I know they are already doing it somewhat, but it really needs to be part of Cleveland culinary tour weekend package, since Cleveland does actually get visitors as a result of some of the positive press the dining scene has recieved.

 

Hopefully the Culinary District idea really takes off. We're lucky to have smart guys like Ari Maron in this city.

Ari Maron deserves his own *I Love Cleveland* entry.  I got to meet him once and thanked him for everything he's done, plus everything he's still doing.  The Maron family's efforts have made this a much better place to live.

I know they are already doing it somewhat, but it really needs to be part of Cleveland culinary tour weekend package, since Cleveland does actually get visitors as a result of some of the positive press the dining scene has recieved.       

 

Hopefully the Culinary District idea really takes off. We're lucky to have smart guys like Ari Maron in this city.

 

Agreed!

 

Hopefully when the downtown center opens, more "foot traffic" and interactive events like the "Cleveland food and wine XXX" can draw chefs, restaurateurs, critics and foodies.

I know they are already doing it somewhat, but it really needs to be part of Cleveland culinary tour weekend package, since Cleveland does actually get visitors as a result of some of the positive press the dining scene has recieved.       

 

Hopefully the Culinary District idea really takes off. We're lucky to have smart guys like Ari Maron in this city.

 

I would hope so too.  I know we were pushing it for Ohio City 13 years ago when I was interning at OCNW. 

I think it should be all over the city, we have great restaurants in several areas: 

• Warehouse District
  
• East 4th Street
  
• AsiaTown
  
• Ohio City
  
• University Circle
  
• Shaker Square
  

Plus there are hidden gems in Detriot-Shoreway, St. Clair-Superior, Old Brooklyn.

 

Not to mention several 'burbs offer decent dining options/districts.

^OMG MTS said something positive about the burbs.  I may die of shock.  But yes, it's true, and I agree.  Our food scene makes us quite lucky.

^OMG MTS said something positive about the burbs.  I may die of shock.  But yes, it's true, and I agree.  Our food scene makes us quite lucky.

 

I don't always trash the 'burbs, I just don't want to live there.  And don't die of shock!  Think of all the fun you'll miss when labor pains/contractions set in.  :o    lol  lol  lol

More specifically a district of places that directly play off of the market.....  International food stores, culinary stores?...  Culinary schools, kitchen supply stores  etc...  and of course whatever creative concepts that would draw people in.....

More specifically a district of places that directly play off of the market.....  International food stores, culinary stores?...  Culinary schools, kitchen supply stores  etc...  and of course whatever creative concepts that would draw people in.....

 

Ding..ding..ding..  We diversify our economy and bring a better quality product to the table, so to speak.

^Don't worry RnR, I don't think he was talking about Middleburg Hts.  :lol:

Several of my fellow Fellows are saying they want to visit Cleveland now (I'm doing my own "I Love Cleveland" campaign in Germany :) ), and one from New York says she's been wanting to get to Cleveland for some time now, specifically to check out the food scene. So the buzz is increasingly out there.

 

And regarding a culinary district, has anyone checked out The Strip in Pittsburgh (http://www.neighborsinthestrip.com/). A great example of the type of spinoff from a market area that several people have mentioned. Given our increasing foodie reputation, I'm really surprised more hasn't happened with this.

^Don't worry RnR, I don't think he was talking about Middleburg Hts.   :lol:

 

LOL.  I think MH leaves a lot to be desired.  It is not my burb of choice.

Really I dont think MH is horrible, as I do reside there as well.  There is a lot left to be desired with public transit, but most things are not that far.  I don't understand how people can live further out from the city than this though.  It is the suburbs and right next to a freeway so we get all the chain crap but there are decent things about it too.  Metroparks right through the middle for one.  And if you look hard enough you can find local restaurants, like Bucci's Brick Oven Pizza. 

 

I mean it's not Tremont/Ohio City.  But neither is it Brunswick.

