Jstyle, Spring 2023

JUNE 22-24 PLAYHOUSE SQUARE

2023 Performers

• Herbie Hancock

• Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

• Angélique Kidjo

• Richard Bona Presents ASANTE Trio Featuring Osmany Paredes (Piano) and ÍIario Bell (Drums)

• Dominick Farinacci and Triad

• Samara Joy

• Christian McBride

• Dan Wilson: 7 Decades of Wonder: The Genius of Stevie

• Braxton Cook

• Norman Brown

• Gerald Albright

• Steve Smith and Vital Information: Steve Smith (Drums), Manuel Valera (Keys), Janek Gwizdala (Bass)

Get tickets and passes at tri-cjazzfest.com

Strassman Fran and Jules Belkin

THERE’S SO MUCH TO DISCOVER

STOP BY AND CHECK OUT WHO’S COMING SOON TO THE DISTRICT:

AND VISIT ALL YOUR FAVORITES:

AC Hotel by Marriott • Athleta • Bibibop Asian Grill

Blackbird Fly Boutique • Brighton • Brilliant Earth

The Candle Studio • Casper • Club Pilates • Color Me Mine

Condado Tacos • Duck Donuts • Eye Candy Optical

Fabletics • Firebirds Wood Fired Grill • First Watch

Graeter’s Ice Cream • FOUNT • Homage • Indochino

j. bellezza • J.Crew • Kitchen Social • The Last Page

Laura of Pembroke • Luxe Redux Bridal • Madewell • Océanne

Orangetheory Fitness • Peloton • Pinstripes • Pottery Barn

Red, the Steakhouse • REI • Restore Cold Pressed

Sand Pebbles • Saucy Brew Works Co eehouse • Sephora

Shake Shack • Silverspot Cinema • SOZO • StretchLab

UNTUCKit • Urban Outfitters • Verizon • Vineyard Vines

Warby Parker • West Elm • Whole Foods Market

Williams Sonoma • Woodhouse Day Spa • Zen Nail Spa

& Managed by

Developed

Welcoming spring early

This issue’s Jstyle photo shoot at the Cleveland Botanical Garden was the perfect chance to feel an early hint of sun and warmth.

Planning Jstyle’s spring shoot – typically in late February or early March – is always a bit of a challenge to select a location that gives spring vibes, when really it could be snowing outside.

For that reason, we chose the Cleveland Botanical Garden. It appears sunny, and plant life grows in its indoor glasshouses yearround. We knew it would provide a chance for us to capture seasonally ideal photos for spring, even when it wasn’t so ideal outdoors. And luckily, the day of the shoot was pleasant enough outside – which in Northeast Ohio means not snowing, not raining and above 30 degrees – that we got a few shots in the outside garden spaces.

While I always feel a sense of satisfaction seeing our photo shoots come together after months of planning, this shoot gave me a sense of optimism. I struggle with winter –the gloominess, snow and sun going down so early a ect my mood and energy levels, as many people experience, not to mention being cold all the time. For me, it’s never spring early enough. I’ve learned to not get too excited about early hints of warmth until about mid-June and I’m steadily in shortswearing season (my favorite time of the year).

This is all to say, our photo shoot gave me, our models and our entire Jstyle team a nice bit of anticipation for more pleasant days weather-wise, and I hope it does the same for you. I also encourage you to check out Jstyle’s Instagram, @jstylemagazine, for more from behind the scenes of the photo shoot.

And in the photo shoot pages and Threads

Jstyle’s new biweekly email newsletter shares the best features, fashion, food and decor from Jstyle, its sister publications and our favorite creators. Subscribe to the e-newsletter, sent at noon every other Thursday, at jstylemagazine.com/signup.

feature, you’ll get a preview of fashion and beauty trends that will bring a sense of brightness and style to the season. Be prepared for lots of pink.

This issue also features a pro le of Dr. Diana Ponsky, whose path across the world has led her to open her own clinic and volunteer in the local Jewish community. We also check in with LINGG, a Woodmere jewelry boutique. Also in this issue is a real estate special section. I recommend it for anyone considering purchasing a home, as we o er tips from local real estate professionals. We also visit Moreland Commons, a new luxury housing community.

Additionally, we have a feature on Mendel’s Kansas City BBQ – a new barbecue staple in Shaker Heights that o ers a unique dining style and environment, especially for those who keep kosher.

I hope this issue of Jstyle helps you get excited about the warmer days ahead, and I certainly hope to see you out and about enjoying our beautiful city and the surrounding nature soon.

Amanda Koehn Editor

Publisher & CEO

Kevin S. Adelstein

Vice President of Sales

Adam Mandell

Editor

Amanda Koehn editor@jstylemagazine.com

Design Manager

Stephen Valentine

CJPC Editor

Bob Jacob

CFO

Tracy DiDomenico

Digital Marketing Manager

Cheryl Sadler

Events Manager

Gina Lloyd

Editorial

Courtney Byrnes, Sherry Gavanditti, Becky Raspe, Meghan Walsh

Contributors

Alyssa Schmitt, Carlo Wol

Columbus Bureau Chief

Stephen Langel

Custom Publishing Manager

Paul Bram

Sales & Marketing Manager

Andy Isaacs

Advertising

Marilyn Evans, Ron Greenbaum, Adam Jacob, Nell V. Kirman, Sherry Tilson

Senior Designer

Jessica Simon

Designers

Bella Bendo, Ricki Urban

Digital Content Producers

DeAnna MacKeigan, Megan Roth

Business & Circulation

Amanda LaLonde, Latesha McCa ety, Julie Palkovitz, Abby Royer

Subscriber Services

216-342-5185/circulation@cjn.org

Display Advertising 216-342-5204 advertising@jstylemagazine.com

VOL. 147 NO. 18

CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS (ISSN-00098825) is published weekly with additional supplement issues in February, March, April, June, August, September, October, and twice in December, by The Cleveland Jewish Publication Company at 23880 Commerce Park, Suite 1, Cleveland, OH 44122-5380. Single copy $1.25. Periodicals Postage paid at Cleveland, OH and at additional mailing o ces. POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Cleveland Jewish News, 23880 Commerce Park, Suite 1, Cleveland, OH 44122-5380.

Amanda Koehn at the Cleveland Botanical Garden for the Jstyle photo shoot in early March.

CJN to present ‘An Evening with Josh Radnor’

Jstyle’s sister newspaper the Cleveland Jewish News – along with Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., L.P.A – will present “An Evening with Josh Radnor” at the Maltz Performing Arts Center at The Temple-Tifereth Israel at Case Western Reserve University at 7 p.m. April 27.

The discussion with Radnor will be moderated by Kevin S. Adelstein, President, Publisher & CEO of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, which publishes Jstyle. It will be followed by an audience Q&A.

Radnor will discuss show business, creativity, acting, music, life, death, love, grief, Judaism and more.

A Columbus native, Radnor is an actor, writer, director and musician. He attended Columbus Torah Academy, and graduated from Bexley High School and Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. He can be seen hunting Nazis alongside Al Pacino in the Jordan Peele-produced “Hunters” on Amazon Prime, and in “Fleishman Is In Trouble” on F/X & Hulu. He starred as Ted Mosby in the long-running television series, “How I Met Your Mother,” from 2005 to 2014.

Radnor also starred in short-running television shows “Rise” and “Mercy Street”; lms including Joey Soloway’s debut feature “Afternoon Delight”; and on Broadway (“The Graduate” and “Disgraced”) and o . He wrote and directed two feature lms, “Happythankyoumoreplease” and “Liberal Arts,” both of which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival before being released in theaters, the former winning the 2010 Audience Award. His upcoming lms are “3 Birthdays” and “All Happy Families.”

He also released two albums with Australian musician Ben Lee as “Radnor & Lee.” His solo EP, “One More Then I’ll Let You Go” was released in spring 2021. His double album, “Eulogy: Volumes 1 & 2,” which he recorded in Nashville, is on its way in 2023.

He lives in Los Angeles and New York.

Tickets, starting at $36, can be purchased at cjn.org/radnor. Medical Mutual 5-Star Senior Savings for seniors 62 and older will save $10 on each ticket by using promo code 5-STAR on tickets of $54 and more. For sponsorship opportunities and additional information, contact CJN events manager Gina Lloyd at glloyd@cjn.org or 216-342-5196.

