clvlndr

I hear ya. For me, it's more the fact that Clevelanders have to drive to Sh*tsburgh (and maybe now Columbus) in order to shop there. If people like going to Ikea, I'd rather them be able to do it here than have to travel to another state or city. Point well taken... Can't deny IKEA has some good stuff. And, yes, why should other towns have it while Cleveland's singled out in not having one?... I just wish we could get some of the downtown stores that some of these cities have as well..

I think Griffin's outstanding wheeling/dealing has put the Cavs, finally, on a realistic trajectory for a championship run. Still, I'd like to have the backup PG since nightmares of a Kyrie injury/Delly starting at PG keep me up at night. As much as I'd love to hang onto Harris, I think he's the last, most realistic bargaining chip we have left -- he's clearly talented but a year (or years) away from realizing himself, plus he happens to play a position that's log-jammed on our roster -- and could become even more so if LeBron coaxes Ray Allen out of retirement. I'd really prefer to hang onto Haywood's giant contract till the off season when its value balloons... And if I really wanted to get greedy, I'd wish for another big banger dude to come in and absorb some hits/minutes for Mozgov. I was kinda/sorta hoping Blatt would have groomed Capt. Kirk for that role, but, well...

As much as I like IKEA's stuff personally (the computer table on which I'm typing this message is from IKEA), I don't really see any game-changing aspect for having one in greater Cleveland, other than from a 'keeping up with the Jones' ' aspect... IKEAs are classic sprawl-inducing, big-box stores that just so happens to focus on unique, Swedish furniture, but sit out near freeway exits surrounded by seas of asphalt parking. And since my personal focus, especially on this website, is toward building up cities' urban density, walkability -most particularly that of hometown Cleveland in its downtown and other transitionally urban areas, IKEA really doesn't excite me.

This reminds me of the Jetsons...

Good point. I'm thinking, now with the new additions, the team is in a better position to play without LeBron which, of course, is a good thing, if we need to rest him in games down the stretch. Both Shumpert and Smith give us firepower we didn't have, although I'm not totally dismissing that which we got from Waiters... they also give us stronger D -- superb D by Shumpert and surprisingly good D from Smith ... I really love Mozgov's total rim protection. Nobody gets easy paint points with Timo in there... I knew he could be a wall because of his height and length, but what I didn't realize is how agile and athletic he is. He runs the floor and can fluidly receive the dump down pass and score... LeBron loves the guy as he's set him up for several dimes already. Timo's elbow jumper is gravy.

Nope, not a surprise at all -- not when GCRTA goes into an analysis by making the unobjective statement "streetcars are toys." Or when they dismiss without analysis that streetcars with 2-4 times the seating capacity of a bus can provide as much passenger capacity at a lower operating cost than running many more smaller buses with more drivers. Fact is, far too many GCRTA still view Cleveland as a dying city and therefore incapable of using value-capture from transit-oriented development as a funding source to build and sustain a streetcar line. So they look only at what they can sustain with their existing, declining sales tax. Using past trendlines to shape future policies only preserves those trendlines. Ask a GCRTA planner why they're doing something a certain way, rather than how other cities create growth with transit investment and their answer is "This is Cleveland, we don't do that here." For all the positive energy Cleveland is generating by and through private developers, public agencies and through elected officials (Frank Jackson's done a good job in this light), it's totally discouraging that our transit officials are such a drag to progress with this type of attitude. Streetcars should at least be considered. These people really need to be exposed. To me, the particular transit mode chosen for W. 25th isn't so much the issue as the attitude of management who, if I had a say-so, they'd be replaced. RTA sounds like it's run by modern day Albert S. Porters.

I've seen the court community services working along the Red Line sometimes, but I can't remember the last time I've seen them. Rail isn't a priority for the agency. GCRTA needs to start the funding programming and equipment procurement process NOW if it wants new rail cars in 5-10 years. The existing Blue/Green line cars "MAY" last that long. But GCRTA staffers on West 6th and at Central Rail, as well as Joe C's own actions or lack thereof, all point to that process not starting until after Calabrese retires. And his contract continues until 2020. That's a shame. I know that, since the time Shaker Heights own the Rapid through around the time Joe came on board, it was an annual rite of Spring to see the old trash gondola car (hauled by an old work car) make its way up the Shaker Rapid picking up trash while other workers pruned the underbrush... Now, not only is there trash down there, tree branches frequently are scratching cars/car windows from the trench to various points around/beyond E. 79th till the Blue/Green lines merge with the Red Line.

