AkountuCon 2006 Review-aka Cleveland Gathering.

[Raphael]

Just sneaking on quickly to start a topic for my trip to Cleveland, and meeting PG & Mike. Can't actually say much yet, but here's the start of the topic.

Is it in the right place? No idea...I know reviews aren't supposed to be in the Tours & Cons section, so... and the directions say to put it in General, so....

Addendum:
Lost I am no more, I moved this to TMNT Memories.  

[Leonardo]

Raph--you're lost!!! You don't know where to put this thread.


I love it! Of COURSE you had to go to the RnR! Do you know that I was near it, in the lobby, but never went through it while I lived there?
 
However, the Art Museum is top notch. I went up there a lot.
And their Zoo is very nice, too.
There's some great places to see shows, like Blossom Music Center in the summer, and some great venues up in Cleveland.
It's not a perfect city, and neither is Akron, but Yes, it actually IS a pretty good city--and NO the River won't catch on fire anymore (see below). In the summer time, the Flats is a great area for those that like sports bars, restaurants, seeing all the various old funky bridges lit up, and the Nautica outdoor music pavillion for smaller concerts.
If you get a chance for the architecture and shopping stuff, the Terminal Tower area is fun.

The roads? That is a classic for that whole zone of the US.
It's that rotten weather, the salt, the plows, etc. Potholes/chuckholes are just part of this time of year in particular. See, Orange Barrel season is just coming up! That's the season when they work on the roads.    
But it happens in Michigan, Indiana, New York...ooh yeah.

Not that this time of the year is the best for it, but around Cleveland and down to Akron are a set of excellent parks. There's the Emerald Necklace (should I have bolded that for emphasis??) which is a string of parks around the Cleveland area. Then there's the Summit County Metroparks, and down along the Cuyahoga River Valley--the National Park.
Those parks contain a couple of areas that were the inspiration for parts of Dark Journeys. Ah yes, fond hiking memories.
 

So the whole River on Fire thing?
That was in the 70s! A ton of things have been done to help improve the water quality, although a lot of the steel and industry mills shutting down as the work went overseas certainly helped, too. (Of course, now there are rivers in other countries that are polluted even worse than the Cuyahoga River ever was.)
My comment on that "old thing" people like to tease me about now that I live in CA, when they hear where I am from, is I now live near an area on the west coast that we are here in the 2000s and they are STILL having seriously LARGE sewage overflows that spill into the Bay and they have to close down the beaches and post all sorts of water warnings.
That tends to shut them up real fast.
 

So have a great time, Raph!! I look forward to hearing what your RIT, Phoenix and Mikey have been up to, too.

[Aignatius]

Sneaking in a topic about Cleveland, eh?

Hmm. Before I got to know anybody from that area, all I knew about Cleveland was it is a city in Ohio, by a really big lake, and I-90 runs through it.  

Now I've learned a lot of things about Cleveland, over the years.

Also Akron... actually I did know about Goodyear Tires, and that DEVO came from Akron...

BTW,  isn't Ryan Brown from that area?

[Michaelangelo]

Hey all

My journy began on Tuesday, as I hit the road to go to Cleveland which shouldn't be too long of a drive, though knowing the evil world of road work ahead signs, never believe the amount of time that it's suppose to be to get somewhere.  With two real big bottle necks, including part of I-75 being down to one lane, the trip took a bit longer than it really should of.  I was ready to bap a lot of the traffic for how they were driving, esp when seeing the ones that race pass ya on the shoulder of the road when you're sitting there.

Once I made it to Cleveland I realized that I had to wait still for Raph and PG, so I crawled into the back seat of the bug, and took a nap.  Releasing Fae from the phone so I can catch those z's  I went into the lobby of the hotel at 10 to 5pm, to wait for everyone.   A little bit after waiting I called PG to find out she's not far at all from the hotel, so I waited for her.

Once PG came in, we got our hotel room, than went to the hotel room just to know where it is at least.   We than returned to the lobby and sat down.  After waiting for a bit, we were starting to worry, I moved my car back near our room.  And before PG could move her car, Raphers showed up from behind us.  We said our hi's to each other, than took PG's car to the back of hotel to show her where our room was.  

We sat around and talked for a bit, and than decided we were going to go to Olive Garden for dinner.   This was the fun part.   In the hotel PG looked in the phone book, and than we decided to go... knowing we were looking for 'Orange Road'  *G*   Well we started by taking the forced right turn when leaving the hotel, and drove a few miles that way, than we turned around and drove pass the hotel and another so many miles... on that rout I noticed a Sprint store, which I was happy to see cause I wanted to get a head set for my phone.  Than we turned around went back to the main road right before our hotel, which was Richmond road.... and checked that... no Olive Garden in sight.  I kept saying, why not ask someone for directions.... so finally we pulled back up at the hotel and I ran in asking the Lobby... any clue where Olive Garden is?   And they told me, make that right outside, than go over the bridge (over the freeway) and make a right on the first street which is Orange Street.  *G*  Less than 5 minutes later, we were there.

After that we went in and got food, getting to talk and hang out in there.  That place is costly though the food is good.  After eatting we went back to the hotel and got to hang out some more, before Raphie had to go.   We laid down to go to sleep shortly after Raph left.

I got an hour sleep, before I started to wake up and look at the time, it became way to often I couldn't get any good sleep in.   I'd look at the time and just wish I could pass out.  At 4:30am I got out of bed, and tried to stretch and work a bit of this off... though it wouldn't stop.  The pain was there and it wasn't going away.  I woke PG by mistake, though she was able to get back to sleep.  I laid down many times, only to get back up... I laid on the floor and stretched...  I laid back on the bed....  around 6am I finally fell back asleep, though lightly I felt when PG got up... but still refused to rise from the bed.... it was around 8:30am that I finally decided not more laying around...

[Raphael]

Ok, here's my Tuesday. Actually, I'm going to spare a lot of the travel details, since I did up two huge Dead/Live Journal entries for your reading pleasure.

http://raphemer.deadjournal.com/2006/04/29/
http://raphemer.livejournal.com/2006/04/29/

In a nutshell, I flew to Cleveland on Tuesday, two planes, a stop over in Toronto. Customs went fine and I didn't get myself lost en route.  Got into the hotel just before Mike got out of her car, apparently, since we just missed each other in the lobby...either that, or I came in while they were in their room. Actually, that makes more sense, since I only caught the last 15 or so minutes of the first Charmed episode. Partway through the 2nd ep, I headed down to the lobby and saw the backs of two heads. Heh, guessed that might be them, as they scrutinized the door, as if waiting for someone. Hmm...wonder who?

We said our hellos and, well, you've read Mike's post...

A few things to add, though, one of our discussion topics was "pronounciation" (and I don't mean the differences between Kentucky, Michigan and Nova Scotian accents).  How do YOU pronounce "Emer"?  

We drove around for the better part of an hour, looking for the Olive Garden. Spotted two cemeteries en route (hey, if Mike can get excited about a Sprint store, I can get excited about two cemeteries). One was a Jewish one, I believe, the other a larger newer one...with two cop cars, flashing their things at passing drivers.

Yeah, I didn't want to know anything more about this either, Mike's the one that spotted this fact.  After an hour or so, finding a mall, seeing various other restaurants, driving through 'Shaker Heights' (not to be confused with 'Shaper Heights' and cruising Chagrin Blvd a bunch of times, the Angelo finally convinced two slightly stubborn Phaels that we needed to get directions. I'm sure we would have found the place eventually. Hee hee.

Got there in time to watch a few employees leaving...a bad omen? Nah, we had time to enjoy supper before returning to the hotel and hanging in PG & Mike's room for a while.  

Oh, yes, and one other thing about that evening. PG, get that door fixed!!  The front passenger door cannot be opened from the inside using the handle. You either have to wait for someone to let you out, or roll the window down, and open it from the outside yourself. Yeah, started doing that on Wednesday (when it got remembered), otherwise I had to wait for a smart alec Angelo to stop grinning at me through the window and say "What's that, Raphie Boy? I can't hear you!".

Angelos can move quickly when Phaels have finally been released from being trapped in a vehicle.

Also of note, I got a few presents from PG & Mike for my birthday and such...thanks guys (even if it did take a bit of maneuvering to fit 'em into my suitcases).  

After leaving them in their room, I wandered the maze that is the 1st floor, eventually finding the elevator and getting to my room on the 3rd floor. A little wired, it took me till after midnight to fall asleep...not good when I was getting up at 6:30 for class.

[Leonardo]

I am glad that you had fun overall.
The shooting thing is very sad. It sounds more like something for LA than Ohio...but still...
 

