The Observation Deck

One of my favorite Steve Davis threads is http://lakewoodobserver.com/deck/viewtopic.php?t=7825&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0.



In the spirit of Thanksgiving 2011, I thought now would be a good time to bring this thread back.

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"Thank you to the publishers of the Observer and the readers of this forum for giving me a place to share my opinion." At-Large Lakewood City Councilwoman Monique Smith.

"Fiddle while Rome burns? Durn tootin' I will." Gary Rice.

Great idea, Matt.

I don't think I knew about this thread but I just had my car at the Millers and I felt like it was the old days of my having the mechanics down the street who were friends of my brother working on my car back in Collinwood. How great to leave your car somewhere knowing that it's being well taken care of and the mechanics are actually fixing what was broken. And Terry is great to talk to and his dad is wonderful. They were recommended by another poster on this Deck-- great idea to bring it back.

And let me add a plug for Jammy Buggars. When Jim Sprenger first opened he said he wanted a place where you could relax and meet your friends, where it was homey and the food was good and comfortable too, and I think he's achieved all of that. He makes it his business to meet everyone who comes in, and unobtrusively check in to make sure everyone is happy. And he listens to suggestions and has been tweaking and improving the restaurant since it opened. He's a Lakewoodite and he's tuned into the neighborhood. Everything about it feels like home.

The deals that he has-- really affordable late night menu-- and OUR FAVORITE-- Monday nights where TWO kids eat free, for the price of one regular meal-- are great. Not to mention how comforting it is to have a restaurant in that spot that's doing well!

I hope everybody keeps this thread going. I'd like to hear more!

Betsy Voinovich


Wild mushroom soup at Jammy Buggars is really really good.

Thanks, Betsy.

The Ronald McDonald Family Rooms® have been lifesavers during the Markling Family's numerous stays at both University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital and Cleveland Clinic.

Unknown to me, Katie was up since 4:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving Morning (November 24, 2011) preparing Thanksgiving meals for families who were visiting the Ronald McDonald Family Room at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital on Thanksgiving Day.





My wife rocks!

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"Thank you to the publishers of the Observer and the readers of this forum for giving me a place to share my opinion." At-Large Lakewood City Councilwoman Monique Smith.

"Fiddle while Rome burns? Durn tootin' I will." Gary Rice.

This is really shameless but I thought I'd put in a little plug for my wife, Mary Lou. Mary Lou is a loan originator at First Federal of Lakewood. She will guide you through the whole confusing process and be a real advocate for your loan when it goes to loan committee for approval.

If you have poor credit she will tell you what you need to do to get it right. Just a little warning though, if you come back six months later with credit that's worse than you had when you first met with her you are likely to hear something like "What the hell did you do with your credit! You didn't do one thing I told you to do! Do you want this loan or not?"

Here’s a shameless plug for Kara Goeller and Corey Rossen who dedicate countless hours to the Lakewood City Schools, Lakewood City Schools Community Recreation and Education Department, and, most importantly, Jordan’s Family Foundation.

Kara and Corey, you both exemplify what is best about Lakewood. Thank you!

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"Thank you to the publishers of the Observer and the readers of this forum for giving me a place to share my opinion." At-Large Lakewood City Councilwoman Monique Smith.

"Fiddle while Rome burns? Durn tootin' I will." Gary Rice.

Cory is also an excellent recent addition to our Lakewood Youth Athletic Commission.

Lakewood Hardware. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I usually need weird pieces parts. Sometimes I come in clutching the last vestiges of the pieces parts I removed from something or another, I open my grubby little paw when I get there and ask, "More, please." I am swiftly led to the pieces parts bins, the old pieces parts are matched with new, and I am finished with my chore far too quickly.

I am still so happy to have a container of Lady Anti-Monkey Butt... words cannot express my joy.

What a wonderful business, what wonderful people, what an amazing asset for Lakewood and the surrounding suburbs.

Hey, another plug for my brother, Michael Gill, who is launching his new children's book Friday night at the William Busta gallery. There is an article on the front page of the online Observer, and probably inside the print version (haven't seen that yet).

Anyway, here is a link to Mike's blog, which talks about the book and contains the particulars about the launch party.

http://gyroscopethattakesyouplaces.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/book-lovers-parents-of-smart-kids-join-me-for-drinks/

Here is a shameless plug for Wards 1 and 3 Councilmen David Anderson and Shawn Juris for not being afraid to consistently engage Lakewood on The Observation Deck.

See, e.g., “Chickens Legal In Lakewood…” at http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10552; “Is the City Losing the Fight Against Graffiti?” at http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10433.

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"Thank you to the publishers of the Observer and the readers of this forum for giving me a place to share my opinion." At-Large Lakewood City Councilwoman Monique Smith.

"Fiddle while Rome burns? Durn tootin' I will." Gary Rice.

As our community treasures are threatened by short-sighted development and neglect, the work of the Lakewood Public Library Art Committee reminds us that new treasures are possible.

Thank you for restoring some hope here.

http://www.lkwdpl.org/art/

A shameless plug for TJ's Butcher Block! Everyone who works there is so friendly. I love being able to pop into the local butcher shop on my way home from work and find something great for dinner.

Love their deli sandwiches and soups -- especially the Cheesburger Chowder and the Stuffed Pepper soup. YUM!

Best of all .... they're all Lakewood High Alumni.

GO Rangers!

Shameless plug to my now ex-Insurance Agent (and currently still my parents agent) Sean Devins of State Farm Insurance.

It was my last week of being on a Ohio insurance policy (never had one ticket or accident in Cleveland) and I got introduced to the Nashville drivers that everyone warned me about, and the side/bottom of a semi truck trailer on the interstate... on the way home from my new insurance agent's office. Talk about odd timing!




Sean was able to help me get everything sorted out from two states away. While I'm still finishing all the paperwork, I should have a car after I finish my trip back to Lakewood at the end of this month. Sean has been our agent for 13+ years now, and has helped my parents, brother and I in many ways.. from life insurance to car insurance to general advice. He's been our go-to guy and I highly recommend him for any insurance needs anyone might have.

His office is right on the corner of Detroit and Bonnieview. Give him a shout if you need any kind of insurance or are unhappy with your current insurance company.

Also another shameless plug goes to my guardian angel, and I don't know who it may be, but I was able to walk away from that without a single scratch or causing any injury to anyone else on that busy Interstate.

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"Hey Kiddo....this topic is much more important than your football photos, so deal with it." - Mike Deneen

Wow, you are lucky. I've driven the I 40 corridor from Memphis to Nashville a number of times, and if that's what you were on, you're right. It's the only way to traverse the state, and it's like what the Ohio Turnpike used to be when it was only two lanes, but way more congested. Throw in a little rain or God forbid sleet and look out.

This was right after I-40 merges with I-65, so traffic was just beginning to move. Drivers here do what they want, they are incredibly unpredictable. I had to swerve into the left lane (and into the barricade) to avoid a lady that cut me off and slammed on her brakes, and I bounced from the barricade underneath the semi that was in front of the lady.

Had to take one for the team, I guess!

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"Hey Kiddo....this topic is much more important than your football photos, so deal with it." - Mike Deneen

Here's a shameless plug for this spectacular dress, knit from scores of blue plastic grocery bags. Grace (seen here twirling in the kitchen) debuted the dress today at Horace Mann Elementary. She'll take it out into the world tonight, for the debut of my children's book at Wm. Busta Gallery. This shameless plug would be for my remarkable Mother-In-Law, who shamelessly knit the dress, but she is not a Lakewood resident--and that might not go over well here. This, as we all know, is a tough, very "municipal-istic" crowd.

http://gyroscopethattakesyouplaces.word ... astic-bag/