Sat 11/28 @ 7-10PM
The start of the holiday season will rock downtown Cleveland Sat 11/28. Launch the festive season with some adult merrymaking at 925 Euclid Avenue. The Winter Wine and Ale Fest will be a good time, with a selection of over twenty beers, wines and spirits.
Imagine tables set up all over the lobby of the historic office building once known as the Union Trust Building when it was built in the 1920s, then the Union Commerce Building, and recently as the Huntington Building. The building was once the second largest office building in the world. The lobby, where murals by Jules Guerin dominate, is beautiful when it’s not decorated. Decorated for the holidays, the space can be enchanting.
Musical entertainment, food, drinks and festive music will cheer up any Grinchy soul. This is especially true if the blues were chased away during the annual lighting up of downtown Cleveland and the fireworks display in Playhouse Square.
Vintage Wine Distributor, which distributes wines from all over the world, is providing the wines, some of which will most likely be local, based on prior years’ selections. In the past, the event highlighted wines from the U.S., including New York, Pacific Northwest and California wines.
If you haven’t been to regional breweries Platform Beer Co., the Butcher and the Brewer, or Jackie O’s, you’ll have the chance to try their beers on Saturday. Local favorites Brew Kettle, Willoughby Brewing Company, Great Lakes and Fat Heads will show well, but look for interesting beers crafted by Portside, Rivertown, Elevator, Millersburg and Homestead. You’ll also have the opportunity to try fine mead from Crafted Artisan and hard toot beer by SpinDöktor.
Want something a bit hardier? Our own Portside Distillery will be on hand to serve spirits.
You’ll be able to enjoy food prepared by Lago East Bank, Café Arnone, Adega, Pura Vida, Taza Lebanese Grill, Bin 216, Hodge’s, the Spread Buffet at Horseshoe Casino and StrEat Mobile Bistro. Heinen’s is a sponsor. Finish the evening with desserts provided by Sweet! The Mobile Cupcakery and Cupcakes by Holly.
Proceeds from the evening’s festivities will benefit Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s Generocity Cleveland initiative, which funds programs and services provided by DCA and its faith-based partners to the homeless of downtown.
Tickets are $65/person for drinkers and $30/person for non-drinkers. Buy them in advance at downtowncleveland.com/winter-wine-ale-fest/.
[Written by Claudia Taller]