SCENE 9/24/25

sept 24 - oct 7, 2025 volume 56 issue 6

UNIT UNDER FIRE CUYAHOGA COUNTY'S CONTROVERSIAL DOWNTOWN SAFETY PATROL IS TICKETING MOSTLY BLACK DRIVERS.

BY Mark Puente,

Doug Livingston, The Marshall Project; and Tara Morgan, News 5 Cleveland

CITY LIFESTYLE INGENUITYFEST page 7

page 17

CONTENTS SEPT 24–OCT 7, 2025 • VOL. 56 No 6

Up Front......................................3 Feature........................................4 City Living...................................7 Get Out...................................... 14

Music......................................... 16 Eat.............................................26 Livewire.....................................28 Savage Love...............................30

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COVER PHOTO BY GUS CHAN. COVER DESIGN BY ERIN STINARD.

UPFRONT Max Miller Claims Suburbanites Are Afraid to Visit Cleveland REPRESENTATIVE MAX Miller, in an op-ed published in the Washington Times that could double as a middle school thesis paper complete with quotations of the Constitution’s preamble, called for the National Guard to be deployed in Cleveland.

Miller, in echoing the sycophantic call of Republicans to militarize Democratic cities across the country after Trump’s deployment of the Guard to the District of Columbia and Memphis, cited public safety as the driving force to localize the boots-on-the-ground movement.

Crime is out of control, he wrote, contrary to stats that have showed Cleveland’s homicide rate declining 26% and nationwide data showing a 17% drop in homicides in the country’s 30 largest cities. (As Justin Bibb argued in an MSNBC op-ed earlier this summer, those improvements are due to the work of Democratic mayors in the face of obstacles and cuts from the Trump administration.)

But Miller, a lifelong suburbanite, isn’t here for that.

Miller is here for a dystopian and false picture of life in Cleveland.

“My constituents in the suburbs are afraid to go into the city. The Cleveland I grew up in is now unrecognizable. Families no longer feel safe walking down the street, and small businesses are being boarded up,” Miller wrote.

While it’s certainly believable that some suburban residents are simply petrified of crossing city limits — like some of those in Rocky River, for example, who are terrified of the handful of homeless people living in the rich west side burg and want to criminalize camping on public property — the contention is simply hyperbolic fear-mongering.

As is the assertion that “small businesses are being boarded up.” (Whether he means in response to or as a precaution against public safety issues isn’t clear, but since neither are happening, it’s a moot point.)

Giving him the absolute benefit of the doubt, he’s referencing the recent shooting in the Flats that led to the closure of Play Bar & Grill. An action taken immediately by Mayor Bibb and the City of Cleveland the night of the shooting (which the owners objected to, saying they had nothing to do with the incident),

and which was followed by the Flats East Bank landlord terminating the lease of the establishment for what it claimed were repeated violations.

How the National Guard solves that situation better is a good one.

Reactions elsewhere have been admittedly mixed. Cleveland, like Baltimore and Memphis, has a troubled history with policing. Communities that have been disproportionately targeted by law enforcement have voiced concerns in other cities about the prospect of being harassed for low-level infractions. Immigrants remain concerned about arrests. And there’s the whole prospect of authoritarian militarism in America. “(Dr. Martin Luther) King referred to militarism as a sickness. Unfortunately, this president is full of that sickness,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said recently after Trump threatened once again to send troops to the city. “There are no circumstances under which the deployment of American soldiers should be sent in cities across America. It is actually quite upsetting that this president has seduced a number of American people into his meretricious form of governance that has placed our democracy at incredible risk.”

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee welcomed the move in Memphis — where police just released stats showing crime at a 25-year low — which is a key legal lynchpin. Objections by governors in Illinois and Maryland have so far blocked Trump’s desire to deploy the Guard in Chicago and Baltimore. Which is why Miller wants DeWine to give the green light.

“The people of Cleveland deserve to feel safe again,” Miller wrote. “They deserve to live without fear. The people I represent should be able to go to a Guardians, Browns or Cavs game without fearing for their lives. There is no higher duty of government than this.”

DeWine’s office, in a statement, said Ohio is a home rule state and thus mayors would have to be the ones to invite help.

The City of Cleveland, in a statement, said it welcomes assistance from the state and federal government but in ways that don’t involve the National Guard.

“Reducing crime is this Administration’s top priority. One victim is too many.

The most effective way to keep cities safe is through local law enforcement working hand in hand with our communities, the State of Ohio, and our federal partners,” it read. “Just last week, the U.S. Marshals announced yet another successful operation in Cleveland partnering with our Division of Police and other law enforcement agencies with more than 130 violent fugitives arrested, over 3,000 rounds of ammunition seized, and numerous guns and drugs removed from our streets. These are the types of part-

Photo by Gage Skidmore/FlickrCC nerships we need and will continue to advocate for from the federal-level.”

Those partnerships include help from the state as DeWine recently announced multi-agency assistance in Cleveland in coordination with Bibb that will see Highway Patrol and other staff working with local authorities as they have in Cincinnati.

“We can bring in a team involving three or four of our different departments that can help that local community target violent offenders and get them off the street,” DeWine said. “That is something we have frankly perfected in Ohio. It works very well.”

– Vince Grzegorek

“CLE improved across all the dimensions we measure versus a year ago,” Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at J.D. Power, told Cleveland.com.

Hopkins was ranked 17th out of 18 airports in the category, with the data coming from 30,439 survey respondents who were asked about ease of travel through the airport, level of trust with the airport, terminal facilities, airport staff, departure from and arrival to the airport, and food and beverage options.

It beat out Edmonton for the noble caboose spot. Indianapolis was rated the best in the category.

Between now and 2032, however,

Hopkins Airport Slightly Less Shitty Than Before, Ranking Finds

there will be years of construction headaches that will likely dent Hopkins’ rank-

Come 2032, Cleveland will welcome a new $1.1 billion terminal at Hopkins that will be built on the site of the current smart parking garage, along with new parking options. The massive development has been welcomed as a long-overdue upgrade to a beleaguered airport that has fallen in favor with travelers.

Until then, there’s only so much the airport can do to improve the experience of flying the friendly-ish skies out of Northeast Ohio. But what it has done has paid some minor, immediate dividends.

By upgrading food, beverage and retail options, Hopkins has now vaulted from dead last among mid-sized North American airports in J.D. Power’s annual ranking to second to last in the most recent results.

ing, but clear skies and a climb up the leaderboard, judging by how respondents feel about modern air travel.

“A big part of this recent increase in passenger satisfaction is due to recently completed improvements in many airport facilities themselves,” Taylor said in a release this week. “A few big capital improvement projects have now been completed and many more are underway or about to break ground. A decades long trend of bringing unique, local flavor to the passenger experience has positively impacted the airport experience with these local touches having a major influence on passenger satisfaction.”

– Vince Grzegorek

Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025 | clevescene.com | SCENE

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FEATURE

CONTROVERSIAL CUYAHOGA COUNTY DEPUTY UNIT TICKETS MOSTLY BLACK DRIVERS, RECORDS SHOW A review of Downtown Safety Patrol traffic stops shows deputies rarely issue tickets or make arrests. By Mark Puente, Doug Livingston, The Marshall Project, and Tara Morgan, News 5 Cleveland

HENRY RAY SAID HE was surprised when flashing police lights lit up behind his Camaro as he was driving on Rockwell Avenue in downtown Cleveland in October 2023.

He repeatedly asked Cuyahoga County sheriff’s Deputy James DeCredico why he had been stopped, according to bodycam footage. DeCredico would not say.

Ray persisted. DeCredico warned Ray he would pull him out of the car if he did not provide his license.

About two minutes into the stop, DeCredico told Ray his license was suspended. Deputies handcuffed Ray, put him in a cruiser and searched his car with a police dog. DeCredico told Ray he was being detained for erratic behavior.

Nearly 50 minutes later, Ray drove away with tickets for tinted windows and for not having his license plate illuminated. His license was not suspended.

“I definitely thought these (deputies) were fishing,” Ray told The Marshall Project - Cleveland and News 5 Cleveland. “You told me you stopped me for one thing. Then later you started coming with other things of what you stopped me for.”

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LaTonya Goldsby, the president of Black Lives Matter Cleveland, calls for accountability after Cuyahoga County sheriff’s deputies were involved in two high-speed chases where two bystanders were killed. | Daniel Lozada for The Marshall Project

Ray’s encounter with deputies from the sheriff’s controversial Downtown Safety Patrol is a common one, according to a Marshall Project - Cleveland and News 5 Cleveland review of annual reports touting more than 4,400 traffic stops since the unit launched in 2023.

According to department data, over two-thirds of the stops made by Downtown Safety Patrol deputies did not result in an arrest or citation in 2023 and 2024.

The news outlets’ analysis found that Cleveland police officers who patrolled downtown during the same hours issued tickets in about 72% of stops in 2023, raising questions about the motive for the sheriff’s department’s traffic stops.

