- Best Of Cleveland
- 2012
Best Reason to Love Cleveland
The People
When people from vainer places speak of Midwestern friendliness, it's the template molded right here that they're referring to. True enough, sometimes it takes a visitor to our shores to notice such things, but our region's greatest asset just might not be our lake or our location. It might be the strangers who treat you like friends and the passersby who greet you with a smile for no other reason than that's what we do. Call it a microcosm of the Golden Rule that's in effect here daily, or just call it a damn fine place to spend your life.
Staff Pick: Good Things Come Cheap Here
Best Reason to Come Downtown
Playhouse Square
A jewel in Cleveland's crown since its construction in the early 1920s, Playhouse Square has also spent more than its share of years fighting off vestiges of urban decay that gradually creeped closer to the city center. These days, the theaters stand as an enduring reminder of Cleveland's architectural splendor and its equally rich arts community. The Cleveland Play House's recent slide down Euclid and into the gloriously restored Allen Theatre is but the latest in a long series of improvements that make the district as inviting — and as regal — as any across the land.
1501 Euclid Ave., 216-771-4444, playhousesquare.org
Staff Pick: East Fourth Street
Best Twitterer
@alancoxshow
Like his 100.7 co-host Chad Zumock (who racked up his own load of votes in this category), afternoon funnyman Alan Cox takes his one-liner act 24/7 with his active Twitter presence. Whether putting out contest details for the show or casually riffing on current events, Cox goes at 140 characters with characteristic wit. And unlike some radio personalities who can't get enough of their own voice but ignore fans as if they were required to, Cox doesn't shy away from a little interaction.
Staff Pick: @dlayphoto
Best Reason to Visit the West Side & Best Bargain in Town
The West Side Market
As one of the city's most enduring landmarks celebrates its centennial, it's only fitting that it be honored for old-school prices that match its Old World ambiance. No place but the West Side Market so fully embraces our region's melting pot of cultures and their varied gustatory delights, from its butchers to its fruit stands, and from its breads to its brie. Beginning soon, look for news about a months-long celebration of the market's first 100 years and its dozens of wonderful vendors.
1979 West 25th St., 216-664-3387,
Staff Picks: Best Reason to Visit the West Side: Huntington BeachBest Bargain in Town: Jamie's Flea Market
Best Reason to Visit the East Side
Coventry Village
Our bohemian ground zero has seen its share of change over the years, but it's just now hitting its stride like never before. Still a haven for offbeat merchants and quirky shops, the street has cultivated a fantastic blend of homegrown and outside enterprises in recent years. The result is a district teeming with energy day and night, drawing crowds that span the circle of life.
216-556-0927, coventryvillage.org
Staff Pick: University Circle
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Best Bartender
Rob Turek
Little wonder that the best bartender in town would hail from the hottest spot going: Barley House in the Warehouse District. That's where veteran mixologist Rob "Flair" Turek slings the suds and then some, and where appreciative partiers have taken notice. Why "Flair"? Because the guy knows his drinks and he knows how to dazzle — from fire shows to juggling to sleight of hand that keeps the crowds happy and — we're guessing here — the tips generous.
Staff Pick: Ryan Hardwick of Liquidsixx
p>Best Reason to Visit Akron
Akron Art Museum
In a town on the cusp of a major rebirth, Akron's art museum is an apt symbol of the changes that are well under way. Only a few years removed from a major expansion that more than tripled its size, the former two-room art school is now a Summit County showplace dedicated to the art of the past 150 years, including riveting traveling shows that recently included an acclaimed exhibition of M.C. Escher's most famous works.
1 South High St., Akron,
330-376-9185, akronartmuseum.org
Staff Pick: Highland Square
Best Local Landmark
Terminal Tower
The singular icon of Cleveland's skyline was the second-tallest building in America at the time of its completion back in 1928. And while it's no longer even the tallest building in its own hometown, the Terminal Tower's architectural grandeur has yet to be matched. It's perfectly fitting that the casino of Cleveland's dreams will sit beside the skyscraper that birthed so many dreams.
50 Public Square, 216-621-6060
Staff Pick: Lake Erie
Best Local Radio Station
FM 100.7 WMMS
While it seems most stops on the radio dial are content to murder your brain with Pitbull or let Dave Matthews circa '94 soft-rock you to sleep, WMMS is still the go-to frequency in town for straight-up drums-bass-guitar racket, both the classics and the fresh-baked tunes. Many things have changed in the Rock & Roll Capital, but the Buzzard keeps thundering on.
Staff Pick: 91.1 FM WRUW
Best Sports Talker
Tony Rizzo
The longtime sports guy at Fox 8 TV has settled into a steady groove as the leading man of WKNR's weekday-morning Really Big Show. Rizzo's is a rare gift: to blast viewers daily with his over-the-top enthusiasm ("It's good to be alive!") and unabashed homerism, yet not come off in the least like an obnoxious bastard. That role more often goes to his sidekick Aaron Goldhammer, the resident cynic who gives the show its welcome symmetry.
On AM 850 WKNR
Staff Pick: Chuck Booms
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Best Sportscaster
Jim Donovan
More than just a fine sportscaster and play-by-play man, Jim Donovan has also proven himself to be one hell of a man — weathering rounds of chemotherapy in recent years and still cheerfully serving up sports to a hungry and appreciative audience. More than a quarter-century into his stint here, the transplanted Bostonian is pure Cleveland now, from his straight-talking nightly sportscasts to his spine-tinglingly bonkers play-by-play for a Browns team that owes him much more to cheer about.
On WKYC-TV Channel 3
Staff Pick: Jim Donovan
Best TV Personality
Dick Goddard
Now careening past the octogenarian threshold, Dick Goddard will inevitably pass on through the great nimbus cloud in the sky someday, and still he'll be a safe bet to sweep this category. Beloved by generations of Clevelanders, the unassuming Fox 8 weatherman doesn't have the hottest gams or the prettiest smile you'll see on Cleveland TV's bluescreens, but he's got expertise that others don't and an easy manner that's ingratiating as ever. Bonus points for Goddard's dogged efforts in animal-rights activism, and bonus wishes that his long-range forecast includes many more productive years.
On Fox 8 TV
Staff Pick: Carl Monday
Best TV News Team
FOX 8
Northeast Ohio television news has weathered a recent shakeup the likes of which it hasn't seen since Sharon Reed got nekkid on camera in the name of art a few distant-feeling years ago. But as Mark Nolan and Romona Robinson and Reed herself jump ship from their longtime homes, the station that's remained steadiest through it all is the one that won voters' hearts this year. Fox 8, with its blend of lively new faces — Elisa Amigo, Kristi Capel, and Allie LaForce, among others — and legends like Dick Goddard and Wilma Smith, adds up to a team that appeals to a wide range of generations. Toss in reliable and earthy vets like Lou Maglio and the ever-ebullient Stefani Schaefer, and you've got a lineup that's unrivaled by anyone around. And we didn't even get to Kenny Crumpton.
Staff Pick: Romona Robinson & Denise Dufala
Best Famous Clevelander
Drew Carey
If fame has changed Drew Carey at all, his bank account is the only obvious sign of it. The hometown comic whose shtick started with a suit & tie still makes his living that way: as host of the enduringly popular game show The Price Is Right. An outspoken Libertarian and a ravenous fan of soccer — and a team owner, to boot — Carey may be a Hollywood guy these days, but his heart and his house still reside in Old Brooklyn.
Staff Pick: Machine Gun Kelly
Best Sustainability Champ
Jonathon Sawyer
Acclaimed as one of America's best young chefs, Sawyer is also one of its most enviro-friendly. The man behind the twin downtown dynamos Greenhouse Tavern and Noodlecat is a staunch advocate of locally sourced food — and of the people who grow it. Those priorities carry over in his work in the kitchen, for which he has earned recognition for owning Ohio's first nationally certified Green Restaurant. With a name like Greenhouse Tavern, you were expecting something else?
Greenhouse Tavern: 2038 East Fourth St., 216-443-0511, thegreenhousetavern.com;
Noodlecat: 234 Euclid Ave.,
216-589-0007, noodlecat.com
Staff Pick: Stephanie Spear of EcoWatch
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Best Politician & Best Do-Gooder
Dennis Kucinich
The clock is ticking on one of Cleveland's most beloved, most polarizing lawmakers. The longtime U.S. Congressmen was recently unseated from the Democratic Party ticket as a result of redistricting that turned his home turf into a toothpick swatch of land dominated by his longtime Toledo colleague-turned-nemesis, Marcy Kaptur. Dennis! has yet to reveal what do-gooder plans he might have in store once he's bumped from his Washington roost. The smart money's on a lot of cable TV face time and other ways to keep his ever-smiling mug front and center.
Staff Picks: Best Politician: Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald; Best Do-Gooder: Cleveland City Councilman Brian Cummins
Best Troublemaker
Jimmy Dimora
The longtime toast of the county Democratic Party looks more like burnt toast these days. Throughout the corruption trial that shocked and awed us through the early weeks of this year, the blustery and brash Dimora of days gone by was replaced by a clean-shaven, stoic-looking man who declined to speak up for himself when his opportunity came. Already behind bars, Jimmy is left to count down the days to his sentencing, when he can look forward to more years of lockup than he has left on this earth. While we prefer our troublemakers a bit more civic-minded, we're thankful for the sideshow all the same.
Staff Pick: State Senator Nina Turner
Best Radio Show & Best Radio Personality
Alan Cox
Now two years into his afternoon drive show on WMMS, Alan Cox is flanked by his trusty sidekicks Chad Zumock and Erika Lauren, but he continues to be the main draw. From his eye on celebrity buffoonery to his celebration of women's undergarments, Cox spouts all the outrageous crap you were already thinking but were way too shy to say. Is it creepy? Oh sure, but no more so than what's on any other guy's mind. Just be glad they don't all get a microphone.
Weekday afternoons on 100.7-FM WMMS
Staff Picks: Best Radio Show: The Alan Cox Show; Best Radio Personality: Mark Nolan
Best Author
Les Roberts
If this particular category lacks an air of suspense, the winner's novels more than compensate. Long regarded as a literary all-star, Roberts made his bones in Hollywood, of all places — as producer for the original Hollywood Squares and classic comedies from Andy Griffith to The Lucy Show. But it's his series of mysteries revolving around Cleveland everyman Milan Jacovich that have endeared Roberts to the thousands of readers who hang on his every word. With novel names like The Cleveland Creep, Full Cleveland, and We'll Always Have Cleveland, there's no mystery as to where Roberts' heart lies either.
Staff Pick: Dan Chaon
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Best Filmmaker
Robert Banks
Cleveland native Robert Banks has racked up a lot of street cred over the course of his career — props both for his oeuvre and the extreme lengths he'll go for his art. Since 1989, he's made 19 films, mostly short experimental movies that would never fly at the corner metroplex. But Banks refuses to sell out and take his talents to Hollywood, a bold stance that's cost him financially over the years. Nonetheless, he's still Cleveland's own stubborn genius.
Staff Pick: Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter)
Best Local Neighborhood
Tremont
Perhaps the best thing one can say about Cleveland is that this category now has tons of competition. For the better part of 20 years, Tremont was the only 'hood that sprang to mind when talk turned to the top nooks in the city. Now we're thriving from Gordon Square to Waterloo, with plenty of action in between. But the happeningest hub of Cleveland's neighborhood life continues to be charming, welcoming Tremont. With its blend of modern townhomes and historic houses and apartments, its quirky businesses, thirst-quenching bars, and destination restaurants, it's little wonder that one of the first settlements in Cleveland is still the place everybody wants to settle.
Staff Pick: Ohio City
Best Area You'd Like to See Revitalized
The Flats
Years of wishing are starting to pay off: The Flats, known either as the beating heart of Cleveland's industrial heyday or the beating heart of its hedonistic 1980s and '90s, has been a flatlined organ of downtown Cleveland for going on 20 years now. But unmistakable signs of life are emerging on both sides of the Cuyahoga: The Greater Cleveland Aquarium has made the West Bank a destination again, and the Improv has made a glorious new home just up the street in the former Sugar Warehouse. Across the water, a bold new plan is under way, including a highrise that will welcome a mix of residential, commercial, and restaurant space, and parkland that will open up breathtaking views that have been off limits for far too long. There's a treasure still buried under years of grime and soot, but the plan is in place to resurrect it.
Staff Pick: Waterloo Road
Best Company to Work For
Progressive Insurance
It says a lot about the way you run your business that one of the world's most historically mundane careers — what child doesn't dream of life as an insurance salesman? — also gets the nod for best place to work. No small amount of credit goes to the lavish Mayfield Village campus CEO Peter Lewis has created for his empire — the kind of city-within-an-office confines more commonly associated with West Coast internet geeks. But while tech bubbles have a way of bursting such playgrounds, the world will always need insurance.
300 North Commons Blvd., Mayfield Village, 800-776-4737, progressive.com
Staff Pick: Scene!
Best New Attraction
The Greater Cleveland Aquarium
Open since January, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium has taken the improbable — a state-of-the-art marinescape embedded in an historic powerhouse?! — and made it a sparkling reality. With exhibits devoted to everything from Ohio's own aquatic life to the most exotic of ocean-dwellers, the aquarium has stoked the region's passion for aquatic study and sent the Flats on a clear course for rebirth. Now that's a fish story of the highest order.
2000 Sycamore St., 216-862-8803, greaterclevelandaquarium.com
Staff Pick: Horseshoe Casino
Best New Place to Live
Ohio City
Credit a handful of brave entrepreneurs for making Ohio City's Market District the hotspot it has become. For decades, a stretch of glorious architecture mostly sitting in ruin was accompanied by a bustling West Side Market. Now those barren storefronts are filling back up with a welcome mix of local shops and restaurants — with more on the way this spring. Naturally, a hub of day- and nightlife needs to accommodate a hub for residential living. As plans for new and reclaimed housing come into view, Ohio City's boom should only continue.
Staff Pick: Battery Park
Best Suburb
Lakewood
Nowhere in Northeast Ohio do so many cultures mesh so harmoniously as they do in Lakewood, Cleveland's suburban sister to the west. It's the perfect gathering place thanks in no small part to its wonderful restaurants, its rollicking bars and clubs, and its quirky small businesses that line every major street. And it's the perfect place to call home thanks to its bountiful and hardy old homes, for its overachieving schools, its bucolic parks, and its pervasive sense of neighborhood pride and unity. It's why citizens young and old settle into Lakewood like a comfy chair.
