Food & Drink
Best Pizza-By-The-Slice: Geraci's Slice Shop
Downtown Cleveland was in need of a late-night pizza spot that served by the slice. Jason Beudert, the founder of Hangry Brands, decided that it was time to bring 60-year-old pizza concepts from Geraci’s Restaurant and turn it into a Downtown slice shop. Occupying the former Vincenza’s space on Prospect Avenue creates the perfect opportunity for Geraci’s to revitalize the city’s pizza scene. “We brought a really cool ‘80s vibe to what, I think, is the epicenter of Downtown Cleveland,” Beudert says. “Every major city should have a slice shop Downtown, right? I mean, you go to every city, Cleveland-size or larger, and there’s a slice shop.” Geraci’s accomplishes its goal of being Downtown’s single-serving pizzeria exceptionally well. It’s difficult to find a better slice of ‘za than the Hot Tito ($6 for a slice, $35 for a whole pie) at a moment’s notice. geracissliceshop.com
Best Italian Ice: Mount Granita
Chris Giancola didn’t plan for Mount Granita Italian Ice to explode in popularity the way it has in the past few years. He started by operating a sidewalk cart in Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood in 2020 on any summer weekend that fortuned good weather, and now, he finds his product on shelves in local grocery stores. “It all really starts with the fresh produce, fresh fruit. We buy everything from scratch,” Giancola says. “We try to get things that are in season and things that are grown locally.” Mount Granita’s most popular flavor is, of course, lemon, but this season, Amarena cherry has been the shop’s biggest seller. mountgranita.com
Best Self-Serve Bar: Wyne Tasting Bar
In 2022, Belinda and Jay Klein transformed Gordon Square’s historic Sweet Moses space into a chic pink velvet lounge with emerald walls and live-edge wood tabletops, with seating for 60. “My main goal is to make wine more approachable to more people,” says Belinda. “I never want anybody to end up with a whole glass of wine that they don’t like.” While traveling as a flight attendant in Australia, Belinda made it her mission to learn about wines directly from wineries. She now shares the fun of vino without the intimidation. A self-pour dispensing system offers a “taste,” half-glass or full glass from 32 rotating bottles. Plus: charcuterie, beer, champagne, educational events and a private event space. Guests can buy their favorite bottles to take home. wynetastingbar.com
Best New Themed Restaurant: The Astro Restaurant
Prepare for takeoff and enjoy an out-of-this-world dining experience at the Astro Restaurant. Inside, the dining room is decked out with Star Wars, Superman, Star Trek and Transformers memorabilia, and a variety of alien sci-fi decor fit for a range of photo-ops. Find TVs always playing sci-fi movies and a ceiling covered in stars. Located in Tower City Center and opened in April, the concept serves brunch and dinner on weekends and lunch throughout the week. Favorites include the Han’s Hash ($24.99) and the Meg-A-Tron ($34.99), a salmon filet filled with hot crab stuffing and topped with a peach Hennessy glaze. For drinks, the Men In Black bar serves mimosa flights and specialty cocktails inspired by the planets and popular space movies. theastrorestaurant.com
Best Pancake Mix: The Feve
When the pandemic shut The Feve’s doors, another opened for the Oberlin restaurant’s owner, Jason Adelman. Craving top-notch brunch at home, he created smaller portions of his beloved pancake recipe to purchase online ($10+). Don’t worry: These subtly sweet flapjacks, which are only slightly thicker than a crepe, easily beat your typical Bisquick mix. “We just nailed the recipe exactly the way that we wanted. It may have been an accident,” Adleman says. thefeve.com
Best Spice Blends
Adun Spice Co.'s Citrus Garlic
Since founding Adun Spice Co. in 2020, Ramat Wiley’s spices like the citrus garlic ($10) have become go-to flavors for home cooks and culinary enthusiasts. “It was an opportunity for me to take my knowledge of my craft and share amazing spices that I cook with in my kitchen,” Wiley says, “but also share hard-to-find cultural items that a lot of people are looking for as they dig deeper in their cooking journey.” Customers can soon peruse in Wiley’s new Larchmere storefront. adunspiceco.com
Chutni Punch's Spicy Peanut
Chutni Punch founder Sahithya Wintrich grew up eating the flavorful foods of her native Southern India before she moved to Northeast Ohio two decades ago. She launched Chutni Punch, an online retailer specializing in three seasonings ($12 each) inspired by traditional chutney podis, two years ago. “Chutni Punch believes food should taste good, be good for you and good for the planet,” Wintrich says. “These tasty condiments are versatile and can be sprinkled on right at the table to add a burst of flavor and punch of spice to anything from scrambled eggs to popcorn.” chutnipunch.com
Best Latin Speakeasy: Amazonia
Tucked away in the back of Hola Tacos in Lakewood’s Birdtown neighborhood, Amazonia is more than just a craft cocktail bar; it’s an immersive experience inspired by the lush, untamed beauty of the Amazon jungle. Founder Juan Vergara says the cocktail bar transports patrons to “another world full of mysticism, magic and deliciousness.” Upon entering, guests are immediately enveloped in Amazonia’s speakeasy-style ambiance. Dim lighting, rich textures and carefully curated decor evoke the feeling of being deep within the jungle, and the menu adds to the allure. “Every drink features ingredients sourced from the vast Amazon jungle while creating well-balanced and creative drinks for our guests,” Vergara says. “We also offer small plates and hand-crafted poolish-style and wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, all this inside of a restored two-story Victorian house.” One of Vergara’s first menu highlights was the Heart of the Rainforest ($18), a daring concoction that blended cacao-infused cachaca with pineapple and even included edible ants, sourced directly from the Amazon. But now, be sure to find something new on the speakeasy’s latest inventive menu that was launched this fall, promising even more adventurous flavors to explore. amazoniabar.com
Best Boutique Winery: Vincent William
Vincent Profeta and his father turned their wine-making hobby into a career, starting with a vacant French country mansion. “It was a shell,” Profeta says of the Madison residence, which he transformed into a restaurant and tasting room with nine private guest bedrooms, a one-acre vineyard for house-made Cabernet Franc and a sprawling patio overlooking Lake Erie. “It’s all about community, family and food,” Profeta says. “It’s important to bring that to the space.” vincentwilliamwine.com
Best Fruit Bowls: The Fruit Stand
The Fruit Stand’s “build-your-own” style lets guests choose a bowl of smoothie, oatmeal or fresh cut fruit, or the more decadent pound cake bowl ($8.99-$11.99). Load up with toppings such as granola, peanut butter, honey, Oreos and more. After exploring Kent’s food scene, Jason Carpinelli decided local vegetarians and vegans needed something different. “I lived in Kent for two years, and there was a lot of bar food, bars, pizza, chicken wings, and I wanted to go to a place that was healthier,” says Carpinelli. The Fruit Stand has locations in Kent, Cleveland, Broadview Heights, Fairlawn and Aurora. thefruitstandohio.com
Best Layered Donuts: Haute Donuts
Alyssa and Zach Ladner opened their gourmet doughnut shop located within the Van Aken District back in March. After working on the recipe during COVID-19, the couple developed a business featuring handmade, layered specialty doughnuts. “It’s a three-day process,” says Alyssa. “All the icings are made with either real chocolate, cocoa powder, vanilla bean paste or fruit purees, so everything is really authentic tasting.” The Classic Donuts ($3.50) are vanilla bean, strawberry hibiscus and chocolate sprinkle. Specialty and 50-layered doughnuts ($4.00) change weekly, with the most popular flavor being Boston cream. hautedonutscle.com
Best Cake By the Slice: Kake Kutters
Ever since its grand opening in 2021, Kake Kutters has been making University Circle sweeter by the slice. With nearly 30 flavors of individual cake slices, along with the plethora of other creative ways to serve treats, everybody’s cravings can be satisfied. It’s the place to go for a single serving of dessert — but if you find yourself wanting more than a taste, whole gourmet cakes, plus custom designs, are also available for order. instagram.com/kakekutters
Best High-Low Restaurant Concept: Never Say Dive
Never Say Dive, co-owned by Dan Watson, is what he calls Old Brooklyn’s “maximalist 1930s pub” with a “lovely patio.” Expect a blend of elegance and unrefined charm, capturing the vibe of “your Grandpa’s favorite bar on two hits of acid,” as Watson puts it. He says the distinctive setting is complemented by award-winning cocktails and some of the city’s finest small plates. Taste the fried chicken ($13), pickled eggs ($5) and rotating cheese board ($18) — all on the list of must-try items. For those looking to indulge, Watson suggests “caviar (market price) and Cleveland’s coldest martini ($12)” if you’re feeling fancy, cheap pours of Narragansett ($3) and an amazing smash burger ($14) if you are not.” The bar’s signature cocktail, the Old Brooklyn ($13), is a creative concoction that perfectly
