City Life 2025

2025 / 2026

Come

explore Become a neighborhood insider by checking out these unique city hotspots

Ethnic Eats Around the City / Parks to Play In / The Residential Life

2

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

A century of discoveries awaits you! Since 1925, Cleveland’s Main Library has been a cornerstone of knowledge, creativity, and community. We’re marking 100 years with a year-long celebration—featuring special events, exhibits, author talks, and more.

EXPLORE

CREATE

CONNECT

Explore unique and rare treasures you’ll only find at Cleveland Public Library’s Main Library.

Create, build, and innovate at in the MakerSpace or Studio 525 (just for teens)!

Connect to stories, people, and ideas through events, programs, and shared experiences.

Plan your visit at CPL.org/Main100

CITY LIVING SPOTLIGHT

CLEVELAND RESTORED

Life With a

RESIDENCES AT 1717 WAS CREATED FROM THE RESTORED EAST OHIO GAS BUILDING, WHICH WAS THE SECOND TALLEST AND FIRST ALL-GLASS BUILDING IN CLEVELAND WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN 1959.

Discover why this Downtown Cleveland resident says more people should move to the city.

4

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

the location of this building. It makes my life so much easier.”

In deep winter Costello also takes a job bartending at an establishment within walking distance.

“The bar is connected to a hotel, so people are always asking me about the city,” says Costello.

Costello says finding her Downtown apartment was part fate. While she was first just casually thinking about a downtown residence, Costello happened to walk past the Residences at 1717 one day and, on a whim, went inside.

“I was told two units were available and I could see them right then. As soon as I saw the views and space of my current apartment, I told my boyfriend we had to live there,” recalls Costello, who gives five stars to the building’s on-site management, 24-hour emergency maintenance, housekeeping, leasing and security staffs.

Residences at 1717 was created from the restored East Ohio Gas building, which was the second tallest and first all-glass building in Cleveland when it was built in 1959. Today it offers oneand two-bedroom luxury apartments, features a gorgeous, historically preserved marble lobby and is part of the K&D Management portfolio.

The complex offers a modern fitness center, which Costello uses frequently, an up-to-date business center and community room complete with full kitchen, pool table, darts and a lounge area with a television.

“When people come to visit, they are always interested in the history. I love the pride that people have in this city and it makes me appreciate it more,” says Costello. “We wanted to make our apartment super cozy because we have a lot of visitors. We take advantage of the natural light and have a lot of plants.”

Costello likes the apartment’s open floor plan, the attractive island and bar stools, custom cabinetry, granite countertops, Energy Star stainless-steel appliances and in-suite washers and dryers. And overnight visitors have a special treat.

“Our guest bedroom bed faces the window.

So, when anyone wakes up in the morning, the lake is their view and it’s the first thing they see. That’s special, and everyone loves it,” says Costello.

“Cleveland has so much potential. Being 25, in a relationship and living here — I just love it,” adds Costello. “I am surprised I don’t see more people like me Downtown. Cleveland is not as expensive as other cities, and there is so much to do, especially in the summer.

I’d like to see even more little cafes and businesses open up here.”

— Jill Sell

KEN BLAZE

DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND RESIDENT ALLY COSTELLO ADMITS SHE IS “OBSESSED” WITH HER VIEWS from her Residences at 1717 apartment on E. 9th Street.

“When I sit at my desk, I have the best view of the city. I am facing Lake Erie, looking right at St. John Cathedral. I can see right down East 9th Street to the lake and past the harbor where all the boats are,” says Costello, who moved to Cleveland from Washington, D.C., this past September. “I especially like it in the morning when I am drinking coffee or having breakfast. I can just stare out the windows and be entertained.”

Costello grew up in Geneva, Ohio, but moved to Phoenix, Arizona, while in high school. She’s also lived in several other urban locations. So, when Costello decided to move back to Cleveland recently to be closer to family here, she wanted to find “a place with more city vibes.”

“The main reason I wanted to live Downtown was that I could walk to so many things,” says Costello, a marketing professional who works mainly from home.

“Coming from Washington, D.C., I didn’t have a car. My boyfriend, John, has one. But if we can, we’d rather walk. Heinen’s is right down the street, and I am pretty active and outside almost every day. I really appreciate

NEO BORN. NEO REIMAGINED. NEO HOME. LOCAL E XPERTISE  UNMATCHED SERVICE

Locally owned and managed, K&D offers unparalleled knowledge about Northeast Ohio because we live, work and thrive right here with you. We partner with the cities and communities we call home to foster connections that create welcoming and enriching experiences for our residents and tenants.

As your dedicated property management team, we’re on site to help whenever you need us.

K&D IS DOWNTOWN LIVING REDEFINED.

RESIDENCES AT 55

1 & 2 Bedroom Suites, 2 & 3 Bedroom Penthouses 55 Public Square Cleveland, OH 44113

844.701.5923

www.ResidencesAt55.com

THE RESIDENCES AT 668

RESIDENCES AT 1717

1 & 2 Bedroom Suites 1717 East 9th Street Cleveland, OH 44114

844.329.9038

www.ResidencesAt1717.com

RESIDENCES AT HALLE

THE RESIDENCES AT HANNA 1 & 2 Bedroom Suites, Fully Furnished Luxury Corporate Housing 1401 Prospect Avenue Cleveland, OH 44115

844.329.8689

www.ResidencesAtHanna.com

RESIDENCES AT LEADER

STONEBRIDGE WATERFRONT

1 & 2 Bedroom Suites, Penthouses 1500 Detroit Avenue Cleveland, OH 44113

844.556.1668

www.StonebridgeWaterfront.com

THE TERMINAL TOWER RESIDENCES

1 & 2 Bedroom Suites 668 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44114

1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Suites, Penthouses 1228 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44115

Studios, 1 & 2 Bedroom Suites 526 Superior Avenue Cleveland, OH 44114

1 & 2 Bedroom Suites, Penthouses 50 Public Square Cleveland, OH 44113

www.668EuclidAve.com

www.ResidencesAtHalle.com

www.ResidencesAtLeader.com

www.TerminalTower.com

844.621.6777

833.248.3130

844.896.2325

833.369.6371

LUXURY DOWNTOWN LIVING  SOPHISTICATED SUBURBAN LIVING  SENIOR/AFFORDABLE HOUSING Whether you’re looking for a new apartment to call home or a new location for your business, K&D has the perfect fit for you.

With more than 40 locations in Northeast Ohio, from a luxurious downtown vibe and prime commercial space, to a sophisticated suburban lifestyle, or comfortable, affordable options for families, seniors and individuals with disabilities, we have a variety of floorplans in convenient locations and price ranges to suit your budget and needs. Contact K&D today and discover your perfect home.

www.KandD.com

Realtors Ted Theophylactos and Carolyn Bentley of Howard Hanna’s Cleveland City office invite home buyers to contact them for more information about these new construction opportunities:

CITY LIVING SPOTLIGHT

Welcome

Howard Hanna Realtors bring expertise to the housing market.

6

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

But their combined teams are working together, creating what some in the residential real estate market are calling “the merger of the decade.”

“Ted and I have had parallel careers for about the past 15 years,” says Bentley. “We both focus a lot on new construction and particularly in Cleveland neighborhoods.

