Dimora on Hagan: "He's bored" When introducing himself, County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora often announces, "Now you'll hear from the politician who carries the most weight," and this is true in more ways than one. Not only is he famous for his considerable physical girth, he also serves as Chairman of the Democratic party in these parts. In this exclusive interview with Cool Cleveland, Dimora discusses the upcoming arts and economic development levy, community engagement on issues, and Tim Hagan's challenge of sitting Commissioner Tim McCormack.
Why do you think Tim Hagan is running against incumbent and fellow Democrat Tim Mc Cormack??
Why? I guess he's got a lot of time on his hands and he's bored. My understanding is his new wife [actress Kate Mulgrew] was very successful on Broadway with her Katherine Hepburn show, and she has a lot of work now, and he's home and needs something to do. Supposedly, corporate people, Republicans, have asked him to run against a Democrat. We've always had an incumbency rule to not run against a sitting Democrat. So he's listening to the corporate community instead of the Democratic party…
Read more of Cool Cleveland's exclusive interview with Jimmy Dimora
Rock Hall loves Cuyahoga Everyone in this region has been complaining, and apparently the Rock Hall has been listening. Starting today, Wed 1/14, and running through 3/31, residents of Cuyahoga County can tour the Rock Hall for only one buck on Wednesday evenings. See *** Sponsored Link *** below for details. www.RockHall.com
First or worst? Within a week of being ranked by Business Week magazine as one of the worst managers of 2003, First Energy CEO Peter Berg has passed away at the Cleveland Clinic of complications related to leukemia. See Business Week here: www.businessweek.com. See Associated Press on his death here: www.miami.com. See PD on the nation's largest-ever blackout here: http://www.cleveland.com/blackout.
Parking lots are killing Cleveland An in-depth overview of land pricing Downtown shows why it is more profitable to pave over prime land and park cars on it, than to sell it for housing, retail and other development at a fair price. The City is afraid to help with eminent domain (see West End project above), and the lack of a master plan means Cleveland will probably suffer for years with asphalt as far as the eye can see. Here's a plan: the City builds three massive Downtown parking towers and offers $5 per day parking. Revenue bonds will pay for it, and parking fees will retire the debt. This not only offers all the parking Clevelanders need, it reduces the land costs so developers can bring in housing, retail and other high-impact development. Sure, that'll happen... See PD here: www.Cleveland.com
RTA names Euclid Corridor artists This is how you create a city. As part of the $220 million hi-tech Euclid Corridor Transportation Project that will reconfigure Cleveland's main street to accomodate futuristic hybrid electric vehicles, $1 million has been set aside for built-in art, installation, and public art. Clevelanders Mark Howard and Arlene Watson, along with three others, were selected from an international pool of 86 applicants and will each receive contracts for $18,640 to create art integral to the project, all coordinated by Cleveland Public Art. Cleveland's looking better already. See PD here: www.cleveland.com
****************** SPONSORED LINK ******************
Marvelous Marvin Homes You'll love the affordability of Marvin Homes' spectacularly light and airy open floor plans, vast bay windows for those killer city views, and quality hardwood floors throughout. Enjoy cooking on luxurious granite counters in your island kitchen complete with hardwood maple cabinets. Stretch out with three bedrooms and a vaulted master bedroom, generous 2-½ baths and bedroom level laundry. Imagine living close to the highway within minutes of downtown, and saving cash with the 15-year tax abatement. It's all yours starting at $149,900, an incredible deal for new construction. Check out the Open House this Sun 1/18 from 2-4PM at 2922 Marvin Avenue, off W. 25th St. just North of I-71 exit. Support Cool Cleveland and take the virtual tour at http://www.progressiveurban.com
****************** SPONSORED LINK ******************
West End developer pulls out The saga continues. While residents of the newly re-dubbed "Scenic Park" are suing Lakewood City Hall to have the "blight" label removed, the developer of the project has sent letters rescinding their offers (most at 126% of appraised value) to dozens of residents who were willing to sell. See PD here: www.cleveland.com To bring you up to speed, Cleveland Magazine's Erick Trickey does an excellent job with the 411 on the West End debacle. How the West End Was Won is a grass-roots handbook for taking on City Hall in nine easy steps: 1) Pick an attractive elderly couple as your spokespeople 2) Choose a villain 3) Choose a good name 4) Find the other side's weakness 5) Get the media on your side 6) Get sharp lawyers 7) Neutralize the opposition 8) When a politician makes a mistake in your favor, run with it 9) When the other side is pessimistic, be optimistic. See Cleveland Magazine here: www.clevelandmagazine.com. Interestingly, business and development supporters spent $83,570 in support of Issue 47, while the citizens group Committee for Lakewood spent a whopping $7500 plus in-kind support, mostly on a guerilla campaign of flyers and "blighted block parties" that ultimately proved successful. Ironically, the issue failed by 47 votes. Is Cleveland learning that true community involvement is essential for any large-scale project these days? See www.sunnews.com.
