40 Things to Do in Cleveland Before You Die

The bucket list of your dreams.

It happens with startling regularity. You'll be talking with a family member or friend who's lived in Cleveland their entire life, and you'll bring up a quintessentially Cleveland event or place -- say, the Rock Hall, or the Velvet Tango Room -- and they'll mention that they've never been. Huh? But? How? Why? Really?

That's why we put this bucket list together. It seems that Clevelanders, while enjoying their backyard, don't always explore every nook and cranny. We're guilty of it too, which is also why we set out to provide a remedy.

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 Buy Your Groceries at the West Side Market
After celebrating its centennial and enjoying one of its busiest years in recent history, there's not much new to say about Cleveland's public market. It's the envy of folks around the country, stocked fully with the most delicious food in town no matter your taste and... well, come on: Just go buy your stuff there already.
Photo via Scene Archives

Buy Your Groceries at the West Side Market


After celebrating its centennial and enjoying one of its busiest years in recent history, there's not much new to say about Cleveland's public market. It's the envy of folks around the country, stocked fully with the most delicious food in town no matter your taste and... well, come on: Just go buy your stuff there already.

Photo via Scene Archives
 Drink at the Harbor Inn
It's Cleveland's oldest bar, which is reason enough to go there for a beer and a shot. But the Harbor Inn also remains one of Cleveland's best bars. Once populated by longshoremen and the blue-collar lot, the Harbor now serves those folks and many more.
Photo viajency312/Instagram

Drink at the Harbor Inn


It's Cleveland's oldest bar, which is reason enough to go there for a beer and a shot. But the Harbor Inn also remains one of Cleveland's best bars. Once populated by longshoremen and the blue-collar lot, the Harbor now serves those folks and many more.

Photo viajency312/Instagram
 See a Movie at Cedar Lee
There's only one theater in Cleveland showing the best movies to come out each year, and not just from Hollywood, but Bulgaria or Australia or an indie filmmaker in Montana. The Cedar Lee wins Best Movie Theater every year for a reason.
Photo via @Eh_Liss_A/Instagram

See a Movie at Cedar Lee


There's only one theater in Cleveland showing the best movies to come out each year, and not just from Hollywood, but Bulgaria or Australia or an indie filmmaker in Montana. The Cedar Lee wins Best Movie Theater every year for a reason.

Photo via @Eh_Liss_A/Instagram
 Take a Tour of Great Lakes Brewing Co. and Have a Pint
The craft brew renaissance in Cleveland began with the Conway brothers in 1988 and continues unabated today. Great Lakes is the anchor of the Ohio City brewing district, responsible for Christmas Ale, of course, and a local name known and respected around the country. Take a tour of the brewing facilities and see how it's done.
Photo via @GLBC_Cleveland/Instagram

Take a Tour of Great Lakes Brewing Co. and Have a Pint


The craft brew renaissance in Cleveland began with the Conway brothers in 1988 and continues unabated today. Great Lakes is the anchor of the Ohio City brewing district, responsible for Christmas Ale, of course, and a local name known and respected around the country. Take a tour of the brewing facilities and see how it's done.

Photo via @GLBC_Cleveland/Instagram
 Go to a Playoff Game
The real sports bucket list entry here is really to see a championship, and, thanks to LeBron (who's now stupidly left us for L.A.), you've already done that. But of course, we'll take more. 
Photo via Scene Archives

Go to a Playoff Game


The real sports bucket list entry here is really to see a championship, and, thanks to LeBron (who's now stupidly left us for L.A.), you've already done that. But of course, we'll take more.

Photo via Scene Archives
 Tour A Christmas Story House
A Christmas Story will remain a cult classic, and Cleveland's contribution to the Hollywood holiday movie canon is as enjoyable as ever. You might not get the treasured Red Ryder under the Christmas tree. You might not get what you asked for at all. But A Christmas Story never disappoints.
Photo via Emanuel Wallace

Tour A Christmas Story House


A Christmas Story will remain a cult classic, and Cleveland's contribution to the Hollywood holiday movie canon is as enjoyable as ever. You might not get the treasured Red Ryder under the Christmas tree. You might not get what you asked for at all. But A Christmas Story never disappoints.

Photo via Emanuel Wallace
 Eat La Plaza Tacos
For such a modest dish, tacos produce a voluminous amount of chatter among the food obsessed. And from those who know best, much of that chatter is directed to La Plaza in Lakewood. Home to the best authentic Mexican street tacos around, this Latin grocery celebrates Taco Tuesday seven days a week. Call 216-476-8000 for more information.
Photo viasoulsrepurpose/Instagram

Eat La Plaza Tacos


For such a modest dish, tacos produce a voluminous amount of chatter among the food obsessed. And from those who know best, much of that chatter is directed to La Plaza in Lakewood. Home to the best authentic Mexican street tacos around, this Latin grocery celebrates Taco Tuesday seven days a week. Call 216-476-8000 for more information.
Photo viasoulsrepurpose/Instagram
 Take a Tour of Gotta Groove Records
Gotta Groove has been pressing vinyl records in Cleveland since 2009. Since then, they've become an industry leader in not only sound quality, but customer service and general awesomeness. They can press up to 70,000 records a month, and that's high-quality vinyl coming right out of downtown.
Photo via Scene Archives

Take a Tour of Gotta Groove Records


Gotta Groove has been pressing vinyl records in Cleveland since 2009. Since then, they've become an industry leader in not only sound quality, but customer service and general awesomeness. They can press up to 70,000 records a month, and that's high-quality vinyl coming right out of downtown.

Photo via Scene Archives
 Toboggan at the Chalet
Winter! Screaming! Fun! If you want to toboggan, there's only one place to do so. You've skied, sledded and ice skated, but to properly round out the winter sporting experience, slide down a chute of ice while the cold air blasts your face.
Photo via Scene Archives

Toboggan at the Chalet


Winter! Screaming! Fun! If you want to toboggan, there's only one place to do so. You've skied, sledded and ice skated, but to properly round out the winter sporting experience, slide down a chute of ice while the cold air blasts your face.

Photo via Scene Archives
 Go to Ingenuity Fest
It's not just art, it's not just people, it's not just technology. It's all of the above, combined, and more. Since its formation in 2004, Ingenuity Fest has brought tens of thousands of visitors to its rotating cast of locations, immersing the public in the forward-thinking art and tech scenes that promise to change Cleveland for the better.
Photo by Emanuel Wallace

Go to Ingenuity Fest


It's not just art, it's not just people, it's not just technology. It's all of the above, combined, and more. Since its formation in 2004, Ingenuity Fest has brought tens of thousands of visitors to its rotating cast of locations, immersing the public in the forward-thinking art and tech scenes that promise to change Cleveland for the better.

Photo by Emanuel Wallace
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