Cleveland Magazine Millennial Survey

Millennials —

Cleveland Magazine needs your help. (We’ve been told your generation really likes to get involved and make a difference — so here’s your chance!)

The influx of college-educated millennials (ages 18-34) to the city of Cleveland offers opportunities and challenges for the region. So Cleveland Magazine is conducting a survey to better understand the habits and needs of you and your peers.

The survey should only take about 10 minutes to complete, and the results will be used for our April feature. We will not use your name, unless you give us permission. Thank you for your time. Please share with your friends.

If you have any questions or ideas for people to profile or issues to cover, please let us know in the comments or on Facebook and Twitter.

Guilty Pleasures

If you're anything like us, you're still working on your Christmas list, and New Year's Eve is still just a twinkle in your eye. So here's our gift to you: the perfect event for your rapidly filling calendar.

At 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29, Bistro 185 is hosting their Pre-NYE Guilty Pleasures Champagne Dinner. Five courses with all the premium, pre-resolution ingredients you crave are paired with five distinct champagne pours for $80 (plus tax and gratuity).

Read on for more on this decadent dining experience, plus a recipe from sous chef Kevin Moore.

Course 1: Caviar and roasted marrow board with pickles, jams an dips paired with
Larmandier-Bernier Latitude 1er Cru, Extra Brut

Course 2: Seared scallops with foie gras sauce and butter-poached fungi paired with

Domaine Bott-Geyl Cremant D'Alsace

Course 3: Veal sweetbreads with corn pudding*, red onion and pickled mustard seeds paired with

R.H. Coutier Tradition

* recipe follows

Course 4: Lobster endive shoots, vanilla and pomegranate seeds paired with

R.H. Coutier Rose

Course 5: Dry-aged beef carpaccio, toast, truffle and quail egg paired with

2013 Dashe Late Harvest Zinfandel

Call for reservations.

Bistro 185, 991 E. 185th St., Cleveland, 216-481-9635, bistro185.com

Bistro 185 Corn Pudding

Ingredients:

5 eggs

1/3 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup white sugar

1/2 cup milk

4 Tablespoons cornstarch

1, 15.25-ounce can whole kernel corn

2, 14.75-ounce cans cream-style corn

Procedure:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Add melted butter, sugar and milk. Whisk in cornstarch. Stir in corn and creamed corn. Blend well. Pour mixture into buttered casserole dish. Bake 1 hour.

First Glances: Sarita

When the venerable Players on Madison closed this October after three decades, longtime executive chef Anthony Romano and business partner Sandy Smith purchased the space for their own concept, a polished and likely soon-to-be-favorite neighborhood spot called Sarita.

It was a move Romano says he'd been contemplating for years, prompted by regular half-serious offers to sell from retiring owner Gary Lucarelli. Sarita opened to the public Saturday, Nov. 14 after an overhaul of the interior space.

Gone is the 1980s-esque wall art, muted wallpaper and neutral chairs and linens. In its place is a bold and minimal black and white concept splashed with red, a tie-in with Sarita's logo (shown above on the restaurant's awning). The space is comfortable and clean, though loud due to the openness of the two distinct dining areas and a painted tin ceiling that, while full of needed character, reflects and amplifies bar chatter.

The menu, divided into "this," "that" and "the other" categories broadly defined as appetizers, small plates and entrees, is expansive with nearly 40 total options with wide appeal, such as crispy, fluffy Navajo fry bread — akin to fried pizza dough — with two kinds of pesto ($4), sweet and savory stuffed dates wrapped in prosciutto ($10) and horseradish-crusted grouper ($29) with chanterelle mushrooms, mashed potatoes and a garlicy vinaigrette.

Horseradish-crusted grouper at Sarita, a Restaurant

Serious diners may find this new spot a bit too safe, and regular diners may struggle with the prices for an average night out, but Sarita has at least two standouts going for it.

Firstly, the service is astounding. Most new restaurants can aim only at keeping up with an opening-night crush while struggling to train overwhelmed servers and cooks. Because much of the staff are holdovers from Players on Madison, however, Sarita felt from Day One as if it were already a well-oiled machine (rapid menu changes based on customer feedback notwithstanding nor unwelcome).

Secondly, the olive oil cake ($7). Sure, there's a flourless chocolate cake that will likely sell well because, well, chocolate. But if you take one risk with your visit to Sarita, make it this cake. Citrusy, with a luscious scoop of cinnamon ice cream, just the right amount of crumb and a lingering aftertaste that reminds you the cake is made with olive oil, it was far and away the most impressive dish of the evening.

