Cheers to 2013!

As the year winds down, I'd like to take a moment to say a special thank you to all who have read my blog over the past year. This blog started out on a whim, and I've been surprised and grateful for the positive feedback I've received. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it!

Here's to many more fun events in 2013 and a very happy new year. Cheers to 2013!

Glow at the Garden

 

If you're looking for a family-friendly holiday event this weekend, check out "Glow" at the Cleveland Botanical Garden.

Glow is the garden's annual holiday event. Glow is designed to entertain both adults and children during the holiday season. The garden is completely transformed to entice all the senses. Twinkling lights, gingerbread houses and live poinsettias are just a few of the decorations that adorn the garden's various buildings. Make sure to stop by the two-story Christmas tree for a family holiday photo or listen to live festive music performed throughout the garden.

Glow has plenty of activities for children as well. Children can take a ride on the Garden Express for a magical train ride, decorate their very own gingerbread house, leave a wish on the garden's Wishing Tree, or shop for presents at the kid-sized Tree Top Shop.

Glow celebrates all that is good during the holiday season. If you don't have enough time to stop by before Christmas, don't worry! Glow will remain at the garden until Monday, Dec. 31.

Glow at the Garden hours:
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.

*Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
*Closed Mondays, Christmas and New Year's Day

For more information about Glow, visit Cleveland Botanical Garden.

Festivus Party at Market Garden Brewery

This event is perfect for any "Seinfeld" fanatic. Fans will recall that one year instead of celebrating Christmas, the characters partook in a different kind of holiday -- Festivus.

Festivus was first introduced to the world on "Seinfeld." Celebrated on Dec. 23, Festivus is a way to celebrate the holidays without giving in to commercialism. The holiday consists of the Airing of Grievances, in which friends and families state the problems they've had with each other throughout the past year, and the Feats of Strength, where the winner must pin other family members to the floor.

Don't expect to spot a Christmas tree anywhere in a home celebrating Festivus. Instead, an unadorned aluminum pole is the only decoration seen.

Market Garden Brewery in Ohio City is celebrating Festivus early this year on Wednesday, Dec. 12. The brewery has even concocted its very own Festivus Ale -- a smooth and spicy beer that's fit for this holiday. The organizers of the event are also collecting toys for Toys For Tots. Each person who brings a toy to the Festivus Party will get their first beer on the house.

Festivus Party hours:
Wednesday, Dec. 12 from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

For more information about this event, visit Market Garden Brewery.

Wrapped in Tradition: A Gordon Square Holiday

In the past few years, Gordon Square has revived itself and become a center for the arts. This Saturday Gordon Square is combining art with holiday festivities for their "Wrapped in Tradition" event.

This event serves as Gordon Square's kickoff to the holiday season. The afternoon will feature carriage rides, ice sculpting contests, Christmas trees for sale, roasted chestnuts, hot chocolate and a visit by Santa. A special appearance will also be made by Mr. Jingeling, a Cleveland holiday favorite who first appeared in Halle Brothers Department Store in the '50s.

Besides the holiday festivities, the shops and boutiques that line the streets of Gordon Square will be open for holiday shopping. Many of these stories will be offering special deals and discounts for the day.

This event is free and open to the public.

Wrapped in Tradition: A Gordon Square Holiday
Saturday, Dec. 8 from noon to 6 p.m.

For more information about this event, or driving directions, visit Positively Cleveland.

Ohio City Holiday Festival and Light Up Lakewood

Many cities have already celebrated the start of the Christmas season with tree lighting ceremonies and holiday-themed events. But a few cities are waiting until the start of December to kick off the holiday season. Ohio City and Lakewood are two of these cities, and both towns will be welcoming hundreds of visitors this weekend as they ring in the holiday season.

Saturday's events start out with the Ohio City Holiday Festival in Market Square. Market Avenue will be closed to traffic and instead of being filled with cars, the street will be filled with vendors selling holiday goods, chocolates and ornaments. Horse and carriage rides will be available to patrons, and a select assortment of Christmas trees will be available for purchase. When you're done shopping, head over to Great Lakes Brewing Co. for a pint of Christmas ale.

Ohio City Holiday Festival hours:
Saturday, Dec. 1 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.


The festivities continue into the evening with the annual Light Up Lakewood event. Light Up Lakewood is the city's annual Christmas lighting ceremony and holiday kickoff. The event starts at 5 p.m. with a parade on Detroit Avenue. The attention then shifts to Lakewood Hospital for the lighting of the hospital grounds and a fireworks show. The evening concludes with musical performances, screening of holiday movies on a big screen at the Lakewood library, and the selling of goods by a number of street vendors.

Light Up Lakewood hours:
Saturday, Dec. 1 from 5-8 p.m.

Both events are free and open to the public.

For more information, visit Ohio City and Arts In Ohio.

Little Italy Holiday Art Walk

The holiday season is officially here! Over the next month, shoppers will be racing to malls and department stores to try to find the perfect gifts for their friends and families. If you're looking to avoid some of the madness and chaos that ensues at these malls, take some time to shop at Little Italy this weekend during their Holiday Art Walk.

Little Italy, located right outside Case Western Reserve University, is known for its traditional Italian food and fine selection of art sold within more than 20 boutiques that line the street. Art Walks are hosted throughout the year and showcase the unique items available for purchase in Little Italy.

The Holiday Art Walk is special in that many of the stores and boutiques bring in holiday and seasonal items that are not available the rest of the year. Many of these boutiques will also be offering discounts and special sales on items. Plus, the stores are known to be stocked with seasonal cookies, wine and hot chocolate for patrons to snack and sip on while they browse around.

Many of the restaurants in Little Italy will also take part in the Art Walk, offering deals such as happy hour specials or free appetizers.

Little Italy Holiday Art Walk hours:
Friday, Nov. 30 from noon-9 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 1 from noon-9 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 2 from noon-6 p.m.

For more information about what Little Italy has to offer, visit Little Italy Cleveland.

Cleveland Turkey Trot

Thanksgiving is a day to spend with family and friends, expressing gratitude for everything we have in our lives. But for those of you who are looking to spend Thanksgiving morning doing something different, or for those who want to burn off some extra calories before the big meal, sign up for the Cleveland Turkey Trot.

The Turkey Trot is an annual race on Thanksgiving Day in downtown Cleveland. The race begins and ends at the Galleria, and includes a 5-mile and 1-mile course. All participants will receive a free t-shirt, and the top three overall male and female finishers will receive special awards. Random awards will also be distributed throughout the race to various runners.

A new addition to the race this year is a costume contest. Participants are encouraged to dress up in wacky and silly costumes to wear while running the race. Judges placed secretly throughout the course will snap photos of their favorite costumed runners and the best costume winner will be announced on Facebook.

Online registration is available until Monday, Nov. 19 at 7 a.m. Registration costs $25 per person. Runners may also sign up on race day for $30.

Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. on race day (Thursday, Nov. 22). The 1-mile race kicks off at 8:45 a.m. with the 5-mile run following at 9:30 a.m.

To learn more about the race, or to view registration packet pick-up locations, visit Turkey Trot Road Race.