CONTENTS

2014-15 Cleveland

LGBT VISITORS GUIDE

IN THIS ISSUE

4 Fabulous

Cleveland

Top 10 Destinations with LGBT Appeal

8 Out on the Town 8 downtown districts & neighborhoods worth visiting

14 Jam Sessions 4 ways to discover

your inner rock star

16 Cultural Mecca World-class arts that strike a chord

19 Foodie Town Popular spots for eating (and drinking)

20 Gay Games 9

The list of events & parties during the games

ON THE COVER: Cleveland's sparkling skyline featuring the iconic

Terminal Tower lit in pride colors

Larry E. Highbaugh, J

LGBT

13 LGBT NIGHTLIFE

TRACKS

24 RETAIL THERAPY

Cleveland

GAY GAMES S

GG9

26 SPORTS PRIDE

27 CONNECTING CLEVELAND

28 BEYOND CLEVELAND

30 GET A ROOM

33 CLE'S ETHNIC ICONS

34 COMMUNITY RESOURCES

35 COMMUNITY PROFILES

38 EVENTS CALENDAR

Get social with #ThisisCLE

DON'T FOLLOW THE HERD, FOLLOW US ONLINE. JOIN US AT #THISISCLE.

For complete trip planning info, check out THISISCLEVELAND.COM

Cody York

Larry E. Highbaugh, Jr.

Cleveland

GG9

PRESENTED BY CLEVELAND oundation

2014-15

GAY GAMES 2014

CLEVELAND AKRON USA

LGBT VISITORS GUIDE

Len Komorowski, Chairman

David Gilbert, President and CEO Colette Jones, Vice President of Marketing

Mike Burns, CMP, Senior Vice President of Sales Services

Sharon Gronowski, CMP, Vice President of Convention Services & Events

Leslie Graf, Vice President

of Finance & Administration

Michael Mulhall,

Director of

of Partnerships

Hannah Belsito, Director of Destination Development and Community Affairs Scott Peacock, Director of Communications

Mark Schutte, Publications Manager Michelle Partnerships Manager Sperber, Jim Ganotis, Senior Information Technology Manager Darren Hardy, Creative Director Jim Ray, Design & Production Brian Thornton, Contributing Writer Brian Thornton is a freelance writer and communications consultant living in Lakewood, Ohio, and has written or edited for the Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal, Gay People's Chronicle and Cleveland Free Times, among others. Thornton is the former community health advocate of the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland and former president of Cleveland LGBT Pride.

Advertising Sales by Positively Cleveland Barbara Felt, Partnerships Consultant Robert Sulzmann, Partnerships Consultant Jennifer Valencic, Partnerships Consultant Please contact Positively Cleveland at 216.875.6624 to advertise in this publication.

Published by Positively Cleveland 334 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Phone: 216.875.6600 | Fax: 216.621.5967 Website: thisiscleveland.com Email: cvb@positivelycleveland.com

Hotel Reservations & Visitors Information: 800.321.1001

(hi

Dear Visitor,

OHIO

CITY OF CLEVELAND

Mayor Frank G. Jackson

On behalf of the City of Cleveland, I would like to welcome you to Cleveland!

Cleveland is a vibrant and growing city that is quickly becoming one of the most popular Midwest destinations for LGBT visitors. In fact, Cleveland was chosen over Boston and Washington, D.C. to host Gay Games 9, which will attract 20,000 worldwide visitors to our friendly and inviting city.

Nearly $3 billion in development projects and major events are coming to Cleveland in the next five years, including the opening of six new hotel properties, riverfront retail, living and office space through the Flats East Bank Project and more. These targeted investments are making Cleveland an even more interesting place to live and visit, while helping to attract major national and international events, like the 2014 International Gay Games.

While in town, I encourage you to discover Playhouse Square, an elegantly-restored performing arts center that is the second largest in the nation and University Circle, the most concentrated square mile of arts, culture and educational institutions in the country. Cleveland also offers unique dining experiences and wonderful nightlife in the downtown districts of East Fourth Street, the Warehouse District and the Flats, as well as neighborhood hotspots in Tremont, Little Italy and Ohio City. Cleveland has something for everyone, from professional sports and a new casino to beautiful parks and other amenities along the shores of Lake Erie. Visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Cleveland Museum of Art or the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

I am confident you will find that Cleveland has some of the most energetic, artistic and culturally diverse districts and neighborhoods in the United States, filled with a wide range of opportunities and friendly people eager to make you a part of our community.

On behalf of the City of Cleveland, I want to thank you for visiting. I hope you enjoy your stay and I invite you to

return soon.

Sincerely,

Frank G. Jackson, Mayor

Scott Meivogel

TOP: Bounce Night Club LEFT: Dining in Ohio City RIGHT: Cleveland Museum of Art?

2014-15 LGBT VISITORS GUIDE

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