Day trip to Fairlawn

Sometimes it's just good to change the scenery a bit.  We all get used to 'our' shopping places and it's nice to make a change without leaving the city.

This is where Fairlawn comes in. From the Eastside or the Westside it is easily accessible  and well worth the drive.  (I sound like a Sedlak's commercial)

The first place I like to visit is The Westpoint Market.  There is a wonderful cafeteria type restaurant inside the store with delicious lunch selections.  At least six fresh soups everyday, that are accompanied by rolls from the oven *replenished often*.  Sandwiches, salads, sides, potato chips in small cello bags with a WPM sticker ( it all in the details for me) make this one of my favorite luncheon spots. Be sure and take a container of the chicken noodle soup home to freeze.....for the next time you get a cold, it's the best.

There are wonderful things to see that are not in main stream grocery stores.  Specialty items from other countries, the meats and fish are the best and don't even get me started on those little cakes in the bakery.  They have a nice selection of Williamsburg placemats and aprons, cookbooks, candles and pretty much everything you want but don't need.  The wine store, in the front, is well stocked and has splits of many good champagnes (often hard to find).

The prepared foods are excellent, the single serving meatloaves are a favorite of my husband, but I am a chicken potpie lady!  They can be purchased frozen and I usually bring two home for that 'emergency' evening when you need dinner but have no time to shop or cook.  The oven does the work.

Westpoint  Market is reason enough to visit Fairlawn, but if your in the area, TRY and stop in Home Goods, just down the street.  It's the only Home Goods in the area (the rest are combined with TJ Maxx or Marshalls)

All in all, this is a lovely day and not far from home, where you can find things that are not available in the stores in Cleveland.  Have a gracious and elegant day.....they're the best. (Suggestion:  bring a cooler so you can bring home frozen items, without worry).

Bye, bye for now.

The Silver Grille

This past Sunday, the Horseshoe Casino celebrated Higbee's popular Silver Grille restaurant by hosting a Brunch.  The first Brunch sold out in less that a day, last month.  I put our name on a waiting list and happily they scheduled another date.  We were in!

If you grew up in Cleveland, then you probably remember trips downtown to Higbee's, with your mother and the, ever popular, lunch for children at the beloved Silver Grille.  The children's lunches arrived in little metal ovens and then were later replaced by cardboard ovens.  Always,  the pot pie.....mmmm.  It was the highlight of the day.

The restaurant has been restored and is now owned by the Casino.  The brunch buffet was provided by the Ritz Carlton. There were round tables of eight, so you sat where you wanted.  We met two lovely couples who were there to reminisce, as we were.

The chairs, the fountain (minus the gold fish of the past) and the ladies lounge tugged my heart strings, as I remembered the days of getting dressed up and taking the rapid downtown to shop and eat, leaving with the delicious taste of the ten cent Frosty in my mouth, as we headed home.

The ladies lounge, with it's back to back vanities, the upholstered chairs for resting (minus the ashtrays) took me back to the days, when it was a treat to spend the day downtown.  As I sat at a vanity, reapplying my lipstick, I heard another lady say ' this is really nice, you can put your purse here and 'touch up', while sitting". Yes, it was nice.

I loved seeing the elevators and the restaurant, but I have to say I was quiet on the way home, remembering and wondering where it all went.  Oh, and they gave us each a little cardboard oven as a memento. I'm still looking at it and remembering.

Grace and Elegance from days gone by..... it was the best.


Bye Bye for now.

Memorial Day at The U.S.S. Cod

Greetings, and happy summer.  It's been a long time coming for us, here in Cleveland.  I hope everyone celebrated, not only the beginning of summer and the beautiful weather, but our Military service people and their families.

There is a wonderful part of history here in Cleveland that is a perfect place to celebrate our service men and women, anytime this summer.  The Cod is a permanently moored submarine from WWII that is open to the public every day, through September.  There are about 80 volunteers, ranging from retired submariners to people who just care about this wonderful part of history that we have here.  They all contribute something to keep this museum open.

There are guided tours by wonderful docents who each bring their own stories and knowledge to the experience, or you can go through the submarine on your own.  It is a marvel that men were living in this small boat, under the water, for long periods of time.  The galley (kitchen) and eating areas are stories in themselves. Ladies, trust me, the methods for serving and preparing the food are inspiring.

This is certainly of interest to men, but  women see things differently and you'll wonder at how brave these men were.  This tour is worth the trip downtown and I promise it will give you something to think about on the way home.  We are fortunate to have The Cod in Cleveland and the men and women who give of their time to maintain it.

