My Cleveland trip...Casino, Brown's-Indians Game + more

[Dead Money]

Back in time for my 67th birthday today, heard on the news Oct 12 is "National Fossil Day" seems fitting....:lol:

Spent 5 days in Parma-Cleveland area, going to post my experiences throughout the day.

I met up with my brother, who lives in Florida, and a mutual friend from West Virginia, last Thursday.

We rented an airport car, and a 4 bedroom home in Parma's " Polish Town" area. It was not much more money than hotel rooms for 3.

DAY 1.....
Our first stop was "Whitey's Burgers & Booze, Richfield Ohio.

This was where you went after a Cav's game at the Richfield Colliseum in the early 90's....I saw Jordan play in the day...

Whiteys has without doubt, the world's greatest chili, still does, world class.....
I had a Burger covered with chili, onions, cheese,sour cream, with home made fries....it would easily feed 2, and a Draft Labatt Blue 32oz Canadian Beer.

After that, we drove to Honey Hut Ice Cream in Parma, and had Cleveland's finest Ice Cream.... Real Honey-Vanilla and Pecans....2 monster scoops for $3.00.

Dazed, confused, and near comatose after all the food, beer and ice cream, we went to the house, un-packed,played poker for a couple hours, passed out in our seperate rooms.

cont'd later, lunch time here....

 

[Salty]

Nice. :00x9

 

[Dead Money]

Westside market, R+R hof and Indians game

Westside market, R+R hof and Indians game

Day 2 Friday

Morning went to Westside Market close to downtown, (25th + Lorain) quite the place all local fresh meats, fish, produce, bakery, breads, cheese.
My parents shopped there when I was a kid, we lived about 6 blocks away, it pre-dates grocery stores.

The sights and smells here are a foodies dream come true, it was established in 1840.

Had breakfast, bought pierogi,onion, butter, and cabbage rolls for later.

Went to R+R hof.....really cool, admission seniors $20
This should be on every rock and rollers list...very interactive, films, music, memorabilia, its here.....all eras represented.....the roots till today.

Something for everyone that had a 45 record player, transistor radio, tape deck, 8-trackplayer, cassette player to ipod, to todays phone....

Took about 4 hours, could have spent 8, time permitting.


Lunch at Winking Lizard 9th street ......beer and great sandwichs, traded friendly insults with Boston Fans waiting for game time, told them they were going to lose, sell us your tickets....(shudda listened)

Indians Game.....had NO tickets....

We made up a quick sign saying "Need 3" and sat by a bus stop 2 blocks from the stadium. This was in the heart of the ticket scalpers......

There were 6 blacks working together, keeping contact by phone....buying and selling.

An hour before game time, box seats were $400 and up, crap seats $150 and up, Decent seats $200+.
They were not open to much negotiation....there was plenty of fools....

One had 3 box seats 12 rows behind home plate slightly right. he was firm at $400 each (face value was $90 each).

He still had them at game time....I went up to him in the middle of the first inning and got them for $200 apiece, and I had to tip his brother $20 for being his "eyes".
He cried to me that he had them on Ebay for $1200.


Parking next to stadium was $50.....we parked at the $10 area a mile away...

Wonderful Stadium, great time, fabulous fans...we had rabid drunken fans behind us yelling at players, chanting "JOSE,JOSE,JOSE...." they really gave Price an earful...it was comical. LeBron and his friends had a suite to themselves and were wildly applauded....I see him as Mayor someday if he wants it.....

After game,went "home" cooked pierogis and cabbage rolls then went to Honey Hut for another Honey ice cream.

Can't find that home made ethnic food in Oklahoma......



more later...

 

[REFLOG]

Day 2 Friday

Morning went to Westside Market close to downtown, (25th + Lorain) quite the place all local fresh meats, fish, produce, bakery, breads, cheese.
My parents shopped there when I was a kid, we lived about 6 blocks away, it pre-dates grocery stores.

The sights and smells here are a foodies dream come true, it was established in 1840.

Had breakfast, bought pierogi,onion, butter, and cabbage rolls for later.

Went to R+R hof.....really cool, admission seniors $20
This should be on every rock and rollers list...very interactive, films, music, memorabilia, its here.....all eras represented.....the roots till today.

Something for everyone that had a 45 record player, transistor radio, tape deck, 8-trackplayer, cassette player to ipod, to todays phone....

Took about 4 hours, could have spent 8, time permitting.


Lunch at Winking Lizard 9th street ......beer and great sandwichs, traded friendly insults with Boston Fans waiting for game time, told them they were going to lose, sell us your tickets....(shudda listened)

Indians Game.....had NO tickets....

We made up a quick sign saying "Need 3" and sat by a bus stop 2 blocks from the stadium. This was in the heart of the ticket scalpers......

There were 6 blacks working together, keeping contact by phone....buying and selling.

An hour before game time, box seats were $400 and up, crap seats $150 and up, Decent seats $200+.
They were not open to much negotiation....there was plenty of fools....

One had 3 box seats 12 rows behind home plate slightly right. he was firm at $400 each (face value was $90 each).

He still had them at game time....I went up to him in the middle of the first inning and got them for $200 apiece, and I had to tip his brother $20 for being his "eyes".
He cried to me that he had them on Ebay for $1200.


Parking next to stadium was $50.....we parked at the $10 area a mile away...

Wonderful Stadium, great time, fabulous fans...we had rabid drunken fans behind us yelling at players, chanting "JOSE,JOSE,JOSE...." they really gave Price an earful...it was comical. LeBron and his friends had a suite to themselves and were wildly applauded....I see him as Mayor someday if he wants it.....

After game,went "home" cooked pierogis and cabbage rolls then went to Honey Hut for another Honey ice cream.

Can't find that home made ethnic food in Oklahoma......



more later...

:0074

 

[MadJack]

Thanks for the report. :0008

 

[BobbyBlueChip]

Morning went to Westside Market close to downtown, (25th + Lorain) quite the place all local fresh meats, fish, produce, bakery, breads, cheese

There were 6 blacks working together, keeping contact by phone...

After game,went "home" cooked pierogis and cabbage rolls then went to Honey Hut for another Honey ice cream.

.

Are you Ukrainian? I picked up my Ukie friend from Parma this weekend on the way for a reunion in the east side. His mom made us pierogis and cabbage rolls about twenty years ago and some blood sausage and I still remember it.

 

[Dead Money]

Are you Ukrainian? I picked up my Ukie friend from Parma this weekend on the way for a reunion in the east side. His mom made us pierogis and cabbage rolls about twenty years ago and some blood sausage and I still remember it.

Czech-Slovenian......

was raised on all the regional ethnic dishes.....sure miss them....moved to Oklahoma in the early 70's, a wasteland for good ethnic food to this day.....

 

[Dead Money]

Casino visit+ Pizza

Casino visit+ Pizza

Spent Saturday afternoon-evening downtown at the casino....

Fittingly called "JACK"...

Its near public square in the old Higbee building.
The Higbee building was used in the movie Xmas Story, the story with the BB gun quote, (you'll shoot your eye out).

All enclosed spaces are now smoke free zones.....as of about 5 years ago I was told.

Bars, Restaurants, Casinos....all clean air...

The Jack casino is spread all over several floors of the massive structure.... slots, live poker, table games, even craps....sports lounge.

Just like Vegas, minus the smokey atmosphere, it was actually a pleasure, could breath and....did not have to change clothes.

Spent most of the day went "home" up $146.00

On the way home, we stopped for Antonio's pizza.
A local legend since 1967.

My entire time in Parma, Parma Hts, Middleburg Hts, Richfield, and points between, I saw only ONE single chain pizza store...Papa Johns.

In Parma, it is as it was, every 15th store you saw, was a mom+pops pizza, burger, or sub sandwich shop ......down to earth real deal home made product....
Dominos, Caesers, their crap product does not translate to the locals raised on good stuff.

Same for McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendys...you got to really look hard to find one.

more later

 

[Dead Money]

Brown's game day

Brown's game day

Had seats WAY UP high near an end zone with mostly very vocal New England fans...turned out great as it was 100% sunny and 60 degrees...I was able to strip to pants and t-shirt.

Brady came out and was soundly booed by locals and wildly cheered by the faithful.

Really wasn't much of a game....New England could have won 49-13 if they chose....Browns defense is garbage.

Brady was taken out in the 4th to the loud chanting of "BRADY, BRADY, BRADY" the stands were emptying but all New England fans stayed.

A great stadium, not a bad seat in the house.

Security was stupid, my friend Dave had a fanny pack with his diabetes meds in it; they made him go to super security? for clearance, half-way around the stadium.

My pep peeve was the announcing...every time New England was held to 3rd down, a loud announcement was made...."THIRRRRRD DOOOOWWWWNNN"

As if this magical announcement was going to help the defense...New Eng punted ONCE.....Brady had 400+ yards and 3 tds.

After game went to Richfield- Whiteys Burger and Booze again....its that good...
Chili Cheeseburger, fries, beer. Honey Hut for dessert., again.


Canton hof next...

 

[Dead Money]

Football HOF Canton

Football HOF Canton

We went Monday morning, its about 40-45 minutes from Cleveland.

Parking is $10 on site, there is no where else to park easily.

Admission was $20 for seniors. Adults $24

Amazing facility...the history of pro- style-football from day one....there were early teams named Cleveland Indians, Decatur Staleys, Chicago Cardinals,, Canton Bulldogs, Oorang Indians, Dayton Triangles, Acme Packers....to name a few.

Very interactive video histories of teams, eras, dynasty teams.

The evolution of the sport in all aspects is explored in detail....balls, uniforms,equipment, play, teams of all eras.

There was even a modern day hooded referee field review area...you can make the call.....its nice to know what really happens under the hood....


Tebow's Denver uniform made it to the hall....

There is an ongoing theatric holographic pep talk presented by Joe Namath, George Halas, and Vince Lombardi....

We really enjoyed the superbowl theater....it was like being in the actual huddle of the Denver-Carolina game....the theater actually moved.

The hall of busts shows ALL inductees- players, coaches, owners. They were presented by the year they entered the hall, 300+.

If you are a football card collector, there is a huge exhibit on the ground floor dating back to the 1890's.

The monstrous gift shop has something for any team fan....hats, jerseys, hoodies, many different styles.

It took us about 4 hours of viewing to enjoy the experience.

Dinner we went to nearby Hartville.....a huge Amish diner with wonderful food for all tastes.

Dessert we went to Honey Hut Parma, one last time....

Great trip...gained 3 pounds

I left Cleveland in 1973, when you drove downtown in that era, you had grit in your teeth from the pollution.
Downtown was a pit......dirty, littered, druggies, decaying buildings, unsafe at nite...the Cuyahoga river had caught fire....Lake Erie was a sewer...

My brother left Cleveland in the early 1990's, much the same story.

TODAY.....total reclamation.....new structures, clean air and water, vibrant night life, trendy restaurants where stink filled alleys existed, a feeling of safety....its like some one hosed down the city and restocked it with new life and vibrancy...

WELCOME BACK- CLEVELAND...:00hour

 

[Morris]

Great write up. Thanks for sharing!! :0008

 

[Wineguy]

Good write up, felt like we were there with you

 

[BobbyBlueChip]

Czech-Slovenian........

I thought you all lived in Euclid :lol:

Love cleveland. Nobody moves in and a few move out. Some cities are melting pots, but metro Cleveland is a stunning mosaic.