ArtPrize.... for those not from West Michigan is a monthish long art event put on by the wicked DeVoss family. It allows artist to pay to enter into a public art competition where the artist may win one of 2 prizes: a public jury and a panel jury. Although this competition provides some networking and showcase opportunities for local and independent artist the whole system it's based on is complicated and troubling for some.

Until reading this post about ArtPrize, I was ignorant of the complexity of this event. I have attended ArtPrize annually for about 3 years now. This year was the first year I organized a whole staycation getaway with the "Frat Bros" (a couple trusted friends named Will and Ed). Hindsight and additional information have me feeling mixed emotions about what was a wonderful trip. However, I feel the need to highlight how, for me, this is an example of the challenges of living up to ones morals as somewhat "woke" Black womanist.

All that being said, this weekend was full of friendship, art, food, booze and naps. I also want to thank the Frat Bros for going on this adventure with me. Now... here are the highlights.

DAY ONE

I did some research and learned about a local distillery that has tours. A bonus was that they make their own Aquavit which is an acquired taste in booze...I'm not a fan but my epicurean frat bros Will and Ed are!  I secured 3 tickets to their Friday evening distillery tour which I was too late to join so I don't have any pictures. But, we did have snacks and drinks after the boys finished the tour and tasting at Long Road Distillers.



With a nice base in our bellies we parked our cars by the downtown AirBnB we'd rented and commenced exploring. It was time to get our corrupted art on!










There was NOT enormous amounts of ridiculously cool stuff inside this store. It was more like someone's mom's hoard and that someone happened to have a store front to put it in instead of a storage locker.



For dinner we stopped at a swanky place downtown and I seriously cannot remember the name. But, I do remember the dessert: warm chocolate chip cookies, a molten mocha cake with vanilla ice cream and berries.

DAY TWO

After a good nights rest we three urban explorers woke up nice and late to start out day. We walked over to the newish downtown market for brunch at Social Kitchen and Bar. This place had it all... old time-y portraits of animals in Victorian garb, fancy light bulbs, mason jar cups, galvanized tubs!








The lower rungs of Maslow's Hierarchy fulfilled we moved on to capitalist culture, including high brow and kitschy.





Up next the Grand Rapids Art Museum: wire faces, wire hands, emoji art, and silhouette textiles and churches made from re-purposed items.









All that art gazing made me hungry. There were multiple food trucks set up outside the GRAM. Will and I scored meat cones! I can die happy now. Baked beans, pulled pork/chicken with BBQ sauce, and coleslaw inside a carb cone!



After snack we went looking for a beverage of the adult kind. I found a place I thought had potential online called the Hemingway Lounge. It said it was a distillery. I thought they'd have awesome rum cocktails. What we found was possible the WORST  BAR EXPERIENCE IN THE WORLD ((WORLD)) ((WORLD)).  When we arrived the bartenders seemed kind of busy and I overheard a lady complain about her peach martini. I figured things would work out because all craft cocktail fans know a good drink can take a few moments to make. Also, just because something is called a martini doesn't mean it is one, and to me drinks made with artificially flavored vodka or schnapps are NOT martinis. But then one of the bartenders came over and took Ed's order...then as we waited the universe began to speak. Signs started showing themselves. However, we were too committed to leave a drink had been ordered. What signs you ask?

• the space behind the bar was a hot mess
• when someone asked about the vodka the distillery made the bartender replied, "it's top notch and taste amazing"
• the bartender had just learn of and how to make a Tom Collins when the man before us ordered one

We finally managed to get our drinks and sat down. Not at the bar because who wanted to look at the mess behind it? Not us! When Will went to taste his drink that was the last straw. He'd ordered a gin and tonic and the bartender but SODA in it!!! We literally could not. We did not finish our drinks. We did not leave a tip.

That evening we had to make up for the afternoon debacle. We found a couple nice places to hangout including Flat Lander's, a small bar inside a strip mall. We also went to a fancy place with a yummy corn dip and nice bathroom signage.

 DAY THREE

Sunday was a fun day but because all three of us have day jobs we needed to keep it short and sweet. Sunday is prep day in my house so it meant I needed to get back in time do make a grocery store run and try to make something to last me all week for lunch. We maximized our time by making our last art stop the Meijer Garden's. But first, brunch at Anna's House. This place is a favorite of mine and I've been here with my family more than once. It's also a favorite of many locals so there is usually a wait, but after that wait you can have a delicious warm plate-sized cinnamon roll.







 Lastly, a note I saw in the building our AirBnB was in. Sometimes, in unlikely places you will find something beautiful.

So how does one really know when it's fall? Well, this year I learned fall is marked by the re-release of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. Or at least that's what their campaign led me to believe. Seriously folks... what is up with the pumpkin craze? I like a gourd just as much as the next lady but we all do realize most of these pumpkin drinks and foods don't include actual pumpkin. Just the spice... Right?

All that said, I did fall for it again this year. I spied some pumpkin spice body butter at Trader Joe's and thought, "I want to smell like pie." Bought it. I also got myself some of their frozen pumpkin waffles. Sadly, I have not been as happy with that purchase as the former. I keep trying to get my nephew to eat them. But, as I am his Aunt he's been spoiled and doesn't enjoy frozen waffles as much as other 10 year old kid. He just looks at me, "Ummm... where's the griddle? I want more of those cinnamon roll pancakes you made 2 week ago."

Sometimes I think I need to lay off the carbs and refined sugar. But then a recipe like this falls into my lap! Suddenly, all that attempt to be more disciplined disappears. I know it's been a while but I have been busy! Post BaByQ I took a mini-vacay with some friends up North for the 4th. Before I knew it fall was calling and school began again. I took the ghosts of summers past and used them in this recipe for a s'more bundt cake.

Yes, that's right. All the flavors of a campfire baked into a cake with a hole in the middle!!!!

I found this recipe over on thecakeblog.com and it liked the idea of adding crushed graham crackers into the cake batter. Also, can you say oats?! Who doesn't like a little oatmeal in the fall? I did a little more tweeking and just used regular old powdered sugar glaze instead of topping it with a thinned out marshmallow fluff.

And it was good! I think I ended up eating maybe 2 pieces out of the whole cake. My mom and gramps wouldn't even wait for it to cool enough to glaze. They wanted to taste test while it was still warm. That food close-up is from a day later when I went to get a piece and realized it was almost gone!