It’s time to bust out the noisemakers and confetti. 2013 is days away from taking its final bow. How are you planning on celebrating New Year’s Eve?

If you don’t have plans yet, try one of these three parties in downtown Cleveland:

Society Lounge’s New Year’s Eve

Scott and I recently made our first trip to Society Lounge on E4th, and as we learned at their Repeal Day party, they know how to throw one classy celebration. Fine cocktails, music, a beautifully nostalgic setting. If you want to reminisce about the past while celebrating the future, join them on December 31. Lounge singer Phil Turk will be performing from 10:30pm to 1:30am, accompanied by a champagne toast at midnight. General tickets are no longer available; however, you can pick up $75 VIP tickets which include your own private table and a bottle of champagne for every two tickets purchased. See the flyer below for more information and call 216-781-9050 for tickets.

New Year’s Eve at Pura Vida

Dinner reservations are available at Public Square’s Pura Vida from 4 til 10pm. After 10, a house party takes over. Party with Pura Vida and enjoy appetizers, an open bar, a DJ, champagne toast at midnight and breakfast buffet at 1am. Tickets are $100 if you have a dinner reservation earlier in the evening ($125 if you aren’t dining before the party). VIP lounges with bottle service and a personal host are also available. Reservations are required; email Katie@puravidabybrandt.com and see their flyer below for more information.

Cleveland Rocks New Year’s Eve on Public Square

Of course, the biggest party in downtown Cleveland will be Cleveland Rocks New Year’s Eve on Public Square. With special guest Drew Carey, Ohio Homecoming will bring more than 15 food trucks, local DJs, and electronic dance music group Krewella to Public Square for this outdoor NYE festival. The event will also feature live ice sculpting, a beer garden, fireworks and a countdown at midnight. This free celebration starts at 6 p.m. on December 31 and leads up to midnight. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will go to Ohio Homecoming’s Village Project. Learn more at www.ohiohomecoming.com (click on ‘Events’).

If you can’t make it downtown for NYE, there are parties going on throughout the Cleveland area. Check out WhyCLE and Anchored in CLE for more New Year’s Eve ideas.

Disclosure: Ohio Homecoming emailed me about blogging about Cleveland Rocks New Year’s Eve after I had already decided to write this post. The choice to blog about these three events is 100% my own.

…Or headed out of town

Celebrating with family…

…And friends…

…Or savoring the peace and quiet of your house…

I hope that it’s a holiday season full of laughter, contemplation,
wonder, and love!

“What in the name of sanity have you got on your head?”
“It’s a fez. I wear a fez now. Fezzes are cool.”
– Doctor Who

Fezzes are cool, and the Smokin’ Fez Monkeys know what’s up with a nod to this humble haberdashery in their name.

When Scott and I first saw the Smokin’ Fez Monkeys at the 2011 Avon Duct Tape Festival, it was love at first listen.

Their mission is “to do to music what the Wienermobile did to the auto, what M.C. Escher did to the third dimension, what Bugs Bunny did to Elmer Fudd.” And they make good on that promise with plenty of wit, tomfoolery, and jazzy-ragtime-jug band music.

Smoky vocals mix with the sounds of the bass, fiddle, banjo, and Jinglestick — resulting in a show that’s a bit like the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

Now, combine the musical hijinks of the Smokin’ Fez Monkeys with the Tremont treasure that is Prosperity Social Club, and you have the makings of a Christmas miracle.

Smokin’ Fez Monkeys (photo from smokinfezmonkeys.com/sights.html)

The Prosperity Social Club will be swinging from 7 til 9pm this Sunday, December 22 for their fourth annual Smokin’ Fez Monkeys Holiday Show.

The Fez Monkeys will play a selection of holiday jingles along with some originals and fan-favorite classics. Meanwhile, Prosperity’s signature beer signs will be replaced with a tinsel explosion of vintage, holiday decor.

As Bonnie Flinner, Prosperity Social Club’s owner, wrote: “Add in some tasty adult spirits, the whimsy of the Smokin’ Fez Monkeys, and you have yourself one heck of a holiday hoedown!”

