With the staff weapon… in the new East Wing!

After its success with Art on Tap, Cleveland Museum of Art has scheduled yet another enjoyable murder mystery event. While targeted specifically as a college night at the musem, CMA assures me that dates of all ages are welcome to participate in the murder mystery game in the galleries. Bring out your Sherlock caps and magnifying glass, as we’re on a hunt for clues… with a little food, music and dancing to round out your exciting date!

DJ sets by: Christine from stonecoldbikini of 91.1 fm;  WRUW Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University; Lawrence Daniel Caswell from “No Ways Tired” of 89.3fm WCSB Cleveland, Cleveland State University

CLEVELAND MUSEUM of ART
Date: A murder mystery for only the sharpest of crime-solving duos!
Pick Me Up: Friday, Sept 25 from 6-9pm
My Place or Yours: Call 216-421-7350 or 1-888-Cma-0033
My Wallet’s Gone!: $8 gets you in with a student ID
Blind Date: CMA has one of the best collections in the world, yet comprehensive enough to see in one breathtaking visit.
Blind Date: Barking Spider is not to be missed. Truly, this tavern is a hidden Cleveland gem.
Want to Ride Bikes?: While I was excited for a moment when I read under directions, “arriving by bicycle,” there were no actual two-wheeled cycle routes given. Alas, if you know the area, University Circle is one of the bike-friendliest parts of the city.
Cleveland Friendly: Learn more about local artist Viktor Schrekengost, and see his New Yorker bowl in the gallery.
No Thanks, I’m Washing My Hair: I can’t think of a better way to make new friends this school year than a visit to support local arts.

Kitties make her purr!

I went on a couple dates with a guy, when my pet cat, Stan Lee, ran away while I was not home (ahem, brother will never own up to being the responsible party in letting him outdoors). I was devastated for WEEKS, and nights-on-end I would wait at the door after work, anxiously awaiting his arrival back to my Mom’s. Yeah, I had a short stint at living back at home while in my early 20s. Two months was about as much as I could handle.

Meanwhile, male-whom-I was dating was equally as devastated for me — and surprised me with a trip to the APL to adopt a new kitty. Which I did — the one and only, Mr. Nibbles. The cat, not the guy.

Hilariously, the guy could not front the money for the adoption, so I ended up paying for Mr. Nibs from my own wallet.

Be it your beau’s wallet or your own checking account, bring your significant other to the Cleveland APL this Saturday to adopt the newest feline member of your family.

This city typically goes to the Dawgs (roof, roof!), but kitties need lovin’ too! Pets (unlike real family or broke boyfriends) will truly love you unconditionally.

Cleveland APL
Date: Adopt-a-kitty for your sweetheart!
Pick Me Up: Saturday, Sept 19 – 10am to 5pm
My Place or Yours: 1729 Willey Avenue; Cleveland 44113; (216) 771-4616
My Wallet’s Gone!: All cats are $5; kittens under 5 months, $20
Blind Date: The Cleveland APL is a non-profit humane society in Tremont area, focused on compassion for animal fostering and the end of animal suffering.
Double Date: While Fat Cats is not necessarily a bar for animals, revel in your own puppy love over brunch from 11am-4pm on Saturdays.  Or sneak Mr. Whiskers out to the patio.
Want to Ride Bikes?: Hope you screwed that flower basket on tight!
Cleveland Friendly: While at the APL, donate or purchase tickets for the 2009 Fur Ball, benefiting rescued animals needing a second chance.
No Thanks, I’m Washing My Hair: Nobody will love you more than Fluffy! Animals have a tremendous “happiness effect” on those who are feeling particularly lonely. And with pets, a single person can easily adopt!

A Totally Fun (and FREE!) weekend in The Cleve!

Perfect for the omg-squeeee-first date, the figuring-this-thing-out date or the yeah-we’ve-been-married-for-twelve-years date. Take your pick of the many FREE! events around Cleveland this weekend:

Friday, Sept 11:
Tremont Art Walk from 6pm – 10pm – While admission is free (as it typically is walking around the gorgeous streets of Cleveland), be sure to support one of the many local bars, eateries, bookstores or galleries from our area. Or bakeries. Trust me, touristy date activities prevent any unwanted calories! And it’s cute to serve one plate with two spoons.

Or…

If you think $25 is Cheap Date Cleveland-appropriate, kick off an amazing Cleveland-lovin weekend with The Playhouse Square Block Party & Tour from 5:30-9:30pm. Oooh, wonder if I can get backstage?!

Saturday, Sept 12:
Cleveland Museum of Art Chalk Festival (Catch up with Cheap Date Cleveland, if you missed the announcement).

Lakewood Community Festival from 11am-5pm – Entertainment, arts & crafts, music… FOOD! And, duh, all the FREE! you can handle at Madison Park.

Before you embark on one of the coolest ways to fall in love with all-hoods-Cleveland, head over to the Old Stone Church to gawk at select resident-submitted photos as part of Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s Downtown Photo Challenge – noon-7pm! DCA loves FREE! *swoon*

And the main event: Sparx City Hop from noon-midnight – Jump on one of the FREE! trolleys and explore a neighborhood you have yet to discover. Get off the Lolly and fall in love with a new local artist in the Art Quarters on Superior. Forgot to eat lunch? Get thee to Flying Fig for a $10 burger-and-beer special (until 4:30 pm). Rinse. Repeat. Jump on a Trolley. Get off. Check out a neighborhood. Fortune Cookie say: AsiaTown. Jump on a Trolley. Get off. Check out another neighborhood. We’re going streaking! Through the Quandrangle! OK, not really, but we will see Bridget Ginley and recharge with a cafe mocha at Artefino Cafe at one of my FAVORITE Cleveland mixed-used buildings: The Tower Press. What I wouldn’t GIVE to live in that tower! Car Trolley sick? See next clue…

Cleveland Plain Dealer’s insert and schedule. {pdf}

Yes, this has been a long day of talking for us too! Find a little quiet time from 8-10:30pm, relax those barking dogs with a FREE! showing of “The Dark Knight” in the middle of West Sixth. Pull out your blankets and patio chairs, but be sure to exit before the Tailgaters show up… well, around 5am. Do they charge $25 a vehicle for those spaces?

If you somehow managed to make it through with a bit of navigator left in you, bring on Sunday, Sept 13:
Tremont Arts and Cultural Festival from 12-5pm at Lincoln Park – more music, more activities, more (*gulp*) food… it’s OK, walk it off! I never loved anything more FREE!

Well, other than living on East 4th and people watching out my corner window.

Not By a Long Chalk!

Oh, we hope you don’t hear those words upon inviting your beloved on a date to mark up the sidewalks! Childish? Sure! 20 years of an extremely artistic childhood, as far as The Cleveland Museum of Art is concerned.

I’m always looking for an excuse to doodle — to be more creatively I Madonnari than Madonna. There is a cost for both, apparently — $8-16 for Madonnari. Or more than a handful of thousands for plastic surgery to replicate the latter. Ahem, or a really good painter.

Temporary art installations are somehow some of the most memorable. Which in regards to your date, we hope is less temporary and more memorable. Make a sketchy memory this Saturday at the CMA’s Chalk Festival (and not a pigment of your imagination).

Cleveland Museum of Art’s Chalk Festival
Date: Creating art. Together.
Pick Me Up: Saturday, Sept 12 (11am–5pm) & Sunday, Sept 13 (noon-5pm)
My Place or Yours: Wade Oval outside of the Cleveland Art Museum
My Wallet’s Gone!: FREE! to wander and watch; $8-16 to color and create
Blind Date: No need to pre-register, unless this is a polyamorous and/or group affair. Or triad. We don’t judge. But I think three fit in a square, right? Where’s my math teacher…
Double Date: Stick around for music! Saturday, listen to DBC: Delicate Balance Collective; Sunday, swing with crowd favorites The Blues de Ville Band.
Want to Ride Bikes?: Skip the bikes, and take the RTA Healthline. Or take your bike to the Healthline, and carry on…
Cleveland Friendly: This year’s festival will showcase the museum’s newly opened East Wing (of the CMA), as the featured artists look to the collections for their “street chalking.”
No Thanks, I’m Washing My Hair: Don’t like to share yer crayons… err, chalk, eh? We’ve got a sidewalk square for you too. Still $8.

Take a Hike!

The Cleveland suburbs are surrounded with Metroparks for the outdoorsy hiker. There are trails-upon-trails of a rich, beautiful environment to explore.

How about hiking to explore an entirely different kind of rich environment?

Through Sunday, Sept 6, Take a Hike (as it were) for FREE! on an hour-long guided walking tours, experiencing Cleveland’s rich history.

The Historic Gateway Neighborhood tour every Thursday, unfortunately, has ended.

Take a Hike is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. Additional funding is provided by Downtown Cleveland Alliance and Ohio & Erie Canalway Association. Program partners include Historic Warehouse District, Ohio Canal Corridor, Positively Cleveland and 89.7 WKSU.

Ohio Canal – Take a Hike!
Date: Walking tour of Cleveland neighborhoods
Pick Me Up:Sat, Sept 5 or Sun, Sept 6 – both tours start at 10am
My Place or Yours: Warehouse District Tour meets at Constantino’s Market (1278 West 9th Street); Canal to Harbor Tour meets at Settler’s Landing RTA Station (1025 Superior Avenue)
Blind Date: Bring your walking shoes and your tourist camera!
Double Date: After all that guided walking, why not rent a pair of bikes from City Bikes, and make-your-own riding tour.
Want to Ride Bikes?: Please say yes, please say yes…
Cleveland Friendly: Meet John D. Rockefeller, Garrett Morgan, Mrs. Alfred Kelley, Mayor Tom Johnson… or the actors who portray them (I don’t believe it’s time for a Haunted Cleveland Tour…yet).
No Thanks, I’m Washing My Hair: You can never have too much Cleveland history! And now, you have a bit of small talk to impress your next date.