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Rust Belt Chic: The Cleveland Anthology
TO ORDER GO TO: http://rustbeltchic.bigcartel.com Rust Belt Chic: The Cleveland Anthology, edited by Richey Piiparinen and Anne Trubek, provides an inside-out snapshot of the city, containing contributions by established authors such as Connie Schultz, Michael Ruhlman and David Giffels as well as 47 others. Rust Belt Chic tells stories about failure (mills closing), conflict (Pekar's constant grousing), growth (a thriving Iraqi immigrant community) and renewal (moving away only to, finally, return home). Put together, these stories create a new narrative about Cleveland that incorporates but deepens and widens the familiar tropes of manufacturing, stadiums and comebacks.
- GenresNonfictionEssaysPoetry
220 pages, Paperback
First published August 21, 2012
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260 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 29, 2016
Every Clevelander has heard the jokes and the insults, ad nauseum. Yes, we know the river caught on fire. Seven times. Yes, we know the rest of the world calls us "the mistake on the lake". Yes, we know the Browns suck.
But only Clevelanders know that the Grog Shop is the best bar to hear up-and-coming rock bands. Only Clevelanders know how to actually get to Sokolowski's University Inn, the best Polish-American restaurant in the country. Only Clevelanders know that to find the best pierogis, one must go to St. Josaphat's Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral. Only Clevelanders know that the Cedar-Lee Theatre is still the best place to see independent and art-house films, as well as midnight showings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" every Saturday night.
If Cleveland was truly as bad as everyone seems to think, I doubt we would have the recognition for having the Cleveland Clinic, one of the premier hospital systems in the world. We wouldn't have the Cuyahoga County Public Library System, rated the best library system in the entire country. We wouldn't have the Metro Parks, rated one of the best park systems in the country. We also wouldn't have the Cavs. World champions!
Oh yeah, and we wouldn't be the birthplace of Superman.
But, whatever. Clevelanders have developed a pretty thick skin over the decades. Which is why our motto is "Cleveland: you've got to be tough".
Recently (within the past 20 years or so), there has been a movement that extolls and reveres the virtues of the Midwest, specifically the area commonly referred to as the Rust Belt. This area is kind of an abstract boundary that encompasses cities like Detroit, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Youngstown, Akron, and all points in between. It also probably extends as far south as Wheeling and east to Pittsburgh. You get the idea, though.
The movement is called Rust Belt Chic, and like all great movements, it started out as an insult.
Some pretty smart people usurped the name and created an on-line magazine called the Belt, a kind of literary/art & politics/regional travelogue/fan club for cities like Cleveland and Detroit, cities that routinely and unabashedly get spit on and kicked by the bigger, more popular cities.
This on-line magazine has published a slew of great anthologies of essays, stories, and poems for each of the cities in its coverage area.
"The Cleveland Anthology" is an honest, no-holds-barred, sometimes unflattering, but always fair evaluation of nearly every aspect of the city, from its dying steel industry, to its music scene, to its racial and ethnic diversity (and divides), to its awesome food, to its crazy history, to its uncertain future in a global economy.
Editors Richey Piiparinen and Anne Trubek have compiled an excellent group of writers. The quality of the essays range from decent to superb, but what stands out is that not a single essay is one that reads like a travel brochure, highlighting only the good things about the city. That shit is boring.
Clevelanders take pride in their city, sure, but they aren't blind to the vast problems that our city faces in terms of the economy, racism, and violence. Class divides have been---and probably always will be---a problem in this city. Our infrastructure---like it is everywhere in this country---is falling apart. And we still have the shittiest football team in the world.
Despite all that, though, Cleveland is a great city. It may not be pretty or even healthy. It may stink some days, and it may be cold for three-fourths of the year, but I love it.
But only Clevelanders know that the Grog Shop is the best bar to hear up-and-coming rock bands. Only Clevelanders know how to actually get to Sokolowski's University Inn, the best Polish-American restaurant in the country. Only Clevelanders know that to find the best pierogis, one must go to St. Josaphat's Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral. Only Clevelanders know that the Cedar-Lee Theatre is still the best place to see independent and art-house films, as well as midnight showings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" every Saturday night.
