Committee of Student Representatives

Medical Student Guide to Cleveland - Things To Do

Restaurants

For the restaurant guide to Cleveland that this guide wishes it could be, go to www.cleveland.com ‘s restaurant search.  They include recommendations, when available, times open, directions, and payments accepted.

Cheap

#1 Pho
Chinatown
3120 Superior Ave.
(216) 781-1176
Beautiful décor and beautiful prices decorate this Vietnamese restaurant.  A mere $7 will get you a large, steaming bowl of tender beef slices in noodle soup, and appetizers cost even less.  Just writing this makes me salivate.

Aladdin’s
Cedar/Fairmount
12447 Cedar Rd.
(216) 932-4333
This Lebanese restaurant has affordable and tasty food.  They also have an extensive dessert menu featuring a number of gourmet cakes.

Amir’s Marketplace Restaurant
4422 Mayfield Rd.
(216 291-1878
http://www.amirfoods.com/
With a casual atmosphere and reasonable prices, Amir’s serves up authentic Middle Eastern and Mediterranean specialties including chicken, beef, lamb, seafood, plenty of vegetarian dishes and all kinds of salads and appetizers.  There is also a grocery area where you can find all kinds of specialty items that are imported and hard to find elsewhere.

Applebee’s
Cedar Center
14020 Cedar Rd.
(216) 382-0941
Your friendly neighborhood Applebee’s is right near Target & Kaufmann’s, with daily appetizer specials (see Specials section).

The Boarding House Restaurant and Jazz Club
University Circle
11311 Euclid Ave.
(216) 421-2863
This casual restaurant on campus is a great place for an impromptu relaxing dinner with friends.  Close and relatively cheap, it serves a variety of American fare.  A jazz band comes to play sometimes.  They also have their own wine store next door.

Chris & Jimmy’s Diners
Cedar/Lee
1975 Lee Rd
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118-2548
 (216) 932-3001
These retro diners just north of Cedar/Lee serve typical diner fare at typical diner prices.  It can often be crowded, especially during brunch time.

Chipotle/Que Tal
Coventry
2783 Euclid Heights Blvd., (216) 320-0280 (Chipotle)
1803 Coventry Rd., (216) 932-9800 (Que Tal)
Lumped together because they’re a bit too similar and a bit too close, these two restaurants both serve hefty made-to-order burritos.  Most people seem to be loyal to one or the other.  Popular opinion is that Chipotle has superior rice, but Que Tal has more choices (plus guac is included in the slightly-higher price), but both are a good place for quick and cheap eats. One thing to note, however: Chipotle accepts credit/debit cards, while Que Tal only accepts CaseCash (well, and normal cash too). 

Chopstick
University Circle
1132 Euclid Ave.
(216) 791-7998
Chopstick is your typical Chinese takeout restaurant with the token obligate two dine-in tables.  Gut-busting portions of myocardial infarction-inducing faux Chinese fare can be had for cheap; a lunch combo is less than five dollars and seven dollars will net you a platter of fried rice, a dish of your choosing, and an egg roll for stereotypical good measure.  The calorie-to-dollar ratio is pretty darn good, but opinions vary a bit regarding the actual quality of the food. 

Dave’s Cosmic Subs
Coventry
A local favorite, this restaurant opened a store at Coventry just this year.  It offers some 30+ subs, at the mere price of around $5.

Empress Taytu
6125 St. Clair Ave.
(216) 391-9400
Cleveland’s only Ethiopian restaurant has been delighting food adventurers for 13 years and is still true to its native country.  $11-$15 will get you a platter of food served atop injera, the cuisine’s sheet of spongy bread.

Grum’s
Coventry
1776 Coventry Rd.
(216) 321-4781
Grum’s is a sub shop that offers a small selection of specialty subs for pick up only.  It’s fairly pricy for subs, but definitely worth the price and the often long lines—great sandwiches for those long afternoons of studying.  The un-Subway.

