Autumn on Cleveland’s Near West Side–Happy All Hallow’s Eve!

A small splash of color on my street

Did the Halloween eye result from the Curse of the Mummy Pumpkin?

Seasonal. That’s the word that kept flitting about in my mind today. It’s been a true autumn day, and a real Halloween (that’s opposed to a sprinkling of unseasonable 60 degree Cleveland Halloweens in the past decade). Admittedly, the foliage is wonky; plenty of trees are still green and vigorous, and relatively few are colorific. Still, there’s a rich, earthy scent in the air, a golden glow around dusk(when it isn’t raining), and enough of a chill in the air to keep the RTA fairly spare of bus stop malingerers. I don’t remember many Halloween decorations in my PA childhood–with the exception of a tp’ed house, soaped windows, or chalked sidewalks (we had both Chalk Night and Mischief Night the two days before the holiday, and I would trick myself out in dark clothing, armed with the hose, ready to face any miscreants who might be walking by, egg in hand. Unfortunately, my night as protectress never garnered any young hooligans). Of course, we did have real pumpkins with real candles–I have a fabulously malicious demonic pumpkin right now, courtesy the art students’ organization at CSU–though he is not a lantern, I love him nonetheless.

The Thrifty BonVivant earlier this week, looking mysterious for Halloween--eye intact

The shudderingly gruesome Halloween Eye

I discovered my first year on the Near West that kids in this neighborhood don’t trick and treat–they go to the now-renovating Zone Rec Center for a big party (in fact, I can hear the little ghouls passing right now). Is it because of chainlink fences and nasty dogs? Too high a percentage of registered sex offenders? They sound cheerful, but I miss seeing costumes. No matter–I’m going out in a minute to light the grill and enjoy a last non-shivery barbecue. But I’ve already had plenty of Halloween today. This weekend I discovered a…ughh…lumpy pimple near my eye, along brow bone skin. Did I remember my mother’s dictum to “just leave it alone”? Of course, but I ignored it–though I was not too interfering with it. But it hurt, and I took advice to regularly clean it with alcohol (being careful not to get it in my eye, of course), and dab peroxide on it. This would weed it out! I complied–ouch. But it was a mistake. By yesterday, the skin below my eye and the lid had swollen, and had not receded  by this morning. Since I couldn’t get to a CVS Minute Clinic yesterday–talk less of Kaiser–it was time to visit the clinic at work this morning. My doctor checked me out thoroughly, told me to listen to my mother, and said it wasn’t really an allergic reaction–that my body had perceived my gentle prodding as trauma, and promptly padded itself with edema, much like a boxer who’d taken a punch. A mild antibiotic (for the gross and disgusting pimple) and cold compresses were advised. Nonetheless, said swelling has presented me with a built-in, evil makeup job a la Lon Chaney. I could definitely scare children with this temporary eye. Look at the picture!!! Still shaking?

But to fiendish bank robbers, isn't every day potentially a holiday?

Ohio City's Market Ave--treat for the eyes in sun-dappled summer, snowy winter--anytime.

But the medical jaunt had me out and about, and I decided to see what Ohio City was up to on a fine Halloween. Ohio City Burrito‘s skeleton sign looked mighty chipper, and even the warning on the Ohio City Savings door was tricked out in seasonal colors.  A festive lunch was in order! And what better place than Great Lakes Brewery, just as it opened. Actually, I was there before it opened, as were quite a few other people. A chilly day and 11:15 in the morning, and customers are already clamoring? Oh, you’re doing something right! The Brewery’s a great choice for Fall. Not only does it have a cozily warm atmosphere (the indoor/outdoor room has a lovely fireplace in cold weather), but the street view is enchanting. Its short, narrow street, Market Avenue, is terrifically inviting. Part of that has to do with its destinations: the Cleveland Film Society, The Flying Fig restaurant (had a great duck dish there last winter), the Market Avenue Wine Bar (another cosy place, best a deux), and a cafe I’m dying to try. But even before all these were in place, it was still inviting. It’s the proportions, the architecture and the view, for it looks onto the Market Square Park (which is under mysterious reconstruction right

When colors and textures align, it's time for placemaking! Djenne, Mali

now–however, a small cement stage has already been created on the north side). It’s not that the architecture is so spectacular in and of itself, it’s that it has a consistency of color and texture–old red brickwork. All the best places have that kind of consistency, with variations in shape, proportions and details to keep things interesting. In Italy’s Assisi, everything is made from the same pink stone. In Mali’s Jenne, the buildings earthen walls match the ground, and seem to emerge from it organically. This is something contemporary architecture can rarely match, because its growth patterns and standard materials are so different. But when you stumble on it in a city, its allure and charm ensnare you.

James, one of Great Lakes Brewery's kindly yet gruesome (today) waiters

Oh, and seasonal? It was a tough choice between a glass of Nosferatu ale (and the extremely pleasant and competent James was my waiter, all tricked out like Nosferatu himself) and the now-available Christmas ale, but the latter’s lovely red tones won out. Matched with a margherita pizza, a splendidly hearty choice. Side notes–why do most American versions of the margherita use sliced tomatos? That’s not the Italian way–though it tasted just fine. Why margherita? After Italy’s one-time Queen Margherita and the patriotic colors of the Italian flag: red sauce, white mozzarella, green basil leaves. Which makes me digress once again–a first date took me to Luxe some years back. I love Gordon Square‘s Luxe (my favorite Cleveland restaurant, which I persist in pronouncing the French way, counter to the restaurant itself). I’d been raving about Luxe. In my verbal anticipation, I kept repeating on the way, “Oh, I can’t wait till I have a margherita!” When we were seated and the waitress came for our order, I puzzled him when I asked for iced tea. Words and their confusionistic power! Anyway, the pizza at the Brewery is delicious! Luckily for me, the waiter tried to tempt me with cheesecake, which I don’t like. In checking the website, however, I see there is now, courtesy of Mitchell‘s, a new seasonal ice cream to be had: Christmas Ale Gingersnap Ice Cream. Now, I know I will be putty in its hands–and will visit it on my

Yes, they have taffy apples, too. But there's a reason the lipstick color is called "candy apple"! One of the red beauties is now mine, all mine.

next round of seasonal lists.

After lunch, a quick round at the West Side Market. I needed my dried peaches from the dried fruit girls–far better than dried apricots, and for under $17 you can get a huge quantity that will last even the profligate  bon vivant for over a month. I also needed a Halloween candy fix, and only one thing would do–not the Midnight

Heart-warming mice at Campbell's Popcorn in the West Side Market

Milky Ways that I could get anytime (frozen….mmmm), and that aren’t available at the market anyway. No, it’s a red candy apple or nothing. For some reason, these are hard to find in Cleveland, which apparently prefers caramel (or as we used to call them) taffy apples. But Campbell’s Popcorn, an indoor stall near the Lorain side), has them year round, and one is awaiting me on the counter right now, its glossy cinnamon crust calling a siren song. My eye was caught by their adorable cookies–particularly the mice with almond ears. There are some real artists in the world of Cleveland pastry, and I will update you on their offerings as the seasonal marchdown continues.

A Halloween feast for the eyes at Campbell's Popcorn

What then? The bus stop and home, James. I see Ohio City has fixed some Halloween/Thanksgiving decorations along Lorain in the form of cornstalks. It really is a beautiful thing to mark the seasons, and is yet another reason W. 25th is a great destination for a stroll and several stops. If only there was destination entertainment there…just think if the wine bar or cafe hired Cleveland Institute of Music students or CSU music majors for regular background performances? I know I’d want to linger to hear a violinist one night, someone singing bossa nova another, a klezmer clarinetist a third. Or put that trolley in and make it easy to jump from lunch to a movie at Gordon Square’s Capitol Theatre, or from dinner to a play! In the interim, Happy Halloween! Rustle a leaf pile and breathe that bracing air.

