Featured Stories

Empire Builders: Local author documents the architectural impact of the Van Sweringen brothers
Architectural photographer and Shaker Heights resident Lauren Pacini this week published “Empire Builders: An Illustrated History of the Rise and Fall of Cleveland's Van Sweringen Brothers,” the story of the eccentric Van Sweringen brothers' successes and failures in developing Shaker Heights as an exclusive residential garden community and their eventual demise during the Great Depression.
Pride in the CLE in photos
People came by the thousands to celebrate Pride in the CLE on Saturday, June 1, hosted by the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland. FreshWater managing photographer caught the events of the day to share with our readers.
Heart of downtown: South Euclid Food Truck Park returns for season two
The South Euclid Truck Park will open in June for its second summer season—serving up an ever-changing lineup of food trucks, live music, and nonprofit support each weekend. The park was a vision of the City of Euclid and One South Euclid CDC to create an in-demand downtown destination.
Digging the rhythm: Free summer concert series returns to Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park will soon launch its fourth annual Rhythm on the River—a free summer concert series in Cuyahoga Valley National Park's Howe Meadow, featuring food trucks, vendors, popular local and national musicians, and plenty of natural beauty. The series opens on Sunday, June 9 with Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band and the Shaw High School Marching Band.
Signs of life: Artists, volunteers prepare for Parade the Circle
The giant white tent has gone up in University Circle—indicating it's almost time for the Cleveland Museum of Art's 32nd annual Parade the Circle! The University Circle Inc. institutions and groups like Hildebrandt Artist Collective, Inlet Dance Theatre, Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center, Samba da Cidade, as well as volunteers, vendors, and other groups, are getting ready for a day of Visions of Harmony.
Illustrating Little Italy: Artist depicts neighborhood history, life, in mural and Art Walk
Cartoonist, illustrator, and graphic designer Tara Seibel has been creating collectible posters for the Little Italy Art Walk since 2014. Last December she completed the mural "Happy Feast" in Presti's Bakery and will host several artists in her gallery above the bakery to kick off this year's Art Walk, running May 31 through June 2.
A century of hosting: 100 years of Republican National Conventions in Cleveland
This coming June will mark 100 years since Cleveland hosted the first of three Republican National Conventions—in June 1924, 1936, and 2016. The city has yet to host a Democratic National Convention. FreshWater contributing editor Grant Segall takes a look back at how Cleveland welcomed guests during each of the three historic events.
Curtain call: John Ewing reflects on his illustrious career at helm of Cleveland Cinematheque
After 38 years at the helm of Cleveland Cinematheque, co-founder and director John Ewing will step down from his post on June 30, with Bilgesu Sisman taking over. Ewing takes a moment to reflect on nearly five decades of uplifting classic, foreign, and independent films at Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and ultimately at the Cleveland Institute of Art. He is spending his final months at Cinematheque showing some his favorite films in his “Unfinished Business/Parting Glances” and "Movie Crazy" series.
No place like home: Cleveland Restoration Society Celebration of Preservation honors 13 projects
The 2024 Celebration of Preservation, hosted by the Cleveland Restoration Society and the American Institute of Architects Cleveland, will highlight some of the best restoration and historical architecture projects in the past year at the Ariel LaSalle Theater on May 22. The event will honor projects like the West Side Market clock tower, the conversion of the former Henry W. Longfellow Elementary School in Collinwood into affordable senior apartments, and the Ford Hessler Apartments.
Worlds of fun: AsiaTown prepares for 15th annual Cleveland Asian Festival
The two-day Cleveland Asian Festival gets going later this month in AsiaTown, with plenty of food, music, dancing, demonstrations, and other fun! Festival admission and parking are free, too!
Hurdling obstacles: NEO is forging a path as a smart manufacturing hub
MAGNET's first Manufacturing Blueprint Report Card revealed that Northeast Ohio is making strides as an advanced production hub, illustrated by companies like Midway Swiss Turn, Inc and E.C. Kitzel & Sons. But there is still work to do. For instance, while high-tech adoption grew 80% since 2019, only a small number of companies are currently using Industry 4.0 innovations.
Cleveland Neighborhood Progress puts residents at heart of newest grant funding
Empowerment was top-of-mind for Cleveland Neighborhood Progress when it recently invested $2.013 million into 17 CDCs, with focus on the residents and needs like home repairs, community engagement, and real estate development.
Fighting for the arts: Cuyahoga Arts & Culture seeks tax levy replacement, increase
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture this week approved a resolution to Cuyahoga County Council, requesting an increased cigarette tax levy be placed on the November ballot to generate revenue so it can continue to fund nonprofit arts and culture organizations. If approved, CAC will work with Assembly for the Arts and Assembly for Action to gain support for the tax increase.
Living to Learn: CHN opens Louise C. Stokes Scholar House to help parents finish college
Last week, CHN Housing Partners and a host of partners opened the Louise C. Stokes Scholar House—a project eight years in the making—to provide parents attending school full time an affordable, safe place to live with wrap-around services. The new residents are just steps away from Cuyahoga Community College Metropolitan Campus and Cleveland State University, or a short drive from Lorain County Community College School of Nursing.
Reflections of a Troubled Black Man: A journey of healing, mindfulness, and grace
Morris Ervin overcame a troubled past to become a passionate educator and advocate for social justice. His memoir, “Reflections of a Troubled Black Man,” recounts his transformation and his ongoing work to foster empathy and inclusivity in challenging environments. Ervin will host a book signing infused with music and meditation at The Yoga Lab, reflecting his journey and mission.
Why is everyone doing 'The Prom?'
From the Near West Theatre in Cleveland's Detroit Shoreway neighborhood and Chagrin Valley Little Theater in Chagrin Falls, to Akron, Medina, and Ashtabula, "The Prom" musical is flourishing with audiences and actors alike. Ken Schneck, editor of "The Buckeye Flame" and Baldwin Wallace University professor, decided to find out why.
First leg: Canalway Half Marathon kicks off 2024 Towpath Trilogy
Canalway kicked off its 2024 Towpath Trilogy race series with the Towpath Half and 5 Mile Race last Sunday, with more than 500 runners participating. Bob Perkoski caught the runners and the fans at the Cleveland Metroparks Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation.
Sacred works: CMA’s international loan exhibit ‘Africa & Byzantium’ examines early empires
Experience nearly 160 works of secular and sacred art from across geographies and faiths in the Cleveland Museum of Art’s newest exhibition, Africa & Byzantium, running through Sunday, July 21 in conjunction with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibit explores the great civilizations that created their own unique arts while also building a shared visual culture across the regions linked by the Mediterranean and Red Seas, the Nile River, and the Sahara Desert.
Make It Home: A plan to support homeownership, stabilize east side CLE neighborhoods
In early April, the City of Cleveland, Enterprise Community Partners, Cuyahoga Land Bank, CHN Housing Partners, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless united with Rocket Community Fund to unveil the Make It Home Cleveland program. Aiming to address tax foreclosure and improve Black homeownership rates in East Side neighborhoods, the initiative offers renters the chance to become homeowners through financial support and housing stability services.
Photos: Bouncing around Tourney Town
The thousands of people who descended on downtown Cleveland last weekend for the NCAA Women's Final Four were also treated to two free events: Bounce and Tourney Town, where Bob Perkoski caught all the fun.