Cleveland Magazine - April 2024

How rare are total solar eclipses?

A total solar eclipse occurs on a given spot on the planet only once about every 375 years. Portions of Ohio will not be in the path of totality for a total solar eclipse again until 2099.

What does the path of totality mean?

The path of totality is the area where the moon will completely cover the sun. This plunges the sky from daylight to twilight temporarily. Although the sky will darken in areas that will see 99% solar eclipse or less, the experience in totality (Lorain County) will be much different.

According to the Planetary Society, only 43 million people (0.5% of the world’s population) live in the path of totality for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse.

How much will daylight change?

In the path of totality, the moon covers 100% of the sun. Even if it is a cloudy, rainy day, the landscape will darken dramatically during totality. The sky will be 10,000 times darker in the areas of totality (Lorain County) than areas where just 1% of the sun is visible (99% partial eclipse), and some bright planets and stars become visible.

How much will the weather/temperature change?

Temperature may drop as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit during the eclipse, and without the sunlight it will feel even cooler. Wave heights in Lake Erie may also change a bit. If conditions are right and there’s a lake breeze off Lake Erie, that might lighten up too thanks to the slight temperature drop. Should a cold rain fall just before the eclipse, there’s also a chance that the drop could turn the precipitation into snow or an icy mix.

When will the eclipse occur and for how long?

According to astronomical experts, a partial eclipse in Ohio will begin at 1:59 p.m. and end at 4:29 p.m., but the totality begins at 3:13 p.m. and ends at 3:17 p.m. Lorain County is the best place in Ohio to view the eclipse as it lies on the center line in the path of totality and will spend nearly four minutes of darkness in mid afternoon.

Do I need special glasses to view the eclipse?

YES, according to NASA, you should wear a set of eclipse glasses that comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard when viewing any solar eclipse. This standard is thousands of times darker than standard sunglasses. Never look directly at the sun. You can seriously hurt your eyes, and even go blind.

To learn more about how you can enjoy the eclipse, please visit www.loraincountyohio.gov

ON THE COVER

52 SOLAR ECLIPSE On April 8, Northeast Ohio will experience a once in a lifetime moment. We explore the best ways to spend it and what it means to local astronomers and science enthusiasts. By Annie Nickoloff

Illustrated by Christopher Buzelli

FEATURED

68 THE SOUND OF STREAMING Local musicians appreciate when you stream their songs on Spotify, but it doesn't line their pockets. By Annie Nickoloff

14 FROM THE EDITOR

16 CONVERSATION

LAY OF THE LAND

19 BUYING BOOKS Some may think bookstores are a thing of the past, but don't tell that to these independent, local spots.

22 TIKTOK TRUTHS A local couple went viral on TikTok for parading around barefoot. How real is it?

24 LOVING CLEVELAND How a star of The Bachelor moved here for love, only to fall for the city.

FOOD & DRINK

32 CURBSIDE TO CEO How the CEO of Swensons got his humble beginning with the Akron-based burger chain.

36 DINING GUIDE Find your way around Tremont's food scene.

HOME & GARDEN

107 FRIENDLY CONFINES This space proves you can keep things stylish and kid-friendly.

112 LOOK BACK Take a glimpse back at Opening Day in 1939 for the Cleveland Indians.

SPECIAL SECTIONS

86 GUIDE TO COLLEGE Study-away programs give students a passport filled of knowledge.

96 HOME REMODEL Reinventing a family home while ensuring that its tradition carries on.

Special Advertising and Promotional Sections

74 BEST OF THE EAST AND WEST FINALISTS

Find out which community establishments got the nod in dozens of reader favorite categories.

READER SERVICES

111 DISTINCTIVE HOMES

Everyone has a dream home, and Cleveland Magazine is here to help you take those first steps to making that dream a reality.

• RV Camping

• Vendors

• Food Trucks

• Eclipse Glasses

• Youth Activities

• DJ/Music

Lorain County Fairgrounds

23000 Fairgrounds Road

Wellington 44090

for additional information:

www.loraincountyfair.com

14240 Baird Road

Oberlin 44074

• Food

• Vertical Play Pen

• Heart-Pounding Giant Swing Shot

• Experience New Climbing Wall

• Ziplining (depending on weather)

for additional information:

www.commongroundcenter.org

Black River Landing

319 Black River Lane

Lorain 44052

• Food Trucks

• Music

• Vendors

for additional information:

www.lorainport.com

Avon Lake Memorial Stadium

175 Avon Belden Road (Rt. 83)

Avon Lake 44012

• Local Astronomer

• 5K Run & 1Mile Walk

• Live Music

• Food Trucks

• Live Streaming on Big Screen

• RV Camping

• Eclipse Glasses

• Kids Play Area

• STEAM Activities

• Camping

• Vendors

for additional information:

www.avonlakesolareclipse.com

A Lifestyle Today. FOR Tomorrow. A Plan FOR

Bringing Community to Your Life.

We welcome you to join Judson Smart Living™ and be a part of a community that creates a lifestyle with support and fewer worries. As a leading area not-for-profit, life plan community –you can enjoy the comforts of home in a vibrant, maintenance-free community with peace of mind that your team is available 24 hours a day should help be needed. Take advantage of diverse, enriching programs that cultivate new friendships, maintain wellness, fuel creativity, and ignite new interests.

With various Entry Fee and No-Entry Fee options, you can define your way of living without worries about your future or what’s next. Should you run out of resources, we have a safety net so you won’t have to move elsewhere.

Pat Mallik and her husband Singh have embraced their Judson lifestyle with gusto, thrilled to be so close to their children. After the Malliks relocated from Seattle in 2018, their son and daughterin-law quickly pointed them to nearby Judson Park. And for Pat and Singh, there’s been no looking back.

Schedule an appointment today to explore our campuses and learn more about our expanded options to make Judson your next home!

(216) 298-1025

judsonsmartliving.org

Judson

Judson Park

South Franklin Circle

Judson at Home Cleveland

Denise Polverine

publisher

Dillon Stewart editor

managing editor

Ron Ledgard

senior editor Annie Nickoloff

associate editor Danny Cunningham

editorial assistant Christina Rufo

contributing writers

Vince Guerrieri, Kristen Hampshire, Sharon Holbrook, Allison Jack, Kate Bigam Kaput, Ida Lieszkovszky, Haley Strnad, Lynne Thompson, Patrick Williams editorial intern Julia Lombardo

art director Erin Stinard

associate art director Abigail Archer

contributing artists Christopher Buzelli, Billy Delfs, Megann Galehouse, Kevin Kopanski, Daniel Lozada, Kaitlin Walsh, Kelli Williams photography intern Valerie Akins editorial@clevelandmagazine.com

advertising

vice president Paul Klein senior account managers

Sarah Desmond, Tiffany Myroniak account manager Julie Bialowas events and audience marketing manager Jennifer Roberts

traffic manager Kristen Brickner adsales@clevelandmagazine.com

content marketing

managing editor Jennifer Bowen Sima senior editor Ann-Marie Vazzano

managing

Lute

Come Together

IN THESE FRAGMENTED times, we need something to bring us together.

Cultural moments and figures used to unify us. The end of World War II brought ecstatic relief, and the moon landing, watched by an estimated 600 million people, inspired a generation with a sense of wonder. Photos of John F. Kennedy hung on the walls of our grandparents’ kitchens. Everyone knows where they were when the Beatles came to America or the first time they heard Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” My dad remembers 1980’s Miracle on Ice being broadcast over the loudspeaker at a high school wrestling tournament he attended, and New Yorkers stood in Times Square to watch the finale of Seinfeld together.

Even as recently as 2015, the world came together in spirited debate to decide if a viral photo depicted a white and gold dress or black and blue one.

In fact, in his new book Traffic, author Ben Smith, the editor of BuzzFeed when the site first published the viral dress, predicts that this silly, global cultural moment will be the last of its kind.

A singular culture has disintegrated. Instead of a few nightly news broadcasts, we have 3.2 million podcasts, as of February 2024. Remember when there was a song of the summer? Today, our Spotify playlists jump from classic rock to trap music to lo-fi instrumentals. When we settle in for a night of streaming TV, some of us are watching the latest critically acclaimed movie, while others are binging reruns of The Sopranos. On one hand, it has created opportunity for more voices, but it has also created less common ground.

This lack of a cultural common ground is why an event like a Total Solar Eclipse is so special.

Admittedly, I didn’t really get it at first. I stood on the roof of Downtown’s Statler apartments in August 2017 with my glasses and a pinhole projector during the partial solar eclipse. Underwhelming is an understatement.

But then, I heard stories of those who have seen a Total Solar Eclipse. Tiffany Myroniak, a longtime member of the Cleveland Magazine sales force, described being moved to tears when experiencing totality in St. Louis in 2017. Many of the scientists we spoke to for this month’s cover package, “Once in a Lifetime” on page 52, were inspired to pursue their professions after experiencing

Learn more about what to expect and where to go on April 8 at page 52

eclipses as children.

“It’s kind of full circle to be in the place where you hold that passion for astronomy, and you get the chance to see this kind of coincidence we won’t get to see for hundreds of years from now,” Destiny Thomas of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History told us. “Once it starts, I’m just going to pause, and be present, just enjoy those almost four minutes, make them as long as possible.”

I don’t see a time in our near future where a politician or an artist or a TikTok video brings us together. It might be foolish to think that a Total Solar Eclipse can do it either. But on April 8, as we look to the sky surrounded by fellow Clevelanders and loved ones, maybe a phenomenon can give us that feeling of togetherness that we so lack.

At least for four minutes.

Dillon Stewart, editor

Partial Solar Eclipse in 2017.

Lip Smacked

In our March issue, we highlighted the story of Erin Flynn. In the late 1970s, Flynn visited the Bonne Bell store in Lakewood for the first time. Since that day, she has collected Lip Smackers and her home in Avon Lake has more than 3,000 pieces.

@essentiallytim

@piper9231: I worked at Bonne Bell for 12 years until it closed. It was a fun place to work for.

@tvnewslady: I love this! How unique ��

PATH OF TOTALITY

April 8 is going to be a historic day in Northeast Ohio. With Cleveland in the path of the total solar eclipse, there are so many ways to take in the magical day. In this month’s issue, we’ve collected 16 pages about the once-in-a-lifetime lunar event. We’ve also put together a larger guide with information about a variety of local eclipse parties taking place on April 8 at clevelandmagazine.com/eclipse.

Years of Impact + 30

Join us for Cleveland Clinic Children’s iconic Derby Day Soirée! For over 30 years, this beloved tradition has brought hope and healing to children and families in our community and beyond.

At Cleveland Clinic Children’s, we’re dedicated to being the trusted hands families can rely on for lifesaving care. With your support, we can continue providing transformative pediatric care and research, impacting the lives of millions of children worldwide.

Your generosity propels us forward, ensuring that every dollar raised directly supports our mission. Together, let’s celebrate hope, healing, and making a difference in the lives of children and families.

RSVP, DONATE, LEARN MORE:

THE LAND

IN AN EVER-INCREASINGLY digital world, sometimes it’s nice to relax with a good old-fashioned book. You know, the real deal, with paper and a cover. Ditch the bigbox corporations and support local with our curated list of independent bookstores in and around the Cleveland area. And as any true book lover will tell you, a bookstore isn’t just a bookstore — it can be a safe, community-driven space to go, a place for the representation you’re looking for, or even just a spot to chill with a good cup of coffee for the afternoon. Whether you’re looking for fiction or nonfiction, romance or fantasy, Cleveland has a plethora of unique independent bookstores that will help you scratch your literature itch.

APPLETREE BOOKS

Cleveland Heights’ Appletree Books uses art and the written word to transport readers to adventures beyond imagination, with illustrated goods like greeting cards and journals as well as candles, puzzles, bookends and more from a variety of local and national businesses. The shop also partners with local organizations like Seeds of Literacy and Reach Out And Read, in hopes of encouraging more readers. 12419 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights, appletree-books.com

ELIZABETH’S BOOKSHOP & WRITING CENTRE

BROWSING ROOM BOOKSTORE

Owned by sisters Catherine Kassouf and Jean Khoury, Browsing Room Bookstore is a recently opened bookshop that anyone can find cozy, even if they aren’t much of a reader. “For me it is simple,” says Jean Khoury. “To the person that says ‘I don’t like to read,’ I say they simply have not found the right book. Our bookstore is here to help everyone find the right book.”

Located in Downtown Cleveland’s Galleria at Erieview Tower, Browsing Room is a place for anyone to curl up with a coffee and enjoy a good book. 1301 E. Ninth St., First floor, Cleveland, thebrowsingroombookstore.com

CLEVO BOOKS

Located in Downtown Cleveland, Clevo Books focuses on translated fiction and nonfiction books. Founder Cathryn Siegal-Bergman is passionate about translated books and sharing them with others. “Some people are intimidated by the fact they don’t see familiar authors right away,” says Siegal-Bergman. “I want them to know that we can help them find something they’ll like.” 530 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, clevobooks.com

Based in Akron, Elizabeth’s is an indie bookshop with a mission to represent and celebrate marginalized voices. “It’s really special to be a part of a national network of Black bookstore owners that, together, uplift the voices we value so much,” says shop owner Rachel Cargle. “Traditional canons have left certain voices in the margins. Not only Black voices but indigenous voices, queer voices, disabled voices, immigrant voices, among others. It is an honor to open a space that seriously takes these thoughts and perspectives and talents.” With a lively selection of writing and reading workshops, it’s a solid place for anyone to foster their creative talents. A portion of Elizabeth’s proceeds also go toward The Loveland Foundation, which provides free therapy to Black women, girls and gender non-conforming individuals. 647 E. Market St., Akron, elizabethsofakronshop.com

INDEX BOOKS AND COFFEE

You can’t have a good book without a good cup of coffee, and Index Books and Coffee offers exceptional selections of both. With an alwaysrotating selection of unique and specialty coffees, it’s the perfect place for a cup of Joe and a quiet moment to read at a table. The shop’s distinctive pricing structure gives a 50% discount for buying one book, and goes all the way up to a 70% discount for buying three or more books, meaning you can buy an entire stack to take home without breaking the bank. 1921 W. 25th St., Cleveland, indexcleveland.com

LOGANBERRY BOOKS

Larchmere’s mixed inventory bookstore Loganberry Books carries new, used, rare and collectible books. “It’s quite a place to explore,” says store manager Toni Thayer. “And we do have some really beautiful [shop] details that are salvaged from houses being torn down, so we have beautiful arched bookshelves in the front and rolling ladders and things like that, that I think are charming to people when they come in.” The store is managed by Alice, a friendly white cat who prefers most days to work from home. 13015 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland, loganberrybooks.com

MAC’S BACKS BOOKS ON COVENTRY

Located in Coventry Village, this is a book lover’s dream: three floors of books, top to bottom. The shop hosts readings, book clubs, writing workshops and more in its basement space, and is considered beloved by many. “We’ve got a ton of loyal customers and Cleveland has always been a city that really espouses the ‘buy local’ philosophy,” says owner Suzanne DeGaetano. “People understand that in order to keep your retail experiences, you have to patronize the shops and we really benefited from that ethic.” Mac’s Backs also offer a free community meeting space for your group’s latest gathering.

1820 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights, macsbacks.com

VISIBLE VOICE BOOKS

What’s better than a good book? A good book and a slice of pizza. Visible Voice Books is located above Crust pizza shop, making the prospect of a visit all the more enticing. Maybe even a beer, too: The staff at Visible Voice can help you find the perfect literary companion that will pair nicely with your glass of wine or IPA. 2258 Professor Ave., Cleveland, visiblevoicebooks.com

ELIZABETH’S

An Artisan’s Touch

An Amish Country furniture maker’s dedication to craft and stylish products caught the attention of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Ernest Hershberger knows his purpose in life. Since 1992, the steward of Homestead Furniture and Design Center in Mount Joy has honed his craft of custom furniture making. Focusing on heirloomquality indoor and outdoor pieces, he’s challenged the notion that Amish craftsmanship can’t also be stylish.

“We create what we like to call raving fans,” says Hershberger. “People love us because of the flexibility that we bring them.”

However stylish and unique his furniture might be, Hershberger never imagined that it would catch the attention of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. In 2019, after a worldwide search, the New York museum asked Abner Henry, Homestead’s luxury sister company, to collaborate on a distinguished home collection. The seven resulting pieces are inspired by paintings within the Met’s collection, some of which have not been displayed in decades.

“The idea was to take these famous

BY CHRISTINA RUFO

inspirational paintings and dive into the spiritual side of the painters,” says Hershberger. “[We] connected that with our spirituality on our side and created a limited-edition collection that is really exclusive and very special.”

Displayed in a gallery at Homestead, the collection features tables, standing mirrors and bar cabinets. The company is only building 70 of each of the seven pieces. The sevens are a reference to forgiveness in the Bible’s Matthew 18:21-22. They also sell for a biblical $50,000-$150,000 per piece and $645,864 for the entire collection.

Hershberger pushed the limits of traditional manufacturing processes by combining two distinct patterns within the same sheet of glass. The approach defied what many glass artisans told him could be done.

“Once I make 70 of any one of those, I will never again make another one,” he says. “I won’t even use the same processes for another piece.”

Serious collectors are the target customer for the limited pieces, but cus-

tomers on a slightly tighter budget turn to Homestead for custom heirloom furniture, too.

The 30,000-square-foot showroom has no products in stock. Instead, customers find a piece online or on the display floor and schedule an appointment with a design consultant for a custom order. Each product is built based on their home’s floor plan and layout, as well as their style and preferences. Once the dimensions have been finalized, customers choose from 10 species of wood, 600 finishes and unlimited color selections. The desired product is then built in about 12 weeks. Each product is built to last, a piece of useful art to be enjoyed for years to come.

While The Met accolades have been exciting, these heirloom pieces align with Hershberger’s ultimate mission, which is rooted in longevity, sustainability and a duty to serve.

“I had always dreamed that someday in my career I would build something very, very special,” says Hershberger. “We sought with each piece to do something that had never been done before, and we learned that this kind of experimentation requires a lot of grace.”

MAKERS

The limited-run pieces from Homestead Furniture’s luxury line are inspired by the spirituality behind iconic paintings.

Viral Con Job

Mass TikTok watchers don’t necessarily get to watch the truth, but they do come back for more.

There’s a Cleveland couple famous for walking around barefoot, even in the dead of winter. You might have seen them on TikTok or Instagram, getting kicked out of stores for shopping without shoes at Crocker Park or trying to get money out of an ATM with their toes Downtown. Maybe you saw a subsequent video where they cut the bottoms off their shoes to go barefoot incognito. In their videos, they tout the benefits of the barefoot lifestyle, such as feeling connected to “nature” and feeling “grounded.”

What you have not seen is this couple walking around barefoot in real life.

“We just thought it was funny,” Seth Fritz, the husband in the viral duo, says, while wearing shoes at Crocker Park. “It’s kind of like comedy to us.”

Christi and Seth Fritz look like your typical influencers with airbrushed features and two adorable kids. They started normally enough, filming videos of Christi dancing or vlogs of family life. But about six months ago, the couple veered from innocuous-but-popular content to trolling their viewers in increasingly uninhibited ways.

us hate, that means we’re doing better,” Christi says. “We’re so numb to it because it’s just people online. Like, we don’t care.”

