A Trek To Tremont Is A Trip To Be Treasured

My friend had never been to Cleveland’s Tremont Neighborhood. (Yes, the place where the Christmas Story house is…and so much more)! So as a friend, I felt it my absolute duty and sheer pleasure to treat my dear friend to an auspicious day! (Plus my comrade turned me on to Don Drumms so, this was the least I could do!)

I had our day all planned out, well in advance, because whenever we get together, it goes by quickly. Too quickly. Like a blink! But it’s always fun, there’s always wine, and we always laugh.

We chose La Tortilla Feliz for our leisurely lunch and respite. We loved it! For mouth watering authentic South American dining, you can’t beat it. It’s bright and festive inside, service is fast and friendly and, all the tastes burst and blend in your mouth in zesty harmony. Let me stress that the salsa, made with cilantro, is heavenly. Start with that and the empanada’s – we only ordered two but should have ordered at least six! We tried some Chilean wines that were excellent as well, and then moved on to our main courses. The menu changes frequently as the first time I was there I ordered a scrumptious vegetarian meal with basil, spinach and cheese. It was not available this trek but I had Pollo Migado which is a “garlic and parsley seasoned chicken breast, breaded and sautéed; with re-fried beans and saffron rice. (Talk about “getting your grub on!”) It was “de-lish!” My friend chose Ejotes Empanizados which is a “Spanish cheese croquette wrapped in green beans, egg battered and lightly pan friend; also served with re-fried beans and saffron rice. It was “incredible!” If South American isn’t quite up your alley, two very popular restaurants in this area are Fat Cats and Parallax.

Now let’s visit a few of my favorite Tremont Galleries!

For unique, funky, beautifully crafted and exquisitely designed jewelry, visit Eye Candy. Here you also find glass, paintings, sculptures, pottery and ceramics of immeasurable beauty. The owner and jewelry artisan/metalsmith is Rita Telaak. Her creations are impressive and amazing. Let me tell you, I trekked down to her gallery more times than I care to admit with my eye on a very particular and absolutely indescribable-and-impossible-to-replicate pair of earrings. While I’m sure, with the time and attention to detail she bestowed upon them, that they were well worth the lofty price, I couldn’t talk myself into it at the time. On what was probably my 10th trip back to Eye Candy, I came up speechless. My eyes were spinning and spanning the gallery. I was getting dizzy, and my mind was trippin’ because MY earrings were… GONE! (She who hesitates…)

Therefore, when I found my second favorite pair (nothing like the original I’m sorry to say but extremely cool nonetheless), I learned my lesson well and promptly purchased them – no questions asked. I hope whoever paid the price for the original earrings I adored, is as happy with them as I would have been. (It was a “must have” moment and I blew it big time!) I’ve been kicking myself ever since. But not today. Today I did everything right.

Next up, the Banyan Tree. A perfect place to enhance your home décor or update your wardrobe with New York City style. You’ll find accessories, furniture, rugs, serving ware glassware and barware and even some conversation pieces, among other cool and upscale items. It’s trendy and hip and once again, I didn’t leave empty handed. I always find something here for my friends (and myself).

Next stop, Gingko Boutique (front of store) and Robins Egg Paperie (back of store). Unfortunately they do not yet have a website and I’m thinking I need to talk to them about that! (And I’ll be seeing them on the next art hop!) This is also one of my favorite boutiques in Tremont. It’s where I found two more “must haves” – an open weave lightweight poncho that feels like suede, and a pair of black feather earrings. You will also find really fun beaded bookmarkers that make excellent gifts for teachers and avid readers of all ages (I have the zebra beaded one). Other treasures include, scarves, purses, works by various artist –(I picked up a piece by Steve Torkar – he’ll be at Gingko’s on May 11th, BTW – after 6PM) for the art hop)-, pendants, bracelets, fun rings, bath bombs, candles, vintage clothing and other tiny treasures tucked throughout. Say hello to Melanie when you get there. She's been so helpful with many of my purchases!

