona at CMA, Tri-C, leaders Read
CWRU's "College Town" by Zaremba & MRN $120M mixed use at Euclid & Mayfield w/MOCA, housing, Barnes & Noble Read
Medical Mart pursued Similar to Chicago's Merchandise Mart, with showrooms & trade shows, linked to Cle's new conv. ctr. Read
City loans for businesses impacted by Euclid Corridor Project contruction Read

Is Cool Cleveland the one constant and enjoyable relationship in your life? Make friends and family feel guilty by giving them a cool, free gift that keeps giving, 52 weeks a year. Forward CC onto friends and family members today.



Tech Body Check w/ Cleveland AHL SVP Randy Domain, who speaks @ Cle Marriott East Wed 12/13 about impact of new pro sports teams on regional business communities and economics. Register: 831-2116.
Akron Bus Accelerator breakfast lecture spon. by Credit Suisse and Ohio PERS. Learn more about the Ohio-Midwest Fund and private equity investment ops in NEO. Info
Smart Growth America's Don Chen speaks at CSU Levin College Forum Fri 12/15 about planning in older cities like Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown. Info
Tuesdays @ FUTURE feat. Fred Collopy, CWRU Prof. of Info Sys and Cog Sci Tue 12/19 on Designing Abstract Visualizations. Info Info
An Eye on Propulsion @ NASA Glenn Wed 12/27 focuses on tech for air/spacecraft and ion propulsion for accelerated travel. Register: 433-9653.




Ken Warren
Lakewood Public Library

Ken Warren represents the best NEO has to offer. He directs the Lakewood Public Library, which was recently rated #1 in the country for a library of their size. Also topping their categories were the Cuyahoga County Public Library, and libraries in North Canton and Twinsburg. Rocky River, Wickliffe, Wadsworth, and Medina County were in the Top 5. See story here. Cool Cleveland's Thomas Mulready trades his porkpie for a hard hat and goes onsite at the construction of Lakewood Library's addition with director Ken Warren and asks, "Is it something in the water?" http://www.lkwdpl.org
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Am I Crazy?

I was watching TV recently, when a commercial came on for Bowling Green State University. They ran the ad during Jeopardy, presumably because that's when smart people are watching. I mean, the ones who don't get PBS stations or the Discovery Channel or the History Channel, etc., etc.

To be fair, I watch Jeopardy myself. If I'm home at the time. And if I'm not writing. And if there's nothing I want to see on all those other channels I mentioned.

This commercial for BGSU featured a talking head -- a student, maybe, or a young prof. I didn't catch the name because I only started paying attention when I heard a line that went something like: "The Renaissance began with a single brushstroke and a single note of music." And then, I didn't hear what came after that because I got stuck pondering that weird and wrong concept...
Read more from David Budin here


Troubling Signs in Cleveland

Cleveland City Council and Mayor Frank Jackson have enjoyed a cozy relationship in their first year in office. Some say too comfy for the city's good.

Some charge Council, under Marty Sweeney, operates on cruise control. What the mayor wants, the mayor gets.

Jackson, as former Council President, supported Sweeney as his replacement. Sweeney needs Jackson's support to retain office.

It appeared last week that the honeymoon had ended when Council got a front-page headline suggesting a rebuke. The article noted Council rejected a Jackson desire.

False alarm...
Read RoldoLINK here



Links to interesting NEO blogs

Gloria Ferris encourages readers to contact public officals re: the Digital Airport Initiative. Link
Kellie Patterson reports federal mediators are helping the Cuyahoga Falls Board of Education get past the friction. Link
Lou Muenz posts images of Tremont in the early 90's. Link
Janko clips the article on Youngstown from the NYT Magazine. Link
Stephen Gross suggests we should look at examples of repurposed spaces and think of creative ways to do it elsewhere. Link
Marc Leftkowitz links to ways to encourage state legislaturers to fund the last mile of the Towpath Trail. Link

Check the Cool Cleveland weblog here, where Peter Chakerian comments on Kucinich's 2008 Presidential Bid, Learning Mandarin (re: "Chinese Democracy" II), Artificial (Basketball) Intelligence, calls out Director Kevin Smith, ponders Brown Water Surfing, Recycled Beverages and Band-Aids and Bactine for the Euclid Corridor. When you're through, add your own comments, questions and attitude. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.




