Scene January 25, 2023

REWIND: 1984

RIP David Crosby, who made one of his multiple appearances on the Scene cover nearly four decades ago.

COVER PHOTO BY MARK OPREA

UPFRONT

CLEVELAND WANTS TO USE $1.9 MILLION IN ARPA MONEY TO ELIMINATE $190 MILLION IN MEDICAL DEBT

LEGISLATION INTRODUCED

Monday evening at Cleveland City Council could eliminate more than $190 million in medical debt for up to 50,000 Clevelanders if passed. The $1.9 million required to invest in the legislation would come from the American Rescue Plan Act, the major COVID-19 stimulus package passed in 2019.

“This hits a lot of our equity goals, our declaration of racism as a public health crisis, because that debt is disproportionately held in low-income communities and communities of color,” said councilmember Charles Slife at the meeting. “Having your debt forgiven is a way that you can get that weight off your shoulders and start thinking about how you want to invest in your house, how you want to pay for your education, how you want to do all the things that you feel like you can’t because you’re being just weighted down by this debt.”

The ordinance is co-sponsored by

council president Blaine Griffin of Ward 6 and members Richard Starr of Ward 5, Kevin Conwell of Ward 9, Rebecca Maurer of Ward 12, Kris Harsh of Ward 13 and Charles Slife of Ward 17.

At the council meeting Griffin estimated that 13 or 14 of the 17 councilmembers had expressed support for the ordinance.

To craft the legislation, Harsh and Slife met with RIP Medical Debt, a national nonprofit that buys medical debt in bundles at a fraction of the cost. Every $1 of this bundled debt eliminates an estimated $100 in medical debt. Through donations the organization says it’s relieved more than $8.5 billion in medical debt, helping more than 5.5 million individuals and families.

The proposed ordinance would follow this model. Toledo will be doing something similar.

“The influx of ARPA funding allows us to use once-in-a-lifetime resources to make real change for Clevelanders,” Griffin said in a

statement. “We know this ordinance, if passed, will alleviate some burden from the shoulders of tens of thousands of Clevelanders.”

Medical debt is cited as the primary cause of two in three bankruptcies, according to RIP Medical Debt. If passed, this legislation would relieve debt for many Clevelanders but not stop the problem.

“This is not a solution to the real issue, which is the cost of healthcare in this country, but this is certainly a way that we can use this onetime influx of funds to help our residents in a way that is quick and impactful,” said Slife.

– Maria Elena Scott

Cleveland Selects Nonprofit for Renovation, Management of Historic Highland Golf Course

It was nearly halfway through a round of 18 holes when Zachary Lucas, 33, felt he and his foursome

was being followed.

As founder and captain of the Black Elite Golfers, an athletic club formed in 2020 to rally together Lucas’ friends, the trailing wasn’t out of the norm. Since he started playing the sport as a 21-year-old accountant at NASA, Lucas had grown aware of the sport’s often under-publicized reality: Black golfers attracting a little more negative attention than fellow white counterparts.

“We were literally watched the entire time,” Lucas said about a particular encounter on a west side course.

Black Elite was playing a scramble match, a mode of golf meant to speed up play, so Lucas was confused why a starter was waving them down. Only when the starter accused the group of bringing alcohol onto the course did Lucas question the man’s integrity.

“We didn’t have any,” Lucas said. He showed the starter a group on the adjacent hole, drinking out of two

SAM ALLARD

flasks. “I literally asked the guy, ‘Do you not see what they’re doing? Why are we being asked?”

What Lucas describes as regular discomfort for Black golfers does not exist on the Highland Golf Course, a 36-hole historic course in Highland Hills, a city itself that’s roughly 86 percent Black.

Last Thursday, four months after its September request for proposal, Cleveland City Hall released plans award control of the course to Highland Golf Park Foundation, a nonprofit set to head five years of course and clubhouse improvements, from a refurbished driving range to an enhanced chipping and putting center. Troon, a luxury golf management company based in Scottdale, Ariz., will take over as manager.

Legislation was introduced to formalize the process at city council’s Monday meeting. If passed, the new non-profit would begin work this spring.

Some members of that foundation, according to the city, include: Bob Flesher (VP and owner of Mr. Excavator Inc.), Bruce Dirks (Senior VP of Corporate Development at Via Sat), David Wagner (Executive Managing Director and Principal at Hanna Commercial Real Estate), Darrel McNair (CEO/President of MVP Plastics), Nicholas Petty (Director of Student Success at Cleveland State), Drew Pierson (PGA Professional and Co-Owner/ Director of Instruction at The Clubhouse Cleveland), Brit Stenson (President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects), Dave Wallace (Partner at Taft Law), Patrick Hawkins (President/CEO of Hawkins Industrial), Coach Ted Ginn (Glenville High School), David Trimble (Attorney), John Pierce (Sr VP at SIRVA)and Robyn Minter Smyers (*acting in advisory capacity to the board, Partner, Thompson Hine).

Bibb noted, in last week’s announcement, that the group’s bid was chosen over six others for a variety of reasons, including the fact that many of them have played at and loved Highland.

The goal, according to the release from City Hall, is improve the conditions at the course and prop it up as a gem of city history. After all, Highland drew a slew of Black celebrity golfers — like Lee Elder and Jim Thorpe — to its annual Holiday Open in the 1960s. (Along with Jack Nicklaus and Tony Lema.)

It was also most famous as the home course of Charlie Sifford, the so-called “Jackie Robinson of golf” and first Black winner of the PGA, whose signal for future golfers, the

city said, will be celebrated after renovations are complete.

The proposal “reflects the commitment to celebrating the course’s rich history as a minority golf course,” Mayor Bibb said in a statement. “We are thrilled with the team that has come to together in the interest of preserving and elevating this legacy asset.”

Preservation, it seems, that is heavily needed.

It’s undeniable that Highland, which reported a 2021 operating income loss of $660,000 (minus city “transfers in”), according to financial documents, will continue to rely on city support during the half decade of tailored improvements. It follows a $144,930 clubhouse roof replacement in 2013, along with a five-year, $300,000 irrigation system update in 2015.

The non-profit management will allow the course to apply for outside funds, which should help it become financially self-sustaining.

But the overall goal, it seems, is not to just provide greener greens or more playable fairways — along with, as Lucas said, a more inclusive zone for Black players.

The group looks to do something here similar to the National Links Trust, which renovated a trio of courses in Washington, D.C. and which is “dedicated toprotecting and promoting accessible, affordable and engaging municipal golf courses to positively impact local communities across the United States of America.”

Protecting access to affordable golf or Cleveland residents would be the mission here.

It’s welcome news to Zachary Lucas of Black Elite.

Banding together 20 guys to chip in pars and birdies is fun, Lucas said, but secondary to Lucas’ goal of raising the next generation on the game. Since becoming a nonprofit in 2022, the organization has given two $1,000 scholarships for minority teenagers piqued by the fairways.

As for earning the title of Black Elite’s official home course?

“Hey, Highland knows who we are,” he said. “Highland respects us. Highland knows that we are just as good as anybody else.” – Mark Oprea

There Are Plans to Address Cars Illegally Parking on Public Square

As the Group Plan Commission readies the $3.5-million Public Square bollard project, which will see the unsightly jersey barriers that have marred the park for years finally removed in favor of more

functional, aesthetically pleasing safety infrastructure, it will also be working to address another lingering blight on downtown Cleveland’s crown jewel: illegal parking on the square.

The $50-million renovation and reimagining of Public Square that debuted in 2016 hasn’t exactly matched the vision or promise with which it was sold, but both the barriers and the parade of illegally parked cars have added insult to injury.

A Cleveland police spokesperson told Scene in 2018 that any vehicles on the square should be ticketed, but enforcement efforts have left those paying attention wanting.

Sanaa Julien, director of the Group Plan Commission, told The Land recently, in a piece covering the bollard project and more, that temporary parking is allowed for deliveries behind Rebol Cafe, which seems to be ground zero for offenders who take “temporary” to mean “all day,” and for vehicles providing maintenance or landscaping services on the square.

“However, at no point has this area been considered approved for long-term parking,” she said. “Our plan includes a solution for protecting the needs of operations for both Rebol café and Public Square operations while discouraging all parking for reasons other than the stated capacity. We continue to work with our partners at Rebol and our vendors to ensure that their employees understand the permitted parking protocol, and future modifications and reinforcements will be noticeable and impactful.”

As for what those are in specifics and in timeframe, Julien told Scene it’s too early to divulge details.

“We are currently in the design phase of our plan. We don’t have a date yet as to when the final design will be complete,” she said. “In terms of what has been done — we know vehicles have received warnings, tickets and we believe may have been towed. We are not the enforcement agency — you would need to inquire with CPD regarding enforcement.”

Rebol owner Bobby George didn’t respond to a request for comment.

– Vince Grzegorek

Two Historic Black Churches in Cleveland Receive Preservation Grants

The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African-American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is giving out $4 million in grants to 35 historic Black churches this year,

and three are in Northeast Ohio.

