About Widow

Large Handbag Collector. Obscenely Expensive Shoe & Handbag Lover. Blonde. Redhead. Brunette. Breastfeeder. Pug-fox terrier belly scratcher. Drunken Break Dancer. Bartender of the stars. Semi Conscious Writer. Earth loving. Tori Amos Listening. Loud Mouth. Chef Loving Lady...

From my favorite shopkeeper Danielle, owner of Room Service:

The MADE IN THE 216 event, a shopping celebration, was created by ROOM SERVICE (RS) Owner, Danielle DeBoe to highlight just how many talented designers are choosing to STAY and build their businesses in CLEVELAND; And to underscore their high level of talent by merchandising the Cleveland-made designs seamlessly amongst the items RS purchases from NYC, LONDON, LA, SAN FRANCISCO and PARIS-based designers. There are no ‘booths’ or traditional craft/trade show set ups that differentiate the designers’ wares. They are integrated in the same creative, narrative-driven way that RS merchandises their products year round.

RS owner, Danielle DeBoe, curates this event so all of the participants, while representing a wide weft of types and styles of merchandise still fall under the umbrella of design that represents the aesthetic that RS carries year-round. The other thing that makes this show different is the diversity of the products being offered at the show. The show features a wide weft of creations from men and women’s apparel, jewelry, t-shirts, totes and personal accessories; to stationary, photography, screen-prints, household goods, FURNITURE and music. These Cleveland-based creators represent all levels of entrepreneurship, from the craft circuit, to etsy shops, to international sales….all people who have chosen to stay and build their business in the 216 as opposed to leaving for bigger cities…And RS thinks this is worth celebrating.

ROOM SERVICE is a lifestyle shop in the Gordon Square Arts District within the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood. RS opened on “black Friday”, the day after Thanksgiving 2007. We offer a very wide variety of items including home decorating items, furniture both modern and antique, stationary, apparel, jewelry, t-shirts, candles, books and even authentic German Cuckoo clocks, pretty much whatever strikes the whim of Owner, Buyer and Merchandiser, Danielle DeBoe, whose main focus is to preserve and perpetuate good design by showing and offering a harmonious balance of old and new at attainable price points…in a creative and inspiring environment.

The next MADE IN THE 216 event

The first two events have proven to be very successful but have always been too big for RS’s 600 sq. foot showroom. To remedy this as well as grow the event, the next event, on JUNE 26 & 27 will be held in multiple locations in the neighborhood, with complimentary cocktails at multiple locations from 5-9 each evening.

· RS’s main location

· RS will be activating 2 currently unoccupied spaces on the block for the weekend as well.

· Happy Dog

· Look for bands under the marquee of the soon-to-open Capitol Theater

There will be 10 bands including many from the CLEVELAND-BASED record label Exit Stencil Recordings playing at various locations, including the neighborhood’s live music venue, HAPPY DOG and under the marquee for the soon to open, CAPITOL THEATER. While you’re here stop by our EAT IN THE 216 location which will feature savory and sweet food items from independent local caterers and bakers. This summer event will get people out and walking around the neighborhood.

MADE IN THE 216 will be held Friday JUNE 26 from 4-9pm & Saturday JUNE 27 from 11-9 with bands playing at HAPPY DOG both evenings starting at 9pm.

**I am so super excited for this event.  Danielle has a phenomenal eye for all things awesome and she told me that there  will be quite a few children’s clothing designers.  I AM SO IN!

***If you haven’t voted yet, please do so today.  I am currently getting my ass handed to me in the Best Local Blog contest.

The Chef’s doesn’t hold grudges and he rarely gets mad at me.  He is not a jealous soul and our relationship is quite independent of one another.  He does however have beef with me.  His beef has always been with my uncanny ability to meet/hangout with rockstars.  This ability reached it’s peak about a year before the Chef & I got back together.  It really just consisted of me (& my heterosexual life mate Jacqueline) going to shows and somehow ending up backstage.  There was never any sex (at least on my end) and it was never a big deal in my mind.  We just hung out.  With famous musicians.

After the Chef & I got together this ability to meet & hangout with bands got put on the back burner.  The Chef DID NOT want his girl going backstage and hanging out with rockstars. Completely understandable.  However there has been strife with this ruling.  When were at NIN I was asked if I wanted to go back stage by the stage manager.  I asked if the Chef could come as well.  They said yes and he said HELL NO.  At the time I was a bit bummed but eventually my love and loyalty to the Chef made me not give a damn about going backstage anymore.  Plus I’m pushin 30 and that’s like 60 in rockstar.

 

Last night my uncanny ability shone through a bit.  While enjoying some fine vin at Lola I happened upon the Kings of Leon.  They were dining and their bouncer offered us free tickets to the show.  I told me friend I would ask the Chef and if he was cool with it I would go.  Pausing for clarification:  I don’t need to ask the Chef’s permission for anything I do or want to do.  But out of respect for his sensitivity towards my concert past I choose too.  Moving on.

I went to the show.  And I am very glad I did.  While I have always liked KOL I have never held them near & dear.  I do now.  Four things I immediately noticed at the show:

1~ On a few songs I definately heard the band’s Who influence.  I know nothing about the band and their influences but that one was kinda hard to miss.  Plus they are ON POINT live.  On point.

2~ I put the lead singer in my top 5 after I saw their video for ‘Use Somebody.”  Dead sexy.  Up close & personal I realized he looks like the Chef, ca. 2003.  It seems as though everyone who is in my top 5 is starting to resemble my husband.  Looks as though I may have developed a type.

3~ Musicians and Chefs are alot alike.  The stage is their kitchen and watching the band was kind of like watching The Greenhouse Tavern’s kitchen.  Symbiotic and flowing with an ultimate outcome of pure beauty.

4~ Although we don’t do concerts well together, I really would have enjoyed the Chef’s company.  He has always inspired my musical tastes because his kick ass and I would have liked for him to have seen such a fantastic live rock & roll show.

Although not as good as being front & center at the show,  I did manage to get some video of the show.  Including my absolute favorite song Use Somebody.  Cheers & Beers bitches.

Use Somebody

My Party

On Call

Biggie Smalls makes her way down East Fourth Street

My baby is 16 months old and I feel like if I close my eyes for too long she will be 16.  It’s amazing how the first year of her life is now the past.  Silly life always moving faster or slower than you want it to.  Everyday with my lil’  mama (yes all her nicknames are rappers) is a new and amazing experience.  She is quite frankly the funniest chick I have ever met and I am so lucky to be her best friend.  The Chef & I hung out with her all day yesterday and it was completely our pleasure~we are the luckiest.

 

Congratulations Heather for winning the Room Seervice gift certificate!  Please email me so I can send it to you.  Cheers & Kisses.

 

Life in the burbs’, widow stye

So we live in a burb.  A burb that is far away from downtown.  A burb where women wear white jeans and are condescending bitches when I tell them my son’s name.  A burb where I grew up.  Where I went to high school.  Where I met the Chef.  

And we are over it.  I am over it.

 The driving, the lack of friends, the lack of culture, the lack of city.  I am sick of driving by a CVS and then watching a Walgreens get built across the street.  We need to move.

But in this clusterfuck of an economy  there is not a chance in hell that we could sell our house or buy a new one.  So what do we do?  The new restaurant opens in 2 months and the Chef will start all over with 20 hour work days.  I will be working there part time as well which means a 40 minute drive downtown twice a day five days a week.  Not so appealing for this lady.  Prius or no Prius.

So we came up with a plan.  The Chef and I sat down and actually talked about our lack of options.  This is what we came up with:

We finish fixing up our house.  Finish the floors, the cabinets.  We put our house up for rent or for rent to own.  Obviously we consult a lawyer and get an airtight contract drafted for this.  If we find renters we begin to look for a house downtown for us to rent.  We are just not sure where.

We have thought about Ohio City, Tremont, & Cleveland Heights.  I am a fan of the heights although we would have to keep both cars.  Ohio City & Tremont are great ’hoods but I am concerned about the safety factor.  I just know that my kids and I would love to see the Chef able to come home midday to say hi to us. To hang with us for an hour.  And lord knows he is absolutely unable to do that if we continue to live in the burbs.  

Any ideas or experiences with neighborhoods in the CLE you would like to share would be more than appreciated!

Since being thrown into the restaurant industry five years ago I have made many observations about the insanity of chefs, the passion of their work & food, and an overall likeability of the majority.  I have always tried to stay away from petty bullshit because the chef & I couldn’t be bothered.  We firmly believe the best response is no response.

This is not a response.

It’s more of a summary of the nature of chefs in the town I now live in, Cleveland.

We moved back in May and the chef has done fairly well for himself.  He is a partner at a well known restaurant, he’s in the papers, he hangs out with famous dudes, and the man can cook like no one has ever seen in this town.  I have been to many events and hung out with many chefs in the industry.  Cleveland chefs are pretty laid back, and don’t seem to get swept into any kind of competitive battle.  The chef is probably the friendliest chef on the planet ( he did get that award) so it’s hard for anyone not to like him.

Until now.

Recently I have noticed in the Cleveland blog world that there is a commenter who posts negative remarks about my husband and his restaurant.  At first they were little jabs.  Now they are full on attacks.  Using my expertise blog knowledge (haha) I found out that the guy was a chef.  I told my chef and of course he didn’t give a damn.

{What has alway amazed me about the chef is the fact that he couldn’t care less if someone yanks a recipe, steals an idea, or talks shit.  He knows that he will always come up with a new recipe, a better idea, etc.  It’s a fantastic philosphy but very hard to live (at least for me).  I was born competetive and fiercly loyal and those are two traits that are hard to push to the sidelines.}

Anyways back to the negative nelly.  I am writing not because I give damn about what this guy is blabbin’ about.  I truly don’t.  I know that the chef will still cook amazing food and get the press he deserves.  I know he will still hang out with famous dudes and open kick ass environmentally friendly restaurants.

What I do care about is the city of Cleveland.

I live here now and I must embrace it as much as possible (although I still believe the RTA is ghetto).  The thing that constantly fucks Cleveland over is the lack of unity in the communities.  In the restaurant community there should be a solidarity amognst the chefs.  If one chef gets a TV show we should support him.  If another is on the cover of a magazine for his super yummy sandwiches we should congratulate him.  If chefs from our city are nominated for something they should all be promoted, not just a select few.  The majority of chefs do this however the few who don’t should know that the more press or attention one chef gets the more press our city gets.  The mopre press our city gets, the more people want to eat in our restaurants.  The more people eat in our restaurants, the more money our city & restaurant peeps take home.  Economy is boosted and  Cleveland ends up rocking all over again.

The End.

Plus commenting negatively on blogs just makes you look like a green ignoramus.

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