After checking all of the entries and removing two pingbacks plus several duplicate entries, the winner as selected by Random.org is Cheryl Scheckel. Congratulations! 

If you didn’t win, I have another way you can celebrate the return of football to Cleveland … and this party is free for everyone!

PlayhouseSquare Partners’ Season KickOff Party: Enjoy a tailgate followed by outdoor showing of Draft Day

Join PlayhouseSquare Partners, the theatre district’s young professionals organization, for a Season KickOff Party and Movie this Friday night.

At dusk on September 12, PlayhouseSquare will be showing Draft Day out on the U.S. Bank Plaza. The movie’s free and part of PlayhouseSquare’s Summer Movie Series presented by Elk & Elk.

Our pre-movie kickoff will take place 5:30-8:30pm in the Idea Center’s Gund studio space on Euclid Ave. The tailgate-themed party includes:

• A Chipotle Buffet
• Cash Bar (First drink on us!)
• Ice Cream Bars
• DJ Playing Music
• and Cornhole and Other Tailgate Games

PlayhouseSquare Partners will also be there with tables and information for each of our committees and upcoming activities.

Best of all, everyone who attends the party will be the first to find out what this year’s Jump Back Ball theme is. (I’m on the board and I won’t even find out til then!)

It’s free to attend the Partners KickOff Party, and if you decide to join Partners at this event, you’ll also receive 20% off a new Partners membership (excluding Balcony’s Best $50 membership).

Just RSVP for the party by emailing sarah@playhousesquare.org. See you Friday!

Disclaimer: I’m a co-chair of PlayhouseSquare Partners’ board and involved in the hosting of the movie’s Tailgate Party.

Win 2 tickets to the Sept. 15 event

Every four years, Feeding America, the nationwide network of 200 food banks, conducts its Hunger in America study.

It’s the largest survey of its kind, focusing on why hunger happens and its effects on local communities.

The most recent Hunger in America was released just last week, and showed that right here in Northeast Ohio, more than 574,000 people each year turn to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and other hunger programs.

If you’ve been thinking about getting involved with the Food Bank, now is the time.

September is Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign to raise significant funds and enlist volunteers in the fight against hunger.

And the Greater Cleveland Food Bank has made it easy and fun for you to contribute with two fantastic events.

First up is the Hunger Action Month Happy Hour on Monday, September 8th. From 5:30-7:30pm, drink and eat up at TownHall in Ohio City. A $20 ticket gets you unlimited selected drafts between 5:30 and 7:30 and flatbreads between 6 and 7. All proceeds benefit the Cleveland Food Bank, and you can find out more and buy tickets at the link.

It’s an excellent warm-up to the Food Bank’s main event the following week. That’s right, it’s time again for Taste of the Browns!

It’s the 16th year that the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, the city’s culinary scene, and the Cleveland Browns have teamed up to tackle hunger in Northeast Ohio.

Photo from 2013 Taste of the Browns, courtesy of Greater Cleveland Food Bank

On Monday, September 15, more than 25 of the area’s finest restaurants and chefs will take over the City View Club Lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium. Some of the restaurants in attendance include:

• Rocco Whalen’s Fahrenheit and Rosie & Rocco’s
• Zack Bruell’s Chinato, Cowell & Hubbard, L’Albatros Brasserie, Parallax, Table 45
• Eric Williams’ Momocho and El Carnicero
• Sam McNulty’s The Market Garden Brewery, Bar Cento, Speakeasy, Nano Brew and Bier Market
• And my new favorite downtown dining destination Urban Farmer

Photo from 2013 Taste of the Browns by Poise in Parma

Cleveland Browns fans also have the opportunity to meet and mingle with Browns alumni and current players and bid for items like Joe Haden’s “favorite things” gift basket; footballs and jerseys autographed by Brian Hoyer, Johnny Manziel and Barkevious Mingo; and a signed copy of the Draft Day movie script.

New to this year’s Taste of the Browns is a wine and craft beer pull. For $10, attendees can purchase a bottle cap for a six-pack of craft beer, while $20 gets you a bottle of wine.

Need more convincing? Check out Poise in Parma’s guest recap of last year’s Taste of the Browns.

General admission tickets are available for $175, $75 of which is tax-deductible and can be purchased here. Proceeds from last year’s event raised more than $175,000 for the Food Bank, enabling them to distribute 700,000+ meals to agencies in six local counties.

