PressureLife Issue 14 by PressureLife

MUSIC / ENTERTAINMENT / ARTS & CULTURE / LIFE / INDEPENDENT / PRESSURELIFE.COM

S AY W H AT YO U S E E

PressureLife Creative Director, Owner

Jim Bacha

Art Director

Hannah Allozi

Operations Manager / Illustrator

Aaron Gelston

Managing Editor Editor Content Strategist Senior Writers Staff Writers Media Producer

@gelston.design

Ryan Novak Alex Bieler Adam Dodd Dan Bernardi Gennifer Harding-Gosnell Darrick Tahir Rutledge Kevin Naughton Kevin Naughton

Social Media Specialist

Alexis Rosen

Project Coordinator

Tiffany Fields

Contributors

Casey Rearick

@caseyrearickphoto

Chad Weaver Dave Sebille Dave Skorepa James Earl Brassfield Mike Suglio Wilson Rivera Ryan Morgan Distribution

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CONTENTS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2017

06 APMAs Rock Playhouse Square

An unintentional celebration of woman in rock

08 Bakersfield Tacos, Tequila, Whiskey

Dine with the PressureLife Team

10 Summer Animated Movies

The fight for dominance in the kiddie market

12 The 100 Most Influential Classic Rock

Songs and the Death of Gregg Allman

See the country with Matt and Dave

14 MaxWell Shell vs the World

Take a poetic journey with a local lyrist legend

16 BOMB.

Get slammed with the cast and creators of Powerbomb

22 Immaculate Contraception

Inside Clevelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most unconventional museum collection

24 Welcome to Valhalla

Vikings invade Lakewood

25 Centennial Bar Crawl

Three really, really old Cleveland bars you may not know about

27 Tech Trends

Cleveland makers make their mark online

28 Different Strokes

An Ohio artist spotlight: Matthew Sweeney

30 Every Day is a Holiday Blowout

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always something to celebrate

Pressure Goes Mainstream We take a quick look at what’s happened recently in the big leagues.

Beyoncé Queen Bae has just expanded her royal court with the addition of twins Sir Carter and Rumi. No word yet which child will eventually raise an army to overthrow Jay-Z in the inevitable war for control of Roc Nation.

Mayweather/McGregor In a true battle of egos, two of the most outspoken fighters in the world are set to square off as 49-0 Mayweather takes on UFC champion Conor McGregor in a boxing match that is predicted to be the highest drawing (and tackiest) fight of all time.

Chester Bennington The Linkin Park frontman took his own life at his home in Palos Verdes Estates on July 20th by hanging. Bennington had an open history with depression, addiction, and childhood trauma that often fueled his passionate recordings. He was 41 and survived by six children.

DMX “Stop. Drop. Let tax the dodgers riiide…” The deep throated Ruff Rider rapper has been charged with tax evasion and fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has accused Earl “DMX” Simmons of “engaging in a multi-year scheme to conceal millions of dollars of income from the IRS to avoid paying $1.7 million of tax liabilities.” Simmons faces up to forty years in prison if convicted on all forty counts.

Adam West Iconic actor and the man who defined the role of Batman for generations, Adam West, passed at age 88 from a short battle with leukemia. While never the toughest Batman, West’s quirky cadence and inherent gentleness easily made him the most beloved.

R. Kelly In lighter news, R. Kelly has been accused of running a sex cult. Accusations include matching tracksuits, cutting ties with families, and well, sex. A lawyer for Kelly, who incidentally faced charges of child pornography in 2008, claims Kelly will “work diligently and forcibly to pursue his accusers and clear his name.”

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APMAs

Rock Playhouse Square Fourth Annual Alternative Press Music Awards Gennifer Harding-Gosnell

leeping With Sirens singer Kellin Quinn walks in. A scream erupts from the mostly-female fans lined along the State Theatre’s upper rotunda balconies overlooking the red carpet area below. It seems even the red carpet backdrop is stunned as it takes a tumble backwards, providing a rare, behind-the-scenes look. Of course this causes the fans to scream more as the staff rushes in to reset it.

The fourth annual Alternative Press Music Awards on July 17 featured performances by Machine Gun Kelly, Starset, The Plain White T’s, The Pretty Reckless, and Bone Thugs. Notable winners include producer and Goldfinger frontman John Feldmann winning the Influencer Award, Silent Planet with Best Underground Band, and Pierce The Veil with Album of the Year. But, the ultimate takeaway from this year’s APMAs is that the show unintentionally became a celebration of women.

New Years Day frontwoman Ashley Costello joining forces with Halestorm singer Lzzy Hale for an amped-up cover of the Garbage hit, “I’m Only Happy When It Rains.” Even the audience nailed it—a girl with thick dreads dressed in a long, black-andwhite-striped suit coat a la Beetlejuice, was singing along word for word to the Garbage cover, a song older than she is.

The ultimate takeaway from this years APMAs is that the show unintentionally became a celebration of women.

Although no feminist or political stands were taken, it just turned out that the hard rock artists who really brought their A-game this past year also happen to have boobs. Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace accepted the Icon Award for helping open the doors to transgender acceptance. One of the most genuine performances of the night saw

This year’s Hopeless Records' Sub City Philanthropic Grant recipient, Cassie Wilson, might have been the biggest winner of the night. She took home funding for Half Access, her organization which works to help create a better experience for disabled concert goers.

Alternative Press Managing Editor Rabab Al-Sharif says, “There are so many brilliant women in this industry both in the spotlight and behind the scenes accomplishing amazing things every day, so the fact that there were so many involved in our show— whether performing or accepting an award—was very natural. Such a large portion of our audience is made up of young women, so it’s amazing that they can see these strong, successful ladies kicking ass and being celebrated.”

For notable and hilarious red-carpet interviews with some of the night’s biggest stars, check out PressureLife’s YouTube channel. For more highlights and a complete list of APMA winners, visit altpress.com/apmas. Photo Credit: Steve Thrasher

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Pressure Picks Upcoming Events to See

Atlas Genius

Aug. 20 // House of Blues

Midnight Oil

Aug. 27 // House of Blues

Accidental Comedy Fest VI

Aug. 30-Sept. 3 // Hilarities Dave Hill // Aug. 30 Ron Funches // Sept. 1 Doug Loves Movies // Sept. 2 Dan Soder // Sept. 2

Harvey Pekar

Aug. 31 // Grog Shop

Danzig

Sept. 14 // Agora Theater

Queens of the Stone Age

Sept. 15 // Agora Theater

Mutemath

Sept. 17 // House of Blues

The Get Up Kids

Sept. 21 // Grog Shop

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What We Ate

The group's menu item ratings

Bakersfield Tacos, Tequila, Whiskey

Queso w/ Chorizo: 5 / 5 Guacamole: 3 / 5 Milanesa Chicken Torta: 3.5 / 5 Short Rib Tostada: 4 / 5 Mole Taco: 4.5 / 5 Pollo Rojo Taco: 3 / 5 Al Pastor Taco: 2.5 / 5 Bistec Taco: 3.5 / 5 Short Rib Taco: 4.5 / 5

Dine with the PressureLife Team Photography // Rachel Schlather, CLEfashionista.com

ate onions? Put ketchup on your ketchup? We all have unique likes and dislikes, so when you hear about a new restaurant, whether it be from a foodie or someone who lives off of toaster pastries, you don’t know if their tastes align with your own. So, instead of reading a review from one source, take it from four members of our team. Even though we are woefully underqualified to review a restaurant, at least one of us will likely share some of your distinct tastes. For this issue, the PressureLife crew visited Bakersfield Tacos, Tequila, Whiskey to try some tacos, tequila, and corn smut. In the end, they managed to write down some notes between margarita pitchers and share what they thought of the Cincinnati-based chain’s Mexican cuisine.

