Lakewood: The Brand

Shawn Juris · Post by **Shawn Juris** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:14 pm

So, what adjectives describe Lakewood and how can these be confirmed? For instance, we could say that we are the sunniest, happiest place on earth but some may justifiable ask, how and why we believe we can claim that.
In the past I've heard; progressive, walkable and diverse to name a few.

dl meckes · Post by **dl meckes** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:42 pm

Unique, flavorful, authentic, friendly, engaged, interesting, dog friendly, architecturally diverse, historic, charming, neighborly...

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:05 pm

real, diverse, engaged, fun, safe, acessible, artistic

Diane Helbig · Post by **Diane Helbig** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:14 pm

neighborhoody, eclectic, unique, comfortable

Ivor Karabatkovic · Post by **Ivor Karabatkovic** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:11 pm

authentic is a great one.

Tim Liston · Post by **Tim Liston** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:12 pm

retro, nostalgic, charming, practical, optimistic, sensible, desirable....

(sustainable???)

Kenneth Warren · Post by **Kenneth Warren** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:56 pm

For me, Lakewood is community-minded people.

But any self-validating premises about the Lakewood brand can mask too glibly deeper issues of stigma and shame.

There have been endless arguments on the LO Deck about "building the brand."

For purposes of deeper contemplation and discussion, then, IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m going to pitch a historically, psychologically and sociologically packed reading of the emotional background at root the current Lakewood brand.

1. Community Ã¢â‚¬â€œminded people
2. Living, investing and working together
3. With both appreciation and apprehension
4. Over eclectic cultural toolkits
5. Developing in affordable, old blue collar neighborhoods.

IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll conclude with an observation on brand by James Twitchell, who writes in Branded Nation:

Ã¢â‚¬Å“Exploiting the connection with fire, brand became something literally burned into the hide of cows and horses to show ownership. The brand as burned image now starts a curious history because it is joined with stigma, which means Ã¢â‚¬Å“blotÃ¢â‚¬Â or Ã¢â‚¬Å“blemishÃ¢â‚¬Â and it is a signifier of inflicted shame.Ã¢â‚¬Â

Kenneth Warren

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:31 pm

Musical too, and very banjo-friendly...

Bret Callentine · Post by **Bret Callentine** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:01 am

you can live anywhere you want, but Lakewood=Home

If you don't like Lakewood, then you don't like people.

Steve Hoffert · Post by **Steve Hoffert** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:42 am

ego maniacal, slightly self deprecating generally mellow with an edgy crust like a meringue pie.

As evidenced by this post or pretty much any other post!

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Lynn Farris · Post by **Lynn Farris** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:52 pm

I tell everyone that we live in a small town next to a big city.

Not one word - but we have the best of both worlds it seems to me. It is the small town feel of Lakewood that I love that you know the people in your town and care about them. You are proud of the accomplishments of the citizens in your town. I never fail to mention that we are on the lake as well. That is the cherry on the town to me.

I think authentic and neigborly would also be good adjectives. Diverse and progressive would be too.

Charyn Compeau · Post by **Charyn Compeau** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 6:32 pm

Lakewood is...

..addictive

sharon kinsella · Post by **sharon kinsella** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:21 pm

Lakewood is - Where I grew up
- Where I raised my children
- Growing and changing
- Still trying to define itself

Our town is beautiful and the people are beutiful. We have the lake, the parks, the metro park, and a developing rainbow of citizens reaching out to understand and work with each other.

Phil Florian · Post by **Phil Florian** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:39 am