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Geauga County Maple Leaf Special Section
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Colonial Beverage Opens Tasting Room in Chesterland Submitted One morning shortly after Thanksgiving, Wes Cowie walked into his wine shop and discovered a huge problem. His walk-in beverage cooler from the 1950s had died for the second time in a week, and during his busiest season. Of course, before the untimely death of his cooler, he had known for years that their current space was neither meeting their needs nor their customer’s needs. The massive space the cooler occupied was limiting the retail space of the shop, and the table he used as a makeshift wine bar only went so far. “It was unfortunately an awkward layout for both us and our guests,” said Cowie. He decided to seize this opportunity and embark on what had always been his dream – to build a dedicated space for tasting and events, serving wine by the glass along with food and other beverages. At the beginning of the year, he began the massive undertaking of removing the cooler. The new remodel has transformed the space.
“We are a wine shop, but we aren’t just a shop. We’ve become a place where people come to celebrate; relax with a glass of wine; meet other people. It’s really neat to see how the space has evolved,” said Cowie. The shop has a booming business with a loyal following that over the years, has come to see the shop as a gathering place. “We host lots of events for the local community, from charity events to bridal showers, and it just made sense to turn our unfortunate luck into something positive,” he said. The expanded tasting room will allow for events for up to 100 people, like the West G Diamond Club Baseball fundraiser, which recently took place. “This is a huge milestone for us, and something that has organically grown out of the community’s needs. It’s an exciting time for Chesterland. Stay tuned, I have a feeling the next few years are going to be amazing for this area,” Cowie said. The official grand opening for the new tasting room is March 24.
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A worker makes progress on the renovation at Colonial Beverage. A new tasting room is set to open March 24.
Memories and Moments Travel Offers Honeymoon Packages Submitted by Laura Holcomb At Memories and Moments Travel, we pride ourselves in assisting you with planning the vacation of a lifetime. Our goal is for you to have a great experience from the beginning of the planning until your return home, followed by a lifetime of wonderful memories and remarkable moments. Our no-fee agency provides you with quality service and the most up-to-date sales. We do the work – you enjoy the memories! We are an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, but we also specialize in cruises, tours and all- inclusive trips.
Some of our top honeymoon locations include European tours, Caribbean cruises and Disney destinations. Here are some examples of great choices. • Tour romantic Italy with a top-rated tour company. You will be escorted by two very knowledgeable guides and have local experts join you along the way. No need to wait in line as you will skip the hour’s long wait times at places like the Colosseum and walk right in. At the Sistine Chapel, it will be your group of 45 instead of the hundreds of tourists who are usually in there. You will also have opportunities that take you off the beaten path. So, don’t worry about the driv-
ing, the language barrier or anything else that makes traveling out of the country a little worrisome. With this company, it is all covered. Many itineraries are available domestically and internationally. • A relaxing cruise whisking you away to the tropical Caribbean, beautiful Alaska, picturesque New England, gorgeous Hawaii, or stunning Mediterranean. Your cruise can be on a mega ship, midsized ship or even a river boat. • Looking for a week of lots of activity? A Walt Disney World or Disneyland honeymoon is where it’s at. Once we put your package together your flights, transfers, meals, resort,
and tickets will all be included. You just have to show up and enjoy. Attractions, shows, special dining, and so much more await you at either of these amazing destinations. There is a reason why many honeymoon there and return year after year with their families. So many memories are made there. • Looking for a great place to relax by the ocean? There are so many all-inclusive locations, large and small to take care of your every wish. Punta Cana, Riviera Maya, and St. Lucia are three of our favorites! Contact Memories and Moments Travel at info@memoriesandmomentstravel.com or 440-298-1427.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Geauga County Maple Leaf Special Section
Phones, tablets and computers can give couples access to many different wedding planning resources.
