Morgan Conservatory: Paper Arts in CLE

Last evening I attended the Morgan Conservatory Annual Benefit and Silent Auction: Opposites Attract.  My mom had a piece in the silent auction and I was so excited to show my support and check out all of the awesome artwork and paper! The month of October is dedicated to celebrating the paper arts, so check out all the other events going on in Cleveland during Octavofest 2013. 

Mom and Me
in front of her calligraphy piece

"The Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory and Educational Foundation is a Cleveland, Ohio non-profit art center dedicated to the production and preservation of hand papermaking and the art of the book." This is their big fundraiser and the whole warehouse/gallery turns into a magical creative space--complete with live music, hand-crafted decorations, food and drink, demos and fab art for a good cause!

As soon as you stepped into the space you could feel the creative and magnetic energy, after all, the benefit this year was rightfully named, Opposites Attract. 

The Morgan Conservatory really embodies the idea of opposites attract. The ominous and rust-belt looking warehouse holds tremendous beauty, revitalization and creative production inside. The shell of the building on E.47th St may look a bit intimidating, but the lush Japanese mulberry trees in the back of the premises serve as the source for the hand papermaking production. Yes, they actually harvest the plant fibers and make their own paper. SO TOTALLY COOL!

During the event you could check out all of the different types of paper that members and artists had created or used in their collection. They even had staff at different stations doing demos to show the step-by-step process of the labor-intensive art of paper making.

We made our rounds checking out all of the ways in which artists used paper. From handmade books, installations, to intricately cut paper, and typography--there were so many different ways people used the paper. And the silent auction allowed you to bid on well-known artists and cool pieces for relatively low prices. Hope I get a call on one of my bids :) The best part is that all of the artists donated their work to raise money to benefit the Morgan and support educational workshops.

So be sure to check out the month long celebration of paper arts in Cleveland! I'll be back at the Morgan next weekend for the Abecedarium and revisit my ABC's. Visit Morgan Conservatory to learn about the process of hand-making paper or other events around town that are part of Octavofest.

Disclosure: My mom is a member of Morgan Conservatory and participating artist in Octavofest. All opinions are entirely my own. And I think she's awesome.

Wordless Wednesday: Who Does Everyone Love?

Tomorrow marks the Feast of the Assumption, and beginning of one of my favorite festival weekends in CLE...THE FEAST in Little Italy! Kicking off its 115th year, be sure to stop over between August 15-18th for some of CLE's finest and authentic Italian cuisine and festivities at The Feast of the Assumption in Little Italy! Check out my Feasted: The Feast of the Assumption blog post from last year and Cleveland.com's guide to The Feast of the Assumption here. Cannolis, meatball sandwiches, cavatelli, dancing, music, family, friends, faith and fabulous food! See ya there CLE Italian loves and lovers!

So who does everyone love? Why an Italian Girl, of course!!! :0)
Circa The Feast 2005

CLE Museum of Art + Lakewood Arts Fest

What a great weekend to be a CLE art lover! On Friday, I finally got to check out Cleveland Museum of Art's MIX First Fridays: Caliente! And this time it was outdoors on the front steps. A total fiesta, complete with a live salsa band, happy hour specials, and droves of art aficionados and art newbies!



Just dance!

Reportedly there were over 1000 people who were salsa-ing and spectacting outside and inside the beautiful museum, myself included! So happy to see people come out and enjoy all that our city has to offer! Check out what's happening at the newly renovated Cleveland Museum of Art!



Sassy salsa sisters!

Just like Rodin's "The Thinker"

After the event, my sis and I headed around the corner to the new ABC Tavern that recently opened in Uptown. Great selection of craft beers AND skee ball, win! Definitely will be visiting there again!

