Insider's Guide to CLE 2022

AN INSI DER ’S GUIDE TO

� Our Favorite Bars

� Local Parks You Need to Try

� Why People Are Moving Back to Downtown Cleveland

Hinckley Reservation

Sleepy Hollow Golf Course

Over 300 miles of trails

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

8 Scenic Golf Courses

Nationally Acclaimed Zoo

North Chagrin Reservation

More than 5,000 free programs

Download the mobile app at clevelandmetroparks.com/app

Welcome to Cleveland.

COVER: GABE WASYLKO C L E V E L A N D S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y, M I C H A E L S C H WA R T Z L I B R A R Y S P E C I A L C O L L E C T I O N S

Whether you were born and raised here or you’re a first-time visitor, there’s plenty to discover. Cleveland Magazine gives you the inside track on the newest and coolest in town, plus a look into some of our favorite hidden gems. From one-of-akind spots in far-flung corners of the city to a definitive list of our favorite bars and restaurants, there’s a plethora of ways to make Cleveland your own. We’ll also fill you in on some of our favorite parks, makers and even the state of Cleveland’s booming downtown housing market. So get out there, explore Cleveland and its many personalities — and become an insider of your own.

1956 Despite making its United States premiere in 1952, This Is Cinerama — a documentary showing various scenes of everyday life from across the United States — didn’t make its debut in Cleveland until 1956.

Although the Palace Theatre had been showing movies full time since the start of the 1920s, its equipment couldn’t support the widescreen format of This Is Cinerama. To prepare for the show, the theater was renovated to include three projectors and a new sound system. As a part of the renovation, 1,800 seats were removed from the 2,530-seat theater. In preparation for the premiere, Palace Theatre owner Max Mink sold the first ticket to This Is Cinerama on Oct. 17, 1956, to University Heights resident Marlene Lurie nearly a month before the movie’s premiere on Nov. 14, 1956. // H E N R Y P A L A T T E L L A This story appeared in the October 2021 issue of Cleveland Magazine.

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Out on the Town / BY BRIANNA CANADA /

LEON BRIDGES: JUSTIN HARDIMAN

2022 is already shaping up to be a good year for events and entertainment in Cleveland. Here are three must-see events to see over the next couple months.

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A version of this story appeared in the January 2022 issue of Cleveland Magazine.

NKOTB: COURTESY AUSTIN HARGRAVE

New Kids on the Block at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Looking for a nostalgic night where you can be serenaded by the hits of your childhood?

If so, look no further than NKOTB’s stop in Cleveland. With special guests Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue, this is one party not to miss.

June 21, 7:30 p.m., 1 Center Court, Cleveland, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com

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To Kill a Mockingbird at Playhouse Square If your English teachers were anything like ours, you’ve read this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel — and for good reason. Spend a night this spring watching the story of Boo Radley come to life in Aaron Sorkin’s adaption of Harper Lee’s iconic book. April 26May 15, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216241-6000, playhousesquare.org

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: COURTESY PL AYHOUSE SQUARE

Leon Bridges at Jacobs Pavilion Best known for his 2015 song “Coming Home,” singer-songwriter Leon Bridges brings his soulful voice and newfound R&B flavor to Cleveland as Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica’s seasonopener. Try not to sing along when “Sweeter” comes on. May 8, 7:30 p.m., 2014 Sycamore St., Cleveland, 216-622-6557, theflatspavilion.com

JazzFest Tri-C

CLEVELAND

JUNE 23-25

Playhouse Square

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Get passes at tri-cjazzfest.com

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Made With Care

/ EDITED BY KIM SCHNEIDER AND ARBEL A CAPAS / 4 INSIDER'S GUIDE

A version of this story appeared in the September 2021 issue of Cleveland Magazine.

KP PHOTO GROUP

Handmade, expertly crafted and built to last. This is what you can expect from one of the many different handmade makers in Cleveland. From recycled cookbooks, small-batch candles to a salt pinch bowl, here are five locally-made items we're hoping you'll love as much as we do.

NEW DAY NOTES’ RECYCLED COOKBOOKS

COURTESY THE SHOPS

DELAINE SAMBENEDETTO is more

likely to be found perusing antique shops for vintage titles than prepping in a kitchen. But fate drew the two worlds together when she discovered a tattered copy of Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking at Rogers Flea Market & Auctions in Rogers, Ohio. “It had no binding on it,” Sambenedetto says. “It was missing pages as well.

This one really needed some love and care.” She salvaged its cover, along with a handful of recipes and original illustrations, ranging from desserts to salads. She measured and cut 100-120 new pages, hole-punched them and hand-fed each through the book’s spiral. Her shop, New Day Notes on Etsy, which is dedicated to reviving old books into notebooks and planners, has other cookbook options such as two vintage Cutco cookbooks ($25).

