The Detroiter

I love a good Friday happy hour after a long week of work.  Who doesn't?  What I love even more is when said happy hour establishment sells only regional craft beers and has amazing appetizers, sandwiches and entrees to accompany these local beers.  Did I mention every single item on the menu is made from scratch?  Sounds too good to be true...but it isn't.  The Detroiter, located in the former World of Beer location, is the newest addition to Lakewood's bustling restaurant and bar scene - I must say, it's quickly becoming my favorite.

Trending on NPLH, No. 1

A few of my (currently) favorite things:

1. "Cecilia and the Satellite" by Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness >> Remember those days you spent baking in the sun at the Warped Tour in the early to mid-2000s?  Yeah, me too.  Anyway, the lead singer of Jack's Mannequin has gone solo and his music couldn't be better. Listen!

2. Outfit Goals >> Seriously, who looks this good while biking?  Just an FYI, Julia Engel of Gal Meets Glam is my favorite fashion blogger because of her classic looks that are totally my style.  Unfortunately, they've slowly but surely gone out of my price range as her fame has grown.

3. The Incredibly Simple Guide to Getting Totally Free Flights and Hotels >> In case you didn't know, I have a permanent travel bug that won't go away no matter how many weekend trips I take (which are all the time).  So Howie and I booked an exotic trip to Panama City and Bocas del Toro in September, more on that later.  But I'm thinking I need to invest in an airline credit card soon so I can get at least 1 or 2 domestic flights for free each year.  Here's how.

4. Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream >> I really don't sleep that much, especially in the summer.  And also especially because I've been fighting insomnia this year (a battle I'm winning, might I add).  But this eye cream does wonders for dark circles.  No joke.  Invest now.

5. Breakfast Hash with Kale, Squash and Peppers >> I'm going to be brunchin' with this over the weekend, for sure.  And it's healthy?  Yes please.

6. Where Are the Jobs? >> So this is the total architecture/urban design nerd in me coming out, but I think it's fascinating to study where different types of jobs are located to better address the infrastructure, retail and activity needs of the area.  Find your town on the interactive map!

Exploring the CLE Bike Scene

New summer, new hobby.  Well actually it's more like an old hobby, rediscovered, paired with an even older bike fully clad with rust spots from when I left it outside my dorm one too many times during my college days.  Anyway, my love for biking was finally rekindled a few weeks ago when I realized that I could easily bike 3 miles in 10 minutes instead of running 3 miles of 25 minutes...which means I can explore more of the city on foot a.k.a. the best way!  It's also an ample cross-training opportunity, hellooooo beach bod!  So I've been cruising around town after work and on weekends, mostly to the obvious locations like Edgewater Park and other streets near the lake.  Despite their prime photography opportunities, the paths are definitely crowded.

So that's where I need help.  I'm desperate for new ideas and thought that there's gotta be at least a few of you out there that might have some off-the-beaten-path recommendations for me?  Off the beaten path meaning still asphalt because my ride through the muddy sand at Edgewater tonight was an epic fail!  Routes that are a little scenic are extra appreciated!

Homemade Spicy Giardiniera

I don't know about you, but my summertime recipes are all about keeping it simple and light.  This usually involves grilling in one way or the other - and trust me, I take full advantage of the 5 months of the year that it's actually enjoyable to grill outside in Cleveland.  The only problem with grilling a few nights of the week is that your burgers, chicken and brats can be a little on the mundane side if you're preparing them the same way every time.  BUT, I can save you with a little topping called Giardiniera, a bold, spicy, olive-oil-and-vinegar based mixture of bell peppers, hot peppers, onions, cauliflower, carrots, garlic and herbs.  It will knock any hot dog, brat or burger that you make out of the park!

Jack Flaps Downtown Cleveland

I don't think there is anything better on a Saturday morning than a nice, leisurely brunch with good company.  And I don't think there is anything better on a Friday afernoon than learning that a popular Ohio City brunch spot has opened a new downtown location.  You guessed it, Jack Flaps recently opened a second restaurant in the 5th Street Arcades in between Prospect and Euclid.  And it's sooooo good.  While I was delighted by the taste and presentation of my meal, I might be even happier that visitors and locals alike aren't forced to flee to Ohio City and Tremont to eat the most important meal of the day - but let me tell you, I will be fleeing from Lakewood to eat at Flap Jacks many times in the near future!

Steph's Pick: Brown Butter

So if you've read my blog in the past, you might remember that I have an avid dislike of butter.  Yep, I'm one strange creature.  I promise it's not because it's unhealthy - I totally work out enough to compensate for a least a few tablespoons a week.  It's the taste!  So the even weirder part in this twisted story is that I'm going to introduce a new type of blog post about cooking tips that you can apply to any recipe involving the featured method or ingredient...and my first one is about BUTTER.

What?!

I'm Back!

It's June 15th.  Yes, I've officially slacked off hardcore and gone 1 month and 6 days without a single post.  In short, my creative outlet that I started based on my passion for cooking and love of Cleveland was beginning to feel like a chore...so I decided to take a break until I missed it.  And I do.  A lot.  It was actually really nice to take time away from the blog to go out and experience the start of summer through my own eyes rather than my camera lens.  I think Howie especially liked that he didn't have to endure 10-15 minutes of me photographing all of our meals at slightly different angles too (P.S. Sorry Howie I'm back to my old habits as of yesterday!).  I could probably write paragraphs and paragraphs about everything that's happened in the last 5 or 6 weeks, but I thought pictures might do it more justice.

A few key points...
1. Howie and I finally moved in together after 4-1/2 years and it's awesome!
2. I've been watching the Cavs playoff games religiously and even got to go to one woo
3. I live really close to the lake and the beautiful morning sunrises are almost enough motivation to get me out of bed for 6am runs (except this plan is failing because of point #2...why do these games start at 9pm on work nights when they're playing in Cleveland?!)
4. My best friend, Rachael, and I got a surprise invite to hang out and have a bonfire with Third Eye Blind, which is only my favorite band ever.  I just about died but then realized that would be wasting valuable one-on-one time with Stephen Jenkins.

 I have a feeling that Summer 2015 is going to be the best one yet!