Cleveland Auto Show, Winter Beerfest, Brite Winter, Filter at House of Blues & more

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Entertainment | Music | Events

THIS WEEK'S TOP PICKS

Cleveland Auto Show

The start of the spring automotive selling season in Northeast Ohio kicks off with this perennial favorite. Concept cars, pre-production and production vehicles from the world’s automotive manufacturers are on display, along with entertainment, sports and celebrity appearances and more. Considered one of the country’s best auto shows in the country, this has been a family tradition since 1903. The first Cleveland Auto Show that year at Gray’s Armory downtown. Opens 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21 and runs through Mar. 2. The International Exposition (I-X) Center, 1 I-X Center Dr., Cleveland. clevelandautoshow.com

Cleveland Winter Beerfest

This perennial favorite event provides a platform for craft beer lovers. Discover new flavors, interact with brewers and immerse yourself in the vibrant beer culture of Cleveland. It all happens across two days at the Huntington Convention Center. 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22. 300 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland. clevelandbeerfest.com

Filter at House of Blues

Filter’s most recent effort, 2023’s “The Algorithm” originally had a working title of “Rebus.” It was intended to be a spiritual sequel to the debut album “Short Bus.” The album is more emotive, reflective and less angsty than anything they’ve done before. Founder-frontman Richard Patrick has built quite a legacy. Expect a powerhouse show; Local H opens. 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21. House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. livenation.com

Brite Winter Music Festival

It’s a CLE tradition! Discover new music, art and community. Tens of thousands of guests and hundreds of bands and artists can’t be wrong. Brite Winter turns “Sweet 16” this year, with a focus trained on family-friendly programming earlier in the day; a new festival site on the East Bank of the Flats (near Collision Bend Brewing), three outdoor stages and two indoor performance spaces. 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22. East Bank of the Flats. britewinter.com

Tobogganing at the Chalet

Feel the thrill of winter at Cleveland Metroparks’ Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville, whooshing down a 700-foot refrigerated ice chute on a classic toboggan. Tickets $13-$15. Reservations required. 16200 Valley Parkway, Strongsville. Through Feb. 23 (weather permitting). clevelandmetroparks.com

Adès Conducts Adès

Composer-conductor Thomas Adès leads The Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus in an eclectic program of 20th-century masterworks – coupling sea-inspired works by Sibelius and Saariaho with Ives’s “raucous American landscapes.” The program also includes an expanded version of Adès’s own “America: A Prophecy,” a haunting portrait of a civilization on the brink of collapse. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. Mandel Concert Hall, Severance Music Center, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. clevelandorchestra.com

Kevin Bozeman

From Division III Whitewater College basketball to Def Comedy Jam inspiration, Bozeman’s observational humor inspired him to seek out a day job that would make others laugh. A challenge by his roommate Kevin led to an open-mic night in Madison, Wisconsin, and the rest is history. He’s gone viral a lot lately for his takes on family life, relationships, parenting and more. Funny dude. 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., Friday, Feb. 21; 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22; 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23. Hilarities 4th Street Theatre, E 4th St., Cleveland. pickwickandfrolic.com

Paula Poundstone

Iconic comedian Paula Poundstone is known for smart, observational humor and a spontaneous wit. She regularly plays theaters across the country, hosts the weekly comedy podcast “Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone” and serves as panelist on NPR’s “Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me.”

8 p.m., Saturday, Feb 22. Mimi Ohio Theater 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. playhousesquare.org

Peter and the Starcatcher

This Great Lakes Theater production takes viewers to the Neverland they never knew, charting a course through Peter’s untold, youthful escapades. Tickets $20 and up. Hanna Theatre at Playhouse Square, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Through March 2. greatlakestheater.org

Orchids: Love in Bloom

The theme this year's Cleveland Botanical Garden annual orchid show is “Love in Bloom.” Vibrant displays of heart-shaped arrangements and romantic backdrops will be presented in hues of pink, purple and yellow. Surround yourself with orchids throughout the indoor gardens and glasshouses. Admission: $20; $14, children; free, kids under 2 and members. (Save $1 per ticket by buying online in advance.) Through March 30. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday; 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland. holdenfg.org

“Parade”

“Parade” won the 2023 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The story follows Leo and Lucille Frank, a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in the old red hills of Georgia. Then, Leo is accused of an unspeakable crime. The situation is an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice and devotion for the couple. Tickets are $29 and up. Connor Palace at Playhouse Square, 1501 Euclid Ave. Ste. 200, Cleveland. Through Feb. 23. playhousesquare.org

Waitress: The Musical

This Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre Program Collaboration is directed by Victoria Bussert, with music direction by Matthew Webb, choreography by Lauren Marousek and features the music and lyrics of Sara Bareilles. Senney Theater sets the stage for “Waitress,” which tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker who is stuck in a small town and loveless marriage. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 (repeats Feb. 27 and Mar. 6). 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. beckcenter.org/shows/waitress

Showin’ Up Black

On the eve of their daughter’s cotillion, the Hopegoodes, an affluent African-American family in Cleveland, see their plans for the perfect debutante ball collide with a Black Lives Matter protest. As the protest gets nearer, secrets and competing desires get shaken loose, tearing at the fabric of the family, challenging what, exactly, it is to be Black. Originally workshopped as a part of Cleveland Public Theater’s 2023 “Test Flight” program. 7:30 p.m., Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays through Mar. 8. Previews Thursday Feb. 20 and Friday, Feb. 21. CPT Gordon Square Theater 6415 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. cptonline.org

Fat Ham at Cleveland Play House

Shakespeare’s Hamlet has been invited to the backyard barbeque! Get your plate ready for a slab of smokin’ hot revenge – served with a hefty scoop of vengeance and a side of karaoke. Without spilling too much of the sweet tea, a visit from beyond the grave reveals family secrets and scandalous generational trauma. How will “Juicy,” a queer Southern Black mama’s boy, reconcile the truth in service of his own liberation? This Pulitzer Prize-winning play is a delicious, outrageously, heaping hot mess of hilarity!

Allen Theatre 1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Runs through Sunday, Feb. 23. clevelandplayhouse.com

Iliza Shlesinger: The Get Ready Tour

The comedian-actress and television host was 2008 winner of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and went on to great heights – hosting the syndicated dating show “Excused,” the TBS game show “Separation Anxiety” and her own late-night talk show called “Truth & Iliza” on Freeform. These days, she’s lighting up Netflix. She has five different specials on the streaming service and her “The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show” premiered on Netflix in April 2020. Pssst... she filmed a special here, yanno. 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21. KeyBank State Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. playhousequare.org

Quiereme Hasta La Locura at Latinus Theater Company

“Quiéreme hasta la locura” is a compelling drama set in the 1960s in the countryside of Argentina. The story follows two women, whose lives intertwine through their shared passion for singing in different churches, after almost killing each other Amidst the backdrop of a conservative society, their journey explores themes of love, identity, and resilience. As they navigate the complexities of their personal and spiritual lives, they face societal expectations and their own internal struggles. 7:30 p.m., weekends through Sunday, Mar. 2. 2937 W. 25th St., Cleveland. latinustheater.com

The Princess Bride with Live Orchestra at Severance

What could be better than “The Princess Bride” screened with live orchestral underscore? There’s fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles... it’s almost (wait for it) INCONCEIVABLE! We keep using that word, because in the context of this blurb, it means exactly what we think it means. It cheers one of the beloved films of all time, done live-to-picture! Bonus: I did not have a date with Andre the Giant and the Cleveland Orchestra on my bingo card. Lucas Waldin conducts. “My name is Inigo Montoya… prepare to die…" laughing.

