To contact us Click HERE
Whether you do it now or after Cindy Loo Who has eaten all her Who Pudding and gone to bed, find some way to carve 25 minutes out of the holiday whirlwind and watch this:
I love how Sunny Williams floats around the International Space Station--one of our most advanced accomplishments as a people--describing things such as the mechanics of going "number one" and "number two" in space. I love the way the Station is as messy as my office. I love the way her hair is standing straight up like crazy halo and the way she giggles. I love the way this tough brilliant astronaut is dressed like a camp counselor who forgot to put on her sneakers. I love the way she makes me feel welcome inside something I never could have imagined: a tiny Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft.
Most of all, I love the way Sunny delivers that most elusive of gifts at a time we need it the most: a healthy dose of belief in humanity.
Merry, merry.
* * *
~~with special thanks to Clair and her Gram~~
* * *
31 Aralık 2012 Pazartesi
Phone cam round-up: alt Yuletide edition with inflatable lawn ornaments
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Hey CanMan, is that a Santa hat you're wearing or just your regular hat?
Xmas on the Las Vegas strip.
If I were an inflatable lawn ornament mom, I would not let my inflatable lawn ornament kid play with this inflatable lawn ornament kid.
Swirlie ornaments from Tazza Glass.
Frosty the snowman exhibiting alternative behavior.
Yo, Santa! Hold tight onto that one in front. He sure looks wild!
All inflatable lawn ornaments support strict gun control.
My perfect glass stocking courtesy of Yabu & Co. **YAY**
Giant holiday finery inside Steve Wynn's place and I love it.
Disturbing distressed cucumber photo included solely for color diversion.
Now say Merry Christmas, ya' big dumb smiling bastard.
* * *
Hey CanMan, is that a Santa hat you're wearing or just your regular hat?Xmas on the Las Vegas strip.If I were an inflatable lawn ornament mom, I would not let my inflatable lawn ornament kid play with this inflatable lawn ornament kid.Swirlie ornaments from Tazza Glass.Frosty the snowman exhibiting alternative behavior.Yo, Santa! Hold tight onto that one in front. He sure looks wild! All inflatable lawn ornaments support strict gun control.My perfect glass stocking courtesy of Yabu & Co. **YAY**Giant holiday finery inside Steve Wynn's place and I love it.Disturbing distressed cucumber photo included solely for color diversion.Now say Merry Christmas, ya' big dumb smiling bastard. * * *
An open letter to Meat Loaf
To contact us Click HERE
Dear Meat,
You were first delivered unto me as I sat blinking in wonderbefore a new mind-blowing entity called MTV. Paradise by the Dashboard Lightswas unlike anything I'd ever seen. Your eyes drilled straight through me asthose long sweaty strands of hair whipped around your head, a living weapon. Youwere the antithesis of a teen dreamboat—a fat guy in a ruffled shirt, yet Iswooned at something I was too young and naïve to recognize: your unabashederoticism.
And that chick! Karla DeVito stood like a virgin flame inher white cat suit. Who cared if she was lip synching Ellen Foley's singing? Withlips rouged and blue eye shadow gleaming, she was a live-action Betty Boop. Butinstead of coy giggles and batting eyelashes, DeVito had all the power. It wasconcentrated at the tip of the inverted V formed by her not-so-subtly partedlegs.
When you two started making out, it was miles away from theantiseptic kissing manufactured by Hollywood. Why, you were practically dry zockingon the stage! My breath shortened as epiphany bloomed with sweet orgiasticglee: This was the kind of sex they didn't want me to know about. It had ataste and smell. This sex was alive. It was raw and honest and real.
You owned me, Meat.
The next thirty years unwound as fast as the turning cogs inmy portable cassette player. I traded in my shoulder pads and fishnets for thepunk look. Then life dissolved from college to a corporate career. The mortgageand husband and baby soon followed.
But you never changed, always with the motorcycles andruffled shirts and the sublime promise that the rock & roll of my youth wasreally opera. Bat out of Hell II, Bat out of Hell III. I gave you one passafter another. When you espoused, I'd Do Anything for Love (But I won't Do That), I was baffled. Huh? I wondered, not do what? What did itmean? You'd invite me to your bed and then promise to never break wind therein?
Aw baby, I didn't care. I'd do anything for love too, so I justswallowed it whole. After all, you were Meat Loaf and when you set me atop thatsilver black phantom bike all those years ago, it earned you hella good will.
Then you told me that Objects in the Rearview Mirror May AppearCloser than They Are.
Some things just have to be gotten through, so it was with yourunfortunate mumbling of that incredibly awkward title phrase. But like we vowedbefore those dashboard lights so long ago, I would love you forever, Meat. Iwas ready to suffer anything. Well, almost anything.
October 25, 2012, Defiance, Ohio.
"Meat Loaf endorses Romney," proclaimed theheadlines. You talked about the Cold War and it felt like a cold shower despitemy advanced fortysomething age. And when you said, "I want you to know, at65, that Paul Ryan has not pushed me off the cliff in a wheelchair," youcouldn't have been more wrong. You were finally speeding into a real abyss andthis bat wouldn't be coming out of Hell ever again. And then there was this:
Frankly Meat (or should I call you Marvin?), Romney lookedas though he'd just been presented with a plate of eyeballs floating in a moldof lime jello.
Yeah, yeah.
Now it's November 56th and Romney's still losing theelection (just ask his eldest son). Ihate to break this to you, Marv, but no one cares about your opinion on thematter. Paradise is lost, baby. Your sweat has dried into a crust of salt. Allthose ruffled shirts have long since gone yellow. In ten years or so when Mitt Romneyis reduced to a Trivial Pursuit answer card, I'm afraid you'll be just anotherold fat white guy alone between your waxy sheets wondering why you ever vowed, butI won't do that or two out of three ain't bad.
Whatever the case, Marv, you took the words right out of my mouth.
Love,
Erin* * *
Dear Meat,
You were first delivered unto me as I sat blinking in wonderbefore a new mind-blowing entity called MTV. Paradise by the Dashboard Lightswas unlike anything I'd ever seen. Your eyes drilled straight through me asthose long sweaty strands of hair whipped around your head, a living weapon. Youwere the antithesis of a teen dreamboat—a fat guy in a ruffled shirt, yet Iswooned at something I was too young and naïve to recognize: your unabashederoticism.
And that chick! Karla DeVito stood like a virgin flame inher white cat suit. Who cared if she was lip synching Ellen Foley's singing? Withlips rouged and blue eye shadow gleaming, she was a live-action Betty Boop. Butinstead of coy giggles and batting eyelashes, DeVito had all the power. It wasconcentrated at the tip of the inverted V formed by her not-so-subtly partedlegs.
When you two started making out, it was miles away from theantiseptic kissing manufactured by Hollywood. Why, you were practically dry zockingon the stage! My breath shortened as epiphany bloomed with sweet orgiasticglee: This was the kind of sex they didn't want me to know about. It had ataste and smell. This sex was alive. It was raw and honest and real.
You owned me, Meat.
The next thirty years unwound as fast as the turning cogs inmy portable cassette player. I traded in my shoulder pads and fishnets for thepunk look. Then life dissolved from college to a corporate career. The mortgageand husband and baby soon followed.
But you never changed, always with the motorcycles andruffled shirts and the sublime promise that the rock & roll of my youth wasreally opera. Bat out of Hell II, Bat out of Hell III. I gave you one passafter another. When you espoused, I'd Do Anything for Love (But I won't Do That), I was baffled. Huh? I wondered, not do what? What did itmean? You'd invite me to your bed and then promise to never break wind therein?
Aw baby, I didn't care. I'd do anything for love too, so I justswallowed it whole. After all, you were Meat Loaf and when you set me atop thatsilver black phantom bike all those years ago, it earned you hella good will.
Then you told me that Objects in the Rearview Mirror May AppearCloser than They Are.
Some things just have to be gotten through, so it was with yourunfortunate mumbling of that incredibly awkward title phrase. But like we vowedbefore those dashboard lights so long ago, I would love you forever, Meat. Iwas ready to suffer anything. Well, almost anything.
October 25, 2012, Defiance, Ohio.
"Meat Loaf endorses Romney," proclaimed theheadlines. You talked about the Cold War and it felt like a cold shower despitemy advanced fortysomething age. And when you said, "I want you to know, at65, that Paul Ryan has not pushed me off the cliff in a wheelchair," youcouldn't have been more wrong. You were finally speeding into a real abyss andthis bat wouldn't be coming out of Hell ever again. And then there was this:
Frankly Meat (or should I call you Marvin?), Romney lookedas though he'd just been presented with a plate of eyeballs floating in a moldof lime jello.
Yeah, yeah.
Now it's November 56th and Romney's still losing theelection (just ask his eldest son). Ihate to break this to you, Marv, but no one cares about your opinion on thematter. Paradise is lost, baby. Your sweat has dried into a crust of salt. Allthose ruffled shirts have long since gone yellow. In ten years or so when Mitt Romneyis reduced to a Trivial Pursuit answer card, I'm afraid you'll be just anotherold fat white guy alone between your waxy sheets wondering why you ever vowed, butI won't do that or two out of three ain't bad.
Whatever the case, Marv, you took the words right out of my mouth.
Love,
Erin* * *
Randall Tiedman: January 31, 1949–November 4, 2012
To contact us Click HERE
My interview with local artist Randall Tiedman in mid-October was one of those rare yet subtle events in a writer's career. Tiedman was a Vietnam Vet, a boxer, and an unapologetic liberal with no formal art training. He thrummed with an authenticity that was pure Cleveland. As for his work, it simply took my breath away.
Meeting this vibrant, funny and gentle man was a profound honor. The world lost him less than two weeks later.
Here are a few snaps I took that day of Tiedman's Collinwood studio, and a memorial I wrote for CAN Journal.
Ciao, Randall. We will miss your beautiful soul.
* * *
My interview with local artist Randall Tiedman in mid-October was one of those rare yet subtle events in a writer's career. Tiedman was a Vietnam Vet, a boxer, and an unapologetic liberal with no formal art training. He thrummed with an authenticity that was pure Cleveland. As for his work, it simply took my breath away.
Meeting this vibrant, funny and gentle man was a profound honor. The world lost him less than two weeks later.
Here are a few snaps I took that day of Tiedman's Collinwood studio, and a memorial I wrote for CAN Journal.
Ciao, Randall. We will miss your beautiful soul.
* * *
From old school to cutting edge
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There on the left stands CLE metalsmith and artist Stephen Yusko. Contrary to popular belief, that mean-looking chunk of steel in front of him is not primarily used by cartoon coyotes in ill-begotten attempts to halt Roadrunners. Yusko is one of those rare artisans who still forges yellow-hot steel into brilliant sculptures with that anvil and a hammer. Yusko, along with Garrett Weider and Dana Depew were the focus of this feature I wrote for the latest CAN Journal.
All three of these gents are at once old school and cutting edge. What a kick it was to meet them and hang out in their studios.
Extreme CLE love? HELL YEAH.
* * *
There on the left stands CLE metalsmith and artist Stephen Yusko. Contrary to popular belief, that mean-looking chunk of steel in front of him is not primarily used by cartoon coyotes in ill-begotten attempts to halt Roadrunners. Yusko is one of those rare artisans who still forges yellow-hot steel into brilliant sculptures with that anvil and a hammer. Yusko, along with Garrett Weider and Dana Depew were the focus of this feature I wrote for the latest CAN Journal.All three of these gents are at once old school and cutting edge. What a kick it was to meet them and hang out in their studios.
 |
| A workbench in Yusko's studio. Dig some of that metal work. |
 |
| One of Yusko's ideas coming to fruition. |
 |
| Yusko told me that pieces of iron such as this are used as currency in some parts of the world. |
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| Dana Depew in front of a heap of raw material in his studio. |
 |
| A humble ego courtesy of Depew. |
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| Two Depew characters holding court above a discarded Bob Evans "B." |
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| Garrett Weider and a whole bunch of Cleveland. |
 |
| In Weider's world, words are images and images are words. |
 |
| Dead soldiers overseeing the action in Weider's studio. |
Extreme CLE love? HELL YEAH.
* * *
20 Aralık 2012 Perşembe
Devon Streetscape (1536-1556 W. Devon)
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Below is another graphic developed for the storefront exhibit planned for installation at Clark Devon Hardware. An interesting block, even with some odd changes over the years. The third building from the right suffered a couple of big fires in the 1940s and had a architectural slipcover installed on the facade. I'd give a lot to know if the original details are still under there.
Horizontally oriented images never lend themselves to the vertical blog format. I've been trying to find a viewer which allows an image to scroll past, but everything I find takes a bit more expertise than I'm willing to develop.
The above drawing was developed by stringing together a series of digital images in Photoshop, which was then used as a reference to develop a line drawing with Micron disposable technical pens. This was colored with cool grey Prismacolor markers, and then with Prismacolor pencils. Before I began to use this technique all of my color images looked painfully cheerful. But starting with grey is a good way to develop the earth tones commonly found on old buildings.
This image was developed from the birds-eye aerial photos accessible through the Bing search engine. I didn't have the gumption to color this, but maybe I will at some point... The two work well together to give a quick sense of the block.
Just as a side note, the historical information was taken from the ancient building permit files on microfilm, available at the Harold Washington Library, the UIC Library, or the Chicago History Museum. These only go up to 1954, so I estimated the date of the annex on the left.
Below is another graphic developed for the storefront exhibit planned for installation at Clark Devon Hardware. An interesting block, even with some odd changes over the years. The third building from the right suffered a couple of big fires in the 1940s and had a architectural slipcover installed on the facade. I'd give a lot to know if the original details are still under there.
 |
The above drawing was developed by stringing together a series of digital images in Photoshop, which was then used as a reference to develop a line drawing with Micron disposable technical pens. This was colored with cool grey Prismacolor markers, and then with Prismacolor pencils. Before I began to use this technique all of my color images looked painfully cheerful. But starting with grey is a good way to develop the earth tones commonly found on old buildings.
This image was developed from the birds-eye aerial photos accessible through the Bing search engine. I didn't have the gumption to color this, but maybe I will at some point... The two work well together to give a quick sense of the block.Just as a side note, the historical information was taken from the ancient building permit files on microfilm, available at the Harold Washington Library, the UIC Library, or the Chicago History Museum. These only go up to 1954, so I estimated the date of the annex on the left.
Slumgullion for Al
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This excerpt from The Irish Hungarian Guide to the Domestic Arts (which, incidentally, is brilliant and makes [ahem] a perfect gift) is dedicated to Al the Retired Army Guy, who sometimes needs to remember things old school.
# # #
The slumgullionexperience of my youth always started off with a pound of raw hamburger on thekitchen counter. My father would pluck a chunk from it as my mother admonishedhim.
"But that's forthe slumgullion!" she'd say.
Undeterred, Dad wouldsprinkle the meat with salt and pop it into his mouth en route to hisdownstairs machine shop.
Then Mom wouldslumgullify the wormy red mass by browning it, draining off the fat and addingterrifying ingredients. In went Monday's spaghetti, the oily onion and greenpepper dregs from Tuesday's pepper steak, and the remainder of Wednesday'ssuccotash (which included both lima beans and--god help us--hominy). Throughoutthe process, my brother and I exchanged looks of unified dread that culminatedin silent mastication at the dinner table.
Slumgullion.
The name alone ishard to swallow. It's like a slug in a guillotine in a slum. It's an awful wordthe way crotch is an awful word. Who says, "Oh baby, I want to dive intoyour crotch"? No one says that. It's gross. "So baby, howzaboutsome slumgullion?"isn't much better.
Completely unreliableonline historians trace slumgullion back to a) the watery refuse resulting fromwhale blubber processing, b) a dish made from slaughterhouse cast-offs in theslums of England in the late 1800s, or c) a thin stew California miners madefrom leftovers during the Gold Rush. Who cares which checkered past isaccurate? Any one of them beats that candy-ass three-fingered Hamburger Helperglove.
Every slumgullionrecipe is different. People add cheese, tomato sauce, bacon, frozen peas,macaroni--name your poison. I've heard of people using (help) canned cornedbeef. Others use condensed soup to tie it all together. (Admittedly, Ipractically deify a can of Campbell's cream of mushroom. If you can't turn oneof those into dinner in 20 minutes, you're no housewife in my book. But if youtransform a can of Campbell's cream of whatever into a platter of CompanyChicken Supreme in a wink, you're in).
So what wouldEringullion look like? Surely I could do better than that Betty Crocker broadand her boxed Cheeseburger Macaroni. Recreating mom's recipe was no fun. Ineeded to update and modernize the slumgullion concept while keeping it firmlyentrenched in its ground-beef-and-ingredients-on-hand birthright. Even if Ididn't have any leftovers, the slumgullion should feel leftovery: refrigeratorround-up in a pan.
I chose onion, greenpepper, a can of creamed corn, one of RoTel's original tomato concoctions,three old potatoes, (each with a host of gnarly eyes), some Worchester sauce,and a mysterious seasoning called "Rich Brown" that costs 50 centsfor a box of eight packets at the discount grocery. This darling concoction ofMSG, maltodextrin, onion powder, caramel color, spices, disodium guanylate anddisodium inosinate was, according to the package, "a delicious broth and aseasoning that brings out the best in food flavors." I am all over that, I thought.
Unlike the HamburgerHelper experience, as soon as I started making the slumgullion, familiaritywashed over me. You're home, assureda soft voice inside my head as I doused the diced onion with Mazola. Why, thiswas innate. Even the creamed corn that I had included as a mandatory"yuck" ingredient formed a beautiful golden pool when I poured itatop the beef. The slumgullion terrors of my childhood were all but gone, aharmless wisp. By the time I added the canned tomatoes and chiles, I wasgrinning from ear to ear and singing "Slum-gull-yon.Slum-slum-slum-gull-yon" to the tune of "Girl from Ipanema." Isprinkled a packet of Rich Brown over it all and sighed contentedly.
Ten minutes beforedinner, I moved through the house like an old-fashioned hotel page."Slumgullion minus ten," I lilted. "That's slumgullion minusten."
If I thought theHamburger Helper instilled fear in my kid, the slumgullion was sheer terror ona plate. She stared at it wordlessly.
I transformed into mymother. "Eat your slumgullion," I said. She wrinkled her nose andtook a bite, swallowing over a gag.
"Oh, comeon," I said, "it's delicious!"
"Not bad,"said my dearly beloved before taking a sip of Matthew Fox cabernet($3.29/bottle at the discount grocery). "It's nothing special, but it'snot bad."
I let his shockingassessment settle for a moment while blinking at him in disbelief.
"Nothing special?" I said indignantly as Irose to get another helping. "What do you mean 'nothing special'?" Iturned from the stove to see my daughter quickly set down her plate, from whichshe'd dumped three-quarters of her slumgullion onto my husband's dish. "Itbeats the hell of that miserable Hamburger Helper!" I said.
Silence.
"Well?" Isaid, "doesn't it?" My eyes shifted between my husband and daughter."Beat the Hamburger Helper?"
My kid cowered beforemy arched eyebrows. "Um ... " she peeped. I glared in disapprovalthen turned to my splendid king with pursed lips.
"The leftoverHamburger Helper was better the next day," he said in a conciliatory tone."Maybe the slumgullion will be better tomorrow."
I let "bettertomorrow" float in the air for a handful of beats as my chest pumped shortangry breaths and I glowered at him.
"Well. You.Miserable. Goat." I finally said, pronouncing each word in a lowdeliberate voice. Then I stood.
"Honey?"said the Goat. "I didn't mean anything." He paused, waiting."Honey?"
"Nevermind,"I said in a high thin voice, then sniffed and retrieved my shoes from thesteps.
"What are youdoing?" he said.
"Nothing."
"Mom?"
"Forgetit." I tied my shoes with force and stood, set my jaw and squared myshoulders. As my family asked after me, I stepped out the front door and beganwalking the earth, never more alone.
* * *
This excerpt from The Irish Hungarian Guide to the Domestic Arts (which, incidentally, is brilliant and makes [ahem] a perfect gift) is dedicated to Al the Retired Army Guy, who sometimes needs to remember things old school.# # #
The slumgullionexperience of my youth always started off with a pound of raw hamburger on thekitchen counter. My father would pluck a chunk from it as my mother admonishedhim.
"But that's forthe slumgullion!" she'd say.
Undeterred, Dad wouldsprinkle the meat with salt and pop it into his mouth en route to hisdownstairs machine shop.
Then Mom wouldslumgullify the wormy red mass by browning it, draining off the fat and addingterrifying ingredients. In went Monday's spaghetti, the oily onion and greenpepper dregs from Tuesday's pepper steak, and the remainder of Wednesday'ssuccotash (which included both lima beans and--god help us--hominy). Throughoutthe process, my brother and I exchanged looks of unified dread that culminatedin silent mastication at the dinner table.
Slumgullion.
The name alone ishard to swallow. It's like a slug in a guillotine in a slum. It's an awful wordthe way crotch is an awful word. Who says, "Oh baby, I want to dive intoyour crotch"? No one says that. It's gross. "So baby, howzaboutsome slumgullion?"isn't much better.
Completely unreliableonline historians trace slumgullion back to a) the watery refuse resulting fromwhale blubber processing, b) a dish made from slaughterhouse cast-offs in theslums of England in the late 1800s, or c) a thin stew California miners madefrom leftovers during the Gold Rush. Who cares which checkered past isaccurate? Any one of them beats that candy-ass three-fingered Hamburger Helperglove.
Every slumgullionrecipe is different. People add cheese, tomato sauce, bacon, frozen peas,macaroni--name your poison. I've heard of people using (help) canned cornedbeef. Others use condensed soup to tie it all together. (Admittedly, Ipractically deify a can of Campbell's cream of mushroom. If you can't turn oneof those into dinner in 20 minutes, you're no housewife in my book. But if youtransform a can of Campbell's cream of whatever into a platter of CompanyChicken Supreme in a wink, you're in).
So what wouldEringullion look like? Surely I could do better than that Betty Crocker broadand her boxed Cheeseburger Macaroni. Recreating mom's recipe was no fun. Ineeded to update and modernize the slumgullion concept while keeping it firmlyentrenched in its ground-beef-and-ingredients-on-hand birthright. Even if Ididn't have any leftovers, the slumgullion should feel leftovery: refrigeratorround-up in a pan.
I chose onion, greenpepper, a can of creamed corn, one of RoTel's original tomato concoctions,three old potatoes, (each with a host of gnarly eyes), some Worchester sauce,and a mysterious seasoning called "Rich Brown" that costs 50 centsfor a box of eight packets at the discount grocery. This darling concoction ofMSG, maltodextrin, onion powder, caramel color, spices, disodium guanylate anddisodium inosinate was, according to the package, "a delicious broth and aseasoning that brings out the best in food flavors." I am all over that, I thought.
Unlike the HamburgerHelper experience, as soon as I started making the slumgullion, familiaritywashed over me. You're home, assureda soft voice inside my head as I doused the diced onion with Mazola. Why, thiswas innate. Even the creamed corn that I had included as a mandatory"yuck" ingredient formed a beautiful golden pool when I poured itatop the beef. The slumgullion terrors of my childhood were all but gone, aharmless wisp. By the time I added the canned tomatoes and chiles, I wasgrinning from ear to ear and singing "Slum-gull-yon.Slum-slum-slum-gull-yon" to the tune of "Girl from Ipanema." Isprinkled a packet of Rich Brown over it all and sighed contentedly.
Ten minutes beforedinner, I moved through the house like an old-fashioned hotel page."Slumgullion minus ten," I lilted. "That's slumgullion minusten."
If I thought theHamburger Helper instilled fear in my kid, the slumgullion was sheer terror ona plate. She stared at it wordlessly.
I transformed into mymother. "Eat your slumgullion," I said. She wrinkled her nose andtook a bite, swallowing over a gag.
"Oh, comeon," I said, "it's delicious!"
"Not bad,"said my dearly beloved before taking a sip of Matthew Fox cabernet($3.29/bottle at the discount grocery). "It's nothing special, but it'snot bad."
I let his shockingassessment settle for a moment while blinking at him in disbelief.
"Nothing special?" I said indignantly as Irose to get another helping. "What do you mean 'nothing special'?" Iturned from the stove to see my daughter quickly set down her plate, from whichshe'd dumped three-quarters of her slumgullion onto my husband's dish. "Itbeats the hell of that miserable Hamburger Helper!" I said.
Silence.
"Well?" Isaid, "doesn't it?" My eyes shifted between my husband and daughter."Beat the Hamburger Helper?"
My kid cowered beforemy arched eyebrows. "Um ... " she peeped. I glared in disapprovalthen turned to my splendid king with pursed lips.
"The leftoverHamburger Helper was better the next day," he said in a conciliatory tone."Maybe the slumgullion will be better tomorrow."
I let "bettertomorrow" float in the air for a handful of beats as my chest pumped shortangry breaths and I glowered at him.
"Well. You.Miserable. Goat." I finally said, pronouncing each word in a lowdeliberate voice. Then I stood.
"Honey?"said the Goat. "I didn't mean anything." He paused, waiting."Honey?"
"Nevermind,"I said in a high thin voice, then sniffed and retrieved my shoes from thesteps.
"What are youdoing?" he said.
"Nothing."
"Mom?"
"Forgetit." I tied my shoes with force and stood, set my jaw and squared myshoulders. As my family asked after me, I stepped out the front door and beganwalking the earth, never more alone.
* * *
A Cleveland Carol
To contact us Click HERE
Three short acts featuring the Ghost of Cleveland Present
Hey man, you ever see a Toynbee tile? Come on, take a hold of my sleeve and we'll fly. Don't worry, you can do it. It's easy. Just grab a hold.
See? It's not so bad, like gliding in a dream. Okay, here we are--West 3rd and Prospect. Time to land.
There are Toynbee tiles all over creation, but no one knowswhat they mean. You're talking your real-life mystery here. No one knows who put them there or quite how they did it. You want to believe that vapors might seep out of theToynbee tile that you could sniff up like the Oracle of Delphi and havevisions. And if you don't get any vapors and visions, maybe the thing will emit mysterious raysthat'll fly you up to space where you'll learn important space alien secrets.
Well, maybe not.
But hey--it's still a Toynbee tile and it's right next tothe Ritz Carlton, where you have your Ritz doorman with his long stiff coat andfurry hat. Although he looks sort of like one of the guards patrolling in frontof the Wicked Witch's castle (sans evil spear), he's totally cool. Instead ofbeing all I'm-the-Ritz-Doorman-who-the-hell-are-you, he's utterly righteous andeven asks people diggin' on the Toynbee tile (like us) what they think the crazy thing is all about.
