Mel

Birthday Shenanigans, AKA: I’m 34.

Oh, birthdays. While I don't really enjoy your age association, I truly love your celebration. Especially in its Weekend Bender form. Truth be told, I didn't get much sleep this weekend. And feeling a little like I'm paying for that in the way of a sore throat and general lethargy today -- but hey, it's my MF'ing Birthday! {open to read more shenanigans...}

Mel

I came, I saw, I got my picture taken with the Stanley Cup.

Have you been following my Toronto adventures? #1: Road Trip! #2: Toronto, the Roller Derby Experience #3: That time I met Ryan Reynolds in Toronto And the best way I know to wrap this up… in list form. The good: The Hockey Hall of Fame was by far my favorite adventure (besides eating my face off… figuratively, OF COURSE). Also, St. Lawrence Market is a cheese lover’s (read: ME) paradise,...

Mel

Return to Cleveland: for craft beer

During our visit home this past weekend, we took part in the closing ceremony of Cleveland Beer Week: BREWzilla. While I would have liked to take part in the smaller, more intimate events scheduled, this party is still a great way to celebrate a birthday with 80+ of your closet brewery friends (ahem, AB’s). Having high expectations from last year’s debut event — which I wrote about...

Mel

I’m going back to Cleveland, Cleveland, Cleveland.

(forever?) Huh. I don’t think so. No, not FOREVER, silly — to visit. Which still sounds weird, all things considered. I wonder if they’ve rented our old apartment. *thought process montage* /scene. Our October trip meshes well with Cleveland Beer Week (oh, the irony!)… or at least it’s uber-fantastic and drunken closing event, BREWzilla. And many thanks to Cleveland Foodie,...

Mel

Boredom, beer and comparing the ‘Burgh to Cleveland.

I’m starting to bore working from home. There are so many reasons that I love it — mostly being able to work at my own pace and schedule — but before you know it, I’ve been in the building for three whole days, so that when I finally see people I introduce myself with “meowww!” and a scowl because all I’ve talked to is a cat and muttered incessantly at the laundry....

Mel

City Exploration: Pittsburgh (Part Three)

Here is Part One and Part Two of my Pittsburgh Adventure, if you missed them. Continuing on my eating adventures of Pittsburgh, I walked (again, the 20 blocks or so) for pancakes at Pamelas in The Strip. This is the cute old-style greasy spoon diner that Obama loved on his visit to The ‘Burgh. What’s good for Mr. President is good for me, right? Unfortunately for my waistline that morning, I...

Mel

How to spend a Valentine’s Day together.

I know you are all jealous of my ability to wrangle not only a Valentine’s Day DATE, but a true life Valentine’s Day boyfriend. We started off our Romantic Weekend at the West Side Market Cafe for hash and egg benedicts (and way too much Bailey’s for my coffee… yes, I did actually just type the words “too much” in front of something containing alcohol). We shopped for...