I Love Ohio

John wanted to run over to our favorite vintage hardware store today.  We are looking for one or more large, old hooks or something that we can repurpose into a cool, old hook.  No luck.  The guy told us that hooks are really popular right now and he never finds them anymore.  He went on forever about lost opportunities in the old hook realm of the world.  

We do love to look through the wonderful collection of of old hardware at this antique store.  It is really amazing.  Look at the doorknob backing plates below.  They run between $10 and $50.

Look at the knobs!

We took a different route home (as usual when John the explorer is driving) and came across this interesting mural on the side of an old building.  I am not sure why there are chickens, but there they are.

A few more blocks and we ran right into the famous West Side Market that several of you told me about when I was ranting on about our local farm stand carrying produce from Honduras, Mexico and Chile.  We have been meaning to get over to the West Side Market, but just had not made the trip.  It is in a wonderful old brick building with a clock tower.  Easy parking made the stop a sure thing.  It was lunch time so we decided to eat at the cafe before shopping (always a good idea).  After a terrific lunch we shopped and browsed the two long side-by-side buildings.

One building houses dozens of butchers, cheese stalls and bakery stalls.  The other is all produce, mostly local grown, USA grown with just a fraction imported.  Look at the brick ceiling.  I apologize for the blurry people, but I was going after the ceiling.

Photo above, I have titled "Summer!"  Below is the smiling produce man at the Calabreze Produce stand.  

This next photo is for my brother Doug who loves Rainier Cherries.  These sweet, plump beauties were $2.50 lb!!!  C'mon over.  We will save you some, Doug.

We finished the exploration up, sharing a delicious Cannoli that was every bit as good as my Italian aunt used to make.

We were only gone a few hours, had only gone driven about 15 miles, but felt as if we had traveled far from home.  I love the diversity of Ohio and love our little mini vacations.

Comments

[TACE]

Wow, this was a definite eye candy post...only eye candy doesn't sound fulfilling enough...more like eye-all-you-can-visually-feast-on-buffet-candy! I clicked close on all those doorknobs and back plate things. Sooo many....so much awesomeness in one little area and then you tease us with cannoli and cherries and brick building murals. I swear you oughtta go into the Ohio tourism industry, haha :) Awesome post.

[Kimberly]

How cool is all that? The antique shop looks so fun!! We have a small one here in our town, but there is not anything like that in there. That market building is AMAZING...I've never seen anything like it! Keep traveling around...I sure am enjoying looking at all your cool pictures!!

[Shannon W]

Oh what I wouldn't give to get lost in that vintage hardware store... in fact it all looks absolutely wonderful!

[claudine hellmuth]

hey ginny! thanks for stopping by my blog! You take the most amazing photos. your blog is eye candy. love those murals and the house by the lake!!

[Bella Sinclair]

You're a girl after my own heart. Who says you need to go far to see marvelous sights! It's wonderful that you can find so much beauty right around you. Your photos are delicious to look at. LOVE that ceiling!

Thank you for visiting my blog. I'm glad I've discovered you and your FABULOUS shop! I've bookmarked you and will definitely have to do some shopping.

[Rachel Greig]

Great tour! Love the door knobs!

[Just a Plane Ride Away]

Stunning photos! I especially love the shot with the brickworked ceiling. I also love that you took photos of the murals--street art can be amazing, can't it? And that hardware store--drool! Thanks for sharing your day with us!