It’s no secret, Scott and I spend a lot of time together. A LOT.

We carpool and work together. We share most of our hobbies like model train and comics collecting. And in what I think may test both our patience, we’re starting to write a comic book together.

Not to say everything’s the same (he has his vintage video game collection and he puts up with my hockey obsession). But for all the fun we have together, Scott married a worrier. And sometimes I worry we’re going to fall into a rut.

Although I know it’s unwarranted. we decided to mix things up last weekend by declaring Saturday ‘Cleveland Date-rday’ with a cross-town date of our favorite things in our favorite city.

At Alex Bistro, getting a night-cap after Date-rday

With the cold weather breaking (finally!), Scott and I were excited to start our days again with a walk to the lake. One of the reasons we decided to move to Avon Lake was being two blocks from Lake Erie. With views like this, how couldn’t we?

Lake Erie last summer in Avon Lake

It was then off to the eastside for the Cleveland Botanical Garden’s Big Spring. The birds and the bees will put a spring in anyone’s step and the Garden’s new Spring show has plenty to go around.

CBG has super-sized the season with colossal ladybugs, towering flowers and enormous garden tools. I felt like Alice in Wonderland, stepping into this world through the Garden’s giant flowerpot:

Cleveland Botanical Garden Big Spring Entrance

Although the beautiful scent of flowers hit us first, it was the colors I was most entranced by. You forget how brown everything gets during Winter, until it’s set against the colors of Spring.

Big Spring is a fantastic show for families with plenty of activities for children – a clubhouse for tea parties, an indoor garden hedge maze, and the Toadstool Theatre where young guests can dress up as bugs and put on a show:

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That’s only what’s indoors.  Outside, the Hershey Children’s Garden has been dressed up with more to do!

Don’t get me wrong, though, adults will find their own fun.

Cleveland Botanical Garden’s Chameleon

Last time we were at the Garden for Glow, we forgot to pay a visit to the Glasshouse’s Madagascar exhibit. Not this time! It was good to catch up with the Garden’s chameleon, frogs and giant tarantula.

And out on the patio, Scott and I faced off in a fierce battle of oversized checkers (there’s chess, too, if that’s your game of choice).

We could’ve played checkers all day but ended up calling a truce

Big Spring is at the Cleveland Botanical Garden until Sunday, April 28. Besides their normal schedule on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, the Garden is open Mondays 10am-5pm and late on Wednesdays and Fridays til 9.

Tickets are $8 for children, $12 for adults and FREE if you’re a Cleveland Botanical Garden member.  Learn more and buy tickets at cbgarden.org/big-spring.aspx.

Of course, no trip to University Circle is complete without us stopping by the Cleveland Museum of Art – even a quick one for an early dinner at Provenance.  A bottle of Pinot Gris and a claybread sandwich with lamb, hummus, eggplant, cabbage, and yoghurt sauce – delicious!

Great Lakes Theater’s Much Ado About Nothing is at the Hanna through April 14.   (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)

After dinner, we headed back East for our last stop of Date-rday.

When I saw Blithe Spirit in February, we heard about Great Lakes Theater’s Much Ado About Nothing.

With my excitement bubbling over for Joss Whedon’s film adaptation in June, Great Lakes’ 1920s-set production was a must for me.

And it should be a must-see for you too.

M.A. Taylor (left, as Verges), Dougfred Miller (center, Dogberry), and a member of their motley watchmen (right, Austin Blunk) in Great Lakes Theater’s Much Ado About Nothing. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)

A spritely charmer, Much Ado about Nothing delights with quick-witted performances, smart twenties fashions, and Eric Damon Smith’s jazzy rendition of “Sigh No More” (which in my opinion must now always be accompanied by a ukulele and nautical wear).

Much Ado was also further proof that Great Lakes’ Laurie Birmingham (as Antonia / Sexton) and David Anthony Smith (Don Pedro) can do no wrong. If their performances don’t put a smile on your face, Dougfred Miller and M.A. Taylor’s Keystone Kops will.

Much Ado is only playing through April 14 so get your tickets now for Shakespeare’s “battle of wits and wills” at greatlakestheater.org/tickets/shows/much-ado-about-nothing.

The only thing that could make me more lovestruck than the Bard was splitting this rich slice of tiramisu at Alex Bistro after the show. Their Curtain Closer cocktail was pretty sweet too.

Tiramisu at Alex Bistro

I’m going to call it and say our first Date-rday was a success.  From east to west to downtown, Cleveland is for lovers.

Whether it’s your first or five-hundredth date, where do you like to go in Cleveland?

Disclosure: I had been invited to attend the Botanical Garden with a guest in exchange for sharing my experience. All opinions expressed here about Big Spring, anything else we attended, or how much I love Scott (just seeing if he reads this far) are 100% my own.

This year, Santa comes early to Cleveland with plenty of onstage holiday action - from theatre like the Cleveland Playhouse's Game's Afoot to concerts like the Cleveland POPS at PlayhouseSquare. (graphic from playhousesquare.org)

Each year, holiday preparations seem to start earlier and earlier (I was floored when I saw Christmas decorations on some shelves before Halloween). But although I’m not quite ready to bust out the decorations, I think it’s never too early to start planning my gift giving, as well as my own wishlist.

