On Valentine’s Day at Cleveland Kurentovanje, I met Dina, JoAnn (the Queen of Hearts), and Maria. Laughter, stories, Slovenian beer, and polka filled the bar. Festivals like this turn strangers into friends and St. Clair Ave into a winter celebration of community.
Stopped in at Imposters Theater as it celebrates 3 years bringing improv & sketch comedy to Cleveland. Founder Michael Busch, who grew up in Mentor, has built the city’s only dedicated improv space on Lorain Ave. Come see some amazing shows this weekend: www.imposterstheater.com
Last Four Watched
@karlbrunjes.bsky.social
@216-eliot-ness.bsky.social
@rustbeltvoice.bsky.social
@wahrhaftig.bsky.social
@tribe-xx.bsky.social
@echotopia.bsky.social
@marktidrick.bsky.social
Just Open Range.
Great meeting Andrew Sargeant at the KSU Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative in Playhouse Square during Community Design Futures, hosted by director Allison Lukacsy-Love. Jersey-born, in Cleveland since 2021, he launched LayerCake in 2024 and works with CDCs on parks and urban design.
Great meeting Alexandra “Lex” Young in person at the new Rosy in Ohio City. From Parma to Louisville culinary school to kitchens & bars across Cleveland, she carries the city wherever she goes. Alcohol-free 3.5 yrs, passionate, kind, creative, Cleveland runs on people like her.
Great meeting Alexandra “Lex” Young in person at the new Rosy in Ohio City. From Parma to Louisville culinary school to kitchens & bars across Cleveland, she carries the city wherever she goes. Alcohol-free 3.5 yrs, passionate, kind, creative, Cleveland runs on people like her.
1/4 Summertime
Met downtown resident Jesper Wenning, who moved here from Denmark in July 2025 when his wife took a job in the city. Hard to miss his gentle giants, Newfoundlands Ella (5) and Esther (7). Watching downtown workers stop, smile, and admire them was a small moment of shared joy.
Great meeting Emily Hornack in Collinwood during her February winter festival. The Brite Winter Music & Arts Festival co-founder grew up in Highland Heights, lives in Cleveland Hts, and helped start Brite Winter 17 years ago. A great celebration of Cleveland’s winter creativity.
Stopped by the soft opening of Vessel Coffee Collaborative at 5019 Detroit Ave. Spoke with owner Jacob Digman, a Huron native who moved to Cleveland 14 years ago. Great latte, great energy, and a lineup of roasters from around the country. Grand opening next week.
Sunday morning at Davis Bakery was packed as usual. Great talking with 10 year staffer Greg Gustafan, a Youngstown native, Army veteran of 30 years, & former mechanical engineer who now lives in Orange. Thanks for the turkey pastrami sandwich recommendation & the always perfect coconut bar.
😆👊
West Side Market. March 7, 2026.
Great meeting Laura Gardner of Immigrant Connection and Audrianna Rodriguez of The Center for Community Solutions at Cleveland Public Library for a thoughtful International Women’s Month conversation with women from Cleveland’s newcomer communities. Sponsored by Global Cleveland.
B & L Comics on Ridge Rd. in Parma has been owner Larry Zjaba’s world for 40+ years. Trading cards, comics, Pokémon, he’s sold it all, keeping collectors happy and coming back for more. Sundays are for rest, the rest of the week is for comics and cards. Come check him out.
3/4 The Letter .
Honey Hut Ice Cream. 4674 State Road
Cleveland. -March 6, 2026.
Met Johnny Michnay at The Current Year in Parma. Hinckley raised, Lorain based, he creates 3D “Spectrorealism” from discarded plastic. By day he fits high end eyewear, by night reshapes what others toss. First show: Westlake Porter Library. Great talking to the local Style icon.
Met Johnny Michnay at The Current Year in Parma. Hinckley raised, Lorain based, he creates 3D “Spectrorealism” from discarded plastic. By day he fits high end eyewear, by night reshapes what others toss. First show: Westlake Porter Library. Great talking to the local Style icon.
0/4
Met Cleveland artist Clay Parker at Worthington Yards while he was talking with Liz Maugans about the upcoming Wild World show. Cincinnati born, Cleveland Institute of Art alum, and now a Lakewood resident, Parker’s bold black ink style grew out of Cleveland’s 90s punk scene.
Beachland Ballroom & Tavern. 15711 Waterloo Rd. Cleveland. - February 21, 2026.
Jefferson Bar and Grill. 3670 West 130th St. Cleveland. February 16, 2026. #cooleylounge
Muhammad’s Mosque. 256 East 156th St. Cleveland. Photo: March 3, 2026.
If walls could talk, the Slovenian National Home basement would tell some of Cleveland’s best stories. Caught a photo of lifelong St. Clair/Superior neighborhood guy Jimmy Bitterman & Wanda Cooke Thanks to them both for agreeing to a photo at the Cleveland Kurentovanje.
Great meeting Ameen Khadair & Sabrina Quinones, owners of Pace Café, 2670 W. 14th St. in Tremont. Fresh, wellness focused menu with ethically sourced ingredients, house made bagels & cold pressed juices. Free parking, WiFi, catering & events. Built on coffee, health & community.
Chef Vinnie Cimino & Andrew Watts just opened ROSY in Ohio City, a 50 seat open fire spot built on seasonal ingredients sourced within 200 miles. Fire, community, CLE pride. Thanks to the pair for another bold step for Cleveland's food scene. More here: clevelandmagazine.com/articles/ros...
Great meeting Ken Kalous at The Tavern of Mayfield on Mayfield Rd. He’s been coming here since it was DiCillo’s Tavern, starting in 1969. A retired sales pro. A true local who knows the history and has put in the hours. Great talking with him.
Great meeting Ken Kalous at The Tavern of Mayfield on Mayfield Rd. He’s been coming here since it was DiCillo’s Tavern, starting in 1969. A retired sales pro. A true local who knows the history and has put in the hours. Great talking with him.
Wow 🤩
velvet underground researchers have apparently confirmed that this audio from a random youtube user is genuinely the long-lost july '67 performance from upbeat, a cleveland teen tv show, doing the unreleased "guess i'm falling in love" complete with screaming girls. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU2U...
You walk into Luca’s Pet Nutrition in Ohio City and feel how happy the staff is each time you visit. Owners Tony Rini & Jennifer Bowling built it from years of personal interactions with pets and owners. Open since 2022, the staff could not be kinder to anyone who walks in.