Tasty Cleveland enclaves in the New Urban: a corner of Old Brooklyn

There's nothing like a place with character--Murray Hill's Algebra Tea House has plenty of it!

Part of what makes mostly-residential neighborhoods destinations are the little shops and restaurants that dot them. Not chains–chains are deadly, and they only (with the exception of fast food) avoid cities like the plague. Is there an Olive Garden or Outback in any American downtown? I’ve never seen any, and I’m delighted. These are the places that create pleasant little surprises for visitors, and oases for residents–a favorite luncheonette, a great ethnic food supplier, some middle-aged lady with a dream and a little money put by who finally decides to open that quirky shop. This is what made W. 25th before lots of restaurants moved in–you could swing into City Buddha and drool over a hand-painted Indonesian film poster and grab your Temple Spice incense and some fascinating little tschotchke to brighten up a room at home (City Buddha left us some time ago, relocating to suburbia with none of the dimly-lit mystery they used to have in Ohio City).  It’s what made Coventry back in the day before some chains and higher-end spots moved in. Little Italy has a lot of it, as does Tremont. Reasons to go someplace other than visiting family or friends.

A cycling event last summer sent pedalers to Old Brooklyn's Michael's Bakery

One of my pals recently moved to Old Brooklyn, which I knew only from Art House and the zoo. She’s still settling in, but her foundational sense of gastronomic inquiry had already enabled her to uncover two treasures on Broadview Road, which she introduced me to yesterday. One was Michael’s Bakery, at 4478 Broadview Rd. Obviously its charms are known to residents–it was packed at 3 pm on a work day, full of folks getting bread, kuchen, other pastries and cookies. Why oh why didn’t I take photos of the adorable Halloween sugar cookies? Yes, there were purple-sprinkled moons and other delectables, but the giant ones shaped like candy corn and delicately colored with an ombre progression of yellow through orange…oh, that deserved visual commemoration. The place made me realize how long it’s been since I was in a real, old-fashioned family bakery–small, packed, and full of its own treasures. No one wants a calorie count on the cookie “sandwiches” packed with delicious creamy goo! Luckily, my downfall does not come in these forms; I was a virtuous bread buyer. Even the outside has its charm–late-blooming fuschia geraniums were nodding at hot-pink benches, and they gave the place identity.

La famiglia Gentile (it means "nice", and they are)

A miniscule stroll away is Gentile’s Imported Italian Food–a danger zone for me in every way. I’m not Italian, but I grew up in an Italian-dominated area, food-wise, and it shaped all my tastes. College? Study abroad in Rome. Grad school and after? Research trips to Venice, Siena, Limone, Naples, Florence, Turin, and many little towns–and the big one, food-wise: Bologna. Did I have a week’s flirtation with the cutest Italian waiter ever, Agostino Caputo? I sure did (and remember his name 30 years later)! Did his sympathetic boss at one of the best high-end restaurants in the city allow me to eat highly-subsidized meals my student budget would have never been able to afford. Si!  Well the Gentiles senior aren’t from Bologna, but they did come to Cleveland from Molise province, southeast of Rome, and whoever taught Mama how to cook should be beatified. Two generations work in the place, which has several divisions–the bakery, full of many a cookie (my friend Miss D had to have several types of almond temptations, including one punctuated with pignoli (pine) nuts) and with attractive sample wedding cakes on the counter; the store (imported pastas, olive oils, bruschetta spreads, balsamic vinegars); the deli (a genoa salami tempted me, but there were many cold cuts); a catering operation (I wish I had an occasion for them!); and…pizza. What care I for any of the rest, if pizza be present?

After lunch, not a pizza crumb remained on our Gentile's table

Now, Cleveland and I have our pizza differences. That anyone could think Mama Santa’s in Little Italy even has EDIBLE pizza is beyond me. A disgrace, with its oversweet sauce and rubbery crust. I’m happy with Angelo’s in Lakewood or Rascal House during moments of intense hunger, but can they stack up with the most average Philly or Jersey Shore pizza? No, they cannot. Any spot with a wood-burning oven (even Macaroni Grille!) does a respectable job, but, in general, Cleveland’s pizza makes me wary. As we placed our order, my head snapped: I saw the generous cheeseless rectangles (can be bought as singles), I’ve seen in Italy’s tavolas caldas; we weren’t getting that variety, but this was promising. And it delivered. By far, my plain old cheese pizza (the best way to comparatively test) was the best I’ve had in Cleveland–by far, I say (Miss D was scarfing down her artichoke number, and seemed deeply satisfied, but had no inclination to talk). The cheese was real mozzarella, the kind that stretches and stretches until it’s a mere thread, and still doesn’t want to let go. You don’t see it much nowadays, anywhere–it’s too expensive. The crust had just the right blisteryness–oh, it and the sauce were delicious.There are three or so tables in the place, and they close at six (and are closed Mondays), so plan well. You can call ahead at (216) 351-1161; during the week they close at 6, Saturday at 5 and Sundays at 2–closed Monday.

In a college town like Bloomington, IN, you can munch on a bagel in the Runcible Spoon's wildflower-filled front yard. Why not encourage more small-time spots in Cleveland's downtown and midtown?.

These are the kinds of spots that are family-run, family-vetted, delicious, and very special. We’ve got lots of empty enclaves in the city, particularly on Euclid stretches near Reserve Square or up by CSU, and spots like this are rare. CSU’s going to be breaking ground in January on a big new development north of Chester–dorms, apartments, retail, food, entertainment. This is great–much of that area, particularly around Payne, is a human wasteland right now; it will tie in with Tower Press and some of the live/work artist units on Superior, places that haven’t had lots of dining options. If only some natural developments could accompany the inevitable plastic, commercial ones. In university towns, they’re a natural.During my recent Bloomington trip, it was hard to choose between a Tibetan restaurant owned by the Dalai Lama’s brother and a Turkish spot with pillow-cushioned seating options; old houses with wildflower front yards, that had been there since I was a student, were still going strong with their funky mix of student waiters, mismatched cutlery, and delicious food. The ambiance is fun in places like that, the feel is genuine. It’s be great if some generous–or crafty–local landlord would break down an empty warehouse into smaller units with fairly low rents and limited leases. Perhaps an entrepreneur could start up thriftily, do well, and move to bigger digs, while another circulated into the space. A stomach can dream.

 

Cleveland as The New Urban

The Baltimore tragedy; fantastic location, great old detailed housing stock, desertion

So what’s the New Urban to me? It’s the city as a conscious experiment, where placemaking, green innovations, neighborhood creation and cohesiveness, luring exurbanites back to a vibrant environment come together. It’s easier in some areas than others, and it’s easiest in places that have good bones but sagging flesh: that is, cities like Cleveland, Baltimore, Detroit. Places that understand that turnarounds are possible, and that they are the lab. How much experimentation can take place in a city that’s filled to near capacity, with solid, lovely buildings, lots of employment, and attractions galore? Not so much–perhaps in run-down neighborhoods only. Cleveland is a scrappy place with plenty of heart and treasures, and is doing its best to leap back into top-tier urbandom. This is the time to run rampant with small ideas, as well as large ones.

Sneak peek at the new aquarium layout, courtesy Wally Waterdrop (spokeswater for the NEO Regional Sewer District!)

From the CUDC's recent HippDeck pop-up atop a Euclid Ave. parking garage

On the larger scale, Cleveland’s trying it through expansion, such as the new extensions of the Cleveland Museum of Art, the new structures on the CSU campus, the MedMart, Aquarium and casino. Do all these work? Ah, this is not going to be a series of reviews, but these are all places worth evaluation (see my take on the casino below as well). They’re trying it through innovative thinking, too. This past week saw my first interaction with Kent State’s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, a downtown-based group of Kent architectural and urban design students who both actively create city moments through their pop-up interventions, temporary sites that open viewers’ eyes to urban possibilities, and through actively researching and engaging citizens for more long-term neighborhood planning. They brought their Fall charrette (such a great word, and new to me–an intensive collaborative series of meetings in a short time to bring diverse minds together for a design solution) to EcoVillage on Cleveland’s near West Side this past weekend, and I loved the result. I thought I’d write up the findings today, but it would feel feeble without their images, so I’ll wait for their postings before I go into details. Instead, here are some general thoughts and observations they’ve inspired.

