Transient Hobo

Bridges of Cuyahoga County

2010-08-06T13:03:00.008-04:00

The finalists selected for the design of the new Innerbelt Bridge into downtown Cleveland were released this morning. In keeping with the absurdity of their department's policies, ODOT has given interested citizens nine whole days to provide their input on how they'd like their city skyline to look for the next 50 years. The three designs vary considerably, and each has its own positives and negatives (except for B, keep reading). You can link here for pdf's of each.

This is from Bridge Proposal C, a shot looking downtown (you can vaguely see Jacobs Field behind). I really like the modern look of this span, unfortunately it's only over this section that we see the suspension effect. The rest of the bridge seems inordinately bland:
Bridge B is terrible, an affront to anyone driving, looking, or living within 100 miles of it. The premise seems (to me) to be, let's build a bridge that shows absolutely no continuity with the existing bridges (see the blue Lorain/Carnegie bridge behind) and is utterly lacking in any aesthetically definable feature.
I'm very torn about Bridge A; on the whole its appearance is the most compelling, and the interior lighting at night is beautiful. On the other hand, it doesn't have the striking design component of Bridge C.
If I were to fathom a guess, public opinion in this relatively un-progressive burg will favor Bridge A (and remember, I'm basing this solely on the released renderings, all other factors unconsidered). What will actually be constructed is anyone's guess, but with our string of luck in the CLE, it will wind up looking like the ugly stepchild of Bridge B, while Bridges A and C will be built in Miami.

Rip Van Hobo Awakens

2010-07-14T15:56:00.004-04:00

So it's been a few months, I've been busy. Plus, I'm sure you found other spellbinding things to read on the interwebs. To recap the past few months: it was cold, then it rained, then it warmed up, now it's hot. Up to speed?

I felt compelled to write a little something in response to the unabating flogging that my dear city is taking in newspapers (they do indeed still have those, in some places) and in just about every other media outlet. What is it that makes people think they know anything about Cleveland just because they can crack wise on all the proverbial chestnuts this city has endured? What do they know about our neighborhoods, our traditions, our devotion? The short answer is, nothing. Nor do they care, because it's easy to put someone else down to make yourself feel better. Sticks and stones and all that...

To be honest with you, I'm tired of it. And pride or not, it's time for a re-appraisal. This has begun in earnest (one would hope) with the drastic overhaul of county government. Whether it will usher out generations of corruption in public officialdom is too early to call. But, with any luck, it will inspire a new generation of leaders whose worldviews are shaped more by renewal and reclamation than recidivism and relapse. But this is too broad in scope, and already getting boring to write about.

Here are some concrete and uninvited opinions for what I think can help Cleveland:
1. Cut your already considerable losses and tell MMPI to get the hell out of town before we sink any more taxpayer millions into the pie-in-the-sky medical mart. I still don't understand why anyone thinks this is a good idea. We pay for the whole enormous mess, then give ownership to a company out of Chicago. Then, we pay them to take care of it for us, and we give them a tax abatement. Am I missing something?

2. Take that Lakefront Plan that everyone worked so hard to put together out from under the table leg it's been propping up and PUT IT INTO ACTION! If there's one thing that could benefit our image and please ALL the people of the region, it's intelligently developing public spaces on the freaking water that (everybody now) "is our greatest asset". I've got news for you, unless you're capitalizing on it, it's not an asset, it's a waste. And if I could spend time at a beach that looked more like Huntington and less like Edgewater, I would.

3. I don't know how, but tear up some of those god-awful surface parking lots blighting downtown and put in some green spaces! Maybe a park with a pavilion and stage, maybe a place where people can rent bicycles to explore the city. I don't know, anything is better than asphalt jungle as far as the eye can see.

4. Tear down about 10% of the housing stock in the city. It's obvious we're not the same sized city we were even 10 years ago, and we've got an overabundance rundown ramshackle housing that does nothing but lower property values and incite crime.

5. Support burgeoning local gardening and farming efforts with grants, inexpensive land leases, and internships for local kids. Though the availability of fresh produce across the downtown and east side has increased of late, it should remain a focus to provide nourishing sustenance to the people. All the while instilling skills and work ethic and promoting a healthy lifestyle in the urban core.

6. Put a damn bike lane over the Innerbelt Bridge. So let me get this straight, you're going to spend half a billion dollars to replace the only main thoroughfare linking the City with the southern inner-ring suburbs and beyond, and you refuse to add a measly bike lane? Perhaps you've noted the success with which cities like Portland and Boulder have had in incorporating this green, healthy, and desirable (among potential residents) subgenre into their cities. Why on Earth would we continue to push for less interaction, less exercise, fewer options for people?

I guess I could go on and on, but there are many others who put forth many more compelling arguments than me. I just hope that for our sake, and for the future's, the right people are listening.

PHISH3DfromF8FTW!

2010-03-30T17:05:00.002-04:00

I can vouch for the sentiments expressed in the following preview, although everyone knows I'm pretty biased. Anyway, if you've ever been curious to go to a Phish show, but couldn't bare the thought of all the weirdos, DON'T GO TO THE MOVIE THEATER ON APRIL 30TH. That is all.

PHISH 3D - IN THEATERS APRIL 30TH from Phish on Vimeo.

The Last Leg

2010-02-09T17:25:00.005-05:00

Got a call from the Unknown this morning (Tuesday). Literally, that's what it said on my caller id: "Unknown". Very mysterious, though I had a feeling it was originating from somewhere in Bolivia. Sure enough, Katie had hijacked a greenhouse in the heat-like phone booth to check in. Was she safe and sound? Yes. Was she well rested? Sort of; between new surroundings, a racing head, and the hotel television in the background, she didn't get much sleep.

She did meet up with Dorinda, the doctoral-getting, China, Paris, Montana, Bolivia-living guide of guides who is showing Katie the ropes, as it were. It sounds like she's done more in her life than most people could even hope to do. She currently resides in Independencia and will be working with Katie during her stay.

She said the food had been good; cafe con leche (espresso with steamed milk) and bread baked with cheese for breakfast. Lunch yesterday was a vegetarian melange of various.... vegetables, I guess. Plus fava beans, she did mention fava beans.

The forecast looks to be pretty predictable (and warm). A far cry from the snowstorm brewing maliciously outside my window, but a welcome change I'm sure.

-------------------------------------------

It's now Thursday, sorry for the delay. Spoke briefly with Katie just a moment ago and she is safely in Independencia. The dreaded bus ride was largely as anticipated; hairpin turns through the Andes Mountains, etc, with one rather harrowing twist like a cherry on top. Apparently, as they were crossing through a pass, the earth above (and ahead) of them let loose, disgorging a mass of dirt and rock that rumbled down the mountainside and across the road ahead. The landslide caused a rather lengthy delay, until a bulldozer could be brought into service and clear a path through the rubble. During the wait, as passengers caught some fresh air outside the bus, another smaller slide sent rock shards and other debris in their direction, as they quickly raced across the road to avoid the collapse.

Now, however, things have taken a more leisurely pace, and Katie has settled into her room at the local hostel. For the kingly sum of $15 a night, she is guaranteed a private bathroom, a real luxury in itself. She said that outside her room there are peach trees, and all that surrounds is green and lush. She and Dorinda made a peach crisp for dessert last evening, in fact, direct from the trees out back. She hopes to have internet access via the local school intermittently, so anyone reading that would like to send her a message are encouraged to say hello.

Now she will be getting down to business, teaching the local women (and men, I guess if they're interested) in weaving and spinning on a wheel (I mean like spinning yarn on a wheel, not like a weird game show or anything). Also, dying textiles using natural dyes, and whole host of other textile related 'things' that I don't have the vaguest idea how to do or explain.

She wishes everyone could see what's she's seeing, but alas, we'll have to wait for the pictures...

(No word on if she'll bring us back stylish hats.)

Treetop Flyer - Into La Paz

2010-02-07T13:33:00.002-05:00

Days four and five of Katie's travels are wrought with some literal and figurative ups and downs. The flight out of Cusco was harrowing; apparently the logistics of the altitude necessitate some treetop flying before landing in La Paz. Safely in Bolivia now, she is staring out a huge windowed atrium, waiting to board her connecting flight to Cochabamba. Security took her knitting needles back in Cusco, but they have free wifi, so she can use her iPod touch for now.

From the sounds of it, Cusco was not a magical destination. Torrential downpours, coupled with getting lost and being on the receiving end of a long bumpy bus ride with a crying baby does not a fairy tale vacation make. She noted that apparently, with all the rain, multiple small towns have been obliterated by mudslides; "Everything is clay red with puddles" to paint a murky picture.

But, she was able to meet up with Nilda Callanaupa, who curates a textile museum in Cusco, and is a prominent author on the subject. I'm not sure of their discussion, but based on the fascinating work Ms. Callanaupa is doing, I'm sure it was interesting.

The photo at right is on the site linked above, I just couldn't resist not putting on the post. I'll be continuing to update news of her journey as she reports it, so check back periodically for new posts. Thanks for reading!

Bolivia Bound

2010-02-05T12:42:00.003-05:00

As Katie weaves her way through South America on her way to Bolivia, we are left here in the gray of Cleveland in winter. Boooooo. But, on the plus side, I will have hot water and reliable electricity, which I'm pretty stoked about. As she will not, I will act as a sort of conduit to update those interested in her trip.

Day One:
Katie survived the seven hour layover at JFK and flew overnight to Lima, Peru. From there she caught another flight to Arequipa, where she stayed two years ago for her internship. Friends picked her up from the airport and installed her for the night in their apartment. The weather was hot, the sun was out, and she was sleepy.

Day Two:
Actually day three, but with overnight flights and such, it's just easier this way. Spending the day exploring Arequipa, with the beautiful sillar main square, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000 (thank you Wikipedia).

As this is concurrent with today, I don't really know too much more other than that she will be flying tonight to Cusco, a city relatively close to Machu Picchu, which has, of late, been the site of some serious flooding.

I anticipate that she will do some or all of the following today:
1. Eat chicken and potatoes... and maybe giant corn (it's enormous, I don't know what kind of Miracle Grow they're using over there).
2. Buy yarn; come on, it's inevitable.
3. Walk around the main square (pictured above) and struggle to find just the right angle to get a good picture of the Cathedral.
4. Dread her upcoming layover in the La Paz airport. It apparently takes a long time to get to a small Bolivian village, mainly because there are no direct flights.

When she does arrive at her final destination, Independencia, it will be a different landscape than any of us (most likely) are used to. For instance, I've been trying to dig up information on the village, but even in this day and age, it's nearly impossible. That's how you know it's pretty 'off the grid'. Take the photo below, for example. It shows the gps location satellite imagery for the village, and yes those are trees.
I think 'rural' may be putting it mildly...

Great Lakes Strikes Again

2009-12-30T16:20:00.007-05:00

On the stumbling heels of Christmas Ale comes the next slobber-inducing sensation at Great Lakes Brewing Company, Tempus Fugit. According to the resident experts (whom I assume are Luke and his minions),

"a complex strong/old ale brewed with honey and five different malts that features a medium hop presence."

What does this mean to you and me? Don't drink more than two if you plan on driving anywhere or three if you're planning on a run for public office. Perhaps the brewers had this in mind when they named the beast, as the ever reliable Wikipedia notes that -

"The meaning is sometimes used less colloquially as: "Meanwhile, the irreplaceable time escapes," expressing concern that one's limited time is being consumed by something which may have little intrinsic substance or importance at that moment." (emphasis mine)

Thanks, guys. Now not only are you brewing unique, excellent, award-winning beers that will knock us off our respective bar stools, you're rubbing our Latin-illiterate faces in it. Cool, real cool...

No word on the label, though if I had my say it would show a picture of my freshman dorm room. It will be available (in the brewpub only) on January 2nd, leaving just enough time between New Year's Eve and then to rehydrate.

Hope Springs Eternal, but Failure Sure is Frustrating Every Year.

2009-12-28T16:12:00.003-05:00

Something strange is happening in Cleveland. I don't mean the scandals in seemingly every level (and every office) in government, because sadly that's what passes for normal. Nor am I referring to the weather, though up until yesterday my back yard hadn't seen more than a light coating of snow. No, I'm talking about our beloved Browns, and their (GASP) winning streak. Three blissful weeks in a row; bloodlust of diehards sated... for now.

I won't deny that matchups against the Chiefs and Raiders weren't clashes of titans (in the ancient, not Nashville sense), but as the saying goes, 'a win is a win'. Before falling into an avalanche of cliches (e.g. 'playing good football', 'team effort', 'any given Sunday', yadda yadda yadda), I'll move along.

Where will our hearty Brownie brethren be 12 months from now? Will Mike Holmgren miracle-work the organization into prime-time players? Will the Mang- (-enius or -ina, depending on your view) still be giving emotionless monotone press conferences in Berea? Will any of our eleven, yes eleven, draft picks be immediate impact players a la Adrian Peterson? Will any of this translate into a competitive and dare I say it, playoff contention level season?

Or will it be more of the same - more rebuilding, more controversy, more disappointment? Being a pessimistically inclined optimist (move to Cleveland, you'll get it), I look at the Bengals clinching the Division this year as evidence that crazier things have happened, and if anybody has a shot, why not us? Lawrence Vickers, David Bowens, Matt Roth and Josh Cribbs have bolstered my spirits, and though I'm still not sold on either of our (allegedly) incredibly talented quarterbacks, they seem to have shown improvement over early in the year. Our receiving corps are growing into their own shoes, with Mohamed Massoquoi showing flashes of something between competence and brilliance, and have I mentioned Evan Moore? I mean, who is this guy and how did he become Joe Jurevicious reincarnated... in three weeks? And don't even get me started on Jerome Harrison; it's like when a baby first learns to walk: at first tentative, wobbly steps, then BAM, it's off to the races.

Anyway, before I tangentially wander into boring (or fascinating) minutiae, I'll get to the point. Either way, a year from now we'll all still be heating up leftover turkey sandwiches, recovering from holiday party hangovers and scraping the ice from our windshields in the mornings. The real question is, will we be lit up inside thinking about the possibility of contending, of actually holding a Browns Party with friends and family, of the absolute best thing to get us through the frigid gray of January, WINS? I may be caught up in post-victory euphoria, and granted my undying support for the team probably precludes me from any impartial analysis, but why not?

God willing, I'll be around in 12 months, and God willing, so will our shot at the postseason. As they say, 'on any given Sunday'...

Bridging the Gap, Literally and Figuratively

2009-12-18T10:21:00.006-05:00

The ongoing hullabaloo regarding the replacement/renovation of the Inner Belt Bridge coming into downtown Cleveland has led to discussion of the potential of including a pedestrian walkway in the design. Far be it from me to suppose scholarly knowledge of the issue, but why wouldn't they include a pedestrian walkway? With the 'death of downtown' issue haunting nearly every conversation, why would planners and ODOT neglect a simple, modern, and aesthetically beautiful way to encourage people to come into the city?

Having lived in Tremont, I can vouch for the value of having pedestrian access. I used to run down through the industrial flats, across the river, and back up Central Viaduct to get downtown, not the most pedestrian friendly (but only reasonable) route. The run back was a pleasure, across the Hope Memorial (Lorain Carnegie) Bridge, with the majestic views of downtown and the 'Titans of Industry' towering overhead. I always felt a genuine sense of pride in my city as I made my way to Ohio City.

Other, more progressive (i.e. younger, more inventive, less curmudgeonly) areas like Washington D.C. have produced beautiful and efficient examples of bridges that accommodate traffic other than those in vehicles. So what's the holdup? Skeptics argue about cost ($20 million to incorporate into current design is estimated), safety, and necessity, foremost. I would respond (long story short style) by saying, that $20 million is pocket change in terms of the cost of the project, not to mention the benefit that it will create economically upon completion (increased accessibility, dare I suggest TOURIST opportunities?!?). With regards to safety, a glance at the proposal should dispel that argument (see below).

And finally, necessity: as was so elegantly pronounced by GreenCityBlueLake;

"Overall, 25% of Cleveland households do not own a car (46,841 households, 114,292 individuals)

30% of Tremont households do not own a car (962 households, 2347 individuals)
65% of Central households do not own a car (2934 households, 7159 individuals)
42% of Downtown households do not own a car (1126 households, 2747 individuals)"

Think some of these people might appreciate an alternate route in and out of town?

I won't even get into the more detailed arguments for and against, as they have already been addressed both here and here. I'll close with my personal feeling on the subject;

Dear ODOT, Cleveland, Other Decision Makers, As a resident, I've seen various organizations screw up and screw us over and over again. The Ameritrust Tower, Convention Center, Medical Mart, etc. have all served to further weaken the bank accounts of your devoted citizenry, and I for one have had about as much as I can stand. You wonder why people are fleeing the place in droves? Look at yourself and LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS!

It's That Most Wonderful Time of the Year! (Festivus, I Mean...)

2009-12-17T17:50:00.007-05:00

For those revelers of my generation, the one above, and perhaps the one below, it's that most wonderful time of the year: Festivus. A holiday, as Frank Costanza so Seuss-ifly put it, "for the rest of us". So as we break out the beloved Pole from the crawl space, and dutifully list all those who have wronged us in the past year ("I've got a lotta problems with you people, and now you're gonna hear about it!"), it would only be appropriate to list all the beers that will be on next year's Winking Lizard Beer Tour.

Wait... that didn't make sense; what does one have to do with the other? Well, let me count the ways...

1. The Lizard List has not yet been released to the general public (or at least not most of it). Thus, this is known as a "Festivus miracle!" (see Kramer, Cosmo).

2. Though they do not consume beer, per se, in the famed Seinfeld episode (and if you still don't know what I'm talking about, just give up now), they do make bagels, and a central part of the episode involves yeast, a central ingredient in beer.

3. I like Festivus, beer, The Winking Lizard, and it's my blog. So there.

Anyway, here's the list you jackals, sorry it's barely legible...

You Are Stupid and We'll Take All Your Money.

2009-11-30T17:54:00.004-05:00

Such is the sentiment of the credit card industry regarding the proles (i.e. us) in Lowell Bergmann's incredible New York Times/Frontline piece, "The Card Game".

Seriously, they're not even pretending they're not ripping us off in every possible instance. Congress legislates a strong consumer advocacy law to protect the public? They use the money from late fees, overdraft fees, inactivity fees, and any of the other industry 'resources' to pay lobbyists to water down said legislation until there is little that could be called teeth included. And that's just the beginning of it... This program is worth 55 minutes of your time, and you can see it here (embedded below) or at the Frontline page.

