Clear Creek Metro Park

It was a beautiful day.



A hint of fall is in the air now. One can only guess how long it will last since we have had one of the hottest summers on record.



Never mind the unknown. Our family meeting this Saturday morning concluded with a decision to go somewhere new, somewhere pretty, somewhere preferrably with water. In this case, a clear creek kind of water... however little is left in it after the season's drought.



A little walking in the woods and playing with creatures was just what we needed. We also found plenty of mud (on our shoes), and a lot of crawdads (under rocks).



"We can stay here forever," proclaimed one of the youngest among us. Though we all knew that she didn't really mean it (including the said child herself), it was a sure sign that we were all having fun.



Yes, Central Ohio does have enough to keep us exploring. Today, we found a place equally as pretty as the day itself at Clear Creek Metro Park in Perry County, Ohio.

Granville, revisited

It's been long overdue, a revisit to Granville, Ohio.



Last time I was here (my first visit to this quaint town reminiscent of New England), I promised my husband that I would introduce it to him soon. But alas, winter came, and so did spring. Here we are on the verge of summer, and we finally got to go as a whole family!



Granville has several positive reputations. The farmers market, Whit's custard, the Granville Inn, and Denison University campus all made it on our itinerary today.



What was brilliant was that we didn't even have to set foot on the ground when a genuine comment came from my life's partner.



"I get it now," he said. "I get what you mean." His eyes admired the beautiful tree-lined streets, the flower-filled porches and beautiful New England style homes. "It's peaceful here."



Granville had him before it even needed to say hello. How brilliant is that?

The West Side Market of Cleveland

Clearly, I could not have gone to Cleveland without paying a visit to the West Side Market. Everyone in Columbus who knew anything about food told me that I had to check it out, on my first ever trip to the city by the lake.



So on Saturday morning, my daughter and I said goodbye to the other half of the family who were heading to the R&R Hall of fame. Instead, we took a cab a few miles from downtown Cleveland to what I was told was a North Market-like place, but better.



I didn't know what to expect, really. It was only after we got there that I learned that there are TWO buildings to this market: one is devoted solely to fruits and vegetables while the other houses everything else.



I had to take it all in slowly. Now that I have gotten used to our North Market where the vendors don't bother you, and where you pretty much know where to get your stuff (one or two options for each kind of food). At the West Side Market, there were many options, for everything.



Take MEAT, for example. They must love their meat in Cleveland. There are several vendors selling beef, pork, bison, chicken, among others. I saw a few seafood stalls, several dairy product vendors, coffee roasters, and even a crepe place!



There were also a few bakeries to choose from, but I was told to get my baguette from Christopher's to go with the cheese and salami that we had bought for our lunch-picnic by the lake.



I was tempted to purchase produce in the other building where vendors tried to lure you to buy their good-value products (from oranges to star-fruit)...reminding me of my days at the North End market in Boston.



Without our own transportation, and a kitchen that was a couple of days away, I did not feel like I could partake in all the buying fun. But do I wish that I could have bought everything there? YES, of course!



We did enjoy our picnic later with some goods bought from the market. And we did treat ourselves to a hot crepe filled with lemon curd and mascarpone cheese.

When we finally found another taxi to take us to our next destination (can't flag a taxi there either, I learned), the cab driver informed me, with his middle-eastern accent, that:

"You know, we have another market like this, on the East side of town!"

"Really?" I said, then jokingly asked "Is it called the East Side Market?"

"Yeah, how did you know?" replied the driver, with an impish grin.


I didn't know, in fact. And I am a bit dubious since my food people from Columbus didn't say anything about this East Side place. But I am happy to learn that there are still many more places to discover in Cleveland, should I return there hungry.