Deep amber in color, with subtle hints of spice, Rocket Fuel is brewed with a blend of Belgian yeasts, double malt, and more hops than LeBron at tip-off, yielding a flavor so rich, it may require its own seat at your table. Brewer Matt Cole says Rocket Fuel's pressure-fermentation process explains its deceptive punch. We don't know what that means either, but the beer's 8 percent alcohol is just this side of knock you on your ass. Drink it on tap in the brewery's boisterous confines, or take it home in a half-gallon growler.

The royal treatment begins the moment you walk into this stylish salon. A hot receptionist pours you a beer. Now you can head for the dartboard. Then comes the haircut. In a private stall, with ESPN at convenient eye level, your hot stylist (yes, she's hot too -- they all are) cuts and styles, while kindly reminding you how cute, funny, and all-around awesome you really are. If you want, she'll throw in a hot-stone massage or a mini-facial, for a small fee. You'l leave looking and feeling brand-new.

When he heard the Black Diamonds, Dead Boys bassist Jeff Magnum was impressed. "I think I know a thing or two about loud, noisy, kick-ass rock and roll, and these kids have swiped the best elements from all that rotten rock, personalized it, and made it their own," he says. Early on, singer Chad Van Gils played a bagpipe on the onetime set staple "Wentelteefjes," but when the track threatened to become a signature novelty, the bandmates dropped the pipes to concentrate on rambunctious, Zeppelinesque rock. So make sure you see them live before they do some damn fool thing like break up to pursue higher education.

After fighting to within a game of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavs have finally lived up to their promise. But it was the way they pulled it off that earned them this title: They did it with a rookie head coach. They got help from unexpected places, like Flip Murray and Anderson Varejao. And even in losing, they offered plenty of fun for postseasons to come, as fans can now embrace Detroit as a new rival.

The Ohio City hot spot offers sleek decor, a bustling bar scene, and the creative offerings of chef-owner Karen Small. As one of the region's staunchest supporters of sustainable agriculture, Small ensures that her menus change with the seasons -- her large, international pantry yields everything from tempura-battered baby green beans and hoisin-glazed short ribs to bacon-wrapped Medjool dates and housemade ricotta gnocchi. Yet the vibe is thoroughly unpretentious. As Clevelanders, we wouldn't have it any other way.

Mexico, Lebanon, Italy, Germany, Cambodia -- the names read like a World Cup semifinals bracket, and you'll find them all on a half-mile stretch of Lorain Avenue, where some of the city's most adventurous kitchens work elbow-to-elbow. Beginning with the authentic Mexican cuisine of Luchita's at West 117th and meandering westward, this culinary crawl unfolds like an Olympic Village cookbook: There's the foul medames of the Sahara, freshly crafted cannoli at Caffé Roma, barmaids bearing schnitzel at Der Braumeister, and what might be the city's best pad thai at Phnom Penh.

As the Bible says, "Man cannot live by brewskies and shots alone." If you're looking for a dessert beverage -- something sweet yet powerful -- it's time to hit Bounce, a gay club in Ohio City that's home to the best Harvey Wallbanger in Cleveland. Think of this bad boy as a screwdriver with a kick -- vodka, Galliano, and orange juice ensure that you meet your daily requirements for vitamin C while getting trashed.

Located in the center of downtown Euclid, the Bistro takes its name from the beach clubs that hug the shoreline from the eastern part of Cleveland to Euclid. The Beach Club serves 13 different pizzas, named after local clubs -- including the Gilchrist, the Arcadia, and the Utopia -- or local landmarks, such as Henn Mansion and the VASJ Vikings. The pizzas are great, and you can eat them on the patio, beside a waterfall and a pond.

Cleveland's 77 South recorded its debut EP, 1-800, in Nashville, and it's surprising that the country capital let the band go. Maybe it's because -- unlike most of Nashville's recent offerings -- 77 South tends toward the traditional: piano, mandolin, jangly guitar, and gentle harmonies. Lyrically, singer Jeff Ronay covers all the necessary bases, proudly declaring his love for his wife, dog, and pickup truck. Still, 77 South isn't averse to crowd-pleasers and has even been known to pepper its sets with covers of "Honky Tonk Badonakadonk." And if the room is right, it'll follow up with some Creedence or Skynyrd.

When you're groggy, hung over, and having a bad hair day, nothing beats a cup of coffee. On that score, this Aveda salon in Lyndhurst goes way beyond the call of duty. In addition to coffee and tea in the waiting area, there are granola bars, Oreos, and apples. The women who wash your hair give you a scalp massage as well. And the best part is the price: Women's haircuts start at $35, a manicure is $17, a pedicure $20, and an eyebrow wax $12.