Rewinding to Cleveland

Through the miracle of amazing technology I'm rewinding the days, setting the time for December 2011 and voila! Here we are just after Christmas, spending two wonderful days in Cleveland. The little man visiting relatives in Youngstown, my daughter off with a college friend too seldom seen, and MJ and I roaming the city.

I love Cleveland with  its gritty, city dirt that whispers of past prosperous times while maintaining hope that a renaissance is just around the next metro block.  While Columbus may be the Ohio urban trend, give me Cleveland with fireworks lighting up the cityscape after an Indians games and the Dog Pound with painted, rabid fans.  I'll take the Westside Market...

  

Little Italy...

where one of my favorite vintage shops dresses up a historic church with joyful celebration.  It's Heartstings, a shop owned by the talented Wendy Swindell who displays here myriad of finds with flair and eccentric exuberance. 

 The magic of vintage and retro doll furnitue on a shelf at Heartstrings.  Photo taken by MJ

And the hard edges softened by the holiday lights...

Oh yeah, I'll take Cleveland any ole time. 

There's more to Cleveland, so stay tuned this week for more Cleveland love.  You just might be surprised!