Nate’s North Coast Notes • Cleveland Public Library presents lawyer/activist Bryan Stevenson | Holiday presentation at Karamu | Free Concert at Bop Stop | Crocker Park Holiday Lights

By Nathan E. Paige

Virtual Discussion with Lawyer/Author Bryan Stevenson – December 5 at Noon

Activist attorney Bryan Stevenson, who wrote the book-turned-movie “Just Mercy”, will speak at a Cleveland Public Library virtual program on Saturday, December 5.

As part of its Authors and Democracy literary series, the Cleveland Public Library presents Civil Rights Lawyer/Author Bryan Stevenson for an in-depth virtual discussion of his more than 30 years of fighting injustice and inequality Saturday, December 5 from noon – 1PM. Stevenson is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a human rights organization in Montgomery, Alabama. Under his leadership, EJI has won major legal challenges eliminating excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerating innocent death row prisoners, confronting abuse of the incarcerated and the mentally ill, and aiding children prosecuted as adults.  He is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and the Harvard School of Government and the author of the award-winning New York Times bestseller, Just Mercy, which was made into a major motion picture starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx.  Both actors went on to win NAACP Image Awards for their performances.  This is a free event; please register through Eventbrite.

 

Debbie Gifford Quartet Streaming Concert at BOP STOP – December 5 at 7:30 PM

The Debbie Gifford Quartet, consisting of vocalist Gifford; pianist Ed Ridley; bassist Aiden Plank and drummer Ricky Exton, will perform via livestream on the BOP STOP’s Facebook page Saturday, December 5 from 7:30-8:45 PM, providing an evening of jazzed-up holiday favorites.  In addition to being nominated for Vocalist of the Year, Jazz Musician of the Year and Jazz Band of the Year in the Annual Free Times Music Awards, Debbie Gifford is the only woman singer to ever perform with the Birdland Big Band. Accessing the stream is free, but donations will be appreciated.

 

The Crocker Park Holiday Light display can be viewed daily through January 1. A choreographed light show takes place nightly at 6PM through December 24.  (Photo by Nate Paige)

Crocker Park Holiday Lights – Through January 1

Now that Northeast Ohio has been blanketed in more snow in a 24-hour period than we really wanted, the festiveness of holiday lighting displays around town, including the Holiday Lights at Crocker Park, is that much more vibrant.  The choreographed light show, set to some of your favorite Christmas songs, kicks off nightly at 6 p.m. through Dec. 24.  The holiday lights will continue through January 1, 2021. Other highlights include the 13-foot Walk Through Ornament; Toy Train Town; a pop-up Holiday Market; and the Cleveland Monsters Real Ice Rink. Train rides on Santa’s Holiday Express are available in Santa’s Village from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays and noon to 5 p.m. Dec 24. $4.

‘Joyful, A Karamu House Celebration’ (Available on YouTube December 10-January 10)

Karamu House presents the virtual holiday production, “Joyful, A Karamu House Celebration” on its YouTube channel Dec. 10-Jan. 10.

On the heels of its virtual Juneteenth series, Karamu gets into the spirit of the season with ”Joyful, A Karamu House Celebration,” featuring an evening of song and dance, representing cultures from around the world.  The cast includes Darelle Hill, Elizabeth Edwards, Jacob Hill, Lexy Lattimore, Joshua McElroy and Mary Frances R. Miller, and many others. This hour-long production can be viewed on Karamu’s YouTube page beginning December 10.  The purchase of a ticket, $24.99, allows the viewer 48 hours to watch the production. 

Is there an upcoming event you’d like included in this column? Please send the details, along with a high-resolution photo/graphic, to northcoastnotes@therealdealpress.com at least two weeks prior to the event.

• • •• • •

Nate's Northcoast Notes• Music, Film, Comedy, Literary Arts

Rich array of arts and entertainment on  October horizon

By Nate Paige

Great Lakes African American Writers Conference (October 2-4)

The Great Lakes African American Writers Conference (GLAAWC) is an unparalleled three-day literary event for lovers of African American literature in the Great Lakes region and, for the first time, will be held virtually. Each year participants have marveled at the quality of our program and our setting. This year, we expect to maintain, perhaps even elevate, the quality of our offering as we go virtual. This year’s events include a spoken word competition, a virtual play, and Kent State University’s Wick Poetry Center has signed on to provide some innovative online creative writing tools.

Click here to register for this FREE event. 

Rare screenings of original 1951 version of ‘Native Son’ (available through October 15)

Acclaimed novelist Richard Wright tales the lead role of Bigger Thomas in original movie adaption
of Native Son the 1951 film of Wright's 1940 blockbuster novel.

As part of its Virtual Cinema series, The Cleveland Cinematheque presents the original movie adaptation (1951) of the classic Richard Wright novel, “Native Son,” starring the author in the lead role as Bigger Thomas.  One of the most controversial novels of its day, Richard Wright's Native Son (first published in 1940) exposed the injustices of urban African American life, witnessed through the eyes of Bigger Thomas, whose violent tendencies and moral confusion were the natural result of a lifetime of deprivation. In prison for murder and sentenced to death, Thomas reflects on the circumstances that led to his fate. Directed by Pierre Chenal and shot in Argentina, this newly restored film is presented in association with the Library of Congress, Fernando Martin Peña and Argentina Sono Film. 

The film is preceded by a special introduction by film historians Eddie Muller (host of TCM’s “Noir Alley”) and Jacqueline Najima Stewart (co-curator of Kino Lorber's Pioneers of African American Cinema collection).  

The screening fee is $12.  Once the film is opened, you have five days to watch it.              

Click here for the screening link.

Comedian Lavell Crawford at Cleveland Improv (October 9-11)

Some of you know him from The Tom Joyner Morning Show; others know him from his appearances on AMC’s “Breaking Bad”; and even others may have seen him on “Chelsea Lately” or “Lopez Tonight,” but however you know him, you know that comedian Lavell Crawford is hilarious! Crawford is headed to Cleveland for a three-day/six-show stint at the Cleveland Improv in the Flats October 9-11. Tickets are $30. Hurry, some shows are already sold out!

BOP STOP’s 6^th Anniversary Party featuring The Theron Brown Trio (October 18)

Happy 6^th birthday to the BOP STOP under the ownership of The Music Settlement! The Theron Brown Trio [pianist Theron Brown, drummer Zaire [Zigg] Darden, and Jordan McBride, bass] will be on hand for the celebration with a livestream performance from 7-8:30PM on the BOP STOP’s Facebook page.  The performance will stream for free, but donations to the band and the venue are welcomed. A limited number of tickets are available for those wanting to attend in person.  To purchase, click here. Note:  The bar will be open, but the kitchen will be closed.  Feel free to bring your own snacks. Masks required.

Is there an upcoming event you’d like included in this column? Please send the details, along with a high-resolution photo/graphic, to northcoastnotes@realdealpress.com at least two weeks prior to the event.

• • •• • •