Independent Issue 4

Issue 4, Nov. 5, 2009
NE Ohio's Independent Alternative
House Of
1000
Corpses
The gruesome
secrets cops
found inside
Anthony Sowell's
house of horrors Page 5
Beachland
Ballroom
Rocked:
So why weren't
you there?
Page 14
Page 6

---

CONTENTS
House Of 1000 Corpses
Pg 5
Doctor Mob
Pg 6
Fisher Forgets
Pg 7
FOOD--------------------------9
411/330--------------------19
ART----------------------------10
Sports-----------------------18
MUSIC-----------------------13
Broad Side----------------17
What’s So Funny?-----11
Mansfield-----------------20
FILM--------------------------8
ScuttleButt ----------4
Publisher
Music Editor
Stosh Burgess
Ashley Heeney
stosh@clevelandindependent.com
ashley@clevelandindependent.com
Editor
Arts Editor
James Renner
Ruth Koenigsmark
james@clevelandindependent.com
ruth@clevelandindependent.com
Marketing Director
Staff Writer
Ray Leonardi
Tim Russo
ray@clevelandindependent.com
tim@clevelandindependent.com
Sales Team
Alice Leslie
alice@clevelandindependent.com
Jen White
jen@clevelandindependent.com
Contributors
Mansfield Frazier, Sarah Kotzman, Alicat, Mark R. Mackert, Chad Zumock, DeVeren
Fontenot, Keli Schimelpfenig, Peanuts, Adam Harvey, Todd Jakubisin, Alice Leslie,
Larry Durstin, Lauren Kirk
The Independent
1539 w. 117th St.
Cleveland, OH 44107
PH 216-226-7748

---

Editor’s
From the Editor
Notes
On Editorial Things
By: James Renner
The experiment that is The Independent is
ire. Larry Durtin, who contributes both
them here and on our website. You asked for to readers living within the 330 area code.
kicking ass sooner than expected. Three
Sports and News pieces, has written for, or
a section devoted to Cleveland’s local com-
The implication being: Akron readers are at
months ago, with the help of a handful of
edited, nearly every new alternative newspa- edy scene (did you know NE Ohio has more least used to reading about Cleveland.
advertisers (mostly our friends), we began
per NE Ohio has seen over the last fifteen
open-mic stand-up venues than nearly every
They’ve accepted being second-tier long
publishing this new alternative newspaper to years, bringing with him an institutional
other city in the Midwest?)—so we got fun-
ago. Cleveland residents might reject the
the fill the void left by the rape and pillage
knowledge that gives us an edge on any
nyman Chad Zumock to put it together. You idea of reading about their smaller sister city
of the Free Times. We could only afford to
competitor.
wanted sports (a topic historically ignored
to the south out of principal.
publish once a month.

I’m pleasantly surprised by the
by alternative newspapers). Well, shazaam!

I might work in Cuyahoga County,

Today, the release of this issue rep- number of people who have stepped forward
Another mantra out there, from
but I’m from Portage. And I live in Summit.
resents the first real step toward becoming a in support of our experiment. Reporters,
business owners south of 480, is that Akron
I keep up on local news in the hinterland.
regular alt-weekly for the NE Ohio region.
business owners,
is tired of
And, let me tell you. If you think Cuyahoga
We’ve moved to an every-three-week publi- readers. Every-
being ig-
County is filled with Jabronis, you should
cation schedule and we’re on track to be-
one seems to
nored. The
hear what’s going on down here; an unbeat-
If you think Cuya-
come bi-monthly in the Spring. Circulation
feel there really
Beacon Jour- able mayor who can’t stop making an ass
is up 20%. Page count is up. Racks and
is a need for a
nal remains
out of himself, a political coup in Portage
boxes full of crisp new copies of the paper
paper that can be hoga County is filled the only real County court, raiding, and county commis-
are moving into battle position. Larger ad-
a check-and-bal-
news source
sioners reaching into citizens’ bank ac-
vertisers are taking notice. Roc Bar and
ance to nefarious
that pays at-
counts. It is the Wild West down here.
with Jabronis, you
Harry Buffalo have joined the revolution.
local politicians
tention to

So you’ll find a new section this

Most exciting is the caliber of
and media with
Summit and
week titled, “The 411 on the 330.” Like the
writers who have jumped on board to help
hidden agendas.
Portage
paper, itself, it’s an experiment. I believe it
should hear what’s
us bring original reporting and fresh per-

Every-
County (and
will succeed, too.
spectives to a community tired of being
one, too, has an
to say they

If you have any suggestions, your-
spoon-fed propaganda by monopolistic cor-
opinion as to
going on down here. are under-
self, please send us an email. Unless you’re
porations of “journalism”. Peanuts, over in
what the Inde-
staffed is like that dude who keeps writing in about his
the music section, has been interviewing
pendent should write about. Luckily, we’re
saying Rex Humbard’s tower is a little gau-
idea for a sex-advice column written for the
rockers for three decades and has more
still feeling our way through the darkness of
dy). “Why should we read a newspaper that
senior community. What happens in your
knowledge of the hipster scene than anyone
new enterprise and can easily adopt the good only reports on Cleveland news?” Good
nursing home should stay in your nursing
else in town. Tim Russo, the Ohio
ideas that come along without having to pass point.
home, man (also, she technically can’t be
blogosphere’s most infamous (and popular)
it through committees or CEO’s or our co-

“But Clevelanders don’t want to
GGG if she has Alzheimer’s). But, I applaud
muckraker has discovered a knack for in-
lon. You asked for music reviews (sadly
read about Akron,” Stosh, the publisher,
your stamina.
vestigative reporting, much to Lee Fisher’s
AWOL from other local pubs)—you’ll find
warned when I proposed a section devoted
FEEDBACK
Hello.
of the bills.
making out with a dude in front of the
The recent anti European-Ameri-
Cap and trade will cost the aver-
Some recent shout-outs from Main
Today Show. YouTube it.
can article was offensive to The European
age European American, Hispanic Ameri-
Stream Media
American Majority. You are using a of-
can , Asian American, Persian American,
fensive term and its NOT accepted any
Middle Eastern American and African

From Erick Trickey at Cleve-
From Joe Guillen at the Plain Dealer, in
more. “White people” is not used any-
American... anywhere from $1700 - $2500
land Magazine’s political blog:
Bill Patmon’s 5-page profile:
more. The correct, accepted term is EU-
rise in energy bills a year, beginning in
ROPEAN AMERICANS. Your article on
2011.

