Winter is here! No, really, it is. And the holiday season is in full swing as we're less than two weeks away from Christmas. If you're looking for things to do, you can brave the elements and enjoy ice skating either downtown on Public Square, or uptown at University Circle's Wade Oval. There's also holiday craft fairs, flea markets, concerts and ugly sweater contests to choose from this weekend. Whatever you decide, stay warm!!
Nathan Paige, cleveland.com
25 things to do in Cleveland the weekend of December 15-18
Michael Stanley and Mannheim Steamroller are just two of this weekend's concert options. If you're into theater, check out 'Sister Act' at Karamu, or 'Peter and the Starcatcher' at Dobama Theatre. If you're looking for seasonal spirits to take a break from holiday shopping, check out Marc Bona's beer calendar. The choices of things to do this weekend are many; get out and ejnoy!
Nathan Paige, cleveland.com
Ugly Sweater Bar Hop at Legacy Village
Grab some friends, put on your ugliest holiday sweaters and celebrate the season at Legacy Village's Ugly Holiday Sweater Bar Hop. For just $10/person, participants will receive a souvenir cup, a festive photo with Santa and the opportunity to enjoy food and drink specials at participating Legacy Village restaurants. A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit Cleveland Clinic Children's. Check-in will be open from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, December 15, inside Guest Services, located on Blossom Way, next to Bar Louie. More info
Nathan Paige, cleveland.com
CSU Viking Film Festival 2016 December 16
This event will showcase the work of 15 seniors from the CSU Communication 411/ Film III Class, whose short films are part of their graduation requirement. All the films range between10 to 20 minutes. 7pm; free. Cleveland State University's Music and Communication Building room 107, located at 2121 Euclid Avenue. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Photo: Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer
Nathan Paige, cleveland.com
'Sister Act' at Karamu Theatre
When lively lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier sees her mobster beau, Vince LaRocca, commit murder, she is relocated for her protection. Set up in the guise of a nun in a California convent, Deloris proceeds to upend the quiet lives of the resident sisters. In an effort to keep her out of trouble, they assign Deloris to the convent's choir, an ensemble that she soon turns into a vibrant and soulful act that gains widespread attention. Runs through December 30. Tickets: $10 - $37. More.
Nathan Paige, cleveland.com
Holiday Ice skating on Public Square
Ice-skating in the middle of downtown Cleveland is one of many ways to enjoy the holiday season. The Cleveland Foundation Ice Rink is open through February 2017. Hours of operation are: Monday – Thursday – 11am – 9pm; Friday – 11am – 10pm;
Saturday – 10am – 10pm; and Sunday – Noon – 8pm. $10 admission includes skate rental; $7 if you bring your own skates. More details.
Photo: Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer
Joey Morona, cleveland.com
Movie Minute: 'Rogue One' isn't the only new release this weekend
There's "Rogue One" at the box office and everybody else this weekend. The first stand-alone film in the "Star Wars" galaxy is expected to rake in more than $130 million at the box office in its first three days. So, if you want to avoid the crowds, there's the Will Smith tearjerker "Collateral Beauty" and Natalie Portman's transformation into the former first lady in "Jackie." More movies.
Playhouse Square
'A Christmas Story' at Cleveland Play House through December 23
He's back! One boy. One holiday wish. And a world that seems to be conspiring to make certain it doesn't come true. The record-breaking show returns to the CPH stage in all its pink-bunny-suit, glowing-leg-lamp, triple-dog-daring glory. The perfect holiday treat for the entire family. Runs through December 23; tickets range from $25 - $110. Details.
Photo: Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer
Nathan Paige, cleveland.com
'Sorry, Please Continue' at Grog Shop
Joey Morona, cleveland.com
Brunch at Lucky's Cafe
Lucky's chef-owner Heather Haviland has been serving farm-to-table food in Tremont for more than 10 years. While the line out the door seen frequently on weekends may detract you from popping in on a whim, perseverance is paid off in the form of a menu full of comfort food staples, made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and attentive super-friendly service. Read more here.