Guy’s Pizza
Coventry
(216) 397-9700
http://www.guyspizzaco.com
This new pizzeria just opened on Coventry.  Pizza for $1/slice, and open til late at night!  Clearly they have made a good decision, being just doors down McNulty’s and the Winking Lizard. 

Inn on Coventry
Coventry
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd.
(216) 371-1811
The Inn on Coventry is a small restaurant with the look of a diner, but with more upscale food.  They are best known for their breakfast which includes about 10 types of pancakes and omelets.  Prices are very reasonable and as long as you don’t mind the cramped quarters, it’s worth checking out.
Johnny Mango
Ohio City
3120 Bridge Ave.
(216) 575-1919
This unique eatery out on the West Side makes you feel like you just stepped into Lewis Carroll’s version of a jungle, with huge wooden cutouts of flowers and vines on the wall.  The menu is full of health-conscious burritos and a variety of ethnic-inspired entrees. 

Mama Santa’s
Little Italy
12305 Mayfield Rd.
(216) 231-9567
This is a Little Italy institution. You can get a pizza for $7 and they also have a wide variety of pasta dishes. It is often listed as one of the best cheap eats by Cleveland Magazine.  The ancients (aka classes of 2000 and 2001) write of it: “"Arguably the best pizza around. No frills family style serving standard Italian favorites, best pizza in town, service is slow."
Mi Pueblo
1611 Euclid Ave.
(216) 791-8226
A short walk north of campus, Mi Pueblo is close enough to go enjoy an after-class snack on Friday.  Huge burrito meals include a side of soup and all-you-can-eat chips; they also have good deals on pitcher drinks.

Mekong River
Cedar/Lee
1918 Lee Rd.
(216) 371-9575
This restaurant looks like a hole in the wall from the outside, but it is actually a very affordable place for great Thai and other types of Asian cuisine. Its Thai fare comes at a much more reasonable price than nearby Lemon Grass, and some even consider it better.

New Wong’s Chinese Restaurant
Chinatown
3211 Payne Ave.
(216) 696-3811
Just a block east of Asia Plaza, this small restaurant serves some of the most authentic Cantonese cuisine in the city.  It is also one of the few places that sell roast duck and pork.  A great value, too—an $8 dinner entrée sends you home with a second meal.  Tip:  Go with somebody who can read Chinese, since specials are often hand-written on cards hung on the wall.

Quizno’s
University Circle
11322 Euclid Ave.
(216) 721-3636
Um, it’s Quizno’s.  They shower the campus with coupons.  And…WE LOVE THE SUBS!  COZ THEY ARE GOOD TO US!
Rascal House
University Circle
11316 Euclid Ave.
(216) 791-4444
Though it’s not everyone’s favorite pizza, this is the closest pizza to campus.  They also deliver, and are open late.
Seoul Hot Pot
Chinatown
3709 Payne Ave.
(216) 881-1221
Regarded by some as the best Korean restaurant in town, this little family-owned eatery makes up for its lack of atmosphere with its food.

Stone Oven Bakery
Cedar/Lee
2245 Lee Rd.
(216) 932-3003
A variety of soups, sandwiches, pastries and coffee makes this place a great stop anytime.

Strickland’s Frozen Custard
Coventry
1854 Coventry Road, Unit F
(216) 379-3500
Strickland’s started in Akron in the 1930’s making frozen custard and apparently has now founds its way to Cleveland Heights in 2004.  It’s worth a try if you like soft-serve ice cream.

