As I was walking to class the other day, someone stopped and asked me where I was from. In the moment, I was slightly taken aback. I mean, clearly I am from Cleveland. I wasn’t wearing my “Just A Kid From Cleveland” shirt just because… But what was even more shocking is that when I proudly responded with, “I’m from Cleveland,” the other person gave me the dirtiest look, brushed me off, and said, “Oh, I’m sorry.” What? What are you sorry for? I’m confused… Being from Cleveland is not something to be ashamed of. When and why did CLE become the laughing stock of the nation?
In case you haven’t heard, the Cavaliers recently won the NBA finals, and the Indians are running bases to finally bring a World Series win home, so why you still hatin’? I have grown up in this area for my entire life, and as a Clevelander born and bred, I can honestly say that it is one of the most underrated cities ever. For those of you who keep bashing the 216, just remember that the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead against us, and Cleveland has more to offer than you might think.
First and foremost, you’ll never roam the streets of CLE hungry. There are so many options to choose from that you might get a headache just from thinking about it. We have everything from southern style barbeque to authentic Thai food and everything in between. And what goes better with a “Fat Doug” burger from B Spot than an ice cold beer from one of Cleveland’s legendary microbreweries? If you’re ever in the mood for a kick a** craft brew, come to CLE!
Nothing goes better with dinner than a show. Did you know that Cleveland’s theater scene is right up there behind that of NYC? Yeah, that’s right. Don’t believe me? Check out downtown CLE’s theater district and watch a performance by some of the best actors, directors, dancers, and singers in the world.
No matter the time of year, there are always cool, unique, and usually free events happening all over the city. It might not as renowned as central park, but you can do yoga in the park at Public Square. You can ride to rapid and explore all Cleveland’s little nooks and crannies like Ohio City, Coventry, and Little Italy. Forgot to bring your lunch to work? That’s okay, Food Truck Friday has got you covered. Go to the Cleveland Museum of Art, release your inner mad scientist at the Great Lakes Science Center, or relish in the art of performance at the Cleveland Orchestra.
And most importantly, you will never met a nicer person than a Clevelander. You know why? Because we have developed one of the biggest support systems there is. We stick up for each other. We help out our neighbors. We hold a door, we say good morning to stranger on the morning commute, and we smile in elevators. We eat, breathe, live, and sleep CLE because no one else does. There is more to this amazing city than some negative PR, so next time you feel the need to hate on the 216, just remember that Cleveland is someone’s home, someone’s favorite place, someone’s life.
We are Cleveland, and this is our time!