I just have not found any local places down there that I think are very good.  We've gotten food (pizza once, other items the 2nd time) from Bucci's twice and neither of us liked it.  I do like Godmother's though, but that's parma hts.  Santo's is inedible IMO. Brew Kettle has good BBQ pork but the rest of their food is awful if you ask me, and I can get frozen fries anywhere, not sure why they don't make their own at that place.  I think El Rodeo is awful food as well and the pub at Pomeroy has gone so far downhill we vowed never to go back after our last visit.

 

The metroparks is a big plus, one of the few.

I found this link in the comments section from the Chicago Reader article mentioned earlier in the thread.

MAYDAY, DID YOU LET US KNOW ABOUT THIS!??!!!

 

If you want a super concentrated jolt of Cleveland Love check out this link, and go to CLE 2006!

 

www.tcscm.org

 

 

I copied the entire letter below:

Chuck Clark

February 25th - 7:55 p.m.

You've discovered one of the great gems in Cleveland. Some Chicagoians joined an international group of travelers in 2006 for an art & architecture tour of Cleveland...frankly, we were blown away by so many great things in Cleveland...including the West Side Market. There is an excellent summary and tons of historical information regarding our visit at: www.tcscm.org. (Click on the "Cleveland 2006" link.) FYI: The 20th Century Society organized a trip to Chicago last fall.

Our family has visited Cleveland every year since then. It's only about a 6 hour drive from Chicago, and can make for a very affordable vacation.

^ Great link.

Yes, it was talked about in some thread and they invited everybody here to participate in the "outing".  I didnt make it.

 

Looks like they had wonderful things to say about Cleveland!

 

This is the entire Flicker link to the pictures from that weekend:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73416633@N00/sets/72157594292268088/show/

City Hall and suburbanites must recommit to downtown Cleveland

Posted by Thomas Bier March 08, 2009 05:00AM

Categories: Opinion

http://blog.cleveland.com/pdopinion/2009/03/city_hall_and_suburbanites_mus.html

 

Bier is an executive-in-residence at the Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University.

 

The abandonment of Cleveland that has been under way for decades (even before World War II) has turned out to be severely self-defeating -- as if moving to the suburbs and washing one's hands of the city would not have negative consequences, as if the region could have a prosperous future without attractiveness and strength at its core. Folly.

 

The edifice that many thought they were constructing -- a good life without a magnetic core -- is crumbling.

 

...

haven't had bucci's pizza but their entrees are good.  they have a birthday club where you sign up and get a $16.95 discount within a week of your birthday.  i usually go only on birthdays. 

I actually havent had their entrees so maybe we should switch ;) Also, I forgot to mention Corner Stone Brewery in downtown Berea, while not Middleburg proper Berea is close enough to be included, hell we share a school system.  They have great beer, they are a brewery after all, and food too, all in an open kitchen enviroment. 

 

I also liked Voodooh across from Southwest.  I've only been there once and that was a while ago, but it was good then.  So I think if you look there are decent, maybe even good but not great, dining options in MH.

I actually havent had their entrees so maybe we should switch ;) Also, I forgot to mention Corner Stone Brewery in downtown Berea, while not Middleburg proper Berea is close enough to be included, hell we share a school system. They have great beer, they are a brewery after all, and food too, all in an open kitchen enviroment.

 

I also liked Voodooh across from Southwest. I've only been there once and that was a while ago, but it was good then. So I think if you look there are decent, maybe even good but not great, dining options in MH.

 

Voodah has closed and is reopened under a new name, they are a fish-focused place. Since neither me nor mr. rockandroller are big fish lovers, we haven't been.

 

I went to cornerstone, once.  I don't drink beer so I can't comment on that, but I watched, disappointed, as the "chef" assembled our apps from various sysco containers, most of them frozen to microwave; the food tasted as dull as I thought it would. Perhaps we just ordered the wrong things but I haven't been back.

