jamiec

^ Hah! This is indeed something I've thought of, I just can't pull off being around enough for a puppy. My intention is not to sound whiney...just verbalizing a frustration I've had living here. I think a big problem is much of the population here has always been here and oftentimes come into interactions with pre-existing notions and baggage. You can see this everywhere, from trying to meet friends or to trying new ideas. This area is stagnant and resistant to change when it doesn't have to be. This is turning into a "holistic" critique of Northeast Ohio, but it's frustrated me personally that there are all these efforts to market the region and attract people to Northeast Ohio, but there are no actual changes going on in the background. edit: Interesting links, thanks for sharing... Those weren't on my radar previously!

I was just making an observational comment. Black guys have been shaving their heads for a while. All the sudden, white guys started doing it to like bananas. I don't really care. I just wondered if there was some cultural impetus.

Hah, that's cute. Little Tetris blocks :)

Well, I don't believe I am just complaining. I think the people around here are too clannish, and I wouldn't at this point suggest anyone in a similar situation as me move here. In the past year, I've gone to MANY events and volunteering functions where I didn't know anyone -- more so than ANYONE I know. Pbbtt, waste of time. I have actually been surprised how few young people seem to volunteer in the first place. The volunteer demo seems to be later 30s, 40s and 50s. I have a few things I'd like to do yet, such as start going to the bike rides out of Spins bike shop in Lakewood and attending a cooking class at Tri-C. But I'm not sure what else I could do to push myself out of a comfort zone.

So, if we get through the next month and they gather like 20 signatures, does that mean the Medical Mart train leaves the station?

I'm not worried about this, but I can see why cops would be unhappy as this is a change they perceive could endanger their safety. In the long term, I think that we need to find a way to adequately staff our safety forces.

^^ That's a horrible story! Someone I know at work was going to that show, too.

I don't know if this fits here, but has anyone else noticed a lot more middle-class white guys shaving all of their hair off? I feel like wherever I go, I see a somewhat average looking guy sporting the 100% bald look. Was there a trend missive I missed?

On the opposite end of the spectrum are people like me who came back to Cleveland after being out of college for a little bit. I like it here for the most part - my apartment is cool, my job is interesting, but it's other stuff that's got me thinking about moving somewhere else next year. It feels like it's extremely difficult to crack social circles around here. I'd be curious to get other transplants' opinions on this. I've been very proactive about volunteering for things and getting out among new people, and I've met a number of acquaintances but before long people always revert back to social circles they've built since elementary school -- I'm speaking specifically about 20-somethings. It didn't seem like it was like this in New York, and I guess maybe it's because there are so many people there from somewhere else? I think Cleveland is a great place to live, but I'm with a little more of a year's worth of context behind me, I feel like it sucks for being young and single and without a pre-built social circle.

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1186217335124870.xml&coll=2 There's the full story. I found it remarkably unsatisfying in terms of offering information. This is an important development, yet all we get -- 4 days after the NY Times story ran -- is a recap. Come on, can we get some actual debate and analysis of this? We don't even know what this New York thing is, as that developer sounds like he's posturing big-time with phrases like "Cleveland's 10 years out" and "mine is 100 times a medical mart." I don't think a medical mart foot race is going to win this thing. It's all going to come down to networked connections. Who in the end is able to offer the best opportunities? Just look on the internet -- Friendster came first but everyone uses Facebook and Myspace.

The thing that's obnoxious is, the fact that because this news comes out of New York, everyone in Cleveland is throwing up the white flag. You won't win any battles if you don't pick up your sword and fight.

MTS, hire me to your hypothetical Cleveland & Co. agency! (Actually, I sort of love that more than Cleveland+.) I think the GCP is in charge by default. Nothing against them, I just think that everyone with money (wealthy, white decision makers) defer to them for this sort of thing. I agree with both of the above posts, especially MTS' point about diversity and I'll add a point about age. In Cleveland, our culture is so top-down, we can't compete at all with a world that exists and blossoms on the Internet. That CBS morning show hit was great, but lets be honest, how many people between the ages of 21 and 40 were watching that and got the Cleveland fever? Also, in my opinion, marketing has to go hand-in-hand with quality of life initiatives and improvements. You can't tell Black America that Cleveland is great and then they come here and feel like it sucks. OK, maybe you should move this to the marketing thread :)

I must say, those stadium renderings are sick! I saw an Akron U soccer game on ESPN or FoxSportsOhio a year or two ago, and I was thinking "That's Akron!?" Nice!

Well, rumor has it Htsguy is an undercover City Architecture operative..... :shoot: :shoot: :shoot: :shoot: :shoot: :shoot: 8-)

I'm single. But I have an excuse. The last girl I asked out two weeks ago met the love of her live between Monday when we arranged the date and Thursday night when I followed-up on when to meet. Shoulda follwed-up on Wedneday night, I guess.

Awesome! I hope someone follows up on this and tells us why this is different than the Cleveland idea.

Where is this Kress's Bi Rite? There's that place Zampelli's or whatever, too. It's on W.117. I don't like that place.

Noooooooooooooooooo! If this spells the end to the neighborhood grocery store on Clifton, I'll be UNHAPPY.

It'll be a long drive, but definitely worth it. I lived in a small town 60 miles outside of Detroit right out of college, and although the job was a great learning experience, it was socially the year from hell. All I did was ride my bike and watch my DVDs. I can only imagine what it'd be like moving to a new country and living in a small town. I think everyone has given good advice so far. I like Ohio City a lot.

So, are they going to sell regular books or just textbooks?! Someone tell me, pleeeezz. ::end internets whine::

No, I'm talking about Westgate.

They should just use one of them for one of those positions where you push people. I'm sorry, I don't know anything about football, haha.

^ I agree with MayDay, but, uhh, that's probably no surprise. Of course, most of the time you can close your eyes and open them in any given NEO suburb and feel like you're in the same place.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a streetscape redesign probably doesn't cost as much as a 57-floor office tower.

....and with all that you don't write press releases for gay commitment ceremonies. You live near the westside the gayborhood.....for Christ sakes man, exploit all revenue streams! I'll do whatevs. Just show me the money!