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☕ Hidden BBQ Gem Worth the Smoke
North Ridgeville’s Scavenger Hunt Surprise | Your Weekend Starts With The Buzz
Happy (early) Father’s Day to all the Westside Dads out there! Welcome to The Westside Buzz.
Think of us as the newsletter version of summer hours—something you look forward to, and feel a heck of a lot better after reading.
Here’s what we’re buzzing about this weekend:
🍗 A Strongsville hidden gem
🌕 What’s a Strawberry moon, anyway?
🎫 A ton of Westside Father’s Day Weekend events
Let’s make it a great day,
—The Briggses

Alison’s Super Q: Worth the wait | Strongsville

This place is the epitome of a hidden gem. No website. No internet presence. You’re lucky if someone even picks up the phone because they’re too busy serving up smoked magic to bother. And trust me, once you taste it, you’ll be glad they’re focused on the food, not the hashtags.
I made the rookie mistake of asking for a menu. The man inside the truck raised an eyebrow and gave me the classic “You must be new here” look. He pointed to a whiteboard and said, “It changes daily.” That’s when I knew—I was in for something real. No frills, no filler, just whatever’s fresh, smoking, and sizzling that day.
Not only is Alison’s Super Q tasty, but it is unreasonably affordable. It makes you feel like you are doing something wrong. Like ringing up regular celery at self-checkout when you know you grabbed the organic.
Now let’s talk turkey. The smoked chicken platter? A mountain of tender meat, gooey mac and cheese, and the kind of cornbread that crumbles just enough to make you close your eyes—all for $12.95. The ribs? Fall-off-the-bone, glazed in tangy housemade sauce, and deeply satisfying. A full rack will run you $19.95, but the flavor hits like it should cost double.
If you are driving on 82 near Webster Road, and you see a line forming, do yourself a favor and safely or abruptly stop to pull off and check this place out. Alison’s Super Q is the kind of spot you tell your friends about like a secret you’re almost reluctant to share.
FEEDBACK
Recently, we ran a poll asking Buzz Nation if you would ever consider moving back to Downtown Cleveland. The poll results were extremely interesting.

Results of the poll, “Would you ever consider moving back to Cleveland City?”
About 65% of respondents said that they would potentially move back Downtown at some point. I think most Clevelanders have daydreamed about moving back to the heart of it all, close to the action.
Here is some of the intriguing feedback we received.

Has anyone heard any news about downtown housing geared toward those 55 and up?

We love Rocky River because we can get downtown in 13 minutes

I need to hear about your first Cleveland Winter experience. Welcome!

And yes, taxes were a hot topic for many of you.
Thank you all for participating in the polls! We appreciate the feedback and read every single one of them. It’s what makes The Westside Buzz so fun for us.
EXPLORE
Discover this westside city and win prizes | North Ridgeville
The Heart and Sole Community Scavenger Hunt is transforming North Ridgeville into a treasure map through June 28th, with teams of 2-5 explorers solving clues that lead to local businesses, hidden trails, and gems you never knew existed.
Heart & Sole's clever creation blends community connection with wellness, turning everyday locations into discovery destinations where participants uncover magic hiding in plain sight. With $400 in local gift certificates for grand prize winners and registration still open, this is your invitation to fall in love with your city all over again. Gather your crew, register now, and discover North Ridgeville's greatest adventure.
NEW BUSINESS
The Lock Lounge: Where Luxury Meets Light | Lakewood

Nestled in the heart of Lakewood, Ohio, The Lock Lounge is the vibrant next chapter in Ashlin Bacik’s dream to blend warmth with sophistication. What began in 2018 as The Lock Loft has evolved into a haven for modern beauty, where each snip and shade is a carefully crafted expression.
Now just down the street from its original home, The Lock Lounge at 18255 Detroit Ave welcomes guests into an atmosphere of effortless elegance, where every detail is designed to elevate the salon experience into something truly memorable.
Step inside and you're transported to what feels like a curated retreat in a chic downtown apartment bathed in golden natural light. The space unfolds with generous openness, plush seating, and thoughtful touches, such as artisanal snacks and beverages, inviting you to relax while their experts work their magic.
The Lock Lounge is more than a place to get your hair done. It’s where transformations happen, wrapped in the feeling of luxury that’s never out of reach.
WESTSIDE POUR OVER
What else is brewing?
🍎 Westlake: After 49 years in the same elementary classroom, Debbie Cinchar is finally hanging up her safety scissors and Elmer’s glue. Congratulations on inspiring countless Westsiders, including 19 students from families where she taught both parent and child! (Cleveland.com)
🏫 Lakewood: From its humble beginnings as a four-room schoolhouse in 1907 to its final chapter as Franklin School of Opportunity, this century-old educational cornerstone will close its doors for good as the district prepares to auction the building on June 23rd. (Lakewood Observer)
📸 @THEWESTSIDEBUZZ
The Strawberry Moon we witnessed on Wednesday night is special for two reasons:
June’s full moon marks the start of Summer and coincides with the beginning of the strawberry harvest.
The lunistice, or major lunar standstill, is the lowest that a full moon will hang in the sky until the year 2043. (Insert your own joke here about things hanging lower with age...)

🧠 TRIVIA
Following up from last Friday, the correct answer was 30 minutes. As in how long it took Brewnuts to sell out on their first National Donut Day when they were a wee pop-up in Tremont. Oh, how far they have come!
Congrats to ntb*****@msn.com on being randomly chosen as the winner! We have contacted you via email so you can receive your Brewnuts Prize.
Today is Friday the 13th so here is some spooky trivia. One of Cleveland's most haunted landmarks, Franklin Castle, was built in the 1880s by Hannes Tiedemann. He experienced many tragedies in the Victorian estate, where he saw everyone he loved die.Ownership of the house changed hands several times since Tiedemann, including to Michael DeVinko. Who was DeVinko most notably married to? |
The Buzz Strip

For more of Patrick’s work, check out GeyserArt.com and follow him on Instagram: @GeyserArt.
WHAT’S HAPPENING, WESTSIDERS?
Featured Event

The Taste of River isn't just a food festival—it's the culinary event of the summer where acclaimed kitchens like Gather, Artis, and Char bring their signature flavors directly to your taste buds.
With live music going, and plenty of activities for the kids, families will feast on lip-smacking bites and refreshing drinks while discovering why over 6,000 Westsiders made this their can't-miss event last year.
Want to feature an event with a custom poster in front of 16,750 Westsiders? Let’s talk! hello (at) thewestsidebuzz.com
👨👩👧👦=Family Friendly
Friday, June 13th |
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👨👩👧👦 Lakewood Front Porch Concert Series Chloe & the Steel Strings is a husband and wife duo who will be bringing their cosmic Americana to the stage. |
Walkabout Tremont |
Bier & Brats |
Roast Battle Cleveland |
What’s Your Aura? Aura Photos & Readings |
Saturday, June 14th |
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All-Levels Patio Pilates |
👨👩👧👦 Goldens for Good Meet Up |
👨👩👧👦 The Hooley on Kamm’s Corners 2025 |
Sora Sushi School |
Rose Petals and Prosecco |
SNL 50 Exhibit |
Another Cleveland Sausage Festival |
Sunday, June 15th |
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Yoga on the Patio |
Summer Yoga on the Lake with Yoga Sweetness |
👨👩👧👦 Fathers Day Cornhole Tournament |
👨👩👧👦 Tabletop Game Day |
👨👩👧👦 Lakewood Community Market: Fathers Day Market |
👨👩👧👦 Westlake's Summer Concerts in the Park: The Heat |
🎷 Live Entertainment
Friday
JET NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2025 with Band Of Skulls | House of Blues, Cleveland 7 PM
Halsey: For My Last Trick | Blossom, Cuyahoga Falls 7 PM
Bruce in the USA | Music Box CH, Flats 7:30 PM
Pete Francis of Dispatch & C-Level single release party | The Winchester, Lakewood 8 PM
Santigold | Globe Iron, Flats 8 PM
Sammy Deleon y su Orquesta | The Bop Stop, Cleveland 8 PM
Flatliners | Backstage Bar, West Park 8:30 PM
Grunge DNA | Time Warp Bar, Westlake 9 PM
Live & Local Music featuring Erin Nicole Neal & The Chill Factors | House of Blues, Cleveland 9 PM
Gas Station Lullabies x Rylee Bapst Band x Jaime Berland | Coda, Tremont 9 PM
Saturday
GOYA & BRONCO | The Winchester, Lakewood 7 PM
AH Events Presents: A Tribute to the Music of Roy Ayers | The Bop Stop, Cleveland 8 PM
Megan Moroney | Jacob’s Pavilion, Flats 8 PM
Colin Dussault’s Blues Project | Backstage Bar, West Park 8:30 PM
Live & Local Music featuring Dan Pyne | House of Blues, Cleveland 9 PM
Tarp | Time Warp Bar, Westlake 9 PM
DJ After Hours | Coda, Tremont 10 PM
Sunday
Elvis Brunch with Johnny Elvis & The Crown Electrics | Music Box SC, Flats 12 PM
Father’s Day Beatles Brunch with The Sunrise Jones | Music Box CH, Flats 12 PM
Reggae Sundays: The Tom Batchelor Band | Music Box SC, Flats 12 PM
SEX N' THE CITY A (super unauthorized) Musical Parody | Hanna Theatre, Playhouse 7 PM
Weather
Friday
75 🌡️ 63 | 🌦 | 50% | 💨 NE 7-9 mph 🌊 2 to 4 feet
Saturday
73 🌡️ 64 | ⛈ | 60% | 💨 NE 7-11 mph 🌊 1 to 3 feet
Sunday
75 🌡️ 64 | ⛈ | 40% | 💨 NE 7 mph
Monday
76 🌡️ 64 | 🌦 | 30% | 💨 NE 7 mph
💧🌡️ Water temperature = 62ºF
That’s it for today, Westsiders.
Have a great weekend,
—The Briggses
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