So I finally visit Cleveland with my brother and a couple of good friends. Only one of my friends has been to Cleveland a couple of times, so for most of us it was a new experience. After freeing ourselves the burden of our meddling car in a garage near the Palace Theatre, where my brother and I watched the Kids in the Hall later that evening (they were fantastic), we went off on a tour of the city. First, we stopped right off at Moko's (on the left) and got some drinks before heading off for lunch.

 

 

 

My brother being smitten by Cleveland.

 

 

Internet lingo on a trashcan Downtown? Well, I like it.

 

 

We all agree, Downtown Cleveland is big and has good architecture all over with a great big-city feel that you just don't get here. Plentiful parking lots might have something to do with that. Cleveland's Downtown is legit and they have rail transportation, solidifying its status as the big city of Ohio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apparently, there's going to be major touch-ups to the interior.

 

 

Going to Ohio City by rail was easy, but getting the all-day passes weren't. Cleveland felt like messing with our heads in each neighborhood and this was the first instance. I put in a 20 for a day pass and it did give a pass, but then spat out 16 Sacajuweas, so I just put them in for more tickets, but what the hell!? They just come right back out! Oh I see, it accepts quarters, not the coins they give you. OK, so just go to the change machine and put in the 48 quarters for the other 3, right? Wrong! It only accepted about one out of every three. WTF!!! Argh, it's the Cleveland Crucifixion! So after what seemed like 10 minutes we just bought them at the counter. Lesson? Never use those awful machines.

 

Ohio City, from our brief visit, seemed trendy with a dash of Hippy/New Age stores. We were starving at this point, but I wanted to peek my head in the Westside Market,

 

 

and we walked through the corridor outside the main building. My friends said that they felt like they were in a 3rd world country, not 'Murica, with the masses of people crammed in there. They were in no mood for browsing, they wanted a god-damned restaurant, so we walked towards this extremely inviting street.

 

 

 

Great Lakes was looking pretty packed, so we headed into the Flying Fig (I thought at first it was the Flying Pig).

 

 

 

The decor looked like lunch might be pricey. It was happy hour, so we got some beer and food, only $5 for a blue cheese burger with fries. I got cute and tried the pulled pork nachos, which while tasty wasn't as large a portion as the burger everyone else went with. It looked like rain was threatening to come down, but luckily the previous forecast of clouds with rain showers didn't pan out at all that day. More Ohio City:

 

 

 

 

 

Spacious parking

 

 

So it was back to the market to pick up dessert

 

 

and we found quite bit we liked, but the portions for a couple of items were extremely deceptive, in fact, when that napoleon was in the case one would have thought there were three on top of each other. It was of monstrous proportions. That alone would've been enough for all of us.

 

 

We tried our damnedest to eat all these desserts and not waste any money/food, but they proved to be too much for us and we were utterly defeated and we all ended up feeling disgusting.

 

 

Just checking to make sure my stomach is still intact.

 

 

At least the view couldn't be beat.

 

 

Desperately needing to walk that off, we headed to Shaker Heights Square to walk around and grab a drink.

 

 

 

Stopped in at Yours Truly, which has a truly awful interior (I'm not sure what they're going for, the interior of your grandparents' home?) we got some limeades which kept us hydrated and ordered a few items knowing that the server probably would be a bit miffed if we just got drinks. It was cool watching the trains go by the window.

 

 

Phil gives Cleveland an enthusiastic thumbs up (no, really, he likes).

 

 

And as you can see I'm loving Cleveland.

 

 

After getting even fatter, but less thirsty we walked down a couple of residential streets impressed by the density and quality of the buildings.

 

 

 

 

 

Further down are streets lined with cute single-family homes.

 

 

I'm embarrassed for poor Patty.

 

 

Thirsty again, we headed to Dewey's to relax for a bit. My iced coffee and espresso drink was tasty, but my companions were not pleased with their wild-berry drinks. Laundry detergent was used to describe the flavor of the smoothie. After tasting it, I was glad I went with what I did while they just drank it down because it was something cold.  It was time to head to the show and since my friends weren't going we split ways for a bit and they headed out to the Flats in the meantime. More Downtown!

 

 

 

Ooh, bowling Downtown.

