Scene 05/06/26

HOW CLEVEL A ND GOT ITS

GROOVE

BACK

BY MADALYN NORMAN

WITH NEW VENUES, NEW POP-UPS AND NEW ARTISTS, THE CITY IS REDISCOVERING THE JOY AND CONNECTION OF THE DANCE FLOOR

UPFRONT CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY TRYING TO AX POETRY CENTER PRESS

NATIONALLY, CLEVELAND STATE University is known for three things, according to literary aficionados: its men’s basketball program, its College of Urban Affairs and Education, and its Poetry Center.

While this might seem surprising to some, the CSU Poetry Center, which has existed since 1962, publishes two to five books a year with national distribution and maintains a backlist of more than 200 titles. Over the years, books it has published have received numerous awards, including one being named the best poetry book of the year by The New York Times.

Now, on the heels of shuttering WCSB, its popular community radio station, CSU is considering axing the Poetry Center’s publishing arm, despite the fact that it maintains a healthy budget and reportedly pays for itself through contests and book sales. Critics say the move reflects a university that, after seeing enrollment drop from 16,000 to 14,000 students in the past decade, is making ill-conceived cuts in crisis mode, neglecting the liberal arts, and slashing programs like WCSB and the Poetry Center that make CSU a special place.

In the past year, CSU has made numerous cuts to balance its budget. In 2025, as part of a 2023-2025 restructuring plan, CSU discontinued 22 academic programs, suspended 14 programs, and reopened admissions to another four. CSU also cut wrestling, women’s golf and women’s softball.

A source close to the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of losing their job, said the loss of the Poetry Center’s nationally renowned press would be devastating. Initially called the Cleveland Poetry Center when it opened in 1962, the CSU Poetry Center has promoted poetry through free public readings and community outreach, including a monthly open poetry workshop. In 1971, the center expanded its mission by opening a nonprofit independent poetry press.

“The lifeblood of the [English] department is the Poetry Center,” the individual said. “It’s the best thing we do.”

Former Poetry Center director Caryl Pagel, who left her position last year but continues to teach at the university, agreed. “The CSU Poetry Center has published a wide range of award-winning, culture-shifting books that deserve to stay in print,” she wrote in a statement. Pagel has published four books of poetry, cofounded the independent publisher Rescue Press, and recently was awarded the Lorine Niedecker Fellowship, which supports research into the 20th century poet’s life and work.

“In the last decade alone we published such impactful work as the selected poems of Cleveland Arts Prize winner Russell Atkins and the English translation of Maya Abu Al-Hayyat’s novel No One

By Lee Chilcote

Knows Their Blood Type, which won the Palestine Book Award for translation. Books published in Cleveland are making their mark around the world. The closure of the press would be a loss to the city, students, and contemporary literature,” she said.

Philip Metres, a professor at John Carroll University and author of 13 books, including two published by the CSU Poetry Center press, said the loss of the press would hurt Cleveland’s literary community.

“The press has been an absolute stalwart, it’s become one of the touchstones of Cleveland’s literary community,” he said. “And all of that has ceased, more or less, and there’s this attempt to repackage it as something not related to the press. They’re making a choice to change priorities and it’s very disappointing. I wish Cleveland would still have that press alive. It’s hard to know what’s lost in the disappearance of an institution, but for those of us who have experienced its support, we feel it at a gut level.”

Potential closure

In addition to publishing books, the Poetry Center has historically run the Lighthouse Reading Series, which brought nationally known writers to Cleveland for free public readings and talks; operated the Anisfield-Wolf Fellow-

ship in Writing and Publishing, awarding one fellowship annually to a rising writer; hosted and curated the Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts (NEOMFA) Writers and Work colloquium, providing students opportunities to hear from working writers; offered graduate assistantships; and partnered with community organizations while maintaining a blog.

Cuts to the Poetry Center have been in the works for at least a year, internal documents show. According to a July 2025 letter obtained by Scene, Andy Kersten, dean of arts and sciences at Cleveland State University, directed Department of English Chair Adam Sonstegard to develop a new plan for the Poetry Center outlining “how the Poetry Center needs to change.”

“Designing the next iteration of the CSU Poetry Center needs to adhere to some key principles,” the memo states. “First, the Poetry Center needs to operate on a balanced budget that does not utilize carry forward dollars. Second, the Poetry Center must have clearly identifiable outcomes that align with the Strategic Plan for CSU. Again, I suggest that the Poetry Center focus its work on students.”

The memo states the Poetry Center will close in June 2026 without an approved plan.

CSU responds

CSU issued a statement denying it plans to close the Poetry Center, noting that the Poetry Center is the university’s oldest research center. Kristin Broka, associate vice president for marketing and communications, said by email that CSU President Laura Bloomberg, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Andy Kersten, and English Department chair Adam Sonstegard were unavailable for comment.

“As a research center, the Poetry Center is meant to be financially self-sustaining,” the university said in a statement.

“The Poetry Center’s current independent press operations are not financially sustainable, prompting a review of the program’s long-term structure and future direction. As such, we are exploring a variety of options such as outsourcing distribution and printing-on-demand to achieve financial stability allowing for continuing publication. We are in the early stages of this research.

“The CSU Poetry Center is more than just an independent press – it is a hub to advance creative writing in Northeast Ohio whose literary programming has earned local and national prominence. There are no plans to close the CSU Poetry Center. Moving forward, the Center will continue to focus on community engagement and student-focused activities, hosting guest poets and writers and special events.”

Photo by Mark Oprea

As word has begun to spread about the Poetry Center’s possible closure, CSU has begun issuing a similar statement to CSU faculty members and colleagues.

Contradictory claims

Despite these assertions, documents obtained by Scene make it clear that CSU intends to shutter the Poetry Center’s publishing arm.

English department chair Andy Sonstegard wrote on April 13 to faculty in the English Department at CSU: “Our colleagues in the Poetry Center provided unique and beneficial learning experiences for graduate students, interns, and volunteers that made them fully aware of the expectations and experience of professional publishing. It was work that made them better readers and writers, and that helped them transition to professional lives. Regrettably, CSU’s decline in enrollment and its subsequent revenue losses have made support for the Poetry Center difficult, and it must now re-align itself with the university’s mission.”

“We will have the chance in coming years to re-conceive poetry, less as a thing published on the page, and more as an experience we can teach our students, perform in readings, dramatize on the stage, and model in the University- and broader communities.”

Former Poetry Center associate director Hilary Plum, who resigned from her position last fall but continues to teach at CSU, said via email that cutting the press would effectively gut the Poetry Center, noting that many programs, including the Lighthouse Reading Series and the Anisfield-Wolf Fellowship, have already either been eliminated or gone dormant. According to the Poetry Center website, submissions for the fellowship are closed and no Lighthouse Reading Series events have taken place since 2025. The Anisfield-Wolf Fellowship is named for and supported by the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards at the Cleveland Foundation.

“The CSU Poetry Center was placed into a state of suspension in summer 2025,” Plum wrote. Plum is a celebrated writer who has written novels, poetry books, and essay collections, co-edits the Open Prose Series at Rescue Press, and co-hosts a podcast. “The Poetry Center’s last remaining open contract from 2025, for a book scheduled to be published in fall 2026 [Gold Country by Venesha Pravin], is being fulfilled by its distributor, the Ohio State University Press. The Poetry Center won’t be editing or publishing this book itself – even though the CSUPC’s former editors selected this exceptional manuscript from almost 900 submissions.”

“A press that isn’t publishing its own books anymore would usually not be considered operational,” she added.

Finances

and internal disputes

Despite CSU’s assertion that the center is losing money, critics maintain the Poetry Center self-funds many of its programs, including its publishing arm.

Plum wrote in an email that, according to a budget statement from July 2025, the Poetry Center had more than $100,000 in available funds, in addition to an endowment of more than $70,000. She described this as a “healthy budget.”

It is not clear what would happen to the endowment if the press closes.

“For a small literary press with modest expenses, this constitutes several years’ annual budget in reserve,” wrote Plum. “The CSU Poetry Center funds its own books and programs. The university supports labor at the Center, but historically CSU does not pay for the Poetry Center’s book publishing – that’s funded by the Center’s independent, self-sustaining budget (which receives income from book sales, reading fees, occasional small grants and gifts).”

“If they [members of the CSU administration] are asserting that the press is not financially sustainable, to my mind that is the only thing they can mean: that they find the expense of faculty and staff working there to be unsustainable,” she added, noting that the costs of staffing the Poetry Center add up to “less than the cost of a single full-time faculty position at CSU.”

“CSU admin can of course change their mind about whether they can afford or would like to pay labor costs,” added Pagel. “The press’s finances were robust.”

Plum said members of the English Department have proposed multiple changes to the Poetry Center over the past year, all “aimed at staffing it sufficiently at an efficient cost, increasing undergraduate-facing programs, and maintaining a balanced budget,” but the university denied those requests. After Plum and Pagel left, the administration appointed English professor Mike Geither, a playwright with no experience running a poetry press, as interim director.

University spokesperson Kristin Broka did not respond to follow-up questions seeking documentation on how CSU is losing money through the Poetry Center, leaving the university’s rationale unclear.

“A death spiral”

Both Plum and Pagel told Scene they left because they were not given adequate administrative support. Pagel alone was reading about 900 books each spring, evaluating them for possible publication by the Poetry Center press alongside book production, training, and directing responsibilities. Time worked exceeded hours compensated across all three (partor quarter- time) positions, she said. Unlike previous-to-Pagel years, no full-time position was connected to the Poetry Center.

In an email, Plum stated: “The Poetry Center is essentially no longer functioning other than to sell the books it has already published. Its staff has been dramatically reduced. There is no real plan, as far as anyone can tell, to resume publishing books. The press is now seemingly cut off from two of its major income sources: sales from newly released books and reading fees from submissions. For a small business, this kind of situation is a death spiral.”

Plum further responded that Mike Geither was appointed director without input from CSU faculty or a search process. Whereas Geither has no experience in publishing poetry, in the past, directors would have been hired through national searches. Plum offered to serve as interim director after Pagel stepped down, but the university did not respond. Plum and Pagel, who are both women, also raised

concerns about equity, noting the job responsibilities were higher than for other faculty and pay was lower.