ALEX:

Liked: A good taco place should have a good margarita. The Bakersfield house margarita was a very solid, no-nonsense take on the recipe. I’m a sucker for short ribs, so my taste buds were pleased to try both the short rib tostada and tacos. I approved of both. The tacos were good overall with a only a few exceptions. I particularly enjoyed the baja shrimp tacos and mole tacos. I enjoyed that all of the tacos were served with their own lime wedge. As a lime enthusiast, that’s a big thumbs up for me.

Likes & Dislikes Get to know the group's taste preferences

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Alex: Mango is death; thinks garlic is a beautiful ingredient; can be seduced with a good meat and /or cheese board but hates blue cheese; loves meat in pretty much all forms. Jim: Prefers a salad over a burger but a steak over anything else; loves spicy

Disliked: I’m happy that I Huitlacoche Taco: 1.5/ 5 tried the huitlacoche taco Spicy Mahi Taco: 4 / 5 since it’s something that you Baja Shrimp Taco: 5 / 5 don’t often see around Cleveland, but it was nearly as fun to eat as it is to say. I don’t think it was bad per se, but it’s definitely an acquired taste. I will also join my fellow diners in grumbling about the chunkiness of the guacamole. The pieces of avocado were big enough that they might have sunk the Titanic, which is a shame because the guac itself tasted fine. It’s a minor quibble, but I’ve never been a huge fan of picnic-style bench seating. However there are other places to sit if you are a fan of having a chair with a back like I am. Rating: 4 /5

JIM:

Liked: To date, this is my favorite taco joint in Cleveland— minus Taco Bell, nothing tops a Cheesy Gordita Crunch. Since our initial visit, I’ve been back twice for the queso with chorizo and jalapeños and the baja shrimp taco. We ordered almost everything on the menu and the other big winners are the short rib tostada, spicy mahi, and the mole tacos. Disliked: I had a difficult time with the huitlacoche also known as corn smut, which is fungus that grows on corn. Apparently it’s a delicacy but my taste buds were not having it. Another notable

and sour flavors; despises donuts and dry bakery; will try anything once. Aaron: Likes spicy; hates Thanksgiving stuffing or whatever that spice is; favorite food is anything from the sea; will try eating anything for the experience of it.

Hannah: Enjoys foods that are savory and slightly over-salted; meals are typically a collection of small snacks; hates funky cheeses and properly cooked red meat; generally not a picky eater.

pet peeve was the guacamole—the avocado was quartered so it was insanely chunky and hard to scoop. I’m also not a fan of picnic table seating and family style serving for the tacos. Rating: 4 /5

AARON:

Liked: As far as tacos go, I would put this place above many of the “taco” places in Cleveland. The flavors were authentic while still accommodating the more modern palate. There is something about the mole taco that puts a giant smile on my stomach. If you’re looking for a quote, here ya go: “All the hype of Barrio, but the tacos are actually delicious!” Disliked: The guacamole, although tasty, was basically a quartered avocado that no chip could penetrate. So many fallen soldiers in that bowl. Rating: 4.5 /5

HANNAH:

Liked: I really enjoyed being able to order different types of tacos individually and not having to get several of the same kind per order. It’s a great way to find out what you like and dislike via trial and error. There were quite a few highlights of this meal, but what will keep me coming back is the queso, baja shrimp tacos, anything with short rib in it, and the margaritas—they were perfect, not a hint of sour mix. Disliked: The huitlacoche and the al pastor tacos were definitely not for me. I found the huitlacoche incredibly salty and unrecognizable in taste/texture and the al pastor sort of reminded me of eating a cup of fruit cocktail. The guacamole might have been good, but it was so chunky that I quickly abandoned it after my chips kept breaking and going for the queso or salsas instead. Rating: 4 /5

Bakersfield Tacos, Tequila, Whiskey 2058 W. 25 St. Cleveland, OH 44113 // 216.443.0460 bakersfieldtacos.com

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that Cars is made solely to sell toys, put this in perspective: the only other Pixar property to get a trilogy is Toy Story, a film about toys. The first Cars film left me several questions that I was hoping would be addressed in the third part. Note that I did not see the second film for overall health and wellness reasons and the fact that I did not want to start hating Pixar films. But really though, where are all the humans in Cars? Did our own machines replace mankind like in the Terminator franchise? Did we somehow morph into our own technology? Who created everything in the world of Cars seeing that none of them have thumbs, or even hands for that matter?

Cars 3

Summer Animated Movies

None of these questions are answered in the third film. Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is outraced by faster and younger cars and seeks the help of young trainer Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo) to get his groove back and show the world that he is still a competitor despite being the oldest racer.

Captain Underpants outshines animated titans Cars 3 and Despicable Me 3.

To be fair, Cars 3 is not a bad film, but it is rather unoriginal for a Pixar film. Once again, there is not anything new and memorable coming from this franchise except for a new line of toy cars down the toy aisle at the store.

Mike Suglio

chool's out for the summer and so are the blockbuster animated films. The fight for dominance in the kiddie market have led both Disney/Pixar and Universal Pictures to release the third parts of top trilogies within weeks of each other, as Cars 3 was released June 16 and Despicable Me 3 was released two weeks later. These two tween titans clashed and the real winner was... neither of them. They’re both nothing special or original. 20th Century Fox’s Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, is better than both films, but first let’s break down Cars 3 and Despicable Me 3.

Cars is the ugly, redheaded stepchild of the Pixar franchise. When I first watched the original one in theaters in 2006, I was completely disappointed. The lack of character depth and memorable dialogue was unlike any other Pixar film I had seen to that date. The studio that shaped my childhood with Buzz and Woody from Toy Story was now presenting me with Mater voiced by Larry the Cable Guy, who at times said “Git ‘er Done,” a line that does not belong in a film geared for kids. Pun intended. John Lasseter clearly wanted to make a film to sell toys. Toy Story 3 was still far into the future of 2010 at the time and none of the other recent Pixar films really had that “get parent’s money” factor as a movie about a product that could easily ruin Hot Wheels. To reaffirm my theory

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Despicable Me 3

Despicable Me 3 is similar to yet different from Cars 3. Like Cars, the film offers the Minions, characters that are easily marketable in toy form. These lovable, yet rather annoying, yellow sidekicks are everywhere. But unlike Cars, these characters are not the central part of the film.

Gru (Steve Carell) returns with his wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig) and their three daughters Margo, Edith, and Agnes for another adventure sprinkled with help from the Minions. This time Gru and Lucy lose their job after a failed attempt to capture super villain, Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker). Gru finds out he has a lost brother, Dru (also voiced by Steve Carell), and together they go after Bratt.

The big question here is what makes a good animated film? ... The simple answer is to just make a good film.

