A new generation of farmers is taking shape, both in Cleveland and around the country. According to the latest Census of Agriculture, the number of farmers under 35 years old is increasing for only the second time in the last century. Meet four young Clevelanders who are venturing outside the city limits to pursue new agricultural adventures: Carl Harp Nursery, Bellwether Farm, and Frayed Knot Farm.

Even through the popular retailer has stores in more than 85 cities nationwide, West Elm's arrival in Cleveland has a local spin. In addition to its selection of home goods and decor, the 11,000 square feet store carries a selection of goods from eight Ohio makers—five of which are based in the Cleveland area—and boasts a décor that gives a nod to Cleveland’s manufacturing history.

Some people may instantly think of Seattle—the birthplace of Starbucks—when they discuss leaders of the national coffee scene. Others might point to trendy newcomers like Portland or major metropolitan cities like New York and San Francisco. But there’s a potent coffee scene percolating right here in Cleveland, with new java stops cropping up almost as quickly as breweries and restaurants.

Fraternal twins Rachel and Sarah Gross always dreamed of going into business together. “From the time we were young, we always planned business ideas,” recalls Rachel. “Our first idea was to open a snack shop on the [Brainard] circle near our house.” Last December, their long-held dream came true when they took ownership of Bialy's, a beloved bagel shop in University Heights.

On Saturday, Praxis Fiber Workshop welcomed local volunteers to help with the inaugural planting of a new natural dye garden at its Collinwood-based facility. The quarter-acre garden will eventually consist mainly of 3,000 indigo plants, says Praxis executive director Jessica Pinsky. Although it looks like basil while growing, the plant is most commonly used as a natural—and less polluting—way to dye blue denim.

Heavy rain didn't stop more than 1,400 Clevelanders from attending the "VNTG Modern" open house last weekend at a Gates Mills mansion. Revelers noshed on light bites from chef Zack Bruell, enjoyed live piano music, and sipped champagne while exploring the sprawling estate. Not only was the 14,231-square-foot mansion for sale—but so were all the furnishings inside, straight from the Tyler Village showroom of VNTG Home.

It’s planting season in Northeast Ohio, and Tim Smith of Community Greenhouse Partners (CGP) is ready to help people get their gardens started with more than 1,000 heirloom tomato plants.

Brunswick resident Jennifer Owens thinks the Midwest is a “highly underrated hiking destination,” and she founded CampRents to help make it easier for outdoor enthusiasts to explore it—and beyond. The Northeast Ohio-based startup seeks to make adventuring more accessible by delivering rentable gear on demand.

Businesses like City Diner and Vino Veritas Winery are just a few that have popped up in Old Brooklyn in the last 16 months—and now, thanks to Cleveland Chain Reaction, five more businesses will set up shop this year with the announcement that Old Brooklyn will be the location of this year’s business competition.

While browsing The Wandering Wardrobe's online boutique last spring, Maria LeFebre stumbled upon a shirt screen-printed with the slogan “Support Your Local Girl Gang.” The second-grade teacher had never heard the phrase before, but it resonated with her and she promptly purchased the garment. More than just a style statement, LeFebre took her shirt’s message as a call to action, and a personal mantra that prompted her to create Cleveland’s first online hub of women-owned businesses: Your Local Girl Gang.

Since opening Melt’s first location in Lakewood 12 years ago, Matt Fish has turned the grilled cheese business into a thriving franchise with 12 Ohio locations. This spring, Fish decided it was time to renovate the original location—shutting the restaurant down and pulling off a major transformation in just one month. The Lakewood Melt will celebrate its grand re-opening this Friday, May 4.

A recent Co.Design story called mid-century modern décor the “pumpkin spice latte” of the design world for its universal appeal and healthy dose of nostalgia. And at Cleveland’s West of Venus, co-founders Barb and Mike Radocaj and their daughter Allie Mattis are serving up a venti-sized serving of MCM flair.

For some, sixteen candles is the magic birthday number. For the Cleveland Flea, it’s six. The popular shopping event and small business incubator turns six this April—marking the occasion with a new custom-built co-working space, an online creative business school, and an on-site workshop that will soon include retail components.

From Brownie cameras to vintage typewriters, it’s a veritable treasure trove of unique finds and period pieces at the Cleveland Prop Shop—a 1,200-square-foot warehouse space located near I-90 in Euclid. Local prop master Monica Plunkett opened the appointment-only shop last fall to accommodate the city’s theatre scene and what she calls a “growing film presence in Cleveland.”

Nearly two years after relocating from its original home in Shaker Heights to a new location in Highland Heights, LaunchHouse is bringing its entrepreneurial coworking community concept to the west side. 

Alex Wittenberg loves a good cup of coffee. So much so, he envisions a world where Cleveland’s coffee shop patrons share their love by buying their neighbor—whether it’s a friend, the next guy in line, or even an unknown stranger—a cup of joe. To that end, Wittenberg, along with co-founders Sebastian Thimmig, Adam Fishburn, and Edward Liu, have created CoffeeQ, an online app that allows users to do just that.

More than 500 Clevelanders gathered for the fourth annual Accelerate event at downtown’s Global Center for Health Innovation—or what event co-chair Ursula Cottone calls a “civic ‘Shark Tank.’” Sponsored by Citizens Bank and orchestrated by Cleveland Leadership Center, the buzzy civic pitch competition featured 25 semi-finalists presenting bright ideas on how to accelerate Cleveland’s momentum.

Following in the footsteps of FirstEnergy Stadium, the Cleveland Indians, and JACK Cleveland Casino, the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland has implemented a large-scale food waste recycling system known as Grind2Energy—becoming the first and only convention center in the country to do so.

Banking on the growing coworking trend, the hope is that when the MidTown Tech Hive opens on Thursday, March 1, it will become a cooperative gathering place for great minds to bring innovative ideas with a sense of community and an emphasis on tech education. Read more about what Tech Hive will offer here.