Jstyle, Summer 2023

Rube Goldberg™, The World of Hilarious Invention Exhibit! is created by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in partnership with the Heirs of Rube Goldberg. The exhibition is locally sponsored by Presenting Sponsor: Milton and Tamar Maltz, Benefactor Sponsors: Anonymous, Irving and Gloria Fine Foundation, Patron Sponsor: The Trilling Family Charitable Gift Fund, Contributing Sponsor: Robert and Eileen Sill Family Foundation

THERE’S SO MUCH TO DISCOVER

STOP BY AND CHECK OUT WHO’S COMING SOON TO THE DISTRICT:

AND VISIT ALL YOUR FAVORITES:

AC Hotel by Marriott • Athleta • Bibibop Asian Grill

Blackbird Fly Boutique • Brighton • Brilliant Earth

The Candle Studio • Casper • Club Pilates • Color Me Mine

Condado Tacos • Duck Donuts • Eye Candy Optical

Fabletics • Firebirds Wood Fired Grill • First Watch

Graeter’s Ice Cream • FOUNT • Homage • Indochino

j. bellezza • J.Crew • Kitchen Social • The Last Page

Laura of Pembroke • Luxe Redux Bridal • Madewell • Océanne

Orangetheory Fitness • Peloton • Pinstripes • Pottery Barn

Red, the Steakhouse • REI • Restore Cold Pressed

Sand Pebbles • Saucy Brew Works Co eehouse • Sephora

Shake Shack • Silverspot Cinema • SOZO • StretchLab

UNTUCKit • Urban Outfitters • Verizon • Vineyard Vines

Warby Parker • West Elm • Whole Foods Market

Williams Sonoma • Woodhouse Day Spa • Zen Nail Spa

The Singles Issue and ‘Jewish Matchmaking’

Jstyle is back with our annual Singles Issue, just in time for summer. Naturally, this magazine is a match for ”Jewish Matchmaking” – a new Net ix reality show where a Jewish matchmaker aims to connect Jewish singles across the United States and in Israel.

I watched this show quickly, and I really enjoyed it. As someone who has spent too much time watching reality dating TV shows like “The Bachelor” or “Love is Blind,” and being used to any “reality” being altered by television producers’ goals of making dramatic shows, I found “Jewish Matchmaking” refreshingly genuine. It delved deep into the people featured, with the delightful matchmaker Aleeza Ben Shalom working hard to make compatible partnerships. I also learned a few details about Jewish culture and religion that were new even to me, despite working at the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company for more than six years and being Jewish myself.

I’ll share a few of my takeaways, and of course I encourage you to watch the show.

• Aleeza says, “There’s 15 million Jews in the world, and there’s about 15 million ways of being Jewish.” Part of her matchmaking strategy is that if it is important to a client to be with someone who is similar in how they practice Judaism, it’s good to gure out what exactly that means. She asks speci c questions regarding keeping Shabbat, eating kosher and Jewish holidays to help gauge who might t with who.

• I was impressed by how the people featured were so vocal about the qualities and type of person they were looking for, and their honesty in explaining themselves. This certainly led to some interesting scenes that even painted some of the cast in a less than favorable light. But, as Aleeza explains, being honest in what you are looking for is important – even if to others it might seem vain or picky.

• Aleeza uses the mantra “date until you hate them.” This may seem a bit extreme, but what she means is, unless you are sure it’s a no, don’t discount someone too quickly (unless there are major red ags, of course). “If it’s not a de nite no, it’s a yes for now,” she notes.

Bringing it back to this Singles Issue, we ask our models questions similar to those Aleeza asks her clients. Their answers, which are included in their pro les, get at some of the same important things – deal breakers, values, Jewish experiences and more. I am always surprised by what I learn about the people featured through these questions, and I certainly hope you enjoy reading about them, too.

Also in this issue, we spotlight Drink Local Drink Tap, a local organization that builds equitable water access and educational resources here and abroad. We also check in with RED the Steakhouse, a Cleveland staple for upscale dining that’s also become a mainstay at Pinecrest in Orange. And, we visit The Ascent at Top of the Hill – a long-awaited luxury apartment complex in Cleveland Heights’ Cedar Fairmount District.

I hope you enjoy this Singles Issue and have a wonderful and safe summer. Jstyle’s next issue will be later in the fall, but you can stay in touch between print issues with Jstyle’s free biweekly e-newsletter – sign up at jstylemagazine.com/ signup.

Publisher & CEO

Kevin S. Adelstein

Vice President of Sales

Adam Mandell

Editor

Amanda Koehn

editor@jstylemagazine.com

Design Manager

Stephen Valentine

Editor - Cleveland Jewish News

Bob Jacob

CFO

Tracy DiDomenico

Digital Marketing Manager

Cheryl Sadler

Events Manager

Gina Lloyd

Editorial

Courtney Byrnes, Becky Raspe, Meghan Walsh

Contributors

Sam Kleid, Jakob Loche, Alyssa Schmitt, Carlo Wol

Custom Publishing Manager

Paul Bram

Sales & Marketing Manager

Andy Isaacs

Advertising

Marilyn Evans, Ron Greenbaum, Adam Jacob, Nell V. Kirman, Sherry Tilson

Senior Designer

Jessican Simon

Designers

Bella Bendo, Ricki Urban

Digital Content Producers

DeAnna MacKeigan, Megan Roth

Business & Circulation

Amanda LaLonde, Julie Palkovitz

Abby Royer

CJN Foundation Intern

Sonia Pinault

Linda and Cli ord Wolf Editorial Intern

Nora Igelnik

Lori A. Weinstein Marketing Intern

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Violet Spevack Editorial Intern

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VOL. 147 NO. 28

Amanda Koehn Editor

CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS (ISSN-00098825) is published weekly with additional supplement issues in February, March, April, June, August, September, October, and twice in December, by The Cleveland Jewish Publication Company at 23880 Commerce Park, Suite 1, Cleveland, OH 44122-5380. Single copy $1.25. Periodicals Postage paid at Cleveland, OH and at additional mailing o ces. POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Cleveland Jewish News, 23880 Commerce Park, Suite 1, Cleveland, OH 44122-5380.

Editor Amanda Koehn at 1899 Social Club in Shaker Heights at the summer photo shoot. Jstyle photo / DeAnna MacKeigan

The Chai Life

18 interesting things to do this

summer in Greater Cleveland

Compiled by Jakob Loche, Sam Kleid and Amanda Koehn

Taylor Swift Tribute Night

Get out of the cruel summer sun and into the lavender haze of the House of Blues in downtown Cleveland for Taylor Swift Tribute Night July 7. The “Taylor Party” will be a bejeweled night of dancing, style and Swiftie fun. Call it what you want, but the party is ages 21-plus. houseofblues.com/cleveland

Tri-C JazzFest

Founded in 1980, the Tri-C JazzFest’s mission fosters the history and nurtures the future of jazz, providing educational opportunities for visitors while bringing world-class jazz to Cleveland’s Playhouse Square. The festival will feature eight ticketed concerts inside Playhouse Square theaters during its run through June 24, along with free outdoor concerts on the plaza from 3 p.m. to midnight on June 23-24.

tri-c.edu/jazzfest

Boston Mills Artfest

The Boston Mills Artfest returns for its 49th year on two weekends this summer from June 23-25 and June 30 to July 2. Each weekend features unique artists, with 150 artists each week and 300 total. Fine arts lovers can enjoy the many mediums of art as well as food, craft beer and wine, and the beautiful scenery of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. bmbw.com

WonderStruck

Music festival goers rejoice: the WonderStruck music festival returns July 8-9 at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland. Full of music, attractions and more, past lineups in 2021 and 2022 included worldfamous artists like The Lumineers and AJR. This year’s lineup aims to blow audiences away with Grammy-nominated young star Khalid headlining the festival, along with notable artists Flo Rida and Nelly. wonderstruckfest.com

Cain Park Arts Fest

For more than four decades, the Cain Park Arts Festival has brought hundreds of artists from across the country to the Cleveland Heights park. With artwork ranging from pottery and woodworking to ber art and multimedia and everything in between, there’s something for everyone at this year’s festival, running from July 7-9 with free admission. cainpark.com

For the latest updates, follow Jstyle at @jstylemagazine.

