I've added Ohio to the list of states I've run a race in, and had a terrific time in Cleveland.
I did the Komen Race for the Cure 5K with my college friends Patti and Susan, resuming our girls weekend. In fact, you might say we got the band back together!
Susan suggested Cleveland last year as our city for the Komen 5K because she was keen to visit the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. I was game, thinking the attraction would be cool to visit. I had no idea how cool that attraction would be!
I got to Cleveland Aug. 25 and met Susan at the airport. We took transit to the public square in downtown Cleveland and walked the short distance to our hotel. Goodness, I was soaked when I got to the hotel. It must have been mid 90s and really humid. I guess that's because Lake Erie is right there!
Thursday we wandered down to the area around the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. There is a small sand volleyball park there and Thursday night must have been group night. All three courts were going and folks seemed to be waiting to play as well.
We saw the sunset toward the west of the lake, too.
Guess where we are?!
Sunset
Sunset
You can see the volleyball in the foreground and the skyline in the background
Cool public art
Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, from a distance
Friday morning we headed out to pick up our race packets for the Saturday 5K and we also visited the Great Lakes Science Center and the William G. Mather steam ship.
The science center was really interesting, especially the NASA Glenn Visitor Center, which had a lot of information about the Apollo missions, since astronaut John Glenn was from Ohio.
Apollo capsule
Three men in there?
Too small for me!
Ready for blast off!
Walking on the moon
The William G. Mather
About to take a three hour tour?
Who's driving this thing?
I was also very surprised at how much public art is in downtown Cleveland. Atlanta really could take a lesson. Here are some of my favorites:
The Free Stamp
It really looks like a giant stamp
The orchestra. This was in front of an office building.
As Susan and I went to tour the Mather, we stopped at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, where a duet was performing for free. They were OK, but I won't be looking for them on a paid stage any time soon. In fact. everyone stopped paying attention to them when this little fellow, looking REALLY thin, came out of the bushes. Didn't seem to be all that afraid of the people that began to fawn over him/her, so maybe that means this little critter gets handouts and expected some!
The Hall of Fame mascot?
Patti arrived Friday and we did the 5K Saturday morning. The weather was really nice. Still very humid, but sunny. In fact, the race organizers kept talking about how nice it was compared to last year, when apparently it poured. Glad we did it this year!
Komen selfie before the race began
Along the route in Playhouse Square
More public art: A giant chandelier in Playhouse Square
Close up of the chandelier
Playhouse Square. The second ornate sign over the street
Along the route
We finished the race, cleaned up and headed out for the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
For those about to rock!
We got there before noon and left around 7 p.m. I am so glad we went early. It would have been a shame to get there in early afternoon and only have a couple of hours to see the exhibits. In fact, I could have gone back a second day if I'd had the time. There was a lot I'd like to go back to see or see more of.
Above the door as you walk in is the iconic phrase: For Those About to Rock, We Salute You!
The first three floors are dedicated to inductees to the hall of fame. There were costumes, instruments, hand-written lyrics, records, concert bills, posters and tickets, and other memorabilia.
We were there during the Louder Than Words special exhibit, spotlighting music's influence on social and political issues, done in conjunction with the Newseum in Washington, D.C. It was really well done and I really enjoyed it. Wish I could have taken more time there, but we were getting tired and hungry!
Again, Cleveland has some really cool public art. One collection of the art was guitars, painted by local artists, and strewn throughout the city. There was one such guitar at our hotel, but I forgot to take a photo of that. However, I did get this one of the Beatles, and the tribute to Prince, which was located at the airport.
Beatles guitar
Prince tribute guitar
I had a great time in Cleveland. And I can't wait until we get the band back together again next year. And with that, mic drop.
