Nate’s North Coast Notes • Cleveland Restaurant Week To Go | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Wild Winter Lights at the Zoo | Glenville Record & Book Fair | C J Wallace interview

By Nathan E. Paige

Cleveland Restaurant Week To Go 2020 – Final Day November 20

The times they are a changin’, and in order to meet new guidelines resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Cleveland Restaurant Week offers culinary delights to go.  Choose from special menus from 41 local eateries offering dinner for two, dinner for four, or dinner with cocktails.  This year’s event will not offer prix-fixe selections.  Select restaurants are offering dine-in deals.

A special program reuniting the “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” cast for its 30th anniversary is currently streaming on HBO Max. 

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” Reunion – HBO MAX

It’s been 30 years since America was introduced to another memorable NBC family, The Banks – along with transplanted West Philadelphia cousin, Will Smith.  An HBO Max special brings together the majority of the cast of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”  —  Will Smith, Alfonso Ribeiro, Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Daphne Reid, Joseph Marcell and Jazzy Jeff — AND the original Aunt Viv (Janet Hubert)  for an emotional reunion. James Avery (Phil Banks) died in 2013.  The sitcom ran for six seasons from 1990-1996.  Watch the trailer.

       Get into the holiday spirit at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo with “Wild Winter Lights” lighting displays.

Wild Winter Lights at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (Through December 30, 2020)

Nothing says the holiday season like larger-than-life light displays and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo continues their tradition with Wild Winter Lights, presented by NOPEC. This year’s exhibit consists of more than 1 million lights and features themed displays including The Enchanted Forest, Candy Land and performances by The Singing Angels. The display can be experienced on foot or as a drive-through.  Pedestrians will be required to wear masks, and social distancing protocol will be enforced. Wild Winter Lights is currently open Thursdays through Sundays from 5:30-9:30PM, but the schedule will be expanded to include Monday nights beginning November 30. Get more information.

Glenville Record & Book Fair – November 21 (POSTPONED)

The Glenville Record & Book Fair is a collaboration between ThirdSpace Action Lab, Twelve Literary Arts and Brittany’s Record Shop,  and will feature more than 500 books to browse, crates of vinyl from numerous genres, Cleveland-themed apparel,  meals available for purchase from Southern Sweets + CLE Biscuit Heads and more!  Due to the Stay-at-Home order issued by Governor Mike DeWine on November 19, this event has been postponed.  A rescheduled date will be announced.

Watch the archived interview of C.J. Wallace, son of
Christopher Wallace (The Notorious B.I.G.), who was
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. 

Archive of Rock Hall Interview with C.J. Wallace 

As part of the 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions celebration, a series of virtual interviews were conducted prior to the November 7 Induction Special on HBO.  One of those interviews was with actor/musician/business owner C.J. Wallace, son of 2020 Inductee Christopher George Latore Wallace (The Notorious B.I.G.).  During the interview, Wallace speaks intimately about his father and grandmother, and being an advocate for cannabis.  Watch the archive.

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.

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Nate’s Northcoast Notes • Asian Lantern Festival closes Oct. 4

Art Museum and Rock Hall to MIX it up Oct. 2 at virtual dance party | Life of John Lewis celebrated in documentary this weekend

By Nate Paige

The annual Asian Lantern Festival at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo runs through Oct. 4 this year.
(Photo by Kyle Lanzer/Cleveland Metroparks)

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Premiere of CNN documentary “John Lewis: Good Trouble” – (September 27)

This Sunday, September 27 at 9PM ET, CNN will premiere the documentary, “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” an in-depth look at the life of the celebrated civil rights activist and Congressional stalwart. Directed by award-winning director Dawn Porter (Trapped, Gideon’s Army), the film chronicles Lewis’s life through behind-the-scenes footage, archival materials and interviews including family members, Xernona Clayton, Rev. James Lawson, Rep. James Clyburn, Ambassador Andrew Young, Senator Cory Booker, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Bill and Hillary Clinton, former Attorney General Eric Holder and many more.  An official selection of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, the documentary will air again on Saturday, October 3 at 9PM ET.

 

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MIX: Amplify – October 2 via Zoom

MIX, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s ultimate monthly networking event, returns for another virtual dance party Friday, October 2 at 8PM via Zoom. The theme for October, AMPLIFY, celebrates the power of music and art when it comes to promoting social justice and combating racism through messages of rage, hope and protest.  DJ Vikter Duplaix’s live set will provide the tunes, and choreographer Samuel McIntosh of 10K Movement will present a showcase of a variety of street dance styles.  Video art courtesy of Wil Frierson.  

MIX: Amplify, a collaboration between the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is inspired by the Rock Hall’s current exhibition, “It’s Been Said All Along: Voices of Rage, Hope & Empowerment.” Click here to register.

 

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Asian Lantern Festival at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo – (Weekends through October 4)

Photo by Kyle Lanzer/Cleveland Metroparks

If you’ve been procrastinating about getting to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo for the Asian Lantern Festival, you’re running out of time.  The Festival closes October 4. Now in its third year, this year’s display consists of more than 1,000 lanterns and 70 new displays.  There are also new acrobatic acts, interactive experiences, and culturally inspired food options including select fare from Li Wah and King Wah restaurants.

Experience the spectacle on foot or take advantage of the drive-through option.  Tickets are still available for the following dates:  September 25, 26 and October 1 and 2 from 6:30-10:30PM. Ticket sales each night will be limited, to adhere to social distancing guidelines. 

Admission to the Lantern Festival ($18-$22) is separate from Zoo admission but does allow entry to the Dinosaurs Around  the World: The Great Outdoors Exhibition.  Advance reservations are strongly suggested. For more information, click here.

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

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