PlayhouseSquare - Our Neighborhood from PlayhouseSquare on Vimeo.
New PlayhouseSquare Development Video
June 18, 2010 – 10:54 am
Zinc bistro, bar, and bakery: A bit of the old with the new
June 17, 2010 – 3:04 pm
If you are looking for a quiet respite downtown for a cocktail or some classic French cuisine with a modern twist, I recommend the new bistro, bar, and bakery called Zinc. Located at 668 Euclid Avenue, Zinc features prime steak, French classics and Downtown Cleveland’s only Raw Bar. The setting, a refurbished historical landmark, formerly Taylor and Sons Department Store, is located in the Gateway and East Fourth Area on Euclid Avenue in and adjacent to the new 668 complex.
While there is indoor seating, I highly recommend sitting in the lush courtyard to enjoy a truly unique space in Downtown Cleveland. Once there, enjoy such classic cocktails that range from Absinthe to a Moscow Mule made by some of the most knowledgeable bartenders in the area.
A veteran of Cleveland’s restaurant scene, Tom Quick, Chef/Owner of Zinc Bistro-Bar-Bakery, served as Chef/Owner of Epiq Bistro and Wine Bar for ten years and previous to that as the Executive Chef of Piccolo Mondo for seven years. Tom began his culinary career in San Francisco working under some of the Bay Area’s finest chefs and his impressive menu is a reflection of all his experiences.
Bistro Hours:
Lunch: Monday-Saturday 11:30 AM - 4:30 PM starting on Wednesday, June 23, 2010.
Dinner: Monday-Friday 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM and Saturday 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM.
Bar Hours: Monday-Saturday until 10:00 PM.
Bakery Hours: Monday-Saturday 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM starting in July 2010.
For more information and a full menu, please see www.zinccleveland.com
Cleveland Tall Ships are Coming!
June 17, 2010 – 10:35 am
| U.S. Brig Niagara sails into Cleveland for Tall Ships Festival preview |
Free Car Wash Downtown!
June 17, 2010 – 8:43 am
In celebration of four years of service to Downtown, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s Ambassadors will be offering a FREE car wash on Thursday, June 17th from 4:30p.m. until 6:30p.m. for all Downtown residents and employees. Head over to W. 6th street between Frankfort and St. Clair after work and enjoy a free car wash from the men and women who keep Downtown clean and safe on a regular basis. Other special guests will be lending a hand to show their appreciation of the Clean and Safe services.
The Clean and Safe Ambassador program was launched in 2006, as part of the newly formed Special Improvement District. Today there are over 55 ambassadors that patrol and clean the streets from 7am-11pm on weekdays and till 3:30am on weekends. They create a cleaner, safer, better environment for everyone downtown, one that is welcoming for all those who live, work, and visit downtown.
Over the past year the Ambassadors have had over 9,000 pedestrian contacts, 3,500 business contacts, have had 200+ escort requests and have had 105 instances of aggressive panhandling. They have picked up nearly 16 tons of trash and have removed 269 instances of graffiti. In addition, the ambassadors are in charge of the daily watering of the Euclid Avenue planters which were installed last summer and they also are responsible for the entire flower watering throughout Downtown, along with all the other duties and responsibilities they hold.
5th Annual Cleveland Wine Festival
June 17, 2010 – 8:32 am
On June 25th and 26th, the fifth annual Cleveland Wine Festival presented by Giant Eagle will take place in its new location - Nautica Pavilion on the West Bank of downtown Cleveland’s Flats (2014 Sycamore Street).
The event offers a variety of tastings, food and wine education, and cooking demonstrations in a fabulous setting along the Cuyahoga River. Festival guests can taste from a selection of 200 international, domestic and Ohio wines and enjoy food from fine Northeast Ohio establishments including Bravo! Cucina Italiana, Bruno’s Ristorante, Grovewood Tavern, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Sophie’s Choice and The Original Greek Gyros. The festival main stage will showcase live musical entertainment, including Michael Heaton Band and Kimi Hayes Band, throughout the two-day event.
Back by popular demand is the Belgian Beer Café presented by Stella Artois. Special guest and Master Beer Sommelier Marc Stroobandt returns to highlight the natural affinity between Belgian beer and fine food. He will educate attendees on proper beer pouring techniques, the importance of using the right glassware as well as offer food pairing ideas for Belgian beers Stella Artois, Hoegaarden and Leffe.
Adult Wine Tasting Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the gate. This ticket price includes a souvenir wine glass, 10 tastings, a Festival Program and food and wine demonstrations and musical entertainment. Additional tasting coupons may be purchased at the festival. Designated Driver Tickets are $10 in advance or at the gate. This ticket includes two non-alcoholic drinks, a Festival Program, food and wine seminars, access to cooking demonstrations, musical entertainment and a souvenir wine glass upon departure. Attendees under 21 are admitted for free when accompanied by a paid adult. For groups of 15 or more, tasting tickets are discounted to $22.50. To purchase group tickets, order 15 or more tickets online or call 877-772-5425.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.clevelandwinefestival.com or by phone at 877-772-5425. Phone center hours are 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Central time - 7 days a week. Tickets will also be available for purchase on-site at Nautica Pavilion the day of the festival.
The Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center is featuring an exclusive “Sip, Savor and Sleep” package (available June 25 and 26 only). The package includes: concierge guest room accommodations - high floor, view, private lounge; valet parking; two tickets to the Wine Festival; two wine tastings at the Festival; a welcome bottle of wine in your room upon arrival; and, breakfast for two in David’s Restaurant or in the concierge lounge. Call 216-696-9200 for reservations and details.
The festival’s proceeds will benefit the Bright Side of the Road Foundation. The non-profit organization (www.brightsideoftheroad.org) was founded by Clevelander Barry Winovich to help find a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the devastating disease commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Sponsors of this year’s festival include: Giant Eagle, FIJI Artesian Water, Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center, U.S. Bank, Heidelberg Distributing Company, E & J Gallo Winery, Oliver Winery, WJ Deutsch & Sons, Stella Artois, Leffe and Hoegaarden, with support from media partners including Cleveland Magazine, Ohio Magazine, WKYC Channel 3, WQAL Q104, Scene Magazine, Metromix Cleveland and The Wine Buzz. The Cleveland Wine Festival is produced and managed by inPLAY EVENTS, a corporate events and marketing consulting company known for consistent quality and exceptional creativity.
Festival hours are Friday from 4:00-10:00 p.m. and Saturday from 3:00-9:00 p.m. For more event details, visit www.clevelandwinefestival.com or call 847-382-1480. Follow the festival on Twitter at www.twitter.com/clewinefest and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clevelandwinefestival.
Nick Kostis Recieves Lifetime Achievement Award!
June 11, 2010 – 1:46 pm
On June 13, 2010, the Ohio Restaurant Association will bestow its highest honor (a Lifetime Achievement Award) upon Downtown Restaurateur Nick Kostis, operator of Pickwick & Frolic Restaurant and Club.
The award will be given at the Ohio Restaurant Association’s Chairman’s & Industry Awards Event at the Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland, this Sunday. ORA, which celebrated its 90th anniversary this year, hosts the event to recognize excellence among restaurateurs, industry purveyors and public officials whose actions have benefited Ohio’s foodservice industry.
Among those being honored this year is Nick Kostis, a long-time leader in the Cleveland restaurant and hospitality scene. Kostis will receive the association’s highest honor - the Claude F. Morton, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is given to a restaurateur who demonstrates exceptional lifetime service to the foodservice industry and his community.
“I am pleased Nick was selected as the Claude F. Morton, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award winner,” said Geoff Hetrick, ORA President & CEO. “He has been a credit to the industry and his community for many years. Nick represents the best of what our dynamic industry has to offer.”
Following a celebrated career in many other professional arenas, Kostis launched The Hilarities Comedy Clubs in 1985. With two locations in the Cleveland area and two in Florida, Hilarities served as a launching pad for many notable acts, including Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen and Paul Reiser. The clubs were also part of the Showtime Comedy Club Network and were the impetus for bringing two one-hour HBO specials to Cleveland, thus shining a national spotlight on the gem along the shores of Lake Erie.
In 1994, Kostis and his partner established the Little Bar & Grille, a downtown Cleveland institution and lynchpin to the redevelopment of Cleveland’s historic Warehouse District.
Never afraid to try something fresh and new, Kostis reinvented Hilarities in 2002 as Pickwick & Frolic Restaurant and Club, which is home to Hilarities’ 4th Street Theatre. Created as a one-of-a-kind, dining and entertainment complex, Pickwick & Frolic has been credited for the revitalization of East Fourth Street as one of Cleveland’s premiere downtown destinations.
Kostis, whose tight-knit Greek family instilled in him at a very young age a strong sense of community and loyalty, meets and excels the ORA’s expectations of a recipient for the Claude F. Morton, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award. His loyalty and commitment to exemplary service have long been recognized by people throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond.
E.4th Patio Parties Start Tonight!
June 10, 2010 – 11:25 am
Every Thursday night this summer, come enjoy the weather and the atmosphere on E.4th Street! There will be great food, drink specials, live music, retailers on the street and sidewalk performers.
Every Thursday, the fun starts at 5pm (and goes till 8pm) with local musicians playing everything from jazz to acoustic guitar, local boutique owners selling items such as jewelry & vintage clothes, all while being entertained by the St. Ignatius street performers. Go Fourth & Party!
Simple Updates Of Recent Efforts
June 4, 2010 – 12:53 am
The following post was written by a DCA City Advocate. To learn more about the City Advocate Program, please click here.
It has been a while since I posted anything, however, I am not idle! I am working on three projects right now in the hope that something will emerge as a regular mainstay for downtown and surrounding areas.
First, As usual, I have been working on arranging or helping with small litter clean-ups at Edgewater and writing letters to the state department of transportation, as well as encouraging many others to do so…to pay better attention to the alarming amount of litter along Cleveland inner-belt highways as of late.
