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award-winning chef proud of his cleveland roots
In an Aspen Times article titled “Hello, Cleveland! Best New Chef Jason Vincent represents hometown,” Stewart Oksenhorn writes that while Cleveland may have its own culinary superstars living and working in the city, it also has some that profess their love for the great city while sharing their talents elsewhere.
“Vincent also is a huge fan of his hometown, Cleveland, going so far to call it the greatest city in the country. Vincent is aware that this is a minority opinion. Growing up there, he assumed that no one outside of Cleveland had any idea of what was going on in the city. So Vincent was amazed to learn, in 1998, that a local chef, Michael Symon, who had earned a following at the Caxton Cafe and then opened Lola, was named as one of the best new chefs by Food & Wine magazine.”
This year, Vincent joined Symon and Jonathon Sawyer as one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs.
“The chefs were maybe the scariest people I’ve ever met. But also kind and patient,” Vincent said. He recalls being chewed out by Shannon for some misdeed. “He said to me, ‘Do you know how big my world is?’ He was telling me I need to use my brain, not use him as a crutch. That statement was really influential.”
Read the full story here.
“Vincent also is a huge fan of his hometown, Cleveland, going so far to call it the greatest city in the country. Vincent is aware that this is a minority opinion. Growing up there, he assumed that no one outside of Cleveland had any idea of what was going on in the city. So Vincent was amazed to learn, in 1998, that a local chef, Michael Symon, who had earned a following at the Caxton Cafe and then opened Lola, was named as one of the best new chefs by Food & Wine magazine.”
This year, Vincent joined Symon and Jonathon Sawyer as one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs.
“The chefs were maybe the scariest people I’ve ever met. But also kind and patient,” Vincent said. He recalls being chewed out by Shannon for some misdeed. “He said to me, ‘Do you know how big my world is?’ He was telling me I need to use my brain, not use him as a crutch. That statement was really influential.”
Read the full story here.
local writer questions cleveland development boom
In a Rust Wire blog post titled “Questioning Cleveland’s Undying Faith in Development,” local writer Angie Schmitt discusses the appropriation of funding for public projects all in the name of “development.”
“We’re just emerging from the biggest real estate bust in a generation, but the lust for development doesn’t seem to have abated. Economic development officials have taken to touting how downtown Cleveland, or Cleveland, is currently seeing $5 ($7, $12?) billion -- as if that were indisputable evidence the city is rebounding.”
The story goes on to highlight one argument that public funds could be better used to help the communities this “development” is most affecting while shedding light on different trains of thought.
“I was complaining about this on Twitter recently and one of my followers asked: Is Cleveland growing? To which I replied: Ha! His response was: If Cleveland isn’t growing, it’s not really development, “but a spatial change in active/abandoned land distribution.” Which I thought was a pretty compelling point.”
Check out the full piece here.
“We’re just emerging from the biggest real estate bust in a generation, but the lust for development doesn’t seem to have abated. Economic development officials have taken to touting how downtown Cleveland, or Cleveland, is currently seeing $5 ($7, $12?) billion -- as if that were indisputable evidence the city is rebounding.”
The story goes on to highlight one argument that public funds could be better used to help the communities this “development” is most affecting while shedding light on different trains of thought.
“I was complaining about this on Twitter recently and one of my followers asked: Is Cleveland growing? To which I replied: Ha! His response was: If Cleveland isn’t growing, it’s not really development, “but a spatial change in active/abandoned land distribution.” Which I thought was a pretty compelling point.”
Check out the full piece here.
great lakes' efforts to brew 5000-yr-old brew covered by times
In a New York Times feature titled "For Its Latest Beer, a Craft Brewer Chooses an Unlikely Pairing: Archaeology," writer Steven Yaccino covers the efforts by Great Lakes Brewing Co. to replicate a 5,000-year-old Sumerian beer.
"By contemporary standards, it would have been a spoiled batch here at Great Lakes Brewing Company, a craft beer maker based in Ohio, where machinery churns out bottle after bottle of dark porters and pale ales," the article says. "But lately, Great Lakes has been trying to imitate a bygone era. Enlisting the help of archaeologists at the University of Chicago, the company has been trying for more than year to replicate a 5,000-year-old Sumerian beer using only clay vessels and a wooden spoon."
“How can you be in this business and not want to know from where your forefathers came with their formulas and their technology?” co-owner Pat Conway is quoted in the piece.
Because no detailed recipes have been found, attempts to recreate it have been based upon cuneiform texts and an ancient poem, Hymn to Ninkasi, that hints at the recipe.
Great Lakes has no plans to sell the beer, but rather use it as an educational exercise. The brewing vessels are a popular addition on the guided tours of the brewery, and they intend to showcase the Sumerian beer at events in Cleveland this summer.
Read more about the process here.
"By contemporary standards, it would have been a spoiled batch here at Great Lakes Brewing Company, a craft beer maker based in Ohio, where machinery churns out bottle after bottle of dark porters and pale ales," the article says. "But lately, Great Lakes has been trying to imitate a bygone era. Enlisting the help of archaeologists at the University of Chicago, the company has been trying for more than year to replicate a 5,000-year-old Sumerian beer using only clay vessels and a wooden spoon."