 

 

 

After the show (forgot to zoom in the heat of the moment),

 

 

my brother and I headed to the Flats to meet up with our friends, while he bitched about how they should've headed back to meet us and leave. We went over anyway and got off at the Flats East Banks. There was a map, but it was useless, unless you wanted to go to a museum. No bars & restaurants listed at all, seriously? Very user-unfriendly stops, my brother said he'd be pissed if we got mugged. I called my friends three times to find out exactly where they were and they actually got off at the Settler's Landing stop just before the one we did. After walking down a lonely street with the only street life being a group of security guys hanging out in front of a nightclub and a lone woman walking down the street, my brother was getting antsy thinking we were getting lost. Once we got to the Settler's Landing stop, we walked under the large, lonely bridge hoping for a sign of civilization and then the glowing, green letters reading "The Flat Iron" couldn't have appeared at a better moment. Relieved and hungry again, we hung out and watched TV there. They make their own root beer, so that was a must. (Note the lazy photoshopping)

 

 

It was then time to catch a train back to Tower City, but we were waiting for ten minutes or so. We were all alone, so it didn't take long for some shenanigans to take place.

 

 

 

 

We stopped waiting, since Phil kept insisting that we just walk it, it can't be that far. 5 minutes later, we were approaching Tower City. We were outraged at ourselves over how short of a walk it was. Why were we waiting for a train again? After being asked for the 10th time if we had some change, we made it to the parking garage. So long for now Cleveland! 

 

well done.  Sorry about the panhandlers - virtually all of them are harmless

YES!!!  My building scores in another UO photo thread. YEEEEEEEEEEEES!  :clap:

 

BTW...You were on Shaker Square not in Shaker Heights!

 

Ironically, I think I saw you kids and I didn't put two-and-two together.

 

Your truly is the place were everyone takes their kids to each on Saturday or Sunday.  There are usually a million bikes, strollers and other kids paraphernalia outside.

 

If I would have known you were coming I would have warned you about Dewey's...they are inconsistent.

^The panhandlers were just an annoyance, but we weren't about to flee to the burbs. Certainly quite a few more there though, and I thought you guys had a courtesy patrol that tries to minimize their presence.

 

I forgot to mention that in Your Truly a girl recognized Kevin Kurgis on my shirt because she had spent time in Columbus. I'm guessing no one else there got it. Which building is yours anyway? It must be rather picturesque if we're all snapping shots of it all the time.

Moreland Courts.  the building complext with the two towers.  It has the address markers in the front lawn.

 

When you were sitting in YT, you were looking dead at it.  You see the train and then the first "building" within my complex.  That entire block is built to look like one building but its really twelve buildings.

 

 

Stopped in at Yours Truly, which has a truly awful interior (I'm not sure what they're going for, the interior of your grandparents' home?) we got some limeades which kept us hydrated and ordered a few items knowing that the server probably would be a bit miffed if we just got drinks. It was cool watching the trains go by the window.

 

 

Nice pics, especially the streetscapes.

 

Glad you had fun up here.

 

By the way, Arena District Video screeen > Playhouse Squares Video Screen

 

And I like how Columbus is using the enormous, quirky advertising downtown. It gives the city a lively, newish vibrancy that I think we're missing in Cleveland.

Awesome photos.  Glad you had a good time.

Glad you enjoyed your stay here. And I see you found the East Fourth neighborhood OK (where the downtown bowling alley is located).

 

As for Yours Truly on Shaker Square -- I like the decor! But to each their own. It used to be a drug store for many decades, starting about 1930 until the 1970s or 80s.

Nice honest tour!

Great tour. I'm looking forward to visiting all those places in 20 days!!! The city looks fantastic, and I'm sure the feel there is even better. I told a friend of mine that I'd be vacationing there in less than a month and his response was "Drew Carey-ville? Seriously?" Why the hell do you guys have such a bad image?

 

Anyway, I'm glad Cleveland's rebounding so well. And congrats on winning the Best Transit System award. It shows in these pics.

 

Oh yeah:

Fountain Square Video Board > Arena District Video Screeen > Playhouse Squares Video Screen

 

As shown by these photos from CincyImages:

 

 

 

 

Here's the thread they're from:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,13985.0.html

 

 

Maybe Public Square can do this on one of the quadrants...NW maybe.

 

ajknee is my new favorite forumer.

^^ Wow.. they're video boards, everyone has them..

Cleveland is truly the big city of Ohio.

Cleveland is truly the big city of Ohio.

 

Ahhh ... the insecurities continue.

 

 

You notice how Chicago, LA, and NYorkers don't give a rats ass about defending their size or dominance? Well, you're the opposite. What's wrong with this picture ... I know. ;)

Cleveland is truly the big city of Ohio.

 

Ahhh ... the insecurities continue.

 

 

You notice how Chicago, LA, and NYorkers don't give a rats ass about defending their size or dominance? Well, you're the opposite. What's wrong with this picture ... I know. ;)

 

OH HUSH! 

"Internet lingo on a trashcan Downtown? Well, I like it."

 

Actually the initials of Mark E. Howard, artist who designed a lot of the elements of the streetscape along Euclid.

 

 

Great set of pics! :-)

 

 

 

Oh fine, I still say it looks like something crocker park would do, not that there is anything wrong with that.

