Scene April 5, 2023

UPFRONT

BOBBY GEORGE, PARK COALITION REACH DEAL ON IRISHTOWN BEND PROPERTY

BOBBY GEORGE AND THE Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Authority, along with the Irishtown Bend Park project partners, have reached a formal deal on the 0.41-acre property at the corner of West 25th and Detroit that will deliver the park group the last plot of land for the planned 23-acre greenspace and end long-standing litigation over the parcel.

The signed agreement between the two sides includes a combination of a $1.25 million cash settlement, an arrangement to move the billboard atop the long-vacant former Royal Castle building to a new location and a deal that will have George operate a 15,000 to 18,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor restaurant and cafe on the hillside, George told Scene.

As for divvying up the cash settlement, the Port will pay $360,000, which it had already placed in escrow and which reflects the original offer to the Georges before the Port proceeded with eminent domain efforts. The Metroparks will chip in $300,000. The remaining $590,000 will be paid by the city of Cleveland.

George and the park coalition had for years been in negotiations over the property, which he bought in 2018 for $248,000. But as the coalition scooped up every other property needed for the project, no deal was reached with George, who declined an offer of $360,000 for the land.

As a stalemate continued, the Port in 2021 initiated eminent domain proceedings against the owner, arguing that George had rejected a “good faith offer” and that some $50 million in urgent hillside stabilization work couldn’t begin until the property was in the coalition’s hands.

George, in turn, sued the group, arguing that the “good faith offer” didn’t account for revenue produced by the billboard and that some of the group’s own engineering experts had said that the stabilization work was unaffected by control of the property.

The eminent domain action, they argued, had nothing to do with the supposedly urgent stabilization needs and everything to do with time-sensitive funding issues related

to the park project. Additionally, they contended that the park coalition colluded in a “civil conspiracy” to create media and public relations campaigns to paint the Georges as obstinate extortionists.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John Sutula agreed on the first two points, ruling in favor of the Georges in granting a series of temporary injunctions against the Port’s eminent domain attempt in 2022.

Not only did the judge find that the port’s “good faith offer” didn’t include compensation for the billboard, he found that work to begin to stabilize the hillside could begin without the Port taking the property and, in the case that it did need to have legal access to the 0.41-acre property to begin work, a temporary easement would suffice in lieu of a permanent acquisition.

“The court further finds that the plaintiff has met its burden of showing that the defendant’s actions related to its attempted appropriation of the property constitute an abuse of

authority due to lack of: 1) necessity, 2) good faith, and 3) strict adherence to the statutory procedures governing the exercise of the agency’s power of eminent domain,” Sutula’s order read.

The park coalition this winter appealed the decision to the Eighth District, as negotiations between the two sides continued. After a flurry of motions, consolidations involving the various groups involved in the project, and some initial orders, the court was set to begin hearing oral arguments on the case in late March.

With the signing of the memorandum of understanding, the legal fight will now end. (Members of the park coalition, including the Port, the Metroparks and many others, have spent more than $1.6 million in legal fees on the lawsuit.)

The park coalition in December announced it received a $5 million challenge grant from the Mandel Foundation, bringing the total haul for the project to $17 million so far. It will need to raise $28 million more by 2025-2026, around the time

it hopes to break ground on what would be a 18-24 month project.

Stabilization work, which will cost $53 million and which is already fully funded by federal grants and other sources, will begin first.

– Vince Grzegorek

Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s 2022 Year In Review Notes Struggles of Remote Work, Promise of Future

In its recap of 2022, shared Thursday, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance was both realistic about current struggles and forwardthinking in terms of a rebound.

Spotlighting Cleveland’s officeto-apartment conversions as well as downtown’s retail vacancies, hopes for more bike lanes and more pedestrian-friendly streets alongside neighborhood population growth, the report was a mix of Covid-era ills and signs of optimism in the future.

“The persistence of remote

Photo via Gooogle Maps

work, perceptions of public safety and aging public infrastructure contribute to this environment,” the report reads. “But in the face of these headwinds, Downtown Cleveland has remained resilient.”

Quite resilient, DCA found, at least compared to its usual cast of comparable peer cities, like Columbus and Pittsburgh.

Downtown Cleveland’s occupancy rate for office space, DCA found, is at about 84 percent, roughly the same as Downtown Cincinnati’s. Downtown Detroit’s offices are 86 percent full; Philadelphia’s at 85.2 percent.

Though DCA gloats that Downtown Cleveland saw the “largest net absorption of Class A office space” — typically the topshelf, high-priced spots — the Wall Street Journal reports that, as in New York and Detroit, that upperechelon, Class A space could be heading towards a downward trend like its lower-cost competitors.

There was, however, an “overall loss in all classes” of office space, Audrey Gerlach, VP of Economic Development & Chief of Staff at Downtown Cleveland Alliance, told Scene. “If you’re an office employer and you want workers to be back in the space, you want to be in a space that is attractive, especially as employers tend to move to smaller footprints. Especially if most of these employers are hybrid.”

As for the push for Downtown to retire its perception as a central business district and put on the image of a residential neighborhood, the results were mixed.

While Downtown’s population leapt up to 20,750 — with just 114 rental units added, namely 75 Public Square, compared to 1,000 units added in 2020 — the home ownership realm was a little bit more murky. Though there were 112 sales last year, Downtown has the lowest homeowner rate compared to 11 peer cities, such as Detroit and Philadelphia.

“It’s definitely a challenge in this market,” Gerlach said. “It’s the supply side issue. But there’s demand. And we just need to make it easy, and a little less risky.”

But, after all, there’s always this year. Next year?

It’s possible that, with the $1 billion or so in investment Downtown in the next few years — spread out among 16 projects — that the socalled neighborhood-in-transition could reach a tipping point.

The 3,000 or so workers the $300 million Sherwin Williams HQ tower is promising to bring, along with East 4th’s public-art revamp could,

if completed on time, buck major negativity in the future.

“I think development begets development largely, and I think we’ve seen that Downtown in the last 10 years,” Gerlach said. “What we’re seeing is a theme of connection. Adding housing and green space. Growing the population. It’s not you get one thing done and that’s it. This is an ecosystem.” – Mark Oprea

How Many Eclipse Tourists Will Descend on Northeast Ohio in April 2024?

Almost exactly a year out, organizers are preparing for the total solar eclipse much of Ohio will experience on April 8, 2024. The last solar eclipse the state saw in totality was in 1806, and the next one won’t come until 2099, making this a oncein-a-lifetime occasion for the state.

How many people are going to make the trip to view it here? That depends on who you ask.

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun completely and covering Earth with its shadow.

The path of totality, or the area where the total eclipse can be viewed, is expected to be roughly 124 miles wide, larger than most eclipses, and span Texas to Maine in the U.S.

The point of longest duration in Ohio will be Avon Lake, in Lorain County, which is preparing for a huge influx.

Garry Gibbs, director of the Lorain County Visitors Bureau, says he expects upwards of 900,000 tourists for the eclipse and hopes people will stay for several days.

Destination Cleveland told Scene it didn’t have its own estimate, deferring to Great American Eclipse

numbers, which pegs Ohio’s total incoming visitors between 139,000 and 556,000.

Regardless, Ohio is within a one-day drive for 70% of the U.S. population, according to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA), making it a prime 2024 eclipse destination.

Tourist numbers from the 2017 eclipse vary. South Carolina estimated that 1.6 million people visited for the celestial show. Hopkinsville, Kentucky, which made a whole to-do and branded itself as Eclipseville that year, saw 100,000 visitors.

In addition to viewing the eclipse, EMA compiled a list of attractions and events available to visit near the path of the eclipse, which can be explored on an interactive map.

As with any solar eclipse, viewers need to protect their eyes.

“The only safe way to look directly at a partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewers,” according to EMA. “Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun. They transmit thousands of times too much sunlight and could damage the eyes.”

– Maria Elena Scott

Hyland Software Lays Off 1,000 Employees

Hyland Software, the Westlake-based company perennially recognized on lists and rankings of the best places to work in Northeast Ohio, this week announced that it will lay off around 1,000 employees, approximately 20% of its workforce.

“In a company that is always changing, today we are announcing the hardest change we’ve ever had to make,” Hyland President and

CEO Bill Priemer wrote in an email to staff. “We are restructuring our organization. We are removing layers of management, adjusting team sizes and reassigning responsibilities across departments and levels. I recognize and understand the gravity of this decision and the impact it will have on our friends and colleagues who will be leaving. I take responsibility for the decisions we are sharing today, and I realize how difficult this is for you all.”

Workers across the U.S. will today receive an email with a status update on their employment status. Those being let go will be invited to a Zoom, after which details of severance and “offboarding” will be shared. Those working outside of the country will be notified per local laws and regulations.

Priemer cited ongoing economic concerns and “shifts in our market” for the decision, as well as Hyland’s transition to a cloudfocused company. Pursuing that goal included investments and “we did not anticipate the degree to which inflation, rising interest rates and wage increases would impact our expenses. Furthermore, the challenging economic climate we currently face is prompting many organizations to pull back on their technology expenditures... We determined that streamlining the organization, both operationally and financially, is necessary to ensure Hyland’s long-term success.”

Hyland two years ago laid off 150 in its domestic product delivery department, outsourcing the jobs to India and Poland.

Now, the software company joins the steady beat of workforce reductions in the tech world.

“To those of you who will be leaving us, you have made Hyland a better company and enriched our community. We will do what we can to help ease this transition,” Priemer wrote in his memo. “For those in the U.S., this includes providing a minimum of three months of severance (more for extended tenure), a minimum of five months of healthcare coverage, continued access to our employee assistance program, and career resources to help you find your next opportunity.”

– Vince Grzegorek

With End of Pandemic-Era Bonus SNAP Benefits, City of Cleveland Launches Monthly Free Food Pickups

The extra, Covid-era bonus payment for those in the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) will not show up on cards this month, as the government

Courtesy Great American Eclipse

ends its three years of emergency allotments.

Such a boost, which gave those in need an extra $100 on average on their Ohio Direction Card, was determined by a customer’s household income, family size and monthly debts.

That calculation, the city of Cleveland said, is why, starting this Wednesday, it’s stepping in to make up for the deficit — which amounts to about $95 a household — that will impact 1 in 3 Clevelanders.

“But some will lose much more,” said Cleveland Department of Aging Director Mary McNamara in a press release. “This loss of benefits, coupled with the inflated food prices we are seeing, is significant, particularly for seniors on fixed incomes and for low-income families with children.”

Along with usual SNAP benefits — like using Produce Perks to grab fruit-and-veggie discounts at Dave’s or nearby farmers markets — Clevelanders will have five extra options to pick up boxes of free food:

On the first Wednesday of each month, from 3pm to 6pm, at the Collinwood Rec Center, 16300 Lakeshore Blvd.

On the third Monday of the month, from 3pm to 6pm, Clevelanders can head to the Michael Zone Rec Center, 6301 Lorain Ave.

On the second Friday, from 2pm to 4pm, at the Boys & Girls Club

DIGIT WIDGET

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parking lot, at the corner of East 59th St. and Haltnorth Ave.

On the second Tuesday of the month (starting April 11th), at the J. Glen Smith Health Center, 11100 St. Clair Ave.

On the third Wednesday of the month (starting April 19th), at the Thomas McCafferty Health Center, 4242 Lorain Ave.

The Cleveland Food Bank and others have been proactive in providing information on resources for those affected. –

Mark Oprea

Coalition Leads Conversations on How Police Brutality Affects Black Community in Cleveland, Offers Free Therapy

A group of Cleveland organizations started a four-part Cleveland Conversation Series about the impacts of police brutality in Cleveland’s Black community last Thursday with “You are My Sister, a Conversation about Police Violence with Black Women.” Each session is led by a mental health professional and focuses on the experiences of Black women, men and youth.

The first conversation, held on the anniversary of Angelo Miller’s death, was dedicated to the ways police violence impacts the mental health of Black women and the Black community. Billie Gilliam, a licensed clinical counselor and director of Clinical Services at YWCA Greater Cleveland, spoke in a panel discussion about the importance of recognizing trauma in both the body and the mind, before leading a question and answer session.

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“I use a term all the time… visceral reactivity,” said Gilliam. “Visceral reactivity is how your body is responding to things because what your body does is scan the environment for safe and unsafe. That’s your body’s job. Your brain’s job is to seek pleasure and avoid pain. But your body can be misinformed depending on what your experiences have been.”

With the abundance of footage of police violence that circulates in the news and on social media platforms, Gilliam says she avoids watching the videos to protect herself.

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“Even the stories are hard to read because you can still get PTSD as a diagnosis just by learning of an event. We’re creating a body that’s hypersensitive to stress and even if it’s not a high-stress situation, our bodies will view it as so.”

Stress places physiological burdens on not only the mind but the body. Prolonged stress-response can weaken one’s immune system and is

a risk factor for serious conditions like diabetes, autoimmune disorders, mental illness, obesity, heart disease and more.

According to the American Psychological Association, perceived discrimination is a key factor for health disparities related to stress in racial groups, and Black Americans are among racial minority groups that have been severely impacted by hypertension and diabetes as a result of chronic stress from discrimination.

For Black women and others who give birth, stress caused by racism can also impact birth outcomes. In the United States, the maternal death rate was nearly 70 in 100,000 for Black Americans, 2.6 times higher than the maternal death rate among white Americans.

Beyond stress on an individual, Gilliam spoke about the ways trauma informs women’s relationships.

“We’re doing that because we want to make sure they stay alive, which is unfortunate. We shouldn’t have to teach people how to live,” Gilliam said. “That should be a right, not a privilege. But we pass our traumatic exposures to our children, just so we can make sure they stay alive as much as possible.”

The next session is scheduled for Saturday, April 29 and is titled “Real Men Real Talk: Black Men’s Conversation”.

Because of the role professional help can play in healing trauma, the ADAMHS Board is offering to sponsor people who attend the Cleveland Conversation Series sessions to get therapy from any of the partnering mental health organizations. The Board will sponsor one session a month for a year for up to 75 individuals, with no cost to the patient.

Black Lives Matter Cleveland; The Angelo Miller Foundation; the Cleveland Community Police Commission; Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board (ADAMHS) of Cuyahoga County; Spread the Love Foundation; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter; and the Woodruff Foundation are among the organizations collaborating on the series. – Maria Elena Scott

Cuyahoga County Yet Again Delays Reopening of Cedar Point Road Bridge

For the third time since renovation work began in July of 2021, the reopening of Cedar Point Road Bridge, a key entrance to the Rocky

Reservation, will be delayed, this time until “late 2024,” according to the county.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works blamed the “unplanned but necessary replacement of additional structural components” the project team apparently learned about during the winter pause.

“During the systematic repair of the concrete bridge beams, it became clear that the interior beams displayed a larger and deeper extent of deterioration than originally anticipated,” the county said in a press release.

In order to best maximize future usage, and understanding the bridge’s age, the team determined “that a total replacement of all the beams would be required.”

In August 2022, the bridge’s reopening was delayed a second time after eyeing a summer 2023 completion. The original date for Cedar’s completion was that October, a lag the county blamed on pandemic-era supply chain issues, especially concerning the shipment of steel.

In early 2021, the Plain Dealer/ Cleveland.com reported last August, the county announced it would be paying 20 percent of the $3.1 million required to bring the bridge, which was built 94 years ago in 1929, into a safer condition. The bridge, which endured its first major update in 1975, was originally 43 feet wide.

A federal grant is being used to cover the remainder of the repair, which is also a part of the 2018 Rocky River Reservation Master Plan.

According to a report last year by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, roughly 10 percent of all bridges in the Greater Cleveland area are in “poor or worse” condition.

In the 16th congressional district, which includes the majority of North Olmsted, that number’s about 6 percent — a load of 384 bridges in need of $800 million for suitable upgrades, mostly to curb safety worries.

That was a drop from 398 bridgesin-need in 2021, a fall most likely due to the leveraging of funds from President Biden’s Infrastructure Law’s $60 billion allocation for the country’s roads and bridges repairs.

A better completion date for Cedar shall come, the county said, “depending on material availability, weather and river conditions over the course of the next year.” – Mark Oprea

Advocates Oppose Cleveland

Apartment units currently under construction in the Cleveland metro area, the lowest number among major U.S. cities.

Apartment units currently under construction in Detroit, the next lowest metro area.

3 million

Visits to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in 2022, making it the 9th most-visited national park that year.

Percent of Ohioans that say meals should be provided to students at school regardless of their ability to pay. Districts say more students are unable to eat due to growing student lunch debt.

Port Authority’s Possible Repeal of Prevailing Wage Mandate

A proposed change to the ClevelandCuyahoga County Port Authority’s prevailing wage policy will hurt workers and their families, says the Prevailing Wage Coalition, a group of organizations dedicated to fair compensation, workers’ rights and economic equity.

“Only in a world where down is up and up is down would a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) consultant suggest the path to creating a more equitable region is best charted by reducing worker wages, jettisoning the Port’s prevailing wage requirement,” the group wrote in a letter to president and CEO William Friedman.

A Port resolution has required prevailing wages and a $15 minimum wage for service sector contracts since 2018. A prevailing wage is a common feature of unions and is defined as “the average wage paid to similarly employed workers in a specific occupation in the area of intended employment,” according to the Department of Labor.

The letter comes after Bridges Group International, a North Carolina-based consulting firm the Port brought on to create DEI initiatives, told the board of directors the prevailing wage resolution harms the port’s ability to finance deals.

Consultant Renee Holloman told the board that, according to her interviews with stakeholders, “the 100% prevailing wage requirement has had a total chilling effect for some people who would bring in requests for funding to the port.”

Holloman recommended getting rid of the prevailing wage mandate so the port could finance more development projects, ultimately increasing revenue which could then be put back into DEI programs.

Senior vice president of Public Affairs and Energy Policy Jade Davis stressed that the minimum wage would remain at $15 an hour and that any potential change to the prevailing wage mandate “still does not change prevailing wage on port projects or projects that the port is spending port money on, like Irishtown Bend.”

“This wouldn’t cover unionized labor and things like that. This will probably cover more ancillary and third party services,” like couriering and minor cleanup, Davis said.

One of the ways the port makes revenue is through fees from its bond financing program, which helps smaller organizations borrow money at good rates. According to

Crain’s, Cleveland’s port currently has nine bonds, far less than Columbus’s 45, Cincinnati’s 37 and Summit County’s 27.

With fewer deals, Cleveland’s port is in danger of getting a lower bond rating from Standard & Poor’s (S&P), a leading stock market index.

“Without an ‘A’ or above rating, essentially we’re out of business and can’t fund anyone,” the port’s vice president of development and finance Rhonda Winslow told Crain’s. “We’ve been given kind of a warning from S&P that we need to get more deals done, more transactions done and build the number back up in the program, or we run the risk of being degraded.”

But the Prevailing Wage Coalition says the current resolution is vital for workers.

“Growing economic inequality — both income and wealth — was caused by intentional policy decisions over the past four decades,” the letter says. “This is precisely why the Port’s 2018 resolution to require prevailing wages and a minimum hourly rate of $15 per hour for service contracts for Port financed projects was an important step in the right direction. But it was exactly that — a step.”

The letter is signed by two dozen organizations focused on fair compensation and workers’ rights, like End Poverty Now, Cleveland Jobs with Justice and the Ohio Working Families Party.

Although the money put towards DEI projects would fund programs designed to benefit underserved communities, trade educations and businesses owned by minorities and women, the coalition’s letter cites the fact that “often Black and brown workers are most adversely impacted by both the historic and accelerating economic inequality in our economy” as a reason not to implement said changes.

The coalition also points out that, for such a significant change, voters weren’t informed last November.

“It is surprising to see the Port consider this major policy change immediately on the heels of a successful levy campaign. Interestingly, this significant policy change was never identified as a consideration of the Port to voters this past November,” the coalition’s letter says. “Voters would have likely responded differently to the levy had they known that the Port intended to prioritize the reduction of worker wages.” – Maria Elena Scott scene@clevescene.com @clevelandscene

Local Legends

I’m From Cleveland, curator of 216 culture, hopes to leverage growing following into fashion

By Mark Oprea

IF YOU’RE ON INSTAGRAM and consume Cleveland content, you’re probably following — along with 117,000 others — or at least aware of I’m From Cleveland (@ imfromcleveland) the aggregator and social media clearinghouse for all things 216.

You’ve seen the memes and videos, collected from around the internet and solicited via DMs. You’ve seen the takes and jokes about Cleveland potholes. Or, Newburgh Heights cops. Or, in one of its most-watched roundups (15 million views), set to the Stursa-penned “Cleveland Is Not a Real Place,” a quick-paced melange of the city’s most absurd recent happenings.

What began in 2010 as a digital zine for the city’s hip hop culture has now, 13 years later, grown into a multi-pronged social media outlet, with news, artist spotlights, event listings, Clevelander celebrity shoutouts and, also, original content. (Mostly TikTok-esque, man-on-thestreets with strangers.) IFC today is sort of a mixtape for the news and culture of a city with a complex, embattled identity, one that Vajda and Stursa attempt to bolster with posts celebrating locals and natives doing good.

And what’s trailed since IFC’s

makeover at the onset of the pandemic has been a spike in followers. Since 2020, with the birth of their Instagram page, the overall reach across their five platforms has nearly doubled, to roughly 118 million lifetime views.