Tommy’s
Coventry
1824 Coventry Rd.
(216) 321-7757
Tommy’s offers a variety of vegetarian and Lebanese dishes as well as
some strange combos like a peanut butter and cheese pita sandwich.  They are known particularly for their huge (and good!) old fashioned milkshakes, and they also serve breakfast.
Tutto Giorno
Little Italy
2181 Murray Hill Rd.
(216) 421-9172
This Little Italy eatery is one of the closest to campus, at the corner of Murray Hill and Cornell.  Serving huge paninis (with a delicious pesto mayonnaise), antipasto, and even a Sunday brunch, this is the perfect place for a med student to meet friends for a meal.
Valentino’s Pizza
Little Italy
2197 Murray Hill Rd.
(216) 795-0463
Valentino’s is the pizza that everybody is happy to be served at free lunches,  If you aren’t sick of pizza yet and want to get some on your own, they deliver but ask for a minimum order of $10.
Wackadoo’s Grub & Brew
Thwing Center
1111 Euclid Ave.
(216) 368-0090
Located in a former campus cafeteria, Wackadoo’s was recently built to provide a little fun for the students at Case.  Typical bar fare is complemented by a fine selection of national brews and microbrews.  For those who don’t consider eating as entertainment, there is an Xbox lounge with free games and a more traditional air hockey table.  For extra fun, search for your classmates that went to Case undergrad in the bazillion pictures the have everywhere.

Yours Truly

Shaker Square
13228 Shaker Square
(216) 751-8646
This northeast Ohio chain serves American food in a family-friendly setting.  Watch out for the breakfast/brunch crowd:  they can cause a really long wait for the hungry.

Medium
Bahama Breeze
3900 Orange Place
(216) 896-9081
Though far away (just past I-271), this Caribbean-themed restaurant goes all the way:  from a giant tiki hut and slatted windows to fish-in-a-bag and Jamaican chicken entrees.  Be sure to get there early, however; we tried to go at 5:30 one evening and still had an hour wait for a table.

BD’S Mongolian Barbeque
Coventry
1854 Coventry Rd.
(216) 932-1185
If you haven’t been to a Mongolian BBQ, the process might be a bit hard to explain.  Essentially you build your own stir fry from a myriad of raw meats, seafood, veggies and sauces and take it to a dinner table sized wok where cooks flip it around with wooden sticks and do tricks with your broccoli for tips while you wait.  It’s all you can eat but moderately expensive and the wait can be long on the weekends, but there is a bar where you can kill time.

Bo Loong
Chinatown
3922 St. Clair Ave.
(216) 391-3113
Regarded by some as serving Cleveland’s best dim sum (served 10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily), this Chinese restaurant is open very late, and so is often booked for wedding receptions.  You still might be able to get a seat, though, and enjoy the drunken karaoke going on in the next room.

Bucca di Beppo

1541 Golden Gate Plaza
Mayfield Heights OH 44124
440.995.5550

Though far away (it’s on Mayfield, near I-271), this tongue twister of a restaurant offers family-style Italian in portions so huge you might want to walk all the way back home to burn off the calories.

Café Tandoor
Cedar/Lee
2096 South Taylor Rd.
 (216) 371-8500
If you couldn’t guess from the name, Café Tandoor serves Indian cuisine. The food costs a more than it should (in at least one person’s humble opinion) and tastes worse than it should (in the same person’s opinion).  Moreover, the waitstaff isn’t ethnic, a bad sign. 

Club Isabella
University Circle
2025 University Hospitals Dr.
(216) 229-1177
This small club right by the hospital serves Mediterranean food along with some jazz.  Check Cleveland.com for times, since they have limited hours.

Fat Fish Blue
Downtown
21 Prospect Ave. NE
(216) 875-6000
Live blues music every night with a Cajun/Southern menu. Their she-crab bisque is to die for (literally, since it is made with heavy cream).  Note:  they validate parking down to $2 for the garage that is next to/above the restaurant.  They are also open late, especially on weekends.

Grillfish
Tremont
815 Jefferson Avenue
216-443-9560
They serve, you guessed it…fish!  You can get it cooked pretty much any way you like it (although if you asked them to just microwave it, I’m not sure they’d comply).  Great list of special entrées too.