2000 nude Clevelanders? In this weather? Artist/Photographer Spencer Tunick's large-scale nude photo shoot, originally planned for late January, has been rescheduled. The Museum of Contemporary Art cheerfully announced that due to "overwhelming response" the event would be held outside, "sometime around the summer solstice," rather than indoors this month. What they didn't announce is that the boards of some of Cleveland's finer institutions (Orchestra, Rock Hall) refused to be a part of this world-class and potentially high-profile artistic project. Too bad. See PD here: www.cleveland.com and here: www.cleveland.com
If you're ready to think about going beyond traditional media, it's time to give Cool Cleveland a call. Our sponsors enjoy more eyeballs on their brand, more emails in their Inbox, and more visitors to their websites. People enjoy reading Cool Cleveland's little green%green#*** Sponsored Links ***. Why do you think one of our sponsors is the #1 most-read article from last week (See Top 5 below)? Drop us a line to check out our demographics and the multi-media advertising package we've put together with Cleveland Magazine, WCLV radio and Cool Cleveland. Drop us a note to InfoAtCoolClevelandDotCom and let the cool Clevelanders hear from you.
Cleveland films at Sundance? Six filmmakers raised in the Cleveland area are showing their work at the prestigious 2004 Sundance Film Festival this week. Interestingly, most of them don't live here now. Are we doomed to search for a "Cleveland connection" to artists who gain fame elsewhere, or will we develop our local talent? Fortunately, at least one of these films will be featured at the Cleveland International Film Festival in March. See PD here: www.cleveland.com
What made Cleveland Great? In another reality-check from local observer Steve Kurdziel, we hear that "Cleveland became great by deliberately connecting itself to New York City," via the Ohio Canal and the Erie Canal. More than a history lesson, Kurdziel's illuminating op-ed "profoundly distorts our discussions about whether or how Cleveland could be great again." Lessons? Our past greatness was "part of a plan and not random or inevitable." And secondly, such great historical moments are "usually not repeatable." But that's no reason not to plan. See PD here: www.cleveland.com
****************** SPONSORED LINK ******************
Cleveland Institute of Music is cooking January's cold, but inside CIM the temperature is heating up! Stimulate your senses with an evening of extraordinary music from the Cleveland Institute of Music, a leading international conservatory where you can hear their gifted students, distinguished faculty and guest artists. Coming Sun 1/18 at 8PM, see renowned concert pianist Sergei Babayan conduct the talented members of the CIM Orchestra. On Wed 1/28 8PM don't miss the next generation of classical musicians perform under direction of Carl Topilow. Fri 1/30 starting at 8PM hear a unique concert with musical compositions of revered CIM Past Presidents and Directors. Events are free and open to the public. http://www.cim.edu
****************** SPONSORED LINK ******************
4 Big Ideas for Cleveland Isn't it time somebody started talking about "the vision thing" around here? Check out the Free Times as they propose four ideas for Cleveland's future: The University of Cleveland, NEO City, the Mayor of Cuyahoga County, and the Northeast Ohio International Airport. See Free Times:
www.freetimes.com
[+Are you registered to vote?] It's especially important this year... before you know it, it will be time to vote... the Iowa Caucuses are in a little over a week, and New Hampshire's primary is in early February. Ohio's Primary is on Tuesday, March 2. In additional to the Presidential Primary, a variety of important local issues will be on the ballot in Greater Cleveland. In particular, there is a substantial chance that the County will have a ballot issue to create public support for arts and culture and other local economic development efforts, for the first time ever here. If this issue makes it to the ballot, every vote will count. To register in Cuyahoga County, go to this site. http://www.electionohio.com/cuyahoga/voter.htm
