Waking To A Lake Erie Dawn

Dinner With Our Ohio Family

Lake Erie at 6:40

It's 7:15 and I am sitting in my sister's house in Euclid, Ohio, as Lake Erie slowly becomes visible.  It looks like another gray, Chautauqua like day here on Lake Erie.  In past years, the lake might have been frozen by now but I doubt if it will freeze at all this year although since yesterday afternoon, global warming has been abolished.

Yesterday was a fun and exciting day for us, a road trip to Ohio.  We did not leave until 10:30, driving off in a downpour, not the best omen for a day in Cleveland.  The drive, however, was easy as the roads were practically devoid of traffic.  We left for Cleveland, leaving my brother in law behind, because he had to wait for the cable guy, alas, with one of those 1:00-4:00 windows which relegate you to your house for the afternoon.

West Side Market

Our first goal was to visit the West Side Market, one of my favorite spots to visit in Cleveland, in fact, a place I always took my English classes to each year.  It's changed dramatically, at least the area has, since I last visited in 2009.  The market has been modernized though it still retains the early 20th century vibe.  What's changed is the area, as it's slowly becoming gentrified as the old places, like the Middle Eastern Grocery Store is now a hip, cool beer bar and restaurant.  Some of the same places are still there, like the Greek deli where we able to get some Bulgarian kashkaval cheese.  The visit started, as always, with brats with sauerkraut from a stand that's been in the market for at least 50 years.  We then browsed at the small stands, mostly meats and ethic foods of all kinds.  We did not buy alot, some Italian bread for dinner, and later, lamb kidneys for this mornings breakfast.  As we walked outside the market, marveling at the all the chic new bistros, we ran into old high school friends from Euclid, enjoying a lunch out, Carl and Coletta.

Napoleons From Farkas Bakery

I wanted to see if my favorite Hungarian bakery was still in operation, making Napoleons.  And Farkas Bakery was still functioning under a new owner as Mr. Farkas had retired.  We bought four luscious Napoleons for dessert, then headed back to our car in a soft rain.

We then drove down Carnegie Avenue to University Circle, about 15 minutes, to the newly renovated Cleveland Art Museum.  It took eight years and cost 350 million dollars and it's magnificent.  Now, as we walk in the main entrance, we are greeted by a vast, 39,000 square foot, glass atrium, a bookstore and restaurant at one end.

Cleveland Art Museum's Atrium

Rodin

Portrait by Degas - ala "Trout"

It was shocking because this was our first time back since it was renovated.  It always was one of the great museums in the States but now it rivals many in the world.  We browsed for a couple of hours, enjoying the newly developed 'Pastels' section the most.  It was a perfect way to spend the day since nothing else much was going on.

Rodin And Me In New Gallery

We were home by 5:00, after driving through some of the old sections of Cleveland, specifically Bratenahl, where all the mansions still stand along the lake.  My sister Linda had made a couple of lasagnas for dinner and had invited some of her kids and grandchildren over for dinner, so we could see them.

Grandpa And Grandson

 So it was a fun night, great food, wine, and family, as we enjoyed appetizers before dinner, caught up on all the lives of the grandchildren, things like which colleges they were considering or what sport they were playing.  Everyone headed home by 9:00, and we then relaxed in the family room, ended our evening with a highball in honor or my parents who always enjoyed a late evening highball.

Today, we will head off around 10:00, stopping first at Trader Joe's on Chagrin Boulevard, picking up some of our favorite goodies, then meeting our good friend Vi at the Manhattan Deli in Mentor for lunch before driving back to the lake.

Modern American Woman

And finally, kudos to my nephew Pat and his daughter, Grace, a junior at Miami University.  They drove yesterday to Washington, D.C. to participate in today's Women's March, one of many across the US in support of women's rights.