Miller Ferry offers a smooth boat ride and excellent customer service on your way to Put-in-Bay (photo from boat on right)

After we got back from our vacation last week, Scott and I still had a few days off before going back to work. So we decided it was the perfect opportunity to take a trip a little closer to home.

On Thursday we made the short drive over the Edison Bridge to Catawba and caught the Miller Boat Line to Put-in-Bay.

Last fall we visited the island for the Put-in-Bay Wine Festival. Although we packed a lot into that daytrip, we still had a long list of things we wanted to do. After being invited back to stay over for the night, this was the perfect opportunity to cross some things off that list.

When we’ve visited Put-in-Bay in the past, we’ve rented a golf cart to get around the island. This time we were in a more energetic mood and wanted to try our hand legs at biking it.

Island Transportation’s Bike Rentals

Although we could’ve brought our own bikes with us, renting a pair from Island Transportation (the same place we get our golf carts) was much more convenient, especially because they have a location right where Miller Ferry drops off AND one on Bay View Avenue in the main part of town. If you need anymore convincing, an all-day bike rental only costs $15 including tax.

Neither Scott nor I bike often so our first stop was breakfast for a bit of fuel for the first half of the day. After trying out their freshly made crepes at the Wine Festival, we knew where we’d be heading: The Old Forge Cafe and Creperie.

Old Forge Cafe and Creperie

Located on Catawba Ave., they offer a great selection of sweet and savory crepes made with fresh ingredients. They also feature a  waffle of the day during breakfast. One look at the menu told me what I would order: the smoked salmon crepe.

The crepe was stuffed with succulent smoked salmon, arugula, red onion and guggisberg swiss. The poached egg that topped it was a great addition, especially after I soaked the silky thin crepe in the broken yolk. The side of plump blackberries and blueberries offered a refreshing burst of flavor.

Smoked Salmon Breakfast Crepe

After breakfast we were on our way to Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial. We’ve always enjoyed their Visitor Center next door. It features great displays about the Battle of Lake Erie. However, the last few times we’ve been to Put-in-Bay, the monument was either under construction or closed for the day.

This time we were determined to go to the top and arrived as soon as it opened.  The elevator ride costs $3 per adult, which is worth it for the beautiful views you’ll see on the observation deck.

The top and bottom of the Perry Memorial

Despite an overcast morning, we had gorgeous views of Put-in-Bay and its neighboring islands. Even the fog rolling over the lake was beautiful to look at.  The monument and its surrounding park boasts a lot of photo opportunities.

A view of Put-in-Bay from the top

We got in a few more photos of island scenery by biking to Put-in-Bay’s East Point. Out that way you’ll pass a number of homes and bed and breakfasts until you get to the Scheff East Point Nature Reserve. It’s a very relaxing trek and the trail is a nice place to check out the wildlife – especially if you’re looking to escape any party animals back on main street.

Our bikes at East Point

While it was fairly smooth riding, Scott and I were a little tuckered out by the time we got back into town, so our next stop was the Put-in-Bay Winery and Doller Estate for more leisurely activities.  When we were at the Island Wine Festival, we had a taste of the winery but missed out on a tour of the estate.

Our tour guide Russell walked us through the Doller’s historic house, the farm buildings and beautiful grounds. Unlike a lot of other winery tours, this one focused mainly on the history of the estate and island, which I actually preferred.

Even better, we were served 5 tastings of the Winery’s wine throughout the tour.  For only $10, the quality of wine, size of the pours and history lessons we learned were an excellent value.  The estate also faces the lake, offering some fantastic views while you sip.

Doller Estate and Put-in-Bay Winery

We continued up the hill out of town to Goat Soup and Whiskey Tavern. This restaurant had come recommended by more than a few people so we were overdue for a visit.

Upstairs from the Chocolate Cafe, the Goat has a rustic patio and restaurant tucked into the Put-in-Bay woods. After spending much of our day along the lake, it was a nice change of scenery.

I tried their signature Perch Tacos with a cup of soup. Their tangy “Pali Wali” taco sauce gave some nice heat to the fried Lake Erie perch, cabbage and green onion without overwhelming it.

Perch Tacos at the Goat

Because the Goat is known for its soup, I was definitely going to try a cup of something. Keeping in mind that I’d need to get on a bike right after lunch, I played it safe and opted for their Chicken and Spaetzel which had a very comforting flavor. I’m looking forward to returning so that we can try their Chicken and Green Chili soup.

Refreshed we continued our bike ride to Perry’s Cave. Named after the Commodore who is credited with discovering the cave during the War of 1812, Perry’s Cave offers an underground journey for amateur spelunkers. A combo pass will also get you access to your choice of rockclimbing, mini-golf, a tour of the Butterfly House and Fort aMAZE’n, among other highlights at the Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center.

War of 1812 Mini Golf

By this point the sun had finally come out. The weather was perfect for a round of War of 18 Holes mini golf. I liked how as you play through each hole, you learn a bit about the Battle of Lake Erie. Although the match was a draw, I’ll confess that neither of us did particularly well.

Afterwards we stopped in at the Butterfly House and then made friends with a cute cat while drinking Pink Catawba at Heineman’s Winery.

Making friends with ‘the wildlife’ at Heineman’s Winery and the Perry’s Cave Butterfly House

As our afternoon wound down, we stopped back at Put-in-Bay Winery to order our two favorite wines: their Celebration sparkling moscato and Bicentennial Chardonnay. Being able to pick the bottles up at the Miller Ferry dock the next morning was very convenient. I can’t even imagine balancing my bike with those bottles in hand.

