Salamanders Make Their Annual Migration, With Crowds of Nature Fans Watching
Sorella Brings Classy Italian Eats to a Bratenahl Condominium Tower
A Pepper Pike Remodel Creates a Vibrant, Jewel-Toned Setting With Bold Contrasts
A decade after Cleveland’s championship year, the food’s hotter, the skyline’s taller and the city’s still stacking wins.
42 WHY WE LOVE CLE There are plenty of reasons to love The Land, from our cool culture to our quirky personalities. Read about the projects and people that make us excited to live in Northeast Ohio.
Edited by Dillon Stewart
Illustrated by Ryan Olbrysh
48 FILM FEST AT 50 The Cleveland International Film Festival founder and its current director discuss the past, present and future of the event, which hits 50 years this April. Edited by Annie Nickoloff
6 FROM THE EDITOR
8 CONVERSATION
11 FIELD UPKEEP A lot of work goes into making sure Progressive Field is in shape before every Guardians game.
14 MADAME PRESIDENT Meet Carolyn Noll Sorg, the first female president of John Carroll University.
18 LITTLE JOURNEY There's serious hype around the annual amphibian migration, where hordes of fans show up to view salamanders on the move.
21 BRATENAHL BITES Sorella has an impact in the East Side suburb.
24 GRAND REENTRY Jaja reopens with striking updates following a car crash that temporarily closed the restaurant.
105 A CHANGE IN HUE A Pepper Pike home remodel makes use of golden accents and bright colors.
112 LOOK BACK In 1976, a key player's injury kept the Cleveland Cavaliers from winning it all.
SPECIAL SECTIONS 81
Find out what local establishments made the top-three finalists list in dozens of categories.
Vibrant cultural celebrations, new park trails and neighborhood upgrades are driving Solon forward as one connected community.
In Cleveland, 2016 means something. You don’t have to say another word.
For nearly a decade now, we’ve treated that year as a kind of civic high-water mark — the year everything seemed to happen at once. The Cavs ended the drought. The Indians took the Cubs to the brink (that rain delay still haunts us). Stipe Miocic brought home the UFC heavyweight title. Cleveland hosted the Republican National Convention.
The jokes stopped. The banners went up. For a moment, Cleveland found itself at the center of the nation’s attention.
And get ready — because you’re about to hear about it all over again.
Newsrooms across the city are warming up the nostalgia machine as the 10-year anniversaries approach. Over the coming months, you’ll read tributes to that unforgettable summer. No judgment: We have a few things up our sleeves, too. Cleveland does nostalgia well.
But this year, we didn’t want to just look back.
This month’s “26 Reasons to Love Cleveland” feature (page 42) was partially inspired by a social media trend that popped up at the turn of the year. Users posted flashbacks to 2016, calling it a simpler time. In some ways, it was a cultural time
capsule — the year Stranger Things debuted, Justin Bieber topped the charts and “Damn, Daniel!” somehow became a thing.
But 2016 also marked a turning point — not just for Cleveland, but for the country.
The political era that dominates today began here that summer. In the years since, the national conversation has grown loud, toxic and more divided. COVID reshaped how we live and work. Some of our favorite restaurants closed. Office workers disappeared from Downtown. LeBron left again. The Browns, well … they’re still the Browns.
It hasn’t always been easy. But through it all, Cleveland hasn’t lost its spark.
If anything, the lesson of 2016 isn’t about championships or national attention. It’s about what came after — the realization that we don’t need validation anymore.
This city is building something bigger than that.
There’s finally hope around activating the shores of our Great Lake and river. Our chefs aren’t chasing trends anymore — they’re defining them. Our parks, institutions and neighborhoods are evolving in ways that make this place more vibrant and beautiful. Our sports stars — like José Ramírez — love this city so much they’re willing to turn down millions just to stay here. And the weird, wonderful, winterhardened Cleveland? That Cleveland is still here, too.
It’s easy to take home for granted. You drive past the same places every day. Growth happens incrementally. But I’m lucky. Making this magazine each month reaffirms why I love this place. I hope it does the same for you, too.
But just in case you needed a reminder, here are 26 more reasons to love Cleveland.
Our 2026 Home Issue was dedicated to Frank Lloyd Wright and midcentury modern design. The architect’s final residential commission, RiverRock, is situated right here in Willoughby Hills. Daughter-mother duo Sarah and Debbie Dykstra brought the late Wright’s plans to life last year. Our readers appreciated the homage, some even boasting personal connections to the story.
@mishi_lakewood Great article. Thank you for highlighting such incredible work.
@suesloanrealtor Stunning ♥ ♥ ♥
Louis Penfield was our high school art teacher.
Pete Smakula on Facebook Penfield was my home room teacher. I would come across him out in the woods gathering more stone and would help him fill his AMC Matador wagon. I also went to the house to help him build on a few days.
Jenna Charlton on Facebook I watched the docuseries on this being built. I really love how they kept the spirit of the original design and made small changes to make it feel a bit more modern and current.
Victoria Stanbridge on Facebook We stayed there. It’s so nice!!
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Think your pet is the cutest in Cleveland? We want to know! To help us all celebrate our furry (and not-so-furry) friends, Cleveland Magazine is hosting its 6th annual Cutest Pet Contest. Visit clevelandmagazine.com/cutestpet by May 15 to upload your favorite pet photo, and then our readers will vote for their favorite!
The pet crowned cutest by our readers will be featured in an upcoming issue of Cleveland Magazine and celebrated across our social channels.
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The Guardians’ team of groundskeepers keeps the field game-ready, in any condition, all season — and postseason — long.
“SQUIRRELS ARE ALWAYS THE BIGGEST CONCERN WHEN IT COMES TO WILDLIFE ... THE LITTLE CRITTERS LIKE TO BURY THE OAK NUTS AND PEANUTS, CREATING HOLES IN THE OUTFIELD.”
– BRANDON KOEHNKE, CLEVELAND GUARDIANS HEAD GROUNDSKEEPER
As snow fell and the temperature dropped to a bone-chilling 28 degrees, Cleveland Guardians head groundskeeper Brandon Koehnke knew he and his 32-person crew had to work fast. The Guardians’ 2025 home opener was just eight hours away, and the field looked more like January than April. “The weather is the biggest challenge we face,” Koehnke says. “If we can get temps above freezing and the weather dries out, we can typically accomplish everything we need to do before Opening Day.” Snow covered the field and the seats. Temperatures were below freezing, with a forecasted high of only 36 degrees. Before the first pitch at Progressive Field that day, Koehnke and his crew were victorious over the challenges thrown at them by Mother Nature. As the sun broke through the clouds, a sellout crowd of 33,722 fans roared with excitement. They could’ve easily been cheering for the grounds crew. The field looked like the lush green grass of June as the Guards defeated the Chicago White Sox by a score of 1-0.
At the end of April 2025, heading into May, the Cleveland Guardians had 10 consecutive home games at Progressive Field, putting some extra stress on the grounds crew’s operations, having everything ready before first pitch. Preparations started early. “It was a very long homestand,” Koehnke says. “Pre-homestand preparation is critical. Everything from proper fertilization to clay management is going to ensure success. Days are long, sometimes 15 hours, and it takes two days after a long homestand for your body to recover.”
It really is a case of peanuts, get your peanuts! “Squirrels are always the biggest concern when it comes to wildlife. There’s a lot of beautiful oak trees around the field and ballpark, so the little critters like to bury the oak nuts and peanuts, creating holes in the outfield,” Koehnke says.
Going from gameday to a major concert takes a massive transformation of Progressive Field — and, often, Koehnke’s team needs to move quickly. “The fastest concert turnaround we had was in 2023,” says Koehnke. “We had removed 30,000 square feet of left-field sod for a stage to be built. In 29 hours, we had the entire area re-sodded and a game played on it.”
Fans who appreciate the nuances of baseball find it satisfying when the grounds crew perform in sync, like the Cleveland Orchestra, as the crew rakes the infield meticulously. “Raking between innings of the game helps to keep the infield free of cleat divots that occur in the clay,” Koehnke says, “We only water the infield in pre-game, and we do not water in between innings now, but we do water the infield clay throughout the day to keep it soft and moist.”
Koehnke says keeping a major-league stadium in tip-top shape can be hard work, but they signed up for it, and they all love it. So, to jazz it up for the crew and to pepper in some fun, they have a tradition during the game. “After the third and sixth inning of dragging the clay infield, we play our own game,” he says. “We all try to throw our hats onto a U-hook that is mounted on the wall outside our shop. It’s extremely difficult, but fun to win!”
Koehnke says the crew practices tarp rollouts and rollups for safety and to expedite restarting the game as quickly as possible. “We have to work fast,” he says. “Underground drainage pipes run every 20 feet across the field, and the field is designed to drain 13 inches of water per hour.”
“April weather is always the worst possible in Cleveland,” Koehnke says. “April weather in Northeast Ohio always changes on a minute-by-minute basis, and we must always prepare for the worst-case scenario.” Fall ball brings similar issues to Progressive Field. Cleveland’s grounds crew always brings its A-game. “Words can’t describe how rewarding it is to have a great grounds crew, beautiful results on the field, and Cleveland fans who appreciate hard work,” Koehnke says. And as the Guards push into the 2026 home opener on April 3 against the Chicago Cubs, you can bet Koehnke and his team will be ready.
APRIL 6
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS’ HOME OPENER
APRIL 3
Cleveland’s favorite pastime goes into full swing with a stadium full of new seating and food options to mark 125 years of baseball in the city. $120+, 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland, mlb.com
APRIL 25-26
The renowned comedy duo takes the stage in Cleveland for two can’tmiss nights of playful teasing, contagious laughter and a showcase of their enduring friendship $94.80+, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, playhousesquare.org
SUPERCROSS LIVE AT HUNTINGTON BANK FIELD
APRIL 18
Experience the thrill of Supercross professional dirt biking as world-class athletes take on intense jumps and tracks. $20+, 100 Alfred Lerner Way, Cleveland, supercrosslive.com
ONE DAY, YEARS AGO, Justin Gorski made a trip to Buffalo for the city’s annual Dyngus Day, a celebration of Polish origin held the Monday after Easter. “I thought, Why do we have to drive to Buffalo for this?” he says. And Cleveland’s Dyngus Day was born. Now in its 16th year, the festival takes up Detroit Avenue between West 54th and West 58th streets. This year’s celebration features live music, polka dancing, Polish food and beer. Gorski takes on the role of DJ Kishka and will also perform with the band Da Kishkas. Stick around for the pierogi-eating contest and the crowning of Miss Dyngus Day. The event got a little rain last year, but Gorski says that shouldn’t affect attendance. “Clevelanders are resilient people,” he says. “They’re usually in the streets.” $14, 5400 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, clevelanddyngus.com
APRIL 5-6
This society of dedicated horticulturalists sprouted in 1936, welcoming generations of gardeners who will host their annual show at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. $12+, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, mwcss.com
CLEVELAND MAGAZINE: What brought you to John Carroll University in the first place?
As the school’s first female president, Carolyn Noll Sorg hopes to create change that truly makes her achievement distinctive and historic.
FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY , the president of John Carroll University was always a Jesuit. As a Jesuit Catholic institution, it felt like a foregone conclusion that the school would be led by a Jesuit brother, who would, obviously, be a man. The university was founded in 1886 as St. Ignatius College, at what is now St. Ignatius High School, and it was only in 1968 that it began admitting women to its campus in University Heights. In 2018, the university was preparing to welcome its first lay president, Michael D. Johnson, who was succeeded in 2021 by another non-priest, Alan Miciak. But now, the face of John Carroll’s leadership has been completely redefined. In June, after Miciak’s retirement, Carolyn Noll Sorg will become the university’s 27th president, and the first woman to hold the role. She previously served as vice president for enrollment and marketing. Ahead of her inauguration, Cleveland Magazine chatted with Noll Sorg about her path to the presidency, the response to her historic appointment and her vision for the future.
CAROLYN NOLL SORG: I came to John Carroll in 2023, after a period of reinvention or close examination of what I wanted post-COVID. Those COVID years were challenging. My dad was sick with cancer. I had young kids — a baby and a preschooler — at home. I was working for the College Board, doing consultative work with higher education, and testing centers were shut down, so there was a lot of financial stress at work. I kind of came out of that period depressed, thinking: “What’s my purpose here? What am I meant to do? And how do I want to spend my time?” I was sitting in that space of aching for change when the (vice president of enrollment management) job was posted at John Carroll. I talked to a mentor about the role and she said, “Oh, you have to go and do this, because it’s a Jesuit university.”
CM: What does it mean to you to be named the first female president in JCU history?
CNS: It’s pretty surreal. I value representation; I have a daughter, and I want her to see women in key leadership roles. It’s been amazing to me the number of women who have reached out to me since this announcement. Women were first admitted to John Carroll just a little over 50 years ago, and women from that era have really been excited about this. It’s fun to see their excitement and to celebrate with them. And while it’s historic and inspiring, the work is important, too. It goes beyond just the symbolism.
CM: What is your vision for the future of John Carroll?
CNS: The student experience is really important to me. My goal is to leverage the assets that we have at John Carroll for a best-in-class student experience. What our research shows is that students want something cohesive: linking their purpose, their academic learning in and out of the classroom, leveraging Cleveland, and a curated career launch. That’s why we’re launching a program called “Onward” — named for our fight song, “Onward On” — which is built around team-based advising, personalized plans, experiential learning, and what we call “the launch,” which is professional development from day one that helps students build skills, tell their story and prepare for whatever comes after graduation. Together, these four connected parts are coordinated to ensure that every student has a phenomenal outcome. You will not slip through the cracks here.
Bottles and glass mason jars line the shelves on one wall of Mindful Mercantile — but customers are encouraged to skip those and bring their own containers from home. At this refillery, buyers can top up on basic home and bath goods in containers they already have.
Rachel Kovach runs the small business, which opened inside the Berea Business Incubator building at 398 W. Bagley Road in November. In March, the business expanded with its second location inside The Common Ground market in Medina.
Large drums of laundry detergent, hand soap, cleaning solution and more await their future homes in customers’ bottles and jars. The cozy shop hosts a range of other eco-friendly options: reusable cotton rounds, wool dryer balls, recycled dish cloths and a range of locally and ethically made soaps, deodorants, face oils and accessories.
For Kovach, who worked in corporate project management for 19 years before being laid off, the business stems from her own approach to shopping for her family.
“I’ve really educated myself around what ‘low-tox’ means for me and my family,” she says. “Why do we have to buy from Unilever, SC Johnson, Seventh Generation, Method, Mrs. Meyers — not to drop names, but those are backed by large corporations, and they’re not even that clean of products.”
Mindful Mercantile stocks the Rustic Strength brand in its refill section, offering scented and non-scented products in large jars and jugs. Products’ prices vary and are calculated by weight, minus their containers.
Kovach’s Mindful Mercantile joins other area refilleries like Norfolk’s Common Collective and Akron’s Ash House in a wave of con-
scious consumerism. Each concept’s mission addresses a waste problem with local ramifications: A Rochester Institute of Technology study estimates that the Great Lakes experience more than 22 million pounds of plastic pollution annually.
“Everybody has at least 700 bottles in their home right now that you can easily use, and I bet they’re a lot cuter than some of the other stuff that we get at the store,” Kovach says. “I hope there’s a shift.”
Mindfulness extends to other parts of Kovach’s work in gardening and design. Her Conscious Creator brand consultation company offers logo and website design work for local businesses like hers. Her kitchen garden consulting company, Root Gardening, installed nearly a dozen gardens in recent years. Kovach says she first fell in love with gardening after her mother died in 2016.
“It was the one thing that made me feel grounded and alone with my thoughts in all the best ways,” she says. “While I have all these different businesses, at the end of the day, the mission is very simple: It’s just mindful consumerism. It’s an awareness of what we’re putting in and around us at all times.”
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Spring. It’s a Major Event in Northeast Ohio.
Nothing could have prepared the Cleveland Metroparks’ amphibian patrol team for the influx of interest in the 2025 salamander migration. The 14-member group waited in the evening mist on one particularly popular night, watching person after person, flashlight after flashlight, approach the park system’s most wellknown viewing point. Lights bobbed along the pathway and scanned the dewy ground for critters. As salamanders and frogs scuttled across roadways and spring grass, a total of 442 people — hundreds more than in prior years — huddled to get a glimpse. Some people scooped them up, posing with the animals for photos. Some stepped off the paths and into the woods, inadvertently risking squishing the animals. “When I see the lights, I’m happy and sad,” says Min-Sui Keung, Cleveland Metroparks Nature Center manager.
Salamanders, frogs and other amphibians emerge each spring to mate. The event has drawn increasing numbers of onlookers to popular Cleveland Metroparks sites, creating an influx of interest around the elusive animals.
“I’m happy that people are excited,” she says. “I’m sad, because there are so many people going. We stopped vehicular traffic. Foot traffic can also cause mortality.”
Last year, Keung and her small team struggled to keep up with the crowds at their peak.
“The numbers were too high,” Keung says. “It was, like, Are there more people than amphibians? I think there are.”
Cleveland Magazine agreed not to name the specific Cleveland Metroparks location in this article in the interest of protecting the animal, which can be seen migrating in parts of Eastern North America this time of year.
To prepare for this year’s migration, Keung has already recruited more amphibian ambassadors to patrol the popular viewing areas, monitor crowds and advise respectful viewing. Additionally, Cleveland Metroparks will close more roadways for the duration of the migration, which spans from March to early April.
“I’m excited that people want to connect with nature,” Keung says, “but we’ve got to help these critters, right? We’ve got to help them cross the road.”
A FAMILY TRADITION every spring season, Jen Stepp, her husband and their two sons have witnessed the salamander migration for 20 years.
The first warm spring rain, and a corresponding rise in soil temperature, awakens some salamander populations like an alarm clock every spring. Roused from their dormant states underground, where they spend the majority of their lives, they make their way to vernal pools to mate, before retreating back underground.
Along with the spotted salamander (Ohio’s state amphibian), the Stepps also seek out two-lined salamanders, wood frogs, spring peepers and crayfish.
Gradually, Stepp has seen Northeast Ohio’s once-small flock of local amphibian fans expand.
“It started out being a couple dorks like me,” she says. “Now there’s so many social media sites. I’m a part of the Cuyahoga Valley Trail Enthusiasts (Facebook group). A lot of times, people will post on there, ‘It’s happening,’ and then the cars start showing up. There’s so many cars now that people are just parked on the side of the road.”
Stepp, a nurse who owns bearded dragons at home, says she used to pick up frogs and salamanders during the migration, but stopped touching the animals when she learned from a volunteer that oils in human skin can cause harm.
The annual amphibian migration brings a simple joy: a reminder that spring is around the corner.
They bond over their quirky tradition, waiting for the perfect conditions for the small, squirmy event that lands sometime between late February and early April every year.
LIKE THE SCIENCE behind their lifecycles, there’s a science to predicting when, exactly, the migration will take place. Eddie Lagucki is good at figuring it out.
“I’m kind of the salamander spidey-sense guy,” he says.
Lagucki has correctly predicted the migration in the four years he’s worked as the horticulture director at Kirtland’s Red Oak Camp, a not-for-profit summer camp that features a shallow concrete pond favored by an established population of spotted salamanders, along with Jefferson salamanders and Eastern newts.
On this annual evening, Red Oak Camp welcomes 30 visitors to view the salamanders as they make their pilgrimage. Attendees, chosen through a lottery system, are given red-light flashlights and instructions on the best viewing practices. Then, they watch as the ground comes alive with movement.
