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At the tip of final summer season I deliberate a brief journey to Ohio throughout my Hipster America Project. The plan was to go to household, but additionally to discover two cities I hadn’t ever explored earlier than: Cleveland and Columbus. By the tip of my one-week journey, I used to be fairly shocked to seek out each cities truly fairly attention-grabbing.
Cleveland’s historical past with rock & roll is sort of well-known, however nowadays it doesn’t appear to draw the identical enchantment. So I got down to uncover the cool aspect of Cleveland’s distinctive neighborhoods on my brief weekend journey. Here’s what I discovered…
A Guide to Cleveland’s Coolest Neighborhoods
Tremont—Cleveland’s latest hipster neighborhood
My first evening in Cleveland began off with a fast go to to the Tremont neighborhood—a scenic a part of Cleveland’s outskirts that was as soon as a part of a distinct metropolis earlier than being annexed to Cleveland within the 1850s.
In the twentieth century, the neighborhood was largely made up of Eastern European immigrants (most notably from Poland) and right this moment, with the inflow of artists, hipsters and gentrifiers, it’s usually considered an up-and-coming hotspot for locals.
With farmers markets, artwork festivals and ethnic eating places, Tremont is unquestionably the hip place to be nowadays in Cleveland. I walked round on a brisk, cool summer season night taking some pictures and seeing what the neighborhood needed to provide.
The buildings had been fairly (many have been restored lately) and the ambiance was cozy. Lincoln Park is just about the historic middle of Tremont and I discovered their farmers’ market. Plenty of artwork galleries and artist studios are on the streets round Lincoln Park. And for these particularly bold vacationers and film followers, the well-known Christmas Story home is situated in Tremont.
For dinner I went to the extremely really helpful Prosperity Social Club (@ProsperitySC) in Tremont. It’s not a actual social membership within the historic sense, however undoubtedly evokes the identical form of ambiance. With a tastefully kitsch design (there’s an arcade bowling machine!) and a retro fashion all through, it was the right ambiance for an informal, unpretentious dinner.
While sitting outdoors within the yard beer backyard, I sampled a number of of their appetizers—from pierogi to empanadas—and washed all of it down with just a few craft beers. You might undoubtedly inform that this was the kind of place for locals, common even on a weekday night.
A Night Out in Owl City (finest neighborhood for nightlife)
After having fun with Prosperity Social Club’s beer backyard, I made a decision to take a look at Cleveland’s different hip & fashionable neighborhood: Ohio City. Historically its personal metropolis (briefly), right this moment the world is designated “Cleveland’s Artisan Neighborhood.” The space is unquestionably hip with craft beer bars, nightlife, galleries, eating places and even Cleveland’s very first hostel.
During my evening out in Owl City, I went for a beer on the new Nano Brew (@nanobrewcl) which provides 24 completely different beers on faucet. The Nano Brew bar and restaurant sits on a road nook and the bar’s out of doors patio has a pleasant view of the Cleveland skyline off within the distance.
The bar’s emblem and magnificence undoubtedly evoke a hipster theme, however just like the Prosperity Social Club, it’s comparatively unpretentious.
Hearty Brunch at Latitude 41°N
After an evening out of ingesting Cleveland’s personal native beers (don’t ask me which of them, although), I began my subsequent morning with a giant cup of *limitless* espresso at Latitude 41°N. The restaurant is known for his or her homestyle nation meals and their BIG brunches.
Located within the Gordon Arts district (one in every of Cleveland’s coolest neighborhoods), I began my morning off with their legendary Ménage à trois brunch particular: eggs, toast, bacon, sausage, potatoes and limitless Columbian espresso. I added some fried tomatoes and a quesadilla to make it additional hearty. Delicious!
Exploring the Gordon Square Arts District (finest neighborhood for artwork & creativity)
After my leisurely weekday brunch, I did a little bit of exploring via Cleveland’s Gordon Square Arts District (@gordonsquare). Another hipstery neighborhood, the primary drag is alongside Detroit Street between 58th and 67th streets.
With just a few streets value of unbiased galleries and retailers, the world is unquestionably on the rise. The historic Capitol Theater repeatedly exhibits indie motion pictures in addition to international motion pictures and documentaries, however all I noticed was their retro signage.
Walking alongside the primary road I noticed a handful of bars, eating places and indie retailers. Nothing a lot was open on a weekday afternoon, however on weekends and evenings I’m positive the place is buzzing with Cleveland’s hipsters.
Exploring Ohio City During The Day
Though I spent a night out in Ohio City the evening earlier than, I went again to the humanities district to find what else I might discover. One of Cleveland’s extra common vacationer locations is the West Side Market, Cleveland’s oldest meals market.
Today the primary corridor is a superb place to seize lunch or simply take pleasure in some good old style people-watching. I noticed kiosks and stands promoting all the pieces from pierogies to gyros for lunch, along with the everyday recent fruits, veggies & meats.
One of the stands, Steve’s Gyros, was even featured on a Man vs Food episode. If you go, there’s a stairwell off close to the loos which you’ll be able to climb as much as get a birds-eye view of market.
Around the nook from the West Side Market are lots of the craft beer pubs (the place I did some nighttime exploring), however there have been additionally galleries and small retailers on the encircling streets. There’s even a studio which provides glassblowing lessons—one thing I did final yr in my hometown.
Downtown Cleveland—A Neighborhood for Public Art
After spending most of my days exploring the outlying neighborhoods of Cleveland, I ultimately determined it was time to see what downtown Cleveland needed to provide. I spent just a few hours contained in the Rock & Roll Museum earlier than setting out on a stroll via town middle. While it was fairly quiet and there weren’t many individuals round, it was nonetheless a pleasant day for some city exploration.
I discovered one in every of Cleveland’s extra well-known public artwork items: the Free Stamp. Bit weird however the piece (typically known as the world’s largest rubber stamp) is unquestionably a quirky attraction value seeing.
Wandering round downtown Cleveland I additionally discovered some road artwork (“Life is sharing the same park bench”) and a weekly meals truck pageant (Walnut Wednesdays)—town is clearly one in every of nice artwork.
Where to Eat in Cleveland
Continuing with my theme of consuming ethnic meals in Cleveland, I made a decision to finish my journey at one of many metropolis’s extra common eating places: Melt Bar & Grilled. The super-American restaurant/bar principally serves one kind of meal, however with a number of variations. Grilled cheese.
Can’t get far more American than that! I attempted the grilled cheese sandwich with pierogi inside, and @dangerousbiz who joined me for dinner had an Italian model with meatballs.
The sandwiches had been huge and I’m glad I ate there…however I don’t know if I might do it a second time. This Cleveland restaurant was additionally featured on Man v. Food. Seems that Adam Richman and I’ve one thing in frequent: an curiosity in Cleveland’s meals scene!
Cleveland—extra hip than I first imagined
After spending just a few days in Cleveland, I’ve undoubtedly decided that town is far more cool than I first guessed. Before visiting, I assumed the Rock & Roll Museum can be nearly the one factor to maintain my curiosity, however getting the possibility to discover the Ohio City, Tremont and Gordon Square neighborhoods, I shortly realized there was much more to town.
Cleveland’s coolest neighborhoods have artwork, tradition, superb meals, and many to maintain you entertained for a weekend journey.
It’s significantly a great metropolis to go to for followers of meals, beer and typical Americana. After all, Cleveland is in America’s heartland.