An outdoor concert on the Strassman Insurance Services stage at last year’s Tri-C JazzFest. Photo / Cuyahoga Community College

Cain Park Arts Festival. Photo / City of Cleveland Heights

THE CHAI LIFE OPENERS

Solon Home Days

Solon Home Days is the city of Solon’s weekend-long annual city festival, this year from July 28-30. Family fun, food, vendors and music is included in the free event at Solon Community Park. The Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows will again o er a handmade pop-up market as part of the festivities on Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking is free on site.

avantgardeshows.com

BorderLight Festival

The BorderLight Fringe Festival will take place Aug. 3-5 in and around Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland. Attendees can expect a variety of performance genres including theater, dance, circus, cabaret, puppetry, spoken word, stand-up comedy and more. “Fringe” means the festival focuses on creative work on the edges of the mainstream, and the festival gives the artists an opportunity to show their work to audiences. Jstyle’s sister publications the Cleveland Jewish News and Canvas are media partners of the festival. borderlightcle.org

Cleveland Garlic Festival

The smelliest food festival of the year returns once again to Shaker Square in Cleveland this summer Aug. 27-28 to bene t the North Union Farmers Market. The festival was started to help farmers with their excess garlic cloves for the season. With plenty of garlic-themed foods to choose from, it includes delicious garlic fries, wings and even garlic popsicles. Visitors can also enjoy live music and entertainment, garlic-themed food cook o s, and the crowning of Miss Garlic 2023. clevelandgarlicfestival.org

Waterloo Arts Fest

The 20th annual Waterloo Arts Fest is planned for Sept. 9 – where local music, art vendors, food trucks, street performers and unique art activities come to the Cleveland artistic district. Attendees can also explore all that the walkable Waterloo Arts & Entertainment District has to o er.

waterlooarts.org

Read more about Waterloo Arts on canvascle.com –Jstyle’s sister arts magazine

Cleveland Browns

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

In collaboration with the Willoughby Summer Theatre Festival, Chagrin Valley Little Theatre presents Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The story follows four Athenians as they run away to the forest, only to have the mischievous fairy Puck make both of the boys fall in love with the same girl. The performances will be free and outside. At 2 p.m. on July 30, Aug. 5 and Aug. 6, shows are at the Gazebo in downtown Willoughby. At 2 p.m. on Aug. 12 and Aug. 13, the Little Theatre will host shows at Triangle Park in Chagrin Falls. cvlt.org

Lakewood Arts Festival

For 46 years, the Lakewood Arts Festival has brought local and national artists to the streets of Lakewood, this year planned for Aug. 5. Along with the 100-plus exhibits from local artists, a lineup of musical entertainment will be held throughout the day. Proceeds go toward keeping the Arts Festival alive, and to a scholarship each year for a high school graduate who resides in Lakewood and is pursuing a degree in the arts.

lakewoodartsfest.org

CJN 12 under 36: Members of the Tribe

Jstyle’s sister newspaper, the Cleveland Jewish News, will present its annual awards event 12 Under 36: Members of the Tribe on Aug. 29 at COhatch Beachwood at Beachwood Place. The awards honor 12 local Jewish young professionals – selected from community nominations – who are enacting positive change in their communities or making a name for themselves in their chosen professions. cjn.org/12under36

As summer turns to fall and the leaves turn orange and brown, so does Cleveland. The Cleveland Browns will host the Cincinnati Bengals for their home opener at the newly-named Cleveland Browns Stadium Sept. 10. Whether it’s cheering on the Brownies from the stands, tailgating at the Muni Lot or tuning in from home, the opener is sure to be an energetic and exciting game as the 2023 football season gets underway.

clevelandbrowns.com/schedule

Stay

A group of 12 Under 36: Members of the Tribe honorees at the CJN’s celebration to honor them last August at Elle Restaurant & Lounge in Solon. CJN Photo / Courtney Byrnes

THE CHAI LIFE

Super Sunday Campaign for Jewish Needs Kickoff

Join the Jewish Federation of Cleveland for its Super Sunday Kicko – an all-day, community-wide fundraising event that will celebrate everything that makes Jewish Cleveland special and showcase the impact of the dollars it raises – on Sept. 10 at the Federation’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Building in Beachwood. The event kicks o the Federation’s annual Campaign for Jewish Needs, raising funds for communal needs locally, nationally and internationally.

jewishcleveland.org

High Holy Days

Ring in 5784 as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, begins the evening of Sept. 15. With Yom Kippur beginning at sunset Sept. 24, here’s hoping for an easy fast and a delicious break-the-fast feast. Then, enjoy some outdoor time in a sukkah in observance of Sukkot, which begins at sunset Sept. 29. Stay current on all the local High Holy Day programming with the Cleveland Jewish News. cjn.org

Tremont Arts & Cultural Festival

The Tremont Arts & Cultural Festival returns to Lincoln Park in Cleveland on Sept. 16-17. This festival celebrates the cultural and artistic diversity of Tremont and the greater Cleveland area, and supports the endeavors of its visual and performing artists. The event includes 100-plus vendors and artists. There will be live music and dance performances, hands-on activities for kids and a local farmers market.

experiencetremont.com

Shining Star CLE

Menorah Park’s Shining Star CLE, a solo-singing competition for Northeast Ohio high school students, returns Sept. 10. Ten nalists will compete for college scholarships live at Mimi Ohio Theatre in Cleveland’s Playhouse Square. menorahpark.org

‘Egyptomania’ at CMA

Egyptian art has long served as a primary inspiration for fashion designers, solidifying the legacy of ancient Egypt’s art. This exhibition, on view at the Cleveland Museum of Art through Jan. 28, 2024, brings together about 50 objects that explore the in uence of Egyptomania in fashion by juxtaposing contemporary fashion and jewelry loaned from around the world with ne and decorative artworks from the CMA collection.

“Egyptomania: Fashion’s Con icted Obsession” examines designers’ interpretations of themes, such as Egyptian dress, funerary process and religion, that shape contemporary perceptions of ancient Egyptian culture. clevelandart.org

Olga Drach / Unsplash

Cyra, c. 2000–2022. Yasmine Yeya (Egyptian, b. 1981) for Maison Yeya. Image courtesy of Maison Yeya. © Maison Yeya.

Photo / Ziga Mihelcic

singles issue

Jstyle’s Singles Issue is back again for summer – the perfect time in Northeast Ohio to go on dates in your best seasonal outfits. As always, Jstyle chose this year’s Singles Issue models from community nominations, highlighting some pretty interesting single people who call Cleveland home. Our seven models visited 1899 Social Club in Shaker Heights for a fun date night (or day!) themed photoshoot. The models checked out the new bar and restaurant’s indoor golf simulators, dressed in summer fashion from some of the many local boutiques in our area. Flip through these pages to meet our 2023 singles.

To read more in-depth profiles, visit jstylemagazine.com/2023singles

and

Photography: Casey Rearick / Casey Rearick Photo

Fashion: Jessica Simon

Hair

Makeup: Ramona Dauksa Studio

Sophie wears a

Sophie Shiloh

Age: 30

Hometown: Cleveland

Work: Design consultant at RH in Beachwood

About me: I’m passionate about pretty much everything. Some of my favorite places are Barcelona, Marylebone, Rechavia, New Orleans and NYC. I love “Tim & Eric & Wonder Showzen,” but I also listen to recordings of the World Economic Forum’s annual meetings. I want to live 17 lifetimes within the one that I’ve been given. My immense appreciation for life/for tiny miracles ba es people: “If you appreciate everything so much, doesn’t that devalue everything?” No. It does not.

Qualities I’m looking for in a partner: You must be hilarious, ambitious, scary smart, deeply kind and good, and adventurous. You must have a lust for life, a generous spirit and a fear of Disney adults. My partner’s happiness is important to me and I want my happiness to be important to him, too.

Turno s or deal breakers: There’s nothing less sexy than impatience, entitlement and a heart that isn’t truly pure and good.

My bubbe would describe me as... In her words, “You’re funny, charming, charismatic, beautiful, smart, wry, hardworking, clever, determined, quick-witted, lithe, gracious, talented, generous, lovable, humble, mysterious, delightful, ercely loyal and too good for the human race.” Word for word. I’m best friends with both my grandma and my savtah. Soulmates. In love. I’m blessed.

