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2015 Show Schedule All of our guests at Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows receive CUSTOM VENDOR GUIDES, which include exclusive offers and discounts available only at that show!
MARCH
2015
2015 ROCKY RIVER SPRING AVANT-GARDE ART & CRAFT SHOW
APRIL
2015
Rocky River Memorial Hall (NEXT TO THE REC CENTER)
3204 Ridgewood Rd., Fairlawn, OH 44333
Sat & Sun - March 21st & 22nd, 2015 10am-5pm Saturday | 11am-5pm Sunday
Saturday, April 18, 2015 • 10am-5pm Shop local artisans and crafters while enjoying a la carte lunch items from TLC Catering! Admission is $3, Children under 12 are free. A portion of proceeds will benefit local non-profit Camp Quality.
PRESENT THIS AD AT THE DOOR FOR $1 OFF ADMISSION TO THE SHOW
PRESENT THIS AD AT THE DOOR FOR $1 OFF ADMISSION TO THE SHOW
APRIL
2015 STRONGSVILLE SPRING 2015 AVANT-GARDE ART & CRAFT SHOW
MAY
2015
Strongsville Ehrnfelt Recreation Center
3300 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
Sunday, April 19, 2015 • 10am-5pm
Sunday, May 3rd, 2015 • 10am-5pm Show season is in full force, add us to your to-do list and you won’t be dissapointed! Admission is $3, children under 12 are free. A portion of proceeds will benefit local non-profit Wigs for Kids.
PRESENT THIS AD AT THE DOOR FOR $1 OFF ADMISSION TO THE SHOW
PRESENT THIS AD AT THE DOOR FOR $1 OFF ADMISSION TO THE SHOW
SEPT
2015
2015 CHAGRIN FALLS FALL AVANT-GARDE ART & CRAFT SHOW
NOV
2015
Federated Church- Family Life Center
4667 Applegrove Street Northwest, North Canton, OH 44720
Sat & Sun - September 12th and 13th, 2015 Due to popular demand, this show is now a two-day event! Admission is $3, children under 12 are free. A portion of proceeds will benefit the local non-profit American Heart Association- Cleveland Heart Walk.
Saturday November 7, 2015 • 10am-5pm Get a kick start on holiday shopping and join us at our second new addition. Featuring nearly 100 handmade artisans and crafters, this event is sure to have something for everyone! Admission is $3, children under 12 are free. A portion of proceeds will benefit local non-profit Fostering Hope.
PRESENT THIS AD AT THE DOOR FOR $1 OFF ADMISSION TO THE SHOW
PRESENT THIS AD AT THE DOOR FOR $1 OFF ADMISSION TO THE SHOW
NOV
2015
2015 ROCKY RIVER FALL AVANT-GARDE ART & CRAFT SHOW
NOV
2015
Rocky River Memorial Hall (NEXT TO THE REC CENTER)
Park Synagogue Main (Kangesser Ballroom)
10am-5pm Saturday | 11am-5pm Sunday
Sunday November 22, 2015 • 10am-5pm
The holidays are upon us and that means it’s time to shop for unique gifts for loved ones - and there’s no better place to do that than at this TWO DAY event! Admission is $3, children under 12 are free. A portion of proceeds will benefit the local non-profit Project Night Night.
3300 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 It’s time to get serious about that holiday shopping! Admission is $3 to the public, children under 12 are free. A portion of proceeds will benefit the local non-profit Northeast Ohio Make-a-Wish Foundation.
PRESENT THIS AD AT THE DOOR FOR $1 OFF ADMISSION TO THE SHOW
PRESENT THIS AD AT THE DOOR FOR $1 OFF ADMISSION TO THE SHOW
2015
2015 HEIGHTS FALL AVANT-GARDE ART & CRAFT SHOW
21016 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River, OH 44116
Saturday & Sunday- November 14th and 15th, 2015
DEC
2015 CANTON FALL AVANT-GARDE ART & CRAFT SHOW St. George Serbian Center
16349 Chillicothe Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 10am-5pm Saturday | 11am-5pm Sunday
2015 HEIGHTS SPRING AVANT-GARDE ART & CRAFT SHOW Park Synagogue Main (Kangesser Ballroom)
18100 Royalton Road, Strongsville, OH 44136
Get a jump start on Mother’s Day by visiting our newest addition to the Avant-Garde showline, featuring nearly 100 handmade artisans and crafters! Admission is $3, children under 12 are free. A portion of proceeds will benefit local non-profit Flashes of Hope.
2015 FAIRLAWN SPRING AVANT-GARDE ART & CRAFT SHOW St. George’s Fellowship Centre
21016 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River, OH 44116
100 artists and crafters will sell their original, handmade items during this TWO DAY event! Admission is $3, Children Under 12 are Free. A portion of proceeds will benefit the local non-profit Drink Local. Drink Tap.
Cleveland’s Premier Traveling Art And Craft Show!
2015 CHAGRIN FALLS WINTER AVANT-GARDE ART & CRAFT SHOW Federated Church- Family Life Center
16349 Chillicothe Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
DEC
2015
2015 FAIRLAWN WINTER AVANT-GARDE ART & CRAFT SHOW St. George’s Fellowship Centre
3204 Ridgewood Rd., Fairlawn, OH 44333
Sat & Sun- December 12th and 13th, 2015
Saturday, December 19th, 2015 • 10am-5pm
The holidays are here, and we are ready to shop! TWO DAY event! Admission is $3, children under 12 are free. A portion of proceeds will benefit the local non-profit Adopt a Family Association.
Our last show of 2015! Finish up your holiday shopping with us at this beautiful venue in Fairlawn, and enjoy a la carte lunch items from TLC Catering! Admission is $3, children under 12 are free! A portion of proceeds will benefit local non-profit Paws and Prayers for animal rescue.
10am-5pm Saturday | 11am-5pm Sunday
PRESENT THIS AD AT THE DOOR FOR $1 OFF ADMISSION TO THE SHOW
PRESENT THIS AD AT THE DOOR FOR $1 OFF ADMISSION TO THE SHOW
www.avantgardeshows.com
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CITY GUIDE 2015
Dedicated to Free Times founder Richard H. Siegel (1935-1993) and Scene founder Richard Kabat
Introduction
7
Arts & Culture
8
Welcome to your passport to the city
Publisher Chris Keating Associate Publisher Desiree Bourgeois Editorial Editor Vince Grzegorek Music Editor Jeff Niesel Managing Editor Eric Sandy Staff Writers Sam Allard, Doug Brown Web Editor Alaina McConnell Contributing Writer Will Burge Dining Editor Douglas Trattner Contributing Dining Editors Nikki Delamotte, Jason Beudert Stage Editor Christine Howey Visual Arts Editor Josh Usmani Interns Martin Harp, Kaitlin Siegel Creative Services Production Manager Steve Miluch Layout Editor Alise Belcher Staff Photographer Emanuel Wallace Advertising Advertising Manager Jennifer Woomer Retail Sr. Multimedia Account Executive John Crobar, Shayne Rose Multimedia Account Executives Amanda Klein, Mackenzie Swan, Moira O’Neill, Chuck Valenches Classified Classified Account Executive Alice Leslie Marketing Director of Marketing & Public Relations Bob Rotatori Promotions Coordinator Remi Bruell Business Chief Financial Officer Brian Painley Asst. To The Publisher Angela Lott Sales Assistant/Receptionist Megan Stimac Circulation Director Don Kriss Human Resources Director Lisa Beilstein Cleveland Scene Magazine is published every week by Euclid Media Group. CEO Andrew Zelman National Advertising VMG Advertising vmgadvertising.com Verified Audit Member Cleveland Distribution Scene is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. Copyright The entire contents of Cleveland Scene Magazine are copyright 2015 by Euclid Media Group. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems without the express written permission of the publisher. Cleveland Scene Magazine Office: 737 Bolivar Rd, #4100, Cleveland, OH 44115 Phone: 216-241-7550 Retail & Classified Fax: 216-241-6275 Editoral Fax: 216-802-7212 E-mail: scene@clevescene.com www.clevescene.com `/clevelandscene t @cleveland_scene ™ @clevescene Subscriptions: $150 (1 yr); $80 (6 mos.) Send name, address and zip code with check or money order to: Attn: Subscription Department SCENE 737 Bolivar Ave, #4100 Cleveland, Oh 44115 248-620-2990
Printed By
On the cover: Design by Alise Belcher
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We take a look at the art galleries that make our neighborhoods awesome, the glitzy history of Playhouse Square and a really cool theater in Tremont that you should go check out
Music
15
Nightlife
20
Food & Dining
23
Attractions
36
Drink
41
Shopping
47
There are seemingly hundreds of very good bands and singers performing in and around Cleveland. We present some of our favorites, along with awesome musical events for each night of the week
Everyone loves a good bar crawl — especially people living in one of the best beer cities in the U.S. Here, we offer an adventurous route through the best bars in Tremont
The 25 essential Cleveland restaurants, the local foods we would include in a perfect Cleveland buffet, all the best ethnic eats from around town, and the many, many reasons that everyone in the U.S. totally loves us
How to get around town (there are all sorts of great public transit options here, so do take a ride sometime) and where to book a room for your vacation or staycation
Cool new bars open up all the time, so we took an opportunity to profile our favorites, along with the ideal Cleveland six-pack and some of our favorite local whiskey
Fill your suitcase with patently Cleveland stuff, all made by our favorite “makers” here in town and representing various neighborhoods (all of which, duh, we love)
911 Graham Rd, Suite 27, Stow OH 44221
(Located directly left of the Walmart parking lot & in back of Subway)
Coffeehouse • Indoor Playground Gaga Ball • Sports Court • Party Rooms Visit http://cafeoplay.com or LIKE the Cafe O’Play Facebook page!
Cafe OPlay 4color ad_37188W X 24H.indd 1
Custom Artwork If you can imagine it, I can create it for you! Murals storefronts, nurseries, living rooms & more. Private Art Lessons also available!
ArtfullyMine 1/29/15
Private Painting Events Available to travel to a local restaurant/bar, library, home, or office and host a unique and artful private party or event for you. All ages welcome, no experience needed! Vanessa Zoellner
216-789-5569 Certified Art Teacher vzoellner524@gmail.com
3:20 PM
The Old-Fashioned Neighborhood Market In the Heart of University Circle’s Historic Little Italy Italian Specialty Items and a Delicious Selection of Imported Wines & Craft Beers
Artisanal Foods Prepared Daily
Lunch & Dinner To Go... Catering All Ocasions Taste Our Irresisible Zucchini Pancakes & Signature Eggplant Parmesan • Homemade Soups • Seasonal Salads • Made-to-Order Sandwiches • Rotisserie Roasted Meats • Fresh Fish & Seafood • Daily Specials • Organic • Vegetarian, Vegan & Gluten Free Options
Open Daily 9 tO 9 & SunDay 11 tO 6
2072 Murray Hill Road, Cleveland, 44106 | Follow the Red Brick Road! 216-791-1900 • www.murrayhillmarket.net
« DID YOU KNOW?
• 4 out of 5 middle school students report being bullied because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation • LGBT teens are up to 7 times more likely to have attempted suicide than their straight peers • 85% of bullying occurs in front of witnesses
« IT’S TRUE, THAT’S WHY WE DARED TO CARE
Dare2Care is a non-profit organization committed to strengthening lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and straight youth against bullying by providing scholarship opportunities and mentorship, Dare2Care works to create an inclusive community for youth. Our fundraising provides scholarships and educational programming that: • Develops LGBT advocates and community leaders • Aspires to cultivate a harassment-free environment • Promotes a supportive community among teens
« HOW CAN I HELP?
Donate at dare2careusa.org • Get Involved • Spread the word The changes we foster together today can empower us to realize our vision of a world free of harassment, brutality and indifference.
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forward
WELCOME! You’ve arrived. Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or you just stepped off the runway at Cleveland-Hopkins for the first time, there’s no denying that Cleveland is, at least in some ways, new to each one of us. The city is changing. A sense of optimism and joy and excitement — stuff that’s long been as far away in connotation from “Cleveland” as humanly possible — well, all that stuff is here. Look around. Soak it in. We think you’ll like it here. In Cleveland, a person can do something different each night of the year without fear of repeats (although, knowing how fun this city can be, you’ll probably want to repeat some nights). We’ve got a killer dining scene, a heady craft brew scene, a rockin’ music scene, a pleasant parks scene, a dynamite shopping scene, a — hey, you get the idea. We here at Scene want to introduce you to what this city does best - all the fun, creative, weird, thrilling aspects of Cleveland. We also want to reintroduce you to old friends and places that have stood the test of time, only to become something new altogether. In short, we want to lend you a passport to Cleveland. — Eric Sandy
YOUR JOURNEY AWAITS.
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ARTS & CULTURE
ART CITY Where should you go to see the city’s finest art? Everywhere. When should you go? All the time. by Eric Sandy and Josh Usmani Cleveland, the quirky kid who’s been holding down the great lunch table of the Midwest for decades now, was built on its residents’ unique creative culture. More specifically: Manufacturing gave us our structure; art provided the soul. These days, new and inventive artistic endeavors pop up in neighborhoods all over the city and beyond. In fact, those neighborhoods come to be defined by the artists who populate them and who leave their imprints on its sidewalks, streets, fences, walls. Have you been to Collinwood? If so, you know what we’re talking about. The street — newly renovated as of the fall of 2014 — brims with the artistic yearnings of its residents. In technicolor, the neighborhood glows. (And if you haven’t been, when what in the world are you waiting for?) Hence the theme of so much of this special issue. The city beckons with countless enticing options for your entertainment and delight. Dozens of art galleries and boutiques line our favorite neighborhoods, and they’re just waiting for you to stop by and take it all in. What are you waiting for? Take the bus to just about any stop, and you’ll be within a few blocks or so of something artistic, something creative. Hop on your bike and skip on down to a new hang spot. You’ll find something beautiful to soak up visually in no time. Or, hell, just for convenience, pack the family up in the station wagon and trek on out to literally anywhere: The artistic world awaits.
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EAST SIDE Collinwood: Waterloo Arts, Maria Neil Art Project, Gallery One Sixty, Waterloo Sculpture Garden, Loren Naji’s Satellite Gallery, Azure Glass Studio, Brick Ceramic Studio (coming soon), Zygote Press’ Ink House (coming soon) Cleveland Heights: Heights Art
Calluna in Tremont has miniature paintings depicting awesome Cleveland landmarks.
Mentor: Flux Metal Studio, Lakeland Community College’s gallery
Cleveland, Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, Sculpture Center, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland Museum of Art
Shaker Heights: Juma Gallery Slavic Village: Elevate Gallery Little Italy: Serafino Gallery and Design Midtown/University Circle: MOCA
78th Street Studios is a must-visit for anyone who loves art in Cleveland.
Asiantown: Zygote Press, Negative Space, Tower Press Studios, Art Craft Building
The Waterloo Arts Fest in North Collinwood is an annual and colorful staple.
Ragnar Kjartansson, jammin’ in the tub, as seen in “The Visitors” at MOCA.
