Lee Chilcote
On April 25th, Cleveland Public Library (CPL) will celebrate the opening of the Sports Research Center, where visitors can explore favorite moments in local sports history, learn more about the history of black baseball, and meet sports icons from past and present.
The Center lets sports junkies travel back in time to the Indians' glory days. And given the Tribe's current first-place perch in the AL Central, perhaps this isn't just idle daydreaming.
The opening reception for the new facility and its inaugural exhibit, "Pride and Passion: The African American Baseball Experience," will be held on April 25th at 3:30 p.m. on the main library's 5th floor.
"Pride and Passion" tells the story of the African-American baseball players who formed the Negro Leagues after being barred from Major League Baseball in the 1890s. Some of baseball's greatest players, including Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron, played for the Negro Leagues in the early 20th century.
Negro League player Ernest Nimmons, who played alongside Hank Aaron for the Indianapolis Clowns in 1952, will be on hand to talk about his experiences at the event. Nimmons now lives in Elyria.
"Pride and Passion" is organized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. It was made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
Additional highlights of the center's research materials include correspondence from Jackie Robinson, oral history interviews with 100+ baseball players, baseball fiction, boxing history and the Plain Dealer Historical Archive, an online sports news database.
The April 25th event is a partnership between CPL and the Cleveland Indians. The team's Vice President of Public Relations, Bob DiBiasio, and retired Indians player and 1980 American League Rookie of the Year, Joe Charboneau, will answer questions and sign autographs.
If you happen to miss the opening reception you won't have to "wait 'til next year." The Sports Research Center will be free and open to the public year round.
Source: Cleveland Public Library
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Center lets sports junkies travel back in time to the Indians' glory days. And given the Tribe's current first-place perch in the AL Central, perhaps this isn't just idle daydreaming.
The opening reception for the new facility and its inaugural exhibit, "Pride and Passion: The African American Baseball Experience," will be held on April 25th at 3:30 p.m. on the main library's 5th floor.
"Pride and Passion" tells the story of the African-American baseball players who formed the Negro Leagues after being barred from Major League Baseball in the 1890s. Some of baseball's greatest players, including Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron, played for the Negro Leagues in the early 20th century.
Negro League player Ernest Nimmons, who played alongside Hank Aaron for the Indianapolis Clowns in 1952, will be on hand to talk about his experiences at the event. Nimmons now lives in Elyria.
"Pride and Passion" is organized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. It was made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
Additional highlights of the center's research materials include correspondence from Jackie Robinson, oral history interviews with 100+ baseball players, baseball fiction, boxing history and the Plain Dealer Historical Archive, an online sports news database.
The April 25th event is a partnership between CPL and the Cleveland Indians. The team's Vice President of Public Relations, Bob DiBiasio, and retired Indians player and 1980 American League Rookie of the Year, Joe Charboneau, will answer questions and sign autographs.
If you happen to miss the opening reception you won't have to "wait 'til next year." The Sports Research Center will be free and open to the public year round.
Source: Cleveland Public Library
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Photo: Lisa DeJong
When it comes to manufacturing facilities, the first things to come to mind are not state-of-the-art gyms, free personal trainers and tech-savvy employees. Yet Thogus, a national provider of plastic injection molding services based in Avon Lake, is no ordinary manufacturer.
"The perception of manufacturing facilities is that they're full of smokestacks, dirty and capital-intensive," Matt Hlavin, President of Thogus, told the audience at last week's sold out TEDxCLE conference. "We've created a culture in which everyone is an innovator, and we want our employees to have a work-life balance."
Thogus, founded in 1950 as a traditional tool and dye shop, got into the plastics industry in 1958. Hlavin joined the company in the late 90s and took over as President in 2009. In the past 15 years, Thogus has reinvented itself as a leader in the growing field of customized plastic injection molding.
"Today, our society is not about mass production, it's about mass customization," Hlavin said. "We're the next generation of manufacturing -- companies like ours take a customer's idea and help them to create it."
Since taking the helm, Hlavin has worked to develop the next generation of manufacturing employee by training his workers in the latest technology and providing a clean, modern work environment. Today, Thogus employees use crowd-sourcing to develop and test products, employ social media to communicate their latest product innovations, and maintain an ongoing rapport with customers. "We can make a customized iPhone cover in 45 minutes," Hlavin said.
As another example of Thogus' innovative products, Hlavin cited a device that will help autistic children to predict when they will get uncomfortable in their environment. The technology will help them to lead healthier and more normal lives.
Reinventing Thogus wasn't easy. After making a decision to get out of the automotive business and focus solely on plastic injection molding, Hlavin reduced his workforce by more than half. "This helped us to become a more agile company and go after the next generation of employee."
Source: Matt Hlavin
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"The perception of manufacturing facilities is that they're full of smokestacks, dirty and capital-intensive," Matt Hlavin, President of Thogus, told the audience at last week's sold out TEDxCLE conference. "We've created a culture in which everyone is an innovator, and we want our employees to have a work-life balance."
Thogus, founded in 1950 as a traditional tool and dye shop, got into the plastics industry in 1958. Hlavin joined the company in the late 90s and took over as President in 2009. In the past 15 years, Thogus has reinvented itself as a leader in the growing field of customized plastic injection molding.
"Today, our society is not about mass production, it's about mass customization," Hlavin said. "We're the next generation of manufacturing -- companies like ours take a customer's idea and help them to create it."
Since taking the helm, Hlavin has worked to develop the next generation of manufacturing employee by training his workers in the latest technology and providing a clean, modern work environment. Today, Thogus employees use crowd-sourcing to develop and test products, employ social media to communicate their latest product innovations, and maintain an ongoing rapport with customers. "We can make a customized iPhone cover in 45 minutes," Hlavin said.
As another example of Thogus' innovative products, Hlavin cited a device that will help autistic children to predict when they will get uncomfortable in their environment. The technology will help them to lead healthier and more normal lives.
Reinventing Thogus wasn't easy. After making a decision to get out of the automotive business and focus solely on plastic injection molding, Hlavin reduced his workforce by more than half. "This helped us to become a more agile company and go after the next generation of employee."
Source: Matt Hlavin
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Punxsutawney Phil of the retail world, pop-up shops spontaneously appear, attract big crowds, and then vanish as quickly as they came. For retailers and artists without a bona fide storefront, pop-up shops provide a lease-free way to test products and build a following. Landlords love them because they plug vacant storefronts while attracting new feet to the street.
When Michael Walton bought a hoop house for his city farm, he envisioned an urban barn-raising of sorts. He put out a call for volunteers, and soon had 30 people who offered to help.
Yet by noon on the big day, only 10 were left. The next day, there were five. Two days later, the group had been wheedled down to three hardy souls. And still the hoop house wasn't completed.
