'Avatar: The Way of Water' The long-awaited sequel to the highest-grossing movie off all time is everything the original was and more. Visionary filmmaker James Cameron’s latest is a thrilling trip to another world, a grand, eye-popping spectacle powered by an emotional family story of epic sale full of breathtaking action and with an impactful environmental message. The visual effects are so stunning, you'll feel like you're on Pandora living among the Na'vi. Just be sure to see it in 3D on the biggest screen possible. “Avatar: The Way of Water” is a reminder of the kind of magic that moviegoing is still capable of producing. READ MORE Jim Brickman: “A Very Merry Christmas” Grammy nominee returns to Cleveland as part of his annual holiday tour. Concert features a mix of holiday favorites along with some of Jim’s biggest hits. Tickets: $50-75. Hanna Theatre, 2067 E. 14 St., Cleveland. 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Dec. 17. 2 p.m., Dec. 18. DETAILS Beachland Holiday Flea Featuring more than 20 vendors selling records, crafts, vintage items and more. Free admission for shoppers. Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, 15711 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Dec. 17. DETAILS Cleveland Bazaar Holiday Market Enjoy live music, balloon artists, face painters and more as local artisans and small businesses pop-up around Skylight Park. Tower City Center, Cleveland. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Dec. 18. DETAILS “The Nutcracker” Cleveland Ballet presents the beloved holiday classic with a twist. Based on the story by E.T.A. Hoffman with music by Tchaikovsky, this show is suitable for all audiences. Tickets start at $28. Connor Palace Theatre, 1501 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland. 11 a.m. & 7 p.m., Dec. 16. 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dec. 17-18. DETAILS Cleveland Cavaliers Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and the Cavs play host to the Pacers, Mavs and Jazz in a weekend homestand. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, 1 Center Court, Cleveland. 7:30 p.m., Dec. 16. 8 p.m., Dec. 17. 7 p.m., Dec. 19. DETAILS Browns vs. Ravens Nick Chubb, Myles Garrett and the Browns face off against their rivals from Baltimore in a Saturday afternoon affair at FirstEnergy Stadium. 100 Alfred Lerner Way, Cleveland. 4:30 p.m., Dec. 17. DETAILS Meet-and-greet with Scut Farkas Actor Zack Ward will be meeting with fans, posing for photos and signing autographs to help raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. A Christmas Story House, 3159 W. 11 St., Cleveland. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Dec. 17. DETAILS Karamu House presents “Black Nativity” The oldest producing African American theater in the nation presents Langston Hughes’ uplifting musical, which moves to the Allen Theatre in Playhouse Square this year. This holiday tradition tells the classic story of the birth of Jesus from a Black perspective through a combination of song, dance, poetry, scripture and narration. Tickets, $40-$50. Dec. 9-18. 1501 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland. DETAILS Cleveland Orchestra Holiday Concerts The sounds of the season fill the festively decorated Severance Music Center as guest conductor Brett Mitchell leads the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and vocalist Mikaela Bennett in a performance of some of your holiday favorites. Saturday and Sunday matinees are preceded by Brunch with Santa (reservations and extra fee required). Tickets start at $49. 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Dec. 16-18. DETAILS Great Lakes Theater’s “A Christmas Carol” Ebenezer Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas after being visited by a series of ghosts in this Cleveland holiday tradition, now in its 34th year. Performances of this Dickens classic take place at Playhouse Square’s Mimi Ohio Theatre. Tickets, $35-$80. 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Through Dec. 23. DETAILS 'Elf' at Beck Center for the Arts
Based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, this funny and heartwarming musical follows a grown man adopted as a child by Santa’s elves on a journey to New York City in search of his true identity. Tickets, $12-$38. 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. Through Dec. 30. DETAILS Wild Winter Lights at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo The zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland with hundreds of festive displays located throughout the park. Featuring over 1.5 million lights, the themed areas include Candyland, Enchanted Forest, Starry Skies and Future for Wildlife Trail. Guests can also take photos with the big fella at Santa’s Workshop. Walk and drive-thru options available. Tickets, $22 a person or $57-$66 per car. 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland. Through Dec. 30. DETAILS Wild Lights at the Akron Zoo The Akron Zoo comes to life at night with the spirit of the season in the form of over one million twinkling lights. You’ll find dozens of dazzling photo-ops including some set to music, along with appearances by Santa Claus, s’mores at other goodies at Mrs. C’s Sweet shop, plus warm beverages, beer and more. Tickets, $11-$18. 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron. 5-9 p.m., through Dec. 30. DETAILS |
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“Hamilton” at Playhouse Square Back at the KeyBank State Theatre for the first time in four years, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical tells the story of America then told by the people who make up America now. The talented and diverse cast performs new Broadway classics like “Satisfied,” “Wait For It” and “My Shot.” Tickets, $39-$249. Now through Jan. 15. 1519 Euclid Ave, Cleveland. DETAILS “The Land of Oz” at Dobama Theatre Cleveland’s Off-Broadway Theatre presents the world premiere of this musical based on the second book in L. Frank Baum’s “Oz” series. Developed by Cleveland theatre artists and musicians over the past 18 months, the show is about an orphan boy named Tip who escapes an evil witch and journeys to the Emerald City, meeting some familiar and new friends along the way. Tickets, $25-$45. 2340 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. Through Dec. 31. DETAILS Cleveland Jazz Orchestra presents “Home for the Holly-Days” Holly Hofmann joins the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra for their annual holiday show featuring a mix of Christmas classics, new arrangements and some favorites from the American Songbook. 7:30 p.m., Dec. 16 at Maltz Performing Arts Center. 8 p.m., Dec. 17 at BLU Jazz+. 2 p.m., Dec. 18 at Lorain Palace Theatre. DETAILS Scuba Claus Merry Meet & Greets Watch Santa swim with the sharks and other aquatic creatures and then get a chance to talk to him afterwards. Special activity and digital photo included. Tickets: $18.95 for ages 2-12 and $24.95 for adults. Includes full admission to the aquarium. Capacity is limited. Advanced tickets only. Greater Cleveland Aquarium, 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland. 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Dec. 15-16. 8:30 - 10:30 a.m., Dec. 17-18. DETAILS “Amahl and the Night Visitors” Cleveland Opera Theater presents Menotti’s holiday opera, a retelling of the story of the Magi from the point of view of a young shepherd named Amahl. Tickets are $10. Proceeds benefit City Mission’s Laura’s Home Women’s Crisis Center. The Helen Theatre, 1501 Dodge Ct., Cleveland. 7 p.m., Dec. 16. 3 p.m. & 7 p.m., Dec. 17. 3 p.m., Dec. 18. DETAILS Monsters vs. Laval Rocket The Cleveland Monsters take on the Laval Rocket in a pair of games this weekend. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland. Noon, Dec. 17. 6 p.m., Dec. 18. DETAILS ENCORE Chamber Music Institute presents collective A Seoul-based performance group presents the US premiere of its latest dance spectacle. The event will be preceded by a set of jazzy holiday music featuring Jinjoo Cho, Max Geissler and Shuai Wang. Free with RSVP. Dodero Center for Performing Arts, 2045 SOM Center Road, Gates Mills. 3 p.m., Dec. 17. DETAILS NELA Park Holiday Lights Now in its 98th year, the holiday light display at GE Lighting Headquarters boasts half a million LED lights and stretches for several blocks along Noble Road in East Cleveland. The “Holiday Delighter”-themed display includes 11 colorfully lit vignettes featuring Santa, snow globes, a gnome village, a replica of the National Christmas in Washington, D.C. and more. 1975 Noble Road, East Cleveland. Through January 2. Winter 2022-23 ski guide Skier visits soared during the pandemic, as Americans gravitated outside for entertainment. Now, as the pandemic wanes and life gets back to normal, it’s unclear whether the sport can retain its new followers. Ski resorts sure are going to try. Plain Dealer/cleveland.com Travel Editor Susan Glaser has compiled resort information, including new features, prices and more, for 14 ski parks in Ohio, western New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Michigan for the upcoming winter season. Northeast Ohio’s three resorts -- Boston Mills, Brandywine and Alpine Valley -- have set a tentative opening date of Dec. 17. READ MORE Cleveland Metroparks’ Tobogganing Snow or now, take a plunge down twin, 700-foot refrigerated ice chutes in the Metropark’s Mill Stream Reservation. This season, all tickets are timed reservations that must be purchased online. Tickets for this weekend on sale now. See the website for restrictions and dates when upcoming reserved tickets will be available. Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for children 11 and under and are good for multiple rides on the day of visit only. The Chalet, 16200 Valley Parkway, Strongsville. Dec. 16 - Jan. 1. DETAILS Holiday Lantern Tours at Hale Farm & Village Take a candle-lit tour through this living history museum focused on 19th-century life as you visit with village residents preparing for the holiday season, 1840s style. Tickets, $8-$15. 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath. Dec. 16-18, Dec. 20-23. DETAILS 'Scrooge: The Musical' at Akron Civic Theatre
Everyone should see Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” annually. “Scrooge: The Musical” reinterprets the story as a musical. During the show, Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes a profound experience of redemption when four ghosts visit him on Christmas Eve. Tickets, $25. 7:30 p.m., Dec. 16-17. 182 South Main Street, Akron. DETAILS Castle Noel This unique retail and museum-type experience bills itself as America’s largest indoor year-round Christmas attraction. You’ll find props and costumes from some of your favorite Christmas movies, animated window displays from major New York City department stores, visits with Santa, a 25-foot Christmas tree, a slide like the one from “A Christmas Story” and more. It even snows inside! Admission, $22.50-$27.50. Reservations required. 260 S. Court St, Medina. Open daily except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. DETAILS A Christmas Story House With the new movie “A Christmas Story Christmas” available on HBOMax, it’s a great time to tour A Christmas Story House in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood. While the house and related properties are for sale, the house and museum are still open for tours. Visitors will see original props, costumes and memorabilia from the film. Overnight stays are available in the house. Tickets $11 to $15. 3159 W 11th St., Cleveland. Daily. DETAILS Cleveland Botanical Garden – Twinkle in the 216 Twinkle in the 216 will celebrate the historic character of Cleveland’s neighborhoods as they sparkle and shine. There will be festive plants, trees, decorations, events, a gingerbread house competition and much more throughout the holidays. Members free. Non-members $19/adult, $13/child, 2 and under free.11030 East Blvd, Cleveland. Through December. DETAILS Magic of Lights at Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds This dazzling drive-through experience returns once again, this time with the theme “Prehistoric Christmas” as life-sized displays of dinosaurs fill the county fairgrounds. Tickets, $23-$35 per carload. 19201 Bagley Rd., Middleburg Heights. 5:30-10 p.m. through Jan. 1. DETAILS Deck the Halls at Stan Hywet Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is decking the halls for the holidays. Each year the estate is tastefully adorned, inside and out. Rooms are decorated with holiday themes while more than 1.2 million lights line pathways, trees and the grounds. This year’s theme is “Gracious Gatherings.” DETAILS Looking for more things to do this week in Greater Cleveland?Cleveland.com's Mike Rose has your guide. READ MORE |
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FOOD & DINING Marble Room Steaks & Raw Bar for a touch of elegance In what has become a must-stop for visitors, Marble Room offers an expansive setting. With the grandeur and opulence of its former life – a bank in downtown Cleveland – the restaurant emphasizes steaks and seafood. It makes for an elegant night out, especially this time of year. Marble Room is at 623 Euclid Ave. Hours: 5 to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 4:30 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. DETAILS Festivus bar crawl Market Garden Brewery is sponsoring an Ohio City bar crawl with proceeds benefitting the Irish Town Bend Park Project. The night also includes ugly-sweater and Santa-costume contests, food specials and more. Tickets are $10. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. 1947 W. 25th St. 6 - 11:30 p.m., Dec. 16. DETAILS First Watch Power up your holiday shopping with a hearty breakfast or brunch at First Watch at 400 Park Ave, Pinecrest, in Orange Village. The menu offers all the diet-conscious options -- organic, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian – but we can’t resist the lemon ricotta pancakes with topped with seasonal berries and lemon curd. The whole-grain pancakes have some virtue. Don’t they? DETAILS Nouveau Bistro and Lounge For a small holiday party, the private dining room at Nouveau Bistro and Lounge in Concord Township easily fits up to 12 people. Call ahead to reserve the space at 7590 Fredle Drive, Concord. A variety of well-executed, familiar dishes are worthy of a celebration. Choices include chicken carbonara, rack of lamb, filet, salmon, pork chop and more. Executive Chef Sean St. Clair and his wife Allision have owned the restaurant since 2014. DETAILS Hoist a pint and have a beer at Immigrant Son Brewery If you enjoy checking out breweries, put Immigrant Son in Lakewood on your list. The brewery has won awards, holds beer dinners (one is coming up Dec. 21), has a full menu (classic and Hungarian dishes) and has a cool space at 18120 Sloane Avenue. And amazingly it’s only a year old. Hours: 3 to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 3 to 11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. DETAILS |
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TV & MOVIES The Banshees of Inisherin’ In “The Banshees of Inisherin,” director Martin McDonagh reteams with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, the stars of the playwright’s feature debut, 2008′s “In Bruges.” The results are just as good. On a small island off the west coast of Ireland in 1923, they play longtime pals whose friendship abruptly and a little mysteriously comes to an end. Both Farrell and Gleeson have already won awards for their performances. It’s still playing in theaters but will be available this week via video on demand. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called it “an aching reverie about friendship and fulfillment that is one of the very best films of the year.” DETAILS ‘Nanny’ Nikyatu Jusu makes one of the more arresting directorial debuts of the year in Amazon Studios’ “Nanny.” The grand jury prize-winner of the Sundance Film Festival, “Nanny” stars Anna Diop as Aisha, a well-educated Senegalese caregiver for a white New York family. (Michelle Monaghan co-stars.) Aisha’s own daughter remains in Africa. She sends home money while her wealthy employers casually take advantage of her kindness. Jusu uses the dark atmosphere of a horror film to convey the dread and displacement of the immigrant experience. It streams Friday, Dec. 16, on Amazon Prime Video. DETAILS ‘My Next Guest’ David Letterman traveled to Kyiv to sit down with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a special one-off episode of Netflix’s “My Next Guest,” debuting this week. “I’ve never done anything quite like this,” says Letterman in a clip as he descends on an escalator 300 feet below ground. The conversation was recorded in October on a subway platform-turned-stage, complete with a small live audience. DETAILS ‘Decision to Leave’ The masterful Korean director Park Chan-wook is best known for genre extremes like “Oldboy” and “The Handmaiden.” In his prize-winning latest, “Decision to Leave,” he conjures a more subtly beguiling tale, a slinky fusion of police procedural and romance. The film, which began streaming on MUBI on Dec. 9, stars Park Hae-il as a Busan detective who becomes infatuated by the suspect (Tang Wei) of a murder investigation. In her review, Bahr said the film lulls you “into a misty, dreamlike delirium until you’re not even certain of what’s right in front of your face.” DETAILS ‘The Master of Glass: The Art of Dale Chihuly’ If you’re not familiar with Dale Chihuly’s name, it’s possible you’ve seen his breathtaking, colorful blown glass art. Now 81, his work can be found in museums worldwide (and even on the ceiling of The Bellagio casino in Las Vegas.) Chihuly’s story is compelling as well, as he’s battled mental health issues and experienced personal tragedy. An avid collector of random things including Pez dispensers and midcentury refrigerators, The Smithsonian Channel delves into the artist’s personal and professional life in a new documentary called “The Master of Glass: The Art of Dale Chihuly,” which premiered this week. DETAILS ‘The Intruder’ Rising comedian Atsuko Okatsuka debuted her first HBO comedy special called “The Intruder” on Saturday. Okatsuka is wrapping up an exciting 2022 where she headlined her first national solo tour and made her late-night talk show debut on “The Late Late Show” with James Corden. She also started the viral #dropchallenge with her grandmother on TikTok (where one slowly squats to Beyoncé's song “Yoncé” while staring into the camera) which has received more than 10 million views. DETAILS |
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Ab-Soul Rapper Ab-Soul returns with the album "Herbert" on Friday, Dec. 16, his first full-length studio in six years and a follow-up to "Do What Thou Wilt." Singles include "Do Better," and "Gang'Nem," which features Fre$h. The set will also feature Big Sean, Russ, Joey Bada$$, Jhené Aiko, SiR, Punch, Zacari, Fre$h, Ambré, ALEMEDA and Lance Skiiiwalker. The record is described as "a deliberately intimate portrait of the man behind Ab-Soul going back to his foundation." It's a collection that shows off the impressive range he has, including the playful, busy old school hip-hop vibe of "No Report Card" to the slow, airy jazz of "Bucket." DETAILS Whitney Houston A week before the movie release of the Whitney Houston biopic "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," comes an album with 35 tracks that includes a never-before-released a cappella live recording of "Don't Cry For Me." Houston recorded it in 1994 while on The Bodyguard World Tour, flying back to perform it at an AIDS benefit concert. The song and an original re-imagined version of it by producer Sam Feldt is also included on "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" out on Friday, Dec. 16. The movie of the same name hits movie theaters Dec. 23. DETAILS Neil Zaza’s One Silent Night Holiday rock concert featuring a combination of holiday standards and classic rock mash-ups. Tickets start at $25. Goodyear Theater, 1201 E. Market St., Akron. 8 p.m., Dec. 17. DETAILS Donnie Iris & The Cruisers Donnie and the gang return to Northeast Ohio for an evening featuring some of their biggest hits over the years. MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. 7:30 p.m., Dec. 17. DETAILS A Neil Diamond Christmas Tribute Join The Diamond Project for a holiday sing-a-long also featuring some of Neil’s greatest hits. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 day of show. Music Box Supper Club, 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland. Noon, Dec. 18. DETAILS Ohio City Singers Join the Ohio City Singers for their end of year holiday celebration featuring fan-favorite holiday songs, special drinks and snacks. Tickets are $25 ($20 for members) and include museum admission. Doors open at 2 p.m. for show. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1100 Rock & Roll Blvd., Cleveland. 3 p.m., Dec. 18. DETAILS Want more concert & music picks? Cleveland.com's weekly virtual concert guide is HERE Cleveland.com's weekly new music guide is HERE |
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