surfohio

^ Most exciting! Some friends and I checked out XYZ last weekend. Very flashy place. I'm more of a neighborhood bar type, and though it was not my thing I was very impressed with how the place looked. The best part for me was the balcony and views overlooking Phase II, the river and West Bank. There is a sort of sleepy and gritty cozy midwest charm with the view. It's uniquely "Cleveland" to me. Anyhow it's going to be crazy to see the drastic changes that are coming right before our eyes. No more sleepy waterfront; this place is going to be lit up like Christmas.

Just beautiful! Man the pics coming out of this event have me super proud and optimistic.

^ The world is safer now. /s An Open Letter to Loren Naji Dear Loren: Please know that Cleveland's community of artists, musicians, writers, dancers, and actors, (who are also servers, bartenders, caterers, valets, teachers, caregivers & social workers); and the many local gallery operators, bar & restaurant owners, live music producers, art festival promoters, urban farmers, and small business owners (who also live in the neighborhood, take care of their property, support our schools, and don't benefit from tax breaks, tax funding, backroom land deals & code variances), are 100% behind you! You have done a wonderful job of renovating an aging building, providing an anchoring business on a neglected block, opening your studio and your gallery to the neighborhood, and simultaneously promoting established and emerging artists along with singers, songwriters and local bands. Your skill at using social networking, word of mouth, exceptional regular events, high quality print materials, and your own prowess as an artist, has attracted a growing cadre of regular attendees, interested visitors and potential patrons/investors from the outer ring suburbs and beyond. You have also used all of these many resources to support multiple nonprofit organizations by offering your space, and gifts of your own work, for fundraisers in support of important local, national and international causes. You, and the people that you have surrounded yourself with, are part of the true renaissance of Cleveland. Something that is, contrary to popular understanding, not based on chandeliers, but actual light; not coming from famous people visiting expensive hotels, but emerging from places where people have always lived and worked, and periodically invited others to visit. Together, we are the vibrancy, excitement, opportunity, sustainability, renovation, rehabilitation, and rebirth that everyone keeps talking about. When they say, "This is Cleveland," they mean places like Loren Naji Studio Gallery. Eventually folks will get this. Eventually the police, politicians, community development corporations, real estate developers, financial investors, and their legions of lawyers, will come to understand that the part of the community that is real, that changes lives, that is life, are folks like you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for the strength, tenacity, and open heart, that will allow you to continue your work despite the idiocy that wrecked a perfectly good community gathering, for no legitimate reason. Thank you for bringing together art, music, dance, poetry, photography, local food, fresh water, and some beer and wine to get the party started. Thank for being the artist, the entrepreneur and the good neighbor that you are. I'm looking forward to your next event, and the one after that... Jeffrey Bowen

With some better logistics, I agree. This place would make an awesome NYE venue. The way some of the tents and stages were lakes out caused some annoying bottlenecks. The worst being outside of the mew Phuel cafe and the other being outside of the Starbucks. I think Public Square is a better location logistically, but PHS is definitely a more spectacular location. Exactly. I wish all of our media outlets were consolidated there as well. You would think the media would want more public interaction. But at least you have WVIZ, 98.5 and Channel 19 nearby. I love seeing PS getting the...love.

never doubt me.

State Beaches in Ohio are top-optional for the ladies. I think this is the proper thread for this bit of FYI.

Good point. I can't wait to see how the micro's turn out. My house is small, less that 1k sf so I'm always into seeing how creative people can get with making good use of space.

^ Now that would be a cool trip. KJP do you have any insight on a ball park figure of how much such a CLE-TOR trip would cost?

Wow that's gaudy as heck. Like for a strip club. Please, someone send Geiss a sample of Helvetica!!!! The only development with that kind of font should be Battery Park.

A lot of those units are student oriented. I lived in 144 sq ft in college and it was actually not bad, I didn't have much stuff, and I think many young people these days don't either. haha did you go to kent? man those dorms were like jail cells. go zips!!!!!!

Let me say this loud and clear. GIANT EAGLE SUCKS. There. Good day.

Glad to see progress. That "Site C" terminus of the gerbil tube could be crucial to help in getting some inkling of foot-traffic connectivity started down there.

Anyone remember the weird controversy with the Clippers and their Superfan, Clipper Darrell? I understand the use of the name "Clipper" may present some legal issues (other Clipper fans started paying Darrell to attend their parties, etc) , but I distinctly remember thinking that the way the organization handled it was rather bush league. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipper_Darrell

Yeah SD is Laker country now.

Right. He owns a franchise. Like a McDonald's owner owns a franchise. If that owner says anything that jeopardizes the integrity or the financial well-being of the company, he's gone.

^ Interesting. What's with the windowless side? Is that to be an adjacent unit?

The jail windows just look godawful. Anyone got any professional idea on how the aesthetics can be improved?

Great point. LeBron, the X-factor in this.

I am actually liking the new HQ thanks for posting!!

The irony here is that of all of Detroit Ave, that's the area where where a bike lane is least needed.

U.C. So hot right now....UC.

im back in the cle for a bit. Im down.

Barrio is doing something right that's for sure. Their location in Lakewood is almost always filled - even late on weeknights. Now they're doing the micro brewery/pizza parlor in Birdtown AND another Barrio downtown...wow that's just good news all around.

HERE WE GO JACK ETS HERE WE GO.

thats hilarious. i'm working on two band names right now. and it's all about seo - search engine optimization lol. also, i read an onion article proving that all good band names are officially taken.