Digital Wedding Tools Make Planning Easier MetroCreative Ensuring an event goes on with minimal hiccups takes patience and thorough planning. This is especially true for weddings, when many elements must merge together for a memorable day. Today’s couples have a bevy of new resources at their disposal to facilitate wedding planning. The internet makes vetting vendors and reading reviews that much easier, but wedding-related apps also can simplify wedding planning. The following are some top picks as culled by Wedding Shoppe, Inc., The Knot and Lifehacker. • Wedding Spot: Couples can search for their ideal wedding venue based on location, budget, styles, and capacity. The website enables users to plan their ideal weddings and get cost estimates based on guest list and options. Users also can access discounts and exclusive deals. • Wedding LookBook: This app enables couples to browse through thousands of dresses, accessories, jewelry, and much more. The app will help customers find products in their area. • Shutterfly: This photo, invitation and image-sharing tool can be an inexpensive place to create save-the-date stationery, invitations, and photo memory books. • Appy Couple: This app and website helps couples manage their budgets, timelines, wedding parties, and seating charts,
while also allowing them to share photos. There is a free version and basic packages that allow access to more features. • iWedding Deluxe: In addition to managing timelines, to-do lists and vendors, this app offers inspiration ideas for gowns, manages and tracks gifts, and offers first dance suggestions from iTunes. However, it is only available to iPhone users. • AllSeated: This tool can help couples figure out seating arrangements by creating 3D floor plans of the event, and couples can pull contacts from email and social networks to establish a guest list. If floor plans are unavailable in their database, they can be drawn. • The Knot’s Marketplace: With the click of a button, couples can search for wedding vendors in all different categories, read reviews, and directly connect with those businesses. • HitchSwitch: Brides or grooms who may be changing their names can do so in one convenient place. Three different packages cater to various name-changing needs. • Vistaprint: These stationery specialists offer an array of services, from cards to invitations to personalized envelopes. Once a design is chosen, Vistaprint will offer add-on suggestions for coordinating items, helping to create a cohesive look for the festivities. Wedding websites, apps and more can streamline wedding planning.
Fig Leaf Coffee Company Has Healthy Brews (and Non-Brews) Submitted The health benefits of coffee can be just about unlimited. Just last year, the International Agency for Research on Cancer – an official body of both the World Health Organization and the United Nations – concluded coffee could no longer be classified as a possible carcinoge. The WHO body says there is evidence that coffee drinking actually lowers the risk of developing specific cancers. This was overturned from their ruling from 1991 stating that it is possibly carcinogenic. That’s some pretty shocking information from an organization that is responsible for the health and welfare of all of us. Details of the article further state “between one and five cups a day is associated with lower rates of heart disease, neurological disorders and liver disease.” Getting the full benefits of coffee doesn’t mean that you always have to drink a morning cup. The products that are currently car-
ried and in development at Fig Leaf Coffee Company can help you dodge those diseases. This year will bring some great new products from Fig Leaf Coffee Company. A favorite, non-brewed option is the Nicaragua Smoked Ancho Coffee Rub. Use this on chicken or beef for that perfect smoked flavor. Another item in development is a coffee and sugar scrub with coconut oil for your hands. It makes them super soft. Check out these and other great products at the Fig Leaf Coffee Company at the north end of West Geauga Plaza (by the Chesterland Title Bureau). Hours are Monday and Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Thursday and Sunday. You can also visit them online at figleafcoffeecompany.com for placing orders with free in-store pick-up, which is recommended. Contact Fig Leaf Coffee Company by phone at 216-645-6167.
www.GeaugaMapleLeaf.com
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Geauga County Maple Leaf Special Section
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Red, Wine and Brew Has Something for Everyone Submitted There is a place in Chesterland that is like no other around. It houses more than 6,000 wines, 2,500 beers and 1,000 different types of tobacco. It was established in 2006 as Discount Tobacco and it has grown into Red, Wine and Brew - Chesterland. The place became so popular that there were two expansions over the years. Plus, there was a second location established in 2013 in Mentor. The store started with 2,000 square feet and grew in to 6,000 square feet over the course of five years. So how did this small store grow so fast? The standard of the store, since the beginning, has always been about the customer and their experience. “Customer service,” Jeff Harrod, general manager of Red, Wine and Brew said with a smile. “It’s all about the customers and the service we provide to them.” From the moment you walk in the door, you just get that fuzzy feeling of hominess and warm welcomes. The staff greets everyone as they come in and gives each customer well-wishes as they leave. The store is big and can be a bit confusing at first, but the employees are always there to offer any assistance. “We used to give a lot more tours of the store, but since the remodel, it just seems like everyone wants to just stare and wander around,” said Kathryn Moore, retail manager of Red, Wine and Brew. The store is always buzzing, whether a person decides to come in on a weekday or a weekend. The managers and the employees are always trying to help improve the store and give each customer the best service they can give. Over the next few years, the store will evolve again and have even more services to offer customers. The game changer will
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The Red, Wine and Brew Crew is ready to help with your wedding, party or event.
