Cleveland Scene - December 6, 2023 by Chava Communications

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CONTENTS DECEMBER 6 - 19, 2023 • VOL. 54 No 11

Upfront .......................................6

Eat ............................................19

Feature .....................................10

Music ........................................23

Get Out ..................................... 14

Livewire....................................24

Movies ...................................... 17

Savage Love..............................26

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UPFRONT CLEVELANDER FILES FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST CITY COUNCIL ALLEGING PUBLIC COMMENT POLICIES ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL

AFTER HAVING HIS MIC cut off during public comment earlier this year, and amid discussions by Cleveland City Council about further restrictions to public comment, Ward 3 resident Chris Martin this week filed a federal lawsuit against council and council president Blaine Griffin accusing them of violating his First Amendment rights. Martin is represented by the First Amendment Clinic at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. “I’m bringing this lawsuit because members of the public should be able to speak on issues they care about without fear of being silenced because the council’s presiding officer disapproves of their viewpoint,” Martin said. At the September meeting, Martin listed the names of members and the amounts

of money they received from the Council Leadership Fund, a political action committee controlled by Griffin which has financed some members’ reelection campaigns and was used this year to fight Issue 38. Griffin interrupted the public comment and told Martin he was violating council’s policy. When Martin continued, his microphone was cut off. The suit alleges that, not only did this violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments, council’s public comment procedures are unconstitutional. “Censoring Mr. Martin while he was engaged in core political speech was an affront to Mr. Martin and a serious violation of his rights under the First Amendment — and really to all of our rights to hear what Mr. Martin hoped to say,” said Andy Geronimo, director of the First Amendment

| clevescene.com | December 6 - 19, 2023

Clinic. Members of the clinic met with city of Cleveland chief legal director Mark Griffin, chief assistant law director Stephanie Melnyk, assistant law director Patricia Aston and Cleveland City Council special counsel Rachel Scalish to discuss First Amendment concerns in October and, according to Geronimo, the city’s attorneys agreed the procedures had issues and wouldn’t enforce the policies as written. Last month, chief of communications Joan Mazzolini told Scene that, “Council agrees that the policy may raise some First Amendment concerns.” The clinic shared a detailed letter explaining the many ways it alleges council’s public comment policies violate the First Amendment, like banning reasonably sized signs, barring

speakers from addressing individuals council members and prohibiting “indecent or discriminatory” language. Since the clinic met with city attorneys, council held a caucus meeting and shared a draft for discussion of potential changes to its procedures. While the proposed public comment policies would address a couple of the concerns listed in the clinic’s letter — by allowing speakers to address council members directly, electioneer, endorse or wear stuff that “promotes any candidate, campaign, issue product or service” — it would also limit speakers to talking about only “one item currently under consideration by council.” If that became a council policy, speakers could only address matters currently being discussed by the body or committees or legislation that has been

introduced in or is pending before council or committees. Still, the draft is not official and council would need to vote to change its rules. Despite the seemingly promising meeting with city attorneys, Martin says council hasn’t addressed his free speech concerns. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, demands a trial by jury. “I had hoped that council would take the opportunity of realizing that their rules are unconstitutional to do the right thing and expand folks’ opportunity to address them. It’s unfortunately become clear that expanding the opportunities to address council is not the goal of city council, certainly not the goal of council President Griffin,” said Martin. Public comment only recently was reintroduced as a forum in council meetings and was implemented following a successful campaign led by citizens. Under council rules, ten people who pre-register to speak can talk for three minutes each. If one of the registered speakers fails to show up, there’s no waitlist or way for another person in attendance to take their spot. “Cleveland City Council, in 2021, deigned to allow just ten folks to speak to them each week, when the former council president decided, as a political ploy, that instituting a public comment period would help his mayoral campaign, yet the body’s viewpoint restrictive rules and regulations have been unconstitutional from the start.” Martin said. The suit seeks to declare the censorship of Martin’s public comment unconstitutional, declare the public comment policy facially unconstitutional, enjoin council and Griffin from enforcing the public comment policy and award Martin damages. “Government officials cannot silence speech simply because it criticizes them or offends their sensibilities, and Council’s lack of meaningful action on this matter unfortunately made it necessary for Mr. Martin to proceed with a lawsuit to vindicate and enforce his First Amendment rights,” said Geronimo. A representative for city council declined to comment on the lawsuit. – Maria Elena Scott

In Letter to School, Current

Students and Alumni Say Cleveland Institute of Music “Is in Crisis” More than 70 current and former students of the Cleveland Institute of Music trumpet department signed a letter delivered this week to the Board of Trustees saying the institution has lost credibility and asking leadership to examine its priorities following the resignation of Michael Sachs, the former chair of CIM’s brass division and principal trumpet for the Cleveland Orchestra. “[CIM] has lost credibility in the world of elite music education. All alumni have been concerned about the institution’s path, and now, after the terrible and avoidable resignation of Michael Sachs, it is clear to us that CIM is in crisis,” the letter says. It further urges the school to re-establish a relationship with Sachs. After 35 years at CIM, Sachs resigned in October. In a Facebook post, Sachs said his decision to leave was a result of baseless attacks by CIM leadership. According to Sachs, the final straw was an email in which human resources and CIM’s lawyer alleged he made a statement that he hadn’t. “I must admit that when I first opened the email, I thought it was an error or a prank. I soon realized it was not,” Sachs wrote at the time. “I inferred from the remainder of the email that they were threatening me with legal action.” Personnel matters at CIM have been tumultuous. In April, a Title IX investigation began looking into allegations of misconduct against director of orchestral studies Carlos Kalmar. In July, CIM eliminated 15 percent of its administrative staff, including Vivian Scott, a joint Title IX director for CIM and the Cleveland Institute of Art. A “Fact-Check” page on the CIM website maintains that the decision was made for financial reasons as part of the “Moonshot” vision to finance tuition entirely through scholarships. Although Kalmar was cleared in the Title IX investigation, CIM students staged a sit-in and called for his resignation in a petition. In September, Kalmar entered into a leave of absence for the rest of the semester. In his Facebook post, Sachs wrote, “I am confident that my colleagues will confirm I have been a voice for moderation,

cooperation, and team-playing in all matters concerning the faculty and administration.” He also emphasized that his departure was voluntary and that there had been no Title IX violations or accusations. “The fact that Michael’s character and intentions at CIM are being questioned is unfathomable,” the letter to the board says. “Michael has a proven record of helping his students balance the incredible demands of life as a performer with the well-being, mental health, and conditioning required to lead a happy life.” The Curtis Institute of Music, a private conservatory in Philadelphia, announced last month that Sachs will join its trumpet faculty in fall 2024. In an email to Scene, a representative for the Cleveland Institute of Music said the school did not comment on personnel matters. The 72 students and alumni who signed the letter hope the board will make a change. “We implore you, as board members entrusted with steering our beloved institution, to examine closely the priorities of CIM and the recent events that have disrupted decades of achievement,” the letter says. “We write to you with hope and optimism that there is a path in which CIM’s relationship with Michael and his students can be restored.” – Maria Elena Scott

NOACA Votes to Support Bills Repealing Mandated I-71 Interchange at Boston Rd. At a meeting Friday, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency board of directors passed a resolution supporting House Bill 155 and Senate Bill 276, which would repeal the requirement to build an interchange on I-71 between Brunswick and Strongsville at Boston Rd. “I think this is a great step and I think it really helps reaffirm what a lot of us having been saying, that these kind of transportation policies need to be left to the traditional processes, and I’m really thankful for the many community leaders that share in that and condemn the process of how we got to this point,” Brunswick City Council

President and Vice Mayor Nick Hanek told Scene. “While this is not over until the legislature repeals the damage that’s been done in the Revised Code, this is a very strong statement.” Republican state Representative Tom Patton of Strongsville led efforts to include a provision in the Ohio State Transportation Budget to require entrance and exit ramps at least every 4.5 miles on interstate highways in adjacent municipal corporations in different counties. Although the requirement only applies to the border between Strongsville and Brunswick, it could be enforced elsewhere in the future. Addressing highway-related issues like interchanges in the state legislature was an unprecedented move in Ohio. Typically, the decisions are made by agencies like NOACA and the Department of Transportation — both of which previously rejected a proposal for the 1-71 interchange. “State Representative Tom Patton and the president of the Strongsville City Council and the mayor of Strongsville have been stating untrue statements, outright falsehoods, that NOACA didn’t have a position on this or NOACA might be in favor of this,” Hanek said. “Even as recently as November 20, at the Strongsville City Council meeting they stood up there and said, “NOACA doesn’t have a position on this,’ and that is simply not true.” A preliminary study commissioned by Strongsville estimated that up to 14 homes will be demolished. In a neighborhood with many retirees living on fixed income, those who would lose their homes worry they won’t be adequately compensated by the government. Others nearby fear the value of their homes will plummet. More than a dozen residents attended the meeting and several shared testimony about their experiences. “They legislated a bypass of this board and organization because that’s what they wanted. They took the power away from this group, a group that has not approved, and has generally opposed the project on 71 on all fronts,” one resident told the board. Both bills have been introduced in their respective transportation committees and have received dozens of proponent testimonies. The Senate Transportation Committee removed the provision from the State Transportation Budget last year, but the

