Together With

What’s up, Westsiders? I hope you had a great St. Patrick’s Day! March Madness is one of my favorite events of the entire year. If your boss catches you watching the games at work, just tell them Tony at The Westside Buzz said it was cool.

Today we’re buzzing on:

• 🦮 Inaugural Mutt Madness

• 🍳 The best thing I’ve eaten this year.

• 🍨 Mitchell’s in River is baaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Plus, Spring is here and it’s time to get out of the house. We’ve got 53 things you can do this weekend!

Let’s go,

—The Briggses

SPONSORED BY DR. RONALD KOLODZIEJ

Start Your Year Off with the Smile You've Always Dreamed Of 😁 

Have you been thinking about improving your smile? Is it tough to figure out where to take your kids to get braces? Smiles are a big deal, so finding a doctor you can trust to get the job done is important.

The Westside Buzz is thrilled to partner with Dr. Ronald Kolodziej, Board-Certified Orthodontist.

For over 25 years, he's been creating amazing smiles at his Lakewood office, and his team of experienced staff are great at making sure patients are comfortable throughout their treatment.

Here are some of the things that patients like about Dr. Ron: he’s committed to educating his patients. There’s no rushing, no pressure, just honest conversations about what's best for the patient. And guess what? Most routine consultations won't cost you a penny. How refreshing is that?

Ready to invest in your smile? Dr. Ron uses modern technology and offers treatment with:

• Traditional Braces

• Cosmetic (Ceramic) Braces

• Transparent Aligners

Why not take that first step? Trust me—your future self will thank you for it!

Give Dr. Ron's office a call today for your complimentary consultation 👉 (216) 529-8422

Learn more by checking out Dr. Ron’s Website 

🥞 BRUNCH REVIEW

Heart of Gold has the best sandwich I’ve ever eaten | Lorain & 41st

I’ve found my new obsession; It’s anything on the menu at Heart of Gold. Located a stone's throw away from West 25th Street, it is a super cool spot with tall ceilings and funky fun art on the wall. Their service is no frills but the food is out of this world good. You order food and drinks at the server stand and the coffee is self-service.

Here is why I’m confident it’s worth a drive from anywhere on the westside:

1.  The Chicken and Waffle Sandwich is the best sandwich I have ever eaten (no 🧢). Jodie was getting second-hand embarrassment from the noises I made. The waffles are made fresh and would be perfect by themselves. The hot honey and the sage aioli are the perfect complements to the crispy juicy piece of chicken.

2.  Great drink selection. We had a touch of the Irish flu from St. Patrick’s Day weekend festivities so we felt it necessary to try every drink on the menu. Having spent a semester abroad in Cologne Germany, I automatically order the Reissdorf Kolsch anytime I see it on the menu. Also, is there anything better looking than a canned Gatorade? It hits different out of a can.

3.  Immaculate vibes. When someone says "a spot on Lorain Avenue," I usually picture those cozy, dark, old-school Cleveland places we all love. But Heart of Gold offers a surprise. You walk in to find a cool divey bar on one side, then turn to discover this gorgeous, airy dining room with high ceilings and exposed brick that somehow still feels warm and welcoming

Trust me, Heart of Gold isn't just serving brunch food. They're delivering the kind of Sunday morning experience that'll have you texting your friends under the table saying "We're coming back next weekend" before you've even finished that last bite of waffle sandwich!

MUTT MADNESS

Thank you to all 64 members of Buzz Nation who entered their pup into the inaugural Mutt Madness competition!

Click the link below and vote on which pup you think is the best boy or girl.

^{I built the voting website from scratch and I have zero web skills. We tested it and it works, but if you are finding issues just email [email protected]}

COMMUNITY BLEND

Marijuana tax revenue might not come back to Lakewood and Cleveland like Issue 2 promised | State of Ohio

It looks like the State of Ohio may bamboozle cities with dispensaries like Lakewood. After over 80% of Lakewood voters supported legalization, with the clear understanding that their community would receive a share of tax revenue to manage costs, Governor DeWine and state lawmakers are now attempting to pocket the $10.9 million promised to cities like Lakewood and Cleveland. They're either wanting to double the tax rate to 20% with no guaranteed municipal share, or keep it at 10% but slash our portion from 36% to just 20%. What is really upsetting is changing the rules after the game has started!

📰 WESTSIDE POUR OVER

What’s Brewing?

🍏 Crocker Park: The reimagined Crocker Park Apple store opens its doors this Saturday at 10 AM, featuring an expanded space with modern design elements and improved accessibility options for everyone. Check out the new Apple Pickup station or chat with a Genius at their thoughtfully designed counters, this refreshed location promises to deliver the sleek, innovative shopping experience that makes Apple stores feel like a tech playground for grown-ups!

🍦 Rocky River: Driving through Rocky River, two things jump out at you 1. The Starbucks location makes zero sense. 2. Mitchell’s is the official hangout of kids, teens, and adults alike. Fret no more because, after two months, the local Ice Cream parlor is back open for the season! Stop in for a scoop. Unfortunately, it looks like they got rid of the train 🥺

🧗 Lakewood: Good news, climbers! While saying goodbye to their beloved church location (construction dust is just too much of a beast to contain), Nostros is opening an exciting new Screw Factory gym with some great routes. The grand opening is set to open before April 1st!

🧠 TRIVIA

Introducing: The Buzz Strip

We’re thrilled to bring Jodie’s favorite part of the newspaper to The Westside Buzz with our new comic section, The Buzz Strip! Kicking things off, we’re featuring the incredibly talented Patrick Geyser.

We’ll have a full introduction next week, but in the meantime, enjoy this week’s comic! For more of Patrick’s work, check out GeyserArt.com and follow him on Instagram: @GeyserArt.

Weekend Buzz

🎷 Live Entertainment

Friday

Doors Tribute by Peace Frog | Music Box CH, Flats 7:30 PM

Sinatra Night with Patrick Lynch & The Jazz Guys | Music Box SC, Flats 7:30 PM

Abstract Sounds | The Bop Stop, Cleveland 8 PM

Pat Shepard | Gormley’s, Rocky River 8 PM

Backstreet Blues | Backstage Bar, Westpark 8:30 PM

The Nocturnal Tour | Mercury Music Lounge, Lakewood 7 PM

& Juliet | Connor Palace, Playhouse 7:30 PM

Aziz Ansari | Keybank State Theatre, Playhouse 7 PM

Twelfth Night | Hanna Theatre, Playhouse 7:30 PM

Bridge the Gap | House of Blues, Cleveland 9 PM

The Powerful Pills – 10th Anniversary Show | The Winchester, Lakewood 7 PM

Disco Inferno | Time Warp Bar, Westlake 9 PM

NCAA MARCH MADNESS | Rocket Arena, Downtown 12 PM

Saturday

Grateful Dead Brunch W/ Into The Blue | The Winchester, Lakewood 1 PM

Gladys Knight Tribute by The Reid Project | Music Box SC, Flats 7 PM

Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute by Let’s Groove Tonight | Music Box CH, Flats 7:30 PM

Jackie Warren's Birthday Bash | The Bop Stop, Cleveland 8 PM

Mike Kovach | Gormley’s, Rocky River 8 PM

Cougar City Band | Backstage Bar, Westpark 9 PM

OHIO RISING STARS ROCK OFF | Mercury Music Lounge, Lakewood 6 PM

& Juliet | Connor Palace, Playhouse 1:30 & 7:30 PM

Twelfth Night | Hanna Theatre, Playhouse 1:30 & 7:30 PM

Ryan Sowers | House of Blues, Cleveland 9 PM

Dark Wave Dance Cave | The Winchester, Lakewood 9 PM

Tricky Dick & the Cover-Ups | Time Warp Bar, Westlake 9 PM

Sunday

Taylor Swift Tribute Brunch with The Ladies Night Band | Music Box CH, Flats 12 PM

Drag Brunch | Music Box SC, Flats 12 PM

Irish Trad Music Session | Gormley’s, Rocky River 5 PM

& Juliet | Connor Palace, Playhouse 1 & 6:30 PM

The Shamrock Tenors | Keybank State Theatre, Playhouse 7 PM

Yacht Rock Brunch | Mercury Music Lounge, Lakewood 11 AM

BOOZY BRUNCH (ANDERSON PAAK) | The Winchester, Lakewood 11 AM

NCAA MARCH MADNESS | Rocket Arena, Downtown 12 PM

Weather

Friday

52 🌡️ 37 | 🌤 | 30% | 💨 SW 14-16 mph

Saturday

42 🌡️ 28 | 🌧 | 40% | 💨 SW 16-18 mph

Sunday

51 🌡️ 41 | 🌤🌧 | 80% | 💨 SE 8-14 mph

Monday

47 🌡️ 37 | 🌧 | 40% | 💨 SW 14-18 mph

💧^{🌡️ Water temperature = 33ºF Waves omitted due to the lake being mostly ice-covered.}

^{Weather courtesy of the National Weather Service}

Who are you rooting for in March Madness?

Have a great weekend,

—The Briggses