Why? Upcoming Events!

***A bit of blogkeeping: Congratulations to Gauri (Comment #1), randomly-selected winner of 2 general admission tickets to the Marc’s Great American Rib Cook-Off and Music Festival. Please check your email and respond by the end of the day or a new winner will be chosen.***

As we head toward summer, there are a ton of great upcoming events to take advantage of around the Cleveland area.

Red, White & BBQ Rib Fest

Saturday, May 18 at 12pm

Erie Street in Downtown Willoughby

Image Source – seriouseats.com

Downtown Willoughby presents the second annual Red, White & BBQ Rib Fest. From noon to 8pm, Erie Street will be turned into a pedestrian mall lined with restaurants serving up tasty BBQ and libations. Willoughby Brewing Co., Lure Bistro, Olivor Twist and many other Downtown Willoughby favorites will be participating. There will also be two stages with live music from eight different local bands and artists. Red, White & BBQ falls on Armed Forces Day and will be honoring our nation’s heroes by asking all attendees to donate $1 to the USO of Northern Ohio.

Recruit Cleveland Alumni-Only Career Expo

Thursday, May 23 at 11am

Veale Center at Case Western Reserve University

Image Source – hirecleveland.eventbrite.com

If you’re an alumni from John Carroll University, Cleveland State University, Case Western Reserve University, or a host of other local schools (see the graphic above), you are invited to attend a career fair with job opportunities from over 75 local employers, including the Cleveland Clinic, PR Newswire, Huntington Bank, and more. Admission is $10 for VIP early access and featured resume placement or free for all other alumni. Space is limited! For more details and to register, click here.

Woof, Wag and Wine

Saturday, June 1 at 1pm

Grand River Cellars

Image Source – lakehumane.org

An event that combines pups and wine? Be still my heart! Bring your pup along for a tour of Grand River Cellars, a wine tasting, live music, auctions, and more. Admission is $15 and includes your wine tasting. Proceeds benefit the Lake Humane Society. Click here for more information.

13^thAnnual Race for the Place

Sunday, June 2 at 8am

Beachwood Place

Image Source – touchedbycancer.org

Get out, get moving, and raise money for The Gathering Place, a community-based cancer-support center. There is a 5K chip-timed race or a one-mile fun walk, as well as family activities in the Celebration Village. Join honorary cancer survivor chair Jim Donovan, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, and The Gathering Place for this great event. Registration ranges from $10-30 depending on age and event. Click here for more information and to register.

15^thAnnual Farm to Table Benefit

Cleveland Botanical Garden

Monday, June 3 at 5:30pm

Image Source – cbgarden.org

Join 20 Cleveland chefs, from restaurants such as Spice Kitchen and Bar, Crop Bistro, and The Greenhouse Tavern, for a strawberry-inspired farm-to-table tasting event. At 5:30, there will be a panel discussion on “Berry Benefits,” then from 6:30-9, let your tastebuds explore the different tasting stations and enjoy live music on the Garden’s Geis Terrace. Tickets are $100 ($85 for Garden members) and proceeds benefit Green Corps and the North Union Farmers Market. For more information and to purcase tickets, click here.

10^thAnnual DePiero Family Charity 5K Run and 2K Walk

Saturday, June 8 at 8:30am

Byers Field

Image Source – deandepiero.com

Join former Parma Mayor Dean DePiero for a 5K race or 2K walk, along with refreshments and raffles, to benefit the Cleveland Courage Fund, recently established to raise money for Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight. Registration is $20 and the first 300 registrants receive a t-shirt. Click here for more information and to register.

Piggy Stardust & the Flavors from Mars

Wednesday, June 19 at 6:30pm

The Beachland Ballroom

Emerging Chefs, Chef Brian Doyle, and Chef Brian Rosander have teamed up to create a rock ‘n roll glam foodie event. A multi-course dinner, cocktail pairings, and live music from Vanity Crash, along with the cool surroundings of the The Beachland Ballroom will make for an evening not to be missed. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by clicking here.

Farm to Table Garlic Dinner

Saturday, June 22 at 5pm

Thaxton Garlic Farm

Join Thaxton’s Organic Garlic and Hudson’s Restaurant for a delicious farm-to-table dinner experience showcasing vendors from the Hudson Farmers Market. The dinner will include a cocktail hour, tour of the garlic farm and neighboring alpaca farm, and a five-course dinner with wine pairings. Tickets are $125 and proceeds benefit the Hudson Farmers Market. Click here to purchase tickets.

What upcoming events are you looking forward to?

***Disclosures: I am the VP of Special Initiatives for the John Carroll University Cleveland Alumni Chapter. Also, I was invited by Emerging Chefs to attend Piggy Stardust with a complimentary media pass, but declined due to scheduling conflicts. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? Exxopolis!

*** A bit of blogkeeping: Have you entered to win a $100 gift card to Provenance at the Cleveland Museum of Art? Today is your last chance, so check it out! Remember, you can tweet daily for additional entries.***

There are moments when we all wish we could be a kid again, especially to be able to see the world with a sense of pure awe and wonder. Yesterday, Matthew and I got a chance to be kids again as we got a preview of the Exxopolis exhibit, which is featured at the International Children’s Festival at Playhouse Square.

Exxopolis is the creation of Architects of Air. What from the outside looks like a giant winding bounce house turns into something quite different once you’re inside. Exxopolis uses only natural light coming through colored plastic to create what you see inside, which means every day (and even every hour) looks different.

As you progress through Exxopolis, you find rooms of cool blue, hot red, and relaxing green. Each color lends its own distinct feel to the room. The red rooms felt pulsating and energetic, while the blue area were quiet and peaceful.

Guests are encouraged to wander, explore, sit and look up at the ceiling, and just generally take it all in. I was amazed at what a cool sensory experience Exxopolis is. It may be part of the International Children’s Festival, but Exxopolis offers something for all ages.

Exxopolis tickets are $5 and can be purchased either online or at the exhibit. Exxopolis is open today from 12pm-7pm, Friday, May 10 from 11am-7pm and Saturday, May 11 from 10am-6pm. The exhibit is located at the corner of Euclid Avenue and East 17th Street. Even if you just pop over on your lunch break, it’s well worth it!

Everyone in the neighborhood is excited about Exxopolis, too. After viewing the exhibit, Playhouse Square generously treated us to dinner at Cowell & Hubbard. The restaurant has created a special colorful and layered Exxopolis martini for this weekend, with Buckeye vodka, violet liquor, cassis, and ginger.

Aside from the delicious cocktails, we got to chat with the Architects of Air workers who make Exxopolis happen, as well as enjoy a fabulous dinner. The next time you’re at Cowell & Hubbard, try the chicken thighs with celery root puree, tobasco butter, and a bleu cheese croquette. You’re welcome in advance.

I left feeling like a happy combination of kid and adult. The wonder and magic of Playhouse Square strikes again! The International Children’s Festival, of which Exxopolis is just one part, is happening now through Saturday, May 11 at Playhouse Square. For a full schedule of events and to purchase tickets, click here.

***Disclosure: I was invited by Playhouse Square to attend the media preview for Exxopolis and the dinner afterward with a guest. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? Weekends!

***A bit of blogkeeping: Have you entered to win a $100 gift card to Provenance at the Cleveland Museum of Art? Check it out! Remember, you can tweet daily for additional entries.***

After Friday night’s fun at the Cleveland Museum of Art, I was looking forward to a lazy start to my Saturday, with a little bit of yoga with Katie at Harmony Yoga, a little bit of errands, and a little bit of Honey Hut (their junior scoop is the perfect size for a mid-afternoon ice cream craving). My go-to place for meats, Pinzone’s Market Fresh Meats, was having their anniversary sale, so I scored a great deal on some strip steaks to grill up for dinner.

We seasoned the steaks with seasoned salt and black pepper and served them with grilled skewers of green pepper, onion, and grape tomato, plus a nice grenache. Sometimes simple really is best!

Saturday evening, Matthew and I attended the last concert of this year’s Tri-C Jazz Fest: a performance by the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

I was so impressed by the performance! The music was bright and energetic. The Spanish Harlem Orchestra has a great brass section and 3 talented vocalists, who brought the crowd to their feet more than once. Many couples also showed off their salsa dancing skills during the show.

The concert was a unique, upbeat musical experience and a good reminder of the thriving arts culture in Cleveland. I can’t wait to check out more of Tri-C Jazz Fest next year!

On Sunday, we celebrated Cinco de Mayo with Alicia, Hans, Kimberly, and Chris at Momocho. A weekend afternoon seemed like the perfect time to enjoy some margaritas, guacamole, and taquitos!

I noshed on the grilled corn on the cob with chili lime butter and the rock shrimp and lobster empanadas. Oh, I also ate my body weight in guacamole and had two spicy mango margaritas. Viva Momocho!

Since we couldn’t get a patio seat at Momocho and the weather was so perfect, we headed over to Market Garden Brewery to enjoy this weather as it should be enjoyed: on a patio with an adult beverage.

That evening, we met up with friends Erin and Jeff for some outdoor fun at Squire’s Castle in the North Chagrin Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks. If you haven’t been to Squire’s Castle, you should definitely check it out. It’s pretty cool to picnic in the shadow of a castle!

How was your weekend? Did you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

***Disclosure: I was asked by Tri-C Jazz Fest to help promote the festival. In exchange, I received 2 tickets to attend the concert of my choice. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? Provenance Giveaway!

***A bit of blogkeeping: Congratulations to sareberry (Comment #28), randomly-selected winner of 2 general admission tickets to the Silver Spoon Awards Party. Please check your email and respond by the end of the day or a new winner will be chosen.

If you didn’t win, you can still purchase tickets by clicking here. Or stay tuned to Mile 26 and More for another ticket giveaway!***

On Friday evening, Matthew and I were treated to an exclusive peek at the tantalizing goodness happening at Provenance at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Chef Partner Douglas Katz and Executive Chef Matthew Jankowski have created a menu that is truly an intersection of art and food.

We started our evening as all evenings should: with delicious cocktails! I recommend the thyme and ginger, a refreshing vodka beverage.

Pictured above with the thyme and ginger is a mushroom and leek cake, which was one of my favorites nibbles of the night. We also got to taste melt-in-your-mouth scallops and shaved duck on top roasted fingerling potato.

There was also an impressive array of cheeses and cured meats.

From the nibbles we had, I cannot wait to try a full meal at Provenance! The restaurant is open the same hours as the Museum: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Aside from the 76-person dining area, there are also two private rooms for parties.

This is truly a beautiful and tasty addition to the Cleveland Museum of Art! The group of us there for the tasting are truly thankful to Provenance for making us feel so welcome!

After the tasting, we got to check out the MixUp event, which is a monthly fusion of art, music, cocktails happening the first Friday of every month. You can peruse the galleries, as well as have a cocktail and listen to music in the impressive new atrium area.

Check out next month’s MixUp on Friday, June 7 or Solstice, one of the hottest parties of the summer, happening Saturday, June 22.

Having had the opportunity to spend time at the Cleveland Museum of Art twice recently, I will tell you that the Museum is a must-see, must-eat, must-spend-time destination. And to help you do just that, I have a $100 gift card to Provenance to give away!

Here’s how to enter: You can do one, two, or all three entries, just leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry:

1. Leave a comment telling me one of your favorite artistic restaurants (in food presentation or decor).

2. Follow @ClevelandArt and @WhyCLE on Twitter and leave one comment letting me know you’re following both.

3. Tweet the following phrase and leave a comment letting me know you tweeted:

I want to dine where art and food combine at @ClevelandArt from @WhyCLE: http://wp.me/p1fb9r-1ty #giveaway

You can tweet once per day for additional entries, just leave a separate comment each time you tweet.

The giveaway will close on Thursday, May 9 at 11:59pm and the winner will be announced the following day. Also, check out The Dawg’s Dish’s giveaway for another chance to win. Good luck!

***I was invited to attend a special tasting event at Provenance and the MixUp event with a guest. In exchange for attending and blogging about the event, I received a $100 gift card to Provenance to give away. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? Ohio Blogging at the Cleveland Museum of Art!

***A bit of blogkeeping: Have you entered to win 2 tickets to one of Tri-C Jazz Fest’s concerts yet? Check it out! Remember, you can tweet daily for additional entries.***

On Wednesday night, Matthew and I met up with a bunch of bloggers and blog supporters for the Ohio Blogging Association monthly gathering, this time at one of Cleveland’s greatest treasures: the Cleveland Museum of Art.

The new atrium area is stunning! You truly feel as if you were outside. We started with dinner just past the atrium at the new Provenance Café. I had a claystone flatbread with grilled swordfish, hummus, roasted eggplant spread, and more Mediterranean goodness.

I also highly recommend the mini bottle of champagne (you’re at a museum and being cultured and classy, after all) and the dessert bars (we split pecan pie and lemon).

After dinner, we got a tour of “The Last Days of Pompeii: Decadence, Apocalypse, Resurrection” exhibit. Our tour guide, Lucy, selected all the contemporary pieces for the exhibit and was a wealth of knowledge on both the classical and contemporary art we saw.

Hostess Alicia and Tour Guide Lucy

Matthew visited Pompeii during his study abroad semester in Italy, so he brought an even more hands-on perspective to the art. The exhibit has classic paintings of imagined life in Pompeii and then the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

Image Source – clevelandart.org

The Last Days of Pompeii also showcases contemporary works, such as sculptures based off body casts taken of remains found at Pompeii, which were some of the most evocative pieces for me.

Image Source – clevelandart.org

The Cleveland Museum of Art is truly one of Cleveland’s greatest cultural assets and, with its new renovations and this amazing exhibit, more than worth a visit to see what’s going on there. “The Last Days of Pompeii” runs through Sunday, July 7. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for students and seniors, and $7 for children.

In attendance at the meet-up were bloggers from:

Am I There Yet? (and boyfriend Justin)

Call Me Trouble

Craveable Cleveland

Eat*Drink*Cleveland

Go Run Jess

Poise in Parma (and Aunt Kathy)

ROJ Running (and guest Jason)

SOS Associates (and wife Julie)

@TalknCleveland

The next Ohio Blogging Association event is in the works, so stay tuned to the OBA Facebook page for more details coming soon!

Have you seen “The Last Days of Pompeii?”

***Disclosure: The Ohio Blogging Association members and guests received complimentary tickets to “The Last Days of Pompeii” exhibit, as well as a guided tour. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? Tri-C Jazz Fest Giveaway!

Spring in Cleveland means lots of great events and fun things to do as we come out of hibernation. One of those great events is Tri-C Jazz Fest, happening Friday, April 19 through Saturday, May 4.

Image Source – tri-cjazzfest.com

Tri-C Jazz Fest was founded in 1980 with three missions: (1) foster the history and nurture the future of jazz; (2) provide educational opportunities for students of all ages and in all walks of life; and (3) bring world-class jazz to Cleveland. Since then, Jazz Fest has been doing just that! Beyond just the concerts, Jazz Fest features lectures, master classes, and much more.

To kickoff this year’s Tri-C Jazz Fest, there will be an opening party on Friday, April 19 from 5-7pm in the lobby of the State Theater at Playhouse Square. The opening party is sponsored by Great Lakes Brewing Company and is free and open to the public. There will be live music from Nadir & Distorted Soul, happy hour drink prices, food, and drawings for concert tickets and merchandise.

Image Source – tri-cjazzfest.com

After the opening party, Tri-C Jazz Fest kicks off with Aaron Neville and Dr. John at 8pm at the State Theater. The concerts are spread between Tri-C’s Metropolitan Campus, the State Theater, and MOCA Cleveland. A complete list of the concerts and events for Jazz Fest can be found here.

I have two tickets to give away to the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, which close Tri-C Jazz Fest on Saturday, May 4 at 8:30pm at the Tri-C Metro Auditorium.

Image Source – tri-cjazzfest.com

Here’s how to enter (leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry):

1. Leave a comment telling me your favorite musical festival that you’ve attended.

2. Follow @TriCJazzFest and @WhyCLE on Twitter and leave one comment letting me know you’re following both.

3. Tweet the following phrase:

I entered to win tickets to enjoy @TriCJazzFest with @WhyCLE and you can too: http://wp.me/p1fb9r-1q8 #TriCJazzFest

You can tweet daily for additional entries, just leave a separate comment each time you tweet.

The giveaway will close on Sunday, April 21 at 11:59pm and the winner will be announced the following day. Good luck!

***Disclosure: I was asked by Tri-C Jazz Fest to help promote the festival. In exchange, I will receive 2 tickets to the Spanish Harlem Orchestra concert for myself and 2 tickets to give away. The choice of which concert to attend was my own. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? The Cleveland Flea!

***A bit of blogkeeping: Have you entered to win 2 tickets to the International Partners in Mission’s Namaste benefit? Check it out! Remember, you can tweet daily for additional entries.***

There’s nothing I like to do more on Saturdays than shop. So, I’m excited for the launch of a new Saturday shopping option: The Cleveland Flea. Saturday, April 13 marks the first in a monthly series of a pop-up urban market in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood.

Every second Saturday of the month, from 10am-4pm, The Cleveland Flea will fill St. Clair Avenue with more than 50 vendors selling all manner of handmade and vintage goods. The Flea on Saturday, April 13 will focus on modern domestic items for your home.

Image Source – theclevelandflea.com

The Cleveland Flea will also offer workshops from “Makers” such as Cleveland Whiskey, Klink Creatively, Hans Noble Design, and more. Click here to find out more about the workshops. The Friday night before each monthly Flea, there will be a Design Dinner, pairing a chef and a designer for a creative and unique dining experience.

Food trucks will be a regular part of shopping at The Cleveland Flea, with KRAV, Pig Lickin Good, and Jibaro World Eats on hand for April 13. Also, the first Flea will feature a musical performance by the Saint Martin de Porres drum line, a short film screening, and a beer garden with libations from Market Garden Brewery.

So, if you’re ready to shop and learn from a treasure trove of local artists  and to have a fun urban shopping experience, head on over to The Cleveland Flea on Saturday, April 13!

Where is your favorite place to shop local? What’s your best vintage shopping find?

***Disclosure: I was contacted by The Cleveland Flea about promoting the market. I received nothing in exchange for this post. Some images provided by The Cleveland Flea. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? IPM’s Namaste Giveaway!

I promised you five awesome giveaways for Cleveland events and here is number two! On Friday, April 26, International Partners in Mission is holding its Namaste benefit to raise money for IPM’s projects serving women and children around the world.

From China to Lebanon to right here in Cleveland, IPM’s programs make a difference in the lives of those in need of aid and of hope. Two of IPM’s local projects are Esperanza Threads, in which low-income women sew made-to-order clothing, and the Interfaith Hospitality Network, which provides meals and temporary housing for the homeless.

When I was first invited to this event and heard that it was called Namaste, the yogi in me was very excited. Namaste is a standard at the end of most yoga classes and means “the light in me honors the light in you.” That’s a pretty inspiring statement! And while there won’t be any yoga at the Namaste benefit, I can’t promise I won’t be tempted to bust out a downward-facing dog.

So, what is on the agenda for Namaste? Tasty food from Clark Pope Catering (you Fresh Fork-ers will recognize Clark from the delicious sauces and jams in our shares), a chance to learn more about IPM’s Immersion Experience Program, global music, and a silent auction filled with wonderful prizes. Plus, a chance to check out the newly-opened Ariel International Center, with gorgeous views of the Cleveland skyline and Lake Erie.

Tickets for Namaste are $40 for first-time attendees, $50 for return attendees, and $100 for VIP and can be purchased by clicking here. Or you can enter to win two tickets right here.

Here’s how to enter (leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry):

1. Check out International Partner’s in Mission’s website and leave a comment letting me know one thing you learned about IPM’s work.

2. Tweet the following phrase and leave a comment letting me know you tweeted:

I want to experience global culture and help a global mission by attending #IPMNamaste from @WhyCLE: http://wp.me/p1fb9r-1ou

You can tweet daily for additional entries, just leave a separate comment each time you tweet.

The giveaway will close on Monday, April 8 at 11:59pm and the winner will be announced the following day. Good luck!

***Disclosure: I was asked by International Partners in Mission to help promote Namaste. In exchange, I will receive two tickets for myself and two tickets to give away. All images in this post were provided by IPM. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? Katie’s Reasons Why CLE!

***A bit of blogkeeping: While I’m soaking up the sun on vacation, I’ve asked some great Cleveland blogger pals to guest post for me. Today we have Katie from Call Me Trouble. Katie is one of the sunniest people you’ll ever meet and I so often find myself impressed by her maturity and great handle on what’s important in life. Enjoy her guest post and check out her blog for even more great stuff!***

When I travel to another city I visit the highlights. I eat at the best pizza place, take pictures of the coolest monument, walk through a unique museum, and frequent the most talked about bars. It’s no wonder when I travel other cities might seem more appealing than my very own Cleveland. I grew up near Cleveland and like so many things in life; I missed the pot of gold that was right under my nose.

Throughout college I daydreamed of where I would move and begin my life. Would I be sipping martinis in Manhattan? Two-stepping in Houston? Skiing in Denver? Clubbing in LA? Freezing in Boston? Teaching in China? The possibilities were endless in my mind…except one, being back in Cleveland, doing anything. Life, of course, has its own way about it at times, and post-graduation I slinked back to Northeast Ohio.

If I knew then, what I know now, I wouldn’t have been able to contain myself to be back in a city so full of life and opportunities. Promise I’m not working for the Cleveland tourism board. Every city is great for a weekend but for a city to be livable, it takes more than a crazy landmark. I’m a big believer in making the most of any situation and when I moved back to Cleveland I decided to try and make the best of it.

My first summer back was a hesitant one. The job I had came with tough hours, I was only getting a hint of Cleveland as a 21-year-old, but I was digging it. I went to a couple salsa nights, an Indians game or two, a few nights on West 6^th with some people who saw it as the epitome of an awesome bar scene, and a concert at Blossom. I was happy in Cleveland, but I wasn’t thrilled yet. West 6^th was grossly underwhelming now that I was out of school/micro-dresses. The Indians games were great though and Blossom will always be a favorite venue of mine; I wish it were closer to the city!

In the fall, everything came together. I went to Lakewood for the first time. I met new friends. I was tailgating with my family for Browns games. I got a new job with normal business hours. I went to Ohio City and Tremont. I moved to Lakewood. This is when my love affair with Cleveland began. I was blogging and meeting crazy-awesome people (like Jen at Why CLE!) through the social media scene.

People, not once, not twice, but multiple times now, have made references to my affinity for Cleveland. “Well, you obviously love Cleveland.” “You’re really happy in Cleveland.” It’s always a shocking yet pleasant surprise to hear this accusation, I couldn’t have predicted it, but I love it none the less. When asked why I adore Cleveland so much, my answer is Cleveland is a very accessible city. I wish I had a sexier answer, but I’m not surprised that my affection for Cleveland grows from a very practical place.

Katie’s reasons to be Happy in CLE

Cleveland is accessible because sports, food, parking, museums, events, are affordable. There’s not a lot of traffic. Local celebrities are reachable. When you meet someone somewhere, there’s a good chance you’ll see their familiar face again soon. No place is perfect, but it’s what you make of it. If I moved back to Cleveland and decided to not really go out, only hang out with the people I knew previously and only went to the places they went, I would have been miserable. I really believe Cleveland has something for everyone, you just have to know what you like and go after it. If there isn’t, it’s entirely feasible to start it in Cleveland- just another reason I love this place!

Let me guess: …I’m preaching to the choir here? I hope so. I just couldn’t help but express how happy in Cleveland I am. Whenever I see this quote by Douglas Adams a big smile spreads across my face because I am reminded of my Cleveland.

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” – Douglas Adams

Was Cleveland in your plans? How has Cleveland surprised you?

Why? Cleveland Museum of Art!

***A bit of blogkeeping: While I’m soaking up the sun on vacation, I’ve asked some great Cleveland blogger pals to guest post for me. Today we have Jess from Always JAM in CLE. Jess has such a wonderful, positive outlook on life and truly loves CLE! Enjoy her guest post and check out her blog for even more great stuff!***

One of my earliest memories of the Cleveland Museum of Art is now hysterical to me as an adult.  Ice cream cones and Egyptians. My mom is an art history professor and used to tote me along with her to the exhibits and museums when I was a kid. I remember going to see an exhibit (of ancient pharaohs and Egyptians) and after twirling around in the huge gallery I turned and blurted out to her my own art observation…. “Mom, why do all these guys have ice cream cones on their chins?”

Image source: Christopher Pledger http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/2659871/Twins-found-in-Tutankhamuns-tomb.html

I’d say that’s a valid question from a 5 year old…!

We still laugh about the story today, but the early exposure and access to the arts has lead me to have a deep appreciation and interest in the vibrant art community we have here in Cleveland.

Recently my entire family visited the museum to check out the new exhibit, “The Last Days of Pompeii: Decadence, Apocalypse, Resurrection”, which runs now until July 7^th.

Image Source – JAM in CLE

For the History and Art Lovers

The Pompeii show was so incredible! And the history of the ancient city is absolutely fascinating! If you are a history buff or interested in a new perspective of the famous volcanic eruption and mysterious city, you should definitely check out this exhibit! “Pompeii and the other ancient cities destroyed and paradoxically preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in ad79 are usually considered the places where one can best and most directly experience the daily lives of ancient Romans. Rather than presenting these sites as windows to the past, this exhibition explores them as a modern obsession. (Quote source) From Andy Warhol’s iconic pop style to the eerie castings of bodies and animals from Pompeii, the show captures the historical event with a new modern and artistic perspective.

 For the Architects and Sun-lovers

Also, this was my first time being back to the museum since the new atrium has opened. It.is.STUNNING. This space should be considered a work of art itself! The museum has been undergoing a massive expansion and renovation and this space does not disappoint! I could sit here with a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning and just take in the sunshine filtering in and casting slanted shadows.

Image Source – JAM in CLE

Image Source – JAM in CLE

For the Young Professionals

The museum’s newly formed young professionals affiliate group, Column and Stripe, hosts a monthly event to engage the younger audience with the arts scene called MIX First Friday Happy Hours. The atrium space transforms into a pumping scene of live music, mingling, arts, culture and cocktails! Click here for information about the next MIX event.

For the Techies and Touchers

Visitors at most museums learn early on that you do NOT touch anything at museums and do not get too close to the artwork. Well not with this new hands-on exhibit! “Gallery One” encourages visitors to interact with the nearly 3,500 objects in the museum’s permanent collection through a giant multi-touch screen. You create your own tour by flipping through images and moving the tiles along yourself. You can even bring along your iPad and use the ArtLens app to learn more about the pieces.

Image Source – JAM in CLE

For Families

The museum truly offers something for people of all ages, including families. The second Sunday of each month is “Family Day” and families can bring their little ones to the museum for make-and-take activities and learn more about art. Hey, maybe your child will  get an early start on her art education and bridge the connection between ancient art and tasty ice cream cones too!

The Cleveland Museum of Art is a gem in our great land of CLE. So if you haven’t checked out the newly renovated space, you have several reasons now to go, learn, explore, interact, mingle and dream!