Staff Pick: Cleveland Heights
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Best College or University
Cleveland State
For years, Cleveland State's sparse amenities and commuting collegians lumped it somewhere behind various other, more conventional bastions of higher learning when it came down to the ol' popularity meter. But with Cleveland State taking a lead role in the rebirth that's enveloping downtown, its status is rising accordingly. Thanks to millions of dollars invested in new buildings and upgrades, and a sharpened focus on developing a true campus atmosphere for its students, the land of the Vikings is a proud one indeed.
2121 Euclid Ave., 216-687-2000, csuohio.edu
Staff Pick: Oberlin College
Best Place to Take Out-of-Town Visitors
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
There's no denying it: Visitors from Chico to China invariably come to our fertile shores to see the Rock Hall more than any other treasure we've got. And they're never disappointed. From its breathtaking perch on North Coast Harbor to its still-stately/spacey I.M. Pei design to its engrossing, interactive exhibits on rock & roll both old and new, Cleveland's Rock Hall could be the single coolest attraction anywhere in America, let alone on the North Coast.
1100 Rock and Roll Blvd.,
216-781-7625, rockhall.com
Staff Pick: The West Side Market
Best Comedian
Mike Polk
Cleveland's best comedian doesn't much care for the world of stand-up. Mike Polk makes his beer money as an internet humor writer, and he dabbles in some of the oddest, most hilarious videos you're likely to YouTube (try his feline farce "I'm a Stupid Cat" or his paean to Browns fandom "Factory of Sadness"). A former leader of the Last Call Cleveland comedy troupe that rose out of Kent State more than a decade ago, Polk still performs with the lads on occasion — and still reprises his turn as the Cuyahoga Messiah in the not-quite-seasonal-classic musical Michael Stanley Superstar! As for stand-up? He'll step under the lights every now and again, never giving himself the credit he deserves.
Staff Pick: Mike Polk
Best Park
Edgewater Park
An expansive stretch of soft-sand beach skirted by acres of grassy fields — how many urban centers boast such amenities virtually within walking distance of downtown? For being an utter escape from the rat race that's so ridiculously easy to escape to, Edgewater — now known in government parlance as Cleveland Lakefront State Park — more than earns its nod. As nearby Battery Park and Gordon Square grow up, Edgewater's value should continue to rise.
Staff Pick: Mentor Headlands
Best Place to Hold a Wedding
Windows on the river
Since 1990, this full-service events company has been a mainstay of the Powerhouse on the Flats' West Bank. Each of its banquet rooms offer gorgeous views of downtown and together can accommodate up to 1,000 guests. The arrival of Cleveland's aquarium on the ground floor has only raised the profile of this prime spot for swapping nuptials. Together, they're breathing life back into the Cuyahoga's West Bank.
2000 Sycamore St. in the Powerhouse, 216-861-1445, windowsontheriver.com
Staff Pick: The Arcade
Best Place for Peace & Quiet
Cleveland Metroparks
Whether your version of peace and quiet is fly fishing in the Rocky River, horseback riding through a densely wooded bridle trail, cycling the day away, or just getting lost in your thoughts in the bosom of Mother Nature, Cleveland's Emerald Necklace is the answer every time. With reservations throughout Northeast Ohio, your great escape is never far away.
Staff Pick: Lake View Cemetery
Best Hangout
Happy Dog
A hipster heaven for the near West Side, the Happy Dog specializes in vintage 1950s ambiance — that's real vintage, not reconstituted, mind you — and outrageous gourmet hot dogs served up with any number of 50 (fifty!) gourmet toppings. That, and a beer list that extends to Lakewood, are reason enough to call the Dog your favorite hang. Add in regular live music from up-and-coming bands, book events, cheesy movie nights, classical music excursions, and pinball tournaments, and you'll wish you could take this dog home.
5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474,
Staff Pick: Coventry Village
Best Place to Get Wild & Best Place to Be Seen
Barley House
Consider this West Sixth locale — that of the mini-kilted ladies, flame-spitting bartenders, and occasional Kardashian sighting — the booze-quickened heartbeat of the Warehouse District. Where other clubs wax and wane on the seasons of fad, the Barley House is always a destination — for everyone from your 9-to-5 office drones looking to pour out a paycheck, right on up the social ladder to Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving. It's shoulder to shoulder every weekend, meaning it's the perfect place to practice your vodka-enriched dance moves — and be sure the whole room is watching.
1261 West Sixth St., 216-623-1700, barleyhousecleveland.com
Staff Picks: Best Place to Get Wild: Whiskey Island; Best Place to Be Seen:; East Fourth Street
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Best Place for a First Date
Cleveland Museum of Art
Where else can you fake your way through being a citizen of culture without paying through the nose for it? Always free and always an endless kaleidoscope of mankind's most beautiful output through the ages, the art museum offers something for every taste — and provides an ideal window into the soul of your potential soulmate. You say your date is taken by the metaphors of Georgia O'Keeffe? Better brace yourself for a lifetime of deep discourse. More in tune with the action painting of Jackson Pollock? Looks like you've got a livewire on your hands. Bonus points await you if you've memorized a poem you can bust out by Wade Lagoon.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org
Staff Pick: Little Italy
Best Place to Take the Kids
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
You ever schlepped your family to the zoo in some other cut-rate metropolis around the country? Try it once, and you'll fall in love with Cleveland's zoo all over again. What sets ours apart? Its sprawling grounds and countless exhibits that truly feel one with their surroundings. There's the sheer mind-boggling breadth of different creatures awaiting your visit, the countless kiddie attractions that keep the fun rolling long after the bears and giraffes lose their charm. There's the all-weather appeal, from bucolic summer days spent strolling the park to cozy winters defrosting in the RainForest. And there's a zillion other reasons to love Cleveland's zoo, but maybe none so potent as this: A year-long family membership will set you back no more than what you'd blow on one forgettable day at the movies.
3900 Wildlife Way, 216-661-6500,
Staff Pick: Cedar Point
Best Place for People Watching
Public Square
Though it goes quiet after quitting time, midday at Public Square is a Whitman's Sampler of humanity — from professionals to panhandlers to protesters to tourists, and every flavor in between. The nightlife that's spilling out of nearby East Fourth Street and up to Euclid Avenue only increases the likelihood you'll find outrageous eye candy anywhere you look. Whether you dig into that candy is up to you.
230 West Huron Rd., 216-623-4750,
Staff Pick: Tower City
Best Day Trip
Cedar Point
Perhaps no place on earth does time fly more quickly than it does at Cedar Point. A summertime fun magnet for the Midwest and beyond, the park is tireless in its quest to be the best at everything it does — and it's got the credentials to support the claim. More — and better — roller coasters than anybody else, gorgeously maintained grounds, friendly workers, and no shortage of indoor attractions make the Point a lock for every summer itinerary.
One Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky,
419-627-2350, cedarpoint.com
Staff Pick: The Erie Islands
Best School District
Solon City Schools
Way over yonder to the East, there's a mythic place where students routinely test well above state requirements, the sports teams constantly challenge for big-school state championships, and the cafeterias serve only the most succulent dishes. We're talking about the Solon City Schools. Every year, the suburb either makes the short list for all types of awards or walks away with the top titles. But the district's overall excellence was sealed when Newsweek listed it among the best in the nation. We're not actually sure about the food, but considering how everything else is trending there, we're figuring it kills too.
Staff Pick: Solon
Best Website
clevescene.com
We here at Scene FunTyme Enterprises would like to thank the many voters who vaulted us to the top of the heap in this category, perhaps not least because they were forced to stare at our humble site as they cast their votes. No matter — we'll choose to take it as validation that Clevelanders love keeping tabs on what's going on in their world each day, and that it sure beats focusing on the crap they're supposed to be doing instead.
Visit us at clevescene.com and follow the foolishness via Facebook (/clevelandscene) and Twitter (@cleveland_scene)
Staff Pick: clevescene.com
Best Entrepreneur & Best Northeast Ohio Success Story
Michael Symon
As ascensions to superstardom go, Michael Symon is closing in on Oprah status. A native of North Olmsted who first cooked in a Lakewood Geppetto's, Symon went on to become a savior of Cleveland dining when he opened Lola back in 1997. That was followed, in no particular order, by Lolita, and by his B Spot burger joints, and by Iron Chef fame, and by countless instances of cheerfully tolerating Rachael Ray for prolonged periods of time — plus books and magazines and accolades and now his own TV show, ABC's The Chew. That a hardworking, easy-smiling, heartily laughing local lad could make it so big is good news for him and great news for the town he so adores.
Staff Picks: Best Entrepreneur: Danielle DeBoe (of Made in the 216, Dredgers Union); Best Northeast Ohio Success Story: Machine Gun Kelly
Best Kept Secret
Cleveland's Parks
We'll consider this one a worthy shout-out to everything from the sprawling Metroparks to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, from our state park at Mentor Headlands to our state park at Edgewater, and to all the many greenspaces in between and beyond. We are blessed to live within minutes of the heart of the action — and just as blessed to be so very near to nature's blissful serenity.
Staff Pick: Rocky River Park
Best Blog
Waiting for Next Year
Dozens of local sports blogs have come and gone since having a blog became the thing to do. One of the first — and best — remains. Waiting For Next Year's built a stable of reliable writers over the past five years, posting analysis and news every day on Cleveland's favorite forlorn teams. Having long outgrown their armchair-quarterbacking roots, they now hold credentials to cover the Cavs just like any other mainstream media outlet.
Staff Pick: clevelandfrowns.com
Best Facebook Page
Unmiserable Cleveland
It's not that we all need reminders or slogans to realize that we're living in the city Paris wishes it could be; it's just that there's too much awesomeness happening at any given moment to keep track of it all. Enter the Unmiserable Cleveland page, a clearinghouse of news, events, and links to keep you abreast of the greatest in the Forest City from its biggest fans — you.
facebook.com/unmiserablecleveland
Staff Pick: Scene
- Best Of Cleveland
- 2012
Best Team to Root For
Cleveland Browns
Even the Browns' decade-long streak of unrivaled incompetence has somehow failed to dampen Cleveland's passion. It's a Browns town, first and always, despite our better judgment. We'll talk about free agent wide receivers while the Cavs are playing, we'll debate which quarterback to draft while the Tribe is clinging to first place, and we'll bitch about every loss once the season is under way. Then we'll rinse and repeat next year.
Staff Pick: Cleveland Indians
Best Team
Cleveland Indians
Despite a payroll smaller than your weekly grocery budget and 17 surgeries for Grady Sizemore, the Tribe managed to field a competitive and entertaining squad last year. The Wahoos even pushed for a playoff spot before fizzling away and finishing two games under .500. Led by sluggers Carlos Santana, Shin-Soo Choo, and Asdrubal Cabrera, along with promising youngsters like second baseman Jason Kipnis, there's renewed hope at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.
Staff Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers
Best High School Team
St. Ignatius
The Wildcats' football and soccer teams deserve equal recognition, as each squad added to the Jesuit high school's athletic résumé in 2011 with state championship trophies. That's 11 titles for Coach Chuck Kyle on the gridiron since 1988, and five for Coach Mike McLaughlin on the pitch since 2004. Add in a hockey team that won the state title in 2010 and rode out an undefeated regular season this year, and you have a school dominating the high school sports landscape.
Staff Pick: St. Edward High School
Best Athlete & Best Cavaliers Player
Kyrie Irving
A former Cleveland Cavalier who shall not be named won this category multiple years in a row. Kyrie Irving is doing everything he can to help us forget about him. The stat geeks around the NBA will tell you Irving is having one of the best rookie seasons in NBA history. They ain't telling you anything your eyes don't already know. The No. 1 draft pick out of Duke is also making the depleted Cavs competitive and watchable almost entirely by himself — often willing them to win in the game's waning moments on nights they had no business hanging close. He's well on his way to winning Rookie of the Year, and the accolades, the glimmers of greatness, and his delightfully humble nature don't show any signs of letting up soon.
Staff Picks: Best Athlete: Kyrie Irving; Best Cavaliers Player: Kyrie Irving
Best Indians Player
Asdrubal Cabrera
It's hard to pick what was more impressive about the young Tribe shortstop in 2011 — his dazzling, highlight-worthy glove skills or the 25 homers he smacked in a breakout power year. Tribe fans, of course, will joyously take both. 'Drubs has also solidified himself as that rarest of all beasts: the Cleveland Indian who lives up to his promise without getting horrifically injured immediately after.
Staff Pick: Asdrubal Cabrera
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Best Browns Player
Joe Thomas
Even with a stronger batch of candidates, the Browns Pro Bowl offensive lineman would still win. Capable of making even the most pedestrian of running backs look successful behind his blocking, Thomas also protects whatever quarterback happens to be standing behind him year after year with no complaints. Plus, he loves fishing and hunting and grilling his kill, just like any proper NFL lineman should.
Staff Pick: Joe Thomas
Best Sports Executive
Dan Gilbert
The outspoken owner of the Cavaliers might irk sports fans across the country with his very public comments and open letters, but he gets nothing but love in his adopted hometown. Mainly, fans love him because he's transparently passionate about the team and willing to open up his deep pockets to back it up. Also exemplary is his overall investment in Cleveland, from the jobs his Quicken Loans empire have brought here to his tenacity in delivering a first-class casino to the North Coast. If ever a billionaire could make Cleveland think he's a son of the Cuyahoga, it's Gilbert.
Staff Pick: Dan Gilbert
Best Minor League Team
Akron Aeros
The Tribe's AA affiliate just a short jaunt down I-77 has had more success than the big league club recently, making the Eastern League Championship Series five years running from 2005-2009 and winning it all twice. Sporting one of the best ballparks in the minors, rock-bottom ticket prices, and a parade of creative promotions, the Aeros offer the best chance to catch tomorrow's major league stars before the Tribe trades them to the Yankees.
Staff Pick: Canton Charge
Best College Team
Ohio State Buckeyes
Buckeye fans think OSU is the best team in the nation every year. In the coming seasons, they could be right. New football coach Urban Meyer rode to the rescue after Jim Tressel's unceremonious exit; now the tattoo scandal looks to be only a blip on the radar of Ohio State's Big Ten dominance. It's 2012, and Michigan still sucks. O-H...
