It seems everywhere you turn these days, something's popping up around Northeast Ohio. You can thank the RNC for a lot of that. Long-simmering projects got a kick in the ass to be completed by the time the Trump Train arrives in Cleveland in July.
The RNC notwithstanding, though, the economy has bounced back and the region is riding successes both in real terms (job numbers, etc.) and in perception (it's cool to be Cleveland again). Naturally, that upswing comes with new stuff, for lack of a better description. So as the temps climb upward and the sun shines down on Cleveland, keep in mind that, yes, summer is back, but summer is also returning in Cleveland as it never has before.
Scene's Taste of Summer
We'll start close to home, not just because it's our event, but also because it's coming at you real soon. This weekend (May 27 through 29), the east bank of the Flats is where the party's at. The three-day free event sports a full entertainment lineup (Big Bang Dueling Pianos, Ray Flanagan, the Spazmatics and more), two dozen food and drink vendors, gorgeous views of the Cuyahoga, and family friendly activities. Stop by and celebrate with us.
More Flats? More Flats!
It's hard to imagine even more going on down in the Flats, but Cleveland's newest entertainment and dining neighborhood is always growing. Coastal Tacos will soon open their doors, Margaritaville is coming, and with the additions come two seasonal reasons to make the east bank a regular stop. Flat Out Fridays (free), which kicks off June 3, will bring food, bevvies, entertainment and more to the Flats to start the weekend right. Also be sure to check out Soul in the City, a monthly Saturday night party at Crop On Air Studio that starts with a live band (check the schedule) and ends with a DJ dance party (ditto on the schedule).
BrewBoat CLE
Cleveland's first cycleboat is coming, and all it needs is you and 13 of your closest friends to power it. Climb aboard the Lake Beerie Monster, a 31-foot pontoon boat, and paddle down Lake Erie or the Cuyahoga River with your pals all while sipping your favorite beer or wine. For $35, passengers can hop on board with a single ticket. The two-hour tours will embark from North Coast Harbor, the East Bank or the West Bank of the Flats.
These are BYOB tours, with each passenger allowed by law to bring 36 ounces of beer or 18 ounces of wine with them. Cups, ice and water are provided by BrewBoat.
440-941-6690; brewcle.com
Holden Arboretum Tower and Canopy Walk
Sure, it officially opened last year, but it was late last year and you probably didn't get a chance to go. The Kalberer Family Emergent Tower and Judith and Maynard H. Murch IV Canopy Walk takes visitors up into the treetops, literally, thanks to suspension bridges and perches. Enjoy the view from the 120-foot-tall observation deck and catch the sights and sounds of birds as you trek across the 500-foot-long elevated walkways.
Water Taxis
Starting Memorial Day weekend you will be able to catch a taxi in the Flats. Not just your run-of-the-mill taxi, though. This taxi is running on the water. Water taxis, a Cleveland Metroparks service, are designed to be a ferry service to connect places along the riverfront.
The boats can fit up to 18 people and four bikes for a nice boat ride to your next destination. If you have $2, that's good enough to get you unlimited trips for the day.
Asia Town Food Tour Series
Kicked off earlier this year, the Asia Town Food Tour Series is a monthly get together to... well... get to know Cleveland's Asia Town neighborhood a bit better. Participants hop aboard the West Side Shuffle Bus and set out to sample food and drink from a variety of the neighborhood's eclectic restaurant mix. Put together by the Wok n Roll food truck peeps and the folks behind the Night Market, the excursion pairs family style meals with informative history lessons from tour guides or chefs.
facebook.com/asiatownfoodtourseries
Free Rock Hall Concerts
Every Wednesday starting June 29, the Rock Hall's Summer in the City concert series returns. The lineup, as always, is incredible (Honeybucket, Uno Lady, and more) and more incredible still is that it's entirely free. Catch the shows from 6 to 9 p.m. What? That's old news. Remember one key thing: the Rock Hall front plaza is getting a redesign this year and it'll be completed by the RNC, which means an amped-up experience unlike years past.
Tiger Passage
It's not quite ready yet, but it will be soon. Come June, visitors to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will be enjoying Tiger Passage, the zoo's new $4.1 million exhibit that features four habitat areas with trails that go right over your head. It'll give the tigers outdoor access during the evening and plenty of toys, climbing poles, shallow streams and more to keep them busy. It's the best chance yet to get to know Klechka and Dasha, the zoo's two tigers, and learn more about the world's largest cat and how mankind has affected its species.
Walkabout Tremont
The Tremont Art Walk is gone. Long live the Tremont Art Walk. In its wake, Tremont West has helped launch Walkabout Tremont, which still gives monthly visitors a glimpse into the art galleries that have survived in the neighborhood while also adapting to what the neighborhood has become -- a dining and drinking destination. Most businesses keep long hours during Walkabout and the streets are lined with vendors ranging from fashion to jewelry and more. Pop-up tents dot the sidewalks and live entertainment keeps the air filled with tunes. Join in the second weekend of every month.
The Valravn
Yes, we'd be remiss if we didn't Cedar Point's new record-breaking, awe-inducing, nerve-tingling ride. It debuted to rave reviews just a few weeks ago and you've got all summer to get out to Sandusky to see what everyone's talking about. The tallest dive coaster in the world now lives at the best roller coaster park in the world. You don't need more motivation than that.