Cleveland is Thriving!
The last time we were all in Cleveland, the conditions were less than ideal. Covid had a significant impact, leaving Cleveland with very limited options and a sense of emptiness. But now, I am excited to share that Cleveland is thriving once again! During our conference planning visit, Melissa and I had the opportunity to see first hand just how much the city has to offer and it did not disappoint!
Our host hotel - Hilton Cleveland Downtown - is in the ideal location for those who want to venture out and make the most of their trip as there is something for everyone within a few minutes walk. Just across the street is the home of the Cleveland Browns, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Great Lakes Science Center - talk about a variation! Those aren’t the only “major league” venues in the city - also in close proximity are Progressive Field, home to the Cleveland Indians, and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, home to the Cleveland Cavaliers. While January isn’t prime baseball season, it is a great time to catch an NBA game (I know I’ll be going)!
If sports aren’t for you and art and theater are what you’re looking for, the close by Playhouse Square is home to a multitude of theaters and galleries to explore, as well as a gorgeous outdoor chandelier that is a must see! Then once you’ve seen the chandelier, you can make your way over to Fourth St. to really have some fun! This foot traffic only street is home to 3 staple venues in downtown as well as some amazing restaurants! Melissa and I were extremely fortunate to get to tour the House of Blues, Pickwick & Frolic (home of Hilarities Comedy Club), and The Corner Alley during our planning visit and I know I’ll be making a trip to Fourth St. to check out these venues again. Especially Pickwick & Frolic and the Hilarities comedy club which has been around for 40 years and hosted comics as big as Jerry Seinfeld!
Another fun little spot we found was a coffee club owned by Machine Gun Kelly, The 27 Club, located at the Flats along with Punch Bowl Social - a fun two floor venue that hosts bowling, karaoke, arcade games, and more! While this area is within walking distance, in January you will probably want to Uber, but it would take no more than 5 minutes and on that ride, you are likely to see murals like never before! The city of Cleveland has so many wonderful murals that they have created a “mural passport.” They also have a “brewery passport” for all you craft beer drinkers! Participation in the brewery passport can land you some sweet prizes so be sure to follow the link to the Destination Cleveland website to find out more about that, as well as our host city for the 35th Annual Conference in January 2025. There are a million more things I could tell you about, but I’ve only got so much room! We can’t wait to have fun with you in Cleveland!
