c/cleveland-west-side-living

Shoutout to the guys at West Side Tool Library for saving my porch project

I was trying to fix my sagging porch steps with a cheap drill from Walmart and it died after 3 screws. Rented a proper impact driver from the Tool Library on Detroit Ave and finished the whole thing in 20 minutes flat. Has anyone else found that using the right tool from them beats buying junk that breaks?

My weird experience with the Ohio City bike lane this morning

Was riding my bike down Detroit Ave around 7:30am. Some guy in a pickup just parked right in the bike lane like it was a spot. I had to swerve into traffic almost got hit by a bus. Honked and yelled at him but he just shrugged. Anyone else deal with this on the west side?

Neighbor at West Blvd Co-op told me my compost bin was totally wrong

I was just dumping kitchen scraps in a pile for 2 years... then this retired guy named Tom over at the West Blvd Co-op said I needed to balance greens and browns. Now I do a 3-to-1 ratio of leaves to veggie scraps and my pile actually breaks down in like 6 weeks instead of rotting and smelling. Anybody else get corrected on something basic like this?

Hit 500 miles of walking on the West Side this year without even noticing

I just added up my dog walks from my phone since January and I'm somehow at 501 miles, mostly just doing loops around Edgewater and the Metroparks. Has anyone else checked their total and been surprised by how much ground you cover just living around here?

Randomly heard a guy at the West Side Market talk about his bread starter

I was grabbing a pierogi from the stands near the produce section yesterday and overheard this old-timer telling someone he's kept the same sourdough starter alive since 1987. It made me realize I've been way too precious about keeping my own starter in the fridge. Guy said he just feeds it every two weeks and bakes once a month. Anybody else here keep a long-running starter or am I just overcomplicating things?

That time I spent 45 minutes trying to find a parking spot in Ohio City on a Saturday night

I was meeting friends at that new spot on West 25th, and I circled the block maybe 7 times before I gave up. The lot by the market was full, so I ended up parking over near Detroit Avenue and walking 10 minutes. All that time wasted just to find a spot, and then the restaurant had a wait anyway. Does anyone else just plan an extra 20 minutes for parking around there on weekends?

Just realized I've been hanging my bird feeder wrong for like 3 years

I was putting sunflower seeds in a tube feeder with tiny perches and wondered why only finches showed up until my neighbor Mike pointed out that cardinals need a platform feeder. Has anyone else messed up feeder placement or type and had birds just ignore your setup?

Need a good mechanic on the west side for an older car

My 2005 Honda Civic started making a knocking sound near the Kamm's Corners area last Friday. Anyone got a reliable shop that won't try to upsell me on stuff I don't need?

Vent: Why does everyone assume Lakewood has the best west side schools?

I keep hearing people say Lakewood schools are top tier and that's why they moved there. But I lived off Clifton for 5 years and my kid had 3 different math teachers in one year because they kept quitting. Meanwhile Rocky River schools are actually ranked higher on state tests and the class sizes are smaller. Has anyone else looked at the real numbers instead of just going by what people say?

Warning: That cheap gutter guard I bought from Amazon ruined my downspouts

Spent $30 on those foam inserts last spring. They looked easy. But they clogged with pine needles and water just ran over the top. Had to pay a roofer $150 to clear the mess. Anybody else had bad luck with the foam kind?

Dropped $180 on a gutter guard install from Eagle Eye Gutters on W 117th

I figured I'd save money by cleaning my own gutters every fall, but after slipping off my ladder last month and tweaking my back, I finally gave in and paid someone. They put in those mesh guards that snap into the gutters, and so far after that big rain last week, no clogs. Has anyone else had those guards pop off in heavy wind or am I just being paranoid?

Showerthought: Is Edgewater Park better for morning runs or sunset hangs?

I was at Edgewater Park last Saturday around 7am and had the whole beach to myself, quiet and peaceful. Then I came back at 6pm and it was packed with families and music, totally different vibe. Which time do you think makes the park feel more like the west side's gem?

TIL my garbage disposal died when I put potato peels down it

So last Tuesday I was making mashed potatoes for dinner and I just dumped the peels down the sink like I always do, ran the disposal for maybe 10 seconds, and then heard this horrible grinding noise followed by silence. The thing just stopped. I tried the reset button on the bottom but nothing happened. Ended up having to call a plumber out from Lakewood who told me potato peels are basically the worst thing you can put down a disposal, they turn into this starchy paste that gums up the blades and motor. Cost me $180 for the service call and he said I need a whole new unit. Anyone else had a disposal die on them from something dumb like this? What model did you replace it with?

That one tip from the guy at Dave's Market about lawn seeding actually worked

Some older fella in the gardening aisle told me to skip the fancy seed mats and just use peat moss over bare spots. Did three patches in my backyard last fall and they're the thickest grass on my whole lawn now. Any west siders found a trick that actually panned out?

Tried a local CSA share after swearing it was overpriced, now I get it

My neighbor kept pushing her farm share on me for years. I always figured I could just grab produce cheaper at Dave's or the West Side Market. Finally gave in last June and signed up for a half share at $22 a week from a place out in Medina. First few boxes felt like a lot of weird greens I didn't know how to cook. But by August I was actually eating vegetables I'd never tried before like kohlrabi and those little purple potatoes. The quality just blows away what you get at the store. Everything lasts twice as long in the fridge too. Has anyone else on the west side had luck with a specific CSA near Cleveland?

Finally figured out the Kamm's Corners traffic circle after 2 years

I swear people treat that thing like a free for all, not a roundabout. Been living over on Lorain near the park since 2022 and almost got hit three times by folks just flying in from the inner lane. Yesterday I watched a guy in a silver van stop dead in the middle to let someone in, and I finally realized half the drivers here just never learned how to yield properly. Anyone else notice the same thing at busy times like 5pm?

Tried the West Side Market's fancy butcher counter and ended up disappointed

I decided to skip my usual spot at the West Side Market and try that newer butcher counter everyone's been hyping up, the one with the chalkboard signs. Spent $28 on two ribeye steaks because people said they were unbeatable. Got them home and cooked them same night - medium rare like always. They were tough as boots, chewy and full of gristle. My regular guy at the old meat stand charges $18 for the same cut and it's always tender. I guess fancy presentation doesn't mean better quality. Has anyone else had a bad experience with a hyped-up vendor at the market?

Just realized West Side Market vendors have wildly different pricing on the same cuts of meat

Was comparing prices at a few stalls last Saturday and saw a 40% difference for the same cut of beef between the old school butchers and the newer places. Does anyone actually shop around or just stick with one spot out of habit?

The old West Side Market butcher counter that just vanished overnight

I walked into West Side Market last Saturday and realized the butcher stall that had been there since my grandma was a kid is just gone. Replaced by a kombucha stand. Over what, 3 years? I swear the whole place feels different now, more for tourists than people who actually cook. Anyone else miss when you could get your meat cut right in front of you without a credit card minimum?

Hot take: Lakewood snow plows are too aggressive with the curbs

I watched a plow rip a chunk off my neighbor's asphalt driveway apron on Madison Ave last Tuesday morning. The driver didn't even slow down, just kept going like nothing happened. Has anyone else had their curb or driveway damaged by the city plows this winter?

Guy at Old Brooklyn barber schooled me on why Detroit is cheaper for rent

I was getting a trim at that place on Lorain near West 25th and some guy next to me starts ranting about how his buddy pays $700 for a 2 bedroom in Detroit. He said Cleveland landlords are greedy because they know people will pay for the West Side Market vibe. I think he had a point though, my rent went up $150 last year for no reason. Anyone else notice west side prices getting out of hand?

I finally gave up on West Side Market parking and just bike there now

Got sold on a local handyman after a bad experience with a big company

I needed some drywall repair on my kitchen ceiling after a leak, and called a well known West Side company. They quoted me $400 just to come look at it, and then gave me a $1,200 estimate. My neighbor recommended a guy named Mike from Lakewood Handyman Services. He came out for free, fixed the ceiling same day for $200, and it looks perfect. Has anyone else found a good local guy instead of the big chains?

Wasted $60 on a bad lawn service last spring

Hired a guy from a Facebook ad to reseed my yard near Edgewater Park. He put down cheap seed that washed away in the first rain. Anyone else get burned by a local landscaper advertising deals?

The West Side Market isn't always the best deal for produce

I know everyone loves the West Side Market, and I do too for certain things. But last month I compared prices on bell peppers and tomatoes between the Market and the Gordon Square Dave's. The Market was nearly 30 cents more per pound. I still go for the experience and the meat counter, but I've started buying my basic veggies at the grocery store. Has anyone else noticed a price difference like this?