Stories

Reflections of Cleveland shows breathtaking views of the city by kayak
From Christina Sadowski’s perspective, there is no better vantage point of the Cleveland skyline than from a purple kayak at the crack of dawn. Her upcoming photography exhibition, “Reflections of Cleveland,” is the product of Sadowski’s kayak jaunts on Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River—and what her camera captured along the way.
Public input will help shape Cuyahoga County's plan for a linked green network
The vision for Cuyahoga Greenways would connect every community in the county through a network of greenways, trails, parks, transportation routes, and neighborhoods. A joint plan between the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACCA), and the Cleveland Metroparks, the project has entered its second phase with officials asking for public input on the concept and initial plans.  
Who's Hiring in #CLE: JACK Casino, Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland Orchestra, Movement Project...
Welcome to the latest edition of Fresh Water Cleveland's “Who’s Hiring” series, where we feature growing companies with open positions, what they’re looking for, and how to apply. This edition includes jobs from Cleveland Foundation, JACK Cleveland Casino, Dancing Wheels, Cleveland Orchestra, The Movement Project, and Cleveland Botanical Garden. Click here for the freshest opportunities fit to print.
No place like EMOH: Cleveland artist tackles homelessness with touring art installation
Cleveland-based artist Loren Naji made waves at ArtPrize in 2016 with EMOH, a spherical sculpture and temporary living space made of found objects, garbage, and remnants of abandoned or demolished Ohio and Michigan homes. Now he's set to take it on the road this year in U.S. cities with large homeless populations—starting in New York in March during the Independent Air Fair.

Find out more about this socially conscious sphere here.
Celebrate! 2018 marks major milestones for beloved CLE institutions
As anyone who attended the Cavs championship parade knows, the Land knows how to throw a party—and with multiple centennial celebrations over the past few years, there has certainly been a lot to celebrate. The party continues into 2018 as a number of Cleveland institutions, organizations, and businesses mark major milestones.
Cool 'beans:' This baby clothing boutique is helping challenge gender stereotypes
Cleveland native Nikki Yeager was tired of people making comments that her son should dress more "like a boy," so she decided to do something about it by launching Every Bean Boutique—a gender-neutral line that's part of a larger movement to remove traditional labels from children's clothing. Learn more about Yeager's mission here.
Old Brooklyn continues its rise with hybrid coffee-bicycle shop in the works
Trey Kirchoff has a nose for good coffee and he seeks to spread his love of a good roast with the rest of Cleveland. This spring, Kirchoff will partner with Mason Adkins and Berto Huertas of Sixth City Cycles to open Coffee, Coffee, Coffee—a combination coffee shop and bike shop in Old Brooklyn. The new shop will open in the former Familyography space at 4193 Pearl Road.

Read more about this unique blend of coffee and bikes here.
Free Stamp: All things free in the #CLE for January 2018
The best things in life are free, indeed, and our monthly "Free Stamp" feature rounds up all of the free #CLE events that get our "stamp" of approval. See what's on tap for January here
 
Tressed for success: This Shaker Square center empowers people in transition
Since 2015, the Beauty and Barber Empowerment Center has been a resource center in Shaker Square for beauty industry professionals. Now they're the recipients of a $6,000 grant from the United Black Fund of Great Cleveland to support people in transition, including formerly incarcerated individuals and displaced barbers and cosmetologists, in their career paths. 
PHOTOS: Get spirited away with Cleveland's festive holiday light displays
From Nela Park to Public Square, Cleveland is full-on festive when it comes to the holidays. Fresh Water managing photographer Bob Perkoski set out to capture our city in all of its glittery glory this holiday season.
 