“We’re starting to, I think, break through to where we want to,” Stursa said.

That spike in fandom has led Stursa and Vajda, who birthed I’m From Cleveland as teenagers, to branch out off of social media and into more traditional spheres. At the start of this year, after moving into a 4,000-square-foot office space, the duo laid the groundwork for its latest venture: a full-fledged clothing line, with hoodies, rugby shirts, ballcaps and letterman jackets.

“We’re going for the top-tier, premium Cleveland clothing brand,”

Vajda said. Across from Vajda, himself draped in a black Dickies jacket and a SOZO shirt, stand racks of iLTHY jackets, organized by material and color. “There’s so many T-shirt companies in Cleveland. They all do good. It’s all cool. But we want to put our twist on it.”

Segueing into fashion seems apt for Vajda and Stursa, who have had their fingers on the pulse region’s hip hop scene for half their lives.

Though I’m From Cleveland began in its breakout form as a YouTube channel in Stursa’s childhood bedroom (he was 13), it morphed into a digital zine of sorts when Vajda, then 19 and a budding DJ, got involved. Vajda, who would soon help an up-and-coming Kid Cudi find airtime on 96.5 KISS F.M., suggested the two repackage Vajda’s Bitch, I’m From Cleveland mixtape — a city-

“We took that, basically cleaned it up, made it our brand,” said Stursa, 28. He cracked a slow-to-form smile of nostalgia. “I reached out on Eric’s Myspace page — that’s how far back it was.”

Then, after I’m From Cleveland found its namesake, Vajda entertained a bigger idea: Why not fill the gaps where other, larger media falls short?

“I really was thinking, ‘How can we get the music heard to the city?’” Vajda said. “Let’s do something that’s focused on putting Cleveland artists out.”

In the decade that followed, I’m From Cleveland meshed with rap ambassadors that grew parallel to them, like Al Fatz and Ray Cash.

promo collab with rapper Chip Tha Ripper — into an idea for a website showcase.

As Vajda balanced DJ sets in Los Angeles, and Stursa a marketing 9-to-5, the two acted as volunteer promoters of Kid Cudi’s earliest mixtapes — “Before anyone knew who he was” — of Machine Gun Kelly’s freshman recordings (“Chip Off the Block”). “We were now partnering with all the big guys. We were helping the artists,” Vajda explained. “And cosigning artists that didn’t get enough love in the city.”

Then, as the pandemic put a temporary death knell on live music, and Spotify put a wrench in mixtape culture, Vajda and Stursa found it was high time to branch out. Besides

reposting Cleveland miscellany — like a throwback to Bottlegate, or the amazingly viral East 81st Deli chicken salad meme — IFC delved into a very Instragram-friendly version of local service journalism.

The point, Stursa said, harkens back to the original angle: To both showcase Cleveland for what it really is and what it is not.

“I think overall, we want to portray a positive message: This is what’s great about Cleveland,” Stursa said. “And then you see other things like that, where not necessarily bad things, but I feel like we also have a responsibility to showcase.”

Vajda laughed. “Bottlegate

actually happened, right? Like, everything isn’t sunshine and rainbows. We’re also real.”

It’s that mentality that Vajda hopes translates into their clothing line. Although he’s veering away from top-shelf boutique prices — “Nothing too crazy, a little more expensive than your typical tourist shirt” — Vajda feels that, when the apparel goes on sale at Xhibition in April, the line will lead to collaborations state-wide. Maybe even a legit fashion show, something the city’s been without for years.

And Drew Bobinski, a project manager and friend of the IFC team for the past decade, agreed: The clothes fit the brand.

“I don’t have a term or phrase besides clean, crisp, while still focusing on Cleveland, without being

over-graphic-y, over cartoon-y,” Bobinski told Scene. “It still gets the message across: Everyone loves being from Cleveland.”

As, of course, Vajda and Stursa can relate. On a recent late afternoon at their offices off St. Clair in Midtown, Vajda and Stursa sat at their Macs reviewing PDFs of designs for their clothing launch. A brand, it seems, that will follow Vajda and Stursa for the remainder of their careers.

Whether they like it or not.

“I grew up in Lorain, actually,” Stursa admitted, forming an innocent grin. “West side Lorain, that’s where I’m from.”

Vajda leaned in for emphasis. “And Cleveland took him in,” he said.

above : Eric Vajda and John Stursa, co-founders of I’m From Cleveland, sit in their near office on St. Clair Ave. in March. left : Vajda at his desk, showing off IFC’s new digs.

MARK OPREA

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

SUN 04/09

Cavaliers vs. Charlotte Hornets

The Cavs take on the struggling Charlotte Hornets today at 1 p.m. at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. With the playoffs looming, every win weighs heavily on seeding, so the Cavs will need to ensure they don’t underestimate the Hornets.

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

MON 04/10

Dyngus Day

WED 04/05

As You Like It

Great Lakes Theatre presents this Shakespeare play that takes place in the Forest of Arden, where a disguised Rosalind seeks refuge after her uncle has banished her. Performances take place tonight at 7:30 at the Hanna Theatre, where performances continue through Sunday.

2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

Becoming Dr. Ruth

Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer changed the way we talk about sex and relationships with her hit ‘80s radio call-in show, Sexually Speaking. This theatrical show pays tribute to the late Westheimer. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7 at the Outcalt Theatre, where performances continue through April 23.

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

Midnight Rental presents Secret Movie Night

Hosted by Lenora from the internet hit-series Midnight Rental, a show that streams exclusively on the Found Footage Festival YouTube channel, this event brings you the best in VHS horror, thriller and campy classics as Lenora picks the flicks from her vault (aka video

store rental shelf). Lenora has been featured in The New York Times for her work on cable-access TV series, The Big Bad B-Movie Show. The event begins tonight at 8 at the Grog Shop.

2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.

THU 04/06

Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony

Shostakovich wrote his Fifth Symphony at the height of the Stalinist purges, publishing it as “A Soviet Artist’s Reply to Just Criticism.” Rafael Payare conducts the Cleveland Orchestra as it plays the piece tonight at 7:30. Performances also take place tomorrow and Saturday.

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

FRI 04/07

Dan Cummins

In the past several years, comic Dan Cummins has been extremely busy. He’s released three albums, appeared on all the usual late-night talk shows and toured his ass off. Though his delivery is much more manic, the thirtysomething comic comes off a bit like Jerry Seinfeld as he jokes about the trials and tribulations

of getting through everyday life. Cummins performs tonight at 7 at the Agora. Local comedian Mary Santora opens.

5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

Guardians vs. Seattle Mariners

The Guardians home opener takes place today at 4:10 p.m. against the Seattle Mariners. The Guardians are coming off a solid post-season performance that saw them come close to knocking off a high-power New York Yankees team, and the Mariners had a good run last year too and made it to the post-season. The series, which should be a good one, continues through Sunday.

2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians.

SAT 04/08

Bert Kreischer

Not many comedians have fought a grizzly bear. In his 2005 television movie, Hurt Bert, Bert Kreischer not only comes face to face with a ferocious (yet ultimately harmless) bear but lives to tell you about it in his nationally successful comedy act. Kreischer makes his way to Cleveland this week for a standup show at 7 p.m. at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

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

This year’s celebration will once again take place at Gordon Green in the Gordon Arts District, but patrons will also be able to polka their way through W. 58th St., which will be closed off for vendor sales, and a large parking lot between Happy Dog and Angel Printing. For those who can’t attend the in-person events, festivities will be livestreamed on Facebook. This year’s day-long celebration will feature polka dancing, the annual pierogi eating contest, the crowning of Ms. Dyngus Day, an amateur accordion contest and live entertainment. DJ Kishka –the local “Polka personality” and musician – will return as the host. clevelanddyngus.com.

Guardians vs. New York Yankees

In a rematch from last year’s playoffs, the Guardians take on the hated New York Yankees, a team with one of baseball’s highest profiles, largest payrolls and biggest egos. Tonight’s first pitch is at 6:10, and the series continues through Wednesday.

2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians.

TUE 04/11

Hot Goss: The Improvised Musical

Tonight at 7 at the Grog Shop, a troupe of improvisers from the Cleveland comedy scene will perform an improvised musical with live piano and guitar accompaniment based on audience interviews about gossip in their lives. Hosted by Sam Dee from Casually Late Stampede, Amsterdang and Mass Hysteria Comedy Fest, the show features

Dyngus Day returns to the Gordon Square Arts District. See: Monday, April 10. | Emanuel Wallace

members of Imposters Theater and Cam Godfrey, recent winner of “Rookie of the Year” at the Cleveland Comedy Awards 2023.

2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.

WED 04/12

Melissa Villaseñor

The first-ever Latina cast member on Saturday Night Live, Melissa Villaseñor is known for her comic impressions and has voiced characters on Cartoon Network’s OK K.O.! and Adventure Time, Comedy Central’s TripTank, Fox’s American Dad and Family Guy, and Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 4. She performs tonight at 7 at Hilarities.

2035 East Fourth St., 216-2417425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

THU 04/13

Mahler’s Titan Michael Tilson Thomas directs the Cleveland Orchestra as it takes on Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 (“Titan”) tonight at Mandel Concert Hall. Leif Ove Andsne will perform as well. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30, and performances also take place on Saturday and Sunday.

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

FRI 04/14

Our Planet Live

Stemming from the popular Netflix series, Our Planet Live in Concert combines HD cinematography with all-new orchestrations by Oscar-winning composer Steven Price performed by a live onstage orchestra. The event takes place tonight at 7:30 at the State Theatre.

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

SAT 04/15

The Piano Guys

The quartet of pianist Jon Schmidt, cellist Steven Sharp Nelson producer and videographer Paul Anderson and music producer Al van der Beek celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2020 and has continued to tour and record. The group comes to Connor Palace tonight at 8.

1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

SUN 4/16

Monsters vs. Rochester Americans

The Monsters conclude their regular season at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse with this game against the Rochester Americans. The puck drops at 3 p.m.

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

TUE 04/18

Ellis Island: The Dream of America

A multimedia work for orchestra, Ellis Island: The Dream of America honors the immigrant experience with a “compelling combination of music, narration, and historic images.” It traces the experiences of seven immigrants from seven countries on their way to America, beginning in the early parts of the past century. The Cleveland Orchestra performs the music to the piece tonight at 7:30 at Mandel Concert Hall.

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

scene@clevescene.com

t@clevelandscene

Guardians. | Emanuel Wallace

PRECISELY CHAOTIC

Beck Center’s production of Noises Off keeps the action and laughs flowing

By Christine Howey

THESE DAYS, IT’S ALMOST expected that a play you attend will have no intermission, or one at the most. Part of that is due to theaters seeking out one-act plays since Covid arrived, hoping to minimize excessive audience social contact. So, when you encounter a play with two intermissions, it gets your attention.

