HIDDEN GEMS

HIDDEN GEMS REAL THE UNIOUE SIDE OF CLEVELAND IS PERHAPS ITS MOST ENDEARING

PAGETURNERS

By Kevin Carpenter

A Christmas Story House

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

WHERE HISTORY MEETS OUIRK, YOU’LL FIND THESE OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH TREASURES By Sarah Parr

> Ralphie-approved We triple-dog dare you to not visit perhaps the most iconic set of all holiday-themed movies. Located in Tremont, the A Christmas Story House is open for both tours and overnight stays, while the museum across the street boasts original costumes, props and rare behind-the-scenes pix.

> Homerun As Cleveland starts a new chapter in baseball history with the dawn of the Guardians, what better time to dive into baseball’s diverse past?

The Baseball Heritage Museum at League Park features all kinds of historical artifacts to tell the stories of the Latin and Caribbean leagues, the Negro and

Women’s leagues and more.

> Hot spot Firefighters are some of the bravest real-life heroes, and their jobs deserve to be learned about and celebrated. The Western Reserve Fire

Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing historical firefighting vehicles, equipment and photos—all inside a retired fire station that was built almost a century ago.

> Religious experience Fascinated by the art of sculpture? Does Catholicism hold a special place in your heart? No matter the case, the Sanctuary Museum (formerly known as the Museum of Divine Statues) is the place to experience beautiful religious art—all in 3D—in the former St. Hedwig church.

> Do you believe in magic? The Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick

is the only one of its kind in the nation. What started out as author Raymond

Buckland’s collection in the 1960s has now grown to hundreds of artifacts that display witchcraft imagery and tools of the occult.

BOOK IT TO VISIBLE VOICE BOOKS

The Cleveland Public Library system spreads the joy of reading to all corners of the city. Over at the Langston Hughes branch, crack open a special collection of original documents and priceless artifacts— including an autographed 1920 Central High School yearbook—from the legendary jazz poet. Our city’s bookstore game is strong, too. Grab a new read at independent booksellers like Loganberry Books (100,000+ books!) or Mac’s Backs on ever-hip Coventry. At Visible Voice in Tremont, sip on craft brews or wine while browsing a curated selection of new and secondhand choices.

APPETITE FOR IMMERSION

You could hire Instacart to do your food shopping, but then you’d miss out on the distinct delights of perusing these only-in-Cleveland markets. See for yourself at West Side Market, where you can snack on a Parisianstyle savory crepe, bratwurst sandwich or handmade pierogi (or all three— we won’t tell!). With dozens of vendors, the world is your oyster at this nationally-renowned historic market. Over on the East side, Asia Plaza beckons in the heart of AsiaTown. This market is the real deal—packed with gift shops, restaurants, groceries and flower shops serving both the Asian community and tourists. And at La Plaza Supermarket, consume on a selection from its on-site taqueria while browsing goods from Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia and more.

La Plaza Supermarket HEINEN’S ROTUNDA IS A GEM

ARCHITECTURAL

MARVELS By Annie Zaleski

Opened in 1890, The Arcade is Downtown Cleveland’s shopping jewel—distinguished by its glass skylight and ornate balconies that exude old-school glamour. The nearby Downtown Heinen’s grocery store—located in the Cleveland Trust Rotunda Building—offers more opulence, featuring an 85-foot-high dome with Tiffany-style stained glass panels and Italian Renaissance-inspired touches. A few blocks away, The Mall offers urban greenspace flanked by classic buildings constructed at the turn of the 20th century. University Circle also has its share of gems on the world-class campus of Case Western Reserve University. Cases in point: the stunning Frank Gehry-designed Peter B. Lewis Building (which houses the Weatherhead School of Management) and the newer Tinkham Veale University Center (a vibrant student hub affectionately known as “The Tink”).

REJOICE!

CLEVELAND CELEBRATES ITS STATUS AS A MULTICULTURAL HUB WITH THESE FESTIVE FETES

CELEBRATE THE WORLD

1

Cleveland Asian Festival 40,000 people can’t be wrong— see what all the buzz is about at this colorful soiree featuring diverse food, artisan goods, performance and tradition.

2

Pride in the CLE Back in person for the first time since 2019, this year’s Pride march and festival promises to be the best one yet following record attendance at the last in-person edition.

3

Feast of the Assumption Cannoli, calzones and culture, oh my! The brick streets of Little Italy are never more alive than during this multi-day celebration anchored by Holy Rosary Church.

4

One World Day With a rich immigrant population, Cleveland has always been a multicultural mecca—and One World Day puts its diversity in the spotlight with an inspiring takeover of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.

5

Tremont Arts & Cultural Festival Now going more than two decades strong, this annual event features 100+ art vendors along with live music and dance performances that light up the already vibrant Tremont neighborhood.