Each notebook in her shop is one-of-akind, so customers should act quickly if they see a cover that speaks to them. etsy.com/shop/newdaynotes

JENNIFER LEE STUDIOS’ SALT PINCH BOWL JENNIFER LEE HAS two missions as

an artist. The first is simple: everything she makes needs to be inspired by Lake Erie. It’s the second one that’s a little tougher: all those pieces inspired

by Lake Erie must be both artistic and functional. You’d be hard-pressed to find a piece of Lee’s collection that brings together both of those missions better than her salt pinch bowl ($24), a small 3-by 4-inch vessel that’s built to hold a small amount of salt. “People who like to cook beautiful food should also have beautiful things in their kitchen to complement that,” says Lee, the owner of Jennifer Lee Studios.

While she describes the process of making the stoneware clay pinches as one that’s taken “her entire creative life,” she’s been offering them at her studio for the past four years. With the clay on the inside of the bowl being glazed and the clay on the outside being raw, the light spotty design of the pinches is reminiscent of the sand and rocks you’ll find on the beach. jenniferleestudios.net CLEVELAND MAGAZINE

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ZAV CANDLE CO.’S RX CANDLE AS FAR AS prescriptions go, this one is easy to fill. Just light the Rx Candle ($15)

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COURTESY ZAV CANDLE CO.

from Zav Candle Co. for a dose of relaxation. Warning: may cause all worries to melt away. Perfect for dinner parties with friends or a quiet night in with your favorite book, this scented candle comes in five different warm and inviting scents.

With choices such as vanilla, sea salt, mango, lavender and Black Sea (a customer favorite), each fragrance brings a fresh and calming essence to any room, while the thick wood wick creates a satisfying crackling noise for added ambiance. Created with the purpose of easing anxiety, particularly for mothers, Zav Candle Co. owner Alanna Jordan gets help from her two children to make each candle. Jordan starts by measuring the wax and fragrance oils and then prepping the wicks. After that, she lets the candle set overnight before adding a label and putting it on a shelf, just waiting for you to come pick it up. zavcandleco.com

DISCOVER SOMETHING SPECIAL AT LEGACY VILLAGE

CLEVELAND’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE CENTER Anthony Vince Nail Salon Arhaus Furniture Bar Louie Barre3 Black Box Fix Brio Italian Grille California Pizza Kitchen The Capital Grille C’est Macaron The Cheesecake Factory Chico’s Chipotle Contessa Gallery Crate & Barrel Deka Lash

Dick’s Sporting Goods Drybar Esporta Fitness Ethan Allen Giant Eagle Hyatt Place Hotel Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Ladies & Gentlemen Salon & Spa Lilly Pulitzer L.L. Bean Loft Lovesac Merchant’s Mrkt.

The Melting Pot

Milan Laser Hair Removal Nordstrom Rack Pearle Vision RH Gallery Soft Surroundings Sola Salon Studios Soma Starbucks Talbots Tempur-Pedic Things Remembered White House/Black Market Wild Mango

PHOTO CREDIT

LEGACY VILLAGE SHOP. EAT. PLAY. STAY. Visit us online for a retailer directory, property updates and event information.

25333 Cedar Rd. Suite 303 • Lyndhurst, OH 44124 • 216.382-3871 • Legacy-Village.com A version of this story appeared in the April 2020 issue of Cleveland Magazine.

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POPE’S COCKTAILS’ BLUEBERRY LEMONADE COCKTAIL IT USED TO BE that if you wanted

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KRYSTAL TOMLINSON first moved to

Ohio to attend Kent State University.

Though she was away from her Pittsburgh home, the unifying element was both regions’ adoration for pierogies.

“I came out here and everybody in Cleveland really loved their pierogies, too. I was like, All right, I feel like I’m at home,” Tomlinson says. In December 2010, her Etsy shop, Live Dream Create, was born. She has since sold hundreds of her felt kawaii pierogi plushies ($12). Tomlinson sews each pierogi by hand with embroidery floss and uses eco-friendly felt made from recycled plastic bottles and nonallergenic polyester stuffing. While Tomlinson has made other food plushies — think whimsical mushrooms — the simplicity of the pierogi begged for a face, leading Tomlinson to give each one glittering eyes and an irresistible smile. “At Christmas time, I can barely keep them in stock,” she says. livedreamcreate.com

COURTESY THE SHOPS

a Pope’s blueberry lemonade cocktail, you’d have to buy the syrup and bring your own vodka. Now, thanks to Clark Pope’s new line of cocktails, all you need are two glasses and a pal.

