Even with a bounty of weekly farmers markets and the quirkiness of the monthly Cleveland Flea, the rise of two new summer ethnic markets is a case study in handmade supply meeting buy-local demand. "Cleveland loves its markets," says Brendan Trewella, an organizer of the Night Market in AsiaTown. So we did a quick shop-through of Clark-Fulton's La Placita and AsiaTown's Night Market.
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On the second Saturday of every month, La Placita transforms the parking lot at West 25th Street and Clark Avenue into a true barrio. In fact, the city's Clark-Fulton neighborhood is home to the highest population density of Latinos in the state, says Jenice Contreras, executive director of the Hispanic Business Center. "It's here," she says, "but you really wouldn't know it."
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On the last Friday of every month, the traditional Pacific Rim market lights up Rockwell Street between East 21st and 24th streets in AsiaTown, bringing together Asian food and artisans from throughout the neighborhood. "It's authentically Asian but with a Cleveland flavor," Trewella says.
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THE VIBE
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There's food, shopping and a gathering of generations, especially around the San Lorenzo Social Club's domino games, which quickly become a spectator sport.
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With lights strung across Rockwell, the market has a trendy, Friday-night crowd and a decidedly urban feel.
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MUSIC
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The Party Rican drops disc jockey mixes from Pharrell Williams to Bobby McFerrin. Plus entertainment from Caribbean drummers, and dancers and singers from the Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center and the Boys & Girls Club.
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Prime Directive, a Cleveland-area band with jazz music influences, opened the inaugural market in June. Trewella hopes to add Asian bands, possibly from New York or Chicago.
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MUST-SEE
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Artist Bruno Casiano, who learned to paint in Puerto Rico, sells his vibrant, island-influenced abstract paintings and screen-printed T-shirts.
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Simple wooden pushcarts for vendors harken back to the neighborhood's days as Chinatown. "The hope is that the artists and vendors could modify it and give it their own touch," Trewella says.
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MUST- DO
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The bright pink and green Chick'iez food wagon features yellow beans and rice, tostones and other Hispanic favorites. Casiano loves the chicken and beef empanadas. "It's comfort food," he says.
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Shaved ice. Made in the traditional Taiwanese style with milk, sugar and red beans, it's more than just a snow cone. "It's like ice cream, but it's not ice cream," says filmmaker Johnny Wu, co-founder of the annual Cleveland AsianFestival. "You never see it in the Cleveland area."
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