Gay? Cleveland, Ohio Wants You!

by Willy Volk on

Cleveland, Ohio’s tourism officials are working feverishly to bring gay visitors to the city. Working in conjunction with the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland’s Convention and Visitors Bureau is designing a travel guide that spotlights gay-owned or gay-friendly nightclubs, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. The guide should be finished this year. In reality, Cleveland has a sizable, active gay community, so finding businesses to participate should be no problem.

Visitors bureau spokeswoman Samantha Fryberger said the guide might create controversy, especially since the state bans gay marriage. However, Fryberger counters that some people took offense last year when the traditionally Democratic city actively pursued the Republican National Convention. In other words, the city seems to be adopting a “live and let live” approach.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of December 10

by Adrienne Wilson on

Ready for another week in review at Gadling? If you missed some of this week’s goodies I won’t keep you waiting a minute longer. Just sit back, chill out and catch up.

5. Driving a Piece of East German History:
In this fine piece, David Luna points us to a tour company called Trabi Safari. The tours are pretty much “do-it-yourself” style, but what’s cool about driving the Trabant around Berlin to Dresden is that the car is a work of art meaning it rides more like a riding lawn mower. What’s cooler than any of that is David Luna being the newest member of the Gadling team. Go over, take a read and send David some love.

4. Traveling with Co-Workers: An Obsession with Steak Tartare:
For those who don’t already know I’m on the road traveling for work and an enormous portion of my time is spent with my one and only co-worker. To keep it short and sweet things ain’t so sweet… They are rather tart or is that tartare, as in steak tartare. I don’t want to hear anymore about steak tartare. Please.

3. No Surf in Cleveland? Sure, There is!:
Here is a plug from Iva that caught me completely off-guard, but then again I don’t surf. Cleveland (yes, Cleveland, Ohio) appears to be a rather gnarly place to hang ten. Don’t listen to me though read what Iva has to say along with the NY Times where the article was originally found.

2. Getting Out of Quicksand:
While it is not too common that you’ll run across quicksand in your travels should you stumble, trip, fall and start sinking away to your untimely death you may wish to know a little something-something on how to escape. Again, it isn’t very likely, but check out some of Erik’s own quicksand musings and then read the tips.

1. Hot Icelandic Blondes?:
Stop the stereotyping people! Not every Icelandic woman is blonde and not all of them are hot and according to Neil who found this awesome culture read in the Iceland Review the author of the piece is both, but still she is annoyed with the stereotype. Hey I OVERstand. Whether it is good or bad, stereotyping isn’t the right thing to do. We’re all different! Now, off my soap box I go and on you go to read the piece.

No Surf in Cleveland? Sure, There is!

by Iva Skoch on

Having spent a good amount of time in Cleveland, Ohio (but never having heard Eric Carmen and the Euclid Beach Band’s “There’s No Surf in Cleveland,” which I’m assured is a real song), I was surprised at today’s NY Times article, “Yes, You Can Surf in Cleveland.”

Apparently, groups of die-hard Clevelanders can’t wait for the start of winter because that’s high time for Lake Erie waves. They work night jobs, and, during the day, grab wetsuits and big boards (Lake Erie is, of course, freshwater). And sometimes, the waves hit almost…10 feet.

The only real drawback for these guys: the nearest surfboard shop is on the coast of Lake Michigan, 285 miles away.

Hawaii, eat your heart out!

Most Dangerous U.S. Cities

by Adrienne Wilson on

Here’s a news story I’d like to first dedicate to my father who seems to lose his wits any time I mention travel overseas. Sure the places I go aren’t always high traffic areas or flooded by tourists, but that doesn’t necessarily classify them as dangerous. What I’m really trying to say is you can be smiley and friendly anywhere you go, but just watch your back as well. And to my father who I’m sure will read this blurb at one point or another – perhaps it’s time to consider relocating. According to this CNN piece St. Louis has been officially named most dangerous U.S. City.

It was only a matter of time before St. Louis, Missouri took the number one spot. The city had been lurking in the top 10 for quite several years and with a surge in violent crimes this year it took the lead over other dangerous locals such as Detroit, MI in second, Flint, MI coming in third place and good old Compton, Cali right up there in fourth. As for St. Louie vthe murder rate jumped 16 percent from 2004 to 2005. That’s quite a hike in the wrong direction. At the moment I happen to be sitting in the confines of my hotel room in the second most dangerous city (Detroit) and yet all feels safe at this late hour, however I’m glad to know my present hometown of Tampa, FL didn’t make the top 10 dangerous city list. On the flipside it also didn’t make the top 10 safest either which include Brick, NJ in first; Amherst, NY in second; and Mission Viejo, CA in third.

So are there any Gadling readers out there residing in the top 10 of either list? Please share your thoughts and let us know if it really is all bang-bang, shoot em’ and kill or butterflies and roses.

To see the full story head to CNN.