Launched last May, Pope’s blueberry lemonade to-go cocktails ($5.99), which contain vodka, lemon juice and cane sugar, are available in local spots such as all Heinen’s and Nature’s Oasis locations. After teaming up with the owner of Academy Tavern to sell the drinks during the pandemic, it was a match made in heaven. “They needed to-go drinks and I needed a resource,” says Pope. “So I made the lemonade and the simple syrup and made those pouches.” The blueberry lemonade tastes exactly how you’d hope it would — a little tart, bright and refreshing — and exactly as it would taste if you made it yourself using fresh, quality ingredients. Other flavors include mojito or whiskey smash. ” popescocktails.com

LIVE DREAM CREATE'S KAWAII PIEROGI PLUSHIES

PICK A DATE. PACK YOUR BAGS. VACATION IS BACK. Leisure time has been in short supply the past few years. Fortunately, The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake can help you make up for lost time. Explore Ohio’s first summer resort community from the comfort of a lakeside hotel or private cottages. Just an hour from Cleveland, you’ll find dozens of wineries, a charming town, otherworldly sunsets — and your best summer.

THELODGEATGENEVA.COM (866) 554-0015

PA R K YO U R S E L F HERE THIS SUMMER.

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Pearl of the City With their third restaurant, Acqua di Luca, Luca and Lola Sema have created a gem of downtown dining. / BY DILLON STEWART /

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cultural virtue and access to the Adriatic Sea gives those along the coast an affinity for fresh fish. Luca’s grandmother made excellent Italian food, a baton he picked up as a chef in the army, training in kitchens in Italy and working his way up from a dishwasher in Cleveland’s Little Italy after moving to the United States in the late ‘90s. But while that love for homemade sun-dried tomatoes, pasta and the cuisine of the boot is well displayed at his other restaurants, those menus aren’t outlets to fully explore the ocean-deep world of seafood.

Catch of the day was still pulling at Luca’s heartstrings.

A version of this story appeared in the February 2022 issue of Cleveland Magazine.

NICKI PRENTLER

ou probably think you know Luca and Lola Sema already.

For nearly two decades, the husband-wife duo has found success delivering top-notch Italian fare at Luca Italian Cuisine on the Superior Viaduct and its offshoot Luca West in Westlake.

But Acqua di Luca, the modern Mediterranean-inspired temple of seafood launched on the corner of West Sixth Street and St. Clair Avenue in June, might be the best representation of the Semas yet.

The couple met as teenagers growing up in Albania, where hospitality is a

Husband-wife team Luca and Lola Sema work together to create a shrine to seafood and hospitality.

“Everything tastes different there,” says Lola. “You eat outside and breathe in the Adriatic Sea.” At Acqua di Luca, Luca’s childlike wonder for fish and rustic cooking meets Lola’s refined eye for decor, service and wine. On the plate, quality ingredients are accentuated by simple but perfect execution, while the sophisticated space puts the city on full display.

“It’s a really unique look to Cleveland,” says Lola. “I didn’t want it to be stuffy or old-school. It’s very New York.”

One great piece of advice we received was to skip the misto di crudo ($45), a smaller collection of raw salmon, yellowfin tuna, scallops and oysters, and head for the fruit de mare ($90), a towering monument to seafood that lightly bathes warm mahogany clams, tender mussels, fresh calamari, shrimp, scallops, Alaskan king crab, whole lobster and whatever else swam into the kitchen that day in a white wine broth.

The European-inspired shareable relies on simple execution to sing a rare song Cleveland seafood lovers must hear.

It’s not the only spot on the menu where Luca lets the ingredients shine.

My bedfellows, who obviously hadn’t watched the documentary I sent, had a bit of sticker shock seeing the Iberico ham ($25), which came out as three thin slices of pork with shaved truffles atop. I count black Spanish pigs to fall asleep, so any chance to find them in Cleveland is exhilarating. I liken it to sushi but for cured meat lovers.

Every group is bound to have a landlubber, which is where the terra e mare, or surf and turf, section comes in handy. The filet mignon/lobster gnocchi ($55), a medium-cooked cut with glorious juices that seep into the

accompanying creamy lobster gnocchi, is like a fine dining kids’ meal with a side of fancy mac and cheese.

Luca still intends to grow the entree menu as well as institute a more affordable bar menu. Both menus will feature new pastas, and three pizza options on the bar menu will give the restaurant a more casual happy hour offering.

“With my experience as a chef, I know I’m missing something,” says Luca. “I need to put more ideas on the menu, new fish, make the bar more bar food.

Little adjustments to fix some stuff.”

Despite the far-flung fish on the plate, the New York-chic décor and the Mediterranean-inspired hospitality, 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.

WHEN YOU GO

Acqua di Luca 500 W. St. Clair Ave., Cleveland 216-329-0700 acquadiluca.com CLEVELAND MAGAZINE

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Downtown’s Residential Renaissance Developers turn to office space for Cleveland’s next crop of housing. / B Y C O L L I N C U N N I N G H A M /

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Michael Deemer, president and CEO of Downtown Cleveland Alliance. “That's probably around 1,000 units across downtown that are available.”

