Cleveland Magazine

Every rookie needs his vet. For?Cleveland Cavaliers?All-Star point guard Darius Garland, that veteran was Tristan Thompson, who has spent 11 of his 13 seasons in Cleveland and played a major role in the 2016 championship. “My vet — big Tristan Thompson — was always great to me, even before I got drafted here,” says Garland. “When I was 18, he literally took me under his wing. I was out there in L.A. for pre-draft, and he put a shout out to me. Some good times. Some great workouts. Lifting together. Working out together. Spending time going to dinner together. Good fellowship.” While Garland was a young standout, things haven’t always been easy. He spent most of his first season at Vanderbilt University hurt. As a 19-year-old drafted fifth overall in 2019, local media called him one of the NBA’s worst rookies. Just last season, he broke his jaw and had to have it wired shut. Still, Thompson has stayed steady in Garland’s corner through those moments of doubt. “He’s dedicated,” Thompson says of Garland. “He’s locked in.” In this month’s cover story, the longtime Cavs big man and the All-Star point guard discuss their Cleveland bond, Darius Garland’s “revenge season” and what it will take to bring home an NBA Title. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g5kmva67 Photography by Casey Rearick, Assisted by Jesika Orahoske Art Direction by Erin Stinard Editing by Dillon Stewart Makeup by Riley Galbe-Fleming Video by Black Valve Media

Excited to see our client, Rustbelt, featured in this month’s Cleveland Magazine Home issue! Huge congratulations to their team and all the talented collaborators who brought this project—and this well-deserved recognition—to life! https://lnkd.in/ezgaf4FQ

Time to apply for NorthCoast 99! This annual awards program honors 99 great Northeast Ohio workplaces for top talent. It?consists of an?application?that collects information on organizational HR practices and an event that celebrates top-performing companies. Application link in comments! #cleveland #northcoast99 #northeastohio

The Cleveland Rockers might be back! According to reports, the WNBA has chosen Cleveland for its 16th expansion team, with an announcement expected around March. But why did the team leave in the first place? The Rockers played from 1997 to 2003. The team’s original owner Gordon Gund could not sell the team due to revenue and lack of attendance. A frequent playoff team, the Rockers had a loyal following, though, and some former players and coaches felt the drafting of LeBron James led to dissolution of team. “It was disheartening, and it was a business,” says Rockers All-Star forward?Chasity Melvin. “They knew LeBron James was going to be a savior. They had to sell us. I really think if they didn’t get a pick that would change the stratosphere, the Rockers might still be in Cleveland.” ?? Read more about the WNBA's decision: https://lnkd.in/euE6PpCP ?? Read more about why the team left: https://lnkd.in/ew55W-JS

The longtime chef of longtime Tremont restaurant Fat Cats offers his recommendations for Filipino food, coffee shops, local ingredients and more. Cultural Cuisine:?My favorite Filipino spot is Tita Flora’s in Independence. I knew them before they even opened up that restaurant. I had fried rice and their lumpia. They are the nicest people. There’s also this spot, the Rush Inn in Lakewood, that’s Irish. It’s a good late night place. The burgers and wings are good. They’ve been around a long time, maintain good quality and are always consistent. Local Ingredients:?Red Basket Farm in Kinsman, Ohio. They’re just an awesome couple, Amy and Floyd Davis. I met Floyd at the Tremont Farmers Market, and he had the best produce in the world. I get curly kale, tomatoes, acorn squash, eggplant, all that kind of stuff from there. Coffee Time:?Rising Star Coffee Roasters. I usually do French press, so I get the Illuminator Blend there. https://lnkd.in/eQS9BBYt

In February 1982, a Downtown Cleveland landmark began its last dance. Halle Brothers Co. was liquidating, a sad end to one of the most prominent retailers in Cleveland. Brothers Samuel and Salmon Halle opened a hat and fur store on Superior Street in 1891. From there, it grew into a department store and moved east. In 1910, Halle’s moved into a new terra-cotta building at Euclid Avenue and East 12th Street. More on the what led to the business's downfall: https://lnkd.in/gbqZ5Xc2

Since the start of time, relationships and being human go together. Even though we have been on this path for a long time. It hasn’t gotten any easier. In fact, with all the technology, gadgets and social media sites that were supposed to bring us together, we are further apart than ever. We are lonely. We struggle to keep our attention and our focus. We?struggle with anxiety. We struggle to put our phones down and out of sight. And we struggle to find love from friends and a partner. ? In this issue, we explore these issues and offer some pathways to find some help. Find our stories on love, friendship, and relationships: https://lnkd.in/g3WVbXzw ? Also in the February 2025 issue, peek inside Doc’s on Harvard and the story behind it; find the best boba tea places to share a drink with a friend; and so much more. ? Photographed by MEGANN GALEHOUSE, assisted by Kelly Bondra Makeup by Riley Gable-Fleming Talent by Docherty Agency Photographed at Thyme Table Illustrations inside by Joseph McDermott, IllustrationX

?? Cleveland is ready for lift off! Blue Abyss Global has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA Glenn Research Center to accelerate advancements in commercial space training, research, and infrastructure development, further positioning Blue Abyss as a key player in the global space industry. The agreement could help Blue Abyss win financing from the public and private sectors for a $300 million research facility it plans next to NASA Glenn. It is located on the west side of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in the Cleveland suburb of Brook Park. Blue Abyss purchased 12 acres of land for the research facility and has established an office on Aerospace Parkway. The partnership between Blue Abyss and NASA Glenn Research Center focuses on developing next-generation capabilities for human spaceflight, training, and simulations of extreme environments. This initiative aligns with a shared vision to advance scientific discovery, promote innovation, and strengthen the commercial space ecosystem. “This Space Act Agreement with NASA’s Glenn Research Center represents a pivotal milestone for Blue Abyss,” said the company’s CEO John Vickers in a written statement. “As we develop next-generation infrastructure, including our proposed facilities in the US and UK, it helps develop the international space sector, supporting industry growth, training, and infrastructure development that will support international clients and foster innovation.” ?? Click the link to read more: https://lnkd.in/ebb-4c3t

One family saw its business dream come true with Doc's on Harvard, an upscale restaurant which offers some of the only sit-down dining available in Cleveland's Lee-Harvard neighborhood. The former dental office transformed into the eatery with the help of citywide initiatives to invest in the Southeast Side of Cleveland, including Mayor Justin M. Bibb's Southeast Side Promise and the city’s Middle Neighborhoods Initiative. “We know that one restaurant, one art gallery, one amazing small business, could change the trajectory of a community,” Bibb says. “Think about what chef Michael Symon did for Tremont, and his first restaurant was an anchor that really helped propel Tremont revitalization. The same can be true for the Southeast Side.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eHGzRzMG

What do you do if you're not quite ready when opportunity knocks? “When opportunity presents itself, as any true entrepreneur will say, then you pursue it, especially when it falls in your lap,” says Andrew Revy of Immigrant Son Brewing. “You take a good, long, hard look at it and you try to say no every which way possible. But when it's too good to pass up, then you go about putting together a project that we hope and know that people will love.” Revy says that despite having his hands full with his three-year-old brewery, he was impressed by the space, its history and potential. He enjoyed Salt many times as a diner, he says, and looks forward to guiding the property into its next chapter. “This space is very appealing because it is turnkey: you have a James Beard Award-nominated chef who built a kitchen to her specific skill sets and vision. It’s a great location. It's in Lakewood. It's a stone’s throw from here.” Read more about Sofia's Kitchen & Bar, which Revy plans to open late winter or early spring: https://lnkd.in/eXQh5jVK