Believe in Cleveland

It is sad to me that the city of my birth has evolved over the years into a source of negative connotations and even bad jokes. My life circumstances forced me to live a distance from this place for a number of years, but my heart has always been loyal to it: Through all my travels, I have really never found a location that I would rather live in than the greater Cleveland area. To me, it feels comfortable.

Cleveland has everything: Buildings of every imaginable style that illustrate its colorful history; museums for every interest, including art, natural history, health, automobiles, horticulture, rock, and science; a wide array of restaurants to suit any taste; exquisitely restored theaters in Playhouse Square; world-class concert venues of every possible description; a professional team in every major sport; many distinct ethnic areas, including Little Italy, Chinatown, and Slavic Village; the Emerald Necklace, one of the best metropark systems in the entire country; and lots of decent, hard-working people.

Unfortunately, in recent years, these good people have developed a sort of complex regarding their city. It is my hope that we can all work together to change this attitude, restoring to Cleveland a sense of energy and cheer for all that it has to offer.

For information before you arrive, check out www.cleveland.com, the online guide to the city.

Quick Tips:

Plan your Cleveland visit sometime during the summer months, if possible, or in early fall. In general, the weather is glorious then, and everything seems to come to life after Memorial Day.

It might be a good idea to check out the cleveland.com website when planning, to find out what's going on in the area.

Best Way To Get Around:

It is not difficult to navigate the city using your personal vehicle, but Cleveland does have a dependable bus and rapid transit system as well as taxis to get you to your destination. In addition, it is pretty bike-friendly, and not so huge to eliminate walking between some of the sights as an option.

If you need to use public transportation, you can plan by calling the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority line at (216)621-9500. Better yet, log on to riderta.com to check schedules and timetables, or you can click on their Route Planner and let them plan your trip for you.

Before I begin, I need to say that I, personally, have not yet stayed at this inn.
However, if I were visiting from out of town, this is where I would choose to stay.

It is such a big, fantastic-looking four-story building: a renovated 1874 townhouse that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, recognizable by its peacock blue entrance doors. In the front yard grows America’s largest elm tree, dating back to 1860.
Many have said that it makes them feel as if they were living in New York. It’s conveniently located within easy access to Cleveland’s top attractions. The innkeeper/owner, Mr. Robin Yates, will give guests a personal tour of the city, his special favorite being University Circle, and there are various packages available, according to the guests’ primary interests.

Inside, the decor is reminiscent of 19th-century brownstone homes. It was renovated in 1976 in honor of America’s Bicentennial. On the walls is French period wallpaper. Each of the rooms has central air and a private bath, and there are fireplaces in the parlor, the dining room, the third-floor bridal suite, and the fourth-floor large bedroom. There is even a kitchenette that is accessible to guests at any hour. Breakfast is served in the Red Dining Room, with its marble fireplace, or on the deck, weather permitting. It is catered to the guests’ desires and can consist of anything from yogurt and cereal to a big American-style spread of bacon, eggs, toast, muffins, and fruit.

The rates run from $65 to $125 per night, with discounts available for single guests and for multiple-night stays.

I plan to spend a night in this interesting place one day; until then, I feel safe in saying that it is obvious to me that Mr. Robin Yates truly enjoys hosting the guests who stay in his establishment, and will do his utmost to see that they are comfortable and happy there.

For more information, check out www.brownstoneinndowntown.com.

I just love this restaurant! It’s such a fun, happy place housed in a historic Ohio City building. Inside, the sunny windows even further enhance the tropical colors and panes of tinted glass etched with lizards that are seen on the walls. From the puffy clouds painted on the blue tin ceiling are hanging big, cooling fans. The whole mood is made even more upbeat by the cheerful, relaxed wait staff.

Even the menu makes a person smile. From the juice bar one can order such delights as a Pelican Kiss (apple/ cranberry/ginger), a Melon Sparkler, or a Mango-Lime Spritzer. Also available are a selection of frozen yogurt/soymilk shakes such as the Tingle, an apple, banana, strawberry, cocoa and soymilk combination. Also on the menu are many meatless selections, burritos and quesadillas, and if you want to add some zing to your meal, an assortment of margaritas, international quenchers, cervezas and bottled tequilas. But my favorite menu section is its "Big Plates of Rumba and Salsa." Available after 5pm, these dishes are served with the grain, "happy beans" and vegetable of the day as well as "bread and slather" (meaning various fresh baked breads with a spread of tapanade, hummus or compote). These dishes are sure to titillate the senses and satisfy the most hefty appetite.

Most of Johnny Mango’s concoctions are crafted using organically grown produce from Cleveland’s
West Side Market, so you can relax and dine with confidence in its smoke-free environment.

Hours:
Monday–Thursday, 11am–10pm
Friday, 11-11
Saturday, 9-11
Sunday and holidays, 9-10

On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9-2 a brunch is served, including waffles and omelets as well as world food.

If you should be hit with a late-night attack of the "munchies" while you’re in town, the place to go to satisfy those hunger pangs is My Friend’s Deli. This unassuming restaurant is located west of town on Detroit Avenue. It’s always busy, always comfortable and open 24 hours. The menu consists of simple, basic food like lentil soup or an open-faced meatloaf sandwich served with mashed potatoes and gravy. There are also some deli creations, and lots of salads. To top it off, your server can bring you a slice of one of the delectable baked items that you probably noticed in the glass case prominently situated in the front as you entered the restaurant. Or just bypass the menu and choose one of these for your evening treat—you won’t be sorry!

If you are a corned beef lover like me, then you absolutely HAVE to fit this place into your schedule while you’re in Cleveland. Slyman’s is well-known in the area as the home of the world’s absolute best corned beef sandwich. You have to trust me on this: I am NOT KIDDING.
Picture 4 to 5 inches of thinly sliced corned beef layers with the perfect flavor and virtually NO FAT marring its perfection, nestled between two huge slices of fresh, soft rye bread. On the plate with it is a gigantic dill pickle slab. Price: $7.50, definitely worth it. I have never been able to eat an entire one of these sandwiches; there’s plenty, in my opinion, for two people, or one person, two meals.

There are other meat sandwiches, Reubens, burgers, and hot dogs also on the menu. The only non-meat lunch item I saw was the grilled cheese sandwich. Breakfast is also served. There are plenty of tables, but they are really crammed into this tiny restaurant. You might wish to take your sandwiches to-go, head for a park bench, and make a picnic out of it. You can also purchase "scraps" of corned beef—the small pieces that can’t be used in a sandwich—at a ridiculously low price.

Hours are Monday through Friday from 6am to 2:30pm.

NOTE: Closed Saturdays and Sundays.
ALSO NOTE: Credit cards are NOT accepted.

Even if you are not a beer aficionado, this wonderful old brewpub is well worth a visit. Located minutes from downtown, it’s just across from the West Side Market. The attractive Victorian building was previously the site of the Market Tavern, which was established around 1865 and popular among Cleveland’s business professionals. Its most famous patron was Eliot Ness. It was remodeled into the Great Lakes Brewing Company in 1992 by the present owners, brothers Patrick and David Conway. The first thing you’ll notice when you step inside its smoke-free interior is the handsome Tiger Mahogany bar, the most beautiful I have ever seen, lined with matching vintage mahogany bar chairs and brass foot rails for its patrons.

Food and beverage (with restaurant seating) is also available in the indoor/outdoor beer garden, the tree-lined avenue in front of the brewpub (weather permitting), and in the brew house, where you can actually see the gleaming tanks where a portion of the beer is crafted. The mouth-watering menu includes such items as crab cakes, a sausage sampler, chicken Waldorf salad, pear salad, homemade soup du jour, and Tuscan wood-fired pizzas, as well as a delicious-sounding assortment of entrees. With each selection is listed the recommended beer to accompany it. Top it all off, if you wish, with the GLBC signature dessert: bread pudding with sweetened whisky butter sauce.

Now, if you are a lover of finely crafted beer, you have an even more compelling reason to visit this place. The founders of the GLBC are committed to crafting fresh, flavorful high-quality beer, and have incorporated the techniques of brewing used by European brewers. They use only the freshest ingredients, and no preservatives or chemicals. Their five original beers are always on tap: two lagers, two ales, and their porter, the Edmund Fitzgerald. In addition, there are other beers to choose from. The brewpub is filled with historic brewing memorabilia, and the staff is knowledgeable about beer and the history of brewing and will be happy to answer any questions.
Open 7 days a week.

If you have a rainy day during your Cleveland visit, or if you are simply in the mood to shop, a pleasant option is "The Avenue", a glitzy three-level complex of marble, brass and glass right off of Public Square in the heart of Cleveland. At first glance it looks like just an up-scale mall; maybe it is, but I feel that its uniqueness makes it worth visiting.Besides the shopping opportunities (most of which are clothing or shoe stores) there is a food court and a theater complex. If you want something a little more classy, there are some restaurants, including Hard Rock Café, Panera Bread, and a steakhouse. If you want to be really classy, you could dine at the Ritz-Carlton or the Renaissance Hotel, adjacent.You can catch the East, West or Waterfront line of the RTA train in the station on the lower level. Also, the RTA buses stop right out in front at Public Square.If you are driving, the most convenient place to park is off of Huron Road behind the Center. Your car is protected from the elements and you enter from the parking area. Plus, you can get 5 hours of free parking if you spend $25.00 in Tower City Center, including food. Save all of your receipts and take them to Guest Services on Level 1 so they can validate your parking ticket (don’t forget to bring your ticket with you!) In addition, if you plan to catch a game or concert at the Quicken Loans Arena, there is a protected walkway that you can take right from the food court area.

This beautiful science center is now in its tenth year. It sits on Lake Erie alongside the Rock Hall of Fame. It has an attached parking garage, so you can just park your car, walk right in, and spend the day playing in this fun place. And believe me, if you have the time, you really COULD spend an entire day here! It’s one of those rare places that appeal to all ages on its many different learning levels, and because there are so many interactive exhibits, no one gets bored. When lunch time rolls around, you might want to grab a bite to eat at Bytes Restaurant, which has an outdoor terrace for nice days, or Great Lakes Grill or Pizza Hut on the lower level.

The first thing you’d see if you were to enter via the main entrance is The Science Store. There’s always something new at this fascinating shop: everything from games, puzzles, books, posters, toys for all ages, apparel… great gifts that bring out the inquisitive nature of any thinking child or adult. I would say it’s medium in size, yet I spent almost an hour checking everything out. Fun!

The main museum is organized into four different sections: On the Regional Technologies Floor you can study full-sized Medical Resonance Imaging (MRI). The Great Lakes Environment Floor features environmental activities in the Great Lakes region. The Scientific Phenomena Floor is the most popular: We reached out and touched an 8-foot tornado, had our own freestyle jam session on the Sound Stage, and laughed as we watched people’s hair standing on end when they touched the Static Electricity Generator. I think my favorite is a keyboard where a word or message that you type is converted by computer into sound... It’s hilarious and almost addictive! In another section there’s Virtual Sports, a high-tech interactive exhibit that lets you try your basketball and soccer skills. In soccer, you have 60 seconds to knock as many balls as possible away from the goal.

The favored area for very young children is the Polymer Playhouse. It’s unlike anyplace you’ve seen, and would be difficult to put into words. It includes such things as balancing, fishing and playing games. If you have young ones, you will need to devote a good deal of time to this area of the museum; save it for later, when the kids get bored.

I haven’t yet mentioned the other half of the Science Center: the Omnimax Theater. This is a 6-story tall domed screen on which is projected a changing variety of interesting films, using the world’s most sophisticated motion-picture projection system. Watching a movie here is a breathtaking experience that makes you feel just like you are really involved in the action.

The Great Lakes Science Center is open daily from 9:30am to 5:30pm.

Admission:
GLSC exhibits only: Adults $8.95, Seniors $7.95, Youth $6.95
Omnimax only: 8.95, 7.95, 6.95
Both: 12.95, 10.95, 8.95

Located just a couple doors down from the Great Lakes Brewing Co., this intimately small wine bar offers over 70 wines by the glass and over 400 by the bottle, a diverse selection of whites, reds, ports, Madeira and sherries, at state-minimum pricing. There is a small menu of hors d’oeuvres, most of which are served with warm, golden baguettes. A customer favorite is Baked Almond Brie (a creamy, almond-topped cheese baked in a puff-pastry shell and served with baguettes and an array of fresh fruit slices) It goes well with a spicy glass of Shiraz. Other tempting choices are the tapenade platter, smoked trout, or the Mozzarella Caprese Salad dressed in sweet and tangy balsamic.

These lovely tastes may be enjoyed in the warm and relaxed atmosphere inside the wine bar, or if the weather is nice there is European-style café seating outside along the charming cobblestone corridor of Market Avenue.

Where else could one view such items as Hank Williams’ white wool felt cowboy hat, Ricky Nelson on the cover of a Life Magazine, and a display of the life and music of Roy Orbison but in Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The House That Rock Built? Rising by the shore of Lake Erie, this spectacular building captures the attention of anyone who gazes north from East 9th Street. Over 162 feet tall, it was designed by architect I.M. Pei (who also designed the extension of the Louvre) to express rock’s new power. Inside are 150,000 square feet over three levels of interactive exhibits, films, videos and artifacts of all facets of rock and roll history. Permanent as well as temporary exhibits sure to intrigue any fan of the era, programs for the public, and a good-sized museum store are all here. While in town, be sure not to miss this dynamic presentation of rock and roll's living heritage and its enduring impact on our lives.

HOURS: 10am to 5:30pm daily
Open until 9pm on Wednesdays

ADMISSION: Adults: $20, Seniors (60+): $14, Children 9-12: $11, 8 and under: free
Two-day passes available

When planning your visit to Cleveland, be sure to check out the schedule at the House of Blues! If a group that interests you is booked during your stay, I guarantee that you have the makings of an enjoyable evening.

Located right near the center of town, this is one of the coolest venues I have ever seen. The best description I can think of for the decor of the place is eclectic elegance. Fascinating posters, hangings, and hand-painted murals adorn the walls throughout. There are two performance areas, and I have attended and thoroughly enjoyed concerts in both.

The smaller one, the Cambridge Room, is just like a good-sized living room complete with sumptuous wallpaper, draperies, and Persian rugs. I learned that it has a capacity of 120. The stage is at one end and the bar is tucked away at the other. There is plenty of standing room for the guests (who can sit down when they’re listening to a jammin’ band, anyway?), but if you’re lucky you may get to take advantage of one of the plush, upholstered chairs or sofas that are around the fringe of the room.

The larger, multi-level Music Hall is really cool, too. It consists of a large balcony and loge-type seating with theater-style seats (complete with cup holders!) upstairs. To the back of these seats are free stools with ledges for drinks. There is also plenty of standing room here and on the main level, for the cheaper-priced ticket holders. There are two bars, and a pleasant barmaid traverses the upstairs area in search of patrons wishing to order from their seats. There is such a warm, comfortable feeling here that it is difficult to believe that the whole area has a capacity of 1200! It has cutting-edge sound, lighting and video display equipment.

To check out the current calendar, log onto www.hob.com/Midwest/Cleveland, or call (216)523-BLUE.

If you can, be sure to get to the House of Blues early for a bite to eat before the show. The entrance to the H.O.B. Restaurant is around the corner on east 4th Street. This very popular eatery specializes in Southern cuisine. Try the catfish cakes and sweet potato fries; the burgers are good, too. To the right of the entrance is a gift shop loaded with cool H.O.B. paraphernalia. If you have your tickets and time it right, following your meal you can walk right through into the concert area when the doors open.

In addition to the nightly concerts, there is a Gospel Brunch every Sunday at 11am at the House of Blues. Different gospel groups perform live on stage each week, accompanied by an all-you-can-eat southern-style buffet with an extensive menu of pastries, salads, traditional and specialty southern hot items, a carving station and desserts. I haven’t yet had the opportunity to attend this event, but it is said to be very energetic and uplifting.

For a REAL taste (literally as well as figuratively) of Cleveland’s local color, do check out this European-style market on the corner of West 25th and Lorain Avenue—one of the world’s largest indoor/outdoor food and produce markets, founded in 1912. Here you will find a melting pot of people and food, with more than 70 vendors busily displaying and selling their products in individual booths which line the aisles inside and outside of the huge neo-classical/Byzantine style building. Meats, fish, cheeses, pastries, spices, deli items… you name it, it’s all right here. And trust me, you won’t find better meat. Most of the better restaurants in the area buy theirs here (I’ve asked); it’s that good. A place I always check out is the bagel man, with the freshest and most unique selection of bagels anywhere.

For produce, walk out one of the back doors and enter the second section, a long, more narrow structure which houses seemingly every possible fruit or vegetable known to man. Big, fresh, luscious melons, grapes, tomatoes, herbs… whatever is in season at the time, and at such affordable prices, you don’t need to haggle! Before you purchase what you need, walk up and down the entire length of vendors; that way, you can compare quality as well as price so you get the best possible deal. Saturday is the most crowded time, yet you get good deals near the end of the day, as the vendors want to sell all of their food if possible.

What could be more fun than planning your meal, then coming here to shop for the ingredients to take back home and cook? Or on a hot summer day, choose your picnic items here to take to a shady park for lunch.

There's plenty of free parking in the adjacent lot. The market is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; the doors open at 7am.

If you are a fan of hiking or bicycling and planning a visit to Cleveland, then I’ve got news for you! The Cleveland Metropark system (known in these parts as the "Emerald Necklace"), skirting around the city, is one of the most beautiful and extensive city park systems in the country. Consisting of about 9,000 acres of green space, the nine connecting reservations contain hundreds of miles of hiking trails, 82 miles of bridle trails, and over 60 miles of paved pathways on which cycling, walking, running, and in-line skating are permitted. In addition, there are lots of nice picnic areas, and many other unique features throughout.

In addition, the Metropark’s Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation paved trail links to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Towpath Trail, heading all the way past Akron, Ohio. Here is yet another extensive (and very relaxing) cycling possibility! I say relaxing, because the towpath trail is entirely on level ground and runs through such peaceful countryside settings that you feel as if you have traveled back in time to an earlier, less stressful time.

To plan a visit to any reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks, visit www.clemetparks.com.

Heading south from Cleveland is the Towpath Trail of the historic Ohio and Erie Canal. Part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, this great biking and hiking trail follows the Cuyahoga River into Akron and beyond. Along the way are some historic sites with descriptive plaques, various visitor centers, and even some canal lock demonstrations. It’s a very relaxing way to spend the day if you would like to get away from the hubbub of the city for a while. To find out more or see what’s going on in the park, go to http://nps.gov/cuva.

In conjunction with the park is the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which offers a variety of special excursions throughout the year. A regular trip is the Scenic Limited, a 1½-hour trip which leaves from the Rockside Road Station in Independence and is a good way to see the park’s less accessible areas while riding in comfort. The cost for this round-trip excursion is $15 for adults and $8 for children. To find out the schedule, consult the website: www.cvsr.com.

Another idea would be to bike or hike the Towpath Trail, then flag the train to take you back to your car. Consult the flag-stop schedule to find out times.

Cost: Adult $9, Child $6.