Andrea Simakis, The Plain Dealer
'Peter and the Starcatcher' at Dobama Theatre
"Peter and the Starcatcher," a cheeky, charming prequel to the J.M. Barrie classic, tells the story of how a resourceful orphan (with the help of an "insufferably bright" 13-year-old-girl named Molly) battles pirates, toothy reptiles and angry Prawns to became Peter Pan -- and saves the universe in the process. Runs through Dec. 31. Tickets: $20-$38. Read more here.
Nathan Paige, cleveland.com
'Apparat' and 'The Hum' at Sculpture Center - Final days!
You have a few days left to check out two exhibits on display at The Sculpture Center that will close on December 17. "Apparat. Retrogression through technological progress" is part of an exhibition series under the Nonsense Technologies concept feature works by Creative Fusion artists Przemyslaw Jasielski and Rainer Prohaska."The Hum," by artist Felix Kalmenson and his collaborative of Faraz Anoushahpour, Parastoo Anoushahpour, and Ryan Ferk takes the context and story of the Windsor Hum as the starting point for an audio-visual gallery installation about the subjective experience of sound. Free. Read more here.
Cleveland Cinematheque
Pioneers of African-American Cinema Series: Oscar Micheaux' "Birthright"
The eight-film series "Pioneers of African-American Cinema" concludes on December 18 with Oscar Michaeaux' "Birthright," screening at 6:30 p.m., which tells the stlory of a Harvard-educated black man who returns to the segregated 1930s South to establish a school. There he encounters racist attitudes and family strife. "Birthright" is preceded by the 18-minute short - also by Michaeux - entitled "Darktown Revue" (1931), an array of Harlem Renaissance nightclub and vaudeville acts, including comedians, a choir, and a bizarre African American monologist in blackface. Admission: $8; $7 for Cinematheque members. Details.
Zachary Lewis, The Plain Dealer
Cleveland Chamberfest December 16
The Nutcracker" and Handel's "Messiah" may dominate the airwaves, but they're not the only musical options. Not this season. Thanks to ChamberFest Cleveland and pianist Roman Rabinovich, listeners this month in Northeast Ohio also can take sustenance in Haydn, in a new winter lineup of three solo recitals exploring the composer's piano sonatas. Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Dunham Tavern. Tickets: $5-$35. Details.
Nathan Paige, cleveland.com
Ice skating at Wade Oval Rink
Why not spend some time during the holidays ice-skating in the heart of University Circle? The Rink at Wade Oval. After you're done skating, show your Rink wristband for special promotions at Cleveland Botanical Garden ($2 off), Cleveland History Center ($2 off and 2 free rides on the Carousel), Cleveland Museum of Natural History ($2 off), and The Cleveland Orchestra (10% off at The Cleveland Orchestra Store). On Sunday, December 17 there's a special Skate With Santa from 2-4 pm. More details.
Chuck Yarborough, The Plain Dealer
Mannheim Steamroller in concert Dec. 17 at Playhouse Square
Ever wonder about the origins of the name for creator Chip Davis' band, which merged classical and rock and sort of laid the foundation for what's now known as "New Age'' music? According to the Mannheim Steamroller website, "The band's name came from Mannheim, Germany where Mozart lived. Mannheim Steamroller is the name for an 18th century musical technique known as the crescendo.'' Tickets range from $10- $90. Read more.
Marc Bona, cleveland.com
Beer calendar for the weekend of December 16
Marc Bona's weekly beer calendar has news of a Utopias tasting, plus the Rail has several Beer Exploration Society gatherings scheduled. Read more here.
