Why? KidStuff Coupon Books!

Let’s face it, play dates can get expensive! Between admission and lunch and the inevitable stop at the gift shop…

Which is why I’m loving my KidStuff Coupon Book! It’s a huge book packed with coupons for everything from food to museums and attractions to stores, specifically geared toward kid favorites and customized to the Cleveland area, with coupons for places like the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Greater Cleveland Aquarium, Zeppe’s Pizza, and Mr. Hero.

While there are national chains represented, there are also a ton of great local businesses in the book, too.

I keep my KidStuff Coupon Bag in my “mom bag” (yes, I have one and yes, it’s a kate spade) and am able to quickly double-check before an outing if we have a coupon we can use. Also, as Jeffrey gets invited to school friends’ birthday parties, the coupons to toy stores like Lakeshore Learning will definitely come in handy!

What’s even better is that KidStuff Coupon Books are sold exclusively through schools as a fundraiser for that school. The book costs $25 and 50% of that is donated back to the school. Click here to learn more about how to raise funds for your with KidStuff Coupon Books or you can call 1-888-404-5437, Option 1 or email info@kidstuffcouponbook.com

I also have KidStuff Coupon Books to give away! Three winners will each receive their own Cleveland edition KidStuff Coupon Book. Here’s how to enter (you can do one, two, three, four, or all five entries, just leave a separate comment here for each):

1.Leave a comment here telling me what’s the one item that’s always in your mom (or dad) bag.

2. Visit KidStuff Coupon Books and Why CLE? on Facebook and leave a comment here letting me know you visited both pages.

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Why? Mentor Salt Cave!

Last week, Matthew and I had a new, relaxing, and detoxifying experience at Mentor Salt Cave.

There are two different treatments offered: Salt Cave Sessions ($25 for a 45 minute session) and Ionic Foot Baths ($29 for a 30 minute session.) We started with a Salt Cave Session, where we were ushered into this calm, quiet, glowing space.

The walls and floor are covered with Himalayan Sea Salt. Guests relax in zero-gravity chairs and listen to relaxing, spa-like music while you breathe in the salt air and allow your lungs and skin to experience the hypoallergenic benefits of exposure to the Himalayan Sea Salt.

Admittedly, information on the benefits of this kind of exposure were scant, even at the Mentor Salt Cave, but I will say that the experience was incredibly relaxing and that our lungs definitely felt clearer after our session.

Next, we experienced the Ionic Foot Bath, which uses salt and a light current to draw toxins from your body into the foot bath water. You also receive a color chart, so you can see what type of toxins are being drawn from your body (you’re welcome for not taking a picture of my water.)

Even more so that the Salt Cave, I felt like the Ionic Foot Bath left me feeling refreshed, less puffy, and generally detoxified.

Mentor Salt Cave also offers a variety of Himalayan Sea Salt products for purchase, from salt for cooking to salt scrubs for the bath to lights and decorative crystals.

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Why? Bar 32!

Bar 32 at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown boasts the most incredible panoramic views of downtown Cleveland and Lake Erie. I had a chance to check out the views, the booze, and the food the other night thanks to Mouthwater Media. And I am clamoring to go back!

I headed up to the 32nd floor of the Hilton Cleveland Downtown just in time to catch this gorgeous sunset glow over our city.

And the interior of Bar 32 is just as lovely, with a sleek, modern vibe that blends lounge and bar well.

I enjoyed one of Bar 32’s signature drinks, the cubed Old Fashioned, which is made with Bulleit Bourbon, Remy Martin VSOP, and Ron Zacapa 23. The drink was rich and warming and just perfect for winter!

I think we can officially say that I like bourbon now. Cheers to that!

Our group also had the chance to sample items from both the small plates menu and the catering menu at Bar 32. The warm jumbo pretzel with smoked Gouda, maple Dijon mustard, and whiskey cheddar was a crowd favorite.

I also really liked the flatbread with chorizo, Parmesan and mozzarella, and mixed greens. It packed a lot of flavor!

We also enjoyed the pulled pork sliders, which are available on the catering menu. Bar 32 is available to be reserved for groups, with a side room that has both tables and chairs, as well as comfy couches.

