CLEVELAND, Ohio — Playing host to so many visitors this week and next comes with its share of responsibilities. You want your guests to have a good time and enjoy themselves, so who better to guide our new friends around town than Mr. Cleveland himself: Leon Bibb.
It's what we Clevelanders have always wanted since the beginning. We've invited the whole world to beat a pathway to our front door, and they're coming, because the welcome mat is out.
Let the word go forth across the Earth: "Y'all come."
It's the April 8 eclipse of the sun which is bringing them here. Company is a-comin' for the big show, but what else to do while in Cleveland before and after the moon hugs up romantically close to the sun for that quarter-million-mile shadow they'll throw across space?
Cleveland will be one of the very few places where there will be a teeny tiny narrow swath of an afternoon path of totality shadow. That's bringing the world here: our time in the sun (well, in the shadow). That's what puts the light on us.
So our moon-watching, sun-worshipping visitors ought to see the best of Cleveland while they're here. After all, the eclipse is only a few precious minutes, but we can keep visitors entertained. Allow me to play tour guide with a partial itinerary of what's hot in town.
You can Rock and Roll at our museum. As Elvis would say, "There's a whole lotta shakin' goin' on." You can also see Michael Jackson moonwalk across the stage.
There's also the Great Lakes Science Center, the Cleveland Natural History Museum, and let us not forget the NASA Glenn Research Center. Visit there and see everything. The sky's the limit.
We can put you in theater seats. Playhouse Square has more such seats outside of New York than any other city. Plus, loads of community theater, too — drama, comedy, music.
From square to circle, University Circle features more museums and cultural institutions in a square mile than anywhere else on the planet. Culture? How about the world-famous Cleveland Orchestra? Bravo! Bravo! You'll string along with symphony music.
Eclipse Day is also the home opener for Cleveland Guardians baseball. After that sky-high sun-and-moon delightful gemstone of a show, take in the action on Progressive Field's baseball diamond.
Cleveland is always a hit with Major League Baseball: "Fast ball, low and away, juuuuussssst a bit outside." Can you get a hotdog? Yeah, you can get that, too.
So take it from me: I'm your tour guide for what's "Hot in Cleveland," the cool places to be. We're that place in the sun, even though we welcome the shadow, too, if you catch my drift.
So visit Cleveland and (with safety glasses) eyeball moon and the sun doing that high-class ballet. It's the best seat in the house as the world is clamoring for tickets, and they are as affordable as can be.
Visitors out of town, let's make the date, so don't be late for April 8. That's when the moon will whisper into the sun's ear a favorite song: "Move over sun and give me some sky. I got me some wings. I'm eager to try."
Theater at its best. Critics are raving about it. The world wants to crowd into our theater, and in Cleveland, we have box seats — the best seats in the house. Cleveland is rolling out the red carpet for you.
I'm Leon Bibb, I'll leave the light on for you, too.