There have been countless photos, videos and blog posts about the West Side Market -- and likely more are on the way thanks to its upcoming centennial. But few manage to capture the lyrical charm of the place like this elegant short film by local filmmakers Mike Paukst and Timothy Logan.

Time-lapse photography and a moving score elevate this video from dime-a-dozen to total keeper. Plus, it's fun to pick out our favorite shoppers and vendors.

Check it out right here.

The Cleveland Museum of Art was in good company in a recent AOL posting of "Top 10 Museums in the US for Families." The listing also included New York City's Met and MoMa, L.A.'s J. Paul Getty, and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

"With so many choices and varieties, it can be easy to become overwhelmed with culture in the United States," announces the reporter. "In particular, families with teens and kids can become confused about which exhibits are age appropriate and when to go. Luckily, these ten museums have the exhibits and amenities that work perfectly for families and it just so happens that they're among the best collections in the country."

Of the Cleveland Museum of Art, the article states:

With such an extensive collection of works, you'd think the Cleveland Museum of Art frowned on bringing young children. However, they couldn't be happier to host the entire family and feel art can have an effect on children as young as preschool-aged. Strollers to rent are available at the front desk and an in-house café is stocked with fruits and veggies they'll love to nibble on.

Must see: Get a map and be sure to tour the names everyone in the family will know and understand. Van Gogh, Degas, Picasso... the familiarity will be a great bonding experience.

Examine the rest of the kid-friendly art here.

Draft Magazine, the premier source for all things hoppy and inebriating, published its annual list of "America's 100 Best Beer Bars: 2011." Cleveland area bars snagged a whopping 3% of the entire list! Okay, so three spots out of 100 may not be shocking -- but it is great news.

"Beer bars are cropping up around the country at a frenetic pace," the article states at the outset, "so paring our annual list down to 100 was no small feat. That said, we're confident that if you find yourself on a barstool at any one of these stellar spots, you'll be surrounded by top-notch brew and folks who are committed to it."

Lakewood's Buckeye Beer Engine gets billing as "The casual drinker's answer to Ohio's beer-snob bars." Who knew we had beer-snob bars? This west-side gem gets credit for its Buckeye Brewing house brews, lesser-known options from well-known breweries, and two beer engines that dispense real-ale specialties

Cleveland Heights landmark La Cave du Vin also makes the list, with the list-makers urging folks to "Ignore the vinous name: This basement wine spot's beer paradise." While The Cave gets approval for its large bottle and draft selection, it receives special attention for its frequent seasonal tappings and brewery nights. Tip: "The owner's rare beer collection on the shelves will leave you jaw-droppingly awestruck."

Ohio City's Bier Markt naturally earned inclusion, with the mag calling the joint nothing less than a "Cleveland institution." Who cares that the fact-checkers failed to confirm whether or not Market Garden Brewery was actually open as the item states? (It's not.) One shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Drink up the entire list here.

Writing for the Tennessean, business health care reporter Getahn Ward claims that "Cleveland scores first in medical mart race with Nashville."

Following a momentous ground breaking where a laundry list of prospective tenants, conferences, conventions and trade shows planned for the $465 million mart and convention center were announced, Ward writes that Cleveland "scored major points" in the med-mart public relations battle battle.

Jorge Lagueruela, president of North Carolina's Trinity Furniture, a future tenant of Cleveland's Medical Mart, goes so far as to predict Cleveland's position as national leader in the field:

"Cleveland is doing it. Nashville is talking about it," Hughes is quoted as saying. "From the standpoint of the health-care industry, Cleveland is going to become the hub in the United States, and this new center is going to be the beacon for that."

Shrugging off concerns that Nashville is behind, with very few actual commitments, Nashville mart leasing consultant Jeff Haynes says, "Historically, Nashville hasn't been a pre-leasing market. In any asset class, people normally want to see the brick-and-mortar and to touch the facility. As the new convention center nears completion, then your leasing velocity will intensify and increase for the medical mart."

Michael Hughes, the managing director of research and consulting at Red 7 Media in Scottsdale called Cleveland's list of conventions impressive, adding that a successful medical convention and meetings business probably will drive permanent showroom leases.