The news outlets also found that Black drivers received 75% of the citations issued. Of those, 60% involved low-level offenses such as having suspended licenses and violating window tint and seatbelt laws.

SCENE | clevescene.com | Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025

Those numbers were gathered from data kept by the Chagrin Valley Dispatch Center, as the sheriff’s department omits information for categories such as race and gender from its annual reports.

Kelly Woodard, the county’s communications director, referred reporters to the Chagrin Valley Dispatch Center for additional information and confirmed the accuracy of the data, despite large discrepancies in information released by both agencies. For example, the dispatch records showed nearly 400 stops that were not reflected in the sheriff’s 2024 annual report.

‘Shocked’ The Downtown Safety Patrol was launched after a string of shootings in Cleveland’s entertainment districts compelled authorities to find ways to reduce crime.

More than a dozen drivers who spoke to The Marshall Project - Cleveland said they believed deputies on the downtown unit stopped them for being Black, hav-

ing tinted windows and driving fancy cars. Most feared retaliation for talking.

The news outlets’ findings offered further insight into the downtown unit following one deputy being involved in two pursuits where three people died, including two bystanders, and another deputy shooting two teenagers after two chases.

Civil rights attorney Stanley Jackson, of the Cochran Firm Cleveland, said the unit’s scant ticket writing reeks of classic racial profiling.

“I was shocked by the numbers,” said Jackson, who represents the families of Tamya Westmoreland and Sharday Elder — bystanders who were killed during high-speed pursuits involving sheriff’s deputies from the Downtown Safety Patrol. “I knew that there was probably a vast representation of African Americans being pulled over, but I didn’t know that it was that drastic. It looks like a fishing expedition.”

County Executive Chris Ronayne and Sheriff Harold Pretel have declined numerous interview requests to discuss the downtown unit. Neither responded to an interview request for this story.

During a Cuyahoga County Council meeting on Sept. 9, Ronayne defended the work of the downtown unit and asked Pretel to review the pursuit policy.

“This unit provides a valuable service in Cleveland and supports events and communities and law enforcement departments throughout Cuyahoga County,” Ronayne said. “We must ensure that our approach gives law enforcement the tools they need to address threats to our community, while also ensuring that bystanders remain safe.”

Woodard, the county’s communications director, said deputies use their training and discretion to educate the public instead of writing tickets. Stopping and citing a driver for violating the law is not a pretextual reason, she wrote in a statement.

“The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department is committed to fair and impartial law enforcement,” she wrote. “There has been no credible evidence that any of the (Downtown Safety Patrol) deputies have discriminated against people based on their race, ethnicity, or background.”

In April’s state of the city speech, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb told residents he supports the downtown unit and “it’s the wrong move” to get rid of it. He declined to comment through a spokeswoman.

‘Black dude in a Camaro’ Pretextual stops, the practice of iden-

tifying minor infractions with the intent to look for more serious offenses like guns or drugs, have been criticized but have withstood constitutional challenges since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled them legal in 1996.

Stops for minor infractions across the country have led to numerous deadly encounters after escalating into violent and sometimes fatal struggles. Police shot Daunte Wright in a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2021 during a struggle after stopping him for expired vehicle registration. Memphis officers violently beat Tyre Nichols in 2023 after stopping him for running a red light.

When Ray could not get an answer on why DeCredico and Deputy Isen Vajusi stopped him, he requested to speak to a supervisor, according to bodycam footage. He also questioned why he had to get out of his car.

“You see a Black dude in a Camaro,” Ray told deputies. “You all are two racist cops. You pulled me over for no reason.”

Deputies handcuffed Ray and put him in the back of a cruiser. Minutes later, a dispatcher confirmed via radio to deputies that Ray had a valid license. DeCredico then walked his police dog around Ray’s car and searched the inside. Bodycam footage showed DeCredico placing a pill container and another container with residue into an evidence bag. Ray accused the deputies of planting the pills and the container.

Nearly 46 minutes after being pulled over, Ray was taken from the back of the cruiser. He continued to object to the vehicle search.

Prosecutors dropped the traffic citations in January 2024, according to court records.

Both deputies declined to comment.

On Oct. 3, 2024, Ray sued Vajusi and DeCredico, accusing them of falsely detaining him and injuring his wrist while handcuffing him.

Weeks later, prosecutors filed two counts of drug possession charges against Ray for the residue in the jar. In July, prosecutors dropped those charges, but Ray ended up pleading guilty to the earlier traffic citations. He was fined $25, court records show.

Jeff Wenninger, a retired Los Angeles Police Department lieutenant and expert on police tactics, said after reviewing the bodycam footage of Ray’s encounter that the length of the stop troubled him.

“This was about a pretext stop looking for something greater than the actual violation,” Wenninger said. “I would challenge the legality of the search and what they claimed to be the actual alert that qualified and rose this to the level of probable cause.”

The Downtown Safety Patrol has been a source of controversy since Pretel and Cleveland leaders unveiled plans to target crime in the city’s entertainment districts. The unit hit the streets on Aug. 16, 2023.

In Cleveland, police officers must state why they stopped drivers, who they searched, names of individuals stopped, contraband they seized and the probable cause for searching any person during the encounter. Cuyahoga County deputies who patrol some of the same streets

do not keep similar detailed records.

‘She should be here’ For decades, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department’s primary functions had been to operate the county’s jail and provide courtroom security.

As controversy has grown around the work of the downtown unit, calls for more accountability grow.

More than a dozen relatives and friends of Westmoreland and Elder held signs, saying “please don’t let the system fail Sharday,” outside the county building prior to the Cuyahoga County Council meeting on Sept. 9.

The group, which also included local Black Lives Matter leaders, called for the disbanding of the downtown unit and the firing of Deputy Kasey Loudermilk, who participated in the chases where their loved ones were killed. They also want an independent investigation into the deaths, retraining for deputies and better background checks for deputies.

“She should be here with her family and her kids,” said Cearria Elder, Sharday Elder’s sister. “We won’t never have a good holiday, never have a good birthday.

Her kids are suffering without her.”

During the meeting, several residents told council members that Loudermilk should not have been hired after he admitted to lying in the application process.

County prosecutors are also questioning whether he will have credibility issues if called to testify in court.

In a surprising move, DeCredico addressed the council during the meeting.

While off duty and not in uniform, he did not identify himself as a member of the downtown unit.

DeCredico, a former Cleveland police officer, pointed fingers at his old department.

“We’re in this situation because of Cleveland police due to the restrictive policies, quite frankly, that breeds more criminals, which, in turn, pours over from Cleveland into all the suburbs,” he said.

He warned council members that they would be subjected to the county’s bullying policies if they withheld money to stop the unit’s operation. He declined further comment after the meeting.

Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Meredith Turner said county leaders must act after learning deputies are stopping so many Black drivers. She vowed to contact Ronayne and Pretel.

“We need to figure it out,” Turner said, wiping away tears while talking about Westmoreland and Elder. “We just can’t have another incident.”

scene@clevescene.com @clevelandscene Cuyahoga County sheriff’s Deputy James DeCredico speaks at a Cuyahoga County Council meeting. He did not identify himself as a member of the downtown unit during the meeting. | Daniel Lozada for The Marshall Project Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025 | clevescene.com | SCENE

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COURTESY HURST DESIGN BUILD REMODEL / STEVE WAGNER / PATRICIA KASIK

Hurst Design Build Remodel Logar Project

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Discover how Clevelanders live, play and grow.

HOME

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55 Public Square

CITY LIVING OFFERS SLEEK OPTIONS FOR HOMEOWNERS.

BY CHRISSY K ADLECK

C

leveland’s urban neighborhoods are experiencing a vibrant renaissance — one where century-old buildings are being reborn as stylish residences, new homes are rising on tucked-away lots, and apartment living offers both luxury and location. From the industrial charm of Tremont and Ohio City to the energy of Downtown’s historic districts, the city is redefining what it means to live well.

Whether it’s a thoughtfully renovated home that blends original character with contemporary design, a sleek new build with rooftop views of the skyline or a downtown apartment in a repurposed landmark, Cleveland offers a diverse mix of living spaces for every lifestyle. And behind each project is a story — of vision, community and the people who are choosing to make Cleveland home.

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Downtown Digs

For Warren Blazy III, Downtown Cleveland isn’t just a place — it’s a way of life. It’s where his career, community service and a deep appreciation for the evolving urban landscape converge.

This September marks 21 years since he first made Downtown his home, and today he shares a penthouse apartment on the 15th floor of 55 Public Square with his girlfriend Claire Taylor and their beloved 123-pound bull mastiff, Kuma.

“I don’t even know if ‘lifestyle’ is the right word,” Blazy says. “It’s more like being part of the essence of Downtown. There’s a community that goes beyond work, beyond philanthropy, beyond just living here. It’s a connection that aligns well with me.”