DOWNTOWN Downtown: Harris Stanton Gallery
WEST SIDE Tremont: Doubting Thomas, Calluna (featuring the coolest miniature paintings), Lava Lounge (Rust Belt Monster Collective hosts Drink-n-Draws on the third Thursday of each month), LOOP (hosting a revolving cast of local artists and damn good coffee)
1point618, Bruno Casiano Gallery Ohio City: SPACES, Loren Naji Studio Gallery (presently inactive as of winter 2015), Hildebrandt Studios, Rust Belt Welding Lakewood: Beck Center (some of the region’s best art and theater, straight up), Good Goat Gallery, Breakneck Gallery, Screw Factory Gordon Square: 78th Street Studios (a terrarium of local artists’ independent galleries, all housed in the former American Greeting studios [ca. 1970s and 1980s]),
Hingetown: Transformer Station Bay Village: BAYarts Rocky River: River Gallery
#SceneCityGuide15 t @cleveland_scene
Find Your Scent At ohio’s only perfumery devoted to artisanal fragrances from around the world. 12011 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107 | 216.767.5563 | www.indigoperfumery.com
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GODSPELL 6/11-28 Chris Botti 6/11 Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone / Gary Lewis & the Playboys 6/19 Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn 6/26 Golden Dragon Acrobats 6/27 Cain Park Arts Festival 7/10-12 GroundWorks DanceTheater 7/17-19 Inlet Dance Theatre 7/29-30 John Waite 8/8 Laurie Berkner with Susie Lampert 8/9
N.. Minter N
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WWW.CAINPARK.COM
ARTS & CULTURE
PLAYHOUSE SQUARE REVUE by Sam Allard
NEVER MIND THAT the massive new GE Chandelier at Playhouse Square — the world’s largest outdoor chandelier! — represents an “audacious and counterintuitive response” to Cleveland’s punishing winters, according to the PD’s Steve Litt. Never mind that around the chandelier’s supports, “sprigs of curlicue filigree sprout
eye-popping acrylic resin cast the walkways in a futuristic neon glow, so parents can feel safe when their teenagers are strolling unaccompanied. Manufactured or otherwise, the energy and lush activity of the digital signs is constant. The whole $16-million overhaul, unveiled in May during the “Dazzle the District” ceremony, was orchestrated by Baltimore
There’s more to Playhouse Square than the massive GE Chandelier. Trust us. like stylized bushes of armpit hair” (again, blessedly, via Litt). Never mind that many have lambasted the chandelier and the new digital kiosks on Euclid Avenue and Star Plaza, and the Toys-R-Us signage at the district’s borders, as “kitschy” and/or “glitzy” and/or “insane.” The fact is, Playhouse Square has been vitalized, to employ a word Cleveland leaders love, in very real terms. It’s so vital, the civic champions declare. It’s so iconic. But yes, bars and restaurants (Parnell’s Pub on Euclid, Zach Bruell’s Dynomite Burgers on Star Plaza) are allowing theater patrons and office workers to get outside and have a bite and a drink before or after a show. The chandelier’s 4,200 crystals coated in
designer Danny Barnycz, who calls himself a “creatologist.” He specializes in Las Vegasesque displays, and said he wanted to bring the magic and ornamentation of the theaters’ interior out to the streets. Whether or not you’re into the results, people are certainly taking way more selfies on Euclid these days, and the yearlong programming in the Allen, the Palace, the Ohio, the State, and the Hanna remains as vibrant and Broadway-infused as ever. We hear often that Playhouse Square is the second-largest performing arts complex in the country, “second only to New York’s Lincoln Center!” the champions say, so why not dress up Euclid and East 14th as a flagship intersection downtown?
All this new “retro glamor” wouldn’t have been possible without the vision and grit of the late Ray Shepardson, the district’s founder and original revitalizer in the ’60s and ’70s. We’ve been given to understand that he’d be rolling in his grave at the thought of the chandelier, but he certainly would be pleased to see all the smiling faces. Along with fellow preservationist Weldon Carpenter, Shepardson transformed the decaying movie houses of the 1920s into the magnificent theaters we know and love today. He worked every night for years to produce live theater in an effort to make downtown Cleveland come alive. Shepardson took his own life in April in Chicago. Said Playhouse Square leaders on the occasion of Shepardson’s death: “With incredible foresight and vision, he believed that restoring and revitalizing those theaters would transform downtown Cleveland. “His powers of persuasion convinced others that the theaters were an irreplaceable resource. Following a grueling seven-year run of presenting 200-300 performances each year before the theaters were fully restored, Shepardson went on to play starring roles in theater restoration projects in Columbus, Detroit and St. Louis, and has consulted on more than 35 major restoration projects all over the country.” This year’s Broadway series includes Pippin (Feb. 3-15), Dirty Dancing (March 3-22), 2013 Tony Award-winning Kinky Boots (April 7-19), Cinderella (July 21Aug. 2), and 2011 Tony Award-winning smash hit The Book of Mormon, back for a one-week engagement Aug. 25-30. Visit playhousesquare.org for details.
#SceneCityGuide15 t @scenesallard
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ARTS & CULTURE
PRESENTING THE UNEXPECTED In its 14th year, convergence-continuum theater continues to surprise and amaze by Christine Howey OKAY, LET’S PLAY Jeopardy! The answer is: Poona the Fuckdog, and Other Plays for Children and Seven Blowjobs. Clearly, there aren’t a lot of questions that could possibly generate that response. So here’s a hint. The person who came up with that answer is Clyde Simon, co-founder and artistic director of convergence-continuum theater in Tremont. Time’s up. The question is: What are the two shows that Simon is most fond of since the theater’s opening in 2002? His answer provides a snapshot insight into the mindset of this small theater company that has relentlessly pursued edgy works by living playwrights since they opened their doors. As Simon explains about Poona, which was definitely not for children, “it is now legendary. It was a hilarious show and we oversold some houses. So at a couple
Clyde Simon talks continuum.
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performances, a few audience members volunteered to sit on the floor, on stage. We just did the play around them.” As for Seven Blowjobs, by one of con-con’s favorite
consistent production values and acting styles, the focus on presenting challenging material hasn’t changed. As Simon notes, “We try not to tell our audience what to think, there are
“This is also an interesting aspect for the performers since they can see the emotions on the faces of the audience. That’s not something you can really experience on most stages.” playwrights Mac Wellman, a moralistic rightwing senator and his staff obsess over photos (unseen by the audience), depicting acrobatic sex acts. As one character notes, “That’s not a blowjob, that’s a Borzoi dog chained to a banister.” In a way those plays, aside from the shared canine references, represent the mission of the theater. “We like pushing the boundaries of language,” Simon says, “along with form and subject matter. Plus, we’re not all that interested in realism. We like opening doors into unknown territory, not just mirroring what people experience in their everyday lives.” In part, we have Kent State University to thank for this theater, since Simon was a nontraditional grad student at Kent (while his cofounder Brian Breth was an undergrad there) before launching convergence-continuum. In addition, many original company members were also from KSU, including Amy Bistok Bunce, Cliff Bailey and Stephen Needham. Although the theater’s mission has been refined over the past 14 years, with more
no ‘bad guys’ and ‘good guys.’ Sometimes, our plays have no obvious meaning, or maybe no meaning at all. But we want to immerse the audience in the world of each play.” To accomplish that, each work at con-con is staged in a small space in a building called the Liminis; it’s a former bar that seats 40 audience members comfortably. However, the playing areas are always arranged differently, with actors darting in and out among the audience and often talking directly to the patrons. This can tend to make some visitors uneasy, while others love it — even answering the actors out loud during the show. “This is also an interesting aspect for the performers,“ adds Simon, “since they can see the emotions on the faces of the audience. That’s not something you can really experience on most stages.” Another distinguishing aspect of convergence-continuum is its evolving focus on plays with gay themes or gay characters. In 2011, they produced the iconic play by Matt Crowley, The Boys in the Band. And many of their shows with a variety of themes involve
has plowed a lot of new theatrical turf, they still have one area where they’d like to do more. As Simon explains, “We actually would like to do more original works in the future. In the past, we have produced a couple world premiere plays by local playwright Christopher Johnston and one by Tom Hayes. And this year, we have a new play by local writer Michael Geither on tap. But we’re looking for more.” The Liminis is also the site for the annual productions of playwrights enrolled in the Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program (NEOMFA). By contracting with convergence-continuum, NEOMFA is able to provide their student/ playwrights with full, real-world productions of their scripts, since the theater uses its own directors, designers and actors to stage the shows.
The playhouse continues to challenge and delight its audience with pieces like The Pillowman.
gay characters. This inclusive approach to selecting scripts fills a much-needed niche in the theater panorama of Cleveland. In 2015, con-con will try out a new format called “Tweener Solos.” These will be four productions of mostly one-person shows that will be staged on one weekend between the runs of the six full-run shows on the schedule. This will give performers another opportunity to ply their craft while exposing audiences to interesting material, such as Zoo Story by Edward Albee. Even though convergence-continuum
All these efforts are concentrated on building an on-going relationship with the con-con audience base. This has been a process for both the theater and its devotees. Says Simon: “In our first production, Quills, we had an actress chained to a wall behind the audience, but nobody looked when she screamed. They were used to just looking forward, as in a conventional theater. I was acting in the show and by the third performance, I was throwing in the line, ‘Look over there!’ They started to catch on, and we’ve been growing together ever since.” It will be a good idea to keep your head on a swivel when convergence-continuum opens its 2015 season on March 20 with Isaac’s Eye by Lucas Hnath. It’s an ironic take on Sir Isaac Newton, so look out above! convergence-continuum at the Liminis, 2438 Scranton Rd., Tremont, 216-687-0074, convergence-continuum.org.
#SceneCityGuide15 t @christinehowey
DANCECleveland 2 0 1 4 -1 5 P E R F O R M A N C E S E R I E S
Compagnie Käfig March 7, 2015 at 8pm Ohio Theatre, PlayhouseSquare
Brazilian acrobatics & hip-hop unite with a creative, modern twist
Wendy Whelan Restless Creature
April 25, 2015 at 8pm Ohio Theatre, PlayhouseSquare Lyrical beauty of a ballet icon
FOR INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE TICKETS, VISIT DANCECLEVELAND.ORG OR CALL 216.241.6000. INTERESTED IN SEEING BOTH REMAINING SHOWS? CALL 216.991.9000 TO PURCHASE DISCOUNTED PACKAGE TICKETS!
PRESENTED BY
GENEROUSLY FUNDED BY
COMPAGNIE KÄFIG, MICHEL CAVALCA
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music
MUSICAL TAPESTRY
The Cleveland bands you should be listening to right now by Eric Sandy SHOP LOCAL, DRINK local, eat local, yes; but how about listen local? Cleveland, long the iconic city of rock ‘n’ roll in one sense or another, plays host to what at times seems like thousands of bands. There’s a rich scene here in town, one supported by dozens of venues along the North Coast. Concerts put on by local favorites are fun
hit streets in 2013, cementing touchstone versions of songs that light up set lists all over the regional touring circuit. “We’ll play a song, and we usually have no idea what’s going to happen five minutes in,” guitarist Luke Bergan says. Open-ended improv is the goal, and each member pulls off inter-band communication onstage with aplomb. Cities and Coasts is definitely on our radar.
experiences. They’re up close and personal. They’re distinctly Cleveland, whether you’re talking about a long-running jazz trio or an indie fuzz rock band just a few months in on its life. Here are a whole bunch of bands you should check out right now. They’re probably playing a show nearby sometime soon too, which means you should pencil that bad boy in on your calendar and go have a good time.
S E A FA I R | Listen: “Bird on a Wire” The band’s twin 2013 EPs, Paintings and Photographs, sum up their alluring sound very well. The latter is brimming with fun and Seafair’s unique instrumentation. With the cello pushed up front in the mix, “Indian Giver,” for instance, starts off as a beautiful waltz and then escalates into something that sounds more like a vigorous drinking ballad. Look for new album The Querencia sometime in 2015.
Y O S E M I G H T | Listen: “Spotted off Path” Yosemight tends to fly beneath the radar, which makes their brand of jams all the more enticing. Their self-titled album
WESLEY BRIGHT AND THE HIL I T E S | Listen: “You Don’t Care About Me” The Northern soul-inspired indie outfit
Wesley Bright & the Hi-Lites had a great 2014. “It’s been a lot of building,” says drummer Nick Fritsch. “We had a busy period from April through September when we were gigging more often than not and gigging out of town. We had a couple of amazing shows.” For 2015, expect the band to release two more 45s. And you should expect to dance the night away whenever you can catch one of their shows. RUNNING DOG LABOR EXCHANGE | Listen: “March on to Progress” Their tagline —“Broadcasting sounds of punk without borders from Cleveland, Ohio” — is a most enticing introduction to Running Dog Labor Exchange. The band’s 2014 album, Progress, filters social injustices through an energetic amalgam of ’80s and ’90s punk influences. There’s a lot to chew on here once the listener hits play. T H E R H Y T H M S Y N D I C AT E | Listen: “Crawdaddy Walk” Holding down the intersection of Chicago blues and soulful, danceable R&B, the Rhythm Syndicate celebrated its 15th anniversary last year. It’s been an awesome ride thus far. After coming together via Cleveland’s late-’90s blues jam scene, the band has assembled a dynamite reputation for exciting set lists — originals and covers, both classic and unexpected. You can find them in clubs from Cleveland to Akron, and points west and east alike, and when you do, know this: It’s gonna be a good time. M U A M I N C O L L E C T I V E | Listen: “Midwest Bank” Still riding the fine hype of 2014’s So Blue It’s Black, Cleveland’s complex hip-hop duo is a scorcher. aLive’s beat and Zion’s poetry combine to form a unique spin on the rap game — the sort of thing you won’t be
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music
finding on mainstream radio waves anytime soon. Cleveland is a city of streets, of neighborhoods, and Muamin Collective’s art cuts right to the heart of this city’s soul. T R E PA N N I N G T R I O | Listen: “Kalimba Song for Wolves in Snow” Cooked up as the brainchild of bassist and guitarist David Mansbach, Trepanning Trio is something else altogether. (First off, this band isn’t even a trio.) Winding their way semi-improvisationally through fairytale melodies and pastoral instrumentation (flute! glockenspiel! honest-to-goodness
cooked up this new outfit with guitarist Michael Bay, drummer Jim Wall and bassist Alfredo Guerreri. Their January debut at Parkview Nite Club was a hit, and future gigs promise more of the same: jazzy blues rock with a flair for the funk. V I B E & D I R E C T | Listen: “Elysian Fields” Vibe & Direct create highly visual music in an extremely danceable atmosphere. They tend to branch off into improvisatory waters, with guitarist Mike Miller throwing down mind-bending lead guitar work and singer Marty Calkins going apeshit on
Up,” each song is appropriately meaty, looping enough hooks to keep any floor alive all night. Check out “The Jungle” for probably the most representative tune on the album, with a chorus that ranks among the catchiest moments in the collection. C I T I E S A N D C O A S T S | Listen: “What I Want” This band’s highly accessible debut, Postcards from the Great Lakes, reveals classic influences and almost totally sounds like the album title itself. “Summer is Over” features the kind of cooing vocal harmonies you hear on vintage Beach Boys albums. As of press time, it’s wintry as all get-out in Cleveland; spinning this album gets us that much closer to sweet summertime. H E R Z O G | Listen: “Theme for Boys” Since 2011’s Search, Herzog’s sound has only expanded and built out a refreshing niche in Cleveland’s indie circles. Last year’s Boys was one of the best local cuts of 2014. The guitar thrills are strewn about with abandon, and the album’s overall vibe revolves around alternating upbeat and melancholic reflections on early adulthood.
Muamin Collective deliver some fresh tunes for your ears. field recordings of frogs!), Trepanning delivers an aurally immersive experience. They don’t play too often — and it’s often anyone’s guess which band members will be present at which shows — so do take the time to check them out when you can. BECKY BOYD & GROOVE TRAIN | Listen: The next set they play Boyd and the gang are known in blues joints all over town for their talent and drive. Around the turn of the year, Boyd
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anything from a djembe to the rafters. This is at once a percussive, tightly rhythmic band, and also a melodious journey. S A M M Y S L I M S | Listen: “Garbage” These guys are Cleveland’s answer to all those people needing a show to get them dancing somewhere in this brutish North Shore city. The band’s nine-track Black Songs, available at their bandcamp site, bears a real sense of confidence and excitement. Save for the too-short “Give It
J O S H U A J E S T Y | Listen: “If You Could Get Over Him” The universe doesn’t stand a chance against him. Jesty wrote his first song when he was 12. “It was awful,” he says. “It was about topics I was really into, like cheese. The music got moderately listenable when I was 19 or 20.” Thankfully he kept at, knowing that the musical form was where he could best express his ideas. We’re really fond of Now Is the Time of Our Awkwardness, released in October 2014.
