MorningTheft

So Carol, are you saying they would turn the Moda space into a concert club? I've always thought that was one piece missing from the OC. I've never been inside Moda...would it work for live music? Kind of a west side Grog Shop or Beachland?

The Tremont Tap House got a rave review in the Free Times today. Has anyone been yet?

I only really ever go to Target and Best Buy, but they always seem normally crowded compared to other Targets and Best Buy. One exception, though was on the day after xmas. We went to SYC to make some returns at Target, Best Buy and Marshalls. At all three there was exactly zero people in line at the return counters. It was awesome. I'm not sure why...it was like 2pm on Dec 26th. I thought I was heading into the meatgrinder, but I was in and out of there in about 30 minutes.

^Well, its owned by an Albrecht (Aldi founders) family trust. So while there is a connection between Trader Joes and Aldi, Aldi the company does not own Trader Joe's the company.

Jebus...303 is going to be even more of a CF than it is now.

I work for Key. My cube is at the Tiedeman Rd facility, but I worked at the CSC (what we call the May building) for a couple years. MayDay pretty much hit it on the head from a low-totem pole worker POV. Its just not a nice building to work in. Its dingy (though they spent some money fixing it up a little bit in the last few years). People have been known to see roaches scurrying around (though I never did). The biggest problem I had with it is the lack of windows. The floors are HUGE, and the perimeters of the floors are lined with conference rooms and offices (since thats the only place you can really have a closed door) so in the winter its pretty common to enter the building before the sun comes up and leave after it goes down and not see the sun all day...not good times. I've heard we're looking to move to other office space on Pubic Square...possibly the Higbee's building. I believe our lease is up in 2010 and we're looking to move then...but I'm not in a position to be know the details.

Does anyone know what the condo association fee is with those townhomes?

^We ate at El Jalapenos last week. Pretty standard mexican fare...somewhere in between El Rodeo and Neuvo Acapulco in quality. We liked everything we had. We were there on a Thurs, and it was pretty packed.

A place called Agave is opening at CP where Hoggy's was...I don't think its a chain.

Since when did JC Penny's and Kohls not get put in the category of "low grade stores"?

SYC always seems normally crowded whenever I am there, but I have no knowledge of how they're doing. One thing I will say about black friday, though, is that there is definitely a lull from like 8am to 10 or 11. The crazies get there by 5, but are gone by 7 and the normal shoppers don't get going until 11 or 12. Its still more crowded than a usual day, but not as crazy as earler or later in the day.

funny how the Sun-Times doesn't compare this to The Great Depression

http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business-4/119399258396190.xml&coll=2 Here is a longer version of the article. Even points out that there are 8300 unfilled tech jobs in NEO, and 2800 are in IT.

http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business-4/119399261796190.xml&coll=2 Kind of cool to have a real Amish store right on Market Square. I hope they do well.

^ Do you think they call the busiest shopping day of the toilet season "Brown Friday"? Thank you very much! I'll be here all week. Please remember to tip the waitstaff. :wink:

I dont think the "even the backround music is Spanish" is a quote from Saltzman. I think that is the PD reporter.

I was down there last night before the game as well. It was the first time I'd been down there in a few months, and it was awesome. We had a few drinks a Wonder Bar, which I really liked...very small and cozy. I'll have to try some food next time I'm there. I was really surprised at how large the space for BlackFinn is. I thought they were just going to go in the spot on the corner...I didn't realize they knocked down the wall to where the clothing store was as well.

While losing a park is never good, I will be happy if they tear down and redevelop that crappy strip mall.

http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/21/big-bites Here is a nice summary of a bunch of the restaurants/bars that will be opening soon around town. PJ McIntyre's Irish Pub: Patrick Campbell and Tom Leneghan have converted an old appliance store in Kamm's Corners into an authentic Irish watering hole. Campbell and company have imported a stockpile of stately furnishings from the Emerald Isle. The roomy space boasts a stacked-stone fireplace, wood paneling and a horseshoe-shape walnut bar. PJ's serves a large selection of draft beers and a menu of traditional Irish (and American) pub fare, including bangers and mash, Guinness stew, and fish and chips. 17119 Lorain Ave., 216.941.9311. Now open. Reddstone: Owner Josh Kabat, a Lola alum, has turned the original Snicker's Tavern into Reddstone, "an upscale rock 'n' roll bar with food." Although Snickers enjoyed the use of a second-floor dining room, Reddstone will confine its activity to the barroom, which features new booths and banquettes, and a large patio. "I want this place to be loud, crowded and high-energy," Kabat says. Reddstone will turn out gourmet pizzas (perhaps even a sweetbread version), kicked-up burgers and comfort foods. 1261 W. 76th St. Opens September 27. The Pub: Owner Nick Sanders is, as he puts it, "a big fan of everything British." To capture the essence of an authentic British pub, Sanders dragged his architect all the way to London, where he snagged much of the handcrafted bar. Though the pub food is no afterthought, it's the beer that will draw the most cheers. Guests will choose from 24 drafts, including cask-conditioned ales, plus many more in bottles. 19304 Detroit Rd. (Beachcliff Market Square). Early October. Stone Mad: Pete Leneghan, partner in the Treehouse, has spent almost three years constructing Stone Mad, a Detroit-Shoreway bar and restaurant his friends are calling his "legacy bar." The elaborately detailed space will house a black walnut pub, an oak barroom and a restaurant serving basic but high-quality American fare like burgers and steaks. Stone Mad will have no televisions or jukebox, but it will have a breathtaking flagstone patio with water and fire features. 1306 W. 65th St. Early November. FOR WINE LOVERS Budapest Blue: Ilona Simon, the Budapest blonde behind Budapest Blonde, has transformed the former Halite spot in Ohio City into Budapest Blue, a lounge. Painted seven shades of blue, the bar will feature beer, wine, cocktails and martinis. Unlike the Blonde, which is peacefully serene, the Blue will rock late into the night thanks to a jukebox, some televisions and a pub-grub menu. Simon's kids, Vera and Nick Durejko, will operate the joint. 2800 Clinton Ave., 216.523.1111. September 27. Bar Cento: Recently top chef at Manhattan's Parea and Tremont's Lolita, Jonathon Sawyer now sets his sights on Ohio City, where he and partner Sam McNulty prepare to open Bar Cento, a Roman-style enoteca. Linked at the hip to the Bier Markt, Bar Cento will offer modern and traditional brick-oven pizzas, traditional Roman recipes and 100 wines by the glass and bottle. The former gallery space has been transformed into a restaurant with open kitchen and lengthy dining bar. 1948 W. 25th St. Early October. GLOBAL TASTES Sasa: Scott Kim is closing his 7-year-old Japanese restaurant, Matsu, to open Sasa at Shaker Square. The space, formerly Sushi on the Square, has been gutted and transformed into a "comfortable, modern room with wood, fabric and plum-colored walls," Kim says. Unlike the very traditional Matsu, Sasa will venture into Thai and Korean flavors on the broad "tapas-style" menu. Sasa will feature a unique sushi/cocktail bar, manned by both sushi chefs and bartenders. 13120 Shaker Sq., 216.767.1111. Late October. Pacific East of Eton: Acclaimed sushi chef and owner of Pacific East on Coventry, Freeman Ngo, says that his younger brother will be the one cutting the fish at this new outpost. "I am more traditional; he is more creative," Ngo explains. Diners can expect more fanciful rolls, tempura, teriyaki and noodles at this smaller version of the original. The 50-seat restaurant will have a 10-seat sushi bar and a license to sell beer, wine and sake. Eton Chagrin Boulevard. Mid-November. Peppermint Thai Cuisine: Fans of Coventry's Mint Café have a reason to cheer: Owner Matt Kanegkasikorn is preparing to open an East Side offspring. Located in Landerwood Plaza, in Pepper Pike, Peppermint (get it?) will serve an almost identical menu in a larger, more modern 90-seat setting. Even better: Peppermint will have a full liquor license. 30769 Pinetree Rd. Late November. Anatolia Café: Construction has begun on the new Anatolia Café, a sprawling 5,000-square-foot remake of the soon-to-be-shuttered original at Cedar Center. Owner Yashar Yildirim says that the generously sized Turkish restaurant will seat close to 300 in the dining room, at the bar, on the patio and in private rooms. 2270 Lee Rd. Late Fall. FAMILIAR NAMES Dante: After a brief closure to facilitate last-minute renovations, Dante, formerly Lockkeepers, officially opens this week. Dante Boccuzzi, a Cleveland native who was most recently top toque at Manhattan's Aureole, officially took over ops at this Valley View showstopper in March. Dante will feature an entirely novel menu, loaded with intensely flavored, picture-perfect dishes. 8001 Rockside Rd., 216.524.9404. September 29. La Strada: World Café owner Terry Tarantino hopes to salvage the original '40s-era terrazzo floors at La Strada, his Mediterranean restaurant on E. Fourth St. Tarantino, who also operates Little Italy's La Dolce Vita, says diners can expect the bold flavors of Greece, Morocco, Turkey, Spain and Italy to be represented on the menu. "We'll bring over some things we do very well at Dolce Vita," the owner said, "but this will not be Downtown La Dolce." Diners can expect shish kebobs, couscous, tagines and risottos. E. Fourth St. Late Fall. World Restaurant: Talented restaurateur Ricardo Sandoval (Fat Cats, Lava Lounge, Halite) is partnering with Raj Singh to transform the Wine Room on Lee Rd. into a sleek lounge and restaurant. A Michelin-star chef will prepare French-Vietnamese-style foods with a global reach. According to Sandoval, one side of the space will be "loungy," the other a 65-seat dining room. 2317 Lee Rd. November. Felice's Urban Eatery: Over on Larchmere, Sandoval is teaming up with Margaret Mueller to launch Felice's, "a neighborhood restaurant with a little bit of everything on the menu," says Sandoval. Neighbors can look forward to three-cheese lasagna, Korean-style ribs, lamb shish kebob and "prices lower than Shaker Square." 12502 Larchmere Blvd. November. Harvey's Ribs: This venerable rib joint has had more lives than an alley cat, but Sammy Kay, a previous owner, is resurrecting it once again. Kay says that he owns the rights to all the original recipes - the slaw, the sauces, the ribs - and promises everything "will be done exactly the way they always were done." At only 25 seats, this Harvey's will be mostly take-out and delivery. 28500 Miles Rd., Solon, 440.248.6500. Early October. Lobster Trap: This casual fish house moved across the street to impressive new digs. A former gentleman's club was reworked into an upscale nautical-chic space with room for 350 seats. New to the operation is a bar and liquor license. Bay Lobsters, a new retail fish shop run by chef Jeff Fisher, is adjacent to the restaurant. 9408 Ravenna Rd., 330.425.2257. Now Open. Marmalade: Slated to open at La Place Fashion Centre, in the spot formerly occupied by American Café, Marmalade will feature "casual, contemporary American cuisine," according to owner Andy Zelenkofske. Chef Joe Bemer will administer a menu jam-packed with numerous apps, salads, pizzas, pastas, chops, seafood, sides and desserts. 2101 Richmond Rd., 216.378.9755. Early October.

Uh, I still kind of thought that. :|

I agree. As a kid, I thought "I'm an eastsider". As I got older and started expanding more outside of my home town and realized what people associated with "eastsider" and "westsider" I realized I am not really either. East Side essentially amounts to the "Heights" - Cleveland, University, Shaker, Richmond, Garfield and I guess Warrensville plus Euclid, Lyndhurst, and maybe Beachwood. West Side - Lakewood, Rocky River, Westlake, Bay Village, Fairview, Avon and Avon Lake. Anyone else just lives in a suburb of Cleveland (or Cleveland itself). Exactly how I feel, though the neighborhoods of Cleveland count in the East v West side.

"She'll cut the ribbon at VegiTerranean at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, but the restaurant won't officially open for another month"

My company blocks MySpace pages...can someone post the gist of what it says?

Interesting addition to Playhouse Sq....from Scene C-Notes It will be good to see the house lights back on in the former Gene Hickerson’s restaurant in the Hanna Building this November, when restaurateur David Glenny launches an outpost of his Akron showpiece, Bricco, on Playhouse Square. At 7,500-square-feet, the newly renovated space will include a 200-seat dining room, a spacious bar and lounge area, and what Glenny hopes will be a casually upscale vibe, complete with bright colors and a plenty of energy. Lunch, dinner, and late-night service are in the plans, although the exact hours of operation haven’t yet been cast. Look for Chris McCarthy, who currently shares top-toque duties at the Akron Bricco, to assume the role of executive chef; the part of GM will go to David Kaminski, a long-time cast member of Hospitality Restaurants, owners of Delmonico’s Steakhouse and Blue Point Grille, among other spots. As with the Akron original, the new Playhouse Square Bricco will star a moderately priced menu of “phunky,” loaded pizzas (like the blackened chicken version, decked out in Chihuahua cheese, chipotle-chorizo bean dip, roasted tomatoes, red peppers, scallions, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses and a topping of tortilla strips, $13) and gussied up pastas (like penne with banana peppers, Italian sausage, and sundried toms in pesto cream sauce, $14). You can preview the entire menu here. Just across the street from the theaters, at 1438 Euclid Avenue, the high-visibility space has been home to numerous restaurants and performance companies over its 90-year history, including pro-football Hall of Famer Gene Hickerson’s upscale eatery, which shuttered in 2002, and Boukairs, a 1960s staple for pre- and post-theater grub. Anyone else who still dreams about the Chic of Araby or the Harem Share’m, drop me a line

^Ditto, though I bought a house in Lakewood 4 years ago, so I'm probably not going anywhere soon.