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? Fresh Fork!

***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.***

Our winter Fresh Fork Market share rolls on.

What We Got:

1 whole chicken

1 package frozen green beans or frozen corn

1 package Luna Burgers (2 vegan burgers)

1 quart frozen melon mix – cantaloupe, watermelon

1 quart Velvet View Yogurt

1 block cheese – swiss

1 pint Roasted Heirloom Tomato Sauce

1 lb Whole Wheat Linguini

What We Made:

Potato-Ham Bake (click here for the recipe)

I don’t often make recipes I find on Pinterest (despite pinning a ton of them), so I was excited to try a Pinterest recipe with some of our leftover holiday ham. This was a tasty, easy weeknight casserole, plus I just love anything with asparagus. I substituted light garlic-herb Boursin cheese for the cream cheese called for in the recipe.

Ham, Apple, and Cheese Pie

This is a recipe that Matthew’s mom would make with leftover holiday ham (we had a lot of that this year). It’s simply chunks of ham, apples, and Swiss cheese, with a bit of flour for thickening, baked in pie crust. Easy, straightforward, salty and sweet: it was delicious!

Potato Kohlrabi Soup with Italian Sausage (click here for the recipe)

We often turn our Fresh Fork ingredients into soup and this one was pretty tasty, although I’d like to thicken the broth more next time. This soup has potatoes, kohlrabi, onions, garlic, red pepper, sausage (we used leftover kielbasi), and pancetta (more leftover ham).

Kathy’s Delicious Slow Cooker Chicken (click here for the recipe)

I love throwing a whole chicken in the slow cooker in the morning and coming home to a delicious dinner after work! This recipe seasoned the chicken with a lot of Asian flavors (soy sauce, sesame oil, etc.), so I served the chicken over saffron rice. I added some Fresh Fork carrots we had frozen to the slow cooker as well.

Now that spring is here, I’m looking forward to more vegetables and lightening up the meals a bit more. How about you?

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? Cancun!

***A bit of blogkeeping: Check out my monthly guest post on the Lake County Visitor’s Bureau blog!***

Every once in awhile, even an ardent Cleveland-lover needs a little break, especially when the weather doesn’t want to seem to provide one of it’s own. Matthew, my parents, and I just got back from an all-too-quick trip to Secrets Silversands resort in Mexico.

View from Matthew’s and my balcony

One of the things I love most about Matthew is how well we travel together. When we had been dating only a month, I spent a weekend with Matthew and some of his extended family in Virginia Beach. That trip kind of sealed our dating fate and, since then, I’ve loved exploring new places with Matthew.

We did a little of everything and a lot of nothing while on this trip.

Mom, Matthew, and I spent a luxurious morning at the Secrets Silversands’ Spa. Mom and I got body wraps (Water Lily for her, Chocolate for me) and Matthew got a massage. After that, we were able to take advantage of the Spa’s awesome relaxation pool.

From pampering my body to working in time for morning yoga class, this vacation provided balance between indulgence and healthiness.

Speaking of indulgence, our resort had some great restaurants, with a lot of different themes from French to Pan-Asian to Italian.

A favorite indulgence of ours was to grab a nightcap of the Mexican coffee served flaming hot and with quite the theatrics in the lobby bar.

We also went to one of our favorite restaurants in Mexico: Lorenzillo’s. Known for their amazing lobster, with over 20 different preparations, Lorenzillo’s is always a favorite vacation stop.

On our last full day in Cancun, Matthew surprised me by signing us up to swim with the dolphins at Delphinus World. This was a definite bucket list item check-off for me! We got an hour in the pool with the dolphins, doing everything from petting them to learning hand signals to getting pushed across the pool by the beautiful creatures. It was an amazing experience!

All in all, it was a perfect vacation, with time for family and time for just Matthew and me.

I even finished an entire novel in the four days! As happy as I am in CLE, Cancun provided just the right time out to relax and reset.

Where do you love to vacation?

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? B. Lux Boutique!

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a girly girl. I love to shop and I love spending time with my girlfriends. So, when I found out that I could do both those things without even leaving my house, I was pretty excited. Last night, B. Lux Boutique in Hudson brought a plethora of fabulous clothes and accessories over for an in-home fashion party.

What could be better than sitting on your couch with your friends, sipping wine, and hands-on shopping at the same time?

Owners Michelle and Lia were just generally amazing from setting up their wares to bringing champagne to talking fashion. Anyone who shows up at my house with sparkles and bubbly is welcome! We had a great sample of the items in the B. Lux Boutique store to peruse and try on.

Plus, all of the pretty clothes and accessories are really affordable. I got all this:

plus a pair of fleece-lined yoga pants for under $200. Yup, I said fleece-lined yoga pants. Let the wonder of those marinate for a minute.

Ready? OK. Want to check out all the fashionable and surprisingly affordable fashion that B. Lux Boutique has to offer? Head down to Hudson, have them ship you whatever your heart desires (for free!), or contact B. Lux Boutique to arrange your own in-home party. Even better: You can enter here to win a $25 gift card to spend at B. Lux Boutique!

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

1. Leave a comment telling me what item you most want to add to your wardrobe for spring. Check out B. Lux Boutique‘s Facebook page for some inspiration.

2. Tweet the following phrase and leave a comment letting me know you tweeted: I want to spruce up my wardrobe for spring by winning $25 to B. Lux Boutique from @WhyCLE: http://wp.me/p1fb9r-1k1

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

The giveaway will close on Monday, March 4 at 11:59pm and the winner will be announced the following day. Good luck!

***Disclosure: I was asked by B. Lux Boutique if I would be interested in hosting an in-home party. In exchange for hosting and blogging about the party, I received a $50 gift card for myself and a $25 gift card to give away. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? Five Things This Friday!

It’s been a long week, CLE and finally the promise of the weekend and beautiful weather seems to be here. So, let’s keep it light and breezy with Five Things This Friday!

1. You’ve probably already seen it, but it bears repeating. Check out Michael Symon’s awesome love letter to the city of Cleveland. As a two-time boomerang, so much of this rang especially true for me!

Image Source – cleveland.com

2. Looking for something fun and inexpensive for your Friday night? Check out the FiveOne Experimental Orchestra tonight (May 18) at 8:30pm at The Sculpture Center on East 123rd Street. They will be performing “Like She Said, Everything’s Fine,” a psychoacoustic piece. Admission is only $3!

3. Mondays suck, but free cookies make even Mondays better! This Monday, May 21 the DoubleTree by Hilton “Little Things Project” is coming to Willard Park from 11am-5pm. There will be free cookies, free wi-fi, a laptop/cell phone charging station, and deals to CLE attractions.

There will also be a DoubleTree “Swarm Car” delivering requested little things to lucky folks who tweet to @doubletree using the hashtag #littlethings.

4. Tuesday, May 22, Pier W is hosting a Mad Men happy hour. Aside from the normal fabulous happy hour deals, there will be giveaways and prizes for the best dressed. So break out your 60′s attire and head on over! For more info, click here.

5. Tomorrow is my Bachelorette Party! Woo-hoo! I encourage you to take my tweets and Facebook posts tomorrow with this information in mind.

Image Source – umbrellagrouplv.com

What are your Five Things This Friday?

***Disclosure: I was asked by DoubleTree to help promote the Little Things event. In exchange, I was invited to ride along in the Swarm Car, but declined due to scheduling conflicts. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Why? Cleveland Marathon Weekend!

This weekend, the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon is taking over the streets of our city. Good luck to all the runners and congrats on making it through your training!

Image Source – my.clevelandclinic.org

So, what if you’re not a runner? Or, like me, you tried running and figured out that if you’re not being chased, you don’t really want to do it…

The weather is supposed to be fantastic and there are plenty of ways to participate in the excitement of Cleveland Marathon weekend!

Cheer!

There are lots of great spots to watch the runners do their thing. Here’s a list! Make a sign, show some love, give out high fives, and just generally encourage these awesome people.

Image Source – ncpreventionpartners.org

There will also be entertainment along the course, with everything from high school bands to jazz to rock to a dance party to John Adams, the Indians drummer.

Eat and Drink and Play!

If all that cheering makes you want to refuel, plenty of Cleveland restaurants will be open to serve you and the famished runners. Last year, Matthew and I had brunch at Latitude 41N right around the time the race finished up. It was packed with medal-wearers, their friends and family, and other spectators.

From Latitude 41N to Luxe to XYZ the Tavern to Sweet Moses, Gordon Square offers some great options for race day munchies.

As the runners make their way through Ohio City, you can be enjoying brunch at SOHO Cleveland, Market Garden Brewery, or Heck’s Cafe.

Also, you may have heard a little something about the brand new Horseshoe Casino, which will be open all day. Who needs to win a marathon when you can win at the slots?!

Image Source – multivu.com

Congrats and go get ‘em to all the runners! Whether you’re running the half or full marathon on Sunday or the 5K on Saturday, you deserve mad respect for your effort and dedication. And to all the spectators, friends, and proud Clevelanders, get out there and have some fun with a great event happening in our town!

Why? Weekends, Part I!

Hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend! Since it was so nice, Friday seemed the perfect night for patio time at Momocho. I had three of my favorite Momocho menu items: the spicy mango margarita, the corn and crab guacamole, and the duck taquitos with pomegranate barbacoa. Delicious!

While we were sipping and dipping, my friend Chrissy asked me if I would be a bridesmaid in her wedding in June 2013. I was so honored and of course immediately accepted! I also had to tell Chrissy that Momocho has a history with me and bridesmaids…my friend Beth asked me to be one of her Maids of Honor there and I asked Beth to be one of my bridesmaids at Momocho as well. Maybe it’s something they put in the margaritas?!

On Sunday, it was time to celebrate Mom. The whole family went out to dinner at Salmon Dave’s. The restaurant is known for its fresh seafood and fish. We started with sharing the seared ahi tuna appetizer and the calamari appetizer.

Many of the dishes at Salmon Dave’s have an Asian influence. The seared ahi tuna is served with seaweed salad and spicy sticky rice. The calamari came with a delicious Thai peanut sauce.

For our entrees, there was no question what Mom and I wanted: the king crab legs special.

I selected the lobster mashers and steamed asparagus as my sides. I love when seafood is so fresh and tasty that it can just stand on its own and these crab legs certainly did. They were sweet and tender and completely delicious. Everyone else seemed happy with their choices as well, from Maine lobster tail to diver scallops to Alaskan king salmon. For straight-up good, fresh seafood and fish, Salmon Dave’s is a win.

Most importantly, though, we had a wonderful time as a family honoring a very special lady. Cheers, Mom!

Tomorrow, I’ll fill you all in on my and my giveaway winner Amy’s takes on the Fashion Week Cleveland Runway Shows. What did you do to celebrate Mother’s Day? Did you get a chance to take advantage of this lovely patio weather?

Why? Upcoming Events!

It’s a busy time in CLE, with lots of fun upcoming events to fill your days…

International Beer Fest

Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12

I-X Center

Image Source – ixbeerfest.com

The largest beer show in the Midwest is back this weekend at the I-X Center. There will seminars on food and beer pairing, BrewU, a silent disco, and of course plenty of beer! Tickets starts at $45 and can be purchased by clicking here.

For the Love of Latte Art

Saturday, May 12 – 1pm

Tri-C Hospitality Management Center

Image Source – clebrews.com

The Cleveland Brews coffee collective hosts their first annual Latte Art event. There will be classes on milk texturing and latte art. There is also a latte throwdown beginning at 4pm, with celebrity judges Cara Lageson of Yelp Cleveland, Danielle DeBoe of Room Service, and Chef Jonathon Sawyer of The Greenhouse Tavern. Tickets are $5 for the latte showdown, $10 for competitor entry fee, and $20 for classes. Click here for tickets.

Feathers & Fedoras

Thursday, May 17 – 6pm

Saigon Plaza

Step back into the roaring 20′s with a speakeasy-themed event to benefit the May Dugan Center. The May Dugan Center helps bridge the gaps that can occur in community-based programs, providing food, clothing, furniture, and mental health counseling. Feathers & Fedoras benefits this worthy organization with a fun evening, featuring cabaret singer Lounge Kitty, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. Tickets are $60 (or $100 for two) and can be purchased by clicking here.

Silver Spoon Awards Party

Wednesday, May 23 – 6pm

Cleveland Marriott at Key Center

Image Source – twitter.com/silverspooncle

Cleveland Magazine presents the 18th annual Silver Spoon Awards Party, honoring the best in Cleveland cuisine. Sample delicious bites from Silver Spoon Award winners and bid on fabulous prizes in a silent auction. Proceeds benefit the Arthritis Foundation. Tickets are $85 for general admission and $135 for VIP. Click here to purchase tickets.

Emerging Chefs’ Snout to Tail

Thursday, May 24 – 6pm

Dunham Tavern

Emerging Chefs present an urban pig roast with Snout to Tail. Chef Melissa Khoury and special guest Chef Ellis Cooley will present a menu with pork in every course. This is sure to be a tasty and fun evening. Tickets are $65 and can be purchased by clicking here.

Cleveland Indians Fill the House for The Cleveland Foodbank

Tuesday, May 29 – 7:05pm

Progressive Field

Image Source – clevelandfoodbank.org

The Cleveland Foodbank wants you to get out to the ballpark to see our Cleveland Indians take on the Kansas City Royals. Just by doing that, you can help fight hunger in our community. For every ticket sold by The Cleveland Foodbank prior to the game, $5 is donated back to the Foodbank. For every ticket sold on game day, $1 is donated to the Foodbank. Tickets are $27 for Field Box, $19 for Lower Reserved, and $12 for Upper Box. Click here to purchase tickets.

What upcoming events are you looking forward to in May?

***Disclosure: I was invited to attend For the Love of Latte Art with a complimentary spectator pass and declined due to scheduling conflicts. I was also invited to attend Emerging Chefs Snout to Tail with a complimentary media pass. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***