Looking for an inexpensive date night? Some relaxing downtime that won’t break the bank?
The Cleveland Botanical Garden offers $10 admission after 5 p.m. every Thursday this summer – that’s $9 off regular non-member admission. The garden typically closes at 5 p.m. but stays open til 8:30 p.m. for the events.
Summer Nights at Cleveland Botanical Garden also feature live music, cooking demonstrations and yoga sessions, some for an additional cost.
I arrived with an empty stomach and a skint wallet to see what I could enjoy on my minimal funds. If you get there right at 5 p.m., you’ll have three and a half hours to explore the gardens and check out the events. The events were moved indoors in anticipation of rain when I was there.
(Speaking of water, here’s a pro tip: Bring your own water bottle and you won’t have to spend extra money on drinks.)
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Gourmets in the garden, yoga in the yard
The Botanical Garden’s summer events have cooking demonstrations by connoisseurs such as Chef Eric Wells of Skye LaRae’s and Chef Ricky Smith of Something Good.
Rebecca Hannen, events manager for the Cleveland Botanical Garden, said the garden brings in guest chefs to do demonstrations of the recipe of their choice, and attendees get a sample of the food they make.
“Usually you get to take the recipe home as well,” she added.
The meal last week was an Italian pasta bar for $12 at a live-action chef station. You get to build your own dish with vegetables, proteins and a selection of sauces, all sauteed directly in front of you by chefs from Marigold Catering. I couldn’t decide between the ravioli choices, so I had both the spinach and the vegan white bean and mushroom ravioli (they let you mix if you can’t decide!)
Every other Thursday evening, yoga sessions are held in the Sunken Gardens just outside the main building for an additional cost. That area, Hannen said, is quiet and mostly isolated from the street noise above.
Credit: Cleveland Botanical Garden
Add a live music soundtrack and a great crowd to your visit for free
Every Thursday night in summer, the garden also hosts “Tunes On The Terrace,” featuring live local music that can be heard all across the grounds outdoors acting as an accompaniment to your garden walk or your dinner.
The band last week was RockAbility, made up of all persons with disabilities, featuring some originals and plenty of covers of classics by artists including Neil Young and the Rolling Stones. The crowd loved them – a stirring rendition of Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away” had most of the audience, including me, clapping and singing along.
Patricia Rolfe, who lives in Forest Hills, spent her career working with people with disabilities, which is how she became a fan of RockAbility.
She really rocked out to the band, eventually hitting the dance floor. Her energy was off the charts. “I couldn’t help myself,” she told me later.
(Pro tip: Fun interactions with interesting Greater Clevelanders are free with the price of admission.)
Getting there on the cheap
Avoid parking charges by taking public transit instead. The Cleveland Botanical Garden is about a 10-minute walk from RTA’s Healthline, which travels down Euclid Avenue, and a 15-minute walk from the Little Italy transit station. If you don’t want to make the walk in, University Circle also has free CircleLink shuttle buses available until 6:30 p.m.
I rode RTA, hopped the CircleLink, spent a couple hours in the gardens, had a light dinner and great entertainment provided by the band and the audience for a total of $27.
Summer Nights at the Cleveland Botanical Garden run every Thursday night now through September. Details below. To learn more about the gardens and other events, visit their website.
Summer Nights at Cleveland Botanical Garden
$10 admission
Live Music
FREE!
Aug. 7 – Matt Mortensen
Aug. 14 – Ed Michaels
Aug. 28 – Charlie Mosbrook
Sept. 4 – Richard Brentar
Sept. 11 – Jimmy Mrozek
Sept. 18 – Cameron Zona
Sept. 25 – Matt Mortensen
Gourmets At The Garden
$25; includes admission to the gardens
Aug. 14 – Chef Ricky Smith from Something Good Social Kitchen/The RAFT
Sept. 4 – Spice Catering
Yoga
$30; includes admission to the gardens
Aug. 7 – Kids Yoga with Kristin Mulcahy ($20 per child, $10 per nonmember adult)
Aug. 28 – Mat Pilates with Rose from Vital Pilates Studio
Sept. 18 – Yoga with Bottoms Up! Yoga & Brews
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