clevelander pens aching sports essay in ny times
Writer and Cleveland resident John Hyduk offers up a personal tale of what it means to grow up a sports fan in this town and -- spoiler alert -- it ain't pretty. In the poignant New York Times essay, Hyduk shares an emotion shared by many here: We've been disappointed since 1964.
"As a Cleveland sports fan, I hold these truths to be self-evident: no matter how promising the plan or how high the draft pick, someone will screw it up," he leads off with.
Sure, there's mention of The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot, Red Right 88… but also that glimmer of hope that rolls around with the start of each season.
"The first pitch of spring slaps leather, the Indians hang around first place in May, and sports again becomes something beyond a balance sheet. A kickoff sails high into the autumn air, and for a moment, anything’s possible. This year will be different. And for a few hours, you hardly notice the days of your life piling up at your feet."
Read the rest here.
"As a Cleveland sports fan, I hold these truths to be self-evident: no matter how promising the plan or how high the draft pick, someone will screw it up," he leads off with.
Sure, there's mention of The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot, Red Right 88… but also that glimmer of hope that rolls around with the start of each season.
"The first pitch of spring slaps leather, the Indians hang around first place in May, and sports again becomes something beyond a balance sheet. A kickoff sails high into the autumn air, and for a moment, anything’s possible. This year will be different. And for a few hours, you hardly notice the days of your life piling up at your feet."
Read the rest here.
salon features slavic village in housing bubble feature
In a Salon story titled “Cleveland: Ground zero for the housing bubble,” Edward McClelland shares a compelling tale of how the housing collapse hit Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood with a first-hand account from a lifelong resident.
“If houses go to heaven, then Classen Avenue, in the Cleveland neighborhood of Slavic Village, has been the scene of a mass Rapture. Ted Michols watched it all happen. A retired trade magazine editor, a bachelor, a man who likes to sit on his porch and share the neighborhood with passersby he’s known fifty years, Michols has lived his entire life in a little square house his grandfather bought in 1923.”
McClelland writes of Michols experience from the very beginning of the end up to modern day troubles and turmoil in his lengthy feature.
Read the complete piece here.
“If houses go to heaven, then Classen Avenue, in the Cleveland neighborhood of Slavic Village, has been the scene of a mass Rapture. Ted Michols watched it all happen. A retired trade magazine editor, a bachelor, a man who likes to sit on his porch and share the neighborhood with passersby he’s known fifty years, Michols has lived his entire life in a little square house his grandfather bought in 1923.”
McClelland writes of Michols experience from the very beginning of the end up to modern day troubles and turmoil in his lengthy feature.
Read the complete piece here.
rust belt cities reach out to immigrants to boost population
In a The Wall Street Journal feature titled “Rust-Belt Cities Reach Out for Immigrants,” writers Mark Peters and Jack Nicas touch upon how rust belt cities like Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Detroit were a draw to immigrant workers who knew they would be able to find manufacturing jobs.
As time went on, those jobs disappeared, populations began to decline, and immigrants no longer looked to those cities to begin their new life in the United States.
“During the fresh immigration surge in recent decades, however, newcomers largely bypassed Detroit, Cleveland and St. Louis as manufacturing there -- and other cities in the region -- dwindled. They opted instead for cities such as Phoenix and Dallas.”
Peters and Nicas go on to explain the steps many rust belt cities are taking in an effort to grow their populations, one of which is luring immigrants back into the area through various grants and other programs.
Read the full feature here.
As time went on, those jobs disappeared, populations began to decline, and immigrants no longer looked to those cities to begin their new life in the United States.
“During the fresh immigration surge in recent decades, however, newcomers largely bypassed Detroit, Cleveland and St. Louis as manufacturing there -- and other cities in the region -- dwindled. They opted instead for cities such as Phoenix and Dallas.”
Peters and Nicas go on to explain the steps many rust belt cities are taking in an effort to grow their populations, one of which is luring immigrants back into the area through various grants and other programs.
Read the full feature here.
cle vs. pit in battle for bike title
In a Pittsburgh-based NPR post feature titled “Pittsburgh and Cleveland Square Off Again… In Biking?” Nick Jovonovich explores the traditional CLE/PGH rivalry that includes the cities’ football teams and museums -- however, a different type of competition is brewing as they battle it out for the title of “Rustbelt Champion” within the National Bike Challenge.
