The Observation Deck

You have seven days to entertain them in one of the ten coolest cities in America.

Let's see your itinerary.


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Day One--- 5:45 AM--- Lakewood Promenade at Lakewood Park and watch the Sun Rise

Day One-- 5:30AM, stop at Caribou for coffee to take down to Lakewood Park to watch
sun rise, like Stan said. I like the atmosphere (and the coffee, and the open bathrooms) better at The Root but we are truly blessed that we have strong coffee available that early, served by nice people, who do the best they can not to be too corporate.

That's all I got so far.

love
Betsy

Sunrise Yoga at Puma?

Laps in the LHS pool?

Crossiants from Tommy's?

The Don at The Coffee Pot?

Might be a good idea to take a stop in the restrooms of the Women's Pavilion after all that coffee before heading out to Yoga!

My wife and I had an evening out sans kids earlier this summer and went to Lakewood Park to play tennis. After playing, we hung out at the skateboard park and had much fun watching and chatting with the boarders and their friends.

So, here’s my itinerary for one of the seven afternoon's/evening's:

!) Afternoon exercise (tennis, rollerblading, frisbee) at Lakewood Park;
2) Watch and chat with the skateboarders;
3) Dinner and cheesecake at Aladdin’s;
4) Pocket billiards at Mahall’s; and
5) Reading magazines at the library and checking out a movie to watch at home.

Whenever we have out-of-town guests I like to show off the library, especially if they have kids.

You could easily fill a week (or 4) with great restaurants.

And wherever we go in Lakewood with our guests, I suggest that we walk. Wherever you are, a 20 minute walk in any direction will have something for everyone: Beautiful homes? Check. People watching? Check. Window shopping? Gardens? A building with a surprising architectural feature you totally miss driving past it? A place to stop for a drink? A park? You can't walk a mile without running in to all of these things.

Ok now we are starting to loosen up a little.

Nice to see in this "cool" city some aren't to cool to play a fun little game.

I have my list, but will wait a little longer to post.

Only a couple things out of my idea of a full week has been mentioned.

Thanks.



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Pick them up at the airport bring them back to Lakewood through the Emerald Canyon.

Allowing them to unpack, relax, maybe a scotch on the porch, watch the sunset.

Monday
Up early and bike off to the Root Cafe for coffee.Stop by the office, and let them wander around Rozi's, and the offices. Lunch - Off to the Westend, for one of the best burgers in town food and good service. Head west to Vermillion along the lake. Dinner - Player's Pizza, then a walk around the south central neighborhood of Lakewood while we allow dinner and drinks to settle. End evening on the porch.

Tuesday
Up early off to 2 Dad's for eggs and cakes. Might be the best pancakes in town. Stop by Congressman Kucinich's office to see if he is around, and then
walk over to Hixson's. Walk down to Garfield School to see the $6 million dollar wall,
Walk Detroit back, stopping by the Melt or farther down at the Beck Cafe for coffee and music on the patio. Walk over for a drink at the Rush Inn. Walk the Scenic Park area to show highlights like where punk music was born. End night on the porch.

Wednesday
Sunrise at Lakewood Park, a little Tai Chi or happy hopping, a walk around the neighborhood, and walk up to The Place To Be. Then a walk back to
the house stopping at various points of interests along the way. Late lunch
at Sweetwater with a walk over to the Dog Park. If the river is low, cross the river
then up the cliff and home. Dinner at Szchewan Gardens. Up to the Winchester for
some music, or maybe acoustic stuff at the Root Cafe. End evening on the porch.

Thursday
Up early bike Lakewood, Detroit to Coutant, up to Madison and and down stopping long enough to show where Barbara Streisand was discovered. to Hogsback up Detroit Loop. Head off to The Art Museum and Coventry, hit Tommy's for lunch, head back west down Cedar, and west on Cedar or Central. Or show them the devastation, err gentrification of Euclid Ave.. Perhaps pick up chicken and Ribs at Hot Sauce Williams. Back home for a nice picnic meal in the backyard, or down at the lake. Walk it off in North Lakewood, then back to the porch.

Friday
Start at the Root or the Coffee Pot, 2nd best breakfast in town, best home fries. Walk around Birdville(circa 1902) as the sun comes up. Go up to Highland Ave Rapid Station and take rapid downtown, for a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and late lunch at Tea House Noodles. Come back on the Madison Line. Stop at home, change, refresh, head off to Mahalls for Fish Dinner some bowling, and taking in the night life of the area. Around 9 head over to bela dubby for what ever is going on and conversation with John Crino. A break at some point for ice cream at Sugar Bears! End the evening on the porch.

Saturday
Ask them what they want to do. Breakfast with police at the Shore, walk the east end, stop in at some friends homes. Hit a couple galleries, lunch at India Garden, one of Lakewood's top 3 restaraunts, a walk to downtown Lakewood, then walk the tracks. Home. Evening, hit the Scenic Park entertainment area, take the buss
to the east end for the Phantasy, 5 O'clock, Brother's Lounge, Winchester, etc. Bus
down Madison sit on the porch listening o police scanner talking about their week.

Sunday
Relax, let them pack. Head off to Pier W for brunch, and Bloody Marys drive them to the airport and tell them they can visit anytime, as long as they have a return ticket with them.

Just a rough.

I guess civic leaders can't be baited into saying nice things about the "cool" they take credit for.

Well at least we have things to do here.

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Matthew Lee wrote:I think I was thrown by the seven days in Lakewood. I take it that it is ok to take them around the area, based on the itinerary with Cleveland Museum of Art, Coventry, etc?

Matthew

One of the coolest things about Lakewood is that it is a bedroom community near everything!

It is also one of the many things I would hate to see this community loose in their race to
make DowntowN the burger capital of between Cleveland and Rocky River.

I also like to show people what else is going on in the area, before explaining to the just how
cool and fragile a community like Lakewood is.

But I could have stuck to Lakewood quite easily.

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Jim,

As I read this thread ( something I rarely have time for anymore ) one word really sticks out here....WALK!!! Really??? Love it!

My cousin likes to stop in at Lion and Blue and Geiger's when she is in town.I will have to put some thought in to where else we woud go.