Instagram story viewer> @skrticx> Posts

John Skrtic

@skrticx

3526

posts

11.9K

followers

8488

following

216 Daily

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

Simply Breakfast with Cleveland Man of the People @skrticx at the legendary @maingate_the_under_ground

#cleveland #foodie #staybeautifulamerica by @skrticx

2k

76

2 months ago

Thanks to Cleveland Magazine for the kind write‑up and for giving a heads‑up to Clevelanders that I’m out there. 😊 Read more in the great article 26 Reasons to Love Cleveland Right Now: https://clevelandmagazine.com/articles/26-reasons-to-love-cleveland-right-now/ @clevelandmagazine by @skrticx

583

60

4 months ago

It started with markers of time. John Skrtic loves buildings, streets, signs of places, new and old.

Then the switch flipped: Capture the soul of Cleveland through people who, all too often, are forgotten faces in the crowd.

Twenty years later, he’s tracked down 10,000 of them in search of their stories.

You can read them via his Instagram and Facebook pages. Cleveland Magazine publishes eight profiles a month.

The big picture is more ambitious: An archive of city life that he plans to donate to the Cleveland Public Library, where he currently works.

“My goal is to get the name, address and a little family history,” he says. “So someday people can go to the library and research their family.”

To read more, subscribe to the 216 Newsletter in the bio. #cleveland #thisiscle @skrticx @clehistory @dwntowncle @clevelandmagazine @imfromcleveland by @skrticx

3

83

5 months ago

I met up with one of my oldest friends, Lorenzo “Zo” Grooms, for dinner at Goma, located at 2079 E. 4th St. in Downtown Cleveland. We’ve known each other since grade school, and Zo is one of the biggest sushi fans I know, so I knew I was in good hands. Chef Dante Boccuzzi opened Goma in July 2021, and it has earned a reputation as one of Cleveland’s top destinations for Japanese cuisine.

Going on a Tuesday turned out to be a great choice. The restaurant was relaxed, giving us plenty of time to enjoy the meal and conversation.

We shared an outstanding lineup that included octopus, pork belly, salmon belly, unagi and avocado, along with excellent sake. Every dish was beautifully prepared, fresh, and full of flavor. It is easy to understand why Goma has become one of the city’s premier dining destinations.

A special thank you to our wonderful server, Calista Lewis of Lakewood, whose recommendations and attentive service made the evening even better. Originally from Bradenton, Florida, Calista attended Mentor High School and has worked in the restaurant industry for more than a decade, including time at another outstanding downtown restaurant, Taza.

I am glad I finally had the chance to experience Goma. Restaurants like this continue to raise the bar for Downtown Cleveland’s dining scene, and I am grateful we have places of this quality in our city. by @skrticx

40

2

5 hours ago

It was great meeting Cleveland artist Cara Romano and learning more about her creative journey. Born in Schenectady, New York, and raised in Oberlin, Ohio, Cara has become a respected member of Northeast Ohio’s arts community through her thoughtful work as an artist, educator, and curator. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago before completing both a master’s degree and an MFA at Ohio University. Today, she lives on Waterloo in Collinwood, teaches drawing and painting, and serves as Director of Gallery East at Cuyahoga Community College.

I had the opportunity to visit Cara’s workspace, located at Negative Space Gallery, where she generously gave me a tour and shared some of her impressive artwork. It was fascinating to hear about her creative process and see where many of her ideas come to life. Thank you, Cara, for your kindness, hospitality, and willingness to share your time and talent. It was a wonderful experience learning more about your work and the important contributions you continue to make to Cleveland’s vibrant arts community. To see more of her work check out her site here: https://www.caralynnromano.com/ by @skrticx

79

4

a day ago

Vegetarian and vegan options have become a staple of restaurants.

But things were very different when Tom Fello opened his pioneering new restaurant in Coventry 54 years ago.

Since 1972, Tommy’s has been ground zero for the new dietary movement.

“People had no idea what vegetarianism was,” says Fello. “There was one other place in the city – Genesis 1:29 — you could call a vegetarian restaurant.”

Fello never imagined he would become a restaurant revolutionary.

He was a teenager working at a Coventry drugstore with a soda fountain selling pre-made burgers in cellophane when a light went off.

“The owner was Lebanese and his wife would stop by to bring him this great food for lunch,” says Fello. “I was like, ‘Why don’t we sell this stuff instead of these garbage burgers?’”

Boom!

The counter became a regular stop for hippies that were part of an ecological movement that called for the ethical treatment of animals.

To read more about Tommy’s and the rise of vegetarian and vegan dining in Cleveland, subscribe to 216 Scoop Newsletter in the bio. @tommyscoventry #cleveland #vege #vegetarian #veganfood by @skrticx

3

98

a day ago

It was great meeting the impressive Evan Botzki behind Cleveland Public Library as I was leaving for the day. We had a chance to talk for a few minutes, and it quickly became clear that we could have spent another hour swapping stories. Evan told me he had been hoping our paths would cross after seeing posts featuring some of his friends, including Meredith Scroggin, Patrick McGuan, and Kent Smith. I was happy to add him to the growing collection of Clevelanders and Northeast Ohioans who help tell the story of our community. Hopefully our next conversation will be much longer, and maybe I will even get the chance to show him and his girlfriend around the Library.

