Hello Cleveland!

A few months ago I was talking about a great dining experience I had with one of my co-workers. She said "you should write a column for the paper about food/entertainment" which was flattering but a somewhat dated idea. Fast forward to today and I bring you "The New Clevelander" a blog dedicated to all things Cleveland, OH. I grew up in this town and I have witnessed (eh perhaps not the best choice of words there) great triumphs and tragedies in everything from sports to just a basic quality of life. Unfortunately there may have been too many "tragedies" and eventually it culminated in my leaving home in 2007 for Las Vegas, NV. Two phrases best represent this move "A great place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there." and "You don't know what you've got until its gone." So in the spring of 2009 I returned.

However, the city I left had changed in small little ways that surprised me. This town of chain restaurants and fast food was moving in a new direction. Locally owned establishments with a flair for something different, craft breweries that are quickly changing the landscape of Cleveland's nightlife. All of these things plus growth in such neighborhoods as Ohio City, Gordon Square, Tremont, and to some degree Collinwood have led to a small renaissance in my fair city. So I went exploring. Trying new places and different things as much as I can. Some of these places are truly amazing and deserve as much of our attention as possible. Some will have a bit of a learning curve but there are great improvements in the future. Some... well some can be skipped.

This brings me to what I hope to accomplish here. I want people to explore my city and realize that it is not a "mistake on the lake" or the butt of so many other jokes. So when someone comes to visit my city (or is rediscovering) I might be able to provide answers to the question "what do you do for fun around here?" So welcome to my home! I hope you stay awhile.