“We know that the more people that are mad or don’t like us or give

Some of their videos cosplay being wealthy, claiming they bought their 4-year-old daughter a Tesla or a Burberry purse. In others, Christi intentionally mispronounces words, like “New Year’s Revolutions.” Sometimes they fake entire scenes, like when a Lululemon employee pretended to kick Christi out of the pricey store for wearing an off-brand hoodie. But they hit it big with their idea to go barefoot. Christi says the video in which they claim to

destroy $20,000 of shoes (but only cut off the bottom of one shoe) was seen by 56 million people on TikTok.

Beneath all of these videos are comments calling them “stupid” or “dim” or accusing them of having a variety of mental illnesses. And yet, those same commenters keep coming back for more.

“We noticed people either want to be happy, sad, mad or laugh, some kind of emotion, whether they like it or not,” Christi says. “It’s a little bit of drama.”

Local content creators Christi and Seth Fritz have made substantial money from viral videos based on fake lifestyles.

COURTESY CHRISTI FRITZ

That blurring between fact and fiction is what has Case Western Reserve University professor Deepak Sarma worried. The shenanigans of online personalities like the Fritzes give people something to talk about.

“Whether it’s true or not, people enjoy talking about it and it devalues the very idea of truth in the first place, which is what the internet has done so well,” they say. “People don’t care as much about what is true. They care about taking sides.”

61.3 MILLION

TOTAL VIEWS ON ORIGINAL TIKTOK

Beth Thomas, an assistant lecturer at the Cleveland State University School of Communication, says social media is a “form of entertainment.”

“They keep coming back to see what other outrageous things they’re doing,” she says. “It goes back to ‘any publicity is good publicity,’ but it’s also duping people at the same time. A lot of times we don’t know what is fact from fiction.”

As they put it, “Everyone wants a Star Wars world: You’re either with the rebellion or you’re not.”

Or in this case, you either think it’s good and grounding to walk around barefoot, or absolutely outlandish.

Christi Fritz doesn’t care much if you’re in on the joke. She sees their videos as satire, and if she has to walk around barefoot at Crocker Park to make money, that’s fine with her.

“It’s funny, and it’s fun for us,” she says. “I think what people don’t get is that it’s our job.”

That job is going well. It turns out Christi and Seth did not get a Tesla for their daughter, but they did buy one for themselves thanks to their TikTok money.

PEOPLE

DANIELLE MALTBY IS COMING UP ROSES

The Bachelor star originally came to Cleveland for love. Instead, she found her home.

Danielle Maltby at Jaja. Ohio City is the former Bachelor contestant’s favorite Cleveland neighborhood.

Danielle Maltby moved from Nashville to Cleveland for love. But less than a year later, when her high-profile relationship fell apart in the public eye, the former reality TV star decided to remain in Northeast Ohio and embrace a city that was still new to her.

“I didn’t necessarily choose this place,” she says, “but I wanted to make it feel like home. It was like, Well, I’m here, so I now need to take my life back.”

The first time I met Maltby was in spring 2023, when I interviewed her and her then-boyfriend, Akron native Michael Allio, over coffee at Roasted in Lakewood. The couple was fresh off season eight of Bachelor in Paradise, ABC’s dating show that sends former Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants to a resort in Sayulita, Mexico, to find love.

When the show came calling, Maltby was five years into reality TV retirement. She’d appeared on The Bachelor in 2017; afterward, she went on season four of Bachelor in Paradise but self-eliminated when she didn’t feel a connection with any of the eligible men on the beach. She only agreed to return to the show because she hoped she might hit it off with Allio, a widower and single father who had been a fan favorite when he appeared on The Bachelorette in 2021.

Their relationship blossomed quickly, and at season’s end, the new couple left the beach hand in hand, both literally and figuratively. Allio first said “I love you” on the show’s reunion episode, and in February 2023, Maltby moved to Northeast Ohio to be closer to him.

“I moved up here for someone who I thought wanted to be with me forever,” she says. “I genuinely believed we’d get engaged and married.”

During our first conversation, Allio, a gregarious philanthropist and public speaker, did most of the talking, while a friendly but reserved Maltby chimed in far less often. When it came time to write about them, I felt stumped. I left our conversation knowing plenty about

him, but I’d hoped to hear more from her — namely, what it was like to be a moderately famous out-of-towner enthusiastically embracing a muchmaligned city to her massive social media following.

As I mulled it over, though, news broke: Allio announced their split on a fellow Bachelor contestant’s podcast, while Maltby took to her own podcast, The WoMed, to share that she was blindsided by the breakup — just a day after freezing her eggs in New York City, no less. For Bachelor Nation (as fans of the franchise are collectively known), it was a shocking separation, both because it happened at all and because it seemed so, well, not amicable.

“It’s become such a thing in the Bachelor world to make a joint statement [when you break up],” Maltby says, “but there was nothing joint about this. I didn’t decide it.”

Though she found overwhelming support from her 389,000 Instagram followers, many urged her to move back to Nashville. “If you and Michael aren’t together, Ohio is not worth it,” one wrote. “If they broke up, I would expect her to be moving soon,” another speculated. Jokes about Cleveland abounded (as they so often do).

But Maltby made it clear that she wasn’t going anywhere, at least not for now. Since the split, she’s worked to make Cleveland her city, not just some place she moved for the sake of a former flame.

Five months after the breakup, we met for coffee again (a matcha for her, actually) at Rising Star. Without the outgoing Allio to serve as the conversational lead, a much chattier Maltby emerged — one full of laughter and thoughtful insight, with stories to tell and hard-fought wisdom to share.

“I was in the trenches for a few months,” she says of her post-breakup mental state. “I was in, like, constant communication with my therapist. Now, though,

I’ve done so much healing, and I just want to help empower anyone who’s in a similar situation.”

As a registered nurse with a healthcare podcast, she’s long been candid about how important therapy has been for her mental health. She sees a therapist every two weeks and keeps notes on her phone about topics she wants to bring up in her sessions — what she’s struggling with, what she’s realizing about herself and what she wants to continue to work through.

“In my last relationship, I was told that I wasn’t resilient enough,” she tells me, alluding to Allio. “I just laughed because that’s the last thing anybody would say about me. I’ve been through so much, Moving to Cleveland didn’t go as planned for Danielle Maltby, but she wound up fitting right in.

DANIELLE MALTBY

and I’m still so hopeful.”

In this case, she’s not just talking about her recent relationship or even the challenges that come with being in the public eye (hello, bullying and general toxicity). The most difficult time in her life was in 2011, years before The Bachelor. At age 25, Maltby was living in Wisconsin with her then-fiance, Nick, when he died of a drug overdose just a week before his 30th birthday. She hadn’t even known he was dealing with addiction — and she was the one who found his body.

“No one expects to have to attempt to resuscitate the person they’re madly in love with,” she recalls. “I carry so much trauma from that. It also made me reflect on patterns and question myself, like, Am I unlovable? My selfworth really took a hit.”

Desperate to find her footing after the tragedy, Maltby moved to Nashville, which felt like a rebirth. She threw herself into a career as a neonatal nurse at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, and to build her confidence, she auditioned for the Tennessee Titans dance team and even started modeling.

Eventually, she felt ready to date again, which is when a friend nominated her for season 21 of The Bachelor. Maltby had never seen the show, but when her job offered her a leave of absence to pursue it, she decided to do it. Though she didn’t find love with the show’s lead, Nick Viall, she made lifelong friends and became a quick fan favorite, winning over viewers with her positive personality and quiet strength.

Now, eight years and three TV shows later, Maltby is done with reality TV but still deeply grateful for the platform it’s given her. In 2019, she and a fellow nurse launched The WoMed, a podcast for women in medicine, and in 2023, she traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby lawmakers in support of a bill to protect healthcare workers from workplace violence. She also publicly chronicled the process of freezing her eggs to preserve her fertility.

“I want to be someone who helps

lead change and moves the dial on making situations better,” she says, “so to be tossed into this spotlight, well, I’m grateful for it.”

Now that she’s finally come out of the dark emotional place she was in after the breakup, she’s also finding plenty of time to have fun. Maltby credits her coworkers at The Skin Center, a medical spa in Shaker Heights, with helping her discover what Cleveland has to offer. In fact, the job and the people she’s met through it are the number-one reason she chose to stay in the city.

“I work with these incredible women who have brought so much joy to my life,” she gushes. “They rallied around me and made lists of all of these things to take me to and to do together, just to keep me busy and show me the city.”

show at Blossom Music Center, sipped wine at Tremont’s La Cave Du Vin, and eaten her way through Little Italy; she’s been on morning walks at Edgewater Beach, posed in front of the giant hand statue in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art and hit the lanes to bowl at Mahall’s.

And her to-do list is still long: “I really want to go to a Guardians game,” she says. “I’m open any suggestions on anywhere that I should go and anything I should do!”

She’s committed to exploring as much of Cleveland as she can — to

That included the quintessential Cleveland experience of tailgating in the Muni Lot before a Browns game last fall. (“Browns fans go hard,” jokes Maltby, a diehard Packers fan. “Much love and respect to them.”) She’s seen a

making it feel like home, even — while continuing to heal and to grow, no matter where she lives or who she dates. Above all, Maltby is most proud of displaying so much of the resilience she was once accused of not having.

“I’m someone who has always gone where life takes me, and I’m always open to an adventure,” she says. “My superpower is that I can make a beautiful life wherever I am.”

PHOTO: BILLY DELFS / MAKEUP : KELLI WILLIAMS

FOOD &

DRINK

SWENSONS

DINING

Wolf Pack Chorus occupies a spot on the edge of Little Italy, and its owners, Chris and Katie Wolf, have struck the right chord for success.

BACK IN BUSINESS

Cleveland dining expert and cookbook author Douglas Trattner devours the Cleveland restaurant beat. Here are a few food updates you need to know this month.

After four years, Banter has reopened on the West Side of Cleveland. Matthew Stipe opened the lively bottle shop, bar and restaurant in late 2015 and closed it in 2020. The new location is half a mile east of the original, in a freshly renovated space in Gordon Square that had been home to Minh Anh. Like the original (and unlike the fast-casual version in the Market Hall at Van Aken District), this iteration marks a return to sit-down, full-service dining. Chef Nick Dlugoss has taken the menu back to its classic framework of poutine, sausages, corn dogs and starters, with more options in each category. There’s a full bar as well as a retail beer and wine section. bantercleveland.com

Il Rione Goes Small in

Tremont. Pizza fans can all but guarantee a wait when visiting Il Rione, the buzzy six-year-old bistro in Gordon Square. As of early February, there’s a new way to enjoy a slice: Lil Ronnie’s, located directly next door to Edison’s Pub in Tremont. Owners Brian Moss and Brian Holleran claimed the former Edison’s Pizza space, loaded in new ovens and began offering slices and whole pies. Unlike the full-service Il Rione, Lil Ronnie’s offers no salads, no cheese plates and no beer or wine. “The space is so small that we want to keep things as simple as possible,” Holleran explains. ilrionepizzeria.com

Ambitious Plans Pay Off in AsiaTown. Two years after announcing his Asian food hall concept, Sheng Long Yu, the entrepreneur behind Shinto, Lao Sze Chuan and others, has unveiled YYTime. The venue at East 30th Street and Payne Avenue in AsiaTown underwent a long and costly conversion to its new stylish, comfortable condition. Primarily, YYTime is a home for Dagu Rice Noodle, which Yu opened in 2019. Joining it is a bubble tea bar, yakitori station, bun concept and others, all operating out of a large open kitchen. YYTime translates to quality time spent with friends and family, Yu explains, and it’s what he hopes to cultivate here. instagram.com/yytimecle

Rick Doody Expands His Empire.

In the dead of winter, Rick Doody quietly purchased Bell & Flower, which opened in the former Rick’s Cafe space in 2018 in Chagrin Falls, from owner Michael Schwartz. The restaurant is still operating as Bell & Flower, but Doody is planning extensive renovations. “We want to bring the building back to its historic roots,” Doody explains. “We want to make it look like a 150-year-old building again.” As for the food, Doody is looking to great New York City bistros like Pastis and Balthazar for inspiration. bellandflower.com

For more food news, visit clevelandmagazine.com/food-drink

BANTER:

YYTIME:

Curbside to CEO

As it turns 90 years old this year, Swensons’ culture is best exemplified in the journey of

Jeffrey Flowers has something to share.

The Swensons Drive-In CEO hands over a menu from 1967 in a display case. The creamcolored document with aqua lettering is one of the many mementos across the company’s corporate office in Akron’s North Hill neighborhood.

Co-titled “Swenson’s and Sweedon’s,” then the name of a sister location, the list of offerings include “Delectable Shrimp,” $1.20, and white fish, 35 cents. Still, front and center, as it has been since 1934, is the Galley Boy. Two thick patties of fresh ground beef, a slice of melted cheese and two special sauces on a buttered, toasted bun — all for 55 cents.

“Some of the technology has changed,” says Flowers. “But I think a lot of the magic here is how much hasn’t changed over the years.”

Flowers hasn’t been around that long, but he did work at that original location in West Akron, which the

CEO Jeffrey Flowers.

company later outgrew. He started in 2001 as a curb server and kept the gig through college. In 2005, he hung a diploma from the University of Akron’s engineering school and dove into a job as an entry-level manager at Swensons. He was quickly promoted to general manager, then district manager, then vice president and then CEO in 2015.

“I’m an Akron guy, born and bred,” Flowers says. “I found a passion for the brand, the culture. Everything about this place just resonated with me.”

“Sprint and Smile” is the motto that has ushered in a new era of growth. Swensons opened its second location in 1952, and its third in 1987. Now, as it turns 90 years old, the Akron-based company’s 21 locations include one in Indianapolis and a ghost kitchen. Food trucks pop up at community events.

“We sell a lot of hamburgers,” Flowers says, “but make no mistake: We’re in the people business.”

Flowers’ passion for the brand is not rare. Swensons fans — including

LeBron James and The Black Keys — are ravenous. Take away the potato teezers, which the company was temporarily forced to do late last year after supply chain issues, and you just might have a riot on your hands.

“They’re scary,” Flowers says. “People love their Swensons.”

Peak zealotry came in November 2022. A year before, the company had changed the Galley Boy’s cheese from Velveeta, which required hand cutting 5 million slices a year, to a proprietary blend. Despite hundreds of trials to find optimal meltiness and taste, fans felt the new cheese changed the amalgamation of flavors. The groundswell of complaints grew into a change.org petition that was signed by 655 people. The fans ultimately got their way.

“At first, there was confusion. We thought we’d found a comparable match,” says Flowers. “What fueled us to find a solution was that passion. We understood that people were complaining because they cared.”

And if there’s anyone who could understand that burger-fueled passion, it’s Swensons’ curb server turned fry cook turned manager turned CEO.

“Swensons is such a huge part of this Akron community,” Flowers says. “I take a ton of personal responsibility to make sure I’m taking care of this brand.”

THE DISH

Swensons first hired CEO Jeffrey Flowers (right) as a curb server during his freshman year at University of Akron.

“

I’M DOING THIS FOR ME, AND FOR THAT PERSON WHO BELIEVES IN ME.”

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Moving In A Pack

Chris and Katie Wolf changed their lives to take a shot at opening Wolf Pack Chorus, a restaurant in Little Italy that hits the right marks and is the essence of cool.

Two years ago, Chris and Katie Wolf didn’t see themselves here. At the time, the then-newlyweds lived in Pepper Pike, just a few miles from Chris’ job as the executive chef of Shaker Heights Country Club; Katie worked in commercial underwriting at Progressive. Neither had any inkling that they’d soon upend their stable, straightforward suburban life to open one of the hottest new restaurants in Cleveland.

In the middle of 2022, Chris left his job at the country club to figure out what he wanted to do next. Though he’d planned to take a bit of time off, life had other plans.

“Our intent was never to open up a restaurant,” says Chris, an Orange native. “But a buddy told me to come look at this spot that was for sale, and from there, everything happened really fast.”

That spot was a building at the edge of Little Italy that once had housed Club Isabella, a French-inspired restaurant that closed in 2021. Though other local proprietors had been angling to buy it, no one was more surprised than the Wolfs when they managed to snag it first. And as soon as they did, their lives changed completely.

It was the first time that Chris, a longtime country club and resort chef, would helm the kitchen of a restaurant that was open to the general public. Katie took on the mantle of designing and furnishing the building despite having no prior interior decorating experience.

“I mean, I do like shopping,” she jokes. “This space was built in the early 2010s, and it had good bones, but it was a little dated. I’m a girly girl, and I like fun, bright, bold colors, so I was like, ‘Let’s paint things gold!’”

She outfitted the 100-seat dining room in jewel-toned floral motifs, sparkling light fixtures and unexpected touches of kitsch, like a rainbow-hued neon sign that bears lyrics to the hit Duran Duran song (“Hungry Like the Wolf,” obviously).

Chris and Katie Wolf didn’t plan to own a restaurant, but their vision for one took shape quickly.

In both appearance and cuisine, you’d never guess that Wolf Pack Chorus is owned by two people with no prior entrepreneurial experience. But unlike other local restaurateurs, the Wolfs didn’t have outside investors or a contracted construction company to help them renovate the space. They did nearly all of it themselves.

“We’re first-time business owners, and in today’s economic and political climate, that’s really scary,” Chris says. “We threw everything into this. We sold our house and a car; if I could’ve sold a kidney, I probably would’ve done that, too. For us, it was win or go home.”

The couple moved into an apartment in Cleveland Heights, opened the doors to their restaurant and hoped for the best.

Luckily for them, East Siders enthusiastically embraced Wolf Pack Chorus even before it opened, eager to welcome a broad, modern American concept to a neighborhood jam-packed with singularly focused Italian eateries.

So far, Wolf Pack Chorus’s bestselling dish is the pot-au-feu ($36), a hearty, slow-cooked stew of tender braised short rib and confit potatoes in a rich demi-glace of beef stock and mushrooms. Chris, whose culinary education included training in China, has put his spin on the classic French dish by garnishing it with a homemade ginger scallion sauce.

His love of Asian flavors shows up in

other dishes, too, like a truly stellar spicy-sweet gochujang cauliflower ($28) and an eggroll-style take on crab Rangoon ($18), made with real snow crab and house-made duck sauce. But Wolf Pack Chorus isn’t limited to one cuisine or region, instead presenting a satisfyingly eclectic and truly global menu.

The good news? It lives up to its looks in taste, too. Other standout dishes include the duck confit ($35), another French classic made distinctly American by the addition of a subtly spicy Nashville hot sauce, and the pizza dip ($16), a deconstructed, Italianinspired starter that blends Diavolo sauce, crispy pepperonis and pulled mozzarella.

Leave room for dessert. With her insurance days behind her, Katie has taken on the role of

WHEN YOU GO

pastry chef, and her baklava cheesecake ($14) can convince you to make your next reservation before you’ve finished the last bite. It’s a thick, generous slice that marries the tang of creamy cheesecake with the nutty, honeyed crunch of traditional Greek pastry.

With white tablecloths and entrees that average $30, there’s no question this is a fancy restaurant. But importantly, in this era of fine dining, it’s also a cool restaurant, presenting an inspired, diverse array of dishes that both adventurous and picky eaters can enjoy. Plus, there’s always something new to try, as the Wolfs continue to experiment, iterate and incorporate feedback from the (dare we say it?) chorus of their pack of diners. A few items on the menu rotate every two to six weeks depending on seasonality, ingredient availability and Chris’s culinary impulses.

“We know we’re a little bit of everything — big, unapologetic, sometimes slightly unpolished,” he says, “but we think it’s a lot of fun.”

The Little Italy neighborhood took to Wolf Pack Chorus as an American concept among the Italian eateries. Chris Wolf uses a mix of flavors to hit the right spot.

Dining Guide

BEST RESTAURANTS IN TREMONT

BARRIO

WHY WE LOVE IT: The first branch of the popular build-your-own tacos and margarita purveyor is easy to find. Step inside and dine alongside the fun-loving black and white Day of the Dead skeleton wall art or enjoy the massive patio. TRY THIS: Crunch into a two-layered Green Goddess taco shell filled with queso, guacamole, braised short rib ($6.75), and all the cheese, veggies and other toppings of your choice. 806 Literary Road, 216-999-7714, barrio-tacos.com

THE BOURBON STREET BARREL ROOM

WHY WE LOVE IT: This quintessential New Orleans-inspired restaurant, featuring chef Johnny Schulze’s Creole and Cajun menu, is complete with two bars and a second story overlooking the downstairs dining room. With the charm of the Big Easy, this is the spot to imbibe in all the libations you’d find on Bourbon Street. TRY THIS: The beignets ($9.95) are fried fresh and doused in powdered sugar, served with fresh berries. 2393 Professor Ave., bourbonstreetbarrelroom.com, 216-298-4400

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BAR ONI IZAKAYA

WHY WE LOVE IT: Tremont’s version of an izakaya, a casual Japanese bar concept with delicious snacks, is a must-visit. Dumplings, omakase grilled meat skewers, lots of yummy sauces and a range of whiskey and sake complement the low-key space with blond wooden booths and a brick-walled bar. TRY THIS: Start with a shareable vegetable kakiage ($9), crispy golden deep-fried vegetable tempura fritters and a ponzu dipping sauce. 2173 Professor Ave., 216-713-1741, baroni-izakaya.com

CLOAK & DAGGER

WHY WE LOVE IT: Inventive cocktails from a seasonally created theme book and unique vegan menu in a space with moody library vibes make Cloak & Dagger a popular intimate candlelit spot. TRY THIS: This kitchen serves up in-house vegan eats that are convincing dupes for their meat and dairy counterparts. The bagels and lox ($10) are prepared with smoked carrot gravlax, cream cheese, black garlic, everything spice, caper and onion. 2399 W. 11th St., 216-795-5657, cloakanddaggercle.com

“Acqua di Luca doesn’t set out to transform. Instead, it elevates - simple ingredients into elegant shrines of decadence and a mid-sized city 500 miles from the sea into a downtown deserving of an ocean of grandeur.”

-Dillon Stewart Cleveland Magazine

LUCA RESTAURANTS

lucarestaurants.com

ACQUA DI LUCA

500 W. St. Clair Ave.

Cleveland, OH 44113

LUCA

2100 Superior Viaduct Cleveland, OH 44113

LUCA WEST 24600 Detroit Rd.

Westlake, OH 44145

CORNER 11 BOWL & WRAP

WHY WE LOVE IT: Specializing in fresh Asian fusion, vegan eats, ramen and Hawaiian-style poke, this basic spot serves up vibrant customized rainbow-colored plates of fresh vegetables, fruits, sushi grade tuna and salmon purchased locally. Don’t miss the Asian-inspired dressings and array of fun fruit drinks, especially those featuring the popping boba.

TRY THIS: Build your own Hawaiianstyle bowl ($11.99) at the poke station and choose from a base of

sushi rice, midnight rice or mixed greens, a protein of choice, fresh cut vegetables and Asian-inspired dressings. 2391 W. 11th St., 216-713-1757, corner11cleveland.com

DANTE

WHY WE LOVE IT: The sleek American gem housed in a former bank building, complete with a vault, pillars and chandeliers, focuses on modern cuisine. Michelin-starred chef Dante Boccuzzi's well-known flagship is a must-try. TRY THIS: The wide cut handmade pappardelle Bolognese ($27) with a saucy red ragu of beef, veal and pork is a popular dish at the restaurant. 2247 Professor Ave., 216-2741200, dantetremont.com

CRUST

FAT CATS

WHY WE LOVE IT: Chef Ricardo Sandoval’s Fat Cats is all about farmto-table new American and global Asian fusion cuisine, sustainability and all things local, including the colorful and sometimes offbeat bohemian-inspired artwork for sale on the walls of the eclectic bistro. Located in a former house, the spot is home to a neighborhood bar, walk-up window and dog-friendly patio TRY THIS: Start with the pork

banh bao steam buns ($10) made with pork belly, hoisin, jalapeño, pickled daikon, carrot and cilantro. 2061 W. 10th St., 216-579-0200, fatcatstremont.com

WHY WE LOVE IT: A mouthwatering blend of garlic, olive oil, salt and pecorino Romano on all the crusts, and a massive 32-by-32 inch “destroyer” slice, make this stonewalled building and scratch kitchen stand out. “Everything that we do is homemade,” says Mike Griffin, owner of this New York-esque pizza gem. TRY THIS: “The number one go-to after all these years is the hot margherita pepperoni pizza” ($23) with confit garlic oil sauce, roasted tomatoes, crushed red pepper, smoked mozzarella, fresh basil and hand sliced pepperoni. 2258 Professor Ave., 216-583-0257, crusttremont.com

GINKO RESTAURANT

WHY WE LOVE IT: Stop by Dante Boccuzzi’s modern Japanese sushi gem, acclaimed by The New York Times, tucked downstairs beneath Dante. The former bank building showcasing a stunning colorful mosaic wall, for specialty sushi and shabu-shabu, with a modern cocktail selection. TRY THIS: The beautiful spicy tuna sushi roll

LAVA LOUNGE

WHY WE LOVE IT: Both a kitchen and bar, Lava Lounge brings a funky vibe. Red walls, plants, colorful murals and moody light fixtures surround an easygoing menu of beer, inventive cocktails, wings, nachos and other bar fare in the heart of Tremont. TRY THIS: Stop for bar fare done right (with some elevated and vegan options), like the crispy chicken wings in buffalo sauce ($10). 1307 Auburn Ave., 216-589-9112, lavaloungetremont.com

($12) features masago, scallions and cucumber. 2247 Professor Ave. B, 216-2741202, danteboccuzzi.com/ginko-restaurant

GRUMPY’S CAFE

WHY WE LOVE IT: While earning a regular top mention for breakfast and brunch in Cleveland, the family-owned Tremont staple continues to serve up traditional morning and lunch eats in

a homey, red-walled bistro atmosphere.

TRY THIS: Guests adore the eggs Florentine ($14) with spinach, tomato and mushrooms in hollandaise, topped with feta, over Cajun home fries. 2621 W. 14th St., 216-241-5025, grumpyscafe.com

HI AND DRY BOWLING & BEER

WHY WE LOVE IT: “We’re big on building a sense of community here," says general manager Mark Bailey. "We’re all about people putting their phones in their pockets and just engaging with what’s around them." Take your pick from duckpin bowling, live music, comedy nights and board game nights. TRY THIS: Newer to Hi and Dry, chef Eric Rosado brings “a new vision as to what is considered bar food in general.” Try the brined crispy bird ($13.50), a pickled brined buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, with waffle fries. 2221 Professor Ave., 216-566-9463, hianddrycleveland.com

LUCKY’S CAFE

WHY WE LOVE IT: Clevelanders know Lucky’s as a legendary cafe and scratch bakery. The atmosphere and really good home cooking keep people coming back for food made with ingredients from local farms. TRY THIS: Featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Michael Symon’s The Best Thing I Ever Ate, the biscuits ($17.75) are the way to go: cheddar scallion biscuits topped with soft scrambled eggs and sausage gravy. 777 Starkweather Ave., 216-622-7773, luckyscafe.com

LA BODEGA

WHY WE LOVE IT: While this joint looks like a typical sandwich shop with colorful local art hung on the brick-walled interior, the quality of the sandwiches is anything but ordinary. Dine in the basic small dining room or grab the goods to go. TRY THIS: Grab a massive, long sub on thick grilled fresh bread filled with all the meats. The Roast Beef #22 ($11) is piled with a perfect flavor combination of Havarti, horseradish, mayonnaise, tomato, lettuce and onion. 869 Jefferson Ave., 216-621-7075, labodega-tremont.com

LEAVENED

WHY WE LOVE IT: Leavened stands out as one of the only bread bakers on the near West Side. “We make everything in house, and are a complete from scratch craft bakery,” says owner Ian Herrington. Stay awhile at the cafe for locally roasted coffee, pastries, sandwiches and soups, or order a rustic Neapolitan pizza to-go on Fridays. TRY THIS: The owner recommends one of the simplest, yet best-selling items: the croissant ($3), “made with high-fat European style

butter,” fermented for over 48 hours for a complex but delicate flavor. This light and flaky favorite comes in classic butter, chocolate, toasted nut and meat and cheese varieties. 1633 Auburn Ave., 216-260-1666, leavenedcle.com

LITERARY TAVERN

WHY WE LOVE IT: Look for the neon “The Lit” sign in the window and cozy up in this intimate Midwest-style neighborhood bar. Enjoy a casual yet moody aesthetic, and a small area of banquettes and tables, centered around a friendly lit-up bar and comforting

American eats. TRY THIS: Inventive bar fare like the lamb Bolognese ($24) with white sauce, toasted parmesan, basil, pesto and pappardelle pasta stands out at this newer Tremont staple. 1031 Literary Road, 216862-1916, literarytavern.com

PROSPERITY SOCIAL CLUB

WHY WE LOVE IT: “Prosperity Social Club is what you get when you marry nearly a century’s worth of tradition with a manic dedication to

MARTHA ON THE FLY

never resting on its laurels,” says general manager Jeffrey Siefer. Step inside to chestnut wood paneled walls, vintage beer memorabilia and black and white checkered floors. It’s also got an impressive whiskey and beer collection, original cocktails and a spacious dog-friendly patio. TRY THIS: Regulars love the Hungarian style stuffed cabbage ($17), two pork and beef rolls with mashed potatoes, paprika sour cream and sauerkraut sauce. 1109 Starkweather Ave., 216-937-1938, prosperitysocialclub.com

WHY WE LOVE IT: Despite only having four seats at the counter, this newer breakfast micro diner is booming. “When people get a chance to sit at our counter you’re treated like a full-service diner,” says Chef Ryan Beck. The to-go favorite cures and grinds all its own meats, including smoked turkey breast, bacon and breakfast sausage. TRY THIS: The sandwiches, especially the Doris ($12), made with homemade sage sausage, American cheese and fluffy square egg patties on a house made milk bun, with house-made Sunshine sauce. 2173 Professor Ave., 844-474-3568, marthaonthefly.com

ROWLEY INN

WHY WE LOVE IT: This friendly no-frills pub once featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives has been serving up Cleveland-style comfort food since 1906, along with inventive offerings and decadent snacks like bacon-wrapped tots. Located just across the street from the A Christmas Story House museum, it feels like a homey

THE SOUTH SIDE

neighborhood spot complete with a few arcade games. TRY THIS: Grab a craft beer and opt for the best of both worlds with the kielbasa and pierogi dinner ($21) featuring two spicy Hungarian kielbasa, three four-cheese Pierogi Lady pierogies with sauteed onions and peppers, served over house-made kraut and sour cream. 1104 Rowley Ave., 216-795-5345, therowleyinn.com

WHY WE LOVE IT: Comforting American eats and Southern-style specialties make The South Side shine. “We opened as a local pub for everyone, from the working-class teachers, nurses and steelyard factory men and women to city lawyers, doctors and college kids,” says chef Natasha Pogrebinskаya. Two decades after opening, this restaurant thrives. “We have grown up a lot since then, evolved, expanded, and always adjusted to our growing and changing community.” TRY THIS: Pogrebinskаyа recommends the dinner meal deal ($24.99) with a choice of soup, salad or chili, and a choice of entree and a beverage. Entree choices vary, but the pierogies, made locally by the Pierogi Lady, are a hit. 2207 W. 11th St., 216-937-2288, southsidecleveland.com

TANDUL

WHY WE LOVE IT: Tandul brings a small, locally owned casual eatery feel, with bright walls and a wooden bar, but what stands out is the authentic Indian cuisine. TRY THIS: Taste the fresh, flavorful seasoned chicken cubes marinated with yogurt, lime and fresh herbs in the popular chicken tikka ($18.99) dish. 2505 Professor Ave., 216-860-4530, tandulintremont.com

THE TREEHOUSE

WHY WE LOVE IT: With beginnings 28 years ago at the start of the Tremont revival, this Irish watering hole is quintessentially Tremont. All the eclectic decor in the pub is made by Cleveland artists and craftsmen, including the majestic tree behind the bar crafted from welded steel tubes and wrapped in barbed wire, by late local artist Joe Scully. Don’t sleep on the bustling patio and killer pub fare. TRY THIS: Despite being known for wings and American pub fare, the chicken pesto pizza ($17) with artichokes, feta and mozzarella is a crowd favorite. 820 College Ave., 216-696-2505, treehousecleveland.com

TY FUN THAI BISTRO

WHY WE LOVE IT: If you’re in the mood for authentic Thai cuisine, this momand-pop shop crafts up flavor in a low-key setting featuring festive Asian artwork and trendy blue Asian lantern style lighting. TRY THIS: Enjoy the eatery's creamy and spicy massaman curry ($16), cooked in coconut milk with mixed vegetables and peanuts. 815 Jefferson Ave., 216-664-1000, tyfunthaibistrooh.smiledining.com

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ONCE IN A LIFETIME

EDITED BY Annie Nickoloff

INTRODUCTION:

ECLIPSE

TOTAL SOLAR

It’s February 17. Fifty-one days remain until the total solar eclipse. Jay Ryan’s sure of that number. He keeps a daily tally — and if he’s not sure, he double checks the countdown on his eclipse website.

The fluorescent lights in the basement of Mac’s Backs Books on Coventry glint off his glasses as he talks to a dozen attendees about his favorite topic. This is one of a handful of appearances Ryan has on his calendar leading up to the eclipse in early April. Behind him, a small screen shares a presentation titled “Eclipse Over Cleveland,” subtitled: “Have You Heard? Why the 2024 Eclipse is a really big deal and why you should get excited!”

Here’s the really big deal: On April 8, the cosmic phenomenon will traverse North America, the result of sun and moon aligning in orbit. It will plunge Downtown Cleveland into three minutes and 49 seconds of darkness, a 360-degree sunset — an otherworldly sight in the middle of the day.

Predictions project many Northeast Ohioans, plus about 200,000 visitors, swarming the area on that spring Monday, eyes to the sky, witnessing an astronomical occurrence that spans just two and a half hours, including both totality and partial eclipse phases.

A month ahead of time, Cleveland is already in an eclipse frenzy.

Businesses are creating limitededition merchandise; organizations are planning large-scale events; and a slew of Northeast Ohio school systems including Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Akron Public Schools have canceled classes for the day. City planners, emergency management departments and eclipse focus groups are scrambling to keep up.

Ryan, a 62-year-old self-taught astronomer, is in the center of the bustle, trying to share his excitement. A handful of the most enthused Clevelanders are here in the Cleveland Heights bookstore, too. Melted slush puddles beneath attendees’ chairs. Ryan’s wife, Debbie, knits in the back row.

Ahead of the talk, Ryan sips a cup of black coffee at Phoenix Coffee Co., just down the street. A flurry of snow whites out the scene beyond the windows.

Peeking out of a black suit jacket is one of his “Eclipse Over Cleveland” T-shirts: a cheesy commemorative design featuring the city skyline, a glowing eclipsed sun and red-and-yellow font, which matches the 33,000 pairs of solar glasses he bought and sold for $2 a pop in the past year. Only 4,000 remain. He expects them to be gone by the end of February.

It’s not really about making money for Ryan. It’s about giving Clevelanders, especially the kids growing up within city limits, like he did, a chance to look at the sky and find inspiration in the stars.

“I can say that most people have no idea what this is, and therefore they’re not interested. They don’t understand that this is a rare thing; that this is the only total solar eclipse we will have over Cleveland, Ohio, over a” — here, he enunciates each number, carefully

— “Six hundred thirty-eight year period.

From 1806 to 2444. This is it —”

He speaks with a tinge of annoyance, like he’s explained this many times before to people who couldn’t grasp the significance of the event he’s been specifically planning for since 1994 — the event that’s far rarer than the partial eclipse that first sparked his interest in astronomy when he was an 8-year-old Cleveland kid — that pivotal moment for him, long before he met his wife at a Cleveland State University bible study, before his children and grandchildren, before his hair grayed and receded — before years, decades, spent dabbling in astronomy through his Starman comic strip and freelancing and telescopebuilding and with, always, unquenchable enthusiasm — and which brings us to this day, where he reminds us, again, of the countdown: “— and it’s happening in 51 days, in our lifetime.”

“I can say that most people have no idea what this is, and therefore they’re not interested.”

A BIG DAY.

In late February, Cleveland marketing pros, event planners and organizational leaders convene at the CanalWay Center in Cuyahoga Heights. The Eclipse Planning Committee, assembled by Destination Cleveland, reviews its latest push: an image of a basketball eclipsing the sun, with a tagline, “The Land of Going All Out.” They sip on cups of coffee and munch on eclipse-themed cookies from Luna Bakery.

Ryan is seated at a table, next to one of his neighbors, city councilman Kris Harsh of Ward 13. “Forty days!” Ryan eagerly announces to the room, resuming his ever-steady eclipse countdown.

The group discusses topics like eclipse glasses, city PR, event management and expected traffic. These have been ironed out as much as possible, a month and a half early.

Emily Lauer, Destination Cleveland’s vice president of PR and communications, helped stitch together these plans, coordinating with organizations and departments inside and outside of Cleveland. They worked with Nashville’s tourism department to glean advice and experience from the 2017 total eclipse that occurred there.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years since some of the first conversations — but a couple of years ago, we decided that our best role in this was to be a convener of the organizations around town that would likely be planning events,” Lauer says. “We formed a local organizing committee. That group has been really actively collaborating to ensure that the visitors to Cleveland have a world-class experience and also so that our residents have an amazing experience.”

The solar eclipse isn’t the only major event happening on April 8 in Cleveland, after all.

WAIT, BACK UP: WHAT IS AN ECLIPSE?...

TOTALITY

- Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between sun and earth and casts a shadow.

- Actually, two shadows: the dark, inner shadow (umbra) and outer, pale shadow (penumbra).

- When the umbra reaches the earth, you get a total solar eclipse.

SUN

WATCH THE CLOCK IN CLEVELAND

A few other highlights: The Cleveland International Film Festival (April 3-13), the NCAA Women’s Final Four Championship the weekend before at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (April 5 and 7) and the Cleveland Guardians’ home opener (April 8).

Those events will draw in thousands of Clevelanders to various corners of the city, so the week will be busy even without considering the eclipse chasers and astronomy fans who travel the world for a unique view of the phenomenon.

“I guess if I were king for a day, it would be nice to be able to spread things out more evenly,” says Ed Eckart Jr., the senior vice president of operations of Downtown Cleveland (previously Downtown Cleveland Alliance), “but that’s not even remotely possible.”

As the former assistant public safety director of the City of Cleveland, Eckart has helped manage some big events before. He oversaw the Republican National Convention in 2016 and witnessed the city’s population balloon during 2016’s Cavs championship parade, which he predicts to be a pretty good comparison to Eclipse Day.

The parade brought roughly one million people to the city’s center for one wild, claustrophobic, wine-andgold-confetti-filled day. Take away the confetti, and April 8 might also be wild and claustrophobic in certain areas

“If I were king for a day, it would be nice to be able to spread things out more evenly.”

with Clevelanders flocking to parks and parties to view the natural phenomenon.

Two of the city’s major events are slated at the Great Lakes Science Center and its surrounding streets (which will be shut down to traffic), and at Wade Oval in University Circle. Other parking bans, similar to what the city experiences on Browns game days, might exacerbate gridlock and traffic issues, especially in the busiest parts of Downtown, says Eckart.

Eckart will not be at any of the parties. He’ll station himself in an operation center from which he’ll monitor crowds and safety situations. “Wherever I’m at, I’ll step out right before totality and watch it happen, and then go back to work,” he says.

Thirty miles west, Dave Freeman plans to be managing Lorain County’s Emergency Management Agency as its director, responding to an expected visitor influx as the county has branded itself the center of the eclipse.

The eclipse’s path of totality touches

Lorain County like a spotlight (well, the opposite of a spotlight), and the county is capitalizing on the coincidence.

With three minutes and 53 seconds of darkness — that’s four more seconds than Cleveland — ads showcase the county’s lengthy totality on billboards throughout its neighboring counties: “Lorain County is your front row seat for the solar eclipse,” the digital message reads in bold letters, accompanied by a countdown showing the days, hours and minutes remaining until the big moment.

Those four extra seconds might draw more visitors than elsewhere — even more than county fairs, which have interrupted cellular service in the past, Freeman says.

And unlike the city of Cleveland, Lorain County and other suburbs’ roadways lack the extra lanes that can accommodate thousands of visitors.

The determining factor on exactly how many visitors? Well, that’s out of anybody’s control.

“I’m kind of hoping we’re gonna have horrible weather. It’s a little selfish,” Freeman says, a little facetiously, with a laugh. “Sitting in my seat, it’s a little bit different view of this whole thing. I would much prefer it move a couple hundred miles to the east or something. I’d be fine with that. But it’s a huge deal for us.”

In the meantime, Freeman and his team are conducting practice runs, imagining emergency scenarios and responses in the weeks leading up to the event. They’ve been chatting with Verizon to add an auxiliary cell phone tower in Avon Lake. They’ve identified temporary stations for ambulances, police cars and firetrucks that could otherwise be stuck in traffic on the big day. And they’ve coordinated with most agencies and organizations in Lorain County — the entirety of which

TOTALITY'S PATH THROUGH OHIO

will be swallowed by totality on April 8.

Experts advise Northeast Ohioans and visitors to have a full tank of gas in their cars and to get extra food, in case traffic backs up roadways, grocery stores and restaurants — but Freeman notes these are common-sense, typical precautions for any circumstance, not unique to Eclipse Day.

If you choose to brave the traffic and crowds, Northeast Ohio is as ready as it can be.

Many organizations have been busy preparing for this day since 2017, when the city experienced a partial solar

eclipse: the edge of a total solar eclipse that tracked other parts of North America.

Just one more Eclipse Planning Committee meeting is slated for late March, before the big day.

At February’s meetup, the group inside CanalWay Center breezes through a slideshow of all the ways it will “activate” the city on April 8.

“Activate.” It’s a word you hear a lot from marketing teams. As though the city’s dormant for now. As though it’s waiting for its moment to come alive.

MAXIMUM VIEW.

Three astronomers stand in the dimly lit planetarium inside the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. They’re attempting to describe what to expect on April 8, but in this room, it’s probably easier to just see it.

“Right now the sun is very active, and so the corona is going to be much, much brighter, much more symmetrical,” astronomer Monica Marshall says. Her work badge hangs on a lanyard around her neck; she got it about two years ago when she was hired on at the museum, years after a high school internship that both she and fellow CMNH astronomer Destiny Thomas completed. She clicks the computer mouse a few times. “It looks more like a diamond rather than, I don’t know — if I could show you real quick …”

The room’s scene changes. We look up at the dome. Two browser images appear, corners pulled and distorted on the half-sphere overhead.

“The one that’s to the left, that was during the solar minimum,” Marshall says. “In 2017, the total solar eclipse across the United States, the sun wasn’t as active. This time it is.”

The wispy strands of sunlight are brighter, bolder in the image on the right. Small red flames bump out around the circumference of the circle. Solar prominences, Marshall says — storms on the sun’s atmosphere layers: the photosphere, chromosphere and corona. Clevelanders may see those, too, on April 8.

It’s momentous: The last time Cleveland experienced a total eclipse was on June 16, 1806 — roughly a decade after Moses Cleaveland founded the City of Cleveland. Local indigenous populations and just a handful of settlers experienced the event unfold.

“On the 16th of June a total eclipse

“In 2017, the total solar eclipse across the United States, the sun wasn’t as active. This time it is.”

of the sun occurred, which for a short time, produced in the shady forest the darkness of night,” reads an 1867 account, The Early History of Cleveland, Ohio, written by Charles Whittlesey.

“There are a couple records saying that the native tribes that were living in this area, they were affected by the eclipse, thinking that their great spirit was offended,” Marshall says. “When the eclipse happened in 1806, it was looked at as an omen, ‘How dare you sell your land to the settlers?’”

The darkness of totality fell before Cleveland was developed into much of a city. No skyline or roads. No crowds of people wearing protective glasses.

“It was probably a lot of forest,” Marshall says.

Fellow CMNH astronomer Nick Anderson shrugs. “Less light pollution.”

While both Marshall and Thomas are experiencing the lead-up to their first total solar eclipse on April 8, Anderson’s been through this before. He’ll dip

into the darkness of totality for a second time; his first was when he traveled to Franklin, Kentucky, in 2017, shortly after starting his job at CMNH.

“Memorable is an understatement,” Anderson says. “It’s really surreal.”

And, notably, it was worth the 15hour drive (normally five hours) to get home.

“The minute you see your first total eclipse of the sun — the minute it’s over, you’re eagerly awaiting the next one,” he says.

This time around, he’ll be stationed on Wade Oval for the museum’s “Total on the Oval” event, counting down the minutes and seconds to the eclipse alongside Thomas and Marshall. When it’s time to take off their eclipse glasses and gaze at totality, Anderson plans to be with his family, including his nearly 1-year-old daughter, to watch her experience the once-in-a-lifetime event in her own way.

Here in the planetarium, Marshall

clicks the computer mouse again. The room’s curved ceiling brightens into a scene of a sky with the sun shining overhead. The moon creeps in, and starts to cover it — the phases of a partial eclipse, moving toward totality, right in front of us.

“We’ve got to do our safety plug,” Anderson says methodically. Marshall and Thomas laugh. (They share these details often, with reporters and museum visitors alike.) “The key thing to remember is that only during totality, during those nearly four minutes, is it safe to look up toward the sun just with your eyes. Prior to that, and after totality, you’ll need eye protection.”

The image transforms as the moon blots out the sun, creating a deep sunset, darkening the room. The diamond ring of light is tangible in the museum. It lasts just a few seconds. Marshall taps the mouse again. The moon phases back out, and a blast of light returns the scene to an artificially sunny day.

ASTRONOMICAL ADVANTAGE.

In a different part of town, another scientific institution ramps up for another weekend-long party around the same time as CMNH. The Great Lakes Science Center’s multi-day bonanza brings together institutions like the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland International Film Festival, NASA and Columbus’ Center of Science and Industry for a collision of arts and science. It’s all going down outside of GLSC, the Cleveland Browns Stadium and the field near the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. (The Rock Hall is hosting its own weekend celebration, featuring a DJ set from Grandmaster Flash on Saturday.)

“There are a lot of reasons we are taking such a major role in hosting this event on the shore of Lake Erie,” says

GLSC President and CEO Kirsten Ellenbogen, “and a lot of it has to do with geography.”

Specifically: Lake Erie. Lake breezes help with cloud conditions even in weather-turbulent El Niño years. The National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict cloud cover swathing much of Ohio — except for a thin strip of land on the lake’s edge.

“Right Downtown, right on the shore of Lake Erie, NOAA is predicting it will have better viewability than even Dallas, when you’re on the lakefront. That changes once you get away from the lake,” Ellenbogen says. “We’re truly well-positioned to be the gathering place for people who want not only a great experience viewing it, but a great experience coming together with terrific science and arts organizations from around the region.”

Out-of-towners are flocking in and booking up short-term rentals in the area. According to Destination Cleveland, hotels are filling up. Airbnb released a report in late February stating that Cleveland is one of the most popular cities on the eclipse’s path of totality, behind Austin, Indianapolis, Montreal and Mazatlán, Mexico.

Local businesses are well-positioned to reap advantages from the event. T-shirt companies like Cleveland Clothing Co. and GV Art + Design released lines of eclipse apparel. Anne Cate, a local designer brand, created an eclipsified version of its popular Cleveland skyline handbags. Akron’s EarthQuaker Devices even put out a limited edition eclipse-themed guitar pedal.

Market Garden Brewery owner Sam McNulty brewed a fresh batch of his “Totality” IPA beer following the success of the 6% ABV drink’s first run about six months ago, which, he says, “sold like hotcakes.” Cans and drafts

of the creation are for sale at Market Garden’s Ohio City Brewpub and also at Heinen’s.

“It was basically just a way to spread the word,” McNulty says. “We were shocked at how many people in Cleveland didn’t know we were, like, smack dab in the middle of totality.”

TREASURED MEMORY.

In Lorain County, NASA Glenn Research Center scientists Nancy and Steve Hall plan to gather with family and friends on their property to experience a total solar eclipse for a second time in their lifetimes, and they expect it to look quite different from the first. They’re hauling their Celestron 8 telescope, their Coronado solar telescope and their solar binoculars out to the yard, bringing the 223,392-mile-away sight of the moon passing the sun just a little bit closer. They’ll make sure their fire pit is well stocked with firewood. And then they’ll pray for good weather.

“We’re just ecstatic about the fact that we’re going to be able to actually see it, in our lives, when it’s rare,” says Nancy, a self-proclaimed “space enthusiast.” A virtual background of futuristic spaceships and galactic imagery outlines her silhouette in a video call. “I mean, it happens all the time here on Earth, but because the Earth is mainly water, you don’t get to see that as much.”

Back in 2017, after driving their daughter to college at Bowling Green State University, Steve and Nancy went on a road trip to see the total solar eclipse in Cameron, Missouri. But when a weather forecast showed a high probability of clouds, the couple made the last-minute decision to drive more than 550 miles to Franklin, Kentucky, instead.

They set up at a city park at 7 a.m. on

THE PHASES OF A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Aug. 21, lugging their telescopes and binoculars to view the partial phases of the eclipse, sharing the sights with other visitors. Nancy nixed the idea of photographing the eclipse, even though she’s done some professional photography in the past.

“That year we wanted to really enjoy it, because we knew NASA, everyone, would be taking pictures,” she says, “so we spent that day just sitting and watching it.”

After the partial phases, they reached two-and-a-half minutes’ worth of totality. An eerie darkness settled over the park; the birds stopped chirping. And then, just as quickly as it all started, the sun emerged again, flipping nature’s light switch back on.

Later, they drove home. The trip totaled 2,196 miles, and five states, in the

- Eclipse begins: moon starts to move in front of sun

- Sunlight levels appear normal

- Solar filter or eclipse glasses required to view

course of six days, says Nancy.

“It’s just one of those cool things in science that doesn’t happen all the time. But then when you see it, it makes you marvel,” she says. “We’re just lucky enough to be in a position where we get to see it.”

And we get to see it in our backyards. For CMNH’s Destiny Thomas and Monica Marshall, the event holds significance, looping back to their high school internships that sparked their then-future careers as astronomers.

“It’s kind of full circle to be in the place where you hold that passion for astronomy, and you get the chance to see this kind of coincidence we won’t get to see for hundreds of years from now,” Thomas says. “Once it starts, I’m just going to pause, and be present, just enjoy those almost four minutes, make

- Crescent shadows visible on ground

-Small beads of sunlight (Baily’s beads) visible just before totality

- Solar filter or eclipse glasses required to view

them as long as possible.”

“Special” is a word Jay Ryan also uses to describe it. He went on a trip to Hartsville, Tennessee, with family and friends to view the 2017 eclipse.

It was a full-circle moment for the former kid who begged his mom to travel to South Carolina to see the total eclipse in March 1970 and instead had to resign himself to standing outside in his Old Brooklyn yard, catching the edge of it — a partial eclipse. But when he couldn’t figure out how to get his pinhole camera to work, he ended up missing the whole thing.

He remembers that day vividly. He remembers the frustration.

And he remembers turning on the Channel 5 news that night, where he heard about his next chance to witness a solar eclipse.

TOTALITY

-

Sky darkens

- Safe to remove eclipse glasses

- Sun’s atmosphere visible in ring around the moon

- Birds and animals quiet

- 360-degree sunset

“The host said, ‘If you missed today’s eclipse, you’ll have another chance in the year 2017.’ It’s 1970, I’m 8 years old, the Kent State shootings happened two months later, Apollo 13 happened a month earlier,” Jay says. “So I’m an 8-year-old kid contemplating when I will be 56.”

He pauses. The numbers crunch in his head. He thinks of a different day, the one in Hartsville six and a half years ago: finally, his first total solar eclipse.

“You know, the funny thing about arithmetic, it’s like a miracle or something,” he says. “In the fullness of time, it’s 2017. I’m 56 years old, and I’m looking at the total eclipse of the sun from Tennessee. How about that?”

Jay Ryan is a man of many countdowns. He knows exactly how many days it will be until the 2024 solar

THIRD CONTACT

- Crescent shadows visible on ground

- Small beads of sunlight (Baily’s beads) visible just after totality

- Solar filter or eclipse glasses required to view

FOURTH CONTACT

- Eclipse ends: moon moves away from its position in front of sun

- Sunlight levels are back to normal

- Solar filter or eclipse glasses required to view

“I’m just going to pause and be present, just enjoy those almost four minutes, make them as long as possible.”

eclipse, and he’ll tell you the moment you start talking about the event. He keeps track of these things, these important dates and highlights of life.

And he’s looking ahead past all of that, for a moment at least, to the next time a total solar eclipse will even touch Ohio again, in 2099, in Columbus.

Just like when he was 8 years old, he thinks of the faraway date and, this time, he thinks of his family, his grandsons — “they will be 79 and 77, respectively; they’re toddlers right now; they’re babies” — these branches of his life extending into the future of it all.

It’s significant.

Once in a lifetime.

“It’s so uncommon, so infrequent, that people just don’t understand yet,” Ryan says.

On April 8, Clevelanders will.

Total Parties

You can step in your backyard to see the total solar eclipse on April 8 — or, you could head to one of these major events or viewing areas to make it more of a party. By Julia Lombardo, Annie Nickoloff and Christina Rufo

CLEVELAND

KENT

FAIRPORT HARBOR

LAKEWOOD

PARMA

STRONGSVILLE

MEDINA

EUCLID MENTOR CHARDON

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS

SOLON

PENINSULA

AKRON

AVON LAKE

BRUNSWICK

HUDSON

TWINSBURG

04.08.2024

03:15:00

1 Total on the Oval

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History will host a weekend of fun leading up to the eclipse, including a “Lights Out” edition of its Think & Drink with the Extinct event, along with “SolarFest” family days. On Monday, attendees can enjoy live music and educational presentations outside of the museum with a pristine view of the sky on Wade Oval. “Everybody’s going to be able to join in,” says CMNH astronomer Destiny Thomas. Watch party is free; some events require tickets. 1 Wade Oval Dr., Cleveland, April 4-8, cmnh.org

2 Great Lakes Science Center

A bash takes place outside GLSC, the Cleveland Browns Stadium and near the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Events from the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland International Film Festival and local theater groups coincide with astronaut and engineer meet-and-greets in “NASA Village.” “It’s truly an intersection across the arts and humanities, and it made sense, given the broad range of people coming together for this extraordinary natural spectacle,” says GLSC President and CEO Kirsten Ellenbogen. Free, 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, April 6-8, greatscience.com

3 Kent Total Eclipse

Kent has lots of weekend activities to ring in the total solar eclipse, with its own eclipse merch to prove it. Along with sweatshirts and pint cups, the city’s partners (Kent Free Library, Akron Zoo and Kent State University) join forces for an event lineup of galactic proportions. Hosting a bar crawl, 5K, laser light show, planetarium showings, educational presentations and concerts, it all culminates with a city-wide viewing party. Free, various locations and times, April 5-8, kenteclipse2024.com

4 Total Eclipse of the Port

All hands on deck for solar-powered fun at Lakefront Park. The town will show off local businesses with a spring open house. “Visitors can indulge in the latest spring and solar eclipse merchandise, while exploring the unique offerings of each shop,” says village administrator

Amy Cossick. Stay for the viewing party Monday. Through an ongoing fundraiser doubling as a raffle, five lucky winners will also get the chance to watch this once-in-a lifetime phenomenon from the top of the Lighthouse Tower. Free, Lighthouse Hill, 129 Second St., Fairport Harbor, April 8, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., facebook.com/fairportharbor

5 Avon Lake Total Solar Eclipse Party

Elevate your eclipse experience with a three-day celebration at Avon Lake. Enjoy a sip & shop, an “eclipse chaser 5K,” unique dining experiences and an eclipse-eve all-day music festival. Avon Lake High School Memorial Stadium’s eclipse watch party is a block away from the centerline of totality, with four full minutes of darkness during totality. “You really can’t get any closer to centerline, and the way that our high school stadium is positioned, it’ll be a great view,” says recreation director Erin Fach. Camping, as well as overnight parking, will be available. Free and ticketed events, various locations, April 6-8, avonlake.org

6 Beck Center for the Arts

The Beck Center will host a free day of eclipse festivities. “Our organization prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive gathering space, and April 8 will be a great day to have people of all ages and abilities here, free of charge, for fun arts activities related to the solar eclipse,” says Cindy Einhouse, Beck Center president and CEO. Expect live performances, arts experiences, community murals, drumming and more. Free, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 1-4:30 p.m., April 8, beckcenter.org

7 Euclid Eclipse Festival

While the total eclipse lasts just four minutes, Euclid City Schools, the City of Euclid and Euclid Public Library will create a lifetime of memories with their event. Gather at Euclid Community Stadium to witness the eclipse and enjoy live music and food truck offerings. Local vendors will set up tables to sell eclipse-inspired goods, and the library will offer programs inside for younger audiences. Attendees will receive safety glasses for eclipse viewing (while supplies last). Free, Euclid Community Stadium, 1 p.m., April 8, cityofeuclid.com/eclipse

GEAR UP

The total solar eclipse will be a point of local pride for Clevelanders this spring. Local organizations are already offering commemorative keepsakes and apparel to show off the celestial fun. By

Christina Rufo

CLEVELAND ECLIPSE SWEATSHIRT

Northeast Ohio’s NASA Glenn Research Center Exchange has this commemorative sweatshirt available, showcasing an image of an eclipse over the Cleveland skyline — and it might come in handy when the temperature drops about 10 degrees during the totality of the eclipse. An added bonus: Those who purchase the sweatshirt receive a free pair of solar eclipse glasses. $29.99, nasashop.com

CLEVELAND ECLIPSE HAT

Whether you’re a Cleveland fan or an eclipse fanatic, this Cleveland Metroparks trucker hat, embroidered with a raised eclipse design, can share your solar excitement and Cleveland pride — and it might also be helpful in shielding your eyes from the sun before the eclipse takes place. $27.99, clevelandmetroparksshop.com

COMMEMORATIVE TOTALITY PIN

Remember this day forever with a solar eclipse 1.25-inch acrylic pin from the Cleveland Metroparks. With a soft PVC clutch, this pin can be fastened to your clothes, backpack, or accessories as an inexpensive keepsake. The date, “04-08-24,” displayed will memorialize this once-in-a-lifetime event to look back on in later years. $4.99, clevelandmetroparksshop.com

ECLIPSE OVER CLEVELAND PROTECTIVE SOLAR GLASSES

Ensure a safe and comfortable viewing experience with CE certified solar filter eclipse shades. The glasses come with a commemorative design featuring the Cleveland skyline. Instructions for when to wear the glasses during

the eclipse are on the sides, informing users on how and when to best utilize them. Many solar shades are not regulated and could cause damage to the eyes, so be sure to purchase an approved pair like these to elevate your viewing experience. The shades are out of stock online, but can still be purchased at local retailers around the city. $2-$3, eclipseovercleveland.com

SPECIALTY ECLIPSE BEER

“I’ll drink to that!” Sip a beer and toast to the celebration of the total eclipse. Great Lakes Brewing will unveil a Vanilla Blackout Stout in commemorative four-packs of 16-ounce cans. Each can features eclipse-inspired art with cosmic designs, plus the date and time of the eclipse. If stouts aren’t your style, Market Garden offers Totality, a bright, citrusy, celestial IPA. Market Garden: $6 per pint or $11.99 per six pack, marketgardenbrewery.com; GLBC: Price TBA, greatlakesbrewing.com

POSTCARD AND MAGNET FROM CUYAHOGA VALLEY

NATIONAL PARK

Want to share the eclipse with out-of-towners? Send a commemorative CVNP postcard or magnet. The design shows the path of totality crossing through Cleveland. Stick the magnet on your fridge as a reminder of this stellar event. $1-$6.95, conservancyforcvnp.org

By The Numbers

1806:

THE LAST TIME CLEVELAND EXPERIENCED A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

THE NEXT TIME CLEVELAND WILL EXPERIENCE A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE:

2444

By Annie Nickoloff

1020 degrees Enters EXITS

The range the temperature can drop during a total solar eclipse

124 miles is the width of the eclipse’s path of totality

About 229 SECONDS of totality in Downtown Cleveland

233 SECONDS of totality in Avon Lake

HOW RARE?

Total solar eclipses occur once every 1-2 years

5:

The number of solar eclipses that can happen in a year, mostly over oceans

3:

The number of years Ohio was a state of the United States, before the last total solar eclipse

3:08 p.m.

3:19 p.m.

The eclipse will move through Ohio at about

2,200 MILES PER HOUR

10:

The number of years between Cleveland’s founding and the city’s last total solar eclipse (AT THAT TIME, IT WAS SPELLED “CLEAVELAND”)

31,600,000 people LIVE in the path of totality

$269Mil of ECONOMIC IMPACT in South Carolina in 2017 eclipse

200,000 VISITORS are expected in Cleveland for the total solar eclipse

Sometimes, nature announces itself and sears a day into our memory. By Sharon Holbrook

Most days slip by, a quickly forgotten blur of routines, homework, work and errands.

But the earthquake, the flood, the blizzard: those days, we remember. Sometimes, Nature orders us to stop and pay attention.

My husband vividly remembers the earthquake that hit Lake County in 1986 when he was a fifth grader, including his tornado-fearing teacher “throwing kids against the wall.” I remember, a spring day when I was 8 years old, the river rising near my childhood home in New Jersey, cresting its banks, filling first the park, then the streets around my house, then the yard, then our basement. And I remember the college road trip when a friend and I were stranded out of state in a blizzard for two days.

We’d rather wish away some of these days than have experienced them. Yet, there can be something revelatory about these act-of-God communal events, even the negative ones. If we let them, they can bring us together.

When my childhood home was flooded, we slept in a church basement with other displaced people while the water receded and we waited for our homes to be marked safe. When my college roommate and I were stranded by that blizzard, we knocked on the door of a roadside New York convent, and those kind nuns sheltered us for two nights.

The magic of an eclipse is that we get the stop-you-in-your-tracks moment, the shared experience, the sense that we’re experiencing something extraordinary together, but without any of the danger and destruction. (Just please don’t look at the sun without protective glasses, OK?)

During the partial solar eclipse in

2017, there were hundreds of people on the Downtown Mall with us. We were there for, frankly, not much: a slight dimming, a mere suggestion of cooling on an August afternoon, a peek at a sun that looked like it had a tiny bite taken out of it. We passed an extra pair of gas station eclipse glasses to a stranger. “Look! You don’t want to miss this!” As slight as the event was, cosmically speaking, it was a human event. People were chatty, festive, happy. And I don’t think I remember that day so vividly just because it also happened to be my kid’s 10th birthday: the special lunch, the eclipse viewing at one Mall, and the ear piercing at the other kind of mall. The eclipse was just a simple shared joy, the fun of it enhanced by its rarity.

I also remember looking ahead to this year’s April 8 eclipse, thrilled in advance by the once-in-a-lifetime promise of four minutes of total darkness in mid-afternoon and the chance to look at the darkened sun and see only the ring of its glowing corona around a black circle. (The next total solar eclipse in Cleveland will be in the year 2444!) I was gobsmacked in advance by how much time would pass between 2017 and 2024, how old we’d all be. Seven years seemed like a long time.

Predictably, that time has passed. Predictably, I’m asking, How did this happen? The little birthday girl is now six inches taller than me, a teenager who gives me skincare advice and lends me books. It seemed impossibly far away at the time, and yet the time has passed impossibly quickly.

Life is a fog of ordinary days. This April 8, we’ll all stop what we’re doing. We’ll look up. We’ll pause time together, and we’ll remember it forever.

UNSOUND

MODERN-DAY MUSIC LISTENING HAS CHANGED, STEPPING AWAY FROM TURNTABLES AND TAPEDECKS OF YEARS PAST, AND TOWARD

ALGORITHMIC PLAYLISTS AND PAY-TO-PLAY STREAMING MODELS.

WHAT’S A CLEVELAND MUSICIAN TO DO?

AS ALWAYS: PRESS PLAY

STORY BY ANNIE NICKOLOFF

PHOTOS BY KEVIN KOPANSKI

Amusician’s world is a world in flux — and that’s more true than ever in 2024, when it comes to digital streaming spaces.

Bandcamp, a music streaming platform known for being artist-friendly with promotions like “Bandcamp Friday,” was recently sold to two companies in the span of two years. Now owned by Songtradr, the streaming website underwent big staffing cuts in October, according to former employees, and now treads into new territory.

In early January, Soundcloud announced that it’s up for sale, according to a Sky News report — painting a murky future for the estimated $1 billion company.

This year, big changes went into effect at Spotify, when the streaming giant removed payouts for musicians for tracks that haven’t reached 1,000 streams in a year.

Meanwhile, listeners continue to

use streaming more and more every year. Luminate Data’s most recent year-end report showed a 12.7% uptick in on-demand audio streaming from 2022 to 2023. The report also showed that 436,000 tracks were streamed at least one million times in 2023, and 124.9 million tracks received less than 100 streams. Popular musicians got the lion’s share of music streams; one out of every 78 audio streams in 2023 was a Taylor Swift song, for example.

For musicians — and particularly local musicians — sweeping changes to streaming websites can create major repercussions in their work and lives. And for the vast majority of performers, streaming services offer little to no earnings, even when moderate success is found online.

We caught up with a handful of Cleveland artists to hear more about how they confront the divisive world of music streaming, and how they make the most of it.

Streaming Earnings: When Samantha Flowers (aka Sam Supreme, aka half of Cleveland hip-hop duo FreshProduce) recently checked the digital music distribution service DistroKid, her balance was at $93, built up over 2023. But that’s all right with the local artist. “I personally use Spotify more like a marketing tool,” she says.

Making Money: Sync placements, merch and live shows are key pieces of Flowers’ music revenue. Streaming is a part of that. “I need Spotify because I need people to know I exist,” she says. “Once they know I exist, it’s my goal to get them to interact with my business, to continue to stream, to buy a hat, to buy a sticker, to buy a button, to come to a show.” She says it’s crucial that local musicians register their music with copyright and performance rights organizations to retain rights over intellectual property. Beyond that, she says it comes down to marketing. “I know that’s hard for a lot of musicians to accept, but it is a business,” she says. “But the cool thing is we have the power to control our business and get in and connect with those people that value us because they exist in the city. I’ve felt them. They have paid my bills and bought my groceries.”

The Outlook: Streaming might shift gears in a big way. Flowers sees blockchain technology allowing for smoother information-gathering between artists and their fans, while older platforms might transition to social media-focused spaces. She has used emerging streaming platforms like the blockchain-powered site Even, which lets musicians sell music to listeners. “I’m focusing on capturing my ownership,” she says. “What does it really mean to own your music?”

The Bottom Line: Fan engagement is important for Flowers — and any local musician. “If we can show that Cleveland f----s with us, we can go anywhere in the world with those numbers,” Flowers says. For those looking to support the local music scene, Flowers encourages setting aside funds to support artists. “We need people, not just a stream,” she says. “Streaming is cool; play that sh-- all day. But if you play it all day, come to a show. If you play all day and can’t come to a show, go on Bandcamp and give us $20.”

SAMANTHA FLOWERS

JENNA FOURNIER

Streaming Earnings: Musician and artist Jenna Fournier says she makes less than $10 a year from streaming with her band Niights, but that her solo, independent project Kid Tigrrr has earned her about $100. The difference is affected by former record label deals. “At my level, which is very small potatoes, almost none of my income comes from streaming royalties,” Fournier says. She uses most streaming platforms and favors Bandcamp. Fournier also noted that Bandcamp helped to connect her with a Japanese independent label, and that relationship led to four international tours.

Making Money: With Patreon, Fournier has found supporters for both her music and artwork. She also makes money from limited-edition merchandise designs. As for the music — she says she essentially gives it away for free through streaming. “I would rather have the music exist on these platforms so people can connect to it and enjoy it than boycott the platforms,” she says.

The Outlook: While the industry is tough to navigate, Fournier says she’s hopeful. Audiences have become more aware of the challenges artists face — and are contributing in new ways to fundraise large projects like album recordings. She’s also worked with local organizations like Cleveland Rocks: Past, Present and Future, which can help connect artists with new funding sources. “I believe peoples’ eyes are being opened to the reality that the band that they see onstage, that band might go home and they’ll have other jobs,” Fournier says. “I think the general public is beginning to understand that the artist’s life is a huge struggle.”

The Bottom Line: Fournier continues to use streaming platforms to roll out new music as Kid Tigrrr this year — and will focus more on audiencebuilding than profiting on the platforms. She admits that the streaming companies’ practices can be “problematic,” but also sees the benefits of spreading her music around the globe. “I don’t even like the phrase ‘necessary evil,’ because I do think that, even something like Spotify, I look at it as an approach of, ‘The music is here. This is how you can reach new people,’” Fournier says. “But when it comes to monetizing music, my thinking is, you have to look for ways to make money other than the music itself.”

CHRIS B. HARRIS

Streaming Earnings: Chris B. Harris, who has created music under the alias DJ $crilla, spends most of his creative energy crafting music for sync placements in TV and movies. His streaming earnings pale in comparison to that work; Harris made about $275 off of streaming last year. “I’ve spent

more than that on one song, just creating a song, start-to-finish,” Harris says.

Making Money: Harris relies on sync placements to make money in music. His songs have earned

CHRIS B. HARRIS: SAM YOUNG STUDIOS

placements with Netflix, Hulu, the NFL, CBS, MTV and more. “Having my songs played in TV shows, movies, video games — that is how I’m able to make money doing music,” Harris says. “I don’t do shows, really, so I don’t have any performance fees or anything like that. And I don’t really sell merchandise, so I’m also missing out on opportunities there.” His work in the film industry has directly corresponded with streams online; Harris says his second-moststreamed song in his discography was placed in a Netflix movie. “Likely someone watched the movie, Shazamed it, that’s how they found the song, and that’s how I started to get those streams.”

The Outlook: Concerns around streaming aren’t going to be resolved soon, Harris thinks. “It doesn’t look like a positive outlook, especially if revenue is going to get cut for artists, most artists,” the musician says. “Most local artists, they’re not making an incredible amount of revenue via streaming. They’ll make the revenue with performances, merchandise.” Streaming’s biggest downside is that it isn’t a sustainable revenue source, Harris says — and that stems from longtime trends in the industry. “I think we’re in a time, and we’ve been in this era for quite some time, where music seems to be a bit devalued,” Harris says. “I think we started to see this once piracy became really big, with things like Napster and Limewire. Quite frankly, people just don’t tend to feel that they need to pay for music these days.” However, streaming websites do help Harris get exposure for his music. “It seems everyone uses some type of streaming service to gather their content, whether that be music or television or movies, so just having your music available on a streaming service is helpful, because it opens the access up to so many different people.”

The Bottom Line: Harris dreams big about what he’d like to happen in the industry. “I really would love to see, in a perfect world — let’s get back to the model where we’re purchasing physical copies of music,” he says. “I know that’s a long shot, and probably not likely. But I think that it’s probably the best option for artists.”

RAY FLANAGAN

Streaming Earnings: From January through September of 2023, singer-songwriter Ray Flanagan made $224 from Spotify alone. One caveat: Flanagan hired a PR team to place a song on playlists. “I paid, like, $500 for them to go out and find places to put the song,” Flanagan explains. “When you look at it, it looks like I made $224 total, just from Spotify or whatever. Was it worth it? Maybe, because my numbers are better. A lot of people did listen to that song, and then some other songs, organically.”

Making Money: “Trying to make money off of art: I mean, those two things don’t really have anything to do with each other, in my opinion,” Flanagan says. His work as a gigging musician is more service industry-adjacent. “Most of the way I make a living is just from playing in whatever corner they’ll stick me in. Bars and restaurants, farmers markets, whatever,” he says. “I’m just a gigging, working musician, basically.”

The Outlook: The musician doesn’t think the future of the industry will benefit artists like him and will instead profit shareholders and streaming executives. “These people don’t care about artists or arts. They just care about making money,” he says. “There’s just always a conflict between the business people and the artists.” Flanagan, who released monthly singles during the pandemic, says streaming devalues original art and that he’s conscious of artificial intelligence involvement in streaming sites. He’s also aware of varying qualities of music that’s posted online. “On my Spotify page, I have things

MOLLY O’MALLEY

Streaming Earnings: In 2023, Cleveland dreampop musician Molly O’Malley earned between $300 and $400 altogether, from all streaming sites. It was the same year O’Malley independently released a new mixtape, the eight-track Noise Beyond the Mantle. She says payouts were better from Apple Music and Tidal than they were from Spotify. “Even though I’m a small artist and the pay isn’t astounding, I’m still able to pay some of my bills with my streaming money, which is nice,” O’Malley says.

Making Money: Most of O’Malley’s music earnings come from live performances — both ticket sales and merch, she says. And listeners who do use streaming to support her are conscious of the ways money works its way to artists. “I am very grateful and very lucky. The people that listen to my music, they are the type that like to go on Bandcamp Friday — so I’ve made a good portion of my income from Bandcamp Fridays, and all the money is going directly to me,” O’Malley says.

musician believes the streaming world will transform, potentially introducing subscription-oriented streaming services or more sustainable agreements with content creators. “I like not to be a doomer, but it feels like this whole model is like a black hole sucking everything dry until we don’t have anything left. So then we’re just gonna have to reinvent,” O’Malley explains. “It sounds doom and gloom, but also, I’m just hopeful for what comes after. After a storm, there’s a sunny day. I don’t know what that sunny day’s gonna be or look like, but I’m just optimistic it will come.”

that I’ve uploaded that are just voice memos from my phone, like me making random noises and stuff, because it’s, like, I can just go [fart noise] into my phone, put it on my voice memo, upload it to DistroKid, and in the next couple of days, it’ll be on Spotify,” Flanagan says. “Me making a poop noise is the same exact value as ‘Thriller’ or whatever else that is on the platform — of course it’s worth less than pennies.”

The Bottom Line: Flanagan urges fans to find ways to support artists beyond streaming their music. “I honestly feel like we’re in a time where, if there’s an artist that you like, and you appreciate them, and you’re listening to their music, especially if you’re listening to their music on Spotify, like, Venmo them. You could buy a T-shirt,” he says. “If some people want to support artists that they love, you just gotta figure out how to support them in whatever way you can, whether it’s buying merch or just straight up giving people money for the fact that you’re just streaming their music.”

The Outlook: “I feel like I have to stay optimistic with these things,” O’Malley says. At some point, the

The Bottom Line: Streaming is a way for O’Malley to connect with listeners, and she’ll continue using it to do that — and she encourages listeners to interact with music in whatever ways they’re able to, even if it’s through streaming. “I feel like that’s what art’s about: sharing it with other people,” O’Malley says. “As far as the money goes with it, I don’t really think it’s necessarily the listeners’ fault, in that sense. Like, the listener isn’t the head of Spotify, saying, ‘Hey, you don’t get your money until somebody streams your song 1,000 times so we can get more money to major labels.’”

2024BEST EAST OF THE

FINALISTS

FOOD

Best Restaurant

Hook & Hoof New American Kitchen and Cocktail, Willoughby Square Bistro, Chardon

The Pompadour, Fairport Harbor

Best Patio

Redhawk Grille, Painesville

Tavern Six, Kirtland

The Fairmount, Cleveland Heights

Best View

17 River Grille, Chagrin Falls

Sapphire Creek Winery & Gardens, Chagrin Falls

Sunset Harbor Bar and Grille, Fairport Harbor

Best Lunch Spot

Burntwood Tavern, Multiple Locations

Chagrin River Diner, Willoughby

Jim Alesci’s Place, Solon

OVER THREE THOUSAND READERS WEIGHED IN on their top picks for East Side hot spots. Here you’ll find the finalists in categories from dining to shopping to services. Don’t miss your chance to vote for your favorites at the Best of the East Party on Thursday, April 18, from 6 to 9 p.m., at Eton Chagrin Boulevard. Finalists will be on hand to showcase what has made them a local best. All guests will be able to vote for their favorite finalist in each category. Winners will be revealed in the August issue of Cleveland Magazine.

Best Late Night Food

Barrio Tacos, Cleveland Heights, Willoughby

The Fairmount, Cleveland Heights

The Wild Goose, Willoughby

Best Brunch

Brown Barn Tavern, Chardon

Sol, Willoughby

The Spot on Lakeshore, Mentor

Best Organic Food

Evexia, Aurora

Ritual Juicery, Willoughby

Sage Karma Kitchen, Willoughby

Best Vegetarian

Juicy Vegan, Cleveland

Sage Karma Kitchen, Willoughby

Tommy’s Restaurant, Cleveland Heights

Best Seafood

Brennan’s Fish House, Grand River

Hook & Hoof New American Kitchen and Cocktail, Willoughby

Pickle Bill’s Lobster House, Grand River

Best Sushi

Pacific East Japanese Restaurant, Cleveland Heights, Woodmere Square Bistro, Chardon

Young’s Sushi, Willoughby

Best Steak

Hook & Hoof New American Kitchen and Cocktail, Willoughby

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, Beachwood

RED the Steakhouse, Orange Village

Best Independent Coffee Shop

Arabica Coffee House, Willoughby

Fiona’s Coffee Bar & Bakery, Willoughby

Heartwood Coffee Roasters, Multiple Locations

Best Quick Bite

Choolaah Indian BBQ, Orange Village

Jim Alesci’s Place, Solon

Versare Café + Market, Chesterland

Best Ice Cream

CP’s Cooler Homemade Ice Cream & Treats, Willowick

Fairport Harbor Creamery, Fairport Harbor

Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, Multiple Locations

Best Bakery

Jim Alesci’s Place, Solon

Michael’s Bakeshop, Willoughby

On the Rise Artisan Breads, Cleveland Heights

Best Smoothie

Be Smoothie Café, Willowick

Juicy Vegan, Cleveland

Ritual Juicery, Willoughby

Best Pizza

ETalian, Chagrin Falls

Geraci’s, Multiple Locations

The Wild Goose, Willoughby

Quartz

Best Burger

Crowley’s Dive Bar, Eastlake

Doinks Burger Joint, Cleveland

Pub Frato, Chagrin Falls, Painesville

Best Wings

Mr. Lee’s Bar and Grill, Perry

Winking Lizard Tavern, Multiple Locations

Wright Place Tavern, Willoughby Hills

Best Mexican

Cilantro Taqueria, Multiple Locations

Don Tequila Bar & Grill, Eastlake, Mentor

El Palenque, Eastlake

Best Italian

Dino’s Restaurant, Wickliffe

Pastina Rustic Italian, Mentor

M Italian, Chagrin Falls

Best Chinese

Hop Hing, Mentor

Ho Wah, Beachwood

Hunan by the Falls, Chagrin Falls

Best Farmers Market

Heart of Willoughby Outdoor Market, Willoughby

Miles Farmers Market, Solon

SweetBerry Fresh Market, Wickliffe

Best Deli

Farmer in the Deli, Chesterland

Jack’s Deli and Restaurant, University Heights

Jim Alesci’s Place, Solon

Best Family Dining

Dino’s Restaurant, Wickliffe

Petie’s Family Restaurant, Willowick

Yours Truly Restaurant, Multiple Locations

SERVICES

Best Wedding Venue

LaVera Party Center, Willoughby Hills

Sapphire Creek Winery & Gardens, Chagrin Falls

The Madison, Cleveland

Best Day Spa

Salty Salt Cave, Chardon

Spa Walden, Aurora

Woodhouse Spa, Orange Village

Best Mani Pedi

Avanti Salon, Chesterland

Jenniffer & Co., Mentor, Mentor-on-the-Lake

Quintana’s Barber & Dream Spa, Cleveland Heights

Best Salon

Avanti Salon, Chesterland

EnV Salon, Willoughby

Ladies & Gentlemen Salon and Spa, Lyndhurst, Mentor

Best Dry Cleaner

D.O. Summers Cleaners, Multiple Locations

London Cleaners, Willoughby

Premier Dry Cleaning, Mentor

Best Senior Living

Judson Senior Living, Multiple Locations

Ohio Living Breckenridge Village, Willoughby

Rose Senior Living Beachwood, Beachwood

Best Car Wash

Classic Clean Auto Wash, Madison, Mentor

Waterway Carwash, Multiple Locations

Zappy’s Auto Washes, Multiple Locations

Best Fitness Center

Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland, Beachwood

Elements Fitness Studios, Chesterland

Results Fitness, Mayfield Heights

Best Yoga Studio

Chagrin Yoga, Chagrin Falls

Cleveland Yoga, Beachwood, Cleveland

Harmony Yoga Studios, Willoughby

ENTERTAINMENT

Best Happy Hour

Burntwood Tavern, Multiple Locations

M Italian, Chagrin Falls

Billy’s - A Cappelli Martini Bar, Mentor

Best Golf Course

Gleneagles Golf Course, Twinsburg

Manakiki Golf Course, Willoughby

StoneWater Golf Club, Highland Heights

Best Live Music Venue

Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland

Grog Shop, Cleveland Heights

Reithoffer’s Art, Spirits & Entertainment, Chagrin Falls

Best Brewery

Boss Dog Brewing Co., Cleveland Heights

Crooked Pecker Brewing Co., Chagrin Falls

Eleventhree Brewing, Chardon

Best Charitable Event

Cleveland Musicians Fundraiser, Cleveland

The 24 in 24, Cleveland

Rescue Village’s Woofstock, Russell Township

SHOPPING

Best Jeweler

DavEd Jewelers, Willoughby

Alson Jewelers, Woodmere

Steven DiFranco Jewelers, Willoughby

Best Pet Boutique

Barktown Willoughby, Willoughby

Pet Wants, Chardon, Mentor

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, Concord, Shaker Heights

Best Wine Store

Red, Wine & Brew, Chesterland, Mentor

The Wine Spot, Cleveland Heights

World Wines & Liquor, Mentor

Best Beer Selection

Heinen’s Grocery Store, Multiple Locations

Red, Wine & Brew, Chesterland, Mentor

World Wines & Liquor, Mentor

Best Florist

Flowers by Julie, Fairport Harbor

Mayfield Floral, Mayfield Heights

Merkels Floral Studio, Mentor

Best Garden Center

Cavotta’s Garden Center, Cleveland

Gale’s Garden Center, Maple Heights, Willoughby Hills

Petitti Garden Centers, Multiple Locations

Best Bike Shop

Eddy’s Bike Shop, Willoughby Hills Mountain Road Cycles, Chagrin Falls, Chardon

Solon Bicycle, Solon

Best Boutique

The Collective Rose, Chardon

The Helicopter Daughter, Mentor Village Trends Boutique, Chesterland

Best Handmade Retailer

Made Cleveland, Cleveland Heights

The Corner, Shaker Heights

Ohio Artisan Collective, Aurora, Orange

Best Handmade Market Vendor

Chagrin Falls Candle Co., Newbury

Colleen Higgins Studio, Mentor

Paper Cutz Vintage, Chagrin Falls

Best Men’s Fashion

Kilgore Trout, Woodmere

J3 Clothing, Moreland Hills

Ticknors Men’s Clothiers, Beachwood

Best Home Décor

Etc. on Erie, Willoughby

Endless Designs Boutique, Mentor

The Nest, Chardon

Best Health Foods (Retail)

Nature’s Oasis, Shaker Heights

G.R.A.C.E. Elderberry Co., Willoughby Whole Foods Market, Orange, University Heights

Best CLE T-Shirt Shop

CLE Clothing Co., Shaker Heights

GV Art + Design, Willoughby

Snakes + Acey’s, Cleveland

Best Consignment Shop

It’s So You, Willoughby

Passion for Fashion, Chesterland

UpScaleIT, Solon

Best Antique Shop

Antiques and Uniques, Wickliffe

Antiques on the Square, Chardon

FIG Chagrin, Chagrin Falls

CHILDREN

Best Dance/Theater Instruction

Fairmount Center for the Arts, Novelty

Fine Arts Association, Willoughby

Playmakers Youth TheatreMandel JCC, Beachwood

Best Gymnastics

Lake Erie Gymnastics, Mentor

Learning Ladder Gymnastics, Northfield

EmethGym, Middlefield

Best Music Instruction

Fairmount Center for the Arts, Novelty

Fine Arts Association, Willoughby

The Music Settlement, Cleveland

Best Birthday Party Location

Chalk it Up Gymnastics, Chagrin Falls

Mentor Ice Arena, Mentor

Sparkle & Shine Makeup Studio, Chesterland

PEOPLE

Best Chiropractor

Code Chiro, Mayfield Heights

NEO Spine and Sport, Solon Shaker Women’s Wellness, Beachwood

Best Chef

Doug Katz, Zhug, Cleveland Heights

Hunter Toth, Hook & Hoof, Willoughby

Rusty Phillips, The Pompadour, Fairport Harbor

Best Bartender

Katarina Alaupovic, Billy’s - A Cappelli Martini Bar, Mentor

Corey Conell, Hook & Hoof, Willoughby

Kyle Kromar, Nora’s Public House, Willoughby

Best Stylist

Dani Bucknell, Avanti Salon, Chesterland

Danielle Toth, EnV Salon, Willoughby

Shelby Nicoletti Bachnicki, Luce Del Sole Studios, Mentor

Best Interior Designer

Ingrid Porter Interiors, Chagrin Falls

Payne & Tompkins DesignRenovation, Chardon

Amy Leighton Interiors, Chagrin Falls

Best Fitness Instructor

Jonathan Gruich, Life Time, Beachwood

Josh Mekota, Results Fitness, Mayfield Heights

Miesha Wilson, NuLife Fitness Camp, Cleveland

Best Photographer

Michael Cavotta Studios, Mentor

Travis Lee Photography, Painesville

GraceHannah Photography, Mentor

FINALISTS OF THE 2024BEST WEST

FOOD

Best Restaurant

Cabin Club, Westlake

Georgetown | Vosh, Lakewood

Pier W, Lakewood

Best Patio

Luca West, Westlake

Georgetown | Vosh, Lakewood

Veranda Bistro & Bar, Avon

Best View

Edgewater Beach House, Cleveland

Pier W, Lakewood

Summer Place, Lakewood

Best Lunch Spot

Boss ChickNBeer, Multiple Locations

Burntwood Tavern, Multiple Locations

Joe’s Deli & Restaurant, Rocky River

NEARLY THREE THOUSAND READERS WEIGHED IN on their top picks for West Side hot spots. Here you’ll find the finalists in categories from dining to services to shopping. Don’t miss your chance to vote for your favorites at the Best of the West party on Thursday, May 9, from 6 to 9 p.m., at LaCentre Conference and Banquet Facility. Finalists will be on hand to showcase what has made them a local best. All guests will be able to vote for their favorite finalist in each category. Winners will be revealed in the August issue of Cleveland Magazine.

Best Late Night Food

Barrio Tacos, Multiple Locations

Buckeye Beer Engine, Lakewood

Prosperity Social Club, Cleveland

Best Brunch

Burntwood Tavern, Multiple Locations

Pier W, Lakewood

Rosewood Grill, Strongsville, Westlake

Best Organic Food

Cleveland Vegan, Lakewood

Forage Public House, Lakewood TownHall, Cleveland

Best Vegetarian

Boss ChickNBeer, Multiple Locations

Choolaah Indian BBQ, Cleveland, Westlake Cleveland Vegan, Lakewood

Best Seafood

Pier W, Lakewood

Salmon Dave’s, Rocky River

Salty Mary’s Oyster Bar and Tavern, Westlake

Best Sushi

Blue Sushi Sake Grill, Westlake

Ginko Restaurant, Cleveland

Sakana Sushi Bar and Lounge, Rocky River

Best Steak

Cabin Club, Westlake

Ferris Steak House & Tavern, Rocky River

Strip Steakhouse, Avon

Best Coffee Shop

Black Key Coffee, Avon

Mojo’s Coffee and More, Bay Village

Rising Star Coffee Roasters, Cleveland, Lakewood

Best Quick Bite

Aladdin’s Eatery, Multiple Locations

Choolaah Indian BBQ, Cleveland, Westlake

Sittoo’s Lebanese Grill, North Olmsted, Parma

Best Ice Cream

Honey Hut Ice Cream, Multiple Locations

Mason’s Creamery, Cleveland

Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, Multiple Locations

Best Bakery

Blackbird Baking Co., Lakewood

Fragapane Bakery, Bay Village, North Olmsted

Messy Aprons & Co., Strongsville

Best Smoothie

Green Farm Juicery, Bay Village

Liquid Fresh Planet, Cleveland

Nature’s Oasis, Lakewood

Best Pizza

Angelo’s Pizza, Lakewood

Il Rione Pizzeria, Cleveland

Ohio Pie Co., Rocky River

Best Burger

Between the Bun, North Ridgeville

Gunselman’s Tavern, Fairview Park

Heck’s Café, Avon, Cleveland

Best Wings

Around the Corner Saloon & Café, Lakewood

Boss ChickNBeer, Multiple Locations

Good Company, Cleveland

Best Mexican

Cozumel, Multiple Locations

Don Ramon Mexican Restaurant, Parma Heights, Westlake

Nuevo Acapulco, Fairview Park

Best Italian

Bar Italia, Lakewood

Luca West, Westlake

Stancato’s Italian Restaurant, Parma

Best Chinese

Aristo Bistro, Westlake

King Wah, Rocky River

Szechwan Garden, Lakewood

Best Farmers Market

Crocker Park Market (North Union Farmers Market), Westlake

Kamm’s Corners Farmers Market, Cleveland

West Side Market, Cleveland

Best Deli

Joe’s Deli & Restaurant, Rocky River Larder Delicatessen & Bakery, Cleveland

Lehman’s Deli, Westlake

Best Family Dining

Avon Brewing Co., Avon

Good Company, Cleveland

Joe’s Deli & Restaurant, Rocky River SERVICES

Best Wedding Venue

Columbia Ballroom, Columbia Station

Georgetown | Vosh, Lakewood

The Elliot, Cleveland

Best Day Spa

Beauty Spot Med Spa, North Ridgeville

Sacred Hour, Lakewood, Rocky River

Woodhouse Spa, Rocky River

Best Mani Pedi

Charles Scott Salons and Spas, Avon, Rocky River

Hollywood Star Nails, Cleveland, Parma Heights

Stella & Shay Beauty Bar, Lakewood, Westlake

Best Salon

Charles Scott Salons and Spas, Avon, Rocky River

Foxy Salon, Lakewood

Tease Salon, Middleburg Heights

Best Dry Cleaner

New Westlake Cleaners, Lakewood

Ridge Cleaners, Multiple Locations

Tide Cleaners, Multiple Locations

Best Senior Living

O’Neill Healthcare, Multiple Locations

Rose Senior Living, Avon

The Normandy, Rocky River

Best Car Wash

Blue Falls Car Wash, Multiple Locations

Rainforest Car Wash, Multiple Locations

Sgt. Clean Car Wash, Multiple Locations

Best Yoga Studio

Cultivate Yoga, Avon, Lakewood

Holistic Halo Salt Spa, North Royalton

Inner Bliss Yoga Studio, Rocky River, Westlake

Best Fitness Center

Fitness Center at UH Avon Health Center, Avon

Forward Fitness, Westlake

Westlake Recreation Center, Westlake

ENTERTAINMENT

Best Happy Hour

Crumb & Spigot, Lakewood

Burntwood Tavern, Multiple Locations

Georgetown | Vosh, Lakewood

Best Golf Course

Big Met Golf Course, Fairview Park

Ridgewood Golf Course, Parma

Sweetbriar Golf Club, Avon Lake

Best Live Music Venue

Mahall’s, Lakewood

No Class, Cleveland

The Brothers Lounge, Cleveland

Best Brewery

Avon Brewing Co., Avon

Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, North Olmsted

Railroad Brewing Co., Avon

Best Charitable Event

Prayers From Maria’s Sunflower Wine Festival, Rocky River

Project NICU’s Night for Babies, Broadview Heights

Providence House’s Deck the House, Cleveland

SHOPPING

Best Jeweler

Kleinhenz Jewelers, Westlake

Peter & Co. Jewelers, Avon Lake

Yeager Jewelers, Westlake

Best Pet Boutique

Luca’s Barkery, Cleveland

Pet-Tique, Cleveland

Style Mutt, Cleveland

Best Florist

Blossom Flower Bar, Lakewood

Precious Petals, Columbia Station

Urban Orchid, Cleveland

Best Garden Center

Gale’s Westlake Garden Center, Westlake

Maria Gardens, North Royalton, Strongsville

Petitti Garden Centers, Multiple Locations

Best Wine Store

Little Birdie Wine Nest, Parma

Minotti’s Wine & Spirits, Multiple Locations

Rozi’s Wine House, Lakewood

Best Beer Selection

Minotti’s Wine & Spirits, Multiple Locations

Red, Wine & Brew, Westlake

Rozi’s Wine House, Lakewood

Best Bike Shop

Century Cycles , Rocky River

Marty’s Cycle Center, Avon Lake

Spin Bike Shop, Lakewood

Best Boutique

Charmed Boutique, North Ridgeville

Estella Boutique, Westlake

The Clothing Loft, Amherst

Best Men’s Fashion

Ford’s Clothier, Rocky River

Geiger’s, Lakewood

Ticknors Men’s Clothiers, Strongsville

Best Home Décor

Mishi Lifestyle, Lakewood

Whimsy Willow, Westlake

Wild Iris Home, Avon

Best Health Foods (Retail)

Lucky’s Market, Cleveland

Nature’s Oasis, Lakewood

Whole Foods Market, Rocky River

Best CLE T-Shirt Shop

CLE Clothing Co., Westlake

GV Art + Design, Lakewood

Only in Clev, Cleveland

Best Consignment Shop

Chelsea’s Consignments, Westlake

Consign Home Couture, Westlake

River Trading Co., Rocky River

Best Antique Shop

Flower Child, Cleveland

Mitchell Sotka, Rocky River

The Blue Barn Shops, North Ridgeville

Best Handmade Retailer

KLM Home Décor, North Ridgeville

Talents, Avon Lake

The Rift Shop, Olmsted Falls

Best Handmade Market Vendor

Brazen by Nature Candle Co., Lakewood

Oceanne, Cleveland

STEM Handmade Soaps, Lakewood

CHILDREN

Best Dance/Theater Instruction

Beck Center for the Arts, Lakewood

North Royalton Dance Academy, North Royalton

The Dance Centre, Rocky River

Best Gymnastics

Great Lakes Gymnastics, Avon Lake

Little Stars Gymnastics, Middleburg Heights

Ten Point 0, North Ridgeville

Best Music Instruction

Beck Center for the Arts, Lakewood

Rock Town Music Academy, Lorain School of Rock, Strongsville, Westlake

Best Birthday Party Location

Bay Lanes, Bay Village

Little Stars Gymnastics, Middleburg Heights

Urban Air Adventure Park, Westlake

PEOPLE

Best Chiropractor

Great Lakes Health and Wellness, Cleveland, Westlake River Chiropractic & Wellness, Rocky River

Transcendence Health, North Ridgeville

Best Chef

Doug Katz, Amba, Cleveland

Gregg Korney, Georgetown | Vosh, Lakewood

Regan Reik, Pier W, Lakewood

Best Bartender

Callie Paul, Bartenza, Strongsville

Danny Corrigan, Georgetown | Vosh, Lakewood

Jeff Gresko, Bistro 83, North Ridgeville

Best Stylist

Alicia Casshie, Tease Salon, Middleburg Heights

Christine Dopoulos, Foxy Salon, Lakewood

Louie Leonetti, Illuminate Salon, Lakewood

Best Interior Designer

Deborah Cunningham Interiors & Gardens, Rocky River

Ducy Design, Westlake

Sapphire Pear, Rocky River

Best Fitness Instructor

Chris Roman, Fitness 19, Cleveland

Jared Rosso, Forward Fitness, Westlake

Kevin Johnson, Forward Fitness, Westlake

Sophia Porter, Extreme Pump It Up Fitness, Middleburg Heights

Best Photographer

3 Little Birds Photography, Cleveland

Desired Moments Photography, Oberlin

Leigh Roth Photography, Westlake

A New Standard of Senior Living

Experience

Beachwood.

at Rose Senior Living Avon and Rose

welcoming communities prioritize comfort, care, and

above all else. With thoughtfully designed accommodations and a range of amenities, residents can enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle tailored to their needs. Embrace a warm,

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for

find a place to call

AVANTI SALON

8027 Mayfield Road Chesterland, Ohio 44026 440-729-9008 avantisalon.com

Avanti Salon is an award-winning Aveda Concept Salon and home to some of Northeast Ohio’s premier beauty professionals specializing in hair, skin and nails

ELEMENTS FITNESS STUDIOS

8505 Mulberry Road Chesterland, Ohio 44026 440-688-4454 elementsfitnessstudios.com

A state-of-the-art fitness facility offering yoga, cycle, climb, barre, rebounding (trampoline), myofascial release, and group strength classes as well as massage and reiki. Also houses a coffee, smoothie and wine bar.

HOOK AND HOOF NEW AMERICAN KITCHEN AND COCKTAIL

4125 Erie St. Willoughby, Ohio 44094

440-571-5312

hookandhoofdtw.com

Hook & Hoof located in historic Downtown Willoughby is an awardwinning scratch New American kitchen using modern technique on timeless food and drink.

PASTINA RUSTIC ITALIAN

9354 Mentor Ave. Mentor, Ohio 44060

440-255-3117

pastinarusticitalian.com

Authentic from-scratch kitchen featuring homemade bread, pasta and ravioli, along with craft cocktails, using locally sourced meats and produce. Always striving for an amazing guest experience.

CLEVELAND YOGA BEACHWOOD

3355 Richmond Road, 251A Beachwood, Ohio 44122 216-591-1183 clevelandyoga.com

Breathe. Believe. Achieve. Where your journey to power and personal transformation begins! Join us for hot and flow classes like no other in the CLE!

G.R.A.C.E. ELDERBERRY CO.

38342 Western Parkway, Ste. 3 Willoughby, Ohio 44094 440-263-7915 graceelderberry.com

A health and wellness company specializing in an all-natural, organic, non-GMO, gluten free elderberry syrup that tastes great. More products to launch later this year.

MANDEL JCC

26001 South Woodland Road Beachwood, Ohio 44122 216-831-0700 mandeljcc.org info@mandeljcc.org

The J’s Fitness and Aquatics Center has been voted Best Fitness Center for years. We offer programs and classes for everyone – from early childhood to seniors. Our Playmakers Youth Theatre has classes, shows and camps year-round.

REDHAWK GRILLE

7481 Auburn Road Painesville, Ohio 44077

@redhawkgrille redhawkgrille.com

Serving Lake County and the surrounding area for over 30 years, Redhawk Grille offers a unique dining experience featuring a wide variety of American fare, genuine service, and the area’s best patio! Join us for live entertainment every weekend all summer long!

RESCUE VILLAGE

15463 Chillicothe Road Novelty, Ohio 44072

440-338-4819

rescuevillage.org/woofstock.fun

Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, 10 am–4 pm

Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field

Woofstock is Northeast Ohio’s biggest outdoor dog festival benefiting Rescue Village. Enjoy live music, food trucks, beer garden, dog games, contests, and lure courses.

SAPPHIRE CREEK WINERY & GARDENS

16965 Park Circle Drive Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023

440-543-7777

sapphire-creek.com

Experience a place where nature’s beauty blends seamlessly with a mix of modern and rustic architecture. This setting, combined with the experienced and diverse Sapphire Creek team, creates an unrivaled guest experience for dinner, weddings, and private and corporate events.

WOODHOUSE CLEVELAND

300 Park Avenue, #164 Pinecrest–Orange Village 440-210-5553

cleveland.woodhousespas.com

Woodhouse Cleveland offers massage, facials, body treatment, manicures and pedicures. Relax in one of our quiet rooms before and after your services.

CHARLES SCOTT SALONS & SPAS

19025 Old Lake Road, Rocky River 440-333-7994

34970 Detroit Road, Avon 440-899-1957

charlesscott.com

Take time for you! Self care is not an indulgence, it’s a necessity. Whether its a brow wax, haircut or day of beauty, Charles Scott Salons & Spas helps people to reconnect with taking care of themselves. At Charles Scott, you are given that escape.

ROSE SENIOR LIVING BEACHWOOD

23611 Harvard Road Beachwood, Ohio 44149

beachwood.roseseniorliving.com

Independent living assisted living and memory care in a loving setting, Rose Senior Living Beachwood provides maintenance-free living at its best within the warm, welcoming feeling of home. From first-class amenities to services designed around your preferences, you’ll love life here.

THE ELLIOT

1415 Kenilworth Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44113 216-200-8506

theelliotcle.com

The Elliot pairs historic charm with modern features, making your wedding a unique and memorable experience from the first toast to the last dance.

BISTRO 83

36033 Westminister Ave. North Ridgeville, Ohio 44039 440-353-2828

bistro83.com

Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm

Happy Hour In The Bar Mon-Sat 3pm-6pm

Since opening its doors in 2013, the award-winning Bistro 83’s knowledgable and well-trained staff has strived to make every customer’s dining experience a special one. Located on the border of North Ridgeville and Avon, Bistro 83 wants its guests to experience upscale dining in a laid back, comfortable atmosphere.

CRUMB & SPIGOT

15322 Detroit Ave. Lakewood, Ohio 44107 216-712-6992

crumbandspigot.com

From the atmosphere to the menu, everything is carefully curated to create a pleasant and interesting dining experience. Crumb & Spigot’s menu is best described as a Gastro Pub, usually boisterous, with a near equal emphasis on quality eating and drinking.

DUCY DESIGN

25043 Tricia Drive Westlake, Ohio 44145 440-340-3600 ducydesign.com

Mon-Fri 9 am–5 pm info@ducydesign.com

Ducy Design is a full-service interior design firm passionate about delivering custom residential and hospitality design solutions for renovations and new construction.

FORD’S CLOTHIER

19821 Detroit Road Rocky River, Ohio 44116 440-333-2355 fordsclothier.com

Fords has spent the last 110 years helping the gentlemen of Cleveland and beyond look their best. Stop by and see the difference.

O’NEILL HEALTHCARE

Locations: Bay Village, Fairview Park, Lakewood, Middleburg Heights, North Olmsted, North Ridgeville 440-808-5500 oneillhc.com

O’Neill Healthcare is award winning with 60+ years of experience in family tradition with six locations on Cleveland’s west side. Offering assisted living, independent living, skilled nursing, rehabilitation therapies, hospice and more.

PETER & CO. JEWELERS

32020 Walker Road Avon Lake, Ohio 44012 440-933-4871 peterjewelers.com

Our hand-selected pieces are more than jewelry – they’re expressions of your unique style and moments in time. From engagement rings to custom designs, find your perfect creation today.

FAT HEAD’S BREWERY

17450 Engle Lake Drive Middleburg Hts., Ohio 44130 216-898-0242 fatheads.com

Fat Head’s Brewery’s 250-seat traditional-style Beer Hall in Middleburg Hts. offers a full menu of delicious food and a 20 beer tap list, featuring world-class award-winning brews. Chill out man, have a beer!

LUCA WEST

24600 Detroit Road Westlake, Ohio 44145 216-201-9600 lucawest.com

Luca West is your neighborhood country Tuscan ristorante featuring Italian classics along with innovative daily specials. Whether weeknight, weekend or outdoor dining, your visit to Luca West is a special experience.

PET-TIQUE

10906 Clifton Blvd. Cleveland, Ohio 44102 216-631-2050 pettique.com/products/shop

Mon-Fri 11:30 am–7 pm Sat 11:30 am–7 pm Sun 11:30 am–7 pm

Pet-Tique, an LGBTQ+ locally owned and operated pet boutique since 2002, offers healthy food, treats, toys, clothing, beds and other products made locally in Cleveland.

PIER W

12700 Lake Ave. Lakewood, Ohio 44107 216-228-2250 pierw.com

Pier W features a critically acclaimed menu emphasizing fresh seafood and an award-winning wine list. Also known for its extensive brunch and happy hour, Pier W remains a city favorite for the best dining with a panoramic view of Cleveland.

PROVIDENCE HOUSE

216-651-5982 provhouse.org

Attend our Deck the House Benefit Auction, the best holiday party in town, and help Providence House give the gift of care to children and families in crisis throughout the year!

ROSE SENIOR LIVING

33200 Health Campus Blvd. Avon, Ohio 44011

avon.roseseniorliving.com

Independent living assisted living and memory care in a loving setting, Rose Senior Living Avon provides maintenance-free living at its best within the warm, welcoming feeling of home. From first-class amenities to services designed around your preferences, you’ll love life here.

TIDE CLEANERS

Multiple locations throughout NE Ohio 440-792-4090

tidecleaners.com

Hours: Monday through Friday, 7am–7pm; Saturday 8am–5pm

Tide Cleaners is America’s #1 trusted brand in dry cleaning. We offer conveniences like same day service and home pickup and delivery.

WOODHOUSE ROCKY RIVER

19875 Detroit Road Rocky River, Ohio 44116

440-575-5850

rockyriver.woodhousespas.com

Woodhouse Rocky River offers massage, facials, body treatments, manicures, pedicures and a salt room. Relax in one of our quiet rooms before and after your services.

RIDGE CLEANERS

Avon Lake

440-930-7300

North Ridgeville

440-327-7294

Amherst

440-434-4185

ridgecleaners.com

Ridge Cleaners provides expert garment care and tailoring. A family owned and operated business since 1946, their home and corporate pickup and delivery service is a convenient concierge for today’s professionals.

TALENTS

33491 Lake Road

Avon Lake, Ohio 44012 440-961-0580

talentsgifts.com

Talents is a destination stop with over 80 local artisans, nostalgic candy, Campbell’s popcorn, and so much more! Bring the entire family for a fun day out. We are located near beaches, parks, and surrounded by wonderful restaurants.

WESTLAKE RECREATION CENTER

28955 Hilliard Blvd. Westlake, Ohio 44145

440-808-5700

cityofwestlake.org/recreation

Visit us at the Westlake Recreation Center to see our premier Fitness Center! We are now offering memberships to residents of several neighboring communities!

DO YOU HAVE THE CUTEST PET IN CLEVELAND?

Think your pet is the cutest in Cleveland? We want to know! To help us all celebrate our furry (and not-so-furry) friends, Cleveland Magazine is hosting its 4th annual Cutest Pet Contest. Visit clevelandmagazine.com/cutestpet by May 15 to upload your favorite pet picture, and then our readers will vote for their favorite!

The pet selected as the cutest by our readers will be treated to a photo shoot and a prize package from our sponsors!

Presented By:

If showing off your pet’s cuteness isn’t enough, you can help us save lives, too! In an effort to support pet adoption and responsible pet ownership, Cleveland Magazine will be taking donations for area pet rescues on our Cutest Pet Contest page.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 5.15.2024

CLEVELANDMAGAZINE.COM/CUTESTPET

Sponsored By:

Photo Shoot Provided By:

2023 CONTEST WINNER

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Diners, Drive-Ins and College Mealtime Dives

Don’t even say ‘cafeteria.’ The language has changed with college dining programs. Now it is centered on students’ tastes and tech conveniences.

BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE

Scrolling through the morning’s TxtandTell dining messages, Hannah Keil intercepts a bunch of remarks related to the Joy Cookie. “One student said, ‘Please tell the person who gave you the recipe, ‘I love those!’”

During Black History Month, Kent State University invited students to submit family recipes for main campus venues to serve. This is one of many asks. The dining program is always asking because students, now more than ever, are part of the discussion as to what is made available to eat.

Keil is a junior and marketing intern for Housing and Culinary Services. She’s the TxtandTell point person. She hears the raves and grumbles — mostly ideas — from students. She understands behind-the-scenes logistics like managing “where’s the hot sauce” inquiries. This is a highly active communications role.

Case in point: the condiment question introduced a campaign of TxtandTells.

“There was a band of students who wanted the hot sauce at one of our locations, and after getting multiple messages every single day, we sourced it and made sure it was available,” Keil says.

Success.

“Students completely drive our dining program,” says Sarah Korzan, registered dietitian and assistant director for Kent State University Culinary Services.

Uh, oh. The broccoli is overcooked.

“A student standing in a dining hall line can TxtandTell us that and I can in real-time reply, ‘Which station?’ and then tell my chef in the unit,” Korzan says.

Students even got to help name the campus-branded pizza place, Home Slice.

“Food is such a personal expression of your culture, identity and family,” Korzan says, proud to deliver a dining program that offers a “norm” in an otherwise hectic university life. “We have to make sure everyone feels like they have that sense of belonging and home.”

VOICE AT THE TABLE

Aside from TxtandTell, Kent State’s dining service group holds focus groups, collects surveys and attends student interhall council meetings to gather opinions. A vendor event on campus last year — a dining vendor show — attracted more than 600 students for tastings and feedback.

Three years ago, the university departed from a thirdparty contractor and transitioned to a self-operated program that, Korzan says, “is responsive to students.”

All in all, dining at school looks a whole lot different than students’ parents and even older siblings remember.

“Gone are the days of food trays, menus where every Thursday is meatloaf, and even the word ‘cafeteria,’” says Heather Piper, who attended the University of Akron and has worked in dining services there for the last 20 years. She is now employed by its hospitality provider, Aramark. “Students are focused on experience rather than the simple transition of going through a dining hall line.”

That experience at the University of Akron includes Starship robots for mobile meal delivery and an online ordering platform, along with self-service kiosks. With 17 dining locations across campus and partnerships with brands like Starbucks, Chik-fil-A, Einstein Brothers Bagels, Panda Express and Qdoba, Akron’s program variety and format have evolved drastically in recent years.

APPEALING TO MANY PALATES

Baldwin Wallace University’s independent dining department develops and executes recipes, managing every aspect of eating while earning credit hours. An evolving five-week menu includes a half-dozen stations in main dining halls, from pho bowls to grilled items.

The salad bar rules.

“But some students have asked for changes, so we keep it up to date,” says Marie Oravec, campus dietitian. “Recently, we added an area dedicated to yogurts and toppings so they can make a healthy parfait, and it’s something they can create and control the portion and nutrients.”

A hummus bar is designed with the same intentions. Various flavors of the chickpea-based protein mingle with cous-

cous salads, pita bread, and carrots and celery as “scooping items other than chips,” Oravec relates.

A smoothie bar inside the campus recreation center is comparable to the franchise Pulp, she adds. Stingers Market is a convenient store emulating Sheetz. Colony Café is a la Panera with salads, soups and wraps. A fully licensed Starbucks on campus where students can use meal swipes is always busy. “We also partner with Boss ChickNBeer and Domino’s,” says Charles Fairchild, senior director of auxiliary services at Baldwin Wallace.

“We’re smoking our own meats — we’ll even smoke cauliflower and broccoli for Pho bowls,” Fairchild relates.

Yet, many students still love those homestyle staples.

Kent State’s “comfort station” offers meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn and more eclectic feel-good foods like the Indian dish butter chicken, or Moroccan rice. Jambalaya wins second helpings, and breakfast-for-dinner delivers a diner vibe without the late-night hours.

THE ‘TOP NINE’ AND DIVERSE DINING

College dining now pays close attention to food allergens, dietary preferences and restrictions, international foods and eating for high performance. At BW, a dedicated walkin dining hall space minus the top nine food allergens offers segmented dining. It’s a win with not just those who manage allergies, Fairchild says. “The athletes love it, many students love it because it’s clean,” he relates.

BW will prepare individual meals for students with celiac disease and allergies, Fairchild says. “Our team and chefs get to know them.”

Oravec meets with families and students “all the time” and conducts allergy training with employees. BW also partnered with Michael Suhy of Allison Rose Foundation as the first university to stock epinephrine pens in dining halls.

Kent State offers the first certified free-from peanuts, treenuts and coconut dining facility.

Piper says this year’s new online menu tool via the dining services website at Akron calls out allergens. “At our stations, we have ingredient cards that list any allergens,” she says. “We also have a health and wellness roadmap for those who follow a gluten-friendly, vegan or vegetarian diet.”

Overall, with ever-expanding choices, tech-enabled conveniences, national brands and grab-and-go selections, the universities we spoke to collectively agreed that dining on campus is on the incline. Anecdotally, Piper cites an increase in commuter meal plan purchases. Faculty are also taking advantage of healthy options.

“It’s definitely important for colleges to have a healthy variety of options and diverse portfolio,” Piper says. “But Ramen will always be associated with college living.”

“EWorld of Experience

Study-away programs instill essential life skills and give students a passport to opportunities that translate to success in a global economy.

BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE

veryone is more or less the same,” says Hannah Lesko, sharing a core takeaway from her study-away experience in Gaming, Austria, which unfolded into a trip-tic of travels to Poland, Greece and Italy, to name a few. Lesko didn’t know any of these languages. The senior graphic design and communications major had only been on

From postsecondary education and career guidance to financial aid and college entrance exam prep, College Now can help you get the education you need for the career you want.

an airplane one other time. But travel experiences were a priority when considering colleges, she says. “I’m a huge people person, I love learning about people’s stories and I think you can make home wherever you go,” she says of a willingness to flex her passport with an open mind.

Lesko was all in when she discovered the Global Learning Program at Walsh University in North Canton. What she took home was far beyond speaking some conversational Romanian, navigating public transportation and working through occasional homesickness.

“One of the biggest lessons I learned was to be present,” she says. “Appreciate the little things.”

Lesko describes a backpacker sitting on the ground in front of the Vatican, “just basking in the sun.” She had taken a moment to rest. Staying in a 14thcentury monastery in Gaming, Austria, she and her new friends ritually carved time to share tea and soak in the landscape. Collin Derrig, a John Carroll University alum, expresses a similar selfrevelation from his time in Hirakata, Japan. He went away not knowing a soul. Students traveling the same semester had chosen other destinations such as Rome or Rouen, France.

