surfohio

There was big article in USA Today a few years back about how amazingly successful their campaign is. Other states were desperately trying out their own "Pure Michigan" strategy. I think the key to their success imho is their honesty; Michigan actually has those pristine beaches and wetlands in abundance to back up those pretty pictures. I'm less sold on their urban campaign, however. I know what Detroit looks like. Anyhow, we can't compete with their beaches, but I don't see any reason why Ohio cannot sell images of it's best urban neighborhoods or Lake Erie Islands on a sunny day.

Not sure if you're familiar with it, but you've got me thinking about the Towpath bike trail. It's completion linking downtown Cleveland to the rest of the Trail has taken ages, it seems. Even with the difficulties inherent in such things, I still feel like the process is taking much too long. It's not getting the push or $$$ support it deserves. It's frustrating. I predict that its completion will have a dramatic positive effect. I also predict I won't still be here to see it happen. [edit: ha i see gottaplan beat me to this topic]

A point which I find nerve racking lol. The new building's lack of interaction with Main St. is a cause for concern.

Will check Windhorst article for sure. By the way, one thing that's worth mentioning is that Dion did seem really really content to be coming to Cleveland. That was nice.

Ha ha you actually couldn't hear the radio broadcast, it was too loud in there. To think about it, I barely saw Reghi, or any of the KNR guys because of the crowded room. Rizzo bringing up an interesting point right now. How did Waiters perform in big games? Answer: not too good.

What a shock. Was at the WKNR draft party at ARound the Corner in Lakewood. I must've heard some variation of "Grant's job is on the line with Waiters" about ten times! What's going to be interesting: watching and comparing Barnes and Waiters over the next few years.

SB is amazing.

Carmel, CA. Too small?

San Diego

I always thought it was strange having such great buildings on either side of that dumb plaza.

Thanks!!

My point is, you seem okay with the conditions at Edge. I'm interested in your opinion because you, unlike the vast majority of Clevelanders, actually goes there instead of just speeding by it at 65 mph. You said "The fact that it is a great big OPEN FIELD next to the lake is it's best quality." This makes me wonder if you go to the beach part. Again, I'm not being sarcastic. A good number of Park visitors don't venture onto the actual sand. I'm trying to get more people to realize the potential of the beach so that there are more people interested in solving the trash issue.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but have you been to other beaches?

There's a difference between rural culture and a place that uses said culture as a marketing gimmick. Just as I have no problem with NYC, but I don't want restaurants here putting up a faux NYC skyline up as a storefront. That kind of inauthenticity is the reason Vegas is kinda awesome in a way, but also terrible and tacky to the extreme.

This is extremely frustrating. In fact, it's especially disconcerting because there is so little access to the water here. And the precious access we do have is not taken care of. Government inaction. They are working to address it. If all goes as planned, in another 4-5 years, there will be access at the following: W. 65th - pedestrians W. 73rd - cars & pedestrians W. 76th - pedestrians Lake Ave - pedestrians West Blvd - cars & pedestrians Those are all access points to Edgewater. My point was- and sorry I wasn't clearer- is most of the lakefront in CLE is off limits. The section that is available, aka Edge, is a rare luxury and should be exalted. But it's not; instead it remains an underutilized asset.

Ok, I'm back in an optimistic mood. Anyone else think it would be a good idea to have retail along the northern/lakeside of the Shoreway/Boulevard? Like, not so much as to block views. But just enough for some critical mass. This is St. Joes Michigan. Sorry I couldn't get a closer pic. But imagine if the building atop the hillside featured better architecture, like to match Don's Lighthouse. You could park along the road. The stairway could usher people down the grass hill and onto the beach. The paved walking path would be improved (boardwalk!) and there is plenty of room down there for further smart development ie retail, nature center, fire pits, changing rooms, etc. Ya know, the kinda stuff that's around most every other beach in America.

This is extremely frustrating. In fact, it's especially disconcerting because there is so little access to the water here. And the precious access we do have is not taken care of. Government inaction.

I personally hate the cowboy/western theme in association with CLE. There is absolutely nothing downtown or in the history of the city that makes me think about rodeos or cattle. This is not Dallas or Denver.

You get a gold star from me!

Virtually every person I know from out of state has moved here either because of their job, or because they had familial support here. I know very few, if met anyone really, who moved here out of the blue. I will try, but I cannot recall anyone ever telling me they moved here because of public transit, the music scene, the four seasons, beaches, etc. As far as I know the state is not luring people based solely on the adventure of living here (as in NYC). \ On a bright note, everyone I know from out of state likes it here.

Bang and Clatter:

A gold star to the designers if that is indeed correct.

That would be my point. The schools here plus cost of living is still a good deal. However, the vast majority in NY/NJ do not consider Ohio for higher education. It's just not on the radar. It's "all cornfields, right?" Yes I've actually heard this a lot. Speaking from personal experience, I'm fairly confident that once you get more students here, the opportunities here (and reasons for staying here) will naturally grow. Penn State, WVU, Pitt and UNC WILMINGTON! have literature at the high schools. Akron, Kent, Ohio State, Cincy etc did not.

Back to the University issue for a moment. I wanted to share something cool. My wife (then girlfriend) came from NJ to UAkron in 1991 to save money on education. Again, college plus expenses in NJ are very high. It's not uncommon to live with your parents until you're 30. Her best friend went to Pitt for the same reasons. While enrolling for the second semester my wife was all set to pay out-of-state tuition. This was roughly twice as much as for in-state. The woman at the Registrar casually asked "Are you planning on staying here in Ohio?" My wife said yes, and bam, just like that, she was listed as "resident." Technically, she could have gotten in-state residency the next year but that single move saved her almost two thousand dollars.** On the other hand, several years later with a PA drivers license, living there continuously year round, engaged to a PA resident, with a Pitt degree, her best friend STILL couldn't prove enough to Pitt that she was a resident for grad school!

Good on ya Mississippi! The Robert Trent Golf Trail Commercials have tempted me with Alabama. I don't golf, but Mobile looks nice, and according to the commercial, is a seafood mecca. Anhow, we don't need expensive media campaigns for Ohio. We have rappers repping us for free: p.s. ha mrnyc, it's working! from the comments LORAIN OHIO they needed to come here we will show u some REAL THUGGS shout out to Toledo Youngstown, NAtti i know ya go HARD Mrchrish09 2 days ago in playlist 01