🤖 Cleveland’s Secret Inventor You Gotta Meet

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He lords over a gravel parking lot on East 83^rd Street and Central Avenue – mere blocks away from our greatest institutions of science and art.

And yet, he’s a human marvel whose feats are as amazing as anything you’ll find anywhere.

Welcome to Cleveland’s best-kept secret… Tim Willis’ handmade collection of monster trucks, muscle cars and robots.

The over-the-top contraptions all work, and they reflect a life of dreaming big.

“I’ve lived in the neighborhood my whole life,” says Willis, 66. “When I little kid, I dreamed of building Tonka trucks – and things got bigger and bigger.”

His souped-up  cars and trucks could give the Mad Max a run. His silver robot comes with a jaded, metallic doggie. His robotic goddess was crafted with care.

“I studied anatomy and measured my own body,” he says. “I want everything to be real.”

Willis, who dropped out of high school, is endlessly curious.  He just finished his ‘little house’ and rattled of his next projects: “I do it all myself, so it’ll take time.”

That doesn’t stop him from taking time to chat with passers-by and give tours (10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily). Just call him, 216-630-8982.

“People drive by and stop and ask, ‘What is all this?’” says Willis. “And I say, ‘This is my life.’”

Clevelanders gushed with pride after seeing the city shine in “Superman.” But landing films is about more than having a deep stock of architecture, industrial grit and classic charm.

There’s the money… Since its inception in 2009, Motion Picture Tax Credit has lured productions that have resulted in $1 billion in economic activity in Ohio.

More is coming:

The Dubai Ice Cream Nacho costs as much as a pie in many pizzerias. But that hasn’t stopped Astro Bros. from being one of the hottest new eateries in the area.

Which might be a bit of a surprise, considering, it’s, yes, an ice cream café.

Just opened in the old I Heart Mac & Cheese spot in Shoppes at Parma, it specializes in rich flavors, multi-layer-and-flavored sundae ‘stackers’ and taiyaki ice cream – a Japanese-style approach that features a fish-shaped waffle cone.

The prices might be as rich as the flavors – from $9 soft serve to $14 taiyaki sundaes – but it hasn’t dissuaded the sweet-tooth set from lining up until 11 p.m. on weekends.

Bring on the pygmy goat show, carnival rides, elephant ears… and Cheap Trick? Yup, the rock legends will perform at the 179th annual Lorain County Fair – 8 tonight, in the grandstand. It runs through Sunday, and culminates with the demolition derby. Info.

RuPaul's Drag Race Werq the World Tour rolls out a gaggle of outrageous drag performers impersonating Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande and Joan Rivers. At 8 p.m. Tuesday, it hits State Theatre in Playhouse Square. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

Hotel bars and restaurants get overlooked by locals, even if a number of them make for fine dining and drinking spots. One is tops in America, according to OpenTable.

The dining reservation platform highlights Il Venetian in Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower in its annual Top Hotel Restaurants for 2025 list.

Says OpenTable: “Venetian Born Chef Alberto Leandri prepares flavors from home for Clevelanders at this upscale, modern Italian restaurant. The menu features handmade pastas, fresh fish and seafood, fine meats, and artisan pastries and gelato.”

It notches a 4.8 rating from the platform and is the only Ohio spot on the list.

People walk through the Cleveland Flats, 1970.

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89 °F 🌡️ 71 °F | ⛅ | 7% | 💨 5 mph (≈ 4 knots)

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Away vs. D-backs, 9:40pm Monday

Away vs. D-backs, 9:40pm Tuesday

Away vs. D-backs, 3:40pm Wednesday

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