Connelly Rice
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.
Reaching for the stars: Jimmy Award winner dreams of Broadway stardom, touches two idols in NYC
Mira Cahalane, a Hudson High School senior, in May won Best Actress at Playhouse Square's Dazzle Award before going to New York City, where she won a Jimmy Award for Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble. In New York, Cahalane had brushes with Broadway stars—Broadway actress Lillias White and 'Hamilton' creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Bridging history: Memorial marker honors John Jordan, 1911 lynching victim
Black Environmental Leaders Association, working with the Center for Community Solutions and the Equal Justice Initiative, last weekend unveiled a Community Remembrance Project memorial marker at Elizabeth Baptist Church, honoring John Jordan, who was lynched by a mob in 1911 after stealing cherries from a west side orchard.
Second chance at Summer Solstice: Additional tickets released to welcome summer at CMA 
The Cleveland Museum of Art just released additional tickets to its annual Summer Solstice celebration this Saturday, June 21. The event initially sold out in one day, but a favorable weather report allowed for the release of additional tickets.
Taste the sunshine: Cuyahoga Valley Farmers Market celebrates the local bounty
The Cuyahoga Valley Farmers Market, the only farmers market located within a U.S. National Park, offers a year-round showcase of local produce, artisanal products, and prepared foods from within a 100-mile radius of the 33,000-acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The summer season features more than 70 local vendors, live music, and special events like the Annual Tomato Tasting.
Kimpton Schofield Hotel celebrates Pride Month with special ‘Pride Package’ and historic LGBT ties
The Kimpton Schofield Hotel is celebrating Pride Month with a special package that includes complimentary cocktails and a donation to The Trevor Project. The hotel holds historical significance as having one of the city's first gay bars in the same location.
Enjoy jazz, history, and nature at CVNP’s 5th annual Rhythm on the River
The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park's ree outdoor music festival Rhythm on the River celebrates its fifth year as part of the park's 50th anniversary. The event series, running from June to August, features live music, historical exhibitions, and family-friendly activities, showcasing the park's rich jazz history and natural beauty.
Read Your Way to a Sundae: Malley's Chocolates sweetens summer with youth reading program
Malley's Chocolates has launched the second year of its summer reading program, partnering with local libraries to encourage young readers. The program offers sweet incentives for reading hours logged, with a grand prize of a chocolate factory tour.
South Euclid Food Truck Park returns for third season with hot acts, good food, and expanded season
The South Euclid Food Truck Park will launch its third and longest season this weekend—hosting food trucks, live music, and other entertainment throughout the summer in the city's growing Mayfield-Green Downtown District.
Natural world: CMNH first in U.S. to host renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is hosting the prestigious "Wildlife Photographer of the Year" exhibition, marking its first appearance in the United States. The exhibition showcases 100 photographs, capturing diverse wildlife and natural landscapes from around the world.
Renewal of spirit: Innovative photography gallery, listening room opens at 78th Street Studios
Cleveland artist Jason Toth has opened a new gallery and listening room at 78th Street Studios, combining high-end audio with Toth's hyper-colored immersive photography installations. The space creates a unique experience for art lovers and audiophiles alike.
Well earned: CMNH named Institution of the Year by Ohio Museums Association
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History $150 million transformation has attracted more than 100,000 people in the first quarter of 2024, national media coverage, and now the title of 2024 Institution of the Year by the Ohio Museums Association. CMNH senior vice president and chief strategy officer Meenakshi Sharma reflects back on the transformation, and the positive reception since opening.
Western Reserve Historical Society Library reopens to the public this week after September 2023 fire
The Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) Library will reopen this Thursday after an 18-month closure from a September 2023 fire. Swift action by WRHS staff and collaboration with restoration experts Belfor Property Restoration and The Conservation Center allowed for a total restoration.
Beyond the stage: Two Playhouse Square programs mark 10 years of impacting young lives
Playhouse Square is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Dazzle Awards and Disney Musicals in Schools. These education initiatives bring performing arts to Northeast Ohio students of all ages, providing opportunities for growth and recognition through sustainable theater programs—reaching beyond its renowned Broadway productions.
Nature Includes You: Traveling CVNP photo exhibit depicts how people connect with the natural world
The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the traveling photo exhibit and program series  "Nature Includes You." The Conservancy for he Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Museum of Creative Human Art worked together to showcase the diverse ways Northeast Ohioans connect with nature and challenge stereotypes about who belongs in green spaces.
Making a mark: Cleveland teens design warm-up shirts for Charge's final home game
A group of 10 teenage designers recently participated in a graphic design clinic as part of the Cleveland Cavaliers' "Bigger than Basketball" initiative. The students designed warm-up shirts worn by the Cleveland Charge, the NBA G League affiliate of the Cavs, during their final home game of the season.
Lyceum Series: Celebrating 50 years of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, marking half a century since the U.S. National Park Service established it as a National Recreation Area and, ultimately, a National Park. The Conservancy for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park has already started celebrating the milestone year with its Lyceum Series on the park's history, challenges, conservation, and vision for the next 50 years.
Get rolling: Regional food truck inspection program streamlines permit process
A regional food truck inspection program initiated by the South Euclid Fire Department is streamlining the process for mobile food vendors to obtain their certifications. The program brings together multiple municipalities to conduct coordinated inspections, reducing redundancy and saving time.
Cleveland native brings hometown soul food flair to Cleveland Restaurant Week
Cleveland Heights native Jeremy McBryde's  soul food restaurant Comfort CLE in Glenville is about to start its second run in Cleveland Restaurant Week—offering $39 three-course prix fixe menus today through March 14. Find out what Comfort CLE has on the menu!
Sweet 16: Celebrate the season with a Brite Winter weekend
Brite Winter, Cleveland's annual winter festival, returns for its 16th year with a new location on the East Bank of the Flats. This weekend's event features nearly 30 musical acts, art installations, food trucks, and family-friendly activities. With a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, Brite Winter brings the community together around the fire during Cleveland's coldest months!
Humans Over Human Trafficking: Massive campaign raises awareness
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking launched a new proactive campaign, Humans Over Human Trafficking. The imitative focuses on community empowerment and victim dignity, rather than fear-based messaging, to educate the public about the realities of human trafficking and inspire action.