RESTAURANTS
(SO FAR) OF 2025
BY DOUGLAS TRATTNER
REWIND: 1980
Rush, the Rock Hall legends beloved in Cleveland, made one of their first appearances in Scene in 1980. The band is coming back with a brief tour, and a Cleveland stop, in 2026.
UPFRONT
CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY KILLS WCSB, TRANSFERS LICENSE TO IDEASTREAM TO BROADCAST SMOOTH JAZZ
OVER THE PAST 49 YEARS, students at Cleveland State have broadcasted a wide range of opinions and genres over the waves at WCSB, a stalwart of college radio in Northeast Ohio.
That plethora of sound was what followers called “freeform alternative,” a kind of anything-goes, from blues to indie to punk to K-pop and grindcore. And world music. And syndicated opinions on public affairs.
Now, as of Friday morning, WCSB will no longer host its student DJs, help diversify the offerings of FM radio in Cleveland, or act as a symbol for the university’s curious and the colorful.
As of October 3, the station is now just jazz.
More specifically, WCSB is now being managed and programmed by Ideastream, the result of a new operating agreement between the local NPR affiliate and Cleveland State. WCSB is simulcasting JazzNEO, Ideasteam’s station for all things jazz, on 89.3 FM after the license was transferred from CSU. WCSB as we’ve known it for nearly 50 years doesn’t exist anymore.
To add salt to the wound, though the negotiations between the two sides were ongoing for months, the switch was flipped and WCSB put out to pasture on World College Radio Day. A fact neither side was either aware of or gave a shit about.
Both parties framed the rebranding as a win-win opportunity though: Ideastream gets a new analog radio home for its flagship jazz programs; CSU finds a new avenue—like its School of Film & Media Arts—for students itching for broadcast internships and “paid-for” opportunities.
Students and former staff members didn’t see it that way, however.
“Honestly? We’re grieving right now as a station,” Alison Bomgardner, 21, WCSB’s general manager up until Friday, told Scene in a call.
“I think this is all a pivot from the university to go away from community-based opportunities to pre-professional opportunities,” she added. “And I do not think that’s a good thing.”
Bomgardner, a senior international relations major known as DJ Squirrel behind the mic, sounded forlorn as she relayed her version of WCSB’s abrupt closure: no more, Bomgardner said, does CSU have a relaxed outlet for WCSB’s 120 members, its student and long-time DJs, and a music stop “for those who didn’t want to hear stuff on Hot 100 radio.”
It’s no secret that CSU, like many colleges, is battling budget woes forcing admins to cut programs they see as low-hanging fruit. Last year’s news of a budget deficit of $153 million over the next five years led President Laura Bloomberg to announce strategies to cut down costs—from axing the school’s wrestling team, to freezing admissions to 42 academic programs and nudging 54 employees into buyouts.
But is WCSB’s rebranding one of them? Bomgardner said the station she helped run raised tens of thousands of dollars from donors per year, used mostly to pay those behind the scenes a per-semester stipend.
Bloomberg herself denied the move was out of cost-cutting measure.
“The decision to have Ideastream oversee WCSB programming is one step forward in our Cleveland State United vision, the strategic plan for our University launched earlier this year,” Bloomberg said in a press release. “CSU is uniquely embedded within the city of Cleveland, which provides students with opportunities to benefit from strategic partnerships like this one.”
As of Friday, JazzNEO has taken over 89.3 FM, the station WCSB’s used since 1976. This isn’t the first link between Ideastream: WCPN, Ideastream’s main station, was once broadcasted out of CSU’s Joseph E. Cole Center. And CSU had a Tower Music series on WCLV in the 1970s.
And CSU’s School of Film & Media Arts, located floors above Ideastream’s offices in Playhouse Square, has been a training ground for those hoping to find themselves after graduation behind the mic downstairs.
More internships is not a good trade off, in Bomgardner’s mind, for axing WCSB’s original format.
Shutting down the station on the fourth floor of Campus International, for her, whiffs of a move along the lines of shutting down CSU’s LGBTQ+ and Women’s center; cutting (then restarting) its U-Pass for RTA riders; and slashing anything DEI.
“I think it shows CSU is not willing to stand for to members and their voices. All this is definitely influenced by politics,” Bomgardner said. “Ideastream is a safer play than having a hundred students with a hundred different opinions.”
“I mean, if we wanted to be a jazz station,” she said, “we would’ve branded as one.”
– Mark Oprea
Cleveland Set for $4 Million Grant for 15 “Quick-Build” Bike Lanes Across City
Cleveland Moves is, well, about to move forward.
The city’s optimistic plan to install more bike lanes across the city, from West Park to Glenville, is slated to get a little over $4 million to support the effort as City Council approved an ordinance to apply for a NOACA grant.
Fifteen streets identified by planners (and survey takers) as high-priority are set to see “quick-build” infrastructure installed—most likely those plastic posts used to separate car from bike rider seen lately on Prospect and Huron downtown — with the award.
The “high-comfort bicycle and pedestrian improvements” would be paid for by a $3.4 million grant from the Northeast Ohio Area Coordinating Agency, which
scored the money from the Feds through a program designed to tackle poor air quality and car congestion.
A city spokesperson said that the money—$4.3 million total including the city’s own match—signaled that Cleveland Moves was moving right along as planned.
“This action reflects Mayor Justin M. Bibb’s continued commitment to building a greener, more connected Cleveland,” the spokesperson told Scene, “where all residents have access to safe, affordable, and sustainable mobility options.”
Cleveland Moves was approved in April as a kind of once-and-for-all initiative to give Clevelanders the option of biking safely anywhere in the city without the ongoing threat of being sidelined by a vehicle zipping by.
Survey data collected earlier this year gave the Cleveland Moves team, led by Planning Director Calley Mersmann, a method of pairing together crash data— details on where bikers were getting hit a bunch—and where Clevelanders actually wanted protection on city roads.
They focused on 50 miles of streets, including lanes connecting Public Square and Lakeside, which pair with the city’s plans to remake the lakefront as a pedestrian-friendly area, along with a North Marginal Bike Trail set to link Downtown with University Circle.
– Mark Oprea
Courtesy photo
WE’VE STILL GOT A FEW months to go, but already the year has blessed Cleveland diners with a bevy of great new food options. From a bustling Latin-themed food hall in Clark-Fulton to a philanthropic burger-anddog stand in Playhouse Square, from a smart new boutique hotel dining room to a stunning addition to Chagrin Falls, there are new bites from east to west. And who can overlook the much anticipated and highly successful transformation of the former Nighttown space to Edwins? Here’s what we’ve been most excited about so far in 2025.
