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Student group trip to Cleveland - suggestions?

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Hello UOers,

 

Cleveland won the elections for Cornell's undergraduate Urban & Regional Studies 30-person spring trip. We'll be visiting Cleveland April 12-14 and are greatly looking forward to the unique opportunities that exist in Cleveland. We'll be staying downtown, and are looking for speakers/events/tours that are accessible by public transit. I've got 40+ suggestions for things to do for my group, but I'd like to reach out to you (the experts) for suggestions of the must-sees and must-dos for a student group interested in anything from planning to historic preservation, economy, brownfield reuse, foreclosure crisis, real estate, gentrification, regionalism, parks and our well-planned communities. If you have any personal connections you can set us up with, please message me and I'll exchange my contact info. One of our special interests include Cleveland's latest mechanisms to turn our economy around, particularly creating a new medical- and biotechnology-based economy. Any suggestions/advice for events/must-sees/must-dos would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

-Ken

^The first suggestion would be for a general bus tour of the areas you would like to see.  Lolly the Trolley (http://www.lollytrolley.com/about.htm) is ideal for the number of people you are talking about and you should be able to customize your tour.  A few areas you would probably want to see include downtown, Tremont, Ohio City, Battery Park, University Circle, and Shaker Square.

 

As I'm sure you're well aware, the Cleveland Clinic and University Circle are easily accessible from downtown via the HealthLine.

I would add AsiaTown and Detroit Shoreway to that list of neighborhoods to tour.  As for speakers, connecting with Ned Hill, Dean of the Levin College of Urban Affairs would be a great start for an overview of redevelopment and economic revitalization activities in the area.

I'd call up Great Lakes Brewery, explain who you are, and see if you can use or rent their second floor for an evening; it's a great venue and important location for Cleveland, not to mention the best beer in the country.

 

They might even be able to help find a speaker to talk about the region, perhaps the history of Ohio City.

 

Another thought would be to have the kids watch that recent Danny Greene film, then visit the Collinwood and downtown (hell, even Lyndhurst where he died) neighborhoods the movie profiled.

Hello UOers,

I've got 40+ suggestions for things to do for my group, but I'd like to reach out to you (the experts) for suggestions of the must-sees and must-dos

 

Love it!  yes we are the experts :)

 

University Circle, Ohio City, and Shaker Square will be the easiest to access via public transportation.

 

Historic Preservation:

Playhouse Square -- it was going to hit the wrecking ball in the 1970's, and is now transformed/renovated into one of the nicest theater districts in the country, especially for midsized cities:

 

 

Cozad-Bates House (University Circle) -- built in 1853, currently being renovated http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cozad-Bates_House

Tudor Arms Hotel (University Circle) -- renovated and opened in 2011 http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2011/09/tudor_arms_hotel_gleams_after.html

Soldiers and Sailors civil war monument (Downtown) -- renovated in 2010 http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/06/soldiers_and_sailors_monument.html

Tyler Village (Asiatown/Midtown) -- perfect example of urban reuse and renovation -- huge restored complex http://www.tylervillage.com/

Gospel Press apartments (Tremont) -- http://clevelandsketchcrawl.blogspot.com/2010/03/sketch-crawling-through-old-gospel.html

 

Well-planned communities:

Shaker Square for sure http://www.visitshakersquare.com/

Uptown (University Circle) -- currently under construction http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/07/developer_mrn_ltd_to_break_gro.html

 

Brownfield reuses:

Steelyard Commons shopping -- http://www.steelyardcommons.com/press_releases.asp

 

informational: http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/CityAgencies/EconomicDevelopment/Brownfield

 

Gentrification:

E.120-Euclid Ave intersection (University Circle) -- you literally have $400K townhomes next to $60K houses. 

Detroit-Shoreway/Gordon Square -- W.65 storefront renovations http://www.gordonsquare.org/ Battery Park residential http://www.batteryparkcleveland.com/

 

I would check out University Circle because there is a ton of redevelopment going on there. 

 

You can get to Shaker Heights on the RTA train which is a cool example of early 20th century transit oriented development that is still intact. 

 

Tremont is the place to go for gentrification.  Talk to the Tremont West Community Development Corporation.  They would probably be glad to give you a walking tour of the neighborhood. 

 

You might want to talk to the Cuyahoga County Land bank about vacant properties left over from the foreclosure crisis. 

 

Edgewater Park is the coolest park in the city (includes a Lake Erie Beach) and the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood is accessible by walking from here.  This combo would make for a nice afternoon.