[+PBS builds Public Square PBS announced it has received a grant to plan a new public-affairs network for cable. PBS Public Square will rerun PBS news and talk shows, as well as documentaries. PBS President Pat Mitchell sees the network providing "programming that enlightens and engages and doesn't raise the blood pressure." See USA Today here: www.USAToday.com
****************** SPONSORED LINK ******************
[+Rock and Roll Yourself For $1! The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame feels your pain. If you haven't visited the Rock Hall in ages, and you live in Cuyahoga County, come on down to I.M. Pei's glass pyramid on the Lake to get an amazing $1 admission to the Museum. It's special for Cuyahoga County residents, every Wednesday from 6-9PM between now and 3/31/04. Simply show a driver's license or State of Ohio I.D. at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum box office to receive free admission to the Museum. http://www.rockhall.com
****************** SPONSORED LINK ******************
Campbell needs PR It's a mantra among Campbell loyalists at City Hall that her administration has failed to get its message out. So the PD's Joe Frolick asked the mayor, what is your message? Astonishingly for someone with 20 years in politics, Campbell could not capsulize it. Instead, she meandered through a list of efforts that she concedes "are not very sexy," but insists will, together, set the table for progress when the economy improves. Here's hoping a clear message emerges soon. See the PD: www.cleveland.com
[+GLBT sees wild year "If the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community were a commodity, its price at the end of the year would probably be a little higher at the end than at the beginning..." says Eric Resnick in a look back at 2003. The most significant event was the U.S. Supreme Court's June ruling against sodomy laws in the Lawrence v. Texas case. Closer to home, another highlight for LGBT happened when Cleveland Heights voters passed the city's domestic partner registry, expected to generate much participation when it kicks off later this month. On the flip side, Cincinnati's Charter Article 12, passed by voters ten years ago, bars the city from enacting any ordinance protecting lesbians, gays or bisexuals from discrimination. "The question is, will the community's collective stock price rise or fall next year?" See the Gay People's Chronicle here: www.gaypeopleschronicle.com
Now's the time Long time Cleveland Play House artistic director Peter Hackett, hired because he wasn't former AD Josephine Abady, (who "was trying to take the theatre away from the clubby insiders and high-dolar contributors..."), has finally resigned to take a tenured position at Dartmouth College. The PD's Tony Brown calls this a "golden opportunity" for CPH to take a risk, do the right thing, and hire a strong artistic director with balls, even if it's a woman. And they should start by looking locally at CPH's Seth Gordon, Great Lakes Theatre Festival's Charlie Fee (yeah, he'd be all over it), and Cleveland Public Theatre's Randy Rollison, but they shouldn't play it safe, according to Brown. "Another 'safe' artistic director just might be the last artistic director the Play House will ever need." See the PD here: www.cleveland.com
The Midnight Disease "Writers are ten times more likely to be manic-depressive than the rest of the population, and poets are a remarkable forty times more likely. Even student poets not diagnosed with mental illness have more manic traits then students who do not write poetry." But the good news is "Several factors besides skill are more significant in professional writers than in most amateurs. One is love of the surface level of language: the sound of it; the taste of it on the tongue; what it can be made to do in virtuosic passages that exist only for their own sake, like cadenzas in baroque concerti. Writers in love with their tools are not unlike surgeons obsessed with their scalpels..." from The Midnight Disease: The Drive to Write, Writer's Block, and the Creative Brain by Alice W. Flaherty Read it at Boston.com
Cool Cleveland.com call out: Cultural Scanners Here's your chance to include your unique perspective in our publication. Cool Cleveland will post a new theme every month, giving you an opportunity to write down your thoughts about it. Tell us in 50-75 words your views - we're looking for the real deal. This month's theme is faith and religion in Cleveland. Send your views to [[ThomasAtCoolClevelandDotCom Thomas At Cool Cleveland Dot Com?