#SceneCityGuide15 t @ericsandy
WINE ENTHUSIAST RATINGS SCORE OUT OF 100 POINTS
PTS
2015
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music
YOUR WEEK: PLANNED by Eric Sandy
AT SUNDOWN, THE curious city of Cleveland takes on many forms. Open your door and pick a direction: You’ll find something wonderful or bizarre or stimulating anywhere you look. You’ll probably also find a drunk guy taking a leak behind that dumpster over there. But the fact remains that you could do something different each night if you wanted to. Cleveland is a wonderful city. It’s also a music-loving city. MIX at CMA lets you enjoy the sights with the sounds.
S U N D AY | Rockin’ Brunch at Beachland Ballroom We all love brunch, right? Right. And nothing pairs better with brunch — trust us here — than freshly spinning vinyl. This Sunday event in Cleveland’s North Collinwood neighborhood doesn’t happen every Sunday, so do check in at beachlandballroom.com. M O N D AY | Music Mondays at Great Lakes Brewing Co. So this one is almost a weekly thing. Every second, third, and fourth Monday of the month, Great Lakes Brewing Company in Ohio City kicks off its week with a little live music. Guests can grab a beer and meander down to the Beer Cellar on the basement
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floor to enjoy the laid back tunes of local musicians. Here’s how the events break down each month: Second Mondays feature Becky Boyd’s blues, third Mondays feature Francis Quinn’s Irish music, and fourth Mondays feature Kristine Jackson’s blues. The show runs from 6 to 8 p.m., and there’s no cover charge. T U E S D AY | Karaoke at Tina’s Nite Club If you have never visited Tina’s Nite Club in the DetroitShoreway neighborhood, then you should really try to remedy that. The dive features an excellent and/ or bizarrely enticing karaoke session nightly, but Tuesdays are one of the nights when Billy Wayne hosts. Karaoke is probably the best route in. Oh, and at 3 for $1, the Jello shots flow like wine in this joint. (That makes the karaoke even better.) W E D N E S D AY | Jam Night at Iggy’s in Lakewood There’s no better way to dig into the jam scene than via the Grateful Dead’s iconic catalog. Bring your gear and set up shop near the stage if you want to play, or just bring your best billiards game and shoot around during the jam. All sorts of music are welcome. T H U R S D AY | Bad Boys of Blues Jam Night at Brothers Lounge There aren’t too many places these days
where you can sidle up to the bar and check out unrelentingly good live music — with no cover charge to speak of. But that’s just the surface-level description of the goods dished up each Thursday night at Brothers Lounge, which holds court just east of West 117th along Detroit Avenue. Hang out for a bit, talk shop with the musicians and tip your server well! Hell, bring your ax sometime and join the fun. The jam runs all night (and the whole thing kicks off at 9 p.m.). F R I D AY | MIX at CMA One of the greatest parties in the city goes down in one of the coolest rooms in the city on the first Friday of each month. (Again, so, yeah, this isn’t totally a weekly event, but it’s awesome!) From 5 - 9 p.m., the Atrium at the Cleveland Museum of Art transforms into an engaging festival of colors and sounds and good eats. Normally a quiet, contemplative sanctuary, the Atrium opened in the fall of 2012. It’s a vast space that welcomes visitors by day - offering a complementary respite from the museum’s archives elsewhere - and reels in revelers monthly for the much-loved MIX at CMA events. S AT U R D AY | DJ Chris Wright at B-Side Liquor Lounge Top off every weekend with a night of “throwback party jams” with DJ Chris Wright, who spins indie tunes from the 80s and 90s at B-Side on Saturdays. This is another cool opportunity to just get everyone together for a fun night of drinks, arcade games and all the Stephen Malkmus verses you can handle (you know, that’s what you were going to be doing anyway, right?). Find more things to do every night of the week by vising the Get Out! page on clevescene.com. #SceneCityGuide15 t @ericsandy
Celebrating 20 years in 2015! NEW I NDUCTEE E XHIBIT
COLLECTION
888.7644.ROCK | rockhall.com | 1100 Rock and Roll Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44114
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nightlife
TICKET TO TREMONT Cleveland’s artsy, resurgent south side has bars to love, no matter the color of your collar by Doug Brown and Sam Allard One awesome neighborhood, 10 cool bars, and just a mile to reach them all. If you haven’t spent much time going out in Tremont, here’s an ambitious bar crawl you should follow to familiarize yourself with the neighborhood’s casual drinking establishments. This is entirely walkable — just a mile from start to finish, or 1.4 miles to end up where you started — because, frankly, you shouldn’t be driving if you hit all 10. Uber, Lyft and cab drivers will be there in minutes. Go on a weekday to avoid the crowds and enjoy a low-key gathering of mostly Tremont residents; or head out on the weekend when people from around the region flock in for some fun. 20 SCENE | CITYGUIDE
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THE SOUTH SIDE
BARRIO
2207 WEST 11TH ST. Starring exposed brick walls, a winding granite bar, funky artwork, large flat-screen TVs mounted to the wall, and the best Bloody Marys in Cleveland (according to Scene readers), the South Side is a great starting point for a Tremont bar crawl. And with a great kitchen serving food until midnight, it’s a perfect spot to grab a bite. When the weather is tolerable, grab a table at the expansive outdoor patio. (Doug Brown) southsidecleveland.com, 216-937-2288
806 LITERARY RD. With whiskey, margaritas, beer and the best gourmet tacos around, served until 2 a.m., it’s tough to beat the Barrio experience. Belly up to the bar, order a drink, take advantage of the free chips and salsa, fill in the bubbles on your taco order form (try the “Green Goddess” shell) and hand it to your hipster bartender. The tacos taste just as good at 1:30 a.m. as they did at 7 p.m., so there’s no shame in making a return trip at the end of the night, before heading home. (Brown) barrio-tacos.com, (216) 999-7714
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THE SPOTTED OWL
T H E F LY I N G M O N K E Y
710 JEFFERSON AVE. Also new last fall, the Spotted Owl is in a lower-level space inside the Tremont Place Lofts. Although it’s a new bar, the sophisticated interior dates back to the 1850s, and the dark ambiance, weathered bar and large wooden tables give the place a relaxing vibe. It’s not a place for binge drinking (unless you’re extremely wealthy, I guess), instead featuring fantastic $9 to $12 cocktails — with awesome names like “A Rabbit as King of the Ghosts,” “Rich Mahogany and Leatherbound Books,” and (my favorite) “Like Two Midnights in a Jar” — along with a few $5 to $6 beers on tap. (Brown) spottedowlbar.com, (216) 796-5595
819 JEFFERSON AVE. Though we’re in the thick of a February chill, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Flying Monkey’s killer patio, which is one of Tremont’s finest. If the air warms up a bit, sip one of their many bottled or draft beers with friends. Don’t forget the nightly drink specials, an old-fashioned bar feel, the neighborhood’s finest darts board and weekly trivia and karaoke nights -- voted the city’s best Karaoke Bar by Scene readers last year -- if you intend to stay indoors. This one’s the perfect bar after you’ve had a few. Enjoy the company and the games as you nurse a tall one. (Sam Allard) flyingmonkeypub.com, (216) 861-6659
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TREEHOUSE
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EDISON’S PUB
82 0 COL L E GE AVE. It’s hard to miss this place: It’s the one with the big tree wrapped in Christmas lights out front. Inside, there’s a massive fake tree sprouting from inside the wooden U-shaped bar. Another Tremont bar with a great patio, Treehouse practically begs you to bring your drink outside in the summer for some solid people-watching on the busy Professor Avenue sidewalk. (Brown) treehousecleveland.com, (216) 696-2505
2372 PROFESSOR AVE. With a good vibe and the best drunk pizza in Cleveland, Edison’s is a favorite of many Tremont residents. Sit at the bar or at a small table in the bar area (with regular live music), head up a few stairs for some booths and a pool table, or keep going to the fantastic patio out back — named the best patio in Cleveland by Scene readers — to grab a picnic table (and see if you can spot the turtle in the fountain). We weren’t kidding about the pizza either. Open until 2 a.m. on weekends, Edison’s serves slices of the greasy, cheesy goodness from a window inside the bar, or near the main door out front. (Brown) edisonspub.com, (216) 522-0006
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L I N C O L N PA R K P U B
HOTZ CAFE
39 3 P ROF E S S OR AVE. By now, you’re probably looking for some really cheap food. Like dirt cheap. And also dirt cheap beer. Lincoln Park Pub — “LPP” or “The Pub” in neighborhood parlance — is chock full of more bar games and features the finest bang for your buck on the South Side. If it’s Tuesday, help yourself to (for our money) the best Taco Tuesday in town. If it’s Friday, get adequately tanked on the $1 Black Labels. If it’s Wednesday, you’re drinking nothing but Jame-O shots. (Allard) http://on.fb.me/1zOvEC3, (216) 621-2240
2529 WEST 10TH ST. The old-school, blue-collar, neighborhood bar has been a family-owned mainstay in Cleveland for nearly a century and it hasn’t changed much since the days that Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Ty Cobb used to stop in beers after playing the Indians. A significant portion of the small room is taken up by an addicting shuffleboard table; bring some quarters and a couple of friends (or meet people there) for the best bar game around. For a buck, ask for one of the smokies delivered from the West Side Market (Cajun flavor is the best). (Brown) hotzcafe.com, (216) 771-7004
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THE BOURBON STREET BARREL ROOM 393 PROFESSOR AVE. Opened this past fall, Bourton Street Barrel Room doesn’t quite feel like a normal Tremont establishment. The dual-level bar and restaurant has a French Quarter feel about it, with wrought-iron railings around the opening on the second floor that looks down on the first, and elegant chandeliers hanging from ceiling. You should grab a drink, and maybe a bite to eat, just so you can say “yes” when your friends ask if you’ve been to that new place that just opened up in Tremont. (Brown) bsbr.squarespace.com, (216) 298-4400
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PROSPERITY SOCIAL CLUB 1109 STARKWEATHER AVE. Prosperity Social Club opened nine years ago, but it’s housed across from Lincoln Park in an original 1938-built barroom that perfectly fits the working-class foundation of Tremont. “Art Deco influences, wormy chestnut walls and vintage beer memorabilia emanate a nostalgic time of a bygone era,” they say, with “a casual, kitschy game room equipped with an oldfashioned bowling machine and vintage board games.” (Brown) prosperitysocialclub.com, (216) 937-1938
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Join us for Lunch!
From start to finish, a Crust pizza takes no less than 2 days time to make. We have the firm belief that good food takes time to make so take your time when you eat our pizza. When you order a pizza it is hand tossed from scratch, not pulled out of a box or put into a machine. We slow rise our pizza dough and then bake it at 550 degrees to lock in the flour’s natural aroma and flavor to give you some of the best tasting pizza you’ve ever had. We are a 100% scratch kitchen, which means that nothing comes pre made out of a can. We take the extra time to grind the tomatoes, hand slice the pepperoni, roll the gnocchi, bake
the bread daily and make our products by hand. Why? Because we think that you are going to notice the difference when you take your first bite. So sit back and enjoy your
Wednesdays and Thursdays Gourmet lunch special: less than $10 for three courses!
Hours
Monday - Thursday 11-9 • Friday and Saturday 11-9 • Sunday - Closed
216-583-0257
1020 Kenilworth Ave Cleveland, Ohio 44113 Located in the heart of Tremont • www.crusttremont.com
Tri-C’s Hospitality Management student-run restaurants: Bistro 87
Tri-C Metro Campus (near the Bookstore) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This week’s special: Asian Soul Fusion • Southern Fried Egg Roll and Cold Shrimp and Vegetable Spring Roll • Hibachi Chicken with Fried Rice and Southern Collard Greens • Green Tea Ice Cream Reservations: 216-987-4080
Café 4250 Tri-C Eastern Campus 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Special event! Feb. 19 - Breakfast Buffet, 8 - 9:15 a.m. Reservations: 216-987-2496
www.tri-c.edu/studentstaffdining 22 SCENE | CITYGUIDE
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food & dining
THE 25 ESSENTIAL CLEVELAND RESTAURANTS Local? Visitor? Doesn’t matter. Here’s the skinny on the restaurants that define Cleveland by Douglas Trattner “WHERE DO WE EAT?” That’s a very simple question that often warrants a very complicated answer. Well, that depends on who we’re with, what part of town we find ourselves in, how much cash we feel like burning through, and maybe even how hungover we happen to feel. But more often than not, we will end up sitting at a table in one of the following restaurants. And that’s precisely how we approached the compilation of this list. Living in a city blessed with talented chefs and exceptional restaurants, we diners have no shortage of places to spend our dough. But when compelled to choose — as diners are every night they elect to leave the cooking to somebody else — we gravitate to the places that make us feel special, the places that consistently execute on food, service and setting, the places that we never regret choosing. In short, our favorite restaurants.
tail restaurant like Greenhouse, no part of the animal is wasted. The trick is figuring out how to make your customers hand over their hardearned cash for the wrong end of a pig. The answer: Make it fucking awesome. When you combine fearlessness with culinary brilliance, you end up with a restaurant that routinely destroys boundaries, births trends and brings everybody along for the gut-pleasing ride. L O L A B I S T R O | Downtown Every god needs a temple, even the culinary ones. Cleveland is Michael Symon’s parish, and when those parishioners want to worship the man who brings heaps of praise onto our city’s food scene, they do so here, at Lola, the unofficial shrine to the “Rust Belt Revival.” Food tourists book tables here months out, locals grab seats at the bar last minute, highrollers set up shop at the chef’s table near the
Lola: often imitated, never replicated. T H E G R E E N H O U S E TAV E R N | Downtown A whole roasted pig face might sound like a dish designed to shock more than satisfy, but that’s where chef Jonathon Sawyer differs from the pack. The genesis of this immensely satisfying — and, yes, shocking — dish was not spectacle, but rather practicality. In a nose-to-
open kitchen — and all of them leave a little lighter in the wallet, heavier in the belly, and happier for the opportunity to brush with greatness. Whether he’s in the house or not, Symon’s direction can be felt in every course. T H E F LY I N G F I G | Ohio City Long before “farm-to-table” was a trite
catchphrase, and the local farmers network still was in its infancy, chef Karen Small endeavored to fill her dinner plates with food from area farms instead of national trucks. It wasn’t easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. In so doing, she — along with a small handful of other progressive chefs — helped transform Cleveland from a lackluster Midwestern flyover food town to what it is today: a shining example of how farms, chefs and restaurants can work together to help save the planet while turning out delicious, contemporary fare. M O M O C H O M O D M E X | Ohio City Eric Williams didn’t invent modern Mexican cuisine, but he certainly introduced a large number of Clevelanders to the concept. His fine form, honed from years spent in top kitchens, provides the chef with the skills and confidence to bend cuisines into something new, exciting and delicious. Sure, considerable exposure has placed Momocho squarely on the see-and-beseen list of restaurants. But when the crowds thin, and the tourists head back from whence they came, this hip Ohio City tavern always reverts back to its roots as a warm, convivial neighborhood tavern. S P I C E K I T C H E N A N D B A R | Gordon Square Chef-owner Ben Bebenroth was doing just fine with his high-end catering company Spice of Life, hosting day-dreamy Plated Landscape feasts in bucolic settings around Northeast Ohio, when he decided to take a chance on a cursed corner location in Gordon Square. That was more than two years ago, and in that time Spice has grown into a neighborhood fixture, a restaurant that so seamlessly fits with the residents’ eco-friendly sensibilities that you wonder how they got along without it all these years. More so than almost any chef in town, Bebenroth takes local, sustainable, and seasonal
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food & dining
Italian-American Cuisine Fresh & Made-to-Order
Good Food And Fine Wine is what we’re known for! Dine in, Carry Out & Catering 28751 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake
440-250-2143
stellamiawestlake.com
Get HIGH-END Low Country in Ohio City at Soho. to heart — and makes abiding by the land a pain-free proposition. T h e B l a c k P i g | Ohio City It’s never easy to be the following act for a rising star chef like Jonathon Sawyer, as Mike Nowak was at Bar Cento after Sawyer’s departure. And Nowak will soon depart too, to Banter in Detroit Shoreway, but Adam Lambert is by his side for now, and will take over then. Speaking of moving: Black Pig, moved, and improved, from its spot on West 25th to the former Light Bistro location on Bridge. The ever-growing cadre of fans make frequent sojourns to enjoy French-inspired fare starring heirloom pork in all its pink, piggy glory. While lofty in pedigree and provenance, the fare is easygoing, approachable and otherworldly when it comes to taste. F l o u r r e s Ta u r a n T | Moreland Hills Flour is one of the few restaurants that always manages to have a few surprises up its sleeves regardless how often one visits. On its surface, it’s a contemporary Italian bistro, with familiar-sounding dishes like stuffed peppers, calamari, Neapolitan pizzas, and pasta galore. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find that regardless how familiar a dish might sound, there’s always more to the story. In place of linguini with clam sauce you get cockles with spaghetti and caviar. Short ribs are char-grilled before a slow braise in red wine and chocolate milk. Eggs Benny features fried mortadella in place of dry-ass Canadian bacon. When you have talent the likes of Paul Minnillo and Matt Mytro — “Old School” and “New School” — in the kitchen, it’s best to keep gaps between visits as brief as possible.
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c r o P B i s T r o a n d B a r | Ohio City Running a restaurant is hard work, which explains why so many chefs are somber, serious types. But when Steve Schimoler rode into town on his magic bus from never-never land, he instantaneously elevated the mood of the entire local food scene. He approaches his menu as a boy would approach an erector set — but in place of beams, pulleys and motors, the chef employs seasonal veggies, meats and seafood. And the results are no less fun: playful, eye-catching and drop-dead delicious. Schimoler’s boundless boyhood spirit proves that true artists don’t have to be cheerless bastards.
Happy Hour
Tues-Fri 4pm-8pm $2 Domestics $4 Long Islands L O L I TA | Tremont Because we’re nostalgic, that’s why. Because some of us remember when we had Michael Symon all to ourselves, when his personality still fit within the walls of this epic Tremont bistro. Plenty has changed since the chef opened the original Lola here, but not so much within the space. Fans of “the good old days” appreciate Lolita, which replaced Lola when it moved downtown, for its neighborhood sensibilities. Intimate, personal, comfortable and convivial, Lolita reminds us through food and mood what it was like when the Cleveland food revolution started in earnest.
Every Friday
Island Music & Menu Featuring Curry-based
Trinidad Classics 15601 Waterloo Rd. Cleveland
216-926-4673
Ohio City’s Newest Neighborhood Bar Open 7 Days Signature Cocktails featuring:
Cleveland Tea Revival Beet Jar Juice Bar Old City Beverage Homemade Pierogi w/Sausage & Kraut
S O H O K I T C H E N A N D B A R | Ohio City Just when you think Ohio City had published some sort of secret manual that restaurant operators had to adhere to just to open their doors, along come Nolan Konkoski and Molly Smith with designs of their own. SoHo doesn’t really fit the mold established by its brethren, and for that we couldn’t be more pleased. No farm-to-table American bistro this, SoHo instead heads south to Low Country land and returns with lip-smacking, finger-licking, toe-tapping feasts of creamy shrimp and grits, mahogany fried chicken and aromatic, seafood-rich boils. Not much larger than the parlor of a quaint Victorian, this restaurant is agreeably intimate and hospitable — just like the folks who run it. A top-notch American whiskey selection is the gravy on the country-fried steak.
Tuesday
Vinyl Night
You choose & play records
on our house turntable
Wednesday
Music Trivia
L’ A L B AT R O S | University Circle We could very easily have included most of Zack Bruell’s restaurants on this list because the guy seems to hit a homerun every time he picks up a bat. But more than any other Bruell spot, L’Albatros manages to make diners feel special in ways that other restaurants do not. In short, it’s a special-occasion restaurant that needn’t be reserved for special occasions. We love the out-of-the-way locale, the history-dripping old carriage house, and that romance-inducing magic-garden patio. But without stellar food and service, all of the former would be mere window dressing. Grab the lengthy one-page menu, point your finger at some French words and phrases, and know that whatever the kitchen sends out will knock your socks off.
@ 8pm
Thursday
Pierogi Night 3 for $5
Sunday Rotating
C O R K & C L E AV E R S O C I A L K I T C H E N | Broadview Heights We’ll spare you the tired “big city bistro in a sleepy suburban strip mall” anecdote and simply focus on the meaty bits. Cork & Cleaver is run by two of the most dedicated and passionate practitioners of the craft that we have in a city chock full of dedicated and passionate practitioners. Chefpartners Brian Okin and Adam Bostwick routinely push boundaries, but never at the expense of diner satisfaction. This is serious food — and this is fun food. C&C’s wheelhouse is American comfort with a twist, like chicken Download the official SCENE and waffles featuring meat that has been brined, confitted, stripped from happy hour app today! the bones, molded into nuggets, breaded and deep fried. The roundly and rightly popular Reuben ribs are a delicious revelation.
Find your happy hour.
Chef Brunch 12-4 pm
(Begins April 2015)
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food & dining
SCENE’s
BEST SUSHI in Cleveland 2014
TAKING PIZZA TO THE NEXT LEVEL
We’re not exactly sure which Ginko dish this is, but it looks delicious.
F i r e F o o d a n d d r i n k | Shaker Square It’s a challenge to keep the attention of diners in a culinary market as dynamic as ours. It’s even harder to do so for years on end on the eastside of Cleveland, where dining at new restaurants is blood sport. Chef-owner Doug Katz has been doing that for more than a decade in a location that can be murder on restaurants: Shaker Square. The restaurant has thrived because it is one of the most consistently excellent options in town in terms of food, service and atmosphere. If Fire opened up tomorrow in Tremont looking just as it did 13 years back, it still would win Best New Restaurant: that’s how timeless the place is. Katz owns the farm-to-table American bistro genre, where the season’s best ingredients are coaxed into flavor-forward plates of perfection.
Hand Tossed & Stone Baked Fresh Gourmet Salads Fine Wines Micro Brews on Tap Dine In - Carry Out
S z e c h u a n G o u r m e t | Asiatown If you let it, dining out still can be an adventure. Most of us go through our days ordering the same dishes at the same restaurants because we know what comes next. Dine at Szechuan Gourmet and it’s all a delicious crapshoot. The menu is long and obtuse, lacking anything resembling a description. Categories like “soup” and “entrée” are more suggestion than actual grouping. But that’s all part of the charm of this Asian eatery inside the Tink Holl market, where dishes are foreign, exotic and earthshatteringly delicious. Dishes hum with the energy of 10,000 Sichuan peppercorns, which produce a tongue-tingling buzz that you never want to end. Fa h r e n h e i t | Tremont Cleveland doesn’t often export its concepts; we’re more of a borrower. But chef Rocco Whalen has seeded Charlotte, North Carolina, with some genuine Cleveland DNA with the recent opening of a Fahrenheit 21 floors above the clean city streets. North Carolinians are now discovering what we have known for years: Whalen has a knack for delivering explosive food that resonates with damn near every diner. His pizzas are more addictive than crack, and his Kobe beef short ribs on lo mein noodles have been known to invade people’s dreams. But more than anything, this Tremont bistro buzzes with the sort of energy that convinces diners that they made reservations at the right spot. You want buyer’s remorse? Eat somewhere else.
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S U P E R I O R P H O | Asiatown Little known fact: When Superior Pho opened up eight or so years ago, most of us had never even heard of let alone sampled this Vietnamese staple. Sure, there were a few tepid versions buried on ethnic menus around town, but nobody had devoted an entire restaurant (and nest egg) to the noodle soup until Manh Nguyen opened shop. Lucky for us, he got things right. Had he not, a whole major new trend might never have gotten off the ground. Service is swift, prices are fair, and the bowls of heady beef broth, chewy noodles, random bits of meat, and vegetal accouterments are guaranteed to brighten even the darkest of days. T O A S T | Gordon Square Toast isn’t much like other restaurants. It’s the unique creation of its owner, Jillian Davis, and thus is a one-off in terms of concept, decor and menu. That’s just fine with us because she’s got great taste when it comes to picking wine,
picking cocktails and picking chefs. Soon-to-bewed partners Jennifer Plank and Joe Horvath bring a little bit of the country farmhouse vibe into the heart of Gordon Square, where adorable little plates change with the weather. The Toast Trio is a nifty starter, perfect with a glass of wine or a signature cocktail. The rustic housemade charcuterie is required eating, as is pretty much anything else exiting the tiny kitchen. G I N K O R E S TA U R A N T | Tremont It takes a master chef like Dante Boccuzzi to open a truly exceptional sushi restaurant like Ginko. Who else would invest all that dough in a world-class sushi chef and coolers stocked with the freshest fish flown in daily from the Tskiji Fish Market in Tokyo? Cleveland has been lucky enough in the sushi genre, with one or two really good places at any given time. But when Ginko opened up it instantly raised the bar, defined the category and presented locals with the kind of sushi bar typically found in big
coastal cities. Take a seat at the counter and let chef Noma-San school you with his offerings of deftly cut fish. The funky subterranean setting adds to the entire experience, offering a cocoon-like setting where the focus lands squarely on the plate. T O M M Y ’ S R E S TA U R A N T | Coventry Some joints get grandfathered into lists like this one, and if you haven’t eaten at Tommy’s in recent years, you might think this one has too. But in a city lousy with copycat concepts and mimeographed menus, Tommy’s remains a true original, a place where picking up the monster menu feels both warmly familiar and refreshingly unique. I mean, who the hell else sells dozens of various meat pies,
Specializing in
Brazilian CuiSine •Private Parties
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Come, Taste The Island Spices Ethnic Jamaican Cuisine • Take Out Only • 3936 Mayfield Road Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44121
216-382-3936 • Cash Only! SCENE | CITYGUIDE 27
food & dining
The incorrigible Slyman’s corned beef sandwich.
escarole and potato pies and toasted cheese sandwiches? One of the few establishments where vegetarians and carnivores (if not Republicans) can peaceably coexist, Tommy’s is a holdover from another generation. This timeless gem earns its place on this list every single day it flips the sign on the door from “closed” to “open.” S o k o l o w S k i ’ S U n i v e r S i t y i n n | Tremont It took the James Beard Foundation 91 years to figure out what Clevelanders have known for generations: that Sokolowski’s is an American Classic. The restaurant was the recipient of that precious Beard award in 2014, confirming that hearty Polish comfort foods are every bit as deserving of dangling metal pendants as foo-foo foodie fare. We love Sokolowski’s because it’s an honest reflection of our roots, dished up with zero pretention in a rustic tavern setting. This is food you don’t have to contemplate; this is food that isn’t deconstructed; this is food that is so familiar it feels like the meals Mom would make us. That’s because it is. S ly m a n ’ S r e S ta U r a n t | St. Clair/Superior These days, every corner store and pub claims to serve “Cleveland’s Best Corned Beef.” That’s bullshit, of course, because Slyman’s has been the reigning champ for decades. Unhinge your jaw and sink your enamels deep into a fresh-sliced Slyman’s corned beef sammie and you’re enjoying one of the finest food experiences in town. Butter-soft and sweet, with whiffs of rye and mustard, these beef bombs seem to melt on contact. But there’s more to Slyman’s than pink meats; there’s the hot turkey with fries and gravy, the egg salad sandwiches and the Reubens, to name a few. Like Sokolowski’s, the crowds here so accurately represent a demographic cross-section of our populace that you could knock out a census sampling with one quick visit. t h e B U t c h e r a n d t h e B r e w e r | East Fourth Butcher and the Brewer is the most ambitious, audacious and daring dining project to land in Cleveland since pioneering showman Nick Kostis opened his $5-million fun zone, Pickwick & Frolic, just down the block. Stepping off East Fourth Street and into this cavernous, cacophonous beer hall is a jolt to the senses, where every turn of the head reveals another facet of the sweeping operation. Butcher and the Brewer succeeds first and foremost as a “Great American Beer Hall” because it brews great beer
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and serves it up in a historic old hall. The butcher part: A see-through meat locker reveals full sides of swinging Ohio beef, which is ground into burgers, sliced into steaks and dried into jerky. And B&B encourages grazing which, in fact, is the best way to tackle the wide-ranging menu. D A N T E | Tremont After years spent globetrotting through places like London, Milan, Hong Kong, San Francisco and New York, native Clevelander and nationally recognized chef Dante Boccuzzi came back to claim his spot as one Cleveland’s most famous chefs. In the years that followed he has gone on to open multiple restaurants, including another one that made this list. But Dante always will be his signature, eponymous restaurant, one that showcases through finetuned food the chef’s knack for blending Italian, American and Asian influences. He has a true gift when it comes to seafood and pasta, both of which get plenty of airtime at this
stunning Tremont bistro. L I WA H | Asiatown There aren’t many things worth waking up for on a Sunday, but dim sum at this sprawling Asiatown restaurant is one of them. Round up a small posse, plant a flag in a huge round table, and proceed to load it up with every conceivable steamed and fried bun, dumpling and roll. The beauty of this process is that it’s a point-and-shoot affair; simply keep your eyes peeled for things that look tasty and ask for one (or two). Portions are small and prices are too, so order a large variety of items whether you’ve tried them before or not. Be brave and sample the congee, a creamy rice porridge, and the chicken feet, which are fried and braised until melt-in-your-mouth tender. And drink tea, lots and lots of tea. L U C K Y ’ S C A F E | Tremont Breakfast, we are so often told, is the most important meal of the day, even when
eaten, as we so often do, after noon. Greasyspoon diners are all right by us, but when we want to up our game and invest in a meal plucked fresh from the earth, made from scratch with skill, and served in a place that doesn’t reek of stale coffee, we make a pilgrimage to Lucky’s. If you don’t think farmfresh eggs, local butter and milk, and happyharvested meats make a difference — and thus, aren’t worth the added expense — then find the nearest Denny’s. That will free up a few more in-demand seats at our favorite neighborhood cafe.
#SceneCityGuide15 t @dougtrattner
Cleveland’s Own Chocolate Exhilarating Unforgettable
2285 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio www.mitchellschocolates.com 216-932-3200 · 877-661-4026 Red Hope — Courtesy of another Cleveland original, Digital Artist, Michael Nekic
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2/2/15 12:34 PM
food & dining
Our city, Our fOOd
Pierogi
Polish boy
what: Those wonderful potato-and-cheese stuffed dumplings why: Cleveland’s Eastern European immigrants brought them generations ago, and they’ve been a beloved staple of the city’s cuisine ever since where: Your first stop should be Sokolowski’s University Inn, whose name has become synonymous with the dish. Also hit Parma’s Perla Homemade Delight (pictured), where dozens of flavors are sold by the, well, dozen
what: The glorious, messy marriage of kielbasa, cole slaw, french fries and barbecue sauce why: Every city has its claim to fame, and in Cleveland, our fate will forever be intertwined with the Polish Boy where: Add chili and cheese to your Polish Boy at the famous Seti’s truck perennially parked at Dean Supply; or douse your dog with special sauce at Hot Sauce Williams
Sample the best of what Cleveland has to offer by Nikki Delamotte What if you could grab a tray and slide down the buffet of your dreams, with all of your favorite iconic Cleveland eats in one place? If we could build and stock that buffet, it might include the following morsels.
