continuation . . .On up to the sixth floor, there is a huge screen playing concert footage which doesn’t seem to be from any particular show that I recognize. There is a round bench area in the center of the room facing the exhibits…Read More

continuation . . .


On up to the sixth floor, there is a huge screen playing concert footage which doesn’t seem to be from any particular show that I recognize. There is a round bench area in the center of the room facing the exhibits along the walls throughout, making it a nice way to sit back to enjoy the music. On one entire wall are scads of handwritten lyric sheets, mostly in or from spiral bound notebooks. In some cases ("The River" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town" albums) the entire notebooks are on display, opened to one of the many familiar songs. Other displays are photocopies or full poster sized displays of the scribbled lyrics. Perhaps as fascinating as the words themselves are the stories that go along with the notebooks as Springsteen was often inspired to write more than what might reasonably fit on an album (or CD).

Case in point is the heart pounding "Murder Incorporated" which was released in 1995 for the first time on his "Greatest Hits" collection. WOW – a song not previously released going straight to "greatest hits" status. That is impressive. The song was written however in 1982 as part of his "Born in the USA" work, but was subsequently held for later. Springsteen’s lyrics notebook for the album documents the origin of the song even if it wasn’t released for over 10 years.

In that same room, on the adjacent wall are displays of the iconic blue jeans, white tee shirt and red baseball cap worn on the cover of "Born in the USA." Also on the wall is blue and white plaid shirt he wore on the cover of "The River." Of course, he had cooler threads too including the uber- cool black leather jacket worn on the "Born to Run" cover. As I walked around the assortment of wardrobe items on display, I couldn’t help but to realize what a small man he is. While he has bulked up through obvious work in the gym sometime between the "Born to Run" and "Born in the USA" releases, he really has a slight frame. As I looked at that leather jacket, I thought it looked like about a size six.

No rock and roll museum exhibit would be complete without the instruments used to create the wonderful music enjoyed by millions from around the world. There are several guitars on display, including the 1968 Gibson Les Paul that he traded in 1973 because it was too heavy. The exhibit also includes a couple of his harmonicas, as well as a guitar from Miami Steve/Little Steven Van Zandt, an early saxophone from The Big Man himself (Clarence Clemons) and an accordion from the late Danny Federici.

All and all, the "Asbury Park to the Promise Land; the Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen" special exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum was well worth the price of admission ($22 for adults less a $2 discount offered by their local CVB to our US Youth Soccer group). If there is a negative, it is the fact that you cannot take photos inside the museum. In fact, when the wristband person noticed I had a small camera around my wrist, she made me take it to the coat check for the duration of my visit. HUGE BUMMER!

The entire facility is accessible via escalators and elevators. There is a café serving food & beverages on the third floor; and a gift shop on the main level where you buy your admission tickets. I look forward to wearing my Bruce Springsteen Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum tee-shirt to his Milwaukee show in just two weeks!

Hours are 10:00am to 5:30pm with extended hours on Wednesdays. They are open seven days a week, year round and are only closed Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Come in the summer and enjoy a picnic lunch there by the shores of Lake Erie.

Note there is limited street parking adjacent to the museum; so you may need to park in the parking deck that is caddy-corner from the entrance.

UPDATE 1/27/10: This special exhibit was scheduled to run through April 2010. It was announced this week, however, that it will remain through the end of the year.Close

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum1100 Rock & Roll Blvd.Cleveland, OHPH: 216-781-ROCKwww.rockhall.comAs I sat in my hotel room on Saturday night, I found myself thumbing through the Cleveland tourist guide. When I reached the fifth or sixth page, there was a…Read More

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
1100 Rock & Roll Blvd.
Cleveland, OH
PH: 216-781-ROCK
www.rockhall.com


As I sat in my hotel room on Saturday night, I found myself thumbing through the Cleveland tourist guide. When I reached the fifth or sixth page, there was a half-page ad for the Bruce Springsteen special exhibit "From Asbury Park to the Promised Land." All I could think was how could I come to Cleveland and leave without seeing what the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame had to share regarding the life and music of one of my all-time musical inspirations. While I do not agree with his political positions on most things (more on that later), I do feel that he represents the average working man, woman and family in America. Anointed the future face of rock and roll back in the 70’s, today he is one of the most prolific song writers and performers. Cover boy of Time and Newsweek back in 1975 . . . he was the most recent cover story on AARP’s magazine as he turned 60 in September.

With my Sunday meeting scheduled to go until 12:00noon and a 2:45pm flight, my challenge was to figure out a way to squeeze in a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum. Luck was on my side, as our meeting adjourned shortly after 9:00am making a 10:00am opening hour a real possibility! I figured that would give me about 90 minutes to take in the Springsteen exhibit. When I told folks of my plan, everyone said "Oh it is six floors of great exhibits . . . you’ll need at least three or four hours to take it all in." That’s OK I responded . . . I only need to do two of them!

David and I visited the tribute to music along Cleveland’s Lake Erie back in 2004 so I didn’t need to view the costumes, vehicles, music and other exhibits of the many outstanding hall of fame members. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great place to really take in the stories of all the music that I grew up with. I remember back in 2004 how cool David thought it was to see the car from the ZZ Top Eliminator tour. Yes, that was pretty cool, indeed. There is a lot to see and experience and I would encourage anyone making their first (and perhaps only) visit to allow at least half of a day.

For me, it was to be a breeze through visit. Once I had my ticket and wristband, upstairs I headed to the "special exhibits" floors (the top two of the pyramid shaped building). If there was any disappointment, it was that they had the two smallest floors dedicated to the Boss. Surely they could have filled two of the larger floors with the music and life spanning over 40 years. That’s OK . . . what they had was outstanding!

Before I headed upstairs, however, the friendly guide on the main level said that while I had limited time and didn’t plan on taking in the other exhibit areas she strongly recommended I check out the Springsteen "car" on display on the lower level. OK sure, I though as I hustled by the wrist-banding station to seek out "the car". I wasn’t even sure what make or model car I was looking for. I figured, however, I would know it when I saw it.

As I turned one corner, there was a huge purple Lincoln Continental, circa probably 1965 or so, from the Elvis Presley collection. Wow, a Lincoln I thought . . . I expected a Cadillac. From there, the next turn brought me upon a beautiful white on black 1960 Corvette. I immediately recognized the car from the many photos taken of a young Bruce cruising probably post "Born to Run". The body was in good shape from what I could tell; the interior was a bit worn which was nice actually. The leather seats were showing the age of a car that is nearly 50 years old. Like Bruce, this was a classic to be admired for many years to come.

After checking out "the car" I headed up to the fifth floor. As I exited the elevator, it was total Bruce emersion. While it emptied you right at what most know as the beginnings of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, it was on the far side of the room where visitors needed to start the tour to fully trace his life and music.

The memorabilia included show posters and ticket stubs from his days with the Castiles (1966-1968), Child (1969), Steelmill (1970-1971) and Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom (1971). Story goes that in 1971 he formed the Bruce Springsteen Band from just about anyone who could play an instrument. How fortunate for E Streeters everywhere, he eventually connected with the likes of Clarence Clemons, Steve Van Zandt, Max Weinberg, Danny Federici, Garry Tallent and Roy Bittan to form what would later become the E Street Band.

Springsteen’s first release "Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ" was a commercial flop by most standards (it sold around 25,000 copies the year of release). It would however, set the stage for those who were fortunate enough to see him when he was truly a nobody, playing local bars and music clubs up and down the eastern seaboard. I fondly remembered my first "Bruce Spring-who?" concert in 1974, right after the release of his second album "The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle."