So take a break on Sunday night from all the stress of holiday shopping, prepping Christmas dinner, and finalizing your travel plans.

Because nothing says Christmas in Cleveland quite like a jug band, some laughs, and Santa with his can of Schlitz.

The show is free, but reservations are recommended (not required). Call Prosperity Social Club at 216-937-1938 to RSVP and visit the Smokin’ Fez Monkeys Holiday Show page for more information.

Christmas at Prosperity Social Club

Disclosure: Prosperity Social Club emailed me a heads up about this free event. The choice to blog about this is 100% my own.

MOCA Cleveland’s holiday shopping event ArtScape

Scott and I spent last Friday at Cleveland’s Museum of Contemporary Art for their annual holiday shopping event ArtScape. The last time we visited MOCA was for a Tri-C JazzFest concert. This time, their versatile lobby was transforrmed into a pop up shop of jewelry and design gifts.

It was a great place to start our holiday shopping with local artisans like Jason Radcliffe’s Forty Four Steel, Brandon Holschuh, Michelle Pajak-Reynolds, and LAM Design Studios.

We also had a chance to look at the museum’s current exhibits, Simon Evans’ Only Words Eaten by Experience and Michelle Grabner’s I Work From Home. We particularly liked Evans’ work, which consisted of small pieces of paper, tape, and white-out compiled into diagrams, maps, flowcharts and diary entries cataloging his day-to-day life.

A section of Simon Evans’ much larger “Shitty Heaven.” This was Scott’s and my favorite piece of the entire exhibit because of notes like ‘Anton Chekhov Who Owns a Steakhouse in Heaven(tm)’

MOCA features many other events throughout December to enjoy the museum’s space and the current exhibits, including Free First Saturdays (Dec. 7), One Hour One Work (Dec. 11), and a concert with Daniel Lippel co-presented by the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society (Dec. 12).

If you missed your chance to start your holiday shopping at ArtScape, though, don’t worry. I have 10 events to help you shop local in November and December.

Check them out and if you have any suggestions of other holiday shopping events, leave a comment below. 

I-X Cleveland Connection, Nov. 22-24

I-X Christmas Connection (Nov. 22-24): A 28-year tradition returns to the I-X Center this weekend, Nov. 22-24. At the I-X Center’s Christmas Connection, 600 booths, including 140 new vendors, will feature plenty of gifts for family and friends, while free gift wrapping and a shop-n-drop make your shopping experience easy. Other highlights include kid-friendly shopping in the Sugar Plum Shoppe, pictures with Santa, holiday window displays, and a Christmas Wine Cellar. You can learn more about the event and buy tickets at ixchristmasconnection.com. 

Collective Upcycle (Grand Opening Party Nov. 22; but open Thursdays through Sundays): The Collective Upcycle Pop-Up celebrates its grand opening at 6202 St. Clair on November 22. From 5-8pm, enjoy live music from Ansambel Dvojčki, local food from Impassioned Baking and Catering, and Slovenian cocktails. Then shop handmade items from area artists – all of whom use recycled and reclaimed materials for their art. RSVP at facebook.com/events/711099568903043 and learn more about the shop’s regular hours at collectiveupcycle.blogspot.com

Cleveland Flea (Nov. 23 and 24): The next Cleveland Flea will take place this Saturday and Sunday at the Slovenian National Home. Part urban treasure hunt, part culinary adventure, part maker center, this month’s Cleveland Flea focuses on vintage and handmade holiday gifts. Find jewelry, art, crafts, clothing, and food from the city’s local talent. You can also register for workshops from a few of the makers at the Flea. More info at theclevelandflea.com

The Cleveland Flea’s Holiday Shopping Event, Nov. 23-24

Made in the 216 (Opening Night Party Nov. 29, Holiday Shoppe open through Dec. 24): Skip the mall on Black Friday and go to R/S Boutique instead for their 6th annual Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe. Apparel, home goods, cards, jewelry and kids gifts, all made in the 216, can be found at the shop between Nov. 29 and Christmas Eve. Their Opening Night party starts at 4pm on Nov. 29 and features music from DJ Peter Pleasurecruise, their very own MADE brew on tap, wine and hot toddy’s, as well as treats from Becca Ritterspach of the newly launched Cleveland Confectionery. Hours and other information for the Holiday Shoppe are available at facebook.com/events/240093742813286.

