Downtown
Bob PerkoskiDowntown Cleveland
During the day, downtown Cleveland functions as the governmental, commercial and legal nucleus of Cuyahoga County. Daily, tens of thousands of people commute here to work at law firms, banks, insurance companies and in municipal offices. At the end of the day, many of those people get in cars or hop on trains and return home to far-flung suburbs. But not all of them. More and more, people are choosing to call downtown home, taking up residence in warehouse lofts, sleek new condos and apartments carved out of former office buildings. Hovering at 98-percent occupancy, the residential market in downtown Cleveland is at its highest point in 60 years.
Benjamin Rose built a thriving meatpacking empire in 1840 and, as business grew, commissioned architect George H. Smith to design the Rose Building—the city’s "New Center" in 1902. Upon his death, Rose's fortune established the Benjamin Rose Institute to support aging community members. The Rose building now begins a new chapter with Spark GHC’s "Project Scarlet," carrying forward Rose’s vision for a vibrant city center.
As we head into the peak of the holiday season, Downtown Cleveland is the place to be for festive lights, decorations, and winter celebrations.
Nearly 10,000 participants gathered in downtown Cleveland for the 44th Annual Cleveland Turkey Trot, featuring runners, spectators, and creative costume enthusiasts. After two weeks of voting, FreshWater readers selected their favorite costumes across three categories. See who won!
For more than 40 years, photojournalist Roger Mastroianni has chronicled Cleveland's arts, healthcare, and corporate landscapes—capturing everything from Cleveland Orchestra performances to hospital operating rooms. Mastroianni's work is a living archive of Cleveland's cultural history and the evolution of photojournalism itself.
Cleveland's 44th annual Turkey Trot saw a record-breaking 9,658 participants on Thanksgiving. Now, FreshWater's Second annual Turkey Trot Costume Contest is open for public voting through Monday, Dec. 8, with winners in individual, group, and pet divisions receiving prizes from FreshWater, CLE Urban Winery, and Lake Erie Pet Food.
Nearly 10,000 participants from around the country braved cold, windy conditions to attend and participate in the 44th Annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, with many participants in costume. FreshWater's second annual Turkey Trot costume contest is now underway and today is the deadline for submissions. Voting begins tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 2m and the winners receive some great prizes!
The 44th Annual Cleveland Turkey Trot is expected to draw a record-breaking 10,000 runners to downtown Cleveland on Thanksgiving morning. The race features three distance options, live entertainment, a food drive and donations to local charities, and the second annual FreshWater Turkey Trot costume contest.
FreshWater Cleveland will host its second annual Turkey Trot Costume Contest for participants of the 44th Cleveland Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27. Participants can submit photos of their costumes in individual, group, or pet divisions until Dec. 1, with voting open until Dec. 8.
The Cleveland Cavaliers kicked off their 2025-26 season home opener yesterday, Sunday, Oct. 26, with their 147th consecutive sellout at Rocket Arena. A slew of new initiatives have been implemented to enhance fan experiences, such as a redesigned mobile app, upgraded food options, and special giveaways.
Literary Cleveland's 2025 Inkubator Writing Conference, one of the largest free writing conferences in the country, is underway around Cleveland. The event kicks off its in-person activities, including workshops, panel discussions, and a book fair, with notable authors and industry professionals participating.
The Association of Black Cardiologists will host a Pop-Up in the Park with free heart health screenings during a weekend of music and community celebration The event, supported by the Make Them Know Your Name Foundation, educates the community on heart health. Along with health screenings, attendees can enjoy musical performances by notable R&B artists.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Northeast Ohio this week donated 20,000 pounds of food to the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland, significantly boosting its food pantry supplies at a time when households are financially tight. The donation is part of the Salvation Army's "Need Knows No Season" campaign to raise awareness about year-round hunger.
Bedrock will host a free Back-to-School Carnival at Tower City Center and on Public Square this weekend, with backpack giveaways, live entertainment, carnival rides, and games—providing another taste of summer before school starts.
Downtown Cleveland, Inc. is hosting a free Public Square Concert Series every Wednesday evening through September 24 with live music from local bands, food trucks, and a bar with local brews and cocktails.
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.
Thousands of people attended the No Kings protest in downtown Cleveland on Saturday to show their opposition to the Washington, D.C. military parade. Photographers Brady Dindia and Bob Perkoski documented the day.
Clevelanders showed their true colors on Saturday at the Pride in the CLE 2025 march and celebration, organized by the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. Thousands of people gathered downtown to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community. The event featured a march through the city streets, followed by a festival with food trucks, vendors, and live entertainment.
The Teen Writers' Symposium, organized by Lake Erie Ink and Cleveland State University's English Department, is designed to inspire young writers with interactive workshops, panel discussions, and meet-and-greets with acclaimed local and regional authors. The event will cover various genres including poetry, fiction, fantasy, and graphic novels, and a chance to connect with like-minded peers.
Northeast Ohio's bookstores will celebrate the 12th annual Independent Bookstore Day this Saturday April 26. Eighteen local bookshops will participate in the nationwide event, offering a range of activities including author readings, signings, giveaways, and a region-wide bookstore crawl.
CLE-Vignettes are photos that show how people in Northeast Ohio spend their time—what they are doing for fun and entertainment or just hanging out with friends and family. Share your CLE-Vignette with us!