Why? World of Beer!

What do you get when you combine bloggers, beer, and burgers? A whole lot of fun! Last Wednesday, I met up with some of my favorite blogger gals to check out the recently-opened World of Beer in Lakewood.

World of Beer boasts a large bar area with two sets of taps, giving you plenty of space to check out all the diverse beer options.

I couldn’t narrow down my choices from the draft list, so I ordered a flight of Belgian beers. You can tell your server a style of beer or a particular beer you like and World of Beer will build you a flight around that.

World of Beer doesn’t have its own menu, but we were able to order dinner to our table from Eddie n Eddie while there. This is a winning combo! I chose the low country fried chicken with truffle honey, which was delicious! I only wish Eddie n Eddie had mashed potatoes as a side option, as they would have paired perfectly with the chicken.

You can also order take-out at World of Beer from Jimmy John’s, Donato’s, or Dave’s Cosmic Subs, if that’s more your style.

It was a fun night with some great friends and great beer! I would definitely recommend checking out World of Beer. There’s something for every beer taste! Where do you like to go for a good craft beer?

Why? Playhouse Square Partners Bowl-a-Rama!

***A bit of blogkeeping: Have you entered to win 2 tickets to Band Aid Bash? Check it out! Remember, you can tweet daily for additional entries.***

Last night, Matthew and I attended the Playhouse Square Partners’ Bowl-a-Rama. Neither of us is a very good bowler (Wii bowling excluded), but (1) we have never failed to have a great time at a Partners event and (2) Kimberly and Amanda planned the event, so we had friend peer pressure to participate.

Organizers/Attendance Police

The Bowl-a-Rama was held at Mahall’s 20 Lanes, a great spot for tasty food and drink, bowling, and live music.

Our admission got us two drink tickets, as well as food. We enjoyed some unique selections from Mahall’s beer list (I recommend the Two Brothers’ Domaine DuPage French Country Style Ale), as well as sliders, tacos, soft pretzels with the hottest hot mustard sauce I’ve ever tasted, and curry or cinnamon sugar popcorn.

Mahall’s is old school, so scoring is done by hand. I refused to download a scoring app either. In high school, for junior-year phys ed, we had to learn how to score bowling among other things. So, I took the helm with that task. I wanted to fudge the results, since we bet that the loser had to unload the dishwasher for a month!

I didn’t even come close to winning, but I got one spare, which caused this ecstatic reaction:

Yes, I posted this. No, I don’t have any pride anymore.

Look how Sara is judging my dance moves (and probably my bowling skills too)…

While I may not have had the most successful night score-wise, we had a great time hanging out with friends and once again enjoying our time with Playhouse Square Partners! There are some great Partners events coming up:

On Thursday, May 2, there is a Dine Around in Little Italy. You pick from Mama Santo’s, Trattoria on the Hill, Michaelangelo’s, or Mia Bella for a small group dinner, then meet up with all the Partners on the Dine Around for a nightcap at Washington Place Bistro. Click here for more details.

On Thursday, May 16, head over to Around the Corner in Lakewood for Bartending for Buses. Playhouse Square Partners members will be guest bartending and all funds benefit the Playhouse Square Bus Fund, which provides transportation for school children to visit the theater. Click here for more details.

Finally, on Thursday, May 23, get in on some massive fun at Life Size Game Night. There will be life-sized Jenga, Operation, Cornhole, and more. Tickets are $20 for Partners and $25 for non-Partners and include food from Sammy’s, drinks, and games. Click here for more details.

Whether you’re a member of Partners or not, these events are a great way to mingle with other engaged and interested Clevelanders and, often, help out one of CLE’s finest institutions. Hope to see you at a Partners event soon!

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? Weekends!

So, I told you about my crazy winery Saturday, but what about the rest of the weekend? Oh, there was plenty to keep me busy those days too! On Friday evening, I met up with Jess and Sarah for dinner at Deagan’s Kitchen and Bar.

I was in the mood for a little bit of everything, so I ended up with the deviled eggs, the pretzel with beer/gruyere dip, and the seared tuna.

Deagan’s is always a go-to spot for good food, good beer, and a relaxed atmosphere. I had such a nice time chatting with Jess and Sarah, too. Yay for new blogger pals!

Since I already told you about my Saturday shenanigans, we’ll jump right to Sunday and St. Patrick’s Day. We had a two-tiered plan to celebrate. First, Matthew and I met up with Beth and Enzo to take in all the downtown Cleveland craziness. We started at Flannery’s Pub.

It was here that Beth and I realized we hadn’t been out together for St. Patrick’s Day in 10 years! Yikes! We had some catching up to do. From Flannery’s we headed to Black Dog Kitchen and Bar for some crazy cheap Reuben sandwiches ($6!) and beers ($3!).

We ended our downtown Cleveland crawl at the newly-opened Parnell’s Pub near Playhouse Square.

On the way home, Matthew and I did a turn around downtown Willoughby. We rocked out to The Cleveland Barflies at Willoughby Brewing Company while enjoying a Peanut Butter Cup Coffee porter.

Our next stops at The Wild Goose and Frank & Tony’s Place were less successful, as the staff were overwhelmed with the crowds and beer and food were not really all that available.

All in all though, it was a fun St. Patrick’s Day and we had our share of green beer and luck o’ the Irish!

How was your weekend? Did you celebrate St. Paddy’s Day?

Why? Upcoming Events!

Spring is almost here! Can you feel it in the air?! Here are some great upcoming events to put a spring in your step, too:

St. Patrick’s Day

Sunday, March 17

Everywhere!

Image Source – cleveland.about.com

We know how to do St. Patrick’s Day right in Cleveland! Maybe because we’re so cooped up in the winter. For a run-down of great green events, from the parade to kegs and eggs, check out this post from Flee to the Cleve. Have fun and be safe!

cleveland.com Tweet-Up

Wednesday, March 20 at 5pm

Collection Auto Club at Progressive Field

Image Source – cleveland.com

Join cleveland.com and lots of your tweeps for a tweet-up in the new Collection Auto Club seating area at Progressive Field, a 5,000-square foot lounge next to the Press Box (If you click the link, Hammy will talk to you. WAAAY BACK!). You’ll get to taste some new concession items for the Indians upcoming season, as well as receiving 2 complimentary drink tickets. For more information and to RSVP (there is limited free parking if you sign up early), click here.

Cleveland Foodbank YP Pantry Happy Hour

Thursday, March 21 at 5:30pm

Noodlecat

Image Source – clevelandfoodbank.org

The Cleveland Foodbank YP Pantry wants you to enjoy one of Cleveland’s best happy hours to benefit one of Cleveland’s best organizations. Enjoy Noodlecat‘s regular happy hour specials, plus bring 3 cans of food or a $5 donation to the Cleveland Foodbank to receive 1 complimentary drink ticket. You can also sign up that evening to become a member of the YP Pantry. Click here to RSVP.

Bowl for Kids’ Sake

Saturday, March 23 at 12:30pm

Brunswick Zone

Image Source – bowlbigforkids.org

Sign up with your friends, raise $50 per bowler, and bowl away to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County. For registering, you receive one game of bowling, a t-shirt, refreshments and snacks, and a chance to win some great prizes. For more information and to register, click here.

Dyngus Day

Monday, April 1

“The Polish Triangle”

Image Source – facebook.com

It’s Dyngus Day: a bonanza of Polish awesomeness! From DJ Kishka to pierogi to a parade to Miss Dyngus, you cannot miss this festive day. From Tremont to the Shoreline District to the Flats, many of your favorite restaurants and bars are participating. For a full list of events, locations, and specials, click here or check out the Dyngus Day Cleveland Facebook page.

Cleveland’s Finest Hors D’Oeuvre Contest

Thursday, April 4 at 6pm

Terrace Club at Progressive Field

Image Source – facebook.com

Join Our Lady of the Wayside for this tasty event! Nibble away and then cast your ballot for Cleveland’s finest hors d’oeuvre. Among the competitors will be chefs from Battery Park Wine Bar, Corleone’s Ristorante and Bar, John Q’s Steakhouse, and the Zack Bruell restaurant group. Tickets are $80 and proceeds benefit Our Lady of the Wayside’s mission of helping those with developmental disabilities. For more information on the event and to purchase tickets, click here.

Playhouse Square Partners Bowl-a-Rama

Thursday, April 11 at 6pm

Mahall’s 20 Lanes

Image Source – playhousesquare.org

Playhouse Square Partners wants you to let the good times roll at Mahall’s 20 Lanes, Cleveland’s hot new bowling spot. There will be a happy hour at 6pm and bowling begins at 7pm. Tickets are $25 and include 3 hours of bowling, shoe rental, food and one drink ticket. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Microsoft Retail Store Grand Opening

Saturday, April 13 at 11am

Beachwood Place Mall

Image Source – microsoftstore.com

Come check out all the tech goodness available at the grand opening of the Microsoft Retail Store at Beachwood Place Mall and score tickets to see Kelly Clarkson perform! The store opens at 11am and the first hundred people in line not only receive the first peek at the Microsoft wonderland, but also two free premier viewing tickets for the Kelly Clarkson concert to happen that afternoon at 4pm. One of those tickets gets you in to not only the concert, but also a meet and greet with Kelly! The next 1,000 people in line will receive 2 premier viewing tickets to the concert. For more information, click here.

What upcoming events are you most looking forward to as we welcome Spring?

***Disclosures: I am a member of the council for the Cleveland Foodbank YP Pantry. I was invited by Microsoft to attend the grand opening of the Microsoft Retail Store. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? Upcoming Events!

Need a way to fight the winter blah’s? Get out and enjoy some of these great upcoming events!

Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week

Friday, February 22 – Sunday, March 3

Downtown Cleveland

Image Source – downtowncleveland.com

From February 22 through March 3, restaurants throughout downtown Cleveland will be offering $30, 3-course dinner menus and $15 lunch specials. The theme of this year’s Restaurant Week sponsored by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance is Pierogi Power (be still my heart!) and each restaurant is encouraged to include a variety of one of Cleveland’s favorite foods on the menu. For more information, including participating restaurants, menus, and to make reservations, click here. Also, stop by East Fourth Street on Friday afternoon starting at 4:30pm for “Go Fourth and Polka,” a festive kickoff to Restaurant Week with DJ Kishka, polka music, pierogi photo ops, and more!

West Side Market Cash Mob

Saturday, February 23 at 8am

West Side Market

Image Source – westsidemarket.org

The West Side Market has re-opened after the unfortunate fire and Cash Mobs wants to show the vendors just how much Cleveland loves them. On Saturday, February 23, show up at the Market with $20 to spend, talk to three people you don’t know, and have fun. It’s that simple, but this collective action will mean a lot to the vendors at our beloved Market. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

Moet Hennessey Wine Tour of the World

Tuesday, February 26 at 6pm

Pier W

Image Source – selectrestaurants.com

Pier W, recently named one of the most romantic restaurants in the country, and Moet Hennessey are teaming up for an incredible 4-course wine-pairing dinner, with items like duck, sole, and lamb. For a complete menu for the event, click here. Cost to attend is $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Call 216-228-2250 for reservations.

Silver Spoon Awards Ticket Pre-Sale Party

Wednesday, March 6 at 5:30pm

Hodge’s Cleveland

Image Source – poiseinparma.com

The Cleveland Magazine Silver Spoon Awards Party is always one of the hottest foodie events in town! Join the Arthritis Foundation, Great Lakes Region for a ticket pre-sale party at Hodge’s Cleveland and be one of the first to get your tickets to this great event. At the pre-sale, general admission tickets will be $70 (a $15 savings) and VIP tickets will be $100 (a $35 savings). There will also be prizes, complimentary appetizers, and drink specials. Don’t miss this chance to save on your tickets for the fabulous Silver Spoon Awards Party!

Seafood Dinner

Friday, March 8 at 6:30pm

AMP 150

Image Source – amp150.com

Join Chef Jeff Jarrett for a mouthwatering five-course seafood dinner at AMP 150, perfect for a Friday in Lent. This isn’t your usual Friday fish fry. This is five courses of dishes such as seafood sausage, olive oil poached swordfish, and thyme-basted monkfish. Cost to attend is $55 per person. Call 216-706-8787 for reservations.

March Madness Kickoff Event

Tuesday, March 19 at 6pm

The Market Garden Brewery

Image Source – wementoryouth.org

Join Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland for an evening of networking and March Madness fun at The Market Garden Brewery. There will be free food, drink specials, a 50/50 raffle and other prizes, and March Madness brackets available for $20. Come out and support this great organization!

What upcoming events are you most looking forward to?

***Disclosure: I was invited by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance to attend the Go Fourth and Polka kickoff for Restaurant Week. Also, I was asked by the Arthritis Foundation to help promote the Silver Spoon Awards Party. In exchange, I will receive 2 complimentary Silver Spoon VIP tickets for myself and 2 general admission tickets to give away (stay tuned). As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? Upcoming Events!

***A bit of blogkeeping: Have you entered to win one of five Pure Barre prizes to get fit in 2013? Check it out! Remember, you can tweet daily for additional entries!***

Just because the holidays are over, doesn’t mean the calendar is any less full! Here are some great upcoming events to stay busy in the new year:

The Brain Gain Cleveland Project Happy Hour

Thursday, January 10 at 7pm

The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

Image Source – braingaincleveland.com

The Brain Gain Cleveland Project invites you to check out a showing of U2 3D, with a happy hour preceding the movie. If you’re a BGCP “Scout,” admission is free. If not, admission is $5. There are only 100 tickets available, so reserve soon by clicking here.

Battle of the Bombshells Happy Hour Kickoff

Friday, January 11 at 8pm

Around the Corner

Image Source – facebook.com

Which side are you in the battle of blondes v. brunettes? Join BvB CLE for a happy hour to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association, as well as sign up participants and coaches for the summer’s charity flag football game. $20 gets you all you can eat and drink, plus there will be fun raffle prizes throughout the night. Click here for more information.

Playhouse Square Partners Trivia Night

Thursday, January 17 at 6:30pm

Black Dog Kitchen and Bar

Image Source – playhousesquare.org

Playhouse Square Partners invites you to their inaugural trivia night at Black Dog Kitchen and Bar. You can sign up in teams of 4-6 players or individually for the brain-bending fun. Ticket price is $25 for non-Partners ($20 for Partners) and includes a buffet dinner and 2 drink tickets. Click here for more information and call Molly at 216-640-8416 to register.

Karaoke at the Cat

Friday, January 18 at 9pm

Noodlecat

Join Alicia, Amanda, Kimberly, and me as we co-host Karaoke at the Cat! There will be Noodlecat‘s fabulous happy hour prices from 9-11pm, which means $5 noodles and salads, $4 cocktails and sake, $3 draft beer, $2 steam buns, and $1 cans of Black Label. There will also be general singing shenanigans and fun for all! I will buy a sake bomb for the first person to sing a Richard Marx song that night (preferably serenade-style to me). Click here for more information (on the event, not Richard Marx).

John Carroll University Cavs Game Night

Thursday, January 22 at 7pm

Quicken Loans Arena

Image Source – jcu.edu

The John Carroll Cleveland Alumni Chapter invites alumni, current students, and parents to watch the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Boston Celtics. The JCU Dance Team will also take center court to perform prior to the game. Tickets are $28 and can be purchased by clicking here.

Cleveland Foodbank YP Pantry Volunteer Event

Thursday, January 24 at 6pm

Cleveland Foodbank

Image Source – clevelandfoodbank.org

If you resolved to volunteer more in 2013, this is a great place to start. The Cleveland Foodbank YP Pantry group will be helping out with repacking and sorting food at the Foodbank. Space is limited, so register by clicking here.

What upcoming events are you most looking forward to kick off 2013?

***Disclosure: I am co-hosting Karaoke at the Cat with the ladies mentioned above and am splitting compensation for co-hosting. I am a member of the boards for the John Carroll Cleveland Alumni Chapter and the Cleveland Foodbank YP Pantry. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? Weekends!

It was the last weekend of 2012, so we made it a good one! On Friday night, Matthew and I met up with our friends Rich and Rachel for dinner at Melt Bar and Grilled.

We of course had an epic wait for these epic sandwiches, which gave us time to catch up and to enjoy a couple Brew Kettle Winter Warmers. I really enjoyed this beer, spiced with cinnamon, honey, and coriander and it was only $4 for a pint, too!

Once we got a table, I chose the Parmageddon for my meal. I don’t know how a girl raised in Parma has never ordered this sandwich before!

The Parmageddon has potato cheese pierogi, vodka sauerkraut, sauteed onions, and sharp cheddar cheese, on Melt’s famous thick toasted bread. Served with a side of fries, this is one carb-o-licious meal!

Matthew chose The Dude Abides, which has huge meatballs, fried mozzarella sticks, red sauce, provolone, and romano.

We left stuffed and with plenty of leftovers for the next day!

Saturday evening, my parents had Matthew, his dad, and me over for some holiday hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

If we thought we were stuffed after Melt, it had nothing on dinner at Mom’s! We also played Apples to Apples and just generally had a fun, cheery evening. I love that my family and Matthew’s family get along so well!

Sunday brought plenty of snow our way, so we spent most of the day hunkered down at home. I will say that I love practicing yoga in 90-degree studio in weather like this, though! I got in 2 classes at Harmony Yoga this weekend and loved every sweaty moment of being in the toasty studio.

Sunday evening, we ventured out because we didn’t want to miss the #HollaDaysCLE party, thrown by Alexa and Lisa. The Holla Days party is always at a Cleveland hotspot and this year was no exception, as the shenanigans took place at Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood.

From bowling to live music to amazing fried chicken, this spot has it all! The party featured some specialty cocktails to honor the hostesses, some tasty munchies (Curry popcorn?! Yum!), and some fabulous social media friends.

It was a great way to almost wrap up 2012! Tonight, Matthew and I are staying in, making ourselves a fancy dinner and opening a bottle of champagne, and sending out a year of huge, wonderful, life-changing moments just the two of us. What are your New Year’s Eve plans? Whatever you’re up to, have fun and be safe!

 

Why? Deagan’s Kitchen!

***A bit of blogkeeping: Congratulations to Tabitha (Comment #10), winner of the ZOYA nail polish giveaway according to Random.org. Check your email and reply by the end of the day or a new winner will be drawn. And stay tuned for another giveaway starting tomorrow!***

I tend to go in spurts with restaurants. I’ll end up somewhere three times in a month, then not end up back there for a long time. So it was with Deagan’s Kitchen and Bar, one of my favorite Lakewood spots. I hadn’t been in ages and then, in the span of a month, ended up there for lunch and dinner.

Deagan’s recently changed chefs to Chef Tim Bando and I was excited to check out the revamped menu. There is an expanded selection of small plates, as well as new large plate offerings. When I was there for lunch with Mom, we chose a variety of small plates.

We started with the baked goat cheese with spicy tomato sauce, basil, and crostini.

The goat cheese was mild and tasty, but there was too much sauce and not enough crostini. Portioned correctly, this would be a great dish.

Mom and I then shared the mac ‘n cheese, seared scallops, and a side of the Brussels sprouts.

The scallops were perfectly cooked and the pomegranate and grapefruit added a nice fresh tang to the dish. The shaved Brussels sprouts with bacon would make anyone willingly eat their veggies.

The mac ‘n cheese was creamy, hearty, and perfect for a cold day! We paired our lunch with a couple of Deagan’s many craft beers on tap. The Anderson Valley Winter Solstice and the Gouden Carolus Noel are two of my seasonal favorites there.

Never ones to pass up dessert, Mom chose the creme brulee and I had the white cake plum cobbler.

Deagan’s desserts are huge, so splitting is probably a good idea. I loved the plum cobbler, which was more cake than cobbler, but not too sweet and very moist.

A couple weeks later, I found myself back at Deagan’s for a long overdue dinner with Julie and Alicia.

This time the good Polish girl in my couldn’t pass up the housemade pierogies, which change daily. That night, the pierogies were Reuben-style, with corned beef, Thousand Island, and sauerkraut.

The pierogies were nicely browned and slightly crisp on the outside and stuffed with delicious filling. You get 2 on the small plate, which is plenty, especially when you pair it with a side of the house fries.

Topped with Romano and truffle oil, these are some seriously tasty taters. We happened to be there on a Monday night, which means half-priced bottles of wine. A bottle of wine for $11? Yes please, times two.

All in all, Deagan’s has changed some items on their menu but they are still serving up really tasty gastropub fare in a relaxed environment with some of the nicest servers you’ll ever want to meet.

And if you really want to take advantage of Deagan’s awesome holiday beer selection, then check out their Christmas Beer Dinner on Wednesday, December 12 at 7pm, featuring Bell’s Winter White Ale, Fat Heads’ Holly Jolly, 3 Floyds’ Alpha Klaus, and more. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by clicking here.

Why? Weekends!

It was a fun pre-holiday weekend in Cleveland! On Friday evening, my friend Jennifer was performing in a dance recital at Lakewood High School. Before the recital, Matthew and I decided to get dinner at Eddie ‘N Eddie. We were there during happy hour, which meant $1.50 off all draft beers and half-priced appetizers with the purchase of an alcoholic beverage. We started in on a couple Breckenridge Christmas Ales and perused the menu.

Matthew and I both wanted to try the burgers. I chose the E ‘n E burger, with caramelized onions, portobello mushrooms, gruyere, and herb aioli.

I got the “Fast Eddie’s” onion rings as my side, which came with bourbon honey mustard for dipping. The owner of Eddie ‘N Eddie used to own a 1950′s-themed burger joint called Fast Eddie’s. I can remember eating there when I was growing up, so it was neat to have a couple throwback items on the menu.

Matthew chose the balsamic bleu burger, with balsamic, bleu cheese, and onion straws.

Both of us found our burgers to be juicy and flavorful and, with all the toppings, more than enough for a meal. I loved the onion rings both for the nostalgia factor and the light, crisp breading. Matthew’s rosemary and garlic fries were pretty standard fare, but still good.

For dessert, we couldn’t pass up a piece of the apple pie, with vanilla bean ice cream and bourbon caramel sauce.

Packed with three different kinds of apples, as well as cranberries in the crust, this was a fabulous piece of pie. There wasn’t a lot of “goo” in the pie, just delicious fruit and a flaky crust. Overall, we really enjoyed the food and casual atmosphere at Eddie ‘N Eddie, but the prices are a bit high for burgers and beer and apple pie.

Then it was off to the recital. Jennifer was taking an adult tap class through Lakewood Recreation. And as much as we teased her, and she teased herself, about performing in the recital, I really give her a lot of credit.  She pursued an interest, gave it her all, and really looked like she had fun every minute of the way.

Tap superstar Jennifer is third from the right

After the recital, we had an after-party at Avenue Tap House because, well, it’s a good pun after a tap recital. We drank beer, listened to an Irish band, and just generally had a great time.

Saturday morning, we were up bright and early for volunteering with the Cleveland Foodbank YP Pantry. About 25 volunteers from the YP Pantry helped with produce distribution and hot meal service at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lakewood.

We were so impressed with the volunteers at Trinity, who have quite the well-run operation going. About 100 meals were served that day and even more people lined up to receive produce. Not only was this a great way to give back to the community, but it was a wonderful reminder of how fortunate we all are.

If you’re interested in getting involved with the Cleveland Foodbank’s YP Pantry, click the link above for more information on upcoming social and volunteer events.

Saturday night, Matthew and I went to Sarah’s 30th birthday party to celebrate one of the sweetest people I’ve met through blogging. Sarah requested no gifts, but that party goers bring non-perishable food items to be donated to the needy. What a great idea!

When you go to a party hosted by a food blogger, you know there’s going to be some delicious treats. Aside from the savory munchies, we enjoyed pumpkin cupcakes, chocolate mousse cups, and homemade sea salt caramels. You can order your own tasty goodies from Sarah for your holiday party! Just click here.

Happy 30th, Sarah! Hope this is your best year yet!

How was your weekend? What new answers to Why CLE did you discover?

***Disclosure: I am a council member for the Cleveland Foodbank YP Pantry. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***