We have built up our expertise in these areas and are passionate about what happens to people and their neighborhoods.”

But Bentley and Theophylactos are not twins, and that works to their advantage and ultimately to the benefit of those looking to buy or sell homes. Bentley brings an intense respect and understanding for systems, organization and recordkeeping needed for a successful real estate career. Theophylactos’ upbeat personality, networking and negotiating skills, as well as his connections to just about everyone in Cleveland’s urban real estate world, are well known. He often concentrates on big builders and larger housing developments, sometimes with 20 or 30 units, while Bentley specializes in smaller builders and architects.

“Combining things allowed us to streamline the process. That really gave me more time to spend with my clients,” says Theophylactos.

“We took the best of both our systems and that made it easier because we became more efficient. Clients appreciate that.” — Jill Sell

THE VANTAGE, 5217 HERMAN AVE. – Located in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood, these five, larger contemporary residences feature three bedrooms and three full baths.

Priced between $719,000 and $760,000, the units are currently under construction.

The homes are minutes from Edgewater Beach and Gordon Square Arts District.

“The Vantage brought innovations to new townhome construction here, including three-car attached garages and side terraces,” says Theophylactos. “And the views of Lake Erie are great.”

STAND-ALONE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, CORNER OF MONROE AVE. AND W. 30ST ST. – These seven new single-family homes (two complete and five under construction) range in price from $600,000 to $678,000. All feature attached two-car garages. Bentley will also be showing several new single-family homes ($600,000 to $700,000) in Duck Island this year. These homes are being built by neighboorhood favorite custom home builders Berges Home Performance.

KEN BLAZE / COURTESY TEDCO

HE SOLD THEM A HOUSE. SHE SOLD THEM A HOUSE. He sold them another house. She sold them another house. After numerous years of each being a top real estate professional in the City of Cleveland and beyond, there was bound to be some overlapping of clients.

“There were times we were on either side of the transaction,” says Realtor Carolyn Bentley, co-managing partner of Ted & Co./The Bentley Group with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. “Recently, we have been reviewing 20 years of clients, and we noticed it’s happened three or four times in some cases.”

The other half of that “we” is Ted Theophylactos, co-managing partner of Ted & Co./The Bentley Group, and also with the Cleveland City Office of Howard Hanna. Theophylactos is classified as the real estate company’s “very best of the best,” top 1% of agents.

These two could have been fierce competitors, but they are smarter than that. At the end of February of this year, Bentley and Theophylactos joined forces and created a real estate power partnership.

They combined to operate under one team name because each has a strong brand and impeccable reputation. Also, each brings certain related real estate groups and repeat clients to the table.

HARBOR WHITMAN OHIO CITY TOWNHOMES W. 44TH ST., NORTH OF LORAIN AVE. – Each of the four townhomes, designed by architect redhouse studio llc, and built by Keystate Homes, features two bedrooms with en-suite baths. Private balconies, 10foot ceilings and wood floors add to the homes’ desirability.

“These are smaller units that start in the $400,000s, but they have efficient layouts,” says Theophylactos, whose listings frequently qualify for the City of Cleveland’s tax abatements. “Harbor Whitman brings a product to a market that has really been underserved.”

Our Experienced Agents: Ted Theophylactos MANAGING PARTNER | REALTOR® (216) 375-7060

TED@HOWARDHANNA.COM

Meet the Team

Lead by co-managing partners, Ted Theophylactos and Carolyn Bentley, Ted & Co. | The Bentley Group combines decades of real estate experience with a deep-rooted passion for Northeast Ohio. In collaboration with Ohio’s top real estate brokerage, Howard Hanna, we bring you an unparalleled commitment to personalized service, ensuring your journey is nothing short of exceptional.

When you choose to work with us, you’re not just hiring an individual agent — you gain access to the collective power of our entire team.

This means unlocking a wealth of real estate knowledge, resources, and expertise that ensures your goals are met with precision and care. Whether you’re selling your home to start a new chapter, purchasing your dream property, or navigating a complex transition, we are here to guide you every step of the way.

Our seasoned professionals have exclusive access to top listings, cutting-edge technology, and powerful marketing strategies designed to make your real estate experience smooth, memorable, and enjoyable. From initial consultation to closing, we’re focused on delivering results and creating solutions that fit your unique needs.

Let us put our passion and experience to work for you — your journey to the perfect property starts with Ted & Co. | The Bentley Group.

Carolyn Bentley

MANAGING PARTNER | REALTOR® (216) 470-1502

CAROLYNBENTLEY@HOWARDHANNA.COM

Jennifer Dugan

REALTOR® | MARKETING

JENNIFERDUGAN@HOWARDHANNA.COM

Greg Fusco

REALTOR®

GREGFUSCO@HOWARDHANNA.COM

John Kassimatis REALTOR®

JOHNKASSIMATIS@HOWARDHANNA.COM

TED & CO. | THE BENTLEY GROUP BY THE NUMBERS

Lori Scott

REALTOR®

Total Years of Experience:

100+

Families Served:

3,000+

Lifetime Sales Volume:

$759M

TEDCOTHEBENTLEYGROUP.COM

LORISCOTT@HOWARDHANNA.COM

Keith Tisch

REALTOR®

KEITHTISCH@HOWARDHANNA.COM

CITY LIVING SPOTLIGHT

Summer Wade Oval Wednesdays! adds roving performers in 2025.

THERE IS AN INTRIGUING LINEUP OF MUSICAL ENTERTAINERS SET TO PERFORM AT WADE OVAL WEDNESDAYS! (WOW!) in University Circle this summer. But concert attendees, who often come with their own chairs or blankets to sit on the grassy area, will also be amazed and amused by roving performers.

Think stilt walkers, aerialists, jugglers, magicians and a few surprises.

“These performers will be out among the crowd for people to experience and see along with the music,” says Heidi Hudak, chief marketing and experiences officer for University Circle Inc (UCI). “They will add something special. WOW! is already really a communal, fun, safe atmosphere where you see people from all walks of life enjoying what I believe is one of the fundamental needs of life — music.”

Now in its 20th year, WOW! begins June 18 and concludes August 20.

Opening acts and headliners perform from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. This year’s musical schedule includes reggae, soul, hard rock,

rock and roll, Latin fusion, country rock jazz, funk and more. Popular local favorites include Carlos Jones, Apostle Jones and The Michael Weber Show.

WOW!’s themed nights include: June 25, LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration; July 16, Disability Pride Celebration; and August 6, International Night, in partnership with Cleveland Cultural Gardens. In addition, two evenings (check universitycircle.org for date updates) will feature free, indoor/ outdoor admission to the Cleveland Botanical Garden on Wade Oval. The Garden will open its Kohl Gate On-edge, a work by sculptor Albert Paley that was installed in 2004, to WOW! attendees.

“It’s believed to be the first time the gate will be open,” says Hudak, who along with UCI President Kate Borders and Experiences Manager Maya Cundiff, lead WOW! strategies.

Tourists, university students from around the globe, local residents and employees who work in University Circle (all groups that

enjoy WOW!) are welcome to bring a picnic to WOW!, but a variety of food trucks and vendor tents will be on hand. Your choice include carnival food, vegan offerings, BBQ, Jamaican chicken, seafood and more.

