After the Van Gogh exhibit, we were determined to continue enjoying this day despite the crappy weather. No bars in the Old Town district were opened until 4 ish, but we did find one local dive that kept us occupied until we could find a more interesting establishment.
Around 4, we fell into a place called ‘Broken English’ and sat at the bar and indulged in their Taco Thursday. (they weren’t open on Tuesday, so they moved it to Thursday) This place was fantastic. I loved it. But their margaritas left me with amnesia 🙂
I don’t think I’d ever been to this part of Chicago, but it was really cute. Plenty of bar hopping options.
Love the name of the place.
Outside view. Has to be filled with characters right?
Inside was equally colorful. Plenty to look at.
Even the ceiling was painted.
Truth!
Let the fun begin!
Food was amazing and affordable. Highly recommend if you ever get to Chicago!
As I started driving eastbound, I picked a city that looked like an achievable stopping point. From the Badlands, I made a goal to reach Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the night.
I googled a local brewery in the city to hopefully get a flight to try out a few different brews. I definitely picked the right joint. Was super cute, only 2 years old and had a great view of the park which would then become part of my to do list for tomorrow.
I stopped at a beautiful rest area right after I crossed the Missouri River on I-90. They had a historical venue of the Lewis and Clark travels and also a trail that led you down to their memorial bridge.
Rest stop was at the top of a hill with a beautiful view but no overnight parking.
A giant tepee monument. Looking up.
From a distance. You could of course see this from the highway but I had no idea what it was.
Enormous sculpture tribute.
The statue from behind. You can see the cars in the parking lot to better grasp the scale.
View from the trail. Was great to get out and stretch for a bit.
Severance Brewery. Super cute. Positioned on the edge of downtown, across from a park and below some newly established millennial apartment complex.
When I arrived around 5pm it was empty but later it got quite crowded.
My tasters with a view! What could be a better way to end my amazing day?!
The bartender was an adorable blond, 20 something who was so kind to me. I even gave her a hug before I left. She was inspired by my solo trip and recommended I go to her home town which was 1+ hours away.
My heart goes to a fellow small town girl that left to find herself in a larger city. And she had so much pride in her hometown, I had to go take a look. She was from Dutch heritage and said her town was based on Dutch settlers and even had a tulip festival.
When I got my van parked at the Sioux Walmart just 3 miles away, it started down pouring. Love my timing. Love my life.
After my morning hike I was starving and wanted more than my car snacks had to offer. I googled top restaurants in Salt Lake City and when a Pig and a Jelly Jar came up as top rated and breakfast til 2, I was in!
This mural was along the outside wall.
They also had a cool patio area which showed off recycled art along the fence.
Unbelievable “ kitchen sink” eggs! It came with a side of Bloody Mary salsa that was excellent! So unique. And the coffee was the best I’ve had this entire trip. Highly recommend this place should anyone be in SLC.
I took this shot over my shoulder hoping to capture the crowd and mural. Adorable place. Bonus too, the guy at the register gave me a free sticker!
Yes, you see where my head is after a month on the road 🤣
I truly appreciate how beautifully historic the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area is. I’ve embraced living here again. I especially treasure witnessing all the changes and renovations ongoing in the city. But on the flip side, I equally love when I discover someplace that has been the same for years, but is completely new to me.
There wasn’t much on my schedule this weekend. I honestly have not been feeling great lately and am looking forward to getting some surgery in April to rectify an ongoing issue. Woman shit. The side effect of aging I suppose. Blah Blah right?! But instead of letting it consume me, I allowed spontaneous plans to energize me.
Luis (my Latin Lover) offered to pick me up Friday and take me out. Sitting on the sofa watching Netflix was truly where my body felt like it wanted to be, but I am so glad he motivated me with a beautifully planned evening.
He treated me to this Italian restaurant which was adorable from the outside-in. Everything was painted with murals interacting with the architecture. On the outside wall they had faux shutters and flower boxes painted which accented the actual windows which were above the booths inside.
Love how bootlegging history played such a part in US cities.
I really am not sure how “authentic” the food remains, but the atmosphere was truly worth the visit! I enjoyed some angel hair with sundried tomatoes, feta and olives.