Called Preserving Black Churches, the program will “help historic Black churches and congregations reimagine, redesign, and redeploy historic preservation to address the institutions’ needs and the cultural assets and stories they steward.”

Among the recipients: Cory United Methodist Church and Euclid Avenue Christian Church (East Mount Zion Baptist Church) in Cleveland and Wesley Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Akron.

“No pillar of the African American community has been more central to its history, identity, and social justice vision than the ‘Black Church,’” said Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Professor, Historian, Filmmaker, and Advisor of African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund in a statement.

Established in 1911, Cory United Methodist Church was originally housed on Scovill Avenue and East 35th Street. In 1947 the growing congregation moved to its current location, a former synagogue. The largest Black church in Cleveland, Cory United Methodist Church has hosted revolutionary scholars and activists like Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Today, it’s a stop on the Cleveland Civil Rights Trail.

With the grant from Preserving Black Churches, Cory United Methodist Church will “hire its first director of preservation to lead the building’s restoration efforts and continue its legacy as an active church and transformative community landmark.”

East Mountain Zion Baptist Church was established in 1908 by Alexander Robertson, who came from South Carolina to Cleveland during the Great Migration. After meeting in different locations through the years, East Mountain Zion moved to the historic Euclid Avenue Christian Church building in 1955, where it has served its congregation and community since.

The Preserving Black Churches grant, “will support [East Mountain Zion Baptist Church’s] capital campaign feasibility study and rehabilitation plan, further strengthening its multi-year, multimillion-dollar preservation project.”

“Three years ago EMZ should’ve been a parking lot. We were in negotiation with the clinic to sell and leave,” Reverend Brian Cash, M. DIV, told Scene. “Three years ago, when the pandemic hit, in February of 2020, we all decided, as kind of a spiritual awakening, that it was

UPFRONT

time to rethink that decision and to stay and preserve and restore.”

There has been a lot of delayed maintenance before and after that, something the grant will help address after the church raised $200,000 on its own just to stabilize the property, address stonework and replace a boiler.

“We had this unctioning that we wanted to create a project where it first starts with us. And it started with building our relevance in the community, increasing the people we serve but also raising funds to be able to stabilize the building so we could increase the work we’re doing.”

Now they’re “actually getting into the nitty gritty” of preservation work.” The grand total of that is in the millions.

“We realized this project requires participation from other folks outside of our congregation. We need contributions from foundations, from philanthropists,” Cash told Scene. Beyond this grant, they received one from the National Fund for Partners of Sacred Spaces (one out of 12 chosen out of more than 200 applicants).

“Now we’ve received funding to engage a capital campaign consultant and an architectural firm

to help us rethink how old spaces can be repurposed for the future,” Cash said.

The dollars we receive from the Preserving Black Churches grant will allow us to engage a consultant company who helps us do interviews with philanthropists, helps us build a strategy for raising money, and do a feasibility study on the campaign.”

It’s all in the goal of what Cash said is bringing the church back to the community as a resource.

“Our goal is to reimagine and repurpose how we once were, a kind of beacon light in the neighborhood.”

In Akron, Wesley Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church has served as Akron’s oldest Black congregation since 1864. A community pillar, the church dedicated its current church building nearly a century ago in 1928.

Wesley Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion will, “use the grant to replace the roof and repair the chimney. Now this long-time nucleus for the Black community’s religious, cultural, and civic activity will be preserved to its original beauty.”

The Preserving Black Churches grant project is funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc., an Indianapolisbased private philanthropic foundation supporting community development, education and religion.

– Maria Elena Scott

Cleveland Extends E-Scooter Hours Until 11 P.M. — Finally and Mercifully

Attention: Those who’ve yearned to skip the car and take a Bird home from a Cavs/Guardians game, dinner, or as a connector from RTA after work, you now have that opportunity at a more reasonable hour.

Starting next week, on Jan. 27, Clevelanders will be able to activate the Bird, Lime and LINK e-scooters parked around town all the way until 11 p.m. Previous limitations kept riders scooting between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. (Shared bikes, like the ones offered by Bird, were and still are available 24/7.)

In a release, the city said the hour expansion was due to a series of mobility studies showing demand for later-evening access.

“Extended e-scooter riding hours provide more options for people who are interested in moving around Cleveland without a car,” said Calley Mersmann, senior strategist for Transit & Mobility. “We heard from many riders who were limited by the current 9 p.m. curfew. This update is one step toward the city’s broader goal of encouraging walking, bicycling, scooting, and taking transit.”

The response to feedback is a mark of the city’s support of inching away from car dependency, along with easing gradually towards becoming an 18-hour city.

And expanding e-scooter access is a pillar of reaching that mark. Such expansion moves Cleveland into the realm of other, bigger U.S. cities, like in Chicago, where scooters are rideable until midnight, or New York, where you can scoot your way throughout Manhattan 24/7.

That is, the city said, as long as drunk people don’t screw this up.

“The City will be working closely with police, community partners, and the e-scooter companies to monitor and address any potential adverse impacts of the extended hours,” the release said.

So, ride responsibly. – Mark Oprea

University Circle Inc. Selects Arizona Nonprofit Exec As New President

As Chris Ronayne was ceremoniously sworn in as Cuyahoga County executive last weekend, his former employer announced the next person to take his seat.

Kate Borders, director of the Downtown Tempe Authority in Arizona, will become the president of University Circle, Inc., and start in June. She’ll take over for Gary Hanson, who has been interim director since Ronayne departed to run for county office in 2021.

“My love of community and place management was born through my career experiences, for which I’m incredibly grateful,” Borders said in a press release. “This position melds the two, and it’s an honor to have been selected as UCI’s next leader.” (Borders did not respond to an email and call for comment.)

With some two decades of

experience in city-revitalization nonprofits, Borders seems like she’s well-fit for managing University Circle.

Before helming Tempe’s downtown advocacy organization, Borders spent years as an itinerant nonprofit guru, shifting from management groups in Milwaukee and Fresco, California, along with a post as chief executive of the Peoria Art Guild in Peoria, Illinois.

In Tempe, as in her seven years in Milwaukee, Borders championed a residential boom in the downtown core while attempting to ensure equity for the less fortunate.

In 2016, two years into her post at Downtown Tempe, Borders spearheaded a program to address complaints by businesses owners about outside panhandlers by redirecting parking meter cash — and small business donations — into the pockets of the homeless.

“As a leader, I’m empathetic and nurturing but hold people accountable,” Borders wrote on her LinkedIn profile. “I appreciate art, culture and good design.”

It’s too early to tell how Borders will bolster University Circle’s bifurcated culture. In recent years, millions of dollars have surged in nearby Wade Park institutions—like the Museum of Natural History’s $150 million renovation, or the 7-acre park along Doan Brook— but surrounding neighborhoods continue to suffer.

Its private police force had drawn scrutiny both for the disparities in traffic stops and tickets for minority drivers — In 2020, ProPublica published an investigation into University Circle police, finding that nearly 90 percent of the 1,965 drivers its two-dozen officers had pulled over and cited were Black — and following reports that citizen complaints about alleged police misconduct are rarely addressed.

Borders is also chair of the International Downtown Association, a center city booster group that spans eight countries. Border also spent three years studying piano performance at Converse University in South Carolina.

“Extended

provide more options for people who are interested in moving around Cleveland without a car. We heard from many

who were limited by the current 9 p.m.

is one step toward the city’s broader goal of encouraging

bicycling, scooting, and taking transit.”

CuRtaiN Call CuRtaiN Call

With demolition underway on the

Cleveland Play House,

a look at the historic landmark through the years

By Scene Staff

THE WRECKING BALL HAS COME for the Cleveland Play House with the 12-acre site set to become a staging area for ongoing construction projects at the Cleveland Clinic, which bought the property in 2009. After that, it will serve as surface parking.

In community meetings last year, Clinic representatives said it would take some $40 million to address structural issues on the property and regardless, the layout of the complex made it unsuitable for it to use.

The Cleveland Play House, launched in 1915, is the longest-running professional theater company

in the United States. And until 2011, it operated out of the largest regional theater complex in the country.

In 2011, the Cleveland Play House company relocated from the complex on East 86th and Euclid, a 1983 megachurch-ish structure designed by native son Philip Johnson that housed four total theaters and encompassed upwards of 300,000 square feet, to the Allen Theater, largely due to declining attendance and the financial burden of maintaining the Johnson building.

The original theater on the property was built in 1926 and hosted a roster of legendary performers through the decades, including Paul Newman, Alan Alda, Margaret Hamilton and June

Squibb, among hundreds of others.

Philip Johnson, of “Glass House” fame, was born in Cleveland in 1906. And while his postmodernist theater was met with local acclaim when it first opened in the ’80s, it has since become the subject of derision. Architecture critic Kate Wagner, author of the architecture blog McMansion Hell, referred to Johnson’s Cleveland Play House in 2020 as the “McMansion of postmodernism, probably the worst postmodernist building by a famous architect, just insipid.”