Secondly, I have acquired new volunteers for The Storefront Window Makeover Program who are excited about the many positive attributes of this opportunity.
Recent art ideas include creating art that pays homage to Cleveland’s unique natural heritage; especially the lesser known aquatic life in Lake Erie, in the effort to help generate a better respect for our shoreline and its care.
Additionally, I am throwing out the idea of a spectacular art display/theme which I am quite confident would sell as a poster, public art concept, or basic window display for the window program!
To gauge general interest, I have posted the idea on several forums, and have spoken to many people….and it has received nothing but positive reviews, especially from those who love Cleveland nostalgia.
Here is what I envision: This will be a homage/tribute type of montage/collage that would showcase the history of the grand Cleveland downtown department stores and that particular era along Euclid!
I imagine a scene in sepia and slightly colored tones and misty images of the buildings and other classic looking vintage elements. The scenes can feature bullet point facts about the stores, historical anecdotal information, as well as their dates of existence. We will see how much it gains interest, so stay tuned.
On yet another venture, as I was in Sydney, Australia recently, I met with a couple locals who owned and operated a transportation service and small independent manufacturer of amazing taxi-cab-like vehicles called “Pedapods. These sustainable and zero emission vehicles are unlike typical rickshaws you have seen, are a much different–more like a small car—and unique concept with a soon to be patent on part of the design
So, these are not your typical tri-cycles on steroids! They present many opportunities for downtown to connect the dots of the districts with fun and attention getting transportation options, offer advertising opportunities and jobs for potential ambassador company trained pilots. The possibilities of what these can offer downtown are amazing!
I have been involved with discussions with owners of the company who expressed interest in expanding in North America. Naturally, this came after I explained to them why I think these would do so well in Cleveland. As a result, they were very supportive and enthusiastic about working together to possibly get this going here. Again, please stay tuned. If anyone is interested in learning more about these vehicles, please contact me for further details.
Still another offering….I have offered many unique and small businesses in and near downtown to create small quality radio ads featuring their businesses. They can use these recordings on their own websites, blogs, or other networking sources. So far the 4 that we have done have been well received by the businesses. If anyone wants to hear them, just contact me!
Last but not least, one of my personal business ventures has me and a potential partner exploring the possibility of opening a store in The Galleria’s Gardens Under Glass emerging “eco-village” that would feature many products that improve the health of indoor air environments and water, as well. The water part involves an education component that will demonstrate how much energy and money can be saved–AND litter prevented, when choosing an alternative to individually served bottled water. The products will show potential customers how much waste can be eliminated from landfills each year by using them.
That’s all for now and what I have been working on. Quite a bit when adds up when I have not updated in quite a long time!
This post was written by a DCA City Advocate. To learn more about the City Advocate Program, please click here.
New Euclid Planter Flowers to be Installed this Friday
June 3, 2010 – 2:16 pm
The 103 planters that line either side of Euclid Avenue will have their new summer flowers planted tomorrow (Friday, June 4th). These vibrant mixtures of flowers and lush vegetation have been growing from seed at a local greenhouse for the past several months and are ready for their new homes on Euclid Avenue.
The new summer installation means that the current spring flowers will need to be removed from the planters on Euclid. Starting tomorrow morning at 10am, in PlayhouseSquare, ParkWorks will begin to remove the current flowers to be taken away to be composted. Before they are taken away though, we are making them available (for free) to anyone downtown resident or employee who is interested. Simply swing by and pick the flowers you want and take them.
Please note: ParkWorks will not be stopping or slowing down their installation process in order for people to take the loose spring flowers and we do not have any containers for people to use to take home the flowers. Those wanting flowers will need to have the means to take them away. ParkWorks reserves the right to keep any flowers they are able to save for next year’s spring planting
Annual Cleveland Orchestra Concert on Public Square: July 1st
June 2, 2010 – 11:11 am
The 21st annual free Public Square concert by the Cleveland Orchestra will take place Thursday, July 1st. The festivities kickoff at 5:00pm with pre-concert musical performances. Then at 9pm, the world renowned Cleveland Orchestra will take the stage. The Orchestra, under the direction of Tito Munoz will perform a program of popular favorites including Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide; Aaron Copland’s “Buckaroo Holiday” and “Hoe-Down” from Rodeo; John William’s Olympic Fanfare Theme and music from Star Was; Irving Berlin’s God Bless America; and a salute to the United States Armed Forces. The concert culminates with Tchaikovsky’s “1812″ Overture and will be followed by a fireworks display at 10pm.
A pre-concert festival of musical entertainment will begin at 5:00p.m. with a diverse line-up of Cleveland-area youth performing arts groups appearing in the hours leading up to the Orchestra’s concert, including the Progressive Arts Alliance All-Stars, Heights Youth Theatre, and Jazz at the Musical Settlement-The Dameron Institute Ensemble.
The “Star Spangled Spectacular” is brought to you by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and will be hosted by ideastream’s Dee Perry.
