I have a rule: I don't cook on Friday and Saturday nights. N and I tend to end up eating in our old neighborhoods of Tremont and Ohio City, but this Saturday, we decided to try out Prog Gastro Lounge. Prog opened just five weeks ago, so its still definitely in its initial stages, but here are my thoughts: It has a really small menu, which is probably a good thing given that its so new. The food is very flavorful, but may be a little over-priced for the quantity. The bar area is cute, but the rest of it has a sorta schizophrenic decor- its a mix between budoir chic, retro diner, with some industrial accents thrown in too. There's a fun martini menu, but the bartender we had was VERY heavy handed with the simple syrup. I definitely had to add extra lime juice (sadly it was bottled, not fresh) to my gimlet, and even then it was on the sweet side.
Overall, I would probably go back again (ideally at a different time with a different bartender), but wait for them to iron out some of the kinks first.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Shopping semi-local: The Canton Box Company
Friday was the Tremont Art Walk, and N and I made our customary stop at Banyan Tree, who had a very special visitor, The Canton Box Company. CBC is based in Canton, Ohio, and sells home furnishings including some really fun artwork. They also offer a certain degree of customization, which is always a plus!! I've been on the hunt for some fun pieces for above our bed, and found this beauty:
$30 at Banyan Tree; $23+ shipping on etsy.com
I also picked up another print (which was exclusively available at Banyan Tree, but will be available soon on etsy), with the following Dr. Seuss Quote, that I absolutely lllllllluuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrve:
"You know you're in love with when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams"
I can't wait for N to put these up!!!!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Going off the Registry
Its wedding season. And wedding season means wedding gifts. And for women, bridal shower and bachelorette party gifts. Most of the time, it is best to just go with the couple's registry; but there's certain times when its ok to go off the registry:
(a) When its a close friend
(b) When you know the couple and their taste
(c) If the couple has been living together for a while, and pretty much have all the kitchen ware and gadgets already.
I've gone "off registry" for a few weddings over the past few years, and here's what I've gotten them instead:
When my friends Ry and El got married, I got them a gift card to Sushi Rock. Why Sushi Rock? Because they love sushi, and it was where we went on our first double date. (Unofficial Off-Registry Rule: make sure you pick something meaningful; perhaps something that triggers a shared memory. Gift certificates are completely acceptable in these situations)
My dear friend Aneesha got married in June to her loooong term boyfriend. Aneesha and I met when we were both working in Chi-town, and bonded over our love of shoes. For her wedding, I got her a gift certificate to Zappos!
When our architect-friends got married, I got the bride an architectural bowl from Banyan Tree for her wedding shower. (Off-Registry Recommendation: take a look at the bride and groom's registry to see what they are registered for, and use those as a basis for your off-registry gifts)
Other great Off-Registry gift ideas include:
Gourmet cooking classes (at the Viking School, Sur La Table, or with Michael Symon if you can manage to get a reservation) for the foodie-couple;
Couples massage at their honeymoon destination (if you know where it is) for the stressed-out couple;
A cleaning service like Eco Maids (if, like me, the bride or groom hate cleaning);
Tickets to a sporting event for sports-fan couples;
Bacon of the Month Club (need I say more), or any ...of The Month Club, but only where its relevant to couple
Hope these suggestions help you boldly go Off-Registry where appropriate. And remember, ALWAYS get a gift receipt!!
(a) When its a close friend
(b) When you know the couple and their taste
(c) If the couple has been living together for a while, and pretty much have all the kitchen ware and gadgets already.
I've gone "off registry" for a few weddings over the past few years, and here's what I've gotten them instead:
When my friends Ry and El got married, I got them a gift card to Sushi Rock. Why Sushi Rock? Because they love sushi, and it was where we went on our first double date. (Unofficial Off-Registry Rule: make sure you pick something meaningful; perhaps something that triggers a shared memory. Gift certificates are completely acceptable in these situations)
My dear friend Aneesha got married in June to her loooong term boyfriend. Aneesha and I met when we were both working in Chi-town, and bonded over our love of shoes. For her wedding, I got her a gift certificate to Zappos!
When our architect-friends got married, I got the bride an architectural bowl from Banyan Tree for her wedding shower. (Off-Registry Recommendation: take a look at the bride and groom's registry to see what they are registered for, and use those as a basis for your off-registry gifts)
Other great Off-Registry gift ideas include:
Gourmet cooking classes (at the Viking School, Sur La Table, or with Michael Symon if you can manage to get a reservation) for the foodie-couple;
Couples massage at their honeymoon destination (if you know where it is) for the stressed-out couple;
A cleaning service like Eco Maids (if, like me, the bride or groom hate cleaning);
Tickets to a sporting event for sports-fan couples;
Bacon of the Month Club (need I say more), or any ...of The Month Club, but only where its relevant to couple
Hope these suggestions help you boldly go Off-Registry where appropriate. And remember, ALWAYS get a gift receipt!!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Scoots!!!