Whichever side you fall on, the Play House will soon be no more. Here, a look through at the theater complex through the years.

All photos courtesy the Clevelnad Memory Project.

Play House Complex, 1983

Original Cleveland Play House building, 1916

Construction of Euclid and E. 86th Street Building, 1927

Euclid & E. 77th Street Theatre, exterior, 1930s

The Cleveland Play House season opener, 1932

Paul Newman at The Cleveland Play House Children’s Theatre in ‘St. George and the Dragon’, 1936

Cleveland Play House stagehand union protesters, 1939 Actresses Dorothy Paxton and Ruth Feather, 1943

Props Department, 1945

The Cleveland Play House 60th anniversary, 1975

The Cleveland Play House theatre complex groundbreaking for Bolton Theatre, 1982

Costume Design, 1941

Merv Griffin at The Cleveland Play House, 1958

Alan Alda at The Cleveland Play House in ‘To Dorothy, A Son,’ 1959

In-the-round staging at the Euclid-77th Street Theatre, 1961 The Cleveland Play House, exterior with unidentified wreckage, 1973

GET OUT Everything to do in Cleveland for the next two weeks

WED 01/25

Beetlejuice

Based on Tim Burton’s beloved film, this musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at Connor Palace, where performances continue through Sunday. 1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

Scott Seiss

Perhaps best known for his “Angry Retail Guy” sketches, comedian Scott Seiss has performed standup throughout the country at festivals such as SF Sketchfest 2020. He brings his observational humor to Hilarities tonight at 7. 2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

THU 01/26

Cleveland Stories Dinner Party

Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is a weekly series that pairs fine food with storytelling. Through it, the folks at Music Box Supper Club hope to raise awareness of the mission of the Western Reserve Historical Society’s Cleveland History Center. The goal of the Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is to “bring to life some of the fun, interesting stories about Cleveland’s past — from sports, to rock ‘n’ roll, to Millionaires’ Row,” as it’s put in a press release. Tonight, Plain Dealer writer Terry Pluto discusses “vintage Cavs.” Admission is free, with no cover charge, although a prix fixe dinner, designed to complement the night’s theme, is $20. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner is served at 6, and the storytelling starts at 7. 1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.

FRI 01/27

Monsters vs. Laval Rocket

The Monsters kick off a two-game series against the Laval Rocket tonight at 7 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. As part of a regular Friday promotion, there will be $3 beers, $2 sodas and $1 hot dogs. The two teams face off again at 7 tomorrow night.

One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

Winter/Spring 2023 Opening Night Celebration

MoCa Cleveland celebrates the opening of its new exhibitions with this party that takes place at 7 p.m. at the museum. DJ Red-I will perform throughout the evening. Admission is free. 11400 Euclid Ave, 2164218671, mocacleveland.org.

SAT 01/28

Totally Rad Vintage Fest

A variety of vendors hawking all things ‘80s, ‘90s and Y2K will be on hand at the I-X Center today as part of the Totally Rad Vintage Fest. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1 I-X Center Dr., 216-676-6000, ixcenter.com.

SUN 01/29

Cavs vs. L.A. Clippers

The Cavs lost a close game to the L.A. Clippers when the two teams met up earlier this season in Los Angeles. The Cavs will be looking for a bit of revenge as the Clippers, one of the Western Conference’s better teams, come to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse tonight at 7.

One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

Zoltan Kaszas

Feb. 2. Credit: Playhousesquare.org

A year after graduating high school, Zoltan Kaszas went to an open mic at the age of 19 in hopes of becoming a professional stand-up comedian. He hasn’t looked back. He performs tonight at 7 at Hilarities. 2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

Northeast Ohio Band Invitational

The Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony hosts the 19th annual Northeast Ohio Band Invitational today at 2 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall. This event features four high school music programs along with one outstanding local university and the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony. Each high school group will perform a variety of music written for woodwinds, brass and percussion. Although this event features mostly instrumental music, some schools also choose to feature their best vocalists.

11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

TUE 01/31

Hadestown

Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy award for Best Musical Theater Album, Hadestown comes to the Connor Palace for an extended run. Tonight’s performance takes place

at 7:30; tickets start at $25. Performances continue through Feb. 19. Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

WED 02/01

Shitshow Karaoke

Local rapper/promoter Dirty Jones and Scene’s own Manny Wallace host Shit Show Karaoke, a weekly event at the B-Side Liquor Lounge wherein patrons choose from “an unlimited selection of jams from hip-hop to hard rock,” and are encouraged to “be as bad as you want.” Fueled by drink and shot specials, it all goes down tonight at 10 p.m. Admission is free.

2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-1966, bsideliquorlounge.com.

THU 02/02

Boléro

Klaus Mäkelä leads the Cleveland Orchestra tonight at 7:30 at Mandel Concert Hall as it plays Ravel’s Boléro. The orchestra will also play Salonen’s Cello Concerto and Debussy’s Images. Performances repeat tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.

11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

Cavaliers vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Led by terrific guard Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies come to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse tonight at 7:30 to take on the Cavs.

One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

Jay Leno

Jay Leno made millions laugh for years on The Tonight Show. Since “retiring,” he’s been a best-selling author, voice-over artist and host of the Emmy-winning Jay Leno’s Garage Leno brings his standup show to the State Theatre tonight at 8.

1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

FRI 02/03

CIFF’s Get Shorty

The Cleveland International Film Festival’s (CIFF) Get Shorty event gives attendees a chance to vote on the films that will be shown at the upcoming CIFF. The event begins

Comedian Jay Leno comes to the State Theatre. See: Thursday,

with hors d’oeuvres and beverages before the screenings. At the conclusion of each film, patrons will be prompted to text your vote from your smartphone. At the end of the evening, the film with the highest score will be guaranteed a prime spot in the CIFF47 program lineup. The event begins at 7 p.m. 1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

GlamGore: My Bloody Valentine

GlamGore hosts this anti-Valentine’s day drag show at the Grog Shop; the entire cast of tonight’s performance consists of drag couples. The event features performances by Gizelle DeVaux, Anthony Solo Jackson, Luna Skye, Indi Skies, Bulimianne Rhapsody and Louisianna Purchase. Doors open at 8 p.m. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.

The Great Big Home + Garden Show

The 10-day Great Big Home + Garden Show is back at the I-X Center. It features a whopping 600 exhibits centering on how to “renew, refresh and restore” your home and garden. There will also be fine dining in the I-X Bistro, a full-service, white tablecloth restaurant, and landscaping experts will present daily gardening seminars. Check the show’s website for hours and a complete schedule of happenings. The exhibit runs through Feb. 12.

1 I-X Center Dr., 216-676-6000, ixcenter.com.

Monsters vs. Chicago Wolves

Tonight at 7 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Monsters take on the Chicago Wolves. As part of a regular Friday promotion, there will be $3 beers, $2 sodas and $1 hot dogs. The two teams face off again at 7 tomorrow night too.

One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

SAT 02/04

I’m

Back Now

Inspired by Cleveland’s past, present, and future, I’m Back Now presents “a poignant family drama that transcends time and space,” as it’s put in a press release about the play. At 19, Sara travels to Cleveland to meet her birth mother Elle. As she strives to reconcile the legacy she thought she knew with her actual origins, Sara discovers that she is a descendant of Sara Lucy Bagby, the last woman ever prosecuted under the Fugitive Slave Act. Moving through time from

the 1860s to today, the play weaves together three generations of one Black family. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Allen Theatre, where performances continue through Feb. 26.

1407 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the 1975 film that still draws an exuberant, costumed crowd that likes to throw rice and dry toast and sing along to the songs in the movie, still draws big crowds to local showings. Expect a throng to show up for tonight’s screening that takes place at 9:30 p.m. at the Cedar Lee Theatre.

Tickets cost $12.

2163 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, 440-528-0355, clevelandcinemas.com.

Shen Yun

The visually dazzling Shen Yun is a truly unique performance troupe that brings to life 5,000 years of Chinese civilization through classical Chinese, folk and story-based dance. Shen Yun was founded in 2006 to revive ancient Chinese culture, which had been nearly destroyed by the Chinese communist government. Now with four companies, Shen Yun has given more than 400 performances in more than 100 cities around the world. (Ironically, the dance troupe has yet to perform in China or Hong Kong.) Expect beautiful, vibrant costumes and exotic music you won’t hear anywhere else. Performances take place at 2 and 7 p.m. today and at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the State Theatre. Consult the Playhouse Square website for more info.

1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

TUE 02/07

Aug Stone

Author Aug Stone comes to Visible Voice Books tonight at 7 as part of his book tour to promote his latest offering, The Ballad of Buttery Cake Ass. Stone describes it as an ode to obsessive record collecting and what it’s like to be in your first band. Former Clevelander Dave Hill gave the book a great endorsement, saying it’s “like being taken on a rock ’n’ roll road trip by Holden Caulfield with a head injury in the best of ways.”

