Good to see you here!  You sound happy and busy and you sure look great in the photo.  Love the decorating job you did for the RMcD House.  How cheerful and homey!

I have been super busy.  I'm on a new team at work.  Love the people but still learning the particulars of my role.  I've also been busy with my latest hobby in the film industry.  Just shot some scenes for a movie last weekend and have another shoot for a different movie this Sunday. I'm scheduled to shoot a Matt Damon movie later this month and have a casting call for yet another movie in two weeks.  Sending out submissions, keeping track of the status of each of them, and balancing the schedules with my regular job has become something of a job itself.  But it's really fun and you meet a lot of great people.

Also, just had surgery #6 on my nose to replace a major graft that failed after last year's surgery.  It wasn't nearly as bad as what I went through last year (that was pretty extreme surgery) but it was still pretty miserable.  I'll know around August whether this graft has taken. 

Tonight is a local premiere of The Avengers movie for the Cleveland cast and crew.  It's a red carpet event at the theater with the largest screening room in Cleveland.  We get the entire screening room and the attached VIP lounge, food, drinks, all just for us and our families.  There will be around 500 people attending.  There will be a photographer there to snap our red carpet pics and local news media and dignitaries.  My 84 year old MIL is visiting so we are taking her.  I bought her a sparkly outfit that she can't wait to wear.  We haven't told her yet but we booked a limo take us to and from the event.  We figured there won't be too many more occasions like this to share with her so we're going all out.  I'm taking this afternoon off to get a mani-pedi and have my hair styled in an up-do.  Looking forward to our big night out and curious as to whether I can spot myself in any of the scenes.

BTW, here I am in a still shot from one of the trailers for The Avengers:

Replies: (list all replies)

So is Cleveland the new Holloywood ? . . . UncleJJJ

Highly unlikely. Cleveland is poor. It's nice they're trying to do something though.

Miss Bear, Cleveland has its problems like ALL large cities but there are a lot of things going on here that you are unaware of. Uncle JJJ, Cleveland and Pittsburgh both have lucrative tax incentives for film and television production (in fact, Cleveland's budget has just doubled from last year). As a result, there is a surprising amount of film and television activity in the area. In addition to The Avengers and some smaller films (independent films, Hallmark channel films, tv movies, that sort of thing), Tyler Perry filmed an ''Alex Cross'' movie here last summer. That should be released soon. The latest Batman filmed around Pittsburgh and there is a Matt Damon movie that's currently filming there. In fact, I worked on a film shoot in Pittsburgh last weekend and have another shoot there on a different movie this coming weekend. Then I'm scheduled to work on the Matt Damon movie later this month. I recently had an audition (didn't get the part but I did make it to the callback phase, which is pretty cool) and have a casting call in two weeks for a film that is being made for the festival circuit (Sundance Film Festival, etc.). Not every movie made in this area is a big blockbuster like The Avengers, but it's still fun nevertheless. ~i&b

Cleveland has less than half the population it did 50 years ago. The economy is really bad there. A lot of foreclosures. My grama's neighborhood really went downhill. I suppose Lakewood is still alright. It's one of the most depressed cities in the country next to Detroit. To say it has it's problems like any other city is an understatement.

WOW are we going to say ''we knew her when?'' Sounds like you are enjoying yourself. Good for you. eom CG

You forgot Saint Louis, which has also lost more than half its population in the past 50 years ;-) But that doesn't mean St Louis, Cleveland, and Detroit aren't still vibrant cities with a lot of things going on and a lot of things to offer the people who live there. I've visited all three of those cities in the past few years, and had a blast in each of them. Lots of things to do, and lots of interesting stuff to see. (I go to St Louis all the time. For a quick road trip, I'd much rather go to St Louis than to Dallas or Atlanta) ... Ricky

Cleveland's unemployment rate is 7.7% last I heard and continues to grow. I have relatives in Cleveland. I go there every year to visit. The downtown area is dead. My grama's neighborhood has patrol cars surrounding it, and policemen guarding the stores. It's a dying city which is ashame because from what I heard it used to be real nice.

My mom goes there about every other month or so to visit her mom(my grama). You can't even rent a car past noon on Saturdays and Sundays you can't rent one at all in Cleveland. It's a real hassle for her to get around there.

I didn't try to rent any cars in Cleveland (had my own), so I can't comment on that. But I found a good bit to do downtown. In fact, I read at the time that Cleveland had been named an ''Emerging Downtown'', because of its population growth in lots, condos, and apartments. I think there were about 12,000 or so people living right downtown when I was there, which is pretty substantial for a rust belt city ... Ricky

LOFTS, not ''lots'', sorry ... Ricky

Ricky, how long ago were you on Cleveland? Have you been there lately? I worried about my safety.

I meant in Cleveland.

Summer of 2010 .... I never felt unsafe. But then again, I didn't feel unsafe in Toledo or Detroit either, lol .. Ricky

You must have been on the west side of Cleveland which is actually pretty decent. The east side is not so good at all. If you're a single woman like myself you do not want to be out alone. My grama is from the east side and there are a lot of police cars patrolling the area. It is not safe.

Miss Bear, with all due respect to you and your grandma, her neighborhood is not indicative of the entire Cleveland area. From everything you've said in this and other topics, her view of Cleveland is very one-sided. You can argue all you want about how awful you think Cleveland is but I live here, you don't. An occasional visit to a bad neighborhood does not provide an accurate picture of the entire area. Your generalizations are way off base and ignore the larger context. For example, you mention Cleveland's unemployment rate but fail to note that it is below the national average. If things were as bad as you claim, do you really think I would live here? ~i&b

Oh, and I live on the eastside. In my area and the surrounding areas, there are no police guarding our stores and no police patrols of the neighborhoods. No one I know has said they feel unsafe. Single women live alone here and go about their business with no problems. I'm sorry your grandma lives in a bad neighborhood but that is not the norm here -- yes, even on the eastside. Again, you really need to quit with the generalizations. Chicago has bad neighborhoods (as does every large city) but that doesn't mean all of Chicago is dangerous or that Chicago is ''a dying city.'' ~i&b

Ricky, downtown Cleveland is full of young professionals and hipsters. A good number of the attorneys I work with live right downtown. The guy whose office is across the hall from mine lives right around the corner; his ''commute'' is about 2 minutes on foot. I just saw in the newspaper a few days ago that there are hundreds of people on waiting lists to get into upscale apartments downtown. At this point, they need to convert more old downtown buildings into housing to keep up with the demand. ~i&b

Both my parents lived in Cleveland. I been everywhere in Cleveland not just one side. The downtown area is usually dead, most the east side is not safe but however the west side like Lakewood and Rocky River are really nice. To say Cleveland is a vibrant city with a lot going on is a piece of misinformation and a person who has never there would probably be very disappointed. True I may not live there but I been going there every year sometimes more since I can remember and I am quite familiar with all the towns and the city. Yes, Chicago does have it's bad areas too like the southside. I'm in Illinois, we're the most corrupt state. They just raised the prices on our toll roads again.

I have an idea where you live and it is a nice town, but if you go just a few towns over it isn't so good. Anyway, these were my views of Cleveland. It still has some good things going for it.

Actually, I shouldn't say most the east side. I just thought of a few more decent areas. Chardon is really nice but that's a little further. My grama used to get maple syrup there.

So, a half billion dollar development project in the flats, a new downtown theater complex, the $465 million Medical Mart, the $350 million Horseshoe Casino, construction of new hotels adding 1,000 new guest rooms to downtown, a new $26 million dollar modern art museum, the new $40 million Cleveland Aquarium (all of which is either currently being built or is newly completed) -- on top of 3 major sports teams, a world class orchestra, a world class art museum, the Rock Hall, the Science Center, some of the leading colleges, universities, and conservatories in the country, and one of the world's largest and most cutting edge hospital complexes/research institutions -- (all of which are located in and around downtown Cleveland) -- in your book constitutes a ''dying city'' with nothing to offer? Really? Do you honestly think developers would pour all that money into a place that has no future? You really think they'd invest that heavily in a place where those those entities are not likely to thrive? Is that why people are moving to downtown in droves? Is that why downtown is bustling with restaurants, shops, clubs, and hotels? Miss B, you don't know what you're talking about. You've formed an impression and you're sticking to it regardless of the facts. There's more to this city than you see on a quick visit or your grandmother sees from her living room. It's too bad you both seem to focus on the negative and don't see the whole picture. ~i&b

And CG, thanks for your cute comment above. Sorry to hijack your topic! ~i&b

No problem ingy. I am chuckling here! eom CG

Ingy, I visited Cleveland every single year my whole life. It isn't like I just visited a couple times. I been up and down the city, I even know the suburbs and the counties. I used to go on joy rides with my grama through all the towns. I didn't say ALL of Cleveland is bad. To say it's a lively city is not entirely accurate unless they're just hiding every time I ever visit. I know all about the flats and that's where they hang out.

The flats is far from the only area where people hang out. In fact, it's not even the big ''hot spot'' downtown anymore. The action has spread to other areas both downtown and further out. Anyway, with tons of restaurants, bars, clubs, a theater district, 3 major sports venues, concert venues, and a casino I still can't figure out how you claim it's a ''dying city'' and can't seem to figure out where people are ''hiding.'' But to each his own. In the meantime, my Tribe tried to sweep your Sox but no luck. I was surprised, I thought we'd only win one game. ~o&b

Why are the restaurants closed by 7 on weekends? Why don't they have any car rentals open past noon on weekends? It is such a pain for my mom get anywhere( she takes the bus to Cleveland). She gets nervous downtown, and so do I. I didn't think the Indians would sweep the Sox. Nobody in that division is going anywhere this year. Too weak of a division. Season is over.

I just looked up some info about Cleveland's population. There is about 350,000 living in there now which is about 150,000 less than just ten years ago. So, yes their trying to attract people there by spending all this $ and filming big movies there. I knew it wasn't all in my head that there just didn't seem to be many people there.

Cleveland at it's peak was about 915,000 people. Ya never know, Chicago could be next :/

MissB, you're looking at the wrong statistic. That is only for the City of Cleveland proper, which basically means downtown. The population of metropolitan Cleveland (which starts as close as around 2-3 miles from Public Square) is about 2.5 million. Obviously, we wouldn't have the amenities and services I've described here if the population was only 350,000-ish. As for your mom's experience with rental cars and restaurants, I have no idea what restaurants or rental companies you're talking about. There are hundreds and hundreds of restaurants here; I assure you the vast majority do not close at 7 pm. I know you want to believe the worst about Cleveland for whatever reason and you don't want to change your opinion, but the fact is it's nothing like you're making it out to be. ~i&b

One other thing, most rental car places (not just Cleveland) close early on Saturdays because it is the least busy day for car rentals. Regardless of what city or state you're in, your best bet for renting a car on the weekend will always be to get one from the airport. That has nothing to do with Cleveland, it's just how that industry works. ~i&b

I'm pretty sure you can find car rentals in Chicago on weekends.Cleveland is not on the top list of U.S cities to visit. Have you ever heard of 'the mistake on the lake'? People who have lived in Cleveland for their whole lives or many years can tell you it isn't all that. The best thing as far as I'm concerned out there is Cedar Point in Sandusky but that's about a half hour or so from Cleveland. I am DYING to go on Top Thrill Dragster. Also, the westside of Cleveland is very nice. -Miss.B

I know you don't want to hear this but Cleveland is also nominated in the top 25 most dangerous cities in this country. Detroit was number one and I think St.Louis was number two. I'm not making this up. People have even migrated from the metropolitan area about 75,000 people in the last five years. I get that they're trying to attract people to Cleveland and trying to clean up their image. That makes sense.

Context, Miss B, context. That list (which by the way, is not an official list or a serious research study) also includes such *danger zones* as Springfield, Illinois. I'm not putting much stock in that list because it doesn't appear to have much credibility. Like I said, I live here, I know what it's like. Before we met, Mr. Ingy lived here for around 20 years (in several different areas of town, both east and west -- and BOTH east and west have great areas as well as some not so great. I don't know why you think only the west side is nice; I think you're not nearly as familiar with the area as you believe, but whatever). He shares my opinion. You can find problems with every large city. You are probably not aware that for a period of years I lived an hour outside Chicago. I've been there many, many times. I could probably cite a laundry list of Chicago's problems, but I won't because I know that's not the whole story. I can balance my view. Anyhow, I think I've said everything I have to say so at this point I'm bowing out. Have a good day. Hope my Indians can beat up your Sox but we'll see! ~i&b

If you want to believe Cleveland is a wonderful vibrant city, fine. It's not a tourist attraction, and it is on every list of most dangerous U.S cities but if you don't want to believe it, fine. You're going to believe what you're going to believe. I wouldn't deny it if somebody told me Illinois is corrupt and the southside of Chicago is dangerous. A fact is a fact, no need to get upset. I don't have to live in Cleveland to know all that. I been there every single year my whole life. I hope the Sox sweep the Indians this year. Booooooooo Indians!

Actually, I may be going to Cleveland again with my mom this June to visit my grandmother. She isn't doing too well :(

Just want to butt in and say my husband went to Clevleand every year on business - for probably 10 years or more. And it was always an amazing trip, he loved it and always looked forward to it............Carol

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