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CLEVELAND PIEROGI WEEK JANUARY 19-25 jan 14 - 27, 2025 volume 57 issue 1
CONTENTS
JAN 14, 2026–JAN 27, 2026 • VOL. 57 No 1 Up Front......................................4 Feature........................................5 Eat �������������������������������������������� 18 Get Out......................................20
Livewire.....................................22 Music.........................................24 Savage Love...............................26
Dedicated to Free Times founder Richard H. Siegel (1935-1993)
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COVER ILLUSTRATION BY JUSTIN MICHAEL WILL
3 Pierogi for $8 All Week Long Cleveland Pierogi Week returns January 19-25 with $8 pierogi deals from 30+ local eateries. Whether you love tradition or live for new flavors, there’s a pierogi with your name on it. Download the Cleveland Pierogi Week app to map your route, earn rewards and share your pierogi adventures.
DOWNLOAD THE APP THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 PIEROGI WEEK SPONSORS:
January 19-25, 2026
www.pierogiweekcleveland.com 2
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3 Delicious Pierogi Week Specials Chi-Dog Pierogi House relish, Midwest IPA Hoppy Pickles, onions, tomato, yellow mustard, and an all-beef hot dog
Beef on Wek Beef and caraway dip and Edmund Fitzgerald Porter gravy
Green Bean Casserole (pictured) Killbuck Valley Mushroom soup, green beans, fried onions
Hours Mon–Wed 12pm–8pm/Bar 9pm Thurs & Fri 12pm–9pm/Bar 10pm Saturday 11am–9pm/Bar 10pm Sunday 11–3pm/Bar 4pm
216.771.4404 2516 Market Ave greatlakesbrewing.com
UPFRONT MONDAY MORNING,SUPPORTERS and ex-DJs of the axed college radio station WCSB filed a lawsuit against their former host, Cleveland State University, in county court. In a 14-page complaint filed in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, WCSB DJs claim that CSU President Laura Bloomberg covertly schemed to quiet the station’s criticism by transferring the antenna to Ideastream. And then, they allege, making it seem like a win-win situation: Ideastream gets a new terrestrial signal; CSU students get a swath of new internship opportunities. Bloomberg “grew weary of the independent voices at WCSB, their nonconformist attitudes, their complaints about university operations and their protests against university policy,” the court document reads. “At some unknown point as those protests were ramping up,” it states, CSU “began secret deliberations and discussions to sandbag WCSB with a plan to shut it down.” The suit comes roughly three months after Bloomberg announced, on October 3, that WCSB’s offices off Chester Ave. would be vacated, after nearly five decades of broadcasting. And three months after former station manager Alison Bomgardner, who is one of the plaintiffs, was barred from the studio. Well-attended protests, like the one that took place outside the City Club in mid-October, followed. Former DJs banded together around XCSB, a guerrilla recreation of the station — vowing to keep its programming alive, be it online or at weekly shows at the Happy Dog in Gordan Square. But Monday’s filing marks the first serious legal involvement between the two entities. Bomgardner and crew are asking not only for transparency surrounding Bloomberg’s socalled plan—via the release of public records— but also for CSU to “invalidate” the operating agreement between them and Ideastream. (And return it to WCBS DJs.) Their claim is that Bloomberg and Cleveland State knowingly violated civil rights law when it held supposed private talks, with and without Ideastream, to figure out how it could do away with WCSB. A “discriminatory” practice, the suit alleges, that targeted WCSB DJs “because of the content of their speech.” If the suit progresses, Cleveland State could reach an agreement, or proceed to a trial by jury later this year or in 2027. Both CSU and Bomgardner refused to comment at length to Scene about the case. If the DJs are successful, its possible that the thousands of items still locked on the fourth floor of the Campus International building—from Hungarian records to vintage comic books—would be returned to the students and volunteers that once had access to them. – Mark Oprea
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WCSB SUES CLEVELAND STATE, ALLEGING IT HAD ‘SECRET PLAN’ TO SHUT STATION DOWN
WCSB Station at CSU | Photo by Mark Oprea Bibb Picks Ryan Puente as New Chief of Staff Bradford Davy, the longtime close-knit advisor to Mayor Justin Bibb, who kept tight lips and a low profile at City Hall, stepped down from his position this week, a city release said. An economist who played Bibb’s No. 2 with joviality, Davy helped City Hall structure and promote the city’s ten-figure bet on rehabbing vacant industrial land, helped launch its Housing First program, and helped oversee plans around the pricey landbridge meant to link Downtown with its lakefront. Davy will operate as a senior advisor to friend Bibb through March, trading off with former advisor Jessica Trivisonno, who will take the title of deputy chief of staff. “Bradford Davy has been an instrumental leader during a pivotal period for our city,” Bibb said in a statement. “His steady hand, strategic counsel, and deep commitment to Cleveland helped move our administration forward and I am grateful for his service.” Completing the City Hall shuffle is Ryan Puente, former deputy chief of staff and Bibb’s campaign manager throughout the 2021 election, who will take Davy’s place. In an op-ed for Crain’s Cleveland on Wednesday, Davy wrote that he left amid the start of Bibb’s second term both surged with spirit for the city’s future and somewhat jaded by a lack of trust in government. Despite all the hard work that might go unnoticed: revamping Cleveland’s 311 system, eyeing thousands of poisoned industrial parcels for new business, raising (and keeping) $130 million to build up the long-lingering North Coast.
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“Doing all of this well is an enormous task, made harder by a simple reality,” Davy said, “increasingly, bureaucrats are expected to deliver with little support and even less public respect.” With a caveat: “I am not suggesting that anyone let the government off the hook,” he added. – Mark Oprea
Still to come are improvements that will greatly enhance the shopping experience. Down the road, visitors will enjoy expanded indoor seating options, a teaching kitchen and event space, and a landscaped courtyard with outdoor seating. The larger northern section of the arcade, which has been in use during construction, will be renovated as well, transforming into
West Side Market Unveils Renovated KeyBank Produce Arcade
a prepared food hall for local businesses.
Last week, the West Side Market in Ohio City unveiled its newly renovated produce arcade, which has been under construction for months. This section – the eastern wing – is now a climate-controlled environment with newly built stands that boast refrigerated cases, sinks and other amenities that will improve both the vendor and shopper experience. “We are thrilled to welcome Market shoppers into our renovated produce arcade and are grateful for KeyBank’s investment that made these renovations possible,” says Rosemary Mudry, Executive Director for Cleveland Public Market Corporation (CPMC), the non-profit that manages the Market. “What’s exciting is how this showcases the real vision for the whole project: preserved history, enhanced experiences, and all of our customers’ favorite vendors are still here.” CPMC has raised nearly $60 million of the total $70 million project budget. In addition to the new produce arcade, work already is underway to overhaul the food storage and preparation spaces in the basement, install new refrigeration systems, and add power generators to prevent frequent power outages.
of the Market’s master plan,” explains David
“The needs of our vendors are at the core Abbott, President of CPMC’s Board of Trustees. “Improvements to the Market’s infrastructure and physical support systems, balanced with layering on new experiences that meet evolving customer demand, will ensure the Market is a place where small business owners can thrive for the next century.” Until all the dust settles, shoppers can and should expect minor inconveniences to their regular visits, temporary nuisances for the greater good, say organizers. “While these changes to our arcade are important, they are still changes that will take everyone some time to adjust to,” adds Mudry. “We encourage our shoppers to come to the Market and support their go-to merchants as they adjust to their new surroundings.” On January 14, there will be an official ribbon cutting ceremony to open the new KeyBank Produce Arcade attended by Mayor Justin Bibb, West Side Market vendors and staff, and other stakeholders. – Douglas Trattner
2026 COMICS ISSUE
IT'S 2026 AND THE 14TH YEAR of the annual tradition that is the Cleveland Scene Comics Issue. Can you believe it?! This year's issue is once again curated by the two-woman team over at Vagabond Comics, Sequoia Bostick and Amalia Degirolamo, and features work by illustrators Tom Waitzman, Zach Nelson, Quill Kolat, Sara Calhoun, Lindsey Bryan, and Deni Lance. The Cover art is by the Jussiest wussiest Justin Michael Will. This year, their comics are going places! So kick back, stay safe, and stay warm while you enjoy these wonderful comics about road trips.
