In a Rust Wire feature titled “The Oh-So-Clevelandish Life of Harvey Pekar,” Angie Schmitt shares her thoughts on the late Harvey Pekar in an article than does not necessarily honor his accomplishments as a writer, but the genius behind his work.
 
“Here is this creative genius and intellectual and he won’t follow his doctor wife out of the region because he has a civil service job -- a steady, reliable government job. That is the most Cleveland, the most Rust Belt, move ever. In a scary economy, get that government job and cling to it for dear life,” Schmitt writes.
 
“That is the Cleveland way. The dream. It’s a pretty freaking sad one, if you ask me, but one that still holds a powerful appeal in this region, especially for older people. And I guess if you have a mortgage and a family and you’re watching your regional economy unravel, it makes a lot of sense,” Schmitt continues.
 
Enjoy the full tribute here.

In a PR Newswire item posted in The Wall Street Journal titled “New Roster Of Hopefuls Vie For Culinary Stardom In Season Nine Of Primetime Competition Series Food Network Star,” the release announces the finalists for the upcoming season in addition to some background on the show.
 
Cleveland’s own Chris Hodgson of Hodge's Restaurant and food truck fame is among the finalists.
 
The finalists for season nine are: Nikki Dinki (New York); Andres Guillama (Waynesville, NC); Rodney Henry (Baltimore); Chris Hodgson (Cleveland); Connie "Lovely" Jackson (Los Angeles); Russell Jackson (San Francisco); Danushka Lysek (New York); Daniela Perez-Reyes (Haleiwa, Haw.); Viet Pham (Salt Lake City); Damaris Phillips (Louisville, Ky.); Stacey Poon-Kinney (San Diego) and Chad Rosenthal (Ambler, Penn.).
 
Hodgson is no stranger to Food Network stardom as he finished in second place in the second season of The Great Food Truck Race.
 
View the full release here.

In a NPR story titled “Cleveland Celebrates Superman, Its Hometown Hero,” Brian Bull explains Cleveland’s historical past in relation to the comic book hero Superman, who turned 75 years old on April 18.
 
“Less well-known is that the superhero is not native to the lost world of Krypton, nor the rural Kansas burg of Smallville. Superman is Cleveland's native son -- at least as far as the city's residents are concerned.”
 
Bull goes on to explain the history of Superman’s creation and some of the inspiration behind the story, including some of the main characters such as Lois Lane.
 
"The Man of Steel in a steel town, the strength that he had, that's all part of what Cleveland is," Mayor Frank Jackson was quoted. "We're a tough community that has overcome many challenges and obstacles, and Superman is a good representative model of Cleveland."
 
Check out the entire piece here.

In a Thumbtack.com survey titled “United States Small Business Friendliness,” the editors grade Cleveland an “A-“ in overall friendliness to small business. They also gave Cleveland an “A” in ease of hiring and an “A+” in training and networking programs.
 
“Starting a business is one of the greatest risks I have undertaken. I have the good fortune of starting that business in Ohio. The State gave me an entire website guiding me so that the odds of success are greater. I am not sure I can qualify starting a business as easy, but the support in my state made certain that it wasn't too painful,” shared a Cleveland-based marketing consultant.
 
Cleveland did have some areas for improvement despite its high overall grade. Regulations and tax code issues can sometimes be challenging for small business owners according to the findings.
 
Check out the complete survey here.

In a The Atlantic piece titled “If Other Cities Are Demolishing Skywalks, Why Does Cleveland Want a New One?” Sarah Goodyear writes of Horseshoe Casino’s plan to erect a skywalk connecting the gaming center and the parking garage. This plan has the full support of the city and its administration but not from all of the urban dwellers.
 
In it Goodyear quotes local writer and Fresh Water contributor Joe Baur, a 26-year-old who moved downtown and has started a group called OurCLE to fight the skywalks.
 
"I’m not typically the activist type," says Baur. "I’m more a satirist. But this is like -- well, you may not like kids, but if you see a kid about to touch a hot stove, you’re going to stop them." Baur explains that in this analogy Cleveland is the kid and the skywalk is the stove.
 
The proposed skywalk would not only alter sightlines in the area downtown but also hinder local businesses due to the anticipated reduced street traffic. Also mentioned in the piece is Cuyahoga County's plans to keep and refurbish another skywalk at its new administration building.
 
Read the full argument here.

In a The Editor's Room feature titled “The Times-Picayune Fiasco: Newhouses Give Cleveland a Better Deal Than New Orleans,” Errol Laborde explores in his commentary why the Cleveland Plain Dealer did not get sliced and diced nearly as badly as New Orleans’ Times-Picayune in their restructuring.
 
Laborde details how both city's citizens were vocally passionate about saving their dailies, however Cleveland was somehow spared whereas New Orleans suffered massive cuts.
 
“New Orleans may have gotten the shaft and Cleveland spared simply because our town came first. The protesters down here may not have saved their daily but they got a message across and that ultimately may have helped The Plain Dealer,” Laborde writes.
 
Read the full passionate commentary here.

In an Associated Press story published on Vindy.com titled “Playhouse Square theater district in Cleveland to get $16M exterior upgrade,” editors write of the streetscape upgrade in the works for Cleveland’s famed PlayhouseSquare Theater District.
 
“The nonprofit PlayhouseSquare Foundation plans to spend $16 million over the next year to upgrade the district with bright signs, gateway arches and digital displays,” the article states.
 
The highlight of the proposal would be the installation of a 24-foot-tall glass and crystal chandelier over the district’s prime intersection. Other features would include gold-colored signage that span entrances to the district and architectural lighting that highlights details of the historic buildings.
 
Enjoy the full story here.

In honor of National Grilled Cheese Month, a Relish listicle rattles off “America’s 10 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.” Cleveland’s Melt Bar and Grilled makes the list with multiple locations throughout the area.
 
“Boring thin-sliced white bread and American [cheese] are things of the past,” says Melt Bar and Grilled owner Matt Fish of his forwarding-thinking sandwich philosophy. “The more attitude and adventurous you can make the grilled cheese the better.”
 
Check out the full write-up here.

In an Eater.com feature titled “Noodlecat Chef-Owner Jonathon Sawyer on Cleveland, Expansion, and the Ramen Boom,” Amy McKeever talks to local chef Jonathon Sawyer regarding the one-year anniversary of the Noodlecat spot in Cleveland’s historic West Side Market.
 
In her lengthy interview she touches on all aspects of the satellite location, from opening to inspiration, to the difficulties of working in a cramped 45-square-foot space. Despite focus on Sawyer and Noodlecat, the West Side Market comes across as the star thanks to outstanding vendor relationships and supplying the ingredients used at both the stand and the brick-and-mortar restaurant downtown.
 
“I would say if anybody comes to Cleveland and doesn't go to the West Side Market, that would be an absolute shame,” Sawyer states.
 
We agree wholeheartedly.
 
Check out the full interview here.

In a Screen Rant post titled “Captain America 2 Begins Production: First Photo & News Synopsis,” Rob Keys shares how production is underway for Captain America 2 dubbed "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."
 
Already released is the first official photo from the sequel as well as casting confirmations and a new synopsis.
 
“The film has begun shooting in Los Angeles for in-studio work and will move to shooting on-location in Cleveland, Ohio, and Washington D.C. this summer.”
 
There was plenty of excitement throughout the city when "The Avengers" was shot here two summers ago. It is almost time to gear up for more of the same.
 
Enjoy the full story here.

In a Huffington Post story titled “Cleveland Plain Dealer To Cut Daily Home Delivery,” staff writers share the harsh reality of the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s decision to cut home delivery to three times per week while continuing to print a daily edition.
 
“The Plain Dealer announced the change, along with a reorganization of the company, on Thursday. The newly formed Northeast Ohio Media Group will handle "all advertising sales and marketing for The Plain Dealer, Cleveland.com and Sun newspapers," as well as provide content for all print and digital products.”
 
In November the publisher announced significant changes to the paper. Rather than daily printing being cut to three days per week like some had feared, home delivery will take the biggest and most noticeable hit.
 
View the full post here.

In a New York Times article titled “Culprit in Heart Disease Goes Beyond Meat’s Fat,” Gina Kolata explains how Cleveland Clinic Dr. Stanley Hazen led a study that discovered a new explanation regarding why red meat may contribute to heart disease.
 
“The researchers had come to believe that what damaged hearts was not just the thick edge of fat on steaks, or the delectable marbling of their tender interiors. In fact, these scientists suspected that saturated fat and cholesterol made only a minor contribution to the increased amount of heart disease seen in red-meat eaters,” Kolata writes.
 
It was proposed that the real issue with red meat is a chemical released by bacteria in the intestines after eating red meat that quickly gets converted by the liver and released into the blood. This little-studied chemical is called TMAO.
 
The piece goes on to detail findings of the study and their correlations to red meat consumption.
 
Read the complete piece here.

In a Canadian Globe and Mail feature titled “Why you should be hot for Cleveland,” local writer and Fresh Water editor Douglas Trattner details the splendor that is Cleveland while tossing around fancy spellings like kilometre and neighbourhood.
 
“While it’s no secret that Cleveland has experienced a large population decline since its peak in 1950, when it was the seventh-largest city in the United States, things have begun to turn around in a big way,” Trattner writes. “Oft-repeated jabs about burning rivers, blundering sports teams and infinite winters are giving way to reports of bike-friendly infrastructure and a world-class dining scene. Heck, city folk here are even allowed to raise chickens and bees.”
 
Trattner goes on to share his picks for what to see, where to eat, where to drink, where to sleep, and where to shop for members of both sides of the border.
 
Check out the full “international” story here.

