West Side Market

Apparently, I was tired this weekend, because I posted the photo of the West Side Market to my beer blog on Monday morning. So I thought I would publish it here today. Oops.

One of the best features of the area where I live is the West Side Market. It is an old market building that houses Cleveland's oldest public market. In 1902 the city purchased a site for a new market that stands today.

The market house cost $680,000 to build. It was designed by the firm of HUBBELL & BENES was dedicated in 1912--a massive yellow-brick building with an interior concourse providing room for 100 stalls, an outdoor arcade with 85 stands, and a large clock tower.

The photography was taken on Saturday during the busiest time of the week for the market.

Christmas at the West Side Market

Right before Christmas, I had to go to the West Side Market to meet an artist to pick up a print for my mother's present. I snapped this photo with my camera while I was waiting.

It definitely put me in the Christmas spirit to see all the decorations and people shopping for the holiday.

There was even a band in the upstairs viewing loft to add to the Christmas mood.

Even better was the flash mob of choral singers doing the Allelejah chorus.

There are so many great things about living in the city and the West Side Market is near the top of the list.

West Side Market Saturday

I went to the West Side Market this morning to do some shopping. It is an incredible day and the weather is perfect.

When I was done inside of the market house, I walked across the street to the market square. There were lot of vendors and a gospel choir playing in the park. This picture was taken of one of the onlookers.

There was something about the market on this day that felt very much like New Orleans to me. It was really fun to be somewhere with great music where the crowd was joining in the singing and having a great time.

Avocados at the West Side Market

One of the things I love about the West Side Market is the sheer number of things to enjoy. Not only enjoy eating, but looking at.

I usually take my camera to the market with me because there is generally something or someone that is photo worthy.

A Flurry of People at West Side Market

The miraculous turn in mother nature produced some warm weather over the weekend. It also brought a flurry of people to the West Side Market on Saturday.

Although parking was an interesting task, I love being at the market on a Saturday. There is nothing better than the bustle of people looking for great produce, meats or other specialties.

As I was going to take a picture of my friends, a shopper rushed by me and became a blur in my photo. What was a seeming annoyance in color, makes a nice image in black and white. It was great to feel the buzz of Ohio City emerge after a couple of weeks of wicked winter weather.

Shopping at the West Side Market

It was a busy shopping day at the West Side Market. The warm weather brought people out in droves. I was among them - and so were a couple of friends, who were getting absorbed into the crowds of people.

West Side Market Crowd gets into Choir

When I went to the West Side Market this weekend, I stopped in the square to watch a gospel choir.

The choir invited a few of the onlookers to join the stage and sing the song they had just finished. It was really fun and everyone got involved with the choir.

I stayed around for a few more songs and enjoyed the sun, songs and wonderful afternoon.

West Side Market

A few weeks ago, I posted a photo of the inside of the West Side Market. I thought it would appropriate to show what the outside of the building.

The summer is a great time to hang out in Ohio City. The square across from the market has music and vendors in the summer. It is also great to just ride my bike there and get fresh veggies and groceries for the week.

There are so many great characters who work and shop there. It is always an interesting trip when you go to the market. Ohio City also has a lot of great places for lunch such as Great Lakes Brewing, The Old Angle or Bar Cento/McNulty's Bier Market.

Not a bad way to spend a sunny Saturday in Cleveland.

Kicking It Old School at Westide Market

I love going to the West Side Market in Ohio City. Besides being a great place to shop, it is a great place to people watch. This Saturday was no exception.

I didn't take my camera because I had headed out early to bet the crowd. If you want to get the best stuff and do serious shopping, the earlier the better.

I was so glad my cell phone had a camera because I would have hated to miss this guy.

Carving at the West Site Market Square

While I was in the West Side Market Square, I noticed this gentleman carving a can while he was sitting there listening to the choir.

Granted, I would normally not be excited about someone having a knife in Ohio City, but I think this situation was a little bit different.

I remember seeing this gentleman last summer when I was at the market. He had one of his finished canes leaning against the bench next to him.

Chair on the Roof

As I was walking home from the west side market a couple of weeks ago, I had noticed this chair sitting on the top of the roof. The building is a manufacturing building, and I thought it was a bit strange that there was a chair up there.

Even better than that was the fact that is was this aqua blue and stood out like a sore thumb. To be fair, you can see downtown from up there, so maybe they were getting ready for the air show or something. Or maybe they just need somewhere to get away.

Like James Taylor said, "When this old world is getting me down" he goes Up On The Roof.

The Happy Buddha

On a Saturday afternoon in the summer, I made a trip to the West Side Market in Ohio City. During my visit to the fruit and vegetable vendors, I wondered down the street to a store called City Buddha (it is no longer there).

The store is filled with all sort of strange odds and ends. While I was looking around these store, this small statue of this happy Buddha caught my attention. The Buddha has a prestigious position on my piano with Jeju and Sita. I never really considered the decorations in my apartment as that culturally diverse, but I guess that and the photos of Ireland, France and England might indicate otherwise.

Cleveland Skyline with Carnegie Bridge

A few weeks ago, I published a post with a photo of the Carnegie Bridge. During that time, the weather wasn't so great and the skies were not so sunny.

It seems that Spring has come to Cleveland. While I was out and about, I snapped this picture of one of the bridge towers with the skyline in the background. There is nothing like wandering around Ohio City and going to the West Side Market on the weekend.

When I am in the deep snows of the Cleveland winter, I just remember these great sunny days and how amazing a city Cleveland really is.

Deconstruction (Demolition) of the Storage House

Cleveland is going to widen the Inner Belt Bridge and they are knocking down a series of bulidings in the process.

On this day, I was walking home from the West Side Market, and noticed a crowd of people watching the building coming down. These two guys backed up their car, dropped the tailgate and enjoyed the show.

I guess different people have different ideas about entertainment.