Lots of new business happening around Gordon Square

The already-bustling Gordon Square Arts District is getting a little busier with the addition of three new retail businesses.

Wednesday marked the official opening of Sweet Moses, a soda fountain and treat shop at 6800 Detroit Avenue, one block west of the Gordon Square Arcade.

The owner is Jeff Moreau, who's offering a turn-of-the-century soda shop experience. Sweet Moses serves homemade ice cream dishes and handmade confections. Coming soon will be peanut butter sandwiches that can be topped with options including bacon, marshmallow cream, Nutella, sliced bananas and potato chips.

In addition, two women's boutiques soon will open at the West 65th Street and Detroit Avenue intersection.

One of the businesses, Turnstyle, will sell a mix of vintage and contemporary items. The other business comes from “Project Runway” fashion designer Valerie Mayen, who is creating a “pop-up” store of her fashions next to the Capitol Theatre on West 65th Street.

(Article courtesy of Crain's Cleveland)

Sweet Moses! Grand Opening

With great pleasure I am proud to announce that Sweet Moses, a soda shoppe in theDetroit Shoreway will be opening its doors to serve Clevelanders with a sweet tooth this Saturday afternoon.

From noon to 3:00pm diners can delight in a variety of ice cream sundae options, custom blended sodas, and specialty peanut butter sandwiches. Located on Detroit Avenue and West 68th Street, this charming throwback to the days of the soda shoppe are a welcoming addition to the already bustling Detroit Shoreway neighborhood. I for one am very excited to live within walking distance and plan to make a ritual of visiting the shop for a sundae on warm summer nights! Check out all they have to offer on their website Sweet Moses Treats

The Cleveland International Film Festival Presents: Aardvark

Many Clevelanders are looking forward to the 35th Annual Cleveland International Film Festival this week, myself included. I'm curious to hear how you all plan on viewing films- are you buying tickets individually, in a six pack, or are you splurging for a pass? What films are you intending on seeing? I haven't broken down my full film list yet, but one movie I will definitely be seeing is Aardvark.

Aardvark is a film that is written and directed by native Clevelander, Kitao Sukurai. The film in its entirety is filmed in Cleveland and is fully casted by Clevelanders. So if you are looking to see one film, I would say this has to be it. It will fulfill any cultural and city pride requirements you may be looking for. The story itself is based on fact and one of true perseverance, and the only narrative film to star a blind man to date. Directly from the press release is a brief synopsis:

AARDVARK is the first narrative film to star a person blind since birth. The idea for the film began when Kitao Sakurai – now living in New York – visited the Evolution Jiu-Jitsu academy (evolutionjj.com) in Cleveland Heights, run by childhood friend Darren Branch. There, Sakurai met Larry Lewis Jr., a congenitally blind man who was training Jiu-Jitsu at Darren’s academy. Inspired by Larry’s use of Jiu-Jitsu to overcome his dark and troubled past, Kitao asked Larry and Darren to act out their lives – including the origin of their friendship – in front of the camera. What makes AARDVARK unique is where the movie goes from there: beginning as a documentary reenactment, AARDVARK slowly transforms into an entirely fictional neo-noir thriller that follows Larry as he embarks on a dark quest for vengeance. Aardvark blurs the lines between documentary and fiction in a startling and entirely unexpected way.

The Cleveland premiere of AARDVARK will take place at 8:30pm on Friday, March 25th. www.clevelandfilm.org I look forward to seeing you all there. *Tickets are on standby but will be available for purchase at the theater before the show.

Full disclosure- I am a friend of the Director.

The 4th Coast Pop Up Market is Back!

If you are a regular reader of this blog you may remember the last time I posted about The 4th Coast Pop Up Market. I stopped by with a great group of friends to browse the selections from local businesses, appreciate some art, and have a drink. The event was great, there was even a visit from one of Cleveland's food trucks. So I am happy to share that the event is back THIS FRIDAY. Below are the details from their press release:

1300 THIRD GALLERY at 78th Street Studios presents the 4TH COAST POP UP MARKET, sponsored by Lu-Owl Vintage & Superelectric Press.

The 4th Coast Pop Up Market is a collective of local designers and artists and features limited edition pieces from emerging Cleveland businesses.

Additionally, 1300 Third Gallery will be holding the closing reception for the artwork of: Jeffrey Sierputowski, Robby Staebler, Benjamin Haehn, and Nathaniel Murray.

Stop by during 78th Street Studios Third Friday event on Friday, March 18, 2011 from 5 pm to 11 pm.

There will also be music provided by DJ Tanner.

1300 THIRD GALLERY
78th Street Studio Building
1300 West 78th Street, Suite 3C
Cleveland, OH 44102

Winning the Future Forum on Small Business in Cleveland

The President visited Cleveland earlier this week to discuss small business growth in Ohio. He had the following to say about our wonderful city:

Cleveland has been working to reinvent the Rust Belt as the Tech Belt. You’re positioning yourselves to attract the jobs, the businesses and the industries of tomorrow. It’s places like Cleveland that make me absolutely confident that we’re going to win the future.

- President Obama

I couldn't have said it better myself. GO CLEVELAND. Also- if you are a small business owner, we'd love to hear from you!

Cleveland Restaurant Week

nom nom nom! Restaurant Week is coming February 21st through the 27th. Many local eateries are offering $30 for a three course dinner for two diners. Parking is also $2 with a printed coupon, so there is no reason not to come out for these great gastronomic options for great prices! I myself am teetering between heading to Zinc or Lola. Where are you making reservations?

strEAT Mobile Bistro- NEW Cleveland Food Truck!

