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media has feeding frenzy over gaga's meaty fashions
Unless you were sharing an underground bunker with Dick Cheney, you likely heard the news that Lady Gaga's impish "meat dress" landed in Cleveland. Now part of the "Women Who Rock" exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the dress first appeared at last year's MTV Video Music Awards.
Well, the media has been on a bit of a meat-fueled feeding frenzy since the news broke, publishing stories with carnivorous impunity. Fresh Water writer Erin O'Brien was one of them, penning this piece last week.
Writing this piece for the New Times Broward-Palm Beach, Laine Doss explained the process that it took to ready the dress for its Cleveland debut.
"How do you store and display raw meat for days, weeks, and months without flies, maggots, and the rotting stench of decay?" she asks rhetorically. Well, you turn it into beef jerky, of course. "The outfit, made of Argentine beef, was kept in a meat locker, placed in a vat of chemicals, and dried by a team of taxidermists over a period of several months."
Dee-lish.
In this article, the Montreal Gazette reminded readers of the "meaning" behind the meat.
"Gaga later told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres that the dress had many interpretations," among them, "If we don't stand up for what we believe in, and if we don't fight for our rights, pretty soon we're going to have as much rights as the meat on our own bones. And, I am not a piece of meat."
In this MTV article, writer Jocelyn Vena chats with the Rock Hall's chief curator Jim Henke, who explains other tactics the museum is using to keep the meat mountain fresh.
"It's going to be in a case and we are putting some canisters in there to control the humidity, and then we have this other canister that soaks up the glutens," Henke explained. "But it's in a sealed case and we have the gels to control the environment in there."
Henke says that as weird as Gaga's dress may be, it's not the oddest item in the collection.
"Definitely one of the stranger pieces," he says, but adds "There are some other weird things. We actually have [pioneering radio DJ] Alan Freed's ashes."
Well, the media has been on a bit of a meat-fueled feeding frenzy since the news broke, publishing stories with carnivorous impunity. Fresh Water writer Erin O'Brien was one of them, penning this piece last week.
Writing this piece for the New Times Broward-Palm Beach, Laine Doss explained the process that it took to ready the dress for its Cleveland debut.
"How do you store and display raw meat for days, weeks, and months without flies, maggots, and the rotting stench of decay?" she asks rhetorically. Well, you turn it into beef jerky, of course. "The outfit, made of Argentine beef, was kept in a meat locker, placed in a vat of chemicals, and dried by a team of taxidermists over a period of several months."
Dee-lish.
In this article, the Montreal Gazette reminded readers of the "meaning" behind the meat.
"Gaga later told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres that the dress had many interpretations," among them, "If we don't stand up for what we believe in, and if we don't fight for our rights, pretty soon we're going to have as much rights as the meat on our own bones. And, I am not a piece of meat."
In this MTV article, writer Jocelyn Vena chats with the Rock Hall's chief curator Jim Henke, who explains other tactics the museum is using to keep the meat mountain fresh.
"It's going to be in a case and we are putting some canisters in there to control the humidity, and then we have this other canister that soaks up the glutens," Henke explained. "But it's in a sealed case and we have the gels to control the environment in there."
Henke says that as weird as Gaga's dress may be, it's not the oddest item in the collection.
"Definitely one of the stranger pieces," he says, but adds "There are some other weird things. We actually have [pioneering radio DJ] Alan Freed's ashes."
The Near West Intergenerational School (NWIS), a public charter school that aims to serve families on Cleveland's near-west side, will open this fall inside of Ohio City's Garrett Morgan School of Science.
"The location in the heart of Ohio City will draw kids from the neighborhood, and many families will be able to walk to school," says Debbie Fisher, the school's recently hired Principal. "Cleveland has a huge need for quality, high-performing schools, and we really believe in bringing this model to kids and families."
NWIS is being modeled after The Intergenerational School (TIS), a high-performing charter school in the Larchmere-Shaker Square neighborhood of Cleveland. In 2009, TIS received a $250,000 grant to replicate its model. After being recruited by members of the Ohio City Babysitting Co-op, a group of parents that exchange sits, TIS decided to open a new school on the near-west side.
There was one small problem, however: they didn't yet have a building. Racing against an August 2011 deadline, NWIS staff, board members and volunteers filed the necessary paperwork with the State of Ohio to create a new charter school, created a board of directors, worked furiously to gain sponsorship by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) and negotiated for space.
When it opens, NWIS will be the first charter school to be housed inside a CMSD school. The agreement has not been without controversy -- the Cleveland Teachers Union urged CMSD to reject the agreement, stating that it would divide the community, and two CMSD board members voted against it.