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b r at w u r s t sandwich what: A ‘sandwich’ made with the perfectly spiced German-style sausage why: Frank’s Bratwurst has been “serving the wurst since 1970,” whether piled high with kraut and horseradish, or served plain with brown mustard where: The West Side Market used to be the only place to snag the famous Frank’s, but a brat-mobile launched in 2011 has taken his famous sandwiches to the streets
Pizza bagels what: The doughy rolls coated in cheese and tomato sauce why: Cleveland’s Frickaccio’s was one of the earliest purveyors of the pizza bagel, tempting none other than President Obama, who stocked up on the bagels before heading back to the White House where: Frickaccio’s has been slinging pizza bagels from the West Side Market for years, but recently expanded to a cafe in Fairview Park
BERTMAN’S ORIGINAL B A L L PA R K M U S TA R D W HAT: The brown sauce we grew up with while watching the Tribe at Municipal Stadium, the Jake, and Progressive Field W HY: The sports-associated condiment has deep roots in Cleveland, with Bertman’s battling its rival, Authentic Stadium Mustard, for fans’ loyalty W HE RE : Find it smothered on Fat Head’s Brewery’s Brewben pastrami sandwich or layered on a Happy Dog hot dog topped with Spaghetti-O’s as a hat tip to native son Chef Boyardee
C A S S ATA W HAT: The decadently sweet cake that received the Cleveland treatment W HY: Cleveland pastry chefs put a local spin on this classic by swapping out ricotta and candied fruit for custard and strawberry filling W HE RE : Stop into Corbo’s Bakery or Baraona’s Bakery (pictured), where Cleveland’s take on cassata is a shop specialty
CORNED BEEF WHAT: The sandwich stacked high on rye with mustard WHY: Nothing fuels a debate in Cleveland faster than asking which shop serves the best version of this Jewish soul food WHERE: Slyman’s has long been the home of Cleveland’s best-loved corned beef, but Jack’s Deli, Corky & Lenny’s and Mr. Brisket ain’t chopped liver either
COCONUT BARS WHAT: The airy, chocolate-dipped cakes dusted in flaky coconut WHY: The sweet treats were perfected by Cleveland Jewish bakeries decades ago WHERE: Peruse the glass cases of Pincus Bakery in Cleveland Heights or stop by Little Italy’s bustling Presti’s Bakery
CHICKEN PA P R I K A S H WHAT: The paprika-stewed Hungarian comfort food WHY: With a significant number of Hungarians settling in Cleveland during the 19th and 20th centuries, this traditional dish was a soulful inevitability WHERE: Venture to the Clubhouse, a unpretentious Parma pub, for a home-style meal, or head east to Sterle’s Country House (pictured) and add a side of stuffed cabbage
PA C Z K I WHAT: The deep-fried, jam-filled, doughnut-like Polish pastries WHY: The pre-Lent Paczki Day celebration is Cleveland’s favorite way to exalt our temptations before we give up everything fun WHERE: Visit the Slavic Village-based Seven Roses Deli (pictured) for authentic Polish fare and make plans to attend Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery’s annual Paczki Ball
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food & dining
Cleveland’s ethniC smörgåsbord
The world at your lips right here on the shores of Lake Erie by Douglas Trattner The phrase “melTing poT” gets
Taste is king at Seoul Garden in Parma.
tossed around with about as much consideration as a fleeting Twitter hashtag. But Cleveland’s deep and broadly branched immigrant roots long ago began supplying the ingredients for a wellseasoned melting pot of ethnic cuisines. Thanks to wave after wave of newcomer, today’s adventurous diners now have their pick of
authentic ethnic eateries. For starters, consider that Cleveland has restaurants devoted to Ethiopian, Korean, Indian, Lebanese, Turkish, Polish, Vietnamese, Colombian and Jamaican cuisines. Those, of course, are in addition to good old standards like Italian, French, Chinese, Greek, Mexican, Thai and great Jewish deli. What’s more, as diners grow more sophisticated about particular cuisines, operators reward us with more faithful representations of their native dishes. Take Indian food, for example. For years, diners had been happily munching on time-honored North Indian staples at institutions like Saffron Patch and Café Tandoor. Today, the entire subcontinent is on display at places like Taste of Kerala, Namaste and Udupi, where the flavors and textures of South India are represented. The same holds true for Asian food. Sure, there are still a few antediluvian relics hawking moo goo gai pan and egg foo young, but those restaurants now are the exception to the rule. Heat freaks can fan the flames at Szechuan Gourmet, fans of Beijing-style kebabs can tuck into charcoal-fired lamb skewers at Han Chinese, and noodle slurpers can get their fill of shrimp dumpling and noodle soup at Wonton Gourmet. It seems you can’t turn a corner without stepping into a bowl of pho, but you won’t hear us complaining. It’s a near-perfect food, and one we survive on throughout winter. Since the first bowls landed in Cleveland —at Vietnamese places like Minh-Anh and Superior Pho — we have seen others follow suit (tastefully) at Ninh Kieu, Pho Thang and Pho &
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Rice. For our money, food doesn’t get much more thrilling than Korean fare. And there’s been no better time in Cleveland to explore its intricacies thanks to killer joints like Seoul Garden in Parma, Ha Anh downtown, and Miega in Asiatown. If you are not regularly eating your weight in banchan, pajeon, bibimbop and yukgaejang, you are missing out. There’s more to Turkish food than pita sandwiches, and places like Anatolia Cafe, Dervish Grill and Istanbul Mediterranean Grill have been opening our minds and mouths to the pleasures of fried calves’ liver, chicken adana and iskender for the past few years. The cuisine is approachable, healthy and ideally suited to our meat-and-potatoes sensibilities. If you have been paying attention at all, you likely have noticed more and more killer Jamaican joints opening up around town. They tend to be located on the fringes of neighborhoods, are almost exclusively carry-
out, and dish out large portions of tasty stews served with rice and beans. Our favorites include Ocho Rios, Taste of Jamaica and Irie Patties. There might be no finer comfort food than Polish and Hungarian heart warmers like stuffed cabbage, veal paprikash and weinerschnitzel. This is our sweet spot, culinarily speaking, and Clevelanders have a wide range of delicious options. You can do no wrong at places like Sokolowski’s University Inn, Sterle’s Slovenian House, Balaton Restaurant and Marta’s. Even typically stuck-in-time cuisines like Mexican have been, generally speaking, improving with the times. For the best oldschool street tacos within miles, folks beat feet to La Plaza Supermarket in Lakewood. For something a little more new-school, there’s no besting El Carnicero or Orale Kitchen in Ohio City. So, what are we missing? Well, as good as we have it here in the 216, there are
gaps. There currently exist zero true Korean barbecues, joints where diners can sit around a grill and cook up some bulgogi over an open flame. Our Cuban offerings are slim, limited largely to Cubano sandwiches. Same goes for Greek, where gyros stand as the sum total of our experience with that cuisine. Authentic Spanish food would be great, as would Russian. And don’t get us started on barbecue. As Cleveland enjoys a fresh influx of transplants and boomerangs and immigrants, that landscape is bound to change and improve to fill those holes. #SceneCityGuide15 t @dougtrattner
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San Marzano tomatoes, oregano, garlic and EVOO
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Margherita, with salsiccia, artichokes, mushrooms and roasted peppers
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Mozzarella, Gorganzola, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano and EVOO
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CLASSICO ..............................................14.75 Mozzarella di bufala, roasted tomatoes, carmelized onions, sauteed mushrooms and EVOO
ALBA .......................................................14.00 San Marzano tomatoes, capicola, arugula, fresh egg, Grana Padana and EVOO
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food & dining
CLEVELAND: FOOD CAPITAL, USA No shortage of acclaim was bestowed upon our esteemed dining scene in the past year by Douglas Trattner WHO COULD HAVE predicted that Cleveland would have progressed from scrappy underdog to media darling in such a short time? While there has been a steady trickle of positive media buzz surrounding our fair city’s food and drink scene over the past few years, lately, it seems, Cleveland officially is “the next big thing.” Here are just of few of the high-profile nods The New York Times Travel section included Cleveland among destinations like Milan, Cuba and Papua New Guinea
openings is Mabel’s BBQ from Iron Chef and native son Michael Symon, who wants to establish a Cleveland-style barbecue. The innovative local food scene also counts farm-to-table Flying Fig and Mitchell’s Ice Cream.” Fodor’s just gave readers “5 Reasons to Visit Cleveland Now,” with nods to our green spaces, arts scene, and expanding culinary scene. Specific mentions of Michael Symon, Doug Katz, Zack Bruell and Jonathon Sawyer all appear. The LA Times added Cleveland to its round-up of “15 destinations for travelers to set their sights on in 2015,” while Buzzfeed included Cleveland in its listicle of “16 Spectacular Places To Travel In 2015.” Huffington Post gave readers “9 Reasons Why You Should Fly to Cleveland Right Now,” stating that our city is home to “some very good, nonannoying celebrity chefs.” ABC Travel Guides for Kids predicted that Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Detroit all Nano Brew in Ohio City will feature prominently “as named in Brew York’s “beercation.” families seek a heavy dose of culture, sports and one-of-akind experiences for U.S. Family Travel in in its recent “52 Places to Go in 2015” 2015.” For a dining experience like no list. other, they say, visit Sokolowski’s. “A comeback fueled by art, culture Popular travel scribe Carri Wilbanks and King James,” they declared, where touted Cleveland on her Catch Carri “waterfront warehouses are being site, noting that “It’s Not Just the Rock transformed into restaurants and retail & Roll Hall Of Fame.” The food scene in spaces.” Cleveland is both creative and diverse, she No less a travel authority than Travel says. + Leisure deemed Cleveland worthy of The Wall Street Journal recently shared inclusion in its recent feature on “Best “A Visit to the Home Kitchen of Cleveland Places to Travel in 2015.” “One of Chef Jonathon Sawyer,” where they downtown’s most buzzed-about 2015
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chatted about ways parents and kids can collaborate in the kitchen. Meanwhile, Alimentari mag just dined at and loved Flour Restaurant, which “Brings Italian Philosophy to a Cleveland Kitchen.” They raved about chef Paul Minnillo and Matt Mytro’s food, including the pancetta-wrapped, chorizo-stuffed dates, which “will haunt your tastebuds long after you have left.” Cleveland’s booming beer scene nearly rivaled the food scene in terms of media love, with the likes of Condé Nast Traveler including our town among “America’s Best Beer Cities, As Chosen by Beer Experts.” “The freshest flavors and most creative styles pour in places like Cleveland, home to super-small-batch start-ups such as Platform, Nano, and Market Garden.” Brew York recently planned a “beercation” to Cleveland, where it found a little slice of hoppy heaven. “Like many American cities, Cleveland now boasts a bona fide beer neighborhood: Ohio City. This area has a strangle-hold on craft beer with four breweries, two noteworthy beer bars, and a lineup of restaurants that have embraced the locally-brewed liquid.” Thrillist tagged Cleveland as one of “7 of the Most Underrated Food Cities in America,” and just recently called Fat Head Brewery’s Head Hunter IPA one of the best IPAs in the country. “It’s one of the first real West Coast IPA recipes brewed East of the Mississippi, and it has a wonderful, intense, citrusy, and tropical fruit hop character, with substantial balanced bitterness,” notes Mitch Steele of Stone Brewing Co. #SceneCityGuide15 t @dougtrattner
VOTED BEST TACO & FOOD TRUCK 2014! ENJOY TACOS ‘TIL 2:00 AM 7 DAYS A WEEK OPEN FOR LUNCH ON FRIDAYS BRUNCH SERVED SAT & SUN 11-3 SCENE | CITYGUIDE 35
attractions
HAPPY TRAILS
Towpath trails and bus lines provide alternate modes of transportation by Jeff Niesel WHILE CLEVELAND’S THE type of city where you kinda need a car to get around, we also embrace our alternate modes of transportation. One of the reported reasons why big events such as the Gay Games and the upcoming Republican National Convention decided to come to Cleveland is because of the public transportation
Cleveland. It’s not free, but it’s convenient and you can bring your bike on the bus. And we do love our bikes, even if the city doesn’t have the kind of bike paths you find in places like Portland, Oregon or Seattle, Washington. Back in 2013, a team of so-called “renegade bike enthusiasts,” or “guerilla stripers,” laid
The view from the Towpath is not to be missed.
system. While the Rapid doesn’t go everywhere, it does make its way from the westside of town to the eastside, using Tower City as a transfer terminal of sorts. And it goes all the way to the airport. Not even the New York subways can make that claim. If you just need to take a few quick trips around downtown, the Trolley is your ticket as it provides free transportation from the Warehouse District to Public Square and Cleveland State University. In addition, RTA’s HealthLine, a “state-of-the-art busrapid transit (BRT) system,” offers “rail-like convenience with the flexibility of a bus” as it connects Public Square to the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere in East
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down an unauthorized bike lane on Detroit Avenue from West 29th to West 32nd after they were frustrated that the city hadn’t demarcated a designated bike lane. The city originally promised that a 1.7-mile bike lane on Detroit from West 29th to Lake Road would be installed by the fall of 2012. So these stripers used duct tape and spray chalk to let the city know they were pissed. While a designated bike lane now exists on the street, the tactics show just how serious the city’s cyclists really are. There’s even an extreme faction that rides year round, and there’s now a bike locker downtown where you can store (and work on) your bike. With or without bike lanes, cycling the city’s streets has its rewards and can be the most
efficient way to get from point A to point B. While urban cyclists and commuters use the city streets, recreational cyclists take to the Metroparks and the Towpath Trail. Plans are in place to extend the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath to Lake Erie. According to ohiobikeways.net, “Cleveland will then become a state-wide trail hub where one can ride across Ohio by trail in three different directions.” Even if you have to ride down to the Harvard Road trailhead to pick up the Towpath Trail, it’s still a helluva ride as the bikeway heads south for some 85 miles to Zoar, in Tuscarawas County. Along the way, you’ll find restored buildings that serve as exhibits and information stations, a working lock where demonstrations are held in summer, and even the occassional bar or restaurant for a well-earned rest. A section of the Towpath runs alongside the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad; the train’s Bike Aboard program allows cyclists to pedal in one direction and make the return trip on the train. We got boats of all sizes too. Head out on Lake Erie during the summertime and you’ll encounter everything from sailboats and motorboats to giant tour boats such as the Good Time III and the Nautica Queen which take party hearty tourists and locals on cruises along the lakefront. You can also rent boats, kayaks and jet skis along the Cuyahoga River and head down river or venture out onto Lake Erie. Published in 2010, Ohio’s Lake Erie Public Access Guidebook lists some 164 public access locations and shoreline attractions along our 312-mile Lake Erie coast. In other words, there are plenty of places to paddle/sail/motorboat from and paddle/sail/ motorboat to.
#SceneCityGuide15 t @jniesel
“The MALTZ MUSEUM is truly amazing. . . and very important for future generations.”
Start a Career that KeepS On GrOWInG!
COme In & Save On $1 dayS!
VISITOR K. JELLIS, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Exploring identity. Celebrating culture. Creating connection.
H TUESDAYS H Buy a basic haircut at $5 and receive a Hot Lather Shave or Beard Trim for $1.
State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda Through March 15, 2015 Chasing Dreams: Baseball & Becoming American April 12 – September 9, 2015 Violins of Hope September 29, 2015 – January 3, 2016
H WEDNESDAYS H Ladies Day - Buy a basic haircut at $6 and receive a Shampoo, Brow Wax or Facial for $1. H THURSDAYS H Buy a basic haircut at $5 and receive a Facial for $1.
Tuesday - Saturday 9am-4:45pm One block west of the Westside Market 2546 Lorain Avenue • Ohio City
216-241-6684
2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, OH @maltzmuseum | maltzmuseum.org
allstatehairstyling.com
I-X CENTER
Interact with us!
CLEVELAND, OHIO WWW.IXCENTER.COM
Schedule of Events MARCH 20–22
IF A PISTON MAKES IT GO, IT'S IN THIS SHOW! IXPISTONPOWEREDAUTORAMA.COM
MAR 27– APR 19 FEB 7
Purchase Discounted Tickets in advance at all Ohio Discount Drug Mart store locations, Summit Racing Equipment in Tallmadge and at ALL Rad Air Complete Car Care & Tire Centers.
FEB 20–22
FEB 7
MAR 20–22†
OCT 17 & 18† OCT 24 & 25†
Cleveland Golf Show Cleveland Auto Show
FEB 7 MAR 7–15
Summit Racing Equipment I-X Piston Powered Auto-Rama
NOV 13–15
Northern Ohio Human Resource Conference
FEB 7
Presented by Marc’s
Original Sewing & Quilt Expo
MAR 26–28
I-X Trick Or Treat Street Fabulous Food Show
NOV 13–15
By Hand Fine Art & Craft Fair FREE Admission
Presented by Rad Air Complete Car Care
FEB 7
I-X Indoor Amusement Park
MAR 20*
I-X Christmas Connection
Purchase discount tickets at all Ohio Discount Drug Mart store locations as noted on schedule†. Discount Drug Mart, the Official Ticketing Retail Sponsor of Select I-X Center Shows.