Photo from 2013 Taste of the Browns, courtesy of Greater Cleveland Food Bank

You can also win 2 general admission tickets to Taste of the Browns in my giveaway.
How to enter: Do one, some or all five of the entries; a separate comment’s needed for each.

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

1) Leave a comment on this post telling me which Taste of the Browns restaurant you haven’t been to before that you’d like to try.

2) Follow @CleveFoodbank 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 Foodbank 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:

I want to tackle hunger at @CleveFoodbank’s #TasteoftheBrowns. Enter @ADHicken’s giveaway and you can too: http://wp.me/p2Ukr0-2zV

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 Sunday, September 7 at 11:59PM to enter. On Monday, September 8, I will select a winner using Random.org and will announce the winner’s name on my blog.  Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry – good luck!

Disclosure: I was invited to attend Taste of the Browns with a guest in exchange for hosting a giveaway. My choice to post about this event and opinions are 100% my own.

If you’d still like to purchase tickets, head over to greatbighomeandgarden.com, use promo code CiC, and get tickets to the Great Big Home and Garden Show for only $10!

Now to change gears a bit…

Two years ago, a group of Cleveland young professionals came together to fight Alzheimer’s disease with football.

The annual BvBCLE flag football game celebrates the age-old rivalry between blondes and brunettes. However, the question in this game isn’t who has more fun, but who plays harder: the Blonde Bombshells or Blazin’ Brunettes?

I attended Cleveland’s first Blondes vs. Brunettes game in 2012 and was floored by the players’ enthusiasm — not just for the game, but also for raising awareness and money for the Cleveland chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

That first year raised $41,253, which went to support Alzheimer’s research and the free programs helping 56,000+ people affected in Northeast Ohio. To date, Blondes vs. Brunettes Cleveland Flag Football has raised more than $80,000 and is excited to make the 3rd annual event even bigger.

Cleveland’s 3rd annual Charity Powderpuff Football Game to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Sign up at BvBCLE.org.

BvBCLE ’14 will be held on Saturday, June 7 at 11 a.m. on Cleveland State University’s Krenzler Field.

Although June may seem far away, Cleveland’s Blondes vs. Brunettes league has already been busy preparing.  And no wonder, this year’s fundraising goal is a staggering $51,000.

Player registration just opened this week. Depending on your hair color, women can now register for Team Blonde or Team Brunette. Redheads are free agents and can choose either team.

Although ladies-only play, anyone can coach, join a committee or make a donation to BvBCLE.  In fact, your donation gets you a ticket to the game.

Learn more about how you can get involved at www.BvBCLE.org.

A bocce ball league is coming to Cleveland this winter

Major League Bocce, the nation’s largest organized bocce league, has found its way to Cleveland, bringing with it a fresh take on a sport steeped in tradition and heritage.  It’s true. You no longer have to be retired to enjoy this refined Italian game.  Major League Bocce is bending the rules and breaking traditions to make bocce ball available where and when it’s convenient to you – AT THE BAR! You were going to be there anyway…  Why not commit to 7 weeks of tossing balls and tossing back brews one night a week at a local watering hole?  Games are literally played right at the bar, on the court at Stone Mad Pub in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood.

Not familiar with the sport of bocce?  Here’s a quick tutorial:  Two teams compete with four balls each, attempting to get their team’s balls closest to the target, a smaller white ball called the pallina.  Games are played for 45 minutes or until a team reaches 14 points.  Players can toss their balls closer to the pallina, hit the pallina to maneuver it away from an opponent’s ball or closer to their team’s balls, or knock opponents’ balls out of the way. And don’t forget, it only takes one hand to toss a bocce ball, leaving the other one free to hold a frosty beverage. 

I first discovered bocce ball for people my age shortly after moving to the Columbia Heights neighborhood in Washington DC for a two-year fellowship. I was walking to the store to buy some plastic furniture for my little studio apartment, when I found myself behind a girl in a t-shirt that read “Major League Bocce: Play, Drink, Score”. I went home and googled and found this bocce league that had divisions in neighborhoods all over the city, and even hosted other events like a summer rafting trip.

From the looks of it, the league was the perfect way to get to know some people in this city that I had just moved to. So, the next week I rounded up some co-workers, and thus the “Bocceholics” were born. We weren’t good, but we sure did have lots of fun after work!

