Suggestions on how to spend an entertaining evening in Cleveland, Ohio.
Take in movie; dance the night away; or listen to an award-winning blues band. You can do all of this in Cleveland and more. Cleveland's nightlife is varied, fun, and affordable.
Experience the Cleveland Orchestra. Arguably, the world's best symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra's sound is superb. Its winter home is the lovely, acoustically-perfect Severence Hall in Cleveland's University Circle neighborhood. This Georgian building with its sweeping staircases, gilt ceiling adorned with a lotus leave motif, and frescos is worth seeing even without hearing the orchestra. But don't miss the orchestra; it is outstanding. Under the leadership of new artistic director, Franz Welser-Most, the Cleveland Orchestra performs each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, when not touring around the world. Selections usually include less-frequently-performed, modern pieces as well as better known works. In the summer, the orchestra performs at Blossom Center, a clam-shell amphitheater with a sweeping lawn twenty miles south of Cleveland. Bring a picnic and a blanket for a memorable evening under the stars.
Dance, drink, and dine in The "Flats." The "Flats" is an entertainment area along the Cuyahoga River, just west of downtown Cleveland. Nestled amid railroad tracks, and bridges, this area was once home to industrial warehouses and shipping docks. Today, these buildings have been converted to restaurants, bars, and small concert halls. Trendy dance clubs compete with chain restaurants along both banks of the river. (There is a water taxi between the two sides in the summer.) Most of the bars and restaurants along the river have dock spaces and, consequently, this area is very popular with boaters. The "Flats" is also home to the Scene Pavilion, a 3000-seat outdoor concert venue.
Explore the Warehouse District: Just up the hill from "The Flats" is the "Warehouse" district. Once lined with industrial, early 1900s warehouses, this area is now filled with ethnic, trendy, and traditional restaurants; art galleries; jazz clubs; and dance bars. This area draws a slightly older, more sophisticated crowd than "the Flats." This is the place to see and be seen. In the summer, many of the restaurants have outdoor, café-style seating.
Hear the blues. Cleveland boasts two great downtown music venues: The House of Blues and Fat Fish Blue. House of Blues, the Dan Ackroyd venture, recently opened in Cleveland amid much fanfare. This mult-faceted restaurant/concert hall/bar in a converted, art deco, Woolworth's building attracts not only blues musicians, but rock "˜n roll, country, and reggae players as well. Down the street, Fat Fish Blue is a Cleveland favorite. Here Cajun food combines with live music. This is the Cleveland home of local grammy-winning blues musician, Robert Lockwood Jr.
Laugh. Cleveland is home to a pair of fine comedy clubs. The Improv, located in "the Flats" draws funny men and women from around the country. You can even enjoy dinner there before the show. More offbeat is Cleveland's Cabaret DADA. This home-grown improvisation ensemble performs twice nightly, but no two performances are ever alike. That's the fun of it.
Dine Well. Greek, Mexican, Thai, Portuguese, steaks, seafood, or French cuisine: there are excellent restaurants featuring all of these in Cleveland. Try candlelit patio dining in the summer or snuggle up to a fireplace in January. On Fridays, seemingly every corner bar in Cleveland serves up a fish fry: perch, walleye, or cod. Fun, affordable, and delicious.
Try the theater. Cleveland's theater community is thriving. The Cleveland Playhouse, a four-theater, neo-classical forum just east of downtown, puts on six productions each season - contemporary and classic plays, musicals, and comedies. This well-respected theater draws major stars and has seen more than a couple of its productions make their way to Broadway. Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland is home to four theaters: the Ohio, the Palace, the State, and the Allen. These grand halls host a variety of events: national touring theater productions, children's theater, ballet, opera, and music of all genres.
Take in a movie. Cleveland hosts the Cleveland International Film Festival each year. This ten-day event showcases independent short films, features, films, and documentaries. It also gives moviegoers a chance to meet and interact with directors and film makers. If you are fortunate enough to be in Cleveland during the festival, don't miss it. The rest of the year, Cleveland embraces the spirit of the festival. Several small movie houses regularly run independent films. Try the Cedar-Lee theater on Cleveland's east side. This six-screen theater shows foreign films independent films, and documentaries. They serve sandwiches, beer, and wine, too. Very civilized.
Root for the home team. No discussion of Cleveland nightlife would be complete without talking sports. Cleveland is a sports town. The Cleveland Browns football team, Cleveland Indians baseball team, and Cavaliers basketball team all have new arenas and a very loyal fan base. Baseball under the lights makes a perfect summer evening.
Music, movie, dinner, or dance: whatever your decide to do, you're sure to have a great time in Cleveland.
