Some fresh new ideas

Cleveland and its sister city Detroit's downtown skyscraper canyons are mostly on the nod these days by all accounts and observations garnered. While recently immersing myself in a rather sedentary and scholarly life as opposed to the wretched comatose meanderings of yet another loose cannon with a bad case of typewriter keypad itch, I have rediscovered the dirtiest pair of words in my meager vocabulary:

“Idle Thought.”

Considering myself always a proper and forward thinking citizen in search of some fresh new ideas, lately what has crossed my mind concerns the adaptive reuse of our empty downtown cities streets. I have noticed that the lack of human bodies found on downtown Cleveland and Detroit streets affords a vibrant sonority when the human voice is expelled in a yodel or song like fashion towards the heavens.

Loud and clear I say, with tremendous echo effects.

Most major American cities are unable to provide these perfect fertile grounds conducive for the new opportunity of building yodeling competitions to be held in the cities empty canyons due to having in their possession a civilized population that lives within their boundaries.

Not a real problem for our great lakes twin cities. Attracting participants should prove easy.

Being that both cities downtowns resemble massive outdoors beer gardens these days. -- --- Both cities being in possession of loud and rabid sports fans prone to blowing hard and aloud for their "home teams".

Cleveland, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan are natural cities to use local arts funds collected via yet another tobacco tax to study and advance this primitive notion of found sound that adds a lively voice to these moribund and near empty buildings found in their empty downtowns.

A sister project celebrating the joyous unbound and unfettered voice conducive of attracting tourists building yodeling competitions to be held in the cities empty canyons. Outdoor echo karaoke is another novel idea sure to be a tourist pleaser.

Both cities already resembling large public beer gardens, the urban fabric of our two cities would benefit to hear any voices other than those currently raised in salute to cold suds and tepid sports.

Held in conjunction with the ever popular pizza eating contests and Slovenian style yodel polka events, the inclusion of a sing und yodel with the local yokels event held in the twin cities warm weather months would prove tourist positive if not a bit thrilling in a understated fashion.

Not currently having the means to attract a true local musical hero like Bruce Springsteen to host this event should not prove a problem. Cleveland's current number one Slovenian musical star should suffice.

One Michael Stanley Gee.

Since the death of Frankie Yankovic, Michael Stanley is number one in Cleveland! Michael Stanley has a rather popular local band and is really a natural at serving as judge, ringmaster, and host to all future Building yodeling and echo karaoke events to be held in downtown Cleveland due to his long career in music and his superstar status.

Michael Stanley currently is employed by a radio station on the very short stretch of Huron Road between Euclid Avenue and Prospect Road which is the natural empty building canyon to hold the Cleveland found sound events in.

I walk down this short corridor on a daily basis and it is more often than not than I can hit all the notes from white rabbit or rosewood bitters at the top of my lungs and bounce with an echo every note off the top of the rooftops of the halle Brother's building were Gee Stanley is employed as radio jockey.

Truly art events waiting to happen.

Who knows?

Perhaps a world famous Euclid Avenue Karaoke Corridor Project will emerge, or in the case of Detroit a mobile version of karaoke yodels held on the "people mover."

Or a slicker sophisticated version held during the Detroit grand prix.

Either Jeff Daniels or Tim Allen would make great Detroit echo karaoke or building yodeling event hosts .Believe me , any events save more bad sports and the artsy posturing of visiting suburban types a few evenings a year would serve to improve the dead zones currently encountered in Cleveland and Detroit downtown quarters.

Time has come for the artsy fartsy types to forget about painting their precious little ingenious pictures on the empty storefront windows once a year on their annual loutish stroll through downtown Cleveland streets. Instead consider hiring our resident homeless population to sit around and live in these currently empty and void windows as human mannequins.

Your ingenious and soulless artsy types could dress up storefronts and homeless alike and film the whole enchilada and peddle it as yet another bad reality television event, or pawn it off as some queer form of " performance art" or other such kitty litter encrusted " art happening."

The Euclid Avenue Corridor project promises to deliver a quick bus path from the east end of Euclid Avenue , out near the croakerville homes of the mad scalpels of the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospital, into empty streets and spaces known as downtown Cleveland.

Perhaps if on schedule for later this year?

The RTA deadline is November 2008 , and just in time for a winter's tale of snow and weather that makes a Clevelander long for an empty belly, loaded gun , and the streets of Port a prince, Haiti as a winter alternative to the new beauty of Euclid Avenue 2008.

Seems that in the comprehensive planning and attention to every little marble sidewalk and rider courtesy the Euclid Avenue Corridor entails, one large item may have been overlooked in the sea of concrete and rubber trees that is this much vaunted and touted private bus line built at taxpayers expense.

SNOW!

Good luck to you RTA in removing the often heavy load of snow that piles up on Euclid Avenue in a winter's space of time.

Take for example the famous November 1950 Thanksgiving blizzard that dumped 23 inches of wet precipitate in a few short hours. Streetcars were buried on their tracks; nothing seemed to move save the snow squalls.

Wonder how RTA plans to plow the fancy bus and curvy automobile lanes the next time a blizzard sets down here?

Time will tell.

Book selling Time! Relive the fond visual memories of Cleveland, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan when these once great cities still had streets with people on a daily basis up to more good than evil. We offer today George Condon's YESTERDAY'S CLEVELAND and Frank Angelo's YESTERDAYS DETROIT. Both of these volumes are packed with lots of historic photographs and little textual copy.

Perfect for today's book market. Buy 'em both and save a buck.

No kidding around here, both of these swell pictorial volumes are available now, and worth the odd few dollars you might spend on gas or groceries.

Take a bus!
Take a hike!
Get lost!

But if you do take a hike, bus, or get lost do not forget to take a little something with you for protection save your johnson.

Preferably take a fistful of ripe pecorino cheese to toss at any would be artsy writer types that infest cities throughout the world today. Do not worry about repercussions, these insidious wannabe scribes and poetic types are often lazy and hungry simultaneously and certainly not adverse to bending over to swipe someone else's cheesy ideas tossed at them and then reselling it as their own.

Cleveland and Detroit are full of these types these days, as are most American cities form Hoboken to Half Moon Bay. More often than not scratching what itches, looking for some fresh ideas, and attempting to create something of value from their idle thoughts.

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EQUALITY Sifting The Truth Forging The Deed

Reads the banner of the circa world war two American CORE bulletin which falls from the pages of an old book into my lap. Edited by James Farmer and published in this year 1944 in New York City. Meant to be carried in the pages of a book. These tiny "commie rags" , were considered subversive literature , and could cost one dearly his or her personal liberties if found upon a person by a bunko squad member , or hoover g-man.This issue of EQUALITY contains articles on the Fillmore District in San Fransisco County , and the overcrowded living conditions suffered there by Afro American citizens during that big world war. A fascinating read after all these years. Articles addressing jim crow laws and prejudice in Dallas , Texas and Detroit , Michigan. "Equality, sifting the truth , forging the deed " Doctor Martin Luther King died forty years ago this day , and his passing meant for me a strong initial taste of the humorless gravity of politics in America. When Bobby Kennedy fell dead in Los Angeles , shot up like Doctor King and his brother before him , I realized in my young mind that politics in the real big leagues must be a muther! Bless Doctor King on this his day of passing , and may we be wise enough to embrace the dignified path that Barack Obama presents in a field of thorny flowers and bushes , Obama is the rose..... Now the local sports chatter. Cleveland minor league hockey team beats Hamilton , Ontario skaters in a shoot out this evening. Never seen so many people leave town as quick in my life than after this hockey game. These are polite fans who like most decent baseball fans keep their polite manners up while in public , and do not as much as spit on a public sidewalk as if the very concrete they walk upon might as be their own home. Go monsters! mud sharks! sea devils! whatever your nickname is ? Cleveland , Ohio would do well to imitate Detroit , Michigan and attract a NHL franchise. Minor League sports are just that . Minor League. Besides , we have had plenty of minor league teams disguised as major league temas in recent Cleveland sports history to shake a stick at. Seems that save the early sixties and 1964 NFL champeen Cleveland Browns , my entire Cleveland sports youth was comprised of attempting to root for the local professional teams that more resmbled minor than major talents. Except the Cleveland Barons. They were minor league and made no bones about it. The other period teams minor league in nature , posing as major league. I really do love professional hockey , and have many fond Cleveland Barons moments that originated in viewing minor league games in the old Cleveland Arena years ago. Wish Cleveland had a professional hockey team. hell , I wish that Cleveland had a football team entered in the Canadian Football League. Perhaps if we can convince the Canadian Government to accept us citizens who live across from Melonville , Ontario on the southern shore of Lake Erie. I vote we secede immediately. Chances are however they would not take us in unless we gave the very popular and much respected in Canada Dennis Kucinich full control of this Lake Erie region. You see these Canadians believe in a wider field of play , and thus enjoy the fresh political opinions and progressive thought that Dennis Kucinich is capable of. Please check the archives of the Canadian Broadcast ing System's " As It Happens" ,interview with Dennis after his victory in the Congressional primary last month. The Canadians gush forth Love and respect for this evolved human from Ohio our Dennis Kucinich. Canadians are wise enough to put away their superior brand of Football in late November every year as well. Thus allowing for hockey and basketball to take their proper place in the scheme of sporting events that comprise a life. This years CFL championship Grey Cup game will be played in Montreal on November 23, 2008. I like the idea of a Great Lakes Canadian Football League franchise . Lets face the sad facts people North Americans love their football! Perhaps if we ever build the Jim Rhodes proposed bridge to Canada , we could construct a sports arena in the middle of Lake Erie to play our home games on. Seems like a more plausible bet than the likes of the projected success of the currently under construction Euclid Avenue Corridor project running from University Circle to downtown Cleveland. This sad boondoggle corporate usage of Government transportation funds will serve the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals , and the patients they attract will have easy access to downtown hotels via the Euclid Avenue corridor dedicated bus line. What really is lacking is any housing density the length and breadth of this expensive medical toy bus line . No retail entrepreneur in their right mind would consider locating on the automobile parking parched street that Euclid Avenue is becoming. The best addition so far is the new Aldi's store at East 75Th and Euclid. Aldi's is large enough to have their own parking lot. People are leaving Cleveland and Cuyahoga County by the droves these days , and unless a minor miracle occurs and the ten thousand or so people that once lived along this corridor in the nineteen sixties and seventies decide to return and the apartments they lived in reappear as in a mirage come to life. Good luck! I doubt that all the smoke that the happiness boys at wcpn and da p.d. blow up the asses of the Cleveland citizenry in behalf of the politics that brought us this people mover without rails.The efforts of these shills and media hacks pitching hot air for a private little bus line will be to no avail and to little amusement for those that can see their little ruse . East Ninth and Euclid Avenue's future goal should be to regain the prominent epicenter status of Cleveland downtown commerce . Instead a potential future as a deserted bank district looms. Let us begin at the northeast corner and work clockwise. With the demise of National City Bank eminent and awaiting a takeover. With any good fortune a takeover will spell the end to the ugly skyscraper they currently occupy , which more resembles an upside down refrigerator box and is void of any architectural or aesthetic considerations whatsoever .In a mediocre architectural city the likes of downtown Cleveland , this blanco banko bunko vertical bunker is not very pretty to look at and it's little swinging sculpture out front often resembles a swastika or a pair of dancing metal can openers . Moving on to the north east corner of Euclid and East Ninth Street , one of the loveliest of all Cleveland downtown buildings exists in the form of the Union Trust building , currently named the Huntington Bank Building. You see the desecration by the recent exterior lettering slapped onto this gem in the form of loud block letters reading , THE HUNTINGTON BUILDING. Ugly! In a word , These loud letters screaming at anyone who should pass them. Inside , the most charming pair of linking banking rooms. A classical inspired pillared staff of Cleveland history , this building deserves better than having it's primary tenants make a mad rush to the door in haste to occupy the new proposed Flats office building in the Wolstein group's current plan for the Flat's east bank. Huntington Building occupancy could easily dip precipitously , and coupled with a closed National City Bank structure would add to the already closed Cleveland Trust Tower and rotunda that so much of the success of the entire Euclid Avenue Corridor project hinges upon. The Cleveland Trust Tower and Rotunda renovation is perhaps the true measure of the entire Euclid Avenue Project as far as downtown Cleveland is concerned. If the proposed development by the KD Group does not pan out " bar the door Katy". If this current credit crunch that we are suffering as a Nation continues to unravel and more cheap acts like National City Bank are swept out of town or folded into another bank's holdings ,wath out! Any prudent lending institution would be wise to examine the current demographic state of affairs that is Cleveland , Ohio today and really consider the odds of a profitable venture prior to loaning 35 million or better on the future of East Ninth and Euclid Avenue. All the excited media gibberish and blather that wcpn and da p.d. conspire to churn up via their sordid little public relations dance that denigrates the use of our public radio airwaves , is no more than that hot air I mentioned until actual results occur and money is laid down. Show us the money. Follow the money. Show us the tangible results. The larger picture here is the future of our current economic meltdown and how it will affect lender's positions on such local proposed projects such as the Flats East Bank, Cleveland Trust Tower , and to some degree the Robert Stark warehouse district project which I am afraid is trumped by the Wolstein flats project and Stark's decent dream to build on the ugly warehouse district parking lots is dead in the water. One only has to look a scant three miles south of downtown Cleveland to find that corporate America big box retailers expect parking for their customers. And indeed , The Steelyards Commons project is that mere three miles from downtown and perhaps a good look at the Steelyards commons as downtown Cleveland's new shopping district is in order. A system of connecting transit lines would be wise to converge in these Steelyard commons with all the suburban style big box stores a mere three miles from Public Square. We have no density of downtown population to attract those stores featured at Steelyard Commons to reduplicate themselves street level in downtown Cleveland . So downtown living and those that do rely on rta should be given good access to these Steelyard Commons stores. Let us hope that some form of wisdom prevails in this confused City and that the current Huntington Bank tenants are retained , and that the Cleveland Trust Tower development goes through as planned. Not much we can do about National City Bank's future. They reap what you sow , and having never had a National City account in my lifetime consider myself fortunate. ...... Hello to my old chum and lifelong friend Willy Lambdin. A fine scholar and writer of some repute. He now resides in Finland with his lovely wife. During their last Cleveland visit the most wonderful dish of anchovies , fresh butter , and potatoes baked together i oven were prepared in our humble kitchen by these kind visitors. Filling the house with splendid aromas , and then our bodies and minds with culinary pleasure. Willy and the way back machine in my life. I will twist up his arm and ask him if he will share some of his poetry and writing on this very space. Hell , he is much better than I am at putting together a sentence , and we share a lot of space in our lives spent around Cleveland years ago. Perhaps Willy can show me how to use the simple devices on this computer that would enable the creation of sentences and paragraphs. As for the concept of EQUALITY in our lives , please remember to be kind when you can , man.

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da p.d's Litt serves up placenta as Rebirth , Brian Cashman goes gnats

Da p.d.'s architectural writer Steve Litt , once again shows his penchant for churning out advertising copy disguised as news, via his Sunday Febuary 10 , 2008 [ above the fold on the front page none the less! ] article entitled The Rebirth. Litt's delirious gushing travesty disguised as journalism concerning the expected success of the massive $200 million plus Euclid Avenue Corridor project , is indicative of the , long on graphics short on copy , variety of pharisaical hyperbole common to the printed efforts produced at 1801 Superior Avenue today. Mister Litt should sleep fit every evening secure with the knowledge of future employment in the field of writing advertising copy for either the Regional Transit Authority or Cleveland Clinic should his sad reportorial skills at da p.d. be terminated. My favorite laugh out loud part of this article are the two out of focus amatuerish before and after photographs used to illustrate the messy project on page A9. This pair of obfuscated images say it all . Not much discernable difference before or after on the " silver line". The Euclid Avenue Corridor boondoggle appears to date no more than a corporate welfare project for The Cleveland Clinic and University Circle , and the downtown corporate hotels and entertainment activities that will be served by it's riders. Rebirth occurs sometime after a project is completed . Let us then examine this project then with resolute scrutiny. After it's completion and with a cold calculating approach to actual losses and gains , not the lamentable posturing of a for hire civic cheerleader disguised as a reporter............Spring has arrived in Florida's Everglades region , moving northward at a fifteen mile per day clip. Baseball's spring training is just around the corner. No better way to celebrate the approaching season than to savor again the Cleveland American League Teams 2007 brighest moment .A snipe at our most hated baseball rivals from the Bronx. The New York American League baseball franchises general manager Brian Cashman was quoted recently in the New York Times sports pages on Febuary 1 , 2008 in an article by Tyler Kepner . Cashman said " his team was not mentally tough enough to withstand the bug swarm in Cleveland in last fall's division series." Who would have guessed that the once mighty , now flighty NYAL team is still looking for an excuse for their post season failure against our Cleveland American League team ? I would! Blame it on the bugs? Hardly! NYAL pitcher Joba Chamberlain choked mightly tossing two wild pitches in the critical third game Cashman refers to , and the NYAL team batting average after game three was a meger .121. Cashman's efforts as NYAL general manager are laudable , and the teams successfull record speak for itself . Always in contention is the operative goal and NYAL baseball standard. Having to work under the likes of owner George Steinbrenner , and now Steinbrenner's boys Hank and Hal would be enough to give any GM a case of major league willies. Though I must admit to being suprised that a class act like Cashman would resort to such a humiliating description of his teams " not mentally tough" post season play , versus the lack of hits and runs that comprise the games bottom line and box scores. Gnats aside , the Cleveland AL team outplayed the NYAL team . The Cleveland choke against Boston that followed in the AL Championship series , made the victory over the NYAL team for the Division championship the high water mark of Cleveland sports in 2007. As always , anytime that a Cleveland sports team defeats a New York team post season is time to celebrate. It is such ruminations concerning this buggy event that help keep the hot sove burning offseason , and a warm place in our collective Cleveland baseball hearts...... Now for the real hot stove. Culinary moment in time. Simple is best!Baked brisket of beef is a winter favorite , and remember simple is best. Purchase a three to four pound beef brisket placing it in a covered glass baking dish and marinate it with a cup of red wine , a shot of soy sauce , splash of worchestire sauce , some garlic and onion powder , and an assortment of ground white and black pepper. Place the brisket in your refrigerator and turning it over on the half hour for four or five hours , thus coating the brisket. Chop a half of dozen small onions into rounds and cover the bottom of a roasting pan. Add to this a healthy squirt of tomato paste , and the contents of a 12 ounce Boylan soda of your choice. The Boylan cola is the most traditional , though if you are into exotics let your mind roll on. [ It is important to note that using a Boylan soda , or any equivalent soda that has cane sugar , not , corn syrup as a sweeting source is imperative] Place the brisket in the roasting pan with the marinade , cover the baking pan tightly with alluminum foil , and bake for three to four hours in a preheated 325 degree oven. No peek! And I do mean no peek. Leave the roasting pan tightly covered for the duration in the oven for the alloted cooking time! Remove the roast , and let set for a few minutes. Slice crossways against the grain of the meat , and serve with the cola / marinade as a gravy of sorts on the side. I prefer to serve this dish with mashed root vegetables: your choice and combination of ; potato , turnip , rutabaga , parsnip , beets .Braised red cabbage or oven baked bacon and brussel sprouts go well as vegetables. Dijon mustard , a large container of horseradish , or fresh grated horseradish root should be provided as condiments. Fresh baked seeded rye bread , and plenty of cold beverages.....Book Selling Time! Baseball in New York City is a full contact sport in the areas newspapers and their reporters. It is two such reporters in Bill Madden and Moss Klein that covered the NYAL team in the 1970's and 1980's and teamed up to pen ," DAMNED YANKEES, A no- holds barred account of life with " Boss" Steinbrenner". What better way to while away a winter's evening than to read of the surreal accounts of " King George Steinbrenner" , and his affected behavior concerning his beloved NYAL team. Brian Cashman should be given battle pay for working under such an odd over involved baseball owner as Steinbrenner , and his kin ..... I truly hope a silver lining exists for the RTA Euclid Avenue Corridor project silver line. Da p.d.'s Steve Litt I suppose is just doing his job. Hyping up the fiscal figures to fit the criteria of success of the Euclid Avenue Corridor project. Litt was talking to most of us Cleveland lifers when he quoted $4.3 billion in investments as " one big positive number is sure to impress all but the most hardened cynics." Yeah , I admit to be such a hard boiled case of cynicism walking and talking daily.A lifetime spent around Cleveland , Ohio digesting the crackpot lies disguised as journalism served forth by the likes of da p.d. makes one into that very misanthropic , satirical citizen. As for all the big plans that Litt shills about in his Rebirth article, I have a rather ordinary plan that I project as accomplishing everyday that finishes on time and with a mighty flush and flourish.

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Cuyahoga County peddles Breuer Tower , wcpn premature,

Good news for the corner of East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue. Home of the historic Marcel Breuer Ameritrust Tower , and the original Tiffany ceiling Cleveland Trust rotunda that adjoins it.Present owners Cuyahoga County accepted the K & D Group of Willoughby , Ohio bid yesterday and both historic structures survival and potential development seem to have found a lasting peace. K & D plans a mixed office , residential ,and hotel for the site. Congratulations to all involved in this forward thinking project.Like most Cleveland renewal projects , the proof is in the actual puddin' and take. In other words completion spells perfection . More often than not in related proposed projects in Cleveland's past projected means neglected or even abandoned due to a slew of reasons often fiscal or otherwise political. Given the projected shape of the current economy in election year America , we will reserve a wait and see attitude on the future of this historic corner. Secure for now that at least an interested developer has stepped forward and envisions the significance of the two former banking buildings that they are willing to lay down thirty five million dollars for. Seems like quite a bargain to me , given the prominent crossroads that Euclid Avenue and East Ninth Street has functioned as in the history of Cleveland. Congratulations K & D of Willoughby!.... And big thanks go out to mindreader Kim from down near Kentucky way. Kim sent a nice copy of a live Charlie Louvin compact disc recorded last year at Shake It Records! Available from ShakeItUSA.com . It is a fine little disc and representative of Mister Louvin's show at The Beachland ballroom in Cleveland reviewed and posted here on December 20 , 2007. [ see Charlie Louvin...December 20 , 2007 ]. Kim's envelope that he mailed the disc in arrived the very day , this past Monday January 14 , 2008 ,that I rambled on at great length here concerning television star Froggy The Gremlin featured on Andy Devine's children show of my youth Andy's Gang. Kim's mailer had a picture of Buster Brown and his dog Tige. Far out! Buster Brown shoes were the sponsors of various children's television shows in the nineteen fifties , including Andy's Gang......WCPN gave me the listening hour off this morning concerning their choice of topics for the nine to ten a.m. slot. A bit premature to discuss the 2007 Presidential candidates , and their opinions and plans concerning the state of our National economy , and what each candidate plans to do to stimulate the economy . In yesterday's National Section of the January 15 ,2007 New York Times , a one half page article by Edmund L. Andrews was dedicated to this very subject complete with a nifty sidebar featuring a bipartisan view of the eight major candidates and their pictures and encapsulated views : " Candidates Economic Stimulus Plans" . To quote Mister Andrews concerning this matter; " The debate among candidates about stimulus measures is largely academic , because economic conditions are almost sure to be entirely different by the time a new president takes office a little more than a year from now." It is a full year until the new President is to be inaugurated , and I am so tired already of the blather and wind spent and expelled from these career politicians mouths! Bad enough we are always offered the less of two evils in a Presidential election , why should we suffer the inanity of our Public and private media playing into the hands of this deflection mechanism called an election , which only raises hopes to have them later dashed for the citizens who are naive enough to believe the trash talk that belches forth in efforts to gain votes . The true sorry fact is that we are kept so far in the dark in most matters , ecological , International relations , and Domestic political realities and plans , that we might has well be turnips or mushrooms. The real story concerning the election is local native son Dennis Kucinich taking another brave run at the White House office , and the continued resistance he meets along the way. Last evening's Nevada debate that candidate Dennis was eighty sixed from , comes to mind as a worthwhile story to examine on the wcpn airwaves. Not so much as a peep was said concerning this matter during this mornings news on wcpn. Seems that both wcpn and their butt buddies da pd have a very vindictive and mean agenda concerning Dennis Kucinich . Da pd continues to run uncomplimentary pictures of Kucinich , and takes great pleasure in serving up negative bias whenever the opportunity presents itself. Using the words objective and Kucinich in the same news articles printed in da pd , proves an impossible task. Of all the candidates at play for 2008 , Kucinich is the only one that really offers an opportunity for " change". Hillary is status quo to a fault . Obama a fine orator , though I am afraid in need of political seasoning for his own sake and survival. As for the rest of the pack , Edwards would make a great vice president , and forget the Republicans one and all. We blue voters have had enough of the damage inflicted by eighth years of that bushcheney republican flavor! Book Selling Time! Today's choice morsel is a rather tough one to chew these days. The Euclid Avenue Corridor project. Connecting Cleveland's downtown by dedicated bus to the area six odd miles east known as University Circle , the ECP has resulted in a complete aversion of Euclid Avenue for those of us Clevelanders who know better than to wander on to a construction zone that seems to just keep getting farther than closer to completion. We offer today a view of Euclid Avenue from it's true glory days in the nineteenth and twentieth century. Jan Cigliano's easy to read and well illustrated history of Euclid Avenue SHOWPLACE OF AMERICA . No kidding , Euclid Avenue was a most exciting street of my misspent youth in Cleveland , Ohio. My Grandmother resided near the East Cleveland / Cleveland border and taking the number six bus from downtown always was a great learning experience. The corner of East 105 and Euclid was a second City in itself , with hotels , nightclubs , bakeries , delicatessens , bowling alley , fine restaurants , book stores , record stores, twenty four hour drugstore , a long diverse public market , and five movie theatres. Today the Cleveland Clinic has expanded to this corner and a rather dull couple of brutal modern buildings now exist where the big cheeses that run this flesh factory park their fancy sports cars by day , before running back to the cozy confines of the convenient East side suburbs. Oh well , I guess that Cleveland will never really become a comeback sort of City until we find a way to recreate such a diverse crossroads. Most of SHOWPLACE OF AMERICA is dedicated to the fashionable homes nad mansions that lined Euclid Avenue in it's heyday , so do not expect to find much concerning the corner of East 105 and Euclid contained within this volume. That book has yet to be penned , just like the plans for the corner of East Ninth and Euclid . When you see it , believe it. Until then , let your imagination be your guide in this here City on the south shore of Lake Erie.

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