56 Social
3245 Warrensville Center Rd., Shaker Heights, 56social.com
Jay Leitson and Izzy Schachner recently opened the doors to this charming all-day café in Shaker Heights, adding to their budding hospitality group that also includes 56 Kitchen locations in Solon and Mayfield, 56 Tavern in Aurora, and Elle in Solon.
“If you’ve ever been to Israel, these kinds of restaurants are the most popular,” says Schachner. “They serve fresh food, pastry, good coffee, plus or minus a bar. That combination works very well.”
The former J. Pistone Market spot has received a glow-up and now seats 72 guests in an open and flexible dining room. The new owners cleared out the retail racks, laid new flooring throughout, installed a bar in one corner, and painted every surface.
The all-day menu is an approachable mix of American, Mediterranean and Jewish deli foods. There are snacks like polenta fries with charred-scallion aioli, smoked salmon on focaccia, and sweet and spicy avocado toast. There’s a section of focaccia flatbreads topped with various items, a large sandwich section starring Clubs, house-smoked pastrami, pan-seared salmon, BLTs and creamy egg salad served on housebaked Japanese milk bread.
For the main event, there is a creative “craft your comfort” section that allows diners to design their own entree. Proteins such as grilled flank steak, housemade falafel and chicken schnitzel are paired with a choice of presentations that range from a mezze platter with pita to a veggie plate with potatoes, green beans and chimichurri.
Down the road, the large display coolers will begin to fill with graband-go salads, sides, entrees and
THE BEST NEW CLEVELAND RESTAURANTS OF 2025 (SO FAR)
A bumper crop of openings has delivered an exciting year of new eats around town. By
Douglas Trattner
desserts for the take-home crowd. For decades, Pistone thrived on the prepared foods trade and 56 Social intends to keep the tradition alive.
Batuqui
12624 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland, batuquicleveland.com
After overseeing an ambitious two-year construction project, Carla Batista and Gustavo Nogueira debuted the new Larchmere location of Batuqui down the block from the original this summer. And while technically not new, the restaurant’s new digs, a Craftsman-style structure built in 1922 that was long home to St. Paul’s Evangelical Church, makes it feel new. Inside and out, the building impresses with soaring ceilings, stained glass windows and stunning fixtures.
The principal asset of the new space, however, is its size. For a decade, Batista and Nogueira managed to make do with just 38 seats at the charming but cramped 130-year-old Victorian down the block. Going forward they will be able to serve about 180 guests when you combine inside and out, upstairs and down.
When guests sit down for a meal at the new location, they will find all
their favorite dishes like Brazilian cheese bread, cod fish croquettes, xim xim, grilled picanha and feijoada. But a larger kitchen means that the chefs will be able to offer more specials going forward, says Batista. The space also allowed them to open a small retail shop, reminiscent of the owners’ former Ipanema Market down the street, that stocks Brazilian imports like Pilão coffee, Brahma beer, sweets, biscuits and other dry goods.
Centrovilla25
3140 West 25th St., Cleveland, cv25.org
For years, Cleveland has struggled to create and support the kind of bustling food hall that other cities seem to take for granted. The Market Hall at Van Aken District is still relevant and thriving after more six years, but the Ohio City Galley failed in less than half that time.
One of the most delicious surprises of the new year is CentroVilla25, a Latin-themed food hall and marketplace in Clark-Fulton. After literally decades of planning, the neighborhood hub is finally a reality, filled with the sights, scents and sounds of a vibrant indoor plaza.
With eight food kiosks, the Mercado Verde is “at capacity,” and we’ve barely scratched the surface of available food options. Sazón Latino specializes in Cuban food and offers a large selection of ready-to-eat foods. Antojitos Salvadoreños y Mas offers Salvadoran fare, including a large selection of griddled-to-order pupusas. Tombao58, a Latin American restaurant, makes stellar arepa sandwiches stuffed with all sorts of fillings, including a breakfast version with eggs, ham and cheese. Flying Pig Tacos is quickly making a name for itself thanks to exceptional tacos, sold by the item ($5) or in various combos with rice and beans. Other food stands include Algo Diferente, serving Puerto Rican snacks, Panitos, a Salvadoran bakery, Lara’s Cakes, and Cafe Roig, your source for all things caffeinated.
Coppia
1731 Lost Nation Rd., Willoughby, coppiarestaurant.com
Since 2022, the fine-dining restaurant called Chesterland home, but owners and chefs Hedy and Talia Trovato had dreamed of finding a setting that better suited their vision. They ended up building such a place in Willoughby, where they will
Lola’s Bistro | Tiffany Joy Photography
opened the doors in July to a whole new experience.
“From the very beginning we imagined a fine dining experience where the food, service and atmosphere were completely harmonious,” Hedy explains. “During our time in Chesterland, we did start to noticeably outgrow our kitchen and dining room space. So, we wanted to design an area that could allow our concept to keep growing and moving forward.”
The restaurant features a “modern-organic design” with seating options that include a bar, dining room, patio and chef’s table, where eight diners will enjoy an exclusive seasonally-driven multi-course tasting menu and wine pairing. It’s everything you loved about the original, and so much more.
Edwins
12383 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights, edwinsrestaurant.org
After the roller-coaster ride that we all endured with Nighttown –one that included the abrupt closure of a Cleveland Heights landmark, a four-year wait for a refurbished replacement, and the subsequent collapse in one quarter of that time –the transition to Edwins has been a breath of fresh air. Chrostowski’s outsized personality fills every nook and cranny of the meandering place, the food feels uniquely suited to the rooms, live jazz has returned to the stage, and people are eagerly filling the seats.
The true beauty of Edwins lies in its range and flexibility. Under one roof there are multiple bars, dining rooms, menus and vibes. Where one sits on the property determines whether he or she will be ordering off a brasserie menu, fine-dining menu or smaller bar menu. Sundays usher in a family friendly buffet brunch.
A freshly installed raw bar welcomes visitors in the main pub and Edwins’ brasserie dishes feel right at home alongside. The steak tartare, potato and ham croquettes, and frog legs are superlative interpretations while mains such as the chicken paillard, braised beef short ribs, and steak frites are true French comfort food classics.
Diners in search of a more upscale experience should book a table in the main dining room, where a menu offers a choice between a la carte dishes or luxe multi-course tasting menus. The latter requires a table-wide commitment. This is where you’ll find Edwins chestnuts like foie gras terrine, Maine lobster salad, seafood sausage, duck confit, bouillabaisse, horseradish-crusted salmon and others.
Fidelity Hotel
1940 East 6th St., Cleveland, fidelityhotelcle.com
Chef Dan Young has returned home to Cleveland after working in some of the best restaurants in the country, suffering personal
tragedy, and getting sober. And he’s made the food at the new Fidelity Hotel a destination not just for travelers but locals.