IF YOU GO:
Sarita, 14523 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-226-5200, sarita-restaurant.com
Mon-Thu 5-11 p.m., Fri & Sat 5-12 p.m., Sun 5-10 p.m.

Tastes Like Sweetest Day

Sweetest Day, the sugary-sweet alter ego of Valentine's Day, is Oct. 17. Impress the one you love or treat yourself with a series of truffle-making parties hosted by The Bom — a 2014 Best of Cleveland winner.

Grab a partner and select a bottle of your favorite wine from one of the three participating wineries. Carolina Martin, owner and chocolatier behind the Bom's boozy treats, will provide all the dry ingredients to make your own 21-and-over truffles.

You'll leave with five boxes, or about 20 truffles, just in time for Sweetest Day. But we won't blame you if you keep them for yourself.

Register by calling 216-941-7643 or send an email to carolina@thebom.us.


Thursday, Oct. 1
6-8 p.m.
Paper Moon Vineyards, 2008 State Road, Vermilion
$25 per person

Wednesday, Oct. 14
6-8 p.m.
Sharon James Cellars, 11303 Kinsman Road, Newbury
$30 per person

Thursday, Oct. 15
7-9 p.m.
John Christ Winery, 32421 Walker Road, Avon Lake
$30 per person

Hot Off The Press: Carol & John's Comic Book Shop Raffles Autographed Copy of Chuck Palahniuk's 'Fight Club'

David Mack's cover of Fight Club 2, Issue One

Tyler Durden lives! The antagonist of the cult phenomenon Fight Club makes a return this month in the first of an eight-part miniseries written by Chuck Palahniuk. As part of a promotion for Fight Club 2, Issue One ($3.99), Carol & John's Comic Book Shop is throwing a contest that runs until end-of-day Sunday, May 31 — for every copy purchased of the new issue, guests will receive a raffle ticket toward winning an autographed, leather-bound, limited edition printing of the original Fight Club.

Dudas met Palahniuk last year in Portland, Oregon during an annual ComicsPRO meeting where he announced that the first 150 people who contacted him regarding the release of Fight Club 2, Issue One, would receive a copy of the book with a personal signature. When Palahniuk reached out to Dudas a couple of months later and asked who he should make the autograph for, Dudas suggested making it out to Cleveland.

Palahniuk's signed copy of Fight Club is addressed to Cleveland — ''Where Comics are Alive and Thriving!'

Dudas also received three decapitated arms signed by Palahniuk as backup prizes for the raffle. "He kind of knows when to push the envelope," says Dudas.

Set 10 years after the original book ended, Fight Club 2, Issue One, picks up with the narrator who's heavily medicated and living a mundane life as he's now married to Marla – the mother of his child and former unstrung bombshell from the original story. But when Marla messes with his medication, things begin to unravel. "Reading the comic will take you back to the first movie, and it'll make you rethink your perception of the film," says Dudas.

Summer Must-Eat: Spring Pea Tortellini

Lockkeepers Spring Pea Tortellini

Just in time for fresh peas from the farmers market, Lockkeepers executive chef Alberto Leandri shares his recipe for this fast and elegant Spring Pea Tortellini.

Ingredients

For the tortellini:
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
3 tablespoons pea puree
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 egg mixed with 1/2 teaspoon water
Fresh pasta

For the sauce:
1 leek, julienned
1/3 cup tomato sauce
1 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons parmiggiano
4 oz bacon
1/3-cup panko breadcrumbs

Directions

In a bowl, mix the ricotta, peas, parmiggiano, 1 egg, salt and pepper.

Roll out fresh pasta dough by hand or using a machine, or using premade fresh pasta sheets, cut the dough into 3- or 4-inch squares with a square cookie cutter. Place 1/4 teaspoon filling into the center of each square. Brush egg wash on the bottom half of the square and fold over diagonally to seal. Fold the two bottom corners around your finger, then turn down the top edge to form a tortellini.

In a 350 degree oven, cook the bacon until crispy (about 15 minutes) and let cool. When completely cool, process in a food processor with panko bread crumbs until the blend is fine.

Cook the tortellini in salted boiling water for 3-4 minutes while making the sauce.

In a pan, heat 2 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil with leek, season to taste, then add chicken stock, tomatoes and butter and boil for a few minutes. Drain the cooked tortellini and add them to the sauce. Add parmiggiano. Serve topped with bacon crumbs.