The ongoing health crisis revealed a two-way street for downtown housing and businesses, and Deemer isn’t just talking about Euclid Avenue. COVID-19 both increased residents’ desire to live in walkable neighborhoods and decreased the need for office space, a

GABE WASYLKO

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levelanders who stroll through Playhouse Square will find themselves in walking distance of not just one, or two, but more than 10 new or ongoing residential redevelopments following a pandemic jump-start.

“We're right around 90 percent occupancy of the housing market, and we have just over 9,000 rental units,” says

perfect storm for a flood of repurposed developments.

It’s no coincidence that white quartz countertops and stainless steel stoves have replaced cubicles and desks. A December report from Downtown Cleveland Alliance shows that Cleveland’s office buildings are seeing 58% of the foot traffic they witnessed in February 2020.

“It was a logical next step for developers to repurpose [commercial] buildings and spaces,” says Karen Paganini, who just finished her first year as Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s chairwoman in March.

Also president of Willoughby developer K&D Group, which hopes to move tenants into 156 renovated apartments at 55 Public Square in September, Paganini welcomed Mayor Justin Bibb’s proposal in March to remove the Jersey barriers that have crowded the gathering hub since 2017.

Paganini says she anticipates the conversion of the square into a downtown neighborhood. Paganini hopes K&D’s latest property can help make Cleveland’s “front yard” more viable by bringing new housing and the next iteration of chef Rocco Whalen’s celebrated Fahrenheit restaurant to the former John Q’s Steakhouse space around move-in time.

Deemer, another recent Downtown Cleveland Alliance addition who will have completed a year at the job in June, says the housing renaissance follows a landmark year for downtown immigration, with the district passing 20,000 residents in 2021.

The year prior, some 1,000 units came online with the completion of luxury projects like The Lumen in Playhouse Square, The May on Public Square’s eastward corner and the Euclid Grand, smack dab between the two.

That’s important, he says, because it

brings more business to town, and puts the organization on track to reach its goal of 30,000 residents by 2036.

“Retailers, grocers of all sizes, see 20,000 as the minimum threshold in a central business district to be able to meaningfully support retail,” says Deemer, who spent his previous decade in various business development roles at Downtown Cleveland Alliance.

To support the growing population, Deemer says, another 700 housing units are under construction with 3,000 being planned, targeting frontline workers and young professionals making their way downtown.

Many of the projects, including The May at the old May Co. building, involve gutting empty office spaces and replacing break rooms with fitness centers and kitchens — and, Deemer says, renovating old buildings is cheaper than raising new ones.

“To make new construction viable, the renters think in terms of monthly rates, the developers think in terms of rates per square foot,” he says. For construction to make sense at high-end buildings like The Lumen and City Club Apartments, the magic number for developers is $2.25-$2.50 per square foot each month.

While Euclid Avenue has attracted the most interest from developers, Deemer says, the city needs a greater equilibrium between leasable and for-sale units at a variety of price points. CrossCountry Mortgage could jumpstart housing in the Superior Arts District when its new headquarters arrives with 600 jobs, and Sherwin-Williams’ pending headquarters on West Third Street may draw more attention to the Warehouse District and the Flats.

“I think we’ve got an exciting year ahead of us,” Deemer says.

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PROJECTS UNDER WAY

THE CENTENNIAL The Millennia Companies are in the process of transforming the former Huntington Bank Building at 925 Euclid Ave. into The Centennial, which will house 868 affordable units for the city’s workforce. Deemer says the Centennial epitomizes Cleveland’s efforts to add affordable housing downtown, with units renting for between $0.74 and $2 per square foot, The Cleveland City Planning Commission approved the Centennial in August 2021 but Millennia has yet to start renovations.

45 ERIEVIEW PLAZA Deemer says work on the curved, 16-story building fronting East Ninth Street could begin in March, but few details are available. Downtown Cleveland Alliance worked with the National Park Service and the Ohio Historic Preservation Office to list the Ohio Bell Telephone Co.’s former headquarters on the National Register of Historic Places in February 2021. That helped secure a $5 million historic tax credit for Bluelofts, the Dallas-based developer that is reportedly looking to purchase and hollow out the empty workplace to make way for 368 luxury apartments and a slew of mixed-use amenities.

75 PUBLIC SQUARE — Another Millenia redevelopment, 75 Public Square started showing its tranche of 114 revised units in January — and new residents will be moving futons and microwaves into the Illuminating Co.’s original headquarters this spring. Units sporting one bedroom and bath start at roughly 500 square feet with a monthly rent of $1,195. Rents stretch upwards of $3,040 for about 1,200 square feet.

CITY CLUB APARTMENTS A Michigan-based developer of the same name is looking to turn the parking lot at the corner of Euclid Avenue and East Eighth Street into 304 luxury apartments. The developer broke ground on the new 23-story building in December and is looking to begin renting in spring 2023. Pre-leasing is set to launch before the end of 2022.