The menu in the Club Room is one that comes across as approachable and familiar American fare, the type you’d find at hotels and country clubs around the nation. The lunch and dinner rosters are concise with an eye on expansion down the road. But you can tell that a veteran chef and leader is behind the scenes. From the ingredients to the preparation to the presentation on tasteful ceramic tableware, the “familiar” gets a major glow up.
Young reaches into our city’s shopping basket when creating his menus. His uber-crispy chicken schnitzel, served on a pool of roasted beet and mustard sauce, is one example. So too are the pierogies, stuffed with braised beef short ribs and gilded with creme fraiche. The appetizer (pulled from the latest menu) is an obvious nod to the beef cheek pierogies they served at Lola. The next time you’re downtown and looking for a stylish escape from same-old places, check Young and Fidelity out for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Good Pizza
2057 East 4th St., Cleveland, goodpizzacleveland.com
Since launching his YouTube channel in 2019, Charlie Anderson has amassed 195,000 subscribers
who come back time and time again for the host’s no-nonsense at-home pizza-making instruction. Now Anderson has a physical space where people can watch him make New Yorkstyle pizza IRL and enjoy the spoils.
Anderson describes his pizza as an “artisan take on the classic New York pizza,” mentioning buzzworthy places like Scarr’s, L’industrie and Mama’s TOO! as paragons of the category. At Good Pizza, he offers 18-inch pies by the slice and whole, giving downtown workers and pre-event crowds plenty of reasons to come back.
Kyuramen
500 Southpark Ctr., Strongsville, kyuramen.com
Belying its suburban shopping mall address, Kyuramen is a compelling dining destination that marries form with function and flair. Located at SouthPark Mall in Strongsville, the restaurant is the first of its kind in Ohio, brought here by Cleveland-based entrepreneur Sheng Long Yu. Yu is behind a bevy of local eateries, both first-to-market concepts such as Lao Sze Chuan and Dagu Rice Noodle and original creations like Shinto, YYTime and Build the Pho.
Founded in New York City a decade ago, Kyuramen is expanding quickly around the country. The draw, naturally, is the ramen, a mix of regional styles plucked from around the island nation. Those bowls are complemented by a wide
Courtesy Kyuramen
variety of tantalizing appetizers, which add depth and complexity to meals.
The most popular starter on the menu is the honeycomb platter, a combination of snacks presented in hexagonal dishes that mirror the stacked-booth arrangement. Yakitori skewers arrive hot from the grill, lightly charred and pleasantly seasoned. Many customers visit Kyuramen just to try the omurice, an eggy phenom made famous on social media. And there’s the ramen – wide, deep bowls of savory broth, bouncy egg noodles and sundry toppings –of course. Pork bones simmer for five days to make the base broth for most bowls. There are also spicy versions, curry flavored brews, Korean kimchi ramen, and broths made from chicken or vegetables.
Kyuu-juu and Sushi Kuwahata
2054 Fulton Rd., Cleveland, instagram.com/ kyuujuu.cleveland, instagram.com/sushi. kuwahata
An old Victorian in Ohio City is now home to a one-two punch of some of the most exciting food in the city. Upstairs, Chef Kwan’s exclusive omakase sushi experience builds on the success of the special dinners he hosted in Willoughby in recent years. Diners have quickly made it one of the hardest reservations in town to enjoy a world-class “edomae”-style meal that leans on tradition and technique over cre -
ativity with rare, exotic and seasonal fish flown in directly from Japan and Los Angeles.
Downstairs is Kyuu-juu, where Kwan, Chef Ryan Endrian and Executive Chef Dereck White have crafted a modern izakaya. A wide-ranging menu of contemporary Japanese dishes features otsumami (small plates starring fish) and a dozen or so varieties of sashimi. There’s also a selection of cold vegetable-based dishes, hot plates such as grilled broccolini with onion vinaigrette and imported wagyu steak. Clay pot rice dishes come with a choice of mushroom, eel or chicken, and a roster of yakitori skewers are threaded with breast, tenderloin and thigh meat. And don’t miss the exceptional selection of sakes, some of the best Asian lager you’ll find in the region, and batched highballs
Lola’s Bistro
86 North Main St., Chagrin Falls, lolachagrin.com
The transformation of the former Bell & Flower/Rick’s Café property into Lola’s Bistro in Chagrin Falls has been nothing short of extraordinary. Rick Doody and his team overlooked no detail in crafting the elegant and easygoing French bistro, which features a gorgeous wooden bar, massive skylights, and an airy, energetic vibe.
Modeled after some of the owner’s favorite bistros, Lola’s boasts a menu filled with approachable,
familiar French classics that cover all the bases. Diners can start with onion soup gratinee, escargot with garlic butter and steak tartare before moving on to Nicoise or Lyonnaise salads.
For the main event, there is trout amandine, chicken cordon bleu, coq au vin and braised short rib with pomme puree. Steak frites stars a grilled bavette and fries with a choice of sauces such as Béarnaise, horseradish cream, or fois gras bordelaise. Plats du jour, when they begin, will glide from beef bourguignon to cassoulet to whole roast chicken to lobster thermidor and finally, on Friday, to bouillabaisse.
Despite its French pedigree, Lola’s is a neighborhood-friendly bar and restaurant, stresses management.
“We want this to be very walk-in friendly,” says Tim Davin, Director of Operations.
To that end, only half of the 150 seats will be open to reservations with the balance being set aside for walk-in guests.
Sofia’s Kitchen + Bar
17625 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, sofiaskitchenandbar.com
Taking over the former Salt space in Lakewood was no small task, given the revered rep the restaurant built. But Andrew Revy and his team were up to the task with Sofia’s Kitchen + Bar, leaning into the pithy catchphrase, “Corner bar meets American bistro,” a riff that implies that this is a no-pressure, come-as-you-are joint built for today’s low-commitment guests.
Chef Andy Strizak, a name dating back to Parker’s American Bistro, introduces subtle nods to distant cuisines without being cheeky or heavy handed. The chickpea battered veggies conjure Indian pakoras, sans the characteristic crunch. A cross between poutine and Shepherd’s Pie, the Shepard’s Fries tops tender fingerling potatoes with a rich and meaty lamb. In place of chicken breasts there are spicerubbed thighs. Instead of a French dip there is a pork dip sandwich with shaved pork, cheddar and sidecar of au jus. From start to finish, Sofia’s manages to offer “something for everyone” while avoiding the pedestrian pitfall.
