Every morning I drive across the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge. My view of our handful of tall buildings; remnants of the industrial age; the funky little Cuyahoga River; and the bridges that link the east and west sides of town reminds me how much I love Cleveland. It’s not glitzy, glamorous, or shiny. It’s rust, grey days, and tough skin. It’s home. And it’s beautiful.

- From Friday’s post, Skinny Bits 10.28.11

In 2008, a newly unemployed SBG found herself with three months severance pay and nothing to do but reconsider the direction of her life. Thanks to the good folks at the Akron General Partial Hospitalization program (or as I liked to call it: Day Camp for the Mentally Ill), I was also in the midst of recovery from a severe depressive episode that had me viewing the world through new, optimistic eyes. Looking to find my purpose and pass the days productively, I came up with a pet project: Polished Cleveland Magazine. Our mission? To show the city’s young professionals and the world at large that there was more to Cleveland than tacky World Star Hip Hop videos and poor sports history.

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