and oh, she is 29 and single, so she didnt do family stuff, more just going to bard, etc I think.  She didnt really get into too much detail, she just talked a lot about downtown bars.

bars*

...He also mentioned he has been given a hard time in san fran about being biracial...

 

Damn! Shocked he's getting flack about that in SF of all places! Guess prejudiced people make it everywhere, even to the uber-accepting San Fran.

 

Honestly, even if you weren't aware of the racial-class divide in the Bay Area, you should be aware that those people live across the bay (East Bay) in Oakland, Richmond, San Leandro, etc.  Geographic segregation, if you will.

...He also mentioned he has been given a hard time in san fran about being biracial...

 

Damn! Shocked he's getting flack about that in SF of all places! Guess prejudiced people make it everywhere, even to the uber-accepting San Fran.

 

Honestly, even if you weren't aware of the racial-class divide in the Bay Area, you should be aware that those people live across the bay (East Bay) in Oakland, Richmond, San Leandro, etc.  Geographic segregation, if you will.

 

CDM...I was gonna go there, but I knew that would take the thread waaaaaaaaaay of topic.

What SF needs is something similar to US. v. Yonkers Board of Education, which was really about slum clearance and forced the city to build scattered low income housing in middle class neighborhoods.

 

  I just remembered another one.

 

  I was employed by an company based in Columbus. We had a work crew travel to Detroit.

 

  It was my first time to Detroit. We got off the highway and the first thing we saw was a man with one leg standing in the middle of the street with a big clear plastic bag full of green leaves making his way to cars stopped in traffic and trying to sell. Not a good introduction to Detroit...

 

  We drove through bombed-out neighborhoods. We found bullets laying on the ground. We walked in areas with rats scurrying around our feet. We stopped for lunch at a Burger King with bulletproof glass between the customers and the employees.

 

    All of this was too much for my crew chief. He couldn't wait to get home. I was taking it all in, in amazement. I didn't feel particularly unsafe, but my crew chief clearly did.

 

    Finally, my crew chief said to me, "You must be used to this stuff. You're from Cincinnati."

 

    Granted, we do have some bulletproof glass in fast food chains in Cincinnati. Doesn't every city?

   

lol someone said something similar to me. I was at a restaurant attached to a truck stop in NE Ohio, I had this shirt that said "Welcome to Detroit, sorry we missed you this time" with a pistol pointing ahead; (I have a lot of random shirts). Some truck driver asked me if I was from Detroit, I said no, Cincinnati. He said "hah, almost as bad".

I actually heard a lady on "Click and Click"

 

I think it's called "Click and Clack"

Knowing I'm from Ohio...someone from my office today said:

 

"I was watching this show the other night...and I think they were in Cincinnati or Cleveland, or something like that.  But anyways, they were in this really cool market area with this glass roof and it looked really cool.  It was weird because the show normally goes to these cool places all over the world, and this one they were in Ohio."

 

It was a rollercoaster of a comment.  I was very pleased to hear the positive comments about Cleveland (even though he had no idea it was Cleveland until I clued him in).  But then (naturally) I wanted to slug him for the subtle knock of Ohio at the end of the quote.

---

Here is another one I heard, from a different co-worker.

 

"Hey, I remember that place I went to up in Ohio...I think it was Findlay or something.  It was great; it had this small town USA feel to it...quaint and was just really charming.  It also had a neat little main street of sorts that was really nice.  We'll probably go back up there for vacation sometime."

 

I made sure to let him know that there is plenty more where that came from.  It's funny how quickly people over look our great state, but as soon as they do recognize it or give it a chance...they are normally pleasantly surprised.

I actually heard a lady on "Click and Click"

 

I think it's called "Click and Clack"

those guys are so sarcastic it is hard to tell. Are they not Bostonian...or some other obnoxious (but awesome)New England brethren?

It was weird because the show normally goes to these cool places all over the world, and this one they were in Ohio."

 

Just ask him when they're coming to Atlanta.

