'Lion King' at Playhouse Square, Daniel Craig's Bond finale, St. Stanislaus Church Polish Festival & more

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Entertainment | Music | Events

THIS WEEK'S TOP PICKS

“The Lion King” at Playhouse Square

Hakuna mutata! Broadway returns to Cleveland as Disney’s classic story of Simba and “The Circle of Life” hits the halfway mark of its two-week run at the KeyBank State Theatre. Masks and proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a recent negative test are required. Tickets, $29-$195. Now through Oct. 15. 1519 Euclid Ave, Cleveland. DETAILS

St. Stanislaus Church Polish Festival

Listen and dance to live polka bands, play games of chance and shop polish imports this weekend. But the main attraction of this annual festival is food. Feast on polish favorites like pierogi, kielbasa and duck soup. Free. Oct. 8-10. 6601 Baxter Ave., Cleveland. DETAILS

National Pierogi Day Party

The Current Year Records and Tapes is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a block party co-hosted by Rudy’s Strudel in Parma’s Polish Village. Rudy’s, The Tomato Guys, Fat Heads Brewery and Ridge Road Tavern provide the food and drinks, while DJ Mike One spins the tunes. 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Oct. 9. 5580 Ridge Road, Parma. DETAILS

Chagrin Documentary Film Festival

Chagrin Falls has been transformed into a documentary lover’s paradise with nearly 100 films from 38 countries spread across three venues and online, too. One of the highlights is “War on the Diamond,” a look at how the on-field death of Ray Chapman sparked a rivalry between the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees. Now through Oct. 10. Tickets, $10-$12. 83 N. Main St, Chagrin Falls. DETAILS

“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” at Karamu House

The oldest Black producing theatre in the nation returns to the stage with its first in-person production since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. August Wilson’s riveting play is about Mother of the Blues, Ma Rainey, and her fight to retain control over her music during a contentious recording session. Masks and proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a recent negative test are required. Tickets, $20-$40. Thursdays-Sundays through Oct. 31. 2355 E 89th St, Cleveland. DETAILS

“The Exonerated” at Beck Center for the Arts

Described by the New York Times as “intense and deeply satisfying,” this play looks at the real-life cases of six former inmates wrongly convicted of crimes they didn’t commit. Masks and proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a recent negative test are required. Tickets, 10. Weekends through Nov. 7. 17801 Detroit Ave, Lakewood. DETAILS

Immersive Van Gogh

This wildly popular art experience opened in Cleveland this week, offering a new way to encounter Vincent Van Gogh’s post-Impressionist works. The projection-based display unfolds on the walls around attendees, showcasing iconic paintings, including “Starry Night.” Through Feb. 6. Lighthouse ArtSpace, 850 E. 72nd St., Cleveland. Tickets $39.99-$49.99. DETAILS

Trick-or-Treat Fest at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Dress the kids up in their favorite costume and head to zoo for some Halloween fun. There will be trick-or-treating, a monster mash dance party, meet-and-greets with costumed characters, unlimited carousel rides and more. Tickets, $9.95-$19.95. Weekends through Oct. 31. 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland. DETAILS

The Great Pumpkin Weekend at Mapleside Farms

The popular Brunswick orchard celebrates everything pumpkin this weekend with a live stage play called “The Princess & The Pumpkin” plus a selection of pumpkin snacks. Check out Pumpkin Village, too, with more the 20 attractions including a giant corn maze, jumping pillow, super slide, hayrides and the best fall foods. Tickets, $10-16. Oct. 8-10. Festival runs with a new theme every weekend through Oct. 31. 294 Pearl Rd, Brunswick. DETAILS

HalloWeekends at Cedar Point

The amusement park’s annual autumn event has something for everybody, including trick-or-treating and other fun activities for the little ones and a fall foods tasting tour for the adults. At night, the spooky spirit of Halloween takes over with haunted houses, outdoor scare zones and a few unexpected surprises. Tickets, $49.99. Weekends through Oct. 31. 1 Cedar Point Dr, Sandusky. DETAILS

