If eating cake at a pre-redesigned Public Square sounds like a fun thing to do, well, you’re in for a real treat today. IT’S CLEVELAND’S BIRTHDAY!
Cleveland — born “Cleaveland” — turns 218 today, but does not look a day over 200.
When asked about the keys to living such a long life, Cleveland said that it’s all about eating well (mostly Barrio happy hour these days) and just staying in the present moment. “I take it as it comes. You can’t let things like the national decline of the manufacturing sector get you down,” Cleveland said, tipping back a Dortmunder Gold. “Or the river! If I had let those fires get to me, oh, boy…”
Cleveland added that personal highlights from the past 218 years include Tom Johnson’s administration, the 1964 NFL Championship, Balloonfest 1986, and the return of LeBron James.
Today’s party, organized by the Early Settlers Association of Western Reserve, takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Public Square. Do bring a gift.
This article appears in Jul 16-22, 2014.
while the absurdity of Balloonfest 86 is one of my very favorite Cleveland historical anecdotes, wasn’t it like, a gigantic environmental disaster? dunno if that qualifies as an “achievement”
What about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? What about Carl B. Stokes as the 1st African American mayor of a major metropolitan city in the U.S.?
Hopefully Cleveland had a very nice birthday.