Charter schools in Ohio are publicly funded yet privately managed, and their relationship with CMSD has been anything but cozy over the years. Nonetheless, Fisher says school leaders have been helpful throughout the entire process.
"Their attorneys turned around our agreement in one week," she says. "There are some really good staff at CMSD that helped make this happen. They see what we're doing as complementing their efforts to create new and innovative schools."
Fisher recently spent an hour touring Garrett Morgan and talking with the custodian, and she found it to be in excellent condition. "It's a beautiful building," she says. "It has a 600-seat auditorium, and there are no broken seats."
Source: Debbie Fisher
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"The location in the heart of Ohio City will draw kids from the neighborhood, and many families will be able to walk to school," says Debbie Fisher, the school's recently hired Principal. "Cleveland has a huge need for quality, high-performing schools, and we really believe in bringing this model to kids and families."
NWIS is being modeled after The Intergenerational School (TIS), a high-performing charter school in the Larchmere-Shaker Square neighborhood of Cleveland. In 2009, TIS received a $250,000 grant to replicate its model. After being recruited by members of the Ohio City Babysitting Co-op, a group of parents that exchange sits, TIS decided to open a new school on the near-west side.
There was one small problem, however: they didn't yet have a building. Racing against an August 2011 deadline, NWIS staff, board members and volunteers filed the necessary paperwork with the State of Ohio to create a new charter school, created a board of directors, worked furiously to gain sponsorship by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) and negotiated for space.
When it opens, NWIS will be the first charter school to be housed inside a CMSD school. The agreement has not been without controversy -- the Cleveland Teachers Union urged CMSD to reject the agreement, stating that it would divide the community, and two CMSD board members voted against it.
Charter schools in Ohio are publicly funded yet privately managed, and their relationship with CMSD has been anything but cozy over the years. Nonetheless, Fisher says school leaders have been helpful throughout the entire process.
"Their attorneys turned around our agreement in one week," she says. "There are some really good staff at CMSD that helped make this happen. They see what we're doing as complementing their efforts to create new and innovative schools."
Fisher recently spent an hour touring Garrett Morgan and talking with the custodian, and she found it to be in excellent condition. "It's a beautiful building," she says. "It has a 600-seat auditorium, and there are no broken seats."
Source: Debbie Fisher
Writer: Lee Chilcote
symon plugs happy dog in travel + leisure mag
People, if you haven't noticed, want to know as much as humanly possible about their favorite celebrities. Like what they wear, where they shop, and what kind of car they drive when they are not being chauffeured around town. But more than anything, people want to know what famous people do when they are not busy being famous.
Along those lines, a recent Travel + Leisure article asks well-known chefs around the country about their favorite places to eat. Included in the piece is Michael Symon, owner of Cleveland's Lola and Lolita restaurants.
"I hang at the Happy Dog," he tells the mag's writers, "a retro 1940's bar with great beers, live music, and killer hot dogs with an endless array of toppings. After a hard night there's nothing better than a dog topped with kimchi, hot sauce, bacon, and a fried egg, with a side of Tater Tots and a cold Great Lakes IPA. And does anything say Cleveland better than polka happy hour?"
Devour the whole feast here.
Along those lines, a recent Travel + Leisure article asks well-known chefs around the country about their favorite places to eat. Included in the piece is Michael Symon, owner of Cleveland's Lola and Lolita restaurants.
"I hang at the Happy Dog," he tells the mag's writers, "a retro 1940's bar with great beers, live music, and killer hot dogs with an endless array of toppings. After a hard night there's nothing better than a dog topped with kimchi, hot sauce, bacon, and a fried egg, with a side of Tater Tots and a cold Great Lakes IPA. And does anything say Cleveland better than polka happy hour?"
Devour the whole feast here.
Cleveland State University's Factory Theatre is so often booked that students have to schedule rehearsals late at night. While department chair Michael Mauldin bemoans his program's outdated facilities, he realizes that it's a good problem to have.
Before Mauldin was hired in 2006 to breathe new life into the moribund Dramatic Arts Program, the school had only 21 majors. Campus officials had even considered canceling it. Today,CSU's theatre program boasts 85 majors -- and counting.
"We're poised to become a destination theatre program in the coming years," Mauldin predicts. "That's not hubris -- there's some very solid work being produced here."
Mauldin is especially excited about CSU's imminent move to the three new stages at the newly renovated and expanded Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. When the theatre opens in September, CSU will share it with Cleveland Play House, which is relocating from its long-standing home near the Cleveland Clinic.