Some nice press from a national newspaper in Canada ... It seems like Cleveland's "Rust Belt to Artist Belt" concept (http://www.cpacbiz.org/business/CreativeCompass.shtml) is really taking off, and Cleveland is increasingly being recognized as a regional leader in the idea of arts-based community development (as just one example, Northeast Shores ED Brian Friedman was invited to present info on the Waterloo Arts District to the Downtown Association of Ypsilantsi).

 

This is just one of at least 3 high-quality learning networks that have popped up in the last couple years in the industrial Midwest (see also Great Lakes Urban Exchange and the Cleveland+Youngstown+Pittsburgh Regional Learning Network), and all are bringing some much-deserved positive buzz to the city.

 

A 2nd national "From Rust Belt to Artist Belt" conference is scheduled to be taking place in Cleveland in late summer / early Fall, so stay tuned.

 

Arts to the rescue?

The Rust Belt looks to polish itself up with new industries

James Cowan,  National Post

March 7th, 2009

 

The Canada Hair Cloth building was clearly handsome before it was derelict. Red brick with white-trimmed windows and scuffed wooden floors, the factory made fabric for train seats, parachute silk and men's suit linings over the course of its 123-year history. It closed in 2007 and, if one wanted an emblem for flagging manufacturing towns, the old factory would be a good choice ...

 

... For more information, please visit http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=1363175

 

And another one for the I Heart Cleveland groupies, this time from the end-all-be-all of the urban geek press. Next American City's generally favorable take on Cleveland's innovations in the face of the dire financial environment for American cities at the moment. And that's not enough reason to cheer, they also deliver a big "boo" toward Forest City.

 

Cities in Crisis

America’s cities are fighting foreclosures, stalled development and budget shortfalls on a scale not seen in a generation. But innovation is taking root in the empty spaces left by economic retreat. A look at how tomorrow’s American cities will be leaner — and greener.

By Ariella Cohen

Next American City

Spring 2009 Issue

 

Empty water bottles littered the table in front of Ray Nagin, whose shaved head reflected the florescent lights above. On a damp night in early Dec. 2008, the New Orleans mayor had come before the city council to discuss the $1.1 billion municipal budget it had just passed after 12 hours of contentious debate. To Nagin’s dismay, the council had unanimously rejected the property tax increase he’d proposed to counter a looming $24 million deficit. As he struggled to control his infamous temper, the embattled leader warned that the city, still struggling after Katrina, was headed for fiscal calamity. “2009 will be a challenge,” he said. “2010 will be a train wreck.”

 

Ray Nagin is not the only one quaking in city hall. Go to nearly any American city and you’ll see the red ink bleeding onto the pavement ...

 

... For more information, please visit http://americancity.org/magazine/article/cities-in-crisis/.

Just two little tidbits...

 

1. Great Lakes Brewing Company is running a sale (not sure what locations/stores but definitely Dave's) - $1.50 off ALL six-packs*

 

*might not include seasonals - oh well.

 

and

 

2. The Garfield Monument in Lake View Cemetery is open (as of April 1st):

 

Just two little tidbits...

 

1. Great Lakes Brewing Company is running a sale (not sure what locations/stores but definitely Dave's) - $1.50 off ALL six-packs*

 

*might not include seasonals - oh well.

 

and

 

2. The Garfield Monument in Lake View Cemetery is open (as of April 1st):

 

Nice shot Sugar.

Wow, that shot makes UC look amazingly close to downtown!

Wow, that shot makes UC look amazingly close to downtown!

 

It's MayDay's big fancy camera!

^While it's definitely a step up from my previous (Minolta Z6 point-and-shoot), it's far from "fancy" - there are people on this forum who have cameras and lenses that make mine look like an Instamatic from back in the day.

Sounds like I will be making a trip to Dave's.

 

Nice shot from that perspective it makes it look as if Downtown is up on top of a hill. There isn't that much change in elevation between downtown and UC? Is there?

