MayDay

One last thing - not all vendors accept credit/debit cards; or those that do impose a minimum purchase (usually $10.00). There's an ATM on-site near Campbell's popcorn/candy stand, but with that comes fees.

I preface the following with - I'm a Market regular, I attend "church" at two places in this city - the Cleveland Museum of Art and the West Side Market (no disrespect to any church or religious institution, but I worship at the altars of Art and Food). That said, I could write a novel so I apologize in advance: My first question would be - are you going to just check things out, or to actually go shopping for food, or both - and if so, to what degree? My basic suggestions for a Saturday visit - first and foremost, take it all in but don't try to do it all at once. The Market's not a "once a year" kind of place but it can be overwhelming the first time around. 1. If you plan to pick up a few things, bring a canvas/shopping bag or two - you'd be surprised how much plastic bags filled with meat/produce can feel like tourniquets on your hands. 2. On Saturday, the earlier, the better - 7am is too early since not all vendors are open yet but by 10am, the parking lot is usually 90+% full and the produce arcade is as easy to navigate as Times Square on a weekend. If you can get there around 8ish-9ish, things are lively but not crazybusy. Depending on what time you're there, we might bump into each other. If you can get there during the week before noon - that's the best; it's not dead but it's not so busy you can't chat with the vendors. 3. Park in the Market's lot. Do NOT park in the strip plaza on the south side of Lorain. There are warning signs everywhere but I've heard of so many people who got towed. 4. Don't go on an empty stomach - if you do, *everything* will look too good to pass up. The ideal breakfast would be buckeye1's suggestion - grabbing coffee (or tea or whatever) from City Roast and a crepe from Crepes de Luxe next door, and making your way up to the balcony (the door is just adjacent to City Roast - ask them, they'll point you in the right direction). Failing that, the West Side Market cafe makes some great breakfast dishes. No matter when you visit the Market: 1. Please - do not be one of those people who drones along zombielike in the middle of the aisle and then comes to a sudden stop because "wow, someone is selling pomegranates for 50 cents a piece!" or "that guy is slicing up fresh pineapple and giving slices away for free!!!". Just be aware of your surroundings, that it's likely someone is *right* behind you trying to make their way through so they can finish their shopping for the day; if you're just there to take it all in - that's wonderful, but be aware/respectful of those who don't have as much time. Also be aware that the vendors need people like us to not just be tourists, we have to support them. Not saying to buy anything you don't need, and don't be afraid to ask for a sample but don't be the people I've seen who ask for a dozen samples and end up buying nothing. 2. This applies to the produce arcade - if someone is offering an unbelievable amount of produce for a dirt cheap price; it's about to go bad. If you can use 5 pounds of tomatoes THAT evening, great; if not, don't buy them and think they'll keep for more than 12 hours. As KJP said, you get what you pay for - I'm a Market regular and I've never bought a batch of produce because someone was hawking it for dirt cheap. Also along those lines - if you come across a vendor who gets p!ssy when you want to pick your own produce - WALK AWAY. Do NOT let them try to talk you into buying a bag they've had behind the counter. Most of the produce vendors are honest people but there are some sketchy types and the dead giveaway is when they won't let you pick your own. Feel free to PM me for my list of preferred produce folks (as well as the "stay away" list). 3. The prepared foods and bakery in the main building - that's where I advocate the "don't try to do it all in one day" approach. You have so many amazing places - aka reasons to come back on another visit.

"And I also highly recommend doing the John Hancock Observation deck instead of the willis(sears) tower. And if you can, do it at night. You will be blown away!" Yes, the observation deck at the Hancock is great - it's on the 94th floor. However, MUCH BETTER (imho) is the Signature Room Lounge on the 96th floor of the Hancock Center. No admission charge other than an overpriced beer or cocktail - same views, but with a bar! :-) http://www.signatureroom.com/Signature-Lounge/

^I'll drink to that! In all seriousness I think the intentions are good but I don't care for places that have to spell out their appeal like that.

"Thought exercise: Odds that any elected Republican officeholder above the rank of coroner in Ohio would call for the complete elimination of all township governments in Ohio and their consolidation into their respective counties?" They *could*... I doubt they'd stay in office long. I'd be afraid of the sentiments left on their voicemails too. (I say this as someone born and raised in a township and knowing all too well how well a proposal like that would go over).

It's absolutely criminal that the "Great Expectations" episode of 'Living Single' isn't available for purchase on its own. MTS, do something about that!

They work just fine and give us a nice overview of what's going on. If you're able, getting closer to the glass will cut down on some of the reflections - if I'm shooting from inside a building, I'll sometimes place the camera lens ON the glass. Even if you can't, please feel free to post photos like these :-)

Thanks for the photos - and welcome to the forum!

^Where's that 'pot/kettle' graphic when you need it?

"I'm shocked that YOU of all people dont give them the "You f*ckin' moron" look!" If they were making these requests in person, I would; along with a "kill them with kindness" suggestion of who else is better able to deal with their f#cking ineptness, laziness and stupidity handle their request. :-)

It's a pottery kiln from back in the day - East Liverpool (and Wellsville) was a major center of pottery production.

