Rust Wire put out a call for entries last week, calling for treating Cleveland Indians owner Larry Dolan with the same respect he treats native Americans — namely developing a mocking and offense caricature of the old money lawyer.
We are really excited to have received four excellent submissions from four people around North America. I said I would give $100 to the winner, and print out the image on some t-shirts to sell, give Dolan a taste of his own medicine.
Just as a refresher, here’s what we’re working with here:

Ok. …

This is part of a series on being a white person in the African-American Hough neighborhood of Cleveland. You can see the intro, why it’s like a small town, Mansfield Frazier’s response, history of the neighborhood, @#!& black people say to white people, and “A Place Worth Living”: defending a deeply stigmatized neighborhood.

To continue the conversation about cross-cultural experiences in the inner city, I interviewed a friend living in the Glenville neighborhood, Doc Harrill. We have kids the same age and he and his wife are amazing indie artists …

This is Larry Dolan. Dolan owns the Cleveland Indians. He’s the guy who makes money from selling t-shirts with grotesque, offensive characterizations of native Americans on them, at least he’s the main one.
I hate the Cleveland Indian’s logo. I have some close friends in Cleveland that are native American and they hate it also. It’s embarrassing for the region. It’s embarrassing for humanity. I could forgive Cleveland for this logo if it was 1929, but it’s 2013 for Christ’s sake — mocking victims of genocide just isn’t cool anymore. Somehow …

I’m a fan of Harvey Pekar, I really am. I’ve read at least a half dozen of his books. I love American Splendor, really anything with Paul Giamatti in it, for that matter.

Harvey Pekar is kind of a legend in Cleveland, especially in literary circles. I don’t know exactly how many people have actually read his graphic novels. The library recently honored his life by releasing a special Harvey Pekar library card. I know some people who turned theirs in so they could get a Harvey Pekar one.

In 2012, Grand Rapids, Michigan and Asheville, North Carolina tied in a nationwide vote as Beer City, USA. The Grand Rapids consolidated metropolitan area has no less than 19 craft breweries dotting its scenic West Michigan landscape and at least one more set to open soon.  According to experiencegr.com these include:
·         B.O.B.’s Brewery
·         Brewery Vivant
·         Founders Brewing Co.
·         Harmony Brewing Co.
·         The Hideout Brewing Co.
·         HopCat
·         Grand  Rapids Brewing Co.
·         Jaden James Brewery
·         Michigan Beer Cellar (Sparta)
·         The Mitten Brewing Co.
·         New Holland Brewing Co. (Holland)
·         Old Boys’ Brewhouse (Spring Lake)
·         …

I moved to Minneapolis from a college town in Iowa two and a half years ago. I was surprised to find that it was a lot like where I used to live, only there was more of it: more roads, more cars, more buildings. The more I found out about the history of the places I traversed on a regular basis, the greater my dissatisfaction with how they had changed.

I may not be old enough to remember a time when Minneapolis was any different, but I still feel a visceral sense of regret when I take stock of the city today. I found the most cathartic way to deal with my resentment of the recent past was to turn a withering photographic eye on the landscapes that came out of it.

I love this peaceful video of the Lake Erie shoreline in winter by Matthew Hashiguchi.

 
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The European cultural channel ARTE recently zoomed in on the city of Pittsburgh as part of a look at a sort of everyman’s America in the days leading up to the 2012 presidential election. You should check out the whole project here. It was inspired by the work of photojournalist W.E. Smith. In the series, modern Pittsburgh is contrasted with Smith’s iconic photos from Pittsburgh’s heyday as a steel boom town.
This is just one video that shows how the city has transformed, examining the city’s northside Mexican War Streets neighborhood …

One of my favorite events in Cleveland every year is the Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, parade in the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood (my neighborhood). This event is hosted by Cleveland Public Theater. Every year, city residents march down Detroit Avenue in Mexican-style macabre costumes.
I caught the tail end of the parade this year and wanted to share.

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According to the report “100 Leading Locations for 2012” by Area Development Online, 34 metropolitan areas of the Rust Belt made the Top 100, including the pre-eminent architectural showplace of Columbus, Indiana which was ranked number one.
Below is a list of those Rust Belt metropolitan areas that made the Top 100 in 2012. Congratulations to each of them, especially Columbus, Indiana.
1. Columbus, Indiana
9. Morgantown, West Virginia
12. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
16. Dubuque, Iowa
17. State College, Pennsylvania
20. Trenton-Ewing, New Jersey
24. Holland-Grand Haven, Michigan
29. Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa
30. Ames, Iowa
33. Baltimore, Maryland
34. Williamsport, Pennsylvania
37. Sandusky, Ohio
38. Ann Arbor, …