October Specials

October specials at local restaurants are always a wonderful reason to go out to eat
Blue Tractor was no exception
BBQ Turkey.....
Before:
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After:

The turkey was chargrilled with a cranberry BBQ sauce. Pumpkin grits and beautifully steamed veg. The only reason I did finish the veg is because I stole some of Rob's spiced greens =9

Got really busy

We have gotten really busy lately, but still enjoying Pintday every friday. I will be posting soon (keeping fingers crossed) about more tasty places in Ann Arbor.

Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery

311 South Main Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
Phone: 734-913-2730
http://www.jollypumpkin.com/
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Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales is in Dexter Michigan, with a Restaurant, Brewery and Distillery in Traverse City Michigan.
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The Ann Arbor location opened in September of 2009 and we had our first visit in October. We enjoyed our first visit and have gone back a few times so far (about 5 total visits)
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Atmosphere: 6
Warm & welcoming. We have not eaten on the upper levels yet. The pictures on the walls are playful, and the chandlers have cooking utensils hanging from them.
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Staff: 6
Interactive and happy. They know the food that they serve, having asked about items some have even said they had that item that day for lunch/dinner. Every recommendation has been excellent.
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Food: 7
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and kid portion options available.
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The JP Buger pictured here:

* Very Rich in flavor. The cheese is like a blend of Brie and Blue Cheese.
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They have well prepared specials like the Pork Tenderloin with pumpkin spatzel. There is spinach hidden beneath the spatzel that was perfectly prepared, and the sauce for the tenderloin hand an amazing course mustard in it:

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I could go on for days with how great the food is. Here is a summery to get you up to date on our experiences there with food.
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Appetizers: We have tried the soup of the day, Tomato Basil. Wow, smooth and flavorful, and the croutons were made from grill cheese sandwiches.
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Salads: none yet (Kate is going for one of these next time)
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Sandwiches: Both Rob and Kate have had the JP Burger (Rob without mushrooms) and it is amazing. The flavor is so rich with the combination of elements no condiments are needed. The melted cambozola cheese was a lovely surprise with the flavor being a cross between brie and blue cheese. The bacon is crisp and the beef tender. No other sandwiches tried yet.
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Granite Baked Pizza: sourdough or gluten-free crust. Rob is a fan of the Carnivores while Kate enjoys the Truffle (decadent flavors).
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Desserts: I can’t believe my ice cream was vegan!! I like it better then milk ice cream, way to go with the coconut milk, it really brings out the vanilla flavor. We have had the Pumpkin-Bay Pots de Crème and Rustic Apple pie with scoop of ice cream. They do not hide the flavors behind a ton of sugar, you can enjoy the natural flavors of the dishes.
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Drinks: Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic are available. We enjoy trying one of the unique brews available. If you like a Lambic, try the Eyo.

Park It !!

First let’s address the issue of Parking in Ann Arbor.
There has been talk of not enough parking… I call BS !! You could say this is a sore spot for us with the condition of the parking lot by the District Library and it being turned into a structure. The events (kept as quiet as possible) about turning the flat lot into a structure (of sorts) looks to be all about making money for the city, and no concern about the businesses that will suffer a negative impact as a result. But I digress, I am just curious as to what people mean when they can’t find parking. Sure, game day or large events will cause parking problems, but people should expect that. Anyone who has spent enough time in this city knows that there are events that cause the entire downtown to be congested. My suggestion…. Public transportation when available or take a cab. Otherwise, most of the time there is plenty of parking to be had…. Example is this photo, taken on a Friday evening just into dinner time (7:11 PM to be exact).
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This parking lot is located on Williams, between Main and Fourth, and there were 533 spots available. We were parked in the flat lot across the street which is pretty small and when we pulled in at five o’clock it was only three quarters full. Some people would say that it is cold and January, so people are not out and about. Does that mean people outside of this city want enough parking for the busiest times and not think about how that effects our city when we have to view vacant structures during the less active times of the year. There can be a compromise, but right now the city council is just looking at the money figures and not what is best for the people and the businesses.

Happy New Year ! .... now eat up!

Happy New Year !!!
It is a new year, and a new approach to our blog.
As Ann Arborites we (Rob and Kate) have learned to embrace change. With that comes a rotation of delicious foods.
We usually call Friday by another name… Pintday. After work we go to a Pub for a meal and a Pint, a great way to start the weekend. We enjoy food, not in quantity, but in quality. We wish to share with you places in and around Ann Arbor that we have eaten at, and what we think of them.
We will rate each dining experience separately with the understanding that people can have bad days and sometimes need another chance to make a good impression. We will rate Atmosphere, Service and Food, along with providing comments about our experience.
Rating Scale is 1-7
1 = lowest score
4 = Average
7 = Excellent
We hope you find your days filled with friendship, fun and food =9 Now let’s tuck in.

May you rest

I have been thinking of my Oma Fritzsche a lot over the last few months. Remembering going to Kerrytown with her, picking veggies from the garden, and how all her blankets had a red patch for her signature. I was mostly thinking on that red patch, and how I could do her honor and incorporate it into my art. Should it be in the name for etsy shop I will be opening soon, or literally add a red patch into my own work. When I hit the sewing machine at the beginning of July to create a couple dolls I decided to incorporate a small red tag to them to continue the tradition. I found out this morning that she is no longer with us. I will always remember the joy she brought me and will continue to do through my memories. I love you Oma.

Mr. Greek's Coney Island

Located downtown Ann Arbor on State Street.

Ann Arborites have turned into foodies over the recent years, so I find it surprizing that a coney island has servived in the heart of town. After eating breakfast it is confirmed that if you want the basics done well then this is the place to stop at for a meal.

Conor O'Neills

We enjoyed a great lunch at Conor O'Neills today.
Made up for the underwhelming dinner at Cafe Felix last night.
The first time Kate has had an Irish Breakfast although we have seen it many times on travel and food shows. Wonderfully Delish!
We have never been disappointed in the food at Conor O'Neill's

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Link to their website:
http://www.conoroneills.com/annarbor/

Henderson Castle

Kalamazoo Michigan

Now as a Bed & Breakfast.

This was the first time we stayed at a B&B and it was sooooo much nicer then a hotel. It is like being a welcomed guest into someones home (that really want's you there). Not the cookie cutter room with the temperature that is never right. It was warm and cozy. Our innkeeper for the night was Bob and he was delightful, he made breakfast for us in the morning too, yumm.

Learn more at: http://www.hendersoncastle.com/

Found Art

There used to be a website of people who left art for others as "found art". I used to leave small art around as Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) for people years ago. I have recently decided that with the tough times (hugely hitting Michigan) that people could use a little happiness added in as a surprise. The website is no longer so I am trying to decide how I want to record the parcels that I will leave for people. I think I may just upload the images to my flickr and include a link with the note I leave with the art. Maybe add a moo card as additional art with my found art info... hmmmm