Staff Pick: Akron Zips Basketball
Best Place to See a Game & Best Place for a Sweaty Date
Progressive Field
Progressive Field is almost 20 years old now, but the ballpark looks like it just opened yesterday. And no matter the quality of the team it puts on the field, at least the Indians work to make the game-day experience a home run. Comparatively cheap beer, cheap tickets, plentiful food options, and a packed promotional schedule (fireworks again!) mean Progressive Field's the summer spot to hit whether it's family day or date night, whether you're analyzing pitch selection or simply trying to get a good glimpse of Grady Sizemore's butt.
Staff Picks: Best Place to See a Game:Progressive Field; Best Place for a Sweaty Date:The Towpath Trail
Best Place for Downhill Skiing
Boston Mills
Ohio's slopes might not hold the allure of Colorado's, but they're nothing to kick snow at. Boston Mills isn't merely conveniently located within 30 minutes of just about every winter sports lover in Northeast Ohio; the powder playground offers eight trails that cover all skill levels, from newbie ski bunnies to downhill daredevils.
7100 Riverview Rd., Pennisula,
330-657-2334, bmbw.com
Staff Pick: Boston Mills
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Best Place for Running, Best Place for Biking & Best Place for Hiking
Cleveland Metroparks
The Emerald Necklace offers everything the outdoor lover could desire, whether that's a smooth paved trail for a quick jog or a challenging uphill climb that will make your calves beg for mercy. Encompassing almost 21,000 acres and stretching from east to west to south, one of Cleveland's most treasured gems is quite literally in everybody's backyard.
Staff Picks: Best Place for Running: The Towpath Trail; Best Place for Biking and Best Place for Hiking: Cleveland Metroparks
Best Bowling Alley
The Corner Alley
East Fourth street may be reknowned for its collection of eclectic restaurants and bars, but the burgeoning neighborhood has become an epicenter of entertainment, in large part thanks to the Corner Alley. This isn't your dad's bowling joint, though he probably would have come here if it existed back in his day. Part bar, part restaurant, and 16 lanes of awesome, it's the perfect spot to knock a few back and knock a few down.
402 Euclid Ave., 216-298-4070, thecorneralley.com
Staff Pick: Mahall's Twenty Lanes
Best Place to Play Darts
The Harbor Inn
The Harbor's been slinging shots and beers to thirsty Clevelanders for over a hundred years. Since 1969, it's also been the unofficial home of darters in Cleveland. That was the inaugural year of the Cleveland Darter Club — the first steel-tip dart group in the city. The Harbor Inn was an early booster, hosting tournaments as the group swelled and the city of Cleveland helped usher the game into the country's consciousness. Today, it's still the best place to throw, with nice boards, plenty of space, and, of course, the best bar owner in town, Wally Pisorn.
1219 Main Ave., 216-241-3232
Staff Pick: The Harbor Inn
Best Place to Play Billiards
Fox & Hound
A quick game of backroom pool on one of those miniature barroom tables is fine in a pinch. But for legitimate billiard action — the kind that doesn't require use of the bent short stick at an acute angle to avoid the wall that's conveniently located two feet from the table — Fox & Hound is the destination. Thousands of square feet are filled with immaculate regulation tables and — gasp — new, straight cue sticks, not to mention plentiful supplies of booze, or what we like to call aiming fuel.
8735 Day Dr., Parma,
440-842-8840; and 1479 S.O.M. Center Rd., Mayfield Heights,
440-646-9078; foxandhound.com
Staff Pick: The Corner Alley
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Best Social Club
Prosperity Social Club
It says so right in the name, after all. Take an aesthetic trip back in this wonderfully less-than-trendy Tremont hangout, a place that'll make you feel like you just walked into the basem*nt of the coolest grandma ever. The vibe here is made for chatting, which is why the two small TVs are tuned to an old movie channel and old board games are stacked on a back table. Put the phone down for a second and enjoy the company. It's a social club, after all.
1109 Starkweather Ave., 216-937-1938,
Staff Pick: Cleveland Plays
Best Beach
Mentor Headlands
Boasting a mile of gorgeous beachfront (the largest in all of Ohio) and 120 total acres of natural serenity, Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor is the next best thing to hopping a plane south. Better, actually, because you don't actually have to go south. The park is Northeast Ohio's one-stop shop for swimming, tanning, fishing, picnicking, hiking, and, most important: sitting around working on that pasty tan.
9601 Headlands Rd., Mentor,
dnr.state.oh.us/parks/headlnds/tabid/742/default.aspx
Staff Pick: Huntington Beach
Best Place for Rock Climbing
Cleveland Rock Gym
The best indoor climbing to be found in Northeast Ohio is out in Euclid at the Cleveland Rock Gym, which caters to experts and novices alike. Thirty-foot-high walls and 12-foot boulders await the vertically inclined, though equipment rentals and intro classes are the way to get started on your adventure into the sky. Be sure to call ahead for an appointment, because the Cleveland Rock Gym is pretty popular these days.
21200 St. Clair Ave. Building B3,
Euclid, 216-692-3300, clevelandrockgym.com
Staff Pick: Whipps Ledges
Best Place for Cross-Country Skiing
Chapin Forest
The Chapin Forest Reservation in Kirtland covers 390 acres, plenty of ground that (usually) becomes a beautiful, snow-dusted landscape come winter. The Lake Metroparks expanse is a sight to see, a mission that's best accomplished by cross-country skiing its six miles of trails. Open daily until 9 p.m., the ski lodge rents all the equipment you need, and the helpful staff keep a full mile of trail lit up into the nighttime hours if you can't make it out before the sun goes down.
10090 Chillicothe Rd. (Rt. 306),
Kirtland, 440-256-3810,
Staff Pick: Big Met Golf Course
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Best Recreation League
Cleveland Plays
Those youthful dreams of making it to the majors have been dashed, but that doesn't mean Clevelanders can't channel their inner athlete as a weekend warrior. Offering co-ed leagues in just about any sport you can think of, Cleveland Plays is the best way around to meet new friends or gather old ones while also getting in a little cardio. And nobody's gonna hold it against you if the post-game trip to the bar is your top priority.
Staff Pick: Lakewood Recreation
Best Fitness Club
Fitworks
Clevelanders like to eat and drink. A lot. But to maintain our dashing figures after those activities, we must hit the gym and pump those weights and spin those spinners, lest we begin looking like those schlubs from Detroit. With six locations dotted from east to west across Cleveland, Fitworks is the convenient venue for your slim-down and toning needs. Memberships are cheap, classes are plentiful, and no one stares too hard if you're still sporting a set of D-cup moobs.
Staff Pick: Lakewood YMCA
Best Skate Park
Lakewood Skate Park
Lakewood rose up early, compared to other communities, in building a skate park for its kids. Since 2005, it's been a bastion of safe skating, which is all the more impressive considering the struggles endured to bring it to completion. Though approved in the late 1990s, committee hearings, obstinate politicians, polls, and faux citizen outrage delayed the project a decade. Boy, do they look dumb now.
14530 Lake Ave., Lakewood,
216-272-8603, lakewoodskaters.org
Staff Pick: Lakewood Skate Park
Best Race
Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon
Endless 5Ks dot the running calendar throughout the year, but there's only one race that captures Cleveland's complete attention, and it's the one that lasts 26.2 miles. Whether you're actually racing (kudos to you), watching the world-class talent that arrives in town to sprint for a couple of hours, or simply interested in counting the number of bloody socks, it's the pavement-pounding event of the year.
Staff Pick: Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon
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Best Golf Course
Big Met
It's no wonder that Big Met is among the most popular courses in Northeast Ohio. For one, it's centrally located, but the reasons don't begin or end there. If it's not the most challenging course out there, it is equally beloved by weekend duffers and low-handicappers alike. And because Big Met is run by the Cleveland Metroparks, the course is well-kept and light on the budget, an unmistakable bargain in a world of overpriced greens fees.
4811 Valley Parkway, Fairview Park, 440-331-1070, clemetparks.com
Staff Pick: Sleepy Hollow
Best Community Recreation Center
Westlake Recreation Center
This western suburb didn't screw around when it erected the city's rec center. Amenities in the impressive, vast complex include five pools, two basketball courts, a 13,500-square-foot fitness facility, indoor track, enough exercise equipment to make Jack LaLanne jealous, and a full array of classes for kids and adults. It's enough to actually make you want to work out. Seriously.
28955 Hilliard Blvd., Westlake, 440-808-5700, cityofwestlake.org/recreation/reccenter.aspx
Staff Pick: Cleveland Heights Community Center
Best Local Sports Tradition
Tailgating
If the Browns played football as well as Browns fans tailgate, they'd win the Super Bowl every year. The Muni Lot is ground zero for every smoked, grilled, canned, bottled, bonged, funneled, or dipped parking lot delicacy, all served amid a stable of rabid Browns fans arriving in custom-made Browns buses, trucks, vans, and cars. It's fun, it's raucous, and clearly, it's the best part of every football Sunday.
Staff Pick: Tailgating
Best Batting Cages & Best Mini Golf
Swings-n-Things
Batting cages are an endangered breed these days, and those that remain tend to be fancy indoor setups focused on using technology to make little Johnny the next Albert Pujols. Thankfully, Swings-n-Things is still around for the rest of us. Because not only do they still offer the old-fashioned outdoor batting cages with clunky helmets and yellow balls, but they also specialize in putt-putt ... and ice cream ... and arcade games ... and go-karts. It's an easy one-stop date night, weekend outing with the kids, or an outlet for all that stress at work.
8501 Stearns Rd., Olmsted Township, 440-235-4420, sntfun.com
Staff Picks: Best Mini Golf: Swings-n-Things; Best Batting Cages: Fielder's Choice
Best Place for Birdwatching
Holden Arboretum
From meadow nesters to woodland migrants and waterfowl, the Arboretum has it all. There are 13 trails ranging from easy to rugged winding through different habitats — and spring is the perfect time to catch a flurry of feathered activity. For beginners, there are early morning bird walks with the Cleveland Audubon Society through April and May, and year-round classes on everything from sorting out birdsongs to building birdhouses are bound to get your inner-ornithologist chirping. The website features an up-to-date list of bird bios for the winged creatures currently frequenting the Arboretum.
9500 Sperry Rd., Kirtland,
440-946-4400, holdenarb.org
Staff Pick: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Best Coach
Byron Scott
The Wine and Gold are in the midst of a rebuilding project centered around Kyrie Irving and a bunch of youngsters, so who better than a guy with gravitas and a bunch of NBA championship rings — and a former Coach of the Year nod (Hornets, 2008) — to serve as their shepherd. Byron Scott made the most of every drop of his talent as a point guard with the Lakers, and he's doing the same thing with the Cavs' roster. Bonus: Unlike a certain similarly bald former Cavs coach, Scott actually knows how to draw up an offense.
Staff Pick: Byron Scott
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Best Roller Coaster
Millennium Force
There are newer stomach-churning rides at Cedar Point, but Millennium Force remains thrill-seekers' favorite beast. Even though it recently passed its 10th birthday, Millennium Force hasn't finished lower than second in the amusem*nt park industry's annual coaster rankings — and daily riders by the thousands agree. That's what happens when you churn guests up 310 feet in the sky and fling them around at 93 mph. Really, who wouldn't love that?
Staff Pick: The Mean Streak
Best Inn, B&B, or Guest House
Glidden House
An historic escape in the heart of Cleveland's most regal neighborhood, Glidden House is the place you want to be when you can be wherever you want for a night. A 1910 brick mansion at the center of University Circle, the inn devotes its days to pampering guests visiting Case Western Reserve and other walkable institutions — but it also excels in special-occasion package deals and weddings, complete with an abundance of striking locales for photography. Not to be missed on your next visit: a meal at Sergio's, the European-style restaurant that makes its home in the former Glidden carriage house.
1901 Ford Dr., 216-231-8900, gliddenhouse.com
Staff Pick: Glidden House
Best Playground for Grown-Ups
Dave & Buster's
Sometimes you simply need to race a car or shoot some vampires or smash some rodent heads, no matter how old you are. Which is why we praise Dave & Busters, our virtual heaven on earth. The Westlake destination boasts the whole arcade game lineup all under one massive roof, plus surprisingly good food — and booze, which makes everything better. Bring the kids if you want, but we won't tell if you leave 'em at home.
25735 First St., Westlake,
440-892-1415, daveandbusters.com
Staff Pick: The Boneyard
Best Playground for Kids
Mapleside Farms
Who knew the best playground in Northeast Ohio sits out in Brunswick amid an apple orchard, a newly relaunched restaurant, and a bakery? Well, plenty of parents, it turns out. Mapleside built its kiddie mecca with the usual amenities, but took the playground game to a new level with a 70-foot jumping pillow. Yes, you read that right. Basically it's like a gigantic trampoline, but safer. There's also a gigantic spider web for your tyke-sized arachnoid girls and boys. That's if they ever get off the pillow.
294 Pearl Rd., Brunswick,
330-225-5577, mapleside.com
Staff Pick: The Children's Garden at Cleveland Botanical Garden
Best Place for (Legal) Gambling
ThistleDown
The shiny new casino debuts in May, but even after the doors to Dan Gilbert's palace open, Thistledown will still own one crucial draw the Horseshoe can't offer: actual horses. Oh, and sunshine, which is slightly more inviting than sitting in a sterile room surrounded by incessant lights and bells. Nothing beats an afternoon outside spent plunking down a few bucks on the ponies. All the better if you hit that trifecta, but not so bad even if you don't.
21501 Emery Rd., North Randall, 216-662-8600,
Staff Pick: Nautica Charity Poker
Best Reason Next Year Will Be Our Year
Kyrie Irving
Cleveland's fond of pinning its sporting hopes and dreams on the jerseys of kids barely old enough to drink, and this time it's no different. Except this kid actually can't drink yet. Kyrie Irving looks to be every bit of the superstar the Cavaliers need to climb back to the NBA Finals, and if anyone can throw off the weight of Cleveland's epic championship drought, it's the young man from Duke.
Staff Pick: It's Gotta Be One of These Years
Best Amusem*nt Park
Cedar Point
As long as there will be a Best Amusem*nt Park category to win, there will be only one winner — here in Northeast Ohio and across the entire country. Who, after all, could vote against one of the premier parks in all the world, with its 17 roller coasters and untold hundreds of other means of delivering the fun every summer? And Cedar Point never rests on its laurels, adding new rides year after year and dreaming up new ways to make you scream.
One Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky,
419-627-2350, cedarpoint.com
Staff Pick: Cedar Point
Best Reason to Be a Cleveland Sports Fan
There's Always Next Year
Cleveland will watch another year come and go without a championship, but we'll always come back for more. Our strength is in our resilience and loyalty, even when our teams don't deserve 'em. We're not bandwagoners, we don't wear pink hats, we don't call ourselves a "nation." We just show up for every game and cheer and boo, because that's our cross to bear, our half of the bargain. Now if only the guys in the jerseys held up their end.
Staff Pick: We're Loyal Yet Not Obnoxious
- Best Of Cleveland
- 2012
Best Food Truck
Umami Moto
Prowling the curbs of Cleveland, Umami Moto has quickly built a following for its tasty Thai, Vietnamese, and Asian-fusion fare, including pad Thai, massaman curry on rice, and a Vietnamese bahn mi sandwich made with pulled pork. Partners Jae Stulock and Sandy Madachik launched the rig in 2010; they recently added the bricks-and-mortar Hipp, at the Agora, to their empire as well. But the mobile feast rolls on all over town. Keep tabs on the city's favorite gourmet food truck on their website and via Facebook and Twitter.
Staff Pick: Umami Moto
Best New Restaurant & Best Happy Hour
Noodlecat
Since the day it opened in July 2011, clever Noodlecat has tickled palates with a slurpalicious blend of Japanese flavors and contemporary American style. Drawing equal inspiration from Tokyo shops and local, seasonal ingredients, chef-owner Jonathon Sawyer wouldn't have it any other way. While Noodlecat's prices are always moderate, daily happy-hour offerings seal the deal: bargain wings, noodle bowls, and steamed buns go down easy with deals on sake, co*cktails, and those $1 cans of Black Label beer.
234 Euclid Ave., 216-589-0007,
Staff Picks: Best New Restaurant: Orale; Best Happy Hour: Flying Fig
Best Upscale Restaurant
Lola
The crown jewel in Cleveland's dining scene continues to draw a crowd of national foodies to downtown's East Fourth Street. Some are attracted by the ever-growing celebrity of chef-owner Michael Symon. Others seek the bragging rights that come with dining at an Iron Chef's restaurant. But the smart ones are drawn by the promise of sophistication, innovation, and culinary legerdemain: an approach that turns heartland faves like bologna, bacon, and pierogi into points of inspiration.
2058 East Fourth St., 216-621-5652, lolabistro.com
Staff Pick: Crop Bistro
Best Beer, Best Brewery, & Best Single Taste of Cleveland
Great Lakes Brewing Company
Sit down with an out-of-towner, and you'll find they generally know three things about C-Town: It has a lake, it has the Rock Hall, and it has Great Lakes beer. In our book, that moves Pat and Dan Conway's 24-year-old brewery from the realm of mere "attraction" and into the realm of icon. And why not? This sudsy ambassador is now quenching parched palates in more than 13 states and the nation's capital. Meanwhile, the brewery produces more than 100,000 barrels of lager and ale annually. As for which of them is the best — the ubiquitous Dortmunder Gold? The legendary Christmas Ale? Or seasonal specialties like Blackout Stout? — that stays between you, your god, and your liver.
2516 Market Ave., 216-771-4404,
Staff Picks:Best Beer: Commodore Perry IPA (Great Lakes Brewing Company); Best Brewery: Buckeye Beer Engine; Best Single Taste of Cleveland: Slovenian Sausage from Raddell's Sausage Shop
Best Restaurant for Romance & Best Seafood
Pier W
If Pier W's perennial place at the top of our "Most Romantic" list is any measure, at least half of all Clevelanders must have gotten involved, engaged or, at the very least lucky following a visit to this cliffside showpiece. No wonder, really, with a menu of extraordinary seafood from executive chef Regan Reik, filled with treats like cedar-planked salmon, seared diver scallops, and raw oysters on the half shell. Even the Grand Sunday Brunch buffet is a heartthrob. Enjoyed in combo with the sophisticated vibe, well-stocked bar, and eye-popping view of the downtown skyline, it's no surprise that a million romances have been launched at this ship-shaped star.
12700 Lake Ave.,
Lakewood, 216-228-2250,
Staff Picks: Best Restaurant for Romance: L'Albatros; Best Seafood: Pier W
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Best Chef
Michael Symon
The love affair continues between Cleveland and our hometown hero. Even if we were overrun with national celebrities (which we are not, so far), Michael Symon would be a standout: for his talent, his influence, and especially for the way he's maintained his Cleveland street cred in the face of fame and fortune. We all know the legend: A former St. Ed's wrestler heads off to a prestigious New York culinary school, then returns to his hometown where he works hard, plans smart, and ultimately launches a culinary revolution. Along the way, Symon racked up the top honors in his field, including a James Beard Award as the Midwest's best chef. He also gained a foothold on network TV and extended his brand with concepts ranging from gourmet burger joints to Lola, this city's flagship restaurant. In the process, Symon has done more to raise our self-esteem than all of Cleveland's sports stars, business wonks, and politicians combined. That's why he remains not only the city's Best Chef: He's Cleveland's best ambassador.
Staff Pick: Jonathon Sawyer
Best New Chef
Chris Hodgson
Even before he opens the doors at his first bricks-and-mortar restaurant (downtown's Hodges, coming any minute now to 668 Euclid Avenue), Chris Hodgson was Cleveland's choice for the city's best new chef. Such is the power of food trucks: Hodgson's two-year-old Dim and Den Sum and one-year-old Hodge Podge have taken the city by storm, bringing fish tacos and fig burgers to the masses while launching a street-food revolution that isn't done yet. But like most overnight sensations, 26-year-old Hodgson is anything but an overnighter. He went to culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu in Arizona, then put in three years at award-winning kitchens throughout the country (including the seminal New York gastropub the Spotted Pig) before returning to his hometown. Last summer, Hodgson joined the ranks of fellow chefs like Michael Symon and Jonathon Sawyer as the city's flagbearer on national TV: He and his team finished a close second in the Food Network's Great Food Truck Race. We can't wait to see what Hodgson accomplishes when he stays in one place.
Staff Pick: Chris Hodgson
Best Place to Eat on a Budget, Best Place for Cheap Beer & Best Hot Dog
Happy Dog
Why kick around the shanty spooning beans out of a can when you can head over to Happy Dog? For a mere five bucks you can score a quarter-pound tube steak with a choice of 50 crazy toppings ranging from Bertman's Original Ballpark mustard to Korean kimchee. (Can't decide? Check in with the barkeep for a list of "suggestive wieners.") If you want tater tots — and yes, you do want tater tots — throw in an extra $3. Then lean back and dig the live entertainment: everything from top-shelf people-watching to polka happy hour. Wash it down with a grape pop or a Pabst, and you've got yourself a fine night on the town for hardly any money. Don't call us "cheap." Call us smart.
5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474,
Staff Picks: Best Place to Eat on a Budget: Sittoo's; Best Place for Cheap Beer: McCarthy's Ale House; Best Hot Dog: Happy Dog
Best Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurant & Best Milkshakes
Tommy's
This longtime Coventry Village anchor is a friendly destination for anyone who eats — be they herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore. That said, you'll go a long way without finding more wholesome, delicious, meat-free fare than what comes out of this kitchen: everything from salad bowls brimming with sunflower seeds and sprouts in a macrobiotic dressing to boffo 20-ounce milkshakes made with local dairy products. (Fun fact: Rolling Stone named one of those cool, creamy concoctions the "Best Milkshake East of the Mississippi" waaay back in 1972!) Other meat-free options include tofu, tempeh, seitan, and spinach pies; plenty of the fare is vegan-friendly too.
1824 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-7757, tommyscoventry.com
Staff Picks: Best Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurant: Udupi Café; Best Milkshake: Tommy's
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Best Buffet
Brasa Grill
"Abundance" is the key word at Brasa Grill, Cleveland's first (and so far, only) Brazilian-style churrascaria. Even before the gauchos start swooping in with 16 types of skewered meats, you will be tempted by a vast lineup of impeccably presented and impressively fresh starters: marinated green beans, hearts of palm, plush composed salads, pastas, shrimp, mussels, olives, cheeses, and even sushi. It's such a treat that some diners come for the salad bar and skip the meat entirely. If that doesn't earn Best Of cred, what will?
1300 West Ninth St., 216-575-0699,brasagrillsteakhouse.com
Staff Pick: Kan Zaman
Best Coffee Shop & Best Tasting Coffee
Phoenix Coffee
Phoenix has been keeping Clevelanders caffeinated for more than 20 years, relying on great quality, personalized service, and quirky promotions to maintain its standing as the top java provider. These days, the magic comes pouring out of four "coffee sanctuaries" around town: organically evolving retail locations where well-trained baristas turn freshly roasted beans into rich, silky drinks. Phoenix's empire also includes a commercial roastery, a mail-order business, and a growing list of wholesale accounts: All are part of what CEO Sarah Wilson-Jones calls a mission of championing great coffee and making culture and community in the process.
Various locations including the flagship café at 2287 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-8227,
Staff Picks: Best Coffee Shop: Gypsy Beans & Baking Co.; Best Tasting Coffee: Phoenix Coffee
Best Breakfast
Lucky's
At this Tremont anchor, chef-owner Heather Haviland serves up the day's most important meal in style. How about a sandwich on housemade bread, loaded up with farm-fresh eggs and melty cheese? For lighter appetites, maybe a blueberry corn muffin with a steamy cuppa joe? On weekends, the offerings go grand: everything from housemade granola to waffles, pancakes, omelets, and curried tofu. That it's all served up in a space as cozy as your favorite bathrobe just adds to the joy.
777 Starkweather, 216-622-7773,
Staff Pick: Carnegie Kitchen
Best Brunch
The Beachland
You'll find more than great music at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern — and we're not just talking about Saturday-morning punk yoga. The kitchen composes a mighty Sunday brunch, full of homemade dishes crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. That includes buttermilk biscuits made from scratch and smothered in homemade sausage gravy, buckwheat pancakes served with Ohio maple syrup and locally smoked bacon, and smoked salmon and latkes topped with a local poached egg from a free-range flock of happy chickens.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124,beachlandballroom.com
Staff Pick: The Beachland
Best Patio Drinking
Reddstone
Long before the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood was cool, there was a delightful little patio on West 76th Street, tucked behind a red brick space formerly known as Snickers. Today, that space is Reddstone. And while Reddstone and its environs have become major hotspots, the little patio behind it remains as delightful as ever. That goes double when you have a refreshing beverage in your hand: a crisp wine, a sturdy craft beer, or something from co-owner Tommy Kneeland's excellent list of handcrafted co*cktails. The blueberry-basil lemonade is a case in point: Sipped beneath the tall trees and twinkly lights on a warm spring evening, it's as fun and festive a getaway as you'll find in the 216.
1261 West 76th St., 216-651-6969, reddstonecleveland.com
Staff Pick: The South Side
Best Ice Cream Parlor
Sweet Moses
Jeffrey Moreau's 1920s-style ice cream parlor at Gordon Square is as sweet as they come, sprinkled with vintage furnishings, historic Cleveland prints, and cheerful soda jerks in crisp white shirts and ties. But it's the edibles that matter, and this place is wall-to-wall with ice cream, shakes, sodas, and malts — with crunchy popcorn and gourmet chocolates tossed in for good measure. And everything from the ice cream to the marble-slab fudge is made in house.
6800 Detroit Ave., 216-651-6800,
Staff Pick: Sweet Moses
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Best Winery
Chalet Debonne Vineyards
Debonne was founded as a winery in 1972 with the construction of a winemaking facility and a charming chalet; but the Debevc family had been making wine in Madison long before that. Today, third-generation Tony Debevc and his crews carefully tend more than 170 acres of vines and produce more than 85,000 gallons of wine each year, including a variety of award winners. Winery tours, a tasting room, and an ambitious schedule of monthly events never fail to draw a crowd.
7840 Doty Rd., Madison,
440-466-3485, debonne.com
Staff Pick: St. Joseph Vineyards
Best Wine Bar
Wine Bar Rocky River
Comfortable, cozy, and relaxed, John Owen's wine bar is a year-round crowd pleaser, with a fireplace for cold-weather cuddling and a pretty patio for sipping in the sun. The encyclopedic wine list includes something for everyone. Beyond the bottles, there's a fine selection of by-the-glass options, dispensed from the Enomatic: a wine-preservation and serving system. To go with, the food choices range far beyond the usual cheese plates to burgers, scallops, and vegetable lasagna. No wonder fans call it the toast of the town.
1313 Linda Ave., Rocky River,
440-799-4300, rockyriverwinebar.com
Staff Pick: Market Avenue Wine Bar
Best Wine List
La Cave du Vin
A dimly lit basem*nt may seem like an odd setting for a wine bar, but that hasn't stopped Clevelanders from declaring the wine list at this Coventry Village anchor the best in town. Maybe that's because it contains more than 70 by-the-glass offerings — many priced below $6. Combine that with flickering candlelight and the glow of the beer coolers, and this cave's many charms are clear to see.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd.,
Cleveland Heights, 216-932-6411,
Staff Pick: Beach Club Bistro
Best Beer Selection
The Winking Lizard
There are spots with more snob appeal than this chain of noisy, rollicking, family-friendly sports bars. But we dare you to find one with a vaster selection of brewskis: more than 300 choices at last count, by the bottle or on draft, from amber ales to weizenbocks and wheat beers. Adventurous sorts can work their way through the list as part of the annual World Tour of Beer. Win swell prizes for guzzling suds, you say? Count us in.
Various locations including 25380 Miles Rd., Bedford, 216-831-3488,
Staff Pick: Tremont Tap House
Best Bar Food
ABC Tavern
It was a red-letter day in Ohio City when restaurant pros Randy Kelly and Linda Syrek opened ABC Tavern: a former old-man bar spiffed up for a brand-new day. A tight little menu of pub grub comes complete with hamburgers, "atomic" hot dogs, and even roasted red pepper hummus. Homey kitchen specials like chicken noodle soup and meatloaf sammies expand the daily offerings. Together with the high-octane vibe, well-stocked bar, and late-night hours, this joint has you covered from A to Z.
1872 West 25th St., 216-861-3857,
Staff Pick: Deagan's Kitchen + Bar
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Best Place to Get a Classy Drink
Velvet Tango Room
For years, this elegant co*cktail lounge was scarcely more than a legend, it's location a carefully guarded secret among the food-and-drink elite. For proof those times are over, just try snagging a nearby parking spot at 8 on a Saturday night! Owner Paulius Nasvytis continues to hold high the torch of spirituous tradition: in the expansive menu of classic co*cktails, the painstaking craftsmanship that goes into every Lime Fizz and Manhattan, and the staff of crack mixologists who want nothing more than to rock your world with drink.
2095 Columbus Rd., 216-241-8869,
Staff Pick: Velvet Tango Room
Best Vegan
Flaming Ice Cube
The downtown outpost of a Boardman café, the Flaming Ice Cube serves up a big menu of vegan-friendly foods in a tidy space across from Public Square. Anchoring the all-day menu are whole fruit smoothies, freshly squeezed veggie juices, salads, soups, and a half-dozen versions of a homemade vegan burger. For dessert, the made-from-scratch sweeties (Molten Lava Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake, maybe?) are wildly popular among vegans and omnivores alike.
140 Public Square, 216-263-1111,
Staff Pick: Flaming Ice Cube
Best Steak
Red the Steakhouse
Even as many of us rethink our diets, Cleveland still goes gaga for a great steak. As it happens, this is exactly what restaurateur Brad Friedlander serves up: dry-aged beef (both Certified Angus and U.S.D.A. Prime), cut thick and marbled to perfection. Seasoned with kosher salt and Tellicherry pepper, seared to order over unimaginably high heat, and served sizzling hot on a plain white plate for maximum impact, this is one big slab of juicy savor.
3355 Richmond Rd., Beachwood,
216-831-2252, redthesteakhouse.com
Staff Pick: Red the Steakhouse
Best BBQ
Bubba's Q
Former Browns player Al "Bubba" Baker has found life beyond the gridiron, and it's slathered in barbecue sauce. At Bubba's Avon restaurant, the pork, smoked turkey, and signature ribs are bad to the bone, but in a very good way. Dry-rubbed, marinated overnight, then slow-smoked over Ohio-grown applewood, the meats arrive at the table smoky, saucy, and laced with savory char. Pair 'em with freshly baked cornmeal muffins, dense mac 'n' cheese, and sweet iced tea, and dig into what can only be called a "dawg-gone good" feast.
820 Center Rd., Avon,
440-937-7859, bubbasq.com
Staff Pick: Bubba's Q
Best Patio Dining
Luxe Kitchen & Lounge
Tucked into secluded space behind the restaurant, the landscaped patio at Luxe Kitchen is a shaded, urbane oasis within the bustle of Gordon Square. Umbrella-topped tables make the perfect perch for imbibing seasonal co*cktails, well-chosen wines, and craft beers; or share crab cakes, mussels, and a gourmet pizza with a group of friends. Speaking of friends: The patio is also pooch-friendly, the ultimate sign of a great outdoor space.
6605 Detroit Ave., 216-920-0600,
Staff Pick: Flying Cranes Café
Best Burger
B Spot
With B Spots in Woodmere, Strongsville, Crocker Park, and the Q (and another slated for downtown's new casino), this irreverent gourmet burger joint from Michael "Iron Chef" Symon has foodies and fans awash in naturally raised beef. Of course, it's what Symon does with that meat that has found B Spot snagging Best Burger in America awards from the SoBe Wine & Food Fest for three consecutive years.
Multiple locations including
28699 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere,
216-292-5567, bspotburgers.com
Staff Pick: Johnny's Little Bar
Best Fries
Bar Cento
The legend continues at Bar Cento, where the Belgian-style pommes frites once again dominate the competition. Made by a classically painstaking process that includes frying, chilling, and frying again in ultra-luscious duck fat, these little golden batons are crisp outside, creamy within, and perfectly seasoned with rosemary and garlic. Served up in the Belgian tradition with four flavored mayos for dipping, these are truly fries to die for.
1948 West 25th St., 216-274-1010,
Staff Pick: Heck's Café
Best Pizza
Angelo's Pizza
Angelo's of Lakewood has been the region's go-to pizza for nearly three decades. And why not? Crafted from homemade dough, fresh sauces, and scores of toppings, with combinations and specialties ranging from Stouffer's macaroni and cheese to fresh basil and buffalo mozzarella, Angelo's pies have earned their place in Cleveland's heart.
13715 Madison Ave., Lakewood,
216-221-0440, angelosonline.com
Staff Pick: Vincenza's
Best Pierogi & Best Polish
Sokolowski's University Inn
Oh, Sokolowski's! Do we love you because of your plump and buttery pierogi? Do we love you because, like mother's milk, your bratwurst and stuffed cabbage are part of our communal DNA? Or do we love you for the fact that nearly everything waiting in your giant steam tables goes great with beer? Yes, yes, and yes again.
1201 University Rd., 216-771-9236,
Staff Picks: Best Pierogi: Stan's Northfield BakeryBest Polish: Sokolowski's University Inn
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Best Greek
Greek Village Grille
Tommy Karakostas' ethnic pride runs as deep as the menu of traditional Greek fare he cooks up daily at his gyro shop in Lakewood. Among the homemade dishes, you can dig into rich moussaka, crunchy spanokopita, or charcoal-grilled pork souvlaki. But the stars of the show are the gyros — not least of all the authentic Greek version made with thinly sliced pork.
14019 Madison Ave.,
Lakewood, 216-228-4976,
Staff Pick: Greek Village Grille
Best Sushi & Best Japanese
Pacific East
When Clevelanders want a raw deal, they know where to go: this Coventry Road restaurant has been dishing it out for more than a decade. Pacific East's sushi is a hit for many reasons, including its freshness and outstanding variety. But it's attention to the details that sets this sushi apart, including the use of premium short-grain rice, top-grade wasabi, and flavorful blue-fin or fatty tuna that's never been frozen. The same care comes through in kitchen faves like tempura, tonkatsu, and teriyaki.
Various locations including
1763 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-320-2302,
Staff Picks: Best Sushi: Ginko; Best Japanese: Sasa
Best Vietnamese
Superior Pho
You can read it in the name: Cleveland's opinion of this tiny restaurant tucked inside Golden Plaza remains without peer. That includes the rice paper rolls, the stir-fried vermicelli, and the French-inflected bahn mi, a Vietnamese sandwich of pâté, roasted pork, cucumbers, herbs, and mayonnaise on a chewy French bun. And then there's the namesake pho: more than a dozen varieties of meat-and-noodle soups (plus one vegetarian), boosted tableside with a host of zesty garnishes. Can you say "pho-king awesome"?
3030 Superior Ave. East,
216-781-7462, superiorpho.com
Staff Pick: Superior Pho
Best Indian
India Garden
Ramesh and Sanjeev Sharma have been dishing out the goods at this West Side restaurant since 2006 — and the line still sometimes stretches out the door! Must be because of the freshness, flavor, and attention to detail: things like roasting aromatic spices daily, so they are always at their peak. The variety doesn't hurt either: The large menu of Northern Indian cuisine caters to vegetarians and carnivores alike, with plenty of faves like samosas, tandoori chicken, and luscious meat-free saag paneer.
18405 Detroit Ave., Lakewood,
216-221-0676,
Staff Pick: India Garden
Best Italian
Chinato
There was a time, dear Cleveland, when Olive Garden would have found a place on your list of top Italian restaurants. My, how your palate has matured — thanks in no small part to Chinato on happenin' East Fourth Street. Chef-restaurateur Zack Bruell's menu is awash with contemporary flavors, of-the-moment ingredients, and deft preparations that respect and enhance classic dishes like Venetian-style calves' liver with dried figs or burrata with cold tomato-basil soup. Try getting that in a strip-mall parking lot restaurant.
2079 East Fourth St., 216-298-9080,
Staff Pick: Chinato
Best Restaurant & Best Sandwich Shop
Melt Bar & Grilled
It's been six years since Matt Fish opened his first Melt Bar & Grilled in Lakewood. Two more locations have followed since. Yet the charms of Melt's ginormous grilled-cheese sammies — 20 or so varieties — haven't dimmed a bit. Sure, the constant barrage of national media attention hasn't hurt. And the friendly, kitschy, rock & roll vibe is nothing but a plus. But at its heart, Melt wins Clevelanders over in tried and true fashion: one towering, gooey sandwich at a time.
14718 Detroit Ave., Lakewood,
216-226-3699;
13463 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-965-0988;
6700 Rockside Rd., Independence, 216-520-1415; and
Staff Picks: Best Restaurant: Dante; Best Sandwich Shop: Dave's Cosmic Subs
Best Chinese
Li Wah
Having a robust Asian community bestows upon a town certain benefits, not least of which is the delightful experience of Li Wah. Although the 300-seat restaurant sits in the heart of Cleveland's Asiatown, its appeal extends to seemingly all cultures. As for dim sum, Li Wah feels like the epicenter of Cleveland come Sunday noon, when families of every demographic sip tea and snack on Asian delicacies: spring rolls, barbecue pork buns, and turnip cakes, among countless others. If there is a more enjoyable, diverse, or affordable way to spend a Sunday, we have yet to find it.
2999 Payne Ave., 216-696-6556,
Staff Pick: Li Wah
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Best Irish
The Harp
Homey, stylish, and with an impressive view of Lake Erie, the Harp is beloved among C-Towners for its vast collection of Irish beers and spirits, and for a kitchen that treats its Irish-themed menu with the deepest respect. That includes everything from the signature soda bread and superlative boxty to the Guinness ice cream sundae. Factor in frequent live music, a delightful patio, and a gracious vibe, and you've got yourself a winner.
4408 Detroit Ave.,
216-939-0200, the-harp.com
Staff Pick: Sullivan's Irish Pub & Restaurant
Best German
Der Braumeister
There's been a German restaurant in Der Braumeister's space since 1929: That's got to be part of what makes this West Side fave seem so authentically European. The remaining credit goes to the menu of sauerbraten, wiener schnitzel, and smoked sausage; an on-site market and deli stocked with traditional meats, cheeses, and condiments; and in warm weather, the sidewalk biergarten — the spot to work your way through the 140-label collection of cool, imported brews.
13046 Lorain Ave., 216-671-6220,
Staff Pick: Der Braumeister
Best Middle Eastern
Aladdin's Eatery
When Fady Chamoun came up with the idea for combining wholesome foods with the fast-casual concept, Cleveland stood up and cheered. Fast-forward 18 years, and huzzahs still haven't stopped. Aladdin's continues to dish up well-prepared Middle Eastern standards with a sharp focus on health and nutrition, making its many fans feel both well fed and well loved.
Various locations including
14536 Detroit Ave., Lakewood,
216-521-4005, aladdinseatery.com
Staff Pick: Aladdin's Eatery
Best Mexican
La Fiesta
Family owned and operated since 1952, La Fiesta specializes in dishes made from scratch with a variety of locally sourced ingredients. That includes crowd-pleasers like guacamole and tacos, as well as less common dishes like posole (spicy pork and hominy soup) and chicharrones (fried-to-order pork-skin cracklins). Wash it down with a Tecate or a mucho macho Margarita from the well-stocked bar: Your own personal fiesta is just beginning.
5115 Wilson Mills Rd., Richmond Heights, 440-565-4422,
Staff Pick: Momocho
Best Latin
Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar
Who knew that the bold flavors of Latin America dwelt inside an East Side mall? Paladar is your clear choice for dishes like ceviche, guacamole, feijoada, Jamaican curry, and pork Cubano. Then, of course, there is the Rum Bar portion of the equation, whence flow magnificently muddled mojitos and more than 50 varieties of rum.
28601 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere,
216-896-9020,
Staff Pick: Barroco Grill
Best Caterer
Spice of Life
"Upscale catering with a down-to-earth twist" is the tagline for Spice of Life Catering, chef Ben Bebenroth's company that pledges allegiance to all things regional, seasonal, and sustainable. That includes not only purchasing 95 percent of ingredients from farms within a 100-mile radius, but going so far as to grow foods specifically for your special event.
5800 Detroit Ave., 216-432-9090,
Staff Pick: Spice of Life
Best Dessert Menu
Chocolate Bar
If it's true that everything's better with chocolate, then no wonder this downtown destination is the sweetest place around. Part eatery, part co*cktail lounge, Chocolate Bar wins over C-Town with an array of temptations — everything from chocolate mousse, chocolate fondue, and chocolate-marbled cheesecake to hot chocolate, frozen chocolate, and chocolate-mint martinis.
347 Euclid Ave., 216-622-2626,
Staff Pick: Sweet Melissa
Best Local Foods Champ
Jonathon Sawyer
Whether he's foraging for ramps with his kids or fermenting his own vinegars, Jonathon Sawyer stands as a champion for locally sourced, locally raised, made-from-scratch goodness. As owner and chef of the estimable Greenhouse Tavern and the crowd-pleasing Noodlecat, the bouncy, bearded Sawyer puts his farm-to-plate beliefs on the line daily.
238 East Fourth St., 216-443-0511,
Staff Pick: Parker Bosley
Best Spanish
Mallorca
As beloved for its cadre of tuxedoed servers as for its authentic Mediterranean menu of gazpacho, paella, fish, and seafood, this Warehouse District bastion of Spanish and Portuguese cuisine remains refined and fun.
1390 West Ninth St., 216-687-9494,
Staff Pick: Mallorca
Best French
L'Albatros
Zack Bruell scores again with this contemporary brasserie and bar tucked inside a University Circle carriage house. Must be L'Albatros' perfect combination of historic vibe, polished service, and a big, enticing menu of French classics. With an extensive wine list, the city's best cheese service, and a stunning, secluded patio, this is where Cleveland heads for a French twist.
11401 Bellflower Rd., 216-791-7880, albatrosbrasserie.com
Staff Pick: L'Albatros
Best Thai
Ty Fun
Great Thai food and a fun time continue to draw Clevelanders to this Tremont restaurant, where they find artfully plated dishes like chicken massaman curry, classic pad Thai, and the signature deep-fried red snapper served with a choice of zesty sauces. No surprise this intimate eatery continues to earn the Thai title.
815 Jefferson Ave., 216-664-1000,
Staff Pick: Banana Blossom
- Best Of Cleveland
- 2011
Welcome to a city that was built to last. We're gritty, good-natured, and caring as they come — the kind of people all others strive to be.Best Reason to Love Cleveland
The People
We've been an easy target for a lot of years. Now the joke is on everybody who overlooked us. As long as Cleveland has had its bad teams and worse leadership, a rich reserve of resilient residents has remained determined to see this through till the good times roll again. Now the sun is peeking out and Cleveland is rounding the corner, and now's the time to celebrate our hardy souls. As the wheels of prosperity begin to turn, we cast our thanks toward our neighbors and friends. We've shared in our years of misery together, and now we'll share in our arriving glory. It's just how we do things here, how you've always done things here.
Best Park
Edgewater Park
Now part of Cleveland Lakefront State Park, Edgewater skirts the western edge of downtown Cleveland and offers overwhelming views of the city skyline. Best known for its sprawling beach and primo kite-flying, it's also a top spot for picnicking, jogging — even sledding come wintertime.
6500 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway; 216-881-8141; dnr.state.oh.us/parks
Best Day Trip
Cedar Point
There may be no place on earth where time flies more quickly than a day spent at Cedar Point. A summertime fun magnet for all of the Midwest, the park is tireless in its quest to be the best at everything it does — and it's got the credentials to support the claim. More — and better — roller coasters than anybody else, gorgeously maintained grounds, friendly workers, and no shortage of indoor attractions make the Point a lock for every summer itinerary. There's something spectacular and new every year: In 2011 it's Windseeker, a sorta-sideways Ferris wheel that rises far above the park and, like everything else at Cedar Point, seems like it might never let you down.
One Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky; 419-627-2350; cedarpoint.com
Best Reason to Come Downtown
East Fourth Street
The pulse of downtown is beating like it hasn't in decades, and the top source of the excitement is East Fourth Street. A centrally located afterthought for decades, the district has emerged in recent years to serve everyone from visitors looking for a hot night on the town to residents in need of urbane climes to unwind. From its restaurants to it clubs and the people who crave them, the new East Fourth has paved the way for Cleveland's inevitable downtown renaissance.
Between Euclid and Prospect Aves.; east4thstreet.com
Best Reason to Visit the East Side
Coventry Village
Cleveland's bohemian ground zero has seen its share of change over the years, but it's just now hitting its stride like never before. Still a haven for offbeat merchants and quirky shops, the street has cultivated a fantastic blend of homegrown and outside enterprises in recent years — and the result is a district teeming with energy day and night.
Coventryvillage.org; 216-556-0927
Best Reason to Visit the West Side & >Best Place to Take Out-of-Town Visitors
West Side Market
We boast at least two things that no community will ever exceed: a swirling melting pot of cultures and a collective grocery cart to match. No place but the West Side Market so fully embraces this ancestral melange of Old World and new, from its butchers to its fruit stands, and from its cheeses to its cappuccino. Those of us who've grown up on this place so easily forget just what a sensory wonderland it is. Then it all hits home when you take a guest there and experience anew the sights, sounds, and smells. The West Side Market is an icon that modern America has passed by; the good news is that Cleveland would never dream of doing the same.
1979 West 25th St.; 216-664-3387; westsidemarket.org
Best Reason to Visit Akron
Akron Art Museum
Cleveland's sister to the south serves up no shortage of charms, but the Akron Art Museum is as apt a metaphor for the Rubber City's rebirth as you will find. Perched in the heart of a rejuvenated downtown, the museum recently completed an expansion that more than tripled its size. Once a two-room art school founded in 1922, it's now a sprawling world-class facility that spotlights a wide range of art made over the past 150 years.
1 South High St., Akron; 330-376-9185;
Best Radio Personality
Alan Cox
All the fun and class of a trailer park striptease in convenient radio form. From his eye on celebrity buffoonery to his celebration of women's undergarments, Alan Cox spouts all the outrageous crap you were already thinking but way too shy to say. Is it creepy? Oh sure, but no more so than what's on any other guy's mind.
Weekday afternoons on 100.7-FM WMMS
Best Local TV Personality
Dick Goddard
The inventor of local weather just turned 80 this year, complete with a celebration that was long overdue. An Akron native and lifelong Northeast Ohioan, the unassuming Goddard so often flies under the StormFOX radar because he'd rather you know about the weather he watches and the causes he supports, most notably animal rights. Yes, weathermen tend not to forge particularly resounding legacies, but Dick Goddard's place in Cleveland is secure.
On Fox 8 TV
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Best Local Sportscaster
Jim Donovan
It's been more than 25 years since the Boston native settled in on Cleveland's airwaves, and in that time Donovan has earned his reputation for straight-talking sportscasts and spine-tinglingly bonkers play-by-play. The longtime sports director for Channel 3, Donovan has served as the voice of the Cleveland Browns since 1999, stepping into a role previously held by the legendary Nev Chandler and quickly making it entirely his own. If only he had a better team to cover, his calls would be every bit as legendary.
On WKYC-TV Channel 3
Best TV News Team
Channel 3
The ever-classy Romona Robinson holds down the news desk at WKYC, but she had help here from an avalanche of votes for her weekday-morning counterparts. Mark Nolan and Hollie Strano, the twin gluttons for punishment who host the early show beginning each day at 4:30 (that's a.m.!), turned the tide in favor of Channel 3. Not sure whether anyone's actually watching at that hour, but readers seem to appreciate knowing that they could.
Best Area You'd Like to See Revitalized
The Flats
For those who didn't experience the Flats' entertainment heyday in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the tales of packed bars and day-and-night partying could be mistaken for the stuff of lore. But as the East Bank continues to crumble, the West Bank is percolating with activity — most notably the Improv comedy club's move to fresh new digs and the aquarium that will be tanked in the Powerhouse. Mighty visions abound for the East Bank too, giving reason to believe it's only a matter of time before the true stories of the Flats once again become the stuff of legend.
Best Local Landmark
Terminal Tower
Maybe it's the resurgence of downtown that returned our collective attention to the venerable monument at the center of it all. It was the second-tallest building in America at the time of its completion in 1928; and while it's no longer even the tallest building in its own home, the Terminal Tower's architectural grandeur has yet to be matched. It's perfectly fitting that the future casino of Cleveland's dreams will flank the skyscraper that birthed all our dreams.
50 Public Square; 216-621-6060
Best Suburb
Lakewood
There's a new energy coursing through Cleveland's western neighbor these days. It's an energy derived from residents young and old who share a determination to celebrate their city's countless virtues. Nowhere in Northeast Ohio do so many cultures mesh so harmoniously as they do in Lakewood. It's the perfect gathering place thanks in no small part to its wonderful restaurants, its rollicking bars and clubs, and its quirky small businesses that line every major street. And it's the perfect home thanks to its bountiful and hardy old houses and apartments, for its overachieving schools, its bucolic parks, and its pervasive sense of neighborhood pride and unity.
Best City Living
27 Coltman
A welcome splash of modernity in vintage Little Italy, the townhomes of 27 Coltman are beloved for their amenities and their convenience to all the bustle and excitement from University Circle to Coventry. Beginning at $327,000, each luxury home boasts a gourmet kitchen and master bath, and incorporates state-of-the-art energy-efficiency technology throughout. Just as enticing: The heavenly smells wafting in from Murray Hill's eateries don't cost you a penny.
East 119th and Coltman; 216-721-0027; 27coltman.com
Best Troublemaker
Jimmy Dimora
We've learned about his penchant for favors and whor*s. But the main event surely awaits us: While disgraced Auditor Frank Russo quietly took his medicine from the Feds last year, our former Cuyahoga County commissioner, Democratic Party boss, and all-around skeevy guy has chosen to fight the corruption charges against him in court. That means more golden TV moments, more outrageous sound bites, and quite a few more thousand taxpayer dollars squeezed from you on Jimmy's time. Don't forget to enjoy it!
Coming to a federal courtroom near you in September.
Best Politician & Best Do-Gooder
Dennis Kucinich
He's the little guy who's out to stick it to the big guy, and we've all been cheering for that since our first Tom & Jerry cartoon. A consummate cage-rattler, Kucinich is fearless when it comes to championing the causes most dear to his constituents, from his anti-war initiatives to his crusades for social justice that catch the eye of all of liberal America. It's good for publicity, and even better come election season.
Best Famous Clevelander
Drew Carey
There's a lot less of him to love these days, but a slimmed-down Drew is still fat with pride for his forever hometown. He put our Polish beer halls on the map with The Drew Carey Show; now he's wrestled the skinny mic from legendary Bob Barker on The Price Is Right, injecting new energy into the world's best game show. Drew has long been a Hollywood star, but his heart still belongs to Cleveland. And Clevelanders, of course, are still quick to return the love.
Best Author
Les Roberts
If this particular category lacks an air of suspense, the winner's novels more than compensate. Long regarded as a literary all-star, Roberts made his bones in Hollywood, of all places — as producer for the original Hollywood Squares and classic comedies from Andy Griffith to The Lucy Show. But it's his series of mysteries revolving around Cleveland everyman Milan Jacovich that have endeared Roberts to the thousands of readers who hang on his every word. With novel names like Pepper Pike, Collision Bend, and A Shoot in Cleveland, there's no mystery as to where Roberts' heart lies either.
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Best Website
clevescene.com
Perhaps this one's just the tiniest bit rigged, given that you can't even vote without a visit to our humble site ... but we'll shamelessly pocket this trophy anyway. Thank you for helping us grow an online community devoted to exalting the wild, weird, and wonderful world of Northeast Ohio. We love you, Cleveland; thanks for loving us back.
Visit us at clevescene.com, and follow the foolishness via Facebook and Twitter
Best Playground for Kids
Lakewood Park
In a city where your neighbors reside almost as close as your own family, it's all the more important that kids get ample acreage to run. Expansive Lakewood Park, perched on a bluff overlooking Lake Erie in the center of town, is a wonderland of kid enticements, from the wooden playground with the pirate ship, to the region's best Skate Park, to the regular family-friendly parties, concerts, and movies that take place during summer weekends and evenings.
14532 Lake Ave., Lakewood;
216-529-5697; onelakewood.com
Best Playground for Grown-Ups
Dave & Buster's
It looks, sounds, and smells like Vegas, but this nationwide arcade and restaurant is way more fun. When's the last time you played Donkey Kong at the Bellagio? There are plenty of games that reward your skills with tickets that can be redeemed for everything from plastic snakes to video-game consoles. But we prefer sitting behind the wheel of the racing sims with a big ol' mug of beer in our hands, because this is all about escape.
25735 First St., Westlake; 440-892-1415; daveandbusters.com
Best Bartender
Jeremy Bloom at the Nauti Mermaid
"We're like your neighborhood bar down on the corner, but we're in a downtown setting that you'll want to come back to." So says God's gift to liquor slingers, 30-year-old Jeremy Bloom, who has tended bar at the Nauti Mermaid since 2004. An advertisting student at Cleveland State, Jeremy holds down Thursday nights and weekends at the Warehouse District pub — but the workload could go up or down, depending on what happens after his graduation this spring. As for Jeremy's secret to winning your heart? "I'm willing to take care of somebody, you know — make them want to come back."
1378 West Sixth St.; 216-771-6175; thenautimermaid.com
Best Inn, B&B, or Guest House
Glidden House
If your night away from home is all about extravagance, Glidden House is the place you want to be. A 1910 brick mansion in the heart of University Circle, the inn devotes its days to pampering guests visiting Case Western Reserve and other walkable institutions — but it also excels in special-occasion package deals and weddings, complete with an abundance of striking locales for photography. Essential to the Glidden House experience is a meal at Sergio's, the European-style restaurant that makes its home in the former Glidden carriage house.
1901 Ford Dr.; 216-231-8900; gliddenhouse.com
Best Place to Be Seen
West Sixth Street
There are other districts that vie for attention, but the beautiful people — and those looking for them — still congregate in the heart of the Warehouse District. With an eclectic roster of clubs, including Velvet Dog and Barleyhouse, and urbane restaurants like Metro and Sushi Rock, West Sixth is a gallery of Cleveland's finest from happy hour through closing time.
Between Superior and Lakeside Aves. downtown; warehousedistrict.org
Best Filmmaker
Wes Craven
An icon among modern horror filmmakers, Wes Craven has been turning stomachs since the early 1970s and churning out several bona fide classics of the genre in A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream. Though derided for their endless supply of sequels, the Cleveland native's best movies have proven to be more influential on popular culture — and young filmmakers — than anything made by his contemporaries. And as his career careens into its fifth decade, Craven is still cranking out the gore: Scream 4 lands in theaters in mid-April.
Best Place to Hold a Wedding
Windows on the River
Since 1990, this full-service events company has been a mainstay of the Powerhouse on the Flats' West Bank. Each of its banquet rooms — dubbed City View and Bridge View — offer gorgeous views of downtown and together can accommodate up to 1,000 guests. The arrival of Cleveland's aquarium on the first floor will only raise the profile of this prime spot for swapping nuptials.
2000 Sycamore St. in the Powerhouse; 216-861-1445; windowsontheriver.com
Best Blog
The mission statement at Christopher Busta-Peck's blog says all you need to know: "We believe that the best way for Cleveland to move into the future is to engage with the past. Let us be your guide to those local people, places, and events that made Cleveland and Northeast Ohio unique." Through archival research and photography, Clevelandareahistory pauses for reflection on the dormant structures — and their stories — we pass each day without spending a moment of thought; in this way, the history that's so often silenced finally gets a voice of its own. As Cleveland plows forward into its post-industrial age, this is a fitting, living tribute to the people who got us this far.
Best College or University
Case Western Reserve
World-class education in a setting straight out of a collegiate fairytale? It's no wonder Case tops all challengers when it comes to area institutions of higher learning. Internationally renowned for its programs ranging from medicine to business to law, Case preps its students for prosperity and immerses them along the way in a setting steeped in cultural riches.
10900 Euclid Ave.; 216-368-2000; case.edu
Best Cemetery
Lake View Cemetery
The self-styled "Outdoor Museum and Arboretum" near Little Italy is also the final resting place of James A. Garfield, John D. Rockefeller, and Eliot Ness. It could be your final resting place too: more than 70 undeveloped acres remain, enough to plant former folks for another century.
12316 Euclid Ave.; 216-421-2665;
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Best Urban Farmer
Tim Smith
Two years ago, Tim Smith was screening documentaries for the Cleveland International Film Festival when he saw one that featured an urban greenhouse project in Milwaukee dedicated to providing healthy, affordable food to inner-city residents. "That's what I want to do with the rest of my life," he said, then he set about making the Cleveland Greenhouse Project — now renamed Community Greenhouse Partners in anticipation of eventual expansion — a reality. He assembled a team of believers with skills ranging from fundraising to aquaponics. And after 18 months of searching for a suitable site, he struck a deal late last year with the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland to purchase the closed St. George parish property, where work is progressing toward GCP's first growing season.
