I rode around downtown last night with a friend and, inspired by MGD's recent photo threads, decided to tote my camera. It was a foggy, mysterious night. Here are the results!

 

Taking Franklin into the Flats; view from the proposed new park on the site of the former CHMA Riverview project

 

Ohio City Bicycle Co-op on Columbus Road in the Flats.

 

Bridges and skyline.

 

Flat iron building covered with vegetation. One of my favorite buildings in the Flats.

 

The cute lil red swing bridge. I think the Hells Angels were coming through.

 

The sun came out periodically creating some interesting, gold-tinged light.

 

Swing bridge again.

 

Powerhouse building with skyline and jacknife bridge.

 

People still hang out at the Powerhouse apparently! I hadn't been in there in about 10 years.

 

The lovely skyline and river.

 

The decrepit portion of the East Bank that Wolstein is trying to develop. A pleasure boater skims by -- it's 1992 all over again!

 

We headed off toward Whisky Island (mission aborted) and I looked back to see the skyline shrouded in a mysterious fog. This photo doesn't convey exactly how beautiful it was.

 

A train rushes by.

 

Crossing the river and into the Warehouse District. A father walking with his dog and three children.

 

W. 6th Street in the Warehouse District.

 

A band performs on W. 6th.

 

Sidewalk diners at Johnny's Downtown.

 

The loverly RTA building.

 

The porn shop! For gays and straights!

 

W. 6th and St. Clair.

 

We biked over to E. 4th Street, where House of Blues and Pickwick & Frolic are located. No obvious progress on the interior of Lola since the last time I checked a month ago.

 

Pickwick and Frolic, with the old Arcade in the background.

 

I peeked into the ground floor of the Sincere Building at E. 4th and Prospect and saw some plaster molding lying on a workbench (it's the bright white stuff you see in the photo). A good sign -- I've heard rumblings of a new tenant for the building though no one knows who it is.

 

View nightclub, above Mr. Albert's Men's World (one of my favorite shop names)

 

On Prospect near E. 9th, Fantasy One announces its July opening in the former Second City building.

 

Interior of Fantasty One -- is July a little optimistic?

 

Prospect near E. 14th, progress is being made on the Prospect Place building; top floor window glass has been removed and wood slats put in their place.

 

Crossing back over the Detroit-Superior Bridge to Ohio City, we couldn't resist the Viaduct and perhaps *the* classic Cleveland shot.

 

One more shot of that red swing bridge with the Detroit-Superior and Stonebridge apartments. Goodnight!

Neat Cleveland thread with a different feel, sort of intimate!

While Chicago and Toronto are better, Cleveland is definitely one of the most enjoyable North American cities to play in during the summer time.

I absolutely love the color and lighting of the rail bridges at night.

i love this thread style, it was certainly atmospheric, told a story and was newshoundish too. muy excellente!

Love the photos!  Especially the last two.

While Chicago and Toronto are better, Cleveland is definitely one of the most enjoyable North American cities to play in during the summer time.

 

Don't forget Detroit!

 

Great shots, blinker12.

ooh, fun!

I was in that exact area Friday night and it was really great to see Cleveland looking lively. Settler's Landing especially had some great views that night.

Sounds like there are some good things going on all around Cleveland....that is fantastic.  Interesting thread, makes Cleveland appear very happening :roll:

Looks about right for a city on Lake Erie.

 

The people who are in charge of downtown Columbus' lighting schemes should be ashamed of themselves.  The way downtown buildings are lit-up at night can have a big impact on the "vibrancy" of downtown (and project a more positive image to the general public).  I think all the new residents who are moving downtown might appreciate a better nighttime skyline view for their money.

Wait...confused now.  What does this thread have to do with downtown Columbus?!?

That golden light near sunset is so gorgeous...very nicely done!

Yeah, the lighting on the bridges in the Flats adds a lot of romance to what's already a pretty characterful neighborhood.

 

Glad you guys like the newsy stuff along with the pretty pictures. I can't resist looking into buildings (or sneaking in where possible) to see what's going on. I also took a few of the interior of the Corner Alley bowling place on E. 4th and Euclid, but those didn't come out. It looks like they're on track for a fall opening, though.

love the energy - W. 6th Street in the warehouse district for example.  goody for Cleveland,  thx.

Those are fantastic!  I can practically feel the pleasant city evening.

characterful

 

Good word, B12! You should get credit when they add that to Webster's.

Wait...confused now.  What does this thread have to do with downtown Columbus?!?

 

Seeing the way downtown Cleveland is so well lit up at night got me thinking about my own city's shortcomings.

characterful

 

Good word, B12! You should get credit when they add that to Webster's.

 

Absolutelyful. ;)

Where is that "flatiron building" covered by ivy? I tried finding it on a map, but alas I cant get a fix on it. It does look like a cool building to live in maybe or something.

 

Fantastic set of pics - I remember saying to my S.O. that I wish I'd had my camera with me (and that we didn't have prior plans!).

 

smackem, I  believe that building is located where Columbus Road meets Center Street (just east of the Center Street swing bridge).

Great "essay" B12!  I was all over that on Friday night as well! My crew took in the US Men's footie at Browns Stadium and walked through the Warehouse District (I'll admit that we stopped for a few drinks) and the place was just alive!  And it wasn't the raucous, drunken asses that I'm used to seeing down there...it was the sidewalk scenes that you depicted so well in your photos. 

 

We walked the Detroit-Superior Bridge home (I've probably walked across that bridge a dozen times so far this spring) and reflected on what a beautiful night it was in Cleveland.  The only think we didn't have was our camera...so thanks for that!

Very nice pictures!

I don't know, KJP, about your definition of "better." I absolutely love Chicago and have heard great things about Toronto and, yes, overall, it would be hard to argue that those 2, and other 'world' cities have some advantages over us, overall.  But when you take blinker's lead and add warm weather + Cleveland + Friday/Saturday night, there are few cities I've been to in this country or around the world that top this one in beauty, diversity of activity and bustle... few cities where I'd rather be than here.  And that's even still with the enormous hit we took with the loss of the old Flats.  I include downtown as well as those classic walking neighborhoods both in the city and the famed inner ring burbs of ours.

Better, of course, is always in the eyes of the beholder. I just think the waterfronts in Chicago and Toronto are more enjoyable (yet both are designed differently). It will be interesting to see which way Cleveland goes with its -- large areas of greenspace or more development built right up to a public boardwalk.

Where is that "flatiron building" covered by ivy? I tried finding it on a map, but alas I cant get a fix on it. It does look like a cool building to live in maybe or something.

 

that building is on Columbus rd. near the bike coop.maybe a little lacking in windows for residential, but great view of city and across the st. from the river.

Wow, spectacular photo thread, B12.  Makes me very homesick.  Man do I stress out about the remaining cool old buildings in the flats getting bulldozed.