Lockkeepers, 8001 Rockside Rd, Valley View, 216-524-9404, lockkeepers.com

Soulful Band Bassel and The Supernaturals Address the Syrian Civil War in Hometown Show

Photo Credit: CB Lindsey

Five days before Bassel and the Supernaturals left on tour in 2012 to promote its EP Dreamer, frontman Bassel Almadani’s apartment complex burned down. Since moving to Chicago from Ohio with his band, Almadani has encountered setbacks including theft and a fainting spell that led to broken teeth and broken noise. Almadani also struggles with the reality that his family is living inside the conflict in Syria. But Almadani isn't defeated. He uses those trials to inform his soul-infused, indie-funk band that he describes as “Stevie Wonder meets Steely Dan meets Asia.”

Bassel and the Supernaturals will be returning to Northeast Ohio to headline a show at the Beachland Ballroom & Tavern at 8 p.m. Feb. 26. A Kent native and his band are working on a new record that draws from Almadani's experiences as a Syrian-American and connections to his cousins, aunts and uncles that are in the throes of conflict in Syria. To Almadani, music is a way to get the message out and help further humanitarian efforts in Syria. “We’ll donate a percentage of our merchandise, but it really goes above and beyond that, whatever we can afford to send over for charity purposes we do,” says Almadani, who also has hosted workshops and seminars to raise awareness about the issue. We talk to him about coming home, how being Syrian-American has shaped his music and how he turns his struggles into art.

CM: What does it mean to return to Northeast Ohio to headline a show?
BA: My musical roots tie back to my days in Kent. I used to travel every weekend to see some of my favorite bands, and I have some very vivid memories of shows at those local venues. It kind of puts things in perspective when you get the opportunity. We’ve been increasing momentum for a really long time. When we get a show booked, you don’t think too much of it until you put that in perspective of how I viewed that venue as a kid, and the bands I looked up to. Once you take it in, you realize that it’s really neat. It’s really cool that it’s coming at a time when Cleveland is really getting back on the map.

CM: How has your connection to Syria influenced your music?
BA: There’s a lot of it coming into our next album. It’s taking me a bit of time. I didn’t want to rush the creative process when approaching this particular subject. The crisis in Syria is a very sensitive subject. People are affected by what’s going on, and I’ve taken a lot of time to figure out how I personally connect with this. As a soul musician, you can see right through it if it’s not genuine. I experience Syria through the lens of my family, the news article I read and the pain that I feel every single day. It’s constant anxiety because of my role here. I must find a way to connect back to that experience and make a difference. There are a lot of examples of that going into the new record. I’m really excited about getting that material out the door.

CM: Is there a specific song on your upcoming album that stems from your personal setbacks?
BA: There’s a song on there that hits the subject real hard. The song "Lost" relates to two stories. It’s about my cousin being murdered in Syria last year; she was a victim of crossfire, as well as a story about my guitar being stolen during a crazy rainstorm at a festival in Painesville. The song is really about that emotion of loss. Anybody can really personalize to them about something that they lost as well.

The 11 Markets of Christmas

Our Pinterest-obsessed world has made us covet the crafty. So head to a market this holiday season to impress your friends and family with handmade and upcycled goods and shake the hands of the makers who shaped them. With more than ten markets to choose from, you’re sure to cross a few names off your list.

Photo courtesy of Cleveland Bazaar

Heights Arts Annual Holiday Store
More than a dozen new artisans have joined the 13th annual event at Heights Arts, bringing one-of-a-kind ceramics, leather works, watercolors and more. New this year, make reservations select weekends to bring the entire family for festive workshops to create hand-stamped holiday cards or paper pinwheels. Now thru Dec. 30, 2175 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3457 

Rocky River Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show
Shop for a good cause by selecting items from more than 100 crafters. A portion of the proceeds from your holiday haul benefit Project Night Night, a nonprofit group that donates thousands of care packages to homeless children, each including a security blanket, book and stuffed animal. Nov. 15 & 16, $3 admission, children under 12 free, Rocky River Memorial Hall, 21016 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River, 440-227-8794 

Cleveland Flea
Busy families and hipsters alike have two chances to browse popular flea makers and food vendors this year. Bonus: This round is indoors, so stay toasty while browsing with a cup of cocoa. Holiday Kickoff Market, Nov. 21-23, tickets available soon for Nov. 21 private event, 6555 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland; Holiday Maker Market, Dec. 12-14, tickets available soon for Dec. 12 private event, Slovenian National Home, 8653 E. 80th St., Cleveland

Collective Upcycle
Leisurely and eco-conscious shoppers, this one’s for you. This pop-up boutique of more than 30 artisans has a Rust Belt vibe by showcasing the creative repurposing of clothing, furniture, jewelry and more. On Nov. 29, the collective starts the season at Gordon Square Market and continues in Matt Zone’s old offices every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until Christmas. Nov. 29, Gordon Square Market, 6415 Detroit Ave., Cleveland; Dec. 4-20, 6501 Detroit Ave., Cleveland

Beary Merry Christmas Craft Show
This midweek market features holiday entertainment, door prizes, a Chinese raffle and handmade gifts to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure Northeast Ohio. Dec. 3 & 4, $3 admission, Normandy Party Center, 30310 Palisades Parkway, Wickliffe 

E.J. Thomas Hall Holiday Arts & Crafts Show
For nearly 30 years, the University of Akron event has showcased artisans from Ohio and throughout the country. Dec. 5-7, $4.50 admission, children under 12 enter free, E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron, 330-972-7570

Manly Mart Holiday Market
What do you get for that dude in your life? This market, presented by Crafty Mart and Cleveland Bazaar, is teeming with male vendors selling manly items your guy will love. Dec. 5 & 6, 5th Street Arcades, 530 Euclid Ave., Cleveland 

TerraVista Studios Holiday Sale
For 15 years, TerraVista Studios has opened its doors to offer silver, gold and leather jewelry, organic clay wares and handmade crochet hats. Dec. 5-7, 1400 E. 30th St.  Suite 401, Cleveland, 216-523-1387

ArtCraft Holiday Show
Located across the street from TerraVista Studios, the ArtCraft Building is hosting their 27th annual holiday sale the same weekend, turning the two warehouses into one, big holiday party. Dec. 6 & 7, 2570 Superior Ave., Cleveland, 216-407-3685

Cleveland Bazaar Holiday Show
Formerly called the Bazaar Bizarre, this annual holiday show has called 78th Street Studios home for ten years, and more than 100 crafters are ready to celebrate its anniversary and the holidays. Dec. 13 & 14, Early admission and 10th-anniversary merchandise is available with $20 ticket purchase, regular admission is free, 78th Street Studios, 1300 W 78th St., Cleveland 

Last Minute Market 
Procrastinators, challenge yourself to not wait until the very last day before Christmas to do your shopping. This last-minute event, where Screw Factory artists and other makers sell, gives you a healthy five-day lead. Dec. 20, The Lake Erie Building, 13000 Athens Ave., Lakewood

Actor and Ohio native Keith Myers talks 'Dear White People'

The trailer for Dear White People, a satirical drama about “being a black face in a white place,” blew up on YouTube. The movie won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award at Sundance Film Festival. Now the film, which follows a group of Ivy League students navigating race relations and searching for their own identities, is in theaters.

Keith Myers, an actor who moved from Wakeman to Los Angeles in 1999, plays "Black Mitch." He will be hosting a Q&A at Cedar Lee Theatre following the 7:20 p.m. showing tonight and tomorrow. But we called him before the session at his parents’ house in Wakeman to get the early scoop.

CM: What does this movie mean to you? 

KM: “It’s getting a lot of press for its title, and obviously there’s a lot to do with race in the movie. But I think fundamentally, the ultimate quest of the movie is about identity — and especially for young people in college just searching for who they are, regardless of their sexuality or race or any of that stuff. ... By the end of it, you hopefully will question your own sort of place and your own identity, and how you relate to the world and the people you associate with and your friends and family.” 

CM: What’s been the response to the movie so far? 

Keith Myers as "Black Mitch" on the
set of Dear White People.

KM: “The movie’s over and everybody is talking. It’s amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced screenings where it’s just so provocative in a sense where people want to talk about what they just saw. They want to have a conversation about what they just saw. They want to maybe bring up something that they’ve never been able to bring up to a group of friends or they can relate to certain things. ... It’s going to make you think, and it’s not going to tell you what to think. It poses a question and lets you come to your own conclusion.” 

CM: What are doing on your trip back to Ohio? 

KM: “I’m back for six days, mostly for the film, and we’re doing some radio spots, but I get to see my family and hopefully go to a Browns game. So that’ll be good, [if they] beat the [Oakland] Raiders so I can bring that back to LA. ... I have a lot of pressure on the Browns this weekend, so they better win. I can’t handle going back to LA and dealing with that.”

Sanctum Sanctuary

Sanctuary, the new restaurant and wine bar that opened this week on the ground floor of the Doubletree Cleveland Beachwood location, represents a shift in direction for national hotel chain restaurants. Rather than lackluster, no-name, by-necessity-only places designed to fill bellies after a day on the road, this hotel has managed to snag a new concept by the Driftwood Restaurant Group (headed by Chris Hodgson and Scott Kuhn). It's part of a growing trend in adding local flair to otherwise carbon-copied lodging. It's a great way to show visitors a little something about the city with barely having to leave their rooms.