NOV 20–22
*Trade Show: Advance Registration Required.
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attractions
SPACES AND PLACES Cleveland has accommodations to suit every lifestyle (and income bracket) by Jeff Niesel IT USED TO be that if you wanted to stay someplace nice in Cleveland, you only had a few choices. But the city has recently expanded its range of hotels and by year’s end, downtown should add a boutique hotel that’s part of the Kimpton chain. It will be located in the Schofield Building. In addition, Le Méridien Cleveland and a 600-room Hilton Cleveland Downtown should open by 2016. Here’s a rundown of some of the hotel options available to travelers (and residents who crave the occasional staycation): A LOF T
| aloftclevelanddowntown.com Part of the same chain that includes the upscale W Hotels, Aloft is a bit more affordable
Affordable and trendy, aLoft combines the best of both worlds. than the overpriced (but hipper) W. With outposts in Beachwood and downtown Cleveland, Aloft caters to business travelers. But the downtown hotel boasts WXYZ, a modernlooking bar where the locals hang. And it offers great views of the river. THE C L EV EL AND H OS T E L | theclevelandhostel.com With its string of cool breweries and restaurants, West 25th Street has become a nightlife destination for locals. So it’s a great bonus that out-of-town guests on a budget can hunker down at the Cleveland Hostel, conveniently located on West 25th, and have some money to spend on the tasty microbrews
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they can get at Great Lakes Brewing Co., Town Hall, Market Garden Brewery, Bier Markt and Nano Brew. The place offers a shared kitchen and boasts a cool rooftop deck. It even has bike storage and lockers. The lounge comes as advertised: It’s “cozy.” E M E R A LD N ECK LA CE IN N | emeraldnecklaceinn.com You won’t find any hipsters hanging out at Emerald Necklace Inn, a place that prides itself on its coziness. It advertises that rooms feature an “original claw-style tub with shower, private lavatory” and “a cozy winter fireplace heater.” And yet, the views of the Rocky River Metro Park are fantastic and the quaintness of the place (it even has a tea tasting room, for chrissake) is undeniable. G LID D EN H OU SE | gliddenhouse.com Settled in an old mansion on the campus of Case Western Reserve University, Glidden House is a 60-room boutique hotel in walking distance of many cultural attractions. The charming hotel serves its guests a Europeanstyle breakfast buffet daily in its old parlor and offers plenty of dining and drinking options including Palette Wine Bar, Glidden’s small lounge with a large wine list. H OT E L IN D IG O | hotelindigo.com/ beachwood This boutique hotel just opened in Beachwood and it boasts a series of “signature murals [that] capture the true essence of the style and culture around you.” Hyde Park Prime Steak House is on the premises and the place provides easy access to shopping destinations
Legacy Village and Beachwood Place. The artfully decorated lobby looks like something out of a sci-fi Western. J . PA LEN H OU SE | jpalenhouse.com Part of a very walkable section of Ohio City — it’s a short stroll to the hustle and bustle of West 25th Street as well as the West Side Market — J. Palen House provides an urban bed-and-breakfast experience. Built in the 1800s, the place has a vintage look and feel. There’s even a parlor window seat, a spot the owners say is “a perfect place to listen to old songs and modern renditions.” TH E 9 | the9cleveland.com Don’t let the accounts of brawls between overly enthusiastic fans and NFL quarterbacks turn you off: The 9 adds a bit of glamour to downtown Cleveland. Predictably enough, the 9 comes with a hot nightclub (the Vault, which is, quite literally, set in the building’s old basement vaults) and a rooftop patio with great city views (it’s only open seasonally). WA SH IN G TON PLA CE BI STRO AND IN N | washingtonplacebistro.com Known as much for its fine-dining restaurant as it is for its overnight accommodations, Little Italy’s Washington Place Bistro and Inn provides an alternative to the typical hotel experience, offering all the conveniences of an upscale hotel (wall-mounted TVs, glass showers, iPod alarm clocks) without the anonymity. Occupying the former Baricelli Inn, Washington Place got a bit of a face lift a couple years back when new owner Scott Kuhn spent six months completely remodeling the upstairs accommodations with warm, relaxing amenities and adding a full bar to the restaurant.
#SceneCityGuide15 t @jniesel
attractions
DON’T MISS IT! These annual traditions make our city awesome. Won’t you join us? by Eric Sandy JANUARY CLEVELAND WINTER BEERFEST At press time, the second annual Cleveland Winter Beerfest is receding into the rearview, and this year’s installment was another hit. Think about it: This is a city whose newfound economic strides are built at least partially on brewing tanks. Winter Beerfest features more than 350 craft brews. Local, national, and everything in between: Winter Beerfest is awesome.
FEBRUARY
MARCH
BRITE WINTER There’s probably nothing more quintessentially “Cleveland” than a raging music festival spanning multiple city blocks in a craft beerfueled neighborhood in February. Or, more to the point, outdoors in February. Festival-goers shiver their way through sets from the city’s and region’s and, in some cases, country’s coolest bands. The beer flows like red wine and the food — we love to eat local — is delicious.
CIFF Evolving over several decades into a mustattend titan of an event, the Cleveland International Film Festival brings hundreds of films to the theaters at Tower City. All told, the 2014 event saw nearly 100,000 people flock to the movies. With a savvy eye for insightful art and a region that loves good movies, CIFF is only gonna get bigger and better. Film schedules are published in late February.
APRIL
M AY
JUNE
D Y N G U S D AY Maybe you don’t know what a “dyngus” is. Maybe you do. (We certainly don’t, anyway.) But you know that things are right in the world when some stranger starts spraying you with a super soaker while you’re halfway through your third plate of pierogi. Appropriated locally from the world’s largest organized Dyngus Day celebration in Buffalo, the Easter Monday festival has become a huge hit in Cleveland.
H E S S L E R S T R E E T FA I R Conceived in 1969 as a block party (and later abandoned amid the not-so-hip 1980s), the Hessler Street Fair has evolved into one of the biggest and most involved parties of its kind. It’s a free event that sort of opens the floodgates for summertime neighborhood fun in Cleveland. There’s plenty to go around — pass it to your left, as they say, or is that something else? — and it all begins at Hessler.
S T. D E M E T R I O S G R E E K F E S T This celebration of all things Greek brings thousands to this Rocky River church each summer. It’s a huge bash, and the natural segue from stuffing one’s face with baklava to dancing with old friends is recognized by all. Listen: We love good food here in Northeast Ohio, and we know that there ain’t nothing like a gyro done right. We’ll see you in June.
J U LY BURNING RIVER FEST We’re known nationally for those times the Cuyahoga River caught fire, so we decided to just run with it and make it another reason to party. The Burning River Foundation’s annual event is a wonderful blend of good music, good beer, and good ecological awarenessraising. Held at Whiskey Island, the event is a great climactic moment in our Cleveland summers. We hear you can also get a taste of Great Lakes Christmas Ale there too ...
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION If you only make it to Little Italy once in a blue moon, you might as well make it during that heady August weekend known as the Feast of the Assumption. While there’s a religious angle in there somewhere, we love the festival for its abundance of cultural displays and the delicious food being sold literally everywhere you turn.
INGENUITY FEST Cleveland is innovative. We’re home to all manner of creative geniuses, and the whole lot of them tend to show up for this annual celebration of cool stuff. You’ll learn a bunch of new things while having a total blast, making this event one of the more unique offerings downtown.
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
S L AV I C V I L L A G E P O L I S H F E S T I VA L Polish culture — and, most especially, the food — kinda goes hand in hand with Cleveland’s overall vibe. If you want to call this place home — and we know you do — you’d do well to get acquainted with your inner stuffed cabbage. The annual festival at Slavic Village’s St. Stanislaus is the perfect place to do just that.
CLEVELAND COMEDY FEST Back in 2007, Comedy Fest co-founder Joe Hannum and his buddies were kicking around talk of Cleveland’s comedy scene and its place in the national community of funny business. “How come Cleveland doesn’t have a comedy festival? None of us really knew the answer,” he says. “And then somebody, and I don’t know who to blame for this, said, well, maybe we should create one. So that’s what we decided to do.” The event now attracts big names and big laughs from around the country.
CLE ROCKS NYE This is something of a younger tradition in Cleveland: The big New Year’s Eve bash. In 2013, the city swarmed Public Square as Drew Carey rung us in. In 2014, Machine Gun Kelly held down the night’s entertainment on Mall B. Who knows what’s in store for Dec. 31 in the future? Regardless, you should plan on finding out.
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drink
BUILD YOUR OWN SIX-PACK The easy-drinking guide to bottled brews in Cleveland by Sam Allard ELLIOT NESS GREAT LAKES B REWI NG COMPANY AM BER ALE Start off with a classic, right? This rich amber lager from Cleveland’s most storied brewery is perfectly balanced with “crisp noble hops.” It’s super drinkable (per our requirements) and super delicious — I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know — and remains a gorgeous pour all year round. The malty aromas and mild bite pair well with some good old-fashioned meat and potatoes, but the subtle caramel presence (we did our research!) makes this one a treat even if you’ve got nothing to drink it with.
BLONDE BOMBSHELL INDI GO I MP AM ERI CAN BLO NDE ALE Feels like a bandwagon Cleveland selection here, but the Indigo Imp stuff is only available in bottles, so it felt like a necessity to include. Plus, this one more or less defines easy drinking, and therefore can be viewed rather like a scientific control. The taste is the opposite of strident or offensive. It goes down real easy and remains notable for more carbonation than usual. It has a really nice sort of soggy-straw hue and is a perfect beer for sunny spring afternoons on the farm or fairway. Just a harmless, easy-drinking, Cleveland beer. And, really, isn’t that all we want out of life?
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BUMBLE BERRY FAT HEAD’S HONEY BLUEBERRY ALE Why not include Fat Heads’ signature Head Hunter IPA in our easy-drinking Cleveland six-pack, you ask? Because IPAs are everywhere, literally everywhere. And beside, this unique summertime brew is sort of an offbeat (and weirdly addictive) addition to our list. Be advised that the Bumble Berry may evoke memories of blueberry pancakes or blueberry muffins, but it’s not overwhelmingly blueberry-y. It doesn’t have that syrupy mouthfeel, you know? Plus the flower-child bottle design will spruce up the collection.
12 DOGS OF CHRISTMAS THIRSTY DOG WINTER WARMER Thirsty Dog is in Akron, so it’s sneaking into our easydrinking six-pack only on a technicality (a technicality we made up all on our own). Comparing this one to GLBC’s seminal Christmas Ale is purely a matter of preference, but we already had a Great Lakes brew on our list, and this one can be just as good, depending on the batch. Same cinnamon kick. Same nutmeggy (ed. note: “nutmeggy”?) (author note: “nutmeggy”) undertones. Same booming alcohol content. Same yuletide merriment at night’s end. With all that in mind, the only thing especially “easy” about this one is your ability to fall asleep after about two and a half of them.
WHITE RAJAH THE BREW KETTLE IPA Fine! Here’s your IPA already. This one, with the region’s best tagline — “Taming the savage hop” — is an IPA in the West Coast style, whatever that means. All we know is it packs a helluva punch, hopwise, but still has some fruity, almost tropical, hints. In additional good news, it clocks in at just under 7-percent ABV, which means, in the “easy drinking” department, that you can have more than one without going blind. This is the clear standout from Strongsville’s Brew Kettle, and it’s a perfect fit for our easy-drinking Cleveland six-pack.
NEW CLEVELAND PA L E S N E R PLATFORM BREWERY + CLE CLOTHING CO. PALE PILSNER “Part pale ale, part pilsner, 100-percent Cleveland” read the sleek new cans from Platform Brewery, in their brand new collaboration with CLE Clothing Co. That’s right, easy drinker: It comes in a can, which doesn’t immediately disqualify it from this bottlefocused easy-drinking guide, but does mean you’ll have to find a cardboard six-pack container with some increased flexibility. It’s only 5-percent ABV and was designed by master brewer Shaun Yasaki to please both plebeian and nerdtastic easy drinkers alike. Plus the can is super cool.
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drink
WHISKEY BUSINESS Nursing the state’s best whiskeys by Eric Sandy and Douglas Trattner OHIO, KNOWN BACK in those wild ‘20s as a hotbed of Prohibition-minded legislators, is actually surfing the forefront of the microdistillery scene. Cleveland plays host to a few gems; Columbus and Cincinnati, our lesser brethren, do too. And they’re all good. (Cleveland’s are the best, duh.) You could make the case that the Buckeye State has its own twisted take on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, though
No foolin’ around here. ours are younger and, in some cases, less conventional distilleries. Make a long weekend out of it some day, but rest assured that such an excursion should always be bookended by two of our favorites. T O M ’ S F O O L E RY | tomsfoolery.com Staring us down right in the middle of Scene’s Worldwide Headquarters is a bottle of third-batch Tom’s Foolery straight bourbon whiskey. The five-barrel set-up produced 1,250 bottles of this elixir, and — boy, oh, boy — this one we’ve got right here is a dandy. Notes of leather and clove dance around the body. Tobacco swirls around the taste buds, lingering for a moment before dovetailing into a fine and mystical burn. For just shy of three years, Tom Herbruck,
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his wife and business partner Lianne, and full-time brewer Erik Rothschiller have been filling barrels full of whiskey at a rate of nearly one per day. The sour mash bourbon is made the old-fashioned way, namely by employing open wood fermenters and copper pot stills in place of continuous column stills. The bourbon is aged in charred oak barrels for at least two years. It contains zero added colors or flavors. It is exceptional. “Why do we do it this way?” Herbruck says about the process. “We do it this way because this is the way we were taught to do it by David Beam and Dick Stoll, who were doing it this way 30, 40, 50 years ago.” The Chagrin Falls distillery has also gathered a fine reputation for its American apple brandy, called applejack, and produced entirely from apples and water. Here’s a recipe! Chagrin Mule 2 oz. Tom’s Foolery Applejack 1 oz. fresh lime juice Ginger beer • Lime wedge for garnish Instructions: Pour the Applejack and the lime juice into a highball glass with ice cubes. Top off with the ginger beer and garnish with the lime wedge. Simple. Enjoy!
CLEVELAND WHISKEY | clevelandwhiskey.com What was described pre-launch in 2013 as a “bourbon whiskey miracle” is now one of the region’s most popular spirits. “We’ve created a process where the normal 10 to 12 year aging process in oak barrels is achieved in days,” founder/CEO Tom Lix told us back when he was getting everything wrapped up. The resulting whiskey has a darker, more caramelized color and deeper flavor than the Knob Creek we compared it to — in the interest of science, of course. Here’s a rundown of how this works: Bourbon is 51-percent corn. As the grains
are boiled, starches and sugars break down, readying the fermentation process, which involves yeast. The liquid is eight- to 10-percent alcohol at that point. Cleveland Whiskey pours that into a 132-gallon still, where the process of concentrating alcohol by separating it from the water occurs. Then, Lix says, “in the reflux column it further separates the bad alcohol — methanol — from good alcohol, resulting in a bourbon mash. The aging process in an oak barrel continues the concentration of oils and flavor. Up to 80 percent of the flavor comes from the wood. Once inside the barrels, there are heating and cooling cycles occurring within every 24-hour period that change the pressure in the barrel. “Our pressurized aging process replicates the same heating and cooling process; it reduces the typical aging period of 9 to 12 years to a few days,” Lix says. You can book a tour of the distillery, to get an up-close look at just what in the hell all that science lingo really means. All we know is that it tastes good and we want more of it. Here’s a recipe! Cleveland Cider 1 gal. fresh apple cider 5 tsp. ground cinnamon 2 ½ tsp. ground nutmeg 2 ½ tsp. ground ginger 3 cups Cleveland Whiskey Instructions: In a crockpot, heat apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. When the mixture is hot (not boiling!), remove from heat and add bourbon. Stir to distribute spices and divide cider among 20 mugs. Simple. Enjoy!