The sturdy British farce Noises Off by Michael Frayn, now at the Beck Center, absolutely needs two intervals since the play’s set totally switches from “on stage” to “backstage” and back to “on stage” for its three acts. It is a lovely invention for this playwithin-a-play, as the actors present the same first act of “Nothing On,” a shopworn farce. We see the same act three times—first on tech rehearsal night, then at a performance a month later, and finally at a tourending show.

backstage snits among the actors come to life, accompanied by a bottle of booze, a fire ax, and bouquets of flowers, all of which change hands multiple times. This is the most difficult stanza of the three to stage, since the first act is in progress on the other side of the set’s flats.

In this act, Lloyd is reduced to just another klutz in the kluge, and the action often turns into a blur rather than a sharply-defined gag-fest. But Daniel Telford as stage manager Tim and Kelly Strand as assistant stage manager Poppy do what they can to enliven the proceedings.

NOISES OFF

THROUGH APRIL 16 AT THE BECK CENTER, 17801 DETROIT AVE., LAKEWOOD, BECKCENTER.ORG, 216-521-2540.

Of course, things go from bad-to-worse-to-ghastly as petty grievances, dressing room romances and a volley of personal idiosyncrasies combine to turn the intended farce into an unintentional mess. And that’s a good thing, for the most part.

As directed by Scott Spence, this Noises Off keeps the doors slamming and the stairways fully occupied with bodies flying in all directions, carrying bags and boxes and plates of sardines. As a character notes early on, it’s all a jumble— and it requires precise timing to make sure the jokes don’t get lost in the flurry.

In this production, the first act works best as the director Lloyd (a nicely snarky Stephen Mitchell Brown) tries to guide his splendidly flawed actors through their paces. Key among those are Eric Fancher as the ever-unhelpful Gary and Scott Esposito as Freddy, who is beset by nosebleeds at the slightest provocation. They combine for many laughs and are accompanied, respectively, by Brooke (Bella Serrano) and Belinda (Sasha Wilson), who add much to the raucous confusion.

In the second act we watch the

By the time the third act arrives, the acting troupe has been on the road for weeks and it shows. Cues are dropped, lines are forgotten, and the weak subplots involving taxes and Arabs seem entirely pointless. And that’s also a good thing.

Throughout the play, two elderly characters— Dotty who plays the housekeeper Mrs. Clackett and the continually soused actor Selsdon Mowbray— stand apart from the racetrack intensity of stairclimbing and doorslamming imposed on the other performers. That theoretically gives them the opportunity to embellish their characters with some inventive physical schtick.

While Nanna Ingvarsson as Dotty and Bob Keefe as Selsdon create some chuckles with their lines, which they deliver as intended, they don’t (or aren’t encouraged to) take enough chances with their moments. For instance, in the third act Dotty accidentally wraps herself in a long phone cord. But instead of turning that into a comical escape escapade, she just smoothly extricates herself.

In all, Noises Off is a physically demanding theatrical juggling act for both the performers. And despite some slow moments, this production at the Beck Center manages to keep the laughter flowing.

scene@clevescene.com

t@clevelandscene

49TH STREET TAVERN D

49streettavern.com

4129 E 49th Street, Cuyahoga Heights

STEAK TACO

Marinated steak, lettuce, tomato, onion, in a soft shell topped with tomato salsa, and sour cream

CHICKEN TACO

Grilled chicken, cilantro, and lime in a soft shell topped with tomato salsa and sour cream

SHRIMP TACO

Grilled shrimp, and creamy taco slaw in a soft shell

ACADEMY TAVERN D

academytaverncle.com

12800 Larchmere Blvd, Cleveland

3 TACOS FOR $10

Academy Taco: Ground beef, lettuce, tomato & cheddar cheese

Steak Taco: Steak, cotija cheese, red onion & horseradish crema

Buffalo Chicken Taco: Grilled Chicken tossed in buffalo sauce, lettuce, tomato & cheddar cheese

AGAVE & RYE agaveandrye.com

1352 W 6th St, Cleveland

THE GANGSTA

The Gangsta is bursting with flavor and attitude! Our Mexican Rice is the perfect base for our signature Birria and Elote, with White Cheddar and Queso for a cheesy kick. We top it off with Serrano Chipotle Créme, Cilantro, and a Tajin Lime for a flavorful finish with a hint of spice. Get prepared to tantalize your taste buds with The Gangsta

MOTHER FROM ANOTHER

The Mother from Another packs a unique and unforgettable flavor punch! Our Mexican Rice is the base for Chipotle Roasted Corn, Queso, Crispy Black Beans, while Spicy Carrots provide a defining finish. Get read for a vegetarian taco experience like no other!

THE MISFIT

The Misfit will take your taste buds on an adventure! Mac N Cheese Beignets, Crispy Chicken and Crumbled Sweet & Spicy Bacon make up the base, while Habanero Maple Syrup and Chopped Strawberry Chutney provide a sweet and spicy kick. Hold on tight for a taco that is truly unique!

ANEJO TEQUILA JOINT VE s

instagram.com/anejotequilajoint

1051 W 10th St, Cleveland

THE ANEJO NACHO SUPREME

ANEJO TACO BOWL SUPREME

Build your own bowl: Ground beef $10, Cajun chicken $11, Shrimp $13 Comes with jalapeño, black olives, onions, pico de gallo, and chipotle chili aioli sauce

ANEJO NACHO CHEESE TACO

*Deep fried taco shell with your choice of protein. Comes with a minimum of 3 tacos per order. Beef $10, Chicken $11, Shrimp $12 Comes with pico de gallo, nacho cheese, lettuce, shredded cheese, topped with chipotle aioli

ANEJO VEGGIE TACO

Impossible meat, pico de gallo, lettuce, cheese, corn

BALANCE PAN-ASIAN GRILLE

balancegrille.com

515 Euclid Ave, Cleveland

3 MIX & MATCH TACOS FOR $6.00

TIKKA TACO: An iconic Indian dish in a hand-held form! Served with chicken dressed in our house-made Budda sauce, garnished with red onions, tomatoes, spiced chickpeas, and micro cilantro. A must try for any fans of our Budda bowl!

BANG BANG TACO: Grilled chicken smothered in our spicy bangbang sauce and a cool yogurt sauce. Garnished with red onion, cilantro and crunchy noodles

KOREAN BBQ TACO: Classic bulgogi flavors paired with our kimchi pickles for acidity, red cabbage for color and texture and scallions to tie in all the flavors. The sauce is savory with hints of sesame oil, soy sauce and sugar

BALLANTINE D

ballantinerestaurant.com

4113 Erie St, Willoughby

CHIMICHURRI STEAK TACO

Grilled flat iron steak, chimichurri sauce, garlic oil tossed arugala, goat cheese

BLACKENED HALIBUT TACO

Seared blackened halibut, poblano crema, red pepper slaw, cilantro

BAR 32 D

bar32cle.com

100 Lakeside Avenue East, Cleveland

CHIMICHURRI STEAK TACOS

Two Flour Tortillas with Grilled Chimichurri Hanger Steak, Pickled Shallots, Cilantro & Sriracha Aioli

BARRIO TACOS VE s

barrio-tacos.com

806 Literary Rd, Cleveland

15527 Madison Ave, Lakewood

503 Prospect Ave E, Cleveland

2466 Fairmount Blvd, Cleveland Heights

4061 Erie St, Willoughby

295 S Water St, Kent

13169 Prospect Rd, Strongsville

3 TACOS FOR $7

El Jefe Loco: Stoner shell (flour soft + corn hard + chorizo + queso), spicerubbed chicken, queso fresco, smoked cheddar, pico de gallo, corn salsa, chipotle honey bbq, salsa roja

El Vegano: Lean goddess shell ( corn soft + corn hard + guac), pan-seared portobellos, caramelized onions + poblanos, pico de gallo, corn salsa, salsa verde

El Gringo: Flour shell, chili-spiced ground sirloin, smoked cheddar, lettuce, pico de gallo, chipotle crema

BEERHEAD BAR & EATERY (FLATS EAST BANK) s

beerheadbar.com/cleveland-ohio

1156 W 11th St, Cleveland

2 TACOS FOR $10.00

Pulled Beef Baja Taco: Tender pulled beef, pickled jalapeno, pico de gallo, smoked gouda, with Beerhead “Baja Sauce” Roasted Street Corn Chorizo Taco: Roasted corn and poblano peppers, chorizo, pickled red onion, Cotija cheese, topped with smokey garlic-lime crema

BILLY’S A CAPPELLI MARTINI BAR

billysmartinibar.com

7338 Industrial Park Blvd, Mentor

3 MAHI MAHI TACOS FOR $8

Soft taco, power blend slaw, pico de galo, and creamy avocado

BLUE HABANERO D

bluehabanerocleveland.com

6416 Detroit Ave, Cleveland bluehabanerostrongsville.com

18066 Royalton Rd, Strongsville bluehabanerobrecksville.com

8934 Brecksville Rd, Brecksville

$8.00 TACOS + SIDE SPECIAL

Chicken Chipotle Taco: Red Cabbage, Pico de Gallo Served with a Side of Mexican Rice

Carnitas Taco: Habanero Sauce, Onion, Cilantro, Shredded Carrots. Served with a Side of Mexican Rice

HAIL MARY’S D

smokinmarys.com

27828 Center Ridge Rd, Westlake

$3 PER TACO

Choice of Grilled or Crispy Chicken. Topped with Mango Habanero Salsa, Pepperjack Cheese, Lettuce

BOMBA TACO + BAR VE

bombatacos.com

19880 Detroit Rd, Rocky River

2101 Richmond Rd, Beachwood

2 TACOS WITH RICE & BEANS

The Yard Bird: Chipotle marinated roasted chicken, pickled red onions, guacamole, vinaigrette slaw

Smoked Piggy: BBQ pulled pork, crispy onions, vinaigrette slaw

Charred Kale & Corn: Garlic kale, smoked corn, grape tomatoes, crispy potato strings, queso fresco, hot sauce

CILANTRO TAQUERIA VE

cilantrotaqueria.com

18260 Detroit Ave, Lakewood

24950 Lorain Ave, North Olmsted

8399 Mayfield Rd, Chesterland

2783 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights

$10 - 3 MIX AND MATCH TACOS

CHOOSE THREE TACOS FROM THE FOLLOWING PROTEINS: Ground Beef, Chorizo, Carnitas, Tinga (Shredded Chipotle Chicken) Vegan Chorizo