The sheer audacity of those in and representing the industry is both incredible and incredibly infuriating. I am not anti-capitalist, nor am I a protectionist, in the general sense. But what this shows is a level of dishonesty and greed that touches nearly every American's life. If you are one of these people, you deserve to know about it.

The essence, as paraphrased from Shailesh Mehta, the founder of credit card giant Providian (which he sold to Washington Mutual in 2005 for $6.5 billion), is that (in reference to the credit industry) 'you (the US Government) make the laws, and we'll outsmart you and take your money every time'.

And darn if that hasn't proven to be true. In fact, as Senator Dick Durbin (D, Ill.) said, regarding the United States' governing legislative body "the banks, even as unpopular as they are right now in this crisis, still own this place."

Bouncing Round the Country

2009-11-05T11:55:00.005-05:00

And so ends the spectacle of Phish's Festival 8...

We stumbled our weary bones back home at 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening, a full 13 hours since arriving at LAX for our flight to CLE. This was after packing up the campsite and battling Los Angeles commuter traffic for 140 miles to get to a buddy's apartment where we stayed on Monday night. Exhausting? Yes. Regrettable? Not in a million years.

The planning that went into the fest included everything from coffee and donut provision to 40,000 people on Sunday morning, to ambient light effects on palm trees surrounding the stage. That is to say, they thought of EVERYTHING. Unlike other festivals I've attended, there was ample sinks, bathrooms, even showers (?!?!). They even set up a veritable microbrewery tent (be still my heart) with over 50 different kinds for sale. The routes in and out of The Empire Polo Club grounds were well planned, and we barely had to wait at all upon exiting the highway (which, if you've waited in line at Bonnaroo for 10 hours, you know how painful it is). Our campsite was at the far end of the site, but the walk to the Farmer's Market (yes, they had that too) or the venue itself was no longer than 10 minutes past palm trees and scenic mountain vistas in the distance.

The concerts themselves were something to behold. The band, which for the past few years (really since 2000) had been seemingly going through the motions, were firing like mad on all cylinders and melting people's faces like in days of old. Friday nights' opening ceremonies aptly set the stage for the weekend to come. Opening with 'Party Time' a raucous (if repetitive) new song, the band rocked out old favorites like 'Chalkdust Torture', 'NICU', 'Stash', and 'Cavern'. Interwoven excellently into the fabric were three songs from their newest release 'Joy'. The crowd really seemed to adopt the new stuff, as 'Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan' debuted in the middle, with 'Ocelot', and a beautifually jam-laden 'Time Turns Elastic' closing the set. Set two for the night saw the band come out with guns blazing, absolutely hammering a string (that included PYITE->Down With Disease ->Prince Caspian->Wolfman's Brother->Piper->Joy) at the onset that had fans shaking what their Mother's gave them. For the encore, a righteous sounding Character Zero sent everyone to their tents (or their parties) with a grin and a feeling like Saturday would be Christmas morning.

Saturday morning dawned cold but bright, with the temperature climbing from 45 degrees at about 6:00 a.m. to 90 by 2:00 p.m. This leads to the odd predicament in tent sleeping. By freezing the night before, it's necessary to load up on every tshirt, sweatshirt, sock, and jacket you brought with you. But by 9:00 a.m., the temp is beginning to rise so quickly that it's nearly unbearable to be wearing anything but shorts and a lone tshirt. We ventured to the Arts & Crafts Area, where attendees could create their own rock cairns/piles/what have you, the Farmer's Market, where fresh produce and wheat grass infused beverages beckoned, and The Overlook, with its' Bloody Mary Bar, Movie Theater, and 100 foot Ferris Wheel (like I said, everything...).

The shows themselves Saturday were inspiring in that "man I wish I could quit my job and follow Phish around the country" way. As it was Halloween, the rumor mill was grinding at full capacity with thoughts on what the boys would play for their second set "musical costume". This has become a Halloween tradition for the band, as they adopt cover an album in its' entirety. While many had their money on "Thriller", others thought David Bowie was a lock. Turns out, it was the Rolling Stones that had caught the band's eye, and they played a rollicking "Exile on Main Street" to the delighted crowd. The third (yes, third) set was as epic a performance as I've seen since the historic NYE 2000 performance at Big Cypress. Though only five songs in length, Trey made the absolute most of the hour and forty minute set. The jams were tight and uber-funky, with Mike dropping bass lines straight out of 1997. The closer, and my absolute favorite, You Enjoy Myself, closed out the set. How would they top such a mammoth set? With Suzy Greenberg, of course. I have never seen so many people go from standing still to dancing/flailing/cheering with every ounce of their being like when the first familiar notes of Suzy dropped (with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, to boot). And Sunday, Christmas morning again...

Sunday the show opened early, with a noon set. This was Phish's first ever all acoustic set, and if you know Phish fans, to witness "a first" is a cause for celebration in itself. As noted previously, the band provided coffee and donuts gratis to all fans (a logistical feat by any measure), and broke out gems such as (the never before played live) Sleep Again (another First!), Train Song, and Driver. I was anticipating more bluegrass, but was not disappointed when it didn't turn out to be. The 21 song set really shows how the 5 song set from the night before was a wonder. Sets two and three relied on staid favorites from the old days, from AC\DC Bag and Reba, to Tweezer and Mike's Song. Interestingly, rather than the good old Mike's-> I am Hydrogen -> Weekapaug Groove progression, they went with a Mike's->2001->Light->Slave to the Traffic Light formula that effectively kept the audience guessing, just like every other aspect of the band for the weekend. They do indeed like their surprises...

Fittingly, Tweezer Reprise closed the festival, with Chris Kuroda applying his master-touch to the unparalleled light show, and Trey thanking the crowd for a truly fun weekend. I've said it before, but it's worth repeating: they say Disney World is the happiest place on earth; I say, not while there's a Phish concert going on...

See you in Cinci...

Cleveland Beer Week Beckons

2009-10-16T13:05:00.004-04:00

Oh what a time to be a beer lover in Cleveland...

Though we missed out on the Bourbon Barrel Blackout Bombers at Great Lakes this week (they sold out in under two hours!), the future looks pretty bright. Cleveland Beer Week, which is exactly what it sounds like, begins today (in four hours and fifty minutes, but who's counting) and runs until Saturday, October 24th. Scheduled are a plethora of events, the choicest of which (in my humble opinion) are listed below:

Friday, October 16th: Dogfish Head Event at Southside
The beloved brews of Dogfish Head will be on tap and in the bottle, including relative rarities like Sahtea and the mysteriously promised "special releases". Unfortunately however, Ohio's archaic liquor laws prohibit the selling of the uber-high octane 120 Minute IPA.

Showing Some Moxie
A little rich for my blood, but sounds suspiciously like heaven: "Join Moxie The Restaurant for a 4-course dinner with beer selections from Merchant du Vin, including breads and meats paired with Lindemann's Cuvee Renee, mushroom fondue with Ayinger Weizen-Bock, fondue with roasted shallots with Ayinger Octoberfest, domestic raclette with Rochefort 8, imported raclette with Samuel Smith's India Ale, and chocolate fondue with Celebrator Double Bock. $45/person. "

Saturday, October 17th: Fat Heads Gets Hoppy
Ohhhh lordy... Relative newcomer Fat Heads hosts a (wait for it) IPA festival featuring more than 30 (!) different brews. On top of that, for the $25 entrance fee, you get a t-shirt, tasting glass, and 6 drink tickets. (To my imaginary secretary; "Cancel all my appointments, something important just came up.")

Sunday, October 18th: Kegs and Eggs at Beer Engine
Preempt your sorrows of another Browns dismal performance (hey, I'm hopeful, but realistic) with more Dogfish Head, poured through the magnificent Randall the Enamel Animal (if you don't know what it is, you don't need to). Plus, eggs.

Monday, October 19th: So Good, Why Not Go Back?
Beer Engine again, but this time with the pro's: "Meet Ron Jeffries of Jolly Pumpkin, Greg Gireszal of Hofbrau Beer, Isaas Hartman of New Holland, Veronica Sanders of Bells Beer, Jim Lutz of Flying Dog, Michael Bell of Founders, Adam Avery of Avery, Pete Larsen of Global, Garin Wright of Buckeye, and Brad Clark of Jackie O's, and tast their brews along with those from Unibroue, B. United, Dogfish Head, Stone, Breckenridge, Two Brothers, Clipper City, and Brewdog." They even have a photo booth on hand, which is weird.

Okay, if you hit all these events, you need to take a break, so I'll skip to the main event:

Saturday, October 24th: Cleveland Becomes Beer Mecca
The underutilized and gorgeous Arcade downtown will host BREWzilla, showcasing more than 50 different breweries, hundreds of brews, and providing general euphoria. Incroyable...

So, like Christmas in October, Beer Week descends on Cleveland with a fury. For (much) more information on the literally hundreds of different events, go to http://www.clevelandbeerweek.org/. Happy hunting!

City Says Good Riddance to Braylon's Rubbish

2009-10-08T12:58:00.004-04:00

As a devoted Browns fan, I cannot tell you the elation that I felt when it was announced that the team had rid themselves of the cancerous butterfingers, Braylon Edwards. Now, if the trade works out like typical Cleveland sports moves, he will become the greatest receiver in the history of the world and bring 10 consecutive Super Bowl wins to the New York Jets (for other examples, see: Sabathia, C.C.; Lee, Cliff; Ramirez, Manny; Thome, Jim; Colavito, Rocky). Perhaps a bit hyperbolic, yes, but you know what I mean...

But, you know what? I DON'T CARE. Mr. Edwards consistently acted like spoiled, petulant child, and fit in in blue-collar Cleveland like a Budweiser at a beer festival (that is, not well, not well at all). He complained about the team, the city, the fans; just about anything and everything but himself. And to top it all off? He could barely catch the damn ball, which is what the Browns were paying him millions of dollars to do! He led the league in drops last year, and is well on his way again in 2009. I cannot tell you the frustration when a third down pass bounces off his chest/helmet/hands/etc. and we're forced to punt, yet again.

Now comes the revelation that he punched a man in the face who weighs 130 pounds for basically being friends with Lebron James and having the nerve to be entrepreneurial and capitalize (with the full blessing of LBJ) on the relationship. Not everyone is blessed with the millions of dollars from the genes their parents provided them.

What an insufferable human being.

In all likelihood, he is thrilled with the trade, as it puts him in the bright lights of the Big Apple. But, like the republicans during the Obama administration, I hope he fails. Huge. For someone of that talent to have such a disgusting personality and still be paid handsomely is a smack in the face to every hard-working Clevelander. So, good or bad, we'll see how he responds. In the mean time, we'll work on incorporating our newest team members to the Browns (which shouldn't be difficult, because half the team played for the Jets last year anyway).

Oh, and thanks to musiccitymiracles.com for the pic below:

24 Days and Counting...

2009-10-06T09:44:00.002-04:00

If this gives you chills, then you're in the club... God I cannot wait for 8.

Holy. Cow.

2009-09-15T09:34:00.006-04:00

The romantic notion that one's ancestors were royalty is not entirely implausible. Through the many generations of marriages and births, different bloodlines become intertwined. Corroborating the fact is another problem entirely, as it can be rather difficult to trace a family lineage through the intractable lines of history. I realize that I'm lucky in that regard, because after some research, (and a stumbling block in the Dark Ages) I pieced together that through my Mother's side of the family, we are nearly directly descended from royalty in Denmark, Sweden, England, Norway, and Holland. But it doesn't end there...

Incredibly, the records for this lineage, for which I traced back without a break, date to 30 AD. Unbelievable, but true. The royal lineage is initially linked through King Valdemar II Valdemarsson of Denmark, who was born on June 28th, 1170. What I pieced together from there is that for the preceding five hundred years, my ancestry was the head of state and ruler of the country (whether it be Denmark, Sweden, England, or Holland by virtue of marriages of allegiance and political gamesmanship). Being that I only discovered this familial linkage yesterday, I don't even pretend to know anything about the actual history of Europe through this time. Other than the broad strokes, the likely mounting of armies for the Crusades to the Holy Land, and the survival of the lineage through the Black Plague of the Middle Ages, I'm pretty clueless.So, after the briefest of searches, here are a few of the more intriguing people that dot my ancestry.

King Valdemar "The Great" I of Denmark (Born January 14, 1131, Died May 12, 1182): "Valdemar's father was murdered days before his birth; his mother, Ingeborg, daughter of Mstislav I of Kiev, named him after her grandfather, Vladimir Monomakh of Kiev. {Vladimir's father in law was King Harold Godwinson of England. Vladimir 's grandfather was Constantine Monomachus, Byzantine Emperor}." (Wikipedia)

Canute Lavard "King of the Slavic Odobrits": "On 7 January 1131, Canute was trapped in the forest of Haraldsted near Ringsted in Zealand and murdered. Some sources attribute the murder to Magnus, some to (King) Niels himself. The murder provoked a civil war that intermittently lasted until 1157, ending only with the triumph of Canute’s posthumous son Valdemar I. The fate of Canute and his son’s victory formed the perfect background for his canonisation in 1170, which was requested by the same Valdemar. His feast day is celebrated on the day of his death, January 7." (Wikipedia)

So, what that means potentially is that my Great (to the 14th or 15th Great) Grandfather was both a King, and posthumously, a real-life, Vatican approved Saint, which is just surreally unfathomable.

Moving on down the line, we have King Sweyn I Tjúguskegg "Forkbeard", who was "king of Denmark and England, as well as parts of Norway. He was a Viking leader and the father of Cnut the Great. On his father Harald Bluetooth's death in late 986 or early 987, he became King of Denmark; in 1000, with allegiance of the Trondejarl, Erik of Lade, he was ruler over most of Norway. After a long effort at conquest, and shortly before his death, in 1013 he is said to have founded Swansea (which is often said to come from "Sweyn's Ey"), he then became King of England. In the last months of his life, he was the Danish sovereign of a North Sea empire, which only his son Cnut was to rival in northern Europe." (Wikipedia)

Wow.... just, wow.

I could go on about this forever, but let's face it, it's probably only interesting to me and whatever family member might happen to see this post. So, I'll close with the earliest ancestor I could track down, one Scaldea Trojan, who literarally, lived during the life of Jesus Christ. I don't know anything more than his name, but if this page is correct, is the 16th generation removed (directly) from Memnon Trojan, King of Troy...

At this point, legend, myth, and reality are all intermingled, but what I read when I researched Memnon very nearly blew my mind...

"Brazen-crested Memnon, a comely man according to Odysseus, is the King of the Ethiopians who came with a great force to help Troy against the Achaean invaders, and was killed by Achilles." (Greek Mythology Link)

This of course is both fantastic and fantastical, astounding and unbelievable, all at the same time. The two things I do know for sure are this: if you don't have a strong and sudden desire to research your own family ancestry, you never will, and that I have a whole hell of a lot of reading to do...

Market Brings Masses

2009-09-04T11:44:00.003-04:00

Cleveland State University hosted it's first trial run of a farmer's market on Euclid Avenue just outside the Law Building. And what a smash it was.

Staff, faculty, and students seemingly coming out of the woodwork to congregate over fresh veggies, jellies, meats, and organic skin care products (oddly). The market successfully brought a feeling of a distinct campus community, something that CSU is striving for with its expansion and attempt to change from largely a commuter school to a residency-based University.

I met my wife and two friends for lunch direct from the offerings, and was by no means disappointed. Fresh plums were sweet and flavorful, a sausage and pepper sandwich on fresh wheat bread was succulent, and grilled corn on the cob was rich and buttery.

The market will operate on Thursdays for the next 8 weeks, and if successful, will be brought back next summer for a full June-October run. By the looks of the salivating masses, and the bare bones stock left over at the end of the day, I wouldn't be betting against it. If you're downtown, it's worth a trip!

The (dim) Future of Food

2009-09-01T17:34:00.003-04:00

This film will terrify you more than any horror flick ever will. You will also despise Monsanto (with good reason). Even if you only watch the first 10 minutes, you'll be better off for it.

City of Broad Shoulders (and Great Beer)

2009-08-19T11:47:00.005-04:00

We recently disembarked from our summer excursion to Chicago, the 'city of broad shoulders' or 'the windy city', take your pick. It was indeed windy during our stay, but the neighborhood we chose to stay in, Wicker Park, was more hipster than blue collar. We crammed quite a bit into our short three day stay, here's some highlights...

We stayed in the Wicker Park Inn, a hip little colonial B&B on a quiet residential street. We had our own suite, complete with kitchen, though we took advantage of the restaurants around town and didn't have much use for anything other than the refrigerator. It backed up almost directly under the 'el', but through a fantastic insulation and soundproofing effort, what we heard was only a low hum. Full disclosure; though it bills itself as Bed & Breakfast, there's no breakfast to be had.

The neighborhood itself is gentrified, and recently so. It reminded us quite a bit of Tremont, if Tremont was a neighborhood in a thriving city. Lots of house remodels and rehabs of the predominant colonials, plenty of new construction (town homes and condos), and a cornucopia of restaurants and bars. Small Bar was a place I had been wanting to hit for a year or two, and it was magically right around the corner from our place. Even better, we found an almost identical replacement for our beloved Rodenbach Grand Cru (RIP; at least in the US): Bokker Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge. I think we drank it as fast as it took us to pronounce it. To go along with the opulent sour ale and Surly IPA (talk about hop-kick), we treated ourselves to fried cheese curd, though we somehow missed the poutine (dammit). Then I accidentally stole a cool poster that I thought was out of date, but wasn't (my bad, Small Bar).

Day two consisted of shopping, lots of shopping. Boutiques are as prevalent as patio dining in the neighborhood, and we hit what seemed to be the vast majority. Luckily, we happened upon a fantastic used book store where I scored a copy of Harvey Pekar's Our Cancer Year, which kept me entertained as Katie sought out must haves and unbeatable bargains.

The evening portended the main event, and the reason for our journey: Phish. We battled the unGodly frustrating rush hour traffic and arrived at Toyota Park two hours before showtime. The vibe in the lot was good, lots of smiles, beers, and hippies. The show itself was sort of bizarre. First off, the venue is mainly a soccer stadium, so the setup didn't lend itself the personality or closeness of Blossom, Star Lake, or Deer Creek (amongst many others), though somehow we managed seats pretty darn close to the stage. I've read the reviews from a number of attendees, but there doesn't seem to be much consensus other than it was what equated to an 'average' show. The highlight for me was the rarely heard "Carini", it's dark chords and Chris Kuroda's light show melding seamlessly into the chilly Chicago evening. One (slightly) weird thing was that the encore was "Loving Cup", a encore staple I know, but one that was the encore for the last show I went to as well. With no offense to Phish or The Rolling Stones, I hope this is a trend that doesn't continue.