Scene’s annual event, “Whiskey Business,” takes place in November. #SceneCityGuide15 t @ericsandy t @dougtrattner
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THE BEST NEW BARS AROUND TOWN In which we drink a lot to inform our readership of where they may too drink a lot by Eric Sandy and Sam Allard CLEVELAND, KNOWN LOCALLY for its propensity to host new restaurant and bar openings, like, every other day, has a lot of cool new hang spots. In 2014 alone, some of our very favorite bars opened their doors for the first time. We couldn’t be happier to welcome them into our little corner of the world. East, west, downtown: The gang’s all here. If you’re in the mood to check a few new bars and taprooms and pubs and watering holes off your ever-expanding wish list of places to visit, here are eight awesome places to start. WAT E R L O O B R E W The old Slovenian Workman’s Home on Waterloo Road in Cleveland’s North Collinwood neighborhood is a helluva cool throwback to all the best things about hanging out in bars. The place is a hip microbrewery operating with old-world charm (polka dances, fish fries, the works: all of which still go on, despite the shift in exterior and name). Sidle up the bar and order the namesake Waterloo Brew, which is brewed in partnership with Platform Brewery. Pair that sucker with a Cleveland Cheesesteak, the joint’s mammoth take on the Philly classic, featuring shaved smoked brisket, sauteed mushrooms, onions, cheese sauce and (mmm mmm) hot pepper relish. Work that delicious combo over with the new friends you’re making at the old-school bar, then duck over to the bocce court for a game or two. “The cool part of this is the collaborative effort between parties to make this happen,” co-operator Alan Glazen told Scene before the Platform partnership had even been made public. “It’s very innovative.” Innovative and old-school, which is just how Cleveland likes it. 15335 Waterloo Rd., 216-785-9475, waterloocleveland.com.
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BUTCHER AND THE BREWER East Fourth Street — something of an epicenter for the downtown high life — is great anchor for whatever you choose to do. When Butcher and the Brewer opened up last year in one of the street’s more expansive locations, the city couldn’t contain its excitment. Butcher and the Brewer is an undertaking. It’s a unique experience. Walk in, and you’re greeted by pleasant
16-Bit is every video game nerd’s dream. employees who will escort you a high-top or, perhaps, a shared table where future friends await. There’s a whole “communal dining” trip at this place. The bar, similarly, is welcoming to all. The brewery, which is the reason you’re coming here, for starters, hosts an impressive array of rotating beverages. December’s Spice Spice Baby held down the foremost rankings in our local landscape of yuletide ales, and Bravo Company, the brewery’s session IPA as of early 2015, tickles the tongue with bitter delight. And if you’ve happened to trek downstairs, you know that the future space of the restaurant’s lower-level speakeasy looks awesome. We can’t wait. 2043 East Fourth St., 216-331-0805, butcherandthebrewer.com.
16-BIT With dozens of arcade games at guzzlers’ disposal, 16-Bit is kinda the perfect hang spot in downtown Lakewood these days. After noting the bar’s success in its Columbus location, owner Troy Allen was rightfully compelled to bring the fun up north. “We’re really happy with it,” Allen says. “We wanted to take everything that was great about Columbus and kick it up a notch in Cleveland — and we’ve definitely done that.” For that, we’re thankful. 16-Bit serves no food but welcomes guests to bring in or order in (hint: Melt is two blocks away). The bar has 24 craft beers on tap plus canned beer and cocktails. 15012 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-563-1115, 16-bitbar.com. HOFBRÄUHAUS Yes, Hofbräuhaus Cleveland is loud, touristy and occasionally annoying. But if you think it’s any different overseas at the original in Munich, you obviously haven’t been there. Like the original — and other official outposts in Columbus, Pittsburgh and Chicago — servers here are clad in dirndls and lederhosen. Beer, brewed on-site in gleaming and prominently displayed copper kettles, is sold by the liter ($10.99) and half-liter ($5.99). Those draft beers, by the way, are spot on, with crisp Bavarian helles (pale), dunkles (dark), hefeweizen (wheat) and a rotating seasonal. All told, this place is a real doozy, in the best sense of the word. Take a seat in the first come, first served beer hall and it won’t be long before one of the countless servers makes his or her way over to your table for a beer order. Keep your eyes peeled for the jaunty pretzel girls, too, who roam the hall dispensing quick and cheap sustenance in the form of Bavarian-style pretzels
($2.25) from wicker baskets. Note that lines tend to get so long for tables here at times that the restaurant erects a tent and staffs the beer garden kiosk, which dispenses cold beer and warm mulled wine. By the time spring rolls around in 2015, the outdoor 1,000-seat bier garden will relieve much of that pressure. Best advice: come early, come on weekdays, and try to avoid peak weekend hours. 1550 Chester Ave., 216-621-2337, hofbrauhauscleveland.com. P O RT S I D E D I S T I L L E RY A N D B R E W E RY Portside Distillery boasts 14 tap handles, with a production brewery still only a few feet behind the bar. Six taps will pour beer from the bright tanks snugly standing nearby while eight taps will offer beer from kegs. An enclosed dining room offers privacy and a fair amount of room for people watching. Multiple televisions are scattered through the small space, which has somehow managed to keep the hops smell out of patrons’ hair. Cozy and unassuming, Portside Distillery brings Ohio City brewing culture to downtown. Overlooking Lake Erie, the tall building with vaulted ceilings offers lots of daylight, dollar off ‘Flagship’ beers during happy hour, and select appetizers for $5. The red amber ale is not to be missed, and the babaganouj-type hummus is a welcome companion. While beer and apps are all fine and dandy, it’s the house-made rum that sets this place apart from other breweries. Give the rum a shot with the sage mojito. And Monday Blues got you down? Sorry kiddies, Portside is closed on Mondays. But they open right back up for the rest of week for service starting at happy hour, and in the afterrnoon for Saturday brunch. (Alise Belcher) 983 Front Ave., 216-586-6633, portsidedistillery.com. BOURBON STREET BARREL ROOM After its soft open in October — once the word got out, that is — bartenders at Tremont’s decadent new Bourbon Street Barrel room had to reduce the ounces of rum in their signature Hurricane cocktail from four ounces to three.
And with good reason. We can attest that it’s all too easy to be swept away by the N’awlins charm (on the first and second floors) of the coolest new bar over on Tremont’s bustlin’ Professor Ave. Get comfortable and settle into a hurricane, or even a “Category 5 Hurricane,” made with liquor from Cleveland’s own Portside Distillery, and prepared to be mesmerized by the fleur-de-lis and chandeliers. There’s quite simply nothing of its ilk in Cleveland, and certainly not among the cobbled, fine-dining walkways of Tremont. With a full slate of Louisiana’s own Abita beers (Light, Amber, Purple Haze and Naughty Quaker, plus occasional seasonals, are all on draft), and cajun-infused appetizers (Po Boys, Hush Puppies, Beignets, to name a few), not
“Cheers!” from Hofbraühaus! to mention a full, reasonably priced lunch and dinner menu, you can’t help but feel transported, thanks to owner Justin Clemens’ pricey overhaul. 2393 Professor Ave., 216-298-4400, bsbr.squarespace.com. P L AT F O R M B R E W E RY Ohio City’s new Platform Brewery, which officially opened in July in the emergent, socalled “SOLO district”, has the distinction of owning the coolest logo of the new bars and breweries of 2014. If you haven’t seen it — the logo — just walk over to the bar. All the taps, arrayed in bright primary colors, are emblazoned with the image, a light bulb laced with hops and a skyline filament inside a clean double circle. Kick-ass graphic design. And kick-ass brews too, praise God. The
urban-chic, interior — wooden picnic tables, visible brewing equipment — feels more like a straight-up brewery than the club-skewing Town Halls and Market Gardens of W. 25th. It’s almost like a tasting room, and rest assured that there are plenty of brews to taste. That was the idea for owners Paul Benner, Justin Carson, and Shaun Yasaki: beer beer beer, and more delicious beer. Scene’s own Doug Trattner has noted, though, that despite the beertastic focus, Platform has managed to feed its guests awfully well, with guest chefs and caterers, plus rampant food trucks appearing Tuesday through Saturday. 4125 Lorain Ave. 216-202-1386, platformbeerco.com. H A P P Y D O G AT T H E E U C L I D TAV E R N “It’s not made to look like a dive bar. It just is,” Happy Dog co-owner Eric Williams told Scene’s Doug Trattner in a walk-through last summer. Detroit-Shoreway’s hippest bar — and it was hip before Detroit-Shoreway even cared about attracting hip bars — has now opened an east side satellite, in the home of the former Euclid Tavern. And it’s probably exactly as you remember it from the 80s. If you’re not that old, or your memory’s not that sharp, be advised that the dynamite special programming at the Happy Dog — the science talks, the readings etc. — is for the most part marching eastward. Likewise the awesome vibes. The Euc’s neon sign still stands, poised at an angle on Euclid Ave. just east of the new Uptown District’s epicenter. And with dirty hardwood floors, leather-topped stools, and a tin ceiling,this place is legit as it gets. 11625 Euclid Ave, 216-231-5400, happydogcleveland.com. #SceneCityGuide15 t @ericsandy t @scenesallard t @alisebelcher
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9 LOCAL ITEMS FOR EVERY CLEVELANDER’S CARRY-ON by Alaina McConnell Don’t get us wrong, we love Cleveland, we do. But every so often, we get an itch to explore beyond the Cuyahoga County borders; to see new places, meet new people, and taste new foods. We say, indulge that itch. Go travel. Just make sure to pack a few things in that suitcase of yours to remind you of home while you’re away.
THE KICKS Browns cornerback Joe Haden knows a thing or two about shoes, which is why he recently opened up a boutique in downtown Cleveland to outfit locals with killer kicks. Snag a pair of these Air Jordan Ones from The Restock for $185.
THE “CLEVELAND” TEE
THE KOOZIE
THE PA S S P O R T CASE
Wherever we go, Clevelanders are always ready for a cold one (or two, or three). These custom koozies from CLE Clothing Co. will have you sippin’ in style no matter how far from home you go. Find them for $3 on cleclothingco.com.
Designed with the traveler in mind, this leatherbound passport case from Wright and Rede is both fashionable and practical. Equipped with a notepad and an extra pocket for those loose luggage tags or miscellaneous papers that always accumulate when you travel, this accessory will keep you organized before and after takeoff. Find it for $57 at wrightandrede.com.
THE BLING
THE BOOK
THE SHADES
Traveling with jewelry is complicated at best, which is why we recommending bringing just one or two items that can be worn with everything. We love this silver flags necklace from On the Lookout ($55, onthelookout.bigcartel. com) and the mixed metal circle bangle from Allie M. Designs ($35, etsy.com/ shop/AllieMJewelry), which can be worn day or night.
No trip is complete without some reading material from Cleveland’s favorite used bookstore, Loganberry Books. Pick up a pre-loved guidebook, endearing dog-eared and coffee stained pages included, for your travel destination at 13015 Larchmere Blvd.
We’re not ones to shell out for fancy shades, which is why we always hit up the Avalon Exchange in Lakewood or Coventry before road tripping. Peruse their collection of vintage and designer rims, which start at just $10.
We Clevelanders wear our pride on our sleeves and we mean that literally. Pack your favorite hometown tee from GV Art and Design, Fresh Brewed Tees, or any of our city’s other fine local apparel shops. Find this style at gvartwork. myshopify.com for $25.
THE JACKET We’re no strangers to cold weather and know damn well that 60° and partly cloudy can turn into 35° and sleeting just between bus stops. Be prepared with a lightweight, waterrepellent jacket, like this one from northeast Ohio-based Appalachian Outfitters for $58.
THE EXTRA BAG How many times have you arrived at your destination only to realize the only bag you brought with you is a big honking suitcase? Toss one of these Blair Ritchey cotton canvas totes into your carry-on, and you’ll have a ready-made beach bag, grocery bag, or oversized purse at your disposal. Find it for $38 on blairritchey.com.
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Wicked Sugar Fashion Jewelry & Accessories, LLC is a Boutique specializing in women’s Fashion Jewelry, Scarves, Handbags, and Gift Items. Wicked Sugar is owned by two sisters, Kelly Hirsch and Katie Cvijovic and is located in Strongsville, OH. Kelly and Katie both graduated from Kent State University with Fashion Merchandising and Marketing Degrees. It was always their dream to own their own business and offer both fashion and affordability to their community. Wicked Sugar offers a variety of on-trend accessories. Their one of a kind pieces, at affordable prices is what makes their boutique stand out from all the rest. Wicked Sugar recently launched a new Bridal/Special Occasion line! Kelly and Katie are very excited to help a bride and her bridesmaids find the perfect pieces of jewelry and accessories that will make her special day complete!
The Bridal/Special Occasion line offers unique, handmade items for all styles of brides. Kelly and Katie, as owners are in their boutique every day and look forward to meeting each and every customer that comes in to shop! The personalized shopping experience, paired with the “industrial chic” atmosphere will leave you wanting more “Sugar”! Wicked Sugar also offers private shopping parties in store, after hours! Wicked Sugar won Cleveland Scene’s Best of Cleveland 2014 for Best New Store and Best Facebook! Wicked Sugar is located at 10252 W. 130th St. Strongsville, OH 44136. For any questions please contact Kelly and Katie at info@wickedsugarfashion.com or call 440-628-8022. Please follow them on social media to get all the latest updates on new product and events!
www.facebook.com/WickedSugarFashion www.instagram.com/wickedsugarfashion | www.twitter.com/wickedsugarfash
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One Amazing Mile! cedarlee.org cedar LEE D I S T R I C T
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WOODMERE - BEACHWOOD 216 464 4355 27129 Chagrin Boulevard
You, too, can own this bitchin’ Paper Cutz original.
5 MAKERS AND DOERS WE’RE OBSESSED WITH by Alaina McConnell C A R O L I N E D E N G E L | The Fashionista Last year, 20-something Caroline Dengel launched Cleveland’s first boutique-on-wheels to cater to Cleveland’s busy but fashion-forward women. About the size of a small food truck, the Wandering Wardrobe, affectionately nicknamed “Wanda,” has since been spotted all around town, sporting racks of flirty dresses, chic tops and designer bags, as well as select resale items, all artfully arranged to maximize space and keep shoppers from feeling cramped. Her mobile venture was so successful, in part from Dengel’s clever social media campaigns — “Follow Wanda!,” “Find the truck!” she’d post on Instagram and Facebook — that Dengel opened a brick-and-mortar, or rather, steel-and-bolts storefront in November in a converted 160-square-foot shipping container. Stop in to see her new digs on West Sixth and St. Clair in Cleveland’s Warehouse District, and, of course, follow Wanda on social media to see where she’s parking next. C AT H Y S T R A U S S & S H A R I E S C O T T | The Paper Cutters Longtime friends and crafters Cathy Strauss and Shari Escott began their vintage paper art business, Paper Cutz, just over a year ago and have already developed a dedicated band of followers (ourselves included) who just can’t get enough of their cleverly crafted cards and frameable prints. Made almost exclusively from recycled products like old Cleveland maps, advertisements, newspapers, and even a few old issues of Scene, the Paper Cutz crew meticulously pieces together vintage scraps to create one-of-a-kind replicas of the Cleveland skyline, the Rock Hall, the West Side Market, and plenty of other local icons. Browse their selection of unique prints on Etsy (etsy.com/shop/PAPERCUTZOHIO). PA U L F I S H E R | The Apothecary Paul Fisher, 27, is burly, bearded and covered in tattoos. He also
2/5/15 4:51 PM
Twilight Boutique SOLD HERE
15715 MADISON AVE. LAKEWOOD 216-221-7777 ◆
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shopping makes a damn good skin care line. His small startup, 419 Trading Co., is based out of Wapakoneta, Ohio, but makes appearances locally at the Cleveland Flea, offering shoppers a line of high-quality personal hygiene products, including soaps, lotions, lip balms and beard oils. His soy lotion ($10), loaded with aloe vera and Vitamin E, is a favorite of ours, though his soy candles, which come in fragrances such as Bourbon and Tobacco, Fresh Brewed Coffee, and Fig and Oak, have caught our eye as well ($15). Browse Fisher’s full selection at 419tradingco.com, and give him a good ol’ fashioned Instagram follow (@paul419trading) where you’ll find his latest products and plenty of photos of his beard. A N N E H A R R I L L | The Metal Maven Hailing from southern France, jewelry designer Anne Harrill came to Cleveland in 2002 where she launched Oceanne, a line of natureinspired body accessories for the everyday fashionista. Made with raw and recycled metals, as well as sterling silver and 16-carat gold, no two pieces of Harrill’s jewelry are alike as each item is hand stamped, filed and molded in her Cleveland studio. We’re particularly fond of her Heishis collection, which features chunky brass bases with coral and turquoise accents. Need something custom made? Harrill will work with your budget and timeline to create a look you’ll love. Peruse her entire line at oceanne.com and keep an eye out for her booth at an upcoming Cleveland Flea. V I N N Y & C I N D Y T I R PA K | The Blast Masters Every local household needs a stash of Cleveland beer glasses, and husband/wife duo Vinny and Cindy Tirpak make a mean set. At Blastmaster, all glassware is sandblasted, then detailed with a unique The gift that keeps on design — your embarrassing giving — a CLE pint glass college nickname, for instance. from Blastmaster. Aside from beer glasses, the Blast Masters say they can blast pretty much anything (a boundary we’re sorely tempted to test). Take a peek at their selection online at blastmaster62.net or at a handful of local stores, including Native Cleveland, CLE Clothing Co., and Salty Not Sweet.