Something Good Social Kitchen
1302 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, somethinggoodcle.com
Ricky Smith, the local personality behind Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere (R.A.K.E.), opened Something Good in spring in the Playhouse Square kiosk that’s remained dark since Dynomite Burg-
ers closed in 2020. And despite his lack of restaurant experience, he has settled into a tasty groove.
The bill of fare is, by design, concise. There are all-beef hot dogs, chopped cheese sandwiches and seasonal salads. It should be noted the chopped cheese sandwiches, or what Smith calls burgers, are mega-delicious. Picture a Philly but with ground beef that gets chopped and cooked on the griddle with a variety of ingredients, loaded into a soft potato bun and topped with condiments and sauces. Trade up from the chips, which are good, to the crispy straight-cut fries, which are great.
The crisscross-cut all-beef hot dogs ($7.50) are like edible billboards for Cleveland food products, with Cleveland Kitchen, POP Mustard, Cleveland Ketchup and others making appearances. Options include the Sunshine, with ketchup, whole-seed mustard and sweet relish, the Hug, with BBQ sauce, bacon and crispy onion straws, and the Big Warm, a chili cheese dog.
Vino di Luca
7932 Main St., Olmsted Falls, vinodiluca.com
It didn’t take Luca Sema long to see potential in the Olde Wine Cellar space after that wine bar closed earlier this summer. Captivated by the space, the long-time local restaurateur and chef behind Luca West snatched up the location and, after a few weeks of interior work, debuted Vino di Luca in mid-July.
The elegant wine bar features a small bar and dining room ringed by a large retail wine selection. A small kitchen and chef’s table are located just steps from the entrance, and front and rear patios offer plenty of seasonal seating.
To go with the wines, Sema has crafted a concise menu of small plates and pastas including an antipasti platter, caprese salad, smoked salmon crostini, tomato bruschetta, meatballs with sauce, penne with vodka cream sauce, gnocchi with spicy tomato sauce, orecchiette with shrimp, and ricotta-stuffed beggar’s purses with truffle cream sauce.
An expansive selection offers wines, both by the glass and bottle, with choices from around the globe.
“We stuck with our roots, so it’s heavily Italian, but we also have American, French, Argentinian and others,” says Kelley Gatchell, operations manager.
Sofia’s Kitchen + Bar | Doug Trattner
GET OUT EVERYTHING TO DO IN CLEVELAND FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS
WED 10/08
Sunday in the Park with George
The Sondheim musical that features songs such as songs like “Finishing the Hat,” “Sunday” and “Move On” comes to the Hanna Theatre as the Great Lakes Theater presents its production of the play. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 and performances continue through Sunday.
2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
THU 10/09
Dido and Aeneas
This Henry Purcell opera is considered a “gem of the baroque repertoire.” A performance of it takes place at 8 tonight at the Helen, where performances continue through Saturday.
1407 Euclid Ave, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Trifonov Plays Brahms
Pianist Daniil Trifonov joins the Cleveland Orchestra as it takes on Brahms famous Second Piano Concerto. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall, where it repeats tomorrow and Saturday.
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
2025 Best of Cleveland Party
Join Cleveland Magazine and Cleveland Scene for the 2025 Best of Cleveland Party featuring the very best in local food, drinks, shopping and live music all under one roof at the Great Lakes Science Center. More than 75 Best of Cleveland winners will be on hand to showcase what makes them a local favorite. Enjoy an array of local bites and brews while dancing the night away to live music from DJ E-V, Bad JuJu Cleveland and Hayden Grove. 601 Erieside Ave., 216-377-3667, cletix.com/events/best-of-cleveland-2025.
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
The programming at this annual event that takes place at a variety of venues in Chagrin Falls includes 10 world premieres and 23 U.S, Midwest or Ohio debuts. More than 50 filmmakers from across the country and the globe will attend to participate in Q&A sessions and audience discussions. chagrinfilmfest.org.
Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School
Founded in 2005 in a dive bar in Brooklyn, Dr. Sketchy’s has now spread to more than 100 cities around the world. Dr. Sketchy Akron, a monthly drink and draw event that takes place on the second Thursday of each month at Jilly’s Music Room in Akron, gives patrons the opportunity to “draw glamorous underground performers in an atmosphere of boozy conviviality.” The fun begins at 7 p.m.; it costs $10 to draw. second Thursday of every month.
111 N Main St., Akron, 330-5763757, jillysmusicroom.com.
Jamey Haddad
The master percussionist who has just returned from a tour with Rock Hall of Fame Inductee Paul Simon performs tonight at 7 and 9 at EDWINS in Cleveland Heights.
12383 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-921-3333, edwinsrestaurant.org.
FRI 10/10
La Versión Infinita (The Infinite Version)
This play written by the acclaimed Argentine playwrights Contreras/Del Olmo/ Sturla takes audiences into a “surreal and thought-provoking world where an ordinary insurance clerk receives a phone call from herself, but from an alternate reality.” The LatinUs Theater Company version of the play includes
live projections to create an immersive experience. Tonight’s performance takes place at the Blackbox Theater in the Pivot Center, where performances continue through Oct. 12.
2937 W 25th St., pivotcenter.com.
Michael Blackson
Known as the “African King of Comedy,” Michael Blackson developed his comedic skills with original humor and the ability to be fearless on stage. He jokes about current affairs and takes aim at celebs such as Kim Kardashian and Michael Jordan; however, he also focuses on more serious topics such as race, his love for America and his African descent. He performs at 7 and 9:30 tonight and at 6:30 and 9 tomorrow night at the Cleveland Funny Bone. 1148 Main Ave., 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com.
SAT 10/11
Spooky Pooch Parade
Now in its 16th year, the Spooky Pooch Parade attracts hundreds of dogs to Lakewood’s Madison Park. Scheduled to take place from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. today, the event includes a festival within Madison Park, a parade and an awards presentation. It’s reportedly the only event of its kind within the region. There will be kids games, food and dog-related vendors, including rescue groups and other nonprofits offering canine-oriented goods and services. Kids are encouraged to wear
Halloween costumes and visit vendors for trick-or-treating. The parade commences at 2 p.m. Afterward, judges will award prizes in a number of categories, including Best Dog & Child, Best, Dog & Adult, Best Dog & Group, Spookiest Pooch and Best in Show.
13029 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-529-6650, lakewoodalive.com.
MON 10/11
Adam Sandler: You’re My Best Friend
The very funny former Saturday Night Live comedian brings his latest standup tour to Rocket Arena. Expect a mix of jokes and music when he takes the stage at 7:30 p.m.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.
TUE 10/14
Cavaliers
vs. Detroit Pistons
The Cavs will likely rest their starters as they take on the Detroit Pistons in this preseason game. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at Rocket Arena.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.
