USS Cleveland Commissioning, Cleveland Midline Project, Cleveland Ballet: CLE Daily

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🎢 Cost Hike: Cedar Point's at-the-gate prices cost $100 for the first time ever. 

⚾️ Long Ball: Cleveland Guardians star Jose Ramirez leads the MLB in steals at 18.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Powerful Story: Motherhood paused Alesha Lifka’s running journey — now she returns yearly for the University Hospitals Cleveland Marathon, which is happening this Sunday.

ICYMI: Backed by a $3.3 million Mandel Foundation gift, the $12 million project will restore and expand the historic Gries House into a new music and arts destination.

Today's Trivia

Nebraska native Bob Wells – who later became a co-host of late-night movies with Big Chuck Schodowski – came to Cleveland in 1965 as what rhyming character on the WJW news?

USS Cleveland to be commissioned tomorrow.

News | By Jaden Stambolia

Docked near the Port of Cleveland is the USS Cleveland, the fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the city's name, since its predecessor was decommissioned in 2011. Unlike the previous three, this one is making history when it is commissioned this Saturday and has deep ties to the city.

History Making: It's the first time in history that a U.S. Naval warship has been commissioned in the city and the state of Ohio.

Honoring: The ship's motto and crest both symbolize and honor Cleveland's manufacturing roots and history.

• The ship’s motto is “Forge a Legacy.”

• The crest showcases a red stipe, an anvil and 16 rays of the sun to represent the USS Cleveland as the 16th and last Freedom-class ship.

Built Here: Six local companies played a role in building the Cleveland-named warship. Sherwin-Williams supplied an estimated 30% of the coatings used on the ship.

• Cleveland-Cliffs, Lincoln Electric, Parker Hannifin, TransDigm and The Hellan Strainer Company all played a role in the construction of the ship.

Taylor Lewis, Sales Director at Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine: “This is a historical moment. It's really awesome to see a project to be able to come in this close to all of the folks that work at Sherwin-Williams here in Northeast Ohio.”

• “We have a great R&D center that we just opened up down in Brecksville and we have some really brilliant scientists that work down there that develop all these coatings for the Navy.”

How It Works: During tomorrow’s commissioning ceremony, the ship's sponsor will give the order to “man our ship and bring her to life!” At the moment of the order, the commissioning pennant for the ship is raised, officially entering the USS Cleveland into the U.S. Pacific Fleet of the Navy.

• The sponsor is Robyn Modly, the wife of former Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly.

• The ship, after commissioning, will be homeported to Florida.

You can watch the live stream here starting at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday.

Cleveland launched a massive redevelopment with Midline project. 

Development | By Ken Prendergast, NEOTrans

Cleveland’s largest industrial redevelopment in its history, dubbed the Midline Priority Investment Area, was announced on May 13 as an effort to transform the city’s near-East Side into a job hub and community greenway.

The Mission: The 350-acre district in the Central, Fairfax and Kinsman neighborhoods will convert vacant industrial land on either side of the elevated Norfolk Southern railroad tracks into a connected employment center with new trails, parks and transit access for Cleveland’s workforce.

Economic Impact: Plans call for at least 1.5 million square feet of new industrial and commercial space, supporting more than 2,500 direct jobs within reach of public transit.

• At full build-out, the project is projected to generate up to $100 million in annual tax revenue for the city.

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb: “This is one of the most ambitious neighborhood revitalization efforts Cleveland has undertaken."

Read more on the historic nature of this project.

Talk of the Town

The city of Cleveland denied the permit for the Slavic Village data center on Thursday. The data center proposed by Lakeland Equity Group was a $1.6 billion, 150-megawatt campus comprising three buildings on 35 acres, currently owned by Morabito Enterprises.

The Cleveland Browns regular season schedule features no international games this upcoming season. The Browns last played internationally during the 2025 season, when the team played in London.

Celebrate the 17th annual Cleveland Asian Festival in AsiaTown this weekend. This year's festival features a food competition, a dance competition and the Colors of Asia Fashion Show. 

A small aircraft crashed into an Akron home on Thursday, killing two people on board the plane. Akron police say that no one in the house reported injuries. The plane departed from Akron Fulton Regional Airport before crashing. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers tip off at 7 p.m. today with Game 6 airing on Amazon Prime Video. If Cleveland wins, they will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. If the Detroit Pistons win, Game 7 will be on Sunday, with tip-off time and the broadcast location not announced yet.

Cleveland Ballet's Alexander Guzman designs costumes built for dancing.

Arts & Culture | By Liza Marra

Though some have claimed that “no one cares” about ballet anymore, this couldn’t be less true in the Land. Sorry, Timothee Chalamet, but it appears Cleveland’s ballet and art scene is thriving, filled to the brim with talented and innovative artists.

• Local Dance: The Cleveland Ballet is a resident company of Playhouse Square. The company will wrap up its 2025-2026 season with Cinderella from May 15 to May 17.

We caught up with Cleveland Ballet dancer Alexander Guzman, known both for his performances on Northeast Ohio stages and his work creating costume designs for ballet dancers.

• Early Inspirations: As a child, Guzman often found himself dancing around his home in Ponce, Puerto Rico. At just 15 years old, he started dancing with the Ballet Senorial and never looked back.

• Dance Work: Guzman is a leading force for ChoreoLab, the dancer-initiated performance that showcases original choreography and raises money for local dancers. This year, ChoreoLab takes place at Near West Theatre in Cleveland’s Gordon Square neighborhood on June 5.

Alexander Guzman: "Cleveland has a very special atmosphere in art. It's not just ballet; it's their art in general. We have the museum, we have the orchestra. It's like a perfect environment for an artist to grow. Combining Playhouse Square with all the art forms in the city, it's very welcoming to grow as an artist, not just as a dancer."  

Read more about Guzman's work.

Things To Do This Weekend

Kid Cudi at Blossom Music Center (May 15): The rapper who grew up in the Cleveland area comes to Blossom. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m., and Chip Tha Ripper, Big Boi and A-Trak open. 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com

Paul McCartney and Wings Opening Party (May 16): The Rock Hall celebrates the opening of its new Paul McCartney and Wings exhibit with a special party that runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Wings guitarist Laurence Juber will be on hand to sign copies of his book, Guitar with Wings: A Photographic Memoir. 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., Cleveland, 216-515-8444, rockhall.com

Guitar Women: An Evening with Sue Foley, Rory Block & Cindy Cashdollar at Music Box (May 17): Three terrific female blues guitarists unite for Guitar Women, a collaboration bringing together artists whose careers span decades. The concert coincides with the May release of Sue Foley’s new book, Guitar Women, which honors the trailblazing women who shaped the sound of the guitar. It begins at 7 p.m. at Music Box Supper Club. 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland, 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com

Yesterday's Trivia Answer

This Cleveland Heights commercial district has been called the area’s equivalent to Haight-Ashbury. Coventry

Check back Monday for the answer to today's question.

From the Editor

I stood on the deck of the USS Cleveland yesterday. My first thought went to my great grandpa. I wish I could have called him and told him where I was and what I was doing.

I was lucky to know him for almost two decades of my life. Anytime he told me a story about his time in the U.S. Army, I was all ears. There are definitely some funny stories that should never go into print, but I am very proud of his service and I know he would have been proud of me.

The USS Cleveland is set to forge new pride for our city, state and country. Those who serve on for the next two decades will have stories to share for generations. - Jaden Stambolia, Editorial Assistant