It wouldn't be Memorial Day without them
The sweet smell of slow-cooked barbecue sauce moves from west to east (usually) over downtown Cleveland every Memorial Day weekend. The Tops Great American Rib Cook-off & Music Festival is the culprit.
Held this year at the new Tower City Amphitheater, the rib cook-off is a Cleveland tradition that brings ribbers from Arkansas, Texas and the Carolinas and (barbecue) pits them against one another for the title of "best ribs in America."
The Tower City Amphitheater is located at 351 Canal Road in downtown Cleveland. The cook-off and music festival runs through May 27, and plenty of discounts are available. Click here to view the savings.
Second City opening
The Second City Cleveland has opened its doors in the Hanna Building in downtown Cleveland, performing previews of its satire called "RiverCan't or the Traficanterbury Tales or a Humorless Celtic Dance Company Made Us Change the Title of Our Show." Whew. (The comedy troup had to change the original name of its performance, "Burning Riverdance or the Traficanterbury Tales," after Riverdance's lawyers got wind of the title and sent a letter to Second City demanding a name change.)
Legal wranglings aside, The Second City puts on its preview shows until May 30 the official opening date. Ticket prices for shows in June are only $10 if purchased through tickets.com. The offer is good through May 26.
The Second City is located at 1422 Euclid Ave., sandwiched between the Hanna Restaurant and the Hanna Theater.
Stop and smell the flowers
The Cleveland Botanical Garden's ultimate showcase, its flower show, begins May 30. It's the largest outdoor flower show in North America, beautifully laid out on 12 acres in Cleveland's University Circle.
Tickets to the show cost $12 before May 29; $18 on the day of the show. The Botanical Garden is located at 11030 East Blvd. in University Circle.