A Thrifty Girls Guide to Living Fabulous for Less in Cleveland

Cleveland is a very affordable city in which to live fabulously. You just have to know where the deals are and plan your week accordingly. I have lived in an apartment in downtown Cleveland for over three years and I know all the tricks!

Food:

Sushi Rock is one of the most popular restaurants in downtown Cleveland. It has a great atmosphere, martinis and of course raw fish! The only problem is that it can be a bit pricey, except every Wednesday when it’s half price sushi night. All six piece rolls are half price from 5 to 9 pm The only thing to remember is; make a reservation before Monday or you will have dinner at 9:00 pm The number to make a reservation is (216) 623-1212.

The East Fourth Street neighborhood is one of the emerging areas to live in downtown Cleveland. East Fourth Street consists of four renovated apartment rental buildings, 6 different restaurants, House of Blues, Pickwick and Frolic, and a bowling alley. Living on this small street can be very expensive. The tasty Zócalo Mexican restaurant has happy hour Monday through Friday from 2 to 7 pm During happy hour you can get the classic margarita for five dollars and free chips and salsa. Monday through Wednesday, you can bowl at the corner alley for $4.25 and get $3 off martinis, drink specials, and appetizers. Even Michael Symons’ Lola restaurant has lunch specials. You can enjoy a Chicken Paillard Salad for $12 or my personal favourite, the Pressed Turkey Club for $9. Google Lola Bistro for more lunch specials.

More lunch ideas under $10:

• Bricco 1438 Euclid Ave. You can get a grilled salmon sandwich or a chicken salad croissant for $9. Google Bricco Cleveland for more lunch options.
• John Q’s Steakhouse 55 Public Square. You can get a split rib sandwich or chicken marsala for $9.95. For more information John Q’s Steakhouse.
• Mallorca Calle 9 Oeste 1390. They have a lobster ravioli for $10 and a grilled chicken salad for $8. For more lunch special Google Mallorca Cleveland.
• Bluepoint Grill 700 West St Clair. Lunch specials include a Lobster Chicken Past and Roast Chicken for $10. Google Bluepoint Cleveland for more information.

Fun:

Do you want to have a movie night with the girls for less than 10 bucks? Then look no further than Tower City Cinema 11. Every Monday night each movie is just $5 and you get a small bag of popcorn for free. Don’t worry, suburbanites, if you park in Tower City, they will validate your parking right at the ticket booth.

Here are three ways you can get super cheap Indian tickets. Go to any participating subway to get a coupon for half off Wednesday night upper box tickets. Bring your Giant Eagle Advantage Card to any Pro Shop or Box Office to receive up to 4 Half Price Reserved Tickets for the July 29, August 19 and September 2 games. And if all else fails, buy the cheapest tickets you can and watch the game with all your friends from the hitter’s bar in center field.

Cleveland rocks, Cleveland rocks, Cleveland rocks! In case you don’t already know, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland, Ohio. They have a ton of new exhibits this summer. The Jimi Hendrix exhibit, a RESPECT exhibit on 1960s soul music, and the newly inducted Madonna are on view this summer. What is the cost for you to enter the rock lounge? By showing a valid ID showing you have a 440, 441, 442 or 443 zip code, just $18! For more information on upcoming rock halls and events, Google Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Cleveland.

Can’t escape to the Caribbean for a cruise? Then take a Cleveland cruise! The good time 3 offers a variety of cruises around Lake Erie. Two of my personal favorites are the rush hour cruise and the Friday night dance cruise. The Friday rush hour cruise starts at 5:30pm and arrives around 8pm. There are 3 bars, a dance floor and snacks on this cruise. The cost is $12.50 per person. If you can’t make the 5:30 cruise, go on the Friday night dance party cruise. It starts at 9pm and arrives back around 11:30pm. There is music, a DJ and of course 3 bars. This cruise will cost $15.00 per person. If you can get twenty of your friends together, you can get special group rates, and the best part is that your entry will be free! Google Goodtime III Cleveland for more information.

Are you in the mood for fine art? Go to the university circle. You can go to the art museum for free! Most of the special exhibits in the museum are also free. The Natural History Museum and Botanical Gardens are $5 every Wednesday after 5:00 pm

More free things to do in Cleveland:

• The Cleveland Metropark Zoo is free every Monday for all Cuyahoga County residents.
• Huntington Beach is Bay Village is free every day with sand, waves, and various grills.
• The Great Lakes Brewing Company offers a free tour of the brewery every Friday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm and Saturday from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame offers free outdoor concerts throughout the summer.
• Spaces Art Gallery is a non-profit artist-run gallery, all exhibits are free.
• The Cleveland Browns training camp in Berea is free to view every day.
• The Cleveland Institute of Music at the University Circle has free concerts throughout the year.

I hope these budget ideas help you be the fabulous city girl that you are and still have money to pay the rent!