What's New in Cleveland: Fall 2018/Winter 2019

CLEVELAND – In 2018 and early 2019, Cleveland’s one-of-a-kind offerings for visitors continue to expand. Complementing the city’s unmistakable vibe that blends sophistication, grit and a “come as you are” attitude, the latest not-to-be-missed attractions and exhibits and upcoming 2019 events include:

• Several new and reimagined exhibits at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
• A new sensory-rich exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Cleveland
• The return of Tall Ships America and Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game
• A new Cleveland Brewery Passport that shines a light on the region’s booming beer scene; and
• Ohio’s first and only organic alcohol distillery.

New Attractions, Exhibits, and Events

Soon-to-be visitors to Cleveland can explore the life and works of one of America’s most iconic artists, be inspired by the journey of Rock & Roll Hall of Famers or celebrate America’s favorite past time. Here’s a look at many new exhibits, attractions and events.

Arts and Culture

• Museum of Contemporaru Art Cleveland (moCa)
  In celebration of its 50th Anniversary, the Museum of Contemporary Art (moCa) Cleveland presents Double Takes: Historic and Contemporary Film + Video, an eleven-month film and video exhibition program. From October 19, 2018 through September 2, 2019, guests can embark on a journey of movement, sights and sounds beginning with some of the industry’s most seminal work paired with contemporary works that present emerging global voices on urgent issues.

• Children's Museum of Cleveland

  • Excitement, enrichment and inspiration await during an afternoon of creative play at the new Children’s Museum of Cleveland. From thinking like scientists to embracing their inner artists to designing, building and exploring a pretend city, kids can write their own script in this open-ended learning environment. Families can get hands-on in the new Wonder Lab with water tables and magnetic walls; create their own masterpiece in the Arts & Parts room and discover their own adventures throughout this former Millionaire’s Row mansion, the stately Stager-Beckwith home.

  • The smallest museum visitors are invited to walk, crawl and climb all over the Children’s Museum of Cleveland’s newest exhibit, the Meadow. Children from birth to age 3 can practice early literacy, math and problem-solving skills in this sensory-rich environment.

• Cleveland Museum of Art: Georgia O'Keefe
  Visitors to the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) can experience a unique look into the fascinating connections between the paintings, personal style and public persona of one of America’s most iconic artists, Georgia O’Keeffe. The Living Modern exhibition, running now through March 2019, will showcase several of her paintings alongside her garments—many shown here for the first time—and photographic portraits of her as a subject.

• Cleveland History Center
  Visitors to Cleveland can quickly garner a sense of place at the recently opened Cleveland Starts Here® exhibit at the Cleveland History Center. Stories from the 1790s to today fill the exhibit gallery, with rarely seen images, films, art and historical artifacts. From the first Cleveland map and early survey tools to LeBron James’ 2016 NBA Championship shoes, Cleveland Starts Here® tells the stories of the triumphs and tragedies that define the city and helps visitors understand the social, creative, economic, political, and cultural history of Northeast Ohio.

Music

• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

  • Stay Tuned: Rock on TV
    Spanning three floors, the Stay Tuned: Rock on TV exhibit helps visitors pinpoint the moment rock music stepped off the stage and into the living room. Beginning with rock ‘n’ roll’s acceptance into the mainstream through shows like “American Bandstand” and “The Ed Sullivan Show” to eventually exploring the birth of the music video and MTV, this multi-sensory and multimedia exhibition shows how television and technology pushed music and artistry to new heights. Visitors can view outfits worn by the Jackson Five during their first live performance of “I Want You Back,” the acoustic guitar played by Eric Clapton on MTV’s “Unplugged” as well as numerous items related to “Saturday Night Live” performances and much more.

  • Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball
    Newly opened in July 2018, Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball showcases rock-themed, playable pinball machines combined with historic merchandise and artifacts. Inside the exhibit guests will find machines featuring icons like KISS, Guns 'n' Roses, Alice Cooper, Dolly Parton, The Who and Elton John. Visitors can even play all of the machines on display for a small fee.