As for airports, security, rough flights, gate changes, running through airports and all that?
whooo yeah, been there done it. More than once. You have my sympathy and understanding.
Remember my November Doodles? There's a reason that one done on the way home from Indy/Ohio looks like it does.
And if you want stories? I got some great ones! If you haven't had them bring mechanics onto the plane and see them flipping through a book trying to fix something on the door? yeaaaaah.
And when you get to the next airport, something's wrong with the door again, so they have to take everyone off the BACK door of the plane. Ooh yeah.
Or get on a plane, have them run the last checks after they have pulled back from the gate, then one engine won't start so they have to bring you back to the gate and disembark everyone to get onto another plane?? Yeaaaah.
Or it's so rough turbulence the waitress goes down on her knees with a tray of drinks next to you. Yes, you reach out and help support her and the tray!
Or in Phoenix, they change your gate 3 times, so you have to keep relocating. And then thanks to those delays, you get caught in the afternoon "monsoon" they get so they have to wait for breaks in the weather.....
But wait--there's mooore! Only I don't feel like typing it all up.....
As for shoes? In the US you might as well take the shoes off, almost every airport makes you do it here. I think I recall we did it in Japan, too, coming back through Narita last year.
As for searches? Happens to me a lot, usually flights around conventions. Oh what fun to see security guards going through action figures and con goodies and stuff. yep.
So I feel that reading your misadventures with the flying stuff was a level of camaraderie.

So the Angelo decided to ask for directions! That is wonderful! I am proud of Mikey!!
I loved how you snuck up on PG and Mikey in the lobby. You get ninja points for that!
But two Phaels and an Angelo together? Scary!
Hearing that you got around the Shaker Heights area has me laughing. If you had really gotten into their winding streets you would never have gotten out of there again!!
The pizza thing cracks me up. Donato's. How appropriate.
 

[Aignatius]

There's a pizza place in Cleveland called Donato's?  

[Leonardo]

There's a pizza place in Cleveland called Donato's?  

It's actually a franchise.
There's shops in multiple states, just not around us out here on the west coast.
 

[Raphael]

Ok, I guess PG & Mike aren't going to say anything about the rest of the week, so I'm baaaaack! (for those of you who didn't see the DJ/LJ posts).

Wednesday...got up early for class, did all of that stuff, and returned to the hotel shortly before 5:00. Started watching the 1st episode of Charmed, unwound a bit from the day, and eventually thought I should probably call PG & Mike to see if they were in or not (seein' as how they would have no idea when I got back from class). Called to front desk to see which room they were in (coulda sworn it was 143, so it's a good thing I didn't call direct *G*), got put through instead and told 'em to come on up to my room. We hung out there till a little after 6:00 (enough time to see the beginning of the 2nd Charmed episode and to warn Mike not to get any RP ideas from the story) and headed out.

Headed out, you say? For where? Why the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum of course! Way in town from where we were staying but Mike had printed out step by step (or, rather, turn by turn) driving directions.  Of course, such things are often confusing, especially with two Phaels in the front seat, so we got turned around a little bit a few times. Nothing major and we got to see a really fancy Wendy's restaurant. Drove through one area of Cleveland that was the area every city has...the one where all of the businesses have bars on the windows & doors...and you hope that you don't have to get out of the car for.

We also drove over some badly pot-holed roads, much to the detriment of Mike's already aching arm. Eventually, we got into downtown Cleveland, drove down East 9th Street, tried to spot which street to turn down as we were driving, and finally drove past a parking garage. Oops. Got turned around eventually and got back to it, parked the car (PG developed a way for me to get out of the car...she'd roll down my window so I could open my own door), and headed over, snapping pics as we went. Heh, including a sign proclaiming that there was closer parking than where we'd parked. Oopsy.

Got inside the museum and saw the signs forbidding photography. Bummer, we coulda had fun if we could have taken pics. $20 each later (which I did not pay for...thanks again!!) and we were inside. It was impressive, at least, the bottom level was. Had to pass on some of the movies, due to time. Found some Monkees references (when there supposedly weren't any *G*), I completely missed seeing a CAR in the room, because of the B52's wall...then we found an interactive display.  Music kiosks where you could select a decade, an artist, and get to hear a song and read up a little about the song. Heh, all three of us got lost there. Mike found some more Monkees, PG was listening to some harder music, and I found Beatles...then Bee Gees. Heh, apparently, grooving to disco, when no one else can hear what's playing, will get attention. Oh well, it was fun.