Kosher or non-kosher dating habits: Not kosher

Celebrity crushes: Kevin Kline in the “Big Chill,” Zach Gali anakis, Lee Pace, Jason Momoa, and the one and only Paul Rudd ... I like ‘em kind-hearted.

Song I belt in the car: “Return of the Mack” ... obviously

Favorite Jewish holiday: Pesach. The more unreasonably long the seder, the better. If I’m not driving home at 4 a.m. then I don’t want to be involved.

At a Jewish wedding you’d nd me... Making sure the family is actually enjoying themselves instead of trying to manage everything. My specialty is forcing anxious family members to be present and have an amazing time.

Last trip to Israel: 2019. This is the longest I’ve gone without a visit maybe ever. I’m long overdue.

Favorite bat mitzvah memory: Preparing my dvar, dancing barefoot in the grass, cleaning up with everyone after the gigantic dessert table somehow collapsed ... it was an unforgettable day.

To connect with me, the best way is... At sophie.ness.shiloh@gmail.com

navy sequin pencil skirt by Dorothee Schumacher paired with a silk band collar blouse by Vince, with a sterling silver pendant necklace by MAOR, all from Kilgore Trout in Woodmere.

Jeremy wears a blue, black and gray Glen plaid sport coat by J3 Clothing Company, light gray jeans by Tramarossa and a oral white, blue and gray sport shirt by Stenstroms

JEREMY KLEIN

Age: 24 Hometown: Solon

Synagogue: The Temple-Tifereth Israel

Work: Self-employed but studying to get into law school

About me: I’m someone who’s never gonna give you up, let you down, run around and desert you. Likes piña coladas and getting caught in the rain. Will be the man who walks a thousand miles and falls down at your door. Take on me.

Favorite place for dinner: Melt – any location

Qualities I’m looking for in a partner: Someone not afraid to laugh at themselves and actually partakes in conversation.

Turno s or deal breakers: Cannot smoke cigarettes

Kosher or non-kosher dating habits: Not kosher

Celebrity crushes: Victoria Justice and Phoebe Bridgers

Hidden talent: I was forced to learn juggling in high school gym class, so if your kids need a clown to show up at their birthday party, I accept Venmo.

Favorite Jewish holiday: Hanukkah? Chanukah?? Hannukah???

At a Jewish wedding you’d nd me... Slow dancing with grandma

Favorite bar mitzvah memory: The party was at Cleveland Browns stadium (soft ex) and I, awkwardly, wore a Saints jersey the whole time, yet I am now a Browns fan.

Favorite part of Jewish Cleveland: The surplus of delis

To connect with me, the best way is... Facebook (Jeremy Klein, look for the funny looking one) or Instagram @jeremyklein25

of Sweden, all from J3 Clothing Company in Moreland Hills. Belt by Damen + Hastings is his own.

DANIEL MARGUL DANIEL MARGUL

Age: 36

Hometown: Downtown Cleveland

Work: Physician at Cleveland Clinic

About me: I am originally from southern Illinois but have spent the last several years in Chicago, Ann Arbor and Cincinnati while completing my MD, PhD and residency. I moved to Cleveland last year and am starting my second year of a three-year fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in gynecologic oncology. Work keeps me busy, but I enjoy hiking, rock climbing and cooking/baking for others.

Favorite place for dinner: Zhug in Cleveland Heights

Qualities I’m looking for in a partner: Intelligence, ambition and an active lifestyle are great. It’s a plus if they are a foodie, but most importantly they should be kindhearted and have good family values.

Turno s or deal breakers: Flakiness, closed mindedness and not having an inquisitive mind. Basically, someone who doesn’t eat their vegetables.

My bubbe would describe me as... One would have called me handsome, and the other would have raved about how smart I am. They clearly had di erent priorities.

Kosher or non-kosher dating habits: Kosher

Celebrity crush: Aubrey Plaza

Hidden talent: I am a low-key avid baker and have made everything from 12-layer cakes to baklava to focaccia. I’m always looking forward to making new things.

At a Jewish wedding you’d nd me... At the bar, and then on the dance oor. In that order.

Last trip to Israel: I have only visited once back in 2013 on Birthright. I would love to go back but haven’t been able to t in an extended trip due to graduate school and medical training.

Favorite bar mitzvah memory: My mom accidentally wore the same out t as the band at my bar mitzvah party. We have lots of great pictures.

Favorite part of Jewish Cleveland: I like that there is an active Jewish young adult community that is welcoming to Jews of all backgrounds.

To connect with me, the best way is... Instagram @danielmargul

Daniel wears a light gray raw edge knit jacket by Eleventy, navy dot shirt by Sonrisa and light washed stretch jeans by Teleria Zed, all from J3 Clothing Company.

Olvi’s Lace

June 22-24

Contemporary lace separates, cocktail dresses and gowns

Blue Ice Leather

June 22-24

Fabulous Italian leather jackets in your choice of colors

Emmelle

July 13-15

Clean architectural lines and premium fabrics define the globally inspired collection

Mi Jong Lee

July 13-15

Collection is a refined embrace of color featuring custom prints

Tom & Linda Platt

July 20-22

Sleek Day to Black Tie collection of separates, dresses and gowns

Algo

July 27-29

Luxe dressing from Switzerland

DANIELLE SHAINKER

Age: 40

Hometown: May eld Heights

Work: Leadership liaison at Gross Schechter Day School

About me: I have lived in Cleveland my entire life. I love exploring new places, exhibits and theater. I am always up for an adventure as long as it doesn’t involve hiking. I love going out to eat and trying new restaurants. I have a passion for children and truly love what I do. My family, friends and my dog, Teddy, mean the world to me.

Favorite place for dinner: 17 River Grille in Chagrin Falls

Favorite place for drinks: JoJo’s Backyard in Chagrin Falls

Qualities I’m looking for in a partner: I am looking for someone who is con dent, has a good sense of humor and loves to have fun together.

Kosher or non-kosher dating habits: Not kosher

Favorite Jewish holiday: I really love celebrating all Jewish holidays. Getting together with family and eating delicious food is heartwarming and meaningful. On a side note, I could de nitely eat charoset every day.

At a Jewish wedding you’d nd me... On the dance oor!

Last trip to Israel: June 2012

Favorite part of Jewish Cleveland: The amazing community we have here at Gross Schechter Day School. I have been part of this tight knit family for 13 years.

To connect with me, the best way is... Danielle Shainker on Facebook

Danielle wears a bright green cotton heart sweater by Lisa Todd and white jeans by Gerry Weber, both from Lisa Moran Ltd. in Woodmere.

LINDSAY MIGDAL LINDSAY MIGDAL

Age: 31

Hometown: Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood

Work: Honeymoon Israel (remote)

About me: I’m always looking for my next trip and adventure. I have traveled to 41 countries on my own and travel is one of my biggest passions. When I am not traveling, I love some quality time on the couch watching Bravo reality shows, a good cult documentary and sports. I am independent, a great addition to a trivia team, caring, sarcastic and funny (I think).

Favorite place for dinner: Sakura Sushi in Akron

Favorite place for drinks: Cloak & Dagger in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood

Qualities I’m looking for in a partner: Witty, spends Saturdays and Sundays watching football, well traveled, adventurous, independent and loves to learn.

Turno s or deal breakers: If they can’t laugh at themselves, don’t care about social justice causes, is rude to wait sta , does not have a passport, is always late, or is inconsistent

Kosher or non-kosher dating habits: Not kosher

Celebrity crush: John Mayer

Song I belt in the car: “Lazy Sunday” by The Lonely Island

Hidden talent: Hula hooping

At a Jewish wedding you’d nd me... The bar, then the dance oor

Last trip to Israel: February 2023

Favorite part of Jewish Cleveland: The friendships it has allowed me to create

To connect with me, the best way is... @migsss_ on Instagram

Lindsay wears o -white Sada t jeans and a Janelle denim jacket from L’Agence, with a short sleeve merino mock-neck sweater by Dorothee Schumacher, all from Kilgore Trout.

