Most Interesting People 2021: Jill Vedaa (January)
Currently delivering a winter menu at Salt in Lakewood, the chef and co-owner is a two-time James Beard semifinalist who has pushed boundaries since opening in 2016. In this profile from our annual Most Interesting People issue, get to know the chef's work ethic, boundless creativity and bubbly personality. Read More >>
The Great Blizzard of 1978 (January)
Sometimes it takes a few decades to get the full story. That's exactly what feature writer Sheehan Hannan did by digging up the vivid memories of those who lived through the worst snowstorm in Cleveland's history. Meet the city official tasked with responding to the storm, the FBI agent who ran to work that day and the boy scout who earned his camping badge amidst the storm. Read More >>
Brent Wesley Is Building an Empire with Akron Honey
The entrepreneur, beekeeper, musician and father of five is working to turn his small business into a multimillion-dollar brand. Get to know the man with a plan in this February profile. Read More >>
Behind the Recording of Michael Stanley's Final Album, Tough Room (April)
Cleveland lost a legend this year in heartland rocker Michael Stanley. But first, he recorded a legendary album, which was released posthumously in April. In this article, Stanley's lead guitarist, Danny Powers, and daughter, Anna Sary, share details of Stanley’s final days in the recording studio. Read More >>
The Race Is On for Cleveland's Mayor Seat (May)
After 16 years in the hands of Frank Jackson, the Cleveland mayorship finally went up for grabs. Though we now know that Justin Bibb would snag that spot, the race between Bibb and Kevin Kelley, as well as many others earlier in the race, dominated this year's political coverage and asked big questions about the future of our city. Read More >>
Inside Jacob Miller's Lasting Legacy At Legend Headwear (June)
Taking over the family business is never easy. But Miller has done it with style by expanding his parents' custom printing company into one of Cleveland's most-coveted hat and apparel company. With subtle Cleveland-focused designs, Legend Headwear puts together something special in each cap. Read More >>
Cleveland Makers: How Cleveland's Handmade Scene Remains A Strong Community (August)
The state of Cleveland's maker scene is stronger than ever. From hand-sewn clothing to carefully crafted jewelry, this August cover package showed that Cleveland's makers community is filled with expertly made items that are built to last. Read More >>
A Clevelander's First Trip To The Muni Lot (September)
This year saw the return of many things, including tailgating in the Muni Lot. In this essay, writer Dillon Stewart shares how his teenage trip to the NFL's most infamous parking lot was a coming of age moment that gave him his Cleveland Browns fan cred and what it means to finally get to celebrate some semblance of success in that space. Read More >>
Douglas Katz Can't Stop Cooking (September)
After a year of uncertainty and change, Cleveland's hottest chef emerged better than ever as his Cleveland Heights restaurant Zhug hit its stride. In this September profile, writer Kate Bigam Kaput follows Katz as he prepares to open Amba's brick-and-mortar location in Hingetown. Read More >>
Why Cleveland Rapper Chelsea Pastel Is Up Next (September)
The Cleveland rapper is poised to take the world by storm thanks to her slick rhythms and stellar production. Here, she tells us how one call changed everything. Read More >>
Bill Garvey Is Ready To Lead Cleveland's Next Film Renaissance (October)
After working as a location scout for more than a decade, the New York City transplant took over as the new Greater Cleveland Film Commission president in September. In this Q&A, Garvey tells us how he plans to capitalize on Cleveland's place as a budding film destination. Read More >>
How Should We Police Cleveland? (October)
As cries for police reform grow louder amid a rise in violent crime, we're left wondering what the future looks like for policing our city. Writer Sheehan Hannan explores the delicate balance, how far we've come and how much more work is left to be done in this feature story. Read More >>
Siena Bella: Cleveland's Artist of the Moment (November)
The 19-year-old daughter of news anchor Stefani Schaefer is a pop star who's breaking out on TikTok. We talk to her about fame, her ambitions, building a following and her powerful new music. Read More >>
Arabella Proffer Reflects on Life, Death and Work (December)
After being diagnosed with terminal cancer last year, 10 years to the day from her original diagnosis, the prolific artist looks back at the work she created while forging ahead with resilience. Read More >>
Check out the rest of our year-end lists here:
Cleveland Magazine's Top-Read Stories of 2021
10 of the Most Important Entertainment Stories of the Year
15 Food Trends that Defined Dining in 2021
6 Cleveland Shops and Boutiques That Opened in 202