Best Sustainability Champion
Great Lakes Brewing Co.
The titan of local brewing says it all with its house policy known as the "Triple Bottom Line": Great Lakes is dedicated to making its money via means that are economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable for the community it serves. Likewise, the nonprofit Burning River Foundation is devoted to education on sustainability issues, and other efforts include locally grown organic crops, recycling, and use of alternative fuels. Perhaps best of all are Great Lakes' more conventional fuels: the beers that make Clevelanders swoon.
2516 Market Ave.; 216-771-4404;
Best YouTube Video
Parma State of Mind
Chad Zumock of WMMS' Alan Cox Show concocted this twisted ode to Parma that took on a life of its own on YouTube. A knockoff of "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, "Parma" name-checks everything from Rent-a-Center strip malls to ubiquitous 10-cent wings and dollar drafts. "Can't front on this, Strongsville." No doubt.
Best Comedian
Mike Polk
The Kent State grad and co-founder of the Last Call Cleveland comedy troupe has reconfigured his comedy empire as a YouTube sensation — amassing some 20 million views with an assortment of video strangeness. There was "One Semester of Spanish — Love Song," an ode to Kim Kardashian that blew up on Telemundo; then there was "Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video," which blew up here. His new stand-up CD, No One's Even Listening, came out earlier this year, and Polk is about to hit the stage again in early April — in the title role of Last Call's Michael Stanley Superstar, a demented rock opera that puts the ass in "cult classic."
Best School District
Rocky River
Take a peek at the key numbers here and you might swear this was a private school system: 9 out of 10 students who pass through the halls of Rocky River advance to college. It achieved the highest possible ranking — "Excellent With Distinction" — on the most recent annual State of Ohio Report Card. And it blends a small-school atmosphere with the programs of a much larger district. River has implemented a series of objectives with a target of 2014 — and it appears they've arrived there a handful of years ahead of schedule.
21600 Center Ridge Rd., Rocky River; 440-333-6000; rrcs.org
Best Entrepreneur
Matt Fish of Melt
Sometimes the most brilliant ideas are the ones that seem so simple. Matt Fish had only modest expectations for his grilled cheese and brewski enterprise in Lakewood. What's resulted is a food phenomenon the likes of which cable TV can't even comprehend. With a Cleveland Heights location joining the Lakewood flagship, and a third Independence spot slated to launch this fall, Melt has enslaved the taste buds of Northeast Ohio and provided employment for nearly 200 locals. It's sheer brilliance that Fish would pair Cleveland and beer and cheese this way — and remarkable that it took three centuries to think of.
14718 Detroit Ave., Lakewood; 216-226-3699
13463 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights; 216-965-0988
Best Scenic Drive
Cleveland Metroparks
In how many cities can you duck off the urban path and be eyeing deer and majestic stone formations within minutes? There are sometimes quicker ways to get where you're going, but there's never a more bucolic way to get there than a leisurely trip through the Metroparks. Which route to take? It hardly matters. Bask in all of nature's beauty, but keep an eye out for bikers and joggers. They're allowed to soak in the scenery too, after all.
Best Place for People Watching
Tower City
Though it goes quiet after quitting time, midday at Tower City is a Whitman's Sampler of humanity — from professionals to panhandlers to tourists, and every flavor in between. We still dream of Tower City nightlife, but till then there's plenty to take in during the day.
230 West Huron Rd.; 216-623-4750; towercitycenter.com
Best Kept Secret
Loganberry Books
The secret here isn't necessarily the expansive collection of old and new books; it's more about the vitality of Harriett Logan's circa 1994 store — from the musical performances and artist visits, to the book club meetings and social group gatherings that fill the sun-dappled space with joy and warmth on a regular basis.
13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights; 216-795-9800; loganberrybooks.com
Best Place to Take the Kids
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
You ever schlepped your family to the zoo in some other cut-rate metropolis around the country? Try it once — or don't! — and you'll fall in love with Cleveland's zoo all over again. What sets it apart? Its sprawling grounds and countless exhibits that truly feel one with their surroundings, unlike the procession of cages that make up so many other parks. There's the sheer mind-boggling breadth of different creatures awaiting your visit, the countless kiddie attractions that keep the fun rolling long after the bears and giraffes lose their charm. There's the all-weather appeal, from bucolic summer days spent strolling the park to cozy winters defrosting in the Rainforest. And there's a zillion other reasons to love Cleveland's zoo, but maybe none so potent as this: A year-long family membership will set you back no more than what you'd blow on one forgettable day at the movies. But forget the memories you'll make at the zoo? Nope, ain't ever going to happen.
3900 Wildlife Way; 216-661-6500; clemetzoo.com
Best Jewelry Maker
Erika Originals
You might say the works of Lakewood artist Erika Laine Hansen are wearable little pieces of modern art, but each one traces its origins to something decidedly vintage: old skeleton keys, trinkets, maps, and other found materials that she unites with her handmade glass beadwork. The results are unique necklaces and other jewelry that's making a splash in area shops and shows.
216-571-4677; erikaoriginals.com
Best Museum
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
The first time anyone uttered the words rock & roll museum, there was surely some righteous weed circulating the room. But between those decades-old dreams and our modern reality on the lakefront, the notion of a rock museum has matured beyond belief. Dedicated to educating the world on the history, significance, and continued influence of rock music — and, not incidentally, to be perhaps the most fun you'll ever have at a museum — our beloved Rock Hall has become an iconic symbol of Cleveland, a linchpin of our cultural community, and the first thing visitors crave when they set foot on our fair shores.
1100 Rock and Roll Blvd.; 216-781-ROCK; rockhall.com
Best Cleveland Neighborhood & Best New Place to Live
Tremont
In the first half of the 19th century, Tremont came into maturity thanks to the effort of incoming Irish and Germans, Poles and Russians who migrated here and constructed what are still some of the region's most inviting homes and breathtaking churches. With its blend of vintage architecture and upscale new housing, its bohemian vibe fueled by art galleries and other small businesses, its reputation for good times after hours, and its veritable army of outstanding chefs and eateries, it's no wonder that everyone who isn't in Tremont is clamoring to get there. It's good news for all that competition is cropping up in burgeoning neighborhoods all over town, but venerable Tremont will always hold a special place in Clevelanders' hearts.
Best Photographer
Herb Ascherman
If modern gadgets have made everyone a photographer, they have also accentuated the artistry of Cleveland's Herbert Ascherman Jr. A black-and-white portraiture specialist whose career has spanned four decades, Ascherman favors platinum printing, the 140-year-old process by which a negative of the image is placed on platinum-coated paper and exposed to ultraviolet light. You don't find that at the Walgreens photo lab, and talents like Ascherman are equally rare.
216-464-6800; ascherman.com
- Best Of Cleveland
- 2011
It's about our sports teams, but also about the endless riches that surround us: our parks and beaches, our forests and waterways.
Yeah, there's always next year — but there's this year too.
Best Team
Cleveland Browns
You say they've hit a rough patch over the last generation or so? You'll excuse fans for choosing not to notice. We may win an NBA title or a World Series crown before the Browns sniff a Super Bowl, but it won't matter to the rabid populace that rolls with its gridiron heroes in good times and bad. Is there genuine reason to believe these days? Every bit as much as any other year: Mike Holmgren's at the helm, stars are emerging on both sides of the ball, and the Steelers and Ravens are due for a down year any decade now.
Best Coach
Byron Scott
Perhaps no coach in history has had the rug pulled out quite like the Cavaliers' latest top guy. Brought on board in the wake of last season's playoff meltdown, Scott signed on with a team that needed only the slightest boost to overcome its championship whammy. What it didn't need was for its singular superstar to skip town on a nationally televised sideshow mere days into Scott's tenure. The season that followed has gone every bit as badly as the coach's worst nightmares could suggest: injuries to every difference-maker on the roster, an all-time-worst losing streak, and players who seem only modestly into, y'know, doing what they're paid to do. But Scott has the support of management, and seemingly the confidence in himself to see this through. He's also got a fan base starved for a winner, yet patient as they come.
The Best of Everything
Year in and year out, no person or place dominates Scene's Best of Cleveland quite like the Cleveland Metroparks.
And perhaps nothing else could be more deserving: We count on our Emerald Necklace year-round — for everything from transportation to exercise to communing with Mother Nature.
Below is a sampling of the categories our Metroparks dominated yet again this year; you'll find others elsewhere in the issue:
• Best Place for Outdoor Exercise
• Best Place for Cross-Country Skiing
• Best Spot for Winter Recreation
• Best Picturesque Workout
• Best Place for Road Running
• Best Place for Off-Road Running
• Best Place for Biking
Best Athlete
Joshua Cribbs
Best of Cleveland voters have adopted the tack taken by NFL teams everywhere: Just because Joshua Cribbs doesn't burn you every time doesn't mean he won't next time. So the league tried its best to keep the ball away from Cribbs, and indeed, his 2010 stats didn't approach those of past seasons. There were no game-changing kick-return touchdowns, no wildcat-formation miracles for the former Kent State quarterback. But there was a palpable sense that the fearless Cribbs made a difference just by courting such rabid attention from defenses. He's also got the attention of adoring fans, who sense that one of their own is going to battle for them.
Best Indians Player
Shin-Soo Choo
The multitalented Choo has yet to be part of a Tribe team that hasn't crapped its pants coming out of the gate. But with a decent April, this could be the year Choo's still-developing talents reach the radar of baseball fans everywhere. A .300 hitter since emerging in 2008, the Tribe right fielder has also developed into our best power threat, bashing 42 homers over the last two seasons. Pair that with above-average speed and a Howitzer arm, and you've got the makings of a superstar. Pair that with a contract that locks him in through 2013, and you've got reason to breathe a little easier.
Best Browns Player
Peyton Hillis
Brady Quinn never looked so good as he did leaving town in a trade for this guy. With his straight-ahead bulldozer running, his tree-trunk arms, and his unabashed Dawg Pound pandering, the Browns' unlikely new feature back is a rising star fans have quickly grown to adore. Hillis was an overworked, unyielding tank in 2010, and it was a miracle he didn't break down. The Browns will surely look to ease his workload this year, which should be easier with an improved supporting cast due in camp.
Best Cavaliers Player
J.J. Hickson
When the Cavs' 6-9 forward-center goes on one of those shot-blocking, rim-rattling rampages, he's as electrifying a presence as you could hope for. But if there's a problem with the still-developing Hickson's game, it's that we don't see that madman often enough. There's no question that the N.C. State product has enough talent to thrive; the question is whether he has the drive. We'll likely know more by next season, when a few of the team's fractured pieces should be mended.
Best Sports Executive
Dan Gilbert
It says much about the makeup of Cleveland sports fans that Dan Gilbert earned this honor just after his team set the all-time world record for losing. But Gilbert also delivered the best years of basketball Cleveland has ever seen, and he vowed better days when the wheels fell off the wagon last summer. No, there's not much to recommend his Cavaliers these days, but there's a strong sense Gilbert won't stand for much more losing. In a town where the agony of defeat is served daily, one guy who insists otherwise can be king.
Best Minor League Team
Lake County Captains
The 2010 Midwest League Champions did not sit idle over the offseason: They concocted a lineup of game-day entertainment to rival any we've ever seen. Try this 2011 season sampler on for size: Monday Buck Nights (eat cheap), Tuesday Dog Nights (bring your pooch), Wine & Wing Wednesdays (showcasing local establishments), Thirsty Thursdays (because 10-cent beer nights always end well), and weekend fireworks extravaganzas. As far as we know, there will also be baseball games.
35300 Vine St., Eastlake; 440-975-8085;
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Best Beach
Mentor Headlands
With its mile stretch of pristine sand beach — the longest beachfront in Ohio — Mentor Headlands provides ample space for summer fun or seclusion, depending on what you're after. Changing areas make in-and-out easier, and hiking, fishing, and playground options supply plenty of dry fun too.
9601 Headlands Rd., Mentor; 216-881-8141; dnr.state.ohio.us/parks
Best Fitness Club
Fitworks
They're everything you'd want in a fitness club and nothing you don't need. There's a reason Fitworks has become the nation's top workout stop, and why Cleveland's sweating along too. Dozens of area locations make it easy to keep that promise to yourself.
Locations throughout Northeast Ohio; fitworks.com
Best College Team
Cleveland State Basketball
This one didn't end much like it started: The 2010-2011 Vikings stormed onto the national scene, ringing up 13 straight victories out of the gate. But after a setback to mighty West Virginia, the rigors of Horizon League play set in, and Gary Waters' squad lumbered back to the pack. Their NCAA Tournament dreams were dashed, but the fortunes of their all-conference senior guard remain intact: Norris Cole is turning heads among NBA scouts, and further bolstering CSU's growing rep.
Best High School Team
St. Edward
No arguing with this track record of success. In the current school year alone, the Lakewood Catholic school has served up state champions in football — where it took the big-school title with a 15-0 record — and wrestling. It's a good year for basketball too: The Eagles posted a 15-5 regular season record (including a split of four games at a holiday tournament in San Diego, of all places) before bowing out short of the state tournament. Also delightful for Eagle fans: Their Best High School Team title comes at the expense of arch-rival St. Ignatius, the most beloved school among Scene voters last year.
Best Place for Rock Climbing
Cleveland Rock Gym
Perhaps the only place in town that offers something called a "Crack Clinic," Cleveland Rock Gym is the all-weather answer for local climbing addicts. It's always a blast, and always safety first: Experts are welcome to come and go anytime, though newbies must call ahead to ensure professional help is plentiful. For advanced climbers there are competitive leagues, and for festive climbers private parties are welcome.
21200 Saint Clair Ave., Euclid; 216-692-3300; clevelandrockgym.com
Best Social/Recreation Club
Cleveland Plays
Would life march on if thirtysomethings had nowhere to play dodgeball? Thanks to Cleveland Plays, we'll never have to know. The coed sport and social club exists to keep young professionals active on the court and on the nightlife scene. With year-round leagues in everything from football to euchre, Cleveland Plays provides playgrounds for those of us who choose never to outgrow them.
Best Place to See a Game
Progressive Field
Take the basketball team out of the basketball arena, and funny how fast the thrill is gone. No such disappointments across the street at Progressive Field, Cleveland's big-time shrine to big-league ball. Even when the Tribe's not winning, the joys of nine innings here are innumerable: from the fantastic sight lines to the glorious peek at our skyline, right down to the hot dog races. The place already holds no shortage of magic memories, plus the promise of new ones every spring.
