CLEVELAND INDEPENDENTS
CLEVELAND INDEPENDENTS
UPFRONT
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION AND CITY HALL BUTT HEADS AFTER REPORT DETAILING DOZENS OF MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS GONE UNINVESTIGATED
WHILE THE CLEVELAND Community Police Commissions awaited City Council to approve nine new members to the body, John Adams felt inclined to do some preliminary digging himself.
Earlier this month, Adams, the CCPC’s leading commissioner, began looking into the case of Timothy Maffo-Judd, the Cleveland Police commander who was removed as leader of the bomb squad city after texts surfaced revealing LGBTQ slurs.
Adams found, he told Scene, evidence that “serious bias allegations” made against Maffo-Judd in 2022 were emailed from CPD to its H.R. department, but were never fully investigated. He messaged City Hall for insight; he got a vague answer.
“And we realized, like, wait a minute. That complaint was over two
years ago,” Adams said. “So, it was taking a long time with the investigation. And then the other question then became, ‘Well, if his complaint is there, how many others are there?”
“And that’s what kind of took us down the rabbit hole,” he added.
A plunge into police records provided more examples. Adams shared them publicly in a later post on Twitter/X with a spreadsheet of 44 total open cases alleging harassment and workplace misconduct that Cleveland Police had “under review” or “in-progress” going back to December of 2019.
Adams felt uneven. Cleveland’s Consent Decree, since 2015, has stipulated that all accusations of department misconduct be fairly investigated, and lead to officer punishment or vindication. “However,” Adams wrote in a press release, “recent findings indicat-
ed these standards are not being met.”
“The CPC recognizes that these officers have a right to due process and that allegations are not proof of misconduct,” Adams continued. “When complaints are sustained, we want officers to be held accountable. When they are not, we want exonerated officers to be freed of the dark cloud of allegations.”
Such a decision to release data on open investigations—with both the names of the accused and alleged victims—have sparked tension between City Hall and a commission still trying to find its footing and an okay, by City Council, of an additional $350,000 in funding for the body. (Propping up its budget to $2.7 million.)
That spreadsheet’s release also prompts questions as to how the CPC might carry out its duties, as dictated
by a lengthy city charter voted on in 2021, if the Trump administration is successful in ending and prematurely lifting consent decrees on city police departments across the country.
But this week’s reminder of the CPC’s autonomy—that it doesn’t buckle to city demands or police hesitancy—seems to have acted as a warning flare before the commission’s member count returns to the full 13.
The city, in a statement, seemed to take issue first with the fact CPC shared the information publicly at all.
“Our Police Accountability Team already identified this issue last month – which prompted us to immediately refer it for independent investigation to the Inspector General’s Office,” a spokesperson wrote. “The CPC was apprised of the issue at that time, rendering yesterday’s message as a
mere amplification of something we are already working to address. We have identified procedures that can be better refined to ensure a more efficient process moving forward. The City takes all allegations very seriously and, as previously mentioned, has already referred this issue for an independent review.”
City Hall had an additional complaint that wasn’t just sour grapes.
“What [the CPC] chose to do yesterday by publicly-releasing identities of both complainants and those they accuse was a highly inappropriate way of handling sensitive information,” the spokesperson wrote.
“They were provided these documents in a good-faith partnership to help them complete their duties and responsibilities that are legally-required by the charter,” the statement continued. “Their actions do not follow a trauma-informed lens and are completely contradictory to best practices when it comes to handling extremely-sensitive matters.”
Ohio Sunshine Laws, which cover what are public records and how they’re released, do not legally prevent any body like the CPC from posting or publishing what they’ve received from a government branch.
In Adam’s mind, the choice to show the public that 44 misconduct cases have been lingering for more than four years stemmed from a philosophy that went beyond concerns of good taste and ethics.
“I mean, we don’t even know if these people are victims, because they have not yet been investigated,” Adams said.
“It’s possible that the complainant is not telling the truth,” he added. “It is possible that they responded. That’s the whole point—we don’t know, so we shouldn’t be calling anybody a victim yet.”
As of last week, seven of the pending nine new members of the CPC have been sworn in by City Council, months after Mayor Bibb made his recommendations, the city said. Two spots remain open -- one after Council took issue with social media posts made by one candidate put forth by Bibb and another as sides battle about whether or not the Black Shield should have a representative on the body and, if so, who that should be.
Once the CPC has its full base re-energized, Adams suggested to Scene that more defiant investigations are to possibly come. Including both a follow-up on the 44 names released, as well as another request for additional open cases going back to 2015, the year the Consent Decree was created. Even if it means riling up outside powers.
“Our job is transparency,” Adams said. “For the community, and not to
move things the way that the city or the police would like us to.”
Which may not be what City Hall wants to hear.
“We hope that the CPC will focus on collaborating TOGETHER,” a statement read, “rather than amplifying already-known problems that further pushes everyone apart.” – Mark
Oprea
Former City Goods Site to Reopen as The Creative Hangars on March 1
On January 22, Ohio City Inc. announced that City Goods, the cluster of creative vendors nestled in seven U-shaped hangars on the corner of Church and State that it acquired roughly a year ago, would be closing by the end of the month. All 25 vendors and its cocktail bar would be out of business.
“Stay tuned on what’s next,” City Goods posted on its Instagram page. “As this space will continue to be a source of inspiration and creativity.”
Turns out, the next evolution of the space is returning it to its past.
Sam Friedman, the co-owner of Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve and previous owner of City Goods, is leading a resurgence with eight other vendors setting up shop in some of the space that will now be known as The Creative Hangars. A soft launch is scheduled for this Saturday March 1. (The other vendors include Promises to Care; Basil & Rex; Truly Rooted Juicery; Gena Page Designs; Cherub’s Blanket; Ginger & Honey; Sappho and Her Beans; and Linda’s Bee Farm.)
Meanwhile, Graham Veysey, the complex’s landlord, will continue to vet future tenants who could occupy the six other buildings.
Keeping the space active and wares being sold was imperative, Friedman told Scene.
“I had to step in,” he said. “And say, if this is happening, someone has to take control of this building. I mean, I’ll lose my own shop—so I volunteered to kind of stick my neck out.”
“For some of these vendors,” he added, “this is their livelihood.”
Following roughly two years of promoting small businesses in a metal-clad cluster market in Hingetown, City Goods hit a rocky patch in early 2024.
Friedman, along with Ohio City’s City Goods manager Liz Painter, realized that the complex had become financially unsustainable: the cocktail bar that was built to bankroll a portion of operating costs wasn’t cutting it alone; Friedman struggled for a time to keep City Goods at capacity.
In April of last year, Friedman sold the business to Ohio City Inc., feeling
that fashioning City Goods in a nonprofit model would do better to keep it financially afloat.
Which is not exactly what happened. On January 10, Ohio City Inc. announced to Friedman and City Goods’ vendors that it would no longer be managing the space by the end of the month.
“It crushed my soul,” Friedman said. “It’s like I’d birthed a really great child. But I didn’t have the resources to nurture it to its potential.”
Liz Painter, who helped guide and manage City Goods from the Ohio City Inc. side, told Scene on Monday that she hopes the entire Creative Hangars complex will thrive no matter who’s at the helm.
“From my point-of-view, City Goods was meant to be a steppingstone for small businesses to open their spaces independently,” she said. “It’s meant to be a launching pad. So we’re excited to see that still happen.”
Recent developments in and around Hingetown seem to back up Friedman’s decision to give City Goods another go—even in a stripped-down form.
New luxury apartments, like Bridgeworks on West 25th and The Vibe across from City Goods on Church, are groundbreaking soon. Larder is expanding across the way on West 29th. Royal Docks Brewery opened up nearby on Detroit Ave.
And West 29th itself will be ramping up the city’s plans to fashion it as an open street, one closed to car traffic.
As for the rest of the six buildings, Veysey said he’s “actively touring” new tenants, with official announcements to come this spring and summer.
While doing what he can to support Friedman and the eight tenants.
“All of this shows the real perseverance of entrepreneurs,” he said. –Mark Oprea
Great Lakes Brewing Confirms Plans for Scranton Peninsula Development, Just Not a Production Facility
For the past 37 years, Great Lakes Brewing Company has called Ohio City home.
From the birth and growth of GLBC into one of the Midwest’s biggest brewery brands, that has presented both its opportunities and challenges. And for years it has looked at opportunities to expand its footprint elsewhere.
In the next couple of years, that may finally happen.
Last week, Pat and Dan Conway confirmed via a press release that they are investing hundreds of thousands of dollars to prepare a strip of land along the Flats’ Scranton Peninsula for just that kind of expansion.
“That could potentially be a water-
front entertainment venture and beer garden,” co-owner Dan Conway said.
Butting up against an eight-acre field Great Lakes bought seven years ago is a two-acre swath that runs from the Tremont bluffs to the southern edge of the Silverhills at Thunderbird apartment complex still in progress. And that ten acres, the Conways said, are plausibly going to be host to an “experience-based” piece of development that may or may not be Scranton’s second outdoor brewspace hugging the Cuyahoga. (Hello, Brewdog.)
The Conways cautioned, however, that they still are looking at options elsewhere to expand brewing for Great Lakes.
“Those two acres would not satisfy our need for a production facility,” co-owner Pat Conway said in a statement. “But for [that] smaller, more experience-based Great Lakes initiative, we see a lot of possibilities.”
A grassy, communal space that “will be easily connected to both Irishtown Bend to the north, and to Bedrock’s 35-acre project to the east,” he added, “but also involves continued investment and operation of our historic Ohio City brewpub.”
It seems the Conways have been re-energized by the same philosophy that led them to help kickstart a West 25th renovation in the late 1980s and 1990s.
A kind of resurgence that, as Conway suggested, matches the energy around that Scranton site. And not just Thunderbird and The Collins work to create a new neighborhood—and obvious future regulars—just north of this beer garden thing.
But potential development from the Metroparks, a new kayak launch near Collision Bend, the Bedrock riverfront development, and Bibb’s lakefront master plan that may or may not be completed by the end of the decade.
While nearly half of Scranton Peninsula has been marked for new development, the other half lingers relatively unchanged from Scranton’s past as a haven for industry. Which is mainly what its eastern half is today: parking lots, vacant concrete and covert car and yacht service companies. (And a link, of course, to the Towpath Trail that runs through it all.)
The Conways gave no word as to when groundbreaking for the beer garden and entertainment complex might be. Friday’s announcement marks a total of $1.2 million spent to make those ten acres buildable.
And don’t worry, the legacy Ohio City pub is not going anywhere. — Mark Oprea
FEATURE
‘NOBODY’S TRYING TO HELP HIM’: DEATHS IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY JAIL INTENSIFY SCRUTINY
Videos
depicting two men’s final moments, and the response by guards, raise alarms at the embattled jail where at least 24 people have died since 2018
By Mark Puente and Brittany Hailer, The Marshal Project; and Scott Noll, News 5 Cleveland
AFTER PLEADING FOR medical care for several days, Glen Williams Jr. collapsed to the floor in the Cuyahoga County Jail.
No one checked for signs of life. A jail officer walked up and then walked away, pausing only to handcuff the fallen man.
On that morning in January 2024, at least nine minutes passed before jail workers started CPR. Williams never responded and later died at MetroHealth Medical Center from a ruptured aorta.
Eight months later, Tanya Anderson, Williams’ aunt, sobbed as she viewed the jail security video of the events that led to the 39-year-old’s death.
The video was obtained by The Marshall Project - Cleveland and WEWS News 5 as part of a yearlong investigation into deaths at the jail.
“Oh, my God,” she said while viewing the video for the first time. “All these people standing around. My nephew falls to the floor, and nobody’s trying to help him or revive him at all.”
The deaths of Williams and of Fred Maynard, a double amputee who died five months earlier after choking on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in front of jailers, raise questions regarding training, preventative medical care and life-saving first aid, the investigation found.
A troubled history
Over the years, the Cuyahoga County Jail has been cited by the state for repeated failures and outdated training that a correctional officer union’s attorney says leaves some jail staff unsure of when and how to use life-saving measures.
At least 24 people have died in the jail’s custody over the past six years, according to federal and state records and news reports. Even before that, in 2018, a U.S. Marshals Service investigation found myriad failures in health care, food services, safety, sanitation and security. The county faced lawsuits over poor conditions, civil rights
violations and inadequate medical care for years.
Following Williams’ death, the state placed the county on a corrective action plan in April 2024 for ignoring his pleas for medical help for several days.
County Executive Chris Ronayne’s administration did not inform the 11-member Cuyahoga County Council about the state action plan, according to a statement from Joseph Nanni, the council’s chief of staff.
Ronayne took office in 2023 after pledging during his election campaign to boost government transparency and improve conditions in the jail. Since his election, at least seven people have died in the jail after suffering medical emergencies or overdoses. Ten people died from 2020 through 2022.
Two medical experts, who reviewed jail records and security video of Williams’ and Maynard’s deaths at the request of the news organizations, said they were alarmed by the jail employees’ response to the medical emergencies.
According to Eric Jaeger, a paramedic, emergency medical services
educator and attorney in New Hampshire, Cuyahoga County failed to provide adequate care and “the community should be concerned,” he said.
“You need to cycle back and reevaluate whether the folks who are responding to these emergencies have received appropriate medical training and are prepared to deliver a high-quality basic life support,” said Jaeger, who specializes in reviewing in-custody deaths. “Because, at least in the instances we’ve seen, that did not occur.”
Adam Chaloupka, an attorney for the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, the union that represents jail employees, said correctional officers are first-aid certified, but they are not trained on how to respond to an emergency.
“You’re supposed to hit the button to call out to medical,” he said. “As far as we know, that’s what their requirements are and what they’re trained on.”
The jail failed to meet state requirements for CPR training and other standards in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023, state records show. Records from 2020 were not available.
Dr. Brooks Walsh, an emergency medicine physician at Bridgeport Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, also reviewed the security footage of the deaths.
He said CPR certification is just the first step in ensuring that a jail can save lives and provide adequate care.
“It really depends on the emphasis that a facility puts, not just on the initial certifications, but on continuing training,” Walsh said.