At 25 years old, Evan is a proud Euclidean who loves calling his hometown “God’s Country.” He is a leader in local Democratic politics, serves on the Euclid City Schools Board of Education, is vice president of the Euclid Historical Society and Museum, and helped create the city’s current flag. People who know Evan know he loves talking with locals because, like me, he believes every person has a story worth hearing. Evan has a genuine appreciation for the history, neighborhoods, and people that make Euclid special. Whether he is discussing the city’s past, meeting someone new, or sharing a conversation with a longtime resident, his love for Euclid comes through in everything he does.

Thank you, Evan, for taking the time to stop and talk, share your story, and show the kind of enthusiasm that makes communities stronger. I look forward to learning more about your love for Euclid and the many stories that make your hometown such a special place. by @skrticx

150

9

a day ago

It was great seeing my retired colleague, Vicky D. Irizarry, at the Lavender Lounge in Ohio City, located at 1830 West 25th St. Vicky was a great friend and staff member at Cleveland Public Library before retiring in 2010. She now stays busy working as a health care aide in the area and continues to call Ohio City home.

She happened to stop into the neighborhood spot, and I couldn’t have been happier to hear someone call out my name. We spent time catching up, sharing stories about old friends and remembering so many good times from years past. It was wonderful to see that Vicky is still filled with the same happiness and joy I remember from our days at the Library. Thanks, Vicky, for the conversation and for taking a photo with me. by @skrticx

36

2

2 days ago

I recently stopped by Friends Circle Indian Eatery at 1800 Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland, where I had the chance to meet owner Ram Kothinti. Ram opened the restaurant two and a half years ago near Cleveland State University and has created a welcoming spot where students, downtown workers, and visitors can enjoy something a little different.

Originally from Hyderabad, India, Ram now calls Mayfield Heights home. He told me his goal is to blend the rich flavors of Indian cuisine with influences from Indonesian and Chinese cooking, creating a menu that offers Clevelanders a unique dining experience. While I was there, I chatted with several customers, and everyone seemed to have a favorite, from the chai tea and flavorful vegetarian dishes to the popular Zafrani Chicken Dum Biryani.

Thanks to Ram for taking the time to share his Cleveland story and his passion for bringing new flavors to downtown. He is proud of what he has built and hopes more people will stop in for a meal or order takeout. After seeing the menu and hearing so many recommendations, it’s easy to understand why Friends Circle has developed such a loyal following.

To explore his amazing menu, visit here https://v2-friendscircle.getbento.com/menus/ by @skrticx

85

1

2 days ago

As we celebrate the 230th anniversary of our beautiful city, we also want to honor Tim Donovan, the 2026 Herrick Memorial Award recipient. Though Tim has passed away, his longtime friend and associate, Tom Yablonski, accepted the award on his behalf and shared some heartfelt and inspiring words about Tim for our mini documentary with @inquisitormedia commemorating Cleveland's 230th anniversary.

Watch the short on YouTube today, it's free!

Link in bio!

https://youtu.be/08IAcWlJbJI?is=p42tadqY2sJ936Yg by @skrticx

26

1

3 days ago

Visited the Early Settlers Association of the Western Reserve as a member today to celebrate Cleveland’s 230th birthday at the Moses Cleaveland Statue on Public Square. During the ceremony, I had the opportunity to photograph Joey Artino and Mary Bacon Artino as they honored Cleveland’s founder by laying a wreath at the statue of Moses Cleaveland.

It was fun capturing a photo of Mary and Joey with their great relative towering above them as they stood beneath the statue of Moses Cleaveland. I also enjoyed sharing with them a newspaper clipping from 1936 featuring a previous Cleveland anniversary celebration that included one of their relatives, whom they both fondly called “Aunt Marge.”

Mary Artino is the first female president of the Early Settlers Association of the Western Reserve and is a direct descendant of Moses Cleaveland. She is his sixth great-granddaughter, carrying a special family connection to the founder of our great city. Originally from Cleveland Heights, Mary now resides in Russell Township, while Joey calls Lakewood home.

It was wonderful speaking with Mary and Joey about their special ancestor and hearing about their connection to Cleveland’s history. Their family story represents the generations of people who continue to preserve and celebrate the legacy of the city’s founder.

The celebration also included the presentation of the annual Clay Herrick Award, which was awarded posthumously to the late Tim Donovan for his many contributions to the Cleveland region. The award was accepted by his great friend, Tom Yablonsky, who helped recognize Tim’s lasting impact and dedication to the community. by @skrticx

150

10

3 days ago

I had a great time at the Cleveland Public Square Thursday Night Farmers Market, hosted by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance. The popular market is organized by the staff at DCA and brings together local vendors offering fresh food and products every Thursday from 4–7 p.m. through October 29th.

While visiting the market, I met the kind and welcoming Julia Matter, who is originally from Massachusetts and now lives in Lakewood. Julia serves as the Director of Strategic Communications and shared how residents and visitors from around the region are coming downtown to enjoy the market, connect with the community, and support local vendors. Her enthusiasm for the event and the work being done by Downtown Cleveland Alliance was clear, and it was great hearing how much effort goes into making this market a success.

Thanks to Julia and the entire Downtown Cleveland Alliance team for bringing this much-needed service and gathering place to downtown Cleveland. I look forward to shopping at the next event. by @skrticx

64

2

3 days ago