If Cleveland was truly as bad as everyone seems to think, I doubt we would have the recognition for having the Cleveland Clinic, one of the premier hospital systems in the world. We wouldn't have the Cuyahoga County Public Library System, rated the best library system in the entire country. We wouldn't have the Metro Parks, rated one of the best park systems in the country. We also wouldn't have the Cavs. World champions!
Oh yeah, and we wouldn't be the birthplace of Superman.
But, whatever. Clevelanders have developed a pretty thick skin over the decades. Which is why our motto is "Cleveland: you've got to be tough".
Recently (within the past 20 years or so), there has been a movement that extolls and reveres the virtues of the Midwest, specifically the area commonly referred to as the Rust Belt. This area is kind of an abstract boundary that encompasses cities like Detroit, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Youngstown, Akron, and all points in between. It also probably extends as far south as Wheeling and east to Pittsburgh. You get the idea, though.
The movement is called Rust Belt Chic, and like all great movements, it started out as an insult.
Some pretty smart people usurped the name and created an on-line magazine called the Belt, a kind of literary/art & politics/regional travelogue/fan club for cities like Cleveland and Detroit, cities that routinely and unabashedly get spit on and kicked by the bigger, more popular cities.
This on-line magazine has published a slew of great anthologies of essays, stories, and poems for each of the cities in its coverage area.
"The Cleveland Anthology" is an honest, no-holds-barred, sometimes unflattering, but always fair evaluation of nearly every aspect of the city, from its dying steel industry, to its music scene, to its racial and ethnic diversity (and divides), to its awesome food, to its crazy history, to its uncertain future in a global economy.
Editors Richey Piiparinen and Anne Trubek have compiled an excellent group of writers. The quality of the essays range from decent to superb, but what stands out is that not a single essay is one that reads like a travel brochure, highlighting only the good things about the city. That shit is boring.
Clevelanders take pride in their city, sure, but they aren't blind to the vast problems that our city faces in terms of the economy, racism, and violence. Class divides have been---and probably always will be---a problem in this city. Our infrastructure---like it is everywhere in this country---is falling apart. And we still have the shittiest football team in the world.
Despite all that, though, Cleveland is a great city. It may not be pretty or even healthy. It may stink some days, and it may be cold for three-fourths of the year, but I love it.
June 3, 2013
The quality of essays is varied and I found myself vacillating between agreement and annoyance, but for me the overall effect of Rust Belt Chic was one of quiet endearment. I didn't find myself getting as much pleasure out of reading the collected essays as I did in placing them in conversation with my own experiences and memories, but that seemed in line with the collection's efforts to draw an emotional geography of Cleveland and its suburbs.
September 5, 2018
The essays are varied in skill and tone. Overall I found myself laughing, learning, and putting down the book between essays to savor the experience. I even skimmed back through towards the end to refresh myself on my favorites. Worth taking as a whole, not just bite sized. No one will agree with every stance or experience, and that is preciously the point. That's what makes us the Rust Belt: we're the ones who stayed, and you have to take us as a whole to live here.
May 4, 2022
An enjoyable and interesting collection of essays (and one poem) focusing on Cleveland. As with any anthology, some are better than others, but I would say all of them are worthwhile.
April 24, 2014
This anthology of all that is Cleveland, Ohio is a wonderfully curated read through contemporary journalism. The writers of these essays have all lived in Cleveland at one time or another and many still reside within her metropolitan borders. I know it is hard to conceive that Cleveland was ever a booming metropolis. After all it could never be New York or Los Angelos, but once upon a time industry thrived in this snowy city. The various writers tell about the history and culture that awaits anyone venturing into this small mid-western city. Apparently there is a lot of beer here. Drinking aside, Cleveland, like so many other cities in the once prosperous rust belt of industry has been dying a slow death. Children do not stay as jobs are often found elsewhere and so crime rises. To compare this to a giant city such as New York once has to realize that back in the 1970's New York was also a crime-ridden dying city. Whenever large employers disappear people get lost, whether physically or mentally. A city without jobs is a city without hope. Now in this anthology many ideas are brought to the surface that are not fully explored. There has been some resurgence in Cleveland. Artists have come and stayed, music appears to be vibrant. Many homes and factories are vacant, though and that is distressing.
