January 1, 2007

This is what I looked like on the morning of January 1st, 2007. The two lines I'm pointing to confirmed it - I'm a dad! I can't imagine a better way to start the year. The doc says all is well and the swooshing heart beat blew our minds. A giant thank you to all of the support and well-wishes we've received from family and friends. Kris and I are very lucky to have you all in our lives. We're maintaining a sort of pregnancy blog at http://weandthebean.blogspot.com where we'll post pictures, share stories and one day early in September, introduce you to the bean, as we affectionately refer to him/her these days. Actually, we learned he/she is more like a lime lately. Hopefully, we'll have an actual name by the time we reach the grapefruit/cantaloupe days...

You Are Here # 9

You Are Here # 9: “I’d Tell Them I Like the People”

***

Roy Williams is a 42 year old man who works at the Phoenix Coffeehouse in Lakewood. His favorite place is the Marjorie Building where the coffeehouse is located. Roy is a man of few words, but he soundly described what many of us love most about Lakewood. It’s a place to find friends, where kindness is met in passing on the street. Our short time together was more conversational than the “You Are Here” interviews usually tend to be, so I’ve taken the liberty of summarizing our discussion.

We met with Roy on a Saturday afternoon in January at the Phoenix Coffeehouse on Detroit Avenue.

***

If there’s one thing Roy is clear about, it’s that Lakewood is full of nice people. In fact, when I asked Roy, “What do you like about Lakewood,” his reply was quick and sure: “Nice people.” That Lakewood is home to many nice folks is a theme that connects many, if not all of the people I’ve been lucky enough to talk with during the course of this project. I asked Roy to expand on this idea for me. “It’s nice to have friends in Lakewood,” he said, emphasizing that he has a lot of friends here. “Like Julie, the boss. She’s nice,” he said, referring to Julie Hutchison, owner of the Phoenix Coffeehouse where Roy works. He also enjoys spending time with his friend Mariana at the coffeehouse.

Working at the Phoenix has given Roy the opportunity to see some of his favorite local musicians up close and personal. He shared with me that Anne E. DeChant, Cleveland-area singer/songwriter, comes in to the Phoenix on occasion to work on her computer. “I’m her number one fan” he says, smiling.

Roy is also a big fan of many local businesses, particularly the Record Exchange. When I asked him what it was about the Record Exchange that he liked, he told me about their collection of videos and DVD’s, and that he is always able to find some of his favorites on sale there, like Disney movies. Roy also likes Marc’s, because of their sales.

Many feel that public transportation and Lakewood’s proximity to downtown Cleveland are real feathers in its cap. While Roy didn’t discuss going into Cleveland proper, he does like to take the RTA busses around Lakewood and into other communities.

My final question to Roy is one I ask everyone who participates in this project: If you were to convince someone why they should move to Lakewood, what would you tell them? The answer may come as no surprise: “I’d tell them I like the people.”

And so do we, Roy.

***

You Are Here* is a project that highlights what Lakewood residents think and feel about their city. We feel that a project like this shares a great affinity with many of the community efforts beginning and ongoing in our city. We are witnessing the emergence of an engaged, pro-active and committed community dedicated to creating the kind of place that we want to live in. But the question remains: who are you? To that end, we would like to use this project as a forum to meet as many Lakewood residents as possible. We would like to photograph you in your favorite place in Lakewood and discuss with you what you feel makes Lakewood a special place. These biographical vignettes will regularly be published in the Lakewood Observer. Publishing them in the Observer means that you get to share, and other people get to learn about, who you are and what you feel makes Lakewood a special place. Ultimately, a quilt of individuals and experiences will be available to all who live here, and those who do not live here yet, strengthening the sense of community that is Lakewood, Ohio.

Are you interested in participating? Contact Jason Weiner and Kristine Williams at lakewoodandyou@yahoo.com .

*A photo-documentary project highlighting the individuals who live in the city of Lakewood, Ohio.

Jason Weiner lives in Lakewood with his wife, Kristine. He works and volunteers with several Philanthropic and nonprofit organizations, does research and plays drums. His favorite place in Lakewood is the Purple Martin house in Lakewood Park.

Kristine Williams lives in Lakewood with her husband, Jason. In addition to teaching 3rd grade, she paints and knits for local galleries. Her favorite spot in Lakewood is under the oak trees in her own backyard.

