Stories
Tomorrow, June 25, from 2 – 5 p.m. in Lincoln Park on W. 11th Street in Tremont, the fourth annual Cleveland Big Wheel Relay to benefit the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center will roll out.
Adult teams have raised funds to compete in a tournament racing Huffy Green Machine three-wheel bikes, which are designed to handle adult bodies. This year, an additional track will allow individuals to participate in timed, individual races. The event is free to attend.
The Big Wheel Relay is organized and hosted by the New Partners of Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center (CHSC), an associate board of young professionals focused on advancing CHSC’s mission both through service and fundraising. For more details about CHSC New Partners and this event, please visit this page.
Adult teams have raised funds to compete in a tournament racing Huffy Green Machine three-wheel bikes, which are designed to handle adult bodies. This year, an additional track will allow individuals to participate in timed, individual races. The event is free to attend.
The Big Wheel Relay is organized and hosted by the New Partners of Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center (CHSC), an associate board of young professionals focused on advancing CHSC’s mission both through service and fundraising. For more details about CHSC New Partners and this event, please visit this page.
Fresh Water contributor Nikki Delamotte offers up a perfect slice of Cleveland with an insider's tour of the Cedar-Lee neighborhood.
Meet Italo Gonzalez. He rides 6.6 miles to work most every day – including those marked by rain, sleet and snow. And he's not alone.
Last week in Cleveland, some 200 Forward Cities attendees from across the nation explored strategies that foster entrepreneurship and social innovation in minority communities.
It seems Cavs fever has spread to news outlets far and wide and .... above.
Laramie, Wyoming, loves LeBron as evidenced by this local fan roundup: "Larry Shyatt recently stepped down as the Wyoming men’s basketball coach. In 1964, he was there to see Cleveland win its last championship before Sunday night, when the Browns beat the Baltimore Colts 27-0 in the NFL Championship Game, two years before it was dubbed the Super Bowl."
Ever concerned about the high and mighty dollar, earlier this month the San Francisco-based Market Watch explained Why it pays to be a Cleveland Cavaliers fan.
And then there was this from the Manila Times ahead of the historic Game 7 win: "Despite the feat of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving pulling the Cleveland Cavaliers within 3-2 in the ongoing best-of-seven series of the National Basketball Association Finals, the majority of Filipino NBA fans see the Golden State Warriors retaining the crown."
Or not.
But perhaps most notably, the Onion reported this from The Heavens: "Despite allowing the Cavaliers to win the city’s first major sports championship in 52 years, God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, confirmed Sunday that He still hates Cleveland fans. 'I just figured that enough is enough, so I decided to throw them a bone and finally give them a title, but believe me, I still can’t stand Cleveland teams or their fans,' said the Lord."
Well then, perhaps we can win God Almighty over for the Indians during this year's World Series.
Laramie, Wyoming, loves LeBron as evidenced by this local fan roundup: "Larry Shyatt recently stepped down as the Wyoming men’s basketball coach. In 1964, he was there to see Cleveland win its last championship before Sunday night, when the Browns beat the Baltimore Colts 27-0 in the NFL Championship Game, two years before it was dubbed the Super Bowl."
Ever concerned about the high and mighty dollar, earlier this month the San Francisco-based Market Watch explained Why it pays to be a Cleveland Cavaliers fan.
And then there was this from the Manila Times ahead of the historic Game 7 win: "Despite the feat of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving pulling the Cleveland Cavaliers within 3-2 in the ongoing best-of-seven series of the National Basketball Association Finals, the majority of Filipino NBA fans see the Golden State Warriors retaining the crown."
Or not.
But perhaps most notably, the Onion reported this from The Heavens: "Despite allowing the Cavaliers to win the city’s first major sports championship in 52 years, God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, confirmed Sunday that He still hates Cleveland fans. 'I just figured that enough is enough, so I decided to throw them a bone and finally give them a title, but believe me, I still can’t stand Cleveland teams or their fans,' said the Lord."
Well then, perhaps we can win God Almighty over for the Indians during this year's World Series.
Tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. at the Market Garden Brewery, 1947 West 25th St., local publisher Belt Books will launch its Cleveland Neighborhood Guidebook with readings by Janice Lowe, Sally Errico and Sam McNulty. Several contributors and sponsors will be at this free event.
