REWIND: 2013
UPFRONT
A MIDTERM RONAYNE AND NEW COUNTY COUNCIL PRESIDENT BRACE FOR SECOND ERA OF TRUMP
IT’S SAFE TO SAY THAT CHRIS Ronayne and Dale Miller’s jobs could change—be amplified, per se—in a few days.
On January 20, former President Donald Trump will approach the steps of the U.S. Capitol and be sworn in for a second term as the country’s 47th commander-in-chief, ending months of bipartisan head-scratching over how a policy book promising to tilt the country conservative will play out on the national stage.
And here in Cuyahoga County.
Four years of a Biden-Harris administration, in spite of and due to a global pandemic, led to a large trickle-down of funds intended to keep cities and counties afloat while buffing up outdated infrastructure.
Here, too. The West Side Market got $10 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, Signal reported. Cuyahoga County’s lakefront got a combined $7 million. And $130
million helped purchase the first line of 36 new RTA rail cars since the current ones were built in the 1970s and 1980s.
And just on Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation gave Cleveland $70 million to help build its $284 million North Coast Master Plan—the elusive lakefront construction north of Huntington Bank Field set to begin work in 2027.
Which begs the question for a county building up its bridges, parks and lakeside: Will the same level of funding still be coming from Washington, D.C. in the next four years?
“You know, I don’t have a crystal ball,” County Executive Chris Ronayne said on Thursday, sitting in a meeting room on the eighth floor of the county building. “So I’m not going to say what’s going to happen. But I will say that we will keep up the energy on turning any stone we can.”
Ronayne is currently mid-term
and seeking re-election come 2026. Up until January, his office so far has been marked with a smiling adoration—to use a Ronayne buzzword—of “public-private partnerships” and a squeaky-cleanness juxtaposed with corruption allegations thrown on his predecessor, Armond Budish.
On January 3, County Council President Pernell Jones stepped down from his post, allowing veteran councilmember Dale Miller to assume his seat. Philosophically similar to Ronayne (the two served on County Council together in the 2010s) the men admitted separately they believe county leadership may have to put extra oomph into their jobs to scrape up dollars for their to-do lists in lieu of relying on Washington.
Plans featuring big ticket items long overdue on each man’s political agenda: like raising at least $750 million for the new County Jail in Garfield Heights, set to break ground this
year. Or the replacement for the downtown courthouse. Or building the Low Line. Or constructing new trails.
Or wrapping up the projected $460 million to actually build out the North Coast Master Plan, a kind of bookend to precursor plans for Downtown’s waterfront that Ronayne help kickstart as city planning director in 2004. And not just Downtown: waterfront plans are moving along in Euclid, Bay Village, Lakewood.
Planning philosophies the two may come to butt heads about.
“I think we might have to do some real hard thinking,” Miller told Scene in a call, “as to how [building up the lakefront] is going to change people’s behaviors, you know?”
“We just need to take a close look at what’s been done in other cities,” Miller added, “and come up with a plan that we have confidence in, that it’s really gonna work. And one that’s cost-effective.”
Photo by Mark Oprea
Miller, who lives in West Park with his wife of 37 years and represents District 2, said a good bulk of his concern is the county’s $25 million deficit in this year’s budget. Though that’s just four percent, that could entail County Council forgoing a backing of certain infrastructure builds while working to keep itself financially upright.
But otherwise Miller seems relatively in harmony with Ronayne. For bolstering the $1.2 million Downtown Safety Patrol; for bettering the County’s response to mental health woes; for attracting more immigrant workers despite a federal administration that’s weary of them; for building a County Jail that revolves around remediation rather than punishment. (And moving away from its disgraced meal provider, Trinity.)
“That’s what I focus on,” Miller said. “It’s those corn-bread-and-butter issues that affect the quality of life in Cuyahoga County.”
Ronayne’s outlook for at least the remainder of his term carries a kind of faith in the momentum of its first half.
“I’m glad to have gotten in the door two years ago to get some major things started,” Ronayne said, “whether it’s going to bring green energy, whether it’s a Welcome Center, whether it’s a Women’s Health Commission. Because no matter what, those things are up and running, and we are going to see those things continue to flourish.”
As for working with Republican Senator Bernie Moreno in convincing U.S. Congress to send down grant money for growth, Ronayne isn’t 100 percent certain.
“Let’s have this conversation again in six months,” he said. “We’ll know more then.” – Mark Oprea
Downtown Memorial Bike Loop Plans Will Be Unveiled Early This Year
Preliminary plans for the first protected bike lane to come to Downtown Cleveland are lined up for public feedback in the next few months.
The Memorial Bridges Loop, a three-mile two-way bike lane that will link Ohio City with Downtown’s Gateway District, will be the next major cycle project to head towards public scrutiny, Phil Kidd, manager of the city’s Complete & Green Streets program, announced in an email newsletter this week.
In its current rendition, the Loop would allow bike riders to pedal from Progressive Field along the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge to the West Side Market, up north to the future
Irishtown Bend Park, then over the Detroit-Superior Bridge to Huron and Ontario.
Which, bike advocates say, is a long time coming: the only truly protected lanes, with white delineator posts and green-hued paint, are mere slivers near Gordon Square and in front of the West Side Market.
Spokes, per se, without the hub. Downtown has lanes—like on Euclid and Superior avenues—yet they lack dividers intended to keep cars from swerving inside of them.
“It’s just always been accommodating the space outside of that Downtown Loop,” Jason Kuhn, a spokesperson for Bike Cleveland, told Scene. “It’s why we want to keep pulling in pieces here and there, so that you can move throughout Downtown, rather than just to it.”
It’s unclear whether or not the Loop’s debut to the public will include plans for the CLELink trail, six miles of new pathways that would, if built, connect the lakefront, Cleveland State, Playhouse Square, Public Square and Progressive Field with similarly designed, two-lane paths solely for bikes and pedestrians. (A city spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.)
Both CLELink and the Loop came out of brainstorming in 2018, most of it involving cyclist advocates at City Hall, Bike Cleveland and the Trust for Public Land. Yet it took eight years, until last January, for the city and the Northeast Ohio Area Coordinating Agency to raise $1.1 million towards a final cost sheet for paving way for construction.
Whether CLELink comes to fruition this year or not, a Loop trail would advance the overall goals of the Midway network, which includes the upcoming Superior Midway and the planned Lorain Midway, along with the Mandel Community Trail set to break ground this year. A lane protected by parked cars is slated for the repaving of Payne Avenue, Kidd said.
A completed network of bike lanes in and around Downtown would somewhat imitate the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, which has been reported to have spiked property values in and around its own loop around Downtown Indianapolis.
That network would also, Kuhn said, help curb injuries suffered by cyclists every year. In 2024, 610 Clevelanders were hit by cars walking or biking—13 of them fatally, according to Bike Cleveland’s Crash Report to be released in February. That’s 60 more people hit by cars compared to last year’s Crash Report.
Facts that, Kuhn said, make building the Loop a matter of public safety.
“I mean, it’s critical we have this,”
he said, “to keep people safe and help promote people moving in and out of [Downtown] not with a motor vehicle.”
– Mark Oprea
Rose Building to Rekindle Front Door of Cleveland Identity With Boutique Marriott Hotel
It was once aptly called the hub of Downtown Cleveland.
By the late 1920s, the Rose Building on East 9th and Prospect had rightfully earned its reputation as the “New Center.” Seven-thousand workers walked in daily. Two-thousand pedestrians passed by its bronze doors, as did eight streetcar lines, 12 bus lines and some 32,000 cars.
“The Rose Building stands at the hub of this great circle of buying power,” an ad from 1929 reads, “radiating in six directions, and making [it] accessible from every part of down-town Cleveland.”
Today, that’s not the case. Since Medical Mutual fled its headquarters it occupied since 1984, the building remains a stilted shell. Its ground floor, with its beige Formica tables and silver microwaves, appears suspended in time—the ghost of Medical Mutual cafeteria past.
A sad excuse for a hub.
Bhavin Patel is placing a bet that he and his development firm, Spark GHC, can change that. In mid-December, Patel and his co-founders secured ownership of the Rose Building, following nearly a year-and-ahalf of preparation and due diligence. And since then, $35 million has been invested in the building’s foundation.
Patel’s bet revolves around what he’s selling as a new concept: the country’s first amalgamation of Marriott’s boutique Tribute brand of hotels and nine floors of downtown luxury apartments. With management and amenities—a gym, housekeeping, laundry—all under the same umbrella. Project Scarlet, the codename for the renovation, will be, its website reads, “the first joint multi-family and hospitality development in the United States.”
A legacy project, Patel told Scene on a recent tour, that could help re-energize, along with nearby retail, the front door of Downtown’s Gateway District.
“We hope this is the gateway to the city,” Patel said, walking around the former Medical Mutual cafeteria on Monday.
“We want people to stop in, grab a drink, grab a bite here at the restaurant or, you know, interact with us,” he added. “If they’re in town for more than a couple of days, they can stay with us for one day to a month in the
hotel side. And use the apartments as their permanent residences.”
Spark GHC’s optimism, with construction set to start in August, pairs with Downtown’s ongoing development spike.
The Fidelity Hotel opened its doors late last year, vying for a small resurgence of the bygone Short Vincent district. Construction wrapped up at Skyline 776, The Bell on East 9th, the Hotel Cleveland at Public Square and began at the Electric Building on Huron.
And two weeks ago, funding was secured for the $218 million renovation of Erieview Tower into apartments and an upscale W Hotel, NEOtrans reported.
But something about the Rose Building’s third act seems different. Something about the promise of its higher-than-usual front windows, its bronze frieze, its primetime views of Progressive Field.
And of course no longer having that front door be totally, achingly vacant. A high-end restaurant concept is in the brainstorming process, Patel said, by Arrival, the marketing firm behind Red Bull’s “gives you wiiiings” slogan. And a quarter of the ground floor will be dedicated to a lengthy, horizontal bar, which will include sidewalk seating during the warm months.
“Whatever we end up putting there—it’s really gonna reactivate that whole block,” Joe Berardi, the project’s head architect, said. “I remember one of our first meetings in that cafeteria. I was like, ‘Guys, this is the perfect spot for a bar or restaurant. And they’re like, ‘Yeah, that’s exactly it.’”
As for specifics about how exactly a luxury hotel would mingle with 154 apartments, Patel kept his predictions conceptual. Your 700-square-foot one-bedroom would run, he suggested, roughly $1,680 a month. Your average king room at other Tribute hotels, like The Kinley in Downtown Cincinnati, run for a pricey $325 a night. (With a steep $46 valet to boot.)
But this isn’t the Downtown Hampton Inn, or the Courtyard Beachwood, two other properties in the Spark GHC portfolio. Patel, who grew up in Tallmadge and entered the family motel business at 20, spoke with the energetic verve of a prodigal son high on hometown pride.
“We want people to live here, interact, and bring this corner back to life,” he said. “And I think it’s such an important corner for the city. It’s in the middle of everything.” – Mark Oprea
GET OUT Everything to do in Cleveland for the next two weeks
WED 01/15
Disney on Ice: Let’s Dance Disney’s annual ice skating event returns to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for a multi-night stand that continues from today through Sunday. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7. 1 Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.
Life of Pi
A 16-year-old boy takes refuge on a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in this play that’s based on the best-selling book by the same name. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at Connor Palace, where performances continue through Jan. 26. 1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
THU 01/16
Hahn Plays Brahms
Violin virtuoso Hilary Hahn joins the Cleveland Orchestra at Mandel Concert Hall to play one of her signature works: Brahms’s exquisite Violin Concerto. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m., and performances take place tomorrow and Saturday as well. 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Adrienne Iapalucci
Comedian Adrienne Iapalucci won the first ever People’s Choice award at the New York Comedy Festival and made her debut on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. She has since appeared on Netflix Degenerates S2, Netflix’s Best of 2020 Stand-Up, Comedy Central’s This Week at the Comedy Cellar and The Late Show with David Letterman She performs tonight at 7 at Hilarities, where she has shows scheduled through Saturday.
2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
Squash in the Land
The top professional men’s and women’s squash players will compete in this tournament that takes place on an all-glass court in the Outcalt Theatre. The tournament started earlier this week at venues around town; the Outcalt Theatre hosts the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. Matches begin at 5 p.m. today and continue through Sunday.
1407 Euclid Ave, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
FRI 01/17
TK Kirkland
When rapper 50 Cent needed a comic for the video release of his hit record
“Window Shopper,” he called upon TK Kirkland, a guy who’s known as the “gangsta of comedy.” Kirkland has worked as a host on BET’s Mad Sports and appeared numerous times on Comicview. Given the breadth of his work, Kirkland is clearly comfortable on stage and has a natural ability to sustain a conversation. He performs tonight at 7 and 9:30 at the Funny Bone, where he has shows scheduled through Sunday. 1148 Main Ave., 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com.
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 01/18
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Renowned conductors Arnie Roth and Eric Roth lead a 100-piece orchestra that plays scores by Nobuo Uematsu, Mitsuto Suzuki and Masashi Hamauzu. The show will also feature highdefinition video created just for the concert. The event begins at 8 p.m. at the State Theatre. 1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Pat McGann
The comedian brings his Keep Going tour to the Hanna Theatre. McGann, who began touring as the opening act for Sebastian Maniscalco, has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Tonight’s show starts at 8. 2067 East 14th St., 216-
241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
MON 01/20
Cavaliers vs. Phoenix Suns
As part of a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, the Cavs take on the Phoenix Suns today at 3:30 p.m. at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
1 Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
At this free day-long event that takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Cleveland Museum of Art will show ho Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s writings and speeches shed light on the museum’s collection. In addition, admission to the ticketed Picasso and Paper exhibition will be free. 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
TUE 01/21
Outlab: Experiments in Improvised Music
Squash in the Land comes to Playhouse Square. See: Thursday, Jan. 16.|Courtesy of Topnotch Management
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. 2920 Detroit Ave., 216-771-6551, themusicsettlement.org.
WED 01/22
Larry & Joe
Joropo maestro Larry Bellorín (Monagas, Venezuela) and Grammy-nominated bluegrass star Joe Troop (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) team up to deliver their distinctive blend of folk music at 7 p.m. at the Transformer Station. 1460 West 29th St., 216-938-5429, transformerstation.org.
Monsters vs. Chicago Wolves
The Monsters host the Chicago Wolves during this two-night homestand that finds the teams playing at 7 tonight and tomorrow night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. 1 Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.
THU 01/23
Chad & JT
These two podcasters discuss major current events on their podcast, Going Deep with Chad & JT. They bring their live show Hilarities at 7 p.m. 2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
FRI 01/24
Eddie Griffin
As an actor, Eddie Griffin has appeared in over 50 films. Comedy Central calls him one of the Top 100 Standup Comedians of all time, and Griffin continues to film comedy specials. Tonight at 8, he brings his standup show to MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage. 10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com/en.html.
Noire After Dark
DJ Knyce and DJ Corey Grand will man the wheels of steel for this special event that takes place in the Severance Music Center’s Grand Foyer. It begins at 8 p.m. 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
SAT 01/25
Cavaliers vs. Houston Rockets
Tonight at 7:30 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cavaliers take on a very competitive Houston Rockets team that is vying to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. 1 Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.
John L. Ruffin Presents Living All Alone
This new musical tells the story of the life of singer Phyllis Hyman, who had a tumultuous life thanks to an addition to drugs and alcohol. Performances take place at 3 and 8 p.m. today at the State Theatre. 1519 Euclid Avenue, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
SUN 01/26
Northeast Ohio Band Invitational XXI
Four high school ensembles along with the Parma Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony will perform at 2 p.m. at Severance Music Center as part of this annual competition. 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
MON 01/27
Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons
Former Cavs’ coach J. B. Bickerstaff returns to town tonight with his Detroit Pistons, who take on the Cavs at 7 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The Pistons are a better team than they were last year, but they’re still in a rebuilding phase.
1 Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.
TUE 01/28
Lyrical Rhythms Open Mic and Chill
This long-running open mic night at the B Side in Cleveland Heights 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. Tickets cost $5 in advance, $10 at the door. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-1966, bsideliquorlounge.com.
TONY K’S
tonyks.com
BAR AND GRILLE
841 W Bagley Rd., Berea, OH 44017
TACO PIEROGI
OFFICIAL CLEVELAND PIEROGI WEEK LOCATIONS
Filled with seasoned ground beef, diced tomatoes, onion, and cheese. Topped with diced tomatoes, taco cheese and shredded lettuce.. Served with salsa, sour cream and taco sauce.
THREE CHEESE SPINACH AND MUSHROOM
Filled with spinach, mushrooms and cheese. Served with alfredo sauce.
IMMIGRANT SON BREWING
immigrantsonbrewing.com
18120 Sloane Ave., Lakewood, OH 44107
CHICKEN PAPRIKAS PIEROGI
House-made pierogi with chicken paprikas filling, pan fried butter, topped with scallions and creme fraiche.
BANTER BEER AND WINE
bantercleveland.com
3441 Tuttle Rd. Shaker Heights, OH 44122
5428 Detroit Ave. Cleveland, OH 44102
CHICKEN PAPRIKASH PIEROGIES
Three cheese and potato pierogies topped with house-made chicken paprikash and sour cream.
WILD MUSHROOM PIEROGIES
Three cheese and potato pierogies topped with confit wild mushrooms, almond truffle cream, and scallions.
DESSERT PIEROGIES
Three sweet cheese pierogies deep fried and tossed in cinnamon sugar. Topped with house-made whipped cream and apple compote.
GREAT
LAKES
BREWING COMPANY
greatlakesbrewing.com
2516 Market Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113
CHOROGIS PIEROGI
Three Sophie’s Natural pierogi, topped with Chorizo, onions, peppers, jalapeños, cheese sauce, and sour cream.
KOREAN PIEROGI
Three of Sophie’s Natural pierogi topped with Korean BBQ sauce, homemade Kimchi, scallions, and sesame seeds.
HOT BUTTER CHICKEN PIEROGI
Three of Sophie’s Natural pierogi topped with pretzel-crusted chicken, tossed in house-made Nashville hot butter, pickles, a ranch drizzle, and served with a side of chili hot sauce.
TEAMZ RESTAURANT & BAR
teamzsportsbar.com
6611 Eastland Rd., Middleburg Heights, OH 44130
TEAMZ OG-ROGI
4 Classic potato and cheese pierogi served with sautéed onions.
DAS SCHNITZEL HAUS
dshrestaurant.com
5728 Pearl Rd., Parma, OH 44129
POTATO & CHEESE PIEROGI
3 “Haus” made potato & cheese pierogi served with grilled onion, and a side of sour cream.
FOREST CITY BREWERY
forestcitybrewery.com 2135 Columbus Rd.,Cleveland, OH 44113
4 CHEESE & POTATO PIEROGIS
Cooked in brown butter and served with sour cream
PIEROGIES OF CLEVELAND
poconlinestore.com
4131 W Streetsboro Rd., Richfield, OH 44286
36 DIFFERENT FLAVORS TO CHOOSE FROM
Your choice of 3 different flavors of Pierogi from the 36 different varieties available. If you’d like more than 3, no problem! Each additional pierogi billed at $1.75 a piece. Pick as many as you’d like!
SCHNITZ ALE BREWERY
schnitzalebrewery.com
5729 Pearl Rd., Parma, OH 44129
POTATO AND KRAUT PIEROGI
3 “Haus” Made pierogi with potato and sour kraut stuffing, served with caramelized onions and sour cream. +$2 Smother pierogi with beer cheese, bacon, and chives.
SWEET POTATO PIEROGI (+$2)
3 Pierogi stuffed with sweet potato, marshmallow sour cream, spiced pecans, and fired sage.
GUNSELMAN’S TAVERN
gunselmans.com
21490 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, OH 44126
PIEROGI LADY POTATO & CHEESE PIEROGI
The original, the classic, the benchmark. Potato & Cheese pierogi. Made by The Pierogi Lady herself and served with sour cream and sautéed onions, just like tradition dictates.
