Vulpster03

Exactly right. When trying to create a good impression of the city with visitors, things like that are always a good idea. The route and order by which you take a visitor through the city is extremely important. One alternative to heading from Public Square to Playhouse Sqare via Euclid Avenue is to take E.4th Street south to Huron. If you take a left on Huron, you will end up coming right into Playhouse Square. Huron isn't full of people - but I think its been cleaned up very nicely, and there are actually a number of newer restaurants and bars along that stretch there that I don't think a lot of people are too familar with.

It would be great if CityProwl got in touch with the Chagrin Falls based Findaway Company: makers of Playaway devices. Playaway is an easy-to-use portable product that allows for listening to digital audio files such as books or music albums. The Cleveland Public Library already lends audio books on Playaway. It would be great to pick up a Playaway with these tours on them at the library or maybe the new walk-in visitor center on the Higbee Street Level. The Convention and Visitor Bureau is moving their offices there by next Spring. Here is the website for Playaway: http://www.playawaydigital.com/index_flash.aspx

There is an exciting new enterprise called CityProwl that was featured in today's PD. The article was rather lengthy and featured in the print edition on the front page of the business section, but I'm having trouble accessing it from cleveland.com. These audio tours are downloaded to your portable music device where you can hit the streets and learn about the city's architecture and history. I listenned to the file from my computer and can't wait to download it and listen to it again on the streets. It is much more interesting than I expected. http://www.cityprowl.com/ There is only one tour available now, but apparently there will be more to follow. Episode 1: Lower Prospect District, 30+ min.

I get very into promoting the city to my friends, taking them out, etc. It is amazing how one little thing can happen when we are out sometimes that will entrench a negative perception of the city. It is a shame, because I don't think they understand that little things they see aren't really a big problem. If you saw a lot of trash in Public Square - I'd say that's pretty unusual. I've been spending a lot of time there during the week. I have my morning coffee there before work, I take cigarette breaks there, I have lunch there, and I catch the bus from there. I don't see a lot of trash, and I don't get bothered. I really believe that cleanliness has improved greatly since the Downtown Alliance Team or whatever they are called - started cleaning up. Their work is noticible in my opinion and it is having an effect on visitors. More often than not, I'd say the reactions I get from people are very positive: I escorted an international journalist (living in New York right now) from Terminal Tower, through the Square, and to the Rock Hall. The first thing he said when we walked through Public Square was how clean and well-kept it was. I've taken the initiative to expose a couple of college interns downtown to the city. Before they started working downtown they had no idea what the city was like or where to go. I showed them E.4th St., the Arcade, the library garden, the Warehouse District, the Trolley buses. I think its been a success. I know they are using buses, walking around, returning to these places, trying new places, and enjoying themselves on their own now. Just last week I took them to Ohio City after work where we sat outside at Kan Zaman with a hookah and sampler plate. Afterwords I took them to the Superior Viaduct where they saw views of the skyline and a concert happening down at the Pavilion. One of them remarked how people in the office said how Cleveland used to be really nice. The other one quickly responded - almost defensively - that she thought Cleveland was nice now. And the one who made the comment about his coworkers nodded in agreement. Right before we departed that day one remarked that he wished he had come up to Cleveland more often A couple of weeks ago on a thursday I went out with a couple of my friends from high school. We went to Hooples and then the Little Bar. My one friend attending college in Baltimore - who loves it there, and has now done numerous study abroad programs throughout the world - took a look around the Little Bar and remarked "wow, this is a cool little place. There is more going on downtown Cleveland than I thought." Anyway, I could go on and on, and share more positive reactions from people I often get.

I think the construction projects - cumulatively speaking - will have a lasting effect. But sometimes I think it's hard to measure the success or impact of a big project after it is built. Consider that in a relatively short period of time we had the BP Building, Key Tower, Tower City Center, Rock Hall, Jacobs Field, Gund Arena, Science Center, and Browns Stadium built. Has the region made a booming economic comeback since then? Well no, but can any of us imagine the city now without them? Something tells me that these big projects do gain a little and are helping to offset other types of losses that happening. I'm very excited about the years 2009-2011. A lot of really exciting things will be open/completed by then, and I think we will really start to see or feel the impact. Maybe I'm just dreaming, but everything seems like it will come to full circle then. If Cleveland becomes a good and exciting place to live, visit and do business, why wouldn't jobs and people follow? You know in Cleveland, you hear from people that there are no jobs. You hear from employers that there are no people. I just don't buy the fact that "jobs" is the real problem, and I get sick of hearing it.

I don't think anyone on this forum is "excited" about what Steelyard Commons will do for Cleveland. No one is touting this as some kind of fabulous or transformative project. However, given the location of it I think its okay. The site couldn't be used for much else besides this; a Walmart and a bunch of other big box stores. Housing, parks, hotels, offices in the middle of the industrial basin??? I don't think so. There is an element of creativity to the use of this site with Steelyard Commons. I would be freaking out and sharing your setiments if they wanted to put a development like this on more desirable land like along the lakefront, Scranton Peninsula or downtown surface parking lots. I'd also be upset if this was in actuality the most exciting project we have developing in the city - but it's not. People in this town are doing great things with downtown, Euclid Corridor, and especially University Circle. To single out Steelyard commons and make statements like "everyone in this town has low expectations" and "nothing good is happening" is really unfair and a shortsighted excuse to continue negativity.

^and THAT is the Cleveland mentality.