“It’s worth noting that CSU can close down its longstanding literary press but keep the CSU Poetry Center open in name,” Plum wrote via email. “That is, the administration can shut down the literary press that has been known for 50 years by the name CSU Poetry Center, but keep some sort of room open on campus that does very little, hosts an event or two, and call this a ‘Poetry Center.’ This way, they would not have to officially admit they were closing the Center, even though they had shut down all the activities for which it was known. As far as we can tell, this is exactly what is happening now.”

In a statement, Pagel also decried the university’s starvation of the Poetry Center for resources. “The fact that students, partners, and authors have not received communication about the backlist, contracts, or past programs from current leadership for most of a year might lead one to believe they are not taking the Center’s literary community seriously,” she said. “Authors especially deserve a plan of action concerning the future of their books and contracts.”

Both Pagel and Plum say they came to CSU to work at the CSU Poetry Center. “I love teaching,” Pagel wrote. “CSU students are smart, fun, curious and hard-working. They’re great writers and innovative thinkers. I wish they had been included in the process around the future of the press and center. My respect for their experiences – alongside the loss to authors and the Cleveland literary community – makes the future feel less certain for sure.”

CSU authors react

Recently, a group of authors sent a letter to the CSU administration expressing concern.

The letter reads, in part: “We are writing as CSU Poetry Center authors, literary citizens, and stakeholders in the literary publishing world at large. CSU Poetry Center is an important publisher, literary archive, and piece of poetry history. It has published some of the most significant names in American and international poetry, and has stewarded challenging innovative poetic works for over six decades, achieving a longevity rarely seen in independent publishing. The Poetry Center has been foundational to each of our careers, as well as our capacities to build literary community and engage publicly with some of the most crucial issues of our day. We’re writing today with some questions that we believe are in the public interest, as CSU authors: Our understanding is that the press has stopped operations and is being ‘revisioned.’ We’re hoping you can clarify further what this revisioning entails.”

The letter, signed by more than 50 authors published by the press over the years, asks whether the press is closing; how authors will be updated; what this means for their work; how contracts, books and other press business will be handled if the CSU Poetry Center closes or is paused; and how authors will be compensated if books go out of print.

CSU has not addressed those specific concerns, instead reissuing the same statement it provided to Scene, signed by Kersten, Sonstegard and Geither.

Rebecca Stafford, a professor at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, and author of the poetry book Vow, published by the CSU Poetry Center Press, said the Poetry Center is a national gem and its closure would be felt across the local, regional and national literary community. She said CSU should be treasuring the Poetry Center because it benefits the university.

“CSU is citing enrollment losses as making the Poetry Center difficult, but the Poetry Center is rare in itself,” Stafford said. “It has several years of its annual budget in reserve. That speaks to the fact that the university doesn’t recognize the jewel that it has. They should be touting the Poetry Center instead of wanting to put it into the bin.”

What comes next

An anonymous source said Poetry Center staff are communicating with authors about the possible closure and seeking a community partner to take over the press if the university eliminates it. The source said the most likely outcome is that the press will disappear and the university will maintain the Poetry Center in name only, as a reduced version of its former self, possibly continuing limited programming.

“The center might stay and the press might go somewhere else,” said the source.

The source said the situation reflects misdirected spending priorities and a lack of concern about the liberal arts. “It’s all about turning CSU into a job factory, just like the state of Ohio wants,” they said.

As for the future, the timeline remains uncertain, though the Poetry Center may have more clarity by September, they said.

The source said they do not see a path forward for saving the press at CSU and that the only hope is to transfer it to another nonprofit partner to operate independently. That remains to be determined, and neither CSU nor any potential partner has disclosed further details.

One potential partner is Literary Cleveland, a local literary arts nonprofit. Executive Director Matt Weinkam confirmed the organization was contacted by CSU about the press’s future, but said it has no plans at this time.

“CSU Poetry Center is an innovative publishing leader, and closing the press would be devastating nationally and locally,” he said in a statement. “Literary Cleveland has not made any commitments toward the future of the press at this time, but we will continue to partner with them in any way we can to support the broader literary ecosystem. The best way to ensure the Poetry Center’s future and legacy is for CSU to continue supporting this vital press as it has for more than 50 years.”

HOW CLEVELAND GOT ITS GROOVE BACK

With new venues, new pop-ups and new artists, the city is rediscovering the joy and connection of the dance floor. By Madalyn Norman

SOMETIME AFTER 1 A.M. IN MIDTOWN, bodies pack themselves tightly into Crobar as a DJ guides the room and the crowd hums like a hive.

As night creeps to morning, The Birds Nest awakens a few blocks away. A space transformed by sound and light, music reverberating from concrete floors and steel walls as a curated lineup of DJs feed music to people that found the space via friends of friends and word-of-mouth.

Perhaps on this night there are even more surreal moments, like a “Sunsets” pop-up at the top of the Terminal Tower where a crowd of twenty move high above the city, the skyline stretching out before them, the moment feeling weightless.

Scenes like these are becoming more common across the city as Cleveland’s dance music ecosystem flourishes – offering people a chance to disconnect from their everyday and online lives and connect to something deeper.

“People find dance music when they need it the most,” said Le Schlippy, a DJ and local radio host who says they’ve met all of their friends on the dance floor.

After years of stagnation and pandemic isolation, the scene feels positively rejuvenated and eclectic. New venues and dance-focused events are showing up across the city at a rapid pace. The concerts and parties, found on social media or shared through apps like Partiful, are happening almost daily. Meaning there’s never been a better time to hit the floor or find a place to groove.

With all the uncertainties and anxieties in the world right now, “people are craving that human connection,” Le Schlippy said.

***

In a dark warehouse just steps from AsiaTown, the low and melodic thumping of bass spills onto the street.

If you step inside, you’ll find Brian “Blackbird” Conti – a DJ, event production aficionado, and owner of The Birds Nest who has been in the electronic music scene since the legendary raves of the ’90s.

“What I’ve tried to do is recreate what we did back in the 1990s and 2000s, but in a safe, legal environment,” Conti said. “I’m giving people that experience again.”

The venue, which hosts electronic music artists from Ohio and beyond, sits across the street from the only large-scale

record pressing facility in Ohio, a fact that may seem unimportant, but to Conti, seems fitting.

“There’s like this little hidden music pocket of Cleveland that people don’t realize it’s there.”

The Birds Nest is a part of a small but mighty wave of new dance music venues opening in what some have called Cleveland’s “House District.” The pocket Conti described has seen four electronic music spaces open in recent years, making it a one stop dance shop for Downtown Cleveland’s east side.

At the center of this growth is Crobar.

“They have brought a revival of electronic music to Cleveland,” said Le Schlippy, who hosts ‘Over the Hump Radio’ and has become an essential guide to finding local places to dance.

The small venue, which opened in 2022, consistently brings in “legendary” national and international acts, while also

showcasing local talent, prompting leading electronic music culture platform Resident Advisor to call it, “one of the most forward thinking clubs in the Midwest.”

“Until just this past year, the only [local] venue [on Resident Advisor] was Crobar,” said Lamar Z, a DJ and event producer. Now there are many. To him, that’s an indicator that the last year has been formative.

Joey Sardelle says Crobar is the ideal home for his dance party PERF, which he says is the venue’s most attended event. The night spotlights queer, trans, and people of color DJs performing “unpretentious“ underground electronic music to any and all who want to show up.

What began as one hundred or so people attending a month has ballooned into sold-out shows and over five-hundred people at their largest event, according to Sardelle. This response also inspired him and scene veterans Disfunktional to start

10SHN_, a heavier techno event, at metal/ punk bar No Class.

From the start, he says, it was clear that Crobar’s priority was as a space where care for the community and safety came first, above everything else.

“[Safety’s] something that [the owner] and I take very seriously,” says Sardelle. “As well as our security and staff.”

“We don’t have to answer to any corporate bullshit,” he adds. “We have unlimited creative freedom.”

Sardelle’s only requirement for newcomers, besides respecting yourself, the space, and others, is participation.

“If you’re on your phone for, like, 30 minutes at the front of the dance floor, like…live in the moment, take your one video and then get your ass back on the floor!”

Navy Jayde, who began DJing in 2020, says Crobar was among the first venues to reflect a changing appetite for expanding

Mitch Mantra DJ’ing at a Gudtaste event at the Lock Loft. | Photos by Nick Telerico

music tastes.

“It ignited something,” she said, “that I don’t think most people were even aware Cleveland could have.”

Her monthly Crobar party, ‘ENIGMA¿’, is centered around celebrating Blackness and cultivating Cleveland’s Black and queer electronic music culture.

“I surprise a lot of people, because I don’t think they realize how Black electronic music could be, or that it could actually have a rhythm,” she said, suggesting that broader awareness of dance music’s ties to Black culture is still developing in Cleveland.

As the scene continues to grow, inclusive and innovative spaces like Crobar are becoming central to its continued success.

“It’s not a gay bar, it’s not a white bar, it’s not a Black bar, it’s not an electronic bar, it’s not a live band bar, it’s all of that,” Navy Jayde said. “Crobar is malleable, because it’s a place that is music first.”

What’s happening with dance music in Cleveland isn’t necessarily unique. According to producer and DJ Sound on Tape, Cleveland is mirroring the current global appetite for electronic music.

“We’re just experiencing a resurgence of the genre altogether.”

And he’s right. From electronic music dominating festivals, to its influences showing up in the music of pop royalty like Harry Styles, Beyonce, and Charli XCX, the genre is having another moment – the industry having grown by nearly 50% between 2019 and 2024.

But in Cleveland, Sound on Tape, who also throws events at venues like Crobar and Smoke & Mirrors, confirmed that the

momentum is definitely having an impact.

“We are commanding these huge audiences, bigger audiences than I’ve ever seen before.”

The Midwest, and Cleveland, is no stranger to dance music. In the 1980s, genres like house and techno – born from working class Black, brown, and queer communities – were cultivated in Chicago and Detroit, pulsing through gritty, underground clubs. Electronic music picked up speed in the ’90s, reverberating throughout warehouses and unofficial venues across Ohio as they began to fill with people from all over the region.

“On a normal Saturday night, it was nothing to go to a show with a thousand to two thousand people,” said Brian Conti. “You had to find out through friends or word of mouth. It was a culture that we harbored and we grew.”

Efforts like the RAVE Act of ’03 sought to quell these underground events for a perceived threat to America’s youth, and Cleveland’s dance culture changed shape once again.

