Clevelanders tend to love a lot of the same things. In fact, you can even say we become obsessed. Once something gets into the cultural zeitgeist in Northeast Ohio, it stays there for a long, long time. Even if they’re shitty for 2.5 decades (cough, cough the football team). These 20 things are obsessions for Clevelanders and there’s no debating it.

Great Lakes’ Christmas Ale We know the date each year that Christmas Ale launches, we save kegs after the season is up to have “Christmas in July,” and we wait in lines when Great Lakes first taps the beer. Credit: Scene archives
Mustard Brands If you have a strong opinion on Stadium Mustard vs. Ballpark Mustard, well, you’re a Clevelander. Credit: Scene archives
Debating East Side vs. West Side We’re all Clevelanders, it doesn’t really matter which side is the best. (We know, it’s whatever side you’re from.) Credit: Scene archives
Getting the Most Out of Patio Season There’s truly nothing that Clevelanders get more excited about than when the weather warms up for the first time. Get one 65 degree day in March? Check to see if your neighborhood restaurant’s patio is open.
Celebrities From Cleveland Drew Carey is from Parma, Halle Berry is from Bedford, Monica Potter is from Colinwood, Don King is from Cleveland, Teddy Ginn Jr., is from Glenville, Michael Stanley’s from Rocky River. If there’s a national figure that’s from Cleveland, we’ll point it out every time we see them in the news or on television and probably say where they went to high school or grew up. Credit: The Come Up Show/Flickr
Fish Frys If fall is clambake season, spring is fish fry season. Many bars and restaurants participate, serving up some mean fried Lake Erie cod, and its a huge hit in town. Credit: Courtesy Prosperity Social Club
Tim Misny The legend himself. Credit: Scene archives
Swenson’s Swenson’s may have started out as an Akron thing, but the beloved burger chain has moved into Cleveland in the last decade and the drive-in burgers have been a huge hit across all of Northeast Ohio Credit: Scene archives
Wearing Cleveland T-Shirts The Cleveland t-shirt economy is alive and thriving. Cleveland Clothing Company started it all. Now, there’s also Homage, Where I’m From, Ilthy, Emily Roggenburk, Hometown Apparel, We Bleed Ohio, Only In Clev and many other companies selling Cleveland t-shirts. It’s so much of a thing that even travel writers visiting the city note that everyone who lives here seems to be wearing a Cleveland shirt. Credit: Scene archives
St. Patrick’s Day Doesn’t matter what you are. If you’re from Cleveland, you are a St. Patty’s Day fan Credit: Emanuel Wallace
The Browns Even though the franchise has been the dregs of the NFL for closing in on two and a half decades, it doesn’t change the fact that they’re still the most talked about team in town. Congrat. Credit: Erik Drost/Flickr
Pierogies The Polish potato dumpling is as close as it gets to being the food that most represents Northeast Ohio.
Talking About The Weather It’s really cold, we get it. Or hot, or whatever the fuck. And did you know that if you don’t like the weather all you have to do is wait a day and it’ll change? Credit: Erik Drost/Flickr
High School Football Ignatius-Eds. Brunswick-Strongsville. Chagrin Falls-Aurora. Say those words to any Clevelander and they’ll know you’re referring to the cult following that is Northeast Ohio high school football. Credit: Erik Drost/Flickr
Arguing Whether or Not People From the Suburbs Can Claim Cleveland NOPE. Eh, we guess so. Credit: Erik Drost/Flickr
Talking About What High School You Went To Meet someone new? Guarantee what high school you went to will be brought up in the conversation within the first three minutes. Credit: Warren LeMay/Flickr
Paczki Day In New Orleans, Fat Tuesday means Mardi Gras and drinking, beads and an all out party before Lent begins. In Cleveland, and other parts of the Midwest, we eat paczkis, and we eat a ton of them. These Polish stuffed donuts are divine and if you haven’t had them, you’re certainly missing out.
Clambakes Fall is clambake season. Credit: Scene Archives
Complaining About Parking It’s fine, really, you’ll find a place to park. Or you can take the RTA, or bike, or walk. Stop expecting you’re going to park at the front door of where you’re going. Also, like 20% of downtown is literally parking lots. Credit: Google Maps
Defending Cleveland To Outsiders We can make fun of our city and criticize every single thing wrong with it. But if you’re not from here and make fun of Cleveland? We’ll fight your whole family. Credit: Scene archives