AlphabetSoup

Looking to eat local?

Tired of eating in chain restaurants?

Check out Cleveland Independents.

From the Cleveland Independent web site:

Cleveland Independents exists to promote dining in independently owned restaurants and to serve the interests of the independent restaurateur. The purpose of the Cleveland Independents is to protect, nurture and promote independent restaurants in northeast Ohio.

Right now they are having a certificate give-away. They be doing random drawings for free certificates each day from July 4th through Bastille Day (July 14th). Only new email sign-ups are eligible.

If you aren’t on their mailing list, sign up today.

If you are in a gift giving mood, you can purchase gift certificates to many local restaurants for friends and family (Three Birds is one of my favorites).

Enjoy supporting local restaurants.

I have used RTA to get to work every Monday for three weeks now.

They system is simple, easy, and quick.

The first day did have a learning curve, and my only real criticism. The RTA could use better, and more prominent signage.

Catching the train is easy, follow the sounds of the train, pay $4 for an all-day pass, and when you get the platform, get on the next one. Not too difficult. But if I hadn’t done the online research to know what pass to get, or how much exact change to have, I am not sure I would have been able to figure it out standing at the turn-styles. But there is always a person in the little booth, and so far, they have all be friendly.

When you get off the train at Tower City, and they follow the herd to public square, is where the confusion starts.

I was looking for the #3 bus that went up and down Superior Ave. So I headed to one of the 4-5 bus stops on Superior looking for the bus. RTA put a rather small, but clearly marked blue sign with white numbers, letting you know which bus route stops at each station, but you have to walk up to each station to see the numbers (I will provide a photo).

It seems like most bus lines meet up at Public square. 10s of buses criss-cross Public Square. Each sign has 5-10 bus routes on it.

My first day, I missed the #3 bus at least three times. The third time I actually saw it turn on to Superior and drive away.

Yes, I said “turn onto Superior.”

The bus that is supposed to drive up and down Superior all day, doesn’t pick up riders on Superior, at Public Square. 

If there was a map when you walked out of tower city, or signs directing you to the proper corner, or area of the square to catch the bus you are looking for, it would have been much nicer than walking all around the square looking for the #3.

The 2nd and 3rd trips were flawless, simple, and from door-to-door, it takes about 40 minutes. My normal 12 miles drive takes about 15 minutes (20 minutes some days with traffic) and costs about $2.50-$3.00 in gas, and about $2 in normal wear-and-tear.

All-in-all, I am probably breaking even, financially. But it does feel nice to be able to use public transportation, and to have a system that works.

I have decided that on Monday, I am going to come to work via public transportation.

After spending some time in Europe, I have been inspired to support Cleveland’s public transportation system (other than a means to get to the Muni lot before a Browns game).

From Westpark to Mid-Town — I am on a mission.

At first glance, I think I am going to take the train from Westpark to Tower City, then jump on the bus down Superior to East 40th.

Sure, I am saving gas, but I don’t use that much on my 24-mile commute (round trip). I fill up twice a month.

I see this as a step forward. The only way to get people to support public transportation is to start using it. If my usage inspired someone I know to use it, then they might inspire more usage. If more people use it, then RTA can spend more on buses, new routes, maintenance, clean-up, technologies, etc.

Of course, one ride will only yield about $4 to RTA, but if al goes well, this could be my daily commute, and that could help RTA, Cleveland, the planet, and me.

A win-win.

I think ESPN’s Peter Gammons put it best, and I paraphrase…

Cleveland Indians fans need to get over the dismantling of the teams of the 1990s, and wake up to the realization that we have a good young team now.

Where are all the 42,000+ fans that filled the Jake for 455 straight games? We had a team that was in first place before Sunday’s sweep by the Yankees. And yet we are at the bottom of the list when it comes to attendance.

The Lebron-aliers finished playing in June. The Browns just started this past weekend. Where, oh where, have all the Indians fans gone?

Some people call the local radio shows and proclaim that they won’t come back until the Indians win. Win what? A World Series? Would you miss that? A Pennant? Would you only watch after that? The division? So, only after it has been won? A Wild card? So the 162-game-race is of no interest?

What is wrong with supporting the local team, win or lose? Only the Browns get 100% support, no matter what the record is, or how they play, or who they sign, or don’t sign. The Browns get a free pass.

What is wrong with watching a team that has a winning record?

Or a team that is leading the division?

Nope, Indians fans are still upset over Bartolo being traded for Lee Stevens, Tim Drew, Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee, and Brandon Phillips. They are still upset that Manny left for the money (just hear the boos when he’s in town). They are still upset that Thome left for Philly and that the Indians did very little to keep him. And they are upset that Omar was let go.

Bartolo was traded in 2002.

5 YEARS AGO!

I just don’t get it.

I think Indians fans need to realize now that the Indians have made some good moves, and have created a solid core to compete with the high-priced, over-paid $200 Million all-star teams. And I think if fans started to come back to the park to enjoy it, then maybe you’ll be in line soon enough for some playoff tickets, and not saying to your friend… “Ok, now I’ll go watch the Indians.”

What kind of fan is that?

While listeing to WCPN this morning, a local caller gave his opinion on the discussion of the Medical Mart + Convention Center.

It went something like this:

“No one is going to come to Cleveland for a convention. If I lived in another city, I’d never come here. We need to stop talking about a Convention Center, and start thinking in reality.”

Do you think Cleveland is a destination location?

What about all the conventions that currently come to Cleveland?

Why do Clevelanders think that people don’t want to come here? Why would we chose to live here, and yet think if we didn’t we wouldn’t come visit?

Why do we not want people to come visit?

This kind of attitude goes back to my comments about Cleveland’s negative self-image problem.

I just don’t get it.