It may not be a memorable animated film for the ages, but Despicable Me 3 is enjoyable and better than Cars 3. The entire franchise as a whole is mountains over the Cars franchise, but pales in comparison to average Pixar/Disney films. The key element that Despicable Me 3 has over Cars 3 is simple: the human element. It is a movie filled with actual humans who have

relatable human problems. Gru never needs an oil change or a fresh coat of paint to get him going. He is instead motivated to get his job back so he can support his family. But the best summer animated movie of 2017 has been Captain Underpants. Based off of the beloved book series, George Beard (Kevin Hart) and Harold Hutchins (Thomas Middleditch) are two kids who pull off a ton of elaborate pranks at their dreary school regimentally run by their principal, Mr. Krupp (Ed Helms). When Mr. Krupp threatens to separate George and Harold into separate classes, George uses his magic ring to hypnotize Krupp into thinking he is the superhero, Captain Underpants. Together the three of them thwart the evil Professor Poopypants (Nick Kroll), who wants to rid the world of laughter.

Captain Underpants

Captain Underpants is a highly relatable film to both young and old. We have all been through mundane school days at one point in our lives and passed the time with some humor or imagination. This film does an excellent job of capturing that young, fun spirit that a young child can harness that adults often yearn for. Unlike Cars or Despicable Me, Captain Underpants is not building from material that has been established with two previous films. Instead it can build a world around endless source material from the books and keep the pace fast and fun that will keep the attention of any age. As with any animated film, the voice talent often drives the film, and there is no lack of talented actors with Captain Underpants. The actors involved were engaging and high energy in a role that was different than the work I’m used to them doing. Ed Helms is a perfect Captain Underpants despite often performing deadpan or self-deprecating humor such as in the Hangover films. Still, the big question here is what makes a good animated film? Is it a film kids would enjoy? Is it the animation? The voice talent? It’s “yes” to all of those, but the simple answer is to just make a good film. Animated films are not that much different than any live-action film. They still are contingent on story and acting talent to name a few elements. Captain Underpants simply has a better story arc, more relatable characters, better music, original animation style, and more creativity. There are more children characters in this film than the other two, which could make the film more relatable to the demographic the film is intended for. Regardless of the film character’s age or demographic, kids and young adults look for, and notice, the same elements that make up a good movie like adults do; they just don’t know it. We as humans will always take notice of what surprises us and is different and, at the same time, what is memorable and catchy.

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The 100 Most Influential Classic Rock Songs and the Death of Gregg Allman Nashville: The First Stop on Dave and Matt’s Cross Country Voyage Matthew McLaughlin + Dave Sebille Illustrations // Aaron Gelston For readability, Matt will speak in italics and Dave will speak in standard text.

MATT:

Day one started 30 minutes behind schedule with a warm beer on the nightstand and a ringing in my ears. After a few quick stops, we hit the road—the engine of the Alfa Romeo growling pleasantly and the radio playing song 97 of a 100-most-influential classic rock songs countdown.

DAVE:

It was the start of a nine day trip that we had been shitting our pants over for months. And then providence handed us that top 100 countdown as a wink and a finger gun. It may not sound cool, but neither of us are cool, so flying down 71 with “Barracuda” blaring was pretty damn great.

We got to Nashville only stopping once for gas. We agreed at that point—due to combined drinking and spending problems—that we would drink strictly PBR and tequila. It only solves one of our problems, but I was more worried about our wallets than our livers. Beyond that, the plan was to not have a plan, and we fucking nailed it. At this point, it is important to note that Gregg Allman had died the night before. Nashville was blasting his music on every corner. If you can travel to Nashville on the day a rock and roll legend dies, I highly recommend it. After a couple of bad recommendations from Matt’s friends, we got some good information and headed to The 5 Spot, Nashville’s Grog

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Shop, which had a food truck that put out some pretty tasty dogs and yucca fries. Another round of PBR and tequila and a girl takes the stage with an electric-acoustic and a 15 watt. A curtain of red hair and swath of black fabric draped around pale skin. She can’t be older than 19, but when she starts playing her voice is smoke and pain. Her chords are simple and her lyrics are childish, but she’s selling it. She means every word, and it makes her powerful. She’s laying herself bare while I’m getting drunk and passing judgment, much too afraid to take the stage. By the time she’s done, I’m in love.

We talked for a while about how badly both of us need to cancel our Netflix accounts and get back to writing. The next band opened their set with a heavy stoner rock version of “Midnight Rider,” one of many tributes we would hear to Gregg Allman. These guys looked like fat Weezer and had claymation videos on a projector. I couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to them. I was looking for the previous act, hoping to thank her and encourage her. The next band sucked, so we decided to make our way to the next spot, Duke’s. Duke’s was rude and cliquey, and people bragged about it being Kid Rock’s favorite bar twice in the ten minutes we were there. The only good thing that happened was we got a recommendation for a bar called Mickey’s.

“The plan was not to have a plan, and we fucking nailed it.”

Mickey’s looked bad. It was in a strip mall. I was not excited about it. But the moment we stepped in—the floor creaking beneath our feet—I knew we were home.

Mickey’s was a 10. Holy Grail. Dive of dives. Our journey was worth it. This was the place bartenders in Nashville went to get down. We were finally among our people, and I became uncharacteristically outgoing, talking to all kinds of strangers and making new friends left and right. Dave crashed a booth and I politely fell in after him. He started chatting with a couple and their friend. The boyfriend was an off-off brand John Lennon and was a mess. I thought, "If I can tell you’re drunk, you might want to go to a hospital." I think I tried to say that. Matt even managed to string a sentence or two together. The group grew and shrunk and I realized most of these people didn’t know each other. Mickey’s was our kind of place. The next thing I remember is waking up in our Airbnb to the door handle wobbling serial-killer style. After yelling, “OCCUPIED!” the door popped open and in walks a cat. With Dave and I in our underwear, the cat’s owner, our middle-aged host, walks in and sits at the end of the bed to hear about our night. This could’ve been weird, but it just wasn’t. We had one more thing to do. Damn near everyone we talked to said we had to get some hot chicken. Most of them recommended Bolton’s. If you take one thing from this article, let it be this: do NOT be a hero when choosing heat level at Bolton’s. Matt and I both took one bite of the “hot,” which is the middle heat level, and neither of us could handle any more. We were so defeated we threw the food away. Something I was raised not to do. The last thing I did in town was throw up hot chicken and Pabst all over a Nashville mural. So with atomic dry rub in our eyes, we hit the road for Atlanta. I had ensured Matt that the aquarium alone was worth the three hour detour. He was wrong.

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MaxWell Shell

vs. the World

“Welcome to the WAL, y’all.” Dan Bernardi

hen I first encountered MaxWell Shell he was working at the 24-hour Walgreens on West 117th and Detroit. I remember entering at around 2 a.m. with some friends, greeted by a cheerfully chill voice from behind the counter: “Welcome to the WAL, y'all.”

Naturally, that put a smile on our faces, and MaxWell was even more fun at the checkout. Sharing jokes and wisdom, he managed to take a mundane visit to the store and transform it into a genuine human experience for each of us. Over the years, I’ve heard many tales of MaxWell's Awesomeness from people all over the city, often quoting his signature greeting, which MaxWell refers to as Cleveland's favorite catch phrase.