“How can you be in this business and not want to know from where your forefathers came with their formulas and their technology?” co-owner Pat Conway is quoted in the piece.
Because no detailed recipes have been found, attempts to recreate it have been based upon cuneiform texts and an ancient poem, Hymn to Ninkasi, that hints at the recipe.
Great Lakes has no plans to sell the beer, but rather use it as an educational exercise. The brewing vessels are a popular addition on the guided tours of the brewery, and they intend to showcase the Sumerian beer at events in Cleveland this summer.
Read more about the process here.
The gradually expanding network of bike-friendly streets in Cleveland and the surrounding suburbs just got a little wider with the addition of a bike lane and sharrows on Edgehill Road from Overlook Road down to Little Italy. The route, one of the most heavily-trafficked for east side bike commuters, was just freshly paved and restriped.
"This is part of the Circle-Heights Bicycle Plan," says Chris Bongorno, Director of Planning with University Circle Inc., which helped to shepherd the project through in collaboration with the City of Cleveland and the City of Cleveland Heights. "We did a study that showed that 25 percent of the University Circle workforce lives within a five mile bike commute. The idea is that there would be more people choosing to bike if we give them facilities that they're comfortable using."
The Circle-Heights Bicycle Plan was funded by the Northeast Ohio Coordinating Agency (NOACA), the regional body that is responsible for divvying up federal transportation funds and helping to establish regional planning priorities. The Edgehill Road project is actually the first aspect of the plan to be completed.
The project was carefully engineered to maximize safety and functionality for cars and bikes. In addition to the five-foot-wide bike lane, there is a four-foot "bike buffer" that adds greater separation between motorists and cyclists. The downhill lane on Edgehill has sharrows, signaling to drivers that bicyclists "share" the road. The reasoning is that bikes travel nearly as fast as cars down the hill (25 mph speed limit). The plan preserves on-street parking on one side of the street.
Other bike infrastructure amenities in the area that will be completed in the next few years include an off-street trail along Cedar Glen Parkway from Cleveland Heights to University Circle. Cleveland is building its portion of the trail this year, and Cleveland Heights expects to complete its portion by 2014 or early 2015.
Coupled with the Lake-to-Lakes Trail and Euclid Avenue bike lanes, the infrastructure is slowly being added to connect the Heights to University Circle and beyond via bicycle. That's one reason why Cleveland was recently awarded a Bronze-level certification as a bike-friendly community from the American League of Bicyclists.
Source: Chris Bongorno, Richard Wong
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"This is part of the Circle-Heights Bicycle Plan," says Chris Bongorno, Director of Planning with University Circle Inc., which helped to shepherd the project through in collaboration with the City of Cleveland and the City of Cleveland Heights. "We did a study that showed that 25 percent of the University Circle workforce lives within a five mile bike commute. The idea is that there would be more people choosing to bike if we give them facilities that they're comfortable using."
The Circle-Heights Bicycle Plan was funded by the Northeast Ohio Coordinating Agency (NOACA), the regional body that is responsible for divvying up federal transportation funds and helping to establish regional planning priorities. The Edgehill Road project is actually the first aspect of the plan to be completed.
The project was carefully engineered to maximize safety and functionality for cars and bikes. In addition to the five-foot-wide bike lane, there is a four-foot "bike buffer" that adds greater separation between motorists and cyclists. The downhill lane on Edgehill has sharrows, signaling to drivers that bicyclists "share" the road. The reasoning is that bikes travel nearly as fast as cars down the hill (25 mph speed limit). The plan preserves on-street parking on one side of the street.
Other bike infrastructure amenities in the area that will be completed in the next few years include an off-street trail along Cedar Glen Parkway from Cleveland Heights to University Circle. Cleveland is building its portion of the trail this year, and Cleveland Heights expects to complete its portion by 2014 or early 2015.
Coupled with the Lake-to-Lakes Trail and Euclid Avenue bike lanes, the infrastructure is slowly being added to connect the Heights to University Circle and beyond via bicycle. That's one reason why Cleveland was recently awarded a Bronze-level certification as a bike-friendly community from the American League of Bicyclists.
Source: Chris Bongorno, Richard Wong
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Meet Helen Qin and Jesse Mason, a couple whose love for each other is rivaled only by their love of ice cream. After swapping the West Coast for the North Coast, the two launched Mason's Creamery, an ice cream start-up. Since moving to town, they have found Cleveland to be a city that not only loves ice cream, but that supports small business.
Rafeeq Washington and Lyz Bly opened Guide to Kulchur in the Gordon Square Arts District with a distinctly anachronistic mission: The store is an homage to print, from stapled zines to books.
Somewhat improbably, the new store flourishes next to an independent record store and the three-screen independent Capitol Theater. But don't call it a throwback. The couple intends to not only sell hard-to-find books and older zines, but also to serve as a center for independent bookmaking culture.
"We want to be a place for things that are happening right now," says Washington. "We'll collect zines and let young scholars know before they get into the archives."
A zine is a self-published work of original or appropriated text and images. Usually reproduced by a photocopier and stapled together, they have a circulation under 1,000. Some zines even rose to national prominence in the 1990s. Although the Internet has changed zine culture, Washington says that it's still going strong.
"We view the bookstore as a way to provide texts we don't always see," he says. "People are throwing out zines because of the Internet, but it's not true that no one reads them anymore. One of our main thrusts is to have them all together."
In addition to everything from Foucalt to trashy mystery novels, Guide to Kulchur will offer a zine archive and co-op for makers. Beginning July 1st, anyone can schedule a time to use the desktop letterpress, copier or mimeograph.
"They can make them here, get them printed, bring them back and put them in the archive," Washington says, who collects zines as far back as 1981.
Washington and Bly saw the storefront while driving one day and knew it had to be theirs. "It was a no-brainer. We knew this was it -- right next to the theater."
Source: Rafeeq Washington
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Somewhat improbably, the new store flourishes next to an independent record store and the three-screen independent Capitol Theater. But don't call it a throwback. The couple intends to not only sell hard-to-find books and older zines, but also to serve as a center for independent bookmaking culture.
"We want to be a place for things that are happening right now," says Washington. "We'll collect zines and let young scholars know before they get into the archives."
A zine is a self-published work of original or appropriated text and images. Usually reproduced by a photocopier and stapled together, they have a circulation under 1,000. Some zines even rose to national prominence in the 1990s. Although the Internet has changed zine culture, Washington says that it's still going strong.
"We view the bookstore as a way to provide texts we don't always see," he says. "People are throwing out zines because of the Internet, but it's not true that no one reads them anymore. One of our main thrusts is to have them all together."
In addition to everything from Foucalt to trashy mystery novels, Guide to Kulchur will offer a zine archive and co-op for makers. Beginning July 1st, anyone can schedule a time to use the desktop letterpress, copier or mimeograph.
"They can make them here, get them printed, bring them back and put them in the archive," Washington says, who collects zines as far back as 1981.
Washington and Bly saw the storefront while driving one day and knew it had to be theirs. "It was a no-brainer. We knew this was it -- right next to the theater."
Source: Rafeeq Washington
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Young urbanist leaders who were in Cleveland this week for Next City's annual Vanguard conference were asked a provocative question about this city's future. With new development activity happening in neighborhoods across a city that still is devastatingly poor, how can we do a better job of ensuring that these projects will benefit our poorest residents?
"I'm a little concerned that as we build projects, we're creating a city for yuppies and a city for everyone else," commented Ari Maron of MRN Ltd. in a presentation to 40 leaders from across the U.S. and Canada engaged in fields such as urban planning, entrepreneurship and sustainability. "How many cupcake and yogurt shops can a city sustain?"
Heads nodded and attendees laughed as Maron admitted the challenge was as much to himself as others, since MRN owns three of the city's most prominent new developments, E. Fourth Street in downtown Cleveland, Uptown in University Circle and property along W. 25th in Ohio City.
Several attendees noted that they were surprised by how few of the city's larger developments have translated into prosperity for surrounding neighborhoods. Sitting in the newly-built Museum of Contemporary Art at University Circle, leaders asked how that area's success could benefit its low-income neighbors.
Maron cited the Greater University Circle Initiative and local hiring and procuring efforts by University Hospitals and others. MRN has committed to hiring local residents for its projects, and the company now employs 285 city residents.
"When people from the neighborhood work here, they take ownership of the project because it's their neighborhood," he said, citing DoubleTree Hotel as one example of a University Circle project that employees many local residents.
An attendee from Chicago noted that Cleveland appears to be behind in adding bike-friendly infrastructure. He cited the recent addition of separated bicycle lanes to Surmac Avenue in Chicago as a game-changing project for his city. "Cleveland needs to do one really good pilot project," said the attendee.
Next City is a national nonprofit media organization that organizes the Vanguard conference to highlight best urban practices and develop young urban leaders. Updates from the conference are being posted on Next City's daily blog.
Source: Next City, Ari Maron
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"I'm a little concerned that as we build projects, we're creating a city for yuppies and a city for everyone else," commented Ari Maron of MRN Ltd. in a presentation to 40 leaders from across the U.S. and Canada engaged in fields such as urban planning, entrepreneurship and sustainability. "How many cupcake and yogurt shops can a city sustain?"
Heads nodded and attendees laughed as Maron admitted the challenge was as much to himself as others, since MRN owns three of the city's most prominent new developments, E. Fourth Street in downtown Cleveland, Uptown in University Circle and property along W. 25th in Ohio City.
Several attendees noted that they were surprised by how few of the city's larger developments have translated into prosperity for surrounding neighborhoods. Sitting in the newly-built Museum of Contemporary Art at University Circle, leaders asked how that area's success could benefit its low-income neighbors.
Maron cited the Greater University Circle Initiative and local hiring and procuring efforts by University Hospitals and others. MRN has committed to hiring local residents for its projects, and the company now employs 285 city residents.
"When people from the neighborhood work here, they take ownership of the project because it's their neighborhood," he said, citing DoubleTree Hotel as one example of a University Circle project that employees many local residents.
An attendee from Chicago noted that Cleveland appears to be behind in adding bike-friendly infrastructure. He cited the recent addition of separated bicycle lanes to Surmac Avenue in Chicago as a game-changing project for his city. "Cleveland needs to do one really good pilot project," said the attendee.
Next City is a national nonprofit media organization that organizes the Vanguard conference to highlight best urban practices and develop young urban leaders. Updates from the conference are being posted on Next City's daily blog.
Source: Next City, Ari Maron
Writer: Lee Chilcote
dan gilbert pledges $1.5m to lure top grads
In a The Detroit News business section feature titled “Gilbert pledges $1.5M to bring college grads to Detroit, Cleveland,” Michael Martinez shares how Quicken Loans founder and chairman Dan Gilbert has pledged big bucks to lure top college grads from around the country to work in downtown Detroit and Cleveland over the next five years.
“We’re thrilled to bring a host of the country’s top college graduates to support Dan Gilbert’s vision to revitalize Detroit and Cleveland,” said Andrew Yang, founder and CEO of Venture for America. “Our Fellows have been hard at work helping to build businesses in Detroit this past year. With this commitment, Venture for America will be in Detroit and Cleveland the next five years and beyond.”
Martinez goes on to highlight Gilbert’s commitment to Detroit and Cleveland where he is actively involved in business in both cities.
Read the full story here.
“We’re thrilled to bring a host of the country’s top college graduates to support Dan Gilbert’s vision to revitalize Detroit and Cleveland,” said Andrew Yang, founder and CEO of Venture for America. “Our Fellows have been hard at work helping to build businesses in Detroit this past year. With this commitment, Venture for America will be in Detroit and Cleveland the next five years and beyond.”
Martinez goes on to highlight Gilbert’s commitment to Detroit and Cleveland where he is actively involved in business in both cities.
Read the full story here.
cleveland among '20 best beer towns in usa'
In this feature from the travel publication Matador, Cleveland is hailed as one of the 20 best beer towns in America.
"Craft beer in America is more popular than ever," the article states at the outset. Not only that, it's becoming increasingly common for travelers to book trips around craft beer and brewery tours.
Cleveland is fast becoming a beer-lover's destination thanks to old and new breweries.
"Across the river from downtown lies Great Lakes Brewing, a well-respected brewery with strong Midwest pride."
"Hoppin’ Frog Brewing in nearby Akron made a splash on the craft scene in 2008 by winning a gold medal at GABF in the hotly contested Russian Imperial Stout category. Odd name, great beer."
"The Brew Kettle sits just north of the I-80/I-71 intersection, which makes this brewpub a dangerously convenient pit stop for road warriors."
Drink up the rest here.
"Craft beer in America is more popular than ever," the article states at the outset. Not only that, it's becoming increasingly common for travelers to book trips around craft beer and brewery tours.
Cleveland is fast becoming a beer-lover's destination thanks to old and new breweries.
"Across the river from downtown lies Great Lakes Brewing, a well-respected brewery with strong Midwest pride."
"Hoppin’ Frog Brewing in nearby Akron made a splash on the craft scene in 2008 by winning a gold medal at GABF in the hotly contested Russian Imperial Stout category. Odd name, great beer."
"The Brew Kettle sits just north of the I-80/I-71 intersection, which makes this brewpub a dangerously convenient pit stop for road warriors."
Drink up the rest here.
Bar 145, a popular gastropub with locations in Toledo, Kent and soon Columbus, will open its fourth location in the former Grind space on W. 25th Street south of Lorain in Ohio City. The tagline "burgers, bands and bourbon" sums up the pub's concept.
Owner Jeremy Fitzgerald has signed a letter of intent with owner MRN Ltd. and intends to execute a lease and start construction this summer. Bar 145, specializing in chef-driven, foodie fare accented by regular live music, could open sometime early next year.
"Ohio City is so into the food end, but there's not much on the entertainment end," says Fitzgerald. "We make everything from scratch and knew the food concept was perfect. We knew that this would add another dimension to Ohio City."
The 4,100-square-foot venue will feature a full stage with lighting and a professional sound system. The bands will be local as well as regional.
Bar 145 also will have a 2,000-square-foot rooftop patio facing the downtown skyline and another 1,000-square-foot patio on the main level along the side of the building.
Live bands will be featured Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but Fitzgerald promises five days of entertainment that will include jazz nights and acoustic talent.
Bar 145's menu promises to be in keeping with the neighborhood's local food ethos. "We don't even have a freezer in the restaurant," Fitzgerald says. "All our sauces are from scratch and the mac and cheese and truffle fries are all made to order."
Source: Jeremy Fitzgerald
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Owner Jeremy Fitzgerald has signed a letter of intent with owner MRN Ltd. and intends to execute a lease and start construction this summer. Bar 145, specializing in chef-driven, foodie fare accented by regular live music, could open sometime early next year.
"Ohio City is so into the food end, but there's not much on the entertainment end," says Fitzgerald. "We make everything from scratch and knew the food concept was perfect. We knew that this would add another dimension to Ohio City."
The 4,100-square-foot venue will feature a full stage with lighting and a professional sound system. The bands will be local as well as regional.
Bar 145 also will have a 2,000-square-foot rooftop patio facing the downtown skyline and another 1,000-square-foot patio on the main level along the side of the building.
Live bands will be featured Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but Fitzgerald promises five days of entertainment that will include jazz nights and acoustic talent.
Bar 145's menu promises to be in keeping with the neighborhood's local food ethos. "We don't even have a freezer in the restaurant," Fitzgerald says. "All our sauces are from scratch and the mac and cheese and truffle fries are all made to order."
Source: Jeremy Fitzgerald
Writer: Lee Chilcote
writer shares his love for cle as a vacation destination
In a Huffington Post Travel blog post titled “Instagram Tour: Five Reasons to Heart the Rust Belt, Courtesy of Cleveland,” Jason Clement highlights his recent mini vacation/sabbatical to Cleveland.
“Long story short: I get Rust Belt cities... and I think they get me. While a blanket on the beach is certainly nice, I look to places like Cleveland when I need a creative reboot, not just a cocktail with an umbrella in it. So before I pack my bags (again), I thought I'd share five reasons why I love this region so much.”
In the post, Clement goes on to highlight what it is about cities like Cleveland that recharge his batteries, including: space to dream big, exciting street art, good building stock, and a can-do attitude.
Check out the complete post here.
“Long story short: I get Rust Belt cities... and I think they get me. While a blanket on the beach is certainly nice, I look to places like Cleveland when I need a creative reboot, not just a cocktail with an umbrella in it. So before I pack my bags (again), I thought I'd share five reasons why I love this region so much.”
In the post, Clement goes on to highlight what it is about cities like Cleveland that recharge his batteries, including: space to dream big, exciting street art, good building stock, and a can-do attitude.
Check out the complete post here.
Jillian Davis’ Toast wine bar opened in the Gordon Square Arts District April 15 and her unique take on food, wine and cocktails fits right into the neighborhood. The restaurant/wine bar specializes in doing things a little differently.
“We serve revitalized farm fare, and most of what we serve is locally sourced,” says Davis. “We have wines that are off the beaten path and craft cocktails.” In fact, Toast makes their own tonics for their cocktails, grows some food ingredients on-site and all dinners are served up in small plate fashion. “People like to graze a little more these days,” Davis says.
While it took Davis a little while to open Toast’s doors, things are thriving now that she went through the Bad Girl Ventures business plan program and, thanks to the BGV program, won an ECDI loan. “The BGV program was great, I learned a lot,” says Davis. “ECDI was someone BGV put forth as an alternative to the banks. It worked out really well for me. I got money for inventory and equipment. No one will give you money for that stuff.”
Davis has hired 10 employees, including chefs, servers and bartenders and hopes to add more staff as Toast grows. “Our chefs are really slaves to the kitchen at this point,” she says. “As we start spreading the word and getting people in the door, we’ll be getting more staff.”
Toast has fit right into the neighborhood culture as well. Davis calls Toast’s wine list a bit more “geeky” than other area places, and they are the only restaurant in the area serving small plates.
“We all really complement each other; there’s a great synergy in the area,” says Davis. “Our wine selection sets us apart. We’re different than everybody, but we fit in."
Source: Jillian Davis
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We serve revitalized farm fare, and most of what we serve is locally sourced,” says Davis. “We have wines that are off the beaten path and craft cocktails.” In fact, Toast makes their own tonics for their cocktails, grows some food ingredients on-site and all dinners are served up in small plate fashion. “People like to graze a little more these days,” Davis says.
While it took Davis a little while to open Toast’s doors, things are thriving now that she went through the Bad Girl Ventures business plan program and, thanks to the BGV program, won an ECDI loan. “The BGV program was great, I learned a lot,” says Davis. “ECDI was someone BGV put forth as an alternative to the banks. It worked out really well for me. I got money for inventory and equipment. No one will give you money for that stuff.”
Davis has hired 10 employees, including chefs, servers and bartenders and hopes to add more staff as Toast grows. “Our chefs are really slaves to the kitchen at this point,” she says. “As we start spreading the word and getting people in the door, we’ll be getting more staff.”
Toast has fit right into the neighborhood culture as well. Davis calls Toast’s wine list a bit more “geeky” than other area places, and they are the only restaurant in the area serving small plates.
“We all really complement each other; there’s a great synergy in the area,” says Davis. “Our wine selection sets us apart. We’re different than everybody, but we fit in."
Source: Jillian Davis
Writer: Karin Connelly
Fifteen early stage business owners will have a chance to pitch their companies on the Cavs’ practice court tonight, Thursday, June 13, at Open Pitch Night. The free event, sponsored by Bizdom, The Incubator at MAGNET, Herman Miller and APG Office Furnishings, is designed to let owners of young companies perfect their pitches in front of a live audience.
“It’s an opportunity for them to get up in front of a group and practice their pitches, get some quick feedback from a bunch of folks and improve their delivery,” says Bizdom leader Paul Allen.
The 15 entrepreneurs were selected out of a group of 20 applicants. “We were looking for a diverse range of ideas and markets,” says Allen. “It’s a nice mix of people at different levels of maturity or evolution. Some businesses are little more than an idea; some are built out a little bit. They represent the continuum of startups.”
Organizers are expecting about 100 people to attend and provide feedback and insight to the pitchers. If all goes well, Bizdom plans to host similar pitch events three times a year in the future.
