Beached

I know i dont live in sunny california nor the crystal waters of florida, but i will make the best of it with my good home of Lake Erie. Close to downtown Cleveland and central to it all is Edgewater Park (6500 cleveland memorial shoreway cleveland,oh). Going deep east you have Headlands Beach (9601 headlands rd mentor, oh). Going west you have Huntington Beach (28649 lake rd bay village, oh). Deeper Weest you have Lakeview Park beach (1800 w. erie ave lorain,ave). I didnt include Euclid Beach, because i had never been there (imagine that!!!). I have my reasons for visiting each and everyone for particular moments: Edgewater for being close; Huntington for being the cleanest and having a really good icecream shop (altho edgewater has 2 food stands, but huntington is better); Headlands for being far out and clean; Lakeview for being far out, clean and a different brand of people (Lorain County vs Cuyahoga County). Not excuses for anyone to say that a beach isnt within reach and all they have are public/private swimming pools. Step out!!! They wont bite!! Unless you look like you enjoy being bit. Pay close attention to the toxic levels of the swimming areas. They are posted for a reason.

Alot to be melting at the Melting Pot (3111 WestGate Mall)

Word of mouth travels fast and it helps that i have had 2 fondue's at my home (cheese and chili dips my fav), I wanted to experience a more professional(they know what they are really doing) feel. The melting pot was tugging at my curiousity. Location, location, location...Westgate was the closer than lyndhurst. I can only say that they language of translating a meal was beyond latin. I would put it on the planet of mandarin. To add the prices werent the typical mcdonalds,Brio,Outback nor winking lizards price ranges. What stood out even more was being seated at a table with 2 temperature controlled hot pads in the middle for the heating of the fondues pots. Self serve, cook yourself meals, with sufficient coaching to boot. Thumbs up for decor and ambiance. I can say...the food was simple and I can now say, "Ive been there and done that!!!!"

Set your eyes on art inside the Cleveland Museum of Art

Museums can never been taken lightly. Rather your a novice or professional. Rather your young or old. Rather you go alone or with the family. If your eyes are open you are bound to walk away remembering something. And if your like me, you will remember alot. Hopefully you will come with a camera, because words cant describe the multitude of detail that you will witness on the many floors and exhibits of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Soaring New Heights watching the Cleveland Air Show

The closest you can get to being a pilot without having to join the airforce is to goto this event and take in all the wonders of aeronatics. I never knew how different jet fighters were upclose than what i had allways seen on television. The enormous size of troop/transport carrier of the armed forces to the commercial prop planes crop dusters flew, all for the viewing. Only if once in your lifetime, i suggest you at least attend one of these annual events. Regardless of the steep price. Alot of folks seat outside the show and watch the planes zoom around. Not the same being inside. And to add alittle comfort for kids, they added a playground at the far end. So make sure you walk the whole area...you dont want to miss out on anything.

Real SoapBox Derby

You really have to get off the exit while driving west from downtown along the shoreway heading towards edgewater park to notice, that cleveland has a die hard SoapBox Derby Association. I caught wind one day while leaving from Martin Luther King Park University Hospital tennis courts. Sweaty and all...i noticed a banner saying California Soap Box Derby off to my right with alot of people and soapbox cars. ???? California??? In Cleveland? Found my way back and found myself on the set of a movie!!! "25 Hill" starring Corbin Bernsen, yea, the guy who plays Arnold Becker on LA Law. Needless to say, i didnt signon as a extra, but i surely was moved around as if i were one. Standing next to others blocking the other cameras from the angles of other cameramen. Extras used as props to prop the props. Ingenius. Immediately after the director said cut, i made the cartoon exit...stage left. Im told the movie comes out this year. Look forward to seeing if i'm in it. My 5 seconds of fame!!!!

Mahalls Twenty Lanes or The Corner Alley???

Mahalls Twenty Lanes at 13200 Madison Ave in lakewood ohio cant get anymore down to earth with down to their earth prices. They add a huge family feel with the calm decor,offering simple meals with a bar upstairs for the grownups. I can say, if your looking for good prices, this is the spot. The Corner Alley at 402 Euclid Ave located in downtown cleveland is alittle ritzy. The CA offers a martini bar and private party rooms. This is the place where you would hold a serious company event or want to impress family or a date. You wont be dissappointed in the service nor the style. Daily drink specials and i chose a quiet sunday to bowl with light traffic on the lanes. Just to note: Mahalls is manual score keeping. Corner Alley is computerized. If your not hip to keeping bowling scores, google it, if your going to Mahalls (I did).

The Hispanic Flavor in Cleveland

Something everyone who is diverse should allways keep their eyes and ears open for, is the whats going on in the hispanic community when it comes to events. Either the Puerto Rican fest downtown or the annual events on w.25th (@ Club Alma Yaucana or detroit rd (La Sagrada familia Latin Festival). Absorbing the music, food and the general ambiance is something you would never forget. Trust me on it!!!

Tequila Ranch or Cadillac Ranch???

Every now and again I tap into my western roots and let loose the Texan Rodeo in me. Lucky for me, Downtown Cleveland offers 2 places for which in indulge yourself in riding a electric bull. I gotta admit the bull @ Cadillac Ranch is alot slippery. Pick your poison tho.... Try them both out.....Options Options Options...gota love Options. Altho Tequila Ranch is mainly just a bar with tiny up & downstairs dancefloors, Cadillac ranch is a restaurant with a small dancefloor connected to Barroom, which is a HUGE DANCE CLUB!!!! Decide on your choice by mood. Cowboy hats not provided!!!

Gassing up at the Cleveland Auto Show

No car enthusiast this far east of detroit should ever pass up a moment to visit the IX Center during the CAS. One thing i can admit is my taste for overpriced vehicles with low mileage. Not sure what other folks look at(I but wonder) when drooling over a car...maybe color? chrome wheels? clean engine? soft leather seats or the stares they would get driving around the neighborhood in this chariot of petro????? To my chagrin.......I may have posed by alot, but none i am willing to take home. Over all...I enjoy the toys. Maybe if the gas prices werent as high as the interest rates on a payday loan, I would entertain the thought or two to sit down at a Lally's and go over reasonable monthly payments.