Read the whole report here.

"Welcome to The Advocate's second annual look at our country's queerest burgs," announces the mag in a recent feature.

The Advocate admits at the outset that the magazine relied upon a "completely unscientific -- but still strangely accurate -- statistical equation" to come up with its "Gayest Cities in America" ranking. Regardless, Cleveland is fortunate to have made the list, coming in at #12 out of 15 spots.

"Gay issues have never been more of a lightning rod. Pop culture has never been so gleefully gay. And politicians have never been more gay-accepting -- or at least gay-aware. But no matter how visible LGBT people seem to be, there are some folks who still think we all live in Chelsea, West Hollywood, and the Castro. But, of course, that's far from the case."

The Advocate formulated a diverse and surprising list of cities "where gay people are living, loving, voting, and creating communities."

12. Cleveland

Who knew? Cleveland is about to become a major gay stomping ground. After much effort, the city won the bid to host the 2014 Gay Games (GayGames.com). "We see this as a springboard," says Sharon Kobayashi, vice president of the tourism group Positively Cleveland. "We hope to make Cleveland a gay destination." Things are changing quickly here: The city council added protections for transgender people to Cleveland's antidiscrimination laws in housing and employment, and there's a country line-dancing group, the Rainbow Wranglers, which meets every Thursday at the Mean Bull.

Read up on the entire list of cities here.

Writing for Yahoo! News, Fresh Water Innovation News Editor Diane DiPiero does a great job rounding up the myriad social and networking organizations that are helping young professional Clevelanders make connections.

Among those mentioned are Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club, which hosts regular events, the Cleveland Social Media Club, which teaches social-media wisdom, and the Society of Urban Professionals (SOUP), which gathers regularly for its "SOUP" lunches.

Also mentioned in the article are MotivAsians and the Young Latino Network, neither of which is limited to those of any particular ethnicity. But rather anyone who wants to be involved with the organization's mission of civic engagement and networking.

Read Diane's full article here.

In its January article titled "Best of Ohio," Ohio magazine lists what it believes are the best places to go and things to do around the Buckeye state. Cleveland-based attractions faired well, snagging four spots on the list.

Under the category "Best Way to End the Work Week," Happy Dog's polka happy hour is billed as "a riotous affair" where "a fake-beard-clad polka aficionado spins classics for a diverse crowd of college students, families and seniors, all dancing along to scratchy tunes spun on vintage vinyl."

Those with a sweet tooth were directed to Lilly Handmade Chocolates. "What a concept: selling artisanal chocolates and fine wines and craft beer in one location," the article declares. "Amanda and Joshua Montague, both classically trained chefs, help customers pair spirits with delicious chocolates, some of which also have a hint of alcohol."

Listed as a "Restaurant to Bank On," Dante Boccuzzi's Dante restaurant in Tremont dishes out a "reliably delectable menu including pasta, fish and beef, it's located in the regal confines of an old bank, and guests can request to dine in the old vault."

Earning props for its big makeover this year, Cleveland's IngenuityFest snags the category best "Fest Makeover," citing the new location beneath the Veterans Memorial Bridge as reason #1. "In 2010, one of Cleveland's most unique festivals changed things up a bit and brought in more fest-goers than ever: More than 40,000 people.

Check out the rest of the rankings here.

Billed as "the first of its kind between two large U.S. health systems," a recently announced collaboration between the Cleveland Clinic and MedStar Health (Georgetown University Hospital, among others) will help speed medical inventions to market, as a recent Washington Post article states.

Titled "Cleveland Clinic, MedStar join forces to move medical technologies to market," the article goes on to say that moving medical technologies to market is a relatively new endeavor for health systems and academic medical centers. But Cleveland Clinic Innovations has licensed more than 250 technologies and started 35 new companies to market products.

"The Cleveland model is a combination of royalties from licenses of technologies to established companies and the sale of shares in spin-off companies. Royalties from licensing generate about $10 million yearly, but overall revenue is increasing significantly," Chris Coburn, executive director of Cleveland Clinic Innovations, is quoted in the article as saying.