UCI encourages taking public transportation to WOW!, walking or riding a bike.

But parking for a fee in nearby institutional lots and city meter parking on streets is available. There is no parking along Wade Oval during WOW! Also, CircleLink is University Circle’s free shuttle; it requires no pass or registration.

“WOW! is such a special event. We have so many attendees who have been coming for the entire 20 years,” says Hudak. “They come back no matter what genre of music is being played. We try not to cancel unless there is pouring rain, lightening or heavy winds.

Dress for the weather and bring a hat or sunscreen on really sunny days. People come early on WOW! nights and get those limited shady spots early.”

— Jill Sell

NEW UC MASTER PLAN SEEKS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

8

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

MOCK TUNA

Have you always loved University Circle, but felt it needed a few improvements? This is your chance to have your voice heard.

Now in its initial stages, Connecting the Circle is a master plan to be created by University Circle Inc. (UCI) and its partners. According to Heidi Hudak, the community service organization will spend this year collecting public comments through surveys and in-person opportunities.

“It’s been more than 20 years since the last comprehensive University Circle Public Realm Master Plan,” says Hudak. “This plan will serve for the next 15 to 20 years.”

The significant project is led by: Sasaki, an architectural, planning, landscape and design firm in Boston, whose Principal-in-Charge Michael Grove grew up in Cleveland; Toole Design Group (transportation and mobility); ThirdSpace Action Lab (community engagement); and Nelson/Nygaard (parking). To take the survey and learn more about Connecting the Circle, visit connectingthecircle.engage.sasaki.com.

Your Time Your Place

CLEVEL AND METROPARKS

Explore over 325 Miles of Trails Discover the Nationally Acclaimed Zoo Choose from 5,000 Free Programs Play 9 Scenic Golf Courses Bedford Reservation

Rocky River Nature Center

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Sleepy Hollow Golf Course

Plan your visit at clevelandmetroparks.com

midtown & hough

Main Street – IN –

MidTown-Hough

Pearl’s family members are honored on the wall behind the counter.

A wave of development across these historic neighborhoods is reviving is reviving empty buildings, filling vacant lots and restoring community while preserving the past. // By Kristen Hampshire

A

10

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

Cleveland. The project has already raised about $9.5 million.

Anchors along the corridor include the Cleveland Foundation headquarters, the Hough Library Campus, League Park and the Fatima Family Center.

“New development stemming from the MCC is a huge boost,” says Byron Solomon, business development manager at the Famicos Foundation. “You can’t have businesses without residents, and you can’t have residents without viable entertainment and businesses in the area. With this collaborative center, we are seeing spin-off development that will feed into new homes and retail for incoming residents.”

He points to University Hospitals’ February announcement to invest $3 million in multi-family, mixed-income housing in Hough at Gateway66 at League Park. Gordon Crossing has been called a “unicorn” because most of its housing will cater to residents below 70% of average median income. It will transform a vacant property on East 101st and Woodward Ave. A $47-million makeover of the long vacant 9410 Hough Ave. apartment complex is in the

“ It’s a win-win with the whole community backing you.”

— Tiwanna Scott-Williams, Pearl’s Kitchen Owner

works with plans for a community center next door.

Famicos Foundation’s completed Henrietta Homes development of 40 single-family units are scattered on sites between East 65th and 71st.

The historic Warner & Swasey building that played a significant role in Cleveland’s manufacturing history is being reimagined as a modern mixed-use space.

Meanwhile, a Hough Cultural District initiative will reinvigorate, celebrate and preserve Black culture, honoring the neighborhood’s history as a center for music and theater. The master plan involves the corridor within East 55th, East 66th and East 75th.

PEARL’S KITCHEN Great beer and elevated comfort food are a perfect pairing at

the MidTown Collaboration Center (MCC), where Tiwanna Scott-Williams’ fast-casual brand PearlFlower has expanded from its outposts at Rocket Arena and Case Western Reserve University. Pearl’s Kitchen is a sit-down affair — and it complements what Chris Harris offers at Black Frog Brewery.

“The Hough and MidTown communities are why Chris and I are both here,” says Williams, with Harris in the background as they trade ideas, both remarking on the potential the MCC brings to the neighborhood.

Longtime residents and new neighbors are invested in the concept, Williams adds. Managers at Pearl’s Kitchen were born and raised in the area. “It’s a winwin with the whole community backing you,” she relates.

KEN BLAZE

bold, bright mural in Hough offers a promising visual of how collaboration and a community that comes together can change the trajectory in a neighborhood. “Unity and Community” is a banner of promise: Thrive.

Renew. Respect. Grow.

Indeed, these words are in action throughout Hough and MidTown, which connects Downtown to University Circle and hosts a significant stretch of the RTA Health Line.

A wave of housing and retail is underway — an economic development current that has been brewing for some time and now coming to fruition with catalytic projects such as the MidTown Collaboration Center (MCC) and the E. 66th Street Complete Street Project.

This began in 2012 with the Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI) and is a work in progress.

It will transform the 1-mile corridor between Superior and Euclid Avenues with bike lanes, improved crosswalks, lighting, public art and amenities to encourage pedestrian traffic, says Sundavish Tan of MidTown

FEATURE | Welcome to Cleveland’s Neighborhoods

The Baseball Heritage Museum

COURTESY ECDI / RICARDO RODRIGUEZ / MARY JOHNSON

Baseball unites communities and traverses socio-economic and racial barriers. The Baseball Heritage Museum at League Park in Hough tells this story and is “inspiring on many levels,” says Ricardo Rodriguez, museum director.

“We are in a building where, regardless of age, race, socioeconomic background or political beliefs, everyone walked through the gates to see the same thing and that’s baseball,” he relates.

Housed in the restored 1909 ticket house, across the street from the Hough Library Campus, the museum’s focus is telling the untold stories of underserved populations and marginalized players. Not until 2020 did Major League Baseball (MBL) recognize statistics from the Negro Leagues. “We’ve been telling that story for over 30 years,” Rodriguez says.

“We’re having a powerful wave of economic resurgence throughout the entire area along East 66th Street and beyond, and this is an area where Mayor Bibb’s model for walkability and a 15-minute city is being sampled.”

BLACK FROG BREWERY When Chris Harris learned about the MidTown Community Center (MCC), opening a second Black Frog Brewery there was “a no brainer,” he says. The Cleveland Foundation and JumpStart pitched

the opportunity to Harris, who had launched the first Black-owned brewery in 2014 when he converted half of his Toledo-area garage into a brewing operation.

His beers quickly grew a following, and soon he earned space on local grocery store shelves and opened a brewery where community could gather.

The MCC’s collaborative focus and investment in bringing together neighbors aligns with Harris’s mission. “With it being located in a minority Black neighborhood, they wanted to serve the community and I love that,” he says.

Vitiman KANDIE When Mary Johnson set out on a “serious” health journey 15 years ago to return to a vibrant version of herself her new fitness friends at the gym noticed the change. Glowing skin.

Loads of energy. A contagious spirit.

At the time, she had no idea she’d also introduce a lifestyle change to hardworking professionals, neighbors, seniors at the Dave’s Market and now MidTown-Hough.

