patio opening with a shot of vodka

In the past month, I've been invited to two local Cleveland events and I haven't had a chance to catch you all up on those. If you follow me on Twitter (and some other peeps), you may have noticed a group of us helped "open" the Washington Place & Bistro's patio a few weeks back.

Scott invited the group for the grand opening back to the opening of the patio where we had a kick ass pig roast. I was too busy drinking and mingling and didn't snap any photos. However, I heart Cleveland and Suzanne did so check out out some of their photos of the delicious roast. I've been to Washington Place a few times since the opening including New Years Eve as well as Mother's day for my mom. My parents are always up to try new restaurants and she really wanted to stay at the Inn after I threw it out as an option. VERY bad but my dad quickly nixed that and also didn't believe me that they didn't serve all Italian food.

After I told him I made reservations for a restaurant in Little Italy, I believe his text back was something along the lines of "I don't do Italian." I explained it wasn't and he clearly didn't believe me because the next text was something like "looks like a good menu with pork and other fish choices. I'll go."

On a very different weekday night, I was invited with another fab group of bloggers to a CLE vodka tasting. That's right - a Crav vodka tasting. Brand new vodka available  made my Clevelanders. The group headed to Pier W (which I've never been to by the way because I feel I'm too young to go in there) for a private tasting with two stellar drinks.

Craving Ginger Rogers is AMAZING

Founder Tom Rini shared that developing a vodka was an idea he and his friends came up in college. And an idea that he couldn't get out of his head so voila - he created Crav vodka. He explained the high-quality distillery process which to me makes the vodka sip-able. Or easily drinking on the rocks without that burn taste going down your throat. (Remembering all those terrible lemon drop shots back in the day - what were we thinking!) Anyway, the fabulous mixologist mixed up two drinks and I heavily favored the Ginger Rogers because it was absolutely refreshing and both me and Alexa agreed these could get dangerous. So, so good! Drink includes Crav vodka, ginger & orange blossom infused syrup, prosecco and a twist of lime.

Tom explaining the distillery process

Crav is making its way to local Cleveland bars slowly but surely and is available in 50+ restaurants and bars like Bier Markt, Dragon Fly, Fahrenheit, Harry Buffalo, Sushi Rock and Barley House. I think it will be great in my dirty martini! You can also purchase it state liquor stores - just ask them to special order it for you if they don't have it in stock. 

Here's to drinking martinis on patios this summer!

Market under glass 2011 ticket giveaway

For the second year in a row, I'll be working the Market Under Glass event to benefit Harvest for Hunger on April, 28 from 6-9 p.m. at The Galleria downtown. 

The event will feature 50 Cleveland restaurants to serve their delicious dishes. All proceeds benefit Harvest for Hunger and every dollar donated, a hunger center can provide enough food for four meals.

I'll be joining a group of bloggers to serve as "celebrity servers," assisting the chefs for a few hours and nibbling on all the delicious food.

For the event, you can purchase tickets here and can purchase general admission tickets for $85 up until April 27, $100 at the door or upgrade to VIP for $150.

A few of the participating restaurants:

• Parallax
• Chinato
• 56 West
• Lucky's Cafe
• Sushi Rock
• Umami Asian Kitchen
• Washington Place Bistro & Inn
• AMP 150

The talented Katrina at Bite Buff offered me two general admission tickets to giveaway for the event. Interested in going? You bet your ass you are!


Option 1: Tweet "Want to go to Market Under Glass? Enter @allisonpeltz ticket giveaway for the 4/26 event" and include a link to this giveaway.


Option 2: Comment with your favorite CLE restaurant participating in the event.


Winner will be chosen next Wednesday, April 20. Leave your email address in the comment section.

Disclaimer: I was offered two tickets to give away on my blog and I'll be working the event.

Jump back - Passport to Party

A few weeks back, I received one of my most exciting emails of my life for this little blog. It's been awhile since I've been this excited about getting pitched. The last time I did a dance was when I was introduced to my fairy fashion god mother, Justine, who introduced me to my new favorite jeans from the Gap. (I do believe the straight leg have been replaced by the jean legging.)

So, what has made me so excited you asked?

Drumrrrrrrrrrrrollllllllllll.........

It's Jump Back Ball Time!


If you aren't familiar with it, let me introduce you to the event - 



Here are a few pictures to flip through from last year's event.

So, if you want to go, I suggest you free up next Tuesday night to purchase your tickets. You will be able to buy tickets at the deepest discount for one night only at the Kickoff Party. Tickets are $120 per ticket ($100 if you are a PlayhouseSquare Partner) with NO handling fees.(There is a 2 ticket limit per person at the Kickoff.) The following day, ticket prices will increase to $140 plus handling. So if you attend the Kickoff, you can save $20+ per ticket. (That's some shopping money right there.)

Kickoff Party details:

Where: Zinc, 668 Euclid Ave, Cleveland

When: Tuesday, November 16, 6-8pm

This is the first time I'll be attending with the BF and a group of newcomers too. You better believe I will Rent the Runway for this party.

Disclaimer: I was given two fabulous tickets for this event in exchange for this post and another one that will be happening in the future.

Beer me

What started out as an uneventful and lazy Sunday of watching the Browns game, somehow quickly turned into a search for beer tastings on the east side in honor of Cleveland Beer Week.

By the looks of my friend Michelle, we were just going to stay in and watch the Browns. Please note the scarf she is using as a belt for that damn Snuggie.


Me supporting my team in my new C.L.E Clothing Co. t-shirt


In the 4th quarter, somehow Brewzilla came up which then made everyone start asking about beer week events. Courtesy of my sweet iPhone (comes in handy in lots of cases), we found a tasting at Whole Foods and jumped in the car to go.

Patrice pouring our Thirsty Dog samples for only 25 cents!


Mike's beer drinking face


Boys admiring all the microbrews


Samples of Thirsty Dog Siberian Night (Way too dark for me)


Out of all the Thirsty Dog brews, my favorites were the Pumpkin Ale, and a tie between Raspberry Ale and Labrador Lager. I'm more of a pale ale kind of girl when it comes to my beer drinking. Plus, I like to sample beers in season and I can't get enough of the pumpkin ales right now.

Be sure to check out Cleveland Beer Week's events page for a listing of events all over, including Brewzilla which is the closing event and this Saturday at the Arcade, starting at 6 p.m. My friends and I all have a Halloween party but are seriously debating going to Brewzilla first and then to the party. Who doesn't love a beer event, anyway?