Happy Tuesday after a long Memorial Day weekend, Buzz Nation! We hope everyone spent yesterday outdoors with a cold beverage in one hand and a hot dog or burger in the other.

Today we’re buzzing on:

• 🐶 Recap: Buzz Nation shows out at the APL Fundraiser

• 🍸 Today in Cleveland history is a buzzkill

• 🌲 Looking for things to do with the kids?

Let’s make it a great week!

—The Briggses

FUNDRAISER

Buzz Nation raises $2,500 for the Cleveland APL | Lakewood

When we first announced our fundraiser at Rozi’s with Voyager Beverage benefitting the Cleveland APL, we had no idea what to expect. We thought it would be fun to get together and attempt to raise some money for a great cause.

The result of the evening was nothing short of amazing!

The place was packed early; many wines were sipped, and you all showed up and showed out.

Thanks to the incredible members of our Westside Buzz community, we raised $2,500 for the deserving animals at the Cleveland APL!

We enjoyed meeting every single one of you who took time out of your weekend to come and celebrate with us. We can’t thank you enough!

METROPARKS

Free nature programs feed minds and bodies | Cleveland Metroparks

Looking for fun, free ways to keep the kids engaged this summer?

The Cleveland Metroparks’ Kids Nature Lunch & Learn Series is a total win for families looking to unplug and explore. Held outdoors on Fridays at Edgewater Park, this hands-on program invites children to learn about nature straight from expert naturalists, with topics like bird migration, animal tracks, and even bat behavior.

Best part? Every child 18 and under gets a free lunch (thanks to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank) and a free book to take home, all while soaking up sunshine and science. Programs run from June 4 through August 8, every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:30 AM–12:30 PM.

But the summer fun doesn’t stop with the little ones. Older kids and teens can join in too, with Urban Line Dancing (Tuesdays at Garfield Park, 6–8 PM starting June 17) and West African Drum Circles (Friday evenings in August and September). Whether you're raising a curious kindergartener or a rhythm-loving high schooler, Metroparks has something to spark their summer spirit.

TAKE A HIKE

New glass walkway opens at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges | Nelson

If you’re the kind of person who lives for views, narrow trail adventures, and that satisfying crunch of gravel beneath your boots, you’ll want to add Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park to your summer must-hike list.

The park just unveiled its impressive Falls Edge Glass Walkway—a 137-foot-long, S-shaped glass bridge that curves gracefully 50 feet above the gorge of Sylvan Creek. Suspended in the air with panoramic views of Minnehaha Falls, it’s the kind of hike that makes your heart race in all the right ways.

But the adventure doesn’t stop at the bridge. This park is a geological playground, with towering rock formations like Devil’s Icebox, The Narrows, and Cascade Falls waiting to be explored—all now easier to find thanks to newly installed wayfinding signs.

Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just chasing your next great trail pic, this $1.68 million project is a bold invitation to reconnect with nature, one (slightly nerve-wracking) glass step at a time. (Cleveland.com)

TODAY IN CLEVELAND HISTORY

May 27th, 1919

Cleveland has been at the forefront of many things throughout its history. Flammable bodies of water, hometown T-shirt companies, and thinking that launching 1.5 million balloons at one time was a good idea. One thing you may not have known we were at the front and center of was the temperance movement.

Long before the Eighteenth Amendment officially dried out America on January 17, 1920, Cleveland had already slammed the brakes on booze back on May 27, 1919. Why so early? Because it was home base for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union—a group of ladies who meant business and probably hadn't trusted a punch bowl since the 1800s.

But here’s the thing about banning something everyone loves: it turns law-abiding citizens into sneaky cocktail chemists overnight. And boy, did Cleveland rise to the occasion. With its prime location on the shores of Lake Erie—basically a rum-smuggler’s lazy river from Canada—the city became a bootlegger’s paradise.

Mob families flourished, hooch flowed like the Rocky River after a big storm, and the Cleveland Press estimated that over 30,000 people were running their own underground liquor gigs. And with more than 2,000 speakeasies scattered across town, it’s safe to say Cleveland was lit… just not legally.

THEATRE TALK

Cleveland Public Theatre expansion moving along | Gordon Square

Thanks to a record $6 million donation earlier this year, The Cleveland Public Theatre is transforming the historical St. Mary’s Romanian Orthodox Church into a new performance and rehearsal gallery.

It’s inspiring to see how Cleveland Public Theatre’s campus expansion has sparked a vibrant new chapter for the Gordon Square Arts District. The neighborhood is thriving with energy, creativity, and growth, which is proof that great things are happening here!

Fun Fact:

TRIVIA WINNER

Friday’s trivia question was admittedly a tough one. The best answer we could find explains how early settlers used it as a dye for clothing, but it only produced a pale blue dye.

If you’re looking for a great bang for your buck in your garden, Blue False Indigo is a great option because it helps other plants around it grow, and it is relatively easy to maintain.

We only had 5 people answer correctly, so we will be awarding them each with a Westside Buzz sticker! Congrats to parmarn, pbelt, moaklief, c.modie, and lhballa. Send us an email: hello (at) thewestsidebuzz (dot) com and let us know where to mail your sticker.

WHAT’S HAPPENING, WESTSIDERS?

Featured Event

This isn’t just a market. It’s a high-energy celebration of everything that makes our city great: local makers, passionate artists, delicious eats, great music, and a community that shows up.

Whether you're hunting for handmade treasures, looking for a fun day out with the family, or just want to support local businesses, The Cleveland Market has something for everyone.

Here’s what you can expect:

• 🛍 130 local vendors – Shop handmade goods, art, fashion, and more

• 🍔 Food trucks – Coming hangry?…leave happy

• 🎶 Live music – Feel the beat while you browse

• 🎨 Kids activities – Fun for the whole family

🗓 When and Where?:

• Saturday, May 31 – 10 AM to 4 PM

• Sunday, June 1 – 10 AM to 4 PM

• 📍 Tyler Village – 3615 Superior Ave, Cleveland

Come see what Cleveland is made of—and leave with something amazing.

Want to feature an event with a custom poster in front of 16,450 Westsiders? Let’s talk! hello(at)thewestsidebuzz.com

Weather

Tuesday

71 🌡️ 55 | 🌦️ | 80% | 💨 E 9 to 13 mph 🌊 1 to 3 feet

Wednesday

66 🌡️ 56 | ⛈️ | 60% | 💨 E 13 mph 🌊 1 to 3 feet

Thursday

68 🌡️ 56 | 🌥️ | 20% | 💨 W 9-13 mph 🌊 1 to 2 feet

💧^{🌡️ Water temperature = 58ºF}

That’s it for today, Westsiders. If you liked something in today’s newsletter, share it with someone who might find it interesting.

Until Friday,

—The Briggses