Day three actually saw us back on the road for home, with a much anticipated stop at Three Floyd's Brewing Company in Munster, Indiana. We lunched in their Brewpub, somewhat oddly located in an entirely non-descript industrial park. The food was fresh and tasty, but the beer stole the show. The Dreadnaught IPA, with an incredible 100 IBU's, capped our trip with the perfect conclusion. With growler in hand, we began the long trip back to Ohio, sated, satisfied, and ready for more. Next up: back back to Cali Cali...

Who is Joe Pug?

2009-08-04T16:46:00.004-04:00

Okay, so I admit that I completely skipped out on the opening act of the Josh Ritter show at the Beachland a few weeks back (cool summer breezes, grilled brats, and beer > half-filled dark room listening to some unknown musician(s)). As it turns out, the act was Joe Pug. Fast forward to last week, when I stumbled upon a show occurring tomorrow at The Grog Shop. What caught my eye and what I found somewhat bizarre, was that The Low Anthem, who released what may be my favorite album this year Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, was the opening act for... wait for it... Joe Pug. Granted, my musical opinion ranks right up there with others as much as my one year old niece's (probably less, actually), but it still gave me pause. First off, who is this guy? Second, why does he tour Cleveland more often than Michael Stanley?

So, I checked him out. My humble opinion? Probably worth a shot. As has become a cliched standard, it's evident that he was strongly influenced by Bob Dylan (not that that's a bad thing); Lovely acoustic melodies topped like a thick frosting with Mr. Pug's plaintive wails. I do have to say I occasionally cringe at the nasally twang that somehow catches in his throat and results in a sort of 'could definitely use some Afrin' sound. But the lyricism is smart and the emotion sounds real. Anyway, long story somewhat shorter, Low Anthem will be the belles of the ball in the long run, and Mr. Pug, though talented, may yet have to go back to his day job as a carpenter.

But, you don't have to take my word for it... (thanks, Levar)

The Low Anthem - "To Ohio"

Joe Pug - "Hymn 101"

Rough Drafts

2009-07-23T12:32:00.003-04:00

I've been tinkering with the idea of writing a short novella about the myriad of strange occurrences that my family has witnessed in our house. Growing up there, it seemed almost normal, though sometimes frightening, to say the least. In fact, I still have friends who would not spend the night in the house for fear of the ghosts.
So, I thought that just for fun, I'd publish some of my scribblings for public consumption on this site. Granted, they're still rough, and the project is far from complete, but I thought this might be a good way to not only get some feedback. So, I hope you enjoy...

Chapter One

The foremost tale, and one that will serve to properly imbue the rest of the book with the tone that is required, took place nearly a decade after we left off. It was the late 1940’s, and America was emerging from World War II. A young family, just getting their start, moved into the apartment upstairs. The father, a salesman, traveled frequently on business, and left his young wife to care for their two children. The solitude of not having her husband at home for long stretches began to wear on the young woman. Her children gave her much joy, but also much angst. She was forever trying to get both of them to sleep at night in the small apartment, fending off crying and tantrums that would certainly wake up the landlord downstairs. Alternately, her days were spent cooking, cleaning, and minding the children, with little time left over to relax. Coupled with this, the woman had battled depression throughout her life. Some days were clear and bright, while others dawned to low, dark clouds that showed no signs of retreat.

It was during a particularly cold and grey February that trouble began to stir. Her husband had been traveling throughout the South for the better part of a month, and the slate gray Ohio skies and never ending snow had practically trapped the three in their apartment. She treasured the brief, sporadic phone calls from her husband on the road, but lamented for the days when they were no longer necessary. It was after a week and a half without a call that the depression began to make way to despair. After a call to her husband’s office, she found that he was in Kansas City, and scheduled to go yet farther down the Mississippi before even considering coming home. As she hung up the phone, she began to cry. Her toddlers, confused by the role reversal, stood silently and stared as she sat down quietly at the kitchen table, head in hands.

After a time, the tears stopped and the children went back to play. But a veil had gone over her eyes, and her usually tender voice to her children was leaden and cold.

“It’s bath time, children.” She said without emotion.

The children were ushered through the bedroom, the kitchen, and past the stairway down to the door and into the bathroom. The claw footed tub, so large that the boy and girl could hardly see over the edge, was filling with water from the tap. Their Mother undressed them, without saying a word, and placed them in the warm water…

A salesman, fresh off the train from Kansas City, disembarked onto the platform in St. Louis. As he walked, he pulled his coat around him to fend off the cold. As he passed a newspaper stand, the proprietor, in his typical hawking fashion, beckoned with the headline of the day.

“Mother drowns two in Ohio!” he called, without realizing how tragic those words would be to the now curious salesman who stopped and turned towards the vendor. The proprietor, sensing a sale, continued;

“Horrible thing; two young kids like that,” he said. The salesman picked up the copy held to him and went cold. The byline was Medina, Ohio, and the children were his own.

-----------------------------------

The scandal that erupted took to the bustling village by storm. The Mother was swiftly and, some say, mercifully, spared a trial and sent directly to a mental hospital, where she lived the remainder of her days. The father, consumed with grief, anger, and disbelief, moved quickly out of the apartment and to another city in another state, far from those that had witnessed and reminded him daily of his tragedy.

As a tight knit bedroom community, the public wanted no part in a public excoriation or humiliation in their town, and so the matter was ‘brushed under the rug’, and as the months following the event faded into years, it was spoken of less frequently. As the years passed to decades, many who knew of the tragedy passed as well.

Today, there is nary a record of the event as it transpired; I know because I’ve searched the Health Department, the Newspaper Archives, and even the Courthouse records. But if you ask someone who lived through those times in Medina, a spark of recollection inevitably comes into their eyes, and they remember.

The only solid and staid reminders of the actual event are the house, the bathroom, and the claw footed tub that still sits there.

Josh Rocks Beachland

2009-07-08T13:27:00.002-04:00

Posited in the alcove, we peered out through the stage door and watched as Josh Ritter and his compatriots tore through a set list of classics and new material at the wonderful Beachland Ballroom last evening. It was our fourth trip in as many years to see Josh, and just as in years past, he stayed after the show until every fan had paid their respects, chatted about anything that struck their fancy, and posed for the requisite photograph with that same wide grin he wears so naturally on stage. This is a man who loves his job, and his fans.

Being that his music has played a significant role throughout my own relationship with Katie (I gave her his cd on our first date, and we've been diehards ever since), it was with some surprise that he appeared on stage with a wedding band on his finger. After the show, Katie asked him if it was true (thus breaking the heart of my sister and thousands of girls everywhere), and he happily revealed that he married Dawn Landes five weeks ago. We congratulated him on his nuptials and thanked him for the postcard he mailed to us from Alaska congratulating us on our own marriage last fall (seriously, he took the time to write us a postcard and mail it; I told you he loves his fans).

The show, as always, was a high energy singalong for the nearly sold out crowd; the biggest I've seen for any show of his save Bonnaroo in 2005. Girls nearly wilted when he crooned the opening lines of "Kathleen": "All the other girls here are stars, you are the northern lights...", and hundreds of feet stamped in unison to "Lillian, Egypt" and its' rollicking old west saloon piano. The lights were snuffed out for the poignant and beautiful "Harrisburg", and three little girls in attendance with their parents got the memory of a lifetime when he brought them on stage to sing along with "Leaving".

The night passed too quickly, as enjoyable evenings often do, and we were soon walking back to our car, feeling that post-concert excitement that only good shows can provide. It's always a pleasure to catch up when the band rolls into town, a sort of rite of passage every summer. I've got no misconceptions that in actuality he probably couldn't pick us out of a lineup, and that he has fans just like us in every major city in the country, but the fact that he makes every single person feel appreciated is undeniably unique for an artist of his stature. I know it means a lot to us, and it will keep us coming back for many glorious years to come.

Fighting for the Union

2009-07-03T12:46:00.006-04:00

As you are no doubt aware, tomorrow marks the 233rd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in that sweltering Philadelphia heat. I thought that today, to take a moment to reflect on what that means, I would review some scans I made a couple of years back. My Grandmother gave to me a binder full of beautifully scripted and yellowed letters written during the Civil War. The correspondence was largely from James Damon, my Great Great Great Great Grandfather. He served in the 124th Regiment from Ohio until his death.

What is remarkable about these letters is not that they reveal anything history buffs didn't already know, but that they are proof that my ancestors served and struggled and fought for this country in its' most precarious hour. Here are a few sentiments from Gramps;

"We can see the rebels from a hill one mile from here. They have been reinforced and are strong" - From summer of 1863; Cumberland Gap

"All we think of... is the girls we left behind... which is talked a good deal among some of the boys." - Before a rumored march into Virginia

"Tell Cora I'm glad she is a good girl. Tell her I want her to learn to write so she can write me a letter" - In letter to wife, regarding his young daughter, Cora, my Great Great Great Grandmother

"We're waiting for reinforcements. We will have one of the largest fights there has ever been in Kentucky" - Serving under General Marshall at Cumberland Gap, preparing for a battle there that never came, though the garrison there changed hands four times during the war.

"Mrs. Damon, I take this opportunity to inform you that your husband is very sick with the typhoid fever and there are some doubts entertained as to his recovery" - Letter from Lt. Stedman, informing his wife of James' impending death. He would die shortly thereafter. Interestingly, records indicate that he is buried in three places; Franklin, TN (where this letter was written in 1863), in rural Pennsylvania, and in Chatham, Ohio, his home town.

From talk of everything from boredom and cold, to battles and Generals that would go down in history, this family record is something I treasure, and especially revere on days like this. This country is truly the greatest in history because of the service, sacrifice, and hard work of our predecessors, our ancestors, our own families. Happy Fourth of July, everyone.

Phishburgh

2009-06-23T17:06:00.003-04:00

Last Thursday the stars aligned, we got tickets, and saw Phish in Pittsburgh. Well, Burgettstown, officially, a wooded hamlet seemingly nowhere near Pittsburgh (sort of like when the Cavs played in Richfield). The forecast called for overcast skies with the threat of rain, but when the gates opened and the happy crowd streamed into the rolling lots at 3:30 pm, the sun came out in all it's June glory and dispelled any fear of rain.

The scene in the lot was not markedly changed in the approximate 5 years since the "retirement" commenced (this following the "hiatus" of two years previous). This is a good thing. Phishlot is a rarity in society, or at least the society I live in. Everyone and anyone is game for a friendly greeting, a quick convo, and a best wishes for a great show. The anticipation builds as the craft beer supply diminishes. Friends reunite from their disparate cities, and we were no exception; C-Note from Columbus, Wolff just off the red-eye from L.A. Talk of shows, years, now over a decade past; of epic Fluffhead's and incendiary I am Hydrogen -> Mike's Song -> Weekapaug Grooves (and you caught them with the Giant Country Horns!?!? Oh my jealousy knows no bounds). But it's all good, because we're all here now...

And then the gates open... The energy is a palpable thing. It's like waking up on Christmas morning at 4:30 as a kid, knowing you have to wait, but so excited that your head might explode at any given moment. The lawn fills, everyone primes their engines to get down. Sandals are stacked neatly with purses and sunglasses in little piles, and the sun begins to turn the sky that shade of orange that only seems possible on wonderful days like this. Quick, anxious banter back and forth: What will they open with? Prayers for a Gamehenge, but not really believing that any of us will ever see it in our lifetime... but; what if???

Then, the PA music stops and the roar starts from the front of the crowd. Kuroda hits the lights, the boys take their places (in the old lineup, which is nice), and the party really gets started.
I love a place where everyone, everyone, can dance as ridiculously as they are moved to, and not a soul bats an eye. Think about it; have you ever been to a place like that?

A little something for everyone tonight; with a first set that includes tunes from ends of the back catalog; Divided Sky into Heavy Things? Who knew? Buzz around the campfire seemed to be that the general consensus was this was looking like a nice retro mid-nineties show. By this, for the uninitiated, they mean something along the lines of the following:
1. Slightly after the small-show age where you could still walk up and buy tickets at the door and they used to interact with the fans (great examples here), but
2. Just entering the extra-funky peanut butter period where Mike (Gordon, our beloved bass player extraordinaire) really started to hammer out some deep lines, and just as
3. They were beginning to really expand the repertoire; abandoning old favorites like Timber Ho and Faht, while introducing us to new favorites like Guyute and Down With Disease.

I guess I'm rambling... So, I'll just say that overall, being back at a show was like (and I mean this with all sincerity) rediscovering something you didn't realize you'd lost. Not a purpose or a way of life, per se, but a reminder that there always exists an alternative, a reprieve, an escape from the grind that so unforgivingly swallows our hours.

So... anyone want to hit Chicago?

PolyCultures DVD Release @ Greenhouse Tavern

2009-06-15T12:52:00.004-04:00

The previously acclaimed and locally produced PolyCultures: Food Where We Live DVD release party is taking place at the hot new green-foodie-downtown restaurant The Greenhouse Tavern on June 22nd! See the video below for details (and for some quick & delicious showcasing of GT dishes from Jonathon Sawyer)...

And though my quote wasn't included on the final box copy of the DVD, I stand by it;
"A['n inspiring] production about local food, food economics, food politics, food production, and beer."

Oh My God, Ommegang

2009-06-10T13:07:00.004-04:00

Had to relay a story from my Dad about his recent adventure on a Winking Lizard hosted brewery tour. I attended a wonderful trip with him a few years back through France, Belgium, and Holland, and the latest installment sounded just as amazing. The key, is the participation and sway of the Winking Lizard. With 14 locations throughout Ohio, they are rapidly growing. And even more substantially, their customers imbibe insane amounts of beer. For instance, Ommegang, the Cooperstown based brewer famous throughout the land for their inspired variations, is a LARGE brewery, with a significant distribution network. You'd think that a national retailer (i.e. Boneyard) or a grocery store chain would sell the greatest volume. Not so. You guessed it, Winking Lizard, with only their 14 locations outsold every other retailer in the country. This fact leads me back to my original theme.

One of the stops on the latest brewery tour was Ommegang. Arriving a little after 8:00 pm, the tourists were treated immediately to an outdoor picnic feast, with wonderful pairing options beside a roaring campfire. On hand for the event were Ommegang's corporate and brewery leaders, taking time to greet everyone, answer questions, and chat amiably with everyone. The next surprise was the provision of the incredible Obamagang, a chocolate stout mixed with a kriek in honor of the election of the Nation's first black president. As the evening wore on, a guitarist serenaded the crowd. On their way out (and on top of the incredible graciousness already exhibited) Ommegang provided each tourist with a four compartment duck-cloth bag. In it were a specially aged Hennepin, a fluted glass, a Duvel bar towel, and another goodie that escapes me at the moment.

But the best is yet to come...

The next day, the crew was scheduled to leave Cooperstown at noon, leaving about three hours in the morning for sightseeing (of course the Baseball Hall of Fame is in Cooperstown). The hotel, a Holiday Inn four miles outside of town, was to provide a shuttle bus to accomodate everyone. However, the shuttle was out of operation, and a staffer was forced to take tourists in groups of three or four in to town. With forty or so people waiting, this was quite a process. So, my Dad, being the practical guy he is, decided to set out on foot. The walk is through some beautiful, canopied country roads (and would provide some good exercise to counter the beer). So, a small contingent embarked down the road. After some time walking, and not a car to be found along the road, the group heard the sound of multiple cars approaching. Curious, they watched as a number of luxury cars, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, rounded the bend. Coming to a stop next to the walkers, the drivers emerge and to the amazement of everyone, it is found to be the Executives of Ommegang! They heard about the lack of a shuttle and immediately jumped to the rescue, ferrying the tourists into town for some exploring!

Incredible. When was the last time a corporate executive dashed out to pick you up on the side of a country road?

Save the Fat Bat For When You Need It

2009-05-25T10:02:00.004-04:00

Great little article in the PD this morning about a much beloved place in my hometown of Medina. As a kid, there was nothing like a big back yard; where you could step out baselines and measure up a diamond for a hard-nosed wiffle ball game. It was (and probably remains) every little leaguer's dream to build their very own 'field of dreams' (overused, I know, but so apt!).

Typically, this fantasy ends when: A. Mom gets home and is irate that you have pulled all manner of junk out of the garage and have now festooned it around the back yard in the general approximation of an outfield wall. Or B., the size isn't right, there's a tree planted just in the way of second, and the kids grow up before it ever gets built. Enter Jim McDermott. In 1986, he and his young family moved to Medina, a few blocks south of the St. Francis Church, and promptly became the most popular family in the neighborhood with construction of their very own wiffle ball field. I mean a full-time, Medina Monster in left, scoreboard on the wall, fence lined, honest-to-God wiffleball mecca.
Katie and I have enjoyed more than a few Memorial and Labor Day's basking in the summer sun and diving erratically for wind whipped wiffleballs; laughing off scrapes and bruises, but celebrating, really celebrating, when our team won. In the article, Jim mentions the record year of 18 five inning games played on a single day. I have to say I'm proud to have played in at least 5 of those that day. Kids, adults, everyone's in on the fun, but the level of competition is always high; those who are playing are in it to win it. One thing that still rankles me is that though I've banged more than one double off the netting in left, I've still yet to knock one out. One of these days...

And Dave, who has been written of previously in this space, deserves a mention on this Memorial Day as well. Though not military personnel, he serves this country through good will and diplomacy in the Peace Corps. Here's looking forward to a homecoming game... and homer number one...

Dick Goddard Is A Danger To Society

2009-05-11T16:33:00.004-04:00

At least when he's behind the wheel.. We found out the hard way a week ago Saturday, when attempting to pull out of the Buehler's parking lot in Medina. Positioned second behind a large SUV waiting to pull onto Forest Meadows, the SUV hit the gas, thought better of it (for a reason incomprehensible to me), slammed on the brakes, and threw the behemoth into reverse, completely failing to notice our Toyota directly behind him. I threw the stick into reverse and slammed the gas, barely averting an accident. I laid on the horn and shook my fist at the still unknown perpetrator.

