What I Want for Cleveland

People often ask me, “Why Cleveland?”  It seems that there is a strong polarity in people’s thoughts about this city — either they remember that many decades ago its river caught on fire (though, from what I understand, this was not entirely uncommon for industrial cities at the time) and that it’s been in decline for awhile, or they are die-hard Cleveland fans and paint an oh-so-sweet picture of it as a small town with a great work ethic.  I’m not saying that either of those things is totally inaccurate, but I do think an apt picture of present-day Cleveland has yet to be painted.  Perhaps that’s because it’s still morphing into what it will be.

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Métier – A Creative Calling

Métier from Sarah Sloboda on Vimeo.

In 2003, I created my first short film project in New York, in collaboration with some very talented people.  The film is about a young woman writer, and her obsessive dedication to her craft, as it alternates with the beautiful creative world within her craft itself.  As I have embraced myself as a writer again in recent weeks, I thought it was appropriate to share this piece again now.

The Art of Surprise – Transformer Station

When I was a little girl, I would watch Sesame Street, and then play pretend, saying I was from New York. Growing up in the city of Cleveland, I loved everything about cities — the cracks in the sidewalk, the neighborhood trees, the parking lot around the block where I could ride my bike. I fell in love with life in the city, back when I could represent my age on one hand. Cities were my first and deepest love. And, the first time I ever went to New York, I thought I’d never want to be anywhere else ever again.

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Wintering in San Diego

A friend of mine once said, “You know you’ve made it when you start using the word ‘winter,’ as a verb.”  I found this pretty amusing since my parents started wintering in San Diego a few years ago.  My parents have modest means.  So, how are they doing this?

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