Gloria Ferris

Just got back from Lake Shore Feed and Seed located at  5112 Clark Avenue which is family-owned and operated.  When I was a kid,  Saturday morning was spent doing the weekly errands with my dad.  One of our stops was the local Gold Star Feed Store which had everything you could imagine for pets and farm animals.  Times change and the local Gold Star Feed Store in Wooster is now Emily Moorefield’s pottery shop, and right next door is her husband’s restaurant, South Market Bistro.

But who knew right in the heart of an urban neighborhood in Cleveland nestles a pet store that takes you back in time.  The owners stock food, toys, collars, over-the-counter medications and shampoos, and thousands of treats for dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and probably other animals that I have failed to mention.  One of the owners waits on you behind the counter with a friendly smile and ready to help.  After she rings up the sale, a gentleman who works with her carries the fifty pound bag out to your car.  Buy in bulk, the savings are fantastic. 

There is easy access to the store from I-90 take the West 41-44th Street exit and go south turn right on to Clark and if you make it to 52nd street, you’ve missed it.  They have a large parking lot that is surrounded by a beautiful garden.  It is a great urban space.  Check it out!  

A new FREE event will take place in Rockefeller Park thanks to the vision of one of our neighbors, Lois Moss.  Check out this week’s Cool Cleveland and watch the video where Lois explains her vision, how she convinced others to believe in her vision, and what will be taking place this weekend for the first time in Rockefeller Park and the Cultural Gardens, but not for the last time.

Last winter, Lois and I had a conversation about an idea she had, this very idea.  She knew it was going to take a lot of hard work and convincing to see it through, but she did and this week end we all will get to experience the result.  Many great ideas are born, but not all turn into action.  It is great that this idea has turned in to another wonderful event in Cleveland.  Lois Moss is another Cleveland treasure that lives right here in our neighborhood.  Thank you, Lois. 

I spent many an afternoon sitting in front of our Philco TV munching on Oreos, sipping cold, cold milk watching the Little Rascals put on one of their famous “shows”. I wished and I hoped that I would find a group of friends just like those characters on TV that would want to hang a blanket in our  barn  and have the time of their life.  Who knew that well past my childhood, I would find my group of rascals.  When I read this post at Word of Mouth, I held my breath, closed my eyes, and whispered ”No, it couldn’t be”.

Well, for those of us who are literalists in the blogosphere, it wasn’t EXACTLY a Little Rascals Productions, but it was a Meet the Bloggers production, and that, my friends, is good enough for me.  Believe me, you never want me up on a stage singing to you.  So all of my fantasy didn’t play out, but the best part did. Everyone pitched in, worked very hard, and people came!  And then more people came, and it rained, but it didn’t change a thing.  We just moved it all inside and kept on laughing and enjoying our time together, and my band of friends just kept growing and growing.  I even ate FRIED Oreos.  Of course, the beverage of choice was no longer cold, cold milk but instead cold, cold beer,  but hey nothing ever stays the same.   

And, as the night wore down, people began to leave. When there were just a few of us left sitting around that round table at The Town Fryer, we talked about what a great day it had been, and then, Scott, who had worked harder than all of us on making the day the success that it was, said “Wait until next year!”  Music to a woman’s ears who had always wanted to be a part of “The Little Rascals”.    Thanks everybody!

is because Bloggapalooza is going to be the Kickass event of the summer for bloggers and friends. See you there!

The music! It’s always about the music, isn’t it?  The line-up found on the Bloggapalooza page at Brewed Fresh Daily has a list of the bands and many of those bands have websites so you can check them out for yourself.  All I can say is that Scott of Word of Mouth, the website and the band,  has come up with an eclectic group of bands with something for everyone.  It should be quite a show.

You will MEET THE BLOGGERS, and some of the interviewees, and the blog readers, friends of bloggers and readers, and bloggers who play music and write and read poetry and anyone else who shows for Bloggapalooza.  There will also be some former waiters and waitresses helping Suzy and her staff.  And then there will be the roadies, former or wannabes, but roadies.  I’m telling you this event has everything and you don’t want to miss out by not attending! 

Another day that you can hang out with Susie “Slingo” Porter and her incredibly talented staff which includes, Bobby, Fred, Martha, and her daughter Allie and probably others that I haven’t had the chance to meet.  Not only are they great at their jobs but they also are incredibly interesting as people.  Be sure to spend a few minutes just getting to know them, and tip well.  The day to hang out with Suzy and her crew is of course July 22nd at Bloggapalooza hosted by The Town Fryer. 

…and more at The Town Fryer.  My personal favorites are the fried Bologna sandwich on rye, red beans and rice, black bean chili, chicken burrito, and/or fried twinkies or oreos.  Of course, Susie might have something else in mind as a surprise but then of course, there is always the Gumbo.

You wil meet the Bloggi Lama.  Now, I am not sure who that is presently,  the honor seems to shift at times, but there will be one, and you will meet him or her If you attend Bloggapalooza. 

Rain or shine, Bloggapalooza will go on!  Sadly, last night the Ingenuity Festival did not have very good luck with the weather gods, and it blew, and it poured, and lightning lit up the sky, but today and tomorrow look much more promising.  So, please block out some time to venture downtown and take in this wonderful experience.