Featured Stories
The American Institute of Architects Cleveland and Cleveland Metroparks have launched Parkitecture—a lecture series that explores the intersection of design, ecology, and public space within the Metroparks system. The inaugural winter program at Brecksville Reservation examined the evolution of park architecture from the 1939 WPA-era Nature Center to contemporary facilities.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day this Monday, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Museum of Art, and CMA's Community Arts Center, will offer free admission and programming to celebrate Dr. King's legacy. The celebrations feature activities ranging from planetarium shows and wildlife encounters to art-making workshops, live performances, and storytelling sessions. Several other University Circle institutions are also participating, with University Circle Inc. providing free CircleLink shuttle service to all locations.
On Feb. 18, Literary Cleveland and Ohio Humanities will lead organizations throughout Ohio in yearlong celebration honoring Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison. The celebration will feature more than 40 events, exploring Morrison's life, literature, and impact on American culture.
The Cleveland Museum of Art's "Renaissance to Runway: The Enduring Italian Houses" exhibit explores the centuries-long relationship between Renaissance art and contemporary luxury fashion in legendary Italian houses like Bulgari, Buccellati, and Ferragamo. More than 100 pieces show how Renaissance aesthetics, religious symbolism, and regional craftsmanship continue to influence modern design. Additionally, CMA has free admission on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
A recent survey conducted by MAGNET reveals that tariffs are creating both opportunities and challenges for Ohio manufacturers, with about one-third of respondents reporting impacts on sales. While some companies benefit from reshoring efforts, losses are often cutting deeper than gains.
The American Institute of Architects Cleveland recently hosted Cleveland architect Robert Maschke as part of its Body of Work lecture series, where he presented his projects in Gordon Square and Little Italy. Maschke shares his design philosophy of giving small projects the same attention as larger ones, with a focus on context-driven designs that reflect neighborhoods' histories and character.
Postcards from around 1910 celebrating the passing of the old year into the new!
St. Luke's Foundation's Tim Tramble is nearing the completion of his $10.5 million housing development, 89th Rising, in Fairfax. With 48 rental units in six Victorian-style buildings, the project honors the street's historic character and addresses current housing needs—with hope it will be a catalyst for reversing disinvestment and be a model for revitalization.
Taking a look at some Clevelander's Christmas cards from the early 1900s.
Over three decades, the Cleveland Restoration Society took on an ambitious project to illuminate 24 historic church steeples, towers, and domes along Interstate 71. The Steeple Lighting Program was funded by a $370,000 bequest from East Cleveland dentist Dr. Reinhold "Ray" Erickson to the Cleveland Foundation. Theproject transformed the nighttime skyline and helped neighborhood revitalization.
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture in November approved $12.9 million in grants to more than 300 organizations for 2026, supporting both major cultural institutions and smaller nonprofits across Northeast Ohio. FreshWater looks at three diverse initiatives that demonstrate how expanded arts funding from the recent cigarette tax increase is strengthening Cleveland's creative economy and preserving important cultural legacies.
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture awarded more than $10.75 million in grants to 300 local arts and culture nonprofits in 2025. The funding supported diverse programming ranging from dance and movement to STEAM projects and cultural heritage festivals. Check out the photos that illustrate the beautiful work being done in Northeast Ohio!
MAGNET and other Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEPs) are facing an abrupt funding suspension, threatening 90 jobs and support for nearly 14,000 manufacturers statewide. The move eliminates $5.9 million in funding for MAGNET alone, with several smaller centers expected to close immediately.
We take a look at postcards that want you to feel happy thoughts in the winter, but without any specific religious notes.
After sitting vacant for 40 years, the abandoned Warner & Swasey manufacturing complex is about to undergo a $64 million transformation into 140 mixed-income apartments and commercial space. Construction will begin in January on the adaptive reuse project that will address the MidTown neighborhood's need for affordable housing.
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.
The Manufacturing Sector Partnership )MSP) in Cuyahoga County has created 3,000 jobs with average annual salaries of $38,000 since its 2019 launch—generating more than $2 million in incremental tax revenue while addressing the manufacturing workforce shortage. Through MAGNET programs like ACCESS and Early College Early Career, the partnership connects underserved populations with attractive manufacturing careers.
Cleveland Leadership Center's annual Accelerate pitch competition offers people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to secure funding and make connections. With a deadline of December 5, the competition has helped entrepreneurs from age eight to 80 turn ideas into reality. Don't miss the deadline!
There is nothing more nostalgic in Cleveland than Sterling-Lindner-Davis department store during the holidays. So, we kick off the season with this postcard of the beloved Sterling Lindner tree.
As FreshWater Cleveland continues its year-end fundraising campaign, the writers and photographers reflect on their favorite stories from over the years, ranging from profiles of civil rights leaders and architectural histories to nature adventures and animal adoptions.