clvlndr

^Yes, willyboy, it's great that local people are running Gimme Java (and I’m sorry for my biases, I just think Shaker people are naturally friendlier than most). Beats a Starbucks-type chain any day... You're right, Simply Delicious opened last year, also started by a couple locals -- 2 Shaker sisters. This is good news for this little corner, which had been largely vacant until a year or so ago. I remember Nichols, the sporting goods place years ago -- I got my 1st baseball mitt there (and my dad put it under the front couch leg to break it in for Little League – I think a lot of dads did stuff like that). Also, turns out I was wrong, somewhat: there is a little parking lot on the Van Aken side of the building, but it may be reserved for building residents. With Gimme Java and Simply Delicious (along with the beauty shop and the long-time cleaners on the Van Aken side), this area has been coming back to life… It’s also next to the Avalon Station condos which opened in the mid-2000s. While this area won’t be a Coventry anytime soon, the quality eateries certainly help.

Around late Sept/early Oct, Gimme Java moved into the old Kokopelli’s coffee shop spot, at Lee & Van Aken in Shaker, that had been vacant for years. Besides the nice coffee blends, it’s got a nice light breakfast-y and luncheon menu… The place is much classier than Kokopelli’s, which became a hangout for teens leading to its demise. Gimme Java echoes Dewey’s in Shaker Square, though not quite as large… Gimme Java has hardwood floors with nice Oriental area rugs, a working fireplace with surrounded by comfy couches. There are a number of window high tables to check out the busy action in downtown Shaker Heights. And of course, there’s free WiFi… I only dropped in once a few weeks ago on a rainy weekday afternoon, and it largely full with a range of ages, races and ethnic groups… The help was VERY friendly and chatty; happy to see everyone… CONVENIENT: West Siders, Shaker Squarians (MTS) and Downtown-ites (and even University Circle/Little Italy-ites – I simply couldn’t bear to say Little Italians!) may want to hop the Blue Line Rapid to Gimme Java – the Lee Road station is right across the street from the restaurant. It’s about a 20 min ride from Tower City… Also, parking is pretty crappy, it’s a very busy corner: there are metered spaces although, apparently, there are a few free short-term spots reserved for commuter/customers who want to grab-their java ‘n-go. Otherwise, if you must bring your Tin Lizzie, free public parking is over a block away – at the Shaker Public Library, across wide Lee Road and down about a block… There is also parking at the Heinen’s which is 2 blocks away on the other side of the historic, small Shaker Cemetery (just don’t bother on shopping Saturdays or evening rush hour (plus, I think the cops and Heinen’s monitor non-customer parkers who may risk The Hook – Trust me: just take the Rapid and avoid the hassle…. This is a nice place and certainly an upgrade for this spot in the beautiful old Kingsbury Building… definitely worth the trip (and no, I don’t work for GJ or know the owners at all)… website: http://www.gimmejavacoffee.com/ Great early Yelp reviews, too… http://www.yelp.com/biz/gimme-java-coffee-shaker-heights

Can't wait to check out RED!!

Very sensible plan... I'm also for expanding the Red Line NE from Stokes/Windermere as well.

I see RTA is backing the Sky Lift project... Let's see: there's been BRT, the Opportunity Corridor and now SkyLift. Seems RTA's pumping every form of transportation in this town EXCEPT the one it should be: rail transit -- as in the Rapid, commuter rail or CVSR (extended), where Joe C's RTA suddenly develops laryngitis. Read more: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,28519.140.html#ixzz2k4uda9FT

So the SkyLift people are trying to get cables attached to the new Hilton? Really!? I see RTA is backing this project... Let's see: there's been BRT, the Opportunity Corridor and now SkyLift. Seems RTA's pumping every form of transportation in this town EXCEPT the one it should be: rail transit -- as in the Rapid, commuter rail or CVSR (extended), where Joe C's RTA suddenly develops laryngitis.

It sure doesn't help shooters when you're running a Chinese Fire Drill offense from the bench, and your All Star point guard has been drifting. Our lack of offensive plan or flow is creating turnovers and stand around jumpers (practically the same thing) which is keying fast breaks and big runs by our opponents. Each of the last 3 games have exemplified this. And after this happens, our spirit is broken and we're standing around shell shocked, which is why Philly suddenly was beating us on both boards late in the game... It's a very bad pattern that needs to be fixed immediately, or we could be facing a very long lottery-oriented season.

That sucks... My limited usage of RTA buses, aside from the Health Line, tends to buttress your experience... And even once on a daytime HL bus, I waited so long at CSU that a bunch of us jumped off the platform and ran when we saw a Trolley heading to Public Sq. (which we barely made)... A regular RTA bus rider once told me, you might as well line your bird cages with RTA bus schedules, because that's a more reliable use than reading them to gage bus times... Damn shame.

We fell asleep, and Kyrie's trying to be LeBron, and he's not... Nice to see Bynum produce and get more mins, and CJ Miles is a much stronger player at both ends this year (last year I hated him; this year, I love him) At least we DID win and we're back at .500... and as a WKNR caller noted: last year we would have LOST a game like tonight's... We need to stay at or above .500 for the 1st 3/4's season if we're going to go into the playoffs at more than just the 8th seed.

I think it was more of a shovel than Weedon's blind flip... Whatever you call it, at least it worked and all but put a dagger in Balto's hopes... No late game heroics for the Flac-man today!

... btw, gotta give a shout out to Ray Horton's stingy D... Nice to see Mr. Flacco planted on his arse so many times today by our fearsome pass rush. Our D bent but didn't break in the 4th quarter. They gave the ball back to Campbell and the offense to engineer the game-sealing FG drive late.

Campbell was awesome today... Funny how good Greg Little looks when he has an actual NFL quarterback throwing to him. We still have a shot at the division; we need to go down and win in Cincy... I'm convinced we'd be 5-5 if we had gone with Campbell over Weedon in the Detroit (aka "Flipper") game.

Mike was happy with our D yesterday, and our O, believe it or not. We did hold powerful Indy about 5 points below their avg, and Brown liked our passing. We just couldn't shoot.

Right now, Kyrie Irving is not giving us the type of point guard play that we need and what we expected. That's a big part of our problem right now... In the 1st 2 games, our guard play had to be "rescued" by 9-year vet Jarrett Jack... As much as I like Jack and love the pickup by Grant this summer, this scenario should not be. Kyrie was the Rookie of the Year and a much praised All Star last year. But he's shooting the ball poorly and turning the ball over way too much... and, of course, we know he's been hurt every year of his career dating to high school. And the scary thing is that other point guards with other teams are leading their teams better than Kyrie... We don't even have to talk about Derrick Rose, who though still somewhat rusty (you'd expect that after 1+ years not being on the court), but we KNOW what he can do to lift the already strong Bulls... Turns out it wasn't just a preseason fluke that Charlotte's Kemba Walker blew by and outclassed Kyrie in preseason ... he didn't again Friday when it counts; and of course, Kyrie got yet another "bye" in the 4th quarter because his elbow was "hurting" --which is why he hit no FGs and blew a pair of key Free Throws... Look at Philly, who we fact home-and-home next weekend. PG Michael Carter-Williams, an 11th round (Syracuse) choice this year, is lighting it up in Philly, who is now 3-0 having both Miami and the Bulls heads on their mantelpiece... and in the opener against the Heat, MCW nearly had a quadruple double with 26 points (including 9 steals)... He's right now looking like Kyrie Irving is supposed to look... oh, and did I note that MCW is 6'6" to Kyrie's (alleged) 6'3", which is more like 6'2"... Again, it's only 3 games into the season and I'm neither panicking nor trying to develop and anti-Kyrie screed. But we do have a small sampling of the season and we/Mike Brown sees what needs to be done and ... reality. The reality is that while Chris Grant made a number of nice moves and made us better ... SO DID EVERYBODY ELSE. ie Charlotte, who basically whipped us WITHOUT star center Al Jefferson -- forget the final score and late game ties, Charlotte was in control of that game from the time of the Cavs' only lead in the game 3-2. And yes, I'm getting a tad concerned that we may have blown the No. 1 draft pick with Bennett... concerned, but not panicked... Yes, that Bennett; who after 3 games and significant playing time, has yet, at 6'8" and a huge body, to score a single FG... yesterday he even blew a break away open court layup. We keep hearing that he's out of shape and winded based on his summer shoulder injury... Really? Why is that? He's had basically all of preseason, the extra week before the regular games, and now, a nearly a week into the season and our prize draft pick is STILL out of shape, shooting up crazy shots and still getting winded... We're getting zilch from our 3s (Earl Clark has given us next to nothing so far) and, does that mean that we must pray that Andrew Bynum, the All Star center with (we hope formerly) banged up knees is going to have to rescue us???? Tomorrow we face and early test for this season: the Kevin Love T-Wolves, who blew out OKC Friday and who we've had trouble with for several seasons. We're at home... If we lose, we will be 1-3 and on a 3-game losing streak, which won't be good for the morale of a young team. And, as noted, we twice face a Philly team that has exploded out of the gate and is unexpectedly brimming with confidence.... Mike's clearly got his hands full and needs to turn this young ship around, ... starting tomorrow night, lest Byron Scott ends up somewhere smiling and firing up a giant stogie. ... but 1st and foremost, he/we need out supposedly superstar guard to step up to the plate which he has not done so far this season (save the nice end of game performance at home against the Nets)....