2258 Professor Ave., 216-961-0084, visiblevoicebooks.com.

scene@clevescene.com

t@clevelandscene

ALL SAINTS PUBLIC HOUSE M

allsaintscle.com 1261 West 76th St, Cleveland

PAPRIKASH PIEROGI

Three potato and 3-cheese pierogi, boiled and pan sautéed with butter. Served on a bed of our famous house made Paprikash gravy. Topped off with sour cream and fresh chives. Add Ons: Paprika roasted chicken thighs $7, Smoked All Beef Kielbasa $6, Cheddar Bratwurst $7, Hungarian Bratwurst $7

ASTORIA CAFE & MARKET O M

astoriacafemarket.com 5417 Detroit Ave, Cleveland

SPANAKOPITA STYLE PIEROGI

Handstuffed Pierogis filled with Mashed Potatoes, Feta Cheese, Spinach, Leeks, Onion, Dill, Parsley and Green Onion. Sauteed Crisp in Italian Butter and served with Creme Fraiche

BALLANTINE M

ballantinerestaurant.com 4113 Erie St, Willoughby

YUKON GOLD, TRUFFLE, ROSEMARY PIEROGI

3 Ohio City Pasta Pierogis, Pasilla Braised Pork, Pasilla Demi Glace, Coca Cola Onions, Ancho Powder. $1 charge for take-out

BANTER BEER AND WINE M

bantercleveland.com 3441 Tuttle Rd, Shaker Heights

CHICKEN PAPRIKASH

PIEROGIES

Three potato and cheese pierogies topped with house-made chicken paprikash, sour cream, and paprika

BECKY’S BAR

beckysbar.com 1762 E 18th St, Cleveland

JANKA’S POTATO & CHEDDAR PIEROGIES

3 potato and cheddar pierogies sautéed in real butter, served with caramelized onions and sour cream.

Additional options: Grilled Mushrooms, Kielbasa, Chopped Steak, Sirloin Steak

OFFICIAL CLEVELAND PIEROGI

BEERHEAD BAR & EATERY-CLE FLATS

beerheadbar.com/cleveland-ohio 1156 W 11th Street, Cleveland

SPINACH & ARTICHOKE DIP PIEROGI

Potato and cheese pierogies topped with creamy Spinach & Artichoke dip, diced tomatoes and Parmesan cheese garnish the top

MEDITERRANEAN PIEROGI

Potato and cheese pierogies topped with basil pesto, balsamic drizzle, crumbled bacon, and Parmesan cheese

CRUST O

crusttremont.com 2258 Professor Ave, Cleveland

PIEROGI ALL’ARRABBIATA Pierogi all’Arrabbiata, Bacon, Sour Cream

PIZZA PIEROGI

Pierogi, Bacon, Caramelized Onions, Cheddar, Sour Cream, Roasted Garlic

DAS SCHNITZEL HAUS

dshrestaurant.com 5728 Pearl Rd, Parma

POTATO AND CHEESE Haus’ made from scratch potato and cheese pierogi

DICK AND ALICE SAUSAGE AND PIEROGIES

VE M

therollhouse.com 12859 Brookpark Rd, Parma MOON OVER PARMA Beer braised pierogies, pepperkraut, crispy bacon and flaming hot cheeto dust

CHEDDAR AND POTATO

Creamy mashed potato mixed with a melted soft cheddar cheese

POTATO, CHEDDAR AND JALAPENO

Creamy mashed potato mixed with a soft cheddar cheese and a kick of jalapeno

POTATO, CHEDDAR AND BACON

Creamy mashed potato mixed with a soft cheddar cheese and real bits of bacon

POTATO AND SAUERKRAUT

Creamy mashed potato with a little taste of sauerkraut

VEGAN POTATO AND ONION

Creamy mashed potato made with extra virgin olive oil with a hint of onion - no butter, eggs or dairy ingredients

GREAT LAKES BREWING COMPANY

greatlakesbrewing.com 2516 Market Ave, Cleveland

PULLED PORK POUTINE PIEROGI

3 pierogi topped with pulled pork, red cabbage, sautéed onions, mozzarella cheese, and a Christmas Ale gravy

SHORT RIB PIEROGI

3 pierogi topped with short ribs, sautéed onions, horseradish cream sauce, and a demi-glace

VEGGIE POUTINE PIEROGI

3 pierogi topped with vegetable gravy, sautéed onions, mozzarella cheese, and vegetable patty crumbles

GUNSELMAN’S TAVERN M

gunselmans.com

21490 Lorain Rd, Fairview Park

THE PIEROGI LADY OG

Potato & cheese pierogi sautéed in butter and topped with grilled onions. Same way Meta Gunselman served them here in 1936

THE PIEROGI LADY STUFFED CABBAGE PIEROGI

The best of both worlds. Everything you love about stuffed cabbage stuffed into a pierogi (which you love). Served with a side of Chef Bubsey’s red sauce

GUNSELMAN’S TO GO

gunselmans.com

21800 Center Ridge Rd, Rocky River

*To go orders only*

THE PIEROGI LADY OG

Potato & cheese pierogi sautéed in butter and topped with grilled onions. Same way Meta Gunselman served them here in 1936

THE PIEROGI LADY STUFFED CABBAGE PIEROGI

The best of both worlds. Everything you love about stuffed cabbage stuffed into a pierogi (which you love). Served with a side of Chef Bubsey’s red sauce

HAIL MARY’S FOOD & DRINK O M

hailmaryswestlake.com

27828 Center Ridge Rd, Westlake

THREE CHEESE PIEROGIES

Our three cheese pierogies are deep fried, tossed in fresh chopped garlic and melted butter, topped with sautéed onions, parmesan, and parsley, and served with a side of sour cream. #OhHailYeah

PIEROGI WEEK LOCATIONS

IMMIGRANT SON BREWING O

immigrantsonbrewing.com 18120 Sloane Ave, Lakewood CHICKEN PAPRIKAS PIEROGI

Chicken Paprikás stuffed pierogi, caramelized onion, Hungarian paprika Crème fraîche

JUKEBOX VE O M

jukeboxcle.com 1404 W 29th St, Cleveland

SPICY CHICKEN (LIMITED QUANTITY)

Chipotle braised chicken, black bean, cheddar POTATO CHEESE

Mashed potato, farmer’s cheese, cheddar, onion POTATO BACON

Mashed potato, bacon, cheddar, chive, onion MUSHROOM KRAUT (SPECIAL - LIMITED QUANTITY)

Portobello mushroom, classic caraway kraut (V) SWEET POTATO BLACK BEAN

Mashed sweet potato, black bean, chipotle spice (V) BUFFALO CHICKPEA

Mashed chickpea, hot sauce, tahini (V)

MARKET GARDEN BREWERY O M

marketgardenbrewery.com 1947 W 25th St, Cleveland

CLASSIC PIEROGI

Onion, scallion, cheddar Pierogi’s

NANO BREW O M

nanobrewcleveland.com 1859 W 25th St, Cleveland

CHORIZO CHEDDAR PIEROGIES

Chorizo chedder pierogi nano cheese sauce scallions

NORA’S PUBLIC HOUSE O M

noraspublichouse.net

4054 Erie St, Willoughby 4144 Erie St

IRISH PIEROGIES

Potato Stuffed, Caramelized Onion Guinness Gravy, served with Sliced Irish Banger Sausage

OLD RIVER TAP AND SOCIAL O M

oldrivertapandsocial.com 19245 Beach Cliff Blvd, Rocky River

BRISKET PIEROGI

House made brisket & cheese, with caramelized onions and chive sour cream

POTATO PIEROGI

House made potato and cheddar, with caramelized onions and chive sour cream

PIEROGIES OF CLEVELAND VE O

pierogiesofcleveland.com 4131 W Streetsboro Rd, Richfield

36 DIFFERENT PIEROGI FLAVORS TO CHOOSE FROM

Your choice of 3 different flavors of pierogi. If you would like more then 3, thats no problem - each additional pierogi is $1.75. Pick as many flavors as you want to try! Served with carmalized onions and sour cream

PIEROGI PALACE VE

36495 Vine Street Unit H, Willoughby 1/2 DOZEN PIEROGIES

Choose from Over 20 Different Pierogi Varieties. Call or Stop In for a List of Available Flavors. 1/2 Dozen Pierogies for $8.00

PIZZA 216 O

pizza216.com 401 Euclid Avenue Suite 163, Cleveland

POTATO AND ONION

Potato and Cheddar with chive crema!

SCHNITZ ALE BREWERY

schnitzalebrewery.com 5729 Pearl Rd, Parma

PIEROGI AUF TOMATEN

Made from scratch potato and cheese pierogis in a house made tomato sauce, garnished with parsley

SMOTHERED PIEROGIES

Made from scratch potato and cheese pierogis smothered in signature bier cheese topped with bacon and chives

SIBLING REVELRY BREWING O

siblingrevelrybrewing.com 29305 Clemens Rd, Westlake

SRB PIEROGI

House-made potato and cheese stuffed pierogi, served with carmelized onion and sour cream

SOUTHERN TIER BREWING CO

stbcbeer.com/taprooms/cleveland 811 Prospect Ave E, Cleveland

CRISPY JALAPENO & CHEESE PIEROGI

Crispy Jalapeno & Cheese Pierogi with bacon, beer cheese, and scallions

TERRA BISTRO

terrestrialbrewing.com/terrabistro 7524 Father Frascati Dr, Cleveland

PIEROGI WEEK SPECIAL

3 cheese pierogis tossed in garlic chive butter served with sour cream and caramelized onions

THE AVIATOR EVENT CENTER & PUB

O M

aviatorcle.com 20920 Brookpark Rd, Cleveland

PIEROGIES AND KIELBASA

Local potato and cheese pierogies, caramelized onion, grilled kielbasa, pickled red cabbage, sour cream, chives

THE BURNHAM RESTAURANT VE

100 Lakeside Avenue East, Cleveland

RUDY’S BAKERY POTATO & CHEDDAR

Rudy’s Bakery potato & cheddar pierogies with lemon sour cream, caramelized onions and chives

THE WILD GOOSE M

wildgoosewlby.com 4144 Erie St, Willoughby

THE MURPHY

A twist on our Murphy Pizza! Stuffed with mashed potato, bacon and cheese. Topped with caramelized onions and a sour cream drizzle

Garden Brewery Special

January 25-February 7, 2023 | clevescene.com

EAT STANDING OUT

In a crowded taco field, Paloma is doing it differently and better at Van Aken

By Douglas Trattner

ONE COMMENT THAT repeatedly comes up when talking to Cleveland diners is, “You know what we could really use? Another taco restaurant.”

I’m kidding, of course. Like most American cities, Cleveland has been deluged by taquerias of every shape, size and persuasion. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for one more, especially when it outshines many of its contemporaries. That’s what’s happening at Paloma, where chef-partners Zach Ladner and Carl Quagliata – along with chef de cuisine Ky’tana Bradley – are proving meal by meal that quality always makes a difference.

If you’re going to stand out in the crowded field of tacos, you have to do them differently, do them better or do both. At Paloma, the owners didn’t set out to offer guests a socalled “authentic” Mexican food experience. Nor did they desire to be another budget build-your-own taqueria, where the food tastes like it slid off the end of an assembly line. What exits the kitchen here can only come from the mind of a Culinary Institute of America graduate who grew up in Texas.

A quick glance at the menu shows taco fillings that are composed with the same level of attention a chef would devote to an entrée. Proteins like lamb, duck, oxtail, beef short rib and fresh-catch seafood take the place of the ubiquitous ground beef, pulled pork and white-meat chicken. Instead of bland shredded cheese, wilted greens and watery salsas, the tacos here are topped with dewy micro-herbs, crispy veggies, vibrant sauces and salty cotija cheese.

Lamb ($16) is slow roasted until it’s luscious, supple and flecked with char. The flavorful meat is paired with mint, shredded cabbage, garlic crème fraiche and sliced jalapeno. In another, shredded duck carnitas ($16) is garnished with greens, thinsliced radish, earthy salsa macha and a dusting of cotija. Other meatbased options feature birria-style oxtail, house-made chorizo and a fajita-in-a-shell taco with skirt steak, onions, peppers, guacamole and salsa.

Paloma offers a trio of fish options, including a daily special

starring gorgeous ancho-dusted red snapper filets ($16) that are sauteed and tucked into tortillas with guacamole, mango relish and chimichurri. Vegetarians win Taco Tuesday thanks to savory, meaty hen of the woods mushrooms ($15), which are roasted and topped with peppers, onions and salsa verde. All tacos come three to an order (no mixand-matching permitted) and believe me when I say they are robust.

Paloma’s starters are far from run-of-the-mill as well. The kitchen’s aguachile ($17) is tart, bracing and bursting with tropical freshness. Citrus-cooked shrimp, red onion and avocado arrive in a kelly-green sauce of lime, cilantro and chiles. A bag of thin chips is served alongside. Cigar-thick octopus tentacles ($21) are grilled and paired with chorizo and potatoes to create a sort of surfand-turf hash. Queso ($14) fans will

PALOMA

20041 WALKER RD., SHAKER HTS., 216-465-1336

PALOMAVANAKEN.COM

The quickest way to ruin any of the above fillings is by spooning them into a dry, brittle corn shell –or worse, a cold, thick flour tortilla from a plastic bag. At Paloma, those thoughtful fillings are popped into freshly pressed and griddled flour tortillas that are prepared in full view of the dining room. The warm, tender, slightly puffy shells support the fillings but give way with little chew. Heat-seekers should request the house habanero elixir, which is so spicy it comes in an eye dropper.

dig the silky Oaxacan cheese, which is served in a wide cast-iron skillet alongside fresh tortillas.

Paloma’s signature salad ($12) features grapefruit, avocado, red onion, shaved fennel and arugula tossed in a citrus vinaigrette. In terms of sides, there’s a nice selection of rice, beans and roasted vegetable dishes. The refried beans ($7) with brown butter and caramelized onions is over-the-top rich and creamy.

Desserts are in the capable hands of wife Alyssa Ladner, who in

addition to acting as the restaurant’s GM was the former pastry chef at Giovanni’s. Options during our visit included warm banana cake with coffee ice cream and toffee sauce and a Mexican hot chocolate brownie sundae with dulce de leche ice cream and chile-spiced chocolate sauce.

Ladner and Quagliata snagged the last big restaurant space at Van Aken District, a 4,400-squarefoot property on the public green. The glass-wrapped restaurant is bright, colorful and casual, with an open kitchen, 24-seat oval bar and windows that open to a spacious front patio. Come spring, that patio and bar combination will be the place to go for lazy weekend brunches built around sunny fruit salads, breakfast tacos and tequila-fueled cocktails (the namesake paloma comes to mind).

In addition to Paloma, Giovanni’s, Smokin’ Q’s BBQ and The Village Butcher, the owners recently announced a new project in Little Italy.

dtrattner@clevescene.com t@dougtrattner

Photo by Doug Trattner

EAT BITES

First look: Hecks Beachwood, opening in early February

By Douglas Trattner

BACK IN THE LATE-`70S AND early-`80s, Hecks operated taverns on both sides of the Cuyahoga River. In addition to the original Ohio City location, which celebrated its 50th birthday last year, the iconic Cleveland brand had a restaurant at Eton mall in Woodmere.

Now, after nearly 40 years, Hecks will reopen a location on the east side. Owner Fadi Daoud has been working since this past summer to transform the former Blu (and Moxie) space into a warm and woodsy American restaurant.

“I think there was need for a Hecks on the east side,” says Daoud. “I’ve been approached by a lot by malls and strips and commercialized areas, but I never felt like it was a good fit. This place has been a destination for more than 20 years.”

Daoud, who took over ownership of Hecks in 2005, added a location in Avon. In 2015, he expanded the Ohio City property while improving the existing space. The Beachwood restaurant features an all-new bar and dining room with seating for 40 and 150, respectively. Diners can expect a menu that is nearly identical to the other shops.

The stars of the show are the burgers, half-pound patties made from grass-fed Ohio beef. In addition to a dozen different iterations – and a house-made veggie burger – the menu offers a great mix of eclectic but approachable dishes. To start, there are lamb meatballs, chicken potstickers and mushroom flatbread. Scratch-made soups and bountiful salads give way to entrees starring beef, seafood and pasta.

A separate brunch menu comes into service on the weekends.

When it opens in early February, Hecks will offer a welcome non-chain lunch option for workers in the area.

The property also includes the adjoining Red/Cut 151 space. For now, that area will be used for private events, but down the road Daoud intends to open a second location of his Italian concept Antica (35568 Detroit Rd., 440-517-0096), which he launched a year and a half ago in Avon.

Watami Sushi, Ohio’s First Conveyor-Belt Sushi Bar, Lands in Parma

Instant gratification is the name of the game at Watami Sushi (7426 Broadview Rd., 216-232-1161) in Parma, billed as the first revolving sushi restaurant in Ohio. Waiting on servers to take and deliver food orders is so last year. At Watami, the food is right there for the taking, flowing through the dining room on a seemingly infinite loop. Simply snag covered dishes of food as they pass by on the belt. The color-coded plates are tallied at the end of the meal.

“As the first revolving sushi bar in Ohio, we are committed to bringing quality food and services to our customers,” says management.

Gliding by are plates bearing soups, salads, spring rolls, gyoza, cooked and raw sushi rolls, nigiri sushi and special rolls. Prices for most items are $2.50, $2.95 and $3.75. In addition to the overall fun factor of the experience, the locomotive buffet lets diners spy before they buy. Also, since most plates contain just a few pieces of any item, it allows for a wider sampling of dishes.