CRUST s D

crusttremont.com

2258 Professor Avenue, Cleveland

CHORIZO TACO

Chorizo, Goat Cheese, Salsa Verde

BLACKENED CHICKEN

Blackened Chicken, Caramelized onion, Cheddar, Salsa Roja

TACO PIZZA

Chozio, Cherry Pepper Hotz, Cheddar, Salsa Roja

GHOST PEPPER VE

TAQUERIA

& TEQUILA

ghostpeppercle.com

1278 W Bagley Rd, Berea

2 TACOS AND CHIPS

Your choice of two open faced tacos on flour or corn tortillas. Choose from 11 delicious tacos: Ghost Whisperer spicy chicken, Korean flatiron steak (GF), Floridian grouper (GF), Ooh La La caramelized mushroom & onion (GF), Mexi chorizo & sunny egg, Pollo chicken, Classy beef, Bubba spicy shrimp (GF), Bistecca flatiron steak, Al Pastor pork (GF), and Barbacoa shredded beef

SALSA SAMPLER

Start with a salsa sampler! Our House, Pineapple and Salsa Verde all made fresh in-house daily. Served with warm Tajin salted chips

GUNSELMAN’S TAVERN s D

gunselmans.com

21490 Lorain Rd, Fairview

TACO POLACO

Oversized flat pierogi Pierogi Lady taco shell filled with J&J Czuchraj kielbasa that’s been slow cooked in Gunselman’s Kolsch beer with sauerkraut & onions. Topped with a drizzle of Cleveland Brown Mustard

ADOBO BEEF TACOS

Three street tacos with our house recipe Adobo Beef, pico de gallo, cheese, lettuce and cilantro lime crema

LIME PEPPER CHICKEN TACOS

Three street tacos with our house recipe Lime Pepper Chicken, pico de gallo, cheese, lettuce and cilantro lime crema

GUNSELMAN’S TO GO

gunselmans.com

21800 Center Ridge Rd, Rocky River

TACO POLACO

Oversized flat pierogi Pierogi Lady taco shell filled with J&J Czuchraj kielbasa that’s been slow cooked in Gunselman’s Kolsch beer with sauerkraut & onions. Topped with a drizzle of Cleveland Brown Mustard

ADOBO BEEF TACOS

Three street tacos with our house recipe Adobo Beef, pico de gallo, cheese, lettuce and cilantro lime crema

LIME PEPPER CHICKEN TACOS

Three street tacos with our house recipe Lime Pepper Chicken, pico de gallo, cheese, lettuce and cilantro lime crema

TACO WEEK

HOUSE OF CREOLE s

houseofcreolecle.com

668 Euclid Ave, Cleveland

FRENCH QUARTER TACOS

Jambalaya Spiced Chicken, shredded lettuce, house made pico de gallo and guacamole

CREOLE CAULIFLOWER TACO

Jambalaya Spiced cauliflower, shredded lettuce, house made pico de gallo and guacamole

NORA’S PUBLIC HOUSE s D

noraspublichouse.net

4054 Erie St, Willoughby

SRIRACHA BEEF

Sriracha Beef, Asian Pickle Slaw, Cilantro-Ginger Sour Cream

NORTH HIGH

BREWING COMPANY

northhighbrewing.com

2721 Vermont, Cleveland

BEEF TACOS

Southwest seasoned beef, cheddar blend, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, black bean & corn salsa, sour cream, jalapeno relish

NASHVILLE CHICKEN TACOS

Grilled chicken, Nashville hot seasoning, shredded lettuce, chopped pickles, cheddar cheese, pickled relish, avocado ranch drizzle

BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER

Hand Breaded cauliflower, high five garlic, shredded lettuce, blue cheese crumbles, pickled red onions/ avocado ranch drizzle

NUEVO MODERN MEXICAN D & TEQUILA BAR

nuevomodmex.com

1000 East 9th St, Cleveland

BAJA FISH TACOS & MACARONI N CHEESE

2 Nuevo Fish Tacos: lightly battered and fried cod, roasted corn & chile pepper salsa, avocado tartare sauce

Chile Rellano Mac & Cheese: Ohio City pasta, white cheddar & smoked gouda cheese sauce, layered with chorizo flavored ground beef and roasted poblano peppers, topped with Fritos

OLD RIVER TAP AND SOCIAL

oldrivertapandsocial.com

19245 Detroit Rd, Rocky River

2 TACOS FOR $10

Beef Tacos: Korean BBQ beef, creamy coleslaw, green onions, pickled jalapeño

Fish Tacos: Beer battered Cod, Creamy coleslaw, corn salsa

Chicken Tacos: Nashville hot fried chicken, pickles creamy coleslaw

PALOMA VE D

palomavanaken.com

20041 Walker Rd, Shaker Heights

PIG FACE TACO WITH CHIPS & SALSA

Pig Face, avocado salsa fresca, onion, cilantro, cotija, house-made flour tortilla with a side of chips and salsa $9

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER TACO WITH CHIPS & SALSA

Roasted Cauliflower, crispy ceci beans, guac, peppers, onions, pico, salsa rojo, house-made flour tortilla with a side of chips and salsa $9

PONYBOYS KITCHEN + BAR VE s D

ponyboyskitchen.com

506 East Washington St, Chagrin Falls

2 TACOS + MARGARITA $10

Choice of any two tacos and a traditional margarita for $10

2 TACOS + GUAC $10

Choice of any two tacos and a small guac for $10

SAUCY BREW WORKS D

saucybrewworks.com

2885 Detroit Ave, Cleveland

CHORIZO TACO

A soft shell taco filled with chorizo, goat cheese, tomatoes, and a slaw blend. Price: 3 tacos for $10.00

SPEC-TACO-ULAR SALAD

A fresh bed of lettuce, topped with taco chicken, goat cheese, olives, and tomatoes. Choice of dressing. $10.00 TACO CHICKEN WINGS

Half of pound of crispy chicken wings tossed in a taco dry rub. $10.00 TACO’ BOUT APIZZA

A layer of homemade taco sauce, loaded with chorizo, smoked cheese, roasted peppers, olives, then freshly topped with a blend-dry slaw and sour cream. Size small only for $10.00

SIBLING REVELRY BREWING

siblingrevelrybrewing.com

29305 Clemens Rd, Westlake

$10.00 GRANDE TACO + HOUSE BREWED

BEER

One Grande Taco topped with sour cream, salsa, lettuce, tomato, pickled red onion, tortilla strips, queso, and cilantro. Includes choice of Beef Barbacoa or Chipotle Chicken. Plus receive one House Brewed Beer of your choice.

SMOKIN’ MARY’S s

BBQ PIT & SALOON

smokinmarys.com

34173 Center Ridge Rd, North Ridgeville

$3 PER TACO

Choice of Chicken, Pork, or Brisket. Topped with Slaw, Cowboy Caviar, Chihuahua Cheese. Order 2 or more tacos, chips & salsa included

SOL solwilloughby.com

38257 Glenn Avenue, Willoughby

$10.00 POLLO LOCO TACO

+ SALSA, QUESO, OR GUAC

Grilled chicken, queso, sol shell, smoked cheddar, rojo salsa, corn salsa, lettuce, garlic aioli. Malanga chips with house made salsa, queso or guacamole

TERRESTRIAL BREWING CO.

TERRA BISTRO s terrestrialbrewing.com

7524 Father Frascati Dr, Cleveland

CREOLE WALLEYE TACO 2 PACK

2 Walleye Tacos With Cabbage & Black Eyed Pea Salad, Corn Buttermilk Dressing, Creole Spice

THE BLUE PALM LATIN s D

RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

hi-in.facebook.com/TheBluePalmCle

5517 Memphis Ave, Cleveland

TACO SALSA & TEQUILA

Beef or Chicken Tacos $2.50. Carnitas $3. Steak or Shrimp $3.50. Mar y Tierra Tacos $4. Margarita Pitchers $25. Happy Hour BOGO from 4pm - 10pm

THE BURNHAM

RESTAURANT

hiltoncleveland.com

100 Lakeside Avenue East, Cleveland BURNHAM BAJA TACO

Blackened walleye, Sriracha crema slaw, avocado, pickled onion, pico de gallo in a toasted flour tortilla

THE BROTHERS LOUNGE

brotherslounge.com

11609 Detroit Ave, Cleveland

THREE TACOS FOR $9

Your choice of 3 crispy or soft flour shells loaded with Taco One: Pulled Pork, Peach + Jalapeno salsa, Avocado Mousse, Jicama + Radish Slaw

Taco Two: Mesquite Chopped Sirloin, Queso Blanco, Smashed Avocado, Pico de Gallo, Chipotle Crema

Taco Three: Ground Tofu, Chihuahua Cheese, Black Bean + Corn Salsa,Lettuce, Sour Cream

THE BREW KETTLE D

thebrewkettle.com

8733 Pearl Rd, Strongsville 300 Church St, Amherst

11 Atterbury Blvd, Hudson

7850 Mentor Ave. Suite 200B, Mentor CORNY AF TACO $8 OR

$11 WITH HOUSE SELECT BEER

Two griddled corn tortillas filled with pulled smoked chicken and street corn dip. Topped with Chihuahua cheese, fresh cilantro, tajin and pickled red onion Sometimes you just gotta be Corny AF

THE IVY CLEVELAND VE s D

ivycle.com

1212 W 6th St, Cleveland

GOLDEN TACOS

The Godfather: Warm corn tortilla with marinated steak and chorizo, garnished with fresh copped cilantro, onions, guacamole, served with choice: lime or black beans

The King: Warm flour tortilla with gently sauteed shrimp, red cabbage, pico, guacamole, chipotle ranch, served with choice: lime or black beans

Fiesta: Warm corn tortilla with slow roasted pork, queso fresco, onion, cilantro, served with choice: lime or black beans

THE WILD GOOSE s D

wildgoosewlby.com

4144 Erie St, Willoughby

BAJA PORK

House Braised Pork, Baja Slaw, Pineapple Pico, Cilantro-Jalapeño Crema, Feta

TWISTED TAINO RESTAURANT VE

twistedtaino.com

5633 Pearl Rd, Parma 3 TACOS + ESQUITE (STREET CORN) IN A CUP $10

Pork Street Tacos: 3 Soft Corn Tortilla Tacos stuffed with Caribbean Pork Roast topped served with Lime Wedge, Pico de Gallo & Avocado Habanero Salsa

Verde topped with Chopped Cilantro & Onion

Chicken Street Tacos: 3 Soft Corn Tortilla Tacos stuffed with Creole Chicken topped served with Lime Wedge, Pico de Gallo & Avocado Habanero Salsa

Verde topped with Chopped Cilantro & Onion

Vegan Fajita Street Tacos: 3 Soft Corn Tortilla Tacos stuffed with Fajita Mix

Veggies served with Lime Wedge, Pico de Gallo & Avocado Habanero Salsa

Verde topped with Chopped Cilantro & Onion

WOODSTOCK BBQ D

woodstocksmokejoint.com

13362 Madison Avenue, Lakewood

$10 - 3 MIX & MATCH BBQ TACOS

Your choice of three smoked BBQ tacos on flour tortillas. Choose from:

Smoked Brisket Taco with red cabbage slaw & cilantro aioli

Pulled Pork Taco with pico de gallo & cilantro aioli

Jerk Chicken Taco with pineapple salsa & cilantro aioli

House Ground Chorizo Taco with pico de gallo & cilantro aioli

SOMETHING NEW, OLD AND FORMERLY BLU Hecks

delivers packed seats and reliably good food

By Douglas Trattner

THE BEACHWOOD PARKING

lot adjacent to Hecks was completely full, compelling every diner in our party to maneuver to the distant rear lot in search of refuge. I assumed that the prime spots were gobbled up by the usual mix of diners, shoppers and gym-goers that frequent the shopping center. That is, until I crossed the threshold and saw that every chair, booth and barstool in the 190-seat restaurant was occupied on a Wednesday night.

