Mamma Mia! The timeless hits of ABBA provide the soundtrack for this irresistible musical at Playhouse Square about a young woman’s quest to discover the identity of a father she never knew. Tickets $30-$165. 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Through Feb. 4. DETAILS Dancing with the Stars Live! Reigning Mirror Ball champions Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy headline the cast of pro dancers and special guests performing your favorite dances from the hit TV show at MGM Northfield Park. Tickets start at $120. 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield. 7:30 p.m., Feb. 4. DETAILS The Great Big Home + Garden Show Hundreds of experts in kitchens, bathrooms, landscaping, home décor and more will be on hand at the I-X Center for this annual expo. Tour a modular home, get ideas for your backyard oasis and meet HGTV personalities. Tickets $5-$15. 1-X Center Dr., Cleveland. Feb. 2-11. DETAILS The Breakfast at the Bookstore Karamu House presents the world premiere of Cleveland playwright Lisa Langford’s dark comedy that interweaves stories of the Black liberation movement of the 1970s with encounters with aliens. Tickets $35-$45. 2355 E. 89th St., Cleveland. Through Feb. 18. DETAILS At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen Dobama Theatre presents the Ohio premiere of this irreverent and moving play about the fine art of drag, from African Gods and Goddesses to Trina and Whitney Houston. Tickets $5-$45. 2340 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. Through Feb. 18. DETAILS BKYLN the Musical Near West Theatre’s new production is a play within a play about a young Parisian singer who travels to America in search of her estranged father and ends up sparking a rivalry with New York City’s reigning diva. Tickets $5-$20. 6702 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. Feb. 2-18. DETAILS Tobogganing at the Chalet Find your thrill in the chill at the Cleveland Metroparks’ Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville, tobogganing on one of two 700-foot refrigerated ice chutes. Reservations required. Tickets $13-$15. 16200 Valley Pkwy, Strongsville. Through Feb. 25 (weather permitting). DETAILS The Rink at Wade Oval You don’t have to be an aspiring Olympic figure skater to have fun at this ice skating rink in the heart of the museum district in University Circle. It’s all about having fun and making memories. Admission with skate rentals $5-$10. Wade Oval Dr., Cleveland. Through Feb. 25. DETAILS Flanagan’s Wake One of the longest-running plays in Cleveland theater history returns for its annual engagement at Playhouse Square. Centering on an Irish wake, this hilarious show relies heavily on audience interaction, ensuring that no two performances are alike. Tickets $29. Kennedy’s Cabaret, 1621 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Weekends through Apr. 29. DETAILS |
|
|
Orchids Forever: Golden Hours Cleveland Botanical Garden’s annual orchids show returns, this time to showcase the colors of sunrise and sunset. The beautiful and fragrant displays feature species such as Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium and Oncidium. Tickets $14-$20. Members free. 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland. Through Mar. 17. DETAILS Ms. Pat: Ya Girl Done Made It Comedian and star of BET’s “The Ms. Pat Show,” Patricia Williams (aka Ms. Pat), brings her honest and hilarious brand of standup to Playhouse Square’s Mimi Ohio Theatre for one unforgettable night. Tickets $35-$45. 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. 7 p.m., Feb. 2. DETAILS Valentine Bazaar Find something unique and locally made for your Valentine as Cleveland Bazaar hosts 100+ of your favorite makers and resident artists at 78th Street Studios. The event also features a Valentine’s photographer, food vendors and a bar. 1300 W. 78th St., Cleveland. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Feb. 3. DETAILS A Legacy Forged in Black & Gold The Pro Football Hall of Fame celebrates the winning tradition of the Pittsburgh Steelers on the 50th anniversary of their first Super Bowl victory. This temporary exhibit features championship trophies, rings, bronze busts and a special appearance by Hall of Famer Donnie Shell on Friday and Saturday. Admission $15-$45. 2121 George Halas Dr. NW, Canton. Through Feb. 19. DETAILS Cleveland Monsters Watch exciting AHL action as Cleveland’s pro hockey team hosts the Chicago Wolves in back-to-back games. A “Pucks & Pierogies” package on Saturday comes with a free T-shirt and three pierogies. Tickets start at $10. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland. 7 p.m., Feb. 2 1 p.m., Feb. 3. DETAILS Vermillion Ice-A-Fair This charming waterfront community hosts its 15th annual winter festival featuring over 50 ice sculptures, live ice carving demos, trolley tours, a kids play area, contests and more fun. 685 Main St, Vermilion. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Feb. 3. DETAILS Skiing and Tubing Feel the cold rush of winter as you schuss down the mountain at one of Northeast Ohio’s ski resorts. Most of the trails and lifts at Brandywine/Boston Mills and Alpine Valley are open daily, while the Polar Blast Tubing Park at Brandywine is open on weekends. Lift tickets $24-$61. Tubing $34. Six Dynasties of Chinese Painting Opening week of new exhibit featuring works from the museum’s collection covering six different dynasties including modern times. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland. Open now through May 4. DETAILS |
|
|
FOOD & DINING Cordelia on East Fourth, downtown Cleveland Among the best seats at Cordelia – home of Cleveland’s newest James Beard semi-finalist chef – are seats at the kitchen bar. Overseen by Chef Vinnie Cimino, on a busy Friday night the visible cooking area has five pairs of hands frying, grilling, deep-frying various parts of a playful midwestern supper. Everything has a twist from the fried chicken with za’atar seasoning to the funeral potatoes with cream of pho, smoked cheddar and corn flakes. A sense of humor is apparent with the bone-in Brussels sprouts, which are served on the stalk (bone-in, get it?) with black cap mayo, apple chow chow and lacto- brassica. Dinner and Sunday brunch only. Cordelia, 2058 E 4th St, Cleveland. READ MORE Leo’s Italian Social Leo’s Italian Social went into Cuyahoga Falls a few years ago, settling in nicely on a vibrant part of Front Street. It has a something-for-everyone menu, with appetizers like beef carpaccio, cauliflower bites, arancini and others. Arugula and pear salad, pizza, pastas and a range of entrees are offered. It’s got an open feel in warm weather, but it’s cozy this time of year, too. It’s at 2251 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. DETAILS LJ Shanghai January should be the official month for soup dumplings, and no one does Xiaolongbao better than LJ Shanghai in Cleveland’s Asiatown neighborhood. The hand-folded dumplings are filled with an umami-rich broth and the perfect bite of meat. Other soul-warming dishes include Chongqing spicy beef noodle soup and spicy Chaoshou dumplings. The humble restaurant is located at 3142 Superior Ave., Cleveland. DETAILS Quinn’s Kitchen & Bar The former Greenisland Irish pub-restaurant space in Bay Village was revitalized into a snazzy American gastropub/bistro a few years ago and has been turning out some delectable fare ever since—along with one of the better Happy Hours on the far West Side. We know there’s some serious “smash burger” fatigue among foodies, but Quinn’s are super. We dig their double-decker homage with the special sauce, but the Bay Burger (smashed patties, gouda, mushrooms, truffle aioli on an everything bun) with a cracked cold one is hard to beat. Fun vibes, too. DETAILS DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast If you like food and drink – and who doesn’t -- we’re breaking new ground with our lively new podcast about dining and drinking in Greater Cleveland. Hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus crackle with their fun talk about the latest foodie happenings, joined by the most in-the-know experts in town, Marc Bona, Paris Wolfe and Pete Chakerian. It’s called DineDrink C-L-E and you can find it anywhere you download podcasts. Give it a listen and get your mouth watering. LISTEN HERE |
|
|
TV & MOVIES 'Argylle' "Argylle" is neither the sexy spy thriller headlined by Dua Lipa nor does Taylor Swift have anything to do with it despite what the internet may have led you to believe. But don't let either stop you from seeing it. "Argylle" is indeed a satisfying, if not totally bonkers action movie from Matthew Vaughn, the director of "Kingsman" and "Kick-Ass." Bryce Dallas Howard plays an author of a series of popular spy novels who gets caught up in a deadly game of international espionage when the plot of her latest book starts to mirror the covert actions of a real-life spy agency. Led by an all-star cast that includes Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, John Cena and Ariana DeBose, the film is a wild ride full of spectacular action sequences and that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end. REVIEW ‘The Greatest Night In Pop’ Regardless of whether you think the 1985 charity anthem "We Are the World" is great or not, the making of it is fascinating. Director Bao Nguyen got access to never-before-seen footage and new interviews with Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen and Cyndi Lauper to help tell the story of how famous musicians, including Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder, got together one night for a marathon recording session. Nguyen told the AP in a recent interview that "The Greatest Night In Pop" humanizes "some of these icons that we've sort of idolized over many generations." It'll be on Netflix this week. DETAILS ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith ‘ The new Amazon Prime Video series "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" is not your 2005 "Mr. & Mrs. Smith." Instead, Donald Glover and Maya Erskine star as two stranger spies who meet and are required to marry for their cover. The series was created by Glover and Francesca Sloane, who says she looked to reality TV like "Love is Blind" and "90 Day Fiancé" for inspiration. All eight episodes will be ready to binge on Friday, Feb. 2. DETAILS ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm ‘ "Curb Your Enthusiasm" fans are pretty pretty pretty disappointed because the show begins its final season on Sunday, Feb. 4, on HBO. The irreverent comedy stars Larry David as a fictionalized version of himself who lands in awkward situations at every turn. Recurring favorites Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, Cheryl Hines, and J.B. Smoove will be back. DETAILS ‘Choir’ A new Disney+ docuseries called "Choir" follows the Detroit Youth Choir — who first made a splash appearing on "America's Got Talent" in 2019 — as members audition and prepare to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York. All six episodes dropped Wednesday. DETAILS ‘Three Little Birds ‘ U.K. comedian Sir Lenny Henry used his own family history to create "Three Little Birds," a BritBox series that follows three women moving from Jamaica to London in the 1950s. Henry says the show's immigration story is universally relatable because all immigrants understand that it's difficult to start over and build a new life. "Three Little Birds" premieres Thursday. DETAILS ‘Genius’ Past seasons of National Geographic's "Genius" anthology series covered Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso and Aretha Franklin. Season 4 focuses on two civil rights legends, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. "Genius: MLK/X" delves into each man's formative years, rise to influence and differing philosophies. The first two episodes drop Thursday on National Geographic. It will also stream on Hulu and Disney+. DETAILS ‘Statute of Limitations ‘ Don't worry, "Dateline" hosts, your jobs are safe. For now. Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino of "Jersey Shore" has entered the chat. He's hosting "Statute of Limitations," a new true crime show where everyday people who have committed nonviolent crimes tell their story. (Think: A thief who used a hot air balloon as a getaway vehicle.) What's more, their statute of limitations has run out so they're free and clear to talk. In 2019, Sorrentino served eight months in prison for lying on his taxes. "Statute of Limitations" will be available to stream beginning Thursday on platforms including Tubi, YouTube and The Roku Channel. DETAILS Greta Gerwig’s favorite films So Greta Gerwig didn't get a best director nomination this week, but the good news is that the Criterion Channel has a new series starting Thursday about some of the "Lady Bird" and "Barbie" director's favorite films. Gerwig's "adventures in moviegoing" includes David Lean's "Brief Encounter," Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's "The Red Shoes," Max Ophüls' "The Earrings of Madame de…" and Claire Denis' "Beau travail." The channel also has a series on "Interdimensional Romance" with films like "A Matter of Life and Death," "Wings of Desire," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and both versions of "Solaris." DETAILS ‘Dicks: The Musical ‘ And for those who were curious about "Dicks: The Musical," but not enough to bite the bullet on a movie ticket, it will be streaming on Max starting Friday, Feb. 2. In an article about the movie out of the Toronto Film Festival, AP Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote that this "Dadaist riff on 'The Parent Trap' … may be the most demented riff on a familiar story yet. The film … has been called the most gonzo movie of the year. It's lewd, ridiculous and surreal. Hanna-Barbera was an inspiration." Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson star alongside Bowen Yang as God, Megan Thee Stallion, Nathan Lane and Megan Mullally. DETAILS |
|
|
Extreme One of the most popular hard rock bands of the 1990s comes to MGM Northfield Park on Saturday to perform hits such as “Hole Hearted” and “More Than Words.” Living Colour opens. Tickets start at $42.50. 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield. 8 p.m., Feb. 3. DETAILS Anees Best known for his song “Sun and Moon,” this singer, rapper and songwriter has made a name for himself on TikTok, where he has amassed over 3.4 million followers. See him perform at House of Blues this weekend. Tickets $25. 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. 8 p.m., Feb. 3. DETAILS Cleveland Pops Orchestra’s A Tribute to the Beatles The Cleveland Pops Orchestra celebrates the Fab Four as they’re joined by Beatles tribute band Classic Mystery Tour. The concert at Severance Music Center features the group’s biggest hits, from “Penny Lane” and “Yesterday” to “Hey Jude,” “Michelle” and more. Tickets start at $37. 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. 8 p.m., Feb. 3. DETAILS Lee “Scratch” Perry Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Clash, Beastie Boys — what do these legendary artists have in common? They owe much to Lee "Scratch" Perry, a pioneer of the dub music scene celebrated as one of reggae's founding fathers. Perry (real name Rainford Hugh Perry) died in 2021 — but during the pandemic, he worked on new music material, which will be posthumously released in his final album, "King Perry," out Friday, Feb 2. It features guest performances from Greentea Peng, Shaun Ryder, Tricky, Marta, Rose Waite and Fifi Rong. The final track, appropriately titled "Goodbye," is Perry's final vocal recording — an ambitious and celebratory song that features Perry repeating his farewell over and over again. It's a fitting coda, and still an experiment, bringing his reggae into synth wave, drum'n'bass, big beat, and electronica. Even in death, Perry is looking towards the future. DETAILS ‘Kings from Queens: The RUN DMC Story’ This Peacock original documentary offers a close look at the early days of Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell's revolutionary group — finding inspiration in the streets, bringing hip-hop to the masses, and, in doing so, validating and legitimizing what will soon become the most popular style of music — and assisting in turning it into a billion-dollar business. Let's face it, "It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time," is both an earworm for the ages — and some astute musical analysis. DETAILS |
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
