Bøger udgivet af Reedy Press

Is it safe to photograph bobolinks at a once-contaminated nuclear weapons plant? Is it possible to channel a medium from whatever realm she inhabits in the afterlife? Is that really a bathtub hanging from the ceiling? Did you know you can watch an unscripted star show with an audience of only eighteen? Find pieces of an exquisite old castle-like building all over the city? Hear a free concert outdoors in the dead of winter? Conduct your own paranormal investigation at a honky-tonk? See the world's largest steam engines? Browse and buy animal skulls? Told with wonder, humor, and a big dose of sentimentality, here is a travel guide that lauds those little (and little-known) treasures all over town. From a tower missing its church and a maze you can meditate your way through to a book relating to a real-life beheading and a memorial to the last passenger pigeon, Secret Cincinnati is an exuberant shout-out to all that makes Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky the sometimes weird and always wonderful place it is.

When you think about restaurants in Seattle, a few notable options immediately come to mind. Many will think of smoked salmon and fresh seafood, others might think of the great Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese and Chinese influences in the city. And all those folks would be right! But delving deeper into the culinary catacombs of Seattle, one discovers amazing deep dish pizza, giant sloppy (and delicious) burgers, textbook fried chicken, tantalizing biscuits and even the Seattle hot dog made with grilled onions, jalapenos and cream cheese. Whether sampling fresh ingredients at the Pike Place Market or getting a bowl of noodles at a hole-in-the-wall shop, the Seattle food scene will satisfy your cravings each and every day of the week. Seattle, founded in 1851 as a logging and fishing town, has been home to farm-to-table techniques ever since. And that tradition carries on today - whether you're talking Taichi Kitamura's sushi, Edouardo Jordan's soul food or Renee Erickson's wood-fire oven-cooked veggies. And while this book is an expertly written guide to what's possible in the Emerald City, sometimes it is the unknown shops you discover along your path that forever stick with you - whether it's a brand new food truck or a $30 plate of heavenly pasta. But in the meantime, let Unique Eats and Eateries of Seattle be your food guide.

Savor the breathtaking views from the SkyRide at Riverfront Park, a downtown playground built for the 1974 World Expo. Ride the gilded Looff Carrousel, zip along the brand-new Skate Ribbon, or dive into free river flow yoga. Explore Eastern Washington's wine country, its craft whiskey and ale trails, and its growing number of acclaimed restaurants amid historic and iconic eateries. And, of course, explore some of the West's best hiking, fishing, and boating spots. Spokane has it all. And 100 Things to Do in Spokane Before You Die will tell you how and where to find the best that Washington's second-biggest city has to offer. You will find that Spokane is a vibrant literary and college town, justifiably renowned for its rugged natural beauty and endless opportunities for outdoor sports and recreation. But it's not all floating, angling, skiing, and trekking. Spokane also was featured in National Geographic Traveler's 2018 list of thirty "Cities on the Rise," citing the Lilac City's "hipster-friendly, highly caffeinated" vibe. Who doesn't want a piece of that? The Spokesman-Review, Spokane's hometown newspaper and one of America's last great family-owned papers, now brings you the debut edition of 100 Things to Do in Spokane Before You Die, a best-of-the-best guide to the Northwest's most up-and-coming metropolitan area. There is something for everyone in our lively bucket list guide to Washington's best-kept secret. And the proceeds from the sales of this book help support community journalism.

Why are turtles incorporated into the wrought iron fence at The Old Court House? Can beaver be eaten during Lent? Why are pieces of metal track imbedded in some local streets? Who is Sweet Meat, and should he be avoided? These and other questions about St. Louis routinely perplex both natives and newcomers to the area. In this updated version of her 2016 book, author Valerie Battle Kienzle continues her quest to find answers to some of The Gateway City's most puzzling questions, digging through countless archives and talking to local experts. Part cultural study of The River City and part history lesson, the book reveals the backstories of more local places, events, and beloved traditions. Want to know why St. Louisans are so obsessed with soccer or why the acclaimed Missouri Botanical Garden contains a Japanese garden? Look no further. Dig into this informative and entertaining update for answers to those and dozens of other questions.

The second edition of 100 Things to Do in Boston Before You Die is a curated compendium of the best of Boston, with ideas essential sights, can't-miss dining, events to plan your trip around, plus helpful tips and suggested itineraries. Discover where you can ride a giant swan. Learn where you can hear Boston's hottest jazz every night of the week. Find out where to feast on oysters and lobster rolls. Boston's rich history and culture draws visitors from around the world, eager to explore where the American Revolution began. In addition to its awesome landmarks and historic institutions, Boston is filled with world-class restaurants, amazing museums and exciting outdoor activities. This ultimate insider's guide will tip you to the city's secrets, the way a best friend would.

Located on the shore of Lake Erie, Cleveland is as diverse as the people that call it home and is finally being recognized as the gem that it's always been. From family fun to romantic getaways there is something for everyone in the city that Rock and Roll built. 100 Things To Do In Cleveland Before You Die is the ultimate guide to finding the best things in the city and, for life-long residents, new ways to explore old favorites. This is THE guide for finding the best food, festivals, museums, outdoor activities, music and more. 100 Things guides you through the city like a local and shares what residents have known for years; Cleveland is the place to live or visit for a memorable experience. A melting pot of people and cultures, Cleveland is a place where you can find great food from a truck or from an award winning chef, home to some of the biggest sports fans in existence, world class museums and venues, an amazing amount of green space, and features public art around every corner. Browse the pages of 100 Things before you set out on your next trip to the city to experience something new.

The marble monuments and memorials may be what first come to mind when you think of Washington, DC, but there are so many reasons beyond the borders of the National Mall to visit the nation's capital. The city, and its surrounding suburbs, is a bucket list-worthy destination for foodies, arts and culture lovers, history buffs, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. 100 Things to Do in Washington, DC Before You Die showcases the best of the city"¬‚¬"from its iconic attractions to hidden gems. Get a taste of DC's signature dish on U Street, cheer on Presidents past at the baseball stadium, and tour the world's largest library. Watch the curtain go up on the country's preeminent performing arts venue, take a spin on a 100-year-old carousel, and find out where Darth Vader "lives" in DC. See the world-famous cherry blossoms, watch pandas play, and sip a cocktail while overlooking the White House. Whether you're here for a week or a weekend, Washington, DC offers an abundance of attractions to fit any itinerary. 100 Things to Do in Washington, DC Before You Die is packed with things to see and do, plus plenty of insider tips to help you discover what makes Washington, DC a must-visit city.

The original, the authentic, the real Portland is in Maine. Settled in 1633 and officially named in 1788, Maine's largest city is unexpectedly influential in many of key events in America's history (including Oregon's city being named after Maine's Portland on a coin flip), but has managed to remain one of the great American seaport cities on the east coast. First-time visitors are delighted to discover a "lovely city" when expecting to be in a small fishing town, or in discovering "a charming town" when expecting to encounter a overwhelming city...but no one ever seems disappointed! Noted as one of the "U.S. Destination on the Rise" by Trip Advisor for consecutive years, then one better as National Georgraphic's Best Small City list as the "Most Instagrammed City""¬‚¬"high praise from the photo-famous publication"¬‚¬"the eclectic mix of cosmopolitan city, working waterfront, creative economy, and historical and cultural center appeals to the millions that flock here. With a population of 66,000, what makes the city so surprising to so many is the amount of restaurants, theaters, museums, galleries, and performing arts available"¬‚¬"rivaling urban areas more than ten times its size. But while Portland continues to top national accolades and top lists, how much of the city is still unappreciated or unknown? 100 Things to Do in Portland, Maine Before You Die is life beyond the guidebooks"¬‚¬"the real Portland literally and otherwise. It's a glimpse to the amazing events, food, activities, and secrets of which many locals have not even done, or may not be aware. Cities may be visited and experienced, but the goal is to be live in it. And, really, you need to live before you Die]¬‚¬]at least 100 times.

What's on your travel wish list? Immersing yourself in local culture? Enjoying world class dining, exhilarating outdoor activities, and eclectic museums? How about experiencing all these things, and much more, in a city that is as exciting as it is welcoming? Providence, Rhode Island, dubbed the Creative Capital, is a small city with unlimited potential for adventure. Visitors of every age and interest will find themselves falling in love with the city's rich historical, cultural, and entertainment offerings. This second edition of 100 Things to Do in Providence Before You Die is the guide to introduce you to all of it, whether you're looking for the perfect romantic weekend, a family trip to make lifetime memories, or a place to get away from it all with your best friends. And, if you're a Rhode Islander, you'll want to make this book your ultimate Providence bucket list. Inside these pages is all you need to know to make your time in Providence the time of your life.

In this second edition of 100 Things to Do in Portland, Oregon Before You Die we've added some of our favorite old haunts as well as a few newly discovered gems. Regardless if it's tried-and-true or up-and-coming we promise if it's in here, it's worth your time. We Portlanders love craft beer, bike lanes, and all things vintage. We pride ourselves on being hipsters, foodies, and major league soccer fans. It's our goal to represent all facets of the city in this book: from the gardens to the shops and the festivals to the bars. If you're in Portland on vacation, this collection of greatest hits is sure to get you beyond the typical tourist hot spots. If this is home, we challenge you to uncover something in these pages not yet on your Portland bucket list.

Arkansas's capital city is booming like never before. This second edition of 100 Things to Do in Little Rock before You Die will take you inside the city that locals and tourists love. Little Rock is a healthy mix of educational museums, vibrant restaurants, eclectic boutiques, and unique nightlife. In this edition you'll find new attractions like Keet and Petite restaurant as well as classic staples like Doe's Place. Looking for family fun? Try our water park, Wild River Country, or catch a Broadway show at the Robinson Center Performance Hall. Whatever you're searching for, Little Rock has it! Home to the Clinton Presidential Library, the city hosts millions of tourists each year. Turn the pages to discover Little Rock, then come experience our Southern hospitality!

With his fourth book from Reedy Press, The Making of an Icon, Jim Merkel captured the spirit behind the conception and construction of one of America's most distinctive and beloved national monuments. More than two million visitors stand in awe at The Gateway Arch each year, and the stories behind it were unearthed in breathless detail in the first edition. Back with even more lore, Merkel brings new updates on the Arch grounds and museum to the updated and revised second edition. Now expanded, his book includes more stories, compiled from hundreds of interviews with the visionaries, finaglers, protesters, and intrepid workers who built the arch while one misstep away from a fatal fall. Merkel's book will help us appreciate the relentless pursuit, innovation, and toil that raised the Arch to the sky.

History and hermits. Museums and murals. Graveyards and churches and plenty of cheesesteak. These are the secrets of Philadelphia. They reveal a city of curious contradiction, one with a rich history dating back to 1682 but also with an eye on the future. Come for the Liberty Bellmillions dobut stay for the secrets uncovered in Secret Philadelphia: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure. Journey to the places you've never heard of and back to those old haunts you thought you knew, but never like this. Discover where you can . . . Enter through a gate full of artistic hands Peruse art between arrivals and departures Throw a penny on a Founding Father's grave (and learn why you should) Sample a sandwich on both sides of the street Learn how 19th-century surgeries were performed Explore the cell where Al Capone paid his debt to society Discover the cave of the first doomsday cult Come face to face with the bird that inspired two famous authors Follow the footsteps of famous boxersboth real and fictional Encounter the real heroes of the Revolution Greet neighbors in the oldest neighborhood in the country Roam through dinosaurs and walk away with a butterfly See slides of Einstein's brain From the festive fantasy of the Mummers to the disturbing reality of the Mtter, Philadelphia is a city with stories to tell. Uncover your own favorites in the pages of Secret Philadelphia.

Any travel book about Santa Barbara should be informative and entertaining. Only this travel book is informative, entertaining and funny. Santa Barbara Know-It-All believes a sense of humor while traveling is essential to making your visit memorable, and even making it a little bit idiosyncratic, or maybe quirky. No, we're going with idiosyncratic. Unique in its approach, Santa Barbara Know-It-All is packed with Santa Barbara's hidden gems and undiscovered wonders, from the best places to picnic, hike, to places for booze, local foods, shopping, not to mention trivia and unusual truths that make Santa Barbara distinctive. Everything in this book has been vetted personally by the author; he's eaten at each restaurant, stayed at each hotel, gone scuba diving at the Channel Islands, paragliding over Santa Barbara, run along the beaches and overturned each proverbial rock so you can discover exactly what makes Santa Barbara, you know, Santa Barbara. The 25 Questions True or False Quiz will test your knowledge of Santa Barbara so you too can be a smarty pants about America's Riviera. If you're going to travel to Santa Barbara, then travel funny.

