So tell me about Cleveland

This is utterly and truly off-topic. Well, mostly. There are a bunch of Ohio wine bloggers. It’s kind of silly how many of us there are. We are spread out across the state – Cincinnati, Toledo, Cleveland, Dayton, Ripley …  Via Wine and Politics, I found this Frappr map of wine bloggers. Go add yourself!

I know a few of you Ohio folks check my blog occasionally, so to you, I direct my off-topic questions.
My husband is in the midst of a job search and we’re looking expand our horizons a bit. Now, my first choice, as a true Parrothead and Girl of the Beach, would be to head south as rapidly as possible and risk hurricanes for the chance at ocean, beaches, or the Southern Charm of the Carolinas. However, the headhunter seems to be concentrating on Ohio. In particular, Cleveland and Columbus. I can come up with reasons to get me to move to Columbus, mostly involving shopping. However, please enlighten me on why I might want to move to Cleveland? Growing up in Cincinnati, we made fun of Cleveland (sorry!), and I know that it had a small renaissance in the 90′s. I’m also, forgive me, a tried-and-true Steelers fan. I need shopping, wine, Opera, and Broadway Series in my life on a regular basis. If it came to choosing between a fantastic opportunity in Cleveland and remaining here, I want to know – can I survive in Cleveland?

4 Responses to “So tell me about Cleveland”

1. Jim Eastman says:

   June 16, 2006 at 4:39 pm

   Hi there!
   Shopping is pretty intense (too intense for me) at the assorted suburban malls and centers (e.g. Beachwood Mall, Great Northern). Downtown it’s so-so and tends to close after the working day is done. There are plenty of cool little indy shops around here, as well. Coventry, Tremont and W 25th/Ohio City are great places for those.
   Opera:
   http://www.lyricoperacleveland.org/
   http://www.clevelandopera.org/
   Theater:
   http://www.playhousesquare.org/
   http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/
   http://www.cptonline.org/
   And no shortage of wine as well. How else could I live here?
   Hope that helps!
2. Trish says:

   June 21, 2006 at 11:58 pm

   Reasons to move to Northeast Ohio:
   1. Cost of living. Your buck will go far. For me, who grew up in the concrete, expensive wasteland of suburban Chicago, the gorgeous, affordable old homes in Northeast Ohio neighborhoods are draw enough. You’ve also got townhomes and condos in trendy but still neighborhoody urban areas, if that’s more your speed.
   2. Some seriously good eats. The Tremont and Ohio City neighborhoods in Cleveland have many good restaurants. In Tremont, there’s Lolita (celeb chef Michael Symons’ restaurant), and in Ohio City, you’ve got extra-cool cocktail and wine bar Velvet Tango Room. If you travel further south, I’ve got more recommendations.
   3. Great classical music scene. Outdoor Cleveland Orchestra concerts in the summer at Blossom Music Center.
   4. One of the nicest baseball parks around. Seriously, I’m a Cubs fan through and through, but Jacob’s Field is so comfortable and the employees are so nice. It’s like Disneyland. And every fall they have the World Series of Wine – a gigantic wine event that spans three days.
   I won’t lie – the shopping’s pretty lame, although Beachwood makes a go of it. Also, there’s an Anthropologie and similar shops on Chagrin Boulevard. Lots of good wine shops and, if you come to Akron, the hands-down best gourmet grocery ever. West Point Market.
   Northeast Ohio’s actually a really nice place to live.
3. Mary says:

   May 29, 2007 at 8:02 am

   I absolutely agree with the other comments. Shopping at Beachwood Place and Legacy Village is great, plus the west side offers Crocker Park. We just got a Whole Foods in town too in University Heights!
   We’re ahead of Columbus as far as having the major league sports teams. The Zoo, museums, metroparks and other attractions offer lots to do year round. Here’s another good site to check out — http://www.travelcleveland.com.
   As far as wine goes, don’t miss the second annual Cleveland Wine Festival coming up on June 29 and 30 at Voinovich Park in downtown Cleveland. For details, visit http://www.clevelandwinefestival.com!
4. Beth says:

   February 17, 2010 at 1:49 pm

   THE LAKE!!!!! It’s a great resource! I’m 28 and swam in it all the time as a kid. Mentor Headlands or Edgewater park are great. (and cheap waterfront property.) The wineries east of Cleveland along the lake are nice.

   The food for sure! I miss the ethnic food of Cleveland. You can find women in churches making anything you can ask for. Pierogies, potica, stuffed cabbage, you name it! The West Side Market, Miles Farmers Market, etc…

   Character- There are so many nice neighborhoods in and around Cleveland, all offering something different. From Lakewood, to Chagrin Falls, you really get a feel for the history of the city.

   The summers are the best! It’s comfortable there and you can really enjoy the weather. None of this muggy, humid heat.

   And the museums/symphony/theatres are top notch!

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