Cleveland was a pleasure to visit last year.  Thanks for the pics!

The insecurities started with ajknee when he had to post cincy images in a Cleveland picture forum :). Lol. It does however look like something we do in the burbs.

 

He's from Milwaukee.  Anyway, let's steer the topic from electronic billboards to this great thread.

"Drew Carey-ville?  Seriously?" 

 

I actually live just down the street from his old house on Flowerdale, not sure if he still owns it though. Its not a really big house and nothing special, but still the nicest one on my street.

 

I never really hear anyone talk about Drew Carey anymore, at least not as much as they used to during his show.

Lol Arsenio Hall, how do I remeber him I don't know, I was only like 5 at the time :)

"Drew Carey-ville? Seriously?"

 

I actually live just down the street from his old house on Flowerdale, not sure if he still owns it though. Its not a really big house and nothing special, but still the nicest one on my street.

 

I never really hear anyone talk about Drew Carey anymore, at least not as much as they used to during his show.

 

He still owns it (or at least is listed as owner on the Cuyahoga County Auditor's website). In my opinion, it's terribly out of context. The lot is way too wide, the garage (which looks to have a guest suite above it) is larger than most of the ranch houses on the street, and there are security cameras everywhere.

 

I don't hear as much talk about him as when he has the sitcom, though you do know he's the successor of Bob Barker on the Price is Right, right?

You mean "successor" of Bob Barker

Great shots of Cleveland!

Great shots of the big city!

You mean "successor" of Bob Barker

 

Oops!

you should post your comments re: the transit ticket machines in the RTA thread...JetDog/JMasek (RTA represenattives) might be able to help remedy this in some manner...

"As for Yours Truly on Shaker Square -- I like the decor!"

 

Ohhh how did I miss this - KJP, no. Just NO.

Nice photos and entertaining commentary.

Oh man, so you had to walk around with all that change all day?  UGH, I hate that. Sounding like change when you walk, getting bums all worked up, difficult access to keys, bulging pockets.

Ohhh how did I miss this - KJP, no. Just NO.

 

Then you sure as hell don't want to see my condo!!

 

Ohhh how did I miss this - KJP, no. Just NO.

 

Then you sure as hell don't want to see my condo!!

 

 

Do we need to send "Extreme Makeover:  Home edition" to your rescue? 

 

KJP, don't tell me you have "old lady" decor going on in your crib.

No actually I HAD an old gay guy decor to my crib, so I got ride of all the oriental decor, kept the woodwork and added some of my family's antique hand-me downs -- 1920s chandelier and lighting fixtures, cedar chest which my great-great grandfather built in 1853, mixed in with 1980s furniture I got when I moved away from home to go to college.

 

What this has to do with spending a day in Cleveland I have no idea.

Yours Truly is a must for a day-trip in Cleveland for its conversation-worthy decor?

Yours Truly is a must for a day-trip in Cleveland for its conversation-worthy decor?

So when were you out there taking pictures?

Saturday. We were there 1PM to 12 something AM. It was with my new fancy camera, $80 for a Kodak 6.1 MP. Hence playing around with it while waiting for the train back to Tower City at night.

then you were out there at the same time I was there with the kids!  Yikes!  But we were outside on the patio.

:-o

I'm glad you enjoyed my 'hood!  :wink:  Cleveland's finest neighborhood!

My brother agrees, just FYI. Hey, don't look at me, he started it!

 

edit: My brother's comment on the trip from my blog,

 

At least I can confirm that Cleveland does in fact, indeed, naturally, surely, indubitably rocks. Other than the lack of people around train stations—as evidenced by our bodacious biceps pose-down—it’s got moxy.

My brother agrees, just FYI. Hey, don't look at me, he started it!

 

edit: My brother's comment on the trip from my blog,

 

At least I can confirm that Cleveland does in fact, indeed, naturally, surely, indubitably rocks. Other than the lack of people around train stationsas evidenced by our bodacious biceps pose-downits got moxy.

 

That pic provides some eye candy!

We actually got a couple of catcalls from girls driving by on the walk back to the garage. That was amusing.

We actually got a couple of catcalls from girls driving by on the walk back to the garage. That was amusing.

 

Why was it amusing?  I take it as a compliment.

I took it both ways.

BTW, how was Kids in the Hall? 

Yours Truly is a must for a day-trip in Cleveland for its conversation-worthy decor?

No, it's a must for a day trip because of the not-so-fries.

Not-so-fries?

 

^Hilarious.

 

The Cincinnati Kid.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuvPpzPiIec&hl=en

"nobody laughs at the kid...."

The Toronto Kid is the only funny part of that, especially making fun of Cincinnati's 3rd rate transit system.