When the scrap metal man and his cart are on your horizon, the vision of vibrant city life seems far away.

Go, EcoVillage Cleveland!!!!

Inspiration is key. When you live in a bleak area, small islands of hope seem miniscule indeed. It can take outsiders who have done research and talk to people to see the possibilities inherent in a place, from the small tinkerings that can make a big visual and emotional impact to the larger, costlier changes that can bring about major shifts. A lot of what they brought up was integral to the goals the EcoVillage had from its founding–to regenerate an urban neighborhood while incorporating advanced ecological design in order to realize the promise of diverse, vibrant urban life. Some of those dreams are underway, but the economic climate’s slowdown, petty crimes, vandalism and degenerative creep had instigates some discouragement–at least in me.

But this is where the CUDC folks blew on the embers and restored hope. Not only were the efforts going into residents’ ears, our councilman Matt Zone and Jeff Ramsey, exec director of Detroit Shoreway’s organization, both of whom have done so much to perk up Detroit Shoreway‘s Detroit Ave. through the splendid Gordon Square Arts District’s exciting revivification, were active and interested participants. It was thrilling to hear them talk about nearly–immediate doable aspects that fit an existing budget, and you could see wheels turning regarding community action committees, grant applications, and other ideas.

Some of the exquisite hand-carved German craftsmanship of the EcoVillage's St. Stephen's R.C. Church

Cleveland is a city of neighborhoods, but it’s essential to make those neighborhoods destinations for eager residents and interested visitors, rather than places to avoid. Many of our neighborhoods have underexplored architectural wonders–the EcoVillage’s St. Colman towers might excite some nighttime appreciation from the highway, but how many visit (outside of St. Patrick’s Day, of course)? St. Stephen’s is an otherworldly gem, rightfully on the National Registry. But it’s not permanent architectural wonders alone that make a neighborhood, or provide it with a desirable identity.

A green wall in progressive Pittsburgh--yeah, I said it!

The CUDC folks looked at the “Eco” part of EcoVillage, and pushed for plantings of native wildflowers and grasses, in meadow-like vacant lots and front yards. They suggested low-scale resident agribusiness that would combine urban farming with outlets for sale, education and employment.

The Plantagon--urban greenhouse AND sculpture/architecture!

They looked for ways to increase manageable wildlife, both along the RTA train corridor and through possible green art birdhouses. I think one of the things the neighborhood could really use is an urban greenhouse, designed to both employ underemployed residents and feed all through sales of espaliered fruit and winter vegetables–a lot of our residents aren’t riding bicycles for exercise or enjoyment, but as a primary means of transportation. The local convenience store has bread and milk, but fruits and vegetables require transit–great to be able to trot down the street and get your fresh winter produce. One resident mentioned a Great Depression practice for our alley-rich

Vertical farming concept for NYC--why not the CLE?

neighborhood: he said everyone planted a fruit tree along their alley, so the hungry could have something to eat–a variety of types, so there was nearly always something in season. The CUDC was big on green walls, which could certainly improve the many blocky structures along Lorain, and could make the bridge over the RTA corridor a link to other greenery. This has been done to great success in some other cities, even when sponsorship is involved.

UK design winner for solar bus stop with recycled bottles, LED lights. Click pic for more info.

Take a page from Philadelphia artist Isaiah Zagar and make urban mosaics from recycled materials.

I was pleased some of the quickish fixes that emerged from the charrette were small (solar-powered!) lighting projects, such as a canopy of lights across a bridge. as well as bigger plans for a series of solar bus stops on Lorain that might have wifi and recharging stations. The implementation of bigger projects like these might find collaborations that draw in not only RTA and corporate sponsors, but the upcoming LAND-studio coalition of Cleveland Public Art and ParkWorks–artist-conceived, creatively-lit solar bus stops could provide a wow factor for all. I think mosaic work from recycled materials along the to-be-rehabbed Madison Ave. bridge could be a fabulous direction as well–or as insets bordering new pedestrian walkways along Lorain. As I mentioned before, inserting color into our winterscape (as well as light!) can make a huge difference to perceptions.

Proposed greenery intervention in St. Louis. Click pic for info.

There are some exciting new urban prospects afoot in the world–some aren’t even far afield. Columbus, for example, is implementing a green “highway cap” that’s generating much buzz and reconnecting neighborhoods–Innerbelt rehab, anyone? Some haters of skywalks might find relief in the addition of other greenery rehabbing.

Thank you CUDC! My mind is racing, and I’ll bet you were similarly a catalyst for other residents of this part of Cleveland. You show just how much neighborhood and even individually-driven design intiatives can create a sense of space that rivals (oooh, dare I say COULD even surpass) the big players in the Cleveland game. And in that regard, I want to give a heartfelt shoutout of tribute to developer Ari Maron, who made East 4th St. the most vibrant corner of downtown, and has begun to work his magic on the Lorain/W. 25th crossroads of Ohio City. Vision to fruition for us all!

Learning at Dave’s Market, One Week’s Menu–Could be $25/wk or $33.89, depending

A one-week menu experiment--$25 to hand over to Dave

I completed a challenge some weeks back that forced me to come up with the best weekly menu (of things that I eat) I could that amounted to $25–but that menu was costed per meal and prorated. This time I’m challenged to do what many of us are faced with: go off to the grocery store WITH $25, and come up with a non-starvation menu for a week. One big caveat–I’m not counting things like spices, salt, oil or teabags, since those kind of staples don’t have to be bought on a weekly basis. I chose Dave’s Market in Ohio City, my go-to supermarket, for this challenge, but I’m going to try an identical one in future that relies on the West Side Market alone. A second caveat–I’m a very picky eater, and this is a busy working week. If I ate eggs, some delicious omelettes could be on the menu, or some tasty rice dishes if only I weren’t a pasta freak. If I had time, I could take some cheap cuts of meat/poultry and create more all-day, low-heat wonders. I also tried to keep this as nutritious as possible, fitting in fresh fruits and raw vegetables, ensuring protein levels weren’t too low (borderline anemia).

Constantino's of the Warehouse District--great if you don't cook!

Before delving into general observations and the menu itself, I want to thank Dave’s for being committed to the city. As I mentioned the other day, none of the nurse-practitioner clinics that CVS, Target and Walmart have are located in Cleveland proper, nor are any Kaiser facilities. Grocery stores have many similar attitudes. Yes, there is now a Giant Eagle (really TOO giant for quick shopping) on W 117th St, on the Lakewood border, and 117th’s Target, as well as that of Steelyard Commons and its neighboring Walmart do carry food, but more centralized options are slim pickings. A large and fairly new Asian grocery is Park to Shop at 1580 E. 30th, and the Warehouse District has Constantino’s Market at 1278 W. 9th, but these are specialized markets, as are the many small Arab groceries on the West Side. How is Constantino’s specialized, you say? Well, it caters to the young with no time, so it’s strong on prepared food and filler foods, weak on a large variety of fresh fruits and vegetable, certain staples. Marc‘s has some locations way out west on Lorain and on Puritas, but they aren’t easy for a non-driver to reach. Admittedly there are other pocket groceries–Sav-a-Lot, which I’ve never been in, Rico‘s on 45th & Lorain (limited size, but some fruits and veg), specialist Indian and other niche shops, but regular old standard groceries? Now that the Reserve Square grocery has closed, Dave’s on Bridge Ave by W 25th  in Ohio City, Dave’s in Chinatown at 2201 Payne, his Supermercado on Ridge Rd., and other locations on Shaker Square, in Slavic Village, at Harvard & Lee, and on E. 40th, as well as in the suburbs. That’s commitment to and investment in the city, and I for one am very grateful. Plus their fried, prepared chicken is incredibly good.

