Northeast Ohioans have made it through Turkey Day, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and now it’s on to December. It can be hard to get yourself in the holiday mood, given the hustle, bustle and packed schedules with family and friends. This week’s "Fresh Start" is all about embracing your inner child – and not in that therapist’s couch kind of way. Show that kid inside of you some love with our three picks, set to warm the cockles, raise festive moods and keep spirits bright. It’ll be 30 degrees colder soon enough, so enjoy this toast to the kid in all of us. It’s a wonderful life, after all.
It’s Fragi-lay!
It’s one thing to watch the 24-hour marathon of A Christmas Story on cable. But what if you could actually stay at Ralphie’s house? Visit eBay before this Friday, December 10, and you’ve got a shot at winning just that. You and three guests could score a three-night stay at the original A Christmas Story House in Tremont, plus admission to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Cleveland Indians’ new “Snow Days” and a true-to-film Chinese turkey dinner! It’s the ultimate VIP experience, though we suggest leaving the Red Ryder BB Gun at home. Hot on the heels of the A Christmas Story Convention (part of downtown’s Winterfest last week) this takes fandom to a whole new level.
“Get me! I’m givin’ out wings!”
Let’s face it, after the Thanksgiving weekend many of you could use a lift. Cleveland Play House’s re-imagining of the 1946 Frank Capra film It’s a Wonderful Life is about as uplifting as it gets. Optimism and accuracy underpins actor James Leaming’s depiction of George Bailey in This Wonderful Life, but he also tackles Old Man Potter, Clarence, Mary and other Bedford Falls residents during his elevating, solo tour de force. This winter warmer runs through Sunday, December 19 at the CPH Drury Theatre and it’s a must-see. To quote Nick, my favorite from the original: “That’s it. Now out you two pixies go.” [Photo courtesy of CPH]
Snow Days
Think about winter’s best when you were a kid: sledding, skating, making snowmen, hot cocoa with marshmallows. All that and more will be the focus of Cleveland Indians’ Snow Days. With Progressive Field dormant for the off season, the MLB org converted “The Prog” into a full-tilt winter wonderland for adults, kids and families during December. There’s a 10-lane snow tubing hill screaming from the bleachers, a ¼ mile outfield skating path and “Rookie Rink” for Hans Brinker types, Slider’s Snow Zone (with snow machine), a 3,000-square-foot snow maze and more. Adults can enjoy it after work as a holiday happy hour, sated with fire pits, adult beverages and other ballpark concessions. The Tribe’s hit it out of the park with this one.
