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Karin Connelly Rice

Stories by: Karin Connelly Rice

Karin Connelly Rice enjoys telling people's stories, whether it's a promising startup or a life's passion. Over the past 20 years she has reported on the local business community for publications such as Inside Business and Cleveland Magazine. She was editor of the Rocky River/Lakewood edition of In the Neighborhood and was a reporter and photographer for the Amherst News-Times. At Fresh Water she enjoys telling the stories of Clevelanders who are shaping and embracing the business and research climate in Cleveland.
Community voices: Indigenous perspectives shape narrative of Art Museum's 'still/emerging'
The Cleveland Museum of Art’s "still/emerging: Native American Works on Paper" highlights Indigenous artists' prints and drawings that are supplemented with interpretive text panels, written by Indigenous community members who share their personal perspectives and lived experiences.
Books to bread: Cuyahoga County Public Library and Greater Cleveland Food Bank fight food insecurity
Cuyahoga County Public Library and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank are continuing their partnership to address food insecurity in 2026,  after serving nearly 5,000 households last year through mobile pantries, senior food boxes, and other meal programs.
Hopping into Easter: Malley's Chocolates blends sweet memories with family traditions and new treats
Malley’s Chocolates gears up for Easter with its signature sweets and new treats ahead of the seasonal rush, helping families create lasting memories.
Finding beauty in darkness: Photographer, painter explore mental health through ‘Emergence’
Photographer Johnny Joo and painter Tessa LeBaron explore mental health, resilience, and creative renewal in “Emergence,” a collaborative exhibit at 78th Street Studios that reflects their personal journeys and the healing power of art. The show features Joo's photography and LeBaron's paintings.
From ice rink to the river: Cleveland Monsters launch Project Lake Blue water stewardship initiative
The Cleveland Monsters launched Project Lake Blue to protect and celebrate local freshwater resources through education, action, and stewardship. The ALH team will work with Cuyahoga County Fresh Water Institute, Ocean Conservancy,  and fans to protect Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. The initiative debuts with a special theme night at the game this Thursday, March 26.
Building community: Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi stages ‘The Wolf’ in final 2026 CPL Test Flight
Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi, Cleveland Public Theatre's Arabic-speaking theater group, presents "The Wolf" Thursday, April 4 through Saturday, April 6 as part of the Test Flight play development program. The production, written and directed by Shakeeb Julien, follows a young villager's journey of learning and growth, while also serving as a creative outlet for the ensemble who represent Arabic-speaking communities from across the Middle East and North Africa.
Setback to stage: Y-Haven Theatre Project explores how life pressures can create villains—or heroes
"The Origin of a Villain," a collaboration between the YMCA of Greater Cleveland and Cleveland Public Theatre, explores the complex relationship between circumstances and personal choice through the lived experiences of 14 Y-Haven Treatment and Recovery Center residents. Now in its 27th year, the Y-Haven Theatre Project weaves together stories of recovery into a unified narrative of hope and redemption.
Springing with color: Tulips and butterflies saturate Cleveland Botanical Garden
The Cleveland Botanical Garden is planning a vibrant spring season with more than 3,000 tulips planted in an interactive Dutch-inspired display and the return of daily butterfly releases in the Costa Rica Biome. Visitors can enjoy assorted early spring blooms with special events throughout April that include Orchid Rodeo, a spring egg hunt, tulip painting workshops, and a free Arbor Day community celebration.
A different perspective: ‘Improper Frames’ looks beyond Cleveland’s property data
In the Cleveland Museum of Art's "Improper Frames" exhibit at the Transformer Station, six photographers challenge the city's comprehensive property inventory by revealing what the data from 162,000 parcels can not capture: They exposed memories, communities, and natural elements that escape bureaucratic categorization.
Destination Cleveland calls to artists for submissions in third round of Murals Across the City
Destination Cleveland issued a call for artists in its Murals Across the City program. Three artists will be chosen to create murals on Cleveland buildings—adding to the nine existing murals in city neighborhoods. Artists have until March 30 to submit their portfolios.