December 6 - 19, 2023 | clevescene.com |

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requirement was later added back in conference and the bill passed anyway. “As somebody who voted on the transportation bill, obviously, the bill was such a good bill that you couldn’t vote no on one thing and, trust me, I regretted it. I thought about voting no just because of this issue…We voted for the transportation bill because not voting for a transportation bill for one thing out of 3,000 that are in it, you really can’t do that in the legislative process,” Senator William DeMora said at a hearing for S.B. 155. Houses aren’t the only concern for those in the affected area. Residents say the hilly, winding terrain is already prone to accidents — an issue they fear would worsen with higher speeds and more traffic. The neighborhood also sits atop a fuel pipeline which might have to be relocated to widen the road. The process would be costly and neighbors told the board they’re wary of an environmental disaster like the train derailment in East Palestine. Ultimately, all members of the board voted in support of the resolution except one abstention on procedural grounds. “This was not a close call. This is saying, ‘We’re not going to accept this kind of process to have a politician unilaterally pick where they think a road should go and whose home gets destroyed or not,’” Hanek said. “And so many other communities and their leaders and the members of this board and those representing the communities all stood with that and said, ‘We don’t think this is right.’” – Maria Elena Scott

Cleveland Department of Public Health Urges Testing and Protection This Cuffing Season The Cleveland Department of Public Health is getting into the holiday season with a new ad campaign. “Go Into Cuff It Season Tested and Protected,” reads a billboard for the CDPH’s Title X reproductive health program, urging Clevelanders to enter those coldmonths relationships safely. “We’ve been using billboards more recently over the last couple of years to try to draw in individuals, especially high-risk individuals to come and get tested both for pregnancy and STI and

get treatment and information for their reproductive health,” said Cleveland Department of Public Health director of community health initiatives Katrese Minor, who came up with the campaign. For the uninitiated, “cuffing” is derived from African American slang and generally refers to forgoing hookups and situationships, instead settling into a relationship. “Cuff It Season,” more often called Cuffing Season, is the chilly fall and winter months when many people seek romantic partners. “It’s for single people and it’s the time of year where it gets colder and it’s also around the holidays when people are entering into romantic relationships or trying to find a romantic partner,” Minor said. “And you’re spending a lot of time indoors and not outdoors and you’re just being more potentially romantically involved.” There’s an abundance of speculation–including an actual study–about why people participate in Cuffing Season, but with the sun setting at 5 p.m. and invites circulating for holiday parties, a partner can help stave off Seasonal Affective Disorder and nosy relatives. Although the ad targets those in new relationships, CDPH’s Title X program offers the full gamut of reproductive health services, including annual exams, STI testing, pregnancy testing, family planning, contraceptive planning and HPV vaccinations to everyone. The services offered are also lowcost or even free to patients. “It’s a sliding fee scale, so you only pay, essentially, what you can afford. So some people may be covered by insurance, like if they have Medicaid or some other kind of insurance, then they probably have no out of pocket expense costs,” said Minor. “And then for other individuals where you may not be insured or are underinsured, you pay relatively nothing for the services. They’re usually covered by some other program.” Title X reproductive health services are available at two health centers, the J. Glen Smith Health Center on the East Side and the T.F. McCafferty Health Center on the West Side. “Prevention is key and it’s better to prevent illness than it is to try to treat it,” Minor said. – Maria Elena Scott

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene December 6 - 19, 2023 | clevescene.com |

MEET CLEVELAND’S HOT ONES The local hot sauces you should be stocking to kick up the flavor By Douglas Trattner IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, chili pepper breeder Ed Currie secured the Guinness World Record for his latest creation, Pepper X, a cultivar so hot that it makes the dreaded Carolina Reaper seem wimpy by comparison. But even X, the “World’s Hottest Pepper,” fails to approach some of the demonic hot sauces on the market that promise hours of gastrointestinal discomfort in every drop. Step into Chili’s Fire Pit in Mentor and you’ll unearth elixirs that clock in at around 16 million Scoville units, roughly 80 times hotter than a habanero. A local pioneer in the hot sauce world, owner Don Pesta opened the shop more than two decades ago because he saw the writing on the wall. While he does carry plenty of “novelty” sauces that will make a grown man cry, the bulk of his inventory is geared to a much wider audience. “There are more than 10,000 different kinds out there, but I carry over 900 hot sauces – and that’s not counting the salsas, barbecue sauces and marinades,” Pesta says. Pesta’s measure of the marketplace is a rough estimate, he says, what with brands continually coming and going. What is not conjecture is the fact that Americans are obsessed with hot sauce. To meet that ever-increasing demand, there is a local cadre of chefs, entrepreneurs and tinkerers eager to throw their hat in the ring with respect to commercially available options. “They are such beautifully simple things to create, and they add so much depth of flavor to so many things,” says Clark Pope, maker of the Pope’s line of food products. Pope has been crafting hot sauces in Cleveland for more than a decade. His Burning River has been a fixture product at holiday bazaars, markets and fleas, where the small, portable and affordable bottles are gobbled up for gifting. “In Cleveland, people do such a great job of supporting themselves,” he says. “We are fierce defenders of our own reputation and we support local, I think, more so than many

other communities.” For this guide, we rounded up every local brand in Northeast Ohio that we could get our hands on, selecting one bottle from each when variety existed. We found a delicious assortment of products that range from mild to wild, sweet to tart, thin to chunky. When shopping for a new hot sauce, it’s smart to think about how it will be used; thinner sauces roll off foods while thicker ones adhere. And when it comes to heat levels, the phrase “to each their own” definitely applies.

Pope’s Look: A classic look for a classic sauce in the Burning River option. A mostly white label with a black “Burning River” banner and a twocolor illustration of a tomato and chili pepper. Background: Clark Pope has been making commercial food products in Cleveland under the Pope’s brand for more than a decade. After the successful launch of his Bloody Mary sauce, he moved on to hot sauce, which was born out of a love for gardening, cooking and entertaining. “The beautiful thing about this hot sauce is that it’s just as simple as the day is long,” Pope explains. Over the years, Pope has earned a level of trust and confidence among local food-product shoppers, who eagerly snatch up his latest creations. He also has become a respected mentor for other foodfocused entrepreneurs looking to follow in his footsteps. Tasting notes: This is the type of hot sauce you would make in your kitchen at home if you had a little know-how, a lot of confidence and a bumper crop of tomatoes and hot peppers. The ingredients list might as well be the recipe: peppers, tomatoes, onion, garlic and apple cider vinegar. It’s a delightfully fresh, vibrant but uncomplicated sauce that goes on anything and everything. Uses: Scrambled eggs, pizza, quesadillas, mac and cheese, meatloaf

| clevescene.com | December 6 - 19, 2023

Heat index: 3/10 Find it at: The Wine Spot, Heinen’s, Market District, popeskitchen.com

Davina Rae’s Hot Sauce Look: Unlike the myriad glass bottles that line the condiment shelves, Davina’s comes in 7-ounce plastic bottles with pointy twistopen caps. The label design is clean, minimal and crisp, with simple text on a white and red background. Background: Davina Romansky, a bartender at Firestone Country Club in Akron, couldn’t find the perfect hot sauce for the Bloody Marys that she was constantly whipping up for members. So she created her own. “The owners put it on the menu,” explains Romansky. “A rep from Giant Eagle tasted it while there and said that if it was commercially produced they would sell it.” Romansky and her colleague, Richard “Fuzz” Fausnight, branched out with Fuzz’s Awesome Sauce, which is a mayo-based twist on the original. The owner doesn’t cut corners with respect to ingredients, using preserved lemons and whole roasted jalapenos, fresnos and

habaneros for appreciable heat. “I feel like spice is becoming a bigger thing with the younger generations,” she says. “I’ve noticed that they are really into heat.” Tasting notes: This is a thicker sauce that grabs food, but it can also clog the small dispenser hole in the cap. That’s a small price to pay for beautiful habanero flavor, bold roasted garlic and aggressive but agreeable heat. Preserved lemons in the sauce give it an unexpected lemony blast that mellows when paired with food. Uses: Bloody Marys (obviously), breakfast sandwiches, deviled eggs, pierogies, tacos, chicken wings Heat index: 6/10 Find it at: Giant Eagle, davinaraes.com

