For the fifth year in a row, the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland West Park Corps is waging war on food deserts in the West Park neighborhood by partnering with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank for its first Free Produce Giveaway of the summer. The West Park branch of the Salvation Army will give away 24,000 pounds of fresh produce on Friday, June 15, at its offices (12645 Lorain Ave.) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For 80 years, Cain Park in Cleveland Heights has entertained audiences under the stars with quality theatre, nationally-known musical and comedy acts, and arts showcases. Read our retrospective of the outdoor amphitheater's history and highlights here.

Even through the popular retailer has stores in more than 85 cities nationwide, West Elm's arrival in Cleveland has a local spin. In addition to its selection of home goods and decor, the 11,000 square feet store carries a selection of goods from eight Ohio makers—five of which are based in the Cleveland area—and boasts a décor that gives a nod to Cleveland’s manufacturing history.

Throwing anything down a sewer is the equivalent of throwing that item—be it dog waste, motor oil, lawn fertilizer, or other contaminants—into Lake Erie itself. The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership wants residents to keep in mind that Lake Erie actually does begin on their streets, no matter how far from the shores they are, and they're taking the first step with a Storm Drain Stenciling project slated for Saturday, June 16.

After more than a decade of planning, the Hemlock Creek Trail in Independence is finally becoming a reality, with a public groundbreaking planned for this Saturday, June 2. The 1.7-mile asphalt Hemlock Creek trail’s western terminus will begin at Brecksville Road and Selig Drive in Independence, traverse through parts of historic Independence and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and ultimately meet up with the Towpath Trail at its eastern terminus.

Barbara Moore has been legally blind her entire life, but that didn't stop her from teaching herself to sew. Moore still remembers the day she took the measurements of a comforter in a store, went home with her sewing machine, fabric, a yard stick, and chalk and made her own comforter on the living room floor. For the past 16 years, Moore has put that knowledge to good use as a seamstress at Vocational Guidance Services, sewing buttons and buttonholes on women’s military trousers.

Some people may instantly think of Seattle—the birthplace of Starbucks—when they discuss leaders of the national coffee scene. Others might point to trendy newcomers like Portland or major metropolitan cities like New York and San Francisco. But there’s a potent coffee scene percolating right here in Cleveland, with new java stops cropping up almost as quickly as breweries and restaurants.

Fraternal twins Rachel and Sarah Gross always dreamed of going into business together. “From the time we were young, we always planned business ideas,” recalls Rachel. “Our first idea was to open a snack shop on the [Brainard] circle near our house.” Last December, their long-held dream came true when they took ownership of Bialy's, a beloved bagel shop in University Heights.

The Make Your Mark on Moreland project will utilize public art to not only enhance the neighborhood, but also to honor the people and events that have shaped Shaker Heights' Moreland neighborhood. Artists Scott Goss and Charlotte Lees have been chosen to bring their proposals for gateways and historical markers to life. Find out more about the progress of this vibrant initiative here.

Northeast Ohio’s rich history can often be traced in the homes and buildings erected by those who created a booming manufacturing, textile, and banking industry a century ago. Today, a dedicated group of historians, architects, and construction companies works to preserve those structures and the stories behind them. This week, the Cleveland Restoration Society and the American Institute of Architects Cleveland recognized their efforts with the annual Celebration of Preservation.

On Saturday, Praxis Fiber Workshop welcomed local volunteers to help with the inaugural planting of a new natural dye garden at its Collinwood-based facility. The quarter-acre garden will eventually consist mainly of 3,000 indigo plants, says Praxis executive director Jessica Pinsky. Although it looks like basil while growing, the plant is most commonly used as a natural—and less polluting—way to dye blue denim.

There is an undercurrent of pride running through the city’s historic garment district, led in part by GBX Group. In March, GBX moved its headquarters from the historic Edwin Hotel to the Daffy Dan's building at 2101 Superior Ave. The company has spent the past 18 months renovating the 1913-built five-story building, transforming it into a state-of-the-art headquarters—and now other projects are poised to follow suit.

It’s planting season in Northeast Ohio, and Tim Smith of Community Greenhouse Partners (CGP) is ready to help people get their gardens started with more than 1,000 heirloom tomato plants.

Almost 50,000 people are expected at the annual Cleveland Asian Festival this weekend—offering great exposure to growing small businesses that operate a booth during the two-day celebration of everything AsiaTown has to offer. 

Businesses like City Diner and Vino Veritas Winery are just a few that have popped up in Old Brooklyn in the last 16 months—and now, thanks to Cleveland Chain Reaction, five more businesses will set up shop this year with the announcement that Old Brooklyn will be the location of this year’s business competition.

Environmental action group Cuyahoga River Area of Concern celebrated a victory last weekend by checking two items off a list of 10 Beneficial Use Impairments that must be addressed before the river is delisted as one of the most polluted waterways by the Ohio EPA.

Lakewood is a little more colorful after the unveiling of a new public art piece by local artist Derek Brennan last Tuesday, May 1, at the corner of Warren Road and Detroit Avenue. Brennan’s mural, “Imagination on the Lake,” spans approximately 13-feet by 9-feet over two inset panels of the brick building that houses Area Temps. “

Nearly 1.5 million people have visited the Greater Cleveland Aquarium since it opened six years ago in the Powerhouse on the West Bank of the Flats—learning about the ocean and freshwater creatures, amphibians, and reptiles in Ohio and around the globe. Building on that momentum, the Aquarium will undergo a $250,000 renovation to improve the experience and bring in a dozen new species.

Since opening Melt’s first location in Lakewood 12 years ago, Matt Fish has turned the grilled cheese business into a thriving franchise with 12 Ohio locations. This spring, Fish decided it was time to renovate the original location—shutting the restaurant down and pulling off a major transformation in just one month. The Lakewood Melt will celebrate its grand re-opening this Friday, May 4.