Registering the most riders and logging more miles than the opponent will determine the winner.
“The free and friendly competition encourages all people to get out and ride, no matter their age or reason -- whether as daily commuters, weekend warriors or somewhere in between. Smartphone users can even download a free app to directly track and log trips for the National Bike Challenge.”
Discover more about the battle here.
Registering the most riders and logging more miles than the opponent will determine the winner.
“The free and friendly competition encourages all people to get out and ride, no matter their age or reason -- whether as daily commuters, weekend warriors or somewhere in between. Smartphone users can even download a free app to directly track and log trips for the National Bike Challenge.”
Discover more about the battle here.
preservation nation covers story of playhouse square restoration
In a Preservation Nation Blog post titled “Cleveland’s PlayhouseSquare Theaters Set Stage for World’s Largest Theater Restoration Project,” guest writer Linda Feagler highlights the efforts of Ray Shepardson, who took a struggling and decrepit collection of theaters and began the process that has turned PlayhouseSquare into the second-largest performing arts centers in the nation.
“Today, Shepardson’s once improbable effort is Cleveland’s crown jewel: His rescue not only initiated the world’s largest theater restoration project (totaling some $100 million), it transformed that quartet of crumbling venues into a revitalized PlayhouseSquare, one of the largest performing-arts complexes in the country (second only to New York’s Lincoln Center).”
Feagler continues to share additional background story and further explain the enormous project the restoration was.
Enjoy the full feature here.
“Today, Shepardson’s once improbable effort is Cleveland’s crown jewel: His rescue not only initiated the world’s largest theater restoration project (totaling some $100 million), it transformed that quartet of crumbling venues into a revitalized PlayhouseSquare, one of the largest performing-arts complexes in the country (second only to New York’s Lincoln Center).”
Feagler continues to share additional background story and further explain the enormous project the restoration was.
Enjoy the full feature here.
nbc sports covers nfl-related film in town
In an NBC Sports story titled “Draft Day descends on Cleveland this week,” Mike Florio shares that filming is ready to get underway on the NFL-related movie Draft Day starring Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner, with the storyline centered on the Cleveland Browns.
“The bulk of the filming starts in and around Greater Cleveland on [May 8]. Shaker Heights and Berea, where the Browns are headquartered, appear on the list of sites where scenes will be shot. FirstEnergy Stadium will host some of the filming, too.”
Draft Day is not the only filming ready to get underway as Captain America: The Winter Soldier will soon begin production here as well.
View the entire blurb here.
“The bulk of the filming starts in and around Greater Cleveland on [May 8]. Shaker Heights and Berea, where the Browns are headquartered, appear on the list of sites where scenes will be shot. FirstEnergy Stadium will host some of the filming, too.”
Draft Day is not the only filming ready to get underway as Captain America: The Winter Soldier will soon begin production here as well.
View the entire blurb here.
new york times covers rust belt food revival
In a thoughtful piece on farm-to-table cooking in the Rust Belt, New York Times writer Julia Moskin covers the mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and chefs that has helped boost our region's image from dead zone to world-class food destination.
"Until recently, the American food revolution seemed to bypass this region, leaping from Chicago to Philadelphia without making stops in places like Toledo, Cleveland, Akron and Pittsburgh," Moskin writes. "Now, the region is linked by a group of educated, ambitious chefs who are building a new kind of network."
Greenhouse Tavern chef-owner Jonathon Sawyer is singled out for fostering relationships with area farmers -- specifically those growing in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park as part of the Countryside Initiative.
"Convinced that the relationship between chefs and farmers is one of the keys to bringing the city and the region back to life, Mr. Sawyer has cooked and coaxed a new local food system into being."
Read the rest of the tasty news here.
"Until recently, the American food revolution seemed to bypass this region, leaping from Chicago to Philadelphia without making stops in places like Toledo, Cleveland, Akron and Pittsburgh," Moskin writes. "Now, the region is linked by a group of educated, ambitious chefs who are building a new kind of network."
Greenhouse Tavern chef-owner Jonathon Sawyer is singled out for fostering relationships with area farmers -- specifically those growing in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park as part of the Countryside Initiative.
