MuRrAy HiLL

Some great news out of Cleveland: Cleveland to consider offering health-care benefits to gay couples Councilman Joe Cimperman introduced the legislation and said it appears he has enough support to see it passed. Cleveland has more than 100 unmarried couples on the domestic partner registry it made available in May 2009 as a means of getting the couples insurance. http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/morning_call/2011/03/cleveland-eyeing-domestic-partner.html

2011-2012 Broadway Series announced! PlayhouseSquare Broadway Series 2011-12: A whole lotta New York, a little bit of Cleveland All seven shows on next season's iteration of Cleveland's most popular performing arts subscription series have been on Broadway in either the current season or last, but one will be locally produced with one of the downtown theater district's tenants, a Broadway Series first. Four of the shows -- "Million Dollar Quartet" (which will launch its national tour here as it kicks off the series Oct. 11-23), "Memphis," "The Addams Family" and a revival of "La Cage Aux Folles" -- are still up and running on the Great White Way. Another two -- "Come Fly Away" and a revival of "Hair" -- were up and running in New York last year. And the final show of the season -- an extended, eight-week run of the 2010 Broadway revue "Sondheim on Sondheim" -- will be staged by Great Lakes Theater Festival with support from PlayhouseSquare. http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2011/03/broadway_series_2011-12_a_whol.html

Looks like more school children to University Circle! :clap: This place is also known as the "oil can church" for obvious reasons. Citizens Leadership Academy leases space from church Published: Monday, March 28, 2011, 5:17 PM Updated: Monday, March 28, 2011, 5:25 PM By Thomas Ott, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer A new charter school hopes to eventually lease or share a Cleveland school district building, but until then it's making other arrangements. Citizens Leadership Academy, a middle school sponsored by the district, has signed a one-year lease for classrooms at University Circle United Methodist Church. Citizens Leadership Academy will open in August with sixth-graders. It has filled 81 of 90 to 96 seats. Principal Shelly Saltzman said it was important to let families know where students will be when classes begin. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/03/citizens_leadership_academy_le.html

I was talking to a couple people who were involved "The Avengers" movie yesterday, and they told me two very interesting things: 1) In regards to filming locations, they are planning on filming in and around the old Cleveland Trust Rotunda on Euclid Ave, as well as parts of the Industrial Valley. They couldn't tell me the other locations simply because their Cleveland geography was lacking. 2) They told me they were puzzled why Cleveland hasn't invested in any major sound stages or back lots...especially with the current Ohio tax credit, if Cleveland had the facilities, they would have a monopoly in the Midwest. Particularly they mentioned using some of the old Industrial Valley land as a staging ground with back lots and sound stages since it is so centrally located, available land, and interesting.

Sell off that Cleveland history and character!! Cleveland City Council delays consideration of stained-glass legislation Published: Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 5:00 AM Updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 7:48 AM By Mark Gillispie, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland City Council on Monday delayed a vote on controversial legislation that would have allowed the Cleveland Catholic Diocese to remove stained glass windows from closed churches without first receiving the approval of the city Landmarks Commission. When -- or if -- the legislation will ever come to a vote is unclear. Council members at a Finance Committee hearing on Monday expressed doubts about the legislation and several said they had no intention of voting for it. "I'm not going to vote to take anything out of those churches," said Councilwoman Dona Brady. When Bishop Richard Lennon announced plans in 2009 to close churches and remove the stained glass, some council members rushed to save the windows by designating the structures as landmarks. At least a dozen closed churches have landmark status. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/03/cleveland_city_council_delays.html

Hotel anyone?? Cleveland school officials consider selling historic downtown headquartersPublished: Monday, March 21, 2011, 6:00 PM By Thomas Ott, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland schools' downtown headquarters sits on prime real estate, across from where crews are working on the new medical mart and convention center. The property's potential value is not lost on a school system scratching for cash. Officials are seriously considering selling the historic building on East Sixth Street, though they as yet don't know where employees would move. The six-story, 161,672-square-foot structure is laid out inefficiently and requires extensive repairs, interim Chief Executive Officer Peter Raskind said Monday. "Over time, it's evident not a lot of money has been invested in this building," he told central-office staff as the room rippled with knowing laughter. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/03/cleveland_school_officials_con.html

VOTE for Peyton Hillis! http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/feature/madden2012cover

The Cleveland Gladiators have started the season 1-0....BUT they just lost their best player and season leader for the rest of the season: Cleveland Gladiators QB John Dutton tears left Achilles' tendon, will miss remainder of season Published: Monday, March 21, 2011, 10:10 AM By Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Gladiators quarterback John Dutton will miss the remainder of the season because of a torn left Achilles' tendon suffered in the opener last Saturday night. Dutton, one of the Arena Football League's all-time greats at his position, will undergo surgery this week. "It's very unfortunate to see such a dominant player suffer an injury like this, and our prayers are with John for a speedy recovery'' Gladiators Assistant General Manager Phil Tesar said. "But we can't undo what happened. We have to keep moving forward.'' Dutton went to the bench in the fourth quarter of the Gladiators' 61-55 victory over the Spokane Shock in Spokane, Wash. Dutton told Tesar he felt as if "a baseball bat hit the back of my lower leg'' while throwing a pass that sailed high and incomplete. Tests Monday in Cleveland confirmed the tear. Mount Union product Kurt Rocco replaced Dutton and played the final two series. Rocco threw one pass -- a 12-yard touchdown to Troy Bergeron for a 61-48 lead. It was the first pass of his AFL career. http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2011/03/cleveland_gladiators_qb_john_d.html

