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 North Coast Notes • Glenville Record and Book Fair | Motor City Magic | Rock Hall induction | Voices of our Community | New York City documentary

By Nathan E. Paige

The Motor City Magic Oldies Revue takes place Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Civic in Cleveland Heights.

Motor City Magic Oldies Revue – (November 7) 

Rescheduled from its original May 2020 date, the Motor City Magic Oldies Revue takes place Saturday, November 7 at the Civic Center, 3130 Mayfield Road in Cleveland Heights at 6PM. Featuring performances by La Girlz, Todd East, the Rare Juelles and Afterthought NSB. Tributes to Eric Nolan Grant of The O’Jays and Joe Little.  Hosted by Kevin “Chill” Heard.  MCs: Travion Potts and Dominique Paramore. Masks required; social distancing protocol will be observed. Doors open one hour before showtime. Tickets are $30 - $40 and can be purchased at the door or online. Presented by Wings Above Productions.

This year's Rock Hall induction ceremony will be a pre-taped special airing on HBO & HBO Max, Nov. 7

2020 Rock Hall Induction Ceremony (November 7)

The 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, scheduled to be held in Cleveland earlier this year but cancelled like so many other live performance events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be presented as a pre-taped special Saturday, November 7 at 8 pm on HBO and HBO Max.  This year’s inductees are Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails, The Notorious B.I.G., and T. Rex.  Jon Landau and Irving Azoff will receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award. Unfortunately, the special doesn’t include any new, live performances.

"Free Time" is a 'slice-of life' look at New York City.
It's available for streaming from Nov. 11 through December 23.

“Free Time” - Cleveland Cinematheque Virtual Theater (Screenings begin November 11)

This 2019 ‘slice of life’ documentary by Manny Kirchheimer is comprised of a series of snapshots chronicling a New York City of days gone by and set to music by Maurice Ravel, Johann Sebastian Bach, Count Basie and Hanns Eisler. Shot on 16mm film by Kirchheimer and Walter Hess between 1958 and 1960. Click here to purchase. Screening fee: $12. Viewer has access to the film for 72 hours.

The Near West Theatre will showcase a bevy of local artists on Thursday, Nov. 19.

Voices of Our Community – Near West Theatre (November 19)

On November 19 at 7:30PM, the Near West Theatre, 6702 Detroit Ave [44102], presents “Voices of Our Community,” an evening of local artists providing an intimate showcase of music, dance, spoken word, and poetry. Scheduled performers to be announced. Check the NWT website for updates. This event will be presented on Facebook Live.

The Glenville Record & Book Fair will offer a wide selection of books, vinyl, apparel & more on Nov. 21.

Glenville Record & Book Fair – November 21

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!  Saturday, November 21 from Noon-6PM.

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 • Teaching Black Children | The Business of Art | Verb Ballets | 'Psycho' | Pop Up

What's on Tap?

By Nate Paige

Verb Ballets presents a virtual program of neoclassical ballets on Friday, October 9.

Verb Ballets presents ACCESS/Verb Neoclassical Lines (October 9)

Join Verb Ballets Friday, October 9 at 7PM for an evening of virtual neoclassical ballet performances including Royce Zackery’s “Grace” and Heinz Poll’s “Adagio for Two Dancers.” Also, on the program will be a new work choreographed by Associate Artistic Director, Richard Dickinson, MFA. Tickets are available through Eventbrite; suggested ticket price is $25. Any donation over $10 is tax deductible.

‘Turning Your Art Into A Business’ Workshop (October 10)

Saturday, Oct. 10 marks the kickoff of the Third Annual Cleveland Public Library Lecture Series, "Turning Your Art Into a Business."  In collaboration with Three Butterflies Entertainment & Press, LLC, this free series offers online workshops “designed to empower creative artists in fashion, fine arts, and music to monetize their artistic pursuits.”  The first lecturer will be animator Marcia G. Jones, a 20-year veteran of the animation film industry, and line producer.

10:30AM - Noon. Open to the public. Register here.

The Virtual Pop Up Market will feature a panel discussion with entrepreneurs examining "The Art of the Pivot."

GLO Pop Up Virtual Market (October 10)

On Saturday, October 10 from 11AM – 2PM log on to buy, sell and learn in this FREE, interactive virtual marketplace of products, people and ideas.  Also, hear from Ohio and New York entrepreneurs and creatives in a panel discussion including Jay Clouse, creator of the Freelancing School in Columbus, Ohio, and Johanne Brierre, Head of Growth at BKLYN Commons as they discuss “The Art of the Pivot.” Moderated by Shelly Gracon of GLO Cleveland.   Click here for registration information.

Fathom Events presents a two-day re-release of the classic thriller, "Psycho," in conjunction with the film's 60th anniversary.

Fathom Events: Re-release of classic thriller, ‘Psycho’ (October 11-12)

Just in time for Halloween, TCM Screen Classics presents a two-day re-release of the genre-changing Alfred Hitchcock thriller, “Psycho,” starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh.  Adding to the celebration of the film’s 60^th anniversary, the screenings will include exclusive insights from Turner Classic Movies. Locally, the film can be seen at a number of theaters, including Cedar Lee Theater, Regal Crocker Park and Richmond Town Center, Atlas Eastgate Movies 10, Cinemark South Park Mall and Valley View. Click here for showtimes via ZIP code.

Join Twelve Arts Literary for a timely discussion on the education of black children in the age of COVID-19.

Our Bodies Know When the Sun is Coming: Teaching Black Children in the Age of COVID-19  (October 15)

On Thursday, October 15^th at 7PM, join Twelve Literary Arts for a virtual poetry reading by former Barbara Smith Poet-in-Residence and CMSD public school teacher, Quartez Harris. Harris is also the author of the collection of poetry “We Made It To School Alive” (Twelve Arts Press, 2020). Quartez will be joined by DJ Cleveland Browne, who will spin house, soul, and more. Cleveland Browne also currently teaches K-8 students in Washington, D.C. remotely from Cleveland. There will also be a featured discussion on “Teaching black children in the age of COVID-19,” moderated by TLA founder Daniel Gray-Kontar.                                  

Visit https://www.facebook.com/twelvearts for links to the live streaming platforms.

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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