Dance music didn’t fully hit the mainstream until the 2010s. Acts like Calvin Harris, Skrillex, and David Guetta brought ‘EDM’ to the surface by headlining festivals and topping charts around the world. In Cleveland, venues like FWD Day + Nightclub, which opened in 2015 and was bought by partners in Ethos Hospitality Group in 2025, began popping up to feed Cleveland’s appetite for the evolving genre.

During the pandemic, the city’s DJ population skyrocketed. For those who felt less inclined to stay isolated during lockdown, dance music events found their way back to the city’s warehouses, picking up a new audience on its way.

Lamar Z, who runs event brand “Don’t

Funk the Groove,” said it was during this time that he was first turned on to electronic music.

“I think that it started from COVID… people had to throw pop-up events and these underground parties in warehouses,” he explains. “Especially in Cleveland, because we weren’t doing much like that at all. But then… it was happening every weekend.”

Today, it’s apparent that electronic music has always had an audience here and what’s changed is its reach. Catapulted by technology and experimentation, this expansion has brought new people to the region’s dance floors.

On the city’s west side, Sam McNulty is bringing electronic music to Ohio City with (literally) underground dance venues, Smoke & Mirrors and Bird of Paradise.

“I’ve always been a big fan of subterranean dance clubs,” said McNulty, who owns Market Garden Brewery and a bevy of other hospitality businesses in the area. “It just feels kind of celebratory and apropos to end your night in a subterranean dance club.”

McNulty is leaning into more intimate dance and house music experiences, with both clubs, which opened between 2022 and 2023, intending to fill a void left by larger nightlife spots in the city. Their success is evident by lines out the door on any given Saturday or Sunday.

For promoters like Matt Ambrose, who runs events brand Mainstage Cleveland, having a space like Smoke & Mirrors that understands their vision, and gives them the freedom to execute, is an exciting change.

“I’m really optimistic for the scene… excited for Cleveland venues that didn’t traditionally buy into this kind of scene to do so,” he said. “I have their trust. They have mine. It’s gonna give people that are new or are interested a chance to experience that.”

And those experiences are going beyond venues. Dance music’s explosion has inspired people to create their own unique pop-up experiences across the city, dodging the barriers of opening a brick-andmortar spot.

“There’s a community and subgenre for everyone, which is a great part of dance music,” says Ambrose. “Those new subgenres are really carving out their own community space between DJs and also the attendees.”

One pop-up in particular, Happy Endings, has become a staple of Cleveland nightlife.

Started by popular DJs NicNacc and Eso at Cent’s Pizza, the event gives them a place to play the music they enjoyed, NicNacc said, at a time when other venues wouldn’t welcome their style.

“People were just craving that comfort of being able to go out and actually dance and feel comfortable doing that,” she said, noting that traditional clubs may make people feel like they need VIP status to belong. “Here, the whole room is VIP!”

Theo, a producer, label owner, and allaround music aficionado, started out with Happy Endings and now is a part of duo SmoothTalk. He loves that the pop-up is bringing a different sound.

“You’re not gonna go to Happy Endings and hear a bunch of top 40 stuff,” he said. “Especially when they have the freedom to play whatever.”

Other parties like güdtaste bring a “roaming, culture first music experi

LEFT: Smoke & Mirrors. MIDDLE: Morgan Conservatory Dance Party. RIGHT: Crobar. | Photos by Mark Oprea

ence” to the city. Recent shows included the takeover of the Market Garden warehouse, a hair salon, and art space Mini Box Studio – all replayable through impressively produced social media content.

“I just really want to bring people together to dance,” said Just AJ, DJ and creator of güdtaste. “That’s the main objective of it. It’s not a profit thing. It really is a community-driven thing.”

Then there’s Sunsets, whose sets range from that party on Terminal Tower to brunch-time DJ sets in coffee shops, proving that electronic music doesn’t always have to be enjoyed in a certain way or at a certain time.

With the pair’s “güdsets” collaboration for 216 Day amassing over 700 RSVPs, Bobby Booshay, DJ and co-creator of Sunsets, said that he feels like the city is building something big.

But a quickly changing culture isn’t without its challenges. Americans are spending more time alone. So much so that the U.S. Surgeon General called loneliness an “urgent public health issue” in 2023.

Simultaneously, habits like throwing and attending parties and drinking have declined immensely, especially among young people. This, along with skyrock-

eting costs for venues and party-goers is being blamed by some for the death of nightlife.

Cleveland is not immune to these struggles, judging by closures of popular nightlife spots in The Flats last year.

The downturn has inspired staple clubs like The IVY to lean into electronic music, among other genres, and hosting dance-forward events like Happy Endings.

But Navy Jayde says nightlife is shifting, rather than dying, and that people only know what they’ve been exposed to. Venues with rude bouncers, VIP sections, and the same DJ for the past five years playing the same fifty songs – in her opinion, that is the nightlife that is fading.

“If people would take a moment to try listening to something else,” she said, “or go somewhere where it’s not about the profit, you may get a different experience.”

Joey Sardelle echoes these sentiments, saying a lot of people in the scene don’t want to pay for high door prices and overpriced drinks.

Some say other groups are just an extension of traditional clubs, promoting “rave” experiences to keep up with the trend, but critics feel that the inauthenticity shines through.

“It’s not supposed to be like this $75 a

ticket… experience,” said Lamar Z. “It was always meant to be something that was affordable and open to everybody in all different walks of life.”

DJ Bobby Booshay said the community needs to work together and hold one-another accountable.

“If we’re all doing the right thing, and we’re all going about it and with the best intentions, we all grow, it only creates a bigger thing for all of us,” he said. “Rising tides lift all ships.”

As with any fast-changing culture, the sustainability of Cleveland’s dance music scene will depend on the resiliency of the people, places, and community that fuels it.

“You have to let go of the ego,” said Le Schlippy. “Because at the end of the day it’s not about who has the best parties. It’s about the community… We’re either all in this together or we’re not. And if we’re not… it’s gonna fall apart. It’s gonna crumble.”

Despite growing pains, the joy and connection are far more important, no matter what exactly you’re looking for, those who spoke to Scene said.

For Lani Smith, co-organizer of the

queer/woman focused party Sapphic Soiree, “Dancing is just fun!”

For some it’s about presence in your body and in the community.

“Getting people out to move, getting out in the community, in a space that you wouldn’t otherwise find yourself,” says Mary Beth Marks about a recent “earlybird” dance party thrown by her and Heather Frutig at the Morgan Conservatory.

“We had a social work instructor, she said, ‘I worked all day teaching at Case, I have to go back and teach all day tomorrow, and I saw the sign, and I thought, that’s what I want to do with my body at the end of the day.’”

For others, it is a way of life. “[Music] makes me feel grateful, “ said Theo. “It’s a very, very good feeling that kind of makes you feel like you’re not alone.”

And for most, it is a much-needed refuge.

“We’re kind of like the USO shows,” said Matthew Blevins, one half of goth dance party Dark Wave Dance Cave. “You know, people come in and get relief and then they can go back to the trenches.”

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CLE in the

explore how to enjoy spring in the city. // Stories By Kristen Hampshire

Patios, Plates & Pours

Bring an appetite for patio sips, seasonal flavors and classic Cleveland dives. From rooftops and riversides to hidden courtyards and brunch-witha-view escapes, these dine-and-drink spots are always in season.

Rooftop Energy

Start at the top. Jolene’s Honky Tonk1 on East 4th Street is full throttle with a rooftop that sets the tone. No warm-up here — this rooftop is amped up.

“It’s vibrant, colorful — it’s electric,” says Julia Licastro, vice president of operations and partner at the dining parent, Hangry Brands.

DJs spin on weekends and pre/post Guardians games, neon glows and the whole scene is loud, bright and unapologetically fun. Between bar games, a plastic-axe throwing setup and a crowd that’s

ready to rally, this is less “grab a drink” and more “stay a while.”

Order something playful. Licastro suggests an ice shot. The glass is a hollowed-out ice cube. Jolene’s bartenders pour an ounce of your favorite potion and, after it’s downed, “you chuck it at a bell that’s tucked away in the corner,” Licastro says.

Or go big with the Cowgirl Kool-Aid, a 110-ounce, shareable throwback topped with rubber duckies and wild straws. Across the board, drinks skew toward spring and summer flavors. Think: the Julia’s

The Van Aken District offers sit-down restaurants, outdoor patios and a 21,000-square-foot Market Hall.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy strawberry lemonade with vodka, Sun Cruisers (iced tea and vodka) and Super Lyte. You guessed it: sports drinks and vodka.

Work your way down. The four-story setup stacks the experience: a mainfloor honky-tonk with a stage modeled after the Grand Ole Opry, a mezzanine lounge with truck-bed seating for private hangs and, in the basement, the so-called “chicken strip club,” serving kiosk-ordered tenders, nuggets and waffle fries. Double up on the housemade pink ranch for dipping.

Come early with kids. Meals are on the house before 8 p.m. After that, it’s 21+ and the party leans in. Either way, the rooftop is the headline. Work your way down. The four-story setup stacks the experience: a main-floor honky-tonk with a stage modeled after the Grand Ole Opry, a mezzanine lounge with truck-bed seating for private hangs and, in the basement, the so-called “chicken strip club,” serving kiosk-ordered tenders, nuggets and waffle fries. Double up on the housemade pink ranch for dipping.

Outdoor Oasis

Tucked behind Edison’s Pub2,3 in Tremont, the classic watering hole’s patio is low-profile. And that’s the point. Off the street and out of the way, “it’s a hidden oasis,” says Licastro.

It’s more of a hideout than be-seen spot with a “chill vibe,” she says.

Hangry Brands took over the longtime spot last fall and, at 40 years in, the goal was simple: don’t mess with it. A few upgrades like added TVs and more sound bring it up to speed without stripping the character. The popcorn machine is back, and Lil Ronnie’s next door serves up slices.

Cleveland Classic

Across from A Christmas Story House sits The Rowley Inn4,5 in Tremont, where movie buffs can keep the theme going with a Be Sure to Drink Your Ovaltine cocktail or a Pink Nightmare after the tour. But the bigger story is what’s been happening here since 1906.

Originally a steel mill workers bar, The Rowley Inn has evolved into a food-driven neighborhood mainstay that still feels unmistakably oldschool Cleveland.

“The bar is original. It’s very lively, very wooded, eccentric,” says Jon Oberman, owner.