be the opening of the restaurant. It is set to open later this year. Red, Wine & Brew is constantly changing and updating their services and policies. “Nothing makes me happier then to have a customer leave the store with a giant smile on their face,” Moore said. “We do what we do here because we understand that if it wasn’t for our customer’s loyalty, we wouldn’t be where we are at today.” Here are just some of the services currently provided by Red, Wine and Brew Chesterland: • Wedding and event beverage planning
and delivery. Moore is happy to help plan any details for your event. • Customized gift baskets. Harrod is available to put together a package to fit your special order needs. • Cigar Girl Extraordinaire. Tobacco Manager Victoria Moore was brought in when the Chesterland store was down to help with the cleanup. Since then, Moore has taken over tobacco and it has never been better. • Certified Wine Guy. Wine Manager Alex Bossard has been working with or around wine for a very long time. and has passed his level one Sommelier Certification.
• Huge single bottle beer section. Want to try a beer, but don’t want to commit to a six-pack? No problem. Most of the beer in the store can be sold by the bottle instead of the six-pack. If you don’t see the one you are looking for just ask Bob Patel, the Beer Guy, and he will get it for you. • Home Delivery Thursdays. Every Thursday the store will do free home deliveries for customers within 30 minutes from the store with a minimum order of $50. Deleveries are only $15 during the rest of the week. See RWB • Page 5
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Geauga County Maple Leaf Special Section
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Two Men and a Truck Cleveland is hosting its Movers for Moms collection drive to provide critical gifts to local women staying in community shelters.
Movers for Moms Drive to Help Mothers in Shelters Submitted Although Mother’s Day is intended to be a joyous occasion for women across the country, thousands of moms will be overlooked on this special holiday because they are forced to live in shelters as a result of domestic abuse or homelessness. To ensure moms in crisis receive the love and appreciation they deserve this Mother’s Day, Two Men and a Truck Cleveland is hosting its Movers for Moms collection drive to provide critical gifts to local women staying in community shelters this spring. This year, the Cleveland moving company is working with local businesses such as The Willoughby Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce, The Lake County Captains, Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Willoughby, Home Savings Bank, Lake Geauga Area Association of Realtors, ReMax Results in Concord, as well as a number of Howard Hanna locations to collect essential and comfort items for women staying at WomenSafe, Inc., the Green House. WomenSafe is a nonprofit organization that provides free support to anyone experiencing violence in their home or dating relationship. This includes comprehensive programming for adults and children includ-
RWB
from page 4 Call before 6 p.m. for next day delivery. • Fresh beer on tap. The store has eight different beers on tap at all times. You can sample anything you like on draft. Empty growlers are available for only $5.99 or you can bring your own to be filled. • 1/6 barrel kegs to go. By law, the store can only sell 1/6 barrel kegs to the public, so staff try to keep a dozen or so on hand. If you are getting a keg for the first time, there is a
ing counseling, art therapy, court advocacy, hospital advocacy, outreach services and aftercare. WomenSafe offers all services completely free of charge. “We work with Two Men and a Truck year round with our Resale Shoppe located in Chesterland. They are always willing to help us out and the Movers for Moms donations are always appreciated,” said Megan Fisher, assistant director of Community Affairs. This spring marks the 12th anniversary of Movers for Moms. Since its introduction, the program has expanded nationally to all 39 states and more than 300 franchises. Last year was the program’s most successful year to-date, with more than 285,000 items collected for donation to hundreds of shelters across the country. This year, Two Men and a Truck’s goal was to collect more than 300,000 items for moms in need across the country. Anyone interested in supporting local moms in need can visit www.twomenandatruck.com/moversformoms to find the nearest participating Two Men and a Truck franchise. Follow Movers for Moms online at www. facebook.com/MoversforMoms or @MoversforMoms. $30 deposit per keg that is refundable when the empty keg is returned or you can bring your own. If you are looking for something specific, just call and ask. • Tap rental. If a customer needs a keg but doesn’t own a keg tap, Red, Wine and Brew has them available for rental. During the summer months the taps are rented out fast. It is best to call ahead and reserve one for when you need it. • Free samplings every Friday from 4:306:30 p.m. A different vendor booked every week through July. A sampling schedule is available at the counter or on Facebook.
