Don’t mistake this neighborhood for your average Chinatown in some other city. We’re talking continental influence. Tour it this weekend at the Cleveland Asian Festival, Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20.

Asiatown spans the near-eastside blocks from East 30-40th, between St. Clair and Payne. Restaurants serve up dim sum, fresh fish, dolsot bi bim bab and pho. And the mix of smokestacks, old factories and nouveau Asian architecture against the backdrop of downtown amidst residential streets creates an urban atmosphere unlike anything else in this city.

The annual festival celebrates the cultures, delicacies, talents, sights and sounds from China, Vietnam, Japan, Philippines, India, Korea, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. You bet your palette there’s food galore. This year’s spread includes more than 20 local grub-spots, including Koko Bakery, Siam Cafe, Otani, Ono Turo-Turo, Flavors of India, Kim Se Cambodian, and Always Gutom, Always Pinoy.

Superior Pho and #1 Pho will also both be on the scene: which is your fave?

A “world market” brings 100+ vendors and exhibitors to pick up your Asian wares and experience Asian traditions, practices and talents. Cleveland Clinic, UH, Metro, Cleveland Public Health and other organizations will provide free health screenings. And dozens of performers — from the Kwan Family Lion Dance, Chinese cultural danes and an Indian dance team to karate demos, traditional Japanese dance, Rickee Vang on guitar, hip-hop, Polynesian dancing and acrobatics — take stage every half hour all weekend.

Don’t miss my top Asian Festival must-see: Japanese Taiko Drums! They’re energetic, enigmatic, multi-cultural, fascinating and friendly. Who would have thought drumming could be so entertaining? Icho Daiko takes the Horseshoe Stage at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday; Mame Daiko plays the Dragon Stage at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday; and Yume Daiko plays Dragon at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Although a dancing panda? That would probably pretty rad too.

There are places for kids to play. Eggroll- and sushi-eating contests. Martial arts demonstrations galore. A two-day trip to Asiatown is totally in order.

Parking is available in several lots on the scene, as well as nearby CSU spots. There’s also street parking (where no signs are posted) and some pretty easy cycling and bus routes to boot.

The Cleveland Asian Festival kicks off with Taiko drums at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, followed by an opening ceremony at noon. Performances and booths run until 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, reopen at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday. Leave yourself a little extra time (and patience) for detours around the Cleveland Marathon on Sunday morning.

For more information, visit the Cleveland Asian Festival.

While the 60-bed thrifty sleeper at 2090 West 25th doesn’t open until summer 2012, you can sneak a preview at this weekend’s Ohio City Home Tour. But you can spend this whole weekend getting more than a little OC flavor.

Evening in Ohio City begins Saturday, May 19 at 5:30 p.m. You’ll tour the oldest house in Ohio City, as well as the OC Firehouse, and be fed by Bonbon Pastry + Cafe, Campbell’s Sweets Factory, Cheese Shop, Crop, Flying Fig, Kan Zaman, Market Garden Brewery, SOHO and Viaduct Lounge — not to mention sips from a handful of breweries.

Tickets for the Evening are $130/person ($85 tax deductible). Groups are discounted. Proceeds fund Ohio City’s growing momentum. Get tickets.

If you’re just into historic house porn, well, you’re in luck. Sunday’s Ohio City Home Tour makes six house stops and one garden visit, with a showcase of new-to-tour Victorians (who doesn’t love that?) and historic renovations. Pick up Lolly the Trolley at West 25th and Market. Parking is available at West 25th and Bridge. Leave extra time for Cleveland Marathon detours.

Tours run 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and tickets are $15 until May 17, $20 on May 20. Get ticket and info.

Check out the before, during and after of how to rock this year’s 26.2 in 216:

Before
If you’re reading this it probably means you (or someone you love) are about to embark on the experience of a lifetime, running one of the 35th Annual Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon races on May 20. But first things first: you have to visit the expo.

Downtown Medical Mart construction has pushed packet pickup to the I-X Center (6200 Riverside Drive), where you can nab bibs, shirts and swag from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Friday, May 18, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday May, 19. Racers and non-racers can stroll dozens of vendor booths, collecting freebies, food samples and bargains (who doesn’t love free stuff?). Time it right and you might catch the Salty Runners’ icon, Joan Benoit Samuelson, the first-ever women’s marathon Olympic gold medalist, who gives three talks at the expo this weekend. You can also take bus tours of the marathon route, beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Visiting? Catch a cab from Cleveland-Hopkins Airport to the expo or stash your suitcase and catch the complimentary shuttle service from downtown’s Hyatt Regency Hotel (420 Superior Avenue East), which leaves every 30 minutes before 1:45-7 p.m. Friday, 9:45 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Local runners might also want to take the shuttle from downtown (or carpool) — I-X Center charges for parking. Plan accordingly.

Carb-load? Well, your options are plenty. First, you can explore the city of Berea, which is not only smack-dab next to the I-X Center, but home of the Cleveland Browns training facility and Baldwin-Wallace College. Some of our favorite places to pasta:

Other things to check out while you’re in the neighborhood: cross-training potential at Berea Bicycle & Scooters (300 N. Rocky River Dr) or Mountain Road Cycles (109 Front St). Comics and collectible enthusiasts will love Kid Force Collectibles (50 Front St.) and thrifty moms/dads should stop by Smartie Pants children’s resale shop (404 W. Bagley Rd). You can also log a couple warm-up miles at the north end of Cleveland MetroParks Mill Stream Run Reservation, whose bridle trails and paved all-purpose path are perfect for your pre-race shake-out run.

Other Cleveland carb-up stops? Our faves include La Strada downtown, Trattoria Roman Garden in Little Italy, Scotti’s Italian on East 185th and Peppers in Lakewood.

During
The Cleveland Marathon — full and half — starts promptly at 7 a.m., Sunday, May 20 at the Northwest corner of Cleveland Browns Stadium (1085 W. 3rd). 10K kicks off 15 minutes later.

For the Racer
Get downtown at least one hour before race-time: roads start closing within that hour and you don’t want to get lost in the million detours. Our favorite spot is the Muni Lot.

Just take your time. Sip your water or sports drink, relax and take it easy as you make it to the starting line, at least 15 minutes early to claim your spot. Do strides or any last-minute warming-up near the start. Cleveland Browns Stadium is littered with bathrooms — so there’s bound to be one without a forever-long line. When the gun goes off, take it all in and enjoy your tour de CLE. You’ll run along the Shoreway to Edgewater, wind through Gordon Square, Ohio City and Tremont, salute the traffic guardians on Lorain-Carnegie bridge, criss-cross downtown, tour the Cultural Gardens of Rockefeller Park, touch the lakeshore and run the homestretch through St. Clair-Superior’s renaissance (not to mention the Cleveland Asian Festival!).

For the Spectator
Since Salty‘s in the family way, I’m not racing this year. Instead I’m heading out to cheer on dozens of friends on their way to marathon (and half!) glory. But I’m a cheering veteran. Best spectating tip: arrive early (again to avoid road closures), know the course and plot out a few spots to station yourself.

Tip #2: Walk, bike or jog backward along the course until you find a spot that doesn’t have large crowds. Max your cheering impact! If no one is cheering near you, don’t be shy. Let it all out and give those runners some love! They need it and really appreciate it. Make signs, do coordinated cheers, yell encouraging things very loudly. I also suggest finding a spot along the second half of the marathon course because that’s where runners need you most.

You can also study the course map to find spots where the race crosses near itself for multiple vantage points. Cheer the Shoreway runners as they pass under West 49th Street, and then skip over two blocks to the Detroit straightaway. Or you can root marathoners into their second-half on Superior and East 13th, and then cross over to mile 25.5 on St. Clair. Setting up camp in Rockefeller Park (where the phenomenal Shaker Heights cheerleaders put those Wellesley ladies to shame!) for the late teens will make you a spectating superstar.

Tip #3: Bring refreshments. Cheering is no easy job. Granted, you won’t be burning the 1,000+ calories of full- and half-marathoners, but you still need to hydrate. It’s an early race, and nearby stores might not open until you’re too-far parched.

After
Each year the finish line to this 26.3-Mile Rock Party gets wilder and wilder, featuring live bands, DJs, snacks and a beer garden (so remember to leave your ID in your gear check!). Runners: just let the roar of cheers (not to mention the likes of Cleveland Indians drummer John Adams lining the streets) carry you to the tape. Take your medal, shake your groove-thang and head out for some real food. The second half of the marathon steers east, so we’ve picked some near-Westside spots for ease of access:

Salty Running wishes every runner fleet feet, as well as a wonderful expo and race experience! Good luck! Have fun and see you at the finish!

Correction: We initially recommended the Great Lakes Brewing Company for post race celebrating. However, the brewpub is closed on Sundays.

Next in the Cleveland playlist series: Jarrod Zickefoose.

Jarrod believes that one of Cleveland’s most fecund assets is the infrastructure of its music scene. From recording studios, to labels, to poster artists, to instrument manufacturers, everything a musician needs is right here. Not to mention the overflow of raw talent.

To that end, he started Cleveland Kitchen, a blog that focuses exclusively on what’s happening musically in northeast Ohio. He wrote about music for local print media for about 10 years before starting Cleveland Kitchen.

He’s also just a simple fan who spends a lot of his free time buying and listening to records.

Here’s Jarrod’s CLE playlist:

The Suede Brothers: “Pleaser,” Ill New You
JZ: The first time I heard this band, I loved the grooves, the bluesy riffs and, in this song particularly, the churn. It’s the kind of thing that hits my sweet spot.

Keelhaul, “39f,” Keelhaul II
JK: Some of the most talented musicians I have seen are in Keelhaul. Endlessly creative, the band’s skill lets them hone a rough idea into a fine point.

Red Giant, “White Mom,” Devil Child Blues
JZ: First, the cover art on this album is great. I could throw a dart at their catalog and be perfectly happy listening to whatever it landed on. So, here’s a Red Giant song.

This Moment in Black History, “Pollen Count,” Public Square
JZ: This song probably is not the most representative of the band, but it’s one of my favorites. All TMIBH’s songs assault you, in the best way, but this one does it smiling.

Megachurch, “Tea Baggers,” Megachurch II: Judgement Day
JZ: This song seems self-explanatory to me, which makes it hard to talk about. Where do you start? The pummeling the band’s format dishes out? The cleverness of the songwriting and use of sound clips?

Cloud Nothings, “Wasted Days,” Attack on Memory
JZ: Great record. I like the break down midway through this song a lot. It hits that rap-on-the-steering-wheel groove that I am helpless against.

Craw, “Caught My Tell,” Bodies for Stontium 90
JZ: The bass playing in this song is outstanding. The guitar tone is NSFW. The rhythmic license is self-written. I miss this band. 

Herzog, “Rock and Roll Monster,” Cartoon Violence
JZ:Pretty much a straight-forward, catchy rock song, but the lyrics have a dark undercurrent that adds an element of the sinister.

Mr. Gnome, “Bit of Tongue,” Madness in Miniature
JZ: I started listening to these two again recently and have really been enjoying it. The album gets better the more you listen, and this song, which grabs your attention, is still a good example.

Bill Fox, “Appalachian Death Sigh,” Shelter from the Smoke
JZ: The guitar playing actually conjures an Appalachian vibe, and I like that. Fox is a great songwriter, and the Ohio references he drops in his tunes allow us all to smile knowingly.

Thanks to Jarrod for pulling together some of his favorite local tunes. Keep up with the NEO music scene on his blog, Cleveland Kitchen.

Want to submit a playlist? Send a list of your favorite CLE tunes — including song, band name, band page, links to where we can find the song (i.e., Spotify, MySpace, Grooveshark), a little bit about why you picked the song/band, a little bit about you — to unmiserablecleveland at gmail dot com. You can send your questions and comments there too.

Bike.
Cleveland Critical Mass pushes off from Public Square at 7 p.m. tonight (start meeting at 6:30 p.m.) for an always-epic pedal around the city. This month’s ride ends, well, a few blocks away — after a tour de CLE, of course — at Greenhouse Tavern (2038 East 4th) for Respect the Bike. The event celebrates Ohio-built cyclery, including Dan Polito, Rustbelt Welding, Carmen Gambino, Blazing Saddle Cycle and more. Grab drinks and food. Check out bike photography and live music. Hang out with a couple hundred of your closest cycle-happy friends.

Pull out your best tweed suit, wax your mustache and get back on your bike Saturday afternoon for the annual Fantastic Tweed Ride. Some of Cleveland’s most dapper pedal-pushers meet at Mall A’s fountain (behind Cleveland Public Library) at 3 p.m. There will be a tea stop, and the ride ends at Happy Dog (5801 Detroit Ave) for hot dogs, beer and prizes for snazziness, rad rides and top ‘staches. Also: this ride is free.

Chili.
You can also be a do-gooder Friday night. It’s called Palookafest, and it starts at 7 p.m. Bring your $5 suggested donation to Cleveland’s newest collaborative studio and art gallery, BuckBuck Gallery (3910 Lorain Ave), where Palookaville Chili celebrates its one-year anniversary and BuckBuck launches. There will be a chili cook-off (for charity), art to see and live music — including the New Lou Reeds, Batt Lion and Filmstrip — to hear, all benefiting one of my favorite Cleveland organizations, Ohio City Writers.

Polka.
Six words: Polka Happy Hour with DJ Kishka. At the Happy Dog. Need I say more?

Oh my!
Um, so that’s just Friday (and a little bit of Saturday). Here’s a sampling of what else is up:

Community Youth Art Festival, Friday, 7 p.m. at 78th Street Studios
Young people make awesome art too. Go see it and show your love for our community’s young people.

Live music at the Beachland Ballroom
Pretty much any night of the work, you’ll catch some awesome tunes at Beachland — in the ballroom and tavern. This weekend includes, but is not limited to: Clarence Bucaro, Jonathan Edwards, G.S. Harper, The Schwartz Brothers, ME, Library Time, Bill Kirchen and Too Much Fund, to name a few. And brunch is fab on Sunday.

Cleveland 10-Miler and Outrun 24-Hour Trail Run, Saturday
Running for a whole day (yes, as in 24 hours!) on Northeast Ohio trails. Anything better? If you’re not in the race, you can always check it out and be inspired for next year. Less-ultra runners can take on the Cleveland 10-Miler, which starts and ends in beautiful Edgewater Park.

Old School Sinema Zombie Walk, Saturday, 11 a.m. at Five O’Clock Lounge (11904 Detroit Rd)
Zombie-fantastic for a good cause. Nine years running. ($5 donation, plus two non-perishable food items)

NFL Draft Party for MS, Saturday, 11 a.m. at Barley House Cleveland (1261 West 6th)
Celebrity-studded (Joe Haden, anyone?) benefit by The Karen Foundation for MS. Music, football, food and stars.

Things I’d Do If I Ran the Zoo, Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (3900 Wildlife Way)
You’ve read the Dr. Seuss classic, now experience the CLE zoo event. Families learn what it takes to run a zoo. Kids find out what it takes to hold down their dream jobs of zoo director, animal keepr, vet, horticulturalist and zoo clean-up. Event free with zoo admission.

Opportunities abound to pull up a stool — drink and food specials in hand — and wait with bated breath with a dozens of your closest friends to see what that future may hold.

Lion on Lorain Draft Party (more info)
Thursday, 5 p.m. at Lion on Lorain (12703 Lorain Ave)
Dollar Miller Lite drafts and $3/pound crispy fried wings with Alabama Slammer glaze all night. Five dollar burger special with jo-jos or sweet potato tots during the draft (starts at 8 p.m.). Among the specials: Browns Burger, a chili-topped half-pounder with Ohio cheddar, smoked onion and Bertman’s stadium mustard aioli (isn’t it great we became a Rust Belt foodie town?).

Group Ride to Browns Draft Party (more info)
Thursday, 6 p.m.
Wrap yourself in Cleveland Browns colors — perfect reason for you to start wearing your helmet — and pedal en masse to the draft party at Cleveland Browns Stadium. This ride promises to be a pre-party in itself. Check the event page for finalized starting point and mind three simple rules: 1) wear Browns gear; 2) ride a bicycle; and 3) Invite all the Browns fans and cyclists you know.

2012 Official Cleveland Browns NFL Draft Party (more info)
Thursday, 6-11 p.m. at Cleveland Browns Stadium (100 Alfred Lerner Way)
Get into Cleveland Browns Stadium for free? That’s right. Catch the first round of the draft amidst live entertainment, inflatable toys, Browns players, autographs and live radio broadcasts. Alcohol will be served, but it’s family-friendly too. Kids 5-7 are lucky ducks: they can participate in Cleveland Browns Future Stars Camp.

Do-Good Draft Party for MS (more info)
Saturday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Barley House Cleveland (1261 West 6th)
The NFL Draft isn’t just about what young talents will become multimillionaires on their way to leading cities’ football fans to vicarious championship glory. The Karen Foundation for MS keeps the draft spirit rolling on Saturday with a star-studded event, silent auction, radio broadcasts and post-draft analysis. Joe Haden, Hanford Dixon and Dave Mays are scheduled to attend, among others. Advance tickets are $35 ($40 at the door) and include Karen Foundation for MS donation, hor d’oeuvres, two drink tickets, valet parking, grand prize raffle ticket and non-stop entertainment.

1. Cleveland Rovers vs. Ann Arbor RFC Rugby (more info)
Saturday, 1 p.m. at Impet Park (West 153rd and Montrose)
One of the city’s best bets for a championship returns to West Park this weekend for their last home match before the Midwest Final Four. They took down Cincinnati’s reigning champs in the season opener. Down went OU. Off with Battle Creek. Is Ann Arbor next on the hit list? Find out at 1 p.m. Not hip to rugby? Get a quick tutorial on the sport.

2. Burning River Roller Girls Bout 3 (more info)
Saturday, 6-9:30 p.m. at Cleveland State Wolstein Center (2000 Propsect Ave)
What if we ranked all the city’s sports for action-packed, full-on contact and excitement per second? Burning River Roller Girls would take the cake. Rough, tumble, hardcore and still kinda sweet, the derby gals rock Wolstein for the season’s third bout, pitting Hard Knockers vs. Cleveland Steamers at 6 p.m. and Hellbombers vs Rolling Pin-Ups at 7:30 p.m.

Beware: Roller derby fandom is way fun and can be addictive — for long-haul fans and first-timers. Not familiar with the sport? See how they roll.

3. On My Own Two Feet Marathon
Saturday, 9 a.m. at Dix Stadium (Kent State University)
Want to run a half or full marathon that really matters? On My Own Two Feet benefits domestic violence victims via Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center and Family and Community Service, Inc. Both distances start next to Beckwith’s Orchard on the Portage Hike and Bike Trail. They wind through downtown Kent, toward Towner’s Woods and Ravenna. Yeah, it’s out of Cleveland, but here’s to Northeast Ohio solidarity. Great prep run for CLE, right? It’s $80 for full, $55 for half. Registration and race info.

4. Vision Yoga and Wellness Anniversary (more info)
Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. at Vision Yoga and Wellness (1861 West 25th)
Happy anniversary, Vision Yoga! The near-west studio celebrates its #1 with yoga, massage, energy work, health screenings, a trunk show, treats and prizes. Five instructors will showcase their yoga chops with donation-based classes in visionary yoga, power, beginner, basics and open-level flow. See the event page for class times.

5. Brews + Brew: Skull and Goggle Pedal Party (more info)
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Mill Creek Metroparks (7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield)
Skull and Goggles, Fagowees Underground Rail Trail and Monday Night Bike Crew, and Warren Ski Club lead their first pedal party trail-ride of the season. It’s a 22-mile roundtrip on paved, multi-use trails, followed by a stint at Big Tap In Craft Brew Festival (Covelli Centre, 229 East Front Street, Youngstown).

BONUS! Pop Up Rockwell (more info)
Saturday, 5-9 p.m. at Rockwell Ave (between West Roadway and East 6th)
It’s a complete and green street experiment that demonstrates how future enhancements for cyclists, pedestrians and disabled, as well as considerations for energy efficiency and stormwater management, will change the way we see (and use) Rockwell in downtown Cleveland. Food vendors, music and merriment.

It also has an all-Waterloo salute this Saturday, featuring live tunes, new music, special limited releases, deals, prizes, free tickets and the general spirit of celebration that comes with the observance of any good, religious holiday.

Music Saves (15801 Waterloo Road) opens at noon on Saturday, raring and ready with a long list of special-order 7-inch, 12-inch, LP, EP and downloads in-store for the early birds.

But don’t pick up your records and run. Live performances start with Les Cousins Dangereux, 4 p.m. at Music Saves. Then the every-half-hour schedule kicks in, with The Big Sweet at Beachland Tavern at 4:30 p.m. The Village Bicycle plays Blue Arrow at 5 p.m. And the beat goes on…

Native Cleveland (15813 Waterloo Road) picks up the party at 7:30 p.m. with Fizzy Lifting Drink, The Setting Sons and Shit-Box Jimmy playing the Native Cleveland Annex. Sure, they don’t sell records. But they do love music. Pick up some rad CLE wear to celebrate music in Cleveland while you’re there.

Speaking of while you’re there: get to North Collinwood a little early on Saturday to join in the Euclid Beach Clean-Up/Earth Day Celebration. Volunteers get gloves, pickers, rakes and bags, with coffee and light snacks provided. Meet at the Euclid Beach State Park (off East 159th and Lakeshore) pavilion at 10 a.m. Clean-up goes until noon, when you’re invited to lunch at Chili Peppers (oh, Chili Peppers!) for 50% off tacos. Totally worth it!

Get some scoop on events by Music Saves, Waterloo Arts District, Native Cleveland and Euclid Beach.

Drop in the bucket, my friends.

Art takes many forms. It’s not just looking at paintings on the wall. Here are some of the ways you can take it in this weekend:

Six in Studio (more info)
Friday, 6-10 p.m. at Cleveland West Art League (1305 West 80th, First Floor)
Six artists — Michelle Murphy, Christine Mauersberger, Grace Summanen, Meredith Hahn, Kelsey Leib and Laila Voss — were put in a studio a month ago to work on, well, whatever. On Friday you get to see what grew in the petrie dish. Dana Depew is project juror. Photo: 78th Street Studios

Vivid Parts and Theoretical Limits (more info)
Friday, 5 p.m. at Survival Kit Gallery (1305 W. 80th, Suite 303)
All part of 78th Street Studios’ Third Friday: Theoretical Limits features data visualization and chaotic organization by Christina Day; the Vivid Parts show ushers in Rochelle Beres’ (Lu-Owl Vintage) new studio and showroom; fashion-shoot-in-progress in suite 3A;. DJs spin at 9 p.m.

Waterloo Arts Fest 2012 T-Shirt Design Contest

Who knew the Waterloo Arts Fest turns 10 this year? Put your mark on the growing summer event with a winning T-shirt design. Get contest details.

United Artists Local 4.20 Art Show
Friday, 6-9 p.m. at Brownhoist Gallery (4403 St. Clair)
Six Cleveland artists help you “Escape Into Your Own Mind” with paintings, illustrations, photography and collage that dig deep into dreams, social consciousness and narratives on composition. The show, featuring Alex Corona, Jen Dugan, Jamie Janos, Meoldy Oakes, Ben Small and Greg Terepka, also makes for a great opportunity to check out the Brownhoist Gallery, which you probably haven’t seen.

NOADA Art Expo 2012 (more info)
Friday through Sunday at MOCA Cleveland (8501 Carnegie Ave)
In the market for fine art? The Northeast Ohio Art Dealers Association hosts fine-art dealers galore, including 1point618, Bonfoey Gallery, Corcoran Fine Arts, Harris-Stanton, Kenneth Paul Lesko, Kokoon Arts Gallery, Riley Galleries, William Busta Gallery and a few more. It’s the largest commercial art event in the city. And it’s free.

MidTown Spring Beautification (more info)
Saturday, 9 a.m.- noon at MidTown Cleveland (3634 Euclid Ave)
Think of it as an exercise in creating beauty. MidTown Cleveland’s annual clean-up day — including litter pick-up, sidewalk-sweeping and neighborhood-sprucing — gives you the opportunity to help make Cleveland just a little prettier.

Exhibition Tour: Rembrandt in America
Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Art
Yes, the Rembrandt is as good as everyone says it is. But you don’t have to tour it alone. The Cleveland Museum of Art provides exhibition tours on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Be sure to Rembrandt Yourself when you’re done.

Pop Up Rockwell (more info)
Saturday, 5-9 p.m. at Rockwell Avenue (between West Roadway and East 6th, Downtown Cleveland)
Did you know Rockwell coonnects the library, Public Square, Old Stone Church and the Gateway District? Doesn’t feel like it. Enter its multi-million-dollar makeover… just on a minuscule budget. Cleveland Urban Design Collaboration grad students enhanced the corridor’s biking, transit-waiting and active usabilities. Experience Rockwell like you’ve never seen it. There will be food, music and a glimpse at the future of an underrated street.

To recap: I was loving on local music a few months ago when a few unmiserable Clevelanders suggested I share local playlists. So, I reached out to some of my favorite local music buffs to give me their favorite CLE sounds.

Next in the Cleveland playlist series: Brandon Vulpitta.

Brandon became involved in local indie music while hitting shows and making buds at local concert clubs. He admits he’s not a musician; he’s just a fan — a fan who helps with promotions, merchandising and booking. It’s become a hobby. Not only does Brandon recommend local live shows as a fresh alternative to movies or dining out (covers are usually reasonable, he says), but also a cool way to meet new friends. “After a while, you discover there’s a great community at these shows.” Yup: awesome people, just like Brandon.

So, when he’s not working a temp-job or as volunteer-ambassador for Positively Cleveland, Brandon can be found at The Happy Dog, Now That’s Class, Grog Shop or the Beachland Ballroom.

Here’s his CLE playlist:

“No Future / No Past” by Cloud Nothings
BV: Cloud Nothings is probably the best-known indie-rock band from Cleveland on the national and international level right now. This song is their newest release and an impressive departure from earlier work.
Listen now on Spotify.

“Suicide Mission” by HotChaCha
BV: HotChaCha is truly one of Cleveland’s hardest working bands.  This song debuted live at Ingenuity Festival in 2009, and the crowd erupted in all kinds of fist-pumping, slam-dancing and crowd-surfing. It’s a good introduction to the band’s style, with an atypical and evolving song structure, cool guitar effects, an intense rhythm section and visceral vocals.
Listen now on I Rock Cleveland.

“Silence” by Herzog
BV: All members of Herzog are veterans of the local music community, and they deliver something that has all the components of polish, energy and innovation. This song was just featured by NPR’s All Things Considered, in a meager list of best music from 2011 — alongside the likes of Wilco, Beyonce, Bon Iver and Drake.
Listen now on Spotify.

“Vampires” by Mr. Gnome
BV: This husband-wife duo pretty much live on the road, and have garnered a strong following of fans throughout the country. Mr. Gnome‘s music is heavy and intricate, and it’s hard to believe only two people make up this band. They were recently featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, as a
“Band to Watch“.
Listen now on Spotify.

“Suits” by Pleasure Leftists
BV: A true personal favorite. Although clearly inspired by 1980s post-punk, Pleasure Leftists have a great, modern sound. The rock is edgy; the vocals are haunting. I hope this band continues for a long time.
Listen now on Spotify.

“Flower Power” by Founding Fathers
BV: Grungy, shoegazing, rock-and-roll. If you had to name bands that typify what it means to be a “Cleveland” band, Founding Fathers would the top that list.
Listen now on MySpace.

“Should Have Seen It Coming” by Filmstrip
BV: Their proto-punk sound is a fuzzy, Rust-Belt rock that makes Cleveland proud. Members of Filmstrip have been playing together since they were buddies at Lakewood High School, over a decade ago. And they don’t show any signs of stopping.
Listen now on Spotify.

“Gotta Get Away” by Wooly Bullies
BV: Wooly Bullies is straightforward, noisy punk. Their nihilistic live performances are reminiscent of Cleveland’s legendary 1970s punk band The Dead Boys.
Listen now on MySpace.

“Polished Place” by Fangs Out
BV: The elegant minimalism of this two-piece band, combined with velvety vocals, makes for a very sexy sound. Fangs Out‘s stripped-down style is anything but arbitrary. Listen to the lyrics: it’s obvious they have a lot to say.
Listen now on Spotify.

“Day Drinking” by Uno Lady
BV: Christa Ebert performs acappella or with minimum instrumentals, but she uses looping equipment to create a very angelic and experimental Uno Lady sound. That uniqueness makes the Cleveland music community hard to imagine without her.
Listen now on MySpace.

“Scales” by JJ Magazine
BV: Something about JJ Magazine just makes you happy. It gets you in the mood for sunshine. This is an absolute staple in my spring and summer music-listening. They don’t play live nearly enough, so it’s a real treat when they announce an upcoming show.
Listen now on Spotify.

“Party Sweat” by The Very Knees
BV: David Petrovich is a living legend in the local music community, pioneering the DIY scene in Cleveland music. He leads The Very Knees, two-piece band, with Jonette Thomas. They get even the most serious rock aficionados in the mood to dance and party.
Listen now on MySpace.



Thanks to Brandon for pulling together some of his favorite local tunes. You can check out most of the music listed above in Brandon Vulpitta’s CLE playlist on Spotify.

Want to submit a playlist? Send a list of your favorite CLE tunes — including song, band name, band page, links to where we can find the song (i.e., Spotify, MySpace), a little bit about why you picked the song/band, a little bit about you — to unmiserablecleveland at gmail dot com. You can send your questions and comments there too.