The View From Here

Murray Hill, that is.  Even more accurate, it happens at Mayfield & Murray Hill – Cleveland’s Little Italy !  Little Italy has been around since the 1800s, and was founded by Italian immigrants.  The Italian portion of the population has dropped to roughly half of it’s former glory, but there is no mistaking where you are.  The “Trendy & Cool”, along with artists and students from nearby Case Western Reserve University make up the balance.  Also close by is Lakeview Cemetery, permanent home to President James Garfield, John D. Rockefeller and many other titans of the Industrial Revolution.

Little Italy is one of the best places for people watching in Cleveland.  It’s long been a romantic date destination, or a place just to stroll the the shops and galleries that pepper the landscape.  I have been going there for many years and try to take friends and family there since it’s such a unique place.  Cleveland’s full of unique areas and things to see & do, but this is definitely Top 5 material – maybe even Top 3 !

Slim had a hankering for some good Italian, so I said let’s go to The Hill.  I had already spent a good part of the day biking to Downtown from 44107 on my road bike, and was a bit hungry myself.  I had only done 20 miles, but I hadn’t ridden in a while, so it was a good “break in” ride – break in my butt is more like it.  I prefer around a 30-mile ride on average, so this was nice.  I ride, talk to tourists, check for new restaurants, see who closed, and just enjoy the architecture & the scene.  The Cleveland Grand Prix was going on too – I can hear the cars practicing as I type this !

Sorry for the interuption – back to Little Italy.  We ate on the sidewalk at our favorite place, Trattoria – perfect for watching the T&C, well dressed Clevelanders enjoying themselves.  Since it was earlier, we also got to see the buzz of activities : restaurant help getting breads and desserts from Presti’s Bakery & Corbo’s Dolceria (Corbo’s made our Cassata Wedding cake), bussers & wait-staff bringing out fresh linens, the bevy of nice looking, black-clad hostesses enjoying a coffee and a final smoke before the dinner rush.  With more than a dozen restaurants near by, it was quite the scene.  And since I was with Lisa in one of our favorite places (we may move there one day), it was quite the day… 

I know that other than some comments by me on some well-respected blogs (you know who you are) I’ve been kind of silent lately, and I appreciate anyone who has visited mine.  Bottom line line is that we’re veeerrrryyy busy, and there doesn’t seem to be a let up in the action - amazing how this incredible season can become an incredible drain on your free time !

We just celebrated FD07 – our annual Father’s Day celebration that was originally meant as a “get-to-know-your-future-in-laws” event.  Problem : Slim’s kin get here early, and mine get here late – basically the two “camps” are set up in, well, two “camps” – Slim’s fam on the well manicured patio and mine on the not-so-manicured lawn.  Oh well, the early bird gets the better furniture.  We had 20 to 25 this time ’round – not too shabby !  Always a good time except we were missing Snakeye, who we expect here soon – we welcome you back from The Front with open arms my friend !  Dr. Laura & Billy too !

Between events (Grammapalooza is upcoming in July - Lisa’s family reunion) here and smaller gatherings, yardwork, tending the crops, cycling and my ”career research” – life is hectic.  Currently Pam and the Gayhounds are in town, and Lisa & Pammycakes are having loads of fun !  Also,  Lisa and Kim are enjoying their new jobs just down the street – Slim went from a 70-mile round trip commute to a 2-minute walk – life is good !

As I type this I am, again, under the pine tree on my wireless laptop.  There is a gorgeous sunset, and the coolness of the evening is settling in.  I am enjoying the fact that I am outside (and in the city no less !) enjoying my season - with a glass of Chianti, knowing that this is where I am and where I want to be…