Cool Cleveland This Week
01.14-1.21.04
Send your cool events to: ThomasAtCoolClevelandDotCom
Raised in Captivity a play by Nicky Silver and directed by Russ Borski unveils another Ohio Premiere at Dobama Theatre. Find out about this bizarrly quirky comedy of real-life siblings Tyler and Tyson posing as twins Bernadette and Sebastian. See it Wed 1/15, show runs thru 2/8. For subscriptions call 932-6838, for reservations and info 932-3396. 1846 Coventry Rd in Cleveland Hts. http://www.dobama.com
Hotel An alternative film with a big name cast? That's what's playing at the Cinematheque; David Schwimmer, Salma Hayek, Lucy Liu, John Malkovich and Burt Reynolds star in Mike (Timecode) Figgis' latest experiment in improvisational filmmaking. Set in a Venetian hotel, the film tells three parallel stories: a film crew shooting an adaptation of John Webster's blood-soaked Jacobean tragedy The Duchess of Malfi, of another film crew shooting a documentary about the making of the movie, and the scary, vampire-like conspiratorial hotel staff. Unpredictable and exciting! See it Thu 1/15 at 8:55PM & Fri 1/16 at 7:30PM. Cleveland Cinematheque 11141 East Blvd. Call 421-7450 and visit the website http://www.cia.edu/campuslife/cinematheque/default.asp
[+Self-Employed Artists' Network SEAN is a professional networking group that meets the 3rd Thursday of every month, their next meeting is this Thu 1/16 from 7-9M. It's open to all with guest speaker features and networking. To find out more about membership, contact Art House. Register at 398-8556 or email Lisa@arthouseinc.org Registration forms also available on the web at http://www.arthouseinc.org 3119 Denison Ave.
29th Annual Sci Fi? Film Festival The CWRU Film Society presents a weekend of some of the coolest Sci Fi? flicks from the past 40 years, and one of the films they'll be showing is The Three Stooges in Orbit from 1962. Also showing: Beware! The Blob! (1972), and Robocop (1987). It's a must see: "In the not too distant future, the United States government is virtually bankrupt and in danger of being foreclosed on by a group of Native Americans, now owners of the massive Nike Corporation. A desperate President decides to make a last-ditch effort to save the country... by raising money with a telethon!" This Fri 1/16 & Sat 1/17 beginning 8PM. Strosacker Auditorium on the Case Western Reserve University campus in University Circle http://films.cwru.edu
Beyond the Printed Page Art originating from the Great Lakes Publishing staff of Cleveland Magazine, Ohio Magazine, Inside Business and My Ohio Wine?.com will display and perform original works of art, including performance art, drawings, paintings, photography and more. There'll be 40 participants showing around 60 to 80 pieces; wine and appetizers will be on hand. Event is free and open to the public. Catch opening night Fri 1/16 from 5-9PM. For info call 696-1942 Art Metro? Colonial Arcade 530 Euclid Ave.
B-Side Free Fridays with quirky house, electrotrash, rare groove, broken beat, nujazz and downtempo - expect a night of endless experimental music and indie rock Fri 1/16 with dj Mike Filly at the B-Side liquor lounge. 2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd at the corner of Coventry Rd (below the new Grog Shop) in Cleveland Hts.
Send your cool events to: ThomasAtCoolClevelandDotCom
WCL Vnotes? This Sunday at 7PM, WCLV 104.9 FM will broadcast live The Cleveland Orchestra's annual Martin Luther King. Jr. Celebration Concert. Music Director Franz Welser-Moest conducts the Orchestra, the Central State University Chorus and the MLK Celebration Chorus. Featured soloists are two winners from the 2003 Sphinx Competition for young Black and Latino musicians - violinist Bryan Hernandez-Luch and cellist Ryan Murphy. WCLV will be feeding the concert to four other area radio stations - WRMR 1420 AM, WBCK 1460 AM, WCPN 90.3 FM and WNWV 107.3 FM. On Tue 1/20, the annual WCLV/WRMR "Celebrate Life" blood drive takes place 7AM-7PM at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven. This is the biggest one-day drive in Ohio as well as the most elegant. To donate, reserve a spot by calling 1 800 GIVE LIFE. A Cool Cleveland?.com partner http://www.wclv.com
Ritual Saturdays presents clubbing redefined with Derrick Carter plus supporting artists Doug Burkhart and Moda's ritual resident Mr Bradley P? funking and rocking out this Sat 1/17. Doors open 9PM and it runs on 'till 3AM, because it's all about the music at Moda. 1871 West 25th St. For event info check out http://www.ritualexperience.com and http://www.mostwanteddjs.com or http://www.classicmusiccompany.com
Sputnik will be performing their new CD "I, Cosmonaut." Billing their debut CD as "eleven helpings of pop heaven," the trio of lads comprising Cleveland outfit Sputnik will attempt to gain some altitude Sat 1/17 at the Grog Shop. Alan Grady, Jay Bentoff and Jeff Harmon will be playing tunes from their new CD. The space-minded audio adventurers will be accompanied by another Cleveland group of originals, Uva Ursi, who recently released their own debut CD, the cleverly titled Matter. The CD release party and performance blasts-off 8PM. Sputnik's Grandy and Harmon had previously paired in Jehova Waitresses (1991-94); and Grandy had led the terrible parade from 1982-91 (a Cool Cleveland fave 80's band). At Coventry Yard 2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd in Cleveland Hts.
Jazz on the Circle with Terence Blanchard, winner of Downbeat's "Artist of the Year" and "Album of the Year;" he's also been at the top of the Billboard jazz charts and is a multi-Grammy Award nominee. He's performing his own original music complete with 6 piece band Sat 1/17 8PM. For info 888-CMA-0033. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd. http://www.clevelandart.org
Acting Inside Out Cleveland Public Theatre wants you to learn alternative acting techniques that help free actors from bad habits and limiting boundaries through excercises, scene work and improvisation. Work to make stronger emotional ties and create bolder physical choices while learning how to deliver compelling and truthful performances beginning Sat 1/17 from 12:30-2PM. At 6415 Detroit Ave. For info call 631-2727 or http://www.cptacademy@cptonline.org
Community by the cup at Queer Coffeehouse Poetry Night: bring your voices, your stories, your community. Join in for an evening of open mic poetry Sat 1/17 from 6-10pm. Share your favorite poem about pride/shame, stigma, love, HIV/AIDS, discrimination, politics and more. Free and open to the public. At the Center, 6600 Detroit Ave
Community Unity Festival Come celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with opening remarks by Councilwoman Fannie Lewis, neighborhood church choirs, presentation of the "What I Can Do to Promote Peace" and Student Contest Awards Sat 1/17 at 2PM. A free event. For info call 623-6906. Cleveland Public Library Addison Branch 6901 Superior Ave. http://www.cpl.org
Sundown Concert Series Check out the beautiful Drinko Hall and the delightful jazz standards of Clevelanders Laura Varcho on vocals and pianist Dan Murphy this Sun 1/18 at 4-6PM, Cleveland State University, 2001 Euclid Avenue.
Benefit for World Premiere of Loud Americans: A Punk Saga featuring Vanity Crash and Spy-Fi with guest appearance by The Mutilators! It's a concert benefit for a theatrically rockin' cause Sun 1/18 starting 7PM at the new Grog Shop. Call early for resevervations 321-5588. Coventry Courtyard 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd in Cleveland Hts.
"Networking Actors, Filmmakers & crew" This Cleveland Indie Club? is a local group that meets on a regular basis to network and work on projects together. Membership is free, and Cleveland's next Indie Club? meeting happens Sun 1/18 from 1-4pm at Talkies Film and Coffee Bar. Short films by Eric and Adam Marshall, Bill Johns and Josh Tumbly will be shown with discussions to follow. The get together also presents differences between stage and film acting. 2521 Market Ave in Ohio City. For event times and info visit http://www.IndieClub.com
Dance Afrika Dance presents "Baba King" The Cleveland Orchestra and Severance Hall join the city-wide celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., with a special Dance Afrika Dance performance of "Baba King" Mon 1/19 starting 4PM. Witness this powerful revelation through the song, dance, and drum of Cleveland's own Dance Afrika Dance. Event is free. On this important day, let's rememeber that the civil rights movement and cry for freedom started in Africa, and Martin Luther King and the freedom fighters continued it here in America. Severance Hall 11001 Euclid Ave. For info visit http://www.clevelandorch.com/html/attend/Sevstreetlevel.asp
Martin Luther King, Jr. A Day of Service "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" It's a probing question by Dr. King that's still relevant today; in honor of his birthday, Cleveland wants to know what is your family doing to make a difference for others? Join the Inter Act? Cleveland Inter Religious? Youth Council and PRYME Youth Media in "A Day On - Not a Day Off, meeting at Trinity Cathedral 9:30AM. There'll be a virtual tour showing you around all the service sites before starting a Voter Registration Drive, Hunger Center, and Survivors/Victims of Tragedy and "Save the Memorial Wall of Sorrows" projects. Finish the day with the Dr. King Day of Service Board Game at 4PM. Come by for the the service activities Mon 1/19, and please consider Dr. King's hard-won wisdom: "Anyone can be great, because anyone can serve." Call 361-5890 for info. Trinity Cathedral East 22nd and Prospect.
