Dakotah Kennedy

Your friendly neighborhood hype girl. Tips --> 216-282-6505 or Signal app at dakotahsoperandi.04.

newsletters

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #12: Just a sprinkle of pop culture

Feb 25, 2026

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7 min read

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #12: Just a sprinkle of pop culture

When shit happens, all you can do it pivot.

Dakotah Kennedy

3 lovely things

Feb 18, 2026

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5 min read

Three Lovely Things

A new TV series from the creator of Derry Girls, Trevor Noah's 2016 memoir and Pretty in Pink's iconic soundtrack.

Dakotah Kennedy

downbeat

Cuyahoga County’s prosecutors run for central committee raising eyebrows, calls into question previous office policy

Feb 18, 2026

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4 min read

Cuyahoga County’s prosecutors run for central committee raising eyebrows, calls into question previous office policy

Numerous attorneys currently or formerly associated with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, including Michael O’Malley himself, have turned in paperwork to influence future Democratic party endorsements as part of an obscure but powerful committee.

Dakotah Kennedy

arts and culture

Sounds like springtime? ‘Raspberry’ is the latest pop anthem from Chayla Hope and Other Animal

Feb 18, 2026

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4 min read

Sounds like springtime? ‘Raspberry’ is the latest pop anthem from Chayla Hope and Other Animal

Last Friday, Cleveland musicians Chayla Hope and Other Animal released their first collaboration titled “Raspberry.”

Dakotah Kennedy

newsletters

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #11: Cleveland pop and prosecutorial politics

Feb 18, 2026

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15 min read

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #11: Cleveland pop and prosecutorial politics

Chayla Hope and Other Animal’s new EP, “Raspberry,” provides the perfect soundtrack as we head into spring.

Dakotah Kennedy

newsletters

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #10: XORBIUS, why and zines

Feb 11, 2026

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15 min read

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #10: XORBIUS, why and zines

There is not a single mention of Valentine’s Day – well, except that one – in this newsletter.

Dakotah Kennedy

3 lovely things

Feb 11, 2026

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4 min read

Three Lovely Things

No theme this week, just a few pop culture pieces that I think are pretty special.

Dakotah Kennedy

arts and culture

The Year of the Zine: Microcosm Publishing celebrates thirty years

Feb 11, 2026

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7 min read

The Year of the Zine: Microcosm Publishing celebrates thirty years

Sure, 2025 was also The Year of the Zine, but we’re doing it again.

Dakotah Kennedy

arts and culture

‘One enemy. One power-up’: New video game XORBIUS launches on Playdate

Feb 11, 2026

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3 min read

‘One enemy. One power-up’: New video game XORBIUS launches on Playdate

Similar to Asteroids, but snarkier.

Dakotah Kennedy

3 lovely things

Feb 4, 2026

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4 min read

Here's what's holding my attention

Trust me, no one is more surprised than I am that there are not just one, but several football mentions this week.

Dakotah Kennedy

arts and culture

Lakewood’s Flame & Fable ‘romantasy’ bookstore celebrates first anniversary

Feb 4, 2026

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4 min read

Lakewood’s Flame & Fable ‘romantasy’ bookstore celebrates first anniversary

Flame & Fable is home to more than 3,000 romance and fantasy book titles, including many Cleveland authors. Meet six of them on Saturday, Feb. 8 in Lakewood.

Dakotah Kennedy

arts and culture

More than just football: ‘Object of the Game’ showcases one high school coach’s Cleveland legacy

Feb 4, 2026

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5 min read

More than just football: ‘Object of the Game’ showcases one high school coach’s Cleveland legacy

Just in time for a football-filled weekend, a new documentary tells Chuck Kyle’s story after 40 years at Saint Ignatius High School in Ohio City. The series premieres today, Feb. 4.

Dakotah Kennedy

newsletters

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #9: Fantasy and football

Feb 4, 2026

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12 min read

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #9: Fantasy and football

This week's issue just so happens to include a local fantasy and romance bookshop, plus a few football references. Shocking, I know.

Dakotah Kennedy

newsletters

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #8: Dystopia and data centers in Ohio

Jan 28, 2026

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13 min read

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #8: Dystopia and data centers in Ohio

Plus, the Sculpture Center is hosting its first all ceramics exhibition opening on Friday, Jan. 30.

Dakotah Kennedy

3 lovely things

Jan 28, 2026

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4 min read

Here's what's holding my attention

All three pop culture recommendations include some sort of comment and critique on capitalism and the current state of politics.

Dakotah Kennedy

downbeat

Let’s talk about it: Who are the winners and losers when it comes to data centers in Ohio?

Jan 28, 2026

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6 min read

Let’s talk about it: Who are the winners and losers when it comes to data centers in Ohio?

Q+A with tech policy professional Dean Jackson about the politics of data centers across Ohio.

Dakotah Kennedy

events

Carving out space for ceramics at Cleveland's The Sculpture Center

Jan 28, 2026

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2 min read

Carving out space for ceramics at Cleveland's The Sculpture Center

For the first time, the center is set to showcase ceramics from 10 different sculptors across the Midwest beginning Jan. 30 through March.

Dakotah Kennedy

3 lovely things

Jan 21, 2026

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6 min read

Here's what's holding my attention

Yes, I am reminding you to watch The Simpsons, plus a few other recommendations that are likely under your radar to balance it out.

Dakotah Kennedy

events

Swords down, pens up: Story Wars writers compete for the title of ‘Champion of Champions’

Jan 21, 2026

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4 min read

Swords down, pens up: Story Wars writers compete for the title of ‘Champion of Champions’

The top eight writers will square off during Story Wars inaugural event on Jan. 28 at Forest City Brewery.

Dakotah Kennedy

events

All Aboard Ohio sounds the alarm for passenger rail representation at the statehouse

Jan 21, 2026

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5 min read

All Aboard Ohio sounds the alarm for passenger rail representation at the statehouse

Last year, Ohio’s state legislature removed the passenger rail representative seat on the Ohio Rail Development Commission. The commission's next meeting is Thursday, Jan. 22.

Dakotah Kennedy

newsletters

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #7: Mostly trains, less automobiles

Jan 21, 2026

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16 min read

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #7: Mostly trains, less automobiles

Story Wars is set to host its first 'Champion of Champions' event on Jan. 28 and no, it's not at all like The Moth.

Dakotah Kennedy

3 lovely things

Jan 14, 2026

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5 min read

Here's what's holding my attention

This week we've got a couple of cozy music-driven animated projects and an article about "algospeak" from relatively new feminist publication, The FlyTrap.

Dakotah Kennedy

events

Little Nemo takes off from Cleveland in beautifully hand drawn video game

Jan 14, 2026

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4 min read

Little Nemo takes off from Cleveland in beautifully hand drawn video game

And no, Little Nemo has absolutely nothing to do with Finding Nemo.

Dakotah Kennedy

events

Bringing jazz, funk and gospel under one roof: Saxophonist Max Schlenk celebrates birthday with show at the Beachland

Jan 14, 2026

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3 min read

Bringing jazz, funk and gospel under one roof: Saxophonist Max Schlenk celebrates birthday with show at the Beachland

Catch Qualified and Thicarus at the Beachland Tavern on Jan. 16 for a birthday bash and a wild night of music.

Dakotah Kennedy

newsletters

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #6: I'd rather be fighting nightmares in Slumberland

Jan 14, 2026

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13 min read

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #6: I'd rather be fighting nightmares in Slumberland

Plus, a jazz and funk-filled concert at the Beachland Tavern featuring Qualified and Thicarus on Friday.

Dakotah Kennedy

Dakotah Kennedy

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #12: Just a sprinkle of pop culture

Three Lovely Things

Cuyahoga County’s prosecutors run for central committee raising eyebrows, calls into question previous office policy

Sounds like springtime? ‘Raspberry’ is the latest pop anthem from Chayla Hope and Other Animal

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #11: Cleveland pop and prosecutorial politics

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #10: XORBIUS, why and zines

Three Lovely Things

The Year of the Zine: Microcosm Publishing celebrates thirty years

‘One enemy. One power-up’: New video game XORBIUS launches on Playdate

Here's what's holding my attention

Lakewood’s Flame & Fable ‘romantasy’ bookstore celebrates first anniversary

More than just football: ‘Object of the Game’ showcases one high school coach’s Cleveland legacy

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #9: Fantasy and football

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #8: Dystopia and data centers in Ohio

Here's what's holding my attention

Let’s talk about it: Who are the winners and losers when it comes to data centers in Ohio?

Carving out space for ceramics at Cleveland's The Sculpture Center

Here's what's holding my attention

Swords down, pens up: Story Wars writers compete for the title of ‘Champion of Champions’

All Aboard Ohio sounds the alarm for passenger rail representation at the statehouse

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #7: Mostly trains, less automobiles

Here's what's holding my attention

Little Nemo takes off from Cleveland in beautifully hand drawn video game

Bringing jazz, funk and gospel under one roof: Saxophonist Max Schlenk celebrates birthday with show at the Beachland

Upbeat Nonsense Issue #6: I'd rather be fighting nightmares in Slumberland

upbeat nonsense