That connection is evident in his civic engagement. He serves on the boards of Providence House and Downtown Cleveland Inc., and he’s a recent graduate of Leadership

SCENE | clevescene.com | Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025

For Blazy and his girlfriend, who works remotely in mergers and acquisitions, their new threebedroom, three-bath unit with 2,400 square feet is perfect for hosting family, working from home and enjoying panoramic views of the city.

“We almost doubled our space from our previous apartment in the Warehouse District,” he says about the couple’s move last October. “That was a great chapter for us, but this phase of life needed something different.

And 55 matched exactly what we were looking for.”

Their life Downtown is filled with moments that blend the everyday with the extraordinary: watching Guardians fireworks from their windows, strolling through the square during the holidays, dining at local favorites like the Il Venetian, Fahrenheit, Mallorca and sharing Spanish sausage with Kuma on a patio.

“There’s a sense of neighborhood and community that’s hard to understand if you don’t live it every day,” Blazy says.

New Housing

In neighborhoods like Tremont and Ohio City, Chris Kamis, president of Absolute Roofing & Construction and Kamis Properties, has helped shape the skyline with a series of striking three-story homes along Columbus Road, just up the hill from Hoopples.

Built over the course of 14 years, the final home was completed five years ago. Each features a rooftop deck with an outdoor kitchen, designed to take full advantage of the sweeping views of the city. “Every deck is unique,” Kamis says. “Depending on the time of day, the view is absolutely stunning.”

Kamis has been deeply invested in Cleveland’s urban transformation — not just as a builder, but as a believer in the city’s future. His companies specialize in both new construction and the rehabilitation of existing homes and commercial buildings, many of which are reimagined as residences. From vacant lots to historic structures, Kamis sees opportunity in every corner of the city.

Now, Kamis is building two more homes on nearby Carter Road — postmodern industrial designs with four stories, flat roofs, expansive windows, skylights and multiple outdoor decks. One of the homes will even include an elevator. “These homes are really special,” he says.

“They’re designed to embrace the view and the energy of the neighborhood.”

And he’s held onto one last lot on Carter Road, where he plans to build a home for himself. “I want to be part of

COURTESY WARREN BLAZY III

H OT IN T HE CI T Y

Cleveland. From his apartment, Blazy wakes to sunrises over Public Square, the chimes of Old Stone Church and views of the Terminal Tower.

From the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s $150 million expansion to the SherwinWilliams headquarters reshaping Public Square, Blazy’s witnessed Downtown Cleveland’s transformation firsthand — from the early days in the Warehouse District to the vibrant, 24/7 city it’s become. “It used to be more transient,” he reflects. “Now, people ask what part of Downtown you live in. There’s been so much investment and development.

You can walk from Cleveland State to the Flats now and never feel like you’re in a disconnected space. That wasn’t the case 10 years ago.”

K&D Management LLC, owner and developer of Residences at 55, has played a key role in that transformation.

K&D has redeveloped eight residential properties across Downtown Cleveland, with each building rooted in a different district and steeped in history.

“Every one of our properties is a historic reuse,” says Aaron Price, director of public relations. “They were all once commercial buildings that we’ve converted into residential spaces through the support of state and federal tax credit programs. Each one tells a story of bringing something old into the modern day.”

From the sleek, modern tower at Residences at 1717 — formerly the East Ohio Gas Building — to the stately charm of the Leader Building across from the Cleveland Public Library, K&D’s portfolio includes the iconic Terminal Tower, which was transformed into nearly 300 luxury apartments after the company acquired it in 2016. “People are drawn to Terminal Tower not just for its history, but for its location,” Price says.

“Your doorstep is Public Square and Tower City — it’s urban living at its most central.”

The company’s newest project, Residences at 55, with 200 marketrate apartments, office spaces and penthouse conversions reflects a new vision for urban living.

K&D’s buildings attract a wide range of residents — from professionals walking to work in the Nine-Twelve District to Cleveland State students living at Residences at Hanna, which is connected to the Hanna Theatre.

“We have something for everyone,” Price says. “It’s really about picking your neighborhood. Whether you want the energy of East Fourth Street or something quieter near Playhouse Square, we’ve got a place that fits.”

this renaissance in Cleveland,” he says.

“This is going to be a great community to live in.”

COURTESY CTOWN MEDIA COMPANY, TED & CO. | THE BENTLEY GROUP / HURST DESIGN BUILD REMODEL

Thoreau Place

On the eastern edge of Lakewood, 10 townhomes are coming into the market and will be built between Thoreau and Donald avenues. Nestled between Clifton and Detroit, Thoreau Place will inject rare and innovative new homes into the city’s historic housing stock, and will be just steps from the energy and convenience of Detroit Avenue.

The project includes 10 townhomes and one unique freestanding home.

The freestanding home will feature a basement and three bedrooms, offering exceptional flexibility for families or professionals. The townhomes are designed in a traditional style, with shared walls — two of the units will be middle units with two shared walls.

Each townhome spans three floors and

includes approximately 1,750 square feet of living space.

These homes are priced starting under $500,000, making them an exceptional value for new construction in Lakewood, says Ted Theophylactos, co-managing partner of Ted & Co./The Bentley Group.

Energy efficiency, with terraces off the kitchen, and modern design are key features, and the homes are ideal for buyers who want to live in a well-established, walkable community with great schools and easy access to Downtown Cleveland.

“The location is also perfect for those who have been renting in highend apartments in neighborhoods like Tremont, Gold Coast, Detroit Shoreway or Downtown, and are now ready to set down roots in Lakewood,” he says.

cultivated over the years and the walkability of Tremont. Ultimately, they realized they didn’t want to leave — they wanted to reimagine their home to better reflect how they live today and how they hope to live in the future.

“What I love most about living here in Tremont is the community,” Amy says. “We walk to restaurants, run into friends and feel like we’re part of something special. That’s hard to replicate.”

The decision to remodel was rooted in a desire for a modern, custom-built home that matched their lifestyle.

and Dan Hurst, Hurst’s team of 40 professionals manage between 100 and 150 projects annually, ranging from large-scale additions and wholehome remodels to kitchens, baths, basements and outdoor living spaces.

What sets Hurst apart is its ability to blend new design seamlessly into the existing character of a home, especially in older neighborhoods where space and style must be

Reimagining City Living

After living in their Tremont home for 15 years, Matt and Amy Logar found themselves at a crossroads. They had always envisioned making updates to the house they loved, but as newer builds began popping up in the neighborhood, the couple started to reflect more seriously on what they wanted for the next chapter of their lives.

They explored their options, touring new homes and considering remodeling firms. But nothing quite matched the charm of their current neighborhood. They loved their neighbors, the backyard they had

Before

For years, they had lived in a space designed by someone else. Now, they wanted a home tailored to their own routines, preferences and vision for the next 15 to 20 years.

Enter: Hurst Design Build Remodel, a full-service design build firm based in Westlake, which specializes in transformative renovation projects.

Founded in 1997 by brothers Pat

Hurst Design Build Logar Remodel Project

After

carefully balanced, says Melissa Hurst, marketing manager for the firm.

That was exactly the case with the Logar’s Tremont home, which underwent a full renovation that was completed in May 2024. The couple had already invested in a stunning backyard transformation, including an inground pool and a view of the city that’s nothing short of spectacular.

“They didn’t want a suburban feel,” Melissa explains. “Amy was very clear that she wanted something modern, with cool architectural features and a city vibe. Our design team was able to deliver exactly that.”

Matt and Amy came into the project with a strong sense of what they wanted, but working with Hurst’s design team opened up new possibilities.

“There were so many ‘aha’ moments,” Matt says. “Things like 8-foot doors, raised window heights and beautiful vertical woodwork around the windows and behind the TV — those were ideas that elevated the entire design.”

The transformation extended to the practical details, too. “We have these awesome lockers near the back door now,” Amy says. “And the double-decker coat closet? Game changer.” The banquette seating added flexibility to the first floor, and pocket doors helped maximize space. One of Amy’s favorite touches? “I told our designer I wanted a sexy bathroom,” she laughs. “She knew exactly what that meant — and she delivered.”

Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025 | clevescene.com | SCENE

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Comfort CLE

OUT AND ABOUT

78th Street Studios

DON’T MISS THESE VENUES.

BY MYRA ORENSTEIN

N

ortheast Ohio offers everything from outstanding restaurants, markets and the arts to interesting events.

Check out some of our best curated suggestions.

78th Street Studios

Dan Bush’s gets excited when he talks about 78th Street Studios.

The owner/developer of this massive building/home to 80 businesses, Bush understands the value of partnering with established and starting artists and galleries.

With a background in stage design and work as a carpenter, Bush is all-in with the building. “This place is my little theater,” he says.

Approximately 40 of the spaces in the building are leased to artists.

Tailspinner Children’s Theatre has been there for three years.

Bush recognized that he didn’t want the building to operate exclusively as leasing space and so, in 2007 he introduced Third Friday, a monthly event showcasing over 50 artists’ galleries. Now about to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2026, 78th Street Studios has more than passed the test of time. Approximately 4,000 people were attending Third Friday prepandemic. But, the pandemic didn’t stop the momentum as thousands watched livestreams on Facebook.