“Sometimes I feel like some people who are putting on events could be better at letting the general public know how fragile of an event this is like,” Lagucki says. “That is the main reason we have a restriction here, on how many people can come. In a way, it’s nature’s chaos that’s happening, but you don’t want to add human chaos on top of it.”
In recent years, local interest in the salamander migration has spiked, and Lagucki understands why. He says the migration is his “favorite night of the year,” and even got a life-sized tattoo of a spotted salamander after the 2025 event.
“When you get to experience an event like this, it allows you to really connect with nature on a deeper level and feel you’re a part of it,” Lagucki says. “It’s a magical experience.”
Use a Red Light. Red Oak Camp horticulture director Eddie Lagucki recommends avoiding white flashlights, which can confuse salamanders and make them pause. “They generally don’t see (red) wavelengths, so they’ll just keep going on their journey,” he says.
No Touching. Keung says to watch, but don’t touch, the amphibians, which breathe through their skin. “We ask folks not to touch or handle the amphibians, so that your oils, your hand sanitizers, don’t transfer onto their skin, which could harm them,” Keung says. 1 2 3
Don’t Bring Dogs Or Strollers. Step carefully, and avoid bringing strollers that can roll over the critters, says Cleveland Metroparks Nature Center manager Min-Sui Keung. Dogs can occasionally try to play with or eat the salamanders on migration nights.
Tucked quietly into Bratenahl, Sorella is making a major statement in a region full of Italian cuisine. CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
Located on the city’s East Side, the new restaurant presents its takes on classic dishes in an upscale, yet approachable environment.
If you’ve never had an explicit reason to visit Bratenahl, you’ve likely never been — and you may not even have realized it’s there. Set behind wrought-iron gates and home to around 1,400 residents, the lakefront suburb has long felt sealed off from outsiders. And until recently, there wasn’t much reason to venture beyond those gates anyway.
Now there is.
Sorella, the new Italian restaurant from David and Alexa Dragich, opened in October 2025 inside one of the two condominium towers just steps past the entrance. Because it’s a public restaurant tucked inside a distinctly private setting, it occupies a rare middle ground, trying to serve both Bratenahl regulars and the wider community.
It’s a fine line to walk: How do you bring broad appeal to a posh condo’s in-house eatery? So far, Sorella seems up to the task.
“A lot of folks who live in the building come down every day, religiously, to have a glass of wine and a bite to eat,” David Dragich says. “But outside of Bratenahl, no one really knows (Sorella) is there, which is a double-edged sword. It’s almost a secret.”
For now, the Dragiches are relying mostly on Bratenahl regulars and word of mouth to help build a reputation as a reliable upscale spot — just the right balance of fancy and casual.
“The people who live there need to be able to come down and relax,” Dragich acknowledges. “But we also want it to be a place where people are proud to bring their family in for a meal at the holidays or on special occasions.”
Italian food, he says, seemed like the perfect fit. The couple was especially inspired by the food they ate on their month-long honeymoon in Italy — fresh shrimp aqua pazza in Sicily, the simple sophistication of a perfectly made cacio e pepe in Rome. Plus, Alexa’s father, Ray, and older sister, Lauren, have long run Severino’s in Eastlake, which inspired the Dragiches to choose the name Sorella. Italian for “sister,” it represents a family connection
Sorella’s fare is familiar, but owners David and Alexa Dragich and chef Kipper Kendzierski present plates informed by local flair and Italian excellence.
between the two restaurants. (Ray is also a partner in Sorella.)
They felt lucky, Dragich says, not to have to turn far to find the right chef for their new venture. Though they interviewed a few candidates, they ultimately landed on Kipper Kendzierski, a veteran chef who knew the space well: He’d worked at both The Bistro and Americano, the two restaurants that preceded Sorella in the first floor of One Bratenahl Place.
“We really hit it off with him, and we were very much aligned on big, bold flavors,” Dragich says. “Alexa and Ray and I collaborate with him on a lot of the ideas of what we want to do on the menu.”
Naturally, that menu skews heavily in favor of pasta and other classic Italian entrees: fresh bucatini in a silky carbonara ($20) with salty pops of crispy pancetta and the
gentle heat of black pepper; fork-tender Angus short rib ($30) lightened up with a side of buttery, light-as-air whipped potatoes; crisply pan-seared chicken piccata ($26) in a light white wine butter sauce over delicate capellini.
For now, none of Sorella’s offerings are wildly avant-garde or unexpected. What it offers instead is precision — careful execution, beautiful plating and portions that are generous enough for some leftovers to take home (or upstairs, if the building is home).
The menu won’t necessarily be all Italian all the time, either. While Sorella’s debut menu followed a tight culinary brief, other types of cuisine have since begun to make special appearances — pierogi to honor Dragich’s Polish heritage, gumbo that pays homage to chef Kipper’s Southern roots, the occasional walleye dish thanks to the bounty of Lake Erie.
“It’s still early for us,” Dragich notes. “We’re always evolving and coming up with new ideas.”
While the food may still be finding its footing, the Dragiches took pains to make sure the space itself was fully prepped for prime
Yes, this is a whitetablecloth spot, but the vibe is comfortably unfussy. There’s no expectation to dress formal or fancy. “Smart casual” fits the bill.
You’ll need to let the gate attendant know you have a reservation at Sorella. Beyond the gates, look for “One Bratenahl Place” and enter through the lobby.
You might think that desserts like cannoli ($9) and tiramisu ($10) are too generic to be worthwhile. But both are incredible for the table to split.
time before opening Sorella’s doors. Once stuffy and undeniably outdated, the decor is now as striking as the architecture. Lofty ceilings, off-white walls and regal columns are offset by lush maroon carpet and jeweltoned floral motifs. On sunny days, natural sunlight streams in through floor-to-ceiling picture windows.
The original bar, once tucked into a cramped side room, has been relocated to the restaurant’s entry hallway. It’s now the first thing guests see when they set foot inside. Mossy green walls, a sleek granite countertop and rows of top-shelf liquor signal that this area is anything but an afterthought.
There’s a small patio outside, too, which may get upgraded to a large patio sometime in the near future.
“It’s a little hidden gem with a secret lakefront view,” Dragich says. “In the summer, it’s just gorgeous. I can see sitting out there and going through a bottle of rose while you’re looking at Lake Erie on a beautiful day.”
Ultimately, there’s a quiet thrill in dining at Sorella, a place you’d never pass on the street but instead must seek out with intention. After you’ve checked in at the gate, crossed through the condo lobby and padded down a long hallway to Sorella’s front door, it feels like you’ve earned the right to unwind, indulge and get away from it all.
Because even if you don’t live in the building, it’s nice to imagine that you could. It’s that same pleasant daydream that pops up on vacation, when you start to wonder: What if this were everyday life? At Sorella, for at least just one meal, it can be.
“We wanted to create a space that felt special for the people who live here,” Dragich says. “But it’s for everybody else, too.”
From the shadows, Jaja reemerges with a fresh culinary vision. The restaurant returns lighter, cleaner and ready for its next chapter.
JAJA WENT DARK IN 2024 after a car crash damaged the elevator shaft inside Intro Cleveland, triggering months of repairs and uncertainty.
More than a year later, the Ohio City rooftop restaurant has reopened with a globally inspired direction under executive chef Logan Abbe, moving beyond its live fire steakhouse roots while holding onto its signature transportive spirit.
During the closure, Harbor Bay Hospitality partnered with JJJ Hospitality, a Minneapolis-based company founded by Jonathan Gans, Josh Hoyt and John Gross, to relaunch the property. Jaja isn’t the only revamp. On the first floor, Le Burger 4304 replaced Pioneer, and with the two restaurants sharing a kitchen, the team removed the original 22-foot wood-fire grill that had long defined Jaja’s cooking.
“We made the decision to put in gas cooking equipment,” says Gans, noting the change helped steer the restaurant away from its wood fire-centered identity to a more flexible, modernized menu. Abbe, who came aboard shortly before the crash, shaped the offerings through a “Med-West” lens rooted in Western Mediterranean cuisine with global influences reminiscent of his work at The Last Page.
“It was a really organic process. We leaned into Logan’s strengths,” says Gans.
Beyond the menu, the team refined what already made Jaja feel like an escape. Guests are guided from the intimate lobby, up the dramatic elevator and into the lush rooftop dining room, where service is thoughtfully paced so diners can truly settle in.
Rather than a full overhaul, the team pared the space back, clearing trellis vines, removing about 20 taxidermy birds and shifting the look from floral and aviary to something more earthy and refined.
Hallmark elements remain, including the animal-inspired lamps, wallpaper and mismatched, eclectic plateware, now joined by new pieces that better frame Abbe’s dishes. Dinner follows a relaxed, shared philosophy. Instead of starters and entrees, the menu is organized by scale and intention.
“We still love the idea of larger format dishes. The menu is organized into ‘to snack,’ ‘to share’ and ‘to feast,’” says Gans. “That structure lets guests interact with the menu in lots of different ways.”
The 16 oz. dry-aged Delmonico ($85) is part of Jaja’s broader, globally inspired menu.
Begin with warm olives ($6) with labneh and mint or scallop crudo ($18) with lemon tahini and yuzu kosho, then move into plates like basque mushrooms ($16), pan seared with miso sabayon and milk bread rolls.
Larger groups can anchor the table with a centerpiece from the “feast” section, such as campanelle ($28) with Moroccan lamb bolognese, creating a family style spread that feels guided rather than rigid.
For Gans, it’s less a reopening and more a reset, with a reimagined menu and refreshed patio designed to reassert Jaja’s place among Cleveland’s top dining destinations.
“It’s just a really cool space and point of view of the city,” says Gans. “The West Side Market is iconic. It’s a dynamic part of town, a perfect location for Jaja to be perched up there looking down.”
Northeast Ohio’s top foodies share their local favorites.
Born in Pittsburgh and raised across the country, Torres proudly calls Cleveland home. In 1996, inspired by Spanish culture and old-world architecture, she brought a taste to the city with Mallorca, a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Hospitality. The Cleveland Independents president and Solon resident champions empathy and local restaurants’ role in shaping community identity. — CHRISTINA RUFO
SOLON STAPLE: I like Station 43 Tavern. It’s just a simple, down-home kind of place, and it’s right around the corner. They mainly serve bar food, and because Mallorca is fine dining, I want to go somewhere I can get big, gooey mac and cheese, cheese sticks or something like that. There are so many good choices on their menu.
COFFEE & COCKTAILS: Evexia in Aurora has beautiful, delicious coffee drinks in the morning. For cocktails, I’ll go to Burntwood Tavern in Solon. They have a really nice cocktail list. If I’m drinking alcohol, it’s usually vodka, and I like something on the sweeter side, with pomegranate or something like that.
NEW FLAVORS: Lulo Kitchen, which is right down the street (from Mallorca, in Downtown Cleveland), focuses on Puerto Rican cuisine, and while it’s distinct, there are some similarities between Puerto Rican and Spanish flavors. It’s inspiring to see what they’re doing and to explore different flavor profiles to spark creativity in my own kitchen. Plus, their space is beautiful.
RECENT BITES: One of the best things I’ve eaten recently is the Feijoada at Batuqui in Chagrin Falls. It’s this incredible Brazilian pork dish with black beans simmered with bacon, ham, beef, smoked pork loin and kielbasa, served with rice, farofa, collard greens and tomato relish. My children are vegan, so we tend to go to a lot of places that have those options, as well. There’s the Vegan Club in Shaker Heights. It’s so good, you wouldn’t even know it’s all vegan. And of course, there’s Cleveland Vegan in Lakewood.
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WHY WE LOVE IT: Rising chef Liu Fang transformed her bun-based pop-up into a full-scale modern Chinese restaurant set inside a historic diner car. Fang delivers bold, thoughtful dishes that go well beyond the familiar, pairing tradition with creativity across buns, noodles, dumplings and small plates. TRY THIS: The Wagyu Beef Bun ($7$16) is filled with wagyu beef, sweet potato, roasted sticky rice, ginger, fennel and broad bean sauce, showcasing the handcrafted technique and deeply flavored fillings that put Abundance on the map. 1975 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-785-9959, a-bun.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Attentive staff, a warm atmosphere and decades of consistency have made Aladdin’s a neighborhood staple, anchoring the community with approachable Lebanese-American fare for every occasion. TRY THIS: The hummus tabouli garden rolled pita ($8.75) is a vegan delight stuffed with house-made hummus, tangy tabouli, greens and tomatoes. 12447 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-932-4333, aladdins.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: For more than 20 years, this expansive Turkish restaurant has been a local mainstay, serving richly spiced, traditional dishes in a warm, welcoming space. The sizable dining room and bar area make it just as suited for large celebrations as it is for relaxed family dinners. TRY THIS: The Iskender ($24) is the house favorite, but the lamb adana ($24) is a standout with skewered, chargrilled ground lamb seasoned with fresh bell peppers and
spices. Save room for homemade baklava to end on a sweet note. 2270 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-321-4400, anatoliacafe.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: This spacious brewpub pairs house-made beer with a comfort-driven menu in a laid-back, industrial setting. Exposed brick walls, garage-style windows and warm overhead lighting elevate the dining room, while the patio and open layout make it ideal for game days, group dinners and packed weekly trivia nights. TRY THIS: The Korean fried chicken sandwich ($16) comes stacked with buttermilk fried chicken, Korean gochujang sauce, pickle chips and house-made kimchi slaw. 2179 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-321-2337, bossdogbrewing.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: A go-to for bold, craveable Mexican street food, this bright, quick-service spot delivers all the favorites, from burritos and tortas to birria tacos and build-your-own bowls. Simple seating and colorful celebratory garlands overhead create a lively atmosphere.
With six locations across Northeast Ohio, it has steadily earned its following and most recently reappeared on Cleveland Magazine’s Best Restaurants list in 2025. TRY THIS: Start with the elote ($4.75), charred corn coated in a creamy, savory sauce, then follow it with the burrito tinga ($11.50) filled with chipotle-braised shredded chicken. 2783 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-331-3069, cilantrotaqueria.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: This neighborhood favorite has it all: generous portions, colorful plates and a lively, welcoming atmosphere. With multiple Northeast Ohio locations and a newer Cleveland Heights outpost, it remains a dependable crowd-pleaser and a frequent Silver Spoon Award winner for Best Mexican. TRY THIS: The Enchiladas Super Rancheras ($16.75), a house favorite and guaranteed hit, brings five different enchiladas to one plate, all topped with melted cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and ranchero sauce. 2196 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-331-6592, cozumel.us
WHY WE LOVE IT: Edwins’ new space brings classic French technique and thoughtful hospitality to the former Nighttown. Brasserie-style banquettes, art-glass windows and an elegant dining room create a welcoming setting that reflects the restaurant’s second-chance mission while preserving its signature warmth and character. TRY THIS: The bouillabaisse ($48) is a must-try, featuring fish, mussels and lobster in a fragrant saffron broth, a beautifully presented seafood stew rooted in French culinary tradition. 12383 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-921-3333, edwinsrestaurant.org
WHY WE LOVE IT: This neighborhood favorite blends the ease of a local hangout with the polish of a modern cocktail lounge. Inside, ambient lighting and comfortable seating set a relaxed, intimate tone. Outside, an ivy-lined patio is quietly tucked away with umbrella-covered tables. The versatile menu is perfect for first dates or group dinners. TRY THIS: Go for the short rib and caramelized onion flatbread ($17), topped with white sauce, mozzarella, braised short rib, goat cheese, caramelized onions and a drizzle of balsamic. 2448 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-229-9463, thefairmount.net
WHY WE LOVE IT: Open since 2013, this Cedar-Fairmount favorite has grown from a single storefront into a full-building destination, all while keeping its intimate, eclectic charm. Velvet seating, rich jewel tones, fresh flowers and candlelit tables create a lush, inviting atmosphere that feels distinctly personal to the owners. The menu balances cafe staples with a daily lineup of ever-changing entrees. TRY THIS: On Saturdays, the slow-roasted prime rib ($58) is a must and longtime favorite. 3477 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-291-7237, gigisonfairmount.com
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WHY WE LOVE IT: This inventive vegan kitchen turns out thoughtful plant-based cuisine. Scratch-made, vegan meats, cheeses, sauces and desserts result in a flavor-packed lineup of Asian-fusion dishes that blend familiar comfort food with globally inspired flavors. “One of the things that makes us special is that we’re really community oriented, and we’re an authentically small business,” says co-owner Josh Sias. TRY THIS: The daikon cake ($13) is a traditional dim sum dish with shiitake mushrooms, kabocha puree, Taiwanese sweet chili sauce and garlic sauteed watercress. 2158 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-938-5675, foodhisattva.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: This horror-themed restaurant leans fully into the spectacle. Red velvet curtains, glowing marquee movie posters and creepy character murals set against exposed brick craft a moody, theatrical backdrop that feels straight out of a cult classic. TRY THIS: The Pennywise ($18.99) is a blood-red waffle sandwich stacked scarily with a fried chicken
breast tossed in Haunted Maple Heat sauce, two over-medium eggs, pepper jack cheese and candied bacon, finished with powdered sugar and a drizzle of honey. 13463 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-862-5584, thehauntedhouserestaurant.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: A Coventry Village favorite for more than four decades, this cozy, family-run breakfast joint dishes out homestyle staples like corned beef hash, eggs Benedict and omelettes, plus bloody marys and weekend specials. TRY THIS: As big as your plate and available in stacks of one, two or three, the Lemon ricotta pancakes ($10.99 for three) pack a ton of flavor. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-1811, theinnoncoventry.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: With dart boards, vintage pub signs and cozy wood tables, this British-style spot nails the neighborhood pub vibe. The kitchen takes things up a notch, delivering a polished entree menu that turns a casual pint into a proper dinner. TRY THIS: The corned beef Reuben ($15.75), layered with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing on grilled rye, delivers classic comfort, salty, tangy and satisfying with every bite. 2260 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-331-1003, kensington-pub.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: This comforting neighborhood cafe invites guests to slow down and stay awhile. A scratch-made dessert case filled with classic pastries anchors the space, while a thoughtfully designed menu of crepes, fresh salads and espresso drinks makes it an easy go-to for quiet afternoons and casual lunches. TRY THIS: The roasted veggie crepe ($15) is a comforting, savory choice, filled with roasted portobello mushrooms, summer squash, red peppers, artichoke pesto and goat cheese 2482 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-231-8585, lunabakerycafe.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: A tried-and-true stop on Coventry Road, this bakery offers an incredible selection of desserts. The famous Asian buns — stuffed with fillings like pork, egg and red bean — are a must-try for those seeking either a sweet or a savory twist. But no visit is complete without an iconic bubble tea, with more than 40 flavor options ranging from fruity classics to indulgent blends. TRY THIS: Grab a classic red bean bun ($2.25) for a taste of tradition, then pair it with a sweet black rice milk tea ($6.95) for a rich blend of earthy, nutty flavors and a hint of sweetness. 1767 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-465-1022, facebook.com/kokobakery
WHY WE LOVE IT: This dark, rustic Italian restaurant offers five specialty New York-style pies and a build-your-own option in an intimate atmosphere. Deep red walls and black-and-white tile floors create an old-school trattoria feel, warmed by candle-style chandeliers overhead.
