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.

Eric, my old college friend, my best man in our wedding, and Coldplay’s Merchandise Manager, called me on Monday and asked if I would be interested in working on the tour again (I went out for 2 months in the summer of 2005 for the X&Y Tour). I’ll only be working the first 3-week leg.

After checking with the wife, and the boss, I am free to go, and all set, aside from some final paperwork, to hit the road for three weeks.

Their tour’s first leg kicks off in Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 14 at the Forum and ends on Monday, August 4 in Boston at the Banknorth Garden.

Here is the complete schedule:

July 14 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum
July 15 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum
July 18 – San Jose, CA – HP Pavilion
July 19 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
July 23 – Chicago, IL – United Center
July 25 – Philadelphia, PA – Wachovia Center
July 27 – Pemberton Festival
July 29 – Montreal, QB – Bell Centre
July 30 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre
August 02 – Hartford, CT – XL Center
August 03 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center
August 04 – Boston, MA – TD Banknorth Arena

I look forward to seeing all the friends I made when I went out in 2005. If I am going to be in your neck of the woods, give me a call.

I will be posting photos and updates to this blog from my journey around the country (and Canada).

A final note, yes, I am aware, I have the best wife, and the best boss in the world. Getting both of them to “let” me leave Cleveland for three weeks to work for a rock band wasn’t hard, but I appreciate their “permission” and understanding.