NA ZDROWIE!
Raise a Toast to Dyngus Day in Tremont on Monday, April 21
(CLEVELAND, OH) You don’t even need to know how to pronounce pÄ czki or pysanky to celebrate lany poniedziaÅek on Monday, April 21. Better known as Smigus-dyngus or Dyngus Day, the Polish celebration’s beginnings are a matter of debate; some say they commemorate Prince Mieszko’s baptism while others believe they stem from ancient harvest rituals. Whatever its origins, Dyngus Day’s flirtatious water dousing, mischievous pussy willow swatting, spirited music and traditional cocktails and cuisine ring true in Tremont, a Cleveland neighborhood that was home to generations of Polish-American immigrants.
Polish lineage, however, is definitely not required to head to the near-westside the Monday after Easter, asserts Prosperity Social Club owner and neighborhood organizer Bonnie Flinner. “On Dyngus Day the neighborhood pubs and clubs invite Northeast Ohioans of all ages and ethnicities to indulge in traditional Polish comfort food, from stuffed cabbage at Sokolowski’s University Inn to Bigos hunter’s stew at Tremont Tap House,” says Flinner.
But food will not be the neighborhood’s only draw, notes Flinner. Tremont has many Dyngus Day options, whether it’s exploring the rich history and beautifully decorated hot-wax-and-dye pysanky eggs at the Ukrainian Museum Archives, getting a glimpse inside Polish Veterans Post 58 or tapping your toes to lively polka standards performed by legendary Stan Mejac at Prosperity.
In fact, there are plentiful opportunities all across the neighborhood to dance off some of that pastry, pierogi and Polish sausage, from polka karaoke with DJ Kenny at Hi and Dry Bowling & Beer to the accordion stylings of The Eric Noltkamper Band at Forest City Brewing. The newest Tremont destination to participate in the one-day celebration, Forest City plans to release its own special Dyngus Day Grodziskie Smoked Wheat Beer.
“There are also performances by Malphonia, Patty C & the Guys, Jimmy Kaye Polka Band, Visinata and other favorites, so hop on a complimentary Tremont-only Brew Bus circulating shuttle and experience all the venues, and drink specials the neighborhood has to offer,” says Flinner.
For more information on Dyngus Day activities in multiple neighborhoods, visit clevelanddyngus.com, but here is a taste of what is on tap in Tremont:
2019 TREMONT DYNGUS DAY DESTINATIONS
PROSPERITY SOCIAL CLUB
1109 Starkweather Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113
216.937.1938 / prosperitysocialclub.com
*Open at 11am; kitchen serving until midnight
*Live polka music from Stan Mejac from 12 – 6pm and Malphonia from 6:30 -8:30pm
*Traditional food specials including an ethnic platter with all the fixins; kielbasi with cabbage and noodles; pork schnitzel; stuffed cabbage; kielbaski corn dogs; and pierogi (including Prosperity’s loaded pierogi platter)
FOREST CITY BREWERY
2135 Columbus Road, Cleveland, OH 44113
216.228.9116 / forestcitybrewery.com
*Release of a special Dyngus Day Grodziskie Smoked Wheat Beer
*Kiedrowski’s Bakery Paczkis
*Polish sausage sandwiches & Sophie’s Choice pierogi
*The Eric Noltkamper Band LIVE polka music with dancing from 1-4pm in the spacious Waldorf Beer Hall
HI AND DRY BOWLING & BEER
2221 Professor Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113
216.566.9463 / hianddrycleveland.com
*Open 3pm – 2am
*Authentic food and drink
*Polka karaoke with DJ Kenny from 6 – 9pm
*Caricature artist
FD ROOSEVELT POST 58-POLISH LEGION OF AMERICAN VETERANS
2442 Professor Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113
216.241.1788
*Open at 12pm ALL WELCOME!
*All Polish food specials
*Polish and European beers & Sobieski drink specials
*Live polka music from Patty C and the Guys from 3 – 7pm
SOKOLOWSKI’S UNIVERSITY INN
1201 University Road, Cleveland, OH 44113
216.771.9236 / sokolowskis.com
*Open for lunch and dinner, 11am – 9pm
*Jimmy Kaye Polka Band 5 – 9pm
*All-Polish menu featuring stuffed cabbage; pierogi; fresh and smoked kielbaski; chicken paprikash; Salisbury steak; borscht; mushroom barley soup; and Polish pastries
*Sobieski Polish Flag cocktail, $5
THE SOUTH SIDE
2207 W11th, Cleveland, OH 44113
216.937.2288 / southsidecleveland.com
*Open 11am – 2am
*Authentic Polish food and drink specials
*Polka music by Visinata, 3 – 5pm & 6 – 8pm
*Caricature artist, 6 – 8pm
*Quirky Bingo Hall 1 – 9pm
TREMONT TAP HOUSE
2572 Scranton Road, Cleveland, OH 44113
216.298.4451 / tremonttaphouse.com
*Open at 3pm; kitchen serving until 11pm
*Special Polish craft Dyngus Day Cask Ale: Offensive Polish Joke
*Hearty, ethnic-inspired food specials including apple & prune pierogi with fig brown butter cream sauce, Kielbasa plate, Hunter’s Stew Bigos with kraut, kielbasa, ham hock, pork shoulder, figs, apples and mushrooms
UKRAINIAN MUSEUM ARCHIVES
1202 Kenilworth Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113
216.781.4329 / umacleveland.org
*Open 12 – 5pm
*Museum exhibits, gift shop and Easter Bazaar featuring PYSANKY (spectacularly decorated Easter eggs) for purchase
About Dyngus Day in Tremont: On April 21, don a Polish crowned eagle coat-of-arms hoodie and head to Tremont to celebrate the end of Lent. Eight stops, plenty of Eastern European fare and high-energy polka music make the near west-side neighborhood a great way to start or end your Dyngus Day. The free in-neighborhood Cleveland Brew Bus circulator makes exploring simple.
To Share via Twitter: Pierogi. Polka. Pysanky. Pastry. You bet your dupa Tremont is the place to be April 22nd for an authentic post-Lenten Dyngus Day celebration! #thisisCLE #visitmeinCLE