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The Screw Factory

Many changes have taken place since new management took charge of The Screw Factory in 2024.

The enormous complex is now transformed into what Property Manager Kathleen Anderson describes as “a truly living ecosystem in which artists are able to ask each other for help and everyone is in tune with everyone else.”

Some artists have called this unique complex home for 30 years, while others are newcomers. “We are expanding the demographic more and more. This is a true Lakewood gem,” Anderson says.

Plans for this season include the Fall Show — happening Oct. 2425 — featuring resident and visiting artists. Everything from metal and woodworking, to jewelry, etchings, ceramics, soaps, vintage, toys and more will be on display.

L’Albatros Brasserie & Bar

Today, with the shuttering of Parallax, Chinato and other restaurants, only one Zack Bruell restaurant remains: L’Albatros Brasserie & Bar in University Circle.

“I have always remained true to concept. The quality of the product and producing the items on this menu would stand its own in Paris, Southwest France, Strasbourg, New York or LA. It’s the standard I established in December 2008 and one I adhere to today,” he says.

SCENE | clevescene.com | Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025

Cleveland Heights’ native Jeremy McBryde, chef/owner of Comfort CLE, created a pop-up on Skid Row, which, 10 months later, became a brick-andmortar restaurant in LA that was a favorite of Kevin Hart and LeBron James. In five years, he had a food truck and three locations. And then he returned to Cleveland.

“I brought Cleveland fare to LA recognizing that LA was lacking restaurants in the fast casual category,” he explains. In fact, he brought family recipes including his mom’s beans and rice and his Auntie Myrtle’s stuffed cornbread.

But, ComfortCLE is not about traditional soul food. “I’m opening eyes for people to enjoy this cuisine, to give it a try and to try soul food presented in a way that they’ve never tasted before,” he says.

Marchant Manor Cheese

There is a lot of chemistry and microbiology that can be applied to cheese recipes, according to the “Cheese Doctor,” Dr. Kandice Marchant, Marchant Manor Cheese owner and former chair of Pathology and Lab Medicine at The Cleveland Clinic.

Her Lapworth Lavender Camembert took third place in 2024, while High Heaven Boss Dog Rubber City Stout was awarded a blue ribbon at the 2025 Ohio State Fair. She also won three blue ribbons in 2024 Marchant Manor’s cheeses are European-inspired and created using uniquely rich Amish Guernsey cow and goat milk, making them unique to Ohio. They’re available at her store as well as other stores across the state or via shipping within the state. Watch for her wine or beer and cheese pairing events, cheese making classes and cheese board making classes.

The Grog Shop

The Grog Shop Owner Kathy Blackman seems awkward accepting responsibility for being instrumental in bringing a vast array of live music genres to Cleveland. Fact is, she’s been doing it since 1992.

The way Blackman and her team go about finding bands has changed in the 33+ years she’s been doing this.

“I started something small on Coventry. In the beginning it was fun for my team. We’d rely on each other to make choices. We’d talk to local record stores. Mostly, we went with our gut.”

Today, the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), a small group of like-minded promoters, works together to review many aspects of the business from changes in the industry to tickets and more.

The Grog Shop showcases a variety of music genres, hosts monthly drag shows on the first Friday of every month, Secret Movie Midnight Rentals (Ghoulardi-style) and comedy.

Dobama Theater

If you’re a lover of Off-Broadway productions or like exploring new and oftentimes unusual plays that almost entirely feature local artists, this will soon become your go-to place.

According to Erin E. Dolan, director of programs, “Our artistic director scouts new plays, does research, and brings back eight to 12 ideas. Then the whole staff narrows down the list to five shows.”

Our suggestion for you? Explore.

Explore “Witch,” a modern take on an outcast who is “different;” “Hobbit,” a family-friendly holiday production; “The Heart Sellers,” a tale of two women who emigrated to the U.S.; “The Comeuppance,” about four former classmates before their high school reunion; and “Sanctuary City,“ set 24 years ago in Newark.

Dobama has a Young Playwrights’ Program offered free to public school students in grades 1-12 and Drag Story Hour (December and June).

Celebration of the Hops at Fat Heads Brewery

This celebration, part of Cleveland Beer Week’s Style Series, features hoppy brews and takes place on Oct. 25. There will be two sessions beginning at 1 p.m. with a VIP session from Noon to 12:45 p.m.

Over 25 local and regional breweries will be competing. Twenty beer samples and a souvenir glass are included in the $45 price for advance tickets. Day-of-event tickets, if available, will be $55.

“This is our chance to show off our seven-year-old brewery in Middleburg Heights,” says Bill Wetmore, sales and marketing director.

Proceeds from this event will be donated to Ales for ALS.

COURTESY EXTRAORDINAIRE PHOTOS AIREONNA MCCALL-DUBÉ

“If you go to a classic brasserie and return 20 years later, you’ll find the same menu. This is what it means to stay true to concept. With today’s menu at L’Albatros, I’ve gone full circle. I am staying true to concept, retaining the traditional but adding a modern slant.”

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Sept 10–Sept 23, 2025 | clevescene.com | SCENE

11

A Late Bloomer’s Garden

URBAN OASIS

Molly Maloney’s garden paradise

CITY GARDENS OFFER PEACEFUL RETREATS AND ENJOYMENT FOR RESIDENTS.

BY CHRISSY K ADLECK

A

cross Cleveland’s neighborhoods, urban gardening is quietly flourishing.

In Ohio City, herbs spill from windowsills; in Tremont, tomatoes climb trellises on apartment balconies; and in Midtown, raised beds line sunny patios. From Collinwood to Clark-Fulton, residents are turning small spaces into productive green pockets — growing food, flowers and a deeper connection to the community around them.

Rooted in Resilience

In the heart of Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood, Vernice Davis-Smith has cultivated more than fruits and vegetables — she’s grown a vibrant, intergenerational sanctuary.

12

At 68, Davis-Smith is a retired educator whose passion for growing things has blossomed into a lifestyle. With a deep love for the land and a dream of urban homesteading that she shared with her husband, the couple moved into her childhood home and acquired the lot next door to transform it into a thriving garden oasis.

She fortified the space with fencing, wire and concrete, learning through experience that farming is as much about persistence as it is about planting. Today, her homestead includes fruit trees, a greenhouse and a sensory garden filled with lavender, mint, sage and rose hips.

Her garden is more than a source of food — it’s a hub of community exchange. She shares tomatoes with neighbors, has traded eggs for honey with a beekeeper friend and

SCENE | clevescene.com | Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025

In Old Brooklyn, just across the street from the original Honey Hut, a garden quietly stuns passersby. Color, texture and life spill from every inch of a city lot transformed by one woman’s passion.

Patricia Kasik is a self-described late bloomer. At 55, she bought her first home — not for the house, but for the yard. Now 74, she’s spent the last two decades turning a standard Cleveland lot into a floral sanctuary that defies expectations.

Her garden is a tapestry of perennials and specialty blooms, anchored by three raised beds filled with dahlias, gladiolus and zinnias.

There’s a pergola and arbor leading to a “secret garden” shaded by mature trees and shrubs, a sanctuary she enjoys all summer. An old-fashioned water pump from her parents marks the heart of the garden, surrounded by a circle of plantings that have evolved over the years.

From tree lilies and turtlehead plants to Russian sage and honeysuckle, her garden is a masterclass in color, texture and seasonal rhythm. “You learn by doing,” she says. “And you really can’t make mistakes.”

Tip: Know Your Light Before planting, observe how sunlight moves across your yard. “Full sun means over six hours of sunlight,” she explains. “Get to know your shady spots and match plants accordingly.”

Small Space, Big Impact

On a quiet street in North Collinwood that ends at the edge of Lake Erie, Molly Maloney has transformed a tiny front yard into a pollinator-friendly paradise.

“I’m a reluctant gardener,” Maloney admits. “I could barely keep houseplants alive before this.” But when she moved into their home in 2020, she inherited a yard with “good

bones” — brick pathways and a few hardy survivors among a tangle of invasive plants. What followed was a slow, intentional transformation rooted in native plants, low-maintenance design and the local ecosystem.

Her lot, like many in the neighborhood, is postage-stamp small — just 20 by 20 feet. She’s layered perennials and native species like echinacea, milkweed, cardinal flower and wild geranium to create a dynamic landscape that changes with the seasons. “I aim for height, texture and color at different times of the year,” she says. “And I want it to be good for pollinators and birds.”

The result is an ever-evolving patchwork of silvery lamb’s ear, spiky echinacea and brilliant blooms like bright red cardinal flower and violently pink phlox. “I love putting purples next to oranges and yellows — colors that are opposite on the color wheel.

It makes everything pop.”

Her approach is practical. She lets plants go brown in winter to benefit birds, and favors species that spread enough to reduce the need for mulch.

Tip: Start with Natives Choose native perennials that support local pollinators and require less maintenance once established.

Dig Local

For more than four decades, Dale Heyink has been the heart and calloused hands behind Puritas Nursery & Garden Center in West Park. He encourages gardeners to mix perennials and annuals for a balanced, colorful display.

“Perennials don’t take up a lot of room, and they come back every year,” he explains. “Shrubs that bloom in spring are great, too. Just don’t crowd them — let them grow together naturally.”

Annuals, he says, are essential for keeping gardens lively throughout the season. “You’ve got to have some annuals in there to keep it pretty.”

He’s a big advocate for small-space gardening, especially for apartment or condo dwellers or those with patios. “You can grow herbs, small tomatoes — even in hanging baskets,” he says. “There’s a lot you can do in a small space.”

Tip: Attract Pollinators Choose native perennials that support butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.

Heyink’s team labels many Ohio-native plants to make it easy.

COURESTY MOLLY MALONEY

occasionally hosts activities that bring people into her blooming space. “You eat better, share more and feel a beautiful sense of independence,” she says.

Her advice to aspiring gardeners?

“Mix your plants — flowers, herbs, vegetables. It’s prettier, and it helps with cross-pollination and pest control.” She swears by cayenne pepper and garlic sprays to deter groundhogs and encourages trial and error.

Tip: Start Small Don’t try to grow everything at once.

Begin with a few plants and build from there.

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13

EVERYTHING TO DO IN CLEVELAND FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS

GET OUT WED

09/24

Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers The Guardians take on the Detroit Tigers in a series that will have an impact on the upcoming post-season. In brief, the Guards need every win they can get to gain ground on the Tigers and keep their wildcard hopes alive. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. at Progressive Field.

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

The Notebook This musical that features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson comes to the Connor Palace for an extended run.

Tonight’s

performance

takes

place

at 7:30, and the play runs through Sept.

27.

1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

IngenuityFest returns. See: Friday, Sept. 26. | Matthew Tyler Media

Our Town Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play explores themes of life and death and love and friendship. Cleveland Play House’s production of the play promises to be a “magical new staging.” Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Allen Theatre.

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

THU

when the two played earlier this season.

They play at 7:10 tonight at Progressive Field, and the series concludes on Sunday.

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

IngenuityFest

09/25

Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup Meet at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium and walk to Wendy Park to pick up litter and keep our beaches clean and safe. You’ll be shocked at the number of cigarette butts and other junk you’ll find. All ages are welcomed; and be pre-

Now held at the former Osborn Manufacturing Company, IngenuityFest returns to the Saint Clair-Superior neighborhood this weekend. The three-day festival promises to feature performances, art, installations as well as a full lineup of live music throughout the weekend. Check the website for a schedule.

5401 Hamilton Ave., 216-589-9444, ingenuitycleveland.com.

pared for a 2.5-mile roundtrip walk.

Ravel’s Boléro

It’s free but registration is required.The

Franz Welser-Möst conducts the Cleveland Orchestra as it plays Ravel’s Bolero along with Richard Strauss’s “Dance of the Seven Veils” from Salome. The program also includes the U.S. premiere of Richard Deutsch’s Urworte. The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall, where performances continue through Sunday.

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

cleanup begins at 10 a.m.

2000 Sycamore Street, 216-862-8803, greaterclevelandaquarium.com.

FRI

09/26

Guardians vs. Texas Rangers The Guardians take on the Texas Rang-

Sunday in the Parkwith 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.

SUN

09/28

Ryan Long The creator, star and showrunner for the digital series Torontopia, Ryan Long hosts his own podcast and has appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience. The comedian performs at 7:30 tonight at Hilarities.

2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

SAT

09/27

Crocker Park’s Food Truck Challenge From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Cleveland’s best food trucks will be lining up on Main Street to compete to win one of the “best of” categories being judged. This year’s event returns with more food trucks and more celebrity judges. During the event, visitors will have the opportunity to participate by picking up a ballot, trying as many food truck menu items as they would like, and submitting a voting ballot.

189 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake, 440-455-9820, crockerpark.com/ foodtruckchallenge/.

MON

09/29

Memorial Monday Every Monday, Fort Huntington Park hosts food tracks and live music between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for this special event. Admission is free, but the food will cost you.

West 3rd St. and West Lakeside Ave., downtowncleveland.com.

TUE

09/30

The Book of Mormon This irreverent musical comedy follows the adventures of a mismatched pair of

ers in the final games of their regular sea-

missionaries who haplessly travel half-

son. The Rangers gave the Guardians fits

way across the world to spread the Good

14

SCENE | clevescene.com | Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025

Word. The play returns E.J. Thomas Hall in Akron at 7:30 tonight and tomorrow night.

198 Hill St., Akron, 330-972-7570, ejthomashall.com.

FRI

10/03

10/01

talking comedian Nate Bargatze took inspiration from his dad, a former clown turned world class magician. As a result, he has a unique delivery and approach to

A live orchestral rendition of this series’

standup. Just a few years back, the guy

soundtrack accompanies a nearly two-

was playing venues like the Agora. Now,

hour special recap of the animated series’

he’s a superstar. He performs at 7 tonight

three seasons in this special performance

and tomorrow night at Rocket Arena.

that takes place tonight at 7:30 at Connor

One Center Court, 216-420-2000,

Palace.

rocketarena.com.

The monthly event featuring a range of

Mahler’s Song of the Earth At 8 tonight and at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Mandel Concert Hall, tenor Limmie Pulliam joins the Cleveland Orchestra for this performance of Das Lied von der Erde.

The program also includes Honegger’s

performers, from beauty queens to “drag monsters” returns to the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights. Doors open at 8 p.m.

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

SAT

foods, exhibition of artworks, plus silent and live auction items, fantastic raffle baskets, a photo booth, a DJ and a red carpet. The event begins at 6 p.m.

1754 East 47th St., 216-361-9255, morganconservatory.org.

Evil Dead in Concert This “live-to-film experience” resurrects Sam Raimi’s campy horror film, and comscore during the screening. Doors open

Glamgore

10/02

cycle. There will be a cash bar, finger

poser Joe LoDuca will play his original

1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, play-

THU

place at the Morgan Art Papermaking showcase is Reduce. Redact. Reuse. Re-

Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert

housesquare.org.

semble for this annual event that takes Conservatory. The theme for this year’s

Nate Bargatze: Big Dumb Eyes World Tour Originally from Old Hickory, TN, slow-

WED

the past couple months creating an en-

at 7 p.m. at the Agora.

5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

SUN

10/05

Ryan Goodcase

10/04

Third Symphony.

The youngest person to ever win the

MON

10/06

The Winchester Presents Locals Only This event that takes place the first Monday of the month at the Winchester in Lakewood will showcase local bands.

The $5 cover will go directly to the band.

Doors open at 7 p.m.

12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216600-5338, facebook.com/TheWinchesterMusicTavern.

TUE

10/07

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 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.

World Series of Comedy, this comedian and actor performs at 7 tonight in the Frolic Cabaret Room at Hilarities.

11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111,

Dress to IMPRESS

2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425,

clevelandorchestra.com.

More than 20 artist-designers have spent

pickwickandfrolic.com.

scene@clevescene.com @clevelandscene

Sept 10–Sept 23, 2025 | clevescene.com | SCENE

15

MUSIC

RIGHT AT HOME Canton’s Shootouts embrace Western swing and old school country on new album

By Jeff Niesel A COUNTRY/WESTERN SWING group from the Akron/Canton area, the Shootouts have recently received a good deal of national acclaim. Led by singer-songwriter Ryan Humbert, the band draws from rockabilly, Western swing and old school country on its latest album, Switchback, which came out earlier this year. The group, which formed in 2015, has spent the better part of the year on the road, and it has a few Northeast Ohio dates on the horizon.

To celebrate its ten-year anniversary, the Shootouts will host three unique events in October. On Friday, Oct. 3, they’ll play a VIP Anniversary Party & Exhibit Unveiling at the brandnew Akron History Center. The group will play an acoustic set, and there will be hors d’oeuvres, cake and a wine tasting. An after-party will take place that same night at the Cellar & Co. Then, on Friday, Oct. 10, the group will trek to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to play an anniversary show.

On Friday, Oct. 17, they’ll return to Cleveland to play the Happy Dog. Humbert says the band fulfills one of his longtime musical dreams.

“The whole band started when I met [guitarist] Brian Poston, and we were introduced by a mutual friend, [guitarist] Erin Vaughn,” says Humbert via phone from his North Canton home.

“Aaron was the original guitarist in the Ryan Humbert Band. Brian and I both loved traditional country music.”

For about a year, Humbert and Poston said they should start a traditional country band just “for a good time.”

But from that first show, the guys decided to go the whole nine yards and wear vintage clothes and do covers

16

The Shootouts at the Grand Ole Opry. | Courtesy of All Eyes Media of tunes by Hank Williams, Marty Stuart and Dwight Yoakam. That very first show at the now-shuttered Euclid Tavern, which was run by the Happy Dog at the time, struck a chord with Humbert.

