I am thrilled about the launch of the “Best Damn Tech Show Period” (“BDTSP”). The BDTSP is a celebration of the good technology based companies we are blessed to have in Northeast Ohio (2,800 tech companies strong and growing). And in my opinion, man it is time to celebrate! All of us in the local tech industry have been hustling for a long, long time. So…this show will be this region’s national declaration that we are a force to be reckoned with for many years to come. For those among us in this region who say it cannot be done in Cleveland will receive a hard lesson on how optimism and hard work can make things happen! The goal here is to get more than 150 tech companies from the region to exhibit thier world-class technologies.  Save the date now for November 14th & 15th at the Cleveland Convention Center. We are going to launch the BDTSP with a wonderful fury. 

My wandering ways had me heading out to Cafe Marika today to meet my very dear friend George Nemeth of Brewed Fresh Daily (www.brewedfreshdaily.com). As usual the conversation was robust, the food was great (try the buttered noodle sidedish, the coffee and the roast beef sandwich - with just a hint of horseradish sauce -  on multigrain bread) and the atmosphere of the cafe was amazing. Cleveland’s neighborhoods always surprise me in the most profound way. Cafe Marika is located on the corner of E. 156th and Waterloo Avenue. Clearly a neighborhood in transition but again the vast promise of this area stands out to me. The cafe was full of artists, technologists and I suspect a musician or two. Just the type of crowd I like hanging out with. 

A few days past I had the privilege of meeting with Noel Cupkovic of CUPKOVIC architecture and we were able to discuss a lot of provocative development and design initiatives. Noel is a very cool cat and if you get the chance give him a ring and talk development. What set the meeting up well was the location. Noel’s office is located on Hamilton Avenue near E. 13th street. I did notice while driving to his office how cool parts of Hamilton were and being the curious cat that I am, I decided to drive down Hamilton to E. 40th. Well worth the trip, kids!

Hamilton Avenue is just a really cool street with tremendous potential. It has a vibrant commercial strip (a few surface lots - but the potential of these lots is intriguing) and could blossom into a slick “live-work-play” environment for the creative class. I can imagine an arts district with new studio and gallery space being built out. Funky celebrations on the street during the summer (with the strip from E. 13th to E. 40th being closed to car traffic). I suspect it could turn into a walking street as well with no car traffic since the avenue is well covered with parking on the north (Lakeside Avenue) and to the south (St. Clair Avenue). How awesome would it be to have a neighborhood catering to the creative class in Downtown with no car traffic?

Take a trip down Hamilton Avenue from E. 13th to E. 40th and imagine what could be done on this little avenue. The architecture is captivating and the street offers a unique “Ohio City” or “Tremont” feel in Downtown. Funky retail? Captivating restaurants? Parks with concert stages? Video art? Cool neighbors? Absolutely. Let your imagine run wild, as mine did on Hamilton Avenue.

This past Thursday (May 10th), I had the honor of hosting, with Paul Shaia of Ante Up Studios (check out the studio @ www.anteupstudios.com), TechNote 2.0 - an event where the leaders of technology create music, sweet music for the crowd. I always get juiced for an event like TechNote. It is so grass-roots and free. Creativity is abundant (and also free). Events like this always refresh my great sense of the human capacity. I cannot tell you how fascinating it is to watch musicians just huddled together (after never having met) and jam as if it was they were long-lost members of a band and had decided to play thier greatest hits.

We have to make Euclid Avenue the prestigious address it once was. I believe this. It is mission critical in making Cleveland a successful venue for business and for living. This past Monday I had a great meeting with a life sciences company that has made the choice of moving into Cleveland. While not at liberty this precise moment to disclose the company I met, I can say that during the meeting the representatives of the Company mentioned that they are negotiating a lease at the Baker Buidling (located on E. 71st and Euclid). I have been aware of this key development for quite some time. The venue is being developed by Dick Pace, one of the nicest and most honorable chaps in the real estate biz. After the meeting (and when I can announce it I suspect it will get significant attention) I decided to drive from University Circle down Euclid back into downtown. 

Last week I had the honor of sitting on a panel discussion at the Future Center that focused on Cleveland’s gaming industry. My fellow panelists included: