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.

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.

One of my favorite Girls Days Out from last year at Jen’s wedding

UPDATE: In addition to entering my giveaway below for SPANK! at PlayhouseSquare, you can increase your chances of winning by checking out Smitten in Cleveland’s, WhyCLE’s and Life in the CLE’s giveaways going on now.

***

I find that when I need to blow off steam, a Girls’ Night (or Day) Out is the best remedy – whether it’s yoga with Poise in Parma or @CLEYogi, or a Sunday of Les Mis, crafting and Downton Abbey.

If you want to make like Cyndi Lauper and have fun, I have 2 upcoming girls’ nights and a giveaway for you:

While these events are primarily geared towards women, anyone is encouraged to attend.

Battle of the Bombshells Happy Hour Kickoff
Jan. 11, 8-10pm at Around the Corner

The Battle of the Bombshells is back! Last summer the Blondes vs. Brunettes flag football fundraiser came to Cleveland for the first time and raised $41,253.00 to tackle Alzheimer’s disease.

This year’s goal is to raise $50,000, which will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association’s research, support and care efforts for more than 56,000 affected in Northeast Ohio.

And BvBCLE wants YOU!

Join them this Friday, Jan. 11 from 8-10pm at Around the Corner.  $20 gets you all you can eat and drink at their Happy Hour Kickoff.

While you’re there, learn more and sign up to participate in this year’s game. Women and men are both being recruited.

Ladies play ball (red-heads are free agents), but anyone can coach or join an event committee.

Teams Blonde and Brunette will also be competing to raise funds by raffling off a booze basket and other prizes until 10pm.

RSVP on Facebook or email sberman@alz.org. And learn more about BVBCLE’s other going ons by visiting bvbcle.org, @bvbcle and facebook.com/bvbcleveland.

SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody and Giveaway
Jan. 17-27 at the Hanna Theatre

While Fifty Shades of Grey hasn’t made it on my reading list yet, I’m a sucker for a good spoof.

SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody arrives at Cleveland’s Hanna Theatre January 17 through 27.

Described as: “the hilarious unauthorized musical satire that brings the naughty fun of the saucy best-selling book to life in one laugh-filled high-energy show. Part Chippendales, part Second City…all in one delicious package.”

On Jan. 20, you can join me, WhyCLE, Smitten in Cleveland and Life in the CLE for a special Sunday Funday at SPANK. The show starts at 3pm with pre-show cocktails beforehand.

Because I’m a firm believer in the more the merrier, I have 2 tickets and drink tickets to give away to the show:

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 sharing what your favorite girls night out activity is. (You can just get me a bottle of wine and sushi and I’m happy.)

2) Follow @ADHicken on Twitter and leave one comment here letting me know 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) Twitter users can also get an extra entry each day for tweeting: “I want to see SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody. Enter @ADHicken’s Girls Day Out giveaway for your chance to win: http://wp.me/p2Ukr0-1L7”  (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 Sunday, Jan. 13 at 11:59PM to enter. On Monday, Jan. 14, I will select a winner using Random.org and will announce their name on my blog.  Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry.

Disclosure: I was invited to host a giveaway and blog about SPANK! at PlayhouseSquare in exchange for 2 tickets to see the show. Opinions here are my own.

Another reason I’d add to this list: all of the opportunities available for Cleveland Young Professionals to socialize, network and give back to the community.

While the city’s YP groups usually have events throughout the year, it seems like the next couple of weeks are particularly filled with them.   Here are just a few to mark on your calendar:

Cleveland Foodbank YP KickOff – Sept. 27

As I mentioned in last week’s post about Hunger Action Month, the Cleveland Foodbank is launching a new program for Young Professionals. And next Thursday, Sept. 27, they’re hosting a happy hour at Grovewood Tavern to unveil the name of the group and plans for future events.

From 6-8PM, a senior Foodbank staff member will be onsite to answer questions about poverty and hunger in Cleveland and discuss the Foodbank’s programs and volunteer opportunities.

And for every two canned goods you bring, you’ll receive a drink ticket (maximum of two drink tickets).

You can RSVP and learn more at clevelandfoodbankyp.eventbrite.com.

I’ve found my experiences volunteering for the Cleveland Foodbank to be extremely rewarding and the fact that everyone deserves to have food on their table is very important to me.  As a member of this new YP group, you’d be able to get involved, help set the direction for the organization and really further the impact the Foodbank has on our region.

As a side note: Earlier on the same night, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance and Engage Cleveland will be co-hosting a Pop-Up Party at the Colonial Marketplace.  The historic space is taking a new lease on Downtown Cleveland Retail and the Marketplace’s developer will be available for attendees who’d like to share their ideas on the stores and businesses they want to see in the space.

