Featured Stories

Cleveland Museum of Art offers colorful October programs, supernatural exhibits, frightening fare
The Cleveland Museum of Art embraces Fall and Halloween with a month of supernatural exhibits, family-friendly activities, live music, the MIX: Supernatural Halloween dance party, and seasonal dining.
Upcycle Parts Shop celebrates 10 years with big changes, expansion
Upcycle Parts Shop is celebrating 10 years of creativity and sustainability in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood. From saving materials from landfills to inspiring the community with art, the nonprofit recently expanded its space. The shop will celebrate with its Mystic Masquerade fundraiser in November.
Setting the stage: A behind-the-scenes look at Natural History Museum transformation
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History's Science and Conservation teams are preparing items for public display as the $150 million transformation nears its end.. Come take a sneak peek at the transformation prep work!
A classic tale reimagined: Playhouse Square debuts ‘Velveteen, A New Musical’
“Velveteen, A New Musical” is the first show Playhouse Square has created and self-produced for young audiences. The adaptation from the classic children's book "The Velveteen Rabbit" premiers later this month with a sensory-friendly performance in the Mimi Ohio Theatre.
Nature’s canvas: Exploring the changing October colors in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Discover the magic of Fall in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Read about the best times to explore the stunning Autumn colors—from early to late October—with insider tips from park officials for everything you need to plan the perfect fall hiking adventure in Northeast Ohio's natural wonderland.
Connecting narratives: Live lit returns to The Brownhoist for Story Club’s new season
Story Club, a monthly nonfiction storytelling event in Cleveland, offers a platform for personal narratives and community building. This month features guests from Literary Cleveland and Nebula Spiritual. Partnering with The Reading Room CLE, the event will host a mix of featured storytellers and open mic slots in The Brownhoist this Friday.
Aloe lotta love: Mother-daughter team spread the succulent joy with AloeCLE
AloeCLE, founded last summer by mother-daughter team Lena Paskewitz and Miranda Fox-Hervey, grew out of a passion for rescuing and nurturing aloe plants. The school teachers offer hand-glazed pots and aloe plants, while promoting a community of plant enthusiasts with their aloe mama fostering program, pottery workshops, and walks through their AloeCLE Trail at their home studio.
University Settlement’s new home a would-be catalyst for Slavic Village
University Settlement, which has been serving the community for almost a century in Slavic Village, in August began a new era of support and uplifting the community with the opening of 5115, a mixed use development with space for programming, a food pantry, and a host of services, as well as 5115 At The Rising apartments and townhomes.
Power of the pen: 2024 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards adds new public author symposium
The 89th Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, which recognize outstanding books that contribute to our understanding of racism and celebrate cultural diversity, take place this weekend at the City Club of Cleveland. As part of the ninth annual Cleveland Book Week, the awards will introduce a new author symposium, “When Artists Go to Work,” with Anisfield-Wolf Award-winning authors and the jurors The event is presented by the Cleveland Foundation.
Era of Ascent: IngenuityFest celebrates growth, soaring to new levels
Ingenuity Cleveland will celebrate the beginning of its 20th year this weekend with IngenuityFest 2024: Era of Ascent at its newly-expanded IngenuityLabs. The festival where art meets technology will reflect both on its growth and its vision for the future in its most ambitious year yet.
Bridging the gap: MAGNET’s ECEC program grows manufacturing careers in high school
MAGNET's Early College, Early Career (ECEC) program allows high school juniors to get an early start in potentially lucrative manufacturing careers. Through ECEC, students attend classes three days a week, spend one day in training at MAGNET with mentors, and spend one day in internships with local manufacturing companies. More than 90% of graduates receive job offers at the end of the program that MANGET first launched in 2017.
Fresh Fest Cleveland: A celebration of community, culture, and wellness
Fresh Fest Cleveland 2024 will bring the energy of a block party, the flavors of a cookout, and the connections of a family reunion to the Urban Agriculture Innovation Zone at Rid-All Farm & Otter Park this Saturday, with live music, fresh food, local artists, health and wellness vendors, and a variety of family-friendly activities.
Creative booster: CAC connects communities through free arts and culture events
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture funds thousands of free cultural events across Cuyahoga County—with a range of happenings encompassing local photography, handmade crafts, and fun-filled community get-togethers. We take a look at Cleveland Photo Fest, Oh Sew Powerful, and University Circle, Inc.'s funded programs.
Hometown Heroes: One South Euclid to celebrate three residents committed to positive change
One South Euclid will honor three residents who have worked to better the community with the CDC's annual Hometown Hero awards Mingle at Mayfield event Mayfield Country Club.
Literary journey: Connie Schultz debuts first children’s book to rapt young audience at CCPL

FreshWater exclusive: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Connie Schultz captivated a packed audience at the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Parma-Snow branch last Saturday with a reading of her first children’s book, "Lola and the Troll." Schultz talked with FreshWater's Jess Starr about how her grandchildren inspired her venture into picture books, and the lessons on kindness and bravery learned.

Cooking up success: Culinary icon Loretta Paganini hosts Cleveland’s Top Chefs fundraiser
Loretta Paganini opened her International Culinary Arts and Science Institute 20 years ago to give area culinary students advanced career training. This weekend, local celebrity chefs will help raise scholarship money for the school at the Cleveland's Top Chefs event.
Harvest Moon: A culinary celebration under the stars
Holden Forests & Gardens will host its only annual fundraiser, Harvest Moon, on Sept. 13 at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. The Friday the 13th event will be an evening where mysticism meets philanthropy among Cleveland's top chefs.
Passport to Peace: One World Day embraces cultural diversity
The 78th annual One World Day takes place in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens this Sunday, Aug. 25—offering a family friendly cultural celebration of Cleveland's diversity with music, dancing, and food and drink.
Building bridges: How Cleveland Heights is reforming police protocols in LGBTQ+ youth encounters
Cleveland Heights City Council and child services agency Bellefaire JCB are leading efforts to improve police interactions with LGBTQ+ youth. The initiative, supported by the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland and Columbus-based Kaleidoscope Youth Center, focuses on reducing harmful encounters through updated protocols, officer training, and improved youth programs.
Bridging the nature gap: Empowering urban youth with outdoor experiences
Nature is a foreign place to many urban young people who may not have the exposure, money, gear, and guidance to enjoy nature more. Several local groups, like Footpath Foundation, Sankofa Circle International, and Children & Nature Network, introduce Cleveland's urban youth to the wonders of nature.