Cleveland chef and restauranteur Zack Bruell's eighth restaurant will feature "open spaces, expansive views of the Cuyahoga River and open-air dining to take advantage of Cleveland’s all-too-short summer season," according to a news release that was issued this week.

Alley Cat oyster house, as the venue will be called, will be accessible by foot and by boat, since it will be located adjacent to the boardwalk in the new Flats East Bank development.

The release dubs it a "piscatorial paradise" (say that 10 times fast) that will feature "oysters, peel–and–eat shrimp, mussels, clams and fresh fish. A variety of pasta dishes, chicken, chowders, soups and salads will accompany the seafood selections, in addition to vegan menu items."

“This isn’t a big-ticket restaurant –it’s an oyster bar that you’d stroll into in a coastal town, like Santa Barbara or Nantucket; yet Alley Cat is right here on the Cuyahoga,” said Bruell in the release. “Our goal is to draw attention and visitors to Cleveland’s latest up-and-coming entertainment district, similar to what we’ve done in recent years with Chinato on East 4^th Street or Cowell & Hubbard in PlayhouseSquare.”

Bruell is partnering with The Wolstein Group and Fairmount Properties to build the 170-seat restaurant, which will be his first venue to be constructed from the ground up.

As mentioned earlier, outdoor space is one of the driving themes here -- the new venue will feature a lower level patio and rooftop patio.

Got cabin fever? Well, here are some excuses to get out of the house this week. Warm yourself by a community campfire at Ohio City’s first-ever Hingetown Hygge, listen to the city's best storytellers at Keep Talking, and much more.

From a team of cyclists turning trash into earthen gold, to one man who helps kids tumble into a brighter future, Cleveland's social innovators kindle projects that are illuminating people and places across the city.

New research suggests that innovation districts, whose growth is fueled by anchor institutions, companies and startups working in close proximity to one another, may be growing faster than traditional downtowns.

Downtown's residential population has doubled over the last 15 years. Now a new report is serving as a guide for Cleveland's growth, with an emphasis on investments -- from mini-parks to signage to massive mixed-use developments -- aiming to better connect residents with downtown.

Downtown is booming with new development, but getting around can sometimes be a challenge. Now key investments are in the works that will make it a much more livable, inviting place.

Whether you life on the east side or west side, there are plenty of opportunities this weekend to explore new neighborhoods and try new things. Learn to swing dance, try a new beer and visit a museum you’ve never been to for free -- it's all within an arm's reach.

The much-maligned traffic circle at East 105th and MLK Jr. Drive has been completely redeveloped and is now open to vehicle traffic. Fresh Water first reported on these planned improvements two and a half years ago.

"This traffic circle has one of the highest rates of vehicular accidents in the region -- they're mostly fender benders, because people are just confused by it," Chris Bongorno, Director of Planning with University Circle Incorporated (UCI), told us at the time. "The new configuration will definitely be more pedestrian and bike friendly, and will also help to connect people to Rockefeller Park and University Circle."

According to a press release from Cuyahoga County, which invested in the project along with the City of Cleveland, the $7.2 million infrastructure project "modified an existing roadway network at East 105^th Street, MLK Boulevard, Mt. Sinai Drive, East Boulevard, and Jeptha Drive. An existing roundabout was eliminated and the remaining roadways geometrically realigned."
 
Mt. Sinai was moved south of its previous location, while Jeptha Drive was moved north. Meanwhile, East 105th Street was widened and now includes turning lanes. Finally, MLK Jr. Boulevard has been widened and realigned, and East Boulevard has been extended.

Additional improvements include new sidewalks, paths and the reconstruction of the Cancer Survivor Plaza. A new bio swale will have over 4,000 shrubs and perennials, apparently.
 
The project is pedestrian- and bike-friendly. A pedestrian boardwalk will serve to connect East 105th Street to MLK Jr. Blvd.

There are still a few items to be ticked off the completion list, including installation of the shrubs and perennials, permanent pavement markings and permanent traffic signals.

After you've celebrated with family and friends and had your feast, enjoy these local shopping events and holiday festivals taking place around town.

Cleveland Neighborhood Progress has announced that it will be hosting two CLE City Life tours on Saturday, November 29th and Saturday, December 27th.

"Cleveland Neighborhood Progress is pleased to offer citywide bus tours to introduce (or re-introduce) you to some of the coolest and most unique places to live in Northeast Ohio," the website states. "Join us and see why Tremont and Ohio City receive so much publicity. We’ll  show you why University Circle is considered the most intellectual square mile in the nation. And you’ll understand why demand is so high for Downtown living options. All this and more!"

The cost of the tour is $12. You can register here.

Ask a millennial about the east-west divide and their eyebrows usually rise and knit over their black frame glasses. These days, west side shops are popping up on the east side, while east side institutions are making inroads west.

University Circle Inc.'s recent annual meeting highlighted examples of successful innovation within the district, from Piccadilly Artisan Creamery's liquid nitrogen-fueled ice cream to healthcare startups spinning out of BioEnterprise.