Bocceholics

The following spring we played again, this time outdoors, under the team name “Mr. Gorbocce, Tear Down This Ball”. We got a little better the second time around, with the help of some new players, but I think making up clever team names and hearing what everyone else came up with was just as important as how many points we scored!

Mr. Gorbocce, Tear Down This Ball

It was during that spring season that I found out I was going to be transferring back to Cleveland after my fellowship ended. I couldn’t wait to move back to the Midwest, but I was bummed about leaving this kooky bocce world behind. That’s when it hit me…Cleveland has a critical mass of young adults that just might love bocce just as much as I do. And since the folks at Stone Mad Pub definitely love bocce (I mean they have a court inside their bar!) it was the perfect opportunity to debut Major League Bocce in Cleveland, OH.

This Winter, Major League Bocce will be hosting its inaugural season on Tuesday evenings at Stone Mad Pub in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood.  Teams play once a week for 6 weeks, and then at the end of the season everyone participates in a single elimination tournament culminating in the crowning of a champion team. The winners get trophies, bragging rights, and a donation in their name to a local charity. Bonus: Everyone makes the playoffs so you don’t have to be an expert to get started.

Fueled by beers and an arsenal of ball jokes, Major League Bocce looks like it’s the best preventative treatment for seasonal affective disorder that you’ll find in town this winter.  Register to get in on the bocce action.  Games start the week of January 21^st.

Born in Toledo, Allison initially moved to Cleveland to attend law school at Case Western Reserve University. She moved back to Cleveland in August 2013 and joined her fiancé and their cat, Chairman Meow Zedong, in an apartment in the Warehouse District that’s twice the size and half the price of her studio apartment in DC.

Jingle Bell Run Cleveland, December 8

With Thanksgiving tomorrow, I’m taking it easy this week with just one post. This is our last Thanksgiving before Scott’s parents move so we’ll be celebrating with friends tomorrow, then relaxing, holiday merrymaking, and attending Genghis Con, Cleveland’s underground comic convention, on Sunday.

Amid all that we’re also getting ready for Scott’s first 5K – Jingle Bell Run Cleveland on December 8!

In addition to throwing pretty awesome parties, the Arthritis Foundation, Great Lakes Region, Northeast Ohio chapter raises money for arthritis support and research through their annual holiday run/walk.

Scott and I volunteered at last year’s event, helping to guide runners through the Legacy Village race path. After seeing how much fun everyone had in their reindeer antlers and costumes, we decided that we’d sign up for this year’s Jingle Bell. Our team is the Chicken Hickens; Jen and Matthew of WhyCLE have even joined us.

Photos from previous Jingle Bell Run

Want to join us in fighting arthritis in Northeast Ohio? It only costs $25 to register for the Jingle Bell Run/Walk; $20 for children.  

Registration and packet pick up starts at 7:30 am on December 8. Packets can also be picked up on December 5 and 7. The 5K starts at 8:30 am, beginning and ending near the Lawn at Legacy Village. A one mile option is available as well.

In addition to the race, participants can enjoy a costume contest, educational speakers, health and wellness exhibitors, a snowflake kids fun run and awards. Afterwards, Bar Louie will host an informal after party until 11:00 am.

Because I’m not a cold-weather runner and it’s Scott’s 5K, this race will likely be a walk for us. However, Scott and I are busy putting the finishing touches on our costume.

The Chicken Hickens’ favorite couple Gonzo and Camilla

With a team name like the Chicken Hickens, we figured we’d go as our favorite chicken-themed couple — Gonzo the Great and Camilla Chicken.

If you can’t run or walk in the 5K, make a donation or volunteer. And if you’re in Legacy Village the morning of December 8, be sure to say hi to the guy in the chicken suit and the blue-haired lady!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and remember to
shop small and local this weekend!

Welcomed to Pennsylvania with a rainbow

Living in Cleveland with family and friends on the east coast has led to countless trips along the Pennsylvania turnpike. To keep from going crazy on our frequent 8+ hour roadtrips, Scott and I often stop to take in the sights and tastes of Central and Western Pennsylvania.

For all of our journeys, though, we have never stopped in Pittsburgh.

I don’t really have a legitimate excuse. On the one hand, I’ve witnessed my fair share of arguments about the Pittsburgh/Cleveland rivalry, and even before that, I had a dislike of the Penguins ingrained in me as a young Philadelphia Flyers fan.  However, I also know a lot of people from college and Cleveland who loved living in Pittsburgh.

