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UPFRONT FAKE PLASTIC NEEDS: RETROGRADE OHIO LEGISLATURE FINDS ANOTHER SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF PROBLEM Photo by Velkr0FlickrCC

WHILE MUCH OF THE NATION, including major cities and America’s largest supermarket chain (Kroger), has moved toward plastic bag bans, Ohio continues its tradition of marching boldly in the opposite direction. In defiance not only of environmental sustainability but of home rule (the constitutional idea that municipalities should be allowed to govern themselves), the state’s House of Representatives saw fit to pass HB625 last week, a vindictive piece of legislation that prohibits municipalities from regulating or taxing auxiliary containers like plastic bags. It’s the same sort of preemptive legislation as the one that prohibits municipalities from regulating transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft. HB625 is yet another solution in search of a problem, sharing billing with such luminous doozies as the “Pastor Protection” law. That bill, passed earlier this year, was deemed a “farcical piece of public pouting” by opponents, one that amplified the narrative, beloved by the radical right, of besieged Christianity. Just as no pastor has been forced to perform a marriage that contradicts or contravenes his or her sincerely held religious beliefs, no city in Ohio has assessed fees on auxiliary containers like plastic bags. In fairness to logic, that wouldn’t have been the case for long. If the bill passes the Ohio Senate and is signed into law, as statehouse reporters suspect it will, it will kill proposed fees under consideration in both Cleveland and Cincinnati. “What’s next?” asked Cleveland. com editor Chris Quinn on WCPN’s Reporters Roundtable on Friday. “Lead paint? Raw sewage in the lake? There’s no way you can justify standing by it.” Quinn made a critical point: that while the bill’s proponents (rural Republicans, mostly) have argued that this is a pro-business measure because it will remove the possibility of burdensome regulations for grocery stores and other businesses, the effects are more likely to be

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Ohio legislators recently preempted municipalities’ rights to regulate plastic bags.

anti-business. Backwards laws like this one, at any rate, pursued at the behest of lobbyists — the bill’s co-sponsor, George Lang (R–West Chester Township), has a plastic bag manufacturer in his district — make the state much less attractive, argued Quinn, for both residents and businesses. County councilwoman Sunny Simon agreed. She had been pursuing a ten-cent fee on plastic bags in Cuyahoga County and had recently expressed confidence that if the state had not passed preemptive legislation, the county legislature would likely have gone along with a version of her proposal. Unlike an outright ban, the fee on plastic bags would have provided funding to grocery stores (those over 7,000 square feet, where the fee would have been enforced) for administration and implementation while also providing funds for crucial environmental cleanups. Currently, 5.5 million pounds of plastic pollution contaminate Lake Erie each year. Simon told Scene that she’d known

| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

the bill was coming, and remains convinced that the Ohio legislature pays no mind to their own hypocrisy. (They love home rule and “small government,” for example, until it’s inconvenient for their donors.) “They do whatever they want,” she said. “And it’s precisely this kind of backwards and self-serving thinking that is losing the state population, jobs and especially young people in our modern economy. We’re a regressive state, and our population numbers prove it. Young people do not want to be here.” Simon said that if Ohio bag manufacturers were willing to change and diversify in accordance with a changing economy, they’d recognize the economic benefits. Why not capitalize on the opportunity to manufacture reusable bags, she asked. “Instead of joining the rest of the world,” Simon said, “[the legislature] has made it a priority to pollute our environment while enriching special interests. The pollution is egregious, and it’s a horrible legacy to leave for

our next generation. [This bill] is unconscionable.” — Sam Allard

Another Costly Settlement for Cleveland Police Killing, More Resentment from Police Union The city of Cleveland last week reached a $910,000 settlement with the family of Brandon Jones, the 18-year-old who was shot and killed by Cleveland police officer Alan Buford in 2015 after officers responded to reports of a break-in at the Parkwood Grocery store on the city’s east side. The family had filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit against the city and the agreement brings that to an end. Buford was indicted for negligent homicide in the killing of Jones, who was unarmed, but later found not guilty by Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Michael Sliwinski in a bench trial. He was also fired by the city of Cleveland but awarded his job back

Photo by Eric Sandy

by an arbitrator, because cops always get their jobs back. The police union, for its part, called the ďŹ ring “another unwarranted attack on its police ofďŹ cersâ€? and claimed “the suffering of OfďŹ cer Buford and his family is nothing compared to checking off the boxes in the consent decree.â€? In comments to Cleveland.com, CPPA president Jeff Follmer called yesterday’s settlement a “joke.â€? — Vince Grzegorek

Haitian Asylum Seeker, in Ohio ICE Facility for Two Years, Released Ansly Damus was released from the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Friday, following two years of detainment in the Geauga County Jail. In seeking asylum at the California border in October 2016, Damus, a Haitian citizen under political persecution at home, was immediately taken into federal custody and sent to the rural Ohio facility, which maintains a contract with ICE. “I’m free and happy,â€? he said upon walking into the lobby of the ICE ofďŹ ce in Brooklyn Heights, greeted by half a dozen local reporters. “I see

It’s Actually Going to be Called “Opportunity Corridor�?

Melody Hart, Ansly Damus and Gary Benjamin at the Brooklyn Heights ICE ofďŹ ce.

the sun!� In a blend of French and English, Damus described his two years in ICE custody, spent in a windowless cell in Chardon, Ohio. “I never imagined such treatment!� he said in French, translated by Freda Levenson, legal director of the ACLU of Ohio. “What kept [me] going was [my] love of God. ... I am very, very happy. Many people helped me.� Today’s release, however, is not an asylum determination. Damus is now out on parole as his asylum proceedings go on. He is free to live with sponsors Gary Benjamin and

Melody Hart in Cleveland Heights while his case is active. “This is a beautiful day for freedom,� Levenson said, but she added that Damus’ story is a cautionary tale for the citizens of the U.S. and the refugees seeking asylum in this country. “Mr. Damus has wasted two years of his life — and what for?� With his newfound freedom, Damus said, “I want to go to church and thank God.� Asked whether he thought he would be dead had he remained in Haiti, he said, “Yes.� — Eric Sandy

The once “so-calledâ€? Opportunity Corridor is now ofďŹ cially the Opportunity Corridor, thanks to the standard Cleveland street signs, blue with white lettering, now installed on a portion of the three-mile boulevard that will ultimately connect 1-490 to University Circle. Two signs have been installed, one at the Corridor’s intersection with East 93rd and another at its intersection with Quincy. This is the Corridor’s socalled “Section 2.â€? It snakes behind the Juvenile Justice Center and includes a bike/pedestrian path and a median with plantings that will hopefully survive the winter. Thursday, ofďŹ cials gathered on what may or may not still be known as East 105th Street to celebrate the newly completed section, which also includes, on the north side of Quincy, a bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. The bridge connects the completed East 105th portion of the Corridor with Section 2. It should now be open to vehicular trafďŹ c. Multiple public ofďŹ cials attended the ceremony, including representatives from ODOT, Mayor Frank Jackson,

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UPFRONT Ward 6 councilman Blaine Griffin and RTA interim CEO Dr. Floun’say Caver. (The Quincy/105 Rapid stop is directly adjacent to the bridge and now has an expanded platform.) Frank Jackson, in brief comments, thanked Gov. John Kasich for staying true to his word and ensuring that a percentage of Cleveland contractors and minority businesses were used in the construction process. He said that while there had been hiccups along the way, he was nevertheless still confident that the Opportunity Corridor would spur investment, jobs and real estate development in the historically forgotten neighborhoods that the boulevard cuts through. “We can make this road an example of how things operate in Cleveland,” Jackson said, hands shoved in the pockets of his winter coat. The third and final section of the Corridor is the longest. It’ll connect I-490 to East 93rd and will include two new pedestrian bridges, four new bridges located over the boulevard, six signalized intersections, new water mains, new major sanitary and storm sewers, plus new sidewalks and a multi-purpose path. The $151 million contract for Section 3 was awarded to Kokosing Construction Company. It’s expected to open to traffic in the fall of 2021. — Allard

Ohio’s Overdose Death Rate Second Worst in Country in 2017 Ohio had the second-highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the country last year, a new report from the Centers for Disease Control says. More than 46 people per 100,000 in the state died of overdoses in 2017, the report finds — a higher rate than any other state except neighboring West Virginia, which saw almost 58 overdose deaths per 100,000 people last year. Ohio is one of 20 states with a higher rate than the nation’s overall rate, which has climbed from 6.1 deaths per 100,000 people in 1999 to 21.7 last year, as the continuing opioid crisis grips many communities across the country. South Dakota and Nebraska had the lowest overdose rates at 8.5 and 8.1 per 100,000 respectively, but even those were higher than the national rate at the turn of the 21st century. The increase means that people in the U.S. last year died from drug overdoses at three and a half times the

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| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

rate they did 18 years ago. Overall, more than 70,000 people were killed in drug overdoses, including suicides. Men were twice as likely to die as women, according to the report, and people between 35 and 44 were the most likely to die via overdose. Ohio saw 5,111 overdose deaths, data from the federal government shows. Much of the increase can be attributed to the rise of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which can be deadly in very small amounts. Nationally, overdoses due to synthetics rose by 45 percent between 2016 and last year. In Ohio, fentanyl alone was involved in almost three-quarters of all overdose deaths. — Nick Swartsell

DIGIT WIDGET 2/3 Contested Cuyahoga County home valuations that the county agrees were too high and will be adjusted.

24 PERCENT Reduction in evictions in New York City after passage of right-to-counsel legislation that granted evicted tenants free lawyers. Cleveland is studying similar legislation with the hopes of rolling it out next year.

13.7 Pound walleye caught by Clarence Mitchell Jr. to win the Lake Erie Walleye Fall Brawl. Mitchell will take home a $100,000 Warrior boat for winning the ninth annual competition.

$927 MILLION Cost to local economy of some 21,000 young adults (ages 1624) in Cleveland who are not in school and not employed, according to research by the Center for Community Solutions.