Maybe you've heard them, or maybe even seen them roll by.... they tend to strike in the middle of the day, usually on a gorgeous sunny day, just when you least expect it. At this point, you may be wondering "WTH is she talking about?" SCOOTER GANGS!! Now, before you think of something completely sinister, these scooter gangs are anything but.... its a gang of SCOOTERCHIC!! (right now, the guys with scoots are probably ready to smack me, but I don't care.)
Case and point:
But I digress; lets look at AJP's scoot again, shall we?
If you're interested in investing in a scoot of your very own, check out Pride of Cleveland Scooters in Lakewood, Ohio. They have a fantastic selection of vehicles at very reasonable prices.
One more look at the fabulous AJP on her scoot, for good measure:
So here's a little fun thing I'd like to try this summer: every time you see AJP on her scoot, take a picture, and tweet it with the tag #ajpscooterchic. Let's see how many sightings we can get!!!
Case and point:
AJP on her new scoot!!!!! Look how CUTE!!!
I love scoots. I really do. And as much as I would love to have one, I think my natural klutziness and historical driving record are barriers to me actually owning one. Instead, I think N should get one. A Vespa. SO Italian. Which was incidentally one of my favorite things about visiting Italy last year; all these superfabulous Italians scooting around, perfectly accessorized in tall boots and scarves.
But I digress; lets look at AJP's scoot again, shall we?
If you're interested in investing in a scoot of your very own, check out Pride of Cleveland Scooters in Lakewood, Ohio. They have a fantastic selection of vehicles at very reasonable prices.
One more look at the fabulous AJP on her scoot, for good measure:
So here's a little fun thing I'd like to try this summer: every time you see AJP on her scoot, take a picture, and tweet it with the tag #ajpscooterchic. Let's see how many sightings we can get!!!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
"It's so damn hot... milk was a bad choice"
WOW! It has been HOT in Cleveland!! If you're looking for a delicious way to cool off, you should consider Honey Hut ice-cream. Not only is it delicious and refreshing, BONUS, it's made in Cleveland! I first ate Honey Hut when I moved to Cleveland six years ago, and then I forgot about it! Then, this weekend, we had a neighborhood cookout, and N and I were in charge of dessert. At the recommendation of our neighbors, we decided to bring some Honey Hut. Of course, I had to get some for myself, you know, to make sure it tasted ok : )
The signature flavor is Honey Pecan. In a word. AMAZING. Its sweet and salty and creamy, and DELICIOUS! I'm also a big fan of the Orange Blossom, and unfortunately, that's all I've tried....for now....
I'm sure I will be back there multiple times this summer to try the whole range of flavors. You know, just to make sure they all taste ok.
The signature flavor is Honey Pecan. In a word. AMAZING. Its sweet and salty and creamy, and DELICIOUS! I'm also a big fan of the Orange Blossom, and unfortunately, that's all I've tried....for now....
I'm sure I will be back there multiple times this summer to try the whole range of flavors. You know, just to make sure they all taste ok.
Lost puppies break my heart
The downside of summer is the number of stray dogs that show up everywhere! Some of them are abandoned (which makes me angry; go surrender your dog to the kennel or the APL like an adult) and some of them have slipped out of their backyards on a summer's day and have loving owners desperately searching for them! Seriously, one look at the craigslist lost and found sections enough to make anyone sad.
Luckily, Otto and Clair haven't gotten out, nor are they really the kind of dogs that stray very far, but if you have a dog that is a runner (retrievers, huskies. pointers), please consider microchipping your dogs. It's a very simple and relatively inexpensive procedure where your vet will inject a tiny microchip under your pet's skin. You then register you pet's chip at the manufacturers website online ( this part is important; please keep your info updated). If your dog is lost, and either doesn't have a collar on, or the tags break off, your dog can still be identified via his/her microchip. If your dog is picked up by a rescue organization, it is customary for them to scan for microchips. It prevents a situation where your dog gets adopted out to someone else while you're still trying to find him/her.
So, what should you do if you lose a pet?
1. Make lots of posters and post them in and around the area your pet was last seen.
2. Post your missing dog's info on facebook, twitter, and craigslist and ask friends to cross post. Post frequently.
3. Call your neighborhood shelters and the dog warden to alert them. You should probably follow up with them frequently; they get very busy in the summer.
4. Believe in miracles. They do happen. Last week, an epileptic chocolate lab was lost in my neighborhood, and was miraculously found a week later!
If you're a dog owner that thinks of their dog as a family member, please consider microchipping your pet. You will probably never ever need it, and I hope that you don't. But if you do, its just one more thing to help bring your furry baby back home.
Luckily, Otto and Clair haven't gotten out, nor are they really the kind of dogs that stray very far, but if you have a dog that is a runner (retrievers, huskies. pointers), please consider microchipping your dogs. It's a very simple and relatively inexpensive procedure where your vet will inject a tiny microchip under your pet's skin. You then register you pet's chip at the manufacturers website online ( this part is important; please keep your info updated). If your dog is lost, and either doesn't have a collar on, or the tags break off, your dog can still be identified via his/her microchip. If your dog is picked up by a rescue organization, it is customary for them to scan for microchips. It prevents a situation where your dog gets adopted out to someone else while you're still trying to find him/her.
So, what should you do if you lose a pet?
1. Make lots of posters and post them in and around the area your pet was last seen.
2. Post your missing dog's info on facebook, twitter, and craigslist and ask friends to cross post. Post frequently.
3. Call your neighborhood shelters and the dog warden to alert them. You should probably follow up with them frequently; they get very busy in the summer.
4. Believe in miracles. They do happen. Last week, an epileptic chocolate lab was lost in my neighborhood, and was miraculously found a week later!
If you're a dog owner that thinks of their dog as a family member, please consider microchipping your pet. You will probably never ever need it, and I hope that you don't. But if you do, its just one more thing to help bring your furry baby back home.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Sometimes you just have to take the bad with the good
Hello everyone! Hope you're either still out having a good time, or recovering from what I hope was a fabulous weekend!! I had yet another great Cleveland weekend, filled with cookouts and parties. Unfortunately there was one bad nightclub experience, but there was one FANTASTIC dining experience that more than made up for it.
Usually, when people ask "Do you want the bad news or the good news", I ALWAYS say bad first. So in keeping with that tradition, I will tell you about my bad experience first.
On Saturday night, N's friend Matt was in town. Matt is one-half of The Kickdrums, and in support of a friend and a musician that got his start in Cleveland, a bunch of us went to listen to Matt spin at Fortress, which is at the corner of W9th and St. Clair. It.was.awful. The decor is interesting (I would describe it as emo chic), and that's about all this place has going for it. At 11:30 pm on a Saturday night, there were maybe 20 people in it. At first, I was surprised, and then I figured it out why it was so empty: (a) $10 cover (b) RIDICULOUSLY expensive drinks. N and I had 5 drinks between the two of us; two were Miller Lites, 1 Jameson on the rocks, and a couple of saphhire-tonics; the bill was $65!!!!. This is Cleveland. And these were not Velvet Tango Room-esque cocktails, for which I will HAPPILY pay $15. (c) all the seating was roped off for VIP/Reserved. ummm, there's 20 people in here. Needless to say, someone would have to give me a VERY good reason to ever go back there.
Now that the "bad" is out of the way, I can move on to the FABULOUS!! N and I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary on Friday, and we celebrated with dinner at L'Albatros. I've eaten french food before, but I was definitely eating the wrong thing. THIS.PLACE.IS.AMAZING. Everything is so FULL of flavor, I can't even begin to describe it. And, there's no skimping on the butter or cream. N ordered a martini, while I started with their signature drink, the L'Albatros (absinthe, pineapple juice, lime juice, mint, lemon-lime soda).
This was followed by escargots (omg, so yummy) and a selection of amazing cheeses. For entrees, N ordered the Pied de Cochon (a sausagy dish) while I ordered the Mussels with Pomme Frites.
If you like Mussels, these were absolutely, unbelievably, DELICIOUS! So if you're looking for some place new to try for dinner this weekend, I would definitely recommend L'Albatros. It will leave you full and happy!!
Usually, when people ask "Do you want the bad news or the good news", I ALWAYS say bad first. So in keeping with that tradition, I will tell you about my bad experience first.
On Saturday night, N's friend Matt was in town. Matt is one-half of The Kickdrums, and in support of a friend and a musician that got his start in Cleveland, a bunch of us went to listen to Matt spin at Fortress, which is at the corner of W9th and St. Clair. It.was.awful. The decor is interesting (I would describe it as emo chic), and that's about all this place has going for it. At 11:30 pm on a Saturday night, there were maybe 20 people in it. At first, I was surprised, and then I figured it out why it was so empty: (a) $10 cover (b) RIDICULOUSLY expensive drinks. N and I had 5 drinks between the two of us; two were Miller Lites, 1 Jameson on the rocks, and a couple of saphhire-tonics; the bill was $65!!!!. This is Cleveland. And these were not Velvet Tango Room-esque cocktails, for which I will HAPPILY pay $15. (c) all the seating was roped off for VIP/Reserved. ummm, there's 20 people in here. Needless to say, someone would have to give me a VERY good reason to ever go back there.
Now that the "bad" is out of the way, I can move on to the FABULOUS!! N and I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary on Friday, and we celebrated with dinner at L'Albatros. I've eaten french food before, but I was definitely eating the wrong thing. THIS.PLACE.IS.AMAZING. Everything is so FULL of flavor, I can't even begin to describe it. And, there's no skimping on the butter or cream. N ordered a martini, while I started with their signature drink, the L'Albatros (absinthe, pineapple juice, lime juice, mint, lemon-lime soda).
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