Memorial Day Weekend in CLE

This three-day holiday weekend was one of the best weekends that I can remember in Cleveland. The weather could not have been more perfect, we purposely didn't make plans and were able to relax and go and do things on a whim, and we spent almost all of the weekend outdoors soaking up the sun. Clevelanders were shaking off the long and harsh winter, and Mother Nature almost made me forget about the polar vortex. I fell in love with our city a little bit more this Memorial Day Weekend.

Now, I'll let the few many pictures do the talking.

The only true plans we had made was a reservation for dinner on Cork & Cleaver Social Kitchen's newly opened patio on Saturday night. They just started the spring menu, and we enjoyed several of the menu changes like the C&C Wedge, the Beet Salad, the Watermelon Gazpacho with Tuna (featured on last month's cover of Cleveland Magazine), and the new preparation of the Scallops with a spring pea puree and carrots became one of my favorite dishes from them.

Sunday, we headed over to Hingetown for the Sunday Market.

This little area off of the beaten path in Ohio City is emerging as a new hot spot, with businesses like Rising Star Roasters and Beet Juice Bar. The flea market popped up this weekend, and the day was perfect for browsing vendors and enjoying lunch from the Off the GRIDdle food truck. A breakfast waffle topped with pulled chicken, pepper corn relish, cheese, and an avocado lime drizzle? Yes, please!

This Acapulco Pulled sandwich, served on a Belgian waffle, wasn't the easiest street food to eat, but it was very tasty.

Then, we headed to Tremont in search of a patio. This led to an unplanned stop into The Paul Duda Gallery on Professor Avenue. What a collection of fabulous Cleveland artwork!

I wanted to take half of the gallery home with me, but I settled for just two.

I fell in love, and they look perfect in the new gray office that we just redecorated.

After leaving the gallery a little bit poorer, we gave up on a patio and stopped into Tremont Scoops for our first stop of the season.

Sunday ended with a backyard BBQ at "R's" brother's house with his family, and we sat outside until almost 10PM.

Monday, a bonus day to play, came around and we headed to the Marc's Great American Rib Cook-off and Music Festival after doing some yard work. With the Downtown Cleveland skyline as the backdrop, it was a perfect day for the festival.

We sampled a few ribs...

...and some smoked chicken wings. Saw this guy wandering around...

...and then had the genius idea to take some food to go, to become a picnic in the park later that evening. After a few hours spent at home, we packed up our food and lawn chairs, and headed back out on the town. We stopped at TownHall for a cocktail, and I discovered their delicious Avocado Margarita.

Then, just in time to soak up the last few rays of daylight, we settled ourselves in for a sunset picnic at Upper Edgewater Park. I just never tire of this view...

It was such a perfect ending to a perfect weekend in the CLE. It was just what I needed as I head into a busy and stressful work week, and it really felt like the "kick-off" to summer in our city.

How did you spend Memorial Day Weekend?