Heavy appetizers and a cash bar will be available. The event is from 6 pm-9 pm at Quicken Loans Arena. Two companies may get a chance to fill the last two slots in Bizdom’s August incubator program.
Source: Paul Allen
Writer: Karin Connelly
“It’s an opportunity for them to get up in front of a group and practice their pitches, get some quick feedback from a bunch of folks and improve their delivery,” says Bizdom leader Paul Allen.
The 15 entrepreneurs were selected out of a group of 20 applicants. “We were looking for a diverse range of ideas and markets,” says Allen. “It’s a nice mix of people at different levels of maturity or evolution. Some businesses are little more than an idea; some are built out a little bit. They represent the continuum of startups.”
Organizers are expecting about 100 people to attend and provide feedback and insight to the pitchers. If all goes well, Bizdom plans to host similar pitch events three times a year in the future.
Heavy appetizers and a cash bar will be available. The event is from 6 pm-9 pm at Quicken Loans Arena. Two companies may get a chance to fill the last two slots in Bizdom’s August incubator program.
Source: Paul Allen
Writer: Karin Connelly
cle discussed in book excerpt on how cities fix broken networks
In a Next City feature titled “The Post-Hero Economy,” writers Jennifer Bradley and Bruce Katz share an edited excerpt from their upcoming book "The Metropolitan Revolution."
While the book (and Next City feature) does not solely focus on Cleveland, it does pay a fair amount of attention to our city when it comes to economic development.
In an effort to boost the economy the Cleveland Plain Dealer offered a solution. “Talk to civic leaders, entrepreneurs, academics, builders, business people,” then-editor Doug Clifton wrote in 2001. “They all agree: Greater Cleveland must get serious about creating and backing a master plan for economic development or face economic extinction.”
"The problem was, 'Greater Cleveland' didn’t exist. There was no single, overarching entity charged with creating a plan for Cleveland and its neighbors in the northeast corner of Ohio -- and just as importantly, it was hard to imagine any single entity that could take on the task."
Read the rest of the feature story here.
While the book (and Next City feature) does not solely focus on Cleveland, it does pay a fair amount of attention to our city when it comes to economic development.
In an effort to boost the economy the Cleveland Plain Dealer offered a solution. “Talk to civic leaders, entrepreneurs, academics, builders, business people,” then-editor Doug Clifton wrote in 2001. “They all agree: Greater Cleveland must get serious about creating and backing a master plan for economic development or face economic extinction.”
"The problem was, 'Greater Cleveland' didn’t exist. There was no single, overarching entity charged with creating a plan for Cleveland and its neighbors in the northeast corner of Ohio -- and just as importantly, it was hard to imagine any single entity that could take on the task."
Read the rest of the feature story here.
techpint lets entrepreneurs and investors share ideas over beers
When Paul McAvinchey moved to Cleveland in April 2012 with his wife Rebecca to lead product innovation for MedCity Media, the seasoned entrepreneur was impressed with the entrepreneurial community here.
“When I got here, I was really excited to see all the startup activity going on,” McAvinchey says. But the native of County Tipperary, Ireland, who also lived in Chicago, Munich and Dublin, was surprised that there were no informal events bringing all the startup organizations together. “I was used to having events where all the disparate groups came together to share their thoughts and ideas.”
So McAvinchey set out to start TechPint, a casual gathering for entrepreneurs and investors in internet technology. He made hundreds of phone calls and brought the area’s startup organizations together to plan the first TechPint event on Thursday, June 20 at 5:30 p.m. at Market Garden Brewery.
McAvinchey calls TechPint a “mini-tech conference in a bar with pints.” But that doesn’t mean TechPint isn’t a valuable resource. “It’s a really casual setting with drinks,” he says. “But we’re focused on a value-driven event where you are likely to go home with new ideas to work on or new things to think about.”
Many of the major startup organizations are on board, including JumpStart, Bizdom, LaunchHouse and MedCity Media. Speakers will be Mike Belsito, founder of eFuneral, John Knific, founder of DecisionDesk, Josh Walsh, founder of Designing Interactive, and Bizdom’s Paul Allen.
McAvinchey plans to hold TechPint every three months. Space is limited to 150 people, and it’s already nearly sold out. Tickets are $12 each.
Source: Paul McAvinchey
Writer: Karin Connelly
“When I got here, I was really excited to see all the startup activity going on,” McAvinchey says. But the native of County Tipperary, Ireland, who also lived in Chicago, Munich and Dublin, was surprised that there were no informal events bringing all the startup organizations together. “I was used to having events where all the disparate groups came together to share their thoughts and ideas.”
So McAvinchey set out to start TechPint, a casual gathering for entrepreneurs and investors in internet technology. He made hundreds of phone calls and brought the area’s startup organizations together to plan the first TechPint event on Thursday, June 20 at 5:30 p.m. at Market Garden Brewery.
McAvinchey calls TechPint a “mini-tech conference in a bar with pints.” But that doesn’t mean TechPint isn’t a valuable resource. “It’s a really casual setting with drinks,” he says. “But we’re focused on a value-driven event where you are likely to go home with new ideas to work on or new things to think about.”
Many of the major startup organizations are on board, including JumpStart, Bizdom, LaunchHouse and MedCity Media. Speakers will be Mike Belsito, founder of eFuneral, John Knific, founder of DecisionDesk, Josh Walsh, founder of Designing Interactive, and Bizdom’s Paul Allen.
McAvinchey plans to hold TechPint every three months. Space is limited to 150 people, and it’s already nearly sold out. Tickets are $12 each.
Source: Paul McAvinchey
Writer: Karin Connelly
With downtown Cleveland seeing more than $2 billion in travel-related development, we must step up and make sure visitors are provided with the best possible service. We want them to spread the word when they get home about how great Cleveland is.
That was the message from David Gilbert, CEO of Positively Cleveland, at the organization's recent annual meeting. Based on recent research, the organization has determined that the city has "a communication gap" rather than "a product gap."
"We have the product -- amenities that most cities would be jealous of," said Gilbert. "We don't have enough people experiencing it."
To close that gap, Gilbert unveiled an aggressive plan to train hospitality workers as well as locals in how to better market the city and welcome and direct visitors. Positively Cleveland will also focus on legibility and wayfinding signage, online information, streetscape improvements, visitor hospitality, altering local perceptions and better destination branding and communications.
"We've done a great job of building big buildings, but we need more than that," Gilbert said. "It's 'what was the walk like?,' not just the Rock Hall experience."
Source: David Gilbert
Writer: Lee Chilcote
That was the message from David Gilbert, CEO of Positively Cleveland, at the organization's recent annual meeting. Based on recent research, the organization has determined that the city has "a communication gap" rather than "a product gap."
"We have the product -- amenities that most cities would be jealous of," said Gilbert. "We don't have enough people experiencing it."
To close that gap, Gilbert unveiled an aggressive plan to train hospitality workers as well as locals in how to better market the city and welcome and direct visitors. Positively Cleveland will also focus on legibility and wayfinding signage, online information, streetscape improvements, visitor hospitality, altering local perceptions and better destination branding and communications.
"We've done a great job of building big buildings, but we need more than that," Gilbert said. "It's 'what was the walk like?,' not just the Rock Hall experience."
Source: David Gilbert
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Cuyahoga County Next Generation Council (NGC) will host Spark Plug, an event to celebrate small business growth and the region’s many opportunities for funding and growth, June 6 at Negative Space Gallery. The event kicks off Small Business Incubator Month.
“Spark Plug is focused on small business accelerators and incubators,” says Tammy Oliver, program organizer and a member of NGC. “It brings together all of the amazing resources we have in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio for young and innovative people.”
More than 20 incubators, accelerators and funding organizations will have tables set up to explain what they do and how they can assist a young business. “There hasn’t been an event before this where all of the incubators and accelerators come together in the same room,” says Oliver. “By supporting each other these organizations are supporting the region and all of the businesses. It’s not a secret that small business drives the economy.”
Successful businesses that have benefitted from some of the area’s resources will make presentations. Oliver hopes their stories will encourage other aspiring entrepreneurs. “There are so many people out there with amazing ideas and they don’t know where to start,” she says. “Hopefully, they will walk away with more knowledge and know they can take smart risks and there are a lot of people here to help them.”
Spark Plug runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Registration is preferred, but Oliver says walk-ins are welcome. Admission is free.
Source: Tammy Oliver
Writer: Karin Connelly
“Spark Plug is focused on small business accelerators and incubators,” says Tammy Oliver, program organizer and a member of NGC. “It brings together all of the amazing resources we have in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio for young and innovative people.”
More than 20 incubators, accelerators and funding organizations will have tables set up to explain what they do and how they can assist a young business. “There hasn’t been an event before this where all of the incubators and accelerators come together in the same room,” says Oliver. “By supporting each other these organizations are supporting the region and all of the businesses. It’s not a secret that small business drives the economy.”
Successful businesses that have benefitted from some of the area’s resources will make presentations. Oliver hopes their stories will encourage other aspiring entrepreneurs. “There are so many people out there with amazing ideas and they don’t know where to start,” she says. “Hopefully, they will walk away with more knowledge and know they can take smart risks and there are a lot of people here to help them.”
Spark Plug runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Registration is preferred, but Oliver says walk-ins are welcome. Admission is free.
Source: Tammy Oliver
Writer: Karin Connelly
Mansfield Frazier, the entrepreneurial mastermind behind the improbable Chateau Hough vineyard at E. 66th and Hough, says he will break ground on the world's first biocellar this year. He's raised more than half of the $100,000 needed to complete the experimental, innovative project.
"This is about growing crops in the wintertime," says Frazier. The biocellar, which has been described as a passive solar greenhouse, will consist of a glass structure built on top of the basement of a demolished home. "We plan to grow mushrooms because they're $12 a pound, an acre yield higher than anything else. This is about renewing neighborhoods, reusing buildings and creating wealth in the inner city."
"The biocellar is based on two concepts," Frazier explains of the glass-topped structure developed by permaculture designer Jean Loria. "One is a root cellar, which has been around thousands of years, and the other is a greenhouse. It's basically taking a greenhouse structure and putting it on top of a root cellar."
Frazier says that he hopes to break ground in July so that the biocellar will be completed by fall. The two- to three-month build-out will be handled by Don Lasker of ALL Construction, and Frazier will also employ a lot of neighborhood residents and guys from a local halfway house. The biocellar was designed by Arkinetics.
Funding sources include local councilpeople, stormwater management funding from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and a local angel investor.
"We're budgeting $100,000 for the first one, but hopefully the cost will go down once we know what we're doing," says Frazier. "We know the science is there."
Source: Mansfield Frazier
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"This is about growing crops in the wintertime," says Frazier. The biocellar, which has been described as a passive solar greenhouse, will consist of a glass structure built on top of the basement of a demolished home. "We plan to grow mushrooms because they're $12 a pound, an acre yield higher than anything else. This is about renewing neighborhoods, reusing buildings and creating wealth in the inner city."
"The biocellar is based on two concepts," Frazier explains of the glass-topped structure developed by permaculture designer Jean Loria. "One is a root cellar, which has been around thousands of years, and the other is a greenhouse. It's basically taking a greenhouse structure and putting it on top of a root cellar."
Frazier says that he hopes to break ground in July so that the biocellar will be completed by fall. The two- to three-month build-out will be handled by Don Lasker of ALL Construction, and Frazier will also employ a lot of neighborhood residents and guys from a local halfway house. The biocellar was designed by Arkinetics.
Funding sources include local councilpeople, stormwater management funding from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and a local angel investor.
"We're budgeting $100,000 for the first one, but hopefully the cost will go down once we know what we're doing," says Frazier. "We know the science is there."
Source: Mansfield Frazier
Writer: Lee Chilcote
cleveland schools trying new educational approach
In a CBS News story titled “Public, charter schools team up in Cleveland,” Dean Reynolds writes of Cleveland’s historically poor performance in standardized testing and efforts to improve such data through specialized charter schools.
“The classrooms are quiet and small -- 15 kids or less. There's individual instruction from teachers on everything from public speaking to personal etiquette.”
While the traditional schools are struggling with behavior issues, large class sizes, and overall poor performance, Alan Roskamm, CEO of a group of charters, shares that in the right environment the children can thrive.
"Many people will say you have to fix poverty before you can fix education. We believe it is upside down. The only way to fix poverty is to provide our children with a quality education," Roskamm was quoted in the article.
Read the full story here.
“The classrooms are quiet and small -- 15 kids or less. There's individual instruction from teachers on everything from public speaking to personal etiquette.”
While the traditional schools are struggling with behavior issues, large class sizes, and overall poor performance, Alan Roskamm, CEO of a group of charters, shares that in the right environment the children can thrive.
"Many people will say you have to fix poverty before you can fix education. We believe it is upside down. The only way to fix poverty is to provide our children with a quality education," Roskamm was quoted in the article.
Read the full story here.
The latest wave of downtown apartments is hitting the market this summer as the K&D Group, currently the largest developer of downtown housing, gradually converts the former Embassy Suites at Reserve Square into new market-rate apartments.
K&D is releasing units floor by floor, with the first set having come online in May. The renovations include granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. There will eventually be 218 suites released; 120 of these will be corporate housing and 98 will be market-rate apartments. The corporate suites include furnishings, high-speed Internet, cable with HBO and light housekeeping with the rent.
K&D is calling the new apartments Reserve Square West (Reserve Square has over 900 units). Lease rates for market-rate apartments range from $785 to $1,800 per month; corporate housing rates range from $1,350 to $2,350.
"There are panoramic views from the building," says Cheri Ashcraft of K&D, who notes that one upper floor suite is called "The Laker" because of its lake views. "My phone is ringing off the hook; the first corporate housing units were pre-leased. People are coming into town for projects or they're being transferred here."
Downtown apartment occupancy rates continue to hover around 96 percent. Ashcraft says the new Reserve Square West units appeal to a discerning buyer who wants the amenities of new construction in a rental product. "It's like moving into a brand new house," she says. "You are the first one to be in that suite."
Source: Cheri Ashcraft
Writer: Lee Chilcote
K&D is releasing units floor by floor, with the first set having come online in May. The renovations include granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. There will eventually be 218 suites released; 120 of these will be corporate housing and 98 will be market-rate apartments. The corporate suites include furnishings, high-speed Internet, cable with HBO and light housekeeping with the rent.
K&D is calling the new apartments Reserve Square West (Reserve Square has over 900 units). Lease rates for market-rate apartments range from $785 to $1,800 per month; corporate housing rates range from $1,350 to $2,350.
"There are panoramic views from the building," says Cheri Ashcraft of K&D, who notes that one upper floor suite is called "The Laker" because of its lake views. "My phone is ringing off the hook; the first corporate housing units were pre-leased. People are coming into town for projects or they're being transferred here."
Downtown apartment occupancy rates continue to hover around 96 percent. Ashcraft says the new Reserve Square West units appeal to a discerning buyer who wants the amenities of new construction in a rental product. "It's like moving into a brand new house," she says. "You are the first one to be in that suite."
Source: Cheri Ashcraft
Writer: Lee Chilcote