Great suggestions already by others, but a few I'll add

 

historic preservation: Hyatt Regency Arcade

 

brownfield redevelopment: Battery Park

 

Real estate/planning/housing: CMHA's Garden Valley/Kinsman development

Additional thought -- if you'd be able to tour the Playhouse Square facility, it might be a cool idea to bring them to an actual Broadway Show there.  "The Addams Family" will be showing while you're there: http://www.playhousesquare.org/broadway/addams-family.html

 

You can generally get tickets for as low as $10 a person in the upper balcony.

Wow! I'm very impressed that there were about ten ideas here I hadn't thought of.

We'll be staying at the Hyatt.

Would you suggest E. 4th more so as an experience-for-yourself event than a (meet with Maron, Deboe, a Positively Cleveland person and/or a chef) given our time restraints and all the other really cool events we're looking to do?

Also, do you know of anything that'd be easy to arrange for Thursday and Friday after 5 pm, or on Saturday? What would be some good events to fit in those times?

I have a couple students interested in large-event organization and large-event transportation planning. In Cleveland, we have so much parking that a Cavs/Browns/Indians game doesn't require outside coordination, right?

I'm having discussions with Crop Bistro about hosting an event/meal in their vault - Great Lakes 2nd floor should be great too.

 

Thanks again for all the advice! Would you like me to keep you posted with our itinerary, pictures, etc?

 

 

if Maron or someone from Downtown Cleveland Alliance is going to make himself available to tell the story of East 4th, by all means take that opportunity.  It's a very cool story as they worked for years to assemble and transform those parcels from what they are to what it is now

Don't forget the West Side Market. The market played a key role in the continued resurgence of Ohio City, which one of the hottest neighborhoods right now. Someone had mentioned the Great Lakes Brewing Co. above---the market would tie in nicely with that. Also, CLE will host the International Public Markets convention in 2012, for which the city and the market were sponsors. Cleveland beat out London and some other cities that were in the running to host the meeting.

Do what I did when friends came to town for the first time - start with the Terminal Tower observation deck.  Tell them who you are, and I'm sure they will open it for you special. 

 

You'll be able to see exactly how the area is laid out.

GOBIGRED-

 

Food is such an important part of our culture here in Cleveland.  I would recommend dedicating your time to a meal at one of our restaurants that use locally raised meats and locally grown produce.  There are also more funky places to eat with fun menus such as the Happy Dog or Melt.  It depends on the people in your group.  If want something you cant get everywhere, PM and I will be glad to set you up based your needs.

 

Westside Market is a must see, then grab a craft brew somewhere nearby.

You mentioned Friday evening - the Cleveland Museum of Art is open till 9:00 pm on Friday, and it's free, and in University Circle so you'll have public transit to/from downtown.

 

Lots of great suggestions floating around and sounds like you have some great ideas of your own. As far as evening stuff goes, don't think you'll have any problem there. As I'm sure happens at Cornell, too, Clevelanders will be out in full force in most of the neighborhoods people have mentioned after a prolonged winter hibernation :) I wouldn't sweat specific programming until a few weeks out and then looking at event calendars. Since you're this far out, you might also check with Terry Schwarz (www.cudc.kent.edu) about whether there will be any Pop Up City events happening at that time (http://www.popupcleveland.com) ... Or even about the potential to coordinate one if there's not ... Definitely think that would be of interest to planning students. Otherwise, pretty much any bar-type establishment downtown or Ohio City should be hopping.

 

I think your focus on medicine and bioscience is a good one, but to get a true sense of the "Cleveland model", there's also large-scale focuses on local food, alternative energy and definitely the arts, as well as some really fascinating developments around alternative business models (microenterprise, worker-owned cooperatives, etc.).

 

Regarding programming, I would definitely consider setting up meetings with:

 

- Lillian Kuri at the Cleveland Foundation (also a city planning commission member) (http://www.clevelandfoundation.org/About/Staff/ProgramStaff.html); Ted Howard or Atlee McFellin of the Democracy Collaborative (www.community-wealth.org); Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (http://www.cudc.kent.edu/); Downtown Cleveland Alliance (www.downtownclevelandalliance.org); Global Cleveland (www.globalclevelandinitiative.com); Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (www.cacgrants.org); and Historic Gateway/Historic Warehouse (www.historicgateway.org) downtown.