“I thought it’s what I should be doing all along,” he says. “It felt right. It felt like home. It felt like all my influences were making sense on every level. I know everyone in the band felt that way too.”

Produced by Dan Knobler (Allison Russell, Lake Street Dive, Bahamas), Switchback includes special guests like Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Lindsay Lou, Logan Ledger and Mickey Raphael.

“Dan is great,” says Humbert when asked about working with Knobler. “He came to us by accident. I had the pleasure of hanging out with Rodney Crowell at his house one afternoon. We talked music business and guitars. We talked about having him produce the record. To his credit, he told me he didn’t think he could do anything for us that we hadn’t already done. He said we needed someone younger who could bring a different perspective. At the top of the list was Dan Knobler. It’s his son-in-law. He is a fantastic producer. I knew he would help us bring something different to the table. We really hit it off and did two weeks at [Nashville’s] Sound Emporium, a really classic studio.”

One album highlight, “Trampoline,” is a poppy tune with twangy guitars and cooing backing vocals courtesy of singer-songwriter Lindsay Lou. The song dates back to Humbert’s days as a solo artist.

It feels definitive. It feels like this is the version of the song that needs to live on. With this new record, we have we found a way to make all these songs our own. Someone recently asked me, ‘Who do you think this album sounds like?’ I said I don’t know who it sounds like. It struck me that that was the best answer. It sounds like the Shootouts.

“It’s the best version of the song I’ve ever done,” says Humbert when asked about the track. “It feels right.

“We were thrilled to have some of our heroes join us,” he says. “Rodney [Crowell] and Sam [Bush] and Mickey [Rapha-

SCENE | clevescene.com | Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025

“Someone recently asked me, ‘Who do you think this album sounds like?’

I said I don’t know who it sounds like.

el] from Willie Nelson’s Band. There was also Vince Gill and Lindsay Lou. It was incredible. I’ve been a big fan of Rodney’s for many years. I remember seeing him on CMT when I was a kid. The first time I heard him sing those lines in the bridge on ‘Half a World Away,’ I got choked up.

We asked him to sing on it, and he immediately said yes when we asked. He’s the godfather of this project. It’s good help if you can get it.”

Thanks to steady touring, the band has really gelled in the past year and played the Grand Ole Opry a total of nine

It struck me that that was the best answer.

times so far (Humbert is aiming for a

It sounds like the Shootouts.

With this new record, we knocked that goal out of the park.

band’s tenth anniversary in October) and

Rolling Stone said we perfected Rust Belt country.

That’s perfect.”

says Humbert. “Erin Vaughn, who intro-

tenth appearance that’ll coincide with the made its Ryman Auditorium debut earlier this year.

“We have an exciting rhythm section,” duced Brian and me, has joined the band and that brought the whole thing home.

It’s the best version of the band we’ve had

With this new record, we knocked that goal out of the park. Rolling Stone said we perfected Rust Belt country. That’s perfect.”

Humbert says he loved recording with so many guest musicians who’ve had remarkable country careers.

from a standpoint of comfortability. We just signed with a new booking agency that books the Avett Brothers and Rodney Crowell. We want to really get out there to support the record and hope to have a busy 2026 too.”

jniesel@clevescene.com @jniesel

Sept 10–Sept 23, 2025 | clevescene.com | SCENE

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CLEVELAND NOVEMBER 10-16, 2025

IN CRUST WE TRUST...

Cleveland Pizza Week returns November 10-16 with $12 pies at 30+ local spots. From inventive twists to classic favorites, there’s a slice for everyone. Download the Cleveland Pizza Week app to map your route, earn rewards and share your pizza adventures.

DOWNLOAD THE APP 

www.clevelandpizzaweek.com

DIVING RIGHT IN

EAT

With sterling food and a convivial atmosphere, Crowley’s hits on the perfect recipe for dive bars for grown-ups

By Douglas Trattner WHEN WE PULLED into the wraparound parking lot at Crowley’s in Eastlake, every single spot was taken. The same held true of the tables and chairs inside the squat, square dive bar. After a few minutes, a pair of barstools materialized, we hopped onto them and spent the next three hours watching the place ebb and flow through happy hour, dinner service and beyond.

Everybody loves a dive bar, but few among us appreciate the greasy food, callous service, dirty tap lines and dirtier bathrooms. What if you could design a dive bar that fired on all those cylinders without losing its edge or becoming the dreaded “hipster bar.” That’s what partners David Bartulovic, Brendan Kearney, and brothers McPat and Seamus Coyne had in mind when they opened Crowley’s in 2023.

The owners, who jointly and separately run other restaurants, first came together to launch a food truck. On a lark, they teamed up to open a low-key dive bar where the bartenders also cooked the smash burgers.

“That went out the window the day we opened,” says Bartulovic. “We exploded.”

Photo by Doug Trattner

From our seats at the bar, we had a clear view into the semi-open kitchen,

Crowley’s Dive Bar | Multiple locations | crowleysdive.com

where a frenetic knot of staffers was in constant motion. Basket after basket of food made its way through the pass, much of it landing in front of our faces.

When you sell 130 smash burgers a night you might expect a drop in quality here or there, but every single burger was textbook. In fact, all the little things that tend to get pushed aside during peak times – things like toasting buns, griddling sandwiches,

haphazard

garnishing,

over-frying, under-seasoning – Crowley’s gets right, all night.

Those matchless smash burgers ($14) feature two thin crisp-edged patties, “government cheese” (American), sautéed onion, shredded lettuce and special

We happened to be there on a Tuesday

ing up conversations on the regular.

night, so we started with saucy, smok-

The instant success in Eastlake led

ing-hot jumbo wings for 75 cents apiece.

quickly to a second location in Kirtland

We also ravaged a basket of molten fried

followed by a third in Painesville. Bartu-

cheese curds ($12) with ranch dipping

lovic credits chef-partner Brian Sheehan

sauce. I didn’t expect to find cevapi ($19)

for maintaining quality and consistency

on a bar menu, but one of the owners is

while the group expands at a feverish

Croatian and he put his foot down. The

pace.

freeform pork-and-beef sausages are

But it’s not always easy to maintain a

served properly with raw white onion, ar-

uniform identity when you expand into

omatic ajvar and flatbread. There’s also a

different communities, properties and in-

gyro on the menu that features cevapi in

terior layouts, says Bartulovic.

place of the traditional spit-roasted meat.

“Yeah, that’s been a challenge,” he ad-

Other menu staples include chili, load-

mits. “Kirtland is a completely different

ed tater tot baskets, grilled cheese sand-

vibe; it’s more of a family atmosphere.

includes fries. Singles and triples are also

wiches, chili cheese dogs and Polish boys.

And Painesville will be just as good as

available. Fried bologna sandwiches ($13)

Crowley’s stays true to the dive bar

Eastlake, but it will take a little bit of time

arrive on golden brown brioche toast, cut

ethos with $3 Hamm’s, an unpretentious

on the diagonal, and loaded with thin-

vibe and regulars who might as well have

The biggest test is just ahead for the

sliced meat, cheese and a tangy special

permanent bar stools. Sports of all forms

Crowley’s team. Location number four

sauce. We upgraded the fries to a moun-

dominate the many screens. The place is

currently is taking shape on the campus

tain of lightly breaded onion rings for $3.

loud, but convivial, with strangers strik-

of John Carroll University in University

sauce on a toasted potato roll. That price

26

SCENE | clevescene.com | Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025

because of all of the construction.”

Heights. At 4,400 square feet, the bar on Fairmount Circle is three times the size of the original in Eastlake. Instead of the 18 barstools out east there will be 40.

“We want this to be a college bar,” says Bartulovic, who along with partner McPatt Coyne is a John Carroll alum.

“The menu will stay true to form, but we will add a few more menu options. This will be the first college bar on campus that they’ve had.”

The University Heights location is slated to open in late October. As for future Crowley’s locations, management is currently noncommittal. They’re working to open Kearney’s Public House in Mentor by spring, but after that, says Bartulovic, “We hope so.”

dtrattner@clevescene.com @dougtrattner

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.

A separate breakfast menu will launch in the coming days or weeks.

Also down the road, the large display coolers will begin to fill with grab-and-go salads, sides, entrees and desserts for the take-home crowd. For decades, Pistone thrived on the prepared foods trade and 56 Social intends to keep the tradition alive.

EAT BITES Now open: Vino di Luca in Olmsted Falls

By Douglas Trattner

AFTER NEARLY A DECADE in business, Mike and Kari Jacobs closed their charming Olmsted Falls wine bar Olde Wine Cellar earlier this summer. Captivated by the location, Luca Sema quickly snatched up the historic property in the heart of town. After a few weeks of interior work, the chef opened the doors to Vino di Luca (7932 Main St., 440-427-1222) in mid-July, joining Sema’s other establishment, Luca West in Westlake.

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 front door. All told, the eatery seats 42 guests indoors and plenty more on front and rear patios.

To go with the wines, Sema has crafted a concise menu of small plates and pastas.

