unmiserablecleveland.com

  • is so unmiserable it hurts.
  • is the city that sleeps just the right amount.
  • is plum happy to be here.
  • loves Taco Tuesdays.
  • is a bothsider.
  • bikes to work every day. Yes, even in winter.
  • doesn't get cold in winter, just awesome.
  • plays by the lake.
  • loves CLE Critical Mass.
  • would love to see a Euclid Beach Park rebirth.
  • can't get enough of one of the world's best orchestras.
  • = way rad.
  • has no grassy knoll (but some pretty incredible Metroparks).
  • loves plums.
  • wants a bratwurst from the West Side Market.
  • was made in 216. Really.
  • is so happy city enthusiasm has made the Cleveland Marathon a race to be reckoned with.
  • doesn't know if $2-burger night at Muldoon's can be beat for a sweet Thursday tradition.
  • thinks the river caught fire just to get your attention.
  • appreciates enthusiasm.
  • hearts long walks on wholly underrated beaches.
  • will try Lake Erie surfing this fall.
  • would host the Olympics, but is a little busy right now.
  • would never be a free agent.
  • loves you too.
  • is home.
  • can't pick a best pizza because they're all pretty damned good.
  • enjoys having all four seasons.
  • plays outside in winter and summer.
  • rides a bike to work.
  • needs to visit A Christmas Story house (again) this year.
  • understands there's so much yet to do.
  • loves it here.
  • high-fives others who love it here too.
  • gets the veggie dog with chorizo chili.
  • enjoys rainy days at the art museum.
  • thinks Ian Hunter rocks as well.
  • believes in the power of innerburbs, uptowns and downtowns.
  • gets excited whenever How I Met Your Mother refers to Ted's NEO origins.
  • believes Liz Lemon actually does heart Cleveland as much as we do.
  • wouldn't mind the return of streetcars.
  • loves to travel the world and then come home to the best place in it.
  • owns, perhaps, too many shirts that mention a love for the city.
  • could probably make a killer plum pudding.
  • always knows which way is north.
  • is really pumped about Collinwood and Gordon Square going awesome.
  • likes to ride the bus all over town.
  • has so much to say.
  • should be in movies, don't you think?
  • will host a bread-pudding tour of Cleveland this fall.
  • has never been to a wig shop, but could tell you where to find one.
  • has a big lake as its backyard.
  • can totally swim to Canada.
  • kayaks the Cuyahoga.
  • wants to make you so freakin' unmiserable you cry. Happy tears.
  • loves Boston cream pie and plans to spark the 2012 revolution that changes its name.
  • feels a little too happy about Presti's bringing back doughnuts.
  • puts the eastside-westside battle aside.
  • crosses the river.
  • sees smart people.
  • has access to some pretty serious health care.
  • doesn't have to pretend getting ripped off on rent is OK.
  • loves architecture.
  • is home to an impressive collection of universities and other higher ed institutions.
  • digs a grid system.
  • loves all of NEO equally. Mostly.
  • thinks you choose to be happy (or not).
  • believes in the magic of a good bread pudding.
  • feels no shame in loving polka.
  • has been to the Cleveland-style Polka Hall of Fame.
  • hearts polkamaster DJ Kishka.

Winner of Unmiserable Clevelander of the Year

Good News / People

Tags: ,

January 11, 2012 posted by editor

Machine Gun Kelly put it best: “No one man is king of this city; where I’m from, we’re all royalty.” How appropriate that today we crown Unmiserable Clevelander of the Year?

Unmiserable Clevelander of the Year

I’m proud of every person on this list and every person who makes the most of this city, the most of him/herself every single day. Being a content, fulfilled and purposeful person in a place where you’re constantly told how poor, fat, stupid and miserable you are takes energy. A lot of energy. Being an asset to your neighborhood instead of your neighborhood being an asset to you takes balls.

Being negative is the easy route. It’s the tried-and-true road to nowhere. No one ever asks you to back that up.

People on this list remind us that there’s a reason to acknowledge our problems, to take action against our problems, to not slow down tackling our problems, to volunteer, give, rebuild, invest, cheer, care to fix our problems. It’s Cleveland. This city is worth improving, promoting, visiting, hugging, boosting, documenting, changing, recovering, loving. And these people are our most valuable resource.

Which is why I had you vote for the winner!

With more than 5,000 unique votes cast in the first annual Unmiserable Clevelander of the Year…. we have a tie? That’s right.

Congratulations, high-fives, hat-tips, reverential bows go to….

Justin Gould
Justin Gould

and

Jack Storey
Jack Storey

Upcycler Nicole McGee, comedian Ramon Rivas and photographer Brent Durken were very close on Justin and Jack’s heels. And Katie O’Keefe, Justin Fleming, Wally Waterdrop, Julia Kuo, Chris Sorenson, Valerie Mayen and Joe Haden? All within a stone’s throw of the leaders as well.

Let’s just say fewer than 100 votes separated the top six, fewer than 300 between the top 10. Wowzaas.

I’m still making awards (hence the delayed announcement), but will share those things as soon as they’re ready. Check back soon to see the update!

Kudos to all who were nominated (truly, it should be an honor): 5,000 people voted for you. Five-thousand! That’s a lot of people who took the time to show you love and then some.