1. The River Won’t Catch On Fire
While the mighty Cuyahoga has had this problem with fire in the past, this is no longer a concern. The Cuyahoga is now a beautiful aspect of the Cleve.
2. That’s YOUR Mistake. Not Ours.
Thanks to spoof videos and tons of insulting memes, Cleveland is called the “mistake by the lake.” People who know this town know this couldn’t be further than fact.
Cleveland is a uniquely city with an awesome culture and it just keeps getting better and better.
3. Cleveland Likes LeBron Now
Cleveland has a complicated relationship with basketball star LeBron James. First they worshipped him as a hometown hero. Then he up and went to Miami and they hated him.
…But now he’s back to keep playing for the Cavs, a transition many Clevelanders welcomed with open arms. Welcome back, Lebron. Don’t go messing with Cleveland again.
4. There’s This Thing Called The Lake Effect
Thanks to Cleveland’s proximity on the banks of Lake Erie, the city falls victim to the “lake effect” during the colder months of the year. This results in tons of snow being dumped on the city to compliment the already frigid temperatures.
5. Do You Like Rock N’ Roll? You Can Thank Us For That.
When people are talking about music, they rarely mention Cleveland. However, this city became the birthplace of Rock n’ Roll after a radio personality coined the phrase and hosted the first rock concert.
Yep, that’s why Cleveland is also home to the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
6. Corned Beef Doesn’t Have Corn In It
A popular dish around the city, the name “corned beef” can be a bit misleading to some. The word “corn” refers to the salt corns used to cure the meat, and Slyman’s serves up some of the best.
7. The Browns Are Cursed
At this point, Browns fans know not to expect much from their favorite team. Ever since 1964, the team has been plagued with tons of seasons ending poorly.
Recently, their search for a dominant quarterback seems to be one of their most prevalent problems. Perhaps Johnny Football will bring about a new era for the team.
8. But Everyone Loves Them Anyways
What’s a few rough decades? The Browns fan base is still going strong. In fact, the Browns Backers are the largest fan organization in the country. No matter what happens to their favorite team, Clevelanders won’t stop loving the Browns.
9. Eating A Polish Boy Isn’t An Act Of Cannibalism
A sausage sandwich that’s really only found in Cleveland, a Polish Boy consists of a kielbasa on a bun that’s covered in fries, barbecue sauce, and slaw.
10. Cleveland Is A Foodie Town
Nationwide food conversations always seem to forget Cleveland. With a huge revival in the local cuisine, this city is a foodie’s paradise. There are tons of awesome restaurants including celebrity chef Michael Symon’s Lola Bistro.
11. Buckeyes Still Reign King In Cleveland
Throughout the state of Ohio, people bleed scarlet and gray. Cleveland is no exception. Come a Buckeyes game day, you won’t find a stronger level of support unless you’re in Columbus watching the game live.
12. Michigan Still Sucks (Duh)
Something that naturally comes with Cleveland’s love for Ohio State is the hatred of Michigan football. If an out-of-towner is a Wolverines fan, it’s probably best they don’t wear their colors on a game day.
13. The “Terrible Towel” Should Be Taken Literally
Cleveland also hates the Pittsburgh Steelers, stemming from a long time bitter rivalry that the Browns have had with this team.
And it SURE didn’t help when Ben Roethlisberger took over as the Pittsburgh quarterback after leaving his alma mater, Miami of Ohio.
14. Don’t Insult Cleveland As An Out-Of-Towner
Cleveland jokes are plentiful, even among local residents. But if an out-of-towner is in for a visit, insulting Cleveland is absolutely off the table. While Clevelanders might poke fun at their city, they still love it and are always willing to defend their home turf.
15. Don’t Go To The Store, Go To The Market
If you want the best, freshest food in Cleveland, head to the West Side Market. It’s a great representation of the Cleveland culture, with tons of local tons of vendors bringing it to life.
16. If You’re On A Quest For The Most Perfect Grilled Cheese, Look No Further
Without a doubt, Cleveland’s Melt serves up the finest grilled cheese sandwiches in the country. They’re so good that people are even willing to tattoo themselves with the logo for a 25% discount on sandwiches for life.
17. A Brat Is Not a Hot Dog
While both are tubes of meat and often served up on a bun, do not mistake the much inferior hot dog for the glorious bratwurst. A popular dish in this region, brats are much larger, made with better meat, and have a ton more flavor.
