Hi, I'm Kate.
I'm a thirtysomething Ohioan living in Cleveland, OH, which really does rock. (Here are 10 reasons why I love my city, to start.) My husband Mike & I live in the Tremont neighborhood with our cats, Helo & Dora (named for characters from Battlestar & Harry Potter, respectively).
Before I became a Clevelander, I lived in nine places in 10 years, which was once my defining personality characteristic. I spent 2007-2010 & all of 2014 living in my second-favorite city, Washington, D.C. In between, I lived in Red Bank, N.J., where most people didn't sound like Snooki, & Portsmouth, N.H., where most people did sound like actors from The Departed.
I originally started this blog as a means of everyday storytelling. Now, it's where I also share my recommendations, recaps, & adventures around the Forest City & beyond. Thanks so much for reading!
FAQs + Stuff You Didn't Even Ask
"Why did you start blogging?"
I opened this space in summer 2007 (whoa) because I'd just graduated from college & moved to Washington, D.C. In an era slightly pre-social media, I wanted to be able to tell stories to friends & family back at home in an easy, central way.
"How did you name your blog?"
"Escapist" is one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite, now-defunct bands, Brandston, a one-time emo band based out of Canton, OH. I picked the name in 2014; prior to that, this blog was called Suburban Sweetheart. Here's why, & here's how I chose the current name, in case you're insatiably interested.
"Do you have a day job?"
Why, yes, I do! I currently work as the assistant marketing director of a large non-profit based in Manhattan. As I do not live in Manhattan, I work remotely from my home office here in the CLE.
I'm also a freelancer & aspiring future author. I write regularly for Cleveland Magazine, & my essays have appeared on sites like the Washington Post's Soloish, xoJane.com (RIP), HeyAlma.com, and Esquire.com. One of my essays was published in an anthology of Jewish millennials, & another will soon be published in Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy.
"Where should I started reading?"
What, you mean you don't want to just dive right into 1,300+ posts? OK, fine. If you're not sure where to begin, try any of these:
- 10 Reasons I Love Cleveland
- Today is the Day I Wake Up
- Testing the Strong Ones
- You Can Do It, Put Your Back (Brace) Into It
- You Can Always Go Home Again: My LeBron Moment
- Under the Weight of Living
- Sorry I'm Not Sorry: A List of Things I've Apologized for This Week
- Where I'm From: A Tribute to the Buckeye State
- Near-Life Experience
- 50 Things I've Done
