Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Fall (local) Wants.

So it was about late August when the list began... New cowboy boots, a puffy down vest, a fur vest, a new "bike riding" purse...and the list goes on and on. My FALL MUST HAVE list! What's on your list?

Two things that I would love to score this fall are from local boutiques, Room Service and Banyan Tree.




A Kobo Soke scented candle will be just like sitting by the campfire every evening. The Kobo collection scents last a really long time while the design of the jar and label are stunning.

Another fall "want" is this lovely Figwood necklace from the Banyan Tree. Wouldn't it look sweet with one of my new fall cardigans? I may have to take a ride down to Tremont this weekend. :)

So many fun things going on at many of the small business boutiques around town. If you have a wedding gift, a birthday gift or just want to pick something up for someone remember to try and shop local. It really makes a difference for our community.

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Spooky Walk & Movie.

Tis the season for Witches, Ghosts & Goblins, Fall and Halloween is upon us.

This weekend wear your tennies and walk the family friendly guided tour through the storied past of Cleveland's cool and historic Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood. Meet notable, notorious and spooky former residents and hear real life tales of life, love, murder and mayhem!

Friday, October 1st and Saturday, October 2nd from 6-9pm (last tour departs at 8:45) Tours depart from Parish Hall every 15 minutes beginning at 6pm Each tour lasts approximately 45 minutes and ends with refreshments and entertainment at the Gordon Square Atrium. $5 Admission for adults - Children 15 and younger are admitted Free

Neighborhood residents with lanterns in their hands and facts and folklore in their heads lead tour groups through the Franklin-West Clinton Historical District. As they walk, they encounter actors from the Near West Theater performing historic and entertaining scenes in front yards and on porches.



After the walking tour, hang out a bit and settle in for the midnight showing of The Phantom of the Opera at the Capitol Theatre only $5. Buy any popcorn and get a soda for free! Caffeine to stay away!

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

a Caffeine BOGO (9/25-26)

This deal just showed up in my inbox...couldn't help but to share! Enjoy friends!!!


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Local Esty faves!

Every few months I like to spend hours falling deeper and deeper into my ultra fave site, ETSY!

I search for vintage globes, adorable crafty headbands, retreo fashions, chic homegoods, party supplies and more. I always try to shop from local Cleveland sellers and am amazed when I stumble upon great Cleveland shops; there are so so many!

Here are just a few to celebrate, all different but all great at what they do. Take a peak, plan your purchases and shop, shop, shop!

Giardino : Hand printed linen fabrics, home decor & paper goods. Amazing graphic botanicals for any chef or foodie. (printed purple pillow)



JoieDeCleve : Exquisite vintage finds, Soothing color palette. Simple imagery. Fair pricing. (sailboat pitcher!)



Orange Twine : AMAZING retro styling. Simple, playful and fun. Can we be friends? I LOVE EVERYTHING at your shop! (yellow skirt)



Do you have a local Etsy shop? Please share with us!!!

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Ingenuity (09/24-26)

So this weekend is the celebration or Arts,Technology and Culture in Cleveland...Ingenuity Fest Cleveland! I am super excited about the location...subway level of the Veterans Memorial (Detroit Superior) Bridge in Downtown Cleveland AND the price..FREE!!!!!!



Along with many theatre, dance, comedy, and art exhibits, the music is what I'm most excited for! Below are my top picks. What are yours???

Saturday at the Cafe Stage @ 6:45, Akron band Hey Mavis will perform their tunes of Americana, Texas, Blues and Art Rock! They will also be integrating Ingenuity patrons through Adobe Connect. I saw them perform this summer at two art fests and I have to say, they are an amazing little sound!

Saturday at the East Stage @ 10:30, the Sugarhill Gang will be performing...i said a hip hop the hippie the hippie
to the hip hip hop, a you don't stop....what else needs to be said?

Sunday at the Span Bridge @ noon, cellist Ida Mercer will be performing her works by Bach. Ida teach Cello at Case and at CIM, she is a very fun performer.

Sunday evening West Concourse, (West side of the bridge) @ 4:00, North Coast Men's Chorus. I've always wanted to go to one of their holiday shows, so I am excited that they are performing this weekend. I can't wait to see them.

Another AMAZING thing that will be going down this weekend is incredible waterfall swing engineered by a team of designer, engineers and incredible minds. You WON'T want to miss it, I have been watching the clip over and over!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8804774@N04/4992369148/in/photostream/

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Friday, September 17, 2010

A Rookie’s guide to tailgating.

As many of you are aware this weekend is the home opener for our Cleveland Browns, but what you may or may not know is the in’s and out’s of tailgating.

As a resident of the "Cleve" for over ten years believe it or not but I have never truly tailgated. I mean, I may have parked in a lot off of West 6th for one beer pre-game which I hear doesn't really count, but to truly set an alarm, get there early, eat chips for bfast, etc. etc. Let's just say this Sunday I am in for a real treat!

I asked a friend to give me a little run down on tailgating tips, and after his VERY thorough response, I couldn't resist but share with everyone. You're gonna love them, read on....



"You see tailgating on TV all the time. Your friends always talk about the fun times they’ve had before the games. You want in. You want to be part of all the excitement. But how? You might have lots of questions so let me try to be of some help.
Here are a few tips to make your tailgating experience a little more enjoyable:

What’s the big deal about tailgating?
> With the Browns not faring so well on the field, tailgating is sometimes the most fun you’ll have on that Sunday

Which games are best for tailgating?
> The home opener is always the best. The weather is still warm and the team’s record isn’t a disappointment yet. The tailgating atmosphere for the first several home games is always energetic.

Can anyone attend?
> Yes, of course. You don’t need a ticket to the game or even be a Browns’ fan. But be warned; do not wear opposing teams’ jerseys or even colors. Not cool at all.

What to bring?
> Depends….are you meeting up with a group already tailgating or creating your own tailgate spot? If you are meeting up with an established crew then just bring whatever you plan on drinking and some food to contribute to the group. Keep it simple. If you plan on creating your own situation then at a minimum you’ll need a grill, coolers and music system. Still don’t go overboard as a rookie. Start slow and figure out what you’ll need for next time.

What are the liquor laws regarding tailgating?
> The simple answer is just use common sense and don’t be a jerk. Keep all drinks in a non-see through cup. Don’t use bottles or even carry around cans. Don’t advertise that you are drinking. Everyone knows what’s going on but it’s easier on the cops if you aren’t abusing their leniency.

Where to tailgate?
> See image above. The only answer to this question is the Muni Lot. Everywhere else is a shadow of what’s going on there. You’ll know what I mean when you see it. Once you tailgate in the Muni Lot everywhere just becomes unacceptable.

What time do I need to get there?
> New rules on the opening of the parking lots changed from 4 am to 7 am. If you plan on driving you better get there way before 7 and get in line. Otherwise you’ll end up parking far, far away.

Best way to get there?
> Any method besides driving a car. I prefer taking the RAPID or calling a cab. Actually, when the weather is nice I like to ride my bicycle!

How much is parking?
> I rarely take my car down there but I think they’re charging around $25.

How far is the walk to the stadium?
> Not far. Just follow the herds. For a 1 o’clock game, people start tearing down their site around noon and walking over a half hour before kick off.

Well I hope some of this information helps you. Be safe, have fun and GO BROWNS!"

Thank you "Major" for the incredible run down on tailgating in Cleveland. I hope others find this as helpful as I did. I will be the one with my face painted, football-shaped brownies, perhaps orange finger nails and a strategically cut sweatshirt from Unique! GO BROWNS!

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It's time for the WEEKEND!

Another gorgeous week in Cleveland. The fall weather is slowly creeping in, giving us plenty of time to pull out are cardigans, knee high boots and TIGHTS!