“You feel like you’re family here,” says general manager Alexandrea Quinn. TRY THIS: The Molta Marotta ($24-$28) pairs pesto with artichoke hearts, peppers, spinach and mozzarella 2289 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-932-9264, marottas.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Ayesha and Rick Wilcox reopened the restaurant in June 2024, reviving fan favorites while refining the menu. The quaint space, with a few high-top tables and a portrait of Mama Joyce, underscores its family roots. Though primarily carryout, guests often linger, turning it into a neighborhood gathering place. “We’re really immersed in being part of the community and providing homestyle food that is good for the soul,” says Ayesha. TRY THIS: The Soul Bowl ($16) is a standout: a buttery cornbread base topped with your choice of three sides, finished with catfish or chicken bites drizzled with sweet yam sauce. 2238 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, instagram.com/mamajoyces_soulfood
WHY WE LOVE IT: Right on Lee Road, this old-school, bar-forward spot delivers classic comfort with an easygoing, family-friendly vibe. With 65-inch TVs, 20 bar seats and 14 taps, it strikes a familiar neighborhood balance between sports bar and casual dinner hangout TRY THIS: The fish and chips ($17)
is a favorite, featuring crispy haddock served with seasoned waffle fries, coleslaw and tartar sauce. 2206 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3138 , heightsgrill.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: This sleek Coventry spot turns dinner into an experience, pairing allyou-can-eat Korean barbecue and hot pot with built-in, smoke-free grills and bubbling broth stations at every table. Playful oversized bear sculptures and neon accents keep the vibe lively, while the expansive selection of meats, seafood, broths and sauces makes each visit feel interactive, indulgent and endlessly customizable. TRY THIS: Go all in with the all-you-can-eat dinner option ($29.99+ per adult) and choose barbecue, hot pot or both. 1825 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-673-3888, onepotusa.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: For more than two decades, this East Side staple has blended sushi classics with Malaysian-inspired dishes. The bright interior creates an energetic yet
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approachable setting for both casual lunches and lively dinners. A sprawling menu balances crowd-pleasing rolls with ramen and udon, making it easy to mix and match flavors at the table. TRY THIS: The lso Maki roll ($16.95) is satisfyingly served with tuna, salmon, yellowtail, avocado, cucumbers, mayonnaise and fish roe. 1763 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-320-2302, pacificeastcoventry88.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: This elegant Lee Road restaurant has paired polished, modern American fare with a refined yet welcoming atmosphere for nearly 20 years. With seating for 140, a private party room and a fullservice bar anchored by an extensive wine list, it’s a go-to for date nights and special occasions. TRY THIS: The veal Francaise ($36) is a longtime favorite, topped with Chardonnay-lemon butter sauce, capers and grilled asparagus. Co-owner Raj Singh swears by the grilled lamb rib chops ($48) but encourages guests to try something new with each visit. 2317 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-932-9100, tastefoodwine.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Recognizing that Clevelanders’ appetites and food preferences are as diverse as the community itself, owner Tommy Fello has intentionally worked popular substitutions into the restaurant’s offerings, including milkshakes, brunch fare and some of the area’s earliest Middle Eastern-inspired dishes. “We try to offer something for everybody,” he says. TRY THIS: Tommy’s is probably most famous for its milkshakes and malts ($6.85+). Looking for something savory? Choose one of the 11 toasted cheeses, like the Quigley or Zippy. 1824 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-321-7757, tommyscoventry.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: This modern pizza parlor prides itself on one-of-a-kind Neapolitan pizzas. Each ball of dough is handmade daily by owner Marc-Aurele Buholzer and then sent into a 900-degree wood-fired pizza oven imported from Naples, Italy. “We produce a pretty unique vibe and culture within our pizzeria itself,” says Buholzer. “It’s something that sits in between a casual and fine dining experience.” TRY THIS: The Margherita pizza ($26) keeps it simple with tomatoes, fresh basil and Buffalo mozzarella to let the dough shine. 12421 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-229-8383, verocleveland.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: A lively mix of Middle Eastern flavors and modern energy, this Cedar-Fairmount favorite turns dining into a true communal experience. The airy, minimalist space buzzes with warmth as guests gather around shareable plates of vibrant meze, settling into cozy banquette seating, strewn with plush pillows. TRY THIS: The curried lamb and apricot hummus ($16) is a fresh, unexpected staple that keeps regulars coming back. 12413 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-862-2508, zhugcle.com
Stories by Vince Guerrieri, Kirsten Kimbler, Ken Prendergast, Julia Lombardo, Annie Nickoloff, Liza Marra, Christina Rufo, Jaden Stambolia and Dillon Stewart
CAN YOU BELIEVE 2016 WAS 10 YEARS AGO?
That epic year made us fall in love with Cleveland all over again. It felt like a high-water mark. Since then, we’ve been through it, to say the least. But do we still love Cleveland? More than ever.
BECAUSE
Being a Browns fan isn’t for the faint of heart. There’s an entire litany of bad breaks, bad players and bad years. But there are moments of joy — like watching Myles Garrett play. The Browns selected the Texas A&M defensive end in 2017. He seemed like the consensus top pick, but Browns history is littered with can’t-miss prospects who’ve missed. Garrett hasn’t missed. His play on the field has virtually guaranteed him a bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. (His uniform is already on display, following his record-setting 23 quarterback sacks last season.) But Garrett doesn’t just break records: he almost defies physics. The Browns list him as 6-foot-4 and 272 pounds. He looks as if he’s been chiseled from marble, and he ran a 4.64-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine before the Browns drafted him. Any NFL player will tell you the difference between college and the pros is speed. In the NFL, everyone is fast. But Garrett is fast fast. His average time getting off the defensive line when the ball snaps is 0.67 seconds, among the quickest in the league. A guy as big as him shouldn’t be as speedy as he is. He gets double-teamed. He sometimes gets triple-teamed. He gets chipped. He gets held. And he’s still the best defensive player in the league, having won two Defensive Player of the Year awards. Even when the Browns are awful, Myles Garrett is worth watching.
Sports fans in Cleveland can recognize greatness, but there’s a special place in our hearts for the athletes who seem to get us. More than 30 years after his last game for the Browns, Bernie Kosar remains beloved. Bob Feller was born in Iowa, but he was a Northeast Ohio institution until the day he died. The Kelce brothers have never played a down for the Browns, but their Cleveland Heights roots make them ours. Jose Ramirez is that combination of greatness and “gets us.” Ramirez is reluctant to speak English publicly (although he has been doing so more often) — but the way he plays transcends any language. He swings at, and hits, bad pitches. He runs the bases with abandon, often losing his helmet as crowds sing his name. Before the 2026 season even starts, Ramirez is already in the top three in team history in offensive wins above replacement, games played, runs scored, runs batted in, home runs and stolen bases. Jose will be in Cleveland through at least 2033, having signed the largest deal in team history, but still less than he’d get on the open market, so he’ll probably own the team record book by the time he retires. Ramirez is the rare player who’s underrated — but everyone knows he’s underrated. Just how underrated is he? The Baseball Writers Association of American has voted on the MVP award since 1931. Jose Ramirez has finished eight times in the top ten of MVP voting, including four times in the top three. Nobody has ever received more votes for MVP without winning one than Jose Ramirez. And really, how Cleveland is that?
Sarah Wagner’s gingerbread buildings. A Redditor’s Minecraft model of Downtown. Cityscape photography and local documentaries. Songs and murals. Whether it’s the stained-glass ceiling in the rotunda of the Cleveland Trust Co. building, the golden grooves of The Arcade or the towering Guardians of Traffic, our city’s icons are our muse, reminding us of the dreamers who came before. What might Cleveland inspire in you?
Long-term trends point to warmer temps and less snow. Yet, we saw 31 straight days of snow cover this year. In the brain rot era, Clevelanders embracing the cold is comforting. A Westlake family dyed ice cubes to create a colorful igloo. A North Olmsted woman snowmobiled to the middle of Lake Erie to cook out on the ice. You won’t find that recommendation in our dining section. We don’t condone it. But it’s undeniably awesome.
Cleveland’s celebrities always leave, they say. That’s fine. We’ll make our own. Misny. Superpimp. The Sax Man (RIP). We’re so good at creating legends that, around Christmastime, local Redditors found a spark in a microwave left on a bench near a South Euclid strip mall. Commenters spun a fantastical strand of lore around its unknown origins. At first a laughing stock, it became a shrine, a beeping beacon of hope. Northeast Ohioans pilgrimaged from across the region to leave holiday offerings of ornaments, candles, notes and treats. Some people even made merchandise to commemorate the Cleveland Microwave, aptly nicknamed “Mike Rowave,” before it found a home at the South Euclid City Hall — a happy ending and proof that Clevelanders always commit to the bit.
Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School won its 23rd consecutive gymnastics state championship in March. Read an excerpt from A Fraction of a Point: A Gymnastics Dynasty on the Line, Nina Mandell’s new book chronicling the 2023 victory.
It was August 2022, still months before the season started and five months after the last state title win. Brecksville-Broadview Heights assistant coach Leah Miko stood at Gym World at a club practice, wearing her usual coaching uniform: black workout pants and a T-shirt, with her long curly brown hair pulled back in a ponytail.
She watched her group of club gymnasts complete their warmup drills and tried to stop her mind from wandering. Two of the gymnasts in the club practice were Brecksville gymnasts, but the rest competed for other area schools — Padua, Strongsville, Magnificat and more. It was a weird reality of the Ohio gymnastics scene really. She was doing her best to coach the gymnasts at Gym World who could potentially upset her high school team — her alma mater and the thing that drove her to near madness daily — in the next state meet.
And while she was coaching the club gymnasts, often her mind kept wandering to that high school team. She had the same problem when she was driving to and from school or was at one of her other jobs — she also worked as a bartender — and mostly, it was the worst before she went to sleep at night. Leah couldn’t stop her mind from thinking about the hurdles facing the Brecksville-Broadview Heights team the next season.
The lack of depth and known talent on the upcoming season roster was the thing that haunted her when she was not rethinking her strategy and where it almost went wrong with the last team. It had been months, but she couldn’t get it out of her head.
She thought about how she was going to change her coaching style next season, as her team went for its 20th consecutive state title. She was going to see the incoming wave of tension or pressure at the start of the season and balance it out with upbeat positivity and calmness. That, she thought, was what went wrong at the last state meet, which ended in her in tears afraid that an 18-year consecutive state title streak was not going to go to 19.
“I’ve learned in my coaching career that every group of athletes is so different and this group cannot be serious,” she said. “If they’re serious about it, then they really fall apart. So they almost need to have this joking, more relaxed manner. And that was really hard for me as a coach because that’s not how I grew up. I was very serious. I was very type A — hey, we need to focus, we need to dial in. So that was an adjustment for me.”
The group of gymnasts had also dealt with something unprecedented — two years of COVID-19 that changed their lives and what the sport looked like. The 2021 meet, the year before, everyone who wasn’t competing watched from the hotel on a live feed instead of in the gym with their teammates.
Gymnasts who were accustomed to their teammates standing on the sidelines and supporting them with cheers, encouragement, and just familiar faces, were instead greeted with the unfamiliar and unsupportive faces of masked officials. Their parents also watched from the lobby of the hotel, gathered around a single TV.
It was the only way to keep the sport going.
So in 2022, Leah was trying mostly to remind them of what gymnastics was supposed to be. And why they all loved their high school team experience. But then when the pressure of the last event at the state meet came, Leah thought that’s when the mood was out of her control and there was nothing she could do to bring it back.
It got too serious.
“I didn’t know how to coach that because I’ve been coaching them to be silly and be relaxed, but still have enough balance of focus. But they had a lot less pressure when they were silly. And I feel that they felt pressure because we had a goal of hitting 150 points as a team to break the state record. And we were on track to do that after the third event. A beam score that we’ve hit many times before.”
Later that night after the team portion of the state meet, when she was preparing the gymnasts for the individual meet the next day, Leah tried to put it in perspective. But she found that the maddening thing in the perspective was that sometimes, things that are supposed to be easy end up being hard. And out of your control. Figuring out how to coach out of that — that was what she had to conquer in the upcoming season.
“There’s some days where the cards just weren’t in our favor,” she had told her team as they sat at the hotel in Columbus that Friday night after the team portion of the state meet, “and, you know, that beam wasn’t in our favor.”
Even knowing that it was just a bad day on the beam and the team had actually ended up winning by a good margin, the other thing that kept her up at night was how she was going to avoid coaching mistakes this season.
A bad day on beam with three experienced seniors leading the pack wasn’t anything compared to the out-of-her-control factors heading into the team’s run at a twentieth consecutive title. When she was done thinking about the 2022 state meet, Leah often ticked through the freshmen coming through whom she knew from club gymnastics and tried to place them in lineups in her head.
She thought about the two seniors — Delaney Evans and Ella — and what kind of leaders they would be. She thought about junior Lea Haverdill coming back from an injury that had kept her sidelined for her sophomore year. She thought about the outgoing freshmen, Gianna (GG), Rachel Kelly, and Avery and if a year of experience at the state meet was going to make it easier enough next season to ignore the pressure. She wondered if incoming junior Jeanne Winzen’s back would be healthy enough for her to make an impact. She wondered what other teams were going to come back with as they tried to knock down the ever-defending champions.
Leah opened each season by giving a speech to the team. She talked about how it’s a team sport and they compete for their team. It’s not club gymnastics, where they’re competing for themselves.
She talked about how she doesn’t care if you fall off the beam, she cares about if you are cheering for your teammates as they compete after you. Her talk for the next season would include one more piece of advice.
“We don’t have as much talent as we’ve had in years past,” she said. “We don’t have that star athlete. We don’t even have two mediocre athletes; we have a very young team with eight freshmen coming in.
“But hard work is something that we’ll all have.”
Standing at Gym World as she called out drills for her club practice, she went through the events of the mistakes made in the state meet and last season again. She would confidently reiterate her points about working hard and being a good team player. Inwardly, she didn’t know. She hoped hard work would be enough.
You better look good if you’re going out in Cleveland. You never know when John Skrtic might ask to snap your photo. When he’s not serving the Cleveland Public Library, the lifelong Clevelander documents the stories of small business owners, everyday citizens, creatives and more. Armed with nothing more than a humble cell phone, the street photographer’s @skrticx Instagram is a vast archive of modern life in Cleveland.
You’re a ’90s kid? Yeah, your parents partied at Shooters. Now, it’s your turn. Opened in 1987, the Key West-inspired bar revived the riverfront. It was imfamous then. On any given night, you could see a celebrity or a fight — or both, like Charles Barkley’s 1996 brawl. The restaurant reopened in March with a “Coastal Cleveland” culinary approach and extensive renovations. Despite refinement, with MGK involved, Shooters’ new era is likely to be wild, too.
The all-seeing eyes of his many billboards stare into our souls. We’ve seen him in costumes and photoshopped onto Mount Rushmore. His head is emblazoned onto T-shirts and baby bibs. “It’s a serious business,” Misny says. “But nowhere does it say you can’t have fun with your advertising.” Now, the infamous injury lawyer who “makes them pay” is getting the film treatment. First, an artificially generated video series, The Adventures of Tim Misny, is a surreal, fictionalized version of Misny’s life. Meanwhile, Misny is involved in a documentary, The Misny Movie, following his life and work. Releasing later this year, it’s another Misny stamp on the place he calls home. “Northeast Ohio is phenomenal,” Misny says, “and I’m having a lot of fun with it.”
Eight films made up the first Cleveland International Film Festival in 1977. Fast-forward 50 years, and it’s blossomed into a 10-day event, which will show 326 movies this April. Along with its screenings at Playhouse Square stages, CIFF returns to its roots with a significant lineup at Cedar Lee this month: an homage to the earliest years of Cleveland’s annual marquee movie event. Cleveland Magazine hosted a conversation between festival founder Jon Forman and CIFF’s current executive director Hermione Malone about the past, present and future of the beloved film fest.
Hermione Malone: So, John, you started the festival in 1977. I’m really curious to know what inspired the first event. Why did you want to bring a globally focused film festival to Cleveland?
Jon Forman: I was out of work, and I needed a job. When I was a student at Case Western Reserve University, I ran the college’s film society. Students actually went to see movies in theaters because there was no internet, no streaming. Fast forward, I graduated, and had some non-film jobs, and one of the companies I was working for filed for bankruptcy, and I was out of work. A friend of mine, who helped start the festival, said, “Why don’t you start a Cleveland Film Festival?” You’re 20-something, you figure, why not? We put together the very first Cleveland Film Festival with an all-volunteer staff, and were able to rent the Cedar Lee Theatre from its owners at that time, a company called Community Circuit Theaters. We had the first festival which showed eight films in a subscription film series. At the time, the American Film theater, I think, was showing a subscription film series of some very well-produced intellectual type movies. And I said, “Well, that performance seemed to work, so let’s steal their form.” And we did it over eight weeks: one film a week, two showings each week, and it worked.
HM: Awesome. Were you at all surprised by the response?
JF: Yes. I always said it was an artistic success because it paid all the bills. I wasn’t paid. Everyone who worked was doing it as a volunteer, and it was great. The festival ends and, you know, life goes on. (In the second CIFF), we almost doubled the number of films we were showing. Again, I was con-
cerned that Clevelanders would not embrace the concept of a festival, so we still spaced them out. I think we might have tried to grow too quickly. But again, it worked enough to cover our expenses, and the festival was a success. Festival ends, and the owner of Community Circuit (Bert Lefkowich) was in the process of divesting himself of other theaters in Cleveland. Bert said to me, “Hey kid, would you like to own a movie theater?” He basically financed the purchase of the theater. Very kind of him, although he was also a ruthless businessman, very businessoriented. He said, “If you miss one payment, I get everything back.” I said, “That’s fair. I have nothing to lose.” So we took over the theater, and the rest, as they say, is history.
JF: Hermione, last year was your first festival year, and I am certain it was challenging just because you’re the new kid in town, new organization — the challenges of running it at Playhouse Square. What were your greatest challenges coming on board last year?
HM: I always compare it to fixing up the house where you’ve got to work on the plumbing in the wall, or the electric in the wall, the foundation, stuff that other people can’t see that aesthetically aren’t beautiful, but are necessary. I think the organization has been doing things in a way that was really manual for a very long time. So I spent a lot of time trying to figure out, how can we do this more efficiently, more effectively? One thing we did from the very beginning is, I wanted to listen to people. I started this job in May. By July, I was having community listening sessions. I felt it was really important to understand both the perspective of people who came to the festival and loved it and the people who had never been or who hadn’t been in a very long time. We got al-
most 1,000 responses, which is statistically significant given the audience size, but we used that feedback in so many ways this year to plan the festival.
JF: I said that this will never happen in Cleveland, and fast forward 50 years. I’m thrilled to see where the festival’s gone and where it’s going. What do you consider to be the greatest challenges, going forward, year 51-plus?
HM: I think one of the challenges we have is that, at some point, I think the festival stopped attracting as strong of numbers, folks in their 20s and 30s, to come out. We have a very loyal fan base, as I call a lot of our attendees. But they’re aging, so they come out less, or they move to Florida. We’ve got to really do a good job of thinking about how we attract younger patrons to come out and
“FIFTY YEARS IS A LONG TIME, AND HOW IT’S EVOLVED IS FASCINATING.”
- JON FORMAN, CIFF FOUNDER
experience the festival. I think the other challenge is, frankly, the streaming that allows the world to come into your home. I’ve got to do something that pulls you off the couch. For us, a part of that experience has always been the connection to filmmakers and principals and subject matters in narrative and documentary films. But I think there’s a push to create more experiences for folks to have in addition to seeing the films.
