Living downtown often means living without a backyard. People who live in apartments rely on local parks and rooftop set ups to get the feel of personal outdoor space.     

That’s why Downtown Cleveland, Inc. is hosting “WinterLandCLE,” a series of events designed to entice people into living downtown and embracing our chilly winters by creating their own temporary backyards. The events are open to all and include pop-up bars, snow tubing and fire pits. Guided tours of local apartments are available during the events. 

Snow Days

On Friday, Jan. 19, as an epic winter storm barreled through the city, only Cleveland’s most die-hard snow lovers (several TV reporters wondering why they picked this job), came out for Snow Days, a pop-up event at the hill in The Mall on St. Clair Avenue. Downtown Cleveland Inc. provided free snow tubes and a few sleds, as well as s’mores and sticks for roasting marshmallows over a small flame. 

The concrete steps next to the hill were shoveled, but getting to the top wasn’t the accomplishment. Once there, you had to survive Lake Erie, which funnels every bit of wind power and pure cold it can muster to the exact coordinates of where you’re standing. Turning to face the lake is like looking evil in the eyes. You’ve gotta be a real warrior, and even then it’s a humbling experience. 

The hill isn’t a very high gradient; you needed to build some momentum to get down it without petering out half way. Strangers helped each other out with pushes. A man asked a woman in accented English, “Can I hit you, can I hit you?” It took her a second, but she got it and said, “Oh, yes!”    

Bright Nights

Another pop-up event, Bright Nights, brought backyard fire pits to US Bank Plaza at Playhouse Square on Jan. 27. Downtown Cleveland Inc. staff regularly re-upped the fires with wood planks and provided marshmallows and roasting sticks.

This event also featured a Cocktail Cabin, where the signature drinks were wassail and hot cocoa spiked with peanut butter whiskey, for $5. Another attendee recommended roasting a couple marshmallows and dunking them in the hot chocolate drink to experience a bit of what heaven should taste like; he was not wrong.

Some seating was available, but if you really wanted to sit and just relax at a fire, you could bring your own portable chair just in case. And you also could bring your own marshmallows–they’re inexpensive, tasty, and easy to share widely with new friends.

Downtown Cleveland Inc. relies on partnerships with other groups and events to provide unique experiences to residents.

“We seek partners that share our vision of animating downtown year-round with unique programming,” said Michael Deemer, president and CEO of Downtown Cleveland Inc. “Partnerships are crucial to our success in lighting Public Square from November to February. Downtown Cleveland continues to build partnerships and create opportunities for community gatherings through all four seasons.”

Another Bright Nights fire pit event is planned for this Saturday, Feb. 10. “Snow Days” are announced on Downtown Cleveland Inc.’s social media by the day of the event. These events are free to attend.

Visit the website at WinterlandCLE to find out more about these and other upcoming downtown pop-ups and to inquire about partnership opportunities.