Fine lifestyles magazine cleveland vol5 issue3 2017 by Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

FineLifestyles 2017 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 3 PRICELESS

Xtend Technologies:

CLEVELAND

Tony & Nick Fabrick Bring Smart Automation to Your Home

Cleveland Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum: the Grand Return Travel: Happenings in Holland Featuring the Best of the Best Businesses in Town

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CLEVELAND

With Fine Lifestyles editor PATTI LONDON

Fine Lifestyles Magazine 2017 Volume 5 Issue 3 Publisher Marc London marc@finelifestylesmagazine.com Editor Patti London

hroughout the year we deliver the stories of local businesses. Our aim is not only to inform readers of the goods and services available in our home town, but to shed light on the people behind the companies. These business owners are people who are brave enough to take their passions and try to make a living doing what they love every day. We feel these stories need to be told to illustrate the real picture of Cleveland’s economy. The chefs and retailers, landscapers and home care professionals, the doctors and lawyers - each has a unique reason for choosing to share their passion with us. Enjoy the story of Shelley Grossman Schneider and Nick Schneider - two young Clevelanders who are committed to the hard work of living their dream on Fallen Apple Farm. Eighty years from now, when their grandkids are operating a thriving agriculture business, they’ll tell this story just like the later generations of Davis Bakery, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing or Dr. John Livingston. This isn’t just family lore, this is the history of our community. We’re proud to be able to share our passion for Cleveland and her people with our readers. We hope you’re both informed and entertained by these pages and that we’ve convinced you to spend your time and money locally. Cleveland’s future is our responsibility.

Staff Writers Dylan Yépez Mike Cabrerra Kristal Pettit Janine Purcell Graphic Design and Layout Marlon Tussel Cover Art Vincent Pearson Photography Photography Vincent Pearson Photography Aaron Leyser Advertising Consultants Marlon Tussel 216.548.6292 marlon@finelifestylesmagazine.com Marc London 216.926.3449 marc@finelifestylesmagazine.com

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Marlon Tussel 216-548-6292

Marc London 216-926-3449

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We reserve the right to edit any materials chosen for publication including photographs. We reserve the right to reject or accept any article, photograph, image or advertisement. All contents of FineLifestyles Inc, publications are copyrighted 2017 with all rights reserved, except for original articles submitted to FineLifestyles Inc., where copyright resides with the author. No other part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of FineLifestyles Inc. or its writers. The name FineLifestyles Cleveland, its logo and material cannot be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in the expert advice columns herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of FineLifestyles Inc. or the companies it represents. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

Apricotlaneboutique.com/Store/ChagrinFalls | 31 N Franklin St, Chagrin Falls

CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS STYLE.....................................................10 HEALTH & WELLNESS........................ 18 ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT..... 30 HOUSE & HOME..................................44 RECREATION AND TRAVEL............. 66 BUSINESS............................................. 78

FEATURES

The Cleveland Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum........8 Acupuncture Therapy.............................. 18 Learn a Foreign Language...................26 Fallen Apple Farm....................................30 Book Review: Mo Willems.....................42 COVER STORY:

Xtend Technologies........................44 Biking in the CLE......................................48 Events Calendar........................................58 TRAVEL: Our Holiday in Holland........66

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

The Children’s Museum is Back and Way Better Than Ever

by Patti London photos courtesy Children’s Museum of Cleveland

he Children’s Museum of Cleveland closed almost two years ago after providing many childhood memories for 35 years. The original Children’s Museum, in the old Howard Johnson’s restaurant in University Circle, was where I took my now-grown kids to wear them out so I could rest. We spent happy hours at the water table, sorting plastic food at the market and using the digger in the sand. I learned a lot about Cleveland’s bridges there, too.

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

The happy news is, now that I’m a Bubbe, I can take my grandkids to the unbelievably awesome new Children’s Museum. The grand opening is set for November 6th and I can not wait. Located in one of the last standing homes of Millionaires’ Row, the StagerBeckwith mansion at 3813 Euclid Avenue, the new space is 40,000 square-feet of fun, four times the size of the original space in University Circle. Millions of dollars in donations were needed to

restore the mansion which had been purchased in 2014 for $50,000 from the Cuyahoga County Land Bank by museum benefactors, Dick and Doreen Cahoon. Cleveland made those allimportant donations at a critical time for both The Children’s Museum and the historic property. The support proved that Cleveland considers the educational experiences of its youngest citizens to be essential to the well-being of the community. The museum has secured $9.5 million of its $10.3 million capital

goal, according to a recent news release. The four-story mansion houses four permanent exhibits designed by Director of Exhibits Karen Katz in collaboration with architect John Swidrak of Aodk Inc., architect Sharon Sanders of SKS Designs, and Tracy van der Kuil from Richardson Design. The quality of these exhibits is exceptional and each fully utilizes the terrific space, the high ceilings and historic decor, of their new home. More exhibits will be built as funding is available, but families can now enjoy: Adventure City, inspiring tomorrow’s designers, problem-solvers and collaborators to explore a market, a two-story climbing structure and a construction site in the Museum’s largest exhibit space; Wonder Lab, an industrial science laboratory, filled with moving water, bubbles, and a giant magnetic wall to build tracks to send balls traveling along; Making Miniatures, containing the Lincoln Collection, a fabulous collection of miniature homes, including a tiny StagerBeckwith mansion; and Arts & Parts, a sun-filled art studio where children design, construct, and experiment with materials to create unique objects for home or to add to a communal art project. It’s safe to say that the Museum will easily exceed the 100,000 annual visitors they hosted in the former space. Fortunately, the maximum capacity is 700 big and

small people and they have three times the parking space than they once did. The Children’s Museum of Cleveland is conveniently located just off the I-90 Inner Belt, east of downtown Cleveland in the trendy Midtown neighborhood. Tickets for adults and children will be $12, free for the 11 month and younger set. Annual memberships are available for $80 for up to 3 household members or $120 for families of 4-6 household members. Any additional family members or a caregiver is $20 extra to be added to the membership. I’ll be asking about plans for a special Bubbe membership level. Visit their website at CMCleveland.org to plan your visit. Online memberships and birthday party rentals will be available mid-October. School group and adult tours will begin in 2018. I’m sure I’ll see you there.

The Children’s Museum of Cleveland 3813 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland 216.791.7114 CMCleveland.org

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Historically Charming for a Picture-Perfect Wedding

WEDDING VENUE

By Kristal Pettit photos courtesy The Ballroom at Park Lane

he Ballroom at Park Lane is a hidden gem tucked into Cleveland’s crown jewel, University Circle. Extensive renovations have restored its vintage charm and elegance, and created a statement venue for weddings, fundraisers and other events, that will bring your guests right into the historic and beautiful heart of the city. The Ballroom at Park Lane has a rich history, intertwined with that of the city itself. The original Park Lane Villa was built in 1923, during University Circle’s first heyday. It was a hotel and

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gathering spot for the city’s elite and their guests, with a speakeasy, ballroom and accommodations. Deliberately situated near the city’s premier attractions, Severance Hall and the Cleveland Museum of Art, it hosted the most exclusive events of the day. Located just around the corner from the fabled Millionaire’s Row, no expense was spared in its construction, from the detailed, carved stone and plasterwork, to soaring pillars and ceilings. As the city changed and evolved, so did Park Lane Villa. By mid-century, the ballroom had become a concert venue,

and the luxe hotel suites were converted into apartments. When it was purchased by The Finch Group in 2005, it was vacant, its architectural details hidden, though not destroyed. Two years and $24 million later, it re-opened in 2007, restored to its former glory, complete with historic finishes. Currently the building includes 96 luxury apartments with an astonishing 43 different floor plans, as well as The Ballroom and Speakeasy. The Ballroom at Park Lane provides a unique and memorable venue for weddings and other events, with its mix of spaces, historic yet modern ambiance,

and signature location. The main event space is The Ballroom, which includes the original encircling balcony and stage areas. It features soaring pillars and detailed stone and plasterwork. Adjacent to The Ballroom is The Speakeasy, which provides a more casual space for guests to mingle, full of vintage charm. The beautifully landscaped garden courtyard is yet another space for gathering, photography or the ceremony itself. The Ballroom at Park Lane offers complete planning services for the convenience of hosts, providing everything from tables and chairs to linens and china. Event coordinator Madeline McDonnell, explains, “We are able to work with brides or party planners to create a truly memorable event. Some couples hold their ceremonies outside in the courtyard, then move right into the Speakeasy for cocktails and sit down in the main ballroom for dinner and dancing.” “We are literally steps away from the Cleveland Museum of Art and Severance Hall,” Madeline offers. “And we can help with hotel accommodations, including reserving blocks of rooms at reduced rates with the Courtyard Marriott in University Circle.” There are three highly regarded, local caterers who work through the venue, Driftwood Catering, Marigold Catering, and Spice Catering. Catering is available to meet a variety of budgets, with food options to suit any taste and type of gathering. Call Madeline at 216.438.2926 to schedule a tour. Once you see it, you will understand why The Ballroom at Park Lane is so special.

The Ballroom at Park Lane 10510 Park Lane, Cleveland 216.438.2926 TheBallroomatParkLane.com

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE

Warm Up to Cooler Weather with New Apparel for Autumn by Kristal Pettit

photos Aaron Leyser and courtesy Apricot Lane Boutique Chagrin Falls

ne of the best reasons to shop is the change of seasons. If you need help preparing for cooler weather, you’ll definitely want to survey the autumn fashion selections at Apricot Lane Boutique Chagrin Falls, Fine Lifestyles’ choice for the best of women’s clothing boutiques. You’ll find unique sweaters and fall ensembles in this year’s color trends, all for a price you can afford. Apricot Lane Boutique receives frequent shipments from its clothing lines so the inventory is fresh. Individual pieces are ordered in limited stock so you know that your particular style will be unique, wherever you go. Whether you need special attire for the upcoming holidays, the orchestra season or work-related events, you can find a unique ensemble to wear which won’t be seen on anyone else attending the same soirée. You’ll want to stop in regularly, with new items arriving almost daily. While Apricot Lane Boutique is technically a franchise, owner Kim Epprecht personally hand-selects the inventory. Kim is drawn to the California Style and her apparel reflects this celebrity-inspired aesthetic. Apricot Lane’s array of clothing, jewelry, handbags, footwear and accessories is specifically selected to appeal to a range of ages and price points. Mother-daughter shopping at Apricot Lane Boutique is easy and affordable, too. There are trendy options for all ages, including cool grandmothers. Because the apparel at Apricot Lane appeals to all ages, Kim also employs sales team members of all ages. “Our staff has a passion for fashion plus the retail experience to provide an enjoyable shopping experience for the range of customers we serve,” Kim explains. “Most have been with me since I opened.” Besides providing a unique and affordable selection of items, Apricot Lane is especially proud of the attention their customers receive when they walk in the door. Kim feels strongly about giving back to the community as a local business owner. At Apricot Lane she not only carries items with a charitable purpose, like Love Your Melon, which benefits children with cancer, 3Strands and Lokai bracelets, the store also hosts fund raisers

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Kim Epprecht

supporting local non-profit organizations. For example, during a fundraiser for a local girls’ sports team, shoppers can receive 10% off their purchase while the girls’ team gets 10% of the sales, too. “It’s part of my nature to make sure I’m giving back,” Kim says. Consider Apricot Lane’s fashion parties if you’re looking for a way to shop and socialize, simultaneously. Bring your book club, with some wine and snacks, and try on new outfits and accessories for a fun party that’s a bit different than your runof-the-mill get-together. Apricot Lane Chagrin Falls carries some of your favorite brands and designers, like the global style of Elan; the sexy women’s streetwear of Vintage Havana;

athleisure courtesy of Neesha; and many more labels you’ll recognize and some you’ll be thrilled to discover. Kim is always searching, even in her spare time, for new items her customers will enjoy. You’ll find Apricot Lane centrally located in beautiful downtown Chagrin Falls. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook to stay hip to the latest in-store happenings.

Apricot Lane Boutique 31 N.Franklin St., Chagrin Falls 440.893.9199 apricotlaneboutique.com/store/chagrinfalls/

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

JEWELER

Artisanal Jewelry for the Discerningly Adorned by Mike Cabrerra photos Vincent Pearson Photography

had Verhoff is passionate about both the art and the craft of jewelry design. Verhoff, a master goldsmith, opened Jackson Grey Jewelers in Chagrin Falls more than two years ago, offering high quality, custom jewelry to the northeast Ohio community. Visitors will find the Jackson Grey showroom intimate, rather than overwhelming. Verhoff deliberately arranged the space to showcase his creations, while also giving customers a clear view of his workshop. Upon entering the shop, visitors are likely to find him at the bench, apron on, hard at work. “We do all of our work on-site,” Chad explains, “we don’t have any reason to ship our clients’ items out. The design, creation and repair is done by me, right here in my workshop. I want people to see

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

that as it makes us stand apart from other jewelry stores.” Chad emphasizes that the personal touch is what sets Jackson Grey Jewelers apart. “Because we are a small shop we take extreme measures to make sure all of our clients feel as though they are more than just a customer. When they come to purchase jewelry, inquire about a repair or have a new piece designed, they work directly with the craftsman who is doing the work.” Verhoff has the ability to redesign existing pieces of jewelry to better reflect the current taste of the owner. He can take client-owned gemstones and create designs to showcase them, or work with the client’s ideas and obtain the necessary materials to fit the design. Verhoff has recently found a 3D printer to be a useful tool for making custom molds of his

designs, although no modern technology can replace his 30 years of education, apprenticeships and experience. Verhoff is excited to introduce a line of jewelry in his showroom which is certain to please his environmentally conscious clients. Judi Powers designs are understated, yet elegant, everyday pieces you’ll never want to take off. Her designs are inspired by nature and crafted using sustainable materials such as recycled precious metals, fair trade gemstones and diamonds certified conflict free. Judi is a member of Ethical Metalsmiths, who support supply chain transparency and responsible mining. Visit Jackson Grey’s showroom to see why Judi Powers was a Martha Stewart American Made 2015 Style Finalist.

Chad Verhoff

Jackson Grey Jewelers also offers designer jewelry in a variety of price ranges and styles, from bridal to casual,

as well as loose diamonds. Jackson Grey showcases their own pieces as well as other local and national artists, whose work he admires. Customers will not find identical pieces elsewhere. Jackson Grey Jewelers is conveniently located at 516 East Washington Street, Chagrin Falls. Store hours are Monday by appointment; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.; Thursday 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. or by appointment. Like Jackson Grey Jewelers on Facebook for special events and to see interesting pieces Chad Verhoff is creating. Stop in or call for a private consultation.

Jackson Grey Jewelers 516 East Washington Street Chagrin Falls 440.247.5600 jacksongreyjewelers.com

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

DRY CLEANERS

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Take it From Here by Mike Cabrerra photos Aaron Leyser and courtesy Fine Lifestyles

all is just around the corner, meaning itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to put away your spring and summer clothes and unpack your sweaters. Before storing your clothes until the warm weather returns, have London Cleaners pick them up and dry-clean them.

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Alex Shvartshteyn is a third-generation custom tailor, who spent years making and altering garments. Thirty years ago, he decided to channel his thorough understanding of fabrics and clothing into the processes that keep them clean. Alex purchased London Cleaners in 1984 and transformed it into a 100 percent door-todoor dry-cleaning service that can handle any type of clothing and serves Northeast Ohio, from Chardon to Avon Lake and into northern Akron and Medina. Terri, the plant manager at London Cleaners, spoke with us about the best methods of cleaning our garments before putting them away for the season. Dust and dirt that is not cleaned out will settle in and can ruin the fabric. Terri explains that some stains deoxidize, similar to what happens after taking a bite out of an apple. You set the apple down and it turns brown. It’s the same process with your clothing pieces which have not been properly cleaned. Fabrics stained by sugars or milk-based products can attract moths putting all of your clothing at risk. Perfumes can also cause discoloration if not cleaned out of the fabric and colors can not be put back into our clothes. During the winter months, let London Cleaners handle any salt your clothing may have been exposed to. Even a little bit of salt left on a garment can ruin the fabric’s color. It’s difficult to wash salt out thoroughly with water. Dry cleaning is the only way to safely remove salt without leaving a damaging residue on the fabric.

their homes or offices, or they can simply call, or email, on an as-needed basis. Nobody needs to be home, so the service is completely hands-off and convenient. Beyond convenience, though, London Cleaners maintains a level of dry-cleaning service attainable only through decades of experience.

Another storage nightmare Terri warns us about is using plastic bags or containers to store clothing items. When your drycleaned garments are delivered to your house they should be taken out of the plastic bags. Proper care both during and between seasons will maintain the investment you’ve made in your clothing.

From cleaning to preservation and storage, let the experts at London Cleaners take the guesswork out of garment care. Visit londoncleaners. com to explore the services offered, and call 800.832.1222 or local number 440.283.0200 to get started today.

“We’ll Take It From Here” is the London Cleaners’ motto — and these full-service dry cleaners stick to it. “We’re the only company that does exclusively door-todoor, and we’ve perfected the service,” Alex says. “It’s more efficient. There’s no minimum. There’s no extra charge, just regular dry-cleaning charges.” Customers can schedule regular service to have London Cleaners routinely stop by

London Cleaners 800.832.1222 440.283.0200 londoncleaners.com

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

A Wellness Alternative to Western Medicine by Patti London photos Isis Chen Lam Lum

f you’re suffering physical discomfort but aren’t convinced that you should try acupuncture, you may be happily surprised by the findings of recent studies. Before succumbing to surgery or filling a prescription for pain medications, read on. Thanks to technological improvements in measuring brain activity, acupuncture is gaining traction in mainstream medicine. Acupuncture has been practiced as therapeutic medicine for thousands of years in China, but only recently has the practice found acceptance in Western medicine. Before the new generation of brain imaging equipment, researchers relied on a patient’s report of symptom improvement. If one group of patients received sham acupuncture and reported

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the same reduction in pain, for example, as a second group which actually received acupuncture, researchers would conclude that acupuncture only seems to work but is actually inducing a placebo effect. Researchers no longer have to rely on a patient’s report of improvement, they have brain scans to document the positive physiological effects of acupuncture. The traditional explanation of acupuncture relies on a theory of energy flow within the body. Injury or illness is thought to disrupt the flow of this energy, called chi, and acupuncture works to restore the flow of energy. The Chinese believe that the energy flows along meridians in the body and that the application of very thin needles at specific points along these meridians will

stimulate the chi energy and restore the body’s balance and energy flow. Regardless of the underlying physiological theory, acupuncture’s effectiveness is being proven by an increasing number of studies. One recent study tested the effectiveness of acupuncture on sufferers of mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome. Eighty people were divided into three groups: one group received acupuncture to the wrist and ankle, a second group received acupuncture only in the wrist, and the third group received sham acupuncture using fake, retractable needles. While all three groups of carpal tunnel sufferers claimed to find relief from pain, functional M.R.I.s and nerve conduction tests revealed measurable physiological improvements in the brain

and nervous systems of the two groups who were treated with acupuncture. No changes were found in the group which received sham acupuncture. The study further revealed that the acupuncture produced enduring effects on the symptoms. Similar results were found in a German study involving 422 participants who suffered from seasonal allergies. While the acupuncture proved to alleviate symptoms better than the commonly prescribed medications, the acupuncture therapy also had no side effects and actually helped to reduce the symptoms of future allergic reactions. If you are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, allergies, chronic pain,

digestive problems, fibromyalgia, menopause, stress, headaches or insomnia, acupuncture could help you avoid surgery or having to take prescription medications which carry the possibility of addiction or other unwanted side effects. And this is just a sample of the maladies whose symptoms acupuncture could alleviate. Cleveland has a number of state-licensed acupuncture practitioners, including at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative & Lifestyle Medicine. Isis Chen Lam Lum introduced me to acupuncture during a community acupuncture clinic at Studio 11 in Tremont. Community acupuncture makes the treatment available to many people by offering it in a group setting and on a sliding fee

scale from $15-$45. Isis will spend a few minutes checking in with me, now that she’s familiar with my health, and select acupuncture points which correspond to specific parts of my body or my stressedout mind. She places pins in my ears for stress and in the side of my hand to release the tension in my shoulders, for example. After relaxing on a mat, with a bolster under my knees, I inevitably fall asleep for the 30 minutes of treatment. The yoga studio environment is warm, welcoming and thoroughly restorative. “Like” Studio 11 on Facebook for the community acupuncture schedule or find a one-on-one practitioner to learn how this ancient healing art can help you. Your body deserves it.

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

ACUPUNCTURIST

Experience Relief With Acupuncture by Kristal Pettit photos Aaron Leyser

ou’re ready to be rid of chronic pain, migraines, or any other symptoms of what ails you but you aren’t ready to begin a regimen of prescription pills if there is any other way to alleviate what’s holding you back from enjoying life fully. Acupuncture therapy might be the answer. Chiropractic physician and certified acupuncturist, Dr. Jay Plotkin, would like to introduce you to a safe and effective treatment which won’t lead to addiction or other unwanted side effects. Dr. Plotkin practiced chiropractic medicine for two decades before being forced to reduce his practice after suffering a back injury. He was introduced to Traditional Chinese Medicine when trying to alleviate his back pain through acupuncture. Dr. Plotkin’s back pain was

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noticeably reduced and his career path took an interesting new turn. After attending the post-graduate National Health Science University in Chicago and receiving a fellowship at the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture, Dr. Plotkin began a practice primarily focused on acupuncture. Six years later, he has expanded his practice to include complementary treatments, for a multifaceted approach to a wide range of ailments. This includes adding AcuGraph, a 21st century technology that digitally analyzes the patient’s complaint, bringing a 5000 year old healing art into today’s modern practice. “Having over 25 years of clinical experience is what differentiates my practice from most other acupuncturists,” Dr. Plotkin explains. “Many of my patients

Dr. Jay Plotkin

are ones who haven’t responded to the modern Western medicine approach to pain management.” During an initial consultation, Dr. Plotkin will develop a plan for a course of treatment. The plan will include acupuncture therapy which usually requires several courses of treatment. Dr. Plotkin has been successful in reducing longterm symptoms. Every body is unique and presents its own dilemmas. This is why Dr. Plotkin includes nutritional guidance to his patients, as well as other therapies which work hand-in-hand with the acupuncture, like gua sha, cold laser and BEMER electro-magnetic pulse therapies. The acupuncture procedure consists of the insertion of sterile acupuncture needles, the diameter of a human hair, into acupuncture points. Insertion of the needles goes unnoticed by some patients, while others feel a small pinch followed by a sensation of tingling, numbness, ache, traveling warmth, or heaviness. The needles remain in place for 15 to 40 minutes, during which time most patients experience a sense of profound relaxation. Dr. Plotkin is a Master Tung Practitioner which means that he utilizes acupuncture points which are located away from the area of pain. Insertion of the needle in the corresponding acupuncture point causes a neurophysiological reaction, where the brain recognizes the stimulation and

emits endorphins to the area of pain. Many acupuncture points in the ear correspond to areas throughout the brain and body. Dr. Plotkin explains auricular acupuncture, “The ear develops very early in humans, on the 40th day of gestation. It has a lot of connections to the brain so there are areas of the body stimulated by specific points on the ear.” For patients who suffer from stress, insomnia, addiction to cigarettes or who need help with weight management, auricular acupuncture can be very effective. Dr. Plotkin has also offered his services to patients in the Stella Maris detoxification unit, helping reduce the suffering of those trying to recover from severe addiction. Dr. Plotkin is an Addiction Detoxification Specialist and recognizes the dire need in our community to help those affected by our opiate epidemic. Don’t let the symptoms of your medical condition get in the way of enjoying life. Contact Dr. Plotkin for a consultation to find out how he can help. He is glad to work with other practitioners, if that produces the best outcome for his patients. 216.338.3988 21403 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 210 Beachwood 25111 Miles Rd. Warrensville Heights acupuncturecle.com

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Fall into Good Hands This Season

FAMILY CHIROPRACTOR

By Kristal Pettit Photos Vincent Pearson Photography

levelanders traditionally call Fall their favorite season as the temperature starts to cool and the foliage takes on a vibrant array of colors. These are easy seasonal adjustments, but Fall also brings a lot of aches and pains that arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as enjoyable. When you strain your back raking leaves or after a slip on the ice, be sure to call Dr. John Livingston to heal your problems quickly and effectively. Dr. Livingston has been a chiropractic physician for over 24 years. Although he originally wanted to be a meteorologist, the family tradition held sway. He is a third generation chiropractor after his

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father, who practiced 44 years, and his grandfather, who practiced 50 years.

the necessary time with each and every patient. In this day of ever-shortening patient encounters with doctors and long wait lists to get in to medical offices, Dr. Livingston continues to put patients first and treat patients with empathy toward their conditions. His education, his caring bedside manner, and his ability to interact and communicate well with patients are the tools that set Dr. Livingston apart from other physicians.

Since 1993, Dr. Livingston has been serving patients effectively while taking

Dr. Livingston sees many types of paininducing injuries in his practice. Taking

the necessary time with each patient allows him to diagnose more accurately and treat more effectively. Many patients are presenting with symptoms of pain, numbness, or weakness in their back or neck, or pain traveling down their arms or legs. Nearly a decade ago, Dr. Livingston began using spinal decompression therapy for his patients with spinal disc problems. It proved so successful that Dr. Livingston continues to use it to treat a variety of spinal issues in the back and neck, such as disc protrusions, herniations, and bulges, and conditions including pinched nerves and sciatica. Beyond cost and efficacy, decompression therapy provides a plethora of benefits over surgical alternatives. Decompression therapy is simple, easy, and even relaxing. The therapy requires the patient to lie horizontally on the table-like decompression machine, while it provides gentle, intermittent, angled traction to the affected area of the spine. This gentle traction separates the vertebrae around the protruded disc, creating a vacuum-like

effect that draws the disc away from the spinal nerve and back where it belongs. “It’s quick and easy,” Dr. Livingston says. “A lot of people actually fall asleep.” This therapy is noninvasive, painless, and gradual in nature, incrementally moving the disc into place over four to eight weeks of treatment. Spinal decompression therapy doesn’t involve cortisone injections or any addictive medications. Patients also experience significantly shorter recovery times than those following surgery. During this upcoming season, if you have an accident or begin to feel pain, fall into the caring, well-trained hands of Dr. Livingston. For more information call or email Dr. Livingston, visit his website at jkldc.com or visit his office near the intersection of Miles and Richmond Roads. Livingston Chiropractic Center 25111 Miles Road, Suite D 440.528.0005 drjklii@hotmail.com livingstonchirogroup.com

Dr. John Livingston

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NEUROFEEDBACK CLINIC

Help Your Brain Heal Itself by Kristal Pettit photos courtesy Chagrin Brain Training

oes modern life feel like it’s coming at you faster than usual? Do you feel overwhelmed by your to-do lists at home and at work? Even if you aren’t suffering from a diagnosed depression or anxiety, symptoms of stress can wreck havoc on your daily functioning and take a very real emotional toll. Dr. David Granoff has helped many patients experience relief from stress and anxiety, and a range of other conditions, using a specialized form of neurofeedback. Trained as a psychotherapist, including post-doctoral training in Gestalt and Cognitive-Behavioral Psychology, Dr. Granoff became interested in neurofeedback fifteen years ago as a nonpharmacological treatment for children and adolescents who had been diagnosed with ADHD or Bipolar. “My research led me to NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback,” Dr. Granoff explains. “This is a non-invasive brain training

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system developed by the Zengar Institute in Canada. Because the results I began to see in my clients were noticeable and often significant and sometimes profound, I expanded my use of NeurOptimal® neurofeedback to other patients with similar success.”

systems attempt to target one particular problem, while the NeurOptimal® system recognizes the dynamic nature of the brain and works to address an array of issues without targeting one from the outset.

Dr. Granoff has become a Certified Master Trainer in NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback and is a passionate advocate for this brain training system. The Dynamical Neurofeedback® technology is based in neuroscience and designed to work with the naturally non-linear function of the human brain. Other neurofeedback

NeurOptimal® neurofeedback is extremely safe. Basically, Dynamical Neurofeedback® provides your brain with the information it needs to correct itself and function at its most optimal. NeurOptimal® simply enables your own brain’s natural process of selfcorrection.

NeurOptimal® requires no effort on the user’s part. Some brain training systems require the user to “interact” by playing games or solve puzzles during sessions. This additional level of interaction is unnecessary with the NeurOptimal® neurofeedback system. During a training session, you can simply relax and enjoy! The range of disorders which can benefit from treatment include ADD/ADHD, sleep disorder, PTSD, recovery from concussion or traumatic brain injury, as well as stress and anxiety. Dr. Granoff points out that the American Pediatric Academy has equated neurofeedback with medication in terms of efficacy for resolving ADHD. Visit Dr. Granoff’s website to read about the experiences of families who have seen such marked progress in the treatment of ADD/ADHD that they have been able to eliminate or significantly reduce their reliance on medication for their children. For athletes, executives, students or emergency responders who want to perform at their peak physical and mental condition, NeurOptimal® neurofeedback is an excellent supplement to a healthy diet and exercise routine. The brain training system encourages an overall positive mental outlook and a deeper understanding of the mind/body connection.

Dr. David Granoff

Along with healthy lifestyle choices, NeurOptimal® neurofeedback can also be a powerful tool to mediate cognitive decline that naturally occurs as we age. Just as physical exercise benefits the body, NeurOptimal® keeps the brain fit and resilient. NeurOptimal® neurofeedback can help reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s, and improve memory, recall and overall cognitive dexterity in older individuals. Contact Dr. Granoff’s office to schedule an appointment to discuss how neurofeedback might benefit you. There’s no reason to let modern life get you down.

Chagrin Brain Training 21403 Chagrin Blvd, Suite 210 216.752.5346 ChagrinBrainTraining.com

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Exercise Your Brain: Learn a Foreign Language

by Patti London photos courtesy Fine Lifestyles

hile visiting Europe this s u m m e r, we felt inadequate - in comparison to the Europeans we met, our language skills were pathetic. I had a passing understanding of French from eight years of high school and college but not enough fluency that the French would let me actually speak with them. Travel is one of the strongest motivators for foreign language acquisition. How much easier it’d be to get around with some command of the local language?

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Maybe your career opportunities right here in the U.S. would be enhanced if you were bilingual. Studies show that bilingual speakers have higher earnings on average. Keeping your brain healthy is another powerful motivation to picking up a new language. Current research in the area of dementia supports findings that activities like learning a foreign language, meditating or practicing a musical instrument are important defenses against the symptoms of dementia. Language acquisition is easiest when

young, but the benefits to the adult learner are too good not to give it a try. I dread Tuesday evenings like I dread waking up at 5:30 in the morning and dragging myself to the gym. My weekly Hebrew class meets at Siegal College on Tuesday nights for two hours. I’ve been taking Hebrew for four years and I’m a long way from fluency. But I saw a documentary on Alzheimers at the Cleveland International Film Festival last year, Monster in the Mind, which suggested that brain health is improved simply by the act of trying to learn a

foreign language. I take comfort in that, and keep exercising my mind, even if it hurts at times. Cleveland has many opportunities for the study of foreign languages, from your community recreation department to any one of the many colleges in town. Cuyahoga Community Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s language department has plenty of options. By offering Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish, Tri-C encourages new language learners to become citizens of a broader world. The great news for seniors who are at

least 60 years old is that tuition is free to audit classes where space is available. To become a Program 60 senior student you just have to register in person and get carded, like in the old days. Cleveland State also offers non-credit conversational language courses in their continuing education department. Arabic, Chinese, Hungarian and Slovenien are currently on the modern languages course catalog, while French and Spanish are included in the degree programs. Cleveland State offers tuition-free classes for students 60 and over through their

Project 60 program, too. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a growing consensus that language is acquired more effectively through comprehensible input understanding what you hear or read. Memorization of vocabulary or grammar rules is being replaced by TPRS (teaching proficiency through reading and storytelling) as the predominant method of language education. For instance, my Hebrew teacher spends the first part of every class simply having conversations with each of us, essentially

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

storytelling. She has a number of props which are the preferred way of reinforcing the vocabulary. There’s a basket of plastic fruit which she holds out, asking us to take the peach, take the tomato, give her the lemon. She would spread plastic furniture on a table and ask each of us to choose a particular piece: put the bed by the dresser, where is the refrigerator? The physical actions reinforce the vocabulary and place the new words in context of a story. Sometimes we sing songs, a small group of four or five grown adults singing traditional Israeli songs to bolster our understanding of the future tense. Talk about leaving our comfort zones. We’re lawyers and professors, nurses and psychologists struggling to recall the proper conjugations of the most basic verbs. Yet we persevere. We’ve bonded over this Tuesday night ritual, supporting each other without judgment. Our teacher has the extreme patience with her adult students that the young kids she teaches don’t need. Their brains are young and pliable and oh-so-absorbant. But our brains will be resilient and pliable, and we will be citizens of the world. If the structure of class study is too much commitment, there are easier ways to access a new language and still reap the benefits. Apps like the popular, and free, Duolingo, make language acquisition fun. It’s easy to spend a few minutes each day practicing on your phone while standing in line or otherwise killing time. I am also very impressed with the Cleveland Public Library’s collection of language learning packages. There’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars on the Rosetta Stone materials when you can just use your library card. I’ve taken the Pimsleur Language lessons from the library and loaded them on my iTunes so I can listen while walking the dog. I’m sure my neighbors think I’m crazy, repeating Hebrew phrases as I circle the block. “How do you like Tel Aviv? I like Tel Aviv very much.” Open your mind and stimulate it with a rigorous routine of learning. The neurons will be firing and multiplying for long-term mental health. At the same time you’ll be connected to the world at a profound level.

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

The Newest Generation of Settlers in the Northwest Territory by Patti London photos courtesy Fallen Apple Farm

he pioneer spirit is alive and well in Cleveland. Young entrepreneurs, Shelley Grossman Schneider and Nick Schneider, have embraced the physical labor and steep learning curve of life on a working farm. After two years, they’re literally harvesting the fruits of their efforts. Shelley and Nick both grew up in Cleveland, but neither of them grew up on a farm. Nick has a background in aquaculture, that’s water farming, but they didn’t have much experience with growing vegetables or animal husbandry. Shelley and Nick didn’t let the learning curve intimidate them. They read extensively and took courses on small farm operation through Ohio State. Other farmers were helpful with advice

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

and the OSU extension office was a good resource, too. And, unlike the earlier pioneers who settled Ohio, Shelley and Nick could surf the internet when they needed a quick answer. “I feel like the last two years were a lot of work, but we’re on the downward side of that learning curve now,” Shelley laughs. She and her husband, Nick, shared a concern about the harsh practices of large commercial farming and meat production. They decided that the only way to make certain that they were consuming food without chemicals and meat which had been humanely raised on healthy diets, was to grow it themselves. They started with some ducks and a garden. Shelley and Nick found the perfect piece of land in Ashland, Ohio, about an hour

south of Cleveland on I-71. The property came with a lovely century-old barn, but not much else. “We essentially started from scratch, building everything, piece by piece over the last two years,” Shelley says. They named their idyllic estate Fallen Apple Farm. Fallen Apple Farm has a diverse population: a flock of sheep, several calves, pasture raised pork, and a flock of laying hens, in addition to all of the produce they grow. So they needed to put up fencing and divide up pastures, then build housing and shelters for the animals and coops for the chickens. They’re raising turkeys this year for Thanksgiving, too. You can bet those birds don’t taste like the ones from the grocery store, after eating their favorite bugs on the fresh free-range diet all summer.

The first year of production Nick and Shelley sold directly to their customers. This past year they sold from a farm stand twice a week, located at the MetroHealth Campus on West 25th in Cleveland. Efficiently harvesting and preparing for the stand was a learning process, especially since they do all of the work themselves. But next year Shelley and Nick are confident that they have a good process in place. “We learned that customers wanted a little more variety than the vegetables, so we partnered with two local orchards in response to the customers’ requests for local fruit,” Shelley explains. “For next year we’ll keep planting heirloom varieties

and offer the veggies in unique colors everyone loves. We plan to experiment with a few new plantings, too.” Customer education is part of their farming philosophy because Shelley and Nick want people to understand what they’re eating and why it’s better for their health than the standard offerings. Organic, pesticide-free food looks and tastes different than the produce you find at the grocery store. At the farm stand, you’ll also learn about lesser-known vegetables like tomatillos and Brussels sprout greens, and how to prepare them. This winter Nick and Shelley will be busy producing maple syrup and prepping for an early spring crop in their high tunnel

hoop house. They’ll also find time to work on their website, so be sure to check it out once the snow sets in and you’re dreaming of seasonal spring veggies, fallenapplefarm.com. Information is available on their Facebook page or email Nick and Shelley at thefallenapplefarm@ gmail.com to find out when the farm stand will be open to pick up your freshly picked veggies next spring. You’ll want to feed your family the best food available and support the newest generation of pioneers, at the same time. Fallen Apple Farm 216.509.1662 thefallenapplefarm@gmail.com fallenapplefarm.com

Shelley Grossman Schneider and Nick Schneider Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

CHOCOLATIER

For Your Heart and Your Sweetheart: Healthy Chocolates Paired with Wine

riting about successful local businesses often requires some background research. This particular piece required more than usual. To adequately prepare to sit down in front of the computer, I had to eat several espresso chocolate squares, more than several blueberry chia squares and a handful of baobab peach mango superfruit bites. Fortunately, every bite was 72% dark chocolate, rich with

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

by Kristal Pettit photos Aaron Leyser

antioxidants, and included probiotics and superfoods for my immune system. Fantasy Candies has made my guilt-free chocolate fantasy a reality. Chocolatier, Joel Fink, has come a long way from his first candy shop in Beachwood Mall. The Candy Company was filled with buy-by-the-pound sweet treats for the not-so-health conscious. Then Joel bought his first chocolate machine and started Fantasy Candies at the Greens

of Lyndhurst 27 years ago. In 2012, his business outgrew that space so he moved to his current location a little further east on Mayfield Road - and added a wine bar. Chocolate and wine - my ultimate fantasy. Joelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chocolate-covered imagination is on display throughout his shop. Truffles, fudge, chocolate dipped fruit line the shelves of his display cases. The warm smell of chocolate being made suffuses the shop, delighting the senses. His staff

is particularly warm and welcoming as you walk in and prepared to guide you through the sweet offerings.

and nut flavor selections, from cashew and cinnamon pecan to orange peel and blueberry.

The wine shop is browser-friendly in the front of the shop. Pass the tiki hut, where you can learn about production of chocolate from its very beginning, and you’ll find Joel’s wine tasting room. Wine tastings are regularly scheduled events at Fantasy Candies. Like their Facebook page to receive notices of upcoming wine tastings and chocolate pairings. The unique themes make every tasting an original occasion.

From Sweet Dreams, Joel created Sweet Truth dark chocolate bark, using the same level of healthy dark chocolate but adding chia seeds and a probiotic, GanedenBC30®. The added ingredients support digestive and immune health, increasing the health benefits and decreasing the guilt of consumption, in moderation, of course.

Joel is especially proud of his dark chocolate creations which began with Sweet Dreams 72, which consists of 72% cocoa solids. This dark chocolate is never bitter and extremely dense in flavonoid antioxidants. Sweet Dreams 72 chocolate bark includes a variety of healthy fruit

With Blue Planet chocolate Joel has expanded on the idea of healthy chocolate to create a line of chocolates which has been endorsed by the Cleveland Clinic’s Go!Healthy designation. Blue Planet chocolates include the 72% cocoa solids, and the chia seeds and probiotic in some flavors, but Joel has added super foods to the ingredient list, such as baobab,

pomegranate and cinnamon. Not only are Blue Planet chocolates good for your health, they’re also good for your conscience. Joel makes certain that his chocolate is sustainably sourced for the health of the planet. Join Joel and his knowledgable staff for a heart-healthy pairing of red wine and dark chocolate at his next wine tasting event. While you’re there pick up a basket of nutritious chocolate sweetness to give to someone you love for the upcoming holidays. Meanwhile, I’ll be finishing my research with these superfood chocolate nib squares. Cheers!

Fantasy Candies 5338 Mayfield Road, Lyndhurst 440.461.4511 fantasycandies.com blueplanetchocolate.com

Joel Fink Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

MEXICAN CUISINE

An Authentic Taste of Mexico Brought to Cleveland by Mike Cabrerra photos Aaron Leyser

iving in an international city like Cleveland enables us to experience the world at our doorstep. Arturo Martinez, manager of Tres Potrillos in Beachwood, regularly travels home to bring the very best of his hometown, Degollado, Mexico, back to Ohio. Once the cold weather arrives, Tres Potrillos will be a warm respite from winter where we can enjoy Arturo’s fine selection of tequila and authentic Mexican cuisine. Degollado is a small town of just over 20,000 in the beautiful state of Jalisco, Mexico. Arturo recently brought back an array of local tequilas for customers to sample. “Tequila is a little bit like wine,” Arturo says. “There are a lot of local varieties available in Mexico, with

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

distinct taste differences, based on how long they are aged and the wood used for the barrels. We wanted to offer our customers the chance to try some unusual tequilas they can’t find anywhere else in Cleveland.” Arturo also brought the bright flavors of street tacos back from Mexico. This popular item on Tres Potrillos’s menu is based on the tacos you’d find in Degollado. The authentic street tacos differ in several respects from what Americans are used to. The street tacos consist of steak and pork, not the ground beef and chicken of traditional tacos. Arturo explains that both the street tacos currently on the menu and the pork tacos on the specials board are marinated with poblano, adobe and chipotle peppers. The

spice of the peppers is balanced nicely with the sweetness of pineapple. The seasoned steak or pork tacos are double wrapped in soft corn tortillas and topped with cilantro. Add a Top Shelf margarita and Cleveland’s winter will melt from your bones. Tres Potrillos offers many more authentic Mexican meal options. Fresh produce is delivered every day and each dish is cooked to order, guaranteeing a fresh and flavorful meal. The dinner menu opens with an array of appetizers. In addition to house-made guacamole, there are several unique options, among them the Momias, baconwrapped shrimp served with a spicy chipotle sauce. The nachos come warm to the table while you ponder the appetizers.

Diners at Tres Potrillos choose from a variety of taco, enchilada and fajita preparations, and a large selection of unique, gourmet burritos with a variety of filling choices, such as chorizo, chicken, shrimp, and vegetables with different sauces and seasonings.

Tres Potrillos is open for both lunch and dinner. Visit Tres Potrillos and enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine in a charming setting. On a warm day enjoy the patio, but if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cold Tres Potrillos will be your go-to destination to beat the winter chill with a real taste of Mexico.

On the lighter side, Tres Potrillos offers many seafood options, such as Riviera Salmon and Seafood Parillada, a delectable combination of grilled tilapia, shrimp, scallops and crab, accompanied by grilled vegetables and sides of rice, beans, sour cream and guacamole.

Tres Potrillos is located at Chagrin Boulevard and Richmond Road. Hours are 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 p.m. on Sunday. Call 216.591-1202 for reservations or visit the website: trespotrillosrestaurantes.com for more information.

Vegetarians will be excited to see many choices, including enchiladas, burritos, avocado tacos, fajitas and a grilled vegetable entree with special Yucatan sauce.

Tres Potrillos 25765 Chagrin Blvd, Beachwood 216.591.1202 trespotrillosrestaurantes.com Arturo Martinez

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

MODERN ITALIAN CUISINE

Reserve an Evening in Little Italy with Nora by Kristal Pettit photos Aaron Leyser

ittle Italy has always been a destination for dining but the atmosphere along Mayfield Road has been recently reenergized with the nearby development of University Circle. There is, however, a quiet corner in Little Italy, at the intersection of Murray Hill and Edgehill Roads, where a romantic evening of wine and innovative Italian cuisine can be enjoyed in an elegant ambiance. Nora, the small but increasingly wellknown Italian bistro, opened a little more than two years ago. Chef, owner and Cleveland native, Eddie Zalar, has quickly established a reputation in Cleveland’s vibrant and competitive food scene. In addition to the many positive reviews from online fans of authentic

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Italian dining, the restaurant has accrued numerous awards. Most recently Nora was recognized as Cleveland’s best fettuccine and at the Taste of Little Italy, Nora walked away with best entree award for their lamb meatballs in mushroomcaper gravy. And, of course, they are honored as the Best of the Best in Italian dining by Fine Lifestyles Magazine, for the second year in a row. “We have been really pleased with the growth of our business over the past two years, “ says Zalar, who has been able to increase his staff to include a Chef De Cuisine, Kayla Kenney. Chef Kenney, who previously served for two years as sous chef at Fire Food & Drink, obtained her culinary degree at Le

Cordon Bleu in California. She describes her approach to food as “always learning and evolving,” which will fit right in with Zalar’s inventive cuisine. Zalar’s artful combinations reflect his own pedigree: he is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and trained under top chefs around the country. When it came time to open his own restaurant, Zalar came home to Cleveland. Zalar considers his staff to be a creative team, collaborating on new dishes and allowing everyone an opportunity to shine. One of Nora’s entrees, created by Zalar’s sous chef, was included in the notable Top 50 Dishes in Cleveland. Zalar is committed to sourcing locally as many of his ingredients as possible. He

can often be found inspecting produce at the North Union Farmers Market or the West Side Market, as he frequents both places to find the freshest ingredients for his menu. The dishes at Nora are balanced, satisfying without being heavy. The menu includes interesting, seasonal interpretations of Italian classics, along with a well-curated wine list, to complement the cuisine. Zalar tweaks the wine list seasonally, as well, to reflect changes in the menu. The menu offerings have recently been restyled to take advantage of the fresh flavors in season for fall. “We keep the main element of our customer favorites, but change up the

seasonings and accompaniments to reflect what is fresh and available locally,” he explains. The pasta is not just handmade, it’s made from scratch, in-house, a rarity even in Little Italy. All of the desserts are eminently calorie-worthy, so don’t leave without at least sharing one. Make a reservation for your next evening out and enjoy a quiet corner in Little Italy. Call 216.231.5977 for reservations or visit the website at noracleveland.com to view the current menu. Nora is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday and offers complimentary valet parking on Friday and Saturday evenings. Nora 2182 Murray Hill, Cleveland 216.231.5977 noracleveland.com

Kayla Kenney and Eddie Zalar Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

MODERN CHINESE CUISINE

A Pearl of a Dining Experience in Shaker’s New Downtown by Janine Purcell photos Aaron Leyser

earls have been highly valued gemstones for centuries and now are a metaphor for something rare, fine and admired. The Pearl of the Orient is aptly named - fine Asian cuisine, distinguishing itself from other American Chinese restaurants for nearly 40 years. A talented artist and designer, Rose Wong opened the original restaurant in 1978. Today, The Pearl, as locals refer to her restaurant, is enjoying just over a year in its new location in the new Van Aken District. With the new venue, she’s blending innovation with tradition so that loyal customers can feel at home and all clientele can enjoy a new vibe. The updated menu expands the scope of authentic Chinese dishes. It adds creative,

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informal small plates inspired by Hong Kong street food. “People don’t need another American -Chinese restaurant. We’re here to give them something different,” Rose explains. Along with the update to their pleasing menu, the new location brings the restaurant atmosphere into the 21st century. Rose is delighted with the updated look her architect, Ron Reed of Westlake Reed and Leskosky, created for the new space. In the new dining areas, jade-colored table tops paired with red chairs and gauze curtains integrate with red walls and velour which pay homage to the original restaurant. Full-height photo murals of the Hong Kong harbor and skyline give the feeling of dining near the water in the famous island city. The 80seat restaurant is spacious yet intimate.

The lounge area in the front has table seating in addition to a quartz-topped, 14seat bar area. Two smaller table seating areas in the front and rear let you nestle into a table that suits your mood. If you opt for the front seating alcove, you can enjoy original artwork from Ms. Wongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s graduate fine arts thesis. Rose is proud of the capacity at the new venue to offer a sophisticated traditional Chinese banquet. The menu is planned ahead to assemble an array of 10 - 12 courses. Each course is presented on large platters and served family style for guests seated at a single table. A party of approximately twelve guests makes the ideal gathering for this type of signature event. The Pearl also offers offsite catering for groups up to 300. Consider this idea for events such as birthdays, bar or bat mitzvahs, anniversaries, weddings and commemorative dinners. They can handle all the details from invitations, tables and chairs, place cards, flowers, plates and silverware, staff, food prep and staging even without an onsite kitchen. Their services are held in esteem in the community.

You can order take out for lunch or dinner. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find ample parking in the front the restaurant. Rose Wong looks forward to greeting you at The Pearl to enjoy her new take on this established favorite. She encourages diners to attend the very popular happy hour every Monday-Friday from 3-7, and 7-10 on Saturday and Sunday, with discounted prices on cocktails and small plates. The contemporary Hong Kong ambience provides the perfect place to expand your horizons for authentic Chinese cuisine close to home.

The Pearl | Asian Kitchen 20060 Van Aken Boulevard Shaker Heights, OH 44122 216.751.8181 pearl-east.com

Rose Wong Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

DELICATESSAN

The Taste Tells the Story:

Serving Cleveland for Nearly Eight Decades by Kristal Pettit photos Aaron Leyser and courtesy Fine Lifestyles

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

t was 1939 when Ben, Julius and Carl Davis began their first bakery on South Taylor Road. With a small budget and a passion for handcrafted baked goods, the three brothers built their bakery into a thriving success story now carried forward into the second, third and fourth generations of the Davis family. Joel, Stu, and Jay Davis, and Matt Martin, who represents the fourth generation, continue to carry on the Davis Bakery tradition, adhering to the standards set by their pioneering forebears. The retail operation on Chagrin Boulevard in Woodmere expanded last year with a charming dining area addition. The space evokes an old-fashioned neighborhood deli where regulars gather to catch up over coffee and pastries. The inside portion seats up to 50 people with additional seating on the patio. The new dining area can also be leased for private functions. Jay Davis suggests holding a children’s birthday party in the addition. The kids could decorate cupcakes and you wouldn’t have to worry about icing cleanup. While this fall’s weather continues to be pleasant, enjoy Davis Bakery’s happy hour special, a free cup of gourmet coffee with the purchase of a slice of torte cake, al fresco on their patio. To celebrate their expansion, Davis has expanded their breakfast menu to include popular items like thick-cut challah French toast, a lox platter and scrambled eggs. The popular deli provides a fast and flavorful option for the lunch crowd. Each weekday features a sandwich special: turkey, corned beef, tuna salad, hot pastrami or kosher soft salami - Monday through Friday. If you’re responsible for bringing in lunch at the office, Davis will make your job easy with boxed lunches. They’ll even deliver. In fact, they’ll deliver Davis Bakery anywhere in the U.S. - just check out the e-commerce section on their website to have coconut bars sent to your kids away at college or your parents in Boca. Order party or pastry trays for any event, at home or the office. Davis Bakery’s meat or dairy trays are a welcome addition at the holidays. A cookie tray or tray of fancy pastries is always a nice way of expressing

heartfelt good wishes at graduations, baby showers and house warmings. If you have a wedding, bar or bat mitzvah, or milestone birthday coming up, make an appointment with one of the specialists at Davis to design the perfect cake for your occasion. If you need a shiva tray in a hurry, don’t worry. Jay Davis assures, “We take last minute orders.” This holiday season look for specially scheduled cooking classes. Davis Bakery will be hosting gingerbread house decorating tutorials for aspiring Martha Stewarts. “It means a lot to be there for important life events in our customers’ families. But it also means just as much to be there for our regulars at lunch or to provide the perfect place to socialize over morning coffee and a pastry with your friends,” Jay confesses. “Our motto is ‘the taste tells the story.’ It’s always uppermost in our minds that we’re carrying a legacy forward. We’re responsible for maintaining the rigorous standards held by our predecessors for the last 75 years.” A lot has changed since 1939, but Davis Bakery’s delectable Russian tea biscuits thankfully remain the same.

Davis Bakery 28700 Chagrin Blvd, Woodmere 216.292.3060 4572 Renaissance Pkwy, Cleveland 216.464.5533 davisbakery.net

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

The Mighty Mo Willems by Patti London photos courtesy Fine Lifestyles

f you’re under four feet in height, chances are very good that some of your favorite people aren’t even people, they’re Piggie and Gerald, the elephant, and Pigeon. These characters have captured the hearts of many small humans and their parents. They’re also the creations of one of the most talented children’s authors and illustrators of this generation - Mo Willems. I had a chance to see him read to an enthralled audience of toddlers at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts last month. I was invited to join our daughter and her family because I’m responsible for filling their shelves with Mo Willems books. He is naturally engaging and effortlessly interacts with his awestruck fans. He read his newest book Sam, the Most Scaredycat Kid in the Whole World, then the kids were invited to meet Gerald and Piggie before waiting in line to have Mo sign their books. I wasn’t sure that my three-year-old granddaughter would understand that this man was responsible for the stories she’s memorized by heart, but she seemed to know exactly who he was. For the next few days of my visit, she’d open her new book to show me his signature and the illustration of Piggie’s head he drew on her title page. I learned a lot about Mo Willems from a fascinating profile Rivka Galchen wrote

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

in The New Yorker last February. While he certainly admires the classic authors of the last generation, Theodore Geisel, P.D. Eastman and Eric Carle, himself, Willems brings a new sensibility to children’s books. The prior generation was concerned with action and not emotion, where Willems’ books address the interior emotions of his characters. Pigeon is especially relatable to toddlers. Pigeon is frequently frustrated by the things he can’t do (like drive a bus) and the things he has to do (take a bath.) He expresses his frustration in typical toddler fashion, but most importantly, he learns how to calm himself and work through those tough emotions. Gerald and Piggie’s friendship is equally fraught with miscommunication and subsequent resolution. These emotional skills are easier to help your kids develop if you can refer to that time Pigeon was so mad, or when Piggie’s feelings were hurt. In some ways, the characters literally start feeling like part of the family. Willems humor runs throughout the fifty-odd books he’s written over the last thirteen years. It’s much easier on the parents who are called upon to read a story a hundred times, if that story is enjoyable to them as well. I highly recommend that Mo Willems become part of your children’s or grandchildren’s home library. His books make wonderful gifts and are pure joy to read.

Don’t Let Foot Pain Stop You in Your Tracks The human body was built for movement. Foot pain might bring you to a halt, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent situation. Dr.Christie, Dr.Singerman and Dr.Forman, Doctors of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery (DPM), enjoy working with patients who are athletes or otherwise active people, but who are experiencing foot and ankle pain that is slowing them down.

• Complete Family Foot Care • Fractures & Sprains • Arthritis of Foot • Athletic Injuries • Bone Spurs • Bunions, Corns & Callouses • Diabetic Foot Care • Fungus Toenails & Other Toenail Injuries

In addition to athletes, Dr. Christie, Dr. Singerman and Dr.Forman work with diabetic and geriatric patients who may not have had an injury, but still need help with their mobility.

• Heel Spurs

Schedule your foot exam today and get moving again!

• Preventative Foot Care

• Orthotics • Plantar Fasciitis • Tendonitis

(216) 591-1600 23250 Mercantile Rd Suite 120 Beachwood, OH 44122 www.atriumfoot.com

Dr. Nyssa Christie and Dr. Michael Singerman Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Better Living

HOME AUTOMATION

Through Technology by Kristal Pettit photos Vincent Pearson Photography and Clint Buhler

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Xtend Technologies has been preparing for this high-tech revolution since its inception in 2001. Specializing in home theater, home automation, distributed audio, high-end 2-channel stereo, IT solutions, networking, and basically, all things audio/video, Xtend Technologies has built a showroom to facilitate explaining the answers to consumers’ technology questions.

foot showroom to experience a demonstration. “Our showroom is designed with hands-on demonstration in mind. For us it’s about presenting people all the options at all price points,” Tony illustrates. “We built a home within our showroom to showcase all the home automation products.” Everything you could think to integrate into the home they have on display in working order so they can demonstrate the products’ capabilities and features. “Other stores can tell people what the products can do. The demonstration really sets us apart,” Tony explains. “Our showroom is actually made up of twelve different showrooms, each configured as a comfortable room in one’s home,” he says. “Our staff is trained to demonstrate all the latest technologies so you can see exactly how home automation would work in your own home and how it could positively impact your daily life.”

Owners Tony and Nick Fabrick invite you to their modern 6,500 square

Home automation encompasses a wide variety of technology to address

ine Lifestyles is pleased to feature the best of the best in home technology professionals for everyone trying to determine how to make their home smarter. For all of the film fanatics fantasizing about a home theater; for the audiophiles looking to fill their homes with music; and for anyone dreaming of adding technology in their homes to make their lives easier and more enjoyable - Xtend Technologies are the professionals with the answers.

Left: Tony and Nick Fabrick Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

different aspects of your home life. For example, video equipment, projectors, screens and televisions can be integrated throughout your home. Television screens can be installed above fireplace mantles, imbedded in the master bath mirrors, and even incorporated in an outdoor entertainment space. Motorized shades and lighting control systems can eliminate the challenge of accessing especially hard-to-reach switches and cords. Many systems can be controlled remotely, so if you aren’t home you can still switch lights on as it’s getting dark, and close your shades at the same time. Monitoring your security and surveillance systems, door locks, and climate control systems is just as easy to do remotely, instilling a true sense of security and peace of mind. Music lovers are invited to experience dedicated 2-channel sound systems in the showroom. Exploring all the options is easier when the demonstration of the sound system is hands-on. “Audiophiles will also enjoy exploring the distributed

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audio systems,” Tony says. “We’ve installed systems to demonstrate how you can enjoy music anywhere in your house. We can show you the different apps available for your devices which control the audio system.” Each showroom is designed to showcase the various technology products and their capabilities. Listen to a high-end pair of speakers, amplifiers, or preamps. Xtend Technologies can help audiophiles build a listening room at home, for the ultimate aural enjoyment. This may not cost as much as you think. Tony offers that “the brands we carry are high quality. Even at a lower price point, we make sure their quality meets our exacting standards.” Actually experiencing the equipment in a home-like setting makes reviewing all of your options infinitely easier than reading the tech blogs online. Home theaters are a very popular a way for friends and family to enjoy video media in all of its forms. Whether you’re remodeling an existing room or working

with a builder to add a theater to your home, Xtend Technologies provides the perfect opportunity to experience the products and equipment in a home theater setting. The staff have the answers to questions you haven’t even considered yet regarding room size, seating options, wall sound treatment solutions, as just a few examples. A new sound format called Dolby ATMOS is a 3D object oriented sound format that can be heard in their showroom to truly appreciate its threedimensional surround sound. Tony especially enjoys being able to sit down with a client and their architectural plans before a new build begins. “It’s critical if you’re building a custom home, to discuss the possibilities for integrating technology early on,” Tony explains. “That’s the best time to make installation and distribution of technology throughout the home seamless.” Even if you are just remodeling, bring your plans to the showroom and find out how technology can be incorporated into the new plans to

make the most of your living space. If you aren’t involved in a new build or remodel, don’t worry, plenty of options remain for integrating technology systems into your present space. They may present a few more challenges, but it doesn’t mean they can’t be done. Before taking the short ride down I-77 to the showroom, Tony recommends that you establish a budget for the project you have in mind, whether it’s a home automation system, a home theater, or a new audio sound system. “Just because you give us a number, doesn’t mean we’re going to spend all your money,” Tony promises. “We’re here to provide you value for your budget, which means finding the appropriate products for your project. We have many products from many different vendors, so we can find something right for you and right for your wallet.”

respect to their process, professionalism, and product quality. Check out reviews and their recent projects on houzz.com/ pro/xtendav/xtend-technologies for ideas for your home technology upgrade. Xtend Technologies is waiting to show you the audio/video technology you’ve been looking for. The showroom is open Tuesday through Friday from 10-7 and Saturday 10-4, open by appointment on Mondays.

Xtend Technologies 7981 Broadview Road, Broadview Heights 440.526.7500 xtendav.com

Xtend Technologies has received high praise from customer reviews with

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Participate in Clevelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Biking Movement by Patti London photos courtesy Fine Lifestyles

leveland is well on its way to establishing a reputation as a bike-friendly city. On weekend mornings the boulevards of the eastern suburbs are teeming with groups of brightly attired bikers. The biking lanes along Euclid Avenue are ready for two-wheel commuting. The freshly-laid asphalt trails through Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights connect many neighborhoods to the route heading downtown. What else needs to be done to make Cleveland the next Amsterdam or Copenhagen, besides eliminating the hills leading up into the Heights? Maybe Clevelanders need a little more information before they venture to work on two wheels. Maybe a few more people need to lead the way so that others feel comfortable enough to develop the habit of riding more often. Bike Cleveland is a group which formed expressly for the purpose of advocating for bicycles and pedestrians in the Greater Cleveland area. Their goal is to make Cleveland a better place to live and ride, by building livable communities and promoting all forms of cycling. Their website is full of helpful information and they provide classes throughout the year on those burning questions wannabe riders need answered before they set out in the saddle. Informative classes were held in 2017 on topics such as: cycling with children; how to secure and transport your goods when using your bike for shopping and other errands; how to stay visible if cycling after dark or before dawn; and most recently, using public transportation with your bike and using the bike sharing options, like the pretty red UH Bikes parked all over downtown. These topics cover precisely the sorts of questions which hold us back from taking our bikes to work. How do I carry my lunch and laptop in to the office in the

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morning? What if I have to stay late and it gets dark? Can I take my bike on the Rapid or a bus if the skies open up and it starts pouring? Once these questions are settled, you’ll feel more confident in your biking plan.

feet of space when passing on the street. If there are two lanes, you’re required to pass in the second lane. As a bicyclist you are required to follow the rules of the road, including using signals and lighting at night.

If you’re concerned because you aren’t familiar with the rules of the road, Bike Cleveland’s site has a page devoted to the local and state ordinances which apply to bikes. Did you know that bikes have the right to use a lane of traffic, just like cars? They’re legally considered vehicles and, as such, have as much right to the road as any other vehicle. If you’re driving your car, you must give a bike at least three

Bike Cleveland is an invaluable resource to promote safe cycling in all forms, recreational to commuter. Visit their site for information on their riding events like exploring proposed routes throughout Greater Cleveland and the classes offered throughout the year. To learn more about recreational riding trails through Cleveland, ohiobikeways.

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net has everything you need to plan your next two-wheeled adventure. This site includes descriptions and maps of trails outside of Cuyahoga County, but also details on the local trails which are currently under development. It will be possible to ride 110 miles on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, from Lake Erie to New Philadelphia, once itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complete, but for now you can ride large sections of it quite far into the city. Choose a route to explore from the trail maps available on ohiobikeways.net and get comfortable riding recreationally before you take on the urban commute to work. The Cleveland Metroparks are always a great place to get started on their smooth asphalt trails amid the intense fall foliage. Be a part of the movement. There are accessible sources of information to address all of your concerns. Get comfortable on your bike, know your rights and set an example for your neighbors and coworkers by using two wheels on a regular basis. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be healthier and our community will become more sustainable with practice.

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TeresaSlowey Slowey Whitham Whitham Teresa For All Your Real Estate Needs

“We would highly recommend Teresa. She has been extremely helpful and knowledgeable throughout the process. Definitely goes above and beyond and has been a pleasure to work with.” - Patrick and Melissa Fitzgerald Working with Teresa was wonderful. Selling my sister’s house due to her recent death was a very emotional experience. Not only did she handle all of the business transactions, she was there for us every step of the way. Teresa is a true professional. - Francine Resnik

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services 440-263-0504 Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland TeresaWhitham@HowardHanna.com TeresaSloweyWhitham.HowardHanna.com

We Know You’re Smart, But What About Your Home?

WINDOW TREATMENTS

by Mike Cabrerra photos Courtesy Budget Blinds

f your answer is “no” or “I’m not sure,” the next question is, what are you waiting for? Smart Home Technology is here to stay, soon to be as common as automatic car windows and the phrase “there’s an app for that.” But, as with any new technology, there is a learning curve. Budget Blinds of Brecksville and Chagrin Falls can provide answers and options for all of your questions about bringing smart home technology to your home. And they’re happy to answer those questions during a complimentary consultation in your home, where it’s much easier for you to demonstrate what your technology and design needs are. Budget Blinds is excited to introduce the Lutron Smart Home Technology Solution to their customers. Owner Suzi Cipra and her design staff apply a wealth of experience and creativity to all of their product lines, including many styles of blinds, fabric and roman shades, plantation/wood shutters, curtains and custom draperies. In addition to the almost unlimited selection of gorgeous and practical custom window treatments, Suzi and her staff provide professional decorating guidance, flawless installation and the Budget Blinds exclusive No Questions Asked Warranty. ”Our Budget Blinds parent company has been giving us the tools to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations for 25 years now,” says Suzi. “Lutron’s Smart Home Technology is corporate’s way of making sure Budget Blinds continues to offer the best tools and products to their customers.” Economists and business trend specialists predict that 50% of consumers will have upgraded their home to a smart home by 2020. That’s less than three years from now. And convenience is only a small part of the picture. A home is smart when it enhances the lives of its family

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members. Smart homes use technology to connect and control electronic devices in the home for the purpose of making the home more enjoyable, safer, nurturing, and livable. Whether it’s opening the shades, turning on the lights, adjusting the music or changing the temperature - all can be controlled simply through automation. “Lutron’s line of custom motorized shades can be operated with remote controls or through the free Lutron app on your smart phone or tablet,” Suzi explains. “Lutron’s app also allows adjustment of interior and exterior lighting throughout your home and Lutron systems complement other smart home systems to control temperature and music, too.”

Suzi, Kristi and Kim

Don’t let the proliferation of home technology options overwhelm you. Ask Suzi how a smart home can enhance your family’s living environment. She and her team would love to work with you on any and all of your window treatment projects, including the incorporation of smart technology. “A smart home consultation will take place like any of our other consultations,” adds Suzi. “Call for an appointment and we will bring it all to you. There is no pressure to buy and it’s complimentary.” Schedule your free, inhome consultation to help you find the perfect design solutions while respecting your budget.

Budget Blinds/Chagrin Falls 440.268.9390 budgetblinds.com/ChagrinFalls

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

HOME LIGHTING

The Days are Getting Shorter So Brighten Your Home by Mike Cabrerra photos Vincent Pearson Photography

few upgrades to your home’s lighting could change the overall ambience. Installing new lighting can open up space which isn’t currently being used because of the lack of illumination. Strategically adding lamps can increase a room’s coziness and give you alternatives to the ceiling fixture. The staff at House of Lights are prepared to show you how a few lighting options can transform your home - at a fraction of the cost of a remodel. House of Lights in Mayfield Heights has been a “fixture” in the industry for over 50 years. According to owner Mark Dymidowski, a combination of selection, service, and stability is the key to its success. Visit the gleaming 10,000-foot showroom on Mayfield Road and you will see the area’s largest selection of lighting options. The store sells everything from enormous, exquisite chandeliers to artsy single bulb pendants, along with utilitarian “invisible” fixtures, lamps, and outdoor lighting. House of Lights has options at every price point and will beat the advertised prices of competitors. Mark’s team is very experienced, most having been with the company for more than 15 years. They are trained to help customers determine appropriate sizing for fixtures in various spaces. They also help evaluate the specifics of how lighting will function in a space. For example, lighting needs are much different in a kitchen than in a dining room. Team members are also experienced designers, and will consider how various lighting styles will fit into the overall interior design of a customer’s home. In addition to staff in the showroom, House of Lights employs lighting installers who will deliver and install lighting for customers, if desired. House of Lights is the largest provider of lighting to homebuilders in the area. Staff members have expertise in whole-

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house lighting design and coordination. Providing their expertise to over 400 new homes every year, House of Lights staff familiarize themselves with each home, then lay out a lighting plan that is both functional and beautiful. Dymidowski explains that, unlike their competitors, House of Lights has a large inventory of lights in stock, so most of the time, customers can leave with their fixtures, which is very helpful for tight remodeling timelines. If lighting must be ordered, House of Lights has a very short turn-around time, usually a week to ten days, unlike other stores, where customers may have to wait six to eight weeks for orders to arrive. Now that you’ve made up your mind to incorporate new lighting options in your home’s décor, you’ll be pleased to hear

that the House of Lights’ semi-annual Day “Lights” Saving Sale is coming up November 3-5. Turn on the savings of at least 55% off all lighting fixtures. Visit House of Lights for a planning session and enjoy all of the options in the showroom, located at 5818 Mayfield Road, Mayfield Heights. Store hours are 10-6 Monday through Saturday, and 12-4 on Sunday. The store is also open on Thursdays until 8 p.m.

House of Lights 5818 Mayfield Road, Mayfield Heights 440.449.3500 houseoflights.biz

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

LANDSCAPE and DESIGN

Start Planning Next Year’s Exterior Enhancements Now

by Kristal Pettit photos courtesy Exscape Design

he long summer of 2017 has allowed us to spend plenty of well-deserved time in our outdoor spaces. If we’re so lucky in 2018, is there a way your family might enjoy that time even more next year? For instance, does your yard need a landscape design renovation? Would you be able to entertain more with an outdoor kitchen? Maybe you’re imagining the peace a water feature would bring each evening after the work day’s done. Exscape Designs encourages clients to start thinking now about their landscape design projects. The next three months

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

can be very productive and allow that much more time to enjoy a completed renovation or addition to your outdoor space next year. Improvements to your yard areas do more than bring added enjoyment, they increase the value of your property by 5 to 25 percent. According to data accumulated by the Society of Landscape Architects, your well-conceived and executed exterior improvements will bring a 100 to 200 percent return on your investment upon the sale of your home. Exscape Designs will work with you

to create an outdoor oasis that will provide a maximum return, in value and enjoyment. Exscape Designs offers many options, from a single outdoor feature to a combination of elements – decks, patios, walkways, waterscaping, outdoor lighting, a fire pit, spa or place to stow lawn and other outdoor equipment. President and Owner, Bill Dysert, has built his business to create outdoor living spaces with design style. In 2005 he hired one technician; now the team of 20 fulltime staff grows to 45 people during peak season running from April through the end of November. Exscape Designs’ staff

of certified landscape professionals fields 100+ years of combined experience. In addition to the design and build of landscapes and hardscapes, Exscape Designs provides maintenance, including fall clean up. “Our promise is no customer left behind. We offer full property care and service, 12 months a year,” Bill says. “Although a small portion of our business is high-end boutique commercial work, 95% of our operation is devoted to residential clients. Exscape Designs functions as their personal property manager.” The aim at Exscape Designs is to “enhance people’s lives through positive

commitment to their customers.

interaction.” The dozens of testimonials on the company website suggest that they are achieving that aim. Their clients’ experiences reflect success in building a relationship of trust and delivering more than what’s expected.

“During our new home construction we hired Exscape to design and build an outdoor kitchen and patio for us. That project was very important for us since we enjoy spending time outside. The company proved to be very imaginative and creative. We loved the design.” Exscape Designs has won three “Best of Houzz” Service awards in recognition of their high standards and unfailing

Contact them by phone or through their website to begin a relationship that could increase the beauty and value of your home and enhance the quality of your life for many years. Projects can take a few days to a few weeks in the preparation stage, so an early start this season will put you well down the path to, well, a new garden path.

Exscape Designs 10121 Kinsman Road, Novelty 440.729.0011 exscapedesigns.com

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events

CLEVELAND

THRU JAN. 7, 2018 Creatures of Light Cleveland Museum of Natural History

OCT / NOV / DEC

THRU JAN 14, 2018 The Jazz Age Cleveland Museum of Art

OCT 27 - 28 The Vibrant Violin PNC Musical Rainbow Concert Severance Hall

OCTOBER 29 Soak Up the Season Hike South Chagrin Reservation Cleveland Metroparks

NOVEMBER 11 Paul Taylor Dance Company DanceCleveland Ohio Theater NOV 24 - DEC 23 A Christmas Story Allen Theater Cleveland Play House DECEMBER 5 - 23 On Your Feet! Connor Palace Playhouse Square

DEC 14 - 23 Christmas Concert Cleveland Orchestra Severance Hall

NOV 24 - DEC 31 Glow Cleveland Botanical Museum

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Robert C. Van Gunten Painting

At Van Gunten Painting we pledge to exceed your expectations for trust, quality and reliability of service. Since 1978 we have provided quality interior and exterior painting and wallpaper installation at affordable pricing. We are staffed for small or very large projects.

“Special attention to preparation and detail.”

Robert C. Van Gunten • 216-269-5880 • vanguntenpainting.com

BASEMENT WATERPROOFING

A Dry Basement is Healthy for You and Your Home By Kristal Pettit photos courtesy ALBA Contractors

hankfully we aren’t affected by extreme weather, such as hurricanes and tornados, here in Ohio. Flooding and wind damage will cost communities like Houston and Puerto Rico billions of dollars to restore. But even an occasional water leak or long term dampness in your basement can cost you valuable time and expense, not to mention losing irreplaceable possessions. ALBA Contractors, Inc. can help you to save not only your possessions, but valuable components of your home, if you’re experiencing water or dampness in your basement. Al Sluga, President and CEO of ALBA Contractors, told us that longterm dampness can lead to furnace damage, metal erosion on appliances, warping or weakening of woods and flooring and dry rot. It’s not billions of dollars, but this kind of structural damage is certainly a big expense most of us wouldn’t want to face if we didn’t have to.

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Al founded his company in 1995, starting from a small office in his shed. He’s now a respected industry leader in concrete construction, including exterior basement waterproofing, with over 25 years of experience in the residential and commercial construction industry including on-site supervision and project management. He is the lead component in sales and in maintaining the vision of ALBA Contractors, Inc. As President and CEO, Al plays an integral role in the estimates provided each customer. He doesn’t rely on a supervising foreperson - Al is on every job, integrally involved in each project. ALBA Contractors provides construction services to clients who demand professionalism, integrity, trust, and impeccable customer service. ALBA Contractors employs an exterior basement waterproofing system which involves excavating to expose the foundation wall, replacing the drainage system, sealing the exterior wall and backfilling.

Al Sluga

Even if your damp basement hasn’t caused expensive repairs yet, Al explains that a wet basement can decrease your home value by 10 to 25%. Residential real estate professionals also say you can expect to see a return of 150% of the money you put into keeping your basement dry. Even if you have no immediate plan to sell your home, a dry basement and the extra living space it provides is a valuable asset of your home for you to enjoy. A damp basement could lead to other problems for your family, besides structural damage. Mildew and mold go hand in hand with a damp basement and their presence easily leads to breathing problems, asthma, eye, nose and skin irritation, headaches, fevers, and other respiratory problems. There’s no putting a price on the value of your family’s health. ALBA Contractors’ team can provide professional guidance through the

process of waterproofing your home’s basement. Their skilled tradesmen understand that the final product depends on the proper performance of each step of the process, from excavating to backfilling. ALBA Contractors applies the same standards to all its work, whether they are pouring a patio or driveway, waterproofing your home, or repairing or replacing your drain or sewer line. When you call to schedule your consultation, you’ll be happy to know that an actual person will always answer the line during business hours. ALBA’s entire team understands quality and customer service. ALBA Contractors 8670 Twinbrook Road, Mentor 440.974.9085 albacontractors.com

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

HOME BUILDER

The Complete Solution for Your Dream Home by Mike Cabrerra photos Aaron Leyser and Vincent Pearson Photography

o you have a vision of what your dream home looks like? Pat Perrino and and his team at Perrino Builders will turn it into reality. Their goal is to bring their customer’s vision to life in each home they design, build or remodel. With more than 30 years in the homebuilding industry in Northeast Ohio, Pat has taken the time to build a team of master craftsmen and professionals that work together seamlessly. “They are specialists and it shows in the quality of our work.” he says. “We create a ‘WOW’ factor that sets our company apart roomby-room!” “Our goal is to provide a complete

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solution for our clients,” he says. He stays on top of industry trends, attending trade shows and markets all over the U.S. Most importantly, he provides quality service to all of his customers. “A lot of people are surprised when they find out what all we can do for them,” Pat explains. “It all starts with the client’s vision.” Perhaps a client is looking for a new home, in a new community. For these projects, clients select a lot, a floor plan, and then begin consulting with Perrino’s in-house designers. About 6 years ago, Pat added ASID-certified interior designers to his team, and it has made a huge difference.

“We wanted to provide an extra level of service to our customers and to help them through the homebuilding process,” Pat says, continuing, “It can be overwhelming for people to make all of the design decisions, from paint colors, to flooring, to trim and hardware. Having a designer right there to work with them not only helps with the process and keeps it moving, it improves the final product. Their home goes from beautiful to spectacular.” Perrino Furniture offers a convenient option for customers, but it’s much more than that. Perrino stocks furniture lines not found elsewhere in the area, in a design center that is accessible,

not overwhelming. The store sells upholstered furniture, case goods and lighting, and offers what may be the best selection of accessory and accent items in the area. With all options located under one roof, it’s unnecessary to carry samples all around town. “We’re a one-stop shop. Our in-house designers will work with any customer, and not just our homebuilding clients,” Pat notes. Perrino has an extensive remodeling business, as well. Oftentimes, clients

love their homes and don’t really want to move, but they want to upgrade. Finished basements and updated kitchens bring much added value to a home.

Bring your vision to Perrino Builders and watch them turn it into reality. Call 440.919.1000 for more information or to schedule a consultation.

“We can take a 2,500 square foot house and make it look like a million-dollar home,” Pat says. This might involve an addition, removing walls to open up the floor plan, or adding luxurious new features like a new kitchen or an updated master bath adding to your home’s comfort and value when it comes time to sell.

Perrino Builders 440.487.4021 pat@perrino.us perrinobuilders.com Perrino Furniture Showroom 6163 Mayfield Road, Mayfield Heights 440.919.1000 perrinofurniture.com

Pat Perrino Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

O’Brien Cut Stone:

GRANITE and STONE DISTRIBUTOR

Generations of Greatness by Mike Cabrerra photos Aaron Leyser

he 2017 title for Best Granite and Stone Distributor is awarded to O’Brien Cut Stone for their solid connection to Northeast Ohio for almost a century. O’Brien Cut Stone was founded in 1925 by the family patriarch, Lawrence O’Brien. At that time, during Cleveland’s great building boom, their work was mostly exterior. O’Brien’s handiwork can be found in landmarks all over Cleveland, including the Hope Memorial Bridge, Terminal Tower, Adelbert Hall on the campus of Case Western Reserve University, and the Clock Tower at University Hospitals. O’Brien’s stonework can also be found on the campuses of John Carroll University, Baldwin Wallace University, and Kent State University, to name just a few. O’Brien started out doing mostly commercial work. The company now, run by the fourth generation of O’Briens, does a mix of residential and commercial projects. O’Brien Cut Stone has expanded into two divisions: interior (granite, marble, quartz, soapstone and travertine) and exterior (limestone, sandstone, flagstone, blue stone and landscape products). While the mix of work has evolved over the years, the craftsmanship remains Old World. Their “newest” skilled stone cutter has been with them for 16 years, and their most senior cutter for 36 years. At O’Brien they work with the stone by hand, rare in the industry, but which results in tighter, more precise, cuts and finer finishes. The Old World quality is apparent when contrasted with any similar project using basic, mass-produced stone. As you might expect in a long-time family business, the customer service is very hands-on. Staff members are happy to work with a client’s designer or directly with homeowners. Customers select their own slabs of stone after viewing them

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personally, sometimes in the outside yard, where the natural light reveals intricate graining and the unique patterns that make stone so appealing. When customers shop for interior products, such as stone countertops, backsplashes or fireplace surrounds, the general process is the same. The team at O’Brien works closely with its customers to assess their goals, plan the project, create a budget and a timeline. O’Brien’s pricing is all-inclusive, incorporating the planning, cutting, finishing and installation.

beauty over time and add value. The staff at O’Brien are knowledgeable about the best products for each possible use. They educate their customers to find the best match between functionality and aesthetics. Stop in today and explore the many natural stone options available at O’Brien Cut Stone.

Outdoor projects might include walkways and steps, patios, retaining walls or outdoor kitchens. The same hands-on approach and attentive level of service is provided, regardless.

O’Brien Cut Stone is conveniently located at 19100 Miles Road in Cleveland. Showroom hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Visit the website for more information: obriencutstone.com. O’Brien is proud of its “Angie’s List Super Service Award” and is an A+ member of the Better Business Bureau.

Natural stone products such as granite, marble, and travertine, provide durable, classic surfaces that maintain their

O’Brien Cut Stone 19100 Miles Road, Cleveland 216.663.7800 obriencutstone.com

Jayme O’Brien and Michelle Zupancic Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Our Holiday in Holland by Patti London photos courtesy Fine Lifestyles

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

or many tourists, what happens in Amsterdam, stays in Amsterdam. If the city’s image has become sex and drugs, without the rock and roll, I’m here to dispel the myth of that branding. Amsterdam for us was history, architecture, art and food - all the soul-filling stuff you’re seeking while on vacation. In August we joined a million other tourists in the capital of Holland making the lives of the bicycling locals miserable.

We stood on street corners, consulting the GPS on our phones or taking selfies in front of the canals, preventing the poor Dutch from going about their daily errands. It’s my dream that one day I, too, will be annoyed by all the tourists converging on Cleveland.

We had reserved an apartment through Airbnb months in advance in a quiet neighborhood west of downtown. The weather was warm and dry so we parked our rental car and made our way around mostly on foot, using Uber occasionally at the end of the day.

In the brief three days we spent in Amsterdam and it’s neighboring village of Giethoorn, we managed to squeeze in many great experiences. Fortunately, we brought sturdy walking shoes.

Amsterdam was made, however, for bikes. They are literally everywhere. Racks and racks of them are parked outside residential areas. The bike lanes must be crossed carefully, just like our roads,

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or the pedestrian will be sorry. Bikes are without doubt the primary mode of transportation and the smooth, flat bike lanes throughout the city facilitate a very healthy, environmentally friendly way of life. We utilized the pathways through the Vondelpark to make our way to the Rijksmuseum one Sunday morning. The park was filled with picnickers and strollers, joggers and, more bikes. The park ends at the entrance to the city center, which is accessed through the tunnel through the Rijksmuseum. You can easily spend all day at the Rijksmuseum, visiting the Dutch masters like Rembrandt’s Nightwatch and a collection of Vermeers, but we enjoyed the main attractions by uploading the museum’s free app and selecting a

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highlights tour. The app is particularly good at guiding you through the museum’s intricate layout to the next featured exhibit. The museum has a truly amazing set of model ships and an antique dollhouse which shouldn’t be missed. We met friends at the top of the Doubletree Hotel in the Skylounge for lunch after taking in the art. The Skylounge has rooftop dining with a spectacular view of the city. They also serve traditional bitterballen - deep-fried balls of batter-coated veal. As a public service, I recommend caution to avoid scorching the roof of your mouth. On the advice of our local friends, we took the canal tour the next day and then visited Giethoorn on our way to the next destination.

The canal tour was by far the best way to view the city’s harbor. The science museum, by architect Renzo Piano, dominated the harbor. We passed underneath the nose of a life-size replica of a Dutch ship from the era when the Dutch ruled the seas. Returning to the canals from the harbor, we had a terrific view of the mansions of the wealthy lining the eastern canals. The recorded tour commentary was rather inane but the sights were worth every minute. One advantage to having the rental car, as opposed to traveling by plane, train or bus, was being able to make side trips. Giethoorn is about an hour and a half northeast of Amsterdam, a little out of our way but decidedly worth the road trip. We had two options for touring the picturesque town of Giethoorn,

nicknamed the “Dutch Venice” because all of the “streets” are canals. We could climb aboard a charter boat with other tourists, or rent our own. Thanks to TripAdvisor, we learned where to rent a small skiff with an electric outboard motor. Then the adventure began. Apparently the rental places are unconcerned about the boating skills of those they rent their boats to. Although those skills were clearly lacking in many tourists navigating the route of the tour, there was really no way to be injured or damage the equipment in this giant game of bumper boats. We had a delightful time on the water and the thatched-roofed farmhouses were so quaint, they almost seemed like a Hollywood set. We left Holland for Berlin later that afternoon but we took some awesome memories with us.

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

ARBORIST

Ripley Tree Service and Their Streak of Excellence

by Kristal Pettit photos courtesy Ripley Tree Service

great childhood memory for many is counting the rings on a stump and calculating the age of the once standing tree. Just as the grand oak takes many years to gain attention, Ripley Tree Service has been growing for almost two decades to earn their recognition as this year’s best arborist in Cleveland. Mike Ripley, the owner of Ripley Tree Service and a Certified Arborist, explains that the training and the certification process overseen by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) results in a higher standard of tree care and preservation. Mike says, “Along with the ISA training, my certification in Tree Risk Assessment is crucial for me to give property owners the best service

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

available. My education prepared me to assess the health of trees and to give proper recommendations and administer treatments, if necessary.” Ripley Tree Service provides comprehensive arborist services. Mike and his team of eight will perform a full assessment of a client’s property, evaluating the health and viability of each tree. Depending on the specific challenges of the property, they may make recommendations, for example, about thinning a dense stand of trees, or removing selected trees in order to highlight a particularly fine specimen tree. They can also make recommendations if a property owner is looking to add

trees to enhance their landscape. Mike helps his clients select trees which are appropriate for their soil and landscape, as well as aesthetically pleasing. “There are so many beautiful varieties of trees that consumers aren’t aware of,“ Mike says. ”We recommend options, do site preparation, planting and fertilization of new trees for our customers.” Often Mike and his crew don’t need to completely remove or replace trees, but rather improve the health of existing trees with targeted pruning and treatment for pests and diseases. Mike tells us “a tree-trimmer who lacks ISA Certification may not understand the risks inherent in trimming an oak during the summer. To them, it seems logical to trim when the leaves are out and the dead limbs are

visible. A Certified Arborist, however, knows to prevent the spread of deadly oak wilt, oak trees should only be trimmed when dormant during the late fall and winter months.” Ripley Tree Service isn’t only friendly to your beautiful trees, but also respects your lawn and other fragile landscapes by using turf-friendly equipment. These machines and tools allow for minimal impact and are also very “nimble” to access tight, hard to reach areas. Well cared-for trees are attractive and can add considerable value to your property. Contact Mike at Ripley Tree Service to see first hand why he has built such a tremendous reputation around Northeast Ohio and let your beautiful trees gain additional rings for a future kid to count. Mike can be reached at 440.463.7379, or visit their website at RipleyTreeService. com for more information.

Ripley Tree Service 440.463.7379 ripleytreeservice.com

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

FENCING

Fall’s the Perfect Time to Install a Fence

By DylanYépez Photos courtesy Fine Lifestyles

t is a common misconception that summer is the only time to put up a fence. In fact, fall and winter are great times to put up a new fence because “we have minimal impact on your garden and we will have your fence ready before springtime,” explains Dave Schwalm, owner of Truline Fence, Inc. Dave and his expert crews work year round. “We can easily fence off your garden or farm to keep animals out before your plants start growing again.”

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Dave, a Shaker Heights native, has worked in the trade since 1977. In 1989, Dave started Truline Fence, Inc. as a reliable purveyor and servicer of fences and decks, both residential and commercial. Twenty-eight years later, Dave continues to personally handle every facet of the business, from initial consultations to fence and deck installations and maintenance. “I vowed to stay small, give personal service, and make sure I’m on every job site so everything is done perfectly,” Dave says.

Truline Fence supplies, installs, and repairs the full spectrum of fencing materials, such as chain-link, split rail, ornamental aluminum, ornamental iron, and ornamental vinyl, as well as power and non-power estate gates. Dave can even install custom-built cantilever roller gates and aluminum slide-track gates equipped with electronic gate operators. Whether you need to keep things in, keep things out, or block the view of unsightly lots, Dave can build a fence for it.

