surfohio

Article on Cleveland surfing via Huck, a British Culture Magazine. Cleveland surf Freshwater frontier A sun-loving surfer from the Californian coast heads inland to Cleveland, Ohio - where the waves are fickle and the water’s fresh - to meet the world’s most patient, dedicated crew. Text Stefan Slater Photography Billy Delfs Posted 16:21 GMT on February 10, 2012 On November 11, 2011, the first morning of my surf trip to Cleveland, Ohio, local surfer and filmmaker Scott Ditzenberger meets me outside my hotel to loan me a board. The weather is brisk in an I-can’t-feel-my-limbs sort of way. It’s freezing. Surfing in thirty-degrees-Fahrenheit weather is going to be a new experience for me. The six-foot, neon-blue single-fin Scott gives me, which barely fits inside my recently rented Ford Fiesta, looks like a prop from eighties teen surf flick North Shore. (The retro movement is more than just a passing trend in Cleveland; boards like logs and fishes just tend to be more practical in this environ.) Before he leaves, Scott tells me that the surf is about waist-high at Edgewater Park. I drive to Edgewater – a Lake Erie surf spot in downtown Cleveland, approximately ten minutes by car from my hotel near Progressive Stadium, home of the Cleveland Indians baseball team. Scott has to work, but tells me to go ahead and introduce myself to the local crew, all of whom he assures me are perfectly friendly. But hell, what have I got to fear? I mean, I’m only heading to an unfamiliar surf spot, 500 miles away from the nearest ocean, and introducing myself to a close-knit group of locals that I’ve never met before. ‘Hi, I’m a surfer from Los Angeles,’ I imagine myself saying, ‘I’ve come to surf your… lake.’ In my mind, that introduction is closely followed by a quick tour of the bottom of Lake Erie, viewed from my sinking Fiesta. Regardless, I try to remain optimistic. http://www.huckmagazine.com/features/cleveland-surf/

Garages have all but killed Vincent. But, it is nice to think that something could be done to add storefronts into the garage along E. 6th just like fat fish blue (RIP). For the life of me, I can't believe that zoning in a city could ever allow garages to encroach on the sidewalk the way they do.

It's easy to see how an E. 4th style concept could work there. Not endorsing a ped-only street or copycatting, but merely how residential growth could foster a more lively looking, visually appealing street with lighting, landscaping, brick pavers, outdoor patios, etc. It would be really cool to see these buildings converted.

I am extremely glad that the western theme is toned down, dare I even say tasteful. If you've ever been to Sizzler, you know this could've turned out really bad! Agree with Mr. Clifton from what I can tell they're doing a good job preserving the character of the building.

I like the cut of your jib, Strap. :drunk: And anyone who has seen crowds at Panini's and WInking Lizard on game days realizes some more options are a good thing.

Congrats Cincy. I can't wait to come down there soon and experience your awesome streetcar!

^ yes. I'm actually from NJ. Newark has been a bad joke for years. Whether talking here or there, in either case I just hope that most people haven't simply fallen into an "acceptance" stage. I'm entering cranky-old-man status and it's depressing to start realizing that you might not see changes occur in your lifetime.

Thank you Jennifer Coleman.

You're being way too polite. I love Cleveland so much. But along the Red Line the aesthetic message our city sends is "Welcome to the ugliest place in America."

Dan Gilbert is just being Dan Gilbert: Businessman. On the other hand, I have little faith that elected officials can be relied upon to protect interests outside those of powerful developers in this city. How these officials (and we as a community) respond to all of this is paramount in what kind of city this becomes. This is far from over. Upcoming rounds of conflict are sure to focus on how Ratners/Gilbert address the property along the Cuyahoga River. And as you know, all indications are that they want to F- it all up in tremendous fashion. They will continue to put their highest value on PARKING above all else.

If that allowed us to then tear down the Justice Center, then count me in favor of the May Company-Jimmy Dimora Prison Facility. Still better than a parking garage.

We all wanted Downtown to be more of a destination. Well folks, this is it. This is the result. Bizarro World. We're in it.

Ha ha. Okay you win. :wave:

Is it too early to blame the casino? But seriously, that place looks way too nice for a parking garage.

Well at least you were creative in your attempt to make it seem like you were on topic. Gottaplan, are you taking notes? ;-) An off-topic accusation? Those are fighting words on UO.

Drat. Maybe I wasn't clear enough on the point I wanted to make. I'm not talking about the potential of Edewater, but how the Shoreway conversion is needed to transform the roadside into something far better.

I have a Shoreway observation to consider. For nearly a month, a car bumper has been laying on the shoulder before the Westbound entrance to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Park. This is nothing new, trash and refuse accumulate there because the nearby environment is inhospitable. Now this area is our doorstep to the lake, it's prized real estate that's treated like hell! And it should be treated better. For the life of me I cannot imagine how we can tap the potential here without calming the shoreway. It should and can be a place where drivers, pedestrians and cyclists have the option to slow down and enjoy the area. Just like Lake Ave. Just like Clifton. Then when people can experience more personal access, then there will be stakeholders who care about things like car parts laying there for a month.

That place is going to sparkle.

It's the annual Reggae Brunch at Parkview Tavern (Detroit Shoreway) on Sunday. Sorry I can't find a good link for the event re: time. As always, Carlos Jones will be there to celebrate Bob Marley's b-day. He usually starts playing around 3pm. Get there early in the a.m. for delicious breakfast. This is a really cool thing and one of the shows I look forward to every winter.

Has anyone in office ever proposed an audit for Ohio road expenditures? Since moving here I've always had a suspicion that ODOT uses the cheapest, crappiest materials in the universe, just so that the maintenance is never-ending. For one thing, I'd love to see a study on the negative externalities of road salt. Really, the damage to infrastrucure and personal property must easily be in the billions.

From what I understand its going to enveloped in glass, not concrete and according to a PD article a few months back, its going to save the building 500,000.00 a year in heating/cooling costs 500K a year savings on a 120 million investment. I don't know guys, the math....it doesn't seem cost efficient. p.s. is there no safety component to this?

Hey, these pics had me thinking. Is it physically possible that traffic could someday be calmed, and the Terminal Bldg and Tucker Ellis Bldg could build out and form a street front up on the bridge, with parallel parking and sidewalks?

AWESOME!!!

^ sure I grade papers! Believe me, it's pretty humbling when I need the answer key for 3rd grade vocabulary questions. ^ Gram, I cannot think of a fair, accurate and worthwhile method to measure teacher performance. I'd be fearful of even more blanket reliance on standardized testing.

Not to be a negative nancy, but I think this could be a complete waste of taxpayers money. My first impression was that this project is just an over the top security measure. Just like that "urban forest" aka concrete bunker that surrounds the place. Admittedly it will look cool, but really that building is nowhere near an eyesore; it looks just fine as is.