Guitarist Neal Schon Never Stopped Believing in Journey’s Potential
Though Journey began as a prog rock act in the 1970s, the group’s sound evolved over time as it churned out radio friendly hits such as “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Any Way You Want It” and “Who’s Crying Now.” Inducted into the Rock Hall in 2017, the group famously recruited Filipino singer Arnel Pineda to take…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (June 27-30)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 06/27 AJR: The Maybe Man Tour The skinny jeans weaning indie rock act performs tonight at 6:15 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Inspired by Broadway, the current show features CGI/effects, narration and set design. Mxmtoon…
Homeless Literature Anthology to Feature Personal Tales From Cleveland’s Unhoused
In recent attempts to handle Cleveland’s homeless spike, the city and county have initiated a series of big-picture solutions, big-dollar proposals. Funding youth-targeted outreach groups. Spending $2 million on a “rapid rehousing” program for 150 unsheltered. Rafiq Washington, in a new project, has in a different way tried to help shed light on the problem…
Singer-Songwriter Doug McKean’s Sixth Solo Effort Is His Most Cohesive Yet
A veteran local musician who played in the punk band the GC5 until it split up in 2003, singer-songwriter Doug McKean released his first solo album back in 2006 and has steadily released solo efforts ever since. His latest endeavor, Enduring Freedom, arrives on July 5, and Doug McKean will play a release show at…
Why Some Northeast Ohio Communities are Banning Recreational Marijuana Dispensaries, and Why Others Are Buying In
It’s possible to say that Brian Adams’ journey into the world of cannabis activism began with a film canister. It was March 11, 2006, and Adams was an introverted 22-year-old working at a restaurant in Bedford. As an east side teenager, Adams had indulged in marijuana but was certainly not immersed in the world. Regardless,…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (June 20-23)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 06/20 Back to the Future This musical based on the film of the same name about a certain Marty McFly who transports himself back to 1955 in a time machine comes to the State…
Gun Rights Groups Notch Big Court Wins as Ohio Legislative Priority Bill Sits in Limbo
Last week, federal courts gave gun rights activists two significant wins, both at the expense of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The U.S. Supreme Court tossed a rule banning bump stocks, and a district court in Texas decided a different rule reclassifying pistol braces had to go, too. A bump stock uses the…
Cleveland’s Ransomware Attack Could Spell Financial Hit For City Hall
More than a week has passed since, on June 10, Cleveland’s City Hall shut down due to a “cyber incident” that it recently unveiled was a ransomware attack. In its wake, a city stilted. While work continues, albeit slowly and without complete access to the internet at City Hall, it remains closed to the public.…
Melt Bar and Grilled Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
It’s been death by a thousand cuts for Melt Bar and Grilled, but founder Matt Fish is far from calling it quits. In the last year and a half, the company closed stores in Avon, Independence, Canton and Dayton, reducing the number of full-service restaurants to four. At its peak, the homegrown chain operated more…
71% of Ohio Eighth Graders Not Proficient in Math, According to a New Report
Almost three-fourths of Ohio eighth graders were not proficient in math and nearly two-thirds of Ohio fourth graders were not proficient in reading in 2022, according to a new study. Seventy-one percent of Ohio eighth graders were not proficient in math — a number that has only gotten worse over time, according to the latest…
‘Unhealthy’ Air Quality Alerts Issued for Cleveland as Heat Wave Arrives
The Northeast Ohio Area Coordinating Agency issued an “Unhealthy” air quality warning for the five-county region on Monday morning. Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties will all see noticeable shifts in potentially harmful ozone content, NOACA said, which could cause coughing, sore throats and congestion for children, the elderly and people…
Cleveland Browns Admit Wristband Process for Floor Access to Rolling Stones Concert Was a Fiasco
The Ghost Hounds opened for the Rolling Stones at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Saturday night, and while you can usually expect the warm-up act to draw fewer fans than the headliner, the disparity was evident. But, there were extenuating factors at play. Mainly that the Browns deployed a system for issuing wristbands, mandatory for anyone…
A White Mob in Ohio Denied Land to Hundreds of Former Slaves. A Lawmaker Wants to Right That Wrong
During the height of summer, 1846, a mob of white Mercer County residents surrounded a group nearly 400 Freedpeople who’d just taken a boat up the Miami Canal to New Bremen. The former slaves had been traveling for more than a month, making a nearly 300-mile trek across Virginia and the Allegheny mountains on foot,…