"Convinced that the relationship between chefs and farmers is one of the keys to bringing the city and the region back to life, Mr. Sawyer has cooked and coaxed a new local food system into being."
Read the rest of the tasty news here.
art daily touts cma's beckmann acquisition
In an Art Daily feature titled “Cleveland Museum of Art acquires dramatic painting by seminal 20th century German artist Max Beckmann,” the editors continue to praise the Cleveland Museum of Art for their ongoing work in building some of the most comprehensive collections in the country, including the recently added painting by German artist Max Beckmann.
“The acquisition of the Beckmann marks the successful conclusion of a decade-long hunt for a major work by the artist and adds a fascinating and challenging picture to the museum’s holdings of modern European art,” explains C. Griffith Mann, Ph.D, the museum’s deputy director and chief curator. “The African textiles are notable not only for their quality but also for their provenance, and the gifts speak eloquently to the impact our collectors and donors are capable of making across our collections.”
The feature goes on to highlight the life and career of Beckmann, including the nature of his work for which he is most known.
Explore the full feature here.
“The acquisition of the Beckmann marks the successful conclusion of a decade-long hunt for a major work by the artist and adds a fascinating and challenging picture to the museum’s holdings of modern European art,” explains C. Griffith Mann, Ph.D, the museum’s deputy director and chief curator. “The African textiles are notable not only for their quality but also for their provenance, and the gifts speak eloquently to the impact our collectors and donors are capable of making across our collections.”
The feature goes on to highlight the life and career of Beckmann, including the nature of his work for which he is most known.
Explore the full feature here.
wine mag highlights trio of local gems
In a Wine Enthusiast Magazine story titled “Hot in Cleveland: Three Wine Bars to Visit in Cleveland,” the editors point out that Cleveland is attracting the likes of young artists, artisans, and web entrepreneurs due to modestly priced real estate and an above-average food and beverage scene.
“And while the food and beer scenes have always been strong (C-town is home to Michael Symon's empire and the Great Lakes Brewing Co.), this recent trend is raising the culture quotient and energizing the wine scene. There is life beyond the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland.”
Market Avenue Wine Bar, La Cave du Vin and Lola Bistro each provide a unique draw to the young and old alike, from high ceilings, parquet floors, and easy access to the West Side Market for Market Avenue Wine Bar to the genius of Michael Symon’s culinary team at Lola, Cleveland has plenty to keep folks returning for more.
Enjoy the full story here.
“And while the food and beer scenes have always been strong (C-town is home to Michael Symon's empire and the Great Lakes Brewing Co.), this recent trend is raising the culture quotient and energizing the wine scene. There is life beyond the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland.”
Market Avenue Wine Bar, La Cave du Vin and Lola Bistro each provide a unique draw to the young and old alike, from high ceilings, parquet floors, and easy access to the West Side Market for Market Avenue Wine Bar to the genius of Michael Symon’s culinary team at Lola, Cleveland has plenty to keep folks returning for more.
Enjoy the full story here.
cle museum of art included in item on upscale museum dining trend
In an Indystar piece titled “Fine art, fresh fare: Museum restaurants revamp menus to meet diners’ expectations,” Jolene Ketzenberger explores how museums are transforming dank snack bars into upscale dining experiences.
Museums across the country are revamping their food offerings, including Cleveland’s Museum of Art, where chef-partner Douglas Katz designs special menus around featured exhibits at the newly unveiled Provenance restaurant.
“It takes a lot of energy to put these menus together,” says Katz in the piece, who is also chef-owner of Cleveland’s Fire Food and Drink. “But it’s bringing people to the restaurant and giving people a reason to come back again and again.”
Check out the full piece here.
Museums across the country are revamping their food offerings, including Cleveland’s Museum of Art, where chef-partner Douglas Katz designs special menus around featured exhibits at the newly unveiled Provenance restaurant.
“It takes a lot of energy to put these menus together,” says Katz in the piece, who is also chef-owner of Cleveland’s Fire Food and Drink. “But it’s bringing people to the restaurant and giving people a reason to come back again and again.”