Lemon Grass
Cedar/Lee
2179 Lee Rd.
(216) 321-0210
Lemon Grass offers Thai food as well as a large bar. Dishes can be a little pricy, but the décor is nice and they have outdoor seating.

Li Wah
Chinatown
2999 Payne Ave. (off of 30th)
(216) 696-6556
Li Wah serves some excellent Cantonese cuisine, in a nicer atmosphere than some other restaurants.  If you’re lucky you might catch the workers playing mahjong there; during Chinese New Year they host a dragon dance in the restaurant.  They also serve dim sum.

Luchita’s
Shaker Square
13112 Shaker Blvd.
(216) 561-8537
Always lively, this popular Mexican restaurant has the typical fare of burritos and tacos, but also has a wide range of authentic meals.

Mad Greek

Cedar/Fairmount
2466 Fairmount Blvd.
This restaurant provides an upscale atmosphere to Cedar/Fairmount.  They serve Greek and Indian food (I know, slightly random).  Bargain Tip:  Search through the Valuepaks you get in the mail; they often have coupons for buy one/get one dinner specials in there.

Nighttown
Cedar/Fairmount
12387 Cedar Rd.
(216) 795-0550
Nightown is a Jazz club/restaurant with a nice outdoor patio and a variety of foods, mostly American.  Call ahead for info about upcoming performances and events, since sometimes there is a cover charge, depending on the act.   Nighttown is open until midnight every night.

Pacific East
Coventry
1763 Coventry Rd.
(216) 320-2302
Pacific East is a popular spot for sushi, if you go with a large enough party you can all get together and get a sushi boat, literally. Your sushi will come out on a model ship. If there are fewer of you, you can get a sushi bridge which is almost as entertaining.  Prices can range depending on what you get, but overall it is affordable for sushi.  Best bargain:  go for lunch, when prices are about $5 less than during dinner.

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery

Flats West Bank
2000 Sycamore Street
(216) 623-1555
This restaurant on the second floor of the Powerhouses serves typical American fare along with its own microbrews.  Can be noisy if they have special events (once, they had a firefighter bachelor auction.  And it was loud.  And crowded.).

Saffron Patch

20600 Chagrin Blvd.
(216) 295-0400
One of the best Indian restaurants in town, but it is a bit further away.  They have a daily lunch buffet for $9.95, which may be more economical.

Siam Café
Chinatown
3951 St. Clair Ave. (corner of St. Clair and 40th)
(216) 361-2323
Popularly regarded as the best Asian food in Cleveland.  Some words from the class of 2005: “Excellent authentic Thai food, everything I've tried is wonderful."
"Good, fairly authentic Vietnamese (the owners are Vietnamese but they make Thai food that's also very tasty), well-priced, really one of the better Asian restaurants in the area."
"It's just the best Asian food in the area =), non-pretentious atmosphere."
"Good, authentic Thai food, great soups, fast, good service, relatively inexpensive"
$12-$20 (w/soup or appetizer)
Having said that, keep in mind that where it shines is Southeast Asian seafood; you might be (slightly) disappointed if you walk in expecting canonical Chinese fare.  Unfortunately, this author has had nothing but disappointing experiences at Siam, even when she ordered Southeast Asian food, as suggested.

Uptown Grille
The Triangle
11312 Euclid Ave.
(216) 229-9711
One of the nicer places close by, though beware—a lot of undergraduates will go to celebrate special occasions.

Za Za Food & Drink
Cedar Center
13897 Cedar Rd.
(216) 320-1300
This martini bar also serves Cajun-inspired food, from Shrimp Po-Boy to Louisiana Crab Cakes.  They also have live music every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

Expensive  (For when your parents are visiting and footing the bill!)
Baricelli Inn
Little Italy
2203 Cornell Rd.
(216) 791-6500
Though it’s just across the bridge on Cornell Rd. in Little Italy, you won’t want to make an impromptu visit to this restaurant, because not only do the well-dressed and well-to-do of Cleveland go here, a meal will easily set you back a hundred moolas for two.  It also happens to be a small bed & breakfast, for there are seven suites above the restaurant.

