Cleveland Cafe

Vegetarians in Cleveland

2008-06-11T12:13:00.000-05:00

Vegetarian Chili
Photographed by Julianne Gentile.

Our family are vegetarians and sometimes it is a challenge to find great restaurants that provide delicious meatless fare.

Fortunately, I enjoy cooking and I love creating meatless versions of traditional dishes. I share my recipes on my recipe blog.

However, I really enjoy dining out, and I appreciate knowing in advance whether a restaurant has vegetarian options, other than vegetable soup and a side salad.

There is a fantastic site called VegOhio.com that offers a printed guide to vegetarian-friendly restaurants and stores around Ohio. They also have detailed listings for restaurants, stores, and organizations in our area. We have noticed that some of the restaurant listings are outdated, however, so I would recommend calling ahead.

One of our favorite restaurants is Aladdin's Eatery. They have several locations in Northeastern Ohio and they offer a nice variety of vegetarian food on their menu. The food is fantastic, the environment is cozy, and everything is available for carryout, too!

There are more area restaurants listed on my Cleveland Dining page, too. I try to include the vegetarian options in the descriptions.

I run the Vegetarians Headquarters on Squidoo and I'm also working on a lens called Northeastern Ohio Vegetarians. The goal is to create a useful local guide for vegetarians in our area while attempting to raise money for our local animal shelter.

I'd love to hear suggestions from other vegetarians in our area.

Tackle the Tower

2008-01-11T08:59:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, February 9, all runners and walkers are invited to Tackle the Tower and climb the 37 flights of the Erieview Tower located at the Galleria in downtown Cleveland.

Moon Dog from the CAVS kicks off the event with the Fun Walk beginning at 8:45 a.m. and the race following at 9:00 a.m. All runners will be lined up in the order their entry was received and will start every 10 seconds.

The Firefighter Race (in full turn out gear. Oxygen must be carried; doesn't have to be used) will begin at 10:30 a.m.

To register visit, hermescleveland.com. Cost to register is $20 until 2/5/07. After that, registration costs $25 and can be paid on race day.

Prizes will be awarded to those with the fastest times and the highest fundraisers. All proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland.

To start online fundraising, visit firstgiving.com/clevelandrmh.

What You Get
- T-shirt designed for the run
- Post race activities include beverages, breakfast, prizes, music and more!
- All post race activities take place in the Center Course of the Galleria.
- $3 heated, indoor parking at the Galleria (entrance on Lakeside)

Bowling Benefit for Cleveland Ferret Shelter

2008-01-11T08:57:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Princess Buttercup!
Photographed by Julianne Gentile.

Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shelter (The only ferret shelter in Northeastern Ohio) is having a bowling benefit on Sunday, January 13, 2008 at Meszar’s Lanes 4231 Fulton Rd Cleveland.

The party goes from 4:00 - 8:00 PM and includes open bowling, pizza, raffles, door prizes and lots of fun. There is also a cash bar with reduced prices.

Tickets are available at the door, $25 for adults and $15 for children (ages 6-10).

This is a really fun, local event for both ferret people and non-ferret people. I hope to see you there and please help spread the word!

Vegetarian Recipes

2008-01-04T15:29:00.001-05:00

Salad with Tofu
Photographed by Julianne Gentile.

Thank you to everyone that contacted me about my vegetarian dinner post. Apparently there are more vegetarians (and people wanting to be vegetarians) reading this blog, than I assumed.

Anyway, since so many people asked about vegetarian recipes, I figured I should point out that I have been posting to the Mommy Mall Recipes blog for years and many of the recipes are vegetarian.

I also run Vegetarians Headquarters at Squidoo, as well as the Northeastern Ohio Vegetarians lens. Feel free to stop by, anytime.

The following are some of my favorite simple vegetarian recipes. I hope you enjoy them.

- Vegetarian Pastichio
- Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers
- Vegetarian Vegetable Soup

Vegetarian Dinner

2008-01-03T13:23:00.001-05:00

Vegetarian Dinner
Photographed by Julianne Gentile.