SPONSORS

Title: Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., L.P.A. 5-Star Senior Discount presented by Medical Mutual

VIP: Karen Krause

Supporting: Feldman-Wehn Family/ Kottler Metal Products; Legacy Village; McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Li man Co. LPA; The Davis Frayman Financial Group of Raymond James; and Zinner & Co.

Venue: Maltz Performing Arts Center at The TempleTifereth Israel, Case Western Reserve University

Photos by MARIANA EDELMAN PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN

The Chai Life

18 interesting things to do this

spring in Greater Cleveland

Compiled by Courtney Byrnes

‘Becoming Dr. Ruth’

While well-known for her hit 1980s radio call-in show, “Sexually Speaking,” Ruth K. Westheimer has a storied history told in “Becoming Dr. Ruth,” a play performed at Outcalt Theatre in Playhouse Square through April 23. The show is put on by Cleveland Play House and features only one cast member, Naomi Jacobson, as Westheimer. The solo show takes the audience through moments in Westheimer’s life from escaping Nazi Germany as a child on the Kindertransport, becoming an Israeli sharpshooter in the 1940s, to being a single mother in America and becoming a global celebrity sought out by presidents. clevelandplayhouse.com

Yom Hazikaron

Cleveland Ballet

The Cleveland Ballet will close its eighth season in April as it makes history with its rst performance of George Balanchine’s worldrenowned “Serenade”; the world premiere of Israeli composer Anna Segal’s “Symphony of Life,” choreographed by Ilia Zhivoi; and the company’s rst performances with the newly formed Cleveland Ballet Orchestra. Audiences have two chances to see the Cleveland Ballet’s closing performance as it graces the stage of Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace at 7 p.m. April 21 and April 22.

clevelandballet.org

City Club of Cleveland Forum

While many have stored their face masks away and gone back to gathering in large crowds, the reality is the e ects of the COVID-19 pandemic still linger. The City Club of Cleveland in downtown Cleveland will hold a youth forum titled “It’s Not Over: The Lasting Socioeconomic Impact of COVID-19” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 25 to discuss the present situation and the foreseeable future. cityclub.org

As the Jewish Federation of Cleveland commemorates the legacy and sacri ce of Israel’s fallen soldiers and terror victims on Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, it invites the community to join in a meaningful event at 7 p.m. April 24 at Congregation Shaarey Tikvah in Beachwood. Songs and prayers will honor the lost lives, and show gratitude and respect. The Cleveland Jewish News, Jstyle’s sister newspaper, is a media sponsor. jewishcleveland.org

‘An Evening with Itzhak Perlman’

To round out the 2022-2023 Akron Concert Series, Tuesday Musical will host “An Evening with Itzhak Perlman,” featuring the internationally recognized and 16-time Grammy Awardwinning Israeli-American violinist with his longtime friend and collaborator, Rohan De Silva. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 27 at the University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall in Akron.

tuesdaymusical.org

For the latest updates, follow Jstyle at @jstylemagazine.

New Image Photography

Perlman. Photo courtesy of Tuesday Musical

“PEGGY GARR IS SIMPLY THE BEST OF THE BEST.”

OPENERS

THE CHAI LIFE

Yom Ha’atzmaut

To celebrate Israel’s 75th birthday, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and community partners will host two major events in May. “A Concert for Yom Ha’atzmaut with The Shalva Band” at the Mimi Ohio Theater in Cleveland’s Playhouse Square will take place at 7:30 p.m. May 9. And, marking the date David Ben-Gurion signed the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948, the Federation will host its IsraelFest! carnival from 2 to 5 p.m. May 14 at the Mandel Jewish Community Center’s Safran Park in Beachwood. The Cleveland Jewish News is a media sponsor. playhousesquare.org jewishcleveland.org

Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians 2023 season has begun at Progressive Field. Look for opportunities to cheer on the Guardians and participate in several home game kids’ fun days and fan promotional giveaway opportunities. mlb.com/guardians

‘The Year My Mother Came Back’

Interplay Jewish Theatre will return from its winter break with two staged readings of “The Year My Mother Came Back” by Alice Eve Cohen at 7 p.m. May 7 and May 8 at Dobama Theatre in Cleveland Heights. Thirty years after her mother’s death, Alice’s mother appears to her – and continues to do so – during the hardest year Alice has faced. She learns she must walk in her mother’s shoes to understand her, forgive her and rediscover her love for her. Catherine Albers directs the dynamic cast of Lara Mielcarek and Heidi Harris. Reservations are requested to interplayjewishtheatre@gmail.com or via voice message at 216 393-7529. interplaycleveland.com

Move It! For Menorah Park

Move It! For Menorah Park is the annual 5K run/walk and 1 mile fun family walk to raise funds to support Menorah Park in Beachwood. Hosted May 7 at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, registration is at 8:30 a.m. and the race and walk start at 9. There will also be family-friendly activities and a performance by Jesse Jukebox. The Cleveland Jewish News is a media sponsor. bit.ly/3KIwzAK

‘The Tudors’ at CMA

The Cleveland Museum of Art’s latest major exhibition, “The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England,” provides an exclusive insight into the life and art of the Tudor dynasty of Renaissance England. On view through May 14, it is the rst American exhibition to explore change through art during this time. Reigning from 1485 to 1603 over three generations, England transformed during this period. That change is depicted across artwork through major moments and portraits of reigning leaders, and through depictions of daily life, lesser-known gures and precious household items. Through paintings, armor, extravagant furnishings, tapestries, written materials and more, this exhibit allows the viewer to step into this singular time and place lled with drama, religious change, violence and artistic wonder. clevelandart.org

Van Aken District ‘Bloom and Buzz’

The Van Aken District in Shaker Heights will kick o an early start to summer with its annual Bloom and Buzz event May 12. It includes activities and programming for all ages as they enjoy food, music and shopping experiences at Van Aken. thevanakendistrict.com

The starting line at Menorah Park’s annual race in 2022. Photo / Menorah Park

The Cleveland Museum of Art’s “The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England,” opened in February. Photo / Amanda Koehn

THE CHAI LIFE

‘Dear Evan Hansen’

Don’t miss the chance to see the award-winning “Dear Evan Hansen” when it takes the stage at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace May 16 through May 21. First taking Broadway by storm in 2016, before being adapted for the screen in 2021, “Dear Evan Hansen” has won six Tony Awards including Best Musical, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album. The musical is a deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it, according to Playhouse Square. playhousesquare.org

Cleveland Marathon

Runners, on your mark as the countdown to the 46th Annual Union Home Mortgage Cleveland Marathon is underway. Whether you’re up for the challenge or there to cheer on friends and family, runners will take to the starting line in downtown Cleveland at 7:30 a.m. May 20 for the 5K and 10K races, and 7 a.m. May 21 for the full and half marathons. clevelandmarathon.com

North Union Farmers Market

Looking for fresh and locally-grown food while enjoying the fresh air? The North Union Farmers Market has begun its outdoor Saturday morning farmers markets in Cleveland’s Shaker Square and Crocker Park in Westlake. Several other markets will open on various days beginning in June as the North Union Farmers Market manages seven outdoor and two indoor winter markets across Northeast Ohio. northunionfarmersmarket.org

Shavuot

Starting the evening of May 25 and through May 27, the Jewish community will observe Shavuot, celebrating the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai and the spring harvest. You and your loved ones can honor the holiday with your own harvest by going strawberry picking at a local farm. Or, take a hike and enjoy one of the many Cleveland Metroparks trails. clevelandmetroparks.com

US Holocaust Memorial Museum Luncheon

As the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. commemorates its 30th anniversary, Clevelanders will have a chance to support the museum at its 2023 Cleveland Luncheon on May 17 at Landerhaven in May eld Heights. Check-in begins at 11 a.m. with lunch scheduled for 11:30, and the program beginning at noon. It will feature Yair Rosenberg, a sta writer at The Atlantic who covers the intersection of politics, culture and religion, and Edna Friedberg, senior program curator at the museum. bit.ly/3ZT0VEU

Park Synagogue Mitzvah Day

For Park Synagogue’s Mitzvah Day, volunteers can make a di erence by partaking in 25 di erent projects, including the Mitzvah Day Fair from 10 a.m. to noon May 21 at Park Synagogue East in Pepper Pike. Donations to the Mitzvah Day Collection Project are also welcome. parksynagogue.org

Parade the Circle

The Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle will once again ll Wade Oval in Cleveland’s University Circle June 10, as the parade kicks o at noon at the north entrance of the museum. This cultural event will ll the oval with lively sounds and colors, innovative costumes, giant puppets and handmade masks created by artists, families, schools and community groups. bit.ly/3LYzCVV

Anthony Norman as Evan Hansen in the 2022-2023 North American Tour of “Dear Evan Hansen.” Photo / Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Erin Shuller and her daughter, Elle, at Park Synagogue Mitzvah Day in 2022. Photo / Park Synagogue

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Dr. Diana Ponsky’s path across the world led her to a unique medical career – and she’s aiding her community along the way

Fa C pa i

By Alyssa Schmitt

When Ukrainians ed their country after Russia invaded over a year ago, Dr. Diana Ponsky couldn’t help but draw a parallel to her own life.

She came to the United States as a child, with her family nearly penniless around 1980, eeing from Vietnam at the end of the war and when communism was on the cusp of taking over.

Her family grabbed all they could carry, but needed donations from others to survive.

“You literally pick up everything and go,” she explains. “It was necessary because you didn’t know if you were going to be hit by bombs. You didn’t know if your house was going to be burnt down if you stayed.”

While volunteering at the Medworks and MedWish International Ukrainian drives with her husband and children, she was packing goods that would help other families survive their own escape from war. A member of Park Synagogue in Pepper Pike and Cleveland Heights, the mother of three saw how the unfolding current events could help her bring the context of her own history to her children.

“The way I prefaced it was, ‘That’s how we got started when we came here,’” Ponsky, 49, explains. “We wouldn’t have been able to get as far without help from people who donated.”

It was that same compassion – along with a tremendous

amount of hard work and a hint of luck – that helped Ponsky rise from poverty and eventually open a private practice as a plastic surgeon in Beachwood. And throughout her journey, she’s passing that compassion on to others.

ENTERING AMERICA

In 1979, Ponsky, who was six years old, left Vietnam with her parents, three younger sisters and aunt.

They headed toward the Indonesian islands by boat, where they lived in a refugee camp. Ponsky recalled straw-roof huts and playing in the sand with cans.

“It was not your glori ed Indonesian type of vacation,” she says.

After a year and a half, the family was sponsored by Episcopalians in Allentown, Pa., where they stayed for another year and a half before moving to New York City so her parents could pursue more job opportunities.

There, Ponsky entered third grade where she met a teacher who introduced her to Nancy Drew novels and helped her transition to American life. That same teacher was also behind Ponsky’s rst name.

“My third-grade teacher was pivotal,” Ponsky says. “My Asian name is Dai, and I got made fun of by kids a lot. She changed it to Diana because of Princess Diana.”

Before entering sixth grade, her parents split up and she

Dr. Diana Ponsky. Photo / Kim Ponsky

moved back to Allentown with her mother and siblings. However, as high school approached, she moved back to New York to live with her father and tested into better high schools than were available in Pennsylvania.

The frequent moving and always living in a di erent city from part of her family created instability in her life, she says. On top of it, there was the pressure of constantly working to survive.

“We were dirt poor when I was growing up,” she explains. “My parents spent all of their money getting over here, and so I had to work.”

It was her aunt who helped her keep sight of the importance of education.

“Back in Vietnam, (my mother) never went for secondary education whereas my aunt did,” she says, adding that her aunt was like a second mother. “My aunt always told her, you have to have the kids go through school, nish college, because that’s the way to making a better future for yourself.”

RECONSTRUCTING CONFIDENCE

Ponsky joked that growing up in an Asian family, you’re pushed to be a doctor or a lawyer. Luckily she became fascinated with sciences early on after attending a science camp while living in Allentown. Still, she wasn’t planning on going into medicine.

She worked through high school and college at a dermatologist’s o ce, starting as a receptionist and moving up to o ce manager.

The dermatologist, Dr. Lilianna Sauter, left Switzerland during World War II and traveled to the U.S. to start her practice.

“It was tougher for (foreign graduates),” Ponsky says. “Despite that, she was able to open up an o ce on Park Avenue and make a name for herself.”

Ponsky assisted Sauter at events where she gave lectures, while simultaneously being introduced to museums and the National Academy of Sciences.

“I would go there to get her paperwork, and interestingly, it gave me exposure to that world,” Ponsky explains. “Without me knowing, she was kind of teaching me about that world.”

Ponsky could peer inside the life of a physician and get an inside look at meetings held between doctors, yet still, she wasn’t sure she wanted to go to medical school. It wouldn’t be until the end of her undergraduate career at New York University, where she studied biochemistry on a full scholarship, that she chose to go to medical school. It’s a decision she credits to the in uence of Sauter and a chemistry professor whose lab she worked in.

However, initially rejected by medical schools she applied to, she instead went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.,

Dr. Diana Ponsky, center, and Mary Hickcox present Scott Newman with the book “Violins and Hope” at the Jewish Community Board of Akron, Shaw JCC and The Lippman School’s joint annual meeting June 8, 2022 at the Schultz Campus for Jewish Life in Akron. Photo / Akron Jewish News / Courtney Byrnes

to earn her master’s degree in biophysics. Upon completion of her master’s, she was accepted into medical school at Georgetown and went on to discover her interest in surgery –speci cally around the nose and face.

She spent two years after her residency working in surgery with cancer patients at the Veteran A airs hospital in Fairfax, Va., before becoming more involved with veterans who needed facial reconstruction. That would soon pave the way for her to seek a fellowship focused on reconstruction. She saw how building back someone’s face could give them a sense of normalcy and even build their con dence back up, she explains.

Ponsky’s husband, Dr. Todd Ponsky, is from Cleveland and they wanted to move back after his medical fellowship in Denver. She took a plastic surgery fellowship at Case Western Reserve University Medical Center around the same time.

Through this specialty, she grew to have a passion for helping patients who experienced domestic abuse. As part of a nonpro t called Face to Face that pairs patients who lived through harmful situations with plastic surgeons, Ponsky was introduced to a woman who was a domestic abuse survivor and traveled to the U.S. to undergo facial reconstruction.

“She comes in and she’s like, ‘I just want the reminders of it gone,’” Ponsky recalls. “It was two-fold – helping her with a functional problem of breathing, but also restoring her normalcy so that she doesn’t have reminders of it.”

After opening her own practice seven years ago – rst in Lyndhurst, then moving to Beachwood after the rst year –most of her cases are now more cosmetic in nature. Still, she nds it rewarding to give people the con dence they need to go out into the world.

“My job, when I make minor treatments, or minor adjustments, is to allow them to see themselves in a more

positive light so they can have that extra self-con dence,” she explains. “I’m more of a naturalist, I don’t want it to be overdone (or) over-embellished.”

REMEMBERING HISTORY

Ponsky was raised Buddhist but converted to Judaism when she became engaged to her now-husband and wanted to raise her children in one religion. On a recent trip to Israel for her daughter’s bat mitzvah, Ponsky could see the history of the Jewish people having to ght against obstacles in front of her.

Her husband pointed out that explaining her own history to her children would help them understand why she stays passionate about helping others, and why they should work hard in school.

“Once you forget where your history is from, it just makes you lose sight of things,” she says.

“There are so many similarities in their cultures that I just felt like it was natural,” she adds of her children’s heritage.

Her background and deep care to improve the world have led her to give back within the local Jewish community.

“The part that most resonates with me is the fact that … whatever you do, just try to leave the world in a better place,” she says.

Sam Chestnut, head of school at The Lippman School in Akron and chief program o cer of the Jewish Community Board of Akron, says Ponsky’s passion for giving back is obvious. She’s nishing her rst year as board president at Lippman.

“I think she cares about the kids because she recognizes that she doesn’t take for granted her own growing up and becoming the professional she is, and knows that people need help along the way to get to where they are,” says Chestnut, 51. “She’s the rst one to help, always. … And she doesn’t want anything in return. She just wants to leave a positive impact on others.”

Ponsky is in the process of expanding her practice and adding additional exam rooms and more space for her clinical sta , she says. She also nds time to teach current University Hospitals residents in an e ort to continue the positive impact more experienced physicians have on newer doctors, as she had during her own residency.

She was recognized by Castle Connolly, a peer-reviewed directory of doctors and hospitals, with its Exceptional Women in Medicine award in its list of Top Doctors for 2023. And, she has been named to the list for seven years in a row, according to a news release.

Between school board meetings at Lippman and work at her practice, she continues her volunteer e orts at MedWish and Medworks – two Cleveland-area medical humanitarian organizations – bringing her children along to see the impact helping others can have.

“I think if I looked at where I came from and what I’ve done, I would have to say that I got very lucky in my life for things aligning for me,” she says. “And being able to be where I am because of great mentors along the way who coached me into certain areas.” sj

Dr. Diana Ponsky during surgery. Photo / Henry Bernstein / Three Driveway Media

Our weekly newsletter brings you family fun features to welcome Shabbat!

AS THE WORLD WEDS: Global Wedding Traditions through August 27, 2023

Featuring wedding dresses and wedding party attire from around the world.

Museum Hours

Mon.: Closed

Tues. - Sat.: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday: Noon - 4 p.m.

HEAD TO TOE: It’s a Wrap! Coats; Heads Up! Hats; Stepping Out! Shoes through July 23, 2023

The trilogy of exhibitions draws from the Kent State University Museum’s permanent collection.

The Kent State University Museum is among the top museums globally of fashion, historic dress and textiles

Gardens

As spring returns to Northeast Ohio, so do outfits with a bit more color and fewer layers. As we at Jstyle anxiously await more sunny days, warmer weather and the return of foliage and flowers outside, it was the perfect time to visit the Cleveland Botanical Garden in University Circle for our photo shoot. Dressed in spring fashion from local boutiques with which Jstyle partners, our models ventured into the Cleveland Botanical Garden’s various spaces filled with plants and even animals from around the world – all during its Orchids Forever show, which ran through early March.

Hair

Photography: Casey Rearick / Casey Rearick Photo | Fashion: Jessica Simon

& Makeup: Ramona Dauksa Studio

Galore

Teddy Eisenberg

Age: 29

Hometown: Parma

Synagogue: Temple Israel Ner Tamid

Work: Self-employed artist manager and promoter

Teddy wears a Technical stretch fabric shirt jacket by Marco Pescarolo; ultra-lightweight cotton poplin shirt by Fedeli; and cotton and stretch trousers by Mason’s, all from Kilgore Trout in Woodmere. Shoes by Aldo are his own.

HUGE SALE UNTIL 6/30/23

Abby Ruffier

Age: 34

Hometown: Akron

Work: SEO strategist at uShip

Abby wears a cinched waist rain jacket in ame by tyler böe; frontseamed denim pant by Marc Cain; and Kendra tropic sweater in ivory by Oats Cashmere, all from Lisa Moran Ltd., in Woodmere. Shoes by Naturalizer are her own.

David Buchinsky

Age: 24

Hometown: Solon

Synagogue:

Work:

David wears a sport coat in plum by Tiglio Dolcetto; white V-neck T-shirt by Ra ; blue jeans by Luchiano Visconti; and patterned pocket square, all from Ticknors Men’s Clothier in Beachwood. Shoes by Johnston & Murphy and belt by Columbia are his own.

Solon and Twinsburg Chabads

Tennis coach at Hawken School; starts medical school in July

Kara Lustig

Age: 22

Hometown: Chagrin Falls

Synagogue: Temple Emanu El Work: Digital marketing coordinator at Koroseal Interior Products

Kara wears a Pointelle dress in spiced orange by Dorothee Schumacher from Kilgore Trout in Woodmere. Shoes by Steve Madden are her own.

Cleveland Botanical Garden

Step into the Cleveland Botanical Garden any time of the year and you’ll be met with bright, unique and vibrant ecosystems. And notably during spring, the outdoor gardens bloom and butter ies become a major presence.

Jessica Schneider, marketing manager at Holden Forests & Gardens, the parent organization that oversees the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood as well as Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, notes each season

o ers di erent highlights for plant and animal life to see.

The two entities began integrating in 2014 and the parent organization was introduced in 2016, with the aim of building a greener, healthier Northeast Ohio. It is currently the 12th largest public garden in the United States.

“We have been able to give our members access to two great locations, and we like to think we have four-season attractions,” Schneider says. “Depending on what season it is, there is always something going on at either campus.”

As for current attractions, the Cleveland Botanical Garden’s annual butter y release began April 1. More than 600 newly emerged butter ies from the Costa Rica biome are being released in the glass house during public releases at 2 p.m. daily, Tuesdays to Sundays. Continuing through spring and summer, visitors learn about the butter ies and can assist with the release.

“You can really feel the increase in butter ies when you walk in – they are just everywhere,” Schneider says.

The Hershey Children’s Garden also reopened for spring, and during the summer, there is programming for kids. The garden also aims to educate visitors on wildlife and the natural environment, as well as conducts scienti c research.

For Arbor Day on April 28, the garden will o er free admission for the day and a tree seedling giveaway, while supplies last.

Come June, the rose garden is in full bloom, and later in the summer, the butter y garden is “spectacular,” Schneider notes.

“Once the weather warms up, every time you step outside there is really something new – and each garden kind of highlights di erent times in the spring and summer,” Schneider says, adding repeat visits are encouraged to see the gardens change in real time.

For more information and events from both the Cleveland Botanical Garden and Holden Arboretum, visit holdenfg.org.

- Amanda Koehn

David wears a race car jacket by Regency Leathers; V-Neck T-shirt in blue by Ra ; and black soft jeans by Luchiano Visconti, all from Ticknors Men’s Clothier. Teddy wears a Technical fabric vest by Waterville; long-sleeve knit by Rag & Bone; and light-wash jeans by PT01, all from Kilgore Trout.

Abby wears salt white Celia knit tank by Brochu Walker, denim jacket by Marc Cain and striped pants by tyler böe from Lisa Moran Ltd. Kara wears a navy brilliance sweater by Fabiana Filippi; cropped jacket by Rains; and ‘denim love’ jeans in white by Dorothee Schumacher, all from Kilgore Trout.

Kara wears a merino mock neck top by Dorothee Schumacher; jeans by Moussy Vintage; and an A-line double-breasted trench by Herno, all from Kilgore Trout in Woodmere. Shoes by Steve Madden are her own.

David wears a sport coat in gray by Jack Victor; black sport shirt with a multicolor pattern by Alberto Zimni; and black soft jeans by Luchiano Visconti, all from Ticknors Men’s Clothier. Belt by Columbia is his own. Abby wears a Scuba white hoodie, denim jacket and printed skirt, all by Marc Cain from Lisa Moran Ltd.

Abby wears a multi-colored dress by tyler böe and black denim cropped jacket by Vette, both from Lisa Moran Ltd. Teddy wears a peached cotton cardigan blazer by Rag & Bone; striped slub cotton knit tee by O cine Generale; and ultralight cotton stretch 5-pocket pants by Brax, all from Kilgore Trout. Shoes by Nike are his own.

Kara wears a Mac skirt by Veronica Beard and Janelle denim jacket in Indio wash by L’Agence, both from Kilgore Trout. White top is her own. David wears a denim-look leather jacket by Missani; sport shirt by Alberto Zimni; and blue jeans by Luchiano Visconti, all from Ticknors Men’s Clothier.

Teddy wears a short-sleeve knit polo by Rag & Bone and dark wash selvage denim by S.M.N, both from Kilgore Trout. Shoes by Aldo and sunglasses by Ray-Ban are his own. Kara wears a merino mock neck top by Dorothee Schumacher; jeans by Moussy Vintage; and a statement zebra print coat of the season by Smythe, all from Kilgore Trout. Shoes by Steve Madden are her own.

HERE COMES THE

NEIGHBORHOOD

Luxury housing development enhances Moreland Hills landscape

By Carlo Wol

Several years ago, Armin and Sydell Green were walking and talking along the Orange High School track. Armin told Sydell that if anyone ever developed then-vacant land across Chagrin Boulevard, they would move there.

That’s exactly what the Greens did.

