Hummm....I find it odd that Sparx would leave out the avenue district/Galleria area.

 

Well, there isn't much of a "there" there yet, ya know?

 

The reserve sq...chesterfield folk and galleria wkyc SBC employees could see change in the area.  Give them a glimpse of what "there" will be like.

 

lol. That is such a ridiculous drink. My friends and I would have "Sparx Parties" at a liquor store in uptown Oxford called the U Shop. They let purchase drinks and consume it there if you want. It is really just a small store, but in the past year it has these really bohemian employees that let you do whatever you want in there like smoke cigars, play cards, bring pets inside. As a result this shop has become a popular pregame or afterparty hang out, and it is much cheaper than buying drinks at a real bar.

 

We had started with Sparx, but moved on to a cheap bottle of champagne

 

That's me in the middle by the way.

 

Anyway it is cool place and a fun thing to do. Not sure why I felt the need to share, but maybe they should open a place like this on E.4th

 

 

i'm no doctor, but I assume that's in violation of their liquor license......(assuming they only have one for sale, not for consumption).......but whatever, its a party, pass the sparks

Any Lola updates?

^My girlfriend took me out to Parea, his new NYC joint, last weekend and Chef Simon said July or August...but that he has now stopped getting annoyed whenever the schedule slips because it's so rediculously behind.  I told him I was from Cleveland and he said I was like the 30th Clevelander to come through that night.  I wonder if I can convince him to show Tribe games...

I guess i'll have to stop in and check the place out and keep the Cleveland flavor up in the mix.

 

However, why did he get such bad reveiws here in NYC?

 

for those who have eaten there, what was your opinion(s)?

^I read one bad review but it was in the Epoch Times which I think is the Falun Gong newspaper so I didn't sweat it too much.  Haven't seen reviews in TONY or NYT though.  I thought the food was pretty good- not the best I've every had, but certainly solid.  My non-Clevelander (i.e., unbiased) girlfriend liked it too.  I'll go back.

Walked by Lola on my way home today and peeked in.  It doesn't look much different than it did a month or so ago.

^ but there are two big lola signs in the windows.  big progress...

^I heard East 4th will be announcing four new tenants soon. . .

^this is good news.

 

a flannery's update:  the new owners (same investor group doing the bowling alley) have done quite a bit of updating/renovations.  Coming by the end of June: folding/sliding window-doors from the bar area to a new patio area.  They also have wi-fi now.  there is also going to be a vertical sign mounted on the corner of e4 and prospect.

^Flannery's:  I see that they're working on putting a new facade/trim on the outside.  It looks gold, but I'm not sure if that's the final color or if that's the color of the material.  I had a mixed reaction when I saw it, as they're covering up more of the existing red brick, which I always thought looked pretty cool.  But the new patio and sliding doors should be awesome.

 

^^Great news!

I JUST stopped over at the E.4th leasing office. They wouldn't tell me who or when exactly the new retail tennants would be announced, but they said they expect to have the street nearly fully leased and occupied by next summer.

Great news! I can't wait for the summer of 2008! ;)

Great news! I can't wait for the summer of 2008! ;)

 

I thought "next summer" means 2007?

^I was poking some fun at the pace of Lola and some other E.4th developments.

Any speculation on who the new tenants might be?

I'd love it if they just put in a simple bodega. It seems that's what people in that neighborhood need -- a convenient place to buy random food and drink items. A clothing store would be nice, too.

I hope it's not just four new bars. But I have faith in MRN that it won't be. They move slowly, but the wait is usually worthwhile.

Was the building just west of Flannery's knocked down for this patio that everyone's talking about?  I'm sure that would be very nice and will add to the street life and vibrancy, but I was hoping for something more...anyone have any input?

 

Four new tenants?  It's about time!  I hope we see something before the end of this summer (in addition to Lola) because I'm tired of waiting for my shopping options to increase!

 

I wonder who they're marketing to, though.  High end?  National chain?  Bars/restaurants?  I've heard at least one local retailer say that he wanted to open a shop on E. 4th but that the rates they were asking for were way high.  Perhaps appropriate for the years when this thing is really running, but not for when they're just trying to get it off the ground.  You'd think they'd try to make it easy to get in for locals, but then again, maybe that's not a sustainable way to do business...

Was the building just west of Flannery's knocked down for this patio that everyone's talking about?  I'm sure that would be very nice and will add to the street life and vibrancy, but I was hoping for something more...anyone have any input?

 

No.  Patio is directly outside of bar area on corner of Prospect and E4.  They have the rails up, but no furniture yet.  Supposed to tear out the standing bar area inside and change the windows to window-doors this week.  The demolished area will become some sort of surface parking/staging for HOB n the near term, not sure if it will be paved.  I'll just be happy to have all of the bricks from the building they tore down almost a year ago finally removed.  Who leaves a huge pile of debris in the middle of downtown?  Especially when transients pick them up and break car windows with them.

I agree with blinker12 , east fourth needs some retail geared towards the residents. The only convenient type store in the area is CVS and they close at 8:00.

I don't know about Flannery's, but Pickwick, Lola and HOB have been in negotiations with the city for months to get them to be allowed to close the street to nothing but foot traffic during the warmer months to allow for more patio dining on the street.  The street was designed specifically to allow for this.  You'll notice how in places the sidewalk gradates right into the street and there is no curb.  The original vision was to have no barriers at all between Lola's patio, HOB's patio, Pickwick's patio and so on.  Nick Kostis had visions of a street fair atmosphere all summer, with entertainment.  This was to all be ready to go by May 1.  But the city has been dragging its feet. I believe it's the fire department that doesn't want to okay it. 

 

Whatever happens, no barriers demarcating each restaurant's patio is definitely not going to happen because of alcohol being served.  If they catch someone underage drinking or whatever, they want to be able to know where they obtained it (even though vendors somehow get away with this at a lot of fairs and festivals...).  But they are still negotiating to close the street.  It hasn't really been an issue for HOB, but Pickwick doesn't have much sidewalk room on its side of the street and is therefore pushing hard for this so it can have a real patio area.  Hopefully they will get this going before the warm weather is gone.  It will affect Lola and any other future establishments on E. 4th too.

Damn Fireman!  :-D

Interesting to hear of these plans, OompaLoompa, because that seems like such a brilliant idea that I thought someone dropped the ball on.  I wasn't sure if they had to maintain vehicle access because of the parking garage on E. 4th, fire code, or what, but I know it would make the street much more amenable to patio dining and pedestrians.  I mean, it's great now, but when the place fills up, they would be well-served by the option to close it down. 

 

Now, I know they've done this sort of thing in other cities and gotten around the liquor license/liability issue, but that may be in cases where a single owner owns a building with multiple tenants.  Would that be an option here?  MRN being the parent company and each establishment being a subsidiary?

 

I saw the patio railing today outside Flannery's...not bad...but I think the new facade work (finished yet?) looks tacky...boo!

 

What else?  Oh, yeah, more 24-hour convenience options for Downtown residents are definitely needed.  Or at least ones that keep bar hours...open 'til 2 or whatever. 

I would imagine that if they made East 4th two way from the Windsor building garage to Euclid, then the rest of the street could be closed.  Then only two retail spaces wouldn't have patio space- The corner bar, and the vacant space at the other corner.

 

I just hope that with all the extra people partying outdoors that the could see fit to get us more soundproof windows!

Ouch!  Is that a problem?  BTW, good suggestion with the two-way northern end of the street to accomodate that garage...

I just hope that with all the extra people partying outdoors that the could see fit to get us more soundproof windows!

 

I too have learned some of the limitations of mixed use...

It's not so much a problem with mixed use as it is a problem with 100 year old windows.  Modern double paned windows (historic look, if possible) would eliminate my only real problem with the revelers downstairs.

I hope you're right, but the broker told me the same thing about the double-paned windows in my apartment and I still have to sleep with ear-plugs.  I'm a big fan of mixed use, but this experienced has changed my preference a little.  Too many nights getting shaken awake by booming car stereos, shrieking 20-your-old girls and 4am garbage collection from the restaurant downstairs.  In fairness, my apartment has too many windows (including a big corner window) and partially faces an echo-chamber alley but it's still made me realize how important it is to me for my bedroom (when I get one, the current dump is a studio) to be a cone of silence.

With all the noise that the current tenants bring to the street, I am very curious as to who the new ones will be.  It would difficult to sleep with the Corney Alley, Pickwick and HOB all just beneath your bedroom window.

 

I know of one long lost forumer who is leaving downtown because of the late-night revelers.  (She's going over to the OC)

Yeah, I dated a guy a few years back who lived on W. 6th.  It was BAD.  Screaming, honking, loud thumping music, cop sirens, you name it.  For hours.  Every night between about 11pm and 3:30 am.  I found it extremely obnoxious.  If I lived downtown I definitely wouldn't want to live over a bar district.

 

<< I would imagine that if they made East 4th two way from the Windsor building garage to Euclid, then the rest of the street could be closed.  Then only two retail spaces wouldn't have patio space- The corner bar, and the vacant space at the other corner. >>

 

I think the plan presented was to keep it open to that alley that they are using for valet, and close the rest.  There is concern that if there was a fire, the truck wouldn't be able to get through.  But my understanding was that they took that into consideration by designing the partitions to be easily removable and so on.

 

 

I think the plan presented was to keep it open to that alley that they are using for valet, and close the rest.  There is concern that if there was a fire, the truck wouldn't be able to get through.  But my understanding was that they took that into consideration by designing the partitions to be easily removable and so on.

 

I'd make them all breakaway so that the firetruck could just bash through as diners and revelers scattered.

 

Anyway, they need some way of getting people into the Windsor building garage, unless there is some other place they can bust in an entrance off of the alley.

^I like the "bashing through" idea...though, that could have its drawbacks...but that's why it's called an "entertainment district!"  I know you can buy windows that keep the noise out (I've experienced this on Houston & Christie in NYC) and blockades that automatically retract into the pavement when needed.  These are problems that have easy, though perhaps not cheap, solutions!

V Lounge is closed indefinately, and is only available for private parties.

^where is the V Lounge?

^That very question is probably why they've closed indefinitely. They're located under Vivo on Euclid. Great space, great atmosphere but it's not well-marked. When a place is that hard to find, it's gonna be hard to get people in the door.

You know, they closed that place at the beginning of the spring "for one week."  I went back when then said it would be re-opened and it was still closed.  Did they ever re-open it or has it stayed closed since the end of March?  I'd heard that it was a fantastic place...very romantic and swanky.

I found out about the closing because I saw a blurb in the paper today and called them.

 

Arts and Life section in The Pop Ten - (things to do THIS week).

 

"1. British Invasion at the V Lounge

Mods and rockers agree: Tuesday is the new Saturday at one of the city's coolest club nights. With tunes from The Who to the Arctic Monkeys and $2 beers, it's a don't miss midweek night out.  347 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, below Vivo."

 

Anyway, I had called because I wanted to know what time they openned so I could go tonight. I had been to the V Lounge once before. It has a really cool atmosphere. I really liked the place and their lounge music, but this night in particular sounded like it would appeal more to my friends, so I really wanted to go. The guy on the phone said they closed last week. Last Thursday was the last night they were openned.

 

Pictures of the place are on their website:

http://www.vivo-chicago.com/vivo-cleveland.html#vlounge

 

Information about the club is listed on Vivo's website, and they were just mentioned in the paper, but because of the location I don't think too many people knew about it. It has an extremely discreet entrance off the Euclid Avenue entrance to the Arcade. There is a "V" on a sign at the top of a stairway that marks in entrance. Its a really cool idea and the location is cool, but had the club been located in the Warehouse District, it probably would have gotten much more traffic. I don't know if there is really the market for such clubs in the E.4th District YET. I think entertainment venues, dining, and retail has a lot of potential, but everyone looking for "clubs" will most certainly head to the Warehouse District for quite some time. 

Great space, great atmosphere but it's not well-marked. When a place is that hard to find, it's gonna be hard to get people in the door.

 

Not only that, but they were not consistently open per their schedule.  If you are going to be open Friday and Saturday night only, you HAVE to be open friday and saturday.  I was there a couple of times of a friday night where when we tried to get in we were told, "sorry, private party."  It can't be both ways.  It should only be a rentable space, or it should be open consistently.    I never got this, although I think the space itself is pretty cool.

 

Flannery's Update:

 

Windows have been taken down this morning and there is a crew working on installing new windows/doors to patio. 

Good news and bad news. 

 

Good News.  Flannery's Patio and Windows:

 

 

 

 

Bad News: Where the old building was on Prospect.  It is indeed paved, with no fencing, trees, or other required elements for a surface lot in the CBD:

 

 

 

 

^^^ Can't they fence that in and hide that gigantic lot? It looks unsightly! Fence it in and paint it artsy like to fit in with that little mini-hood.

i think the code requires them to put landscaping here.

 

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/clevelandcodes/cco_part3_352.html

 

the city code, section 352.10 sets forth screening requirements as follows (i don't know how they are classifying this particular lot)

 

- Any open off-street loading space shall have a minimum screen barrier height of 6 feet. 

-

 

 

However, my guess is that this is a "temporary" lot, which would then fall under 325.03:

 

"(5) Temporary Uses. A temporary use shall not be subject to the provisions of this chapter if it has been issued a permit by the Commissioner of Building and Housing limiting its duration to two hundred seventy (270) days or less, or such a permit and no more than one renewal thereof for no more than ninety (90) additional days. Temporary "for hire" parking lots, however, shall be subject to the applicable requirements contained in Chapter 457 of the Codified Ordinances. "

 

In addition, section 457 requires the same.

 

I say we get Flannery's to use the "Lebron countdown to 21" timer for this parking lot. 

I'm sure the new sliding windows at Flannery's will be nice, but I'm really not impressed with the new facade.  Covering up all that brick?  Boo!

^ it's a little surprising, especially since this historic district has been cited for construction delays on other projects.  but, flannery's can just cover things up and rip out windows?  which is it? 

Yeah, good question.

 

Can't tell from the photos yet but I wonder if the owners are trying to remake the Flannery's facade into the prototypical wooden Irish pub facade that is ubiquitous in East Coast cities but seems surprisingly lacking in Cleveland (maybe they have them in Lakewood, not sure).  Covering the brick doesn't bug me; there's plenty of brick left on that street.  That empty lot on the other hand drives me nuts.

Peeked into Lola today. There has been no visible progress in the past two months.

They've been in there working alot.  I just don't know exactly what they have gotten done.

^ it's a little surprising, especially since this historic district has been cited for construction delays on other projects.  but, flannery's can just cover things up and rip out windows?  which is it? 

 

i was wondering is it really a designated historic district? or is it building by building?

They've been in there working alot.  I just don't know exactly what they have gotten done.

 

I peaked in one day last week and noticed that they've laid the tile down on the floor, a semblance of a bar seems to be built, and some painting/finishing seems to have started, including brick on a half wall that leads down to a basement.

So I should be making dinner reservations -- for 2013?

don't start counting those eggs just yet, KJP! :wink: