TGIF Westsiders! On this balmy Friday in January we are buzzing about making it through the 10 darkest weeks of the year!

On today's newsletter:

• 💎 A hidden gem in Lakewood

• 🙏 Avon Blessing Box renovated

• 🥟 Cleveland Pierogi Week + Trivia

Let’s get to it, Westsiders!

Cheers,

—The Briggses

🥙 Foodie Friday

Gaga for Baba (💎Hidden Gem Alert💎)

Have you ever driven past a new restaurant a million times before finally deciding to stop in? That’s how we felt last night about The Baba Chef food truck in Lakewood.

Why did we wait so long???

The Baba Chef, Salem, had a radiating and positive energy. He greeted us with an ear-to-ear smile and had the nicest beard I’ve ever seen (super jealous as I am face bald). We discovered that he served as the head chef at Al Pita Mediterranean for five years before Taza acquired it. After tasting the food, it all made sense.

Jodie got the Chicken Shawarma, I got the Crispy Gyro, and the flavors absolutely knocked our socks off. The sandwiches are securely handheld and perfect for dipping in the spicy garlic or cool Tzatziki sauce. We can’t wait to go back and try the Philly Cheesesteak.

He put everything he has into Baba Chef and is exactly the type of local business you feel good supporting. Salem said business was great until Winter hit.

Get out there and support a Westside entrepreneur!

• Check out his 👉 Uber Eats

• Scroll the 👉 Google Reviews

Community Blend

Avon Blessing Box Revamped

When life knocked Renee Collins down, she got back up and built something beautiful. After losing her husband to a rare brain disease and struggling to make ends meet while raising two daughters, she made a promise: if she were ever in a better position, she’d help others in the same situation.

With the support of her now-husband and friend Joe Pullin, she made good on that promise—creating Blessing Boxes, community food pantries that provide free food and hygiene products to those in need, no questions asked.

Since 2017, Renee and her team have installed these boxes across businesses and city properties at no cost, relying on community donations to keep them stocked. In 2024 alone, they’ve collected 100 pounds of food and 20 pounds of essentials, proving that small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect.

The Blessing Box at the Avon Fire Station had seen better days, so Avon resident Jerry Galant rolled up his sleeves and completely redid it. It’s now much bigger and decked out with Eagles pride.

How can you get involved?

• Drop off nonperishable food at Blessing Box locations

• Purchase items off their 👉 Amazon Wishlist

• Donate funds via PayPal

• Volunteer to transport food and inspect boxes

🧠 TRIVIA

We started posting trivia questions last fall and one Buzzer stands out above all the rest.

JKWL*** is the only Buzzer out of hundreds of you to have answered 3 out of 4 trivia questions correctly.

So from now on, we will be keeping a trivia leaderboard! The top trivia masters each month will get a super secret prize from us.

Let the games begin!

@TheWestsideBuzz

If you aren’t following us on Instagram…what are you doing? Go follow us now! 👉 @TheWestsideBuzz 

Westside photographer, Dave Waldeck captured this stunning sunset on his Sony camera this week. Check out his work here 👉 DaveWaldeck.com

Business News

Bearden’s Buys Buca | Westlake

Owners of Beardens in Rocky River have purchased the former Buca Di Beppo in Westlake and are having a buy-everything-off-the-wall sale. If you want your dining room to look like a Buca there will be over 1,000 items available for purchase. February 1st | 11AM-3PM

Plans for the property remain a secret. 🤫

Featured Weekend Event

Cleveland Pierogi Week

Cleveland Pierogi Week is a celebration of the Polish delicacy served in unique and delicious ways all across our city. Participating locations will have specials on their Polish Dumplings that will have your mouth watering.