Today’s Vitiman Kandie Restaurant is more than a sitdown clean-eating destination serving Johnson’s branded VK wins and hosting wellness events. Johnson has created a movement, a multi-chapter story since launching the brand officially in 2015 and is now part of a growing repertoire of Black entrepreneurs in Cleveland’s city neighborhoods.

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

11

broadway slavic village

Everyone – INVITED

TO THE –

table

Inclusion, ecological amenities, culture and creating connective pathways are at the core of BroadwaySlavic Village.

“ We’re making sure we fill in any gaps in representation at the table.”

— Krystal Sierra, SVD Neighborhood Planning Director

// By Kristen Hampshire

12

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

ulent out-of-town and out-ofstate investors.

SVD is looking at a community consultants program to invite neighbors who are passionate about the future of the neighborhood. “They will receive a stipend for one year of service with our organization,” Sierra states.

The Slavic Village Green Team is also a strong entity and ties in with the neighborhood’s assets, such as storm basins and wildlife habitat that connect to Cleveland Metroparks' new trail network. The Slavic Village Downtown Connector and Morgana Run Extension will connect and improve access to the East Side in conjunction with a Fullerton Site Redevelopment Project in the Broadway-Slavic district that involves reinvestment in the overall neighborhood. It will address housing and community needs.

“When the trail project is complete, the trail will connect Downtown all the way to the Erie Canal Towpath,” Sierra says.

Meanwhile, in today’s Slavic Village, its roots and charm are ever present. The neighborhood is home to seven Catholic parishes, including the Polish Shrine, St. Stanislaus on East

The Trail Project will connect Dowtown to the Erie Canal Towpath.

The Red Chimney’s "City Chicken"

65th Street, a center of the community during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There’s the Slovenian National Hall (The Nash), the Polish American Cultural Center and the Bohemian National Hall.

And pioneering entrepreneurs who love the neighborhood are bringing everyday services and destination businesses to the neighborhood, Sierra points out.

One is Neighborhood Pets Outreach and Resource Center that offers affordable necessities. The Red Chimney is an old standard for Eastern European dining. And the East 65th Street corridor, known as the Warszawa Historic District, is chock full of stakeholders, Sierra says. Those include institutions like Cleveland Central Catholic High School.

In the Broadway and East 55th Historic District — the core of Slavic Village — an urban main street is home to more than 50 businesses and institutions, including the Boys and Girls Club of America and Cleveland’s first Rails to Trails project.

Among the neighborhood’s longtime go-tos, Sierra calls out Philomena Bakery, R&K Sausage, Vic’s Floral, Daiys’ and the Southeast Cleveland Resource Center.

LEF T PAGE: COURTESY THE RED CHIMNEY / CLEVEL AND ME TROPARKS / RIGHT PAGE: COURTESY JASMINE A . GOLPHIN / K AFE L A

V

isit the loudest and proudest neighborhood,” is printed on a posterboard a local holds with an unmistakable expression of commitment.

“SV Wants Everyone!” reads another, heralding a real community win: EcoDistricts certification, thanks to a Broadway-Slavic Village team of residents and stakeholders who achieved the designation’s tenants of equity, resilience and climate protection.

“Inclusivity is a big deal for us,” says Krystal Sierra, neighborhood planning director at Slavic Village Development (SVD).

The national EcoDistricts certification is governed by Just Communities and designed to help the community, resident leaders and developers build a common vision to guide growth.

That’s exactly what’s going on in Broadway-Slavic Village, and Sierra says, “We’re making sure we fill in any gaps in representation at the table.”

The table setting: largely transportation and conduit-creating, along with thoughtful infill of the roughly 2,000 acres of land available from foreclosures and vacancies fueled by fraud-

FEATURE | Welcome to Cleveland’s Neighborhoods

rooms to LET From blight to beauty has been an ongoing theme of Rooms to LET CLE since it started in 2013. The movement transforms readyto-demolish establishments into temporary art exhibits; activates vacant residences, storefronts and spaces; and presents opportunity.

“It has been a fully immersive experience including teams of artists for each house, storefront or site,” says Sierra.

Housing and business support services were involved, too.

The narrative to “reclaim the blight” in Slavic Village continues in 2025 with fundraising efforts and dates to be announced, Sierra says.

This year, the event likely will focus on open spaces and combatting against litter and dumping junk.

Rooms to LET CLE provides lots for artists to display their work.

Don't miss

St. Clair-Superior

– KAFE LA – Kafe LA, which opened in 2020, draws its influence from sunny Los Angeles, says owner Kayla Dial.

Health and wellness influences also shine through at Kafe LA — with healthy, fresh ingredients incorporated into the food and beverages. The eatery offers wraps, ice cream, smoothies, treats, teas, granola, wheatgrass salad, tacos, ginger, multivitamins, sea moss and more.

represent

like only a

local can

Sign Up & Join In

thisiscleveland.com/LocalAdvocateGroup

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

13

greater buckeye

Past – AND –

purpose

The Greater Buckeye neighborhood brings together culture and opportunity. // By Jill Sell

T

he Greater Buckeye neighborhood is an amazing tapestry of passionate, former and current residents.

These leaders and creative individuals have joined together to

knit a larger neighborhood with unique architecture, arts, entertainment, shopping and dining opportunities. The Cleveland neighborhood includes Buckeye, Larchmere, Shaker Square and

Woodland Hills. The area is adjacent to Luke Easter Park, the largest urban park in Ohio and originally part of Cleveland’s master park plan in the 1890s.

Separately named neighborhoods identified the area in the past. But civic and community leaders, including Cleveland Neighborhood Progress CEO Tania Menesse, say a new bond and outlook has been formed.

Less economic competition and more cooperation. Less vying for new residents and better realization that an increase in population, revitalized housing, streets and businesses is good for everyone who calls this vibrant section of Cleveland home.

Menesse identifies Larchmere, one of the most fascinating areas in Ohio with one-of-a-kind galleries, shops and public art, as being “strong.” She also points to Buckeye for its increased re-in-

vestment. Currently, Shaker Square is taking center stage.

Shaker Square, the oldest planned shopping area in Ohio, was constructed in 1927. It has enjoyed incredible highs and prestige as well as sad lows throughout its history. Shaker Square went into foreclosure December 2020.

“In April 2022, Cleveland City Council approved financing for Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Burten, Bell, Carr Development to purchase Shaker Square. Cleveland is our first mortgage holder; they are the bank. We took ownership that year,” says Menesse.

The new owners wasted no time stabilizing Shaker Square.

Now comes the future, with plans dubbed “A New Era for a Cleveland Classic.” Menesse says exciting programming will be regularly scheduled so visitors

Ready to turn your dream into a reality?

Take the next step at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®).

Gain in-demand job skills or earn an affordable, transfer-friendly degree.

Tri-C can even help you launch your own business.

Better life.

Better skills. Better job.

14

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

So keep moving forward. Keep striving. Keep your eye on the prize. Keep after that dream.

Tri-C® Where futures begin

SM

Enroll now. tri-c.edu 216-987-6000 24-0449

KeepStriving

Knowledgeable instructors and advisors will help you create a customized plan that puts you on the fast track to your dream job, a four-year degree or whatever your next step in life is.

