Top 8 Things I Love About Cleveland
One of my favorite conversations was around Top 5 traits you love and Top 5 traits you hate. It got us all thinking about what was important to us in regards to human nature and personality traits. My top trait is kindness (mom always said it doesn’t cost anything to be nice) and worst trait is arrogance (if you’re great, no need to tell me I’ll figure it out).
This may explain in part why I have become so fond of Cleveland in such a short time. I moved to Cleveland a month ago (I’ve lived in Oregon my whole life) to take a position at Rosetta as a Director in their Search & Media group. Though I was very excited about the job, I must admit I am pleasantly surprised at the lovely combination of quiet unassuming excellence and kindness in the city and its’ people.
So here’s my Top 8 Things I Love about Cleveland.
1. Restaurants
Living in Hood River, Oregon for 16 years will spoil you if you’re a foodie. We have amazing locally grown and sourced meat, vegetables and cheeses (Mushroom Dan is actually a real guy who grows amazing mushrooms and uses the compost to organically grow asparagus, basil and other herbs and vegetables). The restaurants, not just for a town of 7,000 but for a town of any size), are amazing.
Since I’ve moved to Cleveland I can say I have enjoyed every meal I’ve had here (those who know me will understand the magnitude of that statement). Lolita, Dante, Parallax, Fahrenheit, Lucky’s Cafe and Barrio are all spectacular restaurants all in walking distance in Tremont’s art district where I live. Downtown I’ve had prawns nearly the size of lobster tails at Xo, incredibly flavorful duck at Lola and the wings and the view are stellar at Greenhouse Tavern. Visiting Crocker Park I tried Michael Symons’ BSpot and even this burger chain was special (I had a burger with an old-fashioned with bacon-infused Jim Beam, ridiculous).
No $15 martinis or stuck up wait staff (well you can get a $15 martini at the Velvet Tango Room, but you’re paying for the awesome experience and attention to every little detail in preparation and presentation), just exceptional food and quality service.
World-renowned chefs live and inspire here including Michael Symons, Rocco Whalen, Dante Boccuzzi, Zack Bruell and their infusion of interesting, phenomenal food ranges from comfort (Lobster Mac and Cheese), to outdoor (every Wednesday food carts converge downtown to offer quick but spectacular faire) to unique (Green Curried Duck Breast).
2. Farmers Markets
West Side Market is a Farmers Market on steroids. It features 180 booths and is open Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat with amazing specialty farms and stores for herbs, pork, spices, noodles, cheese and bakeries. My only complaint was the produce, but that was easily solved by going to the local Farmers Markets in Tremont or Crocker Park. Fresh Fork Market actually delivers their CSA to several locations in Cleveland, they even deliver to the Rosetta office.
3. Theater
I attended my first play here in Cleveland and it was, serendipitously, a play that originated at the Armory in Portland, Oregon. It was performed in the Allen Theater, a gorgeous small venue that reminds me of the Arlene Schnitzer.
PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland is the second largest performing arts center in the country behind Lincoln Center in New York. Not sure how many folks know that, but don’t believe it’s common knowledge.
4. Libraries
The downtown Cleveland library (located about a block from the office) is an historic, beautiful old building. Just a few minutes away in Lakewood there’s a brand new, state of the art library as well as a small library in the Tremont neighborhood I can walk to. You can order any book at any branch and if they don’t have it they’ll order it. You can download an enormous collection of audio books to your iPod or other mobile device.
5. Sports
I went to my first Cleveland Indians game and the stadium is walking distance from the office. I’ve already been versed about the nuances of tailgating at a Cleveland Browns game and where to go if I’d like to see Cavaliers players after a game. Cleveland is one of the few mid-sized cities with all 3 major league sports teams and they all have ferociously loyal fans.
6. Jobs
After having my own business for 14 years, the only career move that would entail moving cross country would require a perfect fit for the company culture and the position. I was lucky to find both at Rosetta.
The onboarding, training, clients, subject matter expertise are phenomenal and I am honored to be starting the next part of my career here.
Cleveland is in the middle of an economic and cultural renaissance and it’s a great place to be starting or growing a career in technology or healthcare (Cleveland Clinic is one of the top 4 hospitals in the country).
7. Parks
One of my biggest concerns for moving to Cleveland (other than being 2000 miles from my college-age kids) was finding enough green space to enjoy. Having grown up in a small farming town and having lived in a small resort town; rivers, trees and mountains are a big part of my every day experience. I am living in a lovely neighborhood with lots of beautiful old trees and the metro park system here is rated one of the top 5 in the country. The Towpath Trail is more than 60 miles of trails around the Ohio & Erie Canal.
8. People
Nearly every day I’ve had experiences that make me believe my utopia of kindness and a lack of arrogance is ingrained in a place I’m just discovering. I have admired and greatly benefited from the good-natured, patient and kind quality of so many people here.
I didn’t even get to the history, art, beer or music scenes which are equally exceptional and unassuming. If the past month is any indication, my reasons-to-love-Cleveland list will only get bigger. Check out my Cleveland Pinterest Board.
Big thank you to my Rosetta interview team Ed Zetusky, Stephen Pitts, Brian Dean, Jason Tabeling, Eric Pryor and Suzanne Galvez for taking the time to get to know me, to Chris Boggs for being my Rosetta buddy, to Rosetta onboarding, to Orange Team and to everyone tolerant enough to entertain my barrage of questions.
Big thank you to my new acquaintances whom I hope will become good friends including Chris (for introducing me to the transit system and keeping me safe and not lost), Tremont bartenders Tim, Chris and David for talking about books, food, wine, home, fishing and the subtle nuances of the music of Jerry Reed when I had no one else to talk to.
Enormous love to my SEMpdx crew who so graciously took me into the fold five years ago and helped me learn and grow in the industry, to the SMX and SES teams for giving me wonderful opportunities to teach and be taught, to my dear friends in Hood River and beyond (Nicole, Matt, Teresa, Claudette and so many more) for your friendship and sweetness, to my family for supporting my decision to move so far from home and for coming to visit me and mostly to my children for their patience, love and kindness during what has been a very exciting, scary and life-affirming journey. As always, I am learning from and inspired by you.
This will be my last post on MEDIA forte marketing “Morsel of the Story” blog. Next week the site will redirect to Sustainable Online Marketing, a collective of interviews and resources for helping clients and vendors work together for sustainable and ongoing online marketing success.