OK enough about my waltz down memory lane. In that same area are photos and drawings that are contained in scrapbooks. While the books are there in the museum area under glass, they have done a nice job of scanning all of the pages and photos to create a video slideshow. It was interesting to see his skill as a sketch artist through his pencil drawings. I suppose for those who have artistic talents, they are not limited to lyrics or musical composition.

Nearby was a poster for a show in Red Bank, NJ for George McGovern’s 1972 Presidential campaign. It would appear that Bruce has long been supportive of the Democratic Party and the liberal positions taken more recently by Presidential hopeful John Kerry and our current US President Barrck Obama.

Back where I entered the fifth floor was a continuous running film of Bruce and the various band members discussing the events leading up to and after the 1975 "Born to Run" explosion. Everyone felt the pressure, probably not as much as Bruce himself as the record label needed for his third release to be not only a creative success, but also a commercial success. Who would be ready for what was to come next?

The video is a beautiful weave of storytelling and performance, including Bruce strumming his guitar singing lines from such classics as "Jungleland" and "Tenth Avenue Freezeout" . . . which Springsteen states "I have no idea what that means today." Me neither Bruce, but I can appreciate having "my back to the wall" and looking for a way out only to be hit with a Tenth Avenue Freezeout!

Bruce and the members of the E Street Band share the recollection of the pressure to produce something that the label would find financially rewarding. Bruce explained how he wanted to tell the story of people wanting and needing to get out; out of bad situations, relationships, whatever. As he strummed and began humming and then singing the words to "Thunder Road" I could feel tears welling up as I remembered the first time I heard that song . . . "Roy Orbison singing for the lonely . . . that’s me and I want you only . . ." There always has been something about how he writes, the images he projects and ultimately, the passion within that he captures that has drawn me to his music. The moment there, alone, was beautiful!

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For a rockin’ good time – from music to great food to a scenic waterfront development – Cleveland can’t be beat.If you haven’t been to Cleveland lately, you’re missing out on a great time. We’re lucky to live less than an hour’s drive from the…Read More

For a rockin’ good time – from music to great food to a scenic waterfront development – Cleveland can’t be beat.

If you haven’t been to Cleveland lately, you’re missing out on a great time. We’re lucky to live less than an hour’s drive from the city’s downtown – home of the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns – so we make it a point to visit here at least two or three times a year.

One of our favorite places is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, the building boasts a glass exterior that creates shimmering shadows on the Cuyahoga River. Seeing everything there is to see here can take an entire day, well worth the $20 admission fee for adults. Featured exhibits here change throughout the year, so check the Web site (www.rockhall.com) for what’s happening before you go.

While you’re there, don’t miss a ride on the nearby Goodtime III. Billed as "Cleveland’s Largest Excursion Ship," the triple-deck Goodtime III, which docks next to the Hall of Fame at the 9th Street Pier, offers two-hour narrated tours along the Cuyahoga River shores at noon and 3pm during summer months as well as an evening buffet dinner/dance cruise (www.goodtimeiii.com)

Our most recent cruise provided a from-the-fiver view of the Tall Ships at the Cleveland Harborfest in addition to the usual bridges and by old buildings that once hummed with manufacturing activity. Getting a good look at the Cleveland West Breakwater Lighthouse, located on a four-mile-long breakwater that separates Lake Erie from the river, is an added treat -- it’s difficult to see from any other vantage point.

For dinner, our restaurant of choice is Great Lakes Brewing Co., an eco-friendly brewpub on East Market Street in Cleveland’s Ohio City district (www.greatlakesbrewing.com). The food here is great, especially when accompanied by a frosty mug of brewed-on-the-spot Burning River Pale Ale or Eliot Ness Amber Lager.

While you’re in Ohio City (www.ohiocity.com), head for the corner of West 25th Street and check out the West Side Market (it’s closed on Thursdays and Sundays). The array of baked goods, fresh fish and produce offered by some 120 vendors will make your mouth water and your eyes pop (www.westsidemarket.com).