Who needs vapors and space rays? You're talking to the RitzCarlton's front man. You're seeing that Toynbee tile.
You are so down.
Hey man, you hungry? Come on. Let me take you over to theSlavic Village Deli.
Brother, you see those empty lots down there like missingteeth lining the streets? Every one of 'em used to have a house that's since been torndown on account of that being a better option than leaving it vacant. Butsometimes this town's heart beats strongest where the fabric isworn thinnest, and while this neighborhood may be torn and frayed, theheartbeat at the Slavic Village Deli will not be denied.
Now up front you've got your deli. You're talking yourhomemade Polish sausages and bakery--old school from the bottom up. And thepretty girl with the Polish accent and the apron hanging around her hips in away that makes boys swoon will wrap up all your stuff in white paper so perfectly,you'll practically weep. Now follow me. The dining room is in back.
Slow-cooked kielbasa and sauerkraut? We've got that. Cabbageand noodles? Check. Homemade mashed potato and stuffed cabbage? No problem.
Now, I'm not trying to freak you out or anything, butsometimes when you eat a slice of the poppy seed pound cake, your eyes will get all goo-goo and your heart will grow three sizes too big like that green ol' Doc Seuss dude. No, no--don't worry. It doesn't hurt a bit.
Hey man, you ever see a blimp house? Come on. Grab the sleeve--you know the drill by now. Let me takeyou over to the blimp house.
Wow. would you dig that.
I know. You're wondering about theblimp activities going on inside the blimp house. Of course the blimps may beout blimping, but even so, you want toyell: Hey man! What's going on inside that blimp house?
Don't worry. It's perfectly normal to become excited whilevisiting the blimp house. It happens to most everyone.
Wouldn't it be great if the blimp house magically opened up and released a whole bunch ofblimps like so many giant balloons? They'd all come floating outof that blimp house and go up up up in the air and blimp around the sky.
And if none of that cool stuff happens, you can stillbe happy that you are visiting the blimp house. You can smile. You can wink.You can inhale. You can exhale.
You can dance madly backwards until the world disappears.
* * *
Three short acts featuring the Ghost of Cleveland Present
Hey man, you ever see a Toynbee tile? Come on, take a hold of my sleeve and we'll fly. Don't worry, you can do it. It's easy. Just grab a hold.
See? It's not so bad, like gliding in a dream. Okay, here we are--West 3rd and Prospect. Time to land.
There are Toynbee tiles all over creation, but no one knowswhat they mean. You're talking your real-life mystery here. No one knows who put them there or quite how they did it. You want to believe that vapors might seep out of theToynbee tile that you could sniff up like the Oracle of Delphi and havevisions. And if you don't get any vapors and visions, maybe the thing will emit mysterious raysthat'll fly you up to space where you'll learn important space alien secrets.
Well, maybe not.
But hey--it's still a Toynbee tile and it's right next tothe Ritz Carlton, where you have your Ritz doorman with his long stiff coat andfurry hat. Although he looks sort of like one of the guards patrolling in frontof the Wicked Witch's castle (sans evil spear), he's totally cool. Instead ofbeing all I'm-the-Ritz-Doorman-who-the-hell-are-you, he's utterly righteous andeven asks people diggin' on the Toynbee tile (like us) what they think the crazy thing is all about.
Who needs vapors and space rays? You're talking to the RitzCarlton's front man. You're seeing that Toynbee tile.
You are so down.
Hey man, you hungry? Come on. Let me take you over to theSlavic Village Deli.
Brother, you see those empty lots down there like missingteeth lining the streets? Every one of 'em used to have a house that's since been torndown on account of that being a better option than leaving it vacant. Butsometimes this town's heart beats strongest where the fabric isworn thinnest, and while this neighborhood may be torn and frayed, theheartbeat at the Slavic Village Deli will not be denied.
Now up front you've got your deli. You're talking yourhomemade Polish sausages and bakery--old school from the bottom up. And thepretty girl with the Polish accent and the apron hanging around her hips in away that makes boys swoon will wrap up all your stuff in white paper so perfectly,you'll practically weep. Now follow me. The dining room is in back.
Slow-cooked kielbasa and sauerkraut? We've got that. Cabbageand noodles? Check. Homemade mashed potato and stuffed cabbage? No problem.
Now, I'm not trying to freak you out or anything, butsometimes when you eat a slice of the poppy seed pound cake, your eyes will get all goo-goo and your heart will grow three sizes too big like that green ol' Doc Seuss dude. No, no--don't worry. It doesn't hurt a bit.
Hey man, you ever see a blimp house? Come on. Grab the sleeve--you know the drill by now. Let me takeyou over to the blimp house.
Wow. would you dig that.
I know. You're wondering about theblimp activities going on inside the blimp house. Of course the blimps may beout blimping, but even so, you want toyell: Hey man! What's going on inside that blimp house?
Don't worry. It's perfectly normal to become excited whilevisiting the blimp house. It happens to most everyone.
Wouldn't it be great if the blimp house magically opened up and released a whole bunch ofblimps like so many giant balloons? They'd all come floating outof that blimp house and go up up up in the air and blimp around the sky.
And if none of that cool stuff happens, you can stillbe happy that you are visiting the blimp house. You can smile. You can wink.You can inhale. You can exhale.
You can dance madly backwards until the world disappears.
* * *
CHAGRIN FALLS: Ohio's New England
To contact us Click HERE
So you want to go to New England, but you’re afraid of running into Teddy Kennedy or John Kerry? Try Chagrin Falls close to Cleveland. Nestled in the hills of northeast Ohio on the border between Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties, Chagrin Falls is about as close to New England as you can get within a 60 mile radius of Youngstown. They film movies here, folks. It is a stunner, and the numero uno place where my wife and I go to get away for a few hours on the weekend. (Wait a minute…there’s Dennis Kucinich. Ohhhh Nooooo!!!!).
Chagrin Falls was built on the Chagrin River next to….guess what… the falls!!!! It is a four -seasons kind of town that offers its own delights any time of the year. In the summer, the entire village is strolling the streets, eating ice cream or candy purchased at the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop located right above the falls. The falls and the river are actually kind of impressive, and you can take the frame steps down into the gorge for an up close and personal. Across the street is the village park, lined with benches and trees and a playground filled with people enjoying a sunny day or a cool evening with their kids and dogs. And these are classy dogs. Where’s Norman Rockwell when you need him?
Autumn is probably the busiest time of year. No matter how you get there, the way into the village is tree lined and the foliage is spectacular. At Christmas, the village dials Hollywood for its absolutely perfect Christmas decorations, and the village stores do their fair share in helping you feel the love. Even the dead of winter offers its delights, especially if you are a tad moody on a gray winter’s day. Stop in at the Gamekeeper’s Tavern and have a drink in its convivial bar, or a hearty lunch or dinner in the restaurant. The atmosphere is as warm as it is cold outside.
Did I mention the Gamekeeper’s Tavern? The restaurant is located in The Inn at Chagrin Falls, which offers a diverse range of overnight accommodations for those looking for a weekend getaway, at prices that are surprisingly reasonable for the Cleveland area. (This is a rapidly growing regional hospitality group owning several venues. It recently purchased and renovated the Welshfield Inn on Rt. 422 about 15 miles east towards Warren). The restaurant is terrific and will be the subject of a coming review in Youngstown Eats. Another place to enjoy drinks and dinner is Blake’s (a Hyde Park Group restaurant) which is located overlooking the falls. Both of these places tend to be a tad pricey, but the food is good, and you can’t beat the ambience. There are also numerous other foodie choices located throughout the village, from pizza to burgers, to suit all price points and tastes.
Our favorite thing to do in Chagrin Falls, besides eating, is to shop. This is a great place for the ladies. Unlike many of these trendy areas which end up being nothing more than an extension of the local mall and attendant national chains, most of the boutiques are operated by locals. (No Pottery Barn or Williams Sonoma here). Chico’s is the most glaring exception. Prices run the gambit. The ladies will always find something. Find Me is a more pricey choice that has found favor with a number of Tippy wives (I mean Canfield women), but it has really good sales.
While the ladies go one way, the guys can head to several clothing stores catering to men. But I would skip all of them and go to Chagrin Hardware. How they keep inventory at this place is beyond me. You can spend an hour just looking at all of the different things this place sells, some of which I suspect have been there since the town was founded. Those that only shop at Home Depot don’t know what they are missing. This place alone is worth the trip.
Street parking is plentiful. Blake’s offer valet parking if you are desperate at dinner time, but it usually isn’t a problem.
