Day of the dead - Wyse style
When you think of what a normal day at an advertising agency looks like, what comes to mind? A three martini lunch followed by a nap and afternoon game of Foosball?
Maybe at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, but not Wyse Advertising.
Working at an agency is not your traditional 9-5 job. I’m never fazed when I see my co-workers gnarly toes in Birkenstocks or a certain someone’s hairy legs in shorts (you know who you are!). I don’t show up for work in a suit every day. Great marketing ideas just don’t drop from the sky – they come from the individuality and energy agency workers thrive on and the environment we work in.
So, what does Wyse Advertising do to rejuvenate the masses?
We visit a cemetery.
And not your average cemetery, Lake View Cemetery.
I know what you are thinking? A cemetery? Really?
Really!
The Wyse Guys boarded Cleveland’s own Lolly the Trolley for the 15 minute trip to Lake View for a tour of one of Cleveland’s hidden gems (ok, it covers 285 acres – how hidden can it actually be!).
(Wyse Guys on Trolley #1)
(George and Derek prepping for the ride)
Cleveland weather cooperated (for once!) so we had a gorgeous morning to Trolley around the cemetery, learning the history and basking in the beauty of ‘Cleveland’s Outdoor Museum and Arboretum’.
More than 100,000 people are buried at Lake View Cemetery including our 20th President, James A. Garfield, as well as John D. Rockefeller, Eliot Ness, and names you might not instantly recognize – Sherwin (founded Sherwin-Williams), Wade (founder of Western Union), Brush (inventor of the Arc lamp), plus lesser known, but equally important people such as family members of some our employee’s. 
(Garfield Monument)
(Wyse Guys on the steps of the Garfield Monument - wonder what Pat and Matt are looking at?)
(Kathy, Pat, Terry and Lynn atop the monument)
I learned that the cemetery is home to one of the most beautiful Tiffany stained glass window as well as a fantastic view of Downtown Cleveland and a dam that I never knew existed!
(Tiffany Window at the Wade Memorial Chapel)
(Lake View Dam - largest concrete-filled dam east of the Mississippi)
(Cleveland Skyline)
After our cemetery tour, we headed to Little Italy to dine el fresco at Guarino’s, one of Cleveland’s oldest restaurants. The bread, the pasta, the dessert – heaven! A quick stop at Corbo’s Bakery and we were on our way back to Wyse.
(Terry, Marie, Diane, Susan and Pauline)
(Sandi, Jeanine, Pat, Kaley and Kate)
(Chris, Phil and Steve)
(Mike, Julie, Karen (AKA Sally), Patty, Krista and Derek)
(Matt A., Jeff, Jeremy and Matt K.)
(Terry, Lynn and Sue)
Many of the Wyse Guys had never been to Lake View Cemetery, including this blogger, so it was a morning of eye-opening wonder, camaraderie and mind refreshment.
I think I can speak for those that attended that we walked away with a new appreciation for our fine city and clearer heads to develop the next great marketing idea.
Also, considering we just spent the morning with 105K dead people, I was happy to be able to walk away, period!
Special thanks to the Wyse photographers: Sandi Hensel, Pat Langdon, Allen Seremak, Terry Tichy, Cyndi Uhas and Cathy Wolf
To find out more information, please visit the following:
http://lakeviewcemetery.com/index.php
http://www.guarinoscleveland.com/
http://www.lollythetrolley.com/
Categories: Cleveland
Tags: Wyse Wyse Advertising lakeview cemetery cleveland downtown cleveland lolly the trolley gaurinos advertising marketing james a garfield tiffany glass kathy walters wyse guys
I love that picture of us on the steps, classic.
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