Breaking down barriers: Smithsonian brings ‘The Bias Inside Us’ to Maltz Museum
The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio are partnering with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Partnership to host "The Bias Inside Us." Guests can explore the effects of bias and prejudice with interactive displays, educational programming, and community engagement opportunities.
Climate warriors: Sustainable Economies helps organizations share positive conservation stories
Sustainable Economies Consulting helps Northeast Ohio conservation organizations develop communications plans and strategies to share positive environmental impact stories. Founders Elizabeth Schuster and Marissa Ferrari work with park districts, museums, and land trusts to tell their stories of how they are quietly fighting climate change on thousands of acres of protected wetlands, forests, and prairies.
Piccolo Italian brings family tradition to Restaurant Week, Cleveland Independents marks 20 years
Piccolo Authentic Italian restaurant in Mayfield Heights is one of more than 30 local eateries participating in Cleveland Restaurant Week, March 2-14, offering $39 prix fixe menus. Piccolo's menu features family recipes passed down from owner Christopher Licht's Sicilian great-grandmother. The event coincides with the 20th anniversary of Cleveland Independents, which encourages diners to support locally-owned restaurants.
Someday, I suppose: Artist Jason Toth, Opus 216 founder, to debut ‘Smallest Concert in Cleveland’&am
Photographer Jason Toth is partnering with Opus 216 founder and violinist Ariel Clayton Karas to produce "The Smallest Concert in Cleveland," in Toth's 78th Street Studios space. With limied space, the March 6 event will feature improvised original music by Opus 216 ensemble members, The passion project is the realization of Toth's dream to create special musical experiences.
Cleveland Botanical Garden saddles up for an ‘Orchid Rodeo’
The Cleveland Botanical Garden's annual orchid show heads to the Wild West his year with "Orchid Rodeo," featuring more than 3,000 orchids throughout its glasshouse biomes. The exhibit challenges  fallacies about orchids' fragility while celebrating their resilience in harsh environments.
Accelerating ideas: Duo to pitch ‘Concrete Quilt’ to combat HIV crisis through public art
Two Cleveland advocates will pitch their project, "The Concrete Quilt," at the Cleveland Leadership Center's Accelerate Pitch competition on Feb. 26. The concept is for a public art installation at Edgewater Park that will honor those lost to AIDS and offer HIV/AIDS education and awareness.
One heart, forever connected: A 24-year bond forged from loss
Chuck Roberts had to make the difficult decision 24 years ago to donate his daughter Alicia's organs after her tragic death, just weeks before her 16th birthday. That decision saved the life of 15-year-old Candice Monroe, who needed a heart transplant. The families share their story to show how one person's tragedy can become another's miracle.
Teatro Público de Cleveland closes CPT's Test Flight series with ‘The Exit Door’
Cleveland Public Theatre concludes its annual Test Flight play development series with "The Exit Door," a new work by Nathalie Bermúdez presented by Teatro Público de Cleveland. The play explores migratory grief through the story of a woman trapped in an unnamed airport, blending realism and magical elements to reflect the emotional cost of migration.
From concept to stage: CPT’s Test Flight artists reflect on what works, prepare new stagings
Cleveland Public Theatre's Test Flight program allows local playwrights to develop new work in front of live audiences and gather real-time feedback. The program gives artists creative freedom and practical support. 2026 Test Flight features "Boxed," a dance theater piece by Elizabeth Pollert that uses movement and cardboard boxes to explore how people are labeled and confined by identity categories.
Summon the creatures: Kurent Jump unleashes weeklong Cleveland Kurentovanje festival
Cleveland Kurentovanje kicks off this Saturday, Feb. 7, with the Kurent Jump at the Slovenian National Home. The mythical Kurent creatures will be summoned from slumber to chase away winter and usher in spring. The Jump includes traditional Slovenian food, music, and a special lager from Collision Bend Brewing Company.