They enjoy gardening and watching the birds in their backyard with their two dogs (Max and Gracie), cat (Emily) and several fresh water fish.

You Are Invited!

You are invited!

You Are Here # 8

You Are Here # 8
“It’s Kind of Exciting”

Tiffany Bryson is a 31 year old Realtor who has lived in Lakewood for 9 years. She has two daughters: Isabella and Una. Her favorite place is the bench swings in Lakewood Park that overlook Lake Erie. We met Tiffany at the swings on a chilly Sunday afternoon in December.

“I started working downtown, I wanted to get somewhere close that I could live but somewhere that I really enjoyed and everyone told me to go to Lakewood, that I would really love it there. I got an apartment and from that point forward I haven’t left. The small businesses I think is what really keeps me here, not big corporations all across our little town. Just small little places that are trying to make it and I love that. I love the fact that we’ve got our water right here. And that’s one of the reasons we like this park so much is cause we’re right by the water. I like the fact that they’re really building up, you know, closer to Cleveland they’re really building up all that area, developing it and that sort of thing. But they’re still trying to keep it where it’s still Lakewood. And the Lakewood Library! It’s so exciting. It’s one of the top libraries and it’s wonderful. We enjoy that, the kids enjoy it. And I love the fact that they did the new YMCA too, so they’re doing a lot. It’s kind of exciting.”

***

You Are Here* is a project that highlights what Lakewood residents think and feel about their city. We feel that a project like this shares a great affinity with many of the community efforts beginning and ongoing in our city. We are witnessing the emergence of an engaged, pro-active and committed community dedicated to creating the kind of place that we want to live in. But the question remains: who are you? To that end, we would like to use this project as a forum to meet as many Lakewood residents as possible. We would like to photograph you in your favorite place in Lakewood and discuss with you what you feel makes Lakewood a special place. These biographical vignettes will regularly be published in the Lakewood Observer. Publishing them in the Observer means that you get to share, and other people get to learn about, who you are and what you feel makes Lakewood a special place. Ultimately, a quilt of individuals and experiences will be available to all who live here, and those who do not live here yet, strengthening the sense of community that is Lakewood, Ohio.

Are you interested in participating? Contact Jason Weiner and Kristine Williams at lakewoodandyou@yahoo.com.

*A photo-documentary project highlighting the individuals who live in the city of Lakewood, Ohio.

Jason Weiner lives in Lakewood with his wife, Kristine. He works and volunteers with several Philanthropic and nonprofit organizations, does research and plays drums. His favorite place in Lakewood is the Purple Martin house in Lakewood Park.

Kristine Williams lives in Lakewood with her husband, Jason. In addition to teaching 3rd grade, she paints and knits for local galleries. Her favorite spot in Lakewood is under the oak trees in her own backyard.

They enjoy gardening and watching the birds in their backyard with their two dogs (Max and Gracie), cat (Emily) and several fresh water fish.

You Are Here # 6

Elizabeth Zander
78 years old
Retired Office Worker, Real Estate Broker
Lakewood resident since 1959

Favorite Place(s): The Oasis and Courtyard at the Barton Center.

“Number one on the list is Lake Erie. The smell of it, the feel of it, the wind of it, everything. I just love Lake Erie and I’m almost on the lake over there. Oh, the art studios and the antique shops that there are. Just so many things, just browse around. A lot of good eating areas. A lot of good friends here. Really, it’s so convenient. Everything is right here, grocery stores and pharmacies, malls, they’re all pretty close to Lakewood so that’s an ideal situation. The parks, of course Metro parks along the Rocky River. My church is here. Just an awful lot to do here if you want to do and if you have the inclination to do it there’s, not only here, I mean you can work at the Beck Center. You can volunteer out of anywhere. The hospital is so close, the Beck Center I go to. There’s just everything here. It’s just a big little town. It’s like going downtown, but a little town. I think they made it very comfortable, especially if you like to inhale the lake, the fishy smell, which I love.

Lakewood is on the up, it’s growing, not going down. To me that’s good. To put their money in a city, they must know something we don’t know, or we do know but now they know.”