He took over a decade ago and saw room to make the longtime tavern more welcoming while keeping its character intact. The result is equal parts heritage hangout and gastropub. Come early, come late, come hungry. Nobody’s judging a 7 a.m. beer.

The menu just got a seasonal refresh. New adds include a Nashville hot mac, buffalo pierogi,

Mediterranean salad and a salmon entrée. A fried bologna sandwich made with meat from Parma’s State Meats joins the lineup.

There’s range behind the bar, too: local beers, a strong bourbon shelf, tequila picks and Oberman’s current favorite, the King Bee.

If these walls could talk, they’d probably tell you to order lunch, stay for another round and appreciate your hometown. Oberman says, “We are very, very Cleveland.”

Truck Park Vibes

Pull up to The Yard on 3rd6 in Willoughby and build your own night. The draw is simple: a spread of food trucks and an open-air bar, wideopen space and a garage for hanging under cover.

The scene is never quite the same. “It’s always rotating, and we keep it fun,” says Licastro, noting the fifth warm-weather season for the Hangry Brands venue.

Theme nights — from Taylor Swift sing-alongs to toga parties — set the tone. Live music on Sundays rounds out the weekend.

Daytime leans family- and pet-friendly and nights more social. The season kicks off in May and runs

through October. And you can throw your own party with private rentals available.

“It’s a welcoming space with good music and friendly people,” says Licastro.

Daytime Reset

Wind down you’re on lake time at Summer Place7,8, where city views and water vistas pair well with good company and a slow brunch state of mind. Prepare for a getaway without leaving town.

“It really feels like a reset,” says Annie Artiste, operations and events manager.

Opened in 2020 in the former Swingos space, the spot leans coastal casual with an elevated edge. Mosie in for weekend brunch, or plan a lunch date (new weekday hours, open at 11 a.m.) and if the day escaped, there’s always dinner with a contemporary American and Mediterranean menu. What to try?

Seasonal dishes lead: wild Copper River salmon, pecan-crusted walleye and a Thai shrimp chop salad layered with mango, herbs and crunch. The beet and chicken salad hits that sweet spot with fresh strawberries, pickled beets, feta and pistachio. Try stuffed

morels with tempura-friend ramps and muhammara.

Behind it all is a bigger mission. A portion of proceeds supports Awakening Angels, founded in honor of the owners’ son.

Dockside Comeback

Shooters1,2,3 is a legacy Cleveland dockside go-to, and now it’s elevated and reimagined under a new local ownership group that includes Machine Gun Kelly.

“There is something intangible about being by the water with friends,” says Executive Chef Ryan Boone, of Cordelia and The Greenhouse Tavern fame. “When you’re at Shooters, it feels like you’re on vacation. It’s a homeaway-from-home destination without a flight.”

Since the last round of social day drinking and family brunches — the combo Shooters long mastered — the space was taken down to the studs and rebuilt. But it wasn’t erased. Original tile floors remain. The familiar layout holds. Around it: new bars, updated seating and more room to settle in by the river.

By day, it’s dockside easy: drinks, shared plates, boats pulling in. By

night, it turns up with DJs, live music and a summer concert series in the works.

The menu is South Florida-inspired with a Lake Erie twist, which translates to coconut-crusted prawns with sweet Thai chili sauce, wasabi tobiko caviar and micro greens from Wild Patch. Sliders are a win and available a la carte.

“It’s a perfect hand-held party food, and we’ve had people come in and order 24 burgers for the table,” Boone says.

With docking and boat slips available and hospitality plus, Boone calls the reborn Shooters “the new kid on the block” of the West Bank. “It’s a warm, local celebration of Cleveland, the city we love,” he says.

Shop & Stroll

Boutiques, bookstores, cafés and open-air districts await.

Shop and stroll in Shaker Heights’ Van Aken DistrictPg.11, where a modern take on Main Street includes a variety of indie shops mixed with national brands, along with a selection of stops for sips and bites.

Patio season officially kicks off with Bloom & Buzz on May 8, when the district rolls out its astroturf, Tuttle Road closes to cars and the community opens up for live music, seating and spring energy. This year’s headliner? The first pour of the new Van Aken District Community Pilsner, brewed by Craft Collective. Collect a commemorative pint glass, then prepare to jam during the

Gumbo Dance Party from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., an all-ages affair.

“We really want it to be a place where people can gather,” says Jesse Rathner, the district’s general manager. “We’ve really leaned into a family-friendly focus, curating programming that welcomes individuals who want to enjoy live music, have an opportunity to drink, dine and shop in a one-stop destination.”

That free-range spirit is built into the DORA program, which means you can grab a beverage at one of the district’s venues, then wander the walkable mix of patios, plazas and storefronts. Or, simply settle into a common area and stay awhile.

“You don’t have to spend a lot of money to spend a lot of time here,” Rathner says.

Claim a table at Jason’s Park, post up on the turf or make your own loop between stops like Well Stocked for clean-lined kitchen and home goods,

Luster, A Gift Boutique for cards, games and gifts, newly opened Océanne for jewelry and arch. for menswear.

Hungry? Fuel up along the way at The Beet Jar, Le Stand or Banter Save the date July 10 for the annual block party. Rathner puts it simply: “There is a little something for everyone.”

Local Love

At Locally Spruced5 in Legacy Village, you can shop small and find a wide selection of gifts, from candles and soaps to accessories and art. The Ohio collective brings together emerging makers and growing brands under one roof, giving local businesses a polished platform — and shoppers plenty of reasons to linger. Opened last June, the boutique was created by co-owners Randi Gilmore and Carl DeScott after seeing room

for an east-side concept built around Cleveland and Ohio makers, including their health-conscious dog product brand, Basil & Rex, which offers chef-created treats, hypoallergenic shampoo and safe toys.

“A lot of people walk in knowing who they need a gift for,” Gilmore says. “But we also want people to treat themselves.”

This community spirit will extend to the outdoors this season with market-style events planned throughout the year, including Mother’s Day and Father’s Day weekends, back-toschool dates in August, a Halloween dog costume contest and holiday markets in December.

“We’re really proud to raise up Cleveland and Ohio products and support local businesses,” Gilmore says.

Booked Solid

At Visible Voice Books4, the latest chapter comes with coffee, conversation and a soundtrack. The longtime independent bookstore relocated last November to a larger Lorain Avenue home in Ohio City, where books now share the spotlight with a full café and performance stage.

Owner Dave Ferrante says the move allowed the shop to grow from

1,200 square feet to 6,000 square feet with room to breathe — and room to browse. Inventory tripled to roughly 15,000 to 17,000 titles, spanning new and used books with price points all over the map.

What sets it apart is range and discovery. Fiction goes deeper than the bestseller table. Local history, current events, poetry, art and music all get real shelf space.

“We’ll have what you’re looking for and get you interested in things you weren’t thinking about,” Ferrante says.

The building’s own story helps, too. Dating to the 1920s and once a movie theater, it now blends Cleveland history with a fresh look that invites lingering. “The serendipity of the store is what it’s all about,” he says.

>>TAKE YOUR TIME: Order a coffee or sandwich, head to the mezzanine to settle in, then browse downstairs. There’s free live music on Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m., with evening shows and more performances on the horizon.

Coffee Talk

At Goodkind Coffee, the vibe is cozy, the drinks are dialed in and the beans are house made. The Lakewood café roasts all of its coffee in-house at a separate roastery in the Screw

Factory, giving co-owner Gabriel Miller and team control over sourcing, roast profiles and flavor from start to finish.

This hands-on approach carries into a menu that includes seasonal specials. Right now, the carrot cake latte is the breakout hit, topped with a vegan cream cheese cold foam, Miller says. Also moving fast: strawberry fields latte and matcha, plus a banana bread latte that sounds exactly like the right call. House syrups are made from scratch with whole ingredients.

The shop recently doubled in size, adding more seating and room to linger. Original architectural details remain, now layered with art deco touches and an all-day neighborhood buzz. “It’s a relaxing local spot,” says

Miller, adding that warm weather allows for outdoor seating, too.

Goodkind beans are sold in-store and online, and poured at nearby Rood, Gingham Market and Sarita

That neighborhood support runs both ways: Miller sources some ingredients from Urban Bulk Foods and points to fellow small businesses as part of what makes Lakewood’s local scene click.

“It’s an incredibly cooperative community,” he says.

Chris Allen has found the same in Gordon Square, where he operates Ready Set! Coffee1,2 with his sister Molly, mother Margaret and business partner Jeff Dangremond.

What began as coffee roasting out of Allen’s garage in 2019 grew into

a full-service café that opened in October 2022 on the corner of West 73rd and Detroit. Today, the familyrun spot roasts specialty coffee just a few doors down and serves as a daily gathering place. “It has turned into an amazing community hub here in Gordon Square,” Allen says.

The menu goes beyond a quick cup. House-made bagels anchor breakfast, with the lox bagel sandwich among the top sellers. Rounding out the case are Roaming biscuits, croissants and baked goods from local makers, including vegan and gluten-free treats from Filomena’s

Inside, natural light and neighborhood energy set the tone. “Any given day there are people from all walks of life,” Allen says, from business meetings and artists to families and regulars who walk over from nearby blocks. Running groups meet here, too, including the shop’s own Ready, Set! Run crew on Wednesday mornings.

That cooperative spirit runs through the neighborhood. Ready, Set, Coffee supplies beans to Terrestrial Brewing Company, partners with The Harp and works with nearby Roaming Candle Bakery / Roaming Biscuit. “The community here just seems to grow and grow,” he says.

Ready, Set, Grow!

Prep the yard, plant with purpose and bring home the right greenery now for a stronger, healthier season inside and out.

Spring in Cleveland starts at ground level. Refresh the lawn, rethink the beds and make room for plants that work harder indoors and out. From native blooms to houseplant boosts, these moves set up a better growing season ahead.

Plant With Purpose

Meadow City Native Plant Nursery3 grew from a simple idea: Northeast Ohio yards can do more. Its selection of native plants helps homeowners shrink high-maintenance lawn space and replace it with blooms birds and pollinators require. With more than 100 species available, it’s a go-to stop in Cleveland’s Waterloo Arts District neighborhood for gardeners ready to plant with purpose.

“We really wanted to help people create habitats in their yards and support birds and pollinators that have

been seeing a lot of decline due to habitat loss,” says co-owner Julie Slater.

Founded by three friends who met at The Ohio State University School of Environment and Natural Resources, the nursery grew from restoration and environmental science backgrounds — and a shared belief that local yards can play a bigger role in supporting wildlife. When they couldn’t find enough native plants for their own projects, they started growing them themselves.

A practical mindset carries into the shopping experience. Plants are organized by growing conditions like wet soil, shade and full sun — and then by bloom time, making it easier to build a yard that looks good across the seasons. “We want to take some of the work out of it,” Slater says.

While you’re in Waterloo, make a loop of it with nearby Six Shooter Coffee, Doinks Burger Joint and Citizen Pie. Turns out planting season pairs well with lunch.

Keep in mind First Fridays and hit up Meadow City beforehand. >>WHERE TO START? Some of Ohio’s best-known garden stars are native already, including purple coneflower and black-eyed Susan. Slater also points to cardinal flower

for bold red color, native hibiscus for oversized tropical-looking blooms, milkweed for monarch butterflies and eastern redbud for spring color and early nectar for bees.

Spring Cleaning

Before the flowers pop and patios fill, Steve Safreed says spring success starts with the basics: cleanup, soil health and timing. As a store market manager for Kurtz Bros.4, he says this season is an ideal window to reset what winter left behind.

Clear the way: Pick up debris, branches and winter leftovers from beds and lawn areas. Then tackle turf. “Take advantage of the shoulder seasons,” Safreed says, calling spring a prime time to aerate and overseed. Cooler temperatures and seasonal moisture give grass seed a stronger chance to establish before summer heat arrives.

Mulch moves: Beyond aesthetics, mulch helps suppress weeds and locks in moisture as temperatures rise. Take topdressing to the lawn by replacing fertilizer with compost as

an eco-friendly alternative or supplement. Mix seed with compost to boost early growth.

“Success with growing plants begins with what lies beneath,” Safreed points out.

Small space refresh: Think vertical. Containers with varied heights, textures and color make patios and porches feel more finished. Use the classic thriller, filler, spiller formula: one taller focal plant, fuller mid-level blooms and trailing greenery to soften the edges.

Other popular upgrades include compact water features, smokeless fire pits and portable one- or two-person spas that fit tighter footprints.

“We’re seeing more tranquil spots,” Safreed says, pointing to vibes that are less flashy and more relaxing.

“Trends are a Pantonal earth-tone refresh, more muted in sand colors.”

Meet Your Green Match

Green thumb, black thumb — avid growers and the botanically challenged can unite at River Plant Co.1,2,3, where more than 75 varieties of houseplants tucked among gifts bear easy-to-get care tags. There’s no guesswork at this Rocky River shop, where founder Jennifer Hihn likes to

remind visitors, “It’s never too late to start the day over.”

This is exactly what drew her to open the business in 2019, at first from her home. “I started by handpainting pots and stamping messages on them,” relates Hihn, who transitioned to pop-up shops, a Lake Road outpost and now a 3,000 square-foot neighboring space that is stocked with greenery, garden books, candles, Sugarboo & Co. décor, tea towels, cards and more.

It’s a happy place with a party room for events to share the joy for a bookclub meeting or terrarium workshop.

Hihn makes houseplants, and shopping for them, completely approachable. Cue the coffee station and treats for visiting dogs. “Everyone comments on the calm vibe,” she relates.

This same nature is how Hihn and staff help guests select houseplants.

Where to start? Hihn likes to start new plant parents with beginnerfriendly picks such as snake plants, ZZ plants, Pothos, philodendrons and peperomias.

Need pet-safe options? Look at peperomias, spider plants, calatheas and prayer plants, she suggests.

Ready for a challenge? Hihn points adventurous growers toward begonias, alocasia and pitcher plants.

The biggest mistakes she sees: over-watering, allowing plants to get rootbound (time for a bigger pot) and not enough natural light. “Bring in a photo of the room where the plant will live so we can match the right plant to the right conditions,” Hihn advises.

Plant a Healthy Home

“Plants encourage a routine in mindfulness,” points out River Plant Co. founder Jennifer Hihn, speaking to the Zen of doting over houseplants, even during seemingly mundane tasks like watering.

Here are other reasons to decorate with plants and not leave out a single room:

CLEANER, FRESHER AIR: Plants support photosynthesis, which can help increase oxygen levels and contribute to better indoor air quality.

STRESS RELIEF: Greenery has a calming effect and may help lower stress levels while boosting mood.

BETTER SLEEP: Bedrooms can benefit, too. Hihn recommends snake plants and spider plants as standout picks for air quality and restful spaces.

A DAILY RESET: Watering, rotating and checking in on plants creates small routines that encourage consistency and mindfulness.

EVERY ROOM, MORE ALIVE: From kitchens and baths to bedrooms and home offices, plants add warmth, texture and a lived-in sense of well-being.

GET OUT EVERYTHING TO DO IN CLEVELAND FOR THE NEXT MONTH

FRI 05/01

Midwest Wine Fest

The organizers of this three-day event that takes place at Lago through Sunday promise “global discovery.” Expect to sample wines from all around the world.

1091 West 10th St., 216-862-8065, winefestcle.com

Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B

Billed as a “madcap mystery romp,” this play about Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective duo comes to the Hanna Theatre for an extended run that continues through May 10. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. 2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

The Outsiders

Adapted from the best-selling novel and blockbuster film by the same name, this musical centers on a rivalry between two families living in Tulsa in the 1960s. Tonight’s performance takes place at 6:30 at Connor Palace, where performances continue through May 17. 1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

SAT 05/02

Monster Jam

The popular monster truck competition that’s part of the Stadium Championship Series East rolls into Huntington Bank Field. The day starts with meet-and-greets at 12:30 p.m., and the trucks kick things into gear at 5 p.m.

100 Alfred Lerner Way, 440-891-5000, huntingtonbankfield.com

TUE 05/05

Marc-André Hamelin in Recital

The Canadian pianist returns to Mandel Concert Hall for a concert featuring works by Haydn, Beethoven, Weinberg and Rachmaninoff. The recital begins at 7:30 p.m. 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com

WED 05/06

Chamber Music in the Galleries: The Music Settlement Faculty

The Music Settlement faculty plays music

inspired by art on view at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The concert begins at 6 p.m. in the CMA’s 229B Contemporary Paula and Eugene Stevens Gallery. Admission is free. 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org

THU 05/07

Wagner’s Götterdämmerung

Clarinetist Jörg Widmann joins the Cleveland Orchestra as it plays excerpts from Wagner’s four-part Ring cycle. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall, where performances also take place tomorrow and Saturday.

11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com

FRI 05/08

Guardians vs. Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins were a sub .500 team last year and will probably lose more games than they win again this year. They come to town for a three-game series at Progressive Field that commences with tonight’s game. First pitch is at 7:15 p.m.

2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians

SAT 05/09

Sherri Shepherd Live!

Special K from The Rickey Smiley Morning Show hosts this special Mother’s Day performance by daytime talk show host and standup comedian Sherri Shepherd. The show begins at 8 p.m. 1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

MON 05/11

Guardians vs. Los Angeles Angels

In outfielder Mike Trout, the Los Angeles Angels have one of baseball’s best players. Trout and Co. come to Progressive Field for their one-and-only regular season visit to town. First pitch for this, the start of a threegame series, is at 6:10 p.m.

2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians

TUE 05/12

Chamber Music in the Atrium with Piano Cleveland: Chaeyoung Park

The Cleveland Museum of Art’s regular chamber music series features pianist Chaeyoung Park, an international sensation who’s played at Carnegie Hall as well other renowned venues. The concert begins at noon. It’s free.

11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org

WED 05/13

The Brad Mehldau Trio with Felix Moseholm and Jorge Rossy Jazz pianist Brad Mehldau has been a force to be reckoned with since the 1990s when he became a crossover success. Tonight at 7:30, he brings his renowned trio to the Cleveland Museum of Art.

11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org

FRI 05/15

Guardians vs. Cincinnati Reds

The Guardians take on their national league rivals, the Cincinnati Reds, tonight at Progressive Field. The game serves as a celebration of the 2016 Cleveland team that made it all the way to the World Series. Firstpitch is at 7:10, and the two teams play again tomorrow and Sunday.

2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians

The National Rib Cook-Off & Beer Fest returns to Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. See: Friday, May 22. | Courtesy of All Media Design

SAT 05/16

2026 Dazzle Awards Ceremony

High school performers from across Northeast Ohio converge on the State Theatre for this special award program that recognizes musical theater productions and student performances. It begins at 7:30 p.m. 1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

Cleveland Asian Festival

The annual festival that takes place during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month highlights Cleveland’s AsiaTown. Live entertainment takes place on two outdoor stages, and there will be a World Marketplace of more than 100 vendors and exhibitors. It begins at 11 a.m. today and tomorrow. 2999 Payne Ave., clevelandasianfestival.org

TUE 05/19

The Isidore String Quartet with Jeremy Denk

This string quartet out of New York teams up with pianist Jeremy Dank, who’s known for his interpretations of Charles Ives’s radical compositions. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Art. 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org

FRI 05/22

Berea’s National Rib Cook-Off and Beerfest

This annual event that takes place at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds will feature more than 10 rib teams competing for Best Ribs, Best Sauce and People’s Choice Awards. The event runs from noon to 11 p.m. today and continues through Monday. Check the website for more info.

19201 East Bagley Rd., Middleburg Heights, 440-243-0090, berearib.com

SAT 05/23

The Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Choruses Spring Concert

Expect to hear songs such as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Feeling Good” at this special patriotic concert featuring the Cleveland Orchestra’s Children’s Choruses. The concert begins at 4 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall. 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com

MON 05/25

Guardians vs. Washington Nationals

The Washington National comes to Progressive Field for the one-and-only time this regular season. The three-game series kicks off with tonight’s game that features a blanket giveaway. First pitch is at 6:10. 2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians

TUE 05/26

Freak the Mighty

The Seattle Rep and the Cleveland Play House team up to present this special musical about two friends who become superheroes. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Allen Theatre, where performances continue through June 21.

1407 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

FRI 05/29

Guardians vs. Boston Red Sox

The Guardians take on the reliably competitive Boston Red Sox this weekend at Progressive Field. Tonight’s game begins at 7:10, and fireworks follow the game.

2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians

SAT 05/30

An Evening with John Cusack

The actor accompanies a screening of Say Anything, a film that helped launch his career. He’ll participate in a Q&A after the screening. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the Agora. 5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com

Gary Gulman: Grandiloquent

The very funny comedian and writer brings his latest show to the Hanna Theatre. He will focus on his various insecurities and mental health issues as well as his parents’ “blunders” in raising him. The event begins at 8 p.m. 2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

SUN 05/31

Jokes on You

Inspired by crowd work clinicians like Dave Attell, Ian Bagg, and Big Jay Oakerson, Jokes On You makes the audience the center of the show. The event takes place tonight at 8 in the Frolic Cabaret Room at Hilarities. John Bruton and Jimmie Graham host the event. 2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

DAILY SPECIALS

Tuesday -$1 Hot Lather Shave/Beard Trim Day with a purchase of any haircut Wednesday - ”Ladies Day” Buy a basic haircut at $8 and recieve a Shampoo, Eyebrows or Facial for $1

Thursday - $1 Facial Day with the purchase of any haircut

WHIM CITY

Rosy is a rip-roaring culinary thrill ride where change is half the fun

By Douglas Trattner

LIKE MANY OF THE GUESTS AT ROSY that evening, we started our meal with the solata platter ($25), a Sedar-plate style dish containing a personal buffet of savory bites. Arranged around a stack of fire-grilled focaccia were seven ramekins of dips, spreads and nibbles that include fermented beans, creamy bagna cauda, rustic baba ghanoush, luscious ricotta, smoky ajvar, pickles and more.

When we returned a few weeks later, that solata platter had been trimmed down to five elements. What’s more, a small paper menu that featured a pair of nightly specials was gone, leaving only the colorful wall-mounted roster of dishes.

It’s customary for a new restaurant to launch with a scaled-down menu until things settle down, at which time the kitchen can confidently ramp up the offerings. But Rosy has moved in the opposite direction, pruning options as necessary to maintain a level of quality and service commensurate with the chef’s lofty expectations.

“What you see is what you get,” explains chef-owner Vinnie Cimino. “There’s just not enough space to keep up with what we’re doing. I didn’t think we would be this busy.”

If Cimino and partner Andrew Watts had any honest concerns regarding the response to Rosy, those doubts were quickly extinguished. Since opening in late February, the new Ohio City restaurant has been mobbed by eager guests, many of whom line up out front before the doors even open. Diners who have come to know and love Cordelia will find, at Rosy, a hyper-focused, quicker-paced, aggressively seasonal spin-off that operates with the confidence that comes from being a multi-James Beard nominee.

The big takeaway at Rosy is not to get too attached to any particular dish because odds are good it won’t be there when you return. During peak Maine sea urchin season, the kitchen topped soft, squishy Polish thumbprint dumplings ($25) with

dollops of buttery uni. Those kluski were some of the best things I’ve ever eaten, and I might never get the chance to enjoy them again. Same goes for the pickled walleye ($17), a bright, brilliant use of an oft-ignored part of the fish. Here, the cheeks are lightly cured and tossed with crisp-tender vegetables and fresh dill.

“Nothing is so precious that it can’t be taken off,” Cimino says.

Despite the chef’s tough-love stance, it would be hard to imagine the cotechino ($18) going anywhere soon. Diners seated at the kitchen counter might catch a glance of those bespoke links dangling high above the open fire, picking up a whisper of smoke. When ordered, the flavorful sausage is tossed on the grill to crisp up, sliced and served with pickled vedge and citrusy aioli.

Even within the span of a single evening, dishes will 86ed from the big board, replaced by a second-stringer. For that reason alone, it would be impossible to print out menus, says Cimino, despite the annoyance that comes from having to crane one’s neck to view the board, or, for some seats, stand up and walk to somewhere where it’s visible at all.

“Feel free to get up and take a picture,” the chef says with a wry smile.

Since opening, Rosy has been the belle of the restaurant ball. Chiefly, that buzz comes from the cred that Cimino and Watts have earned during nearly four years downtown. Secondly, everybody loves a roaring fire. At Rosy, the woodfired hearth shapes the vibe, flavors the food and dominates the conversation.

Perhaps surprisingly given that alluring hearth, meat items are outnumbered by vegetable-based dishes at a ratio of

four-to-one. Sugar-sweet snap peas ($16) are served warm with feta, pistachio, pea shoots and mint. “Crunchy salad” ($13) is a many-layered symphony of shaved veggies, sultanas and nuts in a vivid vinaigrette. The ramp toasty ($18) is a knockyour-socks-off ode to spring starring grilled bread, whipped ricotta and a forager’s favorite wild prize.

Who needs a dozen steak choices when you can savor meaty pork neck ($23), which outshines a boring chop by a country mile. The steak is grilled, sliced, plated and gilded with leaves of lardo that are melted into the meat with a brûlée torch. Slow-braised lamb ($23), large enough for two, is presented on a pool of polenta with olives, veggies and herbs.

There’s only one dessert option, a rotating selection of soft-serve ice cream ($8), pulled from a sleek wall-mounted dispenser. Ours was sweet tea and mint with black peppercorn, white chocolate ganache and foraged redbuds. Complimentary nips of rhubarb-cello, served in a crystal cordial glass, are handed out like breath mints.

Not since Lolita has there been a Cleveland restaurant with such a compelling presence. Diners are immediately thrust into a trim, tailored and richly appointed space that cackles with energy. Servers navigate the close-quartered room with patience and precision, guiding guests through the menu as they would with friends or family. Rosy blurs the line between casual and special in a way that makes every visit a culinary thrill ride.

ROSY | 2912 CHURCH AVE., CLEVELAND |

Photo by Doug Trattner

Photo by Dylan Palcehsko

EAT

BITES

Matt Fish to open Proof Public House.

By Douglas Trattner

TWENTY YEARS AFTER HE OPENED

his first Melt Bar and Grilled in Lakewood, and a year and half since the last location closed, Matt Fish is getting back into the restaurant game. Although the chef had remained open to a return to hospitality, he did not intend for that revival to happen so soon.

“I worked with Dave Ferrante last year on the Visible Voice space – I consulted with him on the café portion, the bar, the coffee – and we hit it off really well,” Fish says of his new landlord, who offered up the former Proof space. “I did some soul searching and decided that I wanted to get back in the game.”

This time around, Fish is being careful to keep his culinary options loose, he says.

“When I opened Melt, I unwittingly put myself inside of a box that I could not get out of: I was the grilled cheese guy,” he explains. “With this place, I don’t want to paint myself into a corner; I want to leave the concept open where I have the ability to do anything I want to.”

What does he want to do?

“I just want to do really kick-ass food.”

When it opens sometime in June,  Proof Public House (4116 Lorain Ave.) will feature an all-day menu that will shift seasonally – or even weekly or daily – based on what’s available. At just over 50 seats indoors, the setting gives Fish the freedom to be flexible and creative. The chef and musician describes the bill of fare as elevated bar food, with a creative roster of appetizers, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pastas, entrees and specials. Fish inherited a wood-fueled Southern Pride smoker, which will be used for chicken wings, pork butts, tofu and whatever else he feels like tossing in there.

While turn-key, the space is getting a considerable refresh. Most of the wall space will be covered in concert flyers and band posters from iconic Cleveland clubs and shows. The original Jake Kelly murals from former Melt locations now have a new home in Ohio City.

“I tell people that I’m opening a punkrock bar with really good food,” says Fish, who played at the infamous Speak in Tongues club down the block. “I’m just trying to create a very cool, fun, interesting, comfortable place for people to come.”

Fish might not be reviving Melt, but he does intend to offer at least one “throwback” sandwich at all times. He also plans

to host Melt pop-ups a few times a year, at which time the menu will switch over to a nostalgic Greatest Hits number. Pop-up or not, Fish pledges to honor the Melt tattoo discount for his 1,000 ink-stained fans.

“I’m going to keep it going,” he says. “Those people are still VIPs to me.”

Fish launched Melt in Lakewood in 2006 and grew the company to dizzying heights before Covid and its aftermath brought the empire back down to earth. Throughout that journey, the chef openly pined for the early days when it was just him, his spatula and his kitchen mates.

“This is something I wanted to do for many, many years,” he shares. “Even after opening the first Melt location and expanding, I always looked back. Compared to 13 stores, 350 employees and millions of dollars of headaches, this is a nice breath of fresh air.”

Proof Public House will serve lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Rivera says that over the course of her life and travels she has been exposed to a broad range of cultures, flavors and cooking styles. While she identifies as Latina, the pastry chef looks much farther afield when it comes to preparing her roster of sweet and savory foods.

“My style is a fusion of European and Latin American flavors,” she says.

Look no further than her take on the Portuguese pastéis de nata, which she fills not with the typical custard but dulce de leche. She prepares South American alfajores, Puerto Rican polvorones and Italian cannoli, but also red velvet cupcakes from the American South.

Rivera says that in order to gain broader baking experience and better familiarity with American tastes, she worked at Giant Eagle for three years.

“Some people come here and say, ‘This coconut cream pie is the best. It reminds me of my grandmother,’” she states. “For me, that’s a huge compliment because I’m not from here.”

Look for Jossi’s Bakery Tremont to open sometime in June. There will be no changes at the original bakery in Broadview Heights.

High Key on Lee to Open in Former Voodoo Brewing Space

Carly Hallenstein has been a familiar face on Lee Road for years. The Cleveland Heights native and resident has been bartending and managing at the Social Room for more than a decade. And soon, she will be doing those duties at her own place. Hallenstein and partner Jason Bolanz have just inked a deal to take over the former Voodoo Brewery (2279 Lee Rd.) space, which closed at the tail end of 2025.

“I’ve fallen in love with this industry and the privilege of serving people,” Hallenstein explains. “This has always been my dream.”

After hearing that the Voodoo space was going to be available, the team checked out the property and acted fast. The goal is to make some minor modifications to the turnkey bar and restaurant and open High Key on Lee this summer.

“The building was everything I could have ever dreamed of; they did an incredible job renovating it,” she adds.

In addition to falling in love with the service industry, Hallenstein is a huge fan of street food and food trucks, genres that she will be pursuing at High Key. While the menu is far from complete, the goal is to offer fun food that caters to the street and neighborhood. Those items will be available late into the night as well.

A rear patio will be expanded greatly to take better advantage of the warm-season months.