At Robin’s Egg Paperie, you’ll find just the right card for just the right person . Don't forget– the devil is in the details - and this holds true with both their visual and tactile paper products. They also have some really cool magnets complete with fun, little, sassy comments – I like to pick one out for each of my friends (and one for myself, of course)!

Tremont is a secret treasure and guilty pleasure. Shhhhhhhhhh – don’t tell anyone!

Finally, I have to give it up to Yaeger’s, a jeweler in Westlake on Detroit Road. Thanks to them (and my friend “T” for the need to go there in the first place) for turning me onto Pianegonda!
I found my treasure piece (another “must have” moment”) and said, “It’s so ME!” The woman at Yaeger’s beamed in agreement and said that Pianegonda’s slogan is, “It’s so YOU!” How cool is that?

In case I forgot to mention it, I have great, really great friends!! So thanks to all of you!

My favorite quotes/lyrics this week are:

“Statistics never lie but liars use statistics” (Various Mathematicians)

“Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same…” (The Fray/All at Once)

“Can I handle the seasons of my life?” (Stevie Nicks/Landslide)

Next Assignment

I do have an assignment this month... I'll be reviewing another text sim - Draft Day Basketball. I should have the review done in the middle of next week.

I'm telling you, the guys that put together these kind of games are under-appreciated. DDB is another deep, thoughtful, polished simulation. This one simulates pro basketball, and it has all of the bells and whistles, like the developmental league, the "Bird" exception to the salary cap, and even a play editor!

Being a former, short-lived basketball player and coach, I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into this one...

I Like The Weather

If you think the Himalayans are people who ride yaks in the mountain range along the border between India and Tibet, you would be right…but wrong as far as this missive goes. The Himalayans are also a very cool band whose lead singer (pre-Counting Crows days), Adam Duritz can do no wrong. Now, most CC fans know all this but I am stating the obvious because there are a few of my readers (how the heck are you my friends and/or family? Sometimes I really wonder – we’re so freakin’ different - but that's cool) who (sadly) won’t know that (but they do now).

Now, let’s be honest. I am, by all accounts, the last person who should do a review of The Himalayan’s CD entitled She Likes the Weather. Adam could sing Row Row Row Your Boat and it would not only (as Kevin said in his intro post of me) “tickle my fancy,” but I’d buy it off iTunes, put it on my iPod, burn it to a CD so I could play it in my car, and force all my friends and/or family to listen to it and dig it. (And, due to my OCD, I would hit the "repeat track" button.) That being said, and not that you wouldn’t anyway, but you just have to take the rest of what I say here with a grain of salt. I’m still going to “put it out there” because 1) I can 2) it’s free and 3) There’s nothing stopping me. So, without further adieu….…

Adding She Likes The Weather to my collection is almost as good as getting my hands on CC bootleg! After all, this music is a decade old. I’d heard about it, bid on it, traded for it, lost it and was never fortunate enough to own it again. That all changed when Tyrannosaurus Records decided to re-master and re-release it! Oh yeah, baby. Let me say, first of all, this was the best $10.00 (for 17 songs mind you) that I ever spent. This is a “must have” CD (and I know I tend to have quite a few “must have” moments but, just go with it)!

The Himalayans also includes Dan Jewitt, Dave Janusko, Chris Roldan and Marty Jones (yes, THAT Marty Jones, the subject matter of Counting Crows first hit single, Mr. Jones – but you knew that!)

Just to give you a little taste of lyrical genius, the CD starts with what is probably my favorite song (like you couldn’t guess that by the title alone), Jaded.

We break down in different combinations
We spin around in smaller constellations
Took a ride on the love wheel
Scary, scary go-round and around…
Jaded. Faded.
I don’t want to be afraid
Jaded. I hate it.