Sadly, MaxWell no longer works at Walgreens. The store is not nearly as welcoming anymore. There's a void now. You see MaxWell wasn't just a friendly clerk. He's a poet, musician, and—as I see it—a philosopher. While talking to MaxWell on his front porch at the edge of Lakewood, I learned that the WAL has a much deeper meaning in his eyes: the “World As Love.” Rife with hidden flow and meaning, the following are MaxWell’s pure, uninhibited written expressions. In memory of Mama Small...welcome to the WAL. Born in Mt Sinai (aka Mt Suicide) in September of '79 off MLK Drive. Raised all over Cleveland. East & West & East & West Again. Never met my IrishSide/ mama died when I was 2/Daddy Bruce disappeared into the streets by the time i was 11. i learned early to be A constant skeptic & to study much more than what got presented to me. I also learned to trust people Along the way because they were born babies too. Often Indoctrinated into A MindState I was blessed enough to not have to go thru. A paradox of sorts.

HISTORY

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YOUTH The summer before 6th grade I made A whole ComicBook (illustrations, storyline & All) called MEGA MIXX. Imagine CaptainAmerica/Flash Face, SuperMan/SpiderMan body. It was my subConscious dealing with my mixed breedness to coin A phrase. Or flip A coin: cliche. Better everybody feel my pain. That's not what I was thinking at the time. I was thinking how Cool. CLEVELAND (where i’ve lived: CliffNotes…AllWays on the Edge) E. 24th & Superior, w. 58th, W. 54th, w. 67th & Lorain, Franklin, Bridge, Endora, Earle, Griffing, Urbana... (E. 116th&W.117th) A bunch of in betweens & outer seams...within the FreeRange of the Cleveland Scene... I have unconditional love for the city of Cleveland. It has been my favorite reason for being. I just love the happy medium of it. The GoldiLocks "JustRight" of it. Respected for our workEthic & homeGrown Talent worldWide. Loyalty & HomePride. There is no love like ClevelandLove. (AlmostCried).

The WAL

(in A paperBall)….the depth is too deep to steep….peep the possibiliTEA: SERVERS, NURSES, STRIPPERS, BAR/TENDERS, URBAN PROFESSIONALS, UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, FIRST GRADE TEACHERS, EVERYDAY DEALERS, FIRST OF THE MONTH JUNK/KEYS, POT-HEADS, ALL DAY LABORERS, UP STARTS, ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, HIPSTERS, ELDERS, MOTHERS, FATHERS: CHILLED RUNS. THE BELOW. THE ABOVE. THE ILL ONES. I LOVE(D) THEM ALL. AIMED TO HEAL ONE BY ONE ON MY LIL RUN. SECRET SERVICES. TRUTH SERUM. CIVIL DISOBEDIENT HEART BEATING TO MY EXTREME DREAM DRUM. they never knew what hit them. Never knew how pure my intentions. Funny how people are Attracted to Truth no matter what. Funny how laughter heals. Funny how it still scares the bull/shit out of Corporate America. At the heart/earth core, we All Want to feel the UltraVibe of being Alive. The living breathing IS & WAS. the World As Love. NO LIE.

HOMESICK (Ironically enough, without Louisiana March 2012-May2013, theWAL would never have surfaced. I worked at the WalGreens in DeRidder & Leesville, Lousiana (20 miles Apart), while taking care of one of my mamas…I got adopted a lot lol)….Southern Hospitality is A real thing & that's where I fell in love with my SecretStage & came into contact with the power of my particular kind of innerG as A healing & healthy service to my community (MostImmediate) Cool+Cool equals GoodChemistry…Mbody&Mbrace for Nfinity). FAITH I have A different patience. A living faith. That's my God to Culture. My most extreme dream is to be A part of an Inside/Out Revolution. A movement of humans focused on the most immediate moment at all times. An Urban Garden of UnEarthed Diamonds. Shining True thru the Core. I believe in the HeavenSent Power of Love! (toughLuv/RealLove) But that means more than one man can make move. It takes soul-searched people to make things move in A major way.

PERSPECTIVE For me, the world is Maya (mereIllusion) in many ways & because of this UnderStanding i don't take my success in this current world or the world to come that serious. I believe in MustardSeeds & OrganicMagic & PureIntentions in A world that's not necessarily set up to fulfill that criteria. Levity is key at this point. The pedestal will disappoint. Personal Journey Counts. Check. Bounce. AMBITION I once made 400$ for 10 minutes of spoken word poetry at the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame museum. Cash in an envelope right after i got off stage. MyBiggest payOut as A poet. Money doesn't drive me at all, (like A stuck shift) however. If we lived in A system set up like video game points i'd be much more compelled to rack up as many points as possible on my way thru too many obstacles. The idea of selling myself has made me S-cape from soCalled worldlySuccess many times over.

You see MaxWell wasn't just a friendly clerk. He's a poet, musician, and—as I see it—a philosopher.

PHILOSOPHY Life Philosophy is A funny thing. Philosophy is the study of Life. I've put that into the best perspective I possibly could over the years. I feel for my peers & elders & the youth too. I really do. Because Life gets twisted in this World's WorldView. Skewed by the pre-screwed schools that pay teachers to say to students to become slaves to do. HappySlave or not. The RowBot is Alive & Running Loose & some of us get lucky enough to find our Groove within that Blues.

CONNECTIONS It’s All Connected. How can it not be? My community is the closest thing to home. My home is my heart. That’s where my passion starts. My poetry shoots out like dart. My music wants to see the good people free to be who they were born to be. Where their home is their heart. Because Life is about A Good Fresh Start. & U roll with it. & carry that momentum into the next staged world event & just keep livin’. Not trippin’ off what anybody else is falling for. Because you're creating space for you & yours in your own special way. Within your own rhythm & intuition. That’s what’s gonna save the day. ADVICE A physical sense or spiritual sense...or material sense...A CONvenience... A comfort... It comes Again down to who wants what more. Finding your place in the world with Life guiding your moves. That's A cool tune. Finding your way in the world using the World's Ways. That's A cruel tool. Real Distinctions have to be made if one is to find their way. Because the World is Dog-eat-Dog but Life is not A BITCH unlessBeauty Is The Curve Heard ((round the world)): LOUD & CRISP.

You can find more poetry from MaxWell Shell at youtube.com/saxswell1 Find his book Space Creator(s) at both the Cleveland Downtown and Lakewood libraries, and watch for “the WAL song” coming soon on soundcloud.com/saxswell.

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Filming Powerbomb continues Cleveland’s love of pro wrestling + horror.

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Adam Dodd Photography // Nathan Dreimiller + Ashley Prikryl

Storytelling is an essential cornerstone of professional wrestling, second only to the sport’s inherent athleticism. Professional wrestlers exist within a willful suspension of disbelief. Their character’s currency owns only the value of its believability. This razor wire existence carries a pedigree that transcends the squared circle. Modern sports entertainment was born from larger-than-life vaudeville acts, traveling bards, and minstrels. However ably handled, their week-to-week triumphs and tragedies are cut from the same cloth as the Greek plays and Shakespearean betrayals that inspired them. When the heightened reality within which these performers operate bleeds into their personal lives, the results can prove equally harrowing. It’s from this crossroads that filmmakers BJ Colangelo and Zach Shildwachter have found their inspiration for Powerbomb, the upcoming feature length from Sickening Pictures. The two co-creators explain the film from their Lakewood home where horror and pro wrestling memorabilia compete for every inch of shelf space. “It’s The Wrestler meets Misery,” Shildwachter explains. Real-life indie wrestler and AIW World Champion Matt Cross offers a close-to-the-bone portrayal of a wrestler struggling to achieve his dreams while providing for his family as Powerbomb’s lead character, who shares the same name. The troubles for the film’s Matt Cross spiral dangerously out of control when he meets his obsessed superfan who will do anything to see Cross as a champion. Anything.

