WhyCLE Reason #29: The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo! To celebrate the new elephants exhibit, a duck tape elephant sculpture welcomes guests at the entrance.

At the beginning of May, I set off on CLEGal’s WhyCLE? Challenge to identify one positive thing I love about Cleveland every day.

Everyone who participated could share their reasons any way they wanted so I decided to tweet my daily reason and then write a recap each week on Clue Into CLE.

How did the WhyCLE Challenge go for me? Well, you can read the recaps of reasons 1-20 here:

• WhyCLE Reasons 1-6
• WhyCLE Reasons 7-13
• WhyCLE Reasons 14-20

And here are reasons 21-31 of why I love Cleveland taken from the last week’s Twitter stream:

#WhyCLE Reason 21: @NUFarmersMarket! Loved stopping by Shaker Square yesterday – the Judy’s Oasis hoomus I picked up was delicious.

#WhyCLE Reason 22: Enjoying @e4thst on a sunny day. Heading over to @thegreenhouse for their Rooftop Patio Party. http://ow.ly/57t3T

#WhyCLE Reason 23: Celebrating my 5 yr anniversary at @PRNewswire. Thankful everyday this led to me moving here and being #happyinCLE!

#WhyCLE Reason 24: Getting outdoors and playing kickball tonight w/ @HungryInCLE @MildlyRelevant & @ScottHicken!

#WhyCLE Reason 25: Opportunities to get more involved w/ #clefood scene. Looking forward to mtg w/rest of @NEOFoodTours team later. http://ow.ly/57t7j

#WhyCLE Reason 26: Being able to learn about a city in unique ways such as @engagecsu’s Cleveland Historical 2.0 app http://ow.ly/53VGU

#WhyCLE Reason 27: Daytrips to #CLE’s outer suburbs like Chagrin Falls. Enjoyed seeing the falls w/Scott and his dad. http://t.co/5wIqtpZ

#WhyCLE reason 28: @HappyDogCLE on a Sunday afternoon … or any day of the week! http://ow.ly/57uGN

#WhyCLE Reason 29: Spending day at @clemetzoo – yesterday’s highlights: lemurs, wallabies & of course the elephants! http://ow.ly/i/cg4n

#WhyCLE Reason 30: @Ingenuityfest bridging #CLE’s science & art communities w/events like Temple of Tesla http://ow.ly/56pmO

#WhyCLE Reason 31: Close proximity to Lake Erie’s shores and islands. Kelleys Island was so much fun today! http://ow.ly/56tzv

So now that it’s June 1st, what did I learn from CLEGal’s May challenge? I think it helped me realize that even on a rainy, gloomy day (and there were plenty of those in May if my basement was any indication!), there’s always something to love about Cleveland. Whether it’s a variety of places and events to enjoy or the chance to get involved in the community, boredom is never a problem and it’s easy to find fun or help out.

Although the WhyCLE? Challenge has come to an end, you can discover more reasons to clue into Cleveland on my blog, as well as on WhyCLE and many of the other blogs in the Ohio Blogging Association.

And after reading my reasons for why I love Cleveland, feel free to share your own in the comments section below!

Events at PlayhouseSquare like the Mini Golf Par-Tee - Reason #15 why I love Cleveland.

Only two days left to enter my giveaway for a Coventry Village-inspired change purse. You have until May 23rd at 11:59 pm.

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Time for the 3rd part of May’s WhyCLE Challenge where I’ll be tweeting a daily reason why I love this city.  You can follow those reasons and my other tweets @ADHicken.  I’ll also be recapping these reasons on my blog each weekend.

Reasons 14-20 to love Cleveland taken from this week’s Twitter stream:

#WhyCLE Reason 14: #CLEFit events like #CLEMarathon. Good luck & congrats to the runners today including kids & teachers from @WeRunThisCity

#WhyCLE Reason 15: @playhousesquare’s Mini Golf Par-Tee is Tues! How you can get tix to putt in the Palace: http://ow.ly/4VcfK

#WhyCLE Reason 16: @emergingchefs’ Mardi Gras en Mai menu (http://ow.ly/4Vcnf). Check it out, then buy tix here: http://ow.ly/4VcnH

#WhyCLE Reason 17: @cedarpoint is open for the season! #HappyinCLE to be able to visit thru Oct. http://ow.ly/4Vc3e

#WhyCLE Reason 18: C-Town Chow Down this Sunday in @TremontWest’s Lincoln Park. Foodtrucks make me #happyinCLE! http://ow.ly/4XduH

#WhyCLE Reason 19: @CleWorldAffairs’ Global #CLE Launch & Summit next wk. Help build a more global city: http://ow.ly/4YtyT

#WhyCLE Reason 20: @ClevelandMag’s @SilverSpoonCLE awards on 5/26. An excellent benefit for the Arthritis Foundation: http://ow.ly/4ZkxV

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Want to catch up on previous reasons why I love Cleveland?

WhyCLE Reasons 1-6

WhyCLE Reason 7-13

One of this week's reasons why I love Cleveland: going to an Indians game. Although the Indians didn't win on Wednesday, getting my picture with "Slider" (well, Slider's statue) and hanging out in Progressive made up for it.

As I posted last week, I’m taking the WhyCLE Challenge in May where I’ll be tweeting a daily reason why I love this city.  You can follow those reasons and my other tweets @ADHicken.  I’ll also be recapping these reasons on my blog each weekend.

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Reasons 7-13 to love Cleveland taken straight from this week’s Twitter stream:

#WhyCLE Reason 7:  Cleveland’s comic book history & celebrating @FreeComicBook Day @WestlakePorter http://ow.ly/4O5Kg #FCBD

#WhyCLE Reason 8: More natl coverage for #CLE! @playhousesquare’s work w/@cleveplayhouse @wviz = economic success in arts http://ow.ly/4PHeY

#WhyCLE Reason 9: Events like Chef Jam, where food meets rock at @rock_hall. http://wp.me/pPIgG-Aj #HappyinCLE #clefood

#WhyCLE Reason 10: Tues. in @TremontWest. Tonight eat @ Civilization, Ty Fun & Tremont Scoops &10% benefits Arts in Aug. http://ow.ly/4R21x

#WhyCLE Reason 11: The #Indians! There’s nothing like catching a game after work to make the day that much better. #GoTribe! [Another picture from Wednesday’s game: http://tumblr.com/xu12hda3ec]

#WhyCLE Reason 12: Bowling at Mahall’s in #Lakewood where I can score games by hand. Love this place! http://ow.ly/4SU5k #happyinCLE

#WhyCLE Reason 13: Another excellent exhibit to check out at #CLE’s @rock_hall. Women Who Rock opens today: http://ow.ly/4TLnk

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Want to catch up on previous reasons why I love Cleveland?

• WhyCLE Reasons 1-6

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Why do you love Cleveland?

I enjoy a good challenge and I love Cleveland, so signing up for fellow blogger CLEGal’s WhyCLE? Challenge was a no brainer!

Inspired by Pretty in Orange’s May challenge to identify one thing that you love about your body every day, CLEGal’s challenge is to identify one positive thing you love about Cleveland every day. They can be big things, small things, personal reasons, or shared reasons.  The idea is to get you thinking about why you’re here and to promote CLE love.

Because I’m all about sharing ways to clue into Cleveland, I’ll be taking part in The WhyCLE? Challenge on Twitter (@ADHicken) as well as on my blog.

Each day I’ll tweet my daily reason to love Cleveland; then at the end of the week, you’ll get a recap on Clue Into Cleveland.

Since I need to catch up on the first 6 days of May, here are 6 reasons I love Cleveland:

1) We’re Believeland:  Even when we’ve been pushed down (whether it’s a less than ideal sports season, a tough economy or a nasty snow storm), we brush ourselves off, toughen up and look for creative ways to move forward.

2) There’s a lot to do … really: I’m surprised when I hear people say there’s nothing to do in Cleveland. From food to sports to museums and art, I’m never at a loss. I hope by sharing how I’ve clued into Cleveland, others will discover they can do the same.

3) Opportunities to engage: Cleveland’s an active city and there are plenty of ways you can involved. Volunteer at the Cleveland Foodbank or join a group like PlayhouseSquare Partners to open up opportunities not just to contribute to improving Cleveland, but to have fun while doing it.

4) Cost of living: When I first contemplated moving to Cleveland, the cost of living was definitely a factor. We were floored when parking for a night on the town didn’t equal what we spent on dinner. It’s allowed me to live where I want and do things I wouldn’t be able to in other cities.

5) Collaboration not competition: One example of Cleveland building community by collaborating instead of competing can be seen in the local food industry. With groups like Cleveland Independents and events like NEO Food Tours, Emerging Chefs, and C-Town Chow Down, many restaurants in the city have realized that it’s more sustainable to partner and grow together, instead of cutting others out.

6) Ohio’s blogger community:  I constantly find inspiration from the “blends” (blogger-friends) I’ve met in the Ohio Blogging Association. They help me figure out how I can grow as a blogger, and challenges like CLEgal’s provide me with new ways to clue into Cleveland.

I’m looking forward to sharing my daily reasons for why I love Cleveland. Follow me @ADHicken and read my weekly recap on Clue Into Cleveland.

Want to join in the fun? Sign up for CLEGal’s challenge on her blog WhyCLE.