The soft opening, held this Monday, Oct. 6, attracted a fairly large crowd. And while it showed that there are still a few kinks to work out (a few overlooked details like beverage service and a plodding pace), the restaurant lived up to its name fairly well, with serene gray-green walls (inspired by carpets in India), sparkling lighting, mounted driftwood art and distinct dining areas that allow the ability to cozy in or see and be seen.

As with most of Hodgson's culinary creations, the food at Sanctuary was approachable and rooted in nostalgia. For instance, we were met with Hanky Panky appetizers, a decades-old staple made with sausage and cheese on toast. This one used chorizo with an added a touch of fig jam to keep it modern. Fresh ginger, bourbon, honey, lemon juice and a touch of St. Germaine liqueur made up the signature cocktail, the Beehive, reminiscent of the '60s if only for its name and bourbon base. The next course was a blue crab hushpuppy topped with cucumber and "Old Bay'onnaise."

Blue Crab Hushpuppy: Crunchy outside, creamy inside

In general, the food was tasty but not overly inventive, which may actually be an advantage for road-weary travelers looking to settle stomachs without sacrificing atmosphere. Our next few courses rated above average: a wedge salad with pickled red onion and white French dressing, a crisp (but slightly cold) sea scallop over butternut squash and caramelized apple risotto and my personal favorite, hangar steak with chimichurri, garlic-herb fries and malt vinegar aioli.

 

  

Any restaurant in Beachwood will face stiff competition from its neighbors, but Sanctuary's location (in the former Capers nightclub space) and built-in clientele should give it an edge. Cheers to traveling local-style.

Layin' Down the Law

By day, Michael Donnelly presides over lawsuits and felony trials as a judge in Cuyahoga County’s Common Pleas Court. At night, Donnelly can be found with an electric guitar hanging from his shoulders under the neon lights of local music clubs as he shreds classic rock covers with his band Faith and Whiskey.

Donnelly’s band will open for Bruce in the U.S.A. at this Saturday’s Douse the House event at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, which benefits the Western Reserve Fire Museum.

We spoke to The Judge (which would be a pretty awesome nickname for a rock ‘n’ roll guitarist) about Cleveland rock and Saturday’s show, which he calls “the classic rock party of the summer.”


Cleveland Magazine: What do you say to people who are surprised that you are a judge and in a rock band?

Michael Donnelly: This is the rock ‘n’ roll capital of the world, so I think every judge should be in a band.

CM: Did growing up in Cleveland influence your love for classic rock?

MD: Growing up in Cleveland with WMMS and 98.5, you couldn’t help but become a lover of classic rock. Everybody in the band grew up here in Cleveland, so that’s the music we like to play.

CM: What are your favorite Cleveland concert memories?

MD: The Rolling Stones at Municipal Stadium and the Who at the Coliseum -- just incredible experiences to see those legends on stage and be able to tell my kids now that I saw them.

CM: How is being a judge different than being a rocker?

DM: Being a judge can be very stressful. It’s a lot of responsibility when you’re making decisions that directly affect people’s lives. Being in a band, especially with a bunch of guys that couldn’t care less about what I do during the day -- we just focus on putting the best product out there and entertaining people.

CM: How excited are you to play Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica for the first time?

DM: This is going to be our biggest stage ever. It’s well beyond what we’d ever imagined we’d be able to accomplish. It’s the thrill of a lifetime. I just can’t wait to hear what a guitar sounds like in a venue that large. Plus, with the water behind you, it’s just incredible.

CM: What made you want to get involved with the Western Reserve Fire Museum?

DM: I’ve been on the board for years, and it’s going to be a great asset to Cleveland. It preserves a lot of the history for the fire department and will teach kids the benefit of fire safety, which I feel is very important, having presided over arson trials.

CM: What is your favorite song to play?

DM: “Sweet Jane” by Lou Reed. It seems to get a great crowd reaction.

CM: Your court’s philosophy has been described as providing “litigants with a fast and efficient framework for the just resolution of their cases.” Does this stem from the fast, efficient power chords that you play as a guitarist?

DM: No one’s asked me to quit my day job yet, so I think I’m probably better at this than the music. My first passion is for the law, and I would never give up this opportunity, unless maybe someone asked me to go play for the Rolling Stones. Maybe then I’d take a small hiatus.

Prices for Douse the House range from $15 for general admission to $80 for VIP tickets.