Unpopular
The Unknown
Boss Tunage

The Unknown aren't quite the visible presence around Cleveland (and indeed, the world) these days as they were just a few years back, when they were consistently named "Best Punk Band" by assorted local publications and embarked on a couple of successful European tours. Some cynics might proclaim that the musical world has left the band behind. After all, it's been quite some time since the type of pop-punk the band peddles occupied much space on the airwaves or in the collective consciousness.

Nowadays angst-ridden kids (and grown-ups along for the trip) are all about eyeliner-smeared emo and revivalists, and what's left of punk rock seems to lean harder, more experimental or more metallic.

Even the band members have other musical pursuits keeping them busy, singer Ken Blaze explores dissonant post-punk soundscapes in K-Ration and bassist Brian P. McCafferty holds down the low end and high harmonies with Rainy Day Saints. The cynics would say that there's not much room left for a band like the Unknown.

Those folks should give Unpopular, the group's sixth and latest record, a listen. Exploding with over-caffeinated sing-along melodies, muscular instrumentation and vocals that deftly mix equal parts of snot, desperation and tunefulness, the CD is an excellent impetus for rethinking one's genre biases.

Even the most self-consciously hip among us probably went through a period when pop-punk was the soundtrack of our lives, and only those deepest in scenester pretension would deny that the sound has produced a handful of classic bands (the Descendents/All come to mind, along with several from the early 90's Lookout Records roster) whose songs still stand up and rock us out.

The Unknown are in the same class as those guys. At it for 15-plus years, the band has grown up, gotten married, gotten divorced, changed lineups and come through with raw emotions intact but with a lot more perspective. And they're still producing songs that prove that as adults, we continue to deal with the same feelings and situations we did back in the day, just a lot more intelligently. There are regretful breakups ("Rainy Corners"), drunken hookups ("Whiskey Romance") and crises of confidence ("Social Circles"). And of course, there are still things to rail against -- in this case the talentless Pro Tools-enhanced pop hacks on the radio, whom the band memorably disses on the opening track "Zeroes."

The entire, relentlessly catchy package is backed up with great musicianship and production, and big harmonies. The Unknown paint a broad sonic picture within their genre's limited palette, making Unpopular a record no one, even hipster cynics, should dismiss without a little soul searching.

The Unknown will throw a CD release party for Unpopular this Friday, December 15 at the Jigsaw Saloon in Parma. This is Exploding and the Story Changes will open. Visit them online at http://www.theunknown.us

From Cool Cleveland contributor Leslie Basalla lbasalla77ATmsn.com

Midnight Surprise
Rio Neon
Self-Released

On its swinging business card that accompanied Midnight Surprise, the five-piece folk-jazz outfit Rio Neon bills itself as "A unique band featuring swing and traditional music." Fact is, this local group's sound is like something straight outta Lake Wobegon and "A Prarie Home Companion". Eat your heart out, Garrison Keillor. Note to Keillor: book these guys for the show the next time you're in Cleveland.

The group goes full-bore down the acoustic road, with tips of the hat to the Kingston Trio, Tin Pan Alley songwriters and Peter, Paul & Mary - even as they filter all of these songwriting elements through Christopher Guest's A Mighty Wind. The release begins with a kooky love song "Beat of My Heart," and the next nine songs aim to tickle the funny bone in a very modern way, even though the aim is for a much more traditional sound filled with mandolin, fiddle and vocalist Sally Kandel's musings.

Of the highlights: there's a fun take on "Georgia On My Mind," a hyperactive ditty that suggests the band might have overdosed on "Too Much Chocolate" before recording... and I'll let you guess what I think a "Midnight Surprise" (the title track) actually is referring to. You can't help but crack up. Singer/guitarist Red Michel and Co. do a fine job of balancing and tongue-in-cheek wit.

Kent State University's public radio station, WKSU 89.7 FM, recently challenged Rio Neon with creating and performing a new holiday song for broadcast on a nationally-syndicated radio show. The band came through in style with a track called "North Pole Jamboree" (not on the Midnight Surprise release) in record time. With a fulfilled request like that, maybe Keillor's gig will happen someday, too.