 

- Neighborhood Progress (www.neighborhoodprogress.org); Ann Zoller and Greg Peckham at LAND studio (http://www.land-studio.org/); Eric Wobser at Ohio City Incorporated; and Paul Neundorfer of Refugee Response (www.refugeeresponse.org) in Ohio City (www.ohiocity.org); Both the West Side Market and the Ohio City Farm (brilliant, large-scale, cross-purpose urban farm ... http://www.ohiocityfarm.com/) are must sees, but there's a great deal of urban planning working happening in this neighborhood.

 

- Councilman Matt Zone (http://www.clevelandcitycouncil.org/ward-15.aspx); Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (www.dscdo.org); and Cleveland Public Theatre (www.cptonline.org) in Detroit Shoreway.

 

- Chris Ronayne at University Circle, Inc. (www.universitycircle.org); Chris Coburn at Cleveland Clinic Innovations (http://www.clevelandclinic.org/innovations); and Baiju Shah at BioEnterprise (www.bioenterprise.com) in University Circle.

 

All of these neighborhoods are train-accessible. The good news about Cleveland is that virtually anywhere in the city of Cleveland is accessible by public transit. The bad news is that the vast majority of our public transit is bus-based, and it may prove difficult to coordinate getting 30 students onto a single bus. If you are open to attempting that, some other neighborhoods I would consider would be North Collinwood, Asiatown and Tremont.

 

If you'd be interested, we'd be happy to show you the relatively large-scale work we're doing to repurpose vacant and foreclosed space for artists in North Collinwood, but that would require a ride on the 39 Flier bus :) I'm car-free, and there are a number of forumers that are rail advocates and transit agency employees, so once you get into the logistical stage, I'm sure you can get plenty of assistance with that. Best of luck with your planning!

EXCELLENT advice guys, thanks a TON! I'm really glad I turned to you for advice.

The CRP professor we recruited for the trip worked in real estate for 3 decades, and has suggested we must check out Shaker Heights as a model suburb, meet with Forest City because a Ratner went through Cornell's Real Estate program and we have ties, and check out Crocker Park because he loved it and knows a Weiss.

 

So, among other things, our main focus locations seem to be (west to east):

 

Crocker Park

Ohio City

Downtown

Forgotten East Side neighborhoods

University Circle

Shaker Heights

 

I think it'd be neat if we met with someone at Crocker Park, too, who had an intense dislike for what it stands for. Any suggestions?

 

We have the trip budget planned out, hotel booked, and will begin planning next week - any other advice would be appreciated. Are there any specific Rock Hall induction events on Thurs/Fri that week?

 

In particular, I also want to plan our trip around food.

What are the most important Cleveland restaurants/food places to check out?

I'm thinking WSM for one meal, Sokolowski's for another, and letting students loose in Little Italy/UC for another. We have three other meals to book (perhaps one at Crocker Park - Bspot?) and need suggestions for quick breakfasts. We're staying at the Hyatt. Be reminded that we're a student group and would prefer to spend around $10-$20 per meal.

 

Thanks again! UOers rock!

Don't skip over Detroit Shoreway/Gordon Square. 

Your class can weigh in on the conversion of the West Shoreway to West Lakeshore Blvd controversy.

 

 

I wouldnt spend too much time on crocker park if I were you.

 

I like a maybe

Edgewater and the Gold Coast

Gordon Square/Detroit Shoreway

Ohio City and the WSM. If driving go down Franklyn

Downtown(Walking tour with Mayday would be great!)

University Circle

Little Italy

Coventry Neighborhood in Cleveland Heights

Shaker Heights

Train ride to Shaker Square

 

Also a few other east side neighborhoods could be great depending on the time and what's there current situation is

Check out the urban farms and vinyards.

League Park would be interesting to check out as part of your "forgotten Eastside neighborhoods" excursion.

If you'd like a rail transit tour, including of the various projects (planned and underway) let me know.

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

In particular, I also want to plan our trip around food.

What are the most important Cleveland restaurants/food places to check out?

I'm thinking WSM for one meal, Sokolowski's for another, and letting students loose in Little Italy/UC for another.

 

I think these food choices are perfect.  Of course you could let them see this video of Sokolowski's beforehand! :D

 

Bourdain no rez Cleveland Sokolowski's

I think it'd be neat if we met with someone at Crocker Park, too, who had an intense dislike for what it stands for. Any suggestions?

 

It shouldn't be hard to find someone like that around here! :)

Which E. 4th establishment is the best mix between affordable and must-see for dining?

We're also thinking of renting Crop Bistro's bank vault for either a meal or a reception with speakers.

I would probably vote for Greenhouse Tavern due to the fact that they stress locally grown foods, isn't too expensive, you can have a drink on the roof afterwards...

