I miss old movie theaters. I used to love going to a weeknight movie at The Village in Fairlawn in my college days. A cheap movie in a cool theater on a weeknight was like no other. There's a charma and nostalgia that all the surround-sound-giantic screen can't replace. That's why I'm pumped that the Linda Theatre is getting new life, thanks to some members of the Goodyear Heights community that gathered together to save our memories.
Scott Summers and gang are going to do a little facelift, then re-open the theater to the public and keep movies at $5. Awesome! Future plans include adding a stage for other entertainment options.
The Linda's re-vamp is part of a revamp on the entire block. David Schwayer rented space in a building a few doors down from the theater and is planning on making it an entertainment venue featuring music and food. Cafe Rewind and The Afterlife will both open soon. The Linda will re-open in just a few days with the premiere of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Please support these local businesses. It's what makes our neck of the woods so cool!
Where does half a century go!?!? Hard to believe, but it's true-- Foreigner has been rockin' and rollin' us with a ton of hits over the past 50 years. But it's them for them to say goodbye. They're currently on their farewell tour, but I had the chance to talk with bassist Jeff Pilson-- who's been with the band for at least half of that half century. In case you missed my interview with Jeff, take a listen:
I know there are many of you that are big foodies. There are many of you that like a road trip. And there are many of you that love the Buckeyes. Whether you're all three, a combo of these things, or just have a slight case of wanderlust-- this might be a nice little adventure for you.
The Buckeye Express Diner in Bellville (just off 71 near Mansfield) has been named one of the Wildest Diners in the country, according to lovefood.com. Maybe it's the abundance of OSU memorabilia decorating the joint. Or perhaps it's because the diner is actually a vintage steam engine train car. Who cares about the "whys"? The food looks absolutely yummy. Check out their website HERE.
And if you happen to check this place out before I do, let me know how it is!
Being "desserted" is a yummy thing. Yes, please! And with the 4th of July coming up soon, that means backyard get-togethers. While the cake in this photo is so cool, I don't think I have the motivation to make that. So, I'm thinking of making this instead. Still patriotic. Still yummy. But easier to make.
No-Bake Cheesecake Flag Cake
Ingredients
Crust:
1 ½ cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
¼ cup white sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tablespoons butter, melted
Filling:
1 cup cream cheese at room temperature
1 cup mascarpone cheese at room temperature
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅓ cup white sugar
1 ¼ cups cold heavy whipping cream
20 large fresh strawberries, hulled and halved lengthwise, or as needed
24 large fresh blueberries, or as needed
Directions:
Combine graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, cocoa powder, and melted butter in a bowl until mixture is thoroughly combined and crumbly. Transfer crust mixture to a 9x11-inch baking dish. Press crust into bottom of dish until smooth and even. Cover dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.
Mix cream cheese and mascarpone cheese in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract into mixture.
Whisk 1/3 cup sugar into whipping cream in a separate metal or glass bowl until the cream is fluffy and forms soft peaks. Add whipped cream to the cream cheese mixture and gently whisk until filling is soft, fluffy, and well combined.
Spoon filling on top of the graham cracker crust, spreading and smoothing the top. Tap the pan gently on a work surface several times to settle the crust and filling. Cover pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled and set, at least 3 hours.
Starting at the bottom long edge of the cake, arrange strawberry halves in a horizontal line with the pointed bottoms of the strawberry halves pointing to the right. Start a second stripe of strawberry halves at the top right of the cake, arranging strawberries with the bottoms pointing right in a line stretching about 2/3 of the length of the cake.
Continue to make strawberry stripes, starting about 3/4 inch up from the bottom stripe and laying down 3 more stripes stretching the full length of the cake. Make 1 more line of strawberries beneath the short stripe to leave a square space for the blue field of stars.
Lay a line of blueberries with the blossom ends pointing up in the upper left square space. Continue to lay down blueberries in lines, berries touching the previous line, until the square is filled with blueberries. Cut cake into squares to serve.
If you're a packrat, or a hanger-on-er of stuff, it might just pay off! Those old cassette tapes might fetch you a pretty penny if you have one of these:
Pearl Jam, Ten
Nirvana, Nevermind
Beastie Boys, License to Ill
Metallica, Ride the Lightning
Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill
To find out how much coin you can get, and what other cassettes are on the list, click HERE.
