4/21/2023 Slavic Village Kinsman Full Cleveland walk Part one

The Blue shoe walk!

 

 The Full Cleveland Slavic Village Kinsman walk started at the Red Chimney restaurant, a long time staple of the area which has survived everything, including COVID. Great diner style breakfasts to be had here. We gathered here, a bunch of folks showed up early in order to get a full breakfast. It's a little harder to get served when 48 people show up!

With each group that arrived, my heart lifted because there was a previous FC that had 20 people signed up, but the rainy forecast had only 3 show up for the trip. 

 

Gathering for breakfast before the walk at the iconic Red Chimney

Notice that the sign says walk!

It's a bit rainy but we have a large contingent of walkers!

Our first stop was the George Masaveg Art House. George has lived in these two houses for about 36 years. His ex-wife worked for a canvas print company, and they were going to throw out 4 art prints that didn't meet quality standards. (Cut in the wrong place, or other insignificant blemishes). George said don't throw them out, let people see them! He decided that the only way he could let people see them was to put them on the OUTSIDE of his house. He coated them with epoxy so they could survive the weather and mounted them in places someone could see them.

    Hundreds of pieces later, George is still adding to the collection of found and donated pieces. He was putting up an outdoor pergola made of the the roof of an old icehouse wagon that someone was throwing out. He said that it's a piece of the neighborhood! More than 100 years old! I'll make something out of it!

    And so now its a piece in the collection. 

    George doesn't get up early in the morning, but he wished us well and left out some umbrellas for us! Such a Cleveland thing to do!

George Masaveg Art House

Our next stop around 9:00 was Saucisson Butcher Shop. Owner Melissa Khoury spoke to us about the wonderful mission she has about local food and community, as well as inclusion and awareness. 

    Saucisson is celebrating 10 years in business!

    Saucisson was also our provider of lunch, so Melissa was about to get to work on ours. Spoiler alert: It was delicious! People especially loved her vegan sandwiches! Who knew?

Saucisson Melissa Khoury talking about their mission of inclusion

We had an unscheduled stop at a Polish Jewish cemetery in the neighborhood which was done in a very different style than most other cemeteries I've ever been to in America. The headstones were only 2-3 inches apart from each other. It wasn't open since Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath, but it was fascinating to see this other culture right there amidst the rest of the neighborhood.

Polish American Cultural Center

At the Polish American Cultural Center, we were greeted by Connie Adams, who we met at a previous Full Cleveland walk of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. Her and Andy Beida led us through the attached museum and gardens which was truly awe inspiring.

    It was still a little wet, so didn't spend too much time in the garden, but it outlined 2500 years of Polish history. Inside, there was a tribute to American President Woodrow Wilson, who assisted in the rebuilding of Poland after the first world war. 

    It also had a significant section dedicated to Polish American hero Andrzej Kosciuszko, who apparently has more things named after him in America than George Washington! He was an important figure in the American Revolutionary War.

After the museum, we started the trek to Mill Creek Falls. 

    Mill Creek Falls is part of the Cleveland Metroparks system, and was only opened in 2017. This idyllic place in the middle of the city was once a junkyard. Not 'like a junkyard', it was an actual junkyard with rusting hulks of cars, detritus and debris from the city. It was listed as a brownfield in the late 90's and scheduled for superfund renewal in the mid 2000's. Since it only opened a few years ago, most Clevelanders, even lifelong Clevelanders, have never been here.  

Mill Creek Falls during a rain

We stretched a whole block

Mill Creek Falls--hard to get everyone into the picture!

A nice piece of public art dispensing JOY

Cleveland Steel being recycled

We took the Morgana Trail, another Metroparks trail connecting Slavic Village to Washington Park to take us to The Nash!

The Nash's Anthony Trazka telling us about this storied institution

The Nash opened its doors to us thanks to Anthony Trazka, they served as our lunch location with Saucisson bringng our meals to us. Anthony opened the bar though and the Full Clevelanders appreciated that! 

The Nash is the former National Slovenian Home. The Nash is available for venue rental and they can host up to 300 people and have a full commercial kitchen. It is definitely the place to go for Friday Fish Fry during Lent. They have live music, great food and a cash bar---and bowling!

    Anthony described some of the issues of having a working 100 year old building. I asked him if I could bowl, and when my ball knocked over the pins, the pin setter lost power. Anthony said, "Welcome to the Nash!"

More to follow, stay tuned!