Terminal Tower Observation Deck, 42nd Floor, 50 Public Square, Cleveland. Hours: Saturdays, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.; Sundays, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Tickets, $5, available on No walk-up tickets are offered. Azure Lounge, 2017 E. 9th St., Cleveland. Enjoy eats and drinks on this rooftop lounge on Level 12. Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. - 12 a.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Weather dependent. Info/Reservations: (216) 331-6318, . Greenhouse Tavern, 2038 E. 4th St., Cleveland. Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. InfoReservations: (216) 443-0511,
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Amy Eddings: It takes about a minute by elevator to go from the ground floor of Cleveland鈥� signature landmark, the Terminal Tower up 668 feet to its Observation Deck on the 42nd floor -- just one minute to change your perspective and get a whole new outlook on the city. It will take me a bit longer than that, because, for me, Cleveland is unrecognizable from the downtrodden yet feisty Rust Belt city I left in 1981. To help me in my journey, I鈥檝e enlisted Nikki Delamotte, author of 鈥� 鈥� She鈥檚 agreed to re-introduce me to Cleveland, and what better place to start than at the observation deck of the Terminal Tower. A visit here is No. 79 on Nikki鈥檚 list.
Nikki Delamotte: Well, I always say, I even say in the book, that one of best things to do to get to know the city is ride around on the RTA on the ground level. But I thought this was a great way to see things from a sky view and see all the things just how much has changed, all the new developments, and really get a new perspective of the city.
Eddings: I鈥檓 thinking, boy, this is a view that has changed tremendously since 1981. We鈥檝e got the FirstEnergy Stadium, what I knew as the Municipal Stadium. The Rock and roll Hall of Fame which didn鈥檛 come to Cleveland until 1995. Nikki, tell me, when I鈥檓 looking straight down here at Public Square, that
Delamotte: Public Square is obviously one of our biggest developments over the last year or so. It鈥檚 really become a place with programming, arts and culture. They even have ice skating. There鈥檚 a little something for everyone. And it鈥檚 really become the hub of our city. Thee鈥檚 even the water patio out there, which you鈥檒l see kids splashing around there, too.
Eddings: Yeah, no kids splashing around out there today on this day with temperatures in the mid-60s and cloudy skies. But it does look inviting as does the boomerang shaped green space there that wasn鈥檛 there when I was a kid. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument, obviously a historic landmark, still in place, as is the Old Stone Church. Anything else, Nikki, that you would be sure that I check out or notice while we鈥檙e out here?
Delamotte: Well, Amy, I think a big important one would be the Key Tower, which is 888 feet 鈥� it鈥檚 actually 947 feet if you go to the very tippy-top.
Eddings: And that鈥檚 taller than the Terminal Tower.
Delamotte: Absolutely, it鈥檚 the tallest building in Cleveland.
Eddings: I remember when I was a kid there was a big debate. Civic leaders didn鈥檛 want any building going into Cleveland that would dominate the skyline and be higher than the Terminal Tower. So I guess we got over that.
Delamotte: Well, after all this time, I think Tower City and the Terminal Tower are still such a big part of Cleveland, no one will ever forget that.
Eddings: Nikki Delamotte, thank you for being my guide through your book, 鈥�100 Things to Do In Cleveland Before You Die.鈥� We鈥檒l be checking in with you regularly and thanks for being my tour guide around Cleveland,
Delamotte: Thanks so much for having me and happy exploring.
Eddings: The Observation Deck is open on weekends. Get tickets on Eventbrite.com. Nikki recommends other places where you can 鈥渟hout from the rooftops,鈥� including the Azure Lounge in the Metropolitan Hotel on E. 9th St., .and the rooftop dining room at the Greenhouse Tavern on E. 4th St.