The well-stocked shelves of Dave's Market--the city dweller's savior!

Okay, some general thoughts about this project. Cooking for one on this kind of challenge is deadly boring–two people at $25 each would allow much more variety and some perks. With one person, there are no snacks except popcorn. NONE! This may be an excellent challenge for those trying to limit calories as well as expenditures. There’s a high degree of repetition in a one-week experiment, too. The good news is that there are leftovers–extra spaghetti sauce to freeze, some buns and hot dogs for the next week, cereal that carries over, and so on. Over a longer period of time, the frozen goods and partially used items introduce more variety, and hand cooked items deeply from scratch (bread!) would be fit in to times that weren’t so frantically crowded. That being said….

Menu Day One:

Breakfast: banana, bowl of puffed rice
Lunch: hot dog and bun (hey, I split them and grill them all at once for a delicious smoky flavor–a minute in the microwave brings that all back). A third of the cuke, sliced thinly in vinegar and water with lemon pepper and salt
Dinner My recipe for spaghetti sauce with meat and angelhair pasta, generous portion

Menu Day Two:

Breakfast: banana, bowl of puffed rice
Lunch: Bowl of chicken noodle soup and lots of Zesta saltines
Dinner: Hotdog and bun, big salad with lettuce, a little cucumber, part of the red pepper

A lot of habanero heat for less than 50 cents--you can put them right into the freezer, whole

Menu Day Three:

Breakfast: oh, the last banana and bowl of puffed rice–it works because the banana is very filling, and those little puffed rice grains have to be corralled onto the spoon, which gives you time to feel full.
Lunch: Peanut butter crackers galore!
Dinner: My “hot mess” with pasta. The hot mess is a quick meal–get out the cutting board and put water on to boil. More-or-less dice up the Roma tomatoes and much of the onion, chopped, along with (be careful with your fingertips!) one to one and a half habanero peppers. Put oil in the bottom of the pot–not deeply, but maybe an 1/8 of an inch or so. Heat the oil till its quite hot, throw your vegetables in and stir, adding salt and plenty of basil, a dash of dried ginger, and other herbs if you like. Turn the heat down; by the time you finish cooking the pasta, the hot mess is ready, delicious and spicy (not for the faint-hearted).

Menu Day Four:

Breakfast: Honeycrisp apple cut up into slices on the puffed rice, sprinkled with a little cinnamon and brown sugar.
Lunch: Hot dog and bun
Dinner: Spaghetti with meat sauce and pasta, small side salad

Menu Day Five

Breakfast: Honeycrisp apple with puffed rice
Lunch: Chicken soup with crackers
Dinner: More hot mess with pasta, small side salad

Menu Day Six

Breakfast: Honeycrisp apple with peanut butter crackers (peanut butter sticks to your ribs!)
Lunch: Hot dog and bun
Dinner: Spaghetti and pasta, small side salad

Menu Day Seven

Breakfast: Honeycrisp apple with puffed rice; four peanut butter crackers to finish
Lunch: Hot dog and bun
Dinner: Last of the hot mess with pasta, large salad to finish off the fresh ingredients.

Purchases:

• Zesta saltines (only item not bought at Dave’s–Dave’s may still sell them, but Saltine brands are grouped with their manufacturers’ cookies (an odd conceit) rather than banding together, so I couldn’t find them. Package was bought out-of-town at $1.79 on sale.
• Dave’s brand hot dog buns, 8 to a package $1.29.
• Ball Park all-beef hot dogs, 8 to a package $3.99 (on sale from their usual $4.99)
• 3/4 pound ground round 85/15 @3,89/lb.  (normally I would buy ground sirloin for a higher price; ground beef at 80/20 was $2.99/lb, and at 72/27 was $2.88/lb) for $2.92.
• 3 bananas @54 cents/lb. for .74 I can’t stand them after they’re ripe and get spots, so have to stick to a small number
• 4 Honeycrisp apples (they restored my faith in apples after scientists tinkered with and ruined the Red Delicious of my childhood) @ $1.99/lb for $3.40–pricey, but worth it, since it’s Fall! Not available all year round, which makes them special.
• 1 head of iceberg lettuce (I don’t care what you say, I still like it better than other lettuces because it crunches!) for $1.69
• 1 English cucumber (wash it well and you needn’t peel it–good nutrition in its dark green exterior, and sliced thin not noticeable) $1.99
• 1 package Lipton Ring O’Noodle chicken soup (2 packets inside; each has 4 servings for a total of 8) for $1.59
• 1 bag of substitute Puffed Rice for $1.79 (the Food Club brand had 6 oz; the Quaker was 6.4 oz., but $3.39, and the difference is infinitesimal)
• 5 Roma tomatoes @ $1.99 (unusually low price for Dave’s this week) for $2.33
• Jif’s natural peanut butter, 18 oz. for $3.19
• 1 small can Contadina tomato paste for 79 cents
• 1 large can Valutime stewed tomatoes $1.58
• 1 red onion @$1.49/lb for 77 cents
• 5 habanero peppers @$3.99/lb for 40 cents
• 1 big red sweet pepper @$2.49/lb for $1.27
• Special on Gia Russa brand angelhair pasta–a 2 lb. box for $2.29

Oh, Honeycrisp, my flavorful love! Must I sacrifice you on the altar of frugality?

“Wait!” you say. “That doesn’t add up to $25–in fact, it’s $33.89!” And you would be correct–but…this is how I looked at it. You have considerable leftovers: Three hot dogs to go–and their buns, spaghetti sauce with meat left for FIVE servings (freeze it or have a friend or two over), lots of puffed rice left, plenty of peanut butter, likewise crackers, no pasta left–I looooove pasta (hot mess and spaghetti sauce taste fine with rice, if you prefer it–how do pasta and rice prices compare these days?), chicken noodle soup, still had some habaneros. Those leftovers certainly are worth the $8.89 difference, aren’t they? If not, what do you cut and what does that do to your nutritional value? There are much cheaper hot dogs out there (Dave’s weekly flyer for Ohio City this week has five packages of one brand for $5–MUCH cheaper) but they may not be all beef or as tasty as Ball Park. There are cheaper peanut butters. Maybe you don’t need a big red sweet pepper (sniff!) in your salad, since you’re getting plenty of vitamins from all the tomatoes. You could up your fat intake but slightly reduce your costs with cheaper ground beef. You could forget apples and go with bananas all week. What would that bring things down to? I’ve got it to $27.50 now, still with leftover hotdogs and buns (or sometimes during the week you could eat two at a time), leftover peanut butter, crackers, spaghetti sauce, habaneros, puffed rice, and chicken noodle soup. But I’m still $2.50 over! This is where many families have to cut the fruit and vegetables, or go for canned rather than fresh–applesauce, anyone? With that adaptation, you can get to $25 and still have some leftover foods, but you’ve given up the tastiness and texture of fresh, as well as some vitamins.

You can't eat like a self-indulgent rabbit when you're on a budget. You must be selective.

Food prices are rising, and in some arenas much higher than others. Snacks? Forget those delicious potato chips or crunchy other things–at Lays 2 for $7 (WHAT! Boycott with me!), Dave’s makes them unreachable on a budget and outrageous for anyone. I say Dave’s, because you can get them for less elsewhere, but most of the responsibility lays with the Frito Lay company. Fresh fruits and vegetables are desirable, but a free hand with them makes budgeting difficult. While this budget works for a picky eater like me who loves her pasta, it’s hardly variety-packed, and it’s more suited to a dieting female than a male. Sigh. No perfection anywhere. But as the winter closes in, I’m not only going to see what the same amount of money can bring me at the West Side Market, I’m going to look at a variety of possibilities for breadmaking, batch making, looking at other world cuisines for hints about stretching a budget yet filling up. So, let’s keep learning something our immigrant great-grandmothers were all too familiar with.