Take the Ohio Turnpike to the Route 44 exit. Go north on Route 44 about 10 miles to Route 422. East on Route 422 (it is 4 lanes here) to Route 306 (the Bainbridge exit). Turn right off the exit; then take an immediate left onto Chagrin Road into Chagrin Falls. Allow an hour to get there, about 2 hours to shop and 2 hours for drinks and dinner. If you have some time, Breezewood Gardens is located in Bainbridge on Route 306 just north of Chagrin Road, and is worth the stop, especially in the spring and fall (Christmas is fabulous at this place).
So you want to go to New England, but you’re afraid of running into Teddy Kennedy or John Kerry? Try Chagrin Falls close to Cleveland. Nestled in the hills of northeast Ohio on the border between Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties, Chagrin Falls is about as close to New England as you can get within a 60 mile radius of Youngstown. They film movies here, folks. It is a stunner, and the numero uno place where my wife and I go to get away for a few hours on the weekend. (Wait a minute…there’s Dennis Kucinich. Ohhhh Nooooo!!!!).
Chagrin Falls was built on the Chagrin River next to….guess what… the falls!!!! It is a four -seasons kind of town that offers its own delights any time of the year. In the summer, the entire village is strolling the streets, eating ice cream or candy purchased at the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop located right above the falls. The falls and the river are actually kind of impressive, and you can take the frame steps down into the gorge for an up close and personal. Across the street is the village park, lined with benches and trees and a playground filled with people enjoying a sunny day or a cool evening with their kids and dogs. And these are classy dogs. Where’s Norman Rockwell when you need him?
Autumn is probably the busiest time of year. No matter how you get there, the way into the village is tree lined and the foliage is spectacular. At Christmas, the village dials Hollywood for its absolutely perfect Christmas decorations, and the village stores do their fair share in helping you feel the love. Even the dead of winter offers its delights, especially if you are a tad moody on a gray winter’s day. Stop in at the Gamekeeper’s Tavern and have a drink in its convivial bar, or a hearty lunch or dinner in the restaurant. The atmosphere is as warm as it is cold outside.
Did I mention the Gamekeeper’s Tavern? The restaurant is located in The Inn at Chagrin Falls, which offers a diverse range of overnight accommodations for those looking for a weekend getaway, at prices that are surprisingly reasonable for the Cleveland area. (This is a rapidly growing regional hospitality group owning several venues. It recently purchased and renovated the Welshfield Inn on Rt. 422 about 15 miles east towards Warren). The restaurant is terrific and will be the subject of a coming review in Youngstown Eats. Another place to enjoy drinks and dinner is Blake’s (a Hyde Park Group restaurant) which is located overlooking the falls. Both of these places tend to be a tad pricey, but the food is good, and you can’t beat the ambience. There are also numerous other foodie choices located throughout the village, from pizza to burgers, to suit all price points and tastes.
Our favorite thing to do in Chagrin Falls, besides eating, is to shop. This is a great place for the ladies. Unlike many of these trendy areas which end up being nothing more than an extension of the local mall and attendant national chains, most of the boutiques are operated by locals. (No Pottery Barn or Williams Sonoma here). Chico’s is the most glaring exception. Prices run the gambit. The ladies will always find something. Find Me is a more pricey choice that has found favor with a number of Tippy wives (I mean Canfield women), but it has really good sales.
While the ladies go one way, the guys can head to several clothing stores catering to men. But I would skip all of them and go to Chagrin Hardware. How they keep inventory at this place is beyond me. You can spend an hour just looking at all of the different things this place sells, some of which I suspect have been there since the town was founded. Those that only shop at Home Depot don’t know what they are missing. This place alone is worth the trip.
Street parking is plentiful. Blake’s offer valet parking if you are desperate at dinner time, but it usually isn’t a problem.
Take the Ohio Turnpike to the Route 44 exit. Go north on Route 44 about 10 miles to Route 422. East on Route 422 (it is 4 lanes here) to Route 306 (the Bainbridge exit). Turn right off the exit; then take an immediate left onto Chagrin Road into Chagrin Falls. Allow an hour to get there, about 2 hours to shop and 2 hours for drinks and dinner. If you have some time, Breezewood Gardens is located in Bainbridge on Route 306 just north of Chagrin Road, and is worth the stop, especially in the spring and fall (Christmas is fabulous at this place).
Pittsburgh's SouthSide Works
To contact us Click HERE
Pittsburgh is one of my favorite cities…and one of my favorite things about my favorite city is the neighborhoods. Anyone who has attempted to get around Pittsburgh knows that the hills make it nearly impossible to get from here to there unless you know exactly where you are going. Add the rivers and bridges to the mix, even those who live there have established enclaves unto themselves, creating neighborhoods that are individual destinations. Pittsburgh’s Southside is one of those neighborhoods.
Pittsburgh’s Southside is geographically located between the Monongahela River to the north and Mount Washington and the Southside Slopes to the south. The main drag is East Carson Street in which there are three main subdivisions. Station Square is the furthest west of the various developments, located at the end of the Smithfield Street Bridge. As you drive to the east, you will encounter a gritty, eclectic neighborhood with second hand bookstores, tattoo parlours, antique stores, head shops, and restaurants to suit every taste and pocketbook, mostly local. This is a fun area, but is rapidly gentrifying as evidenced by increasing property values. Both of these, especially the two lane East Carson corridor, are worth separate trips to explore and enjoy.
At the top of the East Carson Street corridor, where two lanes turn into four, is the brand new SouthSide Works, located along the river. On its face, it resembles Legacy Village in Cleveland, much smaller, and Easton in Columbus, much bigger. Where it differs is that it was actually built into pre-existing buildings associated with a steel mill formerly located on the property. For the most part, it maintains an industrial feel, as do most of the new developments being built the further east you drive along East Carson Street.
For some reason, the developer opened the area in stages. In the beginning, there wasn’t a whole lot there. But progress has been steady, and as new buildings and stores have opened up, it is a pleasant place to walk around and enjoy, especially on a warm summer’s evening. All of these areas are defined as “mixed use”, in which the developer tries to intermingle condo housing, offices, and retail. Some of the efforts succeed, some of them don’t. But the nature of the Southside neighborhood is pushing this to success. If you want to live in the Southside but don’t want to have to put a ton of money into renovating the very old, existing housing stock, and would like to have a place to park your car, this is the place to go.
The SouthSide Works is built around a town square, the center of which boasts a Cheesecake Factory which can be described as nothing less than a Greek temple. When you walk into the square, you feel like you should pray to it. Surrounding the square are various establishments, including a Cineplex, and various other restaurants such as Claddagh Irish Pub, which is one of my favorite places. Upscale restaurants include the Hot Metal Grille (currently closed for renovations) and McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant.
There is no major retail anchor such as Macy’s located here. But there is an assortment of smaller retailers, some of which have come to be standard in these types of developments such as the Z Gallerie and Sur la Table Kitchen Store. I really like its version of the Joseph-Beth Booksellers chain, which tends to get some big name people into the establishment to sign books, especially Pittsburgh sports figures.
Big things are in store for the SouthSide Works. Approval and financing have just been granted for a $10.5 million 17 dock project giving river access to the development, as well as a major hotel and spa to be constructed on the opposite side of East Carson Street. When built, this area will become a major hub of Pittsburgh activity and recreation. In the meantime, it’s worth a visit. There is ample parking on the street and several decks. One word of warning, parking is paid for at vending machine type apparatii that can be a bit intimidating and don't always work.
The SouthSide Works
East Carson at 27th Steets
1-877-977-1880
Pittsburgh is one of my favorite cities…and one of my favorite things about my favorite city is the neighborhoods. Anyone who has attempted to get around Pittsburgh knows that the hills make it nearly impossible to get from here to there unless you know exactly where you are going. Add the rivers and bridges to the mix, even those who live there have established enclaves unto themselves, creating neighborhoods that are individual destinations. Pittsburgh’s Southside is one of those neighborhoods.Pittsburgh’s Southside is geographically located between the Monongahela River to the north and Mount Washington and the Southside Slopes to the south. The main drag is East Carson Street in which there are three main subdivisions. Station Square is the furthest west of the various developments, located at the end of the Smithfield Street Bridge. As you drive to the east, you will encounter a gritty, eclectic neighborhood with second hand bookstores, tattoo parlours, antique stores, head shops, and restaurants to suit every taste and pocketbook, mostly local. This is a fun area, but is rapidly gentrifying as evidenced by increasing property values. Both of these, especially the two lane East Carson corridor, are worth separate trips to explore and enjoy.
At the top of the East Carson Street corridor, where two lanes turn into four, is the brand new SouthSide Works, located along the river. On its face, it resembles Legacy Village in Cleveland, much smaller, and Easton in Columbus, much bigger. Where it differs is that it was actually built into pre-existing buildings associated with a steel mill formerly located on the property. For the most part, it maintains an industrial feel, as do most of the new developments being built the further east you drive along East Carson Street.
For some reason, the developer opened the area in stages. In the beginning, there wasn’t a whole lot there. But progress has been steady, and as new buildings and stores have opened up, it is a pleasant place to walk around and enjoy, especially on a warm summer’s evening. All of these areas are defined as “mixed use”, in which the developer tries to intermingle condo housing, offices, and retail. Some of the efforts succeed, some of them don’t. But the nature of the Southside neighborhood is pushing this to success. If you want to live in the Southside but don’t want to have to put a ton of money into renovating the very old, existing housing stock, and would like to have a place to park your car, this is the place to go.
The SouthSide Works is built around a town square, the center of which boasts a Cheesecake Factory which can be described as nothing less than a Greek temple. When you walk into the square, you feel like you should pray to it. Surrounding the square are various establishments, including a Cineplex, and various other restaurants such as Claddagh Irish Pub, which is one of my favorite places. Upscale restaurants include the Hot Metal Grille (currently closed for renovations) and McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant.
There is no major retail anchor such as Macy’s located here. But there is an assortment of smaller retailers, some of which have come to be standard in these types of developments such as the Z Gallerie and Sur la Table Kitchen Store. I really like its version of the Joseph-Beth Booksellers chain, which tends to get some big name people into the establishment to sign books, especially Pittsburgh sports figures.
Big things are in store for the SouthSide Works. Approval and financing have just been granted for a $10.5 million 17 dock project giving river access to the development, as well as a major hotel and spa to be constructed on the opposite side of East Carson Street. When built, this area will become a major hub of Pittsburgh activity and recreation. In the meantime, it’s worth a visit. There is ample parking on the street and several decks. One word of warning, parking is paid for at vending machine type apparatii that can be a bit intimidating and don't always work.
The SouthSide Works
East Carson at 27th Steets
1-877-977-1880
16 Aralık 2012 Pazar
CHAGRIN FALLS: Ohio's New England
To contact us Click HERE
So you want to go to New England, but you’re afraid of running into Teddy Kennedy or John Kerry? Try Chagrin Falls close to Cleveland. Nestled in the hills of northeast Ohio on the border between Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties, Chagrin Falls is about as close to New England as you can get within a 60 mile radius of Youngstown. They film movies here, folks. It is a stunner, and the numero uno place where my wife and I go to get away for a few hours on the weekend. (Wait a minute…there’s Dennis Kucinich. Ohhhh Nooooo!!!!).
Chagrin Falls was built on the Chagrin River next to….guess what… the falls!!!! It is a four -seasons kind of town that offers its own delights any time of the year. In the summer, the entire village is strolling the streets, eating ice cream or candy purchased at the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop located right above the falls. The falls and the river are actually kind of impressive, and you can take the frame steps down into the gorge for an up close and personal. Across the street is the village park, lined with benches and trees and a playground filled with people enjoying a sunny day or a cool evening with their kids and dogs. And these are classy dogs. Where’s Norman Rockwell when you need him?
Autumn is probably the busiest time of year. No matter how you get there, the way into the village is tree lined and the foliage is spectacular. At Christmas, the village dials Hollywood for its absolutely perfect Christmas decorations, and the village stores do their fair share in helping you feel the love. Even the dead of winter offers its delights, especially if you are a tad moody on a gray winter’s day. Stop in at the Gamekeeper’s Tavern and have a drink in its convivial bar, or a hearty lunch or dinner in the restaurant. The atmosphere is as warm as it is cold outside.
Did I mention the Gamekeeper’s Tavern? The restaurant is located in The Inn at Chagrin Falls, which offers a diverse range of overnight accommodations for those looking for a weekend getaway, at prices that are surprisingly reasonable for the Cleveland area. (This is a rapidly growing regional hospitality group owning several venues. It recently purchased and renovated the Welshfield Inn on Rt. 422 about 15 miles east towards Warren). The restaurant is terrific and will be the subject of a coming review in Youngstown Eats. Another place to enjoy drinks and dinner is Blake’s (a Hyde Park Group restaurant) which is located overlooking the falls. Both of these places tend to be a tad pricey, but the food is good, and you can’t beat the ambience. There are also numerous other foodie choices located throughout the village, from pizza to burgers, to suit all price points and tastes.
Our favorite thing to do in Chagrin Falls, besides eating, is to shop. This is a great place for the ladies. Unlike many of these trendy areas which end up being nothing more than an extension of the local mall and attendant national chains, most of the boutiques are operated by locals. (No Pottery Barn or Williams Sonoma here). Chico’s is the most glaring exception. Prices run the gambit. The ladies will always find something. Find Me is a more pricey choice that has found favor with a number of Tippy wives (I mean Canfield women), but it has really good sales.
While the ladies go one way, the guys can head to several clothing stores catering to men. But I would skip all of them and go to Chagrin Hardware. How they keep inventory at this place is beyond me. You can spend an hour just looking at all of the different things this place sells, some of which I suspect have been there since the town was founded. Those that only shop at Home Depot don’t know what they are missing. This place alone is worth the trip.
Street parking is plentiful. Blake’s offer valet parking if you are desperate at dinner time, but it usually isn’t a problem.
Take the Ohio Turnpike to the Route 44 exit. Go north on Route 44 about 10 miles to Route 422. East on Route 422 (it is 4 lanes here) to Route 306 (the Bainbridge exit). Turn right off the exit; then take an immediate left onto Chagrin Road into Chagrin Falls. Allow an hour to get there, about 2 hours to shop and 2 hours for drinks and dinner. If you have some time, Breezewood Gardens is located in Bainbridge on Route 306 just north of Chagrin Road, and is worth the stop, especially in the spring and fall (Christmas is fabulous at this place).
So you want to go to New England, but you’re afraid of running into Teddy Kennedy or John Kerry? Try Chagrin Falls close to Cleveland. Nestled in the hills of northeast Ohio on the border between Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties, Chagrin Falls is about as close to New England as you can get within a 60 mile radius of Youngstown. They film movies here, folks. It is a stunner, and the numero uno place where my wife and I go to get away for a few hours on the weekend. (Wait a minute…there’s Dennis Kucinich. Ohhhh Nooooo!!!!).
Chagrin Falls was built on the Chagrin River next to….guess what… the falls!!!! It is a four -seasons kind of town that offers its own delights any time of the year. In the summer, the entire village is strolling the streets, eating ice cream or candy purchased at the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop located right above the falls. The falls and the river are actually kind of impressive, and you can take the frame steps down into the gorge for an up close and personal. Across the street is the village park, lined with benches and trees and a playground filled with people enjoying a sunny day or a cool evening with their kids and dogs. And these are classy dogs. Where’s Norman Rockwell when you need him?
Autumn is probably the busiest time of year. No matter how you get there, the way into the village is tree lined and the foliage is spectacular. At Christmas, the village dials Hollywood for its absolutely perfect Christmas decorations, and the village stores do their fair share in helping you feel the love. Even the dead of winter offers its delights, especially if you are a tad moody on a gray winter’s day. Stop in at the Gamekeeper’s Tavern and have a drink in its convivial bar, or a hearty lunch or dinner in the restaurant. The atmosphere is as warm as it is cold outside.
Did I mention the Gamekeeper’s Tavern? The restaurant is located in The Inn at Chagrin Falls, which offers a diverse range of overnight accommodations for those looking for a weekend getaway, at prices that are surprisingly reasonable for the Cleveland area. (This is a rapidly growing regional hospitality group owning several venues. It recently purchased and renovated the Welshfield Inn on Rt. 422 about 15 miles east towards Warren). The restaurant is terrific and will be the subject of a coming review in Youngstown Eats. Another place to enjoy drinks and dinner is Blake’s (a Hyde Park Group restaurant) which is located overlooking the falls. Both of these places tend to be a tad pricey, but the food is good, and you can’t beat the ambience. There are also numerous other foodie choices located throughout the village, from pizza to burgers, to suit all price points and tastes.
Our favorite thing to do in Chagrin Falls, besides eating, is to shop. This is a great place for the ladies. Unlike many of these trendy areas which end up being nothing more than an extension of the local mall and attendant national chains, most of the boutiques are operated by locals. (No Pottery Barn or Williams Sonoma here). Chico’s is the most glaring exception. Prices run the gambit. The ladies will always find something. Find Me is a more pricey choice that has found favor with a number of Tippy wives (I mean Canfield women), but it has really good sales.
While the ladies go one way, the guys can head to several clothing stores catering to men. But I would skip all of them and go to Chagrin Hardware. How they keep inventory at this place is beyond me. You can spend an hour just looking at all of the different things this place sells, some of which I suspect have been there since the town was founded. Those that only shop at Home Depot don’t know what they are missing. This place alone is worth the trip.
Street parking is plentiful. Blake’s offer valet parking if you are desperate at dinner time, but it usually isn’t a problem.
Take the Ohio Turnpike to the Route 44 exit. Go north on Route 44 about 10 miles to Route 422. East on Route 422 (it is 4 lanes here) to Route 306 (the Bainbridge exit). Turn right off the exit; then take an immediate left onto Chagrin Road into Chagrin Falls. Allow an hour to get there, about 2 hours to shop and 2 hours for drinks and dinner. If you have some time, Breezewood Gardens is located in Bainbridge on Route 306 just north of Chagrin Road, and is worth the stop, especially in the spring and fall (Christmas is fabulous at this place).
