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? 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? Cleveland’s Running Community!

***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. First up is Julie from Am I There Yet? I can’t get enough of Julie’s humor, great disposition, and awesome dedication. Enjoy her guest post and check out her blog for even more great stuff!***

Hi WhyCle readers! My name is Julie and I blog over at Am I There Yet. Many thanks to Jen for letting me post for her while she is soaking up some sun on vacation!

When my love for running (love, obsession, whatever) began, I pretty much went it alone. Tackling my first ever 5k as part of a weight loss program spurred a need to run more and more races. I wanted to increase my distance and speed and collect as many t-shirt as possible. Then I trained for my first half marathon and got a medal. All of a sudden t-shirts meant nothing and I craved that bling.

Seems weird, I get it. Maybe it’s intriguing? Maybe a medal, like for me, is something that motivates you. Holding that shiny piece of success in your hand knowing you accomplished something great, it’s amazing feeling. And it is certainly not a feeling you have to have alone.

Cleveland has an amazing community of runners. So why don’t you join in?

Beginning on April 20th, when the morning temps are still crisp, runners will convene at the Harriet Keeler Memorial Picnic area in the Brecksville Reservation of the Cleveland Metro parks for day one of Northeast Ohio Fit.

Lovingly known as NEO Fit, this Cleveland-area running club is a group of runners of all ages, distances, and abilities. Growing in numbers every year, NEO Fit helps runners, new and seasoned, reach their running goals. Whether you want to run a half marathon or the 26.2 monster, this group will give you the support you need.

On day one with NEO Fit, the group will set out for a short timed run to help find your pace. This is not a race, but a tool to help place in you a color group with similar paced runners. I was in the red group for 2 years, a group for runners with a pace of a 10:30 or slower (I was way slower that 10:30 let me tell you). I am looking forward to running in the yellow group this year.

NEO Fit offers an easy to follow training plan, no writing your own plan or surfing the net for the plan that suits you best. NEO Fit’s certified coaches take care of that for you. On long run Saturday’s, no more finding your own route and calculating miles, NEO Fit coaches take care of that for you, too.

Each weekend meet-up has a seminar to help educate you and inspire you. At these seminars you will hear from experts on topics like hydration, stretching, fueling for a long run, and injury prevention. A track meet up is offered on Tuesday nights for those looking to increase their speed and spend more time in the group.

In addition to these motivating program staples, being part of NEO Fit has it’s perks. In 2010 NEO Fit partnered with Vertical Runner to create a supportive running community for all abilities, this includes seminars at the store as well as a discount on merchandise for being a member during the regular season. Being part of NEO Fit also gets you discounts into many Cleveland area races, namely the groups target race, the Akron Marathon.

This will be my 3^rd summer with NEO Fit and I have maintained friendships with other members during that time and all year long. If you are looking to train for a race this summer, come on out and join us. For more information and registration, head over to www.neohiofit.com.

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? Bright Pink!

One of the great things about this blog is getting a chance to spotlight organizations and people who are making a difference in Cleveland. Today I want to share with you a “blog-terview” with Betsy Coy, a Cleveland native who is starting the local chapter of the national Bright Pink organization. This seems especially appropriate today, since it’s International Women’s Day, too!

Image Source – pinterest.com/source/brightpink.org

What is Bright Pink?

Bright Pink is the only national non-profit organization focusing on the risk reduction and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women while providing support for high-risk individuals. It is an organization that strongly believes in empowering young women to be proactive advocates for their health. Bright Pink hopes to educate young women to develop and live by a personalized breast and ovarian cancer risk reduction or early detection strategy. We do this by hosting Breast Ovarian Health workshops. Our first one is scheduled for mid-June at Athleta at Beachwood Place.

The workshops help participants learn the basics about breast and ovarian cancer and why it is so important that we, as young women, start to be proactive with our health. They are one-hour, interactive workshops that help young women understand what these cancers are, lifetime risk, and how to be proactive with their health. Our support arm is centered in Experiential Outreach Groups, which are Bright Pink’s version of a support group. These gatherings bring young women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer together for a fun activity, like a yoga class or pottery painting, and facilitated discussion about a topic related to being young at high risk.

Image Source – pinterest.com/source/brightpink.org

What inspired you to get involved with this organization?

I became involved in Bright Pink when I found out I was positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation about 3 years ago. I have a long family history of cancer. After my dad passed away from Pancreatic cancer 6 years ago, I started digging further into my family’s history. There are so many cancers on my dad’s side (breast, ovarian and pancreatic). I shared my worries with my internist who suggested I have genetic testing to find out if I was at a higher risk. It’s a scary thing to learn that your risk of cancer is so elevated. Women with the BRCA1 mutation have up to an 86% lifetime risk for breast cancer and up to a 46% lifetime risk for ovarian cancer.

During that time, I found Bright Pink. The women of Bright Pink really helped me feel comfortable with the facts I was facing and the decisions I was making. I chose to have a prophylactic double mastectomy with reconstruction. I also had a prophylactic oophrectomy to control my risk for ovarian cancer. My risk for both is now reduced to 1-2%. I have served as a Pink Pal for Bright Pink and really wanted to help bring an in person group to Cleveland. We started out as an “ally city” for the national organization and they just notified us that they are making us an official Chapter!

Tell us about Bright Pink’s upcoming events.

We have formed a team for the Cleveland Half Marathon. We are doing amazingly well with recruiting runners and fundraising. We have 20 runners already! We are certainly open to having other runners join our team, but are also going to need some people that will be on the route to cheer on our team. If there is an interest in supporting us financially, money can be donated through our half-marathon fundraising site.

Image Source – pinterest.com/source/bebrightpink.org

Also, on Sunday, April 7, we are going to have a “Turn Cleveland Bright Pink” event. We will plan a meeting for others to learn about what Bright Pink has to offer in Cleveland. We’ll have some food and drinks. Then, we are going to send people out to turn the town Bright Pink. We have mapped out coffee shops, libraries, and gyms around town (east, west, north and south) and are going to canvas the town to hang up posters. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for more information!

What’s been the most rewarding part of Bright Pink? What’s been the most challenging?

The most rewarding part of Bright Pink is meeting and interacting with the women involved. Through this process, I have met the most amazing women! First, it is a fantastic feeling to be able to be a support for women who are BRCA positive and high risk. It’s also great to help educate women about their risk and how to be proactive.

It has been challenging to get the word out to people in Cleveland. People hear breast cancer or ovarian cancer and think that we’re just another cancer organization. Not so! At Bright Pink, we believe that knowledge is power, that information is beneficial, not burdensome. The more you know about breast and ovarian cancer, the better equipped you are to live proactively. Being Bright Pink is not just about being aware; it’s about taking action.

How can we get involved? What can we do to help Bright Pink?

I’m looking to reach out to two groups of women. First: young women between the ages of 18 – 45 years old who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer based upon a family history, previous cancer diagnosis or genetic predisposition. Second: any other young women who are interested in being proactive with their health and helping us turn Cleveland Bright Pink. Because all women have at least a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer, the Bright Pink message of being proactive is universal to all young women.

Anyone interested in participating in an experiential outreach, learning about our Breast and Ovarian Health seminars or just volunteering with us, should contact us at Cleveland@bebrightpink.org

Image Source – facebook.com

Much thanks to Betsy for sharing her story! Hopefully you all are as inspired as I am and will be helping to turn Cleveland Bright Pink!

Why? Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week!

***A bit of blogkeeping: I guest posted yesterday over on the Lake County Visitor’s Bureau blog. Check it out!***

Now through Sunday, March 3, downtown Cleveland restaurants are participating in Restaurant Week, with 3-course, $30 dinners and $15 lunch specials. The theme of this year’s Restaurant Week is pierogi power, with lots of restaurants offering variations on this Cleveland classic food as part of their menu.

I love pierogi so much, I turned into one

The Downtown Cleveland Alliance held a spirited kickoff to Restaurant Week called “Go Fourth and Polka” last Friday at The Corner Alley. There were pierogi to both eat and pose with and DJ Kishka spinning polkas straight from the vinyl records.

“Go Fourth and Polka” was so much of what I love about Cleveland – fun people, great food, fabulous location, and love for tradition and heritage – all in one place! A perfect start to Restaurant Week!

Last night, Matthew and I met up with friends Kendra and Matt to take advantage of a Restaurant Week dinner at Black Dog Kitchen and Bar before the Cavs game. Even without Restaurant Week, Black Dog is a great place to stop before a game. A large portion of their craft beer list is only $3 during happy hour, including beers like Great Lakes Blackout Stout and Thirsty Dog Siberian Night.

I started my meal with the lobster pierogi.

A flaky, pasty-dough shell was stuffed with lobster and marscapone cheese and topped with a mango and pineapple salsa. Definitely a unique and tasty take on the pierogi!

For my entree, I chose the Dr. Pepper braised short rib.

The short rib was tender and juicy and I could definitely taste the Dr. Pepper in the sauce. However, I was disappointed with it being served over rice. While I like rice, a mashed root vegetable would have paired better with the hearty short rib.

For dessert, I chose the lemon curd shooter, which was a light and fresh lemon custard. Matthew chose the cupcake pops, which tuned into simply dog-bone-shaped cupcakes.

The cupcakes had an interesting smokiness (bacon, perhaps?) and were a good representation of Black Dog in general: tasty food that doesn’t take itself too seriously. What’s not to like about that?!

Get out and take advantage of Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week before Sunday, March 3! For a full list of participating restaurants, menus, a $2 parking voucher, and to make reservations, click here.

And if you need more 3-course dining deals, Cleveland Independents Restaurant Week kicks off Monday, March 4 and goes through Saturday, March 16 with $33 prix fixe menus. Click here for more information.

Where have you eaten for Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week?

***Disclosure: I was invited by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance to attend “Go Fourth and Polka.” I received a SWAG bag with a complimentary drink ticket, the book “New to Cleveland,” and a Restaurant Week t-shirt and magnet. 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? Weekends!

It was a busy weekend in the CLE! I managed to fit in lots of fun and a bit of relaxation, too. It’s all about balance, right?

On Friday evening, I headed back to my first and still favorite yoga studio, Nishkama Yoga, for their open house. This was a laid back evening of checking out the studio and chatting with teachers, without having to bust into Utkatasana (although I think Mel was holding herself back from making us do it).

There was food from Momocho and Aladdin’s Eatery, giveaways and prizes from Vertical Runner, Heinen’s, Athleta, and more, and live music from Brandon of FireSide Symphony.

It’s always nice to see businesses in the community support each other!

From there, I met up with Matthew for our first Lake Erie Monsters hockey game.

As this was my first hockey game ever, I was disappointed to only see one fight and only get to hear the Monsters’ goal foghorn once. Step it up next time, guys (just kidding)!

But if you’re looking for an entertaining and affordable sporting event, the Monsters are seriously a great option! Our tickets were reasonably-priced, plus it was dollar-dog-and-soda night.The Monsters have some fun events coming up, including Hockey & Heels on Tuesday, February 19, which is a ladies’ night with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, shopping, prizes, and chances to meet the Monsters’ coaches and players. Tickets are $30 and benefit the Monsters’ Community Fund. Beyond that, click here to check out the rest of the promotional game schedule.

On Saturday, after getting a little yoga (and not just a little guacamole) on at a studio, Matthew and I headed to the Great Big Home and Garden Show at the I-X Center. We met up with Alicia, Hans, and PIP Mom.

Some of our favorite things to see at the Show were the Gardens, themed on U.S. monuments and bringing a bit of spring in the midst of the snow, the Loretta Paganini Cooking Stage, and the Idea Home. Matthew also spent time chatting with various roofers, as that’s a project we’ll be undertaking in the spring.

The Great Big Home and Garden Show runs every day through Sunday, February 10. Tickets are $14 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. You can purchase tickets online, which saves you $3 off the admission price, and also use discount code WHYCLE to save an additional $1. Whether you’re a DIY master, a foodie, or a green thumb, you’ll find something for you at the Show. Check it out!

Super Bowl Sunday was celebrated at our friends Beth and Enzo’s house, with plenty of food and commercial-and-halftime-watching. My contribution to the party was Cookie Dough Dip, which was pretty darn tasty. We also enjoyed Enzo’s wings and lots more yummy treats.

But the stars of the party were the Super Bowl ads and the amazing performances by Jennifer Hudson with the children from Sandy Hook, Alicia Keys, and Beyonce. There were a lot of feel-good, heartwarming ads, with favorites among us being Coca Cola’s hidden camera ad, Oprah’s Jeep ad, and this gem from Volkswagen.

That’s gotta get you smiling on a Monday morning! How was your weekend, CLE? Did you watch the game, the commercials, or just the Twitter feed?

***Disclosure: I was asked by the Great Big Home and Garden Show to help promote the event. In exchange, I received two complimentary tickets. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? Upcoming Events!

***A bit of blogkeeping: Have you entered to win 2 tickets to the Great Big Home and Garden Show? Check it out! Remember, you can tweet daily for more entries.

Also, I’m starting as a monthly guest blogger for the Lake County Visitor’s Bureau. You can check out my first post today by clicking here.***

Where did January go? I can’t believe how fast this year has kicked off. Probably because there’s so much to keep busy with, like these great upcoming events:

16th Annual Red and White on Thursday Night

Thursday, January 31 at 5:30pm

Quaker Station at the Quaker Square Inn

Image Source – eventbrite.com

The Arthritis Foundation, Great Lakes Region is hosting this annual fundraiser. Stroll around while you sip wine and nibble delicious bites. There will also be raffles and silent and live auctions. Tickets are $85 in advance, $95 at the door, and $125 for VIP, which includes a special wine tasting. Click here to purchase tickets.

4th Annual Pancake Barkfeast

Saturday, February 2 at 8am

Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ

Image Source – secondhandmutts.org

Join Secondhand Mutts, a rescue and adoption organization, for a tasty breakfast and help raise money for treatment of heart worm-positive dogs. There will be buttermilk and chocolate chip pancakes, bacon and sausage, orange juice and coffee. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. Click here for more information (at that link, you can also find out about the Smooches for Pooches Bowl-a-Thon on Friday, February 15).

Dinner in the Dark

Monday, February 4 at 6pm

The Q

Image Source – dinnerinthedarkcleveland.com

Dinner in the Dark is a way to tap into both your culinary adventurous side and your philanthropic side. A group of six local chefs create a meal and you only find out what’s being served as each course appears. It’s a chance for these chefs to have some fun and for you to taste some interesting dishes, all to benefit a local charity. Tickets are $87 and can be purchased by clicking here.

10th Annual Orchid Mania

Tuesday, February 5 – Sunday, March 10

Cleveland Botanical Garden

Image Source – cbgarden.org

If the grey and gloom are starting to get to you, then head over to the warmth and beauty of the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Orchid Mania will feature more than 100 varieties of orchids on display. New for this year, check out “Orchids After Dark” every Wednesday and Friday until 9pm, with cocktails, chocolates, and exclusive tours. Tickets for Orchid Mania are $9.50. Click here for more information.

Cupid’s Undie Run

Saturday, February 16 at 12pm

Tremont

Image Source – cupidsundierun.com

Cupid’s Undie Run is a one-mile-”ish” run in your skivvies, with a pre- and post-run party at The South Side. Registration is $25 and there are awesome incentives for fundraising levels, including VIP Open Bar access for raising $150. You think you’re brave? Brave enough to run for a mile through Tremont in February in your undies? Even if you’re that brave, you’ve got nothing on the children helped by The Children’s Tumor Foundation, the beneficiary of all funds raised by Cupid’s Undie Run.

Brite Winter 2013

Saturday, February 16, starting at 4pm

Ohio City Market District

Image Source – britewinter.com

It’s the fourth annual Brite Winter festival, combining art, music, games, snow and fun. 48 different bands are scheduled to perform on various outdoor stages throughout the Market District. This year’s theme centers around light and fire, so there will be amazingly-lit art installations to check out, as well as some fun games to let the kid in you come out to play in the snow. Admission is free.

Winter Warmer 2013

Saturday, February 23 at 2pm

Windows on the River

Image Source – eventbrite.com

Join the Ohio Craft Brewers Association for the 7th annual Winter Warmer event. There will be lots of Ohio craft breweries with samples of winter, limited-edition beers, as well as live blues music from Austin Walkin’ Cane. Tickets are $35 and include 20 tasting tickets and 1 deli lunch ticket. Click here to purchase tickets.

***Disclosure: I was asked by the Arthritis Foundation to help promote Red and White on Thursday Night. In exchange, I was offered 2 VIP tickets, but declined due to scheduling issues.***