Islander Inn

Down the street we checked into the Islander Inn for the evening. Because it was a Thursday in September, the hotel was very quiet, which was my preference; however, I know from previous trips to Put-in-Bay that the hotel, its pools and swim-up bar are typically packed

We had a balcony room with a nice view overlooking the pool. Although the room was simple, we weren’t in Put-in-Bay to spend much time there. It was clean and provided us with a comfortable night’s sleep. The friendly staff and setting brought up fond memories of trips down to the shore in New Jersey.

Our room and the view from our balcony

We had dinner at the Put-in-Bay Brewing Co. Scott and I typically order their Guinness Onion Soup, which we really enjoy. This time we tried the Beer Cheese soup and weren’t as big of fans of it; however, the fried cheese-and-bacon-stuffed mac bites were delicious.

After dinner we planned on enjoying downtown Put-in-Bay but the weather had other plans for us. Storms had been holding out all day and we even had clear skies for a few hours; but a cold front moved in while we were dining.

With it came blustery winds, so we ducked into Hooligans Irish Pub for a Jameson and Ginger and then were off to bed.

We were both ok with this because we were exhausted from all of that biking and needed to wake up early to head home. Although the waves were incredibly choppy the next morning, the Miller Ferry navigated them smoothly and dropped us back in Catawba where we had started just 24 hours before.

Love Put-in-Bay and always sad to go home

Just because summer is over, there are still many reasons to hop the Ferry and head to Put-in-Bay. Businesses and attractions are still open, even if you go in the middle of the week.

I especially recommend visiting during this time of year if you prefer a more low-key experience. We had an excellent day and night exploring the island without a crowd.

If you prefer a party, though, there are a slate of fun events now through the end of October.  Check out Put-in-Bay’s fall events at www.millerferry.com/events/put-in-bay.

Disclosure: I had been planning on visiting Put-in-Bay and biking around the island, and then was invited to stay over for the evening. During my trip my ferry fare, bikes, and hotel stay were covered. We were also given a combo ticket to Perry’s Cave. However, the opinions expressed in this and other posts are 100% my own.

Showing our love for my homestate of Virginia

Before Scott and I could welcome in fall with last weekend’s clambake, we needed to say so long to summer. At the very end of August we packed our CRV and headed on the road for a bit of family, a bit of comics, and two weeks of vacation fun.

Things started off similar to our last vacation in May – with stops in Virginia to see my sister and parents. Although we’ve spent the last few Augusts in Culpeper where my sister lives, we still seem to discover new things every time we visit.

Admittedly, a lot of that has to do with my sister being an excellent tour guide and going out of her way to find fun things to do.

Candy shopping at downtown Culpeper’s My Secret Stash

Highlights of this stop in Culpeper included:

• A day of shopping in downtown Culpeper where I picked up: Blood Orange EVOO and Tangerine Balsamic from Taste Oil Vinegar Spice, Maple Bourbon Pickles from Culpeper Cheese Company, and candy from My Secret Stash.

• A tour of the Copper Fox Distillery, home of Wasmund’s Single Malt Whisky and Copper Fox Rye Whisky. Both were 2013 International Review of Spirits Gold Medal winners achieving 92 and 94 points, respectively.

• And visits to nearby Taste of the Mountains and Cedar Point’s sister park Kings Dominion. We splurged on a couple of Fast Passes for Kings Dominion, which were worth the $50 – allowing us to get in a very full day of rollercoasters. I was glad to make use of my CP Platinum Pass on vacation. After reading that Kings Dominion is celebrating their 40th anniversary next season, a return trip is in order for next spring!

Kings Dominion, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary next season

I think my favorite part of our stay in Culpeper was getting afternoon tea at Culpeper’s Miss Minerva’s Tea Room. Voted the #2 tea house in Virginia, we enjoyed an hour of trying a variety of unusual loose-leaf teas in a quaintly beautiful setting. Even Scott and Gabbie, who aren’t huge tea drinkers, enjoyed the Ice Wine Tea, English Caramel, and rose-petal-infused Mademoiselle Grey. The very friendly service and a selection of delicious cranberry scones, small sandwiches and desserts complemented this calming afternoon activity.

Miss Minerva’s Tea Room in Culpeper – The #2 Tea Room in Virginia

This was one of the longest vacations we’ve taken so Scott and I had to seriously pace ourselves to avoid vacation burnout. After four busy days at Gabbie’s, it was nice to just unwind for a couple days at my parents’.

Scenic views overlooking the Cheseapeake Bay and Ingleside Vineyards

While we did take a tour of Ingleside Vineyards, the rest of the time in the Northern Neck was spent lounging by the Chesapeake and hanging out with my parents and their feline friends. Scott even squeezed in a driving lesson with my dad:

Left to Right: Visiting with Batgirl, one of my dad’s 6 cats; Scott takes dad’s antique Chevy Coupe for a drive

It was hard to say goodbye to my folks, but knowing that they plan to visit this winter helped. Plus, we were excited for the next leg of our trip – Baltimore Comic Con!

After four years of Chicago’s C2E2, Scott and I decided to mix up our comicbook convention-going by attending this year’s Baltimore Comic Con instead.

It also gave us an excuse to briefly see Scott’s sister Laura and her fiancee Max on our drive from Virginia to Maryland. Lunch in DC was followed by a visit to the International Spy Museum, where Laura works on their exhibitions and programs. I couldn’t have asked for a better first time at the museum as Laura gave us her personal tour through their current James Bond Villains exhibit. I really enjoyed hearing how they put the exhibit together.

