CLE Presents that Rock
It might be goodbye for now, but Cleveland will always be in your heart. So don’t forget a souvenir to help you relive your experiences and all the rockin’ good times you had here. If you’re searching for quirky and eclectic doodads, independent art, delectable chocolate or uniquely Cleveland postcards, t-shirts and giftware, Cleveland Plus offers incredible shopping for every taste and budget.
Cleveland Sweets
Visitors can dive into a chocolate drizzle pecan almond crunch gift box from Olympia Candies (www.olympiacandy.com) or some of Baker’s Candies (www.bakercandies.com) famous whipped eggs, a fluffy combination of marshmallow and whipped cream covered in chocolate. Or, they can find the perfect wine or craft beer pairing with chocolate confections at Lilly’s Handmade Chocolates (www.lillytremont.com). Lilly’s creations are unique with both sweet and savory flavors such as “Sweet Cheeks,” a dark chocolate piece filled with burned salty caramel and “That Bacon One,” a milk chocolate piece filled with bacon and organic maple butter. For those who like the saltier side of sweets, try one of the 18 different flavors of popcorn or chocolate covered jalapeños at Campbell’s Popcorn Shop (www.campbellssweets.com) at the West Side Market.
Cleveland Plus Pass
This multi-attraction pass saves at least 30 percent off access to ten of Cleveland’s big attractions. For visitors who missed some of the great museums Cleveland Plus has to offer during this visit, the two-, three- or five-day Plus Pass (www.positivelycleveland.com/pluspass) will help them see it all during the next time in town. The pass includes admission to ten area attractions including the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Lake Metroparks Farmpark, the Cleveland Botanical Garden and other top destinations, as well as value-added offers from restaurants, retail establishments and more. The Plus Pass doesn’t activate until the user visits the first location, so travelers can plan a return anytime in the future.
Cleveland T-Shirts
Clevelanders wear their hearts on their sleeves, literally. Visitors can be a part of this trend with quirky shirts with as much style as Cleveland pride from C.L.E. Clothing Co. (www.cleclothingco.com) or GV Artwork and Designs (www.gvetchedintime.com). For an extensive collection of Cleveland gear beyond just t-shirts, holiday travelers should shop at The Only Cleveland Store (www.theonlyclevelandstore.com) located in the heart of downtown at Tower City Center.
Anything from Big Fun
There’s no better place for affordable, kitsch gifts ranging from whoopee cushions to GI Joe thermoses than Big Fun (www.bigfunbigfun.com). This eclectic vintage toy store with two Cleveland locations is bursting with little novelty items and big ticket, hard-to-find pop culture collectibles.
African Elephant Crossing
For generations, the surroundings and residents of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo have wowed visitors from around the world and cultivated a reputation for jaw-dropping exhibits and impactful wildlife education programs.
And yet, this spring the Zoo has managed to create amazement in ways previously unimagined, bringing distant savannas and their breathtaking inhabitants to Northeast Ohio with the African Elephant Crossing. Just a few minutes from the skyscrapers of downtown, this five-acre habitat feels a half a world away.
Although the Zoo’s elephant care experience dates back more than a century, its new African Elephant Crossing is a modern marvel of engineering that recreates lightly-wooded grasslands complete with roaming yards, swimming ponds and a heated outdoor range—all capable of supporting as many as ten elephants at a time.
Final Summer Fling in Cleveland Plus
In no particular order…
10. Enjoy an End-of-Summer Festival
Get to the the Sparx City Hop Sept. 11. This day-long event connects nine of Cleveland’s bustling neighborhoods and celebrates the visual, culinary and musical artists in each. Attendees can park their car in one location and then use free trolleys to explore the more than 60 galleries and 100 eateries along the way.
Presented by the Lake County Visitors Bureau, the Lake County PerchFest brings a weekend (Sept. 10 – 12) devoted to Lake Erie’s favorite fish – the perch! Enjoy a mouthwatering fish fry, local live entertainment, “Just For Kids” entertainment featuring a youth fishing tank, a perch fishing tournament, karaoke and more.
The Cleveland Museum of Art presents its 20th annual Chalk Festival Sept. 11- 12, an art that is a 16th century Italian tradition. Great for kids and adults.
Visitors can step back in time 200 years to the Yankee Peddler Festival at Clay’s Park in Canal Fulton Sept. 11 – 12, 18 – 19, 25 – 26. Visit pioneer America with master artists and crafters setting up rustic shops, food cooked over open fires and non-stop entertainment. Keep up to the hour with the Town Criers and visit with the militia and mountain men.
Celebrate both the edible gardening revolution and Northeast Ohio’s thriving commitment to local food at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. RIPE! Food & Garden Festival Sept. 24-26 lets visitors choose among three tracks of programs: culinary, gardening and children’s. Each track includes comparative tastings, demonstrations and appearances by gardening and local food experts. An onsite farmers market and garden marketplace lets you take home garden-related products, while local restaurants on-site sell harvest-inspired, ready-to-eat dishes.
