Sunday, January 4, 2015

Christmas in Cleveland (11/29/2014-1/4/2015)

Saturday, November 29, 2014
Larchmere Holiday Stroll:
Bingham's Antiques Christmas window
Santa and Kent
Larchmere Boulevard Mural Project (2010) by Ted Kurz
Conservation Studio holiday decorations 
Unique bird cage in the Dancing Sheep Shop
Unique clock in Dancing Sheep
Free horse and carriage rides

Wednesday, December 3, 2014
This year we tried hanging strands of lights, as we did at the entrance to Osprey Pointe in Florida.
Holiday lights

Monday, December 22, 2014
Holiday Lantern Tour at Hale Farm & Village, in Bath, OH.
An old truck at the Gatehouse
No photos were allowed as we wandered from house to house in the village with only candle lanterns to guide us. As a group, we were collecting items for a Christmas stocking to "send" to a Union soldier who had no family. We were asked to sing Christmas carols, take part in a skit of the "Visit from St Nicholas" (better known as "The Night Before Christmas" poem), and were given hot chocolate and Snickerdoodles.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Nativity scene
Winter scene
Christmas tree
German nutcrackers and smokers
Imitation Schwiibogen
Real greens
Mantel decorations

Monday, December 29, 2014
"Deck the Hall" event at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, OH.
In front of Stan Hywet Hall
The inside of the mansion was beautifully decorated with a theme of Christmas Around the World. (No photos allowed.)
Grape arbor lights
The grounds were full of light displays, including one that changed in time to holiday music.
"Gingerbreadland"
Brynne and Kent with the poinsettia tree
in the conservatory
The Conservatory
Throughout the house and grounds they emphasized how the former mistress always gave gingerbread to her holiday guests. I was hoping for free gingerbread, but no!
Molly's Café in the former stable 
In Akron, we ended up at Luigi's Restaurant for dinner. A popular place as we waited outside in the brisk cold. It looks like a much expanded diner, and the walls are lined with old photos of movie stars and bowlers.
Chicago Coins Band Box restored in 1977

Friday, January 2, 2015
With Fernando and Josephine, we went to the Asia Plaza for a Chinese dim sum lunch at the Li Wah Restaurant. There was a huge Asian supermarket next door.
As we drove towards University Circle, we took a detour to Gallucci's Italian Foods & Market to salivate over the offerings.
Our destination was the Museum of Contemporary Art to see the exhibit: Ferran Adrià: Notes on Creativity. An avant-garde chef, Adrià used drawings to visualize and create innovative dishes.
Adrià's sketching and resultant dish
Many notebooks and drawings covered 20 years worth of cooking.
Another fascinating art installation was a video called "Judy Crook, 4" by Jennifer Steinkamp.

Sunday, January 4, 2015
Cleveland Museum of Art:
Holiday tree in the atrium
Han Dynasty Reflections, lanterns by Robin VanLear