"Currently, we only have one performance stage in an old textile factory," explains Mauldin. "We're moving to a 500-seat, state-of-the-art theatre inside the Allen, a 290-seat flex space and a 150-seat black box theatre. It's a dream of a space."
Mauldin also lauded the renovation of the Middough Building on East 13th Street, which will feature classrooms, studios and rehearsal halls. "Instead of stepping over each other, we can have concurrent activities going on," he says.
Although CSU's program is already strong (Mauldin reports that 95 percent of its graduates are either working or attending graduate school in the field) it will only get better by being part of PlayhouseSquare.
"We're part of the city, whose theatrical life is so vibrant," he says. "There's so much promise and potential to live up to."
Source: Michael Mauldin
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Before Mauldin was hired in 2006 to breathe new life into the moribund Dramatic Arts Program, the school had only 21 majors. Campus officials had even considered canceling it. Today,CSU's theatre program boasts 85 majors -- and counting.
"We're poised to become a destination theatre program in the coming years," Mauldin predicts. "That's not hubris -- there's some very solid work being produced here."
Mauldin is especially excited about CSU's imminent move to the three new stages at the newly renovated and expanded Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. When the theatre opens in September, CSU will share it with Cleveland Play House, which is relocating from its long-standing home near the Cleveland Clinic.
"Currently, we only have one performance stage in an old textile factory," explains Mauldin. "We're moving to a 500-seat, state-of-the-art theatre inside the Allen, a 290-seat flex space and a 150-seat black box theatre. It's a dream of a space."
Mauldin also lauded the renovation of the Middough Building on East 13th Street, which will feature classrooms, studios and rehearsal halls. "Instead of stepping over each other, we can have concurrent activities going on," he says.
Although CSU's program is already strong (Mauldin reports that 95 percent of its graduates are either working or attending graduate school in the field) it will only get better by being part of PlayhouseSquare.
"We're part of the city, whose theatrical life is so vibrant," he says. "There's so much promise and potential to live up to."
Source: Michael Mauldin
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Greater Cleveland RTA Citizen's Advisory Board is making riding the bus a little more pleasurable. The Transit Waiting Environments (TWE) initiative was incorporated five years ago to improve the pedestrian environment at bus stops. The goal of the program is to provide enhanced passenger amenities and information to encourage bus ridership.
"Eighty percent of our ridership takes the bus," says Maribeth Feke, RTA's director of programs and planning. "The Citizens Advisory Board mentioned that some of the bus stops had no more than a sign and were in poor condition." RTA responded by securing Federal grant money to improve the bus stops.
Interested neighborhood groups submit proposals to receive the grant money. Eligible projects include historic preservation, creation of public art, signage, bicycle access, pedestrian pathways and landscaping.
RTA has completed about 10 projects so far, including bus stops in Lakewood, Tremont, Slavic Village, the near-west side around Gordon Park, and Euclid. Other projects are underway in Cleveland Heights and at the CMHA headquarters.
"Each is individual and has merit to them," says Feke. "It's good for riders to get a better bus stop. It's good for really everyone. It's a nice redevelopment tool."
Bike shelters have been installed at Triskett, West 117th Street and Shaker Rapid Transit Stations and Southgate Transit Center. Public art in the form of functional seating has gone in on Detroit Avenue and W. 65th Street. Future projects include a solar bus station in Cleveland Heights and public art recycling bins along the RTA red line stations.
Source: Maribeth Feke
Writer: Karin Connelly
"Eighty percent of our ridership takes the bus," says Maribeth Feke, RTA's director of programs and planning. "The Citizens Advisory Board mentioned that some of the bus stops had no more than a sign and were in poor condition." RTA responded by securing Federal grant money to improve the bus stops.
Interested neighborhood groups submit proposals to receive the grant money. Eligible projects include historic preservation, creation of public art, signage, bicycle access, pedestrian pathways and landscaping.
RTA has completed about 10 projects so far, including bus stops in Lakewood, Tremont, Slavic Village, the near-west side around Gordon Park, and Euclid. Other projects are underway in Cleveland Heights and at the CMHA headquarters.
"Each is individual and has merit to them," says Feke. "It's good for riders to get a better bus stop. It's good for really everyone. It's a nice redevelopment tool."
Bike shelters have been installed at Triskett, West 117th Street and Shaker Rapid Transit Stations and Southgate Transit Center. Public art in the form of functional seating has gone in on Detroit Avenue and W. 65th Street. Future projects include a solar bus station in Cleveland Heights and public art recycling bins along the RTA red line stations.
