Clowningaround toservecountry PICK3

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FR DAY | OUT&ABOUT
INSIDE O&A
NIGHT LIFE | DINING | SPIRITS
NIGHT LIFE | LAUGH TRACK
Clowning around
to serve country
CLUBS: After Dark, Page 20; Listings, Pages 20-22
DINING: Review, Page 23; Small Bites, Pages 25-30
RESTAURANTS ONLINE: cleveland.com/smallbites
PICK3
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adies and gentlemen, please welcome the host
of the Laugh Track column, a man who thinks
you’re after his Lucky Charms . . . Mike McIntyre.
Top o’ the mornin’, Cleveland.
As you can tell, I can’t wait for
St. Patrick’s Day next week. The
parade assembles right outside
my office window, which qualifies
me as an expert. One bit of advice
for the amateurs: Take it easy. It’s
about the wearin’ o’ the green, MICHAEL
McINTYRE
not the turnin’ o’ the green.
A sea of laughter: Gary Owen
says he grew up in a trailer park
in Cincinnati as the class clown, then joined the
Navy. He was still a clown there, eventually winning
a nationwide contest to be the “Funniest Serviceman
in America” while doing stand-up in San Diego.
“I didn’t join the military like other people. I didn’t
want to be some proud American serving my country,
I just wanted to get out of the trailer park, that was my
only goal in life,” he said. “Two-bedroom trailer, eight
brothers and sisters? My first night of boot camp was
the first night I slept by myself in like 10 years.”
He has been host of Black Entertainment Television’s “Comic View,” is a regular on “The Tom
Joyner Morning Show” and was once voted “Funniest Black Comedian in San Diego.” Funny thing
is, he’s not black.
“That’s obvious to some. You’d be amazed at the
questions I get,” he says in his act. “You just lightskinned, you light-skinned? You got Cherokee, got
Cherokee in you? No.”
Owen performs at 8 and 10:15 p.m. today ($17)
and Saturday ($18) and 7 p.m. Sunday ($15) at the
Improv inside the Powerhouse, 2000 Sycamore St. on
the west bank of Cleveland’s Flats. Call 216-696-4677.
One night in March: Actor/comedian/impressionist/
Internet chat-show host/film producer Kevin Pollak
brings his act to the Hilarities stage this weekend. He’s
been working for years on bringing to the screen the
book “Three Nights in August,” written by Buzz Bissinger and St. Louis Cardinals skipper Tony La Russa,
while nabbing roles in dozens and dozens of films.
He’s a busy man, but not too busy to take the
stage, perhaps bringing “Christopher Walken” and
“William Shatner” with him.
Pollak performs at 7:30 and 10:15 p.m. today
($25) and Saturday ($28) at Hilarities inside Pickwick & Frolic restaurant, 2035 East Fourth St.,
Cleveland. Call 216-736-4242.
High energy: Jim Breuer was a burst of energy
at the Improv last week, flying around stage and
practically willing the audience to laugh. He’s a
storyteller of the highest order, and he earned the
greatest compliment a comic can get — his set
seemed way too short.
That’s my time. Please remember to tip your carrier.
C M Y K 53819FMT0312
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19 The Plain Dealer
FRIDAY!
Eat <$20
THOMAS ONDREY | THE PLAIN DEALER
AMP 150
Cleveland Airport Marriott Hotel
4277 West 150th St., Cleveland
216-706-8787, amp150.com
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or diners looking for something lustier, a sweet-savory dish of braised rabbit with pasta (ceppo), wilted greens
and bits of candied garlic ($15) will do the trick. So does the eggplant “confit,” above, that sits like dark,
glistening jewels atop a bowl of rigatoni, arugula, pine nuts and roasted red peppers ($12). — David Farkas
Online Happy Hour Guide: www.cleveland.com/goingout
Happy Hour <$5
Blake’s Seafood Restaurant & Bar
9 Main St. in Crocker Park, Westlake
440-892-3474, hydeparkrestaurants.com
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his has to be THE best deal in Happy Land. Sleek, sophisticated
Blake’s, in sleek, sophisticated Crocker Park, offers a happy
hour with prices lower than McDonald’s from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
weekdays. For just $1.95, bar diners can choose from options
including a half-pound cheddar burger with fries and shrimp
gazpacho. Choices at $3.95 include ahi tuna bites. We went for a
tangy, barbecue chicken pizza ($1.95) and the hot-and-spicy crispy
Thai shrimp ($3.95). Both were surprisingly large, impressively
tasty and perfectly paired with a cool gin and tonic (cocktails are
$2 off, and beers discounted by $1). — Laura DeMarco
HAPPY FACTOR
(OUT OF FIVE)
Friday, March 12, 2010
Drink <$10
Cha-Yen Cocktail
Bac
2661 West 14th St.
Cleveland
216-938-8960
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he best new cocktail menu
in town is in, yes, an Asian
restaurant! New Asian fusion
Tremont bistro Bac not only
has a full menu of small and
large plates, it also has a very
impressive cocktail, beer and
wine list in the snazzy bar area.
Don’t miss the fantastic ChaYen Cocktail ($7), a creamy
mix of Bacardi Light Rum,
chrysanthemum tea, sweetened
condensed milk and Thai spice
syrup. Exotically refreshing.
— Laura DeMarco