In a New York Times feature titled “Riding Wave of Popularity, Craft Brewers ask Congress for a Tax Cut,” Andrew Siddons writes of brewers from across the nation gathering in Washington D.C. for their industry’s first conference. In addition to meeting to discuss their trade, plenty of lobbying took place as well.
 
“For every 31 gallons that we brew, $7 goes to Uncle Sam,” said Jeff Hancock, a co-founder of DC Brau. These small brewers feel they need a break.
 
Cleveland’s own Patrick Conway of Great Lakes Brewing Company was there as well.
 
“We are the victims of our own success,” said Patrick Conway, owner of the Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland. Mr. Conway brought a delegation of 12 employees to Washington to network and publicize his brews with tap takeovers at local bars. “We’re always being courted by distributors,” he said. “It’s not our intention to sell in every state, but we are flattered.”
 
Enjoy the entire feature here.

In a Gayot post titled “The Best St. Patrick’s Day Parades of 2013,” the editorial staff names Cleveland among the best in the country.
 
“More than 10,000 people participate in bands, floats, drill teams, marching units and novelties in Cleveland's popular parade, which began in 1867.”
 
Cleveland is ranked up there with some of the nation’s greatest celebrations including Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
 

In a Huffington Post blog post titled “Road Trip USA: Late-Night Drives Dodging Snowflakes in New England, and Cleavage in Cleveland,” Rick Steves shares of his experiences traveling on the final leg of his road trip visiting the likes of St. Louis, Vermont, New Hampshire, Boston, Chicago, and Cleveland.
 
“Enjoying Cleveland's impressive skyline on the taxi ride into town, I passed Progressive Field, where a banner trumpeted the good news for Indians fans: '18 days until the first game of the baseball season!'"
 
Steves goes on to talk about other gems of the city including the Horseshoe Casino and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
 
“Later, during autograph time, a woman made her plunging neckline a little deeper and asked for my John Hancock on her chest -- the highlight of my Sharpie's day.”
 
Stay classy Cleveland!
 
Read the full piece here.

In a New York Times feature titled “Technology That Serves to Enhance, Not Distract,” Fred A. Bernstein explores the attention the Cleveland Museum of Art has been garnering for its groundbreaking Gallery One exhibit.
 
“In the museum world, everyone’s watching Cleveland right now,” said Erin Coburn, a museum consultant who has worked at both the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Though other museums have experimented with interactive technology, the extent of Cleveland’s program is unprecedented, she said. “They’ve put a lot out there for other museums to learn from.”
 
The museum also treats iPads users to more and different information by giving an interactive feel to the displays, while still keeping focus on the artwork itself. If you do not have an iPad, one can be rented from the museum for just $5 per day.
 
Read the entire feature here.

In a Waste Management World story titled “Recycling and Waste to Energy Project Evaluated in Cleveland,” Ben Messenger explains how Cleveland is putting great effort into transforming the city’s waste into a form of locally produced energy.
 
“Cleveland has been investigating the use of municipal solid waste (MSW) for the production of energy since at least 2007,” explained Ken Silliman, chief of staff for Mayor Frank Jackson.
 
“Our goals, in part, are to reduce Cleveland’s dependence on fossil fuels, develop local energy generation capacity, and recover marketable by-products, such as recyclables, from MSW," he continued.
 
The story goes on to explain the vast scope of waste collection from 155,000 homes and a plethora of public buildings, including the West Side Market, fire stations, the Justice Center, and City Hall.
 
Learn more in the full story here.

In an AOL Travel piece titled “Cleveland Classics: Five Stylishly Repurposed Buildings,” Sophia Dembling writes of five of our city’s historical buildings that have been transformed and given new life.
 
Among them are the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, which once housed the former power-generating plant for streetcars and railways located on the west bank of the Cuyahoga River.
 
The former Higbee’s department store has been transformed into the Horseshoe Casino. The building can best be remembered by some as the scene of the classic holiday film A Christmas Story.
 
“If you've seen A Christmas Story (and who hasn't), you've seen Higbee's department store, where Ralphie has his horrible Santa experience.”
 
Check out the rest of the buildings on the list here.

In a Forbes list titled “15 U.S. Cities’ Emerging Downtowns,” the fine staffers rank our fair city at No. 15.
 
“Cleveland began revitalizing its downtown in the mid-1990s. Today, more than $3.5 billion is currently invested in furthering the area's redevelopment.”
 
The Global Center for Health Innovation slated to open this summer is mentioned as a huge boon for downtown, as well as a multitude of other recreational projects such as the finished aquarium and the up-and-coming recreation center.
 
Forbes also notes that downtown has seen its population nearly double over the last two decades ending in 2010.
 
“From fourth quarter 2011 through the fourth quarter of 2012, the number of housing units grew about 13%, according to the Downtown Cleveland Alliance. Another 715 units are expected to come online in 2013.”
 
Check out the full list here.