Entertainment Guide to Cleveland

Museums

Cleveland is the site of the world-renowned Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art offer a chance for guests with all tastes to see their favorite works. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is a combination of biology and history, while the Great Lakes Science Center, the Rock Hall's next door neighbor offers the best of interactive experiences. The Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton is where one of America's most popular spectator sports is celebrated.

Music

From such major venues as the Blossom Music Center, down to the tiniest local spots like the Odeon, the city boasts plenty of places for performers and fans to share an evening. And glam and glitter are far from the only show in town. The Cleveland Orchestra is one of the world's finest performing groups. Catching them playing a home gig is the tough part, as the Orchestra's players are routinely touring the world. Blossom is the summer home of the Orchestra, with performances held on at least a weekly basis.

The rock scene is generally confined to a handful of places. Blossom, with its 5,000 seat amphitheater, turns to mother nature for most of its seats, with the lawn having room for about 15,000. In the Flats area of downtown, the Nautica Stage, a small outdoor arena, holds summer concerts, while the Odeon tends to host up-and-coming acts. The occasional specialty show can be caught at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, though it is more about celebrating music than listening to it.

Sports

The latter half of the 1990s was a tumultuous time for Cleveland fans. It saw the death and rebirth of the Cleveland Browns football team, who first moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens, then were resurrected in the form of an expansion team. It saw the resurgence of the Cleveland Indians, who transformed from perennial basement dwellers into an annual powerhouse. The Cleveland Cavaliers continued to play in the NBA. Their sisters are the WNBA's Cleveland Rockers.

The Cleveland area boasts some of the best public golf access in the country, home to more than 100, while neighboring Akron annually hosts the World Golf Championships NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club. The surrounding region also has two major ski venues. The Boston Mills Ski Resort and Brandywine Ski Resort slopes are filled from Thanksgiving through March.

Theater

The Rock and Roll Capitol is far from only about music when it comes to the performing arts. Several venues, many at the aptly named Playhouse Square, are the sites for plays, musicals, concerts and a variety of other revues. The Allen Theatre and State Theatre bring in top traveling performances and host local shows.

Those wanting to stray off the beaten path a bit will be interested in the Cleveland Play House, as well as the Cleveland Public Theatre. Both are home to comedies and musicals, both local and national, with performances year-round. Opera fans can enjoy a fantastic show at the Cleveland Opera.

Cinema and Comedy

The Great Lakes Science Center offers an Omnimax Theatre, featuring a domed 60-foot screen and virtual reality productions. The Omnimax runs movies daily, typically offering multiple showings.

Those seeking a laugh or two have a handful of choices as well. Hilarities 4th Street Theatre, located on the west side of downtown, features top local comedians. You can also grab a meal there. The Flats is home to the Improv, which attracts national acts as well as local funny people. Again, laughs are not the only thing on the menu, as the Improv is also a restaurant.

Amusement Parks

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, with its Rainforest attraction, draws thousands of visitors annually. Six Flags World of Adventure Amusement Park in Aurora, along with Cedar Point Amusment Park in Sandusky, are two of the nation's best venues for thrill-seekers.

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