The St. Lawrence Seaway is a shipping route which begins where the St. Lawrence River meets the Atlantic Ocean, and although it technically ends at the north eastern end of Lake Erie in Port Colborne, Ontario, it gives sea access to all the Great Lakes. The seaway is an avenue by which the Great Lakes region is able to obtain goods and materials without having to ship items from ports in cities like New York, Boston, San Diego, and others along the east and west coasts. Depending on what items are being transported, it is actually more cost-effective to ship through the St. Lawrence Seaway, as shipping containers do not have to be split up and transported on trains or individually on semi-trucks. As a result of the Pandemic, we have all become too familiar with the term "supply-chain issues". This unfortunate phenomenon, however, has had a silver lining as it has created opportunity for the Port of Cleveland. Our city's port is unique in that it is the only one in the Great Lakes with regular shipping container service. This makes it a vital resource not only for the city of Cleveland but the Great Lakes region beyond. In 2021 the port saw a 69% increase in traffic as a direct effect of the shipping issues the country faces even to this day. Although data figures for the year 2022 have not been calculated, they expect to have similar numbers to what they saw in 2021. As the port looks to the future it is investing in expansion and infrastructure updates, as well as renovating its facilities. They recently received a $27 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation which is helping to fund these advancements. They expect to be finished with this project by April 2023 and anticipate the improvements lasting 30 to 40 years.
IN THE KNOW:
Cleveland Museum of Art:
- 19th Century French Drawings from the Cleveland Museum of Art, Opens 1/20/23
Playhouse Square:
- Hamilton, through Jan. 15th
- Beetlejuice the Musical, Jan. 10th through Jan. 29th
Cleveland Cavs Home Games:
- 1/2 vs. Chicago Bulls, 7:00pm
- 1/4 vs. Phoenix Suns, 7:00pm
- 1/16 vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 3:00pm
- 1/20 vs. Golden State Warriors, 7:30pm
- 1/21 vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 7:30pm
- 1/29 vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 7:00pm
- 1/31 vs. Miami Heat, 7:00pm
MONTHLY FEATURE: LULO KITCHEN & JUICE BAR
In Downtown Cleveland's Warehouse District amongst the many converted residential buildings along West 9th Street, you will find a charming restaurant specializing in Latin American fare. Lulo Kitchen & Bar has a menu which attempts to touch a broad spectrum across South and Central American cuisine with a focus on freshness. The dishes tend to incorporate vegetables, meats and salsas working together to complement each other. Their lunch mainly consists of sandwiches and salads, with a good selection of juices and smoothies, while their dinner menu is more centered around appetizers, entrees, and handcrafted drinks. Some of their more popular dishes include the Carne Asada, Empanadas, Mango Salmon, and the Chorizo and Patacones (fried plantains). As you enter the Lulo Kitchen, you are greeted by the small café which is open in the morning beginning at 8am. The main dining area of the restaurant is located in its converted basement with greenery and bistro lighting combined together to create a unique and hospitable setting. Lulo is open Monday through Thursday 10am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday 10am to 11pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. They are open for lunch Monday through Friday 10am to 4pm.