Would a Westsider go East?

I would consider myself a well rounded guy. My ears have been subjected too all sorts of noises (hardrock, country, rap, R&B,pop, hip-hop(there is a difference between rap & hip-hop), new age, folk or trance) Don’t get me wrong, I have my preferences. I only can tolerate so much Goth.

My exposure to the nightlife in Cleveland has taken me from Beachwood, in the east, to Avon, in the west. I have managed to keep myself downtown and west of the Cuyahoga River for the last 14 years. Altho, I have ventured east to Capers, Wolf’s Den, Skeets & LiL Rob’s( to name a few off the top of my head). I am sure there are others, but not many. I can give credit that the eastside does have all the museums and MY BARBER. My Westside nightlife doesn’t have a starting nor stopping point. I can just randomly touch on the many doors I have entered and leave it up too the individual to visit and experience the ambiance. I pride myself on only visiting establishments that I find to have a zero body count. That is…rarely will you hear that the place has been shot up, raided, or outlandish bar brawls. There are people whom enjoy frequenting such establishments, I for one is not one of them.

I start my journey downtown and describe some of the standout features. Cadillac Ranch has the electric riding bull. Small dancefloor but its okay, cause when you walk down the connecting hallway, you reach BarRoom. Now that’s a CLUB. Strobe lights, large dance floor and enough bar space to get your drink and not worry about long waits, for the size of the place. The View on Latin nights is muy caliente. When I feel the spirit of my Hispanic roots and want to see some serious sweating, spinning and coordinated dancing going on, this is where I go. The flavor is just that.... HOTT! Now my mind is drifting west… Mercury Lounge has the upstairs open on some nights, but small with a fresh ambiance. The outside patio gives you a front seat view of the strip and all the action. The dance floor is small, but all the mirrors allow you to see yourself groove on the dance floor. Liquid, 1 of a triumvirate actually is more of a bar but you go next door to Suite SIXX and you can really get your feet too moving to pop music. When they open downstairs, ULTRA, that’s when you get your hip-hop engines started. I’m going to add The Blind Pig, due to the fact although upstairs they have live bands which could be anything, downstairs they play the top 100, usually hip-hop. And I can’t exclude Tequila Ranch, with its electric riding bull.

The next hot zone, leaving downtown, is West 25th Street. The tiny pocket of West 25th/Lorain, I step into the Dragonfly, a lounge with a trendy martini atmosphere. On the same is Bar Cento/Bier Market which has double choices a nice eatery, outside patio and a bar with world class beer selection. If playing pool isn’t a trade you can then go downstairs to the martini room & sit on a couch. Around the corner in the alley are the Market Avenue Wine Bar and the Great Lakes Brewery. Further west into Lakewood are some notable drinking holes, Johnny Malloy’s/Jeppeto’s (both on Clifton/Detroit), Pug Mahones, Pacers, Beer Engine, and Mccarthy’s. On the far end of the west I will introduce Agave Tequileria in Crocker Park (WestLake).

A Fleeting Moment..

She came alone. I listend in & liked her jokes. Noone noticed the goose bumps, so i offered my blazer. She must have intimidated the other guys, cause noone asked her to dance. When i saw her feet taping, that was my cue. It was a fleeting moment. I exited after the song, maybe she will notice i left my number in the inside pocket. I liked that jacket...

Why I can't do Small Towns....

When you reach the tender age of 40, somethings you get pretty tired of. Me...Is People. Not just any people. But people who don't change. People who don't grow. People who don't see that there is more to life than what is within a 20 mile radius. People who seem to not have any flavor, orginality, color, culture nor ambiance. Zombies!!! This is a big planet.. If you haven't known. But some folks are trapped in a rubics cube of an existence and feel that that is all the world is. Amber Alert to Brain!! Ring the Alarm!!! Life only begins when you turn 18. Cause then... you are free from the tyranny of parents. Adulthood begins. No child support check nor government assistance for a 18 year old living with the parents. So..Why can't i do small towns (again)? I don't want to see the same person I went too elementary school, junior high, senior high and community college for the last 40 years. Nor do i want to try to talk to the girl that had a kid by my cousin, my co-worker(at wendy's), and my best friends sister's baby daddy. Small towns seem to have women in heavy rotation. All the guy's have the same women chasing after them. Everyone is related to everyone, thru someone elses kid. Can we say Deliverance? Can we say Hillbillies? No 6 degrees of seperation - Try 2 degrees. Emancipate yourself. Break the chains. Outgrown the shoes that you were born in. Step outside the box and make new boundaries. One library, One mall, No Dave&Busters, No Pro Sports team, No Science center, No Water Park, One supermarket,8 bars, no clubs, 10 churches and 20 liquor stores. Hmmm..... What is the problem with this picture? Simply put.... Why watch Bright Lights & Big Citys, when you can sell the donkey, empty out the penny jar, load up the station wagon and move 90 miles North and start up a new life. See museums, visit bigger & more diverse libraries, goto a slamming dance club, not run into someone everyday that probably sat behind you in math class and shop at a dozen different malls (where everyone isn't dressed the same). Greater chances, you wont end up dating your cousin from your cousin twice removed. Then maybe..the nightmares will stop coming into your dreams and visions of zombies will then be visions of Hooters Girls dropping off platters of flaming hot bbq wings. Cause surely, you won't find that in a small town.

Greasy Love

Grease. What is it? It has amany functions used in machinery. But the one thing that stands out the most for me, is that its damn hard to get off your clothes. You practically have to throw away anything it touches-anything that is fragile and of fine quality. Think of a woman for instance (fragile & fine quality). Once the grease of love is on her from a man, how do you treat that? Uhmm....... What did i just mention? Can ya really (give up & move on to next woman of interest?)? When its over (between man & woman). Its over? Or is it not? He can run you into the ground, spit on you, call you every name in the book, steal your money, sleep with your sister, aunt, mother & cousins...but guess what? You still will Love him. WOW!! Not many have the strength to truly let go. Why not? You have more than enough excuses!! But something deep down inside you, tells you too give him just another chance. Cause he is gonna change. Look! Woman, you CANNOT CHANGE A MAN - iN reverse (MAN CANT CHANGE A WOMAN). Do I look like the LOVE DOCTOR? NOPE! I am just someone whom analyzes way too much. And guess what? My theory has proven me right 99.9% of the time. If she talks about an ex, more than she talks about work or her kids. She is still in love. If she makes excuses to find ways of talking to the ex. She is still in love. If still knows the comings & goings of her ex. She is still in love. If she uses the ex in a present tense. She is still in love. Why? Why ask why? Just take heed and recognize things for what they are. Never take the word of mouth for face value. That is subject to change. Chances are...in the same sentence, surely paragraph. Dont call the person a liar. Just chalk it up as being in LOVE. Love Is like GREASE. How many people you see that has GREASE on them?