Let the games begin: Perplexity Games continues to expand its escape room offerings
From Eliot Ness to T.I.T.U.S., the Molchan family business has grown immensely. Since opening Perplexity Games back in 2016, the business (currently ranked as TripAdvisor's top escape room in Cleveland) has grown from 3,000 square feet to 4,500 square feet. The number of game offerings has also increased, with the addition of "Clockwork Caper" and "T.I.T.U.S." in addition to the original "Eliot Ness Investigation." Learn more about this place for escape artists here.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park to break ground on new visitor center

Feel like going for a hike? How about canoeing, horseback riding, or even a round of golf? Of all the natural resources available for play in Cleveland, residents are lucky enough to have one of 69 national parks right in their own backyard with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP).

All of these activities—and much more—can be found in the 33,000 acres that make up the park, which boasts the heart of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, an area rich in industrial history and rife with natural wonder. The CVNP is the only national park in Ohio, with the closest national park at least a four-hour drive from Cleveland.

In early January, the CVNP will break ground on a new $5.9 million visitor center to welcome the two million people who visit the park annually. Get the details here.

Historic sign will illuminate Old Brooklyn CDC’s new digs

A vintage blade sign that has been a landmark of Old Brooklyn since the 1940s is coming full circle. Having once marked the location of the old Atlas Furniture building at 4274 Pearl Road, it will soon become the marquee for the future Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation headquarters in the same location.

The historic sign will serve as the neighborhood’s centerpiece after it is restored and takes its place on Pearl Road in the summer of 2018, says Jason Powers, OBCDC director of marketing and development. “If you’re from Old Brooklyn, or you’re in one of the 20,000 cars that commute up Pearl Road, you know that sign,” he says. “This will add vibrancy to our Main Street. Old Brooklyn has always been amazing, but we never had that centerpiece.”

Read more about this vintage centerpiece here.

How a $3.2 million grant is helping Cleveland Rape Crisis Center expand its services on campus
Recently, the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center received a $3.2 million VOCA payment, the largest grant in its 40-year history. Part of that funding is helping to expand advocacy and outreach services on college campuses around Cleveland.
Artists take center stage as CAC implements equity and diversity initiatives
A 10-member team of artists and community leaders is helping to shape the next wave of individual support from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
University Circle's Magnolia Clubhouse completes major renovation in historic home
Since 1961, Magnolia Clubhouse has been a place where people with mental illness can go for friendship, counseling, help finding employment, and even just to get a good meal. Situated in two neighboring early 1900s houses, Magnolia Clubhouse is located at 11101 and 11027 Magnolia Drive in University Circle—and about to enter the final stages of a $3.85 million renovation effort.
 
Smells like Christmas spirit: The holiday shop at Bloom Bakery is in full bloom
When gift-giving, why settle on a fruitcake when you can have a Bloom Bakery delight? The artisanal café-slash-social venture is hosting a Holiday Shop replete with assorted cookies, dinner rolls, and apple pies, plus seasonal items like pumpkin roll and pumpkin bread—as well as a showstopper that Executive Director Jill Rizika calls "to-die-for deep, deep chocolate brownies."

"We really hope instead of giving a gift certificate or a candle as corporate gifts, that [people] might think about ordering through Bloom and get the double whammy of getting a treat while also supporting a second chance," says Rizika.
Model Shaker Heights home saved from demolition, restored to real estate gem

When Oris and Mantis Van Sweringen were developing Shaker Heights in the 1920s, and Cleveland was expanding after the completion of the Rapid between downtown and the new suburb, The Van Sweringen Company began building model homes to promote development in Shaker and demonstrate the standards that were expected of the homes.

Most of the model homes remain standing to this day. But one historic model home at 2834 Courtland Blvd. was dangerously close to demolition a few years ago before the Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS) and the City of Shaker Heights got involved.

Read about how this historic house was saved from the wrecking ball here.

Who's Hiring in CLE: Van Auken Akins, Cleveland Metroparks, Les Delices, Heights Arts & CSU
Welcome to the latest edition of Fresh Water Cleveland's “Who’s Hiring” series, where we feature growing companies with open positions, what they’re looking for, and how to apply. This edition includes jobs from Heights Arts, Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland State University, Las Delices, and Van Auken Akins. Click here for the freshest opportunities fit to print.