Lunch • Dinner • Sushi Bar • Happy Hours • Patio 45 Featuring Entertainment • Private Parties • Chef’s Table • Gift Certificates Contact Kathryn Weaver at 216.707.4160 or kathryn.weaver@ihg.com
A great restaurant satisfies all of the senses, provides an ambiance and environment that pleases, relaxes, stimulates, fulfills, and imparts a feeling of intense, yet controlled, indulgence. Each element, from touch to sight, must be as much of an attraction as the food. Today, dining out should be as entertaining as an evening at the theater. CALL FOR RESERVATIONS VISIT US ONLINE AT
216.707.4045 tbl45.com
9801 CARNEGIE AVE, CLEVELAND, OH 44106
#SceneCityGuide15 t @alainamcconnell
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2/2/15 10:45 AM
shopping
Walk MS connects people living with MS and those who care about them. This community event raises critical funds to support life-changing programs and cutting-edge research. It’s a day to come together, to celebrate the progress we’ve made, and to show the power of our connections.
Walk MS: Cleveland Saturday, April 18 - Great Lakes Science Center
Your fundraising through Walk MS has the power to change the world for people living with multiple sclerosis. From community programs and services to groundbreaking research being done at The Ohio State University and The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Every dollar means hope for an MS-free tomorrow.
Register today! MSohiowalk.org
Sign up for one of 17 Walk MS events this spring. Visit us online at MSohiowalk.org or call 216-503-4183.
Thursday, April 16, 2015 6pm-9pm • Terrace Club
RE WHE
? 2015 N I N E SEE B U YO WILL
Friday, June 26, 2015 6pm-10pm • Progressive Field All proceeds benefit more than 600 children and adults with developmental disabilities in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake & Medina Counties OurLadyWayside
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ourladyofthewayside OurLadyoftheWayside
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West 25th is one of Cleveland’s most popular up-and-coming shopping areas. Photo by Erik Drost
SHOPPING IN SOME OF CLEVELAND’S RETAIL NEIGHBORHOODS by Alaina McConnell
WHEN IT COMES to shopping, Cleveland has it all, which is why even the local folks sometimes need help deciding where to go. Shall we go boutiquing in Gordon Square? Scouring through racks in Coventry? Here, then, is a handy (though nowhere near comprehensive) guide to help retail enthusiasts with some of those tough questions. Happy shopping! C O V E N T RY V I L L A G E Head down Coventry toward Mayfield Road and you’ll find Big Fun (1814 Coventry), an oasis of entertainment for kids and adults alike. Here, hours slip away, absorbed between shelves of vintage Star Trek figurines, an immense Pez collection, lewd magnets, costume mustaches, and a finicky photo booth. Across the street is City Buddha (1807 Coventry), offering an expansive selection of imported jewelry at rock bottom prices. (Studs for $3.95? Yes, please.) You’ll also find clothing, toys and even furniture. Find a similar array of goods at Passport to Peru (1806 Coventry), though prices are steeper. Mac’s Backs-Books on Coventry (1820 Coventry) and the Exchange (1836 Coventry) are both worth a visit, even if you’re just stopping in to browse. Bring your old reads and music to trade for store credit or to sell for cash. Get a pick-me-up at Cleveland’s favorite java joint, Phoenix Coffee Company, with an afternoon cafe au lait and a lopsided blueberry muffin, before heading to Blush (1783 Coventry), a quaint women’s boutique known for its colorful dresses, stylish shoes, and funky accessories, and the Avalon Exchange (1798 Coventry) with its racks of new and gently used vintage and designer items. Want even more shopping options? Visit coventryvillage.org. OHIO CITY Folks stopping off for fresh pasta at the West Side Market, or a growler of suds from Market Garden Brewery, should take advantage of West 25th’s other retail options, including Xhibition (2068 West 25th), a new men’s boutique that boasts an uncluttered, minimalist design and caters to no-nonsense gents looking for choice kicks, hats, pants and tees. Ladies, head to Blackbird Fly (2621 West 25th) for a variety of
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INTRODUCING
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shopping contemporary apparel, shoes and accessories. Here, each item is hand selected by owner Angelina Pata who scours both local and national markets for unique, high quality goods that appeal to the contemporary Cleveland fashionista. Salty Not Sweet (2074 West 25th) deserves your attention too. Its tables of deliciously scented soaps, locally made coasters, and beer glasses are swoon-worthy. If you don’t mind picking through some scuzzies, head to Unique Thrift (3333 Lorain Ave.), voted Best Thrift Store in Cleveland time and time again by Scene readers. A treasure trove of vintage apparel, as well as retro housewares and bizarre doodads that you suddenly need to own, Unique Thrift is more of an experience than a run-of-the-mill corner boutique. Need to grab some smokes for Pop? Stop in to Cigar Cigars (2718 Lorain Ave.), your one-stop shop for all things tobacco. What about some flowers for Ma? The Urban Orchid (1455 West 29th) is right down the way with a stunning selection of arrangements. Running on E? Grab a chili cheese dog at the Old Fashioned Hot Dog Inn (4008 Lorain Ave.) before calling it a day. Find even more shopping options at ohiocity.org. GORDON SQUARE YellowCake Shop (6500 Detroit Ave.), owned by Project Runway’s season eight contestant Valerie Mayen, is probably one of Gordon Square’s better-known retail outlets, and we’re certainly fans of her inventory of classy, contemporary designs. But equally exciting is The Cleveland Shop (6511 Detroit Stop in at Guide to Ave.), across the street from Kulchur bookstore for Mayen’s boutique. Here, folks who some truly unique lit. don’t mind perusing the racks can emerge with one-of-a-kind vintage finds — a bedazzled 1920s flapper dress, anyone? — which shoppers can rent or buy depending on their needs (or wants; we’re not here to judge). Retropolitan (6516 Detroit Ave.) has shoppers covered in domestics, with an eclectic collection of vintage home goods and funky fixtures like those bright Brunswick bowling chairs and sleek oak desks your grammy used to have. Blazing Saddle Cycle (7427 Detroit Ave.) has boatloads of gadgets and gizmos for the cycling enthusiast, plus offers repairs and restorations if your wheels need work. Guide to Kulchur bookstore and co-op (1386 West 65th St.) carries hundreds of print zines, small-press publications and a hearty selection of new and used books. Hausfrau Record Shop (1388 West 65th St.) offeres a hodgepodge of new and used records for the casual music junkie. Do visit them all. Discover even more at gordonsquare.org.
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#SceneCityGuide15 t @alainamcconnell
CLEVELAND’S ORIGINAL SMOKESHOP SINCE 1975
Not Your Average Smokeshop... • vaporizers & vapermate • e-oils & e-hookah • smoking accessories • t-shirts & Bajas • jewelry • marvel & D.c. comic giftware • posters, carDs & much much more! MEntion SCENE in-StoRE and RECEiVE
20% off youR puRChaSE!
(on orders of $50 or more. Valid until 3/1) *excludes vaporizers
6627 MayfiEld Rd,
423 E. Main St,
(440) 442-5474
(330) 673-5270
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
Kent, OH 44240
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Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti
Fri., Feb. 20, 2015 at 7pm
Sun., Feb. 22, 2015 at 3pm
FREE to children, youth & students
Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini
Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 7:30pm
Westlake High School Performing Arts Center
The Ohio Theatre PlayhouseSquare
27830 Hilliard Boulevard Westlake OH 44145
1511 Euclid Avenue Cleveland OH 44115
Tickets: 216.816.1411 www.operacircle.org
HAPPY HOUR 3-7 PM
Live Entertainment Check Facebook For Entertainment Updates
815 Jefferson Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113 (216) 664-1000
WEEKLY SPECIALS 5- 10PM • DINE IN ONLY MONDAY
PAD THAI OR GREEN CURRY $10
TUESDAY
PAD KRA PROW OR PANANG CURRY $10 WEDNESDAY
BASIL FRIED RICE OR GANG GARI CURRY $10 HOURS:
Lunch 11:30 to 4 pm - Dinner 4 to 10 pm (11pm on Weekends) Closed Sundays (Available For Private Events)
THURSDAY
PAD KHI MAO OR MASSAMAN CURRY $10
BAR OPEN LATE!
*Entrees come with choice of Chicken, Beef, Pork , Tofu or $3 Supplement For Shrimp
3365 Richmond Road
Choose- Pork or Veggie Spring Roll & House Salad or Yum/ Tom Kha soup
216-464-4665
OPEN FOR LUNCH MON-FRI 11:30AM-2:30PM DINNER @ 5PM
(Behind Charter One Bank) ValentisItalian.com
www.TyFunThaiBistro.com
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Photo: Janet
Banquet/Meeting Space Available
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A
MAGAZINE EVENT...
Many Times Over
clevescene.com
Join Us For Great Events All Year! Vodka Vodka February 28th 8 pm - 11 pm (VIP 7 to 8 pm) Red Space in Downtown Cleveland Warm up the winter with a vodka event like no other. Sample a large selection of vodkas from around the world. Plus, enjoy high-energy music and complimentary limited appetizers to help you forget that it is still winter!
Vinoteca
Sip, Savor, Shop August 2015 Combine wine tastings with boutique shopping in this event like no other. It’s an opportunity to sample great wines and also shop at pop up versions of area boutiques all in one location.
Pig & Whiskey September 5th & 6th
April 2015 We’re bringing the fun back into wine tastings. Featuring hundreds of wines, as well as artisan cheeses, chocolates, coffees, wine-inspired cuisine.
Made in Cleveland
Best of Cleveland Awards Party April 25th Aloft Hotel We’re bringing a fresh look to the annual ‘Best Of’ roundup. Celebrate the greatness made in Cleveland and what has made Cleveland great at the annual Best of Cleveland Party.
Willoughby - Free Admission In it’s second year, this free event showcases the best barbecue restaurants and food vendors from Ohio and beyond, and features premium brands of whiskey, bourbon and scotch to enjoy. Plus, live entertainment throughout both days.
Shuck Yeah, Cle September 2015 After last year’s surprise success, we’ve revamped this event to feature more food, entertainment and drink options. Enjoy a variety of raw oysters, as well as seafood samples from area restaurants.
Tequila and Tacos
Flavor
May 2015
November 2015
Tequila and Tacos brings tastings of the finest brands and varieties of premium tequilas, as well as tequila liqueurs, crèmes, infusions and flavored tequilas. The fun event also features salsa, margaritas, and complimentary food samplings from area restaurants.
This event celebrates all that Scene’s popular Flavor guide has to offer - bringing together a tasting style event with area restaurants along with an Iron Chef-like competition.
Ale Fest
Whiskey Business
July 25th 1 - 5 pm (VIP @ Noon) Lincoln Park in Tremont A Cleveland tradition of summer fun and beer. Ale Fest returns to Tremont’s Lincoln Park for its 7th year. Enjoy 100+ craft and premium beers, live music, local foods and vendors, plus much more fun & games!
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(Labor Day Weekend)
December 2015 In its second year in Cleveland, the event offers guests tastings of 100+ whiskeys, bourbons, scotches, and mixed drinks. Plus, music, food and more. A great way to bring in the holidays!
ONE FREE TRAINING SESSION $40.00 value Call 216-538-0068 Š fˆ ÂŒwŠ{ †{ˆ‰…„w‚ Šˆw „ „} Š ^{wˆŠ ƒ…„ Š…ˆ{z ‰‹†{ˆ y ˆy‹ Š Š ^ Š E w|Š{ˆx‹ˆ„{ˆ w||{yŠ |…ˆ w‚‚ ‚{ÂŒ{‚‰ Â…| ¢Š„{‰‰ Š cwÂŽ ƒ‹ƒ x{„{¢Š |…ˆ Â?…‹ˆ Š ƒ{ ‰†{„Š Š fˆ ÂŒwŠ{ ‚…y {ˆ ˆ……ƒ w„z ‰~Â…Â?{ˆ |wy ‚ ŠÂ? Located at the US bank building in the heart of Playhouse Square 1350 Euclid Ave Suite 210 Cleveland, Ohio 44115
SPRING HAS SPRUNG SPRING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! Ă“{ĂŽxxĂŠ ,ĂŠ, °ÊUĂŠĂ“ÂŁĂˆÂ°ĂŽĂŽÂŁÂ°ĂˆnÂŁn
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Located less than one mile from the Bedford Reservation singletrack bike trail
TrueNorth
Chamber Orchestra Joshua Konow, Conductor
Mendelssohn
Die Schone Melusine Overture, Op.32
Shostakovich
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor, Op. 35
Beethoven
Symphony No. 1 in C, Op. 21 Saturday, Feb. 21, 7:30 pm First United Methodist Church of Elyria 312 3rd. St., Elyria, OH Sunday, Feb. 22, 4 pm Christ Episcopal Church 3445 Warrensville Center Rd. Shaker Hts, OH
General Admission Seating $15 Adults / $10 Students
TNCArts.org 440.949.5200, ext. 221
PRESENT S
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Dom & Russ
‘the modern day rat pack’
It’s A Touch Of Vegas In Cleveland The 9, 2017 E. 9th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44115 (216) 239-1200 Visit us at www.alextheatercleveland.com SCENE | CITYGUIDE 63
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Thirsty Dog Brewing Company
Still On Top We a r e p r o u d t o a n n o u n c e o u r s e l e c t i o n a s o n e o f t h e “ To p 1 0 0 B r e w e r i e s ” i n t h e w o r l d o u t o f 1 9 , 0 0 0 b r e w e r i e s b y R a t e B e e r. c o m . L a s t y e a r, w e w e r e c h o s e n a s “ U S A B r e w e r y O f T h e Ye a r ” i n t h e N e w Yo r k I n t e r n a t i o n a l B e e r C o m p e t i t i o n . M e a n w h i l e, w e j u s t q u i e t l y c o n t i n u e t o b r e w g r e a t b e e r. V i s i t u s i n o u r Ta s t i n g R o o m t o s e e w h a t m a k e s u s. . . s o o o g o o d . D o w n l o a d o u r a p p t o s e e w h a t ’s b r e w i n ’ a n d g e t m o r e T D o g t i d b i t s. Tasting Room Hours: Wed.- Thurs. 4-8 pm Fri. 12- 8 pm Sat. 2- 6 pm