{May 21, 2013}
  Martins Deli

Morning everybody. Surviving this humidity patch okay? Looks like they say the weekend will cool off in the high 60′s low 70′s…perfect for planting flower, yard work, cleaning out the garage as well as a long bike ride/bar hop and picnics with good friends. Can you tell I have lots planned for the three days off?

Today I just wanted everyone to know about Martin’s Deli in Rocky River…in case you’ve never been in there. It’s a little deli that sits off of Detroit Rd near the high school field. The other day when I was prepping for a road trip so I stopped in to pickup a handful of made to order deli sandwiches and some snacks but to my surprise found a wonderful wine shop as well.

Such assortment, very helpful staff and even a row of chilled wines…perfect for the last minute summer party. If you’ve never been into Martin’s plan to swing in this weekend for some picnic supplies… and when the Heinen’s parking lot looks just too much to bear you can get your malbec fix just up the street! :) Happy Tuesday everybody.

 

Posted on May 21, 2013 by charity
Posted in eat, explore, food, shop, shopping, wine | Tagged | Leave a comment

{May 20, 2013}
  Our vibrant hometown!

Morning & happy Monday everybody. Hope you had a great weekend and are gearing up for the ultimate summer kick off, Memorial Day weekend. Let the countdown begin!

I was out of town over the weekend in our sister city of Detroit. Wow, there are some CRAZY drivers up their in MI…but the fact that they have a new IKEA makes it very attractive for a weekend visit. Usually we visit the Pittsburgh location, but due to a family event we stopped into that one and let me just say SO MUCH BETTER! Newer store, furniture-pick-up all in one place, more product stock and overall lighter and brighter. Highly recommend.

Now, onto today’s quick post…did you see the new Sherwin Williams billboard on the side of their Prospect Ave headquarters? A partnership between area ad agency Adcom and artists GV Art + Design this vibrant mural represents all of our city’s prominent landmarks. It is a great visual celebration of our city, THANKS SW for investing in our city, we are lucky to have you as a strong Cleveland business.

The new banner features the following landmarks and icons…

• Terminal Tower
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
• Quicken Loans Arena
• Main Avenue Bridge
• Progressive Field
• Fountain of Eternal Life, also known as the War Memorial Fountain
• West Side Market
• Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse
• Goodtime III
• Global Center for Health and Innovation
• FirstEnergy Stadium, Home of the Cleveland Browns
• Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Bridge #463
• Key Tower
• Guardians of Traffic on the Hope Memorial Bridge
• Wind Turbine
• Veterans Memorial Bridge, also known as the Detroit Superior Bridge
• Lolly the Trolley 
 

Have a great Monday everyone, looking forward to a hot holiday countdown week!

Posted on May 20, 2013 by charity
Posted in art, artists, arts, business, downtown, local, love | Tagged , | 1 Comment

{May 15, 2013}
  giveaway : Ohio City Home Tour Tickets

It’s Wednesday folks and that means we are halfway to the weekend…hip hip horray! Lots of fun happenings on the books for this weekend? It’s supposed to be a stunning weekend weather wise.

One thing going on around town this weekend is the annual Ohio City Home Tour. The trolley tour consists of six historical, chic, unique designed home of the OC. You can choose to take Lolley the Trolley around while exploring the neighborhood or wander on foot to discover small details you may have overlooked if by car. It really is a wonderful late morning/afternoon Sunday happening. Pair it with a bubbly brunch at Market Garden, Flying Fig or Le Petit Triangle (get a reservation now!) and your are in for a sure Sunday funday!

Want to win a pack of FOUR tickets to the home tour for you and 3 friends? Tweet me @iheartclev and let me know you want the 4pack to Sunday’s @ohiocitytweets home tour. Winner to be announced Friday, plenty of tie to make a brunch reservation! If you don’t want to wait, get your tickets TODAY here! Good luck.

Also, the winners of last weeks promotion @PatCatans, @Prizm_stores for the 2; $50 gift cards are @KellyBrouse (can’t wait to see some new comics!) and @McCarthyGarland (for your summer garden sign!) Congrats you two and thanks for playing! email me at editor@iheartcleveland.com with your mailing details and we will get those gift cards out to you…Let the crafting begin!

Posted on May 15, 2013 by charity
Posted in explore, giveaway, historic, home, homes, tour | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

{May 14, 2013}
  lilacs & healthy living!

Good morning! While it is super chilly, and I couldn’t bring myself to wear tights anymore, I sit here with goosebumps awaiting the weeks warmer temps. How aout you guys, did anyone bust out their winterwear this morning? Smart!

One of the things that I LOVE about this time of year are all the amazing flowering trees we have in Northeast Ohio…especially lilacs. The white ones are my favorites, then the super dark purple ones and I would never turn away a bundle of the simple everyday light lavender hue as well.

MORE! →

Posted on May 14, 2013 by charity
Posted in amazing, benefit, bike, community, event, events, flowers, local, love, outdoor, outdoors, race, seasonal, seasons | Leave a comment

{May 13, 2013}
  Cocktail time!

Hey friends, happy sunny Monday to you! Did everyone have a nice weekend? Did you shower the Mom’s in your life with lots of love and special somethings?

It was a busy weekend for me including drinks at Luxe followed by a late showing of Gatsby, a trip to PA to hit up IKEA  and purchasing gobs of tile for our home remodel project, yoga at the new uptown Cleveland Yoga and to top off the night a smidgen of menchies! 

On the way to IKEA I was lucky enough to be a passenger and get through a stack of magazines that were on my weekend to-do list. I love tearing out reference, inspiration, things to buy…you know like old fashioned pinterest! One of the things that caught my eye was the Cleveland Independents Bartender Competition…while I may have missed the first one I am gonna try my darndest to get out, support these local celebrity’s and “sample” a few of their best creations.  Check out who is actually competing here.