So, traffic clears again, and again, the SUV pulls forward into the street. In a bizarrely carbon copy moment, he AGAIN throws on the brakes and punches it into reverse. This time, clearly not expecting the same thing to happen, I'm not quick enough to react and WHAM. I hop out of the car, incredulous and angry. And who should lumber out from behind the steering wheel but Dick Goddard, the wooly bear weatherman himself.

Blindsided by this development, my anger is gone, replaced by a sort of surreal curiosity like, is this really happening? After the obligatory review of the damage and an apology from Dick for (obviously and incomprehendingly) not seeing our vehicle (TWICE); he heads back to his car for the apparently treacherous ride home.

But here's the kicker; in his legendary sing-song broadcast voice, he turns as he's walking away and says: "Well, (gesturing to himself) I'm Dick Goddard so you know where to find me."

Weird.

The Grim Reaper, waiting for the casualties Dick Goddard inevitably inflicts on his drive home.

Laugh at Yourself

2009-05-01T11:47:00.002-04:00

Self-deprecation is important, as long as others don't take it too seriously...

UPDATE: 5/11/09 - Cleveland Tourism Bureau counters viral video with contest.

My First Start-Up

2009-04-22T12:16:00.006-04:00

I realize I've been slacking a bit with the blogging (to your utter dismay I'm sure), but I have a good reason. I'm putting together the requisite materials to open my own business. What will it be, you ask?

NoCoToCo will offer excursions based upon differing themes throughout the Midwest (and beyond, eventually). Interested in beer, perhaps? Have a free weekend and want to get away? Well, consider this:

Three days, a chartered bus with all the amenities. Start at the eminent Great Lakes Brewery in Ohio City, where we lay out the itinerary and enjoy a toast to the weekend fun to come. First stop is Ann Arbor (the enemy's lair, I know) for lunch and a tour of Jolly Pumpkin Brewing Company, then on to Kalamazoo for dinner and a rendezvous at my beloved Bell's. An evening free to your leisure, overnight in a three to four star hotel, and on to Munster, Indiana in the morning. There we visit Three Floyd's Brewing Company, crafter of the immensely popular Dark Lord Imperial Stout. After some lunch and a few libations, it onward to Chi-town for some fun at Goose Island Brewing Company and a Cubs game. After the game enjoy a free evening in Chicago and another night at a superior hotel. Sunday we board the bus and roll home sweet home by 5:00 p.m.; refreshed and rejuvenated. Sound good? I thought so too.

There will be other themed trips available as well, for antique lovers, oenophiles, or sports fans. How about a trip with 15 of your closest friends to an away Browns game and a designated ride all the way home? As I said, I'm working on the details, and will have more information in the near future. I would certainly appreciate any feedback you might provide; shoot me an email if you're so inclined.

Also, in a related note, there is a Future of Cleveland party this evening (April 22nd) at the beautifully restored Fenn Tower on the campus of Cleveland State University. Cool Cleveland, the sponsor of the event, bills the event as follows:

"While enjoying open bar and tasty appetizers, you'll discuss Cleveland's future with eight of CSU's executives-in-residence - top experts recruited from business, law, technology, politics, education and more - where you can pick their brains for career advice and make valuable connections."

See and be seen!

Med Mart Projections; MMPI Dreaming?

2009-04-09T16:29:00.003-04:00

Artist rendering of the proposed Medical Mart & Showroom on the Mall in Downtown Cleveland

The heated debate over the proposed Medical Mart and Showroom in Downtown Cleveland has run the gamut from where the site should be located, what kind of terms should be offered, and when can construction begin to the much more apropos question (at least in my mind), should we even build it to begin with?

I know the arguments of Med Mart proponents; namely that the economic influx of dollars from convention attendees will bring a boom to the area, as well as establish Cleveland as 'THE' pre-eminent medical technology and supplier city in the United States.

Forgive me, but I'm skeptical...

Why? For one, the proposed deal itself. I would ask the reader to consider if the money was coming out of your own pocket (which essentially it is if you live in Cuyahoga County), if it would be something that you would consider investing in. For that reason, I'll identify the parties involved as Medical Mart Properties Incorporated (MMPI), the developer, and 'You', the County of Cuyahoga, whose economic hopes are pinned on this project. Here goes...

First, you would need to purchase the land for the Med Mart & Showroom. Estimates place this at $17 million. You'll also hire a number of consultants to provide you with planning and building estimates. These will also come out of your pocket to the tune of $750,000.

You, as the potential investor, would then pony up $425 million to provide, as a loan, to MMPI for the construction of said Medical Mart & Showroom. This will come in the form of annual loans to MMPI of $40 million. MMPI will then use $36 million per year (of that) to pay you back (keeping the $4 million difference to use as they see fit).

Once completed, MMPI will not have to pay you any money in property taxes for the length of the lease. Oh, by the way, once you finished building the Med Mart, you will give it to MMPI out of the goodness of your heart (for zero dollars). Also, MMPI gets to keep 100% of any profit it makes from the facility. Finally, MMPI will graciously accept from you another approximately $7 million a year to assist with their operating costs.

So, what do you think!?!?

MMPI insists that the economic benefit to Cleveland lies in the hordes of attendees and visitors who will swarm upon downtown for the dozens and dozens of conferences and conventions each year. However, this too has me skepically number crunching:

* Based on Jim Nichols Plain Dealer article on March 17th, 2009

So what does the above say? It says that MMPI, the company that stands to reap untold millions in profits from both you and the public estimates nearly $1 billion in economic profit to greater Cleveland. However, as the very interesting article by Jim Nichols from the Plain Dealer points out, these projections may be (and likely are) WILDLY INACCURATE. If that's the case, and the billion suddenly becomes $73 million (in a good year), where's the benefit? Where's the profit? Take out the losses of property taxes, the increased burden of taxation on the people of Cuyahoga County because of the raise in sales tax, and the potential difficulty of getting people to come to Cleveland for conventions in the months of November through April, and it makes me wonder.

Is this another boondoggle that we're rushing into headlong; seeking that magic bullet to bring us back to prosperity? For all our sakes, let's hope not...

Back To Our Roots - The Local Food Movement Via Film Fest

2009-03-24T13:04:00.004-04:00

Tractors?! We don't need no stinkin' tractors! (Actually, they do, I'm just being smart)

Spent an enjoyable Monday evening at the Cleveland International Film Festival, viewing a production about local food, food economics, food politics, food production, and beer. The beer aspect was thanks in large part to the sponsorship of the Great Lakes Brewing Company, who also play no small role in the film itself. Poly Cultures: Food Where We Live, is a seven chapter story about the important role of locally grown crops, and the policies, legislation, and people who are working in support of them.

One segment focuses on Hale Farm & Village, a replica 19th century town set within the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It has a small farm (hence the name). And on this farm they had some weeds, e-i-e-i-0.... So, along comes the ever-ecologically minded Conway brothers from GLBC, and presto! The 'Pint Size Farm' has suddenly sprung to life; producing a large amount of produce for the company's restaurant in Ohio City. According to Christine DeJesus, the Master Gardener, “This 6,000 square-foot farm will parallel a true culinary experience and feature a scent garden, edible flower garden, intensive herb garden, pollinator garden, medicinal tea garden and crop rotation areas with Asian cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, French filet green beans and more. The farm will use only biological and sustainable methods to create a place for education, enlightenment and natural entertainment." Also of note, the herbs produced will soon be featured in Great Lakes' Earth Day beer, Grassroots Ale.

On a side note, Katie and I were pleasantly shocked when who should appear in the film but... us! Though only for a moment, and from a distance, we enjoyed approximately 3 seconds of our promised 15 minutes of fame. Along with the Ohio State Fair Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest in which I placed second in 1989, that leaves me with about 13 minutes and 42 seconds.

This local food (locavore) movement has been at the center of sustainable agriculture push for communities, and this, along with City Fresh, have begun to put theory into action. Kudos to the filmmakers, Tom Kondilas, Brad Masi and David Pearl, for shining a light on the people and organizations who are helping to: bring quality produce to the inner-city, utilize organic farming techniques to produce their crops, re-use and recycle waste to 'close the circle' from growing to garbage, and generally promote community development through creation of neighborhood gardens and garden clubs. The city of Cleveland is a better place because of every single person involved with Poly Cultures.

Care to Dance?

2009-03-11T11:49:00.005-04:00

That dude is psyched

The drought is over. Our humble Cleveland State Vikings Men's Basketball team rallied for an inspiring victory last evening over the much-heralded and 17th ranked Butler Bulldogs for the Horizon League Championship. Moreover, the win sealed a spot for CSU in the NCAA tournament, marking the first time since 1986 since the Vikings made a trip to 'the dance'. The campus this morning has a sort of kinetic energy about it that is quite welcome. The publicity and media coverage should provide a much needed boost to our enrollment, and to our prestige. We may have the second best urban affairs program in the United States, but our basketball team, for today anyway, is number one. Now let's just hope we don't come down with the 16th seed...

All is not well in Forest City...

2009-03-06T10:04:00.004-05:00

Fresh off the heels of the New York Time's Sunday Magazine feature article on the foreclosure catastrophe befalling Cleveland, a terrible report hitting the national wires this morning about a man who, according to CPD, shot and killed his wife and four other people, including a pair of twin two year olds. This happened at West 89th and Denison, or approximately 10 blocks from my lovely home. My heart goes out to the families of those affected, and my utmost support goes out to the neighborhood and the Cleveland Police Department, who are still hunting down the suspect.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

It seems that of late, what was intended to be a pro-Cleveland site has become littered with tales of poverty, crime, and tragedy. It is terribly unfortunate that the city so many love is being demoralized and demolished, one police blotter item or news headline at a time. I have always been an ardent supporter of Mayor Jay Williams of Youngstown, whose approach to the city of Youngstown has helped to revitalize the community. His approach, to 'right-size' the city in terms of the reality of the population, not hoping for a return to its industrial heyday, could provide Cleveland with valuable lessons. A bright spot this past week has been the passage in the Ohio legislature of a measure to create a Cuyahoga County Land Bank that "allows officials in the state's most populous county to set up a non-profit land reutilization program to accept or buy foreclosed or abandoned properties." This will give the County much greater authority to tear down the hundreds of blighted shells, once homes, that litter much of the East Side, and increasingly, the West. What is to be done with those newly 'green spaces' has not been decided, but it gives everyone an opportunity to imagine the possibilities...

Detroit Shoreway Gets Green (and Red, and Pink, and Orange)

2009-02-25T18:30:00.001-05:00

A few months back, I came across a design contest taking entries for a re-development of the area surrounding the West 65th Street tunnel between the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood and Edgewater Park. This grassy little expanse features a long winding walkway down to a tunnel under the CSX rail lines.

According to the Cleveland Design Competition Awards press release: "Participants were asked to design an intergenerational playscape that activates the residual space around an existing multipurpose pathway connecting Cleveland’s west side neighborhoods to Edgewater Park and Lake Erie." I toyed with the idea of submitting a little entry based upon my cursory knowledge of Google Sketchup, but quickly demurred after seeing the quality of entries in similar competitions. The results of this competition definitely proved my hesitancy correct (for anyone interested in my own childish creation for the space can find it at left; like I said, I'm no expert).

The first-prize winners, Nini Spagl & Gerald Haselwanter from Vienna, Austria, envisioned a color-infused arboreal setting, with trees planted in such a way that their leaves would complement the park through the four seasons. Below is their 'season by season' color scheme.
In addition, the plans call for such interactive items as a playground, four lane (track style) walkway, soccer field, basketball court, climbing wall, and hopscotch area. For those perhaps not so inclined for 'action', there is a planned picnic pavilion and grill area, an outdoor fireplace and surrounding benches that allow you to watch the dramatic sunsets over Lake Erie. (See this and other entries here).
Whether it serves as a basis for design, or any sort of site upgrade goes left unsaid, but the spark that the contest ignites for create solutions in neighborhood development is quite valuable. Whether an outgrowth of the contest, or an independent effort that just so happens to be in concert, neighbors from the Franklin Blvd. area of Detroit Shoreway neighborhood are creating a community orchard on vacant railroad land, just west of the proposed park site. The block club is currently in negotiations with Norfolk Southern, the land owners, but have already secured funding, taken soil samples, and determined what will be planted! Curious?

30 fruit trees, including two kinds of sweet cherry and three kinds of plum; 60 grapevines; 32 bramble bushes featuring three varieties of raspberries and one variety of blackberries; and 16 blueberry bushes. As Plain Dealer Blogger Christopher Evans astutely points out in his entry on the subject; "Restoring beauty and life to a place where asphalt and garbage rule. It doesn't get better than that."

One step at a time, Clevelanders, one step at a time.

Afternoon Delight (For Beer Lovers)

2009-02-23T15:48:00.011-05:00

Winter Warmer is in itself anachronistic, but when prefaced with the premise that said alliterative combination is in reference to a festival celebrating the strongest beers of the season, it is quite apt. I can attest that I came out of the third annual festival warmer than when I went in. Held at Rock Bottom Brewery in Cleveland's Flats, this installment treated revelers with the work of 13 local breweries.

The ticket, $30, was again raised for this year's event (as it was last year), though the price of admission did entitle attendees to feast on a small but satisfying buffet lunch. But let's get real, no one bought their ticket for the food.

The beer was the main event, and boy did it deliver. Historically, brewers opted for stronger recipes for the cold winter months. Those worthy brews were the impetus behind the festival. Hundreds of hop-heads, amateur brewers and curious beer lovers crowded into Rock Bottom, armed with the complimentary pilsner glass and 15 sample tickets. Katie and I met up with my parents as we have done for the past two years (it's become a greatly anticipated tradition for the Simmons'), and got down to business.

The star of the show, in my own humble opinion, was Hoppin' Frog's India Pale Ale (IPA) entry, Hoppin' To Heaven. Frog, from Akron, consistently puts out much-admired styles available in 22 ounce 'bombers'. My only beef with them is that they don't produce the traditional six pack, a hindrance to wider distribution and interest. The Hoppin' To Heaven was chocked full of hops, but well balanced by a spicy, almost tea-like malt. There are plenty of IPA's that lay claim to extremely high IBU's (International Bitterness Units), but there are few that offer the complexity of this. I don't think I'd pick over my beloved Bell's Two Hearted Ale, but it would be close.

Other winners included new Cleveland brewery Indigo Imp's cask-conditioned Winter Solstice, Brewkeepers' Olde 21 IPA, and the ever popular Great Lakes Brewing Company's (GLBC) Blackout Stout. Surprisingly, GLBC didn't offer a beer unique to the festival, or one not available at the Restaurant in Ohio City. I asked Luke, the company's head brewer, why no surprises this year. He said that between preparing the upcoming seasonals and the increasing production of flagship brands, there just weren't enough hours in the day. I could go on ad infinitum about the marvelous offerings, but that would bore all but the most devoted beer lovers. I'll just say that there was no place on Earth that most attendees would rather have been than in cloudy, cold Cleveland on a Sunday in February... except maybe Belgium.

Named for the massive 2004 blackout that darkened much of the Eastern Seaboard, as well as the Cleveland area, not for the condition prompted by excessive drinking.

Clinic Signs Clinic - Healthcare-less Yawn.

2009-02-13T15:17:00.006-05:00

*Note: Staff diversity not representative of market base

Some (potentially good) news on the health front today from Crain's. The Cleveland Clinic, the health care behemoth slowly ingesting Midtown, has signed a deal with MinuteClinic, the mini-medical clinics located within many CVS stores. The in-store clinics will provide certified medical personnel overseen by Medical Directors at the Cleveland Clinic. "Great!" I thought, "with the cutbacks at MetroHealth and other facilities, this will provide citizens of Cleveland with a local, convenient, and inexpensive option for basic medical care!"

Not so fast... Reading on, I discovered that there are currently eight MinuteClinics within CVS stores in the state of Ohio. Surely there is a recognition of the utter deficiency of medical care outlets within major metropolitan areas, right? Where literally thousands of underserved and low-wage earning people would benefit, right?

Nope.

The list, as noted in the article: Chagrin Falls, Aurora, Hinkley, Strongsville, Twinsburg, Westlake, Woodmere, and Shaker Heights. Granted, the last two are 'on the fringe' of Cleveland-proper. Mapped out connect the dot-style, the locations look like an actual wall separating the richer suburbs from 'the dangerous city'. What a crock. I would bet that the population densities in the Cleveland area CVS neighborhoods are greater than in the suburban locations where there are already considerable options for medical care.

I know I certainly wouldn't be opposed to one in the Lorain Station neighborhood. Or perhaps they don't think that area residents would be interested in their services; like ear wax removal for $59. However, other services, like low-cost vaccinations and treatment for minor injuries by MinuteClinic's "team of board-certified practitioners... trained to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions" could be a nice addition to the neighborhood.

BYOG

2009-02-04T10:34:00.003-05:00

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, the Chico, California based pioneer in the micro-brewery movement, has added another entrepreneurial and environmentally forward thinking feather to their already well-plumed cap. A byproduct of brewing, yeast, just happens to be the exact material needed for this kick-ass contraption, the EFuel100's MicroFueler, to turn it into clean running E85 ethanol!
The price tag of $9,995 is a bit steep for the average homebrewer (and I'm guessing unless you're really banging out some batches way too much yeast capacity), but for a relentlessly greening brewing company who just happens to already collect rainwater, grow their own local veggies, recycle a huge percentage of their restaurant waste and have a van that runs on vegetable oil, it could be just the thing! Now if only there were a company like that around here (I'm looking at you Great Lakes)...

If anything, it would invite some very positive press, increase recycling, cut down on carbon emissions (every little bit helps, right?), further position the company in eyes of consumers as being environmentally friendly, and fuel your tanks as well! Also, it would provide a unique addition to the landscape on Market Avenue...

Visions of Bonnaroobians Dance in My Head...

2009-02-03T00:11:00.005-05:00

Let the Tent Vortex fun begin...

It's official. Phish will be headlining two glorious nights on a farm in rural Tennessee. Let's hope the ticketing system for the 'Roo is more responsive than for the ungodly slow and error-message prone system used for the rest of the tour. My guess is that come Saturday morning, you'd better be bright eyed and bushy-tailed if you want to cash in on this behemoth event (oh, and packing some heat with your plastic at nearly $300 a pop)... But, for anyone who's been knows - it's always worth it.

Believe? Or just Leave?

2009-01-23T11:02:00.006-05:00

Should we? Can we afford to?

I was greeted with an unfamiliar and, quite frankly, unappreciated surprise on Monday afternoon. Retrieving the mail on the front porch, I saw a young man, obviously pained, walking (or straggling) down the sidewalk. As he approached, I was leery. He was covered in snow and not wearing a jacket; an anomaly on a 17 degree day.

With a notable limp, he came to the gate and asked if he could come inside, and that he was just 'jumped' around the corner. He seemed sincere, if not altogether trustworthy, so I acceded to his request and ushered into the warmth. He immediately went to remove his shoes on the rug so as not to traipse snow around the house, which I took to be a good sign.

I asked him to tell me more about what happened, and he stated that he had been walking to CVS when two individuals sneaked up on him from behind, put him in a headlock, punched and kicked him repeatedly, purloined his (new Columbia) coat, and took off, leaving him winded, injured, and lying in a bank of snow.

My point in posting this is not the (unfortunate) novelty of having been near-witness to a mugging, but as a frustrated homeowner wondering what the future of this city is. Katie and I have been Cleveland proponents since we rediscovered it's charms after our college adventures, and have tried to support it financially, culturally, and personally at every turn. But where does one draw the line? After our property has been vandalized? Is it after we've been robbed? Or is it only a forced trade-off for living in a(n at times) vibrant community of artists, entrepreneurs, and progressive people? Maybe it's the weather, but my pessimism grows...

In Michael Ruhlman's inspiring look at his Cleveland Heights neighborhood, House, he nostalgically opines about the City's grander days, when streetcars ferried people in suits and hats around town on streetcars, and when the Millionaires Row of mansions on Euclid Avenue was not just some ironic joke.
I suppose the real question is; 'do we now embark on an effort to rebuild a city that may be already beyond the brink, or do we, like those of Cleveland's glory days, move to a place like it once was - on the move, growing, with a plan, a purpose, and a willful population'? I think I'd like to be on the deciding end of that question, for better or worse, than waiting to have it decided for me. Because if Monday is any indication, the good guys aren't looking so good.

The Grandeur of the Bush White House: a Memoir

2009-01-17T10:22:00.003-05:00

So I stumbled upon a surprisingly intimate and personal look at the White House under George W. Bush.

That statement could be followed by anything from, say: 'I was reading the memoirs of the Secretary of Defense'.... or, 'on the news they interviewed the White House Butler, who has worked there for 35 years'... But no.

In actuality, that statement is followed by: a gay dude from Yale who is drinking buddies with Barbara Bush (the daughter, not the first lady) gets invited to the White House for dinner, and proceeds to have a perfectly lovely evening that in retrospect sounds absolutely bizarre.

Interested? I thought you might be. Click here.

If you haven't taken the jump yet and are still reading, I'll say this: I find the memories and impressions of this particular person a rather insouciant but telling peek into the world of Bush that we rarely see. Behind the Secret Service and pre-arranged photo ops, even dismissing the grandeur of the most famous residence in the world, he is a common man. Typically, this is a 'salt of the earth' sort of compliment, but that's not what I mean. I mean he seems frightfully disinterested and intellectually challenged, which I guess is actually a slight on 'common men' everywhere... and for that, I apologize.

Babe Ruth played at East 66th & Lexington?

2009-01-07T12:29:00.006-05:00

The short answer is 'yes'. The slightly longer answer is 'yes, and he hit his 500th home run there also'. So where the heck is East 66th & Lexington? Well, currently it's a ramshackle corner within a run down neighborhood on Cleveland's East Side. But once...

Once upon a time... it was home to a Major League Baseball park in every way the equal to it's similarly aged counterparts Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. Yes, League Park was a testament to the strength and vitality of Clevelanders and their love of sport.

A "neighborhood park", so named because as opposed to today's sprawling commercial behemoths with parking for miles around, the Park was built literally in the middle of a neighborhood, with existing trolley lines to service crowds coming and going from the afternoon games. It opened in 1891, and Cy Young was the starting pitcher for the then home team Cleveland Spiders.

Unfortunately, an auspicious beginning did not herald a lasting success. As home not only to Cleveland's professional baseball clubs (the Spiders and the 1920 World Series Champion Indians), but Cleveland's first professional football team, the Cleveland Buckeyes, the legendary Negro League Baseball team, and other major sporting events, League Park was a gem for a city on the move.

Seating increased from 9,000 to 27,000 to accomodate increasing demands, but when space ran out (a neighborhood block can only contain so many spectators), plans were drawn for the cavernous, and equally legendary, Cleveland Stadium on Lake Erie.

As increasingly crowds and events were drawn downtown, League Park withered. The final Indians game to be played there was in 1946, and only as a token reminder of games past, and the bleachers were finally torn down in 1951.

Today, the shell of the once magnificent cathedral of baseball remains. To get to my long-winded point, there is a non-profit group, the League Park Society, who have drawn up plans to renovate the stadium for use as a neighborhood (or high school, or AAU, or...) baseball field in the heart of Cleveland's East Side.

The group is collecting signatures here, and if you're in any way interested, why not sign? We've lost too many landmarks in Cleveland to neglect, and a signature on an online petition takes hardly any time at all.

Artist rendition for new League Neighborhood Park

On a personal note, I remember running a 5k with my Dad from League Park to the as-then yet to be built Gateway complex downtown. I was amazed when he told me the stories that Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Cy Young and others played there. To me, at the time, it looked like an absolute lost cause in a city of absolute lost causes. Today, I am realizing that it is only apathy that makes causes lost.

Bistro-iffic

2008-12-31T10:19:00.005-05:00

Despite the forty mile an hour winds that seem to be becoming commonplace this year, we were able to take advantage of an evening and dine at Tremont's newest establishment, Bistro on Lincoln Park. What we found wasn't exactly a surprise, but certainly a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Situated in the old Sage Bistro spot on the corner of West 11th and Kenilworth Avenue, the paned windows emit a warm glow that has been sorely missed.

Stepping inside, customers are greeted in a modern, minimal, but appealing bar area. Their decision to limit access doors to one not directly in the path of the weather outside was a wise one. The place was nearly deserted, with empty glasses and lone candles marking votive hopefulness on the part of the chef, staff, and management. We were treated to a choice window table, and were promptly greeted by an attentive server. The hardwood floors enhanced the warm eminance of the incandescent lighting, and the linen tablecloths and napkins added much to the casual chic vibe.

We were pleasantly surprised to find some brew choices not found in most fine dining establishments, notably: Chimay (Red) and Duvel, among the more traditional domestic and import offerings. Prices for drinks remained on the low side, with Chimay going for a mere $5. Martinis were $9 across the board. In a kind and much appreciated gesture, Chef Pete Joyce prepared for our party a wonderful amuse, a sweet/savory spoonful of duck and... sorry... I was so excited for the bite that I missed the description.

For dinner, I could not pass on the siren call of the Duck Confit; deliciously succulent on the bone preparation with "Crispy Truffled Potatoes, Bacon Lardons, and Wild Mushroom Fricassee". On the whole, this meal achieved much greater flavor than what the sum of its parts would have been assumed, with the lardons providing just right amount of salty indulgence paired with the potatoes and mushrooms. The duck was rich, dark, and fall off the bone delicious. See the Menu here.

And granted, it was a Monday evening after a major holiday, but the lack of business was troubling. With the economy in the tank, it's understandable for people to cut back, but should you get the urge for something new, you could do considerably worse than this...

Variety is the Spice of Life

2008-12-22T10:59:00.006-05:00

Great news from the PD today as they report that the now silent Variety Theatre at Lorain and West 118th will be refurbished by Westown CDC and reopened as a movie house! First Detroit-Shoreway, and now this!

A glimpse of the theatre today

On my (ever-less frequent) runs, I always passed this place with a feeling of sad nostalgia. Not an uncommon emotion while passing through much of Cleveland, I suppose, but a theatre especially evokes a feeling of 'how things used to be'. Built as a vaudeville stage and movie house in 1927, the Variety served the neighborhood ably for decades.

Lorain Ave. & the Variety Theatre in 1953

But, as the economy worsened, the neighborhoods changed, and the area slowly decayed. The theatre, by then a music venue (which actually hosted bands like Metallica and Motorhead) closed in 1986.

Now, with the promise of a renovation and a (huge, 118 page) master plan for the area, local residents and CDC's are stepping up their efforts to bring some style, sophistication and substance to the area. A welcome change indeed.

A Devilish Development

2008-12-17T10:10:00.004-05:00

Eastsiders and Westsiders alike can rejoice in the recent opening of a new brewery in tropical Cleveland! Perhaps the location on East 36th can help bridge the ever-growing gap over the St. Clair/Ontario line. Indigo Imp, a production brewery start up has released two seasonal beers for the parched Cleveland market. Rumors have been floating through the internets for many months regarding the brewery, and now the veil has been lifted.

According to the site: "There are two initial release beers from Indigo Imp. Both are naturally carbonated, unfiltered, un-pasteurized, Real Ales. The first is Blonde Bombshell, an American blonde ale with a smooth malty taste, moderate hop bitterness, and slightly fruity and nutty aftertaste. The second is Winter Solstice, a deep amber, full bodied ale, brewed with four different malts, Cascade hops and just enough orange peel and cinnamon to be Impishly delicious. Throughout the year, we will offer a variety of seasonal beers and special release beers in an array of styles."

Watch out GLBC, there's a new contender on the block. And REAL ALE?!? Now that's something to get excited about*... According to the website, the brews are available at basically all Northeast Ohio Heinen's stores, as well as at the brewery. I think with this morning's closing of Cleveland State because of a water main break, the fates are aligning. TIME FOR A FIELD TRIP!!!

It's a (pre-) Festivus miracle!

*For those of you interested: "Real Ale is the very first kind of beer that was produced in sealed containers. It is a beer that has been naturally carbonated in the container from which it is served... Newly fermented beer is placed in the cask with a small amount of priming sugar or unfermented beer and then sealed with a bung. During the next weeks, a secondary fermentation takes place in the cask and the resulting carbon dioxide is absorbed into the beer giving the beer natural carbonation."

Nothing like beer sealed with a bung...

A Very Belgian Christmas

2008-12-12T15:24:00.003-05:00

Yes Virginia, there are other Christmas beers than Great Lakes...

Oh Beer Engine, Beer Engine... How much do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

CURRENT DRAFT LIST FOR 'XMAS IN BELGIUM' DECEMBER 12th

INCLUDES OTHER TREATS - OTHER'S TO REPLACE SEASONALS

Thirsty Dog '12 Dogs of Christmas Ale', Ohio
Delirium 'Noel', Belgium
Buckeye 'Ho Ho Ho Magic Dubbel', Ohio
Great Divide 'Hibernation', Colorado
Bell's 'Christmas Ale', Michigan

Bell's 'Winter White Ale', Michigan
Heavy Seas 'Winter Storm', Maryland
Rogue 'Santa's Private Reserve', Oregon
Corsendonk 'Christmas Ale', Belgium
Scaldis (Bush) 'Noel', Belgium

Southern Tier 'Krampus', New York
Brooklyn 'Winter Ale', New York
St. Bernardus 'Christmas Ale', Belgium
Left Hand 'Snowbound Winter Ale', Colorado
Southern Tier "Old man Winter Ale', New York
Troegs 'Mad Elf Ale', Pennsylvania
Penn 'St. Nik', Pennsylvania
Dupont 'Avec les Bons Voeux.', Belgium

Southern Tier 'Unearthly Imperial IPA', New York

Southern Tier 'Choklat Imperial Chocolate Stout', New York

Buckeye 'Madison Ale' (Kolsch), Ohio

Buckeye 'Hippie IPA', Ohio

Young's 'Double Chocolate Stout', England

'Franziskaner', Germany

'Genesee Lager', New York

CURRENT SEASONAL BOTTLES AVAILABLE NOW

ALL BOTTLES ALWAYS AVAILABLE 'TO GO'

Buckeye Ho Ho Ho Magic Dubbel, Ohio, 8% ABV
De Dolle Stille Nacht, Belgium, 12%
De Ranke Pere Noel, Belgium, 7% ABV
Gulden Draak Vintage '08, Belgium, 7.5% ABV
Jolly Pumpkin Noel De Calabaza, Michigan, 9% ABV
Kerstmutske Christmas Nightcap, Belgium, 7.4% ABV
Lurgashall Christmas Mead, England, 12.5% ABV
Mikkeller To/From, Denmark, 8% ABV
Nogne O Winter Ale, Norway, 8.5% ABV
Redstone Winter Solstice Mead, Colorado
Ridgeway Criminally Bad Elf, England, 10.5% ABV
Ridgeway Insanely Bad Elf, England, 11.2% ABV
Ridgeway Lump Of Coal, England, 8% ABV
Ridgeway Santas Butt Winter Porter, England, 6% ABV
Serafijn Christmas Ale, Belgium, 8% ABV
Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale, New York, 8% ABV
Troegs The Mad Elf Holiday Ale, Pennsylvania, 8% ABV
Winterkoninkske, Belgium, 8.3% ABV
Zinnebir X-mas, Belgium, 7% ABV

CURRENTLY ON THE TWO 'ENGINES'

Heavy Seas Winter Storm (Imperial ESB)

Bell's Best Brown Ale

So... by my count that's 46 ways... bown chicki bow wow...

Excess, Largesse, Repossess

2008-12-07T10:43:00.003-05:00

Vanity Fair features a fascinating article in its January issue pertaining to the narcissian tumble of the Wall Street investment bankers and hedge fund managers of the past six months. It's absolutely incredible that so striking a contrast can be seen in an industry that less than a year ago was thriving; drawing the best (and arguably greediest) minds and paying the multi-million dollar salaries to rain-makers in the their mid to late 20's!

Personally, I am torn about the fall. The losses in pension funds and 401k's for hardworking people is a dangerously tragic turn, especially for those (who were) close to retirement. But I find myself subconsciously pleased to see the high rollers of Wall Street take a hit. The unending stream of stories revealing their utter largesse and "let them eat cake" attitudes show a segment of society whose selfish dealings and ignorant speculation have brought the greatest nation in the world to a grinding halt.

One example, of many: "Tired of the 90-minute commute, Joe bought a helicopter for the ride. When he realized the chopper couldn’t fly to Manhattan in inclement weather, he got a seaplane." Many will say that Joe earned what he made, that it was his prerogative to buy a seaplane for his 90 minute commute... for days when his helicopter couldn't do the job... (sigh)

This, however, is a falsehood. The truth is that these 'bankers', using the term extremely liberally, took the money others (re: us) entrusted to them to invest wisely, as their predecessors had done and whose reputations they mortgaged. Greed, and a lack of repercussions until now, led those bankers to leverage every dollar into twenty dollars, for example, in speculative investments. As they saw it, on the off chance a particular bet wouldn't pay off, their other irons in the fire would provide them with the multi-million dollar bonus at the end of the year. As VF so aptly puts it: "Groups like the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association Local 262 and the Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado—these were among the plaintiffs who hadn’t even known they were part of the gilded age. Only they were: Lehman’s bankers had used their retirement money to make those 40-to-1 bets and live like princes. Now that money was gone."

Criminal. Now these same bankers are turning the tables and working for the government, trying to untangle the mess they themselves created. I could go on about this ad nauseum, but I'll close this post with a poignant quote from Philip Howard that sums up the opportunity we all now face: "So this end of the new gilded era—it’s like a bucket that spilled, and finally the money spilled out, and we were left with a culture whose sense of purpose and responsibility were lacking. And now there’s a real need for people, and society as a whole, to rethink and re-structure their values."

RIP NCB?

2008-12-04T11:00:00.002-05:00

News only three weeks out of date, courtesy of Transient Hobo...

In the continuing saga of downward spiral business news in Northeast Ohio, the announcement on October 20th that PNC Bank would be taking over the grand dame of Cleveland financial institutions, National City Bank was viewed by others as just another casualty in the falling dominoes of the economic crisis.

In Cleveland, however, this news was met with the kind of response usually reserved for funereal marches and finales of Cleveland Browns games. As an utter laymen in terms of financial jargon and complicated finance, my questions, like many, were simple:

'Why could PNC buy National City for $5.6 billion then get a TARP bailout by the government of $5 billion?'

'Why wasn't National City considered for that $5 billion to stave off collapse just like dozens of other financial institutions around the country? '

Even though frought with previously announced dire financial numbers like most other institutions, as late as September 29th Fortune online was proclaiming National City's tier one capital ratio (a good thing, take my word for it) as "as the highest among large banks".

Dozens of other questions come to mind, but those two sum it up. Steve LaTourette, a Republican congressman from Bainbridge has been picking fights in an attempt to block the sale, with everyone from Henry Paulson, the increasingly embattled Treasury Secretary, to the Comptroller of Currency (whoever the hell that is). Of late, Dennis Kucinich has entered the fray, either adding credibility to the cause or destroying it, I'm not sure which...

In any case, here's the bottom line if the deal goes through:
1. Cleveland loses another Fortune 500 Company, to a Pittsburgh company, no less (ouch).
2. Estimates are that 8,000 jobs could be lost locally (double ouch).
3. Any way you slice it, Cleveland is getting screwed while other companies, in more affluent locations (yes, as hard as it is to say it, even Pittsburgh is more affluent) are getting the golden ticket from Willy WonkaMcTreasurySecretary.
4. There will be no Christmas in Whoville* (*Cleveland; although that's just hyperbole).

Can't we catch a break... anywhere?

600,000 Pounds.... of... Potatoes.

2008-11-25T17:21:00.003-05:00

Merci, Tinyfarmblog.com

So I heard the story initially on NPR last evening on my way home. Then I saw another story about it today in the NYTimes: Some good-hearted farmers in Colorado opened their farm to visitors last Saturday with an offer to essentially 'take what you can carry' in an effort to provide nutritional food to people who might need it. "Okay," so I thought, "what a nice idea. Now a few families from around the county will have some free potatoes and green beans for Thanksgiving!"

NOPE.

FORTY THOUSAND PEOPLE SHOWED UP!

What?! I mean... what?! First off, how did 40,000 people even hear about this little event? Second, they all managed to pick their way off the main highways, descend into Platteville County and find the place? (On further reflexion, I guess one just followed the line of cars that eventually wound up closing the highway). See the local news story here. If this is even close to representational of the need in this country, then we've got some serious reconsidering of our priorities to do.

A tremendously generous gesture and a wonderfully refreshing story in the ever-present doom and gloom lately, but I have one question: If this was after the harvest, and they've never done this before, does this mean that more farms could conceivably be wasting 600,000 pounds of food every autumn, or are the Millers just forgetful about where they plant things?

