East Cleveland Suburbs - Click on the area to go directly to it.

Solon	Beachwood	Moreland Hills
Orange	Bainbridge	Pepper Pike

There is a lot to do in Cleveland! If you are looking for culture, we have fantastic museums, a vibrant theater district and great restaurants. If you like sports, we have great parks and 3 pro teams playing all downtown.  So whether you are a local, visitor, or re-locating to the Cleveland area, this page is a great resource for Downtown Cleveland area restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and even has a special section just for kids activities. 

In Cleveland there is something for everyone!  Click on the area below to go directly to it.

Shopping	The Arts	Just for Kids	History
Restaurants	Recreation	Community Events	Emergency Services

Shopping

The Tower City Center provides a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. The Terminal Tower at Public Square, built in 1930, is the architectural symbol of Cleveland. Originally set atop the Union rail terminal, the beautiful ground level space has been transformed into a spacious and beautiful shopping and entertainment complex called the Avenue at Tower City. The floors are marble, the railings are polished brass, and the ceilings are hand-painted. Retail stores are tucked into vintage spaces as well as new wide-open, light and airy lofts. The Ritz Carlton Hotel is attached to Tower City Center and is one of the finest hotels in the City.  In addition to stores, there is a food court and movie theater here as well.

The Galleria at Erieview  in downtown Cleveland is a light-filled shopping arcade, with two stories of shops, services, and restaurants -- even a museum. The Galleria is within walking distance to Cleveland Attractions, such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center .

There are also large shopping malls located on both the East and West sides of Cleveland’s suburbs with such anchor stores as Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstroms, Dillard’s and  Macy’s, Restaurants with national appeal such as The Cheesecake Factory, and California Pizza Kitchen can also be found here along with a variety of highly rated local and regional restaurants and stores.

Restaurants

When it comes to food, Cleveland can hold it own with any city in the country. Cleveland has some of the finest restaurants in the nation run by world renowned chefs such as Michael Symon, the iron Chef himself. Whether you are looking to celebrate a special occasion, entertain clients, or are just looking for a special night out with your spouse or friends, there are some unbelieveable choices. If you are relocating to the area, don’t worry, we promise you won’t starve. In fact, we’re confident you’ll have a new list of great places to eat within no time.

Cleveland offers local restaurants with a unique dining experience and nationally known staples as well.  If you are looking for a fine dining experience in the Warehouse District or Downtown area, Blue Point Grille, rated as Cleveland’s best seafood restaurant every year since it opened, Sans Souci located in the historic Renaissance Cleveland Hotel   overlooking Cleveland’s famed Public Square, Johnny’s Downtown, and Mallorca, renowned for Spanish and Portuguese cuisine and its outstanding service are ones not to be missed. If you are looking to find a fun place for a large group, Frank & Paulys located in Public Square offers authentic Italian food served in family style portions. You can also find Nationally renowned restaurants as well such as Morton’s Steakhouse, and the Hard Rock Café.

Three areas known for their great restaurants in the City of Cleveland are Ohio City, Tremont, and Little Italy. Ohio City is one of Cleveland’s most ethnically diverse neighborhoods home to more than 15 different ethnic groups. It was also recently named as one of the Nation’s top 10 cottage communities. Some of the best known restaurants in Ohio City are the Flying Fig, Great Lakes Brewing Company, and Johnny Mango, one of the first restaurants in Ohio to go smoke-free.

The trendy Tremont district is home to 2 restaurants run by the world famous chef Michael Symon. Lola and Lolita offer a unique dining experience run by the Iron Chef.  Parallax and Fahrenheit also offer a special dining experience and are worth the trip to Tremont.

If you’re looking for a destination place to park, shop, and have a great meal, Cleveland’s Littly Italy has truly special offerings. The Baricelli Inn is a beautiful century landmark located in the heart of Cleveland’s cultural center. The Baricelli Inn offers guests an award-winning dining experience and exceptional overnight accommodations as well if needed. People who have lived in Cleveland their entire lives will tell you not to miss Mama Santa Restaurant., known especially for the pizza and reasonable prices. La Dolce Vita is also a great place for terrific food and great atmosphere. We would be doing a disservice to Little Italy by not mentioning more of the great eating establishments, so here is a more complete guide to eating on in Little Italy for your use.

Recreation

Downtown Cleveland is home to three major sports teams in the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Cleveland Browns, all easily accessible by highway from anywhere in the Metropolitan area. If professional sports isn’t for you, there are a ton of minor league teams to choose from such as the arena league’s Cleveland Gladiators, nearby Lake County Captains, the Indians single A farm team, and the Lake Erie Monsters, a minor league hockey team that plays at the Q arena downtown.