Source: Maribeth Feke
Writer: Karin Connelly
pittsburgh leaders envious of rta healthline, hope to duplicate its success
"A rare case of Cleveland envy is helping to fuel the latest proposal for improving transit service between Downtown [Pittsburgh] and Oakland," begins a recent article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
What local officials in that town to the east covet in our own beloved town is the RTA HealthLine, which uses energy-efficient bus rapid transit vehicles to connect Public Square with University Circle and beyond.
Writing for the Post-Gazette, Jon Schmitz says, "Local officials who visited that city's HealthLine, a 6.8-mile bus route with many of the attributes of a light-rail line, want to build a similar system here."
His research pointed out that Cleveland's HealthLine trimmed a formerly 30-minute ride to 18 minutes, while boosting ridership and fueling some $4 billion in investment along the Euclid Avenue Corridor.
While Pittsburgh officials were skeptical that the BRTs would be a suitable (and far more affordable) alternative to light rail, they left Cleveland as supporters.
"This had the feel and the comfort of light rail," Allegheny County's development director Dennis Davin said in the article.
"We see this as a major regional economic development and real estate project," said Ken Zapinski, senior vice president for transportation and infrastructure for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
"This is really an urban revitalization project that happens to have buses involved," said Court Gould, executive director of Sustainable Pittsburgh.
Read the rest here.
What local officials in that town to the east covet in our own beloved town is the RTA HealthLine, which uses energy-efficient bus rapid transit vehicles to connect Public Square with University Circle and beyond.
Writing for the Post-Gazette, Jon Schmitz says, "Local officials who visited that city's HealthLine, a 6.8-mile bus route with many of the attributes of a light-rail line, want to build a similar system here."
His research pointed out that Cleveland's HealthLine trimmed a formerly 30-minute ride to 18 minutes, while boosting ridership and fueling some $4 billion in investment along the Euclid Avenue Corridor.
While Pittsburgh officials were skeptical that the BRTs would be a suitable (and far more affordable) alternative to light rail, they left Cleveland as supporters.
"This had the feel and the comfort of light rail," Allegheny County's development director Dennis Davin said in the article.
"We see this as a major regional economic development and real estate project," said Ken Zapinski, senior vice president for transportation and infrastructure for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
"This is really an urban revitalization project that happens to have buses involved," said Court Gould, executive director of Sustainable Pittsburgh.
Read the rest here.
Three college friends could never have imagined that their mutual love of pizza was going to turn into a lucrative career. In 2003, Stan Garber and his Case Western buddies Oleg Fridman and Alex Yakubovich had a small website design company. When Rascal House Pizza approached them to build on online ordering system, ONOSYS Online Ordering Systems was born.
"We had a huge opportunity," says Garber. "I knew I didn't want to order food over the phone any more -- especially at 1 a.m."
In no time at all the three sold off their design company, raised some capital and started ONOSYS. After "a lot of hustle and bustle," ONOSYS, which is headquartered on E. 40th Street, is the second largest restaurant online ordering company in the country, with clients like Panera Bread, Applebee's and Papa John's International. More than 75 restaurant chains in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Ireland use their system.
"These restaurant chains are seeing a 20 to 25-percent increase in ticket sales with our system," says Garber. The company is on track to process $100 million in to-go orders in 2011.
While adoption of the idea was slow at first -- only 15-20 percent in the first two years -- the concept took off in 2008. "There are huge benefits to the customer, but also amazing benefits for the restaurant," says Garber. "The bigger chains are now adopting this [technology] quite fast and the smaller chains are starting to."
The company has steadily grown in its four years -- from five people in 2008 to 13 today. "We've seen the most amount of growth this year," says Garber. "We're probably hiring five to seven more people this year."
Source: Stan Garber
Writer: Karin Connelly
"We had a huge opportunity," says Garber. "I knew I didn't want to order food over the phone any more -- especially at 1 a.m."
In no time at all the three sold off their design company, raised some capital and started ONOSYS. After "a lot of hustle and bustle," ONOSYS, which is headquartered on E. 40th Street, is the second largest restaurant online ordering company in the country, with clients like Panera Bread, Applebee's and Papa John's International. More than 75 restaurant chains in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Ireland use their system.
"These restaurant chains are seeing a 20 to 25-percent increase in ticket sales with our system," says Garber. The company is on track to process $100 million in to-go orders in 2011.
While adoption of the idea was slow at first -- only 15-20 percent in the first two years -- the concept took off in 2008. "There are huge benefits to the customer, but also amazing benefits for the restaurant," says Garber. "The bigger chains are now adopting this [technology] quite fast and the smaller chains are starting to."