Izzy Schachner, the owner behind Cleveland Corporate Caterers and The Courthouse Cafe has just launched a new food truck business for Cleveland! However, because this beastly beauty has a FULL KITCHEN inside it is technically considered a mobile restaurant, not a food truck. Either way- call it what you will, I cannot wait to indulge in their pulled roasted chicken sandwich topped with mac and cheese. nom nom nom.

Catch them this Sunday outside of The Flying Monkey in Tremont from 12-5pm.

Bazaar Bizarre is Back!

Bazaar Bizarre is back and hosting 'A Very Valentine Market' this Saturday February 5th. From 10am to 8pm come and find your sweetie a great and local gift for this Valentine's Day. Or if you're like me, just come and buy something for yourself ;)

Located at: 2000 W. 25th Street in The United Bank Building.

Umami Moto Food Truck!

This weekend I had the pleasure of bumping into the Umami Moto Food Truck outside of the 4th Coast Pop Up Market. Notes on both- The Pop Up Market seemed like a huge success. I went on Friday evening post dinner at Tremont Tap House and the warehouse was packed! There was an amazing amount of art (wearable and hangable!) on display. The food truck also seems to be a huge success! Since I arrived right after dinner I was too full for a meal, but indulged in some pot stickers that were delish! If you come across the truck I recommend you try it. A busy week is ahead, so hopefully there will be some exciting posts.

New retail shop 'Dredgers Union' opening downtown on East 4th Street

CLEVELAND - There has long been a void in downtown Cleveland's retail market. Major depatment stores have closed, and only a sprinkling of new shops have opened.

Danielle DeBoe and Sean Bilovecky hope to change that trend. They plan to open Dredgers Union -- a 4,500 square-foot store on East 4th Street right in downtown Cleveland.

"There is great momentum happening in Cleveland. Downtown is poised to turn a corner," said DeBoe.

Dredgers Union will be housed in what used to be an old McCrory's store. DeBoe said she plans on having a wide variety of merchandise in the store. Gift items, furniture and even their own line of clothing will be available when the store opens in June of this year.

Dredgers Union will service the growing number of downtown residents. With many restaurants and shops thriving along East 4th Street, it's only natural that a department-like store be built.

*By: Dave Gapinski
(Article Courtesy of WEWS 5)

Reminder: 4th Coast Pop Up Market!

Just wanted to send a note to remind all you Clevelanders that the 4th Coast Pop Up Market will be taking place this weekend. If you are looking for full details on it please check out this post. I will be heading over on Friday night (since there will be a DJ, and DJs make everything more glam) Just a sneak peak, designers such as Grey Cardigan will be there!

Happy shopping!

Dante 1 year anniversary Party.

TONIGHT: Even though a snow storm *might* be dropping some serious accumulation on the ground this evening, there is a great party happening over in Tremont. Dante is celebrating their 1 year anniversary and serving complimentary drinks and food at 8pm. Enjoy! Its a great way to check out the space if you haven't dined in yet. I for one, am dying to become a member of their '21 club'.

4th Coast Pop Up Market

The 4th Coast Pop Up Market is a collective of local designers and artists and features limited edition pieces from emerging Cleveland businesses. The market will also include vintage clothing, records and other unique items. It is a first-ever endeavor taking place at one of Cleveland's newest galleries- The Survival Kit Gallery.

The Event takes place over two days, and Friday night they will have a DJ.

WHEN: Friday, January 21, 2011 from 5 pm to 11 pm
Saturday, January 22, 2011 from 12 pm to 6 pm

WHERE: SURVIVAL KIT GALLERY
West 78th Street Studios
1305 West 80th Street

See you there ;)

The Fifty Dollar Show @ the Pop Shop

Over 200 works of art offered at $50 a pop. Who says art is for the rich? Score your very own original masterpieces on the cheap at Pop Shop’s Fifty Dollar Show, happening one night only: Sat 1/8 from 6 – 9PM. Be sure to get there early for first dibs! Art won’t last at $50 apiece.

Pop Shop – 17020 Madison Ave. – Lakewood

PopShopGallery.com


(Article courtesy of CoolCleveland.com)

Coffee Lovers Unite- Phoenix Coffee gives Roastery Tours

Cleveland local business, Phoenix Coffee Company, will be hosting two tours of their downtown roastery(where the coffee is made) just after the Christmas holiday. On December 28th there will be two tours available at 10:30am and 1:00pm. Stop by and find out how your favorite Cleveland coffee is made, and also walk out with a free bag of beans! More details are available at Phoenix Coffee

Cleveland: Eat and drink local this holiday season

CLEVELAND -- Its a chance to try a variety of local cuisine, and expand your pallet at over fifty different restaurants.

For its second consecutive year, Cleveland Independents is bringing back "the deck" of 52 cards. This is a chance for you to try 52 restaurants in the Cleveland-area.

Doug Katz, President of Cleveland Independents stopped by our studio to tell us more about this great holiday gift.

Each card offers $10 off of a $30 food purchase.

The cards are valid through December 30, 2011.

If you are one of the first 10 people to buy two or more decks and mention Channel 3, you'll receive a $25 gift certificate from one of the restaurants in the deck.

The goal of the Cleveland Independents is to support, protect, and nurture independent restaurants in Northeast Ohio.

For a complete listing of participating restaurants visit www.clevelandindependents.com
© 2010 WKYC-TV
(Article Courtesy of WKYC-TV)

Banyan Tree's 10th Annual HOT TODDY EVENT

Saturday, December 4th Banyan Tree will be hosting their 10th Annual Hot Toddy shopping event. The event will run from 12-9 and feature food provided by Fahrenheit as well as dessert from A Cookie & A Cupcake (yippee!) The store will have hot toddies, beer, and wine on hand to help slip you into that shopping mood. There is even a free gift with purchase from local designer Brian Andrew Jasinski of Grey Cardigan. Be sure to stop in to browse, shop, and imbibe!