Blue Pointe Grill
Warehouse District
700 W. St. Claire Ave.
(216) 875-7827
The daddy of my-parents-are-treating-me places, Blue Pointe Grill serves some of the best seafood in town and the requisite steaks for those who don’t enjoy the fruits of the sea.

Circo Zibibo
Warehouse District
1300 W. 9th St.
(216) 575-0699
Circo Zibibo is half bar/club half Italian fusion restaurant. The décor is bizarre and colorful, like a very psychedelic Ikea, but the food is great and the presentation is creative.  This place is very expensive but definitely a unique experience.

Cleveland Chop House
Warehouse District
824 W. St. Clair Ave.
(216) 623-0909
The Warehouse District’s steakhouse also serves other American fare.

Fahrenheit
Tremont
2417 Professor Street
216-781-8858
An upscale restaurant with an award-winning chef.

Fat Cats
Tremont
2061 West 10th Street
216-579-0200
The cat specializes in fish with an Italian flair. Great city view from the patio.

The Great Lakes Brewing Company
Ohio City
2516 Market Ave.
(216) 771-4404
This environmentally-conscious microbrewery tries its best to form a symbiotic relationship with the city:  it purchases hops for its beer from local farmers, sell the  grains leftover from the process to farmers as feed or to Zoss the Swiss Baker in Cleveland Heights, and in return buy back the beef and bread they produce.  They also buy most of their produce from the nearby West Side Market.  If you’re lucky, you might be able to catch a brewery tour (with a beer sampling at the end).

Hyde Park Grill
Downtown
123 W Prospect Ave.
(216) 344-2444
Outstanding steakhouse with an amazing wine selection. Select your steak and then choose a variety of side dishes to share among your group. The service is amazing as is the décor.  The price is high, but you will have a great time, especially if someone else is treating.

La Dolce Vita
Little Italy
12112 Mayfield Rd.
(216) 721-8155
This Little Italy landmark excels in its service and its pesto.  You might even see the ultra-tan owner, Terry, wandering around checking on tables.  Though it tends to be a little pricey, ladies can get a break with their special on Tuesday (see Specials section).  Warning:  service can be a lot less helpful on ladies’ night. 

Lolita
Tremont
900 Literary Avenue
216-771-5652
Greek-inspired Mediterranean cuisine.  When you’re sick of Aladdin’s and Mad Greek (and trust me, you will be), this is a great place to check out.  It’s a little more expensive, however.

Lopez Bar & Grille
Cedar/Lee
2196 Lee Rd.
(216) 932-9000
Just a bit south of Cedar/Lee, this restaurant serves higher-priced Mexican fare than some of the other local restaurants, but you probably can’t go wrong here.

Mallorca
Warehouse District
1390 W. 9th St.
(216) 687-9494
Mallorca serves Spanish cuisine, and their specialty is paella, a rice dish topped with spicy Spanish chorizo sausage, chicken, tiny clams, scallops, shrimp, mussels, fresh fish, red and green peppers and peas. The dining room is very nice but small, so making reservations is a good idea. As for the food, it’s pretty damn good.

Metropolitan Café
Warehouse District
1352 W. 6th St.
(216) 241-1300
Another American restaurant in the Warehouse District, this restaurant is less steeply priced than some of its neighbors, and the service is known to be wonderful.

Sergio’s
University Circle
1903 Ford Dr.
(216) 231-1234
By far the best restaurant in University Circle, Sergio’s is a tiny tiny restaurant across from the law school that serves hearty Brazilian flavors in large dishes.  Perfect for those special occasions when you don’t want to worry about parking or a cab.

Sushi Rock
Warehouse District
1276 W. 6th St.
(216) 623-1212
Home of the best sushi in town, this downtown hotspot is trendy, hip, and full of beautiful people.  Plates of sushi mingle together in the middle of the table for a truly social dinner.  Bargain Tip:  They offer half-price sushi on Wednesday nights (see Specials section).

That Place on Bellflower
University Circle
11401 Bellflower Rd.
(216) 231-4469
Hidden amongst the fraternity houses on Northside, That Place serves American fare to its constituency of Severance Hall guests.

Theory
Tremont
2221 Professor Street
216-621-2301
A lively restaurant with excellent food (in theory).

Zin Restaurant and Bistro
Shaker Square
13114 Larchcmere Blvd.
(216) 382-7529
This small and intimate American/European restaurant is reminiscent of a 1950’s bistro, complete with a piano crowded into the small barroom. 

Late-Night Options
Bo Loong (Chinese)
Chinatown
Sun – Thurs.  until 2 a.m.  Fri. & Sat. until 3 a.m.

Siam Café (Asian)
Chinablock
Open Daily til Midnight

Gilly’s
Little Italy
12101 Mayfield Rd.
(216) 421-3060
This is an outstanding bakery—you can smell the fragrant pastries a block away.  They specialize in donuts, perfect for the 2 a.m. craving (incidentally, they are open 24 hours Monday through Saturday)

Guy’s Pizza Co.
Sun. – Wed. until midnight.  Thurs – Sat. until 2:30 a.m.

Rascal House Pizza
University Circle
M-Sat until 2:30 a.m., Sunday until Midnight.

Fat Fish Blue (Cajun)
Downtown
Mon:  until 10 pm.  Tues – Thurs:  until midnight.  Fri & Sa. untitl 2 a.m., Sun. until 10 pm.

Bars/Clubs

This is by no means an extensive list, but here are some tried and true options. See the nightlife index from Cleveland Magazine at the end of the guide for an extensive list of Cleveland’s best with locations and descriptions.

Music

The Agora
5000 Euclid Ave.
(216) 881-6911
One of the best-known historical venues for Rock ‘n Roll, the first Agora was actually opened on Case’s campus in 1966.  Though its heyday was in the ‘70s, the Agora still books major acts at both of its stages.  Larger bands often fill the main stage, but the Ballroom is more intimate (I have been sweated on by lead  singers…yuck).

Blossom
This outdoor amphitheater that vaguely resembles a pirate ship is about a 40 minute drive away, but many of the big names that come to Cleveland perform here in the warmer months. Both lawn and regular seats are available.

Cain Park
Superior and Lee Rd.
(216) 371-3000
http://www.cainpark.com/
Cain Park offers professional theatrical productions, a nationally recognized Arts Festival, cabaret series, professional dance companies, children's programming, and concerts featuring national, regional, and local performers. It is surrounded by 22 acres of bicycle and jogging paths, tennis and basketball courts, a wading pool, playground, skate park, and picnic areas for Cleveland Heights residents.

The Grog Shop
Coventry
1765 Coventry Rd.
(216) 321-5588
This small local music venue has recently upgraded into a larger space on Coventry, but they remain a local dive where you can catch live performances of a variety of music styles for $10-15 per show.

House of Blues Cleveland
Downtown
308 Euclid Ave.
(216) 523-BLUE
This newly-opened venue is well-decorated and intimate.  Most major acts now favor the HOB over the Agora.

Scene Pavilion
Flats West Bank
http://www.hob.com/venues/concerts/scenepavilion/
An outdoor venue affiliated with the House of Blues along the West bank of the Flats.

Severance Hall
University Circle
11001 Euclid Av.
(216) 231-7300 (tickets)
This vaguely Teutonic-appearing Art Deco monstrosity is home to the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, one of the best in the country.  Once featured in the movie Air Force One, the Hall is a fitting residence for classical music in Cleveland.  Every Wednesday there is a drawing for two free tickets from the Case Office for Student Affairs; just e-mail orchestra@po.cwru.edu on Mondays to enter the drawing.  Unclaimed tickets are given out first-come, first-serve on Thursdays at 3 pm.

Tower City Amphitheater
351 Canal Road
(216) 241-5555
http://www.towercityamphitheater.com/
This general admission venue, basically a huge tent on a parking lot, is located behind Tower City.  Breezes off the river provide cool air and occasionally a funky smell.

Comedy

Improv
The Flats West Bank
http://www.improvupcoming.com/
Cleveland’s improv theater is located in the Flats in a complex called the Powerhouse which also includes an arcade and various restaurants. This venue features both big touring comedy stars and relative unknowns. The best bet is to go to the late night shows on the weekends when there is a huge student discount! Call ahead to see what night the discount is being offered, on as it can vary depending on the caliber of the comedian in town.

Cabaret Dada
Warehouse District
1210 W 6th St.
(216) 696-4242
Think “Whose Line is it Anyway,” live. The place is small and they are big on audience participation. The tickets aren’t cheap, but the show is worth it. They also offer improvisational comedy clinics if you are looking to do something different. Cabaret Dada  is located in the Warehouse district where there are a ton of bars and clubs so it makes for a nice night out. Call ahead to reserve tickets.  Showtimes are Friday & Saturday evenings.

Hilarities
2035 E 4th St.
(216) 736-4242
http://www.pickwickandfrolic.com/
Located on 4th street in between Euclid and Prospect, this is a straightforward comedy club located in the back of the beautiful Pickwick and Frolic restaurant. Ticket prices range from $10-20 depending on the comic and your seating. Call ahead for ticket reservations.  Bargain Tip:  If you go, be sure to fill out forms for free ticket drawings—if you go in a large group, one of you is bound to win since they give away tons of tickets. 

Movies

Cleveland movie theaters are often not crowded even during opening day for major movies and along the same lines do not compare to most movie theaters at major cities.  Still, that isn’t to say that they won’t sell out.

Regal Cinemas 14 – Severance Center
Big budget films, no student discount.  Bargain Tip:  Discounted tickets ($6.50) are available from Access Services at Crawford Hall; however, they’re not valid for special engagements.

Cedar Lee Theater – Cedar Lee
Mostly independent films. They also sell wine and beer.  Bargain Tip:  Mondays they have an all-day special:  $5 any movie + 32 oz. popcorn for free.

Tower City – Downtown
Big budget films, though kinda far away.  Bargain Tip:  College student tickets get discounted to $5.25 with a student ID and all movies on Monday are $5.

Shaker Square Cinema – Shaker Square
A mix of indie and big budget films.  Bargain Tip:  There is no student discount but Monday is always discounted to $5.

Nearby Movie Rentals

Blockbuster – Severance Center
Vidstar Video – Coventry.  A locally owned shop with a smaller, but less picked over selection and reasonable rates.
Hollywood Video- Farther down Mayfield, but it’s there if you hate Blockbuster for some reason.

Museums

Case students now have free access to most Cleveland museums with a student ID  For more details visit http://studentaffairs.case.edu/freeaccess/

University Circle
http://www.universitycircle.org/
Case sits within University Circle, an area where most of Cleveland’s museums are clustered. Most University Circle museums are free to students.  Museums include the Cleveland Museum of Art (free special exhibits with ID), Museum of Contemporary Art(MOCA), Natural History Museum, where our esteemed anatomy professor, Dr. Latimer, is executive director, Crawford Auto and Aviation Museum, Botanical Gardens, Children’s Museum and the African American Museum.  Also check out the Art Museum lagoon which is a beautiful place to take a break and relax. 

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
http://www.rockhall.com/
You should be able to obtain free admission by virtue of being a Case student.

Great Lakes Science Center
http://www.glsc.org/
Has a wide variety of science exhibits as well as an Omnimax theater.