This weekend I really need to stay at home, rearrange my closet, do a bit of painting, bake some goodies for my first true tailgate experience, rake up the “melting” pears from my backyard tree...and so forth and so on....



But when I get the yearning to go out and play, these are the things I will do my best to go see....

> 12th Annual Tremont Arts & Cultural Festival. Celebrating the cultural and artistic endeavors or Tremont and Northeast Ohio. Lincoln Park, Saturday & Sunday 12-5pm

> Both the Rocky River Arts Festival (Old Detroit area) on Saturday AND the Fall Art Festival at Crocker Park Saturday AND Sunday

> I may try to go to One World Day, it might be fun to ride bikes through the gardens?

> GO BROWNIES! Game time starts at 1:00!! (check out the display at the Giant Eagle on 117th!)

> Petitti's Fall Festival starts this Saturday...(@ Bainbridge, Avon, Oakwood, Strongsville locations) Make a pumpkin planter AND get a pony ride!

> Half Price appetizers at Pearl of the Orient to celebrate Mid Autumn Festival all weekend in Rocky River

> F*SHO : A furniture design show featuring the work of 19 locally and nationally known designers. Saturday, Sept. 18, 6-10pm @ Battery Park Powerhouse

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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Celebrate Fall in Ohio!

The other day I was driving on 90 and noticed the onset of gold, red and orange.in the trees. Beginning in September, visitors of Cleveland flock to witness the brilliant colors that make up the region's fall foliage. Add to that the areas wealth of seasonal harvests like apples and pumpkins, and we've got a traditional autumn getaway complete with hayrides, crisp color and crafts.



Celebrate the season at one of these fall-themed festivals.
> Yankee Peddler Festival: Sept. 18-19, 25-26 at Clay's Park
> Village Peddler Festival: Sept. 18-19 at Lake Metroparks Farmpark
> Cedar Valley Settlers Celebrations & Music Festival: Sept. 19 at the Rocky River Nature Center in the Cleveland Metroparks
> Fall Fest: 18th Century Festival: Sept. 26 at the Brecksville Reservation in the Cleveland Metroparks
> Fall Harvest Festival+Antique Tractor Show: Sept. 25-26 at Lake Metroparks Farmpark
> Corn+Pumpkin Harvest Weekend: Oct. 9-10 at Lake Metroparks Farmpark
> Apple Butter Stirrin' Festival: Oct. 15-17 at Historic Roscoe Village

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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

30 years fresh (09/19)

Sunday, September 19th, 2010

Whole Foods Turns 30! I hear Whole Foods is turning 30, don’t worry WF, 30 is the new 21! This Sunday at their University Heights Location they are offering many exciting specials. So, after the Browns win, and you are looking to prepare for the week ahead and maybe you need to go pick up a few groceries...head to the party.



They will have a live band playing the tunes of the 80’s (the year they were born), free samples of birthday cake for everybody, 30 products throughout the store at 1980’s prices, special culinary demos, vegetable sculpting and a chance to win many prizes including an 80 second shopping spree!

Happy birthday dear Whole Foods, happy birthday to you!

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Blog on a Road Trip

So over Labor Day weekend I met these two brothers going cross country in their Airstream Trailer. After spending the weekend they had so many nice things to say about Cleveland, our sense of creativity and passion for the area...I just had to share.



"The Million Dollar Road Trip is a yearlong mobile marketing business. Until July 4, 2011 my brother, Walter, and I are traveling 48 states in order to promote American small businesses and to find people who are taking risks to pursue their passions. We want to tell these stories in an effort to inspire others to take a chance and create something. We came in search of passion and creativity in Cleveland. Honestly, we were taken by surprise.

Over the Labor Day Weekend we visited different neighborhoods and events where we met countless warm and inviting people who embody the entrepreneurial spirit of this country. Aaron Gogolin is a co-founder of A Piece of Cleveland, a company using reclaimed materials from Cleveland homes to craft specialty furniture and homeware. APOC has found a brilliant way to keep materials from demolished houses out of landfills and to turn it into furniture with a Cleveland legacy. This type of creativity is a perfect example of what we saw throughout the city.

Whether it was Aaron, Scott and his bar Reddstone, Niki at Gypsy Beans and Baking Co, or Charity from iheartcleveland and Chartreuse, we found the stories that the country needs to be told. In a city with a decreasing population, there is a seemingly disproportionate number of young people taking a risk to do what they love. The Million Dollar Road Trip found that Cleveland does, in fact, rock."

THANKS Walter and Patrick you two guys ROCK! Cleveland enjoyed hosting you. Oh and check out the little iheartcleveland ad that is now roaming the country with the brothers...

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Browns or Art? (09/19)

Sunday, September 19th, 2010

"Sunday Funday" and there are so many options around town...the two biggest events would be A) the Browns Home Opener and B) The Cleveland Museum of Art Chalk Festival & Membership Appreciation Day. What will your Sunday hold for you?


The Browns vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, game time 1:00pm, will you be at the Munny Lot? Plan to put on your orange and brown and support your local football team. Let's go BROWNIES!!!

Not into sports and feeling like playing with some chalk and exploring the new collections at the Museum of Art, then invite your friends to join you in creating a unique piece of chalk art.

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Monday, September 13, 2010

Fundraisers

With the onset of fall comes the arrival of fall not for profit "charity-fundraising season." Post-summer vacations and pre-holiday season, this is the perfect time to scrape your extra change together and give back to the numerous not for profit organizations in the community.

Here are a just two of this weekends events you might not want to miss...

Sips & Dips : raising money for Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital

A Taste of Little Italy : Montessori School at Holy Rosary

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Thursday, September 9, 2010

Hop around the City (09/11)

Sparx City Hop is a free all day event that celebrates the visual, culinary and performing arts of Cleveland’s most central and metropolitan neighborhoods. Free trolley service by Lolly the Trolley allows individuals and families to “hop” through the neighborhoods of Downtown (Historic Gateway Neighborhood, Historic Warehouse District, PlayhouseSquare and the Campus District) plus the districts the connect directly to Downtown (Tremont, Ohio City, MidTown, AsiaTown and St. Clair Superior).



The trolley routes connect people to over 70 galleries & artist studios, over 100 restaurants, several markets and dozens of specialty retail shops. In addition, Sparx City Hop connects participants to a variety of sidewalk concerts, main stage performances, special gallery and studio events, the Terminal Tower observation deck (see details below), the Tower City Street Fair, the Sparx Classic Car Show, a variety of merchant specials and so much more.

Bring your family to the fully restored Terminal Tower Observation Deck to see an unparalleled view of the entire city! Originally opened in 1929, Terminal Tower has been a Cleveland landmark for over 80 years. The interior of the Observation Deck has been restored to resemble what it looked like in the 1930’s and 40’s. Tickets are just $5 and kids 5 and under are free. To purchase tickets for this weekend visit http://terminaltowerodeck.eventbrite.com/

Between 25,000 and 30,000 people participate in the Sparx City Hop each year. Don’t miss this opportunity to get out and explore what makes the core of our city so special!

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Garlic LOVE! (09/11-12)

The North Union Farmers’ Market is proud to present the first ever Cleveland Garlic Festival at historic Shaker Square! This grassroots food and music event will take place Saturday, from 1:00-10:00 PM., and Sunday, from 12:00 to 8:00 PM. Tickets are $10 each (can be purchased online or at the show) All proceeds will support North Union’s mission of championing local foods by connecting certified producers with consumers through a network of markets in order to:

- Supply the community with the freshest garlic – harvested ripe and brought fresh to market
- Support growth and incubate over 300 small businesses in Northeast Ohio
- Stimulate the local economy by keeping money in our communities
- Keep Ohio land producing food and supporting families, which saves farms from destruction



The Cleveland Garlic Festival will be the place to be for “all things garlic” in the Midwest Great Lakes region. Attendees will enjoy garlic-themed food prepared by local chefs including everything from ice cream to oysters, an onsite celebrity chef Grill-Off, live music, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, taste and grow tents for children, and many more events and activities.

Get out the breath mints – the Cleveland Garlic Festival arrives this weekend!

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All "LIT" Up (09/11)

I just fell head over heals for this adorable invite/graphic for this literary event. Take a look and perhaps all you literary buffs, or wanna-be-buffs would like to attend...plus there is an after party...wonder if someone will write about it? HA! (sorry, bad joke)



The Academy has the Oscars...The LIT has the Lanterns. Join the Northeast Ohio Literary Community for a celebration of writers and writing in eight different genre categoreis and be there as we honor Sheila Schwartz and Harvey Pekar with a final tribute.

Saturday, September 11, 2010 at Palace Theatre at PlayhouseSquare 8-10pm
Cash bar, Book Browsing, Hob-knobbing, and a LITtle bit of Entertainment
$35 ticket ($50 ticket includes Turn the Page After-Party)
Purchase tix at www.playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000

Turn the Page After-Party at the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative
1309 Euclid Avenue, Suite 200 10pm - Midnight (Only $50 ticket-holders admitted)

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Friday, September 3, 2010

Market at the Fig

Hello Clevelanders and happy holiday weekend.
Couldn’t we all use a break? A few days off to rest our brains from deadlines, to do lists, meetings and conference calls? I for sure am looking forward to an extra day to relax and enjoy Northeast Ohio.

As everyone is beginning to make weekend plans, I wanted to share with you an adorable little place I went to lunch at yesterday, Market at the Fig; a small urban pantry.



Created by Karen Small also chef owner at Flying Fig, her vision for a neighborhood lunch, wine, gourmet cheese and sweets destination has come to fruition. The food was delicious...we had an Dilled Farm Egg Salad on focaccia roll, a Spanish Tuna fish sandwich and the special of the day a cucumber sandwich. Thumbs up all around! An extra plus is you can take your lunch outside and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the Historic Ohio City area...it’s simply city awesomeness! Everyone should try and stop in this weekend, it’s so sweet. Way to go Market at the Fig!



A couple of other things...don’t forget about the big Rock Hall Ball this evening. The Taste of Cleveland and the Air Show all weekend long. PLUS for those of us beach lovers...grab your towel and get outside I think it’s gonna clear up.

Last but not least, as we move into the month of September, I am going to be blogging for the The Ohio Chevy Network Dealers from out and about around Cleveland. Please visit gottalovechevyneo.com to see what fun myself and the other area bloggers get ourselves into!

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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Wierd Al (09/03)

I know that this Friday is the anticipated Rock Hall Ball..but has anyone heard the news? Wierd Al Yankovic is also performing in Cleveland on Friday! Remember him?

I can vividly remember singing the Madonna tune to the lyrics of "Like a Surgeon" as I pranced around my parents home as a young kid. Since those days "Al" has gone on to write and perform many hits such as "Canadian Idiot" and "Polkarama," a parody on polkas.



You can find Mr Yankovic at this years Taste of Cleveland running from Friday September 3rd through to Monday the 6th at Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City in downtown Cleveland. Everything from Polish cuisine and spicy Cajun fare to Grammy Award-winning artists and radio rock stars are on the menu...fingers crossed no rain for the holiday weekend!!!

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Up Up & Away (09/04-06)

When I first moved to Cleveland almost 12 years ago...one of the first big attratctions I attended was the Cleveland Air Show. The afternoon of plane walkers, the Blue Angels, pilots...LOTS of pilots and the amazing acrobatic show still “Wows” me to today!



This Labor Day weekend don’t miss out on the spectator event. The Air Show is a rather affordable, local outing that is fun for everyone...general admission tickets are good for one full day of aviation fun (Saturday, Sunday or Monday). FYI there is no seating, so remember to bring a lawn chair or blanket.

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