7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 21

clevelandorchestra.com

‘Leave the Door Open’ - Rock Hall

The Rock Hall’s 2025 Film Series explores films that highlight the connection between music, cultural moments and stories behind the institutional programming there. “Leave The Door Open,” a documentary feature film about how the love of Jazz led Ahmet and Neshui Ertegun -- two young sons of a Turkish diplomat posted to Washington DC in the late 30s and 40s -- to smash through racial barriers and segregation and become icons of the music business. 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 1100 Rock & Roll Blvd., Cleveland. rockhall.com

History in Their Hands: Black Photographers in Cleveland

The exhibitshowcases Black photographers from 1968 to present. It’s the inaugural exhibition for the African American History Gallery at the Western Reserve Historical Society’s Cleveland History Center. Works from Van Dillard, Gina Gayle, Jimmy Gayle, Amanda D. King, Mychal Lilly and Charles J. Pinkney are presented. Admission: $15, ages 13 to 61. Discounts available. Runs through Sunday, Aug. 31. Cleveland History Center, 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland. wrhs.org

Black History Month tours

Celebrate BHM with guided tours highlighting Black artists. The museum offers various exhibitions, programs and digital content that highlight the cultural heritage and enduring contributions of Black communities. Assorted times. Free but ticket required. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland. clevelandart.org and clevelandart.org/celebrate-black-history-month

Picasso and Paper at Cleveland Museum of Art

This highly anticipated exhibition takes an unprecedented look into Pablo Picasso’s creative process, featuring nearly 300 works that explore the artist’s use of paper as a medium. Advance tickets required $11-$22. 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland. Through March 23, 2025. DETAILS

Flanagan’s Wake

Take an imagined skip “across the pond” to a fictional Irish town for an interactive improv comedy show! With the audience dictating the direction of the story, “Flanagan’s Wake” is one of the most successful and longest-running improv comedy shows in Cleveland theater history. It kicked off last weekend and runs Fridays and Saturdays through the spring at Kennedy’s Cabaret. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through late April. Kennedy’s Cabaret, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. playhousesquare.org

"Wild Horses: 60 Years of Ford’s Mustang"

The Crawford-Auto Aviation Museum is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the iconic Mustang automobile with a new exhibit. Titled “Wild Horses: 60 Years of Ford’s Mustang,” it features 20 examples of the Mustang, from the little coupe launched by Lee Iacocca to the 2024 Dark Horse and it’s 500-horsepower Coyote V-8 engine. Tickets $10 to $15. Cleveland History Center, 10825 East Blvd, Cleveland. Through May 2025. wrhs.org

FOOD & DRINK

Rozi’s WIne House schedules tap takeover

Rozi’s Wine House in Lakewood has scheduled a tap takeover with two breweries – Jackie O’s in Athens and Fonta Flora in Morganton, North Carolina. The pay-by-the-glass event is Saturday, Feb. 22. READ MORE

Brewery tour coming up

Angels on the Avenue’s annual bus tour to area breweries is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22. It is a round trip from Middleburg Height to five breweries. This year’s trek winds through breweries in Summit County and surrounding areas. It’s a benefit for St. Augustine Health Ministries. READ MORE

Explore Northeast Ohio’s sugarbushes during maple syrup season

Maple syrup season is almost here. And Northeast Ohio is rich with opportunities to enjoy the production and the culinary uses. Ohio is nestled at the edge of the world’s syrup-producing region. The state is responsible for about 100,000 gallons of the sweet, liquid gold, according to the Ohio Maple Producers Association. Compare that to the leading producer – Vermont – at 3.1 million gallons according to the Statista 2024. READ MORE

Bourbon raffle to support wildfire relief efforts

Sazerac Co. is holding a fundraiser to support wildfire relief efforts in California. The rare bottles of bourbon are up for sale and auction through Sunday, Feb. 23. Two non-profit organizations stand to benefit from proceeds. READ MORE

Fairview Tavern, Brew Kettle join forces on beer dinner

The Fairview Tavern and The Brew Kettle have joined up on a beer dinner to be held Thursday, Feb. 27. It will feature fives dishes paired with five beers (two Lagers, a Double India Pale Ale and a pair of different Stouts) from the Middleburg Heights-based brewery. READ MORE

