Met Petro Byczyk, known as Rabbi Yoder, at the Hildebrandt Building Art Show on Valentine’s Day. He stood by his piece Crime of Passion and shared how he is from eastern Lake County and walks along the beaches in Perry & Madison shape his work. Always good to meet local artists.

Stopped at Caribe Bake Shop & Restaurant, 2906 Fulton Rd. A true Cleveland staple of Puerto Rican flavor. Met Judith Tecillo, 37 years here and still decorating cakes & mentoring the next generation. She picked a sampler that was outstanding. Their Cuban, still their bestseller.

Stopped into Ben & Jerry’s - 1422 Euclid Ave inside the beautiful Hanna Building at Playhouse Square. First visit and I was surprised by how big the space is. Staffer Davaiea Leonard says Strawberry Cheesecake is one of the best. Theatergoers have been loving it.

Stopped by the new Easy Out Sports Bar at 11822 Detroit Ave. in Lakewood. Spoke with Director of Operations Jeffrey Siefer about the spot, which opened on Super Bowl Sunday. Great space, great people, & packed when I visited. Check out the Menu here: www.easyoutbar.com

Stopped into Jason’s Barbershop on Madison and talked with Ghassan “Jason” Sarkis, a Lakewood fixture since the early 2000s. Stories of old school barbers, close knit neighborhood life, Syrian & Lebanese food, and even Turkish candy on the way out. Great cut, better conversation.

Stopped by Gochujang in @playhousesquare and loved learning the story behind it. Owner Grace Seville opened in 2024 after launching Sushi En across the street years ago. Great food, unique Korean grocery finds, and an inspiring journey to Cleveland. Check them out @gochujangcle.

Great meeting Rich Garcia and Brett Melena at the Cleveland Kurentovanje Festival on Feb 14, 2026. We talked in the basement of the Slovenian National Home, a room full of music, beer, and slivovitz. They shared the story of their local company Ladders Unlimited & Supply.

Visited Masala Monsoon inside The Shoppes at Parma, in the old Antonio’s spot locals remember well. Went with friends who know the area and trust good food. They were right. Tandoori Chicken Pizza hit. Saag Paneer & Malai Kofta were excellent. Parma keeps doing Indian food right.

Great talking with Donald Kern at the Cleveland Kurentovanje Arts & Culture Festival on Feb. 14th. A Kamms Corners and West Park original from Bonna Ave, St. Vitus parishioner and volunteer, married nearly 39 years. Neighborhood stories, parish memories, and real Cleveland pride.

‪#RIPJesseJackson The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with Jesse Jackson and others during three days of meetings with pastors and leaders at the Yankee Clipper Hotel in Hudson, Ohio, in early June 1967. Source: Cleveland Public Library.

Met Matt Pallotta at Lekko Coffee and snapped this shot. Matt, Akron-born founder of Frame One Media, creates compelling video, audio, & visual stories. He also hosts Going There, a podcast tackling taboo topics. Latest episode: Homeless: Inheritors of a Broken System.

Stopped by Fragapane’s Bakery and met manager Cynthia Swartz, who has been there 42 years, starting at 18. From Lakewood, now Avon, she knows the place inside and out. Watching her greet regulars and guide first-job kids on a busy Saturday showed why she stayed. It still feels like home.

Great meeting brothers Jason and Matthew Rucker of Lakewood at the Hildebrandt Building Art Show on Valentine’s Day. Fun, easy to talk with, and full of local love for food and places around the area. Always fun chatting about art and Cleveland’s food scene!

Edgewater Park. Lake Erie. Sunday Stroll.

Great speaking with Yohei Asada last night at the Hildebrandt Building. He was in town after dining at the stunning new restaurant ROSY in Ohio City. We connected at the WITH LOVE art show curated by the great @Joeyjumpshot and talked about his Boxkite Shopin Akron.

I like asking my daughter where she wants dinner. This night she knew immediately. A great burger at Herb's Tavern, 19925 Detroit Rd. in Rocky River. Since 1963 it stays the same. That is the comfort. Burgers done right, every time. Go back and see what Herb Brugh built.

Cold winter Wednesday at B & G Tavern, 4150 Lorain. Warm room, good talk, Cleveland people. Tim Verhiley, Cory Faisant, Matt Sachire, Matt Moore, Sarah Palinkas, Cece Manning. All artists & Musicians Loved talking to this fun crew that call this legendary bar their regular spot.

On a cold night at the Grog Shop, Meredith & Ryan came to see Mike Polk, & me. She told me a post I wrote led him to ask her out. Now they’re in love and say I’m 1st invited if they marry. Told the crowd the story and they applauded love. Cleveland magic. Happy Valentine's Day.

Stopped in at The Lakeshore Kitchen, 16122 Lakeshore Blvd., on a cold February day in Cleveland. Talked with owner Antoine Cloud, Shaw High grad, lifelong cook, not classically trained but trained by a cooking life. Comfort food, decent prices, no fuss. Chicken Philly is the bestseller.

Glad to see Valerie Szepiwdycz at Severance Hall, where I took her photo, a perfect place for someone so at home in music. The marketing strategist behind major arts campaigns just launched Kazka Creative. Learn more at www.kazkacreative.com.

Had a really great night performing our Cleveland history comedy show at the world famous Grog Shop with Mike Polk Jr. & Zachariah Durr. Really fun crowd. Great catching up with 23 year team member John Kalman, Shaker Square native who keeps the legend local club running.

Great meeting Mikey Ericsson & Emily Wheatley at the @WestSideMarket. Mikey works at Happy Dog, has been around town at Spice and Rust Belt Riders, and is also a tattoo artist at Chronic Tattoos in Lakewood. Emily lives in Clark Fulton and is an architect at RDL Architects.

Stopped by Landmark Restaurant on St. Clair and ran into Sarah Kirvanka & Paul Glowacki with their cute 2-year-old. Loved talking to the talented local Architects about the streets around us. Also check out their charming 1890 home rental in the area on Instagram: @40th.and.fruit

Great photographing Jessica Davis at Rebuilders Xchange (5401 Hamilton Ave). A place built on reuse, and second chances. Jessica is charismatic and full of life, and RBX proves discarded materials still have stories to tell. Looking forward to coming back. www.rbxhub.com

Talked with Britany Palmer at the West Side Market. She has worked there for 16 years, starting at Meister Foods and now at J & J Czuchraj Meats. A local who still loves the job. One of the great people who give the market its history and heartbeat.

Visited Juicebox Creative Studio + Gathering Space at 10908 Clifton Blvd. A beautifully marketplace highlighting makers. Great meeting owner L.A. Carr & learning how the space grew from a photo studio into a home for 15-20 different vendors, with a focus on hyper local goods.

Great Vunjabei African Market. 10015 Lorain Ave. Cleveland. -February 7, 2026.

Stopped by Scrubs Galore Uniforms at 10025 Lorain Ave. Cleveland. Met Layvon Reed, whose mom Stephanie McGraw opened the shop in 2021. Layvon is a Glenville Academy grad who ran track & played football for Coach Ginn. Great local spot for stylish, scrubs. scrubsgaloreuniforms.com

Great meeting CFD firefighter Andre Hills at the West Side Market. 32 years on the force, 25 at Old Collinwood Station #31, now in fire prevention. Loved chatting while he was assisting CPD downtown, hope to run into him around town again soon.

Great visiting The Treehouse in Tremont at 820 College Ave. Nice seeing Olivia Ruiz, who I first met when she came out to the Cleveland History show I do with Mike Polk. She has worked at Treehouse for 2 years and also at The Plain Dealer. Also, great seeing GM Katy Russo again.

Great meeting Dan Breninghouse at Herb’s Tavern in Rocky River. He grew up in Lakewood, went to St. Ed’s, and worked here 2005–2010. Even cooler, he’s the nephew of the late Danny Coughlin, legendary Cleveland reporter and storyteller who held court in this very bar.

Had an excellent brunch at Artis, 17900 Detroit Ave in Lakewood. Ordered the Benedict Flight with an old friend and it delivered. Salmon, spinach, and ham, all nailed, with a hollandaise that gets it right. Chef Andrew Mansour and manager Michael D. Broida run a tight ship.

Great running into old friend John Rowland downtown. Same late afternoon schedule, same final coffee at Rising Star in the Arcade. Friends since St. Ignatius, and just as kind now as he was then. Always fun talking cinematheque, libraries, AI, & more. Thanks for the photo, John.

Always love stopping into the Flat Iron Cafe, a Cleveland original since 1910 in the Flats. I knew it long before I could drink, from stories and shirts worn by my uncles, the Swan boys. Still the perfect spot for a pint, just like your Cleveland dad or uncle did.

Raddell’s Sausage Shop. 478 E. 152nd St. North Collinwood. - September 24, 2025.

While walking through Main Library, I met Tony Hatzopoulos & Andy Skantsos, who were checking out the Greek collection in our International Languages Department, which supports 50 languages. Andy even recognized me from when I took his photo at the Kamm’s Corners Greek Fest.

It was great talking with owner Ruby Thomas-Sherry, now leading Ohio City Pasta at West Side Market. Her family business recently celebrated 35 years, founded by Gary Thomas in 1990 and now proudly second generation. Always a great stop. Always love to see amazing staffers Jake and Katie.

Met the friendly Zaharia Polk at Playhouse Square. Born and raised in Lee-Harvard, she was downtown checking out new places to move and sharing her excitement for a fresh start in 2026. Zaharia works in the security industry & loves what she does. Thanks for the photo and story.

Stopped by Build the Pho at 2084 W 25th and met Leo Liang, who recently moved to Cleveland from Brooklyn. He walked me through the menu and shared some great picks. Also cool to hear they have locations in North Olmsted and University Circle. Thanks Leo and welcome to Cleveland.

Great meeting Eleanor Dakota & Matthew Kusper at Worthington Yards in Downtown Cleveland. We talked art & music & CLE. Eleanor just played “I’m a Ram” by Al Green. Matthew’s latest listen was Balloonerism by Mac Miller. Always love how one question can open a new music rabbit hole.

Met Stormy Sweitzer in Downtown Cleveland at the Yards Photography show we were both in. Her work is incredible, especially her photo of the late Arabella Proffer, a beautiful capture that made me smile and miss her. Check out more of her amazing work @stormy.sweitzer

Ferris Shawarma Restaurant. 13507 Lakewood Heights. Cleveland. December 27, 2025.

May 6, 2011. Took this one about 15 years ago. A taste of Cleveland history. Dailey’s Blue Mountain Inn on E 116th served flavorful options, beef patties, curried chicken, and Ms. Maggie Andrews’ legendary smile. Real Jamaican flavor. Real city staple back then. 3019 E 116th. CLE

Great meeting Clevelander Eric Mays II aka FLYHIPPYRICKY at Worthington Yards in Downtown Cleveland. Musician, podcaster, and a creative voice. Thanks for the great conversation about art, music, and the city. Check out his work: soundcloud.com/eric-mays-ii

Tom & Willy’s Barber Shop 
I took this photo and wrote this piece on Sept. 15, 2011. Willy and his granddaughter Jackie kept the family tradition alive on East 185th Street. One of Cleveland’s last independent corridors, full of history, grit, and heart.

Forest City Brewery in Cleveland’s Duck Island is a must-visit. On the site of the 1865 Atlantic Beer Garden, Owner Jay Demagall pours heart and history into every corner of this amazing Cleveland spot. A real must stop for Clevelanders to enjoy a great drink and meal.

Met Shel Greenberg in Downtown Cleveland after knowing each other only online. Longtime fan of her posts about Ponyboy Stardust, her world-famous local pup. Shel is also known for her classes Wild FreedOM Punk Yoga. Thanks for for allowing me to take a photo.

Great talking with Liv Began and Lauren Kulia from Cleveland State at Worthington Yards. Loved hearing their thoughts on the Liz Maugins–curated show and discussing art, Cleveland, and Jeff Buckley. Thanks for the photo. See you at the Main Library soon.

Shawn C. Mishak is a Cleveland based artist, and photographer, As curator of Doubting Thomas Gallery in Tremont, he supports experimental work and local talent. Great meeting him and getting his photo at Worthington Yards where we were both part of the same art show.

Cynthia Penter is an artist working in video, film, photography, & contemporary media. Originally from Burton, & now living in CLE Heights, she stays active through exhibitions, community projects, & teaching. Great meeting her at the Worthington Yards show we were both part of.