Akron Velvet Cushion 11-19-09

By: Bunny Lacey
Date: 11/16/2009
The Fairlawn Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual holiday auction is set for Monday, December 14, at the Hilton Fairlawn/Akron, at 11 a.m., and this year the public is invited to attend. Cost is just $20 per person, which includes a delicious buffet lunch. A silent and live auction will be held with some awesome items up for bid (including an ad in Mimi)! Proceeds will help support the chamber and three very worthy local causes: Stewart’s Caring Place, Access Shelter (United Way), and Open M. Have lunch, network, buy a key for a chance to open our treasure chest, and bid on great gifts donated by our supporters. RSVP to executive director Polly Riffle, by Friday, December 11, by calling 330-777-0032, or e-mailing marketingplus@roadrunner.com. If you’d like to donate an item, please contact Leslianne Love, at 330-289-7046.

On Tuesday, November 3, the first gathering of the newly formed Merriman Valley Business Association took place at Weathervane Playhouse. It was well attended by area business owners and friends of the Valley. Matt Probst led the meeting, who, along with John Hedges, Mike Gromofsky, and Richard Potesta, are spearheading the group. James House, co-owner of Johnny J’s, and his delightful office manager, Michele Comeriato, were there. Johnny J’s is a cool new sports bar and restaurant at Liberty Commons.

There’s also a brand new hair salon and tanning studio in the Valley, Bella Bronze, on N. Portage Path, near Freshway Market. Coming soon…a new restaurant where Terry Deane’s Irish Pub was set to open this summer. Unfortunately, Terry lost his brief battle with cancer and the building has been empty. I spoke with David Glenny and he told me it will be opening soon as Pub Bricco. 

Don’t get left behind on Saturday, November 21, when Main Street Muffins holds its next “No Muffin Left Behind Sale,” at Akron Canton Regional Food Bank, in Akron. Monies raised help support the food bank while liquidating Main Street Gourmet’s overstock and imperfect products, including cookie dough, muffins, muffin batters, brownie sheets, and more. All are priced at just $1.25 per pound and are perfectly delicious. The sale starts at 9 a.m. Visit www.mainstreetgourmet.com for more information.
Music From the Western Reserve is presenting Cleveland Brass Works, Brass Quintet on Sunday, November 22, at 5 p.m. at the Knight Fine Arts Center on the Western Reserve Campus. The quintet is made up of members of the Cleveland Orchestra, including Michael Miller, on trumpet. Michael is a native of Cleveland Heights and earned music degrees from both Baldwin Wallace and the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music. He served as principal trumpet with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, from 2002-2006, before returning home to Cleveland. The concert is sponsored by Dr. Kenneth Swanson. Tickets are now available at the Learned Owl Bookstore, in Hudson.

If you want to avoid the mall and big box stores this holiday season, there are plenty of places to go and shop til’ you drop. Here are just a few worthy of mention:

On Saturday, November 21, a multi-vendor holiday boutique will be held at Silver Lake Country Club on Graham Rd. Hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m., admission is free. Call 330-688-6066 for more information.
Don’t miss the Seventh Annual “Gifts from the Heart Holiday Boutique”—a juried fine arts and crafts show featuring more than 80 local and regional artists.

This one-day benefit event will be held on Sunday, November 22, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Executive Caterers of Landerhaven, in Mayfield Heights. Door admission is $5 and proceeds directly support programs within the hematology and oncology departments at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. Additional information may be found at www.giftsfromtheheartboutique.com.

An eclectic group of about 30 local artists will be participating in a two-day event at First & Main in Hudson on Friday and Saturday, November 27 and 28, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The artists are gathering together at the former Shoe Gallery on Village Way (next to Vue Restaurant) to sell their unique wares. Items will include handbags, soaps, lotions, candles, photos, artwork, and more.

On Sunday, Dec 6, a “Holiday Shop Boutique” is planned at Fox Meadow Country Club, in Medina, featuring 20 specialty vendors. Complimentary mimosas, champagne and light finger foods will be served. Preview at 11 a.m., the event goes until 3 p.m.

If you’re planning to see the new Lebron James movie, “More Than a Game,” be sure to watch for the Mr. G’s Pizzeria and Wings pizza. Word on the street is that the Fairlawn restaurant’s pizza delivery box is prominently displayed during a scene.

Bunny can be reached at Bunny@MimiVanderhaven.com.