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I can picture it... it’s Spring, the roads are clear...
on the lake, the sky is a hazy blue
& you and me? We’re driving far, far away. You don’t even have a license yet.
NOT T H E PO I N T ! !
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FEATURE PIEROGI PERFECTION Cleveland Pierogi Week returns Jan. 19 through 25 with $8 pierogi specials all around town. By Scene Staff BOILED OR PAN-FRIED, crispy or buttery, classic potato-and-cheese or loaded with bold toppings, Cleveland Pierogi Week has you covered. It’s a weeklong celebration of one of Northeast Ohio’s most-loved comfort foods, with dozens of local restaurants serving up their own crave-worthy takes — from traditional favorites to creative chef specials — all for just $8 or less. Don’t forget to grab the Cleveland Pierogi Week app for a full guide to every deal right on your phone and be sure to raise a glass to Schnitz Ale Brewery, the official beer sponsor of Cleveland Pierogi Week. Ready to feast? Let’s dig in. ALL SAINTS PUBLIC HOUSE Paprikash Pierogi: Three potato-andthree-cheese pierogi, boiled and pan-sautéed with butter. Served on a bed of our famous house-made paprikash gravy. Topped with sour cream and fresh chives. AROUND THE CORNER Potato-and-Cheddar Pierogi: Three potato-and-cheddar pierogi. Served with grilled onions and sour cream on the side.
CROWLEY’S DIVE BAR Crowley’s Dive Bar will feature a different pierogi special at each of its four locations. In Eastlake, indulge in the Firecracker Pierogi, a cheddar-and-potato pierogi topped with white cheddar, gochujang sauce, crispy wontons, sriracha creme and scallion. In Painesville, go for the Bad Hombre Pierogi, a cheddar-and-potato pierogi topped with chorizo, queso blanco, scallion and chipotle creme. In Kirtland, dig into the Polish Hangover Pierogi, a cheddar-and-potato pierogi topped with smoked kielbasa, grilled onion and brown gravy. And in Shaker Heights, don’t miss Lobo’s Loaded Pierogi, a cheddar-and-potato pierogi dredged and deep-fried, then topped with bacon, beer cheese, burger sauce and scallion. DAS SCHNITZEL HAUS Choose from the Parmesan Truffle Potato Pierogi (traditional potato-and-cheese pierogi topped with aged parmesan, truffle and finished with rich black garlic) or the Classic Potato-and-Cheese Pierogi (soft, haus-filled pierogi with a creamy blend of whipped potatoes and rich cheese). Add a pint of Schnitz Classic Kölsch to any pierogi special for $4. ELLIOT’S BAR Fried Pierogi: Three fried pierogi with fermented Fresno aioli and dill crema. FOREST CITY BREWERY Cheese-and-Potato Pierogi: Three cheese-and-potato pierogi topped with sautéed onions and served with a side of sour cream. GREAT LAKES BREWING CO. Choose from three specials: Chi-Dog Pierogi (house relish, Midwest IPA hoppy pickles, onions, tomato, yellow mustard and an all-beef hot dog); Green Bean Casserole (Killbuck Valley mushroom soup, green beans and fried onions); or Beef on Wek (beef and caraway dip and Edmund Fitzgerald Porter gravy). GRUMPY’S CAFE Grumpy’s Cheese-and-Potato Pierogi: Grumpy’s pierogi loaded with caramelized onions and sour cream.
BANTER BEER AND WINE Choose from three specials: Chicken Paprikash Pierogi (seared cheese-and-potato pierogi topped with house-made chicken paprikash and sour cream); Wild Mushroom Pierogi (seared cheese-and-potato pierogi topped with sautéed wild mushrooms, almond truffle cream and scallions); or the Dessert Pierogi (sweet cheese pierogi, deep-fried and tossed in cinnamon sugar, with whipped cream and apple compote).
GUNSELMAN’S TAVERN Choose from The Italian Stinger (three artisan pierogi from The Pierogi Lady, stuffed with Italian sausage and banana peppers, sautéed golden brown and served over house-made Alfredo, then topped with marinated tomatoes and shredded Parmesan) or the O.G. Pierogi Lady Potato-and-Cheese (a classic potato-and-cheese pierogi made the way it should be—simple, nostalgic and perfectly executed). Pair either special with a Schnitz Classic Kölsch for $12.
BIRDIETOWN MINI GOLF & LOUNGE House-made Pierogi: House-made pierogi, smoked gouda mash, horseradish creme, candied red onions, crispy prosciutto and chive.
IMMIGRANT SON BREWING Chicken Paprikash Stuffed Pierogi: Three chicken paprikash-stuffed pierogi with caramelized onions and Hungarian paprika creme fraiche.
BRANKA’S BAKE HAUS Choose from the Pierogi Valentine (delicate pierogi filled with sweet, pitted cherries and finished with a soft drizzle of marshmallow creme and dark chocolate cocoa nibs) or the Classic Potato-and-Cheese Pierogi (soft, haus-filled pierogi with a creamy blend of whipped potatoes and rich cheese).
JO JO CARLONI’S Carloni’s Pierogi: Jo Jo Carloni’s homemade family recipe pierogi dough, stuffed with fluffy whipped potatoes and cheese. Sautéed with onions and served with a side of sour cream.