Sirna’s Fall Festival

Celebrate autumn at a working farm in Geauga County with an educational hayride, animal farm with pony rides and pumpkin patch. Shop for fall decor, seasonal produce and more. Free admission. Noon-4 p.m., Oct. 9-10. 19009 Ravenna Rd, Auburn Township. DETAILS

Hale Farm & Village Harvest Festival

Learn how the pioneers spent the fall to prepare for the winter at this living history museum. Experience apple cider pressing, butter churning, horse field plowing demonstrations and more. Enjoy live music, explore the pumpkin patch and shop for handmade items. Admission, $6-$12. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Oct. 9-10. 2686 Oak Hill Rd, Bath. DETAILS

Patterson Fruit Farm Family Fun Festival

Fall is in the air in Chesterland with a corn maze, piles of straw to play in, pumpkin painting, horse-drawn wagon rides, ponies, a barn full o’ slides and more. You can even pick your own apples. Daily through Oct. 31. Tickets, $6-$10. 11414 Caves Rd, Chesterland. DETAILS

Converge

Spread across five venues, this art exhibition features over 140 works by 71 artists from Northeast Ohio’s LGBTQ+ experience, who tribute to the past and look forward to the future of the community through their art. Exhibition locations are Artists Archives of the Western Reserve (1834 East 123rd Street, Cleveland), LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland (6705 Detroit Ave, Cleveland), Lake Erie College (391 W Washington St, Painesville), Cleveland MetroHealth (2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland) and Judson Manor Retirement Community (1890 E 107th St. Cleveland). Now through Oct. 16. DETAILS

“Murder at Celebrity Rehab” at Pickwick & Frolic

What’s more fun than dinner theater? Interactive dinner theater. Help the performers solve a crime after a B-list actress goes missing following a stay at a celebrity rehab center. Tickets, $62, include a three-course meal. 6:30 p.m., Oct. 9. 2035 E. 4th St., Cleveland. DETAILS

Haunted House Guide

It’s scream season and that means getting the bejeezus scared of you. Did you know Ohio has more haunted houses than any other state besides California? In fact, there are more than 20 right here in Northeast Ohio offering terrifying thrills and horrifying fun. Various locations. Through Oct. 31. DETAILS

A Century of the American Motorcycle

The recently opened exhibit at the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum examines the technical and aesthetic development of American motorcycles over the last 100+ years with about three dozen motorcycles on loan from the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Now through March 19. Tickets, $20-$25. 10825 East Blvd, Cleveland. DETAILS

EAT & DRINK

Budae jjigae, cruffins, bourbon coffee drinks and more

Yelp Cleveland’s Community Director, Lauren Kotmel is at the helm of a vibrant, buzzing community of locals who drink, shop and play their way through the city via peer recommendations on Yelp. Fall is here, and Kotmel gave us the scoop on the food and drink trends that Yelpers in Cleveland can’t stop raving about. Read on for the local trends taking over Cleveland this season! READ MORE

Sage Karma Kitchen brings healthy eats to downtown Willoughby

Sage Karma Kitchen opened on July 2 at 4051 Erie Street, Willoughby, offering a creative menu of gluten-free and vegan-friendly food. Cleveland.com’s Anne Nickoloff talked with co-owners Teanna and Dan Vitantonio about the new restaurants. READ MORE

Cleveland Latino Restaurant Week

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by experiencing some of the best Latin cuisine the region has to offer. 10 Latinx-owned restaurants are offering special discounts or menu items this week. Now through Oct. 9. Various locations. DETAILS

Ales on Rails

Celebrate Oktoberfest on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. This two-hour train excursion includes beer samples from local, national and international breweries, plus light appetizers and a commemorative beer glass to take home. Tickets, $50-$60. 6:30 p.m., Oct. 8. 7900 Old Rockside Road, Independence. DETAILS

The Grand Resort to hold wine dinner

The Grand Resort has scheduled a Vinedos Imports wine dinner in its fine-dining restaurant, Gatsby’s. Seven wines from four countries will be served, with retail options to buy. It’s 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12. Cost is $85, with a hotel-wine dinner package available for those who want to stay overnight. The Grand Resort – which features bars, restaurants, spa, golf, tennis, cigar lounge and more - is at 9519 E. Market St., Warren. DETAILS

Great Lakes Show of Brewery Collectibles

The Lake Erie chapter of the Brewery Collectibles Club of America has a fall show coming up in Richfield on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 8-9. Free admission is offered for the show, which focuses on breweriana – all things beer. Cans, coasters, signs, memorabilia, artifacts, tap handles, openers and more will be available for selling, buying and trading, or just for perusal. And from noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 9, the public can bring brewery-related items for free appraisals. Quality Inn & Suites, 4742 Brecksville Rd., Richfield. DETAILS

Clambakes

Get as happy as a clam at one of Northeast Ohio’s seasonal clambake dinner events this weekend. We put together a guide to some of the clambake specials at local restaurants, parks and grocery stores. READ MORE

TV & MOVIES

‘No Time to Die’

Daniel Craig is back for one last ride as James Bond in "No Time To Die." Unfortunately, the filmmakers' desire to connect all of the actor's five films as 007 and their insistence on portraying the legendary spy as brooding man and with feelings, not to the mention an arduous runtime of 2 hours, 43 minutes, bog down the proceedings. To be sure, there are plenty of thrills and some excellent additions to the franchise, namely Ana de Armas and Lashana Lynch. Still, Craig's fifth outing proves it's time shake up the franchise like a good martini. READ MORE

‘Fauci’

John Hoffman and Janet Tobias' "Fauci" is the first big-screen documentary of the nation's top infectious disease expert and ubiquitous face of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's an intimate portrait of a longtime public servant whose notoriety in the past 18 months has risen dramatically — and with that, brought heaps of far-right scorn on the veteran of seven White House administrations. The Nation Geographic's film, which premieres this week on Disney+ after a three-week run in theaters, surveys the doctor's career but focuses particularly on how the AIDS crisis formed him as a public health official. DETAILS

‘United States of Al’

CBS' "United States of Al" it tackling a somber story, one it's uniquely positioned to do. The buddy comedy centers on the friendship of Riley, a combat veteran who fought in the Mideast, and Awalmir, aka Al, the Afghanistan translator he helped bring to the U.S. In the second-season debut airing Thursday (8:31 p.m.), Al and Riley are scrambling to get Al's sister out of Kabul after the Afghanistan capital's fall. CBS said the episode was inspired by the experiences of the show's veterans and Afghan writers who teamed to evacuate family members. The episode then streams Friday on Paramount+. DETAILS

‘Buried’

Showtime's docuseries "Buried" examines the fallout from a 1969 California murder case that was prosecuted based on a claim of recalled memory. Eileen Franklin alleged that her father had raped and killed a childhood friend, Susan Nason, nearly two decades before, when Susan was 8 years old. The four-part documentary, debuting 9 p.m. Sunday, recounts the debate the case provoked in the legal and mental health fields about the legitimacy of such memories. Family members, neighbors and experts offer their perspectives on the tragedy that ended with an overturned verdict. DETAILS

‘Los Hermanos/The Brothers’

Brothers Ilmar and Aldo López-Gavilán, born in Cuba in the 1970s, are musicians whose success was accompanied by separation. Ilmar left Cuba as a teenager and became a chamber violinist in the United States (by way of studies in the Soviet Union). Pianist Aldo, tutored by his Cuba's jazz and classical artists, gained respect in his home country. What was missing was the opportunity to collaborate, the victim of U.S.-Cuban relations. The Afro Cuban siblings' journey is told in the acclaimed documentary "Los Hermanos/The Brothers," directed by Marcia Jarmel and Ken Schneider and streaming through October on PBS.org and the PBS app. DETAILS

MUSIC

‘Justin Bieber: Our World’

It's a funny quirk that one of the highest grossing documentaries ever belongs to Justin Bieber. "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" made more than $73 million at the box office in 2011, a non-fiction total bested only by "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "March of the Penguins." A lot has changed in the intervening decade for both Bieber and the movies. "Justin Bieber: Our World," which debuts Friday on Amazon Prime, tracks some of those changes in the now 27-year-old pop star while focusing on his preparations for his first full concert in three years — a New Year's Eve 2020 show in Beverly Hills. DETAILS

‘Madonna: Madame X’

Bieber isn't the only pop star trotting out a new documentary this week. The concert film "Madonna: Madame X" premieres Friday on Paramount+, showcasing the 63-year-old singer's latest persona, an international secret agent around whom she framed her 2019 album of the same name. The film chronicles her "Madame X" album tour, in which Madonna played a string of smaller, more intimate venues for the first time in decades. DETAILS

The Millennium Tour at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

Omarion takes you back to the early 2000s as the B2K lead singer headlines an impressive lineup of R&B and hip hop acts that includes Bow Wow, Ashanti, Pretty Ricky, Soulja Boy and more. Tickets start at $49.50 1 Center Court, Cleveland. 8 p.m., Oct. 9. DETAILS

Natalie Hemby

Grammy-winning songwriter Natalie Hemby has made a name for herself in Nashville as a sought-after hitmaker, writing with everyone from Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves and Little Big Town. After stepping further into the spotlight as a member of the group The Highwomen, Hemby is releasing her second solo record "Pins and Needles," on Friday. The album features her intricate and sharp lyrics set over '90s-era country rock influenced melodies. Think Sheryl Crow and Sarah McLachlan with the drama and sass of Lambert. "Pins and Needles" includes co-writes from Lambert, Brothers Osborne and Maren Morris. DETAILS

Old Dominion

Country group Old Dominion made their mark as excellent songwriters and energetic performers with multiple hits for other artists, as well as their own chart-topping singles. The five-piece band, led by vocalist Matthew Ramsey, wrote all the songs together for their new album "Time, Tequila and Therapy," out Friday, during a weeklong trip to Asheville, North Carolina. While recording in the Blue Ridge Mountains town, the group discovered that legendary soul singer Gladys Knight also lived in town. So naturally they recruited her to sing with them on "The Lonely Side of Town," melding the group's backing harmonies with Knight's smooth vocals. DETAILS

Grand Funk Railroad in concert

This ‘70s rock band performs its greatest hits as the group’s “Some Kind of Wonderful” tour takes center stage at MGM Northfield Park. Tickets start at $37.50. 8 p.m., Oct. 8. 10777 Northfield Rd, Northfield. DETAILS

Almost Queen at Akron Civic Theatre

Described as the most authentic Queen live show not performed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees themselves, this four-piece tribute band performs all of the group’s classics, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “We Will Rock You,” “We Are the Champions” and more. Tickets, $25-$59. 8 p.m., Oct. 9. 182 S. Main St, Akron. DETAILS

Want more concert & music picks?
Cleveland.com's weekly virtual concert guide is HERE
Cleveland.com's weekly new music guide is HERE

Cleveland.com, Music Box Supper Club team up for live Tina Turner podcast event during Rock Hall week

With the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony just a few weeks away, cleveland.com is putting on a special event focused on one of this year’s biggest names. Tina Turner will be the subject for the first live recording of cleveland.com’s CLE Rocks Podcast, which looks back on the most historic music events, places and people in Northeast Ohio history. The event will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27 at the Music Box Supper Club. READ MORE

Listen to the latest episodes of CLE Rocks podcast, with Troy L. Smith

Entertainment | Music | Events

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