Devon, I'm honored to be mentioned in this incredible essay. Obviously, I feel very similar to how you feel about Lakewood and the Lakewood Project, particularly about what you said about Lakewood's diversity (or lack thereof). Growing up in Lakewood, I felt that we were fed this narrative that Lakewood was so diverse compared to the "outer-ring" suburbs of Cleveland. In fact, the most recent census found that Lakewood residents are about 80% white!
The bit about everyday adult life interfering with our playing of music also resonated with me--in the hustle and bustle, it's often hard to make time for playing my cello. Can't wait to see you again soon! <3
This is awesome! It's great to find someone here on Substack who's from a place I know well, and work in frequently (I even lived in an apartment in Birdtown, right before I moved to Collinwood, where I remain to this day).
Also, a small encouragement to keep thumpin' at bass; it was true 38 years ago when I started and remains true today: Everyone In Music Needs A Real Bass Player Sometime. That motto has taken me some pretty amazing places I never would've been had I played something else, like keys or even drums.
Best of luck to you, looking forward to reading more.
That's awesome! It's funny I mention Birdtown when I did. When I was in high school, it was definitely an area where you could count on finding afforable housing. Last time I was looking for an apartment in Lakewood, my roommate and I couldn't find anything in Birdtown that fit our budget (flippers have been working over it like crazy) and we ended up finding a place a few blocks west.
Yeah, it seemed for years that Birdtown's gritty, industrial reputation redolent of "over the border" in Cleveland protected it somewhat from the suburbanite real-estate excesses of west and north Lakewood (even as those areas' residents disdained it, and made noises about giving it back to Cleveland). But I guess that protection couldn't last forever. I still love the place, tho'; and probably always will.
Devon, I'm honored to be mentioned in this incredible essay. Obviously, I feel very similar to how you feel about Lakewood and the Lakewood Project, particularly about what you said about Lakewood's diversity (or lack thereof). Growing up in Lakewood, I felt that we were fed this narrative that Lakewood was so diverse compared to the "outer-ring" suburbs of Cleveland. In fact, the most recent census found that Lakewood residents are about 80% white!
The bit about everyday adult life interfering with our playing of music also resonated with me--in the hustle and bustle, it's often hard to make time for playing my cello. Can't wait to see you again soon! <3
This is awesome! It's great to find someone here on Substack who's from a place I know well, and work in frequently (I even lived in an apartment in Birdtown, right before I moved to Collinwood, where I remain to this day).
Also, a small encouragement to keep thumpin' at bass; it was true 38 years ago when I started and remains true today: Everyone In Music Needs A Real Bass Player Sometime. That motto has taken me some pretty amazing places I never would've been had I played something else, like keys or even drums.
Best of luck to you, looking forward to reading more.
That's awesome! It's funny I mention Birdtown when I did. When I was in high school, it was definitely an area where you could count on finding afforable housing. Last time I was looking for an apartment in Lakewood, my roommate and I couldn't find anything in Birdtown that fit our budget (flippers have been working over it like crazy) and we ended up finding a place a few blocks west.
Yeah, it seemed for years that Birdtown's gritty, industrial reputation redolent of "over the border" in Cleveland protected it somewhat from the suburbanite real-estate excesses of west and north Lakewood (even as those areas' residents disdained it, and made noises about giving it back to Cleveland). But I guess that protection couldn't last forever. I still love the place, tho'; and probably always will.