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NORA’S PUBLIC HOUSE Stroganoff Pierogi: Cheddar-and-potato pierogi topped with caramelized
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Photo: Courtesy of The Pierogi Lady onion, mushroom and beef gravy, and sour cream. PERLA PIEROGIS Potato-and-Cheddar Pierogi: Four potato-and-cheddar pierogi for $8. Takeout only. PIEROGIES OF CLEVELAND Pick any three pierogi flavors from the 36 available varieties. Each additional pierogi is $1.75. PIEROGI PALACE Pierogi Palace will be offering homemade pierogi in a variety of flavors. Mix and match and choose from whatever flavors are available that day. PUB 1812 AT HISTORIC RIDER’S INN Traditional Homemade Pierogi: Homemade pierogi pan-fried with onions and butter. Served with a side of sour cream. ROWLEY INN Loaded Rogi: Three sautéed fourcheese potato pierogi served over Cleveland Kraut, topped with cheddar, kielbasa, sautéed onions, peppers and sour cream. SCHNITZ ALE BREWERY Choose from the Reuben Pierogi (three pillowy pierogi filled with haussmoked corned beef, melted Swiss and tangy sauerkraut, finished on a bed of our famous cooked kraut and a side of Thousand Island aioli) or the Classic Potato-and-Cheese Pierogi (classic haus-filled pierogi with a creamy blend of whipped potatoes and rich cheese, topped with grilled onions). Add a pint of Schnitz
Classic Kölsch to either special for $4. SIBLING REVELRY SRB Pierogi: Three potato-and-cheese pierogi served with onion, sour cream and parsley. SOL WILLOUGHBY Pierogi Poutine: Cheddar-and-potato pierogi, beef gravy, pulled short rib, cotija cheese, horseradish aioli and scallions. THE AVIATOR Pierogi and Kielbasa: Local potato-and-cheese pierogi, caramelized onion, grilled kielbasa, pickled red cabbage sour cream and chives. THE PIEROGI LADY Choose from a variety of pierogi, including vegan and gluten-free options. Pierogi come with caramelized onions and sour cream. Take-home freezer packs will also be available. WEST END TAVERN Mushroom Spinach Alfredo Pierogi: Three cheese potato pierogi topped with mushroom spinach Alfredo. Add a sliced chicken thigh or sliced steak round topped with the mushroom spinach Alfredo for an additional $5. WEST PARK STATION Choice of the Classic Cleveland Pierogi (house-made potato-and-cheddar pierogi, pan-fried, topped with caramelized onions and served with sour cream and applesauce) or Paddy’s Pierogi (corned beef, cabbage and mashed potato pierogi served with sauerkraut and creamy horseradish).
DOWNLOAD THE APP Scan the code to get the Cleveland Pierogi Week app. Browse every participating restauarnt, map your route and check in along the way for a chance to win prizes. Specials run Jan. 19–25.
Featuring 36 Different Flavors to Choose From! For a full List, visit: poconlinestore.com
(330) 659-4309 4131 W. Streetsboro Rd. Richfield, OH CELEBRATE PIEROGI WEEK WITH 3 PIEROGI FOR $8! CHOOSE FROM A VARIETY OF PIEROGI, INCLUDING VEGAN AND GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS. PIEROGI COME WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND SOUR CREAM, IF DESIRED.
FREEZER PACKS DEAL
6 TAKE HOME PIEROGI FOR $8!
5322 FLEET AVE, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44105 FRIDAY 5PM–9PM | SATURDAY 11AM–9PM
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JOIN US FOR PIEROGI WEEK JAN 19–JAN 25
8 SPECIAL
$ PIEROGI
TRY OUR CHICKEN PAPRIKASH STUFFED PIEROGIES with Caramelized Onions and Paprika Creme Fraiche!
AND DON’T FORGET TO TRY OUR AWARD WINNING BEER! 18120 Sloane Ave. in beautiful Lakewood Ohio immigrantsonbrewing.com | 216-600-4483 MON–THUR 3–10pm | FRI 3–11pm | SUN 10am–9pm
HOMEMADE PIEROGI
Pan fried with onions & butter. Served with a side of sour cream.
792 Mentor Ave. Painesville OH 440-551-9416 pub1812.com
January 14–January 27, 2026 | clevescene.com | SCENE
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WE’RE B RIN GIN G YO U
3 PIE RO G I FO R $ 8
JANUARY 19-25, 2026
FROM S O ME O F CLEV ELAN D’S MOST P O P U LAR P IERO GI JO IN T S! pierogiweekcleveland.com
Check out our Paprikash Pierogi special! 1261 West 76th Street | 216-675-0028 | allsaintscle.com Tues–Sat: 4pm to 11pm & Sun: 3pm to 9pm
Multiple Pierogi Week Locations and Specials!
Stop by for Pierogi Week!
T AV E R N 8514 Detroit Ave Mon–Fri Noon to 2am Sat–Sun 10am to 2am ( 216) 521-7684
westendtav.com
PIEROGI WEEK SPECIAL Loaded Rogi 3 sautéed four cheese potato pierogi served over Cleveland Kraut topped w/cheddar, kielbasa, sautéed onions, peppers & sour cream.
Pierogi Meal 3 sauteed pierogi served over Cleveland kraut topped w/sauteed onions & sour cream. Choice of 4 cheese potato pierogi or vegan potato cheese.
therowleyinn.com 216-795-5345 1104 Rowley Ave
PIEROGI WEEK
SPECIAL CHEDDAR AND POTATO PIEROGI, BEEF GRAVY, PULLED SHORT RIB, COTIJA CHEESE, HORSERADISH AIOLI, AND SCALLIONS
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CLEVELAND SCENE PIEROGI WEEK JANUARY 19–25 29305 Clemens Rd • Westlake, OH 440.471.8589
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Stroganoff Pierogies cheddar & potato pierogies, topped with caramelized onion, mushroom & beef gravy, sour cream
4054 Erie St Willoughby, OH noraspublichouse.net
Pierogi Week! Join us for
2135 Columbus Rd Cleveland, OH 44113 216-228-9116
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Cleveland Pierogi Week January 19–26
GREAT FOOD. COLD BEER. Where the neighborhood comes together! Call or visit our website for specials, activities, and live music schedule. 17015 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland OH 44111 • (216) 476-2000 • westparkstation216.com
DON’T MISS OUR POTATO AND CHEDDAR PIEROGI WEEK SPECIAL! Comes with grilled onions and sour cream on the side 216-521-4413 18616 Detroit Rd, Lakewood OH M–F 3p Sat 11am Sun 9:30am
ATCCAFE.COM
M i x a n d M at c h Homemade Pierogi in a variety of flavors! Choose from what’s available that day.
clepierogi.com 440.918.7778 • 36495 Vine St. Willoughby, OH
Grumpy’s Cheese & Potato Pierogis loaded with caramelized onions and sour cream
grumpyscafe.com POTATO & CHEDDAR PIEROGIES 4 FOR $8
2621 W 14th St 216.241.5025 Open 7–3 Everyday!
Enjoy Carloni’s Pierogi! Our homemade family recipe pierogi dough, stuffed with fluffy whipped potatoes & cheese! Sautéed with onions, and served with a side of sour cream.
