There was no way I could pick a winner - too many great resolutions and intentions for next year. So the Sawyers did :) Congrats, Kate - you win. Enjoy your evening, it's going to be amazing! Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts. Have a very healthy and happy New Year. Cheers!

In the upcoming year, I intend to release myself from my unfulfilling job and attend graduate school to get a Ph.D in a field that will actually inspire and excite me. I've already submitted the applications, and am eagerly awaiting acceptance letters.
Also, I resolve to drink more Vietnamese coffee.

I resolve to progressively habituate my cat to wearing 1920's era gangster hats. Throughout 2010, I look forward to giving him various gangster nicknames or derivatives thereof (e.g., Furryface Nelson; Kitty Boy Floyd).

My new years resolution is to improve and contribute in a more meaningful way to our community. This includes volunteering more, joining new civic organizations and supporting more locally owned businesses (including restaurants, of course).

I want our community of greater Cleveland to continue to be an attractive and dynamic place to live and work so my daughter can experience all the wonderful amenities that we experienced during our youth.

Mine is to learn to relax a little more

To start with I really like the saying, "life is what happens when you were making plans". That being said my wife and I plan on continuing to be well rounded individuals but a little less well rounded around the waist. We plan on remaining regulars at our favorite restarants, just maybe a little less regular. We plan to increase the size of our garden and the amount of rain barrels to water it. And we plan to continue buying more of what we eat from local farmers and sources. And lastly we plan to find time to entertain at home more often. Knowing Jon and Amelia and much of their staff, we know whoever wins this contest is in for a Great Night of Celebration.

The older I get the more I realize that life has a mind of it's own; each moment a lesson in letting go and learning to become less rigid and more flexible. As I wade through what is currently 'my life' - the one in which I would have NEVER picked in a million years, had I been given the choice, I can only strive to go with the flow. To be like mercury. To bend and not break.

All that being said, if I have any goal or resolution for the next year, or the next phase of my life, or what ever come what may, is to become more adaptable to what is happening. As I have learned, fighting the inevitable only makes me tired and stressed. Me being tired and stressed makes me no good for the people I am responsible for!

I have been going through some very difficult fertility treatment for the past 8 months with no luck. My goal for 2010 is to finally get pregnant. The physical and emotional hardships have been almost unbearable...and that doesn't even compare to the financial burden. I vow in 2010 to excersice every day, take my vitamins and try my best to stay positive. A fabulous night out would be a great way to relax with my husband and just enjoy eachother.

In 2010 I hope to add chickens to our urban garden. I also plan to bike more and hopefully transition our daughter from trailer to tow-behind to facilitate more biking.

The thing I am most looking forward to in 2010 is the birth of my first child. My wife and I are expecting a baby girl on or around February 2nd. A dinner like this on NYE would be a great celebration for us as I'm relatively certian it would be one of our last chances for a nice dinner out for quite a while. In the new year I resolve to become a better gardener and cook and let the two hobbies best influenece each other.

God is good, and life is hard. The more you work towards your goals, the greater you are living your life. Congrats on all that you have done thus far, but don't stop now. Don't ever stop.

Two years ago, I started biking to work in the summers, both for the health benefits and for the green impact of not driving from Cleveland Heights to downtown Cleveland. In 2010, I hope to start my biking earlier -- in May, if not April -- and continue through at least the second month of October. I also want to increase my weekly distance to at least 115 miles from a current 80, and participate in at least two century rides. And I think it's all doable!

I am looking forward to the Cleveland Half Marathon. Never having ran in a race longer than 5 miles, I am excited to learn how far I can push myself.

This year I am finally getting back into real shape. Really. No more excuses. It's gonna happen.

My new year's resolution is to become a better and healthier cook. I stopped eating meat about six months ago and what to make for dinner has become a bit of a challenge now. It's important to me to not give up on this for convenience or lack of knowledge.

I've been debating between The Greenhouse Tavern and Lolita for dinner on NYE. I definitely will not be cooking on that night!

Mine is to spend smarter and buy more local.

My new years resolution is to increase the portion of local food I consume. As a participant in a community garden here, I have discovered the wonder but am running out of space to grow enough food! I think the answer might be a share program where I get a share of a farm's production each week. This goals helps improve my overall diet and health as well as contributing to the local economy and decreasing my carbon burden to the environment. (And it would be fun to be "forced" to try creating some new dishes with the assorted contents of each week's share!)

Happy New Year!!!

My new year's resolution is to update my passport and visit the east side of town more often. There are so many restaurants that I've never tried because the other side of the Cuyahoga may as well be China. Those crazy roundabouts and circles and culture equally confuse me.

In 2010 I resolve to run in a 5k race, actually run. My boyfriend is a runner and races competitively. Since being with him I have become more active, started eating better and had more Cleveland adventures than I can count. I moved here one year ago and love it, but I am also looking forward to reconnecting with my family. My mother had some health issues and I wasn't able to see/talk to her much during the first part of 2009. I can't wait to bring my parents up here so that they may understand why I love it here.

I'm not one for resolutions either but I do love goal setting. I've set a big one for 2010... 45 minutes of heart healthy excercise every day for 365 days. I'm an active person - have run marathons, do bike tours, etc. but I am all or nothing. SO - for 2010 I will be putting my priority first for at least 45 minutes a day. I will blog the journey at http://45for365.blogspot.com/ and review Cleveland fitness options weekly. I can only hope I can inspire Clevelanders to get active as you have to eat local. Happy Holidays!

Mara: Iron Fresh was fun, thank you. Yes - that would make for a good post, I just don't have time to compile all the great places offering special NYE dinners. A few that shared menus that sound amazing include: GHT, of course, Fahrenheit, Crop, Michaelangelo's. As for gift cards, you can get one at any restaurant. When I give gift cards to restaurants, I tend to get them for restaurants/areas that I know the recipient may not normally go. For example, I've often bought at Fahrenheit or Lolita then will share my fav stores in the area or encourage them to eat during the art walk. I also do the same for L'Albatros because it's amazing to me just how many Clevelanders still aren't familiar with Univ Circle. Hope that helps!

Michelle,

Good luck on Iron Fresh!! Awesome concept!! know and area (great restaurants) with holiday gift certificates and or Christmas/New Year's Eating Events? For instance Greenhouse is having a NYE but do you know of others? In need for a gift to a foodie, so please help (would make a great blog entry, no?)!!

Mara

Nothing but an empty page
Breathing in an open space
Captured by your moment's grace again
"There's so much I left behind
Even more that waits in time
Everything's so undefined
I'm standing on the edge of my fear
And I see it clear

Here's my resolution
I'm letting go
All I need to learn is along this road
And I just want to be the best man I can be
Breathe, it's my resolution"

This coming year, I'm going to gradually make my way to 0 waste. Each month I'll make drastic changes so that by December 31, 2009, I will need not a garbage can! It sounds scary, and I am scared, but I think it can be done and as a matter of fact, I'll prove it can be done!

Not sure if this is a resolution, or more of an adiction: This past year I found how much fun farmers' markets are. At the North Union Farmers' Market on Shaker Square, I found my version of crack--New Creations Farm pork. This stuff is absolutely unbelievable. I've stocked the freezer and am looking forward to cooking some really tasty pig in 2010!!!