Heritage Fare Garlic Hot Sauce Look: A tall, slender glass bottle is adorned with a lemon-yellow cap and red label with a sketch of a chef tasting his stovetop brew. Background: Heritage Fare has a long, proud history in Cleveland. Wendell Turner launched the business some 30 years ago to fill a niche in the soul food world,

Mark Oprea

a category overlooked by the big commercial brands of the day. To help boost sales of his triple-washed collard greens, he paired them with a special herb and spice blend for home cooks. The company’s Savory Soul Sauce has been the go-to rib sauce for decades and the Garlic Hot Sauce continues to find favor with a new generation of chefs, home cooks and foodies. Tasting notes: If you enjoy bright, thin, mildly spiced hot sauces like Crystal, Tabasco and Frank’s RedHot, you’ll adore Heritage Fare. What it lacks in pomp and flash, it makes up for in versatility, affordability and broad appeal. Tart, tangy and bright, the sauce has a pronounced garlic and vinegar twang with wee heat. Uses: Scrambled eggs, cooked greens, soups and stews, fried green tomatoes, grilled chicken. Heat index: 2/10 Find it at: Good Company, heritagefare.net

Black Cap Look: Black Cap shuns convention by employing a squat 8-ounce jug in place of the industry standard

5-ounce “woozy” bottle. Beneath the black cap sits a colorful label adorned with a dandelion-chomping skull. Background: While technically a Columbus-based company, this sauce was born in Cleveland. Chef Jack Moore began experimenting with fermentation while working at Greenhouse Tavern, but the sauce officially debuted at Black Pig in Ohio City. It is one of only a few fermented sauces in this collection, but it’s the only one that’s still alive. “There are a lot of hot sauces that have a fermented pepper mash, but they are cooked and have vinegar added to make them shelf stable,” Moore explains. “Ours is a living culture full of probiotics. It has no vinegar, it’s all lactic acid from fermentation.” Because of that, Black Cap will only be found in the refrigerated section of stores, which complicates matters. But Moore says the results are worth it: “Our logistics are a lot harder than the average hot sauce producer, but the magic comes from fermentation.” Tasting notes: This burnt-orange sauce is pourable without being thin and watery. It has a beautifully layered, round and complex flavor

that melds garlic, smoke, umami and tartness. The heat is mellow but steady, like the bassline to your favorite jam. Uses: Pour it on pizza and scrambled eggs, whip it into mayo for sandwiches, zip up your Bloodies, use it to make wing sauce. Heat index: 2/10 Find it at: Larder Delicatessen, Ohio City Provisions, Gingham Market and blackcaphotsauce.com

Fred Hot Look: Just look for the cartoon guy with his eyes bulging, tongue hanging, and hair on fire. Background: “This whole thing started out as a joke,” says Fred Stoldt, who admits to bringing his homemade hot sauce to restaurants. One day, he forgot the bottle at the restaurant, where it got passed around like a doobie at a Dead show. After one too many “you have to bottle this stuff” comments from pals, he did just that. “My product came into being because I got tired of being let down,” Stoldt explains. “You go to a store, buy a bottle of hot sauce, get home and you’re like, where’s the

damn heat?! The whole scale thing is very subjective to the person, but my tolerance level is off the freakin’ charts.” Like others in this roundup, Stoldt got his start at the Cleveland Culinary Launch Kitchen. A decade later, he makes about 50 different products, from spice blends to spicy green beans. It all started with this hot sauce, which was named by his chili-head friends. Tasting notes: As the hottest hot sauce in this collection, Fred Hot has earned itself a new fan and customer. Dark, thick and flecked with spices, the sauce looks like trouble in a bottle. An apple cider nose gives way to smoky, woodsy and complex flavors. A great and building heat rises from the depths and sticks around for a spell. Uses: Scrambled eggs, pizza, wing sauce, hot dogs, chili Heat index: 7/10 Find it at: fredhotspice.com

Llamacita Look: It’s easy to see the vibrant red color of this Tomato Guajillo sauce through the 8-ounce glass bottle. The brand and product name

December 6 - 19, 2023 | clevescene.com |

| clevescene.com | December 6 - 19, 2023

are screen printed directly onto the glass, doing away with the need for a label. Naturally, there’s a cartoon llama on the front. Background: Bianca Beach grew up in the Pacific Northwest, lived in Southern California, and winded up in sunny Cleveland Heights, where she never stopped dreaming of those sauce-drenched SoCal tacos. In late 2023, she debuted her line of taqueria-style sauces under the Llamacita brand. “They are inspired by some of my favorite sauces at the taquerias I grew up going to and throughout my life,” she explains. Beach prefers the label “taco sauces” over hot sauces because they aren’t all hot. More importantly, they have a silky-smooth texture, like the sauces that flow effortlessly through the tops of squeeze bottles at the local taqueria. After releasing a green sauce, orange sauce and yellow sauce, Beach unveiled her magnum opus. “Red was the last to be born,” she says. “It took some time, I don’t want to say to perfect it, but it took many iterations.” Tasting notes: This sauce may be smooth and pourable, but it isn’t thin, one-dimensional or bland. It smells like a warm bowl of Texas chili and overflows with earthy, smoky spice from the guajillo chiles. There’s tomato in the sauce but this isn’t a tomatoey sauce by any stretch. Other than a slight tickle in the back of the throat, this sauce is largely heat-free. Uses: Micheladas, chili con carne, nachos, grilled steak, as a marinade for oven-roasted pork Heat index: 1/10 Find it at: Miles Market, Nature’s Oasis, Wine Spot, llamacitafoods.com

Not Yo’ Daddy’s Mexican Hot Sauce Look: A vibrant pumpkin-orange sauce shines through a thin glass bottle with an off-white label and black wax-topped cap. Backstory: “When my dad shared this recipe he made me promise that I wouldn’t sell it,” says Cristina Gonzalez Alcala. “I think he meant the recipe not the sauce.” At least, she adds, that’s what she’s going with. Developed in the family’s hometown of Durango, Mexico, the sauce is described as a “typical salsa roja” that would be found throughout that region. The boldly spiced salsa pairs well with beef, the number-one commodity in that Mexican state. Since inheriting the recipe from

her father, Gonzalez Alcala has been making each batch by hand in an Akron kitchen. Fortunately for chili heads, she has not tempered the original recipe for mousy gringos. “People have been misusing the term ‘hot,’” she states. “Other than the water and vinegar, the peppers are the main ingredient.” Tasting notes: Those chilis include heaps of ghost peppers and scotch bonnets, which provide almighty heat, but also fruity, floral flavor. A rich bouquet of Mexican chilis and spices makes this one of the most distinctive and appealing sauces in the bunch. Neither loose nor gloopy, the salsa flows easily while clinging to foods. Uses: Straight on tortilla chips, avocado toast, ceviche, poke bowls, rub on a pork loin Heat index: 7/10 Find it at: Leaf, Sweet Mary’s Bakery, River Merchant, notyodaddys.com

Fuego Look: Inside a slender wax-dipped bottle with a simple black-and-white label is a mossy green liquid for the Applewood Smoked Jalapeno. Background: Ian Barrett makes his shelf-stable fermented hot sauces in the same Cleveland facility as Old Brooklyn Cheese and Mustard. Despite an increasingly crowded commercial kitchen, Barrett says that he refuses to entrust his recipe and production to a third-party copacker. “If you want to maintain a quality and a standard of product, going to a co-packer means that it’s going to be really hard,” he explains. “If you want to buy something local, smallbatch, handmade, it’s nice to know that the brand on the bottle is the brand that is making the product.” Just two years into production, Fuego sauces have earned industry recognition in the form of “Good Food” awards. All of the solid ingredients, including locally grown jalapenos, are cold smoked with applewood before going into fermentation. The final product is thinner than most, but it punches above its viscosity. “If you can have a thinner sauce while still maintaining the body and big punch that’s behind it, I think that’s a nice sweet spot to be in,” says Barrett. Tasting notes: This sauce is aggressively smoky, a trait that will appeal to some but not others. Vegetal flavors are balanced by pleasant tartness and mild spice. Uses: Eggs, pizza, pierogies,

chicken tenders, mixed with mayo to create a smoky aioli. Heat index: 2/10 Find it at: Old Brooklyn Cheese Co., Meister Foods at the West Side Market, Lake Road Market, fuegofermentations.com

Red Dawn Look: A colorful, slightly dystopian label reveals a crimson sauce flecked with solids and spice. Background: Don Pesta opened Chili’s Fire Pit in Mentor more than two decades ago. In addition to stocking roughly 900 different hot sauces from around the world, the owner carries his own brand of award-winning sauces, salsas and spice blends. Asked how his house line of hot sauces fairs alongside some of the hottest, most buzzworthy brews out there, he says, fortunately, there isn’t much brand loyalty among shoppers. “People are always looking for something new,” he explains. “If people want the heat, I’ve got the heat, if they want the sweet, I’ve got the sweet. It just depends on what you like. Hot sauce is like wine; you can have one person saying this is the best wine in the world and the next person says it sucks.” Tasting notes: Pesta’s Red Dawn nails the balance between flavor, spice and heat, all delivered in a thick but pourable sauce. It starts tart on the tongue followed by waves of garlic, cayenne, habanero and freshly ground black pepper. Uses: Pizza, pork chops, mac and cheese, Bloody Marys Heat index: 5/10 Find it at: Chili’s Fire Pit, https:// www.chilisfirepit.com/

