Dark Skies

It seems like lately every day/week/month has some obscure celebration connected to it. It makes it very hard to keep up and I almost slipped noticing that this weekend wraps up the end of International Dark Skies Week!

Never heard of it? Well it celebrates one of my favorite things: star viewing and also fights to limit light pollution.  It's amazing how much light we emit into the night sky. It's not just places like Times Square or Vegas that blocks star viewing it's also coming from your own yard and street.  Some might say so what if you can't see big burning balls of gas trillions of miles away but light pollution also is threatening the future of some nocturnal species. Some easy things you can do to help is installing lighting fixtures that reduce skyward light emissions. 

such a difference lights make

 I'll never forget camping with my 6th graders in a ridge of the Appalachian mountains and being able to actually see the Milky Way! Most of the students living in the city had never really seen any stars. We were all in awe of how gorgeous the night sky was. It was amazing to be able to actually see the stars and planets in nature rather than having use my planetarium to show the constellations. 

Doesn't everyone have an inflatable planetarium?

Now in case you missed you missed celebrating International Dark Skies Week, fear not Clevelanders you are in luck. Did you know that just a short drive away is 1 of only 22 certified dark sky parks in the world?

Observatory Park is just about an hour east and is part of the Geauga county park system in Montville.  It's open daily 6AM-11PM with some programming throughout the week and extended hours during astronomical events. Its a green space with cute little walking trail of the solar system, telescope pads/electrical hook ups and special hooded red lights to help with night time viewing.

view of the buildings

 As you would expect since it is a sanctioned dark zone there is not much around the area. It's also a fairly small park, it's main purpose is for night viewing so there are limited picnic tables and trails.  Don't expect to find much in way of restaurants and night life in a 15 mile radius. Observatory park is conveniently located within a 20 minutes or so drive from a lot of  the wineries.

 W and I finally made the trek to the park after taking a wine trail tour. A win- win combination of daytime events.  We made it to park just near dusk with plans to stay for nighttime viewing but a massive thunderstorm cut our trip short. I will say the bathroom building was a great little place to wait out tornadic weather!

check out those angry clouds

 Every time I've attempted to make the journey to Observatory Park at night it's been cloudy or stormy weather. Kind of like this week the Lyrid meteor shower is peaking and it's expected to rain Ugh oh well I'm looking forward to the next time I can visit the park and until then I'll just have to enjoy the shows at local planetariums.

#27 paint night

With our new found freedom for next two weeks a couple if girls in my program and I were able to schedule an evening of fun at Wine & Canvas in Strongsville. I've never painted a picture before and I had a blast. Definitely one of my favorite completed list items.

adding the cardinals

I'm not sure how it is at other places but this was all you no penciled in shapes but some guidance through out the composition! I was surprised at how large the crowd was and quite the mix of ages. The wine was flowing and people seemed to be having a blast no matter what the end product looked like. I will for sure be doing this again soon!

end product

#21.3 bueller..bueller

I couldn't help but think of my adventure to the art museum was a bit like Ferris Bueller's day off. There was playing hooky from studying and delicious local ethnic food. Sadly there wasn't a parade with awesome 80's dancing or skinny dipping in a neighbors pool. But I did look at priceless works of art and the new architecture of the museum is pretty similar to Cameron's' garage.

hmm both exquisite examples of artwork, but I'd take the Ferrari

Cleveland is well known for it's art museum and for the past 12 years has totally renovated the building. Well January 2014 it is officially completed and I will say it is as beautiful as the precious works of art it holds.

New atrium area

As you walk in the front doors it's the same dark and heavy stone entrance but keep going about 500 ft and the main atrium is the complete opposite. It's so bright and airy it took my breath away for a moment from the shear size and design.

mixing of the old and new

My favorite parts are the glass wings on either side of the building. I feel like I'm floating and I love seeing the statues blend in so well with the city in the background.There are a lot of the same favorite areas, but added some great elements for kids, interactive and technological enhancements and new organization of collections.

Asian wing

the kids area....reading & exploration 

armor court

interactive exhibit wall...you can create a tour and load on to your ipad

Walking through the medieval and ancient rooms I was thrilled to find that the cases are so well done they almost look like there is no glass in them.

I love a good art museum and can spend hours getting lost in works or ancient civilizations past. I like to use the artwork as a mini snapshot into past lives. As is Ferris' famous words: Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in while, you could miss it. I enjoy taking a break from the real world and reflecting on the beauty.

 Cleveland has a wonderful collection and along with the Met and Minneapolis' is one of my all time favorite art museums to come back to over and over! It is always free and has ample parking both on the street and garage. Wednesdays and Fridays it's open till 9 and the first Friday of the month there are MIX events. Usually DJ and other fun events in the atrium. Check out the homepage here.

#14 Opera glasses not necessary

Opera gets a bad wrap. The super soprano parts can be rough, but it really has a lot going for it. The costumes are amazing, it's filled with witty wording(yes some loses its eloquence in translation) and classic songs and story lines. You can't deny the talent a singer must possess to project and hold any of those notes. I've only seen one opera in my life in Louisville and it was final dress rehearsal and an English piece so not really the whole "opera" experience. I was curious to see if I really would like this art form and thought it'd be a great experience this year. I was not disappointed!

Bohemian National Hall Stage

I didn't want to go to a light opera (which seems to be popular) I wanted the whole shebang but to my dismay Cleveland does not have a regular opera company. I figured with the 2nd largest theater district, world class orchestra an opera company would be a no brainer. Guess not.

Off to find alternative methods to complete this task...

I rarely go to the movies and I do remember somewhere in the foggy depths of my brain an add during the previews to watch opera met at theater. I gathered my trusty Google search and found fathom events You can watch different operas through out the season from the Met. There are trailers, guides and previews for each show. They show in theaters all over the nation and you get nice comfy seat and no need to be so far away that the singers look like ants!

if you are going to the opera you better look the part!
Score got to re wear a bridesmaids dress

The shows are always on Wednesday nights with Saturday encore performances and each month there is a different showing. There are subtitles and you can get synopsis of opera on line. Tickets are just as much as a movie ticket. I know it's not the same as seeing it live but what a bargain. April 5th & 9th Pucinni La Boheme is playing! Check out more info at the Met's Live in HD homepage

I was just about to go to one of the fathom shows when I found randomly a group called Opera Circle. They perform a few times a year and lucky enough they were performing: La Traviata great Italian classic. (Moulin Rouge is pretty much based off of it)  Brindisi "the drinking song" is one of more well known songs from this opera..I've been humming it non stop since going. 

It was held at the Bohemian National Hall off East 55th and this is one of those old gorgeous buildings from the 1800's. It was a treat to explore during intermission and look at all the photos and native Czech outfits. The Cleveland Women's Orchestra accompanied the performers and they were just as amazing artists as the singers. The opera was a blast and I can't wait to go again! 

view from the balcony

Brite Winter Festival and more

There is so much going on this weekend in Cleveland! Here are just a few things to do

Thursday Night is Science After Dark:Attraction
This Thursday come to the Great Lakes Science Center for some adult fun. I'll be there!

What does seduction smell like? Is beauty in the eye of the beholder or is it simply mathematics? Does naked yoga make you feel more attractive? Is there science behind a broken heart? Discover the answers to these questions and more at this adults-only evening where you can explore the edgier side of science with an aphrodisiac-inspired cocktail in hand – just in time to celebrate (or protest) Valentine’s Day! More information here

Brite Winter Fest is on it 5th year.  From 4-11pm on Saturday February 15th there will be games, food trucks, fire pits, artwork, and a ton of music (over 70 artists) in Ohio City. Plus its free what more can you want? Here is last year's recap video:2013 video

I had a blast last year and the chilly/snowy weather did not shut it down. There are different music venues all throughout the area both indoor and outdoor. It was kinda cool to listen to a band from inside a bicycle store or in a brewery. Be warned parking was pretty tough so plan for lots of time or get down there early. I only wish this year I could go, have fun for me!

Future event to look out for: April 12th will be Yuri's Night at the Science Center.

Tickets are going on sale this weekend!. It's night of space themed fun celebrating the first person in space. Adult beverages, great music, black light lounge, space costume contests and run of the museum all night long. It'll be a party that out of this world! I worked it last year and vowed to attend this year because it was a blast. I'll be getting my tickets tomorrow night More info here

Hump Day Hoppy Hour

Looking for something to do on Wednesday nights? Visit Hoppy Hour at The Cleveland Botanical Gardens in University Circle every Wednesday night 530-9pm during the month of October. 

Drink Great Lakes Brewing Company beer {yum} and enjoy the gardens or fire pits.  Sounds like a great time to celebrate hump day. Too bad that is when I have class. I hope you get to attend!  But I'm sure tonight everyone is busy cheering on the Tribe...hmm maybe it would be a good night if you aren't into crowds!

Here is the schedule for the month. Each week will also feature a short presentation about the horticultural properties of beer by Great Lakes beer aficionados and Garden staff.

October 2 - Burning River Pale Ale, Sustainable Brewing, Gardening and Cleveland with Saul Kliorys, Great Lakes Brewing Company Environmental Programs Manager

October 9 - Commodore Perry IPA, History of Cleveland Brewing with Terry Ryan, Great Lakes Brewing Company Sales Associate

October 16 - Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, The Science of Brewing with Luke Purcell, Great Lakes Brewing Company Brewer

October 23 - Eliot Ness Lager, Cleveland Beer Week

October 30 - Nosferatu Imperial Red Ale, Bad Beer and Wicked Plants with Bridget Johnson, Great Lakes Brewing Company Field Quality Specialist

Admission is $9.50 for nonmembers (free for members) and beer is purchased separately. BONUS: Groupon has a deal running today buy one admission for price of two!

Play Me I'm Yours- Art Exhibit

source streetpianos cleveland 
Outside MOCA

Play Me I'm Yours is an interactive piano art installation that has toured internationally since 2008. There has been over 850 pianos placed all over the world. Next up on the tour is Boston September 27 - October 14th where the 1000th piano will be installed! Each piano is creatively decorated and available for the public to play. There is also a website that allows user to upload videos, pictures, or view maps of current pianos.
check out the homepage here

source streetpianos cleveland
Pianos at: Cleveland Art Museum, Severance Hall, Natural History Museum

Starting in August, 25 street pianos were placed around down town Cleveland, Case Western Reserve and University Circle. There are currently 15 still available to play until September 30th. Play Me I'm Yours invites the public to engage with and take ownership of their urban environment. Most pianos are personalized and decorated by local artists and afterwards are donated to local community groups.
check out the Cleveland page here

I got a chance to listen to a gentleman play at the Rock Hall and my dad played outside University Hospital one evening. Watching someone play live coupled with all the pictures and videos posted to the website I think it is such an ingenious art idea. I look forward to following this installation in the future and hope to see a few more before the pianos leave. Man now I wish I played the piano.

piano ready for patients and students to play at UH

Why you may ask did Cleveland get this exhibit .... when so many exotic and larger cities such as Sao Paulo, London, Paris, and New York City have been previous exhibition spaces. It was all about timing and the fact that Cleveland does a lot of really cool things. 

 Did you know that Cleveland hosts the biennial International Piano Competition? For twelve days in August 28 elite young pianist travel to Cleveland and compete. It is a very prestigious competition, the Cleveland Orchestra even plays along with the 4 finalist. The public are welcome to buy tickets to all stages of the competition. It really is an extraordinary event.  Be sure to check it out in two years!  Just one more reason Cleveland rocks!

Got Science?

*space is far out*

Time flies when your having fun! I can't believe the summer is almost over.

 I've been busy working  and having a blast at the Great Lakes Science Center's summer camps this week. If you haven't been to this museum in a while I would highly recommend checking it out. Not because I spend a lot of time here, but because it's a pretty awesome museum in itself. 

This winter/spring there was a complete renovation to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center and the Titanic exhibit is there until January 5th. I've seen the Titanic exhibit in 4 different location and each one is unique, but this is one my favorite collections.There is also a new Omnimax movie Hidden Universe playing. I haven't seen it yet but I've heard its really good. Be sure to check out the Mather while it is still open. Did you know it's actually floating?

There is always new stuff and really cool programs going on at the Great Lakes Science Center. For example August 10th is Space Saturday: Curiosity 1 year later. There are many of these space themed events through out the year that include astronaut meetings, artifacts, and hands on activities for all ages. Yuri Night's is an adult only costume party that is a blast! Space isn't the only focus of events... be on the look out for sleep overs and spooky science nights in the upcoming months! 

*multiple floors of fun*

This Saturday I'm looking forward to walking (stupid broken toe) the Run or Dye 5K. I just picked up my dye packet and T-shirt this afternoon, I can't wait! Yeah one more item soon to be off my list! 

Take a Hike- Cleveland Heritage

*start of tour*

This year marks the 5th anniversary of Take a Hike series. These urban hikes explores downtown Cleveland neighborhoods and the history behind them. The tours last 1-1 1/2  hours of walking and talking. Along the way actors pop out in character & period costumes to explain their contribution to history at key locations. The tours are free but donations are much appreciated. 

*Rockefeller came to chat*

I did the Playhouse Square tour a few years ago and the Warehouse District tour this weekend.  It was a great event to get out and see what is new & remember the old in downtown Cleveland! 


The Warehouse district was a fun tour since it's been a while that I've been in that area (but I preferred the Playhouse Square tour a bit more). The Warehouse tour is about the industry & business moguls while the Playhouse tour is more about the entertainment and music history.  The guide leading the tours is very knowledgeable about all time periods in Cleveland.The architecture of the buildings is breath taking and I learned about many hidden gems and facts about Cleveland. For example I can explain why the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame is located here and the original spelling of the city's name. Who knew so much has happened and so many influential people have left their mark in this city throughout the years. 

*Halle Building*

*theater ceiling*

There are 5 different areas of tours running May 15th-September 15th rain or shine. Each area has a different historical focus. Reservations not required except for large groups. 


Playhouse Square Tuesday night
Civic Center Wednesday night
Gateway District Thursday night
Warehouse District Saturday morning
Canal Basin Park Sunday morning

I highly suggest checking them out. Just another reason Cleveland rocks!

For more information about the different hikes check out this page

#21.2 Shark Bait OOO HA HA

*Welcome to the GCA*

To check off list item # 21.2 I got a chance to take an after hours behind the scenes tour of the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. I might be spoiled after this because from now on I only want to go to museums with a private group of people! I was totally blown away at the thought and beauty that was put in to this aquarium. We met with GCA General Manager Tami Brown and had a quick Q&A session about different museum professions and the operations of the aquarium itself. Then we were off to explore!

*Moon Jellyfish in an old smokestack*

The Greater Cleveland Aquarium for the past year and half is in the Powerhouse... remember when it was Howl at the Moon and Rock Bottom Brewery? It looks completely transformed!  The powerhouse is a historic building so Tami discussed the numerous challenges and limitations while attempting to renovate the building. Check out the paint in the long corridor, it might seem a bit out of place but they were not allowed to remove or alter it. I was amazed at how the GCA was able to meld the old and the new. This museum is truly a work of art in itself. 

*long corridor photo by Dale McDonald*

As you wind your way through the museum it feels like you are transported to another realm as the light reflects off the tanks and shimmers on the exposed brick walls. There is also different artwork and music throughout the museum from local artists. 

*Fishies photo by Dale McDonald*

The aquarium's main focus is the visitor experience.You can tell that a lot of thought was put into the design layout of the museum, the rooms decor,  and organisms they choose for the exhibits. The tanks are low and open for easy viewing of all heights. It made me feel a part of the exhibit. They have actors and scientists interact with the public. There are also opportunities to touch sting rays (feels like slimy rubber) and get close to the Galapagos Tortoises. The shark tube is a really cool element, the sharks swim right over your head! Talk about getting chills.

*Shark Tube photo by Dale McDonald*

*Filtration Area of Shark Tube*

The GCA tries to use every available space to it's advantage. The filtration areas are tucked away as well as some conservation projects that they are working on. You can tell the staff really love what they do and are passionate about the environment, Cleveland and making this the best experience possible. Thanks for a great evening!

While the aquarium is on the smaller side it is well worth a trip to admire the architecture and the beautiful fish. If anything it's a great way to beat the heat and if you ride Lolly the Trolley you get a discount at the museum!

All that museum wandering gave Mom and I an appetite so afterwards we headed to Buckeye Beer Engine for the Burger of the Month: Georgia Peach. It might be my favorite one ever!

*O-fishally hungry*

Lakewood Eats

I figured since I love finding quirky, original, and educational things to do in a town I'd make a Cleveland Rocks series of posts highlighting cool things to do here. 

My birthday included a day of moving,work,and classes so had to think of quick pit stop in Lakewood for food. I still love that I can pay people in food and beer for help moving. So many choices but I always gravitate towards Buckeye Beer Engine on Madison and Arthur Ave.


Buckeye Beer Engine has a ginormous and ever changing selection of beers on tap and bottles. The menu has a good set of staple items but has weekly specials and a burger of the month (BOM) which never disappoints. I enjoy coming here for the atmosphere, patio, and usually great service & food. 

* May's BOM: Bob Marley*

After filling up on burgers and beer my hired muscles and I walked around the area. Low and behold another Cleveland staple was down the street! Since Will is new to the area had to take him in to try the decadence of Malley's chocolate. My favorite treat is the Malley-O an oreo dipped in chocolate...mmm

*Lakewood Store*

 This is one company that seems to have new stores popping up all over the area. For me I still love going to the few ice cream parlors. Each ice cream parlor has its own unique character one even included a merry- go-round! The pale pink decor and soda fountain counter makes the experience all that more enjoyable and reminiscent of past times. 

While you can take a "tour" of the factory which ends up just being a window over looking a production line, you can explore just as much going to a larger store. The staff are always friendly and the chocolate is fabulous. 

*Sibs after our "tour"*

All in all it was a perfect evening of unique Cleveland eats. If you are in the area be sure to check these places out. July's BOM is the Georgia Peach- burger topped with cheddar, bourbon BBQ sauce, caramelized onions, and a brown sugar grilled peach with fried mint garnish. Yum bourbon and peaches...I will for sure be hitting up Buckeye Beer Engine this month!