World Class Exhibit Comes to Cleveland - Vatican Splendors

This exhibition features reliquary holding fragments of bones of Saint Peter, personal items of Michelangelo, Bernini’s sculpture, papal election objects and earliest known representation of Jesus.

One of the largest collections of art, documents and historically significant objects from the Vatican ever to tour North America is coming to the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland beginning May 31, 2008, for a limited, exclusive regional engagement. Vatican Splendors from Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guard will present unique objects illustrating the Vatican’s impact on history and culture through 2,000 years. The timing of the exhibition commemorates the 500th anniversary of Saint Peter’s Basilica, the founding of the Vatican Museums, Michelangelo’s painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the establishment of the Papal Swiss Guard.

“Vatican Splendors is visiting only three U.S. cities, so we feel very fortunate to have it come here to Cleveland,” said Dr. Gainor Davis, president of the Western Reserve Historical Society. "Since such a large percentage of Northeastern Ohio's population has Catholic roots, the Society felt that this exhibition meshed perfectly with its ongoing mission to educate our residents about the origins of their history, culture and traditions. People will be able to see some of the world's greatest treasures without having to travel to the Vatican."

Approximately 200 rare objects will be presented in contextual environments, such as the recreated tomb of Saint Peter. Items in the collection – which includes tiaras; mosaics; paintings; works by well-known sculptors; papal rings and jewels; intricately embroidered silk vestments; precious objects from the Papal Mass; armor, swords and vestments of the Papal Swiss Guard; and gifts to the popes from notables such as Napoleon and the Dalai Lama – are on loan from the Vatican Museums, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, the Reverenda Fabbrica of Saint Peter, the Apostolic Floreria, private collections and the Papal Swiss Guard.

The exhibition also features actual objects relating to the election of Pope Benedict XVI, such as election ballots, patens and urns used in voting, a ceremonial vestment and an actual white smoke cartridge announcing the election.

“Indeed, this exhibition is in itself significant, as it represents one of the largest collections of art and objects from the Vatican ever to tour North America,” stated Monsignor Roberto Zagnoli, curator of the Vatican Museums. “Many of these works have never before been outside Vatican City.”

After the three-city tour of St. Petersburg, Fla., Cleveland and St. Paul, Minn., the items featured in Vatican Splendors will return to Rome where they cannot be absent for more than a year.

“It is a great privilege for Cleveland to host this wonderful collection,” said the Most Rev. Richard G. Lennon, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all – not just Catholics – to see these awe-inspiring treasures and significant pieces of art and beauty here in Northeast Ohio.”

Highlights of the exhibition include a reliquary containing fragments of bones of Saint Peter and a gold Votive Plaque found in the area of the tomb, all displayed within a dramatic reproduction of the Tomb of Saint Peter; the Mandylion of Edessa, a third to fifth century image on linen considered one of the oldest known representations of Jesus present in Rome; a mosaic Bust of an Angel by the 14th century master, Giotto; personal items and tools of Michelangelo; an exquisite terra-cotta sculpture by Bernini; the Papal Tiara of Pope Pius VII, the symbol of the papacy, made of gold, precious stones, pearls, velvet and silk, and topped with an exquisite emerald; a Buddhist Thanka of embroidered cloth and pearls, given by the Dalai Lama to John Paul II; the Pastoral Staff of Pope John Paul II; and a special presentation of uniforms, armor and weapons from the legendary Papal Swiss Guard.

“This exhibition is about art, history, culture and the Church’s legacy over the last 2,000 years,” said Mark Greenberg, president of Evergreen Exhibitions, producers of the exhibition. “The Vatican has had a profound impact on culture through the centuries by commissioning, collecting and preserving historical objects and art. Vatican Splendors is a moving tribute to an exquisite assemblage of art and objects associated with the papacy and the historic institution of the Vatican.”

Greenberg added that the exhibition is not solely about religion, but rather a collection of fine and decorative arts that explores the Vatican’s influence on world history.

Tickets for Vatican Splendors from Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guard go on sale April 14 and will be available by calling 1-888-5VATICAN (1-888-582-8422) or online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets also may be purchased at the Western Reserve Historical Society box office located at 10825 East Blvd. in Cleveland. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $14 for children (age 6-12). Hours for Vatican Splendors will be Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information regarding group sales and special packages, contact Tickets for Groups at 1-800-840-1157 or visit www.ticketsforgroups.com.

