Mark New Year in Chagrin Falls with Popcorn Ball Drop

The New Year in Chagrin Falls will be marked by the dropping of a huge popcorn ball as hundreds of smaller popcorn balls are propelled into the crowd at midnight by Popcorn bazooka.

It’s the fifth annual Popcorn Ball Drop to take place in the Village Triangle at the center of town.

The 100-pound popcorn ball will be hoisted to the top of a flagpole there at 10 a.m. Dec. 31 and will slowly drop throughout the day.

James Brocius, retired police chief, will blow off the village cannon to welcome 2018. First Federal Lakewood purchased the popcorn ball for $500, and proceeds will go to renovations at Chagrin Township Hall. The popcorn ball will be eaten starting Jan. 2 at First Federal’s Chagrin Falls branch. It was made at the Shaker Heights branch of the 1949 Popcorn Shop, an icon at the edge of the storied falls that gave Chagrin Falls its name.

This year’s popcorn ball is being carefully guarded because the 78-pound ball made last year was stolen shortly after the New Year drop.

Seafood cuisine

Learn how to prepare the best seafood in town when you join Loretta Paganini at 6 p.m. Dec. 28 at the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking, 8613 Mayfield Road, Chester Township for a 2.5-hour demonstration class.

She’ll teach about fresh fish dishes of the Italian Riviera, where the deliciously light cuisine is based on seafood, fresh herbs, vegetables and olive oil, creating a perfect combination of flavors.

The menu for the evening will include Cappun Magro Seafood Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette; Cioppino Seafood Soup with Focaccia; Seafood and Mushroom Risotto; Branzino with Lemon Caper Sauce; Parmesan Crusted Cod with San Marzano Tomatoes and Mozzarella; and a Walnut Torte with Butter Rum Gelato.

Register for this $65 class at 440-729-1110 or lpscinc.com.

Bahama Breeze

All Bahama Breeze restaurants, including the one at 3900 Orange Place, Beachwood, will offer specials for both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Its Junkanoo Celebration will include island cocktails such as mai tai, curly tail and rum runners priced at $2.18. Jan. 1 has been designated Recover Day with an islandstyle Bloody Mary at $7.99 all day. New menu items include a Lobster and Seafood Pot and Braised Short Rib and Oxtail.

Ice wine harvest

Ferrante Winery harvested its Vidal Blanc ice wine grapes starting at 5:30 a.m. Dec. 13. Winemaker Nick Ferrante expected 700 gallons of wine from 8 to 10 tons of grapes.

It’s Vidal Blanc Ice Wine Vidal is a dessert wine with rich aromas of apricot and orange blossoms with flavors of honey and ripe melon.

Ferrante reminds readers to mark their calendars for the 14th annual Grand River Valley Ice Wine Festival.

It is set for noon to 5 p.m. March 3, 10 and 17 at Grand River Valley wineries.