For instance, with an elegant hardwood or ornamental iron fence around your backyard, letting your dog out to run around and take care of business is as easy as opening the back door. Walking your dog is the responsible thing to do, of course. But if past winters have taught us anything, it’s that sometimes it’s just too cold to bundle up and trudge around the icy, snow-covered block with your pooch. If you like your deck but it’s a little worn down, Dave can give it a thorough update to keep it structurally sound, functional, and beautiful in time for next year’s nice weather. He can repair, rebuild, expand, and reduce existing decks, and he recycles all old wood and metals, never putting any recyclables into a landfill.

Truline Fence serves all of northern Ohio. Dave handles jobs both residentially and commercially, at sites such as farms, factories, and scrap yards. Give Dave a call at 440.479.8342 for an appointment, and he will come out to give you a free, fair, and honest estimate. When you call, be sure to ask about the winter discounts. No job is too big or too small for Truline Fence.

Truline Fence 440.479.8342

Three- to five-year workmanship guarantees are standard on Truline Fence installations — so if anything goes wrong, Dave will be back to fix it.

Dave Schwalm Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

PLUMBING

Making Cleveland a Better Place, One Plumbing Repair at a Time by Kristal Pettit photos courtesy Fine Lifestyles

ine Lifestyles Magazine is proud to feature local businesses which contribute so much to Cleveland’s economy and the community. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, the best of the best in plumbing, exemplifies the kind of business which is critical to Cleveland’s future. Like many other successful companies, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing’s history spans multiple generations over a 44 year period. The company has embraced the industry’s technological advances while remaining focused on the customer service and professionalism skills of their employees. This can certainly be

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

a challenge for a small, independently owned local business, but navigating the changes was easier because of their commitment to their personnel. Eric Dunlap, Manager of Operations, is the perfect example of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing’s business philosophy of sharing opportunities for personal career growth with their employees as the company itself has grown. An employee for over 29 years, Eric started his career as a junior plumber and steadily honed his craft until recently being promoted to management. You can trust that all of your work will be done by seasoned professionals who are, moreover, polite, friendly, and dedicated

to providing the best service for you. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing makes sure all of its technicians are thoroughly trained, starting off as apprentices and then continuing their education through trainings and class meetings held twice per week. All technicians have undergone background checks, so you always feel secure knowing who is in your house. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing represents the best of the best in their commitment to the community, as well. They have actively supported the work of University Hospital’s Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network. Recognizing the serious need for

Mike Rowe

skilled workers our nation faces, Benjamin Franklin has also partnered with celebrity Mike Rowe to help fund the Mike Rowe Works Foundation, supporting efforts to encourage people to pursue careers in the skilled trades, especially plumbing and heating and cooling technologies. With Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about the community, but also about you: your time, your security, and your choices. Although these plumbers emphasize their speed, efficiency, and punctuality, no quality is ever sacrificed in the process. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing guarantees that you will be absolutely satisfied with their installations and service-repair jobs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; if you are not, they will give you a full refund, and if a repair fails within two years, they will return to repair it again for free. Call 440.543.1151 to schedule an appointment, and ask about the veterans discount. Visit BenjaminFranklinPlumbingNEOhio.com for more information and to find coupons for a variety of services. When their technicians show up, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see why more than 98 percent of first-time customers return to Benjamin Franklin Plumbing for all their future plumbing needs.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing 12043 Mayfield Road, Chardon 440.543.1151 BenjaminFranklinPlumbingNEOhio.com

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

GARAGE FLOORING

Roll into the Best Room of Your Home By Dylan Yépez Photos Courtesy of Garage Finisher

garage is often the main entry to your home. It should be clean, organized and inviting to your family and guests. But the sad reality is that too often it has been reduced to a repository for all the junk you mistakenly think you might need later. You’re always going to clean it next weekend — but until that elusive time, the garage will remain an embarrassment every time you open the garage door. Well, that weekend has come. All you have to do is call Mario F.X. Salwan at

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Garage Finisher, and he’ll take care of the rest. Garage Finisher is a full-service garage-makeover provider that will be in and out faster than you can come up with another excuse not to makeover your garage. When Mario says “full service,” he means it. The professionals at Garage Finisher begin by removing everything from your garage, storing items you still want in a storage trailer and discarding or donating anything you don’t want. Then, they handle any work you choose including

Lifetime Warranty Flooring System, epoxy wall painting, attractive cabinets and PVC Slatwall System. When Garage Finisher is done, they remove everything from storage and organize it in your new cabinets and slatwall. And, they do all this in an average of three days. If, on the other hand, you want just to have your unsightly flooring redone, Garage Finisher still provides the exact same removal, storage and reorganization services for everything inside your garage and can do the floor in just one day. According to

Mario, you will “come home from work and not have to lift a finger.” Many mixtures of stone and epoxy used for garage flooring turn yellow over time, come apart and trap water and other contaminants because they are porous and use old-fashioned epoxy. Garage Finisher provides completely nonporous floors, preventing the absorption of anything into the surface. The difference is polyaspartic — a resin that’s four times as strong as epoxy and doesn’t peel, yellow, stain or degloss like epoxy does — and was created by Bayer Chemical. This is the same flooring that Garage Finisher uses in heavy traffic, commercial projects. This flooring comes in a variety of colors and textures and is also fastdrying, so you should be able to drive on it the day after it’s applied. Garage Finisher confidently offers a lifetime warranty on its work, which covers issues such as staining, cracking, hot-tire pick-up and delamination. When it comes to finishing your garage, flooring is only half the battle. Over time, garages go downhill: the paint peels, concrete floors spall and pit and junk builds up. Garage Finisher will complement the flooring with strong, durable slatwall which includes a variety of hooks and storage baskets, as well as metal or wood cabinets that have adjustable shelves for permanent organization. As with the flooring, the slatwall and cabinets come with lifetime warranties. You will be much happier when you arrive home each day, guests will be amazed by your clean garage, and your clean garage floor will make your house cleaner. Visit garagefinisher.com for more information about Garage Finisher, a gallery of its work, and a quick five minute video that details the makeover process. Call 216.831.4500 to schedule a free consultation, design and estimate for your new garage space.

Garage Finisher 216.831.4500 4530 Renaissance Parkway Cleveland, Ohio 44128 garagefinisher.com

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

ACCOUNTANTS

Begin Planning Now

for a Better Tax Outcome in 2018 by Mike Cabrerra photos Vincent Pearson Photography and courtesy Fine Lifestyles

teve Newman and Nick Fanous are not your stereotypical accountants. Far from being mere “bean counters,” Steve and Nick take a proactive, holistic approach to working with their clients throughout the year, not just at tax time. Their goal? To see their clients succeed and thrive.

With tax season in mind, this is a particularly good time for year-end planning. With a little more than two months remaining of 2017, there’s time to make financial adjustments in anticipation of a favorable result with respect to your 2017 tax return. The only way to do that is to start planning - so, come April 2018, there’ll be no surprises. “I ask clients, ‘What might the tax return look like for 2017?’” Nick Fanous explains. “What do we know about their year-to-

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

date taxable income in order to project what the tax results will be, and what can we do now to alter the result to be more favorable?” Nick and Steve Newman suggest there are a number of adjustments to change the tax outcome, including retirement plan contributions, charitable and private foundation donations, non-cash (clothing and household items) donations, purchasing equipment for your business, and working with clients’ financial

advisors to harvest capital losses to offset capital gains. “A tax projection can help individuals mitigate tax consequences,” Steve says. “Some clients might be concerned about the expense of that kind of guidance, however it oftentimes more than pays for itself. Preventive financial planning is similar to paying to have your roof inspected before having to repair big damage from a leak, for instance. Or providing the routine maintenance on your car. You wouldn’t avoid an oil change to save money.” While Newman & Company’s best clients allow them to optimize tax results

through planning, there are always clients who need to be rescued. Sometimes rescue comes in the form of managing the communication and action steps with tax agencies when a large obligation is due. Knowing that you owe money to the government or that you’re past due on filing your tax returns is a huge dark cloud hanging over your head. There might even be someone among your friends or family living with that burden. Newman & Company has established good working relationships with the IRS. The agents would much rather deal with a professional representative than the emotional taxpayer. An offer and compromise may be an available option. Without any judgment, Newman & Company helps to bring clients from despair into compliance. Once the accounts are settled and life resumes with some newfound sunshine, planning ahead feels like a way to regain control. As Steve says,“Nobody likes a surprise unless it’s a good one.” For

the clients of Newman & Company the advance preparation leaves little room for unpleasant surprises, like leaky roofs or a disabled car. Those clients enjoy peace of mind from the guidance of the accountants on their financial team. Newman & Company is located in the Ohio Savings Building at 1801 East 9th Street. Professional biographies and additional information about the firm may be found on their website at newmancpas. com. Schedule an appointment to start planning the best possible end-of-year strategy.

Newman & Company Ohio Savings Building 1801 East 9th Street 216.781.6106 newmancpas.com

Nick Fanous and Steve Newman Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

ELDER LAW

What Does An Elder Law Attorney Do, Anyway? by Mike Cabrerra photos by Aaron Leyser and White Sands Photography

“E

lder Law has as much to do with who I serve as the kinds of matters I handle,” explains Attorney Meg Pauken. She practices Elder Law at The Gertsburg Law Firm in Chagrin Falls, and frequently speaks on the topic. “Elder law includes nearly any issue that an older client might encounter, but I particularly focus on estate planning and asset-protection strategies for individuals and families who may be facing long-term care,” she says. Ms. Pauken has been a lawyer for over twenty-five years, and her practice has evolved over that time to focus on elder law, estate planning, and special needs planning. As our population ages, it is a skill set that is in high demand. Approximately 10,000 people will turn 65 every single day through 2029, which is a substantial number of individuals contemplating retirement, and planning for long-term care needs. Ms. Pauken often receives calls from adult children who are grappling with the diminished capabilities of their parents. It may have begun gradually, with shortterm memory loss, or perhaps worsening vision and reaction-time. Driving skills might have declined. Parents might have forgotten to pay bills, or fallen prey to financial scams. “Adult children call me because they want to know what they can do to care for their parents. The kids are worried about their parents’ safety, their health, and how to pay for it,” Meg says. “It is a very stressful time for a family. I reassure them, and advise them about their options: perhaps making use of powers of attorney, setting up a conservatorship, or even a guardianship. The best option often depends on where the various family members are located, and what specific health issues may be involved.”

Meg Pauken, Esq.

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

How to pay for care is another issue that frequently arises, not surprisingly. The statistics are sobering. Currently only about 3% of nursing home costs are being paid for by long-term care insurance. The

rest is generally either paid for privately, by spending personal funds, or by Medicaid. And the cost is daunting. The median annual rate for skilled nursing care in Ohio, for a private room, was nearly $86,000 according to 2015 statistics from Genworth. With an average stay of over three years, a family’s entire savings could be wiped out quickly. And costs continue to increase. What can be done? Attorney Pauken suggests planning early. “When clients come to see me at the first inkling that potential health problems are on the horizon, there is a significant

amount of planning that can be done to both preserve wealth and to arrange for decision-making and care-giving,” she says. “The best time to do this planning is while seniors still have the capacity to make their own decisions about how they will be cared for, and by whom.” Even when a health crisis has already occurred, there is still time for planning. The options and strategies are different, but many are still available. “I often get calls from one spouse after the other has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or has fallen seriously ill. They are anxious and don’t know what to do. I help them assess the situation

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

and explain the possible options for preserving their assets and applying for Medicaid coverage, so that they can make informed decisions.” Ms. Pauken takes a personalized approach with her clients. “Every individual, every family, and every situation is unique,” she says. “The first thing I ask every client when we meet is, ‘What are you most worried about? What is most important to you?’ My clients still surprise me sometimes, even after all of my years in practice.” Meg says that her business comes mostly from personal referrals. “I really enjoy my work, and I think that comes across in how I interact with my clients. I take great care to educate my clients about all of their options, the pros and cons of each, and then to help them make the best decision.” In addition to elder law, Ms. Pauken does estate planning and special needs planning. This involves the wills and trusts that most people are aware of, but also charitable giving and planning for families who may have a sibling or child

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

with special needs. Ms. Pauken also helps families with children who have learning differences to navigate the process of obtaining supports and accommodations in the public-school setting. Meg joined The Gertsburg Law Firm in July 2017. “It has been a great fit,” she says. “Everyone here shares a clientsfirst, problem-solving work ethic. We have a broad range of expertise and can efficiently and effectively handle most types of cases.” Reach out to Meg with your elder law or other legal questions at 440.571.7542. The Gertsburg Law Firm has offices in Chagrin Falls and downtown Cleveland. More information is available on the firm’s website: gertsburglaw.com.

Meg Pauken, Esq. The Gertsburg Law Firm 100 N. Main St., Suite 300 Chagrin Falls 440.571.7542 mp@gertsburglaw.com gertsburglaw.com

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