I find it very challenging to get great vegetarian food in Cleveland, but fortunately I enjoy cooking at home. However, sometimes it's easier to just open a can and make something quick and easy. Last night's dinner was an example of a quick and easy vegetarian meal. Everyone loved it and it only took a few minutes to make.

I used Loma Linda (Vegetarian) Fried Chik'N with Gravy, and heated that in a frying pan with a little Smart Balance oil. Bush's vegetarian baked beans, that are yummy right from the can and only need to be heated up. A can of sweet peas, and a package of organic stuffing mix from the grocery store. The stuffing took the most work, which just involved chopping a few onions, adding smart balance, vegetable broth, and heating in the oven until it was crispy. I also doctored up the gravy that came with the Fried Chik'n by adding garlic, sage, vegetable broth, and black pepper and heating it up. The dinner was tasty, healthy, low in fat and the only drawback of prepared food like this is the sodium content.

What are your favorite vegetarian dinners?

Resolve to Exercise

2008-01-02T16:45:00.000-05:00

Resolve to Exercise
Photographed by Julianne Gentile.

Many of us try to start the New Year out on the right foot by making resolutions to eat better, exercise more, be nicer to people, volunteer more, get out of debt, etc.

I know that resolutions can be a recipe for failure because many of us break those resolutions as fast as we make them. Perhaps it might be easier to just think of the New Year as a fresh start, and use this as an excuse to make a few simple changes to improve your life. One simple change might be to try to exercise more. It doesn't have to be calisthenics, you can just make an effort to move a little more.

January is not the easiest month to start a fitness program in Cleveland, but fortunately, this winter has been very mild. Just getting out and walking is a great way to improve your fitness level.

The Zoo is a wonderful place to go walking and it’s a completely different environment in the winter. If you live close enough, take advantage of a Zoo membership and you can go there all the time. It’s much more fun than walking the neighborhood, and if you take your camera you might get some really fantastic shots at the same time.

The many areas of the Cleveland Metroparks are also terrific places to go walking or biking. The reservations have paved trails that wind through the trees and you’ll never run out of interesting things to see. The nice thing about heading to the parks in the winter is the lack of mosquitoes.

If you’re not a big fan of the all outdoors, check out the YMCA. They offer much more than just a swimming pool. They have treadmills and other exercise equipment, fitness classes, team sports and more. The Y is very reasonable, even for the entire family.

What are your favorite places to exercise in the winter? I’d love to hear them.

Cleveland Marathon

2008-01-01T11:35:00.000-05:00

When I watched the Cleveland Marathon last year, I took a vow to register for the 2008 race. Registration is now open for the 2008 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10k. This morning, I submitted my registration, along with those of my husband and son. We have until May 18, 2008 to train for this event and I'm really looking forward to it.

In 1997, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and was terrified of a wheelchair in my future. In 2001, I visited Walk Disney World, and while I still had the ability to walk for short distances, I was unable to keep up with the pace at the park, and spent most of my time in a wheelchair. Fortunately, my illness has improved over the years, with the help of both traditional and non-traditional therapies. Today I am walking, working out, and training for my first 10k race. However, my health challenges make this race so much more important to me.

I would love to hear from other people who have participated in this event, or plan to participate this year. I think that training for this event will be a wonderful way to improve anyone's overall strength and fitness and serves as a wonderful alternative to the traditional New Years Resolution.

Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Health & Fitness Expo
This free health and fitness expo is held at the Cleveland Convention Center on the Friday and Saturday before Race Day. All participants must attend the expo to pick up their race packets. There will also be plenty of exhibitors to check out.
* Friday - May 16, 2008, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
* Saturday - May 17, 2008, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Pasta Dinner
There will be a charity pasta dinner Saturday evening before Race Day
* Saturday - May 17, 2008, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

2008 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half-Marathon, and 10k Race
* Sunday - May 18, 2008 , 7:00 AM Marathon/Half, 7:35 AM 10k

26.3 Mile Rock Party
The party starts at at E. 9th and St. Clair for the big after race party! There will be live music, games, food, drinks, and prizes. What a fun way to unwind after the race!