Part of the thrill of seeing Counting Crows is you never know which song, what version of it or alt lyrics Adam will bring to the stage. So it was another treat to hear the original Himalayan's version of Round Here…

Round here we’re cool as kittens
Out there the dogs they cry

Straight from the liner notes of the CD, referring yet again to Round Here, “The Himalayans use the bass guitar to anchor the song, while the Crows use the rhythm guitar.” You’ve got to hear it.

My only complaint (and it’s not a big complaint and mostly has to do with the fact that I’m lazy) is that the lyrics to all these great songs were not included with the liner notes. Then again, the CD was only $10.00. I bought one for me and one for my friend (yes, you’ll be getting it tomorrow “JC.”) Be sure to read the liner notes - they're amusing and insightful.

My other favorites include Diamonds and Babies and Cars, Save My Life and 99 Days. OK – OK – I wont’ acknowledge every song but I’ve got to rave about the beautiful Floating Over You:

Just slightly out of order hanging on the fringe of daylights…
Every night I’m floating over you my love

Finally, from the title track:

She planted flowers in her basement
So she has a little color when the sky runs low…
She likes the weather today.

She Likes The Weather. I like the weather. I’m betting you’ll like it too.

Game Stuff

My OOTP review is posted at Gameshark! No official word on my next assignment. It could be a bit of a dry spell for me, since I don't have a "next generation" console yet. Something is being discussed, though... For the record, I expect to be next gen in about a month.

I also broke down and picked up World Wide Soccer Manager 2007 (known as "Football Manager" to the rest of the world). I've enjoyed the two previous iterations of the series, and I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into the prospect of keeping Fulham from relegation. I may even try my luck at turning the Crew into a next-to-last-place team, instead of a cellar-dweller! I'll probably have more to say about WWSM over the next few days...

At least the Tribe won tonight (barely). Hopefully, the Cavs can get things off of on the right foot Sunday. My kids have soccer games tomorrow, and my son has baseball evaluations (which I'll be working) Saturday and/or Sunday. I'll be busy, but hopefully I can squeeze in the OSU Spring Game. Yes, I have issues...

Same old, Same old

Another year, same crappy Ohio sports teams...

The Tribe just got swept by the Yankees. No surprise there, except that the Yankees started 3 pitchers with a combined 8 games of major league experience, or something like that. Newly-signed $33 million dollar man Jake Westbrook was chased after 1.1 IP in the first game, against a guy making his major league debut! Sowers, our own young gun, wasn't much better. The Tribe starter finally did his job today, leading the club to a 6-2 lead going into the 9th. In steps new "closer" Joe Borowski, who I believe has given up at least one run in every outing so far this year, to give up 6 runs in the 9th. Worst of all, pukey A-Rod had to do us in! Now at 6-6, and sinking fast. Oh no, we suck again!

Speaking of suck, that brings me to the Columbus Crew. At least they scored today - a first for this season. They drew with the Revolution 2-2, on a late goal by Kamara (thinks to Frankie Hejduk, who absolutely owned the right side of the pitch tonight). The sad thing is, the Crew totally outplayed New England in the first half, yet gave up two fluky goals (what a surprise) and went into half-time down 2-1. On top of that, our new big-time scoring forward, Andy Herron, cheap-shotted Heap with an elbow to the melon that will surely be reviewed by the league office. Great. Way to make an impression on the hometown fans. At least I have a new whipping boy for this year.

The only things left to happen are for the Cavs to go down to the Wizards in round one of the playoffs, and for the Browns to draft a Michigan puke like Alan Branch or the vastly overrated Brady Quinn.

Well, at least I'm in my comfort zone...

I am Officially Eating my words

Well, what do you know... David Stern suspended official Joey Crawford for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs. It is absolutely the right thing to do, and I'm impressed with Stern.

So, this is what crow tastes like? Given the circumstances, I don't mind my helping of it...

Random Reactions

First off, what a horrible, horrible tragedy today at Virginia Tech University. My thoughts and prayers go out to those families, and let's hope that the self-seeking scumbags out there minimize using this as an opportunity for their own political gain.