Scott’s sister Laura (top-right) at the International Spy Museum

I even had time to introduce Scott to one of my favorite restaurants from when I was a kid – Il Porto in Old Town Alexandria. Their escargot and frutti di mare dishes were as good as I remembered. Afterwards, we walked around Old Town, visited the coolest vintage cocktailware store, and enjoyed glass harp and polynesian dance shows by the waterfront.

We couldn’t stay out late because we had to wake up early the next morning for two whole days of comic book goodness.

Clockwise from top: Gateway to Baltimore Comic Con; awesome Doctor Who ballon sculpture; Scott and I with Mark Buckingham, one of my favorite artists; an epic Hulkbuster costume

Presented by Cards, Comics and Collectibles of Reisterstown, Maryland, the Baltimore Comic Con is dedicated only to comic books instead of other forms of entertainment like many other conventions.

This meant excellent panels dedicated to learning about the process behind our favorite (and new favorite) comic books from the writers and artists. The panels were less about selling books and more about sharing a love for them. On top of that, the convention floor boasted one of the larger Artists Alleys I’ve seen – dedicating much of its space to up and coming artists.

After Sunday’s show, we squeezed in a couple hours at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum. In addition to a mind-blowing collection of comic books (including Superman’s first appearance in Action Comics #1), the museum features toys and memorabilia spanning from the 1920s to today.

From left to right: Incredible Hulk Toilet Paper, Action Comics #1, Howdy Doody exhibit, Hulk #1, the Ms. Pac-Man Colorform I created at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum in Baltimore

Although I enjoyed reminiscing over many of my favorite childhood toys, I loved seeing things like the Howdy Doody display from when my parents were kids. If you are in Baltimore, Geppi’s and its floor-to-ceiling pop culture is a must-do.

After a whirlwind weekend in Baltimore, a stopover in New Jersey to say hi to Scott’s parents and grandmother was a nice break before driving back to Cleveland. Although my car may not be happy that we put so many miles on it, we had a fantastic time!

This is the last weekend for Literary Lots / artwork by Julia Kuo

There’s much more going in Cleveland than I’m able to blog about.  And while this post still doesn’t capture everything that’s happening, here’s my ‘clue-down’ of upcoming Cleveland events that caught my eye.

THIS WEEKEND

Last Weekend of Literary Lots:  If you haven’t been able to check out Literary Lots this summer, this is the last weekend.  This month Literary Lots turned a vacant lot at Novak Park (Lorain on W. 38th) into a world of creativity for the community. In addition to revitalizing the public space, they’ve offered programming throughout the month that runs til August 18. Today, Friday and Saturday, there will be storytelling, poetry slams, printmaking and other workshops throughout the day. And on Saturday night starting at 8:30pm, all ages are invited to watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the lot.  You can see all of their events at literarylots.org/events.

Calling all CLE Young Professionals: The Cleveland Foodbank’s YP Pantry will be heading back to Lakewood’s Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, August 17 to volunteer at their Produce Distribution and Hot Meals Program. Volunteers are needed – so join me and help out from 10am to 2pm.  You can register for the Hot Meals group or Produce Distribution on Eventbrite.  (Select August 17 from the dropdown menus.)

The Weapons of Mass Creation Festival runs Aug. 16-18 in the Gordon Square Arts District

Weapons of Mass Creation Fest: Midwest’s premier art, design, and music festival returns to the Gordon Square Arts District August 16 through 18. Check out 20 speakers, 20 designers, and 40+ bands. Take a look at the schedule at wmcfest.com/schedule, which includes the speaker lineup, performances, workshops and parties. Right now you can still get a pre-sale 3-day pass for $75.  The day of, you can get one-day tickets for $35 each.

Last Chance to Get ‘SPANK’ed: I’ve never read Fifty Shades of Grey, but even I enjoyed SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody when it came through PlayhouseSquare in January (you can read my recap here). if you missed it the first time around – or want to get ‘spank’ed again, the show has returned to the Hanna Theatre. This is the last weekend of their return run. The remaining shows are August 15 through 18.  You can get tickets at playhousesquare.org/default.asp?playhousesquare=58&objId=3984.

And if all that wasn’t enough, this weekend is also The Feast of the Assumption Festival.

THE REST OF AUGUST

Get a special discount to the Arthritis Foundation’s L’Amour du Vin at the ticket kickoff Aug. 28

Outback Zoo Night: The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has teamed with Outback Steakhouse to raise money for Zoo programming.  On August 20, stop by a Cleveland-area Outback Steakhouse from 4-10pm for Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Give Back Night (some locations will also be open for lunch). Just say “Zoo Night” to your server, and Outback will donate 15% of the total check to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Learn more at clemetzoo.com/events/event.asp?event_id=166.

Belt Magazine Launches:  Rust Belt Chic was one of the best books I read last year, so I’m very excited to see the authors launching the Cleveland-focused Belt. The online pub will run three stories each week: an in-depth, reported article; a commentary piece furthering Belt’s mission to be ”where culture and economic development meet, for Cleveland and the rust belt,” and one personal essay submitted by readers.  If you’d like to submit something, check out their post rustbeltchic.com/becomeamember. You’ll also find more information about the Belt Magazine launch party on August 23 and how to get a lifetime subscription to the publication.

L’Amour du Vin Kickoff: Although the Arthritis Foundation’s L’Amour du Vin is still two months away, you can get a sneak peek at Lorain County’s premier food and wine tasting event on August 28. Enjoy an evening of free hors d’oeuvres and happy hour specials at Bistro 83 from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Plus, save $10 on your L’Amour du Vin tickets at the kickoff party. RSVP for this free event at facebook.com/events/152685288259527.

SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER

Ballet in Cleveland brings Ballets with a Twist to PlayhouseSquare Sept. 19

Our Lady of the Wayside Labor Day Run: Help raise money for Avon’s Our Lady of the Wayside at their Labor Day Run on September 1. The race will take place at Rocky River High School and the surrounding area. Runners and walkers can choose from a 4-mile two-person relay, a 4-mile individual run, and a 2-mile fun run/walk. Pre-registration is $20; day-of is $25. And all registrants are entered to win a week-long stay in Myrtle Beach. More information and online registration is at hermescleveland.com/roadracing/events/laboroflove.asp.

Ballets with a Twist: Ballet in Cleveland’s founder Jessica Wallis has done a fantastic job at bringing classical ballet back to Cleveland and her next event is no different. On September 19 at 8pm, New York City’s Ballets with a Twist comes to PlayhouseSquare’s Ohio Theatre. Ballets with a Twist’s signature show Cocktail Hour infuses classical ballet with an irreverent pop sensibility in what has been described as “blasting the boundaries between high art and entertainment. We’ve seen the future of dance, and it is fun!” (The Huffington Post). There are a lot of great options for enjoying the show, including a VIP package featuring a pre-show cocktail hour and post-show champagne toast with the dancers.

“Just Us” Greater Cleveland Flute Society Concert: The Greater Cleveland Flute Society starts their 2013-2014 Season with the “Just Us” concert on September 15. The recital is free and open to the public featuring performances from Flute Society members. It starts at 2:30pm and will include solo, ensemble and a Flute Choir performance. The concert takes place at SouthWest Unitarian Universalist Church in North Royalton. If you’re a flute player or fan, stay up-to-date with the Greater Cleveland Flute Society on Facebook.

Ingenuity Fest: Ingenuity Fest has always been about melding art and technology. And for this year’s Ingenuity (September 20 through 22 at the downtown lakefront), they’ll be embracing how the two come together in independent filmmaking. The first annual IndieFest will showcase shorts and feature length films that inspire a spark through storytelling, music and digital technology. In addition to IndieFest, Ingenuity will feature performance and visual arts, a ‘Make Space’ for workshops and presentations, and the Northeast Ohio Showcase of Innovation. As always, Ingenuity Fest is free thanks to the support of donations, volunteers and sponsors. If you’d like to help out, visit ingenuitycleveland.com/support

September’s Ingenuity Fest will feature an indie film festival, art, technology, workshops and much more

BONUS ROUND!

Casting Call: Let’s Ask America is looking for Cleveland contestants for its second season. I’ve been a big fan of host Kevin Pereira since his days on G4’s Attack of the Show and he brings his quirky banter to this ‘play-from-your-living-room’ game show. Each day, four contestants are chosen to play via Skype – trying to predict which answers were the most popular among polled Americans. Contestants can win up to $50,000. If you’re interested in becoming a contestant, check out letsaskamerica.tv/contestant.shtml

Disclosure: I was invited to blog about the Outback/Zoo promotion, L’Amour du Vin and SPANK! in exchange for hosting an upcoming Zoo giveaway or event tickets. Due to a scheduling conflict, I am unable to attend SPANK. I am also a council member of the Cleveland Foodbank’s YP Pantry.  The choice to blog about these and the other events in this post are 100% my own.

The crowd fills in for “Weird Al” Yankovic at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights

There are three things every concert needs, and these three things will make the difference between a disappointing event and an amazing evening.

One, of course, is an audience. A concert without an audience is just a sad musician with a microphone. And an audience is something that no one has any control over. So it is the remaining two items that I will dedicate the majority of this post to.

First I want to touch on venue. Location can make or break an event. Whether you are stepping into the basement concert space of Mahall’s Twenty Lanes or the classical wonder that is Severance Hall, the venue creates a tone before any instrument does.

The Evans Amphitheater in Cleveland Heights’ Cain Park is a wonderful space. I find this to be because of the eclectic atmosphere.

The Cain Park Colonnade overlooking the Evans Amphitheater

Celebrating 75 years of operation, the Amphitheater gives off the impression of a secret location that you and approximately 1,500 of your friends stumbled upon. Walking by the beautiful, old brick construction and peering back to a Roman-inspired colonnade, one feels like their ticket was passed to them by the friend of a friend who says that, while they don’t know exactly what is going down that night, they are certain it will be epic.

As I took my assigned seat under the very comforting roofed section of the theater, part of me envied the happy group of people who had spread out on blankets and lawn chairs on the grass and cracked open their coolers. The brisk air blew through the seats, rustling the vines that crept up the brick and threatened to overtake the lighting crew perched in their catwalks.

An “anything can happen” vibe, somehow perfectly reined in by the helpful Cain Park crew guiding people to their individual spots, emanated from the old red bricks towering before us.

The tone had been set by Evans Amphitheater.

We loved escaping into the wooded setting of the Evans Amphitheater

The final piece to the concert puzzle is the performer. No matter how much you love a musician, there are concerts that don’t live up to the hype.  Maybe the performer gets swallowed by the venue, ignores the desires of their fans, or just phones it in.

Going into last week’s “Weird Al” Yankovic concert, I wanted the crazy wonder and energy that I had enjoyed in his music ever since I was a kid.  It was a tall order, filled with nostalgia and childhood idealism.

And boy, did he deliver.

Al has the ability to simultaneously bring to the forefront of your mind decades of music you’d thought was forgotten, while completely vanishing two brand new hours. I’d thought his show had an intermission which would break up the 120 minutes printed on my ticket. As Al played his final song (before the encore) I almost looked to my phone, thinking that intermission had come too quickly.

