a little bit of spice

What a weekend! It’s been a bit since Nidhi and I have found time to sit down and blog because our lives our crazy busy awesome, alas, on this rainy Monday morning as I sit and wait for news of Sandy’s devastation from my family huddled in our New Jersey home – where even my dad’s nuclear power plant observed the State of Emergency issued by Gov. Christie – carving out time to relay life in Cleveland is finally possible!

Look forward to posts about (1) MOCA, now open in University Circle for just over three weeks, I’ve been there twice including a behind the scenes tour through the Sculpture Center and CIA’s Sculpture X Symposium; (2) CleSocial in another city (Indy, which, baby, has nothing on the CLE!); (3) Glamping Part Duex and more, more, more.

For now, Halloween Part One and another Son Gitano show at the infallible Barroco Grill in Lakewood! On Friday night the girls hauled it over to the Westside to watch Stephen’s Latin Fusion band, Son Gitano, play a gig at the Columbian restaurant. They play their frequently, which means there is always a packed house and lots of dancing. This time was special because the owner’s family was up from South America. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone move her hips so separate from the rest of their body! Incredible!

Some of the ladies had never seen the band perform, despite their multi-summer performances at Wade Oval Wednesday, nor had they been to Barroco, but by the end of the night everyone was pledging to come back for the to-die-for Arepas (featured on the Food Network) and body-moving tunes.

On Saturday morning, Nidhi ran in the 10th Annual Run for Justice in the rain, as Batman (Batwoman? Was there a Batwoman? IDK, I hate comic books). You’ll have to ask her what radioactive bug bit her and gave her the motivation to wake up early and run. (I know, Spiderman was bitten, but I don’t have any Batman jokes. SHeesh).

Meanwhile, I was sleeping, cleaning, unraveling yards of shiny fabric and hoping they’d turn into something resembling Halloween costumes. After four episodes of David Tuttera’s “My Fair Wedding” I had Ariel and Prince Eric costumes from the Little Mermaid, and a tail I am quite proud of! A few weeks ago I walked into JoAnn’s hoping for inspiration and saw this amazing green scaly fabric and had to have it. On Saturday one of the episodes featured a bride who was obsessed with Mermaids. And I finally decided the blonde moment was done and moved on to reddish brown hair. Obviously, me being Ariel was my destiny.

Nidhi was Bat(gender?) again. She was smashing. I loved her felt eye mask. I want to create something similar for the Mix Masquerade event at CMA this Friday!

On Sunday I prepped some materials for the Collective Upcycle boutique’s Winter 2012 location (which will be in Downtown CLE! yay!) and dreamed of all the things I wish I could actually get down over the weekends – like crafts, blogs, crafts, crafts, crafts. Sigh. I also took time to oogle over all the goodies in the Halloween package my mom sent – full of Vera Bradley, a Mermaid card and candy, which somehow Stephen managed to consume 70% of in two days.

After a scrumptious Halloween Sunday dinner at Stephen’s parents’ house in South Euclid (his 9 year old cousin was also Batman. Did a new movie just come out or something? I am so out of the loop!), we braved the hoards of shoppers at G.Eagle and purchased the necessities for the storm: hummus, bananas and hard cider.

The best Halloween movies were printed in the Plain Dealer this weekend and so after making spiced cider from TJs we opted to watch the original Halloween since neither of us had ever seen it! I have to say, it was such a let down. Not that I was hoping for nightmares, but the whole time I couldn’t stop thinking about how this child, Mike Meyers, couldn’t have possibly learned how to drive a car or move from the front yard to inside of a house through a locked window in under .5 seconds after sitting and starring at a wall for 15 years. Also, all the actresses were idiots. Never assume anyone’s dead until their heads are severed. Never.

Tonight, after a Windows on the River event hosted by the Office of Councilman Joe Cimperman concerning the redevelopment of the Flats, we plan to watch the waves crash over the rocks as Lake Erie demonstrates its power to us innocent bystanders. Tiff’s bday at Barking Spider is sure to be a hoot and then on to pumpkin carving just in time for Trick or Treaters on Wednesday!

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FYI: B-side in Coventry is hosting their ever popular Mug Nite this week with a spooktactular theme of course and from 4pm-close Chipotle (on the same block!) is offering $2 burritos for those dressed in costume. YUM.

***If you’d like to learn more about the band, check out some demos and their FB page! *** Also, check out Barroco’s Owner’s newest place, Helvetica, also in Lakewood. *** Thanks to Julie @ Wearing Mascara  for the pics from Barroco! ***

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