2 views of the Bobcats’ loss last night: GLASS HALF FULL - We took a major punch early, got up off the mat and made it a fight down the end by (finally) engaging in the choking-off D Mike Brown preaches. - We got 2 points from our starting shooting guard, Dion, and a combined 1 point from our small forwards, and STILL made it a close game. - Bynum is still rusty, but played more minutes, is moving fluidly (as he did in LA) and still had an impact on the game. - Tristan Thompson – in my book, he’s the story of the season right now; far exceeding my expectations… last night he gave us 21 and 10 DESPITE being in foul trouble. - Kyrie’s elbow was hurt in the 4th quarter which is why he missed all his shots, including 2 key FTs down the stretch. - CJ Miles has finally found his niche on this team, and obviously, can be deadly. - Jack once again, bailed out the woeful early guard play and jump started our resurgence keeping us competitive in the game. - Despite the bad stuff (like Bennett), it’s only the 2nd game, and in both we were competitive and led to close, entertaining conclusions. GLASS HALF EMPTY - Charlotte, a team that's supposed to be behind us, has beaten us 3 straight times (including the 2 meaningless preseason games) - Al Jefferson didn’t play, and yet the B-Cats were in control practically all game. - Kemba Walker continued (since preseason) to make folks wonder whether Kyrie really is the top, young point guard talent in the East. - If Charlotte was even decent at the Foul Line, the game wouldn’t have been close - Charlotte attacked the basket at will most of the game (until the 4th), which either resulted in points in the paint or shooting fouls (which is why they were in the bonus early every quarter, and our key guys were in foul trouble). - We got 2 points from our starting shooting guard, Dion, and a combined 1 point from our small forwards. - HURT ALREADY!!?? Kyrie’s elbow was hurt in the 4th quarter. - Bennett, the No. 1 pick, is clueless and still has ZERO field goals despite throwing up seemingly 100 shots. - Despite his strong showing in game 1, Alonzo Gee reverted into the disappearing act he showed many times last year and reminds us, still, of the gaping hole at small forward that remains in the 4th season after You-Know-Who stiffed us. - Andy (no FGs) was a non-factor last night.

Mark Naymik once again tosses another grenade on a good thing in Cleveland. (is this man strictly a provocateur or does he ever offer anything productive? – his rant about Chief Wahoo is the only post of his I agree with, but …) … As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke…” Ohio City is one of the finest urban walkable, transit-friendly areas in NEO—and more and more, it’s being cited and watched nationally. Why would you want to mess this up by removing auto/bus traffic, building a new roadway, a large parking garage over the Rapid, all the other silly stuff this plan offers? (Ron Sarstedt, and Naymik, need to occupy themselves with more constructive ideas, really…). The existing traffic calming aspects of timed traffic lights and designated crosswalks, combined with heavy foot traffic, restaurants/retail/residences, outstanding transit access with the nearby Red Line station and nearly 10 RTA bus routes circulating the area, is exactly the ingredients a modern urban neighborhood strives for. The slow moving auto, bus and other traffic mixed with human (and even 4-legged) foot traffic makes the Market Sq. area the urban delight that it is. The mixed-use TOD apartment-over-retail plan adjacent to a redesigned W. 25th-Ohio City Rapid station is the type of positive development Ohio City should be engaging in and points in the direction the neighborhood should be moving in. The out-of-left-field Sarstedt plan needs to be relegated to its proper place … the trash can.

I'm willing to give any rookie some time to grow, especially one who was out of shape in camp due to injury. That said, the kid looks clueless, and he's jacking up 3s that you know Mike can't stand... In 2 games he still hasn't scored an NBA field goal. It's only 2 games, but you'd hope the No. 1 pick would show you more than this.

Until I see some medical documentation supporting this, I'm not buying. These sports talkers are in business to speculate, excite or create angst amongst listeners. So until I read (quoting a medical professional) info supporting your theory, I'm going to continue to believe Bynum's on the mend and can possibly achieve a complete recovery.