Age: 29

Hometown: University Heights

Synagogue: B’nai Jeshurun Congregation

Work: Web platform specialist at Case Western Reserve University

About me: I’m born and raised in Beachwood. I nd ful llment in expressing myself through the arts, including amenco guitar, drawing, crafts and literature. I am extremely passionate about cooking and experimenting with food. Being an active part of the vibrant art and music communities in Cleveland is incredibly rewarding as it allows me to connect with fellow artists and expand my creative horizons. My friends, family and strong social connections are very important to me. As I continue to grow, both as an artist, musician and in my work in tech, I aspire to work internationally.

Favorite place for dinner: La Plaza Taqueria in Lakewood

Favorite place for drinks: Gri n Cider House in Lakewood

Qualities I’m looking for in a partner: Con dent, artistic or an a cionado of the arts, loves music, adventurous and has pretty eyes.

Turno s or deal breakers: Closed minded, picky eater, doesn’t share my sense of humor

Kosher or non-kosher dating habits: Not kosher

My dating horror story: I went on a date to a wedding with a woman I matched with on Tinder. She refused to talk, only ate a protein bar she brought with her, and we left promptly before dancing had begun.

Celebrity crush: Charli XCX

Song I belt in the car: “Deseandote” by Frankie Ruiz

Hidden talent: I speak Spanish pro ciently and have working understanding of Hebrew and German.

Favorite Jewish holiday: Chanukah, because I enjoy the ner things in life (gifts and latkes).

At a Jewish wedding you’d nd me... Eating too many appetizers

Favorite bar mitzvah memory: Being lifted up during the hora and feeling a little self-conscious how many men were needed for it.

To connect with me, the best way is... Instagram @ari_ari_ari_a

ARI ASHPIS ARI ASHPIS

Ari wears a red, white and blue quarter-zip pull over; blue and white tech golf shirt; and white stretch tech ve-pocket golf pants, all by G/Fore from J3 Clothing

Company.

Marla Silberman Silberman

Age: 62

Hometown: Solon

Synagogue: My most recent a liation was Celebrating Jewish Life Work: Gino’s Jewelers

About me: I am a hopeless romantic. Kind, thoughtful and funny. I love football, dogs and pizza. I like to believe that chivalry is still alive. I enjoy music, travel and outdoor activities.

Favorite place for dinner: Il Rione, Little Italy and Crumb & Spigot

Favorite place for drinks: Momocho, the patio at Cru Uncorked or one of our local wineries

Qualities I’m looking for in a partner: Someone who has a sense of humor, and is kind and considerate. Loves dogs, enjoys music and Big 10 football. Not afraid to hold your hand.

Turno s or deal breakers: Cats! Dishonesty.

Kosher or non-kosher dating habits: Not kosher

Celebrity crush: Brett Goldstein (as Roy Kent in “Ted Lasso”), Tony Bennett

Songs I belt in the car: “Boogie Shoes” and “Respect”

Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover because my friends and family make mandel bread for everyone we know.

Hidden talent: Cooking my bubbe’s recipes

Favorite bat mitzvah memory: (Not mine but) at my daughter’s bat mitzvah, she got up on stage with the band A-to-Z and started singing a Beyoncé song “Single Ladies,” and got the party started.

Favorite part of Jewish Cleveland: It is a close-knit, wonderful community where you always feel welcomed. It’s home to me.

To connect with me, the best way is... I prefer a phone call, so I can hear your voice.

Publisher’s Note: If you’d like to connect with Marla, send an email to Jstyle at editor@jstylemagazine.com and we’ll help make that phone call connection.

Marla wears a blue cotton midi dress by tyler böe from Lisa Moran Ltd.

Honesty, integrity, dedication, knowledge and exceptional service.

That’s why Peggy Garr’s clients keep coming back and referring her to their friends and family.

PEGGY GARR

Pepper EG Our

Pepper Pike Office (216) 831-7342 • (216) 315-4663

www.peggygarr.howardhanna.com

peggygarr@howardhanna.com www.garrhomes.com

JStyle ad for Temple Israel Ner Tamid

offers many opportunities for young people to make a difference in the world. ,

From making 150+ PB&J sandwiches every Friday nightand delivering them to Cleveland’s homeless to sending teddy bears to children in crisis in the US and abroad… at TINT, we don’t just talk tikkun olam, we do it.

Share your desire to practice a congregation that doesn’t wait to be asked for help. We invite you to join us every Friday night at 7:30 p.m. for Shabbat services Oneg and community. 1732

A realtor, whose style is always in fashion.

1899 social club Social Club

Newly open since March 3 in Shaker Heights, 1899 Social Club is a dynamic entertainment venue with golf, games and casual ne dining and drinks at its center. Boasting a modern country club aesthetic, owner Brian Lindenbaum says with 1899, he aimed to create a “welcoming, chic space that aligns with the elevated experience we o er.”

Those experiences include a casual ne dining room, two craft cocktail bars, the Speakeasy Trophy Room and nine TrackMan golf simulators. Guests can play a variety of games on the simulators, or tee it up on over 250 championship golf courses from around the world like Pebble Beach or Muir eld Village.

“The great thing about TrackMan simulators is they are for everyone,” Lindenbaum says in an email. “Players on the PGA Tour use them to dial in their swing, so they are as accurate as any amateur could ever want, but they also o er a variety of games for kids and more casual players.”

As far as food, 1899 o ers twists on familiar ingredients for lunch, brunch and dinner. Its lunch/simulator menu is best described as elevated bar food, Lindenbaum says, which includes a wagyu burger, hot chicken sandwich and sharable items. The dinner menu has a more upscale, new American vibe, including a variety of steaks. The brunch menu is Lindenbaum’s personal favorite, he says, and includes shakshuka, chicken and wa es, and other traditional brunch dishes. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

And despite the country club look and feel, 1899 certainly is not “members only,” Lindenbaum says. While it o ers memberships, the spot at 20040 Van Aken Blvd. and its amenities are open seven days a week to the public.

-Amanda Koehn

ORKS WATER W

The entire Drink Local Drink Tap sta at the Uganda main o ce in Luwero District. The rst group photo with all sta together since its founding in 2010, founder and executive director Erin Huber Rosen is sitting at the bottom left, and Jo Levin, marketing and communication coordinator, is third standing from the right. Photo courtesy of Jo Levin / Drink Local Drink Tap

Drink Local Drink Tap builds equitable water access in rural Uganda, while educating and engaging Cleveland on water issues

By Amanda Koehn

On a weekend morning in mid-May, about 50 volunteers gathered at Edgewater Beach in Cleveland for the rst beach cleanup of the year hosted by the local nonpro t Drink Local Drink Tap. It was foggy and softly raining as they picked up litter throughout a section of the beach.

Cigarette butts, tiny plastic and foam plastic pieces, aluminum cans and shing lures were common nds on the shore. And while cleaning up trash that should never have been there in the rst place is not the entire solution, it helps – and it educates and reminds those volunteering about the importance of keeping our waterways and environment clean.

Across the world in Uganda, at the same time, DLDT’s sta was working on clean water and sanitation projects in various districts of that country. It’s all connected to the nonpro t’s mission of clean water as a human right.

When Erin Huber Rosen started the grassroots organization in 2010, her intention was to educate about clean water and build equitable solutions for making it more accessible worldwide. The rural Uganda projects contribute to addressing the growing problem of global water insecurity, which naturally connects to the Jewish values held by some of the organization’s leaders. And, DLDT’s goals for ensuring equitable and clean water here and abroad are still expanding.

“We’re growing a lot on two continents,” says Huber Rosen, who converted to Judaism and was married by Rabbi Enid Lader, who recently retired from Beth IsraelThe West Temple in Cleveland. “We have 10 very strong team members, and to me that is really exciting because all those people, they’re the ones out there making the real impact and doing the real work, and to see that team growing has been exciting.”

HOW IT STARTED

Huber Rosen, the executive director and founder of DLDT, grew up in Mentor and says she has always been drawn to community service, starting her rst nonpro t when she was 16. On weekend nights, she brought homeless people in Cleveland peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and blankets, speci cally focusing on men’s shelters as she saw a gap in services for men in need.

“When I was 16, I was helping and going to soup kitchens and starting my homeless organization at the time, and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, and doing whatever I could,” she tells Jstyle.

After earning two associate degrees at Cuyahoga Community College, she graduated from Cleveland State University in environmental science. She also earned her master’s degree at CSU.