Diners can request made-toorder hot dishes from the kitchen like tempura and bowls of udon and ramen.

Customers who manage to stack up 15 different plates by meal’s end receive a token for the capsule toy machine.

And if you thought grabbing plates off the conveyor belt was a hoot, wait until the restaurant deploys its new train delivery system, which currently is in the works.

Empress Taytu Owners Looking to Sell Business, Building and

Retire

Most diners in Northeast Ohio have Carl Robson and his wife Senait to thank for our first introduction to Ethiopian food. When the couple opened Empress Taytu in 1992, it was the only place around to enjoy

dishes like lamb tibs and doro wat, eaten out of hand with torn pieces of spongy injera bread. In fact, Empress Taytu would remain the only Ethiopian restaurant in town for the next 25 years, when Zoma opened in Cleveland Heights.

“We’re going on 31 years,” says Robson. “I can’t believe it’s been that long, but it has.”

Dr. Robson opened his medical practice in St. Clair Superior specifically to serve that underserved community. Years later, he and his Ethiopian-born wife opened Empress Taytu because they “wanted to spread Ethiopian culture.”

Now, the couple finds themselves at a point in their lives when the challenges of running a restaurant outweigh the pleasures.

The Robsons have decided to sell the building and business, ideally to an operator who would continue the theme. But Robson knows that’s not the likeliest outcome.

“That would be my preference, but we have not that many Ethiopians in town and I can’t see a non-Ethiopian that eager to get into the Ethiopian food business,” he says. “I imagine that it won’t be continued.”

The property at 6125 St. Clair Avenue is ideally suited to take advantage of the increased business and residential activity in the neighborhood. The turn-key restaurant property comes with a full liquor license and a gated and fenced parking lot. It is currently listed for sale by Progressive Urban Real Estate at $399,900.

“As the neighborhood continues to come up, there should be a lot of interest — and more over time,” says Robson.

(1101 Carnegie Ave.) in the Gateway District. At long last, that café will open to the public this week.

For 27 years, Deinhart has been sourcing, roasting and selling his proprietary coffee products at wholesale to higher-end restaurants, coffee shops and institutions. His client roster includes approximately 250 to 300 prominent names, such as Red the Steakhouse, Cleveland Browns training facility and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

“I can say this with integrity: We are probably the largest coffee company in Cleveland that no one has ever heard of,” Deinhart states.

After so many years of supporting other retail coffee programs, Deinhart says that he felt the urge step out of the shadows and launch a café of his own.

“Recently, I got a hair in my bonnet about starting retail as in a café because I’ve set up tons of different coffee shops through Ohio and beyond,” he explains. “I’ve always been behind the scenes, but it slowly occurred to me that it would be really good to take our products and offer them directly to customers so people know who we are.”

The café has seating for about 20 in a setting that offers a view of the roasting process. In addition to sales and sipping, the space will be used for tastings, barista training and home-enthusiast roasting classes.

In addition to the coffee products, Solstice will carry Storehouse Tea products, ice teas, pastries and even some nuts.

“We’ll continue to sell Peterson Nuts at the café because it just seems like the right thing to do,” says Deinhart.

Solstice Roasters

Now

Open in Former Peterson Nut Space This Week

It’s been more than two years since Joe Deinhart of Solstice Roasters announced his plans to a open a new roastery and café in the former Peterson Nut Co. space

In the spring, Deinhart hopes to unveil sidewalk seating that might wrap around the building and improve the look of the area that sits adjacent to Progressive Field.

Solstice will open with limited hours at first.

Photo from Doug Trattner

PACKING A PUNCH

The Trews’ new album emphasizes the hard rock side of the band’s sound

By Jeff Niesel

BACK IN 2019, THE TREWS had started recording what would become their latest album, Wanderer, with Rich Robinson of Black Crowes at a Nashville studio. The pandemic hit, and the rock group had to head back to its Hamilton, Canada home after cutting only three tracks.

“[The pandemic] totally exploded all our plans for that album,” says guitarist John-Angus MacDonald in a recent phone interview from his Hamilton home. The Trews perform on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at House of Blues. “Rich Robinson is an old friend of the band, and we were excited that we had finally gotten it together to make a record with him. The label was fired up about the songs we had made. We made plans to go back in March of 2020. That never came to pass. We thought we would wait the pandemic out for a few months. But then, we had to make other plans.”

Instead of continuing with Robinson, the group worked with Canadian producers Derek Hoffman and Eric Ratz to complete the album.

“Most things from that point forward — mixing, overdubbing and artwork — had to be done remotely,” says MacDonald. “It was just a totally different experience for us. We normally try to finish in a month or so. This was spread out over a year-

and-a-half. I can tell the difference between the sessions, but the thing that ties it together is that we did it live off the floor. It’s the same five guys playing live. The producer changes, and some of the tones change. That was sort of in reaction to our previous record, which was much more of a studio album.”

The band references the pandemic in the catchy, country rock-ish “I Wanna Play,” but even with the specific reference, it’s a rousing song that it could still play for years to come.

“I think saying the word ‘pandemic’ in it might date it a bit, but the chorus is so anthemic” he says. “It’s become by far the biggest hit off the record. It’s just a love song disguised as a song about the pandemic. I guess [the industry shutdown was] a silver lining because that song would never have been written. The pandemic did buy us more time. You don’t always need more time, but you’re never 100 percent confident in all of the songs.”

The narrative in “Lonely in the City” stems from singer Colin MacDonald’s stream-of-consciousness writing that he does in journals, and “Hidden Gem,” another highlight, benefits from three acoustic guitars that give it a certain twang. The latter is a song that Robinson

THE TREWS

7 P.M. TUESDAY, JAN. 31, HOUSE OF BLUES CAMBRIDGE ROOM, 308 EUCLID AVE., 216-523-2583. TICKETS: $15, HOUSEOFBLUES.COM.

produced and plays on.

“The album really packs a punch,” says MacDonald. “The songs are very high-energy and high-impact songs. One thing we did notice is that when we got the material out on stage, it had a great energy to it.”

The band dates back to the late ’90s; when the group formed in Nova Scotia it went against the city’s musical grain at the time.

“The ’90s in Nova Scotia was like the hangover from grunge,” says MacDonald. “We were in our teens. We were high school kids. We started the band and like Spinal Tap, we’ve had half a dozen drummers. Halifax was like Seattle East. That had started about five years before we started our band. I don’t think we particularly fit in that scene, and that’s one of the reasons we split and went to central Canada near Toronto. We had more of a shot up here. From the touring perspective, we did everything and anything that came our way. Canada is a crazy place to tour. It’s so big. The hub of it is Toronto. One-third of the population

is in and around Toronto. Once we moved, we could take advantage of every opportunity.”

Early on, one of the bigger moments in the band’s career came when its 2004 single, “Not Ready to Go,” took off, and the band got an offer to open for the Tragically Hip in front of 30,000 people.

“That was an arrival,” says MacDonald. “They were the band that paved the way. They showed you could become a Canadian legend just by being in Canada. We looked up to them in so many ways. That led to a friendship and to this day, we still know those guys really well.”

After 25 years, MacDonald says the band’s constantly honing its skills even if it hasn’t silenced all of its critics.

“I think we have gotten much better I hope as players and performers and writers,” he says. “Writing is tough. We feel like we’re improving, and our process is more refined. People will still come up to you and say your best song is what you wrote 20 years ago. You can’t really control that, but I feel like we have gotten better at doing it the way we do it.”

Photo: David Basted The Trews.

MUSIC

A LIFE STORY IN MUSIC

A near-death experience inspired debut album from local DJ and producer Cardio

By Jeff Niesel

BORN AND RAISED IN Cleveland, Benjamin Rosolowski, who records and performs as Cardio, grew up listening to classic rock acts such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. As a youth, he analyzed the production elements and structure of these sounds as he began his musical journey.

“It’s hard to ignore rock ’n’ roll growing up here,” Rosolowski explains in an email exchange. Cardio plays a release party for his new album, The Source, at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, at the Winchester Music Tavern in Lakewood. “However, rock wasn’t the first thing I dove into as a kid. It’s safe to say my mom is where I get my blend of tastes from. She was always buying me CDs. I can remember in our car rides there was always music on; it was usually turned up and my mom was singing. Artists like Prince and Madonna owned the radio back then.”

Rosolowski, who first picked up the cello at age 3 and then and later learned to play guitar, drums, bass and piano, says he always had “a drive to create.” At 14, he took over the family computer and started using a free software called Guitar Tab Pro. With that program, he could write out all the parts for a full band.

A near-death experience that took place a few months before his wedding had a major impact on him. He and the woman who would become his wife opened a bottle of wine and sat down to watch a movie. Rosolowski suddenly collapsed, and he had to be rushed to the hospital.

