Tue 3/1 @ 5AM (not a typo!)
You’ll want to get up early if you’re going to make it to Rudy’s Strudel in Parma’s Polish Village for their annual Paczki Day celebration, which falls on Mardi Gras and is sort of a Polish version of it, where you gorge yourself on those stuffed pastries known as paczkis before the deprivations of Lent (if you’re into that sort of thing).
They open at 5am and the place gets so crowded by mid-morning, you might have to wait outside. Rudy’s Paczki Day typically attracts thousands of people, and this year they’re teaming up with nearby Current Year Records and Tapes for an even bigger event.
They’ll have music playing throughout the day as customers try to decide from among the more than 30 paczki flavors, both sweet (strawberry, lemon, custard) and savory (potato, kraut and kielbasa). This year’s special flavor is buttercream, infused with Porco Tiki Lounge’s own Hurricane recipe. Get there early for the best choice. They’ll also have hurricanes, imported Polish beer, local craft beer from Fat Head’s Brewery, smoked meats from Barabicu and more.
Music starts at 5am (ugh) with DJ Max Payola and Michael Stutz of the Current Year Records playing music to set a carnival mood such as polka, Zydeco and Dixieland. Tom Mroczka and his band will play live polka from 1-4pm with room to dance inside (we’ll believe it when we see it) and outside. The Current Year, which is right next door, will open at 5am as well.
Find up-to-date info here.