Cleveland’s Alla Boara To Record Live Album at City Church in Cleveland Heights
“Alla Boara” is the name of an Italian folk song sung by field workers. Translated into English, the name means “to the work,” and Alla Boara, the Italian-inspired Cleveland jazz band, has been doing just that. The busy band has just announced it’ll record a live concert on Friday, June 28, at City Church in Cleveland Heights. For the…
The Rolling Stones Show How to Age Wonderfully Ungracefully at Cleveland Browns Stadium Show
Midway through The Rolling Stones’ concert Saturday night at Cleveland Browns Stadium, frontman Mick Jagger referenced the band’s first full show in the Forest City six decades ago. “It was pretty empty but it was still rowdy,” Jagger said of the 1964 Public Auditorium show. The comment was no doubt a throwaway line meant to…
First Look: Cilantro Taqueria, Opening in Tremont in July
All that separates Rey Galindo from the opening of his latest Cilantro Taqueria are a few inspections and permits, which should happen by July, he says. Galindo and his partners purchased the former Fahrenheit property at 2417 Professor Ave. in late 2023. After building a few walls and leasing out some adjoining space, the restaurant is…
This Week in Cleveland Food News: Calzones, Bagels and More
– Cleveland Bagel Cafe, which is going to offer a little more of a robust menu than the original outposts in Ohio City and Midtown, is days away from opening in Lakewood. Related – We’re saying goodbye to Shaker Heights mainstay J. Pistone soon, but the good news is the folks behind 56 Kitchen are…
Ohio House Passes Bills OKing Feral Pig Open Season and Another to Help Pregnant Women, Babies
The Ohio House passed more than a dozen bills during Wednesday’s session — ranging from one that allows people to shoot feral pigs to another that provides supports during pregnancy and the first 1,000 days of life. Infant mortality State Reps. Andrea White, R-Kettering, and Latyna Humphrey, D-Columbus, introduced House Bill 7 last year and…
Globe Iron Concert Venue Coming to Flats West Bank
The Flats West Bank, the more industrial and less developed side of the Cuyahoga River, has long been ripe for development. Nautica Entertainment is set to kick some of that in motion as plans for its new music venue, the Globe Iron, were approved by the Cleveland Planning Commission late last week. Named after the…
Oregon Space Trail of Doom’s Ryan Fletterick To Release Solo Project
Last year, after the dissolution of his former band, the local indie rock act Oregon Space Trail of Doom, Ryan Fletterick realized that he needed a way to stay musically active. So he taught himself how to record songs and began making Instagram videos for the tunes. At first, and with the help of fiancée Alexandra Kokolari,…
Ohio to Clean Up Legacy Pollution with $46 Million in Federal Funding
Ohio will receive $46 million to clean up legacy pollution in regions decimated by decades of coal mining. The money is part of $725 million in the Abandoned Mine Land funding package the Biden Administration is providing to more than two dozen states. In addition to restoring the natural landscape, reducing the odds of landslides…
Mayor Bibb’s Cleveland Police Escort Involved in Accident Downtown Thursday Morning
Mayor Justin Bibb was involved in a car accident downtown Thursday morning as he was being shuttled in a Cleveland Division of Police black Ford Expedition to City Hall. Bibb’s SUV was heading north on East 12th around 9 a.m., surveillance video obtained by Fox 8 showed, when a westbound minivan smacked into the Expedition’s…
Bernie Moreno Blasted Rivals Over HB6 Scandal. Now He’s Welcoming a Big Player’s Support
During the GOP U.S. Senate primary, Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno went after his opponents over their connections to the biggest bribery and money-laundering scandal in Ohio history. But now he’s welcoming the support of a man who brokered what was perhaps the key relationship in a scheme in which Akron-based FirstEnergy paid $61 million to…
Ohio to Spend $169 Million Building Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Near Highways in Next Five Years
Ohio should be an easier state to drive in for Tesla, Rivian and other EV owners by the end of the decade. That’s the overall goal underlying an announcement of a massive funding package by state electric vehicle advocates Wednesday morning, one that intends to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into bringing Ohio’s lackluster…
Sneak Peek: Cleveland Bagel Café, Opening in Lakewood in Late June
First announced in late 2021, the Lakewood location of Cleveland Bagel (16300 Detroit Ave.) is now just days from opening. Set in the sunny corner storefront formerly home of Streat Burger Bistro, the shop will open before the end of the month. A lot can happen in two and a half years, and that’s the…
