| 真情来自美国最古老的“农贸市场” 在克利夫兰住了太久，不知不觉之中，当年的英俊小伙，也早随着岁月跑的无影无踪。哈哈，唯独这个大名鼎鼎的农贸市场，却依然是充满生机，虽然已经经历了百多年的风风雨雨。 小小的克利夫兰，曾经是有着非常重要经济地位的城市。美国的第一个“大”规模的购物中心（Mall），就诞生在这座古城。这个mall，当年的气派，虽然无法和今天越来越宏大、宽敞的豪华购物中心相比，但是，曾经的气派和豪华，在经历了这许多年的岁月磨打之后，依然是依稀可见，红颜依旧，宝刀未老。 克利夫兰西市场（West Side Market），初建于1840年，算下来，也很有年头了。当初的农贸市场，在今天依然还是农贸市场，而且，如果你不仔细看，还很可能会以为是中国什么地方的农贸市场呢。 长期以来，这个市场靠的是市政府的财政资助，让普通的小人物有个自谋生路的场地和机会，也算是市政府间接扶持“普通人”的一个范例了。给人们提供机会，当然是远比直接将人养着，更有意义。不过，即使如此，今天看来，最得益的，似乎也不是市政府初衷希望扶持的对象。反倒是那些千里迢迢来到这里的新移民，就此有了一个低成本、低门槛融入美国社会的机会。就此看来，造福社会的功能，还真的不小。 
只是，后来，随着克利夫兰自己经济的衰退，自顾不暇之下，来自市政府的财政支持也就有心无力。最近几十年，租户们更多的是靠自力更生，来扛起让市场得以继续生存下去的重任。很多从这里起步的新移民，在获得经济稳定之后，开始更深入的融入美国的“主流”。同时，也有不少的新移民，就此兢兢业业在那里劳碌一生，担负着养家糊口的重任。 前段时间，已经扩大规模不小的西市场，因故遭遇火灾，停业了半个月的样子。开门之后，大量的消费者慷慨解囊捧场，很多摊点的货物，据说，不到关门时间就被购买一空。更让人心口热乎乎的是，很多顾客购买物件，不仅少了过去讨价还价的兴趣，还干脆来个口口声声“不用找钱”的大方。 
人们在用自己不同的方式，来资助那些靠这份生意养家糊口的勤劳人们。这，就是美国人的心灵和精神面貌。患难之处见真情。我相信，那些常常去西市场购买货物的消费者，也不可能是阔佬，至少，大部分的他们，都不会是阔佬。即使对于经济状况有限的顾客，也依然有这样的慷慨，和对“弱者”的怜悯，对勤奋者的鼓励，可能才是美国能够征服世界的最大力量来源吧。 当然，克利夫兰有这样的奉献和大公无私，并不意味着，克利夫兰就是一个高度文明和“伟大”至顶的城市。在这里，和美国其它城市一样，也有肮脏的一面。都市区随意的射杀，撞伤人逃逸的现象，也在时不时的发生、出现。 关于西市场的更为详细的介绍，我附上来自Wiki的文字。这里已经成为克利夫兰的一大风景，也成为很多人远道而来不得不光顾的地点之一。在美国今天这样的经济水准下，还有如此生龙活虎的农贸市场存在，真的是难得。下一次，当你到访克利夫兰，甚至只是路过的时候，你是不是也想到那里去一饱眼福，同时解解馋呢？ 和武汉的汉正街相比，这里可是别有一番风味。或许，在那里，你还能够吃到地道的家乡口味呢。不信，你就试试吧。 下面是关于西市场的英文介绍文章： The market began operating in 1840, across the street from its current location.[2] Josiah Barber and Richard Lord, prominent businessmen and both former mayors of Ohio City before it was incorporated into Cleveland, donated the tract of land to Ohio City's government, stipulating that the land be used for an open-air neighborhood market. The market space became a center of the Ohio City community for the following three decades, and other benefactors donated adjacent lands that allowed the marketplace to expand. In 1868, a one-story, wooden framed building was erected on the site, and the newly christened Pearl Street Market was opened. Thanks to brisk population growth in Cleveland and Ohio City in the latter part of the 19th century, the market outgrew its space yet again. In 1902, lands were purchased across the street from the Pearl Market site, to allow for market expansion and eventual construction of additional indoor market space. Cleveland architectural firm Hubbell and Benes was contracted to create the new indoor space and, after nearly a decade of planning and construction, the current West Side Market building was finished in 1912 at a cost of nearly $680,000. The Neo-Classical/Byzantine building is a brick construct with a large interior concourse that provides nearly 100 stalls for sellers, and a 85-stall outdoor produce arcade that wraps around the side and rear of the main building. In addition, the building has a large clock tower, which was easily visible from most of Ohio City in the building's early days. In 1915, the permanent building spurred sellers to establish the West Side Market Tenants' Association, a coalition founded to help maintain the market and organize for future improvements and additions. This organization still exists at the Market today. Periodic upgrades accommodated more tenants and maintained and improved the overall conditions. A fuller, $1.1 million modernization was undertaken in 1953 to add lower-level storage areas and upgrade stalls in the arcade. Another renovation, this one for $5 million, took place after the Market was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The market's profile rose in the latter portion of the 20th century. Politicians passing through Cleveland often stopped in to sample the array of foods that the Market has on sale on any given day. The Market also began sponsoring major food festivals in the neighborhood, which drew people from all corners of Cleveland and abroad. Despite the successes of the 1980s, however, the Market began to face financial straits as Cleveland itself was experiencing monetary struggles. A large portion of the Market’s subsidies from the city dried up, leaving tenants of the Market to pay higher rents to keep the Market open. Yet the Market expanded and was renovated throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century. A 2004 project enclosed the arcade portion of the market, adding space heating there, and completed major interior and architectural renovations to the main building. The market's centennial was celebrated in 2012。 Most residents of the neighborhood, and many Clevelanders in general, still do a large portion of their shopping at the Market. The market is open to customers Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 7:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m。 The market attracts tourists from all parts of the United States, who tour the market and learn about its history. Guided tours are offered. Its national profile has been boosted in recent years by coverage on various programs produced by the Travel Channel and Food Network. Many stalls have remained under individual family control for much of the life of the Market, in a few cases dating back to its 1912 opening. The market's tenants and sellers reflect the cultural diversity of the surrounding neighborhood and Cleveland as a whole. The current roster of tenants includes those of Irish, German, Slovene, Italian, Greek, Polish, Russian, and Middle Eastern descents, among others. In the September 2010 issue of Food Network Magazine, the West Side Market was named America's "Best Food Lovers' Market." |
