From Asiatown to Hessler Street
What most people outside this city don’t realize is downtown isn’t all of Cleveland. It’s just a small glimmer.
The gem of this place is our network of neighborhoods — from Glenville And St. Clair-Superior to Edgewater and Detroit Shoreway to Tremont and Slavic Village — and the unique character, the experience each offers. Some are more commercial, others are more pedestrian friendly, some need work. But they all add up to the life, food, sites, art, sports, festivals, walks, architecture, people, history, memories and culture that make my CLE just right.
It’s too bad many people don’t realize the fab that out-of-downtown spots can offer. What’s even more too bad: many of those people live in Northeast Ohio.
Well, this weekend is prime for exploring two stops on the Cleveland neighborhood tour. That’s right: it’s Cleveland Asian Festival and Hessler Street Fair time!
First Stop: Cleveland Asian Festival
Haven’t been to Asiatown? It’s just outside downtown on the eastside around Payne and Superior Avenues, from the low East 30s to upper East 20s.
It’s not just what other places call “Chinatown.” Our Asian location unites the cultures and communities of Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Indian, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Nepalese and Thai in Cleveland. And the Asian Festival is the neighborhood’s signature event that highlights its culture, diversity, people and, of course, food.
Performances will rock the Cleveland Public Power Stage (in the Asia Plaza food court, north of Payne Avenue). Events, activities and performances include:
- Mame Daiko, Yume Daiko and Icho Daiko Taiko Japanese Drummers (my favorite)
- Last Comic Standing Dat Phan, Vietnamese comic
- Great Wall Enrichment Center Chinese Cultural Dance
- Samosa Eating Competition
- Yoga and Internal Martial Arts Demonstration
- Connie Zhang Rising Star Children Acrobatics
- Asian-indian Women in Ohio Sari-Wrapping Demonstration
- All-American Karate
- Nepalese and Indian Cyltural mised Hip Hop
- Dance Party with DJ Bharat Kumar
To name a few. The festival runs all day Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22. See the full Asian Festival schedule for all performance details, vendor and exhibitor listings, Lolly the Trolley tours and health talks/demos with the Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, UH, St. Vincet and other services.
Next stop: Hessler Street Fair, University Circle
Like much of Cleveland, a walk through University Circle reveals its histories through a blend of architecture, rebuild and design that captures your imagination.
Just a walk down Ford Drive takes you past the 1910 Glidden House mansion-turned-boutique-hotel; the swooping silver curves of Frank Genhry’s 2002 Peter B. Lewis Building; the formidable, carved limestone Mather Memorial building. But before you hit Euclid Avenue there’s a brick-road inlet that’s lined with stylish, older residences and ends with a court that’s the last remaining wood-block street in the city.
Hessler Street residents say they organized in 1969 to save their historic neighborhood from being bulldozed for student housing and parking lots, as well as to protect the social and architectural integrity of the block.
It was then, too, that the association launched the Hessler Street Fair, an annual festival featuring arts and crafts, veggie food, street performances and main-stage music.
This year’s event runs Sturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22, with music by Charlie Mosbrook, Cats on Holiday, Hessler Blues All-Stars, Square Dance, Carlos Jones and the PLUS Band, Gary Hall and more. Arts and crafts vendors offer clothing, jewelry and henna body art, pottery, prints and even glitter.
You can also get a little veggie taste of Cleveland with a range of food vendors, including Algebra Teahouse, Crepe Lady, Dailey’s West Indian Food, Moe’s Ice Cream, No Whey Foods, Plant Kingdom food, Q’s Kettlecorn, Umami Moto and more.
Visit the Hessler Street Fair site for complete schedule and event details, history of the organization, info about the Hessler Chair Project and directions.