Audio: Cleveland Magazine chats with Q104 about Gay Issue

How did Cleveland Magazine editors land on the controversial "How Gay Are We?" cover, out on newsstands now? Editor Steve Gleydura and design director Kristen Miller talk with Q104's Fee Kompany about the cover and the "Out Loud" feature package about Northeast Ohio's LGBT community and Gay Games 9, which kicks off this Friday. Click below to have a listen.

Debt of Gratitude

Photo courtesy This Is Cleveland

This was the headline and subhead of a recent piece posted on citylab.com: "Restaurants Really Can Determine the Fate of Cities and Neighborhoods — A new survey shows how much food influences the vibrance of urban centers." We've experienced this firsthand in Cleveland. Just think about what's happened over the past few years in Ohio City, Tremont, Gordon Square, Flats East Bank, East Fourth Street, and Shaker Square and Lee Road in Cleveland Heights. And I think it would be appropriate to offer a loud, energetic communal thanks to all the visionary chefs, entrepreneurs and investors who made commitments to these areas that helped bring about their revival and resurgence.

 
Turns out, this is just the right moment to show appreciation. Cleveland Independents, an association of locally owned and operated non-chain, non-franchise restaurants — the true drivers of the culinary renaissance that has brought so much energy to both our food scene and and our communities — is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Now 90 members strong and spanning a geography that goes from Sandusky to Mentor and Canton, the organization sponsors year round efforts to get people's attention. There's Restaurant Week, the deck of discount cards for food purchases, and gift cards redeemable at any member restaurant. Promotions such as these are good for business and good for the neighborhood.

Almost half of those urban residents questioned for the above mentioned study revealed that new restaurants are a top reason for exploring different parts of their city. A whopping 82 percent included restaurants among the main things they appreciate about where they live and a majority cited food and restaurants when talking about the cities they love to visit. These numbers confirm what we've been learning here ever since Carl Quagliata brought dining to the Warehouse District and Michael Symon made it trendy to go to Professor Street to eat.

Cleveland's on the upswing and I believe a large portion of credit should go to our culinary community. A round of social media applause would be nice. Showing support by going out to their restaurants — even better.

Return of the King

It’s been four long years since Cleveland fans first heard the phrase, “I’m taking my talents to South Beach.” It’s been four long years since fans burned No. 23 jerseys in the streets of Cleveland, and Dan Gilbert scorned his “cowardly betrayal” in a scathing open letter.

But now LeBron James — the King, the Chosen One, The Whore of Akron — is coming home.

Today, in a letter published on Sports Illustrated’s website, James announced his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Still, it’s hard to forget the agonizing four years that he spent in a Miami Heat uniform. So before we parade through the street, let’s take a minute to remember how we got here with these Cleveland Magazine excerpts.

His mom, Gloria, called him a “hometown boy,” but fans were still expecting the worst leading up to his first Decision.

      “It panders to our deep-seated insecurities, our feelings of abandonment and inadequacy. And why shouldn’t it? This kind of stuff has been going on for quite some time. Oil magnate John D. Rockefeller bolted Cleveland for New York. BP America packed up and left for Chicago. Hell, even Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was a Clevelander before he became the man who bankrolls our most hated baseball rivals.” — from “King of All Media,” February 2010

For Cavs devotees, it was bigger than James, and it was bigger than sports. James’ move meant we had lost our chance to silence the critics.

   “We've always wanted to surprise the rest of the country with Cleveland's greatness, and he made it happen. People saw us differently because of him. Then, when we ran into a tough time and really needed him, he was gone.” — from “Our Miserable Year,” December 2010

James instantly became the most hated figure in Cleveland sports history. While some made the argument that no one could be more hated than Art Modell, the notorious owner that moved the Browns to Baltimore in 1995, Esquire writer Scott Raab, author of The Whore of Akron, dismissed that idea. 

   “Any Cleveland sports fan who believes in karma forgets that Art Modell won a Super Bowl. Had the Browns not been restored, Modell would stand alone as the most hated figure in the city's sports history. Now, LeBron stands alone.” — from “Raab Rage,” March 2011

A year later, Cleveland fans were comforted, as James lost his first championship appearance with the Heat. It seemed Dan Gilbert’s promise to “deliver a championship to the city” before James might come true, but former managing editor Jim Vickers knew better.

   “We'll be the first to admit, the nationwide LeBron James bashing that followed was fun. The piling-on was epic, previously unimaginable, really. It felt good. Demons were exorcised. But let's be clear: If we stay at this party much longer, we're going to end up with a nasty hangover.” — from “Letting Go of LeBron,” August 2011

Then, James won two championships with the Miami Heat, and the Cavaliers didn’t make the playoffs. Fans’ hatred hit new heights, but the honest among us were able to admit that they really just wanted him back.