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Chasing that high of trying to touch your idols, to see the face of god, and for it to fall apart in front of you — that’s real horror.

The blurring of lines between horror flick and the potential everyday occurrences these performers encounter is what makes Powerbomb so chilling. “Fandom is terrifying,” Colangelo concedes. “I’ve been doxxed before simply for not wanting to see Kevin Smith’s Tusk. I can only imagine what it’s like for these wrestlers who have to go to these conventions and be nice and smile to people who creep them out or say mean things or are being aggressive. The things we’ve seen real adult people scream at wrestlers in public is terrifying and that’s something I wanted to capture. Wrestling is a lot of fun and it’s cool, but it’s also downright terrifying at times.” It’s no stretch to say that the horror genre is a strong influence on how Colangelo sees the world. “Horror is my favorite medium to tell stories because fear is a universal emotion, but what scares us is not universal. There’s so much overlap between horror fans and wrestling fans to begin with and no one’s ever really fed into that.” Shildwachter agrees, “Chasing that high of trying to touch your idols, to see the face of god, and for it to fall apart in front of you—that’s real horror. When everything you believe in allows you to do terrible, terrible things to love and protect it.” PressureLife was lucky enough to be on set for the last days of shooting and the camaraderie among the cast and crew was palpable with Powerbomb being an unmistakable labor of love for all involved. A large part of this depended on the casting which Shildwachter explains was considered controversial to some. “We knew who we wanted to work with, but other people were like, ‘Oh, you’re casting wrestlers instead of actors?’”

“I don’t care who has a SAG card,” Colangelo laughs. “I’m very much a believer that you cast who’s right for the role. I think people are going to be really blown away when they realize how talented these wrestlers are.”

AIW World Champion, Matt Cross, jokes about his foray with the silver screen: “I really have to stretch my acting chops because I have to play a wrestler and his name is Matt Cross. But on the other end of the spectrum, [film Matt] has a ten year old in the film. I don’t have any children. [Film Matt] has a wife and I’ve never been married. So those things are definitely new to me.” While a movie production may be new ground for Cross, acting is as second nature as an armbar thanks to his portrayal as Son of Havoc in the highly stylized televised wrestling program, Lucha Underground. “That show is just so cinematic. I get to work with classically trained actors and legit Hollywood directors.”

Unlike Cross, who continues wrestling as he takes on acting roles like Powerbomb and Lucha Underground, Roni Jonah, who plays Cross’s on-screen wife Amy, made a choice to hang up her tights years ago in favor of a full-time acting career. The character Amy was reluctantly forced on the shelf in order to start a family. Despite similar origins, the paths of the actress and her Powerbomb role soon depart from one another. “I don’t find us to be the same in any way. She gave it up to have kids and I gave it up to pursue acting. She wants to wrestle again, and I don’t want to. I’m fine just playing wrestlers at this point.” Wesley Allen, who plays Cross’s obsessive superfan in the film, first conceived of Powerbomb’s central conceit. “Powerbomb was a story that I had. But I knew that I didn’t have the patience or the ability to flesh it out into a script, but Zach and BJ did. I’ve been here since day one with them on this.” Allen plays Paul, the film’s antagonist whose increasingly unhinged behavior is even more unsettling considering how close to reality his motivations flirt. “I know Paul. I get this guy because I’ve seen

How to Powerbomb in Six Easy Steps (Note: Don’t do a powerbomb. There, that should clear our legal department…)

01. this guy,” Allen explains. “I’ve seen this dude at every wrestling show I’ve ever been to. … There’s a level of intensity that separates them from being just a really big fan to ‘Wow, you may not have anything else except this.’ I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s part of who they are. It may be the one thing in life that brings them joy.” Allen is quick to dispel any sense of sympathy for Paul, however. “I don’t know if Paul has any redeeming qualities because he’s a piece of shit, but I can empathize with the rabid fandom. It would be easy for me to say that he’s just misunderstood, but he’s pretty damaged. He thinks he’s right and the only person with the answers and that’s pretty villainous.”

Facing your opponent, you need them doubled-over. A solid kick to gut should suffice.

02. Don’t let them run away! Wedge their head between your legs above the knees while you wrap your arms around their waist.

03.

Despite playing the villain, Allen’s days on set were bright ones being able to witness his son, Cash, steal the spotlight portraying Matt Cross’s son. “I watch him and I get choked up because he gets it. He shows an intensity towards [his role] that I haven’t seen in anything else.” While Powerbomb’s casting has been a success, Shildwachter can still think of a few he would have liked to include. “I would have wanted a Vince and Shane McMahon cameo just so you can have the ‘Do you love me now, Dad?’ moment.” Apart from its cast, another unsung hero of Powerbomb has been its location. “I would make every movie possible in Cleveland for the rest of my life, gushes Colangelo, herself a Chicago transplant. “The big difference between here and working in New York or Chicago is that they’re accustomed to film. They get it. Cleveland isn’t used that yet, so there’s a lot of luxury in working in a place that isn’t quite as familiar.” The enthusiastic response they received from Cleveland was a welcome sea change for Shildwachter. “New York, Chicago, LA—everyone is like ‘OK, this is going to be an annoying happenstance to deal with’ and will have their hand out asking for their permit fees or stealing from craft services.” Colangelo adds, “Cleveland is so used to everyone thinking that we’re the mistake by the lake, so when people say, ‘No, we’re going to do this. We’re going to show that Cleveland is a huge force’ they get so excited that everyone just wants to help. They

Hoist! Make sure your opponent legs rest on your shoulders like a reverse-piggyback ride.

04. Allow minimum of five seconds for administering of last rites.

05. Let gravity take the wheel and drive your opponent to the canvas or table. Follow through into a seated position for added impact or release at the height of elevation to perform the a jackknife powerbomb.

06. One…Two… Three… Ding! Ding! Ding!

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ask, ‘How can I help? What can I do? Sure you can borrow this.’ All the locations we’ve used have essentially been gifts with a smile and a handshake. Nobody wants money. They just want to be a part of it.”

Horror is my favorite medium to tell stories because fear is a universal emotion, but what scares us is not universal.

Currently, Colangelo and Shildwachter have wrapped shooting and are beginning the edit process which they hope to have completed early this fall. To aid in the backend crunch, the filmmakers have tag-teamed with Turnstyle Films, a production company that has been voted best Cleveland filmmakers three years in a row by Cleveland Scene. “They’re Cleveland’s most established unit in that regard,” Colangelo praised. “They’re a well-oiled machine. We give them a script and they know exactly where to fall in and where they belong.”

It is this commitment to quality that sees Powerbomb not as an alsoran direct-to-DVD release film, but one that will no doubt enjoy

debut screenings at festivals across the country. “The dream would be to release it and do the premiere in Cleveland. That’s something that I feel very strongly about,” Colangelo remarks.

“We’re not self-distributing,” Shildwachter explains. “The goal is to sell it and get it to a wide audience for a proper release. I think it would be a perfect fit for Netflix. With them picking up Lucha Underground and now with GLOW, I think it would be a fun home for Powerbomb. The world of wrestling is changing but the way the world consumes wrestling is completely changing as well.”

While wrestling legends like Bruno Sammartino and Lou Thesz perfected their artistry upon the same twenty-by-twenty canvas as their modern contemporaries, the audience they perform before has exploded exponentially. This has resulted in increasingly diverse explorations into the physical and psychological repercussions that these performers endure for their craft. A legacy admirably continued through Colangelo and Shildwachter’s horror-tinged tale which tracks the fine line between dedication and obsession in the maddeningly entertaining Powerbomb.

To stay up to date on Powerbomb news, release date and locations be sure to follow Sickening Pictures, @sickeningpictures

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We can turn one dollar into four meals.

For every dollar donated, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank can provide four nutritious meals to kids in need. Together, we can feed the one in four hungry children in our community.

Donate today at GreaterClevelandFoodBank.org

Immaculate Contraception In

an old building at the corner of Euclid and Adelbert on Case Western Reserve University’s campus sits the Dittrick Medical History Center, the least known and most unique of Cleveland’s many wonderful history museums.

Inside Cleveland’s Most Unconventional Museum Collection

tical company in Toronto. They were marketing spermicidal jellies, diaphragms— later they would start marketing the pill and manufacturing IUDs. He had started to collect these things, I think more as an icebreaker, to say, ‘Wow, look what they were doing in the past, isn’t that silly?’”

Gennifer Harding-Gosnel

In 1915, Cleveland socialite Elizabeth Severance Allen donated money to CWRU to build a medical library in memory of her husband, prominent surgeon Dr. Dudley Peter Allen, insisting the library include a museum. The museum would later be named after its first curator, Dr. Howard Dittrick.

Exhibits include a lot of general Cleveland history: disease outbreaks in Cleveland and the role nurses played in care and prevention, medical innovations spearheaded by local hospitals and medical research centers, and a replica of a local doctor’s office from the 1920s. And in the back gallery of the museum sits the Percy Skuy Collection, an exhibit focusing on the history, growth, and development of birth control. “The contraception collection found us. We didn’t have to go looking for it,” says the museum's chief curator, Jim Edmonson. “[Percy Skuy] was a representative for a pharmaceu-

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Skuy was looking for a permanent home for his 700-piece collection after he retired, and he ultimately selected Cleveland. Edmonson explains, “I saw it as an opportunity for us because of, well, the subject of sex. We’re interested, but beyond that, it’s a way to inform the public about an important subject matter in a way that is non-confrontational. You’re not forced to emote or talk about it. It’s passive in a way. You can look at something that you would otherwise find controversial and not get that worked up over it.” For example, pornography. Civil War era photos of women with their dresses lifted up to expose an ankle hang on the walls of the Dittrick Museum, but in 2017, you won’t need to hide your eyes from seeing the bottom of a woman’s shin bone.

“It’s a way to inform the public about an important subject matter in a way that is non-confrontational. You’re not forced to emote or talk about it.”

And it only gets better. The collection includes an advertisement from the early 20th century for the well-known disinfectant, Lysol, being promoted as a “feminine hygiene product.” “Where sunlight cannot

purify—germs breed,” says the sinister-sounding ad, warning women against committing “intimate neglect.” Female condoms were initially developed in the late 1990s and marketed in Africa to help prevent the spread of AIDS. The female condoms began to take off in Europe and Australia, but have yet to gain a solid footing in the U.S. The exhibit cases showing modern-day contraception include female condoms and some of the more unusual ways they have been marketed, including one packaged in the cover art for the Jet single, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” The Percy Skuy Collection introduces us to Emma Goldman and Ben Reitman, two late-19th-century anarchists and birth control advocates whose radical views earned them lengthy arrest records, including Goldman being implicated for inspiring the assassination of U.S. President William McKinley. Goldman and Reitman were in the Midwest, making many trips through Cleveland while smuggling in birth control devices and passing out literature. Visitors are also introduced to Le Livre Sans Titre, “The Book Without a Title.” Published in 1830 in Paris, France, “It shows progressive physical decline of the guy as a result of his masturbation,” says Edmonson. “He gets sick and debilitated, his teeth fall out, and he dies, all because he was indulging in ‘self-abuse.’” A young man aged 17, “He corrupted himself!” the book says. “Soon he bore the grief of his error, old before his time...his back hunches...A devouring fire sears his gut; he suffers horrible stomach pains.” Edmonson provides a scanned copy and translation of the book online. continues on page 25

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Centennial Bar Crawl Three really, really old Cleveland bars you may not know about with histories you should Kevin Naughton

wo things—among others—usually come to mind when Clevelanders ponder their home: the rich, colorful history of the city and the locals’ passion for the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Well, why not combine the two? We set out to find some of the oldest bars in Cleveland you may not know and learn their stories.

Jerman’s Cafe (better known as Mitzi’s) // 3840 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland Opened in 1908 by Frances and John Jerman, Jerman’s Cafe is more commonly known as Mitzi’s—after Mitzi Jerman, the bar’s famously charismatic owner who passed in 2006 at the age of 93. She was obviously quite a presence in the area, as the bar is filled with pictures and newspaper articles about her. “She was the sweetest thing ever,” recalls Michelle Zamlen, Mitzi’s niece and one of the current owners. “She called everybody ‘honey.’” Mitzi was a child during prohibition, when the bar hid bootlegged liquor in the apartment next door and passed the barrels through the second story windows. Mitzi learned how to keep an eye out for federal agents—one newspaper clipping contains the quote: “Look out for those guys wearing the black boots and white socks. Those are the Feds. Those are the bad guys.” But, Mitzi would still occasionally have to bail her mother out of jail after Eliot Ness would raid the place for contraband booze. The surrounding area was a bustling industrial center during the first half of the 20th century, and Mitzi’s was one of many local refuges for the thirsty blue collar workers in the nearby factories. Cleveland’s industrial boom was not permanent and many of the local watering holes were forced to shut their doors as well. Mitzi’s famous hospitality was what kept the bar alive and well through Cleveland’s economic rough patch. In 2015, the bar closed for nearly two years after a death in the

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family, but it reopened back in January of this year—on Mitzi’s birthday. “Everything is the same,” Zamlen explains with pride, gesturing to the original woodwork and metal plated ceiling panels. “We haven’t done anything different.” With such a strong family connection to the bar, it will hardly be surprising when Mitzi’s is still around in another hundred years.

Gunselman’s Tavern // 21490 Lorain Road, Fairview Park What would later become Gunselman’s started as a grocery store that secretly sold bootlegged liquor during prohibition. Due to the secretive nature of speakeasy, nobody is sure exactly when it started covertly purveying booze. Walking through the back room you can see the hidden trapdoor where they hid the liquor, and there is a sliding plate on a door in the basement that was used to check the identity of the person attempting to make a clandestine booze transaction. According to legend, Henry J. Gunselman, a liquor salesman, acquired the Pastime Cafe when the bar went sour on its debts to him in 1936. “They couldn’t pay their bill, so they gave him the bar,” explains David Grace, one of the three current owners. The joint quickly became a pillar of the community, hosting many community events. It even boasted the first television in the neighborhood, which makes it one of the first sports bars in the area. The bar has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a bootlegging corner store. The new owners have turned what was originally Henry Gunselman’s office into a full-fledged kitchen, where they specialize in what Grace affectionately calls comfort food. “We’re very, very proud of the food,” Grace grins. “I’ll put our food [up against] anyone in the city.” Despite the decidedly minor changes, Grace and his team have made maintaining the original spirit of Gunselman’s a top priority. A central part of the community, they still sponsor and host community events, just like Henry Gunselman did throughout his tenure as owner.