As a footnote, there are some great specials, if you can get to Dave’s this week: 2 boxes of Bigelow tea for $5; two Pillsbury flaky Grand biscuits (in the cardboard rolls it’s so much fun to flack open, even though they warn against it) for $2.39 (half-price); Crystal Farms mozzarella slice were 50 cents off at $3.49; in-store bakery-made Kaiser rolls were two packages of 6 for a total of $2.79 (half-price); package of 7 Steak-Umms (don’t judge me!) for $4.69, a dollar off their usual price; and, best of all, Klondike bars on sale–two for $7. Even three Kellogg’s cereals for $10.

Sometimes boundaries nudge creativity

Oh, the candies of my youth in glorious array at B.A. Sweetie's!

Well, well, well. The biggest Halloween expenses used to be the candy–now decorations and costumes carve way into the wallet. While fun to drive by, is it as satisfying to just pick things up and fork over the dough? The Thrifty BonVivant says, “Not necessarily.” But first things first. Get candy that drives you back in time–you can buy nostalgic delicacies in quantity or just for a taste at the best standard candy store in Cleveland, B.A. Sweetie, at 7480 Brookpark Rd. Oh yes–get your Razzles (first it’s a candy, then it’s a gum!), poprocks, Zott’s–everything from candy dots to all Pez flavors to those wonderful flying saucers (only really beloved by Catholics, who find their waferlike exterior–they’re filled with little candy balls–carry Communion nostalgia). Once that buying spree is underway, it’s time to reduce expenses and unleash creativity.

Villefane is a master! Click his name in the text to see more.

Pumpkins? You know you don’t have to buy a host of plastic decorations if you have skills like Ray Villefane. Get yourself to a grocery and unleash your temporary, site-specific artist. Now, not everyone is a Ray Villefane. But surely you can put aluminum foil braces on a crooked pumpkin smile? Look at any cartoon in the newspaper and try to reproduce the simplified features (all right, don’t look at Rex Morgan, MD or Mary Worth) of the character–no matter what you end up with it will be distinctive, and the candle inside (a votive in a glass makes it simpler) will create the spooky effect effortlessly. Did you know the jack o’lantern tradition is an Irish one, but in the Olde Sod it was done with a parsnip? Carved bananas may be on the scene, but a hollowed out parsnip? Tricky. Be thankful for the pumpkin.

Is anything more frightening than a flying monkey?

Yard decorations? If no neighborhood child thoughtfully decorated your trees with a cobweb of toilet paper, consider quick stencils and chalk. A quick trip to Pat Catan‘s will find you inexpensive yet discounted sidewalk chalk that the rain will wash away soon…probably very soon. Skeletal feet walking to the front door? Black cats (or florescent orange ones) arching their backs along the sidewalk? Albino bats via soap on the storm door? There are images you can quickly print out, cut out, and fill in all over the Internet–you don’t have to buy stencils.

Thank you, John Tenniel, for one of my favorite costume inspirations!

Costumes? Ah, one of the joys of my youth. I was lucky enough to live near a man who worked in the marketing division of Borden’s, who had an unending supply of large light cardboard posters–Elsie the Cow may have been on the front, but flip her and…well, the possibilities were boundless. One of my favorite costumes was a gardener from Alice in Wonderland–tights, a hoodie, and a well-painted sandwich board, and I was a star. And all for free. See what’s in your wardrobe, and what some paper can do.

Avast! She was a pirate wench skull a few years back, when Johnny was freshly putting on his eyeliner

Paper? Did someone say papier-mache? There’s still time to make your own mask. It’s surprisingly easy–we learned how in jr. high. Get some light card and cut strips about 1.5 inches wide. Form a loose but overlapping oval from under your chin to the top of your head and staple it. Leave it in place, and arrange about three strips across your face (especially across the nose!), and staple them to the first loop. Then take it off, and add two vertical strips. To this network you’ll add torn strips of newspaper dragged through a flour and water paste of oatmeal consistency (not too soggy, mind). Build it up so you have a face, leaving open areas for the eyes. Start this today, and you’ll go at an easy pace. Basic mask one night, let it dry the next day, and you’ll be ready to lay down a base coat of color. Use acrylic paint–Pat Catan’s has a cheapo small kit that will work just fine. The following night, additional color, and some elastic stapled across the back to hold it in place. I had fun with a flowering Day of the Dead mask–a quick but memorable (and easy) piece that was lots of fun, with just a base white acrylic coat and some Sharpie work–hey, the old hoodie and tights (or sweat pants) still works! The Huffington Post has suggestions for ten literary characters–but you may need to pin a footnote onto your back.

Need some last-minute inspiration? Go to Gordon Square in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood this weekend–the annual Dias de los Muertos exhibit and parade opens at the Cleveland Public Theatre East Campus (the old church) on 6205 Detroit Ave. There’s a great Day of the Dead celebration, with a parade at 3:30 pm and exhibits of altars, paintings, masks, pan de muerto (skulltastic bread), performances and more from 11 am to 10 pm. I’ve been to others–great fun. There’s nothing like Dia de los Muertos, the Latin celebration meant for All Souls Day, when skeletons come alive, dancing and carrying on.

Impressive results, but simple carries it off graphically

Can’t be bothered to make a costume or mask, but want to be a thrifty standout? If you have some time before your party or before you send a little one out, make a minor expenditure for major impact: face/body painting. It takes care, but not as much skill as you might think. Just don’t assume you can’t do it. Not free–you have to buy some theatrical makeup, but it’s not usually too costly. You can get it in Cleveland at Erie Street Theatrical Svc at 1621 E 41st St, in Strongsville at Cleveland Costume and Display at18489 Pearl Rd, and in a number of other spots in the Yellow Pages–or get a kit of very basic colors at Pat Catan’s or Michael’s Crafts. There are some great tutorials online, like this simple but effective one for a child pumpkin ghoul http://dearcrissy.com/halloween-face-painting-tutorial/

I id a similar one in a theatrical makeup class--just a few colors is all it takes.

Felines can be surprisingly effective, as can abstract designs–here are 30 great examples of face painting. You may get so very involved in it that you chuck your day job and become an artist specializing in body art and the subsequent photography. So use Halloween to experiment a little! What could be more Bon Vivant-like? Just be careful where you sit.

For your...ummm...adult Halloween parties

There goes the sun….SAD though happy in Cleveland

The unrelieved greyness of Cleveland yesterday

Many a visitor has been fooled by these colorful plaster mangoes.

Today the sun is supposed to come out again, but it’s too early to tell. The week has been one of rain and gloom, reminding us that Old Sol will be running off to Florida soon. I have to give the last two winters their props, though–snowy and cold they may have been, but there was regular sun throughout. I noticed, because it makes a difference to me and to my outlook. Unrelieved gloom doesn’t usually start here till November, but it carries on for many, many–did I say many?–moons. People always wonder why Clevelanders aren’t more upbeat about this wonderful city. Putting on my diagnostician’s hat (I wonder what that should look like?), I proclaim it is due to SAD–Seasonal Affective Disorder. My prescription? COLOR.

W 25th St geraniums soldiering on!

A chameleon a day banishes SADness away

Not being a native, I’m used to cold with sun. Without it, I’ve taken a page from my shivery Trinidadian friend Miss W–no, not her bliss at radiator heat that allows sleeveless dresses indoors, but her use of color to keep the house lively. There are no white or grey walls in my house. Its riot of colors encompasses Haitian tin decorations and my papier-mache chameleon (legacy of a Parade the Circle past), a cheery cluster of plaster mangoes, and other vibrant touches. That’s home decorating for you–but Cleveland’s in need of similar touches.

