Another reason to like Ohio City

Dear Ohio City,

There are things about you I love, like the sheer number of bars, cafes, and restaurants I can walk to on a daily basis.

There are also things about you I don't really like, like the seasonal neo-Hooverville, I mean bus stop/park at the corner of W. 25th and Lorain.

I love how walkable you are. I don't really like the fact that the various thugs that sometimes loiter around also find it pretty walkable.

All in all, I have mixed feelings, but today, while making my dinner, I realized something that makes me dig you a little more.

There aren't really any fast food joints around. Sure, there's a Wendy's a few blocks away from me, but I don't like Wendy's, so that doesn't really count. Come to think of it, there is a Subway a few more blocks, but as my name is not Jared, I'm not likely to make daily hikes there for my lunch and dinner.

When I was in graduate school, fast food pretty much provided my entire caloric intake. I mean, when you are in your office 18 hours a day, coming and going in the wee hours, your choices are pretty much down to the golden arches and whatever most likely rotten perishables you have at home. I'm somewhat sheepish to admit that Mickey D's won 99 times out of 100.

If you have saw photos of pre- and post-grad school, you wouldn't need to hear me admit this; you'd already know.

Anyway, back to Ohio City. No fast food. But one glorious market.

Today I chopped up some apple-cured salami, a couple small red and yellow peppers, some baby bella mushrooms, and added it all to some mixed greens. Throw in a handful of raspberries and a few teaspoons of Souper Market's tomato-olive vinagrette, and I had a cheap, relatively healthy salad to feed me and one of my friends.

Back in Texas, this would not have happened.

Never.

Ever.