10 Best Kratom Gummies & Brands: Unbiased Review for 2025
Kratom’s bitter taste isn’t for everyone, but Kratom gummies make it easy and enjoyable. Packed with flavor and convenience, they’re quickly becoming a favorite for those seeking pain relief, relaxation, and mood enhancement. This guide covers the best Kratom gummies available. We’ll review top brands, their benefits, and what makes each stand out—helping you find…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (May 29-June 1)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 05/29 AC/DC Fan Days To celebrate the Aussie hard rock band’s recent appearance at Huntington Bank Field, the Rock Hall hosts a Fan Day today that will feature induction footage, trivia and a special…
Cleveland’s Big Hoke Draws from Variety of Influences on New Album
Drawing from New Orleans jazz and early rock ‘n’ roll, the locally based 10-piece Big Hoke has returned with its latest album, this, right now. It celebrates the album’s release with a show on Saturday, June 7, at Forest City Brewery. Led by songwriter, arranger, singer and pianist Justin Gorski, Big Hoke recorded the album…
Last Week in Cleveland Food News: Doug Trattner’s New Newsletter, Fidelity Hotel’s New Chef
– Scene Dining Editor Doug Trattner has a brand new weekly newsletter you should sign up for right now. Every Saturday, he’ll take you a behind the scenes of what he’s eating and drinking and reading; share tidbits on gardening, RVing and whatever else he’s got going on; and generally talk food. If you’re already…
Blues Great Buddy Guy Brings ‘Slow Down’ Tour to Jacobs Pavilion
Singer-guitarist Buddy Guy, the son of sharecroppers, grew up on a farm in Louisiana. He still keeps a farmer’s schedule when he’s not on tour. “When I’m off the road, I’m an old country guy,” he says via phone from his Orland Park, IL home. “I love to get up when the rooster crows and…
Cleveland Moves Up a Notch in 2025 ParkScore Rankings
Cleveland’s parks have gotten slightly better since last year—well, at least according to a heap of data. ParkScore, the Trust for Public Land’s annual rating of the 100 most-populated U.S. cities and their parks, ranked Cleveland number 30 on its rankings this year, according to the updated list released this week, up one spot from…
Cleveland City Council, Downtown Cleveland Inc. Join Rebuke of GCP for Dome Endorsement
On one side of the battle over the Browns are the Haslams, who desperately want to abscond to Brook Park and a $2.4 billion dome and entertainment/parking complex, and the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the region’s powerful chamber of commerce, which earlier this week endorsed the plan citing unpublished studies showing that a dome would bring…
Bibb and Ronayne: GCP’s Endorsement of Brook Park Dome is an “Affront to Any Partnership We Have Had Together”
The Greater Cleveland Partnership’s executive board earlier this week officially endorsed Jimmy and Dee Haslam’s plan to move the Cleveland Browns to a new multi-billion dollar dome in Brook Park that would be largely subsidized by new public taxes and state bonds. That the Northeast Ohio chamber of commerce would make such a decision isn’t…
The Cleveland Orchestra’s Opera and Humanities Festival and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week
– The Cleveland Orchestra’s Opera and Humanities Festival continues its exploration of reconciliation this week at Severance Music Center with performances of Leoš Janáček’s Jenůfa on Thursday at 7:00 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm. Franz Welser-Möst conducts a cast that includes Latonia Moore (Jenůfa), Samuel Levine (Laca), Miles Mykkanen (Števa), and Nina Stemme, soprano…
Cleveland Unionized Drywallers Strike for Better Pay
Cleveland drywallers, a part of International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 505, have initiated a strike in search of better pay and benefits, several sources confirmed with Scene on Tuesday. A number of workers specializing in drywall jobs around the city are bound to vote on new bargaining agreements this week, a spokesperson…
Geauga County Sued to Release Contract for ICE Detainees
The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio is suing the Geauga County Sheriff’s office over its refusal to provide copies of contracts it’s signed with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Geauga is one of at least five counties in Ohio that have signed contracts to house migrants detained by ICE on the belief that they’re…
New Private Equity Owner of Dave’s Cosmic Subs Promises to Emphasize Quality and Open Dozens of New Regional Locations
Dave Lombardy opened the first Dave’s Cosmic Subs shop in Chagrin Falls in 1997. Since its inception, the brand has expanded to about 20 locations thanks to various franchise deals, but it never blew up the way Lombardy envisioned. For the past decade or so, the number of shops has remained relatively constant, with new…
Swensons and Cordelia Collaboration Hits All Drive-Ins Throughout June
Fresh off the spicy home-grown collaboration with Black Cap Hot Sauce, which runs through the end of May, comes another delicious all-Ohio pairing from Swensons. This latest partnership pairs Swensons Drive-In with Cordelia chef-partner Vinnie Cimino. Starting June 1 – and running through the end of the month – Swensons will feature two menu items…
Ohio Property Tax Repeal Campaign Preparing to Collect Signatures
In a short meeting, the Ohio Ballot Board signed off on a proposed constitutional amendment abolishing property taxes in the state. The only question before the board was whether the proposal contains one or multiple amendments. Supporters contend lawmakers have been unwilling or unable to make significant enough changes as property taxes climb. But critics…
Op-Ed: Data-Based Decision Making Should Drive the Future of Higher Education, Not Political Agendas
We should use data to determine what problems and inequities exist in Ohio’s higher education system, rather than creating fictitious problems rooted in political agendas. SB1 is a clear political stunt that bucks the science on effective higher education practices in favor of catchy headlines and inciting fake rage to manufacture political clout. At an…
Antisemitic Remarks by Wife of Cleveland Heights Mayor Lead to Protest at City Hall, Calls for His Resignation
The complaints surrounding the behavior of Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren and his so-called First Lady, Natalie McDaniel, continue. And have now shifted into legal territory. Last week, a complaint made to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission accused McDaniel of making a string of racial and antisemitic remarks both in person and via text…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Memorial Day Weekend (May 22-26)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 05/22 Fiddler on the Roof Set in the Ukranian village of Anatevha, Fiddler on the Roof centers on Tevye, a poor milkman who struggles to support five unmarried daughters and a wife. His family…
Tony’s Burger Shop to Join New Erie + Vine in Willoughby
Erie + Vine (4027 Erie St.), a new bar in Willoughby that is replacing the short-lived Dukes n’ Boots, is on pace to open the first week in June. When it does, chef Anthony Zappola will unveil the second location of his popular Tony’s Burger Shop concept that opened this past winter at Van Aken District.…
The Rail Brand Transitions to Rail Craft Kitchen & Bar
Mike Mariola, who launched The Rail back in 2011, says that the success of his craft burger bar concept had led him and his company to a bit of a turning point. “The gourmet burger concept that once made us distinctive had become mainstream, with virtually every casual dining establishment adding their own version to…
Vega Ave. Studio Lofts Bringing New Affordable Workforce Housing to Clark Fulton
Cleveland developer Ben Beckman knows what it’s like to be the first. He brought development to the emerging Barber-Vega-Queen (BVQ) District back when no one else was. His first project, a 69-unit building called BVQ Lofts, faced headwinds during the pandemic but now regularly rents out during peak season. Now, after delays caused by Covid,…
Ohio Library Systems, Advocates Push Back on House Provision to Hide Certain Materials
As Ohioans pleaded for more support for the state’s public libraries, there was also outcry against a provision that library staff and supporters say would add more work and unnecessary regulations to the local institutions. The Ohio House added a provision to their budget draft that was not in the governor’s executive proposal, one that…
Ask a Cleveland Sex Therapist: I’m 47 and In a Two-Year Relationship. Is It Too Late to Explore Kink?
Welcome to Ask a Cleveland Sex Therapist. Want to ask Matt a question that could be tackled in a future column? Click here. Now, onto this week’s topic. I am a 47 year old woman and I am finally ready to explore different kinds of sex besides just “vanilla.” To say I am nervous would…
Ricky Smith’s Something Good Social Kitchen Now Open in Playhouse Square
Compulsive kindness creator Ricky Smith has unveiled his latest project — Something Good Social Kitchen, a casual walk-up food stand, which opens today. The operation has reactivated the kiosk in Playhouse Square Plaza last used for Dynomite Burgers. Smith consulted on the concept and menu with his friend and mentor Michael Symon. “Everything we do…
Only Two Days Left to Vote for Scene’s Best of Cleveland 2025
We are officially in the home stretch of voting for Scene’s Best of Cleveland 2025 and, as always, the winners are all selected by you, the readers. It’s time to Light Up The Land with your choices for the very best the city has to offer, because, after all, you know better than anyone else where…
‘Heisenberg’ at Ensemble Theatre Is Billed as a “Love Story,” But Delivers a Disturbing Tale of Manipulation
Some would call “Heisenberg” a love story, including Ensemble Theatre: it is referred to in their program by their executive director as “A truly beautiful and awkward love story that navigates the process of human connection…” It is certainly awkward, some moments are heartwarming while many more are heart-wrenching. Yet, for a show described as…
Four Progressive Cleveland City Council Candidates Endorsed by ‘A Better Cleveland for All’ PAC
Affordable housing, union organizing, and workers’ rights were on the minds of four candidates — one incumbent and three challengers — for Cleveland City Council seats, as they came together for a press conference on Mall B on Thursday morning. As rain poured around them, the candidates —Tanmay Shah, Alana Belle, Nikki Hudson and Ward…
Ohio Lawmaker Wants to Require Jails to Report Pregnancy Outcomes
This article was first published by The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. Sign up for their newsletters, and follow them on Instagram, TikTok, Reddit and Facebook. An Ohio lawmaker plans to introduce legislation requiring county jails to report pregnancy outcomes. State Rep. Terrence Upchurch, a Democrat from Cleveland,…
Fidelity Hotel Brings on Dan Young as Executive Chef
The last time I saw chef Daniel Young, he was manning the live-fire kitchen at the wonderful – and James Beard Award-nominated – Portland, Maine restaurant Fore Street. Prior to that, it was at Michael Symon restaurants such as Lolita and Mabel’s BBQ. After years on the road, the Cleveland native has returned home to…
Cleveland Punk Band Whatever To Release First New Album in Nearly 25 Years
The Cleveland punk band Whatever was a presence on the local scene during the ‘90s and early 2000s before going on hiatus. Now, after a nearly 25-year break, original members singer-guitarist Ben Wrecked and drummer Matt Fish have reunited with guitarist Brett Moore and singer-bassist Peter Woodward to bring the band back to life. Whatever’s latest album, Into…
Cleveland Rape Crisis Center Workers Accuse Management of Union Busting, Threaten to Strike
A year after employees of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center unionized, several claim that leadership has yet to fully respect that decision. A handful of case managers and their union reps stood on the sidewalk outside CRCC’s Clark-Fulton location on Wednesday morning to criticize higher ups, especially CRCC President Nicole McKinney-Johnson, for failing to bargain…
Uncounted: Ohio’s Failure to Track Lost Pregnancies in Jails Spurs Questions Over Care
Nearly five months pregnant, Linda Acoff screamed in pain inside a cell in the Cuyahoga County Jail. The pressure and cramping intensified. Blood specks dotting the cold floor were met only with a nurse’s offering of extra sanitary napkins and a dose of Tylenol. Several more hours passed on that January 2024 morning before Acoff’s…
Ohio Republicans Introduce Bill to Designate Month Honoring Heterosexual Married Families
Ohio Republicans introduced a bill on Tuesday to designate a month solely to honor only Ohio families helmed by a cisgender heterosexual couple in a lifelong, monogamous relationship. House Bill (HB) 262 would designate “Natural Family Month,” for the period of time from Mother’s Day, which is the second Sunday in May, to Father’s Day,…
Pierce the Veil Singer Talks About Band’s Upcoming Amphitheater Headlining Tour
Shortly after the release of their 2016 album, Misadventures, Pierce the Veil began work on their new studio effort. But a few roadblocks interrupted the process. Drummer Mike Fuentes was accused of sexual assault and would subsequently leave the band. Then, in 2020, COVID hit and derailed the band’s efforts. But the group would eventually…
After Two Years on Paid Leave, Cuyahoga County Corrections Lieutenant Fired Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations
On March 31, 2023, George Hughes, a corrections lieutenant at the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, was put on paid leave pending an internal investigation into allegations that he groped a subordinate officer at a bar in Lakewood. More than two years later, Hughes was still on the county’s payroll in early May, having earned roughly…
Livewire: 9 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
WED 05/14 Gene Simmons Band Famous as the bassist and marketing genius behind the hard rock band KISS, which recently finished its farewell tour, Gene Simmons brings his solo show to MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. 10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com/en.html. THU 05/15 Lady Pills Ella Boissonnault…
Ohio Supreme Court Says Nitrogen Isn’t Toxic After It Killed a Guy at TimkenSteel
The Republican majority on the Ohio Supreme Court ruled last week that nitrogen gas didn’t qualify as toxic in 2016 when it killed a worker at TimkenSteel — a company founded by an important Republican family. The family sold majority ownership of the company in 2014, but appeared to still be invested and playing a…
Cleveland City Council Considering Laws to Regulate and Limit Short-Term Rentals
The party at an Airbnb at 12404 Larchmere Boulevard got out of hand quickly. It was July 6, 2024, and 200 people—mostly teenagers—were in attendance. Police were called. Guests were running into neighbors’ backyards. Businesses closed. A restarant close by had to tell its patio diners to move indoors. What may be the worst case…
What Would Happen If Ohio Abolished Property Taxes?
Late last week, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost determined organizers aiming to abolish property taxes had provided a “fair and truthful” summary of their proposed constitutional amendment. The next step is for the state ballot board to determine whether the proposal includes a single constitutional amendment or multiple amendments. The board has ten days to…
The Yard on 3rd Kicks Off Year Four in Willoughby
For its fourth season since launching in 2022, the owners of The Yard on 3rd (38040 3rd St., 440-527-8070) in Willoughby have rolled out improvements designed to give the popular summer destination a “Backyard Glow Up.” On Friday, May 9th, the outdoor food truck park located in downtown Willoughby officially kicked off its season. Fans of the…
Leaders Break Ground on $53-Million West Side Market Renovation
Two years after plans for a major renovation of the West Side Market were unveiled in Ohio City, the nonprofit spearheading the project kicked off its $53 million transformation with a groundbreaking Monday morning. Leaders from the city, county and others ushered in what will be the market’s two-year-long first phase of development, which includes…
Review: Devo, At Homecoming Stop in Cleveland, Shows Band Going Out on Top
More than 50 years after forming, perhaps Akron’s greatest musical export says it’s on its way out. If Sunday’s show is really Devo’s live farewell to Northeast Ohio, the band left on a high note. The arty new-wave band’s 17-song, 85-minute set in front of a capacity TempleLive Cleveland Masonic was a captivating overview of…
Man Checks Out 100 Books From Beachwood Library, Burns Them In Video Posted to Social Media
A man walked into the Beachwood Public Library twice last month, took out 100 books — 50 each during each visit — and proceed to burn those books a week later, according to the Beachwood Police. The series of events, brought to authorities’ attention by an internet hate crime monitoring group, began April 2, when…
Study: Ohio Among Hardest Hit if Congress, Trump Cut Medicaid
Ohio is among five states whose economies will be most harmed if huge proposed Medicaid cuts become reality, the Commonwealth Fund said in an explainer this week. Medicaid, the federal-state health insurer for low-income Americans, covers nearly 3 million Ohioans. That’s about a quarter of the state’s population. Particularly in states such as Ohio, Medicaid…
Ask a Cleveland Sex Therapist: I Am Gay and Hooking Up With My Straight Friend.
Welcome to Ask a Cleveland Sex Therapist. Want to ask Matt a question that could be tackled in a future column? Click here. Now, onto this week’s topic. I’m a gay guy in my late 20s and I’ve been best friends with a straight guy since college. About six months ago, we started hooking up.…
Locally Filmed Short ‘Lunchbox’ Makes Streaming Debut
Born and raised in Mayfield Heights, filmmaker and actor Anne Hu has just released her award-winning, locally filmed short film Lunchbox online with YouTube’s Omeleto and Taiwan Plus. The movie, which won Cleveland International Film Festival’s Best Ohio Short Film in 2023, has shown at 53 film festivals and won 20 awards worldwide. In addition…
Last Week in Cleveland Food News: Swensons Collabs With Black Cap Hot Sauce, Why We Love La Playa and More
A 10-pack of tasty local food bites to carry you into the weekend: – It’s May, which means a variety of new menu items from Swensons’ collaboration with Black Cap Hot Sauce are now available. Related – The W Sports Bar has opened its doors in Detroit-Shoreway. Related – Terrestrial Brewing Company’s Battery Park complex…
Backers Urge Ohio Lawmakers to Pass AI Restrictions
Ohio senators heard from supporters Wednesday of a proposal establishing guardrails around media produced with artificial intelligence. The proposal would prohibit the use of AI to create deepfake porn — particularly involving minors. But with provisions requiring watermarks and punishing identity fraud, the bill’s impact could extend far beyond the creation of pornography. Senate bill…
Billboards Supporting Cuyahoga Valley National Park Staff Pop Up Around Cleveland Amid DOGE Cuts
The billboard is anything but apologetic. “GREETINGS FROM CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK,” one reads, overlooking a parking lot of PNC Bank at East 40th and Chester Avenue. “NOW WITH REDUCED STAFF, MADE POSSIBLE BY D.O.G.E.” There’s another off I-480 and West 150th, another one at 117th and Berea, another on Lorain in Kamm’s Corner. In…
Millions of People Depend on the Great Lakes’ Water Supply. Trump Decimated the Lab Protecting It.
ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Just one year ago, JD Vance was a leading advocate of the Great Lakes and the efforts to restore the largest system of freshwater on the face of the planet. As a…
Cleveland Artist to Cover Hough Building With Plastic to Raise Environmental Awareness
Cleveland artist Ron Shelton has been working with plastic for more than five years. His goal is to create beautiful artwork that also raises awareness of why plastic pollution is a problem for the environment. It’s all part of Cleveland’s growing circular economy movement, which aims to repurpose what’s typically thrown away into something that…
