If you watched the second season of “The White Lotus” you must add a Testa di Moro or “Moor’s Head” to your summer gardening plans. It may be too lovely (and creepy?) for garden soil, but it will make a statement on a porch or table. If you must plant, the most appropriate choice is basil. Peter and Barb Strom, owners of the La Bella Vita shop in C...

For 20 years, the striking Vitrolite Building (2915 Detroit Ave.) in Ohio City had been home to the Intermuseum Conservation Association, but before that it was a showroom and warehouse for Vitrolite tile – aka pigmented structural glass. Soon, the property will exhibit a more community-minded purpose when a trio of businesses – Harness Cycle, Soul...

It's a quiet Monday evening in Cleveland's Little Italy, and snowflakes are falling at the corner of Mayfield and Murray Hill roads. Parking spaces that are normally difficult to come by in this ethnic enclave of the city are more available as the vibrant neighborhood recovers from a lively weekend. A woman's operatic ballad pierces the stillness,...

Lola and Luca Sema’s latest restaurant venture is a homecoming of sorts. The couple – who own Luca Italian Cuisine, Luca West and Acqua di Luca – have bought the former Osteria di Valerio e Al downtown. They hope to open a new restaurant in late summer / early fall.

Cleveland’s Little Italy has seen a surge in demand in recent years. While it has always been a popular borough in The Land, the city’s rise in foodie culture has placed Little Italy atop a pedestal. Rightfully so, as its culinary style has garnered a passionate following. Little Italy has some true monuments, including a statue of Rocky Colavito a...

To get my Italian food fix, I went to Bistro on 130, a restaurant that's located at a small and unassuming strip mall in Middleburg Heights. Though the place doesn't look like much on the outside, the interior was nice with clean tablecloths, romantic lighting, and comfortable seating. After being greeted by the exceedingly friendly staff, I sat at...

Save the dates: April 4 - 12. We are pleased to announce Italian Film Festival USA - Cleveland 2023's return to its traditional, in-person format this April! FREE AND OPEN TO ALL. Our line-up of contemporary Italian films includes dramas, comedies and documentaries. We hope you will be able to join us and enjoy our program! All films will be shown...

Back in 2021, we shared news that the former Larchmere Tavern, which had closed after nearly 30 years, was being converted into a high-end cocktail lounge and restaurant. Those plans never came to fruition. But that proved to be fortuitous for Peter Reuter, who was in search of a permanent home for Scorpacciata.In 2018, after graduating from Johnso...

In the 50 years from 1870 to 1920, it’s estimated that more than 20,000 Italian immigrants ended up in Cleveland. The city was on its way up, filled with mills and factories looking for cheap labor, and Italian immigrants were more than willing to pitch in, settling in enclaves within the city. Today, a century later, vestiges of their work and cul...

Established in the late 19th century, Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood—one of five major Italian settlements in the city—still retains its cultural charm. Located just east of downtown and a few minutes from vibrant arts and cultural must-sees like the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland’s Little Italy draws with its walkability, eclectic art g...