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It’s funny what you come up with for fun date ideas when the weather is great in Cleveland Plus.  I say this because we all have to live through like 6 months of winter and when we get the first nice day or two, we just come to life!

This past weekend was one of the first nice ones this year, so Jason and I wanted to spend some quality time together doing something outdoors that was also new and fun.  We decided that Friday we’d meet up after work, have a few cocktails on a patios, while exploring  Tremont and Ohio City.

First we hit up a few bars in Tremont with awesome patios, The Treehouse and Edison’s to be exact. If you’ve never been to either of these bars, please stop punishing yourself and go. The vibes are chill, the beer selections are vast and tasty, and the patios are the perfect sunny day treat after being stuck in an office all day.  I have to admit that I’ve been to both of these bars numerous times before, so it wasn’t exactly a “new” experience for me –  BUT after a long winter, it felt like a renewed experience for sure! Tremont has definitely become my “summer choice” for Cleveland nights over the years. There’s always so much going on, art walks, etc. The restaurants are beyond AMAZING, the bars are chill and they’re all within walking distance! BE-A-UTIFUL!

Next up, we decided to head over to Ohio City for some exploring and some dinner…and I’m so GLAD we did.  We stumbled upon Heck’s Cafe and Jason raved about it.  I had never been there OR even heard of it before, but it looked really cute and my boyfriend has great taste – I was in!

Right when we walked in, I saw that they had numerous awards for “Best Burger in Cleveland” and I was impressed. It was such a unique little space, the atmosphere was very laid back while still maintaining an air of sophistication.  Then we walked through to the back and WOW! There was this beautiful little garden room with a spiral staircase and gorgeous flowers everywhere! *LOVE*

Heck's Cafe | Cleveland Entertainment Reporter | iCarabout.com

And please don’t get me started on the food…seriously.  We had the hummus sampler to start (regular-roasted red pepper-lime cilantro), which came with warm pitas and was divine. Then I ordered the wild mushroom ravioli with goat cheese cream sauce and Jason got the cajun burger.  My entree came with a HUGE (and fresh) side salad, no skimping here! I mean, I shared it with Jason and it was STILL a lot! The ravioli was OMG-AMAZING. You know when you have a taste of something that is so good that you just sigh…yep, that’s what happened. The cajun burger was also really delicious and I can now see why they’ve won all those “Best Burger” awards!  Added plus, the tab wasn’t ridiculous either! Great food, Great atmosphere, Great prices = What the “Heck’s” was I waiting for?!

After a Friday evening full of exploring Cleveland Plus, Jason and I decided that we wanted to further enjoy the weather on Saturday afternoon – HIKING! He took me to the Lakeshore Reservation in Madison, OH (a Lake Metropark) and it was SO BEAUTIFUL! Even though it was more “walking” around then it was actually hiking, it’s just so great to get out and explore the natural highlights of the area. There is so much history to be learned and things to discover. It was great to see Lake Erie all thawed out and active too. It’s the perfect way to connect with your honey on a warm day and it ended our weekend perfectly.

Lakeshore Reservation | Cleveland Entertainment Reporter | iCarabout.com

More photos from hiking here!

I’ve never been one of those people who could go to a store and find a pair of pants of the rack that fit me perfectly. In fact, the same goes for jackets, skirts and sometimes shirts! Even more frustrating is that every store seems to have a plethora of all sizes, EXCEPT mine. I mean, do small ladies just come in and swoop up all my sizes JUST to make my life harder? I swear they do…and with my passion for shopping being out of control, it truly can be quite disappointing. I also love to shop at vintage shops and boutiques, but these are usually even MORE limited as far as sizes go.

Plus, I’m just going to be 100% real with you guys and tell you that my body shape is NOT an easy one to fit. Women’s clothing is made with room for hips, which I have none. I also have no “chest” at all…(if you know what I mean). Bottom line, I have the body shape of a prepubescent girl. I’m very petite, but I’m not short. For all of you ladies out there who are thin and tall, you know that they make petite clothing for skinny, short people.

Needless to say, I’ve made the most of my shopping-life up until now. This is when I realized that the one thing I NEEDED to make my life SO MUCH EASIER was an amazing tailor!

YES!! This means I can buy almost ANYTHING I want, whether its my size or not, and get it made to fit MY BODY! I cannot express to you how priceless this discovery was for me. Plus, I’ve found the most perfect place for alterations on the east side : Terriaco Suits & Tailoring.

They do both men’s and women’s clothing and everything I’ve brought to them as turned out PERFECTLY. You would never be able to tell it was altered at all.  It is a bit of a hike for all of you out in downtown Cleveland or the west-burbs. BUT, if you’re willing to travel for the best, then please do.  The prices are reasonable, the service is impeccable and they are pretty much lifesavers!

Terriaco Suits & Tailoring | Cleveland, OH | iCarabout.com

Just thought I’d share this little valuable tidbit of info with all of you. I mean, you never know when you might need something altered. If you do, keep Terriaco in mind. By the way, they do all the tailoring for The Limited at Great Lakes Mall.

Oh, and ladies, shop your hearts out. Buy that cute jacket you were waiting for to go on sale even if it’s two sizes too big. You’re no longer limited to what’s on the tag! LET FREEDOM RING!

I’m pretty sure that when Monday night rolls around, most of us aren’t really looking for a crazy night out.  At least I know Jason and I are not! Plus, most of us have spent enough money going out over the past weekend and really aren’t looking to blow a lot more dough.

BUT that doesn’t mean that a Monday date night is a bust!  Have you ever visited Cedar Lee Theatre for their $5 Monday Movie Nights?

Umm, yes…total winner right here. You can’t even see a movie for that cheap during a matinée! (Or can you? I haven’t been to a movie that early in years).  Plus, its the perfect “chill” atmosphere for a date early in the week, and cure for “a case of the Mondays” !

Cedar Lee Theatre | Cleveland OH | iCarabout.com

Added bonus: They show a lot of indie films that aren’t shown at many other theaters in Cleveland.  But, they certainly aren’t limited to just those flicks either. Cedar Lee has more well known movies too! For instance, I saw Slumdog Millionaire there when it first came out.

So, I’ve known about this not-so-well-kept secret in Cleveland for a while (I lived in CLE Heights), but Jason had never been! Plus, he loves Jeff Bridges (THE DUDE!) and wanted to see Crazy Heart.  We were pleased to see that they offered very convenient show times, so we picked the 9:40pm one (latest showing).  Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, I forgot that they served beer and wine! Nothing is better than being about to bring your favorite local beer into a great movie!

We grabbed our drinks, headed into the movie, all the while appreciating the old/antique vibe of the theater itself. Long story short, it was a great show and an even better Monday date night activity! If you haven’t taken advantage of this East-side treasure, please do soon. You can also follow @CedarLeeTheatre on twitter and hear about their daily deals and such!

Jason and I will be back for sure. Especially since he mentioned that it would be an awesome Monday tradition to start.

Tavern Co. | Cleveland OH | iCarabout.com | Metromix CLE

One last thing, if you’re looking for cheaper, tasty eats BEFORE your flick in the Cedar Lee District, try Tavern Co.  It’s just down the street and they have a $5 Burger & Beer Monday special that ROCKS! You’ll never believe what you get for just five bucks…seriously. Check it out!

I should OBVIOUSLY be posting something …ummm…worth reading. BUT I’m feeling pretty tired and a-wee-bit uninspired this evening, SO I decided to post my work uniform from this afternoon.  A true Cleveland-lovers outfit if I do say so myself.

Cavs Snuggie | Cleveland OH | iCarabout.com

Yes, I’m well aware that it was about 60 degrees out today and not really “Snuggie” weather. I have no idea why I’m always cold! I wore this all day with my portable heater next to me at work. LOL! Everyone who came in had a little chuckle at my expense too. It’s always nice to make people smile, even if it’s because they think I’m ridiculous.

PS…I’m never taking this thing off. It’s the most comfortable thing in the world.

As I’m sure most of you have already heard (via Twitter/Facebook), I was chosen by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance last week to be a 2010 City Advocate! I cannot express how excited I am about the opportunity to work with such an AMAZING organization, right here in the city I love.

Downtown Cleveland Alliance | Cleveland OH | iCarabout.com

I noticed that a lot of people were curious about DCA, what they do and what a “City Advocate” was.  So, I decided to post some links on here all about it! Plus, I think it’s important to share the positive things that Clevelanders are doing for our city!  Just look at what a group of passionate people can accomplish if they band together and are proactive!

Again, thanks to all of you for the congrats!  I look forward to the amazing projects I can become involved in, the positive changes I can be a part of and passionate Clevelanders I will meet!

Here is what the Downtown Cleveland Alliance is all about.

Here is what the DCA City Advocates Program is all about.

PS – Follow the awesome things DCA does on twitter at @DowntownCLE