Rio Neon's new holiday song is a part of Ornaments & Icing program on WKSU at 8PM on Sunday, December 17. They'll perform at the Barking Spider, 11310 Juniper Rd, later that evening. For more information, please visit http://www.rioneonband.com.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

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.





Plum Dandy North Coast Men's Chorus & their Joyful Noise

Looking for a special gift? Maybe some holiday music? Sort of traditional but with a touch of wry? The North Coast Men's Chorus has two great options for you. First, their 19th season kicks off with A Joyful Noise -- a whimsical blend of holiday classics, new favorites and some of the area's best local gospel talent. In addition to their usual weekend performances, NCMC is also offering up a very special Friday night show as well. It gives you three chances to share the vocal group with all of your favorite people.

Then there's the brand new Sugar Plum Fairies CD, an equally-whimsically-titled new NCMC release. The disc features 19 new and old favorites (perhaps a nod to their 19th season?) which are all handsomely performed by the chorus under the direction of Rich Cole, with some instrumental backup here and there, and sparkling piano accompaniment by Robert Day.

Along with Christmas standards -- I Saw Three Ships, What Child is This? and God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen -- you'll hear Light the Legend, a song for Chanukah. There's a five song suite from the Nutcracker, as conceived by Fred Waring, lo, those many years ago. These selections --Overture, Dance of the Sugarplums, Trepak, Dance of the Toy Flutes and Waltz of the Flowers -- were taken from a live performance, so you'll also be able to hear the joyful and appreciative laughter of the audience.

Frequent soloist Ralph DiLudovico is heard on And in That Moment while Larry Crooks does the honors on O Tannenbaum and O Holy Night. The Coastliners, a smaller ensemble from the chorus gets its moment to shine in Holiday Lament: The Fruitcake Song.

Newer additions to the repertoire are the humorous 'Zat You, Santa Claus?, jazzily romantic I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm and the sweetly romantic A Christmas Love Song plus a slightly raucous Boogie Woogie Santa Claus, which really needs to be seen as well as heard.

Going entirely against tradition is a charming Calypso version of Silent Night. It works, trust me. The CD is available in some local stores or at their concerts.

A Joyful Noise runs Friday, December 15 at 8PM, Saturday, December 16 at 8PM and Sunday, December 17 at 3PM at the Cleveland State University Waetjen Auditorium. For more information, check out their website: http://www.ncmchorus.org or call 556-0590.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net



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

Experience the Holiday in Akron, 12/2
You don't have to wait until the Holidays to visit Westpoint Market in Akron (http://www.westpointmarket.com/store/), but it's sure a good time to start! You'll find cool gifts like Emile Henri bake ware and fine chocolates from Joseph Schmidt of SFO (my favorite). There are fine wines, exotic cheeses, and a wide selection of olive oil including San GuiIiano---a cold pressed EVOO, I first purchased in Alghero, Sardinia last May! Imagine my surprise to find it in Akron and for about the same price. Finish your shopping experience with a Panini and a beer in the café then head over to Stan Hywet (http://www.stanhywet.org/) for Deck the Hall (a 10 minute ride from Westpoint) and finally to Blossom for the Festival of Lights (http://www.blossomholidaylighting.com/). The $12 per car, two-mile ride through the music center grounds ends with a very cool tunnel of lights--- just be prepared to sit in traffic. From Cool Cleveland correspondent Nan Frost nanettehfATsbcglobal.net.

A Christmas Story @ Cleveland Play House, 12/6
"Look at that! Isn't that glorious!" So says the Old Man when he first spies his leg lamp. You might well say the same thing after seeing this wonderful, warm and spirited A Christmas Story.

Back for a second year at the Bolton Theatre of The Cleveland Play House through December 23, with very nearly the same cast as last year, the production has been tweaked just a bit by director Seth Gordon. The new little touches add even more magic to the homespun tale of one Christmas in Northern Indiana in 1938. (Yes, the movie was partially filmed here, but the story wasn't set here, originally.) The play is suitable for the entire family -- kids to grandparents.

Michael Ganio's set design is a terrific combination of fantastic and realistic, as one wall of the house moves away to let the schoolroom come to the front, while a small car and park benches come up through the floor for short scenes, and near the end the stage becomes HIGBEE's Santaland.

Richard Winkler's lighting had fuses blowing and speedy changes from night to day and back again working perfectly. The costumes designed by David Kay Mickelsen were wonderfully authentic looking, especially the pink bunny pajamas! Sound by resident sound designer James C. Swonger completed the top-notch ensemble effort.

The script was also an ensemble effort: playwright Philip Grecian utilized both the film -- with writing credits to Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark -- and the book by Shepherd in his stage adaptation. He gives us goofy (the kids' imaginations) to sentimental, to nostalgic in one happy blend.

Christopher McHale as the grown-up Ralph is the narrator, inviting us to share his story. He seems to be more involved this year than last, especially in his slight John Wayne imitations. Ralphie is Billy Lawrence, (last year's Randy) who has grown into the role, in more ways than just age. This year's Randy was the eminently bratty Jackson Daugherty.

Elizabeth Ann Townsend returns as Mother, as does Charles Kartali as Father (the Old Man). Each of them has added little touches to their roles, making them even more believable than they were last year. It seemed to me that Father's language was even more humorously colorful than last year, although still detrimental to Ralphie! The leg lamp, the air rifle, the Little Orphan Annie secret decoder ring and getting your tongue stuck on a frozen metal lamp post are also present.

Peggy Scott, returning as the teacher, Mrs. Shields, seemed a tad bossier this year than last, while Angela Holecko was again the complete young lady, Esther Jane. Ralphie's friends Schwartz (Alex Biats) and Flick (Louie Rosenbaum) as well as his nemesis, the bullyish Scut Farkas (Alex Mayes) reprised their roles of last year, too. Helen was masterfully portrayed by newcomer Naomi Hill.

So, in the end, does Ralphie get his Christmas wish? Will Santa bring him the most desired present of all? The official, legendary Red Ryder 200-shot Carbine Action Range Model Air Rifle with compass and a thing that tells time built right into the stock. Will he then shoot his eye out? I'll never tell. You'll just have to go see for yourself. You'll enjoy a marvelous trip down Memory Lane in the process.

The next production of The Cleveland Play House is John Steinbeck's classic Of Mice and Men, opening January 5, 2007. For tickets or other information, call 795-7000 or visit their website http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net.

Christopher Pekoc @ Convivium33 12/8
This retrospective show featuring 40 years worth of work by one of Cleveland's top artists is a "don't miss", if only to see the exquisitely rehabbed church that now serves as a pristine gallery in Midtown's Josephat Arts Hall. Much of Pekoc's work features photos and mixed media paintings stitched together with a sewing machine. His use of gold paint and blood red hues make the images shimmer from a distance almost like Byzantine icons -- and the church setting with its vaulted ceilings and carved angels enhances the intensity and feeling of ritual.

Friday night's opening was jammed with art lovers and buyers. With Pekoc's larger work priced at $15,000, the $900 pieces were selling like hot loaves of bread. Performances of Dana McCormick's Antiphonies for a Severed Head with sopranos and musicians followed. The opening night reception was sponsored by Bonfoey (who has represented Pekoc for years) and angle: a journal of arts and culture, which is moving its offices into the choir loft.

TOUR TIPS: Make sure you check out the other art studios in the building, especially Streets of Manhattan with its glass creations (their sushi trays are exquisite) and wearable art, and the found object constructions of PJ Doran at A.D.D., both in the basement.

DETAILS: Josephat Arts Hall, 1433 E. 33rd (n. of Superior), thru 1/21. http://www.josaphatartshall.com
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

Cleveland Orchestra's Spectacular Planets! @ Severance Hall, 12/8
When the Cleveland Orchestra does a multi-media spectacular, it pulls out all the stops, even going so far as to align a subscription concert weekend featuring The Planets, complete with filmed depictions and narration, with an actual planetary happening! Way cool.

Michael Stern, once an assistant conductor here, and now boss of the Kansas City Philharmonic, returned to lead the large orchestra in a fascinating blend of music somewhat influenced by mythology. As he remarked in his pre-concert interview, he was "infected with excellence" during his five-year tenure here in the late 1980s. Obviously, the vaccination worked splendidly.

First up was the brief overture to Beethoven's only ballet, The Creatures of Prometheus, which was given a crisp and concise performance, much to the satisfaction of the very full house on Friday evening.

As a proponent of American music, Mr. Stern has long been familiar with the work of composer Ned Rorem, who is perhaps more familiar to audiences for his vocal music than the instrumental. What a shame that might be, if so, because his English Horn Concerto is just simply gorgeous, and deserves to be performed much more often. (The piece is not quite twenty-five years old, but this was the first ever performance by the orchestra.)

Of course, one would need an artist of the caliber of Robert Walters to demonstrate the composer's skill, as well as an orchestra capable of the collaborative accompaniment. The soloist begins playing immediately, with hardly time to get established on stage, and the lush sonorities of the orchestra wrap lovingly around the singing quality of the low-pitched solo instrument.

Each of the five movements illustrates a different aspect of the instrument, allowing it to occasionally indulge in jazzy riffs or dialogues with various other instruments. They were all melodic -- never argumentative -- and beautifully played. Mr. Walters made his solo debut with the orchestra in this work, and it was an impressive one.

It's not often that one walks into the concert hall and notices a huge movie screen hanging above the stage. But this was a visual as well as an audio trip to outer space. Gustav Holst's impressive view of outer space (minus Earth and the as-yet-undiscovered and now de-classified Pluto) provides a sound exploration of The Planets, as he knew them. Holst was a student of astronomy, but used the ancient mythology as the basis for his musical recreations of the solar system. Some of the performances featured narration by the renowned physicist, Lawrence Krauss of CWRU, who provided information about each planet. The remarkable videos from NASA, as assembled by Hatch Productions, used images supplied by various unmanned spacecraft traveling through space, deftly matched to the musical descriptions.

Ahhh. Those descriptions! Holst vividly created the character in each musical piece through content and orchestration. MARS, with its relentless marching soldiers is all about the chaos of war, which was threatening at the time he wrote it; VENUS is peace (with lovely horn solos by Richard King and the violin of Ellen de Pasquale); MERCURY is a traveler, epitomized by a scherzo, but grounded by the deep bass of the contrabassoon; JUPITER is good-natured and jolly, with rich, lush unison strings as background; SATURN -- the senior citizen of the bunch -- is deliberate, with ethereal melodies from the winds over the steady beats of the low strings: URANUS is the magician, who may be a bit of a klutz, but a genial one for all that; and finally, NEPTUNE is the mystic, introduced by the flute of Joshua Smith, and ending with the eerie, fading-away women's voices of the Oberlin College Choir, prepared by Hugh Floyd, director of choral activities at Oberlin.

It was a marvelous combined effort: the broad and majestic musical interpretation of Michael Stern, the luscious sounds of the Cleveland Orchestra, the witty, perceptive and informative narration of Laurence Krauss and the previously unimaginable photographs shown overhead.

Between now and Christmas day, there is a variety of holiday concerts at Severance Hall. Their next subscription series of concerts will be January 11-13, 2007. For tickets or more information, call (216) 231-1111, or visit the orchestra's web-site: http://www.clevelandorchestra.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net.

Contemporary Youth Orchestra's Shostakovich @ CSU Waetjen, 12/9
Cleveland's own Contemporary Youth Orchestra is not only the first but also the only youth orchestra in the country dedicated exclusively to the study and performance of contemporary orchestral literature. Nearly every concert features at least one -- if not more -- world premiere performance, always with the composer present. These young musicians are absolutely fearless. But then, so is their founder and music director, Liza Grossman.

Saturday evening at CSU's Waetjen Auditorium, they celebrated the Centennial of Dmitri Shostakovich with his Festive Overture op. 96, and Symphony no. 5, op. 47. In between these two disparate works were two other disparate works: the Concerto No. 1 for Horn and Orchestra by Malcolm Arnold, featuring the CYO Concerto Recipient, Carrie Coverdale as horn soloist, and a world premiere: POWER CHORDS: Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra, by the young American composer, Dmitri Tymoczko, which featured the Pacifica Quartet as soloists.

The Festive Overture is probably the most cheerful piece of music composed by Shostakovich who lived during extremely trying times. It was performed with great enthusiasm, after a slightly tenuous beginning.

Resplendant in a red and black gown, Ms. Coverdale exhibited a pleasing tone and amazing accuracy of pitch during her performance of the Arnold horn concerto. This is a charming and lyrical, if slightly old-fashioned type of concerto, written in 1945, which certainly deserves to be heard more often.

Dmitri Tymoczko looks to be about the same age as the musicians in the CYO, but in reality is about 20 years their senior. He is a gifted writer with words as well as music, in spite of having been asked to leave Oxford University mid-course, so to speak. He resumed studies at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a Ph. D. in music composition. In spoken notes, he described his concerto as a work in which previously compartmentalized types of music emerge to "speak to each other." And so it proved to be.

The Pacifica Quartet -- Simin Ganatra, violin, Sibbi Bernhardsson, violin, Masumi Per Rostad, viola and Brandon Vamos, cello -- were not at all intimidated by the music and variety of techniques required throughout. The first movement Broken Record combined syncopated and slashing chords from the quartet alternating with the orchestra's brass and winds. The opening melody wandered around the various sections of the orchestra before the ending.

Settlement was mostly ethereal in nature, somewhat frenetic at times, but yet cohesive. The first violin of the quartet, Ms. Ganatra, engaged in a charming back-and-forth dialogue with the first violin of the orchestra, Amy Cave, before the entire quartet regained the upper hand.

The final movement has the most interesting title: Louis Armstrong, in Heaven, Performs a Funeral March for György Ligeti. Indeed, it was a New Orleans style Dixie/jazzy/bluesy type of march, but done "in Ligeti-esque elements: glissandos, tone-clusters, and limping, off-kilter folksiness" (according to the composer). The trumpet playing of Justin Pressman was especially outstanding. Quartet and composer were all presented with flowers in honor of the occasion.

For a work as generally bleak as the Fifth Symphony of Shostakovich, there are still lovely and melodic individual solos throughout, and the young musicians were flawless in the execution of same. Flutist Aaron Fallen, clarinetist Heather Streza and concertmaster Amy Cave displayed beautiful tone and lyrical intensity as did Kevin Fischer on celeste. The march in the first movement was ominous -- and powerful -- to say the least.

The second movement demonstrated the cohesiveness of the orchestra, with the tempo changes handled very well, and the pizzicato sections demonstrating the group's intonation and listening capabilities. The lyrical violin solo played by Ms. Cave was as good as it gets. Gorgeous. Jon Lentz was superb on the orchestra's new contra-bassoon.

Just as these young musicians are able to muster up lots of volume, they are also capable of exquisite, hushed playing as they demonstrated in the Largo. The cello section was united in its group solo. The fourth movement saw a return to the brashness of the beginning of the symphony, with an abundance of brass and percussion, along with solo work by trumpet and horn. The whole was marvelously energetic.

The performance may not have been entirely perfect; there were a few tenuous entrances, some slight intonation problems here and there, and in an instance or two, a brief parting of the ways of togetherness. But what it had in abundance was commitment and passion. Frankly, I prefer the latter, and I commend Ms. Grossman for instilling it in her young charges as she does.

The next concert by this extraordinary ensemble will be Saturday, March 10, 2007 at Waetjen Auditorium, and feature Tunes for Toons! an entire concert dedicated to the music of Cartoons. You can support this remarkable organization in many ways. For more information about the Contemporary Youth Orchestra, visit their site at http://www.cyorchestra.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net.

"By Hand" Fine Art and Crafts Show @ I-X Center, 12/9
I didn't know where to start as I walked in the I-X Center's second annual "By Hand" Fine Art and Craft Show last weekend. The selection was enormous and I didn't want to miss anything. There were unique one-of-a-kind artisan creations everywhere, and a lot more clothes than I usually see at these shows. But they were so original, in such rich colors that I had to try several on. I loved the v-neck sweaters made from natural fibers. They were loosely hand-knit and hand-painted, with handcrafted buttons... there were also lovely flowing lavender merino wool jackets with long front panels that could be gracefully swept over the opposite shoulder. And many of the house ware items were beautiful and unique, featuring stained glass clocks with swinging pendulums, silver serving spoons with glass-beaded handles, and swirling stemmed red OSU martini glasses. I noticed that the women congregated mostly at the jewelry displays, trying on specially designed silver and gold jewelry with a variety of gemstones and bead arrangements. But the men migrated toward the full sized, basswood, hand carved merry-go-round horses. With over 175 booths filled with unique handcrafted artwork, there was something for everyone on your holiday gift list. And maybe some for yourself! From Cool Cleveland contributor Susan Schaul susn12ATgmail.com.

Akron Symphony & Youth Symphony @ EJ Thomas 12/10

With 50% of the audience being kids, it was a fantastic idea to sit Akron Youth Symphony Orchestra members side-by-side with their mentors the Akron Symphony Orchestra for When Stars Collide. An even better idea was to present the world premiere of 17-year-old Firestone High School senior Konrad Binienda's Piano Concerto in e minor, which earned him a standing O. Although programming him right after the band did the Allegro from Mozart's first symphony, written when the boy genius was but 8 years old, seemed unfair. While NASA videos pulsed overhead, the kids and their teachers presented excerpts from Star Wars, Holst's Planets and March to the Scaffold from Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Pre-concert music in the beautiful EJ Thomas lobbies was a nice touch. Overall, a fantastique experience for young and old. http://www.AkronSymphony.org

Romeo and Juliet @Cleveland School of the Arts, 12/10
Imagine.

Imagination is a wonderful thing. Anyone who doubts that today's students are lacking in that quality missed two opportunities this weekend to observe just how wrong they are. (Saturday night it was the Contemporary Youth Orchestra -- see the review of that concert elsewhere here.)

Sunday afternoon, I was privileged to see a fully staged and costumed production of Romeo and Juliet as presented at the Cleveland Play House by students of Cleveland's School of the Arts. Thanks to committed volunteers, the entire staff of the Play House and a grant from the Meisel Foundation, these students were challenged in a way most of us will never be, and succeeded marvelously.

Scott G. Miller, head of the Theater Arts Program at CSA has long wanted to do this play, but never felt he had exactly the right actors for the lead roles. He has them here. Big-time. Chris Webb, as Romeo was nearly flawless. He spoke the Elizabethan poetry as though he'd learned it in his cradle, investing each word with meaning and intensity and authority. He's also breath-takingly athletic in the rather small performance space of Studio One. His co-star, Jelisa Williams was also effective, and physically very appealing as Juliet. On occasion, she tended to rush her words, making it a bit harder to grasp all of them. But that's a minor quibble, compared to the all-around excellence of the total effort.

Having teen-agers actually portrayed by teen-agers brings a new and different sensibility to the entire play. Their youthful exuberance, joyful young love and physicality created a special excitement, generally well-executed by the entire large cast. To be sure, some of the young actors were more at ease than others, and really dug into their roles. A few of the usual male roles were handled very capably by females: Latecia Wilson as a brash, swaggering Mercutio, Laprise Johnson as the sympathetic conspirator Friar Lawrence, and Shawna Heaton as the raggedy Apothecary.

NeChelle Sanders took her portrayal of the Nurse right to the top, but never quite fell over it, and Akil Lanton was an athletic Tybalt. Eddie George as Juliet's father displayed a multi-faceted character, while Victoria Little was a somewhat subdued Lady Capulet.

Special commendations go to all the students who indulged in the many very realistic fight scenes (all that teen-aged angst, remember?) and Kelly Elliot, their coach and choreographer. Those are real swords and daggers being utilized and it's to everyone's credit that no one gets hurt! Likewise, the period dancing (choreographed by Kenya Woods) and indulged in by all, was handsomely and gracefully done in a kaleidoscope of colors and sweeping movements. Jim Swonger's sound and Sue Berry's costumes added tremendously to the overall effect. The set was designed by Mark Jenks, and utilizes every square inch of Studio One to great advantage, with actors seemingly here, there and everywhere, and always enhanced by the clever lighting designed by Katrina Yeigh.

For a group of mostly inner-city students, this was a totally impressive achievement, and one I suspect they'll never forget! At times, some of today's urban speech patterns and movements seeped into the Elizabethan setting, but they only added to the overall enthusiasm. Scott G. Miller has invested enormous amounts of time and effort and love in these students, and they've repaid him handsomely.

In addition to the student presentations this week, there are three public performances left so you can go see for yourself the power of all these qualities. You really should not miss this extraordinary production -- Dec. 15 and 16 at 7 pm and the 17th at 4 pm. Call the ticket office at 795-7000 x4 or visit their website: http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net.

