The Cleveland Museum of Art

If this doesn't prove that Cleveland is a great place and that you should move here right now, I just don't know what.

The CMA is right down in University Circle (with a lot of other museums I haven't posted about yet...). It is, they say, a World Class museum (or is that the Symphony? I think it's both). There's a huge collection on display (African, Asian, Islamic, Medieval, American, Contemporary, Decorative, etc.). And, most amazing, it's FREE. Every day. When we were there, there was a special exhibit that cost money to see, but the rest of the museum was free.

So there's really no excuse not to go, I don't know, monthly. Weekly. You could go for an hour here, an hour there. A lunch hour, even.

So, how many free world-class museums does your city have? Hmmm?

More music, fewer hits

Case Western Reserve University has a great radio station, WRUW - 91.1 FM. Their motto is, "More Music, Fewer Hits." And it couldn't be more accurate. Or more fun.

Any time you tune in, which you can do online, http://www.wruw.org/listen/ there's something different. Polka, metal, celtic, alternative country, reggae, news. If you don't like what's on, wait half an hour and try again.

And they're always announcing local events and goings-on related to whatever kind of music is on. It's pretty cool. And even though it's a university station, it's not all students who are DJs. Some have been there for like 10 years, it sounds like.

A [pdf] Guide to Smoke-Free Establishments in Cuyahoga County

A list put out by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health of non-smoking establishments.

After living for a decade in two cities that don't allow smoking in restaurants, it's a rude awakening to move to one that does. There's a big controversy here right now about whether a law should be passed prohibiting it, and lots of places are convinced they will go out of business if one is.

So I'd like to support those who have taken the initiative to ban smoking and help them prove that it's not bad for business.

moderncleveland.com

Oooh! I love this site.

moderncleveland.com

She covers a lot more than I have. Boy, do I have a lot to catch up on!

I found her About page so compelling that I just told Dr. Jay that I don't think we should ever leave Cleveland.

Groundhog Day

Growing up (was it the whole time I was growing up? No. Highschool and college?) in Connecticut, I remember being so hopeful, every year on Groundhog Day, "Oh please, oh, please, oh please. Let there not be 6 more weeks of winter."

Of course, there are always 6 more weeks of winter after Groundhog Day if you live in Connecticut, because it's the beginning of February. But I remember always feeling like I probably just wouldn't make it. I remember coming close to tears, feeling like there was just no way I could survive 6 more weeks of not spring.

In contrast, this year I was like, "What, Groundhog Day already? But we're just getting going! And I want to use my skis some more. It's only February 2nd, for crying out loud. Why would anyone think winter would be over?"

Maybe it's because everyone said how awful the winter would be, or maybe it's because I haven't lived through a real winter for a decade. But I'm happy. We'll just wait and see how it goes next year.