JF: Well, if you figure out how to get them off the couch, let me know. It’s a challenge in the world of film festivals, also in the world of specialty theater, that’s really very frustrating and difficult. When I was a student at Case Western, we just could not wait to go to go to see movies in theaters or in the film society. I think that is a great challenge. One of the things I think the festival has done
that I admire is bringing in more and more of the independent filmmakers, and making this more of an event, and I think people do respond to that. They love to do a Q&A afterwards and ask smart questions, occasionally dumb questions, but at least there’s this interaction. I think people really find it unique. It’s really a nice experience, having that interaction with a stranger sitting in a theater next to somebody.
HM: We’ve heard from people who have what they call “festival friends.” So there are people they see every year at the festival. They don’t actually hang out with these people throughout the balance of the year, but they look forward to seeing them every year at the festival. So we know that the bringing together of people is really powerful. And we also know that getting all of these diverse
perspectives of the world of issues is important. There are people today who can point to a singular film they saw that transformed how they thought about a people, a place, an issue. And so that’s always the dream of ours, is that it stays with you.
JF: Last year you had a very successful film, Lost and Found in Cleveland, which was a record-breaking film for the festival. Why did that work? What was the appeal, besides the fact that it has the word “Cleveland?”
HM: Well, that’s a lot to do with it. I think one of our programmers said, “Clevelanders love a film about Cleveland,” so whether that’s sports or whether that’s a setting in Cleveland, but the other thing I realized is how much of the community was involved in some way in the making of the film. There were people who were there, who had hands or tentacles into the making of that film. I think whenever Cleveland can show up in a way that’s in the spotlight, that looks great, they want to be there and be a part of it. I also think the filmmaking team did a really great job of engaging Clevelanders to come out to see that film as well.
JF: I think it’s great. My only experience of something similar, not the same, was when the festival opened up, whatever year it was, with Major League and the Cleveland
Guardians. It was huge, successful, even though only the opening shot was shot here. And, no, not the best film ever made, but it was really fun. Also, we were fortunate to have principals from the film, which is harder and harder to get. Now you can get independent filmmakers because they’re not yet established. Peter Falk came for Husbands, and Ellen Burstyn came, and Katherine Helmond came, Alan Alda came. We were just thrilled. Having a Frank Capra tribute, that was wonderful.
JF: This year you’re using this screening room at Cleveland State University. What’s the collaboration?
HM: CSU’s film school actually sits right next door to the Playhouse Square theaters, and we’ve often had them collaborate around programming for their students — so, is there a way to connect filmmakers to students for panels or labs or things of that sort? We do have a board member who is with the film school, and so she’s always looking for ways to improve that collaboration. Last year, students from their program came up with our street team concept. While we had our photographers bopping around, the students were also there getting video, getting great interviews. They interviewed Marlee Matlin and Shoshannah (Stern), the producer of a film (Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore) last year, but adding an edginess to the content. It was less about being polished and perfect and more about having on-theground experiences. That’s a great thing. We’re going to continue this year as well. I think it’s incumbent upon us to always think about what’s coming up next. Micro-content, these little short dose series that show up on social media and other platforms. Partnering with a university who has a focus on the film arts is really one way for us to start thinking programmatically, going forward, beyond just the festival. What does it look like to show up in a big way and support the film arts community here? And how can we do it with our eye toward what’s coming and not just sort of looking back at what was.
JF: I’m intrigued and pleased you’re doing that kind of stuff. Because I think people kind of pooh-pooh, sometimes, the film scene in Cleveland. But Cleveland has the Cinematheque. It has the Case West Reserve Film Society. It’s got what’s going on in Cleveland State. I operate a theater in Oberlin for Oberlin College, and they have their own Film Society. And I’m surprised and delighted people turn out for that. I think there’s strong interest in filmmaking for students today. You can make a movie without the fancy equipment that used to use 35-millimeter (film) and IMAX. Yes, that still exists, but it’s so easy to do something on a modest scale.
JF: When you visualize the festival going forward, where you may go, I think the fact that you’re incorporating this student component is really very good.
HM: I think we’re one of the few festivals that doesn’t have either robust year-round professional development training or operate a theater. So it puts stuff in this really interesting space, and at this particular point in time, to think about, what do we want to work to look like? What do we want a festival to symbolize? What does it look like for a festival to exist in the community beyond just 10 days when we’re showing movies on screens? I think that’s a little bit of our challenge, and our focus going forward is evolving this from being just this thing that’s happening at a point in time, to, how can the festival have a presence in the arts and culture scene throughout the year? I think critical partnerships like with CSU are going to be a big part of that.
JF: The festival is a signature event in the Cleveland cultural scene, but also nationally, I know one of the things you inherited was this wonderful reputation. Filmmakers love coming here. I always was aware that the Cleveland festival in its early years had a better international reputation than it did a national reputation because there were not a lot of opportunities for foreign language films to be shown. Invitations from a festival were kind of neat. There was an expense.
I think it’s so interesting to see how the festival evolved in 50 years, and where it may go after this. I often refer to the festival, it’s like one of my children. It started, and now it’s in its middle age. And 50 years is a long time, and how it’s evolved is fascinating, but where it may go, I hope, the next 50 years, is anyone’s guess.
Under the right conditions, that neon flurry offers a mini glimpse of a larger Arctic Circle show. Though Cleveland only sees the northern lights when they’re peaking, which started in 2024 and winds down this year, they’ll return bright in 2030. “It can be a fascinating light show,” says JonDarr Bradshaw, the aerospace education lead at Great Lakes Science Center, “and a good reason to stay curious.”
Descending over a vast, unobstructed lakefront, Cleveland can (almost) always see the sun set. It’s sometimes the only light we get on our grayest days. Whether you watch it illuminate the concrete jungle beyond Edgewater Park, the sands of Huntington Beach, the lighthouse at Fairport Harbor, or your own backyard, the pinks, reds and oranges undoubtedly fade to vibrant blues and purples, and, when we’re lucky, a slate of stars.
BECAUSE
Move over, Detroit. Cleveland is officially beefing up. In the heart of the city, you’re never far from the irresistible smells of a weenie cart on most street corners, and you can find even more unique takes on franks in area restaurants. Last year, Lakewood’s LBM hosted its “Hot Dogs Around The World” series in the second half of 2025. Every Monday, the restaurant and cocktail bar debuted a different style, ranging from German currywurst to deep-fried South Korean gamja dogs, Kansas City Reuben dogs and cheese curdtopped Wisconsin glizzies. Speaking of glizzies, the Glizzys hot dog-shaped cart has attracted a loyal fanbase in the past few years for its over-the-top footlongs twirled in bacon and sprinkled with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. “We want it to be an experience,” says co-owner Laurisa Raimondo. “We don’t want a regular restaurant where you walk in, you get your food and you leave. We want it to be something to remember.” Of course, Happy Dog paved the way for making such big twists on classic carnivore fare. The Gordon Square restaurant, bar and music venue is now in its 18th year of offering customizable creations, which hungry customers build through an unlimited checklist of toppings including SpaghettiOs, Froot Loops, alien pickle relish and sunny side up eggs. There’s a lot of fun to be had on a hot dog, but you can never go wrong with a no-nonsense approach. For a straightforward ketchupand-mustard vibe, visit a classic spot like Johnny Hot Dog, which has been in operation in Cleveland’s West Side Market since 1942, or swing by Amherst’s Hot Dog Heaven or Parma’s Hot Dog Diner for a greasy paper bag filled with goodness. Above all, keep an eye out on menus for our city’s delicacy, the Polish Boy. At Whitmore’s Bar-B-Q in Warrensville Heights the dish marries kielbasa with toppings of French fries, coleslaw and barbecue sauce: a taste of pure Cleveland.
The West Side Market has towered over Ohio City for more than a century. Now, it gets a much-needed facelift. An ongoing $70 million renovation adds a prepared food hall, courtyard, venue and teaching kitchen. In January, the market debuted a refreshed produce arcade, with redesigned vendor stands, refrigeration, an HVAC system and new lighting. “It’s a totally new format. You can actually interact with the customers more,” says Brian Gaal, who manages A&J Produce, which has operated at the West Side Market for more than three decades. “Everything is brand new. Everything works.” Plump vegetables, fruits and fragrant bouquets and herbs are now at eye-level for shoppers to peruse. “It really highlights the full vision of what the project is intended to do for the Market, which is to preserve the historic architecture, enhance systems and restore aging infrastructure,” says Rosemary Mudry, the executive director of Cleveland Public Market Corp., which manages the West Side Market. ”Completion of the produce arcade has helped build trust in the project as the community can actually see the vision come to life.” Up next: a gut renovation of the basement. While most funds have been raised, Cleveland Public Market Corp. is still collecting a remaining $12 million to finish the entire building by early 2028. “I think when it’s complete,” Mudry says, “we will be the best public market in America.”
Trends come and go. But the art behind fashion is very much in vogue for art museums today. Around the globe and here in Cleveland, major institutions are embracing the art form. Last year, Louvre in Paris curated its first fashion exhibition in its two-century history. In 2017, New York City’s Museum of Modern Art showcased a fashion-focused exhibition for the first time in 73 years. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2018 show Heavenly Bodies experienced recordbreaking attendance with more than 1.6 million visitors. For the past few years, fashion has also been making its mark on the Cleveland Museum of Art’s offerings, perhaps nowhere as dramatically as in its recent Renaissance to Runway show. And you have Darnell-Jamal Lisby, the CMA’s first fashion curator, to thank for it. Since he was hired in 2021, Lisby has explored various facets of the medium through his work on museum exhibitions, including The New Black Vanguard, Egyptomania and Korean Couture. “Developing a department out of scratch is a very high bar,” Lisby says. “What’s been interesting is the fact that we’ve been able to develop at a more rapid pace than, probably, what other institutions have been able to do at all.” Before his work in Cleveland, Lisby worked as a fashion historian and education coordinator at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and various New York City spaces, like the Costume Institute of the Met and the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. The Atlanta native grew up in the museum-filled Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, where he discovered an interest in curatorial work. Then, he was drawn to fashion curation, specifically, studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Fashion, and its connections to the body, was of interest to the curator, who often examines intersections of Blackness and the history of fashion in his work. Though Renaissance to Runway wrapped up its run in February, you can expect fashion to stay in the museum’s future offerings, thanks to Lisby’s work establishing the department. “I am a one-man arm,” Lisby says, “but we are talking about the future. It is in motion. Everybody will just have to wait and see.”
BECAUSE THE HOME OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL KEEPS GROWING
In a city of iconic buildings, nothing is more recognizable than the great pyramid of the North Shore, designed by famed Chinese architect I.M. Pei. Over the past year, however, the 30-year-old museum has added an angular appendage with a $175 million price tag. The 50,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor space accounts for a 40% expansion of the campus. When the new complex opens in the fall, the free, unticketed area will feature new exhibits, expand the museum’s programming, and welcome live bands to a new 800-seat music venue — keeping Cleveland rockin’ for years to come.
“This is where the magic happens,” aerospace flight systems engineer Joel Knapp says, gesturing to four desktop screens in an office room in NASA Glenn Research Center’s Telesite Support Center. The Artemis II mission, slated to launch the Orion spacecraft from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center this year, is set to possibly take astronauts farther from Earth than ever before, before looping back earthside. All eyes are on the sky for this first crewed spaceflight around the moon since 1972. When the rocket revs up to leave Earth, a group of Cleveland scientists will be monitoring the mission’s real-time telemetry data, monitoring Orion’s powerhouse, the European Service Module. “If everything’s working, it’s a piece of cake,” Knapp says. “You’re just on the edge of your seat, waiting for them to send a command or initiate a certain action, and then seeing if that action occurred properly and that the data matches what you’re expecting to see.” Before both Artemis missions, the Orion spacecraft was rigorously tested in Sandusky’s Armstrong Testing Facility’s space environments complex. There, it was ensured the ship was prepared for the rigors of space travel, with scenarios that included acoustic blasts, vacuums and extreme temperatures. “The facility is unique in that it’s a one-stop shop for these types of tests,” says Aaron Weaver, NASA Glenn’s chief of human exploration and space operations projects. Currently, Weaver and his team are also testing the human landing system, which should deliver humans to the moon in 2028, and doing research on rover tires. It all amounts to something huge: After 2028, NASA Glenn research will contribute to developing a permanent base on the moon — and, beyond that, a human mission to Mars. “We have an important role to play here,” Weaver says. “We should recognize this as a really big asset in our community.”
Retirement looks anything but relaxing for Jason Kelce. Not only did his New Heights podcast, co-hosted with Travis, crack the Top 10 (OK, a certain pop star helped with that), but he’s also become a broadcast staple, appearing as an analyst and personality for the NFL, NHL and Tomorrow’s Golf League. Still, his better half, Kylie, has found even more success, knocking the podcast king himself, Joe Rogan, off the charts when her Not Gonna Lie show launched just over a year ago.
Was dubbing the 21-year-old hockey star the “Queen of Cleveland” before she even took the Olympic ice in the Milan Cortina games a little premature? Absolutely not. Edwards scored two goals and assisted on six more, including the crucial goal that tied the gold medal game and sent it to overtime, where Team USA secured its big victory. A few days later, when she joined Kylie Kelce’s podcast, she said it herself: “I’m the best athlete to come out of Cleveland Heights.” No objections here.
Do you hear wedding bells? The biggest pop star on earth is nearing her nuptials, and it’s bigger than a Royal Wedding. Even better, she’s marrying Cleveland Heights native Travis Kelce. As of this writing, we know few details. Despite some planning stress, the wedding is still set for June 13 (yes, because it’s her favorite number). The venue is reportedly the Ocean House, a swanky seaside resort in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Are pierogies on the menu? Can guests watch that afternoon’s Tigers-Guards game during the cocktail hour? Will they enter their retirement era on the North Shore — perhaps in one of the opulent homes they reportedly toured in Chagrin Falls? Northeast Ohio Swifties can only dream.
A generation of 2000s kids turned to skateboarding, inspired by the Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game franchise.
Twenty years later, Chad Muska, a main character in the game and a real-life pro skater, is doing the same for Northeast Ohio kids. The area’s largest skate park is now under construction in Lorain, largely thanks to Muska. The Lorain native’s $20,000 donation put a dent in the $1.3 million project with 17,000 square feet of ramps, ledges, rails and banks. The key-shaped skate campus should be ready to ride by November.
“Where you’re born is such an important part of you,” says Muska. “Being able to give back felt good and was the icing on the cake for my career.”
When Muska was growing up, skaters had a bad reputation. They weren’t athletes. They were noisy troublemakers, riding in places that threatened businesses’ liabilities and pestered their customers. Yet, they often had nowhere else to go.
“In my day, it was kind of an outcast subculture of the world,” Muska explains. “I never could have imagined it exploding like this.”
Now, skateboarding is an Olympic sport, with global training facilities and brand sponsorships. High fashion and design draws from skate culture. The creative work of late Louis Vuitton art director Virgil Abloh, for example, was heavily inspired by his own skateboarding background.
As the culture of skateboarding rapidly expands, facilities struggle to keep up. The next generation of Lorain skateboarders might have been left without a place to skate if not for Muska’s Longfellow Skatepark. It’s a life-changing situation for young skaters, from those dreaming of skating professionally to kids looking for recreation and friendship, seeking a safe place to practice.
“The kids wanted to make this happen long before I was an advocate,” Muska offers. “It was a community project.”
Infrastructure alone didn’t lead to mainstream adoption. Scroll skateboarding TikTok, and you’ll see viral videos of older skaters at skate parks teaching youngsters. Locally, Avon’s Advocate Skate Works offers youth support, having distributed more than 15,000 brand new shoes and 1,000 skateboards to underprivileged children. The organization also provides safe meet-ups for girls and LGBTQ+ individuals. Skate shops like the 30-year-old West Side Skates hosts its own meet-ups, and it recently advocated for expanding the longstanding skatepark in its hometown of Lakewood.
Though it’s no longer just for outcasts, skateboarding remains more than just a sport — it’s a community.
BECAUSE
Folks once flocked to Cleveland for the economic advantages that came from being a city on a lake with a river flowing through it. And then, for generations, the city walled itself off from its lakefront. Those barriers might come down with the Browns’ stadium moving. Mayor Justin Bibb, looking for a bright side to the team’s decision, is now renewing a push to close the low-traffic Burke Lakefront Airport. Compounded with the stadium’s footprint, those two moves would open up 5 miles of shoreline and over 500 acres of lakefront property for recreation and mixed-use development. For reference, that’s as much as 88 football fields. That’s not incremental change, says the mayor. That’s generational change. “By leveraging our waterfronts, these can be major drivers for new revenue, new population and new growth for our city to be competitive long-term,” Bibb says. Some money is already pouring in. The Browns pledged $100 million to kick off the lakefront project. That drive pushes Cleveland to embrace its Great Lakes identity in unprecedented ways, with recreational activities, events, scenic views and a new epicenter to enjoy our most important natural asset. These are all elements a lakefront city requires and ones that Chicago and Toronto have leveraged. “There’s a big difference between being a city on the water and a waterfront city,” says Destination Cleveland CEO and president David Gilbert. The latter is coming now, and Clevelanders are ready to bask in the true benefits of the beautiful Lake Erie.
Before the Browns stadium debate, there was Dan Gilbert’s 2010s battle to rebuild the Cavs’ arena. The billionaire begged for a handout (more than $70 million), almost lost, but of course didn’t, leaving a bitter taste in Clevelanders’ mouths. Yet, Gilbert’s makegood isn’t half bad. On the court, he’s delivered. Not a championship, but a consistently competitive team with flashes of brilliance, like last year’s hot start and historic 15-0 win streak, just a few years off a rebuild. The team continues to nab stars, like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Yet, Gilbert’s $3.5 billion investment in a 35-acre Cuyahoga Riverfront redevelopment, which includes the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, a park and a music venue, is arguably the more impressive play call.
Have you seen a line around the block in Hingetown? It’s probably diners waiting for a seat at Rosy. With limited reservations, the Cordelia team’s sophomore restaurant, opened in February, is the most coveted table in the city. The live-fire eatery explores the type of Old World grub our grandparents ate, but has largely been forgotten. Unsurprisingly, chef-partner Vinnie Cimino, the city’s first James Beard finalist since Jonathon Sawyer, delivers an experience like nothing else in the area. “Rosy is about gathering around the fire, feeding people, telling stories,” says Cimino, “just celebrating food together.”
Timothy “T Bone” Sweeney and David “Solo” Bost have built an online following by trading places. In their viral videos, the duo introduce each other to experiences often framed around cultural stereotypes, under titles like “Bringing My White Friend to Do Black People Sh--” and “Bringing My Black Friend to Do White People Sh--.” Videos feature Solo skiing or playing pickleball for the first time. Other clips show T Bone stepping into a Black barbershop or a neighborhood corner store. The titles are intentionally clickable, but the tone is lighthearted. “We thought we might get more backlash,” Sweeney says, “but the top comment on one of our videos was, This is so wholesome. That surprised us.” One impactful clip came from a deli on the corner of East 84th Street and Superior Avenue. The video racked up more than 52 million views, sending a wave of curious new customers to the neighborhood spot. “We didn’t really realize that we had the power to do something like that,” Sweeney says. At its core, the series explores cultural crossover, with Sweeney having grown up in Cleveland Heights and Bost in Cleveland’s St. Clair-Superior neighborhood. For Sweeney, the videos have changed how he sees the city. Filming with Bost broke down misconceptions he had about Cleveland after growing up in the suburbs. “The sense of community over there is real,” Sweeney says about the city. “People look out for each other.” At the heart of it all is something distinctly Cleveland, a powerful pride in the 216 that flows through neighborhoods and backgrounds. Their goal is simple: Step outside your comfort zone, laugh a little and realize you might have more in common than you think. “Honestly, I just want to bring people together,” Bost says. “No matter what community you’re from or what race you are, I want people to see each other working together and getting along. That’s really the whole point of what we’re doing.”
