What's to like about Cleveland?

Plenty!

Lake Erie and life that revolves with the seasonal flux of this proud body of freshwater.

Walking through the Northern Ohio Food Terminal vibrant with color and life while visiting the commission houses in search of a box of limes or avocados at five a.m. All the great dedicated people who choose to reside here.

Buying fruit or seasonal vegetables from the kind gentleman farmer from Northeast, Pennsylvania who sets up shop from his truck bed next to the Middle East Bakery and Saint Maron's church on Carnegie Road every Sunday morning during harvest.

This farmer's marketing is unique in that the length of nearbye Woodland Avenue was formerly a curbside market stretching eastward from the old Central Market to East 55Th Street, for the majority late nineteenth and early to mid-twentieth century and his stand is the last link in a time honored tradition.

All items for sale are home grown, and last Sunday produced late season tomatoes, a variety of apples, peppers, kale, parsley, and a stunning variety of colorful eggplants. The great swatch of urban greenery that comprises still the tree's that gave name to Cleveland as "The Forest City."

The restored majestic theatres of Playhouse Square and the robust life they provide for an otherwise drunk and addled sports oriented downtown.

The interesting International district along Payne, Saint Clair, and Superior avenues east of downtown, naively referred to as "Chinatown" by the local media, which is a unique blend of Oriental, Occidental, and Hispanic populations and the flavors they are comprised of. Stopping on a Sunday morning to listen to and take in a lively storefront church service whose sanctified chorus stills the heart and gives truer meaning to the word religion.

Hot fresh hand twisted breads from Presti's bakery on Mayfield Road.

Corbo's Bakery across the street on Mayfield Road for cassata cake, lemon ice, or any sweet treat. Smoked meats from Zagreb meats on Saint Clair Avenue, do not miss his smoked pork tenderloins!

A stroll through the City off Cleveland greenhouses just east off Martin Luther King Blvd. south of the Interstate 90 exit.

Fishing off the rocks behind the old Cleveland Public Power plant on the North Marginal Road.

The Seven Roses Delicatessen on Fleet Street in the Slavic Village neighborhood. Music and good times at The Beachland Ballroom in North Collinwood, the most creative, unique, and well run music venue in the State of Ohio, and one of the finest clubs in operation in The United States of America.

The downtown Cleveland Public Library and its great collections spanning two buildings and multiple floors.

Can't say enough good words about CPL, with the Cleveland Museum of Art closed for remodeling check out what this biblio treasure house has to offer. Open Sundays thru the springtime.

All the great citizens of this struggling city and their hopes and dreams! The charming old school ambiance of The Bookstore On West 25th street, just six storefront steps north of the West Side Market along West 25th Street.

Hot dogs, chili, and coffee at the Old Fashioned Hot Dog on Lorain Road, open late most evening!

Book selling time!

November is here already and if anyone out there would like to get a head start on the Holiday season we can offer a slew of suggestions, including a seasonal title by Charles Dickens, his A CHRISTMAS CAROL, this volume is quite rare, and has been avidly collected since its publication.

Hats off to John and Kim, and all my family.

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