You thought your lights were good

...try again.

Lookout, Red Line!!!

"Bing-bong, the doors are now closing"

More things made of money

This very interesting and good-looking wall and floor treatment can be found at Homeslice Pizza in Chicago's Lincoln Park/DePaul neighborhood.

I can't recall ever seeing it before and think it's a great re-use of pennies. It also brings up some questions, like, "Did someone place each penny on the floors and walls of the room?", but maybe I should just leave it at, cool.

Honeypie Cafe, Bayview, MKE, WI

Did you ever find such a cool place you went back twice in one day? And made a mental note to make sure you go back again and again? Honeypie in Milwaukee's Bayview neighborhood fit the bill on my birthday.

We started by having a great brunch right when they opened, and wound up going back after dinner for a b-day cupcake (see other post).

I started the day with the "Farmer's Breakfast", which includes French toast. I was full alright. We enjoyed seeing all the people fill up the place as we ate. Everyone's food in our group was good. Fresh fruit cups, light and flavorful quiches, and how could you miss the pie and cupcake cases (yes, one case for each). Not only is the food on point, the staff is, the bathrooms are, and the beverages are too. It's a great little "slice" (get it!?) of a neighborhood place done right. Kudos, Honeypie.

As luck would have it, it wound up being on our way home from dinner, and I decided to get one more drink and cupcake. The beer I chose was a great winter ale all the way from Sweden, perfekt!

One final note, while my cupcake was enjoyable, it was clear after sitting by the pie case that this is one area that really shines, just by the volume of people coming in to order by the slice. I will have to go back...mmmm, pie.

B-Day Cupcake

As the name card suggests, this made a perfect cupcake after a pizza dinner. 

Check out the Honeypie post for more details on where this was located.

Need some extra light in your life?

Get some candles!!!

 

Do you find yourself now leaving for and coming home from work in the dark? Could you use a little bit of relaxation at the end of the day? Would you like some fresh, seasonal smells filling your house?

 

I've recently been introduced to Illume Candles. They have a wonderful selection of candles for yourself and the ones you love. I can attest to the positive benefits firsthand.

 

Feel free to poke around their site and do something a bit nice for yourself....Don't spend winter in the dark.

 

The one on the right smells EXACTLY like a burnign wood fire. I don't know how they do it, probably something with magic

Alexis Bailly Vineyard, Hastings, MN

We ventured out southeast of the Twin Cities for a special wine and food pairing event.

It was a simple enough drive and well-run event. I was a little surprised how much after dinner wine (like port, with sharper acid bite and higher alcohol content) was produced and served as a percentage of the wines, but maybe that's what people like now. The standard wines they offered were very palatable.