Alrighty, just a quick group of pics - as I stated in the Urbanbar http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,17557.0.html, my partner wanted to go somewhere that had an actual pumpkin patch, not just pumpkins for sale just chucked out in front of a market. I on the other hand, would need somewhere with good beer on tap - after all I grew up in small-town environs so the novelty is lost on me, but at least I'll have good beer. So he wanted an authentic "country bumpkin pumpkin" experience, I just wanted a place nearby with something on tap besides Coors and Bud.

 

So after a little bit of googling and calling around we found Monroe's Orchard near Hiram/Garrettsville - a little picked over but there were still a few on the vine and we got what we were looking for. My partner chuckled when I grabbed a box cutter before we left, he wasn't chuckling when he grabbed a pumpkin by the handle and the "thorns" got him ;-) I guess you can take the bumpkin out of the country but you can never take the country out of the bumpkin ;-) Oh, and if you're in the area - Sean's Pub in Garrettsville - the Sweet Heat wings, and the $3.50 16-oz Guiness and Bass (and the $2.25 22-oz. Shocktop) get my vote! Onto the photos:

 

Of course we first have to contend with the Vortex of Death (aka the roundabout on West 14th):

 

Fortunately we made it and were treated to a decent view of downtown:

 

Onto I-480 where we see the Sh!ttyCityView shopping center, built on top of a landfill - they've already lost some tenants because the methane alarms keep going off. Yeah, let's see - building this dreck in an oversaturated market, and then building it on a landfill - brillllliant!!! :roll:

 

Anyway, off we go to the bucolic countryside...

 

Oh that's right, this is ex-urbia where they rip out all the trees and then name the streets after them:

 

Office-park dreck in Solon:

 

"Residents of the most spread-out locale, Ohio's Geauga County, outside Cleveland, weighed on average 6.3 lbs. more than those living in the most condensed, Manhattan. Geauga County residents were also 29% more likely to have high blood pressure than New Yorkers. (So much for the stresses of city life.) One possible reason: people who lived in the 25 most sprawling counties walked an average of 191 min. a month, compared with 254 min. a month for those living in the 25 densest counties."

http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/covers/1101040607/article/the_walking_cure_car_ce01a.html

 

 

No idea, looked like it was the "community center" for a cul-de-sac:

 

Alright enough freeway crap, off the Route 44 exit to Route 82... THIS is more like it!

 

A brief zip through Hiram - sorry, no time to stop, we were hungry:

 

 

 

 

Okay, we're getting closer - the main drag of Garrettsville:

 

And our lunch destination! http://www.slimandjumbos.com/acorn.php?page=seans_pub&PHPSESSID=0f8008eff4eac6d7ddce0174b5ce3e84

 

A slightly out-of-place but utterly charming historic commercial strip:

 

Off we go to get the pumpkins:

 

Looking for Linus, Sally and Snoopy:

 

I'm guessing the sign on the right...

 

Is there for the people who live in places like those on the left (aka "let's move to the country but then b!tch when we're held up in traffic by a farmer")

 

Looks lovely, right? Yeah, it's a public hunting area - my partner and I weren't sure if we were in season or not so we high-tailed it outta there!

 

And back...

 

To where we belong - hope you enjoyed!

 

Nice pics Pumpkin!

 

oh....You didn't show us a pic of the pumpkin(s) you picked.

Yeah show the one you picked. If you're carving it, we want to see the design, too lol.

Not much to report - we picked up four, all about the size of a soccer ball. :?

 

More importantly, I got some mulling spices - and I'm now enjoying some mulled wine  :drunk:

What is mulled wine?  I've never heard that before.

^Basically you take a tea infuser, fill it with mulling spices*, and set it in a pot of whatever you're mulling (aka simmering with mulling spices). Most people use cider or a red wine (nothing fancy, just an everyday cab or pinot noir). Just a heads-up, it's very warming, and it makes the booze go RIGHT to your head. But there's nothing better when it's a chilly night in front of a warm fire.

 

* http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-mulling-spices.htm

Interesting.  Who knew?

HelLO, one has to have the appropriate booze for every season and temperature! :drunk:

HelLO, one has to have the appropriate booze for every season and temperature! :drunk:

Well you know I'm just a rare drinker.  The only alcohol I have in the house is champagne, Belvedere, Grand Marnier, and a Riesling.  I can't even make a mixed drink.

nice fall pics. I have been to Hirim once, also in the fall, via back roads. It is a cute town

You two...

 

Anyway, what a disturbing trip.  You and country pumpkins.  Christ, McCain might just get elected...

^The pumpkins weren't MY idea! I'd be just as happy to swing by Dave's or wherever and be done with it, but hey - I gotta keep my better half happy!

disturbing is that mccain is going to win in a landslide.

 

but politics aside, i loved this thread. charming! and mayday you are a good s.o., too.

 

i agree with david, let's see the carved pumpkin followup/finale when you can get to it.

 

Oh...Garrettsville is now on my list.

The pumpkins aren't getting carved, they're probably going to end up as pies. And I ain't sharing those! :-D

 

Ink, I didn't the chance but if you go I've heard that Hiram (not far from Garrettsville) has a nice campus and apparently Garrettsville has some sort of riverwalk, or an old mill on the river... it might be incredibly lame or utterly charming - no idea. Anyway I found some details on the Portage County tourism site, but I'm not sure how up-to-date this info is:

 

Garrettsville Boardwalk

Bordering Silver Creek with shops, restaurants and the historic Garretts Mill which features an operating grist mill, restaurant and micro-brewery. Garretts Mill is located at 8148 Main Street, Garrettsville OH 44231

Hours: Mon - Thurs 11-10 pm, Fri 11-11 pm, Sat 11-2 pm/4-11 pm, Sun 11-4 pm

330-527-4080  330-527-4078

 

Regardless, Sean's Pub is good for beer and cheap-ish but good eats!

oh come on, how many pies can you eat? you can at least spare one pumpkin to carve up as well as you do off-topic uo threads (which is excellently well btw)!  :laugh:

what a great idea for a trip... pleasant, gentle countryside... though the exurban mcmansions are loathsome... DESTROY THEM!

what a great idea for a trip... pleasant, gentle countryside... though the exurban mcmansions are loathsome... DESTROY THEM!

 

Agreed.  I'll get the matches.  Darnit, I just had a thought.  If the "homes" are destroyed, homeowners will rebuild and I fear the replacement homes will be even uglier!  ugh.