Category Archives: business

{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

{Apr 23, 2013}
  Giveaway : GV Art & Design T-shirt

Happy Tuesday yall. Fun stuff today at “iheart” the guys of GV Art & Design have offered one lucky reader one of their stylish and well-designed CLE shirts.

I picked out a few of my favorites to share and show today. From all the non-sensical weather we’ve been having, to celebrating Superman to a chic “lovely” shirt, these three are just a sampling of all their great work.  You can see them all at their online store here. 

To win one of their t-shirts tweet me (@iheartclev) which @gvartwork shirt you would proudly wear. (ex : @iheartclev, I heart the “Totem Pole” tee made by @gvartwork!) Winner will be drawn on April 30th. Good luck to you.

Posted on April 23, 2013 by charity
Posted in business, cleveland, clothes, creative, giveaway, shop, shopping, Uncategorized | Tagged | 5 Comments

{Apr 14, 2011}
  Gotta Groove Records & Record Store Day

So, last year I was craving the tunes of my childhood past, the sound of the needle as it hit the vinyl, the small nuances of melody and harmony as the blended together on the turntable…I wanted a record player!

After some vintage store scouring and lots of online shops I settled on a small portable number that calls my dining room bar cart home. The sounds of vintage and new vinyl music can warm up any dinner conversation.

Well, knowing that this Saturday is National Record Store Day, I set out to see what was going on in Cleveland for the celebration. Not only did I find a wonderful list of all the record stores in Cleveland, I also stumbled upon an actual vinyl record manufacturer, right here in Cleveland!With that, I called Vince at Gotta Groove Records about coming in for a tour.

A lawyer by trade, Vince founded this business out of passion for vinyl records. His love of music and his knowledge that vinyl was “making a comeback” made the transition from attorney to small business owner a fun challenge.

“All of our equipment was sourced from another manufacturer that was closing in New Jersey” explained Vince. After bringing the retro album-making equipment the Gotta Groove team brought in a master record maker to teach them things like how to physically run the presses, tweak the sound, check for imperfections in the records and other small nuances important to the trade.

Q : How many grooves are there on a vinyl record?
A : 1 groove on each side, so 2! (most people think each song is a groove, not so.)

Q : How is the sticker applied to the center of the vinyl album?
A : It is actually heat pressed into the vinyl record during production (most people think it is a sticker that is applied at the end of the process)

Q : “What is the most bizarre record manufacturing request you’ve ever encountered?”
A : “We once were asked to place ashes into a special edition album, come to find out it they were ashes from a German Bible from the 1800′s, overall those records didn’t sound the best”

Thanks to Vince and the rest of the team at Gotta Groove for showing us around the plant and for all the great record facts and stories. If you are ever in the mood for a tour, Vince is a stellar tour guide and welcomes interest in his music making manufacturing passion.

So this weekend, get out your record players and celebrate National Record Store Day…Go Vinyl!

Posted on April 14, 2011 by charity
Posted in artists, business, celebrate, event, events, explore, holiday, holidays, music, tour, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

{Apr 7, 2011}
  American Greetings to stay

Almost a month has passed and I’m not sure if I even recognized the big announcement…that Northeast Ohio creative conglomerate, American Greetings has agreed to keep their location in the Cleveland vicinity!

Now all you card loving, lettering and illustration experts, pattern and photography artists can rest at peace for awhile knowing you won’t have to relocate. Thank goodness as I have a handful of good “AG” pals I would hate to see leave. THANK GOODNESS!

Another thing…a little birdie told me the AG Spring Show is scheduled for Friday, April 15th. So call you AG-best-ies to inquire about the private event, who, what, where and when’s! It’s a really neat art show showcasing many of AG’s talents. Hope to see you there!

Posted on April 7, 2011 by charity
Posted in art, artists, business, local, neighborhood, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

{Mar 16, 2011}
  Stash Style 50% off SALE

It with mixed emotions that I write this post. My dear friend is closing her fabulous mecca of home accessories and unique furniture finds Stash Style in Chagrin Falls. The antique store and sweet shop has been nestled on Main Street across from the Popcorn Shop for over six years and has decided to move on to bigger and different initiatives.

Finds from her store helped furnish almost every room in my home including a behind the couch table, an outdoor dining set, numerous end tables, vintage linens, vases, frames, the list goes on and on.

This Saturday she is hosting a massive EVERYTHING IN THE STORE IS 50% MOVING SALE. Please go and buy your Stash Style finds or I am sure I will get roped into packing up a box truck and hauling it back to the west side. Though the day is bitter sweet I like to think of it as celebration of one woman’s dream of owning her own store. (We’ve all dreamt it.)

Plans for the future? A large barn sale in Rocky River is in the works for the first weekend in May, pencil it in as I’m sure it will be divine.

Hope to see everyone on Saturday, cheers to new ventures, cheers to change!