“They’re small plates but the portions are large enough to make a meal out of them,” says Kelley Gatchell, operations manager.

There is an antipasti platter, caprese salad, smoked salmon crostini, tomato bruschetta, and meatballs with sauce.

A handful of pasta plates include 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 wine selection offers wines by the glass and bottles at retail when priced $25 and over. Bottles under that threshold come with a $10 corkage fee.

“We stuck with our roots, so it’s heavily Italian, but we also have American, French, Argentinian and others,” adds Gatchell.

Vino di Luca also opens the doors from noon to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for retail wine sales.

The wine bar is open dinner-only Tuesday through Saturday evenings.

Now Open: 56 Social Cafe in Shaker Heights A couple weeks ago, partners Jay Leitson and Izzy Schachner opened 56 So-

Funshi Revolving Sushi Restaurant to Open Sept. 29 in Avon

Photo by Doug Trattner cial (3245 Warrensville Ctr. Rd., 216-2833663) in Shaker Heights, adding to their budding hospitality group. The pair also operate 56 Kitchen locations in Solon and Mayfield, 56 Tavern in Aurora, and Elle in Solon.

The owners took over the former J. Pistone Market and Gathering Place, a neighborhood staple that closed last summer after nearly 25 years. This latest concept is described as an all-day café that will serve the community from morning through night.

“If you’ve ever been to Israel, these kinds of restaurants are the most popular,” explains Schachner. “They serve fresh food, pastry, good coffee, plus or minus a bar. That combination works very well.”

The former Pistone Market, located in a sun-soaked corner property, 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.

To start, 56 Social will serve lunch

and dinner only. In a week or so, the full-service eatery will roll out breakfast.

“We’re easing into it,” adds Schachner.

“It’s a work in process.”

The all-day menu is an approachable mix of American, Mediterranean and Jewish deli foods. The 56 group operates a robust catering business and pride themselves on making everything they can from scratch. There are snacks like polenta fries with charred-scallion aioli, smoked salmon on focaccia, and sweet and spicy avocado toast.

The 56 theme started ages ago with Cafe 56 at Eastgate, which offered customers a choice of 56 different salads.

While far fewer in number, the salads here will be a big draw thanks to creative combinations of fresh ingredients. Eastsiders of a certain age will likely gravitate toward the “Original Pewter Mug” salad.

There’s a section of focaccia flatbreads topped with various items, a large sandwich section starring Clubs, housesmoked pastrami, pan-seared salmon, BLTs and creamy egg salad served on house-baked Japanese milk bread.

Northeast Ohio’s latest conveyor-belt sushi restaurant is just days away from its grand opening. Funshi Sushi, Ramen and Boba will open its newest restaurant, Funshi Revolving Sushi (35918 Detroit Rd.) in Avon, on Monday, September 29.

Funshi opened its first restaurant in Rocky River earlier this year, but this is an entirely new concept for the homegrown restaurant, says Christine Xiao, partner and manager.

“We are a family business,” explains Xiao. “We have been in the sushi industry for 20 years with Hibachi Sushi, but we created a new concept – something fun, you know?”

For its latest act, Funshi has devised a space-age, interactive dining concept that features a conveyor belt, train track and robot servers. Items like edamame, seaweed salad, sashimi, sushi and sushi rolls will glide through the restaurant on the conveyor belt for diners to grab at will. Hot foods like ramen, rice bowls and stir-fries can be ordered on tabletop e-menus. Those items will be delivered directly to the table via the train. Drinks like boba, fruit teas and smoothies are transported to diners by robot servers.

Unlike other conveyor-belt sushi restaurants, which use different colored plates to designate prices, all of the conveyor-belt items will be a single price, adds Xiao.

“We will have more sushi options than other places around here,” she says. “And we will have the same price for any plate you want.”

There will be two plate colors, she clarifies, white and black, a system that lets diners easily distinguish between raw and cooked items.

Following quickly on the heels of the Avon restaurant is a second location in Beachwood, specifically the former Bomba Tacos space at the corner of Cedar and Richmond (2101 Richmond Rd.). That restaurant is on pace to open in November, according to Xiao.

dtrattner@clevescene.com @dougtrattner

Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025 | clevescene.com | SCENE

27

LIVEWIRE THU

REAL MUSIC IN THE REAL WORLD

09/25

Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sánchez Trio Banjo man Bela Fleck teams up with Edmar Castañeda, a harpist from Bogotá, Colombia, and Grammy-winner Antonio Sánchez, a great jazz drummers who’s collaborated with Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Charlie Haden and Michael Brecker. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights.

14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

Vance Joy The Aussie singer-songwriter released his latest album, In Our Own Sweet Time, in 2023. It’s another collection of meticulously crafted tunes that possess a quite intensity. The guy experiments a bit too, as the shimmering “Wavelength” finds him collaborating with Dirty Projectors’ Dave Longstreth. Joy performs at 6:30 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion. Hazlett, John Kagen and Kyle Schuesler open.

2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

Live from Laurel Canyon – Songs and Stories of American Folk Rock Some of the most influential songwriters who lived in Laurel Canyon in the mid ‘60s and ‘70s will talk about those halcyon days and play songs during this storytelling concert. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the Kent Stage.

175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.

FRI

09/26

Lorna Shore Pain Remains, the 2022 effort from this metal band, is an epic affair that clocks in at just over an hour and commences with the riveting “Welcome Back, O’ Sleeping Dreamer,” a tune that begins with an orchestral flourish before howling vocals and deafening drums take over. On tour in support of the just-released Feel the Everblack Festering Within Me, the group plays at 5 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion. The Black Dahlia Murder, Shadow of Intent and Peelingflesh open.

2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

The Mountain Goats The indie rock group that’s the project of talented singer-songwriter John Darnielle comes to the Agora. Doors open at 7 p.m. The group’s roots date back to the

28

Lainey Wilson comes to Blossom. See: Saturday, Oct. 4. | Eric Ryan Anderson early ‘90s, and the band’s latest release, 2023s Jenny from Thebes, sounds poppy than ever as the group presents a sequel to 2002’s All Hail West Texas.

5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

No. 1 U.S. hit with “Missing You.” The singer-songwriter comes to the Kent Stage at 6:30.

175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.

John Waite

The Texas singer-songwriter Carolyn Wonderland comes to the Music Box Club as she tours in support of her new album, Truth Is. The show begins at 8 p.m.

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

Singer-songwriter John Waite first came to prominence as the vocalist and bassist of the English rock outfit the Babys, best known for pop-rock hits such as “Isn’t It Time?” and “Every Time I Think of You” in the late 1970s. That group disbanded in 1980 (after a final performance in Akron), but Waite kept going and scored a

SCENE | clevescene.com | Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025

Carolyn Wonderland

SAT

09/27

Elvis Costello and the Imposters with Charlie Sexton The ‘80s singer-songwriter brings his tour celebrating his early years to the Akron Civic Theatre. Costello’s set list will reportedly primarily feature material from his first 11 albums, 1978’s My Aim Is True to 1986’s Blood & Chocolate. The show begins at 8 p.m.

182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com.

Sleep Token: The Even in Arcadia Tour The masked English rock band comes to Rocket Arena as part of a tour supporting its fourth album, Even in Arcadia. The album features anthemic numbers such as “Emergence,” a tune that features a catchy chorus and dramatic synths. Tonight’s concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

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

SUN

09/28 SUN

The rapper straight out of Ypsilanti, MI comes to the Agora Theatre. ShittyBoyz, a hip-hop group of which BabyTron is a member, open the show. BabyTron has personality to spare and makes funny videos with a Beastie Boys-like vibe. His rapid-fire raps and spastic beats will undoubtedly energize the crowd. Doors are at 7 p.m.

5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and Stephanie Mills team up for this multi-band bill featuring “queens” of soul and R&B. A Rock Hall Inductee, Knight might be the most honored singer of the group. In 2023, she received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Rocket Arena.

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

10/02 MON

10/06

Air Play Moon Safari

Marc Rebillet The YouTuber brings his Places I’ve Never Played and Will Never Play Again tour to the Agora.

His latest single, “Vibe’s Alright,” finds him embracing ‘70s funk and soul and singing in a falsetto. Doors open at 7 p.m.

5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

Braxton Cook This Juilliard-trained singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Braxton Cook comes to the Bop Stop tonight as he tours in support of his new album, Everyone Can Go, an album that draws from pop, R&B and jazz. He plays two shows, at 7 and 9:15 p.m.

2920 Detroit Ave., 216-771-6551, themusicsettlement.org.

SAT

10/05

The Queens: 4 Legends, 1 Stage.

BabyTron

THU

Paramount’s hit series Yellowstone. She’s touring in support of Whirlwind, an album that finds her crossing over into rock and pop and collaborating with the likes of fellow superstar Miranda Lambert.

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

10/04

Mr. Gnome The terrific locally based hard rock act that features singer-guitarist Nicole Barille and drummer-pianist Sam Meister has been making cutting edge music for the past decade. A bonafide national act, the group returns to the Beachland Ballroom tonight. The Rosies and King Buu open, and doors open at 7.

15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

Lainey Wilson: Whirlwind World Tour The country singer-songwriter who became a star after her 2021 hit “Things a Man Oughtta Know” went viral performs at 7 p.m. at Blossom. Wilson also recently made her acting debut in Season 5 of

In the late ‘90s, the French group Air released Moon Safari, and the mostly instrumental album became an unlikely hit. Last year, Air celebrated the 25th anniversary of Moon Safari by reissuing the record in a deluxe audio-video package and playing the album in its entirety for the first time during 77 shows across Europe, North America, Australia, Latin America and Asia. That tour has been extended, and it brings the group to MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage. The show begins at 7 p.m.

10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark. mgmresorts.com/en.html.

TUE

THE STORY CONTINUES @ CLEVELSCENE.COM

10/07

Tyler Childers The country singer-songwriter who’s quickly become an international superstar despite his lowkey approach brings his latest tour to Blossom. While Childers’s approach is not particularly engaging, he makes good use of clever graphics in his live shows. In addition, the guy is reportedly devoting $1 from every ticket sold to the Hickman Holler Appalachian Relief Fund (HHARF) and REVERB. The show starts at 7 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED WITH SCENE

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

jniesel@clevescene.com @jniesel

Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025 | clevescene.com | SCENE

29

SAVAGE LOVE MAKING THE UPGRADE

by Dan Savage

ing like you need a drink before you can

fucked and/or passed out in a bed. And

talk to strangers who might wanna fuck

in the morning — maybe a little hungover

you… and wishing you didn’t need that

but no longer drunk or high — they had

drink… doesn’t by itself mean you have

some hot (and sober!) morning sex or a

a substance abuse problem. But if drugs

great conversation or went and grabbed

and alcohol are interfering with your abil-

breakfast someplace or all of the above.

ity to hold down a job or pay your rent, if

And then they exchanged phone num-

drugs and alcohol are destroying your re-

bers so they could see each other again.

lationships with friends and family, and

And they didn’t need to be drunk or high

if the sexual experiences you’re having

to approach and/or fuck each other the

with men when you get drunk or high are

next time they met up, SOBER, because

traumatizing — and I’m guessing they’re

mutual attraction had already been es-

not, SOBER, since you would’ve included

tablished, and mutual attraction really is

that detail — then you have a problem and

a better confidence-booster than drugs or

should stop using substances. Getting to

alcohol.

know a guy before making a move will I HATE TO ADMIT THIS, but I have a

take a little more time, SOBER, but you

So, if what you want is a relationship —

hard time feeling comfortable having sex

don’t wanna burn your life down for some

with a romantic partner or a reliable fuck

or even talking to guys unless I’m drunk

quick dick.

buddy — and you’re not occasionally inviting some guy you clicked with in the club

or high. I’m a trans man. I’m a sexual assault survivor. Admittedly, I’m also a bit

Okay, one last question before we

insecure about myself. And while I’ve

get to my sure-to-be-non-controversial

been in therapy for years, I don’t feel I’m

advice: What exactly do you want from

making progress. When I’m sober, atten-

men? Is some raunchy sex with a hot male

tion from men usually feels scary. I need

stranger all you want? Or is it a relation-

someone who makes me feel safe and that

ship you want?

often only comes with time. And I get too nervous approaching people at parties, bars, anywhere. When I’m drunk though, it’s a 180: I’m confident, I’m sensual, I’m comfortable being touched and flirting and getting raunchy. But I don’t want to have to keep resorting to a bottle to feel comfortable with someone else touching me. What can I do to get to a point where I can be sober and not want to run for the hills when a guy talks me up?

If all you want is some raunchy sex and you don’t wanna get fucked up every time you want it, SOBER, you could recognize the pattern here — there are plenty of guys out there who are into and want into your body — and decide (perhaps with the help of a better therapist) to take “yes” for an answer. Lots of men are attracted to you! Lots of men wanna have sex with you! If you could take that “yes” (and all the dick that comes attached to it) for an

So Over Being Easy Ripped Those men you approach when you’re drunk or high — the guys you hook up with when you’re feeling confident — you know you can hook up with those men more than once, right?

answer, SOBER, the amount of drugs and/or alcohol you need to approach men will fall as your self-confidence rises.

But if what you’re looking for is a relationship…

Some people will insist you’re doing it

back to your place, SOBER, or you’re not asking for his phone number, then you’re doing it wrong. Again, if drugs and alcohol are destroying your life — if you can’t make rent or the sex you’re having is triggering or re-traumatizing (again, have to assume you would’ve included that detail) — then you have a substance abuse problem and you should stop. But if you’re using drugs and alcohol the same way lots of other people use them, e.g. to feel more confident and less self-conscious, you wanna make sure you’re getting the most bang for your bumps. And you do that by being open to the possibility that the hot guy who fucked your brains out in the backroom could be your guy if you gave him a chance (and your number).

P.S. Full disclosure: I have a pro-getfucked-up-at-the-club bias, SOBER, as I (drunk) met my husband (high) in a club; we hooked up in the bathroom (very raunchy), I invited him back to my place, we got breakfast together in the morning.

Now, just because it worked for me — as-

Zooming out for a second: If you’ve

wrong. You’ll never find someone special

been in therapy for years and hav-

— you’ll never find someone who is look-

en’t made any progress, SOBER, you

ing for and/or open to a relationship — in

from a man — doesn’t mean it’ll work for

either need to change therapists or you

a sleazy club or at an even sleazier after,

you, individual results may vary, etc.

need to accept that things you’ve been

they’ll say. But people who insist that last-

Please check in with your friends about

working on in therapy — your paralyz-

ing, loving relationships never start with

what you’re doing (your friends will know

ing-when-sober

insecurity

and

your

sleazy hookups don’t know any gay male

if you have a substance abuse problem),

lingering

perfectly

reasonable,

couples — or none of the gay male couples

SOBER, as well as that new therapist

given your history) fear of male sex-

they know told them the truth about how

you’re gonna get.

ual attention — probably aren’t going

they met. Because most gay men who are

to change. And if those things aren’t

partnered, cis or trans or combo platter,

gonna

have

met their boyfriends and/or husbands

to learn to work around them. So, in-

under sleazy circumstances: they met

stead of beating yourself up for needing

during hookups arranged on apps or by

to do what lots of people need to do before

making out with a hot stranger in a bar

talking to strangers who might wanna

or club.

(and

change,

SOBER,

you’ll

fuck them, i.e. disinhibit with drugs and alcohol, you should be thoughtful about when you’re using, cautious about how much you’re using, and a little more strategic about why you’re using.

Zooming out for another second: Feel-

30

suming you even want more than dick

I’m a married heterosexual cis woman kinkster writing from the Northeast.

My husband and I have been monogamous and only played with each other for a decade and a half, but we’ve have agreed to try platonic play at some kink events we’re going to this fall. But how

And here’s how gay couples who met

do I hang my shingle in regard to find-

each other the way you’ve been finding

ing play partners? Playing with others

men made the upgrade from sleazy hook-

is something I have been wanting to try

up to partner: they went home with each

but have never done besides the occasion-

other. They left the bar or the club and

al demo bottoming. I am ready for more

went back to someone’s place, and they

but now that the reality is coming clos-

SCENE | clevescene.com | Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025

er, I don’t know quite how to function.

How do I place a good “personal ad” for platonic play? Is it better if I respond to existing posts? I don’t even know exactly what I’m looking for besides some new experiences. For context, I am a switch-y dominant-leaning masochist. I am nervous and excited and looking for some guidance.

Married And Slightly Open Use your words: “Seeking BDSM play, not seeking sex.” That’s what you need to put your shingle. You can use those exact words on your kinky personal ad, in replies to other people’s ads, or when you strike up conversations at kink events with people you might wanna play with.

You’re gonna get the obvious follow-up question — what exactly counts as sex for you and your husband? — and you need to be ready with a clear, specific, and detailed answer. No penetration, obviously. Is kissing allowed? Do you guys count oral as sex? BDSM play arouses you, MASO, otherwise you wouldn’t be engaging in it. Are your play partners allowed to do small, incidental things that might enhance your arousal? Is manual stimulation during play allowed? Can they grind against you? Can they wedge a vibrator between the ropes and your pussy?

And if that vibrator makes you come, is that a violation of your rules or is that an act of God? The more precise you are, the easier it’ll be for people to know whether they’re the right play partners for you.

And if you tell someone you’re only interested in platonic play — bondage and spanking and whatever else is allowed — and they don’t immediately ask you to clarify your precise sexual boundaries, that’s a yellow flag. Either they don’t care enough to make sure they’re respecting your limits, MASO, or they’d rather ask for forgiveness than permission.

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

mail@savagelove.net @fakedansavage www.savagelovecast.com

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Sept 24–Oct 7, 2025 | clevescene.com | SCENE

31

2025

OCTOBER 9, 2025 GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER