will there be firepit?

^I believe (although not sure) there is one on Star Plaza.

Yep the fire pit has been there since last summer. It's been on every day for the past week.

^Excellent- does it seem to draw much attention from folks passing through the park? And welcome to UO!

Thanks! I've been lurking for the past few months and figured it was time to join the party. I'm not sure that the fire pit attracts people so much as Dynomite does. My office overlooks the plaza and there have been a decent amount of people eating lunch and hanging out ever since it reopened. We thought that the fire would end up being a magnet for panhandlers but that has not been the case. I'll keep an eye out now that the chandelier assembly complex has been removed.

 

Also, fun fact, we were talking to one of the construction workers who informed us that the only reason the crystals were taken off the chandelier was that they realized the resin had been mixed incorrectly. We noticed that the crystals went from clear to a dingy yellow within a few days, and he said they would have continued yellowing until they were brown.

I just bought my Megabus tickets to Cleveland for the 2nd! I can't wait to see Playhouse Square all lit up!

Welcome, amorybla1ne!

 

 

I just bought my Megabus tickets to Cleveland for the 2nd! I can't wait to see Playhouse Square all lit up!

 

To what do we owe the honor of this visit?

I just bought my Megabus tickets to Cleveland for the 2nd! I can't wait to see Playhouse Square all lit up!

 

To what do we owe the honor of this visit?

 

Dazzle the District.  Just coming up for the night to see the sights and sounds of the new Playhouse Square, try some of the food, and have a few beers. 

I just bought my Megabus tickets to Cleveland for the 2nd! I can't wait to see Playhouse Square all lit up!

 

To what do we owe the honor of this visit?

 

Dazzle the District.  Just coming up for the night to see the sights and sounds of the new Playhouse Square, try some of the food, and have a few beers. 

 

Well....did you know Star Plaza is one of the rare public places that allows for drinking? You can byob.

I just bought my Megabus tickets to Cleveland for the 2nd! I can't wait to see Playhouse Square all lit up!

 

To what do we owe the honor of this visit?

 

Dazzle the District.  Just coming up for the night to see the sights and sounds of the new Playhouse Square, try some of the food, and have a few beers. 

 

Well....did you know Star Plaza is one of the rare public places that allows for drinking? You can byob.

Really?  I did not know that.  Awesome!  I think I found a new hangout!

 

I just bought my Megabus tickets to Cleveland for the 2nd! I can't wait to see Playhouse Square all lit up!

 

To what do we owe the honor of this visit?

 

Dazzle the District.  Just coming up for the night to see the sights and sounds of the new Playhouse Square, try some of the food, and have a few beers. 

 

Well....did you know Star Plaza is one of the rare public places that allows for drinking? You can byob.

 

I'm thought so! I had asked one of the guys at Dynomite the other day and he said no. Guess I know where my summertime hangout will be!

There's a sign that says "no alcohol beyond this point" and I call that an invitation to drink!

 

Then again, maybe the sign is like that trick-portable fire hydrant that Sheriff Roscoe used to give the Duke boys parking tickets all the time.

 

There's a sign that says "no alcohol beyond this point" and I call that an invitation to drink!

 

Then again, maybe the sign is like that trick-portable fire hydrant that Sheriff Roscoe used to give the Duke boys parking tickets all the time.

 

It very well could be a trick.  "No alcohol beyond this point" doesn't say anything about whether or not alcohol is legal before that point.

There's a sign that says "no alcohol beyond this point" and I call that an invitation to drink!

 

Then again, maybe the sign is like that trick-portable fire hydrant that Sheriff Roscoe used to give the Duke boys parking tickets all the time.

 

It very well could be a trick.  "No alcohol beyond this point" doesn't say anything about whether or not alcohol is legal before that point.

 

Dynomite sells beer and wine, so I imagine it's legal.

 

Btw, the GE branding is up.

 

 

It very well could be a trick.  "No alcohol beyond this point" doesn't say anything about whether or not alcohol is legal before that point.

 

Dynomite sells beer and wine, so I imagine it's legal.

 

Sorry, I was being sarcastic.  I'm sure the sign is implying that alcohol is legal up to that point, which is awesome.

I'm not sure that means it's an open container district though.  Cincinnati has a few places (like Fountain Square and Washington Park) where you can drink freely as long as it's alcohol purchased from a permitted vendor at the space.  I doubt you can BYOB to Star Plaza...but I'll certainly be purchasing a drink there and sipping it as I soak in the sights and sounds.

New signage going up on the Wyndham.

 

The miracle of Cleveland's Playhouse Square: How a performing arts complex helped save downtown and launch a national revival of historic theaters

 

 

By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer

on April 25, 2014 at 10:55 AM, updated April 25, 2014 at 12:20 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The completion of $16 million in signage and streetscape improvements at Playhouse Square, plus the May 2 ceremonial lighting of a giant outdoor chandelier, signal the latest stage in the nationally admired revival of the city's theater district.

 

The late Ray Shepardson, who died on April 14 at age 70, changed the course of Cleveland history and helped launch a local historic preservation movement in 1970 when he spearheaded the preservation of Playhouse Square's then-abandoned movie palaces and vaudeville houses.

 

With its 11 stages, and more than 10,000 seats, Playhouse Square now ranks as the second-largest unified arts complex in the United States, after Lincoln Center in New York.

 

Over the decades, Playhouse Square’s success helped anchor the revitalization of the rest of downtown Cleveland.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2014/04/the_miracle_of_clevelands_play.html

Thought I'd share a pic of the countdown I took yesterday.

 

 

Edit: as of today, about half of the crystals have been hung on the chandelier.

 

Loving it! The only improvement to suggest would be the internal structure be chrome/mirrored instead of black. 

 

 

I'm out of the Cleve for a few months ... Can someone give me a sense of how big the chandelier feels? I mean, I know it's massive, but with all of these new elements being physically BIG, does this one still stand out? :)

The arches and circular supports are big and brightly colored. I showed the picture to my wife and she couldn't tell it was a chandelier. The renderings show more crystals hung around the outside so maybe it will look better when it's done.

 

The scale on the street is impressive. The structure looks big. It partially blocks the views of the buildings near the corner which could bother some people.

To get an idea of the scale, look at the truck and lift machine (cherrypicker?) on the left:

 

Here's a picture from Saturday showing the scale of the chandelier. ... or rather, there was. Problem uploading image. Oops! I'll try this again later this morning.

Welcome PaulI. Hope you'll try again. Use the [] around img before your image's web link and [] around /img after it should appear.

Chandelier shot from Saturday .....

 

 

Plus a close up of the Chandelier ....

 

Thanks!

Well I'll be damned.

This is missing one key component to the chandelier.....

 

Now THAT'S a major award.

It looks better than I anticipated.  I'm going to reserve final judgment until I get an up close in person

I don't have to see it in person (though I will in a week or 2).  I think it's bizarre and definitely overkill for an already visually appealing corner -- it's already Cleveland's Great White Way with the tastefully restored neon of the theatres along with the sexy, rolling LED.  Those bent light pillar thingies, or whatever they are, sprouting upward in the Euclid median are a tad gaudy, but I can live with them.  Why we need this chandelier (to the tune of $16M) along with those huge framing arches at PHS's "entrances," is beyond me I also see, a la FEB, a huge "Playhouse Square" sign -- I'm guessing officials presume large numbers of people won't know where they are...

 

... don't get me wrong, I don't think the chandelier is the worst thing in the world as we have much bigger issues to tackle than this.  But this is already a great, premier, showcase of a neighborhood, so my question is .... why?

 

Even with all lighting off the other night (on an otherwise busy Saturday night), the gateways, the marquees, the blade sign, the video boards - and especially the chandelier - looked nicely in scale - and fantastic...  at least to me... When you think about it, this takes the theater/stage outside of the building onto the streets and sidewalks.. The performances inside can be over the top, not sure why the "performance" outside can't be... Cleveland, frankly, needs a bit of daring in its architecture/streetscapes.

 

 

 

More investment going on at PHS.

Phuel Cafe close to opening...

 

 

Keep in mind that not all of the crystals have been hung yet. Though it already is making difference in person. It was fantastic to see the sunlight hitting the crystals yesterday.

 

 

More investment going on at PHS.

Phuel Cafe close to opening...

 

 

I'm a fan of the idea behind the restaurant, but couldn't the branding/signage be a little nicer for the location?

Signage/branding... Independent restaurant owners don't necessarily have the resources to  professionally complete the signage/branding portion in the same way a chain would... But if a chain popped up there - with branding/signage perfected - we know how that would be received...

 

Signage/branding... Independent restaurant owners don't necessarily have the resources to  professionally complete the signage/branding portion in the same way a chain would... But if a chain popped up there - with branding/signage perfected - we know how that would be received...

 

I wasn't even comparing this to chains. There are plenty of examples of independent restaurants in the area who have done a good job at presentation on a budget. My expectations were high for this place given it's location. Hopefully it'll all turn out nicely when all the work is done. 

^I do love the renewed interest and activity (and residents) in PHS, that includes Zach Bruell's new Dynomite burger joint (Good Times ... get it? – perhaps younger UOers don’t, … anyway), which was depicted in May Day's recent photo thread, that apparently is packing 'em in.  The chandelier is not my cup of tea, obviously.  But if it makes PHS even more interesting, exciting and visible to people than it already is, so be it.

^I do love the renewed interest and activity (and residents) in PHS, that includes Zach Bruell's new Dynomite burger joint (Good Times ... get it? – perhaps younger UOers don’t, … anyway), which was depicted in May Day's recent photo thread, that apparently is packing 'em in.  The chandelier is not my cup of tea, obviously.  But if it makes PHS even more interesting, exciting and visible to people than it already is, so be it.

 

I had a "Dyn-o-mite" T-shirt and used to imitate Jimmy Walker pretty well as a kid in the 70s. :)

 

But this restaurant isn't open during the winter, correct? I don't care for the chandelier either, but people are taking pictures of it. Gateway Arches, Sky Needles and CN Towers don't do anything for me either, but they're draws and icons.

^I do love the renewed interest and activity (and residents) in PHS, that includes Zach Bruell's new Dynomite burger joint (Good Times ... get it? – perhaps younger UOers don’t, … anyway), which was depicted in May Day's recent photo thread, that apparently is packing 'em in.  The chandelier is not my cup of tea, obviously.  But if it makes PHS even more interesting, exciting and visible to people than it already is, so be it.

 

I love it all too, that why I decided to live there. I just personally feel that it's location should be used for something bigger. I haven't been impressed with what I've seen from Phuel so far. I think PHS needs retail and restaurants that complement it's grandiosity. I think it has the momentum to support such businesses soon.

 

Like I said though, I hope I'm proven wrong when they open. I really love the ideas and the food they'll be preparing. I just hope the store itself doesn't detract from the overall style PHS is aiming for.

 

 

^I do love the renewed interest and activity (and residents) in PHS, that includes Zach Bruell's new Dynomite burger joint (Good Times ... get it? – perhaps younger UOers don’t, … anyway), which was depicted in May Day's recent photo thread, that apparently is packing 'em in.  The chandelier is not my cup of tea, obviously.  But if it makes PHS even more interesting, exciting and visible to people than it already is, so be it.

 

I had a "Dyn-o-mite" T-shirt and used to imitate Jimmy Walker pretty well as a kid in the 70s. :)

 

But this restaurant isn't open during the winter, correct? I don't care for the chandelier either, but people are taking pictures of it. Gateway Arches, Sky Needles and CN Towers don't do anything for me either, but they're draws and icons.

 

It was supposed to be open all year IIRC. They decided to close it for the rest of the winter back in early December because nobody wanted to eat out in the cold.

 

The chandelier is indeed drawing a lot of attention. I've had a lot of people in other cities ask about it. PHS is really doing a great thing for our city's image. They've created a great space to just wander around. It was especially nice with all the sun we had over the weekend.

 

Edit: got a chance to walk by the cafe. It's better than I originally thought, but the branding is really bad compared to the overall aesthetic they have going on. 

Very cool video that was on TV about the transformation.

 

 

Check out this awesome screenshot from the end!

 

 

Very cool video that was on TV about the transformation.

 

 

Check out this awesome screenshot from the end!

 

 

Thanks for sharing! I was bummed that I missed it's airing Saturday!

 

Nice video

TIme to party like it's 1921!

 

Very evident in this video was the lighting on Hanna. It is fabulous and makes the building jut out (at least, enhances that effect) into the 14th/Euclid intersection. Well done.

The lighting has been updated on the Wyndham, and there are some minor accent lights on 1220 Huron and maybe some others.

I havent seen any lights, or even trial lighting on the BF Keith Bldg. THat building in particular was featured on the PHS website where it referenced illumination of historical architectural elements. I dont recall seeing any workers on the outside of  the Keith for a while now (last Fall?), altho I could be wrong.

For some reason i remember reading (possibly on UO) that exterior lighting of the Keith could possibly be a no-go. If true, that'll be a bummer.

 

also wanted to point out that there is hope for the Bulkley cornice (my favorite pet peeve when it comes to the PHS streetscape)...

From Litt's recent article on PHS when a poster asked a question regarding the netting on the top of that building:

"It is a protective barrier for the existing masonry until Playhouse Square can do a more extensive renovation. Cindi Szymanski of PlayhouseSquare just said in response to your question that there are no immediate plans to fix the problem, but it will be addressed at some point."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2014/04/the_miracle_of_clevelands_play.html

 

Hopefully we dont have to wait a long time for the "point."

That video got me pumped!  I'm ready for Friday!!

Almost done! Snagged a couple of crappy cell phone pics while walking home from rehearsal!

 

 

Are all the buildings in The District architecturally lit?  The area looks vibrant.  I truly hope these improvements bring attendees out of the parking structures behind the theatres

 

Looks like WEWS spoiled PHS's big moment and posted some photos of the lighted and completed chandelier from late last night.

 

Here's a link to the Facebook post for those interested.

 

 

Are all the buildings in The District architecturally lit?  The area looks vibrant.  I truly hope these improvements bring attendees out of the parking structures behind the theatres

 

Not all of them, but the more prominent ones are. I think the plan is to add more uplighting at some point to other buildings in the district.

I just read the comments under that and oh my god. I had no idea there were roving bands of thugs downtown that go around blasting away artwork all day. You'd think the police would stop this.

 

Seriously those comments make me realize how much work we have left to do. Hopefully the chandelier brightens some peoples view of downtown.

^Please, the comment section of PD or any big city newspaper are populated with these sad mindless bigoted people who feel the need to be negative about everything and especially everything urban as mentioned on this board constantly.  No amount of "work" as you say will ever change their minds (or lead you to want to sit next them at the next family Christmas dinner) so don't worry you little head about these people.  They are beyond help.