With so many great courses, golf rules spring, summer and fall recreation in Northeast Ohio. However, golf courses are also a bit of a monstrosity. Upkeep litters the ground with pesticides and can consume tens of thousands of gallons of water daily. That polluted groundwater, plus the monoculture of large fields of manicured grass, wreaks havoc on local habitats and biodiversity. They often even reshape natural water systems, such as ponds and rivers. That’s why a new movement to replace defunct golf courses is a total hole-in-one. Across Northeast Ohio, acres that once demanded trimmed fairways and chemically treated grass are slowly returning to wetlands and wildflowers. Orchard Hills Park in Chesterland is now filled with native plants, streams and trails. In 2008, Geauga Park District became the first in Ohio to convert a former course when it started restoring Orchard Hills, turning it into a 237-acre property, complete with 3.6 miles of trails, an orchard-themed playground and a sledding hill. Since then, park districts across the region have followed suit. At Veterans Legacy Woods in Newbury Township, a former course within the Cuyahoga River watershed, restoration efforts include creating a rare cold-water stream by channeling a natural groundwater spring. The project, another by Geauga Park District, helps stabilize water flow and filter runoff before it reaches the Cuyahoga River — protecting it from flooding and harmful pesticides. Now, the 180-acre park features a 3.8-mile trail system, a playground, a pavilion and a tribute to our armed forces. The Cleveland Metroparks have embraced the approach as well. Acacia Reservation, the Metroparks’ first golf course restoration project in 2012, has since flourished with native plants, trees and shrubs. The 155-acre green space is now a popular spot for birding. Restoration by the Metroparks is also underway at Hawthorne Golf Course, a historically beloved course in Solon. “Golf courses in general are not the greatest things for the environment,” says Paul Pira, Geauga Park District park biologist. “It’s always a good thing if you can take some of them and convert them into a useful natural park.”
BECAUSE WE HOST SOME OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST EVENTS
The 2010s marked our breakout era as a major event destination. Civic booster collaborations led to visits by the Republican National Convention, the MLB All-Star Game, the NCAA wrestling championships and March Madness basketball. A World Series run and an NBA championship didn’t hurt. Despite COVID threatening a slowdown, Cleveland has already hosted the 2021 NFL Draft, an NCAA Women’s Final Four (featuring the sport’s most famous player) and 2024 solar eclipse parties. Still to come, an AHL All-Star Classic, the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games, World Cup soccer previews, and a domed stadium with the right stuff to host an NCAA Final Four or even a Super Bowl.
BECAUSE
Cleveland is a city of immigrants. Always has been. Always will be. Need proof? Take a two-mile stroll down Martin Luther King Drive through Cleveland’s Cultural Gardens, where the city’s global story is told. That story is still unfolding with two exciting updates. The Colombian Cultural Garden, which unveiled plans in 2024, is the first Latinx garden in the entire park. The African American Cultural Garden is moving confidently toward Phase 2 of development.
The African American garden, dedicated in 1977, already features the “Door of No Return,” a structure symbolizing the departure from Africa, and eight commemorative trees. The expansion builds upon the past, present and future of Black Clevelanders with a water feature representing the journey from slavery to freedom. A new platform explores themes of autonomy and collective ownership to create a space
to honor history, celebrate cultural legacy and reflect on the lived experiences that have shaped Cleveland.
Meanwhile, the Colombian garden’s arrival marks a long-overdue milestone — not just for Colombians, but for all Latinx immigrants who will be represented for the first time. A traditional Colombian house will offer a structure unlike any other in the gardens.
Over more than 250 acres, these gardens are more than just monuments. In August, the Cultural Gardens will host the 80th annual One World Day event. This vibrant gathering blends languages, music, food and traditions, showcasing nearly 50 ethnic groups. Conversations and celebrations culminate in a naturalization ceremony, an event that reminds us of the strength and beauty that comes from Cleveland’s diverse communities.
The 2016 championship year was as much about dreaming as it was about celebrating. Development beat writer Ken Prendergast reminds us why the city’s future is still bright.
When I want to learn about my city, I take newcomers for a tour. As a real estate blogger and a closet historian, I know where just about everything of significance is. I know where some things used to be and where they’re going to be. But what I often enjoy anew is appreciation.
I take Cleveland for granted sometimes. We all do. We see the bridges, the towers, the parks, the river and the lake every day. We don’t notice them anymore. Sometimes we even curse the additions for complicating our daily routine. We have gotten accustomed to construction. Yet, as a person of a certain age, I recall when construction projects in Cleveland were like a 50-degree January day. In 1976, there were nine building permits issued for new-construction homes in the city of Cleveland. Nine. The rest of the ’70s wasn’t much better. Today, when I give tours of the city, my guests are amazed at how much construction is happening. I’m amazed, too, and I write about it every day.
A ride down Cleveland’s main street, Euclid Avenue, from Public Square to University Circle, is mind-blowing for someone my age. With the new SherwinWilliams HQ, there are now four towers of 600-plus feet around Public Square. The bustling East Fourth Street was once a scary cut-through street from the pawns of Prospect Avenue to the aging offices of Euclid. Now those pawns are great restaurants to support Gateway events. The old offices are nearly all residences. Between them are 23-, 28-, 29- and 34-story apartment towers — all built in the last decade. Playhouse Square, one of the largest theater districts in the country, continues to add new amenities. Next, we pass Cleveland State University, formerly a commuter-only school, today rich with campus life.
The MidTown area is still lagging, but not for long. The Warner & Swasey factory, vacant for 40 years, is getting renovated with apartments to join with those at the Agora mixed-use venue. The Cleveland Foundation moved its headquarters to Hough, a neighborhood in MidTown, and added its MidTown Collaboration Center, filling it with bright, inventive, often young people.
On tours, I announce: “We are entering Downtown Cleveland ... Clinic.” A city within a city, with tens of thousands of caregivers at the Main Campus and thousands more visitors. Even with gerbil tubes connecting lookalike buildings, it’s an impressive sight to behold. On one tour, a first-time visitor to Cleveland asked me, “Which building is the Clinic?” I responded, “All of them.”
We leave Fairfax and enter University Circle to visually sort through a mix of classical and modern architecture, beautiful parks and the Case Western Reserve University campus. To me, it’s even better at night, with new, luminous residential towers, historic halls and museums reflecting off the Wade Park Lagoon. More is coming, which will only add to our cultural district’s vibrancy.
And that’s perhaps the most exciting part of my tours. Cleveland is always changing, adding new stuff, and not just on its main street between Ohio’s firstand fourth-largest employment hubs. I tell tourgoers about Gen. Moses Cleaveland arriving here in 1796. I tell them about the huge Republic Steel mill built on the swampy Scranton Peninsula, only to yield to nature a century later. On that land, cleaned of chrome toxins, a new neighborhood has risen in the last few years. Across the water is a 25-acre hillside, rebuilt to support itself and the forthcoming Irishtown Bend Park, in part to remember those who were tough enough to make it this far and start over.
That’s what Cleveland is doing. It’s starting over and reinventing itself. Cleveland survived its loss of manufacturing with enough strength to pursue a post-industrial conversion to a thriving economy of eds and meds, experiential venues, and new apartment buildings. None of this just happens. Someone decided to build it. And each new construction project changes Cleveland a little more. So go learn about your city by giving a visitor a tour from the perspective of your own life experiences. Note which construction projects might have changed your Cleveland in your time here. You just might learn something new about your city — something new to love.
Meet the 2026 finalists and help crown the winners at our Best of the East and West celebrations.
Thursday, April 16, 2026
La Centre, Westlake, 6–9 p.m.
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Best of the East
Landerhaven, Mayfield Heights, 6–9 p.m.
MORE THAN 3,000 READERS shared their picks for the best spots on the East Side, and now it’s time to celebrate the finalists. From dining and shopping to one-of-a-kind local services, these businesses rose to the top in their categories. Join us at the Best of the East party on Thursday, April 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights. Meet the finalists, sample what makes them stand out and cast your vote for your favorites. The winners will be announced in the August issue of Cleveland Magazine.
Best Restaurant
Charter House Grille, Cleveland
The Last Page, Beachwood
The Pompadour, Fairport Harbor
Best Patio
Sapphire Creek Winery & Gardens, Chagrin Falls
Tavern Six, Kirtland
The Fairmount, Cleveland Heights
Best View
17 River Grille, Chagrin Falls
Sapphire Creek Winery & Gardens, Chagrin Falls
Vincent William Wine, Madison
Best Lunch Spot
Choolaah Indian BBQ, Beachwood Element 41, Chardon
Jim Alesci’s Place, Solon
Best Late Night Food
Barrio Tacos, Cleveland Heights, Willoughby
The Fairmount, Cleveland Heights
The Wild Goose, Willoughby
Best Brunch
Brown Barn Tavern, Chardon
Sol, Willoughby
The Last Page, Beachwood
Best Organic Food
Beet Jar, Cleveland, Shaker Heights
Sage Karma Kitchen, Willoughby
Evexia, Aurora
Best Vegetarian
Aladdin’s Eatery, Multiple Locations
Sage Karma Kitchen, Willoughby
Tommy’s, Cleveland Heights
Best Seafood
Brennan’s Fish House, Grand River
Coppia, Willoughby
The Lobster Pot, Willoughby Hills
Best Sushi
Issho Ni Ramen & Sushi, Willoughby
Square Bistro, Chardon
Young’s Sushi, Willoughby
Best Steak
Heritage Steak & Whiskey, Woodmere
Hook & Hoof New American Kitchen and Cocktail, Willoughby
RED the Steakhouse, Orange Village
Best Independent Coffee Shop
Fiona’s Coffee Bar & Bakery, Willoughby
Heartwood Coffee Roasters, Multiple Locations
Beans Coffee Shop & Bistro, Chardon
Best Quick Bite
Cafe Honeycomb, Woodmere
Jim Alesci’s Place, Solon
Northstar Cafe, Cleveland, Shaker Heights
Best Ice Cream
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Chagrin Falls
King Kone, Chardon, Perry
Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, Multiple Locations
Best Bakery
Evergreen Bakery, Chagrin Falls
Jim Alesci’s Place, Solon
On the Rise Artisan Breads, Cleveland Heights
Best Donut
Biagio’s Donut Shop & Pizzeria, Eastlake
Goldie’s Donuts & Bakery, Lyndhurst
Haute Donuts and BBQ, Shaker Heights
Best Smoothie
Beet Jar, Cleveland, Shaker Heights
Be Smoothie Cafe, Willowick
Juicy Vegan, Cleveland
Best Pizza
Geraci’s, Multiple Locations
Etalian, Chagrin Falls
Pizzeria DiLauro, Chagrin Falls
Best Burger
Crowley’s Dive Bar, Eastlake
Heck’s, Beachwood
Stevenson’s Bar & Grill, Euclid
Best Wings
Mr. Lee’s Bar and Grill, Perry
Winking Lizard Tavern, Multiple Locations
Wright Place Tavern, Willoughby Hills
Best Mexican
Cilantro Taqueria, Multiple Locations
El Palenque, Eastlake
El Patron, Chardon
Best Italian
Mia Bella, Cleveland
M Italian, Chagrin Falls
Piccolo Italian Restaurant, Mayfield Heights
Best Chinese
Ho Wah, Beachwood
Hunan by the Falls, Chagrin Falls
Imperial Wok, Solon
Best Farmers Market
Heart of Willoughby Outdoor Market, Willoughby
Miles Farmers Market, Solon
Shaker Square Farmers Market (North Union Farmers Market), Cleveland
Best Deli
Davis Bakery & Delicatessen, Warrensville Heights, Woodmere
Farmer in the Deli, Chesterland
Jim Alesci’s Place, Solon
Best Family Dining
The Original Mario Fazio’s, Willoughby Hills
The Tavern Co., Cleveland Heights
Yours Truly Restaurant, Multiple Locations
Best Wedding Venue
LaVera Party Center, Willoughby Hills
Sapphire Creek Winery & Gardens, Chagrin Falls
The Madison, Cleveland
Best Day Spa
Quintana’s Barber & Dream Spa, Cleveland Heights
Reprieve Spa, Chagrin Falls
Woodhouse Spa, Orange Village
Best Mani Pedi
Avanti Salon, Chesterland
Manifest Manicures + Mixology, Shaker Heights
Raw Beauty Bar, Chardon
Best Salon
Avanti Salon, Chesterland
Changes Salon, Chagrin Falls
Luce Del Sole Studios, Mentor
Best Dry Cleaner
D.O. Summers Cleaners, Multiple Locations
London Cleaners, Willoughby
Tide Cleaners, Multiple Locations
Best Senior Living
McGregor, Cleveland
Ohio Living Breckenridge Village, Willoughby
Rose Senior Living Beachwood, Beachwood
Best Car Wash
Outback Auto Wash, Painesville
Waterway Carwash, Pepper Pike, South Euclid
Zappy’s Auto Washes, Multiple Locations
Best Fitness Center
Mandel Jewish Community Center, Beachwood
Results Fitness, Mayfield Heights
RYZE+GRIND Fitness, Woodmere
Best Yoga/Pilates Studio
Flow Yoga Studio, Gates Mills, Lyndhurst
Power Yoga Collective, Beachwood, Mentor
Yoga on the Eastside, Woodmere
Best Chiropractor
Code Chiro, Mayfield Heights
Core Life Chiropractic, Shaker Heights
Morris Chiropractic, Painesville
Best Interior Design
Heartfelt Homespace, Painesville
Ingrid Porter Interiors, Chagrin Falls
W Design, Chagrin Falls
Best Happy Hour
Agave & Rye, Woodmere
Burntwood Tavern, Multiple Locations
Pub Frato Gastropub, Chagrin Falls, Painesville
Best Golf Course
Gleneagles Golf Course, Twinsburg
Manakiki Golf Course, Willoughby Hills
StoneWater Golf Club, Highland Heights
Best Live Music Venue
Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland
Grog Shop, Cleveland Heights
Reithoffer’s Art, Spirits & Entertainment, Chagrin Falls
Best Brewery
Boss Dog Brewing Co., Cleveland Heights
Crooked Pecker Brewing Co., Chagrin Falls
Eleventhree Brewing, Chardon
Best Charitable Event
Cleveland Musicians’ Fundraiser, Geneva-on-the-Lake
Rescue Village’s Woofstock, Russell Township
Mandel Jewish Community
Center’s Shining Star CLE, Beachwood
Best Jeweler
Alson Jewelers, Woodmere
Bella Design Jewelers, Chagrin Falls
DavEd Jewelers, Willoughby
Best Pet Boutique
Barktown Willoughby, Willoughby
Basil & Rex, Lyndhurst
Pet Wants Chardon, Chardon
Best Wine Store
Chuck’s Fine Wines, Chagrin Falls
Red, Wine & Brew, Chesterland, Mentor
The Wine Spot, Cleveland Heights
Best Beer Selection
Heinen’s Grocery Store, Multiple Locations
Red, Wine & Brew, Chesterland, Mentor
The Wine Spot, Cleveland Heights
Best Florist
Lowe’s Greenhouse, Florist & Gift Shop, Chagrin Falls
Mayfield Floral, Mayfield Heights
Stems Fleur, Cleveland Heights
Best Garden Center
Bremec Garden Centers, Chesterland, Cleveland Heights
Lowe’s Greenhouse, Florist & Gift Shop, Chagrin Falls
Petitti Garden Centers, Multiple Locations
Best Bike Shop
Cain Park Bicycle, Cleveland Heights
Eddy’s Bike Shop, Willoughby Hills
Mountain Road Cycles, Chagrin Falls, Chardon
Best Boutique
Blush Boutique, Chagrin Falls
LADDER, Shaker Heights
The Collective Rose, Chardon
Best Men’s Fashion
arch., Shaker Heights
J3 Clothing, Moreland Hills
Peter’s Store for Men, Chagrin Falls
Best Handmade Retailer
Locally Spruced, Lyndhurst
Ohio Artisan Collective, Beachwood
The Corner, Shaker Heights
Best Handmade Market Vendor
Chagrin Falls Candle Co., Newbury
G.R.A.C.E. Elderberry Co., Willoughby
The Wick Life, Wickliffe
Best Home Décor
Etc. on Erie, Willoughby
FIG Chagrin, Chagrin Falls
W Home Collection, Chagrin Falls
Best Health Foods Retail
SweetBerry Fresh Market, Wickliffe
Metropolitan Market, Pepper Pike
Produce Place Market & Deli, Lyndhurst, Willoughby Hills
Best CLE T-Shirt Shop
CLE Clothing Co., Shaker Heights
GV Art + Design, Willoughby
Snakes + Acey’s, Cleveland
Best Consignment Shop
It’s So You, Willoughby
Piece Unique, Chagrin Falls
UpScaleIT, Solon
Best Antique Shop
Antiques & Uniques, Wickliffe
FIG Chagrin, Chagrin Falls
The Wild Card Vintage, Burton
CHILDREN
Best Dance/Theater Instruction
Fairmount Center for the Arts, Novelty
Playmakers Youth TheatreMandel Jewish Community Center, Beachwood
The Fine Arts Association, Willoughby
Best Gymnastics
Eastlake Gymnastics, Eastlake Lakeshore Dance & Gymnastics, Mayfield Village
Learning Ladder Gymnastics, Northfield
Best Music Instruction
Fairmount Center for the Arts, Novelty
School of Rock, Highland Heights
The Music Settlement, Cleveland
Best Birthday Party Location
Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, Shaker Heights
The Jump Yard, Eastlake
We Rock the Spectrum, Mayfield
Best Chef
Doug Katz (Zhug), Cleveland Heights
Brandon Chrostowski (EDWINS), Cleveland Heights
Rusty James Phillips (The Pompadour), Fairport Harbor
Best Bartender
Dana D’Agostino (Eleventhree Brewing), Chardon
Jaret Tekavec (Tavern Six), Kirtland
Kristy Morris (Nouveau Bistro & Lounge), Concord
Best Stylist
Alex Quintana (Quintana’s Barber & Dream Spa), Cleveland Heights
Lauren Segler (Avanti Salon), Chesterland
Meghan Rosbottom (Refined by Meghan/Luce Del Sole Studios), Mentor
Best Fitness Instructor
Josh Mekota (Results Fitness), Mayfield Heights
Kate Toohig (Mandel Jewish Community Center), Beachwood
Shannon Harrell (Flow Yoga), Gates Mills
Best Photographer
Dad Brag Photography, Solon
GraceHannah Photography, Mentor
Jules White Photography, Mayfield
8027 Mayfield Road Chesterland, OH 44026 440-729-9008 avantisalon.com
Avanti Salon is an award-winning Aveda Concept Salon and home to some of Northeast Ohio’s premier beauty professionals specializing in hair, skin and nails.
42 Plaza Drive Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 440-247-7273 changessaloninc.com
Changes Salon in Chagrin Falls delivers expert color, precision cuts, extensions and smoothing. Our talented team creates a luxury experience where every guest feels confident, polished and empowered.
1731 Lost Nation Road Willoughby, OH 44094 440-375-5956 coppiarestaurant.com
Fine dining reimagined. Step into an evening at Coppia as Chefs Hedy and Talia Trovato transform the season’s finest ingredients into something you’ll never forget.
Multiple Locations 216-291-1177 dosummers.com
Cleveland’s oldest and finest dry cleaners, proudly servicing Northeast Ohio for over 140 years with multiple locations and free pick-up and delivery.
13 Bell St. Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 440-600-2001 etalianpizza.com
ETalian is a fresh, casual, woodburning pizzeria and cafe open daily. In addition to pizza, we serve bomboloni, crepes, egg wraps, salads, sandwich melts, cheesy bread, espresso, cappuccino, lattes, milkshakes, lemonade icy and gelato. Open daily at 8 a.m.
14900 Private Drive Cleveland, OH 44112 216-851-8200 mcgregoramasa.org
Nestled among 45 acres, active and socially oriented seniors enjoy an all-inclusive lifestyle committed to your personal well-being. Come and discover for yourself why so many love to call McGregor home.
32910 Solon Road Solon, OH 44139 440-498-0888 alescis.com
At Jim Alesci’s Place, food, family and tradition come together through homemade Italian specialties, authentic recipes and a welcoming atmosphere where customers truly become friends. We offer a bakery, deli, cafe, prepared foods, specialties and catering.
12200 Mayfield Road Cleveland, OH 44106 216-795-2355 mblittleitaly.com
Mia Bella has been located in Little Italy since 2010, serving traditional Italian and Mediterranean fare, with professional staff and amazing drinks.
36851 Ridge Road Willoughby Hills, OH 44094 440-942-4342 ohioliving.org
Ohio Living Breckenridge Village is more than just a residence; it’s a thriving community where you will experience comprehensive care and discover the independent lifestyle you’ve been looking for. Assisted living, memory care, rehab and longterm care are also available.
15463 Chillicothe Road Novelty, OH 44072 440-338-4819 rescuevillage.org
Rescue Village is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides shelter, veterinary care and adoptions for homeless, neglected and abused animals.
Multiple Locations 440-426-5696 outbackautowash.com
Outback Auto Wash is a kickin’ Australian-themed, touch-free car wash experience! Open 24/7, with top-notch customer service and fantastic deals on wash club memberships.
23611 Harvard Road Beachwood, OH 44149 beachwood.roseseniorliving.com
Independent living, assisted living and memory care in a loving setting, Rose Senior Living Beachwood provides maintenance-free living within the warm, welcoming feeling of home. From first-class amenities to services designed around your preferences, you’ll love life here.
Take the next step at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).
Gain in-demand job skills or earn an affordable, transfer-friendly degree.
Tri-C can even help you launch your own business.
Knowledgeable instructors and advisors will help you create a customized plan that puts you on the fast track to your dream job, a four-year degree or whatever your next step in life is.
So keep moving forward. Keep striving. Keep your eye on the prize. Keep after that dream.
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16965 Park Circle Drive
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
440-543-7777
sapphirecreek.com
Your wedding will be memorable at Sapphire Creek Winery & Gardens. Our modern, exquisite winery and extensive gardens serve as the perfect setting. The photo opportunities are endless. You and your guests will be in awe of the culinary creations and white-glove service.
33533 Aurora Road Solon, OH 44139
440-287-0104
shopupscaleit.com
UpScaleIT, Northeast Ohio’s No. 1 consignment store, curates amazing ladies’ clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry and more. The store carries Chanel, Gucci and LV, plus brands you wear daily. Join the thousands of consignors who are turning their closets into cash at UpScaleIT!
Multiple Locations 440-792-4090
tidecleaners.com
hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tide Cleaners is America’s No. 1 trusted brand in dry cleaning. We offer conveniences like same-day service and home pickup and delivery. Download our app today!
1300 Belleair Ave. Madison, OH 44057
440-428-1300
vincentwilliamwine.com
Family-owned and award-winning Vincent William Wine is a boutique winery set in a restored lakeside mansion on Lake Erie, offering acclaimed wines, seasonal cuisine, cocktails and elegant inn accommodations.
300
Best Restaurant
Luca West, Westlake
Pier W, Lakewood
Square 22 Restaurant & Bar, Strongsville
Best Patio
All Saints Public House, Cleveland
Don’s Pomeroy House, Strongsville
The Aviator, Cleveland
Best View
Lorain Brewing Co. and Event Center, Lorain
Pier W, Lakewood
Summer Place, Lakewood
Best Lunch Spot
Boss ChickN Beer, Multiple Locations
Burntwood Tavern, North Olmsted, Rocky River
Square 22 Restaurant & Bar, Strongsville
NEARLY 3,000 READERS CAST THEIR VOTES for their favorite West Side hot spots, and now it’s time to spotlight the finalists. From standout restaurants and unique shops to trusted local services, these businesses earned top marks in their categories. Join us for the Best of the West party on Thursday, April 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. at La Centre in Westlake. Meet the finalists, see what sets them apart and cast your vote for the best in each category. Then, check out the August issue of Cleveland Magazine, where we’ll announce the winners
Best Late Night Food
Barrio Tacos, Multiple Locations
Happy Dog, Cleveland
Real Smoq’ed BBQ, Cleveland
Best Brunch
Rosewood Grill, Strongsville, Westlake
Rowley Inn, Cleveland
The Aviator, Cleveland
Best Organic Food
Beet Jar, Cleveland
PureFyx Health Bar, Coffee Shop & Juicery, Cleveland
The Root Cafe, Lakewood
Best Vegetarian
Aladdin’s Eatery, Multiple Locations
Choolaah Indian BBQ, Cleveland, Westlake Cleveland Vegan, Lakewood
Best Seafood
Ibiza Mediterranean Restaurant, Avon Lake
Pier W, Lakewood
Salmon Dave’s, Rocky River
Best Sushi
Funshi Sushi Ramen & Boba, Avon, Rocky River
Ginko Restaurant, Cleveland
Shinto, Strongsville, Westlake
Best Steak
Artis, Lakewood
Cabin Club, Westlake
Strip Steakhouse, Avon
Best Coffee Shop
5 Points Coffee & Tea, Cleveland
Emilie’s Coffee House & Wine Bar, Avon Lake
Goodkind Coffee, Lakewood
Best Quick Bite
Gingham Market, Lakewood
Best Ice Cream
Honey Hut Ice Cream, Multiple Locations
Mason’s Creamery, Cleveland
Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, Multiple Locations
Best Bakery
Blackbird Baking Co., Lakewood
Leavened, Cleveland
Reilly’s Irish Bakery, Fairview Park
Best Donuts
Becker’s Donuts & Bakery, Fairview Park
Jack Frost Donuts, Cleveland
Spudnut Donuts, Berea
Best Smoothie
Green Farm Juicery, Bay Village
Liquid Fresh Planet, Cleveland
Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar, Multiple Locations
Little Cloud Sandwiches, Cleveland
Local West, Cleveland
Best Pizza
Angelo’s Pizza, Lakewood
Cent’s Pizza + Goods, Cleveland
Pizza by Robert, Westlake
Best Burger
Gunselman’s Tavern, Fairview Park
Heck’s Cafe, Avon, Cleveland
Rowley Inn, Cleveland
Best Wings
Around the Corner Saloon & Cafe, Lakewood
Boss ChickN Beer, Multiple Locations
Old School Pizza & Wings, Avon Lake, Rocky River
Best Mexican
Cozumel, Multiple Locations
Las Margaritas, Avon, Avon Lake
Momocho, Cleveland
Best Italian
Bar Italia, Lakewood
Luca West, Westlake
Stancato’s, Parma
Best Chinese
Aristo Bistro, Westlake
King Wah, Rocky River
Plum Asian Fare and Sushi, Avon Lake
Best Farmers Market
Crocker Park Market (North Union Farmers Market), Westlake
Frostville Farmers Market, North Olmsted
West Side Market, Cleveland
Best Deli
Joe’s Deli & Restaurant, Rocky River
Larder Delicatessen & Bakery, Cleveland
Lehman’s Deli & Bakery, Westlake
Best Family Dining
Bearden’s, Rocky River
Joe’s Deli & Restaurant, Rocky River
Johnny’s Boat House, Avon Lake
Best Wedding Venue
La Centre, Westlake
The Aviator, Cleveland
The Elliot, Cleveland
Best Day Spa
Fitness Center at UH Avon Health Center Day Spa, Avon
Options Salon & Spa, Fairview Park
Sacred Hour, Lakewood, Rocky River
Best Mani Pedi
Alora Nail Spa & Salon, Avon
Options Salon & Spa, Fairview Park
Stella & Shay Beauty Bar, Westlake
Best Salon
Deborah Colin Salon & Spa, Strongsville
Options Salon & Spa, Fairview Park
Tease Salon, Middleburg Heights
Best Dry Cleaner
Kergaard Cleaners, Lakewood
New Westlake Cleaners, Lakewood
Ridge Cleaners, Multiple Locations
Tide Cleaners, Multiple Locations
Best Senior Living
Danbury North Ridgeville, North Ridgeville
O’Neill Healthcare, Multiple Locations
Rose Senior Living, Avon
Best Car Wash
Andy’s Autowash, North Olmsted
Jerry Kuhn’s Kwik Car Wash, Parma Heights
Sgt. Clean Car Wash, Multiple Locations
Best Fitness Center
Fitness Center at UH Avon Health Center, Avon
Pedal + Power, Cleveland
Tremont Athletic Club, Cleveland
Best Yoga/Pilates Studio
Cultivate Yoga, Avon, Lakewood
Inner Bliss Yoga Studio, Rocky River, Westlake
Vital Pilates & Wellness Bar, Lakewood
Best Chiropractor
Great Lakes Health and Wellness, Multiple Locations
River Chiropractic & Wellness, Rocky River
Westside Chiropractic & Wellness, Avon
Best Interior Design
Ashleigh Clark Interior Design Group, Strongsville
Avenue Home, Lakewood
Ducy Design, Westlake
Best Happy Hour
Georgetown | Vosh, Lakewood
Square 22 Restaurant and Bar, Strongsville
Westsiders, Rocky River
Best Golf Course
Big Met Golf Course, Fairview Park
North Olmsted Golf Club, North Olmsted
Red Tail Golf Club, Avon
Best Live Music Venue
BOP STOP at The Music Settlement, Cleveland
Music Box Supper Club, Cleveland
Brothers Lounge, Cleveland
Best Brewery
Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, North Olmsted
Great Lakes Brewing Co., Cleveland
Immigrant Son Brewing, Lakewood
Best Charitable Event
Beck Center for the Arts’ Spotlight Gala, Lakewood
Prayers From Maria’s Sunflower Wine Festival, Rocky River
Providence House’s Deck the House, Cleveland
Experience vibrant senior living at Rose Senior Living Avon and Rose Senior Living Beachwood. Our welcoming communities prioritize comfort, care, and community above all else. With thoughtfully designed accommodations and a range of amenities, residents can enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle tailored to their needs. Embrace a warm, inviting atmosphere where every day brings new opportunities for connection and happiness. Welcome to Rose Senior Living – where you’ll find a place to call home.
Continue your life story at Rose Senior Living
Come notice the warm welcoming feeling of family and home. We look forward to showing you around our campuses!
Contact Us Today!
SHOPPING
Best Jeweler
Kleinhenz Jewelers, Westlake
Peter & Co. Jewelers, Avon Lake
Sheiban Jewelers, Strongsville
Best Pet Boutique
Luca’s Pet Nutrition Center, Cleveland
Pet-Tique, Cleveland
Style Mutt, Cleveland
Best Florist
Blossom Flower Bar, Lakewood
Precious Petals, Columbia Station
Silver Fox Florist, Westlake
Best Garden Center
Cahoon Nursery, Westlake
Gale’s Westlake Garden Center, Westlake
Petitti Garden Centers, Multiple Locations
Best Wine Store
Proof Liquor Co., Strongsville
Rozi’s Wine House, Lakewood
Vino di Luca, Olmsted Falls
Best Beer Selection
1 Stop Beverage, Avon
Heinen’s, Multiple Locations
Simone’s Beverage, Lakewood
Best Bike Shop
Eddy’s Bike Shop, North Olmsted, Rocky River
Marty’s Cycle Center, Avon Lake
Spin Bike Shop, Lakewood
Best Boutique
Estella Boutique, Westlake
Girl Next Door, Rocky River
Knuth’s, Westlake
Best Men’s Fashion
Ford’s Clothier, Rocky River
Sartorial, Cleveland
Ticknors Men’s Clothier, Strongsville
Best Home Décor
Collected by Clark, Strongsville
Mishi Lifestyle, Lakewood
Wild Iris Home, Avon
Best Health Foods (Retail)
Lucky’s Market, Cleveland
Nature’s Oasis, Lakewood
See You in Health Cafe & Market, North Royalton
Best CLE T-Shirt Shop
CLE Clothing Co., Westlake
GV Art + Design, Avon, Lakewood
Only in Clev, Cleveland
Best Consignment Shop
Common Threads, Brook Park, Fairview Park
Consign Home Couture, Westlake
River Trading Co., Rocky River
Best Antique Shop
All Things for You, Cleveland
CLE Vintage Co., Parma
Second Thyme Around, Olmsted Falls
Best Handmade Retailer
Blended SouthPark, Strongsville
Talents, Avon Lake
The Rift Shop, Olmsted Falls
Best Handmade Market Vendor
Black Dragon Designs, Cleveland
Legacy 93 Vintage, Elyria
Serene Design Co., Cleveland
CHILDREN
Best Dance/Theater Instruction
Above the Barre, Berea
Beck Center for the Arts, Lakewood
Dance Lakewood, Lakewood
Best Gymnastics
Above the Barre, Berea
ADMA Dance & Gymnastics, Westlake
Little Stars Gymnastics, Middleburg Heights
Best Music Instruction
Beck Center for the Arts, Lakewood
School of Rock, Strongsville, Westlake
The Music Settlement, Cleveland
Best Birthday Party Location
Little Stars Gymnastics, Middleburg Heights
Malley’s Chocolates, Multiple Locations
Scene75 Entertainment Center, Brunswick
PEOPLE
Best Chef
Chris Bruder - Square 22 Restaurant and Bar, Strongsville
David “Skippy” Rutherford - Little
Cloud Sandwiches, Cleveland
Emily Campion - Birdietown, Lakewood
Best Bartender
Callie Paul - Bartenza, Strongsville
Jeff Gresko - Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
Matt “Chewy” Thompson - Twist Social Club, Cleveland
Best Stylist
Becca Durda - Options Salon & Spa, Fairview Park
Colin Ferek - Deborah Colin Salon & Spa, Strongsville
Louie Leonetti - Illuminate Salon, Lakewood
Best Fitness Instructor
Leland Coffey - Tremont Athletic Club, Cleveland
Jeannie Malloy - Pedal + Power, Cleveland
Maggie Ruper - Cycle Fly, Lakewood
Best Photographer
Kelly Crews Photography, Hinckley
Leigh Roth Photography, Westlake
Tom Apathy Photography, Parma
440.340.3600 info@ducydesign.com www.ducydesign.com follow us! @ducydesign
20920 Brookpark Road Cleveland, OH 44135 216-770-5300 aviatorcle.com
The Aviator Event Center & Pub is a premier event and dining destination near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, featuring a full-service restaurant, outdoor patio, Altitude Rooftop, chef-driven cuisine, craft cocktails and versatile spaces for weddings.
27630 Detroit Road Westlake, OH 44145 440-871-3761 cahoonnursery.com
Cahoon Nursery has spent the last 78 years building relationships to help you succeed in your yard. If you need help with a gardening or landscaping project, Cahoon Nursery makes it easy.
36033 Westminister Ave. North Ridgeville, OH 44039 440-353-2828
bistro83.com
hours: Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m. -10 p.m.; Happy hour in the bar: Mon.-Sat. 3 p.m. -6 p.m.
Congratulations to long-time bartender Jeff Gresko for his eighth nomination for Best Bartender award in Cleveland Magazine’s Best of the West. Stop in today to see Jeff slinging some of his classic cocktails.
25043 Tricia Drive Westlake, OH 44145
440-340-3600
ducydesign.com
hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Luxury interior design that transforms everyday living — Ducy Design is a full-service interior design studio specializing in thoughtfully crafted residential and hospitality spaces. Reach us at info@ducydesign.com.
17450 Engle Lake Drive Middleburg Heights, OH 44130 216-898-0242 fatheads.com
Fat Head’s Brewery’s 250-seat traditional-style beer hall in Middleburg Heights offers a full menu of delicious food and a 20beer tap list, featuring world-class, award-winning brews. Chill out, man, and have a beer!
29540 Center Ridge Road Westlake, OH 44145
440-895-3500
greatlakeshealthohio.com
Corrective chiropractic care that gets to the root cause, not just symptoms. At Great Lakes Health & Wellness, our team combines chiropractic, therapeutic massage and functional medicine to help Clevelanders move better, feel stronger and live pain free.
19821 Detroit Road Rocky River, OH 44116 440-333-2355 fordsclothier.com
Fords has spent the last 113 years helping the gentlemen of Cleveland and beyond look their best. Stop by and see the difference.
26141 Detroit Road Westlake, OH 44145
440-871-7800
shop-knuths.com
Rooted in the Cleveland community since 1960, Knuth’s delivers effortless, elevated style for everyday life — curated fashion, accessories and personal service for women across generations.
24600 Detroit Road Westlake, OH 44145 216-201-9600 lucawest.com
Luca West is your neighborhood country Tuscan ristorante, featuring Italian classics along with innovative daily specials. Whether weeknight, weekend or outdoor dining, your visit to Luca West is a special experience.
15317 Chatfield Ave. Cleveland, OH 44111 pedalpluspower.com
We offer spin, strength and yoga classes for all fitness levels. With 30-plus classes a week, we have something for you. Come sweat with us! Find us on Facebook and Instagram: @pedalpluspower
5452 Detroit Ave. Cleveland, OH 44102 216-377-1749 purefyx.com
PureFyx Health Bar, Coffee Shop & Juicery is located in Cleveland’s Gordon Square/Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood, serving the near West Side and surrounding communities, including Ohio City, Lakewood and Downtown Cleveland.
Avon Lake: 440-930-7300
North Ridgeville: 440-327-7294 Amherst: 440-434-4185 ridgecleaners.com
Ridge Cleaners provides expert garment care and tailoring. A family-owned and -operated business since 1946, their home and corporate pick-up and delivery service is a convenient concierge for today’s professionals.
21689 Lorain Road Fairview Park, OH 44126 440-331-0084
optionssalonspa.com
Becca Durda, master stylist of 14 years at Options Salon & Spa, specializes in fashion color and lived-in looks, creating confidence alongside Options’ talented team.
12700 Lake Ave. Lakewood, OH 44107 216-228-2250 pierw.com
Pier W features a critically acclaimed menu emphasizing fresh seafood and an awardwinning wine list. Also known for its extensive brunch and happy hour, Pier W remains a city favorite for the best dining with a panoramic view of Cleveland.
22570 Lorain Road Fairview Park, OH 44126 440-479-4614
reillysirishbakery.com
At Reilly’s Irish Bakery & Deli, savory meets sweet. From scratch-made shepherd’s pies and pastries to fresh soups and baked treats, we’re honored to serve Cleveland families and the iconic West Side Market.
33200 Health Campus Blvd. Avon, OH 44011 avon.roseseniorliving.com
Independent living, assisted living and memory care in a loving setting, Rose Senior Living Avon provides maintenance-free living with the warm, welcoming feeling of home. From first-class amenities to services designed around your preferences, you’ll love life here.
3525 Warren Road Cleveland, OH 44111
440-409-0451
stylemutt.com
hours: Mon.-Sat. 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Celebrating its 19th anniversary in September, Style Mutt is a dog and cat boutique, dog daycare and grooming center.