KIELBASA & KRAUT PIEROGI
Experience a taste of home with Kielbasa & Kraut Pierogi. Handcrafted by The Pierogi Lady herself, this pierogi features savory kielbasa & tangy sauerkraut then topped with sautéed onions and J&J Czuchraj kielbasa medallions from the West Side Market. And for the perfect Cleveland touch? A side of Cleveland Mustard, of course! Support local and savor the flavor!
JUKEBOX jukeboxcle.com
1404 W 29th St., Cleveland, OH 44113
POTATO CHEESE
3 Pierogi stuffed with mashed potatoes, farmer’s cheese, cheddar, and onion. POTATO BACON
3 Pierogi stuffed with mashed potatoes, bacon, cheddar, chive, and onion. SWEET POTATO BLACK BEAN
3 Pierogi stuffed with mashed sweet potatoes, black bean, and Chipotle Spice. BUFFALO CHICKPEA PIEROGI
3 Pierogi stuffed with mashed chickpea, hot sauce, and Tahini. PIZZA-ROGI (+$1.00)
3 Pierogi stuffed with pepperoni, provolone, mozzarella, marinara, and oregano dough. Served with a side of marinara. TACO ROGI (+$1.00)
3 Pierogi stuffed with seasoned ground beef & chihuahua cheese. Topped w/ tomato & greens w/ sour cream.
PIEROGI PALACE
clepierogi.com
36495 Vine St., Willoughby, OH 44094
4 POTATO PIEROGI FOR $8.00
Choose from over 25+ different varieties. Call or visit website for list of available flavors.
3 MEAT PIEROGI FOR $8.00
QUINN’S KITCHEN AND BAR
quinnsbayvillage.com
2257 Eaton Way, Bay Village, OH 44140
SHORT RIB PIEROGI
Short rib, with a mustard ale cream sauce, and onion straws.
AROUND THE CORNER SALOON & CAFE
atccafe.com
18616 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, OH 44107
POTATO AND CHEESE PIEROGI
3 Potato and cheese pierogi, served with sautéed onions, and a side of sour cream.
TERRESTRIAL BREWING COMPANY
terrestrialbrewing.com
7524 Father Frascati Drive, Cleveland, OH, 44102
CARNE PICADA PIEROGI
Three
WEST END TAVERN
westendtav.com
18514 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, OH 44107
TRADITIONAL POTATO PIEROGI- 5 FOR $8.00
Five traditional potato pierogi topped with a mushroom spinach la crème alfredo sauce. Add $5: Sliced Chicken Thigh or Sliced Steak Round topped with mushroom spinach alfredo.
THE PIEROGI LADY facebook.com/thepierogilady
5322 Fleet Ave., Cleveland, OH 44105
*Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ONLY! POTATO CHEDDAR
A Cleveland Classic, mashed potatoes with sharp cheddar.
SMOKED GOUDA BACON
ROWLEY INN therowleyinn.com
1104 Rowley Ave., Cleveland, OH, 44109
PIEROGI POUTINE
Sautéed pierogi topped w/cheddar cheese curds, peppered gravy, sautéed onions & sour cream
PIEROGI PLATE
Sautéed pierogi served over homemade kraut, topped w/sauteed onions & a side of sour cream.
OLD RIVER TAP AND SOCIAL oldrivertapandsocial.com
19245 Detroit Rd, Rocky River, OH 44116
BRISKET AND CHEESE
House smoked brisket with cheddar cheese and potato
BUFFALO CHICKEN
Hot Sauce, chicken and cream cheese
PIZZA 216 KITCHEN + TAPHOUSE
pizza216.com
401 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114
TRUFFLE POTATO PIEROGI
Yukon mashed potato with white truffle and rosemary.
NORA’S PUBLIC HOUSE
noraspublichouse.net
4054 Erie St., Willoughby, OH 44094
BANGERS & ROGIES
Sliced banger sausage, Guinness brown gravy, caramelized onion, seared potato pierogi.
CROWLEY’S crowleysdive.com
35647 Vine St., Eastlake, OH 44095
9378 Chillicothe Rd., Kirtland, OH 44094
BEEF’N ROGIES
Seared pierogi, topped with beef, pickled red onions, goat cheese, and gravy.
ALL SAINTS PUBLIC HOUSE allsaintspublichouse.com
1261 W 76th St., Cleveland, OH 44102
PAPRIKASH PIEROGI
Three potato and 3-cheese
RETURN FIRE
At
Kiln in Shaker Heights, a Doug Katz bistro built for all
By Douglas Trattner
A FEW SHORT YEARS AGO, Doug Katz could count his employees on a single hand. With Fire Food and Drink in the rear-view mirror, the chef’s once-thriving catering operation cut off at the knees, and Zhug closed to dine-in service mere months after opening, Katz was compelled to slash his culinary operation to just a skeleton crew.
These days, the fastidious chef divides his time between three bustling restaurants while overseeing a staff the size of a small corporation. Along with business partner Todd Thompson, Katz runs the perennially packed Amba in Ohio City, the uber-cool Zhug in Cleveland Heights, and Kiln in Shaker Heights, perhaps the most anticipated new restaurant in years.
The secret to Katz’s success is no secret at all: When you combine great food, great hospitality, great design and great energy, customers will beat a path to your banquettes. After three shortlived restaurants came and went from that address, Katz and his team spent the better part of a year completely reimagining the marquee property at Van Aken District. What came out on the other end is a cozy cure for all those still pining for Fire.
For the Katz fans who sidestep Amba and Zhug because of the food, vibe, location, lack of reservations or whatever, Kiln offers safe harbor – a place where the parking is plentiful, the food familiar and the ability to make a reservation intact (albeit far from guaranteed). What Kiln does share with those other establishments is structure and process. Guests are handed a sheet of paper that is less of a menu and more an inventory of dishes, some small, others large, all built to be shared.
With two dozen different items, there are myriad ways to proceed. Servers can offer pairing-strategy tips while the kitchen oversees the pacing of the meal. A natural place to start might be the crudité ($18), a deep bowl of silky hummus garnished with a bouquet of seasonal veggies. Kiln’s version of the classic oeufs mayonnaise ($10) sets gently boiled eggs on a pool of green goddess dressing and caps them with cloudlike mayo. If there’s a can’t-miss starter in the bunch, it’s the mushroom tartlets ($15), flaky pastry shells filled with mushrooms, gruyere and buttery camembert.
Salads range from a simple spinach ($17) with mushroom and smoky tomato dressing to a bracing medley of chilled, poached calamari ($25) and bitter greens in a bright vinaigrette. Fire fans will be happy to see an old friend in the crispy chicken livers ($18), here served with a vivid cherry compote.
Katz’s own recommendation is to pair the airy popovers ($8) with a meaty main like the ribeye steak tips ($37) – and twice
we tried. But on both occasions the poofy treats arrived almost immediately, alongside the accompanying strawberry jam and whipped butter. Those beef tips in Burgundy jus, and the juicy, mahogany-skinned chicken ($33) with butter bean ragout, land on the table in shareable form, i.e. carved into segments. Fans of either salmon or trout will adore the pink-fleshed arctic char ($29) with crispy skin, served atop beurre blanc and capped with a shaved fennel salad.
As far as indulgent starchy sides go, Kiln offers a windfall. Every party should save space on the table for the Parisienne potatoes ($12), bite-size fried potatoes with garlic and parsley. A rung up lands you at the velvety scalloped potatoes ($18) layered with aromatic taleggio. Or go all out with the plush and pillowy ricotta dumplings ($19) in pesto cream sauce.
Meshing beautifully with the American bistro theme are wines that lean crisp, natural and local. There are plenty of gems from the Napa, Willamette and Loire valleys, but the list also showcases plenty from our
own Grand River Valley. Bottles such as M Cellars rkatsiteli, Kosicek riesling and Silver Crest dornfelder all demand attention.
If you made it to Sawyer’s, Kindred Spirit or Shake It, the interior will be a jaw-dropping surprise. Entrances were relocated, stairs were shifted, and every inch of the property was reconsidered – all with the aim of creating a drama-filled room that brings diners together. Ringed by banquettes, the main space thrums with warmth, elegance and conviviality. For those in search of a bit less verve, a second-level bar and dining room offers freedom from the fray. Also upstairs is a spacious rooftop patio that overlooks the entire district. That and a main-level patio will open to diners next spring, which should help reduce those pesky waits for a table. Wait or no wait, Kiln already has claimed the title of hottest bistro in town.
Courtesy Photo
BITES
First Look: Flower on Freeman, Opening in the Former Duck Island Club Space This Month
By Douglas Trattner
THE DUCK ISLAND CLUB CLOSED in 2021 after decades of existing on the fringes of Cleveland’s nightlife scene. Located around the corner from the Velvet Tango Room, the under-the-radar watering hole was the antidote to the trendy lounges that were popping up in Ohio City and Tremont.
Soon after closing, the property changed hands, with Luxe Kitchen owner Melissa Cole taking ownership. After a few fits and starts, Cole’s ambitious renovation project is nearing completion. In a week or two, she and her team will open the doors to Flower on Freeman (2102 Freeman Ave.).
“People in the neighborhood have been really patient and kind and gracious about what’s happening,” says Cole. “They’re excited.”
In place of Duck Island Club’s come-as-you-are vibe, which was more shabby than chic, Flower on Freeman leans glam and maximal. While the general footprint of the compact club is the same, every surface, fixture and stick of furniture has been replaced. Apart from the bar, most of the seating is in low-slung, comfortable chairs and banquettes. Between the front and back rooms, the lounge can accommodate about 50 guests – more when the rear patio is in play.
To drink, there will be “elevated cocktails,” including functional beverages. From a pint-size kitchen will flow small plates like pickled shrimp, caviar, bruschetta and desserts.
“I want to do a funky, playful thing around high tea with mushroom teas and rose lattes and cocktails,” says Cole.
To start, the bar will be open every day but Sunday, but Cole intends to add Sunday service as soon as possible.
“It’s a sweet little space,” she
adds. “It’s going to be a neighborhood place for people to go, hang out together.”
Foxy Grandma’s Pizza Fills the Gap for Late-Night Pies Downtown and Beyond
Jacob Maynard has a day job, but that didn’t prevent him from launching a pizza startup, which he did last month with help from his wife, brother, brother-in-law and cousin.
“I really enjoy my job and enjoy my work, but I wanted to do something I was really passionate about,” Maynard explains. “My family members wanted to do something like that as well, so we just we started it.”
Unlike most pizzerias, Foxy Grandma’s Pizza is only open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. It operates as a ghost kitchen out of the Central Kitchen Incubator (2800 Euclid Ave.) downtown and its pies are available for curbside pickup or local delivery only.
As a data analyst, Maynard began the venture by doing research and crunching the numbers.
“We conducted a huge analysis and reviewed thousands of reviews for pizza places in Cleveland to see what customers really like about specific pizzas and what they do not like,” he says.
The outcome? There is demand for great-tasting, late-night pizza that is also affordable, speedy and uncomplicated.
The same amount of research and testing went into the dough, with the
team going through 100 different variations before landing on the current recipe and process. Essentially a cross between New York and Cleveland style, the 14-inch pies are made from scratch with a handful of wholesome ingredients.
“We try to keep a very simple menu,” Maynard explains. “We have three main types: a classic pizza, an organic pizza and a gluten-free pizza. And all those pizzas have the option to be made vegan.”
Additional items include cheese bread, garlic bites, Caesar salad and a few desserts.
Pizzas start at $14.99 and climb as toppings are added. Those pies are available for curbside pickup on Euclid Avenue or delivered to your door –assuming your door resides within the delivery area.
“Our goal is always under 30 minutes from the time of the order to the delivery – that’s kind of been our business model,” he adds.
To accomplish that, Foxy Grandma’s handles its own deliveries.
Maynard says that the limited days and hours of operation are temporary. As word spreads and business expands, so too will the availability.
“Right now we’re just trying to build a customer base and get our product out there,” he says. “We have specific goals that once we meet we’re going to start extending the hours and start hiring more people.”
The goal, he adds, is to graduate from ghost-kitchen status to brick-andmortar business. Down the road, he can see opening additional pizzerias.
“I mean, if it’s something that goes
well, we’d love to expand to different parts of Cleveland.”
Now Open: Lekko Coffee in the Warehouse District
Since opening Lekko Coffee (2529 Detroit Ave., 216-554-4875) in Ohio City three and a half years ago, owner Matt Ashton says that the reception has been so positive that it motivated him to expand the brand.
In 2023, Ashton announced plans to open what would have been shop number two in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood, but another opportunity popped up in the meantime.
“While we did not expect any locations to come online before Old Brooklyn, this opportunity was too good to pass up,” he says.
Lekko slipped into the former home of Phoenix Coffee, which shuttered its downtown café last year. After a few months of readying the space for its first customers, Lekko Coffee (826 W. St Clair Ave.) opened this week. Like the shop in Ohio City, the downtown shop will offer high-quality coffee beverages, breakfast burritos and pastries. Unique to this location is a Decent espresso machine that will showcase coffees from nationally known roasters.
As for the Old Brooklyn shop at 4298 Pearl Rd., Ashton says that it’s still in the works, just delayed. We’ll provide an update as soon as we have one.
MUSIC
REELING IN THE YEARS
Guster tour finds the rock band looking back at its various eras
By Jeff Niesel
THE CONCEPT FOR THE LATEST Guster tour came to the rock band in a rather roundabout way. Guster drummer Brian Rosenworcel was talking to a friend who joked that Guster could make like Taylor Swift and do its own eras tour, albeit on a much smaller scale than Swift, who plays stadiums. Like Swift, Guster, which formed when Rosenworcel met singer-guitarist Ryan Miller and singer-guitarist Adam Gardner at Tufts University in 1991, has decades worth of material.
What started as a joke then became a reality as the group launched its We Also Have Eras tour last year. A second leg of Guster’s tour comes to the Agora on Sunday, Jan. 26.
“That joke got us imagining what an ‘Eras’ tour would look like,” says drummer Brian Rosenworcel via phone as he picked up cellos for a concert that his 7th grader was performing at an “old folks home.” “We do have a lot of material, and we could display it chronologically. We got into the idea of storytelling and skits. When a band that’s been at it for 30 years or longer starts to get outside the box, everyone gets a little excited. We’ve done the regular concert. It’s fun. But this is special.”
With the assistance of a narrator, the shows document the band’s beginning and demonstrate how band members initially couldn’t decide on which tunes to cover because they didn’t know the same songs. That, in turn, inspired them to write their own music.
“[Singer-guitarist] Ryan [Miller] was coming from a place of Brit-pop,” says Rosenworcel. “He was always playing [the British rock act] The The, which is the band that [singer-songwriter] Matt Johnson had. I could never get into it. I was more of a classic rock guy. Where we overlapped was a middle ground of harmonies. They just happened to have acoustic guitars that made writing songs in a dorm room
more feasible. That became our sound. We weren’t good at our instruments, but we could write a tune.”
The band self-released its first two albums and then signed to Sire for 1999’s Lost and Gone Forever
“We didn’t feel any pressure when we made that record and didn’t care if there was a single or anything. We had [producer] Steve Lillywhite [U2, Rolling Stones] at the helm, and everyone was in a good mood.”
On subsequent albums for Warner Bros., Keep It Together and Ganging Up on the Sun, they ran into the “oh, there’s no single” issue.
“That’s annoying, but the end result was better after we did a second set of songs, so we’re not bitter,” says Rosenworcel. “The label put some songs on the radio, but we’ve never had a proper hit.”
The band now self-releases its music once again, and it just released Ooh La La, its first studio album in five years. It recorded with producer Josh Kaufman (the National, Bob Weir) at the Isokon, a Woodstock, NY studio.
“It got stuck in the COVID years,” says Rosenworcel when asked about the long gestation period. “We didn’t
want to sit around when we couldn’t tour but we got into the studio maybe before we had material that was finished. that added extra responsibility to Josh Kaufman, our producer. It was great to work through it and coming up with the songs we did. We were just working in fits and starts. After we had eight of the songs, we still needed a few more and had to do a second writing and recording session, which made it take a long time. But the end result is one we are really excited about.”
With its funky bass and drum riffs and shimmering synths, “When We Were Stars” finds the band tapping into a ‘70s soul/R&B groove.
‘The song definitely feels like something Guster hasn’t done before,” says Rosenworcel when asked about the tune. “There’s never been comparisons to Marvin Gaye or Stevie Wonder before, which are the two obvious influences on that. But that’s music we love and listen to. We’re always looking for a new direction. We don’t want to return to something we have done before, though Ooh La La in terms of its sonic palette of acoustic guitars and pianos and warm sounds
was more in the wheelhouse that Josh [Kaufman] embraces and less in terms of angular and cold and challenging sounds which is where we went with Leo Abrahams on Look Alive.”
With its raspy vocals and barroom piano, “My Kind” gets bluesy and weird.
“We just wrote that song in a jam session,” says Rosenworcel. “When we got into the studio to do it, the bass and drums got into a deeper groove than Guster normally goes. We’re achieving some grooves that you could vibe out to a little more. That’s a real achievement when you’re 30 years in.”
Rosenworcel says this is the last time that Guster will present its music chronologically with sketches depicting moments in its history.
“We feel indulgent even doing a second leg of the tour,” he says. “We had so much fun the first time, we thought we have to bring it to the cities that didn’t see it. In the future, there are other weird ideas we might indulge in.”
Guster.|Alysse Gafkjen
LIVEWIRE Real music in the real world
Joy Oladokun comes to House of Blues. See: Wednesday, Jan. 22.|
THU 01/16
Peter Mulvey
The singer-songwriter who started his career at Marquette University and then busked in Boston to develop his musical chops performs at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Tavern. He released his first demo back in 1992 and has kept at it ever since. Local singer-songwriter Charlie Mosbrook opens. 15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
FRI 01/17
Pinkertones
This Weezer tribute act revisits the band’s catalog from the ‘90s, when it was at the peak of its popularity. Weezer, which famously signed to
Geffen Records in 1993, had a huge hit out of the gates with the release of its debut, known as The Blue Album. That album contained infectious hits such as “Buddy Holly,” “Undone — The Sweater Song” and “Say It Ain’t So.” Expect to hear those tracks and more when the Pinkertones play at 7 p.m. at Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood. Like Tyrants opens. 13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-5213280, mahalls20lanes.com.
SAT 01/18
Electric Feels
This “experiential party” from Los Angeles features DJs who spin popular indie rock tunes in a festive environment that features stage production and special guests. Organizers bill it as “a party with a festival feel.” Tonight’s performance takes place at
9 at House of Blues. 308 Euclid Ave., 216523-2583, houseofblues.com.
Rumpke Mountain Boys
Part of the popular jamgrass scene, the Rumpke Mountain Boys, a self-described “trashgrass” band out of Cincinnati, come to the Beachland Ballroom as they celebrate their 25th anniversary.
KrisB’s Midnight Railroad and Hunter Skeen & the Forerunners open. The show begins at 8 p.m. 15711 Waterloo Rd., 216383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
SUN 01/19
Rubblebucket
A jam band that regularly swings through Cleveland, Rubblebucket returns to the Beachland Tavern tonight at 8. The group released its debut album, Roses’s
Dream, way back in 2008 and has toured clubs and the festival circuit ever since. Singer-songwriter Hannah Mohan opens. 15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
TUE 01/21
Big Head Todd & the Monsters
The jam band that started playing college parties in Boulder, CO in the ‘80s comes to the Goodyear Theater in Akron, where it performs at 7:30 p.m. The tour celebrates the band’s 40th anniversary.
1201 East Market St., Akron, 330-6597118, goodyeartheater.com.
Tycho
Last year, this chillwave group released its seventh album, Infinite Health. Another collection of meticulously crafted
Lexander Bryant
instrumental tunes that feature pulsating synthesizer and thumping bass, the tunes are often engrossing. Having just launched an international 2025 tour, the group performs at 7 p.m. at House of Blues. 308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.
WED 01/22
Meshell Ndegeocello
Singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello began working on her latest album, last year’s No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin, back in 2016 after having read Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time. The result is a heady mix of avant-garde jazz, spoken word and funk that only someone like Ndegeocello could pull off. The talented singer-songwriter performs tonight at 8 at the Agora. 5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
Joy Oladokun
Since her breakthrough in 2020, singersongwriter Joy Oladokun has released 2021’s in defense of my own happiness and 2023’s Proof of Life, both of which were widely acclaimed. Proof of Life commences with “Keeping the Light On,” a rousing narrative tune with soulful vocals that sets the tone for the album. Mt. Joy, Manchester Orchestra and Chris Stapleton make appearances on it as well, suggesting the range of Oladokun’s music. She performs at 7 p.m. at House of Blues. 308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.
THU 01/23
Nile and Six Feet Under
The two veteran metal acts perform tonight at 6:30 at the Agora. Nile formed in 1993 in South Carolina. At the time, the term technical death metal wasn’t bandied about, but it has come to describe the group’s music. Co-headliners Six Feet Under also formed in the early ‘90s and has released 14 albums since forming. Psycroptic and Embyonic Autopsy open. 5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
Josh Ritter
Tonight at 8, the fantastic singer-songwriter who’s often compared to acts such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen brings his trio to the Music Box Supper Club. According to the Music Box website, the show is sold-out, so you may have to hit the aftermarket to find tickets to this gig. 1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.
FRI 01/24
LILIEAE
LILIEAE’s Lydia Puccini and Kayleigh Hyland took an art class together when
they attended Westlake High School several years ago. At the time, they had no idea that they’d wind up a band together. A mutual acquaintance made that happen and brought them together to form LILIEAE. The group, which plays a mix of hard rock and ‘90s-style alternative rock, formed in 2019 and released its first EP that same year. They’ve been going strong ever since and perform at 7 tonight at Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood.
13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-5213280, mahalls20lanes.com.
Pile
The hard rock band comes to the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights as part of a tour supporting its latest album, All Fiction
A press release describes the album as a “carefully paced study on the subjectivity of perception, the data-shaping despotism of big tech, and the connections between anxiety and death.” The show begins at 8:30 p.m. 2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd., 216-3215588, grogshop.gs.
SAT 01/25
ATliens
The EDM group famous for performing in disguise — the group favors chrome faces and red illuminated eyes — brings its Leaving the World Behind tour to the Agora. Doors open at 8 p.m. LAYZ, Gorilla T and Automhate open. 5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
Tropidelic
This local jam band doesn’t play Cleveland as much these days now that’s become a national act. This past summer, it released its latest album, Royal Grove, and the album’s lead single, “Floating,” pairs the group with Iration and the Elovators. Tonight, the group makes a rare local appearance when it plays Kent Stage. Doors open at 6:30.
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.
TUE 01/28
Albert Lee Band
The influential British guitarist brings his band to the Music Box Supper Club. In the 1960s, Lee left school to play guitar full-time and formed the Thunderbirds, a successful British R&B/rock band in the 1960s. Upon leaving that band, he performed with the Everly Brothers for a good 20 years and has toured with the likes of guitarist Vince Gill and Bill Wyman. Tonight’s show begins at 7:30.
1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.
scene@clevescene.com
SAVAGE LOVE
FEAR FACTORS
By Dan Savage
My wife and I are a lesbian married couple in Chicago. We are also proud moms to our wonderful, dynamic 17-year-old trans son. “Michael” is a great kid, and we have always enjoyed a close relationship. It has recently come to light that he is engaging in penetrative sex with men he meets on a gay hookup app. We discovered this because of bloody laundry which we thought was breakthrough bleeding, a trip to his gender doc and a subsequent chlamydia diagnosis brought this all out. Since this revelation — and after a lecture about safe-sex practices — I am now living in a state of terror. I’m terrified our son will be a victim of sexual violence. I am terrified that he will be emotionally scarred by some fetishist. I am terrified he will get a life-threatening STI. My instincts are telling me to take a leave from work, and whisk him away from the city and talk and talk until he sees the danger of this behavior. Is that an over-reaction? Are there therapists who specialize in this? Is there any way this will work out well for him? I desperately want to do right by my son, and he is acting like this is “no big deal,” but my mama instincts are screaming shut this down!
Manic Over My Son
The stage of life your child is going through — the transition from childhood to adulthood autonomy (which kids do without a fully functioning pre-frontal cortex) — is filled with risk, and you can’t protect your child from all of it.
Zooming out for a second: The age of consent in Illinois is seventeen. I don’t wanna get derailed by a debate about whether that number is too low, but that’s the number. So, no laws were broken here. But polices were violated: your son is too young to be on Grindr or Scruff or Sniffies — you have to be eighteen to get on those apps, and it’s inarguably far too easy for minors to get on them. And while meeting strangers is always risky, the apps are a normal part of gay life and they’re where most queer people find their partners, life and otherwise. And most gay and bi men I know under 35, both cis and trans, got on the apps the moment they turned 18; they had good and bad experiences and sometimes their moms had to get involved, but most survived and learned from their mistakes.
Moving on…
Your instinct to “shut this down” is understandable — you love your son and you wanna protect him from the kind of shitty adult man who gives chlamydia to teenagers — but your plan won’t work. Even if you were to whisk your son off to Peoria, he can download hookup apps just as easily downstate. And he’s seventeen, MOMS, not fourteen… which means he’s almost an adult and will soon be free to make his own choices. So, instead of locking your son in the basement for the next year (or ten), get him on PrEP, keep communicating (you can talk and talk and talk at home), and let him know his moms are ready, willing, and able to swoop in an emergency. Lecture him about regular STI testing, ask him where he’s going and who’s he’s seeing, and tell him — from me — that adult men who fuck teenagers can’t be trusted. And then go find him a therapist, if you haven’t already, who specializes in working with trans teens, and identify one or two adults in his life — people
you know and trust — that your son can turn to for confidential advice.
As for being emotionally scarred by some fetishist… Your fears are understandable. Unfortunately for you and your son, it’s hard to draw a clean line between cis men who are attracted to trans men for the right reasons and cis men who fetishize trans men. (Your son has probably encountered both types already.) But not every man who is drawn to trans men is a fetishist. So, he’s going to meet some men who are attracted to everything about him — including the fact that he’s trans — and others who are only interested in him for one reason. The sooner he learns to tell these guys apart, the better. And like all gay and bi men, your son is going to walk away from some experiences feeling used in ways that leave him feeling demeaned and dehumanized and walk away from others feeling used in ways that make him feel powerful and desirable. (And if he’s on PrEP before he walks in, you don’t have to worry about him walking out with a life-threatening STI.)
In addition to getting your son on PrEP right now and off the apps until he’s 18 (he agrees to phone spot checks or he loses his phone), you should encourage your son to recognize his own sexual worth. Some trans people are convinced no one will want them, MOMS, so they jump at — or jump on — anyone who shows interest. One of the lessons your son should take from his experiences on the apps thus far is this: there are men out there who are interested in him. Which means he can hold out for guys who aren’t just interested in him as a trans man, but also as a person; he can hold out for guys who will have a conversation with him about safety, not just guys who wanna know how soon he can get to their apartments; he can hold out for guys who might be interested in dating him, not just hooking up with him.
I’ve personally watched trans friends go from a scarcity mindset (“No will want me, I have to take what I can get”) to an abundance mindset (“Lots of people want me, I can afford to be choosey”) and it transformed their lives.
It’s going to be a rocky few years, MOMS, but with you and your wife on his side, I’m confident your son will make it one piece. Good luck.
My partner and I have been together for nearly twenty years. While our love for each other is as strong as ever, our sex life has hit some bumps. We’ve talked about it a lot, and while we’re both feeling the disconnect, it’s been particularly frustrating for them. One thing that has always sparked our imagination is the idea of them being with someone else. Over the years, we’ve explored this in playful ways: checking out profiles on apps, sharing photos, and even roleplaying scenarios about them having an adventure with someone else. It’s thrilling in the moment, but eventually, we fall back into old routines. Recently, though, something shifted. A colleague has caught their eye. They’ve mentioned being attracted to this person, and the interest seems mutual. This colleague, while shy, has been flirting back — buying thoughtful little gifts and inviting them out for drinks. Because of our shared fantasy and my deep desire to make them happy, I’ve been letting this play out. But here’s the thing: I’m feeling increasingly jealous and worried. What if this becomes something bigger? What if I end up pushed aside? Even though my partner reassures me that I’m the only one they want to come home to, those fears keep creeping in. How can I navigate these feelings without losing the connection we’ve worked so hard to build?
Apprehensive Now Getting Super Tense
your long-term partner are still in love but you don’t fuck much anymore and that’s a bigger problem for your partner than it is for you. But the one thing that reliably inspires you to fuck your partner are shared fantasies about them getting with someone else. Not you getting with someone else, ANGST, just them getting with someone else.
Enter someone else.
Zooming out for a second: I don’t know if you’re a cuckold (a man who gets off on being cheated on) or a cuckquean (a woman who gets off on being cheated on) or a cuck (a non-gendered term for someone who gets off on their partner cheating on them) because there’s no data in your letter about who was assigned exactly what at birth. While I respect nonbinary identities and they/them pronouns —because I’m not Mark Fucking Zuckerberg — it can be hard to craft practical sex advice when you don’t know the sexes (assigned or otherwise) of the parties involved. For instance, ANGST, male socialization might impact your reaction to your partner getting with their colleague (if you’re male); conversely, if your partner is a woman or they was (they were?) assigned female at birth and was socialized as a woman, having a sexual adventure might expose them to more risk of violence, pregnancy, sexually-transmitted infections, etc.
Anyway…
I’m going to assume you’re a cuck or cuck-adjacent, ANGST, because there’s something about your partner fucking around — but not you fucking around — that turns you on. Venus, the host of the Venus Cuckoldress Podcast and perhaps the smartest person on the planet about cuckold relationships, describes cuckolding as a “one-sided open relationship,” and that’s essentially what you’re talking about here. Venus also talks a lot on her show about something she describes as “cuck angst,” ANGST, which seems to describe you perfectly.
“One of the things that attracted me to cuckolds was their ability to turn something potentially painful and uncomfortable — their partner having a sexual experience with someone else — into something pleasurable and fun,” said Venus. “And while cucks can experience intense feelings of jealousy, doubt, and anxiety, ‘cuck angst’ is a part of the thrill for the cuckold. But it can be very scary and uncomfortable, particularly before that first experience.”
How do you get over the angst and learn to enjoy your partner fucking around on you in actual-fuckingaround-on-you practice and not just fantasizing-aboutthem-fucking-around-on-you theory?
“The only way to get the post-cuck glow on the other side is to lean into it,” said Venus. “That’s not to say that you have to navigate these powerful emotions all on your own! Your partner has a role to play in helping you through it. They can write a little lovely reassurance letter for you to open when you absolutely need it, or make a point to set aside time each week to have a check-in conversation, and spend some extra quality time with you.”
I would also recommend your partner fuck the shit out of you immediately after they get with this colleague — setting aside whether getting with a colleague is advisable — because reclamation sex, according to cucks, is the best part.
“I’ve also found that cucks supporting other cucks during those anxious times has been really helpful,” said Venus, “so, consider reaching out to other couples with similar dynamics who may be open to friendships. Lastly, I would suggest a somatic sex coach who can give you some exercises you can do at home to help you relax your body and your mind when the angst gets difficult. Ultimately the whole dance of emotions and feelings
involved with being a cuck gets easier over time and you can both enjoy the next-level love, trust, and connection that this kind of relationship is known for.”
Follow Venus on BlueSky @CuckoldressV and check out her podcast at www.venuscuckoldress.com.
I’m a 37-year-old man with a 35-year-old partner. We are both cisgender gay men, and he has recently been working from more of an asexual profile. Whatever physical/sexual intimacy we shared in the beginning of our nearly three-year relationship is long gone. He now tells me that he was “never really into” sex with a partner, but he felt compelled “to do it” because gay men are supposed to be sexual. He enjoys self-pleasure during “alone time,” but he isn’t interested in sharing any of that time or energy with me. As a Scorpio, the idea of my partner not wanting sex with me makes me feel like, “If you can’t fuck me, then you don’t love me,” and that’s a whole spiral. We’ve discussed the non-sex in our lives before, and nothing ever really changes because he doesn’t initiate, and these discussions end with him reiterating that sex is not important to him. I never really thought of myself as a “sexual person” but this absence of it is so deeply felt that it feels like a major thing is missing. Can you help?
Sexual Needs Aren’t Getting Satisfied
If I knew you personally, SNAGS, I would come over and help you pack. But since I don’t know you personally, I can only urge you to pack your shit and go. Your boyfriend isn’t who you thought he was when you met him and — gonna be charitable here — your boyfriend isn’t who he thought he was either. So, whatever else might be working, the sex isn’t working, and you didn’t sign up for a sexless relationship. And just in case you need to hear this: your sexual orientation (gay and allo) is every bit as valid as his sexual orientation (gay and ace), SNAGS, so you have every right to end things — however lovely he might be otherwise — because he doesn’t fuck you the way Scorpios need to be fucked. (My official position: astrology is bullshit, SNAGS, but if blaming the stars makes it easier for you to end this relationship, blame the stars.)
P.S. It’s wonderful when someone realizes they’re polyamorous or asexual — who doesn’t want an angel to get her wings? — but the person they married (or partnered with) when they thought they were monogamous or allosexual isn’t obligated to accept an open relationship or a sexless one. Loving, supporting, and staying is an option, of course, but loving, supporting, and leaving is an equally valid option. (My official position: monogamy or polyamory are relationship models, not sexual orientations; something we do, not something we are.)
P.P.S. You might be able to make a companionate relationship work — you love each other, you fuck other people — but companionate relationships only work when both parties wanna make it work. (My official position: all relationships become companionate relationships if they go on long enough.)
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