What makes someone snap like that? It's sad, and scary. What kind of world do my kids have to look forward to?


On a lighter note, Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs got ejected for laughing yesterday, while he was seated on the bench. You read that right - laughing. Long story short, he got called for an offensive foul a minute earlier, and said to the referee that he got fouled. In the NBA this year, you can't protest any call, so he earned that technical - fair enough. The next time down the floor, Duncan and Robert Horry are literally sitting there laughing. The TV showed them for a significant period of time; neither said one word. All of the sudden, referee Joey Crawford pointed to the bench, and threw him out of the game. He said to the coach something like "I knew what he was doing all along."

As far as I'm concerned, that's inexcusable. Crawford should be suspended for the rest of the year. That was an important game with playoff ramifications, so to casually toss out a superstar because you assume he's laughing at you is a joke. Crawford's the worst kind of referee/umpire - he thinks it's all about him. He's got a bigger ego than the players, and he needs to be put in his place. That said, I guarantee that the NBA does nothing to Crawford. They have no guts when it comes to holding refs accountable. My bet is that they'll fine coach Popovich and Duncan for their comments. Cowards.


Lastly, and far less significant, my second review as been published at Gameshark. I'm not sure why there was a month delay in getting it posted, but at least it's out there now. Hopefully, my OOTP review will get published in a more timely manner!

Let Go...

Easier said than done! I am a creature of habit. Life just gets so hectic and my routine helps keep me sane and gives me some (albeit false) semblance of balance. I’m wound just a little too tightly and I like to pretend I have more control over things than I actually do. I realize that I need to be more spontaneous and “go with the flow.”

I need to learn how to just “let go.”

The unpredictable Ohio weather (dumping roughly 30 inches of snow over the course of 3 days) seriously messed up my life – social, familial, and habitual. Basically it took my ‘routine’ and flipped it on its ear while laughing at me and daring me to “let go” of my perceived control over my life. (It’s partly to blame for my 4 pound weight loss and subsequent 2 pound weight gain…partly. The potato chips did me in. Can you eat just one? Five? Don’t even get me started on how they “settle” in the bottom of the bag!) But I digress. There was nothing I could do about the weather, or the wrench it threw into the works. All I could do was try to “let go.”

That seems easy enough.

Sometimes letting go is more difficult. When the Cleveland Indian’s home opener game was ‘called’ due to inclement weather, when just ONE MORE PITCH would have deemed the Indian’s victorious, we “let go” alright. We “let go” with a few shrieks, several gasps, and let’s be honest, a couple “choice” words not suitable for this site. “Let go” has so many interpretations.

Sometimes the ability to “let go” is even more difficult than one can imagine. My co-worker’s mom passed away last week. One of the things someone said to her was, “Let Go. Let God.”

So after weathering the weather, a wake, various worries and woes, I caught up with everything and everyone this weekend. It felt good to bust out of that routine and just ‘let go.’ I spent one evening cuddled up with the cats (I have 3), a cup of tea, and the latest edition of The New Yorker Magazine (http://www.newyorker.com/). I dig it. I love a lazy night – they are so few and far between – it’s a precious treat. I later caught up on e-mails, blogs, webzines, and some cool new music too. (Yes, I am a huge geek.)

Best of all, I caught up with an old friend who I met at my “real job” years and years (and years) ago. We each “let go” of our responsibilities for one day so we could hang out. Our day consisted of talking, walking, shopping and eating! We met at a trendy boutique in Westlake called, oddly enough, Stein Mart. While I would normally suggest you avoid any place with the word ‘mart’ in it (i.e. K-Mart , Wal-Mart), this place defies the norm.

As far as women’s clothing, prices and styles range anywhere from very reasonable to occasionally jaw-dropping. Men’s clothing will have the same effect. We did a little damage but I had a gift certificate so, it doesn’t count. It’s just a cool little, trendy treasure of a place. I’ve yet to leave there empty handed. In fact, I left there with a steal! Check it out: I found a very funky black leather and mesh jacket. It had my name all over it along with a price tag of $299.00. (I warned you about the ‘jaw-dropping’)! Stick with me – that was the ‘original’ price. Today’s price was $99.00. That seemed pretty reasonable until I got in line, and it scanned for…wait for it…$49.99. I had a $50.00 gift certificate! I was positively giddy! (Oh, I should mention that I don’t do giddy. I do dark, dank, silly, happy, funky, etc., occasionally twisted, and I may have managed smug once, but never giddy.)

I promise to “let go” of giddy…tomorrow. (You can check this place out at http://www.steinmart.com/)

For lunch, we hit the RRBC – Rocky River Brewing Company (rumor has it that former Indian’s pitcher Charlie Nagy was once a co-owner). We love this place. It’s always a good time however, the best time to visit the RRBC is on a Friday or Saturday night (June ~ September), outside on their patio, while a local band plays! That’s when you know it’s summer in the city once again! Aside from brewing their own beer (golden ales, wheat beers, heavy ales, dark ales, seasonal brews, amber ales and pales ales…say that 3 times fast), they have a mouth-watering menu. My friend recommends the Thai Chicken Salad and Blackened Salmon Salad but I love the Pesto Chicken Sandwich or Blackened Chicken Pasta. For an appetizer, if you really want to “let go,” try the Buffalo Egg Rolls! You can check it out for yourself at: http://www.rockyriverbrewco.com/the_food/index.html

Anyways, if you’re a creature of habit, make a plan to “let go.” If while you read this, you thought about a friend or specials someone, give them a call and invite them to “let go” with you. You’ll be glad you did.

Prima Donna

In OOTP, players have different moods ("morale"). I traded for a young left-handed pitcher earlier in the year in my online league. He had a 3.60 ERA, a winning record, and other favorable stats as a 21-year-old in the big leagues last season. I bring him over to my team, which plays in more of a hitter's park, but not too bad. He's 5-8 this year with a 3.98. That's pretty solid for a 22-year-old in his second year in "the show." However, I noticed the other day that his "mood" was a frowny face. I went to see why, and it said that he wanted to be demoted to the bullpen!

Now that's a first. Since when do successful young pitchers just blossoming into their careers want a demotion?! The guy has good numbers, and a nine-out-of-ten endurance rating. I'm counting on him to be a mainstay in the rotation for many years to come! He has a big contract coming to him! Yet, he'll only be happy if I give him a less important role not suited for him.

No wonder we can't relate to pro athletes nowadays...

In all seriousness, I do love this aspect of OOTP. It's cool that a player's mood has an impact on performance and team chemistry. Even though this case doesn't seem to make sense, does it always make sense in the real world? Athletes are a different breed, both physically and mentally. I'll be kind and call most of them "quirky." Maybe this game is genius for including outlandish stuff like this. Or, maybe it needs a patch! Regardless, this is just a very small example of the depth of this game.

I'm no where near done reviewing it yet, but if you want to know what I think, I think this is the best text sim baseball game ever made, and maybe the best baseball game ever made, period. (At least for those who don't mind putting down the joysticks and putting on their thinking caps.)

"I'm down wit OOTP, ya you know me!"

I apologize for the bad pun related to bad early 1990's music, but I couldn't resist…

Out of the Park Baseball 2007 is my next assignment at Gameshark, and I'm pumped! I've owned a few iterations of the series, and I even reviewed the retail version of the game from a few years ago, called "Season Ticket Baseball," for Calvert Games. I'm also in my second year of an online OOTP league. This is going to be a fun and challenging review. Sports Interactive is known for Football Manager, which is an incredibly deep soccer simulation, and OOTP fits the same mold for baseball. You really can create your own world in these games. Heck, the manual for OOTP is over 500 pages long! I've got a lot of reading to do on the crapper…

In other related Gameshark news, I'll now be working under Bill Abner (see my link to the Sports Gamer Blog on the right side of the page). I've followed Bill's work as a reviewer for a few years, and I'm excited to learn under his tutelage. He and I have similar tastes, and I've always appreciate the effort he put into analyzing sports games. Plus, he's a Buckeye, so he can't be all bad!

BURNOUT

If you have a (semi off-the-wall) sense of humor and work in an office that ranges in description anywhere from “Adult Day Care” to “Prison,” you might enjoy this.

Our office building is filled with inspirational pictures and “motivators”. You know the ones…

The beautiful lakes and streams of azure and cerulean blue, mixed with bright hues of gold and brilliant greens. One capitalized word stands out amongst the photo:

LEADERSHIP

Below, in smaller letters,

“We Make Way For the One Who Pushes Past Us.”

Don’t you feel inspired and motivated? I dig them!

Let’s try another.
Picture this: Gears and wheels of bright red and orange outlined in black and chrome with the word:

SYNERGY

"The strength of the team is in each individual member...
the strength of each member is in the team."

Here are some you may never see in an office. They are called ‘demotivators.”

Picture this:

Long matchsticks with blue, green, yellow or pink tips all huddles together in a tight, close-knit group. The middle match boasts the only flame. It reads:

BURNOUT
Attitudes Are Contagious. Mine Might Kill You

Now, picture a groups of zebras.

INDIVIDUALITY
Always remember that you are unique. Just like everybody else

And finally,

WORTH
Just Because You’re Necessary Doesn’t Mean You’re Important.

There are countless others. Find yours and laugh out loud at www.despair.com

Is It Over Already?

Last night consisted of a delectable dinner at Rush Inn and The Verb Ballet’s Song and Dance. This is the first time I’ve seen them. I was pretty excited.

I should, by all accounts, live and work in New York (City). My father was born and raised there, and we visited family there every summer. I love New York.

Act I of Song and Dance is about a girl named Emma (from England) who embarks on her first trip to New York City. It had great potential. She thinks American men are neurotic (so apparently she hasn’t met many America women. I’ll put my neurosis up against any man and throw in a little OCD for good measure!)

The very first song, which is reprised throughout, is called “Take That Look Off Your Face.” With this, she had us right where she wanted us – she just couldn’t keep us there. Twenty minutes later the look on our face was confusion. You see, Emma is in NYC to meet up with her boyfriend, a drummer in a rock band. We can’t wait to see him, but we never do – and there lies the basic problem/confusion with Act I. It is a one-woman show and, while Emma’s voice is powerful and strong, we are left wanting and waiting for more characters to join her on stage. Sadly, they never do.

Emma meets up with a character by the name of Sheldon Bloom. She tells us he’s interesting and leads you to believe not very attractive. That relationship fails, as does one more before she meets up with a married man. And yes, that one ends too. She is simply unlucky in love. Another song reprised throughout was “Let Me Finish.” Honestly, we wanted her to finish about 45 minutes ago. The lights came up just as my friend leaned over and whispered, “That was painful.” I asked sarcastically, “Is it over already?”

Act II proved to be the upbeat, dynamic “kick” we were waiting for. Verb Ballet’s Artistic Director/Co-Director/Choreographer Hernando Cortez just rocks and then (to quote D. Rosenberg of The Cleveland Plain Dealer) the “joint jumps!” Cortez spent more time in the air than on the stage floor. I watched him with amazement and awe. His moves and that of The Verb are elegant, precise, graceful, tough and fluid.

Often times I’ve been told, “Don’t sit too close. It spoils the illusion.” Aside from one female dancer who lacked fluidity during a tap number, nothing could spoil Act II. The costumes were trendy, the dances were energized and the vibe of The Verb was infectious.

The orchestra, conducted by Larry Goodpaster, did Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “rockified” Variations on Paganini’s A Minor Caprice No. 24. I can’t find the words to describe them, but I’ll go with “near perfection.”

Then the lights came on and I leaned toward my friend and asked with disappointment, “Is it over already?”