The Brew-n-Bistro is jammin'
Mark R. Reich owns the Brew-n-Bistro, located at 20630 North Park Blvd., near the eastern entrance to John Carroll University. His wife plays in an Irish band, the Terriers, and she loves to partake in jam sessions with her bandmates and friends. Naturally, she thought the Brew-n-Bistro would be a great spot to play.
So every third Monday of the month, from 7 to 9 p.m., the Brew-n-Bistro now hosts an acoustic music jam session for all ages. Reich says that anyone who can play an instrument can come in and jam, and anyone can come to listen to the assembled musicians play swing, oldies, bluegrass, Celtic and other genres.
Reich sets up a stage area in a semi-circle, but when more people show up it can become a full circle. “They love to have people hear them," Reich says, "but they are really playing for themselves. They don’t care if people are applauding, or not.”
If these jam sessions become popular, Reich hopes they'll take place every other Monday. He would also like to start an open mike night on the Mondays the jam sessions are not taking place.
Besides the new jam sessions, the Brew-n-Bistro is making other changes. Starting in July, it will become a sit-down restaurant in the evenings. The daytime counter service will remain, but after 5 p.m., customers will order from servers who will ome to the tables.
The next jam session will take place July 19. The open-mic sessions-which Reich thinks will bring in a younger crowd, including high school and college students-will begin in late August, when schools are back in session.
Brew-n-Bistro on North Park, 20630 North Park Blvd., 216-371-5300, Mon.–Thur. 7 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 7 a.m.–11 p.m., Closed Sunday
Anna Schade is a senior at John Carroll University and a summer intern with the Heights Observer.