Don't think a thread exists for this already - basically a place that we can have Q & A about where to find hard-to-find items within the city limits. Given that many of us strive to make purchases within the city, and given the general dirge of retail inside our borders, perhaps we can use our combined intellect to help ferret out who sells what and where.

 

I'll start. I'm looking for a picnic basket. I would prefer new over used, but open to vintage/thrift if it's of a good quality. I want a nice one.

 

And don't judge me for wanting a picnic basket ... I'm a gay man and a bit of a Pollyanna.

 

 

 

 

You might want to call Cork and Beans (wine and coffee shop) in the Huntington Building. If they don't have it, they might be able to point you in the right direction. 216/241-4166, ask for Toni :)

 

I can imagine Target at Steelyard would carry them as well, but that's a touchy subject in these parts.

Thanks, Mayday. FYI, I already tried Target to no avail.

8Shades, I LOVE the photo!!

 

As for a picnic basket, hmmm. Is the Hansa Import Haus in Ohio City still open? 2717 Lorain. They might have baskets. Marc's in West Park? China Merchandise Exhibit?

 

A party supply store might have them. I can't think of any offhand, but maybe the phone book would have some suggestions.

Something at craigslist: http://cleveland.craigslist.org/hsh/310810964.html

^^Hansa is still open, but I don't think that they'll have picnic baskets, at least in the way I'm imagining a picnic basket.  They might have an easter-basket type of basket, if that makes any sense.

Not quite sure what type of "picnic" basket you're looking for but try a thirft or consignment store.

 

You might find a fabulous vintage basket.  Or as others have suggested,Target (pronounced Tar-jey in gayanesse) might have one.

try Ten Thousand Villages on Euclid by CSU.

Thanks for all the help, guys. And special thanks to Gavster ... I am now the proud owner of a Ten Thousand Villages picnic basket.

 

Hope this thread will continue to bring retail joy into all of our lives ... and not just be the "help 8Shades find a picnic basket" thread.  :-)

10,000 Villages was a great idea!

 

OK, next: Where's the best place in the city to get a men's haircut? Both salon and barber.

I like Zen, but they haven't been great the last couple times.

 

(Not exactly a "specialty item," but I think this is appropriate here.)

Studio Palmieri - W.6th

 

Rockafeller Barber Shop - W.6th

Marino's- Euclid across from CSU.

You might find some worthwhile suggestions in this thread:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=10217.0 (toward the bottom of Page 1 and on Page 2). Among other suggestions, people were raving about Lipstick and Razorblades over by SPACES. Has anyone tried the place just down from Le Oui Oui? It looks nice.

 

For an upscale cut, I hearted Scott Metzger on Shaker Square. I haven't been there since they transferred ownership, but continue to hear good things about Noir Blanc.

This isn't necessarily a specialty item, but it fits into the "Where's the best *blank* in Cleveland?" theme.

 

Can anyone recommend a good bike shop in the city that both repairs bicycles and possibly sells gear?  Thanks in advance.

I hope I don't get caught ,  but Lip Stick and Razor blades as been off its game a little. may be just me. One of the former stylists works at the salon in Cedar lee, her name is Alison. Anyone from CH know the place I am talking about? Across from the Stone Oven. she is great. 

In terms of biking stuff, I used to go to Freidrick's on the Lorain and Fulton, but the last time I got a tune up there it looked like nothing had been done.

 

I recently went to Century Cycles in Rocky River and theydid a great job.  I also have been to the bike shop on the corner of Madison and Marlow which was also very good.  I think that one is called Spin.

Also try the Ohio City Bicycle Co-op on Columbus Road (in the Flats -- not Ohio City!). See:

 

http://www.ohiocitycycles.org/

 

Does Spin offer bicycle rentals? I know OCBC does, as does Century Cycles' Peninsula location. But I'm looking for one on between Rocky River and downtown.

i've used the one in peninsula before for rental and its nice.

 

there needs to be something like that right downtown....preferably next to a youth hostel!

 

The Ohio City Bicycle Co-op offers bicycle rentals. Granted, it's not in the CBD, but you can walk there in a few minutes from the Settlers Landing station. Rental info is on their website, the link to which I posted earlier.

Does anyone know if there's a place in Cleveland or even Lakewood (sorry to bend the rules) that just sells fresh-cut flowers like they do in New York? There's something really nice about walking down the street and hitting the corner and seeing all those colors.

 

Plus I live in an apartment and I can't grown anything besides spices, hah. Thanks!

West Side Market - there's a stand in the eastern produce arcade (closest to the West 25th Rapid Station). They usually have nice stuff, and decent prices.

^^For bike stuff, also try Shaker Cycle in Tremont. I can't remember exactly where it is.

I must say, unlike BlackOps, I've had great luck with Fridrich's on Lorain Avenue. Just got my bike tuned up there a few weeks ago and it's working great.

 

Nothing's springing to mind re: flowers. There are a bunch of florist shops downtown, but I can't think of any that sell flowers on the street, New York-style.

Any recs on finding cool but cheap local art? I'd like to get some original art, but i have a very low budget - I also prefer more modern or post-modern art.

Chuck Wimmer does some cool funky printwork (Giclee) - http://www.loftprints.com/; you can see some of his work at Eye Candy Gallery in Tremont. http://www.eyecandy-gallery.com/

 

If you're looking for inexpensive photos - check Cleveland & Beyond in the Arcade. They also do framing there at a reasonable price.

Depends on what you mean by cheap. Several local artists sell poster-quality art in the $15-$25 range. You can get some original pieces for as little as $75. I've seen a lot of stuff pretty inexpensive in both Tremont and along the Superior corridor. Many local coffee shops showcase pretty cheap but cool stuff -Artefino and Phoenix in the Superior corridor, and Lucky's in Tremont, come to mind.

Any recs on finding cool but cheap local art? I'd like to get some original art, but i have a very low budget - I also prefer more modern or post-modern art.

 

vulpster you reminded me a guy i grew up with used to run 'art in the powerhouse,' but i looked online and it seems to be gone now -- too bad. otoh while looking i did find this list of galleries you might want to check out:

 

http://www.cleveland.com/goingout/index.ssf?/events/more/gallery/index.html

 

also, if any of the local colleges have mfa grad student art programs they will have shows you can go to and arrange to buy something. bonus is mfa grad student show openings are kind of a fun scene anyway.

 

Spaces gallery sometimes has some pretty great sales

^ Of particular note, SPACES annually holds ArtMart, where members get a certain amount of wall space and can do with it as they please. That occurs in March of each year.

 

Also keep an eye out for holiday sales ... Art House, for instance, is having a Holiday Art Sale on Saturday, Nov. 17, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

I can't believe I forgot to mention them, but Zygote Press (http://www.zygotepress.com/gallery_schedule.html) is an awesome place for inexpensive art. Located on the western border of Asiatown, it's a fine print facility. Prints run as low as $25-ish. A lot of the work is really quite good, too. Plus, it's a really nice facility. They have weekly gallery hours and have a Holiday Open House Friday, December 7, 6-9 p.m.   

I guess this fits the definition of "specialty."

 

Anyone know of a good Cleveland business that repairs guitars and doesn't charge "an arm and a leg?" 

An old thread resurrected :)

 

Does anyone know of a good laundry service? I (finally) found an apartment, but there is (very) unfortunately no onsite laundry machines. Because I'm car-free, I'm looking for something in downtown or close proximity ... preferably something between E. 40th and the Warehouse District. I'm going to be in the east 30s, so the east side of downtown would be great. Just to clarify, looking for a good-quality drop-off laundry service or a non-sketchy laundromat with decent hours. This is for all my laundry needs, so a dry cleaner is unfortunately not sufficient unless they do washing and drying too. Thanks :)

I'm going to get back into the forums and wanted to bump this thread. May have been discussed in the Gordon Square thread, but the owner of Room Service (also the organizer of Made in the 216) is openning a temporary 216 Holiday Shoppe or something like that next to the Capitol Theatre. I believe the concept are locally crafted holiday decorations, but I'm not sure. 

^ Welcome back! I think this is actually a three-week iteration of the previous Made in the 216 events, basically a storefront that will be selling locally created design products ... home interiors, clothes, graphic products, art, etc. Not really holiday stuff per se ... much cooler selection of stuff more geared toward the hipster and bobo crowd. Check out the blog here: http://blog.roomservicecleveland.com/?tag=made-in-the-216.