Very impressed, and totally stoked at the possibilities with a healthy Andrew Bynum. But consider the fact that we were far from full strength. 2 rookies who are expected to provide good things: Karasev and Felix, were out injured and Tyler is still hobbled with the appendectomy; wasn’t nearly himself. And of course, Bynum gave us less than 8 minutes (and his appearance, at all, totally blew me away!). All of our young guys, save the excellent Tristan Thompson, came out nervous and out of control, even Kyrie. Jarrett Jack, whose pick up was gigantic, settled us down and turned a potential Brooklyn rout into a 1-point Cavs lead at the end of the 1st quarter… Bennett showed me flashes with his speed to the bucket, his rebounding and his bothersome big, active body on D, even though his nerves, also, were eating him alive… But remember how awful Tristan looked? How many fans and media were attacking Chris Grant for taking TT as the 4th overall pick? Now, Tristan very well may be the 2nd most beloved player on the team (even ahead of Andy) based on his work ethic and constant improvement – the young guy is busting ass… I think Earl Clark’s size will be a major asset; he’s bigger and longer than most 3s (a natural 4, of course, who Mike’s converted into a 3). Clark really bothered Peirce at times, esp late in the game. Bottom Line: this team has a tall and aggressive Mike Brown-type D while having a ton of weapons on O… This is going to be a fun ride…

^... OK, I know you've got a very tough job to do and do it well ... but let's hope there's a new home/thread for those ideas... somewhere...

MayDay, I realize the posts may have drifted somewhat, but some important points were being made on both sides... Maybe they can/should be shifted to retail, but the discussion should be kept alive. Please consider...

Your last statement is true. The Rapid system is generally running faster (trains every 15 mins) and more efficiently (at least 2-car Red Line cars at all times) than it has in recent times... Sorry the fare confusion marred your friends' RTA experience... and yes, RTA could do a lot of good requiring a Dale Carnegie course for its personnel. Courtesy and RTA often are not synonymous. These people often leave a bad taste in visitors' mouths about the City.

So GCRTA has veto power over any and all mass transit establishment in Cuyahoga County, even privately run??? That may be the case but, as KJP notes, it would be unlikely that RTA would block CVSR from entering downtown, even though I seriously doubt that the Calabrese-led agency will do anything to assist CVSR from doing so ... On the other hand, doesn't Akron Metro RTA run (or at least fund) CVSR trains south to Canton? And IIRC, Akron RTA was interested in expanding commuter train service onto other routes as well. It sounded great -- and something big brother RTA in Cleveland should pursue, although I don't know where Akron is on this proposal at the moment.

I hear you, Jerry, but I agree with CbusTransit's suggestion... To you and me, plus a bunch of UOers, it's quite simple, but to most non-regular Rapid users -- visitors and occasional Cleveland riders -- the designation of a Waterfront Line, the only line of the 4 not designated with a color, I'm sure is confusing. To make matters worse, some of those maps RTA has in the new visitor's info guides (more on these, later) now even depict the Waterfront Line in a grayish color that is neither blue nor green. And when you compound this with the poor Tower City signage I mentioned earlier, well ... And if I recall, I've even seen some RTA WFL promo documentation that doesn't make it clear to Blue and Green line passengers that you merely need to stay on board the train at Tower City to proceed to the Waterfront -- although, to their credit, most westbound Blue/Green line drivers state this fact as their trains are approaching the TC platform. The Waterfront designation was made nearly 2 decades ago as a kind of sexy way to induce people to ride the new rail line to new destinations along the waterfront such as the Flats and the 2 museums at the 9th street pier, esp the Rock Hall... It would be less confusing to go with something like "Blue/Green Waterfront."

I don't think prestige has anything to do with it. It's just easier for many passengers ... Part of the problem is the historical, and clunky, old Shaker Rapid "pay enter, Eastbound" "pay leave, Westbound". This problem is compounded by RTA's refusal to extend the POP (proof of payment) fare system to the Blue and Green lines... So in order for westbound Blue/Green passengers (like me) to transfer to the westbound Red Line, it's far easier to do so at Tower City; I don't have to have exact change (which I do if I have to walk up and pay the driver at the fare box -- while holding on as the train bounces around before coming to a stop at either E. 55 or 34th). Tower City is Blue/Green's only off-board fare paying station where I can purchase a farecard (usually the nifty $5 All Day pass) at vending machines with credit or debit cars, or even get change to pay in cash.... Much easier. And Tower City is busier and seemingly safer than the other aforementioned stations. I don't see what's so difficult about the current system at Tower City -- again, though, I think the lack of Blue/Green POP hampers LRT service considerably in terms of train speed and efficiency.