The view from the Idea Center

A friend of mine called me out of the blue the other day. He wanted to know if I could score a pair of tickets for him to see Dave Chappelle. The comedian is performing at the Connor Palace later this month, just a few paces down the street from the Idea Center.

“ I don’t want to get my wife stuff this Christmas. We have enough stuff,” he told me. “I want to get her an experience.”

My proximity to the theater was of little help. Tickets sold out in less than 90 minutes on Friday, before I had even come up for air from my hosting and Noon(ish) duties. Sorry, buddy.

My friend is not alone in wanting to give the gift of an experience instead of a thing wrapped up in a big red bow. A study last year co-sponsored by the online travel service company Expedia found 74% of Americans prioritized experiences over products. Travel is high on the list.

There are plenty of other suggestions on offer for my thwarted pal. On “The Sound of Ideas” today, host Mike McIntyre heard from local entrepreneurs who touted cooking classes at Stir Studio Kitchen in Ohio City and glassblowing workshops at The Glass Asylum in Chagrin Falls, among other experiences.

Listeners also called in with their suggestions. Check  “The Sound of Ideas” page to hear the show and to see the list that Mike’s team put together for you.

See you, bright and early tomorrow morning on the radio,
Amy Eddings

Need to KnOH

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Your ideas

In response to Amy's story about  Cleveland Heights' Complete Streets plan to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians, Bob Kirsch of Willowick responded on our Public Square page, "I am a cyclist also. Most days I am hyper aware of what cars are doing. It is very dangerous out there for bicycles and pedestrians. I also got hit one night as I was traveling toward home in Willowick. No injuries as I saw the car coming. Lucky for me." 

And on our Facebook page, Richard Marshall wrote, "Cle Heights desperately needs a plan to improve safety! With one friend hit by a car in a crosswalk and having a close call myself in the past year, it is a crisis! I’m surprised it’s only 11 people hit by cars, frankly."

Instead of the gift of a glass vase under the tree this Christmas, how about a lesson in glassblowing? Check out the list of experiential gifts around Northeast Ohio compiled today on the  Sound of Ideas and tell us, what would you add to the list? Call us at  (216) 916-6476, comment on our  Facebook page or join the conversation in  Public Square. We'll feature some of your thoughts and comments here in Noon(ish) and on Morning Edition.