Senior jail workers cannot recall receiving a policy on medical emergency response in “the last few decades,” Chaloupka said.
“In the last eight years, I know I have never seen one,” he added. County officials declined to provide the news organizations with its emergency response policy after they were provided with detailed findings of the yearlong investigation.
Ronayne and Sheriff Harold Pretel declined requests for interviews but released a statement through Kelly Woodard, the county’s director of communications.
“Cuyahoga County is committed to ensuring the safety, care and fair treatment of every individual in our custody at the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center,” Woodard wrote.
“We take this responsibility seriously and continually work to identify and implement improvements to our practices. … Since Sheriff Pretel was first appointed in 2023, he has notified certain members of Council of every death in the jail, even if the cause of death was not known at that time.”
Sheriff: ‘That is horrendous’
During his adult life, Williams never stayed long in one area. Anderson, his aunt, said it was common for her nephew to bounce between Ohio and New York and not contactthe family for months.
Williams was sent to the Cuyahoga County Jail on Dec. 18, 2023, to serve 27 days for a misdemeanor assault conviction. Williams,
Tanya Anderson holds a photo of her late nephew, Glen Williams Jr., who died in January 2024 after collapsing at the Cuyahoga County Jail.
At least nine minutes passed before staff started CPR.|Cydni Elledge for The Marshall Project
Cuyahoga County Sheriff Harold Pretel said that when a person collapses in jail, employees should immediately provide basic first aid until medical technicians arrive.|Mark Puente/The Marshall Project
who was unhoused, was placed in a psychiatric unit. Anderson said her nephew had a history of mental illness.
Williams’ family grew worried in late 2023 after not hearing from him and spent parts of the Christmas season searching for him.
They learned he was in the jail when the staff called to notify Anderson of his death, she said.
In a subsequent Jan. 25, 2024, email, county officials told Anderson that Williams’ death was under investigation and that “no further information is available at this time.”
Anderson saw her nephew’s final moments when she met with the news outlets in a Toledo park in September and watched the jail videos.
On Jan. 10, 2024, at 7:18 a.m., video shows Williams collapsing to the floor in a common room full of incarcerated people. Jail workers directed the other men in the room into their cells and secured all the doors.
Over nine minutes passed before staff started CPR on Williams in the jail’s medical bay, multiple videos show.
“There should have been an immediate check to see if he still had a pulse,” said Jaeger, the paramedic educator. “If he didn’t have a pulse and wasn’t breathing, then the next correct action would be CPR.”
Williams was pronounced dead at MetroHealth Medical Center at 8:28 a.m.
Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson ruled that Williams died after his main artery broke and the sac around his heart filled with blood, stopping it from beating. High blood pressure and obesity also contributed, according to the autopsy report.
The county emailed the Ohio Bureau of Adult Detention, which oversees jails, about Williams’ death later
that day. The response to Williams’ collapse was “immediate,” Associate Warden Philip Christopher wrote.
“Both security and medical personnel promptly arrived on the scene,” Christopher wrote. Williams “was swiftly transported via gurney to the medical dispensary where life-saving measures, including CPR and the use of an AED (automated external defibrillator), were administered.”
Jaeger said Christopher’s email does not match the video.
“What we see in the Williams video is real delays,” Jaeger said, “and then when the medically trained staff arrives, we see further delays in administering any kind of life-saving care.”
In an April 2024 letter about Williams’ death, state inspectors said it had been determined that Williams had complained many times about health problems, though the inspectors don’t detail those complaints. Jail staff took no action to evaluate his symptoms, state records show.
State jail inspectors told the county it needed to correct multiple deficiencies in procedures to address shortness of breath and chest pain and how to appropriately document and respond to medical complaints.
“Based upon the information provided by Jail Administration, it appears that jail staff failed to follow written policy and procedure that address the issue of reporting of medical complaints,” the letter stated.
“The incarcerated individual reported numerous times over several days to medical staff that he was having medical issues, and the issues were not addressed in a timely manner or reviewed by qualified medical personnel.”
In the county’s statement, Woodard dismissed the letter’s corrective measures, calling the letter “a standard but valuable tool” for jail operations.
“These reports are standard and used internally by jail management and generally have not been shared with the public or County Council during any County administration,” she wrote.
Walsh, the emergency medicine physician, said an early intervention could have saved Williams’ life.
“What you really want to do is find someone who’s complaining of some symptoms ahead of time and get them to surgery as soon as possible,” he said.
During an interview in August, The Marshall Project - Cleveland asked Pretel, the sheriff, about Williams’ death and the jail’s protocols when a person collapses. He said employees should immediately provide basic aid until medical technicians arrive.
“Immediate is like instant,” Pretel said. “If that officer was just totally dismissive of someone in distress, then that is an issue to address.”
When pressed further on Williams’ death, Pretel replied: “That is horrendous. It’s under investigation. There is a further issue there.”
Pretel declined to be interviewed last month to answer further questions.
‘Things are starting to look up for me’
On Aug. 19, 2023, Fred Maynard, 60, emailed his former wife, Teresa Williams, to say his life was getting back on track and that he had landed a new apartment.
“Things are starting to look up for me,” Maynard wrote. “Only two more nights of sleeping in my car, and I am getting a new place.
“After I get in and get settled, you have to come see me and bring the baby. Tell everyone about it, and I love you guys.”
Later that day, police arrested Maynard on a warrant for failing to appear in court in Medina County on a drug possession charge, records show. The Brunswick man was listed as unhoused in jail records.
Maynard, a former truck driver, had to end his career after both his legs were amputated due to complications from diabetes, Teresa Williams wrote in a statement to the news outlets. He was the father of two sons and grandfather to three granddaughters.
Maynard entered the jail in a wheelchair at 2:14 p.m. on Aug. 19.
At about 6 p.m., he began choking on a sandwich.
Video footage shows a jail worker stopped and offered him a cup of water. Maynard fell unconscious. Another jail worker hurried behind Maynard and tried to perform the Heimlich maneuver.
More minutes passed before CPR
was started. EMS arrived at 6:22 p.m. and departed with Maynard at 6:31 p.m., according to jail records.
Maynard arrived unresponsive at MetroHealth Medical Center at 6:43 p.m. and was pronounced dead at 7:14 p.m., autopsy records show.
Medical examiner Gilson ruled Maynard’s death accidental but said “diabetes placed him at increased risk for potential swallowing issues,” according to the autopsy report.
The jail notified the state about Maynard’s death.
Maynard’s family told the news outlets that their questions about his death went unanswered by jail officials.
“It is really terrible that no one from the jail ever contacted us back to tell us what happened,” Teresa Williams wrote. “It seemed like it was just swept under the rug.”
The county is “unaware of any requests for information from the Maynard family regarding the death of their loved one,” Woodard wrote in a statement.
On March 27, state jail inspectors found staff had acted appropriately and closed the case, state records show.
Walsh and Jaeger disagreed with the state’s findings.
After the Heimlich maneuver failed, Walsh said, jailers should have made sure Maynard was breathing. If not, chest compressions should have been immediately started, he added.
“Instead, it looks like no one considered Mr. Maynard’s pulse, and he was left in the wheelchair for some time without other attempts to address the breathing,” Walsh said after viewing the video.
