about Lorain Avenue

Ohio City was a separate municipality from Cleveland, with the Cuyahoga taking the role of the Danube for Buda and Pest. When the highways cut through neighbourhoods, and social discontent, economic shocks, and ethnographic change all hit to create an amalgam of decay in Cleveland, Ohio City was impacted heavily. In recent years there has been an element of gentrification, and rebuilding, alongside continued poverty.

Skipping past the food and beverage popularity on West 25th between Lorain and Bridge, the campus of St. Ignatius Jesuit High School has increased. A couple of Catholic charity endeavors operate on Lorain. A few artsy places exist because of low rent and slightly bohemian callings.

Beyond that, there are failing businesses and resale shops (euphemistically calling themselves antique stores), and institutional buildings on the street. Some demolition is occurring to produce expensive apartment living, and entertainment outlets (beer, squash, shuffleboard) for younger adults.

July 14, 2016

This building is abandoned and boarded up on the corner of West 44th & Lorain.

December 3, 2016
For a short time, this mural was painted on the 44th Street side.

December 11, 2019

The building owner had the mural painted over (as well as one on the opposite side facing a small parking lot, which had a rat riding a motorcycle, a part of the building sold motorcycle equipment). Since then a series of worthless graffiti has come (and gone), like dog piss on telephone poles.

late December fotos

Kangaroo mascot of University of Akron joins over 650 tubas for Akron's 40th Tuba Christmas.

Musicians are encouraged to come in costume, and to add colour to their instruments.

wrought iron on closed doors of Holy Trinity Lutheran Akron

sunlight hitting Advent decorated pulpit at St. Colman Cleveland

2019 Miscellany #12 — music, art, movies

Emeka Ogboh. Ámà: the Gathering Place. 30 November 2019. Atrium of Cleveland Art Museum. 

In the distance is a fabricated iroku tree with akwétè cloth, substituting for bark. The sculpture is better in fuller sunlight. Closer to the camera, is a miniature forest of bamboo. Foto is taken from an escalator. The next day, was the last of the installation.

December is a time for Christmas music concerts.  Early Tuba Christmas, on December 1st, at First Baptist Shaker Heights. Much smaller than Lorain's, and very much smaller than Akron's (both this upcoming weekend); more classical composers, playing to an older audience with older performers.

Edsel, Ford, Ford Falcon van, Dodge, Chrysler Imperial, Mercury, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Chrysler Newport

Sunday,  December 15th. W. 65th by St. Colman's.

The two days prior, a movie was being filled about the "extrajudicial" killing of Fred Hampton in Chicago, December 4th 1969. Hampton was chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, and deputy chairman of the national party. He was being monitored by the FBI, Chicago Police, and Cook County police.  In a pre-dawn armed attack, he was shot in his bed, and then shot point blank in the head twice,

Do you like the prototype of the new Cleveland streetlights? An earlier film, A Christmas Story, was filmed on W. 11th. In the last few years, it has become a tourist stop.

Burning River Brass had its first concert (1996) at Pilgrim Congregational on West 14th Cleveland. Since then, they have played annual Christmas concerts. They also add humour, Trumpeter down.

Sandy Ridge, North Ridgeville O.

Great Blue Heron

Cardinal, state bird of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Brown-hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar

 Sandhill Crane

Downy Woodpecker

picture of the day — Bucky the trotter

While travelling in a car, through Cleveland Heights, Bucky ran in parallel.

2019 Miscellany #11

A handsome profile

Cleveland's Day of the Dead Saturday celebration fell on the appropriate day, November Second.  Few of the people in attendance had traditional religious concerns, but it was a day to see people. A number of amateur photographers were snapping away. We were there with our two greyhounds, who were very popular. Karma and Cassius were photographed by many, and some wanted to be in the picture with the two black wolves. This commotion limited my picture taking, and my time was limited that day. The weather was cold and threatened with a very cold rain, which only appeared in a few drops before we left.

 Route 611 bridge over Black River, Lorain O.

 white shadow

 off of W. 25th in Cleveland O.

  near St. Rocco's, painted sometime before additional area codes 330 and 440
good lettering, some letters faded, and "cassette" misspelled

 not many quarters collected recently

...like a dog

Picture is from Colbert's show last night. 

There is much audio/video in which Trump refers negatively about dogs, grammatically as a wretched comparison. The recent military raid, Conan, a Belgian Malinois, tracked down al-Baghdadi. There is some talk, that the military would not have made it public. Trump is now jealous of the dog. 

Now, before Trump was inaugurated, i made my last visit to a Catholic peace group meeting. A comment was made that only Trump's dog likes him. First, it was public that Trump had no pets (and no warm feelings for animals unless they lingered too long on the  grill). That was the last straw. He always made references as premises that were factually and historically inaccurate, and he expected these to be a priori accepted without discussion, of course, these premises were to favor his wanted conclusion. No, false premises do not make a true conclusion. The conclusion is not proved, because of one's desire. No, Trump does not like dogs.

What do we know about dogs? They are known for loyalty. Dogs are said to be "man's best friend". There is an archaeolgist's argument, dogs civilised us. Someone brings a hound to a gathering, and several attendees ooh, and ahh about the puppy-wuppy present. Actors are said to resent dogs in their scenes.

elm on prospect

 this tight row of five buildings have historical plaques

 and a gnarly elm

 which also has a plaque

 colorful ivy this time of year

good looking entrance

scenic rocky river in berea

 

 

 

Beachland — Euclid border

E. 222nd almost on Lakeshore Blvd.

Progress is slow on this one.

E. 185th

Near Lake Erie, the border of Cleveland and Euclid is East 185th. They have been torn up the street, there is the massive storm water construction nearby, they have finally re-opened a highway exit; but for years the street has deteriorated. Many lots and storefronts are vacant, and the nature of the businesses has changed. Ethnic demographic change is part of that. There are on going attempts to continue. One method that has appeared in many places is good and colorful murals and signage.

This is part of a long horizontal mural. Nearby there is a Jamaican restaurant. The car signage is nearby, on the Cleveland side of the street.

pumpkins have landed in Euclid

The brave aviator is flying his Sopwith Camel. Many Lake Erie midges have landed on him, and all around.

Did Charlie get a rock again?