Funny Thing ... We're Happy in CLE+
Okay, so an online publication dubbed Cleveland their “Most Miserable City.” Our friends and colleagues in the Cleveland Plus region didn’t fare much better. Canton came in at #9, Akron #12 and Youngstown #18. So Something Dada helped us ask, “Why there was so much misery in the region?” They came up with some pretty interesting responses:
And Cleveland's NBC affiliate, WKYC-TV, is currently running this promotional ad:
HappyInCLE+ News + Blogs
As the office that champions the Cleveland Plus region, it's nice to see there are so many more supporters who know that we're happy in CLE+. Over the past few days, we've noticed a growing number of articles, blog posts and facebook groups springing up to defend the Cleve. Click on these links to check them out:
- We love Cleveland - Here's 104 Reasons Why! (Q104 FM)
- Cleveland’s a Plum blog
- Cleveland says, “No thanks Forbes” Facebook
- Residents Disagree (The Examiner)
- I don’t care what Forbes magazine says, “I Love Cleveland” Facebook
- Why does Forbes.com hate Cleveland?
- Mildly Relevant Thoughts blog
- Cleveland mounts a defense against "Most Miserable City" label (Plain Dealer blog)
- Deciphering another nonsense Forbes list (Brewed Fresh Daily)
- Throwing Quarters blog
- Focus: Forbes "misery poll" sparks Cleveland defenders (WKYC-TV)
- Northcoast Zeitgeist blog
- Tales of a Librarian blog
- Egosyntonicity blog
- Quality Chatter blog
- The View from 32 blog
T-shirts, Get Your T-shirts
Fresh Brewed Tees jumped on the HappyInCLE+ bandwagon with these great limited edition WhatTheForbes? T-shirts. $1 from every shirt sold goes to benefit the Cleveland City Mission. Click here to order online »
You can also find plenty of other great CLE+ themed shirts from the C.L.E. Clothing Co. at the Positively Cleveland Visitors Center or online here »
HappyInCLE+ Contest
Question: What happens when an online publication creates a not-so-appealing, questionable ranking for Cleveland Plus? Answer: WhatTheForbes.com.
In response to an assertion that Northeast Ohioans are “miserable,” Positively Cleveland encouraged fans of the region to come to www.whattheforbes.com and share their favorite things about the region through videos, photos, blogs and comments for a chance to win three robust prize packages provided by 70 of the destination marketing organization’s hospitality and travel partners. In just three weeks, nearly 10,000 visitors to the site and as many as 1,100 tweets in a day with the hashtag “#HappyinCLE.”
The response is heartwarming. We received a total of 266 website entries that celebrated everything from our award-winning culinary scene to our family-friendly neighborhoods.
Three entrants of the contest were chosen at random to win prizes today (watch the drawing here).
The first winner is D. Megalis of Broadview Heights who blogged about her love affair with the region saying, “It's too bad that they [Forbes.com] didn't turn their focus to the things that make Cleveland great. They would have found some of the nicest people you could ever hope to know living in this great city.”
The second winner was B. Chodroff of Cleveland who sent in a rooftop photo saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words . . . I actually love exploring the history of the buildings here as well as all the great food. Really, it's a great place to live!”
S. Owens of Medina nabbed the third prize package writing, “My husband and I moved to Miami and realized once we got there that WE LOVE CLEVELAND! We thought trading snow for sand would be a good idea, but we were wrong. Cleveland is full of great people who are kind, helpful and fun. We are back from Florida and hope that we never have to move away again! It is true that without a winter, you don't appreciate your summer!”
While the contest is over, we'll leave www.whattheforbes.com up until April 2010 as a place to share positive messages about the city and the region. We'll also continue to use the #HappyinCLE+ tag on Twitter indefinitely to give away random opportunities to experience the region with free tickets, gifts and more. Follow @PositivelyCleve on Twitter or fan Positively Cleveland on Facebook for future contest and prize announcements.
Positively Cleveland also thanks the generous hospitality and tourism partners that contributed to the effort by giving a total of nearly $5,000 worth of prizes:
West Side Market, West Side Market Café, Melt Bar & Grilled, Maggiano’s Little Italy Beachwood, The Cleveland Independents, Campbell’s Popcorn Shop (West Side Market), La Bella Vita, Mitchell’s Fish Market, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Hard Rock Café Cleveland, RJ Boland's Restaurant & American SaloonTable 45 at The InterContinental Hotel Cleveland, AMP 150 at The Cleveland Airport Marriott, Marengo Luxury Spa, Buckin’ Ohio’s summer bull ridings, Cleveland Indians, Lorain County Community College’s Stocker Arts Center, Western Reserve Historical Society, Mid-Ohio, Brandywine/Boston Mills, Nautica Queen, Rabbit Run Theatre, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and RainForest, Beck Center for the Arts, Cleveland Children’s Museum, Cleveland Public Theatre, Lake County Captains, Great Lakes Theater Festival, PlayhouseSquare, Akron Art Museum, "Holly"wood Christmas Movieland, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cleveland Opera, Cleveland Museum of Art, Lolly the Trolley, Something Dada Improvisational Comedy, The Cleveland Play House, Cleveland Metroparks, Ghostly Manor, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland Orchestra, Tom’s Cruz Limousine Service, RTA, Shima Limousine, Residence Inn Downtown Cleveland, Hilton Cleveland/East Beachwood, Fitzgerald’s Irish Bed &Breakfast, Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade, Embassy Suites Cleveland-Rockside, Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre, Courtyard by Marriott Beachwood, Red Roof Inn, , Radisson Hotel Cleveland-Gateway, Doubletree Hotel Cleveland Downtown/Lakeside, Country Acres Campground, , Holiday Inn Cleveland Airport, Cleveland Marriott East B.A. Sweetie Candy Company, The Olive & The Grape, The Only Cleveland Store, Ambiance, The Store for Lovers!, Big Fun, Crocker Park, Gray’s Auctioneers and Kent State University’s 89.7FM WKSU.