Wonderful photography by Rob Drago

Posted on March 16, 2011 by charity
Posted in adventure, business, celebrate, chagrin falls, creative, event, favorites, home, sale, shopping, special, vintage, weekend | 2 Comments

{Dec 22, 2010}
  Day 9 : The Bubble Process

Afternoon my friends. Hows work today? Trying to cram in last minute “to-do’s?” Is your office dead so you use this time to clean out your desks and prep for the new year? (that’s what we did.)

Are you just dying to know about today’s (Day 9) giveaway? Well, wait no more.

Today you are SO lucky to have the opportunity to enter to win the SOLD OUT Cleveland Poster as well as the limited edition concert posters for She & Him and Andrew Bird, designed & illustrated by Cleveland’s (& Brooklyn’s) own, The Bubble Process. (valued at $55)

Founded in 2006, The Bubble Process is the creation of Kent State grads, Sean and Nicholas. Looking for their perfect dream jobs they decided to take matters into their own hands and work on creating artwork that stirred their souls.

A huge food and music enthusiast, Sean was kind enough to answer a few questions for me. Thanks Sean!

IHC : “If you could design an album cover for ANY band, who would it be and why?”

BP : “DEVO for sure! They are definitely one of our favorite bands. There is so much creativity within their songs/videos that I wouldn’t really know where to start, but it would be a great time conceptualizing and working on. Plus we are also Kent alums, and we gotta stick together.”

IHC : “What is your best holiday memory?”

BP : “As cheesy as it sounds, it was actually going to Downtown Cleveland to see the lights. I’m not sure I was all that interested in the lights and decorations, but as a kid from the suburbs it was pretty magical to see the city and the buildings close up. I remember laying in the back of the Toyota Minivan Looking up at the tall buildings. It all just seemed so enormous and beautiful.”

IHC : “When you aren’t drawing and designing, what do you love to do in your free time?”

BP : “I really like spending my free time riding my bike around the west side (when weather is permitting of course). I live in Lakewood so Edgewater and the Gordon Square Arts District is just a 3 song ipod ride.”

To enter to win the THREE Bubble Process prints, friend them on facebook and then come back here to let me know! (please include your email, winner will be drawn December 24th)

Posted on December 22, 2010 by charity
Posted in art, artists, business, celebrate, community, cooking, design, illustration, music, Uncategorized | 17 Comments

{Dec 10, 2010}
  Day 4 : Gatherings Kitchen, Supper Club

Wow, happy Friday Cleveland. What a winter week we’ve had. The snow, the traffic, the sparkling winter decorations, it’s all just lovely.

Thank you to everyone who have commented on Day 1, 2 & 3 of the holiday giveaway. Your comments and facebook traffic have been a great way to support these local businesses and for that we are thankful….Now, onto today’s goods…

Have you ever been inspired to stay in with a group of friends on a Friday and cook a feast fit for a king, all while picking up some new culinary tips (knife skills perhaps?) while downing your favorite cocktail or vino?

If you answered YES have you heard of Gatherings Kitchen? A professional culinary kitchen located in a charming storefront in Lakewood, this complete gourmet catering operation is the brainchild of Chefs and fellow entrepreneurs, Ruth and Doug.

While their weekends and most weeks are filled withwriting recipes, shopping for the finest ingredients, teaching aspiring chefs-both young & old(er) new techniques, catering intimate dinner parties, corporate lunches, hosting birthday, anniversary and engagement soirees, Ruth and Doug take time every week for an event near and dear to their hearts called “Supper Club.”

Once a week you have the opportunity to gather together with a group of fellow food enthusiasts to work on a common goal, a Friday night meal. The menus are pre-set monthly and focus around the time of the year or what’s in season. You enter the warm dining room, drop your bags and bottles of wine at the door and let the evening unfold. Everyone is introduced, the menu gets presented and then the individual recipes divided up. Once the cooking begins the sound level in the kitchen gets louder and louder, or perhaps that’s because of the BYOB beverages.

After dinner has been prepped, the Chefs send you into the dining room where all of your creations are then served to you in a formal “going out to dinner” manner. No details unturned, so much food you can’t imagine, so much fun learning about new recipes and new people.

For todays giveaway Gatherings Kitchen would like to offer i heart cleveland readers a pair of “Supper Club” passes (valued at $110). So invite your fellow foodie to enter the contest to increase your chances of winning.

To enter please “Like” Gatherings Kitchen on thier Facebook page and tell us why you would like to attend a Supper Club. Are you looking to learn to make pasta? Are french maccaroons something you’ve been hoping to master (that one would be mine)? Do you like the idea of communal cooking? Why would you like to be part of a weekly Supper Club? (please include your email, winner will be drawn Thursday, December 16th)

On a similar food note, please take the time to read my fellow blogger and friend Cleveland Foodies post about the aspiring program called Veggie U. This national orgainzation gives teachers and students the opportunity to educate and learn more about nutrition, agiriculture, farming and the like. There are 157 participating classrooms in Northeast Ohio and we MUST support this continued leaning. Donate today to this intitiative and have the opportunity to win over $2,000 worth of gift cards to area restaurants, just for donating. It’s a win win for everyone. Winner will be drawn December 23rd, please support this effort.

Posted on December 10, 2010 by charity
Posted in amazing, benefit, blog, business, celebrate, chef, class, deal, donation, eat, eating, entrepreneurs, food, giveaway | 39 Comments

{Dec 7, 2010}
  Day 1 : To Be A Kid Photography

First up on the 12 Days of Giveaways is compliments of the lovely and oh so talented Colleen, owner and photag from To Be A Kid Photography.

Originally from Cleveland, Colleen Chrzanowski spent a handful of years working as a photographer in the big apple. Coming home to Cleveland not only gave her a better sense of life balance, but it also allowed for her to spread her wings and dive into the world of portraiture photography, hence To Be A Kid Photography was born.

With a focus on babies, children and families, her on-location approach allows for the subjects to feel comfortable with Colleen allowing her to capture those everyday special moments.

From the daily routines like a simple lunch or a short walk, to the fresh but more formal set ups each image that Colleen captures is a stunning representation of personality. Her work is unique, casual and calm, not posed or contrived it’s what portraiture of today should be.

With that said To Be A Kid Photography wants to offer iheartcleveland the opportunity to win a 45 minute in-home (greater Cleveland area only please) photography session for up to two kids in the same family along with a high resolution CD containing 10 images for your personal to use. (upgrades such as a longer session, canvas prints, etc available) This giveaway is valued at $150 but could also be put towards a larger opportunity if so inclined.

There is still time to get those adorable photo holiday cards in the mail. Wouldn’t a special shot of your little loved ones be so great on a 2011 New Years card?

To enter to win, visit To Be A Kid, “LIKE” them on facebook, and then come back here and tell us which photo is your favorite and why. (please include your email, winner to be drawn on Friday December 10th, 2010)

Moms…please forward this contest to your other Mom pals. I’d really appreciate it. :)

Posted on December 7, 2010 by charity
Posted in art, art photography, business, contest, event, explore, facebook, families, family, free, love, photo | 25 Comments

{Dec 2, 2010}
  Holiday Saturday.

There is lots to do this weekend in Cleveland.

With only 23 days until Christmas some of us may be pulling out the holiday decorations this weekend, making a gift shopping list, if you are ahead of the curve perhaps you are starting to wrap and bow each gift with care and delight. Myself I need to make a list, check it twice and get wrapping!

If you don’t have a special something from your sweetie, stop by the holiday hot toddy party at the Banyan Tree on Saturday afternoon. I went last year and it was such a wonderful little party complete with cocktails and chocolate dipped strawberries. I bought a handful of unique gifts for my family and some awesome holiday cards as well.

If you are into getting bundled up, put on your matching scarf, mitten and hat set and head out to Ohio City for their Annual Holiday Home Tour. Showcasing the homes on Whitman Avenue, this tour is sure to sell out. I love to see the various, over the top decorations. The residents really put their best feet forward and open their homes to share in the holiday spirit.

The annual Art & Craft Building artist studio sale is also this weekend. I especially LOVE this sale. It’s such a wonderful way to explore the individual creative spaces. I will definitely carve out time for this show. Although I haven’t really purchased much from it, as someone who appreciates great talent, this show is an inspiration!

Don’t forget free yoga at Inner Bliss Yoga all day on Saturday!

Looking to head west? The shops of downtown river are hosting their annual holiday walk from 11-4pm. Merchants including Paper Trails, Mitchell Sotka Antiques, and the Girl Next Door, will offer discounts, prizes, face painting, pet photos with Santa and more!

Then there is a Browns game on Sunday. Find yourself a cozy couch and get writing those holiday cards with McCoy and his crew.

Whatever your weekend plans are…get out and enjoy the chilly Northern Ohio Weather. Any excuse to bundle up is great with me! :)

Posted on December 2, 2010 by charity
Posted in adventure, amazing, antiques, architecture, art, artists, arts, business, celebrate, event, events, shopping, store, support, tour | Leave a comment

{Nov 4, 2009}
  Startup Weekend (11/20-22)

Friday November 20th through Sunday November 22nd, 2009

Have a new business idea? Looking to make a “go” of it? Check this out!

“Startup Weekend” Cleveland is a 54 hour event to help launch a tech company. The goal of the weekend is to allow people with ideas for technology companies to meet up with a team of developers and business people to produce a business plan with a working prototype of the idea by 6:00pm Sunday.

Personally, I think this event is one of the coolest ideas I have seen in a while as the event is ALL ACTION, no talk. The winning team, (as voted on by people all over the country,) is awarded a $5,000 cash prize provided by Microsoft and a free space to start the business. The event will take place at the Idea Center in Downtown Cleveland.

For more information on the schedule, please visit cleveland.startupweekend the event is sure to sell out, so register today!

Posted on November 4, 2009 by charity
Posted in adventure, amazing, business, contest, event, money, technology | Leave a comment