Colleen "Windy Apple" C.'s Profile

Well. It's a $9 juice.

Really, only in NYC, right?

As my flavor-of-the-week (kidding, flavor of my 20's, more like it) was drooling over olive oils, vinegars and beer at The Filling Station, I snagged a 10-spot and found my way to One Lucky Duck for a pick-me-up fresh juice.

And that it was. I had the Bunny: carrot, apple, ginger. All fresh ingredients, nice texture, super smooth. VERY spicy with ginger, I could just feel my digestive track doing jumping jacks and push-ups.

The cashier looked bored and uninterested which was too bad, but the man that made my juice was much more friendly. I think if you are charging $9 for a liquid without booze in it...you should probably be at the ready to explain some stuff. Not just staring at your iphone with a melancholic glazed-over mantra. Maybe she needs a different kind of juice.

So yep, $9 juice. Pretty good...and they have lots of vegan goodies, including randomly...a skincare line. OKie doke.

*located inside Chelsea Market

Trattoria Stella, is indeed, the toast of the town.

Being as such, I hear that it is the most wonderful of places from just about everyone I know, run into, see, am related to, etc in Traverse City. Including Mario Battali. I don't know Mario, but apparently...yes, he also digs Stella. Someday, maybe we'll go there together. Probably not.

And finally this past winter break, the stars (and a blizzard) aligned for my beau, my beloved mum and I to dine.

So here are my initial thoughts via list: very nice dinner, love the location, pricey for TC, server not that knowledgeable about menu items, overly-salted on almost all dishes, water spots on glasses...

The gist: This was a very nice dinner and its a very fantastic restaurant in the area. The food was wonderful, the wine was lovely (and comes via carafe, which I am partial to when having 1.5 glasses myself)...the company exquisite. Ambience, beautiful, tucked away. Snow falling, restored Building 50 creates a hidden gem that everyone adores and loves and uncovers. Great for a group or for a very intimate date, there are so many configurations, nooks and seating options. All seemingly great.

Slight hangup: for the price point, there were several things I found to be somewhat unacceptable for "fine dining." And yes, the prices are fine dining relative to other things in the area. Water spots on the glassware and silverware is poor form when paying upwards of $75/pp. Overly salted food is somewhat of a dead giveaway of a novice kitchen. Literally, drank gallons of water over the next 12 hours to combat the salt content.

When asked questions about menu items our server gave vague answers. If your entreees range in the 20's, your servers best know how to describe each dish to the last ingredient, not just "the escargot soup has escargot in it and is really great." I can likely get to that on my own...hopefully. Again, I don't mean this to be harsh, but just motivational. Obviously Stella is here to stay and has become a foodie haven...so they will flock accordingly. The service should match the menu and the reputation...

All of the above seem nit-picky, and maybe they are. But, as the prices goes up the expectation does as well, and unfortunately I can't dole out a 5th star to Stella. However, of course...these are all simple fixes. The base here is very, very good. It's a 4-star experience very solid and I'd be overjoyed to go back with friends, family, etc.

Standouts: lamb ragout pasta, beet salad, WINE (ha, of course!), and the cod (my favorite). Tiramisu was a bit average, coffee was splendid...as I mostly find coffee to be. They source locally, and did so as a pioneer in the area...kudos, kudos. There is a bounty of fresh items in the area to be made into wonderful dishes. Stella does just that.

I will most definitely not hesitate to come back, just giving it to everyone straight here. YES, it's fantastic. BUT, it's expensive. SO, they need to step up their game. The price of popularity, I sincerely hope they stick around...

Everybody was Kung Fu Tea'ing...! (dododododoodododo)

Well, ok I am. Not many people would think "YES, Bubble tea!" when the temps dip into the 20's (or lower), but I'm practical like this. Without mittens, no less!

(note: they do have hot teas, of course).

My bubble tea comrade (Jando S) and I braved the elements (and countered dim-sum stomachs) to try out the Chinatown locale of Kung Fu Tea on Friday.

The sell for me? You can have them made at any sugar level you like. The guy was more than happy to make mine "just a little teeny bit" sweet, and about half the boba. Nice! They'll customize the sweetness, ice level and bob levels to your liking. Service!

I went with my standard Green Milk Tea (iced) with boba. The perfect sweet (enough) treat to hit the spot after Dim Sum. Jando had the Taro milk tea, also a favorite of mine...and a kid-pleaser due to its sweet taste and purple hue.

They make a mean bubble tea, have an impressive shaker (watch it sometime). If you aren't used to "real" bubble teas (milk teas, etc) then opt for the smoothie or do one of the sweeter flavors (taro, etc). The Green tea would probably be a bit bitter to those typically used to mango, strawberry "smoothie" boba teas.

Real milk teas are where its at though. I'm a huge fan.

*Cash only.
*They like tips! Smiles all around.

Dear Joe,

I'm glad you've moved in to the neighborhood. You are a great boyfriend. Convenient, accessible, comfortable, affordable, and you know exactly what I need.

What do I need?

*$9 leggings
*$6 tights
*workout gear galore
*cheap jeans/jeggings
*$5 tees
*$49 gray puffy parka
*great sales
*friendly staff
*cardigan sweaters (FOUR IN DIFFERENT COLORS, help me).
*great sweatshirts

Yes..thank you, boyfriend Joe Fresh. I know we've only been dating for a few months, but truly...I just can't quit you.

Love,
Colleen C

--

Don't be fooled by the displays, this place is VERY affordable and you can easily walk away with a bag of loot for bargain prices. Some is a bit more pricey. Much higher quality than H&M/F21 and 100x less chaotic. I never feel like I'm sifting through a garage sale or a raver's rummage sale.

I consider this my "grown ass woman" Forever 21, one that doesn't give me a panic attack or a body complex.

All orange sticker sale are final sales, so def try them on.

My grandmother tells me that on Sundays happy hour starts at 2pm. She tells me this because she brings her husband here so she may purchase him exactly two glasses of wine (she can only have one!), and they always come after 2pm on Sundays.

I'm not sure if that's really an advertised special, or just something the staff honors for my sweet grandma and her nice husband. But, there you have it.

As it turns out, I also brought her here for dinner (her idea!) on a Thursday night recently. At 5pm. I arrived for our dinner at 445pm, which is usually lunch for me...however, we had quite a nice dinner. I did notice a happy hour crowd (this seems like a more appropriate time for happy hour, right?) and apparently all the pizzas are $6 at this appointed hour. I assume drink specials too. It seems to be THE place for Happy Hour in TC...so I suggest it for that, most surely.

For dinner? It's AOK. Standard fare at reasonable prices. It's a hotel restaurant and it sort of shows. My steak salad was made special (on a rec from the server) with grilled onions and was pretty good. White chicken chili was pretty thick, but tasty. My dad had a pasta dish (some special where there were certain dollar amounts off pastas) and my grandmother had the cherry salad, which she loves.

And if grandma is happy, I am happy and we really had a lovely meal without being rushed. And if they treat my Grandmother right on Sundays, well...that's certainly worth an extra star from 3 to 4 (bumps star rating). I mean that, it goes a long way.

As others have said, there are far better restaurants in close proximity...but Minervas will deliver a meal when you need it. Located within Park Place hotel, good happy hour, and nice to the early birds!

Of note:
*I ate dinner here my Freshman year for homecoming. It's pretty much the same.
*The Top of the Park (at the top of this hotel) is an entirely separate entity: http://www.yelp.com/bi... (and highly recommended)

Potential Volunteer Opinion: ASPCA = AOK.

Filled out the form online August 2011.
:::excited!::::
Scheduled for an orientation December 2012.
::::wow, seems like a looooong time, but OK:::::
Told to wait for an email to be able to sign up for more orientations...
STILL WAITING. 2 months later.

Really, 6+ months to get a volunteer through the initial process? Very little follow-up? A $25 "volunteer" fee collected to which I was never even able to volunteer or even sign up for a volunteer orientation. Kind of bullshit, sorry...I certainly appreciate their mission (of course, I do)...but get it together. They have several people that work full-time JUST coordinating volunteers. How hard can this be!?

One of the explanations at the 2-hour long orientation that I sat through contained was that their coordinator/director liked to input all the volunteer info by hand. Just because. Um. Yeah, pretty sure I can figure out where the snag is there. Computers exist for a reason. THEY'RE EFFICIENT!

I understand they actually have A LOT of folks that want to volunteer, what a fabulous problem to have right? I guess. But really, I feel like I've been in one of those unhealthy relationships where I keep just hanging on, waiting for them to call, waiting to be needed...and nada. I could've been focused elsewhere and instead was strung along for a long time. If they really do not need volunteers they should refer folks to other shelters and organizations that DO need the help and manpower.

So today is the day I stop dreaming to be an Adoption Counselor with the ASPCA. I'm sure I'll find something else to fulfill my need to be needed somewhere and give back to the community and I surely can consider my $25 a well-loved donation.

If you're looking to volunteer...go elsewhere. :)

Having said that, I think their Pit Pals program is pretty awesome and I'm not hating on the mission, just trying to save some of you the annoyance and run around.

An enthusiastic thumbs up...and excellent option for a few drinks or apps if you are waiting for a table at Keste Pizza & Vino (across the street). Or you know, as a destination, whatever strikes your fancy.

I actually had to look up the address to know this was Bin on Bleecker to relay info to our friends. They are either going incognito with their unmarked (yet stylish) awning, or are awaiting their signage. They are relatively new, so there you have it.

We popped in after the scene at Blind Tiger was a bit too much and our estimated wait time at Keste hovering around 45 minutes. Just enough time to settle in somewhere else...and NOT wait in the cold. We were greeted warmly at the bar, the guys ordered beers and the gals some appropriate red wine. The bartender made a great recommendation, though it slips my mind as of now. Something of medium body and worked like a charm. Good man.

It was a pretty light crowd when we arrived at 730...but by 830 had really started to fill out. at the bar and wall tables The two front tables in the window are really charming, kind of a taller farm-style communal table, perfect for our group of 6.

We only had drinks, but service was really friendly and welcoming, decor is laid back yet classy...and though it's definitely Village prices, everything was on point. The menu looked really good (think "comfort" food) and I'd definitely stop back in if we were in the neighborhood again.

Ps. Open for brunch 12-3 on weekends. Nice!

I may be mistaken, but I believe this is the only drycleaners in Suttons Bay. Maybe in Leelanau County? I can't be sure, like I said, but luckily...Wales Quality Cleaners is a good one!

I was tasked with keeping my boyfriend looking appropriate for work, and this entailed running his week 1 stuff to the cleaners during week 2 so that it was ready for week 3. Yes, confusing. Regardless, this was the closest cleaners...so I took myself on a quick trip to charming Downtown Suttons Bay, popped in easily and dropped off a few shirts and pants with a charming gal who took my name, gave me a ticket and sent me on my way.

Two days later, I picked up some perfectly pressed and mended shirts and pants to the tee of $16. Perfect.

*Cash or personal check only. Yes, they accept personal checks.
*Location is on the main drag in downtown SB, a few doors south of The Bay Theater.
*The map on Yelp is wrong, I've submitted a correction!

If you are running late or stopping in on a particularly slow day, I do suggest calling ahead. If I hadn't on the afternoon I visited, she said she was about to close up...about an hour early. So, just be warned. It's a true mom 'n pop operation, and they are really quite wonderful.

Look sharp, Suttons Bay.

I don't even like bars.

I went here twice last night. TWICE. This must be love.

I've walked by several times during the day and have often been curious about this little white brick place, Halyards. Sandwiched in an industrial area along 3rd Ave that is somewhat desolate in terms of nightlife, etc...I wondered what on earth it was doing here. As I never walk along here at night (a bit too void of people for my liking usually), I had never been able to stop in...

Until last night. I was looking for a spot to get a drink prior to dinner at Buttermilk Channel, and this popped up. Yes a bit far in the other direction from Carroll Gardens, but in the middle for all parties, so it worked well. The Yelp reviews sold me that this would be a place I could get on board with. They steered me absolutely right.

I arrived first and enjoyed a French 75  at the bar while wearing black stripes and red lipstick. My attire has nothing to do with it, but regardless...I dug the vibe. The French 75 was a treat, as well...served in a champagne flute.

Jenga. Pool. Darts. Cocktails$8. Dim light. Nice people. Not crowded. Cozy. Wine. Beer. Cocktails$8.

Buttermilk Channel called, and our group of 4 quickly shuffled to have dinner...it's the first time (maybe ever) I thought to myself "I'm not done here yet! There are other things here to drink and do and see." Nonetheless, Buttermilk Channel waits for no one, and we left...

The End.
---

Not quite. After dinner our group split and we headed back to our Gowanus apartment...almost. We diverted to Halyards for two more drinks around 1130pm, and it was perfectly and contentedly buzzing without being overwhelming or obnoxious. People were laughing and playing Jenga and getting drunk and enjoying their friends and it was one of those utopian nights where everyone that wants to sit has a chair and the bartender is never too busy to make you a drink.

It was lovely. I would certainly be back next time we want to do cocktails or drinks in the 'hood. A great lounge hidden amongst 3rd Avenue with just the recipe for a good night of drinking that will not be a scene or stress you out.

*Come early for darts/pool...especially on weekends.
*Accept credit cards, but obviously cash is easier.
*Several long communal tables = great for groups.
*Easy street parking (though I don't recommend driving) nights/weekends or easy walking distance to 4th Ave/9th Street trains.

Plus, I hear Tchoup Shop does guest cheffing here once in awhile. I will assuredly be front and center the next time that rolls around.

I actually jumped out of line at Starbucks (40th & Lex) to come over here after my Yelp app pointed me in the direction of far better (and more local) coffee.

And, my decision was the right one.

I bounced (ok, dragged) over to Lucid Cafe in search of some caffeine. I popped in to a quaint little shop, and was greeted warmly by the gal at the cash register. I looked up, focused intently on a 4-shot Americano, and placed my order. $4 and $1 for the tip jar...and about 2 minutes later I received a beautifully rich and full, steaming cup of espresso water. They serve Counter Culture beans, too...good stuff.

There is very little seating here, so not conducive to working on a laptop or conducting a meeting, but just enough space to enjoy your coffee (they do have real mugs on the offer) and be on your way.

A very charming local coffee shop that stole me away from Starbucks in the rain...worth checking out.