There’s no shortage of downtown hotels – you might try the Crowne Plaza City Centre or Hyatt Regency at the Arcade. Next day, if you’re not heading to a game, pay a visit to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (be sure your ticket includes the RainForest, so you can have lunch at the Crocodile Café (www.clemetzoo.com). Or, if you prefer your animals strong and silent, you’ll love the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, where a big attraction is "Happy," the only mounted Haplocanthosaurus delfsi in the world (www.cmnh.org).
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Breakfast for my friend Jess and me began with eating a pint of Graters. After several hours of walking around Cleveland to work this off and seeing some interesting places, we became famished and looked for something to eat. My friend Jess had some great…Read More

Breakfast for my friend Jess and me began with eating a pint of Graters. After several hours of walking around Cleveland to work this off and seeing some interesting places, we became famished and looked for something to eat. My friend Jess had some great suggestions. I picked Phnom Penh because I had never had Cambodian food. The restaurant did not disappoint with its Cambodian and Vietnamese flair.

They have a varied selection, in fact they have so many selections and variations it takes you awhile to choose what you want. The menu is long and detailed, the waitress will help you out if you are uncertain of what to choose. Grammar nuts should have someone else read the menu so as not to spoil their time in the place. There are many vegetarian choices if you so desire and carnivores will not be disappointed. Their main courses can be big enough for two, especially if you ordered appetizers. You can order each dish in a variety of heat levels from mild, medium, and hot.

The space itself is modern and well decorated with wood carved artwork. The waitress was attentive to our needs. The food was brought out promptly and our water glasses were refilled.

The food itself rates from just ok to truly outstanding, depending on what menu item you pick. My friend Jess and I chose what we wanted based on the ingredients. We both wanted to have something that we could not eat anywhere else. For appetizers, I ordered the nitin, which is described as coconut ground pork with crispy rice, and Jess ordered the fish cake. For the main course I ordered the Chha Kreoung Marass Prowt which has lime leaves, garlic, turmeric root, galanga root, coconut whip, lemongrass, ma rass Prowh, onions, green peppers, red peppers, roasted peanuts, with a side of rice. I paid extra to have some tofu thrown in there. Jess had Banh Sougnh which has rice noodles, lettuce, cucumbers, bean spouts, whipped coconut milk, cut spring rolls, Asian basil, ground peanuts, and served with a special sauce. Let’s rate the food dishes. The appetizer nitin tasted like a sweet ground Italian sausage with a rice paddy, the taste was OK but not exotic. For the main course, Banh Sougnh was OK. The spring rolls inside the dish were excellent but the noodle dish itself was a bit bland. You could not taste the lemon grass or coconut inside.

For what I would consider a truly outstanding appetizer and main dish combination, try the fish cakes and medium spiced Chha Kreoung Marass Prowt. The flavors in each complement each other. The lemongrass is mind-blowing. Truthfully, I hate fish and I have not had a bite in several years. My friend Jess asked me to try the fish cake several times and I said no each time. She told me it did not taste like fish and the taste amazed her. I reluctantly gave the fish cake a try because she had been right about everything the whole day. To my surprise I devoured two more! Not wanting to appear too greedy I wanted, but did not try for, the third. The medium spiced Chha Kreoung Marass Prowt with the lemongrass and coconut milk is very flavorful and complements the fish cake.

Phnom Penh has a few exotic drinks available, made from fruits that we'd never heard of before. We didn’t try it because we ordered a lot of food so we stuck to water. One thing to remember is that they do not serve alcohol. They do allow you to bring it in. I know this because one of the guests was asking this very question and the waitress suggested places close by to buy it. My suggestion as a complement to the lemony and lime taste of fish cakes and Chha Kreoung Marass Prowt would be to pick up some Coronas and some cut lime and have it in your car. Then ask if you can bring them in. The Corona beer and the outstanding dishes above would make for a perfect meal.

