by Shanna F. Jones
Step into the lobby of the Kimpton Schofield Hotel on Ninth Street and a part of your imagination may be instantly transported to the glitz and glamour of Cleveland at the turn of the 20th Century. Rumour has it that the city is making a comeback in a big way, so it’s only apt that one of its most prominent hotels takes a tastefully modern twist on art deco. A new cultural hub of the Midwest, there is much to explore on the doorstep of the Kimpton. The theater district is a few paces away and boasts Broadway shows and world-famous musicians. Take a Hike, presented by Dollar Bank offers free walking tours in the area where actors dress up like historical residents of Cuyahoga County and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a few minutes drive away.
Then
Humble carpenter Ben Schofield moved to the village of Cleveland sometime around 1816. People were still living in makeshift housing and there probably wasn’t a whole lot of glamorous places to be seen around town. Two generations later, Ben’s grandson Levi had grown up to become an architect in a city of 380,000 and set to work on designing the Schofield Building. The building became one of Cleveland’s prestigious landmarks and home to the Ark Club, attended by Schofield himself. The members of the Ark Club were natural history buffs, which the designers of the Kimpton Schofield have had fun referencing today.
Now
The hotel has been truly transformed from historical artifact to present heyday. The Schofield, located on the corner between East 9th and Euclid, evokes art deco glamour with its real wood surfaces, sophisticated colour schemes and minimalist design furniture. The 24 hour gym and on site fine dining restaurant, Parker’s are a convenient addition to amenities.
Sophisticated pet owners, your time has come. The Schofield welcomes four-legged friends with open arms at no extra cost and even offer free dog biscuits and a mini dog ‘park’ nearby.
The Kimpton Schofield decor is a mixture of sleek class and cosy home comforts. In the lobby a reading nook hideaway has been built into a wall that looks onto a stylishly designed open fire place. Miniature plastic dinosaurs and lots of foliage can be found all over the hotel in homage to Schofield’s Ark Club.
The rooms are beautiful deluxe spaces, which look as though any prestigious artist or novelist would feel right at home in them. Luxury Italian Frette linen and Atelier Bloem bath tubs provide the comfort while shades of white and copper, offset by leafy green plants and ottomans made from recycled saris, supply the style. The rooms all have 40 inch flat screen TVs, complimentary toiletries and bathrobes. To add an extra touch of urban glamour, opt for a room with a city view.
Shanna is a British freelance journalist covering travel and international human rights. She craves the freedom of hiking and camping in the rain just as much as the luxury of silky hotel sheets. Follow her on Twitter: @ShannaFelicia
