man, it's always funny how people crack and snap like a twig over anything in noo yawk -- it's not a place for everybody that is for sure.  :roll:

 

otoh, nyc's loss is cleveland's braingain.  :clap:

 

http://www.christineborne.net/cleveland_accent/2007/08/sealed-with-donut.html

 

 

That's funny! Another fleeing to the Cleve.

Good for her. I've always enjoyed reading her blog.

 

Actually looks like there may be two, according to the comments section.

The donut is what sent her over the edge but I'm sure there is much more to the story.

On a somewhat related note (related in the sense that there could be a slight chance more NYers flee to the Cleve), there is an event happening in NYC at The Hook (http://www.thehookmusic.com/ called The Cleveland-Fest (http://www.myspace.com/cleveland_fest).

 

13 local (Cleveland bands) will be playing there on August 25th raising money for Cleveland and NYC A.I.D.S charities.

 

List of bands:

 

DUVALBY BROTHERS, THIS MOMENT IN BLACK HISTORY, IAN SCREAMS, COFFINBERRY, HIGHTOWER SMITH, JESSE BRYSON, BIBLICAL PROOF OF UFO'S, AMERICAN WEREWOLVES, ROUE, FALL BACK, MUSSELS, RAHU-KETU, THE HEATHERS, ROGER HOOVER AND THE WHISKEYHOUNDS

 

 

Maybe this calls for an UO road trip in order to recruit more transplants.

Biblical Proof of UFO's?  What a great name!

 

Anyways, I think this should be one of our new regional marketing ads: Cleveland+Donuts

hah i know a few people who are friends on that myspace page.  Theres a lot of Cleveland transplants living in Brooklyn that went to CIA, its like the afterlife of art school. 

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.

Elementary school?? I've lived Greater Cleveland (though different areas of it) all my life and I haven't seen anyone I went to school with in any level of school in decades except two people from college, and I see them only every couple of months or so. Most who are in my social circles nowadays are co-workers and business contacts here and in other cities, and built up over the last 10-15 years. Perhaps you should consider a change vocations to find new social circles?

"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."

 

Being young and single without an established social circle sucks period; it's not just Cleveland. Like KJP said, I'm not exactly a Cleveland native but most of my friendships I now enjoy began either in college or at stints at various jobs over the past 10 years. You 20-somethings are so d@mned impatient! ;-)

 

"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?"

 

That's likely, and NYC definitely has the edge for having a more transient population. However, over the years, my friends in New York will tell you that it can be a curse as well as a blessing. A blessing because there's always new people; a curse because there's always new people. My gay friends in NYC will tell you they can have a bazillion hookups but a relationship is really challenging precisely because of the transient nature there.

 

JamieC, you damn whippersnappers are just complaining.  Socialize outside of comfort zone. (Did I just say that  :? )

 

MayDay your friends are right.  But its for all people, for the most part people in NYC (transiet or native) are out to "get there hussle on" and move on to the next thing.

 

Dating in NYC and Dating in Cleveland is so different.  Men in NYC are a mess!  Give me a blue collar midwest man any day!

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.

 

 

 

I don't think jamiec is just complaining for complaining's sake - I've experienced the same thing. Granted I've had a few more years to cultivate friendships, etc. but in that time I've had plenty of experiences similar to his.

I hear JamieC's comments.  I've lived in Cleveland for most of my life, but I can see how people around here can be "clannish" and not necessarily open to new people entering their "groups". 

 

I won't try to comment about whether it occurs in other cities in the same way -- I'll just agree with JamieC that it probably occurs here.

JamieC, let me apologize for saying  you were "complaining" I should have included a  " :-D ".  I've lived here all my life and since the third grade I've had the same three friends.

 

As some who pretty much my entire life was "on the outside" looking in I understand, which is why i added my "comfort zone" comment.

 

I guess the difference is I'm from a huge extended family, I have 18 cousins on my mothers side of the family alone, so there was always a cousin to shop with, go out to eat, just hang or chill.

I hear JamieC's comments.  I've lived in Cleveland for most of my life, but I can see how people around here can be "clannish" and not necessarily open to new people entering their "groups". 

 

I won't try to comment about whether it occurs in other cities in the same way -- I'll just agree with JamieC that it probably occurs here.

 

I've been living here my entire life, and agree FrqntFlyr and JamieC.  There's definitely a mentality of groups not readily accepting new people into groups.  I think that there's a major comfort factor involved.

 

Maybe we should start an Urban Ohio clique?

Jamiec, here is your answer, you need to get a dog....

this from todays PD, regarding the lakewood dogpark.  Sounds like quite the social scene.

 

The dog park is one of Northeast Ohio's oldest and most popular. John Kovacs of Cleveland, who is Henry the black Labrador's owner, said it is as much a people park as a dog park. Regulars swarm into the park after the evening rush hour to socialize, he said.

 

"If they do shut it down, it would be a loss to the community," said Kovacs, who lives in Slavic Village. "I've met people who moved here from farther out in the suburbs because of the dog park. I'm considering doing the same."

Yeah, I don't think this complaint is unfounded. I've made some outstanding friends in Cleveland (after 5 years of living here), but a lot of people I've met are well within the "acquaintance" column ... people who evite me to their house parties but aren't likely to call me on a random Thursday. I think it's true of a lot of cities, though, and as has been pointed out, there are positives and minuses to living in a city with more transplants. I just think cities like New York (where such a huge percent of the population is transplants) and cities like Cleveland (where such a huge percent of the population is natives) tend to show the extreme positives and negatives.

 

At any rate, jamiec, you might try the Cleveland Colectivo (www.clevelandcolectivo.org). It's a giving circle of 20- to 30-somethings. Unlike some of the other "young professionals" groups, this one isn't about schmoozing; the group pools funds and makes donations to grassroots efforts to improve Cleveland. Most members work for nonprofits and are very active in the community. And several forumers are members.

 

 

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.

 

Hey Jamie,

 

When I moved back up here, I hardly knew anyone either and I ended up going to some New In Town meetups, and met a bunch of people who have ended up being my closest friends.  The group has changed leadership since I was in it so I can't really vouch for what it's like these days because I haven't been involved in it for a long time, but most of the members seem to be in their 20s and even if you don't click with that group, there are a bunch of other groups based on various interests such as dining out, wine tasting, games, movies, whatever.  The New In Town meetup is located at:

 

http://newintown.meetup.com/67/

 

Good luck!

^ 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!

 

Jamiec, here is your answer, you need to get a dog....

this from todays PD, regarding the lakewood dogpark.  Sounds like quite the social scene.

 

The dog park is one of Northeast Ohio's oldest and most popular. John Kovacs of Cleveland, who is Henry the black Labrador's owner, said it is as much a people park as a dog park. Regulars swarm into the park after the evening rush hour to socialize, he said.

 

"If they do shut it down, it would be a loss to the community," said Kovacs, who lives in Slavic Village. "I've met people who moved here from farther out in the suburbs because of the dog park. I'm considering doing the same."

 

excellent call willy! the nyc dog parks are biggest pickup spots in town. not to mention the ease of just meeting people as friends and aquaintances. these definately need to be incorporated into any downtown developments.

 

too bad jamiec a dog is a great people hook. maybe you can be a dog walker for a neighbor or co-worker and take the dog there once in awhile?

 

Borrow someones dog or baby!  Instant pickup.

 

When my youngest nephew & neice were babies they were like dude magnets!

If they invented a dog that didn't poop and didn't bark, I'd definitely get one!

Hey Jamie,

 

When I moved back up here, I hardly knew anyone either and I ended up going to some New In Town meetups, and met a bunch of people who have ended up being my closest friends.  The group has changed leadership since I was in it so I can't really vouch for what it's like these days because I haven't been involved in it for a long time, but most of the members seem to be in their 20s and even if you don't click with that group, there are a bunch of other groups based on various interests such as dining out, wine tasting, games, movies, whatever.  The New In Town meetup is located at:

 

http://newintown.meetup.com/67/

 

Good luck!

 

Clicking through out of curiosity - I saw a link to this meetup:

Let My People Know...Young Jews 20s/30s

 

I love that name!

 

 

 

If they invented a dog that didn't poop and didn't bark, I'd definitely get one!

 

Thats why I said "borrow".   :-D

Jamiec, here is your answer, you need to get a dog....

this from todays PD, regarding the lakewood dogpark.  Sounds like quite the social scene.

 

The dog park is one of Northeast Ohio's oldest and most popular. John Kovacs of Cleveland, who is Henry the black Labrador's owner, said it is as much a people park as a dog park. Regulars swarm into the park after the evening rush hour to socialize, he said.

 

"If they do shut it down, it would be a loss to the community," said Kovacs, who lives in Slavic Village. "I've met people who moved here from farther out in the suburbs because of the dog park. I'm considering doing the same."

I live in Lakewood and I don't even know where the dog park is...I don't have a dog, I'm just curious that I've never come upon it before.

It's next to the wastewater treatment plant in the Metroparks' Rocky River Reservation, just south of Detroit Road.

Some other networking opportunities/resources:

 

www.cleveland2030.com

 

http://www.cleveland.com/youngprofessionals/groups/

 

www.coolcleveland.com

 

Young Buckeyes of Cleveland

www.ybcleveland.org