Frustrated, Walton and his coworkers began to ask themselves: Is this really the best product available? And then, rather than wait for an answer, the team set out to design a better model themselves. That's how Tunnel Vision Hoops, a startup manufacturer of retractable all-weather domes for growing crops, was born.
"We thought we'd just build a few each summer, make some pizza money and go on our way," Walton told the audience at a recent entrepreneurial showcase organized by Local Food Cleveland, a group whose mission is to help grow the local food movement in Northeast Ohio. "Yet when we really started looking at the design, that's when we decided to launch our business."
Tunnel Vision's all-weather high tunnels represent an improvement over existing designs, say owners Michael Walton, Carlton Jackson and Todd Alexander. They feature dome-shaped ends that help them to withstand strong winds, systems for collecting rainwater that can be used for irrigating plants, retractable end walls that allow for venting, and entrances on the sides rather than the ends, making it easier to move from one tunnel to another.
Since launching last year, Tunnel Vision has sold structures to Case Western Reserve University's Squire Valleyview Farm and the Cleveland Botanical Garden's Green Corps program. In its first six months, the company did over $80,000 in sales.
The company also has a division called We Dig the City that is intended for backyard gardens. These tunnels start at 10 feet long and are priced at $2,000, including installation.
Tunnel Vision's long-term goal is to aid the local food movement and keep more of our food dollars in Northeast Ohio by making the region a year-round growing center.
Source: Tunnel Vision Hoops
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Yet by noon on the big day, only 10 were left. The next day, there were five. Two days later, the group had been wheedled down to three hardy souls. And still the hoop house wasn't completed.
Frustrated, Walton and his coworkers began to ask themselves: Is this really the best product available? And then, rather than wait for an answer, the team set out to design a better model themselves. That's how Tunnel Vision Hoops, a startup manufacturer of retractable all-weather domes for growing crops, was born.
"We thought we'd just build a few each summer, make some pizza money and go on our way," Walton told the audience at a recent entrepreneurial showcase organized by Local Food Cleveland, a group whose mission is to help grow the local food movement in Northeast Ohio. "Yet when we really started looking at the design, that's when we decided to launch our business."
Tunnel Vision's all-weather high tunnels represent an improvement over existing designs, say owners Michael Walton, Carlton Jackson and Todd Alexander. They feature dome-shaped ends that help them to withstand strong winds, systems for collecting rainwater that can be used for irrigating plants, retractable end walls that allow for venting, and entrances on the sides rather than the ends, making it easier to move from one tunnel to another.
Since launching last year, Tunnel Vision has sold structures to Case Western Reserve University's Squire Valleyview Farm and the Cleveland Botanical Garden's Green Corps program. In its first six months, the company did over $80,000 in sales.
The company also has a division called We Dig the City that is intended for backyard gardens. These tunnels start at 10 feet long and are priced at $2,000, including installation.
Tunnel Vision's long-term goal is to aid the local food movement and keep more of our food dollars in Northeast Ohio by making the region a year-round growing center.
Source: Tunnel Vision Hoops
Writer: Lee Chilcote
While Northeast Ohio's retail vacancy rate remains stubbornly high at 12 percent, a Cleveland Heights nonprofit is defying this trend by expanding its art gallery into an empty storefront, adding performance space, classrooms and offices to serve the community.
Heights Arts, which operates a 900-square-foot gallery next to the Cedar Lee Theatre, decided last year to make the leap into an adjacent storefront that formerly housed a Japanese eatery. The group has so far raised more than $60,000 towards its $100,000 fundraising goal. Renovations are expected to be completed this year.
The new 2,400-square-foot storefront will serve as a multipurpose arts space. Heights Arts, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, plans to host more poetry readings, concerts and art openings. The group anticipates that some events will spill out into the adjacent mini-park, a gathering place for visitors in the bustling Cedar-Lee district, aiding the group's mission of bringing art into the community.
Cleveland-based Studio Techne Architects designed the expansion. The George Gund Foundation and the Cyrus Eaton Foundation have provided lead grants for the project.
Since being founded a decade ago, Heights Arts has completed a bevy of art projects, including the Coventry Peace Arch on Coventry, three large-scale murals, and Knitscape, a project to brighten Lee Road and Larchmere Boulevard with crocheted 'sweaters' on parking meters and trees. The group also manages the selection process for the Cleveland Heights Poet Laureate.
Source: Heights Arts
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Heights Arts, which operates a 900-square-foot gallery next to the Cedar Lee Theatre, decided last year to make the leap into an adjacent storefront that formerly housed a Japanese eatery. The group has so far raised more than $60,000 towards its $100,000 fundraising goal. Renovations are expected to be completed this year.
The new 2,400-square-foot storefront will serve as a multipurpose arts space. Heights Arts, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, plans to host more poetry readings, concerts and art openings. The group anticipates that some events will spill out into the adjacent mini-park, a gathering place for visitors in the bustling Cedar-Lee district, aiding the group's mission of bringing art into the community.
Cleveland-based Studio Techne Architects designed the expansion. The George Gund Foundation and the Cyrus Eaton Foundation have provided lead grants for the project.
Since being founded a decade ago, Heights Arts has completed a bevy of art projects, including the Coventry Peace Arch on Coventry, three large-scale murals, and Knitscape, a project to brighten Lee Road and Larchmere Boulevard with crocheted 'sweaters' on parking meters and trees. The group also manages the selection process for the Cleveland Heights Poet Laureate.
Source: Heights Arts
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Times have changed since the Stanford House, an historic farm in the Cuyahoga Valley, was built in 1830 by George Stanford, one of the first settlers of the Western Reserve. Back then, the nearby Ohio and Erie Canal was the main link to the outside world. Today, the property is situated near highways and two urban centers, yet remains protected by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a natural retreat in an urbanized area.
Now the Stanford House has gained renewed life following a $270,000 renovation. The National Park Service has converted it into meeting space, an educational classroom for the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center and affordable overnight accommodations for hikers and bikers.
The Stanford House was purchased by the park service in 1978, and for thirty years, it served as a hostel that accommodated school groups, boy scout troups and international travelers of all ages. Yet when Stanford Hostel closed in 2008, its future was up in the air.
Soon the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNPA), a nonprofit advocacy group that works closely with the park service, stepped in to raise funds and complete a renovation. Federal stimulus funding covered $98,000 of these upgrades, with additional funding coming from area foundations and donors.
Because the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail is accessible from the Stanford House, CVNPA anticipates that the accommodations will be in demand from hikers and bikers completing longer, multi-day trips through the park. For the first time, backcountry campsites are also now available in a meadow adjacent to the property.
With a successful project under its belt, CVNPA is now eyeing the prospect of raising funds to renovate the Stanford House barn -- which would make an excellent location, they say, for interpretive programs, 'locavore' farm dinners, and rustic meeting space.
Source: Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Now the Stanford House has gained renewed life following a $270,000 renovation. The National Park Service has converted it into meeting space, an educational classroom for the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center and affordable overnight accommodations for hikers and bikers.