The biggest issue that I would like to explore is the shopping district. As shopping centers took over in the suburbs and proliferated they were given additional tax breaks that hurt the city's school system. This seems to be true all over the United States. Property Taxes pay for schools and libraries, police forces, parks and other such items that people enjoy. If the commercial buildings are not paying taxes how do the schools get their money? Is this the problem in our country with education? Have we sold ourselves out for cheap goods at the expense are our future? This idea is mentioned in one of the essays. It is not fully explored, but it may be something I would be interested to read more about.
Another interesting idea that cannot be fully explored in the scope of this book is the introduction of the Medical Mall which appears to be built with the same bribes as shopping malls. The medical centers do not make us any healthier and the buildings are just as ugly, but they are not stores that look like every other store. Okay, but I am not convinced that I need to live that close to a hospital to be healthy. These two ideas are two of many that effect every town and city today. The themes of loss and regentrification should resonate with every resident in the United States. After all I am from New Jersey and could see many similarities between towns I have known and Cleveland and yet New Jersey is a coastal state.
The biggest issue that I would like to explore is the shopping district. As shopping centers took over in the suburbs and proliferated they were given additional tax breaks that hurt the city's school system. This seems to be true all over the United States. Property Taxes pay for schools and libraries, police forces, parks and other such items that people enjoy. If the commercial buildings are not paying taxes how do the schools get their money? Is this the problem in our country with education? Have we sold ourselves out for cheap goods at the expense are our future? This idea is mentioned in one of the essays. It is not fully explored, but it may be something I would be interested to read more about.
Another interesting idea that cannot be fully explored in the scope of this book is the introduction of the Medical Mall which appears to be built with the same bribes as shopping malls. The medical centers do not make us any healthier and the buildings are just as ugly, but they are not stores that look like every other store. Okay, but I am not convinced that I need to live that close to a hospital to be healthy. These two ideas are two of many that effect every town and city today. The themes of loss and regentrification should resonate with every resident in the United States. After all I am from New Jersey and could see many similarities between towns I have known and Cleveland and yet New Jersey is a coastal state.
October 18, 2012
RUST BELT CHIC: The Cleveland Anthology, is a collection of thirty four essays, seven photographs, two poems, and a comic book segment conceptualized, compiled and published within three months in the summer of 2012. The e-book has about a dozen additional chapters. At the end are brief biographies of the contributors.
After hearing a lot of talk about the revitalization of Cleveland, the editors, Richey Piiparinen and Anne Trubek, decided to let people who live or lived in Cleveland (or, in a few cases, other rust belt cities) tell the story rather than having it told by outsiders.
In many ways, the book is a love story about the relationship between people and the city where they were born and/or live. One chapter talks about some of the ethnic groups (Iraq, Italian, Black) who live in Cleveland. Another explains how the shape of the land influenced the way the city developed and how politicians helped or hindered the city. There is a chapter about growing up in Cleveland or in a nearby town and what Cleveland meant to the writer. Nostalgia plays a big role here; people cherish their memories. There are essays by some writers who talk about discrimination and feeling like an outsider. There are others by people who left and came back because they felt they were missing something very important that wasn’t available anywhere else. People who moved here from other parts of the countries write about why they came and why they stayed. There are chapters about music, food, and art. While Rock and Roll is mentioned a lot, the Cleveland Orchestra is not.
Among the contributors are politicians, journalists, and professors. Jane Scott, the well-known rock and roll reporter and Harvey Pekar are subjects of essays.
This book can relate to similar cities. One essay is actually about Pittsburgh.
As someone who was born in Cleveland and has lived in the city or suburbs for most of my life, I remembered and identified with a lot of the information. But I also learned a lot that I didn’t know.
I received this book as a First Reads from Goodreads.
After hearing a lot of talk about the revitalization of Cleveland, the editors, Richey Piiparinen and Anne Trubek, decided to let people who live or lived in Cleveland (or, in a few cases, other rust belt cities) tell the story rather than having it told by outsiders.