You Are Here* is a project that highlights what Lakewood residents think and feel about their city. We feel that a project like this shares a great affinity with many of the community efforts beginning and ongoing in our city. We are witnessing the emergence of an engaged, pro-active and committed community dedicated to creating the kind of place that we want to live in. But the question remains: who are you? To that end, we would like to use this project as a forum to meet as many Lakewood residents as possible. We would like to photograph you in your favorite place in Lakewood and discuss with you what you feel makes Lakewood a special place. These biographical vignettes will regularly be published in the Lakewood Observer. Publishing them in the Observer means that you get to share, and other people get to learn about, who you are and what you feel makes Lakewood a special place. Ultimately, a quilt of individuals and experiences will be available to all who live here, and those who do not live here yet, strengthening the sense of community that is Lakewood, Ohio.

Are you interested in participating? Contact Jason Weiner and Kristine Williams at lakewoodandyou@yahoo.com .

*A photo-documentary project highlighting the individuals who live in the city of Lakewood, Ohio.

Jason Weiner lives in Lakewood with his wife, Kristine. He teaches Sociology, does research and plays drums. His favorite place in Lakewood is the Purple Martin house in Lakewood Park.
Kristine Williams lives in Lakewood with her husband, Jason. In addition to teaching 3rd grade, she paints and knits for local galleries. Her favorite spot in Lakewood is under the oak trees in her own backyard.
They enjoy gardening and watching the birds in their backyard with their two dogs (Max and Gracie), cat (Emily) and several fresh water fish.

Mike Uva and Hook Boy

Friday, November 17
Parish Hall
At the Miller Weitzel Gallery
6205 Detroit Avenue :: Cleveland, OH
9 pm sharp

Mike Uva and Hook Boy
Mike Uva: Guitar & Vox
Joe Milan: Bass
Jason Weiner: Drums
Henry James: Guitar

Playing with The Volta Sound and Arbouretum (Thrill Jockey, from Baltimore MD)

We're on first and it's gonna be a short set this time out.

Smoke Free :: Beer Available

Come on down!

PS : The new MU & HB disc will be ready shortly and it's quite good, if I do say so myself. Also, we'll be playing Bela Dubby in December with Uva Ursi. Keep your eyes and ears open.

You Are Here #5

Sarah Henderson
54 years old
Former 6^th Grade Teacher; Currently teaches Tai Chi
Lakewood resident for 20 years

Favorite Place(s): The Coffee Pot and Lakewood Home Furnishings, both on Madison Avenue in Lakewood.

Sarah enjoys Monday mornings at The Coffee Pot with her husband, Bill.
Photography by Kristine Williams

It's Like Living In A Small Town
"One thing I love about Lakewood is that it’s like living in a small town but it’s not as limiting as a small town. I have lived in a small town before. We can walk places, we can walk to the Library from where we live, we can walk to the park from where we live. We have two dogs, we love the dog park and the dog swim and just how the sidewalks, we walk the dogs all over the neighborhood. We’ll often drive to a neighborhood just so we can enjoy the neighborhood with our dog.

And I really like that, this is like a small down, in here, Julian, Mama and Papa (of The Coffee Pot) know our names. Same with the shop next door, Lakewood Home Furnishings, so there are places like that, where you’re not an anonymous person. And we always run into people we know, which is fun, and that’s like a small town.

I really like the schools. I taught in the schools and my oldest daughter, Amanda, went to the schools from 4^th Grade through High School, and she got a great education. She went to Hiram [College] and her English teacher asked her where she learned to write so well...

I love my house, and it’s affordable. You know, I could live in Avon or Westlake, but I just couldn’t have that much house elsewhere. And I feel safe. I’m a single mom, or I was single until Bill moved in, but when I was a single mom, it was still safe. You know, with trick-or-treating, you feel safe for them to go on French or Andrews. My daughter has babysitting jobs right on the street and the people are friendly."

You Are Here* is a project that highlights what Lakewood residents think and feel about their city. We feel that a project like this shares a great affinity with many of the community efforts beginning and ongoing in our city. We are witnessing the emergence of an engaged, pro-active and committed community dedicated to creating the kind of place that we want to live in. But the question remains: who are you? To that end, we would like to use this project as a forum to meet as many Lakewood residents as possible. We would like to photograph you in your favorite place in Lakewood and discuss with you what you feel makes Lakewood a special place. These biographical vignettes will regularly be published in the Lakewood Observer. Publishing them in the Observer means that you get to share, and other people get to learn about, who you are and what you feel makes Lakewood a special place. Ultimately, a quilt of individuals and experiences will be available to all who live here, and those who do not live here yet, strengthening the sense of community that is Lakewood, Ohio.

Are you interested in participating? Contact Jason Weiner and Kristine Williams at lakewoodandyou@yahoo.com or by calling 216.221.5146.

*A photo-documentary project highlighting the individuals who live in the city of Lakewood, Ohio.

Jason Weiner lives in Lakewood with his wife, Kristine. He teaches Sociology, does research and plays drums. His favorite place in Lakewood is the Purple Martin house in Lakewood Park.

Kristine Williams lives in Lakewood with her husband, Jason. In addition to teaching 3rd grade, she paints and knits for local galleries. Her favorite spot in Lakewood is under the oak trees in her own backyard.

They enjoy gardening and watching the birds in their backyard with their two dogs (Max and Gracie), cat (Emily) and several fresh water fish.

You Are Here # 4

Bill Pearson

68 years old
Former Lutheran Pastor; Currently an Intake Worker for Lakewood Christian Service Center
Lakewood resident for 6.5 years

Favorite Place(s): The Coffee Pot and Lakewood Home Furnishings, both businesses on Lakewood's Madison Avenue.

Bill enjoys "The Coffee Pot" on Monday mornings with his wife, Sarah Henderson.
Photo by Kristine Williams

Lakewood's Diversity and the Appeal of The Front Porch
“Someone said to me recently that twenty-six languages [are spoken] in Lakewood High School, I think it was the Spanish teacher that said in her classes, twenty six different languages, and they’re primary languages. And we’re seeing, at the Center [Lakewood Christian Service Center], we’re seeing an increasing number of Albanians, Lebanese, Syrians, and African Americans are on the increase at the High School certainly and probably at all the other schools. I ran across a gentleman from the Republic of Congo who lives here in the area and his son is one of the top cross country runners, not only from Lakewood, but he’s one of the top in whole area..

...it’s been an ethnic community, if you look at "Bird Town" especially, I think that it kind of has a reputation for being ethnically diverse, and again, it’s close to church, it’s close to downtown, it’s close to whatever work it is that people are doing. It’s typical of first-ring suburbs; it has a lot of multiple housing so that we see families where you’ve got two or three generations living in a double, so it’s an easy place to do that.

Lakewood is a community with a lot of front porches. So we see, there’s a lot of people, ourselves included, that sit on their porches in the summer and just enjoy watching people go by and throwing stones at them… It helps you know who lives in your neighborhood, and I tend to talk to people, even if I don’t know them. As we look at French, several new families have moved in [over] the last year with small children so we see them pushing the kids in the strollers and it’s fun to get to know them and watch the kids grow. You miss that if you don’t have a front porch.”

You Are Here* is a project that highlights what Lakewood residents think and feel about their city. We feel that a project like this shares a great affinity with many of the community efforts beginning and ongoing in our city. We are witnessing the emergence of an engaged, pro-active and committed community dedicated to creating the kind of place that we want to live in. But the question remains: who are you? To that end, we would like to use this project as a forum to meet as many Lakewood residents as possible. We would like to photograph you in your favorite place in Lakewood and discuss with you what you feel makes Lakewood a special place. These biographical vignettes will regularly be published in the Lakewood Observer. Publishing them in the Observer means that you get to share, and other people get to learn about, who you are and what you feel makes Lakewood a special place. Ultimately, a quilt of individuals and experiences will be available to all who live here, and those who do not live here yet, strengthening the sense of community that is Lakewood, Ohio.

Are you interested in participating? Contact Jason Weiner and Kristine Williams at lakewoodandyou@yahoo.com or by calling 216.221.5146.

*A photo-documentary project highlighting the individuals who live in the city of Lakewood, Ohio.

Jason Weiner lives in Lakewood with his wife, Kristine. He teaches Sociology, does research and plays drums. His favorite place in Lakewood is the Purple Martin house in Lakewood Park.

Kristine Williams lives in Lakewood with her husband, Jason. In addition to teaching 3rd grade, she paints and knits for local galleries. Her favorite spot in Lakewood is under the oak trees in her own backyard.

They enjoy gardening and watching the birds in their backyard with their two dogs (Max and Gracie), cat (Emily) and several fresh water fish.