Holiday Wonder (bread)

WHAT TO EAT NEXT: Need the recipe for the perfect post-Thanksgiving evening? Try 60 degrees + the new She & Him Christmas album (thanks for the recommendation, Al Hribko) + leftover turkey on Wonder Bread + Christmas decorations.

CLEVELAND SHOPPING: Start Small Business Saturday a day early, get some Cleveland-made gifts, check out a DJ, and grab some drinks from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. tonight at the Made in the 216 Black Friday Holiday Kick-off Party. More than 60 Cleveland designers will have their wares for sale here until Dec. 31. One more reason to go to Ohio City and visit the last remaining business that doesn’t have the word “market” in its name.

“THE ROOT OF THE ROOT AND THE BUD OF THE BUD AND THE SKY OF THE SKY OF A TREE CALLED LIFE”: Temporarily usurping Civilization in my world is Lakewood’s Root Cafe, which is always book-shelves-on-the-walls cozy, has amazing coffee, and serves incredibly priced and delicious baked goods, salads, and other superfresh food. I first discovered this place a few years ago when Lee McKinstry, one of my favorite former students, was slamming some poetry here. Lately, my grad school class has been meeting here to discuss conjure in African-American literature, and it has replaced the tragically defunct Borders as a prime grading location with good-people ambiance.