I worked this New Year's week (MTWF) and anticipated an early end to the day on Wednesday. (Christmas Eve, management sent folks home at 11:24 AM!)
So my wife and I started to plan lunch. I'd take the bus in, she'd drive in around 11:00 and we'd be lunching by 11:45! Have a long, restful lunch and who knows what would follow.
"Take me somewhere special", she hinted. That's just the encouragement I needed. Cleveland's La Strada is a winner I'd wanted to share with her for a while. Also on East 4th Street is Lola Bistro which I've not visited yet. "You choose. And call to make sure they'll be open", she gently prodded.
Huh? Open? Why wouldn't they be open?
"Not enough workers" said La Strada "but we open at five." "Your website says four; please fix it", I replied, frustrated. No matter, Lola was also on my list.
"No lunch hours New Year's Eve; it would make a really long day for our staff." Huh?
So we decided I'd come straight home after they dismissed us. (Yes, there are other places to eat on East 4th Street—for some reason we had our hearts set on these two.)
That morning, I discussed my woes to the folks at the local coffee shop. (Can't wait for Erie Island Coffee to open!) They'd be open all day normal hours, which I suppose makes sense given that no one is likely to make a coffee shop their 2009 New Year party headquarters.
Is it consistent for me to complain about restaurants being closed for lunch on NYE but enjoy going home early myself?
Wednesday, as I walked East 4th Street to my car on Prospect at 11:45, I saw little activity at any of the establishments. Except, in the distance, a man pulling at the door to La Strada. "Why aren't they open?" he yelled to his friend and went over to Lola. With the same result.
"Neither Lola nor La Strada are open; I don't know about the others. Something about the staff not working such long hours." I informed them.
"In this economy?" he demanded as I walked past. Precisely.
Then why was I excited to head home early? Hypocrisy, I suppose. (More likely the difference between an hourly wage and a salary. And that's a different sort of hypocrisy.)
Happy New Year, Cleveland. Maybe in 2009 we won't roll up the sidewalks so often.
(Note: words "in quotes" above shouldn't be seen as actual words of the person speaking, just a way to facilitate the dialog on the page.)