 

Not sure how easy it would be or if he'd be willing without you eating at Lola but in my limited knowledge Michael Symon really helped the local culinary scene take off and maybe he would talk with you.

Letting the students loose in LIttle Italy is a good idea, but careful wher eyou drop them off in University Circle.  Other than Cases campus, there arent too many spots (excluding Little Italy).  Tremont may be a good place to let them loose as well.  You said you want to do a meal at the Westside Market...i would have your team grab certain items at the Westside Market such as Ohio City Pasta, Pierogi's, Campbell's Popcorn, Juice Garden...but i wouldnt plan a meal there.

 

For Breakfast, im a big fan of Grumpy's or Lucky's in Tremont.  If its nice out at Lucky's, you can all sit outside next to the garden where Heather grows some of her stuff.

If you go to East 4th, you have to walk through the Arcade nearby, even if for only 15 or 20 minutes. It's frankly the most beautiful building in the state, with Severance Hall a close second. The architecture is second to none, and with the fairly recent restorations, it is a treasure.

Letting the students loose in LIttle Italy is a good idea, but careful wher eyou drop them off in University Circle.  Other than Cases campus, there arent too many spots (excluding Little Italy).  Tremont may be a good place to let them loose as well.  You said you want to do a meal at the Westside Market...i would have your team grab certain items at the Westside Market such as Ohio City Pasta, Pierogi's, Campbell's Popcorn, Juice Garden...but i wouldnt plan a meal there.

 

For Breakfast, im a big fan of Grumpy's or Lucky's in Tremont.  If its nice out at Lucky's, you can all sit outside next to the garden where Heather grows some of her stuff.

 

However, letting them loose on W. 25th/Market Avenue would be a good idea for lunch.  There are lots of inexpensive-type places, and a variety of cuisines (Cambodian, Turkish, generic Middle Eastern, "Mexican" (OC Burrito,) southern, that new sandwich place by Old Angle...)

 

Lucky's for breakfast might be out of the price range of the students.  It's good, but I don't know that they'll want or be able to drop $15 on a plate of corned beef hash.

Also on W. 25th, Orale has a very good and reasonable sit-down lunch menu.

I would probably vote for Greenhouse Tavern due to the fact that they stress locally grown foods, isn't too expensive, you can have a drink on the roof afterwards...

 

Not sure how easy it would be or if he'd be willing without you eating at Lola but in my limited knowledge Michael Symon really helped the local culinary scene take off and maybe he would talk with you.

 

I second Greenhouse Tavern -- also because it's Ohio's first “green” restaurant and big on farm-to-table and sustainability.

 

LINK: http://thegreenhousetavern.com/us/

 

SUSTAINABILITY: http://thegreenhousetavern.com/press/GHT-SUSTAIN.pdf

gobigred,

 

I'd be willing to do a private tour for you of University Circle/Little Italy -- just PM me.  I know the area, architecture, history, institutions, and new development like the back of my hand.  I also have strong connections to most entities, especially the Cleveland Museum of Art and Case Western Reserve University, plus know every restaurant owner in Little Italy...

 

As long as work doesn't conflict, it should be quite easy and interesting for me. 

Please don't take those people to cracker park!

Please don't take those people to cracker park!

 

Agreed. Time could be spent way better!

  • 3 months later...

Hello UOers!

 

I'd like to provide updates on our itinerary for the trip.

 

We're staying at the Hyatt Downtown and will be visiting April 19-21.

 

Thursday:

 

12:00 PM Arrive at hotel from Cornell

12:30 - 2:00 Playhouse Square with Playhouse Square Development Corp (Jackie York and Thomas Einhouse)

2:15-3:45 Greenhouse Tavern gala event with various speakers

6:00 - 7 :00 Terry Schwarz, Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative

7:00 - 8:30 Downtown tour (optional)

9:00 - 10:30 Detroit Shoreway/Gordon Square Arts District (optional)

 

Friday

8:30 - 9:30 Detroit Superior Bridge Subway Level tour w/County Engineer

10:30 - 11:00 Meet w/Gary Norton, Mayor of East Cleveland

11:30 - 1:00 Meet w/Chris Ronayne, CEO of University Circle, Inc.

2:00-3:00 NEO CANDO at Case Western's Urban Poverty Institute

3:30-5:30 Shaker Heights

6:00 - 7:00 Dinner at Sokolowski's University Inn w/Cornell Alumni

Group splits for evening, some are attending Cavs vs. Knicks game

 

Saturday

 

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Meet with Rotary Club of Cleveland along rapid station @ W. 25th to discuss plans for converting utility vehicle corridor into a bike path. We're getting a hayride!