Pam West, Jody, Amanda, Bob, Kristen or Marie
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Geauga County Maple Leaf Special Section
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Kirtland Flower Barn Offers Hidden Treasures Submitted
New Beauty Shop! Hair Salon Walk-ins Welcome! Hair cutting / Hair Do color - including “Balayage” technique Blow Dry / special occasion
Tatyana Rustamov
Professional Stylist
216-308-0293 8440 Mayfield Rd. #A, Chesterland Schedule - Mon & Tues: OFF / Wed: 4-7 Thurs & Fri: 11-5 / Sat: 9-1 / Sun: by appointment only
Kirtland Flower Barn, located at 8281 Euclid-Chardon Rd., may have just opened its doors Sept. 8, 2017, but has blossomed quickly into a new local oasis. At it’s core, Kirtland Flower Barn is a family-operated, full-service florist with daily deliveries to Lake, Geauga and parts of Cuyahoga counties. The shop creates gorgeous arrangements from simple to grand for every occasion, including weddings, birthdays, holidays, get well, sympathy, corporate events, fruit baskets, and, of course, love and romance. But this new shop is not just flowers. The warm, inviting store carries an array of plants, gifts, jewelry, antiques, home décor, lotions, candles and more. The shop supports other local businesses by carrying an array of products crafted by local artisans. The inventory is always changing as new gift items arrive throughout the year. Kirtland Flower Barn understands the importance of wedding flowers and bouquets. Staff creates beautiful bridal and bridesmaids
bouquets with the bride’s flower choices, colors and details, all while keeping an eye on the couple’s budget. “They were able to advise me on what my options were. They explained how some flowers hold up better in a bouquet, depending on the weather or what’s even available for the time of year,” said one local bride. “It was perfect. I truly felt involved and informed in my choices. And everything looked even more beautiful that I had dreamed!” Kirtland Flower Barn truly enjoys working with their floral customers, asking questions to help navigate them through the many available options to create the perfect bouquets, at the perfect price. The personal touches show through and make the shop a unique treasure. A few of the special touches Kirtland Flower Barn provides include: bridal bouquets, bridemaids bouquets, corsages and boutineers, flowers for the ceremony, altar and aisle, reception, and cake toppers. The options are endless. Give Kirtland Flower Barn a call and schedule a consultation today.
12 Wedding Tricks Add Ease to Planning And Fun MetroCreative Brides and grooms understandably feel a little stress when planning their weddings. Adding to the pressure is the fact that, according to a WeddingWire.com report, the average couple in their 30s spends $32,000 on their wedding. That is a lot of money riding on one day. But planning a wedding can be even more fun than it is stressful, especially for those couples who employ a few tricks of the wedding planning trade. 1. Fake the cake. Save some money by asking the bakery cake artist to decorate a foam-tiered “mock” cake for pictures and display, and serve guests from an inexpensive sheet cake in the kitchen. 2. Use labels. Once the guest list is finalized, create a database of guests’ addresses. Print out two sets of labels: One for addressing the invitations and the other to address the thank-you cards. 3. RSVP tricks: Number the back of RSVP cards and correspond the numbers to the guest list. If one or more responses is illegible, refer to the number to figure it out. 4. Embrace inexpensive decor. Dollar stores and craft stores are great places to find inexpensive decorative items. Empty wine bottles can be painted or glazed to serve as vases. Candle lanterns can be picked up at low cost at many retailers. 5. Create an email address. To have all
Wedding tips can help keep stress minimal and reduce expenses.
of the wedding-related details in one place, create a separate email address exclusively for wedding correspondence. 6. Use veil weights. These weights can be sewn into veils to prevent fly-aways during outdoor ceremonies or photoshoots. 7. Keep bugs at bay. Spray chair and reception table legs with insect repellent. Dryer sheets also can be tucked into inconspicuous spots to keep bugs away. 8. Save money on favors. Unless the favor is something to eat or something especially practical, you may consider skipping the favors altogether, as many guests tend to forget to take them home anyway. 9. Use page markers for seating. Use multicolored, self-sticking page markers to create easy seating arrangements. Each color can represent a category: His, Hers, Friends, Work. 10. Make a photo clothesline. A clever and inexpensive idea is to pin photos of the couple to a string, cataloguing how they met and their time together leading up to the wedding. 11. Use loose flower centerpieces. Loose flowers in a vase are easier to sort and transport home for guests who want a memento. Make precut butcher’s paper or cellophane available to make bouquets. 12. Stock up on string lights. Lights can be wrapped around trees outdoors, strung indoors around windows or draped along buffet tables to create a romantic ambiance. Weddings can be expensive and stressful; therefore, couples can use all the tips they can to corral their expenses and tame their nerves.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Geauga County Maple Leaf Special Section
Rustic Bouquets Add Natural Flair to Wedding Celebrations MetroCreative Couples opting to get back to basics, streamline their nuptials and create more intimate and less superficial affairs often gravitate toward rustic celebrations to showcase their ideals. Rustic weddings also may appeal to environmentalists and men and women who want their weddings to be as eco-friendly as possible. Rustic weddings may include those ceremonies and receptions that take place outdoors or in abodes, such as barns, wineries, castles, or converted silos or town factories. In fact, Bridal Guide says that barn weddings have never been more popular — among both urban and rural couples alike. Coordinating a rustic wedding may mean letting go of perceived notions of how everything from food to favors to flowers should be. In fact, one way to describe rustic weddings — and especially the floral arrangements that adorn them — is “purposely imperfect.” Rustic wedding bouquets may seem like they were plucked right out of the garden or grabbed through a stroll in a meadow. They’re rarely symmetrical or feature the customary flowers of more formal wedding celebrations. When designing rustic bouquets, florists may keep the stems of wildflowers or other blooms untethered for a relaxed feel. Long stemmed arrangements are quite popular, and trends point toward bouquets that are loosely tied with raffia, twine, vines and other natural materials rather than more refined ribbon. Another way rustic bouquets set themselves apart is with the introduction of other elements into the arrangements. Not merely blooms and greenery, rustic pieces may feature twigs, vines, berries, scabiosa pods, ivy, and feathery ferns. The heights of elements in the bouquet are varied, and the bouquets will not have an overly uniform shape. Rustic bouquets are far from pretentious, and brides
shouldn’t feel that these bouquets are delicate or will fall apart when handled. When planning a rustic wedding, couples can work with their florists to create bouquets and arrangements that fit with their visions.
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Geauga County Maple Leaf Special Section
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Thursday, March 22, 2018
Couples Can Benefit from Hiring Local Vendors MetroCreative Local vendors are often a go-to choice when couples are planning their wedding ceremonies and receptions. As the “shop local” movement grows in popularity, weddings present a prime opportunity to embrace this movement. Couples may have different ideas regarding where to tie the knot, but local vendors can be hired regardless of geography. Brides magazine says the biggest factor influencing wedding location is the size of the guest list and the number of people who wouldn’t be able to attend if the wedding was in a particular locale. Hometowns might be the traditional choice regarding wedding location, but the XO Group says one in four couples now host destination weddings. Once couples choose a town or city to host their weddings, they can begin exploring the benefits of working with locally-based vendors.
Familiarity
Local vendors will be familiar with the area and possibly even the location where the wedding will be held. That can help couples avoid having to give directions, discuss venue protocols, and handle other tasks that must be worked out with non-local vendors. For example, local photographers familiar with a particular venue will know all of the best places to get shots, and some vendors may have preexisting relationships with venue representatives that could ensure wedding day operations go smoothly.
Proximity
Local vendors can meet with brides and grooms more readily throughout the planning process, making things less stressful on the happy couple. This also makes it easier to drop off deposits, attend meetings, make fitting appointments, or attend styling sessions.
Local vendors have intimate knowledge of the areas they serve, and that can make for a more personalized, eco-friendly wedding.
Environment Individuals who take great strides to conserve resources by reducing their energy consumption and protecting the environment often find that shopping local is beneficial. Local vendors are more likely to source their materials from other local businesses, reducing their carbon footprints along the way. For example, local caterers may rely on local
farmers for their foods, affording couples the chance to host eco-friendly or even farm-totable weddings.
couples needn’t pay to transport and house vendors brought along from back home.
Savings
Working with local vendors often translates into getting more personalized service and attention than mass retailers or merchants can provide. Going local when choosing wedding vendors is an increasingly popular choice among couples about to tie the knot.
Couples who travel for their weddings and employ local vendors will not have to pack as much. Using local vendors eliminates the need to bring along bulky dresses, decorative items, flowers, and much more. Plus,
Customization