Inside will undergo some minor cosmetic changes as well. The former beer tower with 18 taps will be trimmed by two thirds. Those draft beers will be joined by cans, bottles, cocktails, and great coffee all day long.

The goal is to be “high key” from the jump, says Hallenstein.

“Our vibe will be high-energy,” she explains. “I love throwing events so we want to bring in a lot of live events and collaborations.”

Those events could include live music, DJs, karaoke, trivia and other collabs.

Jossi’s Bakery to Open New Cafe in Tremont

Jossete Rivera opened her lovely bakeshop, Jossi’s Bakery (9210 Broadview Rd., 440-736-7048), three years ago in Broadview Heights. But her culinary journey began many years prior as a homebased business.

“It took me 18 years to get here, but it was pure love from my family, who were always pushing me to do this,” she explains. “Before coming here, we were living in Trinidad and Tobago but it was always my dream to open a bakery in United States.”

Her Argentinian-style empanadas are available with various fillings, she makes Greek-style spinach and feta pies, and flaky potato puffs.

All those treats and more will soon be available in Tremont (720 Literary Rd.) as the family is working together to open a new bakery and cafe. The shop will be geared to breakfast and brunch service with great coffee, breakfast empanadas and a host sweet and savory bites. Son Carlos will be running the bakery.

“We’re excited about the Tremont location because we’ll be able to offer even more exotic flavors,” says Carlos.

The goal is to be open in time to participate in the annual Heights Music Hop, which returns to the street in late August.

“There is so much happening on Lee Road; it’s growing into its own essence,” adds Hallenstein. “As a person who loves this neighborhood, and loves the vibe of this city, there is nowhere that is like Lee Road or Cleveland Heights. It’s an authentic, special place.”

dtrattner@clevescene.com

Photo by Doug Trattner

POETRY IN MOTION

Singer Tank Ball to discuss her writing and music at Reinberger Chamber Hall

ByJeff Niesel

TARRIONA “TANK” BALL, LEADER OF the New Orleans-based soul/funk/rock/ jazz group Tank and the Bangas, started writing poetry before singing.

“I was interested in poetry when I was about 12 years old when I opened up my sister’s diary, which I had no business doing,” she says via Zoom from her New Orleans home. She joins jazz great Terence Blanchard at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, at Reinberger Chamber Hall for a special event dubbed Courage and Poetry: An Afternoon with Tank Ball. “I was reading her diary, and it was mostly her poetry. It was so amazing. I would know it by heart before I knew anything else. I was inspired by her. She doesn’t know that. For a lot of people, their favorites are Nikki Giovanni and Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou and Shakespeare. My favorite was my big sister.”

Even at age 12, Ball didn’t take writing poetry lightly.

“My poems were serious,” she says. “It was serious stuff. I was a child talking about some serious stuff. I was always talking about adult topics. I don’t know why, but I was intrigued by that. I would read them for my older sister and they would be like, ‘Oh, Tank writing that. She is above her years.’”

Ball says it didn’t take long before she realized she could pair her poetry with music, and it would have more impact.

“I started asking for things, and they started coming to me,” she says. “I was like, ‘I want a guitar player. I want a bass player. I want a saxophonist. I want a band, and I want an album.’ I started asking for all types of things. Before I knew it, I started asking for more.”

The transition from reading poetry to fronting a band went smoothly for Ball, and Tank and the Bangas put out their first album, Think Tank, in 2013. Ball says she relied on her backing band to help shape the music.

“I didn’t know anything about musical instruments, honestly,” she says. “I didn’t know that the bass held down the band. I

just knew I wanted a guitar player. I wanted an acoustic, really pretty sound. My first guitar player taught me that I needed bass, and that it could all come together great. I had guys that respected my poetic voice. That has always been cool.”

New Orleans has the musical legacy, but many bands choose to work the local circuit rather than the national one. Not Tank and the Bangas.

“It’s hard to get out of here,” says Ball. “We are at the bottom of the map. You can make a living because there are so many bars and clubs. Sometimes, you just stay right here and make your living. From very early on, we knew we wanted to travel the world and see if it could take us other places.”

Even though it features soul and funk grooves and not just spoken word, 2024’s The Heart, The Mind, The Soul won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.

“Oh my God, I was so happy when that happened,” says Ball. “I ran to the stage, literally. I was running to that stage. I felt

like that was for me and for us. My first love was poetry. I don’t even think that music loved me back. I had to work at it. But poetry always loved me back.  Music did not love me back initially. It felt so full circle.”

Ball says the band aimed to simply “have fun” while recording the forthcoming The Last Ballon.

“If COVID taught us anything, it’s that we are nothing without our fans,” she says. “We need them to thrive and carry on. Who wants to make music for the phone? We want to be there with you. We want to experience the live concerts. We want it to be an experience where we are all family. We are like family because we need each other.”

The album’s first single, “Move,” has a great groove and features percolating percussion and soulful vocals from guest Lucky Daye.

“I really love the band Jungle and how their music feels,” says Ball when asked about the tune. “I wanted to make music like that too. It just feels good to me. I hap-

pen to be in a long-distance relationship, and I want my guy to move to New Orleans.  When people hear it, they probably think it’s about what they should do with their body, and I’m okay with that too.”

We live during a time when the arts are under attack in this country. So does Ball feel a heightened sense of purpose?

“I always have,” she says. “It’s always been heightened for me. It’s interesting to me that I’m not making a big political poem. Dancing is raging against the machine as well and bringing people together from all different walks of life. It could be as easy as bringing people together under the same sun. Everyone doesn’t have the same blowhorn. We have different ways that we express our rage against the machine. You gotta do something with your voice and your power.”

Tank Ball | Courtesy of the Cleveland Orchestra

LIVEWIRE REAL MUSIC IN THE REAL WORLD

FRI 05/01

Bahamas

The indie rock act performs at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom. The tour supports the band’s seven studio album, My Second Last Album, the poppier follow-up to 2023’s Bootcut, a straight-up country release. 15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com

SAT 05/02

Bassel & the Supernaturals

Syrian-American Bassel Almadani leads this group that plays soul, funk, and hip-hop. The activist group’s tunes address issue related to identity, displacement and social justice. Bassel and Co. perform at 8 p.m. at the Bop Stop. 2920 Detroit Ave., 216-771-6551, themusicsettlement.org

Go Fest Yourself

Local emo rockers Mud Whale put together the lineup for this festival that features upand-coming regional acts. The music begins at 4 p.m. at No Class. Garbage Kids Vegan will be on hand selling food. 11213 Detroit Ave., 216-221-8576, noclasscle.com

Juvenile’s Boiling Point Album Release Tour

The veteran rapper out of New Orleans brings the tour supporting his new album, Boiling Point, to House of Blues. The album serves as a follow-up to his 1999 release 400 Degreez, giving you an idea of just hold old this guy is (he turned 50 last year). The show begins at 7 p.m.

308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com

SUN 05/03

Failure

The alt-rock band from the ‘90s returns to the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights. After a good run, the group splintered in 1997, only to reunite in 2014 after a 17-year-hiatus. It’s steadily toured and recorded since then, and the current tour supports the space rock-inspired new album, Location. All Under Heaven opens, and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. 2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd., 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs

TUE 05/05

The Afghan Whigs 40th Anniversary Tour

Since reuniting about ten years ago, this indie act originally out of Cincinnati has released three studio efforts and a handful of singles. At the end of last year, the group returned with the moody “Fake Like,” a song that shows off singer Greg Dulli’s soulful voice, and the somber “Downtown,” an elegant tune

that features piano and strings. The group brings its 40th anniversary tour to House of Blues. Doors are at 6 p.m.

308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com

THU 05/07

An Evening with David Byrne: Who Is the Sky Tour

The former Talking Heads frontman brings his latest solo tour to the State Theatre. Last year, Byrne hooked up with Grammy-winning producer Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus) and members of New York-based chamber ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra for his latest album, Who Is the Sky?, another terrific collection of quirky art rock tunes. The show begins at 8 p.m.

1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.or

SAT 05/09

Zach Bryan — With Heaven On Tour

The country music superstar comes to Huntington Bank Field as part of a tour supporting his latest effort, With Heaven on Top. The 25-song release is an ambitious effort punctuated by Springsteen-like ballads (“Runny Eggs”) and politically charged critiques of the state of the nation (“Bad News”). The concert begins at 7 p.m.

100 Alfred Lerner Way, 440-891-5000, huntingtonbankfield.com

MON 05/11

Cut Worms

Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy produced and plays on Transmitter, the new album from this band that features singer-songwriter Max Clarke, a guy with local roots. The songs have a ‘70s feel to them and recall power pop acts such as Big Star. Tonight’s show begins at 8 at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights.

2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs

FRI 05/15

Kid Cudi

The rapper who grew up in the Cleveland area comes to Blossom. Over the course of a career that dates back nearly 20 years now, Cudi has released 11 studio albums. His most recent album, Free, represents his foray into the pop world. Shimmering tunes such as “Neverland” sound like Imagine Dragons or One Republic. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m., and M.I.A., Big Boi and A-Trak open. One dollar from every ticket sold will be donated to the Big Bro Foundation that helps Black youth facing mental health challenges.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com

SAT

Honeybee Release Show

05/16

This group that bills itself as “slowpunk” celebrates the release of its new album, Only Dark Shit!, with tonight’s show at No Class. Funeral Commercial, I Hate It Too and HOSTA open. The group’s sound is unique — think a heavier version of Cocteau Twins. The concert begins at 8 p.m.

11213 Detroit Ave., 216-221-8576, noclasscle.com

SUN 05/17

Guitar Women: An Evening with Sue Foley, Rory Block & Cindy Cashdollar

Three terrific female blues guitarists unite for Guitar Women, a collaboration bringing together artists whose careers span decades. The concert coincides with the May release of Sue Foley’s new book, Guitar Women, which honors the trailblazing women who shaped the sound of the guitar. It begins at 7 p.m. at Music Box Supper Club.