“What I took away the most was to appreciate the transience of the moment. Just stop. Wander. Take in what is around you,” Derrig says. “For the first time in my life, I really learned how to let go.”

Derrig studied Japanese religions at Kansai-Gaidai University, which partners with JCU as a study-abroad destination. “It was the first time I had to be fully independent with no support network,” says Derrig, who was employed at Global Cleveland after graduation and is currently pursuing a law degree.

“You will hear that study-away is ‘transformative,’ and it is — and that can be scary for a student, but we let them know we are going to walk alongside you in this experience,” says Rachel Hosler, vice president for student affairs at Walsh University. “This is a safe way to go outside your comfort

zone and challenge yourself at a young age.” After all, the world is a pretty small place.

STUDY-AWAY TODAY

From off-the-beaten-path destinations such as Madagascar and Nepal to do mestic travel, today’s study-away ex tends beyond staying with a host fam ily overseas or bunking in a different country’s college dorm. The format has also evolved. Programs include springbreak-sized excursions and short-term, professor-led experiences, along with semester and year-long trips, says Jon nathan De La Fuente, director of Inter national Programs and Study Away at Oberlin College.

Study-away can culminate service opportunities and include internship exchanges. For example, Oberlin’s partnership with American University in Washington allows students to study policy while networking with the vari ous governmental branches, he says.

In New York City, they can learn the ater “though the lens of Broadway,” he adds. In Montana, Obies can take geo logical science courses. Faculty-led of ferings range from French winemaking and tours exclusively taught in the lan guage, and Russian language and cul ture while visiting the sights in Georgia.

“We talk to students about these op portunities before they even arrive on campus, while they are doing tours,” De La Fuente says.

Across the board, the study-away conversation is happening before stu dents submit college applications so they can “map out their curriculum” and carve time for travel experiences, he says.

At Oberlin, an exceedingly high 60% to 80% of students engage in some type of study-away program. “We navigate the options based on their academic in terests and curriculum requirements,” De La Fuente says.

The semester-long JCU in Rome is a primary study-abroad program for its students and includes internship op portunities with the Jesuit Refugee Ser vice, directly in the Vatican or for the

PLAN YOUR VISIT TODAY

Vatican radio, says Melanie Hahn, director for its Center for Global Education. “Taking advantage of internships while studying abroad is one of the greatest resume builders,” she adds.

Walsh’s two-week and monthlong programs in Austria, Italy and Ireland are facilitated through university partnerships and offer flexibility for fitting in travel while managing a packed school schedule, Hosler points out.

THE BIG LIFE LESSONS

The experiential piece is the most impactful. “I know I came back more confident and prepared for life than ever,” Derrig says of learning the transit system, traveling solo across Japan and spending three days on the Shikoku Henro Buddhist pilgrimage route.

In fact, walking and exploring is how Derrig calmed his nerves during the initial days while he was getting used to a completely different cultural environment far from home.

Derrig’s advice: “Don’t make the experience about yourself. Make it about experiencing a place you’ve never been. Know that it’s different than where you come from and treasure it.”

De La Fuente relates to his study abroad experiences 15 years ago as a student. “I learned how to budget,” he says. “I learned how to understand conversion rates. I also learned how to cook and discovered a love for it.”

Aside from independence, students navigate new social environments, requiring adaptability, De La Fuente says. “Oberlin is one type of environment. A student’s home is another type of environment. And abroad, their independence skills go up a notch because they are learning their way in a differ-

Of course, experiences like this shine on a resume whether for entering the workforce or gaining admission to graduate school, De La Fuente points out. “Students say when they put study away on their resumes and LinkedIn, they have gained more attention and inquiries from grad schools, professional schools and employers,” he says.

Ready for Takeoff?

EARNING CREDIT. Hannah Lesko went into a study-away experience as an honor student pursuing a double major. Plus she was a resident assistant (RA). “I had to make sure all my ducks were in a row so I could still graduate on time,” she says, relating that she saved some core classes that were not overly challenging for her time in Austria. Find out how credits earned elsewhere will translate on a transcript. For short-term trips, coordinate with faculty to determine how site visits abroad could work into classroom curriculum, suggests Rachel Hosler, vice president for student affairs at Walsh University.

CONNECTING TO CARE. Learn what healthcare services are available while away. What if a student requires counseling to work through a tough time while abroad? “There is always the time period of shifting into a new culture, and we have medical insurance that includes mental health counseling abroad if they need to get through that initial hump,” says Melanie Hahn, di-

Prepare for a study-away program by addressing these issues first.

uakron.edu/visit

rector of John Carroll University’s Center for Global Education.

ON

THE SAFE SIDE.

Study-away programs are carefully vetted to ensure student safety, Hosler says. This includes a review of travel warnings and screening university partners, host families and other housing situations. Hahn adds that students are advised to travel with care while away. “We always tell students to use common sense. If a situation does not feel safe, remove yourself from the setting.”

MONEY MATTERS.

Find out how financial aid and scholarship dollars apply to study-away programs. “Take into account cost of living, and realize there are ways to control how much is spent abroad based on housing that can be comparable to where they are living on campus,” Hahn says.

Oberlin’s Jonnathan De La Fuente suggests connecting with the campus financial aid office to learn about resources.

Schedule your visit today!

From world-class academics on our beautiful campus to real-world experiences in our vibrant city, The University of Akron has everything you need to reach your goals.

• 200 programs in engineering, business, computer technology, health care, education, and the arts and sciences

• Hundreds of student organizations

• 30,500 employers recruiting UA students and alumni for internships, co-ops and careers

HOME, AGAIN

Deciding to completely gut and reinvent a longtime family home is all about a sense of place and connections — with a mind to build in modern amenities.

BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE

Her parents built the Independence ranch house in a desirable location close to green space and conveniences in the 1950s. Today, there are still great neighbors in a friendly community, there’s access to walkable conveniences and it’s the stomping grounds the homeowner has appreciated since childhood.

When her father passed away, she had to decide: Sell and stay put in her current Broadview Heights freestanding cluster home or reimagine the family’s longtime place and carry on a tradition.

It’s a completely different type of reno decision than most properties. The ROI cost-benefit ratio has nothing to do with resale. It’s about the feels.

“You need to do it for the right reasons,” says Pat Hurst, owner and CEO, Hurst Design Build Remodel.

Those reasons are mostly about connections. “It’s about an attachment to the community and its people,” Hurst says. “You’re investing in your life and not looking at the financial return. It’s a piece of your family and has value the

market doesn’t necessarily recognize.”

Aside from nostalgia — and city services, desirable taxes, familiarity — the location and lot size were additional selling points that would allow her to build a forever home to age in place.

But she knew: “The house needed a lot of love.”

The next decision: Demo or reno?

She wanted some of these layout features in her current home, mainly the first-floor master suite and open floor plan. Also, the upstairs needed a roof-line lift with a dormer addition and full-size bathroom to become a true guest suite, also a priority. She recalls bunking up with her sister in the second-floor bedroom that felt like a tunnel with its low, half-story ceilings. Well, it needed a big “lift.”

Ultimately, the decision landed on maintaining the bones, gutting the

mechanicals while rethinking the layout, holding on to a bit of its past by refurbishing exterior sandstone, and leveraging the spacious lot to expand.

The project was a complete gut job two years in the making and a drastic expansion, doubling the living space to 2,831 square feet, thanks to a sizable backyard that allowed lenience for a master suite and great room buildout, along with a covered outdoor living space.

“It’s really like having a new home in an old home — it was extensive,” says Bridget DiFilippo, senior designer on the project.

Light, Bright and Open The original kitchen was reassigned into a laundry mud room with cubbies and a walkin pantry, and the front bedroom became a renovated office with the firstfloor original bathroom completely BEFORE AFTER

overhauled for guests — conveniently close to main-level entertaining spaces. A 1,095-square-foot addition on the first floor off the back of the house made way for a master suite, open kitchen and great room. The former dining room became a cozy gathering room with diamond tile detail and a sleek mantle with waterfall edges that connect to the complementary hearth. The wood-burning fireplace was converted to gas.

A Prominent Entry The awkward front entry was a sticking point. The door, positioned on the stoop (albeit opening to the side), lacked a welcoming feeling. The team refurbished existing sandstone, performed some tuck pointing, and sourced additional stone to match — not an easy feat, especially during a pandemic remodel.

A dormer gives the home a lift and

definition, drawing the eye up toward a sloping roof line, vs. the original flat front.

The additions of railing and windows with deep, charcoal siding bring the family home into modern times.

The same exterior features carry to

the back outdoor living space, a real asset for the homeowner’s lifestyle, she says. And with room out front to relax, she can greet the neighbors she knows and enjoy the setting.

Look Up Entering the front door, the previous layout funneled into a stairway to the upstairs, “and it was long and narrow,” the homeowner describes. “I said, ‘What can we do with that?’” By elevating the roof line with a dormer, this allowed space for “a proper bedroom and bathroom,” DiFilippo explains. Ample closet space throughout offers

added storage, with room for a quaint seating area.

A Kitchen for Entertaining

When taking on a large-scale project, there are splurge and save decisions, DiFilippo points out. Specifically in the kitchen, they happened upon a single slab of quartzite, meaning no additional pieces or cuts.

Also in the kitchen, the homeowner went for subtle gray cabinetry and a cherry-stained island. DiFilippo drew from the quartzite surface’s blues and greens to inform the color palette for adjoining main-level living spaces.

The homeowner says of the project, “It was a journey, and when my sister was visiting during the holidays, she summed it up by saying, ‘You can see that it’s the same yard and location, but the home is reimagined.’ And it’s still in the family.”

BEFORE AFTER

YOUR PROJECT IS OUR PRIORITY

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SETTING PRIORITIES

Decisions, decisions. Diving into a large-scale remodeling project, and even a basic reno, requires some quality time asking yourself, “What’s really important?” The owner of this Independence property says a defined process and detailoriented planning sessions helped guide the way during a complex design/build project. Once she enlisted Hurst Design Build Remodel, she completed a thorough questionnaire at project onset that helped organize her thoughts.

What are the big and little things you love about your home? Think about project areas.

What do you not like and want to change?

Do you (or plan to) entertain often? Do you find it difficult to do so?

Are you embarrassed about any areas of your home? (worn or outdated finishes, not enough space)

Are there areas of your home that lack privacy? What privacy do you need?

Are there safety concerns with areas of the home?

Are there rooms in the home that are too isolated from other spaces?

Do you feel your home is cramped or cluttered? Please list examples.

How long do you plan on living in your home? (two years, five years, 10 to 20 years? Bury me in the backyard?)

Is a custom project for your lifestyle or resale value more important?

Is building green important to you?

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BBB Accredited Businesses are committed to operating integrity, honoring promises and telling the truth Always look for the BBB Seal, it’ s The Sign of a Better Busin

BBB Accredited Businesses are committed to operating with integrity honoring promises and telling the truth Always look for the BBB Seal, it’ s The Sign of a Better BusinessSM

LOOKING FOR A REAL ESTATE AGENT?

GARDEN HOME &

FRIENDLY CONFINES

LYNNE THOMPSON

JILL CALO DESCRIBES AN ASSIGNMENT that sounds almost paradoxical: Turn the unfinished basement of a Solon home into an open area that’s both a casual entertaining venue and a children’s playroom — a place where kids can be part of a gathering or segregated from it as circumstances dictate.“[The homeowners] had needs that they were thinking of,” says Calo, lead designer and creative director for Payne & Tompkins Design-Renovations in Chardon. “But they didn’t know exactly how to implement [solutions].” Calo did. She achieved the seemingly impossible by designing a well-appointed space where the homeowners welcome guests and their two school-age daughters swing from the rafters and write on the walls — well, at least one of them.

Who doesn’t like a swing? The feature was added for the children, but adults tap their inner child and get in on the action, too.

Calo turned the basement into a true lower level by enlarging a small window to a picture-sized counterpart that filled what would become the sitting area with natural light.

Contractors framed, insulated and drywalled the entire lower level, painted it light gray and laid a luxury vinyl plank floor.

Calo created a sitting-area feature wall to hang the framed television by paneling it, then painting it Benjamin Moore’s Newburyport Blue, a color she describes as “timeless” — one appropriate for the dwelling’s traditional decor.

The homeowners furnished the sitting area with a tufted smoky-blue velvet sofa and three stools that slide underneath a sofa table.

Calo notes that the sofa has a deep

chaise lounge-length seat. “Everybody can pile on it,” she says.

The space’s main attraction, however, is a pair of rope swings. The seats were stained a driftwood shade to match the hand-hewn pine employed to wrap existing posts and a steel support beam — an element that added a touch of rustic informality to the space.

The swings, she reassures, were constructed to limit movement on them. Supports were reinforced to accommodate the weight of adults as well as kids.

“People gravitate toward their

A HANGOUT FOR ALL AGES

Consider the next stages of a child’s life. “If [the space] is going to be a playroom now, how can we use the space when they’re teenagers?” says Jill Calo, Payne & Tompkins Design-Renovations lead designer and creative director.

If you choose to construct your basement in a kid-friendly manner, here are ideas to keep in mind as your children get older and develop new interests.

Make age-specific features easily (and affordably) changeable. The play area’s pink bedding, pink-and-white rug and table, which came with a second set of longer legs to accommodate older children, are all good examples.

Include a feature that encourages learning. Calo points to the office nook, a quiet place where children can study. “If it’s something to do with sports, maybe that goes outside so you don’t ruin the interior of the space,” she says.

The entire basement was designed to be a social space for adults and children. But the huge blue sofa is a place for the family to curl up and get comfy.

inner child,” Calo says. “They want to get on the swing!”

The swings serve as a visual divide between the sitting area and kitchenette, a stretch of quartz-topped cream-colored cabinetry equipped with an under-counter refrigerator and microwave oven.

Calo chose the same barnwoodstained pine used to create a backsplash to panel a reading nook tucked under a staircase from the lower level to the first floor.

The custom gray-velvet cushion covers the entire 7-foot length of the feature, one inspired by the girls’ love of books.

“They can really curl up in there and have a quiet place to read, just a really cozy place,” Calo says.

Calo dedicated one corner of the space to the girls’ play and sleepovers with friends.

One wall was outfitted with white built-in twin-size bunk beds flanked by touch-latch closets for storing toys and art supplies.

The other was covered with a floorto-ceiling chalkboard where the girls and their friends could unleash their creative tendencies.

A low white table, a roll of drawing paper stationed in a freestanding holder and a pink-and-ivoryswirled rug complete the play-area furnishings.

The entire area can be enclosed with two sliding barn doors painted the same blue as the feature wall.

“When [the play area] is open, it’s really open to the space,” Calo says.

Calo included a full bath, guest bedroom, cat area in a mechanical room next to the play area, and 6-by5-foot “office nook” in her design. It has stood the test of time.

When she asked the homeowners if their daughters, ages 4 and 6 when the project wrapped, had outgrown the play area and reading nook, the reply was gratifying.

“They’re 9 and 11 now, and they still use it,” the girls’ mother replied.

LAKEWOOD | $1M

CLIFTON LAGOONS. A very rare property in a very special location. Double lot. This artist’s home is filled with unexpected and delightful “quirks.” Casual Lake Erie lifestyle. One of only a few Lagoons properties built on land (not water). A 2nd floor balcony spans the home with spectacular yacht club, river, and Lake Erie views.

RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000

LAKEWOOD | $270K

Winton Place. North East corner with panoramic views of Lake Erie and the downtown skyline. 3 bedrooms. 2 full baths including private primary suite. Spacious living area. Gracious dining. All rooms provide exceptional views. Updated kitchen. Exceptional storage throughout. In-suite laundry. Full amenities.

RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000

BRATENAHL | $800K

FIRST FLOOR OWNER’S SUITE. Nearly 4000 sq. ft. of living space. Incredible lowmaintenance cluster w/1st floor master & office. Loads of light. One floor living with exceptional 2nd floor guest space. Gleaming new hardwood floors throughout the 1st level. The 2-story entry is open to a bright vaulted great room w/gas fireplace.

RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000

BRECKSVILLE | $410K

Outstanding one floor living. Every inch updated, including all mechanicals. Open great room concept with FABULOUS new kitchen. Fresh. Bright. Neutral. Luxury vinyl flooring throughout. Sliders open to the patio. Walk to new Oakes Road Elementary. A+ rated Brecksville Schools. Near shopping & amenities.

RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000

LAKEWOOD | $1M

CLIFTON LAGOONS. Lake Erie access year round, storage for your boat in your 80x18 boathouse. A rare opportunity. Vaulted great room opens to the true “cook’s kitchen.” 1st and 2nd floor bedrooms. 3rd floor office with sliders to the 80 x18 deck overlooking the lagoon & Lake Erie. Clifton Beach privileges: Tennis. Playground.

RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000

ROCKY RIVER | $150K

Mayfair Village. Everything fresh and new. Tastefully redone ranch condo with lovely finishes throughout. Bright. Neutral. 2 bedrooms. 1.5 baths. Absolutely move-in ready. In-ground pool. Great location. Near every amenity with easy freeway access. Great value. Excellent Rocky River Schools & City services. 1 car garage.

RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000

BRATENAHL | $800K

Gorgeous formal dining room. Walls of windows open to a private courtyard. Family room w/ a 2nd gas fireplace and built-ins. Casual dining area open to the kitchen. Prime location in Shoreby’s gated community, steps to Lake Erie & the Club. Fresh. Neutral. Recent updates. Finished lower level. Private patio. 2 car attached garage.

RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000

BRECKSVILLE | $410K

Wonderful private master suite with gas fireplace, sitting area and stunning new bath with walk-in shower and private outdoor access. 3 additional bedrooms and a full bath comprise a separate ‘wing.’ New lighting & fixtures. Lower level storage. Deeply set-back from the street. Nearly an acre wooded lot. 2 car semi-attached garage.

RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000

THE INDIANS GOT a special guest for their 1939 season opener, as the national anthem was sung by Judy Garland, an accomplished stage and screen star at 16 — with even greater stardom to come soon.

Garland (born Frances Gumm) was part of a vaudeville family, and she broke into movies as a teen, finding fame as the co-star of Mickey Rooney in the Andy Hardy movies. Filming had been completed for The Wizard of Oz earlier in 1939, and Garland was in Cleveland for a two-week engagement at Loew’s State Theatre in what’s now Playhouse Square: the first stage show at the theater in three years. Her first show was on a Friday evening, April 21. That afternoon was also the Indians’ opener against the Detroit Tigers. It was scheduled to be the home opener, but the entire three-game series

that would have begun the series in St. Louis was washed out.

Indeed, cold temperatures with a hint of rain were predicted at the lakefront. “Sensible people would go in out of the rain,” wrote Roelif Loveland in the next day’s The Plain Dealer. “Sensible people would go in out of the cold.” But a hale, hearty 23,957 showed up in what Loveland said was more like football weather. Cleveland Mayor Harold Burton threw out the ceremonial first pitch, bouncing one in the dirt, and Garland, the guest of team owner Alva Bradley, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the flag was raised in the outfield. The Indians then tamed the Tigers, 5-1, behind a stellar pitching performance from Bob Feller, the first of his seven Opening Day starts — still a team record.

CLEVELAND