encapsulates the bar’s eclectic spirit. neversaydivecle.com
Best Cinnamon Rolls: Artisan Coffee
Tim Bechtel brings a personal touch to Artisan with handcrafted syrups and pastries. “That’s kind of the idea behind artisan in the name, we try to do everything from scratch,” says Bechtel. What they’re most popular for, however, is their chewy, brioche cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting ($4.50). Other specialties include the French toast latte ($5), as well as the Sweet Moses ($4.75) latte. Seasonal specials change based on what’s available such as strawberry and s’more flavors in the summer. artisancoffee.us
Best Boozy Ice Cream: Fairport Harbor Creamery
Beach and booze collide at this scratch-kitchen creamery in a quaint beachside town, serving homemade confections year-round. “Our owner loved the idea of alcohol-infused ice cream,” says manager Lindsey Volzer. “We have a full liquor license that allows fellow creatives to mix and match any flavors.” Choose from spirits like Kahlua, Skrewball and stouts, and scoops like vanilla bean, salted caramel and peanut butter Oreo, to create your own float, shake or sundae. fairportharborcreamery.com
Best Historic Renovation: Julia's 1902
Julia’s 1902 is a fine dining restaurant, bar and inn, all in one, owned by Michael and Paul Neundorfer. “It had a long way to go to get to this point,” Paul said to Cleveland Scene ahead of the business’s opening. The multi-layered experience is a historic renovation of a 17,000-square-foot mansion that was built between 1898 and 1902 for Julia Boyce, hence the name. The inn includes 10 unique rooms and the space as a whole features an elegant interior following the original neo-Gothic style. Period pieces and key characteristics (such as grotesques) can be viewed throughout, along with original oak flooring and coffered ceilings. Stay for a night, and try a few bites — we recommend heading to the restaurant for the bouillabaisse ($40) with saffron, P.E.I. mussels, Alaskan halibut, chilean salmon, oishii shrimp and garlic aioli crostini. julias1902.com
Best Vegan Sushi: Otani Japanese Restaurant
Mayfield Heights’ Otani Japanese Restaurant has been a longtime destination for sushi lovers, offering a rich blend of tradition and innovation. Owner Janet Yee’s family bought the restaurant, which originally opened in 1978, in 1991. In recent years, Otani expanded its offerings with a fully vegan menu. “We have a completely vegan menu for the kitchen, hibachi, and the best of all is the sushi,” Yee says. Recognizing the demand for plant-based options, the restaurant goes beyond the usual veggie-based rolls — including options like the mushroom-fillled “Spider Man Roll” ($13). “We have a lot of vegetarians and some vegan customers too, and people were getting bored with just eating avocado and cucumber rolls so we decided to do a new menu,” she says. otanicleveland.com
Best Hot Dog Pop-Up: FrankieLynn Hot Dogs
Rachel Ventura spent most of her career up until 2019 working in the restaurant industry, with a demanding lifestyle that often meant working far more than 40 hours a week and spending time away from family. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, she questioned her career’s direction as someone who always was a front-of-house worker. “I was just thinking, What am I going to do? And the idea of the hot dog cart came up, because it’s mobile,” Ventura says. “I can take it anywhere, use it whenever I want.” Enter FrankieLynn Hot Dogs. It’s more than one of the regular hot dog carts you see on a Downtown street corner. It’s got something for everybody: The menu features specialties like the Hot Kraut Dog ($9) and the Faux-lish Boy ($9). “I’ve been in the restaurant industry forever,” Ventura says, “and I was like, I just need the best hot dogs Cleveland has.” Mission accomplished. frankielynncle.com
Best Gourmet Snack Cakes: Baked AF
Baked AF specializes in thoughtfully crafted throwback snacks, similar to the baked goods many of us had in our lunchboxes or after school — but all made from scratch with high quality ingredients. Amira Fahmy, founder and owner, left the corporate world in hopes of bringing joy to others with her product. “Our goal is to be fun and nostalgic, but also have it be something you can feel good about eating,” she says. The brand’s most popular products include oatmeal creme pies in various flavors, s’mores bars and stroopwafels. You can currently find Baked AF products at Restore Cold Pressed (Downtown Cleveland, Hudson and Pinecrest locations) and Lekko Coffee in Ohio City. bakedafcle.com