The Trouble in Tremont

2008-11-13T15:43:00.005-05:00

A welcome new addition to the Tremont neighborhood is said to be opening its doors within the next week, according to Scene. Bistro on Lincoln Park will take up shop where Sage Bistro stood on the corner of Kenilworth and West 11th. The question is, how long will the shutters stay open?

With the recent closure of the ramps leading to the innerbelt and downtown, Tremont is taking a hit. The economic consequences of no major transportation access to the neighborhood could be devastating for the small businesses that have been growing steadily in the eclectic enclave for the past decade (or more). This video from the PD shows the frustration well, with even Mike Symon taking time from his busy schedule to show support:

Will this force ODOT to get their shite together and do something about it? Hopefully, but not bloody likely, at least in the short term. But, it does provide some good publicity and will bring out the 'Believelanders' who otherwise might feast in Ohio City, Beachwood, Coventry, or Rocky River... If you haven't been, it's worth the trip.

My Twin, Karl Rove...(shudder)

2008-11-04T13:39:00.003-05:00

The one and only time I will say and mean: "Go Blue!"

I was surprised and mildly nauseated when I referenced the latest update on CNN's Political Ticker. Karl Rove, the literal dark underbelly of the Bush political machine, posted his prediction of the state by state results on his site, which in fact is an exact mirror image of my own prediction, filled out on October 10th. I have a few concerns, notably Florida, Ohio, and Indiana having seen polling numbers of the past three weeks. But I thought, ah, screw it, it would make for an early and satisfying evening should these predictions hold true. If I wind up jinxing this thing feel free to tar and feather at your discretion.

For those keeping score at home: Obama, 338, McCain, 200 (knock on wood...)

In Bizarro World

2008-11-03T17:14:00.004-05:00

Not a bad likeness for either candidate, I must say. Thanks to Guanabee for the chuckle (and the utterly serious underlying message of course).

Did you vote yet, by the way? Despite reports in Virginia (thanks to Quinn for that tidbit), voting day for Democratic supporters is not November 5th. If you haven't, take a sandwich, a good Tolstoy novel and a toothbrush, because you're going to be in line a while. But, as this site so aptly puts it, "Voting is the perfect way not to feel like an asshole when somebody asks if you voted". (It makes for a nice election day e-card, also.) Let the fun begin...

Into the Sunset...

2008-10-27T11:44:00.004-04:00

The eminent political oracle of MSNBC, Chuck Todd, reported a curious factoid today that might not be of interest to anyone but me. In his words:

"An unfamiliar sight will greet Texas voters this year. There’s no Bush on the ballot. The last time there wasn't a Bush on the Texas ballot -- or in Texas office -- was 1976. And if you exclude ’71 to ’77, there has been a Bush on the Texas ballot or in office since ’64."

When you think about the stranglehold the Bush family has had at various levels of state and national politics for the last 40-plus years, it is astounding (and frankly a welcome sundown if you ask me). But, this tale might not be over; watch out for Jeb.

Everyone's a Critic..

2008-10-24T16:42:00.004-04:00

So, we're enjoying a late dinner last evening at Lolita, and relishing every morsel. Taking advantage of the happy hour deals after 9:30, we perched ourselves at bar stools just far enough from the draft of the front door and tucked into the goat cheese and chicken macaroni and the bacon, egg, onion and cheese-burger. Quietly congratulating ourselves for our dinner choices, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the woman seated next to me was sending back an order of mussels. Odd, I thought. If you like mussels, wouldn't these probably fit the bill?

A little later on, she spied us finishing up our mac & cheese, and ordered herself a plate. This too was sent back, barely touched. By now, my curiosity was piqued, as was my rancor, as I have somewhat of an 'attachment' to the place and couldn't understand what the deal was with this wine swilling harlot. When, a moment later, she turned to me, and with a look of disgust on her face told me, "I can't believe you just ate that", I was momentarily stunned. Was this petulant creature actually disdaining of my choice of meals, and moreso, my enjoyment of it?!?

Ever the kindhearted soul, I asked what the hell she was talking about, and revealed that She, with proper affectation, was a food critic for Food & Wine magazine, and the menu was appalling. I replied that I've never heard anyone not enjoy the dish, and that personally, I love it. But hey, I'm no food critic. She proceeded to play the critic card and disembowel the restaurant, the staff, the cooks, the wine, and the owner in general. I was disappointed, but skeptical, as she had been putting down glasses of wine like a whino with Thunderbird since we arrived, and was starting to slur.

So, no real clincher for this story, just a bit of anticipation to see whether in the coming months an absolute hot coal raking is laid on Lolita by Food & Wine, or whether this was just some crazy, smashed weirdo looking for some attention. Either way, WTF?

Cento Turns Uno

2008-10-17T15:38:00.003-04:00

I had to heap praise on the already rapidly growing pile of Bar Cento and Jonathon Sawyer for their fabulously inexpensive recent anniversary celebration. Hard to believe it's been a year hence from the first waft of frites and pizzas drawing Bier Markt customers like lemmings over a cliff to the new establishment. Even harder to believe is that we're so lucky to have a place like this on the near West Side. I can remember peering through the windos at Bier Markt with Katie, fogging up the glass as we spoke with anticipation about what exactly we thought they might do with the space. Our ideas and expectations have been exceeded.

The hot and happening kitchet at Bar Cento makes some wicked grub.

Last Thursday, Cento offered a fabulous deal: buy a bottle of wine, get a pizza for free. With some subconscious level of disbelief we stepped through the doors and were almost instantly whisked to a cozy two-top just outside of the open kitchen. We ordered the house red (sorry, beer's my bag, not the vino), and the Sunnyside, the utterly delectable crispy melange of pancetta, fried (or in this case, baked) egg, and plenty of cheese and black pepper. End result; delicious dinner, slight buzz, wallet only $20 lighter. Not bad for one of the best restaurants in Cleveland. If you haven't been, do yourself a favor and go, right this minute... seriously, close your browser, log off, and get in your car.

Don't Bail!

2008-10-10T11:23:00.004-04:00

I came across a fascinating bit of info on the NYTimes website this morning. With the gut wrenching drops in the financial markets of the past (what feels like an eternity) couple of weeks, there has been a concerted movement by many to pull out their investments and sit on cash as a sort of 'mattress money account'. Understandable, but not smart. As Ron Lieber of the Times points out:

"From 1963 to 2004, the index of American stocks tested gained 10.84 percent annually in a geometric average, which avoided overstating the true performance. For people who missed the 90 biggest-gaining days in that period, however, the annual return fell to just 3.2 percent. Less than 1 percent of the trading days accounted for 96 percent of the market gains."

So, at some point in the (we're all hoping not too distant) future, there is going to be a rebound, and portfolios, or what's left of them, will bounce. Until then, remember to save burlap sacks, which can serve as a shirt or pants in a pinch, and tin cans and string to use when that cell phone bill comes in the mail.

I see a black roof and I want it painted white...

2008-10-09T17:30:00.004-04:00

Okay, so maybe not the best takeoff of the Rolling Stones ever thought up, but the sentiment is actually pretty on the money. Fortune reports that by installing a white (color) roof on a building it can reduce air conditioning costs by 20%. The Berkeley study from which the article is taken goes on to say that though there is not currently a carbon cap market in the US (as there is in Europe), the extrapolation potential in creating such a market and including said 'roof reflection reductions' could total up to $1.1 trillion dollars. That's a lot of money, and the only thing I want to know is, when can I 'white my roof' and get a piece of it. If Acme Petrochemical wants to buy my measly .10 acre's worth of carbon rights for some coin somewhere down the road, I say let's make a deal (because let's be honest, they're going to get it from somewhere...).

I also read a good portion of the ecophiles raging 'Comments' debate following the article, which basically broke down into chaos when the biomass supporters went negative on the reflectors and, as usual, any semblance of compromise and the greater good went completely down the drain (and was not saved in rain barrels; GASP!!!).

Maybe the Greeks are on to something...

CONFIRMED

2008-10-01T14:05:00.003-04:00

It's official. Phish are to return.

Just the utterance of those two sentences is enough to brighten the most heinous of dark days. As speculated about (by me, here and others) for the past four, count 'em, four years, Phish has announced a three night run at the fabulous Hampton Coliseum in March, 2009. Heads everywhere rejoice!

Of course, my first instinct was to immediately enter the ticket lottery and blow all of my hard earned dollars (which I did, but won't know until October 17th if I am one of the lucky), but my second instinct... well my second instinct was to immediately contact all my closest friends and family to tell them so then they could get tickets. But my third instinct was to post this blog to let my 2 readers know (even if they don't like Phish), that the presale is under way and I am an extremely happy individual*.

*Side Note: As many know, I got married this past weekend, which is the basis for all aforementioned happiness. Phish getting back together only 15 minutes from my sister's new apartment is just the vodka on top.

The Political Compass. All roads lead... Left.

2008-09-24T00:56:00.004-04:00

At least for myself, I, not completely surprisingly, found. As has been discovered on many sites, in many trappings, I decided to re-evaluate my political and economic leanings in the wake of the recent economic crisis gripping the nation. Have my views grown to differ from a younger me? Has the old adage "a twenty year old without a heart is a conservative, a forty year old without a head is a liberal" begun to tug at my soon to be 29 year old brain?

The short answer, no. I fell just about smack dab where I did when I first took the test 5 years ago. For those who are inquisitive, I fell here:
I was pleased to notice that my views placed me nearly in the same spot on the grid as Mahatma Gandhi; always a shining figure to emulate, in my own opinion (which I guess makes perfect sense...huh). What does it mean? I'll leave that for you to interpret. Are you curious as to where you fall? Do you want to see how you compare to Stalin, Hitler, and Pol Pot? Of course you do (but don't blame me if you find out you're some sort of totalitarian anarchist or some such other anachronistic train wreck). Anyway, click here to give it a go.

Wanna Support a Good Cause? C'mon, You Know You Do.

2008-09-12T18:15:00.003-04:00

Our good friend Dave McDermott, currently serving as a wonderful counterweight to the Bush administration for the Peace Corps in Cameroon, alerted us to an upcoming festival aimed at "increas[ing] awareness among the population of Batibo of Peace Corps and its mission; to showcase the culture of the Moghamo people for visiting Peace Corps volunteers; to encourage the use of volunteers as resources for development within the community; and to sensitize and educate the population in the areas of health, agroforestry, business, and HIV/AIDS through animations given by volunteers on topics such as nutrition, soybeans, AIDS prevention, and appropriate technology irrigation." So, in a nutshell, it's something far more noble and valuable to people than what we are all doing this weekend.

I don't know exactly what these "animations" are, but with Dave involved, I'm guessing they're poignant, educational, and possibly acerbically funny. Anyway, there is additional information on the Peace Corps website. 'Why would I look this up?' you're asking yourself? Because you can also donate a few bucks for the cause. You can spare a few bucks to help a good guy along in his mission for the Peace Corps in Africa, right? And besides, how could you not after being entertained by this picture of him (in his pre-public service in Africa days):

Service to country...Dave McDermott, we salute you.

The Rockometer (Or, The Hideously Ill-Conceived Disgrace on the Lake)

2008-09-10T11:10:00.004-04:00

And so it has come to my attention, courtesy of the weekly e-newsletter from Cool Cleveland, the newest and most brazenly obscene monument to blind consumerism and lack of spirit for the common good: The Rockometer. This monstrosity looks like a cross between a second-rate Atlantic City casino and the MySpace page of a 15 year old. Doubt me? See below:

What is it, you ask? Well, according to Christopher Axelrod, the Bratenahl native and creative mind behind the project, it will be:

"A rockometer is a retro measuring devise or pulse meter, which indicates the “spirit” or civic “heartbeat” of the City of Cleveland. The actual meter, situated at the crown of the façade on The Rockometer building will be enhanced by three, jumbo outdoor video screens directly underneath, which will indicate a visual explanation as to why the meter is pointing to low, medium or high (i.e. The Cleveland Browns won a game on Sunday giving the meter a high rating). This “social seismograph” will never be utilized as a commercial or advertising element, and all programming of content will be created in- house by the staff marketing team."
(Source: www.therockometer.com: note, there's a very good reason that until now, that domain name was not taken).

So, not only will this thing top out at -14 on the "pulse meter" during the first week in February, further inciting depression from the local population already deficient in sunlight and up to their waists in dirty snow, but it will also provide an explanation; as in, 'well, we're poor, cold, and unhappy with our jobs (or lack thereof)'.

But oh, it gets better.

"When you hear the popular phrase “Party like a rock star” in the national media, one tends to think of tony destinations, glittering venues, and dazzling celebrations. All of these perceptions will apply to Cleveland when The Rockometer building is completed, creating the largest and most elaborate 2,000 seat banquet, special events and party center east of Las Vegas."

So, just as Cleveland (might) finally get the long promised (and possibly not worth it) brand new convention center, this schmuck is promoting the exact same thing, only taking up what should be public access lakefront space and turning it into a carnival sideshow.

Just in case you missed it the first time:

The Numbers Don't Lie

2008-09-04T11:06:00.002-04:00

Okay, so back to politics because I'm helpless against its insatiable pull. I took this from the New York Times site today because I'm sick of rhetoric and political grandstanding from both sides, and there's nothing like some honest to god data to get the real picture. What it shows is a pretty remarkable gap between the growth of family incomes year to year, during both Republican and Democratic presidencies. Across the board, and not surprisingly, among the bottom 40% of the population, Democratic presidents have, if not sustained or engendered, witnessed considerably greater economic growth at the core family level over the past 60 years.

I won't speculate deeper on the variables inherent in this sort of equation (social, political, economic, military, etc.) as this post would extend indefinitely, but as a nugget of real, hard information in a sea of claims and allegations, it's as good as gold.

Filler

2008-09-03T17:20:00.005-04:00

Okay, I'm not going to get directly involved in the brouhaha that is THE SARAH PALIN CONTROVERSY!!!!!!!! I just want to point out this little nugget from former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, available here on his blog, under "Vetting".

I don't even really want this blog to be about politics (too much), so I'll follow that tidbit with, as someone once said, something totally different....

For those attending on the 27th, here is a picture of the exterior of Asterisk, so that you aren't wearily crawling through Tremont looking in vain for anything that might resemble a typical art gallery:

Also, in case you were wondering about the place, all the information you are seeking can be found here. Happy hunting...

Stella!!!!

2008-08-08T16:35:00.002-04:00

The bundle of joy has arrived! After nearly a day and a half of labor, my favorite (and it should be said, only) niece Stella made her grand appearance on the world stage this morning at 12:21 AM. This makes her an official lucky baby (if you believe in Chinese tradition, mysticism, voodoo economics or Bigfoot) having been born on 8/8/08. Congratulations to Zach and Whit, and to the newly minted grandparents as well! We were, as you might imagine, extremely happy to meet her...

No Puede Ser! Over already?

2008-07-28T16:45:00.005-04:00

It was remarkable to me how ridiculously fast my time in Peru with Katie went. By the time last Monday evening rolled around and I had to re-pack my bags for the long trip North, I would have sworn I'd been there for three days, not nine. But, such is life.

Some highlights of the trip included, but were not limited to:

1. The hot springs in the Colca Valley: With the outside air temperature hovering around 40 degrees it made for a refreshing entry and exit... Also, our hotel was (not surprisingly) lacking in hot water, and heat for the rooms for that matter. I looked around for vents to signal some sort of conduction, but found none. I then considered calling the front desk to see if they could start a fire or something, then realized we had no phone. I will say that one thing they are in plentiful supply of in Andean hotels are alpaca blankets, and for good reason.

2. Incan Terraces: On our trip to Colca, these amazing historical remnants (still utilized by farmers 1200 years later) originally constructed to maximize agriculturally the water coming down the mountain, appeared below us early one morning. I must say that the picture does not do the scene any real justice...

3. The food was excellent, including the chicken, which tasted better than any chicken I've ever eaten previously in the United States. Also, they had gelato, specifically straciatella, which is like my kryptonite.

4. Arequipena beer: believe it or not, a lager I like.

5. The city of Arequipa, though only a landing pad for me as we hopped back and forth across Peru, actually started to feel like 'home'. There's nothing like getting to know the feel of a foreign place, it's rhythms, the streets, and the people. The Paz family were wonderful hosts and the view from Katie's balcony looking up on Mount Misti is one that I'll remember for a long time to come.

Oh, and the previous entry was no fluke, they drive like bats out of hell there. No stop signs, no traffic lights, just terrified gringos and constant horns.

The Road to Mollendo

2008-07-15T16:08:00.004-04:00

I was startled awake by a sudden sharp jostle as the bus we were riding in careened around a hairpin turn high in the Andes. We were on our way to Mollendo, on the Pacific coast, but I had doubts about survival, much less our arrival. The driver, a calm looking middle aged man, seemed not to register any sort of stark terror of; A. crashing through a guard rail and falling thousands of feet to a fiery crash, or B. slamming into the giant fuel tanker chugging directly towards us. I found it strangely but painfully ironic that the book I had been reading and which was sitting on my lap was entitled 'When You Are Engulfed In Flames'. As both vehicles leaned on their horns, my pulse began to beat outside of my chest and Katie's eyes looked like dinner plates. At seemingly the last possible moment, each driver conceded the other the 6 inches necessary for survival and we rocketed past, safe until the next blind turn at 80 kilometers per hour in a four ton aluminum can.

Needless to say I was thankful when we reached our final destination, Mollendo. It being winter in the Southern hemisphere, the beaches were deserted and a cool breeze necessitated jackets. The sky was gray, but the ocean looked ever imposing and beautiful. We were kindly granted the use of a friend's beach house, which sat on a 90 acre farm just outside town. It was quite the adventure as we walked to the beach, only to be foiled by irrigation ditches, native Peruvian (who must have been utterly confused by our appearance) sheep land, and the city airstrip, surrounded by barbed wire. We did eventually make our way onto the soft sand, and Katie dipped her feet in the frigid water, only to slammed by a rogue wave that wet most of her backside and popped her flip flop.

This is just a taste of all the adventures we're having, so stay tuned because there's much more to come...

Back in Time (sung like Huey Lewis)

2008-07-08T17:30:00.003-04:00

For those of you who saw the picture above and immediately remembered being a hot, exhausted, sweaty mess in a dingy club about a decade ago, then you'll enjoy this. If you're not among that happy few, feel free to reminisce about your own favorite bands from high school.

