moving to cleveland spring 2008

I recently went to ohio for 2 weeks on vacation/business to visit friends and check out healthcare opportunities. Cincinnati was nice,rolling hills and a decent downtown for it's size. Not urban though. Next was Columbus. Not bad either but flat and not impressed with the size of downtown for a city that size.Party town. Great for college. Not alot of culture. Last stop Cleveland. I was not expecting this at all. Nice size downtown, active nightlife in that downtown, a real city feel. We went to tower city,the arcade,university circle,theatre district and out on lake erie. The construction of new condos and apartments were all over downtown plus a HUGE healthcare industry. Friends say Cleveland is on it's way back up I said it already looks great. There is a pride in that city and people really want to see it thrive. I will be moving to downtown Cleveland in the late spring.

Great for: Beaches, Skiing/Snowboarding, History/Culture, Theatre/Music, Nightlife, Budget Travel

Last Visit: August 2007

11 September 2007 | A Yahoo! User

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Give it a try

What is there not to like about Cleveland? All you from Chicago who think you own Rock 'n' Roll, guess what? Cleveland does. Home to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of fame, the wonderful West Side Market, Lebron James, the Cleveland Browns (gotta have faith!), Cleveland has transformed itself from the "mistake on the lake" to one of the nicest cities in the nation. The night life in the flats is great along with many good concert venues including the Agora and Nautica Pavillion. From the shopping to the restauraunts to Lake Erie, Cleveland has something for everyone.

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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Made some awsome friends

Even though I didn't visit CLE for pleasure the first time, but for a big surgical procedure, I ended up making a lot of friends there. On the visit for my second surgery, the friends made accomodations to take me around to see some places. I never would have had the expirience otherwise. I had such a wonderful time visiting the zoo, the circus, museums gardens and more. I definitely will be back to visit this diverse, friendly city again.

6 June 2005 | jebartist

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FREE!

You may have heard of the controversial FREE Stamp sculpture by Oldenburg and van Bruggen located next to city hall at Willard Park. Some say this huge pop art sculpture is an eyesore, while others proclaim it represents liberty as American citizens. I like to think that it represents all the wonderful things the city of Cleveland offers free of charge. Amazing architectural structures such as Terminal Tower, The Arcade (modeled after Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, Italy), and the West Side Market (amazing indoor quality foods market) are operating spaces, worth seeing, and it doesn't cost anything to view them. The Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the nation's premier collections, and there is no admission charge. Free orchestra concerts at the Cleveland Institute of Music are open to the public and feature musical talent of young musicians from all over the world attending the institute. Other institutions with regular free events are Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Public Library (another amazing structure), the Cleveland Institute of Art, and Cleveland State University. Some beautiful churches such as St. John's the Evangelist Cathedral downtown (relics of St. Christine are on display), Holy Rosary Church in Little Italy, and a plethora of (religiously and architecturally) diverse churches in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood are open to the public most hours of the day. Also in Little Italy and Tremont are ARTwalks that feature art from local galleries, free food sampling, and live entertainment. Tremont ARTwalks are held on the second Friday of each month during the evening, and Little Italy ARTwalks are held the first weekends of June, October, and December throughout the day. Across from the Westside Market in the park on Saturdays during the summer there are open air markets that feature a variety of vendors and free entertainment. Landmarks like Lakeview cemetery contain the graves and monuments of Cleveland's rich and famous including John D. Rockefeller, and President James Garfield. Another landmark free of charge is the Soldier and Sailor's monument downtown on Public Square that honors the 9,000 Northeastern Ohio men who died in the Civil War. There are many opportunities to enjoy nature at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Cleveland Metroparks, or the Shaker Lakes Nature Center. Enjoy the lakefront at Voinovich Park at the E.9th Pier, or Edgewater State Park. Take advantage of the wonderful opportunities to experience a lot of culture, learn a lot of history, and enjoy nature at no expense!

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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Cleveland Events Rock!

I love Cleveland events! Sports events are always spirited no matter what the outcome of the game. Indians, Cavs, and Browns game are so much fun, and the stadiums rock. I look foward to annual events such as the Rib Cook-off, Cleveland Music Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, St. Patrick's Day Parade, Feast of the Assumption, the lighting of Public Square at Christmas, and the great Fourth of July celebration and fireworks. Summer is also fun with Tremont and Little Italy Artwalks, and open air markets on saturdays at Market Square and Shaker Square. There's just always something going on.

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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Shopping in Cleveland!

I love shopping for clothes, and it doesn't matter if it’s a major national retailer or a small boutique. I am the expert on Cleveland shopping of all kinds. Most of the shopping isn't downtown for some reason, but there is plenty throughout the region. When I am downtown I go to Tower City for MAC cosmetics and LVL X, and then to Nabici Collection on W. 9th or Bella Donna on Superior at the Arcade for designers you would think are only available in NYC and LA. The major shopping center on the Westside is the brand new Crocker Park in Westlake that caters to a very youthful crowd, and has all the high-end staple retailers, plus a flagship upscale Dick's Sporting goods, Urban Outfitters and H&M (this summer). Interesting shops here are Marcel’s, Indigo Nation, and Cara's boutiques. A nice collection of unique stores among the Westside suburbs is in Rocky River along Detroit Avenue. For urban shopping in the city I go to Market Square/W.25th on the near Westside. I recommend Modern World (hidden above Pride of Cleveland Scooters) and Elegansia. Near Market Square is Lorain Avenue that has some of the best antique, vintage, and thrift stores in the city. Tremont is a neighborhood around the intersection of Professor and College that has some great art galleries where you can get some unique jewelry and accessories, like at Eye Candy. The major high-end shopping center on the Eastside is Beachwood Place. It caters to a very sophisticated crowd, and has all the high-end staple retailers, plus a Nordstrom’s, Saks, Dillard’s, Cache, Arden B, and BCBG. Legacy Village across the street is a nice shopping center, and Lush Boutique and Lilly Pulitzer are my favorites. Nearby is Eton Collection in Woodmere that has Anthropolgie and Audrey's Sweet Threads. Chagrin Falls is a great town among the Eastside suburbs with unique shops along Orange and Washington streets. For urban shopping I go to Shaker Square on the near Eastside. I love Details boutique, and for my dog I shop at Breeds Apart. Near Shaker Square is Larchmere Boulevard also has some of the best antique and vintage stores in the city, but is a little more sophisticated than the alternative Lorain Avenue. I would go to Frog Leg’s is a great boutique that features European fashions. Little Italy is a great neighborhood around the intersection of Murray Hill and Mayfield for jewelry and accessories too, and I love the clothes at Anne van Hauwaert Fashion Design. It’s surprising, but you honestly don’t have to go to New York and Chicago for shopping. If you do, it is only a five hour drive to either!

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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A HUGE secret among American cities

Cleveland is a really cool city, and those that have been there know it. Some local Northeast Ohioans don't even know it. Most people are shocked to find out all the wonderful museums, restaurants, hotels, and music venues there are in the city or region, and even more surprised at how they fare compared to other cities' assets. Maybe you have encountered some people from the region who have relocated to your town and they gave a bad impression of Cleveland culture, or fed you criticisms of the city. They obviously don't know what they are talking about, and they are the boring ones, and not cultured themselves. The people in Cleveland love it, and are very fun and cultured. The fact that the city spread beyond its limits into multiple rings of suburbs makes the city seem small. The streetcar was first introduced here, and the city spread out, rather than up like other big cities. Make no mistake though. This is a big city. The museums, theaters, nightlife and dining are all top rate. National chains have even missed the city. Sure Cleveland has a House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, fast food restaurants and its share of Starbucks. But Fridays and other like-restaurants for instance has for the most part alluded the city. Instead of Friday's Cleveland area has many Winking Lizard restaurants that compare, but are of course better in their uniqueness. Forget about Ruth’s Chris steakhouse. Cleveland has its own Hyde Park Grille at three locations and the service, steaks, and atmosphere are far superior to any national steak house chain. Coffee is a big deal in the city, and I'm not talking about lattes and mochas. I'm talking about real, bitter coffee at the many Arabica Coffee locations. For great sandwiches don’t go to Quiznos. Pannini’s is the Cleveland favorite and I have never had a sandwich quite like it. Don’t try and order it without the cole slaw and fries on the sandwich. They won’t listen to you, and you will be glad they didn’t. There is no Dean & Deluca here, but an excellent specialty prepared food and grocery store downtown called Constantino's Market. Don’t forget about the grand European-style West Side Market either. Irish pub imitators don’t stand a chance in the city against Flannigan’s downtown or the pubs along Madison Avenue in Lakewood. Italian chains don’t stand a chance either against Cleveland’s Little Italy, which is probably more vibrant than New York’s Little Italy. There is no Second City. Pickwick and Frolic is like Cleveland’s Second City spot for comedy (recently USA Today’s top 10 comedy spots in the country), but it is actually a very classy place and has good food too. Be amazed at all that is unique about Cleveland before everyone else and all those chains discover. It is a place you can go to, and later when your friends visit and brag how wonderful it is, you can say, “of course! I was there years ago.”

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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Nice place to visit

I never thought of Cleveland as a combination of New York and Chicago, but it really is on a much smaller scale. Much cheaper too! I'd say this is one of the few cities where it is impossible to get ripped off, even if you are going to really nice places. Great museums, hotels, music, nightlife, lakefront, and diversity. In my opinion there are some of the best restaurants in the country. Like New York and Chicago there is great diversity. There are a lot of African Americans, Middle-Eastern, Hispanic, Irish, Polish, Slavic, Jewish, German, Italian, and WASP families here in the metropolitan area.

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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Beautiful Northern city on the Lake!

Cleveland is an amazing place! I visited recently with my girlfriends, and it had been a while. Our stay at the Ritz downtown was fantastic. Great lakefront setting, and awesome nightlife downtown in the Warehouse District and Gateway. If you are going to the Warehouse district I recommend Sushi Rock for dinner, Mercury Lounge and Cloud 9 for clubs. It is all very trendy and cosmopolitan, and the people are beautiful. In Gateway we went Pickwick and Frolic's for dinner and entertainment, and went to the cool V Lounge club after. There are plenty of great museums and attractions. Go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and West Side Market. Crocker Park just outside the city in Westlake is an awesome mall. It is not as big and visually impressive as Easton in Columbus, but has some better retailers. Urban outfitters, Indigo Nation Boutique, Trader Joe's, Coach, and soon Ohio's first H&M! There are also some local boutiques and clothiers there worth checking out. It looks like they are putting in a brand new state of the art movie theater there too. We ate at Blake's Seafood restaurant there, and it is wonderful. I can’t wait to go back! I visited Chicago last year, and we went to places just as nice in Cleveland, but spent had spent a lot more money. Cleveland is worth a trip!

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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A lot of great neighborhoods to visit!

Cleveland is full of great neighborhoods to walk through, and check out unique shops, bars, and cafes. Most of them have excellent websites with profiles, listings, and directions. Just search for the neighborhoods on Yahoo, and you will get plenty of information. If you are staying downtown, you will find that that everywhere will take less than fifteen minutes to get to. My favorite on the Westside is Ohio City, but there are also neighborhoods like Detroit-Shoreway, Tremont, and Madison Village (Lakewood). On the Eastside my favorite is Little Italy, but there are also neighborhoods like Shaker Square, and Coventry (Cleveland Heights). If you have a little more time, you should visit some suburban neighborhoods that have really nice boutiques and restaurants like beautiful Rocky River along Detroit Avenue, and the wonderful, brand new Crocker Park in Westlake. Eastside suburbs are harder to get to than the Westside suburbs, but Chagrin Falls is a very quaint, historic, upscale small town with great places. Beachwood has several of the region's most high-end shopping centers, including Legacy Village. I know I am probably missing some places, because there are so many. I find so many new places to go in Cleveland all the time.

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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