It was time to put aside any sports-inspired feelings I had about Pittsburgh and explore it

A blogger exchange between Visit Pittsburgh, Positively Cleveland and other area tourism bureaus recently forced me to put aside these mixed feelings. Invited to come visit, Scott and I put out a call on Twitter and Facebook for suggestions of what to see and where to eat. The response floored me, resulting in a two-page to-do list for our weekend trip.

With our suggestions and an overnight bag packed, Scott and I made the two-hour drive after work on Friday night.

Our first stop after arriving in Pittsburgh was the Wood Street Galleries for a welcome reception. Located above a light rail station, Wood Street Galleries is part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s decades-long commitment to transforming downtown Pittsburgh into an arts district.  Admission is free and the gallery houses new media installations. I really liked the unusual use of this building.

Wood Street Galleries

Scott and I were happy to grab a bite to eat at the reception, where we met the team behind Visit Pittsburgh and then were let loose on the city.

We walked a few blocks back to where we were staying, the downtown Courtyard Marriott. My first impression of the hotel was how conveniently located it was — a block away from the Pittsburgh Convention Center, as well as a short walk from many different areas of downtown. Best of all, it had a California wine bar and restaurant attached to it and at least 4 other restaurants across the street.

After our dinner at Wood Street, we only had enough energy to grab a drink before bed. Fortunately, one of the restaurants across the street was Sharp Edge’s Bistro on Penn. Featuring over 20 Belgium beers on tap and more in bottles, it reminded me of Bier Markt’s selection. A Rochefort 10 left me warm and fuzzy, while their Oktoberfest menu had me wishing I saved room for a small snack.

At the Sharp Edge in downtown Pittsburgh

After a night of struedel-filled dreams, I dragged Scott, Kimberly, Jen and Matthew out of bed on Saturday morning at the ungodly hour of 7.

Why? Two words: Pamela’s Diner. After being regaled with tales of their breakfasts, Pamela’s was one of my required stops. With a heads up that they can get crowded on Saturdays, we began our early trek from downtown to the Strip District. I love morning walks like this – watching a city wake up and the vendors start to set up for Saturday morning’s market.

Up early for Pamela’s Diner

When we arrived at Pamela’s, it was starting to get crowded but there was an open table by the window. It was a great spot to take in Pamela’s classic soda hop style, as well as the architecture of the Strip district outside our window.

But let’s be honest, we were there for the food. I ordered their crepe style hotcakes, which come plain or stuffed with various flavors. Once I saw they had banana walnut stuffed hotcakes, I was sold.

Madison’s review (left) is spot-on – go to Pamela’s and order the hotcakes.

I do not like fluffy, dense hotcakes. My mom always made them super-thin and a little crispy around the edges, and this is the style that Pamela’s has perfected. The bananas, walnuts and whipped cream were the proverbial icing on the (hot)cake.

As we rolled ourselves out of Pamela’s, we realized we had arrived just in time as a large crowd was forming at the door.

We walked off our breakfast with a stroll through the Strip. We stopped in Allegheny Coffee & Tea for a lovely sweet lavender tea, the impressive Eide’s Entertainment for comics, and the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company.  

Once you pick up fresh beans at Allegheny (left), head across the street for everything Italian – and more – at Pennsylvania Macaroni Company (right)

Italian food fans (well, really food fans of all stripes) should make a stop at the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company which features over 5000 specialty food items. Spices, meats, a room stocked full of fresh cheese, and pastries were just some of the mouthwatering choices we found.

I practiced a lot of self-restraint, but finally broke down when I saw the maple walnut pizzelles.

We could have spent most of our day in the Strip District; however, we had more of the city to see. On our next trip, we’ll have to dedicate more time to the neighborhood — and bring a cooler for the delicious food.

After dropping a few things off at the hotel, we took the Convention Center’s waterfall walkway to the river path. We passed a crew team getting in a Saturday morning row, families walking their dogs and children, and bikers out for a ride.

The view while walking along the river in downtown Pittsburgh

Our ultimate destination was the giant rubber duck on the Allegheny River. The four-story duck created by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman was brought to Pittsburgh by the Cultural Trust. As we stood under the looming duck, we instantly understood why hoards of people flocked there. Simply put, it was unbelievably cute.

The Giant Rubber Duck, hanging with ducks

So cute that Scott was obsessed with it all weekend (if I had to be honest, he still is). It led to this exchange tweeted by Kimberly at dinner:

OH: I still love you. But there’s also the duck. cc: @Husbanonymous @ADHicken #rubberduckproject #LovePGH

— smitten in cleveland (@smittenincle) October 13, 2013

I’ve been replaced.  Could you blame Scott, though?

“Every breath you take, every move you make, Giant Duck is watching you.”

Continuing our loop through downtown, we visited the Fort Pitt Blockhouse, the oldest existing structure in Western Pennsylvania. Celebrating its 250th anniversary next year, the Blockhouse was a defense structure during the French and Indian War and the remaining piece of Fort Pitt after the rest was demolished in the 1700s.

History! at the Fort Pitt Blockhouse

After taking in a little bit of Pittsburgh history, we happened upon the cobblestoned Market Square. An oasis amid the city’s skyscrapers, it’s filled with restaurants like the 1800s’ Oyster House and the Pittsburgh classic Primanti’s Bros.

Still full from Pamela’s, we stopped by the Creole-inspired NOLA for patio cocktails. I ordered A Sidecar Named Desire, their sweet, bourbon-y twist on a sidecar, while Scott enjoyed their veal-brothed French Onion Soup.

Perfect weather for patio dining on Market Square

It was a lot of fun to soak in the sun while we watched everyone doing their Saturday shopping and playing chess in the park.

I loved how walkable downtown Pittsburgh is. We didn’t have a set destination for our morning adventure, which allowed us to stumble upon things like the Toonseum and S.W. Randall toystore as we made our way back to the hotel.

However, after the early wakeup and long stroll, we were all exhausted and in the mood for an afternoon nap. Besides being conveniently located, the Courtyard’s rooms were very conducive to relaxation.

Spacious, comfortable accommodations at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Pittsburgh

A sprawling bedroom and living room suite gave Scott and I more than enough room to spread out and snooze. And the Courtyard was the first to surpass the comfort level of my bed at home.

It was the much-needed refresher we needed to enjoy our evening and next day in Pittsburgh.

I’ll be back later this week with the rest of my #LovePGH recap, as well as Scott’s take on the city.

Disclosure: I was invited to attend the LovePGH blogger tour with a guest. We were provided a hotel room and spending money for the weekend. I was asked to tweet and Instagram our travels, but not required to blog about it. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

August 23rd can’t come soon enough — Not only is it Date Night at the Zoovies, it’s also my birthday. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than seeing Back to the Future at the Zoo!

And one of you will be joining me at the sold-out event with your own pair of tickets. After removing one pingback, one duplicate entry and entering the remaining entries into Random.org, congratulations to:

Entry # 75 — Michelle @tinktastic! Please reply to my email by Friday morning to redeem your two Zoovies tickets.

If you didn’t win, you have one more chance over at Poise in Parma. But before you head to Alicia’s giveaway, enter my new giveaway for Taste of the Browns below:

Taste of the Browns – Sept. 9

The Cleveland Browns have gone through a lot of changes as they head into the 2013 season. It’s Haslam’s first full season as owner, the team has a new coach, and the stadium a new name.

But one thing not changing this season is the Browns’ longtime support of the Cleveland Foodbank through their Taste of the Browns fundraiser.

On Monday, September 9, fans of Cleveland food and football will descend on First Energy stadium from 6-9pm to help raise funds for the Foodbank while enjoying treats from over 30 restaurants.

If you’ve never been, check out my review of last year’s Taste of the Browns which raised more than $140,500 for the Foodbank.

One thing to know is the Browns and the Foodbank outdo themselves every year and the 15th annual Taste of the Browns will be bigger and better than ever.

At Taste of the Browns, enjoy food and drink, while meeting current and alumni Cleveland Browns players

Restaurants serving up delicious signature dishes include: B-Spot Burgers, Deagan’s, Lago, Momocho/El Carnicero, The Greenhouse Tavern, Pier W and many more.

Cleveland Browns alumni and current players will also be on hand to meet and mingle with fans, while live music and auction and raffle items provide plenty of entertainment.

General admission tickets are $175 each ($75 is tax-deductible) and can be purchased here.

I also have 2 general admission tickets to give away. How to enter: Do one, some, or all five of the entries. A separate comment is needed for each.

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

1) Leave a comment on this post telling me which Taste of the Browns restaurant you haven’t been to before that you’d like to try.