The following Westside restaurants are participating in Cleveland Scene’s Pierogi Week:

• Quinn's Kitchen and Bar | Bay Village

• Old River Tap and Social | Rocky River

• West End Tavern | Lakewood

• Around the Corner Saloon | Lakewood

• Old River Tap and Social | Rocky River

• Immigrant Son Brewing | Lakewood

• Gunselmen’s Tavern | Fairview Park

• West Park Station | West Park

• The Aviator Pub | Cleveland

• All Saints Public House | Gordon Square

• Terrestrial | Gordon Square

• Jukebox | W. 25th

• Market Garden | W. 25th

• Tony K’s | Berea

• Schnitz Ale Brewing | Parma

• Perla Pierogis | Parma

• Das Schnitzel House | Parma

Weekend Events (1/31 - 2/2)

FRIDAY

Josh Johnson: The Flowers Tour @ Playhouse Square

Friday, 1/31. 7 PM & 10 PM

📍 1501 Euclid Ave #200, Cleveland

Tipsy Turvy: Drinking Game Improv Show @ Imposters Theatre

Friday, 1/31. 9:30 PM - 11 PM

📍 4828 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland

SATURDAY

Cleveland Bazaar Valentine @ 78th Street Studios

Saturday, 2/1. 10 AM - 6 PM

📍 1300 W. 78th Street, Cleveland

Pickle Party @ Brick and Barrel

Saturday, 2/1. 4 PM - 10 PM

📍 1844 Columbus Rd, Cleveland

Paint & Sip Candy Hearts @ John Christ Winery

Saturday, 2/1. 3 PM

📍 32421 Walker Rd, Avon Lake

Strongsville craft show @ Strongsville Rec Center

Saturday, 2/1. 9 AM - 2 PM

📍 18100 Royalton Road, Strongsville

Heart Shaped Clay Bowl Candle Making @ Danilly Designs

Saturday, 2/1. 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

📍 402 W Bagley Rd, Berea

SUNDAY

Cake Decorating Workshop @ Wyne Tasting Bar

Sunday, 2/2. 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

📍 6800 Detroit Avenue Cleveland

Berea Indoor Flea Market @ Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds

2/1 Saturday, 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM

2/2 Sunday, 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

📍 19201 East Bagley Road Middleburg Heights

The Great Big Home & Garden Show @ I-X Center

1/30 - 2/9, link for event schedule

📍 1 I-X Center Drive, Cleveland

Galentine’s Brunch @ John Christ Winery

Sunday, 2/2. 10:00 AM

📍 32421 Walker Rd, Avon Lake

James Bond Brunch with Dave Banks Big Band @ Musicbox

Sunday, 2/2. 12:00 PM

📍 1148 Main Avenue, Cleveland

🎷 Live Entertainment

Friday, January 31st

Tom Todd | John Crist Winery 7 PM

Mossy Moran | Gormley’s Pub 8 PM

Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers | Musicbox CH 8 PM

Luther Vandross Tribute | Musicbox SC 7:30 PM

Kerry King | House of Blues 6 PM

Cleveland Monsters vs. Providence Bruins | RoMoFiHo 7 PM

Tomorrows Ghosts | The Winchester 8 PM

Wide Awake: The U2 Experience | Mercury Music Lounge 8 PM

Brian Panke Trio | West Park Station 9 PM

Mr Breeze Band: Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute | Backstage Bar 8 PM

Nathan Henry | Railroad Brewing | 6 PM

16 Strings | Grindstone Taphouse 8 PM

Saturday, February 1st

Steamroller: James Taylor Tribute | Musicbox SC 7:30 PM

Cleveland Monsters vs. Providence Bruins | RoMoFiHo 7 PM

Saved by the 90s | House of Blues 8 PM

Monica Robins & The Ninja Cowboys | Backstage Bar 8:30 PM

Disco Inferno | Local Bar North Olmsted 8:30 PM

Sunday, February 2nd

Stephen Kellogg | Musicbox SC 7 PM

Gormley’s Pub | Irish Trad Music Session 5 PM

Eastwind | Grindstone Taphouse 5 PM

Weather

Friday

42 🌡️ 24 | 🌧️ | 80% | 💨 SW 7-16 mph

Saturday

30 🌡️ 23 | ☁️ | 10% | 💨 NE 9-11 mph

Sunday

47 🌡️ 37 | ☁️ | 20% | 💨 S 10-14 mph

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

^{Weather courtesy of the National Weather Service}

☝️We work hard to deliver you the best of the Westside. Please let us know what you think!☝️

If you could share it with one Westsider, it would mean the world to us.

Have a great weekend,

—The Briggses