(If you are claustrophobic, there are picnic tables where you can sit and enjoy the lake breeze, while the rest of your group tours the boat).   Perhaps, bring a delicious picnic lunch to make it a more gracious and elegant outing.

Living gracefully and elegantly is the best!

Home Library

I love to read and collect  books on beauty, style and entertaining.  I read somewhere that most women buy cookbooks for the parties they will never have.  Somehow, that rang true and made me laugh. I don't have too many cookbooks, but I do have a small home library of beauty, style and decorating books.

 I love advice books on the above topics.  I always garner a bit of information from each book and put it to use. Often, when I'm feeling a bit dowdy or I think I don't have anything to wear, I reach for a book on one of these topics, to refresh me.

I usually try and borrow the books I am interested in from the library first (our tax dollars at work) and then, if I feel it will be a good 'reference' book, I purchase the book.  Vintage books by Zsa Zsa Gabor and Arlene Dahl (married to Fernando Lamas, mother of Lorenzo Lamas) are some of my favorites.  The advice given in the 60's was so different from today's thinking, yet the those women were actually very wise.

More recent books I've enjoyed are, Beauty at Home, by Aerin Lauder, the granddaughter of the beloved Estee Lauder.  This is a beautiful coffee table book with stories from Aerin's youth, growing up Lauder. I wish!

I also enjoyed Bunny Williams' Scrapbook for Living.  She has so many wonderful and practical suggestions for a comfortable and gracious home.  Again, a coffee table book.  Both these books are available at the Cuyahoga Public Libraries, so check them out (literally) and if you love them, then own them.

But, be careful if you read Colin Cowie Chic: How Life Should Be Lived, or you'll be arranging your silverware drawer with all the spoons facing in one direction. Good grief!

Sometimes, just leafing through one of these books can spark an idea for a new look, or a  color  palate for a dinner party.  It's always good to have books for elegant and gracious living.....it's the best.

Hats for The Derby and Otherwise

I have always been a hat lady.  I wear them in the Winter to keep warm and look chic.  I wear them in the Summer to keep the sun off my face and look chic.

We lived in the South for a number of years, so hats were necessary for sun protection.  I have a little collection and enjoy wearing them, especially my straw hats for sunny days. Watch how a man looks at a woman in a hat (who is wearing it well).  They seem to look a bit longer, perhaps, remembering the days when their mothers and grandmothers always wore hats AND gloves.

There is a wonderful hat store, or as they were called millinery shop in Rocky River.  Studio St. Marie is owned by the lovely and talented Lee St. Marie.  She has a very special gift for making wonderful hats.  Lee also remakes  hats by adding or taking away decorations. Her talents extend to stretching, tightening and restoring hats.  In her delightful store,  she carries a selection of ready made hats, fascinators and hair ornaments.  She can fashion the hat of your dreams with whatever colors and decorations you desire.  The wonderful thing about Lee is how easy she is to work with.....her ideas and taste usually win me over.  Either way, you will leave with a wonderful hat, as well as a delightful experience.

Each time I visit her, I remember the days of sitting in the Millinery Department at Higbees, while my mother tried on hat after hat.....with only one thing on my mind... lunch at the Silver Grille.  Lee has a collection of vintage hat boxes upstairs, in her shop, that will take you back in time and  miss the days when ladies wore hats to match every outfit.

If you live on the east side, believe me, this shop is worth a visit. Come for lunch at a local restaurant and have some fun trying on hats at Studio St. Marie.

Bye bye for now.  Living graciously and elegantly is the best.

Spring Weekend in Cleveland

Well, it seems Spring has finally graced us with her presence.  My husband and I wanted a low key Sunday outing, to enjoy the weather and a lovely lunch.  Casual, elegant and easy.

We began by having lunch at the Cleveland Museum of Art's lovely restaurant, Provenance. The Sunday buffet was delicious and the view, with the floor to ceiling window, on such a beautiful day, was perfect.

After lunch, a stroll through the Museum gift shop was wonderful.  There are so many lovely things to enjoy and an excellent place to find a unusual gift for someone special (or yourself!)  Beautiful coffee table books, colorful dish sets with the recent Van Gogh theme, gorgeous silk scarves and spectacular jewelry that you will not see anywhere else.  Delightful.

We then decided to visit an old favorite, The Rockefeller Greenhouse.  It is a beautiful venue with seasonal arrangements and pretty outdoor gardens to wander.  This garden center has been a favorite of our for years and it did not disappoint.  It is well maintained and is a joy of wonderful smells and sights.  (And for the ladies, the bathrooms are clean and beautifully tiled in blue).  It's important.