“Weird Al” Yankovic and his trademark accordion

“Weird Al” Yankovic defined my childhood. Legend says that Dare To Be Stupid was the first CD purchased for the Hicken Family’s brand new CD-playing stereo system. And I know for a fact that Bad Hair Day was the first compact disc ever bought with my own money.

Through Al’s songs and medleys I was introduced to music I had no idea even existed. I listened ad infinitum to “Weird Al” albums through high school and into the first year of college, when my purchases suddenly ceased.

Al’s concert proved to me that whatever I’d spent that money on, since it hadn’t gone towards “Weird Al” Yankovic albums it had been grossly misplaced. While at points I was happily singing along to I Want A New Duck and Amish Paradise, at other times I was thinking to myself how sad it was that I was only now hearing the brilliance that was Party In The CIA. I have a lot of catching up to do.

I must stress the fact that one reason this was easily the best concert I have ever been to – and I have been to some great concerts – was that Al and his band pull out all the stops, regardless of their personal comfort.

Weird Al in full costume for Perform This Way

Do you remember that music video where Al is dressed up in a full fat suit and make-up? Oh yeah, he performs in that. Speaking of performing, his Lady Gaga parody has him dancing around the stage in a giant peacock outfit. Most singers would be happy to let the song conjure up the audience’s memories of iconic images from album covers or videos. “Weird Al” is dedicated to bringing that memory to life for you. And it is greatly appreciated.

Covering for all of these costume changes is a multimedia smorgasbord of all things “Weird Al.”

Want the chance to see almost every “Weird Al” pop culture reference? It’s been collected for you.

Want to go line for line with the audience as you relive the hilarious “Wheel of Fish” segment from the under-appreciated “Weird Al” film UHF? It’s there.

Did you not know there are a series of 5 Second Weird Owl movies? You get to see them.

With all of this technology, it was inevitable that technical difficulties popped up once. But they were immediately addressed by Al’s clear concern that he was disappointing his fans with the one brief delay during an otherwise very complicated and well-choreographed concert.

Speaking of well-choreographed, Al even hired local talent to dance as the gothiest cheerleaders you’ll ever see during his performance of Smells Like Nirvana. It was a really cool touch.

Weird Al’s epic Amish Paradise

Despite all of this awesome on stage, Al and his band managed to outdo themselves for the encore. Now, I feel that the “Weird Al” parody of American Pie entitled The Saga Begins is the only good thing that the Star Wars Prequels brought into existence. Al’s song is also part of a fond memory from my high school senior year marching band, when – during a particularly terrible football game – we sang it in its entirety in the stadium bleachers.

The song will always have a warm place in my heart, and now I will never forget the evening when I – and 1,500 other people – sang the song with Al himself. He then followed it with an epic version of Yoda.

Although I’ve not seen Al perform anywhere else, I like to think that the design of Evans Amphitheater and the crowd’s willingness to allow his escapism to pour over us was what brought Al into the audience during one particularly colorful song about terrible pick-up lines.

Weird Al getting close and personal with the audience at Cain Park

His trip through the aisles was what prompted my post-concert text: “This evening I was 18 inches from Weird Al’s ass. Sorry, Wedding, I have a new favorite Day.”

In all seriousness my Wedding Day is still the best day of my life. But the “Weird Al” Yankovic concert at Evans Amphitheater is a close second. And I did tear up during both.

So, if I have to bring all of this together into some sort of point or purpose (and I’m being told that I do have to), it would be the following:

I’d highly recommend that if someone you enjoy is coming to Evans Amphitheater, go and see them there. It is an amazing space that can allow a performer to really be everything they could be.

And if “Weird Al” Yankovic is playing near you, please go get tickets and set your expectations high.

I’m certain they’re not as high as Al’s.

***

In the mood to catch a concert after reading that review? You can stay up-to-date on Live Nation concerts coming to Cleveland at https://www.facebook.com/livenationcleveland and you can view Cain Park’s full events calendar here.

Disclosure: I was invited to host a giveaway for LiveNation in exchange for 2 tickets to the concert of my choice. The opinions expressed here are 100% Scott’s own.

Twilight at the Zoo 2013

Sometimes the weather gods try to ruin the best of plans. Perfect example: Our first Twilight at Zoo on Friday night. However, try as Friday’s monsoon might, it couldn’t stop us from having a wild time at the Zoo!

Fortunately before the rain started, we were able to sample some of the food and drink at the VIP party.  We enjoyed tastings from Mitchell’s Fish Market, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and AMP 150 (their crab and salad plates are pictured above).

We also enjoyed a few sips of Fireball and Firefly Moonshine. The Fireball+Angry Orchard mix was so good that I risked running through the storm for some more – it was worth it.

The one downside was that we didn’t have a chance to see a lot of the bands. However, we escaped inside the Primate, Cat and Aquatics building when the rain started, where we made our own fun and visited with some beautiful creatures.

We may have called it an early night, but I now see why it’s the summer party on everyone’s list.  It also didn’t hurt that this year’s Twilight at the Zoo raised $590,000 for the Zoo and its programs!

Fortunately, the Cleveland Zoological Society has
one more party up its sleeve this summer!

On August 23, make a date for the Zoo’s 2nd annual Date Night at the Zoovies.

From 7-8pm, enjoy free beer, wine and light appetizers while exploring the Australian Adventure and African Savanna sections of the Zoo.

At 8:30pm, it’s “your density – I mean destiny” to bring your blanket and chairs to the Savanna Theater for a viewing of Back to the Future under the night sky.

Hot pretzels, popcorn, candy, beer, wine, soda and water will be available for free during the movie.

It was such a great time last year that this year’s Date Night at the Zoovies has already sold out.  Don’t worry, though, because I have 2 tickets to give away!

How to enter: Do one, some, or all five of the entries. A separate comment is needed for each.

5 Easy Ways to Enter the Giveaway
**You must leave a separate comment on this post for each entry**

1) When you visit the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, what’s your favorite part? Leave one comment with your answer, good for one entry.

2) Follow @CleveZooSociety and @ADHicken on Twitter and leave one comment on this post telling me you did both.

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

4) Tweet the following and leave one comment letting me know you tweeted:

Hop in your DeLorean with @CleveZooSociety! Enter @ADHicken’s giveaway to win tickets to Date Night at the #ZOOvies http://wp.me/p2Ukr0-29I

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

5) Subscribe to Clue Into Cleveland via a feed tracker like Bloglovin’ or Feedly and leave one comment letting me know you did. This can also include signing up to receive email notifications in the top-right “Subscribe” section of this page.

You have until August 12 at 11:59PM to enter. On August 13, I will select a winner using Random.org and announce the winner’s name on Clue Into Cleveland. Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry – good luck!

DeLorean photo source: AdamL212

Disclosure: Photos courtesy of Cleveland Zoological Society. In exchange for posting about the Zoo’s summer events and hosting a Zoovies giveaway, I was invited to attend Twilight at the Zoo and Date Night at the Zoovies. My choice to host this giveaway and opinions of Twilight are my own.

When I think of Put-in-Bay, my first thoughts are of hanging out on the lake, sipping on wine, and enjoying the laid-back pace of island life.

Visiting PiB and Kelleys Island is a highlight of my Cleveland summers — not to mention spring and fall (here’s a recap of our trip to Put-in-Bay last Fall).

What doesn’t immediately come to mind is an epic battle. However, it was off the shores of Put-in-Bay that the ferocious Battle of Lake Erie was fought 200 years ago this September.

At dawn on the morning of September 10, 1813, Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry (best name ever + we share a birthday) sailed forth to engage British ships on Lake Erie.

The War of 1812 had been raging between Great Britain and the United States for a while.  And although the odds seemed to be against him, when Perry came home that day, he was victorious. He famously wrote:

One of the most resounding victories of the War, the battle secured control of the lake and insured the states of Ohio and Michigan would remain U.S. territories.

It’s a battle befitting a huge bicentennial celebration and that’s what we’re going to get this Labor Day weekend on Put-in-Bay.

From August 29 through September 2, hop on the Miller Ferry to Put-in-Bay for live music (including Brent Kirby and Hey Mavis), food and craft vendors, tall ship tours and day sails, and my favorite: a re-creation of the sea battle itself.

On Sept. 2, volunteers portraying the ships’ crews will gather at 8am. They’ll sail to battle at 10am, with the battle reenactment happening from 12pm to 4pm.  Spectators will be able to watch the reenactment by catching a ride on a boat or ship as well as enjoying on-land militia reenactments.

The schedule of events can be found at battleoflakeerie-bicentennial.com/events/bicentennial-events

Battle of Lake Erie by William Henry Powell, painted 1865

Put-in-Bay will also host a Bicentennial Regency Ball on August 31 at the Niagara Event Center. Tickets are $25 per person and $45 per couple.

Members of “Dance Thru History–History Dancers” will perform and will teach dance steps from the 19th century. There will be a Most Authentic Dressed Couple prize, and the Perry Group will provide light appetizers. A cash bar will also be available through the evening.

All proceeds from the dance will benefit educational programs at Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial.  Tickets can be purchased at visitputinbay.com/pib/regency-ball-tickets.

If you can’t make it to Put-in-Bay over Labor Day weekend, other celebrations will take place on Put-in-Bay through Sept. 10. Check out their events calendar for more information.  And information about events happening at the now-opened Perry’s Monument on PiB can be found here.

Image Sources:
Images 1 and 2
Image 3 (Credit: PRNewsFoto/The Perry Group, Chad Ehlers/Stock Connection)

#summerinCLE: Dollar Dogs, Fireworks and an Indians Win – couldn’t ask for anything more!

UPDATE: This contest ends on Sept. 2, not August 2 as had been originally noted. After confirming conflicting information on the Contest Instructions and Rules and Regulations pages with Positively Cleveland, the date has been corrected below.

An Indians win, dollar dogs and fireworks. In my books, that’s a perfect #summerinCLE night!

Friday night, Scott and I walked down to Progressive to watch the Indians take on the Texas Rangers.

Texas Rangers take on the Cleveland Indians

Scott and I had seats in the relocated Social Suite where we enjoyed an amazing view over the first base line.  It was an exciting back and forth matchup with Raburn pulling out a 3-run homer in the 11th inning to win the game.

It may have been a long night, but I wasn’t complaining while I chowed down on a few dollar dogs, a bottle of Indigo Imp and funnel cake for dessert. I’m glad we stuck around for the spectacular Jimi Hendrix-themed fireworks afterwards – the Indians put on my favorite fireworks show in Cleveland.

My contribution to the Dollar Dogs total

We had such a nice time that I couldn’t think of anything more perfect for my #SummerinCLE Tackk.

Positively Cleveland has teamed with local startup Tackk to celebrate all that is great about Cleveland in the summer. And this week, they’re giving away some great prizes in exchange for you sharing your summer favorites.

Seventh Inning Stretch

All you have to do is snap a photo and create a Summer in Cleveland tackk page that will then be shared with potential visitors to the city.

In return for the “tackk,” you’ll be entered to win the prize of the week as well as the grand prize at the end of the campaign (September 2). Each post earns you an additional entry with up to 3 entries per week.

The grand prize includes four tickets to the Cleveland Browns home-opener, a one-night stay at the Holiday Inn Express Downtown Cleveland for Saturday, September 7, four tickets to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, dinner at a downtown restaurant and attire from CLE Clothing Company.

You can learn more at http://tackk.com/44znu7 and check out my Tackk at http://tackk.com/4lpknp. But hurry – the contest ends this Friday!

Disclosure: I received two tickets as part of the Cleveland Indians Social Suite program. Anyone can apply to attend a game at the Social Suite at http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/fan_forum/social_suite.jsp.

Luau on the Lake on July 20 – #SC4KLuau13

There are certain activities that are must-dos each season: sledding in Winter, pumpkin patches in the Fall, and beach parties in Summer.

So for my second Fun in the Sun giveaway, I’m giving away 2 VIP tickets to Shoes and Clothes for Kids’ Luau on the Lake on Saturday, July 20.

For 8 years, SC4K has raised money for Northeast Ohio’s children with this Hawaiian-themed beach party.

While enjoying beautiful views of Lake Erie from Whiskey Island, partygoers at Luau on the Lake will get food, drinks, and dancing.  Although I don’t know what this year’s menu holds for us, last year’s party included delicious Caribbean Jerk-Spiced Roast Potatoes, Citrus Glazed Chicken, Sweet & Sour Brined and Slow Roasted Pork Loin and Island-inspired Sorbet.

General admission ticketholders can wash all that food down with beer, wine and soft drinks, while purchasers of the VIP “Big Kahuna” package will get that PLUS 3 specialty island cocktails, early admittance, and a lei, tote and souvenir tiki cup for only $10 extra.

A few more fun things to note about Luau on the Lake:

• In addition to dancing and lounging by the lake, partygoers can enjoy games of beach volleyball,
• “Jack be Limbo, Jack be Quick” during the Luau’s limbo contest,
• And hang out with Q104’s Allan Fee who will be there as the event’s official host.

For only $10 more than general admission, VIP ticketholders get everything + 3 free island cocktails and this Big Kahuna package

The party goes from 4 to 9pm on July 20. Before July 14, general admission tickets cost $40, which includes food, beer, wine, soft drinks, and entertainment. For only $50 (until July 14), VIP ticketholders get in at 3:30 and enjoy everything plus the “Big Kahuna” package listed above.

The money raised will support SC4K’s mission of providing Greater Cleveland’s families with new clothing, new shoes and new outlooks on life. Watch this video to learn more about Shoes and Clothes For Kids’ mission:

Tickets can be purchased at www.sc4k.org/Events/LuauontheLake/LuauontheLakeRegistration.aspx. The $40 general admission price and $50 VIP ticket are only available until July 14. After July 14, general admission tickets can be purchased online or at the door for $50.

And here’s your chance to win 2 VIP tickets to Luau on the Lake!

How to enter: Do one, some, or all five of the entries. A separate comment is needed for each.

5 Easy Ways to Enter the Giveaway
**You must leave a separate comment on this post for each entry**

1) Leave a comment with what your favorite outdoor summer activity is. (Mine is going to Cedar Point and the islands!)

2) Follow @SC4K and @ADHicken on Twitter and leave one comment on this post telling me you did both.

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

4) Tweet the following and leave one comment letting me know you tweeted:

“I want to party like a Big Kahuna at #SC4KLuau13! Enter @ADHicken’s @SC4K giveaway to win VIP tickets: http://wp.me/p2Ukr0-27h”

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

5) Subscribe to Clue Into Cleveland via a feed tracker like Bloglovin’ or Feedly and leave one comment letting me know you did. This can also include signing up to receive email notifications in the top-right “Subscribe” section of this page.

You have until July 3 at 11:59PM to enter. On July 4, I will select a winner using Random.org and announce the winner’s name on Clue Into Cleveland. Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry – good luck!

Disclosure: Photos courtesy of Shoes and Clothes for Kids. In exchange for posting about the event and hosting a giveaway, I was invited to attend Luau on the Lake with a guest. My choice to host this giveaway and opinions of the event are 100% my own.

The view from Ohio City’s Cleveland Hostel on a summer afternoon

As I was running around Cleveland at Saturday’s RTA Scavenger Hunt, I realized somewhere between Gallucci’s and the Cleveland Hostel that it was the first time this season I had really enjoyed a day outside.

Given that summer officially starts on Friday at 1:04 am, I’m overdue to get some new shorts and bust out the sunscreen. While I’m not the lounge-by-the-pool, sunbathing type, I’m definitely excited to soak up the rays in other ways.

In fact I’m so excited that I’m hosting 3 giveaways over the next month featuring some of my favorite outdoor summer activities.

First up: Live Nation Summer Concerts!

This summer, Live Nation will bring acts like Moody Blues, The Killers and Weird Al to Cain Park and Jacobs Pavilion

A few years ago, I was able to cross the Squirrel Nut Zippers off my concert dreamlist when I saw them perform at Cain Park.  Along with Ben Folds Five and Cake, they were one of my top 3 favorite groups in high school.

And if there was anything that could have made their vocals and melodies more hypnotizing, it was the beautiful, tree-filled backdrop of Cain Park.

Nestled in the middle of Cleveland Heights, I find this rolling park offers a nice respite from the city. All summer long you can enjoy live music and theatre in one of two covered outdoor theatres. Or you can take in beautiful artwork at the Cain Park Arts Festival and Audrey & Harvey Feinberg Art Gallery. No matter what you end up doing, save room – and time – for a picnic dinner at the park.

On the other hand, maybe you like to enjoy your music right in the middle of the city.  If rocking out along the water is more your style, there’s Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica.

While I haven’t been, I have heard the the space is surprisingly intimate and acoustics great for an outdoor venue. Plus, I really don’t think you can beat the views of Cleveland’s bridges, buildings and waterways on a summer night.

Great outdoor concert venues right in Cleveland

From June through September, Live Nation Cleveland is filling these venues with a lineup for all music tastes:

@ Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
7/7- O.A.R. with Andrew McMahon and Allen Stone
7/23 – Steely Dan
7/24- Chicago
8/3- Daughtry/3 Doors Down
8/4- The Beach Boys
8/5- The Killers
8/10- Backstreet Boys
9/13- Tedeschi Trucks Band
9/29- The Moody Blues
(Update: The Ke$ha concert which was originally listed has been cancelled)

@ Cain Park
6/26- Happy Together Tour (The Turtles, Chuck Negron from 3 Dog Night, Mark Lindsay from Paul Revere and the Raiders, Gary Lewis and The Playboys and Gary Puckett and The Union Gap)
7/19- Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson
7/31- Weird Al Yankovic
8/7- YES
8/10- Michael Stanley
8/18- Michael McDonald

And here’s your chance to win 2 tickets to one of these concerts!

How to enter: Do one, some, or all five of the entries. A separate comment is needed for each.

5 Easy Ways to Enter the Giveaway
**You must leave a separate comment on this post for each entry**

1) Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment with which concert you want to see if you win. If you are selected as the winner, this will be the concert you receive tickets to (based on availability).

2) Follow @LiveNationCLV and @ADHicken on Twitter and leave a comment on this post telling me you did.

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) Tweet a link to this blog post on Twitter, tag @ADHicken and @LiveNationCLV in the tweet, and leave a comment letting me know you tweeted.  Example below:

I want to see [REPLACE WITH BAND YOU WANT TO SEE] in #CLE! Enter @ADHicken’s giveaway to win tickets to a @LiveNationCLV concert this summer http://wp.me/p2Ukr0-26i

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

5) Subscribe to Clue Into Cleveland via a feed tracker like Bloglovin’ or Feedly and leave a comment letting me know you did. This can also include signing up to receive email notifications in the top-right “Subscribe” section of this page.

You have until June 24 at 11:59PM to enter. On June 25, I will select a winner using Random.org and announce the winner’s name on Clue Into Cleveland. Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry – good luck!

Disclosures: I was invited to give away 2 tickets to one of this summer’s Live Nation concerts at Cain Park or Jacobs Pavilion. In exchange, I was provided 2 tickets to the concert of my choice. My opinions and the choice to post about these concerts are my own. Entry 1 is mandatory and the winner will be awarded a pair of tickets to the concert they indicate in the comments. If there is a lack of available tickets to the winner’s first choice, other concert arrangements will be made.

Update: I wanted to apologize for a blog fail on my part as I accidentally only posted part of Sarah’s recipe in my original post. The full post with complete recipe is now updated below.

As much as I enjoyed my vacation and spending time visiting Virginia with my family, it’s good to be home in Cleveland. Because we got in late last night, Sarah from Cooker Girl is guest-posting for me today as I catch up on things.

Check out her site for mouth-watering recipes like the one below. And if you want to enjoy your own Cooker Girl creation (like the delicious She-Hulk birthday cake she baked for me), email her at sarah (at) sarahberridge.com.

BLTs are one of my favorite sandwiches, and have been since I was little.  I love BLTs any time of year, but with tomatoes currently peaking, conditions are perfect for the ultimate locally sourced BLT.

A few years ago Michael Ruhlman had a challenge to create a BLT from scratch (grow your lettuce and tomato, make the bacon and mayo, bake the bread).  Some people went so far as making mayo from eggs laid by chickens they’ve raised, or grew then ground wheat to make flour for the bread.

Now I’m not saying you have to go that far for a local BLT, but you can still make it as local as possible AND be reasonable.  The Cleveland area has many wonderful markets that feature local food, and they’re all packed with the summer’s bounty.  Check out one of the North Union Farmer’s Markets,  West Side Market, Miles Farmers Market, or even Heinen’s to find local ingredients.  No matter where you live, there is bound to be a market near you!

Since a BLT is so simple to make, I propose that you at least try making your own mayonnaise.  I swear it’s really easy and you don’t need any special equipment or whacky ingredients.  It only takes a little bit longer than toasting the bread for your BLT.  Once you’ve got the basic mayo, the flavor possibilities are endless.  My favorites are spicy mayo (add your fav hot sauce or chili powder) or pesto mayo (just add pesto).

Your Market Shopping List:

1. Bacon
2. Lettuce
3. Tomato (please don’t store them in the fridge!)
4. Bread
5. Eggs
6. Lemon (I don’t know if there are actually any local lemons, but you might as well get some while you’re shopping)

Homemade Mayonaise

Adapted from Michael Ruhlman

Yield: about 1 cup

1 egg yolk

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp water

1 tsp lemon juice (plus more to taste)

1/4 tsp mustard (yellow or dijon)

1 cup vegetable oil

Toasted Bread

Mayo

Lettuce

Tomato

Bacon

Mayo

Toasted Bread

Please note that I like to put the T in the middle of the B and L.  I create a barrier so the toast doesn’t get too soggy from the juicy tomatoes.

Head over to Cooker Girl to check out my recipe for Bakin’ Bacon.  It’s a quicker, easier and cleaner way to cook bacon for a crowd.

Sarah Berridge blogs recipes at Cooker Girl and she recently starting baking for the public.  Please contact her if you have an bakery needs!