Is Cleveland culturally diverse enough for me? (Lakewood, Clifton: to buy, garden)

[rajmelk]

Originally Posted by ahilmersen

In response to saba2r:

I have admit to being a little weirded out by some folks here in Berkeley! Even at my kids' current private school (which I am pulling out of due the expense) there are hard-core hippies showing up in beat-up old cars, majorly matted dreadlocks and dirty bare feet. Even for me that is a little much to take. One of the hippe parents who parked their car in front of the private school to drop off their child left their window open and their German Shepherd jumped out after another dog and started barking and becoming aggressive on the sidewalk. The dog really scared everyone on the street including a mother of a 6 month old baby in a stroller who's little naked feet were jutting out of the stroller. I kept thinking that dog was going to chomp down on the baby's toes. My kids had to wait in the car until the 10-minute ordeal died down and the dad came to contain his dog, and my kids were late for school b/c of this. The irreverant, "free-to-me", entitlement society where people are trying to be individuals and scoff at any judgement, can be reckless and destructive as well.

We are an Asian family and lived on the Eastside (Richmond Hts) for 6+ yrs. For what it's worth, my wife who grew up in Silicon Valley still misses the area, and would move back in a heartbeat. Lots of diversity, great ethnic restaurants, and world class cultural institutions...not to mention the best connected airport in Ohio if you feel the urge to travel back west once in a while!

[ahilmersen]

Originally Posted by rajmelk

We are an Asian faomily and lived on the Eastside (Richmond Hts) for 6+ yrs. For what it's worth, my wife who grew up in Silicon Valley still misses the area, and would move back in a heartbeat. Lots of diversity, great ethnic restaurants, and world class cultural institutions...not to mention the best connected airport in Ohio if you feel the urge to travel back west once in a while!

One of the reasons I moved from Boulder is that so-called "best" Chinese food was pretty disappointing. I was on a business trip two months before moving here and had the most amazing Asian food in this regular old lunch place in Santa Clara. My tastebuds were having a parade!! It was one of the straws that broke the camel's back for leaving Boulder and coming up here. Did you mean to say that Cleveland has "lots of diversity, great ethnic restaurants and world class cultural institutions" or were you referring to Silicon Valley. I hope it's the former. I did some searching and I see Cleveland now has a Whole Foods and there appeared to be Asian and some Indian restaurants. In your opinion do you see the transformation of Cleveland and the surrounding areas that I keep reading about? It sounds like the urban planners are really trying to broaden Cleveland's offering. You may not feel it b/c you are there, but the messaging from the people driving the personality of Cleveland seem to be actively working on its image. I'm excited about that. if they keep it up it'll only get better. I see some posting on this site about all the things about Cleveland that are deteriorating yet the published material seems to be trying to curb that impression. it's a little confusing.

[maricor]

hello!i want to know more about cleveland, we are based here in england for 7 years and got a job offer in cleveland clinic as a nurse, i know that the hospital is good and one of the top but i want to know a background about the culture, people , school, crime rate, best places to live which is accessicble to church,hospital,school, cost of living like rent,utility bills, etc, it is a big step for us to move, just want to know more what to expect. thanx and all infos good or bad would be great and helpful. thanx

[rajmelk]

Originally Posted by ahilmersen

One of the reasons I moved from Boulder is that so-called "best" Chinese food was pretty disappointing. I was on a business trip two months before moving here and had the most amazing Asian food in this regular old lunch place in Santa Clara. My tastebuds were having a parade!! It was one of the straws that broke the camel's back for leaving Boulder and coming up here. Did you mean to say that Cleveland has "lots of diversity, great ethnic restaurants and world class cultural institutions" or were you referring to Silicon Valley. I hope it's the former. I did some searching and I see Cleveland now has a Whole Foods and there appeared to be Asian and some Indian restaurants. In your opinion do you see the transformation of Cleveland and the surrounding areas that I keep reading about? It sounds like the urban planners are really trying to broaden Cleveland's offering. You may not feel it b/c you are there, but the messaging from the people driving the personality of Cleveland seem to be actively working on its image. I'm excited about that. if they keep it up it'll only get better. I see some posting on this site about all the things about Cleveland that are deteriorating yet the published material seems to be trying to curb that impression. it's a little confusing.

First of all...rest assured I'm referring to Cleveland in glowing terms...the context was from the perspective of someone (my wife) who had lived in Silicon Valley for 16 yrs.

Regarding restaurants--If you end up visiting Cleveland, check out Peking Gourmet in South Euclid...almost no advertising, tough to find, but my wife claims ranks with or above the best Chinese restaurants in the Bay area. Similar with Udupi Cafe in Parma Heights (Indian). Regarding natural foods...Mustard Seed Market (two locations--Solon & Fairlawn) blows away Whole Foods. I could go on about Thai, Turkish, even Cambodian restaurants, but hopefully this gives you the picture.

Regarding the transformation...I moved there in the late 90s, and you could definitely feel it then, with the return of the Browns, the Flats, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, etc. Now I think (I left in 2005) it really depends on what field you're in...things are really hopping in the medical arena, but my perception is there is little momentum elsewhere...and of course the whole area is getting slammed in the current housing crisis. Hope this helps

[saba2r]

Originally Posted by maricor

hello!i want to know more about cleveland, we are based here in england for 7 years and got a job offer in cleveland clinic as a nurse, i know that the hospital is good and one of the top but i want to know a background about the culture, people , school, crime rate, best places to live which is accessicble to church,hospital,school, cost of living like rent,utility bills, etc, it is a big step for us to move, just want to know more what to expect. thanx and all infos good or bad would be great and helpful. thanx

Everything is very accessible here. Major streets running east/west and north/south, and highway systems. There are all kinds of churches. Cost of living is pretty good compared to other areas.

[ahilmersen]

Originally Posted by maricor

hello!i want to know more about cleveland, we are based here in england for 7 years and got a job offer in cleveland clinic as a nurse, i know that the hospital is good and one of the top but i want to know a background about the culture, people , school, crime rate, best places to live which is accessicble to church,hospital,school, cost of living like rent,utility bills, etc, it is a big step for us to move, just want to know more what to expect. thanx and all infos good or bad would be great and helpful. thanx

I just found this link to the "Scene's Best of 2007" for food and drink. Cleveland - Best Of - Food & Drink (2007) - Cleveland Scene

[exit18b]

Dude,

Cleveland is a quiet Gem. I say this a person who lived in the D.C. metro area in Maryland and the NY metro area in Northern NJ.
Your $ will go real far which makes things nice. Downtown is moving in the right direction and on game days the place is great with lots of people. We moved here last year from the Metro Detroit Area. As you can see, we have moved around lot!

Museums/Art - World class
Public Schools - Good (Solon, Beachwood, Shaker)

My suggestions as where to live (focusing on the eastside):

1. Shaker Heights (Lots of diversity, nice homes, good schools)
2. Beachwood (Some diversity, great services, close to shopping, good schools)
3. Pepper Pike/Gates Mills
4. Solon - (less diversity, great services, great schools, little further out)

Berkley is a Hip, young, college/hippy city! I would suggestion Clevelenad Heights if you do not have kids!

just one man's opinion

[ahilmersen]

Originally Posted by exit18b

Dude,

Cleveland is a quiet Gem. I say this a person who lived in the D.C. metro area in Maryland and the NY metro area in Northern NJ.
Your $ will go real far which makes things nice. Downtown is moving in the right direction and on game days the place is great with lots of people. We moved here last year from the Metro Detroit Area. As you can see, we have moved around lot!

Museums/Art - World class
Public Schools - Good (Solon, Beachwood, Shaker)

My suggestions as where to live (focusing on the eastside):

1. Shaker Heights (Lots of diversity, nice homes, good schools)
2. Beachwood (Some diversity, great services, close to shopping, good schools)
3. Pepper Pike/Gates Mills
4. Solon - (less diversity, great services, great schools, little further out)

Berkley is a Hip, young, college/hippy city! I would suggestion Clevelenad Heights if you do not have kids!

just one man's opinion

Hey thanks!! this is awesome reinforcement. It means a lot to me having this advice come from someone who has lived in the DC/MD area. Maryland was one of my other major choices as I have friends and family there. but that still wouldn't have solved the problem of being closer to my sales territory, which is the primary driver for choosing Cleveland. Thanks agaain. I have found your response enormously helpful!

[clevelandsprtsfan]

here ill give it to you simple, not being prejudice

people know lakewood for having a gay population
people know beachwood for its jewish population
solon for its asian popluation (not sure if true just know people have said that)

Really the most diverse is Cleveland its self
There is painesville which has a large mix of latino/white/african american which I find the cities diversity refreshing
the mexican food u can find there is real not just a taco bell type
there is also an amazing italian restuarant that is packed evry weekend after 5
a friend of mine brought people who traveled the world to silverstors, the restuarant, and they loved it
claiming it wasthe best italian food theyve had

but painesville even though its a small city it has some problems of a bigger city

I saw you said something about hippies northeast ohio has more democrats than republicans but there isnt really a hippie population not like the one ive heard of in berkely

solon does have some of the best schools

there are towns i would avoid due to lack of diversity

in general Northeast ohio or greater cleveland is a good choice to live n my opinion there is rich history

Few cleveland facts:
Cleveland orchesra one of the best, cleveland art muesuem one of the best, playhouse square second largest playhouse district behind new yorks, rock n roll hall of fame, metroparks voted best park system last year, RTA best public transportation system, etc

[citydudeallover]

ON Lakewood dense area , Have u seen the houses along , Clifton Avenue ? have u seen the houses along the lake line , ? do u understand the reasons how and why older areas , are like they are , (if u have the means to buy property in those areas), u could spend a saturday , on ur riding lawn mower, and think. Darn , Sam across town is finished with his yardwork , and is already sailing on the lake.