The company has steadily grown in its four years -- from five people in 2008 to 13 today. "We've seen the most amount of growth this year," says Garber. "We're probably hiring five to seven more people this year."
Source: Stan Garber
Writer: Karin Connelly
When the Cleveland Play House kicks off its adventurous 2011 season this coming fall, it will do so in a completely reworked Allen Theatre, about 70 blocks west of its current home. Built in 1921 as a 3,000-seat movie house, the Allen is currently wrapping up a $32-million renovation that will give not only the Play House a brand new home, but also Cleveland State University's thriving theatre department.
Since last fall alone, four new yoga spaces have opened within the Cleveland city limits, launching a bona fide urban-yoga boomlet. Along with the handful of studios that already existed, these new enterprises are well timed to meet a growing demand fueled by progressive new residents who continue to expand into rediscovered neighborhoods. Paired with a wealth of affordable spaces and an increased interest in wellness, yoga studios have never been in higher demand.
Interim Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD) CEO Peter Raskind, who is being replaced by Chief Academic Officer Eric Gordon, offered some parting thoughts on improving urban education at a forum last week on underperforming schools.
Introducing himself as "the lamest of lame ducks," Raskind told the audience at Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs that quality urban schools are critical to reducing inequality. Then he evaluated two concepts that are often mentioned by the left and right as single solutions to the woes of public education: more money and more competition.
"Will more money help? No, not alone," he asserted. While the Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD) laid off hundreds of teachers and staff this year, Raskind does not believe more resources alone would improve performance.
On the subject of fostering competition, he stated that "some competition is helpful, and charter schools and other competitors have induced what I like to call a 'positive discomfort' among schools. At the end of the day, we do have to compete -- yet alone, competition won't solve our problems."
The answer, Raskind said, is effective leadership. He cited Apple and General Motors as examples of two large companies that came back from the brink of destruction to flourish after being led by strong leaders.
Yet urban schools face a critical challenge in attracting good leaders because "leaders are drawn to environments where they can apply their talents to full effect, and repulsed by environments where they feel they'll be stymied," he said.
"How can we attract the best principals to our schools, when they don't have control of who they'll be able to hire?" Raskind asked the audience.
Raskind closed by drawing a comparison between urban schools and another industry that's been in the news a lot lately. "Like the auto industry, urban schools are also in a long slow decline," he said. "And labor and management are locked into complex, rigid agreements that don't function well in today's world."
"Our customers are defecting to more nimble and attractive competitors, particularly charter schools," he continued. "And like the auto industry, labor and management will go down together unless changes are made."
Source: Peter Raskind
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Introducing himself as "the lamest of lame ducks," Raskind told the audience at Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs that quality urban schools are critical to reducing inequality. Then he evaluated two concepts that are often mentioned by the left and right as single solutions to the woes of public education: more money and more competition.
"Will more money help? No, not alone," he asserted. While the Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD) laid off hundreds of teachers and staff this year, Raskind does not believe more resources alone would improve performance.
On the subject of fostering competition, he stated that "some competition is helpful, and charter schools and other competitors have induced what I like to call a 'positive discomfort' among schools. At the end of the day, we do have to compete -- yet alone, competition won't solve our problems."
The answer, Raskind said, is effective leadership. He cited Apple and General Motors as examples of two large companies that came back from the brink of destruction to flourish after being led by strong leaders.
Yet urban schools face a critical challenge in attracting good leaders because "leaders are drawn to environments where they can apply their talents to full effect, and repulsed by environments where they feel they'll be stymied," he said.
"How can we attract the best principals to our schools, when they don't have control of who they'll be able to hire?" Raskind asked the audience.
Raskind closed by drawing a comparison between urban schools and another industry that's been in the news a lot lately. "Like the auto industry, urban schools are also in a long slow decline," he said. "And labor and management are locked into complex, rigid agreements that don't function well in today's world."
"Our customers are defecting to more nimble and attractive competitors, particularly charter schools," he continued. "And like the auto industry, labor and management will go down together unless changes are made."
Source: Peter Raskind
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The phrase "party of the year" gets bandied about quite a bit, but rare is the bash that truly deserves the designation. One that does -- year after year -- is the Summer Solstice Party at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Held in the galleries and on the grounds of the world-renowned museum, the blowout attracts upwards of 4,000 revelers per year. This year's event is slated for June 25th.
Lady Gaga's now-infamous meat dress sizzled when the pop diva stepped beneath the hot lights of L.A.'s Nokia Theatre for the MTV Music Awards on Sept. 12, 2010. That stunning premiere only marked the beginning of the dress's long trip to Cleveland, which ended on June 16 when it ultimately arrived for display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
For nearly a decade, Cleveland Independents, a local marketing group, has worked tirelessly to level the playing field between independent restaurants and large national chains. By all accounts their efforts are paying off -- with a membership roster of 90 indie eateries, CI is the largest organization of its kind in the country.
For decades, the lower level of the Detroit-Superior Bridge supported the streetcars that shuttled Cleveland commuters across town. More recently, the rarely seen space has become a unique and beloved public gathering space.
In 2009, the two-day Bridge Project reopened the space to the public for one of the first times, attracting some 20,000 people. The offbeat festival of music and art featured a design charrette that solicited input for making the bridge more accessible and friendly to the public. More recently, the space has played host to Ingenuity Fest.
Those who do tour the half-mile walkway are treated to breathtaking views of downtown, the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. There were also tantalizing remnants of Cleveland history: segments of old streetcar track, an historic subway station, and a watery pool fed from a natural spring in the hillside.
Now a new effort is underway to open the bridge to the public year-round. Organizers envision a bicycle and pedestrian link that bridges downtown and Ohio City, a performance venue and an authentic connection to Cleveland's past.
Led by the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (CUDC), James Levin and the Cuyahoga County Engineer, the Bridge Project has been nominated for a coveted "This Place Matters" award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Voting takes place between June 1st and June 30th. Currently, the Bridge Project is number six out of 100 projects that made the first cut.
"Since the voting started, we've moved from 40th place to 6th place, so we're hopeful that we'll be one of the three finalists to receive funding," says David Jurca, Urban Designer at the CUDC. "We plan to use the funding to match a grant we've received from the Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLCI) program that will allow us to plan and design the future of the space."
A community-driven effort is now underway to move the project into one of the top spots. First prize is $35,000; second prize is $10,000; and third prize is $5,000.
Source: David Jurca
Writer: Lee Chilcote
In 2009, the two-day Bridge Project reopened the space to the public for one of the first times, attracting some 20,000 people. The offbeat festival of music and art featured a design charrette that solicited input for making the bridge more accessible and friendly to the public. More recently, the space has played host to Ingenuity Fest.
Those who do tour the half-mile walkway are treated to breathtaking views of downtown, the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. There were also tantalizing remnants of Cleveland history: segments of old streetcar track, an historic subway station, and a watery pool fed from a natural spring in the hillside.
Now a new effort is underway to open the bridge to the public year-round. Organizers envision a bicycle and pedestrian link that bridges downtown and Ohio City, a performance venue and an authentic connection to Cleveland's past.
Led by the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (CUDC), James Levin and the Cuyahoga County Engineer, the Bridge Project has been nominated for a coveted "This Place Matters" award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Voting takes place between June 1st and June 30th. Currently, the Bridge Project is number six out of 100 projects that made the first cut.
"Since the voting started, we've moved from 40th place to 6th place, so we're hopeful that we'll be one of the three finalists to receive funding," says David Jurca, Urban Designer at the CUDC. "We plan to use the funding to match a grant we've received from the Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLCI) program that will allow us to plan and design the future of the space."
A community-driven effort is now underway to move the project into one of the top spots. First prize is $35,000; second prize is $10,000; and third prize is $5,000.
Source: David Jurca
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Fund for Our Economic Future has awarded $5.3 million in grants to six regional economic development organizations collaborating to improve Northeast Ohio's economic competiveness. The Fund has been awarding these year-long grants since 2004.
"Part of what we do through grant making is develop a system in Northeast Ohio that we know hits on things that work," says Brad Whitehead, president of the Fund. "The purpose is to advance the economic agenda in Northeast Ohio."
The Fund for Our Economic Future is a collaboration of more than 100 foundations, organizations and philanthropists from across Northeast Ohio that strengthens the region's economic competitiveness through grant making, public engagement and research.
The grant recipients are: BioEnterprise, JumpStart, MAGNET, Minority Business Accelerator 2.5+, NorTech, and Team NEO. "Collectively, these six organizations have strengthened Northeast Ohio's economy contributing more than 2,000 new jobs, $47 million in payroll and attracting $371 million in capital," explains David Abbott, chairman of the Fund and executive director of the George Gund Foundation.
These six organizations best represent and support industries that have great growth potential -- namely manufacturing in emerging markets.
"Early on we identified the areas in which we need to work on, and we've tried to have constancy in these organizations," says Whitehead. "For a long time people thought that because we're a manufacturing economy that that was a bad thing. What we're learning is Northeast Ohio manufacturing is still an important part of our economy. We're turning old growth manufacturing into new growth products. Manufacturing is cool again."
Source: Brad Whitehead
Writer: Karin Connelly
While working from home has its benefits -- and is an increasing trend -- people often miss the social interaction that comes with working in an office. The Open Office is a co-working environment designed to provide temporary and permanent work environments for people who don't want their homes or local coffee shops to also serve as their main workspaces.
"Since 2005 there has been growth in just about every city," says founder Andrew Auten of the co-working concept. "People started working from home more, either through their companies or starting out on their own. People who work from home are not tethered to a building or a desk, but at the end of the day people get isolated."
The Open Office, scheduled to open this fall in the Coventry School building in Cleveland Heights, will offer workspace in a professional environment on a membership basis.
"Our target market is the solo entrepreneurs -- people who have struck out on their own," Auten explains. "My experience is a typical person has a boost of productivity working at home, because there are fewer distractions and they get a lot done, then it starts to dissipate."
Patrons can buy packages ranging from a day pass for a desk to resident offices. Members will have access to conference rooms, team rooms and a receptionist. "You can reserve these rooms for one-on-one meetings and client meetings," says Auten. "You'll have a clean, corporate space instead of a coffee shop or someplace else not always good to have meetings."
Auten is looking at additional space in Tyler Village on Superior and E. 36th.
Source: Andrew Auten
Writer: Karin Connelly
"Since 2005 there has been growth in just about every city," says founder Andrew Auten of the co-working concept. "People started working from home more, either through their companies or starting out on their own. People who work from home are not tethered to a building or a desk, but at the end of the day people get isolated."
The Open Office, scheduled to open this fall in the Coventry School building in Cleveland Heights, will offer workspace in a professional environment on a membership basis.
"Our target market is the solo entrepreneurs -- people who have struck out on their own," Auten explains. "My experience is a typical person has a boost of productivity working at home, because there are fewer distractions and they get a lot done, then it starts to dissipate."
Patrons can buy packages ranging from a day pass for a desk to resident offices. Members will have access to conference rooms, team rooms and a receptionist. "You can reserve these rooms for one-on-one meetings and client meetings," says Auten. "You'll have a clean, corporate space instead of a coffee shop or someplace else not always good to have meetings."
Auten is looking at additional space in Tyler Village on Superior and E. 36th.
Source: Andrew Auten
Writer: Karin Connelly
For three local entrepreneurs, playing with toys is big business. Arthur Gugick sells elaborate building replicas constructed from Legos. George Vlosich uses an Etch a Sketch to create pricy masterworks. And Tom Donelan turned his love of board games into a thriving national brand. These Cleveland-area professionals have proven that child's play is no joke.
Forget Cupertino. Hello, Cleveland!
In an article penned by Aaron Glantz, the San Francisco-based Bay Citizen reported that "rust-belt cities of Pittsburgh, Cleveland and St. Louis are all drawing a higher proportion of highly skilled immigrants than Silicon Valley." The numbers were announced in a recent Brookings Institution study of census data.
In that study, the Brookings' Matthew Hall points to efforts by cities such as Cleveland and Pittsburgh to recruit and welcome foreign workers to town in an attempt to rejuvenate the economy. Also of great importance is the cost-of-living disparity.
"Pittsburgh is an easier place to afford to live the American dream and get your foot in the door," Hall said. "That might sound like a pretty good option to a lot of people."
And perhaps contrary to popular opinion, highly skilled immigrants now outnumber lower-skilled ones in the United States, the report found. They found that 30 percent of the country's working-age immigrants, regardless of legal status, have at least a bachelor's degree. Only 28 percent lack a high school diploma.
Read the entire article here.
In that study, the Brookings' Matthew Hall points to efforts by cities such as Cleveland and Pittsburgh to recruit and welcome foreign workers to town in an attempt to rejuvenate the economy. Also of great importance is the cost-of-living disparity.
"Pittsburgh is an easier place to afford to live the American dream and get your foot in the door," Hall said. "That might sound like a pretty good option to a lot of people."
And perhaps contrary to popular opinion, highly skilled immigrants now outnumber lower-skilled ones in the United States, the report found. They found that 30 percent of the country's working-age immigrants, regardless of legal status, have at least a bachelor's degree. Only 28 percent lack a high school diploma.
Read the entire article here.