1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com

FRI 05/22

Bruce Springsteen & E Street: Land of Hopes & Dreams American Tour

Enraged at the current administration’s interpretation of the United States as an imperialist country, Bruce Springsteen has enlisted his E Street backing band to hit the road with him on a tour with a purpose. Fellow rabble rouser, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, will join him for the festivities. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at Rocket Arena. One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com

SAT 05/23

Between the Buried and Me

The veteran progressive band headlines a multi-band bill that includes Thank You Scientist and the World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die. The tour supports last year’s The Blue Nowhere, an album of experimental metal along the lines of the Mars Volta or System of a Down. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. at Globe Iron. 2325 Elm St., globeironcle.com

WED 05/27

Young the Giant

Indie rockers Young the Giant kick off the summer season at Jacobs Pavilion with this show that also features Cold War Kids and Almost Monday. Last year, Young the Giant released an acoustic EP that showed how well tunes such as “Bitter Fruit” and “Mind Over Matter” hold up when stripped down. The concert begins at 5:30 p.m. 2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com

THU 05/28

Hardy

The Mississippi born country singer turns up the guitars on his new album, Country! Country! It opens with the raucous, Charlie Daniels-meets-ZZ Top rocker “Country Country” and never lets up. Tonight’s show at Blossom starts at 7 p.m., and Tucker Wetmore and McCoy Moore open.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com

FRI 05/29

A$AP Rocky: Don’t Be Dumb World Tour

Don’t Be Dumb, rapper A$AP Rocky’s first project in eight years features cover art by filmmaker and illustrator Tim Burton and features from BossMan Dlow, Brent Faiyaz, Danny Elfman, Doechii, Gorillaz, Jessica Pratt, Jon Batiste, Slay Squad, Thundercat, Tyler, The Creator, Westside Gunn and will.i.am. The versatile artist brings his tour in support of the album to Rocket Arena. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com

scene@clevescene.com @clevelandscene

David Byrne returns to the State Theatre. See: Thursday, May 7 | Photo by Shervin Lainez

SAVAGE LOVE

HURDLES

By Dan Savage

Am I wrong to think a relationship isn’t realistic for me? I think I’ve been sold an idea of love that doesn’t apply to my life, and I want to know if I’m wrong. I am straight and 34-year-old male. I have a rare progressive disability. I’m blind, I have severe hearing loss (I can’t follow speech with background noise), I use a wheelchair, and I have almost no motor control. I need full-time care, so I’m always with a caregiver. My voice is weak and hard for strangers to understand. Dating in the real world basically doesn’t exist for me. I can’t see or hear people approaching me, I can’t initiate contact, and even with help from caregivers, communication is awkward and exhausting. I use dating apps, but nothing has led to a real connection.

Here’s the question: Is it actually realistic for someone in my situation to have a romantic relationship? Or am I holding onto something that just isn’t going to happen? I don’t want reassurance for the sake of it. If the answer is that my chances are extremely low, I’d rather hear that and figure out how to build a life around that reality. But if I’m missing a way of approaching this that could work, I want to understand what it is.

I’d also be interested in hearing from other readers — especially anyone who has dated someone with significant disabilities, or who lives with one themselves — about what is possible.

Yearns Eagerly After  Relationships Now

Dating in the real world — relying on chance meetings in bars, on the street, at work, etc. — doesn’t seem to work for many people anymore, YEARN, which is why most people are on dating apps these days. And most people on dating apps have similar complaints to yours: they’ve been using the apps, sometimes for years, with no real connection to show for their time and effort.

Okay, that’s where the sugar-coating ends — you said you didn’t want reassurance for the sake of reassurance.

It’s highly unlikely that you will ever find a romantic partner, YEARN, as your pool of potential partners is vanishingly small. I imagine that you would like to be with someone who is attracted to you, YEARN, but you probably don’t want to be with someone who fetishizes your disability (no “devotees”), which significantly reduces your pool of potential partners. But the right person — a person who is into you but not a fetishist — would also need to have the patience to work through your significant communication barriers and the willingness to work through and with your caregivers (and possibly become one), YEARN, which seems like a lot

to ask of a stranger on a dating app, even one for disabled people (Special Bridge, Dateability).

Returning to devotees for a second: While most people would urge you to avoid “devotees,” i.e. women (in your case) who are specifically attracted to disabled men, I don’t think you should rule them out. Years ago, I interviewed a woman who’d lost a limb. While the attention of devotees upset her at first, she wound up marrying a man with an amputee fetish. Men who were willing to date her despite her disability, she told me, made her feel worse about herself (and her body) than this one man who was initially attracted to her because of her disability. If you were open to dating devotees, YEARN, you (and your caregivers) would need to be on your guard against someone who fetishized your helplessness; if someone sought to isolate you from your established caregivers and make you solely dependent on her, that person would obviously have to go. But I don’t think you should rule out someone who was initially drawn to you because they had a lifelong and inexplicable attraction to disabled men and who saw you as an individual and a person and not just a particular kind of body. (Most able-bodied people — the partnered ones — are with people who were initially drawn to their bodies, YEARN, but we don’t regard an attraction to “normal” bodies as fetishism.)

While love may be possible for you, YEARN, it’s not going to look like the idea of love you were sold. But like any single person who feels like the odds are stacked against them (due to age, opportunity, income, disability, etc.), your best course of action is to build the best and most rewarding life you can, YEARN, while continuing to put yourself out there on the apps — consistently, not obsessively — and hope that lightning strikes.

P.S. I shared your question with Andrew Gurza, a disability awareness consultant, activist, and author. “As someone with severe physical disabilities myself and who needs a caregiver for just about everything too, I understand YEARN’s feeling wholeheartedly,” Andrew replied via email. “You just reach a point where romance and dating feel impractical and inaccessible in so many ways. I’ve only had a handful of actual dates in my life as someone with severe Cerebral Palsy. I wish I could have more, but I’m reaching a stage where I think I’ll be okay if I don’t. I don’t want to tell anyone to give up hope, because it fuels us in so many ways, right? At the same time, I know that we can live a fulfilled life without romantic love. Part of being disabled is not following the pathways that others have walked, but making your own. You can still find pleasure, sex, and all the other joys without tying them to romance. Sex work has saved my life in so many ways and shown me that I’ll be okay on my own. I hope that helps even just a little.”

Andrew Gurza is the author of Notes From a Queer Cripple. Follow him on Instagram @AndrewGurza.

I’m a 43-year-old woman currently undergoing IVF treatment to become a single mother by choice (SMBC). Five years ago, I was on this path and gave it up for the chance of a relationship with a man who ended up being abusive. So, I am naturally skeptical of ending up in the same spot. I have wanted to be a mom for forever, and that relationship was my last-ditch effort for the “picket fence.” I’m glad to be back on the IVF path and feel comfortable with my choice. I’m going to do a frozen embryo transfer in the next month, and we’ll see how that goes.

Here’s the issue: My best friend was with her boyfriend at a coffee shop, and they ran into an old friend of his. He’s a man I’ve met a few times, when I was in the bad relationship I mentioned. He seems very kind and has always shown interest, but I never reciprocated (even though I thought he was hot) because I wasn’t single. They gave him my number (with my permission) and he seems very interested. (We’ve already set up a time to talk — at his instigation.) I don’t want to be dishonest, but I also don’t want my ex to be the last man I slept with before sleeping with someone else — anyone else — got a lot more complicated and a lot less likely. “I might be pregnant this time next month” doesn’t seem like a great first date conversation but when do I bring this up? And how? Or do I? It might be a moot point if we don’t vibe but by the time I hear your opinion I might really need to know how to do this!

Wants To Get Laid

While no one is obligated to disclose their long-range plans to someone they’ve just met and might only wanna fuck once or twice, WTGL, I nevertheless think you should tell this man your plans for this time next year sooner rather than later. You’re a 43-year-old single woman without kids, which means there’s a good chance he doesn’t want kids and assumes you don’t either. (It’s not an unreasonable assumption about a woman in her forties who doesn’t already have kids.) If you can’t bring yourself to tell him before you fuck him once or twice (for fear of your awful ex forever holding the title of Last Man You Fucked), WTGL, I wouldn’t blame or shame you for waiting to see if you vibe. But you absolutely, positively have to tell this man you’re trying to get pregnant before you fuck him a third time. (If you don’t know what to say, WTGL, send him a link to this column, tell him one of the questions is from you, and ask him to guess which one is yours.) If he wants kids or is open to the idea of having a kid or being in a relationship with someone who does, great! You can keep fucking and dating and see where this goes. If he absolutely, positively doesn’t want kids and doesn’t want to be in a committed relationship with someone who does, great! The position of pre-partum and post-partum fuckbuddy is open, and he can fill it – provided the fucking is good, which you have yet to determine.

I’m a queer and non-monogamous woman. I live with my nesting partner and our cat and dog. Now, the quandary with which I come to you seems a little bit trivial: I have a crush on my dogwalker. I have a decent feeling that she may be queer, but no idea if she is interested — nor if there is an appropriate way for me to let her know that if she were interested, I would be interested too. I know that it can be extremely awkward to be hit on at work, especially if your answer is no and you’ve been asked face-to-face and then you must continue to interact with the person you rejected regularly. So, hitting on her like that seems out of the question, as I don’t want to lose her as a dogwalker. Is there some sweet spot solution I’m missing here?

Ruminating Over Very Exciting Romance

There are some significant hurdles you need to clear before you can fuck your dog walker: she has to be queer (not everyone is), she has to be attracted to you (not everyone is), and she has to be open to seeing and/or fucking someone who’s already in a committed relationship (not everyone is). And even if your dog walker is queer and into you and fucks with partnered people, ROVER, she might not fuck with clients. Or she might. While all dog walkers are dog lovers, WALK, only some dog walkers regard the job as their vocation. Most dog walkers regard the job as a side hustle, and I would imagine that some side hustling dog walkers — like some bartenders and all personal trainers — regard fucking clients as one of the perks of the job. (Health insurance? Not a benefit. Sexual opportunities? Definitely a benefit.)

As for that sweet spot between hitting on your dog walker — which could make things awkward — and playing it so cool she never realizes you wanna fuck her, ROVER, you could arrange to be home when she’s scheduled to take your dog for a walk sometime and invite her to stay for a drink after. If she turns you down cold, ROVER, that’s most likely a sign she wants to keep things professional. If she takes you up on the offer, that could be a sign she might be getting non-professional… or it could be a sign that she was thirsty and/or didn’t want to seem rude by refusing your offer. So, if she takes you up on the offer and doesn’t seem to be in a rush to go and the conversation flows, you could take the risk of making a pass at her… the second or third time she sticks around for a drink.

P.S. If and when you do make that pass, ROVER, remember that a pass is not a lunge. Use your words, acknowledge the awkwardness, and invite the no.

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