by donica

"5 lines that get me through leadership and ministry"

quiet and still my ambitions
i do not concern myself with great matters
but i put my hope in you
you give me the keys of the kingdom
help me open the door for others
[Psalm 131; Matthew 16:19]

Reasons to say yes! to Cleveland

Good things about the cleve:

• $5 movie mondays at the Shaker Sq theatres (one block away), or at Cedar Lee (indie theatre)
• farmers markets - shaker square, west side market, miles
  
• Cleveland metroparks and nature centers. My favorite isn't "the best", nor do I have a "my favorite spot" yet, but the shaker lakes metropark comes close.
  
• RTA - rapids (train) one block away that goes to tower city, the airport, and other places
  
• restaurants - delicious little hole in the wall places, and some of the more "upscale" mod ones
• hometown feel - the people who stay really stay. elderly slovaks at my church, you know.
  
• koko bakery - bubble tea, shaved ice, and asian baked goods. yum.
  
• lake erie - it's now the cleanest of the 5 great lakes?
  
• cleveland hipsters. like my brother, I am now feeling a little neutral about hipsters, but there is something special about the cleveland hipster though... i think it's because they're living the 'poor life' and are actually poor. haha.
  
• fairly easy grid system downtown -- it gets a little complicated on the west side, but it's still good.
• culture - art, music at university circle, euclid corridor (soon to be finished) and future development of "uptown"
  
• community development corporations and urban ministry galore - 2100 men's ministry, the city mission, faith baptist (free clinic), et al.
• it's the coolest uncool city in the states. it's got the gritty, underground feeling. this is not to romanticize it though - it certainly has its needs, economic resurrection, etc.