Top 25 things you should do in Lakewood

[Lynn Farris]

Okay, I've been writing a lot of top lists recently. So I thought if someone moved into Lakewood, what would you tell him or her are the top 25 things you have to do if you live in Lakewood?

I'll start.

1) Attend a program at the Lakewood Library. If you haven't been there before, go early just to browse.
2) Watch a Friday night movie at the park, or if you rather one of the musical performances.
3) March in the 4th of July Parade.
4) Attend the Community Festival
5) Attend the Arts Festival
6) Watch the Lake come crashing in on Clifton Beach
7) Get involved in politics - campaign for your favorite politician or issue - or protest them. Let them know democracy is not a spectator sport in Lakewood.
8. Get ice cream at Malley's or chocolate strawberries for that special someone for Valentine's Day.
9. Have a beer at one of the many bars.
10. Attend church at one of the magnificent churches in Lakewood.
11. Have coffee at Phoenix coffee house.
12. Walk the neighborhood with your dog. (If you don't have a dog, borrow one, or better yet ask one of the great people who are rescuing dogs if you can take one for a walk once or twice a week.)
13. Watch the sunset from the top of one of the Gold Coast high rises.
14. Have breakfast at the Place to Be.
15. Build a snowman.
16. Help your neighbor shovel their car out of the driveway.
17. Search Lakewood's second hand store for that perfect piece of furniture for your home.
18. Swim at Lakewood Park.
19. Listen to one of the many group music groups at Lakewood H.S.
20. Attend a Beck Center Production.
21. Eat or have drinks at Pier W just for the view.
22. Join one of the many groups in Lakewood that are doing positive things.
23. Attend the Madison car show - even if you aren't into cars!
24. Watch the students at Lakewood and St. Eds participate in any number of sports and cheer them on. Everyone attends football and basketball - go and surprise the swim team, the tennis team or the wrestlers with your presence.
25. Go Skating at Winterhurst (or whatever it is called now.)
and if I have a 26 How about Write an article for the Lakewood Observer about something that you are passionate about.

[Justine Cooper]

Wow what a great list! I would add:

1. Watch the waves hit and Cleveland view on the rocks at Lakewood Park.
2. Fourth of July fireworks at Lakewood Park are the best I have been to!
3. Wine tastings at Rozis!
4. Boxy sandwhiches and rasberry beer at Sullivans!
5. A reiki treatment from Linda at Goddess Blessed!
6. Pedicures from Carabels or Revelations new spa!
7. The Family Room for parents of young children/
8. Fall Foliage in Lakewood is stunning! Clarence Avenue is transformed into the most brilliant variety of colors!What other streets in Lakewood have the best of the old and new trees for foliage?
9. The Coffee Pot for lunch or breakfast and next door for great second hand stores-Connies and Lakewood Home Furnishings
10. Coffee or beer at Bela's!
11. Sandwiches at Joe's Deli! Soup too! Fast take out!
12. Perogies at Baba's Kitchen on Fridays

[Danielle Masters]

I'll add some of mine.

1. go to the melt and watch vintage cartoons and then enjoy a good sandwich
2. enjoy a tasty burger and beer (I've heard the beer is good) at Beer Engine.
3. swim at Beck's pool and go on the water slide.
4. take your kids, or borrow some if you don't have any, to the fabulous parks. the new one at madison park is very cool.
5. go to a bandtogether concert
6. check out a LEAF night at the library.
7. go to the farmers market.
8. browse Drug Mart, it's fun to see all the interesting stuff
9. go to light up Lakewood
10. if you skateboard go ride at the skatepark, if not go watch as there are some awesome skateboarders there.
11. tour the Old Stone house.
12. enjoy some tasty lebanese food at La Pita express
13. watch a movie at the Detroit theatre, my kids love having an old fashioned movie theatre in town.
14. watch a play or musical at the high school
15. walk walk walk there are a lot of amazing things to see and walking is the best way to experience them

hope I didn't repeat anything

[Justine Cooper]

Great list! See how much we forget because there is so much great stuff here?

I forgot:
Hit all small shops!
Bowlling at vintage Mahalls!
An art show at the warehouse on Athens (one coming up in November)-ultra cool place!
Art walks for LIA
All art galleries in Lakewood!