Lyrical Rhythms Open Mic and Chill
This long-running open mic night at the B Side allows some of the city’s best rappers and poets to strut their stuff. The
The Spooky Pooch Parade returns to Lakewood. See: Saturday, Oct. 11. | Photo by Emanuel Wallace
event begins at 8 with a comedy session dubbed 2 Drinks & a Joke with host Ant Morrow. The open mic performances begin at 10 p.m. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-1966, bsideliquorlounge.com.
WED 10/15
The 10 X 3 Songwriter Band Showcase
Hosted by Brent Kirby
The concept of 10x3 is a pre-arranged line up with 10 songwriters/bands performing three songs each. Two of them required to be original, and the third can be the artist’s choice. Local singer-songwriter Brent Kirby hosts the event, which runs from 7 to 9 tonight at the Bop Stop. Admission is free.
2920 Detroit Ave., 216-771-6551, themusicsettlement.org
THU 10/16
Conversations with Women in STEAM
Bonnie Garmus, the best-selling author of Lessons in Chemistry, will speak at 7 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as part of the museum’s Conversations with Women in STEAM program. Following the discussion, Garmus will sign copies of her book.
1 Wade Oval Dr., 216-231-4600, cmnh.org.
FRI 10/17
Monsters vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms
The Monsters had a great season last year and performed well in the playoffs. Expect the team to compete again this year; the first home game of the season takes place tonight at 7 at Rocket Arena. The two teams face off again at 7 tomorrow night.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com
Third Friday
From 5 to 9 p.m., many of the 78th Street Studios resident artist studios and galleries will be open as part of this monthly event. There will be live music, and Local West, a Gordon Square sandwich shop, will serve food. BARneo will have a selection of adult beverages as well. Admission is free.
1300 West 78th St., 78thstreetstudios.com.
SAT 10/18
Artist in the Atrium
Every third Saturday of each month, stop by the Ames Family Atrium between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to get a firsthand look
at the art-making process. Each session provides the opportunity to engage and interact with a different Northeast Ohio maker during pop-up demonstrations and activities.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
When the Saints Go Marching Home
Cleveland Pop Orchestra plays a mix of music that gave birth to the blues at this special concert that takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall. 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
SUN 10/19
Halloween Spooktacular
Cleveland Orchestra will play spooky music by the likes of John Williams, Alan Menken, Adam Glaser and Grieg at this special concert that takes place at 1 and 4 p.m. today at Mandel Music Hall. 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Miami Dolphins vs. Cleveland Browns
A Miami Dolphins team that stumbled out of the gates this season comes to Huntington Bank Field to take on the Browns. Expect the Browns tough defense to give the questionable Dolphins’ offense some trouble. The game begins at 1 p.m.
100 Alfred Lerner Way, 440-8915000, huntingtonbankfield.
TUE 10/21
An Evening with Fran Lebowitz
The New York-based writer and cultural critic brings her latest show to Connor Palace. Expect to hear her takes on city life, “societal norms” and “the challenges of modern living.” The concert begins at 8 p.m.
1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Outlab: Experiments in Improvised Music
Musicians are invited to bring instruments or any sound making device (drum kit and keyboard provided) that can be used to explore collective group improvisation. Please bring your own amps if needed. The monthly session begins at 8 tonight at the Bop Stop. Admission is free.
2920 Detroit Ave., 216-771-6551, themusicsettlement.org.
scene@clevescene.com @clevelandscene
CLEVELAND CLASSIC
By Douglas Trattner
THE FOUR OF US MADE a beeline for the lounge, where a small cluster of lowslung club chairs awaited. We slipped into them and took in our surroundings, a cozy cocoon of coffered ceilings, warm cherry wood and stained glass. Behind us, a sunken dining room overlooked a moody ravine ringed by a dense pocket of trees. A tuxedoed bartender delivered a round of dry gin martinis and we half expected Sammy Davis, Jr. to roll in smoking one his trademark Nat Sherman cigarettes.
When it comes to “Cleveland Classic” restaurants, there might be no higher quarry than White Oaks in Westlake. Since starting on this beat a quarter century ago, this time-honored restaurant has been perched at the top of my list. But one thing or another always kept me and my white whale at a distance. A recent visit with friends proved how foolish I had been. Not so much because White Oaks is the best at any single thing, but rather because it is a piece of living history that I would have deeply regretted never experiencing.
Simply walking through the front door transports diners to another era. Around since 1928, the restaurant reveals its age throughout its rambling warren of wood-paneled rooms. There’s the old-timey Bell Telephone booth in the lobby, glowing news articles from decades – and reporters – passed and, my personal favorite, an early menu from when a martini cost 30 cents and a shrimp cocktail a quarter.
Prices aside, things don’t change much around these parts, and part of
the secret sauce to the restaurant’s longevity and consistency is the remarkable fact that it has only changed hands once in nearly a century. Byron Spooner, who took over operations from his father, the founder, sold the business in 1971 to Anthony Small, whose son Mike now runs the operation.
After a quick exploration of the restaurant, we opted to wait for a table in one of the smaller dining rooms that overlook the Cahoon Creek. There was plenty of space in a larger dining room, but it was clear that all the action was in the bar and surrounding rooms.
If I had a nickel for every place that claimed to have once been home to a speakeasy I’d be sitting pretty. But White Oaks comes by the reputation honestly having opened smack dab in the middle of Prohibition. Sitting here, martini in hand, is as close as one can get to experiencing a gin joint during the bootlegging days of the Roaring Twenties.
Halfway through our cocktails we were guided to a white linen-toped table nearby. Soon, a crudité platter served with creamy cottage cheese landed on the table. A long-forgotten mid-century staple, the complimentary relish tray is alive and well at White Oaks.
Like that relish tray, the menu harkens back to a time when Continental cuisine dominated fine-dining establishments. Expect classic French-influenced dishes starring various meats, rich sauces and straightforward vegand-starch sides. The restaurant has added some more contemporary dishes over the years, but those items are more the exception than the rule.
Given the supper-club vibe, we anticipated a traditional cheese fondue arrangement starring long forks and a low burner. Here, the indulgent Swiss cheese blend ($13.99) is served in a ramekin alongside a slender, sliced loaf of bread. We plucked savory escargot ($13.99) from their shallow pools of garlic butter, chasing them with uber-crisp puff pastry caps and wiping the dimpled dish dry with crusty bread. White Oaks is renowned for its apple-French onion soup, but the clam chowder it serves as part of its seasonal clambake is exceptional.
