RubberBuzz || Akron Unleashed: Our Blimp Filled Skyscape

3.27.2005

Our Blimp Filled Skyscape

Akron is on the verge of a total remarketing of itself with a hip new image to encourage young professionals to stick around and not head to other cities. Being a trend setter, I've ended up with some strong opinions on this topic and they all come down to Akronites learning to think outside of the box they've grown accustomed to. Some people, however, want Akron to strive for mediocrity.

The comment that most tickled my fancy came from a young man transplanted here from Los Angeles. From his vantage point at the downtown nightclub Fuel, Leroy Hughes compared Akron's nightlife to that of L.A.

"This is cool for Akron," he said, "but it's a dive in other metropolitan areas."

Which may be true, but also misses an important point. Obviously Akron is in a different league than Los Angeles. Not so obvious is that's exactly what we should be embracing.

What makes Akron cool is that blimps are part of our skyscape and sauerkraut balls are part of our cuisine and the O'Neils window displays are the kind of insider nostalgia that everyone seems to share. If we're going to become a magnet, the challenge will be to portray that uniqueness without slipping into parody.

David Giffels has totally missed the point. Akron is trying to be young and hip right now. We're hemorrhaging talent to other areas that offer more then blimps and deep fried kraut. Akron isn't L.A., but maybe Akron needs to think a little more like La La Land and a bit less like a second fiddler to Cleveland.

Beacon Journal :: Akron isn't L.A.? Glad you noticed

(joe :: Our Blimp Filled Skyscape)

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