She considers the start of DLDT as March 22, 2010 –World Water Day – when she started its rst campaign and adopted Edgewater Beach.

The necessity of clean water to survive was the reason Huber Rosen rst decided to work in water issues, but wasn’t sure what her organization would look like.

“I care a lot about the environmental aspects of keeping our water clean and sustainable for future generations,” she says. “I care about keeping it resilient with climate change. I care about people having access to it and making sure that water is equitable. It’s a basic human right. I founded Drink Local Drink Tap really to protect the water that we have and help other people who don’t.”

She began talking in Cleveland schools about water issues. At one school, she met a teacher from Uganda who had letters from students from the country. The letters said bluntly, “We don’t have water.”

WORK IN UGANDA

In DLDT’s rst year, water in Uganda was an issue Huber Rosen wanted to explore. When she rst went to rural Uganda, she notes that she was in “learning mode.”

“There’s a lot of good-hearted people in the world that go to other countries and want to solve problems,” she says, adding despite good intentions, having a “savior mindset” for addressing problems in countries and cultures that are not one’s own – and not involving and listening to that community and culture throughout –can bring about unhelpful or even harmful outcomes.

Eventually, she and the Uganda sta she hired did begin their rst water project there.

“I learned a lot of very di cult lessons,” she says from Uganda.

“That project is still working and serving a lot of people, but now we have 130 projects. So, something kept

me here. It’s not an easy place to work. It’s a very di cult place to work, but that’s kind of why I want to work here.”

Huber Rosen adds much of her training is hands-on and she works with hydrologists, engineers and a construction team in Uganda, “constantly improving the way that we do things.” She manages that team, but in many ways, they are the ones teaching.

During the May 2023 trip, while Huber Rosen, a Cleveland resident, was on site working for a month, the rest of the American-based sta came for 10 days to help with projects and get to know the Uganda-based sta . With 10 sta members altogether, the organization has grown over more than a decade in service, and this was an opportunity for them all to meet in-person.

The 130 Ugandan projects are across several rural Ugandan districts, involving building and maintaining clean water systems, and hygiene and sanitation facilities.

Another sta member visiting from Cleveland was Jo Levin, DLDT’s marketing and communication coordinator. On Zoom from Uganda, Levin explains that the four full-time sta members in Uganda are leaders on the ground. They travel to manage and educate about the organization’s projects throughout the country. Part-time employees also represent DLDT in various districts.

Levin cites that water projects around the world have a high failure rate. One reason is that when aid is used to build infrastructure communities are not familiar with, they don’t become accustomed to it as an

option. Climate change also has an impact, as weather conditions for agriculture and water needs are changing. Thus, having leaders within the communities the projects are in is essential.

“It wouldn’t be possible to do our work the right way without the people from communities in which we work,” Levin tells Jstyle, adding that the organization is “still very small.”

Today, the three tenets of the organization are engagement, equity and education – all of which have components both across Uganda and here in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND COMPONENT

Headquartered in Cleveland, DLDT advocates for clean, safe, a ordable drinking water and sanitation services. Here, the educational component is accomplished through beach cleanups, networking and the Wavemaker student program. The Wavemaker Program takes DLDT’s water curriculum into schools –more than 21,500 learners have taken part in the program since 2010, according to DLDT’s website.

The equity component locally largely involves educating and fundraising for the Uganda e orts, which goes into the engagement facet. Engagement-wise, DLDT gets Clevelanders involved in its e orts here and abroad through those educational e orts, beach cleanups and events like its 4 Miles 4 Water run, which took place June 10 and raises funds for and awareness about water issues.

“We want to get people on Lake Erie to get their hands dirty, and protect

Drink Local Drink Tap hosts beach cleanups once each month from May through September.

To register, visit bit.ly/3WQyKWV.

Jane Gri n cleans the beach as part of a Drink Local Drink Tap volunteer e ort with her two daughters, Natalie, 10, and Nora, 8. Jstyle photo / Amanda Koehn

what they have – protect clean water, protect fresh water,” Levin says, drawing a parallel between Cleveland’s Lake Erie and Uganda’s Lake Victoria. “... It creates positive experiences on the lakefront, which is what we want. We want people to have a good time and see Lake Erie.”

At Edgewater Beach on May 13, Jane Gri n was among those cleaning the beach with her daughters, Natalie, 10, and Nora, 8. Gri n, DLDT board chair, says she’s found entire collections of trash at the beach before – like someone had a picnic and left it.

Cleaning the beach teaches her children the importance of appreciating and protecting the waterfront, she says.

“It’s giving them a concrete way to connect to nature and respect it,” says Gri n, who attends Solon Chabad. “It’s a way to connect kids with something tangible.”

Several families with young children were cleaning the beach that day. Stuart Meyer, a member of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike, also came to pick up trash, lling his bucket with old water bottles, shing lures and lines, and plastic pieces.

“Basically everything about Cleveland is Lake Erie,” he says. “It makes sense to give back and keep things clean – kind of make the world better in your own little area.”

Last year, the organization surpassed half a million pieces of trash collected. And while it’s a positive milestone that they picked it up, it’s still unacceptable the items were there in the rst place.

Describing the impact of beach cleanups among the large-scale e ort of avoiding single-use plastics, Huber Rosen imagines a bathtub where the water is running and over owing.

“You don’t go grab the mop – you turn o the faucet,” she explains. “And so with beach cleanups, it’s like we’re grabbing the mop, cleaning up the mess, but we still have to turn o the faucet of using those singleuse plastics in the rst place,” adding beach cleanups are “still a huge help to keeping our community and our lake clean.”

WHAT’S NEXT

Across the globe, approximately 2 billion people do not have access to clean and safe drinking water, according to a

United Nations report from March. About 3.6 billion people – 46% of the world’s population – have inadequate sanitation services. These worldwide needs are increasing as populations grow and climate change worsens.

Last year, DLDT set a goal of helping one hundred thousand people get clean water by 2030. If fundraising goes well, it may reach the halfway point of assisting 50,000 people by September, Huber Rosen says, an exciting milestone. It will also host its 10th annual giving Splash Party Sept. 21.

Levin, who grew up in Shaker Heights and graduated from Kent State University in 2021, notes her Jewish background likely contributed to her interest in helping people and protecting the

environment. She’s been with DLDT parttime about four years and full-time since January 2022.

As her family is connected to Beth El Congregation in Akron, Temple Israel in Bath Township and The Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beachwood, she says “the environment and climate are so integral to the culture and the religion.”

In Uganda, the nonpro t also plants fruit trees at schools they work in, an agricultural concept she says is kibbutzlike. Noting Jewish holidays like Tu b’Shevat involve trees and vegetation, “that’s not possible without water,” Levin says.

“We have so much access and lush green, and we have to do something about keeping it safe,” she says. sj

Above: Garbage found at Edgewater Beach when Jstyle visited May 13 included pieces of plastic, foam plastics, wrappers, metal fragments and a sweatshirt. Jstyle photo / Amanda Koehn

Below: Erin Huber Rosen and Namuli Agnes, a now-retired head teacher in Uganda who has become close with Huber Rosen. Photo / Jo Levin / Drink Local Drink Tap

Ultimate Up-dos

By Becky Raspe

As Northeast Ohio experiences its summer warm up, complete with sunny days and humid temperatures, anyone with long hair is ready to spend the season with their hair up and o their neck for maximum temperature control.

But up-dos aren’t just a means to an end this summer, says Lea Rizer, advanced signature stylist at Ladies & Gentlemen Salon and Spa at Legacy Village in Lyndhurst. A stylist with the salon for eight years, Rizer says updos can be creative, cute and functional. All one needs is a little time and the right products, she adds. Rizer uses Aveda products when clients are in her chair, but notes your favorite brand will also do the trick.

Rizer suggests starting with a dry shampoo to add texture as freshlywashed hair can be di cult to style. While hair can start straight, Rizer says the secret to a cute up-do starts in how the hair is prepped. Adding a curl or wave can take a look to the next level.

“All of these styles are fairly simple and can have your own twist added to them by how the hair is curled prior to each style,” she explains. “And then by pulling pieces down around the face and down the back, it makes it more whimsical.”

