Rialto Theatre to Host Inaugural Kenmore Winter Break Music Festival on Dec. 17 and 18

By Jeff Niesel on December 3, 2021 at 2:38PM

On Dec. 17 and 18, the Rialto Theatre and the Summit FM will present Kenmore Winter Break, a two-day festival featuring 12 bands and solo artists in the heart of Akron’s music row, home to five recording studios, two guitar shops, and many of Akron’s working musicians. Youngstown-born and bred musician/songwriter JD Eicher and his band headline on Dec. 17, and Akron rock/pop/indie sextet Big Pop (whose lineup includes members from Time Cat, Fancy Legs, Free Black!, and The Dreemers) has the headlining honors on Dec. 18.

Cleveland’s Dana McSwain Wins NYC Big Book Award

By Jeff Niesel on December 3, 2021 at 1:02PM

In 2021, the NYC Big Book Award received book submissions from around the world. Entries arrived from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America.

REO Speedwagon and Styx To Bring Coheadlining Tour To Blossom in June 2022

By Jeff Niesel on December 3, 2021 at 12:53PM

Ohio Rep. Dave Joyce and AOC Co-Sponsor Bipartisan Bill That Would Make It Easier to Expunge Non-Violent Pot Offenses

By Sanford Nowlin on December 3, 2021 at 12:38PM

If You Haven't Had a Disappointing Immersive Van Gogh Experience in Cleveland Yet, The Exhibition Has Been Extended to March

By Vince Grzegorek on December 3, 2021 at 12:28PM

There are enough Clevelanders who have yet to drop at least $39.99, before fees and parking, on the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit who are still apparently gung-ho to have a moderately to severely disappointing experience like the rest of the city that the exhibition, which had been scheduled to close up shop and take its expensive gift shop trinkets with it on Feb. 6, has been extended to March 6. This is due to "OVERWHELMING DEMAND," according to organizers.

What We Know and Don’t Know About the Omicron Coronavirus Variant

By Erin Garcia de Jesus, Science News on December 3, 2021 at 12:00PM

it has so many mutations in critical areas of the spike protein,” says virologist Yiska Weisblum of Rockefeller University in New York City. Still, studies hint that many of omicron’s mutations may help it dodge parts of the immune response.

Cleveland Clinic, UH Issue Statement on Increasing Number of Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients, Also Announce No Vax Mandates For Staff After All

By Vince Grzegorek on December 3, 2021 at 11:44AM

Northeast Ohio's three major hospital systems — the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and MetroHealth — today released a joint statement on the dangerous rise of Covid-19 cases in recent weeks and the ensuing effects it's had on care as the hospitals near capacity. “As we continue to navigate the pandemic and adjust to the changing healthcare needs of our patients, our health systems are seeing unprecedented demand for inpatient care across our facilities,” the statement read.

Bizzy Bone Threw a Bottle and Instigated a Fist Fight at Last Night's Bone Thugs and Three 6 Mafia Verzuz

By Vince Grzegorek on December 3, 2021 at 10:33AM

Before last night, Bone was last seen playing a free show at the Tower City mall.

Ohio Elections Commission Finds Council Leadership Fund Guilty of Campaign Finance Violation

By Sam Allard on December 3, 2021 at 9:35AM

The Ohio Elections Commission, at its meeting Thursday, ruled that the Council Leadership Fund, a political action committee controlled by the Cleveland City Council President, was guilty of campaign finance violations for improper expenditures in the Ward 12 council race. Challenger Rebecca Maurer ultimately won the race, unseating incumbent Tony Brancatelli in a ward that includes Slavic Village on the east side and portions of Old Brooklyn, Brooklyn Centre and Tremont on the west.

Health Care PACs Fund Campaigns of Anti-Vaccine Ohio Legislators

By Jake Zuckerman, Ohio Capital Journal on December 2, 2021 at 3:08PM

Nearly 3,900 Ohioans are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, the most since mid-January, when vaccines were a scarce commodity allocated only to the neediest recipients. Through the pandemic, meanwhile, the Ohio Hospital Association’s PAC has contributed $13,000 to Republican lawmakers who co-sponsored legislation to ban vaccine mandates from hospitals, colleges, and employers in Ohio.

Double Nickel, a Breakfast, Lunch and Brunch Spot, Opened Today in the Leader Building Downtown

By Douglas Trattner on December 2, 2021 at 10:21AM

Double Nickel (1852 E. 6th St., 216-331-2261), a breakfast, lunch and brunch spot, opened this morning downtown. The restaurant is located in the former Murano and Porcelli’s space in the Leader Building.

The Cleveland Institute of Art Hosts Annual '100 Show + Sale,' Where All Works Are $100, This Weekend

By Shawn Mishak on December 2, 2021 at 9:14AM

"The works artists put into the '100 Show + Sale' are usually things people do for fun, so it's a good opportunity to see the personality of the student body and school,” says Maeve Billings. “There's less pressure, so artists are looser and more free in what they choose to make.

Bomb Threat at Cleveland State is Second in as Many Months

By Sam Allard on December 2, 2021 at 8:55AM

The bomb threat is the second at CSU in as many months. In early November, someone phoned in a bomb threat at the law school, on Euclid Ave. and E. 18th.

After Pandemic Hiatus in 2021, Brite Winter Will Return to the Flats in February

By Vince Grzegorek on December 2, 2021 at 6:52AM

The last live, in-person Brite Winter Clevelanders were able to attend happened back in 2020, just three weeks before the world came to a halt. After a pandemic hiatus in 2021, during which Brite offered virtual performances available by streaming, Cleveland's favorite winter music festival will return to the Flats on February 26, 2022.

25+ Things To Do in Cleveland This Weekend (Dec. 2-5)

By Jeff Niesel on December 1, 2021 at 5:08PM

Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar.

Jingle Bell Rock and Shop To Take Place at Grog Shop/B-Side on Dec. 11

By Jeff Niesel on December 1, 2021 at 4:09PM

In conjunction with the Coventry Village Winter Festival, the annual Jingle Bell Rock and Shop will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Grog Shop and B-Side Liquor Lounge. The event will feature more than 30 unique local craft and artisan vendors, DJs spinning holiday music and a full bar (including spiked hot cocoa and spicy Bloody Marys).

Dispatch and O.A.R. To Play Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica in August 2022

By Jeff Niesel on December 1, 2021 at 3:47PM

One Upside of Dr. Oz's Pennsylvania Senate Candidacy? His Show Will No Longer Air on Fox 8 in Cleveland

By Vince Grzegorek on December 1, 2021 at 2:47PM

Dr. Oz, the Cleveland native and New Jersey resident who announced this week that he'll be running for Senate in Pennsylvania, will no longer be seen on Fox 8's airwaves as of tomorrow, the station announced. "As our signal bleeds a little bit into Pennsylvania, we have to replace 'The Dr. Oz Show' on our air effective Thursday."

Bernie Moreno Launches "Unprecedented" Ohio TV Ad Campaign With Commercial Called "Gas"

By Sam Allard on December 1, 2021 at 2:39PM

Moreno doesn't reference gas prices directly, but images of gas stations are the commercial's visual backdrop. Not that polls are gospel or anything, but it's clear Moreno is for the moment a far cry from relevance in the 2022 Republican primary.

Sneak Peek: JoJo's Bar, Opening This Month in Chagrin Falls

By Douglas Trattner on December 1, 2021 at 1:34PM