Canalway celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this month with the approval of new design plans for the 22-acre Canal Basin Park along the Cuyahoga River. The interpretive park will honor the city's industrial heritage while adding a gathering place on Cleveland's riverfront landscape.

The Cleveland Leadership Center's 11th annual Accelerate: Citizens Make Change civic pitch competition will take place on Thursday, Feb. 20, at the Huntington Convention Center. The 26 participants have the chance to win seed money for their ideas to improve Northeast Ohio.

FreshWater Cleveland is launching a new series called CLE-Vignettes, and we want your to help us show how Cleveland area residents spend their time. Submit your photo, along with the details, and we may feature it in the series.

The Cleveland Botanical Garden's annual flower show, Orchids: Love in Bloom, returns on February 14. Featuring more than 3,000  blooms in romantic displays, the show offers an immersive and educational experience that includes special events and classes.

"Out of the Picture," a documentary exploring the future of art criticism, will make its Cleveland premiere at the Cinematheque this weekend. Directed by Mary Louise Schumacher, the film follows art critics as they navigate the changes in the art and media landscape. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Schumacher and former Plain Dealer art critic Steven Litt.

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking launched a new proactive campaign, Humans Over Human Trafficking. The imitative focuses on community empowerment and victim dignity, rather than fear-based messaging, to educate the public about the realities of human trafficking and inspire action.

Kelly Boland Nagusky reflects of her pride, joy, and sadness r of letting go as her children grow up and move away, return home, then move again.

Jakiah Moore experienced homelessness three years ago while pregnant with her daughter and fleeing domestic violence. The nonprofit A Place for Me helped her get back on her feet, rent an apartment, and offered her a job. Today, Moore is helping Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, A Place for Me, and other community partners in the fight to open a Drop-In Center for homeless youth in Ohio City.

The Western Reserve Historical Society's Cleveland History Center is observing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with free admission and special exhibits on Black history, art, and culture. Visitors can explore photography exhibits, learn about Dr. King's involvement in the 1968 Poor People's Campaign, and engage in various activities celebrating Dr. King's legacy.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day will a day of free activities, performances, and exhibits inspired by Dr. King's legacy. The event explores themes of freedom, justice, and democracy through art, music, dance, and storytelling, while also offering free admission to the "Picasso and Paper" exhibit.

As Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse celebrates its 30th anniversary of hosting sports events, concerts, and events, Cindy Norman, who has worked for the Cavs, the Coliseum, and the Fieldhouse for 50 years, reflects on memorable moments and technological advancements the arena's impact on Greater Cleveland.

On a recent trip to the Cleveland Metroparks Brecksville Reservation's Nature Center, Kelly Boland Nagusky rekindled her lifelong love for birds. She shared the experience with two of her children, who also embraced the magical effect of handfeeding wild Black Capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmice.

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture has approved grants totaling $10,750,847 to support more than 300 nonprofits in 2025. The funding, made possible by the passage of Issue 55, will benefit a wide range of organizations, including first-time recipients like Darl Center for the Arts, Seat of the Pants Productions, and Community Life Collaboration.

PERF, a monthly queer-centric house and techno dance party in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood, is transforming the LGBTQ+ nightlife scene. Created by DJ Joey Sardelle, PERF offers a safe and inclusive space for the queer community to dance, connect, and celebrate their identities. Sardelle has grown PERF, from a bar with music to an outlet for activism and community-building.

The Cleveland Restoration Society is offering its members an exclusive Snoop! Tour to preview the new Fidelity Hotel, on East 6th Street. The historic building, first named the Fidelity Building and later the Baker Building, is rich in history and architectural features. Led by historic preservation consultants Naylor Wellman, LLC, members can explore the adaptive reuse transformation from 1919 office building to a modern hotel.

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Cleveland Zoological Society are running their yearly Lights for Lions campaign, which recycles broken holiday lights and extension cords to raise money for lion and cheetah conservation in East Africa. Community members can donate their old lights and cords at various locations through early February.

A 750-foot mural—one of the largest murals in Ohio—reflects the culture and history of Cleveland's Woodhill neighborhood as part of the Elevate The East public art plan.

The FreshWater staff put together this comprehensive guide for a variety of local Cleveland holiday gift ideas. The list highlights some of our favorite products and experiences from local businesses and organizations to encourage shopping locally.

Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Here are some reflections, and some hope, as we mark the day and start the climb back to more daylight.

Local research and advocacy firm Enlightened Solutions recently released a 2024 Project Noir report, which reveals that Black women in Cleveland continue to face the same challenges as 2020 in the workplace, healthcare, and education.