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55 PUBLIC SQUARE COURTESY K&D GROUP 7 5 P U B L I C S Q U A R E : C O U R T E S Y M I L L E N N I A H O U S I N G M A N A G E M E N T LT D

55 PUBLIC SQUARE K&D Group began work on 55 Public Square in October 2021 after buying it for $14 million in 2021. Paganini says floors two through 11 of the 22-story tower will start renting one- and twobedroom apartments converted from former office space in September for between $1,360 and $2,810 per month. Joining private tenants will be 16 local law practices, First National Bank’s regional offices and software firm CodeRed.

RESERVE SQUARE Located in the heart of downtown, this mixed-use development building is one of Cleveland’s biggest cultural hubs.

When the complex now known as Reserve Square opened in the 1970s, it was heralded as a town unto itself. It had apartments. It had retail — and it was all close to the action in downtown Cleveland.

Today, downtown is the fastest growing neighborhood in Cleveland, and Reserve Square, still the largest mixed-use development in the city, remains part of that.

Retail establishments fill the street parcels. Most of the apartments are rented, and the property does a brisk business in short-term corporate rentals.

“We continue to invest heavily in the property,” says Doug Price, CEO of the K&D Group, which PROMOTION

has owned the property since 2005. “Everything we can do, we’re doing.”

There are 1,000 apartments in the development, which spans an entire block, bordered by East 12th and 13th streets along with Superior and Chester avenues. Those include 120 units of extendedstay corporate housing.

Many of the apartments are onebedroom units with some of the most affordable rents downtown, Price says. And amenities include a parking garage, indoor pool and fitness center, along with a shared outdoor space.

“It’s really a unique property with all the things it has,” he says.

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Exploring Tremont Here are four spots to get you started. / BY MEGAN BECKER /

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Lucky’s Cafe Enjoy brunch heaven and quirky decor at Lucky’s Cafe.

The wide selection of drinks and sweet treats make it the goto spot to bring your pals for a fun morning out.

777 Starkweather Ave., 216-622-7773, luckyscafe.com

Visible Voice Books This bookstore feels like a cozy loft made for relaxation. Stop by to browse for a rare find — or rent the whole place out for a private night with pizza. 2258 Professor Ave., 216-961-0084, visiblevoice books.com

Christmas Story House You’ll feel a wave of nostalgia when you see the yearround Christmas lights and instantly recognizable yellow exterior.

Be sure to see the infamous leg lamp. 3159 W. 11th St., 216298-4919, achristmas storyhouse.com

This story appeared in the January 2022 issue of Cleveland Magazine.

ELISA VALENSKY

Cloak & Dagger This vegan craft cocktail bar and restaurant is tucked away, but stands out thanks to its one-of-a-kind concoctions and ambiance that whispers academia. 2399 W. 11th St., 216-795-5657, cloakand daggercle.com

JULY 7-10, 2022

TALL SHIPS ARE COMING ON-DECK SHIP TOURS, SAILAWAYS, FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE, LIVE MUSIC, FIREWORKS AND MUCH MORE! get your tickets at www.tallshipscle.com

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AsiaTown Make a point to visit these four local spots. / BY ELENA NEOH /

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Koko Bakery Fall for the aroma of pastries and aromatic buns, among an abundant selection of delicacies such as red bean buns, pork buns and creamy bubble tea. 3710 Payne Ave., 216-8817600, koko bakerycleveland .com

Sushi 86 Come here for savory Japanese rolls, tangy miso soup and vegan mochi as the cherry on top. The 86 roll features fish, avocado, cucumber and fish roe to delight the taste buds of seafood lovers. 530 Euclid Ave., Suite 32, sushi86.com

Li Wah This restaurant offers an assortment of Cantonese dishes known as dim sum, which are bite-sized servings accompanied by tea.

We suggest the scrumptious pork dumplings. 2999 Payne Ave., No. 102, 216-6966556, liwah retaurant.com

A version of this story appeared in the September 2021 issue of Cleveland Magazine.

J A M I E H O LT

Asia Food Co. This hidden gem offers a plethora of products. Customers are spoiled by choice when it comes to seafood, sauces, and more at this grocery store. Make sure to check out the ducks that are sold whole. 3820 Superior Ave., 216-621-1681

GreatScience.com

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Great Outdoors

Get outside and expand your horizons with a stop at our area’s local park systems. / B Y I L O N A W E S T F A L L /

A version of this story appeared in the August 2021 issue of Cleveland Magazine.

L AKE ME TROPARKS: IGOR OLIYARNIK PHOTOGR APHY CLE VEL AND ME TROPARKS: L AUR A WATILO BL AKE

Cleveland Metroparks From the completion of the Towpath Trail to earning gold medal status — again — the Metroparks are a major player in the region's landscape.

Try This Join in on the 2022 Trail Challenge by hiking 10 of the park system's hundreds of options. cleveland metroparks.com

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Lake Metroparks While plenty of the 38 parks in this system have lake and river access (including two statedesignated “wild and scenic” rivers) that make them a haven for paddlers and anglers, the family-friendly features are what really stand out. Try This Camp at one of two campsites at Lake Erie Bluffs park. lakemetroparks.com

CVNP: L AUR A WATILO BL AKE

Cuyahoga Valley National Park The only national park in the state offers towering waterfalls such as Brandywine Falls, historic hikes such as the Buckeye Trail, rock ledges and formations, and even the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway.

Try This Strap on snowshoes and explore the trails for a change of scenery in the winter. nps.gov/cuva

JOIN

the ZOO

IN 2022

ClevelandZooSociety.org/Membership Grab your friends and family and explore the 183 acres of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo!

The Membership program is presented by

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Taco The Town

There's a taco revolution in Cleveland. From Mexican classics to overstuffed options and even vegan tacos, there’s more than enough of these handheld beauties to go around. / EDITED BY JAMES BIGLEY /

KP PHOTO GROUP

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A version of this story appeared in the August 2021 issue of Cleveland Magazine.

BEER CHICKEN TACO

BEYOND TACOS

TYPE: Vegan/Vegetarian Price: $5 Plant-based burgers are all the rage. But at downtown Cleveland’s Zocalo Tequileria, the trend comes in taco form. This vegan delicacy starts with a base of ground Beyond Meat cradled in a flour tortilla. It then gets topped with avocado, vegan slaw, black bean and corn salsa and crispy sweet potato. Even though it’s been on the menu only a brief time, it has been an immediate success. Part of that popularity comes from Zocalo’s chimichurri, a bright and zesty sauce that adds zing to each bite. It’s so good that the only people who know the recipe are the chefs inside Zocalo’s kitchen. All of these ingredients are prepared fresh and collaborate beautifully to give you the perfect, balanced bite of sweet, creamy, salty and crunchy. 2071 E. Fourth St., Cleveland, 216-781-0420, zocalocleveland.com

CAMINO: KP PHOTO GROUP

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ZOCALO TEQUILERIA : K ARIN MCKENNA

TYPE: MODERN AMERICAN PRICE: $3 This taco has withstood the test of time. One of the original seven tacos Camino served when it opened in 2014, the beer chicken taco still reigns supreme — even against the near 20 options on the menu. This American take on Mexican cuisine combines house-made corn tortillas with beer-marinated chicken that’s been deep-fried for an undeniable crunch. You’ll find traditional toppings such as lettuce, tomato, pickled red onion and queso fresco, which balance out the flavors. The addition of Camino’s house-made chipotle ranch ups the ante with just the right bit of tang to complement any taco, while welding together the toppings in a way that’s exciting when you take that first bite. “This taco has all the best stuff in it," says bartender Bronwyn Demich.

1300 W. Ninth St., Cleveland, 216-6218226, caminocleveland.com

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LENGUA TACOS

TYPE: CLASSIC MEXICAN PRICE: $3.50 Authenticity is the main ingredient at Cilantro Taqueria. Whether it’s the salsa or a main meal, co-owner Rey Galindo has designed his menu around bringing authentic flavors and ingredients to each of the dishes. You’d be hard-pressed to find a dish on the menu that displays that authenticity more than the lengua tacos. Preparation starts early, as the beef tongue for the tacos is cooked in a pot with an abundance of herbs and spices. After being cooked to perfection, slices of lengua are topped with cilantro, onion and salsa — three toppings that perfectly complement the soft, juicy texture of the lengua. “This is a taco where you really want to be able to taste the meat,” he says. “You don’t want to put too many toppings on it.

It’s a simple, authentic dish.” Various locations, cilantrotaqueria.com

POBLANO TACOS

TYPE: CLASSIC MEXICAN PRICE: $11.99 If you are craving a taco that emulates authentic Mexican street food, look no further than El Taco Macho. Owner Ricardo Leon has made it his mission to bring that distinct authentic flavor to this Painesville taco spot, doing so by using recipes from taco trucks and carts that he frequents during his annual trips to Mexico.

Nothing on the El Taco Macho menu accomplishes that mission quite like the poblano taco. Preparation for these tacos begins the night before by placing thinly sliced steak in a marinade made with guajillo chile peppers, fresh garlic, vinegar, mesquite seasoning, sour orange and salt. The steak is then grilled to order with chopped mild poblano peppers and red onion before it is topped with queso Chihuahua. 1613 Mentor Ave., Painesville, 440-350-8226, eltacomacho.com CIL ANTRO TAQUERIA : ELISA VALENSKY / E L TA C O M A C H O : J A M I E H O LT

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INSIDER’S CLE

From lush vineyards, tasting rooms and endless wine variations to lift your spirits, here are three local wineries to visit this summer. / E D I T E D B Y A R B E L A C A P A S / bourbon barrel-aged merlot, Sicilian Stallion (a blended red) or Kool-Aid, the vineyard’s sweetest blend.