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene

Photo by Rosalie Murphy: The Devil Strip

FEATURE

How the construction of Akron’s Innerbelt displaced thousands By Noor Hindi, Senior Writer for The Devil Strip OLLIE FUTCH, 67, REMEMBERS his childhood fondly. Growing up just west of downtown Akron, his days were filled with wonder and adventure. From visiting the library on Wooster Avenue to playing basketball with his friends, his summers were endless. He still remembers his address — 733 Douglas Street. He and his mother, Sarah Futch, lived in an apartment, which Futch describes as nice. But Futch and Sarah’s old neighborhood, which was predominately black and lowincome, was split in half by the construction of the Innerbelt Freeway in the 1970s. More than 100 local businesses were demolished. Thousands of people lost their homes and apartments and had to move elsewhere. The vibrant streets of Futch’s childhood were torn apart, literally, for a highway that was supposed to serve as a convenient way for people in the suburbs to better access downtown Akron. But the Innerbelt never did that successfully, and Akron is now tearing part of the Innerbelt down. About 75 percent of the people displaced by the Innerbelt found

themselves worse off than before or about the same, according to Akron’s current director of planning and urban development, Jason Segedy. The remaining 25 percent were better off, either moving into newer neighborhoods or transitioning from renters to homeowners. Around 1968, the City of Akron gave Sarah cash to help her and her family relocate. She bought a house at 1013 Moeller Avenue. Futch says Sarah transitioned well into her new neighborhood. “I was glad for my momma. I guess she liked [the new house] because it was hers, more than anything. She owned it,” he says. “And because of my momma’s personality, she could build a community. She didn’t care where she was living.” But not everyone was as lucky as Sarah. After the construction of the Innerbelt, neighbors who were living 10 houses from each other suddenly had to travel miles to get around the freeway and get access to their neighbors. Cynethia Patterson, 60, remembers how the neighborhood rapidly changed. She grew up at 521 Seth Court, which was demolished

because of the Innerbelt. “It took out a lot of businesses. It took out a lot of homes. It broke up the neighborhood,” she says. “As kids, my mom would watch out for the neighbors, the neighbors would watch for us when our parents weren’t home. It was more neighborly, more friendly, more family oriented.” To make matters worse, the Innerbelt didn’t succeed as an infrastructure project, either. State Route 59 was meant to connect downtown Akron to the growing interstate highway system and bring traffic from the suburbs downtown more easily. The neighborhoods around downtown had become some of the city’s poorest by the 1960s, and most people who worked office jobs downtown had fled to the suburbs. Mayors Leo Berg and Edward Erickson conceived of the Innerbelt in the early 1960s, and it was built in four phases under Mayor John Ballard, who was in office from 1966 to 1980. While it did connect to the interstate system, the Innerbelt never met its original goal of connecting to State Route 8 because the city ran out of federal funds. And even the

stretch that currently connects to the interstate highway didn’t bring in more traffic from the suburbs. Figures from Segedy show that the Innerbelt cost about $300 million (from federal and local funds) and currently carries about 20,000 vehicles per day. For comparison, the stretch of I-76/I-77 in Akron carries 125,000 vehicles per day. “On top of it being the wrong project at the wrong time for the health of the city and its neighborhood, it was never even finished,” Segedy says. “It never even worked as a road. So we kind of got the worst of both worlds. We got lots of people displaced, the core of our city ripped, and then a road that never functioned as advertised.” ‘Continuing to break up our neighborhoods’ Wooster Avenue, today known as Vernon Odom Boulevard, was the heart of Malcolm Costa’s neighborhood. His father, Jack W. Costa, owned Jack’s Barber Shop at 562 Wooster Avenue. Costa grew up off Wooster Avenue and Lane Street, which was removed when the Innerbelt was built, and spent a lot of time exploring the business district. “I was just a little kid. My dad would send me different places on | clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

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Wooster Avenue to do errands and pick up lunch and different stuff. It was kind of like Coney Island. It was so vibrant and exciting,” Costa says. “It was really thriving. It had all kinds of businesses. People could get pretty much everything that they might need in that area.” John Roberts, 85, also grew up in West Akron and agrees that Wooster Avenue had “anything on it that you needed.” “People back in the day depended upon each other. Back in the day, if my mother didn’t have an egg or two or something she needed, and the neighbor had eggs, and maybe my mother had some flour and [the neighbor] didn’t have any, they traded,” he says. “That’s how you survived.” During his time representing Ward 3 on City Council, from 1980 to 1983, Vernon Sykes called the Innerbelt “a road to nowhere.” Sykes grew up in West Akron and attended Samuel Lane Elementary School and South High School, which were both closed down in the early 1980s as people moved away. “I think one of the main things (the Innerbelt) contributes to is continuing to break up our neighborhoods,” says Sykes, who is now a state senator. “The high school that I went to, South High School, it’s the second-oldest high school in the city, and it’s decommissioned. That breaks up neighborhoods and the sense of community you need, that longevity you need, that helps build character and give people something to be proud of.” Many displaced people struggled financially after their relocation. James Williams, 74, grew up at 450½ Willow Street, another thoroughfare that became a dead end after the Innerbelt was built. He remembers many people losing their jobs because they couldn’t make it to work. “If you’re living somewhere and you’re working within footsteps to your job, and then when you have to leave to go somewhere else because you’re forced to go, that’s a big problem,” Williams says. “A lot of them tried to walk. A lot of them had to take the bus.” The City of Akron negotiated with homeowners and renters and helped them relocate by giving them between $5,000 and $15,000. If you were a renter transitioning to owning a home, like Sarah Futch, you were given the most money,

but if you were going to continue renting, you received far less. Families also received some money for moving expenses. Tom Fuller, executive director of Alpha Phi Alpha Homes, Inc., was a social worker for the City of Akron from 1970 until 1972 and helped relocate many of the people who were affected. Fuller says that despite the city’s financial help, many residents ended up worse off than before because they weren’t prepared to become homeowners. They were receiving about a third of the value of the homes they were buying, and many were on fixed incomes. “I remember one woman, after she had been relocated, six months later she called me and said her hot water tank had gone out. And she wondered what to do about it,” Fuller says. “And there wasn’t much additional financial help.” Fuller remembers that many of the affected people were initially excited about the opportunity to move out of the Wooster Avenue area. This is supported by a 1977 paper titled “Effects of Transportation Planning on Urban Areas” by University of Akron student Frank J. Kendrick, which was later published in The Ohio Journal of Science. “Many residents whose homes are to be taken now look upon the impending relocation as a way out of a declining neighborhood. While many white residents of the affected neighborhoods may regard the Innerbelt as a threat to their homes, Black residents often consider relocation as a ticket to better neighborhoods,” Kendrick wrote. He continued, “Judging from earlier experience with relocation, this view may not be very well founded. Nonetheless, as the area declines, more and more residents continue to regard the state relocation program as a way of getting better homes in better areas.” Fuller says a large number of people were “anxious” about the relocation. Older residents, especially, were the least prepared to benefit, and were often the hardest to relocate. “It was an emotional time for a lot of people. They were distraught sometimes. They were fearful of the unknown. The people we were working with, for the most part, had few resources. They were without power, without money,” says Fuller. “And there was not the sensitivity about the impact on the community or the individuals so much.” Before the Innerbelt: Urban renewal and six days of rioting Many of the homes that AfricanAmericans resided in during

the 1970s had been built quickly during the rubber industry boom in the early 1900s to accommodate factory workers. According to Dave Lieberth, a former deputy mayor and now an Akron historian, the city’s population tripled in size between 1910 and 1920. “It wasn’t just dense housing, but really poorly planned housing, where you might have three houses sitting on one lot,â€? Lieberth said. James Williams’ home, for example, was in complete disrepair by the 1970s. He remembers many of the homes in his neighborhood had “windows that were out, with newspapers over the windows.â€? The basements ooded. His house had three bedrooms and one bathroom. Williams grew up with 11 siblings. “I didn’t have a room. I slept on the oor. We had four beds. My mother and father had a bed and my two sisters had a bed. And then there were two more beds for the rest of us. So if you get lucky, you got the bed. We’d ďŹ ght to get to the bed ďŹ rst. I slept on the oor many nights.â€? “Having a home and being in shelter is different,â€? he adds. A 1962 Mayor’s Task Force on Human Relations paper says that almost 40 percent of Akron’s 37,636

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African-Americans were living in just four of the city’s 24 tracts. Furthermore, “three of the tracts contain housing among the most dilapidated in the city.â€? According to the task force report, black families were concentrated in speciďŹ c neighborhoods because “discriminatory practices are quite prevalent among real estate dealers in the Akron metropolitan area. Some were cited for refusing to show houses to non-whites in white neighborhoods, and for refusing to deal with non-whites altogether.â€? The task force added that, “a real estate dealer had been heard to boast that there would never be any Negroes in a particular area.â€? In the Akron neighborhoods that were predominately AfricanAmerican, many homes were dilapidated. But black families could not move because they could not buy houses elsewhere. Further, families were unable to ďŹ x their homes because many could not apply for loans to ďŹ x them. Today, Akron is attempting to renovate old buildings so they can be used again. But in the 1960s, the dominant trend in city planning was known as “urban renewal,â€? which called for destroying dilapidated areas and rebuilding them from

scratch. “Urban renewal, as it should, gets a bad reputation. There was this idea that cities are declining because things were old, so what we need to do is tear down everything that’s old,â€? says Segedy. According to Lieberth, urban renewal programs in Akron displaced about 3,000 households in the 1960s. About 80 percent of those households were AfricanAmerican. If the average household was four people, then 12,000 people were displaced by urban renewal programs in a decade, including 10,000 African-Americans. Before the Innerbelt was built, there were three major urban renewal projects that contributed to the large displacement of AfricanAmericans in Akron: Lane/Wooster, Grant/Washington, and Opportunity Parkway. The Innerbelt was a continuation of the urban renewal thinking, Lieberth says. City ofďŹ cials felt they were killing two birds with one stone: Renovating neighborhoods and providing an easier way for people in the suburbs to access downtown. Further, if the city complied with national trends, they could secure federal funds.

“The federal government required us to have [the Innerbelt]. We had to take it if we wanted the money,� Lieberth says. “The unintended consequences weren’t seen. Everybody in power thought this was a good idea. There were people who protested, but they were powerless to stop them.� From 1991 to 1993, Tony O’Leary was the planning director for the City of Akron. He argues that a challenge for planning directors is deciding the difference between a trend and something that’s permanent. “You have to try to make decisions, but if the state or federal government decides they’re going to put money in the freeways, you’re going to go with it because you can’t afford to pay for it locally,� he says. Urban renewal became prevalent nationally while the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War were underway. Suburbs were growing, but national transportation systems were still developing. Locally, Akron was facing major job losses in the declining rubber industry. In the summer of 1968, the year marked by the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and nationwide protests, West Akron endured six days of rioting on

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FEATURE Wooster Avenue. About 1,000 National Guard troops were sent to the city. “I don’t think anyone can be in denial that since the riots, everything changed,” Roberts says. “I can take you around to the various streets when I was coming up as a child and show you the streets that have drastically changed so much.” The 1969 Akron Commission on Civil Disorder, which was asked by Mayor Ballard to determine the causes of the 1968 riots, blamed “the aggravated compression of Black people into Akron ghettos primarily as a consequence of the urban renewal programs in the GrantWashington area, the area south of the University, and the downtown area.” After the riots, Costa’s father sold his barbershop business. He was ready to retire and uncomfortable with hair trends at the time, but “I think part of the motivation for him selling the business was because of the social unrest,” Costa remembers. “I think he was somewhat

unnerved.” Costa now works as the director and CEO of Akron Summit Community Action, Inc., which addresses poverty in Akron through programs like Head Start. Costa and others in his neighborhood felt that the Innerbelt was a sort of penalty for the 1968 riots. “I’ve never seen it documented, but I personally think constructing the Innerbelt in part was punishment to that community and making sure nothing like that would happen again,” Costa says. In 1970, before construction began on the second part of the Innerbelt, two alternate routes into downtown were proposed. One would have run along South Main Street, and the other around Perkins Park by the Kenmore Expressway interchange. According to Akron Beacon Journal reports from that year, the alternate routes would have saved the more than 100 businesses that the Innerbelt later wiped out. But city planners chose the original path, arguing that it was the route that could handle the most traffic. Using the alternate plans would’ve cost an estimated $300,000 in engineering fees and prolonged construction by three years.

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Costa says that at least a dozen more streets were cut off when that phase of the Innerbelt was built, further dividing the community. “You just can’t access certain things, and you have to go around. There are only certain streets that go through, and it has the effect of being able to control that particular area in terms of law enforcement,” Costa says. Costa says Mayor Ballard may have intentionally harmed their community. But Lieberth says that’s not true. After the 1969 commission report found that “the lack of good recreation and park facilities in the City of Akron has been recognized but comprehensive action to remedy this failure has not been undertaken,” Ballard’s administration spent close to $900,000 on recreation in the West Hill neighborhood, says Lieberth. “It’s really easy to say that this was all racially based. That was the impact of it, unfortunately, but personally, I don’t think that city planners at the time, or anyone else in the state of Ohio, sat around and said, ‘Let’s see if we can screw up these neighborhoods,’” former planning director Tony O’Leary says. “That was just standard transportation planning.”

After the Innerbelt: Green space? Housing? TBD. The Innerbelt as we know it today was finished in 1987. Just 12 years after it opened, in 1999, Mayor Don Plusquellic started talking about removing at least part of it. He saw that Akron lacked vacant land for new development, and the Innerbelt had been built on what was once a neighborhood — land that could become a neighborhood again. At present, the last stretch of the Innerbelt has been closed, clearing up about 25 to 30 acres of land that the city must decide how to manage. The argument for the rest of the Innerbelt’s removal is twofold, Segedy says. First, it only carries about 20,000 cars a day, which Dart and Rand Avenues could easily absorb. Second, that land could be more useful as recreational space, offices or housing. In the Downtown Akron Vision and Redevelopment Plan, created by the Downtown Akron Partnership and adopted by city council in March 2018, 82 percent of people surveyed said they wanted to see green space and trails on the space freed up by the Innerbelt. The plan envisions Route 59 as a “gateway to the [Cuyahoga Valley] National Park,” with walking paths pointing visitors

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Ollie Futch ‘s old neighborhood was destroyed by the Akron Innerbelt.

toward the Towpath Trail, Glendale Steps and Bates Hill. As for buildings, the plan suggests developers start in vacant lots east of the Innerbelt, on the edge of downtown. It calls for “four-sided architecture that fronts each street,” especially townhomes, condos and apartments. Only after that would anything be built in the sunken stretch where the freeway still sits. “I don’t personally really feel we need any of the Innerbelt,” Segedy says. “We had the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, which is a collaborative of architects and students from Kent State University and Cleveland State University, look at it last year, and what they recommended was ultimately having some new buildings in the middle section of the part that was abandoned, and then on either end of it have green space and park land.” In 2015, the League of Creative Interventionists invited about 500 people to gather on the decommissioned section of the freeway for a meal. They asked residents what they wanted done with the space. According to the league, 80 percent of respondents said they wanted “a space for connection and nature.” In August and September of 2018, the League was awarded funding from the Knight Foundation’s Knight Cities Grant to create a temporary park and performance

space called the Innerbelt National Forest. Hundreds of Akronites gathered in the forest to see concerts and partake in community programming. On Nov. 27, park organizers announced that the Innerbelt Forest space would become semi-permanent. Programming will resume in the spring. There are no immediate plans to remove the remaining freeway, although Segedy argues that those hundreds of acres of land could become green space, housing and new buildings. While the city is hoping to “crystallize a vision for the site over the next 18 months,” Segedy says, it’s imperative that officials continue to look back on the history of the freeway as they plan for the future. “The value of studying history is restoring memory. And what’s important for people to know is this is why we still have racial tensions,” says Lieberth. “We haven’t eliminated discrimination. We haven’t eliminated the hard feelings that so many black families have, generations later.”

This article was originally published in The Devil Strip. It is republished here with permission.

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene

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| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

BY

GET OUT everything you should do this week Photo by Emanuel Wallace

WED

12/05

FILM

The Age of the Medici, Parts 1 and 2 Originally released in Italy in 1973 as a three-part TV series, The Age of the Medici, which was directed by Roberto Rossellini, chronicles the exile of Cosimo de’ Medici, head of the prominent banking family that thrived in 15th-century Florence. Part 1 screens today at 7 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Part 2 of the series screens at 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday. Tickets are $10, or $7 for CMA members. (Jeff Niesel) 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org. SPORTS

Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors The Cavs launch a home stand with tonight’s game against the defending champion Golden State Warriors. Last month, the Cavs had impressive wins against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Houston Rockets. Golden State should provide a real challenge even though the team has lost a step without point guard Steph Curry, who’s been injured. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.; consult the Cavs site for ticket prices. (Niesel) 1 Center Court, 216-420-2000, theqarena.com. MUSIC

Gallery Concert This monthly concert series at the Cleveland Museum of Art places young musicians from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University in the CMA galleries. The long-running series features “mixed programs of chamber music” for “a unique and intimate experience.” Tonight’s performers are the CWRU Baroque Chamber Ensembles, with guest harpist Maria Cleary. The concert begins at 6 and lasts for about an hour. Admission is free. (Niesel) 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org. SPOKEN WORD

Keep Talking Keep Talking is an exciting storytellers program where locals can share their real-life experiences on a theme. The monthly series offers attendees the chance to grab a drink and a dog while listening to some of their Cleveland neighbors tell tall tales. Tonight’s show will feature some of the best performances from

Flavor returns to the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum. See: Thursday.

2018. The hosts are Adam Richard and Zachariah Durr. The program starts at 8 p.m. sharp at the Happy Dog. Admission is $5. Want to be a storyteller at a future session? See details on the website. (Niesel) 5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474, happydogcleveland.com. FUNDRAISER

Keg Tapping Hofbräuhaus and the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland team up today at 6:45 p.m. at the brewery and restaurant to spread some holiday cheer as they tap the ceremonial keg of the “famous Christmas Doppelbock” and mark the start of the Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign. Representatives from the Salvation Army will be on hand to take the first taste. At 7, Hofbrauhaus celebrates Krampusnacht, an event dedicated to Krampus, the mythical twohorned creature who punishes bad children. There will be actors dressed as Krampus on hand for photo opps. Admission is free. (Niesel) 1550 Chester Ave., 216-621-2337, hofbrauhauscleveland.com. COMEDY

Greg Warren In his 2008 Comedy Central special,

Greg Warren jokes that he “looks married” even though he’s not. “Women tell me that all the time,” he says. “I don’t think it’s a compliment.” Warren’s dry sense of humor makes him the kind of guy to whom everyone can relate. While growing up in St. Louis, Warren was both a jock and a band geek, something that he regularly draws upon as he revisits those days in his standup routines. He performs tonight at 8 at Hilarities and has shows scheduled through Saturday. Tickets are $18 to $28. (Niesel) 2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

THU

12/06

FILM

A Bread Factory, Part One: For the Sake of Gold and Part Two: Walk With Me a While Written and directed by Patrick Wang (In the Family), A Bread Factory, Part One: For the Sake of Gold centers on a community arts center in New York state that’s threatened when a celebrity couple announces plans to build a huge arts complex down the street. The saga continues in

Part Two. Part One makes its local debut tonight at 6:30 at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, where it shows again at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $10, or $7 for Cinematheque members and students. Part Two screens at 8:45 tonight and at 6:30 on Sunday night. It requires a separate admission. (Niesel) 11610 Euclid Ave., 216-421-7450, cia.edu. THEATER

A Christmas Carol This Great Lakes Theater production of Charles Dickens’ classic never fails to engage and delight. Framed cozily as a story within a story in this Gerald Freedman adaptation, the production really comes alive once the ghost of Jacob Marley appears, dragging his chains and creaking eerily with every movement. This annual tribute to knee-jerk liberal sentiments, like compassion for the downtrodden, is always a must-see, whether you’ve seen it before or not. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Ohio Theatre. Tickets are $15 to $75. Performances continue through Dec. 23. (Christine Howey) 1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org. | clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

15

GET OUT HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

Holiday Trunk Show BAYarts will bring together local vendors for a Holiday Trunk Show, a night of shopping, cocktails and friends. Featured artists will have handmade goods for sale, and the holiday shop in the Huntington House will be open extended hours. The event runs from 6 to 9 tonight. (Niesel) 28795 Lake Rd., Bay Village, 440-871-6543, bayarts.net.

hovered around .500 against quality teams like the San Antonio Spurs, the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Kings come to the Q tonight to face the Cavs at 7:30. Consult the Cavs website for ticket prices. (Niesel) 1 Center Court, 216-420-2000, theqarena.com.

Performances continue through Dec. 23. Tickets are $25 to $97. (Howey) 1407 Euclid Ave., playhousesquare.org. NIGHTLIFE

MIX: Modern The first Friday of each month, the Cleveland Museum of Art hosts its popular Mix at CMA party, featuring

FILM

Powerbomb A locally produced film written and directed by Zach Shildwachter and BJ Colangelo, Powerbomb tells the story of an independent wrestler on the verge of breaking big. But when his biggest fan hears that the guy might quit, he decides to do something to ensure that the wrestler stays committed to the sport. Shot entirely in Cleveland, with music from Ohio artists, the film makes its world premiere tonight at the Capitol Theatre. Each ticket enters you in a raffle for a gift basket featuring items from the Savage Stash, Marty and Sarah Love Wrestling and more. A Q&A with the cast and crew follows the screening. The program begins at 7. Tickets are $12. (Niesel) 1390 West 65th St., 216-651-7295, clevelandcinemas.com.

DEBBIE HARRY of BLONDIE Class of 2006 Photo by James Shive

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Scene Flavor 2018 Scene’s annual Flavor celebrates the local culinary scene by bringing together leading Cleveland restaurants. Beer, wine and cocktails add to the VIP-style nature of the evening. Food and drink lovers enjoy the top, most highly regarded restaurants and bars in Cleveland. Admission includes five drink tickets, unlimited food tastings, and live music and entertainment. The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Crawford AutoAviation Museum. Advance tickets are $30; get them on the website. (Niesel) clevescenetickets.com.

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12/07

SPORTS

Cavs vs. Sacramento Kings After years of struggling to compete in the Western Conference, the Sacramento Kings have finally started to play some pretty good basketball this season. The team’s record has

16

FILM

Museo Museo, the new comedy thriller from director Alonso Ruizpalacios, centers on two veterinary students who break into Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology and steal several artifacts. Based on a true story, the film stars Gael Garcia Bernal. It makes its Cleveland debut tonight at 7 at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, where it screens again at 9:20 tomorrow night. Tickets are $10, or $7 for Cinematheque members and students. (Niesel) 11610 Euclid Ave., 216-421-7450, cia.edu. THEATER

FOOD

FRI

p.m. See the website for more details. (Niesel) 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.

A Christmas Story The Cleveland Play House’s production of Jean Shepherd’s beloved Christmas Story rides a two-hour wave of intricate details to unerringly establish the period and to help even the youngest patrons make the leap back to a time before televisions were omnipresent and cowboy hero Red Ryder was king of the wireless. See it tonight at 7:30 at the Allen Theatre.

| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

cocktails, dance and a chance to dig a little deeper into the current exhibit, which is now devoted to the works of the fiercely independent artist, Georgia O’Keefe. Tonight’s theme is “Living Modern,” and organizers encourage guests to come dressed in O’Keefe-inspired fashion. Tickets are $10 in advance, or $15 at the door. CMA members get in free. The entertainment runs from 6 to 10

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer A musical based on the popular TV classic by the same name, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer features Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, the Abominable Snowman and Yukon Cornelius in telling the story of how Rudolph became the lead reindeer thanks to his glowing nose. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7 at Connor Palace, where performances continue through Sunday. Tickets start at $10. (Niesel) 1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org. HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

Scuba Claus & the Seas’N of Play Scuba Claus & the Seas’N of Play continues today, tomorrow and Sunday at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. Kids get a temporary tattoo, an activity book and the chance to expend some of their excess holiday spirit by learning about and imitating the movements of crabs, archerfish, frogs, frilled lizards and other Aquarium residents. Guests of all ages can participate in an aquariumwide scavenger hunt and/or talk to and snap a selfie with Scuba Claus while he dives in the Aquarium’s 230,000-gallon shark exhibit from 1 to 2 p.m. Aquarium hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Check the website for ticket prices. (Niesel) 2000 Sycamore Street, 216-862-8803, greaterclevelandaquarium.com. FILM

Surfer: Teen Confronts Fear Douglas Burke wrote, directed and starred in Surfer: Teen Confronts Fear, a film that has drawn comparisons to The Room, the campy cult movie that became an underground hit because of its uniquely skewed sensibilities. Surfer: Teen Confronts Fear centers on

a young boy who learns to overcome his fear of surfing with a little help from his father, who appears to him as a ghost and gives him lessons. The movie screens tonight at 9:30 at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque. Tickets are $10, or $7 for Cinematheque members and students. (Niesel) 11610 Euclid Ave., 216-421-7450, cia.edu.

SUN

12/09

FUNDRAISER

The Holidays with Helen! Local jazz singer Helen Welch teams up with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra for tonight’s special holiday show that will find Welch belting out Christmas classics and other seasonal favorites. The concert begins at 8 at the Hanna Theatre. Tickets start at $35. (Niesel) 2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

Christmas Memories Vol. 2 Release Party Since 2008, Parma native Eddie Tomecko, owner of Hinckley Township-based Audioworks Media, has raised money for local charities through his Good Intentions Foundation. This year, the recipient is Akron Children’s Hospital. As this year’s fundraiser, the organization is hosting a release party at 4 p.m. today for Christmas Memories Vol. 2, a benefit album that features musical director George Sipl. It includes contributions from Bill March of Beaucoup, guitarist Billy Sullivan, and singer-songwriter Brian Lisik and the Unfortunates, featuring Todd Rundgren alumnus Tim Longfellow. The party takes place at Baron’s Hall in Parma. In addition to the $25 ticket, attendees are asked to bring an unopened children’s Christmas gift that will go to kids on the hospital’s cancer unit. Your ticket includes food, drinks, live entertainment and 50/50 raffles. The Christmas Memories Vol. 2 album, on CD or usb, will be available for $20. A special two-CD package, including both Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 will be available for $30 while supplies last. For tickets and more information, contact Good Intentions at 440-4877783 or audioworksdigital@yahoo. com. (Niesel) 5310 Hauserman Rd., Parma, facebook.com/ goodintentionsfoundation.

FILM

MUSIC

The Room Thanks to The Disaster Artist, the James Franco movie about the making of the cult classic The Room, the film’s popularity has soared. The film that features writer, director and star Tommy Wiseau screens at 10 tonight at the Cedar Lee Theatre. Tickets are $6. (Niesel) 2163 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, 440-528-0355, clevelandcinemas.com.

Paul Goussot At 2 p.m. today as part of the Cleveland Museum of Arts annual Performing Arts Series, Paul Goussot from the medieval Abbey of St-Croix in Bordeaux, France, will perform. He recently won first prize for improvisation at the 26th International Organ Festival in Saint Albans. The New Orleans Cathedral provides the art museum with a channel to the great organ conservatories of Europe and provides the museum with a first look at some young stars of the organ world. The concert is free. (Niesel) 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.

SAT

12/08

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

Coventry Village Holiday Festival An annual tradition, the Coventry Village Holiday Festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today. Special milkshakes at Tommy’s, story time at the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, the Cruel Winterfest music festival at the Grog Shop and “crafty creations” at Lake Erie Ink will all be part of the festivities. The city will offer free parking too. Consult the website for times and prices. (Niesel) coventryvillage.org. MUSIC

FAMILY FUN

Rudolph Breakfast With Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer showing at the historic Connor Palace Theatre, Hofbräuhaus will provide a special pre-show breakfast buffet that will feature make-and-take crafts, a holiday sing-along, photo moments and an appearance by real-life reindeer. The buffet takes place at 8:30 a.m. today and at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Hofbrauhaus. (Niesel) 1550 Chester Ave., 216-621-2337, hofbrauhauscleveland.com.

DANCE

The Hip Hop Nutcracker An evening-length production featuring dancers, a DJ and a violinist, The Hip Hop Nutcracker puts an urban spin on the classic story. In this rendition of the classic ballet, Maria-Clara and her Nutcracker Prince travel back in time to the

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| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

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| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

GET OUT moment when her parents first meet in a nightclub. Jennifer Weber, artistic director of the Brooklynbased theatrical hip-hop dance company Decadancetheatre, directs and choreographs the show. The performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the State Theatre. Tickets start at $20. (Niesel) 1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org. FILM

Music by Randy Courts Lyrics by Mark St. Germain and Randy Courts

Tickets: $16 - $18 for adults and $10 for children

but bring some money for the bar and the restaurant. (Niesel) 1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.

The Hitch-Hiker The Cleveland Museum of Art’s tribute to actress Ida Lupino continues this weekend with two screenings of her 1953 film, The Hitch-Hiker. The movie centers on two fishing friends who pick up a hitchhiker who turns out to be a killer. It screens at 7 tonight and at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Tickets are $10, or $7 for CMA members. (Niesel) 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org. MUSIC

The Rough & Tumble A couple of years ago, the Rough & Tumble’s Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler sold everything they couldn’t fit in Graham’s sister’s spare closet, quit their day jobs, admitted they were in love and bought a camper. They hit the road and haven’t looked back. The folksy duo performs at 2 p.m. today at the Lakewood Public Library, where they will be playing from their most recent album, We Made Ourselves a Home When We Didn’t Know. The album explores what it’s like to always be home, never be home, and how to find a home — wherever and whenever you can. Admission is free. (Niesel) 15425 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-226-8275, lakewoodpubliclibrary.org.

MON

12/10

SPOKEN WORD

Science Cafe Tonight, and the second Monday of every month, Music Box Supper Club hosts Science Cafe, an informal lecture series that brings scientists from throughout the region to the club to talk about science topics. Tonight at 7, G. Ryan MacFarlane, a FBI supervisory special agent, will discuss how cyber criminals obtain and exploit our data. The talk is free,

NIGHTLIFE

Shit Show Karaoke Local rapper/promoter Dirty Jones and Scene’s own Manny Wallace host Shit Show Karaoke, a weekly event at the B-Side Liquor Lounge wherein patrons choose from “an unlimited selection of jams from hip-hop to hard rock,” and are encouraged to “be as bad as you want.” Fueled by drink and shot specials, it all goes down tonight at 10 p.m. (Niesel) 2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-1966, bsideliquorlounge.com.

TUE

12/11

FUNDRAISER

The 10th Annual Ryan Humbert Holiday Extravaganza For the past decade, local singersongwriter Ryan Humbert has hosted his annual Holiday Extravaganza. This year’s incarnation features a 12-piece band with Humbert and longtime backup singer Emily Bates performing big band, jazz and pop standards along with rearranged versions of Humbert’s original tunes. The show will raise money for Cleveland Clinic Akron General’s Muffins for Mammograms program, which provides free mammograms yearround for uninsured or underinsured women throughout Northeast Ohio. The concert begins at 7:30 at the Akron Civic Theatre. Tickets are $20. (Niesel) 182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com. COMEDY

Joe Mande Comedian Joe Mande has written for shows like The Good Place, Parks and Recreation, and Master of None and acted on hit series such as Modern Family and Brooklyn NineNine. Currently touring in support of his comedy album, Bitchface, he performs tonight at 7:30 at the Grog Shop. Local comic Bill Squire opens the show. Tickets cost $16 in advance, or $20 at the door. (Niesel) 2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene

| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

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ART THIS AND THAT Nancy Schwartz-Katz explores new media in Borders and Boundaries at Shaker Community Gallery By Dott von Schneider Photo courtesy of Nancy Schwartz-Katz

EVER SINCE THE EGYPTIANS invented papyrus and the eunuch Cai Lun standardized the production of paper, the support has been the basis for pretty much all art forms from the drawing table to modern sculpture. Scherenschnitte, the art of storytelling through the method of papercutting, has come a long way since simple Victorian silhouettes. The artist Kara Walker famously uses this technique to explore the big themes of race, gender, sexuality and identity. Mia Pearlman uses cut paper to create monumental sculpture and installations that boggle the mind. Relatedly, Nancy SchwartzKatz’s latest exhibition, Borders and Boundaries, at the Shaker Community Gallery, caught our eye immediately. She acquires paper from all over the world that serve as layers of color to background the brightwhite cut pieces. Schwartz-Katz, who has specialized in Jewish art for over 25 years, is investigating different techniques. “This is a newer kind of work for me, “ she says. “It has given me a chance to explore themes that are going on in today’s world, to try and get people to think in a way that’s out of the box or in a way that they haven’t thought before.” Traditionally an illustrator, she studied at the prestigious Parsons School of Design and worked with the Pushkin Group. She explained that she is now getting back to her roots. She takes cues from the late Miriam Schapiro and Elizabeth Murray’s large works of the late 1970s and an interest in the Nabis at the turn of the century. “I love that humanistic approach and I feel like I’m just starting to approach it. I do a drawing a day, but this allows me to push the envelope creatively in a way I haven’t seen.” Hanging on the south wall are four water-based gouache paintings. More opaque than watercolor and more forgiving than acrylics, gouache has a quality all its own and is a perfect choice for these particular paintings. On these oblong pieces, Schwartz-Katz tells the story of the Bible. The works were created site-specific for the Denis Library at

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“Borders and Boundaries,” by Nancy Schwartz-Katz

Bnai Jeshuran. The Nabis influence is evident here. The artist, through symbolism, chronicles the stories of creation, Moses, Joseph and Esther. Each piece is striking and set us

clean, clear and intentional,” says Swartz-Katz. “My vivid layering of the gouache conveys a feeling of watercolor. The liveliness and richness of gouache tones also benefit

BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES THROUGH JAN. 5 AT SHAKER COMMUNITY GALLERY, 3445 WARRENSVILLE CENTER RD., SHAKER HEIGHTS, 216-926-8842. SHAKERCOMMUNITYGALLERY.ORG

on a thoughtful walk through each chapter. “With gouache, I like to layer the color in order to form one image to the next, keeping the look

| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

the theatrical quality of my art.” Across the gallery we see Schwartz-Katz’s latest papercut work. In “Duality of Slavery and Freedom

in the Modern World,” the artist talks about how we have become slaves to technology. Gears, planes, space shuttles, trains and other means of transportation are intricately cut with a Rorschach test sensibility. As we move along the wall, we are blown away by the technical skill displayed in “Dichotomy,” a piece birthed from a conversation with her children. Here we see three figures, presumably a mother and her two children, separated (or perhaps bound) by a wall of words. The discussion certainly begins with the parent; the dialogue seemingly flowers from her coffee mug, and we literally see each figure’s thoughts. Mind you, these are all hand cut with a knife. We can’t even imagine how long this particular papercut collage might have taken. “Dichotomy” is quite the theatrical tete-a-tete. In “Borders and Boundaries,” the show’s title piece, Schwart-Katz contemplates our boundaries and who is responsible for them. Anger, control, greed, relief, conflict, pleasure — the words are bordered within themselves, split by the major arcana of current events, including gun control, health care costs, gender identity and walls. Here, the artist chooses background colors that are more subtle and fluid. “I am a storyteller through my art,” she says. “It depends on what the subject matter is. I think about the iconography that comes along with the subject and I’ll do reading and I’ll research. It allows me to explore in a different way. I use my illustration background to work on the imagery. I am a very precise person, I like order; I’m very meticulous with the cutting of the knife, the feeling of getting in there and working with the brush or the knife.” Interestingly, both styles of artwork were created at the same time, which proves that an artist need not be tied down to a particular style. Schwartz-Katz explores this freedom as she advances her work in this wonderful exhibition.

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene

STAGE CONNI’S, WHEREFORE ART THOU? The glorious gift that was once Conni’s Avant Garde Restaurant has morphed into a mostly boring four-hour sit, with food By Christine Howey Photo by Steve Wagner Photography

ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN JOKED about for decades, it isn’t clear if any child, or any adult for that matter, ever actually received a lump of coal in their Christmas stocking. Other than perhaps President Trump, who loves coal with unreserved passion, nobody wants that. And yet, here we have a large pile of it in the form of the new Conni’s Avant Garde Restaurant, A Snowball’s Chance, now at Cleveland Public Theatre. This is the touring company’s fourth holiday visit to CPT, and this critic was looking forward to it like a child awaiting the long-anticipated arrival of a Barbie Dream House. After all, in past iterations Conni’s was a hilarious, naughty and constantly surprising experience punctuated by the serving of a delicious five-course meal. And since the audience sits at long tables, conversation with tablemates is encouraged. So what’s not to like? But this time around, the former Conni’s magic has been replaced with slack pacing and performers who are only occasionally amusing. This is particularly painful for your faithful scribe, since I have been a constant and rabid supporter of the Conni’s franchise since it first landed here in 2010. In my personal life, I begged and pleaded to have my friends and neighbors go and sample the joy of Conni’s outrageous and skillful insanity. But the current troupe is a pale copy of what has gone before. Even though there are a couple holdovers from the previous ensemble, including ever-reliable “Sue James,” the snap and wit are almost entirely missing in action. By the way, that’s not her real name, since all of the actors perform under pseudonyms. And this year, that’s a blessing for them. For the uninitiated, Conni’s is intended to be a brash, bold, noholds-barred take on a quirky restaurant populated by nine amusing characters. Some of them are humans dressed as animals, and some not, who perform various skits and songs loosely wrapped around a nubbin of a plot.

That storyline hasn’t changed, even though this version has been given a new subtitle. That tale involves a young woman called Muffin Character Hanshake, a reputed star of stage and screen. She is theatrically inseminated onstage and quickly gets pregnant, only to have her pregnancy transferred to Sue James during a sex act of questionable authenticity. If that sounds gross, it’s not. Nor is it particularly funny in this iteration since the woman who plays Hanshake displays no comic timing

and a joyful sense of the absurd. In past productions, the company was anchored by Mrs. Robinson, a young guy playing an aging Brit rock star who held nothing back, exuded a dangerous wild streak, and was hilarious in the process. There is no such headline performer in this current troupe, which is composed of people dutifully delivering lines and not committing fully to the frenzy of farce. Much of the responsibility for this situation must fall to director Cynthia Coot, who doesn’t manage

CONNI’S AVANT GARDE RESTAURANT, A SNOWBALL’S CHANCE THROUGH DEC. 22 AT CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE, 6415 DETROIT AVE., 216-631-2727. CPTONLINE.ORG

and does not exude the charisma necessary to keep the restaurant patrons amused or even slightly diverted. Her character, such as it is, wobbles ineffectually between slightly irritated and vaguely uninterested. That problem is frequently present with the other cast members, who go through their paces with a remarkable lack of both passion

to make a theatrical silk purse out of the acting material she has assembled. Let’s face it, most of the jokes and puns in this show are either old or terrible or both. And that’s fine, as long as there’s enough manic energy to lift the material to another level, like boats in a harbor. But when that electric energy isn’t present, the tide is out and the lame jokes are stuck

awkwardly in the sand, generating polite laughter if any at all. Among the lonely boats are the characters that never rise above the banal. The two animal characters, a bear and a bee, apparently think their costumes are sufficiently chuckle-inducing to let them off the hook in terms of creating anything funny themselves. The same is true of a growly German guy and a female “world-renowned performance arsonist” who don’t generate even a modicum of amusement. Is anything good here? Well, the little choreographed dances the company does when serving each course are pleasant to behold. There are a couple of pretty good singers. And the cast, which includes four “nurses” performed by local actors, is very attentive to your food and drink needs. But with little flow and no star power, this Conni’s never reaches the delirious heights it achieved in the past. If you haven’t seen it before, you may find it sort of mildly okay. But that’s a far cry from the outrageous head-trip it should be.

scene@clevescene.com t@christinehowey

| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

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MOVIES THE KOREAN GATSBY Burning is a mysterious slow burn By Sam Allard Photo Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival

BURNING, A KOREAN MYSTERY, opens Friday at the Capitol Theatre. It was up for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this summer and will be the South Korean entry in the Foreign Language Film category at next year’s Academy Awards. Written and directed by Changdong Lee (Poetry, Secret Sunshine), and based on the short story “Barn Burning” by Haruki Marukami, itself an adaptation of William Faulkner’s famous short story “Barn Burning” from 1939, the film follows a mysterious triangular relationship between a lower-class young man, Jongsu (Ah-in Yoo); an upper-class man, Ben (The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun); and the woman between them, Haemi (Jong-seo Jeon). The source material is rich in themes of class conflict, paternal influence, jealousy, justice and revenge. And while the simmering film explores all of these to varying degrees, the effect is muted, the conclusion unsatisfying. It’s definitely a ‘journey-not-thedestination’ movie. Some viewers may appreciate the seductive, mysterious route, but others will no doubt find it simply boring. This is a symptom, in my experience, of film adaptations of short stories, which

tend to rely on atmospherics in the absence of scripted material. Most viewers will likely experience, as I did, that there’s just not enough dialogue or plot for a film that’s twoand-a-half hours long. That said, there is much to recommend. Ben is first introduced when Jongsu picks up Haemi from the airport after a long trip to Africa. Jongsu grew up with Haemi and recently rekindled a relationship that he has reason to believe is trending toward an exclusive romance. He recently slept with her, for example. So he’s naturally jealous of the wealthy stranger whom Haemi met at the Nairobi airport. They all go out to dinner, and every exchange between Jongsu and Ben is laced with class recognition and resentment. “What do you do for a living, if I may ask?” Jongsu asks Ben early on. “I play,” Ben says. The dynamic is often deliciously tense. The scenes with all three characters are forever on the verge of boiling over. When Ben and Haemi visit Jongsu on his family farm, which he’s maintaining while his father serves a prison sentence — this is in the rural area directly north of Seoul, near the North Korean border — Ben confides to Jongsu in a post-marijuana haze that he likes to burn down greenhouses.

He does it every couple of months, he says, and is never caught because the police don’t care. He says he’s already picked out the next greenhouse he plans to burn. It’s nearby. This admission drives Jongsu on an obsessive hunt to find out which greenhouse Ben intends to burn. But as this pursuit and the underlying metaphor become the film’s ultimate mystery, the earlier and much more interesting mysteries — Who is Ben? What is the source of his wealth? —

are completely forgotten. Among other things, the score is also a triumph. It’s a bouncing minimalist bass riff that arrives with force in the film’s second half and corroborates the suspicion that this character drama has become, subtly, a full-blown thriller.

sallard@clevescene.com t@scenesallard

SPOTLIGHT: HOT TO TROT WHEN GAIL FREEDMAN CAME to Cleveland three years ago to film scenes at the Gay Games for her documentary movie Hot to Trot, which provides a look at the “fascinating but little-known” world of same-sex competitive ballroom dance, she wasn’t sure what to expect. “I knew the Gay Games would be a hoot, but you never know,” she says via phone. She’ll host a local screening of the film at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Cedar Lee Theatre. “The dancers didn’t know if there would be protests or homophobia. It felt like the city rolled out the red carpet for them. People were so welcoming, and the atmosphere was extraordinary. I

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hadn’t been there in a long time. I was impressed by how great the city looked and surprised that there was so much of a vibrant arts scene.” When she began the film in 2012, she says she had a “more conventional notion in mind,” in the sense that she thought she would shoot at the Gay Games and that would be the end of the film. But after chronicling the preparation that various dancers went through leading up to the Gay Games and then capturing their performances at the event, she felt like the movie wasn’t done. “I then knew we had to keep shooting and bring the lives full circle,” she says. “I knew when I left Cleveland, that it was going to be the

| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

climax. And it is. It also opens the movie.” The film provides a truly compassionate portrayal of its subjects. Many of the dancers speak about what it was like to come out to their parents and friends, and others talk openly about other personal issues. “I’m grateful that [the dancers] opened themselves to me and shared vulnerable parts of themselves to me,” says Freeman. “They trusted that I was going to portray them and not candy-coat it but portray them with integrity. I’m not part of their community. They didn’t know me before. They obviously got to know me and got to trust me. I know it sounds self-serving, but I think one

of my assets is my authenticity, and I guess that came across to them.” In the wake of completing the film, Freedman says she thinks of the dancers as family. And she hopes the film shows how dance represents something deeply meaningful to her subjects. “They really did become more than interview subjects; they became friends,” says Freedman. “We have indeed been all over the world together. There really is this human connection, and that doesn’t happen on every documentary.” — Jeff Niesel

jniesel@clevescene.com t@jniesel

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EAT THE NATURAL WINE TREND LANDS IN CLEVELAND From funky to fruity, what you need to know about natural wines and an old art form enjoying a rebirth By Douglas Trattner Photo by Karin McKenna

I’M NO SOMMELIER, BUT I KNOW enough about wine to not ruin a meal. But when I picked up the list at a trendy French bistro in New York City recently, I felt like an uncouth rube on his first day out in the Big City. Filled with obscure all-natural bottles, the roster might as well have been penned in Greek. So I did what I always do in those situations: texted the list to a friend who is a sommelier. Before long my wife and I were giddily devouring a funky, fruity and slightly effervescent wine with electric acidity. Oh, and it was the color of a sweet potato. Welcome to the wild world of natural wines, a broad category of options that often (but not always) translates into exciting, highly drinkable wines with effusive personality. If you are a wine lover who pays attention to trends, then you doubtless have been following along as this anti-establishment movement continues to attract devotees. Even if you’ve never heard about these so-called “real” wines, you likely already have enjoyed one or two without even realizing it. So, what do we mean when we say “natural wine”? “There’s is no clear definition, so there’s not a lot of clarity around it,” says Maggie Harrison, a veteran sales rep for Vintage Wine Distributor. “But generally speaking, it means that nothing is added and nothing is taken away.” The current interest in and demand for natural and minimal-intervention wines has been building for years, as rebellious young vintners in the Old World and New have been taking a more hands-off approach to winemaking that favors tradition over manipulation. From the vineyard to the winery, every effort is made to let nature take its course, resulting in wines that best express the fruit and terroir, or sense of place. “In the ’90s, you could tell that wines were changing and it was getting harder to differentiate a cabernet-based wine from France versus one from Napa Valley and other places,” explains Adam Fleischer,

Julian Bruell, of Zack Bruell Restaurants.

