Y Cleveland?

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!


Y Cleveland?

Lester, the hot dog vendor on 9th street

We've lived in the Cleveland area for almost 10 years now.
But one long weekend last August we decided to take a vacation in Cleveland. We wanted to be able to explore our adopted city like a tourist, not having to rush back home at the end of the day.

We stayed in a hotel right off 4th street. We went to an Indians game and a musical at Playhouse Square. The girls and I went to the One Direction concert, the boys refused and went to the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame next door. We visited the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank, the shops at Tower City, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, and just sat at the banks of Lake Erie and watched the waves roll in.

Best of all we met Lester. We were all walking down 9th street when a hot dog vendor saw Ryan and seemed to think he was the coolest kid dressed in his leather jacket, Cleveland hat, and shades. We stopped and talked for a while and he gave Ryan advice on life and a huge handful of candy. Ryan felt he'd made a friend and the next day he and my husband went back to Lester and enjoyed "One of the best hot dogs ever!", in Ryan's words.

To us, Lester represents a kind of Zen spirit of Cleveland. Despite heartbreaking sports losses and less than perfect weather, it's a happiness to be right here in the moment, to be friendly and kind and enjoy the people who cross our paths, to touch other's lives in unexpected ways.

We had a wonderful time and didn't want to head back home when the weekend was over. We were all glad that Cleveland is only a 45 min drive from our house.

So Y Cleveland? 

Because it is unexpected. It is culture, beauty, cuisine and fun all hidden in a city that no one expects to be anything special. That's exactly what makes it so perfect.



Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!


Y is for Yoda

One day more of the Challenge, there is.

Today is Friday!  Yay!  Have you ever taken a vacation to your own city?  How has the Challenge been for you?  Have you ever taken a vacation to your own city?


Kathy :)

V is for Views

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!

V is for Views
You may not think of Cleveland as very scenic place but there are a number of beautiful spots in and around the city. Here are a few.

The family enjoying downtown

Chagrin River in Gates Mills, Ohio (photo: 

Kathy Schreiber-Castrataro)

Ryan downtown

Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Rory on a hike 

Autumn Splendor

The pond in our neighborhood

Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!

V is for Velociraptor
Whenever I cook salmon for dinner, Rory knows he's going to get a treat of salmon skin and he often takes this pose to see over the counter or when it's treat time.  Usually his front paws are held up a little higher though, more like a velociraptor's claws.

Happy Tuesday! 


Kathy :)

T is for Towpath Trail

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!


T is for Towpath Trail

Canal boat being guided by horses, 1902 (Photo: Wikipedia)

In the 1820's-1830's the Ohio and Erie Canal was built to connect Lake Erie with the Ohio River. This was the final link to complete the inland water route from New York City all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico.
After the Civil War the costs of maintaining the canal were becoming too great and then in 1913 the area suffered unprecedented flooding destroying most of the locks and aqueducts.

Towpath Trail
(photo: Kevin Payravi, Wikimedia Commons)

Today, there is a trail that runs along the entire 110 mile canal system for hiking, biking, horseback riding, or if you prefer you can take a ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad which seems to take you back in time as it ambles through the Cuyahoga National Forest, little towns and a 19th century working farm.  

This whole area was designated by Congress as one of the 49 National Heritage Areas in the U.S. in order to "preserve and celebrate the rails, trails, towns, landscapes and sites...that helped Ohio and our nation grow."  

Over 2.5 million visitors come each year to discover the hidden beauty the canal trails have to offer.

The Towpath Trail is one of the several trails that runs through the canal system. It is over 85 miles of trail from downtown Cleveland south to New Philadelphia.

We spent one day biking on the Towpath Trail, a couple summers ago and took the Scenic Railway for a short trip, both were a lot of fun for the whole family.



References:
Ohio and Erie Canal Way
Trail head maps
Ohio and Erie Canal Wikipedia



Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!



T is for Towel Pup

Rory doesn't like baths but he hates being toweled off even more so I'm amazed that he sat still for this photo! 

and Torpedo

He lays like this when he's waiting for me to accidentally drop stray veggies while cooking.

Hope you have a beautiful weekend!

Kathy :)

S is for Soldiers and Sailors Monument and Slyman's

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!


S is for Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Soldiers and Sailors Monument 1900
(photo: Wikipedia)  

This monument built in 1894, was to commemorate the soldiers from Cuyahoga County who gave their lives to fight in the Civil War. Around the base of the monument stand four groupings, representing each the four branches of the Union Army; Navy, Cavalry, Infantry and Artillery.

Inside the monument are marble tablets inscribed with 9,000 names of the men who were from Cuyahoga County or who fought with those regiments. In 2011, researchers discovered that the names of 140 black soldiers had not been inscribed on the tablets and they are currently working to find out if more names are missing so that they can be added.

The monument still stands in Public Square in downtown Cleveland.

When we visited with the kids last summer, we kind of walked through it as an after thought, but the guide inside let us in on a little secret.  

The monument is haunted. Underneath the monument lies a series of catacomb tunnels where restless spirits reside. The kids instantly had goosebumps and were interested to learn more. The guide showed us some "proof" of the hauntings which I have to admit were convincing and told us to visit again with the Haunted Cleveland Ghost Tour which visits all the haunted spots of Cleveland.  

We haven't had the chance to do that yet, but I'll let you know how it goes after we do.

References:
Soldiers and Sailors Monument Wikipedia
Soldiers and Sailors Monument


S is for Slyman's


After walking around downtown Cleveland all day you'll be hungry so head to one of the best places to fill your belly, Slyman's. They have the best corned beef and other deli sandwiches around.

Ryan trying to figure out how to eat a sandwich bigger than his head!

Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!



S is for Stingray

The kids think Rory looks like a stingray in this position.  He seems to lay in this pose often.

and Sleeping Dragon

This is one of his favorite poses.  Shh...don't wake the sleeping dragon.

Are there any haunted sites in your city?

Have a wonderful Friday!  


Kathy :)

R is for Rock n Roll!

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!

R is for Rock 'n Roll

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Me and my kids with my brother and his family

As Drew Carey's theme song states, Cleveland Rocks, literally.  Not only is Cleveland the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it also has several great live venues such as the House of Blues, the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern,  Coda, and more for both local and touring artists.  Cleveland also is the place that the term "Rock and Roll" was coined.

Rock History

In 1951, Alan Freed, a disc jockey in Cleveland, began using the term "rock and roll" to describe the R&B music he was playing to his diverse group of young listeners. In 1952, his following was so large that he decided to have his radio show, "Moondog Show" host a dance with Rhythm and Blues stars at the Cleveland Arena. Over 20,000 people showed up to the venue which could only hold 10,000 and the dance had to be cancelled but it was considered the first rock and roll concert ever!

John Lennon's piano

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a great museum for everything Rock! It holds an immense collection of Rock memorabilia that includes everything from John Lennon's piano to Jimi Hendrix's guitars, outfits, and couch to Lady Gaga's crazy metal dress. There are also some great movies about the history of rock.

Jimi Hendrix's guitar, outfit, and couch

Lady Gaga's outfit

It has several permanent exhibits including Pink Floyd: The Wall, The Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, and currently there are exhibits featuring the 2016 inductees and Guns and Roses.

If you love rock it's a great place to go!


School of Rock

The School of Rock is a performance based music school with over 160 franchises around the U.S. and across the world. We are lucky in Cleveland to have 3 schools serving our area. They teach individual skills on the guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and voice but they also teach the kids to perform together in a real band.

My son, Ryan, started taking guitar lessons at 8 1/2 from a traditional type music school but quickly got bored with the pace of learning the basics of chords and theory without really getting to play anything but simple songs. He asked me if he could quit lessons. Then we happened upon the School of Rock and he has not put down his guitar since!

He was hooked on his first lesson when the teacher asked him what song he wanted to learn and they started right away playing one of his favorite rock songs.

Last summer he was thrilled to be able to play lead guitar on Jimi Hendrix's, Foxy Lady, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Ryan is the little guy in the black leather jacket!

References:
http://www.rockmusictimeline.com/1950s.html
http://www.alanfreed.com/wp/biography/
http://www.rockhall.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicken_Loans_Arena
http://www.schoolofrock.com/performance-based-approach


Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)

My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!


R is for Regal Beagle (or as we say: Roogle Boogle)

Have you ever been to the Rock Hall?  Who is your favorite band?  
Have a great day!

Kathy :)

Q is for Quicken Loans Arena

Cleveland is Cooler Than You Think!
All over the media, in tv and movies, Cleveland gets made fun of. In this year's A-Z Challenge, I'm here to show you everything Cleveland has to offer!

Q is for Quicken Loans Arena

The "Q" (photo: Wikipedia)

The "Q", as we Clevelanders lovingly call the arena, is the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as the Lake Erie Monsters hockey team, and the Cleveland Gladiators arena football team. It also is used as a concert venue for top artists such as P!nk, Justin Bieber, and Janet Jackson, and this summer it will be the host of the Republican National Convention.

I love the Cavs and LeBron, they are after all Cleveland's best hope for a championship, but being a hockey girl at heart, I love the "Q" more when there's ice. I honestly don't know how they can go from an ice rink to a basketball court in a matter of a day or two but somehow they work some magic and voila there is a perfect sheet of ice just waiting to be skated on.

This year the ice skating team I coach was lucky enough to perform after the first period of a Monster's game. The kids did a fabulous job skating and they were thrilled to be broadcast on the jumbotron, nicknamed the Humongotron (the largest NBA scoreboard)! Here's a few pictures of their performance. I'm lucky to have both my daughters Jessica and Alyssa on the team as well as a bunch of other great kids! I was so proud of them all!

My team focused near the end of the program! :)

Jess and Alyssa!

The "Q" in the news:
In a sort of humorous but slightly frightening side note, I read in the Cleveland Plain Dealer that GOP convention planners were trying to get the "Q" to allow the convention goers to bring guns into the arena. The arena seats over 20,000 people. Imagine over 20,000 gun-toting Republicans all in the same building listening to speeches, getting worked up, then running around Cleveland... maybe it's time to plan a vacation out of town!  

Luckily, it sounds like the owners of the "Q" are standing firm and will not allow firearms in the building. I surely hope so!


References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicken_Loans_Arena


Doggy Style (It's really not what you think!)


My three kids have taken up the habit of naming all the different positions our beagle Rory gets himself into.  Most of the time even I can't quite figure out why they chose the names they did but I thought it might put a smile on everyone's face to share in this silliness!

Q is for Quiet Time

Rory isn't quiet all that often, but when he is he is the sweetest pup around and wants to snuggle with the nearest person.  He always seems to know who needs him the most and usually goes to the person who is sad, isn't feeling well, or who has just had a really awful day.  

Brotherly love

Getting love from Jess

Happy Wednesday!  Only 9 Challenge days left, I can't believe how fast it's going.  How have you held up? 

Kathy :)