I'm a GenXer - I'm big on the DIY approach aka don't go bothering other people to help you figure something out, until you've tried to figure it out yourself and/or exhausted all venues trying to figure it out on your own. It's okay if you eventually have to ask for help, but in my book - that's the final step, not the default. It's my own damn fault for exercising my critical thinking skills and making use of available technology. :roll: If it's computer software - in the year 2011, most programs have this cute little thing called a HELP button - it doesn't solve everything but it sure as sh!t can tell you how to do the mundane sh!t I've been bothered with lately. Heck, be adventurous and google "how to add ____ to ____" - it's anonymous and free! No one has to know the level of your ineptness!! God bless 'em, my folks learned how to upload files via FTP in their retirement, surely someone with a professional career of several decades can manage to customize a setting or two in standard office software, right? Yeah - been one of those weeks. :x

"Some kind of new economic model or tax-reduction based investment policy will have to be offered to make these places attractive and level the economic playing field in order to make them competitive with the large regional urban centers. (cities) Otherwise, IMHO, the countless fading American small towns from coast to coast will be gone in another generation or two." As a native of Columbiana County, I've always wondered how the smaller villages like Wellsville, Leetonia, etc. would survive over the years. The small towns like East Liverpool and Salem (around 12K population each) have had it rough but they're both large enough to offer something in the way of service-related jobs (hospital, a handful of banks, a regional KSU campus), etc. - at least for another generation. I just can't imagine how places smaller than that are hanging on through the economy we've had, when there's so little to compel younger folks to stay.

^You're still single, right? Who'da thunk? :evil:

^Sorry - is that a selection of ten different martinis for $10.00 each? Or are we talking TEN martinis for a buck each? My two favorite local happy hours are Lava Lounge (great food and drink specials AND it lasts until 8pm) and Bac (great food specials, drink specials are standard as far as price, but the different cocktails are awesome).

My "nancy-ass" comment was rhetorical for the most part - and clearly - if you don't negotiate, and your kid listens, you're not who I'm venting about. And yeah, no teacher ever had to even consider that with me because they knew my parents had that covered and had dibs on beating me senseless and aside from the "go to your room" swat, that's all the corporal discipline I got. My parents wouldn't have it any other way, and I think you're from the same school. Hear me out. I'm talking about the many parents I've encountered who have bought into the 'permissive' school of thought, and read every study that suggests that any slight hint of discipline will stunt the kid's expressiveness/growth. I repeat, not advocating anything beyond a light swat on the rear to get their attention - but apparently that constitutes abuse nowadays. AKA if the kid decides to throw a screaming tantrum in the grocery store (it's always the grocery store, and ALWAYS when I'm in earshot), well just let them scream it out for 20 minutes! Oh goodness, someone might call Childrens Services if they dare attempt to discipline their kid. I will never forget the time at the grocery store when I heard some gal say "now now, that kind of behavior isn't appropriate and you're making Mommy upset. Isn't there a better way to resolve this?" - with. a. toddler.. That's where I start saying "are you kidding me? quit being a nancy@ss and start being a parent!".

"i'm sure we could all go on and on or at least have relatives who could!" No on both counts. Not to be a Debbie Downer, and I'm not suggesting all these great memories and stories don't have their place. There's nothing wrong with looking back with fondness for how things used to be, but sometimes I've seen that played out as "well, if you weren't born/raised in Cleveland and don't share these memories, to heck with ya...". I have no extended family here, my first visit that I can remember was in 1978 and the next was in 1988; I never set foot in Euclid Beach Park, or the Union Terminal pre-Tower City, never shopped at Halles, Higbees, etc. but that didn't stop me from writing a book or building a website about this city, did it? I'm the first to say that I'm not a native Clevelander. But - on more than one occasion, I've had a native Clevelander scoff that I wasn't born or raised here and couldn't relate to their waxing nostalgic of this, that and the other.

Research? Studies?!? Pfft!?! What kind of nancy-ass gives a flying sh!t about what a study "suggests"? Do those people have to pay your kids' bail? If you're a dad and you want your kids to behave, play rugby - and let the kids watch, especially if they're around kindergarten age and *especially* during a game where you collide head-on with an opponent. Don't worry if the other guy gets carried off on a stretcher, he'll be okay - and it's okay that you need help off the field, and *really* don't worry about that three-inch gash on your head that's streaming blood all down your face - just let Mom (in nursing school at the time) stitch it up fieldside. Mind you, she thought she'd either be a widower or taking care of a paraplegic and raising the two kids that just witnessed the whole horrific event, but nah - a little needle, rubbing alcohol and stitchwork and you're good to go! Take about ten minutes to rest up and recover, then go back out into the game. You'll never need to spank your kids except for a swat on the rear as they're being sent to their room. I'm just saying - if anything will put the "fear of god" into your kids, it's letting them watch you play rugby (and them realizing that not only are you a crazy barbarian, but Mom is the one who can keep you from killing us). I'm almost 40 and one *scowl* from my dad shuts me up! So when I see some nincompoop trying to "negotiate" with their tantrum-throwing five year old - give me a break, be a parent, discipline your kid (within reason) and quit worrying about "oh golly gosh, what ever might they think about me?!?".

Apparently, "NYC" stands for "NancYassesConfirmed"! ;-)

I use the Babylon layout - will there be something similar after the redesign?

I always enjoy your photo threads - thanks for treating us to another great set :-)

Not really a crush, but I think Sophie Ellis Bextor (British pop star) is stunning, has great style, a sense of humor, and I love that you can pick up on her accent when she sings (some singers lose it when performing): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1sKhvcABH8#ws

I always thought Brian Bloom was quite attractive http://www.life.com/image/103127049

For those who are concerned about the church on Euclid - look at who owns 8615 Euclid (the property immediately east).