We took the 'scenic' route home, along the Shoreway and enjoyed the sights of Cleveland coming alive.  Walkers and bikers were downtown and the Great Lakes Science Center was quite busy.

As we drove, I marveled at how we Clevelander's can endure these hard winters, and then reemerge to start again and enjoy our city on the lake.

Bye, bye for now.  Living graciously and elegantly is the best!

A White Chiffon Scarf

Whenever I see an article on the 10  most important must-have items in a woman's wardrobe , I ALWAYS read it.  I think it's to reassure myself that I have them all , in some form or another.    Usually, I do, and I rest easy.  The articles are pretty much the same.  Core items that we have all accumulated over the years and, perhaps, upgraded as time went on.

Well, much to my surprise, I recently read (I wish I could remember which magazine) that a large white chiffon scarf was an essential!  Who knew?  The odd thing is that about two years ago, I was loving the Mad Men era dressing and I searched for just that scarf.  I found it at the Vermont Country Store.  I purchased it and use it all the time.  I throw it in my handbag, in case of rain (a la Jackie O). I always travel with it ...you never know when just a slight bit of chiffon around your collar can soften and dress up a coat or jacket.  I was so impressed with the writer of the 'list', and, of course, proud of myself for this inexpensive, yet versatile purchase.

The best part is that these chiffon scarves don't wrinkle.  I just wish I had saved some of them from my youth.  Oh well, it gives me something to keep en eye out for at flea markets, if you all don't beat me to them.


Bye bye for now....living graciously and elegantly is the best!

The Handbag

Let me just begin by saying I am not a handbag person.  I have one 'main' handbag for each season (in Cleveland that means Winter and Summer).  I have carried these two bags for the past ten years (or more) and am fine with that.  They are good quality and I feel they were worth the money.

Recently, it was time to purchase a new Winter handbag.  I spent many hours researching which handbag would fufill all my needs and yet, look good for years to come.  A classic.  I finally decided on the Louis Vuitton Alma GM in black epi leather.  OK, now to find one!

This proved to be no small feat.....I searched the Cleveland area, to no avail.  I called the Louis Vuitton store in Columbus, Ohio at Easton Shopping Center. I happened to speak to Annah, the Store Manager, and it was smooth sailing from there on.  She found one (in the King of Prussia store) and had it sent to her to be inspected.  She then send me photos.  I was sold!  Such wonderful customer service.

I took a day trip to Columbus, to purchase the handbag and was treated as if I had flown in from some far away land.  Annah couldn't have been nicer, and Amanda monagramed my handbag, while we waited......with the offering of lovely glasses of water (not plastic bottles), served on a tray.  My heart be still.

I left with my long researched and perfect LV Alma, feeling wonderful.  The shopping experience was delightful.

What I learned:  Do your homework.  Establish yourself with someone in the store, first, so you are not just walking in as a 'cold call', so to speak.  They will be expecting you and all the 'prep work' (ordering the bag and approving the condition) is already done.  This makes the experience enjoyable, not frustrating.

Actually, leaving with the handbag was the most wonderful feeling.....and even though it took a bit of work ahead of time, on my part, it was well worth the time.  Don't forget to write a thank you note.....the employees were wonderful and they should be commended.  But, then you knew that...


Bye bye for now,  living gracefully and elegantly  is the best!

Mission Statement

Greetings! I wanted to introduce myself. I am a new blogger in Cleveland. There is a difference between my blog and the other Cleveland blogs.......I am a lady of a certain age.

 I grew up in Shaker and now live in Westlake. This gives me the advantage of knowing both sides of Cleveland. I am focused on living a quality life, finding the best, yet affordable, goods and services that are available. I buy things online, of course, but there is the delight of instant gratification, when actually shopping in a store. I enjoy this and remember the days when downtown was a special day of shopping. Getting dressed up and having lunch......le sigh.

I am also focused on good to great customer service.....how to get it and when to walk away, if it is not available. We have lived in the South and returned to Cleveland, so this blog is a venue for me to find the best things Cleveland has to offer, all with a positive attitude. Sometimes, our weather makes that a bit difficult. I hope you'll join me and add your thoughts and suggestions as I enjoy our city. I have decided to remain anonymous, so I do not have any outside influences that would sway my personal opinions. Please feel free to email me with thoughts. Bye Bye for now....... living gracefully and elegantly is the best!