FEATURE | Welcome to Cleveland’s Neighborhoods

CafE Indigo La Pecora allows patrons to sit at the counter and watch the pies being formed.

COURTESY DOUG TRAT TNER / CLEVEL AND NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRESS / ASSAD'S MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE

The Greater Buckeye neighborhood is an amazing tapestry of passionate, former and current residents. and residents will say, “Let’s walk to the Square to see what’s going on today.”

What Greater Buckeye residents don’t want, according to Menesse, is to destroy the historical architecture or overbuild the Square’s green spaces.

“You couldn’t create a neighborhood in a densely populated area like this today,” observes Menesse. “The magic of the Square is also what makes it challenging with a lot of different constituencies. But it can be all things to all people, just not all at the same time.”

La Pecora Chances are if you order a pizza from La Pecora in Larchmere, it will be lovingly made by the owner. Juan Vergara calls his wood-fired, Napoletana piz-

Entrepreneur Melissa Garrett-Hirsch says significant names for her business ventures are imperative. Garrett-Hirsch opened her newest coffee shop/ice cream parlor on Shaker Square this past February and calls it Cafe Indigo.

“Indigo means harmony and peace,” explains Garrett-Hirsch, a Shaker Heights resident most of her life. “Sometimes Shaker Square has been the place to be, sometimes not. It’s gone through upheavals, a long journey. I have always valued the community’s history and diversity. I feel it’s on the right path now.”

Cafe Indigo is really two enterprises with an open floor plan. One half is the ice cream shop with 24 Hershey ice cream flavors and treats that include banana splits and sundaes. Top sellers include butter pecan, Bourbon salted caramel and cookies and cream.

“I remember walking to an ice cream shop when I was growing up. I wanted one that was walkable for the neighborhood here, too,” says Garrett-Hirsch.

Atlas Cinemas at Shaker Square

za pies his “personal enjoyment.”

Vergara wanted authenticity of his pizzas so he studied the art of pie making in Italy.

La Pecora, described as a pizzabar because patrons can sit at a counter and watch the pies be formed and baked, opened October 2024. The 50-seat dining room is accessed through another of Vergara’s restaurants, Barroco, on Larchmere Blvd.

“We have a set menu with pies that are all popular, like our pear and pistachio or white anchovy with pomegranates. But we do things backwards here. Many places won’t let you substitute toppings. But we encourage you to decide for yourself and if we have an ingredient you want, we will use it,” says Vergara. “We have had requests for pork rinds and also sweet plantains.”

Cleveland continues to grow its reputation for supporting and cultivating innovative and cutting-edge films. Atlas Cinemas at Shaker Square is a significant venue for showing those creations.

Rental opportunities are available for “a couple or a couple hundred people,” according to Director of Operations Christopher Baxter, who welcomes birthday and anniversary celebrations and other events. And with six screens, the theater always has something on its marquee to entice you away from your tablet and into a “real” theater. Atlas Cinemas’ classic movies are meant to be larger than life.

“A movie is a shared event. We get scared together, we laugh together,” says Baxter, whose favorite movie is the original Godzilla with Japanese subtitles.

Don't miss

Westown

– ASSAD’S MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE – Assad’s Mediterranean Cuisine is much more than a restaurant — it’s also an imported food store with a deli and a bakery — according to Mike Assad, who co-owns the establishment with his brother Fred Assad.

Fresh cuisine includes spinach pies, homemade hummus, beef and chicken shawarma, sweets, falafel, kababs, tabbouleh, house-made pita bread and more.

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

15

FUN AND GAMES AND TOURS A N D T R UclarkC K S A N D S C I E N C E A N D fulton UN DD GEAXM SD F OF O D A AN N PEESR I AMNEDN TTSO UARN AU NN D TARNUDC KGSAA NED SACN I EDN CTEO A N D F M S U R SD G I V E AWAY S A N D L E S S O N S A N FN OD O DT RAUNCDK SE A XN PE MIEEN AN ND D A D RSI C NTCSE A MU S I CE AAW NADY SG UAENS D T S A N DO N J O YA A N ND DD FGOI V OD AN D E X P E RLI EMSESN T SS A N “ Cleveland needed aA little color. ” LA U G H T E R A N D S M A R T P E O P L E – FULTON – M U S I C A N D G U E S T S A N D J O Y N D G I V E AWAY S A N D L E S S O N S A N D AN D S -GAO TA IR V SAPN ALD N LA TND EDR PI YEEO ED M U SUH IG CAHAN UNN ED SA TS SCMA N DTI JTO “There have been some changes in the last years, and there are more QL U EUS THH IA O N A S EIPEhere, R StheAPcityA D AAN DG -AO TN V ITgetThouses N D TN ED RSS A NNN DDASC Mpeople AItrying RtoW ESand O LhasN E provided more resources for small businesses to establish in the area,” says Maria Anaya, small QN SHT OS N SA- A NSI SV W ND DDevelopment B Brimming A LUwith LDEO O N DDABCAUT RI TIED SAA A N D Orgabusiness coordinator at Metro Community A AIN N D O N IR EESSWest N small businesses, rich S culture and N undeniable nization. “There’s more to offer than there has been in recent years.” joy, Clark-Fulton is a must-visit Cleveland neighborhood.

BW AE LL DREP ABN NLD DI C NQ E ENSRS IAA ENNDD CB EAU SNSCentroVilla25 A NI D U SEO TXIOP ON SR W E SS UA XN PE EPN S FS B LNO ID CS In A a cityR where color of the wintertime sky, LWL OEE O SThe AI N DLCA BEY U DPbuildings EP APthe S EBNlark-Fulton RAEV Iboasts C A NR D UN LIDmany USURmatch E about neighborhood is also part of the eye will immediately be drawn to the vibrant colors that splash the

Clark

uncovered

— Jenice Contreras, President & CEO, Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development

// By Sarah Webb

THE NUMBER TWO BUSINESS!

PRESENTED BYSept.

Saturday, Sept.

Saturday, 2121

9 p.m.

9 a.m.-4 a.m.-4 p.m.festival Saturday, Sept.

21 of all The award-winning things water full of free fun, treats, E.E.and 49th ininages!

94747 a.m.-4 p.m.

4747 49th tours, more for all Cuyahoga Heights 4747 E. 49th in Cuyahoga Heights off Cuyahoga offI-77 I-77 Heights off I-77 IN CUYAHOGA HEIGHTS OFF

9.20.2025 OF I-77 FROM 9 A.M. UNTIL 4 P.M. @neorsd #CleanWaterFest

@neorsd #CleanWaterFest CleanWaterFest.com @neorsd #CleanWaterFest CleanWaterFest.com CleanWaterFest.com

16

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

COURTESY CENTROVILLA25

C

residents. of the Neighborhood of a warehouse a new called S7,300 E CXE N ID AEY FAU U O E CentroVilla25 — N ER WV IEMany PA Emayor’s R EP NLCTransSwalls NL DP building PR U—PB LspaceISC them hail from Puerto formation Initiative, which aims that is part food hall, marketplace, event center and commercial kitchen.

Rico, but the neighbor- to provide healthy, equitable and “Cleveland needed a little color,” says Jenice Contreras, who leads S E R V I C E A N D P L A Y F USEVENT LforICentroVilla25 P UGRIand PSisOalsoIN SPresident E U& CEO of the THE NUMBER ONE hood represents numerous culsustainable opportunities to build the vision Ttures HfromETHE O N L Y T H I N G M I S N Y O NUMBER ONE EVENT IN stabilize neighborhoods. Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development EcoT Haround E the Oworld.

N L YwealthTandH ING MISSING IS YOU THE NUMBER TWO BUSINESS! THE NUMBER ONE EVENT THE NUMBER TWO BUSINESS! T H E O N L Y T H I N G M I S S I N G I S IN YOU

nomic Development. “We wanted to be big and bold and colorful and happy and create this feeling of joy when people drove past.”

In the green food hall, eight vendors represent cuisine from Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. The pink market has retail and service kiosks featuring clothing, jewelry, massage and more. A 3,000-square-foot kitchen is intended for food producers outside of the market to rent.

The space also features a rum bar and Elder Plaza, an outdoor area where visitors can enjoy the community’s ambiance.

“CentroVilla is now a destination place, just like the West Side Market or the Rock Hall,” Contreras says.

COURTESY SAN JUAN JEWELRS / PAWSH CLE

old san juan Jewelers Old San Juan Jewelers carries traditional Latino items such as azabaches (bracelets for babies with a black charm in the form of a fist and red and black beads), rosaries and quinceañera jewelry.

“There are a lot of special life moments that certain Latino backgrounds celebrate,” says Alexandra Pagan, who co-owns the shop with her father, founder Ramon Pagan. “We take pride in our business and it being family based and prioritizing our people.”

Old San Juan Jewelers also features 10 and 14 karat gold, silver stainless steel and gold-plated collections, watch batteries and name jewelry and provides in-house watch and jewelry repair services.

Explore Cleveland’s AsiaTown Come for the food, stay for the culture.

Discover Cleveland’s AsiaTown—a vibrant cultural hub featuring over 35 Asian-owned restaurants, shops, and grocery stores offering authentic flavors and unique finds, spanning Saint Clair Avenue to Payne Avenue.

AsiaTown is more than a destination—it’s a neighborhood built on rich history and the strength of long-time residents, who’ve shaped its story. Through initiatives like the AsiaTown Learning Circle, small business support, and community clean-ups, neighbors and entrepreneurs come together to create a welcoming, sustainable, and empowered community for all.

FEATURE | Welcome to Cleveland’s Neighborhoods

Guanaquitas

pawsh cle

Visit Pawsh CLE for Self-serve Sundays.

Pawsh Cle, a pet grooming boutique founded by Chelci Edmonds in 2022, opened its Clark-Fulton location in 2024.

Offering haircuts, baths, nail trimming and more, Pawsh Cle provides its customers a peaceful experience, Edmonds says.

New this year, Pawsh Cle will open on Sundays for people who simply need a place to wash their pets themselves. During Self-serve Sundays, customers can use the amenities for their allotted time and rent shampoo treatments for a small fee. Also new, a $40 membership will allow pet owners to come in anytime to take advantage of these services.

A woman-owned restaurant founded five years ago by Blanca Hernandez, Guanaquitas offers fresh Salvadorian cuisine including mini pupusas, sweet plantains and more.

“We are trying to bring our culture to this community, and I’m very happy with what we have done,” says Hernandez.

Guanaquita’s pupusas are made with corn flour and water and then filled with ingredients like beans, pork, chicken, pastor and asada. On weekends, the restaurant offers a special dish called Siete Mares, a fresh seafood soup.

“I think what makes Guanaquitas unique is that I focus on homemade food, using original recipes from El Salvador,” Hernandez says. “I buy fresh ingredients daily and don’t use freezers.”

Celebrate culture year-round with events that bring thousands together, including: Celebrate Lunar New Year with vibrant lion dances, music, and community activities The Cleveland Asian Festival brings thousands together with live performances, cultural experiences, and dozens of Asian food vendors Take a Hike CLE Summer Series walking tours, which bring AsiaTown’s rich history, art, and culture to life Children’s Day offers fun, hands-on cultural experiences for kids and families The Mid Autumn Festival is an enchanted day filled with mooncakes and magical stories the whole family will love.

Don't forget to take in the vibrant murals that turn city walls into storytelling canvases—celebrating heritage, resilience, and the diverse voices of AsiaTown.

Visit asiatowncleveland.org or Follow Us on Instagram!

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

17

Lee Harvard

A

Don't miss West Park – CLEVELAND PICKLEBALL CENTER –

– COMEBACK –

time

Lee-Harvard economic development investments are restoring long-held neighborhood standards, introducing in-demand amenities and attracting young entrepreneurs. // By Kristen Hampshire

P

ride runs deep and a sense of ownership is tradition in Lee-Harvard, known as “the suburb in the city.” Most of its post-World War II single-fam-

ily homes are family nests for African Americans who embraced an opportunity to raise their families in a community where neighbors look after neighbors.

E B I R C SUBS TODAY! PART OF US

Scott Richardson’s Designs Are All Around Us, Even if We Don’t Know It

OUTDOOR EATS

Summers in Northeast Ohio Are the Perfect Time To Grab a Meal in the Sun

CULTURAL ENERGY

Takashi Murakami’s Art Brings Brightness and Colors That Put History in Perspective

BEST PLACES TO LIVE PLUS

Rating The Suburbs

12 ISSUES A YEAR FOR $2

0

JUNE 2025

Main Street charm meets natural beauty in our No. 1 suburb Chagrin Falls.

18

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

COURTESY TOM HOLLIS: RISE UP MEDIA , LLC

It’s not just a sport. Pickleball is also about unity. People of all skill levels come together to play and simply have fun. “The only thing you need is comfortable clothing and tennis shoes,” says Rob Euerle, who opened Cleveland Pickleball Center in February.

From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the 10 indoor courts (three outdoor) are bopping with players — including those who don’t know the rules. The center offers clinics, private lessons and open play for groups or singles who show up and rotate into games. There are numerous ping-pong tables, a full bar and a private party room.

“The community is built on legacy and culture,” says Elaine Gohlstin, president and CEO of Harvard Community Services Center. “We’re a community with high standards, and many people have lived here since the 1950s and 1960s.”

Given Mayor Justin Bibb’s focus on the southeast side and middle neighborhoods in Cleveland, economic development investments are infusing Lee-Harvard and neighboring wards with small business and housing development incentives.

Gohlstin, who raised her kids in Lee-Harvard and has served the Harvard Community Services Center since 2007, says more than 25 years had passed before a renewed interest in securing and bolstering the neighborhood.

“Our mayor has been very diligent about making sure that small businesses have dollars to help

Chef Kolnita serves her signature pan-seared walleye.

MAT THEW CHASNEY

them sustain and grow,” Gohlstin says. "The study area focuses on the Lee Road corridor from Invermere Avenue to Miles Avenue, Harvard Avenue from East 142nd Street to Cleveland city limits, and Miles Avenue from East 131st to Cleveland city limits.

Projects align with a master plan developed by the Harvard Community Services Center and stakeholders that have this vision: “to create a vibrant, welcoming and safe walkable environment for residents of all generations, with attractive commercial corridors that enhance the community’s unique character and foster economic growth.”

DOC’S ON HARVARD Kolnita Riggins-Walker entered the Harvard dental practice her father-in-law ran for 65 years, never turning his back on patients for lack of funds. He made

house calls and was often a go-to source of wisdom.

Kolnita went to the dental office for a rote task: to gather the mail.

But what unfolded before her eyes was not an empty practice, but instead a lively, soulful scene with music, aromas from a kitchen, guests gathering and her husband’s dad smiling from a table. “ Her husband Bill’s dad soon turned over his practice facility so the Walkers could transform the space into what is now Doc’s on Harvard.

It’s the community’s only upscale sit-down restaurant, and now it has a generous patio for summer dining. “We are bringing back the Black excellence Lee-Harvard is known for,” Kolnita says of a fine-dining menu built on fresh ingredients, high-quality meat and seafood, and the type of “cooking with love” she knew from her grandmother, who always served meals on china.

FEATURE | Welcome to Cleveland’s Neighborhoods

The same is true at Doc’s, where its Signature Whitefish includes pan-seared walleye, Israeli couscous with blistered tomatoes and spinach served with lemon beurre blanc. The Berkshire pork chop in 10-, 12- or 14-ounce servings also garners rave reviews, she ways.

Doc’s opened in June 2024 and has since created 15 new jobs.

Most team members live in the neighborhood, Kolnita says. A new apprenticeship program is supported by the Greater Cleveland Partnership and National Restaurant Association. Doc’s

also linked up with The Westin Cleveland Downtown to be included on its digital concierge board.

Word is spreading and Doc’s has become a catalyst for transformation in Lee-Harvard.

Kolnita is always surprised to learn a patron from out-ofstate found Doc’s from a Google search. “We are just a little gem, tucked away,” she says.

Mayor Bibb told Cleveland magazine, “We know that one restaurant, one art gallery, one amazing small business could change the trajectory of a community.” © Nathan Migal

!

the city Come explore

lovecle.co CITY LIFE

2025.2026

19

for Foodies

THE LAND

Start eating and start exploring! #EatExploreCLE 20

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

VISIT KAMM’S CORNERS IN WEST PARK FOR A TASTE OF IRELAND Located near the southwest corner of the city, Kamm’s Corners in West Park is home to a cluster of Irish establishments. Irish Catholics were among the early settlers of the neighborhood and many of their traditions and favorite foods have lingered here for more than a century. The Hooley is a popular Irish-themed neighborhood festival that captures this spirit and draws people from across the region.

NEIGHBORHOOD IRISH RESTAURANTS P.J. McIntyre’s, Public House, 5 Points Coffee & Tea, West Park Station The Hooley is a popular Irish-themed neighborhood festival. The Corned Beef Boxty (inset) at P.J. McIntyre’s in Kamm’s Corners is a favorite — and hearty — Irish meal option (Black & Tan optional).

@CENTROVILLA25 CLARK FULTON IS HOME TO CENTROVILLA25 AND IS THE HUB OF LATIN AMERICAN CUISINE The city’s West Side is filled with Latin restaurants, but the epicenter is in Clark Fulton, which is bordered by Ohio City to the north and Tremont to the east. The brand new CentroVilla25, located on West 25th Street, is a vibrant hub that celebrates rich Latino heritage. It supports Latino merchants and is home to a growing number of Latin American-themed restaurants and small businesses.

NEIGHBORHOOD LATIN RESTAURANTS Flying Pig Tacos, Half Moon Bakery, Caribe Bake Shop, Las Dos Fronteras, Cafe Roig, Panaderia Las Villas & Deli, Tumbao58, Sazon Latino Consider a visit to Clark Fulton’s new CentroVilla25 market on West 25th Street and stop at Flying Pig Tacos for a variety of authentic Mexican street foods.

COURTESY WEST PARK K AMM’S NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT / JEFF KIPP / CENTROVILL A 25: F LY I N G P I C TA C O S

FOODIE TOURISM IS REAL. Visitors to the City of Cleveland come knowing that the culinary scene here is impressive and respected — and it’s getting better every day.

So why not venture thoughout the city yourself and see what the buzz is all about? You can visit some of the best ethnic eateries the region has to offer. While numerous ethnicities, cultures and cuisines are available across our city, five distinct areas stick out for hosting noteworthy collections of culturally-themed dining options that are authentic and delicious!

@PJMCINTYRES

@TRATTORIALITTLEITALY

ERIK DROST / COURTESY JEFF KIPP

LITTLE ITALY SERVES UP ALL THINGS ITALIAN Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood is on the city’s East Side and is nestled next to University Circle. Settled by Italian immigrants in the late 1880s, the neighborhood retains a strong Italian feel. It is filled with restaurants, galleries, boutique shops and more. In August, Holy Rosary Church welcomes over 100,000 visitors at the annual Feast of the Assumption, where the entire neighborhood is showcased.

NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN RESTAURANTS Mama Santas, Trattoria Roman Gardens, Guarino’s, Maxi’s, Presti’s, Corbo’s, Mount Granita, Murray Hill Market, La Dolce Vita, Tutto Carni, Mia Bella, Rosso Gelato, Michaelangelo’s Trattoria Roman Gardens is located near the intersection of Mayfield and Murray Hill.

Pizza and pasta (inset) at Mama Santas in Little Italy is always a good choice, but more than a dozen additional options exist in this quaint, walkable neighborhood.

@CLEVELANDASIANFESTIVAL

@LEVANT_SHAWARMA

ASIATOWN IN ST. CLAIR SUPERIOR PROVIDES A LOOK INTO AUTHENTIC ASIAN CULTURES AsiaTown, on Cleveland’s near East Side, is home to many Asian cultures, including residents of Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese heritage. Naturally, a diverse assortment of local restaurants also populate the neighborhood.

The Cleveland Asian Festival, which celebrates Asian culture, is tremendously popular and is hosted in the neighborhood each May.

A GROWING MIDDLE EASTERN POPULATION IS INFLUENCING THE DINING LANDSCAPE IN WESTOWN Straddling Lorain Avenue east of West Park, the Westown neighborhood is home to a growing Middle Eastern population along with a related collection of restaurants and markets. These Middle Eastern establishments provide an authentic dining experience and join a host of other international dining options within this diverse neighborhood.

NEIGHBORHOOD ASIAN RESTAURANTS Koko Bakery, YY Time, Bo Loong, Siam Cafe, Li Wah, Ice or Rice Cafe, Superior Pho, #1 Pho, Map of Thailand, LJ Shanghai, Szechuan Gourmet, Ball Ball Waffle, Pho Sunshine You’ll see the famous Lion Dance and many other cultural performances at the Cleveland Asian Festival. Whether it’s for a morning wake-me-up, a midday boost or a fun end to your evening, bubble tea and pastries (inset) from Koko Bakery in St. Clair Superior’s AsiaTown neighborhood will certainly hit the spot.

NEIGHBORHOOD MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANTS Reef Al Yemen, Yemen Gate, Little Garden, Levant Shawarma, Hawana’s Sweet & Kitchen, Holyland International Market, Saffron Restaurant Your meal is sliced and served up fresh at Levant Shawarma on Lorain Avenue.

