I adored eating my way through Cleveland. And the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame could easily have become my home for days. But Cleveland also offers everything from high culture, to fun shopping.

University Circle

I always appreciate it when cities put their museums and cultural attractions together. Whether by design or accident, or a bit of both, Cleveland has certainly done that with the area called University Circle. It is a true destination – it even has its own visitors center.

There’s everything you can imagine there, from the Children’s Museum of Cleveland to Western Reserve Historical Society (that preserves and uses its collections, historic sites, and museums to inspire people to explore the history and culture of Northeastern Ohio), including the gorgeous Cleveland Botanical Garden. But you’ll also find Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, the Dittrick Medical History Center and Museum, and the Dunham Tavern Museum.

It could certainly take days to explore, but one place to enjoy should certainly be The Cleveland Cultural Gardens. John D. Rockefeller donated the land for the park to his city in 1896 in celebration of Cleveland's first centennial. The Gardens contain 36 spaces devoted to the cultures and nationalities of Cleveland's population. It started with the idea of a Shakespeare Garden. Dedicated in 1916, the Shakespeare bust and the Shakespeare Garden were dedicated as part of a celebration that stretched across the world. This is now the British Garden, and there is another proposed Shakespeare garden in the wings.

The Hebrew Garden was the first official garden dedicated in 1926 and the German Garden was next in 1929. Currently the most recent completed garden is Azerbaijan Garden dedicated in May, 2008 But the site keeps growing and may soon shelter a proposed Scottish Garden and a Syrian Garden. Each section has its own design and artifacts. Visitors can stroll, or drive, park and stroll through the cultural heritage of this diverse city.

If walking makes you hungry, University Circle offers plenty of dining possibilities.

Playhouse district

In the very opening years of the 1920s, money flowed into Cleveland, and in quick succession (between February 1921 and November 1922) five opulent theaters opened along the stretch of Euclid Avenue. Four of the new theaters were literally next door to one another on the north side of Euclid, while the Hanna was opened across the street in the Hanna Building.

When money fled the city, as it has been known to do especially during the Great Depression, the area struggled financially. The theaters of the Playhouse District languished and finally closed. But as in the classic story of the Phoenix – the bird that rises from its ashes – the theaters of the Playhouse District today are flourishing and have made of a vibrant theater district where something is always happening.

The Hanna Theatre is the most recent to open and it is a place of vision. The space has been totally redesigned to create a more intimate setting. The number of seats has been reduced from 1000 to 550. Socializing before and after performances is encouraged with couches in the back and even cozy nooks. There are bar stools so people can sit at the bar, have a drink and enjoy the performance. It features comfy club chairs and lots of different seating options. Playhouse Square Center with five historic and two new contemporary theaters is now the second largest performing arts center with Lincoln Center in NYC being the largest.

Culinary Vegetable Institute and The Chefs Garden

Just outside of Cleveland, in nearby Milan, Ohio, is perhaps one of the most unusual culinary institutes – the Culinary Vegetable Institute. The retreat and learning center started as an effort by the Jones family to quite literally save the family farm. In the process, they have created a relationship and synergy between the folks to grow the food and the folks who cook the food.

Their chef and farmer partnership resulted in a special Chefs Garden – growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs like none I’ve ever tasted. The produce is unusual, innovative and took my breath away with intense flavors. Microanise hysop. Micro thyme, mustard cress, even fresh microcumin. The taste explodes in the mouth. Even the tiny tomatoes were bursting with sweet flavor. How do they get such intense unique flavor? They farm the soil and carefully select the seeds to grow. Today The Chefs Garden supplies more than 600 micro herbs, edible flowers and heirloom vegetables to the nation’s finest restaurants and world-renowned chefs.

Although tours are not available, the Institute runs special programs throughout the year including wine tastings, dinners, and cooking demonstrations and classes.

Westside Market

Meanwhile back in town, the Westside Market is a joy to stroll, shop, and eat through the culinary diversity and pleasures. From pierogi to falafel, with more than 180 vendors offering ethnic delicacies and an amazing variety of fresh bakery, produce, dairy products, meats and seafood. Oh, my gosh!

Offbeat Cleveland

Although I didn’t get a chance to visit, I was quite fascinated by the Glass Bubble Project. Glass art is one of my passions and the studio is known to make gorgeous pieces from recycled material. Old windshield glass, pieces of metal, bolts and even sprockets. Some of their work is reminiscent of Dale Chihuly fluid and etheral.Demonstration days are on Saturdays from noon to 3PM, but you can come in any day to observe us working except Sundays (when they are closed). They also offer individual and two person classes.

Big Fun Toy Store

Most toy stores are for kids, but this one is clearly for everyone, and definitely adults as well. Just wonderful quirky things, and certainly not your average toys. It’s offbeat, quirky, and wonderful. Here’s the philosophy about the store: “Imagine piles of toys up to (and on) the ceiling -- new, used and nostalgic. We buy and sell -- but only as long as goods amply register on the "cool meter" of founder Steve Presser.” Like I said, toys for adults, but you may well find something for the kids, too.

B A Sweetie

For pure candy fun and nostalgia it’s B A Sweetie. If it’s being made we carry it is their slogan. Caramel creams, satellite wafers, jelly bellies. All the candies from the 1950s.

For more information on visiting Cleveland contact Positively Cleveland

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