Last November, I shared my “All I Want for Cleve-mas” round-up of holiday shows in Cleveland. It’s time for the 2011 edition — my top 5 gift suggestions for the Cleveland theater-phile in your life.

Ken Ludwig's The Game's Afoot (or Holmes for the Holidays), 11/25-12/18 (photo from clevelandplayhouse.com)

Ken Ludwig’s The Game’s Afoot (or Holmes for the Holidays)

For their holiday show, the Cleveland Play House is bringing a world premiere to the Allen Theatre.

In the Game’s Afoot, acclaimed actor of the 1930s, William Gillette, invites his Sherlock Holmes co-stars to his eccentric Connecticut mansion for a Christmas Eve celebration. When one of the guests is murdered, Gillette employs the persona of the master detective he’s made famous on the stage.

I’m most excited for this show – not just because I enjoy all things Sherlock Holmes and murder mystery comedies (love Murder by Death!), but also because it’s directed by Aaron Posner. Posner is the founder and former artistic director of one of my favorite Philadelphia theatres — the Arden Theatre. He also was the adapter of Chaim Potok’s The Chosen and My Name is Asher Lev (both of which have been staged at Cleveland Play House).

Nov. 25-Dec. 24 / Buy tickets here.

Conni's Avant Garde Restaurant, 12/1-12/18 (photo from cptonline.org)

Conni’s Avant Garde Restaurant: Home for the Hollandaise

Conni’s Avant Garde Restaurant is back after last year’s sold-out run at CPT.  If you’re curious about this show filled with crazy cabaret, improv comedy, death and a mighty tasty five-course meal, you can read my full review here.

It’s definitely a unique, thoroughly entertaining and appetizing twist on the holidays while exploring motherhood, rock n’ roll fame and the art of bussing a table. Plus ChefChef BonBon (from Bonbon Bake Shop) is back to cook up a delicious menu.

Dec. 1-Dec. 18 / Buy tickets here.

A Christmas Carol, 12/1-12/23 (photo from greatlakestheater.org)

A Christmas Carol

A Cleveland holiday tradition returns to Great Lakes Theater when the family classic A Christmas Carol appears on the Ohio Theatre stage for its 23rd year.

Longtime GLT artistic company member Sara Bruner, will stage former Artistic Director Gerald Freedman’s heartwarming adaptation of A Christmas Carol. During this story within a story, the fictitious Cleaveland family gathers in its Victorian-era parlor on Christmas Eve to read Mr. Dickens’ book. GLT actor Aled Davies returns for his fourth season in the role of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge.

Dec. 1-Dec. 23 / Buy tickets here.

Cleveland Orchestra's Holiday Festival, 12/2-12/23 (photo from clevelandorchestra.com by Roger Mastroianni)

Cleveland Orchestra Holiday Festival

The Cleveland Orchestra and Choruses join forces for nine concerts of traditional Christmas favorites during The Cleveland Orchestra’s 2011 Holiday Festival. The seasonal programs will include “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, and “Sleigh Ride,” “Scenes from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.”

 Academy Award-winning songwriter Randy Newman who wrote music for Toy Story among many other songs (including my favorite – the theme to Monk) will be performing a holiday concert on Dec. 3 with the Orchestra.

The PNC Holiday Musical Rainbow series will also celebrate Chanukah and Kwanzaa with music and stories.

Dec. 2-Dec. 23 / Learn more and buy tickets for all of the events here.

Santaland Diaries, 11/25 -12/17 (graphic from playhousesquare.org)

Santaland Diaries & Cleveland POPS at PlayhouseSquare

PlayhouseSquare’s theatres will also play host to a few other holiday shows.

The Cleveland Public Theatre will present David Sedaris’ The Santaland Diaries, Nov. 25-Dec. 17. Based on the best-selling author’s own hilarious holiday experiences, it’s the story of a 33-year-old slacker who takes a job as Crumpet, a Macy’s Christmas elf, dealing with thousands of children and their parents as they pay a visit to Santa.

On Nov. 27, the Cleveland POPS and Conductor Carl Topilow will be joined by Fox 8 TV personalities including Todd Meany, Tracy McCool, Wayne Dawson, and Dick Goddard. During their Old-Fashioned Christmas Show, the Cleveland POPS will play favorite Christmas songs and carols and local shelters will be there with adoptable puppies and kittens.

And because I like saving money, I’ll be on www.playhousesquare.org on Nov. 28 for their Cyber Monday specials. Last year, they had a different special for each hour — from no ticketing fees to parking and food vouchers to PlayhouseSquare gift cards. 

Santaland Diaries: Nov. 25-Dec. 17 / Buy tickets here.
Cleveland POPS Concert: Nov. 27 / Buy tickets here.

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While these may be my top 5, Cleveland is fortunate to have a number of professional and community theatres that call it home. So if you haven’t found the perfect gift here, keep an eye on those last 2 links for more options of what’s onstage this holiday season!

For more ideas when shopping local for the holidays, check out:

• All I Want for Cleve-mas, Part 2
• The Chef’s Widow’s My Favorite Things (she’s also hosting a giveaway of some pretty sweet CLE-centric gifts)