TAKE OUT ONLY (216) 741-9222 5380 STATE ROAD PARMA, OH 44134
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jojocarlonis.com 440.235.8880 | 627 W. Bagley Rd. | Berea, OH January 14–January 27, 2026 | clevescene.com | SCENE
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Get it?) In November, Fang invited me to one of
EAT
her monthly supper clubs, a Friendsgiving that paired wines from women-owned vineyards with courses that seemed to squeeze every Chinese region into six plates. Props for the
TOGETHER TASTES BETTER As solo dining becomes the norm, Cleveland’s supper clubs are reviving the lost art of eating together—at a price people are surprisingly willing to pay. By Mark Oprea MY GRANDMOTHER HAD THE BEST braciole on West 128th St. Everyone knew because everyone was invited on Sundays: her neighbors, her five children, priests, judges, Uncle Mario, Aunt Clorinda. Even Indians outfielder Rocky Colavito. Those dinners are a 21st-century rarity – a probable byproduct of our culture of detachment. More and more of us, years into the post-pandemic malaise, are exercising solo, going to church less often, spending more time scrolling, dating less often and enjoying less sex than we did two decades ago. It also has impacted the way we eat. The 2025 World Happiness Report says a quarter of American adults eat every daily meal – breakfast, lunch and dinner – by themselves, mainly in their own homes. That’s twice the amount of solo dining that occurred in the late-1990s. And, as the report screams, the practice is making us sadder. In stark contrast, I spent three months attending a series of supper clubs and communal dinners, run by eclectic chefs, yoga instructors and ambitious comedians. What I found was telling: people are starved for good food and great conversation, so much so that we’re willing to pay $200 for the experience.
goji-topped scallops and the 24-inch-long beef shank noodle that carried the texture of a cloud. Turns out Fang’s motives stem from Beijing nostalgia, memories of Sunday meals that rotated hosts each week. “We called them floating dinners,” Fang told me after. “It was heavenly. The party starts at two, ends at night. You could come eat whenever.” $135 a dinner, a-bun.com
TimeLeft I loathe social apps and kept this in mind as I signed up, one day in December, for TimeLeft. Created by some French techie
Photo: Mark Oprea
Dinner With Strangers, uses a personality
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questionnaire to link you with randoms for
in Midtown. That October “supper” took shape as a candelabra-lit meal fit for Edgar Allen Poe. Chef Ryan Boone, a compatriot of Guhde’s, toured the 12 of us through themed food-and-drink pairings: spicy micheladas and fire-roasted clams, skull-encased beet salads with Malbec rum punch. Courses that thrummed with suspense each time Boone materialized. “I could do this all night long, you guys,” musician Toby Raps told the table, cracking his skeleton-head shrimp chip. “Twenty courses! Keep ‘em coming!” $150 a ticket, sortasecretsupperclub.com
Horning has hosted eight dinners, mostly on Valentine’s Day, and often at Heart of Gold in Ohio City. Horning’s series might be the most elaborate in my findings, with comedians and chefs collaborating to ensure that both plates and punchlines will land simultaneously – think a tariffs-era banana joke synced with a plantain-lathered pork dish gilded with gold leaf. A formula so special, Horning says, it’s “re-humanizing.” “You have no choice but to get to know everyone at your table. You’re laughing together; that barrier is broken down.” $200 a ticket, secretsocietycomedy.com
Santé Supper Club
Prologue
Oaxaca came to St. James Church in Lakewood for Dia de Muertos. That was Emily Tanski’s concept with Santé: seat 45 strangers at one winding table adorned with tomatillos, marigolds and Lotería-style menus and see what unfolds. Tanski, the founder of Verbena, partnered with Flying Pig Tacos owner Jorge Hernandez to reproduce a food tour through Central Mexico. Though I wished the blue corn quesadillas and tamales possessed a tad more heat, Hernandez’s cochinita pibil, with its slight tinge of habanero, made me a persona muy grata, as did its accompanying pink peppercorn “gin.” The food lowered the guards of my tablemates and me. To invoke hypotheticals (“Would you prefer to be blind or deaf?”) or summon millennial nostalgia (“You guys remember Gushers?”). Even middivorce bonding. “Glad I’m not the only one going through this,” said one woman. “Trust me,” replied another, “it gets better.” $200 a seat, santesupperclub.com
The first thing you might notice about Logan Niesel is that he’s in love, followed by clues that he’s no ordinary chef. Trained by YouTube and Julia Child, the 33-year-old former data analyst has willed himself into Cleveland’s food world more by obsession than traditional teeth-cutting on the hospitality circuit. From a rented kitchen at The Friar’s Table, Niesel prepped a dinner for nine that was probably the most cerebral six courses I’ve ever experienced. I’m talking doughy gnocchi shaped into pumpkins; Japanese ikebana flowers with antler-shaped breadsticks; a panna cotta molded into a fricken angel’s head and garnished with cherry confit and gold leaf. (Easy, Niesel.) The sheer thought put into Prologue’s plates was enough to keep guests chatting. “I haven’t made new friends since high school,” one 30-year-old woman admitted. “What better way than over good food?” $150 a seat, Instagram: prologuedinner_cle
Secret Society’s Six Courses of Comedy
Abundance
first place. “We’re all so separated from society.
What do you call a three-hour comedy show with dinner included? (No, not Sunday supper at my parents’ house.) It’s what David Horning dreamt up as a natural companion to his Secret Society comedy series, dinners that include six courses of food paired with six courses of jokes. The formula must be working; since 2022,
Soon after moving from Beijing to Cleveland in 2023, chef Liu Fang and her husband Carl Setzer opened a restaurant to try and recreate the ones they ran in China. And recreate they did – in a vintage diner car in Cleveland Heights awash in red neon and fifties jazz, one called Abundance. (A-bun-dance.
We’ve lost community,” she said. “I want to
a dinner out to be announced last minute. What I mistook as a novelty turned out to be, quickly after sitting down at Lulo downtown, an entire social network. Perhaps even the main social network for TimeLeft regulars – for the corporate relocation specialist, the IT guy in his forties, the Bay Area transplant and single mom who was enjoying her 91st event. “I gave a presentation at work recently, and one of the things I said I did new was have dinner with strangers,” a Sun News reporter said. “And one of my coworkers asked, ‘Like a swingers club?’” Jeff, the IT guy, reared his head. “Wait!” he joked. “This isn’t a swingers club!?” And we all laughed. $15 to sign up plus dinner costs, timeleft.com
Collective Consciousness There are two rules at Elizabeth “Biz” Rogers’ monthly pot lucks at her yoga-art complex, Pop Life: the first is that it is a place of mutual respect; and second, what’s said at Collective Consciousness dinners is received without judgment. It didn’t take much, thanks to a setting with candles and plush chairs, to feel that to be true. For a nurse to recap a recent psilocybin awakening. For the death doula to pitch us on Quantum Healing. For the three Rogers sisters to deconstruct their “soul contracts” and their complicated relationship with Christianity. Or this writer to wax philosophic on why we’re all so lonely. (Oh, and the vegan chili and quinoa dishes were pretty tasty as well.) That is precisely why Rogers started these little meetups in the
Sorta Secret Supper Club A darkened church during Halloween is as good a place as any to enjoy braised lamb head. That was at Sorta Secret Supper Club, the culinary brainchild of Crobar owner Gerad Guhde. Since debuting – covertly, of course – in 2023, Guhde has partnered with venturesome chefs to craft six-course meals prepped and served at Convivium 33
during Covid, the app, like its competitor
SCENE | clevescene.com | January 14–January 27, 2026
have deeper conversations. And this is a place to do that freely.” Free, poplifeconnection.com
moprea@clevescene.com @mark_oprea
EAT BITES By Douglas Trattner
receiving a complete makeover that will include new booths, lighting, paint and restrooms. The carpet will be stripped away to reveal the original hardwood floors. Chef Joshua Scherger will oversee a menu loaded with fresh seafood choices, but also a few beef, chicken and vegan items. The goal is to be open by Valentine Day, says Affrica. No word on who or what concept will snag the original Edwins location at the Square.
and there is no entertainment operator with more creative energy and enthusiasm than Hangry Brands.” Fans of the entertainment complex should not expect wholesale changes following the transition, which will occur this spring. There will be no immediate staffing changes, no big shifts in food and beverage, no abrupt concept tweaks or enhancements. That said, Hangry Brands founder Jason
“After a wonderful, tragic, beautiful, chaotic journey of many memorable moments with friends, colleagues and guests, our investors have chosen to stop financially backing Kyuu-Juu,” a message posted to Instagram stories read. Partners Ryan Endrian and Chef Kwan created one of the hottest tickets in town, offering small plates built around veggies, chicken, beef, and duck alongside shining
Forest City Shuffleboard Has Closed, But a Deal to Reopen With New Operator Already in the Works In December, the owners of Forest City Shuffleboard (4506 Lorain Ave.) in Ohio City decided to close the business. But founder Jim Miketo assures local fans of the “eatertainment” facility that plans already are in the works to reopen it. Miketo opened Forest City Shuffleboard in the spring of 2017 after a significant building renovation and restoration project. The business has flourished for years – save for the expected Covid downturn – and the founder was working to expand the brand to other cities. But last summer, as Miketo’s real estate development ventures started to become allconsuming, he sold Forest City Shuffleboard to Larks Entertainment out of Dallas. The sale was kept quiet to give the new operators the best chance of success, says Miketo. “It broke my heart to sell the business because of all the relationships and work that I put into it,” he explains. “It was getting hard for me to keep my fingers on the pulse of the business. I’m not a half-in, half-out kind of guy.” After a year of out-of-state management of Forest City Shuffleboard, Larks Entertainment decided to close the doors yesterday. But Miketo says that he’s already working hand-in-hand with Larks to secure a new local operator to take over. “One thing I learned through this process is that Clevelanders love Clevelanders,” he says. “I will endeavor to find a local partner who has the same pride and passion for this city and for that business.” Miketo says that news of a handoff could come within weeks, assuring that a popular entertainment destination reopens under local control.
Akin Affrica, Josh Cribbs Team Up to Open New Seafood Restaurant at Shaker Square When Brandon Chrostowski relocated and consolidated his Edwins restaurants into the Nighttown property in Cleveland Heights, he left two vacancies at Shaker Square. One of those spaces – the former Edwins Too spot – officially has a new tenant. Akin Affrica, the operator behind Zanzibar Soul Fusion, Cleveland Breakfast Club, The Vegan Club and multiple Angie’s Soul Café locations, states that he is adding a new restaurant to his Soul Republic Hospitality Group. Affrica is partnering with Cleveland Browns legend Josh Cribbs to open Sazani Oceana (13220 Shaker Sq.), a contemporary full-service seafood restaurant. The former Edwins Too (and Fire Food and Drink) space is
Forest City Shuffleboard in Ohio City. | Photo: Doug Trattner Developer MRN to Bring Hangry Brands in as Operating Partner on Corner Alley MRN, the developer behind East 4th Street and the operator of The Corner Alley Downtown (402 Euclid Ave., 216-298-4070), has announced that they will be bringing Hangry Brands in as an operating partner. Corner Alley opened its doors in 2006 and went through a pretty robust redesign in 2015. Now, a decade later, it’s time once again to bring in some fresh excitement. To do that, MRN will hand over partial control to Hangry Brands, the hospitality company behind lively concepts such as Steak in Tremont and Jolene’s Honkey Tonk and Society Lounge on East 4th Street. “The Corner Alley has been a cornerstone of East 4th for almost 20 years,” states Jori Maron, CEO of the MRN. “We built Corner Alley on the theory that creating an active entertainment venue would be an important component to the East 4th experience. Two decades later, I can confidently say that this theory has been proven correct. Now it is time to inject new energy into the concept
Beudert does have plans to shake up the current mix of entertainment options. Changes might include the removal of some bowling lanes to make room for indoor golf and adding more bar games like shuffleboard and pinball. “We just want to infuse more fun into the place — and to keep the energy flowing on East 4th street,” says Beudert. “This is a natural addition to our family of restaurants and bars. From the start, we focused on the downtown sports venues and East 4th Street as the place where we wanted to locate our businesses. Creatively reimagining these spaces and injecting much needed energy into them is what we do.”
Kyuu-juu in Ohio City Announces Abrupt Closure There are restaurant closures that come as abrupt shocks and then there’s whatever is happening at Kyuu-juu in Ohio City. Management recently announced that the modern izakaya, which only opened its doors in July, was closing for good at the end of service on December 31.
sashimi dishes featuring seafood flown in from Tokyo. Classics preparations mingled with modern interpretations. The izakaya experience felt at once special and casual. And it’s all no more. Kwan told Scene he and his team tried in recent weeks to convince the investor to give the restaurant a longer runway, but that person wanted the restaurant closed, and soon. “We invite you all to join us for one last celebration,” management said. “Come enjoy your favorite dishes or cocktails, share a toast, and please help us say goodbye the best way we know how… together. Thank you all for being a part of our story. Let’s end on a high note. Kanpai!” Sushi Kuwahata, Chef Kwan’s eight-seat omakase restaurant which operates in the second floor of the renovated Victorian, will remain open “for now,” Chef Kwan said.
dtrattner@clevescene.com @dougtrattner
January 14–January 27, 2026 | clevescene.com | SCENE
19
GET OUT
EVERYTHING TO DO IN CLEVELAND FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS
WED 01/14 Disney on Ice: Jump In! Disney on Ice makes its annual visit to Rocket Arena this week. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7 p.m. Shows continue through Sunday.
One Center Court, 216 - 420 -2000, rocketarena.com
ENCORE Chamber Music Institute: Trio Seoul The trio featuring three soloists has won more than 20 international competition prizes and distinctions since forming in 2022. The group performs at 7:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org
Midnight Rental Presents Secret Movie Night Hosted by Lenora from the internet hit-series Midnight Rental, this movie night features what it deems to be the best in VHS horror, thriller and campy classics. The event begins tonight at 8 at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights, and the club will feature a special movie night menu for the event.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs
Stereophonic Will Butler of the hipster band Arcade Fire wrote the music for this musical about a band trying to make it big in the 1970s. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at Connor Palace, where performances continue through Jan. 25.
1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
THU 01/15 Cleveland Boat Show Summer is still months away, but you can get ready for water sports at this weekend’s annual Cleveland Boat Show that takes place from today through Sunday at the I-X center. There will be live music and fishing demonstrations. Check the website for hours and admission.
1 I-X Center Dr., 216-676-6000, ixcenter.com
Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits! This series at Music Box Supper Club will highlight the best of Shakespeare’s work as presented by the Cleveland Shakespeare. Founded in 1977, the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival has been dedicated to bringing Shakespeare to life for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Doors open at 6 p.m.
1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com
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Tarta Relena makes its Cleveland debut at Cleveland Museum of Art. See: Friday, Jan. 16. | Photo: Duna Vallès Mestre
Verdi’s Requiem
Third Friday
Soprano Asmik Grigorian joins the Cleveland Orchestra for this concert featuring Verdi’s Requiem, a piece that features dramatic choral work. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall, where performances also take place on Saturday and Sunday.
From 5 to 9 p.m., many of the 78th Street Studios resident artist studios and galleries will be open as part of this monthly event. There will be live music, and Local West, a Gordon Square sandwich shop, will serve food. BARneo will have a selection of adult beverages as well. Admission is free.
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com
FRI 01/16 Deconstructing the Dark Side of the Moon with Scott Freiman Composer, musician and software guru Scott Freiman takes a deep dive into the history of the Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon with this two-hour presentation. The event begins at 8 p.m. at the Hanna Theatre.
2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org
Tarta Relena and Meara O’Reilly’s “Hockets for Two Voices”
1300 West 78th St., 78thstreetstudios.com
SAT 01/17 Artist in the Atrium Every third Saturday of each month, stop by the Ames Family Atrium between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to get a firsthand look at the artmaking process. Each session provides the opportunity to engage and interact with a different Northeast Ohio maker during popup demonstrations and activities.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org
at 2:30 p.m. at the State Theatre. The Clark Sisters will perform, and Tri-C will honor its scholarship winners. Tri-C Creative Arts Academy Students will also perform. In-person tickets for this event are sold out, but you can watch the livestream at tri-c.edu/MLK2026.
1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org
MON 01/19 Cavs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder In what could be a preview of this year’s NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder visit Rocket Arena to take on the Cavs. Tipoff is at 2:30 p.m. since the game is part of a special Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com
MLK Open House and Day of Music
The Catalan folk duo performs at 7:30 tonight at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The tour supports the group’s latest album, És Pregunta. Openers Mingjia Chen and Linnea Sablosky will perform Meara O’Reilly’s experimental piece Hockets for Two Voices.
SUN 01/18
This day-long celebration at Severance Hall
Tri-C presents the 49th Annual Celebration of the Life and Work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
legacy. Admission is free, and the event
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org
This annual celebration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. takes place
SCENE | clevescene.com | January 14–January 27, 2026
features performances and interactive activities in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s begins at 1 p.m.
Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com
TUE 01/20
SAT 01/24
Mrs. Doubtfire
Broadway’s Leading Men
Based on the film of the same name about an out-of-work actor, this musical comedy comes to EJ Thomas Hall in Akron for shows that take place at 7:30 tonight and tomorrow night.
198 Hill St., Akron, 330-972-7570, ejthomashall.com
WED 01/21 The 10 X 3 Songwriter Band Showcase Hosted by Brent Kirby The concept of 10x3 is a pre-arranged line up with 10 songwriters/bands performing three songs each. Two of the them are required to be original, and the third can be the artist’s choice. Local singer-songwriter Brent Kirby hosts the event, which runs from 7 to 9 tonight at the Bop Stop. Admission is free.
2920 Detroit Ave., 216-771-6551, themusicsettlement.org
Monsters vs. Chicago Wolves The Monsters take on the Chicago Wolves at Rocket Arena in the first of two games slated to take place at the arena. The two teams play again tomorrow night. Both games start at 7.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com
THU 01/22 Jordan Jensen The comedian who hosts the podcasts RIP Jordan Jensen and Bein’ Ian with Jordan performs at 7 p.m. at Hilarities, where she has shows scheduled through Saturday.
2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com
FRI 01/23
This event will feature iconic show tunes that Broadway’s leading men made popular. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Cirigliano Studio Theatre located at Lorain Community College’s Stocker Arts Center.
HALF PRICED HAIRCUTS AND $1.00 FACIALS
1005 North Abbe Rd., Elyria, 440-366-4040, lorainccc.edu
EVERY WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY 11AM TO 3PM
SUN 01/25
Expires 2/28/26
Must Present Coupon
The Harlem Globetrotter 100 Year Tour The basketball team known for its
DAILY SPECIALS
sensational style of play brings its 100th anniversary tour to the Covelli Centre in Youngstown.
229 East Front St., Youngstown,
Tuesday
330-746-5600, covellicentre.com
- $1 Hot Lather Day Shave/Beard Trim of any with a purchase haircut
Northeastern Ohio Band Invitational XXII Four high school performing ensembles from the area will perform along with the Cincinnati Wind Band and the Cleveland
Wednesday
Youth Symphony Group 1. The event begins
- ”Ladies Day” cut Buy a basic hair e a at $8 and reciev rows Shampoo, Eyeb or Facial for $1
at 2 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall.
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com
MON 01/26
Thursday
- $1 Facial Day se with the purcha of any haircut
Cavs vs. Orlando Magic Tonight at 7 at Rocket Arena, the Cavs take on a solid Orlando Magic team that’s one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
REGULAR MEN 'S HAIRCUTS $7 00 . HAIRCUT WITH LINE-UP $8 00 . FADES $10 00 .
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com
Noire After Dark DJ Knyce & DJ Corey Grand will provide the beats at this special cocktail event that takes place at 8 p.m. at Severance Music Center. Patrons should come in all-black evening cocktail attire and “dress to impress.”
Lyrical Rhythms Open Mic and Chill
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com
Side allows some of the city’s best rappers
The Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble Featuring Jennifer Koh The Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, violinist Jennifer Koh, soprano Alexandra Armantrading, tenor Rodrick Dixon and baritone Timothy LeFebvre team up for this concert that’ll feature compositions by Olly Wilson, Jesse Jones and Courtney Bryan. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Cleveland Museum of Art.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org
TUE 01/27 This long-running open mic night at the B and poets to strut their stuff. The event begins at 8 with a comedy session dubbed 2 Drinks & a Joke with host Ant Morrow. The open mic performances begin at 10 p.m.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-1966, bsideliquorlounge.com
scene@clevescene.com @clevelandscene
THE STORY CONTINUES @ CLEVELSCENE.COM
THE SCHOOL THAT BARBERS RECOMMEND! STORE HOURS Tues-Sat 9am-5pm 2546 Lorain Ave, Ohio City One block west of the Westside Market
216-241-6684
allstatehairstyling.com January 14–January 27, 2026 | clevescene.com | SCENE
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LIVEWIRE
REAL MUSIC IN THE REAL WORLD
WED 01/14 Amythyst Kiah Produced by Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Green Day, Weezer) and recorded at his Nashville studio, Kiah’s second full length, Still + Bright, finds the singer-songwriter contemplating Eastern philosophies and spiritual traditions. Album opener “Play God and Destroy the World” offers exuberant vocals and comes off like something by Mumford and Sons or the Lumineers. Guests such as Billy Strings and Avi Kaplan make notable contributions. Kiah performs at 8 p.m. at G.A.R. Hall in Peninsula.
1785 Main St., Peninsula, 330-657-2528, peninsulahistory.org
FRI 01/16 Pop Punk Benefit for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank Local bands Youth Pallet, Molly O’Malley, Plum Shed and Homedays perform as part of this special benefit concert that sends proceeds to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, a worthy cause given the number of people living in poverty these days. The show begins at 8 p.m. at the Grog Shop. Local businesses will host a raffle too.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216 -321-5588, grogshop.gs
Sail On, My Friend — A Celebration of Todd Snider This concert featuring the Shithouse All-Stars honors the late Todd Snider, an alt-country icon known for his narrative songwriting and storytelling skills. Snider passed away last year. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com
SAT 01/17 G. Love & Special Sauce
The Jötunn headlines a metal festival at the Foundry. See: Friday, Jan. 23. | Photo: Veronica Mihalus Pinkertone pay tribute to that era. Flicker/ Fade opens the show.
13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com
Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble Pan Detroit Ensemble, a jazz band featuring musicians from bassist and producer Don Was’s Detroit hometown, represents a dream come true for the veteran musician Famous for his 1980s pop-funk band Was (Not Was), Was heads in a slightly different direction with the Pan Detroit Ensemble, a group that reflects Detroit’s history as a blue-collar town. Was brings his jazz ensemble to the Beachland Ballroom for the first time. The concert begins at 8 p.m.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com
SUN 01/18
The singer-songwriter and rapper out of Philadelphia brings his Lemonade 20th Anniversary Tour to the Kent Stage. Released in 2006, Lemonade features guest spots by the likes of Blackalicious, Ben Harper, Marc Broussard, Tristan Prettyman and Jack Johnson. It furthered the blues-meets-hiphop sound that Love debuted on 2004’s The Hustle. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
Original Americana: Featuring GS Harper, Kristine Jackson, and Bridgetown Junction
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org
2920 Detroit Ave., 216 -771- 6551, themusicsettlement.org
Pinkertones: Weezer Tribute In the ‘90s, Weezer certainly churned out the hits. Songs such as “Buddy Holly” and “Undone” turned the group from indie underdogs to alternative radio/MTV superstars. Tonight at 7 at Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood, the
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group out of Oberlin College will perform original works by members of the band and fresh arrangements of compositions by jazz great Sonny Rollins. The concert will also feature jazz standards. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org
FRI 01/23 Jötunn Winternights The local death metal band the Jötunn will take over the Foundry for this special show that will feature “pagan-inspired stage production.” A special menu will feature a smoked turkey leg, and the group will celebrate the release of its new album, Summoner. Years of Fire, Sterilizing the Deceased, Lower 13 and Chalked will perform. It all begins at 7:30 p.m.
4256 Pearl Rd., 440-637-5483, foundryconcertclub.com
in a festive environment that features stage production and special guests. Organizers bill it as “a party with a festival feel.” Tonight’s performance takes place at 9 at House of Blues.
308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com
Heights High Plays the Grog Shop Heights High students and alumni will play jazz, chamber music and rock at this specific benefit concert that’ll raise money for the school to help cover the cost of uniforms, scholarships and touring. A taco bar is included with admission. The show begins at 1 p.m. at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs
SUN 01/25
SAT 01/24
The Triumphant Return of Albert Lee
Blizzard Bash
band to the Music Box Supper Club. In the
John Carroll University student DJs will perform at this special benefit concert for the Hunger Network of Cleveland. Local acts Lilieae, High Tolerance and newport motel will also perform. The show begins at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Tavern.
1960s, Lee left school to play guitar full-time
WED 01/21
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com
toured with the likes of guitarist Vince Gill
Electric Feels
at the Kent Stage.
The Oberlin Sonny Rollins Jazz Ensemble
This “experiential party” from Los Angeles features DJs who spin popular indie rock tunes
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org
It’s not clear when the term Americana came into fashion, but its best practitioners (acts such as Wilco and Jason Isbell) blend folk, classic country and rock. Tonight at 7 at the Bop Stop, Cleveland’s G.S. Harper, Kristine Jackson and Bridgetown Junction will play a special showcase dubbed Original Americana.
Under the direction Bobby Ferrazza, this
SCENE | clevescene.com | January 14–January 27, 2026
The influential British guitarist brings his
and formed the Thunderbirds, a successful British R&B/rock band in the 1960s. Upon leaving that band, he performed with the Everly Brothers for a good 20 years and has and Bill Wyman. Tonight’s show begins at 7
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MUSIC ON THE DARK SIDE Scott Freiman brings his Deconstructing the Music series to the Hanna Theatre By Jeff Niesel
Scott Freiman didn’t initially set out to become a renowned lecturer and acclaimed expert on the Beatles. A classically trained pianist, Freiman initially discovered rock ’n’ roll when his uncle gifted him a copy of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band when he was 10. Many years after experiencing Pepper, widely believed to be the Beatles’ magnum opus, and the other albums in the Beatles’ canon, Freiman discovered his ability to hold an audience in thrall with his knowledge of how songs and albums are constructed. “I had a professional studio in my house designed by John Storyk, the guy who did Jimi Hendrix’s studio,” he says via phone from his Sleepy Hollow, NY home, where he’s at work on a new book about the Beatles. He brings his live multi-media lecture Deconstructing Dark Side of the Moon to the Hanna Theatre on Friday, Jan. 16. “I had many musician friends in Manhattan, and I was trying to figure out a way to get them to come up to Westchester County to see my studio. So I enticed them with a lecture about the Beatles. I ended up giving a talk in my living room for about 40 guests, and ten minutes in, people asked when I would be doing it again.” Thus was born Deconstructing the Music, a series of live, multimedia educational lectures about the creative process of some of the greatest popular music ever made. Before long, Freiman was lecturing at corporate retreats and conferences, arthouse theaters, cultural arts centers and libraries all over the country. From there, Freiman transformed his passion for music, and his track-by-track, deep-dive music analysis, into a full series of lectures, 11 films, and a TV show, Deconstructing the Beatles, now playing on PBS stations across the country (including Cleveland’s own WVIZ), with a second season to premiere in March. “The Deconstructing the Music series came out of my passion for the creative process,” he says. “I love creating the presentations, and music fans from around the world, and of
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Scott Freiman. | Courtesy of Scott Freiman Deconstructing The Dark Side of the Moon with Scott Freiman | 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16 Tickets: $54 | playhousesquare.org every generation, really enjoy these deep dives into how musicians create life-changing art.” Scott’s live multimedia lectures are also inspiring businesses and attendees at prominent national and international conferences. He has given presentations using the music of the Beatles to help shape creativity and collaboration for business at conferences such as Imagine Solutions and for companies such as Google, Facebook, and Pixar Animation Studios. About two years ago, Freiman had the idea to expand beyond the Beatles, and thought Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon would be a perfect album to “deconstruct.” “There’s a lot of great material out there on Pink Floyd,” he says. “There is research, as well as rare audio and video, that reveal a lot about how this remarkable album was created. The album itself tells a great story that I found myself wanting to share. I created Deconstructing The Dark Side of the Moon, which has attracted music fans of all ages who enjoy diving deep into an album, and coming out of that with a new appreciation for the musicians and production teams who created it.”
