A Christmas Story House

Cleveland and the Cuyahoga River at night.

Just for fun and giggles, M and I went to Cleveland last night.  We picked up M the Younger and Merdi on our way up and we all toured A Christmas Story House, had dinner at Sokolowskis, and took the Silver Bells Plus Tour on Lolly the Trolley.

Ralphie

If you’re unfamiliar with the film A Christmas Story, I don’t suppose this post (especially the photos and quotes) will mean much to you.  To be honest, it’s been more than a few years since I last watched the movie.  That’s because we don’t have cable television and aren’t subjected to gifted with the 24-hour marathon session of the movie every Christmas.

Walking up to the porch

I’m not sure you have to be entirely familiar with the film to enjoy the tour.  One of our group has never seen the movie.  I think that will be remedied soon.  She seemed to enjoy the tour anyhow, although I suppose a lot was lost without the translation of the film to put it in perspective.

Merdi will now have background knowledge about the movie that none of the rest of our group had when we first saw it.  That’s a bonus, don’t you think?

"Only one thing in the world could've dragged me away from the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window." A hand from the tour group ahead of us reaches out to touch the leg lamp. (Snow effect added in Picnik.)

It was snowing when we arrived at the house.  None of the snow that fell throughout the day was visible on the ground.  I suppose all the rain water continues to soak up those snowflakes as soon as they touch the earth.

"What is a lamp, you nincompoop? It's a Major Award. I won it!"

I would give away some of the inside scoop we were told by our tour guide, but that seems unfair.  I know I have a few visitors to my blog who might tour the house someday and I don’t want to spoil it for them.

"Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian."

I suppose there might be better ways to spend a Friday evening in December, but I thought it was fun.  It also gave me the opportunity to warn my daughter-in-law that as part of this family she might be subjected to craziness like this once in a while.

Dinner at Sokolowskis was good.  Very filling, very Polish and Eastern European food.  Established in 1923, Sokolowskis University Inn is one of Cleveland’s oldest family owned and operated restaurants.  We met up with friends there so we had the bonus of their company throughout our evening meal.

"Immediately, my feet began to sweat as those two fluffy little bunnies with a blue button eye stared up at me."

I had the pierogie dinner.  It was delicious and very comforting in that carbohydrate-heavy way.  Thank goodness M the Younger was seated near me.  He’s tall, skinny, and has a metabolism that seems to be in overdrive which allowed him to finish my dinner after he finished his own.

"Over the years I got to be quite a connoisseur of soap. My personal preference was for Lux, but I found Palmolive had a nice, piquant after-dinner flavor - heady, but with just a touch of mellow smoothness. Life Buoy, on the other hand... YECCHH!"

The Lolly the Trolley tour was interesting, although we have a friend who gives better tours.  At least his car windows don’t steam up.  I spent a good deal of the tour wiping the plastic window with the cloth provided.  I did find it fun, and really enjoyed seeing the lights decorating Public Square.  I’d like to go back to Public Square after we’ve had a decent snowfall and walk around to take some photos.  It was impossible to take photos from Lolly the Trolley (fogged up and scratched plastic windows).  Occupy Cleveland, we saw, is still in place.  It must be cold, even inside the tents.

All in all, it was a fun evening.  We took a walk down to look at the Cuyahoga River after our trolley tour and then made the trek (by automobile) home.  It was cold and windy by the river, the ground starting to freeze up and become a little treacherous.  By the time we arrived home the sky was clearing and the almost-full moon was shining so bright that I could easily see the light dusting of snow we’d had.

This morning's view of the pond

It’s been cold here in the Bogs today.  The temperature never made it out of the 20s, but the sun was shining and the sky was a lovely clear blue.  I went out for a walk this afternoon and took photos of some of the patterns that are forming in the ice that’s beginning to appear along the edges of the pond and the creek in the woods.  I’m running late with my blog post today so I’ll bring you some of those tomorrow.

A dusting of snow on fungi

Thank you for stopping by the Bogs today.  I hope your weekend started out with as much fun and good company as mine did.  Stay warm.  🙂

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