My first trip to Comerica Park and we got lucky, especially with the weather. An intense but short storm moved through about 2 hours before the Detroit Tigers game but by the time we arrived at the ballpark, the sky was clearing, the temps were cooling and the sun came out. Perfect! Good game too – the Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 10-1. My dad wisely recommended the kosher ballpark brats – which were relatively reasonably priced (5.50) compared to the ridiculously overpriced beer (about $8). For nostalgia’s sake, we tried to go to Lafayette Coney Island afterwards but couldn’t find a parking spot so we drove to Birmingham and had fantastic sliders at Hunter House (5 cheeseburgers for $12.50)
Home just in time for the Woodward Dream Cruise!
We made it home to suburban Detroit just in time for the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise, which did not disappoint – cram-packed with old cars dragging up and down Woodward. The traffic and crowds were thickest around 12 mile road – it was almost as fun to watch the spectators as the cars. Earlier in the day, during our drive from Chicago, we found a good place to eat in the small Michigan town of Coloma (ex: 39 on I-94). My son thought it looked like a nightclub, because of the name “The Hot Spot Cafe”but it was a small town cafe with breakfast all day – great crispy (as requested) hash browns, poached eggs (soft) and sausages. The place seemed to have a way with potatoes – they made their own potato chips. That exit also has a well-known popular fruit stand – Fruit Acres – where we picked up great raspberries, blueberries, red haven peaches and we didn’t get but tried some really strange looking doughnut peaches.
Dining in Chicago at Carmine’s
Don’t know why I’ve never eaten before at Carmine’s in Chicago, which I’ve passed dozens of times since it’s in my aunt’s neighborhood but finally did tonight on a beautiful summer eating. Great food – eggplant/mozzarella/tomato salad, penne Bolognese and a special dish with penne, eggplant, spinach and shrimp. Yum!
Filed under Chicago
Collegebound road trip
We’re off to the University of Iowa tomorrow to move my daughter into the dorm and with any luck we’ll fit all her stuff in the car AND be able to see somewhat out of the rear view mirror…
Riding the Great River Trail along the Mississippi in Illinois
A friend just returned from biking the Great River Trail along the Mississippi. She started in Moline, staying overnight at the Stoney Creek Inn, then rode north to Port Byron, about 25 miles, where the “tugfest” – a tug-of-war contest with LeClaire Iowa (across the river) was going on. She stopped at a good ice cream shop in Hampton (I think called Remember When) and explored the towns north of Cordoba, ending up in Savanna which turned out to be a biker (as in motorcycle) mecca. She and her friend picked up some food for a picnic with a good view at Palisades Park. They also ate at Bass Street Chop House in Moline, which was good.
Filed under bike trails, biking, Illinois
Rick Perry, lamb kebobs, dairy barn ice cream et al at the Iowa State Fair
If you want to see new presidential candidate Rick Perry up close and personal, a good opportunity awaits at the Iowa State Fair today where he will be speaking at 11:15 or so at the Des Moines Register’s “soapbox” at the Iowa State Fair. The fair was blissfully free of Republican presidential candidates last night but packed with people thanks to the recent arrival of perfect summer weather – low 80s, a light breeze, flawless blue skies. Annual fairgoers are used to much hotter muggier weather – so this nice stuff was a real treat.
I’d also recommend the lamb kebob, one of several lamb entrees offered at the Iowa Sheep Industry Association’s stand, located in a relatively out-of-the-way spot amidst the livestock barns (east of the sheep barn, across the street from the always popular Big Boar who this year was a 1,700-plus pound boar named Tiny). The pork producers outpost is much closer to the action – near the midway and along the grand concourse – and much busier than the lamb folks’ operation. But I found the pork chop rather dry and unflavorful, especially compared to the juicy well-spiced lamb. As always, a chocolate ice cream cone at the Dairy Barn was the perfect treat. And I gladly skipped the newest entry to the fried food on a stick category – fried butter on a stick.
One other tip – hitch a free ride on one of the tractor-drawn open-air shuttle wagons that winds through the fair. It’s very handy when your legs are suddenly getting worn out from so much walking and a good way to people watch as the shuttle moves slowly around the fairgrounds.
Filed under Iowa, Uncategorized
Traverse City hotspots
We were staying very close to Traverse City Michigan when we were up north a year ago, bunking in a sweet little lakeside cottage in Glen Arbor, but we never made it into the big city, although I wanted to. Just ran out of time – too much to do in the small lakeside towns in the area. But now comes the NYTimes Travel section with some recommendations for TC which I will duly note here for our next trip there – which I hope will be soon!
– Artisandesign network, new gallery with local artists’ and designers’ work, especially furniture and “elegant dining chairs” by Woodbine.
– The Cooks’ House, a farm to table restaurant now in new larger location.
– Right Brain Brewery, 16 tap brew pub with all local ales. Must try the Black Eye P.A.
– Mana, “soul food” including the Divine Swine pulled pork sandwich.
– State Theater, site of TC Film Festival started by local resident and filmmaker Michael Moore
Filed under Michigan
Finally picked a place to stay in the Berkshires
After much research, I’ve finally settled on staying at River Bend Farm B&B when we are in Williamstown, Mass. next month. I was taken by its historic charm, location, and price. It’s a 1770 Colonial home – “magnificently restored” according to one review with only four rooms – and two baths to share. It’s a mile from town and costs $134 a weeknight (including tax….which is good for the pricey Berkshires.)
Filed under Massachusetts
London riots – not the city I love.
Just heard from two dear friends in London that they’re safe but very rattled by the rioting that has been raging across England. Makes me think back to 1981 when the Royal Wedding (Charles and Di) was followed by riots in London’s Brixton neighborhood and Liverpool’s Toxteth neighborhood (I was sent up to cover the Toxteth riots as a cub reporter, equipped with a notebook, pen, pen knife and a banana. Yes, a banana given to me by a famous newspaper columnist who was visiting the London Bureau when I worked there. Fortunately I met a very nice magazine photographer on the train who was a riot veteran and we roamed the scary streets together.)
My pal F. reports that one of my old stomping grounds – the first place I lived in England, in 1980 – Ealing Broadway was heavily damaged by rioting and my pal M reports that she almost got caught up in rioting in Tottenham last weekend when she was going to a football match. YouTube is full of disturbing riot scene videos. And one does wonder how this will affect attendance at the 2012 olympics hosted by London.
This from F.: Just to let you know – we are okay here in war torn London. Very nasty scenes in the last few nights. Disaffected youth apparently organised by gang leaders are causing mayhem…mostly in inner city areas but sad to say -central Ealing near Ealing Broadway was pretty much destroyed last night by maurauding gangs. I am pleased to say Mortlake has been untouched! All quiet in London so far but central Manchester and Birmingham are seeing big problems tonight. This is going to make our fragile economy even less likely to recover…and the Olympics is going to look less appealing to foreign visitors!
Filed under London
Where to stay in Manchester Vt and eat in Bristol Vt.
A friend in-the-know emails this lodging recommendation for Manchester: The Palmer House, upscale motel for about $150 a night. Large rooms and beautifully maintained grounds make for a comfortable stay.
She also recommends Mary’s Restaurant at the Inn at Baldwin Creek in Bristol Vermont for a treat after a pretty drive, not far from Burlington and Middlebury College. The owners are very involved in the slow food movement. The Inn also looks lovely.
Filed under Vermont
TakeBetsywithyou 