Pittsburgh's SouthSide Works
To contact us Click HERE
Pittsburgh is one of my favorite cities…and one of my favorite things about my favorite city is the neighborhoods. Anyone who has attempted to get around Pittsburgh knows that the hills make it nearly impossible to get from here to there unless you know exactly where you are going. Add the rivers and bridges to the mix, even those who live there have established enclaves unto themselves, creating neighborhoods that are individual destinations. Pittsburgh’s Southside is one of those neighborhoods.
Pittsburgh’s Southside is geographically located between the Monongahela River to the north and Mount Washington and the Southside Slopes to the south. The main drag is East Carson Street in which there are three main subdivisions. Station Square is the furthest west of the various developments, located at the end of the Smithfield Street Bridge. As you drive to the east, you will encounter a gritty, eclectic neighborhood with second hand bookstores, tattoo parlours, antique stores, head shops, and restaurants to suit every taste and pocketbook, mostly local. This is a fun area, but is rapidly gentrifying as evidenced by increasing property values. Both of these, especially the two lane East Carson corridor, are worth separate trips to explore and enjoy.
At the top of the East Carson Street corridor, where two lanes turn into four, is the brand new SouthSide Works, located along the river. On its face, it resembles Legacy Village in Cleveland, much smaller, and Easton in Columbus, much bigger. Where it differs is that it was actually built into pre-existing buildings associated with a steel mill formerly located on the property. For the most part, it maintains an industrial feel, as do most of the new developments being built the further east you drive along East Carson Street.
For some reason, the developer opened the area in stages. In the beginning, there wasn’t a whole lot there. But progress has been steady, and as new buildings and stores have opened up, it is a pleasant place to walk around and enjoy, especially on a warm summer’s evening. All of these areas are defined as “mixed use”, in which the developer tries to intermingle condo housing, offices, and retail. Some of the efforts succeed, some of them don’t. But the nature of the Southside neighborhood is pushing this to success. If you want to live in the Southside but don’t want to have to put a ton of money into renovating the very old, existing housing stock, and would like to have a place to park your car, this is the place to go.
The SouthSide Works is built around a town square, the center of which boasts a Cheesecake Factory which can be described as nothing less than a Greek temple. When you walk into the square, you feel like you should pray to it. Surrounding the square are various establishments, including a Cineplex, and various other restaurants such as Claddagh Irish Pub, which is one of my favorite places. Upscale restaurants include the Hot Metal Grille (currently closed for renovations) and McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant.
There is no major retail anchor such as Macy’s located here. But there is an assortment of smaller retailers, some of which have come to be standard in these types of developments such as the Z Gallerie and Sur la Table Kitchen Store. I really like its version of the Joseph-Beth Booksellers chain, which tends to get some big name people into the establishment to sign books, especially Pittsburgh sports figures.
Big things are in store for the SouthSide Works. Approval and financing have just been granted for a $10.5 million 17 dock project giving river access to the development, as well as a major hotel and spa to be constructed on the opposite side of East Carson Street. When built, this area will become a major hub of Pittsburgh activity and recreation. In the meantime, it’s worth a visit. There is ample parking on the street and several decks. One word of warning, parking is paid for at vending machine type apparatii that can be a bit intimidating and don't always work.
The SouthSide Works
East Carson at 27th Steets
1-877-977-1880
Pittsburgh is one of my favorite cities…and one of my favorite things about my favorite city is the neighborhoods. Anyone who has attempted to get around Pittsburgh knows that the hills make it nearly impossible to get from here to there unless you know exactly where you are going. Add the rivers and bridges to the mix, even those who live there have established enclaves unto themselves, creating neighborhoods that are individual destinations. Pittsburgh’s Southside is one of those neighborhoods.Pittsburgh’s Southside is geographically located between the Monongahela River to the north and Mount Washington and the Southside Slopes to the south. The main drag is East Carson Street in which there are three main subdivisions. Station Square is the furthest west of the various developments, located at the end of the Smithfield Street Bridge. As you drive to the east, you will encounter a gritty, eclectic neighborhood with second hand bookstores, tattoo parlours, antique stores, head shops, and restaurants to suit every taste and pocketbook, mostly local. This is a fun area, but is rapidly gentrifying as evidenced by increasing property values. Both of these, especially the two lane East Carson corridor, are worth separate trips to explore and enjoy.
At the top of the East Carson Street corridor, where two lanes turn into four, is the brand new SouthSide Works, located along the river. On its face, it resembles Legacy Village in Cleveland, much smaller, and Easton in Columbus, much bigger. Where it differs is that it was actually built into pre-existing buildings associated with a steel mill formerly located on the property. For the most part, it maintains an industrial feel, as do most of the new developments being built the further east you drive along East Carson Street.
For some reason, the developer opened the area in stages. In the beginning, there wasn’t a whole lot there. But progress has been steady, and as new buildings and stores have opened up, it is a pleasant place to walk around and enjoy, especially on a warm summer’s evening. All of these areas are defined as “mixed use”, in which the developer tries to intermingle condo housing, offices, and retail. Some of the efforts succeed, some of them don’t. But the nature of the Southside neighborhood is pushing this to success. If you want to live in the Southside but don’t want to have to put a ton of money into renovating the very old, existing housing stock, and would like to have a place to park your car, this is the place to go.
The SouthSide Works is built around a town square, the center of which boasts a Cheesecake Factory which can be described as nothing less than a Greek temple. When you walk into the square, you feel like you should pray to it. Surrounding the square are various establishments, including a Cineplex, and various other restaurants such as Claddagh Irish Pub, which is one of my favorite places. Upscale restaurants include the Hot Metal Grille (currently closed for renovations) and McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant.
There is no major retail anchor such as Macy’s located here. But there is an assortment of smaller retailers, some of which have come to be standard in these types of developments such as the Z Gallerie and Sur la Table Kitchen Store. I really like its version of the Joseph-Beth Booksellers chain, which tends to get some big name people into the establishment to sign books, especially Pittsburgh sports figures.
Big things are in store for the SouthSide Works. Approval and financing have just been granted for a $10.5 million 17 dock project giving river access to the development, as well as a major hotel and spa to be constructed on the opposite side of East Carson Street. When built, this area will become a major hub of Pittsburgh activity and recreation. In the meantime, it’s worth a visit. There is ample parking on the street and several decks. One word of warning, parking is paid for at vending machine type apparatii that can be a bit intimidating and don't always work.
The SouthSide Works
East Carson at 27th Steets
1-877-977-1880
Veteran's Housing in West Ridge, 1946-1947
To contact us Click HERE
A few months ago I wrote about an example of Defense Housing in Rogers Park built for war workers in 1942. These were the result of strict Federal guidelines permitting only defense-oriented projects to receive priority use of building materials. With the end of the war in sight by 1944 the country began to prepare to absorb about 16 million returning veterans. These soldiers had left in the middle of a decade-long housing shortage, and would be returning to all parts of the country, not just areas that had benefited from wartime construction.
Below is a draft of an article intended for the upcoming issue of AREA Chicago. It will probably change a bit once I get comments from the editors.
In September of 1946 the Chicago Tribune printed an article announcing plans for a 92 unit development intended for WWII veterans on 3.6 acres on Ridge Avenue, north of Devon. At the time this was a sparsely developed area, dotted with the single family frame houses and small truck farms which comprised much of the early character of West Ridge.
The architect was listed as Edwin H. Mittelbusher of Howard T. Fischer & Associates, Inc. Mittelbusher served as the Assistant Chief Architect for the Chicago office of the Federal Housing Administration from 1940 to 1945. Howard Fisher was the founder of General Housing, Inc. and pioneered the development of pre-fabricated housing. He served as the director of the development board of industrial housing for the National Housing Agency in 1946-1947. In short, this development was designed by people skilled at working within a bureaucracy.
The project itself consists of eight two-story brick veneer buildings with hipped roofs arranged around green inner courts. The outer courts accommodate parking areas. The buildings are a restrained version of the Colonial Revival, with modern touches, such as concrete sun shades on the first floor corners and entrance stairs illuminated with large glass block windows. They were constructed as a combination of 4 and 5 room rentals. This project was initiated under the Veteran's Emergency Housing Program (VEHP), but between the time these buildings were planned and when they were completed the VEHP became functionally obsolete.
The Veterans Emergency Housing Program was developed and proposed by Wilson Wyatt, former mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, at the direction of President Truman. The initial goal was to create 2.7 million housing units within two years to serve veterans, many of whom returned to crowded conditions and shared housing situations. To accomplish this wartime price and wage controls were intended to be maintained and priority was given to housing development through a series of initiatives. The bill establishing the VEHP was signed into law in May of 1946.