“People pay a lot of money to get a corner bar, to create that,” Grace explains. “We have it. You can’t recreate it. So we’re not going to mess with it.”

Moriarty’s Pub // Somewhere in Cleveland You may not know this next bar because it does its best to keep it that way. In fact, the establishment is so committed to its status as a well-kept Cleveland secret that the owner—whose name we promised not to include—only agreed to an interview if we promised not publish the bar’s address. “It’s a place that’s been word of mouth,” he affirms, “and that’s how I’d like to keep it.” Moriarty’s was a well-kept secret from the start. It opened as a nameless beer speakeasy masquerading as an import-export office in 1923, and was christened Moriarty’s after its owner, John Moriarty, when prohibition was lifted in 1933. Since then, it’s only had two other owners, both of which have worked hard to keep the original spirit of the bar alive. The street where Moriarty’s is located was a real hotspot for nightlife back in the first half of the 20th century, attracting all sorts of partygoers. “You would go in there and you would see businessmen, elected officials, gangsters,” the owner explains, gesturing toward the tall buildings across the road, “and business got done. There were gangsters on this side of the street, and fine supper clubs on this side of the street.” Dean Martin had his first steady professional gig in the area. The likes of Babe Ruth, Tony Bennett, Danny Greene, Dinah Shore, George Steinbrenner, and a number of presidents are said to be among the usual patrons at these clubs. Moriarty’s is the only bar left from that era. The owner is proud of the history and the welcoming atmosphere of the place. “This is an extension of my house,” he beams, adding, “It is my house. It’s a public house.” You’ll have to visit Moriarty’s yourself if you want to find out more. If you manage to find the place, that is. “Look for the shamrock,” the owner grins. “If the shamrock is on, I’m open.” Good luck.

Know any other cool Cleveland bars with stories that deserve to be told? Let us know at @thepressurelife or pressurelife.com

IMMACULATE CONTRACEPTION continued from page 23

The darkest piece in the exhibit is the propaganda literature created by the eugenics movement of the 1920s and ‘30s, titled Golden Thoughts on Chastity and Procreation. On display is a three-fold pamphlet, the two inside pages showing individual baby photos in frames. The left side shows a page of lightskinned, photogenic black children, titled “Children of Pure and Intelligent Parents.” The right side is titled, “Children of the Poor and Uneducated,” and shows mostly dark-skinned black children, some with an appearance suggesting mental and physical abnormalities. “The eugenics movement was driven by wealthy people who had social power who thought they could dictate their morals to lesser people,” Edmonson explains. “‘Lesser people’ could have been immigrants, African-Americans, poor people. ‘Do-gooders’ in society would preach to them, show them habits that would lead to better lives for themselves and their families. We would find some of their practices reprehensible today—people who were known as ‘mental defectives’ were sterilized. They advocated birth control methods as kind of [a way to] re-establish social order.” The level of discomfort with the items in this collection is balanced by the notion that we understand those times have passed and such ridiculous concepts have disappeared with the progression of science, morality, and human understanding—but it has been a long road. Regardless of one’s personal beliefs on the science of reproductivity and the morals of human contraception, a visit to the Dittrick Museum’s Percy Skuy Collection can show you the history and science behind one of the most psychologically-impactful medical developments of our time, and all you need to believe in is what you see with your eyes.

The Dittrick Medical History Center is open to the public and always free to visit. For more information, visit artsci.case.edu/dittrick

Issue 14 |

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Welcome to Valhalla L.B.M. Cocktail Bar to bring Viking culture to the Lakewood bar scene. Dave Sebille

ive friends in Lakewood had enough of this “not being able to get a decent cocktail in a bar that’s playing metal” shit. In response, these service industry veterans banded together and decided the best thing to do was buy a building and use it to express their love for all things mythology, outdoors, community, philosophy, Vikings, and, of course, booze by starting their own bar.

The bar, located at 12301 Madison Ave. in Lakewood, is called L.B.M. and will be opening late this summer. While the desired view of raging cliffsides and dragon fire isn’t quite achievable in Birdtown, the interior will make you feel as if you've wandered off the hard Scandinavian road into an ale hall that doesn't check your ax at the door.

Tech Trends Ryan Morgan

The typical maker’s business path, if there is a “typical path,” starts with a talent and passion for creating. There is no lack of depth to the range of

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The L.B.M. crew members are not rich kids getting bankrolled to build a cookie-cutter cocktail bar that they saw on Pinterest. These are insanely hardworking men and women putting everything they

fees can eventually erode profits, and dealing with Craigslist means dealing with inconsistent and, dare I say, “flaky” customers at times.

The “typical” business path for a Cleveland maker who’s made it.

Makers, artisans, crafters, solopreneurs… call them what you want, but these independent small businesses are becoming a growing part of the economy. In Cleveland alone there is an unbelievable wealth of groups and showcases dedicated to makers and the maker economy, including Case Western Reserve University’s think[box], Cleveland Public Library’s TechCentral Maker Space, Ingenuity Cleveland, the Cleveland Flea and Cleveland Bazaar, and many more.

“A lot of people hear ‘viking bar’ and expect plastic horn helmets, not the case,” says bartender Vinny Salls. Fellow bartender John Gibian adds, “This is less about gimmicks and more about the attitude of building something yourself out of raw natural material.”

products being developed, including art, technology, food, health and beauty, home goods, and more. There seems to be a moment of inspiration where talented creators think to themselves, “I think I could sell this.” But what’s next? For Cleveland-based makers, there is no shortage of in-person and online opportunities to sell goods. However, entrepreneurs can be met with the growing pains of these avenues. Selling locally means you’re only reaching a small market and potentially missing out on a huge opportunity to sell to larger markets. While established sites like Etsy, eBay, and Craigslist can offer a great kick-start to a young business, high

This is the point that entrepreneurs either accept these limitations or get serious about the growth of their business. The decision to make the leap typically means creating a strong web presence that has a consistent and strong brand. For entrepreneurs building a website on which to sell goods, there are important things to consider. Is it easy to add products, pricing, and inventory to the site? Does the site experience make it easy for buyers to find products and checkout quickly? Driving customers and building customer loyalty is the next challenge. Digital marketing efforts, including paid digital advertising, search engine optimization, and developing compelling content will help the right customers find the right products.

Entrepreneurs shouldn’t be afraid to show their brand’s personality. Remember, this journey started with passion, and a good web presence is the opportunity to showcase that passion. For successful businesses, creating armies of loyal customers through social media, email marketing, rewards, and referral programs can magnify the efforts of selling online. I won’t say it’s not a long journey from dimly-lit basement workshop to successful online business, but for many passionate Cleveland entrepreneurs, making the right decisions at each stage can be the difference between “just an idea” and long-term success.