owner of the Wine Spot in Cleveland Heights. “People like to talk about the Robert Parker Effect on wine. If wineries around the world wanted a good rating from Robert Parker, they needed to start doing things to their wine to match his preferred style.” Far from the old-fashioned way of doing things, winemakers would irrigate vineyards and apply chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The manipulation continued in the winery where sugar was added to the juice prior to fermentation to boost alcohol, grape concentrate was used to adulterate color, powdered tannin and tartaric acid were employed to tweak those levels, and the resulting product was buried beneath a somber cloak of new oak. Before it’s bottled, the wine gets fined, filtered and preserved with a lethal dose of sulfites. Practitioners of natural winemaking, however, take an altogether different route. It starts in the field, where hardy native vines or old varietals plucked from obscurity are grown sustainably, organically or biodynamically. After harvest, the ripe fruit is crushed, exposing the juice to

indigenous “wild” yeast on the skins and thus kick-starting spontaneous fermentation. Wines are aged in neutral vessels such as stainless steel, glass, concrete or earthenware pots; no newoak barrels. Little to no sulfites are added and the wine is bottled unfiltered and unfined. “Many, many wineries around the world are doing it this way,” Fleischer says. “These are really interesting wines that we enjoy. If we enjoy them and our customers keep asking for them, I would be doing a disservice by not paying attention to them.” Given the laissez faire approach to winemaking, results are across the board when it comes to appearance, aroma and flavor. Pop a top and you might get an orange wine politely described as untamed and funky — or impolitely compared to horse manure — or one that is smooth-drinking, pleasantly tart and delicious. “There is a huge range of taste profiles and presentations you can get, from high to low quality and from cloudy to clear and brilliant,” adds Harrison. “The flavors can range from a cidery tartness to funky and

barnyardy. Because they tend to be lower in alcohol and higher in acidity, they are going to be more food friendly, making them well-suited to chef-driven restaurants.” Pick up the wine list at any Zack Bruell restaurant and you’ll enjoy what is likely the largest natural wine selection in the region. Julian Bruell, director of service and beverage, encountered the movement while working in Brooklyn, and it was one he was eager to showcase across the board at Zack Bruell Restaurants. “They’re great with foods,” he says. “The Alley Cat menu is real funky and wild right now, with three fourths all-natural. I just feel like that style of wine goes great with seafood.” Bruell has experienced no shortage of pushback from conventional wine lovers who’ve heard disquieting anecdotes about off-putting aromas and flavors, but he’s more than happy to help clear up misconceptions. “A lot of people associate natural wines with cloudy, unfiltered, kind of dirty, funky-smelling, cidery … but most of them are clean, fruit-driven and fresh,” explains Bruell. “My father calls it hipster, but to me, it’s just an old style of winemaking that goes back to before there was modern technology. It’s a total hard-sell, but I love them.” As with most trends, Cleveland has been slow on the jump when it comes to natural wine. Selections are sparse at retail shops and on restaurant wine lists. We can blame Robert Parker and his 100-point scale for getting us here, but his influence on modern winemakers has been waning for years. “In cities like Chicago and San Francisco and New York, there are bars and restaurants that are entirely natural wines,” reports Harrison. “Cleveland is always a little behind the times. The pendulum is swinging back to 50 years ago. It’s not for everybody. If you like something, go for it. At the end of the day, it’s just another option.”

dtrattner@clevescene.com t@dougtrattner | clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

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| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

LAST WEEKEND’S CHILL & Toast event at Van Aken District served as a sort of soft opening for Banter and other operators who are gearing up to launch businesses both within and without the food-filled Market Hall. The event and impending opening served as incentive enough to revamp the menu of Banter (7320 Detroit Ave., 216-801-0305), which just celebrated its third birthday. Going forward, both the original bottle shop and poutinerie in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood and the east-side outpost at Van Aken District will feature the same menu. “I’ve always said that we’ve been successful because of our menu, but it also limits us in terms of being more broadly appealing to a wider base of people,” owner Matthew Stipe says of the concise roster of sausages and poutine. “Going forward our menu will be a lot more interchangeable to allow people to try a wider variety of our offerings.” A new slider menu, inspired by visits to the popular Green Dot Stables in Detroit, will offer 10 different options built around beef, chicken, catfish and others. Sold by the piece, the sliders can be mixed and matched as diners see fit. New corn dog options also will make their debut, with corny creations like a Mexican street corninspired version and a breakfast dog joining the classic batterdipped all-beef hot dog already on the menu. Stipe says that from the start, he’s observed a groundswell of support for his meat on a stick. “I feel like there’s this hidden society of people living in the shadows who absolutely love corn dogs,” he says without a trace of sarcasm. “As an adult, we’re not supposed to admit that we enjoy corn dogs, but there are a lot of people that do, and when they see them on a menu they go crazy for them.” In order to make room for those new offerings, the poutine dishes will now be available by the halfportion, further encouraging the

mix-and-match approach to dining. Also on the horizon is an ambitious new cocktail list, created by partner Adam Gullett, a Porco Lounge bartender and founding member of the Cleveland chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild. “Adam is one of the most accomplished and respected cocktail professionals in town, but we’ve never been able to really take advantage of his talent until now,” Stipe notes.

Mas Tacos in Painesville, Thanks to Cocina Elvis Add Cocina Elvis (101 West Walnut Ave., 440-289-8504) to the growing list of delicious Mexican restaurants that are worthy of a drive to Painesville. The sit-down shop opened last week in the gas station-adjacent spot that had been home for two years to El Mero Mero. For those keeping track, the spot joins the barebones and brilliant El Señor’s taqueria tucked inside La Mexicana grocery store, the seasonal, outdoor-only La Casita at an altogether different Latin grocery less than a mile away, and the upscale-by-comparison El Taco Macho down the road. On the menu are a variety of street food-style Mexican eats like tacos, quesadillas, tortas and enchiladas, but also harder to find items like gorditas, deep-fried quesadillas, and tacos de canasta. Also known as tacos al vapor (steamed tacos) or tacos sudados (sweaty tacos!), these transportable tacos are filled like normal with ingredients like beans, potatoes, cheese or pork and layered into a basket, hence the canasta, where they steam and grow supple. Everything is made by hand, not just the corn tortillas but also the flour tortillas and gordita shells. Cocina Elvis is open Thursday through Sunday.

dtrattner@clevescene.com t@dougtrattner

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| clevesce clevescene.com ene..c .com m | December Deecembeer 5 - 11, 22018 018

THURSDAY 12.6 THE HOOKUP (10pm) College ID night with DJ MIKE FILLY

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we too we ook k,, bu utt it al alssoo haass a mes essa sage ge. II’’m ju just st an inn nner e -ccity itty gu guy tr tryi ying ng to fig figu urre it it out ut. II’’m from fr om the Sup uper erioorer r-St St. Cl Clai air ar area ea, on onee off the he roug ro ughe herr pa part rtss of the cit ity. it y” Flyy Ty Tyee is isn’ n’tt co comp m le lete tely ly new to th thee Clev Cl evel elan andd hi hipp-ho hopp sccen ene, e, but he al also so isn sn’t in line li ne to st star artt co coll llec ecti ting ng a pen ensi sion on any tim imee sooon o eit ithe her. “I’m “I ’m in my fift fth h ye year ar now ow,” ,” Tye say ays. s. “I hadd a ye ha year ar or tw twoo wh when en I too ook k a se seri riou ous ru run n at it an andd th then I got mys ysel elff in into to som omee tr trou oubl blee andd th an that at sat me do down wn for a lit ittl tlee wh whil ile. e. I cam amee back ba ck and hav a e be been en run unni ning ng eve verr si sinc ncee th then en.” .” Whil Wh ilee Ty Tyee ce cert rtai ainl nlyy co cons nsid ider erss hi hims msel e f to bee in th the ne new w sc s ho hool ol of ar arti tist stss in the cit ity, y, he take ta kess th he bu bulk k of hi hiss in insp sppirat iratio ir ion n fr from om art rtis ists ts

wh w who h ccaam mee befforre hi him an and ha has el has elem emen e ts of botth bo h wiitthi hin hi his is m mu usic. sic. si c. “II cam a e up up lis iste ten niin ng g to m mooree mus usic icc right iig gh htt befo be fore re thi hiss er era, a ” Tyye sa a, s yss. “IIt wa was mo m re reso s Jay an Ja andd Na Nas. s. Tho hose se wer eree th thee gu guys ys who I was influ in fluen ence cedd by by. I do cat atch ch som omee in influ fluen ence cess from fr om som omee of the new wav avee gu guys ys as fa farr as a thee so th soun und, d, but as fa farr as the mes essa sage ge and in nflu fluen enci cing ng me to wan antt to mak ake mu musi sic, c, I woul wo uldd sa sayy th thee Ja Jayy-Z, Z, Nas and Big iggi giee er eraa di didd that th at.. My mus usic ic is li like ke a ble lend nd of th thee tw twoo. It’t’ss best be st to fin findd a wa wayy to mer erge ge the hem. m I hav avee th that at newne w-ag agee so soun undd wi with th an ol oldd-ag agee me mess ssag age. e.”” Tye’ Ty e’ss br b ea eakt kthr hrou ough gh mom omen entt ca came me in 20 2016 16 Thee Ch Chas asee. He fol ollo lowe wedd up wit ith h hiis Bi Big g with wi th Th 017. 7. Woaa EP in 201 Wo | clevescene.com clev cl eves esce cene ne.com com m | December Dece De cemb mber er 5 - 11, 11, 22018 0188 01

Photos Pho tos:: Courtes ur t y of o F ly Tye T e

ON THE E DAY AY AFT FTER ER HAL ALLOWE WEEN EN, TH TH E weathe weat herr ou outs tsid idee is qui uite te rai a ny and dra rab. b. Thee ru Th rush sh hou ourr tr traf affic fic in Cl Clev evel elan andd He Heig ight hts’ s’ Cove Co vent ntry ry nei eigh ghbo borh rhoo oodd is alm lmos ostt at a stan st ands dsti till ll.. In Insi side de the he B-S -Sid idee Li Liqu quor or Lou oung nge, e, thee sp th spid ider er web ebss an andd sk kel eleeton ns ar aree be bein ing g ta take ken n down do wn and pre repa pare redd fo forr st stor orag age un unti till ne next xt year ye ar.. In con ontr tras astt to the con ondi diti tion onss ou outs tsid ide, e, rapp ra pper er Fly Tye sit its at the bar wit ith h a su sunn nnie ierr outl ou tloo ook k as he pr prep epar ares es to he head adli line ne thi hiss year ye a ’s Cru ruel el Win inte terr Fe Fest st tha hatt ta take kess plac acee on Saatu turd rday ay at th thee Gr Grog og Sho hopp. “I’d “I ’d say Fly Tye is de defin finit itel elyy a un uniqque typ ypee of art rtis ist, t,”” he say ayss as he de decl clin ines es a bar arte tend nder er’s ’s offeer of som of omee le left ftov over er can andy dy. “I “I’m ’m com omin ing g fr from om more mo re of a Tr Trap ap era of mu musi sic. c. Tha hat’t’ss th thee sw swin ing g

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“I had a few prior projects,” Tye recalls. “They were really like mixtape circuit kinda projects — rapping over industry beats and maybe a few original songs, you know. I had about three or four of those before I took a more serious approach and starting putting music out in more of an EP or album style. It’s more intense with the content and thought process. The mixtapes were really just for fun, the EPs and albums are more of a statement of who you are as an artist.” Tye has worked with some of the city’s best artists in the past, including Ducky Smallz and Ripp Flamez, and he’s open to more, but on the whole he prefers his collaborations to come about naturally. “I kinda play it by vibe,” Tye insists. “I like to have a relationship outside of the music first. A lot of times you can end up in a situation with an artist you may not really fit in with and that can transfer over to the record. Prior to that, you may not have heard much, or even any, of each other’s music and that can affect the quality of music that we would make together. I’d rather build everything organically.” While many other artists feel as if they need to become a Swiss army knife