"Reinventing the wheel everywhere isn't as favorable an option as forging collaboration," Thomas J. Graham of Cleveland Clinic Innovations states. "This allows us to open up a larger-scale collaboration that can be helpful in improving patient access, getting clinical answers and expanding innovation."

Read the full prognosis here.

Being named a Food & Wine "Best New Chef" has its privileges, not the least of which is regular ink in the pages of the good-old glossy. That's precisely what Jonathon Sawyer got this week when the February issue of the monthly hit newsstands, revealing a healthy four-page spread of copy, art and recipes.

In the section titled "What to Cook Next," the Greenhouse Tavern chef-owner says that his goal as a cook is to "please vegans, carnivores, and everybody in between." He says he wants to please not just foodies, but every kind of eater. "I want the whole city to embrace Greenhouse," he says.

The mag publishes a round-up of recipes inspired by Greenhouse specialties, including a grilled steak marinated in fish sauce, an artichoke and farro salad, and chickpea-slathered toasts.

Pick up the February issue to devour the entire spread.

In a feature titled, "Best New Midwest Places to Play, Eat and Stay," Midwest Living encourages its readers to plan their next vacation around the mag's most recent picks of the Midwest's best new attractions, restaurants and hotels.

Under the section Best New Restaurants, AMP 150 earns kudos for its creative -- and surprising -- seasonal cuisine.

"Talk about a surprise. It's in a newly renovated Airport Marriott. It has a garden out back where the chef grows heirloom veggies labeled with cute little chalkboards. And its affordable small-plates menu packs amazing flavor (hello, five-spice marshmallows floating in pumpkin soup)."

Read the entire list of Bests here.

Since opening in 2004, Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park has been nothing short of a wild ride. The 100,000-plus square-foot park attracts thousands of thrill-seekers from all across the Midwest, making it a bona fide Cleveland success story. Last week, owner Ray Petro accomplished what he had been planning to do for years: open a second location out of state.

Last week, Petro opened a 110,000-square-foot Milwaukee location in a former Menards Home Improvement Center, a move he pulled off by partnering with Trek.

In a recent Cycling News article, the writer says the new facility "builds upon the success of the original location in Cleveland, Ohio." The indoor park gives riders a place to ride, train, and develop skills -- especially during the long winter months.

The article states that the grand opening of the Milwaukee location had been postponed until New Year's weekend from its original November date because of city permit issues.

Read the trail story here.

Delta travelers this month who pick up the airline's in-flight magazine Sky will be treated to a heaping portion of Cleveland's Greenhouse Tavern. In an article titled "3 Masters of Comfort Food," food celeb Andrew Zimmern singles out some of this nation's finest, including Cleveland's Jonathon Sawyer.

"He's only 30, but Jonathon Sawyer brings a stacked resume to the table," Zimmern writes, adding that the chef "played instrumental roles in the opening of Michael Symon's Lolita and Parea." Not to mention snagging Food & Wine's "Best New Chef" award.

Zimmern steers "food geeks" straight to Greenhouse's roasted pig's head, while directing tamer palates to the garlic-roasted chicken.

Devour the entire spread here.

What do Munich and Cleveland, Barcelona and Seattle, Turin and Philadelphia, and Seoul and Minneapolis-St. Paul have in common? According to syndicated columnist Neal Peirce, who pens this editorial for the Seattle Times, these cities all have faced moments of serious economic challenge but then devised ingenious recovery strategies.

The recent Global Metro Summit, held last month in Chicago and sponsored by the Brookings Institution, celebrated the comeback efforts of the above cities, including those of Cleveland.

In the editorial, Peirce writes that "Seattle, the Twin Cities and the Cleveland area are even in the midst of what Brookings is heralding as a new era of applying modern business-style planning to the economic-development potential of entire citistates."

Touting "highly participatory planning processes that create vision," Peirce points to numerous examples of cities experiencing remarkable economic turnarounds.

"Could a U.S. region such as Cleveland and its sister cities of Akron and Youngstown -- erstwhile continental champions in steel, rubber, chemicals and auto assembly, now on the economic ropes -- produce similar results?" he asks rhetorically before offering the following encouraging words.