111 Bistro scheduled Orin Swift wine dinner

111 Bistro in Medina has scheduled a dinner featuring wines of California-based Orin Swift. The five-course menu, paired with the wines from Dave Phinney-founded winery, is Thursday, Feb. 27. READ MORE

TOP PICKS

Squash the Beef

Squash the Beef makes comfort food so good that you don’t even realize its vegan. The mobile business has a storefront in GlenVillage for folks looking to pick up its plant-based soul food renditions of Polish boys, chicken Phillys, macaroni and cheese and more. Plus, don’t miss out on the regular rotation of seasonal and daily specials. Squash the Beef is at 1400 E. 105th Street in Cleveland. DETAILS – Alex Darus

Dean Martin’s Lannings

The classic very fine dining steakhouse has been on our minds since seeing how well it ranked in our best-steak-in-town contest. It offers incredibly well cooked cuts of beef, has fantastic fish offerings and amazing drinks. Dean and Bethany Martin, who took over the restaurant a few years ago, pride themselves on every detail of the restaurant, soup to nuts. It offers consistently attentive service, and its la carte approach is always worth it. Bonus: 50% off bottles of wine on Mondays and Tuesdays. It’s at 826 N. Cleveland Massillon Road, Akron, close to Interstate-77. READ MORE – Marc Bona

Masa & Agave

It can be easy to overlook hotel restaurants, but Masa & Agave in The Westin Cleveland Downtown is worth a visit. The restaurant has more than 200 tequilas and mezcals from popular to small-batch producers. These pair well with the menu that includes typical dips and apps, eight taco options and a variety of Mexican-themed entrees. Craft cocktails include signature margaritas - Tamarind, Passionfruit or Tradicionale – as well as agave-forward cocktails. -- READ MORE – Paris Wolfe

TV & MOVIES

‘1923’

Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren reprise their roles of Jacob and Cara Dutton in season two of Taylor Sheridan's "1923" for Paramount+ starting Sunday, Feb. 23. The story is a prequel to "Yellowstone" about early members of the Dutton family laying claim to their Montana land. The new episodes come after a long wait due to the Hollywood strikes and will conclude this chapter in the Dutton-verse. DETAILS

‘Zero Day’

Robert De Niro stars in a new limited series for Netflix called "Zero Day," premiering Thursday. Former NBC news president Noah Oppenheim and New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt are co-creators. The political conspiracy series is centered around a global cyberattack and features an impressive main cast including Angela Bassett, Joan Allen, Jesse Plemons, Lizzy Caplan, Connie Britton, Dan Stevens and Matthew Modine. Last May, De Niro was caught on camera yelling at anti-Israel protesters and some social media users quickly described the two-time Oscar winner as making a statement about the Israel-Hamas war. Netflix clarified that De Niro was actually rehearsing a scene for the show. DETAILS

‘The Americas’

Tom Hanks, also a two-time Oscar winner, narrates a 10-episode nature series for NBC called "The Americas." From the executive producers of "Planet Earth" and scored by Hans Zimmer, "The Americas" highlights the natural beauty and wildlife in North and South America. It took more than five years and 180 expeditions to complete the project which debuts Sunday, Feb. 23 and streams on Peacock. DETAILS

‘Suits LA’

NBC ordered a new "Suits" series after the original version that aired on USA became the most-streamed show of 2023 thanks to its availability on Netflix and Peacock. "Suits LA" stars Stephen Amell ("Arrow," "Heels") and centers on a successful law firm on the West Coast that specializes in entertainment and criminal cases. While this version does not feature former "Suits" cast member Meghan Markle (now better known as the Duchess of Sussex), Gabriel Macht does reprise his role as master negotiator and New York super lawyer, Harvey Specter, for a few episodes. "Suits LA" premieres Sunday, Feb. 23 after "The Americas" and will stream on Peacock. DETAILS

‘Reacher’

Trouble once again finds Jack Reacher in season three of the popular Prime Video series, "Reacher," based on novels by Lee Child. Alan Ritchson stars as a former U.S. Army military police officer who prefers to live life as a nomad, with no permanent residence, no belongings (except a toothbrush) and no responsibilities. Reacher's desire to be a loner is often derailed by his honor and aversion to bullies. He steps in to help others, getting mixed up in conspiracies and cover-ups. The new season drops Thursday and is based on Child's seventh novel about the character called "Persuader." DETAILS

‘The Baldwins’

Alec and Hilaria Baldwin continue their push and pull with the spotlight with a new TLC reality series called "The Baldwins." A trailer for the series shows the chaos of a family with seven kids under the age of 11, not to mention the emotional toll of a 2021 death on the New Mexico set of Baldwin's movie, "Rust." Baldwin was rehearsing a scene when the gun he was holding fired, hitting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and director Joel Souza. Hutchins died from her injuries and Souza was wounded. Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter, and a judge dismissed the case last July. The actor has since filed a lawsuit for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations. "The Baldwins," premieres Sunday, Feb. 23 on TLC and also streams on Max. DETAILS

‘Grand Theft Hamlet’

An inventive spin on the "pandemic production," "Grand Theft Hamlet" finds two actors attempting to stage a full production of "Hamlet" inside the violent, bloody, video game world of "Grand Theft Auto." Shot entirely inside the game, Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane's movie won the best documentary prize at the South by Southwest Film Festival. AP Film Writer Jake Coyle observed that, "When Shakespeare wrote of the 'slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,' he may not have imagined the threat of a python loose in a bar or Hamlet wrestling with whether 'to be' on a helipad. Yet 'Grand Theft Auto' might be an oddly appropriate venue for a play where nearly everyone dies." It begins streaming on Mubi on Friday, Feb. 21. DETAILS

‘The Crow’

The modern reimagining of the graphic novel "The Crow" starring Bill Skarsgård and directed by Rupert Sanders makes its debut on Starz on Wednesday. It was not exactly well-received by critics when it debuted in the dregs of late August, overshadowed by the 1994 film starring Brandon Lee. Mark Kennedy wrote in his AP review that "'The Crow' isn't bad — and it gets better as it goes — but it's an exercise in folly. It cannot escape Lee and the 1994 original even as it builds a more allegorical scaffolding for the smartphone generation." DETAILS

MUSIC

Tate McRae

Canadian pop musician Tate McRae offers her third album, "So Close to What." Her latest single, "Sports Car" follows "2 Hands" and "It's Ok I'm Ok" which hit No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The 15-track album also includes a collaboration with her boyfriend, The Kid LAROI, called "I Know Love" and there's another collaboration with Flo Millo. The album will chart "the journey of growing up when the road ahead feels infinite." DETAILS

Joe Bonamassa

Once upon a time, Joe Bonamassa opened for B.B. King as a 12-year-old prodigy. Today, JB is hailed internationally as one of the greatest guitar players of his generation and cited by Guitar World Magazine as “the world’s biggest blues guitarist,” He’s redefined the blues-rock genre, brought it into the mainstream and is always backed by a hot band of virtuoso musicians. He really rocks out. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. KeyBank State Theatre 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. playhousesquare.org

Mark Whitfield Trio

Mark Whitfield graduated from Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music, the world’s foremost institution for the study of Jazz and modern American music in the spring of 1987. Shortly thereafter, he returned to his to his native New York to embark on a career as a jazz guitarist. He’s collaborated with a who’s who of legends and is well on his way to building his own. His mentor? The great George Benson. 7:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday, Feb. 21-22. Market Garden Brewery/Ohio City Room (Lower Level) 1947 W. 25th St. Cleveland. instantseats.com

Roddy Ricch

Roddy Ricch returns with his third album as well on Friday, Feb. 21. "The Navy Album." The Compton rapper, who appeared on Kendrick Lamar's "GNX," has put out a few singles from the new collection, including "Survivor's Remorse" and "911." The latest is "Lonely Road," with a video of him cruising through the city seeing angels and the lyrics: "Roddy rap like the rent due/Roddy tell 'em the whole truth." DETAILS

Entertainment | Music | Events

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