That's right, Goldfinger, with fellow "pop-punks" (I absolutely detest that moniker, by the way) Less Than Jake will descend upon the Cleve this very evening. I had considered skipping it in favor of doing some packing for my upcoming trip and finalizing a grant proposal. However, when I informed Mr. Paul about the show at House of Blues, he snapped into action like he hadn't just been punched in the face the night before (which ironically, he had). Off to the show we go...

Expect a review and some terrifying self-realizations soon...

Escape From Whiskey Island...

2008-06-24T17:20:00.004-04:00

Which, let me tell you right now, isn't as intoxicating or exciting as it seems. But I'm putting the cart before the drunken horse. On Sunday, lacking any real substantive responsibilities (course work, yard work, house work...you get the idea) I decided to take advantage of the high blue skies and bike over to Whiskey Island. It's actually an isthmus, but no need to nitpick.

I'd been there after a marathon ultimate frisbee game at nearby Edgewater Park last summer, but wanted to come back and explore a bit. So, I hopped on my (increasingly rickety) bike, popped in my ear buds and away I went. Twenty minutes later I was standing outside the old Coast Guard Station on a pier about 100 yards from the mouth of the Cuyahoga.

I must say, it's strange being in that rustic and natural environment, then turning around and seeing the Sunday brunch crowd at Shooters... Another interesting observation that may not interest anyone: of the two dozen people fishing on the pier, I'm absolutely positive I was the only one speaking English. Weird...

Anyway, as I sat there on the pier and read the PD, I felt a breeze pick up and heard a faint rumble in the distance. This should have been my first clue. But, instead of packing it up and heading home, I decided to opt for a beer at the Sunset Grille, the one and only watering hole in this urban park escape. That's when the rains came. I, along with an assortment of Cleveland city dwellers, small boat owners, and the occasional rich yuppie sailor (who wanted to escape Whiskey Island about 10 times as much as I did) all made the best of the rain; drank our summer drinks, listened to the summer songs, and (they) ate their greasy(-iest) summer food (I've ever seen in my life). Make a note to bring a picnic lunch, FYI.

I swear it's not as rough as it looks

One hour, then another passed, with no sign of relief. So, having finished my newspaper (and another beer), I opted for a meteorological opinion from Jordan (he's a remarkably astute radar observer). He indicated that in about 14 minutes I might have enough daylight to peddle like I've never peddled before and make it home.

He was right; I did make it home just as the next round of raindrops began pelting the roof, but in hindsight I'm not sure what I was waiting for exactly, because the water kicking from both wheels was like rain, only coming up, and very very muddy. you win this round Mother Nature...lesson learned.

A Feast at Light Bistro and Katie's Big Bon Voyage

2008-06-17T13:22:00.003-04:00

After a thoroughly enjoyable going away party on Friday evening, replete with Swedish meatballs, good friends and far more alchohol than is recommended by the Surgeon General, Katie and I enjoyed a leisurely Saturday, preparing for her big adventure to Peru. In anticipation of this, I made a reservation at Ohio City's Light Bistro, one of the tastiest spots in Ohio City to celebrate her opportunity and enjoy some seriously good eats.

We sat at a tiny two top in betwixt a weird couple and some co-workers who had apparently been waiting all year to vent.

After our initial choice of Grilled Ostrich in an Asian Glaze was deemed unavailable by our flighty and entirely distracted waitress, we opted for a dinner of tapas, five in all. What ensued can only be described as one of the most gastronomically satisfying meals (not prepared by my Mom or Grandma) in my life. What, perchance, made it so delectably delicious? You can explore the menu yourself online, but I must say it's far tastier in person. Some highlights included the Cuba Libre Braised Pork Belly, a small cut of the most melt in your mouth meat you will ever enjoy (have it before you die for sure), the bacon-cured foie gras, absolutely indulgent, and the udon noodles in miso dashi, which actually were an accompaniment to the slightly less than stellar BBQ Moullard Duck Breast.

Sunday was departure day. Katie loaded up her 98 pounds of checked luggage (with two pounds to spare), we made sure Visa and Passport were firmly in hand, said goodbye to The Mayor and headed to Hopkins. I'm happy to report that she is firmly rooted on the Andean plain as we speak, participating in some alpaca related activity and gazing out on Mount Misti.

I've got to admit, it beats the Mittal Steel Plant hands down...

Only a few short weeks and I will be winging my way to Arequipa, which I'm sure will surprise some of you to know that it looks not like this:

but like this:

2008-06-12T16:58:00.002-04:00

If you haven't watched the trailer, you probably should. I can hardly wait for the maelstrom and carnage to be meted out on Independence Day when this shit hits the fan... I'll be there, will you?

10 Cent Beer Night Remembered...

2008-06-04T17:29:00.005-04:00

Today, June 4th, 2008 marks the 34th anniversary of the ill-conceived but entirely entertaining debacle that was '10 Cent Beer Night' at Cleveland Municipal Stadium (and Whitney's birthday of course!). There's an extremely entertaining article from ESPN.com linked here, replete with your run of the mill Cleveland bashing, Cleveland weather bashing, Indians bashing, and finally, and thankfully, some head bashing. For instance, in this gem, Joe Tait (then a Tribe broadcaster with Herb Score), reports on the utter chaos that is breaking out in the midst of the ninth inning:

The fact that Hargrove would later come back to play and manage the Indians, and in fact now make his home in Northern Ohio, says something about our collective ability to take a punch. Here's three interesting things I didn't know before I read the article:

1. They ran out of beer quite early in the game, so they encouraged fans to head to the area beyond the outfield wall and fill up directly from the Stroh's trucks that were pulling up. Brilliant...
2. Apparently it was totally acceptable (at least to some degree) to bring fireworks and pot to a Tribe game in the seventies.
3. The umpiring Crew Chief, in an interview after the game said, and I quote; "When uncontrolled beasts are out there, you gotta do something. I saw two guys with knives, and I got hit with a chair!"

That's the spirit, Cleveland...

Start Saving Now...

2008-06-02T11:54:00.005-04:00

The 'heads are abuzz of late (though what else is new), perpetuating or decrying the (latest) rumor of a Phish comeback. The impetus was a Rolling Stone interview with Trey on May 21st, in which he essentially said he would be willing to sacrifice a testicle to play with Phish again.

Halloween at MSG and/or a spring '09 run on the East Coast seem to be the most heated of the (totally void of evidence) rumors. Of course the most intriguing is the idea that the foursome will provide a sort of second-coming appearance at Rothbury in early July. With Mike, Trey, and Jon all slated to play (separately), only Page is left out of the equation. But, as we've witnessed, painfully, at Bonnaroo in more years than one, this variable is not an easy one to guarantee.

Whether or not this is just another in a long line of empty statements, phans are vocal, to say the least. On message boards and comment postings around the internet, there are your usual malcontents, ruing the idea of a reunion; 'Oh the humanity; they'll never be able to summit the musical peaks of greatness I witnessed, personally, back in '94'... as well as the 'in the know' set, of which an excellent example is posted below:
My girlfriend's sister's best friend's dog's veterinarian said that she heard from.... you get the idea. Anyway, thanks to C-Note for the heads up, and even if it comes to nothing, we're no worse off than we are now...

Shoreway Cinema

2008-05-27T10:47:00.004-04:00

Great news for those on Cleveland's West Side; ground was recently broken on the new Capitol Theater in the Detroit-Shoreway Neighborhood (DSN). It will feature largely independent films and serve beer (and I ain't talkin' about no paper cup, I'm talkin bout an actual glass of beer). Now, instead of the 30 minute drive to Cedar Lee, we'll have a 5 minute jaunt, or a 15 minute bike ride!

In actuality, the theater has been standing at the West 65th and Detroit intersection since 1921, but has been vacant for the past 20 some odd years. Here is the typically over-glamorized artist rendition of how the site will look in April of 2009:
The rehabilitation is the latest in a string of projects that is giving significant traction to the argument that DSN is the new Tremont (or Coventry, or Ohio City...). With the Battery Park development energizing the area, a number of businesses have opened, most notably Phoenix Coffee, Luxe and Stone Mad, the latter two being beautiful restaurants.

Stone Mad

Stone Mad was particularly spectacular, with miles of mahogany and intricate stone masonry throughout...plus the indoor bocce court of course. The bar area is almost entirely reminiscent of a European pub, with the exceptions being the lack of mismatched furniture, the odd, sometimes centuries old drinking related knick-knacks and advertising, and the glassware. The dining room in back follows a more New York Italian cafe theme, to great effect. Outside, tons upon tons of stone make up the patio, seats, tables and large central fireplace that draws visitors like moths. Snag a spot here on a chilly night and you could auction it to the highest bidder on your exit.

The long awaited opening was not announced, per se, but rather passed along via word of mouth. Katie and I made it in about a week and a half later and the place was packed to the rafters with yuppies young and old, starry eyed neighborhood locals, Tribe game returnees and various curiosity seekers (of which we labeled ourselves).

I can't vouch for the food (yet), but it's on the short list of "places to eat as soon as humanly possible". I can say that if the menu is half as impressive as the place itself, a glowing review is surely soon to follow.

A Shift in the Winds?

2008-05-20T11:04:00.002-04:00

Now this is refreshing; an oil magnate is preparing to build the biggest wind farm in the world. Even better, it's in Texas. T. Boone Pickens, Jr. (perhaps the greatest "oil man" name in the history of the world) has purchased 600 wind turbines from General Electric and plans to install them on tracts of land throughout the Lone Star State.

Wouldn't you love to see a row of those beauties cutting a swath through Bush's ranch in Crawford? But I digress...

This is only the first part of his grand scheme; one that will eventually see 1800 more turbines installed, generating 4,000 (!) megawatts of power; clean, renewable, efficient, self-reliant power. This is enough to generate electricity for over 1.3 million homes.

Though downplayed thus far in the media, I see this as a tremendous sea change in the thinking of the American 'energy elite'. They recognize the problems, costs and risks associated with the old ways and are innovating and thinking about new and emerging technologies.

It makes one wonder about the leadership (and cognitive) capabilities of our own State's leaders, who recently came to an agreement which allowed American Electric Power to construct a "clean coal" (an oxymoron if there ever was one) plant in Meigs County. Oh, and also to charge Ohio taxpayers $24 million in start-up costs. I don't know about you, but I for one am appalled at the prospect of investing my own money in an outdated, outmoded and environmentally dangerous energy supply, when such great strides are being taken in...Texas of all places!?!

Brewery Tour On Tap

2008-05-09T11:37:00.006-04:00

The Time Has Come...

After many high level discussions, thousands of hours of research, consultations, and untold sleepless afternoons, the blueprint or shall I say, brewprint, is ready for public consumption...
As it stands, the plan is a framework, with details, such as transportation, dates, etc. yet to be finalized. The idea however, is simple:

1. Gather large group of friends and family
2. Rent vehicle
3. Travel around midwest and visit breweries
4. Have good time

So, if you're interested in the below listed potentiality, let me know!

Itinerary

Day 1: The Departure
Gather in Cleveland at Great Lakes Brewing Co. to begin mission. Enjoy lunch and fabulous beer(s) - I humbly suggest the Blackout Stout and the Commodore Perry IPA. Board luxurious accommodations (perhaps slightly exaggerated) and head west, towards Michigan. Specifically, Ann Arbor, Michigan (AKA: the belly of the beast). Trust me, I know what I'm doing... Enjoy dinner and a tour of the Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Brewery.

Celebrate, socialize, at some point check into a hotel, and sleep.

Day Two: Go West(er)!
Arise at a reasonable hour, board our transportation vessel and rocket towards Kalamazoo! Visit the one, the only, Bell's Brewing Co.

Enjoy their inventory of fantastic beers with lunch in the Eccentric Cafe. Journey out to the Beer Garden to take in the sheer marvelousness of the day. Re-board bus, van, RV or clown car.

On to Muncie! The home of Three Floyd's Brewing, one of the most highly respected and buzzed about (and on I suppose) breweries in the US.

Their Dark Lord Day (it's not as menacing or satanic as it sounds) brings people from all over the country to buy one of the most limited beers in the country. Plus, their beer is no longer available in Ohio, and it's been too long since I've enjoyed an Alpha King (pictured above; again, not as menacing as it looks).

At this point, we will have visited two of the greatest breweries in the United States in one day, and we will be...let's say... ready to let loose a bit.

What better location to let loose than only 3o minutes up the interstate in Chicago!

Hit the spots around the Windy City during the evening, then wake up refreshed (or at the very least just wake up) ready for....

Day Three: Gooses and Cubbies and Foodies, Oh My!
A terrible name for what promises to be a much better day. I figure that if we hit it right, we could tour and lunch at Goose Island Brewery

then head over to Wrigley and catch a Cubs game at the magnificent Wrigley Field! (Screw the White Sox, in my opinion, unless they're playing the Tribe.)

Day Four: The Journey Home
With our whirlwind weekend drawing to a close, we'll hit the road back to the CLE with visions of HopSlam dancing in our heads. I've debated the possibility of turning this into a five day event with two days in Chicago, but five days is a REALLY long weekend, and quite frankly I'm not sure we'd all make it. But I am up for the challenge...

Jordan turns 28... and probably has a drink or twelve.

2008-05-04T13:44:00.005-04:00

In celebration of Jordan's 28th birthday, I've decided to offer this commemorative post. It was cheaper than a gift. But, if I were to give him a gift, it would be a plastic bottle of the finest scotch I could find from the gas station.
Jordan enjoys wearing paper hats, or whatever is laying around on the floor. This photo was taken after I informed the two monkeys pictured above that I would be visiting their bungalow in LA. You can see the letter I sent (it was a simpler time) above Mr. Wolff's pointing finger.

E-Enterprises Coming Up Roses

2008-04-28T17:23:00.003-04:00

A refreshing story from today's Plain Dealer details the success a relatively new charter school has had, as well as the limited partnership it has developed with the Cleveland Municipal School District. Sparing you the details and allowing you to check it out yourself (link above), I write about this for three reasons.

1. I worked in the same building with the Entrepreneurship Preparatory School while working at the Entrepreneurial Academy and alongside Entrepreneurs 4 Sustainability (you can imagine the confusion of visitors trying to figure out which office door to knock on). Unfortunately for me, I chose the slow horse, as both E-Prep and E4S are now thriving. The E-Academy was forced to pull up stakes (though I don't believe I'm far off when I surmise that it was the Executive Director's ambitions, and not our lack of service, that spelled the end of our tenure).

2. Anything positive in the realm of Cleveland education is deserving of a mention.

3. I am not, by and large, a supporter of charter schools, but have seen this operation first hand and am consistently impressed with the order, instruction, discipline and respect from and for all parties. As one of the aforementioned "3E" organizations in the ShoreBank building during 2006 and 2007, my initial assumptions of a third-rate corporate excuse for a school (see White Hat) were proven delightfully inaccurate. The students I saw, from the terminal East side mind you, were respectful, thoughtful and polite; a far cry from the reality outside ShoreBank's gated parking lot.

Random Meanderings

2008-04-23T16:23:00.003-04:00

No, that's not what you think it is.

Lacking a substantial issue or event to comment upon this past week, I thought that in the interest of timely postings I would cover a few disparate topics and see what develops...

1. The Democratic Primary - I understand democracy, I understand proportional delegation, I understand that this contest will inevitably continue to gouge out the hearts of democrats across the country. I just despise it more and more every day.

Four months ago people across the country were literally undecided when it came down to Clinton or Obama (or Edwards for that matter). I find it ridiculously hard to believe that there exist any real 'undecideds' out there with the brow beating we have all endured of late.

Indiana to Hillary, North Carolina to Barack... and on and on it goes.

2. The Cleveland Indians - They scored 15 times more runs last night than they did in the entire series previous (or something to that effect). C.C. didn't give up a run and struck out everyone but the bat boy (who we all know he would've totally embarrassed up there).

3. Division III Lacrosse - Quinn was named NCAC Player of the Week this past week after scoring 5 goals on five attempts (in one game) and sticking a last second shot to send Denison into Double OT and on to an eventual victory. Glad to see she's keeping the Simmons' athletic legacy on firm footing...or just really establishing it for the first time...

4. Hop Fest at Buckeye Beer Engine - this past weekend in Lakewood. 'Randall The Enamel Animal' from the scientists at Dogfish Head was on hand to infuse the already uninhibited IBU content of the brews with even more tongue lashing bitterness (see image above). 90 Minute on Randall equals something like 120 Minute??? Ohioans may never know (unless they fork over exorbitant prices on Ebay)...

5. The Cleveland Cavaliers - game 2; now that was as thorough a beatdown as I have ever seen in playoff basketball. Watching that made me want to punch Rasheed Wallace in the face (although that's always sort of in the back of my mind). I know he plays for Detroit, but everyone on the Wizards had already been emasculated by the third quarter.

The Ritter/Hahn Recital at Oberlin

2008-04-16T11:06:00.003-04:00

As a surprise, I told Katie that the Josh Ritter/Hilary Hahn showcase was sold out about a month ago (that's not the surprise). But for her birthday, I miraculously produced a pair of tickets. So it came to be that we wound our way out of Cuyahoga County and into the verdant fold of Oberlin College. Now, typically for a show, there would be the usual congregates of young folksters, indie kids and the occasional middle-aged couple, rekindling their more adventurous (relative) youth.

So it was with some surprise that what greeted us upon first pass of Finney Chapel, the stately statured edifice just off the main square, was a large, and I mean inordinately large, parade of gray hairs. Thinking that perhaps there was a vespers ceremony before the show, we proceeded to debate the least likely spot to get towed from until venturing inside approximately ten minutes to show time. Apparently, far too late to claim any sort of preferred seating in the joint. As we stepped up the walker and wheelchair strewn aisle, we were shocked to see what looked more like a Billy Graham revival.

It occurred to us that perhaps these fine octa- and nona-genarians were drawn by the billing of Hilary Hahn, the grammy winning violin virtuoso who at 27, is widely considered one of the foremost performers in the United States today
(and therefore, not Mr. Ritter, whose off-kilter neo-folk rock inspires a rather smaller percentage, and younger demographic 0f fans).

So, we found ourselves to be in the (vast) minority. Thankfully, Mr. Ritter served as the opening act, sparing us the pain of eight variations of something called "Andante". (Reader's Note: Some more cultured readers will inevitably accuse me of unapologetic ignorance and despise my blithe rebuke of Ms. Hahn's efforts; they will be correct. I did not come to see a classical recital, I came to hear some rock, dammit.)