Tickets are on sale now at the Western Reserve Historical Society box office, at all ticketmaster locations including Giant Eagle and Macy’s, by phone at 1-888-5VATICAN and online at ticketmaster.com or vaticansplendors.com

CNN Declares Cleveland as One of the Best Places to Buy a Home!

You read that correctly... Cleveland is one of CNN Money's top 6 places to buy a home these days. In an analysis developed by Money Magazine, Cleveland was listed fourth in the nation for best place to buy a home in the next 12 months.

"Prices have stabilized and look ready to rise." -CNN Money Magazine speaking on Cleveland, OH, courtesy of CNN.com

What does this mean to you? In general it means that the market has begun to make its adjustments. Some have done so through foreclosure and bank auctions, while some real estate agents have helped people sell their homes quickly in an effort to allow their clients the opportunity to buy a new home while the market is still favorable to buyers. Many forecast that the national market has not hit "rock bottom" yet, but according to this study on CNN.com by Money Magazine, Cleveland is ahead of the curve and prone to stabilize and return to growth.

Consulting a real estate agent is the best way to capitalize on the present market. To contact the City Office of Real Living, Inc., call: 216.986.7716 or email scott.phillips@RealLiving.com.

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I Love Downtown Tours!

Think spring! Make plans now to attend “I Love Downtown”, the open house for downtown. On Sunday April 20th from 1-5pm take a trolley tour of downtown Cleveland’s hottest residential properties and see first hand why so many people are making the decision to move downtown.
Start your day with brunch or end it with dinner at one of downtown’s exceptional restaurants – then enjoy shopping and sightseeing as you visit a variety of stunning loft apartments, condos and new developments.

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Trolleys will drop you off and pick you up from your choice of 18 sites: The Arcade, The Avenue District, The Bingham, Bradley Building, Bridgeview Apartments, Hanna Tech Hotel, Hanna Theatre renovation project, The Lofts on Fourth, National Terminal Warehouse Apartments, 1900 Euclid Lofts, The Park Building, The Pointe at Gateway, Perry Payne Condominiums, Reserve Square, The Residences at Stonebridge, Statler Arms, Walker Weeks and Waterstreet Condominiums.

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The event is $20 per person when you register before the event; $35 at the door. For tickets and further information, call the Historic Gateway Neighborhood at 216.771.8088.

Can't make the tour, but still want to check out downtown homes? Call the Cleveland City Living at 216.373.6959.

Play Ball!

It's that time of year again! It's time to hear birds chirping, to take out spring jackets, to watch restaurants set up outdoor dining, to take out the grills, and time for Lake Erie to thaw. That's right, Clevelanders, its Tribe Time! Nobody knows Tribe Time better than the residents of Downtown Cleveland. In a poll of residents in a popular apartment building in the Warehouse District, 80% of them declared that they'd enjoyed strolling through downtown for a Tribe game last summer! And why wouldn't you?

For the cost of game-day parking, you can buy a cheap seat and have dinner and a beer in the batter's eye bar while enjoying the entertainment of your 2007 Central Division Champions! For more information on great places to live in walking distance of the Tribe, visit ClevelandCityLiving.com or email Scott(AT)clevelandcityliving.com.

See you at the Jake! oops... I mean Progressive Field!

Flats East Bank Plan Grows!