Bar 32 is looking to heat up your winter, with DJs on the weekends, Cavs watch parties, and more. Check out all the new things in store at a party on Saturday, February 3 with DJ Mimo, plus of course the incredible views, food, and booze.

Bar 32 is open every night at 5pm, so it’s also a great after-work spot to unwind, watch the sunset, and wave to Justin Trudeau. Bar 32 literally raises the bar for drinking spots in Cleveland!

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Why? The Capital Grille Cocktail Time!

When you combine two of my favorite things, cocktail time and The Capital Grille, you’re bound to get an amazing result!

The Capital Grille’s new Cocktail Time menu delivers the quality you’ve come to expect from the restaurant, but with more casual and price-friendly options.

Matthew and I recently got a tour of the Cocktail Time menu and can tell you that the choices would make any hour, or many hours, happy! We started with the bottled cocktails: the Nine to Five (Tito’s Vodka, fresh tangerine juice, and elderflower cordial) for me and the Churchill (Maker’s Mark Bourbon, lemon juice, and hibiscus honey syrup) for Matthew.

Both of these cocktails were delicious and perfect for seasonal summer sipping! The Cocktail Time menu also features a third bottled cocktail, the Slow Ride, with 1800 Silver Tequila, fresh grapefruit juice, and ginger syrup, as well as discounted wine and local craft beer.

We then got to taste an array of sliders, all available on the cocktail menu. Everything on the sliders, from sauces to pickles, are made in-house by Chef Anthony. The mini tenderloin sliders with wild mushrooms and herbed Boursin cheese were incredibly tender and juicy.

The candied bacon cheeseburger sliders with white cheddar and bacon jam were a tasty twist on a traditional bacon cheeseburger.

Hands-down our favorite of the sliders was the Korean fried chicken sliders. These are only available at six Capital Grille locations nationwide. They pack a nice, flavorful heat in the sauce, balanced with the peanut slaw and house-made pickles.

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Why? Cleveland Tall Ships Festival!

This weekend, you have a chance to step back in time and explore Cleveland’s maritime history at the Cleveland Tall Ships Festival. This is the first time the Tall Ships have been in Cleveland since 2013.

I had the unique opportunity to be aboard the Denis Sullivan during the Parade of Sail, which kicked off the Tall Ships Festival yesterday.

The Denis Sullivan is a replica of a Great Lakes schooner and operates as a floating classroom and goodwill ambassador for the state of Wisconsin.

The Parade of Sail featured boats from Canada, the United States, and New Zealand, some of which were crewed by children as young as 13! It was quite an impressive display!

After the Parade of Sail, I attended the Captain’s Reception and Opening Ceremony, with music from Opus 216, food, and drink.

What an amazing way to kick off the Tall Ships Festival!

Through Sunday, July 14, you can explore the festival and fleet for yourself. There will be public boarding of the ships, exhibits, live music, rock climbing, performances from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Asian Lantern Festival, and much more fun for the whole family.

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Why? The Capital Grille Wagyu & Wine!

By now, I think you know that I love dining at The Capital Grille. The ambiance, service, drinks, and food are always top notch. But last night, I discovered a more relaxed, affordable side of The Capital Grille that made me love it even more!

Wagyu & Wine is a promotion in The Capital Grille lounge area that runs now through November 17. For only $25, you get to choose one of three delicious Wagyu beef burgers, each expertly paired with a Napa Valley wine.

 

Seriously, this is a phenomenal deal, especially because the choices of both burgers and wine are out of this world!

I had a chance to sample mini versions of each of the burgers. The Wagyu Cheeseburger, with fried egg and Havarti cheese, is simply decadent, with the richness of the Wagyu and egg complementing each other so well.

It was paired with my favorite wine of the night: Beaulieu Vineyard Carneros 2016, made specifically and exclusively for The Capital Grille.

The Wagyu Burger with Capital Grille steak sauce, grilled onions, and Vermont white cheddar was my favorite burger of the night. This tasted like French onion soup mixed with a burger.

It was paired with Beringer Knights Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015.

Finally, the Wagyu Mushroom Burger, with soy-braised shiitake, Jarlsberg cheese, and truffle aioli. Pro tip: order a side of the truffle fries and extra truffle aioli, at which point you actually turn into a truffle!

This burger is paired with Stags’ Leap The Investor 2014.

Wagyu & Wine is a great deal not only because of the delicious flavors and pairings, but because of the high quality of both the burgers and wine included in this promotion. Stop in to The Capital Grille at Legacy Village before November 17 to experience it for yourself!

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Why? Jump Back Ball!

The 29th annual Playhouse Square Jump Back Ball is in the books and it was yet another incredible party!

This year’s theme was “From Jukebox to Boombox” and people came dressed as musicians from through the decades. I had fallen in love with this dress that I picked up at the Designer Dress Days sale and, thanks to my friend Amy’s suggestion, decided to do a play on “Walk Like an Egyptian.”

Mariah did my make-up (with almost all BeautyCounter products) and from the makeup to the headpiece to the dramatic back of the dress, I had so much fun stepping out of my usual look.

Of course, my crew all showed up looking fabulous too, from Elton Jane to Cher to a Beastie Boy to Britney and K.Fed.

Big shout-out (and a Grammy) to Anne for being a fantastic and gorgeous date!

Faction rocked the main stage while everyone munched on breakfast-for-dinner treats from Driftwood Catering, then danced their feet off.

DJ Smoov kept the late night jams flowing as the crowd spilled out into the KeyBank State Theatre lobby.

This was my ninth year attending Jump Back Ball and every year I’m blown away by what a fun party it is, but also how much hard work and dedication is put in by Playhouse Square Partners on every aspect of the evening from decor to fundraising to make this event a success.

Through Jump Back Ball and other events throughout the year, Playhouse Square Partners supports the non-profit mission of Playhouse Square, specifically the education and community outreach initiatives. And we have a lot of fun, too!

While you have to wait a whole year for another Jump Back Ball (it’s always the last Saturday in February, so mark your calendar now,) you can learn more about Partners by joining us at our Monthly Members Meeting on Monday, March 9.

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Why? KeyBank Broadway Series!

The line-up for the 2020-2021 KeyBank Broadway Series at Playhouse Square has been announced! From music and stories we all know and love, to new tales that will tug at your heart, this upcoming season has something for everyone.

Here’s what’s coming and when:

To Kill a Mockingbird is Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of the classic novel.

See it October 3-22, 2021.

Pretty Woman: The Musical is a musical interpretation of the beloved romantic-comedy, with all the iconic movie moments, plus lots of fun songs.

See it Janaury 5-24, 2021.

The Cher Show brings all the glitz, glam, excess, and amazing music of Cher to the stage in a tale of her life, story, and legend.

See it February 2-21, 2021.

The Prom is a new musical comedy about big Broadway stars on a mission to change the world and the love they discover that unites them all.

See it March 9-28, 2021.

Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations tells the story of The Temptations and their iconic music, set against the backdrop of America’s civil unrest.

See it April 6-25, 2021.

Moulin Rouge: The Musical is all about truth, beauty, freedom, and love in this adaptation of the Baz Luhrmann movie.

See it May 5- June 6, 2021.

Hadestown intertwines the myths of Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone into a beguiling and vibrant show.

See it July 6-25, 2021.

Season ticket packages are currently on sale online. Cleveland boasts the largest Broadway season ticket holder base in the country, with 46,000 season ticket holders! This is the best way to secure your seats for all these amazing shows and be a part of Broadway in CLE!

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Why? Bomba Tacos!

Is there anything better than a night of tiki drinks, tacos, and trivia? Last night, I met up with my friends Robin and Amy at Bomba Tacos in Beachwood for all three.

We started with an order of guacamole with roasted garlic, pico de gallo, and goat cheese. I love the variety of chips at Bomba, with plaintain, malanga, and tortilla chips.

I had the charred pineapple margarita, which is the perfect blend of sweet and savory and a great way to toast an almost complete work week!

 

For dinner, I had the Wild Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl, with chile-lime cucumbers, avocado, sesame seeds, soy-marinated jalapenos, cilantro-yogurt sauce, and mango-coconut rice.

Amy ordered a selection of Bomba’s diverse and delicious tacos and Robin had the Grilled Adobo Chicken Bowl.

For dessert, we shared the churro ice cream sandwich and the seasonal donuts and honestly couldn’t decide which we loved more!

While we ate, we played trivia, which happens at Bomba Beachwood every Thursday night, with a round at 7pm and another round at 8pm.

The questions were general knowledge, fun and challenging, and our team ended up winning! Our prize was a $30 Bomba gift card!

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Why? Weekends!

You guys, spring is in the air! Which made for a busy and fun weekend! Let’s get to it…

Cleveland Monsters Game

On Friday night, Jeffrey and I went to one of his favorite places in town: a Cleveland Monsters game. First, though, we grabbed dinner at Yours Truly.

Yours Truly is a favorite for both of us. Jeffrey loves the grilled cheese and I couldn’t pass up the Tuna Supreme, on toasted rye with cheese and tomato. A perfect Lenten dinner!

From there, it was off to the Monsters game. It was Mascot Night and there was a bobblehead giveaway (plus we ran into our friend Maddie from the Monsters Top Line Dance Team), so it was a pretty exciting night even before the ice action started.

It was also Gesu night at the game, with one of the teachers getting to ride on the zamboni and represent the school.

Monsters games are one of my favorite things to do with Jeffrey. He always has a great time, there’s lots of family-friendly fun, and the price point is really reasonable!

LOFT Shopping Party

On Saturday, I hosted a spring shopping party at LOFT at Legacy Village. As usual, the LOFT ladies made everything so fun and easy, providing beverages and sweets and just being a total treat to work with.

Before we even got to the party, though, my friend Anne and I hit a class a barre3, then grabbed Bloody Marys at Bar Louie (it’s called balance, friends.) I love how Legacy Village is a one-stop for everything to make a perfect Saturday afternoon!

I got a ton of cute spring clothes at LOFT that will work for everything from work to play to going out, all for great prices, too.

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Why? Cleveland Home and Remodeling Show Giveaway!

As thoughts turn to Spring, I’m sure there are lots of home improvement projects that are making their way to the top of the to-do list. Which is why the Cleveland Home and Remodeling Expo is coming at just the right time!

 

From March 20-22, the I-X Center will be filled with exhibitors, celebrity guests such as Ty Pennington from TLC’s “Trading Spaces,” a flower bar workshop from Blossom Cleveland, and so much more.

 

Aside from the celebrities and exhibitors, other show highlights include:

  • Woodland Escape by Lil Bear Tiny Homes to help you envision your next glamping adventure (or life in a tiny home)
  • Doggie Drive, where you can bid on your favorite dog house, designed by juniors and seniors at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center
  • White Claw Lounge where you can relax and take in the show
  • Tie Dye Workshop presented by ArtFlow where you can tie-dye your own pillowcase, dish towel, or scarf to take home

If you have a home improvement project and need a spark of inspiration, check out the Cleveland Home and Remodeling Expo. Tickets are $10 online, but if you click this link you can save $3 with promo code WHYCLE20.

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Why? Well…

I'm not sure about you, but to me, this week has been nothing short of surreal. Jeffrey is going to be home from school for three weeks. Plans are being canceled left and right. Events that I was so looking forward to have been postponed. And no one seems to know what’s going to happen next.

All of those things definitely fall under the category of First World Problems, though, right? No one I love is sick with COVID-19. I'm not on the front lines of health care or government or reporting, all of whom are just bombarded with ever-changing and unknown circumstances. Minor inconveniences and rescheduling can be managed.

Obviously, there will be less content here as we navigate closures. As a blog that thrives on being out and about, those options are severely limited. That said, you will see me posting about being out, supporting the businesses that are open. That is a personal choice and one you have to evaluate and make for yourself.

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Why? Well, Part 2…

Since last we talked here, the world changed yet again. I feel like I’m not even going to bother getting my footing, because the ground is ever-shifting these days.

Jeffrey and I are working on settling into a routine with school work (and recess and lunch and really more snacks than I thought one could eat.)

Honestly, I love the time with him, although my heart hurts that he can’t be with his friends or have the routine of Kindergarten that he so enjoyed.

His teachers are doing a phenomenal job with Google Classroom, posting assignments, extra learning and fun opportunities, and pics of classmates so the kids can stay somewhat connected.

I know how fortunate we are on the spectrum of all that is going on in the world right now, so when the moments of feeling overwhelmed or uncertain arise, I try to just breathe (or text or meme or walk outside or cry or laugh or drink wine or all of the above) through them.

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