For those curling or waving their hair, Rizer suggests using a heat protectant spray, keeping any damage at bay while styling hair.

If you don’t want to use heat, a hair texturizer can help you achieve the ever-popular just-at-the-beach wavy look.

Finishing with a hair spray and hair oil keeps the look in place, adds shine and controls frizz and yaways.

Aveda

Hairstyle by Lea Rizer, an advanced signature stylist at Ladies & Gentlemen Salon and Spa at Legacy Village. She side parts the model’s hair, leaving the heavier side out and taking the rest of the hair into a ponytail – high or low both work. Then, she takes the remaining hair left hanging, twists it back and goes over the elastic to hide it. She then takes the hair in the ponytail and wraps it around into a bun, securing it with Bobby pins. Lastly, she pulls on the bun to loosen it and make it more careless and fun.

Rizer creates a reverse French braid (Dutch braid) up, nishing it with a clear elastic. Then, she pulls all of the other hair back with another elastic and takes the loose hair and wraps it into a messy bun. Depending on how much hair you have, this bun can be tight or loose.

Lea Rizer

From left: Aveda’s Shampowder dry shampoo; Aveda’s Texture Tonic texturing spray; Aveda’s Aircontrol light hold hair spray; Aveda’s Heat Relief thermal protector and conditioning mist; and Aveda’s Nutriplenish multi-use hair oil. Aveda products can be purchased at Ladies & Gentlemen locations in Lyndhurst and Mentor.

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS | 7-9PM

On the First & Main Green

Scan or visit, FirstandMainHudson.com for concert information.

FRI. JULY 07 Silver Creek

SAT. JULY 08 The Good Knights

FRI. JULY 14 Fabulous Voices

FRI. JULY 21 Backtraxx

SAT. JULY 22 Mick & Rick Band

FRI. JULY 28 Jump The Gun

SAT. JULY 29 No Moss Band

FRI. AUG. 04 Swizzle Stick Band

SAT. AUG. 05 SB Music

FRI. AUG. 11 Yearbook

SAT. AUG. 12 Masterpiece

FRI. AUG. 18 Xcetera

SAT. AUG. 19 Funkology

FRI. AUG. 25 Soul Town

HUDSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL SIDEWALK SALE

July 20-23, 2023

Sales & Specials all over town!

Visit ExploreHudson.com for more details and a list of upcoming events.

3rd annual Sunday, July 30, 2023 10am - 5pm

60+ Hudson artists, crafters, makers, growers, food producers, and creators will showcase their talents in booths on the Clocktower, Gazebo, Park Lane, and First & Main greens. Also featuring a food court and a full day of Hudson musical talent!

STILL HAVE A QUESTION? email hudsonmart44236@gmail.com

Sponsored by

Styled for Summer

By Megan Roth

Gone are the days of covering your beautiful out t up with a clunky winter coat. As we trade in sweaters for light tanks and tees, it’s time to show o your summer style. Micro pleating, all white out ts and linen fabrics are all on trend this season. Isabel Pritchett, owner of Sanity in Chagrin Falls, shares with Jstyle how to incorporate these trends into your summer wardrobe.

Micro pleating

While pleating isn’t new to the fashion realm, micro pleating o ers a fresh take on the trend. Characterized by a fabric being folded back onto itself, micro pleats are signi cantly smaller than classic pleats. This summer, they can be seen in skirts, dresses and tops. Since they’re smaller than a classic pleat, micro pleats are also used to accentuate smaller details. Pritchett says a micro pleat in a sleeve, for example, could make a shoulder look more fun.

“(A micro pleat) really just adds to the interest of an out t,” Pritchett says.

Left: Priscilla pleated midi dress by Current Air in navy.

Right: Clare pleated midi dress by Olivaceous in orange. Photos / Sanity

Sanity o ers a range of clothing items including dresses, skirts, jeans, shorts, tanks, tees, bathing suits and more.

Jstyle Photo / Megan Roth

Make a positive IMPACT work your Passion

Gain

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Whether you’re looking for a career or that ful lling role for right now, The J has a place for you where...

Everyone feels like they belong. Work-life balance is as important as meeting deadlines. We all work toward the same goals. You get to have interesting conversations with our members.

YOU’RE NEEDED!

• Early Childhood Educators

• Infant Care Teachers

• Annual Campaign Director

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WHY US?

Evolving Business

Free Membership to The J Referral Bonuses

Degree Not Required for Some Positions

LEARN MORE

Give us a call and come for a tour to see why we’re a great place to work.

Mandel Jewish Community Center

THREADS FASHION

All white

Monochromatic moments, or wearing an out t composed entirely of one color, continue to stay on trend. There’s no time quite like the summer to pull out your white hues.

“We’re calling (all white out ts) a ‘white out look,’” Pritchett says. “It is so fresh, it is so airy. It’s just perfect for summer.”

Linen

Due to their airiness and versatility, linen pants nd their way back to the trend list every summer.

“If you buy (linen) now, they’re going to last,” Pritchett says. “Keep them for the next two, three, four summers, or until you’re just tired of them because they’re going to be one of those pieces that is going to live forever in your closet.”

Traditionally, linen fabric has been seen in pants, but Pritchett says this year, she’s seeing linen in di erent forms including wide-leg pants, dresses and skirts.

di erent forms including wide-leg pants, dresses

Linen can be dressed up or down depending on what you style it with. Heels and a belt can dress up a pair of linen pants, while sneakers and a tank can give the out t a more casual feel.

Pritchett recommends starting with a white jean, which pairs well with any type of top. For a simple and delicate look, she recommends a lightweight knit top. For something a bit dressier, Pritchett says shirts with more elaborate details, such as a peplum, lace, polka dots or pu sleeves, can add some are to a monochromatic out t.

and delicate look, she recommends a lightweight knit

Left: Thea wide leg linen pant by Olivaceous Right: Wrenly oral high waisted shorts by Sugarlips, with a matching top

Left: The Callie crop jean by Joe’s Jeans in white Right: Yula swiss dot peplum top by Sugarlips in white

The Temple is a warm, welcoming synagogue family where each person matters. Together, members of The Temple create a community of prayer and reflection, support and compassion, learning and growth.

We explore our identity and culture through music, the arts, social action, learning, and rich expressions of Judaism throughout history. We offer a variety of opportunities for engagement through worship, classes, special events, small groups, volunteer opportunities, and other diverse programs.

We invite you to explore what we offer!

JOIN US

The Temple Annual Picnic August 20, 2023 at 4:00 pm Prospective members welcome. RSVP required!

To learn more about membership, and RSVP to The Temple Picnic, please contact Allison Shippy, Director of Member Services, at 216-455-1703 or email ashippy@ttti.org.

Jack and Lilyan Mandel Building 26000 Shaker Boulevard Beachwood, Ohio 44122 216-831-3233 • www.ttti.org

Steady and Scrumptious

RED the Steakhouse Pinecrest in Orange. Photo courtesy of RED the Steakhouse.

RED the Steakhouse Pinecrest settles into success

By Carlo Wol

The timing wasn’t the best, but who knew? RED the Steakhouse opened its location at Pinecrest in Orange the day after Thanksgiving 2019, and less than four months later, COVID-19 hit. Time to pivot to takeout. Time for a fresh focus on hiring, particularly considering that employees at Pinecrest, the Cleveland RED Downtown and RED South Beach in Miami Beach, Fla., took part in the Great Resignation, abandoning their jobs, even leaving the hospitality industry altogether.

But some things remain the same, like the Certi ed Angus Beef steaks all REDs o er in various permutations. And if you think tastes have slimmed down – and the workforce – think again. As Toni Lampros, RED the Steakhouse’s director of hospitality, says, people come to RED to indulge. That’s a tradition dating back to the original RED the Steakhouse, formerly in Beachwood.

Both Cleveland-area REDs o er an array of indoor and outdoor spaces for

private dining that can accommodate small, intimate groups all the way up to large gatherings. Both locations have four private rooms, and rooftop spaces available for private, seated dinners or more casual happy hour or appetizer/cocktail events.

RED Pinecrest, like its menu, is sumptuous indeed. With more than 8,100 square feet on the rst oor and a 2,300-square-foot rooftop deck overlooking Pinecrest’s Central Park with views all the way to downtown, the restaurant is theatrical in the best sense. Dramatically cloaked in black, white and a red well on its way to crimson, it’s a glossy, sparkling feast for the eyes. Which warms the heart of Gregg S. Levy, managing partner of YLT RED, LLC, RED’s owner and operator. Maintaining high standards matters to him.

“We are best in class as far as our food and our service,” Levy says, “and we were best in class as far as our attention to detail regarding COVID, like putting up barriers between booths. We did everything by the book. We were very, very strict as far as the amount of people

you can have, and the amount of people you can have at a bar. I would say it a ected us greatly. It limited the general public’s desire to come out and eat. It had a very long-lasting e ect, I think, on the entire hospitality industry.”

“People also were getting COVID,” says Stephanie Pack, RED’s director of operations and a certi ed sommelier. “As operators, it was very challenging because we were following all of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID guidelines. And every day, you never knew who could potentially be sick or exposed. So, it was a challenge, as Gregg said, from every direction.”

Pack has worked for RED since 2010. Lampros, who joined the organization part time in 2005, says over 30% of its sta had been with the company “ veplus, 10-plus years.”

“We had a well-established management base which allowed us to bring people in who are newer to hospitality or to ne dining, and train them to be at the level our guests come to expect from RED,” Lampros says.

“Sixty South” salmon with chive oil, leeks, snow peas, thumbelina carrots, verjus and pu ed rice. Photo / RED the Steakhouse

And in regard to the COVID-19 days, Levy says, “The fortunate thing for us is we were on top of it,” noting he served on a task force Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine convened to manage the reopening of restaurants after the COVID-19 shutdown that started in March 2020 and ended mid-May that year.

HUNGER DRIVER

Make no mistake: RED the Steakhouse Pinecrest is an upscale steakhouse, where a ribeye of Certi ed Angus Beef costs $79 and a side dish of broccolini fetches $16. That broccolini is nuanced and complex, its ingredients including Parmesan cheese, almond, shallot and garlic. Work and sophistication infuse RED dishes.

“We’re very chef-driven,” Levy says. “We have excellent executive chefs, and executive chefs are artists. You’re going to have your RED staples, whether you go to RED Pinecrest, to RED Downtown, or even to RED South Beach. We let the chefs have their own creativity.”

Randy Rogers is executive chef at RED Pinecrest. Michael Tolosa has that honor at RED Downtown.

Levy’s RED favorites?

“I don’t eat red meat and never had a RED steak, but RED is so much more than steak,” says Levy, who attends B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike. “... I am always looking to the chef specials, especially the sh selections.”

RED Pinecrest has won numerous awards, including the OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award each year it has been

open. In addition, Cleveland Magazine readers have honored it with a Best of Cle recognition for Best Steak, and Best of the East Best Steak.

RED works closely with local vendors and uses local sources when possible, Lampros says. Throughout the nearly 20-year history of RED, the restaurants have o ered staples like tru ed whipped potatoes (you can hold the tru es), steaks, sh and a spirited pasta selection. Like the menu, the cocktail o erings selected by Pack, who also is the beverage director, change seasonally.

AN EXPANDING CLIENTELE

Now that business travel has largely returned, RED Pinecrest is beginning to see more of it. The downtown RED, which opened in 2014, has always gotten that kind of business, along with travelers from all over ocking to the city to watch its sports teams, especially when they are doing well, Levy says. The theatrical delights of Playhouse Square are another business resource.

“When the restaurants were reopened during COVID, we did a lot of to-go orders for opposing basketball teams,” Levy recalls. “They knew about RED, and we would have to box up tons of orders because players weren’t allowed to leave hotels. So they would order from RED, and we’d bring the orders, even on team planes.”

Like other businesses, RED the Steakhouse acquired new skills during

the pandemic, and its workforce changed. Foodies can count on getting their favorites at both Cleveland-area REDs, but they can also experiment.

“Our menus are smaller now than they would’ve been pre-COVID,” says Lampros, “but we feature more of those chefdriven, chef-inspired dishes.”

“When we had a limited menu, and different food items for our rooftops with outside dining in warmer weather, we ended up reverting back to those original core items because that’s what people want when they come to RED,” Pack adds. “But as Toni also said, we give other options. So if you’re a vegetarian or pescatarian, as some of Gregg’s family is, we have all of the options. But for sure, what people are coming to RED for are our steaks, our core menu.”

No RED customer leaves leftovers on the table, says Levy.

“We really worked well together as a team,” says Pack, and made adjustments on a daily basis. “We got through it and we’re on the other side, and we’re better for it. We’ve learned some COVID lessons and had some COVID gifts, even though that may sound contradictory, and I think that we are still maintaining all of our integrity and quality after going through something that big.”

NEAR THE END ZONE FOR NIGHTTOWN

Now that RED Pinecrest and RED Downtown have weathered the

Left: Gregg S. Levy in front of the wine cellar at RED Pinecrest.

Photo / Carlo Wol . Right: CAB porterhouse steak. Photo / RED the Steakhouse

Creamed corn with cornbread crumbs

This has become a signature summer dish at RED the Steakhouse. Serves 4.

• 8 pieces sweet corn (Ohio is best when in season)

• 1 quart heavy cream

• 1 tablespoon sliced garlic

• 1 tablespoon sliced shallots

• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley and chives

• 2 tablespoons whole sweet butter

• Kosher salt

• Fresh ground black pepper

• 1 cup cornbread crumbs

Slice corn kernels o of the corncobs. Save the cobs for the corn cream.

Heat a medium-sized sauce pan, add a tablespoon of butter and saute the shallots and garlic until soft. Add the reserved corncobs and pour the heavy cream into the pan and simmer for 20 minutes. When the cream is reduced by half, remove the corncobs and discard them.

Heat a saute pan and add the last tablespoon of butter, add the corn and saute for 3 to 5 minutes or until desired tenderness. Add 4 ounces of the corn cream and stir it into the corn until it is evenly combined. Season with kosher salt and fresh black pepper.

Place the mixture into an oven safe dish, top with the cornbread crumbs and bake until the crumbs are golden brown. Serve piping hot.

pandemic storm and then some, what’s the status of RED the Steakhouse’s takeover of Nighttown, the legendary jazz spot/restaurant in Cleveland Heights former owner Brendan Ring closed during the pandemic?

“We are nearing the end zone,” Levy says. “We were very, very conscious of maintaining the spirit and the brand of Nighttown, and the look and feel, while being able to deliver the RED service that is so important to us. We’ve preserved every room in there.”

Cucumber cocktail

• 2 oz. Ketel One cucumber & mint vodka

• 1 oz. Cucumber mix (see recipe below)

1. Build ingredients in shaker over ice

2. Shake well

3. Strain over small chinois into coupe or martini glass

4. Garnish with cucumber peel

Cucumber mix

• 2 whole cucumbers

• 4 oz. simple syrup

• 4 oz. fresh lemon juice

1. Peel cucumbers

2. Cut into 2-inch sections

3. Blend all ingredients in Vitamix blender (start on medium, run at medium)

5. As they break down, slowly bring blender to high (do not run at high as it cooks the cucumbers)

6. Check consistency

7. Strain through chinois

8. Freeze any unneeded mixture for next time

RED has installed a new HVAC system, built a new kitchen and created a new entryway to the patio.

“There was a lot of infrastructure work that needed to be done,” says Levy, “but when you walk in there, you are going to feel like you’re at Nighttown.”

Will there be music? “Yes, though not at rst. Eventually there’ll be music … But that is absolutely on our primary agenda,” he says.

Got an opening date? Levy chuckles. “We are very near the end zone,” he

reasserts. “The last thing we want to do is announce an opening that we can’t meet. Nighttown is too important to us and to the Heights community to tease them and not deliver what we say we will. That’s about as direct as I can be.” sj

To read more about Nighttown from the Cleveland Jewish News, visit bit.ly/nighttown

Recipes courtesy of RED the Steakhouse

NEW HEIGHTS

The Ascent at Top of the Hill elevates Cleveland Heights

By Alyssa Schmitt

The Ascent at Top of the Hill makes it a point to provide a stylish and revitalized living and community space in Cleveland Heights’ Cedar Fairmount District.

Whether walking into one of its studios that spreads out into a balcony or a three-bedroom penthouse with panoramic views of the city, it’s easy to get the feeling of an elevated lifestyle to which the new building wants its residents to aspire.

Top of the Hill, an $83 million mixed-use development, is the biggest mixed-use residential project in Cleveland Heights. It consists of a 10-story building – reminiscent in height to the former Doctors’ Hospital

located there and torn down in 1969 – and a second building housing apartments and retail space. The Ascent nished construction this spring.

Nestled on a four-acre parcel at the junction of Cedar Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard, the location serves as a gateway to the city. It has a lot of responsibility to live up to in that role, some of which it took on in its exterior design.

To be authentic to the area’s rich heritage, the buildings stitch together Cleveland Heights’ historic brick facade look throughout, mixed with a modern aesthetic viewable by those coming up the hill.

That modern look continues throughout the interior with sleek

cabinets, quartz countertops and stainless-steel appliances in each of its luxury apartments.

Spread throughout the two buildings are 261 luxury market-rate apartments. Units range from studios, one- and two-bedroom apartment homes to three-bedroom penthouses, says Deron Kintner, principal and special adviser at Flaherty & Collins Properties. Rents range from $1,000 to $8,000 monthly.

As of early June, it had available studios listed as 480 square feet with prices starting at $1,535, and penthouses listed at 2,476 square feet with a rent of $6,499. Residents started moving into the development in June 2022, and as of this May, the building sits at 75% leased.

A LOOK INSIDE

What makes this mixed-used development stand out from the rest is its amenities, Kintner says.

“We take it to a whole other level. You can look at other properties and most of them don’t have a pool on top of a 10-story building that overlooks Cleveland and Lake Erie,” he says.

Connected to the pool area is a rooftop lounge, lined with mirror tiles on the wall. It includes two grills, a re pit, TVs and provides a sleek space for residents to host small gatherings or large watch parties. The development also includes two co-working spaces –one an indoor co-working lounge, and the other an outdoor patio space. The Ascent has a tness room lined with rows of workout machines, free weights and patches of turf, along with a private tness room for residents to host private group workout classes.

Additionally, the building features a bark park and dog spa, a bike storage area with a bike wash and repair station, and an additional courtyard space with a grill and outdoor kitchen. A quarter-acre green space is designed as a small public park, with opportunities for public art, outdoor recreation and leisure. The park also provides pedestrian access to the 550-space public garage.

“We don’t always have pools 100 feet in the air, but we strive to have some of the best amenities in all our projects so that’s not unique (for Flaherty & Collins),” Kintner adds. “We don’t always have as great of a location as this is, but the quality and amenities-wise, what we’ve done here, we’ve done in all our properties.”

The project also o ers 11,000 square feet of commercial retail space, which has received several letters of intent to occupy, he says.

“We’re currently talking to various tenants but none have signed leases yet, so it can go a lot of di erent directions,” Kintner says.

GATEWAY TO AND FOR THE CITY

Liveliness is not hard to discover in the Cedar Fairmount District. The area is known for its dense, walkable neighborhoods with restaurants, businesses and stores splattered throughout. There are various places to go for entertainment with the soon-tobe-reopened Nighttown as a mainstay. However, there was always a hindrance looming with an underutilized piece of property in the form of a parking lot. The space was earmarked for development by the city, but numerous unsuccessful attempts to redevelop it were made in 1972, 1982, 1990 and 2008, due to economic downturns or lack of redevelopment

Above: An Ascent apartment’s kitchen and living room. Opposite page: The Ascent at Top of the Hill at Cedar Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard in Cleveland Heights. Photos / Flaherty & Collins Properties

consensus, according to reports from the Cleveland Jewish News. The inability to approve a project in this spot led to criticisms of the city over the past several decades, arguing it was a hard place to get things approved.

“That has been sort of a dead space in an otherwise active, vibrant neighborhood and district for 50 to 60 years,” says Brian Anderson, city of Cleveland Heights business development manager. “Now it’s going to be a more active place with 300 to 400 new residents as well as the new businesses that will come in.”

Though the project seemed to offer something that complements the space while adding newness to the district, there was still pushback from some residents. Many expressed concern it wouldn’t fit into Cleveland Heights’ landscape, explains Eric Zamft, planning and development director for the city.

“There were a lot of meetings about the design of this project, and I think even initially a lot of concern and criticism even of the design that was ultimately approved,” he says. “We didn’t want just a building that you could plop anywhere in America, but something that really helps to de ne that gateway in the district and the city.”

The city wants to continue to pay homage to its neighborhoods – some of which are upwards of 100 years old – but also wants to strive to re-imagine and reinvest in itself, Zamft says.

“These mixed-use projects aren’t trying to create a district or a neighborhood from scratch,” Anderson explains. “They’re through in ll opportunities in what are already successful districts and neighborhoods so it’s building on existing strength.”

The project was funded by a publicprivate partnership with the city of Cleveland Heights as well as a $52.5 million construction loan from Goldman Sachs Private Bank.

Not only does Top of the Hill sit at the gateway of the city physically, but it provides the city with a gateway to continue projects like this, Zamft and Anderson explain.

“It’s symbolic as well as really practical in its redevelopment because it shows the world – or shows at least Cleveland –that we’re serious in changing with the times and upgrading our city,” Zamft tells Jstyle. “We do think that this project has been the gateway for other developments to start to sprout up in the city.”

As proof this project minimized the hurdle for further mixed-used development, one only needs to look to Flaherty & Collins Properties’

newest project in Cleveland Heights. The Marquee at Cedar Lee, which broke ground in May, will be a $60 million mixed-use luxury apartment development, expected to be completed by spring 2025. It is planned to have 204 residences and more than 8,500 square feet of commercial retail space when completed. sj

To read more about both Cleveland Heights projects, visit cjn.org/ clevelandheights

Above: Inside the tness center at The Ascent. Below: A bedroom in an apartment at The Ascent.

Timelessly traditional

By Megan Roth

While some decor trends come and go, traditional interior design has stood the test of time.

Characterized by elegant and classic furniture, warm tones and vintage pieces, traditional decor makes a space feel comfortable and almost familiar. There’s a sense of home upon walking into a traditionally decorated room.

Megan Featherston, CEO and founder of VNTG Home in Cleveland, brings this timeless scene to life in her Cleveland Heights home.

“Living with old things is important,” she says. “They knew how to do it hundreds and hundreds of years ago, why change it now?”

Traditional doesn’t have to mean dated, and Featherston recommends ways to incorporate modernity into traditionalism. It can be as subtle as adding a white trim to a room or swapping out a chandelier for a contemporary light xture, and as drastic as adding a bright rug or wallpaper. Updating the staining of the oor can also modernize a space, she says. She recommends gold xtures, as they make a space feel warm and luxurious.

To ensure continuity, Featherston recommends any updates prioritize reworking pre-existing elements of a home. She still maintains the original wood trim from her home built in 1915.

Finally, don’t be afraid to incorporate your personality into a space.

“Your home doesn’t have to feel so serious,” Featherston says.

VNTG Home, Featherston’s 60,000-square-foot warehouse, specializes in traditional-style furnishings. Located at 1235 Marquette St., on Cleveland’s east side, the store o ers a range of antique furniture, interior design services and more than 1,000 fabric options for those looking to reupholster vintage furnishings.

Megan Featherston’s living room blends modern and traditional by pairing traditional furniture with pops of color and fun wallpaper. While a living room mirror can feel traditional, Featherston’s circular, gold mirror invites a contemporary feel into the space.

Photos / Megan Featherston

GET THE LOOK

Dark wood trim has stuck with the home since it was built in 1915. It is complemented by other traditional elements like a built-in bookcase and curved leather seats. The ethereal blue modernizes the room, contrasting the classic elements to give them more emphasis.

Small bird xtures bring personality and life into Featherston’s home.

Featherston pairs vintage furniture with a modern rug.

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While summer cookouts are a staple, you may crave barbecue you don’t have to prepare yourself. Mendel’s Kansas City BBQ in Shaker Heights is a delicious new option where you can enjoy kosher Kansas City-style barbecue in a modern space with an outdoor feel, as the restaurant opens its garage-style windows for the season.

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Photos by MARIANA EDELMAN PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN