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There are TONS of things us Clevelanders can boast about our city.  At the top of that list is, of course, our theatre district, talent and arts! Well, thanks to The Cleveland Play House, I got to experience this amazing part of Cleveland. 

This past week, Jason and I were looking for a fun date night idea for Friday. Something new, fun and supportive of the culture of CLE. It just so happens that I was lucky enough to score some tickets to “Emma” at The Cleveland Play House. Now, I don’t know how many of you venture out to the East side of Cleveland for a night out on the town, but I recommend you try it soon. Other than the traffic being consistently annoying, that area has SO MUCH TO OFFER!

The Cleveland Play House | iCarabout.com

So, with our tickets in hand, Jason and I set out to find a new restaurant to explore in Cleveland Heights before the show. We both decided on Taste and I think I can honestly say that we were BOTH very glad we did. The restaurant itself had super-chic styling and it made you feel like you needed to be on a list to get inside (but in a good way). The staff was warm, friendly and personable, which balanced that “exclusive” feel. We struck up a conversation with our waitress right off the bat and mentioned that we had a show to catch.  Even though we were in a hurry, she didn’t make us feel rushed at all.  The food came out fast, and MY GOD, was it tasty. Jason and I both picked the specials of the evening: Grilled Tuna and the Rib-eye Steak. One thing I noticed was that the taste of the steak and tuna weren’t covered up by an overwhelming sauce or spice. Both were cooked perfectly with complimentary flavors, creating the perfect balance for your palette. I even have to admit a FAIL on my part. I was really excited to get a shot of the food for you guys, but when it got to the table my desire to devour it overcame the excitement to get the picture. LOL. 

Taste Restaurant | Cleveland OH | iCarabout.com

By the way, Taste also has a PHENOMENAL wine/champagne list. What’s even better than that? A KNOWLEDGEABLE staff to come a long with it. I love tasting new wines, but do I know all about them? NOPE! Taste’s staff new ever description to the “T” and I couldn’t help overhearing the waitress talk about the selections with passion and great understanding.  And double plus (in my book at least), they’re also utilizing social media to reach their diners. Check out Taste on facebook. 

Taste Restaurant | Cleveland OH | iCarabout.com

After our extremely satisfying feast, Jason and I rolled over to The Cleveland Play House to catch “Emma”. I have to admit, I really didn’t know the story that well before we got there, but honestly, it didn’t matter!  The show was so cute, the cast was engaging, funny and just awesome. The story was also pretty easy to follow for someone with hardly any future knowledge. It reminded me just a little of “Pride and Prejudice”, which I love, and is also a novel by the same author, Jane Austen. It wasn’t too “girlie” or “romantic” either. It was more like a witty, romantic comedy, and very man-friendly. (In other words, your BF won’t be snoring through it).

I’m no “play critic” by ANY MEANS, but I thoroughly enjoyed the show. I think Jason and I may have been the youngest couple there, which is a shame. We had a blast and would definitely recommend enjoying the theatre art talents of our city to anyone of any age. It’s truly a tremendous feeling to watch live show with actors who you can see the passion pouring out of. Plus, how many movies to we sit and watch? I mean, it’s SUCH a different experience to be engaged in a live show. 

The Cleveland Play House | Cleveland OH | iCarabout.com

What makes it even better, they serve cocktails that you can bring into the show! Yep! We were very excited about that! Besides, not too many movie theaters offer up that luxury.  (Not that we needed to get tipsy to enjoy the show)

So, PLEASE, try spicing up your date night with a little homegrown talent and culture at The Cleveland Play House. Oh, and why not try checking out some fun spots on the East side?  I mean, if you listen to me, you already have a fantastic restaurant to try and an engaging, fun, activity. What do you have to lose? 

PS. Cleveland Play House is ALSO on twitter (MAD PROPS FOR THAT) and it was how I originally learned about the show. Once again, social media working for you!

Yesterday I got invited by my Aunt Stephanie to go see a comedy show at Hilarities on E4th St with 3 Jewish women. I’ve been to this venue before and I thoroughly enjoyed myself, so of course I said yes!

For those of you who haven’t ventured to this club, it’s in the basement of Pickwick and Frolic, right next to Kevin’s Martini Bar.  I’ve posted about Kevin’s before. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you’re missing out!

Hilarities | Cleveland | iCarabout

Anyways, I’ve never had anything to complain about when it comes to Hilarities. It’s always a great time, good laughs and the staff keeps the cocktails coming. This particular trip just happened to be so-so, because the headliner wasn’t all that funny.  On top of that, I was the only one who ordered drinks out of my group…granted I was the only person under 45, LOL. (Don’t judge! My Mom is still a hottie!) Oh, and it was a little awkward listening to dirty, sexual jokes in front of my Aunt and Mother, but hey…we’re all human I guess. I got over the shyness when my Mom started elbowing me and laughing every time anything REMOTELY sex related was mentioned.

