Florida 2013, Part II

Jo Jo, who was hanging out with friends in the park and didn't mind posing for a photo. "You wouldn't happen to have a dollar, would you? I'm not gonna lie to you, I wanna buy a beer." I liked her honesty and spirit.

Downtown Clearwater is the home of Scientology's "spiritual headquarters," in the former Fort Harrison Hotel, which the Church bought under an assumed name in the 1970s. According to Lawrence Wright, author of "Going Clear," the sleepy town of Clearwater was chosen by L. Ron Hubbard in part because of its name, "clear" being a key tenet in Scientology. Many identically dressed Scientologists (white shirts, dark pants), not a little reminiscent of Mormons, can be seen milling about downtown.

A beacon on this otherwise bland portion of Sunset Point Road.

Florida 2013, Part I

 Friendly cab driver Pierre, who emigrated from Haiti. His family still lives there, and he sends them money. He lost relatives in the earthquake disaster.

 This female cockatoo, helping to sell insurance at the Oldsmar Flea Market, is named Chevy.

 Flea Market proprietress, with flags.

A more interesting mix of people is found near downtown Clearwater.

Another Downtown Day

Xmas Tree of Hope

This charming holiday display was created by friends Aaron and Calvin (above), who wanted to provide hope and Christmas presents for children in the neighborhood of Wade Park Avenue in Cleveland. On Christmas Eve, there were small presents for the kids beneath the slender tree, which the friends have dubbed "Charlie Brown's tree."

The figure in red (image 2) previously wore a Santa hat, which someone took ("They probably needed it more than he did," says Calvin, at right). We encountered the display, and its creators, on a cold, dreary January afternoon, and they were as nice as can be. Calvin said the area's city councilman has instructed them to take the display down.

Museum Pieces

Cleveland Museum of Art.

The Big Q

The Big Q, a long-closed furniture store at East 55th near Woodland Ave. in Cleveland. The store, which extended credit to "Golden Agers, Pensioners, Self Employed" and others who needed it, is located near a large housing project. It was owned by Jack Saul, a very nice man we knew who died several years ago. Saul, a classical music aficionado, had been president of the Thomas Beecham Society and amassed a gargantuan collection of recordings. The store is best remembered for its late-night TV commercials, which featured a man crooning (we won't call it singing) the jingle: "The Big Q, The Big Q, stands for quality home fur-ni-tuuuure!"

Ray's Sausage

Ray's Sausage shop, on Imperial Avenue in Cleveland. The longstanding family business was unjustly blamed for odors that in reality were emanating from the nearby house of serial killer Anthony Sowell, who was convicted in 2011 of murdering 11 women.

A sad Cleveland story.