Opening with the haunting 'Wings' and following, in a patchwork melange of his own songs and other traditional offerings, Ritter played 9 songs, the finale being the aptly and unsurprisingly placed 'Thin Blue Flame'. The stylization of the performance was what was most striking: typically rollicking and in full regalia on stage, Mr. Ritter played a subdued and exquisitely enunciated set (assumingly for the benefit of those in the Miracle Ear camp in attendance). It was enjoyable, and I was even entreated to dance in the aisle at one point, albeit in slow fashion. In fact, I believe we may have been the only attendees moving at all at that point.

I do not mean to belabor the audience, because indeed there were more than a fair share of Oberlin students up in the balconies, but it just made for such a mundane affair that we had to cut our attendance short and head out for more lively entertainment.

My apologies to Ms. Hahn, of whose performance we heard approximately 45 seconds (though 45 fantastic seconds, to be sure), the maligned senior citizens of Lorain County and my readers, who (if they made it this far) were led on through a rather dull post. We will be sure to read the fine print, or at least between the lines, before we embark on another well intentioned concert adventure.

Cleveland in Ten Years?

2008-04-07T15:37:00.004-04:00

The rejuvenation of the Lake Erie waterfront is a no-brainer. Cleveland has a beautiful (at least when you're not swimming in it) resource that could conceivably bring great joy and at least moderate prosperity to a region in sore need of both. But, in their infinite wisdom, Cleveland's lakefront, with a few exceptions, has been rendered an industrial wasteland, from the Cargill plant marring the shoreway to the CSX rail lines that cordon off downtown. Granted, Cargill is a good employer and taxpayer, and CSX provides a vital link to other markets, but there is only so much lake front to go around, so why not open it up to the people who live here?!

Enter the City Planning Commission. Having stumbled across their website, I was interested by the multitude of maps and activities, but was totally intrigued by the Waterfront Plan. Here it was, the defining document on the future of the Cleveland waterfront, a postcard from Cleveland's near future. So what did it say?

Focusing only on the West Side (for the purpose of moderately sized posts), the map, as partially shown above displays a wealth of "water-related", "park & public realm" and "neighborhood enhancements". Stripping away the buzzwords, what this means specifically, in no particular order and with no particular relevance is the following:

1. A (presumably vastly) improved Edgewater Park. The size and scope of the beach looks to be nearly twice as large as the current areas, with new picnic areas, tree covered parkland, gardens and marinas.

2. Transition from high-speed freeway to Sunday drive Shoreway: as the plan says "a reclaimed highway, transformed into a slower-moving, tree-lined, pedestrian scaled lakefront boulevard".

This, in turn, promotes an inclusion of nearby neighborhoods, whether it be West Blvd., Detroit Shoreway or Ohio City through creation of interchanges at West 73rd, 65th, 54th, 45th and 28th Streets.

3. By creating an opening to the lake, rather than a barrier from it, these neighborhoods will benefit both through access, facilities, capital improvements and new development; both commercially and residentially. For proof, see the suspiciously clean and sunny scene illustrated from the plan below:

In any case, the formation of an agreed upon plan with concrete ideas for the productive and aesthetic benefit of Cleveland and Clevelanders is a step in the right direction. So with the image of marinas, sandy beach front and terraced gardens still fresh in your mind, tell a friend and spread the word... We really don't resemble the industrial tar pit we're made out to be!

Explosions In The Sky

2008-04-04T13:29:00.003-04:00

We were back to the Beachland for a show last night by Explosions In The Sky. The all instrumental quartet plays what is revoltingly called 'post-rock'. What the hell they do that transcends 'present rock', besides not sing, is beyond me. In my mind, they're like an indie jam band comparable to Sigur Ros in style, but jacked up a few notches in intensity.

Having skipped the opening act in favor of a few glasses of wine at home, we circled the blocks around luxurious East 158th, hoping for a spot on a well lit street. We eventually found a spot on a cul-de-sac abutting I-90 and made our way through the drizzle and into throngs. Truly, it was busier than I've ever seen a Beachland show before. Katie and I agreed in our surprise when tickets sold out a month before, wrongly assuming that ambient, instrumental rock music wouldn't have quite the draw it would in say, D.C. or Austin.

So we were doubly surprised when the lights went down, the guitars roared up from a lovely sparse opening into a body vibrating crescendo and every soul in the place was completely enraptured. This is the part where I have to admit that I'm not a huge EITS fan, though I do enjoy and appreciate their work. But these people were locked in- and though this sounds abominably ignorant - even though one song could pass for any other to the untrained (read: my) ear, they all knew what was coming. I'm not sure which, the crowd or the band, impressed me more...

Anyway, quite a show, and now we're geared up for Josh Ritter next Thursday at Oberlin in the beautiful Finney Chapel. No band in tow this time around, but an interesting pairing with Hilary Hahn should make it a memorable show.

2008-03-27T13:33:00.000-04:00

Birthdays call for special eats. So it was with much consternation that I attempted to whittle down my (exorbitantly long) short list of restaurants that would fit the bill. The criteria? Location, somewhere close, preferably West Side. Food, eclectic, gourmet and fun, but not extravagant. Beer, good craft list, absolutely nowhere that doesn't take pride in deciding what to serve. Price, somewhere between 'gulp' and 'boinggg' as Danny Kaye so eloquently put it.

After some commiseration with the birthday girl, we narrowed it down to three choices: Ty Fun (pronounced typhoon to the uninitiated), a hip little Thai spot that serves up some killer pad, Lolita, which nary a mention should be necessary, and Fat Cats, an overlooked and underrated establishment with a great skyline view of downtown.

Further paring of the triumvirate proved easier than anticipated. The immediacy of hunger necessitated that Lolita be banished to a certain visit in the near future and Thai was off the mark on our palate preference for the evening, so Fat Cats it was. It also factored that we hadn't been there in a year and we were due for some seared duck...

As you can see, it's a funky little bistro that serves up fine-tuned dishes and drinks. Treated to an amuse of crusty bread with olive tapenade, we perused the menu and plotted our attack. It was decided around the time I received my Magic Hat #9 that I would indeed have the aforementioned Seared Duck Breast, while Katie would be enjoying the Braised Lamb Shank, though there would be generous sharing on both sides.

Without belaboring the details, the meals were quite delicious. My duck, served with the requisite orange sauce, was perfectly balanced by the confit and potato pancake, with goat cheese providing some creamy indulgence. I even enjoyed the brussels sprouts, sliced in half, glazed and pan-seared.

Katie's lamb was savory and rich, the wild mushrooms and mashed potatoes making a mellifluous melange of every bite. With entree consumed, we toyed with the idea of ordering the bread pudding. I'm not normally a big proponent of the stuff, but this recipe stood out; with dried cherries, chocolate and peanut butter sauce, it was like a child's concoction gone curiously gourmet. But, our full bellies got the better of us and we made our exit. The sky had gone dark, and the chill to the air told us winter had not yet receded, but one thing made me giddy with anticipation. The home of the Indians, whatever you'd like to call it, was lit up like, well, game day, reminding me that the new season and with it, spring, is right around the corner.

The Best Damn Beer in the Land

2008-03-21T16:48:00.001-04:00

It occurred to me while gazing upon Ratebeer.com's top 50 list that though I have been known to occasionally partake in a delicious craft beer or two, I have been seriously slacking in my horizon broadening. Lately, as noted in previous posts, the IPA's have their way with me, taunting me from the cooler shelves, flaunting their ridiculously high IBU contents. But, I have made a vow that starting today, I will take every opportunity to enjoy the wonders of the brewing world... the stouts, the porters, the lambics and wheats, the barleywines, dopplebocks and... well, everything but lagers I guess. Sorry, I'm just not a lager guy.

But, back to the list. For instance, I've only enjoyed 2 of the top 10 beers represented. Travesty, I know. I've had a strong desire to venture over to Three Floyd's in late April the past few years for the famed and mystical 'Dark Lord Day', but have yet to make the trek. One of these years...

The crux of the matter is that most of these beers aren't available in Ohio, or I just don't know the right people (side note: if a reader happens to be one of these "right people" please leave a comment with your immediate contact information). Anyway, of all the beers I've had from the top 25 above, my favorite, head and shoulders above the rest is the Bells Bourbon Barrel Double Cream Expedition Stout

To paraphrase that old dude from the Smucker's commercial: 'With a name like Bells Bourbon Barrel Double Cream Expedition Stout, it has to be good'.

Dull Day Brightener

2008-03-19T15:56:00.000-04:00

"Exactly half way through the week", I thought to myself at 1:00 this afternoon, though not with any sense of victory of excitement. I was debating lunch options... Subway again? That's when my phone rang and a brief escape from the doldrums began. I planned to pick Katie up from the Bookstore on West 25th at 2:00, when we'd head across the Lorain/Carnegie Bridge and over to Juniper Grille. The gray was descending on the buildings downtown, and from my office on the 13th floor, nothing was visible but low lying clouds.

As we ventured inside of the sparse but modern eatery, we were promptly greeted and given a choice of tables. Opting for the street scene, we picked one close to the Superior Avenue windows. Other than the (seemingly achieved by space heater alone) temperature of the place, it was quaint, clean, and unobtrusive: the perfect place for lunch. The menu did nothing to disappoint. Katie chose the Salmon Wrap with Sweet Potato Fries while I couldn't resist the temptations of the Pulled BBQ/ Macaroni & Cheese with white cheddar sauce.

Our conversation livened up the dreary day and as the pouring rain outside swiftly morphed into big heavy flakes of snow, we planned for our big adventures this summer (and beyond). We were politely interrupted by our plates; mine bearing a good sized portion of "elbow macaroni" saturated in a light sauce, with a centerpiece of sweet pulled barbecue pork just waiting to be mixed. Topped with four of the lightest and most delectable onion rings I've ever had, this wasn't lunch (ho hum...) this was Lunch (oh yeah...). Katie's sweet potato fries were delicious in their thickness, consistency and flavor, while her salmon roll was both fresh and hearty.

The lunch hour drew to a close We paid our reasonable tab and ventured back out into the weather, the snow plunking off of our styrofoam take-out boxes reminding us that spring, though on the way, is not here yet. It's nice to remember that even a little adventure can change the outlook of a day...

Tapping In

2008-03-14T17:40:00.000-04:00

Shockingly, the five car parking lot was jammed with vehicles notably out of place on the fringe innards of Tremont. Shiny new SUV's, fresh from driveways in the suburbs, have found temporary new homes on the cracked and pot-holed pavement at Scranton and Starkweather. Surrounded by shabby gray houses with rattletrap Oldsmobiles and Escorts (the cars, not the company) out front, the oasis that is the Tremont Tap House beckoned us inside.

Up the few steps and through the heavy wooden door. A high, long bar is the first thing you see; with enough bar stools to seat a small third world country's army. These reside under six overly bright, but appealingly large flat-screen televisions, all dutifully beaming images of the dawn of March Madness, the conference tournaments. A closer look reveals 25 well chosen and eclectically enjoyable taps, with offerings as diverse as Left Hand Milk Stout, Lindeman's Framboise, Victory Golden Monkey and my reason for drinking - Bell's Two Hearted Ale.

Seated in one of the half dozen booths, each with an authentically created local artists creation under glass (we were lucky and scored the Scott Radke table), Katie and I took in the exposed brick, framed with an industrially modern lighting scheme that shed some, but not enough glow to block out the t.v. glare... and some ambiance. I'm particularly fond of the roll-up metal door on the opposite side of the tap handles that will allow for serving straight through to the patio when summer finally arrives.

My parents arrived to meet us and we each sampled the others' brew choices. The Breckenridge Vanilla Porter was pleasantly imbued with distinctly vanilla bean flavor. The Maredsous 8 reminded me of what a fine Belgian ale should taste like. For Katie and I, we scoffed at the opportunity to break out of our waist deep IPA ruts and ordered our regulars; Dogfish 90 Minute and the aforementioned Two Hearted Ale.

The menu, a subtle tap to the growing foodie revolution fomenting around the area, served up traditional eats with flairs of fancy. The penne macaroni with dried figs, brie and sage was one such example. It also, for me, set the scene for the rest of the meal; good, but not quite my style. My empanadas, filled with a delectable goo of chorizo and goat cheese, were a little overly deep fried, giving the plate a heavy, greasy finish that masked the bright flavors. The salmon on rye was said to be delicious, though I can't vouch for it personally. The most unique selection of the night was perhaps, no, definitely the blue cheese & walnut sandwich, with hard-boiled egg slices, apple chunks and spinach on...get this, raisin bread. Not something that I would probably have thrown together at home. But, it hit the proverbial spot, with the raisin bread bringing just the right balance of sweetness to the bitter notes of the blue cheese and spinach.

On the whole, the place is a very welcome newcomer to the 'West Tremont' scene, and one that I hope to frequent on Saturday afternoons in June, drinking my Two Hearted and listening to the Tribe under that blazing Cleveland sun.

Storm of the Century!...er....week!

2008-03-10T10:02:00.000-04:00

What a great way to spend a Saturday; holed up in the cozy confines of home, enjoying a few beers and watching the snow pile up outside. And pile it did; we've got about 18 inches out front, and with the drifting out back, it resembles some Siberian hinterland. We even ventured out in the midst of the barrage and managed to snake our way around the neighborhood without becoming a roadside rut casualty.

Here's Katie utilizing her own unique style of shoveling snow:

O'mmegang Stout - Cleveland Availability Update

2008-03-07T10:19:00.000-05:00

As a follow-up to both posts below, I just received info. on the locations that "O'mmegang Stout" will be available in the Cleveland area for St. Paddy's Day. According to their website, the seasonal treat will be available only in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, so we're in some select company! These fine establishments are the local purveyors:

Cleveland:
McNulty’s Bier Markt
Buckeye Beer Engine
The Brew Kettle
La Cave du Vin

St. Paddy's Day Parade in Cleveland

2008-03-06T12:30:00.000-05:00

Defying the Catholic Church's decree that no St. Patrick's Day parades/celebrations be held during Holy Week, Cleveland (a shocker, I know) will be holding their 141st Annual Parade on Monday, March 18th. Hey, at least they didn't actually hold it on Sunday...

Click here for more information.

2008-03-06T10:15:00.000-05:00

With an ever-growing appreciation for the subtle interplay and sentient flavors imbued in a pairing of just the right dish and serving of beer, I was very excited to see the following event taking place at Buckeye Beer Engine. For more info., click the link at right.

Beer and Food Dinner Pairing Featuring Ommegang Beer

Tuesday, March 11th, 2008, 7pm
Special guest speaker John Mediate, Duvel USA.

$50, tax and gratuity INCLUDED
Reservations required - Limited seating

Six (6) courses

Asparagus soup with Chèvre (goat cheese.)
Paired with Ommegeddon (Belgian Ale, 8% ABV.)

Curry rubbed flank steak over mesclun greens.
Paired with Hennepin (Saison, 7.7% ABV.)

Warm brie with sun dried cherry compote.
Paired with Three Philosophers (Quadrupel, 9.8% ABV.)

Duck confit with egg noodles and braised red cabbage.
Paired with Rare Vos (Belgian Ale, 6.5% ABV.)

Monkfish stew with mixed wild mushrooms.
Paired with Ommegang (Abbey Ale, 8.5%.)

Strawberries with Belgian chocolate ganache.
Paired with O'mmegang Stout (Dry Stout, 4.6% ABV.)

By the way, I am now absolutely helpless to resist their Cyclops burger, a savory delight of a patty, seasoned and cooked to perfection, covered with thick cut bacon, cheddar, an over easy egg, and for good measure, some garlic mayonnaise to slather at will. Coupled with the the straw cut fries seasoned with garlic & rosemary (??), it may be the perfect comfort food for the (always) impending snow storm this season. And I haven't even mentioned their beer! Which I will just say takes me at least 15 minutes to read through before making my decision every time.

Damn you HopSlam; I always wind up with you anyway...

...and they DROVE from Quebec!

2008-03-04T11:01:00.000-05:00

The vibe last night at the Obama/Arcade Fire rally was not exactly electric, more like static electric. Every single person crammed into the Beachland was of like mind, and the audience gelled in a way that doesn't happen as a rule. There was no sniping, no people pissed off because 'that dude stepped on my shoe, then didn't apologize!'.

Indeed some people, for reasons that I will never know, chose not even to wear shoes. No offense to Cindy, the gracious proprietor of the venue, but I would not walk barefoot around the Beachland unless I had a death wish.

Arcade Fire played two abbreviated sets, with a short Obama appeal from a campaign staffer in between. It was very high intensity, and it's been since my Phish days that I've heard such a high percentage of the crowd singing along at the top of their lungs.

We stuck around after the show and went up on stage to have a look around. We wound up meeting Win Butler, Regine Chassagne and Jeremy Gara from the band. They apparently had just concluded a recent tour and were back home in Montreal when they decided to contact an Obama rep to offer their services. 90 hours later they were playing a show in Cleveland on the night before the primary. The kicker is; they didn't want to put out the campaign by flying on such short notice ($$), so they drove from Quebec for the shows!

It just makes me think that people who don't get around to voting when the polling station is around the corner are lazy beyond all reasonable belief.

Anyway, it was a great evening that I hope is only matched by the results from today's election.

*Oh, and one note, I'm laughing in the Win Butler pic, not maniacal...

Light Bistro under $30

2008-03-03T13:19:00.000-05:00

So Katie and I met for an early dinner at Ohio City's Light Bistro on Friday and had the place, and I mean it, entirely to ourselves. Granted it was 4:30 in the afternoon, but it's never too early for braised pork belly, am I right?

Plus, with the killer happy hour deals, selected $5 tapas plates and drink specials (mmm... Blackout Stout), you can sample the best without resorting to pan-handling afterward (also a popular tradition in Ohio City).

As I mentioned, the braised pork belly was absolutely indulgent, the flatbread with goat cheese mellow, crusty and delicious and the service, as one might expect when you're the only customers, top notch.

Arcade Fire in Support of Obama Tonight

2008-03-03T12:56:00.000-05:00

Indie Hipsters of Cleveland rejoice! The Arcade Fire will be performing two shows tonight in support of Barack Obama at the Beachland. The first show is first come first serve while the second, announced this morning, can only be attended through tickets from the SEIU office at 1771 East 30th Street in Cleveland. Either way, the shows are FREE!

No, Barack will not be there in person, but I heard his rendition of Black Mirror sucked anyway.

Word is that they'll play about 8 songs for the second show, which will probably start around 10:30.
Not a bad way to spend a Monday evening if you ask me...