I have to admit that even though the headliner wasn’t really good, the feature comedian, Mike Lucas, was

Hilarities | Cleveland | Mike Lucas | iCarabout

hilarious! I meet him after the show too. That’s what is so great about going to these kinds of venues for live comedy. You can actually have a conversation with them afterwards.

Bottom line, Hilarities is a great time whether the headliner is humorous or not. Honestly. Just keep in mind that there is this confusing “two item” minimum when you order something. I just figured that if I ordered two dirty martinis, I’d be all set! Besides, after the show there are tons of awesome places to go on E4th. See my earlier post

Oh, hey! Remember me? Well, I’m back with a vengeance PEOPLE! I have some great blogs coming soon so don’t fret!

I just wanted to let you know real quick that it’s that time of year again. What do I mean? It’s “Best of Metromix Cleveland” TIME!! If you love Cleveland as much as I do, then set aside some time this week and vote for your favorite places in “The Land”.  I can’t remember what the categories were last year, but it seems like they have a lot of new, interesting ones this year.  I know I had a lot of fun voting…and not just because it took up an hour of my time at work .

Anyways, get on Metromix Cleveland and cast your votes! Also, I know there were lots of places I LOVE that were not nominated this year.  Feel free to leave comments (positive or negative) and let me know which ones you didn’t  see!  Oh, and please vote Map Room for best pizza! (Hehe, only if you really want to)

This blog post had been a long time coming, but here it finally is! East 4th Street is something that every Clevelander should experience many times over again. Not only are there lots of yummy, award winning restaurants  to choose from, but you can also check out the entertainment and nightlife variety as well. All of these fabulous options are packed onto a cozy, uniquely lit and decorated street with a great vibe anyone and everyone would enjoy.

I’ve been to this little district plenty of times to experience Lola, but recently I’ve had a few trips over to 4th that led me astray, and thank goodness for it! How about  a date night starting with cocktails at Wonder Bar, a swanky little spot with live jazz, great cocktails, an impressive wine list and a their own little spin on bar food. Rarely have I been to a place where you can get a phenomenal cheese plate AND hot wings or pizza.

After that, say you’re in the mood for something funny. Head over to Hilarities 4th Street Theatre, which is downstairs Pickwick and Frolic (also a fantastic spot!) to see some of the best, traveling comedians around! Just a couple of feet over, in the same basement is Kevin’s Martini Bar.  This retro, upscale martini bar is probably the coolest place in Cleveland. Unfortunately, most people don’t know about it! They serve up old school cocktails and their very own take on new, tasty sips too. Saying the bar is visually stimulating would be an understatement.

It’s time to chow, so why not check out The Greenhouse Tavern right across the street! Don’t be fooled by the title “tavern”, it’s food and drink selection is more upscale than that. Yet, it still maintains that cool, comfortable vibe. Greenhouse is the first, official GREEN restaurant in the state of Ohio! How cool is it that it’s in our very own city?! The chef has also worked along side Cleveland’s Iron Chef, Michael Simon and now has his very own place literally just a few shops up from Lola.

East 4th Street has something for every taste, every mood, and every vibe. In the mood for music? The House of Blues is right there. Maybe you’d like to mow some tex-mex fare and margaritas?  Zocalo is summoning you! What about bowling? Oh yes, E4th even has a bowling alley! The Corner Alley is also equipped with a bar and grill.

Bottom line, get your tushy out to East 4th Street next time you’re looking for something different to do. I promise you won’t be disappointed and you’ll find something special every time you go!

I love having friends in Cleveland who are always looking for fun, new things to do. Otherwise, I may have missed out on a really AWESOME event this weekend! The Cleveland Bridge Project, a FREE  arts and food party being put on by IngenuityFest & KSU Urban Design Collaborative is this Friday and Saturday. The coolest part is that it’s located on the  entire span of the streetcar level of The Veterans Memorial Bridge (Detroit Superior Bridge).  I’ve always wondered what was up there and how to check it out.

The party kicks off at 4pm Friday afternoon and goes to midnight. Saturday’s events start at noon and continue on until midnight as well. From the looks of the schedule posted online, there’s going to be NO shortage of great music, food, and art to experience!  I actually know one of the DJ’s Spinning both nights, Garrett Moeller, who reported to me that it’s going to be one hell of a bash that will not disappoint.  What a creative venue to host such an amazing event! I can’t wait to check it out myself. I know I’ll be there Saturday with a pretty big group of people.   Oh, and just in case you were wondering, here’s a video explaining how to actually get up onto the lower level of the bridge. I’ll see you all there this weekend!