6.) Lake Erie
Yes, it’s the shallowest of the Great Lakes, and not too long ago swimming in the lake was ummm, discouraged, but to those who’ve never seen a Great Lake, they’ll be shocked at its size. Our city doesn’t take advantage of the lakefront area enough and a woefully underused airport takes away a huge chunk of our access. But, during the warm months, there isn’t much that will improve your Cleveland experience more than being near, or on, the lake.
5.) Sports Fans
Hard to imagine, considering the epic championship drought the city went through, and the (over) reaction to LeBron James’ 2010 exit, but sports are as interwoven in the fabric of residents, and the nation’s perception of Clevelanders, as just about anything else. There’s no doubt that the Browns get the lion’s share of the attention in this city, be it on TV and radio, or in daily columns and websites, and sometimes that’s unfair. There are deeply loyal Indians fans here who’ve now spent 70 winters hoping next year would be the one. Our fans, though overly cynical at times and somehow naively optimistic at others, have supplied the missing passion when our teams’ on-field success doesn’t equal the fans expectations.
4.) Playhouse Square
Our orchestra may be a player on the world stage, but our theater district is what makes us so distinct within America. As Clevelanders know, it’s the largest theater district in the country outside of New York City, getting over one million visitors per year. The renovations of these theaters over the last three decades were crucial in propelling Cleveland’s downtown renaissance since the 1980s. The city takes its theater seriously and besides Playhouse and the theaters that incorporate the area around East 15th and Euclid Ave., there are other excellent theaters on the east (Dobama Theatre in Cleveland Heights) and west sides (Beck Center in Lakewood). And a first-rate children’s program at Talespinner on Detroit Avenue.
http://www.playhousesquare.org/
3.) Diverse Neighborhoods & Population
Fifteen years ago, downtown Cleveland was something of a ghost town. Yes, people technically resided therein, at places like Reserve Square or the warehouse district and the Flats and West 6th, et. al. offered amusements, especially for the younger crowd. Today, downtown is bustling! Yet, like other big cities, Cleveland is defined by its residential neighborhoods and the city has an eclectic collection of them.
Some of our neighborhoods carry names left over from an earlier era when immigrant settlements defined specific areas. Slavic Village on the near east side, which was unfortunately ground zero for the housing crisis a decade ago, is but one. And of course Little Italy where the annual Feast of the Assumption has been taking place since the late 1800s. Clevelanders all have a notion of what they’re going to see in any given neighborhood. Some of it is unfortunately bleak, but there are gems within each neighborhood. For example, in Collinwood you’ll find an artsy vibe whilst in West Park,where bars and pubs are aplenty, and Catholic Church parishes were once used to signify a locality, you’ll find a western European feel.
Today, a majority of the city’s population is African-American (predominantly on the east side), with rising levels of Hispanics who provide the cultural backbone in neighborhoods like the Clark-Fulton/Stockyards area. Asia Town in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood is home to a significant number of Asians as well as Asian foodand stores. One can also appreciate the increasing number of Middle Easterners in the area whilst driving along Lorain Ave. and observing the Arabic eateries and shops that adorn that west side thoroughfare. And the large contingent of Jewish Clevelanders in eastern suburbs like Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, and Beachwood really highlight the assorted makeup of the nation’s once 6th-largest city.
As will be covered in a future post, while we celebrate a rich cultural and demographic diversity in Cleveland, neighborhood borders and the Cuyahoga River too often serve as barriers to a fully integrated Cleveland.
2.) Food
Though not identified with one specific type of food or food item in the way that a New Orleans or Chicago are, Cleveland has a broad selection of food options for nearly any taste you desire with quaint restaurants in surprising locales along with lively dining districts that have changed the face of the city and region. There are the ethnic institutions like Sokolowski’s Inn and newer Cleveland landmarks like Fahrenheit and trendy eateries like Alley Cat. And don’t forget about some of the suburban hotspots like Le Bistro de Beaujolais in Olmsted Falls, Anatolia Cafe in Cleveland Heights, and Sweet Melissa in Rocky River amongst many others.
For this writer’s list of favorite restaurant’s check here and cleveland.com puts out a comprehensive account of the area’s best restaurants every year and shouldn’t be missed for those who want to try something new or visit a regional staple.
1.) Cleveland Metroparks
The so-called “Emerald Necklace” is unlike any other park or park system in the nation. Fishing, picnicking, hiking, imbibing, cycling, golfing, eating, and swimming are just some of what’s available within the open spaces of the Metroparks. Stretching from Huntington Beach to the west of the city over to Chagrin in the east and as far south as Hinckley, this massive system of parks and reservations encircles the region providing nearly 34 square miles of outdoor space for those with all sorts of hobbies. And the Metroparks taking over Edgewater Beach has made that one of the top attractions during the warm months of the year.
The city of Cleveland itself also boasts over 150 parks of its own making us “The Forest City” indeed.
