Where Does Cleveland's Inferiority Complex Stems From? (Lakewood, Forest: transplants, crime rate)

[theunseenguest]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

Hate to say it, but only boring people are bored in Cleveland. I'm afraid your problem goes much deeper than you think...

I have been in various places in the US, while Cleveland is not the most boring place I have been to it does rank among the bottom in my list. However, your denial and accusation at me without trying to understand my reasoning answers my question as to why Cleveland is not the kind of place I want to be.

I have had people in other cities listen to my opinion on what their city has to offer vs what could improve(being a person that lived in various cities and traveled across the world) however you seem to just write off my opinion accusing me of being a boring person. This is the exact reason why I would rank Cleveland at the bottom of my list, thanks for confirming my earlier opinion it just got stronger about the people from Cleveland.

Originally Posted by Cleverfield

Seriously, there is so much to do here, if you're not finding things to do, you're not looking at all. There are at least 3 festivals of some kind every month, and more in the summer (e.g. Film Festival past 2 weekends, Jazz Fest this weekend). There are also plays, concerts, sporting events, volunteering events, lectures. The art museum puts on a great event for 20-somethings every month called Mixx. The only people who say there is nothing to do in Cleveland are the ones who expect the fun to find them, rather than actively seeking the fun themselves.

Yes I heard about the independent film festival which went on recently but that's about it. However, I find the weather very very unusual and cold for what we know is almost the month of May. I am not a big fan of weather that stays this way for 8-9 months of the year and that's a big reason why I haven't been out as much as I would like to. I am all up for going to concerts, sporting events etc but I don't know anyone here outside work and don't like going to the events mentioned all alone. I do find the people quite difficult to make friends with even after having tried to do the same, mostly because the people that I have met in Cleveland all seemed to be natives of Cleveland and they would rather hangout with their high school buddies than a recent transplant.

Originally Posted by ess.ess.ess.esq.

Just pick up a copy of the Friday Plain Dealer for the coming week's events! or the free Scene Magazine. "Nothing to do here?" The finest orchestra in the world is at University Circle. Yes, the Browns and Cavs are pitiful, but the Indians are at least respectable [the Browns' fans would swoon to have the tribe's winning percentage, even in a poor year like 2012], and you can at least go to appreciate the game! [winning is NOT, after all, everything]. The weather? Even in January you can walk and ride your bike of you dress properly [unlike, say the 8 month "summer" in the south....you CAN'T dress for 90 degrees and high humidity! we have the second largest library in the USA down on Lakeside Avenue---gorgeous parks, a beautiful inland sea [I love it when I am at the Lake and foreigners walk up and are amazed that it looks just like the Atlantic Ocean...they had expected to see Canada over on the other side...]----plus we have forests, trees, lush vegetation. I agree with Dick Goddard, I wouldn't trade Cleveland's moderate weather for anyplace! So try and look at the positive side!

Cleveland and moderate weather? really? Riding a bike in Jaunary when it's snowing for days on end without respite? Are you serious?

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by theunseenguest

Yes I heard about the independent film festival which went on recently but that's about it. However, I find the weather very very unusual and cold for what we know is almost the month of May. I am not a big fan of weather that stays this way for 8-9 months of the year and that's a big reason why I haven't been out as much as I would like to. I am all up for going to concerts, sporting events etc but I don't know anyone here outside work and don't like going to the events mentioned all alone. I do find the people quite difficult to make friends with even after having tried to do the same, mostly because the people that I have met in Cleveland all seemed to be natives of Cleveland and they would rather hangout with their high school buddies than a recent transplant.

So wait, you say you barely get out and you don't like to go to events alone, and then decide to blame the residents of Cleveland for why it's difficult to make friends? What do you expect? You get out of a place what you're willing to put into it, it's as simple as that.

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by theunseenguest

Cleveland and moderate weather? really? Riding a bike in Jaunary when it's snowing for days on end without respite? Are you serious?

Sure, why not? Or learn to ski, go ice skating, have winter BBQs, join winter sports leagues (indoor or outdoor), go hiking, meet friends... This idea that you can't do anything in the winter is nonsense. Humans have lived in cold climates for tens of thousands of years. In 2013, you can find things to do that help pass the winter. If you can't, then bjimmy was right... that the problem is not the place, it's you.

[Cleverfield]

Originally Posted by theunseenguest

I moved from Charlotte, NC. Cleveland is similar to Charlotte in terms of how big the city is since they are both medium sized cities so that's not an issue for me. I used to go to Atlanta all the time when I was in NC and I love Atlanta as well. However, I certainly do miss the fantastic outdoors that NC has to offer which is missing in Ohio. I like being outdoors and engaging in outdoor activities like hiking, camping etc and I haven't found anything that equals the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mount Mitchell or Grandfather Mountain. Coming to the nightlife itself, I have been on W 6th Street which is supposed to be the best Cleveland has to offer, also been to the downtown and none have been really appealing, I would rather be in Atlanta if nightlife is what I am looking for.

Yes, it's easy on the wallet and I like that about Cleveland so I am not complaining, but it's not one of those places you would want to be in if you want to have some fun in life.

We do have Cuyahoga Valley National Park (not to mention the Metroparks) here, which are nice, but don't have too much in the way of camping. If you want great places to camp/backpack, you need to drive 3-5 hours to either the Allegheny National Forest in PA, or Manongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Both are really not that far away, and offer great scenery and an escape from urban life. Also, if you want just great scenery, minus the camping, take a drive through Geauga County, and check out Amish Country.

In terms of things to do, you have to look for it a little bit in Cleveland, it's not right at your front door, but it's always there. Pick up a copy of Scene Magazine and see all the things our city has to offer. I guarantee you'll be surprised and not disappointed.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by Cleverfield

We do have Cuyahoga Valley National Park (not to mention the Metroparks) here, which are nice, but don't have too much in the way of camping. If you want great places to camp/backpack, you need to drive 3-5 hours to either the Allegheny National Forest in PA, or Manongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Both are really not that far away, and offer great scenery and an escape from urban life. Also, if you want just great scenery, minus the camping, take a drive through Geauga County, and check out Amish Country.

In terms of things to do, you have to look for it a little bit in Cleveland, it's not right at your front door, but it's always there. Pick up a copy of Scene Magazine and see all the things our city has to offer. I guarantee you'll be surprised and not disappointed.

I've gone camping at Punderson State Park before in Newbury.

[Peregrine]

Originally Posted by theunseenguest

I am not a big fan of weather that stays this way for 8-9 months of the year and that's a big reason why I haven't been out as much as I would like to.

Like this. 8-9 months a year?
You just lost any credibility you might have had. It's this kind of talk that drives me nuts.

Let's look at just 2012. It got warm early in March. And Stayed warm through to September. Was warm and mild much of Oct. That's 8 months of NICE weather.

This year has been a little on the other side, colder then normal. But you can surely count on May-Oct being pretty nice. September and October are often forgotten but are really special times of the year here.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

Like this. 8-9 months a year?
You just lost any credibility you might have had. It's this kind of talk that drives me nuts.

Let's look at just 2012. It got warm early in March. And Stayed warm through to September. Was warm and mild much of Oct. That's 8 months of NICE weather.

This year has been a little on the other side, colder then normal. But you can surely count on May-Oct being pretty nice. September and October are often forgotten but are really special times of the year here.

September and October are perfect! November is fine too. May-August are pretty reliable for being warmer and sunnier.

There is no reasoning with these people. Yep, 9 months of the year are winter.

[5Lakes]

Originally Posted by theunseenguest

I moved from Charlotte, NC. Cleveland is similar to Charlotte in terms of how big the city is since they are both medium sized cities so that's not an issue for me. I used to go to Atlanta all the time when I was in NC and I love Atlanta as well. However, I certainly do miss the fantastic outdoors that NC has to offer which is missing in Ohio. I like being outdoors and engaging in outdoor activities like hiking, camping etc and I haven't found anything that equals the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mount Mitchell or Grandfather Mountain. Coming to the nightlife itself, I have been on W 6th Street which is supposed to be the best Cleveland has to offer, also been to the downtown and none have been really appealing, I would rather be in Atlanta if nightlife is what I am looking for.

Yes, it's easy on the wallet and I like that about Cleveland so I am not complaining, but it's not one of those places you would want to be in if you want to have some fun in life.

I have not been to 6th Street in Cleveland to party in a long time, but I can tell you that Cleveland has more nightlife on a neighborhood tavern level. Check out Tremont, Ohio City, Lakewood, or Coventry for that. I imagine Charlotte does not have much of that seeing as how it's a newer city and more suburban. If clubbing is your thing, well, then 6th Street is about it.

For outdoor recreation you should take advanage of Lake Erie. For Hiking there are Metro Parks nearby, and the Allegany forest in NY/PA is not that far of a drive if you want to see some mountains.

[treat]

I think some of the pessimism in Cleveland has to do with brain drain, high crime rates, racial tension, poor roads, bad weather, bad political choices, and us throwing ourselves out there like a desperate acne ridden 14 year old girl trying to get anything new to come to Cleveland no matter what the long term consequences or the price (the Medical Mart, the casino). Cleveland is a gritty city with a lot of history, and for some reason our leaders seem determined to tear down our history for parking lots and to try and market our city as this high tech mecca instead of marketing it as what it actually is - a place with a lot of culture. And they rip off taxpayers trying to do this (again, Medical Mart). There aren't many cities in the U.S. that have professional sports teams, museums, an orchestra AND a rail system (I'm talking about Seattle, Austin, etc. - they don't have all these things, but they've learned how to market themselves properly). We also do have pretty crappy taxes compared to other major cities.

[bjimmy24]

Speaking of pessimism in Cleveland- the Medical Mart hasn't even opened yet and you're already deeming it a failure.