Bratfest Revisited

Happy Memorial Day!

This is the first time we have attended the new and super-sized brat fest at Colliseum Island. Eh. So you can buy a $5 cup of beer. And you can sit on the grass and listen to some local bands. I can do that at the Union every Friday night! It was something to do, and it is for a good cause, but it just ain't what it used to be.

Yogurt at the Farmer's Market

I love the yogurt at the Farmer's Market. I have not tried the Murphy Farms (home of the best cottage cheese on earth) because that is only available at the downtown market, but I have been gobbling up the Sugar River yogurt from the Westside Community Market like crazy. I love the Westside Community Market, otherwise known as the Hilldale defectors market. Murphy Farms, the Sugar River people, the good apple lady and my favorite maple syrup guy are all there. There is plenty of room to run around on the grass and the parking is plentiful. The old Hilldale market had gotten to be a cramped mess. Boo hiss! On other Hilldale defector fronts, the new Chocolate Shoppe at Midvale Plaza is open for business and booming. They have been open one week and we have already been three times. No peppermint stick, though. I am also going to request that they add the green tea ice cream from the State St. store (a special request from downtown patrons when Chocolate Coyote closed). Hooray for ice cream!

Chicks and Gifts

I ran down to the b-side during my break to buy the new Dixie Chicks album, Taking the Long Way. Here's to free speech! I also stopped in to Twee to pick up some taffy. For $1.50 you can purchase more taffy than you should eat in one setting. The raspberry/lemon and key lime are currently my favorite. But I always end up buying questionable flavors like chocolate chip cookie and buttered popcorn. When I know I like the tangy flavors. Blech. And watch out for the red licorice flavor. It is super stale. Some like the teeth crackin' taffy. I do not. Consider yourself warned.

Other recommendations: the MMoCA gift shop has so many excellent items - cards, jewelry, bags and household accessories. A wonderful place to buy gifts (for yourself) and others.

Mango

There is a new store opening on the 100 block of State Street called Mango Boutique. I was hoping that it would be related to the sensational international chain Mango, but I am not getting my hopes up. We cannot even support a decent H&M in this state. Still, it is nice to see new development on State Street. I have also heard that the post office from the now defunct U-Square is moving to State, as well as another Starbucks.

La Brioche

I still remember when La Brioche was on State St. It was in the spot where Ian's is now. My two favorite places! I can't even remember all of the other incarnations after La Brioche left: a coffee shop, a juice bar, a vegetarian restaurant and Madison Masala among others. There is something so magical about their pastries. I always get a black and white cookie and a brownie. If we are picking up pastries for the week-end, I like chocolate croissants and morning buns. Mitch likes fruit danish and mini chocolate chip cookies. But we have tried just about everything and it is all spectacular. We went through a phase where we were obsessed with the macaroons. My sister loves the florentines. Vive la brioche!

Sushi Carts and Sesame Noodles

The special of the day at the Sushi cart on the square at MLK near Starbucks on Friday was spicy tuna roll for $4.99. This came with avocado and cucumber rolls and was beautifully presented. The guy in line next to me got the tempura and that looked really good, too. And just so I never forget: 10# (or seemingly) of the most delicious cold sesame noodles on earth are just $3.75 from Asian Kitchen under La Bamba and Wasabi. I laugh every time I pass Riley's thinking of our freshman year bank statements being mailed to our parents with numerous Tyme withdrawls from the corner with a "Wines of the World" location indicator. ha.

MMoCa

The new Museum of Contemporary Art is gorgeous. Some of the art is kinda weird. It always was, but there is more of it to notice now in the bright, shiny new facility. It took several attempts to find the Henry St. gallery with the Frida Kahlo, and the glass stairs are a little scary - I really had to concentrate. It was raining the day we went to visit, so the rooftop garden wasn't much fun to spend time in and I was a little afraid of slipping, but I am excited to have this new facility in our town and plan to take lots of visitors. On the same day we went to MMoCa, my sister and I had dinner at Takara. We each ordered the beef negimaki Bento boxes. They are expensive but worth it. And the presentation is exquisite. Highly recommend.