[sharon kinsella]

Go to a city council meeting
Enjoy one of the One World Music series at Sinagara Park (in front of Marc's)
Shop at the Bin for great organic produce and awesome baked goods. Learn about their training program for Developmentally Disabled Adults.
Browse the stacks at Lakewood Library and learn about all the great programs there.
SIt in the reading room and watch the world go by.
Play in the Libranium even if you don't have a kid with you.
Go walking around Bird Town, a place out of time.
Drive around in the spring and summer and look at all the beautiful yards.
Go to the Metroparks and sit by the boat docks.
Talk to people as you go around town. Most are friendly and kind.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

Tough list to think about. Maybe thinking of 25 things comes easier when you've been away from the city and miss it for a change. But I will say that attending a city council meeting would probably lead to attending a wine tasting at Rozi's. Council meetings and drinking alcohol go hand in hand, like peanut butter and jelly. Might as well support a local business while you're at it.

[Rhonda loje]

1) Lakewood Historical Society House Tour
2) Fourth of July festival
3)The Community Festival
4) Riding my scooter in the Metro Parks
5) Watching the sun go down on lake Erie
6) Riding my scooter thru Birdtown
7) Leaf Market on Wednesday's
La Pita Express
9) The Pretzel Bologna sandwich at the Beer Engine (the breakfast is not bad either)
11) Walking Indy (our dog) in the neighborhood.
12) Arts Festival
13) Clambakes
14) My neighbors
15) Having dinner parties with friends
16) Watching the stars from the deck
17) Car Kulture Show in August
18) Halloween with over 100 kids
19) Christmas Eve candle lights on our street
20) The Souper Market chicken noodle soup
21) Tacos at the Merry Arts
22) Nature's Bin
23) The diversity of our old houses
24) Pet's General Store
25) Winter on Lake Erie

[Justine Cooper]

Yea Rhonda we get over 100 trick or treaters too! What are the best decorated streets in Lakewood? Grace is good!

[Jim O'Bryan]

1) LEAF Night/Party
2) Car Kulture Show
3) Burgers - Lakewood has many really good ones.
4) Bars - Try a different bar, they all have their own special feel
5) Beck Center, stop see a play, see why it is worth fighting for
6) Library - Check out why New York, LA, Chicago, and Westlake
are so envious, Robert AM Stern Building, Richard Haas murals
and the top library 5 out of the past 6 years.
7) Walking - In the walkable community every street has a different feel
start after dinner on a summer night
8) Talking - Talk to people on the street. You will be amazed at what you
find out, hear, and have in common.
9) Doggie Swim - Even without a dog, 2 hours worth witnessing.
10) Brunch - Pier W great food, great people watching
11) Elmwood Bakery, Detroit Theater, then buy American Splendor on DVD
12) Sledding Sharkey's Hill
13) Fish Frys - Lakewood has many really good ones.
14) LEAF Community Garden
15) Phoenix Coffee - at Phoenix and bela dubby
16) Fishing - Rocky River or Lake Erie - World Class, ask Roland Martin
17) Golf - Little Met before breakfast with 4 clubs
18) Biking - The Emerald Canyon
19) LMS - Rally - Lakewood as you have never seen it
20) Records - My Mind's Eye a perfect start, huge section on local bands.
follow up with the other 4 record stores in town.
21) Breakfast - Coffee Pot or The Place To Be, might be best in city.
22) Ride-A-Long - With Lakewood Police
23) LO Party
24) Clifton Beach - In the winter(you know), see the beach that should be public!
25) Saved best for last - Any party at Jennifer Scott's

Needless to say, the most important is sharing words, images, questions, thoughts, facts, dreams, with others in the Lakewood Observer, in print or online, be part of history!

[jennifer scott]

Wow Jim, I just saw this, I must serve some kool aid!

[Karolyn Isenhart]

These lists are GREAT!!! How fun! It's exciting to see positive stuff about our city on this page!

[Jim O'Bryan]

:oops: Wow Jim, I just saw this, I must serve some kool aid!

Jennifer, you and Rhonda Loje are the party queens of Lakewood hands down.

Been to many party in my 50+ years, your parties, and Rhonda's parties are
always right up there, wonderful and fun, food always spectacular, and the mixture
of people always just right. You both have the ability make any party more fun as well.

Hands down party queens.

.

[jennifer scott]

You are way too much, I have been to Rhonda's and I can assure you I am not even a close second. That said, perhaps Rhonda and I can throw a top 25 party and try to implement as much as we can in everyone's lists. Could make for a fun event!

[Rhonda loje]

You must be crazy!!! I'm sure!!