Now, I'm gonna have to go through some boxes in storage... LOL
After last week's blog about the raccoon knowing how to get over on the drive-thru employee at Dunkin', we now have the most dramatic squirrel ever. Thanks to listener Melanie Shaw for letting me know about this drama queen rodent-- who should get an Oscar by the way. I've never laughed so hard at a video. Since I love squirrels, this is even funnier to me. Their little personalities! Our squirrels like to peek in our windows to let us know they're there waiting for us to put more food out for them. LOL
I guess Dunkin' wasn't lyin' when they dropped their slogan: "America runs on Dunkin'", because this cute little fella just had to get his fix. Check out this video of a clever raccoon getting a treat.
Now I'm craving a Boston Cream Donut... or an iced hot chocolate... or... anything from Dunkin'. LOL
@samguptuppy #Raccoon at #Dunkin ♬ original sound - Samantha Jane Guptil
There's a cool event coming up for riders that benefits veterans. I love and support our veterans and I'm forever grateful for the sacrifices you have made. "Thank you" is not nearly enough, but know that my heart is truly thankful.
The 2nd Annual Ride-in Tailgate is happening on Saturday, 6/24 from 2 pm to 10 pm at Centennial Plaza (330 Court Ave NW, Canton, OH 44702) in Canton. The event benefits SAVE22Veterans.
Here are the ride-in details:
$25/ticket. Includes meal, event T-shirt and ride-in fee.
Registration is 11am to 12:30pm at South East Harley-Davidson, 23105 Aurora Rd, Bedford Hts
Tickets available at South East Harley-Davidson, 23105 Aurora Rd, Bedford Heights
Tickets available at the American Legion, 1633 Cleveland Ave NW, Canton
or Call Fred at 330-323-8722 or Call Mike at 330-309-6406
Kickstands UP at 1pm at South East Harley-Davidson, 23105 Aurora Rd, Bedford Heights. Kickstands DOWN at Centennial Plaza 2pm-10pm.
2 wheels, 3 wheels, 4 wheels are all welcome!
Spectators and attendees are welcome at no charge. Raffle and 50/50 tickets are available for purchase on site.
Raffle tickets are $5 for a chance to win a side of beef, a freezer to store it in and a grill to cook it on!
There will be all kinds of music on the Centennial Plaza Stage, too.
Here's more info about SAVE22Veterans:
I'm soooo looking forward to the unofficial kick-off to summer-- Memorial Day Weekend! It's always a great time to gather with friends and family, take pause, laugh, and... eat! We always host the feast, and I decided I'm going to try a new dessert. It sounds delish, and I'm sure it'll be a hit. Maybe you should try it, too.
Oreo Brownie Lush
Brownie Base:
1 box (18.3 oz) Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix (water, vegetable oil, and eggs called for on the package for cakelike brownies)
Layers:
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 container (12 oz) Cool Whip frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 1/2 cups finely crushed Oreo chocolate sandwich cookies (about 16 cookies)
2 boxes (4-serving size each) Jell-O chocolate-flavor instant pudding and pie filling mix
3 cups cold milk
Topping:
1/2 cup coarsely crushed Oreos (about 4)
Instructons:
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. Make brownie batter as directed on box for cakelike brownies. Spread in pan. Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side comes out almost clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
In large bowl, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, scraping down side of bowl frequently. Beat in 2 cups of the whipped topping. Spread over brownie. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups finely crushed cookies over cream cheese mixture.
In medium bowl, beat dry pudding mixes and milk with whisk about 2 minutes or until thick. Spread over cookie layer. Drop remaining whipped topping by spoonfuls over pudding layer; spread evenly. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours.
When ready to serve, sprinkle 1/2 cup coarsely crushed cookies on top. Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pieces.
My birthday was last month. But I received my final and best birthday gift this past weekend. My husband had been so cryptic about what this gift was. He said it was outdoors, that I would love it, and we had to go soon. Well, it all made sense when we arrived at Majestic Meadows in Medina. It's an alpaca farm with many animals you can feed and interact with. Since I'm an animal lover, this was awesome! But the most awesome part is the one animal that lives there that I adore.
If you follow me on Instagram (@hausofv), you know that I daily post stories about capybaras-- these giant guinea pig-looking things that are so sweet and gentle and chill-- because I'm obsessed. A capybara used to live at the Akron Zoo, but sadly passed away a few months ago. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is home to some capys. But there is no place you can hang with one-- until now. My husband had called around to see if there were any capys we could visit and experience and the Cleveland Zoo told him all about Majestic Meadows.
Joe wanted me to see the capys (named Captain and Coraline) while they were still babies. They're only 6 months-old right now. They'll grow to be 4 feet tall and 150 pounds and have a litter of 8-12 babies one day!
I admit, I teared up with joy at the opporunity to pet and feed these precious creatures. My husband is the best...
Majestic Meadows has kangaroos, goats, alpacas (obvs), turkeys, camels, donkeys... and more that you can experience.
I've found my happy place! It's a true gem!
Indiana Jones needs rescued? Say it ain't so! Well, Harrison Ford's Indy is safe. But Indiana Jones the dog needed some human help. Members of the Cleveland Metroparks, Berea Fire Department, and Southwest Emergency Response worked together to save a dog who ended up in Rocky River, and couldn't get back to shore.
Fortunately for Indy, these humans got the job done!
I'll be the first to admit, I'm "kind of" an outdoors gal. I love being outside in nature. I love boating. I love soaking up the sun. But I'm not a camper. Bugs love me, and I hate them, so there's that. Plus, I was never exposed to camping as a kid because of my dad. His whole thing was, "I slept outside fighting in Vietnam. I'm sure as hell not gonna sleep outside as a civilian." But... I am open to glamping. And if glamping is more your jam, then you're going to love this.
Valley Overlook at Camp Mueller is a new, private, campground and cabin community opening up this summer in Peninsula. The 62-acre property used to be home to Camp Mueller for kids. A family from Brecksville took a leap, bought the property, and decided to rehab it. Once it's all said and done, there will be 5 or 6 four-season cabins-- all with bathrooms and kitchens, up to 8 sites for you to pitch your own tent, and up to 16 fully furnished platform tents (aka canvas cabins.)
Click HERE to check it all out and book your reservation.
It's not often I get all fan-girlie when talking to a celebrity. But when that celebrity is musical legend Carlos Santana, well... sometimes you just channel your inner fan-girl and ride with it! Check out my interview with Carlos. And by all means, get to his show at MGM Northfield Park Center Stage on 6/25!
Engagements are always memorable. And that has nothing to do with the hype, necessarily. It has to do with getting engaged to someone you want to spend the rest of your life with. Some engagements are over the top. Some are private and sweet. Two CAVS fans got engaged the other day, and it was quick, cool, and memorable. It happened at Game 2 in Cleveland. A couple was shown on the Kiss Cam. The dude dropped to one knee, asked, and she said "Yes." At least we assume she agreed to the deal, because they did kiss afterwards before play resumed on the court.
Congrats to the unamed couple. Maybe they can get married at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse? For free? LOL
Click HERE to see the cuteness.
It's not every day when a moose wanders into a building looking for a snack. Well, it may be more likely to happen in a place like Alaska, but still... A moose spotted some tasty looking plants in the lobby of a hospital in Anchorage and decided he needed a snack. I guess this young boy has been hanging around the medical park, so he figured it was his place, too. He triggered the automatic doors, walked in, and started nibbling. Security was able to coerce him to exit the building without incident.
There was a time many, many moons ago when I loved ALL the Easter candy. I had no discrimination between good candies and bad candies. Because as a kid, you wanted all the sugary goodness you could get. But as I got older, I've ditched many candies associated with Easter-- especially peeps. But, as an adult, you can enjoy peeps in an entirely different way. In an adult drink kind of way. So if you're inclined, try this for your Easter treat.
Peeps Vodka
Ingredients:
3 Peeps marshmallows
1 cup vodka
Instructions:
Fill a mason jar halfway with Peeps, around 1/3 cup. Top with vodka. Cover with lid and let sit for 24 hours. If small bits of marshmallow remain, strain the vodka into a bowl to separate them. Then decant the vodka back into the jar. Cover and store.
Cheers!
The economy ain't no joke right now. Everything costs so much more than it used to, and people are struggling to make ends meet. And that's an understatement! Not only are people struggling to put food on the table, but are also struggling to feed their pets. And let's be honest-- our pets are a part of the family.
That's where People Care Pet Pantry steps in. Residents in Summit and Portage counties can sign up to receive food donations via their website, or by messaging the pantry via Facebook. Recipients can pick up food once a month.
I'm sure they'd love a donation if you're able. Spread the word. There's always help. We have some of the best people doing good right here in Northeast Ohio.
I've mentioned it on my show before, but in case you missed it I've been named a Woman of Impact nominee with the American Heart Association for 2023. Over the years, I've been an active participant in their GoRed for Women Initiative and served as the emcee for their GoRed for Women luncheon.