There are plenty of golden oldies served here, dishes like slow-roasted Long Island duck, pork Normandy with apples and Amaretto, and port-marinated venison with veal demi. But one dish, beef Wellington ($47.99), stands out among the crowd. This complex, multi-faceted dish has all but vanished
from restaurant menus, but White Oaks refuses to let it go. This one is a showstopper: beef tenderloin coated in mushroom duxelles, encased in golden brown pastry and served on a pool of Bordelaise sauce. Slicing through the flaky pastry reveals a rosy-red center.
We also enjoyed a deftly cooked New York strip steak ($48.99), prepared au poivre-style, glazed with a rich Cognac-spiked sauce and topped with green peppercorns. The seasonal clambake ($51.99) that started with that excellent chowder also featured a bowl of buttery steamed littlenecks and a lightly breaded chicken piccata. Most entrees include a salad, vegetable medley and twice-baked potato.
To go with the food we sipped on a dusty Châteauneuf-du-Pape ($59) from the well-stocked cellar.
White Oaks will never compete with that exciting new restaurant that just opened in Ohio City. The menu reads more like a culinary history book than a roundup of social media-worthy trophies. But sometimes the real beauty of a restaurant is its place in history, the story that it tells, and the memories that it holds. Yes, it’s dated, but isn’t that the whole idea?
dtrattner@clevescene.com @dougtrattner
Photo by Doug Trattner
EAT
BITES
Le Burger 4304 to replace Pioneer, Jaja to get whole new menu
By Douglas Trattner
On October 31, 2024, a car crashed into the building at Intro in Ohio City that houses Jaja and Pioneer restaurants, causing both to immediately close. Original estimates pegged a spring 2025 reopening for both. In the interim, however, the complex’s developer, Harbor Bay Ventures, has brought in an entirely new hospitality group to oversee operations at Jaja, Pioneer, Truss and Edda Coffee.
Since coming on board, JJJ hospitality, a Minneapolis-based hospitality group run by John Gross, Josh Hoyt and Jonathan Gans, has been hard at work reimaging, re-concepting and rebuilding those concepts.
The first major decision was to jettison Pioneer and replace it with Le Burger 4304, a concept that JJJ hospitality launched in Minneapolis in 2024. Yes, it’s a burger restaurant, but it’s often described as an elevated take on the genre.
“Our goal when creating Le Burger was to put an incredible amount of backend work into the food, just like we would at the nicest fine-dining restaurants that we operate or have worked in but have the end result be really approachable for the guest,” explains Jonathan Gans, one of the Js behind JJJ hospitality.
That decision required the removal of Pioneer’s signature feature, the 20-foot live-fire cooking suite that ran along one wall. A new kitchen is being built that will largely be hidden from view, though diners at the bar will still have peeks into the back of house.
In Minneapolis, Le Burger is a high-volume fast-casual eatery. In Ohio City, it will be a full-service restaurant that will feature a nearly identical menu. The core of that menu are the quarter-pound wagyu patties cooked on a flattop and topped with a variety of ingredients such as foie gras, smoked bacon, fried onions, truffle aioli and special sauce. The burgers are tucked into a sesame-seed topped bun and bundled up in a wax paper wrapper.
Le Burger also offers crispy chicken sandwiches, fried cod sandwiches and housemade vegan and vegetarian patties. The restaurant also prepares a handful of elegant salads, baguette sandwiches such as the classic French ham and butter, and snacks like chips and dip.
But as much as guests adore the burgers, they lose their minds over the french fries.
“We take a huge amount of pride in our french fries,” adds Gans. “They’re really very special.”
Those fries are triple-cooked, going through a process that involves an herbed water blanch, air-chill, oil blanching, freezing and, finally, deep frying to order.
The removal of the wood-fired grill, which also served as the kitchen for Jaja upstairs, necessitated a complete overhaul of that restaurant’s food. The dining room, with its drama-filled, maximalist décor, will largely stay intact, says Gans.
“It’s a wild space,” he says the room. “It’s beautiful and there’s nothing like it.”
Going forward, Jaja will be under the direction of new executive chef Logan Abbe, formerly of The Last Page. An all-new menu with a more focused point of view is currently being developed by Abbe and the JJJ team.
Likely next spring, the adjoining patio will reopen with its own unique identity, menu and vibe.
Over at Edda, the café, JJJ already has rolled out a new menu and plan to unveil more tweaks and improvements down the road, says Gans.
“Our goal for Etta is to try to make it as much of a food destination as it is a place for coffee and everything else,” he states.
The plan is to open Le Burger later this fall and Jaja to reopen a couple weeks after that.
Gans, who has been spending lots of time in Ohio City, is thrilled to become a part of that dynamic food scene.
“I love that there’s so much pride and commitment to local and independent businesses in that part of town,” he says. “It’s pretty special. We’re sensitive to the fact that we’re based in Minneapolis and we want to really honor the rich culture and history down there.”
Hunan Coventry Has Closed, Mizu Sushi to Take its Place
Hunan Coventry (1800 Coventry Rd.), a staple of the Cleveland Heights restaurant scene since 1987, has closed. Earlier this summer, the restaurant “closed temporarily” for renovations, but now that closure has become permanent, according to a representative for Coventry Village.
But that prominent corner storefront won’t remain vacant for long. Already, crews are at work to bring the restaurant back to life, this time as Mizu Japanese Restaurant. Mizu (10219 Brookpark Rd., 216-898-0098), the Parma eatery operated by Lily Li, has been earning praise for its extensive menu of sushi, bento boxes, hot pots, noodles bowls and Japanese entrees for 15 years.
Workers at the Coventry Road restaurant said that renovations should be wrapped up within a couple of weeks.
When it opens in October, Mizu will join a host of other Asian restaurants and shops on the street, including Pacific East, One Pot, Soba, Tree Country, Pho
& Rice, High Thai’d, Seafood Shake and Koko Bakery.
The Pierogi Bucket in Ohio City Puts a Modern Twist on an Old-Fashioned Favorite
There’s a new fast-casual lunch option in Ohio City that puts a 21st-century spin on an old-fashioned comfort food. The Pierogi Bucket (2304 Bridge Ave., 216741-0871) offers deep-fried, bite-size dumplings and serves them by the bucket with contemporary sauces. The buckets are available for pickup-only at the Ohio City Farm’s new Roundstone Pavilion.
“This is actually something I started with my friends at Perla Pierogies in Parma,” says owner Miroslav Parashikov. “But this project is new.”
Whereas Perla Pierogies offers traditional Eastern European dumplings with a variety of fillings served with sour cream and onions, the Pierogi Bucket does things a little differently.
“It’s like a modern twist on the traditional pierogies,” adds Parashikov. “I know that deep frying is not a new thing with pierogies, but we’re offering different sauces like garlic parmesan or buttermilk ranch, things that people are familiar with but not so much pairing with pierogies.”
