Cleveland in HDR – The 6th City Collection

Today’s Photo: The Pink Flamingo

From the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo website:

What’s remarkable about a flamingo? Plenty. These birds are pink, have exceptionally long necks and the longest legs, in proportion to body size, of all birds. The beak is uniquely shaped and adapted for pumping and filtering water while feeding on crustaceans and algae in marshes and lagoons. Both in water and on land, flamingos are able to lock their long legs into position for resting and sleeping on one leg.

For info on how you can see more of these amazing birds:

http://www.clemetzoo.com/tour/exhibit.asp?exhibit_id=25

Today’s Quote:

“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”  ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Today’s Photo: Severance Hall

AMERICA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL CONCERT HALL

From the Cleveland Orchestra website:

“After the Cleveland Orchestra’s inaugural concert at Severance Hall on February 5, 1931, a Cleveland newspaper editorial stated: “We believe that Mr. Severance intended to build a temple to music and not a temple to wealth; and we believe it is his intention that all music lovers should be welcome there.” John Long Severance was the president of the Musical Arts Association from 1921-1936, and he and his wife Elisabeth donated most of the funds necessary to erect the magnificent building meant to be the permanent home of the Orchestra. Severance Hall was designed by Walker & Weeks with an elegant Georgian exterior that harmonized with the classical architecture of other prominent buildings in the
University Circle area. The interior of the building reflects a combination of design styles, including Art Deco, Egyptian Revival, Classicism, and Modernism. The landmark building was recognized as one of the most modern, up-to-date concert facilities in America when it opened in 1931”.

If you would like to learn more about this building or John Long Severance and his wife Elisabeth I highly recommend the book Lost
Cleveland: Seven Wonders of the Sixth City by Michael Dealoia. You can find it here:

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Cleveland-OH-Seven-Wonders/dp/1596298782

Today’s Quote:

I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music. – Billy Joel

Today’s Photo: The Cleveland Grays

It’s Friday so this will be my last post for the week. I hope everyone has enjoyed seeing some “hidden” gems in this city.

Today’s photo is of a bar in a secret room in the Grays Armory in Downtown, Cleveland. It is said that there was a special knock needed to enter this room during prohibition. That being said, you had to be a member of the Grays to even get inside the building. Your chances of being
raided were slim since the Mayor and the Police Chief were members of the Grays as well. Have a great weekend!

Grays Armory is a Cleveland Treasure and I hope it will be around for a long time to come. To find out more about the Cleveland Grays follow these links:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/GraysArmory

Today’s Quote:

A nation which has forgotten the quality of courage which in the past has been brought to public life is not as likely to insist upon or regard that quality in its chosen leaders today – and in fact we have forgotten. – John F. Kennedy

Today’s Photo: Inside the Clock Tower

Most Clevelanders have heard of the Old Stone Church. It is a historic Presbyterian church located in downtown Cleveland, and is the oldest building on Public Square. I know that most people know what the church looks like from the outside but I figure few know what the inside of the bell tower looks like. I thought I would show you. This church is an incredible place and I have many more photos of it to share with you.

Today’s Quote:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today’s Photo: The Greenbrier Suite

This is a photo of the 2 story Great Hall of the Greenbrier Suite. The Greenbrier Suite was secret residence of the Van Sweringen Brothers and it is located inside the Terminal Tower. That’s right, it is located on the 12th, 13th, and 14th floors of the Terminal Tower in downtown Cleveland.
This stunning home was built to rival the mansions located on Euclid Ave. It was built in English Gothic style with oak paneling and marble fireplaces.

Who are the Van Sweringen Brothers you ask?  Oris and Mantis Van Sweringen were two Clevelanders who created a $3 billion, 30,000-mi.
railroad and real estate empire. They also were the builders of the Terminal Tower and the real-estate developers of Shaker Hts.

For more information:

http://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=VSOP

Today’s Quote:

“We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they’re called memories. Some take us forward, they’re called dreams.”  – Jeremy Irons

Today’s Photo: The Hanna

If you have never seen a play at the Hanna Theater in Playhouse Square you are missing out. The atmosphere is great and everything is modern.  The Hanna Theatre opened March 28, 1921, and would go on to host such stage and film luminaries as Al Jolson, Katherine Hepburn, Henry
Fonda, Ethel Barrymore, Ginger Rogers, Helen Hayes, Mary Martin and Yul Brynner. In 2008, the Hanna underwent a renovation to add a thrust stage, re-work its seating to 550 and become the main performance base for Playhouse Square’s long-time constituent, Great Lakes Theater. Few people know that the famous Tom Hanks got his first acting job right here in Cleveland with the Great Lakes Theater Festival.  He worked 3 summers with Great Lakes making $45 per week.  Playhouse Square is the second largest performing arts center in the country, behind only
New York City.

For more info: http://www.playhousesquare.org/default.asp?playhousesquare=62&objId=2

Quote of the day:

Our heritage and ideals, our code and standards – the things we live by and teach our children are preserved or diminished by how
freely we exchange ideas and feelings.- Walt Disney

Today’s Photo: Rock in Retrospect

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame reflecting in the waters of Lake Erie. The museum is part of Cleveland’s redeveloped North Coast Harbor. Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed is widely credited with promoting the new name of “rock and roll”, and Cleveland was the location of the first rock and roll concert. For more information on the Rock Hall please visit:

http://rockhall.com/

Today’s Quote: The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.-Eleanor Roosevelt

Today’s
Photo: What are you looking at?

In addition to this monkey the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals representing 600 species, including the largest collection of primate species in North America. Open all year (closed Dec. 25 & Jan. 1), 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. with extended summer weekend hours. For more info:

http://www.clemetzoo.com/

Quote of the day:

Our patience will achieve more than our force. – Edmund Burke

The Detroit–Superior Bridge, also known as the Veterans Memorial Bridge is a 3,112 long through arch bridge over the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio. The bridge was completed in 1918, at a cost of $5.4 million. It was the first fixed high level bridge in Cleveland and its completion, the bridge was the largest steel and concrete reinforced bridge in the world. While the bridge’s upper level is for road traffic, the lower level was intended for streetcars. It was built with four sets of these tracks. Each end of the bridge has underground streetcar stations for the trams. While the steetcars no longer run some of the old tracks and streetcars remain. To walk under this
bridge is to step into the past.

Today the lower level of the bridge is used for “Ingenuity,” a large-scale, weekend-long performance event. It is my hope that his space can be transformed into something that can be used by Clevelanders year round.

Purchase this photo: Brent Durken Print Sales

http://brent-durken.pixels.com/

For more info:

http://www.facebook.com/ingenuityfest

http://www.facebook.com/#!/cleveland.bridge?sk=info

Quote of the day:

We believe that if men have the talent to invent new machines that put men out of work, they have the talent to put those men back to work. – John F. Kennedy

Today’s Photo:  Mapleside Farms

It is easy to see why Mapleside Farms in Brunswick, Ohio was recently voted the most beautiful farm in America. This photo was taken shortly after a storm passed over the farm. The purplish tint
to the photo is really how it looked that evening. Families, including my own have been coming to this farm for generations to enjoy the food and the view. Here is a history of the farm from their website:

“The land where Mapleside Farms sits was first settled by the Tillotson family from Massachusetts. They were drawn there in 1817 by the area’s fertile soil. Elmer and Clara Eyssen bought the farm from the Tillotson family in 1927 and moved
their family from Lakewood way out into the country. At that time the land consisted of the current property plus many acres across Pearl Road as well as some property on Center Road/Rte. 303. In the earlier years of this beautiful farm, a large stand of maple trees on the side of the hill were used for maple syrup production and became Elmer and Clara’s inspiration for naming their land, Mapleside Farms.”

The farm was recently purchased by Greg and Kelly Clement who are both lifelong Brunswick residents and grew up with Mapleside as an important part of their lives. They have made many wonderful improvements while still keeping the original feel of the farm. I have no doubt that Mapleside will be enjoyed for many more generations.

For more information please visit their website:

http://www.mapleside.com/

Quote of the day:

God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees, and flowers, and clouds, and stars.- Martin Luther