 

 

Just ask him when they're coming to Atlanta.

 

Will do.  :laugh:

I went to a wedding reception last night at the Verdin Bell Center, and met a couple from the Detroit area staying downtown at the Millennium. They kept saying they were so impressed with how beautiful the city is, and that "downtown was so vibrant with so much to do".  It's hard to not go into the chamber of commerce mode, but it is good to hear positive feedback from an outsider.

After the Indians game Sunday (Unfortunately they lost to Chicago) my wife and I went to a downtown restaurant for a drink.  We ended up talking to a couple from Buffalo, NY who had also gone to the game.  They were very impressed with downtown Cleveland.  Their comment was "We parked the car three days ago and there is so much to do downtown that we have not needed to use it yet."  My comment was "Everyone from out-of-town loves downtown Cleveland.  It is the people in the suburbs that seem to hate it!"  :?

CLE is pretty sweet!  And our mega-projects haven't stirred a shovel yet!  JUST WAIT!!!

I love downtown Cleveland for the most part, although, I must admit that it kinda sucks in January.

^So does downtown Chicago.

I agree about the suburbanites' comment. My father and I were prowling downtown Cleveland on Saturday and there were tons of people walking around. I said to my 78-year-old father, who lives in Brecksville, "people think downtown is dead." My dad replied "A lot of my friends believe it and don't come down here. They're scared to come downtown."

 

I asked him if it was because of all the negative press. He said "It has to be. Where else would they get their information?" Certainly not from personal experience, I replied.

 

We drove through the east-side neighborhoods, including the Little Albania area near East 55th and St. Clair. He was surprised to see so little abandonment and the mix of ethnicities. Then he shocked me with "Some of my friends think the police should let the blacks go on killing each other until there aren't any left."

 

"Why, so the suburbanites can take back the city?" I asked.

 

"Maybe. But I think it's because they're just tired of reading about all the violence."

 

Then he shocked me with "Some of my friends think the police should let the blacks go on killing each other until there aren't any left."

 

"Why, so the suburbanites can take back the city?" I asked.

 

"Maybe. But I think it's because they're just tired of reading about all the violence."

 

 

^ Sadly, that doesn't shock me.  I've been lurking on the Cleveland.com boards lately and was quite apalled to read some of the stuff people feel free and write online.  Some of the underlying racism in this region is disturbing; people won't say it out loud, but give them an outlet to vent anonymously and they'll tell the world exactly what they feel.

 

I was speaking with a co-worker the other day and we were having a discussion about some of the rougher parts of the Cleve and he mentioned how he couldn't believe that his mother used to allow him and his friends to go downtown by themselves growing up.  I responded... "why, is downtown really that dangerous?"  Everyone knows Cleveland has some sketchy areas, but downtown???... c'mon folks, it ain't that bad. :roll: 

 

I was speaking with another co-worker about a month ago about our then upcoming move to Cleveland Hts. and how excited my wife and I were.  We then got to talking about Chicago and I mentioned how if it weren't for our little ones, we'd probably do downtown living here in Cleveland since my wife and I really fell in love with Chicago on our visit.  Her response was.... "You don't want to live down there, there's nothing going on downtown, it's usually dead." :whip:  Such a not true statement; however, that's the perception of many who never or rarely venture into the city.

When I hear someone make comments about how downtown is unsafe etc..  I can't help but make a condescending remark about their insecurity.  "WOW!! sounds like your a very insecure person"

^So does downtown Chicago.

 

Yes Chicago is absolutely miserable during the winter months (been there twice during the dead of winter).  But Chicago is Chicago, and I would suffer through the misery in a heartbeat.

 

  I heard a bunch of people say that they wanted to go to Riverfest, but didn't want to endure the traffic, parking, crowds, etc.  One woman wanted to go there at least once in her life.

 

  I have a feeling that if it were not for transportation hassles, that event would attract 3 or 4 times as many people.

I couldn't imagine what major downtown events in Cleveland would be like without the Rapid. While the three lines combined carry only 35,000 to 40,000 people each workday, they often burst at the seams during special events (ie: Browns games, when Cavs/Indians games are at the same time, sometimes one or the other or both are the same time as Browns games, air show, Cleveland Grand Prix, X Games, and many festivals).

 

But, to stick with the purpose of the thread, there was a PD article about the Rapid a few years ago. A downtown worker was quoted as saying "If it wasn't for the Rapid, I wouldn't work downtown."

My comment was "Everyone from out-of-town loves downtown Cleveland.  It is the people in the suburbs that seem to hate it!"  :?

 

I think you just answered your own question.

lol someone said something similar to me. I was at a restaurant attached to a truck stop in NE Ohio, I had this shirt that said "Welcome to Detroit, sorry we missed you this time" with a pistol pointing ahead; (I have a lot of random shirts). Some truck driver asked me if I was from Detroit, I said no, Cincinnati. He said "hah, almost as bad".

 

Detroit is completely oblivious to how scary and off-putting it is. Returning from Toronto one time, the first three billboards I passed coming up I-75 said "Who's the Daddy?" "Desperate times" and "Tops in crash tests." F'real.

 

   I heard a bunch of people say that they wanted to go to Riverfest, but didn't want to endure the traffic, parking, crowds, etc.  One woman wanted to go there at least once in her life.

 

   I have a feeling that if it were not for transportation hassles, that event would attract 3 or 4 times as many people.

 

four times the draw for riverfest would be 95% of the metro population

Uh, I love CLE but if downtown Chicago sucks in January...  :roll:

"Four times the draw for riverfest would be 95% of the metro population."

 

  Maybe so, but don't forget visitors from other cities, especially Dayton, Columbus, Indianapolis, Lexington, etc.

Uh, I love CLE but if downtown Chicago sucks in January...   :roll:

Downtown Chicago is awesome on any day. Granted it's less awesome in January. Probably even less in February--the month with the most suicides.

 

   I heard a bunch of people say that they wanted to go to Riverfest, but didn't want to endure the traffic, parking, crowds, etc.  One woman wanted to go there at least once in her life.

 

What was your reply?

When a suburbanite makes a comment about my neighborhood being dangerous I usually just say "Yeah, you probably wouldn't last five minutes."

When a suburbanite makes a comment about my neighborhood being dangerous I usually just say "Yeah, you probably wouldn't last five minutes."

 

haha, yeah & thats probably true...

^Yeah. My 'hood is a regular nightmare, alright: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=13811.0

Mean streets of Italian Village!

 

Im real tight with the dude that runs the Gypsy Cafe at Cincinnati. His cousin runs the Gypsy Cafe in the short north. I was talking to my friend in Gypsy about how the Short North has changed and people getting kicked out, classism and such and he chimed in saying "are you talking about the short north!? Yeah, its BULL***" . People have some pretty strong feelings about it.

Mean streets of Italian Village!

 

Im real tight with the dude that runs the Gypsy Cafe at Cincinnati. His cousin runs the Gypsy Cafe in the short north. I was talking to my friend in Gypsy about how the Short North has changed and people getting kicked out, classism and such and he chimed in saying "are you talking about the short north!? Yeah, its BULL***" . People have some pretty strong feelings about it.

 

Hey, I know that guy!  He's Somali, right?  My friend is a good friend of his too.  He also owns/owned the Shi Sha Lounge and I went to the Gypsy Cafe in Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago and met him (and his cousin).  And strangely, Cincy-Rise saw me go in there...

 

Small world.

^Yeah. My 'hood is a regular nightmare, alright: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=13811.0

 

I was just being sarcastic as in "suburbanites are helpless unless their in view of a walmart, home depot or some kind of mall/lifestyle center or somewhere with big parking lots"

^Yeah. My 'hood is a regular nightmare, alright: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=13811.0

 

I was just being sarcastic as in "suburbanites are helpless unless their in view of a walmart, home depot or some kind of mall/lifestyle center or somewhere with big parking lots"

 

I know; I was just messing around. Ironic, isn't it, that my "dangerous" inner-city neighborhood has a market value 3-4 times that of their "desirable" suburban enclave. But that's just me being materialistic. The typical suburbanite is way evolved past such petty worldviews.

Mean streets of Italian Village!

 

Im real tight with the dude that runs the Gypsy Cafe at Cincinnati. His cousin runs the Gypsy Cafe in the short north. I was talking to my friend in Gypsy about how the Short North has changed and people getting kicked out, classism and such and he chimed in saying "are you talking about the short north!? Yeah, its BULL***" . People have some pretty strong feelings about it.

 

Hey, I know that guy!  He's Somali, right?  My friend is a good friend of his too.  He also owns/owned the Shi Sha Lounge and I went to the Gypsy Cafe in Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago and met him (and his cousin).  And strangely, Cincy-Rise saw me go in there...

 

Small world.

Yeah thats them! Small world.

I didn't hear this in my city, but rather about my city:

 

Urban Studies Professor, to about 60 students at an Ivy League university:

 

"Cleveland is a fun city.  Go there."

 

I think this professor was from Saint Louis.

"How can a country that is afraid to go downtown possibly hope to win a war?"

 

also overheard

 

"so she had lockjaw? lockjaw?"

I was commenting to someone how I was in my studio all night long.  They asked where my studio was, and I told them that it is in the DAAP building at the corner of MLK and Clifton.  She then proceeded to say:

 

"Do you feel safe doing that...I'm mean I know I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that."

 

I immediately shook my head and docked her 50 points on my respect meter.  I then made sure to tell her that the university is quite safe, and that I have never had a problem.  I ended up finding out later that she is a XU alum...so that does explain a lot.

^ Glad to see you made it out alive, assuming you are the real 'UncleRando'.

 

    I met a japanese man in a foreign city. I told him where I was from. This is what he said.

 

  "I've been there. That's where baseball player Pete Rose is from. And you have Riverfront Stadium on the Ohio River, and that big arch."

 

I sure hope he was talking about Big Mac, but something tells me he wasn't.

watching the tribe game at some lame deadsville irish pub in the west village last night i heard some random non-irish yet british type person say, "my, cleveland looks like quite a fun place" and the bartender said, "umm hmm."

 

that is all.

If everyday experiences had the energy of a playoff game at the Q or Jacob's Field, this would be the most magical place on Earth. I just like jumping around drunkenly.

I was commenting to someone how I was in my studio all night long.  They asked where my studio was, and I told them that it is in the DAAP building at the corner of MLK and Clifton.  She then proceeded to say:

 

"Do you feel safe doing that...I'm mean I know I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that."

 

I immediately shook my head and docked her 50 points on my respect meter.  I then made sure to tell her that the university is quite safe, and that I have never had a problem.  I ended up finding out later that she is a XU alum...so that does explain a lot.

 

Ah. Burnett woods is so stigmatized (until someone gets a cheap parking pass in there).

"Yeah, we all went over to the bowling place by the stadium and that whole little street was great! We missed half this morning's meetings, haha!"

 

Walking through the Crowne Plaza, shuffling between a group of late-30s Rubber convention peeps.

there's rubber conventions?

Today I was sitting by Market Square eating lunch when I overheard a woman, who may have been homeless and who almost certainly was alone in the world, ask two people she didn't know if she could have coffee with them, in the way she used to have coffee with her mother before she died. Her voice broke, and she said that nothing has been right since her mother died.

 

All my standard defenses came into play, but today they were not strong enough to completely insulate me. I usually can't feel the emotions of strangers, but her loneliness was so profound that I felt it and still feel it in the pit of my stomach. The people she asked were polite to her but told her they couldn't help. I've been wondering what I will say to her if she ever approaches me. Today I didn't address her situation.

 

I am grateful that we still have cities with public streets and places where all people are permitted to go.

I am grateful that we still have cities with public streets and places where all people are permitted to go.

 

Except in Cleveland, after 10 pm.