SGS loves Cleveland breakfast haunts for their translucent atmospheres, architecture and neighborhood camaraderie. But even more important is the quality of grub. Many eateries around town dare to place Eggs Benedict on their breakfast menu, but few can actually measure up to our expectations.
After months of research dining at various greasy spoons and fancy pants establishments, the crew has finally declared a winner. There were some formidable challengers (see West Side Market Cafe) but the Eggs Benedict from Diner on Clifton is a cut above the rest. Some places claim they have Eggs Benedict, but you get Dave’s Supermarket Deli Ham on top of egg-beaters topped of with Miracle Whip. At one spot to remain anonymous, we actually received Eggs Benedict smothered in nacho cheese.
If you’re ready for Cleveland’s Eggs Benedict knockout punch, head on over to the Diner on Clifton located at 11637 Clifton Boulevard. Tell them Dale Caruso sent you.
Every weekday morning Clevelanders who walk past public square get a glimpse of the City Year formation. City Year Cleveland unites a diverse group of 17-24 year olds for a year of full time service according to their website.
The Cheese Shop (stand H-9) and Anne Marie’s Dairy (Stand H-4) located at the West Side Market are two of our city’s best shops to purchase artisan cheeses. If you are new to the cheese game trying to figure out what to choose can be overwhelming at a place such as the Cheese Shop.
Luckily for the uninitiated the Cheese Shop employs two lovely chessemongers. Pictured above are Nicole Bryson and Lisa Seppi. Nicole told SGS that she and Lisa both worked previously in the restaurant industry but prefer their current profession. Nicole was knowledgeable about all of the cheese we asked about. She explained the best way to eat various cheeses and offered samples.
She scoffed when I asked her to cut a raclette cheese into slices — but after a bit of pleading she begrudgingly did so even as she proclaimed that this was tantamount to sacrilege.
Be advised that once you veer from your superstore cheese aisle and buy cheese from the West Side Market you will never return to Colby and Hydrogenated American Cheese. You will find yourself skipping other meals just so you can purchase a quarter of a rare Selles-sur Cher.
SGS took a picture of Taylor’s Lounge on October, 2006. The establishment is located at 3385 E. 93 St. Although Taylor’s is now closed its color palette on this street is not forgotten. Taylor’s and others like it got us thinking about the bold statement that pink structures make … especially in northern climates. The color pink induces calm feelings, neutralizes disorder, and conveys contentment. This “visual message” is in stark contrast with the characteristic “grey” mood associated with places like Cleveland.
None of the SGS crew ever made it into Taylor’s but we can only salute the owner who decided to drop colorful love onto one tough neighborhood.
Shoe shining is an art form that demands a sustained power from anyone attempting to take on the craft. George a.k.a. The Shoe Doctor or The Glass Man has been shining Clevelanders shoes for close to thirty years. He initially worked in the Leader Building, but now makes his living glazing up soles on the South end of the Hyatt Regency Arcade.
His employer, Brass Tack Shoe Repair is one of the last shoe repair/key shops still left in our city. It is also located in the historic arcade and is one of just three shops (Federal Coin Exchange and Greek Express being the others) that were around prior to the Hyatt ownership.
The Shoe Doctor told SGS that we should let everybody know that he deals in both minor and major surgery. So please attempt to visit the good doctor before your soles move on to the hereafter.
ClevelandSGS came across this photo from an October 30, 1965 Cleveland Press story. Here at the Den of the Golden Cobras we are often in disagreement about various actors and films. A few things we agree on are that in Rhinestone, Sylvester Stallone never got the respect he deserved; that the Hyman Roth scene in Godfather II is the greatest moment ever committed to celluloid, and that Jack Lemmon in Glengarry Glen Ross blows everyone off the screen. And nothing goes better with the memory of Jack Lemmon than Sweat.X’s “I’m That Alley” off the Saviour & Messiah EP. We are sure Jack would approve.
The photo above is from a press junket Lemmon did while filming The Fortune Cookie. This film is an early teaming of Matthau and Lemon, and was filmed at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
SGS took a ride over to West 83rd to survey the explosion from this week. While there we were surprised to find that we never snapped a pic of the wonderful sign above. After researching the business we found that Arch “Archie” Poole, who past away in 2002, was the founder of this Madison Ave. business. In Poole’s obituary, we learned that Archie Poole was a guest on the television show What’s My Line on March 30, 1957.
Crossing our fingers we searched for Poole’s appearance on What’s My line and found it. God Bless the Game Show Network. Besides the segment being funny it is pretty racy for late 1950s television. The best part is watching host John Daly walk offstage after busting up. Hope you enjoy the clip as much as we did.
Many fans of the Phantasy Theater lament that they missed Husker Du, Nine Inch Nails, and Sonic Youth play at this legendary club. SGS only regrets that they were not able to be witness to the follicle majesty of King Kobra at the Phantasy on June 10, 1985.
Slumbering in every human being lies an infinity of possibilities, which one must not arouse in vain. For it is terrible when the whole man resonates with echoes and echoes, none becoming a real voice. -Elias Canetti, Notes from Hampstead
ClevelandSGS recently stopped in at the Cooley Lounge located at 3670 West 130 St. This spot has been popular at some time or another with family, friends and foes. The Cooley is one of those places where you peek in the window and clench your fists before entering. This is not only from fear of the unknown, but also to make sure that you are allowed to enter. The Cooley graciously welcomes all, but clearly is there to serve a steady clientele of hard drinking regulars.
The Cooley is a no frills, meat and potatoes neighborhood watering hole, so keep your scarf and argyle socks at home, fancy boys. The jukebox is still kicking with Bob Seger and Bob Seger. SGS debated if we had been to any other local haunt where the beers were so cheap. At one point a few regulars brought the heat on our consumption because we were cutting into their supply of Rolling Rock. The Cooley stocks for their regulars and we were throwing a spanner into their cache.
Check out the Cooley Lounge—the kind of place your dad used to go to when he had a bad day.
The Sleeping Beauties saga of 1960 is an interesting story passed down from our Cleveland elders. Lillian Fratantonio’s two little girls captivated the nation with a August 15, 1960 Life magazine article. The article was about how doctors were baffled by the case of two little Cleveland Heights girls who slipped in and out of comas.
The scan from above is from an August 12, 1960 Cleveland Press story where Mrs. Fratantonio was arrested for allegedly drugging her little girls.
Interestingly in our research we came across a March 28, 1999 Plain Dealer article where reporter Fred McGunagle recounted the ordeal of the “Sleeping Beauties”. The following week (April 4, 1999-Plain Dealer) one of the “Sleeping Beauties” daughters–Venita Fratantonio-Sapatka wrote this about her mother, “I’d like to say something on behalf of my mother, Lillian Fratantonio , and myself. So what if [my mother] made a mistake 40 years ago? She has more than made up for it since then. Why can’t you let our family members live the rest of our lives in peace? Lillian Fratantonio not only is my mother; she’s my best friend. Please forget about the “Sleeping Beauties,” because I’m wide awake and doing very well, thanks to my mother. I love my family.”
Lillian Fratantonio was always painted as some sort of historical Cleveland evil. We found it interesting how local legends can grow to something they may not actually be. After reading all we could find about the case, it seems clear that this story was about a scared and confused young woman. By most accounts Lillian went on to be an upstanding citizen who took advantage of her second chance to improve her life.
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