Multiple Locations 440-792-4090
tidecleaners.com
hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tide Cleaners is America’s No. 1 trusted brand in dry cleaning. We offer conveniences like same-day service and home pickup and delivery. Download our app today!
33491 Lake Road Avon Lake, OH 44012 440-961-0580
talentsgifts.com
Talents Gift Shop features over 80 artisans! We also offer you a specialty market area, pet boutique, kids’ section, local authors, plus fabulous gift baskets and cards. There’s something for the entire family. “From Nostalgic Candy to Fine Art, You’ll Find It at Talents.”
7932 Main St. Olmsted Falls, OH 44138 440-427-1222 vinodiluca.com
Vino Di Luca is a charming wine bar founded by Chef Luca Sema in historic Olmsted Falls. This cozy space blends old-world charm with modern flair, offering small plates and unique wines.
How do college tours and figuring out what’s next on campus work now?
BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE
Campus love at first sight. “A vibe.” That feeling of home. These are some of the ways students describe how a tour turned into a college experience, no sales pitch or glossy statistics involved.
“I know it sounds cliche,” says Kenzie Molnar, a senior at Bowling Green State University from Lorain.
It does, but the business administration major, who specializes in marketing, points to little-big moments that signaled inclusion in a friendly neighbor sort of way.
“My tour guide told me how the university’s president sometimes buys Starbucks for students on campus and hosts scholarship recipients for dinner at his house,” she says.
Molnar, 21, has experienced that hospitality firsthand. Small gestures make a larger campus feel unexpectedly personal.
At John Carroll University, families arriving for tours find a reserved parking space with their student’s name and “Future Blue Streak” posted. They’ve got a spot, no ques-
tions asked. Inside, high-top tables host collegiates who mingle over cold brew (on tap) and settle into soft seating that’s every bit a hangout living room.
“It’s super important to pay attention to how students interact with each other on campus and what kind of energy the campus is giving off,” says Ryan Mann, JCU’s associate director of admission.
Of course, there are standard tour components: an engaging video, introductions from staff, a walk through academic buildings and residence halls. Student guides lead visitors one-on-one or in small groups.
But doing a campus tour right is about more than checking boxes. Admissions teams say there’s no single “right way” to tour. But there are smart strategies: arrive with a shortlist of priorities, ask questions that prompt real answers and pay attention to what’s happening off script. Today’s tours are layered experiences designed to help families test that instinct.
When the No. 1 major is “undecided,” flexibility matters. Will the campus sustain a student’s changes?
At BGSU, students who shift academic direction are still at home, says Erin Heilmeier, assistant vice president and director of admissions. The university’s Life Design program helps students map academic interests alongside career exploration.
Campus life plays a central role in that process.
An initial visit, Heilmeier says, is often more experiential. Students are asking, Can I see myself here? On follow-up tours, the questions include, How do I pay for this? What does this academic program actually look like on a typical day? What resources are in place if I pivot?
“At any university, you live there,” Heilmeier emphasizes. “Your entire experience includes the support you receive inside and outside of classrooms.”
John Carroll University
Most first visits include familiar elements: a presentation, guided tour, Q&A session and often a meeting with an admissions counselor. But today’s tours are increasingly personalized. At BGSU, prospective students can request specific meetings tied to their interests — and even select a tour guide by sharing basic information such as intended major, hometown and extracurricular involvement.
“If they’re coming for a custom day visit, we make sure they’re connecting with someone who can share relatable insight,” Heilmeier says.
Tour guides often follow up afterward with a postcard, remaining a resource long after the walking portion ends.
At the University of Mount Union in Alliance, personalization shows up in small but telling ways. Students who schedule meetings with admissions staff, faculty or coaches aren’t handed a campus map and pointed across the quad.
“Rather than giving them a map and showing them where to go, we are ‘unreasonably hospitable’ and make that soft handoff,” says Kaetlynn Furda, director of admission and a Mount Union alumna.
Personalization starts before prospective students step onto campus.
“From the first communication,” Mann says of JCU, “everything is crafted to design an experience that creates a sense of belonging.”
Great expectations, dialing in By the third campus, the presentations can start to sound alike. What separates one visit from another? It isn’t the polished video, it’s what happens in between.
“How consistent is what you’re hearing with what you’re actually seeing?” Furda asks. “It’s easy to talk about values. It’s more important to see them lived out.”
Expectations can be big, and colleges want to represent. But they get real. There’s a balance. Dorm room options are on display. There are suites, but they want prospective students to see the gamut.
Colleges recognize that, with statistically stagnant or slightly declining enrollment, personalization is a plus. Shiny objects don’t sell a school, but families still want to know the details.
“People know so much more about the college experience. Now there are different expectations,” Heilmeier says. “They expect us to have nice residence halls and air conditioning in those rooms. They expect laundry. We show them this is available and how we can exceed that with things like meal delivery robots on campus.”
Again, transparency rules.
On some especially hot days last academic year, Molnar says the university rolled out ice cream trucks and slip-and-slides for lighthearted chill time in front of traditional dorms. “We share the real experience,” she says. “Students who are looking to find their
home know what they are getting.”
What really matters?
Define three non-negotiables and three nice-to-haves. Those might include affordability, academic flexibility, campus feel, support systems or distance from home. Then build from there.
Leah Pritchard tells prospective families to come in with a “bucket list.”
“You should already know what you can’t live without,” she says. “And what would be nice but isn’t a dealbreaker.”
This explains why multi-visits matter. When Pritchard was touring campuses, the fitness center and nearby city options were high on her list. In retrospect, she says, “that mattered to me.”
After a second visit, what mattered was “feeling relaxed on campus.”
For her mom, the buy-in was about how the campus looked and felt. “She wanted it to look like college,” Pritchard says with a laugh. Those priorities don’t have to match. But they should be clear.
Pritchard wanted to know she could access the latest technology in the classroom. Still, “I’m a paper and pencil person,” so that was important but not the be-all-endall. Involvement in collegiate athletics spirit was key. Hailing from Albion, a rural New York farming town, off-campus amenities in Cleveland were essential. Campus engagement: critical. She was a do-everything in high school.
“There’s never going to be one school that’s perfect,” says Pritchard. “But there’s going to be one that’s pretty close.”
Majors, internships and financial aid are table stakes. Go deeper. What does a Tuesday night look like? What do students do on weekends? And don’t forget safety.
“It’s one question I asked that stumped a lot of tour guides when I was visiting schools,” Pritchard says. “I want to hear the answer to, ‘Do you feel safe walking to your car at night? What about walking back to a dorm?’"
Asking provided reassurance and information about campus and local authorities and escort services.
“Safety and security is something families don’t always ask about, but they should,” she says.
A gap year can build clarity or cost momentum. Here’s how to get it right.
BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE
ravel abroad. Serve in AmeriCorps. Spend a year learning a language on their turf. Shadow a mentor in a lab.
For some students, the year after high school doesn’t begin in a lecture hall. It starts with a gap year, when exams and GPAs are on pause and learning happens in the world.
But what separates an empowering launch from a costly detour isn’t geography or adventure. It’s clarity beyond chipping away at a bucket list. The most successful gap years begin with the end in mind: a defined purpose and a concrete plan for what comes next.
“A gap year is not a delay. It’s a tool, but it has to be mission-driven,” says Teneisha Dyer, assistant dean for student recruitment and marketing at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Education, Criminal Justice,
Human Services & Information Technology.
From a higher-education perspective, she says, the year must be intentional and structured, with a clear re-entry plan that ensures students return stronger, not stalled.
In Northeast Ohio’s college-prep schools, advisors say the decision to take a gap year is still uncommon.
“Maybe one every other year,” says Hillary Teague, associate director of college guidance at Laurel School.
The same is true at Hawken School and Magnificat High School. At both schools, students are in a mindset of matriculating on campus.
Those who do are not trying to escape academic rigor. They’re moving toward a goal.
“They’re really intentional about a certain experience they want,” Teague says. “They usually already have something in mind and
are going at it from ‘backward engineering.’”
A gap year can be a smart move or a costly detour, depending on the student and the plan.
“It really depends on the student and how that time period is going to be used,” says Jessica McCoy, the director of counseling services at Magnificat High School. “Trying to make this decision, it’s important to think about the end goal. How is this helping you get to where you want to be?”
The idea of a gap year has expanded in some everyday conversations. It could be interpreted as not applying to college at all, taking time off to travel or work, or taking a break. While on the surface, a gap year might spell freedom, there are parameters.
Technically, a gap year is granted to a stu-
dent after applying and being accepted to a school. With this approval and a plan, a student can defer enrollment and dedicate a year to learning service or an experience tied to growth, Dyer explains.
The distinction matters because timing impacts not just admissions, but money. (As for the gap year, students and families are on the hook.)
Also important, a gap year can affect scholarships and institutional aid, depending on the school’s rules and the student’s timeline, Dyer says. Federal financial aid is annual — families complete FAFSA each year regardless. But institutional scholarships and merit awards often come with conditions about when a student must enroll and return.
Her advice: Before committing, students should meet with admissions and ask how a gap year could affect merit aid, deadlines and eligibility.
“Every situation is different,” Dyer says. “It’s always best to meet with admissions counselors, learn more about the institution, their priorities, their rules when it comes to
a gap year and how it might impact them academically and financially.”
Teague adds a critical technical point families don’t always realize: “Gap year” doesn’t mean you can defer admission to a four-year college and take college classes elsewhere in the meantime.
“That is not a gap year,” she says. “Then you are a transfer student.”
Many institutions will deny a deferral request if a student plans to enroll for credit at another two- or four-year school, she says.
When a student brings up the idea of a gap year, the first question many families ask is simple: Will this actually help?
Cristan Harris, director of college counseling at Hawken, says more families are open to the idea, especially when students present a structured plan and a clear return.
“Most of our paths aren’t totally linear,” she says of the post-secondary journey. “Students gain a lot of confidence during a gap year, and their GPAs tend to be higher. They’re going into it with a growth mindset
and want to start college stronger and more informed.”
McCoy sees confidence pay off when students use the year to test-drive possible futures. Many undergraduates change majors once they enroll. A structured year that includes job shadowing, internships or intentional work experience can help students “solidify their plan,” she says.
But advisors circle back to the same principle: preserving persistence toward a degree.
For Hawken students, the typical path is to apply during senior year, while counselors are still available to support essays and applications.
Then, for a gap year, they can request a deferral. There must be a good reason, and institutions can say no.
“In order to defer your admission, colleges will ask, ‘What’s your plan?’” Harris says. “You absolutely have to have a plan.”
From the university side, that plan must include re-entry.
At UC, Dyer says the expectation is a defined return term and ongoing communi-
cation between the student, family and institution. She recommends periodic check-ins, deadline reminders and space to reflect if interests evolve.
Because another truth about gap years is this: they can change you.
“It opens your eyes,” Dyer says. What a student thought they wanted at 17 may shift after working, serving or living somewhere new. Re-entry planning should allow for that evolution, not ignore it.
Dyer says students also should be able to articulate what they gained — maturity, clarity, skills; and how those experiences will shape their first year back on campus.
At the same time, counselors are also candid about when a gap year is probably not a fit. A gap year without structure can turn into drift.
McCoy is most concerned if a student struggles with self-discipline. Without goals, routine and accountability, momentum can fade.
However, she says, “a gap year with a mentor to keep you on the path can help a student stay on track.”
So, what does a well-done gap year look like? It includes structure, goals and real-world learning.
You need to work with intention. Cristan Harris, director of college counseling at Hawken, says many students work for at least half the year — sometimes to fund travel, sometimes to build savings for college, sometimes to gain independence and confidence before they enroll.
Career exploration becomes a must. Jessica McCoy, the director of counseling services at Magnificat, encourages job shadowing and internships in fields a student is considering. It’s one thing to “glamorize” a profession. It’s another
to experience the day-to-day. That exposure can confirm a direction or save time and money in the future.
Service learning brings focus to the year. From the higher-ed lens, University of Cincinnati’s Teneisha Dyer often sees gap years connected to service learning, mission-based trips and nonprofit work, sometimes abroad. Those experiences can translate into socialimpact fields like education, human services and criminal justice. “It really needs to be mission-driven, not simply ‘I need a year off,’” she relates.
Approximately associate degree and technical certificate programs
$1,000,000
INSIDE:
Q&A with Mayor Kraus
Upcoming Events
Transforming Solon’s
Downtown Core
From vibrant cultural celebrations to new parks, partnerships and neighborhood improvements, Solon moves ahead as one connected community.
Mayor Eddy Kraus explains how a “yes to progress” mindset, strong schools and tight partnerships are driving Solon’s growth.
Q: Solon is in the midst of a lot of economic development, including the potential mixed-use development and new businesses. As Solon's mayor, how do you make sure the city continues to thrive?
A: When I first got here nine years ago, my goal was to say yes to business, yes to progress, yes to development ... to start out with “yes” and then work on the details. You have got to have good partners and a fully engaged team. Whether it’s a real estate deal, a trail, a park, a winery, everyone has to give time, resources and staff. When that happens, you start to see results.
Q: How do Solon’s venerated public schools play into those partnerships that benefit the whole team?
A: The schools have set the bar of excellence for all of us — for me as mayor, for our businesses, for everything that we do. There’s no compromising with the education and with our students. The administration, teachers, students, parents — it’s a whole ecosystem ... [People] move
Mayor Eddy Kraus has served as Solon’s mayor for nine years.
into our community for the schools. They want the best education for their children.
Q: Could you elaborate on this shared value of excellence that is helping to drive the city’s future?
A: I have a staff that believes in [Solon’s future] strongly and executes our visions. The other great partner is our City Council. All seven elected officials are part of our team. We include our council in everything we do, because you have to have that strong relationship between the administration and City Council. We don’t always agree on everything, but they’re true partners in everything we do.
Solon is replacing the US-422/Harper Road cloverleaf with a diverging diamond to reduce congestion and improve pedestrian and bike access. By
Ruth Corradi Beach
Solon is partnering with the Ohio Department of Transportation to turn clovers into diamonds for the benefit of commuters and walkers alike. The US-422 interchange at Harper Road (CR-18), which is currently a cloverleaf style with big, wide loops, is being reconfigured into a diverging diamond, a more compact design that encourages a neater traffic flow.
“[The current interchange] is insufficient now just because of how much the commercial industrial area — not only the city of Solon but also the village of Glenwillow — has grown. This is the primary interchange to service those areas,” says John J. Busch, Solon’s city engineer.
City Council did not approve the project at first, because the bids came in higher than anticipated, meaning that grant money from ODOT was not sufficient. The city did qualify, however, for a TRAC grant, which ODOT offers for more expensive, congestion-reduction projects. Solon ultimately received a $7.2 million grant from ODOT, and the project was a go.
In addition to relieving traffic headaches for commuters, the diverging diamond configuration will offer another benefit to residents. Initially, it will increase bikeability and walkability. The city’s ultimate plan is to connect people to the Metroparks at Hawthorn Parkway.
“We [currently] have some sidewalks through there, but it’s not set up for bicycle riding and that kind of activity,” Busch says. “That was one of our main criteria — to design the project to incorporate a multipurpose path.”
In addition, Solon secured $2 million in federal earmark funding from Max Miller. As a result, the city temporarily suspended bids in late February while incorporating this additional federal funding and evaluating the overall project budget.
From tennis, pickleball, and baseball to playgrounds and volleyball, our parks offer something for everyone. Exciting updates are underway, including new paths, pavilions, and an open-air stage, plus Grantwood Golf Course and 1,200 acres of Cleveland Metroparks to explore.
Indoor and outdoor pools, gymnasium, jogging track, meeting and banquet rooms, aerobics studio, free weight room, rock climbing wall and a fitness area.
for the Arts
Classes in theater, art and dance, private music lessons, gallery exhibitions, monthly family and adult events, theatrical and orchestral performances.
Solon Business Community Home to over 900 businesses from global headquarters to our favorite mom-and-pop shops and 60 restaurants that satisfy every craving.
Solon’s economy is perfectly suited for new and expanding businesses.
If you are over 50 and have built a career, a family, or a business, you understand something many people learn later in life. Effort alone does not create results. Strategy does.
After fifty, training is no longer about proving something. It is about preserving your mobility, energy and independence. The ability to travel comfortably, carry what needs carrying, and stay fully engaged in the life you worked hard to build.
Owner Tim Dardis says most new members are surprised by how challenging the sessions feel and how safe they are at the same time. That distinction matters.
Jody Malsch isn’t interested in slowing down. A former gymnast and dance major at Kent State University, she now works full-time as an administrative assistant and part-time as a licensed massage therapist. “At 63, I’d like to reach my full potential without worrying about the risk of injury. My trainer Christian Lupia is at my side for every rep, pushing me to safely do more than I’d do on my own.”
In just three months, she noticed an improved muscle tone. But what surprised her most was how she felt.
“The workouts aren’t easy, but they are effective, and I leave feeling amazing,” she says. “When I was 25, I hated going to the gym, but now it’s a source of confidence. I deserve this.”
For 77-year-old William, strength isn’t cosmetic. It’s functional. With advanced osteoarthritis, he’s faced real physical setbacks.
1-on-1 Guided Strength Training
“The first time my back seized up in 2021, I couldn’t walk,” he says. “The imaging of my spine was not good. The doctor told me my T9 vertebra was shot. Six months later it was the T8, then the T7. I could see the writing on the wall and took matters into my own hands, working intensely with a physical therapist and finding MSF Studio Manager Marina Borden to strength train with. She’s been a phenomenal coach.”
Expert trainers monitor every rep
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Former rail lines and reimagined parks will create a connected, community-focused trail and recreation system. By
Ruth Corradi Beach
Solon is a great place to get outside and enjoy the scenery, and several current projects reflect the importance the city places on offering its residents new opportunities to engage with nature.
The Solon to Chagrin Falls Trail is a 10-foot-wide paved trail that gets runners, walkers and cyclists off the busy streets. “The city bought the property decades ago,” Mayor Eddy Kraus says. “We decided that we wanted to build out a nice trail from right in the heart of Solon on SOM Center Road that goes for about 4 miles right into the heart of Chagrin Falls.”
Previously, Kraus notes, the trip was full of dangerous curves, “and you were just spending your entire time being defensive” to avoid traffic. “My goal was to get people off the dangerous streets and reduce those conflicts with vehicles,” he says. “And environmentally, it’s so much better, because you’re not breathing in exhaust fumes next to cars. On the trails, you’re right in the middle of nature.”
That trail is just the beginning of a more ambitious project, Kraus says. In the last quarter of 2025, Solon bought more than seven miles of unused rail corridor from Norfolk Southern that stretches across Cuyahoga, Portage and Geauga Counties. The acquisition sets the stage to create the Headwaters Connector Greenway.
“This one is about 7 miles and goes through multiple counties,” Kraus says. “It starts in Solon in Cuyahoga County and goes all the way through our city, through industrial properties and neighborhoods, through our golf course, and then it enters Geauga County.”
The plan is to upgrade and pave that trail, much like the Solon to Chagrin Falls Trail. “Eventually, we’ll connect the two trails so we’ll have miles and miles of trail systems,” he says.
While the land belongs to Solon, the city has partnered with the Cleveland Metroparks for the construction and upkeep of the Headwaters Connector Greenway.
“It’s a great partnership,” Kraus says.
“They have such a great expertise in how to build trails and how to maintain them.”
