It’s Summer in Cleveland! Let’s Get Out and Engage!

I know I am not alone when I say – wow – what a difference a year makes! The world has begun to reopen, and with CDC guidance and that of Ohio’s Governor, June 2nd marked the beginning of a return to normalcy here in Northeast Ohio. As we enter summer, I want to share a few Cleveland area events I’ve already had the opportunity to attend which underscore how profoundly grateful I am that we can again experience world-class culture, connect with nature, and attend professional sports games right in our own backyard! It’s also great to see the return of visitors and tourism to our area and as well as access to one of the nation’s great free speech forums that informs our citizens and encourages open dialogue during a time when Cleveland will elect its first new mayor in 16 years. I hope these highlights will energize you as they have me to get out there and engage in our community.

The curtains have raised in our theatres!?While the Broadway series isn’t scheduled to open until later this fall, Choir of Man has taken the stage at Playhouse Square. Consistent with our leadership role in theatre, Cleveland’s Choir of Man was the first show in the country to open post-pandemic. As a Playhouse Square Trustee, I am thrilled with and proud of how we have emerged from this crisis. Being first to the stage is certainly a testament to both our leadership and our resilience. I was fortunate to see one of the dress rehearsals and it was amazing to watch an audience effectively awaken from a 15-month slumber! The show is billed as, ‘the best pub show you’ve ever seen” and depicts a group of Irish men singing, dancing, and playing fantastic music in the backdrop of a pub. It’s lively entertainment and will run in Cleveland until early August! There is something special about seeing a live performance - come to the theatre and prepare to be moved. ?

Baseball is back at Progressive Field without restrictions!?I was at the June 2nd game (a.k.a. Opening Day 2.0) and the energy was simply incredible. The ballpark opened up to 100 percent capacity and fans can now focus on the game and all of the cool promotions rather than a long list of restrictions. I have been able to enjoy several (winning!) games this season, including Dollar Dog Day, where I learned that approximately 45,000 hot dogs were made in anticipation of the demand! This team has been tremendous to their season ticket holders and fans throughout this challenging year, and now it’s our turn to show up and give our support to what is known as America’s favorite pastime - It’s time to PLAY BALL!

Thank God for the Metroparks!?I can’t even count how many people I have heard say, “the Metroparks saved me” during the pandemic. The park system did their best to stay accessible and give people a place to be socially distant in the outdoors, which helped many of us stay mentally balanced. During late June, I was able to attend the ribbon cutting for the new Wendy Park bridge which enables those on foot or bicycle to get from Whiskey Island into the Flats. This project has been in progress for years, requiring the efforts and collaboration of countless organizations to get it completed. It is a great asset to the downtown area. The entire bike trail project on the near west side is a testament to the leadership of the Metroparks and a true benefit to our community. Earlier in June, I visited the zoo for the Walk to Remember for Hospice of the Western Reserve which was another great reminder of how much the Metroparks have to offer while giving me an opportunity to reflect on the lives of my parents who were both cared for by Hospice. Metroparks – thanks for keeping me sane!

Happy 5th Anniversary Cleveland Hilton! It is hard to believe that in 2015, the Hilton was just being built in anticipation of the Republican National Convention, that was hosted in Cleveland in July 2016. During one of my early Leadership Cleveland workshops in the fall of 2015, I was part of a hard-hat tour of the new building and could only imagine how much opportunity it would provide to the city for future events. I recently got to return to Bar 32 at the top of the Hilton and also to share a toast with the Hilton team as they celebrated their 5th anniversary. Seeing Cleveland from that amazing view from the 32nd floor reminded me of the growth of our city, particularly over the last decade. In 2019, Cleveland welcomed nearly 20 million visitors and brought in almost $10 billion dollars from tourism. We enjoyed hosting the RNC in 2016, the MLB Allstar Game in 2019 and the NFL Draft this past spring. While it will likely take a few years to see the tourism industry rebound to pre-pandemic levels, 2021 will be a good year for tourism in Cleveland according to Destination Cleveland and likely even better in 2022 when we host the NBA Allstar game. If you haven’t been to Bar 32 in over a year, it’s time to return!

Critical Conversations of Consequence – So many organizations pivoted to virtual operations during the pandemic and I couldn’t be more proud of how quickly and effectively The City Club of Cleveland kept us all connected around important topics. We have a long way to go as a nation to be singing from the same hymnal, but I sleep better at night knowing The City Club is working tirelessly to make sure our community tackles these important conversations of consequence. Of paramount importance right now are the primaries for our Congressional seats and the election of Cleveland’s next mayor. Without taking a political stance, these elections are important to our community, and The City Club is helping shape perspectives on these races. In particular, during June, the City Club hosted a debate of the Democratic candidates for the seat vacated by Marcia Fudge. If you haven’t seen it and are a voter in the 11th District, do watch it as it helped me make my mind up as to which candidate was truly ready to hit the ground running day one and fight vigorously for the district. While it is early days for the 16th District primary, I would suggest voters there watch the replay of the interview with the sitting Congressman, Anthony Gonzalez, as I think it’s important to all voters to hear how he explains the most politically divisive votes of his life in the name of democracy. There will be more to come from The City Club on local races, the Mayoral primary later this fall, and national topics. I am excited that they will be having live forums on Public Square beginning in July!

We have all been through so much over the last year and a half. It is time to reignite all the good things we are fortunate to have here in our community! I implore you to find ways to reinvest in our community, whether it be through engaging with the arts, attending sporting events, supporting our parks, or frequenting our amazing restaurant scene. For reasons of which we are all aware, this reinvestment is critical to help many of our Cleveland treasures to make it through to the other side after all the challenges of this past year.???