"The Colony" A great place but not for desserts

In a recent articled entitled "The Secret's Out" by Elaine T. Cicora, the illegitimacy of The Cleveland Scene Magazine Restaurant Review is captured. Cicora attempts to review a favorite restaurant of mine that my family and dear friends have frequented for a myriad of years, Brennan's Colony of Cleveland Heights. Because I know this place so well her piece was truly painful to read because she doesn't have the slightest idea about the menu, ambiance or egular patrons that occupy the establishment.

Elaine takes the reader through a tiring exploration of the menus exotic delicious dishes with examples of the ahi tuna salad and polenta. She writes, "During our visits, for instance, the holy trinity of asparagus, artichoke hearts, and spinach was almost ubiquitous." Within the first paragraph of her I lost interest but was determined to finish being very curious at the overall inaccuracy of her creation. I wrote a letter to the editor stating that her column was way off. She concludes her article by proclaiming the only thing missing from the Colony is a good dessert menu. I was so dumbfounded by this suggestion that I almost laughed out loud while reading at work.

I enlightened her that this place has never been about dessert nor will it ever be. I explained that the Colony has grown in popularity over the years from the local east side families, professionals, college and high school students spreading the word about their delicious, unofficial award winning, deep fried buffalo wings (hot, blended, mild). At Brennan's the masses gather to watch their favorite team and catch up over a few frostys, cocktails and wings while enjoying the simpler things in life. It's not a place that witnesses substantial chatter about the orchestra, civic issues or the latest exhibits added to William Busta's art gallery. At large the topics covered in her article, namely a lot of frou frou dishes certainly aren't the foundations of the Colony nor represent that true tradition of it. Her perceptions of the restaurant are clearly mistaken. Over time the chefs versatility certainly has increased with the addition of more alternative dishes to the menu. These same plates solely cater to the parents and grandparents tastes (and errr cholesterol levels) who foot the bill on their kid's dinner over Thanksgiving or Christmas break, having to watch their loved ones rip away at 15-20 blended wings with fries downed by a medley of 3-4 Bud Lights and sometimes more depending on the duration of the meal, stories told, grandmother wanting another glass, etc.

Elaine's article is an aberration to the community and Colony loyalists. She is trying to compare the Colony with hip restaurants in the Tremont or Little Italy area. It's menu isn't meant to compete with a Michelangelo or Paralax and that's what she's intending for it by "letting out the secret." I miss this place dearly and can't wait to be back.

Seriously?

So, I guess he's had this forever and I only recently figured it out. Get rid of it. A buddy of mine from the city of the #1 seeded Eastern conference team told me, "Hey Daniel, the 3rd grade called, they want the star on the back of your head back." Agreed. Not to beat a guy while he's down, impossible not to love the guy if you're from C-town and have witnessed his heroics, but the thing's got to go.

Amazingly, the Celtics are getting the most points of the series in their Game 6 vs. Cleveland (-2.5 to 3 points), even with the "star" on the shelf. Good luck Cavs, you may need some tonight.

KG is a Real Badass When It Matters None - Probably Went to St. Ed's

Kevin Garnett is great at screaming and yelling and pounding his chest when his team is winning by 8-15 points and he is at home. That is really admirable but it is not worth a damn until he can come up in a legitimate situation where a chest pouding is warranted. It is great that he has his own gatorade commercial (which i have noticed is basically not running anymore on the airwaves) but his one contribution to this series, win or lose, will be his incredible poise and stature as he got the basketball slammed through the hoop into his face as LeBron dunked on his sorry a**. What a badass!!!!!! Does not matter what happens from here on out in his career. He is marked and less hard than Axle Foley from than Wayne Brady trying to act goofy for a Major League sequel movie.

Of flaming swords and the scream team: Why I cannot get with the Q

I grew up making the trek down 271 to Richfield Coliseum. I miss those days. While everyone hoped for an arena downtown, I tried to hold on to tradition and routine. In the last decade or so the NBA has plummeted dangerously close to becoming categorized as "sports entertainment" - on a par with professional wrestling. The experience at the "Q" is quite the abomination and takes these extracurriculars to the extreme. Dan Gilbert has taken every original gimmick from 29 other NBA arenas and incorporated them into a 2.5 hour assault on your senses at the corner of Huron and Ontario. The basketball has become secondary (and considering our current offense, perhaps that is a good thing.) Make no mistake, those Cavs teams of the Coliseum would wipe the floor with this current Cavaliers team and any other team in the Eastern Conference over the past 8 years (this includes Detroit). That experience was about basketball first and entertainment second and not coincidentally, those crowds at the old coliseum were much more rowdy and effective. One recent NBA correspondent called the crowd at the Q the worst of the remaining playoff teams and that list includes the capital of transients and trailer parks - Orlando.

It was refreshing to hear David Stern come out yesterday and articulate his disapproval of all the pyrotechnics and entertainment extracurriculars which NBA Arenas assault you with. Now we have people courtside wearing designer jeans and blazers. Give me Eddie Nara. He is Cleveland fan. Let's not try to pretend we are Dallas or LA or Miami. I do not need rap music pumped in over the speakers of every possession. All we need is a little "Mony, Mony" or "Blitzkrieg Bop" at the timeouts. Attending a game at the Q is like 2.5 hour used car commercial - graphics flying at you and swirling around coming from five different scoreboards while some man yells at you over a microphone and commands you to do something. The flaming swords, the scream team, the cub cadet tractor seats, the scoreboards which run along the rings of the arena, the fatheads, parachuting coupons from the rafters, dancing toddlers, and music during possessions can all be done away with. It would make the crowd actually focus and respond to what is happening on the court and may actually make them louder. I listen to Michael Stanley's "Tonight's the Night" on my ipod before each game to remind myself of the day back when I had season tickets and went to each and every home game. It is not the same anymore and I think we need to reclaim the values which made those days so enjoyable for everyone as opposed to the superficial atmosphere which exists at the Q. I went to one game this year and told myself I would not go back. I had enough. You can find me in the bleachers across the street.

Tentative not BANDWAGON Cavs Fan.

I truly couldn't look at the previous two post self inflicted posts.... errr writing attempts and have decided to freshen up the homepage a little. I will give Miles (Rath) the hall pass since it's his birthday (Have a good one Porth, slam some Nati Lights and blended wings for me friend) but his self-proclaimed revisit to the comestronger community can't be endured any longer. I find myself in a very fragile state hours before the highly anticipated Game 2 of tonight's Cavs/ Celts series. I am a firm believer in contributing to a blog if you visit it, but won't question Stadium Mustard's and Johny's motives at the current time.

Not living in Cleveland during Cavaliers post season play has it pros and cons. For one it sucks to not be surrounded by your brethren where a majority of wine and gold fans will rule the masses. It's great going to Panini's, McSalt's or the Lonelial and know seeing a Boston/ Wizard fan won't be an option and if it does occurs he or she will forcibly be removed from the bar after the game soaked with beer regardless of a win or loss, peppered with senseless chants. Not living in Cleveland has its pitfalls because you have to face the Chowder Nation. A small caveat, the Wizards series was a breath of fresh air compared to game 1 thus far, but there will still a number of people claiming to be from DC during Lebron's conquering of them. One of the things I have struggled with this post season against the Wizards/ Celtics is where to watch the game. San Francisco is a very transient city and a huge chunk of it's citizens are Boston sports fans for worse. Frequently one will see a couple wearing matching brand new Red Sox or Celtics hats and it's truly disgusting. The perpetrator gets frustrated and overwhelmed on the spot because being a Boston fan is such a broad statement due to their questionable, always changing fan base. These "True Boston Fans" show no consistency across the board in their hometown and secondly, their allegiance can span a number of options.

The least possible of which is A) They are truly from Boston and are simply backing their home town team which is legit. B) They are somewhere from the "East Coast" and have a right to back the success of the dynastic Red Sox and Patriots while recently jumping onto the arrival of the popular Celtics. The east coast consists of 12 or so states leaving a lot of wiggle room where you are "truly" from. C) Their family vacationed once or twice on the Cape so they feel endeared to the Boston community forever. D) He or she grew up in Greenwich, CT and have the right to root for the Celtics because Boston is right up the coast and the Knicks suck. I apologize for the roundabout way in making my point that the bars in this city are frequented by all of the above mentioned groups (creatures)making it extremely tough for a loyal Clevelander to defend his city after a hideous loss due to the sheer number of growing Chowd fans they have to argue against.

I am on the fence at this time, but will inevitable make a B line for the Marina to my favorite watering hole to cheer on my Cavaliers regardless of tonight's outcome. Any "true" sports fan should never have this inviolable right breached by supposed Boston fans. Tonight we will see.

Rise Up and Go Cavaliers!