Since the Downtown Pop-Up starts at 5pm, you can stop by, share your ideas, and head to the Cleveland Foodbank happy hour to wrap up your night.

PlayhouseSquare OSU Party – Sept. 29

Are you ready for some football?  On Saturday, Sept. 29, Partners – PlayhouseSquare’s YP group – is hosting their annual OSU party during the Buckeyes-Michigan State game.

Doors open at 3pm at the Blind Pig with kickoff at 3:30pm.  Admission is free but you can also take advantage of a special deal on food and drink during the game. For $25 in advance/$30 at the door, enjoy 4 hours of unlimited pizza, pasta, wings, beer, wine and well drinks.

Even if you aren’t a college football fan, this event is a great opportunity to help raise money for PlayhouseSquare’s Bus Fund.  Proceeds from the food and drink packages, as well as raffles and the silent auction will provide much-needed funding to local schools who are unable to afford transportation to PlayhouseSquare shows.

Learn more here and make your reservation by calling 216-640-8416 or emailing franzm@playhousesquare.org.

Other upcoming PlayhouseSquare Partners events include:

Why Stay YP Conference – Oct. 6

The Why Stay Conference is an all-day conference that’s free and open to any Cleveland young professional. Through a partnership with BET, TV20, Cleveland State University, SOUP, and the Hip Hop Caucus, the event will provide discussions about programs, industries, issues and activities for young professionals in the area.

Described as a “Do-ference,” Why Stay attendees will also take an active role in formulating a plan for Cleveland young professionals alongside local leaders like County Executive Ed Fitzgerald.

Why Stay will be separated into three tracks – Work, Play, and Stay. Some of the sessions include “Education and Bridging the Gap,” “Cleveland’s Food Scene” and “Marketing Cleveland to the World.”

After a day of brainstorming, the event wraps up with a Town Hall and Wine Tasting.

Learn more about this inaugural conference at whystaycle.com and RSVP at whystay2012.eventbrite.com.

***

Whether the arts, volunteering, or community development are your interests, there’s never been a better time for Cleveland’s young professionals to get out there, get engaged and be enriched. Another bonus is that many of these opportunities are free to attend (I love free – free is great!).

However, these are just a few options; if you’re interested in seeing what Cleveland’s other YP organizations are up to, Engage Cleveland has an excellent resource page at engagecleveland.com/yps.

If you’d like to share an upcoming event for young professionals that I didn’t mention, leave it in the comments!

Disclosure: I am a board member of PlayhouseSquare Partners and on the YP Council of the Cleveland Foodbank. From time to time, I will post on upcoming events hosted by these organizations; however, these are events I truly think are interesting beyond my involvement in any organization.

I have to confess that Sunday’s Browns opener left me conflicted. Raised a Philadelphia Eagles fan, I was torn over whether to cheer for the team I grew up watching or the underdogs I’ve learned to love since moving to Cleveland (in the end, I choo-choo-chose the Browns).

But while the Browns may have ultimately lost on Sunday, they won my heart when leading the Cleveland Foodbank to victory at Monday night’s Taste of the Browns.

Remembering how stuffed I was at last year’s Taste of the Browns, I went in with a game plan.  A small yogurt for lunch and I was ready for an evening of food from over 25 of Cleveland’s restaurants.

Because Scott had to stay home that night for work, I took Alicia from Poise in Parma as my last minute date (or as she jokingly referred to herself – my blog assistant) (check out her recap for more food highlights).

Momocho’s tamales topped both Alicia’s and my lists

As we rode the elevator up to the Club Lounge, we walked straight into the crowd quickly gathering around the different food stations.

For the next couple of hours we tasted and tried dishes prepared by the likes of Zack Bruell, AMP 150 and Light Bistro.

Highlights included Pier W‘s lobster taquito topped with a smooth honey jalapeno butter sauce, Momocho‘s spicy boar tamales and XO Prime Steaks‘ Beef and Chicken Kabobs.

Georgetown‘s Watermelon, Cucumber and Feta Salad was also a refreshing break from many of the rich foods.

The stadium’s new Sawyer’s Street Frites stand

However, the only dish I had to go back for seconds of was Sawyer’s Street Frites‘ Whole Braised Beef Shin a’la Bourguignon on a fresh Parker House roll.

You couldn’t help but love the tender, succulent beef shin mixed with braised veggies. And the roll soaked in the meat’s juices was delicious on its own.  As we head into Fall’s colder weather, it struck me as a perfect dish for football season.