Enjoy the sunshine and get psyched as it looks like the summer temps will be back later this week. Peace out!

Posted on May 13, 2013 by charity
Posted in bar, community, creative | 1 Comment

{May 10, 2013}
  family : Happy Mother’s Day

Hey CLE, It’s FRIDAY! My first full week of work after returning from vacation. It totally flew by but I have to admit, I’m ready for two free days of summer at home. Just a few things, tonight the monthly Tremont Art Walk and it looks to have great weather for it, go check it out. Another thing to note is while Great Gatsy hasn’t gotten totally stellar reviews, it is out and I really want to see it this weekend. Plus, to all the Moms out there, Sunday is YOUR day so whoop it up and enjoy a day with your family or totally just for yourself. Happy Mother’s Day!

Now, onto my friend, “i heart cleveland families” as she offers a few tips from her perspective with regards to the weekend holiday. Happy weekend everybody!

“Hello CLE! What incredible weather we are having! And it looks like Mother’s Day on Sunday will be equally shiny and bright. I want to extend a big shout out to all you fabulous moms! You work hard, and deserve a beautiful day.

Many of my friends prefer going out to brunch or dinner, and after perusing some of the fabulous CLE eateries websites, almost all had a Mother’s Day offering. Some other friends prefer planting flowers on their day and right now the garden centers are bursting with color. Petitti’s Garden Centers never disappoints, and I recently came home from Dean’s Greenhouse in Westlake with this little gem. A succulent arrangement that’s almost impossible to kill :)  MORE! →

Posted on May 10, 2013 by charity
Posted in families, family, holiday, holidays | Leave a comment

{May 9, 2013}
  Chillin’

Hey guys, did you know it’s supposed to reach almost 74 degree’s today? Crazy nice summer weather but it might just be time to click on that AC to keep your home and ride chill…

This is another shot from by cruise down Superior Ave the other evening, the hand lettering and bold colors pulled me in. Made me wonder about who designed that sign and the Clevelanders who painted it…because it’s awesome. As a designer I tend to gravitate towards modern, clean and simple signs and such. However with this sign the retro charm, the funky type and the no fuss design is super impressive, i heart it. Next time you need an expert air conditioning service, you should totally take a ride Brunkow’s…if nothing else than to check out the sign! Keep cool Cleveland, and GO TRIBE!

Posted on May 9, 2013 by charity
Posted in adventure, cleveland, creative, design, photo, signage | 1 Comment

{May 8, 2013}
  Superior Art!

Hey CLE! Have you entered the giveaway for a $50 gift card to Pat Catan’s/Prizm Art Supplies Store? If you haven’t no worries, you still have time! Enter NOW!

Yesterday I was driving down Superior probably around the 40′s somewhere and I spotted this incredible wall mural. The colors were awesome against the gray stone wall, the organic nature of the abstract floral shapes seemed to dance in the sunshine. I had to pull over and snap a few shots to share. MORE! →

Posted on May 8, 2013 by charity
Posted in art, artists, arts, artwork, good deed, grafitti, public, public art | Tagged | Leave a comment

{May 7, 2013}
  giveaway : Art Supplies from Pat Catans

Good morning CLE and happy Tuesday to ya!

Many of you might know this about me but I am a total art geek. Thanks to my Mom, I spent my childhood growing up with a craft box under my bed. My Saturday mornings were spent in painting classes with other “free spirit”kids and by the time I reached college I was attending gallery openings in my down time, hanging out in the painting lofts of fellow art school students and taking extra credits in anything from silk screen to stained glass. As a professional graphic designer I feel lucky each day that I get to create visual inspiration for a living. MORE! →

Posted on May 7, 2013 by charity
Posted in art, artists, arts, artwork, design, giveaway, local, shopping, store, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 9 Comments

{May 6, 2013}
  Aloha!

Good Monday morning to you CLE! Sorry to be MIA for a few days as I took last week off to holiday in the Hawaian Islands with family and friends. It was like nothing I have ever experienced before, surf lessons, lots of tropical drinks, hula, beach, hiking, sun, super fine sand, turtles, tiki, morimoto, early to bed, early to rise, lagoons and lots of hot sun! It was a tropical paradise.

Upon my return, I noted my westside lawn had grown a foot, the trees were all a bloom and so many Clevelanders were out and about on bikes, nestled in convertibles and enjoying the warm temps! It was like I had brought tropical paradise back in my carry on.

It was great to get away, to make time to think creatively, to dream, to plan new initiativites, to laugh a ton, to get tan (even with my 50SPF everywhere, my italian genes never disappoint) to try new food and to give yourself  new perspective on home and your day to day. Do you have any getaways planned for summer? A weekend camping trip? A long weekend at our “islands?” Perhaps a day trip down south to explore Amish country? Pencil in a weekend or two, grab your friends and make sure to schedule some time to see things from a different perspective, I promise it to be a good time!

A few things I didn’t touch base on while I was away…@melissahigey from yarnovercleveland was the winner of the @GVartwork t-shirt. Congrats Melissa!

Another thing to note is that tickets to this years Cleveland Museum of Art, Summer Solstice event goes on sale TODAY, Monday May 6th. Don’t miss out, grab your tickets today!

And last but certainly not least…to celebrate yesterday’s Cinco De Mayo, the new Lakewood location of Barrio opened! more tacos in Lakewood, get pyched!  Also, don’t know if they still have any on the shelves, but I heard that the chocolate covered tortilla chips by Malley’s and Momocho’s was a big hit. Check them out.

“Mahalo!”

Posted on May 6, 2013 by charity
Posted in 1-tank trip, adventure, amazing, road trip, seasonal, seasons, smile, vacation | Tagged , | 1 Comment