Cleveland's ethnic diversity is represented in the city's markets. Replete with dazzling items and intriguing people, they offer a taste of home for newcomers and exotic flavors for the rest of us.

Since its launch 18 months ago, the Flea has helped dozens of new businesses to flourish. Perhaps its greatest success is the tight knit and supportive community of makers that it has cultivated.

Our friends at the Cleveland Flea created this November market guide full of beautiful imagery showcasing the event's artisan vendors. Check it out, then stop by this weekend for the real thing!

These days, news not only frequently breaks on Facebook and Twitter, but social media can be used for crowdsourcing ideas about a neighborhood's future, too.

Sam McNulty, owner of a half dozen restaurants and bars on the increasingly flourishing West 25th Street, announced on his Facebook page last week that he and his business partners are purchasing the former Orange Blossom Press Building. Now they're looking for suggestions as to what kind of tenant should go ... Read more >

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

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

At the University Circle Incorporated (UCI) annual meeting last week, President Chris Ronayne touted the district's roots in innovation as well as impressive present-day growth. In short, University Circle is now returning full circle and has become an area that's not only rife with arts institutions and top schools, but is also spinning out some of the region's fastest-growing companies and ideas.

Ronayne also stated that innovation begins and ends, in many w... Read more >

According to 2010 census figures, the city's population is just 5 percent foreign-born, less than half the nationwide average. This decade also witnessed our city's population slip below 400,000, a decline that advocates believe can be reversed by attracting newcomers, including immigrants.

Greater Cleveland's workforce is highly educated, with 17 percent of its workforce boasting a graduate or professional degree. Demographer and urban planner Richey Piiparinen believes Cleveland can take advantage of those big brains through creation of high-density areas of expertise.

Chris Tarr has a vision of uniting Cleveland’s west side neighborhoods into one large playground of great restaurants and tasty beers. The establishments already exist, but getting around safely, affordably and easily is another challenge.
 
After being stranded at Brew 133 in Lakewood during a snow storm last year, Tarr came up with the idea for the West Side Shuffle – a black school bus with a big white sign advertising the phone numb... Read more >

Tucked away behind Rockefeller Park lies a historic neighborhood filled with stately, brick homes built at the turn of the last century. It has remained stable despite Glenville's struggles, and now rising interest in University Circle is propelling early signs of growth.

Cleveland almost lost native son Daniel Gray-Kontar to California's charms. But this writer, poet, performer and father has come home and into his own as an educator and stalwart youth advocate.

The Cleveland-based nonprofit International Partners in Mission has worked on projects in more than 40 countries around the world. Last month, it held a weeklong series of events to celebrate its milestone anniversary.