Shopping
Best Upcycled Earrings: Junk Party Jewelry
Think twice before you go to throw out an old pair of headphones or a phone charger. Junk Party owner Marseille Markham Collins says she “always had a strong interest in upcycling and being resourceful” and started making one-of-a-kind jewelry from donated and personal wired items she had on hand. instagram.com/junk_party_
Best Flower Bracelets: FrankieeMoo
As a kid, Ayana Hill made jewelry for people she loved. Now, her popular Etsy shop outfits the masses in flower bracelets ($12) perfect for stacking, sporting solo or gifting to friends. “I take inspiration from being outside in nature,” says Hill, who creates poppies and sunflowers by hand-knotting nylon cord. “I love trying to make my items look like real flowers and doing things like incorporating the colors of the sunset.” etsy.com/shop/FrankieeMoo
Best Luxury Toy Shop: S'il Vous Play
Shopping for toys should be as much fun as playing with them. This vibrant, European-inspired toy store doubles as an interactive playroom featuring toys that the staff hand-selects based on characteristics like design, durability, sustainability and ethical labor practices. “Our goal is to find toys that encourage open-ended and immersive play,” says owner Mariah Roj, a mother of three. “With the right toys, children will play longer, cherish deeper and imagine bigger.” silvousplaytoys.com
Best Rolling Papers: Shway Papers
Rapper and designer Zachary Collins (also known as MellowMan Funk) created Shway Papers to marry his passions together. The name mirrors his record label, FunkShway, which references the harmony and balance of feng shui — like his goal of balancing arts with cannabis culture. Started during the pandemic when his music career halted, the side hustle grew into its own gig. “It helped me keep my momentum. The look and feel of the brand is pretty much all me,” says Collins, who crafts most of Shway’s nearly 70 retro rolling paper designs. He anticipates a new future on the heels of the legalization of recreational cannabis in Ohio. “I think it’s opened a lot of doors,” Collins says. shwaypapers.com
Best Bumper Stickers: Yikes Design
A name suggesting a mistake surprisingly encompasses Maddie Harbert and Grace Blackley’s brand. “The idea came as a joke,” Harbert says. “We have a doc of weird things we think of. Eventually, we said, These should be on bumper stickers.” From there, quirky adages like “Silly goose on the loose” and “I brake for critters” ($10) floored it. “Breaking design rules and creating something that isn’t so serious has been healing,” Harbert says. yikes.design
Best Secondhand Store: All Things For You
Recently relocated to Tremont, this space carries a big load, with four floors to display furniture, decor and other secondhand goods that suit the aesthetic of West 14th Street’s Victorian homes. “We can create vignettes,” says co-owner Dwight Kaczmarek. Housing 25 dealers, each makes the space their own, employing a unique theme for merchandise that’s equally diverse and cohesive. “They do their own motif and go with it,” Kaczmarek says. As an extension of the shop Kaczmerek and partner Tim Yanko hope to involve the tight-knight Tremont neighborhood and neighboring businesses in their endeavors. “It’s very homey. We take care of each other,” Kaczmarek says. allthingsforu.com
Best Ceramic Mugs: Moonfish Studios
What began as a thoughtful gift from a friend has blossomed into a thriving artistic venture for Morgan Neumarker. After receiving a pottery wheel, Neumarker embraced the craft, creating one-of-a-kind pieces from a home studio in Lakewood. “MoonFish Studios was created as a way for me to pursue multimedia art and share it with the world,” Neumarker says. Though her unique handmade plates and mugs are staples of her collection, Neumarker’s olive bowls and seasonally designed stickers have become fan favorites. Find her pottery available for purchase at Brewella’s Coffee, Crepes and Collectibles in Lakewood. “Being a small artist in such a creativity-friendly city has been one of the most rewarding things to happen to me,” Neumarker says. “The incredible community I’ve been surrounded by with fellow artists is constantly motivating and pushing me to do better each day, and I am so grateful for that.” studiomoonfish.squarespace.com
Best Trading Card Shop: The Geek Peek