2) Follow @CleveFoodbank 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 Foodbank 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:

I want to tackle hunger at @CleveFoodbank’s #TasteoftheBrowns. Enter @ADHicken’s giveaway and you can too: http://wp.me/p2Ukr0-2ar

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 Monday, August 19 at 11:59PM to enter. On Tuesday, August 20, I will select a winner using Random.org and will announce the winner’s name on my blog.  Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry – good luck!

Disclosure: I was invited to attend Taste of the Browns in exchange for hosting a giveaway. I will be out of town and unable to attend. I am also a council member of YP Pantry, the Foodbank’s young professionals group.  However, my choice to post about this event and opinions are 100% my own.

#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.

Scott’s grandmom takes a break from househunting and exploring the neighborhood

When I first started my blog, it was because I wanted to show my friends and family back home why I loved living in Cleveland so much.

I found myself going back to Philly and talking nonstop about Happy Dog or West Side Market and eventually decided it’d be better to show it through pictures and posts.

While we’ve had plenty of loved ones visit over my 3 years of blogging, I didn’t know we’d actually convince someone to move out here. Now I’m happy to say Scott’s parents and grandmom have decided to retire to Cleveland from the Philly area.

We spent this past Sunday looking at houses in our neighborhood and Scott’s mom and grandmom have been passing the time this week getting to know more of Avon Lake.

On my in-laws’ tour of Avon Lake, the aquatic rec center at Bleser Park

Which got me to thinking: I tend to blog a lot about upcoming events or where to take a guest when they visit. But what about if you knew someone who was moving to Cleveland – where would you tell them to go for their everyday things?

I’ve started to make a list of a few things I remember struggling with when I first moved here, but I want to hear your suggestions.

Check out my list below and then leave a comment. If your suggestion is tailored specifically for a eastside, westside, downtown or suburban resident, mention that in your comment. And a special thanks to Kimberly, Alicia and Kate for their suggestions.

With Mama Gallucci at one of the tastiest specialty grocery shops in Cleveland

A Girl’s Gotta Eat

While Cleveland has some fantastic restaurants, you’re going to have to make a meal at home at some point. So where do you go for groceries?

My top picks are the West Side Market (of course!) and the Cleveland area’s large selection of local CSAs and farmers markets.

When I first moved here, I was spoiled by having the Shaker Square Farmers Market only two blocks away. However, no matter where you live, North Union Farmers Markets has other locations throughout the region. Tremont and Kamm’s Corners also feature two great local markets.

On the hunt for a particular item? There are specialty shops like Gallucci’s and Hansa Import Haus. And if you’re looking to pick up something quick after work, Nature’s Bin, Heinen’s and Whole Foods are my go-to.

An oldie, but a goodie – my favorite CLE Clothing Co. tee

The Clothes on My Back

Although we moved here over 6 years ago, I still remember that first shopping trip in Cleveland. We had so much fun picking out shirts that showed off our love for our new home.

Whether it’s a tee or a fabulous, locally designed coat perfect for our winters, here are just a few great places to pick up some Cleveland gear:

• CLE Clothing Co.
• GV Art+Design
• Banyan Tree
• Big Fun
• Yellowcake
• Room Service
• Salty not Sweet
• Fresh Brewed Tees (check out WhyCLE’s giveaway)

And while they don’t exclusively feature Cleveland stuff, don’t miss out on the awesome treasure-hunting in Cleveland’s many vintage shops.

Minigolf with Hermes Cleveland, which also hosts road races and intramural leagues in Cleveland

Fun and Fit

When you move somewhere new, you’re so busy that it can be easy to fall out of your workout routine. Whether you prefer running, yoga or hitting the gym, here are suggestions on staying active in the CLE:

Yoga Rocks the Park: Prana Bodhi, Vinyasa, Power Yoga – it’s hard to keep track of the different yoga options. However, Yelp has a list of local yoga studios to help you out. Now that it’s summer, take your practice outside with Yoga Rocks the Park. Enjoy music and yoga in Tremont’s Lincoln Park for only $12 per session when you pre-register.

Run Clubs: If you’d like some company when you strap on your shoes, check out a local running store like Vertical Runner in Brecksville and Second Sole Rocky River to see if they offer a running club. And if you run in a club, feel free to leave its name in the comments.

Hermes Road Racing and Sports & Social: I’ve run a few of Hermes Cleveland’s road races, competed in their Corporate Challenge, and played kickball in one of their intramural leagues. I found that it’s a good way to not just get active, but get out of your comfort zone and meet new people.