While we took a break from eating, we enjoyed a few glasses of wine (I particularly liked Apothic’s mild blend of Chardonnay, Riesling and Moscato) and listened to Taste of the Browns co-chairs Joe Thomas and Al “Bubba” Baker share with guests the evening’s true purpose.

A glass of white wine was needed after my second helping of this delicious Whole Braised Beef Shin a’la Bourguignon

Raising over $140,000 last year, Taste of the Browns is one of the largest annual fundraisers for the Cleveland Foodbank providing vital food, funding and services to more than 223,700 people in our region. It also celebrates Hunger Action Month.

As we learned at the event, the Cleveland Foodbank and Feeding America are working together throughout the month of September to increase awareness of hunger issues and how we can all take steps to fight it.

They’ve come up with a list of “30 ways in 30 days“, different ideas for donating time, food and money to organizations that serve the hungry.

Taste of the Browns co-chairs Joe Thomas and Al “Bubba” Baker share ways to take action during Hunger Action Month

A few of my favorite suggestions include:

• Donate a grocery store gift card to your local food pantry so they can provide more for those they serve.
• Call and schedule a time to volunteer in the Foodbank’s Cleveland Community Kitchen.
• Help out by eating in. Share a home-cooked dinner with your family and donate what you would have spent on dinner out to the Foodbank.
• Pick a book for your book group that focuses on the issues of hunger and poverty.
• Learn about Cleveland Foodbank’s Benefit Bank which connects low income people to benefits.

Young Professionals also have a unique opportunity to get involved this month.  On September 27, the Cleveland Foodbank will unveil their new Young Professionals Group at a happy hour at the Grovewood Tavern.

From 6-8PM, a senior Foodbank staff member will be onsite to answer questions about poverty and hunger in Cleveland, educate attendees on the Foodbank’s programs, and explain volunteer opportunities.

And for every two canned goods you bring, you’ll receive a drink ticket (maximum of two drink tickets).  RSVP and learn more at clevelandfoodbankyp.eventbrite.com.

Though Scott couldn’t make it to Taste of the Browns, I did manage to grab a ‘souvenir’ for him from Little Devil Cupcakery

We’re only halfway through Hunger Action Month and there’s still plenty of time to do something. No matter what you choose to do, your donations of time or money will go a long way in helping the Cleveland Foodbank distribute more than 32 million pounds of food to 618 hunger programs throughout our region.

Disclosure: As mentioned when I posted my giveaway, I was offered 2 tickets to give away and a pair for myself to preview Taste of the Browns. I also am a council member of the Young Professionals group at the Cleveland Foodbank. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

Enter to win 2 tickets to Taste of the Browns

Thank you again to Smitten in CLE, Wearing Mascara and Cooker Girl for guest posting while I was on vacation. If you didn’t have a chance to read their posts yet, check them out below:

• Smitten with Tremont’s Wine and Design
• Wearing Mascara’s Tips on What Not to Buy in Cleveland
• The BLT: Cooker Girl’s Tips for the Ultimate Locally Sourced Summer Sandwich

To celebrate being back, I’m giving away 2 tickets
to one of Fall’s tastiest events.

This September, the Cleveland Browns will team up with 25 of Cleveland’s finest chefs and the Cleveland Foodbank to tackle hunger at the 14th annual Taste of the Browns.

On Monday, Sept. 10th from 6-9pm, feast on award-winning food, wine, beer and cocktails, hang out with current and alumni Browns players, and enjoy beautiful views of downtown Cleveland from the AT&T Club Lounge at Cleveland Browns stadium.

Last year’s Taste of the Browns was not just a lot of fun (here’s my recap), it more importantly helped raise over $140,000 for the Cleveland Foodbank, Northeast’s Ohio largest hunger relief organization. For every dollar donated, the Foodbank can provide four nutritious meals to the hungry. Thanks to these donations, they’re able to reach 223,700+ people annually through their member agencies.

A selection of food from last year’s Taste of the Browns

On hand at Taste of the Browns will be an all-star lineup of Cleveland restaurants serving up signature dishes like:

• Momocho’s wild boar tamales
• AMP 150′s Ohio corn soup with pickled ramp and corn salsa
• Market Garden Brewery’s chicken and jalapeno sausage on pretzel crostini
• Pier W’s lobster taquitos with avocado and corn juice
• Greenhouse Tavern/Sawyer’s Street Frites’ whole braised beef shin a’la bourguignon

When you’re not sampling the food, you’ll enjoy the evening’s entertainment and auctions and meet Browns legends such as event co-chairs Cleveland Browns Offensive Lineman Joe Thomas and former Defensive Lineman Al “Bubba” Baker.