Winterfest and Cleveland Gift Box (Nov. 30): Kick off the holiday season on Nov. 30 in downtown Cleveland’s Public Square. Winterfest features entertainment and activities all day long, food trucks, free horse-drawn carriage rides, and Public Square’s holiday lighting ceremony and fireworks show. The Winter Wine & Ale Fest takes place after the fireworks and a holiday pop-up shop can be found in the Square from 2-7pm. Other events will take place around downtown including the 5th Street Arcade’s Cleveland Gift Box. From 11am-6pm, peruse a holiday market featuring downtown retailers and pop-up vendors. Check out Winterfest’s schedule and Cleveland Gift Box’s current vendors list.

Pop Up Shaker (starts 11/30; various other dates): Take a short trip to Shaker Heights’ Van Aken District for Pop Up Shaker. Indulge in handcrafted foods by the Cleveland Culinary Launch & Kitchen at Juma Gallery. Learn to make craft jewelry, a crochet necklace, and more when Cleveland Craft Connection teaches DIY classes and hosts a handmade market at Lucy’s Sweet Surrender. And take window-shopping up a notch with Upcycle St. Clair’s Shop the Window event. Upcycle St. Clair will fill a vacant Shaker storefront with gifts that shoppers can purchase by scanning a QR code with their phone. Celebrate Small Business Saturday at Pop Up Shaker’s Nov. 30 opening, or stop by one of the 7 other days they’re open throughout December. Full schedule and vendors list at tackk.com/popupshaker.

Pop Up Shaker, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14 and 15

Holiday CircleFest (Dec. 8): Experience Cleveland’s cultural treasures free of charge at the 20th Annual Holiday CircleFest on December 8. From 1:00-5:30 p.m., more than a dozen of University Circle’s museums, gardens, galleries, churches, and schools will be open for free and offer an afternoon of activities, music, food, fun, and shopping. For instance, experience Glow at the Cleveland Botanical Garden where you’ll find holiday shopping in their Treetop Shop and the Garden Store, as well as beautifully decorated grounds, a hall of trees and gingerbread displays. Read my review of last year’s Glow and learn more about this year’s Holiday CircleFest.

Tremont Holiday BrewHaHa (Dec. 13-15): Celebrate all that’s brewing in the Tremont neighborhood on December 13, 14 and 15 at the Tremont Holiday BrewHaHa. Before Saturday’s Santa Shuffle and the Snow Days concert on Sunday, BrewHaHa kicks off with a Pop Up Shop and Party on Friday, December 13. Lolly The Trolley will provide free transportation throughout the neighborhood as you participate in the Tremont BrewHop and Holiday ArtWalk. The BrewHaHa Holiday PopUp Shop & Party will feature over 25 artisans, music and a cash craft beer bar at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Details for all three BrewHaHa days are available at tremontbrewhaha.com.

Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show (Dec. 15): Head out to Solon on Dec. 15 for the next Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. From 12-5:30pm, this show at the Terry Macklin Entertainment & Event Centre will feature artists, crafters, and a full bar. Admission costs $3 and a portion of proceeds will go to the Northeast Ohio Make-a-Wish Foundation. It’s an excellent way to give back while stocking up on holiday gifts. You will find their full list of upcoming shows at avantgardeshows.com/#!events/cwvn.

Last Minute Market, Dec. 21

Last Minute Market (Dec. 21): I normally don’t advise waiting til the last moment to finish your holiday shopping; however, if you do, you’re in luck with the Last Minute Market and Screw Factory Open Studio on December 21. Over 100 jury-selected artists and craftspeople from Cleveland and the rust belt region will have gifts for sale between 10am and 6pm. In addition, artists whose studios are in Lakewood’s Lake Erie Building will open their doors for a peek at their workspace and an opportunity to purchase their work. More info: lastminutemarket.blogspot.com.

