It all started with me turning 29 on the 12th. I celebrated with just over 20 friends at Deagan's Bar & Kitchen in Lakewood. We took over the front end of the bar, and had a great time hanging out, drinking, and noshing on some food. I, however, did quickly learn that mac & cheese and tequila do not go well together. Either that, or my body was reminding me that I am heading towards 30. My tummy was tossing and turning, and I was home and in bed by 12:45 a.m. on the eve of my birthday.
My friends put the pressure on "R" that night, and he surprised me with a birthday brunch at Pier W the next morning. Their brunch buffet is famous in Cleveland, and I was pretty darn happy as I sipped my complimentary mimosa, munched on fresh seafood and breakfast treats, and listened as the live piano player tickled the ivories with "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid. After brunch, we headed to the Greater Cleveland Aquarium for the first time. It was something fun to do on a Sunday afternoon, but for the price ($46 for the two of us)- I wasn't very impressed with the size or exhibits.
The birthday celebrations continued last weekend, as my parents came to town. We hit up Deagan's (hmmm, a theme to this post?) and Sweet Moses on Friday, had a fantastic meal at Washington Place Bistro on Saturday night (I love their Shrimp & Grits), and then watched our SU men's basketball team take home another win on Sunday while we enjoyed dogs from Happy Dog.
That was my creation of the day.Then bright and early on Monday, "R" and I took to the road. I had to be in Cincinnati and Indianapolis the rest of the week for work, and I was lucky enough that he could travel with me. So in between meetings, we were able to squeeze in some fun- including a fabulous meal at Local 127 in Cincinnati (that deserves its own post). We also took the advice of my Tweeps, and enjoyed some BBQ at Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse. The view along the river in Cincinnati was gorgeous, and even though it wasn't the best that I've had- the BBQ hit the spot that night. We shared the Crostini and then split the Big Ted's Platter. This allowed us to sample pulled pork, sliced smoked brisket, and their world-famous ribs for just $24.99.
From Cincinnati, we headed to Indianapolis to the regional office of the non-profit that I work for. The week ended with dining at nothing but chains, so by then I was more than ready to come home to Cleveland! I love searching for local gems when visiting new cities, but I think we don't truly appreciate how easy it is to dine at local, independently-owned restaurants in our city. My love for the CLE just grows a little bit more every time I leave!Phew, I'm tired just looking at how busy these past two weeks have been. So this weekend, I am laying low and sticking close to home- except to attend the baby shower of one of my very best friends. I'm off to make pasta salad for 40 guests. Wish me luck, and I'll keep the fire extinguisher near this time.
There you go! The recipe from 
The cafe on Lorain offers pastries (look at all those tasty options!), desserts, a full brunch menu, and a "vintage" feel as you dine in the restaurant. The place was packed, and the line only continued to grow as we ate. We had to wait about 10 minutes, and in doing so we ran into two of my favorite people to run into. So the four of us decided to brunch together (something that we've been meaning to do for a while), and settled into a table by the outer wall. Lots of floor-to-ceiling windows in this place, and the sunlight was streaming in!
Of course the eggs were nothing special (could have used some salt and pepper, but they were not on the table), but they were cooked to over-medium--- as requested. The hearty bread was great for dipping, but the cider bacon was the real star of this plate. I want more. Crispy and just a hint of sweet and tart...yum. The French press coffee was also very good.