Jaeger called the medical care and delayed CPR intervention “clearly negligent and substandard.”
It’s “very disturbing because choking, unlike other emergencies, isn’t always fatal,” he said.
“There’s a decent chance for that individual to survive if they received good-quality basic life support care,” Jaeger said. “That just did not happen.”
Maynard’s family is still hurting, haunted by the questions over his death.
“No one has ever answered for how this happened,” Teresa Williams wrote. “Fred may have been in jail when he passed, but he was still a human being. Our family deserves answers in order to have closure.”
This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system, and News 5 Cleveland.
GET OUT Everything to do in Cleveland for the next two weeks
WED 02/26
Cleveland Auto Show
Featuring concept, pre-production and production vehicles from many of the world’s top auto manufacturers, the Cleveland Auto Show returns to the I-X Center. The massive event occupies nearly 1.2-million square feet and features exhibits, vehicle giveaways and a classic car competition. Today’s hours are 5 to 10 p.m., and the show continues through March 2. Consult the website for a complete schedule and for ticket prices. Parking is free.
1 I-X Center Dr., 216-676-6000, ixcenter.com.
Peter and the Starcatcher
A dozen actors portray more than 100 characters in this Peter Pan prequel based on a novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Great Lakes Theatre presents the play, and the performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the Hanna Theatre, where performances continue through March 2. 2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
THU 02/27
Beethoven’s Eroica
Violinist Leonidas Kavakos joins the Cleveland Orchestra as it plays Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 2 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, “Eroica” at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall, where performances repeat tomorrow and Saturday. 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Fairview
This play performed by Cleveland State University students centers on an African-American family as they prepare for a birthday dinner for their grandmother. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Helen, where performances continue through March 2. 1407 Euclid Ave, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Waitress
This musical based on the 2007 indie film features music and lyrics from pop singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles. A collaboration with the Baldwin Wallace University Music Theatre program, it’s at Beck Center for the Arts on Thursdays through Sundays until
March 9. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30. 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-5212540, beckcenter.org.
FRI 02/28
Whitney Cummings
A comedian, writer, and actress who has performed in stand-up specials for both HBO and Comedy Central, Whitney Cummings created and starred in the NBC series Whitney and was also the co-creator and co-writer of the Emmy-nominated CBS comedy series 2 Broke Girls. She performs tonight at 6 at the Agora.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
Monsters vs. Charlotte Checkers
The Monsters play the Charlotte Checkers tonight at 7 at Rocket Arena, and there will be special discounts on concessions as part of a regular promotion that takes place on Fridays throughout the season. The two teams play each other again at 7 tomorrow night.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.
Villain Arts presents the 10th Annual Cleveland Tattoo Arts Festival
There will be live entertainment, human suspension acts and even burlesque performances at this annual tattoo festival that takes place from today through Sunday at the Cleveland Convention Center.
500 Lakeside Ave., 216-928-1600, villainarts.com.
SAT 03/01
Jump Back Ball 2025: Candy in the Land
This annual fundraising party put on by Playhouse Square will feature cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres and live music. Proceeds raised through this event benefit Playhouse Square’s education programs, including sensory-friendly programming, Disney Musicals in Schools, the Dazzle Awards and Classroom Connections Workshops. The event begins at 7 p.m. at Playhouse Square.
1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
King James
Set in a bar in Cleveland Heights, this play chronicles basketball great LeBron James’s rookie season in Cleve -
Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley bring their #IMOMSOHARD show to the Agora. See: Sunday, March 2.|Courtesy of Shearer
land and the events that led to the team winning the 2016 NBA Championship. tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Outcalt Theatre, where performances continue through March 23.
1407 Euclid Ave, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Kurentovanje
The Slovenian National Home, St. Clair Superior Development Corp. and Sterle’s Country House partnered with local businesses and institutions to bring a piece of this cultural event to the St. Clair Avenue neighborhood. Today’s event starts at 9 a.m. at East 64th St. and St. Clair Ave. It runs until 6 p.m. It’s free. clevelandkurentovanje.com.
SUN 03/02
Cavs vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Today at 3:30 at Rocket Arena, the Cavs take on the Portland Trail Blazers. The Trail Blazers got off to a slow start this season but began to show signs of improvement last month. One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.
#IMOMSOHARD
The two moms bring the live version of their podcast about things like “children’s financial wisdom — or lack thereof” to the Agora. Doors open at 7 p.m.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
Wild Symphony!
The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown composed the songs that make up this symphony of songs about a variety of different animals, ranging from whales to bats. The concert takes place at 3 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall.
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
TUE 03/04
& Juliet
The writer from Schitt’s Creek penned this musical that imagines what might have happened if Romeo & Juliet had not ended in tragedy. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at Connor Palace, where performances continue through March 23. 1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Public Relations
WED 03/05
Cavs vs. Miami Heat
Thanks, in part, to its terrific head coach Erik Spoelstra, the Miami Heat are always-competitive. They come to Rocket Arena tonight at 7 to take on the Cavs.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.
THU 03/06
Amy
Tonight at 7, the Rock Hall screens Amy, a documentary about British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. The movie includes rare interviews with the late singer. 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 216-5158444, rockhall.com.
Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony
Franz Welser-Möst conducts the Cleveland Orchestra as it plays Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. Seong-Jin Cho will guest on piano. The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall, where performances continue through Sunday. 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
FRI 03/07
Michael Colyar
Comedian Michael Colyar tells the kinds of jokes that aren’t designed to appeal solely to fans of a certain ethnicity, age or background. He aims at making everyone laugh. Colyar, who’s just unleashed a Donald Trump impersonation that finds him spouting things like, “Let’s make America white again,” 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.
Monsters vs. Hershey Bears
The Monsters face off against the Hershey Bears tonight at 7 at Rocket Arena. There will be discounted concessions as part of a regular Friday night promotion, and the two teams play each other again at 4 p.m. tomorrow.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.
Sandwiches of History Live!
Barry Enderwick brings his tour in support of his book Sandwiches of History: The Cookbook to the Westfield Studio Theatre. Expect guest appearances and sandwich tasting. The event begins at 7 p.m. 1501 Euclid Ave., 216-664-6050, playhousesquare.org.
SAT 03/08
2025 Maple Sugar Festival & Pancake Breakfast
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and tomorrow, Hale Farm & Village hosts live demonstrations of tree tapping and sap boiling in the wood-fired syrup evaporator at C.O. Hale’s 1910 Sugar House. The event aims to show what life was like on farms in the Cuyahoga Valley during the 1800s. 2686 Oak Hill Rd., Newton Falls, 330666-3711, halefarm.org.
Twyla Tharp Dance
DanceCleveland celebrates the 60th anniversary of Twyla Tharp Dance with an evening of two dance pieces: Diabelli Variations, which will be accompanied by a live piano performance of Beethoven’s masterpiece, and a new work set to a reimagining of Philip Glass’s iconic Aguas da Amazonia. The performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the State Theatre. 1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
SUN 03/09
Je’Caryous Johnson Presents: Jason’s Lyric Live!
This play centers on the story of a man haunted by his past and a guarded woman who must fight for their love and future amidst “the challenges of family, betrayal, and dark forces in the gritty streets of Houston,” as it’s put in a press release. The performance takes place at 5 p.m. at the State Theatre. 1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
MON 03/10
Films from the Dylan Archive
Tonight at 7, the Rock Hall screens this one-hour program of Bob Dylan videos, some of which are previously unreleased.
1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 216-5158444, rockhall.com.
TUE 03/11
Cavs vs. Brooklyn Nets
The Cavs take on a Brooklyn Nets that is in rebuilding mode and one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. The game begins at 7 p.m. at Rocket Arena. One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.
AROMA CAFE IS ONE OF CLEVELAND’S BEST-KEPT CULINARY SECRETS
Inside Chef Mario
Marotta’s oneman Rocky River experience
By Zachary Schwartz
TO MOST NORTHEAST OHIO
diners, Aroma Cafe is shrouded in mystery. Curious first-time diners will find no online menu, no social media presence, and no advertising. Its listed hours—a vanishingly brief window on certain weekdays—aren’t accurate. Fewer than 50 reviews appear on Google, though they’re all five stars. The friend who tipped me off about Aroma Cafe was unsure if I could get a reservation.
When I did, I discovered one of the most charming restaurant experiences in town.
The Italian restaurant (not to be confused with Cafe Ah-Roma) celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Its proprietor, Mario Marotta—“Chef Mario” to his regulars—is from a small town in southern Italy. He carries a strong accent and intense gaze, which is often broken by fits of easy laughter. Apart from a dishwasher and, occasionally, his son Manny, Mario runs a one-man show. That means tables are limited (there are only 20 seats total), and reservations can be hard to come by among those already in the know. That’s because Aroma Cafe has developed a near-religious, if small, following in Cleveland. “I have to come here once a month to nourish my soul,” a fellow diner told our table.
Finding Aroma Cafe is a small odyssey in itself. The restaurant is hidden on the top floor of a nondescript office building in Rocky River. After ascending in a rickety elevator, you follow the murmur of Italian ballads like a siren’s song until you find the restaurant. Chef Mario greets you and shows you to your table, where you gaze upon an astonishingly romantic view of Rocky River’s milquetoast skyline.
Everything at Aroma Cafe is highly orchestrated. There is only one white and one red wine each evening, hand-
picked by Mario. Orange slices infuse the water. Before you’ve parsed the menu, Mario has shoveled onto your table heaps of unordered crostini, cheese, and dried fruit—compliments of the chef, of course.
Aroma Cafe focuses on Italian classics: veal parmigiana, pork tenderloin, chicken, steak, seafood, and a wide variety of pastas. Lunch can be ordered using a standard menu, but dinner seems to depend on Mario’s whims: On one visit, we ordered from a small, handwritten menu (which didn’t include prices); on another, all diners were served the same prix fixe five-course dinner. Chef Mario explains it this way: “I scan the diners, I see what they may want, and I decide the dinner based off that.”
On one visit, the filet mignon was served on a medallion of butternut squash and smothered in a creamy gorgonzola mushroom sauce. The Orecchiette Florentine pasta, which gets its name from its “small ears” shape, was doused in a fragrant spinach-andcream sauce (and paired with a visual demonstration of how to knead the pasta). Standout appetizers included the seafood bisque and grilled jumbo prawns in a delicate oregano-and-whitewine sauce. Dessert was a deliciously light raspberry mascarpone, fizzy and flecked with pomegranate seeds.
These dishes are good; some of them, including the succulent lamb chops, are great. But where Aroma Cafe really shines is the experience. Nearly all dishes are served with a helping of history. As Mario delivered our crostini, he took a moment to explain its humble beginnings as an aperitivo, as well as its differences from bruschetta. As he served a pasta, Mario delved into the history of an obscure, 14th-century horse race from the same region—and then pointed to that very race’s flag hanging on his wall. He may even bless your meal and the Pope at the same time.
In his 60s, Mario is in the golden years of a career that began in Laurino, a small medieval town in the province of Salerno, Italy. At 14, he began serving in restaurants, and spent the next few decades working on Royal Viking Line Cruises and glitzy gigs in Europe,
developing his theory of hospitality: “Service is all about talking to people, and the little things.” He speaks with great pride about serving public figures such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Ronald Reagan, and Carl Sagan.
In 1990, Mario moved with his wife to the U.S. and worked in restaurants in Miami and Pittsburgh. In 1996, he transitioned from serving to cooking, and in 1999 he moved to Cleveland. (Longtime Scene readers might recognize Chef Mario from a writeup 20 years ago of a similarly eccentric local restaurant.) Given his experience in both the front and back of the restaurant, Mario considers himself equal parts chef and host—which was the concept of Aroma Cafe, where guests could enjoy Mario’s food and unique service at the same time.
Hours slip by at Aroma Cafe. I was jolted out of my reverie only by the sound of chocolate-covered raisins rattling on my plate, signaling the end of the meal. Prices are variable: On one night, dinner for two—two entrees, two appetizers, and a glass of wine—cost $86. On another night, a more sumptuous prix fixe meal for two—stuffed mushrooms, broccoli florets, eggplant parmesan, jumbo prawns, two kinds of pasta, filet mignon, watermelon cuts, raspberry mascarpone, and espresso—totaled $122. Mario explains he is amenable to guest requests. Once a week, he even provides a “European lunch” for a certain discerning patron: “Four courses, two hours, and one bottle of wine,” he says with a veritable twinkle in his eye.
Upon our departure, my wife said that Aroma Cafe reminded her of an experience she had in Italy, of winding her way through some alley and into someone’s living room, where food was whisked to her table en masse and she was treated like family. Chef Mario is
on a madman’s mission to ensure no guest leaves hungry—a true taste of Old-World Italian hospitality. He even handed us a box of extra cake on the way out.
Are there other good Italian restaurants in Northeast Ohio? Of course. But Aroma Cafe offers the undiluted slice of Europe. Mario himself describes his restaurant as a “way to leave the country without leaving the country.”
Mario usually accepts walk-ins for lunch, but only accepts reservations for dinner. It is best to schedule by text (440570-9817), though dinner reservations may need to be booked weeks in advance. Dress nicely. Expect to spend around $40-60 per person (minus tip), eat multiple courses, and leave absolutely stuffed. Anyone wishing to experience Aroma Cafe should do so as soon as possible. Mario plans to scale down operations within a year—“I may just keep this open on Friday and Saturday”—and focus on hosting private food tours to Southern Italy. Whenever he does decide to close, it will surely be a great loss for the regulars. To paraphrase one: other places in town have great Italian food, but they don’t have Chef Mario.
Photo by Zachary Schwartz
Photo by Zachary Schwartz
AROMA CAFE
20545 CENTER RIDGE RD, ROCKY RIVER
BITES
STEAK in Tremont to launch alfresco sushi concept in partnership with Sushi 86
By Douglas Trattner
SINCE OPENING IN TREMONT this past summer, STEAK (2179 W. 11th St., 216-331-2724) has been on a remarkable ride.
“It’s been a very, very nice success,” says owner Jason Beudert.
But the one-of-a-kind experience that diners enjoy inside would not likely translate to a patio setting, he says. So Beudert and his partners – Terry Francona and Chelsea Williams of Hangry Brands – have been exploring options for the outdoor spaces on the side and rear of the building.
“We knew we had to do something different, so we’re going to create a fun concept called SUSHI – and I’m partnering with Rachel Hsu of Sushi 86 on it,” adds Beudert.
The seasonal venture will emerge this spring and include a sushi food truck, mobile bar cart, and secluded 30-seat courtyard. As with STEAK, Beudert is leaning into high design combined with a high-energy, “Tokyo-style vibe.”
Local diners have been enjoying Rachel Hsu’s sushi since 2000, when she and her husband Mike opened their first shop on Public Square. Recently, Sushi 86 moved from the 5th Street Arcades to an attractive new restaurant at Harbor Verandas next to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
With SUSHI, explains Hsu, diners can expect something a little different.
“We have been rolling sushi in Downtown Cleveland for 25 years and understand what Clevelanders enjoy when it comes to sushi,” she says. “But being in Tremont will allow us to flex and have some fun while staying true to what we do best.”
Hsu, along with resident sushi chef Dominique Moon, will prepare delicious, affordable and “Instagrammable” sushi, they
promise.
“A signature trademark of SUSHI is that all sushi white rice will be dyed a vibrant pink using organic beet juice,” they state.
Diners can look forward to a menu of starters, traditional sushi and signature rolls.
STEAK operating partner
Julia Licastro is already at work crafting a whimsical cocktail program for SUSHI that stays on brand. Diners can look forward to drinks like summery cocktails, sake slushies and plenty of spritzes, all served up in fun vessels.
Beudert is well aware of the sushi options in the neighborhood. This new venture is aiming for a completely different vibe, he says.
“There are a lot of amazing high-end sushi joints in the area, but SUSHI will be a fun, casual, delicious, and most importantly, affordable sushi joint. If you want fancy sushi, this is not your spot.”
Weather permitting, SUSHI will be open the same hours as STEAK.
W Sports Bar, Cleveland’s First Women’s Sports Bar, to Open in Gordon Square This Spring
while providing a welcoming, vibrant and inclusive atmosphere for fans of all sports.
“Yes, we’ll be showing all sorts of sports here,” Pippin said in today’s video. But the emphasis, of course, will be on making sure there’s a dedicated showcase for women’s sports.
“Cleveland women’s sports fans do not have a consistent space to call home to rally with other fans and show their love of the game,” states management. “We plan to change that.”
Otani Japanese Restaurant in Mayfield Heights to Close
It was at Otani Japanese Restaurant that most Northeast Ohioans got their first taste of sushi and Japanese cuisine.
Cleveland might have lost its bid to Denver for the National Women’s Soccer League expansion team, but reports say we are getting a new WNBA team, and the timing couldn’t be better as Cleveland will also soon become home to the W Sports Bar, the city’s first women-owned sports bar.
It will open this spring in the former Banter spot in Detroit-Shoreway.
“With the growing demand for women’s sports and Cleveland’s sports culture thriving more than ever, it’s about time we have a spot dedicated to supporting and celebrating the athletes and fans who’ve longed for a place to call their own,” says management.
The ownership team consists of Cassy Kopp and Ally Eclarin of State Champs, a streetwear brand, and Shelley Pippin of Brewnuts. And while we’ve known of the team’s plans to open such a bar in town, we did not know until today where that bar would be located.
“We’re officially getting this show on the road,” Pippin said in an Instagram video this morning.
When it opens, W will offer a dedicated space for fans to watch women’s sporting events
Opened in 1978 by Kazushige Honda, the restaurant continued on its path to longevity after Janet and Heinz Lee came aboard in 1985 following Honda’s retirement.
Now, it’s time for Janet Lee to retire as well.
“It’s with great appreciation and many emotions, that we announce the retirement of Janet Yee and the closing of Otani Japanese Restaurant in Mayfield Heights,” the restaurant shared in an announcement this week.
“It’s been quite a journey. Along the way, we’ve had the privilege to be a part of the Cleveland community, to open additional restaurants, and most importantly, to serve our cherished customers. We can’t fully express our deep appreciation toward our many customers, many of whom we consider to be family, and we are forever grateful to our customers and staff, past and present. The fond memories of our times together will follow us into retirement.”
Otani’s last day of business will be March 16.
The Otani ramen shops, of which Janet Lee is an investor, will remain open.
dtrattner@clevescene.com t@dougtrattner
Courtesy Photo
MUSIC
DREAM TEAM
Don Was recruited some of Detroit’s finest jazz musicians for his new band
By Jeff Niesel
RECENTLY, MUSICIAN AND producer Don Was realized a longtime dream of his and put together the Pan Detroit Ensemble, a jazz band featuring musicians from his Detroit hometown. Growing up in the Motor City, Was absorbed the city’s music with a passion that found a way into his 1980s band Was (Not Was) and now into the Pan Detroit Ensemble, a group that reflects Detroit’s history as a blue-collar town.
“I was acutely aware of Detroit’s jazz scene while growing up,” he says via phone. Was and the Pan Detroit Ensemble perform at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, at Music Box Supper Club. “I missed a lot of stuff being too young. In 1966, I discovered there was a jazz station in Detroit. Primarily, there was one guy, Ed Love, who’s in his 90s now and is still on WDET. He played great music and promoted shows in Detroit. I was able to go to his shows where he featured local openers.”
Was, who currently heads up the jazz imprint Blue Note Records, says he was also a “rock ’n’ roll kid” who followed Detroit proto-punks the MC5 and radical writer John Sinclair.
“It’s an incredible thing in Detroit,” he says. “I can’t quite explain it. There’s an inordinate number of jazz musicians from Detroit on the Blue Note roster. There’s Donald Byrd, Joe Henderson, Curtis Fuller, Kenny Burrell, Hank Jones, Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, and it goes on. There’s a staggering number. There’s something intrinsic in the music of Detroit that is relevant all over the world and resonates. There’s a universal spine to Detroit music. There’s a rawness and honesty that come from a working-class town.”
Was says that Cleveland has a similar feel to it because it too has a working-class ethos.
“The audiences in Detroit and Cleveland have always felt the same to me,” he says. “Even going back to the MC5 and the Stooges. Cleveland was a big town for those bands. We all spoke the same language.”
Was traces the idea for the Pan-Detroit Ensemble to an idea he had as a teenager and says the concept has percolated in his mind for decades.
“I remember in 1968 walking home from high school thinking of how cool it would be to have Miles Davis and Merle Haggard in a band together,” he says. “I could hear what that would sound like. I was always facing that. If I have a complaint about the music we made with Was (Not Was), it’s that you can see the seams where we sewed the rock and R&B and jazz together. I wish it were a little more seamless. That’s what I always heard. I knew it would require some work to chase it up and realize that sound. If that’s the thing that is your vision, it can be frightening to chase it and run the risk of not getting it, especially on the world stage. I always put it off. There were always other things to do.”
By “other things to do,” he means producing records for acts such as the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, the B-52’s, Wayne Shorter, John Mayer and Charles Lloyd. In 1995 he produced and directed a documentary about the life of Brian Wilson, I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times, that won the San Francisco Film Festival’s Golden Gate Award. As a film composer, he won the 1994 British Academy Award (BAFTA) for Best Original Score in recognition of his work on the film Backbeat. If that weren’t enough, in 2018, he joined Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir to form the Wolf Brothers.
A couple of years ago, jazz great Terence Blanchard called Was because he was curating a series of Detroit jazz for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
“He asked me to do a night, and I said I would,” says Was. “He asked me about two years in advance, and about six months before, I realized I had to put a band together. I wasn’t sure how to start. I went back to Detroit and got back with some people who listened to the same music, so we could all speak the language of Detroit.”
The Pan Detroit band includes saxophonist Dave McMurray, Eminem’s Oscar-winning collaborator keyboardist Luis Resto, trombonist Vincent Chandler, trumpeter John Douglas, drummer Jeff Canaday, percussionist Mahindi Masai, guitarist Wayne Gerard and singer Steffanie Christi’an.
“We just got together to play, but the minute we started playing together, it felt like we’d been playing together for decades,” says Was. “It was really comfortable. When you have that chemistry, it’s not to be taken lightly, so we have kept doing it.”
“Loser,” a Dead song that Was played with Weir, is part of the Pan Detroit set and becomes an epic soul/ jazz number in their hands.
“Singer Steffanie Chrsti’an sings the shit out of the song,” says Was, who adds that Weir has heard the Pan Detroit version of the tune and loves it. “Approaching the music with a sense of jocular fearlessness is something I picked up from Bobby [Weir]. It’s fun. We enjoy ourselves. [We’re not] afraid to crash the car into a brick wall. People will accept that. They know that you’re trying to get someplace new in a higher gear.”
Don Was.|Miryam Ramos
LIVEWIRE Real music in the real world
THU 02/27
Lara Ruggles
On a national tour in support of her new album, Anchor Me, Tucson-based singer-songwriter Lara Ruggles will perform as a duo tonight with fellow Southwestern singer-songwriter Jaxon Ovation. Sugardeer and Dana Perry open. The show starts at 9 at the Happy Dog.
5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474, happydogcleveland.com.
Joe Samba
The reggae-rock musician performs tonight at 8 at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights as he brings his Lifeline tour to town. His new single “Home” featuring Mihali, features soulful vocals and thick bass riffs as it comes off as if it were a classic ‘70s reggae tune.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.
FRI 02/28
Jonathan Richman
Everyone knows singer-songwriter Jonathan Richman for the Modern Lovers’ hit “Roadrunner,” which played during one of the montage scenes in School of Rock. The Modern Lovers were a very influential protopunk band of the ’70s. Richman’s current style moves between Latin and folk, but he still sounds youthful. He performs tonight and tomorrow night at 8 at the Heights Theatre in Cleveland Heights.
2781 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, grogshop.gs.
SAT 03/01
Greg Cartwright & the Pull Chains
Members of Reigning Sound make up this garage rock act that performs tonight at 8 at the Beachland Tavern. The Alarm Clocks and DJ Erin & DJ Rochelle open the show. 15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
Enter the Haggis
Founded in 1995, this Canadian Celtic group regularly plays the festival circuit. Its current tour that brings it to the Kent Stage supports the new single “Swallowed by a Whale,” which the band describes as “a blistering true story sea-shanty.” Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Andy
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.
Grand Funk Railroad
The classic rock group from Flint, MI had a number of hits in the ‘70s. Songs such as “We’re an American Band” and “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” still receive airplay on classic rock radio. Expect to them tonight when the group, which still features founding members Don Brewer and Melvin Schacher, performs at 8 p.m. at MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage. 10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield,
330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark. mgmresorts.com/en.html.
SUN 03/02
Discover Weekly Cleveland
This free series at the B-Side will feature a different line-up of emerging artists and area nonprofits to promote their message to the community through song. The event takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. It continues each Sunday through April 28. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd, Cleveland
Heights, bsideliquorlounge.com.
TUE 03/04
The Bevis Frond
UK psych band the Bevis Frond have come to the U.S. for the first time in 25 years following the release of their acclaimed album, Focus on Nature. The tour brings them to the Happy Dog tonight at 8:30. Dave Swanson’s Mystery Airship opens. 5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474, happydogcleveland.com.
Frasco brings his soulful show to the Beachland Ballroom. See: Saturday, March 8.|Stephanie Parsley
THU 03/06
Inaugural Women of the Blues: Coast to Coast Festival
This multi-day event that takes place at the Treelawn from today through Sunday kicks off with a private reception and a series of speakers. Tomorrow, Carlie Guy & the Nu Blu Band along with Christine perform at 8. A tribute to Nina Simone takes place on Saturday, and things wind down on Sunday with a brunch. 15335 Waterloo Rd, 216-677-8733, www. thetreelawn.com.
FRI 03/07
Chest Fever
After successfully recreating the Band’s The Last Waltz and Rock of Ages, the rock group Chest Fever is turning the dial back even farther and will be perform material from the Band’s debut album, Music From Big Pink, in addition to classics from across the Band’s oeuvre at tonight’s show at the Winchester. The concert begins at 8.
12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-600-5338, facebook.com/ TheWinchesterMusicTavern.
Burton Cummings & His Band 60th Anniversary
The veteran rock singer that fronted the Guess Who for several years brings his tour celebrating 60 years as a singer to the Goodyear Theater in Akron. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. 1201 East Market St., Akron, 330-6597118, goodyeartheater.com.
Faye Webster
This up-and-coming indie pop singer-songwriter comes to the Agora in support of her latest album, Underdressed at the Symphony. Songs such as the woozy “Kingston” have a dreamy quality thanks to soft vocals and jazzy horns and piano. Doors open at 7 p.m., and singer-songwriter Mei Ehara opens.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
SAT 03/08
Andy Frasco & The U.N.
Initially, singer-songwriter Andy Frasco, who grew up in L.A., managed local bands when he was in his late teens. He eventually decided he wanted to form his own damn band and learned to play piano. He put ads on Craiglist to find musicians who loved Chuck Berry as much as he much he loved the Rock Hall Inductee.
It took him a few years, but he finally put a band together and has toured and recorded ever since. He performs tonight at 8 at Beachland Ballroom. 15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
Great White and Slaughter
The two hard rock bands from the ‘80s bring their co-headlining tour to MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage. Great White, which leans glam rock, had hits in the ‘80s with “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” and the bluesy “Rock Me.” Slaughter hit it big in the early ‘90s with its Def Leppard-inspired debut, Stick It to Ya. The concert begins at 8 p.m.
10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark. mgmresorts.com/en.html.
Ana Popovic
Singer-guitarist Ana Popovic has been on the road for 20 years now, and she regularly includes Northeast Ohio as a tour stop. The husky voiced Popovic plays guitar with a real Stevie Ray-like fierceness on albums such as 2011’s Unconditional and 2013’s Can You Stand the Heat. She performs at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Box Supper Club. 1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.
StakHouse
The local group plays a release party tonight at House of Blues Cambridge Room. The group of teens celebrates the release of its new album, Anthems for the Irritated. Doors open at 6 p.m. 308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583.
SUN 03/09
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country
The singer-songwriter who draws inspiration from both the Grateful Dead and old school country and country-rock brings his cosmic country show to the Beachland Ballroom tonight at 8. His latest album, Reflector, even veers into Allman Brothers territory with tunes such as “Hi-Country.” 15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
The Millennium Tour 2025
Hip-hop stars Trey Songz, Omarion and Bow Wow with Boosie, Rick Ross, Plies, Ray J, Sammie, Bobby V and Pleasure P, the Ying Yang Twins and Nivea will perform as part of this tour that touches down at Rocket Arena. The concert begins at 7 p.m.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com. scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene
SAVAGE LOVE
TEAM FANTASIZE
By Dan Savage
Dear Readers: I haven’t felt so good since visiting a rustic pluck-your-own chicken place for dinner last week and — doctor’s orders — I’m not allowed to operate my advice column until I’m feeling better. Please enjoy this column from February 17, 2017 and look for a brand-new column in this space next week.
Dan
I am a straight married man. My wife and I have a 4-year-old and a 3-month-old. We’ve just started having intercourse again. For Valentine’s Day, we spent the night in a B&B while grandma watched the kids. We had edibles, drank sparkling wine, and then fucked. It was amazing. After we came and while we were still stoned and drunk, my wife mentioned she was open to inviting others into our sex life. I asked about getting a professional sex worker. She said no. But maybe if we were in a bar (we’re never in bars) and met someone (a unicorn), she might be into it. Anal came up. She’s always said she’s up for trying anything once. I have a desire to experiment with anal. (Not just me entering her, but her pegging me as well.) I asked if she would use the vibrator we brought on me, just to experiment. She said she was too high to do anything. I felt let down. I feel she unknowingly teased me with fantasies I have, not knowing I actually have them. We have a good sex life, and I’m willing to write off the fantasies we discussed while high and drunk. It’s the teasing that drove me crazy.
Having And Realizing Desires
P.S. I’m in no hurry. We just had a baby, and I don’t want to pressure my wife right now. My fear is that she may only like the idea of exploring our sexuality together and not the reality of it.
Some people think about, talk about, and masturbate about certain fantasies without ever wanting to realize them. Let’s call them Team Fantasize. Some people think about, etc., certain
fantasies and would very much like to realize them. Let’s call them Team Realize. There’s nothing wrong with either team. But when someone on Team Fantasize is married to someone on Team Realize, well, that can be a problem. Knowing your spouse is turned on by fantasies you share but rules out realizing them—or sets impossible conditions for realizing them— can be extremely frustrating. And sometimes a frustrated Team Realize spouse will say something like this to their Team Fantasize mate: “Talking about these fantasies together—this kind of dirty talk—it gets my hopes up about actually doing it. If it’s never going to happen, we have to stop talking about it, because it’s frustrating.”
The problem with that approach? Swingers clubs, BDSM parties, and the strap-on-dildo sections of your finer sex-positive sex-toy stores everywhere are filled with couples who used to be on opposite teams—one from Team Fantasize, the other from Team Realize—but they’re both on Team Realize now. And what got them on the same team? Continuing to discuss and share fantasies, even at the risk of frustrating the Team Realize spouse.
So, if you ever want to have that threesome or experiment with anal, HARD, you need to keep talking with your wife about these fantasies— and you need to tell her your fantasies too! Tell her you’re not pressuring her, of course, but let her know these are things you would actually like to do, and the more you talk about them, the more you want to do them. If she keeps talking with you about them, that’s a sign. Not a sign that she’s a cruel tease, HARD, but a sign that she’s inching closer toward pulling on a Team Realize jersey.
P.S. If your wife doesn’t know you have these fantasies—and is consequently teasing you “unknowingly”—that’s your fault, HARD, not hers.
I wanted to tell you about something that happened to my friend. (Really!) She was going to bang this dude from OkCupid but wasn’t getting a great feeling, so she went to bed and let him crash on the couch. She woke up the next day to find her underwear drawer empty on the floor and all of her underwear wrapped around this dude’s feet. She
stealthily removed all the panties from his perv hooves and put her shit away. When the morning actualized itself, they parted amicably with no mention of the underwear slippers.
Men In Alaska
Ask yourself, MIA, which is the likelier scenario:
Scenario One: Perv Hooves stumbled around your friend’s dark apartment in the middle of the night, managed to find her underwear drawer, pulled it out and set it on the floor, made himself a pair of pantie-booties, had himself a wank, and fell back to sleep. All without waking your friend. Then your friend got up in the morning, saw her panties wrapped around his hooves, peeled them off one by one, and returned her panties to their drawer. All without waking Perv Hooves up.
Scenario 2: Your friend got a little pervy with this guy — a thing for feet and/or panties isn’t that pervy — wanted to tell you about this guy’s kink, but was too embarrassed to admit that she’d gone along and possibly got into it.
While Scenario One is entirely plausible — it could’ve unfolded that way — my money is on Scenario Two because I’ve heard so many variations of song over the years: “I met this pervert who did these perverted things in front of me while I was asleep, and I wasn’t in any way involved and I wasn’t harmed. Isn’t that pervert crazy?” In most cases it only took a little drilling down — a little pointed questioning — for learn that person relaying the story played an active role in the evening’s perversions but edited the story to make themselves look like a passive bystander, not a willing participant.
I’m a 30-year-old straight woman who has been with the same guy (high-school sweetheart!) for the last 13 years. We love each other deeply, best friends, etc. The problem isn’t that the sex isn’t good—he’s very good at making me come. But the sex is vanilla and routine, and I would like us to go beyond that. Nothing extreme, I just want to switch things up a bit. Talking about sex makes my husband REALLY uncomfortable. If I ask him what he’d like me to do to him while we’re having sex, he shuts down. He’ll say, “Everything you do is good,” and leave it there. In the
very few conversations we’ve had about this stuff, he’s said that he feels intimidated and doesn’t know what to say. This is incredibly frustrating for me. How do I get him to loosen up and feel more comfortable about talking to me so that we can eventually progress to some new experiences?
Why Husband Is Prudish
Have you told him what you want? If you haven’t — if you’re as vague in your conversations with him as you were in your letter to me — you’re essentially asking your husband to guess at your undisclosed interests or kinks. Your husband is rightly terrified of guessing wrong. He doesn’t know what to do, he doesn’t know what to say, but he’s told you he’s fine with whatever you wanna do. So, stop asking him what he wants to do to you, WHIP, and start doing (or telling him to do) whatever it is you wanna do. Take the initiative! Be the change/switch you want to see in the sack! Lean in! Or bend over! Or whatever!
From your sign-off, WHIP, I’m guessing you’re interested in some type of BDSM play, most likely with you in the sub role. So, lay that kink card on the table… but maybe offer to dominate him first. A lot of subs do some topping, i.e., a little doing unto others as subs would done unto them, and some subs become tops exclusively. Gently topping your husband — baby steps — is a good way to show him what you want since you’re finding it hard to talk about it.
P.S. Doing things you haven’t discussed isn’t ideal. So, emphasizing again the importance of taking the tiniest of baby steps here. You wanna give him a small taste of what it is you want, WHIP, not shove the whole roast down his throat. And insist on talking after.
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