The last time Gina and I ate breakfast on the 9th Street Pier we noticed that the new transient dock they put in rents watercraft. Not actual boats with motors or anything but paddle boats, paddle boards, and kayaks. No kidding right?!? I'm as shocked as you are to see an opportunity to enjoy the many bodies of water around us other than cooling factory parts, drinking, or throwing garbage into them. We really are savages when it comes to treating our water nicely... anywhoooo Gina and I turned a open Saturday with endless possibilities into and seminar and workshop in adult responsibility. Ya, so we almost basically ruined it until she had the random (and rare) great idea to go kayaking! It was just what I needed. Beautiful day; outdoor water sports; great views of the city; new Cleveland thing that I can add to my list of touristy things to do; blog fodder...so of course I was in! Luckily for us they were open after 5, we parked for free, and they didn't have 2 single kayaks to rent that were $25 a piece for an hour...they had a double that was $25 for an hour! Romantic and half the price...I really am a catch ladies and I can be purchased for food stamps.
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We hopped on and paddled off. We actually went all the way to the break wall and back without taking an exhaustion nap around half way. It was cool to see boaters and jet skiers enjoying a beautiful day on the lake. Sometimes you lose track of the fact that people can actually come into this city and have a good time. There are a lot of naysayers that talk so much $hit about Cleveland that you actually begin to believe them because no one is out there saying otherwise. Even I lose hope sometimes. This adventure added some much needed fuel to my tanks. It was actually an amazing experience and probably one of the best times I've had in this city...and I needed that.
So if you are looking for something to do and want to have some water fun, head to Rock and Dock at the end of 9th Street behind the Rock Hall and check out what they have to offer. The people working there were very friendly and they were pretty busy. Not a bad way to spend an hour on a dog days of summer weekend!
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8/19 - Hit the Flats between shifts
Last week Gina worked nights so we got to hang out between when I got home at 4:30 pm and when she had to go to work at 7 pm. We decided to hit the Flats and enjoy what little sunshine we could before it rained. 1st stop was Brick & Barrel right across the new Columbus Rd lift bridge. Brick and Barrel was that place we always walked past on our hikes and never had our wallets on us to go buy a drink. Once you do that 3-4 times you have it so in your brain to go there that you have to in order to make room in your brain for other thoughts. Plus we've always wanted to go because we heard the beer was pretty awesome.
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This bar is hard to describe. I'm going to try but keep in mind that no matter how you try to translate my tone...this bar is the bar I would have ultimately created for myself if I were to open one up and I absolutely loved it. OK, first it's like a local makers art gallery. All the tables are that cool "it used to be something and now it's a table" design. All of the stool looked as if they were picked from an awesome flea market because of their look and feel and definitely not the cheapest in a catalog. There's an outdoor patio and garage doors that open up to the main seating area. It's not a huge bar but there's enough seating for a busy Saturday night. The bar is decorated with cool little art pieces and more cool little local maker type of pieces. Plus there's an old Ms Pacman stand up arcade game and a South Park pinball machine. If I were given the chance to pick out 2 games for my bar those would probably be the ones... maybe sit down Tecmo Bowl and stand up Punchout too...and maybe WWF Superstars. OK enough about arcade games or this is going to become 8-bit Arcade.
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The beers that we tried were great. I know I'm going to lose my man card to this next statement but Gina and I both love an import they had called Stiegl Grapefruit Radler. Ya, Grapefruit... I know but in the realm of sweet beers it is by far the best I've had. To be fair their brewing ability the Wakatu Belgian Pale Ale was pretty awesome too. Gina and I were able to relax on the front patio with the neighborhood cat which we dubbed their mascot. Once it rained we moved back in and finished up so we could go to dinner. Brick & Barrel doesn't have a kitchen but does have the local restaurants (spelled it right one the 1st try!!!) deliver to the bar so that's cool but we were off to see our friend and celebrity chef Dennis Devies's new place on the west bank of the flats.
The Rusty Anchor is in the downstairs of the Music Box Supper Club right next to Shooters. We've been to the upstairs of the Music Box many times to enjoy great food and awesome music but this was our 1st time in the downstairs area. Rusty Anchor is a classy place with a nice bar and a small stage for music acts. It also has a patio with the best views of the river and the new East Bank development. We got there a tad early and before the band was to play so we got right in before the dinner rush. The menu is a collection of meat and seafood dishes that in all honesty all looked delicious but because Dennis's chicken is the best I've ever had, I had to go with the half a chicken dinner. I was not disappointed! Gina got the seafood risotto and that was pretty great too. The leftovers were actually gone before we got home. It seems like everything Dennis touches turns to gold which is great news for the Music Box complex because the place is killing it. It is one of our favorite spots in the city!
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| The view from the Rusty Anchor's patio. |
This city is starting to recapture it's shorelines and reconnect to the waterways that used to define it as a city. The potential for development along the lake and the river are endless. The less piles of rock and salt that we have lining the river, the better in my opinion. Some day there will be spots like this along the lake too and people will get to experience the North Shore close up everyday from their balconies and office windows. After seeing some of the coastal communities in California like Santa Cruz, I've seen what cities can do with their waterfront areas and it gives me hope for ours.
Urban pioneers, if ever I stray from the path I follow, take me down to the Cuyahoga River. Throw me in where the water is shallow and drag me on back to shore. Because love is free and life is cheap and as long as I've got me a place to sleep, clothes on my back, and some food to eat I can't ask for anything more...man I love Frank Turner!
Urban pioneers, if ever I stray from the path I follow, take me down to the Cuyahoga River. Throw me in where the water is shallow and drag me on back to shore. Because love is free and life is cheap and as long as I've got me a place to sleep, clothes on my back, and some food to eat I can't ask for anything more...man I love Frank Turner!
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