Black Nativity @ Karamu 12/11
What: Karamu presents Langston Hughes' colorful holiday classic of African-inspired Christmas pageant and gospel songfest.
Reasons to go: It's the dancing that makes this show soar. Cleveland Contemporary Dance Company's Michael Medcalf -- our area's most expressive dancer -- is a panic-stricken Joseph; his duets with Kathleen Turner's Mary throbbing and kicking from labor pangs underscore Hughes' theme that Jesus' birth was a gift from the poor and the desperate. And the 6 kids from the Cleveland School of the Arts have grown into their roles, all capably handling Terence M. Greene's challenging choreography.
Ouch: With excellent singers, the gospel music should be wonderful but it's consistently sabotaged by musical director Jimmie A. Parker, Sr., whose fortissimo pounding keyboard consistently drowns out soloists instead of supporting them. When even a gentle ballad like "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" is covered by deafening lounge piano, and singers can't even shout over the music, it's time to turn it down, dude.
Details: Karamu, 2355 E. 89th St., Cleveland. 216-795-7070. Through 12/30. http://www.karamu.com.
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein Linda@coolcleveland.com


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Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

On NEO immigration (See Lakewood: Immigrant Magnet here) Northeast Ohio needs immigrants. People from all over the world come here seeking opportunity. It's important for us to remember that immigration also helps drive our region's economic development, as well as improving our cultural diversity. Any person who verbalizes the misconception of immigrants "taking our jobs" needs to be educated. Thanks for the great publication!
from Cool Cleveland reader Holly Whisman hollyecwATyahoo.com

On how Cleveland is underrated (See Yr Turn letter here, and Frommers: Cle is underrated here) Last week Cool Cleveland reader Jim Hamilton mentioned the underrated story from Frommer's. I understand that we are tired of all the digs. I just read a glowing article about a tourist activity in Cleveland that essentially claimed that we were a "struggling city," the poorest in the nation, and that we were clamoring for any visitors to come to our town. In truth, tourism in Cleveland is up. The hotels are busy and millions of visitors are coming annually to the region to see our world-class orchestra, explore our incredible concentration of museums, see Broadway theater, dine out at fabulous restaurants, enjoy sporting events . . . We are actually exceeding pre-911 visitation. Sometimes we are our own worst critics and we forget all the great treasures we have right here. I suggest you check out the Convention & Visitor Bureau's website (www.travelcleveland.com) and explore Greater Cleveland like a tourist. This is one place that visitors and residents can find hotel packages, look up the latest events on a calendar, read up on restaurants and neighborhoods. In answer to Mr. Hamilton's question, we are the equivalent of www.visitdetroit.com or www.experiencecolumbus.com. Incidentally, I don't think being underrated is a bad thing, necessarily. Frommer's and TripAdvisor.com both recognized Cleveland as underrated tourist destination with the likes of Bologna, Italy and Lisbon, Portugal. Not so shabby. The CVB is planning to organize an awareness campaign around these designations because we think that while we may be underrated, visitors to Greater Cleveland are going to be overwhelmed by all we have here.
from Cool Cleveland reader Sam Fryberger, Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland sfrybergerATtravelcleveland.com

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com


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

1) 2006 Holiday Buying Guide Help for the discerning shopper.
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2) BizTech Profile URS Director of Design Christopher Diehl.
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3) Cool Cleveland Party Holiday fun!
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4) RoldoLINK It's all about the taxes.
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5) Ohio legislators need wake-up call Our Convention Center converted as a no-cost sound stage.
www.OhioFilm.net.



It's Hulla Good Yeah, we said it. And we wouldn't have it any other way. Carry on our festive vibe tomorrow night at Fat Fish. Mad props to Peter Chakerian, Roxanne Ravenel, T.L. Champion, George Nemeth, Linda Eisenstein, Kelly Ferjutz, Nan Frost, David Budin, Roldo Bartimole, Jennifer Keirn, Susan Schaul, Leslie Basalla 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.

Download the Cool Cleveland podcast each week at http://www.CoolCleveland.com. Click on the Cool Cleveland Blog here. Read the Cool Cleveland column each month in Cleveland Magazine here. Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time. Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com, and your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com. For your copy of the free weekly Cool Cleveland e-zine, go to http://www.CoolCleveland.com.

Can you join us at our Holiday shindig?
--Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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