Cleveland Metroparks: However, my all-time favorite way to have fun while staying fit is visiting the Metroparks. Whether it’s running, hiking, biking or golfing, the Cleveland Metroparks will keep you busy! Besides all that, you can also try your hand at something more leisurely like archery, boating or geocaching.

Whether you spend the day strolling through the museum or sitting on a bench honing your drawing skills, the free Cleveland Museum of Art is a great place to take a break.

Take a Break for Less

Once you’ve unpacked, it’s time to “Treat. Yo. Self” for all that hard work. However, I get it – Moving is expensive and you don’t want to spend too much money. 

I’m a lover of all things thrifty and here’s a quick brainstorm of my favorites:

• Cleveland Museum of Art: Free general admission!
• Cleveland Cinemas: $6 Mondays, Happy Hour Wednesdays and more!
• Happy Dog: Live music, comedy, talks on science and writing, Classical Revolution, polka, plus hot dogs loaded with incredible toppings for $5
• Cinema at the Square: Classic movies in PlayhouseSquare’s beautiful Palace Theatre for only $5 each or six for $15.
• Aut-O-Rama Drive-In: 2 movies for $9 ($3 for kids 4-11) – new movies every week and Tuesday is now Retro Movie Night.
• Cleveland Public Theatre: Enjoy quality theatre for less at the Cleveland Public Theatre (Free Beer Fridays are the best!), as well as Beck Center, Near West, Theater Ninjas, and Dobama. There are also $10 Smart Seats for PlayhouseSquare.
• Downtown Cleveland’s Pop Up Parties: Food, a beer garden and free music at Perk Plaza – 5-8pm on the third Thursday of every summer month.

$6 Mondays at the Capitol Theatre are one of the city’s best deals

There are a lot of great things out there for those new to Cleveland. And there is no way I could cover everything here. Because of that, my final suggestion is to pick up New to Cleveland, A Guide to (re)Discovering the City. I learned a lot even after living here a few years – plus, the illustrations are beautiful!

When you move to a new place, what are the first things you look for and where would you suggest new-to-CLEvelanders go? Leave a note below in the comments!

BBQ, brews and blues at the ballpark – besides being a fun tongue-twister, it’s my favorite way to chill out in the summer.

And on June 28, this triple-play of summer fun comes to downtown Cleveland at Our Lady of the Wayside’s Grapes and Ale fundraiser.

From 7-10pm, Progressive Field will be taken over by some of the area’s best BBQ restaurants and beer and wine providers.

With @MorganJPerez, Jen @WhyCLE, Crystal @EatDrinkClev on Progressive Field’s patio

The stadium’s main patio and concourse are transformed into a giant tasting pavilion filled with over 200 internationally acclaimed wines, as well as beer and food from places like Hot Sauce Williams, Battery Park Wine Bar, the 100th Bomb Group, Great Lakes Brewing Company, and Goose Island.

Meanwhile, the bluesy harmonica-guitar-bass trio of Colin Dussault’s Side Project will entertain guests as the sun sets over Progressive Field.

Admission to the Grapes & Ales Grand Tasting is $50 and includes a souvenir wine glass, wine samplings, food and music. Samplings of craft beers can also be purchased at the WKNR Craft Brew Patio.

Not drinking? Designated drivers can purchase tickets for $20 good for food, music, soda and water.

Excited to be Kickin’ it with Kenny from FOX8 (photo from EatDrinkCleveland)

Last year Scott and I went and had a fantastic time hanging out with Eat Drink Cleveland and WhyCLE (click the links for their recaps from last year). I also loved meeting @MorganJPerez and @KateConley.

We drank a lot of wine, played some wine pong, enjoyed so much pulled pork and brisket, and I got my photo Kickin’ it with Kenny. I also left with a souvenir, winning a hammock in the silent auction.

The best part, though, was meeting people from Our Lady of the Wayside and learning about the homes and services they provide to more than 500 individuals with developmental disabilities in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties.

3 hours of BBQ, wine and entertainment for only $50? It’s a price you can’t really beat especially when the funds raised go to help families affected by MR, autism, cerebral palsy, and traumatic brain injury.

Get your tickets and learn more about the event, including the special VIP hour, at thewayside.org/grapes.

Disclosure: I was invited to attend Grapes & Ale with a guest in exchange for previewing the event. My opinion and the choice of which events I blog about is my own.