Six months later Republicans took control of Congress and eliminated much of the economic controls, resulting in a sharp increase in costs in response to pent-up demands. The program had been responsible for over 1 million housing starts in 1946, but many stood half-constructed due to shortages of building materials. Soon a home that would have sold for $6000 in 1945 was priced at $8,000. This was at a time when many veterans were marrying and beginning a family. Rather than buy a home at an inflated price many chose to find rental housing. This is the era reflected by the buildings in West Ridge constructed specifically for the returning veterans.
The construction of these brick buildings was advertised in the Chicago Tribune in November of 1946. The architects and builders are listed as Charles and Arthur Schreiber, who established their firm in 1938 and later went on to design many modernist structures in the Southwest. These 4 and 5 room rentals were intended to accommodate 74 veteran families. They are similar to earlier courtyard buildings in the neighborhood, but with large sunken courts and parking along the alley. The restrained details, portal windows, and limestone door surrounds suggest the Moderne style, which lent itself to construction on a budget.
In February of 1947 the Chicago Tribune published an article about these three buildings, which were constructed as cooperative housing for veterans and designed by architect Clarence Johnson. They're traditional in form and ornamentation, including decorative entrances, corner quoins, water tables and limestone details. These are located on wide lots but are quite shallow due to the cemetery immediately west. The cooperative ownership structure is unusual, and the article claims that this is one of Chicago's first cooperative apartment developments. Titles to these buildings were conveyed to a corporation, and each veteran buyer purchased shares of that corporation. Cooperative ownership was (and is) rare in Chicago, and has been largely eclipsed by condominium ownership. Of the three developments examined here, this is the only one which wasn't intended as a straight rental property.
While I don't intend this to be a comprehensive look at veteran's housing in Chicago (or even in West Ridge), it does provide some examples of the types of development which were feasible immediately following WWII. And in some ways it sets the stage for the suburban explosion of the 1950s, when affordable single family homes became widely available, changing the character of the American landscape.
Sources
1. The AIA Historical Directory of American Architects, 1956. Accessed online at http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/1956%20American%20Architects%20Directory.aspx
2. Chicago and Evanston Vet Apartment Units Approved. Chicago Daily Tribune; Sept. 8. 1946. Accessed through ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Tribune (1849-1988). Pg. NA
3. Work Started on Three New Flat Buildings. Chicago Daily Tribune; Nov.10, 1946. Accessed through ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Tribune (1849-1988). Pg. 43
4. Finish Homes in Early Vets’ Co-op Project. Chicago Daily Tribune; Feb. 23. 1947. Accessed through ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Tribune (1849-1988). Pg. WA.
5. To Hear Only Thunder Again: America’s World War II Veterans Come Home. Mark D. Ellis. Lexington Books, 2001. Accessed through Google eBooks.
6. The Veterans Emergency Housing Program. William Remington. Law and Contemporary Problems, Vo. 12, No. 1, Housing (Winter, 1947), pp. 143-173. Accessed through JSTOR.
A few months ago I wrote about an example of Defense Housing in Rogers Park built for war workers in 1942. These were the result of strict Federal guidelines permitting only defense-oriented projects to receive priority use of building materials. With the end of the war in sight by 1944 the country began to prepare to absorb about 16 million returning veterans. These soldiers had left in the middle of a decade-long housing shortage, and would be returning to all parts of the country, not just areas that had benefited from wartime construction.
Below is a draft of an article intended for the upcoming issue of AREA Chicago. It will probably change a bit once I get comments from the editors.
In September of 1946 the Chicago Tribune printed an article announcing plans for a 92 unit development intended for WWII veterans on 3.6 acres on Ridge Avenue, north of Devon. At the time this was a sparsely developed area, dotted with the single family frame houses and small truck farms which comprised much of the early character of West Ridge.
The architect was listed as Edwin H. Mittelbusher of Howard T. Fischer & Associates, Inc. Mittelbusher served as the Assistant Chief Architect for the Chicago office of the Federal Housing Administration from 1940 to 1945. Howard Fisher was the founder of General Housing, Inc. and pioneered the development of pre-fabricated housing. He served as the director of the development board of industrial housing for the National Housing Agency in 1946-1947. In short, this development was designed by people skilled at working within a bureaucracy.
 |
| Damen-Ridge Garden Apartments, 1946. Perspective view from Ridge looking Northwest. |
The Veterans Emergency Housing Program was developed and proposed by Wilson Wyatt, former mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, at the direction of President Truman. The initial goal was to create 2.7 million housing units within two years to serve veterans, many of whom returned to crowded conditions and shared housing situations. To accomplish this wartime price and wage controls were intended to be maintained and priority was given to housing development through a series of initiatives. The bill establishing the VEHP was signed into law in May of 1946.
Six months later Republicans took control of Congress and eliminated much of the economic controls, resulting in a sharp increase in costs in response to pent-up demands. The program had been responsible for over 1 million housing starts in 1946, but many stood half-constructed due to shortages of building materials. Soon a home that would have sold for $6000 in 1945 was priced at $8,000. This was at a time when many veterans were marrying and beginning a family. Rather than buy a home at an inflated price many chose to find rental housing. This is the era reflected by the buildings in West Ridge constructed specifically for the returning veterans.
 |
| 2212-30 W. Farwell and 2213-31 W. Morse, 1946. |
 |
| 6102-6122 N. Hamilton, 1947. |
While I don't intend this to be a comprehensive look at veteran's housing in Chicago (or even in West Ridge), it does provide some examples of the types of development which were feasible immediately following WWII. And in some ways it sets the stage for the suburban explosion of the 1950s, when affordable single family homes became widely available, changing the character of the American landscape.
Sources
1. The AIA Historical Directory of American Architects, 1956. Accessed online at http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/1956%20American%20Architects%20Directory.aspx
2. Chicago and Evanston Vet Apartment Units Approved. Chicago Daily Tribune; Sept. 8. 1946. Accessed through ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Tribune (1849-1988). Pg. NA
3. Work Started on Three New Flat Buildings. Chicago Daily Tribune; Nov.10, 1946. Accessed through ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Tribune (1849-1988). Pg. 43
4. Finish Homes in Early Vets’ Co-op Project. Chicago Daily Tribune; Feb. 23. 1947. Accessed through ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Tribune (1849-1988). Pg. WA.
5. To Hear Only Thunder Again: America’s World War II Veterans Come Home. Mark D. Ellis. Lexington Books, 2001. Accessed through Google eBooks.
6. The Veterans Emergency Housing Program. William Remington. Law and Contemporary Problems, Vo. 12, No. 1, Housing (Winter, 1947), pp. 143-173. Accessed through JSTOR.
Phone cam round-up, Las Vegas edition: strippity-doo-da
To contact us Click HERE
Yeah, yeah. I was there for 24 whole hours and didn't sin once. Unless a couple of vodkas count.
Bubbles on the strip
Not sure how I felt about these girls. I mean, how does Gia, who is on special for $45, feel about Bella, who's going for $150? Does Bella ever have a "special" price? How come none of these "classy and discreet" ladies are ever named Joanne or Sally?
... and I wonder how many times Carmen & Marissa ($99 two-girl special) have visited this darling establishment. Hooters indeed.
Many go in. No one comes out.
Lil' black dresses with a bunch of nails on the boob part.
So my ship finally comes in and it's on top of some restaurant inside a Las Vegas shopping mall. Go figure.
Mop head in the mirror.
Bumpy soap and I love it.
Freakazoid chandelier in the lobby of my hotel.
Just the Strip being strippish.
Dining with the fabulous Suzanne Ouellette Mastrion at Mario's place.
Is it a humble bow or a wondrous glance skyward. Guess it's both.
Inside Steve Wynn's dazzling hotel.
Outside Steve Wynn's dazzling hotel.
The Miracle Mile was awful lonesome at 6 a.m. Sunday morning.
A cloud of butterflies bid me au revoir at McCarran Airport.
Bye Las Vegas!
* * *
Yeah, yeah. I was there for 24 whole hours and didn't sin once. Unless a couple of vodkas count.
Bubbles on the strip
Not sure how I felt about these girls. I mean, how does Gia, who is on special for $45, feel about Bella, who's going for $150? Does Bella ever have a "special" price? How come none of these "classy and discreet" ladies are ever named Joanne or Sally?
... and I wonder how many times Carmen & Marissa ($99 two-girl special) have visited this darling establishment. Hooters indeed.
Many go in. No one comes out.
Lil' black dresses with a bunch of nails on the boob part.
So my ship finally comes in and it's on top of some restaurant inside a Las Vegas shopping mall. Go figure.
Mop head in the mirror.
Bumpy soap and I love it.
Freakazoid chandelier in the lobby of my hotel.
Just the Strip being strippish.
Dining with the fabulous Suzanne Ouellette Mastrion at Mario's place.
Is it a humble bow or a wondrous glance skyward. Guess it's both.
Inside Steve Wynn's dazzling hotel.
Outside Steve Wynn's dazzling hotel.
The Miracle Mile was awful lonesome at 6 a.m. Sunday morning.
A cloud of butterflies bid me au revoir at McCarran Airport.
Bye Las Vegas!
* * *
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