There are several area venues to see some of the hottest recording stars or great entertainment. The Q, the arena hosting the Cavs also plays host to numerous events throughout the year including rock concerts, the circus, and even national events such as the US Figure Skating Championship. The Wolstein Center also offers an indoor arena atmosphere with nationally known productions and entertainment. Both are located in downtown Cleveland. The House of Blues is a place to enjoy fine dining and catch a music act in a smaller venue. Blossom Music Center offers outdoor seating with some of the biggest stars but is located about 40 minutes away from downtown in Cuyahoga Falls.

Cleveland also offers one of the nations largest theater districts. Playhouse Square Center, is the place to go to see National Broadway productions, popular comedians, and children’s shows, suitable for kids of all ages.

The Cleveland Metroparks system is one of the most interconnected and extensive city park systems in the US. It includes the Cleveland Zoo and Rainforest, 7 Golf Courses, and miles of great biking and hiking trails.

The Arts

The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned throughout the world as being one of the Nation’s finest museums. The Cleveland Museum of Art is in the midst of a 10 year $350,000,000 expansion and renovation making it the largest cultural project in Ohio history. Final completion should be in 2012, but will remain open throughout construction.

The Western Reserve Historical Society ( WRHS )http://www.wrhs.org is the largest privately supported regional historical society in the nation. There is no better way to explore the history and culture of Northeastern Ohio than a visit to the WRHS.

The Cleveland Botanical Garden is located in University Circle and is a combination of indoor exhibits, housed in a magnificent glasshouse and ten acres of diverse outdoor gardens, including a special children's garden, Hershey Children’s Garden, one of the only of its kind in the country.

The Cleveland Orchestra is long considered one of America’s great Orchestras and performs at one of the world’s most beautiful concert halls, Cleveland’s historical landmark, Severance Hall.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame may be the most famous landmark in the city. The I.M. Pei-designed glass building dramatically overlooks Lake Erie and is the building usually featured as a backdrop whenever one of the Cleveland sports teams is on national TV. People world-wide recognize the unusually designed building and most visitors make a point to see the Rock Hall.

Here are some popular yearly events:

Cleveland Boat Show - January
National City Home and Garden Show - February
Cleveland International Film Festival - March
I-X Indoor Amusement Park - April
Great American Rib Cook-Off - May
Grand Prix of Cleveland - June
Ingenuity Fest - July
Twinsburg Twins Days - August
Cleveland National Air Show - September
Halloween Events - October
Fabulous Food Show - November
Christmas in Cleveland - December

Local Area Emergency Rooms

Hopefully, you will never need this information, but on occasion, every child needs attention during evening hours when a typical doctors office is closed. There are only a few local area hospitals that have specific pediatric emergency departments on site. It is always best to discuss with your primary care giver in advance where to take your child in case of an emergency, but here are a few just for reference.

Hillcrest Pediatric Emergency Department located at 6780 Mayfield Road in Mayfield (44124).  Their phone number is (440) 312-PEDS (7337).

During the late nineteenth century, Cleveland became an important industrial city because it was located along numerous transportation routes as well as near large deposits of coal and iron ore.  At this time, one of the cities most famous businessman, John D. Rockefeller, founded the Standard Oil Company. At the same time, Samuel Mather began steel production and enhanced Cleveland's economic importance. Cleveland became the industrial center of the Midwest and its citizens were mainly employed in the steel mills.

Some great things happened in the beginning of the 1900’s including the arrival of the Cleveland Indians professional baseball team in 1901. Although they were initially known as other names, they officially changed their name to the Indians in 1915 in honor of Louis Sockalexis, a Penobscot Indian, who played for the team in 1897 and have remained a poplular part of the local culture ever since. During the late 1910s, culture came to Clevealand with the building of the Cleveland Museum of Art and formation of the Cleveland Orchestra. During the first half of the twentieth century, Cleveland played an important role in national politics. In 1924 and in 1936, the Republican Party held its National Convention in the city.

However, during the Great Depression, both the steel and oil companies endured difficult financial times and many businesses laid off workers. By 1933, roughly one-third of Cleveland's workers were unemployed. There were tough times ahead.

Although there has been a tremendous growth of the surrounding suburbs, the city itself, like similar midwestern cities,  has experienced a decline in population over the last 50 years.

Cleveland has had a lot to celebrate in recent years. The professional sports teams in Cleveland have become an increasing popular attraction with the help of new stadiums. This has also significantly helped revitalized the downtown area. The Indians moved into Proressive Field ( formerly know as Jacobs Field ) in 1994. The Cleveland Cavaliers also moved to an adjoining arena that same year. In 1995, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened. The Cleveland Browns moved to a new stadium in 1999.

Cleveland has been named an All-America City on several occasions over the past twenty years and is home to many historic landmarks and cultural institutions such as Terminal Tower, Cleveland Grays Armory, The West Side Market,  Severance Hall, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Botanical Garden, and the Cleveland Metropolitan Parks System (more commonly known around town as "the Metroparks")  which includes the Cleveland Zoo.