The planned redevelopment of the east bank of the Flats has grown dramatically during the past three years, spurred by interest from companies seeking new offices and from hotels and other businesses looking for a unique niche in downtown Cleveland.
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Updated plans from The Wolstein Group and Fairmount Properties, who hope to transform the former nightlife center into a neighborhood by late 2010, show changes to the layout and scope of the development.
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Among the most notable revisions: The office portion of the project has nearly doubled in size, to a possible 975,000 square feet. The number of planned residences has grown from 300 to about 430, including 50 high-end condominiums perched atop a 150-room luxury hotel. And the layout of the project now centers on the waterfront, with roads, buildings and a public park framing a view of the Cuyahoga River and pedestrian access along a 1,200-foot boardwalk.
"I am very optimistic that this is going to be much more spectacular than I had originally envisioned," said Scott Wolstein, who is developing the project with his mother, Iris, and Cleveland-based Fairmount Properties.
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"The response to the project from the community has been incredible, and we've been gratified by the response from the office tenants that we didn't originally anticipate," Wolstein added during a phone interview.
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At its regular meeting this morning, the Cleveland City Planning Commission got its first look at the revised and expanded plans to remake land from West 9th Street to the river. Officials did not vote on any plans; rather, they took time to comment on changes to the development and the developers' ambitious plans to build offices, homes, a hotel, a movie theater, a gourmet market, shops and public space before 2011.
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"I think the more we studied the great waterfront urban districts in the world, the more we came to believe that for this project to help redefine the future of the city, it needed to have a real critical mass," Adam Fishman of Fairmount Properties said in an interview earlier this week.
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"The schedule is very aggressive," he added, "and we need a lot of cooperation, which we're getting. Our public partners have been extremely cooperative, but it's important to everyone to push to make this happen."
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The most updated images for the Flats project show the final layout of the development, including the location and uses of buildings, and the positions of streets and public spaces. But the developers have not yet released design details, showing what the outside of each building will look like. Those details could be available within a few months.
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Final demolition on buildings on the site could start within 30 days, followed by grading of the property. Foundation work on a residential building near the river and a 20- or 21-story office building and nearby apartments could start before the end of the summer.

*this article was streamed from Cleveland.com. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer are entirely responsible for the content of this article**

Living Downtown on St. Patty's Day

Living in downtown Cleveland has many perks. A great social network, walking to work, a reverse commute, fitness centers, walkable bars, and the list goes on.... One perk, being able to walk to and from the bars, is seldom appreciated more than it is on St. Patty's Day.

On March 17th, hundreds of thousands of Cleveland+ residents proceed to downtown Cleveland to watch a two hour parade and then party like they're in Ireland. For just under 10,000 of those attendees, they end their evening walking (or stumbling) home to their apartment, loft, or condo.

Enter, Christopher O'Grady: a young man of 25 years who works in the health care field and lives downtown. He enjoys playing the bagpipes, watching football, and occasionally partaking in a Guinness or two.

St. Patrick's Day is Brother O'Grady's holiday and he begins it as any good son of Ireland would- in church. After the services at St. John's Cathedral (which were less expansive this year due to the overlap with Holy Week) O'Grady struts to the first sign he sees for corned beef sandwiches- Flannery's. After partaking in some authentic irish fare, he strolls through the Grand Arcade to Superior Avenue where he watches the parade with his family and close friends. Two hours and a few minutes later, the real fun begins.

Christopher celebrates his holiday at the Clevelander, Panini's, House of Blues (for live Irish music), and Flannery's before he takes a brief refreshing walk to the Warehouse District to finish his evening. Riding the bull at Tequila Ranch and stopping by the Map Room (a downtown residents favorite) is the perfect way to wind down the party.

At 11:45pm Christopher sees a line of taxi cabs from St. Clair and West 6th wrapped all the way around Lakeside Avenue to West 9th St. He and his friends chuckle as they see people quivering outside waiting for a cab in below freezing temperatures. Our neighbor finishes his drink, tips out the bartender, and shuffles past the line of taxis to his loft on West 9th St. Yes, our Irish friend is the host for a nine person slumber party so that nobody has to drive home after this long day of friends and fun. A great way to end a great bar-hopping St. Patrick's Day as a downtown resident.

To have your "Day in the Life" story published email: info(AT)clevelandcityliving.com

Saved From the Snow

If your car got stuck in a Cleveland neighborhood, the local media might lead you to think you're in a world of trouble... unless you get stuck in the newly branded "Edgewater Hill" block of the Detroit Shoreway, which includes Battery Park.

During the "Great Blizzard of 2008," some Battery Park residents represented the essence of neighborly love. Starting at 7:45am, residents took out their shovels and began digging out stranded cars from the streets of the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood. It was community bonding in an unconventional way.

One lady was travelling home to West Park with her children after an afternoon sled ride, when she got caught in a snow mound on West 74th. Neighbors hastened to her aide and even entertained the children outside the car while a few worked to push the van all the way to Detroit Avenue. While the recipients of these random acts of kindness expressed gratitude, the real benefactors were the neighbors who got the opportunity to bond with each other during the snow storm.