Cleveland Magazine

01/16/2026

Kyuu-juu’s run in Ohio City has come to an end. After just six months, one of the city’s most buzzed-about modern izakayas is gone as suddenly as it arrived.

Kyuu-juu investors have chosen to stop financially backing the restaurant.

01/16/2026

Lakewood is getting a new place to post up on game day. From the team behind some of Cleveland’s favorite bars, Easy Out is opening soon with classic pub fare and a laid-back sports-first vibe.

Will Hollingsworth says his group has plenty of great bars — just not one you’d choose for game day. Easy Out, opening soon in Lakewood, is meant to change that.

01/15/2026

Red-light therapy is commonly used in dermatology to help with acne and skin pigmentation and in orthopedic medicine to treat inflammation and muscle pain. Newer studies show that red-light therapy can also aid in producing collagen and elastin, boosting mood and reducing eye strain — far beyond what the treatment once was. But, as demand spikes, an unruly market of face masks, belts and helmets can dupe the average user. Experts shed light on how the treatment is done safely and effectively.

🔗 Read about our experience trying red-light therapy: https://clevelandmagazine.com/articles/red-light-therapy-shines-bright-at-cleveland-area-spas-and-health-facilities/

01/15/2026

A surprising catch made waves this fall on Northeast Ohio rivers. Anglers reported an uptick in rare chinook and coho salmon, fish more often associated with New York or Michigan waters.

Despite a slow fall on Steelhead Alley, chinook and coho salmon, typically seen in New York or Michigan, are straying into local waters at higher rates.

01/15/2026

The Cleveland Pro Soccer Chief Marketing Officer & Women’s Team Co-Founder grew up on the sport:

The Cleveland Pro Soccer Chief Marketing Officer & Women’s Team Co-Founder grew up on the sport.

01/14/2026

Behind a pair of storefronts at the corner of SOM Center and Wilson Mills roads, chef Zachary Ladner is building a meat-driven reputation that spans Texas-style barbecue and a full-service butchery.

Ladner leads a range of meat-forward concepts across Cleveland, from Tutto Carne in Little Italy to Giovanni’s Ristorante and projects in the Van Aken District. Throughout them all, he prioritizes whole-animal butchery and Ohio-raised meat, working with a close-knit team to use every cut with intention.

🔗 https://clevelandmagazine.com/articles/smokehouse-91-and-the-village-butcher-make-banging-barbecue-in-a-mayfield-strip-mall/

01/14/2026

Akin Affrica and Josh Cribbs are partnering together to open Sazani Oceana at 13220 Shaker Square, a contemporary full-service seafood restaurant. It will be located in the former Edwins Too space.

Affrica is the operator behind Zanzibar Soul Fusion, Cleveland Breakfast Club, The Vegan Club and multiple Angie’s Soul Café locations.

Sazani Oceana plans to be open by Valentine's Day.

🔗 https://clevelandmagazine.com/articles/new-seafood-restaurant-sazani-oceana-to-open-at-shaker-square/

🖊 Douglas Trattner
📸 Courtesy of Google

01/14/2026

Out of necessity, a local drummer became an expert soundproofer — and now helps other musicians find quiet in their own homes:

Out of necessity, a local drummer became an expert soundproofer — and now helps other musicians find quiet in their own homes.

01/14/2026

Seven years ago, Madelyn Varela was chasing a childhood dream of becoming a farmer. But a fulfilling internship on a goat farm in Arizona led her to a love of cheesemaking, which quickly became a full-time career as a cheesemonger:

The cheese connoisseur and influencer has sampled hundreds of cheeses throughout her career, using her knowledge and palate to make the food more approachable and diverse.

01/13/2026

For an entire year, starting on Toni Morrison’s birthday, the influential Nobel Prize-winning Ohioan will be the focus of literary and historic events in the Buckeye State.

The series kicks off on Feb. 18 — what would have been Morrison’s 95th birthday — and will run through Feb. 18, 2027, according to a news release. More than 40 confirmed events include a virtual Toni Morrison book club, an essay series, film screenings, readings and performances.

🔗 https://clevelandmagazine.com/articles/ohio-celebrates-toni-morrison-with-one-year-of-literary-events/

01/13/2026

Our 2026 edition of Elegant Weddings is here, highlighting newly wedded couples that kept their celebration close to home — including Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr.

He’s the comedian Cleveland has watched poke fun at local quirks for years. She’s the journalist and Ideastream host with a law degree and a knack for cutting through noise — the person you want explaining anything complicated.

Mike, who works as a features reporter for WKYC, noticed Stephanie’s energy from his loft workspace above her desk. He jokes that “illicit eavesdropping” gave him an inside track on “this truly remarkable person.” Stephanie calls their coming together serendipitous, “a perfect storm of being in the same place and the universe finally letting you run into your person.”

Four years later, Mike put a ring on it. A rehearsal dinner at Pickwick & Frolic, a ceremony at The Italian Cultural Garden, plus tunes courtesy of DJ Carl Ferrara and treats spun by CLE Cotton Candy made the Polks’ marriage a celebration of humor, heritage and hometown pride.

Also in this issue, discover how today’s weddings are cutting out booze, and get help from experts on planning your perfect Cleveland wedding.

Start by reading about the Polks: https://clevelandmagazine.com/articles/stephanie-haney-and-mike-polks-wedding-honored-their-cleveland-roots/