I've always known Smith can be explosive, but I didn't expect him to have this positive of impact on the Cavs. I'm particularly impressed with his defense. And of course, that over-the-head pass play while going out of bounds, after Kyrie knocked the ball away leading to the Love dunk, is a Cavs' classic... I think we'll need Smith on the bench ultimately, however. Even though last night our starters were historic with back-to-back games where every guy had at least 15 points, our bench only scored 12 points. One could say we didn't need the bench. Then again, when we needed to put the game away late in the 4th to get LeBron a blow, the bench guys didn't come through: the Jazz pulled within 12 and were on a run so LeBron had to play until the last minute of the game... Hopefully we'll do better in dispatching lowly Charlotte on Friday, because OKC and Detroit should both prove to be loads.

I suspect that the person who produced that piece, and indeed many people in Cleveland, don't ride rail lines in other cities or countries. You haven't seen graffiti until you've ridden trains in Europe. I was going to mention that. The most graffiti I had ever seen was on a train ride from Cologne to Essen in Germany. It's also all over the place along the NY Subway (even on the cars!) and the DC Metro, among many others. As long as there is no negative or hateful message written, I don't have a problem. There could be some other steps taken to spruce up the views along that route though. MTA has done a pretty good job of keep graffiti off of subway cars, esp the newer ones. It much better than the 70s/early 80s, when trains were caked with graffiti... I suspect the City will whitewash most of that graffiti right before the RNC. As the report noted, much or most of it isn't even on RTA property. Much different that the Blue and Green line trench along Shaker Blvd in Cleveland, where RTA DOES own the property and where, under Joe Calabrese, cleaning and trash pickup has been nonexistent... There are mattresses in/around the East Blvd/MLK bridge that I've complained here (and to RTA directly) for a decade, and yet neither the trash nor mattresses have moved... Guess Joe is focused on his "Better Rapid Transit": ie, buses. Maybe if there's a hint RNC'ers will ride Blue/Green line trains to Shaker Square or Shaker Heights, Joe might move on this.

It depends on what you get. I realize those picks are protected, but even if/when they revert to a 2nd round pick, they are valuable. The Cavs draft pick well is just about empty... but for good reason, because we got a valuable center who will really help us (and has already)... For Kosta Koufus or someone on his level, however, I'm not making that deal.

Those 2 number 1s were a steep price for Mozgov, but if he keeps playing like he's been, it'll be worth it. Timo totally flummoxed Gasol last night, and Rose had nothing coming in the lane -- the few times he escaped Kyrie, who played good D. Roses big offensive output were those 3 3s he had in the 3rd, but came when the Cavs were really putting the clamps on the Bulls and pushing the score out of reach... I was surprise to see that Timo also has a nice elbow jumper as well... We may have Shumpert as early as Wed against the Jazz, but I wouldn't rush him into the lineup esp against a bad team we should (this time) beat. I'd have him ready for OKC next Sunday though... It's quite amazing that JR Smith was even less than a throw-in in the Shumpert deal: the Knicks wouldn't trade us Shumpert unless we took Smith -- his contract and his attitude. So far, though, it's all been roses. Despite JR's apparent boredom in Cleveland, he really seems to like playing with the Cavs in his week+ with the team, and he's been an incredible offensive weapon when he's on. When Smith gets hot: look out! His defense is surprisingly better than I thought as well. It appears that his long-standing relationship with LeBron is a contributing factor to Smith's positive play and attitude here. Glad to see this team finally starting to play as it was expected to play last summer. The Griffin moves could make him an Exec. of Year candidate if these guys, plus Shumpert, keep the team rising as it is now.

I'm surprised at your comment. I may agree about the other buildings, but the boardwalk structure seems very well integrated: opening toward the boardwalk and the water, large windows, sliding windows that open when weather permits, deck seating on a patio next to the building as well as on the upper deck (probably with a bar). It also will have an assortment of attractive wildflowers in the garden around backside of the structure. How is it not integrated with its surroundings? How does it need to interact with surrounding buildings when it was designed to be freestanding? Remember, the large apartment building scheduled to open this year, will have its own retail and restaurants on its first level.

... most notably Public Square, of course.

I understand that, with the Robinson signing, the Clippers may release Jordan Farmar who we may be interested in. Yep, we're now relegated and desperate enough to foraging for good teams' castoffs ... Although Farmar's decent player who can shoot and handle the ball. And we desperately need a backup point guard as Delly's our only viable option currently. And at this point, we need to release Miller (who's had it and is giving us zippo) and send Harris down to Canton so that the talented kid can gain some confidence and get straightened out.