Chuck Yarborough, The Plain Dealer
Michael Stanley and the Resonators at Hard Rock Rocksino
Cleveland's favorite hometown Heartland rocker is a local legend for multiple sellouts at Blossom Music Center during the early 1980s with the Michael Stanley Band. Stanley has a "new'' group surrounding him now - the Resonators - and he's continued to put out music. His latest album, "In a Very Short Time,'' came out earlier this fall. Donnis Iris and the Cruisers open. Tickets: $50.50 - $68. More info.
Photo: Chuck Yarborough, The Plain Dealer
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'Shooting Without Bullets' exhibit at E. Cleveland Public Library
Facebook/Jesse Howells
DJ Jesse Howells at Touch Supper Club December 16
Get your holiday groove on with DJ Jesse Howells and a night of Indie dance and House at Touch Supper Club in Ohio City. 10 p.m. No cover!!
Facebook/Prelude2Cinema
Prelude2Cinema open auditions for upcoming film
Local film production company, Prelude2Cinema, operated by Alex P. Michaels, is holding open auditions for the sci-fi crime thriller "Out of Darkness: Cleveland" on December 17 from 10am - 3pm. at Tri-C Western Campus, 11000 W Pleasant Valley, Parma, Ohio 44130. More details here.
Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer
December Cultural Celebration at Table 45
Table 45 at the InterContinental Cleveland hotel is getting into the holiday spirit. The restaurant has launched a series of new promotions, including a December Cultural Celebrations menu, which focuses on the traditions of Israel. Cultural Celebrations is a monthly promotion that focuses on the cuisine of one world region. It began in October with Cuban, then traveled to Morocco for November. The December menu includes sweet-potato latkes with Mackenzie Creamery goat cheese and ginger applesauce, and grilled short ribs with horseradish and beet cream and egg noodles. Read more here.
Photo: Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer
Cleveland Museum of Art
Kara Walker exhibit at Cleveland Museum of Art - Final weeks
The Cleveland Museum of Art is pleased to present The Ecstasy of St. Kara: Kara Walker, New Work, debuting her latest series of large-scale works on paper. The drawings stem from Walker's influential time spent in Rome this year, marking an extensive query about the power of myths and themes of martyrdom that dominate and complicate the issue of slavery and free will. Walker's newest series reflects upon Christianity's complex history, globally as well as in black life—in her own words, "alternating between captor and redeemer"—rendering it as absolutely current and pressing. Exhibit runs through December 31, 2016. Get more info here. (Photo: Ari Marcopoulos)
Michael McIntyre, The Plain Dealer
Rocky LaPorte performs at Hilarities
Rocky LaPorte could be the funny guy on the next barstool at Hoopples. He's blue-collar, but not blue. He wasn't coddled growing up. "It was a rough neighborhood. I remember when I was a kid, I remember laying in bed at night and looking at the stars and thinking like, you know, 'Where the hell's the roof?' " he says. LaPorte performs at Hilarities in the Gateway district through Sunday. Tickets range from $23 - $28. More details here.
Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer
Holiday Flea Market at Beachland Ballroom
Looking for a last-minute gift for the rock 'n' rollers on your Christmas list? The Beachland Ballroom and Tavern is hosting its annual Rock 'n' Roll Holiday Flea Market, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. Attending is free, and food and beverages will be available in the Beachland Tavern throughout the day. The market will feature more than 25 local vendors selling art, clothing, vinyl records, vintage wares, jewelry and more. Details.
Photo: Chuck Yarborough, The Plain Dealer
Cleveland Museum of Art
Sidney Lumet film series at Cleveland Museum of Art
The Sidney Lumet film series, currently underway at the Cleveland Museum of Art, continues Friday, December 16 with "The Group," starring Candice Bergen, Jessica Walter, Joan Hackett and Elizabeth Hartman. This kaleidoscopic film charts the loves and lives of eight diverse female classmates at a Vassar-like college, from their graduation in 1933 to the eve of World War II. The series runs through Friday, December 30. More info here.
Nathan Paige, cleveland.com
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