Now that my family has land that we may use for a while, we are growing our own food... and enough for many other families, it seems. One $1.07 packet of radish seeds planted in May is already many pounds of crisp, bright, beautiful, healthy fresh veggies... and eating my first fresh radish of my life taught me radishes are actually delicious. Same for Kale, and all the varieties of lettuce covering our farmland... really fresh pesto is to die for... can't wait for the carrots and shallots!

My favorite view of Cleveland

You know what they say about a "new mouse trap"...that there is always a new wrinkle, and a new way to make an improvement.    

A twist on the nearly-finished new mural at 806 martini bar in Tremont...

Their idea of investment.  Last time, I rode my bike by this site, it smelled of gas fumes.  Actually, you can ride your bike throughout Cleveland and catch two kinds of gas smells--natural gas, because the pipes throughout the city are corroding--and, methane gas, from the sanitary sewer lines.

Maurice Small is the most economically and ecologically sensible planner I know.

Joe Stanley, Sudhir Kade and I have been brainstorming with City Fresh's Maurice Small about "I GRO EC" - Independent Green Republic Of East Cleveland. City Fresh already operates a Fresh Stop at Huron Road Hospital - which Maurice reports is doing great - and is active in community farming in East Cleveland. Recently, we've been discussing City Fresh having an involvement converting Brown's Convenient store into a pilot City Fresh Market, which could offer a paradigm-shifting model for bringing local food, farming and their economies into very needy urban neighborhoods, in very innovative and important ways.

Where do the tracks take us?  Pondering the fate of trains in America.

This shot was taken with a simple, plastic box camera--no gizmos.

My brother made an aluminum bow in his high school vocational metals class.  That thing could really fire an arrow.   But nothing like today.  And now we have added inertial reaction dampers.  Wait til you see!

Dress of Chiefs of the Village of Atonkwa near Elmina, Ghana - Nana Kodwo Eduakwa V and Nana Kra Kwamina II - at a reception at the Ashe Cultural Center in Cleveland

Chiefs meeting in Cleveland

 

I am continuing my theme of kites driving the economy.   Today I introduce another type of kite - this kite is an exhilarating  transportation vehicle.   With fuel prices going up (which is good) our entertainment outlets will be modified.  Power boats will be the losers, and wind powered sports will be the winner (which is good).

The Euc is back. The Euclid Tavern has reopened and is again setting the scene and hosting diverse live music in University Circle. Long a favorite Cleveland concert club, launchpad for visual artist Derek Hass, favorite mainstage for 1,000s of local and travelling acts, closed since 2001, the Euc was recently bought and renovated by local entrepreneurs of the Ciofani family, owners of Comm Steel, who believe in Cleveland and the Triangle, Star and Circle neighborhoods. They've put up some serious money and invested real sweat equity to make the new Euc a major destination.

"Speak softly and carry a big stick" is a military philosophy. 

 I suggest another: "speak and use appreciation to direct your adversary".   

I was saddened to learn today that the excellent Northeast Ohio painter - a Cleveland Institute of Art graduate and productive artist - Scott Miller passed away, this weekend. I'm sure detals will follow here and in other arts media. My mother taught Scott at CIA and remembers him as a great talent, who lived life his own way. Scott just had a powerful show of recent work at Gray's Auctioneers Gallery, in December 2007, at which I shot these photos of Scott and his work - I'll post more later.

If these are average Clevelanders, living in older urban neighborhoods like around University Circle their entire lives, they have been lead poisoned, perhaps severely. Thursday morning, May 22nd, join 100s of NEOs leaders concerned with our community's health, intelligence, safety and economy meeting at the Cleveland Natural History Museum for a free breakfast, keynote discussion and breakout sessions about lead poisoning and urban redevelopment. I guarantee you will leave this brief event with a completely realigned understanding of the core barriers to the success of our urban neighborhoods, leading to better planning for a healthy, effective region in the future.

This certainly has been a perfect spring for flowering trees, still exploding with color all over the near East Side. Here are some views at Lakeview Cemetery, where the plantings are exceptional any time of year, and especially about now. Check it out!

It’s time to come out from hiding, Sherrod.