This article is sponsored by Aztek, a web design, development, and digital marketing agency located in downtown Cleveland. aztekweb.com

have on the line to achieve a shared dream, all while having a few hundred beers and sharing hockey fight stories. “We built this,” Gibian says while a Viking tear runs down his face. “We did everything. It is our literal sweat and literal blood.” This monumental accomplishment was not completely achieved alone. Stefan Was from Porco Lounge and Tiki Room helped out the L.B.M. crew by letting them take over his bar while the Porco crew were out of town a few months ago. The results were phenomenal. Many other local business owners have helped out along the way with contributions big and small, from construction equipment to simply stopping in with a case of cold beer for the worker bees. Owner Eric Ho couldn't say enough about how helpful the city inspectors and and contractors have been to them. “Our building inspector is the nicest guy in the world. He actually cares and worries about us,” Ho says with a sincere smile.

Try not to be scared by the word cocktail; this is not a pinky-out, nose-up bar

“I feel like I’ll forever be learning more about Scandinavian food, and I couldn't be more excited,” Meiss says, coming just short of letting of a Viking battle cry.

G ! IN LE ER AB AT IL C VA A

L.B.M.’s overwhelming goal is to be an accessible cocktail bar with a seasonally rotating beer menu and small plates produced by Executive Chef Cory Meiss. Meiss describes his style as “contemporary American with Central American influences,” but when challenged to make a Scandinavian ceviche, he put on his horned thinking helmet and busted out an amazing dish that included indigenous berries and nuts while still relying on tropical citrus.

BARBECUE SANDWICHES & MORE

Also, try not to be scared by the word cocktail; this is not a pinky-out, nose-up bar. Bartender Merandia Adkins assures us, “We are all very knowledgeable and interested but none of us have an ego about it at all.” Everyone at L.B.M. is very close and there is zero ego flying around. Instead, there is just five buddies working their fingers to the bone to achieve the dream that so many industry workers dream of. “All religions and mythology boils down to one simple rule: don’t be a dick,” Salls yells to the sky as he jumps off some nearby scaffolding.

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“That’s the first rule of L.B.M.: don’t be a dick,” Ho adds as he shrugs and throws me a beer.

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Different Strokes Dan Bernardi

Matthew Sweeney

Matthew Sweeney will attest, pursuing a career in art is no easy task, especially in the face of tragedy. Almost two years ago, the Cleveland native lost his home and studio in a fire, destroying hard drives of work, old books of drawings from school, and every tangible piece of art he'd ever saved. Fortunately, Matt and his wife Christa made it out of this life-altering event with the help of endless support from their family and friends. Perhaps in some way, this adversity helped fuel the incredible work Matt produces today. The first piece Matt created after the fire was a portrait of his brother's hand, quite excellently tattooed with a spider in its web, with weathered knuckles brandishing symbols of life and death. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an elegant work of artistic verity, and Matt uses that illustration as a reminder to keep moving and push forward. Lately heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been creating a full series of hand illustrations.

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An Ohio Artist Spotlight

These works are building toward a solo show of hands, as Matt believes each hand has its own story to tell, much like the expression of a face in a portrait.

Matt's talent for eye-catching realism is most vividly represented on Instagram (@msweeneyart). In a scale of grey, a series of detached hands drawn in graphite hang neatly on the canvas, fingers gracefully dangling downward, each with pronounced wrinkles casting shadows over textured skin. With the same attention to detail, Matt brings a variety of portraits to life with uncanny renditions of human expression. Matt's illustrations are so stunningly realistic that at first glance, you'd swear it was a photograph, demonstrating his ability to perfectly capture a subject and translate it to the page.

Matt's illustrations are so stunningly realistic that at first glance, you'd swear it was a photograph.

For Matt, he just likes making things. While he explores a variety of mediums, including

metal and clay, graphite is his admitted bread and butter, lending itself to his darker style of art. Currently sharing a space with photographer Peter Larson at 78th Street Studios, Matt is happy to work in an environment populated by artisans. Every third Friday, the studios are open to the public, and Matt and his fellow artists’ work are on display.

MLT-PL-print-ad-2017-09.indd 1

8/4/17 9:47 AM

As for the future, Matt hopes to work with kids one day as a mentor for those passionate about creating, inspired by his own great mentors that have helped him over the years. As for now, Matt just enjoys making things. He has a few secret projects in the works, and in his spare time, he’s creating a children's book and sculpting maquettes of the story's characters.

You can follow along with Matt on Instagram @msweeneyart or find more of his work or reach out for prints and commissions at msweeneyart.com

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Every Day is a Holiday Blowout From s’mores to tardiness, there’s always something to celebrate Dan Bernardi

everyone loves a good celebration, and it turns out that in America— every day is a national holiday! Sometimes they even cram more than one onto the same date. So if you need something to celebrate this August and September and Labor Day just doesn't blow your hair back anymore, here are the top upcoming holidays you won't want to miss.

FROM CHRISTMAS TO DYNGUS DAY,

AUG.16

IINATIONAL TELL A JOKE DAY: Whether you're a daily comedian or your life is completely void of humor, take a moment to reflect on this day by cracking up your friend, neighbor, mom, rabbi, boss, or anyone else by telling a hilarious and surely non-butchered punchline. Just make sure you know your audience for the more R-rated stuff. For example, my rabbi loves a good dirty joke.

AUG.19

IIAVIATION DAY, NATIONAL HONEYBEE AWARENESS DAY, AND POTATO DAY:

This triple threat holiday may be your best excuse to call off work yet. On just a single day, we get to honor mankind's ability to travel through air and acknowledge the honeybees we'll probably want to avoid while flying. And of course, a legend among vegetables, the potato has rightfully earned its day of glory—it just has to share with planes and bees.

SEPT.5

IICHEESE PIZZA DAY AND BE LATE FOR SOMETHING DAY: I'm not sure which jackass scheduled these two holidays on the same day, but I swear if the delivery man with my extra cheese decides to observe the other holiday going on when I'm expecting my 'za, he might find I'm a little late with my tip.

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SEPT.13

IIDEFY SUPERSTITION DAY, FORTUNE COOKIE DAY, NATIONAL PEANUT DAY, POSITIVE THINKING DAY, AND UNCLE SAM DAY: Clear your

SEPT.19

IIINTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY AND NATIONAL BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING DAY: Ahoy, mateys! Ya don't need a parrot

SEPT.28

IIASK A STUPID QUESTION DAY AND NATIONAL GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY:

schedule for this one! Last year I celebrated by smashing my vanity mirror, eating a fortune cookie, and learning that I have “only begun to scratch the surface of my true potential.” So after cracking my way through a sack of nuts and an optimistic moment of self-reflection, I signed up for the United States Armed Forces. But this year, I'm going all out.

and a peg-leg to pillage yerself a 'yo ho ho' on this day. All ye have to do is talk like a buccaneer, and instead of walking the plank, walk to the store and plunder yerselves a barrel of creamy golden dessert. Butterscotch is every scallywags favorite, especially if the scurvy's taken all yer teeth. They say there are no stupid questions, only stupid people. However sometimes, stupid is as stupid does, and stupid questions are stupidly asked. But sometimes stupid is a beautiful thing. If you find yourself feeling stupid on this stupid day, find yourself a stupid neighbor and exchange a few stupid questions with each other. And if you're celebrating with your stupid significant other, consider wearing stupid matching T-shirts.

Issue 14

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