Nate Berkus Show Visits Larchmere

Watch it this Monday, 3 pm on Channel 19. He did a home makeover in Shaker Hts. and popped over to Marc Goodman Antiques, Bingham's and Wolf's to shop.

Larchmere Holiday Stroll and Bazaar Bizarre set for Thanksgiving weekend. Flee the mall's piped-in jingles for the joys of shopping local. More info at www.larchmere.com.

Larchmere Mural Project, Phase II Issues Call for Artists

Please help us to spread the word. Complete info on the call for artists can be found at www.larchmere.com.

Larchmere mural ribbon cutting! Thurs. Sept. 23rd at 5 pm at Lifeskills Cente, 12201 Larchmere. Come see the mural, hear the fantastic story behind its creation, meet the young people that helped to create it, and mix and mingle at the reception afterwards! A great chance to celebrate our wonderful community.

Thirsty dog happy hour at the Vine and Bean, every Wednesday 5:30-7:30! Fenced in patio for dog owners' treat. More info at www.vineandbeancafe.com.

grant funding available for facade renovation, new businesses

Grant opportunities available for new businesses, facade renovation at Larchmere and Shaker Square! For more info, contact Lee Chilcote of SHAD at 216/421-2100 x 24 or leea@shad.org.

Porchfest Takes Place Next Weekend!

Don't miss Porchfest in the Larchmere neighborhood on Saturday, June 19th! 20 bands on 20 porches ... it's simply beautiful. More info at www.larchmereporchfest.com.

Tomorrow night, Wed. Jan. 20th beginning at 6 pm, several of your favorite Larchmere merchants will be guest bartending at the Academy Tavern.

Whether you're a neighborhood resident or just a fan of the street, this is your chance to enjoy dinner at the Academy, support the wonderful independent merchants that populate our street, and also watch some of them serve up food and drinks at this classic neighborhood joint!

Sam Gantous, owner of the Academy, has graciously agreed to donate 10% of all sales, and the merchants will be donating their tips for the night. On Wednesday nights, Sam runs a few specials, too. It's "burger night" - a burger, fries and domestic draft are just $5.95.

Come out and stump the bartenders with your favorite drink - all for a good cause!

Funds raised from the event will go towards efforts to beautify the street. Thanks in advance for your support!

The Larchmere Merchants recently installed new lighting in the street trees along the Larchmere Boulevard commercial district.

The effect enhances the warmth and safety of the area, and several merchants have taken advantage of the opportunity and added their own festive lighting.

Pictured here is Corcoran Fine Arts, a gallery and appraisal firm that is located at 12610 Larchmere Boulevard (http://www.corcoranfinearts.com/).

Thanks to the Neighborhood Connections program (http://www.neighborhoodgrants.org/) for providing grant funding that supported the Light Up Larchmere! project.

Larchmere Holiday Stroll & Bazaar Bizarre!

Join the merchants of Larchmere for a weekend of holiday shopping at dozens of independent shops, services and award-winning restaurants. Larchmere is pleased to welcome Bazaar Bizarre, the popular indie craft show, as a new addition to the Holiday Stroll!

Friday, Nov. 27th, 10 am - 8 pm
Saturday, Nov. 28th, 10 am - 8 pm

Just north of Shaker Square, Larchmere is home to a remarkable collection of art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, books, crafts, folk art, gift items, oriental rugs and more! Also discover our many fine restaurants, cafes and services.

Bazaar Bizarre independent craft show
12635 Larchmere Boulevard
www.bazaarbizarre.org

For more information, visit www.larchmere.com.

Larchmere Merchants Association Hosts Fundraiser on Tues. 11/17

Light Up Larchmere!
Holiday Party and Fundraiser
Tues. Nov. 17th from 6-8 pm
$10
Boulevard Blue
12718 Larchmere Blvd.

The Larchmere Merchants Association invites you to gather with friends and neighbors to celebrate the holiday season. The funds raised from this event will support our plans for a holiday tree lighting project, to illuminate the wonderful street trees in our commercial district. Help us to light up Larchmere!

Light Up Larchmere Raffle
$500 First Prize - Win Larchmere Loot!
Buy a ticket to the event, and you are automatically entered to win! The $500 prize money may be spent at participating Larchmere businesses.

Help to support one of Cleveland's most historic and eclectic streets! Some of our recent accomplishments include the installation of banners and flower brackets on Larchmere, the colorful Knitscape project, and attracting the Bazaar Bizarre independent craft show as a part of the annual Holiday Stroll.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.larchmere.com or contact Lee Chilcote, Shaker Square Area Development Corporation at leea@shad.org or 216/421-2100.

Vine and Bean to Host Shaker Squ-area Happy Hour Thurs. 10/15

In addition to their regular line-up of wonderful food, cozy atmosphere, eclectic music and Heather's famous weekend brunch, the Vine and Bean Cafe at 12706 Larchmere Boulevard will host the next Shaker Squ-area Happy Hour on Thurs. 10/15 from 5-8 pm.

The event will feature live music from guitarist Brian Henke, complimentary appetizers, and a $10 wine tasting hosted by Tracy English from Private Reserves Wines.

The happy hour events, which rotate locations in the Larchmere-Shaker Square community, provide an opportunity to mingle and network while meeting friends and neighbors and celebrating our community. Hope to see you there!

Larchmere is holding a fundraiser on Tuesday, July 28th!

The Larchmere Merchants Association is sponsoring a fundraiser for street beautification, including street banners and flowers. Come support your local merchants and improvements to our community's main street!

When: Tuesday, July 28th
Time: 6 - 8 pm
Where: The Academy Tavern, 12800 Larchmere Boulevard on their brand new patio

A ticket donation of $20 includes appetizers and your first cocktail.

To purchase tickets, mail a check made out to Larchmere Merchants Association to SHAD, 11811 Shaker Boulevard Suite 206, Cleveland OH 44120.

You can also purchase tickets at Loganberry Books (13015 Larchmere) or Metheny Weir (12910 Larchmere).

Of course, tickets can also be purchased at the event. Questions? Call 216/707-0301 or email leea@shad.org.

The Larchmere Merchants Association is invested in creating an appealing environment on Larchmere Boulevard for our community, our merchants and our patrons.

Some of our recent accomplishments include the attraction of new businesses to Larchmere, storefront renovation projects, and the completion of a Master Plan for Larchmere.

Help us to continue this important work, which benefits the community as a whole!

Flea Market and Festival Set for June 27th

The rocket car is back! And so is the Larchmere Flea Market and Festival, which is set for Saturday, June 27th from 11 am - 5 pm on Larchmere Boulevard.

The Flea Market and Festival combines the fun and community spirit of a street fair, with over 100 vendors on the street offering their wares, covering kitsch to collectible and everything in between.

As for the rocket car, it was created from an authentic space rocket swinging ride that was salvaged from the old Euclid Beach Amusement Park. It has a 1973 Oldsmobile Toronado drive train that helps to make it street legal, just in case you were curious.

You can ride the rocket car all over the festival. Just don't forget to get off and check out the wonderful vendors, workshops, music, food and merriment.

One of the more notable events is the Local Author Book Fair at Loganberry Books. Already, there are a couple of dozen authors scheduled to participate ... Check it out and support the local literary scene!

Larchmere and Shaker Square Neighborhoods Featured in Cleveland Magazine

The June 2009 issue of Cleveland Magazine features a colorful insert that promotes the Neighborhoods of Shaker Square.

It includes a great write-up about the Dancing Sheep, a self-proclaimed "hodgepodge" store on Larchmere Boulevard. The Dancing Sheep, owned by Lynne Alfred and Bob Hanson, features handcrafted jewelry, specialty gifts such as blown-glass pens, children's toys such as hand-carved alphabet trains, and one-of-a-kind clothing that Alfred calls "wearable art."

The marketing piece - which will reach tens of thousands of people in Greater Cleveland as well as visitors from outside the region - promotes living, working and shopping in the neighborhoods of Shaker Square.

Pick up the latest issue of Cleveland Magazine or stop by a store on Larchmere to pick up a copy. You can also visit Cleveland Magazine here.

Larchmere Welcomes Polished Professionals

Polished Professionals, a new barber shop, recently opened on Larchmere. Lathan Bennett and James Boyd are co-owners of the new business, which opened in the former Rider's Choice location at 12501 Larchmere.

"We plan to have a different look than the average barber shop," says Bennett. "We have a fireplace, and a really nice floor, for an upscale look. We're creating an atmosphere almost like a gentleman's own home while he's waiting for service. We want to suprise the community. We're looking to stand out and be a pillar for Larchmere."

Polished Professionals will offer haircuts, shaves and facial massages, as well as some services for women. The owners plan to be open Tuesdays through Saturdays. You can reach Polished Professionals at 216/421-1111 or stop by the shop to welcome Larchmere's newest neighbors.

To read the full article about Polished Professionals, pick up the latest issue of the Shaker Square Connection, which is out now and can be found at shops in the area!

Boulevard Blue Gets Stellar Review on WKYC.com

Congratulations to Boulevard Blue, which recently received a stellar review on "Metromix Cleveland," a web page maintained by WKYC.com.

Kurt Steeber, pictured above, is the owner and chef of Boulevard Blue. After working at top restaurants in San Francisco and New York for fifteen years, Steeber returned to his hometown of Cleveland last fall and bought Boulevard Blue.

Steeber's long-term goal is to transform the restaurant into a destination venue that offers top-notch food, as well as a comfortable, casual bar where you can stop in with friends. He's already made some changes in decor, including a recently completed mural above the bar, and he's got his eye on expanding the front patio and creating a large, rear patio, too.

Boulevard Blue's menu features everything from tried-and-true bar favorites to classic dishes with a creative twist. There's something for everyone at this Larchmere favorite - the drink menu ranges from Pabst Blue Ribbon to an extensive wine list (bottles are half price on Tuesdays with the purchase of an entree).

Stop in for a meal, chat with Kurt and the bar and wait staff, and see the exciting evolution that's taking place at Boulevard Blue!

Larchmere is a front porch community. These outdoor rooms are a part of the neighborhood's fabric. They are a place to visit with neighbors, or simply to cool off in the summer.

"Larchmere PorchFest" is a new, grassroots event that will celebrate the porches in our community by bringing neighbors and visitors together for great musical entertainment.

"This is Cleveland's newest, coolest event and it's happening in Larchmere," says Katharyne Starinsky, event co-chair. "Porchfest will bring new people to the neighborhood that are not familiar with the residential areas."

This is a one-day event will feature some of the top regional musicians performing acoustic music on front porches throughout the neighborhood. The idea, spearheaded by Larchmere neighbors, was inspired by a similar event that takes place annually in the Fallcreek neighborhood of Ithaca, NY.

Larchmere Porchfest is scheduled for Saturday, June 20th from 2- 6 pm. Twenty bands and musicians that will perform on different front porches throughout the community. It will conclude with a full band, plugged-in concert at Shaker Square from 6-9 pm. The event is free.

Sponsors include the Coral Company, Metheny Weir, the Dancing Sheep, Vine & Bean, Martel Salon, Boulevard Blue, Neighborhood Connections, Cleveland Colectivo, Felice, Studio Graphique, Messy Magazine, the Grog Shop, and the Academy Tavern.

For more information, please visit http://www.larchmereporchfest.com/.

Larchmere Merchant Spotlight: Corcoran Fine Arts

We recently stopped by Corcoran Fine Arts to learn more about this unique gallery and fine art appraisal firm on Larchmere Boulevard. After entering the slate tiled foyer, we discovered a fascinating exhibit of Cleveland School artists on the walls of the gallery.

James Corcoran, an attorney, appraiser and art collector with over thirty years of experience, explained the significance of the collection, and why he decided to organize the show.

"At the time that these paintings were completed during the 20th century, Cleveland was the third wealthiest city in the country, and we had some very talented artists living here," says James Corcoran. "Besides, I needed something to put on the walls."

In addition to running the gallery, Corcoran has developed a business niche as both an attorney and a licensed appraiser. He appraises items that include paintings, sculptures and furniture, and has been successful with charitable donation and federal tax appraisals.

The gallery is open Monday and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 am to 5:30 pm. It is open 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays, or by appointment. For more information, visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=by5o88cab.0.0.9uh7w6bab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corcoranfinearts.com%2F&id=preview.