I would recommend taking a big group so that you can try different foods and share like a family. However, dinner for two is always an option ordering the foods above. I wish I could live close to that place so I could eat it everyday. Please remember they serve lunch and dinner. The food is the same but the portion and costs are different. Definitely go here for lunch so you can save money and try more things. What I like to do is order something I know is good and an experimental dish to try. You’ll never know if the new dish will become your favorite.

On the down side credit cards are not accepted, so bring enough cash with you. The prices are so low it will not give your wallet too much of a hit.

Overall: Try this restaurant, you will not be disappointed. Try a variety of things. One or more of the dishes should hit the spot.

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Clevelanders are fanatical about their sports teams. They can consume the whole city. Cleveland has a major sport for every season, so no matter what time of year you go, catching a game is always something fun to do. Below are a list…Read More

Clevelanders are fanatical about their sports teams. They can consume the whole city. Cleveland has a major sport for every season, so no matter what time of year you go, catching a game is always something fun to do. Below are a list of the major sports in the city and some advice on the best way to enjoy them.

Browns: We'll start with football just because it is my favorite sport and probably most Clevelander's favorite sport, with baseball being a very close second. The Browns themselves have been around since the beginning of the NFL so there is a long history for this team, with its darkest days occurring in the mid-90s, when then owner, Art Model, moved them team to Baltimore. Today, however, the team is back. With a brand-new stadium that sits right on the shores of Lake Erie, the team and the city are ready to go. If you are lucky enough to score some tickets to a game, make sure you know where in the stadium you are sitting. Anyone who knows football knows about the Cleveland Dawg Pound, and I have heard stories of unsuspecting people getting seats in the Dawg Pound and not being ready for it. Needless to say, it can get a little crazy. The other advice is that with the stadium on the lake, the winds off the water can pick up quickly and really cool the place down no matter what time of the year it is, so dress warmly.

Indians: In the summer, baseball is a way of life in Cleveland. When you think of the Cleveland Indians, forget about the Major League movies. They have been a World Series contender almost every year for the last 10 years, and the city is in love with them. The greatness began in 1994, when Jacob's Field opened. It is a beautiful stadium that Clevelanders had not experienced before. It began an unbelievable 455-game sellout streak that is currently the longest major league home sellout record in any professional sport. The streak ended in 2001, and today you will be able to walk up to the ticket window on game day and get some tickets. The stadium is located on the south side of the downtown area and surrounded by a lot of bars and restaurants. If you have a free afternoon in the summer and love baseball, stop by and join the crowd.

Cavs: Basketball is definitely a third-tier sport here in Cleveland, but with the addition of the Gund Arena and superstar Lebron James, this team could quickly become as important as Jordan and the Bulls were to Chicago. The Gund is located a block from Jacob's Field, and is a great venue for basketball and other events that occur here. If you are planning on driving to either the Gund or the Jake, be prepared to pay for parking. Close spots can be as much as $30.

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6125 St. Clair Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44103 Phone: (216) 391-9400 Going to Empress Tatu is an Ethiopian experience. There are traditional basket table and thatched roof structures which look like huts in the restaurant. You can see some of the history of Ethiopia by the…Read More

6125 St. Clair Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44103 Phone: (216) 391-9400

Going to Empress Tatu is an Ethiopian experience. There are traditional basket table and thatched roof structures which look like huts in the restaurant. You can see some of the history of Ethiopia by the tapestries, tribal artwork, maps, the photos on the wall and the Ethiopian music playing in the background. The menu itself gives a history and background of Ethiopian culture. We learn that Ethiopians are mainly vegetarian due the lack of meat. In addition, during Lent, for about 55 days before Easter, they may abstain from eating meat. This is true for Orthodox Christian Ethiopians who do not even eat butter, cheese, or milk during this time.

For those who have never eaten in an Ethiopian restaurant, the main and side dishes arrive on large trays covered with injera. Injera is light airy flatbread made with a blend of teff and wheat flo. It kind of looks like a crepe and it is what makes the meal. All food items that were ordered are placed on this one dish for people to share. No utensils are used, you scoop up the food with a piece of the Injera you break off. The sharing food from a common plate, signifies the bonds of loyalty and friendship. Admittedly, you should not invite people with bad table manners or someone with a cold to this type of affair.

The service at the restaurant was very good. Our water was kept full and our food was brought out quickly. The server dressed in Ethiopian clothing were friendly and are happy to offer suggestions

We each ordered our own drink. I think everyone like the iced tea which tasted like chi tea. For the main course we ordered the two meat combinations, the vegetable combination and the sega wat (lamb stew). The entrees were puree for the most part with pieces of meat or vegetable in them. Everyone tried everything and everyone had their favorite. Most of us like the meat dishes over the vegetables, although they all were pretty tasty. As for spice levels, each food had their own level of heat to it. When in doubt, ask the server what everything is and what is the heat level.

One thing I would have liked to do is try the coffee ceremony. Perhaps, the next time I will do this. This place is great to share a meal with family and friend that you are close with.

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The Cleveland Metroparks was founded by Jeptha Wade. It has come to be known as the Emerald necklace. It consists of 14 reservations: Hinckley Reservation, Euclid Creek Reservation, Rocky River Reservation, Big Creek Reservation, Ohio & Erie Reservation, Garfield Park Reservation, Mill Stream Run Reservation,…Read More

The Cleveland Metroparks was founded by Jeptha Wade. It has come to be known as the Emerald necklace. It consists of 14 reservations: Hinckley Reservation, Euclid Creek Reservation, Rocky River Reservation, Big Creek Reservation, Ohio & Erie Reservation, Garfield Park Reservation, Mill Stream Run Reservation, Bedford Reservation, Bradley Woods Reservation, Brecksville Reservation, Brookside Reservation, Huntington Reservation, North Chagrin Reservation and the South Chagrin Reservation. The parks are open 6am to 11pm and are free to use. The Metropark zoo is part of this system, it is the only Metropark which is associated with an entrance fee.

There is so much to do in each of the parks. There are trails for hiking, biking and other fitness activities. In the summer you can picnic, swim, golf, or fish. In the winter try cross country skiing or even a snowball fight. There are some cool sights to see such as the Savine castle in the South Euclid Reservation, which is said to be haunted.

I and my friend Jess headed off to the Rock River Reservation on a hot with 2 pints of Graters Ice Cream. We sat on a couple of benches and relaxed while eating our ice cream. We watched the river and saw several types of birds. To our side there were people who were fishing but didn’t catch anything yet. The people here were all pretty nice and talked to us as we past. An older couple told us how they came by to see a family of ducks that fly in. The couple who were fishing was talking about how much patience fishing takes. We continued devouring our ice creams.

When we finished we decided to walk around the water on a trail to walk off what we had eaten. The trail were great we saw chipmunks and several types of birds. We catch sight of a group of ducks and wondered if these were the ducks the older couple was looking for. As we continued walking, we walked off the path to look into the river. There were these tiny fish in the river that looked like they just hatched. We joked that the fishers should use microscopic bait to catch these.

All in all these parks make for fun and also relaxing times. Visit them more than once, if you have time. I was biking riding in a different Metropark 2 days later. I had an enjoyable experience here as well.

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After walking around, my friend Jess had a great suggestion to stop off at the West Side Market before heading off to dinner. The West Side Market can be seen from a far and easily identified by its neoclassical clock tower and building. Since October…Read More

After walking around, my friend Jess had a great suggestion to stop off at the West Side Market before heading off to dinner. The West Side Market can be seen from a far and easily identified by its neoclassical clock tower and building.

Since October 31, 1912 the West Side Market has supplied many people with a variety of foods. Many tourists, families, locals, and restaurants come here to shop or take in the atmosphere. You can get a sense of Cleveland’s rich ethic history and culinary culture by a walk through this market.

The market is divided into two areas. There is a visually stunning and colorful fruit and vegetable market. These fruits and vegetables range from ordinary run of the mill fruit and vegetables such as apple and carrots to the more exotic lycee and bok choy. Some vendors offer samples of products to entice you to buy more. Some good deals are the sweet sugar peas in their pods, which make an excellent healthy snack to munch on as you walk through the market. Another very good deal was the spring mix for $1.

Another area is the meat and fish market, which is also where you can find bakery items. Don’t be put off by the chicken feet and beef hearts and cow tongues that you may see here. Continue to walk around and take the market in. Some things I found interesting here was a store selling homemade flavored pasta. I definitely want to try the lemongrass pasta and many of the flavored homemade ravioli. As for the dessert, there is one shop of a particular note that has some good dessert. I unfortunately did not note the name. I took out a pistachio mousse cake and a raspberry sacher from here. We later ate these at Cleveland in one of the many Cleveland parks. The cakes were rich and had a variety of textures and tastes, which made the experience enjoyable.

One of the best tips is to visit on Saturdays when the open-air market is held. During the summer on this day the market hosts events such as cultural activities, live music and other performers.

The market is open Monday and Wednesday from 7am to 4pm.

It is closed Sunday and Thursdays.

It opens Friday and Saturday from 7am to 6pm.

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Kendall Cliffs  60 Kendall Park Rd.Peninsula, Ohio 44264 (330) 655-5489 I had always wanted to do rock climbing on one of those rock walls you always see. My friend Jess had a picture of her rock climbing on her profile on Myspace. When I saw this I told…Read More

Kendall Cliffs 
60 Kendall Park Rd.
Peninsula, Ohio 44264
(330) 655-5489
 
I had always wanted to do rock climbing on one of those rock walls you always see. My friend Jess had a picture of her rock climbing on her profile on Myspace. When I saw this I told her she definitely had to take me the next time I came for a visit.

Kendall Cliffs is professional rock climbing gym in Ohio that has a large climbing area. There are a variety of climbing areas for different skill levels with the height of the wall reaching about 35 feet up. There is a beginner level for bouldering which has a straight wall and easier rungs to hang onto. Then there are more advanced levels where you have to problem solve and use upper body strength to get to the next level. Most of these walls are at an angle. One suggestion I would have is they should have an intermediate level on the angled walls with easier rungs to hang on for people to. 

The coolest feature of the place there is a 35-foot arch traversing the middle of the building. It looks like a little piece of an actual mountain in the gym. Here you can see people with ropes climbing what looks like a mountain. Some people were climbing and hanging onto the top of the ceiling. It was a pretty cool sight.

When climbing I started on the beginner walls and got pretty high before coming down. Don’t let the beginner levels fool you they are pretty hard. I did fall down at least once trying to come down. I tried to do the beginner level with harder rungs but could not get myself up. I think you have to be a contortionist to do this.

It amazing to see the more skilled climbers doing their thing. Their conversations I was eavesdropping on focused on solving ‘bouldering’ problems. In a real mountain, there are not handholds for you to get to up the rocks easily.  You have to hang on and contort your body in different ways to get up. The more experienced climbers looked like Spider-man or something. They were moving up sideways and sometimes hanging on only with their hands and letting their feet dangle, using their upper body strength to get up. In fact, some course were challenging even for them to solve. They were working together to find new ways to place their hand and feet and move up these more challenging courses.

One suggestion is to get some one on one guidance on the course and the basics. Remember you have to call ahead to request this class and you need 2 people for the course to take place. It is good to have an inexperienced friend with you so the course can take place. We went without reserving this so I missed out on the option of doing this.  Perhaps, next time I will plan ahead and do this.  It would help me progress to the intermediate course. I was struggling through the beginner course without the guidance.