Killik Look: In the ETA, a clear glass bottle with bold black text contains an olive-colored sauce. Background: Mike Killik and his father both suffered heart attacks within a week of each other. Only the younger Killik survived. To cut back on his sodium intake, Mike began experimenting with fermented hot sauces, which contain less sodium than conventional hot sauces when properly made. It didn’t take long for the former restaurant veteran to land on a winning formula. “Seeing how great chefs work, I learned to keep things simple,” he explains. “I didn’t want to overwork and overprocess them; I wanted to

make it as scratch as we can.” Killik’s straightforward recipe starts with poblanos, jalapenos, onion and garlic, which are fermented in brine, blended and bottled. Along with the green ETA, Killik crafts red-hued ZETA and DELTA varieties, all made at Cleveland’s Hildebrandt Building. Tasting notes: Like most fermented hot sauces, ETA has an unmistakable funkiness that develops in the process. But the pasteurization process tampers that down, along with the heat level, which is modest. It’s a loose but slightly chunky product that straddles the fence between salsa and sauce. Uses: Eggs, pizza, grilled fish, fish tacos, roasted chicken Heat index: 2/10 Find it at: Dean Supply, Market District, Lakewood Hardware, Juneberry, killikhsc.com

Ol’ Dirty Sheets Hot Sauce Look: A colorful hand-drawn label depicting laundry hanging on the line only partially blocks the dark, brooding brew within. Background: Wooster natives Joshua Sheets and Jamie Smetzer launched their product in 2016. Sheets, a graduate of the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts, began messing around with homemade hot sauces and sharing it with friends. The rest, as they say, is history. “We wanted to make hot sauce for hot sauce people,” says Sheets. For Ol’ Dirty Sheets, the chef starts with Ohio-grown habanero, ghost, chipotle and arbol chilis. The peppers are blended with local maple syrup to create a hot sauce with a compelling and distinctive flavor profile. Tasting notes: This sauce is dark, dank, smoky and fruity. The pastelike consistency and deep, complex flavors reminded me of a Oaxacan mole negro. A sneaky, creeping heat continues to build until it tops out mid-level. It’s all rounded out with a kiss of maple sweetness. Uses: Enchiladas, loaded potatoes, marinades, tacos, breakfast sandwiches, chili Heat index: 5/10 Find it at: Narrin’s at West Side Market, Local Roots Market, oldirtysheets.com

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene

December 6 - 19, 2023 | clevescene.com |

GET OUT WED

Everything to do in Cleveland for the next two weeks 12/06

Chamber Music in the Atrium This monthly concert series at the Cleveland Museum of Art places young musicians from the Cleveland Institute of Music in the CMA atrium. The concert features standards and “unknown gems.” It begins at noon. 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.

Hairspray Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy returns to Connor Palace tonight at 7:30. The play centers on 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Performances continue through Sunday. 1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

Magic of Lights A drive-through holiday lights experience featuring holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology and digital animations, Magic of Lights returns to the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. Hours are 5:30 through 10 p.m. daily through Dec. 31. Check the website for ticket prices. 19201 East Bagley Rd., Middleburg Heights, 440-243-0090, magicoflights. com/events/northeastohio/.

THU

12/07

Black Nativity Cleveland’s Karamu House presents this retelling of retelling of the traditional New Testament account of the Nativity story. Expect gospel music and dramatic dance in addition to the biblical narrative. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Allen Theatre, where performances continue through Dec.16. 1407 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens was a hell of a writer, but he could be a tad verbose. So it’s convenient that there have been so many great stage and screen versions of his classic ghost story. One of them — required viewing for anyone with a Netflix membership — is the 1951 movie starring Alastair Sim as a Scrooge for all eternity. And the other is this Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival production, which never fails to engage and delight. Tonight’s

The international vocal group Accent comes to Cleveland Museum of Art. See: Friday, Dec. 8.| Courtesy of Accent performance takes place at 7:30 at the Mimi Ohio Theatre. 1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

PRINE ON PRINE: Interviews + Encounters + Songs This discussion that takes place at the Rock Hall centers on writer Holly Gleason’s just released PRINE ON PRINE: Interviews & Encounters, a book about singer-songwriter John Prine. Tonight’s talk featuring Gleason will address his impact as an artist, songwriter and social force. Lyle Lovett and Fiona Whelan Prince will be on hand as well. The event begins at 7. 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 216-5158444, rockhall.com.

Tease the Season: Burlesque Holiday Spectacular This festive burlesque show combines the art of burlesque with the spirit of the holiday season. It’ll feature a talented cast of burlesque, drag and variety, performers. Performances take place at 7:30 tonight, tomorrow night, Saturday night and Sunday night at Cleveland Public Theatre. 6415 Detroit Ave, 216-631-2727.

FRI

| clevescene.com | December 6 - 19, 2023

12/08

Accent This a cappella supergroup features six singers from five different countries. For tonight’s performance at the Cleveland Museum of Art, you can expect to hear holiday favorites from the group’s latest release, Christmas All the Way. The concert begins at 7:30. 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker Directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award-nominated Jennifer Weber, this contemporary dance spectacle re-mixes and re-imagines Tchaikovsk for hip-hop heads. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7 at the State Theatre. 1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

Brian Regan Veteran comic Brian Regan originally set out to become an accountant. But when that didn’t work out, he shifted to comedy. Years later, comedians around the country hail his impeccable delivery and ability to inject just enough physicality into his routines. Regan, who refrains from using profanity, performs tonight at 7:30 at MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage. 10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield,

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

SAT

12/09

Coop’s Nightmare This theatrical event features a group that bills itself as “the Ultimate Alice Cooper Tribute Band.” Expect to hear all the shock rocker’s hits in a full stage show featuring props and costumes. It all goes down tonight at 8 at the Akron Civic Theatre. 182 South Main St., Akron, 330-2532488, akroncivic.com.

SUN

12/10

Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars will provide the Browns with a good test when they come to Browns Stadium today for a 1 p.m. game. Led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars look like a playoff-caliber team despite a blowout loss in Week 10 to the San Francisco 49ers. 100 Alfred Lerner Way, 440-891-5000, clevelandbrowns.com.

MON

12/11

WWE Monday Night Raw The popular wrestling event returns to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse tonight at 7:30. One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

TUE

12/12

Lyrical Rhythms Open Mic and Chill This long-running open mic night at the B Side allows some of the city’s best rappers and poets to strut their stuff. The event begins at 8 with a comedy session dubbed 2 Drinks & a Joke with host Ant Morrow. The open mic performances begin at 10 p.m. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-1966, bsideliquorlounge.com.

WED

12/13

through Dec. 23. 1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

Third Friday From 5 to 9 p.m., many of the 78th Street Studios resident artist studios and galleries will be open as part of this monthly event. There will be live music, and Local West, a Gordon Square sandwich shop, will serve food. BARneo will have a selection of adult beverages as well. Admission is free. 1300 West 78th St., 78thstreetstudios. com.

SAT

12/16

Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks Led by guard Trae Young, the Atlanta Hawks have one of the NBA’s most potent offenses. The team comes to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse tonight at 7:30 to take on the Cavs. One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

Cleveland Orchestra Holiday Concerts

Winchester Flea Market

Brett Mitchell conducts this musical extravaganza that returns to the Mandel Concert Hall tonight at 7:30. Expect to hear classical takes on Christmas classics. Performances continue through Dec. 23. 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

A slew of vendors, including Relic Clothing III, K&K Sports Cards and Fletchers Plants will be on hand for this flea market that takes place at the Winchester in Lakewood. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. 12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-600-5338, facebook.com/ TheWinchesterMusicTavern.

THU

12/14

Monsters vs. Belleville Senators Tonight and tomorrow night at 7, the Monsters take on the Belleville Senators at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Every Friday night game featuries $1 sodas, $2 hot dogs and $3 select beer specials, making tomorrow night’s game a little easier on the wallet. One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

FRI

12/15

Raymond Arroyo

MON

12/18

Cavaliers vs. Houston Rockets The Cavaliers take on a much-improved Houston Rockets tonight at 7 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. It’ll mark the Rockets only visit to Cleveland during the regular season. 1 Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

TUE

12/19

Outlab: Experiments in Improvised Music

The Nutcracker

Musicians are invited to bring instruments or any sound making device (drum kit and keyboard provided) that can be used to explore collective group improvisation. Please bring your own amps if needed. The monthly session begins at 8 tonight at the Bop Stop. Admission is free. third Tuesday of every month. 2920 Detroit Ave., 216-771-6551, themusicsettlement.org.