It must have cheered [Cleveland
Patmon also has courted free media. He
the Washington DC march [“Two for Tea;
But, my main point to you is the
Mayoral candidate Bill] Patmon up to
was buoyed this month when The Inde-
Or, why I sort of like Glenn Beck,” Issue
correct term is EUROPEAN AMERI-
travel the city this week and see his
pendent, an alternative newspaper, en-
3] was offensive and derogatory and
CANS.
proud, slightly smiling face next to the
dorsed him heartily on its cover.
RACIST in tone and nature!!!
If you don’t like this term, its OK
cover type, “Why this man should be
And, your very correct in stating
to refer to yourself as “white guy” but the
Cleveland’s next mayor.” (The October
Editor’s Note:
that you have experienced a bit of the
European American Majority is not “a
issue, [of the Independent] available at
“liberal media bias”. There was not
bunch of angry white people’.
several bars and bookstores, is the third
What do you mean by “free media”? Is
10,000 European Americans at the Free-
edition of the alternative monthly, which
that some conservative double-speak for
dom Rally. All sources, from White
David Sigmund
includes lots of cheeky political coverage
“commie” or “pinkie” or “fish-wrap”?
House, Capital Hill police to London
Akron Ohio
and the whodunit crime investigations
Look, it’s not like Patmon went after an
Times, Berlin, Paris, Rome papers put the
Renner is best known for.)
endorsement from Auto Trader. We’re
Freedom Rally at more than 2,000,000
Editor’s Note:
truly ticked to be mentioned by the
million concerned folks.
Editor’s Note:
mainstream press, but for goodness
There are 5 Bills in the House

Every time white people want
sakes, call us something less ominous.
debating Health Care. NO one knows ex-
to have a good time some crazy cracker

We’re also available in coffee
Even “revolutionary pamphlet” would
actly what is in any of these bills. Some of
wants credit for something they are
shops, record stores, and my mom’s
be cooler than “free media”. Sheesh.
them are more than 1,000 pages long.
supposed to do. What do you want? A
house. P.S. I’m actually best known for
Seriously, though, you’re on our guest
BHO does not know what is any
cookie?
list for the Christmas party, Joe.
3

---

The latest skinny on Rust Belt scoops.
Like Father, Like Son?

Looking for the perfect holiday
Holy Effing *&#@! Cleveland Takes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-

Assad Tayeh owned the Amira Im- present for your little hobgoblin? You gotta First Step to the Moon.
WEdX_RIRw8
perial Beverage store two doors down from
check out Oddmall, a once-a-year freaky

Remember that feeling you got

Could you effing imagine if Cleve-
the home in which Anthony Sowell alleg-
shopping center set up at the Clarion hotel
when you were a kid watching that first
land was the hub of humanity’s effort to
edly murdered up to ten people in East
on Route 8. You’ll find jewelry, art, cloth-
space shuttle take off into the sky, slowly
travel to Mars? We’d be replacing steel with
Cleveland and he says Sowell’s father was a ing, and accessories that look like they were rolling into outer space? Well, NASA is
Star Trek. Don’t let Obama kill this program.
creep in his own right.
stolen from the set of “Lord of the Rings”
about to inspire a new generation of pretend Write in to your local representative and tell

“He was a perv,” says Tayeh. “A
or H.P. Lovecraft’s imagination, which
astronauts with its Constellation program, a
them to push for it in Congress!
real creep. I saw him in action. Used to walk makes sense because it was organized by
plan to get us back to the Moon and on to
around the neighborhood with a
Tell It Like It Is
plastic dick tucked in his pants.

Thank God for social net-
He liked to hit women with it.”
working. Stuff like this is re-
Sowell’s father died a couple
ally getting fun. A
years ago. Tayeh believes the
Cleveland-based revolution-
man knew what his son was do-
ary group called GLUE has a
ing.
plan to brainstorm ways to

Tayeh, himself,
save our region. On Wednes-
smelled death coming from that
day, Nov. 18, they will hold a
area of the street, but figured it
session at Speakeasy, that joint
was the sausage factory in be-
below Bier Markt, called “I
tween their properties. He com-
Will Stay If…” As in:
plained to the owners but they

I Will Stay If…They Re-
were as confused about the
place Steel Mills With Rock-
source as he was. “The smell
etships.
was awful. Customers com-

I Will Stay If…the Browns
plained about it in my store.”
stop sucking.
Sowell, he says, came in often

I Will Stay If…Ohio For-
to buy trash bags. It didn’t seem
gives Student Loan Debt (we
like an odd purchase at the time,
can hope, can’t we?)
but now Tayeh wonders just what went into Andy Hopp, the same dude behind last
Mars. And it all began last week, with a

Suggested donation is $5. Look for
those bags.
month’s Con on the Cobb gaming conven-
launch made possible by Cleveland engi-
special guest Councilman Matt Zone, who

For details about said trash bags
tion. The mall includes vendors like The
neers. A team at Glenn Research Center
will probably stay if you just continue to re-
and the detectives who later discovered their Goblin Toybox, Psycho Reindeer, and It’s a helped design the life-support module on
elect him.
contents, read “House of 1000 Corpses,
Gamer’s Thing. Free and open to the pub-
the Ares I-X rocket that was test fired Octo-
page 5
lic, Saturday, Nov. 7. 10 a.m. to 6. Check
ber 28. The behemoth vessel looked like
into Oddmall.info for more details.
something out of a 1940’s comic about the
SCUTTLEBUTT!
An Oddmall That Isn’t Rolling Acres
future and took off without a hitch. Watch it
again at:
Facebook Funnies: Real status updates from local peeps.
Mike Polk, local comedian: Neither McBride or I want to be Balki tomorrow because we don't want to have to do that voice all night, so we might just both dress as
Larry Appleton and pretend like it was miscommunication on our part. They were either going to a Halloween party or they are much kinkier than law should al-
low.
Subodh Chandra: As Connie Schultz says, “He was worth the wait.” As Sherrod Brown says, “Help. Me.”
Jill Miller Zimon: Pretend you're a first-time candidate for a small city's city council race and there are just four and a half full days left before Election Day - what
would you be doing for the next 48 hours? If it’s an East Cleveland race, I suppose I’d dress up in drag and parade around my living room.
Carl Monday: A four month old baby is hospitalized with crushing injuries to his skull and chest. His parents claim it was an accident - that the baby fell off their couch.
Christ, Monday! Facebook updates are for things like, “is it just me or is Chelsea Handler looking fat” or “leftovers for supper, again [frowning emoticon]”.
For eff’s sake, man!
Alex P. Michaels: Did a great interview with Director Johnny Woo. Got good info on the "future" of the Cleveland film scene. First order of business: creating a
Cleveland film scene.
Former Channel 3 anchor Abby Ham: Does it get any worse than listening to hardcore heavy metal at 5:00 a.m.??? Come back to Cleveland, Abby, and I’ll play any-
thing you want! Also, I’ll play it really loud, since I can no longer “legally” get closer than 50 feet from you. That way you can hear it better. Hey, why did you
leave? Call me!
CLEVELANDINDEPENDENT.COM

---

House of 1000
Corpses
What detectives found
inside the home of the
East Side killer.
By: James Renner
composed it was impossible for us to tell if is, ‘I hope he doesn’t come back and find

He was right. On Saturday, Sowell
they were male of female. The smell…the
me in his lair’.”
was spotted taking a stroll down Kinsman,
It was supposed to be the type of case that
smell was something I’ll never forget. I

Sowell, likely to go down as the
not far from the crime scene. Now the task
comes in spades through the Cleveland Po-
took four showers that first night. It sticks
most prolific killer in Cleveland history
of identifying his victims is the focus of the
lice Sex Crimes Unit. A simple rape, if there to you. I can still smell it on my shoes.”
since the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run
investigation. But it’s not going to be easy.
is such a thing. A woman had escaped from
Then, they started to find bags.
terrified the town during the last Depres-
Sowell preyed on the poor, on adults, in a
the perp’s house after an alleged assault—

In the corner in the bedroom up-
sion, defies understanding. The only analo-
section of town where people go missing ev-
the police had a warrant to search the home stairs was one such bag. Inside, detectives
gies that work come from our nightmares.
ery day.
for her pink shirt. They see something like
discovered a mass of biology, a soupy mix-
“I’ve met dangerous men. And I’m
“The number of missing people in
200 of these cases a year. The detectives
ture that reminded them of decayed pump-
always up for a fight. Man, sometimes I just this fucking city would stagger you. Would
expected to be at the house an
want to throw down, you
boggle your mind. Remember, an adult is not
hour, two hours tops. They
know? I’m not scared of the
really missing just because they didn’t come
expected to arrest Anthony
men I go after. But this one
home. They’re not breaking the law if they
The smell was something
Sowell quietly and return him
puzzles me. I was scared in
disappear, so no one is looking for them.
to jail to face the heat. The
that house. This man is like
They could be wrapped around a crack pipe
only reason they brought
the Devil on Earth. In a cup-
somewhere, after all. Or, they could be float-
I’ll never forget. I took
SWAT with them was because
board in his kitchen there was ing in Lake Erie.
Sowell had a history of
a can of baked beans. I just

“There was a girl. There was this
violence—he’d already served
bought these same baked
one girl. Lived on Edgewater. This was back
four showers that first
15 years on a brutal rape from
beans last week. He eats my
when Free Times was still around. She had
the 80’s. A precaution. Noth-
beans. In some ways, we were an ad in the back of the paper. She was a call
ing more.
alike. But what makes a man
girl for rich men in town. Businessmen. One
night. It sticks to you.

The first sign of
do this? What was different
night, she gets a call from an Arab man. She
something…strange…was
about this man? It was creepy went out with him. He beat the living shit
when SWAT went into the house on Impe-
kin. Was it one body or two? Impossible to that everything in the house was so nonde-
out of her. She didn’t want to press charges
rial Avenue and didn’t come out. When a
tell.
script. It wasn’t like he was making a suit
because she didn’t want what she does for a
member of SWAT finally returned to the

Outside, they found soft soil, a
out of their bodies. They were just laying
living to get out. Two weeks later, she gets a
detectives, all hope of a quick end to the
sign that someone had turned over the
about.”
call from another Arab man. She decides to
case of Anthony Sowell dissolved like so
Earth, there. A rescue dog was brought in,

Wherever Sowell was, they figured meet up with him. And she’s never seen
much smoke above a steel mill. “There’s a
an animal trained to respond to the faintest
he couldn’t be far. He had
again. We know she’s
couple bodies in there. Maybe another in the smell of a buried human. Above that soft
no vehicle. But he was a
dead. Someone got rid of
basement. And Sowell’s gone.”
dirt, it registered a ‘hit’.
scrapper, a master of raid-
a threat. Her body is out

Homicide trumps rape any day. A

They started digging. After two
ing vacant properties and
there somewhere. But we
serial killer? That brings everyone in. A se- scoops, the shovel smacked into something stripping copper piping and
can’t prove it.
rial killer loose on the streets of a major
hard. A large rock. Under the rock was an-
aluminum siding to sell for

“There’s so
metropolitan city? That turns your crime
other bag. In the bag was a spongy mess.
cash. This neighborhood on
many, man. So many.”
scene into ground zero for the national
The house, the basement, the crawlspace,
the East Side is infected by

And Sowell’s
media—and with a mayor up for re-election, the yard…it was like a bad horror flick. “It
foreclosed properties and
case may be an especially
well, it was a perfect storm of fear. And it
was like that movie, “House of 100 Corps-
the serial killer knew just
bitter pill to swallow for
only got worse as the body count climbed.
es.” Everywhere they turned, another vic-
where to hide.
the city of Cleveland. It
tim. Sowell had almost run out of space to

Talk among the
speaks of race relations, a

This is the sort of depraved case
hide them.
detectives was that Sowell
sore reminder of the dis-
that lingers with the crime fighters long af-

“The best way to describe the feel- would be found, but too
parity between white and
ter the last body is packed in a black bag
ing you get inside that house is, like, imag- late. Most assumed that he
black that still exists in
and hauled away to the morgue, the sort of
ine you’re a knight in some fairytale.
would kill himself before
the coverage of crime by
case that haunts you.
There’s a dragon living nearby that is re-
police caught up with him, now that he
local media.

You can hear it in the voice of one sponsible for killing 1000 people in your
knew his secret had been discovered.

Because, the bottom line is simple,
of the men who stepped inside Sowell’s
village. And one day you find his cave. And “Personally, I thought the man was too nar- isn’t it?
home that day.
the dragon’s not there. And you’re inside
cissist to off himself. I thought he was just

If ten white women had disap-

“He was living with these bodies,” the secret home of this most dangerous
sitting around somewhere, maybe smoking
peared, wouldn’t we have known about it
says the detective. “There were two up-
monster. And all you can think at the time
a little last bit of crack, waiting for us to
before their bodies were discovered in some
stairs, laying on the floor. They were so de-
find him.”
dragon’s lair?
5

---

Louis “Babe” Triscaro
Dr. Mob
After retirement, a local physician
breaks his silence about caring for
the Cleveland ‘family’.
By: James Renner
welfare funds. A vessel had ruptured high
18. This boy was following him all the way guy.”
Throughout the 60’s and 70’s, members of
inside the man’s nasal cavity and no one
to the parking lot. When they got there,
Danny
Shondor Birns
the Cleveland branch of La Cosa Nostra
could stop it. By the time he arrived
there was only one spot in which to park. As Greene
fought each other for control of organized
Triscaro had already lost a lot of blood. “He soon as Birns pulled in, they blew the car.
was later
crime on the banks of the North Shore. The
showed up with this big guy named Moose
This boy saw the whole thing. Afterward,
killed by another car bomb, outside the of-
front page of the Cleveland Press (may she
and an attractive redhead who was not his
the kid ski-doo’ed. He could have died.”
fice of another doctor (Hollywood has just
rest in peace) was often covered by the
wife,” he says. “Everyone on staff had to go
In December, 1968, the good doc-
adapted his life story; shot in Detroit—an
black and white images of the blown up cars through Moose before doing anything to
tor came to know a guy named John Calan-
insult we’ll never really get over).
and burnt up bodies of made men. The few
Triscaro.”
dra. Calandra was the right-hand-man of

A well-known Cleveland police
who survived had the need for medical at-

The only way to staunch the
boss Jack ‘White’ Licavoli. He was part of
lieutenant also dropped by for some food. A
tention, and sought out physicians whom
bleeder was to pack the man’s nose with
the team who operated on him to fix a prob- couple large men dressed in black ducked
they could keep in confidence. Some of
gauze, really shove the stuff up there—an
lem Calandra was having with his voice.
out when they caught sight of the lawman,
those doctors are retiring, finally ready and
excruciatingly painful procedure.
but no one else flinched.
able to speak of their adventures. Last week, Eventually, though, they got it
Eventually, Calandra
the Independent met with one such doctor at stopped.
joined him at the table—the
an undisclosed restaurant to hear tale of

According to the doctor
Italian-speaking man si-
He wouldn’t accept
those criminals who
“He was so happy, he
lently gave up his seat. “All
once controlled the
lined us all up and
these people love me,” said
city before the politi-
gave each of us doc-
Calandra, looking around
cians and corporations
tors $50 on his way
the courtyard. “Someone
‘no’ for an answer.
beat them at their own
out. I didn’t want to
told me I should read the
games.
accept it. I didn’t want
Godfather before I came

He was a
to be hooked in. But he
here,” the doctor replied.
young man in 1961,
wouldn’t accept ‘no’ for an

“Calandra was always apprecia-
Calandra laughed. “They’re all here,” he
fresh out of med
answer. The doctor who had
tive,” he says. “He invited me to his birth-
said. “The bookies, all the way up. Every-
school, when he began
packed his nose was invited
day party up on Murray Hill. ‘I’d like to
one.”
attending to the needs
down to his home in Ft. Lau-
invite you because you cared for me,’ he

Later, when Calandra met the doc-
of infamous crooks
derdale.
told me. I asked a colleague of mine if I
tors wife, he asked if they were swingers. A
inside the halls of St.

“Some of the staff even
should go and he said, ‘Don’t miss it. You’ll compliment to some, but the doctor declined.
Danny
Luke’s hospital on the
went out to his house. From
be all right. Just read the Godfather before

In 1982, as the mafia’s hold on
Greene
East Side. It was al-
what I was told there was a
you go.’”
Cleveland was subverted by politicians but
ways easy to recognize
turret set into the front of his

The birthday was held in a court-
mostly their own hubris, Calandra was con-
a patient who was
home, which was manned 24-
yard behind a popular restaurant. In the
victed on RICO charges along with Licavoli.
“connected”—they
7.”
middle a giant pig roasted on a spit. To the
He died in prison.
were the ones who

He got to know lesser-
side was a pile of treasures; golf bags,

The doctor has no regrets. If any-
came in surrounded by
connected men, too, con-
leather jackets, all sorts of stuff. But Calan-
thing, he seems to treasure the stories his
bodyguards and mistresses.
siglieres still unknown to the feds who
dra was nowhere to be found.
well-known patients bestowed on him. And

This particular doctor was there the hunted them. “I know the fella who was

The doctor took a seat next to a
finally, he can talk about it. Some of it, at
day Louis “Babe” Triscaro came in with a
with Shondor Birns the night he was blown man who appeared to only speak Italian and least.
nosebleed. Triscaro was a local Teamster of up downtown,” says the doctor. “He had a
watched the crowd part to admit an Irish-

“It was a silent world,” he says,
some ill repute, a lieutenant of Jimmy
young Italian fella with him that night, but
man dressed head-to-toe in green. “I was
with a certain whimsy. “If they were shot,
Hoffa’s, later busted for skimming union
the kid chose to drive separately. He was
introduced to Mr. Greene,” he says. “Nice
they wouldn’t even tell who shot them.”
ADVERTISE WITH US
Our Rates Are 70% Less,
Than Those Other Guys
Jen W.
Alice
216-299-9771
440-429-2116
6

---

Lee Fisher
Forgets His
Primary
By: Tim Russo
ning out – the filing deadline, in February
When Cordray was appointed to
son authored, and Republican big money
of 2010, is only three months away.
the attorney general slot made available by
supported Issue 6. Entering this reeking dung
When you’ve lost your last two statewide
What to do? Fisher’s been going in Marc Dann’s resignation,
heap if you have a primary in May, is a re-
elections, how do you guarantee a win on
for the kill, because he and his campaign
Hughlock followed
ally strange choice,
the third try? Make sure your name is the
surely understand that if Brunner files, she
Cordray to the AG office.
especially if you’re
only one on the ballot.
is likely to win.
Hughlock’s blogging days
Lee Fisher.
Lee Fisher thinks he’s accom-
Rumors continue to circulate that
were done, but he always
Lee Fisher
plished just that. Unfortunately for Lee
Fisher supporters are actively discouraging kept ownership of the do-
hasn’t taken many
Fisher’s US Senate campaign, Jennifer
donors who would otherwise donate to
main name of his blog, as
memorable stands in
Brunner has other
Brunner, with
others took over the writ-
Cuyahoga County in
plans.
threats of lost
ing duties.
his 30-year career.

After
He and his campaign state business,
On October 20,
Governor Ted Strick-
losing his re-elec-
lost access, or Hughlock emailed the writ-
land, who faces a
tion for attorney
other largesse. ers on BSB, urging them to
tough re-election, and
surely understand
general in 1994,
The Indepen- declare Brunner’s candi-
Senator Sherrod
and then the gov-
dent has
dacy dead, saying, “It
Brown, who doesn’t,
that if Brunner files,
ernorship to Bob
learned from
seems pretty obvious to me
both have stayed miles
Taft, in 1998, Lee
sources in her that Brunner has no sup-
away from the disas-
she is likely to win.
Fisher has tired of
campaign that port for this Senate bid at
ter.
this whole, messy,
Bruner has
all.” BSB’s anonymous
Fisher’s own
election thing. So Lee got placed into the
recently received a good number of contri-
front pager Modern Esquire, a Brunner sup- consultant, Alan Melamed, is also the con-
lieutenant governor’s office by Ted Strick-
butions totaling $199.99 – a penny under
porter, published the email, and told
sultant for the competing Issue 5, which is
land in 2006, largely as an effort to kneecap the amount that triggers federal require-
Hughlock to go fly a kite. No one knows
backed by a large chunk of what’s left of the
Strickland’s then primary opponent Eric
ments to disclose a donor’s name and ad-
why Hughlock would urge the writers on
institutional Democratic Party base in Cuya-
Fingerhut.
dress.
the
hoga County. Organized labor, the black
Since then, Lee’s been on the hunt This can
blog he community, Hispanics, commissioner Peter
for an easy waltz into his next statewide
only
still
Lawson Jones, Congresswoman Marcia
seat. When Secretary of State Jennifer
mean
owns
Fudge, even the Cuyahoga County Demo-
Brunner beat Lee to the punch in February, one
to write cratic Party itself, have all endorsed Issue 5.
2009, by announcing her candidacy for the
thing –
some-
Guess this makes Issue 6 supporting Demo-
US Senate seat being vacated by Republican donors
thing
crat Lee Fisher a maverick!
George Voinovich in 2010, Lee put Opera-
are con-
so pa-
Lee’s also just claimed some level
tion Open Primary into overdrive.
cerned
tently
of ownership of Cuyahoga County chaos go-
Lee quickly raised a big bunch of
that once
false – ing forward. If both Cuyahoga reform issues
money and gathered up the usual endorse-
their
Hughl pass, a very messy battle will ensue. If Issue
ments that tend to keep other candidates out name
ock
6 alone loses, so does Lee. If Issue 6 passes
of an Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) prima- appears
de-
and Issue 5 fails, Lee owns Issue 6’s results,
ry. Lee took a few shots across Brunner’s
on Brunner’s FEC filing, their next call is
clined comment for this article. But it’s
whatever they may be, including any Repub-
bow, at her family, just to show her who’s
from Lee Fisher.
likely there is credit to be had from the
lican gains, potential future indictments, and
boss. He was left with egg on his face for
Ohio’s political bloggers have no- Fisher camp if one is seen to be helping
other assorted unpredictable tiptoes through
that misstep, thanks mostly to the blogging
ticed, not least because they, too, are on the Fisher force Brunner out, credit which
the FBI tulips.
community he doesn’t understand. In the
receiving end of the anti-Brunner pressure. Hughlock opportunistically sought for him-
By endorsing Issue 6, Lee Fisher
meantime, quarterly finance reports keep
Ohio’s main lefty blog, Buckeye State Blog self, however meager.
also further fractures his already shaky Cuy-
showing a big gap in favor of Fisher.
(BSB), almost blew up in March after the
None of this has pushed Jennifer
ahoga County base in the May primary
Statewide mainstream media plays Fisher campaign tried to edit a BSB video
Brunner out of the race. In fact, despite a
against Brunner. Fisher has just told practi-
along. The Plain
interview of
campaign staff
cally every
Dealer, the Colum-
Fisher before
shakeup and
major
bus Dispatch, and
it was posted
the tough
Demo-
every lazy Ohio
online. The
fundraising
cratic con-
reporter on a cam-
endless press
environment,
stituency
paign consultant’s
releases from
Brunner ap-
in his own
speed dial spent
the Fisher
pears more
home
last summer gid-
campaign to
likely than
county to
dily painting Brun-
Ohio bloggers ever to file.
take a fly-
ner as on her way
fill inboxes
Brunner’s lat-
ing leap, in
out, and Fisher on
almost daily.
est statements
favor of
his way to the
In October,
indicate they
the Repub-
nomination.
BSB’s found- may actually file their petitions to get on the lican-funded Issue 6.
They’ve seen state-
er, Russell
ballot early.
In the real world, the one where Lee
wide Democrats
Hughlock,
And still Lee Fisher acts like he’s
Fisher faces Jennifer Brunner in a Demo-
jump in and jump
sniffing the
got the US Senate primary ballot all to him- cratic primary in May, this is a fool’s errand.
out before filing
prevailing
self.
In Lee Fisher’s world, it must make perfect
day for the last several cycles – nothing new wind, clumsily stepped into the fray from
On October 28, Fisher inexplicably sense—a sign of an out of touch and out-
here!
his taxpayer funded position in state gov-
waddled into the Cuyahoga County mess,
dated campaign, a sign of weakness. All the
But eight months later, Jennifer
ernment.
endorsing the Plain Dealer pimped, Bill Ma- more reason for Jennifer Brunner to file her
Brunner is still standing. And time is run-
petition, already.
7

---

FILM
Super
We are having a
Directing,
huge party on
Not-so-
Super
By: KTCV
Come out and party with the staff!
Hero Tomorrow is the story of an aspiring
comic book writer named David. David

This film was shot well. It has a
works for his friend’s landscaping com-
very stylized look that reminds the viewer
pany by day. By night he works on the
of a comic book. In one particular scene,
superhero character he is creating, Apa-
David and Robyn are consummating their
ma.
relationship in the comic book store
More info to come next issue

David lives with his friend, Greg
(natch) after closing. The lights are off in
and his father. David doesn’t pay rent, and the shop, and the windows are covered in
this becomes a point of contention be-
dark, blue-toned comic pages and backlit,
tween the three men. David has a girl-
so you only see the silhouette of David
friend, Robyn, who works as a
and Robyn. An ingenious shot, and proba-
knowledgeable clerk at Hero Tomorrow, a bly my favorite moment in the film. In
local comic shop and moonlights as an
another scene, David and Robyn go to see
Cleveland Bigfoot Captured by Hollywood
aspiring fashion designer.
some local performance art. The story
When David attends fashion
they see involves a giant squid who was
Congratulations to local filmmaker Bob Gray
events with Robyn, class issues become
captured frozen, sold to City Buddha. Af-
whose movie BIGFOOT, which shot in Cleveland
apparent as she alternately tries to inflate
ter thawing out, the squid meets a girl,
a couple years ago, was just picked up by Troma,
the importance of David’s position at the
and gets a job fact-checking for the
the production and distribution company behind
landscaping company and convince David Cleveland Post. An odd bit of random, but
such cult classics as “Toxic Avenger” and “Surf
to make a good impression so that some-
very entertaining.
Nazis Must Die”. The film stars local hottie Liza
one in the design firm might hire him.

Plotlines in the story are a bit
Foster and one really big guy in a cool Bigfoot
For the big design firm costume
muddled. I felt like the story jumped into
suit (the kind of Bigfoot that would make Harry
party, Robyn
convenient ar-
and the Hendersons shiver with fear!). BIGFOOT
makes David
eas without
An odd bit of random,
will have a limited theatrical run and be released
an Apama
much
on DVD. Visit Troma.com for all the goods.
costume. At
exposition.
but very entertaining.
the party,
The characters
tensions come to a head between David
were kind of flat and not entirely relat-
Lakewood is Notoriously Fond of Hitchcock
and Robyn, and also David and roommate
able. The actors portraying the characters
Greg. Greg berates David for not paying
didn’t really help the two dimensional
Hitchcock fans should flock to Lakewood Library Saturday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. for a pre-
rent and not buying food, and this esca-
characters with stilted dialogue and mo-
sentation on great WWII-era filmmaking, followed by a screening of “Notorious”, one
lates into a physical altercation, embar-
ments of overacting. However, there were
of Hitchcock’s most suspenseful films.
rassing Robyn in front of her fashion
a couple magical exceptions where every-
industry peers.
thing works, and works well. Jocelyn Wr-
Following a breakup, David dis-
zosek, who portrayed Robyn, was
Submit!
appears, but not before stealing the money generally good, with the exception of the
from Greg’s father’s secret stash. He
overplayed tension between Robyn and
The Ohio Independent Film Fest is currently accepting
spends his days in the Metroparks in his
her mother. Ray McNiece as Larry, the
submissions for scripts for their annual screenplay
Apama costume, sustaining himself on a
comic shop owner, was a fun
contest and films for next year’s fest. Check out
steady dose of weed and shrooms. Trip-
character. Perren Hedderson played Da-
ping, David convinces himself that he has
vid, and while nice to look at, his delivery
OhioFilms.com
become Apama, and fancies himself a vig- could use some Cleveland charisma.
ilante. His first vigilante act? Beating up a

All in all, this film is gorgeously
A.P.E in 3D!!!
The Cove
Buster Keaton
bully who took some poor kid’s Hallow-
shot, but a bit more work on delivery and
TOP
Short Films
een candy.
characterization could have saved the
Cedar Lee
Cinematheque
Soon, Apama’s acts are becom-
day. I give it 2.5 out of 5 ZOK!s.
November 7
November 8
Cinematheque
FILM
ing more and more serious, making local
9:30 & Midnight 9:20 p.m.
November 13
news. David is so blitzed most of the time
“Hero Tomorrow” is available on DVD at
PICKS
7:30 p.m.
that he doesn’t even remember doing
HeroTomorrow.com
them. (Cue mind-blowing plot twist.)

---

D
O
O
F
FOOD
giant potato pancakes. Look at that thing – it
think, “Wow, that really smells like Dune
get blasted, and all you want is a burger spe-
just grins, “EAT ME.” And trust me – no
Grass and Berries, how’d they do that?” The
cial – problem solved. They have everything
The
matter how sober, you’re gonna to have to
Blueberry Ale would impress Wonka him-
from Thai food to Italian to Just Plain Bad
break out the shoveling technique, so just
self. And the Pilgrim Pumpkin is like sip-
For You. Clear your sinuses with the sur-
own it. It’s like a 24-hour-diner made love
ping on a spiked
prisingly spicy
DISH with a drunken Irishman. There’s enough spice rack. If their
Asian Nachos,
By:
grease to rebound the oncoming hangover,
Christmas brew is
or try a classic
Sarah Kotzman and enough meat to force a food coma.
just as good, I’m
plate with a
Drunk Food
Served with a heap of thick, perfectly bat-
thinking Great
twist: the ten-
tered fries, some say it may be potato over-
Lakes might have
der Pretzel

Cleveland, I’ve found it. Some-
load – I say, no such thing. Bring on the
some real compe-
Crusted
thing I know you will thank me for… THE
heart attack, at least I’ll die full.
tition this year.
Chicken
ULTIMATE DRUNK FOOD. It’s genius.
It’s only fitting that the ultimate drunk food
Gasp! Blasphemy,
Breast.
The bad boy of chow; the king of midnight
would be served at a brewery – experts of
you say? I’m go-
So here’s the
mow-downs: The Potato Pancake Reuben at
intoxication know what drunks need: a non-
ing back for a
dish: Rocky
Rocky River
chalant
taste duel.
River Brewing
Brewing Com-
scene

Now it’s
Company is a
It’s like a 24-hour-diner made
pany.
straight out
not just beer and
friendly, Aver-

That’s
of “Cheers”,
bar food – RRBC
age-Joe setting
right, screw
and vats of
also serves up a
with some not-
love with a drunken Irishman.
bread – they
beer. Most of
full menu of just
so-average
serve the sandwich sans such. Instead, it
their microbrews taste as you’d expect, but
about everything.
brews and
comes on a platter of greasy starch, and peo-
the specialty brews are outstanding, and
So if your dad
grub, both
ple love it. It’s a mountain of finely shaved
packed with uncanny flavor – kind of like
wants a three-course meal, your girlfriend
crafted with attention to detail and spice.
corned beef and kraut slapped inside two
when you smell a Yankee Candle and you
only likes ethnic, your coworkers want to
Check out webisodes of the Dish at CLEVELANDINDEPENDENT.COM
a casual dining experience in a formerly
leave? Who the hell took the reservation for
there’s been no reply, no phone call, no
piss-elegant space. Casual shouldn’t trans-
9 p.m. without hesitation? Why do they list
email.
late as careless, clumsy
and rude.
a 10 p.m. closing in print and online? Now
The Food Fairy has been called a
On the first
lot of things (yeah,
visit, I complained to
don’t get me started!),
The Food Fairy was drawn into a
front-of-the-house
but unfair isn’t one of
partner, Cole Davis,
them. So with my
pissing contest with one of their
BY: Mark R.
who verbally acknowl-
partner in tow, meta-
edged the lapses in
phorically kicking and
Mackert
more experienced servers.
service, but blamed
screaming, we ven-
Oh No, AMERICANO!
the youth and inexpe-
tured back to Ameri-
Long before The Food Fairy started sharing
rience of new hires. Things like water
brace yourselves! Dinner went downhill
cano (visit #4) on the off chance they’d
extraordinary insights about edibles, we had
glasses removed during dessert (not refilled,
from there with the server saying he’d have
gotten their act together. This time The
dinner at Americano, Original Great Lakes
just removed), forgotten requests (“You
some bread “dropped” at our table (isn’t that
Food Fairy was drawn into a pissing contest
Bistro, at One Bratenahl Place. Four, count
didn’t want coffee, did you?”), and phantom
an appetizing thought – droppings on the
with one of their more experienced
‘em, four times in all. Because of its conve-
flatware (duh!) were viewed as trifles to be
table?) and some bizarre story about a short-
servers. In response to, “But I didn’t order
nience, we hoped it would be the last in the
corrected. We
age of chicken.
calamari.” She said, “Yeah, you did!” It
endless line of restaurants to open, then
were assured
Is it being ra-
was replaced, but WTF? One of the clueless
close, in this location (a very long story).
that veteran
tioned? This
young staff asked if we had been told about
We really hoped it would succeed; so acces-
servers who
same yahoo in-
the specials. “No,” we said in rapt
sible, on the lake, and with ample free park-
were all off
sisted that a po-
anticipation. She offered, “Oh, your server
ing.
that night
tato, leek, wild
better tell you. I’m not very good at
It seemed the right mix with cre-
(say what?)
mushroom cream
it.” Huh? Was there some point in asking us
ative young chef, Vytauras Sasnauskus, who
would be on
soup, served hot,
if she had no intention of telling us? You
is clearly committed to all things artisanal.
deck for our
was vichyssoise.
can’t make this stuff up!
All condiments, pickles, sauces and breads
next visit.
You really don’t
Not once in four visits was anyone
are crafted in house (even the ketchup for
A
want to hear the
at the hostess station when we left to ask if
chrissakes). He cures his own meats and
phoned reser-
rest.
everything was satisfactory; to thank us for
creates sensational sausages. We mused that
vation pre-
So The
coming to Americano; or at a minimum sim-
what the menu lacked in restraint and nu-
ceded another
Food Fairy did
ply say goodnight. That, boys and girls,
ance might come with experience and matu-
visit: dinner,
the appropriate
screams “attitude” and that, to paraphrase
rity.
Saturday, 9
thing, as the
Martha Stewart, is not a good thing.
Despite this glowing potential, the
p.m., table for
PD’s Joe Crea
Americano, now repeat after me:
food is too frequently several strong flavors
two. We were
once advised:
1.
Fabulous food doesn’t stand a
competing for attention in a single dish, like
prompt, but
Wait until the
chance without good service.
dueling divas in a bitch brawl for center
the hostess
smoke stops
2.
Ignore customer
stage. But who can talk seriously about the
station is usu-
coming out of
comments/complaints at your
menu? The Food Fairy is stuck at the same
ally vacant, so
your ears, (it
peril.
question he first asked a year ago:
being seated
took a week), sit
3.
Don’t fuck with The Food
“Who do you have to fuck to get
can take a
down and write
Fairy
decent service in this place?”
while. Finally our young server (nary a
the restaurant a calm and well-documented
The food can be fabulous and the
promised pro in sight) arrived tableside and
letter detailing date, time, specific issues
Read the Food Fairy’s “Hot
kitchen creativity pure genius, but lack of
said verbatim, “Guys, let me cut right to the
and signed with your name, address, phone
Flashes” foodie news at
attention to service will kill a restaurant. I
chase, the kitchen is closing soon and you’re
number and email address. Yeah, we did
was told the goal at Americano is to provide
my last table.” Why didn’t he just tell us to
exactly that on March 24, 2009. To date
www.clevelandindependent
9

---

By: Ruthie Koenigsmark
for a unique gift as well as art collectors
The first Screw Factory Artists Open Studio
looking to add to their collections.” The
was conceived a couple of years ago by a
Open Studio has grown in attendance from
group of artists with studios in the Lake Erie
a few dozen art lovers to a few hundred at
Screw Building. They saw it as a way to
their last event, one of the sought-after Hol-
meet potential patrons and display their
iday Art events of the season.
work in the intimate and non-competitive

The composition of participating
atmosphere of their own studios. Phyllis
artists in the Holiday Open Studio is di-
Fannin, Printmaker and 15-year resident of
verse, varying in career stages and artistic
the Screw Factory now known as the Lake
styles, mediums, and methods. Not only do
Erie Building, was one of the Artists who
they create art, they are also devoted con-
collaborated with Tom Jordan, former Pub-
tributors, administrators, gallery directors,
lic Relations Director for the City of Lake-
students, designers, freelancers, writers,
wood and Ralph Lukich, the Building’s
musicians, entrepreneurs, lecturers, cura-
Manager, to help make the first Open Studio
tors, and board members. DeSantis feels
become a reality. Invited guests strolled
that this group is an outstanding resource
from studio to studio, conversed with the
for any organization, school or business in
artists, and experienced first-hand the cre-
need of creative outlet or service.
ative energy of this unique community.

This Year’s Lake Erie Building
Much of the credit for the continued success
Holiday Open Studio includes work from
of the Artists’ Open Studio events now goes
over 20 resident artists including: Ann
to Gina DeSantis whose vision and dedica-
Brown, Gina DeSantis, Robert Durr, Mi-
tion has helped expand the next generation
chael Hudecek, Peter Jennings, Karen Jew-
of promotion of the Screw Factory Artists.
ell-Kett, Phyllis Kohring Fannin, Chad

“The Holiday Open Studio events
Hansen, Marc Konys, Chrissy Lapossy,
attract a wide array of attendees,” says De-
Level Design, Christine Mason, Michelle
Santis. “We get people who are searching
Mowery, M.C. Nagel, Mary Beth Norton,
Cont. On pg. 17
ART PICKS ART PICKS
ART PICKS ART PICKS
ART PICKS ART PICKS
Friday, November 6, 2009
* Cool Art! * Great Food! * Live Mu- Friday Nov 13,
ock and Cleveland Slam Poet, Ray McNeice
sic!
Fridgidart, 6 – 11pm -Opening reception
and YOU! www.tombullockforohio.com
6-10 PM
An exhibition of artwork produced from
La Boca 5800 Detroit Avenue Happy Hour
-An exhibi-
http://cantonfirstfriday.com
reclaimed refrigerator doors
Specials 4pm-9pm, Program starts at 7pm
tion by John Ryan
Curated by Daiv Wailey and Dana L. De-
Friday and Saturday, November
Saturday, November 7
pew
20 & 21
1667 East 40 St., Unit 1-A
Holiday Open Studio
featuring a musical performance by the Flat ARTscape Friday Preview 4:30pm-
Cleveland, Ohio 44103
Lake Erie Building
Can Company
9:00pm, Saturday 11-5pm
Opening Reception 7pm-10pm
Show runs through Dec 5 generously spon-
Join MOCA for Cleveland’s hippest holiday
13000 Athens Lakewood
sored by Whole Foods Market and Pabst
shopping experience. Regional and national
Arts Collinwood
Works by Amy Casey
3pm-9pm
www.asteriskgallery.com 2393 Professor
artists come together to showcase a variety
15605 Waterloo Rd · Cleveland
The Art and Soul Show, 6pm-10pm
Ave, in historic Tremont 330-304-8528
of jewelry, fine art, and one-of-a-kind gifts
(216) 692-9500
Works by Dexter Davis, Derrick Quaries,
Tuesday, November 17
for everyone on your list. MOCA Members
Prosperity Jewelry & Diane Moira Duncan
Politics and Poetry: Renewing Our Com- FREE / $5 General Public
Downtown Canton Arts District
Pentagon Gallery 3102 Mayfield Rd Cleve- munity Through the Power of Word
MOCA 8501 Carnegie Avenue Cleveland
FIRST FRIDAY
land Heights 216.321.3362
Open Mic ..Featuring Performances by:
mocacleveland.org
State Representative Candidate, Tom Bull-
175 E. Main, Downtown Kent 330-677-5005
11/4 Digable Planets: Doodlebug & Butterfly
11/6 Greg Brown & Jorma Kaukonen
11/7 Del McCoury Band
11/11 Old Crow Medicine Show
11/12 Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zero
11/13 Kidney Bros./Cats on Holiday/Carlos Jones
11/14 Banjo Dance
11/17 Medeski Martin & Wood
11/20 Will Hoge
11/21 Jonathan Edwards and Brewer & Shipley
11/22 Boombox
Tickets & Info @ www.kentstage.org

---