I kind of think having the terminus in Vermilion would be a really nice idea and perhaps gather some more support from people living in Bay, River, and Westlake. Vermilion makes for a really nice day trip, and I know a lot of people who drive out there from Cuyahoga County. It is a little touristy, but still has a lot of character. Quite a few people from Cuyahoga have boats or maybe cottages there. Vermilion is the just the next city west of Lorain. I don't think extending the proposed line to Vermilion is "getting ahead of ourselves". It is actually quite sensible in my opinion.

What's the deal with the end of the Superior Viaduct? Is that a public park?

Is this a temporary move or a permanent one? Their plans were to move from Beachwood to their Cedar Center development. Did they change their minds?

I saw a Megabus stopped on the side of I-90 around 6 PM today. It was heading westbound before the West Blvd. Exit. There were a few people standing around outside, and the bus had its hazard lights on.

I don't understand why the Cleveland Clinic (a foundation) doesn't just merge with Healthspace rather than shove them out to the natural history museum.

PD CORRECTION: The townhomes are a 20 unit $4.7 million project at East Boulevard and Superior Avenue, and will range from $270,000 to $325,000. NBA star James invests in Cleveland housing project CONNIE MABIN Associated Press

I've always felt there was a huge discrpency in Avon Lake. Least Expensive: $89,900 MLS#2300336 Most Expensive: $2,950,000 MLS#2300278

I have no problem with Ikea merchandise, and I'd love the opportunity to shop there. I'm young, on a budget, and very mobile. But c'mon. Do you really think the average Beachwood shopper has any interest in Ikea merchandise? I think they'd bypass that place up for their Arhaus, Crate and Barrel, and Restoration Hardware stores. Ikea is just one of the many retailers that I can't figure out why they wouldn't want to better serve the growing downtown market, as well as the entire metro area through a central location. Take Trader Joe's for instance. Frankly the people who live near Trader Joe's in the suburbs have been unimpressed. They already have Heinen's which carries very similar foods, has an even greater selection, and better service. It is also a similar situation with H&M - which is openning a store in Beachwood now. These retailers have no common sense.

In regards to the Beck Center, It would be an absolute shame if it left Lakewood all together. The Beck Center does provide some great classes and programs - especially for children. I wouldn't be opposed to them openning a small satelite campus in Crocker Park to attract a new market and earn more revenue, but they really should keep their main campus in Lakewood. Beck Center has always seemed to me like one of Lakewood's greatest assets (other than St. Edward).

Maybe it can be both. This did happen in Crocker Park, and not Cleveland.

I completely agree, which is why I really think Ikea would best be suited in the city. Legacy Village or other suburbs might have the space, and an existing draw, but I don't see most of their patrons coming from the immediate market there. I see more college grads living/moving into the city who need and really want a store like that to outfit their apartments. I don't see my great aunt Lois from Pepper Pike shopping in Ikea if it was at Legacy Village.

Southwest? what is that?

I think two stores are probably necessary for Ohio, and if I were them I'd go with both Dayton and Cleveland.

I just remembered that Miami was founded and built up by a bunch of Clevelanders from Euclid Avenue. Weird.

Armed assailant rapes woman in Westlake Cleveland.com 10:55 a.m. A 23-year-old Brazilian au pair was kidnapped at gunpoint early Wednesday from the Promenade shopping center in Westlake and raped, police said. The woman told police that a man forced his way into her car about midnight, pushed her into the passenger seat and covered her head. She said he sexually assaulted her twice and drove her around for approximately four hours before letting her go on Lands End Lane. The assailant took her car and the victim went to a house where the residents called 9-1-1. Emergency workers took the woman to St. John-Westshore Hospital. Police are searching for the attacker who may still be driving the victim's car, a silver four-door 1999 Honda Civic with Ohio license plate DNG9567. Anyone with information on the incident can call police at 440-871-3311

Stark must have gotten a lot of retail interest at the Vegas convention, because it has just been anounced that Puma, BCBG, Guess?, Sephora, Apple, Smith & Hawken, Chipotle, and Norwalk Furniture will come to Crocker Park. Some retailer (maybe independant) called Petite de Vie is going in a really fancy French-looking kiosk they are building. Other retailers coming soon but unknown to me, but coming soon also include Audio Visions, and Catherine's Chocolates.A Gold's Gym, Cold Stone Creamery, and Anthropologie have been known for quite some time, but they are also included in the "coming soon category". http://www.crockerpark.com/shopping/retail.php Westhampton - a for sale residential component on the periphery of Crocker Park and a collaboration with Coral company is also coming soon. The site plan appears to show over 100+ units. Interestingly, a good number of units will be attached to the rear of the existing parking garages. http://www.thecoralcompany.com/westhampton-at-crocker.html This development is far from "completed"

True, I agree with you that the place can get a little loud- but that's the type of place that it is. Not all restaurants are or should be very quiet and intimate. The Metropolitan is in my opinion is a nice restaurant where you can dress more casual and get a little a tipsy with a larger group of friends. It is a place you can go for a more a fun dinner, but for a romantic dinner this probably isn't the place to go. If you want a quiet place, go to San Souci. I remember that place very well. I was pretty young, but one thing I'll never forget about that place were the views and especially seeing the Rock Hall under construction. Even at age 10 I remember thinking how cool it was that the Rock Hall was being built in Cleveland.

Is it true Mount Rumpke is the highest point in Ohio? I heard that once.