Check out the full piece here.
cleveland clinic cmo credited for making brand most recognizable
In a Forbes Magazine post titled “Behind the Brand: CMO Paul Matsen On Cleveland Clinic’s Strides As A Global Marketer,” Jennifer Rooney explains how Paul Matsen has taken his experience from prior endeavors such as Delta Air Lines and worked to establish Cleveland Clinic as one of the most recognizable healthcare brands in the world.
From the use of digital, social and traditional media, Matsen's primary goal is to increase brand awareness and ultimately get “those who don’t even need its services yet -- but may someday -- to “get consumers to find out who we are and then in the future for them to consider us as one of their first choices.”
Read the full piece and watch the interview here.
From the use of digital, social and traditional media, Matsen's primary goal is to increase brand awareness and ultimately get “those who don’t even need its services yet -- but may someday -- to “get consumers to find out who we are and then in the future for them to consider us as one of their first choices.”
Read the full piece and watch the interview here.
rust wire discusses 'clevelandish' life of harvey pekar
In a Rust Wire feature titled “The Oh-So-Clevelandish Life of Harvey Pekar,” Angie Schmitt shares her thoughts on the late Harvey Pekar in an article than does not necessarily honor his accomplishments as a writer, but the genius behind his work.
“Here is this creative genius and intellectual and he won’t follow his doctor wife out of the region because he has a civil service job -- a steady, reliable government job. That is the most Cleveland, the most Rust Belt, move ever. In a scary economy, get that government job and cling to it for dear life,” Schmitt writes.
“That is the Cleveland way. The dream. It’s a pretty freaking sad one, if you ask me, but one that still holds a powerful appeal in this region, especially for older people. And I guess if you have a mortgage and a family and you’re watching your regional economy unravel, it makes a lot of sense,” Schmitt continues.
Enjoy the full tribute here.
“Here is this creative genius and intellectual and he won’t follow his doctor wife out of the region because he has a civil service job -- a steady, reliable government job. That is the most Cleveland, the most Rust Belt, move ever. In a scary economy, get that government job and cling to it for dear life,” Schmitt writes.
“That is the Cleveland way. The dream. It’s a pretty freaking sad one, if you ask me, but one that still holds a powerful appeal in this region, especially for older people. And I guess if you have a mortgage and a family and you’re watching your regional economy unravel, it makes a lot of sense,” Schmitt continues.
Enjoy the full tribute here.
cle's hodgson to appear on next food network star
In a PR Newswire item posted in The Wall Street Journal titled “New Roster Of Hopefuls Vie For Culinary Stardom In Season Nine Of Primetime Competition Series Food Network Star,” the release announces the finalists for the upcoming season in addition to some background on the show.
Cleveland’s own Chris Hodgson of Hodge's Restaurant and food truck fame is among the finalists.
The finalists for season nine are: Nikki Dinki (New York); Andres Guillama (Waynesville, NC); Rodney Henry (Baltimore); Chris Hodgson (Cleveland); Connie "Lovely" Jackson (Los Angeles); Russell Jackson (San Francisco); Danushka Lysek (New York); Daniela Perez-Reyes (Haleiwa, Haw.); Viet Pham (Salt Lake City); Damaris Phillips (Louisville, Ky.); Stacey Poon-Kinney (San Diego) and Chad Rosenthal (Ambler, Penn.).
Hodgson is no stranger to Food Network stardom as he finished in second place in the second season of The Great Food Truck Race.
View the full release here.
Cleveland’s own Chris Hodgson of Hodge's Restaurant and food truck fame is among the finalists.
The finalists for season nine are: Nikki Dinki (New York); Andres Guillama (Waynesville, NC); Rodney Henry (Baltimore); Chris Hodgson (Cleveland); Connie "Lovely" Jackson (Los Angeles); Russell Jackson (San Francisco); Danushka Lysek (New York); Daniela Perez-Reyes (Haleiwa, Haw.); Viet Pham (Salt Lake City); Damaris Phillips (Louisville, Ky.); Stacey Poon-Kinney (San Diego) and Chad Rosenthal (Ambler, Penn.).
Hodgson is no stranger to Food Network stardom as he finished in second place in the second season of The Great Food Truck Race.
View the full release here.
man of steel celebrates 75th birthday
In a NPR story titled “Cleveland Celebrates Superman, Its Hometown Hero,” Brian Bull explains Cleveland’s historical past in relation to the comic book hero Superman, who turned 75 years old on April 18.
“Less well-known is that the superhero is not native to the lost world of Krypton, nor the rural Kansas burg of Smallville. Superman is Cleveland's native son -- at least as far as the city's residents are concerned.”
Bull goes on to explain the history of Superman’s creation and some of the inspiration behind the story, including some of the main characters such as Lois Lane.
"The Man of Steel in a steel town, the strength that he had, that's all part of what Cleveland is," Mayor Frank Jackson was quoted. "We're a tough community that has overcome many challenges and obstacles, and Superman is a good representative model of Cleveland."
Check out the entire piece here.
“Less well-known is that the superhero is not native to the lost world of Krypton, nor the rural Kansas burg of Smallville. Superman is Cleveland's native son -- at least as far as the city's residents are concerned.”
Bull goes on to explain the history of Superman’s creation and some of the inspiration behind the story, including some of the main characters such as Lois Lane.
"The Man of Steel in a steel town, the strength that he had, that's all part of what Cleveland is," Mayor Frank Jackson was quoted. "We're a tough community that has overcome many challenges and obstacles, and Superman is a good representative model of Cleveland."
Check out the entire piece here.
survey says: cle is a small-biz friendly city
In a Thumbtack.com survey titled “United States Small Business Friendliness,” the editors grade Cleveland an “A-“ in overall friendliness to small business. They also gave Cleveland an “A” in ease of hiring and an “A+” in training and networking programs.
“Starting a business is one of the greatest risks I have undertaken. I have the good fortune of starting that business in Ohio. The State gave me an entire website guiding me so that the odds of success are greater. I am not sure I can qualify starting a business as easy, but the support in my state made certain that it wasn't too painful,” shared a Cleveland-based marketing consultant.
Cleveland did have some areas for improvement despite its high overall grade. Regulations and tax code issues can sometimes be challenging for small business owners according to the findings.
Check out the complete survey here.
“Starting a business is one of the greatest risks I have undertaken. I have the good fortune of starting that business in Ohio. The State gave me an entire website guiding me so that the odds of success are greater. I am not sure I can qualify starting a business as easy, but the support in my state made certain that it wasn't too painful,” shared a Cleveland-based marketing consultant.
Cleveland did have some areas for improvement despite its high overall grade. Regulations and tax code issues can sometimes be challenging for small business owners according to the findings.
Check out the complete survey here.
atlantic says city, county taking a step back with skywalks
In a The Atlantic piece titled “If Other Cities Are Demolishing Skywalks, Why Does Cleveland Want a New One?” Sarah Goodyear writes of Horseshoe Casino’s plan to erect a skywalk connecting the gaming center and the parking garage. This plan has the full support of the city and its administration but not from all of the urban dwellers.
In it Goodyear quotes local writer and Fresh Water contributor Joe Baur, a 26-year-old who moved downtown and has started a group called OurCLE to fight the skywalks.
"I’m not typically the activist type," says Baur. "I’m more a satirist. But this is like -- well, you may not like kids, but if you see a kid about to touch a hot stove, you’re going to stop them." Baur explains that in this analogy Cleveland is the kid and the skywalk is the stove.
The proposed skywalk would not only alter sightlines in the area downtown but also hinder local businesses due to the anticipated reduced street traffic. Also mentioned in the piece is Cuyahoga County's plans to keep and refurbish another skywalk at its new administration building.
Read the full argument here.
In it Goodyear quotes local writer and Fresh Water contributor Joe Baur, a 26-year-old who moved downtown and has started a group called OurCLE to fight the skywalks.
"I’m not typically the activist type," says Baur. "I’m more a satirist. But this is like -- well, you may not like kids, but if you see a kid about to touch a hot stove, you’re going to stop them." Baur explains that in this analogy Cleveland is the kid and the skywalk is the stove.
The proposed skywalk would not only alter sightlines in the area downtown but also hinder local businesses due to the anticipated reduced street traffic. Also mentioned in the piece is Cuyahoga County's plans to keep and refurbish another skywalk at its new administration building.
Read the full argument here.
a tale of two cities' newspapers
In a The Editor's Room feature titled “The Times-Picayune Fiasco: Newhouses Give Cleveland a Better Deal Than New Orleans,” Errol Laborde explores in his commentary why the Cleveland Plain Dealer did not get sliced and diced nearly as badly as New Orleans’ Times-Picayune in their restructuring.
Laborde details how both city's citizens were vocally passionate about saving their dailies, however Cleveland was somehow spared whereas New Orleans suffered massive cuts.
“New Orleans may have gotten the shaft and Cleveland spared simply because our town came first. The protesters down here may not have saved their daily but they got a message across and that ultimately may have helped The Plain Dealer,” Laborde writes.
Read the full passionate commentary here.
Laborde details how both city's citizens were vocally passionate about saving their dailies, however Cleveland was somehow spared whereas New Orleans suffered massive cuts.
“New Orleans may have gotten the shaft and Cleveland spared simply because our town came first. The protesters down here may not have saved their daily but they got a message across and that ultimately may have helped The Plain Dealer,” Laborde writes.
Read the full passionate commentary here.
playhouse square's multi-million dollar facelift gets attention
In an Associated Press story published on Vindy.com titled “Playhouse Square theater district in Cleveland to get $16M exterior upgrade,” editors write of the streetscape upgrade in the works for Cleveland’s famed PlayhouseSquare Theater District.
“The nonprofit PlayhouseSquare Foundation plans to spend $16 million over the next year to upgrade the district with bright signs, gateway arches and digital displays,” the article states.
The highlight of the proposal would be the installation of a 24-foot-tall glass and crystal chandelier over the district’s prime intersection. Other features would include gold-colored signage that span entrances to the district and architectural lighting that highlights details of the historic buildings.
Enjoy the full story here.
“The nonprofit PlayhouseSquare Foundation plans to spend $16 million over the next year to upgrade the district with bright signs, gateway arches and digital displays,” the article states.
The highlight of the proposal would be the installation of a 24-foot-tall glass and crystal chandelier over the district’s prime intersection. Other features would include gold-colored signage that span entrances to the district and architectural lighting that highlights details of the historic buildings.
Enjoy the full story here.
melt included among best grilled cheese sandos
In honor of National Grilled Cheese Month, a Relish listicle rattles off “America’s 10 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.” Cleveland’s Melt Bar and Grilled makes the list with multiple locations throughout the area.
“Boring thin-sliced white bread and American [cheese] are things of the past,” says Melt Bar and Grilled owner Matt Fish of his forwarding-thinking sandwich philosophy. “The more attitude and adventurous you can make the grilled cheese the better.”
Check out the full write-up here.
“Boring thin-sliced white bread and American [cheese] are things of the past,” says Melt Bar and Grilled owner Matt Fish of his forwarding-thinking sandwich philosophy. “The more attitude and adventurous you can make the grilled cheese the better.”
Check out the full write-up here.
eater dishes with sawyer re: ramen
In an Eater.com feature titled “Noodlecat Chef-Owner Jonathon Sawyer on Cleveland, Expansion, and the Ramen Boom,” Amy McKeever talks to local chef Jonathon Sawyer regarding the one-year anniversary of the Noodlecat spot in Cleveland’s historic West Side Market.
In her lengthy interview she touches on all aspects of the satellite location, from opening to inspiration, to the difficulties of working in a cramped 45-square-foot space. Despite focus on Sawyer and Noodlecat, the West Side Market comes across as the star thanks to outstanding vendor relationships and supplying the ingredients used at both the stand and the brick-and-mortar restaurant downtown.
“I would say if anybody comes to Cleveland and doesn't go to the West Side Market, that would be an absolute shame,” Sawyer states.
We agree wholeheartedly.
Check out the full interview here.
In her lengthy interview she touches on all aspects of the satellite location, from opening to inspiration, to the difficulties of working in a cramped 45-square-foot space. Despite focus on Sawyer and Noodlecat, the West Side Market comes across as the star thanks to outstanding vendor relationships and supplying the ingredients used at both the stand and the brick-and-mortar restaurant downtown.
“I would say if anybody comes to Cleveland and doesn't go to the West Side Market, that would be an absolute shame,” Sawyer states.
We agree wholeheartedly.
Check out the full interview here.