Branson, Missouri may simultaneously be the most fun, toe-tapping, memory-making, laugh-inducing, family-loving experience you will ever have. A gem nestled in the Ozark Mountains, visitors have been coming for over one hundred years to cruise The Strip and sample the best of the past and the thrills of tomorrow. It all started with a famous book - The Shepherd of the Hills (still an outdoor theater play) and continued with the award-winning 1800s theme park, Silver Dollar City. Country music and comedy soon took the stage with the Presley's and Baldnknobber shows, until today, where the Live-Entertainment Capitol of the World is home to tens of thousands of theater seats, multiple museums, culinary delights to tempt every taste, and the natural beauty of three extensive lakes. In just one vacation, you can rise to the top of the tower at Inspiration Point, plumb the depths of Marvel Cave, discover the old homestead at Lakeside Wilderness, eat a foot of chocolate, honk a wacky quacker, and shop an old-time five-and-dime. From outlet malls to boutique stores, Branson is also the place for bargains. When night falls, find your groove on the Branson Landing's boardwalk as the fire and fountain show blazes into the night, eat at a floating restaurant, and watch the city glow from the top of the 150-foot Ferris Wheel. You won't want to miss a moment of the excitement....unless, of course, you do. In that case, kick back in a cabin at Big Cedar Lodge and watch the sun set over Table Rock Lake. Have a late breakfast at Top of the Rock, then paddle along Taneycomo and fish for rainbow trout. Finish out the day with a lazy scenic drive and a flea market find. National forests and state parks offer hours of happy wandering with wildlife, and you just might stumble on a secret even the locals haven't found yet. Whether you yearn for city fun or country quiet, there's something for everyone here in the Ozarks. In Branson, you can have the trip you've always dreamed of.

Why don't Chicagoans douse their hot dogs in ketchup? What do Chicagoans mean when they say, "I'm going on the 'L' to the Loop?" How did a snowstorm change a mayoral election? These and many other aspects of life in Chicago are the basis of What's With Chicago?, a look at a Midwestern city with a cosmopolitan lifestyle. Built on the place where Lake Michigan meets the Chicago River, providing connections to America's East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, Chicago has thrived over the decades developing industries that transferred goods across the country by water, railroad, highways, and today, air. Drawing immigrant settlers from around the world, creating neighborhoods where "Old World" food and customs persist while advancing through the twenty-first century, Chicago is the birthplace of the skyscraper, home to spectacular architecture, and host to year-round sports events. Author Ellen Shubart presents a handbook to understanding the city whether you are a tourist, a newcomer, or a long-time resident. Discover the secrets, the not-so-secret, and the well-known stories and facts about the Windy City.

Louisville is consistently recognized as having one of the best dining scenes in America, with its farm-to-table aesthetic, celebrity chefs like Edward Lee, and ultra-hip pockets of dining culture around the city, from NuLu to Downtown to the Highlands. But Louisville is also home to countless one-of-a-kind eateries that span myriad cultures, from Vietnamese food to street tacos to Ethiopian fine dining to mom-and-pop diners and soul food restaurants. Unique Eats and Eateries of Louisville will take you on a tasty tour of some of the city's most distinctive, unusual, and downright delicious places to fill your belly.

Abe Lincoln is growing up on the American frontier in Indiana. It's cold, there isn't usually enough to eat, there's nothing at all to read, and the one job that awaits him is farmer, like his overbearing father. But a chance to travel down the Mississippi river offers Abe the opportunity to see and meet people he has never dreamed of. Abe's eyes are opened and he can't go back to being the boy he was before. With the help of his friends, Abe will strike out to find his own path. Obstacles wait around every river bend, and the shadow of death is never far, but nothing will stop him from becoming the man he knows he can be. You might think you know the end of his story, but you have no idea what it took to get there. Researched and written by award-winning educator, Jan Jacobi, Young Lincoln brings history to life through a familiar hero who will jump off the page. For ages 12-16.

Nestled in the heart of the Southern Willamette Valley, Eugene is known as the Emerald City, Silicon Shire, and TrackTown USA. Defined by the official motto "A Great City for the Arts and Outdoors," Eugene is a place known for its high quality of life and a community of residents that thrive on finding a balance between work and play. In 100 Things to Do in Eugene Before You Die you'll find a new adventure on every page, with seasonal events and detailed itineraries to serve as your own personal tour guide. This one-time home to both Olympic athlete Steve Prefontaine and American author Ken Kesey is full of surprises from eclectic parades to hazelnut farms and even vintage arcades. Whether you're new to town or simply looking for new ways to get out and enjoy one of the region's many rainy days, this book will help you create--and complete--your very own Eugene bucket list.