Fitness Centers

121 – (See campus map item #9)
This fitness center is located on campus although it is not owned by the University. It is generally cheap for students; look for the deals that offer cheaper initiation fees. In general it’s between $30-40 a month and you are allowed a two month hiatus in the summer.   Many departments also have corporate accounts where they let people join for cheaper fees—look for postings on the bulletin boards.

Severance Athletic Center
Located in Severance center, it isn’t convenient for someone near campus, but if you live over that way it is a nice alternative.

Bally’s – There’s a Bally’s in Severance that is less than a year old.  It’s apparently pretty posh.

Veale Center – (See campus map item #8)
This facility is free to students and is the main undergrad athletic center. It has most everything you will need including two pools, a weight room, Hammer Strength equipment, a cardio room, classes, an indoor track, indoor tennis and basketball etc. There is also a field outdoors where most of the intramural soccer, softball, baseball and football is played, among other sports.  Make sure you bring your ID to show to the guard.

Cleveland Heights Community Center
If you are a Cleveland Heights resident you are allowed access to the Cleveland Heights Community Center athletic facilities which include cardio and nautilus equipment, classes, as well as basketball courts.  In order to gain access you must buy a $5 ID card and pay $140 for a yearly membership beginning the day you purchase it. This facility also has two ice skating rinks open via paid admission to anyone.

Parks/Climbing/Hiking

Cleveland Rock Gym
21200 St Clair Ave., Building B3
Euclid, Ohio
(216) 692-3300
http://www.clevelandrockgym.com/
A one day pass to climb is $10 and slightly cheaper, $7, if you just want to boulder.  They offer a Ladies’ Night (Wednesday) and a College ID night (Friday) for $7.
Cost is $6 for a package with your harness, shoes and belay device. 

Veale Center. 
Just opened a climbing wall in 2005.  Call (216) 368-2868 for hours and prices.

Metroparks
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/bike/

Cleveland is surrounded by what is often called the emerald necklace, referring to the ring of county-run parks surrounding the major Cleveland suburbs. There are biketrails, hiking paths and creeks surrounded by forest. The closest metropark to campus is Euclid Creek Park which has a great jogging/rollerblading/bike path that runs along Euclid Creek. The park is long but very narrow so it is fairly small, but the rock cliffs along the creek are often steep and very picturesque. People often walk/climb in the creek along the length of the park which is fun, but not possible after heavy rains. Other metroparks, including hiking and bike trails can be found at.

Cain Park.  See entry in live music/concerts/shows section.

Shaker Lakes.  Set in one of the wealthier parts of Cleveland, this is a small man-made nature preserve with walking and jogging paths.  The Shaker Lakes Nature Center is also located there, which is a great place to visit if you are interested in nature and conservation.

Lakeview Cemetery.  Ok, some people think it’s odd to consider a cemetery as a place for recreation, but this cemetery is an exception. Located just at the top of Mayfield hill past Little Italy, it is a large expanse of wooded and hilly paths and roads and is a popular place for joggers. At the highest point in the cemetery there are great views of Lake Erie and the skyline. President Garfield is buried here as well as Elliot Ness, various Rockefellers and a number of Cleveland’s prominent families. The cemetery is very old and the graves are often elaborate and beautiful. There are also ponds and picnic tables and modern outdoor sculptures throughout the park. Trolley tours run through the warmer months, and the park is open until 5:30 pm in the winter, dusk in the summer. 

MLK.  Martin Luther King Blvd. from the North side of campus to Lake Erie doubles as both a major thoroughfare and a well maintained bike and jogging path.  Scattered along the park are cultivated gardens and monuments that commemorate the various countries that contribute to Cleveland’s diversity.  Each one is characteristic of its representative country and they are really interesting to look at.  Note of caution however:  this is probably only a safe place to go by day.

Beaches

Cleveland beaches get a bad rap, but as long as you don’t expect anything awesome, you can have a good time.  Here are a few that you can check out for yourself.
Edgewater Park - Lakewood
Mentor Headlands - Mentor
Huntington Beach - Bay Village