Okay folks,

 

I have a friend visiting the first weekend in December from the Chicago area.  I am opening this thread up for suggestions of what we should do while she's here.  We only have 2 days, since she arrives at noon on Friday and has to be back at the airport by about 2:00 Sunday.  She's been here once before with other friends and I know they visited the Rock Hall and the Flats (this was back in they day when the Flats were going strong and they were young enough to enjoy that kind of thing...). 

 

Anyway, we're a little older now and clubbing is probably not of any interest.  I know that either on Friday or Saturday night we will end up at Pickwick since I still have to do the Martini Show at midnight.  Other than that I don't have any definite plans.  Inexpensive activities will be preferred in that we are both a little strapped for cash presently, and I think she prefers more casual places to the high-brow stuff.  She likes to explore, walking is not an issue, and she likes to try new things in terms of food and so on.

 

When I asked what she might like to do, the only thing she said was "nothing comes to mind except I am into Roseville pottery now.  If you know of any antique places or places where we can just bum around that would be great. "

 

Discuss.

dude, there is a whole thread on stuff like this in the Restaurants, Entertainment, Travel & Relocation Assistance thread.

 

Check that out

^Oompa is a lady, not a "dude". I'll move this thread to the appropriate section, though :)

 

Oompa, my suggestions would be the following:

 

Antiques-wise, you could head over to Larchmere near Shaker Square where you might find Roseville Pottery.  You could also try some of the antique shops on Lorain between West 60s and West 70s but be careful as that area is kind of dicey.

 

I've been to Bijou and they have some nice (occasionally pricey) stuff: http://www.discoverlorainave.com/lorain/business_info.jsp?id=134 Suite Lorain is cool vintage stuff: http://www.discoverlorainave.com/lorain/business_info.jsp?id=202. With Bijou, park directly in front if you can, and with Suite Lorain, park in their dedicated lot.

 

 

Friday: During the day, there's an arts/galleries event at the Galleria: http://www.pluggedincleveland.com/events/13023/the-galleria-fine-craft-holiday-gift-s.html

Maybe for lunch you could hit up one of the inexpensive spots in the Arcade (Greek Express, etc.). Friday evening, maybe a quiet dinner out at Minh Anh (Detroit-Shoreway)?

 

Saturday: Breakfast and a stroll through the West Side Market and environs. Cheap breakfast at any of the market vendors that offer prepared foods. Inexpensive tchotchke shopping at City Buddha, Bookstore on 25th, grab coffee at Talkies. Lunch at the Diner on Clifton, check out Clifton Web and Flower Child for shopping. Evening out in Ohio City at Great Lakes Brewing, McNulty's Bier Markt, etc.

 

Sunday: Quick brunch at Melt in Lakewood?

MayDay offers some great suggestions. You might also try:

 

Detroit Shoreway: Cleveland Public Theatre, with dinner at Snickers & perhaps your jaunt over to the Antique District ... they will be showing Making It Right (http://www.cptonline.org/seasoncalendar/event.cfm?eventid=267&eventdateid=1933), from their much-heralded Y-Haven program. The play is created, directed and acted by formerly homeless men, is FREE and is an annual audience favorite (NOTE: Saturday performance is a fundraiser event; if interested in the performance, I'd check it out Friday evening).

 

Tremont: Any number of things ... galleries, eateries, you know the usual suspects. A lot of great shows up right now, a fantastic brunch at Lucky's, etc. You can even take a quick jaunt past the Christmas Story House (http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/), which won't yet be open but is nearing completion for their Thanksgiving premiere.

 

Coventry, Shaker Square, Cedar Fairmount, Little Italy: Again, no particular events in mind, but some great neighborhoods for Cleveland newbies, with plentiful food options. No trip to Cleveland is complete without a stop at Big Fun, watching a big band at Nighttown and having some finger foods at Osiyo, our resident Native American teahouse.

 

The Superior Artist Corridor & Asiatown: Shameless plug for my neighborhood. But with kitsch, galleries and restaurants galore, why not come down to Asiatown?  :-D Topping my list for visitors would be the Tower Press Building (1900 Superior, www.towerpress.com); Cleveland's only art gallery, martial arts studio and winery, The Studio of Five Rings (2400 Superior, http://www.studioof5rings.com/); Zygote Press & Tastebuds (1400 E. 30th, http://zygotepress.com/index.html; www.tastebudsrestaurant.com); Slyman's Deli (3106 St. Clair, http://www.slymans.com/); No. 1 Pho (3120 Superior); Josaphat Arts Hall (1433 E. 33rd (http://www.josaphatartshall.com); Koko Bakery (3710 Payne); and Town Fryer (3859 Superior, www.thetownfryer.com). Phew!

 

Pottery: Depending on her level of pottery enthusiasm, you might check out the Cowan Pottery Museum at the Rocky River Public Library (http://www.cowanpottery.org/) ... It certainly beats a drive out to Zanesville (www.rosevilleplace.com).

Barcelona and Modernity exhibition at CMA. don't forget about that. I've already seen it once, and I plan on seeing it again.

I have to ask - is it really worth the $12 ($15 on weekends) admission?

 

I mean, I absolutely love Miró, Gaudí, etc. but the weekend price is more than double what they used to charge for special exhibits and at least rest of the museum was open. Honestly that seems rather absurd that they double the price without having anything beyond the exhibit itself.

true. i got a little discount being a student, but the exhibit is twice the size as normal special exhibits.

Shaker Square (www.shakersquare.net) & Larchmere (www.larchmere.com) are great stroll around on the weekend, there are plentiful food options.

 

While in this neck of the woods you can take a 10 minute bus ride down to University Circle (www.universitycircle.org) and check out things there and stop over to little italy (www.littleitalyredevelopment.org), then take the Red Line back downtown.

Barcelona and Modernity exhibition at CMA. don't forget about that. I've already seen it once, and I plan on seeing it again.

 

Yeah that'd be cool.. And then you can walk on down to Sergio's for some caipirinha's and much off their special Tapas menu they have right now. And check out the PBL building on the way.

Chicago does not have anything like the West Side Market, stroll through there

 

EDIT: Missed the Mayday plug for the market

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is also having a once in a lifetime exhibit called A T-Rex Named Sue.  There's tons of historic wonderment in that place (probably some pottery) and you could do a lot worse than museum hopping during one of her two days in town.  If you need some booze when you're done, check out the Barking Spider for a warm-up and maybe hit up Sergio's (already mentioned) or That Place for lunch.  You can also take a short hike up Mayfield to really get your eat on in Little Italy.  While you're there, check out some galleries or the shops in the Murray Hill Schoolhouse.  This is all transit accessible, of course.  Which means that you can start your day in Tremont (see below) and hit the West Side Market and Great Lakes and hop on the Red Line to get your culture on!

 

I'm also a big fan of Lucky's brunch in Tremont.  It's the place to be for all the cool kids!  But Tremont is even more fun at night.  You can do late-night eats any day at Lava Lounge or hit Ty Fun for a supper time feast. 

 

I'm not even mentioning Downtown... you can handle that yourself!

Honestly, I've always felt that the museums are a day trip alone. 

 

I forgot to mention check the www.travelcleveland.com.  The stokes exhibit sounds like a good bet.

Wow, thanks for all the ideas everyone.  It will be hard to decide what to do!

I generally think its helpful to spend one day downtown to see the sights (Tower City, Arcade, Civic Center, Rock Hall), afternoon in Ohio City, and a night on W.6th and/or E.4th Street. The other day should be devoted to University Circle, afternoon in Little Italy, and a night in Cleveland Heights or Shaker Square.

Even Chicago doesn't have a district like Playhouse Square. A friend of mine in Chicago says city leaders want to do something like Broadway in NYC -- apparently they don't know or won't admit that Chicago lacks something that even little ol' has! So take them to see a show at one of our beautiful theaters -- preceded with a visit to Otto Moser's (a 100-year-old restaurant that was in the city's first theater district on East 4th). And check out the gift shop in the theater's arcade area. Some wonderful items in there!

 

Speaking of which, let's not forget the Old Arcade!

while chicago doesn't necessarily have a strictly define theater district, they certainly aren't lacking in terms of theater seats and some ol' dames.

 

IMO: Playhouse Square=Nice, but nothing special

 

(for the love of god, no one start the theater seat debate, or I will kill you)

 

 

I realize they aren't lacking in theater seats, but when I walking with a friend of mine in Chicago near the Chicago Theater, he was mentioning that the city fathers lamented that they've not capitalized on the theaters by creating a critical mass performing arts district like Broadway or even Playhouse Square. He said the city could be doing so much more to make a livelier area. That's all....

 

So how many seats does Playhouse Square have? (ducking and covering)

strike one!

while chicago doesn't necessarily have a strictly define theater district, they certainly aren't lacking in terms of theater seats and some ol' dames.

 

IMO: Playhouse Square=Nice, but nothing special

 

(for the love of god, no one start the theater seat debate, or I will kill you)

 

 

When I was last in Chicago, they started renovating some of the area Near Marshall Fields/the Ford Center.  They've actually added hotel inventory in the area...something Cleveland hasn't..along with an apartment condo tower.

^so cleveland should be taking notes on how to add to the vibrancy of playhouse sq.

HELL YES. 

 

I'm not saying use Chicago as a model....but like everything, there is room for improvement!

HELL YES. 

 

I'm not saying use Chicago as a model....but like everything, there is room for improvement!

 

except me.

HELL YES. 

 

I'm not saying use Chicago as a model....but like everything, there is room for improvement!

 

except me.

 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh....Yeah...Sure    :wtf:  :roll:  :wtf:

^banned!

HELL YES. 

 

I'm not saying use Chicago as a model....but like everything, there is room for improvement!

 

except me.

 

Who do you think you are?!?!  MayDay!? :lol:

HELL YES. 

 

I'm not saying use Chicago as a model....but like everything, there is room for improvement!

 

except me.

 

Who do you think you are?!?!  MayDay!? :lol:

 

cue My2Cents response about some HBIC image in three, two, one.....

HELL YES. 

 

I'm not saying use Chicago as a model....but like everything, there is room for improvement!

 

except me.

 

Who do you think you are?!?!  MayDay!? :lol:

 

cue My2Cents response about some HBIC image in three, two, one.....

 

....wait for it.....

Hey quick question...if we were to stop by the Arcade, what are the best times?  It seems like last time I was there, most of the shops weren't open on the weekend, is this still the case?  What time do most places close in there on Friday?

Usually the shops are closed by 4pm, but if you want to see the place hopping - stop by during weekday lunch.