Cedar Point opens for the season, C avs playoffs, MIX at Cleveland Museu m of Art, Kevin Nelon at Hilarities, ‘Noises Off’ at Great Lakes Theater

View in browser

Entertainment | Music | Events

THIS WEEK'S TOP PICKS

Cedar Point Amusement Park

Cedar Point opens for its 156th summer season this weekend. Check out more than 150 rides including rollercoasters like Millennium Force and Steel Vengeance. Enjoy fresh-cut fries and stroll the mile-long Cedar Point Beach. Opening day tickets are just $40. For future dates save money buying tickets online. Cedar Point Amusement Park, One Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky. May 3, opening day. cedarpoint.com

Cavs playoffs against the Pacers

The No. 1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers play the Indiana Pacers in a best of seven Eastern Conference semifinals series starting Sunday at Rocket Arena. Game 2 will be play Tuesday, May 6, in Cleveland, before heading to Indianapolis for games 3 and 4 on Friday, May 9, and Sunday, May 11. Game times to be announced later. Rocket Arena, 1 Center Court, Cleveland.

nba.com

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is a much bigger deal in the United States than it is in Mexico, a stateside excuse to celebrate all things Mexico by eating lots of Mexican food and washing it down with even more Mexican drink, particularly margaritas and other tequila-fueled concoctions. This year’s holiday is on a Monday, meaning the party will start in Cleveland-area restaurants and bars this weekend. There are too many local Cinco de Mayo celebrations to mention here, but there is a good chance your favorite bar or local Mexican restaurant will be hosting one. In the meantime, food-and-drink writer Paris Wolfe has put together a timely exploration of spirits of Mexico, with some cool drink recipes. The choices are more than just tequila. Go beyond big T and try smoky Mezcal or an intense and smoky Sotol. All three come from desert plants and start with similar flavor profiles, but their expressions are quite different. READ MORE

Cleveland Monsters playoffs

The Monsters are in the hunt for the Calder Cup, playing a best-of-five-game series with Laval Rockets. Game 2 is at home in Cleveland before the series heads back to Laval, Quebec. Tickets are $32 and up. Friday, May 2. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, 1 Center Court, Cleveland. clevelandmonsters.com

MIX: Amplify

The MIX: Amplify dance party kicks off Asian American and Pacific Islander Month at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The evening’s entertainment includes a house-music set by DJ Andre Leone, dance performances by LingYun Rising Star Gymnastics Dance School and Stellar Acrobatic Dance Academy, a pop dance-music set by DJ PikaChieu, a fashion presentation with Fashion Talks, and a Bollywood DJ set with DJ Sobe and the Indian Student Organization at Cleveland State University. Guests can purchase food and drink items, including cocktails, beer and wine. A trunk show featuring the line PONO by Joan Goodman will be in the museum store. Tickets $5 to $25. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland. 6 p.m., May 2. clevelandart.org

Kevin Nealon

Actor/comedian Kevin Nealon, best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, is bringing his schtick to town this weekend. Tickets are sold out for two Saturday performances. Tickets $42 to $48. Hilarities 4th Street Theatre, E 4th St. May 2 and May 4. hilarities.com

“Fiddler on the Roof”

Cleveland Play House’s final production of the season. Come for the story about a milkman trying to hold on to his traditional way of life amid the changing times. Stay for Broadway standards such as “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset” and “Matchmaker, Matchmaker.” Tickets $25-$100. Allen Theatre, 1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Through May 25. clevelandplayhouse.com

“Noises Off”

Great Lakes Theater closes out its season with the classic backstage farce, “Noises Off,” presenting a humorous look at the chaos behind the scenes of a struggling play. Tickets $15-$99. Hanna Theatre, 2067 E. 14th St., Cleveland. Through May 18. greatlakestheater.org

Village Viking Fest

At this immersive event guests will enjoy Viking history brough to life with combat reenactments, traditional Norse crafts and a Viking village. Village Viking Fest events include Drum Circle on Friday night. Tickets $15. May 2-4. The Great Geauga County Fairground, 14373 North Cheshire Street, Burton. villagevikingfestival.com

“Shucked”

Come on down to Playhouse Square for this Tony-winning musical about a plucky farmgirl named Maizy, who ventures into the big city, looking for help to save her small town’s dying corn crop. Tickets $30-$115. Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Now through May 11. playhousesquare.org

“Choir Boy”

Karamu House presents a coming-of-age story about a talented singer struggling to fit in among the other boys in his prep school’s prestigious gospel choir. Tickets $20-$45. 2355 E. 89th St., Cleveland. Through May 18. karamuhouse.org

The Golden Age of Sinatra

Grammy-nominated singer Steve Lippia joins the Cleveland Pops for a night of music spanning Frank Sinatra’s 60-year career. Tickets $37 and up. Severance Music Center, 11001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland. May 2. clevelandpops.com

Apollo’s Fire performs J.S. Bach’s “Coffee Cantata”

In J.S. Bach’s comedic “Coffee Cantata,” a family drama erupts in a coffeehouse, as a precocious girl keeps showing up against her father’s orders. In appropriate fashion this show is performed in the perfect settings. Join soprano Elora Kares, baritone Jeffrey Strauss, and five Apollo’s Fire musicians for music, food, drink and laughter. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door. May 3 at BLU Jazz+, Akron. May 4 at Music Box Supper Club, Cleveland. May 4. apollosfire.org

The Nature of Healing

This group art exhibition features 30+ local artists, co-curated with (and presented by) Deep Roots Gallery. Grief, mental health and utilizing green spaces as healing spaces in the community are covered; workshops and panels are baked in (registration required). Through mid-May. Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland. holdenfg.org

“Between the Lines”

“Between the Lines” is a new musical for everyone who has ever sought to find their place in the world. It’s based on the novel by Jodi Picoult and her daughter Samantha van Leer. Tickets $13 to $15. May 2 through May 12. Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. beckcenter.org

Walk All Over Waterloo

Learn more about the Waterloo Arts District on “First Friday.” The neighborhood is known for music, art and food. Enjoy open houses and events at galleries and businesses. Free. Waterloo Arts, 15605 Waterloo Road. 5 p.m., May 2. collinwoodscoop.org

The Screw Factory: Spring Art Show & Open Studios

Screw Factory Artists are hosting the Spring Art Show & Open Studios this weekend. Visitors can meet resident and guest artists, discover unique art and take home local art. Free. Screw Factory Artists’ Studios, 13000 Athens Avenue, Lakewood. May 2-3. screwfactoryartists.org

Spring Craft Show

Stroll the Spring Craft Show at Great Northern Mall. You’ll find more than 25 vendors displaying their creative wares. Free. Great Northern Mall, 4952 Great Northern Blvd., North Olmstead. May 2-4. greatnorthernohio.com/

Beethoven’s “Archduke” Trio and Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2

Cleveland Institute of Music students Jack Naglick, Jeremy Foster, and Peter O’Malley will present Beethoven’s “Archduke” Trio and Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2 as the culmination of their studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Free, donations encouraged. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights. May 5. facebook.com

FOOD & DRINK

Dandelion Festival in Dover

Stop thinking of dandelion’s as a nuisance and join the party celebrating the golden flower. The family-friendly dandelion festival includes food, wine sampling, dandelion sangria, cellar tours, arts and craft, vendors and live entertainment scheduled for both days. Dandelion food specialties include dandelion sausage, dandelion gravy, and dandelion sangria. Breitenbach Winery, 5934 Old Rt 39 NW, Dover. May 2-3. breitenbachwine.com

Tacos & Tequila Music Fest

Hall of Fame Village brings back the Tacos & Tequila Music Fest just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Enjoy a day filled with live music, food trucks, tequila tastings, vendors and more. Tickets $59 and up. Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, 2121 George Halas Drive NW, Canton. May 3. hofvillage.com

TOP PICKS

Flower on Freeman

Nestled between Ohio City and Tremont, Flower on Freeman has blossomed into an elegant cocktail bar in the former Duck Island Club space. The floral theme extends from the décor to cocktail ingredients. Martinis with caviar-stuffed olives and Rose Margaritas with key lime sour are a few standouts on the cocktail menu. Its exclusive patio space also feels like a garden oasis in a bustling part of town. Flower on Freeman is at 2102 Freeman Avenue in Cleveland. – Alex Darus DETAILS

The Lodge at Bass Lake

The Lodge at Bass Lake in Chardon is a stop if you’re in Geauga County. The setting is ready for all kinds of weather. As it warms up outside, the patio is a charming spot to meet girlfriends for lunch, while the inside dining rooms are cozy on a cool, cloudy day. The all-day menu offers hearty protein plates. Specials change throughout the week – burgers on Monday, prime rib on Thursday and fish on Friday. And brunch is available on Sunday. – Paris Wolfe - DETAILS

Rocket Arena: Spicy cavatelli vodka pesto pizza

Flour has meshed two great things: Pizza AND pasta. The folks at the eatery, located on the arena’s first floor-concourse, are making a delicious pizza that uses the slightly spicy vodka sauce – the same Roma sauce from cavatelli at Flour’s concession space - but with added hot calabrese peppers that yield a touch of heat. It’s topped with grana padana and mozzarella cheeses and finished with a pesto drizzle. Here’s a look at all the recent food additions in the arena. – Marc Bona DETAILS

TV & MOVIES

‘Another Simple Favor’

Murder, betrayal and martinis are on the menu for "Another Simple Favor," which brings Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick's characters to Italy for a wedding, and some mafia intrigue. Paul Feig returned to the director's chair for the film which got largely favorable reviews out of the South by Southwest Film Festival. "Another Simple Favor" premiered on Prime Video on May 1. DETAILS

‘Nickel Boys’

Also coming to Prime Video is one of the best movies of 2024, RaMell Ross' shattering "Nickel Boys," which began streaming on April 29. The adaptation of Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer-winning novel employs a first-person point of view to tell the story of two boys at a brutal reform school in the Jim Crow South. " It was Oscar nominated for best picture and best adapted screenplay. DETAILS

‘La Cocina’

There's another gem streaming on MUBI on Friday, May 2, but this is likely one most haven't heard of. The independent film "La Cocina" flew under the radar with a modest release, but it's worth a watch for anyone who loves innovative cinema. Directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios, "La Cocina" is an artistic behind-the-scenes look at a kitchen staff during the lunch rush at a busy Times Square restaurant. The tension is ramped up due to missing money and interpersonal drama between an undocumented chef (Raúl Briones) and the waitress he loves (Rooney Mara). DETAILS

‘The Four Seasons’

— Tina Fey and Steve Carell — who teamed up in 2010 for "Date Night" — are reuniting again for the upcoming Netflix series "The Four Seasons." Based on the 1981 movie of the same name, "The Four Seasons" is a comedy-drama about three couples who take four yearly vacations together, one for each season. Fey and Carell are joined by Will Forte, Colman Domingo, Marco Calvani and Kerri Kenney-Silver. Fey co-created "The Four Seasons" with her "30 Rock" collaborators Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield. It starts Thursday. DETAILS

‘The Walking Dead: Dead City ‘

Season 2 of "The Walking Dead: Dead City" lumbers into view Sunday, May 4 on AMC. One of six "Walking Dead" spin-offs produced so far, "Dead City" reunites the show's unlikely duo — Negan, played by Jeffery Dean Morgan, and Maggie, played by Lauren Cohan. They are trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic Manhattan, long since isolated from the mainland. New faces joining the cast include Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy) as the menacing Bruegel, Keir Gilchrist (Atypical) as Benjamin Pierce, and Dascha Polanco (Orange Is the New Black) as Major Lucia Narvaez. DETAILS

‘Carême’

Apple TV+ hits the kitchen Wednesday with "Carême," a French historical drama that's being called "The Bear" crossed with "The Bourne Identity." It tells the story of Marie-Antonin Carême, often called the father of French cuisine, as he climbs to the height of culinary stardom in Napoleon's Europe. It's not just a food show — our hero must also navigate the volatile world of shifting political alliances, royal secrets and revolution-fueled suspicions. DETAILS

‘Yes, Chef!’

NBC is also heading to the kitchen with "Yes, Chef!," a new cooking competition that pairs Martha Stewart and José Andrés. The show pits 12 professional chefs and Stewart and Andrés will judge their cooking skills and ability to work together as they complete in a series of high-stakes culinary challenges. The top chef will take home a $250,000 grand prize. "Yes, Chef!" premiered Monday and streams on Peacock a day later. DETAILS

MUSIC

Opening week concerts at Globe Iron

Globe Iron, a new concert and event venue, is opening this week on the West Banks of the Flats. Once home to Globe Iron Works Foundry, it has been renovated into a 1,200-capacity indoor concert hall space and a courtyard for outdoor entertainment and will be booked by concert giant AEG. This week’s schedule includes: Friday. May 2 - How We Feel; Saturday, May 3 – Mushroomhead; Monday, May 5 - The Damned w/ The BellRays; Tuesday. May 6 – The Wrecks; Wednesday, May 7 - The Crane Wives; Globe Iron, 2325 Elm St., Cleveland. globeironcle.com

Nada Surf: Moon Mirror Tour

Nada Surf shares their new record “Mirror Tour” complete with thought-provoking lyrics and soaring harmonies. Tickets $25 to $30. Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Heights Boulevard, Cleveland Heights. May 2. grogshop.gs

A Tribute to Muddy Waters, Robert Lockwood Jr & Chess Records

Enjoy Mud Morganfield and His Big Band - A Tribute To Muddy Waters Robert Lockwood Jr. & Chess. Tickets $20-25. The Treelawn Music Hall, 15335 Waterloo Road, Cleveland. 8 p.m., May 2. thetreelawn.com

Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks

Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks are touring to support their March 14 release of “Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks Live - Perpetual Change.” Tickets are $79 to $165. Agora Theatre and Ballroom, 5000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. 8 p.m., May 2. jonanderson.com

Yung Lean

In a recent viral interview, the innovative Swedish rapper Yung Lean declared "the party is over." In the music video for "Forever Yung," the lead single from his forthcoming record, he takes that spirit quite literally and holds a funeral for himself. It's a sinisterly cheerful affair, bolstered by the song's lo-fi production and reverbed vocals. His latest album, "Jonatan" — taken from his real name Jonatan Leandoer Håstad — arrives Friday via World Affairs. DETAILS

Maddie & Tae

Country music duo Maddie & Tae return with another album full of good-time anthems titled "Love & Light," their latest for Mercury Nashville/UMG. "Drunk Girls in Bathrooms" might be the most romantic song written about a glorious five-minute friendship; "Kissing Cowboys" sounds like a raucous good time in a crowded dive bar. It is the soundtrack to a summertime road trip with girlfriends. DETAILS

Isaiah Falls

Isaiah Falls, a fresh voice in R&B, will release the A-side to his debut album, "LVRS PARADISE" on Friday. The rising talent brings Southern Florida bounce to his smooth vocal performances. DETAILS

Entertainment | Music | Events

Unlimited Digital Access to cleveland.com

To ensure receipt of our emails, please add [email protected] to your address book or safe sender list. You received this email because you opted-in to the newsletter. Was it forwarded to you? Sign up now!

4800 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn OH 44144

UNSUBSCRIBE PRIVACY POLICY CONTACT US MOBILE APPS