As a preview, the publishers have shared the following "Editors' Pick" from the volume, an "homage to The Velvet Tango Room."
Visiting Cleveland for the first time? Have an event to celebrate? Go to the Velvet Tango Room.
Paulius Nasvytis was early to the cocktail trend when he opened this inimitable, only-in-Cleveland bar in 1996. Nasvytis’s staff mix Pisco Sours and French 75s for loyal patrons, suits, local politicos, and out-of-towners who make it a destination spot. Finding it is part of the experience, as the VTR is located on a desolate stretch of a post-industrial street that is always neither here nor there.
Signs outside are off-putting, warning “no big hair” and “no golf shoes,” but everything inside is inviting. Somehow the VTR manages to be pretentious and down- to-earth at once.
Nasvytis is a first-generation Lithuanian immigrant who opened the bar after working for years at Cleveland’s upscale French hotel restaurant, Classics. Many nights he floats throughout the bar, dressed in a three-piece suit, sometimes presenting women with long-stemmed roses. VIPs are ushered into the hidden “members only” back room where, because everything is surprising at the VTR, busts of Lenin, Mussolini and Mao—“deposed dictators doomed to live in this capitalist hell,” Paulius explains — line the shelves.
The backstory, location, and atmosphere of the VTR mix Cleveland ambitions, failures, and distinctiveness, and the drinks are no less complex and delightful. The staff make their own maraschino cherries, ginger ale, and bitters. The bartenders have ripped biceps from shaking cocktails by hand. They flambee orange slices and shake egg whites into soft peaks for Ramos Gin Fizzes. It is expensive (for Cleveland) and cheap (for what you get) at once. At the VTR, some weird alchemy makes it all work.
As a preview, the publishers have shared the following "Editors' Pick" from the volume, an "homage to The Velvet Tango Room."
Visiting Cleveland for the first time? Have an event to celebrate? Go to the Velvet Tango Room.
Paulius Nasvytis was early to the cocktail trend when he opened this inimitable, only-in-Cleveland bar in 1996. Nasvytis’s staff mix Pisco Sours and French 75s for loyal patrons, suits, local politicos, and out-of-towners who make it a destination spot. Finding it is part of the experience, as the VTR is located on a desolate stretch of a post-industrial street that is always neither here nor there.
Signs outside are off-putting, warning “no big hair” and “no golf shoes,” but everything inside is inviting. Somehow the VTR manages to be pretentious and down- to-earth at once.
Nasvytis is a first-generation Lithuanian immigrant who opened the bar after working for years at Cleveland’s upscale French hotel restaurant, Classics. Many nights he floats throughout the bar, dressed in a three-piece suit, sometimes presenting women with long-stemmed roses. VIPs are ushered into the hidden “members only” back room where, because everything is surprising at the VTR, busts of Lenin, Mussolini and Mao—“deposed dictators doomed to live in this capitalist hell,” Paulius explains — line the shelves.
The backstory, location, and atmosphere of the VTR mix Cleveland ambitions, failures, and distinctiveness, and the drinks are no less complex and delightful. The staff make their own maraschino cherries, ginger ale, and bitters. The bartenders have ripped biceps from shaking cocktails by hand. They flambee orange slices and shake egg whites into soft peaks for Ramos Gin Fizzes. It is expensive (for Cleveland) and cheap (for what you get) at once. At the VTR, some weird alchemy makes it all work.
Dear fellow journalists,
On June 11, the following headline ran in your admirable publication:
"It looks like Cleveland's championship curse will continue"
What followed was an opinion piece by the venerable Randy Hollis, who went on to suggest that Cleveland was the "City that always weeps" amid other transcendent observations such as "And now, with LeBron James and the Cavaliers just one loss away from succumbing to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals for a second straight year, it looks like the "Cleveland Curse" is about to continue."
Oh dear ….
Now then, we appreciate your jocularity and have been trying to find a way to return the favor. Perhaps Mr. Hollis is the "writer who shouldn't have said a peep" or the Deseret's good editor, Mr. Paul S. Edwards is the "editor that didn't go too deep," but we can probably all agree those are a bit clunky to say the least.
No matter.
As our esteemed colleagues, we also appreciate that you would step up to the plate – perhaps one in Progressive Field, wherein the Indians (which are leading in the in the AL Central) bested the White Sox in the 10th inning just yesterday – and offer commentary on sports franchises 1,700 miles away. After all, while you do an excellent job of covering high school soccer, we certainly understand the desire to stretch one's legs.
We also note you describe your mission thusly: "to be a leading news brand for faith and family oriented audiences in Utah and around the world."
Hm. Too bad that faith didn't extend to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
As you can imagine, here in Cleveland we are busy bathing ourselves in wine and gold, but we felt a need to check in just the same. As for Mr. Hollis, perhaps he should focus on "copy editing and page layout/design" and leave the sports predictions to those who are a little closer to the game.
With our warmest regards,
Erin O'Brien
Managing Editor
Fresh Water Cleveland
On June 11, the following headline ran in your admirable publication:
"It looks like Cleveland's championship curse will continue"
What followed was an opinion piece by the venerable Randy Hollis, who went on to suggest that Cleveland was the "City that always weeps" amid other transcendent observations such as "And now, with LeBron James and the Cavaliers just one loss away from succumbing to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals for a second straight year, it looks like the "Cleveland Curse" is about to continue."
Oh dear ….
Now then, we appreciate your jocularity and have been trying to find a way to return the favor. Perhaps Mr. Hollis is the "writer who shouldn't have said a peep" or the Deseret's good editor, Mr. Paul S. Edwards is the "editor that didn't go too deep," but we can probably all agree those are a bit clunky to say the least.
No matter.
As our esteemed colleagues, we also appreciate that you would step up to the plate – perhaps one in Progressive Field, wherein the Indians (which are leading in the in the AL Central) bested the White Sox in the 10th inning just yesterday – and offer commentary on sports franchises 1,700 miles away. After all, while you do an excellent job of covering high school soccer, we certainly understand the desire to stretch one's legs.
We also note you describe your mission thusly: "to be a leading news brand for faith and family oriented audiences in Utah and around the world."
Hm. Too bad that faith didn't extend to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
As you can imagine, here in Cleveland we are busy bathing ourselves in wine and gold, but we felt a need to check in just the same. As for Mr. Hollis, perhaps he should focus on "copy editing and page layout/design" and leave the sports predictions to those who are a little closer to the game.
With our warmest regards,
Erin O'Brien
Managing Editor
Fresh Water Cleveland
From Jeremy W. Peters for the New York Times:
A series of delays and questions about security and fund-raising are causing Republicans to scramble as they finish planning their nominating convention just weeks before the party gathers in Cleveland.
Among the complications facing Donald J. Trump, the presumptive nominee, and his team is that only on Friday were they finally able to gain access to Quicken Loans Arena, where the convention will be held, because it was being used by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who won Game 6 of the N.B.A. finals there on Thursday night. (The series will end on Sunday night, with a decisive Game 7 on the Golden State Warriors’ home court back in California.)
“LeBron, good luck in the series,” Mr. Trump said the other day as he noted the predicament with a sense of resignation. “Of course, the longer it goes, the less time we have. But that’s O.K.”
Get the whole story, including preparation and funding details, from the New York Times here.
A series of delays and questions about security and fund-raising are causing Republicans to scramble as they finish planning their nominating convention just weeks before the party gathers in Cleveland.
Among the complications facing Donald J. Trump, the presumptive nominee, and his team is that only on Friday were they finally able to gain access to Quicken Loans Arena, where the convention will be held, because it was being used by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who won Game 6 of the N.B.A. finals there on Thursday night. (The series will end on Sunday night, with a decisive Game 7 on the Golden State Warriors’ home court back in California.)
“LeBron, good luck in the series,” Mr. Trump said the other day as he noted the predicament with a sense of resignation. “Of course, the longer it goes, the less time we have. But that’s O.K.”
Get the whole story, including preparation and funding details, from the New York Times here.
In August 2014, rainbows bloomed from Lakewood to Akron when the Gay Games came to town. The region asserted itself as welcome and inclusive; and Northeast Ohio's friendship with the Federation of Gay Games and all the people it represents was public and proud.
Hence as the country mourns the Orlando victims, Fresh Water respectfully offers the Federation's formal statement.
As the world mourns the tragic events that took place at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando this past Sunday, 12 June 2016, the Federation of Gay Games family extends its condolences and support to the victims, their families, friends and associates, and the citizens of Orlando, Florida.