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Says He Would Sign a Higher Education Overhaul if Further Revisions Are Made
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently said he would potentially sign a bill that would dramatically change Ohio college and university campuses — if the bill continues to undergo further revisions. But he did not elaborate when the Ohio Capital Journal asked him what changes he would like to see made to Senate Bill 83 in…
Sherrod Brown Launches LGBTQ+ Coalition to Support Re-Election Campaign
Sen. Sherrod Brown does not mince words about what’s at stake in the November election for LGBTQ+ Ohioans. “The values of human rights. The values around dignity. The values of respect for one another,” he said. “That’s all on the ballot.” With so much on the line, the three-term U.S. senator from Ohio is doing…
Ohio Light Opera Does ‘Guys and Dolls’ and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week in Cleveland
Nearly all of our classical music recommendations this week are events in the schedules of summer festivals. – Ohio Light Opera has just opened its 45th season in Freedlander Theater at the College of Wooster with two Broadway musicals. This week you can catch Guys and Dolls on Wednesday at 2 and Saturday at 7:30,…
Illuminate CLE Lighting Installation in Downtown Will Debut in August
Illuminate CLE, the $7-million large-scale lighting installation from Destination Cleveland that has now been in the works for about a year, will make a soft launch in Public Square this August during the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Association Executives, the organization announced this week at its annual meeting. Envisioned to eventually include…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (June 13-16)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 06/13 Back to the Future This musical based on the film of the same name about a certain Marty McFly who transports himself back to 1955 in a time machine comes to the State…
As J. Pistone’s Final Day Approaches, 56 Social to Open in its Place
This past February, Joan and John Pistone announced that they would be closing their beloved business, J. Pistone Market and Gathering Place (3245 Warrensville Ctr. Rd., 216-283-3663) in Shaker Heights, at the end of June. To many in the community, the impending departure feels like a loss in the family. That’s not surprising given that the brother-and-sister…
Ohio’s Leaders Blocked (Some) Foreign Money From Issue Campaigns. Advocates Call it a Dog-Whistle
Ohio’s Republican leadership last month refused to put Joe Biden on the presidential ballot unless the legislature adopted another measure that they claimed would protect against foreign money playing a role in the process by which citizens can initiate laws. But while some surely were concerned about malign foreigners improperly influencing state policy, some of…
Downtown D. P. Dough Reopens Today, With an Uptown Location to Follow This Summer
Cleveland’s first D. P. Dough location opened last summer with much fanfare. The restaurant, which took over the former Jimmy John’s space at 230 Euclid Ave., was the first local spot of the chain founded in 1987 by Dan and Penny (the D and P) Haley. The company, a staple on more than 50 college…
Cleveland Opens All Outdoor Pools for Season Despite Ongoing Lifeguard Shortage
After complaints last summer that not all of the city’s pools were open during regular hours, a problem stemming from staffing issues, Cleveland this week announced that all of the city’s pools and splash pads will open this weekend and stay that way through the next three months. The lifeguard shortage hasn’t changed, and Cleveland…
Livewire: 16 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Week
WED 06/12 Jacob Collier This Grammy winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist out of the UK is known for his experimental live shows that tend to be highly interactive (he’ll enlist the audience to sing harmony vocals or provide percussion). The current tour supports Djesse Vol. 4, another collection of meticulously crafted pop tunes featuring a slew…
On Auntie Piggy’s New Album, the Cleveland Rapper is Creating Her Own Narrative
Auntie Piggy’s new EP IDGAF (I Don’t Got Any Flaws) is a short, but not too sweet, reminder that she is not one of them. “I don’t rap about nothing that’s not true,” she said of the album, which was released in early May. From the EP’s first cutthroat track “Come Outside,” where she gives…
Cordelia’s Vinnie Cimino Comes Up a Little Short in His First James Beard Awards
The James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards are taking place this evening at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The event – often billed as the Oscars of the food world – is being live-streamed courtesy of Eater. Cleveland’s lone representative in the ceremony, Vinnie Cimino of Cordelia, came up short in the Best Chef: Great…
LGBTQ Clevelanders Report Poor Interactions With First Responders, New Study Finds
Less than half of Clevelanders’ interactions with first responders are positive experiences, a report released last month by Policy Matters Ohio found. And the widest disparity in responses came not between white and Black residents, but between those who identify as LGBTQ+ and those who do not. That study, a follow-up to a similar policy…
Secretary of State Frank LaRose Could Purge More than 150,000 Ohio Inactive Voters Before Election
More than 150,000 Ohio voters could potentially not be eligible to vote in the upcoming Presidential election. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose recently published a list of 158,857 inactive voter registrations who are eligible to be removed from the Statewide Voter Registration Database — meaning they would be purged from voter rolls. “These registrations…
This Week in Cleveland Food News: Boom’s Pizza Opens Soon at Van Aken and More
– Boom’s Pizza made quick fans on the west side after opening in Lakewood. Now, with a new spot in Shaker Heights at Van Aken, the east side will get to see what all the fuss is about. Related – Forget what the headline says, as it was written a little bit ago but: Tricky…
Bernie Moreno Claims Blockland Conference Convinced AT&T to Bring 5G to Cleveland
In December of 2018, Cleveland hosted the first of two conferences aimed at promoting blockchain technology and establishing itself as a destination for blockchain companies. The idea’s biggest booster was Bernie Moreno, who is now the Republican nominee in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race. And Moreno’s plans didn’t stop at the Blockland conference. He launched his…
Workplace Policies Begin to Evolve After Ohio Legalizes Cannabis Use
Though it is now legal for Ohioans to use cannabis, the 2023 passage of Issue 2 does not prevent employers from drug testing job applicants and employees and instituting zero-tolerance policies. Employers in Ohio are still permitted to penalize workers who use, possess or distribute marijuana. But the City of Cleveland announced in December that…
Bad Medicine, a ‘Listening Bar’ Opening This Summer in West Park, to Merge Vinyl, Cocktails and Food
Listening bars, like dive bars and cocktail bars, are all over the map in terms of vibe. Some are serious-minded jazz libraries while others are trippy dens sticky with electronica. What they have in common, however, is an obsessive commitment to audio quality while providing a welcoming space for guests to connect with the music…
Four Proponents Testify in Support of Ohio Drag Ban Bill — Including a Member of a Hate Group
A member of an anti-LGBTQ hate group spoke in favor of a bill that would prevent drag performers from performing in places that aren’t a designated adult entertainment facility during Wednesday’s Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee meeting. About 50 people submitted proponent testimony and four people publicly testified in support of House Bill 245. State…
Best Restaurant (South Euclid/University Heights)
Winner: Geraci’s 2. Pizzazz 3. Eat at Joe’s
Best Suburban Restaurant (South)
Winner: LockKeeper’s 2. Don’s Pomeroy House 3. Blue Door
Best Camping Site
Winner: Nelson Ledges 2. Lake Erie Bluffs 3. NLQP
Best Laser Tag
Winner: Area 51 2. Fear Warfare 3. Scene 75
Best DJ
Winner: DJ Deana 2. Carrie Danger 3. Koly Kolgate
Best Magician
Winner: Rick Smith 2. Cory Woodford 3. The Alans
Best Jewelry Store
Winner: Oceanne 2. Goldsmith Jewelers 3. DeWitt’s
Best Putt Putt
Winner: Swings-N-Things 2. Sweeties Golfland 3. Buzzard Cove
Best Tattoo Shop
Winner: Reflection Room 2. Atom Bomb 3. Femme and Fauna
Best Drag Troupe
Winner: House of Honeydew 2. Not Wearing Wigs 3. Black Mass
Best Private High School
Winner: St. Ignatius 2. St. Ed’s 3. Magnificat
Best Bookstore
Winner: Loganberry 2. Mac’s Backs 3. Visible Voice
Best Barbecue
Winner: Woodstock BBQ 2. Proper Pig 3. Jones Bones BBQ
Best French Restaurant
Winner: Le Petit Triangle 2. L’Albatros 3. Chez Francois
Best Middle Eastern Restaurant
Winner: Aladdin’s 2. Zhug 3. Sittoo’s
Best Restaurant (Downtown)
Winner: Marble Room 2. Cordelia 3. Fahrenheit
Best Restaurant (Rocky River)
Winner: Rocky River Wine Bar 2. Salmon Dave’s 3. Tartine
Best Happy Hour
Winner: Treehouse 2. Lago East Bank 3. Funhouse
Best Restaurant (Stockyards)
Winner: Sachsenheim 2. Gually’s Bakery and Restaurant
Best Sushi
Winner: Ginko 2. Sora 3. Kintaro
Best Batting Cages
Winner: Swings-N-Things 2. Lost Nation Sports Park 3. DBats
Best Physical Trainer
Winner: Melissa Roth 2. Maggie Ruper 3. Leland Coffey
Best Burlesque Troupe
Winner: Cleveland Burlesque 2. House of BurlesCLE 3. Shrimply the Best Burlesque
Best Male Comedian
Winner: Bill Squire 2. Ryan Polk 3. Martin Malloy
Best Local Jewelry Maker
Winner: Oceanne 2. Gena Page 3. Lake Witch
Best Shop to Find a Piece of Cleveland
Winner: CLE Clothing Co. 2. Made Cleveland 3. GV Art & Design
Best Sporting Goods
Winner: Geiger’s 2. Psycle 3. Everybody Cycle
Best Entertainment Podcast
Winner: Love and Danger 2. The Guiltless Podcast 3. Revenge of the ’90s
Best Radio Show
Winner: The Alan Cox Show 2. The Morning Hang With Ryan Lang 3. The R.A.P. Radio Show
Best Boutique
Winner: Salty Not Sweet 2. Spellbound 3. SLFMKR
Best Breadmaker
Winner: Leavened 2. Blackbird Baking Company 3. On the Rise
Best Greek Restaurant
Winner: Astoria 2. Niko’s 3. Greek Village
Best New Restaurant
Winner: Fahrenheit 2. Parilya 3. Never Say Dive
Best Restaurant (Euclid)
Winner: Beach Club Bistro 2. Mama Cantena’s 3. Tupelo Honey
Best Restaurant (Shaker Heights)
Winner: Brassica 2. Lox, Stock & Brisket 3. Northstsar Cafe
Best Hip-Hop Club
Winner: B-Side 2. Inferno 3. Rumor
Best Restaurant (Tremont)
Winner: Fat Cats 2. Prosperity Social Club 3. Literary Tavern
Best Tacos
Winner: Barrio 2. La Plaza 3. Cilantro Taqueria
Best Country Club
Winner: Quail Hollow 2. Shaker Heights Country Club 3. Canterbury
Best Pickle Ball Courts
Winner: Studio West 117 2. Tri-City Park 3. UH Avon
Best Female Comedian
Winner: Tabitha Jones 2. Mary Fektor 3. Cam Godfrey
Best Male Vocalist
Winner: Anthony Gonzalez, 4LOCOS 2. Chad Moon 3. Henry LoConti
Best Local T-Shirts
Winner: CLE Clothing Co. 2. GV Art & Design 3. Jakewear Shirts
Best Rec Center
Winner: Westlake 2. Fairview Park 3. Rocky River
Best Thrift Store
Winner: Common Threads 2. Flower Child 3. Savers
Best Family Outing
Winner: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 2. Cedar Point 3. Edgewater Beach
Best Radio Station
Winner: 107.3 2. 100.7 3. 98.5
Best Car Dealership
Winner: Westside Toyota 2. Metro Toyota 3. Ken Ganley Jeep
Best Breakfast
Winner: Grumpy’s Cafe 2. Lucky’s 3. Rowley Inn
Best French Fries
Winner: Tommy’s 2. Hecks 3. Eugene Kitchen
Best Pho
Winner: Superior Pho 2. Ninja City 3. Pho Thang
Best Restaurant (Fairview Park)
Winner: Gunselman’s Tavern 2. Fairview Tavern 3. Raan Thai
Best Bar/Club for Local Music
Winner: The Local 2. The Foundry 3. No Class
Best Jazz Club/Bar
Winner: Velvet Tango Room 2. Bop Stop 3. Treelawn
Best Restaurant (Warrensville Heights)
Winner: Hooked 2. Frederick’s Wine & Dine 3. Nonna’s at Thistledown
Best Teahouse
Winner: Algebra Tea House 2. The Tea Lab 3. Sacred Waters
Best Beach
Winner: Edgewater Beach 2. Huntington Beach 3. Mentor Headlands
Best Place to Birdwatch
Winner: Cuyahoga Valley National Park 2. Lakefront Nature Preserve 3. Headlands Beach
Best Comedy Venue
Winner: Hilarities 2. No Class 3. Spotlight Cleveland
Best Cleveland Maker
Winner: Cleverland Puzzle 2. Burdick Custom Flags 3. Revival Body Care
Best Massage Salon
Winner: Sacred Hour 2. Root Healing Therapy 3. Tres Armour
Best Smoke Shop
Winner: Daystar Boutique 2. Puff n’ Stuff 3. Hippie House
Best Yoga Studio
Winner: Flow Yoga Studio 2. Lake Yoga 3. Firehouse Yoga
Best Free Outing
Winner: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 2. Cleveland Metroparks 3. Lakeview Cemetery
Best Seasonal Festival/Event
Winner: Taste of Tremont 2. Ingenuity 3. Brite Winter
Best Cigar Shop
Winner: Cousin’s Cigar 2. Cigar Cigars 3. Mayfield Smoke Shop
Best Brunch
Winner: Rowley Inn 2. Southside 3. Juneberry Table
Best Hot Dogs
Winner: Happy Dog 2. GLIZZYS 3. Scooter’s Dawg House
Best Pizza
Winner: Angelo’s 2. Ohio Pie Co. 3. Il Rione
Best Restaurant (Flats)
Winner: Collision Bend 2. Lago East Bank 3. Alley Cat
Best Bar for Games
Winner: Pins Mechanical 2. Tabletop 3. Punch Bowl Social
Best Karaoke
Winner: Corky’s 2. Tina’s 3. Twist Social Club
Best Restaurant (West Park)
Winner: West Park Station 2. Public House 3. Hatfield’s Goode Grub
Best Thai Restaurant
Winner: Thai Thai 2. Banana Blossom 3. Ty Fun
Best Dance Studio/Class
Winner: The Workshop Dance + Fitness 2. Caliber Dance Company 3. Dance Lakewood
Best Place to Ice Skate
Winner: Winterhurst 2. Mentor Ice Arena 3. Cleveland Skating Club
Best Female Vocalist
Winner: Aimee Lennox 2. Ashley Nemeh 3. Mallory Jean
Best Comic/Collectible Shop
Winner: The Geek Peek 2. Carol & John’s 3. Superscript
Best Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Winner: Amplify 2. The Botanist 3. Rise
Best Rec Soccer
Winner: Force Sports Rocky River 2. Lost Nation 3. Soccer Sportsplex
Best Toy Store
Winner: Apple Jax Toys 2. Learning Express Westlake
Best Hotel
Winner: The 9 2. The Ritz 3. Aloft
Best Adult Store
Winner: Adult Mart 2. The Dean Rufus House of Fun 3. High Society
Best Neighborhood Bar
Winner: Happy Dog 2. Solid Gold Lounge 3. Jukebox
Best Burgers
Winner: Hecks 2. Eugene Kitchen 3. Doinks Burger Joint
Best Fried Chicken
Winner: Soho Chicken + Whiskey 2. Boss ChickNBeer 3. Cordelia
Best Polish Restaurant
Winner: Rowley Inn 2. Prosperity Social Club 3. Rudy’s Strudel
Best Restaurant (Garfield Heights()
Winner: Arthur Treacher’s 2. The Plant Based Burger Company 3. Flava Southern Cuisine
Best Bar Patio
Winner: The Fairmount 2. All Saints 3. Stone Mad
Best LGBTQ+ Bar/Club
Winner: Twist Social Club 2. Vibe 3. Cocktails Cleveland
Best Restaurant (University Circle)
Winner: L’Albatros 2. Otani Noodle 3. Wolf Pack Chorus
Best Vegan Restaurant
Winner: Cleveland Vegan 2. Foodhisattva 3. Cloak & Dagger
Best Movie Theater
Winner: Cinemark Valley View 2. Cedar Lee 3. Capitol Theater
Best Bike Trail/Track
Winner: Towpath Trail 2. Ray’s Indoor Bike Park 3. East Rim Trail
Best Place to Play Tennis
Winner: Cleveland Racquet Club 2. Force Sports Rocky River 3. Impett Park
Best Concert Venue
Winner: Beachland Ballroom 2. The Agora 3. Grog Shop
Best Consignment Shop
Winner: Flower Child 2. Seconds City 3. All Things for You
Best Men’s Clothing Store
Winner: Ticknors 2. Everarbor 3. Krush
Best Sneaker Shop
Winner: Chilly Kicks 2. Second Sole Mentor 3. Exhibition
Best Vape Shop
Winner: Planet of the Vapes 2. Puff n’ Stuff 3. Hippie House
Best Indoor Wedding Venue
Winner: 78th Street Studios 2. The Madison 3. Tudor Arms
Best Sports Podcast
Winner: Here We Go Brownies 2. The California Penal League 3. Ten Cent Beer Life
Best New Bar
Winner: Never Say Dive 2. Spotlight Cleveland 3. Danny’s on Professor
Best Butcher Shop
Winner: Ohio City Provisions 2. Gibbs Butcher Block 3. DW Whitaker
Best Ice Cream
Winner: Mitchell’s 2. Honey Hut 3. Mason’s Creamery
Best Restaurant (AsiaTown/Goodrich-Kirtland)
Winner: Li Wah 2. Superior Pho 3. LJ Shanghai
Best Restaurant (Glenville)
Winner: Squash the Beef 2. Comfort CLE
Best Bar to Watch Sports
Winner: Dawg House Bar and Grille 2. Saucy Brew Works 3. Old Angle
Best Local Beer
Winner: Great Lakes Brewing Company 2. Noble Beast 3. Bottlehouse
Best Restaurant Cocktail Program
Winner: LBM 2. Thyme Table 3. Sora
Best Vegetarian Restaurant
Winner: Tommy’s 2. Foodhisattva 3. The Green Kitchen
Best Museum
Winner: Cleveland Museum of Art 2. Rock Hall 3. Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Best Darts
Winner: Harbor Inn 2. Rookies 3. La Familia Bar and Grille
Best Place to Ski
Winner: Boston Mills-Brandywine 2. Holiday Valley 3. Snow Trails
Best Filmmaker
Winner: Robert Banks 2. R&A Productions 3. Joey Gentile
Best Eyewear
Winner: Eye Candy 2. David Ford 3. Eyes on Chagrin
Best Occult Shop
Winner: Cleveland Curiosities 2. Oktober’s Occult 3. Coven
Best Roller Skating Rink
Winner: United Skates of America 2. Lorain Skate World 3. Brunswick Skate Station
Best Vintage Shop
Winner: Flower Child 2. Sweet Lorain 3. Magically Found
Best Instagram Follow
Winner: @imfromcleveland 2. @thingsivebeeneating 3. @theclebucketlist
Best Antique Shop
Winner: Flower Child 2. Cleveland Curiosities 3. All Things for You
Best Rock Club
Winner: Beachland Ballroom 2. The Agora 3. Mahall’s
Best Cakes
Winner: Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes 2. Sean Buckholz 3. Wild Flour
Best Indian Restaurant
Winner: India Garden 2. Amba 3. Choolaah
Best Restaurant (Bellaire-Puritas)
Winner: GLIZZYS 2. Grayton Road Tavern 3. Cafe Roma
Best Restaurant (Hough)
Winner: Urban Kitchen
Best Bar Trivia
Winner: Jukebox 2. Happy Dog 3. Bottlehouse
Best Local Brewery
Winner: Great Lakes Brewing Company 2. Fat Head’s 3. Noble Beast
Best Restaurant Patio
Winner: Shooters on the Water 2. All Saints 3. Lago East Bank
Best Vietnamese Restaurant
Winner: Superior Pho 2. Saigaon Restaurant & Bar 3. Pho Lee
Best Painter
Winner: Eileen Dorsey 2. Frank Oriti 3. Tessa LeBaron
Best Billiards
Winner: Iggy’s 2. River City 3. B&G
Best Playground
Winner: Lakewood Park 2. Edgewater 3. Preston’s Hope
Best Cover Band
Winner: 4LOCOS 2. Bad Juju Cleveland 3. Sweet Chin Music
Best Fashion Designer
Winner: Valerie Mayen 2. Koko Mystique Alphonse Moore
Best Pet Business
Winner: Paws in the Land 2. Elite-K911 Dog Training 3. Sits ‘n Wiggles Dog Training
Best Spa
Winner: Sacred Hour 2. Bethesda Wellness 3. Stella and Shay
Best Activist
Winner: Dr. Lady J 2. Ken Schneck 3. Peter Bode
Best Local Startup
Winner: Music Izz Groovy 2. Basil & Rex 3. Left Bank Creative
Best Sports Reporter
Winner: Jim Donovan 2. Terry Pluto 3. Andre Knott
Best Singles Bar
Winner: Around the Corner 2. Twist Social Club 3. The Winchester
Best Chef
Winner: Doug Katz 2. Jill Vedaa 3. Vinnie Cimino
Best Irish Restaurant
Winner: The Harp 2. P.J. McIntyre’s 3. Stone Mad
Best Restaurant (Broadway-Slavic Village)
Winner: The Red Chimney 2. Daisy’s 3. Marsha’s Soul Food Cafe
Best Restaurant (Larchmere)
Winner: Hola Tacos/Barroco 2. Batuqui 3. Poppy
Best Bartender
Winner: Jacob Hoshaw-Trask, Twist Social Club 2. Cori Coggins, Bottlehouse 3. Jason Knotek, The Foundry
Best Metal Club
Winner: The Foundry 2. No Class 3. Maple Grove Tavern
Best Romantic Restaurant
Winner: Pier W 2. Marble Room 3. Amba
Best Wings
Winner: Good Company 2. Boss ChickNBeer 3. Woodstock BBQ
Best Photographer
Winner: John C. Benson 2. Aileen Elizabeth Photography 3. Thomas Apathy
Best Dog Park
Winner: Taps & Tails 2. Lakewood Dog Park 3. Veterans Park Avon
Best Public Golf Course
Winner: Sleepy Hollow 2. Manakiki 3. Sweetbriar Legacy
Best Dance Party
Winner: Emo Night by Lake Erie Emo Club 2. Sapphic Night 3. Nocturnal at the Foundry Club
Best Florist
Winner: Urban Orchid 2. Blossom 3. Tipsy Designs
Best Place for a Mani/Pedi
Winner: Stella and Shay 2. Glossy Nails 3. Sacred Hour
Best Alcohol-Free Bar
Winner: Verbena 2. Sacred Waters Kava Bar
Best Wine Store
Winner: Rozi’s Wine House 2. Minotti’s 3. The Wine Spot
Best News Podcast
Winner: Loud & Local 2. Trend Kill Radio 3. Not Even a Podcast
Best Art Supply Store
Winner: Lakewood Art Supply 2. Blick Art Materials 3. Michaels
Best Spot for Day Drinking
Winner: Lakewood Truck Park 2. Rowley Inn 3. Townhall
Best Chinese Restaurant
Winner: Li Wah 2. King Wah 3. LJ Shanghai
Best Italian Restaurant
Winner: Luca Italian Cuisine (Casa la Luna) 2. Bruno’s Ristorante & Catering 3. Flour
Best Restaurant (Brook Park-Middleburg Heights)
Winner: The Aviator 2. Santo’s 3. Sips and Such Social House
Best Restaurant (Lakewood)
Winner: Pier W 2. Salt 3. Rood Food and Pie
Best Blues Club
Winner: Brothers Lounge 2. Velvet Tango Room 3. Smedley’s
Best Suburban Restaurant (West)
Winner: Parilya 2. Boss ChickNBeer 3. Thyme Table
Best Sandwiches
Winner: Herb’n Twine 2. Larder 3. Superior Deli
Best Poet
Winner: Kym Essence Hunt-Edge 2. Georgia Reash
Best Escape Room
Winner: Escape Room Cleveland 2. Escapology 3. Escape Room Coventry
Best of Cleveland 2024
Cleveland, you are solid gold. A certified winner. And to prove it we’ve rounded up the very best the city has to offer, all with your help. Best of Cleveland 2024 is here and the readers have spoken… loudly. After tens of thousands of nominations and votes cast this spring, Scene readers have once again…
Best Hip-Hop Artist or Group
Winner: Mighty Misc 2. Marquis Storm 3. South Park
Best Furniture Maker
Winner: Rickey Tanno Design 2. Rustbelt Reclamation 3. Sawhorse Woodworks
Best Place to Buy Houseplants
Winner: Lakewood Plant Company 2. Urban Planting 3. Buyers Outlet
Best Running Trails
Winner: Rocky River Reservation 2. Towpath Trail 3. Bedford Reservation
Best Apartment Complex
Winner: Crocker Living 2. INTRO 3. Welleon
Best News Reporter
Winner: Wayne Dawson 2. Natalie Herbick 3. Damon Maloney
Best Sports Talk Radio Personality
Winner: Tony Rizzo 2. Ken Carman 3. Munch Bishop
Best Underground Music Bar/Club
Winner: Grog Shop 2. The Foundry 3. No Class
Best Chocolate Shop
Winner: Malley’s 2. Sweet Designs 3. Sweet Bean
Best Jamaican Restaurant
Winner: Irie Jamaican 2. Taste of Jamaica 3. Gar and Mar Jamaican Cuisine
Best Restaurant (Brooklyn)
Winner: Mom’s Pierogies 2. Kintaro 3. Aldo’s
Best Restaurant (Lee-Harvard/Lee-Miles)
Winner: Angie’s Soul Cafe 2. Island Cuisine 3. Brown’s Corner Restaurant
Best Cocktail Bar
Winner: Cloak & Dagger 2. LBM 3. Porco
Best Seafood Market
Winner: Kate’s Fish 2. Euclid Fish Co. 3. Seven Seas
Best Singer-Songwriter
Winner: Kristine Jackson 2. Mikey Silas 3. Ashley Nemeh
Best Public Pool
Winner: Lakewood, Foster Pool 2. Avon Lake Acquatic Center 3. Rocky River Municipal Pool
Best Actor
Winner: Daniel Repas 2. Ryan Polk 3. B.J. Halsall
Best Dance Troupe
Winner: Destiny’s Fools 2. Imaj’nation 3. Crib Collective
Best Gift Shop
Winner: Made Cleveland 2. Uniquely Handmade for You 3. The Rift Shop
Best Place to Buy a Musical Instrument
Winner: Guitar Center 2. Royalton Music 3. Woodsy’s
Best Store to Buy CBD
Winner: American Shaman 2. Cleveland Vape 3. Reverb Wellness
Best Bed & Breakfast
Winner: The Inn of Chagrin 2. Tudor Arms 3. The Inn
Best Place for an Adult’s Birthday Party
Winner: Mahall’s 2. CLE Tiki Barge 3. Pins Mechanical
Best Auto Repair
Winner: Howie’s Automotive 2. Bruce’s Auto 3. Dempers Automotive
Best Waterfront Bar
Winner: Collision Bend 2. Whiskey Island Still and Eatery 3. Shooters on the Water
Best Coffeeshop
Winner: Rising Star 2. Emilie’s 3. Roasted
Best Japanese Restaurant
Winner: Pacific East 2. Sora 3. Goma
Best Restaurant (Buckeye-Shaker/Buckeye-Woodhill)
Winner: EDWINS 2. Zanzibar 3. The Vegan Club
Best Restaurant (Little Italy)
Winner: Mamma Santa’s 2. Mia Bella 3. Trattoria
Best German Restaurant
Winner: Das Schnitzel Haus 2. Hofbrauhaus 3. Der Braumeister
Best Seafood Restaurant
Winner: Pier W 2. Blue Point Grille 3. Sora
Best Street Fair
Winner: Taste of Tremont 2. Lakewood Arts Festival 3. Waterloo Arts Fest
Best Frisbee Golf
Winner: Punderson State Park 2. Veterans Park 3. Findley State Park
Best Actress
Winner: Kayla Royko 2. Theresa Wylie 3. Michelle Sabato
Best Illustrator
Winner: Chris Singleton 2. Aaron Sechrist 3. Tabitha Ice
Best Women’s Clothing Store
Winner: Torrid 2. Apricot Lane Boutique 3. Ladder
Best Place to Buy a Wedding Dress
Winner: Radiant Bride 2. David’s Bridal 3. Liliana Bridal House
Best Skate Park
Winner: Lakewood Skate Park 2. Bay Village Skate Park 3. Chenga
Best Charity or Nonprofit
Winner: Remi’s Pet Recovery 2. Food Strong 3. DJs Hope
Best Place for a Kid’s Birthday Party
Winner: SkyZone 2. Malley’s 3. CLE Bounce Houses
Best TV News Anchor
Winner: Wayne Dawson 2. Natalie Herbick 3. Stefani Schaefer
Best Wine Bar
Winner: Rocky River Wine Bar 2. Humble Wine Bar 3. The Wine Spot
Best Deli
Winner: Slyman’s 2. Larder 3. Lehman’s
Best Juice Bar
Winner: Pulp 2. Beet Jar 3. Restore
Best Restaurant (Central)
Winner: The Crispy Chick
Best Restaurant (Maple Heights)
Winner: Sam Sylk’s 2. Auntie Lumpy’s 3. Tee Deez Gourmet Kitchen
Best Dance Club/Bar
Winner: Twist Social Club 2. The Foundry 3. No Class
Best Soul Food
Winner: Soho Chicken + Whiskey 2. Zanzibar 3. Angie’s Soul Cafe
Best Theater
Winner: Playhouse Square 2. Lorain Palace Theater 3. Beck Center
Best Go-Karts
Winner: Swings-N-Things 2. High Voltage 3. Adventure Zone
Best Art Gallery
Winner: 78th Street Studios 2. Negative Space Gallery 3. SPACES
Best Local Album
Winner: Another Dead Rockstar 2. Cherry Red 3. Tilt, The Fifth Wheel
Best Grocery Store
Winner: Heinen’s 2. Lucky’s Market 3. Cleaveland Grocers
Best Place to Furnish Your Home
Winner: Arhaus 2. Wayside 3. Mishi Lifestyle
Best Stylist
Winner: Tina Frimel 2. Louie Leonetti 3. Caitie House
Best College or University
Winner: Cleveland State University 2. Case Western Reserve University 3. Kent State University
Best Place for a First Date
Winner: Little Italy 2. Cloak & Dagger 3. Humble Wine Bar
Best Barber
Winner: Steve Kilis 2. Ben Seletsky 3. Jessica Branco
Best African Restaurant
Winner: Zoma Ethiopian 2. Habesha 3. AFRIKA Taste and Lounge
Best Desserts
Winner: Mitchell’s 2. Rudy’s Strudel 3. Foodhisattva
Best Korean Restaurant
Winner: Seoul Garden 2. Korea House 3. Mashiso
Best Restaurant (Clark-Fulton)
Winner: Johnny’s on Fulton 2. Pupuseria y Antojitos Guanaquitas 3. The Green Kitchen
Best Restaurant (Mount Pleasant)
Winner: Mount Pleasant BBQ 2. CMB Soul Food
Best Dive Bar
Winner: Funhouse 2. Hoopples 3. Parkview
Best of Cleveland 2024 | Food & Drink
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Best Spanish Restaurant
Winner: Mallorca 2. Salt 3. Sangria y Tapas
Best Theater Company
Winner: Cleveland Play House 2. Great Lakes Theater 3. Near West Theatre
Best Gym
Winner: Burn Boot Camp 2. Cycle Fly 3. Tremont Athletic Club
Best Artist
Winner: Lisa Quine 2. Eileen Dorsey 3. Paul Beel
Best Local Author
Winner: Ryan Polk 2. James Renner 3. Starkks
Best Health and Beauty Store
Winner: Revival Body Care 2. Glam and Grace 3. SLFMKR
Best Record Store
Winner: My Mind’s Eye Records 2. Record Den 3. The Current Year
Best Skate Shop
Winner: Westside Skates 2. Tri-Star Skateboards
Best College Radio Station
Winner: WRUW 2. WBWC 3. WCSB
Best Place to Take a Visitor
Winner: West Side Market 2. Rock Hall 3. Cleveland Museum of Art
Best TV Newscast
Winner: Fox 8 2. WKYC 3. News 5 Cleveland
Best Bagels
Winner: Cleveland Bagel Company 2. Cocky’s Bagels 3. Bialy’s
Best Diner
Winner: My Friends 2. George’s Kitchen 3. The Place to Be
Best Late Night Eats
Winner: My Friends 2. Prosperity Social Club 3. Mars Bar
Best Restaurant (Cleveland Heights)
Winner: Tommy’s 2. Zhug 3. Eugene Kitchen
Best Restaurant (Ohio City)
Winner: West Side Market Cafe 2. Momocho 3. Amba
Best Draft Selection
Winner: Winking Lizard 2. The Local 3. Craft Collective
Best Steakhouse
Winner: Marble Room 2. RED the Steakhouse 3. Strip
Best Bowling Alley
Winner: Mahall’s 2. Yorktown Lanes 3. Corner Alley
Best Hiking Trail
Winner: Towpath Trail 2. Ledges Trail 3. North Chagrin Reservation
Best Director
Winner: B.J. Halsall 2. Matthew Mark Hunter 3. Joey Gentile
Best Local Playwright
Winner: Lisa Langford 2. Cat Kenney 3. Michael Oatman
Best Hobby Store
Winner: Apple Jax Toys 2. Lakewood Art Supply 3. The Quilting Bee
Best Retail Beer Selection
Winner: Rozi’s Wine House 2. Red Wine and Brew 3. Ross Beverage
Best Tattoo Artist
Winner: Kyle Manley 2. Haley Gunz 3. Lauren Callahan
Best Drag King
Winner: Ryder Slowly 2. Jace Blaze 3. The Twisted Transitioner
Best Place to Work
Winner: Cleveland Clinic 2. Paws in the Land 3. No Class
Best Barbershop
Winner: Safe Bet Cuts 2. 6th City Barbershop 3. Black Cat Barbershop
Best Bakery/Pastries
Winner: Blackbird Baking Company 2. Luna 3. Michael Angelo’s Bakery
Best Donuts
Winner: Brewnuts 2. Jack Frost 3. Bigmouth Donut
Best Latin Restaurant
Winner: Barroco 2. Batuqui 3. Twisted Taino
Best Restaurant (Collinwood)
Winner: Citizen Pie 2. Doinks Burger Joint 3. The Standard
Best Restaurant (Old Brooklyn)
Winner: Dina’s Pizza & Pub 2. Never Say Dive 3. City Diner
Best EDM Club/Bar
Winner: No Class 2. FWD 3. Crobar
Best Suburban Restaurant (East)
Winner: Flour 2. The Pompadour 3. The Reserve
Best Basketball Courts
Winner: Lakewood Park 2. Michael J. Zone Rec Center 3. Mulberry’s
Best Kayak Rental
Winner: 41 North 2. Great Lakes Watersports 3. Chagrin River Kayak
Best Band
Winner: LoConti 2. Apostle Jones 3. Recess
Best Local Record Label
Winner: Say Less Entertainment 2. Westside Productions 3. Delayed Gratification Records
Best Home/Garden SHop
Winner: Petitti Garden Center 2. Lakewood Garden Center 3. Gale’s Garden Centers
Best Salon
Winner: Root Healing 2. Willow Room Collective 3. Holistic Halo Salt Spa
Best Specialty Workout
Winner: Burn Boot Camp 2. Cycle Fly 3. Psycle <p.3. psycle
Best Drag Queen
Winner: Omega 2. Anhedonia Delight 3. Sassy Sascha
Best Public High School
Winner: Lakewood 2. Avon Lake 3. Rocky River
Best Bicycle Shop
Winner: Eddy’s 2. Joy Machines 3. Blazing Saddles
Best Bar Food
Winner: Rowley Inn 2. Gunselman’s Tavern 3. Buckeye Beer Engine
Best Food Truck
Winner: Barrio 2. Parilya 3. Cheesy Dave’s
Best Mexican Restaurant
Winner: Cilantro Taqueria 2. Cozumel 3. Momocho
Best Restaurant (Detroit-Shoreway)
Winner: Astoria 2. Il Rione 3. Blue Habanero
Best Restaurant (Parma)
Winner: Schnitz Ale Brewery 2. Fast Eddie’s 3. Au Jus
Best Gentlemen’s Club
Winner: Christie’s 2. Diamond Men’s Club
Best Restaurant (St. Clair-Superior)
Winner: Slyman’s The Roaming Biscuit 3. Goldhorn
