On the other hand, it is
one of the most livable cities in America. Given the resilience of
Americans and their innate ability to re-invent themselves, I fully
expect that Cleveland will renew itself ... but in a much form much
different from its previous incarnation.
We visited Cleveland two
years ago as part of a junket to Chicago where I bought a generator
for the boat and financed the trip with the “savings” over the
price of the same item in Ontario. (An understanding Canada Customs
agent waived the duty after we were very up front about declaring the
value of the item at the border. We've had much the same experience
in declaring excess bottles of wine on our return from trips to
France ... but that's another story.)
I chatted to a friend
while planning the trip and he (a very able curator and evaluator of
middle eastern antiquities) urged me to visit The Cleveland Museum of
Art.
At one point, he said, the
museum's annual budget for acquisitions exceeded that of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. And it shows! According to my
friend, it ranks among the top five art museums in the U.S. Here is
a brief outline of the museum and its collections:
We were enthralled by the
collections of modern European art and older European painting and
sculpture, modern American ... and a real highlight (to me), its
exceptional collection of European armour and weaponry ... no doubt a
legacy of the steel magnates who supported the museum.
Another surprise ...
admission is free. And the museum is a wonderful place to “do
lunch”. We spent about six hours there and left with the feeling
that we had only touched on what the museum had to offer.
For a change of pace, it
would be foolish to leave Cleveland without visiting the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame, the USS Cod (WW2 submarine where you can scramble
about the narrow passage ways), and the often-overlooked Wade
Memorial Chapel in the Lake View Cemetery. Click on the following
link to see why: http://www.lakeviewcemetery.com/wadechapel.php
It's a place to slow down and immerse yourself in the wonders of an
exquisite Louis Comfort Tiffany interior. A hint: take binoculars!
Next time we visit, we
will make sure to spend a few hours at Progressive Field, home of
Cleveland Indians. Trip Advisor provides an excellent synopsis of
attractions in Cleveland:
The "Rust Belt" has been laid low by massive change in the steel industry and tool manufacturing. Nowhere is this more evident than in Cleveland: large empty spaces once occupied by thriving factories; derelict homes and very depressed prices in even the toniest neighbourhoods and a declining population.
Like many other American cities in similar circumstances, Cleveland is forthright about recognizing its challenges. Here is a synopsis of the strategies it is promoting to improve its situation:
As an investor, I am very interesting in following developments in Cleveland and other cities in the Rust Belt. It's the result of faith in American ingenuity and resiliency and the investor's dictum to "look where others ain't".
In the meantime, I'll enjoy the wonderful cultural attractions of Cleveland, Toledo (yes, it has a very significant museum), Akron and the lands in-between.
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