From screamin' sports cars to towering monster trucks, Cleveland is host to unique design stories born on the wings of transportation.

Seven Rock Boxes, a public art project featuring giant amplifiers along East 9^th Street, are almost ready to rock downtown Cleveland and connect visitors to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
 
Commissioned in the fall of 2014 by Destination Cleveland and the Rock Hall as a way to promote our town's rock 'n' roll soul and the museum that embodies it, the $500,000 project was designed by Sheffield native and Cleveland Institute of Art graduate Mark Reigelman for LAND studio. Reigelman's been the creative force behind a host of notable area projects such as the "Wrap" planters that dot downtown and "Cold Front" along the West 76th Street underpass.
 
“They were looking for a way to further the connection to downtown because the Rock Hall is a bit isolated being on the [North Coast] Harbor,” explains LAND studio project manager Sarah Siebert. “Destination Cleveland wanted a connective impact for folks downtown. The seven Rock Boxes – all located along E. 9^th Street – will create a “bread crumb effect,” says Siebert, leading to the Rock Hall.
 
Locations include Progressive Field on Bolivar; Medical Mutual on Prospect; The RTA HealthLine stop median at Euclid; Rockwell Park; One Cleveland Center at St. Clair; the RTA North Coast Rapid station; and the Rock Hall.
 
The boxes will sound off in unison about two or three times a day, playing 30- to 90-second sound clips from a list of two selections from each of the Rock Hall inductees. “We want it to have a similar effect as church bells,” says Siebert. “Over time, folks will see a pattern.”
 
LAND studio is still testing the decibel level of the boxes. “We want to make sure they’re heard, but not be overwhelming,” Siebert promises, adding that the songs will have universal appeal. “Folks can relate to it, regardless of age, generation or time.”
 
While an exact date for the installation’s completion has yet to be determined, Siebert expects the Rock Boxes to be complete by the end of June, in time for the Republican National Convention in July.

With affordable housing stock, easy access to amenities and a friendly atmosphere for artists and entrepreneurs, the Moreland district in Shaker Heights is a tiny grid of streets that's poised to take off.

The Fixers, a series of short films that will be presented in SPACES next month, offers street-level tours Clevelanders would give RNC delegates if given the chance.

Fresh Water contributor Kim Palmer offers up a perfect slice of Cleveland as she gives you an insider's tour of her corner of the world: Detroit Shoreway.

Fresh Water invites readers to enjoy this unique round-up of neighbors that you've likely never met even though they've been around longer than the oldest Clevelander you know.

This short hard-hitting film aims to help young people develop empathy and see the world through other peoples' eyes.

MOCA's cosmopolitan flair is rooted in its commitment to connect Cleveland to points across the globe via art and people.

A whirlwind tour of Cleveland with zip lines, sailboats, and bicycles; uptown, downtown and midtown - all packed into a wee two and a half minutes!

Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (CNP) has announced 21 finalists for its 2016 Vibrant City Awards. Winners will be revealed on May 2 at the second annual Vibrant City Awards Lunch, hosted by CNP and presented by Key Bank and Community Blight Solutions.
 
“We are proud to convene community partners and stakeholders to celebrate city neighborhoods. These leading efforts in neighborhood revitalization are what help us all create a vibrant city,” says Joel Ratner, president and CEO of CNP. “The organizations and individuals being honored have displayed tremendous passion, dedication and collaboration. We’re excited to recognize them for their successful efforts in community development.”
 
CNP received more than 70 nominations for this year's awards.

Learn more about all 21 finalists and continue reading.

Three programs in Northeast Ohio that attract high school students from across the globe offer an intense and realistic preview of life in a college arts program.

In this series, Fresh Water gives an insider's tour of CLE's storied neighborhoods. This week, Fresh Water contributor Mark Oprea offers up the first perfect slice of Cleveland as he shows you around his corner of the world: Little Italy.
 

The Cedar Taylor Development Association (CTDA) would like to commission a permanent art installation for the Cedar Taylor Business District. The budget is $3,000.
 
The art must be installed in the Cleveland Heights portion of the Cedar Taylor business district. Artists are invited to submit any range of concepts, from mural to sculpture. No specific medium is preferred.
 
The CTDA board of directors will vote on the entries to determine three finalists. Those three proposals will be voted on via the CTDA Facebook page over a one-week period. The finalists will be posted separately and the one with the highest number of “likes” will be the winner. 
 
Proposals are due by April 30 and should be submitted via email to the president of the CTDA board of directors, Kevin Smith.
 
Get all the details here.