Cleveland Rocks

"For God’s sakes Lemon, we’d all like to flee to the Cleve and club up at the Flats and have lunch with Little Richard, but we fight those urges."

-Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock

Adam and I pulled into Cleveland yesterday afternoon in the midst of another torrential downpour. The inclement weather has certainly made many appearances on this trip.  But the rains parted after we arrived at Christine and Mike's house and they took us to the cute park by Case Western Reserve University for music, beer and a snocone!

Then we took a walk to the local lagoon that sits in front of the enormous art museum. Christine convinced me that if you swing your arms while taking a picture, it makes it look like you're having infinitely more fun. 

Now for a history lesson:

Many former oil and steel barons like John D. Rockefeller founded companies in Cleveland in the mid-19th Century, such that Cleveland was the fifth largest city in the United States by 1920. Now, it's the 43rd largest city in the United States due to an almost 50% reduction in its population from its peak of 914,000 in 1950. From its heyday, most of the rich families in Cleveland had their homes in Cleveland and their summer homes in Cleveland Heights, about 8 miles in an automobile, about 6 days in a horse and buggy (possible exaggeration). The plus side, though, was that many of the old mansions had ridiculous animals out front keeping guard. Like this crazy gryphon. Bih-GAW!

And, of course, the food. We ate a local "hipster" joint called Melt, aptly named because they serve pretty much only sandwiches with melted cheese in some form. Although not documented in a picture, their beer list was inCREDible. We had a beer that was stored in old bourbon barrels, a perfect complement to our earlier Kentucky stop. Below, you see a delicious spinach, roasted red pepper, grilled onion and feta cheese sandwich with slaw, fries and tomato soup. On the right you see a jalapeño pepper, cream cheese, cheddar cheese and mixed berry preserve (hey, don't knock it till you try it) sandwich with the same accoutrements. They were unreasonably delicious. If you're in Cleveland, go to Melt.

Finally, despite a paucity of time, we woke up early to trek west to Tremont in Cleveland for breakfast with Virginia, a dear friend of mine from high school. We had to catch her before she left for work which is why she looks nice and I look tired. 

All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised by Cleveland, and it helps to have local friends who love it show you around. As I write this blog, we have just pulled into New Jersey and I'm going to bring us on into NYC so I'm signing off for now, but more about the Big Lights and the Big Apple later tonight!!!

-Chadé