The mini potato and cheddar-filled pierogi are flash fried and served in three different sized buckets. The Family Bucket includes 24 pieces, the Half-Bucket 12, and the Mini-Bucket 5. The sauces are included in the price.
dtrattner@clevescene.com @dougtrattner
Courtesy Photo
LIVEWIRE
WED 10/08
Ice Cube: Truth to Power
The rapper who cut his musical teeth with the groundbreaking rap group N.W.A. brings his latest solo tour to Rocket Arena. Cube has also become a successful actor and possesses plenty of charisma. The current tour celebrates his 40th year in the music business. He reportedly performs fan favorites like “It Was a Good Day,” “Check Yo Self” and “You Can Do It” along with tracks from his new album, Man Up. The show begins at 8 p.m. One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.
Stereolab
The indie band known for its use of vintage instruments makes a rare stop in Northeast Ohio. Following on from the release of their first studio album in 15 years, Instant Holograms on Metal Film, the band has also issued two brand new songs, “Fed Up With Your Job” and “Constant and Uniform Movement Unknown.” The groovy singles make use of perky synths and are more upbeat than other songs in the back catalog. Tonight’s show begins at 7. Dorothea Paas opens. Globe Iron, 2325 Elm St., globeironcle.com.
THU 10/09
ZZ Top
The classic rock act out of Texas first formed way back in 1969 when two rival acts — Billy Gibbons’ Moving Sidewalks and Frank Beard and Dusty Hill’s American Blues — joined forces to become a single entity. The group delivered a huge hit in 1973 with “La Grange,” a gritty blues number that introduced its singular sound. The band returns to MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. 10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark. mgmresorts.com/en.html.
FRI 10/10
HR of Bad Brains
The local jam band C-Level will join Bad Brains singer HR for this special show at the Winchester Music Tavern in Lakewood. The group has collaborated with HR on a new single, which they’ll perform together. They’ll also play their own sets featuring tunes from their respective catalogs. Benny Coleman of the reggae band Quasi Kings opens the show. It begins at 8 p.m.
12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-600-5338, facebook.com/ TheWinchesterMusicTavern.
REAL MUSIC IN THE REAL WORLD
Matt Moody Album Release
The local singer-songwriter plays a release party tonight at 9 at the Happy Dog. The show celebrates his third full length album, The Misery County Line, a twangy affair that finds him vacillating between indie rock and alt-country. Songs for an Unknown God open.
5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474, happydogcleveland.com.
Papadosio
Ohio natives Papadosio have carved out a reputable niche in the jamtronica scene, and their arrival in Northeast Ohio is always welcome. Unfortunately, this stop comes as the band announced it will be going on an indefinite touring hiatus following a pair of shows in the Buckeye State, including a gig at Riverfront Live in Cincinnati. “As our hiatus approaches, we can’t think of a better place than Ohio to host our last shows for the foreseeable future,” the band shared on social media. Sure seems like high time to catch them if you haven’t yet. The group performs at 7 tonight at Globe Iron. Local heroes Vibe & Direct open.
2325 Elm St., globeironcle.com.
SAT 10/11
Eric Church: Free the Machine Tour
The country singer-guitarist known for his epic live shows comes to Rocket Arena. The current tour supports Church’s ninth studio album, Evangeline vs. The Machine. In typical fashion, the album delivers moody numbers such as “Bleed on Paper” and calls-to-arms like “Hands of Time.” The show begins at 7:30 p.m. One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.
An
Evening
with Live
The ‘90s rock act performs at 8 p.m. at MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage.
Led by emotionally charged singer-guitarist Ed Kowalczyk, the group delivered a huge hit in the mid-’90s with the anthem “Lightening Crashes.” While it hasn’t followed up with anything quite as massive, the band has remained active. 10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark. mgmresorts.com/en.html.
Kevin Gates
The rapper out of Baton Rouge made quite a splash with his 2016 debut studio album, Islah, comes to Jacobs Pavilion with opening acts Gelo and Rob Kazi. His latest album, I’m Him 2, serves as a sequel to 2019’s I’m Him. The show begins at 7 p.m. 2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.
TUE 10/14
Lawrence — The Family Business Tour
On tour in support of their fourth studio album, Family Business, the indie rock act Lawrence rolls into House of Blues tonight at 8. Exuberant pop tunes such as “Watcha Want” and the horn-driven title track should translate well live as Gracie Lawrence alternates between soulfully belting the songs out and rapping. 308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.
THU 10/16
Mike Keneally
Guitarist and keyboardist Mike Keneally, who played in Frank Zappa’s last touring band, will revisit his 30-year catalog at this show featuring his band Beer for Dolphins. Openers Dave Bainbridge and Sally Minnear will join Keneally and his band during their set. The show begins at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Tavern. 15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
TUE 10/21
Friends & Legends Take the Time Benefit: Celebrating the Music & Philanthropic Legacy of Michael Stanley
A slew of locally based acts including Marc Lee Shannon, Jimmy Fox, Dale Peters, Jim Bonfanti and Alex Bevan will be on hand tonight to pay tribute to the late Michael Stanley. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom. 15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
Lukas Nelson
This singer-songwriter performs on a regular basis with his father, country music icon Willie Nelson. But he’s also established himself as an artist of note in his own right. This tour supports his new album, the Tom Petty-inspired American Romance, which alt-country icon Shooter Jennings produced. Nelson performs at 7 tonight at Globe Iron. The Band Louia opens.
2325 Elm St., globeironcle.com.
jniesel@clevescene.com @jniesel
ZZ Top returns to MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage. See: Thursday, Oct. 10. | Courtesy of Live Nation
SAVAGE LOVE
THE CUCKENING
by Dan Savage
I’M A BI GIRL in a serious relationship with a bi guy, and said bi guy has a major thing for being cucked. We’ve had a few threesomes before, but only with bisexuals and the focus was on all three of us equally. Recently, though, we had a 2-on1 threesomes with a straight guy, and it was GOOD for me. Really good. Nothing would make me happier than to go on a spree (with protection, of course) of fucking around with guys, my boyfriend fucking around with guys, the two of us fucking around with other guys together, etc. Have you seen men lately? Good stuff. I want to go full speed ahead, but my boyfriend is conflicted. On one hand: immeasurable arousal, fulfillment of his cuckold fantasies, etc. On the other... intense jealousy and anxiety! And on my end? An irrepressible hunger that wasn’t there before. I love my boyfriend so much and our sex life is amazing, but my appetite can’t be satiated by just one guy anymore! Please help!
Down To Cuck
“First, this is an amazing problem to have,” said Hopeful Cuck, one of four co-hosts of Cuck My Life, the podcast for cucks by cucks. “They’re on a journey, an adventure, and they’re in store for some pretty amazing sex. So, however they go about this, I’m sure they’re going to have a lot of fun.”