"Spirited Northeast Ohio efforts to coalesce and stop internecine warfare among the region's local governments have led to a business-type planning initiative, the "Fund for Our Economic Future." Spearheaded by more than 50 regional foundations, with an unprecedented collection of the area's local governments, business, civic and academic leaders signed on, it has developed an extensive data set, market-based intelligence and a new initiative based on boosting productivity of the region's 1,600 small to midsized manufacturing firms."

"The idea is that many Ohio firms that have traditionally worked in polymers, chemicals and metals could translate well into such current high-demand areas as global health, flexible electronics, transportation and clean energy."

Read the rest here.

In a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial titled "Welcome to Cleveburgh!," regional economist Christopher Briem urges Pittsburghers (and Clevelanders) to rethink their place in the world.

"It may be time to talk about the once-unthinkable," he writes: A combined Cleveland-Pittsburgh metro region.

In terms of population and workforce heft, the combined region is mighty formidable, he asserts.

"The metropolitan statistical areas of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Steubenville, Weirton and Youngtown, along with adjacent counties, add up to a population of more than 6 million and a labor force of more than 4 million," reports Briem.

To compete as a united front, he adds, both regions must share resources, ideas, capital and talent. "Cleve-burgh could take advantage of a much broader set of strengths than either Pittsburgh or Cleveland can tap on its own."

Aside from the gridiron, the beginning of a partnership already exists. The Regional Learning Network was formed in 2009 and brings together local leaders of Cleveland, Youngstown and Pittsburgh to address shared problems, Briem points out. And the TechBelt Initiative brings together emerging technology industries of the greater Pittsburgh and Cleveland regions.

So, the next time you come across somebody wearing a Steelers jersey, say, "Howdy, neighbor!"

Read the well-reasoned piece here.

Snagging the 2012 Democratic National Convention will be a coup for whichever of the four finalist cities -- Charlotte, Cleveland, Minneapolis and St. Louis -- manages to secure the honor. According to this New York Times article, "cities vying to be the host expect to benefit from an injection of millions of dollars into their local economies and a blast of free publicity."

The article also states that Cleveland would not be in the running as a finalist if it didn't already meet basic logistical requirements in the areas of hotel rooms, airport and local transportation systems.

Cleveland has in its favor the title as bona fide battleground state. "Democrats cannot win without it. The fact that Democrats did so badly here in the midterm elections should be all the more reason for the party to plant the flag with its convention. And Ohio has more electoral votes, 20, than any other state vying for the convention."

Dings against us? A disappointing turnout at an Obama rally two days before the midterm elections, ongoing County corruption investigations, and the petite size of our main convention hall.

Read the full analysis here.

Community Partnership for Arts & Culture (CPAC), a nonprofit arts and culture organization, recently announced its latest class of Creative Workforce Fellowships. Made possible with support of Cuyahoga County citizens through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, the annual Fellowships offer a $20,000 financial award to 20 outstanding artists.

Fellows also receive membership with the COSE Arts Network, a tuition waiver for CPAC's Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute, and inclusion in a publication of Fellows' work.

Five of the awards went to Cleveland Institute of Art faculty members and four went to CIA alums, including Dean of Faculty and Professor Matthew Hollern.

"These wonderful CPAC awards for our faculty and alumni speak volumes about the influence of CIA on the culture and economy of our region," said CIA President Grafton Nunes. "These artists contribute in very tangible ways to the vibrancy of Greater Cleveland and the national arts culture."

See the complete list of artists here.

Steve's Lunch (5004 Lorain Ave., 216-961-1460) hasn't closed its doors since 1955, operating for roughly 20,000 days straight. Take that, Brett Favre! Folks of all walks of life -- and at all times of the day and night -- pull up a stool at the lunch counter for cheap, delicious hot dogs topped with chili and cheese or coleslaw and fries.

The fact that this dog-eared joint earned praise from New York-based Serious Eats, where it recently earned the "Hot Dog of the Week" spot, doesn't surprise local hot dog fans one bit.

"Walking in on a rainy day to a couple of eccentric regulars shooting the breeze was like living inside a panel of American Splendor," writes the reporter.