Whether you’re looking to buy new cards, trade olds ones or just kick back with like-minded collectors, this is the place. Equal parts hobby shop and hangout spot, The Geek Peek specializes in Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering cards but also stocks thousands of other new and vintage collectibles sourced by owners Mike Pierce and Jill Bresnahan. “We see ourselves as a community space supplemented by the retail portion of our shop,” Pierce says. thegeekpeek.com
Best Homegrown Textile: Rust Belt Linen Project
This nonprofit aims to bring responsible textile production back to Ohio’s bioregion. “We are a hub for local makers and artisans, essentially the supply chain to connect and eventually create local yardage and local products,” says Jessalyn Boeke, co-founder and executive director of the Rust Belt Linen Project. The group helps consumers understand where their clothes are going and to create a connection to the textiles that they already have. rustbeltfibershed.com
Best Bucket Hats: ZJayne
After finding a friend’s tutorial on sewing reversible bucket hats, Jane Pierce put some of her extra T-shirt fabric scraps, leftover from other projects, to new use. Since then, her upcycled, customizable caps ($65+) have given a second life to clients’ old clothes, holding special meaning and providing savvy, sustainable shade. “You can get bucket hats anywhere,” Pierce says. “I call these statement hats. Or keepsakes.” zjayne.com
RELATED: 6 Cleveland Designers who Make Upcycling Fashionable
Best Maker Festival: The Summer Market
The Summer Market has become one of Ohio’s “most loved outdoor festivals of the year,” according to Max Schaefer, the executive director of Main Street Lorain. Schaefer highlights the market’s diverse offerings, noting that shoppers can find “anything and everything,” including modern house decor, handcrafted pottery, art prints, clothing and accessories. “This eclectic and unique experience is one that folks look forward to every summer,” Schaefer says. “The event is free and doubles as a fundraising event as the organizers, Girls Give Back, donate proceeds to charity every year to assist local families in need.” thesummermarket.com
Entertainment
Best Hip-Hop Artist: Chelsea Pastel
Since 2016, Chelsea Ferguson (aka Chelsea Pastel) has chiseled her production, performance and writing skills into something singular — and something uninhibited. ”We literally are building it from the ground,” she says. From the ground, up and up: With a steady stream of polished singles and the conceptual 2021 album Pastelevision, Ferguson has been putting in the work and seeing results with sync placements on shows like Love & Hip-Hop, a nine-city 2022 tour supporting Torrian Ball and a surprise connection with Cleveland native Kid Cudi, who reached out to her on Instagram last year. “He was like, ‘Yo, Cleveland all day,’” Ferguson remembers. “Literally three days later, they flew me out to California, and we got in the studio and did some work and formally met.” Kid Cudi even selected her as an opener for the later-canceled Moon Man’s Landing festival and the Insano tour’s Cleveland stop. Now, Ferguson continues to put out new music — and says she has enough stockpiled for a 2025 EP or album. For now, queue up her new track “2 Much” — or, soon, Kid Cudi’s remix of it — to hear Ferguson’s swaggy side. “At the moment, I want to make stuff that moves you. I want to have fun performing the songs that I’m making,” Ferguson says. “I really want to connect and vibe out and get turned up with the audience.” chelseapastel.com
Best Comedy Club: Hilarities 4th Street Theatre
For Hilarities 4th Street Theatre managing partner Nick Kostis, comedy is part of the human experience, an instrument for connection — and has been since he was a kid. “We lived in an apartment in Brooklyn, and people would come visit my mom and dad,” Kostis says. “I remember falling asleep to the sound of their laughter and their stories.” Now, for nearly 40 years, he’s felt that same magic every day at Hilarities. Hosting comedians from across the country, Kostis provides a stepping stone for their comedic careers. “I want to be a destination that was part of Cleveland’s renaissance,” Kostis says, “to say our place entertained people in a way that dignified us.” hilarities.com
Best Music Trivia Host: DJ Tone Def
What makes Jukebox’s trivia night special isn’t necessarily difficult questions or creative categories: It’s the trivia master himself, who breaks out short shorts and over-the-top dance moves for the event every week. “It’s kind of followed my journey of wanting to be as free and fun, as much as we can, and celebrate music as much as possible,” says DJ Tone Def, aka bartender and host Tony Cintrony. “I look at Wednesday as my night to truly express myself and put on the biggest party in the city.” jukeboxcle.com
Best Family Band: LoConti
Brothers Henry and Michael’s namesake band was never meant to be an exclusive affair. “Our last name just felt authentic,” says singer-guitarist Henry LoConti. “It’s honest and true to who we are.” The funk-rock-adjacent septet welcomes all of Cleveland into its family, playing major gigs at House of Blues and Brite Winter. “It wasn’t until we started performing that I realized how much I love sharing this with others,” Henry says. “I realized we have something special.” loconti.net
Best Flower Field: Prayers From Maria's Field of Hope
Established in memory of Maria McNamara, a young girl who lost her battle with cancer, the fields bloom with thousands of sunflowers each summer as a symbol of hope, love and resilience. With two locations, one near Cedar Point and the other in Avon, more than 402,200 mammoth gray stripe and orange excel sunflower seeds have been planted over the years. This year, the annual event took a step up with a new 42-acre field in Avon on Jaycox Road. What began as a simple gesture of remembrance has blossomed into a breathtaking display that draws visitors and photos from all over, offering a space for reflection and community connection. The field’s beauty is matched only by its mission: raising awareness and funds to support pediatric cancer research. prayersfrommaria.org
Best Musical Comeback: Annabel
Picking up right where it left off, Annabel connected with old and new fans on a 10-day East Coast tour for its 2024 album released after a hiatus. “Worldviews is our signature sound taken in a more modern, experimental direction” says Ben Hendricks, guitarist and lyricist of the beloved Akron band. The project arrived nine years after the band’s previous album, and after the pandemic, which led to a reprioritization, a “finding self-actualization” that can be found on this Annabel record. facebook.com/annabelband
Best for New Music: Lottery League
What happens when musicians with different skills, styles and personalities are randomly drafted into new bands together? That’s the premise behind Lottery League, a music project that creates supergroups with names like Spam Pancake and Girth Brooks. Bands rehearse for two months and debut their original music at The Big Show, a celebration of Northeast Ohio’s music scene. “We continue to be joyously moved by what bands are able to come up with,” says co-founder Michael James. lottery-league.com
Best Playgrounds
Every Child's Playground
Keep your toddler entertained at this newly renovated Avon playground, which spans a whopping 20 acres. Features target the 2- to 5-year-old set, with two-seater parent/child swings, an in-ground merry-go-round, oversized musical instruments and adorably cartoonish playhouses full of interactive displays. For a literal walk in the park, head to The Storybook Trail, which displays picture books’ pages along a charming wooded pathway. cityofavon.com
Lindsey Family Play Space
Nature’s already pretty fun, but this playground at Edgewater Park gives the great outdoors some kid-safe enhancements. Inspired by elements of the Emerald Necklace, it’s home to climbable boulders, a mini rock-climbing wall and lots of tunnels, footbridges, slides and climbing structures, all perfect for sunny-day play. When the kiddos run out of steam, relocate to a nearby picnic table for snacks in the shade, with a great view of the city skyline. clevelandmetroparks.com
MAGNET's Heroes of Manufacturing Park
Located at the Hough headquarters of the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET), this STEM-focused playground was designed with input from consultants at Great Lakes Science Center. A seesaw teaches equilibrium, a zipline gives lessons in gravity and a set of levers demonstrates mechanical engineering — and don’t forget the 27-foot climbing tower, which is just plain cool! A mural overlooking the park features six noteworthy Black manufacturers, including Clevelander Garrett Morgan. manufacturingsuccess.org
Preston's H.O.P.E. Playground Park
Named for the late Preston Fisher, a tween with spinal muscular atrophy, this 60,000-square-foot Beachwood playground makes outdoor play possible for kids of all abilities. It was custom-designed with accessibility in mind, from ramps and wide walkways to wired-in sound effects that help vision-impaired kids better experience the space. Little ones can dig for dinosaur bones in a giant sand pit or make believe in the Imagination Village, which is home to a kid-sized bank, barber shop, firehouse and more. prestonshope.com
Best City Bike Ride: Red Line Greenway
Completed in May 2021, the Red Line Greenway has Clevelanders feeling more connected than ever. Just shy of two miles, this multipurpose trail paves a way for bikers, dog walkers and roller skaters to go from West 53rd Street to the Centennial Trail at Franklin Boulevard. Moving around Ohio City toward Irishtown Bend, the path also connects to two RTA Red Line Rapid Transit stations. clevelandmetroparks.com
Best New Brass Band: Da Land Brass Band
This 10-person band embodies the double meaning of the word “brassy,” playing mega-loud, horn-heavy music that blends elements of funk, jazz, R&B, hip-hop and rock. “A spectrum of Black music has allowed us to have such an attitude and audacity as a brass band in Cleveland,” says trombonist William Washington, aka Dr. Will. Performing classics and original tunes, this high-energy, high-volume group plays everything from festivals to funerals and has opened for major artists like Big Freedia. facebook.com/dalandbrassband
Best Game Night Spots
Tabletop Board Game Cafe
More than 1,200 games sit on the shelves of this Ohio City cafe. “We’ve created a whimsical, inclusive and quirky spot,” says Brady Risner, who owns the cafe with his wife, Shiva Risner, and Michael Holmes. Walk in with a group of friends or check out their monthly mixers, or RPG and storytelling nights. tabletopcleve.com
Sweets and Geeks
Games AND snacks: Medina’s Sweets and Geeks started primarily dealing in trading cards but expanded to board games and candy. Oh, so much candy. “We decided to add candy, pop culture stuff, toys, Legos, Funko Pops, like anything we could think of to put in the store,” owner Brad Hoisington says. sweetsandgeeks.com
Best Multi-Use Facility: House Three-Thirty
House Three Thirty in Akron has become a go-to spot in the community for a variety of reasons. Entering the doors at the one-of-a-kind community center built and operated by The LeBron James Family Foundation lets visitors step into a multifaceted space filled with places to eat, relax, be entertained and even learn something new. The Cabaret hosts various concerts and comedians for attendees to check out. Multiple places to eat including Secret Pizza and Starbucks have become hallmarks of the experience. There’s also the LeBron James’ Home Court, which is a museum dedicated to the accomplishments of James, both on and off the court. housethreethirty.com
Best Kids Cooking Class: Youngstirs
Stir Studio Kitchen’s youth-focused spinoff, Youngstirs, has a spot for every child at the kids’ table. Debuting in Chagrin Falls and Hudson, it offers private classes for special events and week-long summer camps that teach kitchen safety, knife skills, international cuisine, baking and more. Youngstirs takes pride in its authentic, hands-on approach. “We aren’t just having the kids frost cupcakes or chop with plastic knives. They’re doing 90% of the work, using real equipment and growing independence in the kitchen,” says owner Charlie Denk. Some children naturally find cooking to be as easy as pie, while others find it an acquired taste. Regardless, all learn new skills, like making pizza dough, and gain an appreciation for food and what goes into it. Youngstirs also plans to offer school programming and public one-off classes in the future. stirstudiokitchen.com
Best Free Literary Event: Literary Cleveland's Inkubator
Fostering artists close and far, Literary Cleveland’s Inkubator is one of the country’s largest free writing conferences. Welcoming some of the country’s most acclaimed authors, the weeklong event hosts workshops, panels, community projects, a book fair and open-mic readings for writers of all genres and skill levels. inkubator.litcleveland.org
Best Public Golf Course: Boulder Creek
While it might not be commonly thought of as a golfer’s paradise (thanks to cold, long winters), Northeast Ohio is filled with terrific golf courses, both public and private. The best of the public tracks in Northeast Ohio is Boulder Creek in Streetsboro. Built by Joe Salemi more than 20 years ago, it’s been an area gem ever since. The course offers stunning views with rapid elevation changes — a challenge for golfers of all skill levels, as long as you’re playing the proper tees. Each of the 18 holes brings something a bit different to the round, but few holes in all of Ohio are as memorable as the downhill par-3 17th hole, featuring an island green. “Everybody says that they think that we have the nicest par threes of any course, period,” Salemi says. “I wanted to make a course that could challenge a really, really good golfer but still be playable for the not so good golfer. That’s called strategic design, not penal design.” bouldercreekohio.com
Only in Cleveland
Best New Manager: Stephen Vogt
Taking over for a legend is never easy in any profession. But Cleveland Guardians rookie manager Stephen Vogt has done a darn good job filling the shoes of his predecessor Terry Francona. Expectations this year for the team were rather meager, with most expecting Cleveland’s local nine to finish around the .500-mark. And Vogt has impressed — leading the Guardians to one of the best records in baseball. Vogt’s first season in Cleveland has been a smashing success, no matter what the postseason brings, but here’s to hoping that the new skip in town can help bring baseball’s longest World Series drought to an end. mlb.com/guardians
Best Downtown Redevelopment: Lorain
A historic downtown paired with a passionate population of 65,000 just 30 miles west of Cleveland birthed a renaissance fueled by community and grit. “I think there’s a general sense when people come here and experience the community for the first time, they see a real genuine authentic people,” says Max Schaefer, executive director of Main Street Lorain. “We’re one of the only large cities in the state of Ohio that’s had a population growth in the 2020 census.” A new Lorenzo’s pizzeria location; the stellar Speak of the Devil cocktail bar; the revitalized Ariel Broadway hotel; and a new $12 million “Lorain Ohio Kartplex” all bring new life to the affordable city. The emerging Black River waterfront hotbed is home to Rockin’ on the River and other major events like FireFish Festival and Summer Market. cityoflorain.org
Best Sand Sculptor: Carl Jara
Carl Jara got into sand sculpting when he was in high school. “I had no intention of ever really doing this. I just sort of stumbled into it,” he says. Since then, Jara has created hundreds of sculptures big and small for events like Oktoberfest and annual competitions. Jara uses sand, water and a variety of tools to carve out the perfect shapes. The artist appreciates the craft of storytelling within his creations, as well as the non-institutional aspect of sand art. ”I can put a piece out on the beach and 25,000 people can see it,” Jara says, “so I feel like I’m getting my work out there to people who can enjoy it without the pretense of having to go somewhere special to see it.” artcleveland.com
Best Unconventional Art Galleries
Cleveland Public Library, The Archive
Cleveland Public Library’s Downtown location regularly hosts art shows — but perhaps none as eye-catching as The Archive by Rebecca Louise Law. Thousands of dried flowers hung from an 18-foot-tall timber frame, creating an immersive room of florals that became the backdrop to many Clevelanders’ selfies — and even wedding photos — over the past year. cpl.org
Veterans Memorial Bridge, Go Dream
Rarely open to the public, the lower level of Veterans Memorial Bridge once held a streetcar line. This summer, it hosted Go Dream, an adventurous, dynamic exhibition by local artist Chuck Karnak which incorporated sails and sculptures to bring new energy to this hidden part of Cleveland. Organizers hope to eventually create a park in the space. cuyahogacounty.gov
Best Season Predicting Animals
Buckeye Chuck
Given Ohio’s unique and ever-changing season patterns, Clevelanders place their spring hopes in a local friend who better knows the lay of the land: Buckeye Chuck. Though the weather-predicting groundhog lives comfortably at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Perkins Wildlife Center, the occasion brings him back to his hometown of Marion, where residents gather in the early hours of Feb. 2 to await his shadow, and enjoy some “groundhog” Spam sandwiches.
Concord Casimir
Casimir, a fortune-telling orange cat of the East Side, was rescued in 2013 outside the historic St. Casimir Polish Church and re-homed to Concord Township by John Niedzialek. True to his namesake church’s Polish roots, his predictions come at the paws of his yearly snack: pierogies. A sloppy meal alludes to a messy winter, a clean sweep promises clear sights ahead to an early spring and pierogies flipping up and down means extreme weather changes.
For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.
Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, publishing 12 times a year with immersive features, helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.