^While it's definitely a step up from my previous (Minolta Z6 point-and-shoot), it's far from "fancy" - there are people on this forum who have cameras and lenses that make mine look like an Instamatic from back in the day.

 

To me your camera is fancy.  You and my nephew have very similar cameras.  To much work to take a damn picture.

^^Nice shot. I think looking towards the west is the best view of downtown. Certainly my favorite because everything looks more dense.

^^Nice shot. I think looking towards the west is the best view of downtown. Certainly my favorite because everything looks more dense.

 

Agreed!

^^Nice shot. I think looking towards the west is the best view of downtown. Certainly my favorite because everything looks more dense.

 

Agreed!

 

Indeed.

While playing along Euclid yesterday for Transportainment and Designarosa, I met a PhD candidate who came from Chicago for the event.  It was her first time in Cleveland, but she was utterly impressed with the city ("There's so much going on with food and live performance that nobody know about!") and Clevelanders ("They're so friendly!"), and is looking forward to moving here.

 

Also, it helped to have Shetland ponies and free beer.

^^Great story avogadro.  Sometimes the friendliness of people here really gets on my nerves, but I know we're lucky to have it vs. the way strangers treat each other in other cities. 

While playing along Euclid yesterday for Transportainment and Designarosa, I met a PhD candidate who came from Chicago for the event.  It was her first time in Cleveland, but she was utterly impressed with the city ("There's so much going on with food and live performance that nobody know about!") and Clevelanders ("They're so friendly!"), and is looking forward to moving here.

 

Also, it helped to have Shetland ponies and free beer.

 

How much beer did you consume?!  Thats what I want to know.  LOL

At least she didn't describe it as an overwhelming sort of friendliness (which I know as a native Texan), but rather, a "happy to help out and give directions" and "happy to talk about their city" kind of friendly.

Over the years, I've come to realize that when visitors mention that Clevelanders (and most Great Lakes residents) are "friendly", they don't mean as Avogadro said - a "well howwwwwdy!!!" (which I find completely nauseating, and most often perpetuated by dried-up former pageant queens from the South).

 

It's more of a down-to-earth sense of being *approachable*. What I've definitely learned in my travels - if you're out at a bar and you overhear someone say "oh cut the crap, what's REALLY your story?" - chances are it's one of us (Great Lakes folks) calling someone out.

Over the years, I've come to realize that when visitors mention that Clevelanders (and most Great Lakes residents) are "friendly", they don't mean as Avogadro said - a "well howwwwwdy!!!" (which I find completely nauseating, and most often perpetuated by dried-up former pageant queens from the South).

 

It's more of a down-to-earth sense of being *approachable*. What I've definitely learned in my travels - if you're out at a bar and you overhear someone say "oh cut the crap, what's REALLY your story?" - chances are it's one of us (Great Lakes folks) calling someone out.

 

AMEN to that!!

Over the years, I've come to realize that when visitors mention that Clevelanders (and most Great Lakes residents) are "friendly", they don't mean as Avogadro said - a "well howwwwwdy!!!" (which I find completely nauseating, and most often perpetuated by dried-up former pageant queens from the South).

 

It's more of a down-to-earth sense of being *approachable*. What I've definitely learned in my travels - if you're out at a bar and you overhear someone say "oh cut the crap, what's REALLY your story?" - chances are it's one of us (Great Lakes folks) calling someone out.

 

Cleveland-- Firmly Gripping Reality for 213 Years

[This is probably more appropriate for a foreclosure thread, but I just thought it was such a fantastic, positive spin on the situation.]

 

<a href=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123992318352327147.html#articleTabs%3Darticle>Artists vs. Blight</a>

By ALEXANDRA ALTER

 

<a href=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123992318352327147.html#>View Slideshow</a>

 

Last month, artists Michael Di Liberto and Sunia Boneham moved into a two-story, three-bedroom house in Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood, where about 220 homes out of 5,000 sit vacant and boarded up. They lined their walls with Ms. Boneham's large, neon-hued canvases, turned a spare bedroom into a graphic-design studio and made the attic a rehearsal space for their band, Arte Povera.