The Stanford House was purchased by the park service in 1978, and for thirty years, it served as a hostel that accommodated school groups, boy scout troups and international travelers of all ages. Yet when Stanford Hostel closed in 2008, its future was up in the air.
Soon the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNPA), a nonprofit advocacy group that works closely with the park service, stepped in to raise funds and complete a renovation. Federal stimulus funding covered $98,000 of these upgrades, with additional funding coming from area foundations and donors.
Because the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail is accessible from the Stanford House, CVNPA anticipates that the accommodations will be in demand from hikers and bikers completing longer, multi-day trips through the park. For the first time, backcountry campsites are also now available in a meadow adjacent to the property.
With a successful project under its belt, CVNPA is now eyeing the prospect of raising funds to renovate the Stanford House barn -- which would make an excellent location, they say, for interpretive programs, 'locavore' farm dinners, and rustic meeting space.
Source: Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association
Writer: Lee Chilcote
West Creek Reservation, a 278-acre Metropark in Parma that originally opened in 2006, will undergo a $12 million makeover to be complete by fall 2012, including sustainable landscaping designed to reduce pollution and test a new national rating system.
Cleveland Metroparks held a groundbreaking March 7th for park improvements, including a new visitor center, picnic shelter and all-purpose trails. The visitor center landscaping will feature a natural storm water treatment system that will help keep rainwater in West Creek, preventing flooding downstream.
The Sustainable Sites Initiative, a new national organization that is creating voluntary design standards for sustainable landscaping, will monitor and test the project. West Creek was selected to participate in the program among 175 sites nationwide.
As part of this effort, the Cleveland Metroparks will measure how much storm water is captured by the visitor center and report that information to the public. The visitor center will feature hands-on educational exhibits about water conservation.
West Creek's new sustainable landscaping system will control how much water enters the stream by acting as a filter. As storm water reaches the center, it will descend into wetlands and enter bio-swales, or plants, landscaping and rocks that function as detention basins. As storm water is gradually released, it will run through stepped pools and wetlands before flowing into the creek.
The new visitor center will be built with environmentally friendly materials, including sustainably harvested lumber and carpeting made from recycled materials. The parking lot will also feature porous pavement, allowing rainwater to flow into the landscaping instead of the sewer.
The landscape improvements at West Creek were designed by Floyd Brown Group and Domokur Architects in Akron and Doty & Miller Architects in Bedford.
The Sustainable Sites Initiative will incorporate feedback from its 175 test projects into a final rating system that it hopes to have in place by 2013. The purpose of the rating system is to develop universal criteria for sustainable landscaping in the U.S.
Source: Cleveland Metroparks
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Cleveland Metroparks held a groundbreaking March 7th for park improvements, including a new visitor center, picnic shelter and all-purpose trails. The visitor center landscaping will feature a natural storm water treatment system that will help keep rainwater in West Creek, preventing flooding downstream.
The Sustainable Sites Initiative, a new national organization that is creating voluntary design standards for sustainable landscaping, will monitor and test the project. West Creek was selected to participate in the program among 175 sites nationwide.
As part of this effort, the Cleveland Metroparks will measure how much storm water is captured by the visitor center and report that information to the public. The visitor center will feature hands-on educational exhibits about water conservation.
West Creek's new sustainable landscaping system will control how much water enters the stream by acting as a filter. As storm water reaches the center, it will descend into wetlands and enter bio-swales, or plants, landscaping and rocks that function as detention basins. As storm water is gradually released, it will run through stepped pools and wetlands before flowing into the creek.
The new visitor center will be built with environmentally friendly materials, including sustainably harvested lumber and carpeting made from recycled materials. The parking lot will also feature porous pavement, allowing rainwater to flow into the landscaping instead of the sewer.
The landscape improvements at West Creek were designed by Floyd Brown Group and Domokur Architects in Akron and Doty & Miller Architects in Bedford.
The Sustainable Sites Initiative will incorporate feedback from its 175 test projects into a final rating system that it hopes to have in place by 2013. The purpose of the rating system is to develop universal criteria for sustainable landscaping in the U.S.
Source: Cleveland Metroparks
Writer: Lee Chilcote
A soon-to-launch program from Cleveland's Office of Sustainability will provide energy audits and retrofits that will make older homes more energy-efficient. The program, which is funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is intended to spur the market for green retrofits.
"There's not enough scale or demand yet to support an industry here, but we think there's an opportunity for a public or nonprofit entity to stimulate the marketplace," said Paul Ettorre, regional manager for Key Bank Community Lending and co-chair of the effort, at a forum on energy-efficiency at the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University.
Here's how the Energy $aver Pilot Program would work: Applicants must be residents of Cleveland and owner-occupants of their homes. They would pay $100 for an in-depth energy efficiency audit (the market-rate audit price is in the $250 to $300 range), resulting in a thorough list of measures that would improve the home's energy efficiency.
If a customer agrees to retrofit their homes, they could secure incentives such as reimbursement of the audit fee, a 20-percent credit towards measures that pay for themselves within 10 years, and low-interest financing of the cost of repairs.
Once a customer moves ahead, program staff would help him or her to select an experienced contractor. An average retrofit is estimated to cost about $6,000. The retrofits would focus primarily on items such as insulation, air sealing, HVAC repair and replacement, lighting and hot water tanks. Homeowners who wish to complete a comprehensive rehab will be able to do so using the program.
After the retrofit is done, auditors would return to the home to review the measures and ensure that the job had been completed properly. Organizers expect the Energy $aver Pilot Program to launch this year.
Source: Paul Ettorre
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"There's not enough scale or demand yet to support an industry here, but we think there's an opportunity for a public or nonprofit entity to stimulate the marketplace," said Paul Ettorre, regional manager for Key Bank Community Lending and co-chair of the effort, at a forum on energy-efficiency at the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University.
Here's how the Energy $aver Pilot Program would work: Applicants must be residents of Cleveland and owner-occupants of their homes. They would pay $100 for an in-depth energy efficiency audit (the market-rate audit price is in the $250 to $300 range), resulting in a thorough list of measures that would improve the home's energy efficiency.
If a customer agrees to retrofit their homes, they could secure incentives such as reimbursement of the audit fee, a 20-percent credit towards measures that pay for themselves within 10 years, and low-interest financing of the cost of repairs.
Once a customer moves ahead, program staff would help him or her to select an experienced contractor. An average retrofit is estimated to cost about $6,000. The retrofits would focus primarily on items such as insulation, air sealing, HVAC repair and replacement, lighting and hot water tanks. Homeowners who wish to complete a comprehensive rehab will be able to do so using the program.
After the retrofit is done, auditors would return to the home to review the measures and ensure that the job had been completed properly. Organizers expect the Energy $aver Pilot Program to launch this year.