Disclosure: I was invited to attend ArtScape’s preview party, I-X Christmas Connection and the Cleveland Flea sneak peek with a guest. My opinions of these and the other events are 100% my own.

Happy New Year!

Scott’s and my New Year’s Eve was much more subdued than usual as we enjoyed a small gathering over at BEaLittleWeird‘s house with dinner, boardgames and Xbox.

After Cleveland’s a Plum and @LZone‘s HollaDays Party on Sunday (see their awesome New Year’s Baby snowglobe on the left) and a very early wakeup Monday morning, I was in the mood for only a couple glasses of bubbly last night.

The upside to this is that I woke up refreshed and ready for the new year this morning.

It’s a good start especially since readiness is my theme for 2013.

I was recently reading about Ohio EMA’s Resolve 2B Ready 2013 campaign – simple resolutions that incorporate smartphones and other technology into emergency preparedness plans. (Learn more by downloading FEMA’s app or visiting ready.gov/resolve)

Image Source: ready.gov/resolve

It made me consider whether I was ready for what 2013 will bring in all areas of my life. I’m happy to say I at least feel more ready than in years past thanks to spending much of my holiday downtime prepping for a few of my larger goals.

When it comes to my blog, I’ve been planning what new adventures I want to go on.

Sure, 2012 was a blast – chairing Jump Back Ball and an awesome 30th birthday were two highlights I’m particularly grateful for. But I’m ready to throw a few new experiences into the mix.

Last month one of my favorite Cleveland food bloggers Bite Buff asked for recommendations for her 2013 To Dine list — new-to-her restaurants that she’s going to explore throughout the year.

I love Bite Buff’s adventurousness in doing this each year – I’ve tried more than a few new restaurants thanks to her reviews.

And this year I was especially inspired by her call for reader recommendations.

So I’m taking a page out of her book and asking for suggestions on local attractions to clue into.

Although I have a few ideas in mind, I know there are plenty more out there.

If there is a museum, attraction or Cleveland experience I haven’t written about that you think I should, leave a comment or email clueintocleveland (at) gmail (dot) com. 

Nearby roadtrip ideas are also very welcomed.

Thanks for being a part of the last year with me and I hope 2013 brings you joy, success and fulfillment!

Ohio City’s Speakeasy, host to Emerging Chefs’ Naughty Claus event

Christmas came early for Cleveland food-and-drink lovers at last week’s Emerging Chefs Naughty Claus.

Going in, I knew if there was anyone who could break up the monotony of holiday meals, it would be the Emerging Chefs team. And I was not disappointed as they teamed with Chef Adam Lambert from Ohio City’s Bar Cento/Bier Markt/Speakeasy for an evening of Christmas mischief and culinary adventure.

Located beneath Bier Markt, the sultrily-lit prohibition-themed Speakeasy lounge warmly welcomed us from the frigid December night.

Naughty Claus Course 1: Snow Globe on a Half Shell

After settling into a corner booth with Jen and her husband Matthew, we started the meal off with Chef Lambert’s interpretation of a Snow Globe.

Using a classic Christmas Eve ingredient – oysters – as the basis for this dish, Lambert created the illusion of a snow globe by encasing it in a gel-like substance mixed with juniper, tonic and Douglas fir.

Although it was beautiful to look at, I unfortunately found that the consistency and taste of the gel overpowered the oyster too much, leaving only a hint of it.

While the snow globe’s taste wasn’t to my liking, it was paired with a Bijou. Made of gin, vermouth and chartreuse, it had a very potent, evergreen-like flavor. Stirring in a few ice cubes from my water cut the bitter bite and resulted in a nice cocktail for gin lovers.

Naughty Claus Cocktail 2: Milk Punch

This was followed by Lambert’s XXX-Mas Cookies and Milk Punch.

Ladies, next time you’re having a bachelorette party, these *ahem* “mature audiences only” cookies are a delicious alternative to your typical adult treats.

The suggestively-shaped, lightly-flavored cookies were topped with foie gras and whipped chantilly icing and paired with a warmed rum and milk punch.

Honestly, I’m thankful the punch – my favorite drink of the night – came in such a tiny mug. If I didn’t have work early the next morning, I could have curled inside an oversized bowl of it. The dish was a milk-and-cookies combo fitting for a Naughty Santa.

Naughty Claus Course 3: Truffled Arancini “Snow Balls”

The third course was a pair of “Snowballs” – arancini topped with white truffle shavings. The rich, savory interior of these fried rice balls mixed very well with the light breading that coated it – a winner with me and my tablemates.

It was served with truffle-infused Everclear. Although I wasn’t a fan of the cocktail’s heavy truffle flavor on its own, I decided to give it a second try to see how it paired with the arancini.

After taking a bite of the dish, then a sip of the cocktail, I was floored. The original truffle flavoring of the drink had been replaced with an almost fruity flavor.

I know that there are drink and food combinations which complement each other in taste, but this was the first time I ever had the sum of a pairing actually change its parts. I really enjoyed the experimentation this pairing lent itself to.

Naughty Claus Course 4: Who Ham for One

Chef Lambert’s next course was “Who Ham for One,” in which he took traditional Christmas ham and wrapped and cooked it around a chicken bone to replicate the look of the ham in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

To complement the playful presentation, Chef Lambert prepared the meat with clove, cherry and pineapple – full of succulent flavor.

Unfortunately, my allergy to red wine kept me from trying the mulled Sangiovese served with it – but as Jen noted in her WhyCLE recap, it was her favorite of the evening and a perfect fireside sipper.

Naughty Claus Course 5: Kosher Khristmas

The last course of the night was my overall favorite, both in presentation and taste: Chef Lambert’s Kosher Khristmas.

Inspired by A Christmas Story, he served an Asian-style shredded duck with crisp and colorful vegetables. It was presented in – what else – small Chinese take-out boxes.

Enjoy it we did!

The duck was so moist and rich. Like the milk punch, my Christmas wish is for more servings of this dish.

The Kosher Kristmas was paired with a chilled sake sangria – whose slight fruitiness provided a refreshing contrast to the duck and cut down on the meal’s richness.

Chef Lambert didn’t even waste the ham bone, featuring it prominently in Naughty Claus’ Leg Lamp

Regardless of whether you were nice or naughty, Chef Lambert left us all with sweet treats: a bit of coal for our stockings made of bitter fernet hard candy and more of those delicious cookies with a glass of homemade scotch eggnog.

It was an evening of indulgence, to be sure – with plenty of bawdy laughs and misbehaving elves rounding out the night. We even got a visit from Jolly Naughty Ol’ St. Nick bearing gifts courtesy of Ambience.

Missed Naughty Claus? Chef Lambert and his team have put together a delicious New Year’s Eve menu for Bar Cento, located upstairs from Speakeasy. You can view the full menu – along with details on their other Bier Markt, Speakeasy, Market Garden and Nano Brew parties at http://bit.ly/VnHoUE

Disclosure: I was provided one ticket to Naughty Claus in exchange for blogging about the event. The opinions here are my own.

So I may have gotten a little *too* into my first White Elephant Exchange

Merry Christmas!

While I feel like Cleveland is my home 364 days out of the year, Christmas is the one day where things feel a little out of place because our family isn’t here.

Today, for instance, has consisted of a quiet day of Scott and I playing Marvel vs Capcom 3 (I won!), exchanging tidings with our families over the phone, and enjoying the new Doctor Who Christmas special later on.

There are a few upsides to this. We’re able to relax, plus not being with everyone on Christmas Day has given rise to new holiday family traditions.

For instance, this Saturday will be the 6th year of my family’s annual “DiGiandomenico Christmas pilgramage” when my parents, sister and I meet halfway between here and Virginia for lunch and gift-exchanging.

It’s also given Scott and I the opportunity to build our own Cleveland family – made of the friends and coworkers that have become a huge part of our life since moving here.

I know my blog mostly focuses on the places and events I love about Cleveland. However, my #1 reason for staying here is the people – especially everyone’s hospitality this year in making us feel like we’re home with family.

From my first White Elephant Exchange to holiday cookie baking, pretzel making, Christmas Eve dinner and Mass, Scott and I are incredibly thankful for our friends who welcomed us into their Christmas traditions this last week.

Which was the one gift I really needed under my tree.

And now I have a gift to give – 2, in fact. After putting the entries into Random.org, I have two winners of the Damn Right I’m From Cleveland giveaway.

Congratulations, entries number 3 and 35 – @MryJhnsn from iNeedaPlaydate and Jen Daddario, for each winning a copy of Mike Polk’s new book. I will email you to confirm your prize.

If you still need a belated holiday gift for someone, you can pick up Damn Right I’m From Cleveland from Cleveland publisher Gray & Company for only $14.95 or find it in local bookstores: www.grayco.com/stores/index.shtml.

And I hope you and yours have a great rest of your holidays!

Disclosure: I was invited to review a copy of Damn Right I’m From Cleveland and give away 2 copies. The opinions expressed here about the book are 100% my own.

Cookie Monster Heaven

As I’ve blogged before, my lack of cooking skills is a bit notorious. In fact the last (and only) time I ever baked something was a few years ago.

And even then, I wouldn’t really call it baking. I made cookies from those Pillsbury cookie dough rolls and still managed to burn them to a crisp.

However, last week I donned an apron once again when I got roped into decided to make cookies for the 3rd annual Ohio Blogging Cookie Swap.

I was told baking is more fun in the company of friends so when WhyCLE offered up her kitchen, I figured this was as good a time as any to learn how to actually make cookies from scratch.

Jen handpicked one of her tried-and-true recipes that was perfect for my skill level.  And after some wine and pizza, Jen, Alicia and I set to work.

I’m proud to say that with a little supervision from CLEGuy, I was able to walk into my first cookie swap with a few dozen cookies that were actually edible (recipe below).

Wine, pizza and good friends will get me to do almost anything – even bake (photo courtesy of WhyCLE)

This year’s swap was at Battery Park Wine Bar.

I’ve been to Battery Park Wine Bar a few times for happy hour, small group events like this and larger networking events that have taken over the entire bar.

It’s such a versatile venue and the staff is easy to work with so if you’re considering a food-and-drink group event, I’d fully recommend it (email events@batteryparkwinebar.com for more info).

We took over the back half of the bar which was the perfect size for our group and allowed us to swap cookies without bothering other restaurant guests.

Obligatory OBA photo of Poise in Parma talking with her hands

They offer a nice happy hour menu that Battery Park Wine Bar made available throughout the night.

Their $4 happy hour white wine was a Chardonnay that had a decently robust taste — very enjoyable, especially for $4.

The wine was complemented both in price and taste by the $6 happy hour mussels and $4 parmesan and oregano-seasoned fries I ordered.

As someone who orders mussels a lot, I appreciated the spicy clam and sauvignon blanc broth they were dressed in. It added that bite you don’t often get with mussels.

However, the winner of the night was the fresh roasted tomato ketchup that accompanied their fries. Although I got the fries for sharing, I could not stop myself from eating most of them.

I may have taken more than just one of the delicious cheesecake pops Alicia’s mom made

After enjoying this light dinner and catching up with everyone, it was time for the cookie swap.

There was a great selection – from rich chocolat-y goodness (like Jen’s Kahlua Chocolate Chunk Cookies and Sarah’s Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies) to festive, sweet and refreshing (like Lane’s candy cane cookies and Julie’s cherry limeade cookies).

It’s impossible to pick a favorite but I especially enjoyed Kimberly’s lemon poppyseed cookies and Julie’s vegan peppermint-chocolate cookies.

Here’s the full list of everyone who was there:

• Alicia from Poise in Parma plus Hans and PIP Mom **meetup recap**
• Brian from Run Swanson and Katie **meetup recap**
• Crystal from Eat Drink Cleveland
• Jen from Why CLE? and CLEGuy Matt **meetup recap**
• Julie from Am I There Yet **meetup recap**
• Julie from ROJ Running
• Kimberly from SMITTEN…in cleveland
• Kristian from man-gi-am-OH and Ohio Festivals & his son Max **meetup recap**
• Lane from Lane Baldwin Photography and husband Nathan
• Nidhi from NIDHIZZLE
• Sarah from Cooker Girl
• Stuart from sosAssociates

The next Ohio Blogging Association meet-up will be on Friday, January 18 at Noodlecat. Things will kick off at 9pm when Poise in Parma, Smitten in Cleveland, WhyCLE and I co-host Karaoke at the Cat. All are welcome, not just bloggers. Click here to RSVP and stay tuned for more details.

And if you’d like an easy recipe for all your holiday cookie-making, here’s what I used (if I can make it, so can you):

My M&M Cookies pre-devouring

M&M Cookies
Recipe courtesy of Jen at WhyCLE
Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 12-ounce package M&M’s chocolate mini baking bits (I used full-size M&Ms)
• 3/4 cup chopped nuts, optional (I did not use nuts in my cookies)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla.
3. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. Blend into creamed mixture. Stir in M&M’s and nuts.
5. Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
6. Bake 10-13 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and centers are soft.
7. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets, cool completely on wire racks.

Disclosure: WhyCLE, Poise in Parma, Smitten in Cleveland and I are splitting compensation for co-hosting Karaoke at the Cat next month.

Dec. CLE Read: Damn Right I’m From Cleveland by Mike Polk Jr.

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winners!

Between the usual stress of the holidays and what happened last week, I don’t think I’m alone in thinking we could all use a little laughter right now.

So I figured I’d pick a book for my December CLE Read that lightens the mood. And there was Mike Polk Jr.’s Damn Right I’m From Cleveland to the rescue.

If you’re a Clevelander who spends any amount of time online (which I assume you do since you’re on a blog right now), you’re likely familiar with Polk’s Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video.

I first saw it courtesy of Scott’s Animosity Pierre comedy team who seriously still quote it to this day when they visit.

However, between other viral videos like One Semester of Spanish – Love Song or his ode to the Factory of Sadness and his sketch comedy work with the award-winning Last Call Cleveland, Polk isn’t a one-hit wonder.

Repeatedly named one of Cleveland’s best comedians, Polk’s comedic chops caught the attention of local publisher Gray and Co. who invited him to put it all down in writing.

And so we have just over 100 pages of hilarity, equal parts broad and subversive, poking fun at everything Cleveland – including himself.

It may be a quick read, but each 2-page spread got a laugh out of me that lasted long after I put the book down. My personal favorites:

• Cleveland Thrifting Like a Pro (which I had to keep Scott from reading so that he wouldn’t immediately go on a shopping spree)
• Potential Cleveland Bumper Stickers (“Cleveland: We’re Just Crashing in Canada’s Basement Til We Can Get Our Shit Together”)
• 3 Plans to Resurrect Downtown Cleveland (I think the urban paintball arena would have more than its fair share of fans)
• And this…

A Better Cleveland Flag from Mike Polk’s Damn Right I’m From Cleveland. Godd-Dawg!

A Browns fan by birth not choice, Polk also mines a lifetime of tortured sports memories for laughs. I even learned a few things – like the fact that the ultimate Cleveland sports fantasy Major League isn’t even about a championship game, just a pennant.

Some Cleveland supporters may cringe at what Polk writes or give him flack for making fun of the city.

They should get over it.

Good comedy is rarely ever nice and with Polk it comes from a place of love. Polk notes in his introduction that this city with “a rich history and a promising future” is like a younger sibling he can tease “because we’re family and that’s what we do. But if some asshole from Indianapolis mouths off about it, I do not hesitate to set him straight.”

Damn right.

You can purchase Damn Right I’m From Cleveland from Cleveland publisher Gray & Company for only $14.95 or find it in local bookstores: www.grayco.com/stores/index.shtml.

I’m also giving away two copies to add a bit of humor to your holidays.

There are 5 Easy Ways to Enter the Giveaway!
Leave a separate comment on this post for each entry.

1) For one entry, leave a comment on this post recommending a Cleveland book you’ve read or want to read.

2) Follow @ClevelandBooks and @ADHicken on Twitter and leave one comment here letting me know you did both.

3) If you’re a fan of Clue Into Cleveland on Facebook, leave a comment on this blog post letting me know. If you’re not yet a fan, you can become one here.

4) Twitter users can also get an extra entry each day for tweeting: “I want to win @clevelandbooks’ Damn Right I’m From Cleveland. Enter @ADHicken’s giveaway for your chance to win: http://wp.me/p2Ukr0-1If”  (Each day you do this, you must leave a new comment.)

5) Subscribe to receive Clue Into Cleveland blog posts by email or via the RSS feed and leave a comment letting me know you did. This can include signing up to receive email notifications in the top-right “Subscribe” section of this page.

You have until Monday, Dec. 24 at 11:59PM to enter. On Christmas Day, I will select 2 winners using Random.org and will announce their names on my blog.  Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry.

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This is the latest in my CLE Reads series. Check out my previous installments:

• Harvey Pekar’s Cleveland (September 2012)
• Les Roberts’ Whiskey Island (October 2012)
• Rust Belt Chic (November 2012)

I’ll be back next month with Women Behaving Badly: Cleveland’s Most Ferocious Female Killers.

Disclosure: I was invited to review a copy of Damn Right I’m From Cleveland and give away 2 copies. The opinions expressed here about the book are 100% my own.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Chicago Bulls

I am continually humbled by the loyalty of Cleveland sports fans. Raised on the Philadelphia Eagles, I would lament year after year when we would make it to the playoffs just to blow it at the last second (trust me, given the Eagles’ current record, the irony of that statement is not lost on me).

I really don’t think I understood what a die-hard fan is until I moved to Cleveland and witnessed a city who continues to support their teams regardless of the challenges and betrayals of the past. Quitting just isn’t in the vocabulary.

And that’s incredibly admirable. While Cleveland fans aren’t pushovers and give critical feedback when it’s justified, there’s still a sense of hope and rebuilding. A celebration at all victories – large and small – never taking for granted the good times.

I was struck by this when I went to my first Cleveland Cavaliers game last week.

Cleveland Cavaliers pre-show

I’ll confess — running on 3 hours of sleep and overwhelmed by the hecticness of the arena before the game, I was a tad cranky when I sat down in my seats.

And as the first half of the Cavs-Bulls game ended, the pessimist in me knew the Cavs were likely to not win. Given my disposition that night, I typically would have checked out and taken a walk around the stadium for the rest of the game.

But from behind us came the chanting of a very young Cavs fan. Up until the end of the game, you could hear him without fail cheering on the Cavs defense every time the Bulls had the ball and going wild whenever we made a basket. You couldn’t deny it was contagious and I found myself caught up in cheering the Cavs on too.

Yes, the Cavs couldn’t close the point gap enough to pull out a win in the game’s fourth quarter; however, by that point, it didn’t matter.

Trampoline acrobats during Cavs halftime

When I let go of my concern over whether the Cavs were going to win or lose, I had a blast.

From the Cavs’ Scream Team hip hop dance crew to the halftime show of trampoline artists, the Q made it difficult to not have fun during the game.

I had been to the Q before for Monsters Hockey and really enjoy the energy of those games; however, the Cavs blew that away – literally – with their pre-game fire show.

Get the Cheese and Pepperoni pretzel roll at Sawyer’s See-Saw Pretzel Shoppe

They’ve also added some new dining options including Jonathon Sawyer’s See-Saw Pretzel Shoppe. My favorites from what we tried were the Roasted Garlic and Parmesan pretzel, Cheese and Pepperoni pretzel roll and the hot dog pretzel roll with Sir Kensington’s ketchup.

I haven’t been to a Browns game, so I can’t speak from personal experience on their food offerings; however, I’ve been very pleased by the variety and quality of food I’ve had at the Indians and now the Cavs – more than in other professional sports venues I’ve visited. They seem to try hard to give fans a good experience regardless (or in spite of) what’s happening during the game.

And of course, we got to celebrate Christmas Story Night with plenty of pink bunny costumes and my very first leg lamp.

My first Leg Lamp

While a Cavs win would have been the bow on the package, the entertaining evening we had at the Q still warmed this sports scrooge’s heart.

Disclosure: I was provided 4 tickets to give away to the Dec. 5 Cavs game and 4 for myself to use. My opinions are my own.