Sen. Sherrod Brown doesn’t want to make a choice in the Democratic primary race.

But it’s time for him to show some courage. Bite the bullet and give us your choice for the Democratic nominee.

Please join Convivium33 Gallery and the Cleveland Institute of Art Ceramics' Department Icons/instructors, Judith Salomon and William Brouillard, as we meet, greet and share stories in an open forum Question& Answer reception.

What is a "Green Roof" and what does it look like?

At the house on Roxbury, the green roof is where the raccoons still live.

Little Italy has always been core to my REAL NEO experience. From earliest childhood memories,  my family has always had many meals at various Little Italy restaurants, each year, as well as picking-up an occasional pizza (where else in NEO but Mama Santas or Valentino's... well, do try the Gelatoria at Fairhill). I also love getting Lemon Ice and other goodies at Corbos. with their unusual greeting of "Leave the gun, take the cannoli"... as authentic as life gets, in NEO. Last night, I noticed Corbos moved next door to their old home, to a remodeled new space (much as Prestis did, a few years ago) Little Italy has always been a great hyper-local neighborhood, where people live, work, eat and socialize together within, and interact well with the world without. There's always lots of private rehab and strong entrepreneurial business activity here, off the Med-O-Mart grid. Which makes me ask you, what matters to the hyper-local economy in your neighborhood, and how is that doing.

One great thing about a gravel driveway is you can hear them coming.

This afternoon, Claes and I were chilling at home in East Cleveland, minding our own business, when we heard that crunch of rocks under heavy tires. Then the slam of a car door, and heavy feet on the front porch... another drive-by had arrived. It's been happening regularly since we started renovating the house on Roxbury, late last Summer.... especially on a beautiful day like today.

Welcome to The Star Market and Cafe! What would make you walk, ride and drive out of your way and stop here? When? Why? Now is the time for Star Neighborhood Development to reinvent a blighted urban convenient store into a community asset. But how? That depends on you. What will you support here?

We have all attended meetings where you leave feeling you didn’t get to say what was on your mind; your brainy thoughts never saw the light of day – you may never get your chance. 

 

Here is an April 21, 2008 image of the MIT sailing club practicing with MIT designed TECH dinghies in an east wind on the Charles River Basin between Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts.   This area used to be a tidal estuary a hundred or more years ago, but is now separated from the Atlantic by a control lock – though thousands of  Alewife run up fish ladders to spawn.  

There are dozens of power boat clubs, sailing clubs and rowing clubs which line the Charles River from the first upstream falls in Watertown, Massachusetts (at the west end of the Basin) to the east end Locks.

Cleveland's integration - for recreation - of its river-side and lake-side water resources pales in comparison to the water-side recreational access provided by Boston and Toronto and Chicago. 

While Ed Hauser sticks up for one of  the only decent public park on the waterfront in Cleveland, the Dirty Dealer whines shrilly for it's corporate pal - Eaton – with panicky advocacy for an empty-headed "corporate campus" on the Lakefront. 

Boy oh Buoy! - Cleveland doesn't get it.

All species, all races, everywhere, we all must eat, frequently, so we humans may as well eat well. I prefer to eat at home, food I prepare,  of ingredients I know, in a kitchen I trust... there are few restaurants in the world that make me happier than homemade. But I certainly turn to experts for advice on food selection and preparation, and many of my favorite books - the ones I read over and over, and can't do without  - are cookbooks. I find all types interesting... international, ethnic, historical, regional... and consider many required reading. I'd be interesting for other foodie realneo members who share an interest in cooking to share their favorite cookbooks... some of mine are the header for today...

As we begin a new Spring - a new beginning - what are you doing to green your republic?

Here are some images of the neighborhoods known as Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre.

Becky's on about E 18Th and Chester used to be choked with smoke.   The smoke is gone now - thank you very much.   Parking is free in the Becky's lot.   Good salads and fried eats.

Max Hayes Vocational High School is the vocational school in Cleveland, Ohio.   A larger varienty of courses are taught than just the six on the sign. 

Apis Mellifera carts DNA around like gaiters.   For flowers and fruit, the casual visits of the bees are crucial.