Al “Bubba” Baker will also raffle off one of the evening’s most sought-after prizes – a catered tailgate party for 30 guests from his Bubba’s Q restaurant. The winner will not just get all the food and fixings for the perfect Browns party, but Baker himself will personally deliver it.

Other auction items to look forward to include tickets to see a Broadway musical in NY, DisneyWorld passes, a family membership to the Cleveland Zoo, and a Gibson SG Guitar. The prize that tops my wishlist, though, is the Tour de Bruell: dinner for two at all five Zack Bruell restaurants!

This is the auction item I want (but am likely going to be outbid for) at Taste of the Browns (image source: albatrosbrasserie.com)

Tickets are $150 (50 percent of which is tax-deductible) and all proceeds will benefit the Cleveland Foodbank.  They can be purchased at http://cleveland.com/tasteofthebrowns or by calling the Foodbank at (216) 738-2126.

You can also enter the Clue Into Cleveland giveaway for a pair of tickets!

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) Like Cleveland Foodbank and Clue Into Cleveland on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did both.

3) Post a link to this page (http://wp.me/pPIgG-1rZ) on your Facebook wall and leave a comment letting me know you did.

4) Twitter users can get an extra entry each day for tweeting: “I want to tackle hunger at @CleveFoodbank’s #TasteoftheBrowns. Enter @ADHicken’s giveaway and you can too: http://wp.me/pPIgG-1rZ”  (Each day you do this, you must leave a new comment.)

5) Subscribe to receive Clue Into Cleveland blog posts in your inbox or blog reader like Google Reader and leave a comment letting me know you did. This can also include signing up to receive email notifications in the top-right “You’ve Got Mail” section of this page.

You have until Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 11:59PM to enter. On Wednesday, Sept. 5, 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!

The annual NFL Draft Party to benefit The Karen Foundation for MS is almost here – April 28, 11am-6pm

April may already be halfway over, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty of time to get out and do something (or 10 things) fun this month.  I have to second Poise in Parma, who recently posted her second monthly edition of April events to enjoy, that it can get a little exhausting just thinking about all of the upcoming events.

However, I’d rather the problem of Cleveland having too much to do, than not enough.

One event to particularly look forward to is the annual NFL Draft Party on April 28 to benefit The Karen Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis.

The Karen Foundation is a local, grassroots nonprofit that works with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society with the goal of funding the respite program in Northeast Ohio. The respite program helps people with MS and their caregivers by providing short-term home health and homemaker services.

The Karen Foundation supports the National Multiple Sclerosis Society with funding for local respite programs

Through a series of affordable and unique events, The Karen Foundation builds awareness and has been recognized as the largest third-party donor to the NMMS’s Ohio respite program.

Their signature event every year is the NFL Draft Party, which last year helped over 200 families in Cleveland alone.

The party takes place on April 28 from 11am to 6pm at The Barley House and celebrates the NFL Draft with Tony Rizzo and J’Rod Cherry hosting a live, on-air interactive post-draft analysis.

Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door, which includes a donation to The Karen Foundation, hors d’oeuvres, 2 drink tickets, valet parking, a grand prize raffle ticket and entertainment all day.

Peyton Hillis at last year’s TKF NFL Draft Party. This year’s special guest is Cleveland Brown Joe Haden.

Regardless of whether or not you’re a sports fan, there will be plenty to enjoy at The Karen Foundation’s draft party.

From 11-2, guests will be able to watch an ESPN RADIO live remote broadcast and the Scott & Dale Show.  Afterwards, Light of Two Moons, a Jimmy Buffet Tribute band, and Swamps of Jersey, the Midwest’s premier Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band, will entertain.

Meanwhile, Cleveland Browns star Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns Alumni, Cleveland Gladiator Cheerleaders and other special guests will make appearances throughout the day while Fox 8′s Dan Coughlin MCs.

Additional entertainment will include casino-style gaming, a Texas-Hold-Em tournament, a silent auction, chair massage and manicurists, as well as stilt walkers and  balloon and caricature artists all day long.

TKF’s NFL Draft Party is not just for sports fans, with music, games and other entertainment all day long

Although TKF’s NFL Draft Party is already very affordable at $35 in advance ($40 day of), you can save even more.

Use the code CLUE when purchasing your tickets and get $5 off!

Tickets can be purchased online at: www.thekarenfoundation.org.

Catch a glimpse of highlights from last year’s TKF Draft Party featuring Peyton Hillis and keep up-to-date on this year’s party by following The Karen Foundation on Facebook and @TKF_dot_org on Twitter.

Note: Thank you to The Karen Foundation for providing a discount for Clue Into Cleveland readers. Images courtesy of The Karen Foundation.