“As cliché as it sounds, the experience left me with two things I knew I needed to do,” he says. “The first was to marry this amazing woman who just saved my life. The second was to pursue this passion I had for music. I didn’t know what that meant at the time. After our wedding, we purchased tickets to [Electric Daisy Carnival] Las Vegas. My brother and his friends had been going for a few years and we both

were looking for a new experience. Like a lightbulb turning on in a dark room, I remember being there and saying to myself. ‘This is it.’ This music is something I could do. I remember dancing to the music and feeling so free. It was like years of therapy I needed in only three nights. So many failed attempts at keeping bands together, wanting to push in directions other didn’t. Electronic music was the answer. I could write music on my own and release it, and I knew there was an audience for it.”

That festival in 2019 unlocked memories of hearing techno on college radio and house parties he would throw in his early twenties.

“Originally, I was going to call myself the Cardiologist, but it’s way too long,” he says. “So, I shortened it to Cardio.”

Cardio released “Silence,” his first official single, in 2019. Singles “What Do You Want?” and “Breathe” followed. This past summer, Rosolowski had been finishing tracks and normally would just release them as singles. But these songs felt different.

“The idea of having an album was so far away from me I didn’t even realize it until I showed the songs to my friend,” says Rosolowski. “He said, ‘Dude, you have a lot of unreleased songs.’ Then, it clicked, and I was like, ‘Holy shit! I think I have an album here.’ From then, I worked endlessly to finish up the album. I even had the album art before I knew I had the album. One night, there were a swarm of cop cars at the end of my street. The twirling lights shining through the blinds made these cool color patterns on the wall. I snapped a few pictures without thinking. I later took those photos and blended them together to create the deep purple album art color.”

Rosolowski says the live show will be “what you can expect from a quality electronic music show.”

“There will be lights, visuals, bumping music, the energy of the DJ playing the tracks they enjoy,” he says. “[There will be] people

singing, dancing and expressing themselves freely. I’ll be performing music from the album along with some tracks that have influenced me. It’s a fantastic lineup of artists and members of the community who are great people.”

The lineup includes Chris Capuano, a local artist who makes his own music and has performed at Lost Social Lounge and various underground events, and LOLO, a female Afro/Latin DJ who hosts her own radio show and has her own art gallery located at the 9. Two brothers — Druid and 2Els — will deliver a special Back 2 Back set. And

finally, the bill includes special guest Govan Jones, a guy who produces his own music and has “one of the best energies behind the decks,” as Rosolowski puts it.

“I want to curate an environment of acceptance and self-expression where members of every community can feel free to be themselves,” says Rosolowski. “We’ll have local artists, one of them being Nylerica Reyes, a very talented makeup artist who also creates black light paintings. The best part is that it’s all happening at the Winchester. A decade ago, I played there for the first time as a drummer in the Brittany Reilly Band. So, to come back for the second time 10 years later and put on this show is full circle for me. I couldn’t be more grateful to all those involved to help make this a reality.”

Photo: Ricky Spanish Cardio.

LIVEWIRE Real music in the real world

FRI 01/27

The 5th Dimension

The roots of this vocal group date back to the 1960s when it was known as the Versailles. While singer Florence LaRue remains the sole original member, the group is still going strong after all these years; it performs tonight at 7 at the Goodyear Theater. 1201 East Market St., Akron, goodyeartheater.com.

Vince Nerone

Inspired by a composition pop-punk, rock and emo-rap/hip hop, Vince Nerone’s latest album, A Smile Through Suffering, which sheds light on “the relatable rollercoaster of emotions life can bring and a message of remaining positive through it all,” as it’s put in a press release. Winner of the recent Battle of the Land competition that took place at Tower City, Nerone makes his Grog Shop debut tonight. Campaiign and Cherry open at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $15. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.

SAT 01/28

Fuck Cancer Fest

As part of a festival dubbed Fuck Cancer, six Cleveland bands will play at No Class tonight. The Jötunn, Atomic Witch, Befallen, Pillärs, Terra Vista and 10,000 Rambos are all scheduled to perform, and there will be raffles of assorted donated items to raise extra money. The show is pay-what-you-want to get in. All of the money will go to Jessica Pickel, a woman with stage four cancer, and her family. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 11213 Detroit Ave., 216-221-8576, noclasscle.com.

Victoria Victoria featuring Charlie Hunter

On its latest album, To the Wayside, a collaboration between Victoria Victoria front woman Tori Elliott, producer/engineer Stephen Lee Price, Jr. and guitarist, Charlie Hunter, Victoria Victoria delivers a low-key evocative collection of indie pop tunes. The group’s tour in support of the album comes to the Beachland Tavern tonight. Hunter will join the band for the performance, which begins at 8. Tickets cost $17 in advance, $20 the

day of the show.

15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

SUN 01/29

An Evening with Lotus

Straddling the line between the more traditional jam band ethos and the burgeoning world of electronic dance music, Lotus finds itself in a unique position with respect to its fan bases: They’re introducing one side to the other, and the blend has proven to be pretty effective. By now, Lotus leans heavily toward the latter on most nights. Dubbed An Evening with Lotus, tonight’s concert begins at 8 at the Beachland Ballroom. Tickets cost $30.

15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

An Evening with Umphrey’s McGee

Formed in South Bend, IN in the late ‘90s, this band has been a staple on the jam band scene. The jam band comes to House of Blues tonight at 7:30. The group’s been known to cover everything from the Guns ‘N’ Roses ballad “Patience” to Vince Guaraldi’s Peanuts theme “Linus and Lucy,” so expect the unexpected from this show. 308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

WED 02/01

Spafford

This Arizona jam band has been blazing up audiences out West for a while now, and the live audio bespeaks a heavy-hitting band that’s honed its chops on arena-sized rock ‘n’ roll and the sort of fan-interaction sensibilities that have supported the liked of Aqueous and Twiddle here in the Midwest. The concert begins at 8 tonight at the Beachland Ballroom. Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 the day of the show.

15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

THU 02/02

The Dave Matthews Tribute Band

This tribute act to the Dave Matthews Band has been at it for close to 20 years now. The band boasts that it’s performed more than 1500 dates in 46 states and 8 different counties. The group plays tonight at 8 at the Beachland

Ballroom. Tickets cost $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. 15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

Angel Olsen

On the heels of a renowned performance at Americana Fest and the release of her “Big Time” collaboration with Sturgill Simpson, singer-songwriter Angel Olsen comes to the Agora tonight at 7. She’ll have a seven-piece band in tow for the gig. Singer-songwriter Erin Rae opens the show. 5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

FRI 02/03

lovelytheband

The Cleveland alternative rock station 107.3 FM celebrates its anniversary with this concert featuring a band that it has in heavy rotation. Several of the band’s songs are featured in This Is the Year, a film about a group of teens who go to see the band play a festival. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom, and tickets cost $29.

15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

Mania: The ABBA Tribute

Each month seems to bring with it another tribute to the influential Swedish pop act ABBA. Tonight, Mania swings into town to perform ABBA songs at 8 at MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage.

10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark. mgmresorts.com/en.html.

John Waite

Singer-songwriter John Waite first came to prominence as the vocalist and bassist of the English rock outfit

the Babys, best known for pop-rock hits such as “Isn’t It Time?” and “Every Time I Think of You” in the late 1970s. That group disbanded in 1980 (after a final performance in Akron), but Waite kept going and scored a No. 1 U.S. hit with “Missing You.” The singer-songwriter comes to the Kent Stage at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $40 to $50.

175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.

SUN 02/05

Sammy DeLeon and Jackie Warren Quartet

A master timbales player, Sammy DeLeon has appeared in New York, Chicago, Miami, San Juan and many points in between. Formerly the musical director of Impacto Nuevo, he’s led his own group since 1996. Equally adept in Latin jazz, salsa and merengue, DeLeon is a local treasure. He performs tonight at 7:30 with the Jackie Warren Quartet at the B-Side Lounge in Cleveland Heights. Tickets cost $10.

2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-1966, bsideliquorlounge.com.

TUE 02/07

Adam Melchor

This up-and-coming indie singersongwriter from New Jersey has just put out his new EP, Summer Camp. His concert begins tonight at 8 at the Beachland Ballroom. Tickets start at $25.

15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

Umphrey’s McGee comes to House of Blues. See: Sunday, Jan. 29. Credit: IVPR

Courtesy photo

By Jeff Niesel

MEET THE BAND: Andy Schumann (guitars, vocals), Clay Reid (guitars), Arfil Pajarillaga (bass) and Dante Foley (drums)

IT’S OFFICIAL: The band first formed “a long time ago” when Schumann was still in his late teens. “I played with different people over the years,” he says. “But this iteration came together in October of 2021. I had put out a couple of songs here and there, but that’s when the group truly started. It was after I came back to Cleveland after graduating from New York University.” The group put out its first EP, Keep on Riding that Dirt Bike, in 2019. “That was with my high school buddies,” Schumann says when asked about the EP. “We got together one summer, and I had a couple of songs, and we recorded them in a day or two. This version of the band, however, feels very official.”

