Ever hear of Bar Cento? :-)

 

http://chefsawyer.blogspot.com/

^ Sawyer has Bar Cento, he is planning to open the Greenhouse Tavern

 

EDIT: MayDay beat me by 30 seconds

Any sign of work on the Greenhouse space?  Website still says opening Fall 2008, but last I was down there they hadn't started at all.  Seems unlikely they could go from a standing start to complete in 3 mos given the pace of other renovations on E4.

From the Free Times:

 

To many Clevelanders, Aaron Sanchez is one of the guys who lost to Michael Symon in the Next Iron Chef competition. To most New Yorkers, he is the celebrated chef and partner of Paladar and Centrico, two popular restaurants that showcase the chef's trademark take on Latino cooking. Now, the El Paso-born chef, cookbook author and television personality has been brought in by Trifecta Management Group to improve the quality, consistency and accuracy of the food at Zocalo Mexican Grill (2071 E. Fourth St., 216.781.0420). "Mexican food should be simple, but fresh and good," Sanchez told a group of new-menu guinea pigs. "I want to bring honesty and authenticity to the food." The chef's recent stint in Cleveland was designed to teach the local kitchen crew how to apply contemporary technique to authentic regional Mexican recipes. Sanchez vows to return monthly to fine-tune the operation. If you'd like to catch Sanchez in the flesh (and who wouldn't - he was voted one of People en Español's "50 Most Beautiful"), he'll be doing a live cooking demo on East Fourth Street at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 25.

 

http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/60/felice-urban-caf-aaron-sanchez-viva-barcelona

 

Walking down East 4th today I poked my head into La Strada, which is REALLY coming along.  Of course if you *cough*GO TO THE GATEWAY NEIGHBORHOOD WALK AND DINE*cough* you will be able to get a sneak preview of this space and many other cool spaces...

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,16494.0.html

greening of the 'GreenHouse Tavern'

http://crainscleveland.com/article/20080714/FREE/890403405/1107

vacant corner at E4/Prospect...24 hour breakfast/brunch spot?!  That'd be awesome!

The Greenhouse Tavern is going to be an awesome addition to East 4th.  The constraints they placed on themselves for reusing whatever possible should result in an interesting space.

vacant corner at E4/Prospect...24 hour breakfast/brunch spot?! That'd be awesome!

 

Wait, are you wishing or letting us in on something?

Total wish, sorry

the "new" storefront for Zocalo just got approved.  I don't have a timeframe on it yet.  Down comes the cardboard looking storefront currently in place.  It will be a glass storefront system.  The nano wall will still remain but will no longer act as a means of egress onto the patio.  It now will really only be there to open up the establishment to fresh air.  The burrito window goes the way of the dodo and a door is put in it's place that will be the main entrance to the patio (the patio railing will be extended to include the door.  Illuminated channel letters go on the main storefront and a horizontal blade sign will be protruding from the north side of the facade.  It will be illuminated similar to the way the saigon sign is.

 

  Is this design ground breaking, or particuarly exciting?  Probably not.  Is it a marked improvement from the cardboard looking front currently in place... absolutely.

 

  Also WT Grant Lofts is getting a sign (sign might be an understatement it's 7' x 8') in the alley between WT Grant and HOB.  The area is actually currently kind of naturally framed by black granite.  I think it will be cool to have something so large close to street level.  I like it.  There will still be consideration to some type of awning or signange in the front of the building once the storefront immediately to the west of WT Grant is finished off.

I'm sorry to see the Burrito window go.  I think it was ahead of its time, and could work better as the neighborhood fills in.  Then again, East 4th isn't the kind of late night booze and greasy grub spot that say, the old Flats or W. 6th are, so maybe it isn't the right crowd.

i know they said the amount of buisiness they got from the window made it not worth the hastle of having it.

I'm sorry to see the Burrito window go. I think it was ahead of its time, and could work better as the neighborhood fills in. Then again, East 4th isn't the kind of late night booze and greasy grub spot that say, the old Flats or W. 6th are, so maybe it isn't the right crowd.

^Exactly, X. That would be such a huge hit on W. 6th st.

I think I saw debris being removed from the Corts space today.....

I'm sorry to see the Burrito window go. I think it was ahead of its time, and could work better as the neighborhood fills in. Then again, East 4th isn't the kind of late night booze and greasy grub spot that say, the old Flats or W. 6th are, so maybe it isn't the right crowd.

^Exactly, X. That would be such a huge hit on W. 6th st.

 

Well, it didn't work so well when Tequila Ranch had one.  But who knows, maybe now....?

^ That made me so sad when it closed.  I had just started dating my girlfriend at that time and she lived in the Hat Factory right next door.  I was going to come over one night and buy burritos on my way up to her place and it was closed.  If it would have stayed open, I think I could have single handedly kept it open.  8-)  Seriously though, I think they really jumped the gun with closing it, but it may have been about a year ahead of its time.  Okay, back to E4th talk.

I went to the Corner Alley last night with several friends.  It was absolutely packed when we left at around midnight.  I can't wait for all of the restaurants planned for E. 4 to come on line.  Even with what's currently open, it was hopping, and that level of energy late at night on a Sunday was pretty impressive.

I went to the Corner Alley last night with several friends.  It was absolutely packed when we left at around midnight.  I can't wait for all of the restaurants planned for E. 4 to come on line.  Even with what's currently open, it was hopping, and that level of energy late at night on a Sunday was pretty impressive.

 

What was your opinion of street level activity at that hour?  Can you describe it?  I'm interested in hearing your opinion especially since there was nothing at Gateway. 

^ We didn't actually walk down E. 4 (we were parked at Key Tower,) so I can't give too many details about which restaurants people were at, etc.  However, there were definitely people still sitting on patios and standing around talking.  I wondered if some of the crowd was coming from Pickwick or HOB.  It wasn't really noisy, just a bunch of people hanging out and having a good time.  There were people dressed up for a night on the town, and people in shorts and t-shirts.  I liked the mix- it gives a feeling that even though the establishments are nice, everyone is welcome.

 

I think some of the activity was stemming from the Dew Tour- when we first arrived at Corner Alley, most of the lanes had been reserved for people affiliated with it.  (As an aside, none of the lanes were being used, but we still had to wait 45 minutes for another lane to open up.)

^ We didn't actually walk down E. 4 (we were parked at Key Tower,) so I can't give too many details about which restaurants people were at, etc.  However, there were definitely people still sitting on patios and standing around talking.  I wondered if some of the crowd was coming from Pickwick or HOB.  It wasn't really noisy, just a bunch of people hanging out and having a good time.  There were people dressed up for a night on the town, and people in shorts and t-shirts.  I liked the mix- it gives a feeling that even though the establishments are nice, everyone is welcome.

 

I think some of the activity was stemming from the Dew Tour- when we first arrived at Corner Alley, most of the lanes had been reserved for people affiliated with it.  (As an aside, none of the lanes were being used, but we still had to wait 45 minutes for another lane to open up.)

 

Good thats what I wanted to hear.  So many people i've spoken with seem to belive that E. 4th i only popular at lunch time or when an event is taking place at Gateway.  Or like that idiot report (a few months back) who claimed there was nothing going on East Fourth and it was dead.

it can still be hit and miss with the crowds there... but it's also still in it's infancy, with 3 new restaraunts set to open this year, and two as of yet, larege undeveloped spaces.  Most importantly between the places above the corner alley and 668 you're looking at adding over 400 new residential units to the area, which should really help keep things lively.  It's also by design more of a destination dining and entertainment district than a real "nightlife" spot so I think it will always tend to die down a little earlier than somewhere like the warehouse district.

it can still be hit and miss with the crowds there... but it's also still in it's infancy, with 3 new restaraunts set to open this year, and two as of yet, larege undeveloped spaces.  Most importantly between the places above the corner alley and 668 you're looking at adding over 400 new residential units to the area, which should really help keep things lively.  It's also by design more of a destination dining and entertainment district than a real "nightlife" spot so I think it will always tend to die down a little earlier than somewhere like the warehouse district.

I understand that, but I think some people who come here expect it to be like the WHD and these to neighborhoods have very different personalities.  Whenever I've been there it's been buzzing, I don't expect unruly crowds, teenagers or whippersnappers in their early twenties yelling and puking!

 

I think once the residential on the Euclid side comes online along with the recently announce K*D developments, East 4 to East 9 produce one of the most unique urban living experiences in the Midwest.

I've been pleasantly surprised by the crowds on "off" nights in the past few weeks, especially on Sundays and Mondays.  I know the summer weather has a lot to do with it, but it's been more that I had expected lately.

I agree... something has been "in the air" the last few weeks, and a lot more activity seems to be there...

 

MTS I agree, I think right now the only problem with this nabe are peoples expectations.  I think it's unbelievable, but some people think it's something it's just not and hence might be disapointed.

Right McCleveland, it often gets touted in the media as Cleveland's hottest nightlife spot, so when people show up at midnight and the crowd has gotten sparse, they are like "What's going on?  This city shuts down early!"