Heart disease and stroke are the #1 killer of women over all cancers. My goal has been to educate women of this startling statistic, as well as motivate and encourage women of all ages to be mindful of their health, to know the signs of heart attack and stroke and to be proactive.
Heart disease and stroke run in my family. My dad lives with heart failure and suffered a stroke in 2021. My uncle died from his aorta rupturing. A dear friend of mine suffered a heart attack and received a quadruple bypass.
In 2017, I learned from my primary care physician that I was a ticking time bomb. I could've had a stroke or heart attack at any moment because my hemoglobin was half the value it needed to be to keep me functioning. I had warning signs: shortness of breath; inability to complete simple tasks; struggling to walk up 5 steps; feelings of being overwhelmed; rapid heart rate. I ignored those signs. I was fortunate that I didn't die from my own neglect. This is why I'm using my platform to ensure others do not make a deadly mistake.
Part of my goal is to also raise funds for the AHA. I'm asking you to help me spread the message with your donation. Click HERE to donate. And THANK YOU! You are making a difference.
I suppose stress is just a part of life. It can affect us in many negative ways. That's why coping strategies are important. And it's especially important to learn how to manage stress at a younger age, so that adulthood can go a wee bit smoother.
Layla Allen of Cleveland Heights quit her day job to feed her passion-- helping today's youth cope with stress. She started the COPE Network, which stands for Creating Opportunities for People Empowerment. Not only did she create a network, but she's invented coping boxes with items that allow youth to explore self-expression: journals, a stress ball, bubbles to practice breathing techniques. The boxes are crafted based on age group.
Click HERE to learn more about COPE and to order a box for someone you may know that could use the guidance.
Street Team Hiring
It's gonna take all of us looking out for each other. This train derailment in East Palestine should not be forgotten, nor should the residents. This disaster, that could've been avoided, has impacted so many lives-- and who really knows what the long-term ramifications will be or how widespread. The Brightside Project based in Salem, which is 20 miles from E.P., recently received the largest load of donations ever to help the families affected by the derailment. They handed out water, personal care items, pillows, paper products, air fileters, food, produce and more.
The non-profit pledges to continue to help the people of East Palestine. And we can help, too. We can donate to their Crisis Relief Fund HERE.
Ah, the memories. Not a day went by in my early childhood where I wasn't in my rollerskates. I had this little pocket-sized book about roller skating that I kept in my back pocket. Many hours were spent on the long front porch skating. I perfected my single axel, double axel, and I could backwards skate just as fast as skating forward. I loved my skates so much, I even rode my bicycle with my skates on sometimes!
It makes me happy to discover that roller skating (not that roller blading stuff) is gaining in popularity across the country. Showtime's Skate Studio in South Euclid offers roller skating classes-- whether you need to shake the rust off, or you're brand new to fun. Classes are every Tuesday from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and every Sunday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sessions begin at $30, and a monthly plan is available. For more information or to sign up, you can call Eric "Showtime" Tate Jr. at 216-507-1680 or email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Read more about SSS HERE.
Maybe I should wear my skates while I'm on air...
The title says it all: Men Making a Difference. There's this great program in Alliance where a group of men read to school-aged children. Men from all walks of life. It was the brain-child of three women in the school system. Their goal? To educate students about different careers; to see positive men in the community; to build relations within the community; and of course-- reading! Not only does it mix things up for the students, but it gives these gentlemen an even greater purpose. We all want to feel like we're contributing and making a difference, and this is one way that's getting done.
For the full story, click HERE. Maybe you'll be inspired to start something all your own...
On the heels of the news that Antiques Roadshow is coming to Akron this summer, perhaps you have a vinyl gem in your possession right now. And maybe you'd like to part with it for a nice sum. Here are the top 3 money-garnering albums.
The Beatles White Album:
There were only 600,000 copies of the album, all numbered in sequential order. The one numbered No.0000001 went for $790,000. Of course, it belonged to Ringo Starr originally... but who knows what your copy might get you.
Elvis Presley My Happiness:
One copy sold for $300,000. It was the first recording Elvis ever made. It was a live demo record that he made for his mother. Back-in-the-day, you could walk into Sun Studio in Memphis and pay to make your own record. Is that kinda like making your own tape in that booth at Geauga Lake?
The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band:
A copy of this album, signed by all the members of the band, sold for $290,000. Someone from the Midwest dropped the cash for that one. Was it you?
Click HERE to see some other valuable vinyl.