One word to describe Lakewood

Lynn Farris · Post by **Lynn Farris** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 6:45 pm

I'm reading a book and in it she talks to people and they come up with 1 word to describe several cities. For example. New York is achieve, Los Angles is Succeed, Rome is Sex, Stockholm is Conform, the Vatican is Power, Naples is Fight. I was thinking, what word would I use to describe Lakewood?

Or the Cleveland Metropolitan Area?

Actually, my feeling about Lakewood is quite different from the Cleveland Metropolitan Area.

I'm on vacation and a story was recounted to me by a fellow Lakewoodite who is traveling with me who told me they met a man originally from the Bronx that was saying that was a Neighborhood, he now lives in Beachwood and doesn't feel the same way about it. However when he found out that the person was from Lakewood, he said, now that is a neighborhood.

So maybe that is the word I would use to describe Lakewood.

Neighborhood.

sharon kinsella · Post by **sharon kinsella** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 6:59 pm

I'd go with evolving.

Brian Pedaci · Post by **Brian Pedaci** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 1:37 am

"Classic"

Ivor Karabatkovic · Post by **Ivor Karabatkovic** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 2:30 am

Kate McCarthy · Post by **Kate McCarthy** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:05 pm

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:21 am

Good thread Lynn.

I have thought long and hard about this. I was desperately looking for that word that could frame Lakewood. Of course I wanted that to be a positive brand building word like "progressive" "engaged" something powerful, but positive.

Today I settled on comfortable. After all it is home, a neighborhood and that would indicate comfort.

However, as I watched this thread sit, and looked at what is going on in Lakewood I would lean towards...

afraid
insecure
troubled

All come from Sharon's word evolving, and the words of people I meet on the street that are afraid where we are headed, insecure that anyone can help, and troubled that they cannot engage.

FWIW

.

sharon kinsella · Post by **sharon kinsella** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:46 am

Jim when I said evolving, I meant things are changing and not necessarily in bad ways. Oh there are a lot of things I don't like and that need to be fixed, but there are other things also.

The new library, the playground at Madison Park, the equipment at the park on Madison by Hilliard. New restaraunts opening up, the possibilities for art and community.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:16 am

Sharon

I did not take evolving to be a bad thing at all.

However there is much apprehension in Lakewood, and many of the things is because of the evolving.

Those of us older folks, always seem to rest on what it was. While others look to change it to what they like and want.

The one thing I learned very early on with the Observer Projects is that it is not MY city, it is our city.

.

David Anderson · Post by **David Anderson** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:31 am

Fun

My wife and I left the kids with their grandparents this past Saturday night and went out for a date. We stopped at Geiger's, to peruse about then headed to The Melt for an early 5:00 dinner. Both places were vibrant and we gladly waited 30-minutes for a table.

After dinner, we set off for the library's main branch to browse, read and chat. We had a great time and it's all right here in our back yards. Next time, we'll likely add a stop at Mahals for some pocket billiards.

Also, a couple of weeks back, my wife took the kids to the newly remodeled park on Madison and Hilliard. What a great transformation.