The Observation Deck

Doug,

I did not write that with any single person in mind, nor did I imagine that it would be taken that way - I was only pondering about using terms such as 'yuppie' that tend to have negative connotative values. Particularly when there were a variety of comments that insinuated that so-called 'yuppies' were not welcome.

Edit to add: One thing that JOB and I do agree on is that Lakewood as a whole suffers from poor self-esteem - so my point would not be to insinuate that a single person had issues, but in reference to Lakewood general lack of self-esteem.

My apologies if it came out wrong.

That being said - I am even more confused now as to why we wouldnt want Young Urban Professionals here. But aside from their propensity to consume the arts, it is really a discussion for another thread.


Sincerely,
Charyn

As an "artist" myself..

Knowing how hard it is to get into galleries, I don't think this will increase my chances in showcasing my work.

I do think that the Arts District would do wonders to an area like birdtown, adding beauty and another cultural wonder to the already happening area.

Whether the city does get a district or not, I realize it probably won't affect many of the artists here in Lakewood.

Unless you're well established and have your name out there already.. you won't get into an art gallery. No one wants to go see John Doe's painting at the Phoenix when Monet is hangin out at the museum of arts 15 minutes from here.

I'm neither for or against the establishment of an arts district. I know that it probably won't affect me and my artwork, and it won't help artists personally. It will help the city, making it more rich and diverse in it's arts. When I stood in front of City Council to thank them for my Resolution over the summer, I encouraged them to promote the arts in Lakewood as much as possible. It is through the arts that you can see an image of a city.

In school, we don't learn much about politicians depicting their experiences in the Great Depression in the 30's... it was the writers, painters, actors and film makers who teach students what it was like during that period in history.

Charyn Compeau wrote:Doug,

I did not write that with any single person in mind, nor did I imagine that it would be taken that way - I was only pondering about using terms such as 'yuppie' that tend to have negative connotative values. Particularly when there were a variety of comments that insinuated that so-called 'yuppies' were not welcome.

Doug/Charyn

I'm dying!

If we cannot laugh at ourselves what is the purpose of humor at all?

I know many people that do not see Yuppies as a negative term. They wear it proudly.

My jest or joke was merely the thought process that one we should be afraid of yuppies or that anyone in Lakewood was wealthy enough o be a yuppie.

Both comments are so blatantly untrue I thought we would get the joke.

I guess not.


peace.

If we want to keep up community appearances with the car thing, I could start referring to our PT Cruiser as "The Daimler".

As in, " I really need to have The Daimler detailed this week.

I may not be so young, but at least I'm somewhat urban (how 'bout URBANE?) and professional!

Since retiring, does that now make me a RUPPIE?

Ah well, time to detail The Daimler, I suppose.

Justine,

I would assume that the so-called "Yuppie crowd" would park their mini-busses where we parked our band's VW bus, back in the days of yore.

By the way, I'm not even sure that the term Yuppie has even been used lately. I've certainly not seen it around.

Gary,
haha! If we only had some parking in Lakewood! I think the term Yuppie was being used tongue in cheek as I have a couple friends whom are yuppies. Should I get defensive that "they" are referred to as white collar? I hope not since I am working on my graduate degree and my husband has passed his graduate degree, but in no way would any one call us yuppies (he is more of a deadhead). And we spend our money locally whenever we can. We support the arts. We recycle. My self-esteem vacillates but for the city, is pretty high, thank you.

On a more productive note,
DL,

Going back to another thread, why can't we do both? I talked to several Madison Ave. businesses today that want to restart Mama (Madison Avenue Business Associates) and work together to do events, etc. There were ideas already thrown out about a "hop" for all businesses and different art events, including something at the park every Sat. like the West Side Market. I think a few projects to jump start the arts and the city could be beneficial, run by many.

From answers.com and different sources:

Yuppie- Acronym for young urban professional. The term was popularized during the 1980s to describe young career people having relatively high incomes and education, seeking instant success and gratification, often beyond their financial means.

George Orwell had predicted the ruthless dictatorship of Big Brother in his novel 1984, but the figure of satire in America that year was someone entirely different. The yuppie was a person in young adulthood, living in or near a city, ambitious, successful, materialistic, and self-indulgent.

And I just learn that guppies were gay urban proffesionals (did not know that)
and puppies were pregnant urban professionals!

Justine Cooper wrote:The yuppie was a person in young adulthood, living in or near a city, ambitious, successful, materialistic, and self-indulgent.

Not to mention they like to move into 'hip' areas (aka areas where poor artists like myself live), build condos, and raise the property values, which raise rents and price people like me out!

Justine-

Both things need to happen. We can, as a city, make all sorts of districts, but unless the residents and business owners move the ideas forward, then the districts can't come together. It really does have to be an organic process.

I can probably declare myself Miss America and declare that I live in a pagent overlay zone, but that doesn't make it so.

Actually, that sounds like a good project for a dreary day...

Arts overlay districts require zoning changes that have to be studied. These changes usually involve live/work capabilities. The reason that a city makes the changes is so they can allow for greater flexibility without treating every potential use change as something that has never happened before. Can some closed shops be rejuvinated back into shops or galleries?

Special signage is also usually part of the package and marketing is made easier.

But first, you have to have something to market. You have to have something going on.

That's where starting "walks" is so important. There's a lot more here than beer (not that there's anything wrong with beer). We have to find ways to share our secret.

dl meckes wrote:That's where starting "walks" is so important. There's a lot more here than beer (not that there's anything wrong with beer). We have to find ways to share our secret.

I wholeheartedly agree.

Yes we have MUCH more than beer to offer and there is no reason we can't do art walks, business hops, saturday open air markets, etc.

Ivor Karabatkovic wrote:No one wants to go see John Doe's painting at the Phoenix when Monet is hangin out at the museum of arts 15 minutes from here.

You have obviously never been to the Tremont ArtWalk. They have some of the tiniest galleries I have ever seen and all sorts of art and artists are represented. And (sort of) like Bella Dubby, there are commercial establishments that hang art for the walk to bring in hungry or thirsty patrons.

The art can be commercial or REALLY not commercial, leaning more political statement or... whatever. Different artists are featured, so you get different flavors.

At one walk, the work of four homeless women was featured and drew hundreds of people.

There are several tours of studios throughout the warmer months Those artists don't need an outside gallery to show their work, but they do need to be included in a tour or walk.

"No-name" artists can begin to build a following because they are part of a walk or tour.

I love Monet, but I don't want Monet's vision to be the only one I see.

dl, you're right.

never been to one.

but, shouldn't LakewoodAlive ask artists what they think of this...not the people that will be looking at art and buying art?

The empty storefronts at Rockport make me wonder just how much more development do we need in this city.

Is this going to drive in potential buyers or drive out artists?

Dl,
Who officially is in charge of doing weekly things in the city like the open air market in Cleveland? The city, the chamber? All table rentals could go into the city or an art fund. Lord with all the artists here they could fill a field at either park, and with musicians! I just heard something on the news about Columbus's art walk! Lakewood needs to get moving.

Justine Cooper wrote:Dl,
Who officially is in charge of doing weekly things in the city like the open air market in Cleveland? The city, the chamber? All table rentals could go into the city or an art fund. Lord with all the artists here they could fill a field at either park, and with musicians! I just heard something on the news about Columbus's art walk! Lakewood needs to get moving.

The city of Lakewood is in charge of the market here. This year it is being handled by Mary Ross Coleman who has signed on again with North Union Farmers. I will let her announce the rest I am sure it will make the city happier than last year. Also the vendors must be approved by Dottie Buckon's group as they are selling foods.

With the car show we run through Pubic Works and Tony Beno with the help of Melissa Garrett. As they allow us to operate it pretty much ourselves we file our date, and show them proper insurance, and fill out paper work. This year we will be enlarging the the show three more blocks. All food needs to be approved by the Health Department.More later.

The Arts Festival is also run out of Public Works by good friend and neighbor Pat Majeski. She has been in charge of this since it started. As it is a "city" project much like the Fourth of July, they carry insurance, and approve vendors. Started by Lucy Sinagra, I believe she still has an active role.

The Hospital's Starry Nights(one of two parties of the year) is now an offshot of the Arts Festival, funded by the Cleveland Clinic.

The Fourth of July Parade is run by Melissa Garrett though she has the help of her entire department and Public Works, and Public Parks.

The LO Car Rally is a simple approval and sit down with the city. All entrants have to be licensed drivers and carry insurance to be allowed to compete. With this the city accepted our group as competent, and insured.

Light up Lakewood is a Chamber of Commerce Event, approved by the city, with the help of Public Works, Melissa Garrett, and LCPI I believe.

The new LO Car Show in Scenic Park is being put together totally on private properties, no permission is needed. We just worked with our advertisers and friends in the area.

Concert in the Park last year and this year, are approved and regulated by the city, as it is happening on city property. This is coordinated through Melissa Garret, Parks and City.

Lakewood Community Festival, is Melissa Garrett, Mrs. Pohorence, and her group.

If the art walks stayed to businesses and sidewalks with no blocking of sidewalks and streets I think it could be very informal, with no need for City involvement.

Just because you have not heard of an event does not mean one is not in the works. An example would be the Scenic Park Car show, Rib Cook off, Pizza Cook Off, Lakewood is Art Experience, Blue Grass Festival, Detroit Parade, and others that I know of that are in the works. Most wait to announce, when they have the structure, date, etc. I only know of these as they have asked the Lakewood Observer if we would be willing to help organize, underwrite, or trade advertising. There are other projects in the raw planning stages but are missing enough parts to not even mention, or are close to announcing on their own, it would be wrong to steal the thunder. Suzanne Metelko has a massive weekend project that should be announced in the next couple weeks with the help of our good friends at LCPI.

The Observer is always looking for new projects as we have a small "slush fund" for civic projects, and the network with the city to make these things happen eaiser with less stress.

Always best to start with Melissa Garrett, and The Law Department.

She keeps a complete event list for the year on items they need to apporve. We also keep a list of events city and non-city so that we can work through the maze of events. The Observer is already working on some projects for 2008, as either dates or commitments had already been made this year. We had thought of a car/festival at Lakewood Park, but there was only one day left open there for events, and it did not work in our timetable, as we try to coordinate with other car shows in the area to get maximum turnout.

Grandma always taught me to ask permission before I played in someones yard.



.