On Saturday, I went to the 36th annual Lakewood Arts Fest. Over 160 artists participate on average in the downtown Lakewood festival each year, many of them locally-based. It's been a family tradition to go every year, and this year I hit it up again...twice :)

I purchased these 4 coasters as a set (for only $15!) from The Foundry Woodprints. I LOVE the old historical photos of CLE that were transferred as woodprints. I'm going to put my 4 in a shadow box and hang it on my wall.  His stuff was going like hotcakes and hopefully they'll be opening a brick & mortar soon. Yeah, CLE pride!

Some of my other favorite and noteworthy artists at the Lakewood Arts Fest this year included:

• Cynde H. Designs: 35mm Film Negative Jewelry. The name says it all! But check out her stuff to see her step-by-step process...very cool upcycling!
• Gold Designs by John Darlin: gorgeous handcrafted bracelets and jewelry. Love his bracelet hook clasps that actually fit my wrist. You could never go out of style with one of his timeless pieces.
• Marker Magic: I can't even do his work justice, you've got to see it up close! This Twinsburg artist takes the ever-familiar magic marker to create spectacular works of art that are deceptively stunning!
• Ironwood & Vine Studio: one of my favorites for his upcycling craftsmanship. Dean Myton creates several products from upcycled wood--my favorite, his serving trays, were made from wine corks, wine crates and salvaged wood from deconstructed homes throughout Northeast Ohio. Brilliant!

After circling the show several times, we worked up an appetite and decided to try out the newly opened Cerino's Casual Italian (previously Eddie-N-Eddie's). Honestly, as good as their burgers were, my whole fam was pumped a solid Italian family restaurant finally came back to Lakewood! And the  fast service, friendliness and food did not disappoint!


Eat Well.
Laugh Often.
Love Much.

We shared breaded parmesean planks and mini meatball sliders as appetizers, and I had the "smaller" portion of crispy pesto gnocci with charred cherry tomatoes for the main course. YUM! Needless to say, we were all in happy carb comas post-meal.

 

An artsy-fartsy, foodie, fun, family weekend in CLE! Have you been to MIX at CLE Museum of Art? How about the Lakewood Arts Fest? What's your favorite Cleveland area arts fest?

YP Pantry, Cleveland Foodbank

How did 1 year fly by so quickly?! Yes... YP Pantry, Cleveland Foodbank is officially a year old! Gasp! 

Me too, kid, me too...
Image source: womenunlimitedworldwide.com

Last July I became involved with forming a group of young professionals to start a YP networking group in affiliation with the Cleveland Foodbank. Never did I imagine what a tremendously eye-opening experience, adventure, and friendship forming time it would be!

Not familiar with the Cleveland Foodbank or YP Pantry? No problem!

Here's a little history and my top 5 reasons why you should consider getting involved!

The Cleveland Foodbank supplies a majority of the food used in local hot meal sites, shelters, and food pantries throughout Northeast Ohio. In addition, they provide food to child care centers, group homes, and programs for the elderly.

The most astonishing thing I learned after getting involved with the organization is that there IS enough food in Cleveland. Let me reiterate that point, there.is.enough.food.in.Cleveland.for.EVERYONE! The issue or challenge, which the Cleveland Foodbank certainly advocates to overcome, is that we need to reconsider and revise the way food is distributed throughout our community.

So who does the Cleveland Foodbank serve? Are people really going hungry in Cleveland? Well, chew on this...

Image source: Cleveland Foodbank

WOW! So what can you do to help? There are a variety of ways for you to get involved and contribute. Learn about 5 ways you can help fight hunger here. And if you're a young professional, between ages 21-39 and looking for a group to get involved with, here are my top 5 reasons why you should consider joining YP Pantry, Cleveland Foodbank!

1) Get hands on experience! Unlike some YP groups, where you pay annual dues, slap it on your resume and occassionally go to social outings at local bars, this group encourages you to roll up your sleeves and get involved! I dig being a part of YP Pantry because there are so many opportunities to volunteer at the Cleveland Foodbank warehouse and assist with repack events.

New YP Pantry members packing their first pallet in the warehouse!

Actually sorting food, organizing crates, checking labels, and visually seeing the food to be distributed to local pantries makes a huge impact. and raises your awareness of how much need is right in our community!

2) Make a difference in our CLE community! Several YP Pantry community events take place at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lakewood. The produce you may have just recently sorted in the Foodbank warehouse is delivered to the church for hot meals and produce distribution. As a Lakewood resident myself, I was completely blown away after attending the first YP Pantry there.  Serving nearly 200 people, who are quite likely your neighbors, is very eye-opening and truly humbling as it magnifies the incredible need right in our own backyards. Make a difference, and feel good serving someone a tasty meal or hand out fresh fruits and vegetables.

Photo Source: YP Pantry Facebook

Peanut butter and jelly pros!
Photo Source: YP Pantry Facebook

Average produce distribution line
Fresh sweet potatoes, onions, potatoes, cucumbers, and apples
from the Cleveland Foodbank
Photo Source: YP Pantry Facebook

3) Volunteer in lieu of dues! As I mentioned before, I really appreciate the hands on experience. So in lieu of dues,  members are required to volunteer 24 hours of their time over the course of a year. And there's plenty of ways to earn it too, doing a repack in the warehouse, assisting with an on-site agency distribution day, and more--check out all of the current event/volunteer listings by visiting the YP Pantry Facebook events page and registering on Eventbrite. If you're just starting out in your career, or paying off student loans--your time is just as valuable as money! So come out and volunteer, and save your due money for other expenses ;)


4) Make new friends! Over the course of the past year, I've met some AMAZING people that I can now call friends. Our common interest was volunteering, but some of those initial volunteer experiences developed into friendships.

Meet other young professionals who enjoy giving back, having fun, and making new friends. The YP Pantry Social Happy Hour events have included some of CLE's best restaurants such as Noodlecat, Bier Markt, and Grovewood Tavern.


Slurp-a-licious time at YP Pantry Social at Noodlecat!

Ale, Cookies, and Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at Bier Markt
with YP Pantry Core Council Members, Tracy and Kate

Register for the next YP Pantry Social Happy Hour on July 30 at Light Bistro and see what it's all about. And the best part? Donate 2 boxes of your fave cereal at the event, be entered to win a pair of tickets to the Taste of the Browns, andddd 15% of your bill that evening will be donated directly back to the Foodbank too! That's a major win!

5) Stay updated! So maybe you've attended a few YP events, maybe you're new to the city. Find out other fun things happening in CLE too. Cleveland Foodbank offers other fun ways to volunteer like at Cleveland Indians games too. Fill out an application to be added to the YP Pantry monthly e-newsletter list,  check out other YP Pantry Core Council members awesome blogs all about CLE, like Amanda from Clue Into Cleveland and Jen from Why? CLE, or follow YP Pantry and Cleveland Foodbank on Facebook.

So, hope to see you at an event or volunteer opportunity soon to help support the Cleveland Foodbank mission!

*Full disclosure: I am a YP Pantry Core Council member and volunteer of the Cleveland Foodbank. All opinions expressed are completely my own.*

 

4th of July Recap

Is it seriously double digit days in July already?! How did we get here so quickly!! Ahhh if only we could push the slow button on summer!

Over the 4th of July holiday weekend, I was out of town visiting nearby C-Bus. So here is a quick recap of the highlights:

 

An epic explosive show

at the largest fireworks display in Ohio--Red, White & Boom!

JAM + JMK

 

Glow-worthy

 

 

Hiking + tree climbing + intentional dip in the water

Stroll along Creekside

Stop looking at me swan!!

Awesome community gardens!

It was a fun trip and I was able to relax, explore and catch up with the JMK fam. One step at a time, we'll see where the road leads...

Isn't that an O.A.R. song? On the road outside Columbus? Anywayyyy....Yep, I'll be heading back down there this weekend. This time for a girls weekend with 2 of my besties from college. We've been planning it since March, and looking forward to some much-needed girl time and shenanigans :) Now I have to go run and pack!

 

Can't wait for Club with these lovely ladies!!! Where is that summer slow down button again??

Cleveland.com + DCA Tweetup at Aloft Hotel + WXYZ

Last week, I had the opportunity to go check out the brand new Aloft Hotel that now anchors the progressive development in the East Bank of the Flats.

Aloft Hotel and Ernst & Young Building

Cleveland.com and Downtown Cleveland Alliance--two of Cleveland's biggest CLE supporters-- hosted a Tweetup for CLE's social(media)ites to preview the space. To check out cleveland.com's recap and photos click here.

Visitors and hotel guests were greeted by this awesome take on a check-in desk.

Ballin

Nearly 400 people gathered for the event in Aloft Hotel at WXYZ, the same restaurant owners of ABC in Ohio City and XYZ in Gordon Square, to get a glimpse of the venue and socialize.

Sleek. Exposed duct work. Curved lines. Modern feel. Tons of natural light.

Not only was the interior cool but a deck off the second story offered absolutely incredible views of the architecture and natural beauty in CLE.

Deck entrance

Stellar views from the deck

I love that the Detroit-Superior Bridge and Shoreway Bridge are both visible in this shot.

The views are nostalgic of CLE's industrial past contrasted with the exciting redevelopment. 

  

This recent Crain's Cleveland article does a good job of explaining the history of the Flats and long anticipated revitalization of the area. Not only will the new Aloft hotel offer a comfy place to rest your head, but there are sleek conference rooms that boast fantastic views, access to the newly reopened Waterfront Rapid Line, and foodie favorites too. CLE is the place to see and be!

Conference rooms

Green space next to the conference rooms gives a unique perspective of FirstEnergy Stadium

Soon mixed-use spaces will also open--including more offices, retail, restaurants, bars, and apartments.

Bridging CLE's past & present

What a fun place to host a Tweetup, meet new people, eat, drink, take in terrific views and experience CLE's latest destination! Just another reminder of the positive redevelopment and great things happening in The Land!

Weekend Recap: Cleveland Wine Fest & Celebrating Father's Day

Another awesome weekend in CLE and the perfect combo of relaxation, friends, family and fun!

On Saturday I checked out the Cleveland Wine Festival at Voinovich Park. Last year, I only got to briefly enjoy the Wine Fest because a big thunderstorm rolled in right off the lake. So I was pumped to get to go this year with partly sunny skies, new friends and lots o' good vino!

 

My favorite wines were "Paco Red Experience" from Jackson Family Wines and "Hob Knob Wicked Red." There was wine slushies, sangria, sweet, dry, whites, reds, blushes, local and international wines--something for everyone's tastbuds! Plus live music, great people watching, and a beautiful backdrop of the city! 

I had a blast at the event and was happy to hang with Sara and her group of CLE homies! Hooray for fun times and fab new friends!

To kickoff Father's Day, I wanted to surprise my Dad with a tasty dessert for our family cookout. There's a giant mulberry tree in the backyard that is just covered with berries and was begging to be picked. I previously pinned a recipe for a mulberry cobbler on Pinterest..so perfect timing! I foraged these berries, hahaha, and was so excited to try this new recipe.. I'm going to post the full recipe and steps but here is a little sneak peek :)

Holy mulberries!

Proof: I CAN bake!

It turned out to be a wicked success...and great finish to the fantastic burgers and sausages my Dad fired up on the grill.

Totally in the zone!

It was such a nice relaxing day with the whole family and just hanging out, cracking jokes with my Dad.

He's always known how to make me laugh :)

Like Father, like Daughter! Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Thanks for always helping me keep my sense of humor, staying grounded, encouraging me, and teaching me how to be "one smooth operator!" :)

Did you attend the Cleveland Wine Fest? What's your favorite wine? How did you celebrate Dad this Father's Day?