Art House's beginning and advanced art classes for adults, seniors, teens, and children begins the week of Mon 1/19 with Adult classes and workshops in Beginning Printmaking, Bead Making, Picture Frame Weaving and Portrait Sculpture. Teens can learn something new with the Japanese Manga and Anime Workshop. Children's classes include Pre-School Studio for children age 3-6 and Beginning Watercolors for children ages 7-12. Advanced registration is required. Art House also offers a series of visual arts workshops designed for artists and art instructors. Open Studios are pay-as-you-go. To register call Art House 398-8556 or email Lisa@arthouseinc.org Registration forms also available on the web at http://www.arthouse.org at 3119 Denison Ave, one and a half blocks west of the Pearl Rd. and Denison Ave intersection.
Send your cool events to: ThomasAtCoolClevelandDotCom
Blog's Eye View
What are Cool Clevelanders writing on the web?
Sponsored by Smart Meeting Design Getting people on the same page... one meeting at a time.
Kenn Louis AKA Rabblerouser keeps a Live Journal at http://www.livejournal.com/users/rabblerouser
"Got my official rejection letter from the Ohio Arts Council today for the media arts grant I applied for. I should have suspected something after they called me last month because they didn't know how to run the CD I had sent. They put me through to their 'tech guy' who I had to talk through downloading the Flash plugin in order to view the work I had sent. I had suspected that maybe they'd already run into this problem before and he told me no, that my application was the only one that came with a CD, everyone else's came with a VHS cassette. Huh? Media Arts grants in the year 2004 go to people who send VHS cassettes and not C Ds? or DV Ds?? I know, they're judging the work, not the media, it's on. Maybe they just didn't like the contents of what I had sent. Or maybe they never figured out how to view the CD."
Kucinich Beat
Cool Cleveland covers the NEO presidential candidate
Dennis Wants to Give You $60 Billion "It's like a server's tip for the United States," said poet and activist Jeffree Porter on Kucinich's pledge to cut 15% of the Pentagon Budget. Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich is taking the Pentagon to task, noting that the billion dollar a day budget secures the US as the world's most wealthiest and best-equipped military power. "Our military budget is almost as big as that of all other countries combined. While we have unchallenged superiority in military strength, we also have more people without healthcare than any other advanced industrial country -- and Democrats must be bold enough to say the two issues are linked. I don't agree with other Democrats that we can continue to increase military spending and still deliver on our domestic agenda for middle class and working Americans..."
Read Kucinich Beat here
Cool Cleveland People: Daniel Dove
Daniel Dove holds an MFA from Yale and is assistant professor of painting at Cleveland Institute of Art. Impressed by University Circle's atmosphere and strong sense of community, Cleveland was one of Daniel's top choices when he was relocating for his career. He's an accomplished artist, and in April he has a show coming up at the ever illustrious Bonfoey Gallery. Daniel is influenced by dualism in landscapes, painting digital recombinations of urban scenes and industrial structures.
Cool Cleveland: What's the best thing about Cleveland? The Worst?
Daniel Dove: The relative openness and acessibility of the Cleveland art community, which seems to have very little alienating attitude and superfluous hierarchy. The worst thing about Cleveland, for alot of its visual artists, is the sense that if one wants serious professional accomplishment, one has to seek validation from other cities/markets, or to physically move away...
Read the exclusive Cool Cleveland interview with Daniel Dove
Instant Karma
quik reviews of last week's 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 in your world. We'd love to hear from you. Wanna write for Cool Cleveland? Send your stuff to ThomasAtCoolClevelandDotCom
4 Minutes to Happy @ CPT 1/9
Clevelander Sarah Morton's new solo piece begins with the idea that "happy endings are hard to fathom." The moving and humorous play follows the narrator's problematical pursuit of happiness after she flunks a doctor's depression test...
