you stole my thunder...

 

 

EDIT:  This was the original woolworth sign that was there.  It was taken down and refurbished and prepped for the new channel letters and neon.

 

Not bad, not bad at all!

I really like it.

That's great!  This is the one that's supposed to have some sort of market inside, correct?

^Correct.  The "market" if you want to call it that will be to the right of the double doors.  Hidden by the truck in the picture.  There is a vertically opening storage delivery area there.  The thought was to have carts in it that could be wheeled out to sell fresh fruit and produce... and also being italian... and gelato cart in the summer.

Wow, La Strada was first announced in 2006.  Fingers crossed it will be worth the wait!

 

Thanks for the photo, McC.

Oh dear god, not gelato!!! It's swimsuit season!!!  :x

I just read that original '06 announcement....  I am totally hitting that place up!

^ Can you post the link? Thanks.

Sorry bout that.  It's here:

 

http://www.east4thstreet.com/media/assets/MRN_New_Restaurants_2006.pdf

Oh dear god, not gelato!!! It's swimsuit season!!!   :x

 

Sweetie, your petite, you don't have to worry!

bueno excellente!

Anyone know when it's actually supposed to open?

Squee!!! What's the opening date? 

There are only a few more to go...

There are as far as I know only two spaces available.  The bottom of the sincere building and the space in the bottom of the McCrory building between picwick and saigon.... and I know they aren't even showing the latter space yet, since they use it for a staging area for pretty much everything they do.

can't wait for the gelato!!!  Mayday, you're not the only one who may be concerned w/ eating too much gelato!

can't wait for the gelato!!!  Mayday, you're not the only one who may be concerned w/ eating too much gelato!

Sweetie, your petite, you don't have to worry!

 

wow nice graphic of e4th -- the new la strada signage looks very uptown & sleek, too.

What, if anything, is taking up the upper floors or la strada?

does anyone know what is going in across from flannery's?  (corner of prospect/east 4th?)

It looks like they are storing a lot of the appliances that are being installed in the apartments above corner alley.

Didn't see this posted earlier in the thread, although I'm sure at least some of you know about this:

 

East 4th Street Thursday Patio Parties

WHAT: Thursday Patio Parties - Live music, food and drink specials

WHERE: East 4th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44115

WHEN: Thursdays starting at 5 p.m.

 

http://avenuedistrict.blogspot.com/2008/06/east-4th-street-thursday-patio-parties.html

 

What, if anything, is taking up the upper floors or la strada?

 

That building is a part of a larger parking complex behind East 4th and the House of Blues.

^Thanks X.  I had always wondered myself -- now I know!

Walked down E. 4th last night on my way home from work around 6:30.  The planters were out, new signage was up (kudos to La Strada), there was a jazz band playing outside of Pickwick and there were people walking and dining all up and down the street.  I'll admit that I was a bit skeptical of all the planters, based on the photos posted here earlier, so I withheld judgment until I could see them in person.  The impact is much nicer when you're actually on the street. 

 

I still have mixed feelings about the whole thing, though... is it too "Disneyland for adults?"  I definitely get an eerie feeling about it when I walk through, but it's still very exciting to see all the activity and I love the draw that it has been for new housing, tourists, and Clevelanders, so close to Public Square and Gateway. I just may not patronize it too often myself, but to each his own, right?

MapBoy, you are right, "to each his/her own" however, from a business perspective, this type of "perceived" safe enviornment (AKA Disneyfication), invites other business and makes patrons return and helps build a residential base.

 

The spinoff affect is valuable.  The word of mouth marketing, can't be estimated in $$$ dollars.

^I agree.

What, if anything, is taking up the upper floors or la strada?

 

That building is a part of a larger parking complex behind East 4th and the House of Blues.

 

I never would have guessed that.....thanks!

The signage for La Strada actually reuses the old red signage thing from what was there before.  If anybody has pictures to back this claim up, give my comment some legitimacy.

are you asking if it's the old sign, refurbished?

I still have mixed feelings about the whole thing, though... is it too "Disneyland for adults?" I definitely get an eerie feeling about it when I walk through, but it's still very exciting to see all the activity and I love the draw that it has been for new housing, tourists, and Clevelanders, so close to Public Square and Gateway. I just may not patronize it too often myself, but to each his own, right?

 

Disneyland for adults?  Why?  Do you think it is pretending to be something it is not?  I think it is being honest about what it is- A downtown destination entertainment district.  I think we're overintellectualizing, here.

The signage for La Strada actually reuses the old red signage thing from what was there before. If anybody has pictures to back this claim up, give my comment some legitimacy.

 

It is for fact the old woolworth sign refurbished.

The planters for the next phase of the plantscaping are being put in place now... they will go along the sidewalk on areas next to and between the light posts... (they will not be on areas where the railing vegitation goes)

 

 

Here is the best I could do w28th:

 

The TH CO. is visable from the old FW WOOLWORTH CO.

 

Disneyland for adults?  Why?  Do you think it is pretending to be something it is not?  I think it is being honest about what it is- A downtown destination entertainment district.  I think we're overintellectualizing, here.

 

I'm not trying to answer for Map Boy, but his "Disneyland" comment resonated with me if, for nothing else, purely aesthetic/atmospheric reasons.  Maybe it's the fact that E4th is not really a "district" in a lot of senses: it is now a single development, owned and controlled by a single developer that has control over the tenant choice, signage, branding, landscaping, etc.  Plus the uber self-conscious paving and gateway stuff.  These things are not good or bad, but they have produced a different kind of product from other restaurant rows around town and in other cities.

It's different because Maron has taken advantage of opportunities that exist because of the decade plus they have spent putting together East Fourth.

^For sure, they really busted their butts putting this together and they certainly earned all the control they have.

The East 4th valet sign was put up today... this is an animated sign and should look pretty cool at night.  The flower planters in the wall sconces are also going up, which should complete the street scape project.

 

Also... should Cleveland: E. 4th Development News be in the NE Ohio Projects and Construction thread?  I mean this stuff really doesn't have much to do with restaurants but because of it's placement sometimes it strolls into the E4th restaurant review territory.  Just a thought.

 

EDIT: By the way i love the guy with no shirt on strolling around the corner to Lola..

"No shirt, No shoes, Nooooo  ddddiiicccee."

It has been a while since I have been on e4, but I thought it was closed to auto traffic. Is it only during certain times?

It has been a while since I have been on e4, but I thought it was closed to auto traffic. Is it only during certain times?

 

That bottom picture is access to the valet, you can spy the Orange road closed sign to the right.

Overhead shots of the newly installed flora:

 

 

Anecdote time:

 

Through an odd series of conincidenses, I met the head chef of Blackfinn a few weeks ago.  That place was already supposed to be open, but construction still hasn't started, yet, because residents above the space complained about noise.  Due to soundproofer issues, he doesn't expect the place to be open until the first of the year.

 

It sounds like a cool place, though.

^I think I know what you are getting at, but how does a resident complain about noise from a Bar/restaurant that doesn't exist?

I'm guessing, but perhaps construction noise made them realize they had an issue with sound insulation between floors 1 and 2.

X wins the no-prize.  I guess some minor construction had started, or something, and the noise issues came to the forefront.  Incidentally, my roommate's mom's boyfriend (got all that? :)) lives in those apartments and mentioned noise, once upon a time.  This was before I met the chef, though, so he inadvertantly pre-confirmed what the chef told me.

 

Whatever.  Just get it done. 

 

That's gonna be my catchphrase if I ever get into politics or urban planning. :)

It's a good catchphrase.

What of Symon's Hush? Any news?

I think that fell through - more to the point, it sounded like Symon pulled back on that - not like he's busy doing other things ;-) However, the space that Hush was supposed to go in will be Johnathon Sawyer's new place so it's all good.

Who is sawyer?