Hop aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

If you are looking for things to do as the weather gets warmer, and if you would like to experience the beauty of Northeast Ohio in a whole new way, why not hop aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad? The CVSR is one of the longest, oldest and most scenic tourist excursion railways in the whole United States. This non-profit organization operates in partnership with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and is dedicated to the preservation of passenger rail transportation in Cuyahoga Valley and the historic Ohio & Erie Canalway.

The CVSR has several special events, tours and educational programs throughout the year, but if you simply want to enjoy a relaxing train ride through a breathtakingly scenic route, you may purchase tickets for just $12 for both adults and kids. There is even food aboard the train, so all you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the sights.

For more information on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, please visit www.cvsr.com.

I-X Indoor Amusement Park in Cleveland opens March 22

The I-X Indoor Amusement Park will be open once again, starting Friday, March 22 and running through Sunday, April 14. With over 20 acres of rides, fun activities, live entertainment, food and more, the amusement park is something families in Cleveland look forward to every spring.

This year’s highlights include the new Soaring Eagle Zipline, which takes a pair of riders up almost 70 feet above the I-X Center floor; the new White Water Ride, which features 58,000 gallons of water; and all new family friendly shows such as Mutts Gone Nuts, featuring loveable canines performing hilarious stunts and tricks.

The amusement park has also announced some great news: the price of admission has been lowered this year.

Amy Girton, show manager and marketing director, said, “I am pleased to announce that we have lowered our individual ticket pricing this year to the I-X Indoor Amusement Park, while also adding new entertainment and two new rides. If you haven’t been to the park recently, or maybe you come every year, this is the year to visit and save money, while also enjoying two new rides and our new Mutts Gone Nuts dog show that is both cute and funny for the who family to enjoy!”

The I-X Indoor Amusement Park is located at 6200 Riverside Drive in Cleveland. For more information, please visit www.ixamusementpark.com.

14th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Cleveland

It’s that time of year again when the streets of Cleveland turn green. The 14th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade will kick off at 2pm on Sunday, March 17 at Superior Avenue and East 18th Street. The sea of green will then march to Public Square and circle back to East 6th Street, spanning an approximately two mile route that will take about two hours and 15 minutes.

Parade organizer Shannon Corcoran said, “We try to keep a steady pace, but if it’s cold, they tend to move faster.”

Last year’s parade was fortunately held in sunny weather, which resulted in a crowd of about 400,000 joining in along the parade route.

The Cleveland parade holds the distinction of being the oldest and largest in the state, and has stayed within the top ten largest in the whole United States. This year’s instalment will have about 13,000 marchers participating, as well as a couple of Irish wolfhounds and 208 units.

Visitors can expect to see police officers dressed in sharp uniforms, high school marching bands in their glittering costumes and bagpipers in their Highland kilts. Kevin McGinty of Euclid will be the parade’s grand marshal, and Una Ellis of North Ridgeville will be the Irish Mother of the Year. Since this year will mark the 150th anniversary of the Cleveland Fire Department, the parade will see a lot of fire fighting gear as well.
This year’s parade theme is Irish immigrants coming to America.

Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music in Cleveland

For parents of young children about 5 to 7 years old, a fun and educational show is coming to the PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland. Watch the famous furry red monster Elmo and all his Sesame Street friends including loveable yellow Big Bird and newer character Abby Cadabby in a special production of Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music. The story is about Jenny, an enthusiastic new music teacher who comes to Sesame Street only to discover to her dismay that her musical instruments are missing. Jenny quickly makes friends with the Muppets, who come to her rescue and help her discover “instruments” they never knew existed, including rubber duckies, trash can lids and cookie jars. Together, Elmo and friends teach children that anyone can enjoy and make music, even using commonplace household objects to make a joyful sound.

Children of all ages will surely enjoy this special treat as they recognize the beloved Muppet characters. Accompanying adults will also enjoy hearing familiar songs such as “The Hustle,” “You Should be Dancing” and “Rockin’ Robin.” The show features almost two dozen songs, including instantly recognizable sing along classics such as “C is for Cookie” and “The Alphabet Song.”

Catch Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music from Thursday, February 28 to Sunday, March 3 at the PlayhouseSquare’s State Theatre located at 1501 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. Tickets range from $10 to $70 and are available online at www.playhousesquare.org.

4th Annual Brite Winter Festival in Cleveland

The 4th annual Brite Winter Festival will take place on Saturday, February 16 from 5 to 10pm at the Market District in Ohio City.

This event draws thousands of visitors every year, who brave the cold weather to enjoy the live entertainment, musical performances, interesting art exhibitions and outdoor games. Activities include a 24-foot long skee-ball ramp, ski bike racing, snow miniature golf, an incredible electronic arcade crane and hysterical snowball fights. The area’s best known bars and restaurants typically offer great discounts to festival goers when they come inside to warm up.

Highlights of the events include up to 20 art installations which were created through a partnership between The Cleveland Institute of Art and the Department of Community Affairs of The Cleveland Museum of Art. GE lighting will provide high energy efficiency lights for the installations for the second year in a row. 48 bands from across Ohio and the Midwest are also scheduled to play on 7 different stages. A fantastic selection of rock, punk, folk, indie, soul, acoustic and electronic acts has been curated by the Cleveland-based Bad Racket Recording Studio.

The event is free of charge, but if you would like to help out, you may participate as a volunteer or donate to the Brite Winter Festival Kickstarter campaign, which will earn you a pint glass from Glass Bubble Project, amongst other perks. For more information, please visit the event’s official Facebook page, www.facebook.com/britewinter.

 

The Great Big Home and Garden Show at I-X Center, Cleveland OH

The Great Big Home and Garden Show will take place from Saturday, February 2 to Sunday, February 10 at the I-X Center in Cleveland. With more than 650 exhibitors, the show is a must-see for home improvement and gardening enthusiasts.

New highlights and attractions to look out for this year include a fully-constructed, 4,000 square foot Idea Home sponsored by Sherwin-Williams and Cleveland Magazine. Built by Perrino Builders, the Idea Home aims to inspire visitors by presenting them with creative ways to plan and build their dream houses. Other features include a fully-constructed, 2,000 square foot Dream Basement built by Custom Remodeling and Design based in Chagrin Falls, fine dining at full-service restaurant Cambria Bistro, and daily cooking sessions presented by local chefs and instructors from the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking.

Returning favorites from last year’s show include the Garden Showcase, Celebrity Designer Rooms, Playground World’s KidsZone and last year’s Main Stage emcee, Matt Fox, who will also be presenting home improvement ideas and special educational topics on February 2, 3 and 5.

Tickets to the show cost from $5 to $14 and are available at the box office, online and at Home Depot and AAA locations. The I-X Center is located at 6200 Riverside Drive in Cleveland. For more information on the Great Big Home and Garden Show, please visit www.greatbighomeandgarden.com.

Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week kicks off Feb. 22nd

The sixth annual Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week will kick off on Friday, February 22, but although this will be the sixth year running for the popular event, 2013′s installment will feature several firsts.

First off, the event will stretch over two weekends for the first time ever, running through Sunday, March 3. This year’s celebration of downtown dining will also have a theme, namely “Pierogi Power,” as an ode to Cleveland’s unofficial signature food. Local chefs have been invited to create their own unique take on the tasty stuffed treat.

Also for the first time, there will be a kick-off party. Sponsored by Downtown Cleveland Alliance, the party will be in keeping with this year’s Polish theme, and is called “Go Fourth and Polka.” The highlight of the event will be DJ Kishka’s live polka entertainment set during happy hour on Friday, February 22 in the middle of East Fourth Street.

Aside from these few exciting new changes, the premise of Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week will remain the same: more than 40 participating restaurants will offer three-course prix-fixe dinner menus prices at $30. Each restaurant will serve their own choice of specials, with some of them offering mix-and-match options as well as prix-fixe lunches, most of which are priced at $15.

For those who love food and all things Cleveland, Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week is a great way to celebrate eating in the city. For more information, please visit downtowncleveland.com.

Cleveland Botanical Garden’s WinterShow November 23-December 31

The Cleveland Botanical Garden’s annual WinterShow kicks off on Friday, November 23 and will run through Monday, December 31. This year’s theme is “Glow,” and the promises to be even bigger, better and more interactive than past events.

In line the show’s theme, the five-story, 18,000 square foot Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse will be lit up in a bright green glow, as a prelude to the holiday event. Other attractions visitors can expect to see at the event include The Garden Express train for kids, which will run through the outdoor garden paths for the first time.

Kate Fox, director of special exhibits, said, “It’s going to be a big hit. Steam comes out, and it has whistle sounds. It’s really cute.”

Meanwhile, the Garden’s Clark Hall will be transformed into a picturesque Alpine Village, complete with carolers and musicians to set the mood. The Gingerbread Haus bakery, which is inspired by Swiss Alpine architecture, will prove a special treat for children, as they can decorate their own gingerbread houses with candies and other sweets provided by the Garden’s amusing elves.

Kids can also do some shopping at the Treetop Shop, a two-story Alpine-style clubhouse. There they may buy gift bags ranging from $2-8 for their friends and family.
Another heartwarming feature is the Wishing Tree, situated by the Garden’s library. Here children may write their hopes and dreams for the new year on an ornament, and proudly display it on the tree.

Natalie Ronayne, garden executive director, said, “Visiting the Garden around the holidays to see all the fantastic gingerbread houses and trees has become a tradition for many families around town. It feels right for us to build upon that tradition and make the experience much more multisensory and immersive.”

The Cleveland Botanical Garden is located at 11030 East Blvd. in Cleveland. For more information including hours and ticket prices, please visit cbgarden.org.

North Royalton Animal Hospital and Paws at Play Open House

The holidays aren’t just for children. Pet lovers and owners know that the season is about spending time with and giving joy to loved ones, and that includes animals. In light of that, the North Royalton Animal Hospital and Paws at Play Resort & Daycare are offering a special holiday treat for pets with an open house on Saturday, December 15.

The event will run from 10am to 2pm on that day, and will give owners and pets a chance to tour a newly remodeled facility located 9027 Ridge Road. Pets can have their pictures taken with Santa Clause, as well as receive little gifts. Refreshments will be provided for both pets and their owners.

Business Manager Jennifer Hechko said, “We’re known for the Pet Carnival on the City Green. About 1,200 people traditionally show up for that. But that’s not at the hospital because we don’t have the room for it. This open house allows us to invite the community to see the new building.”

The North Royalton Animal Hospital was founded by Hechko’s father, John T. Bryk, in 1957. Paws at Play shares the building with the hospital, thereby making it one of the only vet-supervised boarding facilities in the area. The new facility was recently expanded from 2,500 square feet to a whopping 14,000 square feet.
As Hechko says, “We’re bringing all your pet’s needs under one roof.”

For more information on the open house, please visit nrah.vetstreet.com.