Best Road Race
St. Malachi Run
It's a dash held in dreary early March through the bowels of the industrial Flats. So yes, there is liquor involved — but also a most noble cause: proceeds benefit the hospice operated by St. Malachi Catholic Church at the foot of the Detroit-Superior Bridge. The 31st annual running of the two- and five-mile races hosted more than 4,000 participants this year, despite an assortment of wintry crud falling from the sky. Runners were rewarded with an after-party worthy of their efforts at the downtown watering hole McCarthy's. Indeed, the thrill of victory never tasted so good.
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Best Roller Coaster
Millennium Force
It's the one that changed the roller-coaster world when it opened 11 summers ago, and it's still the signature ride at America's signature coaster park. Though it may have relinquished a few of the 10 world records it set at the time of its unveiling, Millennium Force is second to none when it comes to ridiculous thrills: a 310-foot surge that gives way to an 80-degree plummet at 93 miles per hour. The park's longest lines still happen right here, and nobody ever seems to mind the wait.
One Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky;
419-627-2350; cedarpoint.com
Best Marathon
Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon
Hailed as one of the fastest courses in America, the Rite Aid Marathon has benefited in recent years from slight tweaks to its course layout. Last year it incorporated Ohio City and Tremont, and this year the action is slated to start and finish near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at North Coast Harbor — hence the tagline "The Cleveland Experience." Along the way, crowds from University Circle to Lakewood will cheer on the participants. More than 15,000 runners took part in 2010, and a record-shattering 19,000-plus are expected this year.
The 34th Annual Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon takes place Sunday, May 15. Learn more at clevelandmarathon.com
Best Triathlon
Greater Cleveland Triathlon
It takes a special brand of masoch*st to withstand the rigors of an international triathlon course — and in the blast furnace blaze of a midwestern summer, no less. Held each year in August, the Greater Cleveland Triathlon starts with a three-quarter-mile open-water swim at Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor, then gives way to a 23-mile bike ride through the enchanting burgs of Kirtland Hills, Concord, and Painesville. It ends with a 6.2 mile run back to the beach, followed by nine days of walking like a wounded penguin. Sound like your idea of fun? Welcome to the crazy club. This year's Greater Cleveland Triathlon takes place Sunday, August 7. Learn more at greaterclevelandtriathlon.com
Best Place to Swim
Edgewater Park
Nothing says summer in Cleveland like a Lake Erie dip in the shadow of downtown. That's as good a reason as any to settle in on the shores at Edgewater, where fun-seekers have been swimming their days away for generations. No beach better celebrates Cleveland — or sits so close to all the action.
6500 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway;
216-881-8141; dnr.state.oh.us/parks
Best Pickup Basketball Courts
Village Green in Olmsted Falls
At a time when most cities are tearing down their courts or otherwise sabotaging them to prevent kids from committing the egregious offense of — gasp — playing basketball, Olmsted Falls remains committed to the blacktop. Thanks largely to their new hoops and smooth concrete, the Village Green courts, at the corner of Columbia Road and Water Street, are bustling most nights and weekends. It's where players of every talent level await your killer crossover or patented "I'll just stand in the corner and pass" move.
Best Community Recreation Center
Strongsville's Ehrnfelt Recreation Center
Steam rooms, saunas, a 24-person whirlpool, two swimming pools, a half-mile indoor track, strength training equipment, pool tables, and two gymnasiums: No, it isn't a high-priced gym or some highfalutin' spa. It's the community recreation center in Strongsville, where everyone from tots to seniors do their best to live up to their city's name.
18100 Royalton Rd., Strongsville; 440-580-3260; strongsville.org
Best Reason to Be a Cleveland Sports Fan
We Never Give Up
Remember that scene in Cool Hand Luke where Paul Newman keeps getting battered around the prison yard by George Kennedy, but stumbles back to his feet with a smile every time? Nobody ever said Paul Newman wasn't cool, and nobody says it about you either. Yeah, everyone admires the trophy cases in New York and Pittsburgh — but who the hell can stand their fans? Rest well in knowing that you may never see a title, but you will go to sleep with the sporting world's respect.
Best Place for Birdwatching
The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes
Our feathered friends can't read the signs identifying this urban oasis as an Important Bird Area and a National Environmental Education Landmark. Yet somehow they know that Shaker Lakes is for the birds. Those who watch the winged wonders have reported more than 150 species among the forests, streams, and lakes that make up this green sanctuary, including beauties like cerulean warblers, red-tailed hawks, great blue herons, kingfishers, wood ducks, and barred owls — often conveniently located along the park's trails or near the observation deck and visitors' center.
2600 South Park Blvd.; 216-321-5935; shakerlakes.org
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Best Place for Mountain Biking
Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation
The only sanctioned, public, outdoor mountain bike trail in Cuyahoga and Summit counties winds a two-mile route through Cleveland Metroparks' Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, with a trail head outside the CanalWay Center. The short loop of about half a mile is perfect for newbies; the longer loop has some steep terrain and sharp curves, making it best for experienced riders. Just remember: The trail is closed from January until May, due to wet conditions.
Entrance off East 49th St., Cuyahoga Heights; 216-206-1000; clemetparks.com
Best Batting Cages
Swings N Things Family Fun Park
The largest batting cages in Ohio are also the most versatile: Swings N Things boasts 15 pitching machines — all sheltered from the elements — that hurl the horsehide at speeds ranging from slow-pitch softball to 80 mph baseball. Plus, all-day and all-season passes keep the pitches coming for less.
8501 Stearns Rd., Olmsted Township; 440-235-4420; sntfun.com
Best Place for (Legal) Gaming
Charity Poker in the Flats
While all of Cleveland holds its breath for downtown casino gaming, it's been game-on for years at the Nautica Charity Poker Festivals in the Flats. Long held in the Powerhouse, the action moved recently to nearby Elm Street as the West Bank makes way for a new aquarium. Each festival benefits any of a long list of charities, from local schools, to arts and sports groups, to recovery resources. A comprehensive online schedule shows you exactly which cause you're aiding on any given night — though your own wallet is as good a cause as any.
2249 Elm St.; nauticacharitypoker.org
Best Mini Golf
Swings N Things Family Fun Park
The region's fickle weather patterns tend to take their toll on our miniature golf courses. No such problems at this Olmsted Township bastion of good times: The twin 18-hole courses at Swings N Things each play like a stroll through a miniature Disneyland. There's a 35-foot castle and waterfalls and fountains aplenty — plus impeccable putting greens for when your fun takes a competitive turn.
8501 Stearns Rd., Olmsted Township; 440-235-4420; sntfun.com
Best Reason Next Year Will Be Our Year
Colt McCoy
His stats don't exactly elicit fantasy-stud drool: In eight games of his rookie season, Colt McCoy threw more interceptions (9) than touchdown passes (6). But there's plenty to like about the young Texan, who never knew how to lose before he reached the NFL, but passed his crash-course in hard luck with flying colors. The tingly new feeling for Browns fans is that sense that finally there might not be a traditional quarterback battle leading up to the new season. Browns brass have said Colt is their guy; now please excuse them while they address a few dozen uglier roster concerns. So far, Mike Holmgren gets a pass on stuff like this: If a Super Bowl-winning boss says McCoy's good enough for him, he's good enough for the rest of us too.
Best Skate Park
Lakewood Skatepark
Years of planning and occasional controversy paid off in the completion of Phase 1 in early 2005, and Lakewood's reputation as the region's top spot for grinding has proliferated ever since. Tucked into a corner of beautiful, sprawling Lakewood Park, the grounds consist of a series of ramps and obstacles favored by skaters from points east to west. The park also serves as a symbolic ground zero for the Lakewood Skaters Association, a vibrant movement dedicated to promoting the sport and erasing the negative connotations that often accompany it. They're also instrumental in raising the $80K needed to build the long-awaited Phase 2 bowl.
At Belle and Lake Aves., Lakewood; 216-272-8603; lkwdskaters.org
Best Amusem*nt Park
Cedar Point
As long as there will be a Best Amusem*nt Park category, it seems likely there will be only one winner. Who, after all, could vote against one of the premier parks in all the world, with its 17 roller coasters and untold hundreds of other means of delivering the fun every summer? What Cedar Point gets less credit for is its constant dedication to upping the ante. This year it's outdone itself with Windseeker, an outrageous sort of sideways Ferris wheel that might put a welcome dent in the lines at Top Thrill Dragster and Millennium Force. But nothing, it seems, can dent that line of thrilled guests streaming in and out of the park each day.
One Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky;
419-627-2350; cedarpoint.com
Best Place for a Sweaty Date
B Side Liquor Lounge
Take a cement-walled basem*nt bar, throw in local and touring DJs spinning everything from dub tracks to golden oldies, add a lot of ever-so-tasteful facial hair, and you've got the B Side. Boasting a hearty dose of street cred among Cleveland's young and hip, the Coventry bar is packed seven days a week. Already found the club-hopper of your dreams? The B Side also offers a unique menu of options for couples: Cuddle up on the couches, sip Pabst at the bar, or press the flesh on the packed and laser-tinged dance floor.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights; 216-932-1966;
Best Place for Downhill Skiing
Brandywine Ski Resort
It ain't Aspen, and that's okay with us: Brandywine Ski Resort has been attracting local skiers and snowboarders for decades, with easy access, a beautiful setting, and prices that won't empty your wallet. Featuring 10 challenging trails, freestyle terrain, and special areas set aside for snow tubing, it's a family-friendly destination where snow bunnies and Shaun White wannabes alike can show their stuff.
1146 West Highland Rd., Northfield; 330-467-8198; bmbw.com
Best Golf Course
Big Met
The folks at Big Met claim theirs is the most-played golf course in Ohio, and we see no reason why it wouldn't be. Situated in the heart of the Cleveland Metroparks' Rocky River Reservation, Big Met is a gorgeous blend of rolling hills, lush woodland, and wide-open spaces — the perfect course for all of us who've long since cast aside our PGA dreams but never our love of the game. And how do you know that Big Met is a singularly Northeast Ohio pleasure? Because 18 holes here still won't set you back so much as 30 bucks.
4811 Valley Parkway, Fairview Park; 440-331-1070; clemetparks.com
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1, 1)var prevPrevIndex = Math.max(index - 2, 1)var nextIndex = index + 1var nextNextIndex = index + 2var prevIndexLoaded = bestOfInstance.items.filter('[bestof-index="' + prevIndex + '"]').length > 0var prevPrevIndexLoaded = bestOfInstance.items.filter('[bestof-index="' + prevPrevIndex + '"]').length > 0var nextIndexLoaded = bestOfInstance.items.filter('[bestof-index="' + nextIndex + '"]').length > 0var nextNextIndexLoaded = bestOfInstance.items.filter('[bestof-index="' + nextNextIndex + '"]').length > 0if(!prevIndexLoaded) {jQuery(bestOfInstance.itemContainerSelector + ' div[uk-spinner]').remove()// jQuery(bestOfInstance.itemContainerSelector).prepend(bestOfInstance.spinnerHTML)bestOfInstance.fetchMore(Math.max(prevIndex - 9, 1))}else if(!prevPrevIndexLoaded) {jQuery(bestOfInstance.itemContainerSelector + ' div[uk-spinner]').remove()// jQuery(bestOfInstance.itemContainerSelector).prepend(bestOfInstance.spinnerHTML)bestOfInstance.fetchMore(Math.max(prevPrevIndex - 9, 1))}if(!nextIndexLoaded) {jQuery(bestOfInstance.itemContainerSelector + ' div[uk-spinner]').remove()jQuery(bestOfInstance.itemContainerSelector).append(bestOfInstance.spinnerHTML)bestOfInstance.fetchMore(nextIndex)}else if(!nextNextIndexLoaded) {jQuery(bestOfInstance.itemContainerSelector + ' div[uk-spinner]').remove()jQuery(bestOfInstance.itemContainerSelector).append(bestOfInstance.spinnerHTML)bestOfInstance.fetchMore(nextNextIndex)}}, 500)}}var lastIndex = bestOfInstance.currentItemIndexjQuery(window).on('scroll resize', function () {// Give lazyLoad a chance to finish before submiting more requests// var lazyLoadTimeout = setTimeout(function () {// }, 200)var currentIndex = bestOfInstance.currentItemIndexif(currentIndex !== lastIndex) {lastIndex = currentIndexlazyLoadSurroundingItems(currentIndex)console.log(`BestOf Item index: ${currentIndex}`)fireEvent('foundation:bestof:itemchange')}})this.initialized = falsethis.init = function () {if (this.initialized === true) return// Prevent the browser from trying to scroll to the last scroll position before reloadif (history.scrollRestoration) {history.scrollRestoration = 'manual'}var startIndex = this.items.first().attr('bestof-index')var oid = window.location.pathname.match(/\d+$/)if (oid) {var grabIndex = parseInt(this.items.closest('[bestof-id="' + oid[0] + '"]').attr('bestof-index'))if (!isNaN(grabIndex)) {var startIndex = grabIndex}}if (startIndex > 1) {this.scrollToIndex(startIndex)}if(jQuery(this.itemContainerSelector + '[single-listing]').length === 0) {this.lazyLoadMoreResults = true}this.initialized = truelazyLoadSurroundingItems(startIndex)}return this}var BestOfItems = new BestOfItemsObj()// Timeout to prevent fast jogging from item to itemvar itemChangeTimeout = nulljQuery(document).on('foundation:bestof:itemchange', function () {itemChangeTimeout = setTimeout(function () {updateMetaDataFromElement(BestOfItems.currentItem)// Google track pageviewif (typeof ga === 'function') {console.log("foundation:bestof:itemchange event", "sending pageview navigation to:", window.location.href);ga('set', 'location', window.location.href)for (let i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {let currentDimension = jQuery(BestOfItems.currentItem).attr('ga-dimension'+i)if (typeof currentDimension === 'string') {ga('set', 'dimension' + i, currentDimension)}else {ga('set', 'dimension' + i, '') }}ga('send', 'pageview')}}, 200)if (typeof (Foundation.Ad.slots['CLE_LeaderboardHeader-1']) === 'object') {Foundation.Ad.refresh('CLE_LeaderboardHeader-1')}if (typeof (Foundation.Ad.slots['CLE_Footer-1']) === 'object') {Foundation.Ad.showFooter('CLE_Footer-1');}})// Try to init immediatelyBestOfItems.init()// On document loadedjQuery(function () {BestOfItems.init()})})();