9. All Aboard the Goodtime III and Nautica Queen
Take in the last wondrous moments of the summer weather aboard one of these passenger boats sailing Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River with good food, music and entertainment.
- The Goodtime III features a panoramic cruise of Cleveland’s lakefront and the Cuyahoga River. Daily tours, on-board entertainment and dining are available.
- Cruising April through New Year’s Eve, the Nautica Queen is a luxury ship featuring daily lunch and dinner cruises with elaborate buffet dining and on-board entertainment for sightseeing up and down the Cuyahoga River.
8. Take a City Tour
Spend the rest of your summer like a tourist – take a city tour of Cleveland.
Consider a one-hour, narrated tour of downtown Cleveland on a Segway. Thanks to Electronic Tranpsort LLC Segway Tours of Cleveland, you can learn all about the city while riding one these awesome gliders (weather permitting; year round).
And, while you may have seen those jolly red trolleys driving around the city every day, you might not know that these buses offer city tours and specialty city tours all over the town. Great for all ages and especially fun during warm weather months, check out Trolley Tours of Cleveland (year round).
Or, hop on a Take a Hike! Tour where you can experience three exciting tours through some of downtown’s most intriguing districts with the help of costumed historical characters from Cleveland’s past. Tours run until Sept. 12.
Want to guide yourself? Download a free walking tour from www.cityprowl.com and explore the art, architecture and history of Cleveland at your own pace.
7. Cedar Point
The thrills keep going until October 31 at the amusement park recognized as the “World’s Best” for 12 consecutive years. This year, check out the 14th Annual Halloweekends, which promises to offer more thrills and fun than ever before. Check out spooky musical performances, monster midway invasions, haunted houses and its ever-popular scream-worthy collection of rides. Event runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Watch the Halloweekends video here.
6. Baseball
Summertime wouldn’t be complete without giving some love to one of America’s favorite pastimes – baseball. And, Cleveland Plus is no stranger to the sport, as it enjoys another season of Cleveland Indians Baseball. Tickets are still available for home games until Sept. 29.
Or, head east of downtown Cleveland to watch the Lake County Captains, the Single A Affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Regarded as one of the most fan-friendly ballparks in the minor leagues, Classic Park offers “Thirsty Thursdays,” family fun games, fireworks and ethnic heritage events. Home games run now through Sept. 10.
Also check out the Akron Aeros, the Double A Affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Like the Lake County Captains, the Aeros offer a traditional baseball experience paired with creative family-friendly promotions and special events like “Dollar Dog Mondays,” “Two for Tuesdays” and “Fireworks Fridays.” Ticket prices range from $7 to $9. Home games run through Sept. 15.
Find more Cleveland Plus baseball information here.
5. Farming and Living History
Part of enjoying the summer means escaping the hustle and bustle of daily life for something a bit more down-to-earth.
Visitors looking to slow down should head back to the 19th century in this outdoor, living history museum. Guests of Hale Farm & Village can see Wheatfield Village, a small Ohio town struggling with the impact of the Civil War. Period crafts are made on the premises, with skilled artisans demonstrating glassblowing, blacksmithing, spinning, weaving, candlemaking and basketmaking. Farm animals also are in residence with a “stable” of horses, pigs, cows and sheep. Hale Farm & Village is open weekends in September and October.
Also in the living history departments is the Historic Roscoe Village. Experience life in the 1800s in this beautifully-restored canal town with journey tour and horsedrawn canal boat ride. Also open in the fall and for Christmas tours, it’s a great “get outside” family activity for the end of the season.
And, while they’re opened year-round, Lake Metroparks Farmpark is also a wonderful option for those looking to enjoy the last of the summery weather. Discover more than 50 breeds of farm animals on a trip to this hands-on science center. While here, milk a cow, take a wagon ride, stroll through gardens and enjoy animal shows and demonstrations. Learn more here.
4. Head to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Get to the Zoo before Sept. 12 to experience FLUTTER!, an exhibit that allows you to walk among dozens of free-flying butterflies from around the world; DINOSAURS!, where animatronic dinosaurs, including several “babies,” roar and move just like they did millions of years ago and Scoop on Poop, an exhibit teaching children about natural, umm…functions.
3. Get Wet with Great Lakes Watersports
Experience the extreme side of Cleveland Plus while jet skiing, boating and kayaking on Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. Great Lakes Watersports, located in the Flats, offers rentals including boat accessories like jet skis, wakeboards and tubes Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 19.
Whether you’re looking for a wild night or a relaxing getaway, Kelleys, Middle Bass and South Bass islands in Lake Erie eagerly welcome all visitors with a variety of vacation options accessible by the Jet Express, Miller Boat Line and the Goodtime I. Learn more about the islands here.
1. Charter Boat Fishing
Enjoy what’s left of summer aboard a charter boat where visitors can use the charter company’s fishing and boating equipment as well as their skilled fishing guides and captains for one last hurrah on Lake Erie. Some of our favorites include Fishin Boat Charters (30-foot Sport Fisherman) and Holiday Charters (56-foot steel-hulled, twin-diesel boat serving groups of up to 75 guests). Also check out these services:
- North Coast Charter Boat Association: NCCBA is a group of professional charter captains eager to provide an enjoyable and rewarding day of fishing on Lake Erie’s Central Basin.
- Wildwood Marina: A one-stop shop, Wildwood Marina offers boat charters for fishing, sightseeing and scuba diving for sunken ships. Other services provided with charters include bait, tackle, fishing licenses, rental rods, fish cleaning services and more.
Click here for more end of summer ideas from the Plain Dealer.
– Submitted by L.R.H.
Earth Day Events in Cleveland Plus
EarthFest 2010 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (April 18, 10am-5pm)
3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland
216.661.6500/www.clemetzoo.com
Celebrate EarthFest 2010 at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo + RainForest (photo: KFCrisafi)
The nation’s longest-running Earth Day festival celebrates the 40th anniversary of Earth Day at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Brought to you by the Earth Day Coalition, Cleveland’s own nonprofit environmental education organization, EarthFest 2010 is a one-day festival highlighting the growing environmental community in Cleveland Plus. Visit 175 “go green” exhibits and enjoy interactive fun for the whole family. Ride the free RTA shuttle from Public Square to the Zoo to get in free.
Earth Day at Lake Metroparks Farmpark (April 18, noon-4pm)
8800 Chardon Road, Kirtland
440.256.2122/www.lakemetroparks.com
Head to Lake Metroparks Farmpark for renewable energy demonstrations, a Farmer’s Market of locally-grown foods, bicycle riding safety and demos and a coloring contest display. Plus, go active with Ronald McDonald from 2pm to 4pm.
Earth Day at Penitentiary Glen Reservation (April 18, noon-4pm)
8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road, Kirtland
440.256.1404/www.lakemetroparks.com
Lake Metropark’s Penitentiary Glen Reservation celebrates with an eco-fair featuring local conservation agencies, free tree saplings, kids games, a haircut-a-thon by Ladies & Gentlemen Salon & Day Spa, creative writing contest results, wildlife exhibits and free miniature train rides from 1-3pm, weather permitting. Get your groove and show some Flower Power by dressing in late-’60s/early ’70s clothes, making signs and marching for the Earth!
Party for the Planet at the Akron Zoo (April 24, 11am-4pm)
500 Edgewood Avenue, Akron
330.375.2550/www.akronzoo.org
The Akron Zoo offers up tips and giveaways from green vendors in celebration of Earth Day . The Zoo’s mascot, Conrad Conservation, will be on hand while visitors learn how simple conservation efforts can make a remarkable difference to wildlife. Join in Akron Zoo’s first-ever paper drive.
Go Green with Garbagena at The Children’s Museum of Cleveland (April 22, 11am + 3:30pm)
10730 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland
216.791.7114/www.clevelandchildrensmuseum.org
Garbagena is a life-sized interactive puppet that lives in a garbage can and overflowing with trash. Visitors are invited to help Garbagena clean up her act and decide what objects can be reused, recycled and rethought. Learn about the importance of recycling by making recycled paper to take home. Take a nature walk at 1:30pm (weather permitting).
Down-to-Earth Earth Day at Cleveland Museum of Natural History (April 21, 4-9pm)
1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland
800.317.9155 / www.cmnh.org
Learn more about making Cleveland a green city on a blue lake. Make a hovercraft with recycled materials, see science in action and enjoy an edible recycling activity.–Submitted by CA
EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a favorite Earth Day event not listed here? Please add it by comenting below.
The Young and The Restless
Snoopy at Cedar Point Amusement Park (west of Cleveland in Sandusky, Ohio).
Kids are always looking for their next kingdom and Northeast Ohio is a treasure map of interesting activities that will excite and entertain.
Take for instance the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and its newest program this spring — The Scoop on Poop! Fish do it, frogs do it, pythons, eagles and elephants do it, yet poop is one of those subjects we find difficult to talk about with a straight face. “Kids however are positively fascinated by it,” says Sue Allen, manager of marketing and public relations at the Metroparks Zoo. “Poop is interesting stuff — really.”
Zoo visitors can improve their No. 2 IQ in Stool School by listening in on an animal’s digestive system, learn the language of poop in countries around the world, compete in dung beetle races, track wild animals by clues left in scat and much more. This is, of course, on top of everything else awesomely interesting about the Metroparks’ zoo including its animal shows, dinosaur exhibit and more than 3,000 creatures roaming 168 rolling, wooded acres.
Most things about planet earth are pretty interesting, but everything about space is totally engrossing. At the Great Lakes Science Center (one of the nation’s leading science and technology hubs and home to the awe-inspiring OMNIMAX Theater), the Return to the Moon exhibit will be sweeping young minds off their feet and placing them squarely on the lunar map.
Summer (Solstice) in the City
Wow. The summer solstice is really heating things up here in Cleveland. There are almost too many things to do this weekend. It’s Father’s Day weekend and I already have tickets to the Lake Erie Crushers on Friday, tickets to laugh along with Joel McHale from The Soup at Lakewood Civic Auditorium and reservations to see actor James Franco at the Cleveland Museum of Art. I just can’t decide where else I’ll be. Here’s a rundown of some of the big happenings:
Big Cool Cats Steve Presser (owner of Big Fun and Big Fun Cleveland vintage and collectible toy stores), Thomas Mulready (CoolCleveland.com) and singer/songwriter Denis Devito (Cats On Holiday) dreamt up this new all-day music festival—featuring everything from reggae to rock, roots, blues, Cajun, country, alternative pop, ragtime, swing, Afro-electronique, New Orleans Mardi Gras music, traditional Americana and a combination of hip-hop blended with Brazilian bossa nova at Cain Park’s Evans Amphitheater. Go for the sunshine, the music and to support some cats who generally love our city and just want to put together a fun day. Saturday, June 20, noon – 11pm. General admission $40; persons presenting a military ID, senior citizen or student ID or a Friends of Cain Park membership card are eligible to receive a discount.
Summer Solstice Celebration Welcome the longest day of the year with an all-night party celebrating the new east wing (very cool, by the way) at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Tapas stations, bars and a few surprises. Performers include Hot Club of Detroit, Slavic Soul Party, Dan Deacon and others. Stay the whole night or just close it out ($15 only). Saturday, June 20, 5pm-2am. Reservations are requested for the 5pm and 7pm admissions but are not necessary for 10pm.
Porchfest Porches in Cleveland’s Larchmere neighborhood are being transformed into stages with free musical performances, in the first Larchmere Porchfest. Organized in part by my friend (a musician himself and marketing guy at Telarc records), Jason Linder, the idea came from an annual “porch music” festival in Ithaca, NY. There will be 20 acts, representing a variety of musical styles, performing just off of Shaker Square. Performers include Brent Kirby (from the Jack Fords), Roger Hoover, Clint Holley, Church of the Lazy Bastards, Jesse Barnez, Elec Simon, Russian Duo and Miss Melvis, garage rock. Restaurants like Boulevard Blue, Vine & Bean Cafe, Academy Tavern and Felice are opening early that day for festival-goers to dine or drink. Porchfest, Saturday, June 20, 2-6pm, concludes with a full band, plugged-in concert at Shaker Square from 6-9pm, courtesy of The Coral Company. Free.
When Dinosaurs Roam Cleveland
Ah, the telltale signs that summer is on its way back to Cleveland Plus: the roar of the crowd at Progressive Field, more and more boats popping up on the lake and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo being overrun by dinosaurs. Wait . . . dinosaurs?
The monstrously popular (see what I did there?) prehistoric exhibit DINOSAURS! returns to the Zoo for 2009 (May 21-September 13) with traditional favorites like T-Rex accompanied a whole new cast of characters. Zoo guests get to walk among the animatronic beasts that move and roar just like they would’ve millions of years ago. (Luckily for us, the robot versions don’t need to be fed.)
The exhibit doesn’t open until Thursday, but I got a chance to visit the zoo while construction crews lowered into place and pieced together our robotic reptilian friends. To see the exhibit coming together and find out more information about Dinosaurs! ‘09, check out the video below.
–Submitted by FC
Editor’s Note: DINOSAURS! is just $1 per person with regular Zoo admission and free for Zoo members and children under 2. And, if you have one of those kids who’ll want to know exactly which dinos will be appearing this summer, here’s the complete, searchable list.
What are you doing February 29? (02.23.09)
What are you doing on February 29? Nothing this year! It’s not leap year, so there’s no 29th day in February this year (so, no birthday for my college friend Kim), but that’s no reason to let the end of February and beginning of March pass you by.
Wondering if March will come in like a lion or a lamb? Well, you can visit the lions, lambs and the six young Mexican wolves now on the prowl at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The three year-old wolves are on exhibit from 10am – 5pm daily at the Zoo’s Wolf Wilderness. This is the first time the Zoo has ever displayed Mexican wolves – the rarest and most genetically distinct of all the gray wolves in North America. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109, 216.661.6500.
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