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Here is a list of cities that have changed their names over the course of history. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_city_name_changes

And it helped becoming a center for IT, particularly for Asian companies wanting a US location, resulting in the Silicon Forest Geographically, Portland (and Seattle) are the closest to Asia, so a locational advantage, which enhanced the Portland economy. Seattle/Tacoma benefits from this, too (though we don't talk about Sea-Tac that much) Both Portland and Seattle are also tourist cities. Their proximity to mountains, oceans, wineries, etc. gives them a sided advantage.

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Perhaps the solution is as simple as coming up with a new name for the city. When I think of Columbus, cleanliness and wide expanses come to mind.

Dunedin just north of Clearwater Beach is fantastic. Only 20-25 minutes over the causeway from Tampa International Airport, 35-mile bike trail that goes from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, proximity to Tampa and big city living for those rainy days, home to Honeymoon Island Beach (one of America's top 10 beaches), and very affordable. Their downtown is like the Short North in Columbus or Conventry in Cleveland with great restaurants, bars and shops, and weekly festivals throughout the peak season.

A great little article about why Sue Doerfer, director of Equality Ohio, loves living in Cleveland and what Cleveland neighborhoods have to offer. http://www.cleveland.com/mycleveland/index.ssf/2010/08/equality_ohio_director_loves_w.html

This part of Mexico is geographically secluded due to the mountains surrounding what is one of the world's largest bays. It is also a very popular spot for Americans, Canadians and Europeans who have homes there. It has not experienced any of the violence or crime that the news media in America has reported in Mexico. It's actually quite safe and there is a concerted effort to keep it that way due to the importance of tourism and wealth of ex-patriots.

We live down the street from the new courthouse. Architecturally, it is a major disappointment among the residents living in the area; outdated as opposed to timeless in design before it even opens. The leed certification of the building is perhaps the only silver lining.

Assuming you want warm weather during cold winter months, you may want to check out Puerto Vallarta which has absolutely beautiful beaches on the Pacific, surrounded by mountains and perfect weather (very much like Hawaii and around a five hour journey from Cleveland). Leave at 6 am and arrive by 11:30 am. Tons of kid-friendly activities, great restaurants, very small town but cosmopolitan at the same time, and very affordable by American standards.

The Greenhouse Tavern was also named among the best 10 new restaurants by Bon Appetit in 2009 - again the only restaurant in Ohio to earn such recognition. It's great to see Cleveland's tradition of great culinary arts continue to thrive.

Food and Wine Magazine recently named their best new chefs for 2010. Jonathon Sawyer from the Greenhouse Tavern in Cleveland was one of this year's 10 Best New Chefs - the only one in Ohio. As to why he won - "because he has a knack for combining ingredients that have never had much to do with each other - clams and foie gras, for instance - to excellent effect." Others named were Mike Sheerin (Blackbird, Chicago), Roy Choi (Kogi Korean BBQ, Los Angeles), James Syhabout (Commis, Oakland), Missy Robbins (A Voce, NYC), Matt Lightner (Castagna, Portland), Jason Stratton (Spinasse, Seattle), Alex Seidel (Fruition, Denver), John Shields (Town House, Chilhowie, Va), and Clayton Miller (Trummer's on Main, Clifton, Va). Having just returned from NYC and eaten at A Voce, I totally agree with their selection.

Walker, the readers do not need you to think for them. They are more than capable of making their own judgments.

The following link provides the reaction concerning the cancellation of individual artist grants in Columbus: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/gcac-drops-individual-artist-fellowships-in-visual-arts/page/11#post-225713

"From: Ruby Classen <[email protected]> Date: Friday, August 14, 2009 2:03 pm Subject: UPDATE: 2009 Individual Artist Fellowship The Greater Columbus Arts Council is suspending our Individual Artist Fellowships in the visual arts as part of budget cuts across the organization. Therefore, we will not accept applications for the 2009 fellowships. Unfortunately, the current economic downturn both nationally and locally has affected many arts organizations in Columbus, and GCAC is no exception. An approximate 13 percent decrease in revenue from the hotel/motel tax dollars for the City of Columbus, which provides GCAC with about 70 percent of its total funding, has forced us to cut our administrative, program and grants budgets. Though we’re unable to give away visual arts fellowships this year, the 2009 Columbus Literary Awards – fellowships in the literary arts funded by GCAC and administered by Thurber House – will be given as planned. For more information on the Columbus Literary Awards, please visit www.thurberhouse.org. GCAC remains deeply committed to individual artists in the community and will reinstate the visual arts fellowships in 2010, budget permitting. In the meantime, we continue to offer professional development opportunities for artists through our OPPArt (Opportunities for Artists) series. To learn more about OPPArt and join the mailing list, which includes information about the program along with calls for entry, job postings and more, e-mail Ruby Classen at [email protected]." And Columbus wonders why it can't shed its cowtown image.[/i]