 

The couple used to live in New York, but they were drawn to Cleveland by cheap rent and the creative possibilities of a city in transition. "It seemed real alive and cool," said Mr. Di Liberto.

 

...

This is a GREAT article.  I feel like this should be posted in places in NYC or other east coast cities as well so other artists may see the opportunity.

its in the wall street journal, maybe some artist rich parents will pass along the info to thier artist kids :)

 

(I kid, I kid)

(I kid, I kid)

 

Why?? :-D

Yeah, this was such an amazing article. And if my sources are correct, this was VERY high visibility ... I was told this was front-page, above the fold.

 

And I think this is going to have a lot more visibility for artists nationally. As the article mentions, we're going to be holding a second conference in September (with a lot of educational information for artists about finding property in Cleveland) and an online portal is going to be developed to centralize information for artists so they can see just how much (info about real estate, health insurance, business training, grants, etc.). And when you add the fact that Cuyahoga County is currently launching one of the largest artist fellowship programs in the country (up to 40 artists will each be receiving $20,000 grants this year), word is really going to start to spread about the Cleve.

 

I started a thread about last year's From Rust Belt to Artist Belt conference (http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,15497.0.html), which received a decent amount of positive buzz from the Midwest arts community). Ypsilanti, for instance, brought in Brian Friedman to talk about the Collinwood model, and I've never seen Levin as packed as it was during that event ... Conference attendees were sitting along the walls on all three levels of the building, and tables were arranged almost to the Euclid Ave. doors.

 

I'm so excited to get back to Cleveland! Yay Cleve! :)

Yeah, this was such an amazing article. And if my sources are correct, this was VERY high visibility ... I was told this was front-page, above the fold.

 

And I think this is going to have a lot more visibility for artists nationally. As the article mentions, we're going to be holding a second conference in September (with a lot of educational information for artists about finding property in Cleveland) and an online portal is going to be developed to centralize information for artists so they can see just how much (info about real estate, health insurance, business training, grants, etc.). And when you add the fact that Cuyahoga County is currently launching one of the largest artist fellowship programs in the country (up to 40 artists will each be receiving $20,000 grants this year), word is really going to start to spread about the Cleve.

 

I started a thread about last year's From Rust Belt to Artist Belt conference (http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,15497.0.html), which received a decent amount of positive buzz from the Midwest arts community). Ypsilanti, for instance, brought in Brian Friedman to talk about the Collinwood model, and I've never seen Levin as packed as it was during that event ... Conference attendees were sitting along the walls on all three levels of the building, and tables were arranged almost to the Euclid Ave. doors.

 

I'm so excited to get back to Cleveland! Yay Cleve! :)

 

The Pink Carpet is being cleaned and prepped in anticipation of your return.

Sometimes the friendliness of people here really gets on my nerves, but I know we're lucky to have it vs. the way strangers treat each other in other cities. 

Hey, the guy just wanted some spare change--show a little compassion.

Just a nice article defending the city of Cleveland this morning. I can't post the original Blog due to Gov't blocks:

 

http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/9824

 

Response to "Cleveland: What's Wrong?"

Submitted by Julie on April 27, 2009 - 9:59am.

Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Local News News Opinion Society US News

 

Have you ever heard the saying "It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt"? Apparently Aaron Renn, the author of a blog post entitled "Cleveland: What's Wrong?" hasn't. What struck me most about this post, which is mainly a commentary on the ruinous state of affairs in Cleveland and the city's decline, is the author's admission that he has never even been to Cleveland. Right then, he loses any shot at credibility he had going for him.

 

...

^Good response. I'm getting sick and tired of outsiders dumping on the city for no apparent reason.

I don't want to start a Indy-bashing theme, but getting a lecture from someone who is trying to make the point that Indy is more urban than Cleveland isn't worth the time to respond.