   “Even the world’s harshest critic would welcome back the world’s best player.” — from “The Indecision,” August 2013

Now, the decisions and his days in a Heat uniform are all in the past. James and Gilbert have made amends, and fans have welcomed James back with open arms. As fans storm the city to celebrate the return of the King, there is only one quote to hang onto.

    “In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have. I’m ready to accept the challenge. I’m coming home.” – from “I’m Coming Back to Cleveland,” Sports Illustrated, July 11, 2014

Fans Unite on Wiggins Pick

Next year may have come early. The Cavs No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins may just be the change-up our team needs.

"I love it. That was the best thing they could have done for Cleveland,” says James Gatson, a supervisor at 55 Public Square, during a draft party at The Q Thursday night. Gatson thinks the choice of Wiggins will help convince free agent LeBron James to come back. The return of the King was on many fans’ minds, but largely the night was about Wiggins – and the busy, floral print suit he donned for the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center.

When the night began, the question on people’s minds was whether the Cavs would pick University of Kansas freshman Wiggins or Duke University freshman Jabari Parker. Thousands of fans, mostly dressed in wine and gold, spent the time leading up to the draft shooting baskets on the court, getting autographs from Cavs legends Campy Russell and Jim Chones and noshing on stadium fare – but the tension was building. When Wiggins’ name was announced over the broadcast from New York, the entire arena cheered in unison.

“He’s going to be a good match for the team,” says fan Loren Delaney.

Wiggins is considered by many to have more long-term potential than Parker, who ended up being drafted second by the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Honestly, if we wanted somebody now, we would have said Jabari, but we’re looking toward the future,” says Rahmel Johnson, a senior at Bedford High School. “That’s the best way to go.”

Any pick is a gamble, seeing as the team surprised everybody by drafting Anthony Bennett with the first-round pick last year, and he only averaged 4 points per game last season. He did average 16 points per game in college, however.

“[Wiggins] was a good college basketball player,” Johnson says. “He averaged 17 points a game, which is very good as a freshman. It’s just his aggression. His last game, he only had four points and he only shot like six shots.”

The Cavs also drafted University of Virginia shooting guard Joe Harris with the 33rd pick in the second round.

You never know with Cleveland sports, but with a new coach and general manager, getting Wiggins and James rumors, things are looking up.

Mix knowledge with alcohol at the bar tonight

Life, The Universe & Hot Dogs: Cosmology at Happy Dog

Sick of trivia, karaoke and billiards at the bars you frequent? If you’d rather jump-start your brain than turn it off while swilling a cold one, try one of these lectures in a bar. From simplistic scientific talks to a storyteller’s forum, these lectures elevate your average bar trip.


May 22: Learned Owl Book Shop’s Book Club in a Bar at Papa Joe’s
Instead of leaving your books in the car while you enjoy a few drinks, bring them inside and talk them over with a crowd at this monthly Book Club in a Bar series at Papa Joe’s in Akron. Tending to keep to the thriller and mystery genre, it's a more relaxed version of the book club your mother attends. Join the regular crowd to discuss Game for Five by Marco Malvaldi. "It's a good bridge book club if you're trying to get into one," says Kate Schlademan, owner of the Learned Owl. If you graduate from the Book Club in a Bar, the bookstore also hosts two more devote monthly discussions at its location. 7 p.m., 1561 Akron Peninsula Road, Akron (Papa Joe's), 330-653-2252 (Learned Owl), learnedowl.com


May 27: Life, The Universe & Hot Dogs: Cosmology at Happy Dog

We don't always get to hear about all of the groundbreaking research happening in Northeast Ohio, let alone meet the scientist behind it. But at the monthly Life, The Universe & Hot Dogs series, researchers from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Case Western Reserve University get out of the laboratory to talk about their work to regular folks without making them feel dumb. On May 27, CWRU graduate student Amanda Yoho will explain the Cosmic Microwave Background, or the first visible light in the universe, and its anomalies. "What they do well is they know how to balance [their lectures]. They know it's not a technical audience, so they don't go super technical about their description," says Happy Dog owner Sean Watterson. It's even encouraged, and possibly mandatory, to get a hot dog while learning about astrophysics and evolutionary biology. 7:30 p.m., 5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-947, happydogcleveland.com


June 11: Told No. 3: Home, Sweet Home at Market Garden Brewery

Everyone has at least one story to tell, according to ToldCLE creator Dave Sabol. ToldCLE is the forum to shape and hone your storytelling skills. Anyone can find courage in the liquids available at the bar and tell a tale based on the evening's theme, Home, Sweet Home after featured storytellers Afif Ghannoum and Cindy Reagan let loose. Although this will be the second held at Market Garden Brewery, Sabol says that he only has two stipulations about ToldCLE's venue: a separate room (so bar noise doesn’t interrupt) and alcohol. 7 p.m., 194 7 W.25 St., 216-621-4000, marketgardenbrewery.com, toldstories.com

Good Fit, Close Quarters

Without planning on it, I seem to be on a tear about small spots. Last month I wrote about Tony's Southside in Tremont and Orale in Ohio City. Now I've got a third one, this time on the East Side. Gigi's on Fairmount opened in Cleveland Heights, a few doors down from On the Rise bakery, in late 2013. A labor of love for husband and wife Gia Ilijasic and Jim Patsch, who explain their new venture as the natural outgrowth of their personal enthusiasm for good food, good drink and good times, the pretty little place bills itself as a wine cafe. Based on how busy it was on a recent cold and blustery week night, it looks as though it's just what the neighborhood needed.

 My girlfriend and I found a nice, reasonably priced bottle of Italian red and shared an artisan cheese platter that included jam, dried fruit, nuts and — best of all — a pool of lavender honey. We also got a mix-n-match bruschetta board, selecting four toppings from a long list of options: white bean and kalamata olive tapenade, house-made trout pate, shredded roast pork flavored with lime and cilantro, and caponata made with lamb and feta. All were quite tasty. The kitchen also offers a daily soup or two, salads, overstuffed pannini, charcuterie and a couple of entree style specials nightly.

I really like Gigi's, but so do lots of other people and that's the problem. It was incredibly loud and 45 seats are crammed uncomfortably close together. It felt like we were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with the people on either side of us. Private conversation was not possible and by the time we left my throat was sore from shouting over the din. I'm looking forward to the warm weather when they'll expand to the sidewalk out front.

Wear St. Paddy's Day On Your Sleeve

Nobody likes to be pinched on St. Patty’s Day, so show off your holiday spirit and wear one of our favorite festive T-shirts from CLE Clothing Co.

Photo courtesy CLE Clothing Co.

Cleveland Loves St. Party’s Day Unisex Crew, $25: If you’re planning on partying it up this St. Patrick’s Day, stay comfy and look good doing it in this bright green and orange T-shirt.

Photo courtesy CLE Clothing Co.

Beer Me I’m Clevelandish! Unisex Crew, $25: This year, don this beer me T-shirt and let everyone know what you’re after without even saying a word.

Photo courtesy CLE Clothing Co.

Kiss Me I’m Ohio-ish Men’s and Women’s Crews, $25: Not Irish? No worries. You can still feel the love in this clever Kiss Me I’m Ohio-ish T-shirt.

Riffy Rendezvous

Photo by Ed Battes

After their first album careened onto the scene last year, Cleveland rockers So Long, Albatross are finally working on new things, bringing their riffy stoner rock sound out of the basement and into a professional recording studio, literally. But before they start work on their latest album, they’ll be taking the stage at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern for Cellar Door Rendezvous, along with label-mates Seafair, Ohio Sky and The Commonwealth. The two-day get-together (March 14-15) will feature 17 other bands, with full access passes going for $20.

This will be So Long, Albatross' first appearance in the big room together, though they’ve all played there at one point or another in different bands. “We’ve played the tavern quite a few times in the last couple of years and it’s always fun,” says vocalist and guitarist Keith Vance. “But it’s just cool to do something else.”

We spoke to Vance about the finer points of writing lyrics and what's on the horizon for the Cleveland-based trio.

CM: What was the recording process for your first album like, and where do you want to go next?

KV: Well, we’ve written a bunch of songs recently. We’ve taken a break from playing shows, since we played a bunch after the first album. We’ll be working with Jim Stewart, who’s one of the sponsors for the show, and is a really great guy. He’s worked with a bunch of people I know and everyone has awesome things to say about him.

CM: Though you started out as three-person group have you thought about adding a fourth?

KV: The three of us have been playing together for so long now. The drummer and I especially have been playing in bands since we were 14, so 16 years ago. ... It’s hard enough for the three of us to get together, let alone another person. We’re just so locked into each other, we know what we’re going to do before we do it, and to add somebody new would be difficult.

CM: Lyrically, where do you want to take things?

KV: That’s something that’s probably my biggest struggle. The music comes really easy to us, generally, and the lyrics get filled in in the end. I want to get a little bit better at trying to tell a story or get my point across in ways that aren’t so vague. Sometimes I feel like I’m a little vague or cryptic and I don’t mean to be. I want to get a little more open, maybe a little bit more vulnerable with some of the things that I write.