Once in awhile I get the feeling, the rare sensation, of being in exactly the right place at the right time. A sudden rush of adrenaline that says THIS is where the excitement is tonight. And I get that feeling every time I go to one of Suzy Saprano’s open-door parties at the City News Smoke Room on Main Street.
During normal business hours, City News sells a range of specialist magazines and a fine selection of cigars. As this is a cigar shop deriving most of its income from tobacco, smoking is permitted. There are soft couches, and a cozy back room for customers to enjoy their purchases in comfort.
I won’t claim to be a cigar connoisseur, but I do enjoy a smoke from time to time and Suzy is always happy to help you out when it comes to making a selection. Now that I’m comfortably middle-aged, I at least feel like I can pull off the look of a cigar smoker. As a teenager I’d occasionally smoke one at Christmas and look very foolish doing so.
Perhaps I still do, but I no longer care – another of the benefits of middle-age.
There are often gatherings and events held here, and recently this included a book reading with a smoking theme held in collaboration with Main Street Books next door. But the biggest crowds are for the First Friday Shop Hops. February’s Hop is coming up this Friday, and whatever the weather’s like outside it’s sure to be another great time.
Something about this place – the wood, the smoke, the creak of the floorboards and the feel of a low-key gambling den – makes it the perfect venue for a party. The clouds of cigar smoke, in this day and age, can’t help but give it an illicit feel.
The smoky fog may not appeal to everyone, but what other joints in town can you smoke in these days? Well, actually quite a few, but let’s not get into that now.
What really brings the Hop Nights together is the live music. Suzy has a flair for bringing in some fine musicians, local artists that really know how to tear the place up and get the crowd moving.
It was here that I first saw bluesman Jimi Vincent set the night on fire with his guitar, accompanied by, among others, keyboard maestro Sam Romagnoli.
It was a stunning performance, and as there’s no stage at the Smoke Room, you get to see the show up-close and personal. Nothing separates the crowd from the musicians, and partygoers weave in and out around the band.
More recently, local outfit S’yVelt raised the roof with a storming night of soul and funk. Yes, I even danced myself, and believe me this is not something that happens very often. This was Uptown Funk Saturday Night right here – except it was Friday, and we were downtown – and the small, packed venue was alive with good times.
There’s a sort of backroom, underground feel to these events that almost made me wonder, as I was putting this column together, if Suzy was happy with it being talked about. Did she want it to stay under the radar, I asked?
“When have I ever been under the radar?” she replied. So consider yourselves invited. “I’ll have piano player Tommy Wienclaw from the Street Foxx Band tickling the ivories,” she added.
It’s sure to be another great night, and because it’s the First Friday Shop Hop all over downtown, everyone bustles in and out of the various establishments like different rooms at a house party.
The Martini’s bar is just a couple of doors down and they’ve recently introduced a brand-new range of draft beers. I asked manager Cory “Curry” Dawson which had been the most popular so far, and he told me about the Colombian Coffee Porter from the JAFB Brewery in Wooster.
It’s difficult to get and it’s proved to be a real hit – so much so that they may not have any left, but be sure to check.
A few doors in the other direction, there’ll be live entertainment at the Element of Art Studio & Gallery with Brady Jacquin (a singer/songwriter who Art Coordinator Kathy Goodwin tells me is a “teen sensation”), followed by the Spoken Images Readers Theatre. Food will be provided courtesy of the City Garden Cafe.
Around the corner at the Phoenix Brewery, a new ‘Friday Firkin’ will be tapped at 6 p.m. The ‘firkin’ is a 9-gallon barrel of fresh cask-conditioned ale, and I checked in with Head Brewer Duncan Macfarlane to see what would be on offer this coming weekend.
“It’s a Mandarina Extra Pale Ale,” he told me, “brewed with Mandarina Bavarian hops (from Germany) along with Mandarin Orange zest. It’s got a medium hop presence – and that allows you to showcase the citrus aromas and flavors.”
Later on, the Phoenix Brewery will have music of their own provided by the always-exciting Northern Junkyard Orchestra. NJO is comprised of Jeff Bell, Kate Westfall and Orie Rush along with occasional supporting players.
These talented folks are more than just musicians, they’re a driving force in the local arts scene who also work individually, and play frequently around town and elsewhere.
Orie has an exhibition of his artwork currently on display in the Book Loft at Main St Books. Over the road at ‘Relax, it’s Just Coffee’ you’ve still got a few days left to see Jeff’s artwork. On Friday, it will be replaced with a new photographic exhibition called “Places I Have Seen” by Jan Ashton Schumer, along with a chance to meet the artist.
And as if all this isn’t enough, this Friday will also see the return of the crack improv comedy team Four Clunkers & a Chevy at the Mansfield Playhouse.
There’s a lot of talent in this town, folks, and plenty of it will be on display this Friday. Take your pick and come on out!
FIRST FRIDAY SHOP HOP LINEUP
FRIDAY FEB. 3
Element of Art Studio/Gallery – Brady Jacquin 5 to 7:30 p.m., Spoken Images 7:30 to 8 p.m.
Relax, It’s Just Coffee – Places I Have Seen Photographic Exhibition, Meet the Artist 5 to 7 p.m.
Phoenix Brewing Company – Friday Firkin Tapping at 6, music from Northern Junkyard Orchestra 8 to 11 p.m.
Suzy’s City News & Smoke Room – music from Tommy Wienclaw 7 to 10 p.m.