Some courses offered are:
1) ROCK GYM BASICS
This is a class for beginners where you are introduced to indoor rock climbing. $20.

2) ROCK GYM 101
This class is for people who know some of the basics of indoor rock climbing and want to learn some more rock climbing skills. It is a two-hour lesson covering knot tying, belaying, rope management skills, the use of technical equipment and climbing commands. $30.

3) LEAD CLIMBING 101
This class is for people who know some of the basics of indoor rock climbing and want to learn some more advanced rock climbing skill. The lesson introduces climbers to leading sport routes. Topics covered include safe and efficient lead belaying, how to clip protection, lead climbing techniques and the art of falling safely. $30.

4) TECHNIQUE CLASS-After the basics this is a good class to learn how to move on the rock, footwork, and how to problem solve climbing problems. $30/hour.

COSTS:
 Adult Weekdays $10, Adult Weekends $12, Children (12 & under) $8.
Climbing Shoes  $4
Harness $2.50
Belay Device (ATC) $2.50
Chalk Bag $2.50

Times
Monday-Friday 5pm to 10pm ;Saturday, Sunday 11am to 7pm

Overall: This is a great place to visit for beginners and people with skills. A great tip is to take advantage of the specials. On Friday Nights, ladies climb for half price. On Monday Night College student with ID climb for half price.

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I'll never forget my first day of high school in Cincinnati. I moved in the middle of my junior year from Cleveland (where I had lived all of my 16 1/2 years to that point) to Cincinnati. I walked into my very first…Read More

I'll never forget my first day of high school in Cincinnati. I moved in the middle of my junior year from Cleveland (where I had lived all of my 16 1/2 years to that point) to Cincinnati. I walked into my very first class, and when my teacher found out I had moved from Cleveland she uttered those famous words I've heard all too often - "Oh, the mistake on the lake." (I love Cincinnati as well, for different reasons.)

Sure, Cleveland has had it's problems. It's the only city I've heard of who had a river so polluted that it actually caught on fire back in the early 70s. A town built around steel mills many of which no longer function, 30 years ago Cleveland was far from a traveler's dream. However, much has changed since that time. I moved 8 1/2 years ago, and on my last trip (my first trip downtown in over 5 years), I was amazed by the changes that have happened in just that short time.

However, even before the downtown revitalization, Cleveland had much to offer. It has one of the best metropark systems in the country. The zoo is terrific. Sea World of Ohio (now a part of the new "Six Flags Worlds of Adventure") wows the crowds with Shamoo the killer whale. Aurora (east of the city) has great outlet mall shopping. Akron (about 40 minutes south) has the historic Shaker square. The vast Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area (CVNRA) is only 20 minutes away. Beautiful old turn of the century homes fill many streets in Shaker Heights. Playhouse Square and the Palace, State & Ohio theaters. The natural history museum, art museum, and children's museum are all top notch.

To this vast array of sights and experiences, Cleveland has added Tower City Center with it's floors of retail shopping and it's spectacular arching fountain, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Jacob's Field & Gund Arena, the Great Lakes Science Center and has revitalized the flats entertainment district. The CVNRA was recently declared a national park. Strongsville has a new mall full of upscale brand name stores.

If you've never experienced Cleveland yourself, you are missing out on a wonderful city with a rich history. Formerly a part of the Connecticut Western Reserve (Connecticut ceded land claims in the late 18th century and was given the NE portion of Ohio which it sold to support their public education system), the city was founded by Moses Cleveland (hence the name Cleveland). By 1800, Cleveland had a population of 7 people (source, CWRU timeline). 200 years later, the population of Cuyahoga County is almost 1.5 million people. It has been named an All-American city 4 times. It has one of the most successful revitalization efforts.

Spend a weekend in downtown, or spend a week and see the surrounding sites (Akron, Cedar Point amusement park, the CVNRA, etc.). No matter how much time you spend in Cleveland, you'll have a wonderful time.Close