I never like to contradict a guest expert — especially one as qualified as Hopeful Cuck — but it sounds to me like you’re already having fun; you don’t say how long you’ve been together, but you’ve had more threesomes in the time you’ve been together than most people have in a lifetime. Whatever else you’re into, it’s pretty clear you’re not into delayed gratification. But you’re moving into trickier emotional territory, DTC, and if you don’t want to screw this up for yourself — and a cuck boyfriend sounds like your ideal partner, DTC, so you really don’t wanna screw this up — you’re gonna need to move at your boyfriend’s speed.
“Her partner is nervous,” said Hopeful. “He is experiencing ‘cuck angst,’ that special sauce that each cuck experiences differently. There is no one piece of advice that will fix this, it has to be a multi-pronged approach. First, they need to talk to one another. What expectations, ideas, fantasies do each of them have around this kink? Does he want to be humiliated? Does she feel comfortable humiliating him? How do their desires align? How do they differ?”
Basically, DTC, you need to insist that your boyfriend to explain to you — in exhausting detail — exactly what cuckolding means to him, exactly what excites him about being cuckolded, and exactly what kind of cuckold he wants to be. And that’s not a conversation you can have in an Uber on your way to the apartment of a hot straight guy who’s down to fuck you in front of your cuck boyfriend.
“Things feel close to boiling over right now,” said Aussie Cuck, another one of the hosts of Cuck My Life, “and I’d suggest cooling things down a little. They should explore the fantasy together without a third. Use toys while he watches but can’t touch. She should talk him through what her ‘imaginary bull’ is doing. Try light humiliation or even chastity play. These shallow-end steps let them test how the power dynamic fits their relationship. Once they’ve built trust and clarity, they’ll be in a stronger place to invite someone else in.”
I never like to contradict a guest expert — especially one as qualified as Aussie Cuck — but you’ve already had someone else in. (Some hot straight guy was quite literally in you, right?) But when your boyfriend brought up cuckolding, he wasn’t just talking about you fucking other guys or the two of you fucking other guys together. Threesomes are one thing — an emotionally tricky thing for many couples — but a cuckold couple has to find the right balance between jealousy and arousal. If he’s truly a cuck, he wants you to make him feel anxious and insecure without ever making him feel too anxious or too insecure. Figuring out how to do that for (and with) him is going to take some thought, DTC, not just some more guys.
“Being a cuckoldress or a hotwife isn’t a hall pass to sleep with anyone, anytime,” said Aussie Cuck. “It’s a responsibility, especially while he’s still figuring out his boundaries and the kind of cuck dynamic he wants. If he truly has a cuck fantasy, why does her being with another man spark jealousy when they’ve already shared that space? Does it feel different if the third is male rather than female? Or is he scared of being left behind while she dives in deeper?”
Final question for you, DTC: If your boyfriend is a cuck, it means something very specific to him when you sleep with another man, particularly a man you can’t share, i.e. a straight guy who’s only interested in you. So, what does it mean to you when he sleeps with another man? Some people will insist that you’re doing it wrong — that your boyfriend isn’t really a cuckold — if he gets to fuck other people, too. Hopeful, Aussie, and I agree that you should ignore those people.
“There is no ‘right way’ to do this, and no wrong way, either,” said Hopeful. “You just need to figure out how you can do it in a way that will meet the majority of both of your needs.”
Still, if you don’t feel jealous and turned on when he fucks other men — if all you feel is turned on — then he’s obviously not cuckolding you when he fucks around. Your relationship could wind up being a rare melding of a cuck kink with a hotwifing/husbanding/partnering kink: he’s your sub when you cuck him (fucking other guys is about your pleasure) and he’s still your sub when he gets fucked by another guy (because him fucking other guys pleases you). I’m speculating here — only you know what it means to you when he fucks other guys — but your feelings, needs, and meanings also need to be a part of the conversation.
Last word goes to our guest experts:
“This is a high wire act,” said Hopeful. “You both need to understand that mistakes happen. Rules and boundaries get broken. The heat of the moment can be intense. Be ready to forgive missteps. Talk about these things and adjust your relationship accordingly.”
“Learn to swim together before diving deep — that way, the chances of shared pleasure and success are much greater,” said Aussie Cuck.
Follow Hopeful Cuck on Twitter @ New_Hopeful, follow Aussie Cuck on Twitter @CuckooCuck, and Cuck My Life is available on all podcasting platforms.
Long time listener, as is my “partner.” The background: I’m 65, my “partner” is 73. We met twenty years ago and divorced our wives to be together. Early on in the relationship I discovered that he uses meth. He assured me he didn’t have a problem. We went to couples counseling a few years back and the therapist told me during a private session that I’m better off leaving my partner because he was never going to give up meth. Then he contracted HIV, and I’m pretty sure he got it shooting up. He says no but I’ve seen needles in the house. I travel for work, and I know he has parties in my house when I’m gone — I’ve seen a parade of guys on my security camera — but we don’t have an open relationship (his rule, not mine). I
have asked him to seek help, I’ve tried to support him, I’ve attempted to involve his family, and they’ve ignored me. I can’t bring myself to sleep with him anymore. I’ve asked him to leave and find somewhere else to live. However, he is on limited income. He was a smart man, but he squandered his money and now relies on Social Security (and me) to cover his living expenses. He has lied to me, and his double life is dragging on me and I’m unsure what to do. I have a great job, travel all over the world for work, and could retire if I so desired. I’m not ready to retire, nor do I have a desire to live with this person. I know I should have kicked him out years ago, but now I feel like I’m stuck with him. I’m not sure what advice you can give to someone who feels stuck, used, and abused by a drug-addicted liar that I nonetheless don’t want to make homeless.
Despondent In Philly
Toss this man out on his ass — just say go — but if you can’t bear the thought of your live-in ex-boyfriend winding up on the street…
What it’s worth to you — and I’m talking financially— to have him out of your life? It sounds like you have resources. Your lying, cheating, drug-abusing partner does not; it seems pretty clear that he’s only “with you” because he needs a place and a meal ticket. So, if you got him a place — let’s say you bought a nice studio apartment on the other side of town and offered him enough money to live on for a year or two — do you think he’d leave? Would it be worth it to have him gone? If the answer to both those questions is yes, DIP, you could pay him to go. But if you don’t buy him out and you can’t bear the thought of tossing him out… you could wait him out. The average male in the US lives to 75, DIP, and I can’t imagine a 73-year-old man who shoots meth is gonna beat the actuarial odds.
Got problems? Yes, you do!
Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love!
Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan! Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love
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