Stories

CPL to host teen poetry hip-hop workshops
As part of National Poetry Month, De’John Hardges, a student at Cleveland School of the Arts and member of the prestigious 2015 class of the White House's National Student Poets, is encouraging new audiences of all ages to embrace the art of poetry by leading a series of hip-hop poetry workshops at Cleveland Public Library. The teen poetry hip-hop workshops will take place April 22 and 29 at 4:30 p.m. at Main Library, 325 Superior Ave.

Get all the information here.
Legislation: Ohio's medical marijuana users could be fired
Per Tom Knox of Columbus Business First:

"Ohioans who are legally prescribed marijuana to alleviate symptoms for serious illnesses could still be fired from their jobs under both major proposals to legalize marijuana's use as a medicine.

Republicans in the Ohio House introduced their medical marijuana bill, House Bill 523, late Thursday. It’s an effort for legislators, not outside marijuana advocacy groups, to be in charge of what seems to be inevitable."

The article continues:

"House Bill 523 does not require employers to accommodate employees’ use of medical marijuana, and it doesn’t stop employers from refusing to hire or fire someone because of their use of medical marijuana.

'A person who is discharged from employment because of that person’s use of medical marijuana shall be considered to have been discharged for just cause,' according to the bill sponsored by Rep. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City)."

Read the full text here.

 
Trending: urban wineries
Meet urban winemakers and visit a vineyard in an unlikely corner of the city in this closer look at NEO's fledgling winemaking movement.
The Diversity Center invites viewers to "Rethink Labels"
This short hard-hitting film aims to help young people develop empathy and see the world through other peoples' eyes.
Cavs paint the town in wine and gold to fuel excitement for NBA playoffs
The Cavs once again made it to the NBA Playoffs and this morning the schedule was announced for the first round against the Detroit Pistons.

To celebrate the accomplishment and to rally the city, the Cavaliers today began decorating the Cleveland landmarks – starting with Quicken Loans Arena – with banners and signs with boasting “#ALLIN216,” referring to the motto “All In to 16,” the number of wins needed to win the championship.
 
A full window wrap is being installed on the north and west sides of the building, including the front window. Banners are being placed on each arena bridge one on the bridge that connects The Q to Gateway east garage and one on the north bridge that connects to JACK Casino Cleveland’s Collection Auto Group Centre parking lot. Additional banners on the east and west side of the arena are also being flown.
 
After the signage is in place at the Q banners will then be hoisted all over town, many local businesses are also hanging banners with the motto.
 
“There’s so much signage going up in the next week or so,” says Tracy Mare, Cavs chief marketing officer. “Definitely fans will see it throughout the city.”
 
Cavs team representatives urge other businesses and individuals alike to also show their support. Last year, Marek says many residents painted their front lawns or put up their own signs to show support for the Cavs.
 
“We encourage all of Cleveland to recognize this as one more moment to show just how great Cleveland is, and to showcase our community,” Marek says. “Our playoff run provides an opportunity to look at the city with a different lens.”
 
Even if you don’t have a ticket to the home games or when the Cavs are on the road, there are plenty of ways to get in on the excitement. Marek says they will host watch parties and pre-game entertainment outside the Q, complete with food trucks, beer, live music and the Cav entertainment team for several hours before the games.
 
“There are so many more ways for people to get involved,” she says. “Even if you don’t have a ticket to the game, come on down. It’s an outdoor fun fest. Downtown Cleveland’s a great place to be.”
 
For a full Cavs playoff schedule and a rundown of activities, visit the Cavs Fan Guide
MOCA: Cleveland cosmopolitan
MOCA's cosmopolitan flair is rooted in its commitment to connect Cleveland to points across the globe via art and people.
High-energy cycling studio rides into Beachwood
Joe Purton had almost two decades in the nonprofit realm when he decided to accelerate into a career as the owner of CycleBar in Beachwood.

Purton, the former vice president of Sisters of Charity Health System, recently opened the high-energy cycling studio in a 3,400-square-foot space at 3355 Richmond Road. Early returns are positive, with CycleBar classes drawing big numbers for what the new entrepreneur calls an intoxicating fusion of mind, body and music.

"It's a kind of multisensory journey," Purton says of an indoor cycling experience that melds thumping electronic music with videos and colorful lighting. "If gives you a feeling like you're in a club."

CycleBar's tiered theater holds 55 custom bikes along with two 80-inch televisions. Rides focus on upper body work and drills of varying speed, while personal data monitors allow participants to go at their own pace or compete with other riders. Instructors, called "CycleStars," lead the classes, which number about 30 a week, a figure Purton expects to increase in the coming months.

