Discovering Cleveland

Travel Talk with Ed Finn

Saturday, 27 May 2023 - 14 minutes

The second-most populous city in Ohio, Cleveland is known for its cultural scene, Polish heritage, and musical history. Nicknamed ‘The Forest City’, Cleveland is a fantastic tourist destination with plenty of attractions.

Despite being a metropolitan city, it can often get overlooked as a travel spot. Emily Lauer was this week's guest on Travel Talk and chatted to Ed about are some of the things that make Cleveland unique and why you should add it to your travel plans. Now with a direct Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Cleveland with fares from €245 each way it is opening up some great new options for travellers to this part of the US.

Cleveland is famous for its sports teams and passionate fans, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a variety of tasty local cuisines, lively neighbourhoods, and parks. This charming city has a lot to offer those who take the time to explore it.

Cleveland is also known for being the hometown of some of the biggest celebrities in the entertainment industry. The city is packed with historic and trendy to see and discover.

Rock And Roll Roots

When it comes to the music scene, Ohio is known for its deep-rooted history of rock and roll. And this is in no small part due to Cleveland. It is one of the urban centres where Rock and Roll originated and gained relevance.

The city’s large black community produced some of the earliest rock and roll acts in the Southern United States.

Credit to these origin stories, one of the main attractions that Cleveland is famous for is the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This museum preserves and tells the history of rock and roll music. It is undoubtedly one of the most famous landmarks in Ohio.

Here, music lovers will discover exhibits on some of the most influential rock and roll musicians, such as Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, and The Beatles.

Rock and roll music is a significant part of Cleveland’s cultural heritage, making it a favourite destination for fans of the genre.

Strong Art Culture

Cleveland is known for its rich cultural heritage that includes an impressive art culture. The city is home to the Cleveland Orchestra, which is widely considered one of the best in the world. The Severance Hall serves as its concert venue and it has hosted plenty of celebrities and influential figures in the music scene.

You are in for an interesting exploration at the Cleveland Museum of Art, home to over 45,000 works of art that span 6,000 years of art history. Some of the best works of Monet, Vans Gogh, and Picasso are exhibited here.

Sports Culture

Cleveland enjoys a great sports atmosphere, as the residents are some of the most passionate sports fans in the region. The city has multiple prominent sports teams across the major leagues in the United States.

Some of the top sports franchises in Cleveland include the Cavaliers(basketball), the Browns(football), and the Guardians(baseball).

The 372,000-populace of the city is affiliated with these sports teams, so the easiest way to start a conversation with the locals is to bring up a topic about any sports of similar interest.

Little Italy

Little Italy is one of the prominent ethnic neighbourhoods Cleveland is known for. It was established in the late 19th century by Italian immigrants.

The area was named ‘Little Italy’ because it was the second and smaller community of Italians in Cleveland after ‘Bigger Italy’, which eventually became nonexistent. Now, it is a prime destination for art and food enthusiasts.

Places of interest include the Little Italy Historical Museum, the ALTA House and Library, and the historical Holy Rosary church building. Little Italy thrives with its various attractions that have continued to attract visitors to the area.

Collinwood

Formerly a village in Euclid Township, Collinwood is a historical area, known for its infamous history before and after it was annexed by Cleveland.

Two years before its annexation in 1910, Collinwood was the site of a tragic school fire incident in Lakeview, which cost the lives of 172 children, two teachers, and a rescuer. Following its annexation, the area was divided into two neighbourhoods, Collinwood-Nottingham and North-Shore Collinwood — both of which have their unique attractions.

There are fancy boutiques, art galleries, music and so many other places and things to enjoy here. However, if you want to have a sober reflection or pay respect to some of the victims of the fire incident, visit Lakeview Cemetery.

Ohio City

One of the oldest neighbourhoods Cleveland is known for is Ohio City. Originally an independent district, Ohio City was annexed by Cleveland in 1854. The neighbourhood is home to historic and trendy sites ready for visitors to explore and enjoy. The popular West Side Market is packed with eateries and shops where you can discover a variety of local Ohio food and craft beer, as well as buy gifts from local vendors.

This is definitely one of the main districts to visit for some simple fun when traveling in Cleveland.

Asiatown

Cleveland is famous for its cultural diversity and one of the communities that has broadened the city’s culture is Asiatown.

Located east of downtown, Asiatown is a small neighbourhood with a predominantly Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean population. The blend of Asian culture makes it a unique attraction to experience everything Asian.

The biggest attraction here is the tasty authentic cuisines that are served in different restaurants in the district. It is a truly delightful destination for food lovers, so ready your chopsticks and cleanse your taste buds for an enormous dim sum.

Old Stone Church

The oldest building in Public Square, Old Stone Church was built in 1855, becoming only the second church built within the city limits.

Due to the type of material(sandstone) used in building the church, it was named the ‘Stone Church’ but was later renamed ‘Old Stone Church’.

The building’s Romanesque-style architecture makes it one of the most fascinating landmarks Cleveland is famous for.

While you can explore the interior alone, the church offers guided tours to learn more about the building and the history of the church. You will find the construction history to be very interesting.

Terminal Tower

Another imposing landmark in Public Square is the 52-story skyscraper, Terminal Tower. The structure was built during the skyscraper boom in the early 1900s — at the time, it was the tallest building in Cleveland and the second-tallest in the world.

It boasts fantastic deco-style architecture with detailed etchings and gold trim on the railings. During special events, the tower lights up with various color-schemed lights that reflect the festivity or season.

Today, Terminal Tower serves as a mixed-used building and has housed some notable companies as its tenants.

James A Garfield Memorial

Located in Lake View Cemetery, James A. Garfield Memorial is a memorial for James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States. The memorial is also his resting place. Standing at 180 feet, the monument, constructed with Berea sandstone, features terra-cotta panels with 110 figures etched in depicting the life of Garfield. It is one of the most famous monuments in the city and a top destination Cleveland is known for.

Visitors can walk up to the outdoor balcony to catch views of the Lake Erie shoreline. Along this iconic lake, you can find some lovely beaches as well.

For lots of information visit - Discover Cleveland

To book flights visit - www.aerlingus.com

Solar Eclipse - Countdown to April 8, 2024

A total solar eclipse is set to occur on April 8, 2024, and this time Cleveland lies within the path of totality—promising nearly four minutes of darkness in the middle of the afternoon as the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun. Cleveland won’t be in the path of totality again until the year 2444.

THE SCIENCE OF A SOLAR ECLIPSE

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth—covering the face of the Sun. This celestial phenomena occurs two to four times per year.

But what makes the upcoming eclipse so special? In 2024, the city of Cleveland will experience a total solar eclipse, experiencing nearly four minutes of darkness. Total solar eclipses can only be observed from areas in the path of totality—the narrow track of the Moon's shadow along the Earth. This path is typically 1,000 miles long but only 100 miles wide.

Map Courtesy of: NationalEclipse.com

SAFE VIEWING METHODS

When observing the eclipse before and after totality (partial or annular eclipse), viewers must look through safe solar-viewing glasses, or "eclipse glasses." These are much darker than regular sunglasses to combat the Sun's intense rays. Other safe methods for viewing the eclipse include projection techniques such as pinholes and s olar filters for optics. Only when totality occurs is it safe to remove eye protection and look directly at the covered Sun for the duration of totality.