We wandered to the next interactive display...you could hear a bit of a song and see either what influenced that artist, or who that artist influenced. That was interesting (and the songs played out loud). Heh...we sang along to a few of the tunes ("Happy Together", "California Dreaming" and some others)...and we developed an audience with that.  Regretfully, we couldn't stay there all night, so off we went, finally finishing the outer ring of the lower level. Next, onto the inner ring.

Honestly, a lot of that part is a blur, because of what stands out to me there. Hanging on a wall, encased in glass...John Lennon's Sgt. Pepper jacket...and other articles of clothing...a guitar...in the lower case, his passport, lyric sheets, green card.... I SO did not want to leave the display. But, I did to find...the Beatles' display! Ok, it was really hard to walk away from both displays (came damn close to doing the "We're not worthy" bit from Wayne's World *G*). Looked around some more displays...costumes & outfits of various other celebs...and Fae called Mike's cell. So we all yelled "HELLO!" at her (I may have jabbered something about finding Beatles' stuff and we were off to check out the upper levels. They weren't nearly as interesting, two floors were closed and one had a discussion panel that we couldn't see 'cause it was too late.

A quick buzz through the gift shop and we were outside in the cool night air and taking more pictures!

Oooh...ahhh...night skyline of Cleveland:



Jaffa Cake on the George Harrison tribute guitar:



PG, Mike & Jaffa, waiting for Raph to figure out 'self timer' (as opposed to 'macro')



Raph, PG, Mike & Jaffa celebrate the glories of the working self timer!



Left there, and drove back, trying to decide on supper. Pizza seemed a good choice, 'cept that most places closed WAY too early. We went one way, looking for Papa John's...nope (Pizza Hut was already closed), back the other way...still no PJ's, but we spotted a Subway, then a Donato's Pizza (which was opened late!). Ordered a large Hawaiaan pizza (hold the almonds, though), and we ate, drank and chitchatted.

Left there for the hotel around 11:00, spent more time chatting in their room...Oh, forgot to add that PG had forgotten the handy "roll down the window" bit a few times by now and had INTENTIONALLY shut the car off without rolling down the window as we got to the hotel. Then BOTH of the smart alecs started to walk away. Once the door was opened, they RAN away.  Anywho, chatted until after midnight, then said what we thought would be our goodbyes as I headed to my room to get to bed.

[Leonardo]

Yeah! Pics!
And more stories to read.

I just can't imagine why you three singing CA dreamin' would draw a crowd. You weren't exactly being all ninja-like, were you?
 

Ah yes, one view of the skyline. One that is familiar to me, and yet...
The black spec in the sky.
If that is not one of the blimps that often fly about Cleveland and Akron areas, then perhaps the aliens were seeking you out? Or maybe they were flying away with Bishop?

As for the pics of you together....
Hm. Phoenix really IS a RIT all the way!!! She even looks somewhat like you...at least in these pics. I see a scary resemblance.
But I am surprised I don't see a Battle Nexus Trophy in the pic with Mikey....
Thanks for posting some pics!
 

[Aignatius]

Cleveland, the Gathering. Where there should be only One. Right, MacLeo? ;p

Nice pics! Especially updated ones of you all.  

And yeah, what's with the UFO flying over Cleveland, though it's probably a silly question, all things considered...  

[Raphael]

Ahh, here's a closer shot of the "alien invasion" over Cleveland:



And, yeah, Leo...ninja-like was NOT how I would describe our behaviour that night.

[Leonardo]

Ah yes!
One of the blimps!!
I have to say, I kinda miss that. It was fun to have those flying around. Especially at Christmas when the ones with the lights would fly around with holiday patterns at rush hour.

Of course, having an aliens from space invasion while you three were there certainly would have been plausible.
 

As for the behavior not befitting ninja, you better hope Splinter doesn't find out!
 

*baps Aig for the Highlander joke, because I'm supposed to*
 

[Aignatius]

Ahh, now it's an identified flying object. Thanks for clearing that up.

We get a blimp flying around here in February, but it isn't Goodyear, usually it's Met Life.  Golf tournament coverage. Really exciting! Ha.

Oh yes, and Duncan MacLeo is   with a kilt.

[Jaffa_Cakes]

Hey everyone,

Sorry this took me so long... you wouldn't believe how hard it was to get the computer away from Ivey to post anything at all.  Though being on the road I was finally able to do this update to my LJ.   Check out my pictures from this trip at : http://jaffac.livejournal.com/