What I Like About Cleveland: Access

I recently moved from the Heights to the near west side. I know, I crossed the river, how dare I?

When I lived in the Heights, I thought the east side was very accessible. 20 minutes on side streets I could get anywhere and to the highways. No need to drive on the highways. It was great.

Now I live in West Park, and in 30 minutes or less I can be anywhere: the Airport, Avon, downtown, the Heights, Willoughby, Independence.

I like that Cleveland has the feeling of access. I feel like I can get anywhere in the city quickly, easily, and with minimal traffic (aside the highway fender benders).

Drive times are short. Traffic jams are a myth. And many places can be reached with a minimal number of turns, street usage, and stop lights, and speed + stop-light cameras.

Game day downtown? Everyone has a short cut, a back way, a secret parking lot, side street or alley to park.

I like that I can get anywhere in Cleveland, with as little hassle as possible.

What I Like About Cleveland: Neighborhoods

I love Cleveland’s neighborhoods.

These little areas like Cedar Lee, Coventry, University Circle, Kamms Corner, Tremont, and Ohio City are great little areas for people to live, work, and walk.

There is something attractive and intriguing about a neighborhood when there are people walking around shopping, strolling, or just visiting.

In many of these areas there is a great support for local independent businesses such as coffee shops, florists, restaurants, hardware stores, book stores, and niche shops.

If you live in one of these little neighborhoods, I am sure you don’t need to be encouraged to support local businesses, but if you don’t live near one, or haven’t visited one, you should. All of Cleveland’s neighborhoods have something to unique to offer, and many have great restaurants, galleries, and shops that we should all support whenever we can.

Whether its a visit to Lava Lounge or The Flying Monkey in Tremont, or The West Side Market and Great Lakes Brewery in Ohio City, or Tommy’s and Big Fun on Coventry, local neighborhoods are the life line to a healthy Cleveland.

What I Like About Cleveland: The People

When it comes down to it Clevelanders, in general, are just good people.

Everyone who visits always are quoted in the paper as saying how nice the people are.

And when it comes to charitable offerings, we are always generous (this is a perception, I don’t have any actual facts or rankings).

I have met a lot of great people, creative minds, generous and kind people in this town. I never have a problem saying excuse me, and asking a fellow Clevelander for assistance and I try to do my bes to assist those who ask me.

With all the bad karma, bad press, and city self image problems, it is amazing how most of us can be so nice to others.

What I Like About Cleveland: Lake Erie

The first is always the toughest…

We are a Great Lake state. Our “north coast” is Lake Erie. It is unique to be a “big” city have such a resource — even if it is underused.

I like that Cleveland has access to the Lake. I like to go sailing on the lake. I like to ride along the shoreway just before sunset. I like to play sand volleyball in the summers on the lake. I like to see the sails from the regatta races on Wednesdays and Sundays (I think those are still the race days). I like the benches at Edgewater Park that over look the lake. I like the North Coast Harbor where the Browns Stadium, the Science Center, the Rock Hall, Vonovich Park, the Goodtime, the USS Cod all hand out at the end of East Ninth Street. I like the annual Airshow and GrandPrix at Burke Lakefront Airport with the cool breeze from the lake on those hot summer days. I like the view of downtown and the lake when you head east from Lakewood as you get on the SR2 shoreway.

What do you like about Cleveland? Post a comment on your thoughts about the Lake, or other things you like.

What I Like About Cleveland

Today, I am going to start a daily post about What I Like About Cleveland.

Each day I will list something, some place, some person, I like about the City of Cleveland, and/or the region.

Feel free to comment on my choices, feel free send along your own.