Though classes can be rigorous, the up-tempo affair is not meant to be intimidating for newcomers, says Purton, 48.

"That's the beauty of cycling," he says. "You can control  how much resistance you have on the flywheel and make it as difficult or easy as you want."

The Beachwood CycleBar, part of a company with 200 studios nationwide, represents Northeast Ohio's first indoor cycling franchise. Purton opened his studio in mid-March, fulfilling an entrepreneurial spirit for fitness that had been gestating for years.

Purton had been working at Sisters of Charity since 1994, organizing budgeting mechanisms and cost report filings across the faith-based healthcare system. The University Heights resident is also a former cycling instructor who taught classes in the late 1990's. While nonprofit work was lucrative, Purton recognized an opportunity at CycleBar he couldn't pass up.

"CycleBar allowed me to combine my passion for cycling with my accounting and finance background as well as a desire to run a business," he says.

Purton is currently working more hours per week than he ever has; a small price to pay for delivering something far beyond a standard cardio-fitness workout. Within the next two years, the burgeoning business owner hopes to open a studio downtown and another on the West Side.

"Everything I've been putting into this I'm going to benefit from," says Purton. "That (hard work) is what makes it more fun and rewarding."
RNC Host Committee wants YOU for signage
On this Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Global Center for Health Innovation, 1 St Clair Ave NE, the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee for the Republican National Convention (RNC) will hold a casting call for area residents interested in being considered to appear on temporary signage that will welcome RNC visitors to Cleveland. Two hundred tickets will be available beginning at 8:45 a.m. for those interested in being photographed that day.

Click here for details.
Cleveland Insider: the Palace of Fermentation
Cleveland Clinic and Panera team up to benefit autism center via ... cookies!
Beginning today, Monday, April 11, through Sunday, April 17, Panera Bread locations in Cleveland, Akron and Canton will bake a batch of specialty puzzle piece shortbread cookies in support of National Autism Awareness Month via the "Pieces of Hope for Autism" campaign. One hundred percent of proceeds from each cookie sold will be donated to Cleveland Clinic Children's Center for Autism, a leading edge facility dedicated to treatment, education, and research for children, adolescents, young adults and families dealing with autism spectrum disorders.

Get your cookies by pre-ordering online for quick pickup or by visiting your local Northeast Ohio Panera. Not a fan of cookies but still want to show your support? Make a gift here.
 
NASA Glenn celebrates 75th birthday with free open houses
On May 21 and 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., NASA’s Glenn Research Center will host a free public open house at its Lewis Field main campus, 21000 Brookpark Rd.
 
The center will offer plenty of things to do and see on both days, including walking tours and glimpses inside vacuum chambers, wind tunnels and other world-class facilities that have advanced aviation and space exploration.
 
NASA aircraft will be on display and Glenn engineers, scientists and technicians will be on hand for questions and discussions. The event will also feature exhibits, demonstrations, hands-on activities and special presentations.
 
Food, beverages and NASA souvenirs will be available for purchase. This is NASA Glenn’s first public open house since 2008. The event is part of a yearlong celebration of Glenn’s 75th anniversary year.
 
Complete information is available here.

 
Trailer released for movie filmed entirely in NEO: "The Bye Bye Man"
Last week saw the debut of the official teaser trailer for the supernatural thriller "The Bye Bye Man," which was filmed entirely in Northeast Ohio.

Plot summary: When three college students move into an old house off campus, they unwittingly unleash a supernatural entity known as the Bye Bye Man, who comes to prey upon them once they discover his name. The friends must try to save each other, all the while keeping the Bye Bye Man's existence a secret to save others from the same deadly fate.

The film stars Douglas Smith, Lucien Laviscount, Cressida Bonas, and Doug Jones as the titular villain. It was directed by Stacy Title from a script by Jonathan Penner, and is set for a June 3, 2016 release.

View the trailer here. More info on the film and trailer is available via the Hollywood insider publication Variety.
A little video that's big on Cleveland
A whirlwind tour of Cleveland with zip lines, sailboats, and bicycles; uptown, downtown and midtown - all packed into a wee two and a half minutes!
Student entrepreneurs, organizers ignite EntrovationCLE
A group of high school seniors will light up Beachwood High School on April 30 with fun, food trucks and 200 vendors ranging from international giants and local businesses to student entrepreneurs at EntrovationCLE.
Building bridges for veterans with PTSD
At the Louis Stokes VA Center in University Circle, the most effective help for vets suffering from PTSD comes from other vets who know the difficult road to coping with the disorder all too well.