Sydell is a retired social worker, Armin a retired physician. Over time, the Greens’ 4,000-square-foot home in Pepper Pike began to feel too big. So two years ago, the couple, who attend The Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beachwood, moved to Moreland Commons – a rapidly growing collection of single-family homes and townhouses o Chagrin between Lander Circle and SOM Center Road in Moreland Hills.

Moreland Commons homes, many with a mansard roof as a signature, are a creative architectural blend of mass and gracefulness. They range from 2,368 square feet to 7,000 square feet and come in a variety of styles, several evoking the Colonial and the Empire. They share a common footprint, but how tall they are and the way they are con gured inside is up to their owners. So are the exterior materials and looks.

The Greens love their home, a residence of about 3,000 square feet with three bedrooms, three full bathrooms and two half-baths. “It’s fresh and new, and it’s a very easy house to live in,” Sydell says.

INSIDE THE DEVELOPMENT

Developed by the Axiom Development Group of Beachwood, Moreland Commons consists of 41 units on 21.3 acres. Singlefamily homes start at $1.1 million, townhouses at $850,000.

Realtor Adam Kaufman of the Howard Hanna o ce in Pepper Pike says Moreland Commons is exceeding expectations, with “up to 25 units sold,” each for more than $1 million. He expects the project to take another two years to complete.

Kaufman, the development’s exclusive marketing agent, says he is happy with it so far.

“We’re getting a lot of families who are downsizing, but we also have some families with young children,” says Kaufman, who attends Park Synagogue in Pepper Pike. “It’s a wonderful combination. It’s nice that there’s a wide range of people who are moving in. A lot are coming from the Chagrin Valley and from other places.”

The key competitor is Sterling Lakes, a gated residential community in Pepper Pike, Kaufman says. Residences there are similar in size and price to the ones at Moreland Commons, he adds.

Realtor Donna Rondini, a member of Kaufman’s team, notes that even though the single-family homes have a standard oor plan, each is customized, and no two are alike. Most are three stories – basement, rst and second oors. And there is one of

Photos / Moreland Commons / Howard Hanna

about 7,000 square feet, which has an elevator.

The draw is the landscape, Rondini suggests during a recent walk around the development. The foliage is attractive, there’s a ravine to explore, the terrain is varied. The homes occupy their natural setting, naturally.

In addition, upscale touches like crown moldings, high ceilings, concrete driveways, quartz countertops in kitchens and bathrooms, and 9-foot-high basements with plumbing set for a full bathroom are part of the package. So are a tankless water heater, hardwood oors, and a choice of a wood-burning or gas replace. Ten hours with an architect and 20 hours with an interior decorator are part of the deal.

Under a limited-maintenance fee agreement with the Moreland Commons homeowners association, Axiom takes care of the mowing, landscaping, snow removal, streets and trash.

“You’ve got some standard oor plans, but everybody’s customized them, so this is not a cookie-cutter neighborhood,” Rondini says. “And the exteriors are hands-down the best; you either get stone or brick, stucco or the ber-cement siding known as HardiePlank.”

Bob Williams, production supervisor for Chardon-based Payne & Payne Builders, says his team has installed custom built-in cabinets, mitered the edges of countertops to beef up their look, and decorated ceilings with special beam work. Brian Brennan, a former wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns, has such beam work in the great room in his Moreland Commons residence, Williams says.

CHALLENGES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Getting Moreland Commons going wasn’t easy, suggests Bryan Stone, principal at Axiom Development.

“The biggest challenge of the project was its introduction to the community,” says Stone, whose two sons attend Gross

Schechter Day School in Pepper Pike. “It is the rst project of its type in the area, and as you would expect, there was concern that what we would be doing there would not t with the character of the community.”

With guidance from former Moreland Hills Mayors Susan Renda and Daniel Fritz, who died March 15, throughout the zoning and entitlement process, Stone says “signi cant outreach within the community to help people understand our vision and what we were trying to accomplish” was necessary.

“We have been excited with the way in which the community has embraced the project as it has come out of the ground and come to life,” Stone says. The development, after all, adds to the village’s housing stock.

Did the COVID-19 pandemic a ect the roll out of the project, which broke ground in June 2019?

“The biggest impact COVID-19 had on the project related to the construction of the development itself,” Stone says. “We were building during the height of lockdown and had to work really hard to work through supply chain issues, labor shortages and the general unknown that was associated with the pandemic to pull o what we were trying to accomplish.”

PRIDE OF PLACE

Luxury housing developments have many things in common: high-tech appliances, environmentally sensitive construction, the latest building materials, emphasis on landscape preservation and enhancement, and a special look. What makes Moreland Commons unique?

“The quality of the construction and the architectural integrity of the neighborhood,” Kaufman says. “It’s just a beautiful neighborhood and the architectural guidelines (are rigorous) –people have to stay within a certain framework – so you’ve got a neighborhood that just ows seamlessly.”

“We have always believed in the community and the vision behind the project,” says Stone, “but seeing the project come to life since we started has been a real pleasure. The speed with which we have been able to grow the community and the quality of the residents and the homes they are building has been outstanding.”

One of those residents is very happy she and her husband left their Shaker Boulevard home for the lea er environs of Moreland Commons.

“The builder was wonderful,” Sydell Green says, noting Payne & Payne built the couple a greenhouse, and an extension to accommodate a treadmill. As for the neighborhood itself, residents respect each other’s privacy, yet “everyone’s very friendly, very nice.” sj

Are you ready to buy a home?

Real estate professionals share advice for home purchasing in 2023

By Sherry Gavanditti

The process of nding and buying a home in today’s market can be overwhelming. And in some instances, it can even be traumatizing if you are unprepared.

For that reason, Debbie Garson, broker/Realtor with Keller Williams in Pepper Pike; Karen Eagle and Kelsey Wolf with the Karen Eagle Group of Elite Sotheby’s International Realty in Chagrin Falls; and Brian Cantrall, vice president of Chestnut Hill Realty Inc. in Beachwood, share advice for what to consider when buying a home this year, aiming to help you better understand the entire process.

First, look inward: All four real estate professionals said potential home-buyers should re ect on why they want to purchase a home and what their goals are.

Agents want potential buyers to be honest with themselves. It’s di cult to predict in ation, interest rates, property value, housing stock availability or even future locations of natural disasters. These factors can literally hit home with buyers and agents, the sources say.

The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index® found that in February 2023, 44% of consumers reported it was a bad time to sell a home, and 24% expressed concern about losing their job in the next 12 months.

For that reason, potential buyers are urged to consider all variables and possible outcomes, the professionals explain. Some questions to ask yourself may be: Are your nances solid enough to take on a new home purchase at this time? How is your credit rating? How is your job security? Why are you in the market, and why do you want to move?

Speak to your lender: Garson says she stays on top of favorable rates and lending institutions to educate clients, and recommends they talk to their lenders before working with an agent. “Clients must have a pre-approval letter from a lender, or a proof of funds letter if paying cash,” she says. “I encourage buyers to speak with a lender prior to looking at homes so they have a comfort level and understanding of their nancing options.”

Eagle says, “When starting the home search, it is important to gure out how much you can a ord.” She also says speaking with a lender can help. “Don’t forget to factor in the money you’ll need for a down payment, closing cost fees, and the cost of remodeling or furniture. Remember that you don’t always have to put down 20%.”

Let professionals help: Garson says to hire an agent, and communicate. “When working with buyers and sellers, I walk through every piece of the process and I’m available 24/7 to

answer questions along the way.” She says she wants to talk to all parties involved in the decision making. “I request an interview prior to working with clients. During COVID, and often even now, I nd Zoom interviews to be a very e cient and e ective way to connect with clients.”

Zero in on a location: It helps agents better serve homebuyers if they can key in on exactly what buyers are looking for, Garson says. “Knowledge of the marketplace is key. Make sure your agent is familiar with the area you’re interested in,” she advises. “And it helps to have an agent that also has a good relationships with other brokers.”

She adds that when clients ask to look for homes in a city their broker isn’t familiar with, it’s best to have them give a referral to someone that has expertise and familiarity in that area.

Know what you want and what you will not settle for: Wolf asks buyers, “What are the things that you absolutely need in the house? What are things you can live without? Once you know your must-haves, it can make deciding on a house much simpler.”

Talk to your agent and be open minded: Cantrall says in many cases, a buyer says, “I don’t want to live in a certain community or on a certain street,” or “I don’t like this or that community.” Then, after their home-shopping journey, they end up buying in that very community.

“This is a very emotional experience,” he says. “... When a buyer says ‘This is not what I want, I hate that,’ with that strong of an opinion, remember, love and hate are not so di erent.”

Garson says to determine your deal breakers before you start looking at properties, and tell your agent about them. Some location considerations may be school district, and proximity to freeways, hospitals, retail and even neighbors. For amenities, consider the type of heating, air conditioning and appliances. Other issues may involve crime rate, bus routes, taxes, possible events a ected by global warming and other natural disasters, and possible human-made disasters such as train derailments and toxic companies located nearby.

Do your research: Cantrall says don’t miss out on a great home by not going to see it in person. “That’s one mistake I see a lot of buyers make,” he says. “Everybody looks at school ratings ... the neighborhood walk score, square footage, and a lot of buyers use that as a stepping stone if they are looking online to try to narrow by stats. But in my experience, most homes, outside of investors, are purchased with the heart. The stats start to dissipate once you step in the house and it feels like a home, and you think about your life lived in this home. A lot of buyers go into it thinking they’ve got to buy in a perfect state and buy a home that checks all boxes. Forget about the boxes – get in the home and see it in person. The space may look totally di erent, and you may love some spaces more and overlook some of the boxes that aren’t checked. I would love buyers to change up how they approach home shopping and not discount homes before they see them inside.”

Cantrall says buyers may also overlook the importance of getting a real, in-person feel for a neighborhood.

“Good neighbors and good streets can really make a di erence in your lifestyle,” he says. “See what the neighborhood is like – are there kids playing, neighbors gardening or taking care of their beds? You may have a built-in community.”

Garson adds that while younger clients especially aim to be e cient and stay on top of inventory online, it’s important to prioritize seeing a property in person.

“Never buy a home sight unseen,” she says, adding it is up to the purchasers to go through their due diligence process. “Once clients have zeroed in on a home, I research, often by talking with the listing agent, to determine the sellers’ needs so we can make an attractive o er to work toward a meeting of the minds and a win-win for both buyers and sellers. An inspection should be done within ve to seven days of making an o er.”

10 THINGS TO BE AWARE OF WHEN BUYING A HOME

Various sources

Beware when buying a xer-upper: The most important things to consider are the time, money and knowledge it will take to redo a home. Garson warns to not fall into overimproving a home as you may not be able to recoup the money when you sell.

Be willing to pay full asking price, or more: In this market, everybody wants a house that’s move-in ready, but you may get a better deal if you compromise, Cantrall says. “It’s a seller’s market, and there are not enough homes on the market for buyers, even in the three or four hundred thousand dollar range,” he says, recommending open mindedness.

He adds, “It’s a stressful time. Look at COVID and how hard the last few years have been with people working and spending more time in their house ... they don’t want to live in ongoing construction. It’s very hard for buyers to win, and what ends up happening is the property with shag carpet or green walls ... may feel like a good house to buyers. They may be able to get it for less than the asking price, and there may be less competition. Even if they don’t want a xer-upper ... it may be in their best interest to go see a couple of these marginal properties. You may be able to overlook things or stay in a rental or do changes before you move in.”

Have a cushion: Break down all costs, which include: the price of the home, association fees, closing costs, taxes, agent fees, needed changes or improvements, interest rates, down payments, and be aware of any repairs the seller may be responsible for prior to sale, such as unexpected problems found in the home inspection like bad plumbing, a leaking roof or basement ooding, Garson says.

Beware of scams: The Better Business Bureau warns to check all emails coming in representing your agent or bank, especially if they are asking you to wire transfer money. Call the agent and contact on your bank paperwork, and speak to them directly before wiring any money. Scammers have been reportedly obtaining buyers’ actual closing paperwork and contacting them for money, sometimes getting away with huge down

The Karen Eagle Group of Elite Sotheby’s International Realty in Chagrin Falls. From left: Liz Murphy, Jane Shami, Karen Eagle, Maddie Clegg and Kelsey Wolf. Photo / Eagle Group

Cantrall

Garson

more is

At LINGG, more

Woodmere jewelry boutique is all about finding unique items that help create personal style – with few rules

Inside a sunny, home-like yet expansive space across the street from Eton Chagrin Boulevard, LINGG – a jewelry, accessory and fashion boutique – has been a xture for almost 20 years. And while trends come and go, owner

Heidi Lingg and buyer/manager Beth Finley say LINGG’s emphasis has always been on selling and designing unique jewelry items that help customers show their personal style through new and old pieces, often worn together.

Lingg says their customers view their jewelry and everything that goes with it like a individual ngerprint – a collection of personal aesthetic pieces that all contribute to a point of view through style.

“We like to have things you don’t see everywhere, that you can’t nd everywhere,” Lingg says, adding they o er a wide price range.

Lingg and Finley, both Northeast Ohio natives, have worked together for over 30 years – rst as buyers at another shop. When Lingg founded LINGG in Woodmere in 2004, Finley came along. This far into it, they have customers who are “like family,” Lingg says. Some have shopped at LINGG as their children were born and as they grew up. Now, the younger generation shops at LINGG, too.

The boutique also helps create custom items, for example, a piece from a family heirloom one may not often wear in its current form, but they would if made into a new piece of jewelry that better matches their personal style. Essentially, anything can become anything else.

“You can take those components, and rebuild something new so the love is still there,” Lingg says.

Ahead of the permanent jewelry trend, LINGG has o ered “everlast” bracelets for some time. A jeweler custom ts a bracelet and welds it around the wrist, tting perfectly with no clasp. The designs can be used to signify a bond between those wearing them together, Lingg and Finley say. Mothers and daughters or bridal parties will have them made together to show a connection that’s “permanent, but not this surgical commitment,” like a tattoo, Lingg says.

LINGG owner Heidi Lingg, left, and buyer/manager Beth Finley inside their sunny boutique.

Story and photography by Amanda Koehn

Also popular this season are statement rings, bright colors – especially green –and texture. Woven bags, quirky items and pieces with a hint of fun are popular, Lingg says.

LINGG also hosts piercing gatherings, as it sells many post and dangling earrings – both in pairs and separately. It adds to that style “ ngerprint,” where customers can create personalized

designs for their ears.

“Everything is something jewelry,” Finley says, showing her cu bracelet made from her mother’s baby bracelet. “We can turn anything into a pendant or make it a ring.”

Layering jewelry is another trend. And for the record, mixing and matching metals is perfectly ne, they say. It’s all about personal style.

“You have so many things you love, if you only wear one thing at a time, your other stu is just all lonely in the jewelry box,” Lingg says. “So this way, you can wear a lot of it all at once, and it looks really cool.”

Finley adds, “More is more. You don’t have to take anything o .” sj

A selection of rings and bracelets sold at LINGG in Woodmere.

LINGG’s inventory is focused on jewelry, and also sells clothing, accessories and more.

All blushed up

By Becky Raspe

As spring arrives, new makeup and beauty trends usually aren’t far behind. And this year, makeup looks are trending rosier due to the popularity of wearing blush. Meant to mimic and add to the natural ush we all have, blush can be used in a multitude of ways, says Merideth Polarinakis, principal artist and owner of Cleveland-based Makeup by Merideth.

Blush perfectly complements the clean girl aesthetic trending right now, which typically points to a “no makeup” makeup look, complete with hydrated and healthy-looking skin, Polarinakis says.

“After a surge of heavier, glam looks dominating the 2010s, the fresh, au naturel makeup movement made its way back to the mainstream in the 2020s,” she says. “After that, during the height of COVID many of us began to wear little to no makeup, and reevaluated our everyday beauty routines. We all naturally blush, so adding a little enhancement in the form of makeup is perfectly on trend.”

Polarinakis says rose-toned blushes are a great beginner color for those unsure what atters them most.

“If you’re still unsure what shade is most attering on your skin tone, pinch your cheeks a couple times to determine your most natural blush tone,” she says. For a fresher application, Polarinakis suggests mixing your blush with your daily moisturizer or serum for a “watercolor blush look.”

“Sweep on with a stippling brush from the apples of your cheeks up towards your temples,” she says. “Applying blush is the quickest way to ‘wake up’ your face for a healthy ush and glowing complexion.”

Above: Model is wearing the RMS Beauty ReDimension Hydra Powder Blush in French Rose. Photo / Makeup by Merideth

Pat McGrath Labs

Above: Model is wearing Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Divine Blush in Paradise Venus. Right: Model is wearing Laura Geller Beauty Blush-nBrighten in Sunswept. Photos / Makeup by Merideth

RMS Beauty

Danessa Myricks Beauty

Laura Geller Beauty

TAILORING

Tailored clothing is well- tted and well-cut to one’s body. Tailoring isn’t new to the fashion realm, but its style constantly evolves to align with present day trends.

“I think it’s more of a classics prevail situation,” Imbrigiotta says. “A lot of the editorial things I’ve been reading lately have been calling it ‘tailoring 2.0’ because it kind of encompasses all sorts of tailoring.”

“Tailoring 2.0” can include small cinching and lace-up details on classic blazers. Or it can be a more relaxed, undone take on tailoring.

Two-piece sets are a great way to test out the tailoring trend. With a jacket and pants set, you can wear the pants with a separate blouse, the jacket with a di erent pair of pants or the full set.

Often inspired by menswear, a softer and more romantic take on tailoring is highlighted this season as well, Imbrigiotta says. Organza, a sheer fabric made from silk, can be used to form the more masculine elements of tailored clothes such as collars and sleeves, but in a more delicate and feminine way. The unique combination of masculine and feminine brings a fresh take to tailoring.

Spring Statements

By Megan Roth

As the snow melts and the sun emerges, the spring welcomes in new blooms, warmer weather and longer days. It’s now time to start shedding the extra layers and inviting in more vibrant colors, pastels and orals.

To begin dressing for the new season, Cori Imbrigiotta, the owner of HAVEN, a fashion boutique in Chagrin Falls, shares with Jstyle three trends that will shine this spring: tailoring, bold colors and cool carryalls.

Left: Millie dress in navy by Staud.

Above: Maverick jacket in tawny by A.L.C. Photos / HAVEN

BOLD COLORS

As the landscape brightens weather-wise, so too can out ts. This season, that means “dopamine dressing” –or wearing clothes that make you feel happy. For some, this means bright colors.

“Bold colors, on the top and bottom, are going to be really in (style) this spring,” Imbrigiotta says. “Pinks and purples have been huge; they’ve been dominating everything.”

Bright colors can be paired tonally, meaning dressing in multiple shades of the same color. A hot pink pant, for example, may be complemented with a more subdued baby pink top, she says. This can create a simple, yet stylish monochromatic moment.

Solid bold colors can also pair well with oral prints, which are always on trend in the springtime.

COOL CARRYALLS

Accessories are a great way to add a little extra spice to an out t. Carryall bags can speak to “dopamine dressing” with fun elements like sparkles, bold colors and unique shapes, Imbrigiotta says. They may also be a good opportunity to add another shade to a monochromatic out t, or a chance to incorporate more muted, neutral colors like gold, black or crystal.

Carryalls don’t always have to take a slouchy shape, either. A more structured bag can provide a di erent, yet still classic style.

Once you nd a perfect carryall, it’s possible to get even more use out of it. Carryalls with di erent ways to wear them – like under the arm or crossbody – can be worn to the grocery store in the morning and, with just a quick adjustment of the strap, to dinner at night.

Above: Hot Fix pink mesh crop top by Self-Portrait. Right: Anais pant in hyperpink by Cami NYC. Photos / HAVEN

Sparkly carryalls by Cult Gaia at HAVEN. Photo / Amanda Koehn

Mini M Frame bag in crema by Mansur Gavriel. Photo / HAVEN

Nosh News

Appetizing bites about Jewish chefs,restaurateurs and community staples

By Amanda Koehn and Becky Raspe

Goldie’s Donuts opens in Ohio City

After ve years at its Lyndhurst location and an expansion into a space at Van Aken District’s Market Hall in Shaker Heights, Goldie’s Donuts & Bakery opened its second brick-and-mortar location on Feb. 24 at the new 41 West development in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood.

At 4010 Lorain Ave. on the corner of West 41st Street on the ground oor, co-owner Dustin Goldberg told the Cleveland Jewish News upon the opening that the new location is the product of the Goldie’s team “really upping our game for the city.” He owns the business with his wife, Paloma.

He says fan favorites like its sour cream doughnuts, mapleglazed cake doughnuts, honey-glazed crullers, strawberry jamlled doughnuts and classic glazed doughnuts, among others, are on the menu, and are supplemented by bakery items like apple fritters, mu ns, brownies, croissants and its Mama Goldie’s chocolate chip cookie, which uses a family recipe.

Doughnuts and pastries are made seven days a week at the Lyndhurst location and delivered to the Ohio City location daily. While the Lyndhurst location at 5211 May eld Road is certi ed kosher by Rabbi Naphtali Burnstein of Young Israel of Greater

Bialy’s Bagels to expand next door

The University Heights staple Bialy’s Bagels recently announced plans to expand into the space adjacent to its 2267 Warrensville Center Road shop.

In a video posted to its social media pages and website, Bialy’s co-owner Rachel Gross shared Bialy’s intentions to expand. She owns the shop with her twin sister, Sarah. The pair bought the store in 2017 from second-generation owners Ellen and Mark Osolin. Ellen Osolin’s father, Terry

Cleveland, the Ohio City location is not certi ed kosher. So, even though the items are the same, they won’t be kosher sold out of the Ohio City space, Goldberg tells the CJN.

“The classic glazed is also obviously a crowd-pleaser. But my personal favorites are the croissants or the cookies, which is Grandma Goldie’s recipe,” he says.

Skolnick, opened the shop in 1966.

“As some of you may know, we’ve had control of the space immediately adjacent to us for quite some time now,” Rachel Gross says in the video. “As of (Feb. 6), the project o cially kicked o . We are expanding. Our new space will allow us to expand our menu to start o ering bagel sandwiches.”

Timing for the expansion’s completion is not yet known.

Larder again a semi nalist for James Beard Award

The team behind Larder Delicatessen & Bakery was again named a semi nalist for the James Beard Award in the category Best Chef: Great Lakes category. However, the deli and bakery in Cleveland’s Hingetown neighborhood did not advance to the nalist round, the James Beard Foundation announced March 29.

The award considers chefs in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Larder has also been nominated as a semi nalist for James Beard Awards in past years, although has never won.

Created by owners chef Jeremy Umansky, his wife Allie La Valle-Umanksy, and their business partner Kenny Scott, Larder opened at 1455 W. 29th St. in 2018.

Umansky told the Cleveland Jewish News in January that getting nominated again was “super exciting.”

“Something like this has so much impact as a whole,” Umansky says. “What the James Beard Foundation does is it recognizes a standard of quality, saying here are the best 20 restaurants in a

four-state area. That carries a lot of weight in itself. Especially in a city like Cleveland that is considered an underdog – saying there are fantastic, world-class chefs and restaurants right here.”

He says the nomination also shows young chefs that Cleveland can hold its own among larger culinary markets.

“Young cooks can see that they don’t have to leave Cleveland to work for a James Beard-nominated chef,” Umansky says. “They can continue to invest in Cleveland.”

Additionally, Brandon Chrostowski, founder, president and CEO of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute, has continued to the next round for a James Beard Award in the outstanding restaurateur category.

Award winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony June 5 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. To view the full list of semi nalists, nalists and all categories for this year’s awards, visit jamesbeard.org/awards.

Goldie’s 25 di erent doughnuts and 15 pastries are made at its Lyndhurst location and driven to the Ohio City location daily.

Photo / Becky Raspe

TASTE OF KC BBQ IN SHAKER TASTE OF KC BBQ IN SHAKER

Mendel’s Kansas City BBQ is smoking up the Shaker Heights food scene by o ering a barbecue menu and a dining atmosphere that’s especially unique for Clevelanders who keep kosher.

