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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.
The sweetest thing: Malley’s Chocolates celebrates tradition of Sweetest Day
Malley's Chocolates' Mike Malley shares the Cleveland history and significance of Sweetest Day, a celebration of kindness and community—and chocolate-covered strawberries and chocolate-covered grapes.
Little food truck that could: Grippy’s Sauce sizzles at National Fried Chicken Festival
Grippy's Sauce Co., a food truck that travels to spots all over Cleveland, was a finalist at the 2024 National Fried Chicken Festival in New Orleans earlier this month. Read about founder Khalid Ali and how his business competed against over 40 vendors as the only Midwest representative.
Cleveland Museum of Art offers colorful October programs, supernatural exhibits, frightening fare
The Cleveland Museum of Art embraces Fall and Halloween with a month of supernatural exhibits, family-friendly activities, live music, the MIX: Supernatural Halloween dance party, and seasonal dining.
Old Brooklyn StreetFest: A celebration and showcase of a thriving neighborhood
Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation will host OB Street Fest on Broadview Road this weekend, with plenty of live entertainment from Apostle Jones and Front Porch Lights, food and drink from Masthead Brewing Company, and vendors.
 #OBStreetFest
A classic tale reimagined: Playhouse Square debuts ‘Velveteen, A New Musical’
“Velveteen, A New Musical” is the first show Playhouse Square has created and self-produced for young audiences. The adaptation from the classic children's book "The Velveteen Rabbit" premiers later this month with a sensory-friendly performance in the Mimi Ohio Theatre.
Engage! Cleveland’s second DEI conference ignites change
Engage! Cleveland hosted its second Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion conference in September for more than 150 participants from 43 local companies. The event included speakers from Equius Group, the Cleveland Guardians, and the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland.
Putting down roots: Tree canopy restoration groups, students, plant mini-forest at Metroparks Zoo
Rooted in Trees, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and Holden Forests & Gardens worked with Urban Community School students last week to plant the first Miyawaki Forest in a U.S. zoo. The 150 densely-planted native saplings and shrubs will grow rapidly, providing ecological benefits and educational opportunities, while helping restore the region's tree canopy.
Aloe lotta love: Mother-daughter team spread the succulent joy with AloeCLE
AloeCLE, founded last summer by mother-daughter team Lena Paskewitz and Miranda Fox-Hervey, grew out of a passion for rescuing and nurturing aloe plants. The school teachers offer hand-glazed pots and aloe plants, while promoting a community of plant enthusiasts with their aloe mama fostering program, pottery workshops, and walks through their AloeCLE Trail at their home studio.
Era of Ascent: IngenuityFest celebrates growth, soaring to new levels
Ingenuity Cleveland will celebrate the beginning of its 20th year this weekend with IngenuityFest 2024: Era of Ascent at its newly-expanded IngenuityLabs. The festival where art meets technology will reflect both on its growth and its vision for the future in its most ambitious year yet.
Saving the Forest City: Tree Summit to engage advocates, tree commissions in reforesting solutions
The third annual Cuyahoga Tree Summit, hosted by Dr. Roy Larick and tree experts, will bring together tree advocacy groups, municipal tree commissions, and environmental experts at the Independence Civic Center to address the needs of the county’s declining tree canopy and the critical role of trees in community health and climate resilience.
Ready all, row: Head of the Cuyahoga takes to the river
The 28th Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta takes place this Saturday at Cleveland's Rivergate Park. With more than 1,500 athletes from across the U.S., the free event highlights Cleveland's rowing tradition dating back to the 1980s.
Coming home: Lone Sailor Statue will soon watch over Lake Erie
Last weekend, the USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation unveiled the Lone Sailor Statue at its permanent home at Voinovich Bicentennial Park. The statue celebrates the upcoming commissioning of the USS Cleveland and represents those who served in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines.
Chalk one up: Art Museum’s 35th annual Chalk Festival is this weekend
The Cleveland Museum of Art's Annual Chalk Festival is this weekend. The public is invited to work in chalk pastels to create their own masterpieces on the museum pavement, alongside five local artists, Cleveland Institute of Art students, food trucks, and live music.
Breaking barriers, building bridges: Engage! Cleveland ignites change at DEI Conference
Engage! Cleveland’s 2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference is this Thursday at The Aviator, aiming to unite young professionals and leaders in conversations on racial equity and inclusion. The event will offer actionable strategies to advance DEI in the workplace, featuring expert speakers and panel discussions.
Bubble blizzard: Two-day Bubblefest hits Edgewater, Wade Oval, Heights High
Steve Presser, owner of the former Big Fun, and Gary Pearlman, aka, Dr. U.R. Awesome, are bringing Bubblefest to Cleveland in September. The two-day event hosts bubble artists from around the world and features activities, demonstrations, food trucks, music, and, of course, plenty of bubbles!
Creeping out in the Bratenahl woods with ‘Mary Sticks’
Cleveland artist Ben Small and his sister, Betsy Allen, have just published their graphic novella "Mary Sticks," which follows the ghost of Mary Clarence, who mysteriously disappeared in 1910. Small was inspired to write a ghost story after evening walks in Bratenahl. Mac’s Backs will host the authors for a book discussion and signing next week.
Harvest Moon: A culinary celebration under the stars
Holden Forests & Gardens will host its only annual fundraiser, Harvest Moon, on Sept. 13 at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. The Friday the 13th event will be an evening where mysticism meets philanthropy among Cleveland's top chefs.
Remembering Scott O’Con, founder of Tours of Cleveland
Scott O'Con, who founded the popular Tours of Cleveland, LLC, died suddenly on Sunday. He moved from Virginia to the West Park neighborhood in 2017 with his husband, West Park United Church of Christ pastor Jason Thompson, and embraced the city.
Rock the Block: South Euclid’s biggest party returns for 10th year
In 2015, the City of South Euclid brought Rock The Block music and food festival to the city as a way to bring the community together. A decade later, the popular event hosted by One South Euclid draws thousands of revelers who in August will celebrate with food trucks, activities, vendors, and live music by bands like Carlos Jones and the Plus Band, Apostle Jones, and South Euclid's own Discovery Band.
It’s a Ship Show: Local sisters debut Titanic musical comedy at BorderLight
Twin sisters and Laurel School graduates Natalie and Sophia Casa will debut their new musical comedy "Ship Show" at the Hermit Club this week as part of the BorderLight Theatre Festival. When the lead character is injured during the opening number, two ensemble members make a hilarious attempt at holding true to saying, "the show must go on."