I wasn't impressed last night. The Lakers shot over 50% for the game; 68% in the first quarter. And Kobe had a career night with 17 assists. Obviously, Kobe's one of the best players in NBA history and he's a decent passer, but that's not his game. This means he was setting up mainly mediocre players who were finishing on us. We needed the heroics of the best player in the game just to bail us out of a close game in which we were just another Delly meltdown of losing like we did against the lowly 76ers... and this is the Lakers we're talking about. Even a decent lottery team would have handled us last night. I don't hold out much hope of us beating the elite Clippers, who signed Nate Robinson who we were pursuing. Love, who was heroic in hanging in with a very bad back, should sit tonight.

Not a beautiful building, but I think it's function will be more important than its form. I like the connection with the outdoors, river: wide, probably sliding (open) glass windows, a 2nd level spacious deck and right on the boardwalk. Once this place swarming with people, esp in warm weather, I doubt folks will be focusing on its architecture.

^Ditto. It absolutely adds the WOW factor. Plus, I think the tower, and the rest of the complex, is aesthetically pleasing.

Despite the bad weather and emptiness of the Rapid on a Sunday -- yeah, it's often slow on an off Sunday to begin with; then throw in the cold temps and, well... Nevertheless, O'Leary seemed to enjoy Cleveland and had good things to say about the city, esp the restaurant/bars and the WSM... Hopefully Positively Cleveland or somebody will encourage him to come back when it's warm. The man is clearly a 15-minute celeb.

It was NY-bound. So the story is, no one wants to flee FROM the Cleve! Yeah, thank goodness... You can imagine the endless Cleveland jokes if the flight was the reverse.

Guess what -- it was on Bloomberg news this morning! ... and ABC News, Fox News and USA Today, among others; it was also an international story, so apparently it doesn't happen all that often. ... I first saw it on Huffington Post.com and, then, on cleveland.com. (And if you'll click on Mr. O'Leary's beer blog link, you'll note the PD's Allison Grant and IIRC the local Fox TV anchor tweeting, asking him to call them...) I thought it was quite an amusing story, esp as much as I fly... Who wouldn't want, essentially, your own private jet? (yeah, we know MyTwoSense already has his, but I mean the rest of us)... The pilot even came out and shook hands with him. Too bad he didn't have a longer flight. He might have gotten free booze... er, O'Leary, that is.

Cavs are now below .500, 19-20... Little-used James Jones plays the entire 4th and, despite being a weak defender, is mainly playing sizzling hot Markiff Morris, while Kevin Love sits... Along with our rim-protector, Mozkov, who similarly sat most of the 4th in the Golden State game we were competitive in for 3 quarters. If this is an elite team, why is winning so hard ... now, even with LeBron?... The verdict? The clock is ticking on David Blatt.

Delta flight leaves Cleveland for New York with only 2 passengers by Alison Grant, The Plain Dealer Email the author | Follow on Twitter on January 13, 2015 at 3:03 PM, updated January 13, 2015 at 3:29 PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Manhattan advertising manager who blogs about craft beer and was in Cleveland visiting breweries had a near-exclusive flight home aboard a Delta Air Lines jet. Passenger Chris O'Leary was the only person on the 76-seat regional plane when it readied for departure to New York from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. "The flight attendant did a personalized safety briefing for me. The pilot came out and shook my hand," O'Leary said Tuesday afternoon by phone from his office on Broadway Avenue. O'Leary originally was supposed to leave Cleveland at 7:15 a.m. Monday, but got an alert from Delta about 5:30 a.m. that the flight was delayed. The flight that he was rebooked on was scheduled to take off at 9:39 a.m. But it too, was delayed. O'Leary, a frequent flier, monitored the situation on the FlightAware tracking service and his cell phone from his hotel room. The departure was ultimately set for 1 p.m., and O'Leary said he left the hotel about noon, taking a shuttle bus to the Hopkins terminal. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/01/delta_flight_home_gives_manhat.html#incart_river

Oh right, the Little Italy flood... Still, RTA should have been out in front of this. Cleveland.com/NEOMG, among others, has been covering this water main break extensively. You'd think RTA would be more informative with their riders as this probably affects HL/bus riders in addition to the E. 120 Rapid stop.

C'man TPH2! RTA's the Best Transit System in North America and Joe Calabrese has the 2007 stickers to prove it (and some still are on bus windows ta boot). I pick up the E-line Trolley on W 6th every morning to get to work, and I can't help but chuckle ever time I see those posters hanging on the RTA HQ windows. Seriously though, this is good info to know. I love Uptown and, once, used the Red Line to E. 120 from downtown because of the (happily) pain-in-the-butt that parking there has become. Until the new Little Italy stop opens, I'll opt for the HL. Hard to believe that RTA didn't better publicize this closing... Then again, it's par for the RTA course.

C'man TPH2! RTA's the Best Transit System in North America and Joe Calabrese has the 2007 stickers to prove it (and some still are on bus windows ta boot).