farm to table benefit

Farm to Table was one of the earliest culinary events in Cleveland to showcase the local food movement. And it remains a great opportunity for people to sample some amazing fare built of fresh, local and sustainable ingredients prepared by some of the best chefs in town.
 
The theme for the 15th annual Farm to Table Benefit, which takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 3, is the strawberry. The event benefits the Garden’s Green Corps program and North Union Farmers Market, and will be held at the Cleveland Botanical Garden (CBG), located at 11030 East Boulevard in Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood.
 
“This year, we're having Farm to Table earlier in the summertime so we could celebrate the strawberry,” shares Tom O’Konowitz of CBG. “The participating chefs have been asked to infuse strawberry into their offerings, and it should make for an absolutely appetizing experience.”
 
First up is a panel discussion on “Berry Benefits” featuring Buster Woolf of Woolf Farms, Mike Mitchell of Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream and Mladen Golubic, MD, PhD, medical director for the Center of Lifestyle Medicine at Cleveland Clinic.
 
From 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., attendees can enjoy live music and fresh, locally sourced, and strawberry-inspired dishes from numerous chef stations on the Geis Terrace.
 
Participating restaurants include: Accent, Bon Appetit, Chagrin Valley Country Club, CK’s Steakhouse at Quail Hollow Resort, Crop Bistro, Dewey’s Coffee, Flying Fig, ICASI, J. Pistone Market, La Campagna, Light Bistro, Coquette Patisserie, Lucky’s Café, Luxe Kitchen and Lounge, Mitchell’s Ice Cream, Moxie the Restaurant, SASA, Spice Kitchen & Bar, The Greenhouse Tavern, Umami Asian Kitchen, and Washington Place Bistro and Inn.
 
Tickets are $85 for members and $100 for non-members. Admission includes open wine bar. $45 of each ticket is the non-tax-deductible value. Call 216-721-1600 ext. 100 for tickets and info.
 
“Farm to Table is a great way to start your summer," adds O’Konowitz. "An evening in the botanical garden with delicious food served by some of Northeast Ohio's best chefs to benefit two great causes."
 
In addition, the chef series Gourmets in the Garden will return Wednesday evenings from June 12 until August 28. These popular summer events feature live cooking demonstrations, helpful cooking tips and delicious dishes prepared by Cleveland's culinary masters.
 
A few of the featured chefs include Steve Schimoler of Crop Bistro, Douglas Katz of Fire Food and Drink, Brian Goodman of Greenhouse Tavern, and Karen Small of Flying Fig. 

The cost to attend all 12 sessions of Gourmets in the Garden is $60 for CBG members or $174 for non-members. Single session admission is $5 for CBG members and $14.50 for non-members.
 
View the full lineup here.

rock and reggae fest

There is no shortage of music festivals scattered around the city over Memorial Day weekend, but only one mixes the genres of rock and reggae for the benefit of a great cause.
 
On Saturday, May 25, the Rock and Reggae Festival will hit the Beachland Ballroom (15711 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland) for an evening of great entertainment, music, food, and arts from the Arts Collinwood neighborhood. The benefit for The Free Clinic runs from 7 p.m. until around 1 a.m.
 
“The Rock and Reggae event is a tradition almost as old as The Free Clinic,” shares Danny R. Williams, executive director of the clinic. “This music festival is a celebration of diversity and inclusiveness, communicating in a spiritually uplifting and universal language.” 
 
The festival, originating in the late 1970s, was one of Cleveland’s first outdoor musical celebrations -- evolving from humble beginnings in the parking lot of The Free Clinic, to Meadow Ridge Farm, to Blossom Music Center, and for the past five years, the Beachland Ballroom.
 
Headlining this year will be local favorite Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band, Tropidelic, The TwistOffs, and the J. Miller Band. The musical lineup in the tavern includes Istvan Medgyesi, Oldboy, Big Ship (featuring members of Oroboros and Waterband), Tastycakez, and Svelton.
 
“Rock and Reggae is really an extension of The Free Clinic’s healing mission of being available to all people in need of care,” says Williams. “And it is a fun and energizing way to participate in an elevating experience that showcases some great local talent while benefiting the ongoing work of The Free Clinic.”
 
Tickets may be purchased in advance for $15 or $20 at the door on the day of the event. Buy tickets here.

race for the place

On June 2, thousands of Northeastern Ohioans area will descend upon Beachwood Place for the 13th annual Race for the Place benefit sponsored by University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in an effort to raise funds for The Gathering Place.

In celebration of National Cancer Survivors Day, participants can partake in a one-mile or 5k run/walk in support of those touched by cancer in Cleveland’s local communities.

“As our biggest fundraiser for the year, the Race for the Place brings the community together to help support everyone who has been touched by cancer,” shares Eileen Saffran, executive director of The Gathering Place. “We are incredibly grateful to them and all of our sponsors that are supporting the race this year.”

This year’s event is expected to draw over 3,800 people and net over $350,000 in proceeds that will assist in supporting the various free services offered by The Gathering Place for cancer sufferers and their loved ones.
 
"Race for the Place isn't just about raising money to support The Gathering Place and our free programs and services for those touched by cancer,” adds Saffran. “It's also about celebrating National Cancer Survivors Day and recognizing those that are living their lives in spite of this challenging diagnosis.”
 
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at the race site, and starting at 8:00 a.m. in Celebration Village, various family activities like children’s face painting, games, music and more take place.
 
The race starts at 9:00 a.m. from the upper-level parking deck of Beachwood Place (26300 Cedar Rd.), between Nordstrom and Dillard’s.
 
An award ceremony will take place following the race at 10:30 a.m., recognizing the teams with the most members and those that raised the most money in five categories: corporate, community and school, health and fitness, and new team.
 
Additional awards will be given to the overall male and female top finishers, the male and female cancer survivors, and the overall top finishers in each age category.
 
“For the first time we're also going to have food trucks on site including Mavis Winkle's Paddy Wagon, DonutLab, Fired Up Taco Truck, and Sweet! The Mobile Cupcakery," notes Saffran.
 
Information on registration and entry fees can be found here.

Those who want to support The Gathering Place or friends and family participating in the day’s event can also visit here for information on contributing.

veg fest 2013

On Saturday, June 1, Cleveland VegFest will make its debut at Cleveland State University’s Student Center, located at 2121 Euclid Avenue.  
 
"The Cleveland VegFest will be a unique opportunity for all Northeast Ohioans to learn about how vegan living can solve the most pressing problems we face as a society: from climate change to our health crisis to world hunger to our relationship with the Earth and our fellow beings,” explains Jack McMillan of the Cleveland Vegan Society.
 
The free event will run from 9:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. and feature top vegan speakers, authors, and chefs who specialize in nutrition, environmental sustainability, social justice, animal rights, and culinary arts.
 
VegFest promises to offer information to newbies who are interested in exploring the benefits of vegetarianism and veganism.
 
The event will offer an impressive lineup of experts including: George Eisman, a Registered Dietician, who will address the connection between our diets and the cancer epidemic; author, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, who promises to guide those interested through the process of aspiring to new outlooks and making meaningful transitions; and for those interested in deeper subject matter, author Carol Adams, who will discuss the social consequences of our prevalent meat-centered diet.
 
After a day of learning, it's time to kick back and have fun at The VegFest After Party. The bash kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Cleveland Agora and will feature comedy by Jamie Kilstein and indie rock music by Diana Chittester.
 
“This will be a premier event exploring all the life-changing benefits of vegan living, and demonstrating how a few simple changes we can make today can create a just and sustainable world for all, tomorrow,” McMillan concludes. “This event will put Cleveland on the main stage of the growing national dialogue about the tremendous benefits of veganism.”
 
For more information on the Cleveland VegFest or to purchase tickets to the After Party, please visit here.