He adds: "Steve's feels like the type of joint that used to be on every corner in New York -- where drunks, cops and vagrants rub elbows over endless cups of cheap coffee and hot dogs at four in the morning, except there's something about it that's uniquely Cleveland."

Stop in for a couple slaw dogs; It is a culinary experience you won't soon forget.

Consume the rest of the Serious Eats article here.

Holiday time in the newspaper biz is great news for Cleveland's A Christmas Story House and Museum. That's the time of year when fun and fluffy holiday-themed stories fill the gaps left by the lack of real news. Here are just a few of the recent mentions about Tremont's most beloved movie abode.

In a Dallas Morning News story titled "Home featured in A Christmas Story is a holiday special," the writer opts to lead with the good-old leg lamp, stating "It stands where it should: in the living-room window."

He then goes on to say, "The living room, the lamp, the tree, the BB gun and more are inside A Christmas Story House and Museum in the Pembroke section of Cleveland. It's the actual house used for exteriors in the movie, made in 1983." Not sure where the heck the "Pembroke section of Cleveland" is, but you get the point.

Read the report here.

Over in Nebraska -- yes, even Nebraska loves Ralphie -- the Lincoln Journal Star ran a story called "What's Christmas without a visit to Ralphie's house in Cleveland?" Well, sad, that's what!

In the article, the reporter states that the "real draws are the house and the museum, featuring original props and costumes and memorabilia from the film and hundreds of rare behind-the-scenes photos. You'll find the red snowsuit, worn by Ralphie's little brother, Randy, and also his silver zeppelin. There's also the ratty coat that McGavin wore while he changed the flat tire. The family car is parked in a garage next to the gift shop."

Check it out here.

Closer in miles but no less enthusiastic, the Columbus Dispatch deems A Christmas Story House worthy of inclusion in a piece titled "Statewide festivities bound to put you in the holiday spirit."

"The home in Cleveland, featured in the beloved 1983 movie, is open year-round for tours but is, of course, especially popular this time of year. Across the street is A Christmas Story House Museum, featuring original props, costumes, photographs and memorabilia from the movie."

Read more here.

So, calling all "connoisseurs of soap." For cripes sake, get thee to the Christmas Story House and Museum.

In this somewhat skeptical article about the new Medical Mart and Convention Center, Bloomberg writer David M. Levitt dissects the details of the deal. While he posits no predictions nor conclusions, he addresses many of the concerns held by local residents.

"Cleveland, which has poured almost $1 billion into such projects as three sports stadiums and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, is on the verge of spending $465 million in an effort to remake itself as the epicenter for the sale of medical equipment and supplies," the article states at the outset.

Billed as the brainchild of Delos "Toby" Cosgrove, CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, The Medical Mart will be a 422,000 square-foot exhibition center for medical products.

Tim Hagan, outgoing Cuyahoga County commissioner, says he believes that the Med Mart will transcend those earlier civic construction projects by attracting the kind of high-tech jobs the area needs. "I don't think a baseball stadium or football stadium or even the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame really redefines a community," he says. "High-tech medical, biotech, that's going to be the new face of the community. What we hope is, when you think of Cleveland, you think of a medical center."

In their most recent update, Mart operators say they have 40 letters of intent for the facility's permanent showroom, plus another 16 letters of intent for conferences, conventions and trade shows. (Though it hasn't released the names.)

Examine the rest of the story here.

According to Michael Goldberg, founder and managing partner of Cleveland-based Bridge Investment Fund, state incentives and a venture capital fund dedicated to investing in Israel continue to lure biotechnology companies from that nation in record numbers. In the past eight years, at least 14 Israeli technology start-ups raised funds from Ohio-based backers, and at least six of these opened offices in the state.

"While many Israelis still look to Boston or Silicon Valley for support, Ohio has done more than other states to attract Israeli start-ups," Goldberg is quoted in the Bloomberg article.

Credit goes to the Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center, which invested at least $3 million during the last eight years in five Israeli health-sciences companies, and BioEnterprise, which helps connect the Israeli companies to capital, medical expertise, and management teams in the state.

One such success: Simbionix, a maker of medical devices, transferred its headquarters from Israel to Cleveland in 2002.

Read the full report here.