SCENE | clevescene.com | January 14–January 27, 2026
While The Dark Side of the Moon’s history has been well-documented (even the Wikipedia entry about the album is highly detailed), Freiman brings something new to the table. Using rare audio and video, as well as technology — everything from ProTools to AI — Freiman highlights many aspects of the music as it was being created in the studio. “First of all, I talk about how the album was inspired, and how a song evolves,” he says. “For example, we have demos from [singer] Roger Waters and early live takes of the tracks that would ultimately end up on The Dark Side of the Moon. Each song is a story of musical evolution, and the listener gets to have eyes and ears on the production process as the songs are being created.” At the time of its recording in the early 1970s, producer Alan Parsons famously went to great lengths to create an album that sounded different from everything else that came before. “Alan Parsons was responsible for the sound of this recording,” Frieman says of the engineer’s role. “At the very end, as the band was having trouble mixing the album because
there were so many tracks and everyone had opinions about how they should be mixed, they brought in Chris Thomas (who also worked on the Beatles’ White Album), and he helped the band bring it to fruition. The work of Parsons and Thomas is why the album’s sound holds up so well.” Prior to Dark Side’s release, Pink Floyd had struggled to deliver a huge hit album. It had, however, experimented with the album form, and was moving toward something more esoteric. “Dark Side of the Moon is a concept album that explores themes of life, death, time, and the human experience. All these tracks fused seamlessly together create a cohesive, immersive, extraordinary experience, unlike any album that came before it,” Freiman remarks. “If you dive into the lyrics, you can find a lot of meaning there.”
jniesel@clevescene.com @jniesel
SAVAGE LOVE
WHAT AIN’T BROKE by Dan Savage Dear Readers: I’m away this week — I’m on a mountaintop with my out-laws — so there’s no new Savage Love today. This column originally ran on November 6, 2018. I want to thank everyone who read, listened, commented, and — most importantly — sent in a question over the last year. This is the best gig in the world, and I quite literally couldn’t do it without you. I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year’s Eve. — Dan
you’re doing what you want, AA, maybe you’re doing what could make you happy. So why doesn’t it make you happy? Maybe because you’ve been made to feel broken by a culture that holds up one relationship model—the partnered and preferably monogamous pair— and insists that this model is the only healthy and whole option, and that anyone who goes a different way, fucks a different way, or relates a different way is broken. Now, it’s possible you are broken, of course, but anyone could be broken. You could be broken, I could be broken, your married siblings and friends could be broken. (Regarding your siblings and friends: Not everyone who marries and has kids wanted marriage and kids. Some no doubt wanted it, AA, but others succumbed to what was expected of them.) But here’s a suggestion for something I want you to try, something that might make you feel better because it could very well be true:
married someday: a companionate marriage to one of your most intimate friends — someone like you, AA, who also sees potential life partners and potential sex partners as two distinct categories with no overlap — and all the Grindr hookups and BDSM sessions you like with one-offs who become good friends. I knew my little brother had an odd fascination with rubber that would likely become sexual. He would steal rubber gloves and hide them in his room, and there was a huge meltdown when our mother found a gas mask in his room when he was 12. My brother is in his 30s now and has a closet full of rubber “gear” that he dresses in pretty much exclusively. (When he’s not at work, he’s in rubber.) All of his friends are rubber fetishists. When he travels, it’s only to fetish events where he can wear his rubber clothing publicly. He will date only other rubber fetishists, which
I’ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about myself and my sexuality and my romantic self. I can log on and easily find someone to fuck. I’m a bear-built top guy. There are ladies in my life who choose to share their beds with me. I can find subs to tie up and torture. (I’m kinky and bi.) What I can’t find is a long-term partner. The problem is that after I fuck/sleep with/torture someone, my brain stops seeing them as sexual and moves them into the friend category. I have friends that I used to fuck regularly, that now it’s a chore to get it up for. Sure, the sex still feels good, but it’s not passionate. And when it’s all said and done, they’re still in the “friend” category in my brain. Some of them have suggested being more, but I’ve recoiled. There’s nothing wrong with them, but they’re friends, not potential partners. I’m 32, and my siblings are married and having kids, and the people I grew up with are married and having kids. And here I am not able to find a long-term significant other. Am I broken? Should I just accept that, at least for me, sexual partners and domestic/romantic partners will always be separate categories? Always Alone What if you’re not like most everyone else? What if this is just how your sexuality works? What if you’re wired—emotionally, romantically, sexually—for intense but brief sexual connections that blossom into wonderful friendships? And what if you’ve been tricked into thinking you’re broken because the kind of successful long-term relationships your siblings and friends have are celebrated and the kind of successful short-term relationships you have are stigmatized? If your siblings and friends want to have the kinds of relationships they’re having— and it’s possible some do not—they will feel no inner conflict about their choices while simultaneously being showered with praise for their choices. But what are they really doing? They’re doing what they want, they’re doing what makes them happy, they’re doing what works for them romantically, emotionally, and sexually. And what are you doing? Maybe
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Try to accept that, for you, sexual partners and domestic/romantic partners might always be separate, and that doesn’t mean you’re broken. If that self-acceptance makes you feel whole, AA, then you have your answer. I might make a different suggestion if your brief-but-intense sexual encounters left a lot of hurt feelings in their wake. But that’s not the case. You hook up with someone a few times, you share an intense sexual experience, and you feel a brief romantic connection to them. And when those sexual and romantic feelings subside, you’re not left with a string of bitter exes and enemies, but with a large and growing circle of good friends. Which leads me to believe that even if you aren’t doing what everyone else is doing, AA, you’re clearly doing something right. P.S. Another option if you do want to get
SCENE | clevescene.com | January 14–January 27, 2026
seems to have severely limited his romantic prospects, and he posts photos of himself in rubber to his social media accounts. I read your column and I understand that kinks aren’t chosen and they can be incorporated into a person’s sex life in a healthy way. But my brother’s interest in rubber seems obsessive. Your thoughts? Rubbered Up Baby Brother’s Erotic Rut If your little brother was obsessed with surfing or snowboarding and built his life around chasing waves or powder — and would date only people who shared his passion for the oceans or the mountains — you wouldn’t have written me. Same goes if he were obsessed with pro sports, as so many straight men are, or Broadway shows, as so many gay men are. The only “problem” here is that your brother’s
obsession makes his dick hard — and to be clear, RUBBER, the problem is yours, not his. An erotic obsession or passion is just as legitimate as a non-erotic one. And even if I thought your brother had a problem — and I do not — nothing I wrote here would result in him loving rubber suits, rubber buddies, or rubber events any less than he does. I’m a 28-year-old straight man married to a 26-year-old straight woman. My wife and I were watching a video about sex and the female orgasm, and they were talking about how, unlike men, women don’t have a refractory period after orgasm. We were confused because we are almost the complete opposite. I have never experienced drowsiness, lessened sensitivity, or quickened loss of erection after orgasm. My wife, on the other hand, doesn’t even like me kissing her bits after orgasm. She says they feel tender and sore afterward, and this feeling can last for hours. Is this normal? Newlywed’s Orgasms Rarely Multiply What you describe isn’t the norm, NORM, but it’s your norm. Most men temporarily lose interest in sex immediately after climaxing. It’s called the refractory period, and it can last anywhere from 15 minutes (for teenagers) to 24 hours (for old-timers). It’s a hormone thing: After a guy comes, his pituitary gland pumps prolactin into his bloodstream—and prolactin blocks dopamine, the hormone that makes a dude horny and keeps him horny. But some men release very little prolactin and consequently have short refractory periods; a handful of men have no refractory period at all and are capable of multiple orgasms. You don’t mention the ability to come again and again, but you do sound exceptional in that you don’t lose your erection after you come. Your wife also sounds exceptional, NORM, since most orgasmic women are capable of having multiple orgasms—but most women ≠ all women. (I’ve always loved what groundbreaking sex researcher Mary Jane Sherfey wrote in 1966: “The more orgasms she has, the more she can have—for all intents and purposes, the human female is sexually insatiable.” Emphasis hers.) But again, NORM, there’s nothing wrong with either of you. It’s just that your norm isn’t the norm — and that’s only a problem if you choose to regard it as one. So, choose not to. Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love! Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan! Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love
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