In addition to the physical benefits people will enjoy, the trails benefit the city itself. Kraus notes, “We have about 900 businesses in Solon. We have large industrial companies. Many of those companies have told us that their workforce is changing. It’s a younger workforce. Many of their employees love to run or hike or walk or bike at lunchtime,” Kraus says. “[The businesses] absolutely love these trail systems that could help them recruit talent. So maybe you could say the primary reason is health and wellness, but there’s also a large economic development tool to these trails.”
The trails could also contribute to economic development if businesses
like coffee shops, ice cream stores, breweries and bike shops choose to locate along them.
The Solon to Chagrin Falls Trail and the Headwaters Connector Greenway are the culmination of years of cultivating relationships.
“When I first took over, we did not have a strong partnership with the Cleveland Metroparks,” Kraus says. “We had to build the trust and the relationship. You have to get deals done and you have to work with the group. It takes time, and you have to have proven results.”
“My goal was to get people off the dangerous streets and reduce those conflicts with vehicles. And environmentally, it’s so much better, because you’re not breathing in exhaust fumes next to cars.”
Solon residents who want to stay a little closer to home have a lot of new options, too.
Recognizing that the city’s parks were due for an upgrade, the parks and recreation department enlisted the help of planning consultants, community engagement focus groups and community surveys.
“We wanted to learn what people wanted from the parks,” says Rich Parker, Solon’s director of parks and recreation. “One of the main things that we heard, in addition to wanting updates, is that they were looking for community spaces — places to gather and meet their neighbors and to utilize the park.”
People also wanted multiple generations and multiple activities represented. From this feedback, the Solon Community Park transformation initiative took shape.
The park project is divided into phases. The first phase included some upgrades to Cisar Field at Russo Ballpark and the construction of Sebastian’s Playground, named for the son of Solon residents Kip Botirius and Kelly Baylog. Sebastian died at age 4 in 2022 from a rare genetic disorder. Sebastian’s Playground is inclusive for all to enjoy, regardless of ability.
“[Sebastian’s parents] partnered with us and made a donation to name the playground after him,” Parker says. “Together, we worked with the playground designer and came up with an inclusive place that can serve a wide range of populations — those with physical disabilities, with visual disabilities — for a wide range of age levels. It’s just fantastic.”
So fantastic, in fact, that its construction was phase one “because we knew that it was just a really important part and would have a huge impact when it was complete,” Parker says.
Phase two of the Solon Community Park transformation is set to be completed by mid-summer 2026. That phase includes
courts for the fastest-growing sport in the world — pickleball. “We’ll also add support facilities like restrooms, a concession building and some maintenance buildings,” Parker says.
Perhaps the central focus of phase two of the new Solon Community Park is the amphitheater. “We use the term amphitheater very loosely,” Parker says. “It’s an outdoor stage space. For many years we just rented stages and when we took a look, we could see this becoming such a big part of our special events and how we celebrate, so it was included in the designs.”
The community lawn in front of the approximately 30-by-30-foot stage has been expanded to increase gathering space. “All the [community survey] responses centered around it being the place where neighbors would go to meet each other and spend some time together engaged in a variety of activities,” Parker says.
Whether you want to hike the trails, swing at Sebastian’s Playground or enjoy music under the stars, Solon has you covered.
City leaders and residents come together to celebrate the cultures that shape and strengthen the community. By
Ruth Corradi Beach
The city of Solon is home to residents of many cultures and beliefs, as well as people who have come to Solon from all over the world. In Mayor Eddy Kraus’s opinion, that diversity is part of the city’s strength. “What’s interesting about Solon is that … anywhere from 25% to 30% of our population was born in a foreign country,” he says. “It’s huge. We have large Chinese and Indian populations — those are probably our two largest.”
Kraus attributes this substantial foreign-born population to Solon’s public schools.
“People move here in large part because of the excellence of the schools, and they, in turn, drive that excellence,” he says.
the city’s director of parks and recreation.
“When Mayor Kraus took office, one of his priorities was hosting events that were culturally diverse and reflected what Solon has become [culturally],” Parker says. “That was work that we began immediately in the planning and developing of events.”
“Everyone’s identity and tradition is welcome and will be reflected in our celebrations.”
Solon hosts a number of celebrations throughout the year that shine light on various segments of the community. These events celebrate the culture and history of numerous subgroups, offering a familiar and joyous day to people of each specific population, while also educating the Solon community about its neighbors. As Kraus says, the people of Solon drive its excellence — not only in education, but in understanding.
— RICH PARKER, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION
These cultural events are relatively new, with the longest-running Lunar New Year and Juneteenth celebrations both in their fifth year. The events bring life to an early vision of the mayor’s, says Rich Parker,
These celebratory events send a message to Solon residents: “everyone’s identity and tradition is welcome and will be reflected in our celebrations,” says Parker.
And the welcoming nature of these events means there’s plenty of room for more. Groups who do not yet have a representative celebration on Solon’s calendar are welcome to the planning table.
“We always love to hear from people,” says Tracy Sullivan, Solon’s director of community and cultural enrichment. “Reach out to us. That’s the starting point, and then we work through what they’re interested in and how that fits into the event itself.”
There’s even a special events email monitored by Sullivan’s team: specialevents@solonohio.org.
“There’s a lot more diversity in Solon than perhaps you may have seen in the past,” says Parker. “It’s only natural that we change to meet and serve those many different residents, and to celebrate them.”
Here’s a look at four cultural events that are now on Solon’s yearly calendar. All events are free, and everyone is welcome.
Sponsored by Universal Windows Direct
WHEN: Held annually
WHERE: Solon Community Center
Bring the Lunar New Year to life at Solon’s Lunar New Year Celebration with great food, local groups, vendors and fun, hands-on crafts. You can also watch calligraphy demonstrations and try your hand at the elegant script.
Hungry? Learn to make delicious dumplings as part of the celebration of this Chinese holiday’s traditions and culture. Don’t miss the Kwan Family Lion Dance, as well as the Dragon Dance, live music and the Chinese armor exhibit. Stay tuned for the date of next year’s Lunar New Year Celebration. (It will be the Year of the Goat).
Presented by Swagelok and sponsored by Universal Windows Direct
WHEN: Sunday, April 12, 2026, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
WHERE: Solon Community Center
The annual Spring Festival got its start in 2024 and celebrates the energy, traditions and cultures of South Asia. Attendees can sample flavorful dishes, learn about and interact with local South Asian groups and shop local vendors. There are also hands-on experiences like make-and-take crafts and henna artists who can demonstrate the centuries-old art. Guests can even get a henna tattoo! (Also known as mehndi, the plant-based designs are both beautiful and temporary.) The Spring Festival is a vibrant celebration that includes music and dance performances.
Sponsored by Swagelok & Universal Windows Direct
WHEN: Sunday, June 14, 2026, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
WHERE: Solon Senior Center parking lot (adjacent to the Solon Community Center)
This colorful outdoor event celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and brings people together in the spirit of inclusion and pride. It’s a family-friendly event that brings food trucks and inflatables to the Senior Center parking lot, as well as crafts, games and entertainment (stick around for a lively performance by the Cleveland Pride Band). There are also vendors, supportive resources offered by local groups and, of course, a triumphant Pride Walk. This year’s Solon Pride Day is the fourth annual.
WHEN: Thursday, June 18, 2026, 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: Solon Bicentennial Park
Celebrate Juneteenth recognizes the day in 1865 — June 19 — when the Emancipation Proclamation was finally enforced in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after this first step toward the abolition of slavery was signed. The annual, lively celebration centers around the meaning and importance of Juneteenth and features live entertainment, traditional food, vendors and community organizations. This evening gathering shines a spotlight on Black culture, resilience and achievements while offering time and space to reflect, learn and celebrate. This year’s Juneteenth celebration (held on the 18th) will be Solon’s fifth.
For details and a full event list, visit solonohio.gov/1433/ community-events
April 12: Spring Festival presented by Swagelok, sponsored by Universal Windows Direct
April 25: Earth Day
May 7: Solon Job Fair
May 9: Spring & Shop Handmade Market
June 5: Solon Community Band Concert
June 14: Solon Pride Day
June 18: Celebrate Juneteenth
June 28: Splash Bash
July 2: Fireworks and Community Band Concert
July 17: Solon Community Band Concert
July 25: Solon Police Night Out and Movie in the Park
July 25-26: Summer Festival presented by Swagelok
Aug. 16: Bike with a Mayor
Aug. 22: Pop-Up in the Park
Aug. 22: Movie in the Park
Sept. 19: Grantwood Golf Outing and Clambake
Sept. 24: A Conversation with the Mayor
Oct. 8: Fire Department Open House
Oct. 10: Fall Festival presented by Swagelok
Oct. 24: Trick-or-Treat Trail
Nov. 25: Winter Festival presented by Swagelok
Dec. 12: Hometown Holiday Market
Get to know Police Chief Courtenay Perkins and Fire Chief Shawn Toth. By Ann-Marie
Vazzano
Courtenay Perkins was hired in September to lead Solon’s police department after 15 years on the force. We talked with him about his inspiration, what he loves about Solon, family life and more.
NEVER A DULL MOMENT. When he’s not Chief Perkins, he’s Coach Perkins, leading his sons’ football teams — a sport he’s loved since playing at Aurora High School. And when he’s not on the field, you might find him teaching in the police academies at Youngstown State or Kent State universities. He also wears his “dad” badge proudly. With seven kids at home, including a baby the family is fostering, Perkins jokes, “I guess I don’t get that much sleep!”
TO THE BATMOBILE! (ER, I MEAN CRUISER). “I was a big superhero fan growing up … but Batman was always the one I liked the most, because Batman was a human being,” Perkins says. “And anytime the
Bat-Signal went up, he knew he had to jump into action and go help somebody. I thought that was cool, and being a police officer, to me, is almost like Batman in real life — without the cape.”
THE DEFINITION OF GOOD POLICING. For Perkins, good policing means getting back to the foundational roots of being public servants with the goal of preserving peace. “One of the things we always talk about is having proficiency and professionalism to an excellent level, so that we’re able to perform in any situation we face,” he adds. “We’re ready for the challenge, and we'll do the best we can to serve the community … I want people to feel safe and at peace when they’re here in our city.”
GRATITUDE. “I always want to reiterate my thanks to our Solon police family. I'm happy to be a part of this team, and I’m thankful for our entire community and the support they’ve given us over the years.”
“I want people to feel safe and at peace when they’re here in our city.”
— COURTENAY PERKINS, POLICE CHIEF
This past June, Shawn Toth was sworn in as the city’s fire chief. But Toth is no stranger to Solon, where he’s been part of the Fire and Rescue team for more than two decades.
A PASSION FOR SERVICE. “I realized early on that I wanted to pursue a career in the fire service after joining a volunteer fire department while on active duty in the Marine Corps,” says Toth. “I started in 1999, and that experience kind of sealed it for me.”
MEANINGFUL MOMENTS. Toth says there are plenty of calls that have stuck with him, but one of his most memorable moments was at a school event where kids had a chance to see the inside of an ambulance and fire truck. One family, whose child had a medical condition that prevented him from getting out and about much, was able to see the ambulance and snap a photo with Toth. “The family left, went to a store, had the photo developed, and the child wrote a note
on the back. They came back before the event was over just to give it to me,” Toth says. “It reminded me that what we do isn’t just about emergencies — it’s about connection, trust and the impact we can have on people’s lives, sometimes in very simple ways.”
STAYING GROUNDED. When he’s not at work, you’ll find Toth spending time with his family and cheering his kids on at their sporting events. “I enjoy being outdoors, especially hunting,” he adds. “It’s a good way to slow things down and recharge.”
WHEN YOU SEE A SOLON FIRE TRUCK… “I hope residents feel reassured that help is close and that the people responding are prepared and committed to this community,” Toth says. “I take this role seriously and feel a deep responsibility to both the community and the men and women of the department. I believe in transparency, teamwork and continuous improvement, and I’m deeply committed to this city and our mission.”
“...What we do isn’t just about emergencies — it’s about connection, trust and the impact we can have on people’s lives, sometimes in very simple ways.”
— SHAWN TOTH, FIRE CHIEF
Progress continues on Solon’s vision to transform its city core for the future. By Kathie Taylor
After years of planning, public engagement and investment, Solon continues to move forward with revitalizing its downtown core along Aurora Road. Anchored by the Solon Connects plan, the town center is shifting from an auto-oriented commercial corridor to a vibrant, mixed-use district shaped around resident quality of life and long-term economic development.
“The way people live, work and move is changing,” says Director of Planning and Community Development Michael Ionna. “We are cultivating a district that meets the evolving expectations of a next-generation community, while positioning the city to remain competitive for decades to come.”
Since the demolition of the long-vacant Liberty Ford site in October 2024, progress has been happening behind the scenes on the plan’s flagship project. Site preparation has cleared the way for environmental testing, engineering and other work to build the apartments, retail space, food hall, hotel and other exciting elements of the block.
The Downtown Solon Core will also tie into the new Headwaters Connector Greenway, an allpurpose, paved path that will span 7 miles along a former rail line through three Ohio counties.
A collaboration between the city of Solon, the city of Aurora, Bainbridge Township, Cleveland Metroparks and others will allow bikers and walkers to enjoy the safe, scenic link that extends to the Towpath Trail and Cleveland Emerald Necklace.
Beyond offering Solon residents recreation, Ionna says the trail will bring more visitors and economic benefits. Nationally, trail-oriented districts have increased property values and helped local retailers thrive.
“We are designing a downtown for people — not just cars,” he says. “This plan brings walkability and public spaces to the forefront: hallmarks of the most successful cities in the country.”
At the same time, Solon will begin designing public improvements that enhance both mobility and aesthetics along downtown streets. These will include sidewalks, crossings, lighting, landscaping and navigation that support a modern, pedestrian-friendly experience.
“This transformation isn’t just physical — it’s cultural,” says Ionna. “We’re developing a downtown that invites people to slow down, explore, connect and experience Solon in a completely new way.”
Solon Connects: A Framework for a People-First City
Solon Connects is a transportation plan for reshaping the community into an accessible, connected and experience-rich environment. The planning process began in January 2020, when the city was awarded funding through a competitive grant from the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. In 2021, Solon Connects won an award for Best Small Jurisdiction Plan.
The plan aims to construct a unified network of safe, convenient connections that offer recreational opportunities and alternative options for getting around while elevating health, well-being and economic activity. Building stronger pedestrian and bicycle connections between existing civic, commercial and open spaces will enable active transportation options for everyone, regardless of age or ability.
A defining feature is the Headwaters Connector Greenway, operating as downtown’s “energy spine,” Ionna says, drawing residents and visitors into the city’s core and supporting trailfront dining and retail.
“This transformation isn’t just physical — it’s cultural.”
— MICHAEL IONNA, AICP DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Inspiring spaces of character and revival
A Pepper Pike home is revitalized with bold colors, deep contrast and gilded touches. CONTINUED ON PAGE 106
Libby Palmieri Schwartz estimates that the interior of the 1950s Pepper Pike colonial hadn’t been updated since sometime in the 1990s. The founder of Warrensville Heights-based House of L Designs describes a “dismal” brown-and-white color scheme that contrasted sharply with the personalities of the house’s new husband-and-wife owners — particularly that of the outgoing, effervescent mother of three. She envisioned a decor that approximated the look and feel of the family’s second home in Florida.
“She wanted some contrast … between light and dark, and she liked gold,” Schwartz says. “Those were her stipulations of what she wanted incorporated, along with durability.”
Schwartz spearheaded a gut job that transformed the home into a transitional showplace that is colorful without the commitment.
Timeless neutral finishes and furnishings provide a backdrop for vibrant art and more affordable accents that can be swapped out as tastes and trends change.
The illusion of a more open floor plan was conjured by removing a section of wall next to the foyer staircase and replacing it with glass that doubles as a wall of a wine storage room carved out of square footage in a neighboring informal dining area. The wall-hugging steps were replaced with an open white-oak-tread counterpart and the banister swapped for glass panels that don’t impede the view. The space was floored in a marble-look porcelain tile and painted a soft white, creating a gallery for displaying a pop-art painting by Italian artist Marco Grassi and a Terzani-brand chandelier of tiered, gathered-and-draped gold chains.
“We had a jewelry theme for our lighting,” Schwartz says.
The white walls and porcelain tile floor extend into the informal dining area and kitchen.
“We doubled the size of the island,” Schwartz says. “That gave the sense of a much larger kitchen.”
A linear Terzani lighting fixture featuring pendants of polished gold disk clusters — along with a brushed gold range-hood shroud, plumbing fixtures and cabinetry hardware — added punches of color in classic metallic finishes that eliminate the idea of white cabinetry and white countertops as common. In the dining area, a table consisting of a sculptural brass base and black faux-shagreen top was paired with claret velvet chairs from CB2 that complement the various reds displayed in the wine-storage room.
The desired use of contrast is most evident in the great room and client’s office. A
focal point was created in the former by installing a linear gas fireplace between black painted-wood built-ins in a wall covered with white marble-look porcelain slabs. A black painted-wood wet bar punctuates a perpendicular white wall. Schwartz placed a white boucle sectional and pair of black velvet armchairs on a black, white and gray patterned rug, then warmed the arrangement with a dark-apricot velvet occasional chair and rusty-red ottoman. Accents include amber and latte velvet accent pillows, amber and pale-maize throws, and pale-maize draperies. The luxe look belies its ability to stand up to three kids.
“Everything in the house is performance fabric,” Schwartz notes.
In the office, Schwartz ameliorated the stark difference between graphite walls and white marble surrounding an existing woodburning fireplace with caramel tufted-leather swivel club chairs placed in front of a black wooden desk. The brown shade “pulls in the color of the (bookcase) ladder,” she notes. She then made the space the client’s own with pieces in colors pulled from a Grassi painting hung over the fireplace, everything from a dark-peachy-pink velvet desk chair, to a pink ombre wool-and-cashmere pillow and throw, to a garnet mohair ottoman. Even the books were ordered with hot pink covers.
Schwartz concedes that the client voiced reservations about painting the ceiling the palest of blushes — the one feature that couldn’t be simply removed or replaced.
“But it was a perfect foil to complete the room,” Schwartz says. “She loved it.”
In the spring of 1976, for the first time in the Cavaliers’ brief history, the team was playoff-bound.
The Cavaliers were one of three expansion teams in 1970, and by far the worst. But the Cavs got better, year by year, thanks to players like Campy Russell, Austin Carr and Jim Chones.
But at the outset of the 1975-76 season, the Cavs were limping along at 6-11 when coach Bill Fitch made one of the most consequential deals in team history, bringing Akron native and Bowling Green graduate Nate Thurmond back to Northeast Ohio.
The trade was a catalyst for the team, which went 43-22 for the rest of the season, winning the Central Division. Automatically advancing the Cavs to the conference semifinals. Their opponent was the Washington Bullets, a tough team with three future Hall of Famers: Dave Bing, Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld.
The series, dubbed the Miracle of Richfield, was one for the ages. Almost 20,000 fans packed the Richfield Coliseum for each of the four home games, creating a raucous environment. Radio announcer Joe Tait became a beloved voice in Cleveland, calling one barnburner after another, as majority of the series was decided by five points or less.
It all came down to Game 7. Dick Snyder hit a floater to give the Cavs an 87-85 lead, and the Bullets missed their last shot. Fans stormed the court. The Cavs were headed to the Eastern Conference finals.
And then in the last practice before the Cavs would take on the Boston Celtics, Chones, the leading scorer for the Cavs against the Bullets, went up for a rebound. He came down … and heard a snap. He’d broken his foot and would be out for the series, which the Cavs lost in six games.
“There is no doubt we would have won the title that year,” Tait recalled years later in his autobiography.
APRIL
