Black Friday

Why is it that everything one reads and hears about "Black Friday" seems to be centered on the hard goods and apparel part of our economy. Around our house expenditures tend to be much heavier in the food area than either of the afore mentioned. Where did the term "Black Friday" come from, anyway? I assume that it is a reference to the hope that merchants will do enough business, on that one day, to assure themselves a solvent year( in the "black).

We had two Granddaughters in town. They are both out of their teens, just, and attend college, in the East. One is part of our daughters family, who live here, and the other is a West Coast son's eldest. Marilyn and the girls did visit "The Gap" on Thanksgiving afternoon but I feel their purchases assured the parent corporation only that three more people graced one of their establishments. On the other hand the expenditures for food, both in home and out took on a much larger boost to the economy, yet no TV cameras were present near us, nor as far as I know at any grocery store or restaurant. Maybe I just missed it.
Not counting the Thanksgiving dinner, largely catered at our son-in-laws mothers condo, containing all the requisites, plus wine and other items we managed in just 48 hours to leave the Cincinnati economy enhanced by about $400, most with items not prepared in our kitchen.

"Finley Market" between Race St and Elm St, north of Liberty St. was only in partial operation Friday. Maybe the merchants not present were out buying flat screen TV's.
As I have mentioned before "Finley Market" has grown to be an interesting place for lunch or "carry out". A new addition, since Oct 7, is the "Fresh Table", a large, attractive stall near the Race St. door. They seem to offer 20 to 30 prepared items, all attractive, fresh and possibly organic, and I would guess well prepared, the ones we had were. Our group sampled a Greek Pasta salad, curried chicken salad, grilled shrimp dusted with jerk seasoning, Gravlax and bread pudding. This did not touch the surface as I remember seeing in the cases other salads, vegetables, several pot pies, pasta dishes, grilled meats( beef tenderloin and possibly pork) and on and on. Well worth a visit. The Greek stand provided large Gyro's, easily enough for two unless you have an gargantuan appetite, and several salads. We did not have any of their various humus spreads nor other cold dishes( stuffed grape leaves, spicy cabbage etc). They also have an array of desserts.
This trip we past up "Silvergades"( deli sandwiches), the Belgium Waffle stand, the new Vietnamese Restaurant, Skertz and Johnson, Big Mikes and other who were open, but you get the idea. When the place is in full operation it is a wonderful destination.

We waited till Friday to decide whether to eat out or at home, that night. Not a good idea on any weekend. Marilyn had made her "French Cracker Pie", a family favorite, so when we decided, Friday morning, that 7 of us wanted to "eat out", at 7 PM no less, it was not a hard choice to ask "Otto's" to accommodate us on short notice and with our own dessert. They came through, as usual, with the small kitchen kitchen turning out delicious food to each of our specifications. Unfortunately we are like most and tweak the menu items to our own liking. It's nice to have friends in the business, and I have the feeling that most placeses are accommodating to their regular customers, if possible. The special last night at "Otto's" was flank steak which Marilyn reported was delicious, my salmon couldn't have been better. The pie served us, a piece for the kitchen and an inquisitive table next to ours.
I have to start accounting for our expenditures at other than markets places and eateries to see if we can do something to help the balance of trade and the unemployment figures, although the hospitality business certainly has to count.