18. Cleveland Can Get Its Classy On
The Cleveland Playhouse Square attracts over 1,000,000 visitors a year as the 2nd largest theater complex in the country. While it may surprise some out-of-towners, Cleveland is actually one of the best places in the country to see a show.
19. Sometimes It Smells Like Dead Fish Sometimes
While Lake Erie can provide some beautiful views and great recreation, it does have its side effects. Occasionally, the smell of dead fish tends to waft through the Cleveland air. While it may be a bit off-putting to some out-of-towners, to Cleveland, it smells like home.
20. There’s This Sport Called Bocce
Bocce ball is the local favorite when it comes to social sports in Cleveland. Put simply, it’s a game in which weighted balls are tossed onto a court in the direction of other balls. Where they land in relation to a certain ball, the jack, determines who wins each round.
21. Cleveland Is A Secret Beach Town
Out-of-towners don’t typically think of Cleveland as a beach town, so they’ll find it surprising that there are some beaches in the area that are actually pretty nice. They’re the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer day.
22. There’s No Need To Fear The Public Transportation Here
Known as “the Rapid” by locals, Cleveland’s public transportation system was ranked best in the nation in 2007 and still is among the finest in the country.
23. Opening Day Tends To Shut Down The City
When someone from Cleveland isn’t cheering for the Browns, they’ll probably be rocking some Indians gear. The Cleveland Indians major league baseball team has huge local following. If there’s a big game on, don’t expect much to get done in this city.
24. “The Jake” Isn’t Some Sandwich Named After A Famous Person
In 2008, the name of the Cleveland Indians baseball stadium got changed from “The Jake” to Progressive Field. Despite this change, many diehard fans refuse to use its official name, “the Jake” just sounds way cooler.
25. Here, You Call It Pop
In the national debate regarding what soft drinks should be called, Cleveland goes with “pop” all the way. It’s easy to spot an out-of-towner if they order a “coke” or “soda” with their dinner.
26. Cleveland’s Christmas Beer Is Better Than Yours
If there’s one thing Cleveland can accurately claim to do better than any other city in the world, it’s make Christmas ale. Annually, Great Lakes Brewing Company comes out with a Christmas spiced brew and it flies off the shelves as Cleveland beer-lovers simply can’t get enough.
27. A Cornhole Isn’t Somewhere You “Shove It” In Cleveland
Don’t be insulted if someone wants to place a round of cornhole. It’s just another social game in these parts. It’s often seen at tailgates and referred to as “bags” in other places around the country.
The game consists of tossing bags filled with corn onto a board hoping they’ll fall through a hole in the center.
28. The Holy War Here Doesn’t Have Much To Do With Religion
While the term “Holy War” sounds as if some sort of ancient crusade is about to happen, in Cleveland it’s all fun and games.
Annually, there’s a high school football game between two bitter rivals, St. Ignatius and St. Edward, determining who has bragging rights for the rest of the year.
29. St. Patrick’s Day Is A Big, BIG Deal Here
Come St. Patrick’s Day each year, Cleveland shuts down for the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Ohio. The parade alone features around 15,000 participants with around 500,000 spectators flooding the streets.
30. Every Year, There’s A Huge Feast
It’s called the Feast of the Assumption and it takes place in Little Italy. While this event has a religious background, it seems to be more about delicious food and celebration over 4 days.
31. There’s A Reason Certain Spots In Cleveland Look Familiar
Cleveland is no stranger to Hollywood. Movies like the Avengers, Spider-Man 3, and Captain America all had scenes shot in the area. One of the more recognizable locations was the Avengers scene at under the Detroit-Superior (Veterans Memorial) Bridge.
32. Your Favorite Christmas Movie Was Also Filmed Here
The very popular holiday movie, A Christmas Story, was also filmed in Cleveland. Out-of-towners are likely to ask to see Ralphie’s house, and yes, it can be toured.
33. Clevelanders Are Full Of Ohio Pride
Clevelanders are proud to be from the Buckeye State. Everywhere they go, they’ll still always miss certain parts of their home, knowing they’re from the best of the 3 C’s.
34. Cleveland Can’t Pick A Nickname
Throughout the years, Cleveland has amassed a long list of nicknames including the Forest City, C-Town, the Cleve, Sixth City, North Coast, Mistake on the Lake, Comeback City, the Plum City, and the Rock and Roll Capital of the World.
Regardless of what someone is calling Cleveland, every local knows that they’re referring to the awesome city they call home.
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Cleveland? Tell us in the comments below! 
