Recent Blog Posts
“We’re like snow globes. We spend all of our time, energy, words, and money creating a flurry, trying not to know, making sure the snow doesn’t settle so we never have to face the fiery truth inside us – solid and unmoving.
About Jen
Jen is the voice behind Authentically CLE. Formerly of Why CLE, Authentically CLE is a project to share the stories and faces of Cleveland's businesses. Because the people make the city.
Featured Posts
Well, it’s been awhile, guys. And it’s not that there’s not plenty going on both in my life and with fabulous Cleveland folks to talk about. But I’m just feeling overwhelmed at the moment.
I’m trying to wrap my head around everything going on with my mom. I’m trying to knock it out of the park at a new(ish) job that I love. I’m trying to be the best mom and daughter and girlfriend and friend I can to, frankly, the most amazing crew of people anyone could ask for in their life.
None of this is meant to be complaining. I offer it by way of explanation. When I changed the focus of the blog, it became more labor-intensive, but also gave me the freedom to share more.
This space has always been a side hobby, which might surprise some of you, but it’s true. It was never a job or even a side hustle. But I always wanted to treat it that way because I respect my readers and my subjects.
So, when life has pretty much swept me underwater of late, I find that some things have to take a back burner. I have to learn the words “no” and “not right now.”
This space is a “not right now” right now. I know what I want it to be and I know I don’t have the capacity to make it that at the moment.
The social feeds will continue and I’ll try to throw out interesting Cleveland-themed content as much as I can. Like most of you, I’m really vibing with Instagram as a sort of micro-blogging space. So hang with me if you will…
Thank you for the last nearly 10 years of support and for giving me the space to hopefully navigate my way back here soon.
Keep reading →
Fall has always been my favorite season. I love the cooler mornings and evenings, watching the leaves change, and all the fun things to do around town.
Even this year, there is still plenty of fall fun to had…
- The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has modified it’s annual Halloween event to Trick or Treat Fest, a daytime event happening weekends from October 9-31. There will be live performances, characters to visit, Trick or Treat Way, carousel rides, and the Dinosaurs Around the World exhibit included with your ticket.
- Cedar Point has also adapted it’s annual Halloween event to Tricks and Treats Fall Fest, with trick or treating, fall carnival games, and plenty of spooky and not-so-spooky decorations throughout the park. You can check it out on Saturdays and Sundays through November 1.
- Apple picking and pumpkin patches abound at places like Patterson’s Fruit Farm, Eddy’s Fruit Farm, Mapleside Farms, Quarry Hill Orchards, and Mulberry Corners Pumpkin Patch.
- The Lake Metroparks Farm Park has day and evening fall fun, with Corn & Pumpkin Weekends during the day and a Halloween Drive-Thru (replacing the annual Haunted Hayride) at night.
- The Greater Cleveland Aquarium has two fun Halloween events: a Jellyfish & Jack-O-Lanterns Painting Party on Tuesday, October 20 at 4:30pm and Pumpkins & Piranhas SEA-sonal Fun Days happening October 22, 23, 29, and 30.
However you spend it, there is still plenty of fall fun to be had in CLE!
Keep reading →
As Jeffrey and I have been exploring places, we ended up at Pinstripes Bistro, Bowling & Bocce at Pinecrest.
We started out with two games of bowling, made super easy by the electronic scoring and ease of adding in bumpers for individual players (although perhaps I should have added bumpers for me). Jeffrey had a blast!
The bowling balls were marked with stickers over the thumb hole once they had been cleaned, making it easy to know which were good to go. Also, while masks weren’t required in your personal lane area, Jeffrey and I chose to keep ours on.
After bowling, we grabbed dinner on the large outdoor patio near the firepit. I highly recommend the bruschetta appetizer…
…and the spaghetti and meatballs.
This is certainly not your typical bowling alley food! Jeffrey loved his pizza and chocolate chip cookies, too!
Pinstripes has some great promotions right now. Through October 4, you can can get two entrees for the price of one and two can play bowling or bocce for the price of one. There are also daily specials:
- Mama Mia Mondays – bottomless spaghetti and chop salad after 3pm
- Tuesday Bucket List – $12 buckets of local craft beer
- Whiskey Wednesday – All whiskey, both house & craft, at a discount
- Thirst-Day Craft Cocktails – All handcrafted cocktails are available at a discount
- Friday Wine Down – 50% off any bottle of wine, available all day
- Boozy Brunch Weekends – Bloody Mary’s & Bottomless mimosas from 10AM to 3PM
You can have fun, a great meal, and a socially-distanced, Covid-careful time. Check out Pinstripes here and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
***Disclosure: I was invited to enjoy a complimentary hour of bowling and dinner at Pinstripes. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***
Keep reading →
Since heading back to the office, I’ve seen my caffeine intake markedly jump. So when Aleksandra reached out about Cafilia, a new coffee subscription service, I jumped right on finding out more.
Cafilia not only supports local coffee shops, but helps to reduce waste. Here’s how it works. You sign up for a monthly subscription. You pick your number and type of drinks (10, 15, or 20 cups and drip coffee or latte drinks). You’ll receive a reusable mug with your personalized number on the bottom.
When you go to a participating local coffee shop, they plug in your number, it deducts from your monthly total, and you fill up your cup.
Aleksandra is educated and experienced in international business and was inspired on a recent trip by seeing everyone using refillable mugs for various beverages. She thought, “What if we could create a program that would reduce waste and support local businesses?”
Enter Cafilia. The name is based on the Greek word filia, which means a family-type of love. Members of Cafilia are a family, joined together by the love of supporting local.
The coffee shops currently participating in Cafilia are Root Cafe in Lakewood, Cafe Phix in Midtown, Caffeine in Lakewood, 3-19 Coffee in Ohio City and Shaker Heights, and Burning River in Lakewood.
You can learn more about Cafilia here and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Keep reading →