Visit the Cleveland Marathon Website, for more information about the weekend's events.

Browns Update

2007-12-16T23:15:00.001-05:00

Lance A. Gentile

It was another close game, coming right down to the wire. It almost seems as if the Browns just don't want to win any of these games. Game after game, the offense gives the defense a lead, and the defense tries to give it away in the fourth quarter.

The Browns built up an 8 to nothing lead when Buffalo got the ball on the 30 yard line with 1:51 left to go in the fourth quarter. The Bills were able to drive all the way to the Browns 10 yard line, but turned it over on downs when the Browns defense played a bend but don't break style.

The Browns got great games out of Jamal Lewis, Braylon Edwards, and Phil Dawson who kicked some amazing field goals. Dawson kicked 49 and 35 yard field goals, which normally would be unspectacular, but in a blizzard, there were some of the best plays of the game. Cleveland also scored a safety when the snap to Bills punter Brian Moorman went over his head and Moorman booted the ball out for a safety instead of give up a potential touchdown. Jamal Lewis had 33 carries for 163 yards. He got better and better as the game went on and ate a lot of clock which really helped the defense out, who pitched a shutout. Opponents had scored at least 18 in every game before this, but the weather, along with Jamal's physical running, gave the defense a helping hand today.

Early in the game before Jamal toke over Braylon Edwards was dominating the secondary, jumping up and making circus like catches at will. If Braylon does not go to the Pro Bowl this year, something is seriously wrong. He has already posted career numbers in receptions (69), receiving yards (1170), and receiving touchdowns (13), and he still has a couple games to improve on those numbers.

As far as the playoffs go, Tennessee beat The Chiefs, so nothing is for certain, but the Browns are in the driver's seat for the 6th seed, and are actually tied with the Steelers for the Division Title. However, because the Steelers swept us in head-to-head play, the Browns need to win 1 more game than the Steelers to actually win the Title. Both the Steelers and Browns have weak schedules going forward, so it will be interesting to see the race for the Title plays out. The most encouraging thing is that the defense is finally starting to catch up to the offense ability, which will be huge in the post season.

Cleveland Browns vs Buffalo Bills

2007-12-15T11:47:00.000-05:00

Lance A. Gentile

Tailgaters beware, because the weather for this week's Browns game versus the Buffalo Bills will be quite extreme. The forecast at game time is 29 degrees Fahrenheit with a 90% chance of snow. There is a chance that the predicted snow and 20+ mph winds may cause the Browns to lean more on the power running game of Jamal Lewis instead of the strong arm of Derek Anderson. The weather may actually be an advantage for the Browns, as it negates the Deep Threat of Bills speedster Lee Evans. This is a big week for the Brownies, because a win, coupled with a loss by the Titans, and the Browns clinch a playoff spot for the first time since Butch Davis took them to the post-season in 2002. A win for either team would be huge, and would help to set the tone for the future of either franchise.

Cleveland Browns Scouting Report: What will most likely be the keys to this game will be how Jamal Lewis runs against Buffalo's 30th ranked defense, and how the Brown's 32nd ranked defense plays against the Bills. Cleveland will score, but what has cost Cleveland in its five losses has been the ability to run out the clock and hold the opposition's offense in the second half. If the Browns are able to overcome the harsh conditions, they should find much success in the air against a 28th ranked pass defense. Also, while the stat sheet hasn't shown it, the defense seems to be improving and an improved defense would be a huge asset in this game. If Cleveland can get a win, coupled with a loss by Tennessee, the Browns have clinched a playoff spot. Hope for a division title is slim, but still alive because of a weak schedule.

Buffalo Bills Scouting Report: The Bills appear to need to win this game much more than the Browns. They have a tough schedule to finish the season, with games against the Giants and Eagles. A win against the Browns would put them in a tie with the Browns for the 6th seed. The Bills have not had a berth since 1999, and a loss would have them waiting another year. Rookie quarterback Trent Edwards is 5-1 as a starter, and seems to have chemistry with big play receiver Lee Evans, and while no one outside of Buffalo would say that there offense is explosive, putting up 39 points on the scoreboard shows they are capable of scoring, especially against a weak defense like Cleveland's.

Prediction: Cleveland has played very well at home this year (5-0 when Anderson starts) and I think that continues. The Brown's defense steps up to win Browns - 28, Bills - 17.

Candlemass in Cleveland

2007-12-11T11:49:00.001-05:00

Candlemass is coming to Cleveland with Daylight Dies on May 23, 2008. Blabbermouth posted new tour dates and tickets for the Peabody's show are currently on sale for only $18 from The Vault until December 20, 2007.

Epica is also coming to Peabody's on April 12, 2008 and we are eagerly awaiting the dates for the Progressive Nation Tour with Opeth, Dream Theater, Three, and Between the Buried and Me.

Beauty and Art

2007-12-04T16:58:00.000-05:00

I updated the Artists and Galleries and Beauty Salons and Spas pages. Please check them out if you get a chance. I know there are many more wonderful local websites out there and it's challenging to find them all.

Please feel free to share your favorite local websites anytime. I love discovering all of the variety that our area has to offer.

Cleveland Shopping

2007-11-14T16:19:00.000-05:00

Traditionally, November is the start of the Holiday shopping season in Cleveland. The masses make their pilgrimage to the malls to find the perfect gift, or great buys from the after Thanksgiving sales.

Personally, I find the crowds annoying and the discounts not that amazing. For over a decade, I have made a vow to avoid the malls as much as possible and have done virtually all of my shopping online. I love it! I don't have to fight the crowds, waste gas warming up the car, wander around aimlessly trying to find what I'm looking for or drive around crowded parking lots trying to find a space.

This year I decided to focus on some of our local merchants and what they have to offer for the holidays. Follow me for a virtual shopping tour of Cleveland.

The Humphrey Company
For anyone who loved Euclid Beach, a gift from Humphrey would be a wonderful momento. Included are Euclid beach T-shirts, ornaments, and their famous popcorn balls and taffy kisses.

Little Tikes
The best kids toys and playcenters available are made right here in our area and now you can shop online.

Malley's Chocolates
Malley's Chocolates offers a variety of gift ideas and you can order online, in person, or by phone and have a classic Cleveland treat delivered anywhere.

Mommy Mall
Save yourself the hassle and shop at one of the oldest online shopping malls, located in Greater Cleveland.

More Cleveland Shopping Links

Porcupine Tree - October 22, 2007

2007-10-25T21:07:00.000-05:00

Late Sunday night, October 21st, the Cleveland Indians officially lost the chance to be in the 2007 World Series. Less than twenty-four hours later, all of the sorrow was washed away by a special event. One of our favorite bands put on another amazing show at one of our favorite venues. Porcupine Tree returned to the House of Blues for the second time this year simply because Cleveland rocks!

We haven’t missed a PT show since they came in with Opeth in the summer of 2003. Our twelve year old daughter has attended the last three shows with us – another avid fan of this excellent band.

Officially, Monday’s show was part of the second leg of the Fear of a Blank Planet Tour to support the album of the same name. PT has also released a mini-EP called ‘Nil Recurring’ that closely follows the musical style on ‘Fear.’ All but one of the four tracks on the EP were played, and roughly half of ‘Fear.’ The Cleveland show featured a good mix of tracks from the last few albums and some older tunes that went over very well with the crowd. We were treated to classics like ‘Dark Matter’, and a condensed/combined version of both phases of ‘The Sky Moves Sideways.’ One of my personal favorites, ‘Even Less,’ made its return this time around during the encore (which replaced a huge fan favorite – ‘Trains’).

Anyone that listens to or knows about Porcupine Tree should notice one thing straight away – the quality of the sound. PT is a band that really needs to be heard live to fully appreciate. Beginning with our first show in 2003, I’ve been immediately drawn to listen to the tunes played live long after the concert. Even though we’ve had ‘Nil Recurring’ for a few weeks, I hadn’t played it too often. Now that I’ve heard the tracks live, I can’t stop playing them in the car, at work, and at home. I find myself remembering how they sounded at the concert. Their presentation is professional and their musicianship is exceptional.

Many of their songs have a certain power and energy played live that simply can’t be experienced from the original recording. One of them in particular is ‘Sleep Together’. The backdrop of Richard Barbieri’s keyboard sound is so dark and foreboding; it simply overwhelms me with emotion, especially during the final few measures, at the climax of the performance. The epic, 17-minute masterpiece from the current album called ‘Anesthetize’ seems to have become a crowd favorite, and when played live, it’s easy to see why. They ended the show with another crowd pleaser called ‘Halo’, complete with over-the-top keyboard and vocal effects that give it a distinct edginess. It’s also one of my live favorites.

Porcupine Tree is: Steven Wilson – lead vocals, guitar; Gavin Harrison – drums; Colin Edwin – bass; Richard Barbieri – keyboards. During U.S tours, the excellent John Wesley also adds his vocal and guitar talent to the shows.

The set list was as follows:

What Happens Now?
Fear of a Blank Planet
The Sound of Muzak
Lazarus
Nil Recurring
Dark Matter
Anesthetize
Cheating the Polygraph
Open Car
A Smart Kid
Way Out of Here
Sleep Together

Encore:
The Sky Moves Sideways
Even Less
Halo

If you were at the Cleveland show, or any show for that matter, drop us a comment to share your experience with this awesome band!

Local Animal Shelter to Aid Rescue Efforts in Southern Ohio

2007-09-24T09:49:00.001-05:00

Tori.jpg
Photographed by Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shelter.

Even though the shelter is crowded, understaffed and underfunded, the director of Northeastern Ohio's only ferret shelter is working to help a massive rescue effort in southern Ohio.

Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shelter in Cleveland, Ohio has taken several truckloads of supplies down to Lynx, Ohio to assist the rescuers who took in over 700 ferrets from a breeder who was apparently unable to care for the animals properly. Various animal welfare groups and shelters have been trying to work with law enforcement to force this breeder to provide humane conditions for the animals, or cease operation.

Ferret's Dream House, a shelter in Lynx, Ohio agreed to take in over 700 neglected ferrets in an attempt to help them receive good homes around the country. This is a huge undertaking and caring for this large quantity of animals requires a large quantity of supplies.

If you are in the area and are interested in participating in this effort, Ferrets Unlimited is planning to take another truck down there on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 at 8:00 am.

They are gathering donations of heavy duty welding gloves, disposable rubber gloves, water (for volunteers), garden hoes, heavy duty push brooms, heavy duty garbage bags, energy bars (for the volunteers), cereal bars (for the volunteers), floor squeegees not wider than two feet, newspaper without the shiny ads, paper towels, laundry soap, bleach, Wal-Mart gift cards (Wal-Mart is the only store near the shelter) , pieces of fleece cut to about 8 x 18 (to cover the wire in the cage and a blanket), and trash bags.

Donations can be dropped off at Ferrets Unlimited, 4116 Bucyrus Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44109. Both shelters are 501c3 charities, so your donations are tax deductible.

It's so amazing to see the way that people in our area work together to help others in need, despite the fact that some of those that give the most, have their own hardships.

Northeastern Ohio Squidoo Lenses

2007-08-06T12:48:00.000-05:00

You may be wondering what in the heck a Squidoo lens is. Well, Squidoo is a fantastic free service where people may create a one-page overview on any topic of their choice. Squidoo calls them lenses.

You may also wonder how this relates to Cleveland. I'm getting to that part now.

I have been a Squidoo lensmaster (a person who creates lenses) since October 2005. Over this time I have created quite a few lenses on a wide variety of topics, including Cleveland.

I also manage the Ohio Headquarters on Squidoo, which showcases people, places, and things related to the great state of Ohio. I would like to invite everyone reading this to create your own lens, and join our group.

If you already have lenses related to Ohio, please join us.

Grand Rodeo

2007-03-25T10:07:00.000-05:00

We finally visited Grand Rodeo last Friday and were very impressed. Finding a decent place to eat on a Friday night has become a challenge, so we decided to take a chance, since we knew they had a vegetarian menu. Grand Rodeo has locations all over town, but we visited the Wickliffe restaurant. We immediately noticed how nice and friendly the staff were, and the decor was bright and cheery. It looked like a fantastic family restaurant, but it could also be a fun nightspot, since they have entertainment on Saturday nights.

As soon as we sat down, we were given a bowl of warm tortilla chips with salsa. The menu was impressive with several vegetarian choices as well as a wide variety for meat eaters. The prices were all reasonable and our dinners were only $7.49 each!

The food arrived quickly and the portion sizes were huge. I ordered a combo that included a chalupa, a bean burrito, and a cheese quesadilla. It was the most amazing burrito I have ever had and it was covered with a zesty sauce that was to die for. The chalupa was loaded with refried beans and an addictive guacamole salad that I have not stopped thinking about. The quesadilla was amazing, but way too much for me to eat. My husband ordered a combo that included a vegetarian quesadilla that was filled with cheese, onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes, as well as an order of refried beans and that amazing guacamole salad. The quesadilla was perfectly prepared, light, crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside and everything was delicious. Our server was very friendly and attentive and the host asked us if this was our first visit and what we thought of the place. We replied that it was and that we would definitely be back soon. Actually, a vegetarian combo might make an interesting Sunday dinner. What do you think?

We did not find an official webpage for Grand Rodeo, but a local website has created a page for the Wickliffe location that includes their menu. They have locations in Wickliffe, Mayfield, Bainbridge, Mentor, Bay Village, Niles, Strongsville, and Stow. Even though they have several locations, Grand Rodeo is a family owned business, not a large chain.

There are more area restaurants listed on my Cleveland Dining page, too.

Cleveland Pets

2006-11-13T20:22:00.000-05:00

Elmo Under the Rug, photographed by Julianne Gentile.

I have updated the local pet links on the site. The page includes links to local animal shelters and pet related websites. Please feel free to suggest other local pet links in the comments.

I have also started a group on flickr called Cleveland Pets. This group is for photos of local pets and their families and local pet-related discussions. Please stop by and join us. The more the merrier.

Moonspell at Peabody's Down Under

2006-10-28T19:38:00.000-05:00

Fernando Ribeiro, photographed by Julianne Gentile.

Moonspell put on an amazing show at Peabody's Down Under.

The show opened up with local band, Dark Arena. This was my first exposure to the band and I was pleasantly surprised. The singer was impressive and the music was good. They only played a few songs, but I am looking forward to checking out more of their stuff.

Next up was Daylight Dies and they also sounded really good. I was completely unfamiliar with their music, but I found myself headbanging anyway. Really good stuff. It's always a nice surprise when the openers are good, too.

Katatonia was just fantastic. We are so lucky to get bands like this coming to Cleveland. The audience was really getting into the show, and it was nice to see people of all ages enjoying the music.

When Moonspell finally hit the stage, everyone was ready to rock. It was dark and loud, and wonderful. Blood Tells nearly knocked me off my feet and has been stuck in my head, ever since.

Community Blogs

2006-10-23T12:03:00.000-05:00

Football Season, photographed by Julianne Gentile.

I finally took the time to register at the new MyFoxCleveland.com. It's a pretty nice setup. Anyone can create their own blog with zero technical skills and talk about sports, stories on the news, the weather, or even just talk about their day.

I love this idea of brining the people and the news together. It's a wonderful way for people to talk about what matters to them, to express their feelings about the daily headlines, or just chat with other people from the community.

So far, I am impressed. The site also has photo albums, so one can post a few photos there, to share with the rest of the community.

Have you created a blog there yet? If so, please say hello!
My blog is at this link.

Northeastern Ohio Blogs

2006-09-05T11:43:00.000-05:00

WKYC has posted a list of Northeastern Ohio Blogs sorted by subject. It's a little bit hard to determine where some blogs fit into the various categories, but it's a great way to find local blogs.
Northeast Ohio Blogs at WKYC

Cleveland.com's blog section also has a large list of local blogs, sorted alphabetically.
Cleveland.com: Weblogs

If you have a local blog, let these folks know, and please take a moment to comment here. I love to hear from other bloggers.

Julianne

No Room at the Inn

2006-07-09T11:28:00.000-05:00

Long in the Tooth, photographed by Julianne Gentile.

The Northeastern Ohio area only has one ferret shelter and they are full. Our family volunteered at the Ferrets Unlimited ferret shelter yesterday and we were overwhelmed by all the sweet babies that need homes. There are over 80 ferrets in the shelter at this time, and when they are out of room, there is no other place for them to go.

Please help spread the word that they need great homes for the ferrets, volunteers, and supplies.

Local Movie Listings and Trailers

2006-05-31T09:16:00.000-05:00

I'm crazy about movies! I have a very active Netflix account and our two Tivos seem to be recording something all the time. I'm also crazy about Google, so I am pretty excited about the announcement of movie trailers on Google.

This is a really nice feature! The movies that are now playing at the theater are available to preview and while you are there, you may search for local movie showtimes. They seem to have all the theaters in the greater Cleveland area included.

They also have trailers for upcoming releases, along with their release dates.

How do you search for local movie listings? Do you still use the newspaper, or call those awful automated phone lines?

Check out Google Video Movie Previews and let me know what you think.

Local Movie Links

Cleveland Theme Parks

2006-05-30T14:55:00.000-05:00

Dick Goddard would correct me of course, but Memorial Day is the unofficial start of the Summer in Cleveland. Shorts and tank tops have begun to show themselves on Clevelanders over the past few days and the pools and theme parks have opened their doors.

So many of the wonderful theme parks from our area have gone, but fortunately we have one the top parks right in our backyard. Cedar Point opened its gates for the 2006 season. Soak City is a great place to cool off with fun play areas for the kids, and quiet lounge areas for the adults. Raft rides, parasailing, and jet skis offer additional fun for even the most adventurous. Of course, Cedar Point also offers 68 rides which includes a record 16 roller coasters!

Geauga Lake just opened their brand new six acre expansion to Wildwater Kingdom. Tidal Wave Bay is the new 30,000 square foot wave pool! They also have these fantastic new VIP cabanas that you may reserve for your family. Each cabana includes a dining table and chairs, locker, lounge chairs, wave pool tubes, and table side food and beverage service. This is a really nice option and much better than most picnic locations.

Don't forget Erieview Park. Take a drive with the family to visit this small, old-fashioned amusement park and waterpark in Geneva-on-the-Lake.

What's your favorite theme park?

Go Cavs!

2006-05-17T15:29:00.000-05:00

This was an exciting playoff seaon!

Congratulations on your great season!

Go Cavs! We believe!

Visit the Official Cleveland Cavaliers site for the latest updates.

You can also visit Cleveland.com for their Cavs Coverage.

You may even read about the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wikipedia.

You can find more sports links on our Cleveland Sports page.

What are your thoughts about the playoffs? Please feel free to leave your comments below.

Lost Ferret 4/26/06

2006-04-27T10:50:00.000-05:00

Lost Ferret 4/26/06, photographed by Jean Caputo-Lee.

Update! This little guy was found by a local resident and returned to his family! He had escaped and was lost in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio.

This is not my ferret, I am just a shelter volunteer trying to help get the word out. Please Cleveland's Ferret Shelter at ferretsunlimited.org for more information about ferrets in our area.