In many ways, the book is a love story about the relationship between people and the city where they were born and/or live. One chapter talks about some of the ethnic groups (Iraq, Italian, Black) who live in Cleveland. Another explains how the shape of the land influenced the way the city developed and how politicians helped or hindered the city. There is a chapter about growing up in Cleveland or in a nearby town and what Cleveland meant to the writer. Nostalgia plays a big role here; people cherish their memories. There are essays by some writers who talk about discrimination and feeling like an outsider. There are others by people who left and came back because they felt they were missing something very important that wasn’t available anywhere else. People who moved here from other parts of the countries write about why they came and why they stayed. There are chapters about music, food, and art. While Rock and Roll is mentioned a lot, the Cleveland Orchestra is not.
Among the contributors are politicians, journalists, and professors. Jane Scott, the well-known rock and roll reporter and Harvey Pekar are subjects of essays.
This book can relate to similar cities. One essay is actually about Pittsburgh.
As someone who was born in Cleveland and has lived in the city or suburbs for most of my life, I remembered and identified with a lot of the information. But I also learned a lot that I didn’t know.
I received this book as a First Reads from Goodreads.
October 17, 2012
First, I am among the 35 contributors to this book, with an essay, "Remembering Mr. Stress, Live at the Euclid Tavern." Stress, a talented singer, bandleader, and harmonica player, was a venerable bluesman whom I followed avidly for many years when I lived in Cleveland. While my praise of this book could be seen as log-rolling for it, I honestly found it to be a terrific book, lending all sorts of new and useful perspectives on urban life. Before receiving my contributor copy, I had not read any of the other essays and so opened without preconceptions. Having now read every piece, I want to say that co-editors Piiparinen and Trubek did a a great job curating this book and editing it. It really carries an amazingly coherent punch from one piece to the next. I'm really proud to be part of the book.
I urge you to buy a copy of Rust Belt Chic. Meantime, you can read my essay on Mr. Stress at this link: http://bit.ly/QNl4Yn
I urge you to buy a copy of Rust Belt Chic. Meantime, you can read my essay on Mr. Stress at this link: http://bit.ly/QNl4Yn
August 5, 2013
This book is a compilation of stories from people who actually live here or did at one time. I grew up here and moved back with trepidation and stayed reluctantly. While I lived other places, I waxed wistful for the smoke streaming out of the steel mill chimneys and the roll up your sleeves work ethic of Cleveland. I still admire our industriousness but I admit I stay reluctantly.
Which is why it's easy for me to relate to the smack downs in some of the stories, the truths of what it's really like to live here, as well as the fond memories and positive stories. The city has two sides to her face and it makes me the same way.
There could be an epiphany or two for those who don't live in the supposed rust belt, people who think about how to revitalize their neighborhoods and what shape that should take. Reinvent or authenticate?
Extremely well written and worth reading. I'll tell you one thing: NE Ohio is full of some of the most talented writers you'll ever read.
Which is why it's easy for me to relate to the smack downs in some of the stories, the truths of what it's really like to live here, as well as the fond memories and positive stories. The city has two sides to her face and it makes me the same way.
There could be an epiphany or two for those who don't live in the supposed rust belt, people who think about how to revitalize their neighborhoods and what shape that should take. Reinvent or authenticate?
Extremely well written and worth reading. I'll tell you one thing: NE Ohio is full of some of the most talented writers you'll ever read.
December 25, 2012
I'm not from here (Cleveland) but I have already developed an affinity for it. So have lots of people. In the words of one (african american) author in the book, these people are mostly white, are at least partially monied, and are crazy. This book tells their stories. It's where the plaid fad, the love of PBR, and the obnoxious facial hair came from. (Maybe not the hair). Lots of stories, mostly well-told. Dug it.
February 27, 2013
An amazing collection of stories sharing the true beauty of Cleveland that many outsiders, and to be honest many born and raised Clevelanders, cannot look past the dirt, grime and rust to appreciate. This book will find a home on my coffee table to be shared with anyone and everyone.
February 13, 2013
incredibly uneven set of essays — mostly trending towards the mediocre (at best). weirdly, though, the effect of the whole on my rust-belt brain was compelling and collectively established an interesting narrative about authenticiy, wealth, urbanity and rust.
December 27, 2012
Although I happen to know several of the authors whose work appears in this anthology, I feel like I know them all -- these are my people.
March 25, 2013
Aw, Cleveland.
June 8, 2013
A Must-Read for all Clevelanders!
October 1, 2013
I don't read a lot of short stories, but I enjoyed this.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews