April 2, 2010

• Cleveland

  I'm about to start another season of intense writing and work, so this short hiatus of new blog posting will again taper.  Yet, it seemed appropriate to give a short word about the city in which I now live.

  Cleveland is a post industrial city; the bones of its once great presence on the fields of N. America can be found in the down town districts.  Once Cleveland's scions were ranked amongst the wealthiest in the world, and their number exceeded that of New York's and Boston's -- that is an era now long gone.  Instead, Cleveland now is a city that pines for its past, yet is confused about how to move forward.  Each city needs its anchor tenant, some industry or idea that serves as the animus of its activity.  Today, Cleveland cannot be considered a world center for steel or heavy industry.  These facets of manufacturing have moved elsewhere, and unlikely to return, barring a removal or reduction of minimum wages.  What's left can be at times breath-taking...  But without a concerted effort to unfetter the remaining sparks of industry, it seems unlikely that Cleveland can return to its former glory.

  This week, however, Cleveland nearly moved me to tears.  Sitting in Severance Hall, enjoying Pink Martini, I couldn't help but be overcome by a sense of gratitude.  This city is small, yet has many absolutely sublime edifices.  Suddenly, I have the opportunity to sit intimately in a concert hall that puts one oh-so-close to one of the greatest orchestras in the world, in one of the most beautiful and revered concert halls. 

  Having such easy access to gems such as these left me with a profound sense of joy. 

  Yes, living here has many-a-drawback.

  But the immediacy and quality of the arts here is quite unparalleled.
  

  • 9:50 am
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