Some may predict the future by the gathering of tea leaves in the bottom of a cup, but I’m planning by means of marshmallow constellations bopping around a cup of steaming hot chocolate. The following is my evil plan to attempt any feelings of warmth for the holiday season.
For a cozy romantic holiday weekend, start with a hot mug in an old suite at The Glidden House. (I mentioned their Tour de Circle Packages before, right?). After settling in, walk over to Cleveland Botanical Gardens where they have THREE kinds of hot chocolate, and check out yummy gingerbread houses (that, sadly, I cannot eat). Cross off December 1 and 29 on your calendars because between 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. you will take part of the holiday Hot Cocoa Demonstration. No chocolate buzz yet? After having dinner at Morton’s downtown, please be sure to have their LEGENDARY hot chocolate cake! At this point, you will have too big of a sugar rush to drive. I suggest cabbing it over to The Harp for a Hot Irish Chocolate!! And since there’s not a chance you will sleep any time soon, on the way back to your bed and breakfast, stop into Table 45 for their “Trip to Mexico.”
The morning will be a war of “which side of town, next?” Here are a few day-trip suggestions to keep that you warm:
West side: Malley’s Chocolate. They sell amazing hot chocolate instants for home (and cute gift baskets for giving). It’s possible you may have had enough chocolate goodness for one weekend. (For the uninformed, tours of the factory are only given Mon-Fri). Holy hell, I just got a craving for a dark chocolate NutMallow.
East side: The Baked Hot chocolate at Moxie. Walk it off at Legacy Village. While there, stop into the hot spices store and get yourself some chilis for an unbelievable twist on hot cocoa. Believe me, it’s fantastic!
South side: Voted Cleveland’s Best - The Vulcan at Angel Falls Coffee in Highland Square. Then you can buy me a cute vintage outfit or coat at Revival. To ensure you are quite warm-and-fuzzy for the holiday season, Carousel Dinner Theater presents Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.” I get all choked up when I hear the music… even being a Scrooge and all.
And for all y’all living out there in the deep of the snow belt: How does a romantic horse-drawn sleigh ride at Ma & Pa’s in Troy Township sound? Hot chocolate most definitely required by the fire in all that 4-feet-of-snow monkey business they got going on out there.
Then if you’ve been really behaved for the weekend, I’ll make you my homemade strawberry banana white chocolate hot chocolate. Then we’ll sit back and watch Bo Derek in “Hot Chocolate” — eh, maybe “Nightmare Before Christmas.”
