Cleveland Vintage Blog

It's safe to assume that even the most ardent of native Clevelanders probably don't know much about the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument that stands guard on Public Square other than it is an iconic memorial to Cleveland’s Civil War veterans. However, there is much more to not only its location on Public Square, but the rich and somewhat spooky history that goes along with it. Above ground, there are many still-standing buildings in Cleveland that trace their origins nearly all the way to the city’s founding in 1796. But how often do you consider that there may very well be...

Have you ever seen a spotted lanternfly in Northeast Ohio? It's a beautiful insect, with black spots and red, yellow, black, brown, and white coloring. But most importantly, if you ever do come across one, you need to immediately KILL IT. That's right, smash that beautiful bug right where it stands.  Wait, Why Should We Be Killing the Spotted Lanternfly? Simply put, the spotted lanternfly is an incredibly invasive species. Native to China and Vietnam, the insect has finally made its way to North America, first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014. It has since been identified in 14 states, including...

Having staged a few sponsored events at this jewel of Cleveland history, Grays Armory, located at 1234 Bolivar Rd downtown, I was very anxious to delve further into its rumored haunted history beyond what I can personally share within this post. One of my responsibilities at the first beer distributorship I worked for years ago was to set up and execute brand-sponsored events, and two of those events, Business After Hours, were held at Grays Armory. But before we get into my personal recollections and other sightings, sounds, and tales this venerable old building has to tell, first: a bit...

Would you believe Godzilla nearly destroyed Cleveland, Ohio? Back in the 1980s, a movie was in development called It Ate Cleveland, which essentially would have been a spoof of Japanese kaiju films, featuring a Godzilla-like fire-breathing monster that rose from the depths of Lake Erie to attack Northeast Ohio. That being said, the movie's Godzilla-like monster resembled Godzilla just a bit too much for Toho's liking, as the Japanese studio threatened a lawsuit when the project was originally named the very suable Godzilla vs. Cleveland. Though the movie wasn't initially canceled - just put on hold for a few years...

Is Cleveland's Renaissance Hotel haunted? It’s a question that can be asked of pretty much any location reported to have either actual ghost sightings or unexplained occurrences associated with it. Once a sighting happens, the focus becomes on who might the person or persons be, how long they have been there, and - probably most importantly - what has caused them to become permanently attached to a particular place or property. One of Cleveland’s oldest hotels, the Renaissance, is at 24 Public Square and its rich history is certainly no exception. The Renaissance began as the Hotel Cleveland in 1918...