A "slice'' of heaven

David S. Glasier
DGlasier@News-Herald.com
DISPATCH FROM THE STREETS AROUND JACOBS FIELD, THURSDAY, GAME 5
The sidewalks on both sides of East 9th Street between Prospect Ave. and the ballpark are packed tonight.
Jam-packed.
People are eating, drinking, smiling, hanging out, talking about the Indians.
Bars and restaurants are operating at full capacity and beyond.
No pretense of precision here, but 75 percent of the thousands of the men, women and children I've seen in the last 20 minutes are wearing Tribe gear.
Every once in a while, someone in Red Sox garb joins the passing parade. So far, I haven't heard one derogatory comment directed at a Boston fan.
It's a beautiful, summer-like night, and the lack of venom is a beautiful thing.
Just outside of the ballpark, I run smack dab into Bernard Lechowick and his son, Vince. Bernie is a successful writer and producer of TV shows. He also teaches screenwriting at University of Southern California. Vince is a college student.
Although he's lived in Los Angeles for many years, Bernie grew up in Mentor and still thinks of himself as a Clevelander. He's also a big Tribe fan.
That's why he spent a nice chunk of change to buy four Game 5 field-box tickets from a broker. He and Vince flew in from L.A. yesterday.
Seen those clever commercials for a popular credit card?
Here's one for Bernie: "Two round-trip airline tickets and two nights in a nice hotel, big bucks. Four great tickets to ALCS Game 5, REALLY big bucks. Chance to do the full Cleveland with my kid, priceless.''
Bernie and Vince were making their way to the ballpark with Norman and Laura Aladjem, Cleveland-area natives who also have live in L.A. Norman is an agent representing Bernie and his wife, Lynn Marie Latham, executive producer and lead writer for "The Young and the Restless.''
Tribe fans from near and far are mixing with Red Sox fans, and it's all good.
This is the dynamic brought to downtown Cleveland by baseball in October.
When the vibe is right and big games are being played at Jacobs Field, downtown is alive again. It's the place to be and be seen.
Vincenza Turchi is smiling from ear to ear at Vincenza's Pizza and Pasta, the restaurant she owns and operates with her sons, Anthony and Nick.
The family-style place, at the Prospect Avenue end of the Colonial Arcade, bears her name and the feeling of a "pizza-by-the-slice'' emporium in New York City.
No surprise there, as Vincenza and her late husband, Dominic, came to Cleveland some 40 years ago from Brooklyn.
Folks are lined up to buy a tempting array of pizza, pasta, calzones, subs and salads. The service is fast and friendly, the food is great and the prices are outstanding.
"This place is buzzing,'' one guy says to his buddy when they come inside just after 7 o'clock.
Vincenza overhears the comment. Again, she's smiling.