The restaurant opened with a soft launch at 20314 Chagrin Blvd., across from the Van Aken District during the last week of January. Owned by Mendel Segal, it’s his second restaurant – six years ago, he opened his rst, Mendel’s Backyard BBQ & Brew, in Surfside, Fla.

Segal moved to Northeast Ohio last summer after deciding to open the Shaker Heights kosher spot.

“The reception is amazing,” Segal says. “We’re full at least part of the night, every night.”

His interest in barbecue started as a hobby and then progressed to competitions, he says.

“My background is in barbecue – smoking, grilling, that’s my thing,” says Segal, the “rabbi pitmaster.” “I would say meat is my specialty.”

And now with his new restaurant, he and his sta have created a rare space in Northeast Ohio where people who keep kosher can join other diverse patrons to enjoy Kansas City-style barbecue in a prime location.

Story by Meghan Walsh |

Photography by Amanda Koehn

Above: Mendel Segal, owner of Mendel’s Kansas City BBQ, in his new Shaker Heights restaurant. Right: Classic beef burger and coleslaw.

New barbecue spot a game changer for Cleveland’s kosher community

FIRST COURSE

THE TASTES

The restaurant’s menu boasts several of Segal’s specialties, including burnt ends.

Burnt ends are the trimmings from a smoked brisket, where during the smoking process the “point” cut develops a smoky and crunchy texture. A Kansas City classic, pieces are cut into cubes and sauced.

“It’s a real Kansas City dish, and I do it well,” he says. “I’m going to boast that it’s the best in Cleveland. We’re trying to get it o cial – trying to get taste testers out there trying all of them to see if we can say that o cially.”

Customers also enjoy Segal’s signature sauce, he says, which is made in-house.

Starters include brisket tru e poutine, other french fry varieties, chicken wings, shishito peppers, and chicken and wa es. Smoked meats o ered include brisket, chicken, beef ribs and a combo platter. Mendel’s also serves sandwiches, tacos, barbecued sh and meat entrees, and salads. Sides include sweet potato fries, coleslaw, grilled corn and barbecue beans.

“I just try to feed people what I like and then develop new things or tweak things based on the neighborhood,” Segal says. “We put a dish on the menu called Cleveland fries which has a little bit of a

Cleveland theme. On our lunch menu, we have the Polish boy – so, a kosher version of that. Just trying to bring some local air.”

THE SCENE

Mendel’s contributes to the kosher food scene speci cally through its unique structure, Segal explains.

“There’s no question about the ambiance, the vibe,” Segal says. “We’ve got a full bar, wine selection, beer selection. It’s from top to bottom. (It’s) for sure the most extensive menu.”

Visually appealing, the space is textured, naturally bright and brings together a combined western, fancy dining and sports bar aesthetic in one

The exterior of Mendel’s Kansas City BBQ with garage-style windows on Chagrin Boulevard in Shaker Heights.

The bar at Mendel’s Kansas City BBQ.

cohesive scene.

Segal says he looked at a few places to house the restaurant and chose this location because it was “starting from nothing.” The unit, which previously housed the Lucy’s Sweet Surrender bakery, was “completely gutted” and remodeled. He also chose the space due to its high-tra c area.

He says he has received feedback from customers that Mendel’s is a fun place to visit and the location is prime because it is in the Van Aken area, which he describes as “hopping.”

“It’s central,” he says. “... It’s a destination area. People are coming by here to shop at the Market Hall or drive by. The street tra c that goes by here is incredible. That’s what really drew me in.”

THE CULTURE

Yosef Weiss, who frequents the establishment regularly, says his favorite dishes are the burnt ends and smoked brisket.

“Sometimes I just get both because I can’t make up my mind,” Weiss says. “They have my favorite dessert. I never, ever get dessert when I get dinner because I’m a little bit like a health kind of guy, but I always get dessert when I come here. My wife and I, we love it. This is the greatest thing ever: bourbon pecan pie. It comes with ice cream and it’s so good. I’m obsessed with it.”

The Beachwood resident says he and his wife go out to eat a couple times a week, and now they only want to go to Mendel’s.

“We’ve never had a kosher environment in Cleveland like this,” Weiss says. “It’s alive. We nally have a fancy place. It’s a nice place to take your wife for a night out.”

Having lived in New York City for seven years, eating at Mendel’s reminds Weiss of restaurants in New York, he says.

“We can’t wait for the summer,” he says. “They’ve got that garage door, so they’re going to open it up. I’ve lived in Cleveland, I was born and raised in Cleveland, other than living in New York as a single guy for seven years. We’ve never had a (kosher) restaurant where we can eat outdoors here in the summer.”

As someone who keeps kosher, Weiss says he has always envied people he sees eating on restaurant patios in the warmer seasons.

“When I come downtown, I see people eating outside (on) a beautiful summer night, and drinking a nice beer – I always envy that,” Weiss says. “We never had that kosher option here.”

At Mendel’s, he says, “We get a glass of wine which, as silly as it sounds, we never

had that option in Cleveland to drink wine while we ate.”

He says the environment is also unique in that at other kosher restaurants in Cleveland, patrons are mostly Orthodox Jewish people, whereas Mendel’s hosts a more diverse group of customers.

“This restaurant is everybody – hipsters, regular people, businesspeople, friends,” Weiss says. “We’ve never had a kosher option like this. I love it.” sj

Brisket tru e poutine and chicken wings.

The dining room at Mendel’s Kansas City BBQ.

“This restaurant is everybody – hipsters, regular people, businesspeople, friends. We’ve never had a kosher option like this. I love it.”

Yosef Weiss

Alluring Accents

By Megan Roth

As the gloomy shades of winter fade into the vibrant colors of spring, it’s the perfect time to give your home a refresh. And, it could involve simply incorporating fun accent pieces.

Laura of Pembroke at Pinecrest in Orange is a one-stop shop for stylish home décor. Lauren Bosworth Ransdell, co-owner of the furnishings, gifts and women’s fashion store, tells Jstyle what to look for this season.

CONTEMPORARY FIXTURES

Incorporating elements of organic, modern style is an easy way to keep your home fresh. A hybrid between modern minimalism and natural beauty, this style revolves around clean lines, rounded shapes and smooth surfaces that are accentuated with natural materials like wood or stone. With a blend of modern and nature-like elements, the style is consistently praised for its timelessness, Bosworth Ransdell says. Light xtures can be a great way to introduce this trend without having to undergo major renovations. An asymmetrical shape, branch chandelier or rattan material could be used to bring more interest into a space than a traditional dining room light. Similarly, blending elements from di erent styles for a more eclectic space can help make a room unique and timeless. A chandelier, for example, is a very traditional design element. But putting it in a room with more contemporary elements, like a high gloss nished credenza or soft fabrics, can create an interesting yet classic space, she says.

Laura of Pembroke

DRAMATIC SEATING

Often, a space is viewed horizontally, lled with items from wall to wall. But chairs with height that ll the room from ground to ceiling can add drama and air to a space. Dome chairs – arm chairs topped with a distinctive dome –are both traditional and cozy. Their height can be used to beautifully complement a two-story ceiling, lling it vertically. The chairs are practical as well: Their domes can be used to insulate sound, making them a good choice for a centrally located open room, Bosworth Ransdell says.

COLORFUL ATTRIBUTES

With the return of sunny skies and colorful blooms, spring is a great time invite color into your home. It doesn’t have to be permanent, though. If you’re not ready for the commitment of painting a room, accent chairs are a great way to add color into a space. Laura of Pembroke o ers accent chairs in shades of blue, green, pink, yellow, red, brown, white, black and gray. Accent chairs also come in unique patterns, shapes and fabrics, such as cheetah print or fur. If a pink chair seems a little bold, but you’re still looking to add a pop of pink into the space, a throw pillow is a great route to take, Bosworth Randsell says. And in all sorts of shades and textures, a throw pillow can provide either a neutral tone to subdue a bold color, or add a bold color to liven up a neutral color. “We love adding furry, cozy pillows to any space,” she says. “No one likes a boring, uncomfortable throw pillow.”

(Safe) Sunny Sweetness

Sunny days are coming! But a tip: Don’t forget the SPF. The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends everyone applies sunscreen to any skin not covered by clothes when outside, even in cloudy weather. For complete sunscreen guidelines from AAD, visit the QR code.

Casey Rearick Photo