Things to do in Cleveland
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Johnny Mango
The Caribbean-influenced food and drinks are as flavorful as the interior is colorful. Mr Mango has a hearty vegetarian selection along with his meat dishes, all begging to be complemented by tropical drinks like sangria or Cuban mojitos (rum cocktail). Try the killer french fries made of plantains.
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Winking Lizard Tavern
This hugely popular pub-grub outlet, named for its caged iguana, is a logical downtown stop before or after a sporting event (Cleveland is a serious jock town with three modern downtown sports venues).
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Lola
Famous for his piercings, Food Channel TV appearances and multiple national awards, local boy Michael Symon has put Cleveland on the foodie map with Lola. The lunch dishes are the most fun, say coconut-and-lime-tinged scallop ceviche or the showstopper - an egg-and-cheese-topped fried bologna sandwich.
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Tommy's
This is a neighborhood standout, with a broad, veggie-heavy menu; don't miss the Mary Lynn spinach pie.
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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum is more than a collection of memorabilia, though it does have Jimi Hendrix' Stratocaster, Janis Joplin's psychedelic Porsche and Ray Charles' sunglasses. Interactive multimedia exhibits trace the history and social context of rock music and the performers who created it. Why is the museum in Cleveland? Because this is the hometown of Alan Freed, the disk jockey who popularized the term 'rock 'n' roll' in the early 1950s, and because the city lobbied hard and paid big. Be prepared for crowds.
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HealthSpace Cleveland
While it's geared mostly to kids, HealthSpace Cleveland exhibits appeal to adults, too, especially the 'stress yard' and 'deli wagon' (showing how fast-food ramps up fat and sugar intake). Sneezes, by the way, can reach 100mph, and right-handed people live nine years longer on average than left-handed folks.
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Great Lakes Science Center
The Great Lakes Science Center gives a good account of the lakes' environmental problems. It's affiliated with the William G Mather maritime museum, which was a freighter but is now a steamship museum. Also berthed nearby on the waterfront is the storied submarine USS Cod, which saw action in WWII.
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Cleveland Museum of Art
The star of the lot is the Cleveland Museum of Art, which houses an excellent collection of European paintings, as well as African, Asian and American art. It's undergoing a whopping expansion, to be completed in 2012, that will increase gallery space by more than 40%.
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South Side
Local athletes, blue-collar electricians and everyone in between pile into this sleek Tremont establishment to drink at the winding granite bar. They come for the food too, like the grouper sandwich, veggie reuben, Kobe burger and chicken and waffles (brunch only).
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Cleveland Botanical Garden
The lovely Cleveland Botanical Garden has a Costa Rican cloud forest and Madagascan desert exhibits. An ice- skating rink opens nearby in winter; skate rentals cost $3. Parking costs $5 to $10 per day and gives access to all the museums here.
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West Side Market Cafe
This is a smart stop if you're craving well-made breakfast and lunch fare, and cheap fish and chicken mains. The café is inside West Side Market itself, which overflows with fresh produce and prepared foods that are handy for picnicking or road-tripping.
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Christmas Story House & Museum
Remember the beloved 1983 film A Christmas Story, in which Ralphie yearns for a Red Ryder BB gun? The original Christmas Story House & Museum sits in Tremont, complete with leg lamp. This attraction's for true fans only.
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Town Fryer
Town Fryer offers deeply unhealthy Cajun and Southern comfort foods, like fried catfish and maple-bacon mashed potatoes, but aren't we all really here for the fried Twinkies and Oreos? It's located between downtown and University Circle.
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Lucky's Café
Lucky's grows its own produce and herbs in its adjacent garden, then uses the goods in its soups and wrap sandwiches. Weekend brunch with gingerbread waffles and cheddar scallion scones wins big flavor points.
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Severance Hall
Severance Hall is where the acclaimed Cleveland Symphony Orchestra holds its season (August to May). The orchestra's summer home is Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, about 22 miles south.
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West Side Market
The European-style West Side Market overflows with greengrocers and their fruit and vegetable pyramids, as well as purveyors of Hungarian sausage, Mexican flat breads and Polish pierogies.
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Lolita
It's the lighter-fare sister of Lola. Munch on Iowa prosciutto, mussels and Neapolitan-style pizzas with cold local beer. Five-dollar food specials rock happy hour (5pm to 6:30pm, and after 9:30pm or so).
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Great Lakes Brewing Company
Great Lakes wins numerous prizes for its brewed-on-the-premises beers. Added historical bonus: Eliott Ness got into a shootout with criminals here; ask the bartender to show you the bullet holes.
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Sokolowski's University Inn
The portions are huge, enough to fuel the hungriest steelworker. It's cafeteria style, so grab a tray and fill it with plump pierogi, cabbage rolls and other rib-sticking Polish fare.
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Oenotria
To imbibe on a laid-back outdoor patio, Little Italy is the place to go. So sip the night away at this perfect Little Italy wine bar.
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Major Hoopples
Look over the bar for Cleveland's best skyline view from this friendly, eclectic watering hole. There's free live music some nights.
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USS Cod
Berthed on the waterfront (though not affiliated) is the storied submarine USS Cod, which saw action in WWII.
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Johnny's Little Bar
One of the Warehouse District's more casual, compact offerings. The hard-to-find entrance is on Frankfort Ave, a side street.
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Progressive Field
Pro baseball's Indians (aka 'the Tribe') hit here. Great sightlines and a fun atmosphere make it a top park to see a game.
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Western Reserve Historical Society/Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum
The Western Reserve Historical Society/Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum , houses collections of old cars and planes.
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