This act of violence directly impacts the global Gay Games family. Four years ago, the City of Orlando was a bid candidate to host Gay Games 10 in 2018. Pulse Nightclub was a local supporter of that effort. In addition, athletes and artists from Orlando have participated at each quadrennial Gay Games since 1982.
Whenever the LGBT community and our allies come under attack, as it was in Orlando and the recent murder of activists in Bangladesh and Honduras, we strengthen our resolve to fight on in honor of those lost. The events of June 12 are a reminder to all of us how precious life is, and why we must continue to work together to promote acceptance and inclusion to defeat homophobia, sexism, racism, and other forms of discrimination worldwide.
The Federation of Gay Games will continue to lead this effort through the use of sport and culture to promote our founding principles of Participation, Inclusion, Personal Best™, and encourage our sisters, brothers and allies to join us for Paris 2018 Gay Games 10 with our message of “All Equal”. Together, we are stronger.
On behalf of the FGG Board of Directors, our Assembly, and Honorary Life Members, we remain yours in sport and solidarity,
Joanie Evans and Kurt Dahl
Co-Presidents
Hence as the country mourns the Orlando victims, Fresh Water respectfully offers the Federation's formal statement.
As the world mourns the tragic events that took place at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando this past Sunday, 12 June 2016, the Federation of Gay Games family extends its condolences and support to the victims, their families, friends and associates, and the citizens of Orlando, Florida.
This act of violence directly impacts the global Gay Games family. Four years ago, the City of Orlando was a bid candidate to host Gay Games 10 in 2018. Pulse Nightclub was a local supporter of that effort. In addition, athletes and artists from Orlando have participated at each quadrennial Gay Games since 1982.
Whenever the LGBT community and our allies come under attack, as it was in Orlando and the recent murder of activists in Bangladesh and Honduras, we strengthen our resolve to fight on in honor of those lost. The events of June 12 are a reminder to all of us how precious life is, and why we must continue to work together to promote acceptance and inclusion to defeat homophobia, sexism, racism, and other forms of discrimination worldwide.
The Federation of Gay Games will continue to lead this effort through the use of sport and culture to promote our founding principles of Participation, Inclusion, Personal Best™, and encourage our sisters, brothers and allies to join us for Paris 2018 Gay Games 10 with our message of “All Equal”. Together, we are stronger.
On behalf of the FGG Board of Directors, our Assembly, and Honorary Life Members, we remain yours in sport and solidarity,
Joanie Evans and Kurt Dahl
Co-Presidents
County: 18 percent of home-improvement stores fail price-check sweep
About 18 percent of home-improvement stores failed a price-check sweep conducted by the Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs. Most of the pricing errors favored consumers – and some went the other way.
Get all the details here.
Get all the details here.
A conversation with Nicole McGee about the Upcycle Parts Shop and her work as a community organizer, fundraiser, and creative reuse artist.
Carlos Jones of I–tal, First Light and the PLUS Band is now serving up a steaming cup of joe alongside his legendary reggae efforts.
Despite a fear of heights, Fresh Water contributor Hollie Gibbs took to the Go Ape Treetop Adventure course in the Cleveland Metroparks' Mill Stream Run Reservation and lived to tell about it.
As the refurbished statues of Moses Cleaveland and 1901 mayor Tom Johnson overlook Public Square, one would think that the pair would be impressed with the modern transformation of the plaza that originally served as a common pasture for livestock and later a grid for moving from point A to point B within downtown’s epicenter.
Almost complete, the fences that have been hiding Public Square since renovations began in March 2015 will soon come down and a new six-acre green space will be unveiled before the Republican National Convention begins July 18.
But the revitalization was not solely for the sake of the convention, says Nora Romanoff, senior project director for LAND studio and part of the Group Plan Commission charged with transforming the heart of Cleveland’s downtown.
“We didn’t just do it for the RNC,” says Romanoff. “We did it for Cleveland.”
Get the rest of the story and a host of photos here.
Almost complete, the fences that have been hiding Public Square since renovations began in March 2015 will soon come down and a new six-acre green space will be unveiled before the Republican National Convention begins July 18.
But the revitalization was not solely for the sake of the convention, says Nora Romanoff, senior project director for LAND studio and part of the Group Plan Commission charged with transforming the heart of Cleveland’s downtown.
“We didn’t just do it for the RNC,” says Romanoff. “We did it for Cleveland.”
Get the rest of the story and a host of photos here.