  • Power of Rock Experience
    Visitors get a front row seat to Rock Hall inductee performances in the Power of Rock Experience. Starting with short cuts from induction ceremony presentations, the experience continues with an immersive 12-minute film by Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme that features legendary Rock Hall Induction performances and concludes with an opportunity for guests to be interviewed by inductees like Smokey Robinson and Alice Cooper in the “Say It Loud” story booths. The Power of Rock is part of the reimagined Hall of Fame experience, which takes visitors on an induction-themed voyage focused on the transformative power of rock.

• Stella's Music Club
  Cleveland’s newest music venue reinforces the city’s reputation as the home of Rock & Roll, Stella’s Music Club located in the heart of Downtown, offers visitors a state-of-the-art listening experience with back-to-back bands and artists playing on studio-quality sound equipment. Guests can even practice their signing chops on stage at their weekly live band karaoke.

Sports, Outdoors and Recreation

• Major League Baseball's All-Star Game Returns
  From July 5-9, 2019 the Cleveland Indians will host the 2019 MLB All-Star Game at the newly renovated Progressive Field. The team has hosted the Midsummer Classic more than any other, and Cleveland is ready to welcome fans for a week of activities celebrating America’s favorite pastime, including the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game FanFest.

• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo: Asian Highlands
  Asian culture is on display in the middle of Cleveland’s urban zoo. The new Asian Highlands exhibit at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo houses a snow leopard, red pandas, takin species and, one of the most endangered big cats on Earth, the Amur Leopard. The habitat blends Central-Chinese-influenced architecture, stone work that incorporates elements of Asian civilization and a diverse array of natural elements found in the regions of Asia.

• Cleveland Metroparks Towpath Trails
  Lovers of the great outdoors can now traverse Cleveland’s Emerald Necklace unabridged on the newly completed Towpath Trail Connector. Bicyclists, walkers and runners alike can ride 33 miles from the Northwest corner of Cleveland all the way south to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. For visitors interested in coasting along, accessing Cleveland’s city beach is now easier than ever with the completion of a bike trail and multipurpose path connecting Ohio City to Edgewater Park.​
• Tall Ships America
  Tall Ships America sails into town July 11-14, 2019, bringing a fleet of large sailing vessels to the Cleveland port. Visitors can welcome the ships and experience the rich maritime heritage that they represent at a lakefront festival featuring on-board tours, meet-and-greets with the crew and live music and entertainment.

Renovations

Cleveland’s latest updates to infrastructure and public spaces not only enhance the visitor experience but also the city’s landscape. Recent projects include:

• Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center
  Following a months-long transformation, the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center now offers visitors a welcoming space to work, play, or relax. Its lobby, dubbed the Great Room, includes a bar, barbershop, comfy couches and work stations, which are situated just outside Il Venetian, a new upscale Italian restaurant. Additional food options - a smaller fast-casual doughnuts and gelato version of Il Venetian and Marble Room Sushi - are available in the adjoining Key Center lobby. Fitness-focused travelers can break a sweat in the new 20,000 square foot Vedas Fitness and Spa, which is open 24-hours a day and is the only hotel spa in Downtown Cleveland.

• A Christmas Story House & Museum: Bumpus House
  Fans of the cult-classic movie A Christmas Story now have an additional option for overnight stays in Ralphie’s neighborhood! Guests can book overnight stays at the Bumpus House, home to Ralphie’s rambunctious neighbors and their 785 smelly hound dogs. Visitors will experience all the modern amenities in this vintage, eclectic home with 1940's style and a slightly hillbilly, Bumpus flare.

• Agora Theatre & Ballroom
  One of Cleveland’s most storied music venues, the Agora Theatre and Ballroom recently unveiled an extensive $3 million renovation, which returns the well-known space to its 1920s splendor. Visitors to Cleveland can pop in to the Agora on any given night to find Clevelanders rocking out to an array of musical artists spanning all genres.

New Restaurants & Breweries

Cleveland’s booming culinary scene blends the more than 100 diverse ethnicities found throughout the city. Recently opened ventures include:

• Larder (Spring 2018)
  Known for his innovative work in foraging and fermentation, Chef Jeremy Umansky brings house-made breads, pastries, fermented root beer and locally sourced dairy, eggs and produce to the Ohio City neighborhood. A perfect option for visitors who prefer homestays and the opportunity to make-your-own-meal, this new delicatessen, Larder, is located in the historic Ohio City Firehouse.

• Ohio City Galley (Fall 2018)
  This fall, Cleveland’s first restaurant incubator opened in the Ohio City neighborhood. The Ohio City Galley in the historic Forest City Savings and Trust building is home to not one but four new restaurants driven by aspiring Cleveland chef-owners who will test out their menus and concepts for one year in one of the city’s visitor-friendly neighborhoods. The galley will include a shared bar and communal seating.

Cleveland’s Ever-Expanding Cocktail and Brewery Scene

Cleveland’s growing brewery and cocktail scene continues to gain national attention from outlets like Men’s Journal, Travel & Leisure and Thrillist. Since 2016, 36 new breweries have opened in Northeast Ohio, helping Cleveland’s beer scene get recognized by USA Today 10 Best and crowning Cleveland’s Ohio City one of “America’s 7 Hottest “Neighbeerhoods” by Cheap Tickets. Recent brewery and distillery openings include:

• Cleveland Brewery Passport
  Visitors can sip their way through Northeast Ohio’s thriving beer scene with the new Cleveland Brewery Passport. Beer enthusiasts can explore as many as 30 participating breweries within a 25-mile radius of Downtown Cleveland, collecting stamps along the way as they get a taste of what makes Cleveland’s breweries one-of-a-kind. Designed with flexibility in mind, guests that obtain eight stamps and those that complete the passport have an opportunity to receive a prize for their participation.

• Southern Tier Brewing Company (Summer 2018)
  Since Southern Tier Brewing Company opened its innovation brewery and tasting room in Downtown Cleveland this Fall, visitors have been able to wet their whistle with new ‘Cleveland Brew’d’ local specialty beers or any of Southern Tier’s seasonal and year-round varieties. Thirsty travelers can enjoy a street-level tasting room as well as a barrel-aging basement lounge to choose between two unique tasting experiences.

• Fat Head's (Summer 2018)
  A pioneer in Northeast Ohio's craft beer scene, Fat Head's Brewery has expanded into a new brewery, taproom, production facility and gift shop. The 75,000-square foot space includes a 75-barrel system that can produce 150,000 barrels of beer a year along with a 3,000-square-foot patio, beer garden and 250-seat restaurant. Visitors can see the brewing process from their seats or on a tour.

• Bookhouse Brewing (Fall 2018)
  Bookhouse Brewing offers guests an opportunity to experience a cozy and intimate microbrew experience in the heart of Cleveland’s brewery district. This 100-seat space is lined with bookshelves and board games for all to enjoy, creating a very relaxed reading room vibe. The 7-barrel brewing system churns out a variety of house brews as well as several combination options and guest pours.

• Western Reserve Distillers (Fall2018)
  Ohio's first organic distillery, Western Reserve Distillers offers visitors an opportunity to taste locally made spirits with ingredients sourced from nearby organic farms within 150 miles of the distillery. Guests can stop in for a meal at the Distill Table restaurant before creating their own barrel of handcrafted whiskey or rum.

To keep up-to-date on new developments and activities, please visit www.thisiscleveland.com, download the Destination Cleveland app or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

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ABOUT DESTINATION CLEVELAND: Destination Cleveland is Cleveland’s convention and visitors bureau. This private non-profit organization’s mission is to drive economic impact and stimulate community vitality for Greater Cleveland through leisure and business travel. Cleveland welcomes 18.5 million visitors annually. For more information, visit thisiscleveland.com.