What do you mean? There is still room for the plaza. They will be spending $1 million on it: http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2010/11/uptown_plaza_design_to_be_unve.html

And one more article: Public markets conference in Cleveland expected to be good for local economy Published: Monday, March 21, 2011, 4:13 PM Updated: Monday, March 21, 2011, 4:25 PM By Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Roughly three dozen people gathered Monday at the West Side Market to hear the Project for Public Spaces announce plans for an international conference in Cleveland next year. "In 2012, we are going to say to everyone, 'Welcome to our table,'" City Councilman Joe Cimperman said. The Project for Public Spaces, a nonprofit based in New York, chose Cleveland over London, Toronto, Seattle and Charleston, S.C., to host several days of tours, seminars and events in fall 2012. The group's eighth International Public Markets Conference will occur 25 years after its first such gathering - and will coincide with the 100th birthday of the West Side Market, a key factor in bringing the conference here. Local politicians and community leaders described the conference as a small but mighty economic engine, driving global interest in Cleveland's growing local-food scene, its farmers markets and the venerable indoor market. The event, held every few years, attracts roughly 300 people, including market managers, planners and designers. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/03/public_markets_conference_in_c.html

A little blurb today on the parking situation. The first comment makes me want to shoot someone! Outside of the city limits of course, not to raise the murder rate.. Melding old and new to make way for casino: editorial http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/03/melding_old_and_new.html

:clap: :clap: :clap: Cleveland, West Side Market tapped to host International Public Markets Conference in 2012 Published: Monday, March 21, 2011, 5:04 AM By Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland has edged out competitors -- including London and Toronto -- to host an international conference focused on public markets in 2012. The Project for Public Spaces, a nonprofit group based in New York, will announce today that it has tapped Cleveland as the host city for several days of discussions, events and tours. The conference promises national and global attention for Cleveland's growing local food scene and the West Side Market, which will celebrate its 100th birthday late next year. Stephen Davies, senior vice president with the Project for Public Spaces, lauded Cleveland's pitch as the best of 20-something applications from potential host cities. The West Side Market and its upcoming centennial were key factors in helping Cleveland beat out finalists Seattle; Charleston, S.C.; along with Toronto and London. "It was huge," Davies said. "It's one of the most stunning indoor public markets in the country, and there are not many left in the United States. There are some 150 of them, and Cleveland's historically is probably the grandest of them all." http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/03/cleveland_west_side_market_to.html

Not quite construction, so please move if necessary: MMPI names trade show vet to run Cleveland medical mart and convention center By SCOTT SUTTELL 3:22 pm, March 21, 2011 MMPI, the Chicago-based developer of the Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center, has named a 30-year trade show veteran as the project's general manager. Brian Casey takes the job effective May 2. He will be responsible for attracting trade show business to the facility and for identifying potential clients and events for the medical mart. Mr. Casey also will oversee functions including construction, operations, finance and leasing, while implementing strategic and marketing plans for the property, its tenants and trade shows. MMPI said Mr. Casey has more than three decades of experience in the trade show and meetings industry. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20110321/FREE/110329979

Luchita's disappeared in one day's time!

For some reason, I'm amused that Minneapolis lost 40 people. You can put faces to that loss!

More letters!

Same picture as my MOCA update :) Uptown update:

MOCA update:

I was downtown last night... Yes they were packed. I saw 4-5 different school names on clothing at about every bar/restaurant I hopped. Here's a good video: http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/181347/4/Cleveland-Downtown-full-of-March-Madness

I watched Syracuse and Ohio State practice. All I gotta say is Syracuse looks athletic! Tomorrow is going to be fun for downtown Cleveland. I wonder what all the out of towers were thinking as they arrived to Cleveland right into a party of 300,000 people?!

Whoa ... FYI this place is completely packed. I'll try and grab a table. EDIT: ok I snagged a booth right by the middle pillar. I'm wearing a black fleece.

Walking over there right now. See u guys soon.

^ I think it's time for me to finally make my hollywood cameo :)

Peyton Hillis now has his own clothing line: "Rhinoback" t-shirts and sweatshirts: http://rhinobackfootball.com/WebStore/?page_id=7 from espncleveland.com: http://espncleveland.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/the-new-king-of-cleveland/

Are there any new renderings of this? From the planning commission: DF 2011-009: CSU Pedestrian Infrastructure Master Plan Cleveland State University Downtown Campus, Ward 8 Project representatives: Ed Schmittgen, CSU; Albert Filoni and Tyler Niedzwicki, MCF http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2011/03042011/index.php