Cleveland Ballet presents this famous ballet in two acts based on the original story by E.T.A. Hoffman. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7 at Connor Palace, where performances continue

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene

Special guest Frankie Avalon joins this lounge singer as he takes on Christmas standards at this performance at the State Theatre. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. VIP tickets include a meetand-greet option with Arroyo. 1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

December 6 - 19, 2023 | clevescene.com |

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| clevescene.com | December 6 - 19, 2023

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MOVIES IN HER MARROW

A touching new documentary captures acclaimed composer Jon Batiste grappling with his wife’s cancer By Chuck Wilson AWARDS SEASON IS UPON us, which means famous people winning Oscars and Grammys while we mere mortals watch from home and imagine that those shimmering humans have it all. Standing on that stage, gold statue in hand, must surely be a perfect moment. Yet in the poignant documentary American Symphony, filmmaker Matthew Heineman is there as musician Jon Batiste wins five Grammys in 2022, including Album of the Year, only to find himself alone and bereft in a backstage green room after his moment of triumph. Batiste’s longtime partner and new bride, Suleika Jaouad, whom he first met when they were both teens in jazz camp, is not by his side. Instead, Jaouad watched the Grammys from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. The leukemia that had first struck her at age 22 — the focus of her Emmy-winning New York Times “Life, Interrupted” column and video series — was back after 10 years of remission. She received her first round of chemo the day Batiste’s 11 Grammy nominations were announced. On the big night, Jaouad was in the hospital, preparing to fight for her life. Again. Jon Batiste’s perfect moment had been anything but. Widely known as the original band leader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the New Orleans-raised, Juilliard-trained Batiste is first and foremost a composer, and Heineman’s film is most potent when we see Batiste in the act of creation. Originally, this was meant to be a road movie tracking Batiste’s cross-country trip in search of musicians and sounds to incorporate into his first symphony. Jaouad’s resurgent

Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad face her illness together. | NETFLIX AMERICAN SYMPHONY DIRECTED BY MATTHEW HEINEMAN. STREAMING ON NETFLIX BEGINNING NOVEMBER 29.

illness changed the structure and tenor of the film, but Batiste did find his musicians, most of them young, and all of them clearly thrilled to be called to this moment. “There’s a space,” Batiste declares, “for us all to be different and quirky and strange and beautiful together.” The ensemble’s Carnegie Hall performance will provide the film’s rousing musical climax. Rehearsals begin even as Jaouad is being admitted to the hospital to receive the second bone marrow transplant of her life, a rare “last resort option.” And so it is that, while Batiste is trying on tuxedos for the concert, Jaouad calls to say that her port is bleeding. Should he come home, or stay on schedule? He chooses to stay on course and at home, Jaouad carries on too, trying on the beautiful sequined dress (and fabulous hat) she hopes to be well enough to wear to Carnegie Hall. In a beautiful sequence at the rehearsal hall, Batiste begins to write a plaintive melody on the piano. It puzzles him. (Art begins in puzzlement.) He can’t fully fathom its parameters, which

may be a metaphor for what he and his wife are going through. “Man, what is that,” he asks aloud. Later, during the concert, a technical glitch will force Batiste to improvise in front of 2,800 people. He faces the moment with preternatural calm, clearly a man who long ago learned to roll with the unexpected. It’s a skill he learned alongside his wife. Batiste is pigeonholed by the media as perpetually upbeat — a historical expectation and trap for Black artists, the composer notes. In private, he suffers panic attacks and anxiety. Alone at home for weeks on end, Batiste’s mind races. He can’t sleep. “Some days you just want to stop the train.” But his young orchestra is waiting, and at Sloan Kettering, Jaouad has begun to paint, which is her way of moving forward, even from her bed. She says, “We both see survival as its own kind of creative act.” American Symphony is a striking departure for Heineman, who made his name with documentaries about the Mexican drug trade (the Oscar-

nominated Cartel Land), the war in Afghanistan ( Retrograde) and COVID-19 ( The First Wave). To capture Batiste at a particular moment in time, the filmmaker avoids the usual trappings of a performer’s profile. Batiste won an Oscar for co-composing the score to Soul but there’s no mention of that accolade here. Stephen Colbert doesn’t pop up to sing his friend’s praises. Batiste’s hits are only referenced at a glance. Instead, the director gives precedence to the music of a given day, an approach that may frustrate diehard fans and confuse those who come to the film with only a cursory knowledge of Batiste’s work. A love story more than anything, American Symphony may prove most meaningful to those with ongoing illness in their lives. It’s wrenching to see a chemoweakened Jaouad curled in pain and deeply moving to see her husband pressed up against her, as if to absorb her torment. Gold statues don’t matter to cancer, a fact Jaouad and Batiste face each day with remarkable grace. Love and laughter see them through, and those, this moving film suggests, are tools readily available to us all.

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene

December 6 - 19, 2023 | clevescene.com |

| clevescene.com | December 6 - 19, 2023

EAT OH, WHAT A YEAR

The best things we ate in Cleveland in 2023 By Douglas Trattner AFTER A FULL CALENDAR year of dining out, we reflect back on the best dishes we had the pleasure of enjoying – from new arrivals on the Cleveland dining scene to some rediscovered favorites. Goat Biryani at Paradise Biryani Pointe Rahul Gonuguntla opened Paradise Biryani Pointe because he couldn’t find the quality of Indian food that he grew up with back home. Now with four locations in Northeast Ohio, the restaurant specializes in Southern Indian dishes but offers a broad sampling of Indian cuisine. The showstopper is the Hyderabadstyle goat biryani, an aromatic dish of perfectly steamed and seasoned basmati blended with tender bone-in goat. Lamb Tacos at Paloma Like most American cities, Cleveland has been deluged by taquerias. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for one more, especially when it comes from the team of Zach Ladner and Carl Quagliata. For these, lamb is slow roasted until it’s luscious, supple and flecked with char. The savory meat is tucked into freshly pressed and griddled flour tortillas and topped with mint, shredded cabbage, garlic crème fraiche and sliced jalapenos. Pork Adobo at Tita Flora’s At Tita Flora’s, owner Flora Grk offers an authentic taste of homestyle Filipino cooking. Her food is accessible but exciting, with boldly flavored dishes redolent of soy, garlic and vinegar. Most offer up a compelling interplay of sweet, sour and salty. Adobo, arguably the national dish of the Philippines, is a mouthwatering stew of lean and fatty pork in a tangy sauce. Dishes come with white rice but consider upgrading to the garlic rice. Lox, Onions and Eggs at Corky & Lenny’s Dining at Corky and Lenny’s is like visiting an old friend. The Jewish deli has been chugging along since 1956, when it opened at Cedar Center. The current location at Village Square in Woodmere has

been in business for 50 years. We lost founder Lenny Kaden this year, but we still have comforting deli dishes like scrambled eggs with Nova lox, onions and eggs. Ricotta Dumplings at Poppy This year, Felice on Larchmere became Poppy, the latest creation from partners Jill Vedaa and Jessica Parkison. The warm three-level Craftsman-style house and spacious patio are the ideal environment to savor Vedaa’s brilliantly composed dishes. The ricotta dumplings approach vegetarian perfection thanks to delicate gnocchi topped with savory mushroom marmalade and a vibrant broccoli pesto. Continental Breakfast at Patron Saint Open since June, Patron Saint already feels like an essential part of the Ohio City community. The all-day café, set in a former Vitrolite tile showroom, offers beautiful bites morning, noon and aperitivo hour. Chef David Kocab has a knack for packing flavor and texture into every bite. The pitch-perfect continental breakfast includes thinsliced cured meats, cheese, fresh fruit, a jammy egg, focaccia toast, compote and preserves. Cleveland Mojito at Battr This year, Tremont scored a hot new dessert shop that specializes in Belgian waffles, Hong Kongstyle bubble waffles and French crepes, which are filled, glazed and topped in a variety of ways. Guests can build their own or go with a signature creation, like the Cleveland Mojito, a crisp-tender bubble waffle filled with creamy vanilla gelato and topped with rummint syrup, candied lime zest and fresh mint. Corned Beef Hash at City Diner Back in 2017, Old Brooklyn residents were thrilled to see the long-dormant Expressway Diner under new management. But the revival was short-lived owing to the pandemic. But earlier this year, the classic diner was buffed back into existence. The place looks better than ever, the service is swift and

Patron Saint.| Tiffany Joy Photography courteous, and the breakfasts are delicious. The hearty corned beef hash comes with two eggs and biscuits. Spend another couple bucks for a side of sausage gravy. Italian Beef at Au Jus It’s not every day that legends are born. With the opening of Au Jus in Parma, Cleveland’s Italian beef game immediately climbed to championship level. Wedged between a Marco’s Pizza and a nail salon in a dinky strip, the spotless kitchen flies through 150 pounds of slowroasted top round beef per day. That tender shaved beef is piled into a hoagie bun, doused with gravy and topped with crisp giardiniera Turkey Pardon at Coppia It’s no small feat to make some noise when you’re a tiny bistro tucked away in sleepy Chesterland. But that’s precisely what Hedy Pastrán and Talia Trovato are doing at Coppia. The restaurant, formerly linked with the Paganini School of Cooking, is forging a new

path, one that brings fine dining down to an approachable level without surrendering one ounce of its grandeur. This seasonal dish featured buttery and crisp-skinned duck breast paired with savory collard greens and Thanksgivingflavored stuffing. Burger at Little Bar For Cleveland Classics, I recently revisited one of Cleveland’s last remaining downtown dives. In recent years we’ve lost legendary spots like Moriarty’s, Ontario Street and Euclid Tavern, but thankfully we still have Little Bar. At 40 years old, this alley tavern has survived wave after wave of Warehouse District gentrification. The halfpound burgers – made from the steak trimmings from Johnny’s next door – are some of the city’s best, dished up by a crew that cares.

dtrattner@clevescene.com t@dougtrattner

December 6 - 19, 2023 | clevescene.com |

| clevescene.com | December 6 - 19, 2023

EAT BITES

Chef Doug Katz to open new restaurant at Van Aken By Douglas Trattner AFTER FOUR YEARS OF instability, a prominent restaurant space at Van Aken District in Shaker has landed one of Cleveland’s most bankable chef-operators. The space is the former Shake It-Kindred Spirit-Sawyer’s property in the northwest corner of the plaza. The chef is Doug Katz. “As someone who grew up in Shaker and had a restaurant in Shaker Square, to be able to open a restaurant in this community is so exciting,” Katz says. “We’ve tried for many years to do this and it finally is coming to fruition.” In late summer, Katz and managing partner Todd Thompson will open Kiln, which they describe as a “modern take on a classic European bistro.” The team, which includes executive chef Cameron Pishnery and director of operations Phoebe Connell, will build off more than a quarter century of hospitality experience to create another best-inclass restaurant. “We will be creating a beautiful and comfortable interior with warm and friendly service – everything that makes us the restaurant group that we are,” adds Katz. “You’re going to feel like you’re in this really special, fun experience.” When it opens next year, Kiln will join Zhug and Amba in the Katz portfolio. In 2020, the chef shuttered his long-admired Shaker Square bistro, Fire Food and Drink, after 20 years. Whereas Zhug is a hip Middle Eastern spot and Amba is an atmospheric Indian bistro, Kiln will reach back to the golden age of dining to present carefully crafted dishes in the European tradition. “We do so much now that isn’t classic and this is the perfect location to do something that is,” Katz explains. “We have a passion for all different things; Kiln will allow us to get back to that classic European bistro.” The menu, still in the planning phase, will offer a broad range of dishes served in the classic bistro style, which is to say on their own rather than as part of composed plates with starch and vegetables. Unlike at, say, Fire, where the duck confit was served with spaetzle and

braised red cabbage, Kiln will offer the duck as an a la carte dish to be shared. “These are shared plates, not small plates,” says Thompson. “I think it’s how people like to eat – the vast majority of people share food anyway – and this allows for a lot more flexibility in the dining experience. It also allows us to do more with vegetables and plantbased foods.” It also creates a more accessible and flexible dining experience, one in which guests can decide how big or how small of a meal they wish to enjoy. “People will be able to come to this restaurant before or after a movie for a little bite, they can come on a weeknight to have an amazing salad and entrée, but they could also come for the biggest celebration of their lives,” says Katz. Expect service that is elevated, refined and sophisticated, but not fussy. The two-level property includes a large ground-floor restaurant and a rooftop bar and lounge. Both spaces have great outdoor access. The plan is to use the former Garden City space upstairs as the main bar, with the lower level dedicated to dining. “Most of the work is ripping out everything that was put in over the years and really cleaning up the space,” says Katz. “It’s all about creating an ambiance and environment that we want people to love and feel great in.” Katz, a passionate ceramicist, chose the name “kiln” because it conjures feelings of warmth, creativity and hospitality. “I love making pottery,” he explains. “Kiln is an oven that’s used to transform clay or dirt into something you can serve out of. When you look at a kiln, you think of that heat and energy and excitement.”

First Look: Danny’s on Professor, Opening Next Week In advance of a move to the former Nick’s Diner property in Ohio City, Proof Bar-BQ in Tremont was

put to bed last year. With newfound space on their hands, partners Michael Griffin and Dave Ferrante began considering options for lowerlevel space, which sits beneath Crust and Visible Voice Books. The team contemplated opening a speakeasy, wine bar, even yet another taco spot, but in the end, they settled upon a late-night watering hole helmed by longtime bartender Danny Grim. “Everywhere I go people tell me that we need something new because everyone is sick of going to the same places,” Grim explains. “It’s so crazy to see that demand; people want those late-night options.” The intimate 50-seat space received a light makeover, with colorful new art adorning most walls. “We didn’t want to mess with the aesthetics of the place,” adds Grim. “It was already a beautiful place with the exposed brick and things like that.” Danny’s will run from 8 p.m., when Crust winds down upstairs, to 2 a.m., with food service running until close. The small kitchen limits food options, but there should be more than enough variety for latenight noshers. The menu includes snacks like flavored popcorn, nut-free trail mix and sweet pretzel bites. There will be “giant slices,” of course, from Crust, alongside chips and salsa, chips and queso, baconwrapped mini hotdogs with BBQ sauce and loaded nachos with pulled chicken, Buffalo sauce, jalapeno salsa and cheese. To drink, there will be draft and canned beer, wine and booze, with a roster of house cocktails. The new Proof Bar-BQ in Ohio City is making good progress, says Griffin, and is expected to open in late winter.

Brassica Sets Grand Opening for Westlake Shop for Dec. 15 The wait is nearly over for west-side fans of Brassica, the redhot Middle Eastern concept that brothers Kevin and Darren Malhame launched in Columbus eight years

Tiffany Joy Photography

ago. The company’s newest location, West Bay Plaza (30070 Detroit Rd.) in Westlake, will celebrate its grand opening on Friday, December 15. Since opening in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus in 2015, Brassica added Central Ohio shops in Bexley, Upper Arlington and Easton. In 2019, the Malhames ventured for the first time outside their hometown to open at the thennew Van Aken District in Shaker Heights. Northstar Cafe, which opened last year at Van Aken, is run by the same restaurant group. Building on their Lebanese heritage, the siblings developed a fast-casual, build-your-own Middle Eastern concept. “The restaurant was inspired by great falafel shops around the world,” Malhame told Scene. Diners select between a base of hummus, greens or a fresh-baked pita. Those are topped or filled with a choice falafel, braised Niman Ranch brisket or roasted chicken and a large selection of vegetables and sauces. To drink, there’s a short but high-quality list of wines by the glass and bottle, regional craft beers, cold-pressed juices and coldbrewed coffee. “The restaurant will be very similar,” Malhame adds. “The experience should be very much the same as the Brassica at Van Aken.”

dtrattner@clevescene.com t@dougtrattner

December 6 - 19, 2023 | clevescene.com |

| clevescene.com | December 6 - 19, 2023

MUSIC WOMEN WHO ROCK Cleveland’s TRUSS co-headlines annual Rock the Halls Benefit Concert By Jeff Niesel HANNAH CRANDALL, singer in the local hard rock act TRUSS, says she always gets excited when she has the chance to meet another female musician trying to make it on the local music scene. “For me, whenever I find another female-fronted band, it’s cool and different and interesting,” she says one recent morning over coffee at the Lakewood coffeeshop Roasted that’s just down the block from where she lives. Her annual Rock the Halls event, which returns to House of Blues on Saturday, Dec. 16, allows her to nurture that impulse. This year’s event, a benefit for Laura’s Home Women’s Crisis Center, a Cleveland shelter and crisis recovery program for women, will feature five rock bands fronted by women. “There’s not many femalefronted bands in Cleveland or around anywhere,” Crandall says between sips of a cold brew. “You have the big ones that everyone knows and loves like Heart and Alanis Morissette. When you go into individual cities, there’s not a ton, and if you do find them, there’s not a lot of local bands that are really prolific. Nine times out of ten, I’m the only woman on the stage. With Rock the Halls, we can spotlight women and empower them and have a cause that aligns with that.” Crandall’s band TRUSS will be among the acts slated to perform. The band officially formed in 2018 while members were students at the Ohio State University. The group played various college clubs, events and parties in the region. In May of 2019, the band released the single “Mayhem,” which it recorded with friend Cooper Towns, an OSU student who needed a final project, at the studio in Ohio State’s Wexner Center for the Arts. To date, “Mayhem” has amassed

TRUSS. | Geno Oradini

ROCK THE HALLS, 6 P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 16, HOUSE OF BLUES, 308 EUCLID AVE., 216-523-2583. TICKETS: $15, HOUSEOFBLUES.COM.

nearly 700,000 streams across various platforms. After graduating from college, Crandall and Co. relocated to Cleveland. It performed its first major show after returning to town in June of 2021, opening for the ’90s alternative rock band Sponge. Later that same year, TRUSS supported national acts Puddle of Mudd, Alice Cooper guitarist Nita Strauss and all-women Led Zeppelin tribute band Lez Zeppelin. In July of 2022, the group released its self-produced debut album, Reset My Head, an album it selfproduced. The bill for the Rock the Halls concert also features the hard rock acts Snarls, Grumpy Plum, Cut Your Losses and LoConti. “LoConti is a brand-new band on the scene,” says Crandall.

“Grumpy Plum is pretty cool. They’re a three-piece indie kind of band. Cut Your Losses is coming in from Chicago. We played with them over the summer. Snarls out of Columbus, OH is co-headlining the bill [with TRUSS]. They’re a four-piece alternative band that’s doing really well and toured with [English singer-songwriter] Louis Tomlinson this past summer.” Crandall, who grew up in Broadview Heights, has circulated on the local music scene for the past decade or so. She initially played in the alt-rock act Velocity when she was still in high school. She started out as a backing vocalist before becoming that band’s front person. “I grew up listening to Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, Elton John and Billy Joel,” she says. “My dad was big into ‘80s

pop, so that is all I ever listened to. My mom loved Celine Dion and all the huge vocalists that everyone knows. At some point, I was into the game Rock Band on Wii. It was really popular at the time. Listening to music on there and playing those songs got me into a different genre of music. I started going to Warped Tour and began discovering those types of bands.” Though the event is only in its second year, Crandall is optimistic that it’ll continue to grow and expand. “I hope so,” she says when asked if the event would return next year. “I would love to do it again. Last year, it drew around 500 people, and I would like to beat that.”

jniesel@clevescene.com t@jniesel

December 6 - 19, 2023 | clevescene.com |

LIVEWIRE 12/07

Courtesy of TempleLive

THU

Real music in the real world

Mariah Carey This will be one of 15 live shows that’s part of Mariah Carey’s exclusive Christmas concerts for this holiday season. This festive event will find Carey singing holiday classics such as her record-breaking mega-hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” 1 Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Based out of Baltimore, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong have steadily garnered an exciting renown as they tour the region. Much of their material alternates between blissedout grooving and in-your-face funk throwdowns. The music is kind to all, so come to the show expecting to be welcomed into the band’s tight-knit community. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. at the Agora. Broccoli Samurai opens. 5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

FRI

12/08

Huntertones This Brooklyn, NY-via-Columbus, OH band has performed in more than 25 countries worldwide and continues to tour the U.S. and abroad. Now in its 10th year, the group comes to the Beachland Tavern in support of its new album, Engine Co. 15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

SAT

12/09

Dirty Honey The up-and-coming rock band Dirty Honey rolls into House of Blues tonight. The band’s most popular track, “When I’m Gone,” suggests the band owes a debt to both AC/DC and Black Crowes, both of whom it channels in the hard rocking tune. The show starts at 7. 308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

Liz Phair Singer-songwriter Liz Phair comes to the TempleLive at the Cleveland Masonic tonight to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her 1993 debut album, Exile in Guyville. She’ll play the album in its entirety (including some other hits), and she’ll have a full band in tow. She’ll have some considerable

Liz Phair performs at TempleLive. See: Saturday, Dec. 9. production too as production designer Kevin Newbury (Kansas City Choirboy) and visual artist Natalie Frank

collaborated with her on the set design. The show begins at 8. 3615 Euclid Ave., 216-881-6350,

masoniccleveland.com.

December 6 - 19, 2023 | clevescene.com |

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes INSUR ANCE PHONE LINES MA SSAGE - CERTIFIED Jim Brickman routinely brings his

MASSAGE JUST $25/ HR CAR INSURANCE BEST both Steven (a CALL NOW, Christmas toursBEST toRelaxation town inorDecember. Longtime friends with deep tissue MEET TONIGHT! PRICES massage inBrickman’s Lakewood on a This year is no different. founding member of the Jukes) and FREE to try! 18+ SR22 INSURANCE ALSO heated table. Male massage 216.626.7777 / 440.325.7777 David Young Southside Johnny A Joyful Christmas tour comes the Bruce Call Springsteen, provider trained at theto Cleveland Other Cities: 1.888.257.5757 Institute of Medical Massage. (440)779-9800 Hanna Theatre at 2 and 8 p.m. and at 2 has released more than 30 albumswww.questchat.com Over ten years of experience. only. LINES p.m. tomorrow. Call TedMen in a PHONE career that stretches back to the at 440-732-1501. WITH 100's OF SEXY LATINO earlyEXPLICIT ‘70s. ACHAT Cleveland favorite, the 2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, SEXY LOCALS SINGLES guyGethas playhousesquare.org. yourfond FREEmemories TRIAL! 18+ of the days Meet Hot Latin Locals! CALL The Night Exchange NOW! Get your FREE trial! 18+ when Kid Leo put him into the regular 216.502.4388 / 440.499.6400 216.626.7777 Gaetano Letizia’s Underworld Blues Band rotation on WMMS and always puts on www.nightexchange.com 440.325.7777 www.questchat.com a especially good show in Cleveland. Veteran blues and jazz guitarist/ HOT LOCAL URBAN MA SSAGE - CERTIFIED He performs tonight at 8 at MGM songwriter, Gaetano (Tom) Letizia SINGLES! Are looking Park to hook— upCenter now! Northfield Stage. CARING MASSAGE teams up with his blues rock quartet Days & Evenings, weekends. Try it FREE! 18+ 10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, a party celebrating the release of Warm candlelightfor atmosphere. 216.367.1010 / 440.424.0303 Lakewood/West Suburbs their fourth album. The concert takes 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark. www.metrovibechatline.com Linda 216-221-5935 place tonight at 6:30 at the Bell Tower mgmresorts.com/en.html. Brewing in Kent. Along with leader Letizia on guitars and vocals, the party/concert will feature Cleveland Blues Society Hall of Fame drummer/ Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2023 vocalist Mike D’Elia along with Lenny Gray on bass and special guest on The Smooth Jazz saxophonist brings Moss Stanley on Hammond organ. his annual Christmas show back to the The group will perform all 15 original State Theatre tonight at 7. Over the songs including the title tune, Black course of a career that stretches back Sheep of the Family. 30 years, Koz has accrued a slew of Grammy nominations and performed 310 Park Ave., Kent, 330-663-2355, for multiple U.S. presidents. belltowerbrewing.com 1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas — By playhousesquare.org.

SUN

THU

12/10

12/14

Straight No Chaser — Sleighin’ It Tour Straight No Chaser, a musical group that features the “sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense,” as it’s put in a press release, has two RIAA Gold Certified albums, more than 1.5 million concert tickets sold, more than one billion streams on Pandora, and more than one million albums sold worldwide. The male a cappella group’s concert begins tonight at 7:30 at the Akron Civic Theatre. 182 South Main St., Akron, 330-2532488, akroncivic.com.

SAT

12/16

bar italia Over the past two years, this band has released two albums, an EP and several singles on Dean Blunt’s World Music label and given festival performances at Pitchfork Music Festival London, by:Larm, OUT.FEST, Le Guess Who? and End of the Road. The band recently released The Twits, its second album of 2023. The group recorded it at a makeshift home studio in Mallorca. It plays at 7 tonight at Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood. 13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com.

Jim Brickman’s A Joyful Christmas A Northeast Ohio native, singer-pianist

Chip Davis

In various press releases and articles, Mannheim Steamroller’s Chip Davis proudly recalls trying to shop his New Age Christmas concept in the early ’80s and meeting with rejection from all the major labels and distributors. Released in 1984, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas went on to sell some 9 million albums, proving the record label execs wrong (again). The Ohioborn Davis then developed a largerthan-life touring ensemble to bring the synth-heavy tunes to life. Tonight’s concert featuring the group takes place at 8 at the State Theatre. 1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

WED

12/20

Ryan Humbert Holiday Extravaganza In previous years, this series, which began way back in 2009, has included a genre-crossing range of holiday music, including big band, rock, bluegrass and more. For this, the final Holiday Extravaganza, the show will return to the main stage of the Akron Civic Theater for an “up-close-and-personal cabaret performance.” A seven-piece jazz ensemble featuring Humbert and his longtime singing partner Emily Bates on vocals will perform. It all begins at 7:30 p.m. 182 South Main St., Akron, 330-2532488, akroncivic.com.

scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene December 6 - 19, 2023 | clevescene.com |

SAVAGE LOVE MAINTENANCE HAZE By Dan Savage It’s been a month since my great five-year-long relationship ended and it’s my fault. We were both in our mid-forties, got along, and had amazing sex three to four times a week. Yet I felt unsatisfied with the sex, as it was almost always “maintenance sex,” at least on my ex-partner’s side. While I found it enjoyable, I knew she often didn’t. Another reason for my dissatisfaction was her inability to converse about the things I am most passionate about: music, movies, anime, and the paranormal. Her interests were tax codes, insurance rates, and other administrative topics. It should also be noted that my ex was a heavy pot smoker due to terrible menstrual cramps and, as a consequence, I became a huge pothead. I actually broke up with her after our first year, but we ended up getting back together after she texted to tell me how heartbroken she was. I loved her and felt terrible about the whole situation, so I caved. Afterall, I enjoyed my time with her, and, despite conversations that were often boring, the pot-fueled maintenance sex was amazing, and the cuddling afterward was nice. Fast forward three years and an attractive woman in her twenties moves in next door and we quickly become friends. She would bring pastries over for my child (I’m a single dad) and once brought soup over when I had the flu. On one occasion she drunkenly knocked on my door late at night, wanting to hang out. I couldn’t, as I had my child at the time. Due to the dissatisfaction I had long felt about the maintenance sex that characterized my relationship, I was tempted to have sex with my neighbor, if she was interested. I told my girlfriend about the latenight incident, and she demanded that I no longer hang out with my neighbor. I agreed but soon I was hanging out with my neighbor behind my girlfriend’s back. My girlfriend found out by snooping through my phone and broke up with me. I was devastated and begged for her to forgive me, which she did on the condition that I cease all contact with my young neighbor. I agreed and another (pleasant) year passed until I met another young woman who seemed to like me. This young woman, also in her twenties, was interested in all the same things I am. Knowing I couldn’t trust myself, I made the difficult decision to break up with my girlfriend. When she left my house for what I thought would be the last time, I felt like I had destroyed a functional relationship. It wasn’t perfect — lack of common interests, uneven sex drives — but we enjoyed each other’s company. So, a week later I asked

Scene archives

her to take me back again. She agreed. A few weeks later, I was again scheming to hang out with this twenty-something young woman. I was almost immediately busted by my girlfriend — she snooped and read my texts (this time on my laptop) — and upon discovering my betrayal, she screamed at me at the top of her lungs before slamming the door and exiting my life, this time, I fear, forever. Will the regret and shame I feel ever go away? I’m utterly “maiden-less” now I’m utterly ‘maiden-less’ now and, in my mid 40’s, am having a difficult time finding someone in my wheelhouse. I was kidding myself that two cute women in their twenties would be interested in a man like me. So, not only did I wreck a perfectly good relationship, in the end I wrecked it for nothing. There was no pussy at the end of this shit rainbow. Please, Dan, tell me something that will make me feel better about this flaming dumpster. Will I find my way? Or am I condemned to forever

| clevescene.com | December 6 - 19, 2023

lay in the bed I shat? Anonymous Magnum Subscriber So, you didn’t actually cheat on your exgirlfriend, right? You thought about cheating on her, AMS, and you were tempted to cheat on her, and you’d gone to the trouble of crafting a rationalization: the sex with the girlfriend, while amazing, was maintenance sex (at least on her end), which somehow ruined the sex for you without making it any less amazing. I’m not sure how one squares that circle — lousy and amazing — but in the end, AMS, you never actually touched someone else with your dick. And it’s not like you were indiscreet. Your ex only learned you were talking to a young neighbor that — let’s be honest — nothing was likely to happen with because 1. you told your ex about her and 2. your ex took that admission as a justification to snoop on your devices.

I’m not your ex-girlfriend — my boundaries are not her boundaries — but if I were a straight woman in my forties with a straight male partner in his forties, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he’d engaged in harmless, delusional, and discreet flirtations with other women. If I knew I couldn’t handle it emotionally, I would ask him not to tell me about his flirtatious interactions with other women and I wouldn’t go looking for evidence of them. So long as my boyfriend didn’t do anything stupid — so long as flirtations remained flirtations and didn’t turn into affairs and/or the kind of obsessions that result in neglect — I would suspend my disbelief, turn a blind eye, and enjoy a few harmless flirtations of my own. But, again, I’m not your girlfriend, AMS, and neither is girlfriend anymore. Zooming out for a second… Many people want to believe that younger women who are interested in older men — which includes a subset of young women

who are specifically attracted to partnered as hookups or something slightly sleazier are older men for reasons —are a figment of the suspect whereas I and the most significant straight male imagination. That’s not true. men in my life disagree! Besides occasionally While there are fewer younger women out offering a nudge, is there anything I can do there who are interested in older men than for him? He truly is a catch, and I don’t like there are older men like to imagine and/ seeing him glum. He’s broken up with several or write screenplays about, some younger guys who can’t commit to total monogamy women are attracted to older men. (Jon forever — all while still being flirty with me, Hamm is in his fifties and he can still get a guy who has multiple partners. (Nothing it.) The odds that you ran into two of these would work out between us, as we’re both women in such a short period of time are tops.) I know that my life is enhanced close to zero (as are the odds that you look dramatically by my boyfriends, and I just like Jon Hamm), AMS, but it seems possible want him to have what I have, instead of — at least to me — that you might’ve run into going to bed alone almost every night. How one. can I help him? Or… Your young drunk neighbor and/or that Boy Explaining One Possible Erotic Niche Does he want to be helped, BEOPEN? other young woman who was interested I’ve known some gay couples who met in the paranormal might not have been cute, e.g., their straight besties conspired to flirting with you at all and you misread introduce them, they reached for the same — due to dickful thinking —simple/messy sweater on a sale rack, they took a class neighborliness and/or shared interests as together at college, etc. But most gay couples sexual interest. I’ve known met sleazy, e.g., they swapped I’ve been going on for a while here hole pics on Grindr by way of introduction, without answering your question: Will you they were chained to the same rack in a sex find your way? Yes, AMS, you will. It’s only dungeon in Berlin, they met sucking dick in a been a month since you broke up with your cruisy toilet at college, etc. I’m going to guess on-again, off-again, on-again, off-again, onthat your friend, having been out and for at again, off-again ex-girlfriend. Just because you haven’t found someone else in four weeks least decade, has met enough gay couples to know that ruling out guys he meets under doesn’t mean you won’t find someone else. sleazy circumstances — he doesn’t go to bed My hunch is that you’ll wind up getting back alone every night — is an act of romantic selftogether with your ex-girlfriend — on-again, sabotage. Same goes for browbeating men off-again relationships are like that — and who might be willing to consider monogamy when you do, AMS, I hope you’ll have a (at least at the start, at least for him) by renewed appreciation for her. Frankly, AMS, insisting they commitment to monogamy on your ex-girlfriend sounds pretty amazing… consider them. and youINSUR sound like you let and your ego, ANCE PHONE principal LINES before he’llMA SSAGEdating - CERTIFIED BEST MASSAGE JUST $25/ HR So, I’m guessing this problem — your vanity, and self-pity fuck up a good-to-great CAR INSURANCE BEST CALL NOW, Relaxation or deep tissue MEET TONIGHT! hot friend’s inability to find a boyfriend relationship.PRICES If you’re lucky enough to have massage in Lakewood— on a FREE to try! 18+ SR22 INSURANCE ALSO heated table. Male massage isn’t a problem for him. 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They say there’s no fatal dose of Linda 216-221-5935 because they’re only pretending to be pot, but if discussing the paranormal was unhappy about still being single. something my partner insisted on, I would Seeing as there are guys out there who find it. want monogamy as badly as your friend (my P.P.S. Delete “shit rainbow” from your hunch) on pretending he does, BEOPEN, the vocabulary immediately. fact that he hasn’t managed to locate even P.P.P.S. Thank you for being a Magnum one over the last decade is solid evidence he Sub, AMS! isn’t seriously looking. Which means your My friend needs help. He’s an adorable friend’s insistence on monogamy isn’t an 30-year-old gay boy who’s a top but his obstacle he faces, but rather a barricade he mannerisms, height, demeanor, and built. Send your question to mailbox@savage.love exceptionally cute butt suggest otherwise. Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love We’ve been friends since I was 19 and he was 22. Here’s the issue: He’s so strident about monogamy that it turns most men off, which is a shame. Most gay/bi men expect some degree of openness! Additionally, like that mail@savagelove.net one college student you’ve mentioned on your t@fakedansavage show, he thinks relationships that start out www.savagelovecast.com

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December 6 - 19, 2023 | clevescene.com |

| clevescene.com | December 6 - 19, 2023

Superior Beverage Group: Cleveland, OH - Columbus, OH