Ohio's largest homeless shelter just became more of a home. On Saturday, Nov. 4, more than 50 volunteers and organizers gathered at 2100 Lakeside—the men’s homeless shelter run by Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM)—to build a gazebo on land donated by the Cuyahoga Land Bank at 2138 Lakeside Ave. and clean up the surrounding neighborhood.

Read more about their efforts here.

First there were dogs. Then came pigs, rats, and even dragons. 2017 is the Year of the Rooster, according to the Chinese lunar zodiac, and it marks the last of St. Clair Superior Development Corporation’s (SCSDC) Year of the Zodiac Projects—a 12-year public art, cultural awareness, and fundraising campaign.

Find out how to get your hands on a rooster here.

Artists’ shows, open mic nights, jam sessions, and sketch nights: for the past six years, Negative Space has established itself as a non-profit creative oasis for artists, musicians, and community supporters at E. 39^th Street and Superior Avenue in AsiaTown.

On Saturday, the studios and gallery will double down by moving into a warehouse space twice the size of its original home—and it just happens to be right next door at 3820 Superior Ave. At 4,000 square feet, the space is­ capable of housing even more art and entertainment.

Read more about the new Negative Space here.

Cleveland Chain Reaction has reached the next step in the economic development project that will bring five new businesses to Slavic Village. A group of 10 local businesses have been named finalists, whittled down from the initial 24 companies chosen in June to compete.
 
The 10 finalists represent a variety of industries serving both current and emerging markets with products and services that range from food to hard goods manufacturing and distribution.  Each were selected for their potential growth and impact on jobs and investment in Greater Cleveland.

Find out who the 10 finalists are here.

MedWish International, a nonprofit organization that repurposes discarded medical supplies and equipment and donates them to 109 developing countries in need, is moving its headquarters from Collinwood to a 50,000-square-foot facility at E. 31^st Street and Payne Avenue in AsiaTown, in the heart of the Health-Tech Corridor.
 
After nearly 25 years in Collinwood MedWish, which works with 116 health care institutions to repurpose more than 500,000 pounds of medical equipment and supplies each year — saving them from going into landfills — has been looking for a new space in a more centralized location.

Find out why MedWish decided to make the move here.

As the summer solstice looms, groups of cycling advocates invite riders to celebrate Cleveland’s best bike year ever amid a host of two-wheeled activities with something for everyone.

Tucked away on East 41^th Street just across the way from Tyler Village, Stephen Yusko is toiling away at his studio wherein you'll find milling machines and band saws and the usual residents in a metalworking shop. But Yusko's tools also include anvils, a white-hot forge and the tongs and hammers that transform steel into the smith's graceful designs.
 
"My work is a combination of forging, machining and fabricating. It seems like more machining, but it always starts with a forged … something," says Yusko. "I enjoy that process: heating up a bar of steel and transforming it into a shape."
 
Yusko continues while a cat named M slinks around the shop, completely unimpressed by the craftsman's lofty musings:

Read them here, and find out where this able smith like to sup when he's not manning the forge.

With a career in retail that spans more than 25 years, Megan Featherston knows the trends and shopping behavior of the furniture and home furnishings market.

“I’m really wired for and passionate about putting the fun back in retail,” Featherston says. “Most people shop to fill a void. But with everything so homogenous, it’s like [the movie] Groundhog’s Day.’”
 
Then last year, Featherston noticed a problem that she knew she could solve. She saw Baby Boomers looking to downsize and get rid of some of the nice furniture they’ve acquired over the years, while Millennials are constantly searching for unique, affordable furnishings,
 
So earlier this month Featherston opened VNTG Home, 1427 E. 36^th St. at Tyler Village. 

Read about how VNTG Home solves both generational problems here.
 

To preview the much-anticipated 8th annual event this weekend, Fresh Water managing photographer Bob Perkoski offers up a host of dazzling images from previous festivals.

Inspired by CNBC's Cleveland Hustles, Cleveland Chain Reaction aims to keep the economic development wave going with up to $1 million invested in five new businesses — all in one neighborhood.

The organization intends to prioritize programming accessibility and ensure that people across all races, incomes and education levels feel included in its programming and funding.
 

As some 76 million baby boomers retire, they are stirring a “silver tsunami” across the country, testing public and nonprofit agencies as well as the housing market. Fresh Water checks in to see how Northeast Ohio is preparing for the trend.

Fresh Water explores a quartet of Cleveland's ethnic houses of worship that endure in traditions of faith, history and culture.

While Congress floats a proposal to raise the full Social Security retirement age to 69, the impact will hit hardest in Cleveland's urban neighborhoods, where life expectancy is as low as 70—nearly nine years shorter than the national average.