Painted on the stairs leading to Visible Voice’s second-story location, lines from Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Cleveland, The Flats” set the mood with a tribute to underappreciated ‘60s poet, artist and independent publisher d.a. levy. The small Tremont bookstore above Crust Pizza champions a similar kind of misfit toy — nearly 8,000 counterculture books, poetry, local literature and manifestos on shelves decked with cheeky notes left by staff. “It’s not a stuffy bookstore. It’s not a cat lady bookstore,” says manager Aaron Terkel. “It’s a bookstore where we like to let our hair down.” Sip one of 10 wine and seven beer selections while you browse, order a Crust pie to eat in Visual Voice’s cafe space or split a bar of organic Raaka chocolate (try the Cabernet Sauvignon flavor made with cocoa nibs soaked in red wine). Then read each other love notes on the wooden benches sectioned off in the Beat section. Ginsberg would approve. 2258 Professor Ave., Cleveland, 216-961-0084, visiblevoicebooks.com
Before: Find your rhythm together at Loop, the hipster chic coffee shop that doubles as a vinyl record store. 2180 W. 11th St., Cleveland, 216-298-5096, facebook.com/loopintremont
#Culture #OldSchool #Inexpensive
Date Night: Peruse The Shelves At Visible Voice
Lovers who bond over Kerouac and Ginsberg will dig this uber-hip bookstore.