The winery first laid its roots 11 years ago in Little Italy, then moved to Old Brooklyn in 2016. “My parents are from Sicily and made wine when I was a kid,” Nunes-Insana says.

A version of this story appeared in the July 2021 issue of Cleveland Magazine.

CASK 307: COURTESY ASHTABUL A CVB

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with resident ducks nearby? Hey, you passed! Kick back in this private 2.5-acre park with a glass or two created by owner Anthony Nunes-Insana. Vino, the red Doberman, escorts you to the wine bar, while you choose from one of eight varieties including cabernet,

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VINO VERITAS CELLARS WINERY Vino Veritas, on the grounds of the former Memphis Elementary in Old Brooklyn, would like to quiz ya’.

Sit inside the 20-seat tasting room or the 3,000-square-foot greenhouse? A game of bocce or a soothing sample by the pond

VINO VERITAS CELL ARS WINERY: L AUREN BACHO

Through The Grapevine

16965 Park Circle Drive, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 sapphire-creek.com · events@sapphire-creek.com

INSIDER’S CLE

“It’s been my goal since high school to own an Italian restaurant and winery.”

School was never this much fun. 4103 Memphis Ave., Cleveland, 216-650-9877, vinoveritascellars winery.com THE VINEYARD AND WINERY AT CHATEAU HOUGH Just north of commuters zipping along Chester Avenue is a quiet Midtown vineyard — a vineyard with a mis-

neighborhood, which hopefully raises the value of houses in the area while also incenting people to build new homes in Hough. 1650 E. 66th St., Cleveland, 216-438-0964, chateauhough.com CASK 307 Cask 307 welcomes visitors at the gateway of Ohio’s richest wine producing area. Located in Madison, you’ll find an unexpectedly sophisticated spot to enjoy wine made from European varietals grown in the Grand River Valley. Currently 15 wines are available, including a rare fume blanc, made from locally grown sauvignon blanc grapes. “Unlike Debonne, which is great for a big party with a band, ours is an upscale tasting room offering wines that are more complex,” says manager Donna List.

7259 Warner Road, Madison, 440-3079586, cask307.com

LAUREN BACHO

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sion. This is the Vineyard and Winery at Chateau Hough. The urban forprofit winery is owned by nonprofit Neighborhood Solutions, founded by activist Mansfield Frazier. The winery was his brainchild and serves two purposes. First, to bring positive attention to the Hough community by establishing a destination both chic and upscale and, secondly, to foster economic development in the neighborhood. The goal is to employ people from the

Best Bars

A few simple ingredients make a bar great.

/ EDITED BY DILLON STEWART AND HENRY PAL AT TELL A /

JEANI BRECHBILL

HARBOR INN

In 1895, John D. Rockefeller was refining oil in the Flats when a bar opened on the corner of Elm Street and Main Avenue. Today, Rockefeller lies in Lake View Cemetery, but the Harbor Inn keeps plugging along — not only as the city’s oldest bar but as one of the best dives in the country.

Today, the beer list still features

around 100 options, though local craft beers and domestics have replaced the imports. Old-timers still come in for the Carlsberg Elephant Beer, however, which is not for the faint of heart.

A new crop of regulars visits for the antique bowling machine, weeknight dart leagues and Friday night crowd.

1219 Main Ave., Cleveland, 216-2413232, harborinncle.com

A version of this story appeared in the February 2022 issue of Cleveland Magazine.

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PORCO LOUNGE & TIKI ROOM A tiki bar is only as good as its Zombie. In Ohio City, Porco’s key ingredient, falernum, is made in-house using a multiday process that steeps overproof rum with nearly 100 limes, pounds of fresh spices and other tiki magic inspired by Americana. “It’s actually one of the most beautiful cocktails out there in terms of letting the spirit shine,” says owner Stefan Was. 2527 W. 25th St., Cleveland, 216-802-9222, porcolounge.com

MOE'S TAVERN

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rockers and then a gay bar and then a cocktail lounge. A few years later, as the rumor goes, a writer (or group of writers) from The Simpsons lived above the bar and used the spot as inspiration for the cartoon's version of Moe’s Tavern.

“Not everyone realizes that it’s the bar from The Simpsons, even some locals have no clue,” says owner Michael Lorenz. 1740 E. 17th St, 440-5251041, Cleveland, moes-cle.com

ANGELO MERENDINO

There’s a lot you don’t know about Moe’s Tavern, even if you’ve passed the East 17th Street staple a million times.

The building, which was once a rooming house, has history. It’s been around since 1890 and became Moe’s Tavern in 1979. In the late 1970s, Danny Greene used the building as a speakeasy, complete with gambling in the basement and a brothel upstairs.

Later, it became a hangout for punk

TWIST SOCIAL CLUB

HAPPY DOG: EDSEL LITTLE

/ AROUND THE CORNER: COURTESY AROUND THE CORNER

Twist Social Club is unapologetically gay.

But as queer as it is, the Cleveland club is just as trailblazing. From helping bring the Gay Games to Northeast Ohio in 2014 to being the only LGBTQ Browns Backers location, the club is one of the region’s most important gay destinations.

Since 1999, Twist’s mission has been to create a welcoming space for entertainment the LGBTQ community can’t find elsewhere, owner Constantine Katsaros says. The voices of the patrons

HAPPY DOG

Happy Dog is a safe space for experimentation — and not just on the stage. With a menu of fully customizable franks, the sky is the limit when it comes to living your most-twisted, surreal hot dog fantasies. With PBR in one hand and pencil in the other, punk rock patrons fill in bubbles like a Scantron to the best test ever, selecting a pile of Fruit Loops, applewoodsmoked bacon, Cleveland Kitchen Kimchi, SpaghettiOs, mac and cheese and 45 other toppings to garnish a Blue Ribbon Meats all-beef dog or a Field Roast artisan vegan dog.

5801 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-6519474, happydogcleveland.com

and local performers create the culture at the Clifton Boulevard bar.

“It’s a very strong, tight-knit community," says Katsaros, who co-owns the bar with Jack Messer. "Everybody’s always willing to pitch in.”

Despite the imagery the word "club" might evoke, Twist offers a cozy atmosphere, opting for rustic brick walls and a funky chandelier over hyper-modern bar decor. In warmer weather, cool off with a frozen strawberry daiquiri ($10) or signature Jello shot on the patio.

11633 Clifton Blvd., Cleveland, 216-2212333, twistsocialclub.com

AROUND THE CORNER The first thing you need to know about racing hermit crabs at Around the Corner is that your crab doesn’t matter.

Speaking from experience, there’s no way to tell a winner.

I know because I've never won.

For two years, I’ve spent more Saturdays than I’d like to admit leaned over a table, screaming vitriol at some poor disorientated crustacean While I’ve come close more times than I can count by picking the crab with the coolest drawing on its shell, I’ve never gotten the glory of that $13 pot. 18616 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216521-4413, atccafe.com CLEVELAND MAGAZINE

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SCALPERS

grub. The bar inherited a menu when it acquired neighboring Sharpy’s Subs in 2005, but chef Dom Cesa's wings are the menu’s raison d’etre.

Try This: The Scalpers Slob ($15.75), which piles two fresh beef patties, provolone and American cheese, onion rings and barbecue sauce. 5718 Mayfield Road, Lyndhurst, 440-442-3577, scalpersbarandgrille.com

BAR ONI

GOOD NIGHT JOHN BOY

GOOD NIGHT JOHN BOY: COURTESY GOOD NIGHT JOHN BOY

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Good Night John Boy’s Dirty Ash Tray is kinda like mixing everything in a soda fountain: a tad grotesque and surprisingly delicious. The mixture is simple 1970s magic: a 12-ounce can of Miller High Life topped with salt, pepper, hot sauce and a lime. An extra $3 gets you a kick of mezcal that completes the beverage’s smoky “ashtray” taste. It’s the kind of drink you’d find on the tray table next to your sleeping grandfather’s recliner. “’70s smokiness fits our motif perfectly,” says Nyisha Torres, who works in beverage development for the bar. “Mezcal is really smoky, so it was a no-brainer.” 1167 Front Ave., Cleveland, 216-990-2300, goodnightcle.com

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Here in America, we think we invented getting drunk and watching a ball game. Not so, says Bar Oni chef and owner Matthew Spinner. With his izakaya sports bar in Tremont, Spinner is introducing Clevelanders to Japanese bar culture through yakitori small plates, Sapporo beer and house-made highballs. For a group, try the 12-piece skewer set ($50), the chef’s ever-changing selection of six meat and six veggie skewers. Familiar selections such as chicken thighs, pork belly and okra sit next to more adventurous ones.

Try This: Spinner says chicken thigh ($4) with tare sauce and scallions is the quintessential yakitori skewer.

2173 Professor Ave., Cleveland, 216-7131741, bar-oni.com

BAR ONI: EDSEL LITTLE

Scalpers owner Frank Pines Sr. has been sabotaging people’s diets with food porn Instagram posts of highpiled burgers for more than a decade.

“People say ‘You’re making me fat. I saw that post and I had to come in and eat it,’” he says. But since 1994, the Lyndhurst sports bar has been the place to shamelessly slam some greasy

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