Shakshouka (inset), a popular Yemeni breakfast dish at Reef al Yemen in Westown, pairs well with hummus and is available all day for you to try.

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

21

Time to

Play

90

Lakefront Reservation

–

90

Discover 12 ways to enjoy the great outdoors in the city.

322

6

20

6

Lakewood Park 20

6

422

77

42

k

Brookside Reservation

71

Re dL ine

Washington Reservation

3

Cleveland Hopkins Airport

–

Big Creek Reservation

CUYAHOGA COUNTY

2

Rocky River Reservation

490

1

90

20

90

Garfield Park Reservation

Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation

4

42

Big Creek Reservation

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

EDGEWATER PARK

EDGEWATER BEACH

22

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

77

Euclid Beach Park boasts a 650-foot beach with shaded picnic areas, a scenic observation pier and a reservable pavilion.

The 315-foot-long pier extends 150 feet over Lake Erie, offering stunning views of the Downtown skyline and historic shoreline.

Designed for accessibility, the pier features permanent benches and Adirondack chairs, as well as three custom archways that pay tribute to the park’s history. Local artist Brinsley Tyrrell’s ironwork silhouettes include images of iconic park attractions like dancers, carousel horses and Laughing Sal. Nearby, Villa Angela Beach is a popular spot for swimming and wildlife watching, while Wildwood Park offers boat access to Lake Erie.

CLEVELAND-CLIFFS

BIKE PARK

k

West Creek Reservation

A public-use pump track featuring a circuit of small hills and banked turns designed for bicycle motocross and mountain bike riders. The bike playground offers beginners and youth an opportunity to practice their riding skills and build confidence. The competition course features multiple rollers, berms and a wood wrapped tunnel, while the paved jump line challenges more advanced riders.

COURTESY CLEVEL AND ME TROPARKS

The 147-acre Edgewater Park is the Stroll along the beach while taking

westernmost park in Cleveland in panoramic views of Downtown

Metroparks Lakefront Reservation.

Cleveland from the shore and Edgewater Park features 9,000 feet experience a beautiful sunset.

42 of shoreline, dog and swim beaches, Edgewater Beach is accessible from

boat ramps, fishing pier, picnic areas both the lower section of Edgewater and grills and a rentable pavilion. Visit Big CreekPark as well as the upper section.

Reservation lower Edgewater Park for immense The 2,400-foot beach features greenspace, trails and access to 1,000 feet of swimming access. The Edgewater Beach. Visit upper Edgewater westernmost portion of the beach to snap a photo by the iconic Cleveland is dog friendly. Rent a cabana along script sign or take the kids to explore the the shoreline or join a pick-up game Lindsey Family Play Space. of beach volleyball. Grab a bite from Mill Stream Run Reservation the Edgewater Beach House or enjoy the seasonal bar on the second level, featuring breathtaking views of the sunset over Lake Erie.

EUCLID BEACH PARK

Brecksville Reservation

20

90

90

20

6

322

Acacia Reservation

Book a tee time at Washington Golf Course.

Washington Golf Course is the highlight of Cleveland Metroparks’ Washington Reservation in the cities of Newburgh

91 Heights and Cleveland. The beautiful

9-hole, par 29 golf course, featuring a 26-station driving range, is less than 10 minutes from Downtown.

9

10

Green Line

Blue Line

–

d Park ation

5

–

CLEVELAND METROPARKS BROOKSIDE RESERVATION

GORDON PARK

11

12

Located along the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway, the E. 72nd A recreation hub, Brookside Reservation Fishing area within Gordon Park boasts baseball and soccer/football offers picnic areas and a fishing fields. The 132-acre reservation serves

wall. The Gordon Park Boat Launch as a refuge for diverse wildlife in an includes a six-lane boat launch, urban setting. Each spring Brookside which has docks available for

is a popular destination to experience

launching and retrieving watercraft the annual cherry blossom blooms.

from the beginning of April through

This reservation connects to Cleveland the end of November.

Metroparks Zoo.

422

–

MERWIN’S WHARF

Nestled in the post-industrial site of Cleveland’s Flats neighborhood, Merwin’s Wharf connects guests to urban greenspace while enjoying fresh, seasonal and locally sourced menu items. Guests can also enjoy reservable day-use boat slips on a first-come, first-served basis in nearby Heritage and Rivergate parks.

6 480

South Chagrin Reservation

422

COURTESY CLEVEL AND ME TROPARKS

ille tion

WASHINGTON

GOLF COURSE

8

North Chagrin Reservation

6 Euclid Creek Reservation Cultural Gardens

7

MAP PROVIDED BY DESTINATION CLEVEL AND

CLEVELANDBedford METROPARKS Reservation ZOO

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is home to over 2,000 animals. Open year-round, attractions

the Zoo offers unique

such as the African Savanna, Asian Highlands, Australian Adventure, Daniel Maltz Rhino Reserve and Wilderness Trek. Visitors can handfeed giraffes, soar through the sky on the Eagle Zip Adventure and enjoy a variety of other experiences.

Throughout CUYAHOGA VALLEY the year, the Zoo hosts NATIONAL PARK special events, limited-time exhibits and several races as part of the annual Cleveland Metroparks Race

Series, presented by CrossCountry Mortgage.

WENDY PARK AND WHISKEY ISLAND

One of Ohio’s top birding sites, Wendy Park’s 22 acres of green space on the

edge of Downtown Cleveland makes

it a vital haven for wildlife.

Boasting

a remarkable 260 species of birds recorded on site, birders, photographers and nature lovers are drawn to this dynamic landscape. Wendy Park offers a crucial habitat for nesting and migratory animals — including extraordinary monarch butterflies in the fall. Wendy Park features a natural surface kayak launch.

RED LINE GREENWAY

The Red Line Greenway is a nearly twomile paved all-purpose trail that links the Cleveland Foundation Centennial 91Lake Link Trail to two RTA Red Line Rapid Transit stations and provides a primary active transportation corridor from West 65th Street to Downtown.

The trail connects the Michael Zone Recreation Center at W. 53rd Street with the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail at Columbus Road and Franklin Avenue.

OHIO AND ERIE CANAL RESERVATION

The Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation stretches through the villages of Cuyahoga Heights, Valley View and other surrounding communities and can be easily accessed from many city neighborhoods.. The reservation follows the historic 309-mile Ohio and Erie Canal. Together with the Cuyahoga River, the northernmost remaining 4.4 miles of watered canal provides wildlife management areas, fishing opportunities and scenic beauty. Enjoy hiking trails, a 7.2-mile all-purpose trail and connections to the Towpath Trail. Check out guided programming and free activities for all ages at CanalWay Center.

CITY LIFE

2025.2026

23

Our Mission:

Our mission is to improve the quality of life in greater Cleveland through neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing and integrated social services.

Our Committment:

We provide conventional, affordable, supportive houses, commercial new construction & historic homes mix-use & mixed-income buildings.

How we do it:

We provide access to social services resources such as: food, clothing, home repair, free legal aid, and health & wellness programs for those in need.

OFFICE LOCATION

1325 Ansel Road Cleveland, Ohio 44106 (216) 791-6476

Visit our website: famicos.org CITY LIFE

2025.2026

24