Cleveland Rocks
10 Reasons Why Cleveland Rocks
Think Cleveland is all snow and gloom? Think again. Here are 10 things we love about our city:
10. Great Cinema.
The Cleveland International Film Festival is a ten-day festival held in the spring each year that is acknowledged by Time magazine as a "must-see" and by the Academy Awards as an automatic qualifier for short films. Throughout the rest of the year, films from the festival and other independents are screened at the Cedar-Lee Theater in Cleveland Heights, where you can enjoy beer and wine with your movie!
9. It's Accessible.
Cost of living is below national average, and commute times are short. You, as a resident, can afford to buy a house… and still go out to dinner, a concert, a show, or a game on your night off!
Above: Interns (2008) on the Cleveland scavenger hunt run into a baseball player downtown… perhaps a Cleveland Indian?
Below: Enjoying the world-class Cleveland Orchestra in a summer concert at Blossom.
8. It's Progressive.
People from more than 115 ethnic groups call Cleveland home, speaking more than 60 languages and practicing a diverse array of faiths. In addition, Cleveland has a significant LGBT population and culture, spread amongst the near west suburbs and in Cleveland Heights. UH and Case Western Reserve University extend employee benefits to same-sex domestic partners. And on the west side of the city, MetroHealth Medical Center operates the Pride Clinic, one of only 12 health centers in the country devoted to serving the health needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
7. Lots of Culture.
University Circle is an extraordinary urban neighborhood, home to more than 20 artistic and cultural venues, as well as a host of year-round special events. The Cleveland Museum of Art, a world-renowned art museum, recently underwent a massive expansion project and offers free access to its permanent collection. Severance Hall is home to the Cleveland Orchestra, one of the United States' Big Five orchestras. The Cleveland Botanical Garden includes a greenhouse showcasing two ecosystems: Madagascar desert and Costa Rica cloud forest. The Cleveland Institute of Art, Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Cinematheque, and Sculpture Center are also located in the Circle.
Above: Interns (2009) posing in front of Severance Hall, winter home of the Orchestra.
Right: Trekking to the Cleveland Museum of Art.
6. Green Spaces.
Cleveland Metroparks are a system of nature preserves in greater Cleveland that encircle the city. Affectionately known as the "Emerald Necklace," the network of 16 reservations across 22,000 acres includes hundreds of miles of running, bicycle, and horse trails, parks, picnic areas, five nature education centers, six golf courses, and abundant fishing holes. In addition, the park district manages the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, which houses North America's largest primate collection.
Above: Scavenger hunt 2008: Interns at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens and Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
5. Cleveland Rocks.
For a city of its size, Cleveland has an astounding number of live music venues. And there's something for everyone's taste. Attend the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall. Relax with a live jazz show at Night Town or the Bop Stop. Party with thousands of fans at a mega-concert at The Q or settle into a more intimate crowd at the Beachland Ballroom or House of Blues. For those rock historians, there's also the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Above: 2009 interns play air guitar at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (also right).
4. Playhouse Square.
The highlight of Cleveland's theater district is Playhouse Square, the second largest performing arts center in the country (outside of NYC), which draws well over one million visitors annually. The five beautifully restored theatres are home to the opera, ballet, concerts and an impressive Broadway Series and Great Lakes Theatre Festival. Upcoming events for 2009-2010 include Chicago, Grease, Wicked, and Fiddler on the Roof, as well as performances by Laura Izibor and Kathy Griffin.
3. Cleveland Sports Teams.
Although Cleveland may be America's most tortured sports city, we guarantee the fans will never stop cheering for our teams!
Football: Browns, Baseball: Indians, Basketball: Cavaliers, Hockey: Lake Erie Monsters.
2. Five Star Eateries.
Cleveland is the city Food Network celebrity chef Michael Symon calls home. But culinary fame hasn't gone to this guy's head. We still see him and hear his trademark laugh all the time at his two bistros: Lola (East 4th Street) and Lolita (Tremont). And we have a multitude of other great independently owned restaurants that share a commitment to their community and a passion for excellence in food and service. The Cleveland Independents group works together to use more locally-grown, fresh produce in their restaurants (www.clevelandindependents.com).
Above: Out and Inside of restaurant Lola, home of Iron Chef Michael Symon, located on East Fourth Street.
1. People.
What is Cleveland's greatest asset? Cleveland's people.
