Cleveland's annual Brite Winter festival landed in the Waterloo Arts District last weekend, offering a much-needed winter escape with music, art, and community celebration. Brite Winter has been the winter arts and culture scene for more than 15 years, and photographer Reuben Kutash documented the 2026 version on Saturday.

Piccolo Authentic Italian restaurant in Mayfield Heights is one of more than 30 local eateries participating in Cleveland Restaurant Week, March 2-14, offering $39 prix fixe menus. Piccolo's menu features family recipes passed down from owner Christopher Licht's Sicilian great-grandmother. The event coincides with the 20th anniversary of Cleveland Independents, which encourages diners to support locally-owned restaurants.

Last weekend, photographer Reuben Kutash documents people attending the Kurent Jump at the Slovenian National Home—awakening the Kurenti and kicking off a week of events leading up to the 14th annual Cleveland Kurentovanje festival this Saturday, Feb. 14.  The day will include music and Slovenian food in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood.

Cleveland Heights native Laila Edwards is making history as a member of the U.S. Women's Hockey Team at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, and her community is rallying behind her at EDWINS Restaurant. EDWINS founder Brandon Chrostowski has been hosting free watch parties to celebrate Edwards' achievements and her role as the first Black woman on a Team USA hockey team.

FreshWater's Reuben Kutash was curious about Western Reserve Historical Society's Murder Mystery series, so last week he stopped by the Cleveland History Center to participate in "Municipal Murder: The Final Pitch." Read Reuben's take on the interactive whodunit based on 1940s Cleveland baseball, see his photos, and find out how you can get tickets to the next installment.

The Western Reserve Historical Society is about to launch its latest murder mystery event, "Municipal Murder: The Final Pitch," set in the 1948 Cleveland baseball scene. Now in its third year, the immersive series has become a seasonal favorite, offering participants the chance to solve historically-rooted mysteries while learning about different eras of Cleveland's past.

As we head into the peak of the holiday season, Downtown Cleveland is the place to be for festive lights, decorations, and winter celebrations.

The Kimpton Schofield Hotel is celebrating Pride Month with a special package that includes complimentary cocktails and a donation to The Trevor Project. The hotel holds historical significance as having one of the city's first gay bars in the same location.

Another brilliant day of music, creativity, community, and fire is in the books as #BriteWinter2025 wraps up its Sweet 16th year. Photographer Shawn Brewster recaps the memorable event this photo essay.

The Children's Museum of Cleveland is hosting Camp CMC, an adults-only event that recreates the nostalgic summer camp experience while supporting the museum's Wonder Fund. The evening offers attendees the opportunity to engage in various camp-themed activities, enjoy local food and drinks, and contribute to programs that make the museum accessible to all families in the community.

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.

Padua Franciscan High School in Parma is flashing back to the '70s this weekend with a Double Decker Halloween Dance and costume party, featuring local bands Bob Gatewood & the Calabash Band and Cleveland's Breakfast Club.

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.

In 2019 Lakewood residents Lisa and Eric Hollender wanted a bar where unleashed dogs could play and exercise while their humans relaxed and socialized. So, in 2021 they opened Taps & Tails in Tremont. The place is so popular, they're thinking about expanding with an east side location.

This Friday, The Yard at StoneWater—the neighborhood backyard bar at the Highland Heights golf course—will kick off its summer season with live music, food trucks, games and cocktails. This weekend The Yard hosts musicians 4 Locos and Liverpool Lads, as well as El Patron Tequileria Food Truck.

The Astro Restaurant owners invite guests to take a cosmic voyage at their new outer space and alien-themed eatery at Towner City Center. From the creators of the Haunted House Restaurant in Cleveland Heights, The Astro gives a nod to sci-fi classics like Men in Black, Star Wars, The Jetsons, Star Trek, and more in an out-of-this world atmosphere.

Cleveland Independents has launched its annual Cleveland Restaurant Week, with $39 prix fixe three-course dinners offered by 40 area restaurants, like The Reserve Chagrin Falls and Batuqui, through Saturday.