a Wicked weekend

Halloween is my favorite holiday! The warm colors, the spicy scents, the sassy costumes, the sugary sweets it all adds up to the celebration of fall. Plus we fall back so we get a bonus hour of sleep.



This weekend along with bobbin for apples see if you can squeeze any of these little treats to your weekend rundown...

- An “All You Can Eat Buffet”
- A Party with the Dead
- A little Coco before Chanel
- Hoops with the boys
- Being okay with Miss Michaelson

So Happy HAlloween to everyone in the "Land-of-Cleve," and might I warn you, don't come by my house without a costume or you won't get any candy. :)

Beer = Pumpkin (10/29)

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Don’t have plans for tonight? Join the team at Bar Cento for the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Beer & Pumpkin Carving Contest.



Purchase a pumpkin beer and get a free pumpkin to carve. Winner receives dinner for two at Bar Cento. Bring it!

Doughnut adventure

Hi Cleveland and Happy Halloween-Thursday (let the junk food raid begin!)

Lately I have been dreaming of driving from one side of town to the other filling my picnic basket with doughnuts from area fryers and blowing any sort of healthy-living ideas out the window. Unfortunately I have not been able to squeeze in this dreamy doughnut adventure, try as I may, it just won’t happen pre-Friday.



My initial intention of this nutty trip was to assemble a really great plethora of ideas for where you could go Halloween morning as the wizards and witches rise from bed in anticipation of the treat-filled day ahead. Well, instead of all the extra calories, I’ll just give you a brief rundown on some of the spots I have been to over my tenure in Cleveland...

> Doughnut Pantry : 14600 Madison Ave., Lakewood : Saturday 6am-2pm (a bare bones, not fancy, get-em-while-their hot place)

> Spudnuts : 21800 Center Ridge Rd. Rocky River (sweets made from potatoes? Carbs + sugar, yumm)

> Fragapane Bakeries : 650 Dover Center Rd., Bay Village (my friend Meg swears by this place, it has to be good!)

> Prestis : 12101 Mayfield Rd, Little Italy (does Prestis even make doughnuts any more? If not grab anything else, its’ all good!)

> Jack Frost Donuts 4960 Pearl Rd, Cleveland (Saturday 7am- 8pm)

And then there is always Dunkin Doughnuts, Krispy Kreme and even Starbucks is selling good old fashioned sour crème favorites!


Perhaps I will grab a warm doughnut and hit the gym extra hard on Saturday to celebrate the arrival of fall, shorter days and more evenings at the gym :)

Happy doughnut hunting to you.

Spooky Tour (10/29)

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

When the lights are dim and the fog has set in, do you feel the spirits of Cleveland lingering around every corner of downtown? Do you see the misty ghostly creatures hover over the lake in the early morning sunrise? Do you shiver when you put away your bike in the dark garage out back?

Do you ever think of ghost or goblins, or worse?

This Thursday channel your inner spooky fears and hop aboard the Classic Cleveland Ghost Tour with Psychic Sonya. This is the ORIGINAL Haunted Cleveland Tour, one with too many locations, we aren't at liberty to tell you, tour locations are NOT pre-disclosed, so as to discourage any would-be pranksters



Grab your closest friend and hop on the private, chartered bus tour of authentic haunted Cleveland locations, featuring Playhouse Square. Tours run 6:30-10:30pm, beginning at Local Heroes (East 9th & Bolivar, Downtown)
$50 per seat. Prepaid reservations ONLY. CALL Sonya @ (440) 775-1217 to reserve your seat(s) early.

www.hauntedclevelandtours.com

Monster Makers

Located just down the street in Lakewood stands an unassuming 4-car garage. Each day UPS and fed-ex make frequents stops at the side door, carrying large packages back and forth, in and out. Being a "slightly" nosey-neighbor, I had to get to the heart of what was going on...little did I know I was in for a complete spooky surprise.

Monster Makers is a thriving business that caters to the movie making and special effects industry nationwide. From special latex mask making to artificial hair and eyes, there is something for every mask-maker in your home.



Looking to make a spooky mask in the likeness of your own face? Check out this link, it's the coolest!

Interested in trying your hand at the art of mask making for your halloween costume? Give Monster Makers a shout at 216.521.7739.

Pumpkin Workout (10/24)

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

I thought this was a fun little way to end our week and welcome in the weekend.

Feeling frisky and trying to squeeze in a workout? Join Liz Donnelly, personal trainer and family fitness specialist as she gives you and your kids a sugar-burning, exhilarating workout with a PUMPKIN!!!



Bring your own "orange weight," workout with your pumpkin pall, and then be prepared to give your pumpkin friend a break with a special holiday craft.

10-11am. Lakewood Congregational Church Social Hall. 1375 West Clifton in Lakewood. To register call 440.623.0957

Dodging Sniffles

As fall arrives, and the swine flu sets in we find ourselves armed with a pack of tissues, vitamin c and perhaps switching from the morning latte to a hot cup of Echinacea..

This weekend Nolan predicts cold temperatures and chilling rain to blow through the North East Ohio neighborhoods. If you are looking for a little hideaway to keep you warm and toasty, here are a few of my favorites.



> InnerBliss Yoga : for a hot yoga class to sweat away the bad toxins
> La Petite Triangle Café : for a pot of french press coffee
> Brown Aveda Institute : for an upper body relaxation massage ($17!) to move those nasty germs out of you
> The Cleveland Botanical Garden : for a tropical, butterfly infused adventure
> Chelseas : for a bit of therapeutic searching/shopping for vintage fall frocks (1412 W 116TH St)
> The Great Lakes Theatre : For a comfy lounge chair, a stiff drink (don’t they say alcohol cures a cold?) & Shakespeare

Pumpkin fun! (10/21)

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009



By now I would assume some of you have your upcoming weekend, “to do” list completed. (Groceries. Rake leaves. Concert. Laundry. Buy Pumpkins!) Instead of waiting till this weekend to buy your pumpkin, swing by flourish, grab one of the 1001 pumpkins and give a donation to Harvest For Hunger and the Cleveland Foodbank in exchange for an “orange ball of carving fun.” All donations welcome!

If you’re feeling lucky you might also run into Rebecca Wilde from Q104...she is said to be hanging around the neighborhood giving away Miley Cirus tickets! (I still love “Ms. Montanna,” even though her new rap stinks!) Good lucky tweens & teens alike!

The pumpkin palooza frenzy will begin around 9am and run until 7pm, or while supplies last. Flourish : 1001 Huron Road East. Questions? Call “team get & give” at 216.696.9116.

Mr. J-Z (10/22)

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Yeah I'm out that Brooklyn.
Now I'm down in Tribeca.
Right next to DeNiro
But I'll be hood forever
I'm the new Sinatra
And since I made it here
I can make it anywhere.

(Empire State Of Mind Lyrics, from "The Blueprint 3" album)



Grammy-winning rapper, and Beyonces hubbie, Jay-Z is booked for a concert at 7:30 THIS WEEK at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center. Tickets run from $35 to $125. If you don't want to gamble with trying to scalp a pair, visit www.livenation.com

Symon Sighting & Signing (11/19)

Thursday, November 19th, 2009




For tickets visit www.lkwdpl.org/foundation/msymon/msymon.htm

(Thanks Michelle! Great find.)

A week in review!

What to do this week? No fear, I'm here with a list of fun suggestions!


C : Capitol Theatre - More Than a Game...Monday night $5 movie, $1 drink, $1 candy!
L : In honor of Cleveland Beer Week, swing by Lilly's Chocolate for a beer & chocolate pairing.
E : Explore the new Gauguin exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
V : Vintage finds, deals & steals at the Cleveland Auction House, fine art & antique auction 10/25
E : Edgewater Park on the Shoreway is peaceful on a sunny fall afternoon...go beach glass picking!
L : An evening of dessert at L'Albatros...french press & frozen grand marnier souffle, yumm...
A : Animals come to town with the Ringling Bros Circus!
N : Nature drawing, Join Gail Felix for an evening of field sketching in nature. 10/19
D : A fall drive out east to view the fall hues that nature has painted across our Ohio trees!

Wild Thing!!! (10/16)

I know we've all been waiting...and waiting...and waiting.

So....LET THE WILD RUMPUS BEGIN!!!



Head over to Cleveland's newest theatre, Captiol Theatre on Detorit in the Gordon Arts Square District for today's release of Maurice Sendacks show, where the wild things are ... showing at 11:30, 2:00. 4:45, 7:15 and 9:40!


Be there or "I'll Eat You Up!!!" :)

yummy beer (10/16-24)

Friday, October 16th, through Saturday, October 24th, 2009

Craving a lager? Thinking about a pale ale? Me? I am dying to have a Pumpkin Ale this fall..something spicy, rimmed with brown sugar.

Well, have I got something good for you? This year marks the inaugural event of Cleveland Beer Week. A celebration of beers from the unique small local breweries to the infamous imports, there will be a hop and whey for every one's beer belly cravings.



Some of the really buzzing events to kick off the brew-ha-ha include...

- Dogfish Head will be at Southside, Friday at 6pm to kick off beer week with old favorites like 90 Minute IPA and new special releases, prices and glasses.

- Sunday at The Beer Engine will be and serving a special beer breakfast.

- West Park Station will be selling ALL craft beers for $2.50.

- Saturday, beginning at 2pm, The Barley House will pair the Ohio State football game with a "10 craft beer samples for $20" promotion. They will have 30 brews to choose from, and you get a cool mug too.

- On Friday, Moxie Restaurant will host a four-course beer, fondue and raclette dinner. Beginning at 7 p.m., the $45 meal pairs selections from Merchant du Vin, Ayinger and Samuel Smith with imported raclette, and mushroom and shallot fondues.

For more information and where you can grab a great pint...visit www.clevelandbeerweek.org

Preseason (10/16)

Friday, October 16th, 2009.

Looking for a good night in? A night on the couch with your soft chenille blanket? How about a night in with your local NBA Team?

Yes! Yes! Yes! This Friday, pop some microwave yumminess and head to your local glowing boob-tube for the Cleveland Cavaliers game against the San Antonio, Spurs.

King James, Shaq and Tony Parker will run around and shake their groove thing as they warm up for the NBA 2009-10 Basketball (Cleveland takes all) Season.



Tune in to Channel 5 (ABC) for the game...and don't forget...if you put some M&M's in your microwave popcorn while its still popping...it is salty and sweet goodness, guaranteed to bring our Cavs a big win!

The Alice Seed (10/8-24)

October 16th, 2009

Planning your upcoming weekend already? Check out the World Premiere of The Alice Seed by Michael Sepesy at Cleveland Public Theatre. A moving and exceptional tale of loss and the powerful desire to regain the past and hold on to our most cherished ones. Part horror story, part family drama, pure gothic Americana.



The Alice Seed runs through October 24. For tickets, directions and more, visit www.cptonline.org

Issue Release (10/10)

Saturday October 10th, 2009



At the Beachland Tavern

Gender Bender Play (10/08)

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

As part of the Great Lakes Theatre Festival season opener, the actors and actresses would like to invite you to experience their work in Shakespeares, The Twelth Night.



After a shipwreck on an unfriendly shore and the loss of her twin brother Sebastian, young Viola must pose as a man to survive. Shakespeare’s sophisticated comedy of gender-bending mistaken identity is full of passionate longing and bittersweet romance. Twelfth Night is an irresistible and poignant comedy that is one of the Bard’s most luminous plays.

Get your tickets today!

Good Bird Hunting

This weekend if you are out and about, perhaps checking out the new Capitol Theatre in the Gordon Arts Square District on the westside of Cleveland...grab your walking shoes and try to find all of these lovely bluebirds.



For more information on the project visit www.clevelandpublicart.org