 

It's really an early/mid evening spot, a la Little Italy.  People come for dinner and a couple of drinks.  Or a special event, most of which end well before midnight.

Right McCleveland, it often gets touted in the media as Cleveland's hottest nightlife spot, so when people show up at midnight and the crowd has gotten sparse, they are like "What's going on? This city shuts down early!"

 

It's really an early/mid evening spot, a la Little Italy. People come for dinner and a couple of drinks. Or a special event, most of which end well before midnight.

 

I think little italy is a great comparison.

As a twenty-something "whippersnaper," as MTS put it, I like E. 4th a lot better than Warehouse.

 

It's just that the odds of meeting the girlies are better in Warehouse.  :(

Ipsilon,

 

Where do you live?

Somedays, I think I live in the land of broken hearts and shattered dreams.

 

:)

 

 

Seriously, I'm in Bridgeview.

 

Edit: NOTE, I said meeting girlies.  Not succeeding with them. :)

BTW, we do get a fair amount of 40 or 50-something old fogies down here yelling and puking, MTS!

BTW, we do get a fair amount of 40 or 50-something old fogies down here yelling and puking, MTS!

Well kick those fossils in the ass and hand them a bag to clean up their mess!

lol!

Hey, watch those fossilist remarks! :-D  Some of my best friends are fossils.

All the foliage on East 4th is really great looking.  I like the infusion of plant life. 

 

 

Hey, watch those fossilist remarks! :-D Some of my best friends are fossils.

 

If you're a dinosaur then you are too, Urb-a-saurus :)

^Hehe.  Got me there! LOL.  When the E4th is done, we should all meet there and celebrate!

Took my "frightened of what downtown Cleveland was 6 years ago" parents to E. 4th (specifically Zocalo) last night.  They couldn't believe how many people were there, especially considering it was a Tuesday night.  We then walked all the way back to our townhouse at 11pm without once being approached by anyone.  I think they finally believe me when I tell them that Cleveland is on the upswing.

Took my "frightened of what downtown Cleveland was 6 years ago" parents to E. 4th (specifically Zocalo) last night.  They couldn't believe how many people were there, especially considering it was a Tuesday night.  We then walked all the way back to our townhouse at 11pm without once being approached by anyone.  I think they finally believe me when I tell them that Cleveland is on the upswing.

 

what happend six years ago?

Our ignorant new to Cleveland selves went to FEB during the day....  You can guess how that ended.  Additionally, my parents got approached by a whole lot of people downtown when they came back for Case Family Weekend a couple months later.  Anywho, my mom has had a bad taste for Cleveland in her mouth ever since.  Back to E. 4th!

P.J.'s Luncheonette might be the crown jewel of the area.  Eat there before you head to the ballgame or out on the town.  Crazy cheap!

^Welcome to the forum BelieveLand!

 

One quick question: You've made two posts so far within two minutes on not closely related threads pumping PJ's Luncheonette. Are you shilling for them? I know there have been people representing other restaurants on this forum, but they've been pretty up front about who they were, so it's probably cool (though I always defer to the thunder bolt wielding Mods  :-D). I think it's good that local businesses can come and speak on the forum. Just I.D. yourself so it doesn't feel like product placement.

 

...or maybe you're just crazy about PJ's Luncheonette and needed to share. In that case, my bad.

To quote myself, here's a reminder:

 

From the Free Times:

 

To many Clevelanders, Aaron Sanchez is one of the guys who lost to Michael Symon in the Next Iron Chef competition. To most New Yorkers, he is the celebrated chef and partner of Paladar and Centrico, two popular restaurants that showcase the chef's trademark take on Latino cooking. Now, the El Paso-born chef, cookbook author and television personality has been brought in by Trifecta Management Group to improve the quality, consistency and accuracy of the food at Zocalo Mexican Grill (2071 E. Fourth St., 216.781.0420). "Mexican food should be simple, but fresh and good," Sanchez told a group of new-menu guinea pigs. "I want to bring honesty and authenticity to the food." The chef's recent stint in Cleveland was designed to teach the local kitchen crew how to apply contemporary technique to authentic regional Mexican recipes. Sanchez vows to return monthly to fine-tune the operation. If you'd like to catch Sanchez in the flesh (and who wouldn't - he was voted one of People en Español's "50 Most Beautiful"), he'll be doing a live cooking demo on East Fourth Street at 5 p.m. Friday, July 25.

 

http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/60/felice-urban-caf-aaron-sanchez-viva-barcelona

 

A lot of construction activity has been taking place in the corner space across from Corner Alley.  It looks like some of the wall panels have been placed on the floor where they will be going...looks nice.

A lot of construction activity has been taking place in the corner space across from Corner Alley.  It looks like some of the wall panels have been placed on the floor where they will be going...looks nice.

 

If you speak of the future home of the blackfinn (SW Corner of 4th and Euclid), that's the staging area for construction of the Apartments above the Corner Alley.

^Welcome to the forum BelieveLand!

 

One quick question: You've made two posts so far within two minutes on not closely related threads pumping PJ's Luncheonette. Are you shilling for them? I know there have been people representing other restaurants on this forum, but they've been pretty up front about who they were, so it's probably cool (though I always defer to the thunder bolt wielding Mods  :-D). I think it's good that local businesses can come and speak on the forum. Just I.D. yourself so it doesn't feel like product placement.

 

...or maybe you're just crazy about PJ's Luncheonette and needed to share. In that case, my bad.

 

I was wondering the same thing. 

Write up for the new play this month:

 

http://raveandpan.blogspot.com/2008/08/god-of-hell-bang-and-clattercleveland.html

 

Sunday, August 3, 2008

The God of Hell, Bang and Clatter/Cleveland

 

 

If you’ve ever wanted to scream, and not stop screaming, at this beautiful country’s drift (some might call it a march) towards fascism, then you need to see The God of Hell now at Bang and Clatter’s Cleveland venue. This is a heartfelt screed, wrapped in a polemic and stuffed into a snarl. And it should be music to the ears of those who feel abused by the Bush administration and their agenda of preemptive war, torture, lying, and other assorted affronts to the constitution.

 

Written by Sam Shepard, this play isn’t exactly polished. But it doesn’t want to be. And the B&C folks give it an essentially flawless performance that ripples with the muscularity of outrage and helplessness that so many have felt in the past seven agonizing years.

 

The entire 80-minute one-act takes place at a small family farm in Wisconsin, where Frank tends to his new heifers and Emma fusses over a profusion of indoor plants in the front room. They seem as normal as two cheese-heads ever could, until we learn that Frank’s “old friend” Haynes is staying in the basement, and won’t even come out when the morning bacon is served.

 

The reason for that is eventually revealed after the doorbell rings and a pushy traveling salesman named Welch arrives, peddling American flag cookies and other patriotic claptrap. But his sales pitch soon evolves into a series of questions, and he seems particularly interested in the basement and who might be down there.

 

From that point on, the startling transformation of all four characters is enacted in scenes that snap and sizzle with the kind of energy you just don’t see very often. Once Welch reveals his true intent as a government operative, and forces the others to “get in step” by leading his guinea pig Haynes around by an electric cable attached to his cock, a cold chill should run down your spine. And if it doesn’t, you’d better check for a pulse and read this.

 

The splendid cast includes Joseph Milan as unsuspecting Frank, spooling off farmer references so easily you’d think he just meandered onto the set from a nearby barn. And Jen Klika is superb as Emma, her dead eyes and deadpan delivery registering nothing—and yet everything—as she putters about.

 

John Busser is a righteous and appropriate mess as Haynes, who shakes every time a place called Rocky Butte is mentioned and who is beset with a cataclysmic case of static electricity every time he touches someone. But the most fascinating performance is handed in by Daniel McElhaney, who smears the smarm when Welch is in salesman mode, chuckling eerily at the tag end of his sentences, and then morphing into a Donald Rumsfeld/Dick Cheney wet dream as a righteous torturer without remorse.

 

Director Christopher Johnston gets the lion’s share of credit for ratcheting up the tension in this piece and blending Shepard’s black humor with his bleakly dystopian view of the current government.

 

The point of all this is given an icy sheen when Welch confronts Emma and asks, “You didn’t think you were going to get a free ride on the back of democracy forever, did you?” And that is the essential value of the new fascism: Democracy as a weapon, meant to be wielded by the super-wealthy and the powerful to keep everyone else under their collective heel.

 

The God of Hell

August 1 – August 23

The Bang and the Clatter Theatre Company

224 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland

330-606-5317

www.bnctheatre.com

 

EDIT: can we still continue to post news/info on E. 4th street neighborhood even though it's not technically construction related???

 

Thanks for that MurrayHill, I havent heard much about them since they went in.  Has anybody been?

Thanks for that MurrayHill, I havent heard much about them since they went in.  Has anybody been?

 

I have only been to their old space.  But I've been planning on going to this show since I have worked with the director and one of the cast members before, just trying to carve out time to go.

^I'm motivated to check this production out as I constantly screaming about our drift into (more like: arrival at) fascism.