12:00 - 2:30 Ohio City/Market District exploration/tour/speakers

3:30 - 6:00 Crocker Park. Meet with developer, eat dinner, return to Cornell

 

Thank you for all of your advice and help, guys (and gals)!

 

^Wow, looks like a great itinerary!

Hello UOers!

 

I'd like to provide updates on our itinerary for the trip.

 

We're staying at the Hyatt Downtown and will be visiting April 19-21.

 

Thursday:

 

12:00 PM Arrive at hotel from Cornell

12:30 - 2:00 Playhouse Square with Playhouse Square Development Corp (Jackie York and Thomas Einhouse)

2:15-3:45 Greenhouse Tavern gala event with various speakers

6:00 - 7 :00 Terry Schwarz, Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative

7:00 - 8:30 Downtown tour (optional)

9:00 - 10:30 Detroit Shoreway/Gordon Square Arts District (optional)

 

Friday

8:30 - 9:30 Detroit Superior Bridge Subway Level tour w/County Engineer

10:30 - 11:00 Meet w/Gary Norton, Mayor of East Cleveland

11:30 - 1:00 Meet w/Chris Ronayne, CEO of University Circle, Inc.

2:00-3:00 NEO CANDO at Case Western's Urban Poverty Institute

3:30-5:30 Shaker Heights

6:00 - 7:00 Dinner at Sokolowski's University Inn w/Cornell Alumni

Group splits for evening, some are attending Cavs vs. Knicks game

 

Saturday

 

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Meet with Rotary Club of Cleveland along rapid station @ W. 25th to discuss plans for converting utility vehicle corridor into a bike path. We're getting a hayride!

12:00 - 2:30 Ohio City/Market District exploration/tour/speakers

3:30 - 6:00 Crocker Park. Meet with developer, eat dinner, return to Cornell

 

Thank you for all of your advice and help, guys (and gals)!

 

 

Nice, make sure to stop by Shaker Square en route to Shaker Hts.!!  Yes, another shameless, plug for my neighborhood! :P

Good lord that's a packed schedule!

Hello UOers!

 

I'd like to provide updates on our itinerary for the trip.

 

We're staying at the Hyatt Downtown and will be visiting April 19-21.

 

Thursday:

 

12:00 PM Arrive at hotel from Cornell

12:30 - 2:00 Playhouse Square with Playhouse Square Development Corp (Jackie York and Thomas Einhouse)

2:15-3:45 Greenhouse Tavern gala event with various speakers

6:00 - 7 :00 Terry Schwarz, Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative

7:00 - 8:30 Downtown tour (optional)

9:00 - 10:30 Detroit Shoreway/Gordon Square Arts District (optional)

 

Friday

8:30 - 9:30 Detroit Superior Bridge Subway Level tour w/County Engineer

10:30 - 11:00 Meet w/Gary Norton, Mayor of East Cleveland

11:30 - 1:00 Meet w/Chris Ronayne, CEO of University Circle, Inc.

2:00-3:00 NEO CANDO at Case Western's Urban Poverty Institute

3:30-5:30 Shaker Heights

6:00 - 7:00 Dinner at Sokolowski's University Inn w/Cornell Alumni

Group splits for evening, some are attending Cavs vs. Knicks game

 

Saturday

 

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Meet with Rotary Club of Cleveland along rapid station @ W. 25th to discuss plans for converting utility vehicle corridor into a bike path. We're getting a hayride!

12:00 - 2:30 Ohio City/Market District exploration/tour/speakers

3:30 - 6:00 Crocker Park. Meet with developer, eat dinner, return to Cornell

 

Thank you for all of your advice and help, guys (and gals)!

 

 

Nice, make sure to stop by Shaker Square en route to Shaker Hts.!!  Yes, another shameless, plug for my neighborhood! :P

 

We're taking the Healthline and light rail all of Friday - so of course!

What an itinerary... Chris Ronayne is my personal favorite on the list.

^ Great job throwing that together.  Your crew will love Saturday afternoon in Ohio City. 

For the Detroit Shoreway tour, I would take them to Happy Dog.  Let them catch a movie at the capital theatre and get a cab back to the hotel if they want to stay out later than 10:30.

Try to get back into the area of Stone Mad, and you can see a little known West side little Italy

  • 1 month later...

Did we ever hear how the trip went and what everyone thought of Cleveland?

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