Whether it’s a dead-horse topic that is now on its 27th life cycle or the same problem that has festered for years without a solution, life in Cleveland can get old. Maybe it’s time to move along from some conversations and take action on others. Here’s what we’re tired of, and we’re guessing you are too.
Parking
Where it’s available, where it’s not, why it’s too expensive, why there should be another lot closer to that place we want to go to, why asphalt is great, how many steps it is from the parking lot to the front step of a restaurant. This is something Clevelanders get without ever being taught. Credit:Erik Drost/Flickr CCBest Mexican Restaurant: La Plaza Supermarket
13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Lakewood
All it takes to get your hands on what many deem the best Mexican in Cleveland is venturing to this Lakewood supermarket. This grocery store cooks up tacos with barbacoa, carnitas, chorizo and al pastor tacos in front of your eyes. They’re served up as-is, but load up on diced onion, cilantro, guac and salsas to your heart’s desire. In addition to their infamous tacos, you’ll find burritos, quesadillas, tortas and all the Mexican sides you desire. Credit: Scene ArchivesCentering All Social Things Around Drinking
Drinking isn’t the only thing to do with your friends. This city has plenty to offer. Did you know you can actually go to a sporting event without drinking? And a concert? Out to dinner with friends? You don’t need a ‘cocktail hour’ before you go to the rec-league volleyball game, that’s just a fancy word for pre-gaming and you’re not in college anymore. Anyway, there’s always weed. Credit: Emanuel WallaceTim Misny’s Billboards Got Crazier and Crazier
Attorney Tim Misny is so well known in Cleveland that he decided he didn’t need to tell people what he did anymore. He released new billboards simply featuring pictures of his face up close, with a focus on his eyebrows and other billboards saying simply “you know what I do.” We do Tim, we do. And after going mini-viral on Reddit, a lot of the rest of America does too. Credit: Scene ArchivesGuitar Logos
Memo to whoever designs logos for national events in Cleveland: Stop with the guitar logos. NBA All Star Game in town? Guitar logo. National tennis tournament? Guitar logo. Convention? Guitar logo. It was cool when the NBA did it for the 1997 All Star Game. It’s been old pretty much since then. Enough. Credit: Public DomainComplaining About Suburbanites Claiming Cleveland
Can we stop complaining when suburbanites claim Cleveland? Who gives a shit? If they come to the city to work or go to sporting events or root for the sports teams or use the Cleveland airport or go to Cleveland restaurants, or live within 20-30 minutes of the city, they’re Clevelanders if they want to be Clevelanders. Credit:Blake Lewis/Flickr CCComplaining About Justin Bibb’s Travel
The Mayor sometimes travels to other cities and countries. Contrary to popular opinion, it’s not a big hit on the taxpayers (we’re talking thousands of dollars a year) and it’s not just about him. So what if the mayor probably has his eyes set on a bigger gig down the road? So what if raising his profile nationally might help him get there? He’s still raising the city’s profile. There are much bigger issues in this city, let’s move along. Credit: Mark OpreaHopkins Airport on Thanksgiving weekend Credit: Tim Evanson/Flicrk CCAstoria
5417 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
“Astoria is a CLE must-go. You get a traditional European style. The cheese boards and wine are by far my fav. Their cocktail list looked pretty amazing, I’d love to give them a try. They have indoor and outdoor seating. They also have a small market area if you need to pick up a bottle of wine for the home. Can’t wait to go back and try a new board,” Kaylyn G. on Yelp Credit: Scene archivesBeloved Restaurant Closures
From 2020 on, it’s truly been a devastating time for many beloved Cleveland restaurants. We’ve lost so many historical and adored restaurants. We’ve lost Sokolowski’s, Parallax, Lola, Greenhouse Tavern, Flying Fig, Vincenza’s, Felice, Nora, Luchita’s, Minh Anh, Sweet Moses, Crop, Black Pig, The Plum, Spice, Le Bistro Du Beaujolais, Battiste and Dupree’s, Corky & Lenny’s, and more, just to name a few. The restaurant industry is tough. But it’s been especially rough these last few years and we’re sick of it. Show your support to beloved institutions while you can. Credit: Scene ArchivesDonovan Mitchell Going to New York Talk
Challenge to every NBA podcast host and talking head: the Cavaliers won 51 games last year, had the number one overall net rating for most of the season, are projected to finish in the top 4 of a historically tough Eastern Conference and have 3 very good to great players with a solid supporting cast. You don’t need to bring up our best player leaving everytime you talk about our team; he has two years left on his contract. Oh, and the Cavs are pretty damn good. Credit:Erik Drost/Flickr CCHearing About Development in Columbus (and Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati)
We get it. Columbus has a lot more going on than Cleveland in a lot of ways, especially when it comes to mega companies opening mega job centers. We’d like to see that type of development here in Cleveland. Maybe it’ll happen at some point. For the time being, get over it. Just remember, Columbus still has no soul. Credit:Payton Chung/Flickr CC“Wait to buy a beer until inside rocket mortgage ($$$$$)” – @craigsrbutler. Pregame, sneak in a flask, whatever, just figure out a way to avoid paying those exorbitant arena prices. Credit: Scene ArchivesGerrymandering
When you have your say and within hours Republican leaders swear they’re going to do whatever they can to undo what the majority of the state just voted for and you have to believe them because they’re in a gerrymandered supermajority, then you should be sick of it. Credit: Ohio Redistricting CommissionAnkles, elbows, bullpen management, offensive line schemes, time clock management, etc.
Whether it’s the inner workings of a knee or the usage of a left-handed reliever in the 8th inning, Clevelanders have deep and comprehensive knowledge of all things sports that both far surpasses that of the coaches and players currently employed by local teams but also those of every other team, so much so that it’s a real shocker Dwayne from River hasn’t gotten an interview with the Broncos yet. Or the Red Wings, give him a couple of days and he’ll learn hockey. Credit:Erik Drost/Flickr CCNot enough lakefront access
Via Adsvx215/Reddit Credit: Scene ArchivesMistake On the Lake Talk
Oh, you’re not from Cleveland and want to throw some trashtalk our way? The river caught fire. We’re the Mistake on the Lake. Congrats. We’re also one of the hottest residential real estate markets in the country and the cost of living is damn low. Credit: Photo Credit: Erik Drost, Flickr Creative CommonsDome Talk
We are not going to build a dome. It’s not going to happen. Repeat: It’s not going to happen. Unless Jimmy and Dee decide to pony up a billion dollars, the cost for a dome would be sent down the trough to Cleveland and Cuyahoga County taxpayers. Not that Browns fans care. Most of the ones that show up to games don’t even live in the county. Credit:Erik Drost/FlickrCCStaying home on election day
They say decisions are made by those who show up but Clevelanders know that it’s easier to sit on the sidelines and then bitch afterward. Credit: Scene archivesPoliticians Circumventing Voters
It’s bad enough when the electorate fails to show up. It’s doubly worse when our elected officials ignore the will of the people and make end-runs around the voters. Case in point: Cuyahoga County extending a sales tax increase for another 40 years to pay for the new county jail, and lord knows what else, instead of asking the voters if that’s what they want and how they want to spend their money. Credit: Maria Elena Scott