Read Marian Fairman's review
Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers write
On Hagan's challenge of Mc Cormack? for Commissioner "Your pointing to the fact that Tim Hagan is challenging Tim Mc Cormack? as a sign that the Democratic party in Cuyahoga County is self-destructing, reveals a lack of cognizance of what is actually happening in the party, at the local and national levels. Challenge and change are good, not self-destructive. Political parties are just like any other organized group of human beings--rife with conflict, change, and maneuvering. That is a sign of life, not death. If you examined both major political parties in any detail, you would find that there are contingents in each of them that are in significant conflict. The interesting thing will be to see whose ideological positions ultimately triumph and represent the face of the parties moving into the future. It would be more constructive to chronicle the tumult in local and national politics, rather than make premature pronouncements of death. Or to paraphrase Mark Twain, the reports of the Democratic party's death have been greatly exaggerated." from Cool Cleveland reader Lori A. O'Neillloneillpost1@aol.com
On Mc Cormack "I'm disappointed in this pretty shallow take on the Commissioner's race. For one thing, taking a swipe at Tim Hagan for being defeated by Taft works against everything I think you believe in. Who else in the entire state was actually willing to take on Taft? It's like getting mad at George Mc Govern? for losing to Nixon--it misses too many points to even point them out..."
Read letter from Cool Cleveland reader Jeff Hagan
On Mc Cormack "Tim Hagan has been my friend for 25 years so I want to make it clear that I come at any discussion of his candidacy with that bias, but that is only a minor part of my disappointment in Cool Cleveland's slant on the Hagan-Mc Cormack? race..."
Read letter from Cool Cleveland reader Dave Abbott
>On Cleveland transportation "I feel compelled to respond to Mr. Hoopengardner's comments about the "transportation situation" in Cleveland. I'm sorry Mr. Hoopengardner does not have a car. However, this is the type of uninformed, backward, self-flagellating thinking that this website and forward-thinking Clevelanders are trying to get away from..."
Read letter from Cool Cleveland reader Bernie Zofcin
Top 5
We use Idea Star?.com tools to track which articles were clicked the most. Here are the Top 5 from last week's issue, with one more chance for you to click.
1) Sincerely Cool Work Downtown? Progressive Urban Real Estate is having a lunch time open house every Friday in January at The Sincere Building, their new luxury condos in the heart of Downtown's newest neighborhood, Historic Gateway. http://www.progressiveurban.com
2) Speaking Out: County Commissioner Tim Mc Cormack? Speaks with Cool Cleveland In this exclusive interview with Cool Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim Mc Cormack? speaks out on the Democratic primary challenge from former Commissioner Tim Hagan, the Republican proposal to eliminate the Commissioner structure and replace it with a county-level Chief Executive, and the upcoming economic development and arts/culture levy on the March ballot.
http://www.pulsarmail.com/show_article.php?p=9P0E174R7905N36H
3) New Year's Eve Scene 12/31 You all vicariously experienced Tisha's sensory overload that night..."CC spread out over Cleveland's New Year's eve scene, bypassing the high brow parties and blowing off the socialites to hit the real events endowed with imagination."
New Year's Even Scene 12/31
4) Cleveland Ryze - check out who'll be there Ryze business networking mixers are different. By visiting the address below, you can see who has RSVP'd, then click through to view their profiles. Instead of talking with the usual suspects." http://clevelandevent.ryze.com
5) Pittsburgh is broke This city has clearly seen better days, as officials declared Pittsburgh "financially distressed," and must now draw up a recovery plan for the city to help stave off bankruptcy."
www.cleveland.com
Because you recommend Cool Cleveland to the people you know, our circulation continues to grow rapidly. Thanks for sending it to people you know, but for those who don't get it yet, send them to to: http://www.CoolCleveland.com or have them send an e-mail to SignupAtCoolClevelandDotCom.
Thanks to the Hard Corps for utilizing their hyped up energy to send out CC each week. Tisha Nemeth, Jack Ricchiuto, Niko Angelis and George Nemeth are just a few of the writers dedicated to sending each issue out. A big, special thanks to Sam Fulwood III, Michael Salinger, Neal Hamilton, Cavana Faithwalker, Daiv Whaley, J. Scott Franklin and Deb Remington who joined the Hard Corps last week & provided thought provoking brainstorms. Want to volunteer and contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, articles, or story ideas to: ThomasAtCoolClevelandDotCom.
See the Cool Cleveland column each month in Cleveland Magazine. Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time. Read Thomas Mulready's column Up Front in the Free Times. For your copy of the free weekly 'Cool Cleveland'' e-mail newsletter, go to http://www.CoolCleveland.com (:divend:)