2024 Lenten fish fry guide, Monster Jam at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Jo Dee Messina at TempleLive & more

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Entertainment | Music | Events

THIS WEEK'S TOP PICKS

Fish fry guide 2024: Best non-profit fish frys in NE Ohio

Across Greater Cleveland, non-profit fish frys kick off this week. Churches, scouts, VFW halls and others will be serving up a river of fish – from cod to halibut, perch and more along with pierogis, mac and cheese and other tasty side dishes. Fish frys remain a popular tradition across the region, and our guide will tell you who is serving what and when. READ MORE

Best restaurant fish fry specials in Greater Cleveland

It’s fish fry time in Northeast Ohio now that the Catholic Lenten season has hit, and Greater Cleveland restaurants are adjusting menus in honor. Cleveland.com gathered a list of more than 50 local restaurants offering fish fry options for Lent, whether its a regular menu staple or a seasonal special. READ MORE

Monster Jam

Be amazed as 12,000-pound Monster Jam trucks face off. During the weekend, eight experienced drivers will demonstrate their abilities in freestyle, skills, donuts and racing competitions in the Arena Championship Series East. The first female series champion, Krysten Anderson in the legendary Grave Digger, will compete to retain the championship trophy for another year. Tickets start at $20. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland. Feb. 16 – 18. DETAILS

Portugal. The Man

Portugal. The Man, the innovative alternative-rock band known for its single, “Feel It Still,” performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Agora, 5000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. They will be there to promote their new album, “Chris Black Changed My Life.” Tickets, $42.50 - $89, are available at axs.com. 216-881-2221. DETAILS

Cleveland Orchestra presents “The Princess Bride” in concert

Enjoy a screening of the classic film while the orchestra accompanies along live with the score. Severance Music Center, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. 7:30 p.m., Feb. 16. DETAILS

Cleveland Orchestra presents Ravel’s “Mother Goose”

Conductor George Benjamin leads The Cleveland Orchestra in a night featuring works by Ammann, Benjamin and Knussen, culminating in a performance of Ravel’s ballet score. Tickets start at $39. Severance Music Center, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. 8 p.m., Feb. 17. DETAILS

John Crist Live

Fast-rising comic and social-media star brings his “Emotional Support Tour” to Cleveland for one night only. Tickets start at $29.75. Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. 7 p.m., Feb. 18. DETAILS

Cleveland Play House presents “The Play That Goes Wrong”

Enjoy a night of mischief and mishaps as a drama society’s new production quickly falls apart in hilarious ways. Tickets $49-$95. Allen Theatre, 1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Through March 3. DETAILS

'Murder on the Orient Express'

Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” follows passengers who are stranded with a killer in their midst. Detective Poirot must determine who stabbed one American tycoon eight times in his locked compartment. Tickets $20 to $89. Through March 3. Hanna Theatre at Playhouse Square, 1501 Euclid Ave. Ste. 200, Cleveland. DETAILS

Tobogganing at the Chalet

Find your thrill in the chill at the Cleveland Metroparks’ Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville, tobogganing on one of two 700-foot refrigerated ice chutes. Reservations required. Tickets $13-$15. 16200 Valley Pkwy, Strongsville. Through Feb. 25 (weather permitting). DETAILS

The Rink at Wade Oval

You don’t have to be an aspiring Olympic figure skater to have fun at this ice skating rink in the heart of the museum district in University Circle. It’s all about having fun and making memories. Admission with skate rentals $5-$10. Wade Oval Dr., Cleveland. Through Feb. 25. DETAILS

Jo Dee Messina in concert

Grammy-nominated country singer brings her “Heads Carolina, Tails California” tour in for a stop in Northeast Ohio. Tickets start at $35. Temple Live - Cleveland Masonic, 3615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. 8 p.m., Feb. 16. DETAILS

Rock the Foundation: A Magical Night

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation’s 18th annual signature event includes food stations, open bar, live music as well as readings throughout the night from psychics, palmists and tarot card readers. Tickets are $150 or $50 for late (9 p.m.) admission. Special VIP reception begins at six for extra cost. Music Box Supper Club, 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland. 7 p.m., Feb. 17. DETAILS

Orchids Forever: Golden Hours

Cleveland Botanical Garden’s annual orchids show returns, this time to showcase the colors of sunrise and sunset. The beautiful and fragrant displays feature species such as Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium and Oncidium. Tickets $14-$20. Members free. 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland. Through Mar. 17. DETAILS

Skiing and Tubing

Feel the cold rush of winter as you schuss down the mountain at one of Northeast Ohio’s ski resorts. Most of the trails and lifts at Brandywine/Boston Mills and Alpine Valley are open daily, while the Polar Blast Tubing Park at Brandywine is open on weekends. Lift tickets $24-$61. Tubing $34.

The Breakfast at the Bookstore

Karamu House presents the world premiere of Cleveland playwright Lisa Langford’s dark comedy that interweaves stories of the Black liberation movement of the 1970s with encounters with aliens. Tickets $35-$45. 2355 E. 89th St., Cleveland. Through Feb. 18. DETAILS

At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen

Dobama Theatre presents the Ohio premiere of this irreverent and moving play about the fine art of drag, from African Gods and Goddesses to Trina and Whitney Houston. Tickets $5-$45. 2340 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. Through Feb. 18. DETAILS

Third Friday Art Walk at 78th Street Studios

Northeast Ohio’s largest fine arts complex hosts its monthly art walk. Shop dozens of galleries, check out the work of guest artisans, watch live performances and more. Free. 1300 West 78th St., Cleveland. 5-9 p.m., Feb. 16. DETAILS

Akron Lunar New Year Celebration

Usher in the Year of the Dragon with an afternoon filled with food from local restaurants, crafts, a performance by local performers and more. Night will conclude with fireworks. Tickets $5. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St. 3:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., Feb. 18. DETAILS

Midwinter Tunes

Enjoy an evening of musical acts, dance performances, visual arts & artists and much more at the Akron Art Museum. Admission is free, but registration is required. 1 S. High St., Akron. 6 p.m. - 10 p.m., Feb. 17. DETAILS

RETOLD: African American Art & Folklore

Akron Art Museum exhibit includes art from the Wesley and Missy Cochran Collection and focuses on four themes: remembering, religion, racialization and resistance. Admission is free on Thursdays. Museum hours are Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 1 S. High St., Akron. Through March 24. DETAILS

Cleveland Cocoa Run

Family-friendly event includes both 5K run and 1K walk options. Participants receive a shirt, medal and cup of cocoa. Registration $35. Voinovich Park, 800 E. 9th St. Pier, Cleveland. 10 a.m., Feb. 17. DETAILS

Craftacular Nature Day

Lake Metroparks invites you to bring the kids out for the Presidents’ Day holiday at the Environmental Learning Center Open House. Enjoy what nature has to offer as you make your own personal craft project. Free. Jordan Creek Park, 7250 Alexander Rd., Concord Twp. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Feb. 19. DETAILS

BKYLN the Musical

Near West Theatre’s new production is a play within a play about a young Parisian singer who travels to America in search of her estranged father and ends up sparking a rivalry with New York City’s reigning diva. Tickets $5-$20. 6702 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. Through Feb. 18. DETAILS

'Mother Courage and Her Children'

EnsembleTheater is presenting “Mother Courage and Her Children,” perhaps one of Bertolt Brecht’s greatest works. Social criticism of war and injustice, it is set in the seventeenth century during the Thirty Years’ War. The story line follows Mother Courage who survives by running a commissary business that profits from all sides. Tickets $25 to $75. Feb. 9-25. The Performing Arts Center at Notre Dame College, 4545 College Rd. South Euclid. DETAILS

FOOD & DINING

Choolaah brings a healthy, flavorful Indian spin to dining scene

Choolaah opened its third Greater Cleveland fast-casual restaurant in Crocker Park at the end of 2023, and cleveland.com got a behind-the-scenes look at the latest location. The Indian restaurant has a set up similar to Chipotle, but with flavors and spice combinations unlike anywhere else. READ MORE

Cocktails on the Rails

Hop on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad for a night of bourbon, cocktails and appetizers. $15 discount for designated drivers includes appetizers and two non-alcoholic drinks. Tickets are $72. Excursion is 21 and over only. Passengers are asked to arrive 45 minutes prior to departure time. CVSR Northside Station, 27 Ridge Rd., Akron. 6:30 p.m., Feb. 16. DETAILS

The Eye Opener

The Eye Opener in Akron’s Wallhaven area offers breakfast and lunch but also satiates those who want to imbibe a bit earlier in the day with a full Bloody Mary and Mimosa menu. Breakfast sandwiches are hearty, the traditional lunch menu includes salads and other fare, and the E.O. Boughnut – a deep-fried biscuit sprinkled in sugar and topped with Crooked River jam – is not to be missed. The decor is all about Akron pride. It’s at 1688 W. Market St., Akron. DETAILS

Landmark Smokehouse

Some of the best barbecue on the West Side of Cleveland comes from Landmark Smokehouse. The daily dinner menu is always reliable, but the true star is the brunch. A breakfast burrito loaded with smoked brisket or latkes loaded with eggs and pulled pork are just a few favorites. Plus, they make a mean spicy Bloody Mary. Landmark Smokehouse is at 11637 Clifton Blvd., Cleveland. DETAILS

Literary Tavern

One of the quaintest little dining spots in Tremont. When there’s a chill in the air, head over and park it by the window with a glass of wine and dinner and watch the world go by. Delicious menu and inspired daily specials notwithstanding, we are big fans of the calamari arrabiata. Their handheld chicken shawarma, wrapped in warm, pillowy naan with cucumber, feta, red onion, roasted tomatoes and a black garlic sauce, is among “15 great bites under $15” we feature in a future newsletter. 1031 Literary Rd., Cleveland. DETAILS

Crumb & Spigot, Chagrin Falls and Lakewood

Carnivores and vegans will both find creative dining options at Crumb & Spigot in Chagrin Falls and Lakewood. The menu offers a beef sloppy joe and one with a mix of mushrooms, black beans and farro on a vegan bun with arugula salad. Spaghetti squash, cauliflower steak and vegan lasagna are far from punishment for the meat-free. 16783 Chillicothe Rd., Chagrin Falls and 15322 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, DETAILS

DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast

If you like food and drink – and who doesn’t -- we’re breaking new ground with our lively new podcast about dining and drinking in Greater Cleveland. Hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus crackle with their fun talk about the latest foodie happenings, joined by the most in-the-know experts in town, Marc Bona, Paris Wolfe and Pete Chakerian. It’s called DineDrink C-L-E and you can find it anywhere you download podcasts. Give it a listen and get your mouth watering. LISTEN HERE

TV & MOVIES

‘Young Sheldon’

Before Sheldon Cooper met Leonard, Penny or Amy he was a child prodigy growing up in east Texas. Iain Armitage plays the coming-of-age version of the character in the CBS comedy “Young Sheldon.” Emmy winner Jim Parsons who played Sheldon on “Big Bang” for 12 seasons, narrates. “Young Sheldon” returns for its seventh and final season on Thursday. DETAILS

‘Life & Beth’

Amy Schumer’s Hulu dramedy “Life & Beth” charmed viewers when it debuted in 2022 and the series returns for a second season on Friday. Schumer writes, directs and stars as Beth opposite Michael Cera, who plays John, a farmer. The two fell in love in season one despite their differences and personal baggage. Now, the couple is planning to marry. Schumer has said the story is semi-autobiographical, inspired by her real-life marriage to chef Chris Fischer. All 10 episodes of season two will be available on the premiere date. DETAILS

'Bob Marley: One Love'

Featuring the timeless, uplifting music of Bob Marley and a mesmerizing performance by Kingsley Ben-Adir as the reggae legend, "Bob Marley: One Love" should satisfy fans of the Rastafarian icon. But as a biopic, the film is pretty standard stuff that barely scratches the surface of the complexity of the man behind the music. Lashana Lynch at least delivers a captivating performance as Marley's wife, Rita. Joey Morona has the review. READ MORE

‘Bottoms’

Also coming to Prime Video is Emma Seligman’s “gay high school fight club” comedy “Bottoms,” starring Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri as a few misfits who start a fight club to flirt with the hot cheerleaders (Kaia Gerber and Havana Rose Liu). In his review, AP Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote that, “The rites and rituals of the raunchy high-school comedy can be as prescribed as a class syllabus. But what makes Emma Seligman’s “Bottoms” such an anarchic thrill is how much it couldn’t care less.” DETAILS

‘The New Look’

Ben Mendelsohn and Juliette Binoche play Christian Dior and Coco Chanel in a new historical drama “The New Look” for Apple TV+. The 10-episode series is set against the backdrop of Paris reemerging from Nazi occupation in WWII. Dior’s designs helped to lift an oppressed France and its culture with a stylish, modern glow up. As Dior rose to prominence, a rivalry developed between other established designers, including Chanel. “The New Look” also stars Maisie Williams, John Malkovich, Emily Mortimer and Glenn Close. The first three episodes of “The New Look” drop Wednesday on the streamer. DETAILS

‘Oppenheimer’

If you were holding out for “Oppenheimer” on streaming, now’s your chance to catch up before the Oscars (March 10), where it’s up for 13 awards including best picture, best director for Christopher Nolan and best actor for Cillian Murphy. The film arrives on Peacock on Friday. Nolan and Emma Thomas, his producer and wife, are passionate advocates of the big screen experience, but they also know that most people will watch their films in the home — sometimes even as their first time. It’s how both discovered some of their favorites as well, they’ve said. In an interview with The Associated Press, Thomas added, “The nice thing about Chris’ films is because they are so very rich and reward multiple viewings, I think that they’re perfectly pitched for home viewings.” DETAILS

‘Next Goal Wins’

Taika Waititi’s “Next Goal Wins” arrives on Hulu today. It’s based on the real story of the American Samoa men’s soccer team quest to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after an historic loss (31-nill) against Australia. Michael Fassbender plays the coach who tries to help. In his AP review, Mark Kennedy wrote that “‘Next Goal Wins’ is most winning in the way it handles the team’s star player, Jaiyah Saelua, who became the first nonbinary player to compete in a men’s FIFA qualifier. Played with real tenderness and joy by nonbinary actor Kaimana, the way the team and coach relate to Saelua is genuine and touching.” DETAILS

‘This is Me…Now: A Love Story’

Jennifer Lopez has a new movie coming to Prime Video on Friday. She co-wrote “This is Me…Now: A Love Story,” a movie musical about finding love which she called “the most personal thing I’ve ever done.” It is a star-studded endeavor, with appearances from her husband, Ben Affleck, Keke Palmer, Sofia Vergara, Post Malone and more, and ties in with her first studio album in a decade. DETAILS

‘Gospel’

In a new docuseries for PBS, Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. examines how sermon and song have long been a source of strength and wisdom in America, particularly among Black Americans. “Gospel,” a four-part series told over two nights has interviews with Dionne Warwick, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock and more. “Gospel” is streaming now on pbs.org. DETAILS

MUSIC

Jennifer Lopez

Jenny is back on the block again with, “This is Me...Now," her first new studio album in eight years. Lopez co-wrote all 13 songs on the set, which is said to be inspired by her rekindled romance with husband Ben Affleck. It’s devoid the usual featured guest appearances but features writing collaborations with Justin Timberlake and others, while the first single, “Can’t Get Enough,” samples Alton Ellis’ 1967 single “I’m Still in Love With You.” DETAILS

Blackberry Smoke

The Georgia rockers’ eighth studio album, “Be Right Here,” was produced by Grammy Award-winner Dave Cobb and recorded at famed RCA Studio A in Nashville as well as Cobb’s Georgia Mae facility in Savannah. DETAILS

“Bob Marley: One Love (Music Inspired by the Film)”

The companion to the new biopic about the late reggae great features new renditions of his songs by Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Daniel Caesar, Wizkid and others, as well as his grandson Skip Marley. A digital-only soundtrack of all-Marley performances is also being released. DETAILS

Mark Knopfler and Friends: “Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero”

The Dire Strait guitarist recruited a who’s-who list of more than 60 colleagues to record this new version of his 1983 film theme, raising money for the U.K.’s Teenage Cancer Trust. It’s almost easier to name who’s NOT on it, but a notable inclusion is the last recording by Jeff Beck before his death 13 months ago. DETAILS

Entertainment | Music | Events

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