Source: Paul Ettorre
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Making buildings more energy efficient may not sound sexy, but once owners begin to save money on their utility bills, it gets a lot sexier, said Andrew Watterson, Cleveland's Chief of Sustainability, at last week's forum at the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University (CSU).
"Every dollar saved from energy-efficiency measures has an impact not only on the environment but also on your pocketbook," Watterson said at the event, entitled "Sustainable Cleveland 2019: Celebrating Energy-Efficiency in 2011."
The forum was held to highlight efforts that are boosting the energy-efficiency of homes and buildings in Cleveland. Sustainable Cleveland 2019, a citywide effort to build a sustainable economy here by 2019, has chosen the theme of energy efficiency for this year. Sustainable Cleveland 2019 organizers hope that events like the one held last week will educate the public and spur efforts towards energy efficiency.
Nathan Engstrom, CSU's Campus Sustainability Coordinator, highlighted the university's commitment to making the campus more energy-efficient. "In recent years, we've completed an audit of every building on campus, and we're expecting to realize a 40-percent savings on our utility costs over a 10-year period, plus a 14-percent overall return on our investment," Engstrom said.
CSU has begun implementing 93 different energy efficiency measures, Engstrom said, including building automation, energy efficient lighting, and more efficient mechanical systems. "This is a wonderful story that we can tell to our students," added Engstrom. "We're on track to reduce consumption by 47-percent within 10 years, and to reduce emissions by 45-percent."
Source: Nathan Engstrom, Andrew Watterson
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"Every dollar saved from energy-efficiency measures has an impact not only on the environment but also on your pocketbook," Watterson said at the event, entitled "Sustainable Cleveland 2019: Celebrating Energy-Efficiency in 2011."
The forum was held to highlight efforts that are boosting the energy-efficiency of homes and buildings in Cleveland. Sustainable Cleveland 2019, a citywide effort to build a sustainable economy here by 2019, has chosen the theme of energy efficiency for this year. Sustainable Cleveland 2019 organizers hope that events like the one held last week will educate the public and spur efforts towards energy efficiency.
Nathan Engstrom, CSU's Campus Sustainability Coordinator, highlighted the university's commitment to making the campus more energy-efficient. "In recent years, we've completed an audit of every building on campus, and we're expecting to realize a 40-percent savings on our utility costs over a 10-year period, plus a 14-percent overall return on our investment," Engstrom said.
CSU has begun implementing 93 different energy efficiency measures, Engstrom said, including building automation, energy efficient lighting, and more efficient mechanical systems. "This is a wonderful story that we can tell to our students," added Engstrom. "We're on track to reduce consumption by 47-percent within 10 years, and to reduce emissions by 45-percent."
Source: Nathan Engstrom, Andrew Watterson
Writer: Lee Chilcote
From the Warehouse District to Tremont, artists have been harbingers of neighborhood comebacks. Now a new program aims to use artist-based development as the centerpiece for one lucky neighborhood's turnaround.
The Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC) on Monday announced the launch of Artists in Residence, a new program that seeks to create improvements in one city neighborhood by offering incentives for artists who live and work there.
The program is being funded in part through a $250,000 grant from Leveraging Investments in Creativity's Creative Communities Challenge Grant Program, a one-time competitive grant program made possible through the support of the Kresge Foundation.
"Artists play a key role in the strength and vitality of Cleveland neighborhoods," said Tom Schorgl, CPAC President, in a press release. "By leveraging artists' skills and the extraordinary leadership of Cleveland's community development sector, we will work to make Cleveland's neighborhoods even more creative, more sustainable and more equitable."
The two-year, $500,000 pilot program will provide a small loan program for artists buying or rehabbing homes in the target area, a small grant program to support artists' work in carrying out community-based projects, and artist homeownership services such as credit counseling and saving programs.
A panel of arts, community development and planning experts will select the target neighborhood through a competitive process. Community development corporations serving Cleveland neighborhoods can apply through April 25th. CPAC hopes to announce the winning neighborhood by July 1st.
CPAC is a nonprofit arts and culture service organization that works to strengthen Greater Cleveland's arts and culture sector. Some of its programs include the Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute, a business training course addressing the needs of working artists, and From Rust Belt to Artist Belt, a conference series that examines the role of artists in the redevelopment of industrial cities.
Source: Community Partnership for Arts and Culture
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC) on Monday announced the launch of Artists in Residence, a new program that seeks to create improvements in one city neighborhood by offering incentives for artists who live and work there.
The program is being funded in part through a $250,000 grant from Leveraging Investments in Creativity's Creative Communities Challenge Grant Program, a one-time competitive grant program made possible through the support of the Kresge Foundation.
"Artists play a key role in the strength and vitality of Cleveland neighborhoods," said Tom Schorgl, CPAC President, in a press release. "By leveraging artists' skills and the extraordinary leadership of Cleveland's community development sector, we will work to make Cleveland's neighborhoods even more creative, more sustainable and more equitable."
The two-year, $500,000 pilot program will provide a small loan program for artists buying or rehabbing homes in the target area, a small grant program to support artists' work in carrying out community-based projects, and artist homeownership services such as credit counseling and saving programs.
A panel of arts, community development and planning experts will select the target neighborhood through a competitive process. Community development corporations serving Cleveland neighborhoods can apply through April 25th. CPAC hopes to announce the winning neighborhood by July 1st.
CPAC is a nonprofit arts and culture service organization that works to strengthen Greater Cleveland's arts and culture sector. Some of its programs include the Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute, a business training course addressing the needs of working artists, and From Rust Belt to Artist Belt, a conference series that examines the role of artists in the redevelopment of industrial cities.
Source: Community Partnership for Arts and Culture
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Although jewelry maker Heather Moore moved into her rehabbed Midtown studio earlier this year, she's still getting used to her spacious new digs.
Maybe that's because she's spent the last 11 years running her fast-growing business out of her house. Granted, it was no ordinary home office: the Cleveland Institute of Art grad bought her great-grandmother's estate, a rambling Heights mansion, after moving back from New York City in 1999.
"We just couldn't grow anymore -- I had 45 employees working out of my house," says Moore, whose company, Heather B. Moore Jewelry, specializes in custom-made, personalized jewelry that she sells to more than 150 retailers around the world. "The workshop was in the basement, while sales and marketing were in the attic. If we needed to have a private conversation, we had to use one of my kids' bedrooms."
To accommodate her growth, Moore recently bought and renovated a former crane-making factory at 4502 Prospect Avenue, bringing 45 new jobs to Cleveland. In her renovation, Moore reused as much of the building as she could, including leftover crane parts that were repurposed into a dining room table that now graces the large kitchen.
Moore's building renovation included removing ceilings to create a lofted second-floor office, installing new windows, and turning an old garage door into a light-filled window. Future plans include an art gallery, new patio and roof garden.
When asked about her decision to relocate to Midtown, Moore says, "There's so much industry in Cleveland that you can take advantage of. A lot of what we do mixes old school techniques with newer technologies, so this is a great place to be."
Heather B. Moore Jewelry has become known not only for its work -- Moore builds relationships with her clients to draw out their stories and create highly personalized jewelry -- but also for its sustainable business model. The company uses 100-percent recycled materials in their products.
Now that she's settled into her new studio, Moore is soaking up the extra legroom -- and she also doesn't mind the short commute. "It's seven minutes from my house," she says.
Source: Heather Moore
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Maybe that's because she's spent the last 11 years running her fast-growing business out of her house. Granted, it was no ordinary home office: the Cleveland Institute of Art grad bought her great-grandmother's estate, a rambling Heights mansion, after moving back from New York City in 1999.
"We just couldn't grow anymore -- I had 45 employees working out of my house," says Moore, whose company, Heather B. Moore Jewelry, specializes in custom-made, personalized jewelry that she sells to more than 150 retailers around the world. "The workshop was in the basement, while sales and marketing were in the attic. If we needed to have a private conversation, we had to use one of my kids' bedrooms."
To accommodate her growth, Moore recently bought and renovated a former crane-making factory at 4502 Prospect Avenue, bringing 45 new jobs to Cleveland. In her renovation, Moore reused as much of the building as she could, including leftover crane parts that were repurposed into a dining room table that now graces the large kitchen.
Moore's building renovation included removing ceilings to create a lofted second-floor office, installing new windows, and turning an old garage door into a light-filled window. Future plans include an art gallery, new patio and roof garden.
When asked about her decision to relocate to Midtown, Moore says, "There's so much industry in Cleveland that you can take advantage of. A lot of what we do mixes old school techniques with newer technologies, so this is a great place to be."
Heather B. Moore Jewelry has become known not only for its work -- Moore builds relationships with her clients to draw out their stories and create highly personalized jewelry -- but also for its sustainable business model. The company uses 100-percent recycled materials in their products.
Now that she's settled into her new studio, Moore is soaking up the extra legroom -- and she also doesn't mind the short commute. "It's seven minutes from my house," she says.
Source: Heather Moore
Writer: Lee Chilcote
TEDxCLE is an annual forum that gathers the region's big thinkers to share ideas worth spreading. Organizers -- and recent "brain gains" -- Hallie Bram and Eric Kogelschatz seek to change the perceptions of people who live here as well as those outside the region by sharing stories of success, innovation and inspiration.
A large map on the wall of Crafty Goodness, a new Lakewood store that sells goods from artisans that live in Northeast Ohio, provides a visual reminder of the store's mission. It pinpoints all of the different communities where the items are made, stressing the owners' commitment to the buy local movement.
"We wanted to create a store that would offer an alternative to big box retail for people that want to buy local," says Chris Sorenson, a potter who joined with artists Joanna and Matthew Orgovan to open the store at 15621 Madison Avenue.
Crafty Goodness got its start as a modern arts and crafts show that was held in Seven Hills in 2009. The success of that show inspired its creators to set up a bricks and mortar store, and a year and a half later, Crafty Goodness was born. The store, which opened in March, will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, April 9th.
In addition to items such as clothing, home décor, jewelry, book bags, cards and notebooks, Crafty Goodness features an extensive art gallery on the walls, with more than 60 artists from seven Northeast Ohio counties represented. The owners selected Lakewood because of the community's commitment to the arts and small, local businesses.
Despite being only 750 square feet, Crafty Goodness offers a wide array of merchandise. Sorenson plans to continue hosting the annual craft show and hopes to find a space in Lakewood for this year's event.
Crafty Goodness also hosts a variety of classes, including jewelry making, needle arts and vegan baking, for consumers of all ages. The majority of the classes, which run about two hours and are affordably priced in the $20-35 range, are presented in a make-and-take format, which lets participants go home with an original work of art.
"We wanted to create a store that would offer an alternative to big box retail for people that want to buy local," says Chris Sorenson, a potter who joined with artists Joanna and Matthew Orgovan to open the store at 15621 Madison Avenue.
Crafty Goodness got its start as a modern arts and crafts show that was held in Seven Hills in 2009. The success of that show inspired its creators to set up a bricks and mortar store, and a year and a half later, Crafty Goodness was born. The store, which opened in March, will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, April 9th.
In addition to items such as clothing, home décor, jewelry, book bags, cards and notebooks, Crafty Goodness features an extensive art gallery on the walls, with more than 60 artists from seven Northeast Ohio counties represented. The owners selected Lakewood because of the community's commitment to the arts and small, local businesses.
Despite being only 750 square feet, Crafty Goodness offers a wide array of merchandise. Sorenson plans to continue hosting the annual craft show and hopes to find a space in Lakewood for this year's event.
Crafty Goodness also hosts a variety of classes, including jewelry making, needle arts and vegan baking, for consumers of all ages. The majority of the classes, which run about two hours and are affordably priced in the $20-35 range, are presented in a make-and-take format, which lets participants go home with an original work of art.
Source: Chris Sorenson
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Imagine this: A $10,000 solar-energy system powering an entire elementary school in Africa, providing enough juice for laptop computers and overhead lights. Christopher Clark, founder of Sunflower Solutions, has proved that this feat is not only possible, but also is an efficient, cost-effective way to bring power to the Third World.
Recently, Sunflower Solutions moved to Shaker LaunchHouse, a former auto dealership turned business incubator in Shaker Heights. Created with just $60,000 in seed funding, the company is in its first year of producing manually trackable solar power systems. These systems allow users to move panels by hand as the sun moves across the sky, obtaining up to 42 percent more power.
Sunflower has sold its systems to nonprofit organizations in six countries, including India, Kenya and Nigeria, and Clark says the company will achieve profitability this year.
Clark first developed the idea when he was a business major at Miami University of Ohio. "I was helping some engineers develop a water pump for a village without electricity in Mali," he says. "They installed it, and then realized that the water was too deep underground for a hand pump. If they'd used an electric pump, it could have worked, yet there was no electricity for miles around."
The solution was solar power. Yet while trackable solar systems have been around for decades, most of them move automatically and are expensive. Clark's invention is the first manual system. "It's hard to do anything about poverty, health care and education in the Third World without basic electricity, yet two billion people in the world don't have it," says Clark. "This system allows nonprofits and charities to purchase a better, lower-cost system."
Sunflower Solutions' products are made locally by South Shore Controls in Cleveland and Perry, Ohio. As his business grows, Clark hopes to market his products to a wider audience, allowing his system to reach even more people in the developing world.
This summer, Clevelanders will be able to see the power of Clark's invention firsthand. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is installing a system on its campus; the Metroparks Zoo is also interested.
Clark was selected as one of the speakers for the April 15th TEDxCLE conference, where he will talk about "electricity as a basic right."
Source: Christopher Clark
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Recently, Sunflower Solutions moved to Shaker LaunchHouse, a former auto dealership turned business incubator in Shaker Heights. Created with just $60,000 in seed funding, the company is in its first year of producing manually trackable solar power systems. These systems allow users to move panels by hand as the sun moves across the sky, obtaining up to 42 percent more power.
Sunflower has sold its systems to nonprofit organizations in six countries, including India, Kenya and Nigeria, and Clark says the company will achieve profitability this year.
Clark first developed the idea when he was a business major at Miami University of Ohio. "I was helping some engineers develop a water pump for a village without electricity in Mali," he says. "They installed it, and then realized that the water was too deep underground for a hand pump. If they'd used an electric pump, it could have worked, yet there was no electricity for miles around."
The solution was solar power. Yet while trackable solar systems have been around for decades, most of them move automatically and are expensive. Clark's invention is the first manual system. "It's hard to do anything about poverty, health care and education in the Third World without basic electricity, yet two billion people in the world don't have it," says Clark. "This system allows nonprofits and charities to purchase a better, lower-cost system."
Sunflower Solutions' products are made locally by South Shore Controls in Cleveland and Perry, Ohio. As his business grows, Clark hopes to market his products to a wider audience, allowing his system to reach even more people in the developing world.
This summer, Clevelanders will be able to see the power of Clark's invention firsthand. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is installing a system on its campus; the Metroparks Zoo is also interested.
Clark was selected as one of the speakers for the April 15th TEDxCLE conference, where he will talk about "electricity as a basic right."
Source: Christopher Clark
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Rag Refinery, a new store that offers gently used, recycled fashions at affordable prices, just opened at 3904 Lorain Avenue in Ohio City. Owner Leigh Ring also manages Pink Eye Gallery in the same space, where she often rolls out the racks to host art openings.
"Our focus is on vintage shoes, clothing and accessories, and we invite customers to sell or trade-in their former favorites for cash or store credit," says Ring. "Our customers want to outfit themselves in creative and unique ways."
Ring chose Lorain Ave. because of the proliferation of affordable vacant spaces and because Ohio City is a draw for her customers. "With the help of Palookaville Chili next door and places like Open Yoga Gallery, we hope to be a part of the revitalization that's happening here," says Ring.
The Rag Refinery is currently open on Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. and by appointment. However, Ring plans to extend her hours to match those of Palookaville Chili's April 20th opening. "There will be an open hallway between the Rag Refinery and Palookaville so that customers can both browse the shop and have a bite to eat," explains Ring.
Ring is energized by the small-scale redevelopment trend she sees on Lorain. "There is already a draw for antiques and vintage here, but my hope is that more restaurants and shops choose Lorain, joining together to make the street more walkable."
She also sees her store's mission of recycled fashions contributing to the sustainability movement. "By recycling and reusing clothing and keeping it out of our landfills, we're doing our part," says Ring.
Source: Leigh Ring
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"Our focus is on vintage shoes, clothing and accessories, and we invite customers to sell or trade-in their former favorites for cash or store credit," says Ring. "Our customers want to outfit themselves in creative and unique ways."
Ring chose Lorain Ave. because of the proliferation of affordable vacant spaces and because Ohio City is a draw for her customers. "With the help of Palookaville Chili next door and places like Open Yoga Gallery, we hope to be a part of the revitalization that's happening here," says Ring.
The Rag Refinery is currently open on Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. and by appointment. However, Ring plans to extend her hours to match those of Palookaville Chili's April 20th opening. "There will be an open hallway between the Rag Refinery and Palookaville so that customers can both browse the shop and have a bite to eat," explains Ring.
Ring is energized by the small-scale redevelopment trend she sees on Lorain. "There is already a draw for antiques and vintage here, but my hope is that more restaurants and shops choose Lorain, joining together to make the street more walkable."
She also sees her store's mission of recycled fashions contributing to the sustainability movement. "By recycling and reusing clothing and keeping it out of our landfills, we're doing our part," says Ring.
Source: Leigh Ring
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The picturesque Doan Brook meanders through Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights, providing walkers and joggers with a scenic backdrop. Yet the section that flows through Cleveland's Rockefeller Park remains boxed in by crumbling stone walls.
This year, a $2.5 million project to restore these portions of the Doan Brook will finally get started. The project will remove failing stone walls and concrete dams for nearly a half-mile, allowing the stream to flow more naturally while improving water quality and increasing fish populations.
"This project could serve as a model for other communities that are seeking to create healthier streams in urban areas," says Victoria Mills, Executive Director of the nonprofit Doan Brook Watershed Partnership.
The Doan Brook project was originally slated to receive $5.5 million, but was scaled back after bids came in over budget. The new plan addresses these concerns by creating natural terraces that improve drainage and reduce flooding without threatening portions of the gardens. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) will manage the design and construction process.
Although the project is smaller in scale than originally envisioned, Mills is excited about its impact. "I am hopeful that it will spur more improvement projects in Rockefeller Park, including a new master plan," she says.
The Doan Brook improvement project was conceived in 2001, when the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered the city to restore the brook to compensate for the loss of 88 acres of wetland and more than a mile of Abram Creek at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Abram Creek was destroyed to allow for a new runway to be built. The EPA required the city to complete $15 million in restoration projects, most of which have now been completed.
The brook is rare among Cleveland's urban streams because much of it remains above ground. The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership was formed in 2001 to coordinate the preservation efforts of the cities of Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Cleveland and interested citizens. Over the years, Doan Brook has developed an active constituency dedicated to its renewal. The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership will hold a clean-up day on April 17th. To register call 216-321-5935 x 237 or visit the website.
The $2.5 million project will also remove some invasive species and allow limited access to the brook, but will not address flooding.
Source: Victoria Mills
Writer: Lee Chilcote
This year, a $2.5 million project to restore these portions of the Doan Brook will finally get started. The project will remove failing stone walls and concrete dams for nearly a half-mile, allowing the stream to flow more naturally while improving water quality and increasing fish populations.
"This project could serve as a model for other communities that are seeking to create healthier streams in urban areas," says Victoria Mills, Executive Director of the nonprofit Doan Brook Watershed Partnership.
The Doan Brook project was originally slated to receive $5.5 million, but was scaled back after bids came in over budget. The new plan addresses these concerns by creating natural terraces that improve drainage and reduce flooding without threatening portions of the gardens. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) will manage the design and construction process.
Although the project is smaller in scale than originally envisioned, Mills is excited about its impact. "I am hopeful that it will spur more improvement projects in Rockefeller Park, including a new master plan," she says.
The Doan Brook improvement project was conceived in 2001, when the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered the city to restore the brook to compensate for the loss of 88 acres of wetland and more than a mile of Abram Creek at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Abram Creek was destroyed to allow for a new runway to be built. The EPA required the city to complete $15 million in restoration projects, most of which have now been completed.
