Coming in from Oregon to help Ohio turn Blue (the Dem kind)!

[kostya]

My sister and I will be helping the DNC in Cleveland (this is a first for both of us). Doubt we'll have much time to sight-see, but help us out with a list of things to see, good restaurants, etc.

Thanks! Kerry On,

K

[Katherine2]

1. I can't help you

about things to do in Ohio, but I did this last weekend in Las Vegas with ACT, and it was really fun. There were a couple hundred people that came from California, and it was organized really well, and everybody was very nice. You're doing a good thing.

[cosmicone]

2. List of things to see in Ohio

(Just a joke. Apologies to any Ohions)

[Ninga]

3. Thanks so much for coming to Ohio to help out!

It means the world to those of us who have been working since the summer to GOTV.

Cleveland is a great city, wonderful neighborhoods and great people.

Fabulous restaurants in Little Italy, the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, museums at University Circle, entertainment at Play House Square...too much more to mention.

Do you know where you will be working in Cleveland? East side, west side?

[kostya]

4. Nope, don't know exactly where yet. Some folks in

Rocky River are putting us up for the 4 days and nights we'll be there. They are working with a Dem HQ somewhere nearby I assume. Hoping we can get out for canvassing and meet folks. First time in OH besides the times I've passed through in the airports. We are going to kick some * butt there then celebrate! :beer:

[POAS]

7. If your staying

in Rocky River you'll probably be working out of the Lakewood HQ.

You'll only be 5 to 10 miles from downtown. Cleveland has a good transit system and rapid transit to that part of town. The rapid let's you out downtown in the "Terminal Tower", a 1930's structure that was for many years the tallest building between NY and chi-town. It has recently undergone a reconstruction and had a large shopping complex added that could be a destination on it's own.

Once downtown the science and rock museums are easily accessible by.

Another easy bus ride east will take you to University Circle and the outstanding Cleveland Museum of Art and Severance Hall, the home of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra".

It's been a few years since I've been in Lakewood so this may be dated but if they are still there you might check out Players on Madison Ave. for Pizza and Maria's on Detroit makes a good "white" pizza.

Enjoy your stay in Ohio and GOTV for Kerry.

[Kukesa]

5. Welcome to the Buckeye state!

We're glad to have you here.

I live in the SW part of Ohio (Dayton) but I've been to Cleveland a few times.

The Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame is there and since Cleveland borders Lake Erie, there are lots of things to do along the water front. Don't miss the area known as "The Flats" -- lots of bars, restaurants and entertainment.

Again, thanks for helping us; we appreciate it.

:hi:

[ohtransplant]

6. My first post

The "Flats" is an area most people want to see when they go to Cleveland. Thanks for helping out in Ohio!! In addition to the DNC and Kerry campaign, America Coming Together (ACT) http://actforvictory.org/act.php/static/gotv_signup_oh
is in need of volunteers to work up to and including election day. Let's all get involved and make it a movement. (I feel better now.)

:yourock:

[Kukesa]

8. Welcome to DU, ohtransplant!

You'll like it here and we're glad to have another Buckeye on board this election-bound train!

:hi:

[lucky777]

9. Welcome -- I moved here from Portland last year!

I was teaching at Lewis & Clark, now I teach at a small Ohio University. I really hate Ohio, it is totally reactionary and conservative compared to Oregon. I only moved here to get a better academic position. Portland had wonderful little bookstores, free speeches, vegan bakeries, etc -- just a great place.

There is very little to see or do in Ohio. It is an ugly place. The people are pasty, boring, and totally unimaginative. There is no unique brand of clothes, music, speech, style, etc coming out of Ohio. No new ideas or trends start here. There are no real cities, just sprawl. The people are scary; you will notice hundreds of thousands of men with dirty blond hair driving trucks and SUVs with sleeveless shirts and crew cuts, talking only about sports, very religious. Ugh! The only decent places are a few areas (a few blocks) in each city, like Cleveland Heights or the Short North in Columbus. But even there the people are humorless and flat. I've lived all over but mostly in Chicago, Oregon, and Florida. Ohio is the single worst place I have ever been for any extended period of time, and I have lived all over the country. So my message is . . . enjoy!

[mongo]

10. Come on -

It's not that bad... I have been to Portland (my parents moved to Vancouver, Wa when I was in college), and you're right. It's a great town. Especially the bookstores.

Hey, but Ohio isn't all that bad. Yeah, the prevailing attitude about a lot of things sucks, but there are some pluses, and there is a good alternative culture, even if it is small and somewhat underground.

You can find like minded people wherever you go. Ohio has one of the biggest pagan festivals in the country (PSG), the dodah parade in Columbus is a great cultural event, the Hocking hills are beautiful, and have some of the most initimate accomodations you'll ever find. Athens is a great college town with all sorts of activities and progressive organizations. Sorry I can't say too much about northern Oh, but we don't get up there much.

I live in a small town now, and I know all my neighbors, but it is only an hours drive to Columbus. I've lived in Chicago, Charlotte, and Boston but I would rather be right where I am than any of those places.

Happiness and culture is what you make of it.

[Kolesar]

11. Ohio is beautiful

Especially right now. We are at the transition from southern oak forests to northern forests. Wildlife is abundant if you float the rivers. The towns where I work are just crawling with immigrant Russians, Puerto Ricans, and Lebanese and they are very approachable. Coworkers who move here from elsewhere tell me Ohioans are friendly. If people are moving here, it can't be all bad.

[jlg4104]

12. Ohio is a glimpse of the "real" America...

... which can be good and bad. When you live in a culturally and politically progressive "niche neighborhood," you can get the idea that the rest of the country is more or less in line with the little world you know and love. I, too, get frustrated that there's no place in or near my current home town like the Farwell/Prospect Ave. section of Milwaukee, or Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh, or Dupont Circle in D.C., or Cambridge, Mass-- all places I've either lived or know well.

But I take heart in the fact that, like others have mentioned, I can indeed find like-minded people and activities that suit me, and, even though it's depressing in a way, I also feel fairly well-informed about the "state of the art" in middle American political thinking (which is pretty sad).

What would be really neat is if people from the cooler cities and neighborhoods branched out a little-- not that there's any real incentive to move to a post-industrial, nightmare of low-brow sprawl (such as what you find here in Youngstown). But hey, you can get a 2000-square-foot house in a reasonably safe neighborhood for well under $100k. Betcha can't do that in Portland, or Seattle, or San Francisco, or Dupont Circle, etc., etc.... :-)

[lizzieforkerry]

13. Ouch!

I went to OU and I still live in Ohio. I am not Conservative and I don't think I am pasty either! If you think OU is conservative you should road trip to Miami University! You will realize how good you have it in Athens! I think the problem is that we are a little afraid to open up because we are the minority.
Just keep talking to people and you will find us. Good luck, Ohio will grow on you after awhile

[roseBudd]

14. If you do any GOTV street canvassing in African American neighborhoods

I have the perfect flyer for young African Americans. It is a poem/rap called GWB is a PAB.

Go to http://somnamblst.tripod.com to download flyer files.

I have been using this flyer for a week and it is being extremely well received by African American youth. You will need lots of copies as everyone wants their own copy.