willyboy

Well maybe not through the DCA, but thought they started doing some kind of programing again on the malls. After work concerts or something. Maybe not quite the same thing. I know they were doing the screen on the green type thing.

I thought thay started doing the partys in the park again this past summer....?

Looks like a cool place from the website and pics on myspace, but looked like a rather young crowd from the pictures, and the lineup looked more like spinners as opposed to Jazz. Kinda Warehouse District.

Yes, that doesnt make sense to me. It is supposed to save money by closing and consolidating. DOESNT MAKE SENSE.

Is it just me, or does it seem a bit crazy that cigarette smokers would drive to another county to buy cigarettes to avoid paying 30 extra cents? Too bad it couldnt have been coupled with an additional gas tax.

Great pictures Mayday. I saw somebody I know in one of them....... (besides you)

Yes Musky, I do recall the Capital fencing, sort-of that painted paneled wood look (woops, I’m talking about fencing again). I believe since some of the other Federal building projects I have seen here have had similar fencing (most recently seen around the National Portrait Gallery) that it is a standard established for the government institutions. I’m guessing that private and other developments have limited, required standards and that it is more about neighborhood or city organizations to make it something different. Cleveland already has organizations set up that could partner to do this (such as the ones that install art into empty storefronts, or paint fire hydrants) E.9th and Euclid or the future Warehouse District construction may be good areas to think about this.

Some of the other regular chain link. awe.

Here is that fence.

I looked around today at some of the construction fences in DC and will post pictures later. For the most part they are tall chain link fences with a corner of wood boards with a sign announcing the project. I did find a cool construction fence on-line that was put up near Chinatown around a restoration project. The fence was a public art project done by an organization that gives inner city males, often troubled, a chance to discover artistic talents........

I live in D.C. and Im not clear as to what you are referring to. Any of the construction sites near me are just tall chain link fence. I will keep my eyes open, with camera. Edit: Are they by any chance painted wood looking with "coming soon" type things. Im sure Dan will come up with some that are "way better" than anything Cleveland would ever do.

Yes, I saw a whole thing about that on the history channel or somewhere. I also believe this to be the building that Steven Litt refers to and compares with the Ameritrust tower on East 9th and Euclid. (in regard to lessons not being learned)

I was wondering. I read an article where Michael was saying that Cleveland wasnt taking to the small plate concept well and that he would be reverting back to some of the old Lola favorites that people have missed.

How has the menu changed? Did it change from the small plates concept back to the mac and cheese type stuff (I think I read this was going to happen)

And as much as my dream would be to wake up and have Higbees (Macy's) back as a store on public square, it just does not seem likely. Yes we'll have to see what will happen..

Then the current homeowners would really have a fit. At some point they need to start contributing to the tax base though.

KJP, could this be the news you have been waiting for from the person sworn to secrecy?

This may answer your question Frqntflyr. From Crain's this morning. Venture dollars drop for local biotechs By CHUCK SODER 9:55 am, January 23, 2007 Investors injected $87 million into young health care companies in Northeast Ohio in 2006 — barely half of what was raised in 2005, but $26 million more than 2004, according to an annual report by BioEnterprise Corp. The region ranked fourth out of 11 others in the Midwest in terms of dollars generated. The region, however, ranked first in number of companies receiving money, according to the Midwest Health Care Venture Investment Report. BioEnterprise president Baiju Shah said he is “very encouraged” by the findings, which he said indicate an upward trend in health care investment, despite the drop from 2005. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20070123/FREE/70123002

Ouch. Just looked at that site... I would say those people had a bone to pick, and went in to the place determined they would not like it. I dont think you can go wrong, for the experience alone, even if it seems a bit overpriced.

I have always had a positive experience at Vivo. As for the new Lola, I think the hype has lifted expectations to the point that it may not always live up to. Only went in for a martini to see the place, which is impressive, martini was good, but only if you are a true martini drinker, but cant speak for the food. I recently spoke to someone that ate at Lolita and said the food was not very impressive, and that they are supposed to be reverting somewhat back to some of the old Lola faves.

Great news indeed! Is the Arhaus furniture still there or did they close?

That spot would be good in that it would add another (ground level) link between the Gateway district and Public Square/Tower City, allowing more of a street presence. Not initially crazy about the idea of the big name places (like when Hard Rock was announced), but is a destination place that may not have oversaturated the country yet.

Wow Dan, how odd for you to make such a sweeping generalization of something somebody said. Of course the homeless being fed on public square has a negative impact on the surrounding areas. We had numerous accounts on here before of people giving examples of being accosted or chased etc. saying they would not go downtown again, or walk across public square again…… You are again using bad comparisons. It’s a bit different when there are tons of other people around diluting the impact of the homeless people. If the majority of the people on the sidewalks in G-town were homeless people (as is often the case on public square) I guarantee it would have a negative impact on other people walking the streets and the businesses. Yes in D.C. there are typically a lot of people on the sidewalks, and these people dilute the focus and impact. There are certain times in D.C. when I have been harassed (screamed at, sworn at, called a stupid white boy etc….) by certain homeless people and it certainly has affected my use of certain business when given the choice of something on the other side of the street. But this is typically when there are not other people to dilute their focus. I have read numerous hotel reviews for Cleveland that have stated the bad feeling the tourist had felt of Cleveland based on the fact that there was such a large concentration of homeless people on public square that made it threatening for them to want to walk outside or explore anything. (Granted these are probably suburban people that have no tolerance of anything, I’m pretty certain that if they came to town again they will opt to stay in Westlake) I’ve had people that I brought to Cleveland to show them around take notice of this, as well as all the trash often left behind, I would just try to direct the focus away long enough for them to see that there was more to downtown… but again its about the concentration in what should be a prominent spot. So yes it certainly would deter a person from wanting to explore the square and surrounding area etc….. I couldn’t agree more on the issue of feeding on Public Square and needing a better coordinated effort. There are better places to do this in any direction that should have less of an impact, and a better coordinated effort just makes sense. Anyway, well said X and Urbanlife, at least I didn’t see it as you were being some kind of anti-homeless elitist.

I always thought that Peabody was supposed to be one of the best, but according to the people mentioned above, it has really fallen down in the ranks, not what it used to be.

Good point about CIA and CIM. A lady I know in D.C. and her very talented daughter who attends a private music school in Michigan, have become fans of Cleveland when her daughter took some lessons from world renowned Oboe player John Mack (recently deceased) at the CIM. They made several visits and applied to the program at CIM. On their visits I made out schedules for them of must see and things to do, and arranged for them to go to Severance Hall for a performance. The girl had narrowed her search to Cleveland, Boston and Philadelphia (the 3 best for her specialty) She ended up choosing Cleveland as her first choice (since she fell in love with the place), but unfortunately didn't win the one slot open for that program, which apparently is very competitive. She instead is regretfully going to Philadelphia. I hadn't realized just how prestigious CIM was before this. Same for CIA which I have more recently read many specialized areas where they excel. Also, from what I have seen, I think many CIM graduates do stay in the Cleveland area with its wealth of music options etc. To me, these are all sort of lumped in with the CWRU campus.. With their new and future buildings and focuses I think they will further add to their own identities.