Nothing cheers a city like flowers. Admittedly our climate doesn’t allow for 12 months of them, but plenty of blooms are still blooming–though few downtown. Greenery planting still decorates the road dividers by Public Square, but the fabulous planters CIA grad Mark Reigelman II designed for the triumvirate of Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Cleveland Public Art and ParkWorks (the last two organizations soon to join as one and become LAND studio) are already emptied. It’s a little early, isn’t it? The impatiens (or are they vincas?) at Cleveland State are still frisky, and mums and geraniums are still going strong elsewhere.

Once--and this week. But great planter design!

Bigger banners are needed for more visual impact.

We need our touches of color. The addition of flowers to various restaurants on W. 25th have made it a more attractive passageway. In fact, vibrant neighborhoods like Coventry or Little Italy owe some of their perk to flowers. It’s that kind of atmosphere that Legacy Village and Crocker Park try to simulate. My recent trip to Columbus/Indianapolis/Bloomington was color-filled. From conventional plantings to the more imaginative or downright wild, these are needed touches of nature–and we need them till frost kills them off.

Fabulous Cleveland in 2003--Art Lumiere & Luminocity

And what of post-frost grimness? Our Public Square flags are too small for their pole size, as are banners on Euclid. Cloth and plastic strips do add a bit of artificial gaiety to the grey, as other big cities have shown. Think of imperial Rome through HBO eyes, alive with red and gold! Admittedly our wind is hard on both, but we don’t have to worry about the sun fading things! Imaginative lighting can help–E. 4th St. looks attractive and inviting because its narrowness is stranded with inviting lights–a European touch. Back in 2003, Cleveland Public Art worked in conjunction with the Cleveland Museum of Art and Case Western Reserve/OneCleveland to bring in Art Lumiere, creators of the overwhelmingly beautiful LUMINOCITYproject. It transformed the bleak cityscape into an exciting nexus of activities–perhaps it was ahead of its time, but even modest lighting that’s a bit out of the ordinary can create a feeling of excitement. What of experimental low-energy lighting and color?

The best way to be blue in Cleveland: Midtown's Applied Industrial Technologies

These miniscule flags don't fly our colors properly.

While flora and lux are temporary, some cities have gone further with color. Our architecture is fairly bland (with the exception of our very own Midtown Jetsons structure, headquarters for Applied Industrial Technologies), though some buildings elsewhere embrace a less neutral approach.

Even the bleakest of structures can benefit from murals–Philadelphia has transformed its urban landscape into a destination spot with its Mural Arts Program–it employs over 300 artists, involves kids and provides internships–as well as with the funky mosaics by Isaiah Zagar that have become a tourist draw.

Josh Sarantitis's Philly mural: "Reach High and You Will Go Far" (2000)

Today the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, a Kent State initiative headquartered in Playhouse Square, held a design charette in the Near West Side’s Ecovillage. From a community brainstorming discussion and their own research, they’re going to work up some designs and plans that have potential to benefit the neighborhood (more on that later in the week, when the ideas are presented). A great idea, and one that gets people thinking. And what were some of the ideas that came up? Visual ones, among others; ways of creating identities through public art and lighting.

Isaiah Zagar mosaics near Philly's South Street brighten the neighborhood even in snow.

What kind of alliances can we build among arts organizations like LandStudio, the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland State, and youth programs? Banish SAD in the home of Sherwin Williams and Glidden!

Cleveland’s coming casino–surely a frugal Bon Vivant should flinch?

Architect's rendering of the interior of Cleveland's Horseshoe Casino

Well, the upcoming Cleveland Horseshoe Casino is hiring in preparation for throwing its Public Square doors in “early 2012.” Though the main plans are for a casino behind Tower City, the prelude is limited in scope, occupying several floors of the old Higbees (then Dillards) department store. Slots will predominate, with some table games and a poker room. Jobs are said to be around 1500–nothing to sneeze at! Besides dealers and cashiers, there are drinks waitresses wandering through the casino (no, likely not “waitpeople”–these are usually women), cleaners to discreetly vacuum at 3 am or 6, food service folks, etc.  So many? Yep. Casinos normally don’t close, so the numbers account for several shifts.

Everyone's an emperor in Caesar's Atlantic City--there are no minions!

The Horseshoe is part of the Caesar’s/Harrah’s complex, but it’s not at the luxury end of the scale. The consortium owns a number of casinos in Atlantic City (Caesar’s, Bally’s, Showboat, Harrah’s) and Las Vegas (Caesar’s, Paris, Rio, and more), and those are upscale–and often deliciously vulgar. The lower end of things is designed for those with less of a snazz factor–like the Biloxi, MS one–on second thought, it looks fairly snazzy. The Cleveland one will be perfectly nice, no doubt, but ho-hum in comparison to giant Roman emperors or a cheerfully fake Eiffel Tower. In short, it’ll be like the fast food of casinos.

And here is where a Bon Vivant has her reservations. I like casinos. I’ve only been to Las Vegas once, but thought it was hilariously fun. Atlantic City? I’m from not that far away, and checked out the casinos when they first opened, visiting on the regular. Like to people watch? Oh, plenty to see. Not everyone likes the sights, and we don’t all interpret them the same way. A Tweeter I enjoy, @MildlyRelevant, hated a recent visit to Caesar’s Atlantic City, finding it depressing throughout. Depressing? Never! I stay there whenever the Total Rewards program sends me news of a free room for one or two nights (I am NOT a high roller or frequent habitue; they’re just generous). Last time I stayed there, my free room had a straight-on view of the beach and I was, as always, bemused by the small TV that is part of the bathroom mirror.  I don’t NEED news while I’m brushing my teeth, but I love knowing that I COULD–it’s the techie gadgeteer in me.  Caesar’s has a plethora of gelato flavors at a stand in the lobby, a great breakfast buffet, tasty cheesesteaks at the coffeeshop. @MildlyRelevant saw the elderly smoking and thought they were spending the little left from their fixed incomes on slot machines, and feels the casinos are trying to make customers drunk and snatch their last pennies.

How can anyone resist the over-the-top hilarity of a top-notch casino hotel?

There’s something about casinos that brings out the moralist in us–or some of us, anyway. And of course there are people in casinos who spend money they can’t afford. But…those that live in ill-encouraged hope will buy lottery tickets if they don’t have a casino, or find some other vice. The elderly people in the casino? They don’t depress me–some of them are my parents! My parents are in their 90s; most of their friends are dead. My Dad still drives (don’t worry, he takes an eye test and doesn’t drive any differently than he did 30 years ago–besides, he’s in Pennsylvania), but my Mom doesn’t. Frequently they’re bored. They’re a little unsteady on their legs and of course wouldn’t think of a cane for steadying (sigh). So many of the things they used to enjoy are out–my Mom’s not going to stroll through a museum with nothing to hold onto; my Dad isn’t going to wander an arboretum. Even when we take them someplace–like my Mom to see her beloved Phillies –we have to consider handicapped parking, distance from the bathroom, elevator locations. They chafe at lessened independence, even though they capably still live at home and are generally healthy (thanks, God!). They can get to the casino; bus companies run regular trips to AC with discounted tickets. They stay for four or five hours, and back they go. There are charters, too. I took them on one run by a local church–a Catholic church (Is the tradition of bingo and card parties and church fetes with Wheels-of-Fortune the reason I don’t see gambling as an evil?); I was by far the youngest babe (I’m not that young). Everyone there was middle class, most in their 70s and up. They had a ball! The bus showed old Dean Martin shows, the folks that ran the trip gave out candy and snacks, and the folks cannily enjoyed the trip as their tastes dictated–some sat on the Boardwalk, most took the casino scrip (the trip ended up costing $2 each, with scrip refunds on the bus tickets) and spent only what they liked. They were paying penny slots, and playing like I do–like an adult at an arcade. You go with a set sum to spend for your entertainment, and if you win–great! But that’s not the expectation. The AC casinos depend on these repeat, small-time customers, and they’re considerate–there are slots with wheelchair room, and the aisles are wide; ramps aplenty. The elderly can enjoy themselves and feel in the thick of things, rather than invisible.