When construction finally wrapped up in 2008 on the Euclid Corridor, civic leaders felt triumphant. The $200 million project to redevelop crumbling Euclid Avenue -- once dubbed "Millionaire's Row" for its opulent, turn-of-the-century mansions -- would spur economic development and connect downtown with University Circle, they believed.
Then the global recession hit. Banks stopped lending, businesses halted expansion plans and the nation slid into a great recession. The once-tangible vision of attracting health care and tech companies to the sparkling boulevard seemed like the stuff of dreams.
Yet at MidTown Cleveland's recent annual meeting, civic leaders touted recent developments showing the vaunted Health Tech Corridor is gradually becoming a reality. The Euclid Corridor has created "a globally competitive environment to attract and grow biomedical, health care and medical supply chain businesses in Midtown and beyond," MidTown's annual report stated.
Recent accomplishments include breaking ground on the Midtown Tech Park at Euclid and East 69th, with the help of a $3.5 million Jobs Ready Sites grant; earning a designation as an Ohio "Hub of Innovation and Opportunity" along with $250,000 in funding to implement an action plan for the Health Tech Corridor; seeing the expansion of longstanding businesses such as Pierre's Ice Cream; and spurring the addition of new businesses like Ziska Architects, which relocated from Solon to the historic Gifford House at 3047 Prospect Avenue.
MidTown Cleveland says it's no surprise that businesses are investing here, given the neighborhood's proximity to downtown Cleveland, University Circle and the Cleveland Clinic. Other reasons behind the growth of the area include access to talent and research at nearby institutions and opportunities to collaborate with world-class health care and academic institutions in technology development.
Source: MidTown Cleveland, Inc.
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Then the global recession hit. Banks stopped lending, businesses halted expansion plans and the nation slid into a great recession. The once-tangible vision of attracting health care and tech companies to the sparkling boulevard seemed like the stuff of dreams.
Yet at MidTown Cleveland's recent annual meeting, civic leaders touted recent developments showing the vaunted Health Tech Corridor is gradually becoming a reality. The Euclid Corridor has created "a globally competitive environment to attract and grow biomedical, health care and medical supply chain businesses in Midtown and beyond," MidTown's annual report stated.
Recent accomplishments include breaking ground on the Midtown Tech Park at Euclid and East 69th, with the help of a $3.5 million Jobs Ready Sites grant; earning a designation as an Ohio "Hub of Innovation and Opportunity" along with $250,000 in funding to implement an action plan for the Health Tech Corridor; seeing the expansion of longstanding businesses such as Pierre's Ice Cream; and spurring the addition of new businesses like Ziska Architects, which relocated from Solon to the historic Gifford House at 3047 Prospect Avenue.
MidTown Cleveland says it's no surprise that businesses are investing here, given the neighborhood's proximity to downtown Cleveland, University Circle and the Cleveland Clinic. Other reasons behind the growth of the area include access to talent and research at nearby institutions and opportunities to collaborate with world-class health care and academic institutions in technology development.
Source: MidTown Cleveland, Inc.
Writer: Lee Chilcote
cleveland area among 'top u.s. cities for jobs' according to recent data
Relying on data from its most recent job posting volume, as well as figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monster compiled a list of the top 10 metro areas with the highest number of open positions per worker. Greater Cleveland claimed the fifth spot.
Monster Senior Editor Charles Purdy says the data shows that "we're seeing an increase in job postings in cities on both coasts as well as in the heartland."
Although the national unemployment rate ticked up slightly in May, he explains, large cities like Cleveland are actually seeing an increase in private-sector hiring and a drop in unemployment.
Despite a slow recovery, he adds, we're seeing a dramatic increase in the number of employed workers who have ridden out the recession and are now job searching again.
The "Industries to Watch" in Greater Cleveland, says the article, are consumer-driven sectors (food preparation/serving and personal care), management and IT.
Cleveland trailed Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Minneapolis-St. Paul, but beat out Boston, Seattle and Pittsburgh.
Read the whole report here.
Monster Senior Editor Charles Purdy says the data shows that "we're seeing an increase in job postings in cities on both coasts as well as in the heartland."
Although the national unemployment rate ticked up slightly in May, he explains, large cities like Cleveland are actually seeing an increase in private-sector hiring and a drop in unemployment.
Despite a slow recovery, he adds, we're seeing a dramatic increase in the number of employed workers who have ridden out the recession and are now job searching again.
The "Industries to Watch" in Greater Cleveland, says the article, are consumer-driven sectors (food preparation/serving and personal care), management and IT.
Cleveland trailed Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Minneapolis-St. Paul, but beat out Boston, Seattle and Pittsburgh.
Read the whole report here.