It’s not every day that a restaurant earns the title “Cleveland’s hottest new restaurant” while simultaneously deserving of the label “Cleveland classic,” but facts are facts. Hecks, which helped kickstart urban renewal in Ohio City when it opened in 1972, could not be more different from the restaurant it replaced in this space. Since Moxie closed in 2019 – and, if we’re honest, for a few years prior to that – Brad Friedlander had been trying to regain traction at this prominent Beachwood property. After Moxie “ran its course,” Friedlander took another swing with Blu, a seafood restaurant that did not survive Covid.

Is fine dining dead? No, but judging by the crowds that have been filling the seats of Hecks since it opened in February, diners are hungry for a casual, familiar and reasonably priced restaurant that serves approachable if predictable fare. Whether or not that affection will last remains to be seen; eastside diners are notoriously fickle, keen to pursue new restaurants with the fervor of Goose fans on summer tour.

Hecks was founded by John Saile, a bon vivant who, in the early1970s, moved into and restored the handsome brick building in Ohio City now home to the Clifford House B&B. Fadi Daoud purchased the business in 2005, improving not only the brand but the historic property it called home. In 2015, Daoud made his first big move, adding a location one county west in Avon. Last summer, he revealed his plans to open a third shop in the former Blu space, banking not only on the notoriety of the brand, but also its nostalgic allure. For

east-side diners of a certain age, the name Hecks conjures memories from 40 years prior, when the restaurant sat shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Cheese Cellar and James Tavern at Eton Square.

Hecks owns the “best burger” category, locking up the honor annually regardless the publication. The half-pound patties, made from grass-fed Ohio beef, feel almost like a throwback in this age of doilythin smash burgers. The Ohio City ($16) is a hearty pub-style burger topped with sauteed mushrooms and melted mozzarella, tucked into a baby-soft brioche bun and sided by a mountain of fresh-cut fries. There are a dozen different models, including a build-your-own and the vegan “Hipster.”

The rest of Hecks’ menu is a conservative collection of dishes with broad appeal. The timetested mix of pasta, fish and meat

in Beachwood with east-side return

entrees is not bound to put foodies on the edge of their seat, but nor is it likely to elicit much buyer’s remorse. Braised short ribs ($36) arrive appropriately beefy, ropey and tender, perched atop a fluffy pile of cheesy polenta. Early season asparagus and a thick wine-based sauce complete the agreeable ensemble. A gnocchi dish ($25), borrowed from Daoud’s other Avon eatery, Antica, stars house-made potato dumplings in an herby tomato sauce. On top are three crispy-coated eggplant meatballs. We forked over an extra $4 for the creamy burrata topper.

To start or to share, there is an eclectic collection of dishes that range from Spanish shrimp to Polish pierogi. Calamari ($13) are lightly breaded, lightly fried, and drizzled with a lime-green basil aioli. Other than an under-seasoned filling, the chicken pot stickers ($13)

arrive neatly wrapped and pan-fried until golden brown. In the Gambas ($15), sauteed shrimp are bathed in a smoky, spicy sauce with grilled bread served on the side for dipping.

If it weren’t for the large 40seat lounge we might never have eaten. Without reservations, we were staring down an hour or more wait. Fortunately, our small group commandeered a portion of a communal table roomy enough to accommodate us. From that vantage point, we could peer down into the dining room, which has been warmed up considerably since the industrial-chic Moxie days.

Given how busy this two-monthold restaurant is, and how tight the labor market remains, we were pleasantly surprised by how smoothly everything ran. Service wasn’t flawless, but we spied more than enough staffers in the open kitchen, on the dining room floor and behind the bar to keep this place running like a well-oiled machine.

Photo by Doug Trattner

BITES

Owners of Indie on East 4th to rebrand space as Gabriel’s Southern Table

By Douglas Trattner

AFTER ABOUT 14 MONTHS of service, Gabriel Zeller and Julie Mesenburg are ready to make some pretty significant changes to Indie, the music-themed restaurant they opened in the former Greenhouse Tavern space on East 4th Street.

“We felt that after the first year, people either loved Indie or they just didn’t get it,” Zeller explains. “I think that a different atmosphere and a slightly more elevated menu is what people are looking for on Fourth.”

Zeller and Mesenburg, the team behind Char Whiskey Bar in Rocky River, Avo Modern Mexican in Ohio City and Lago at Lakeside in Marblehead, say that they’re still trying to get a handle on the downtown restaurant market.

“It’s a lot different even than Avo, which is just like five minutes away,” Zeller says.

The name Indie is a nod to independent music, a topic very near and dear to the owners. The monochromatic restaurant essentially is a shrine to the bands that they follow and the shows they have experienced. On display are

240 framed concert posters that span the musical spectrum. All that will change in the coming weeks as Indie gives way to Gabriel’s Southern Table and Whiskey.

Already, work has commenced to change the look and feel of the space. Lunch service has been paused to let contractors begin the work of painting, swapping light fixtures, tweaking the seating and stripping all but a few of those posters. The goal is to create a more elegant dining experience.

“Some diners thought the atmosphere in here… they liked it, but I know it’s very hard with the colors, so we’re going to soften it,” adds Zeller.

Gabriel’s will keep some of the Southern-comfort dishes of Indie but chef Mark Sanford will greatly expand the offerings. The “finecasual” menu will nearly double, moving from a trim 19 to a robust 32.

Diners also can look forward to more activity on the rooftop this season thanks to the launch of fullservice dining up there.

The Speakeasy, formerly the rear

mezzanine, will continue to be used for small private events like whiskey tastings.

Indie will continue operating until the debut of Gabriel’s in May, save for a day or two as needed for construction.

Matt Harlan of Chatty’s Pizzeria to Open Chatty’s Tavern in Grafton

Two years ago this month, Matt and Melanie Harlan opened Chatty’s Pizzeria(28611 Lake Rd., 440-471-4485) in Bay Village. The family-friendly restaurant serves hearty, approachable Italian foods like salad, pizza, sandwiches and dessert. To say that Chatty’s has been well received by the community since opening is an understatement.

“Things are going great,” says Matt. “We just signed a 15-year extension over there.”

When Harlan heard of a property for sale in Grafton Township, he and his wife decided to make the 40-minute drive south to check it out.

“We said, let’s go look at it as an opportunity and not as a need,” adds Matt. “We came in here and you could completely visualize the restaurant. It’s done perfectly. Other than adding a few cosmetic touches of our own, it’s really a turn-key operation.”

For eight years, the property was home to the Jailhouse Taverne, a popular eatery that closed following a long, contentious battle with the Township over outdoor live music. The previous owner invested a ton of money to rebuild the tavern after a fire destroyed the building in 2013.

Harlan plans to open Chatty’s Tavern, serving what he calls “standard tavern fare” with burgers, wings, sandwiches, entrees and, of course, pizza. In addition to that great “Grandmastyle” pie that he serves in Bay Village, Harlan will add starters like hanky pankies, pork cracklings and smoked trout dip; sandwiches such as reubens, patty melts and Philly cheesesteaks; and entrees like fish and chips, chicken pot pie, grilled pork chops and a steak.

Photo by Doug Trattner

Despite its modest appearance from the street, the tavern seats 96 in the dining room, 20 at the bar, and another 72 on the large deck. What’s more, the building sits on a 3.5-acre parcel flush with mature trees and open seating areas that will be ideal for special seasonal events like pig roasts, lamb roasts and clam bakes.

Look for Chatty’s Tavern to open this spring.

Beach Club Bistro in Euclid, Which Closed in July, Has Reopened Under New Management

This past July, Greg Jurcisin announced that he was closing Beach Club Bistro, a beloved institution in the Euclid community for more than two decades. Naturally, the restaurant’s myriad admirers were decimated by the news.

But a deal to save the restaurant was quietly brewing behind the scenes. Longtime employee Tim Delaney and his wife secured a purchase of the business as well as the property, giving new life to the old favorite. The Delaneys reopened the bistro (21939 Lakeshore Blvd., 216-731-7499) earlier this month.

“There’s been such an outpouring from the community,” Delaney says. “It’s been amazing. Everybody is just happy to see it back open.”

To start, Beach Club Bistro was open just three days a week serving a very limited menu. At present, the restaurant is open Wednesday through Saturday 3 to 9 p.m. The goal is to continue expanding the hours and days of operation while simultaneously returning the menu to its previous size. The hiring of a new chef, Tim Guarino, will help accomplish those goals.

Delaney says that special attention was paid to the pizza, a house favorite since the beginning. Founder Greg Jurcisin even stayed on during the transition to make sure that the quality and character of the house-

made dough was maintained.

“The biggest thing that I didn’t want to screw up was the pizza dough,” says Delaney. “It’s really coming out nice now.”

Saroj & Carlos to Replace Farmer’s Feast at BottleHouse Brewery in Cleveland Heights

For the past two years, chef Rasul Welch ran Farmer’s Feast, a casual eatery at the BottleHouse Brewery & Meadery (2050 Lee Rd., 234364-2165) in Cleveland Heights. He launched the concept with Colin Brown of Gifted Grass farms in Medina. Since then, Brown has purchased R&D Sausage in N. Collinwood, so he was forced to step away the Cleveland Heights operation.

Now operating solo, Welch has announced the opening of a new restaurant concept to replace Farmer’s Feast. Saroj & Carlos, named after Welch’s grandparents, will feature American comfort classics with Indian and other international influences.

Welch describes his grandparents as “a multi-ethnic couple who lived their 62-year marriage on two continents.”

“Saroj and Carlos Welch believed food can bring us together, and a dining table is a place where roots are celebrated and commonalities discovered,” he adds.

Look for Saroj & Carlos to debut in the coming days.

Pacific East on Coventry Has Reopened After Three Months of Repairs, Renovations

In December, Pacific East Japanese Restaurant (1763 Coventry Rd., 216-320-2302) in Cleveland Heights suffered some winterrelated water damage that was predicted to sideline them for a few days. That stoppage ended up lasting three full months as management used the downtime not only to repair the damage but

also to refresh the interior.

Last week the restaurant welcomed its first guests back in the dining room. When those diners arrived, they observed a freshly remodeled interior and a bevy of new decorations. No changes to the menu, according to manager Shing Ruan.

Village Square Pizza in Woodmere Reopens

A year ago, Joe DeGaetano announced that he was ready to retire from the pizza business at the age of 86. For the past 27 years he was the proprietor Village Square Pizza in Woodmere, which he purchased from the previous owners in 1995. The popular pizza parlor has been feeding east-siders for more than 50 years.

A day later, Todd Leebow of Kind of One Concepts, the Cleveland-based hospitality group that operates The Last Page restaurant at Pinecrest, announced his intention to purchase Village Square Pizza (27349 Chagrin Blvd., 216-831-5282) and keep the tradition alive.

“I grew up eating Village Square Pizza as a young Clevelander on the east side,” Leebow told Scene at the time. “I knew the phone number by heart. When I saw the announcement of their closing today, I wanted to see how I could prevent that. Now with Village Square Pizza as part of the Kind of One family, my kids will be able to grow up loving their pizza just like I did.”

Earlier this week, after a year of work, the pizzeria officially reopened. To go with a “refreshed” interior, the restaurant also will feature an updated menu of appetizers, salads, pizzas, sandwiches, and entrees courtesy of chefs Brad Race and Jordan Rolleston.

“We are excited to reintroduce Village Square Pizza to the community,” Race says. “Our menu is a blend of updated classics, featuring fresh, new flavors while still keeping the essence of what

made Village Square Pizza a neighborhood favorite for so long.”

Village Square Pizza is now open for dine-in, take-out and delivery service.

“At Village Square Pizza, we are committed to providing our customers with a top-notch experience, from the quality of our food to the service we offer,” adds Rolleston. “We are excited to welcome everyone back to the refreshed restaurant and for the community to experience Kind of One Concepts’ signature Touch.”

Scooter’s Dawg House in Mentor Now Open for the Season

No fooling about it, Scooter’s Dawg House (9600 Blackbrook Rd., 440- 354-8480) kicked off its 23rd season on Saturday, April 1. Located two miles south of Headlands Beach in Mentor, the perennially packed hot dog shop is a required stop for beachgoers.

Each year, the seasonal attraction turns off the deep fryers in September to prepare for the busy spring and summer ahead.

The main draw here, naturally, is the roster of nearly two dozen signature dogs, each available in multiple sizes. The top-seller is the Chicago Dawg, which is loaded with mustard, tomato, dill pickle, relish, onion and celery salt.

After the franks, the next most popular menu items are the french fries. The restaurant flies through 1,000 pounds of spuds per day, selling them in the form of freshcut fries in sizes that still amaze regulars. The “small” is more than enough for three people, while the “family” could satisfy an entire neighborhood. Last year, Scooter’s debuted a new size of fry, the “Tiny,” which of course is not, but still.

The dog and fries are joined by burgers, hard and soft-serve ice cream, milkshakes and floats.

dtrattner@clevescene.com t

MUSIC

guitar. I just whistle morning, noon and night. I didn’t think to put it on an album until my fourth album. Who would think that something that casual would be worth listening to. I found when I went solo, I was playing by myself to crowds in bars and loud clubs, and it was an effective way to get people to shut up and listen. I would hold a note as long as long as my lungs would allow. I would have their attention. It’s a very powerful instrument. The association is that it’s whimsical and light-hearted, but it’s a very powerful, operatic sound.

“The Night Before Your Birthday” has a Velvet Underground vibe. Is that conscious?

SOOTHING SOUNDS

Singer-songwriter Andrew Bird delivers his most nuanced album yet

By Jeff Niesel

INITIALLY, SINGERsongwriter Andrew Bird’s formal training had a strong influence on the type of music he played. His 1996 debut, Music of Hair, commences with a gentle waltz and keeps things on the traditional side of the folk-y spectrum. Since then, Bird’s music has evolved; the songs on his new album, Inside Problems, come off as his most nuanced to date. The album includes a variety of references to author Joan Didion, and it even finds Bird adopting a Lou Reed-like vocal delivery on some tracks.

Andrew Bird, who says he’ll have “oil up” his shoulder to throw out the first pitch at the Guardians game prior to his concert at the Agora on Saturday, April 8, recently spoke via phone from Los Angeles about the album and the upcoming U.S. tour, which hadn’t yet started at the time of the interview.

Talk about when the songs for your latest album, Inside Problems, began to come together. Was it during or prior to the pandemic?

A lot of it was during the pandemic, and a little of it was before that. I certainly had some time on my hands. A lot of it was written in the middle of night as I was spiraling with anxiety, so it was self-soothing to work on the songs in my head instead of thinking about what was happening.

How did Joan Didion inspire some of the lyrics?

It’s a confluence of things

happening at the same time. I was reading her The Year of Magical Thinking, and this friend of mine told me this story about her coming into this restaurant where she would sit with her husband every Saturday night. Then, her husband died, and some weeks passed, and she came in alone and ordered the usual. I heard this story as I was reading it in her book. You can’t hear a story like that and not be affected by it.

Where did you go to record the album and what was that experience like?

We recorded it at United Recording. It’s a classic room from the 1940s and 1950s. It’s where Sinatra and Dean Martin recorded and tons of classic records were done. They’re closing down next month, which is a bummer. It’s a great sounding room. We had the four of us playing live and facing each other. I could hear my voice without headphones, which is big for me.

You worked with producer Mike Viola. How do you guys know each other?

We both had our kids at the same preschool. I had known of him before that. It took us a couple of years to finally get together.

He’s all about preproduction instead of post-production. Some people figure out the songs in the studio and write everything in post. It was the opposite. Since the pandemic was going on, we couldn’t even go into the studio, and we just played together for months. It was he and I and then with the band. The session at United was just a performance. There are very little overdubs. It took about ten days, which is pretty fast by most standards. Recording for me is like a two-week bender of performing. It’s like everyday I have to go in and be on.

I can hear strings on the opening number, “Underlands.” Did you play with an entire string section?

It just sounds big and orchestral just because of the room and how it’s played. It’s not that many tracks. You whistle on that song, which I love. Talk about how you first started.

I started when I was little. I think my grandmother was a whistler. She might’ve showed me. I was playing violin from an early age. It’s directly from the ear to the string or to the whistle. It’s a direct line from the brain. It’s not like playing piano or

I have to admit, we were listening to a lot of Lou Reed and John Cale during the pandemic. My son got really into the Velvet Underground. He was playing “Pale Blue Eyes” and was playing the music constantly around the house. I was thinking about Lou Reed’s vocal delivery or any singer who half sings and half speaks. It makes people listen to the lyrics in a different way when it’s not totally melodic. It’s more rhythmic. On some of his tunes, it’s almost like he’s playing drum fills with his voice. I don’t know how conscious but I was listening to that music at the time.

“Atomized” is a real highlight. What’s the story behind it?

It’s a pretty upbeat jam. Lyrically, it was another nod to Joan Didion. She has her famous work Slouching Towards Bethlehem, which is a quote from Yeats. It’s like 1919, 1969 and 2019. I was doing this update of this idea of society becoming fractured and falling apart. That’s mostly what it’s about. Add social media and the world we live in now, and it’s super-charged.

There’s a real intricacy to the songs on Inside Problems. How do they translate live?

Since we’ve done them live, it’s not like we have to learn how to play certain parts. Lately, we’ve been paring down to a trio since there is so much going on with violin and guitar. As a result, it’s nice to give it a lot of space. We make a lot of noise for three people. I never think about how we will recreate what we did on the record. Why worry about that? It’s all good music.

jniesel@clevescene.com

ANDREW BIRD, TED POOR, 8 P.M. SATURDAY, APRIL 8, AGORA THEATRE, 5000 EUCLID AVE., 216-881-2221. TICKETS: $36-$66, AGORACLEVELAND.COM.

Andrew Bird. | Alec Basse

LIVEWIRE Real music in the real world

WED 04/05

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band return to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse as part of a 2023 tour in the wake of the release of the Boss’s new album, Only the Strong Survive, a collection of covers of soul and R&B tunes from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Cleveland has embraced Springsteen from the start of his career, so expect a hero’s welcome at tonight’s performance. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

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

FRI 04/07

The English Beat Singer Dave Wakeling formed this terrific British ska band back in 1978 and helped usher in a revival of the Jamaican style of music. Jamaican saxophonist Saxa even joined the band to record its first single, a ska-centric remake of Smokey Robinson’s “Tears of a Clown,” that became a big hit. More hits would follow, and Wakeling has managed to keep the band alive all this time. The group returns to the Kent Stage tonight at 7. The Twist Offs open the show.

SAT 04/08

The Quasi Kings

This Columbus, OH-based reggae band writes some great tunes. A song such as the Jack Johnson-like “Day I Die” features bits of organ and rattling percussion as it finds bassist Benny Coleman singing “I’ll be loving you ‘til the day I die.” The perky “Guns Drawn” features crisp vocal harmonies and thumping bass. The group is currently working on a few demos for its next album and has worked up several covers for the current tour. Expect to hear a faithful version of Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ in the Years” and slew of Bob Marley tunes when the band performs tonight at the Beachland. In the past, the group has done a dub version of Black Sabbath’s “Sweet Leaf,” and we can only hope that makes it into the mix too. M.O.O.K.Y. and Land of Panda open. Doors open at 7 p.m.

15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-3831124, beachlandballroom.com.

Donovan Woods and Henry Jamison

Canadian singer-songwriter

Donovan Woods released his latest EP, Big Hurt Boy, last spring via his own End Times Music, and he

followed it up with singles featuring Australian songwriter Ziggy Alberts and singer-songwriter

Natalie Taylor. Woods spent much of 2022 on the road, supporting Matt Nathanson in the U.S. Now, he brings his co-headlining Husbandry Tour with Henry Jamison to House of Blues tonight at 7.

308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

MON 04/10

Morgan James

Singer Morgan James “hit the ground running” when she moved to New York when she was 18 to study at Juilliard. She signed a record deal a mere week before recording her first solo album, Morgan James Live: A Celebration of Nina Simone

Now, many, many years later, she is touring in support of Nobody’s Fool, a return to her R&B roots. She performs tonight at 6:30 at the Kent Stage. Kirk Thurmond opens the show.

175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-6775005, kentstage.org.

TUE 04/11

Tinsley Ellis and Marcia Ball

Each of these veteran blues artists will play a solo set, and to

close the evening they’ll join forces and share some songs and stories together. Ellis plans to perform many of his most popular songs, plus Delta blues covers and classics by artists like Gregg Allman, Bob Dylan and Leo Kottke. Ball will play piano and sing her songs about the characters and places that shaped her. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at Music Box Supper Club.

1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.

THU 04/13

Selwyn Birchwood

Often sounding like multiple guitarists working at once, Selwyn Birchwood has carved out a nice name for himself on the blues circuit these past few years. With 2014’s Don’t Call No Ambulance, Birchwood shows off a flair for tight riffs and flashy lead work. He also reels in some great musicians to guest on a number of those tunes. It’s clear that Birchwood has a knack for dynamics, and it’s a real treat to hear him combine that penchant with more traditional blues moves. Part of a tour that supports the new album, Living in a Burning House, tonight’s concert takes place at 7:30 at Music Box Supper Club.

1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.

175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-6775005, kentstage.org.

Riot grrrl icons Bikini Kill come to the Agora. See: Sunday, April 16. | Courtesy of the Agora

LIVEWIRE

Bouncing Souls

Will Yip (the Menzingers, Title Fight, Tigers Jaw), produced Ten Stories High, the latest effort from the Bouncing Souls. Yip highlights a new approach for the band, while also providing the big hooks for which the band is known. Single “Back to Better” perfectly balances its pop and punk elements. On tour in support of the new album, the New Jersey-based act kicks off a two-night stand at the Grog Shop tonight at 7. Pittsburgh’s Anti-Flag, a group that deftly mixes leftist politics into its rousing, call-to-arms tunes, opens the shows.

2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.

New Edition: Legacy Tour

New Edition emerged way back in 1983 when it released its charttopping album Candy Girl. The title track even knocked Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” out of the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart. Featuring Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill, the group continues to be an influential R&B act. A press release for the current trek promises the band will perform songs it didn’t perform on last year’s trek. The concert starts tonight at 7:30 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Keith Sweat, Guy and Tank open the show.

One Center Court, 216-4202000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse. com.

FRI 04/14

Djunah

Djunah (pronounced JUNE-uh) features frontwoman Donna Diane, who pulls triple duty, simultaneously playing guitar and singing. She also “pulverizes” a Moog bass organ with her foot. Drawing a broad range of comparisons from Diamanda Galás to Melvins, Djunah pairs Diane’s powerful vocals with heavy guitars and punishing drums courtesy of Jared Karns (Their/They’re/There, Hidden Hospitals). Quiet Zoo, Brain Cave and Vivora open the show, which begins at 9 at the Happy Dog. Tickets start at $10.

5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474, happydogcleveland.com.

SUN 04/16

Bikini Kill

A feminist punk band that put the Riot Grrrl movement on the map in the ‘90s, Bikini Kill reformed three years ago to tour in support of the reissue of two major albums, Pussy Whipped and Reject All American, available now on vinyl and CD for the first time since they went out of print seven years ago. The band also recently uploaded its entire catalog on streaming services. The streaming catalog includes 1991’s Revolution Girl Style Now and 1998’s The Singles, the latter of which features production, guitar and vocals from Rock Hall inductee Joan Jett. While the group intended to play the Agora in 2020, the pandemic wiped out that date as well as two rescheduled dates. Tonight’s show serves as the make-up date. It begins at 7. Donkey Bugs open.

5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

Cheap Trick

Widely considered one of the best power-pop acts of all time, the ‘70s group Cheap Trick comes to MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage tonight at 7. When the group performed here in town back in 2016, we wrote that the group displayed its mastery of “controlled chaos” and delivered “note-perfect performances imbued with the right amounts of underdog grit and rough edges.” Expect a similar performance tonight from these Rock Hall Inductees.

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

Michigander

The sonic alter ego of Michigan native Jason Singer, Michigander brings a 21-date headlining tour in support of the new EP, It Will Never Be the Same, to the Grog Shop tonight. Singer will have a band in tow to deliver songs such as the shimmering new single “Super Glue,” one of many standout tracks on the sonically dense album. The show begins at 8.

2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.

scene@clevescene.com

t@clevelandscene

SAVAGE LOVE SIZE PEACE

By Dan Savage

Hey Dan: I’m a 41-year-old lesbian. Back when I was 26, I weighed 125 pounds and had a girlfriend. Sex with “Amy” was mind-blowing. Amy was exactly my type from head to toe, and she had more experience than me, so she really opened me up sexually. Our physical chemistry was off the charts. Unfortunately, Amy and I broke up (dysfunctional relationship issues), and then I moved to the West Coast. Fast-forward to age 31. I weighed 165 pounds, but I carried it well. Then I fell into a severe depression and had to live with my parents for a while. Amy lived about two hours away from me at that time. She’d seen me at my new weight and was still interested in me. Amy called me every night for months. After months of talking, we decided to meet up in person. However, because of depression meds and “mom’s cooking” and whatever else, I was approximately 200 pounds when we finally met up. Amy and I started sleeping together again, but it was obvious that she wasn’t into me physically anymore. The insanely good sex we once had together never returned. Within a few months she told me she was attracted to other people, and we ended things.

I want to be very, very clear when I say that I do not blame Amy at all for losing attraction to me due to my weight gain. Going from 125 to 200 within five years is an extreme amount of weight gain. But the experience broke my heart and I have not had sex or even kissed anyone since. That’s nine years of celibacy. I was (and am) deeply ashamed of my body. I continued to receive treatment for depression — lots of different psych meds, lots of group and individual therapy, etc., and my mental health has slowly but steadily improved — but I also gained more weight — and I lost every last drop of self-acceptance about my body. I went from loving my body, to being OK with it, to being dumped for it, to becoming severely obese. I finally started seeing a weight loss doctor last year and have begun to slowly lose some of the weight — I’m down to 230 pounds from my 275 max — and I REALLY want to have sex again, but I can’t even stay on dating sites for more than a few days before deleting my profile because I’m so

horribly ashamed of how I look. I used to be young! And hot! And pretty! And hot girl Amy wanted to fuck me! Constantly! I don’t want to get back together with Amy, not at all, but I miss the kind of lifealtering sex she and I used to have when my body was at its best.

How do I even begin trying to start dating and having sex again when I was dumped for getting fat and have such self-loathing and shame about my body?

Fat Middle-Aged Celibate Lesbo

“To begin to work on accepting our bodies it’s essential to get to the core of the issue,” says Elle Chase, a certified sexologist, sex, relationship and body-image coach, and the author of Curvy Girl Sex: 101 BodyPositive Sex Positions to Empower Your Sex Life

And at the core of your issue, FMACL, you’re not going to find your weight gain or the trauma of being dumped by hot girl Amy. No, according to Chase, your issues go much deeper, FMACL, and they’re cultural, not individual.

“From the day we are born, we are inundated with made-up, everchanging standards for beauty and our bodies,” Chase says. “These standards are rooted in systems of oppression like patriarchy, white supremacy and capitalism. These man-made ideas of attractiveness and desirability distort, skew and infect our perception and opinion of ourselves — and others — convincing us that we must look a certain way in order to be sexually desirable or deserving. But that’s a lie!”

Because sexual attraction is highly subjective — there are lots of different people out there, FMACL, and different people find different bodies and different body types and different personalities attractive.

“It’s just like art,” Chase says. “We could be looking at the same painting and have two very different feelings or opinions about it. And neither of us is wrong.”

Differing tastes in art may be easy for us to wrap our heads around. We’re not going to take it personally when a friend — or a stranger on a dating app — disagrees with us about pointillism or surrealism or cubism. The stakes

are higher when we’re the painting someone else thinks is beautiful (when we don’t feel beautiful) or doesn’t feel is beautiful (when we wish they would).

“When what you see in the mirror doesn’t match that artificial standard, it’s hard for your brain to see you as the inherently sexually desirable human that you are,” Chase says. “Your brain becomes an unreliable narrator trying to protect you from the pain of rejection by telling you that you aren’t attractive or sexually desirable enough to deserve a sex life.”

So how does one — how do you — dismantle this, er, system of selfoppression?

“Here’s a ‘Cliffs Notes’ version with some hopefully useful tips,” Chase says. “FMACL needs to rewire her brain by disrupting negative self-talk patterns. If she hates what she looks like and her inner dialog is endorsing [that self-hatred], she should acknowledge her feelings if you feel like crap, you feel like crap, and it’s important to validate that — and then say something true but neutral to herself. Something like, ‘This is what my body looks like today,’ or, ‘I feel ugly, but feelings aren’t facts.’ My favorite mantra: ‘What I think of my body is none of my business.’ Don’t be discouraged. I know it’s challenging, but it’s a lifelong practice that I myself continue to do daily.”

As for dating — as for putting yourself out there on a dating app and staying out there — Chase advises lowering the stakes for now.

“FMACL can the pressure off herself for now by just dating for practice,” Chase says. “The goal is not to get laid or find a new partner, but to grow more at ease and confident with herself. Notice how it feels to go out with people and have conversations, share experiences, even flirt. She should pay attention to how she’s feeling rather than what she assumes her date is feeling. Prioritize her own joy, comfort and desires over all else right now — she deserves nothing less.”

To learn more about Elle Chase, visit her website ellechase.com.

Hey Dan: This is a question I should have asked you 10 years ago! I’m a

68-year-old GWM who was sexually assaulted by my (also gay) medical provider, multiple times, until I finally distanced myself from him both socially and professionally. I vacillated for several years whether or not I should report him, but never did. Recently, I discovered that he apparently committed suicide after another patient accused him of multiple sexual assaults. I contacted this man’s attorneys, and they are moving forward with a lawsuit against the clinic and the provider’s estate. At their request, I have agreed to provide a deposition. They have also suggested that I consider filing a suit. I am a happily married man, retired, and living in Europe. Should I just let all this go? Or should I jump into the fire with a lawsuit?

Decline Or Challenge

Agreeing to be deposed — or agreeing to file an affidavit — in support of the other patient known to have been assaulted by your former medical provider … that’s no small thing. So, even if you decide not to file a lawsuit yourself, DOC, you aren’t just letting this go. You’re doing something meaningful and significant; you’re helping another victim get the justice and restitution he feels he needs and helping to hold the clinic where you, this man, and most likely other men were sexually assaulted.

So the question isn’t, “Am I going to sit this out?,” as you aren’t sitting this out. The question instead is, “Am I going to file a lawsuit of my own?” And the answer to that question … well, that’s not an answer I can provide you with, DOC. Because the answer depends on what you need, DOC, to feel whole. If you don’t want the hassle and don’t need a settlement, you aren’t obligated to get more involved than you have already — and, again, agreeing to be deposed (by both sides) in a case like this is no small thing. Justice is being done, institutions are being held accountable, and you’re helping. If you want to file a lawsuit of your own, you should. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. questions@savagelove.net t