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“Organic, man,” Tye says, when asked what his show is like. “I kinda feed off the crowd. It’s just a vibe. I try to keep it hands-on with the people. I feel like that helps them remember you afterwards. It’s so many shows happening in the city now, not a lot of artists get to be handson. That’s why I try to focus on being eye-to-eye. It’s more personal.” Tye is mum on any potential surprises for the show, but he has an idea of how he wants things to go. “We want to bring that same type of feeling when you bring in Devin the Dude or Scarface,” he says. “We want to pack it out and get an organic feeling going. As long as the vibe is tight, everything else will come together.” Tye’s ascent through the ranks hasn’t been without some difficulty as he’s learning as he goes along. “The transition from a street background was a little difficult” he says. “Also understanding that the business world doesn’t quite always work the same way, and I had to learn not to always take shit so personally.” There’s a line between the worlds somewhere, but Tye admits that there are a few similarities. “They’re kinda like the same,” Tye says. “With the streets, obviously you want to take something, get into the mix and blow up. That’s the ultimate goal. It’s

in the studio, Fly Tye is content with sharpening his skills on the microphone at this point in time. “I’m moreso focused on the emcee part,” Tye says. “I have the ability to produce songs for sure, but I’m focused on the rapper standpoint for now. Sometimes trying to do it all waters you down, it’s like giving people a little bit too much.” Cruel Winter Fest 5 will also feature Only Native Sounds, Creez Mob, Nick Samps, BKA Watts, Lil Gran, Lord Setty, Malik X, P FrmDaTribe, R the Czar, Smplgd, Jams Davis, Jazz and Roscoe Noe. It’s not Tye’s first time headlining, but it’s his first time in quite a while. “Not my first time, but it’s my first time this year,” Tye says. “I haven’t been taking a lot of shows this year because I’ve been working on my craft. I’m going to do another EP. I’m actually finishing it up, working on dates and the creative direction. Hopefully, in the next 30 days or so, we can finalize some things, but the title is still up in the air.” When it comes to a Fly Tye show, it’s all about the vibe.

likewise with the music, you have to find that fine line of being able to play both sides.” In addition to the music, Tye is a devoted father to his two children. He doesn’t see them as a hindrance to what he’s trying to accomplish and doesn’t rule out a future for them in the industry as well. “It works well,” Tye says of the balance between his craft and family. “My kids are around me a lot so they’re just starting to adjust to the lifestyle. I guess it’d be the equivalent to someone like Lil Wayne having one of his kids growing up around him and embracing the way of life that comes along with that. It’s kinda dope when I see my daughter getting into the rapping. Hopefully one day they can follow in my footsteps and be even bigger than I am. That part of it is tight. We’re not really at the point where I’m away from home a lot yet, so we’ll have to see what the future holds.”

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene

@masoniccle @hobcleveland

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CHASE RICE New Year’s Eve w/ AJ and the Woods

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AN EVENING WITH LET TUCE

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DECEMBER 31

Dec. 5 Dec. 6 Dec. 7 Dec. 11 Jan. 10 Jan. 12 Jan. 17 Jan. 19 Jan. 25

BUY TICKETS AT

Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening Masonic Cleveland Z1079 White Out ft. Kash Doll w/ Ty’Bri, City Girls, Keke Palmer, La’Britney, Kay Kay Lyfe Jennings Snails w/ SVDDEN DEATH, HEKLER Ja Rule Capricorn Party Ft. Terry Lee Goffee – Tribute to Johnny Cash Cory Wong Cambridge Room Fayrewether Dylan Scott w/ Seth Ennis

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Senses Fail & The Amity Affliction w/ Belmont, Silent Planet Young Dolph Greensky Bluegrass w/ Billy Strings - In association with Beachland Ballroom Brasstracks Cambridge Room The Devil Makes Three Dorothy w/ Spirit Animal Metric w/ July Talk Jacquees Hosted by Micah Dixon music by Dj Ryan Wolf Cherub w/ Mosie Tom Segura (early show 7pm / late show 9pm) Masonic Cleveland Buy tickets at Ticketmaster.com or 216-523-BLUE

MASONIC CLEVELAND: 3615 Euclid Ave, Cleveland OH 44115 HOUSE OF BLUES: 308 Euclid Ave, Cleveland OH 44114 masoniccleveland.com / houseofblues.com | clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

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MUSIC FROM THE HEART Ingrid Michaelson brings her holiday show to the Agora By Laura Morrison Photo by Shervin Lainez

SINGER-SONGWRITER INGRID Michaelson probably likes Christmastime more than you do. Growing up in New York does that to a person. The sights and scents of the season seem magical there. So it makes sense that her firstever Christmas album, Songs for the Season — and subsequent tour that includes a stop in Cleveland on Saturday — was a long time coming. “I’m ready for the season all the time,” says Michaelson via phone earlier this week, as she was gearing up for a holiday show in San Francisco. “I start watching Christmas movies in September. I watch the classic ones, obviously, but I also do enjoy those Hallmark movies; they’re very comforting. And with this record, I just needed enough time to sit back and figure out what to do. How to make it right.” This time of year, it seems every musician rushes to drop a holidayinspired record. But Michaelson, who’s hosted a hometown holiday concert for the past 12 years, says she can always tell when artists are doing it as a cash grab and not from the heart. And indeed, among this year’s batch of Christmas albums — which includes those from John Legend, William Shatner, Eric Clapton and Pentatonix — Michaelson’s does stand out. The difference is that Michaelson’s effort pulls from the classics that she grew up playing on repeat in her parents’ house. “The music I tend to listen to around the holidays is from the ’50s and ’60s; it feels right to me,” she says. “I wanted to create a vintage mid-to-late ’50s sound with this record. So we did a whole orchestra at once, it wasn’t old technology but we took measures to make it feel like it came from a different period.” She says that mostly she wanted to create something she would listen to year after year. Like the classic records from Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland, this record is intended to be a part of your family’s traditions. Just last week, the 38-year-old says, a fan shared a video on Instagram of her small daughter dancing around to

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the record while baking. “It made me tear up a little,” Michaelson says. Michaelson first grew to prominence in the mid-aughts with spritely acoustic tunes like “The Way I Am” and then “You and I.” Her stripped-down version of “Can’t

her one original tune, “Happy, Happy Christmas.” Here, the soaring vocals are heartbreaking, yet hopeful. Christmas is full of sadness for many, Michaelson knows. Her father passed away last year and her mother a few years prior.

INGRID MICHAELSON TRIO SONGS FOR THE SEASON WITH JENNA NICHOLLS 8:15 P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 8, AGORA THEATRE, 5000 EUCLID AVE., 216-881-2221. TICKETS: $39.50–$234.50, AGORACLEVELAND.COM

Help Falling in Love” has been a staple at weddings for a solid decade now. She says that as soon as she stopped singing the way she thought people wanted (she has a Broadway-style background), her effortless, pure sound was able to break through. Nowhere is that reflected better on her new record than with

| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

“I feel like a lot of holiday music can be instantly cheesy; I didn’t want to write anything that was contrived,” she says. “As much as I love the holidays, the older you get there’s sadness involved. You lose people and relationships, and I wanted to address that in the record. Not everything is happy and jolly, and this is about choosing to

keep going because that’s the hard thing. It’s easy to wallow and be sad. This time could be really sad for me, but I chose to be joyful and celebrate with those I do have.” The rest of the record is also a reflection of this sentiment and includes the talents of singersongwriter Christina Perri, Broadway actor Will Chase (her boyfriend) and Leslie Odom Jr. of Hamilton fame and also those Nationwide Insurance commercials. Earlier this year, Michaelson took to Twitter saying she couldn’t wait for people to hear Odom sing on a pared-down version of the Mariah Carey classic “All I Want for Christmas is You.” “Your heart will spill out of your mouth and shatter into the earth then grow into a beautiful strong tree,” she wrote. And she says that while recording the song together in L.A. over the summer, she was taken aback by his mastery. “That key is a high key for a male,” she explains. “He told me, ‘I wouldn’t sing in this key for many, but I will for you.’ And just listening, it’s beautiful. It was very heart melting.” While most of her collaborators will not be on the current holiday tour, Michaelson explains she has two female vocalists by her side doing Andrews Sisters’ harmonies and dance moves. “We’re doing a lot of fan favorites. I’m not just going to shove Christmas music down people’s throats,” she assures. “This is different from my bigger shows as it’s less structured. I get to talk a lot, and there’s more of a storytelling atmosphere.” Best of all, the Cleveland date is Michaelson’s birthday, which she usually insists on taking off from touring. But as it’s a holiday record tour, she’s making an exception. “Don’t worry; I’ll make everyone sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me,” she says. “If anyone wants to come, I’m accepting gifts of the baked goods variety. I’m only half joking.”

lmorrison@clevescene.com scene@clevescene.com @clevelandscene t@lowesays

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| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

LIVEWIRE

all the live music you should see this week Photo by Joe Kleon

WED

12/05

Big Bliss/Herzog/Rubella/Leggy: 8 p.m., $8 ADV, $10 DOS. Mahall’s 20 Lanes. Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening: 6 p.m., $35.50-$100. Masonic Auditorium. Brand X: 8 p.m., $45 ADV, $50 DOS. Beachland Ballroom. CSU Rock & Pop Ensembles/21st Street Band/22nd Street Band: $5 ADV, $7 DOS. Grog Shop. Gateway Band: 7 p.m., $12. Bop Stop. Oliver Kennan & Danny Golden/ Gretchen Pleuss: 8 p.m., $8 ADV, $10 DOS. Beachland Tavern. Kenny G: 7:30 p.m., $44.50-$79.50. Hard Rock Rocksino. P.O.D./Nonpoint/Islander/Titans in Time: 6 p.m., $28.50. Agora Theatre.

THU

12/06

Charged Winter with DJ IV STAR: 9 p.m., $10. Grog Shop. Cholly/The Get Right Band/Slept to Death: 8 p.m., $8. CODA. Chris Hatton’s Musical Circus (in the Wine Bar): 8 p.m., free. Brothers Lounge. Jam Night with the Bad Boys of Blues: 9 p.m., free. Brothers Lounge. Lucky Peterson: 8 p.m., $20. Nighttown. Nick Puin Trio Featuring Paul Ferguson: 7 p.m., $12. Bop Stop. Seaway/Trophy Eyes/Microwave/ Can’t Swim/Hot Mulligan: 6:30 p.m., $17 ADV, $20 DOS. Beachland Ballroom. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band: Yet another classic rocker comes through town tonight on a farewell tour. Earlier this year, singer Bob Seger announced that he’ll hit the road with his Silver Bullet Band for the very last time. The raspythroated Rust Belt rocker will likely play tunes such as “Still the Same,” “Old Time Rock & Roll” and “The Fire Down Below” at tonight’s show. While not on the same level as Springsteen, Seger still writes with a keen narrative sensibility about working class realities. Should be a show to remember. (Jeff Niesel) 7:30 p.m., $75-$122. Quicken Loans Arena. The Spirit of the Beehive/Horse Jumper of Love/ITEM/Brain Cave (in the Locker Room): 7 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Mahall’s 20 Lanes.

Bob Seger brings that old time rock ‘n’ roll to the Q one last time. See: Thursday.

Z 107.9 Whiteout Featuring Kash Doll with Ty’Bri: 8 p.m., $30 ADV, $35 DOS. House of Blues.

FRI

12/07

Muriel Andersen, Mark Sganga, Pete Cavano: 8:30 p.m., $20. Nighttown. Black Spirit Crown/Weed Demon/ Maharaja/Sparrowmilk: 9 p.m., $10. Grog Shop. Wesley Bright & the Honeytones Record Release: 8:30 p.m., $10. Happy Dog. Allie Colleen/Ava Rowland: 8 p.m., $15. Beachland Tavern. DJ LDC’s Soul Music & Other Music for the Soul: 6 p.m., free. Happy Dog. Dr. E Honors Aretha Franklin/ Phyllis Hyman: 7 p.m., $20. Bop Stop. Firefall: 8 p.m., $25-$40. The Kent

Stage. Free Throw/Kayak Jones/Charmer/ Deep Sigh: 7:30 p.m., $15. Mahall’s 20 Lanes. Ghost Light: 8:30 p.m., $15. Beachland Ballroom. Jazz Jam Session: 11 p.m., free. Bop Stop. Lyfe Jennings: 8:30 p.m., $30 ADV, $35 DOS. House of Blues. Motown & More with Nitebridge (in the Supper Club): 8 p.m., $10. Music Box Supper Club. Musicians for Metanoia: A Benefit for The Metanoia Project: 7:30 p.m., $15. CODA. Jackie Warren: 10:30 p.m., free. Nighttown.

SAT

12/08

10th Annual Cleveland Metal Holiday Show with Vandallus/ Sacred Few/Olathia/Merciless

Reign/Assault/Syphilis Diller/ Spellchucker/Ritual/Sleeplord/ Dead Earth/Amps II Eleven: 5 p.m., free. Beachland Ballroom. 18th Annual Woodchopper’s Ball: 7 p.m., $30 ADV, $34 DOS. The Kent Stage. Moises Borges: 8:30 p.m., $15. Nighttown. Rachel Brown and the Beatnik Playboys: 8 p.m., $15. Bop Stop. Burial Oath CD Release/From the Hellmouth/Automb/Deathymn: 8 p.m., $6 ADV, $8 DOS. Now That’s Class. Cruel Winter Fest 5 Featuring Flye Tye/Only Native Sounds/Lil Gran/ Lord Setty/Malik X/BKA Watts/P_ frmdatribe/$wank/R the Czar/ SmplGd/Creez Mob/Nick Samps/ JAMS Davis/Roscoe No. E/Jazz: 8:30 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Grog Shop. Darklighter/Brethren/Austin James Craig: 8 p.m., $8. CODA. FreakBass: 7 p.m., $15 ADV, $20 DOS. Odeon. The Grievance Club/Biitchseat/ Drag Daze: 7 p.m., $10. Mahall’s 20 Lanes. Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2018: 7:30 p.m., $10-$175. State Theatre. Ingrid Michaelson Trio: Songs for the Season/Jenna Nichols: 8:15 p.m. Agora Theatre. NoExit New Music Ensemble: 3 p.m., free. Bop Stop. The Ohio City Singers: Adding to their repertoire of original Christmas music, Ohio City Singers, an ensemble featuring some of Cleveland’s best musicians, just released two new tunes. The zydeco-tinged “What’s the Name of Santa’s Sleigh?” and the rowdy guitar- and accordion-driven “Hey! Hey! Hey! (It’s a Holiday)” are now available on CD Baby, iTunes and all digital outlets. In addition to band leader Chris Allen, the all-star band features Doug McKean (the Boys From the County Hell), Brent Kirby (the Jack Fords, the New Soft Shoe), Austin “Walkin’ Cane” Charanghat, Don Dixon, Kelly Wright (the Anne E. DeChant Band), Matt Sobol (the Waynes), Nick Stipanovich (the Boys From the County Hell) and Dave Padrutt (Falling Stars). The new tracks should fit nicely into tonight’s set. (Niesel) 1 p.m. Music Box Supper Club. Royal Beasts Album Release/Key to the Mint/Slug Fest: 9 p.m., $6. Happy Dog. Spirit of the Bear/DOAKS/Three | clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

35

LIVEWIRE Legged Chairs (in the Locker Room): 7 p.m., $10. Mahall’s 20 Lanes. Kate Voegele: 7 p.m., $20 ADV, $25 DOS. Music Box Supper Club. Jackie Warren: 10:30 p.m., free. Nighttown.

SUN

12/09

Apostle Jones/Rachel Shortt/ Ouster/Tommy Link: 8:30 p.m., $8 ADV, $10 DOS. Grog Shop. Michael Bolton: The Symphony Sessions: Greatest Hits & Holiday Favorites: 7:30 p.m., $45.50-$92.50. Hard Rock Rocksino. Dominick Farinacci: 7 p.m., $20. Nighttown. I See Stars: Acoustic Show/The Promise Hero: 8 p.m., $15 ADV, $18 DOS. Beachland Ballroom. Tim Joyce CD Release: 7 p.m., $8 ADV, $10 DOS. Beachland Tavern. The New World Quartet: 7 p.m., $15. Bop Stop. Mike Petrone (Piano Sing-Along): 5:30 p.m., free. Brothers Lounge. Stove Maneka/Honeymoon/Chum: 7:30 p.m., $5 ADV, $8 DOS. Mahall’s 20 Lanes. Ron Zehel Guitar Center — Holiday Recital: 5 p.m., free. Music Box Supper Club.

MON

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New Year’s Eve

12/11

A Broadway Holiday Hosted by Debi Lewin & Jennifer Lee: 7 p.m., $15. Nighttown. Settle Your Scores/Nominee/ Blindside Avenue/As Time Fades (in the Locker Room): 7 p.m., $10. Mahall’s 20 Lanes. Snails/Svdden Death/Hekler: 8 p.m., $25-$35. House of Blues. The Weepies: 7:30 p.m., $30 ADV, $38 DOS. Music Box Supper Club.

| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

THIS FRI DEC 7

12/10

Skatch Anderssen Orchestra: 8 p.m., $7. Brothers Lounge. Tri-C JazzFest Academy: Silver/ Blakey: 8 p.m., free. Bop Stop. Velvet Voyage (in the Wine Bar): 8 p.m. Brothers Lounge.

36

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in August. Eventually, it will come out on vinyl. For the live show, the band hauls an assortment of gear onto stage, and Schumann comes up with abstract videos that he triggers with a foot switch.

Dunlap and Motika began thinking of forming a band together several years ago and had the notion of delving into the post-rock genre. For a few months, they played with various drummers and guitarists. “It went nowhere and felt derivative and boring,” says Dunlap, who says he then spent a year or so just writing and not playing. When he ran into

WHY YOU SHOULD HEAR THEM: “Farm Wisdom,” the opening track on Royal Beasts, starts with softly humming synthesizers and a delicate guitar riff that becomes much louder after the band adds clashing cymbals to the mix. “That song was the one floating around when Jeff and I took the band to other people,” Photo courtesy of Royal Beasts

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| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

Hooper at a Lakewood bar, they talked about instrumental music and their interests in playing that style of music. Last year, Hooper said he had recruited Schumann to join them and wanted to jam. “We had such a great musical connection,” says Dunlap when asked about that initial session. “The band formed, and we sat in a room for nine months and wrote and played and wrote and played.” The group performed its first public show this past July. A ONE-DAY SESSION: The band recorded the songs for its new self-titled album in a single day. “We didn’t even tell anyone we were in a band,” says Dunlap. “We knew we weren’t ready and didn’t want to just show up playing long instrumental songs without any context.” They recorded with local producer Jim Stewart, who guided the 13-hour session. The digital version of the disc came out

says Dunlap. “I had written it to a soundtrack for a film that I was working on. It hung around. I didn’t know what to do with it. Then, when Alec and Will and I got into a room to talk about the songs we had, I played that for them, and they gravitated to it. It was the first song we finished. I cringe when I think about how melancholy most postrock bands are. We wear masks in photo shoots because we’re tired of seeing band photos featuring four white dudes look sullen.” WHERE YOU CAN HEAR THEM:

royalbeastsmusic.bandcamp.com. WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM: Royal Beasts perform with Key to the Mint and Slug Fest at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Happy Dog.

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| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

SAVAGE LOVE CRINGE AND PURGE By Dan Savage Dear Dan, I’m a 59-year-old man in good health. For basically my whole adult life, I’ve had this problem during intercourse with a woman of (1) being very quick to come and (2) having a too intense “cringey” sensation when I come. This has led to often going soft at the prospect of intercourse. This too-intense feeling makes me stop moving when I come, which is not satisfying at all. It doesn’t happen with hand jobs or oral sex — they feel fine and good. Is this a known phenomenon? And, most importantly, what can I do to get to a point where I can enjoy intercourse? This seriously messes up my enjoyment of sex and my confidence with women. One time, and only one time (out of many with a particular girlfriend), I had intercourse and it felt fine when I came, still thrusting, so I know it’s possible. I have been practicing with a Fleshlight, but it’s still painfully “cringey” when I come. It is not fun and rather depressing. — He Always Really Dreads Penetration And Regrets This I shared your letter with Dr. Ashley Winter, a urologist in private practice in Portland, Oregon, and the cohost of The Full Release, a sex, health, and relationship podcast. Dr. Winter wanted to note that her comments are a general discussion of a medical topic and NOT individual medical advice. She wanted me to emphasize this point — which she also emphasizes at the top of her terrific podcast — because Dr. Winter is a responsible doctor and not a card-carrying member of the Amalgamated Advice Columnists of America. (Membership in the AACA entitles advice columnists to say pretty much whatever they want.) “There are three issues at play here,” said Dr. Winter. “First, the pain or ‘cringey’ sensation only associated with vaginal and Fleshlight penetration. Second, being too quick to come. And third, erectile dysfunction. HARDPART insightfully suggests his ED may be related to his performance anxiety as well as anticipated pain, and I would agree with this. I would add that his quick ejaculation is most likely also caused by a mix of ED and pain —the body adapts to pain and erection loss by letting the swimmers off the hook early.”

But why do you experience this pain only during penetrative sex? What is it about PIV (penis in vagina) or PIF (penis in Fleshlight) that causes those painfully cringey feelings? “If he thrusts more during these activities than he does during oral or hand stimulation, I would expect that either pelvic floor muscle dysfunction or a nerve issue related to the lower spine could be causing the flairs,” said Dr. Winter. “If he were my patient, I would want to know if he has less pain when his partner is on top, which would mean his pelvis is moving less. Also, does he have chronic low back pain? Bowel or bladder issues?” Dr. Winter and I continued to generally discuss the medical topics raised by your question, HARDPART, and we generally discussed — this is not, again, individual medical advice, but a general discussion — two things someone with your particular issue might want to think about doing. First, a guy with your problem could try taking Viagra — or a related drug — while also using a penis numbing spray. And a guy with your problem should also have his pelvic floor checked out. A urologist can help a guy with a problem like yours determine if there’s something wrong with the complex web of muscles and nerves that crowd together around your junk and, if it is a pelvic floor issue, refer him to a pelvic floor physical therapist. Finally, a suggestion from me, the person with the AACA card: A guy with a problem like yours — a guy whose dick works a certain way and has worked that way for decades — could save himself the hassle of physical therapy and the side effects of Viagra by accepting his dick and the way his dick works. There are women out there who prefer oral and outercourse to PIV, HARDPART, and you could bed those women with confidence.

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| clevescene.com | December 5 - 11, 2018

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