GOT IT ON TAPE: Distributed by Cleveland’s Just Because Records, the band’s new album, Caretaker, will see a limited cassette release in addition to its digital release when it arrives on Jan. 27. The album will come out digitally on that day too. “We didn’t pitch to any other labels except for them,” says Schumann. “A lot of the bands that play at Happy Dog frequently are on the label. They’re punk-y garage bands making power-pop songs. I pitched it to them, and the label owner said he didn’t know if he wanted to put it out. He thought it was too poppy. He said it would have been his favorite album in high school, so he had to right by his childhood self. That meant a lot to me. I wrote these songs thinking about what I would have wanted to hear thematically and in terms of the energy when I was 14 or 15.” Indie bands such as Joyce Manor and Charly Bliss inspired the songwriting. The label will sell only 80 cassettes, five of which have been dubbed on “old sermon tapes” featuring “wacky old Cleveland preachers” (they’ve already sold out). “I got a huge

box of tapes of Cleveland preachers from Facebook marketplace,” says Schumann. “They’re pretty intense.”

DOLLY DOES IT: Printed on Gildan heavy cotton, the band’s new T-shirt features a drawing of Dolly Parton. The group also has a song called “Dolly Parton” too. “I love Dolly Parton,” says Schumann. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t. I wrote this song that’s a fantasy about if Dolly Parton was this absolute monarch of the world. In one sense, she’s a tyrant, but everyone is okay with it. I just think it would be funny if somehow Dolly Parton ruled the world. It’s kind of a satirical song. A lot of the songs are about the idolatry of celebrities.”

WHY YOU SHOULD HEAR THEM: Earlier this month, the group released the first single, the pop-punk tune “Taylor Lautner,” a track that features hiccupping vocals and an undeniable hook. “[Lautner] was 16 or 17 when he starred as Jacob Black in the Twilight films,” says Schumann. “I always thought he was way older than me. He had a six-pack and girls were going crazy over him. I saw this article that said he was only 16 at the time he was cast and was asked to keep taking off his shirt. The song is about feeling this weird duality. I wish I was as strong and jacked as Taylor Lautner, but then, I also realize that the way he became a sex symbol is pretty messed up. They were asking a kid to take his clothes off.” With its loud/quiet trajectory, “Star Rek’t,” another album highlight, has a Weezer-like vibe and shows off the band’s sharp pop sensibilities.

WHERE YOU CAN HEAR THEM: totaldowner.bandcamp.com.

WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM: Total Downer performs at 10 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, on WRUW Live and with Uniity and Antrevian at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, at Crobar. jniesel@clevescene.com t @jniesel

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Fri. Mar. 10

Neko Case Thurs. Jan. 26 Standing Rock Film Fest Sat. Jan. 28

John Waite Fri. Feb. 3

ALSO

SAVAGE LOVE CASE DISCLOSED

By Dan Savage

Hey Dan: I’m a bisexual woman living in a major city. My boyfriend of about a year is HIV-positive. He’s been undetectable for more than a decade, but I’m on PrEP, just to be double-back-flip safe. I trust science and I’m comfortable with this, in part thanks to your clear and honest conversations around HIV. We have been talking about playing with other couples or singles, but I’m super nervous about contracting herpes, and he agrees he doesn’t need that in his life either. I know it’s part of the risk and I’m aware of all the stigma around having/ getting herpes and other STIs. The thing is, I would like to have a very open conversation with our future hookups about testing and STI status. The problem: my partner does not disclose his status. Only a handful of people in his life know. Not even his family knows. How do we go about having a transparent conversation with potential hookups about status and risk if he’s not comfortable disclosing his HIVpositive status? We live in a state where it’s not illegal to withhold this information. Is lying the only option?

Risk Adverse Dame

First, a quick refresher on the science: If someone with HIV is taking their meds and has an undetectable viral load, that person is un-infectious; meaning, that HIV-positive person can’t — cannot — infect someone with HIV. An HIV-negative person is at greater risk of contracting HIV having unprotected sex, i.e., condomless sex, with someone who thinks they’re HIV-negative than they are having unprotected sex with someone who knows they’re HIV-positive and has an undetectable viral load. And while some argue it’s inaccurate to describe bareback sex with an HIVpositive person with an undetectable viral load as “unprotected,” since the meds themselves provide protection, HIV meds — including PrEP, which is a pill HIV-negative people can take to protect themselves from contracting HIV — offer no protection against gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and other STIs. So, meds or no meds, PrEP or PrEP, condomless sex still counts as unprotected sex.

A little more science: a study out of the UK found that more straight people were infected with HIV in 2020 than gay people. But while there were more total infections among straight men and women than among gay men — slightly more than a thousand new HIV infections in 2020 among straight people (1010) and slightly fewer than a thousand among gay men (940) — gay men still remain at significantly greater risk. Only 2.9% of men in the UK identify as gay men, while 93.7% of the population identify as straight. Which means almost half of all new HIV infections were concentrated in less than 3% of the population, which is why health officials recommend that all gay and bi men get on PrEP.

Okay, RAD, so you and your boyfriend wanna play with other couples; you wanna have open, honest, and transparent conversations about STIs in advance of playing; your boyfriend doesn’t want to disclose the fact that he has HIV to anyone.

Is lying the only option?

I guess so. If you want to have sex with other people and withhold this information — which means you would only be pretending to have those open, honest, and transparent conversations — then lying by omission and commission would indeed be your only option.

Now, you can make a solid case for not disclosing — your boyfriend is undetectable, he can’t infect anyone, you aren’t legally obligated to disclose where you live, you would presumably be using condoms to protect yourselves from other STIs — or you could have sex with couples who don’t wanna have a conversation about STIs in advance. But I’m guessing you don’t want to have sex with couples who aren’t willing to have the STI convo with you, RAD, for your own safety and peace of mind. Which means… you want other couples to be honest with you without having to be honest with them. That hardly seems fair, RAD, especially since you’ve made the choice get on PrEP for your own peace of mind. Denying other people you play with the opportunity to make that same choice for their own peace of mind isn’t very fair either.

Look, I don’t always think HIV-positive people who pose no risk of spreading HIV — people with undetectable viral loads — are morally obligated to disclose their HIV status to casual and/or anonymous sex partners, although they might be legally obligated in some states by misguided HIVdisclosure laws. But we aren’t talking about anonymous sex partners here. We’re talking about other couples that you and your boyfriend claim to wanna have honest and transparent negotiations with about sexual safety.

There’s a very real chance that straight couples will refuse to play with you guys if he discloses; straight people and opposite-sex couples are far less likely to be informed about HIV and far more likely to reject HIV-positive partners who pose no risk to them in favor of presumed-to-be HIV-negative partners who do. Even worse, there’s a very real chance that word will spread. People talk. The only workaround here that comes close to ethical — the only ethical-adjacent workaround — is for your boyfriend to refrain from having penetrative sex with other play partners. But even then, RAD, you will be failing to disclose information that your new play partners might feel they were entitled to, e.g., that your primary sex partner is HIV-positive.

Hey Dan: I am a 64-year-old bisexual woman. I contracted HPV about ten years ago and went through a painful, expensive treatment that dragged on for three months. Since then, I have tested negative for it. My gyno said that I am HPV free. Is that possible? I thought HPV lasted forever. I have a new sex partner, my first in a few years. I have to tell him, right? Am I going to get throat cancer giving him blow jobs? Is he going to get esophageal

cancer eating my pussy? Do we use condoms forever and plastic wrap on me? It makes me want to stay home and watch Grace and Frankie alone. We used condoms for the first couple of months and then agreed that since we were both disease-free to go without. But am I really disease-free?

Stress Eating And Tense

“For most people, once HPV is cleared, it goes into an undetectable state and cannot be transmitted to future partners,” said Dr. Ina Park, a professor at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine and Medical Consultant for the Centers for Disease Control Division of STD Prevention. “In rare cases, people who cleared HPV can experience a reappearance — say, if their immune system becomes compromised — but this is NOT the norm. For someone who has been HPV free for ten years, there’s no need to disclose a remote history of HPV to partners, and no need to use barriers unless both parties wish to do so.So, it’s ok to leave the plastic wrap in the kitchen!”

Worst-case scenario: let’s say you somehow wound up exposing your new boyfriend to HPV or he exposed you to a different strain. It can take twenty years and sometimes longer for an HPV infection to progress to cancer, which only a small percentage of HPV infections do. And I don’t mean to be callous, SEAT, but by then — twenty years frow now — something else will have killed you already or you’ll be ready to go. And whether you’re dying of cancer or something else a few decades from now, SEAT, I doubt you’ll be laying deathbed thinking, “Gee, I wish I’d gotten my pussy eaten less.”

P.S. And if you’re not too old to learn a new trick — and you’re not — use that plastic wrap to mummify your boyfriend.

Dr. Ina Park is the author of Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs. Follow her on Twitter @InaParkMd.

questions@savagelove.net t@fakedansavage www.savage.love

Joe Newton