The brook is rare among Cleveland's urban streams because much of it remains above ground. The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership was formed in 2001 to coordinate the preservation efforts of the cities of Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Cleveland and interested citizens. Over the years, Doan Brook has developed an active constituency dedicated to its renewal. The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership will hold a clean-up day on April 17th. To register call 216-321-5935 x 237 or visit the website.
The $2.5 million project will also remove some invasive species and allow limited access to the brook, but will not address flooding.
Source: Victoria Mills
Writer: Lee Chilcote
eco-artist susie frazier sets up shop in 78th street studios
The 78th Street Studios, a warren of creative-minded businesses located at 1300 W. 78th Street, recently welcomed a new showroom run by environmental artist Susie Frazier.
Three years ago, Frazier designed the logo and public art elements for the $3.5 million Gordon Square Arts District streetscape, which perk up Detroit Avenue between W. 58th and W. 73rd streets. From markings she'd observed along the Lake Erie coastline, she created unique crosswalk patterns, amoeba-shaped benches and a distinctive new logo.
Now, under the brand of "earthminded art," Frazier is launching a new line of up-cycled home products and gifts, including tables and lamps made from salvaged wood, decorative pillows and note cards printed with earth images, and rings made from Lake Erie driftwood.
"Today, architects and homeowners are selecting art that's modern and simple, but reinforces their love of nature," Frazier explained in a press release announcing the new showroom.
Frazier also creates original fine art that she sells to collectors. By using natural fragments from different habitats, she creates textural art that highlights the repetitive patterns that she identifies in nature.
The 78th Street Studios, located in a renovated loft-style warehouse that once housed American Greetings' creative studios, contains an eclectic mix of arts-related businesses. The studios are located at the western edge of Gordon Square, a lively district with restaurants, galleries and shops anchored by Cleveland Public Theatre and the Capitol Theatre, a three-screen independent movie house
Frazier's new studio highlights the continued growth of the 78th Street Studios, which developer Dan Bush has renovated to feature exposed brickwork, vibrant colors and a contemporary industrial aesthetic. Bush also recently opened the smART space at 78th, a 6,000-square-foot venue available for short-term rentals such as private parties and benefits.
In addition to their regular business hours, the businesses in the 78th Street Studios host festive open houses with wine and snacks every third Friday of the month from 5-9 p.m.
Source: Susie Frazier
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Three years ago, Frazier designed the logo and public art elements for the $3.5 million Gordon Square Arts District streetscape, which perk up Detroit Avenue between W. 58th and W. 73rd streets. From markings she'd observed along the Lake Erie coastline, she created unique crosswalk patterns, amoeba-shaped benches and a distinctive new logo.
Now, under the brand of "earthminded art," Frazier is launching a new line of up-cycled home products and gifts, including tables and lamps made from salvaged wood, decorative pillows and note cards printed with earth images, and rings made from Lake Erie driftwood.
"Today, architects and homeowners are selecting art that's modern and simple, but reinforces their love of nature," Frazier explained in a press release announcing the new showroom.
Frazier also creates original fine art that she sells to collectors. By using natural fragments from different habitats, she creates textural art that highlights the repetitive patterns that she identifies in nature.
The 78th Street Studios, located in a renovated loft-style warehouse that once housed American Greetings' creative studios, contains an eclectic mix of arts-related businesses. The studios are located at the western edge of Gordon Square, a lively district with restaurants, galleries and shops anchored by Cleveland Public Theatre and the Capitol Theatre, a three-screen independent movie house
Frazier's new studio highlights the continued growth of the 78th Street Studios, which developer Dan Bush has renovated to feature exposed brickwork, vibrant colors and a contemporary industrial aesthetic. Bush also recently opened the smART space at 78th, a 6,000-square-foot venue available for short-term rentals such as private parties and benefits.
In addition to their regular business hours, the businesses in the 78th Street Studios host festive open houses with wine and snacks every third Friday of the month from 5-9 p.m.
Source: Susie Frazier
Writer: Lee Chilcote
upscale barbershop adds polish to larchmere retail district
James Boyd has wanted to be a barber since he was 13 years old. "My dad cut our hair when we were kids, and I was the one who was fascinated by the clippers," recalls Boyd.
Boyd had a natural gift that soon grew into a flourishing business. "I started cutting hair in our house, giving haircuts to friends and Shaker High School athletes," says the 33-year-old.
Two years ago, Boyd and business partner Lathan Bennett transformed a former garage on Larchmere Boulevard into Polished Professionals (12511 Larchmere Blvd.), an elegant, upscale barbershop.
"We wanted to create a men's barbershop with a professional atmosphere," explains Boyd.
Polished Professionals, one of a dozen or so barbershops and hair salons on Larchmere, is now a community hub within this multicultural neighborhood. "Barbers are very community-oriented, and we want to be a pillar on Larchmere," says Boyd.
In the past several years, the number of barbershops and hair salons on Larchmere has grown steadily. The street, which has been an art and antiques district for decades, has in recent years added an eclectic, diverse group of services to its retail mix.
Boyd lived in Las Vegas from 2003 until 2005, when he moved home because he was homesick and missed having four seasons. "I lived the Vegas life for a while, but I wanted to raise my family here," he says.
For Boyd, owning his own business was about "starting a legacy and controlling my destiny," he says. "My grandfather was an entrepreneur, and everyone in my family looked up to him. It was also my mom's last wish that I start my business."
Source: James Boyd
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Boyd had a natural gift that soon grew into a flourishing business. "I started cutting hair in our house, giving haircuts to friends and Shaker High School athletes," says the 33-year-old.
Two years ago, Boyd and business partner Lathan Bennett transformed a former garage on Larchmere Boulevard into Polished Professionals (12511 Larchmere Blvd.), an elegant, upscale barbershop.
"We wanted to create a men's barbershop with a professional atmosphere," explains Boyd.
Polished Professionals, one of a dozen or so barbershops and hair salons on Larchmere, is now a community hub within this multicultural neighborhood. "Barbers are very community-oriented, and we want to be a pillar on Larchmere," says Boyd.
In the past several years, the number of barbershops and hair salons on Larchmere has grown steadily. The street, which has been an art and antiques district for decades, has in recent years added an eclectic, diverse group of services to its retail mix.
Boyd lived in Las Vegas from 2003 until 2005, when he moved home because he was homesick and missed having four seasons. "I lived the Vegas life for a while, but I wanted to raise my family here," he says.
For Boyd, owning his own business was about "starting a legacy and controlling my destiny," he says. "My grandfather was an entrepreneur, and everyone in my family looked up to him. It was also my mom's last wish that I start my business."
Source: James Boyd
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Palookaville Chili, a new restaurant set to open next month in Ohio City, is seeking to reeducate your taste buds. Owner and budding chef Ian P.E., who says he makes "a mean pot of chili," offers a blunt description of what will set his place apart.
"This is gourmet chili, not the slop you'll find at most places," boasts P.E., who lived in San Francisco before returning to Cleveland in 2007. "Most chili is tomato-based and uses ground beef and cinnamon, whereas our beef is cubed, and we use cumin, dried chilis and poblano peppers. It's based off classic Southwestern cuisine and pretty spicy."
Most of the menu items at Palookaville, which will be open for lunch and dinner, are affordably priced in the $5 to $9 range. Some of the menu choices include chicken verde with fresh poblano and tomatillo, a spicy vegan chili with garbanzo beans, and a rotating special. Toppings include sour cream, onions, cheese and peppers. The menu will also include chili dogs, chili-cheese nachos, and tacos.
P.E. is an artist and entrepreneur who grew up in Cleveland's south suburbs. In 2008 he founded the arts publication Pink Eye Magazine with his girlfriend Leigh Ring to fill a void in local arts coverage, yet all the while he dreamed of opening his own restaurant. Frustrated by the lack of quality chili in his hometown, he decided to create his own brand. "There isn't another place in Cleveland to get authentic chili," he claims.
P.E. isn't worried that the vacant storefronts and slow pace of redevelopment along Lorain will deter patrons. He believes his restaurant will benefit from being close to Ohio City's Market District, which is fast becoming a hub for local food entrepreneurs.
"Cleveland is a great place for entrepreneurs, and Lorain is cheap," he says. "In the past, no one had the balls to put something here."
Source: Ian P.E.
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"This is gourmet chili, not the slop you'll find at most places," boasts P.E., who lived in San Francisco before returning to Cleveland in 2007. "Most chili is tomato-based and uses ground beef and cinnamon, whereas our beef is cubed, and we use cumin, dried chilis and poblano peppers. It's based off classic Southwestern cuisine and pretty spicy."
Most of the menu items at Palookaville, which will be open for lunch and dinner, are affordably priced in the $5 to $9 range. Some of the menu choices include chicken verde with fresh poblano and tomatillo, a spicy vegan chili with garbanzo beans, and a rotating special. Toppings include sour cream, onions, cheese and peppers. The menu will also include chili dogs, chili-cheese nachos, and tacos.
P.E. is an artist and entrepreneur who grew up in Cleveland's south suburbs. In 2008 he founded the arts publication Pink Eye Magazine with his girlfriend Leigh Ring to fill a void in local arts coverage, yet all the while he dreamed of opening his own restaurant. Frustrated by the lack of quality chili in his hometown, he decided to create his own brand. "There isn't another place in Cleveland to get authentic chili," he claims.
P.E. isn't worried that the vacant storefronts and slow pace of redevelopment along Lorain will deter patrons. He believes his restaurant will benefit from being close to Ohio City's Market District, which is fast becoming a hub for local food entrepreneurs.
"Cleveland is a great place for entrepreneurs, and Lorain is cheap," he says. "In the past, no one had the balls to put something here."
Source: Ian P.E.
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The idea behind Urban Infant came to Eric Eichhorn when his sister Kelly Friedl had her first child. "All of the baby gear had ducks, bunnies or bears on it," he recalls. "I wanted to get beyond pink and blue to something that had solid, hip colors and was edgy."
Eichhorn and Friedl, who lived in Chicago, dreamed of products that would be geared towards parents "making the conscious decision to raise kids in an urban environment," Eichhorn explains. Friedl's expertise in graphic design combined with Eichhorn's business background led to the formation, in 2001, of Urban Infant.
Today, the Urban Infant has taken on a life of its own and sales are growing. In January, the partners leased a workshop in the 78th Street Studios, a complex of creative-minded businesses in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. "We used to work out of our homes and closets, but then we went to an L.A. trade show, got a rep and began to expand," explains Eichhorn, who moved to Cleveland in 2004.
The Urban Infant's biggest seller is the Tot Cot, an all-in-one pillow, blanket and bed sheet that makes naptime simple for toddlers attending daycare or preschool. The Tot Cot's bedding is made of recycled PET plastic bottles. "It's cool to give someone something that has a previous life," says Eichhorn, who has made sustainability a core aspect of the business.
The Urban Infant also recently created a line of washable bibs made from recycled plastic bags. The bibs, each of which is unique and handmade, feature slogans such as "Thank You" and "American Greetings" (where Eichhorn now works as a business consultant). Priced at $18, the bibs are available at boutiques and museum stores across the country, as well as online.
The bibs are created by fusing together layers of plastic bags using a heat press. Eichhorn regularly scours the recycling bin at Dave's Supermarket in Ohio City for bags, ignoring strange looks from passers-by. He has also enlisted his friends in foreign countries to help collect bags, especially unusual ones.
Although Eichhorn and Friedl have yet to quit their day jobs, Urban Infant has gained a following. In January, the company's products were featured in Parenting magazine and on the Today Show.
Eichhorn and his wife recently celebrated the birth of their daughter Essa. Despite not getting enough sleep, Eichhorn is already working on several new product lines. And now that he has a child of his own, he's even more dialed in to the needs of urban parents.
Source: Eric Eichhorn
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Eichhorn and Friedl, who lived in Chicago, dreamed of products that would be geared towards parents "making the conscious decision to raise kids in an urban environment," Eichhorn explains. Friedl's expertise in graphic design combined with Eichhorn's business background led to the formation, in 2001, of Urban Infant.
Today, the Urban Infant has taken on a life of its own and sales are growing. In January, the partners leased a workshop in the 78th Street Studios, a complex of creative-minded businesses in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. "We used to work out of our homes and closets, but then we went to an L.A. trade show, got a rep and began to expand," explains Eichhorn, who moved to Cleveland in 2004.
The Urban Infant's biggest seller is the Tot Cot, an all-in-one pillow, blanket and bed sheet that makes naptime simple for toddlers attending daycare or preschool. The Tot Cot's bedding is made of recycled PET plastic bottles. "It's cool to give someone something that has a previous life," says Eichhorn, who has made sustainability a core aspect of the business.
The Urban Infant also recently created a line of washable bibs made from recycled plastic bags. The bibs, each of which is unique and handmade, feature slogans such as "Thank You" and "American Greetings" (where Eichhorn now works as a business consultant). Priced at $18, the bibs are available at boutiques and museum stores across the country, as well as online.
The bibs are created by fusing together layers of plastic bags using a heat press. Eichhorn regularly scours the recycling bin at Dave's Supermarket in Ohio City for bags, ignoring strange looks from passers-by. He has also enlisted his friends in foreign countries to help collect bags, especially unusual ones.
Although Eichhorn and Friedl have yet to quit their day jobs, Urban Infant has gained a following. In January, the company's products were featured in Parenting magazine and on the Today Show.
Eichhorn and his wife recently celebrated the birth of their daughter Essa. Despite not getting enough sleep, Eichhorn is already working on several new product lines. And now that he has a child of his own, he's even more dialed in to the needs of urban parents.
Source: Eric Eichhorn
Writer: Lee Chilcote