Caught Luis in mid chew on the Italian bread as I was trying to capture a photo of how the stained glass window interacted with the faux painting on the walls around it.
The bottles lined up on the window sill perfectly complement the inside and outside of their decor. There were surprisingly several dining rooms. We got there early and left right before the dinner rush to avoid the crowds.
We then walked off our meals along the river and caught the reflection of the Cincinnati skyline at night. We popped into a game center where we again beat the crowd, and for 5$ each were able to play cornhole, bocce ball, giant checkers, and shuffle board. But after about an hour the younger groups arrived without masks and I felt nervous continuing to hang even with the garage doors allowing fresh air in.
I am looking forward to summer nights when the chill is no longer chasing us indoors.
The next morning armed with our recently bought gift cards, Zoe and I again did our urban morning walk downtown to get some breakfast. We sat outdoors next to a heater which stole the chill out of the air making it a cozy, perfectly comfortable setting.
My view over the fence of the patio was of these all gender inclusive flags with the steeple of the church in the background. Felt it was symbolic of how God would have intended it.
We ordered mimosas which were served green in honor of it being St. Patrick’s week.
Zoe snapped this photo of me from across the table and I loved all the colors!
On our walk down, we noticed a sign outside some basketball courts that said “Saturday Hoops”. I teased Zoe and said on the way back we were going to play. By the time we walked home, the place was packed with the community, complete with a couple females but mostly men of all ages, shooting hoops together like I used to see in The Village in NYC.
We took a different way home just to see what we could that was new and as always was not disappointed. We passed many new vintage shops on Main Street and art galleries I didn’t know existed.
I admired these renovated building from across the street with all their details.
I spotted this mural down an alley that I never noticed before and made ZoZo stand beside it for a picture. I still post any street art I see on my tonyatakesthailand instagram. Love looking back at all the creativity.
Trying to still teach my kids to explore and see the world, even if we are stuck in one place for the time being. Never stop seeking.
On January 30, 2020 I wrote a blog about this restaurant. Last year I visited their original pink colored location on Reading Road. They have since taken over an old antique diner, which is featured in many films. This historic piece of American history is one I remember eating at back in the late 80s when my parents came to visit me in college.
Recently it sat vacant for a bit and now is the newest Sugar &Spice breakfast/brunch site.
Zoe and I wanted to do a downtown hike on Friday to grab some coffee just to get out on a sunny day and feel like we did something. When we passed this diner on Sycamore, we decided to do breakfast instead.
Most of the girls I know and raised.
Love how they restored the vintage look.
Murals painted on the ceiling are in the same style and coloration as the original restaurant. They had gift cards on sale, if you bought 25$ worth, you got 25$ free. 50% off for our future breakfast breaks!
Pieced colorblocked chairs.
Candy colored bar stools- so cute!
They are known for giving you a rubber duck at the end of your meal to take home. Adults and kids alike enjoy this!
I also admire their authentic pottery coffee mugs.
On the much needed walk home, I showed Zoe the staircase that I discovered during one of my other urban hikes downtown. I counted 300 steps. Zoe of course beating me to the top.
Acting as if the climb was nothing for her! Young legs!
I had a lunch date Friday with Jeff, who used to work with me at my old job, SKL. I haven’t had much contact with my past coworkers since Covid is running rampant, but one by one, it’s nice to finally catch up!
I drove up to Loveland to check out his beautiful home there. It had views of the woods and was peacefully secluded. Yet right around the corner is the quaint Main street of Loveland.
We decided to eat at The Works, which is an old firehouse that has been charmingly transformed into a restaurant/pub.
View from the railcar attached looking at the firehouse doors.
We decided to eat inside this attached rail car which was great, because it was completely empty except for us.
Photo of the bar area.
Taps cleverly placed artistically along the garage door.
Booths lined up against another.
It really looks like it was a beautiful station house and I’m glad someone took it over instead of the town ridding of it completely.
Jeff striking a pose.
A great little memorial to the train conductor of past.
Adorable seating with quaint tables and a lot of natural lighting.
Loved the vintage feel and cleverness of the place. Fried pickles were great! I missed those.
When I got back to Cincinnati, so much had changed. New apartment buildings sprung up in different parts of the city, boutique stores were now opened in past run down areas of town, houses were all of the sudden completing rehab projects, but on the other hand there were also shops that were now boarded up. The world was in transition. New beginnings and past defeats.
Covid definitely took a hit on the economy.
One new place I drive past at least twice a week is called “The Fix”. They are located right by the highway-on-ramp to I-71 from where I live. But I could never figure out how to get there. It’s on an odd corner where a one way street meets two way traffic.
I planned a visit this evening with my friend Rebecca. It was one of those nights where I could have totally crashed and went to bed at 8 pm, but knew I could steal some of her energy if I met up. I told her I wanted to check out this place and I’m so glad we did!
The outside is very modern and I love the name’- says it all right? If you need a fix, whether its coffee (aka caffeine) or an alcoholic beverage to relax, they have it.
With great beer choices on tap at reasonable prices, I was set. They also offered a stocked microbrew variety in the fridge. Vegan cookies and coffee cakes lined the counter as a perfect combination with an am coffee.
I loved the exposed brick wall and wooden interior. I went back the next morning for a coffee on my way to meet a friend, and each table was with a student, snacking and working online. A great local spot.
Their outdoor venue was complete with decorative lighting, variety of seat options and a stage for performances.
Hillary Hahn sang to us that night. I personally loved her original songs written in hard times with lovers past. It was like she was speaking to me directly and knew my stories.
This coffeeshop/bar opened right before COVID hit. I met the owner and he is an interesting young man, world traveller, entrepreneur and very positive. He said if he can survive with COVID hitting, he knows he will be a success once the world settles back into place. Love that he didn’t give up.
We should all be supporting our local businesses in these times and this newly discovered one is well worth the visit! Everyone go and get your fix’!
With our battle wounds from hiking the trails less traveled, we decided to check out the city of Knoxville. As we approached civilization, we noticed everyone was wearing orange. It was unbelievable really. Such support of their team here who apparently had a game that day.
In retrospect I should’ve taken a photo of some of the groups walking across the street to really capture the color. Anyone from Tennessee is probably not phased by it. But for a tourist like myself, the support shown by fans was quite impressive.
Another beautiful shot from the passenger seat as we made our way into the city.
We went over Gay Street bridge as we google mapped our way to a brewery. I needed a drink 🙂
Downtown was adorably quaint. Almost old fashion looking in parts.
The Tennessee sign is proudly hanging out front of the Covid-closed theatre.
This trolley was offering free rides. If more time permitted, I would have jumped on just to see where it went.
I did a flight of four beers from this establishment. The tastes were wildly unique. One literally tasted like a cream soda. So I mixed it with a coffee stout. Genius suggestion.
A beer flight and nachos later, we discovered some quaint boutiques which twisted my wallet enough to have me avoid going into any others.
This was the little shopping area we walked around, looks like a scene out of a movie.
Women’s Suffrage Monument.
Walking further down this block was a mini sculpture park.
Lots of interesting pieces displayed.
I wondered if they were temporary or a permanent feature.
Symbolic fist.
Around the corner sat this guy rowing up from the sidewalk.
As you can tell, I am not much into the history or research of my travels, but I do love observing, whether in a city or along a trail. It brings me joy and reason for being. Hope there are other seekers out there reading. Keep seeking. Keep appreciating all the details that go into the environments we live in. I feel so lucky to be able to explore and share my findings with you.
While in Tennessee I wanted to check out hiking trails and viewpoints. When I googled a few locations near my sister’s cabin, this winery showed up. Win-win! Viewpoints and a wine tasting!
We coincidentally met the owner when walking up the back steps. His dogs were out playing in the yard and he was chatting with a local who was enjoying some cabernet. When we got inside, the place was cozy, friendly and filled with what seemed to be friends sharing stories.
If you are ever close to this area, it is definitely worth checking out.
We learned that the rose bushes were placed in front of the vines to show whether there was an infestation issue. The roses are affected first and then they know to address the grape vines.
At the bottom of this road is the entrance to the winery. I can’t get over the skies here, I mean check out those clouds!
The colors of the grass and skies with the faded mountains in the distance, I could stare at for hours.
The clouds seemed touchable.
The views from the porches stretched for miles. They had rocking chairs on the front porch.
I am not much of a wine drinker. But it was a great excuse to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors today. The owner collected windchimes and was selling a few made out of wine bottles.
I was mystified by the rolled balls of hay. Later Tiffani googled to end my curiosity. I thought they were for decoration 🙂 What can I say, I’m a city girl.
This winery hosts many weddings which take place under this magnificent tree.
The fountain, just like a babbling brook, set a melodic background murmur to relax to.
I am discovering that being a tourist in my own country is equally rewarding as seeing new things abroad. It has been a great blessing to have learned this very important lesson while living in Thailand. I thank God I have this skill to get me through while dealing with the restrictions of Covid.
This brewery is one of many that cover the midwest city landscapes. But is by far, in my opinion, the one with the most charm and best local beers. It is located in St. Bernard which is a village in Cincinnati, Ohio.
St. Bernard village is represented with statues of the dog by the same name.
My friend Jane invited me to join her at Wiedemann’s to listen to a blues band play. It was yet again outstanding weather and I embraced the opportunity to sit outside and enjoy it with friends and drinks.
Below is a little history I found about the heritage of this brand taken from their website. Cincinnati is well known for its German beer making and illegal beer making during the Prohibition years. A couple years ago I took an underground tour of the tunnels found in Cincinnati which still house some of the original historic barrels.
German immigrant George Wiedemann began brewing at the original Wiedemann brewery in Newport, Kentucky, in August of 1870. Today, 150 years later, we remain dedicated to the great brewing tradition of this iconic local brand!
Cincinnati’s Longest-Running Beer Brand Wiedemann’s is Cincinnati’s longest-running beer brand and Northern Kentucky’s most successful consumer brand of all time. Aside from a break during the latter half of Prohibition (it continued brewing until 1927) and a brief interlude from 2007-2012, Wiedemann’s flagship Bohemian Special Brew has been on the market continuously since 1870. Its Royal Amber beer was crowned the best beer in America in a nationwide blind taste test in the 1970s.
Once George Wiedemann struck out on his own in Newport, his beers quickly found favor among the region’s many German descendants, and his brewery grew to be the largest in the Southeastern United States by 1900. The beers were eventually sold across the country and overseas. Founder George Wiedemann was inducted into the Cincinnati Beer Baron Hall of Fame in 2017.
A Reboot in 2012 The Geo. Wiedemann Brewing Co. was revived in 2012 by beer journalist Jon Newberry and his wife Betsy, who developed a fondness for Bohemian beers while living in Prague in the early 1990s. They opened the Wiedemann Brewery & Taproom in 2018 with enthusiastic support from the Wiedemann family.
The new microbrewery complex in St. Bernard includes a tree-lined beer garden, a spacious sundeck, and an old-school taproom/tavern filled with Wiedemann’s memorabilia. The site is adjacent to the former Miami & Erie Canal, the side wall of which still stands just south of the beer garden.
Cheers to More Beers! In addition to 42 taps pouring its many world-class craft beers – all brewed on site — the taproom includes a full-service kitchen and eight big-screen TVs for catching all the Cincinnati Reds’ games.
This family transformed a funeral home into the now bar/restaurant. Such a clever idea! Having a beer in an old funeral home is worth checking out!
Currently, everything here is outdoor seating with social spacing.
You order drinks through this window from the outside looking in.
The hallway to the kitchen and restrooms still had their authentic funeral home appeal.
The bar inside empty but beautiful.
The Wiedemann crest proudly displayed.
Hopefully when the indoors opens back up this dining hall will be filled. Now bars close at 10 pm cutting the opportunity to make money short by about 4 hours.
Inside the women’s room the tile, doors and sinks are authentically vintage.
They transformed the parking lot into a band venue and all the tables are spread apart safely for Covid requirements.
Was great to see Jane again!
The artist that was playing is Ben Levin, who I later learned went to highschool with my daughters. He’s only 20 years old with the ability and soul of a much older artist. His dad was playing the guitar. Apparently he was nominated for some music awards and held top spots on the Blue’s Music charts for record weeks in a row.
A website about the artist. I love that he is always wearing a suit.
In the audience was a very special guest that is a famous musician from Cincinnati, Philip Paul.
King Records where artists such as James Brown were launched.
Tonya Takes Thailand 