To the Anishinaabe-Ojibwa people it was a gathering place, a sacred burial ground, and the home of the Great Spirit Gitchie Manitou. Throughout the 1600s French voyageurs, explorers, missionaries, and fur traders arrived at Mackinac Island. Its strategic location in the straits between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas made it a military outpost the British and Americans found worth fighting for through the War of 1812. By the late 1800s Mackinac was a destination for city dwellers seeking fresh air, scenic beauty, recreation, and amusements. Today, passenger ferries transport visitors to the car-free island, where getting around is by foot, horse-drawn carriage, or bicycle, the air is still clean, and the scenery spectacular. Most of Mackinac is a state park, fringed with grand Victorian cottages and the whitewashed fort overlooking the compact village of pastel-colored hotels and shops (including the famous fudge makers). 100 Things to Do on Mackinac Island Before You Die helps you make the best of a day trip and reveals dozens of reasons to spend a night--or longer--at this captivating spot.

Detroit is known for its automotive heritage, the Motown sound, and America's first mile of concrete highway. But this city on the river has more than three hundred years of history, and most of it is mighty strange. There's the Fisher Mansion, which was once home to rum-running gangsters and now houses one of Michigan's largest Hari Krishna populations. Picturesque Belle Isle once stored nuclear missiles among its playgrounds and fishing lagoons. Then there are incredible landmarks like Detroit's massive salt mines and a monument to urban graffiti known as the Dequindre Cut, and the world's oldest operating jazz club. Secret Detroit explores this great American city to investigate everything that is odd, unexpected, and extraordinary. Detroit is the kind of city you need to see and experience to understand why locals brag about being from the Motor City. Full of stories and tall tales, this book is a must-have for urban explorers, history buffs, and travelers of all experience levels.

Take an excursion through the weird, the wry, and the wonderful idiosyncrasies that comprise the Big D. From the Playboy Marfa bunny-with-a-muscle-car sculpture, to the ceaseless failed attempts to navigate the Trinity River, to the invention of the computer chip and German chocolate cake, Dallas is the birthplace of the whimsical, the wistful, and the profound. Secret Dallas answers questions about Big D you never knew you had, catapulting you through a portfolio of little-known but fascinating people, places, episodes, and artifacts. Think of it as a scavenger hunt travelogue, providing insights into hidden rhinestones and diamonds in the caliche. Secret Dallas is a riveting excursion into the city's odds and ends, where the rare and the phenomenal express the big, the bold, and the brash in everyone.

Just as stately trees in Forest Park were coming down to make way for the 1904 World's Fair, elegant homes designed by the city's best architects and occupied by its elite were springing up on surrounding streets, as a vast building boom began. And that was the start of the St. Louis neighborhood called the Central West End, which quickly grew from a sleepy rural outpost to an address for fashionable people and shops, fine cultural institutions and congregations, high-class hotels and hospitals. That halcyon period did not last, however. Through the years, various factors the growth of the suburbs, white flight, the cost of maintaining huge homes, the rise of rooming houses, the disheartening effect of smoke and urban smells drove some of the well-to-do farther west, and the Central West End foundered. Though residents, religious groups, and some politicians tried to stop the slide, fine homes disappeared and hospitals fled. At this point, the Washington University Medical Center also faced a choice: stay or go? They decided to hold their ground and mounted a revitalization effort that succeeded, with the support of the resilient community. Today, the Central West End is again undergoing a boom as condominiums go up, businesses come to life, and historic streets find new vitality. To the east, an exciting biotechnology district, Cortex Innovation Community, is building upon its success. Renaissance: A History of the Central West End traces the Central West End's cycle over the past century and more: from its stylish start through its dangerous days to its present strength an urban renewal significant enough that it has earned the name "renaissance."

The St. Louis bucket list has an official handbook! In this second edition of the best-selling guide, you'll find one hundred purely local ways to connect to the city, from holding your breath during the high-wire act at Circus Flora to finding the story of our town's earliest days among the headstones at local cemeteries. Check out Frank Lloyd Wright's contribution to Kirkwood, bike the Riverfront Trail from the graffiti wall to the Chain of Rocks bridge, or catch the thrill of the "clang, clang, clang" on The Loop's new trolley. Authentic experiences from the iconic to the little-known await in this candid insider's guide to St. Louis. Make planning even easier with seasonal and themed itinerary suggestions for many interests: you'll be turning your "must dos" into "dones" in no time! Perfect for residents and out-of-towners alike, 100 Things to Do in St. Louis Before You Die is the original volume that launched a nationwide series...check out your other favorite cities after you've explored STL!

From the French fiddlers of the fur trading days to the rock and hip hop icons of the present millennium, St. Louis has been a town rich in musical history. Though it has rarely been cited as a center of any scene, any area that has been home to Chuck Berry, Miles Davis, Ike & Tina Turner, Grant Green, Pavlov's Dog, Uncle Tupelo, Nelly, and Pokey LaFarge has clearly deserved more attention. This book tells the story of music in St. Louis, from the symphonic to the singer/songwriter, from the radio stations that propelled it to the fanzines that documented it, from the musicians who left here for greater fame to those who stayed and made this town more vibrant. This is the first time that all the tributaries of the great St. Louis river of song have been covered in one place; classical, jazz, blues, r&b, rock'n'roll, country, hip hop, and more.

St. Louis's history is layered. Each layer, whether the French pioneers establishing St. Louis as a river trading post, or Swiss immigrants starting dairy farms and dairies, or immigrants from Europe putting on the uniforms of the American doughboy, has left an imprint on the city. This Used to Be St. Louis is a fun trip through those layers of history following the story of: the glamorous, urban lofts that had been the factory for ball turrets for World War Two Air Force bombers; the dock of the pasta plant where the Civil War ironclads were built; the elegant townhouse that once served as a Albanian Orthodox Church.

According to Webster's Dictionary unique is defined as follows: something unlike anything else, rare, uncommon, unusual, exclusive or unparalleled. Unique Eats and Eateries St. Louis takes a look at a broad range of classic to trendy eats and at ninety St. Louis regional restaurants, producers and products. Divided into sections as Plates with a Views, Hot Hearths and Plates, Unique Eats and Eateries St. Louis looks at the story behind each specialty eat or establishment. Each good eats features a vignette covering the plates, places and or people beyond the menu that make it each unique. Unique Eats and Eateries St. Louis is a quick reference guide for gourmets, gourmands and foodies who search for stand-out culinary experiences to savor on and off the plate.

From the moment millers such as the Pillsbury family brought grain down the Mississippi River to be made into flour, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, have been a mecca for innovative local chefs, restauranteurs and food artisans. Today the Twin Cities boast one of the most vibrant culinary scenes in the country. Unique Eats & Eateries of the Twin Cities offers a tasty tourfrom downtown fine dining destinations to dive bars, food trucks and the beloved State Fair. Along the way food lovers will explore great neighborhoods, visit thriving avenues of ethnic eateries, sample a few of the region's quirkiest food traditions and discover its rich history, culture and personality. If you're a life-long resident or a traveler ready for your first taste of the Cities, Unique Eats & Eateries of the Twin Cities offers a feast for your palate, for your senses and your sense of humor.

Take a journey to explore hidden nooks and crannies in Cleveland, that you never knew existed, without leaving your home. Haunted locales, World's largest, odd sights, noteworthy inventions, unique foods and more exist between the pages of Secret Cleveland: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure. Discover where you can... find a cure for your cravings]] see a weeping angel...visit Lake Erie whales...walk in the footsteps of giants...take a bridge to nowhere...explore roadside attractions...visit the crypt of an ex-president...learn about a misplaced historical marker. If you dare, take a leap down rabbit holes you never knew existed as you tour through 90 often overlooked gems in the greater Cleveland area. From bizarre, to funny, to surprising you'll learn what makes Cleveland such a diverse and interesting destination to visit or call home. Never a boring moment, Secret Cleveland is a literary trip that will keep you wondering what you'll discover on the next page as it walks you through attractions in Greater Cleveland, Bay Village, Lorain and Medina to name a few.

Oakland is in the middle of a renaissance and, in the past five years, has quickly become a melting pot for hipsters, techies and aspiring artists escaping the San Francisco fog. But at its heart is the families that have called this city home for decades, giving it a rare sense of community that's dying in other parts of the San Francisco Bay Area. This can be experienced first-hand every month at Oakland First Fridays, where local bands and artists converge to put on the ultimate block party. Or the Grand Lake Farmer's Market every Saturday provides another canvas for cultural and ethnic diversity. It only takes about 10 minutes at one of these city-wide events to see how Oakland, the birthplace of the Black Panther Party and other social justice organizations, is the definition of civic pride, welcoming any and all who visit to feel at home.