Gotta love pseudo-architecture! The Taj Mahal in Atlantic City

Casinos are full of the illusion of fun–that’s their business. There are usually no windows (and certainly no clocks)–they don’t want you to think of how much time is passing, and they want 7 am to be as glittery, as full of artificial noise and music as midnight. Casinos don’t necessarily equal desperation, and I’ve never seen anyone drunk in one (mind, I don’t spend time in the bars). Food is usually relatively cheap. On the casino floor, drinks are free, but you’re meant to tip a dollar or two for your Sprite or beer or weak cocktail. If you don’t, the waitress doesn’t forget. Cheaper casinos only make the rounds for beer and cocktails–there’s a self-service tap for soda and iced tea.

Ah! Monte Carlo--a beach of stones, but you know movie-elegance

And here’s where the Bon Vivant feels there may be a problem. I’ve been in the Monte Carlo casino (at age 20 in a lovely evening gown, for that matter), and have enjoyed the Caesar’s choices–Italian restaurant? Chinese? Steak house? But on a recent Pittsburgh trip I went to their Rivers Casino. Nice enough, but cut rate: a very high-end restaurant, a buffet (standard; but the Bon Vivant finds it a waste–food is often cold, or consists of cheap cuts, or is dried out. I like service! And the Rivers had only counter service for its pizzeria and ice cream parlor. Boo! These ominous words are on the Cleveland Horseshoe website:”Horseshoe Cleveland will offer several dining options, including a 400 seat buffet, a 3-outlet food court and a feature bar.” What! A 400-seat buffet means serious eaters elbowing you out of the way as you balance your dishes. Food court? Not very special occasion-like. And that’s it for the moment–if fine dining options are ahead, they’re meant for the final incarnation, not the initial one.

Doesn't anyone think Clevelanders would enjoy some dash on the Borgata casino level?

The Borgata in Atlantic City has chandeliers by Dale Chihuly; the Bellagio in Las Vegas has an art museum with a very respectable collection. And the malls attached to the casinos have Disney-like facades and produce giggles with their gondolas, talking sculptures, and fabulous over-the-top lighting. Why am I thinking we’re going to have curly lightbulbs and practical rugs?

You can be frugal in a casino by saying to yourself, “How many hours of fun video-like games on slots can I have?” I can usually make 3 hours on a $20 bill; bet all the lines on a penny machine, but stick to machines with a maximum of 20 to 30 lines, one penny on each. Thrift extends to the Total Rewards program–get a card on your first visit, and you’ll get emails and flyers with discounts to Las Vegas and Atlantic City venues. Hotels can be cheap or comped, and they’re nice hotels. Maybe that’s Cleveland’s problem–no hotel for the casino. Food, as said, is fairly cheap.

But being a Bon Vivant with your drink in a plastic cup–that’s where things get iffy. False glamour should at least be glamourous!

Forget the laptop, get the iPad–and these apps

Two iPads happily snuggled together

Thrifty I may be, but personal tech objects are my downfall. The way new cars make teenage boys salivate? That’s me with laptops. I longed for a Vaio when it first hit the showroom floor, but settled for less (thanks for shattering my dreams, HP and Dell!). My desktop was a top of the line dual core processor high def flatscreen, the latest thing in 2007. And now? My interest in desktop and laptop is minimal–I find them handy to type on, but am in no hurry to replace them. They exist merely to service my iPads.

Photo taken in the zoo with iPad camera--no light in the aquatics room except from the tanks

Yes, I have two (I was lucky enough to have development money for them, so neither came from my sewn-shut pocket. But I would have bought one anyway). I love being able to have one on the charge while the other is stroked with my hot little hands. The iPad 2 is flat-out fabulous. I watch my Netflix on its sharpest of the sharp screen. I draw pictures with my finger at the zoo. It takes better photos than my camera, has video, and you can talk face-to-face with friends (yeah, when your hair is combed and your makeup is on). When my typing is too much for pressure touch, I whip out the wireless keyboard.

You need one, too. WiFi happy, it calls many places home–but if you can’t stand to do without, pony up and get the 3G version with a flat $15/mo AT&T fee (but stay away from Netflix without WiFi), cancellable at any time. Why do you need it? One gadget–forget Kindle or Nook or the other readers (you can still read all your Kindle books on the iPad with an app). Download library books with the free app Overdrive!  It’s just so light and handle–many purses can handle it. My arm was tired of dragging even the lightest of my laptops around. Get a special cable and hook it into a digital projector for presentations! Hold out for iPad 3? Nah, unless you think 2’s price will drop.

Table of Contents for your personalized daily magazine, Zite

But think about it. Even good laptops can be problematic if you use them much. My current one, only a year old, has a broken backspace button, and the last one went through three power cords in a two year span. No worries with iPad. It has new technologies that don’t just respond to touch, but to tilt and gps–they’re still discovering what can be done with it. And you’ll be a cool kid! Get the cheapest model, now that music storage will be on the iCloud–you’ll have plenty of room for everything else. The iPad2 with 16G is $499, and that’s all you really need. But also get the magnetic cover that converts to a stand in a choice of colors for $39. And if you don’t like lengthy touch pad typing, get the wireless keyboard for $69.

And the program savings! The Apple versions of Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel are Pages, Keynote and Numbers, and they’ll open all your old docs and allow you to export in Office formats if you prefer. AND each one is just 9.99, the same price as some of Adobe’s upcoming iPad choices. A far cry from those expensive boxes! Downside? No outright Flash for you–Apple finds it vulnerable to attacks (and you know you won’t need a virus check subscription any longer). But no worries–developers are turning to html 5, and if you MUST have Flash capability, shell out the money for Skyfire and watch through its browser for $4.99.

Must haves for free:

•  Zite. It’s not just some RSS feed amalgamator, it’s a lovely custom-made magazine. Check off their content boxes, but also make your own–they’ll go very individualistic. Single best thing on the iPad
•  WordPress. Look how lovely your blog is on an iPad! It has a jazzy pictorial table of contents and is irresistible!
• I love Wikihood for travelling. It lets me know what’s nearby.
• ABC News has a fun globe interface
• Overdrive lets you read digital library books
• Google Books has wonders
• EW’s Must List links you to film, book, music info with samples
• Some love the Flipboard magazine format–an aggregator for your FB and Twitter accounts. Zite covers far more types of international sources.
• Life magazine has wonderful photos to enjoy
• Evernote!
• Mandalachart for iPad is a great tool for general life planning
•  SparkPeople breaks down calorie and nutritional info, shows exercise videos, tracks your slimming ways
• Netflix–even better, now that they’re repentant
• Falling Stars (by Trident) unite doodling and music
• Crop for Free just what it says–perfect quick photo excision
• Bamboo Paper — draw or write with your finger

Pictureka--speed, music, image recognition--PANIC and fun!

Inexpensive:

• GoodReader is great for reading pdfs, and if you have access to JSTOR, you can get to it from within the program
•  IM+ lets you send IMs
• Checklister is a handy listmaker–simple but useful format
• Uzu — I don’t get high, but the way these colored particles follow your finger is mesmerizing
• Boggle & Scrabble  alone or with friends; wait for a holiday, since most of the big players put their games on sale then
• Many types of games available, current fave is the compelling Pictureka!, but other faves are Splode and Animalia and Doodle Differences and Little Things

A little more, but still under $10

• aNote (awesome note) I’ve bought loads of productivity/to do apps and this is the very best
• Pages   like Microsoft Word
• Numbers like Excel
• Keynote  like Powerpoint
• Sketchbook Pro — to draw with
• Star Walk –take it outside, iPad communicates with the heavens, you see the star map overhead!
• Two things that are free on Mac desktops and laptops, Garage Band and iMovie, have to be paid for, but if you love music or editing video, they’re vital.

 

 

Adapting Great Depression Christmas Customs to the New Depression

Chicago ad from the Depression

My parents grew up on opposite sides of the Monongahela River outside of Pittsburgh during the Great Depression. Neither of their families had much money, but one had a house and land, the other an apartment. One had lots of kids, the other just two, a widowed mom, and a grandmother. My Mom was the townie, and remembers having a tree in a box at first, then agitating for a real–albeit small–tree. My Dad was in a quasi-rural area with “hollers,” and they’d go and cut a tree from their property. It’s from him we heard stories of one orange a year (he wasn’t alone; such stories abound–how many requests today with produce memories like these?) and the excitement of a handful of nuts and a special cheese. My Mom got presents–games, then clothes. She said she used to shop at the 5 and 10 (ah, the progenitor of the dollar store, but more fun), but graduated to a real store. In those days the store lured in customers with a coupon book and a lottery aspect. Each week a customer would pay a sum–say a dollar–and at the end of the saving period (five weeks? three months? she isn’t sure) they’d have a lump sum to spend ($30?), save from the grubby hands of little brothers or greedy husbands. Each week the store would draw one ticket, and that customer would have a shortcut to the lump–maybe you were only two dollars into your saving, but you’d get the full thirty dollars nonetheless. If you didn’t do that, you had layaway! Stockings were hung, paper chains in varied colors festooned the tree, Midnight Mass was really at midnight. And if you were lucky enough to be Greek or Russian Orthodox, with a later Christmas date, you could pluck your tree (perhaps with slightly fewer needles) from the sidewalk where the trashmen were due to pick it up. One of the best parts of Christmas in town was visits by relatives and friends, all

Horace Pippin's "Christmas Morning Breakfast" 1945

marked with special foods you didn’t have the rest of the year.

These days, depending where you live, fresh trees may be hard to find or not too economical, but nothing beats their smell and the fun of decorating them. In my day, we had everything our little hearts desired–we were circling potential gifts in the Sears catalogue and elsewhere once Thanksgiving hit. My sister, a planner, partook in the Christmas Club at the bank, socking away $5 or $10 or $20 a week into a special account–but the bank didn’t pluck an account a week and reward the lump sum in advance. There were plenty of special foods and cookie baking and visitors, and it’s still the only time of year we get nuts in the shell and have the cracker and picks handy.

This isn’t just an exercise in nostalgia. Part of it is about making Christmas and other holidays less about Martha Stewart and new purchases, and more about creating an atmosphere that reinforces specialness–in terms of religion, of family, of season. The creation of memories doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s also a thumbs down to gift certificates (except in case of emergencies) and thumbs up to thinking of those you love and searching for just the right item that will bring that look of pleasure to their face.

1955 Spiegel catalogue Christmas decorations

Hey, I’m not trying to match the stores by rushing Christmas. I mention it now because I have a personal challenge ahead. One of my generation in the family has asked for us to hold our giving to each other at $25 per person (parents are the exception, and they don’t know about it). This won’t be easy; we have always liked an overboard Christmas, just for the sheer fun and spectacle of it. But the reasoning behind it can be appreciated (if not shared!), and my challenge begins–how do I not only hold each person at $25, but still have a plethora of things they’ll love to unwrap. Not one nice gift–oh, no. There must be many! I believe I can do it, but it will take passion, a hunter’s training, and a keen eye. No children are involved, just two adult women (easy) and two men (difficult). Let the games begin! For this kind of operation does not allow for the last minute–no, it takes a careful plan of attack.

If you’re trying to hold your spending this year, join me on this adventure and be aware of the free. We’ll continue to revisit this subject, but right now I urge you to look over your credit cards. Do you have any, as I do, that have credits toward gifts? Citibank, for example, has such a program. Some of the gifts are great–but you have to cash in your points this month if the gifts are to arrive in time. Going to make things (yes!)? Then you’d best get busy. Gears must start turning, cranks cranking. I don’t believe in holidays making one nuts–rather, I believe in eating nuts on holidays. We need not be extremists, going into debt or selling our hair like an O. Henry character. The Bon Vivant wants everyone to be happy, and for Christmas to signify an excess of joy. Nobody during the Great Depression spoke of holiday stress and duress–it was a beacon to remind everyone of the precious, and of possibility. Part of my problem is that I was loathe to realize that prices were rising and my salary wasn’t keeping pace; I hadn’t grown up to expect that I wouldn’t be able to afford the expectations of my social class. Well, well, well. There’s an easy solution to that: adjust your expectations for material goods, expand them for rewards for the mind, the eyes, the heart, the spirit.

A great thrifty adventure–our zoo

Great touches of color in the zoo plantings

The Bon Vivant spent an enjoyable day at the Cleveland Zoo today, and urges you to visit this coming Monday. Why? Partially because the beautiful weather is predicted to continue, but also because on Monday the zoo is FREE to residents of Cuyahoga County and Hinckley (what did Hinckley do to get this privilege)–you’re expected to prove your residency.  How can you beat that? The zoo is normally $11 for adults, $8 for kids 2-11 (though from Nov. 1 through March 31st, it’s $8 and $5 respectively), and is open from 10-5. On FREE MONDAYS, the only charge is for the Rainforest, but it’s only $5, with kids 2-11 at $3. Oh, you can’t beat free–parking is free, too, as is the shuttle that takes you up the long and winding hill to primates, cats and fishies.

This is a gorgeous time at the zoo. In the summer, the heat may prove exhausting. Though it was warm today (with plenty of glare–bring sunglasses), the shade was blissful. They have fabulous landscapers, and the just-turning foliage is contrasted with gorgeous flowers and the oddly intriguing sight of trifoliate oranges. There are youthful (if no longer babies)

Some did not feel like Bon Vivants

rhino, giraffe and other offspring–irresistible. The elephants have returned in a new, freer environment, and you can be about a foot away (admittedly behind glass) from them, noting their need for moisturizer. Today babies in strollers were out in full force, as were busloads of schoolkids (some of whom needed their own cages); a pleasure to note their big eyes (we shall not mention their whining and furious temper tantrums). A pleasure too to see solicitous daughters with aged mothers, exchanging smiles and observations, and those in scooters zipping up the hills.

Interestingly enough, there were no enquiries heard regarding elephantine proportions

Now, sad to say, the Thrifty Bon Vivant was not so thrifty–not just because she didn’t go on the free day, but because she took a cab. In the summer, a bus goes right to the entrance. And–far worse shame–she was not prepared with a Bon Vivant lunch. By all rights, a picnic lunch would have been just the ticket, and the zoo allows coolers and picnic baskets, and has plenty of seating. Not wanting to be weighed down not only limited dining options (I could have had a jerk chicken sandwich, dried peaches, dill pickle flavored potato chips!), but racked up the dollars. Aramark is the food service company that works the zoo–while there may be a Pizza Hut, a McDonald’s etc., things are under the Aramark umbrella. A small iced tea? $2.25–a far cry from my usual delicious and hefty serving that costs 2 cents. A personal cheese pizza at Pizza Hut Express was $4.50, a very small popcorn $3. Milk and water both were over $2 each–imagine a family of four. And that walking and the deliciously fresh air do build an appetite! So I recommend taking your drinks and snacks–if you have to buy, let it be something you can’t make at home, like cotton candy or a snow cone (and drat–I saw neither today! I’m guessing because we are post-season).

One of a number of frolicking lemurs from Madagascar

Drawing and photographing with only the iPad was great, and a conversation starter as well. Aside from the thrift, your Bon Vivant found the experience totally relaxing–many a bench to watch the world go by, the pleasure of nature from faraway brought near, even contemplation of our own place within our world raising a little philosophical musing. And it fit with the current self-challenge and master plan–I did a good four hours walking (albeit at a tortoise pace), got some vitamin D, and had a fine time as a part of the human race–as well as a bipedal mammal with opposable thumbs. You go on a free Monday–this upcoming one–pack a delicious lunch or snack, and revel in your thrifty and rewarding outing!

If you’re feeling in the mood for a mammalian/fish fix, a small album is on my Facebook page