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 what's a famous award winning flavor combo that never gets old? Peanut butter and chocolate of course! What's the best type of candy bar to find in your candy bag at Halloween? Snickers! What happens when you put those two truths together in the form of ice cream? Serious Eat's "Better than Snickers," ice cream of course! I tagged and flagged this recipe a while ago. With the weather turning chilly and the patio seating options not as plentiful I've had to find new ways to amuse myself. Which meant out came the ice cream maker.

As I've mentioned before I use corn starch instead of egg yolks to thicken my ice creams. This recipe is even better because the peanut butter works as the thickener. No slurry! Just add some no-stir peanut butter to that cream base!

 Remove from heat and add these three: butter, half and half and salt. Stir...let cool.

Use that time the caramel is cooling wisely.... it's churning time! Set up your ice cream maker and bring out the wet mixture from the fridge. Churn that mother down.....



Once you're ice cream is done churning you'll want to store it. Layer caramel between the ice cream and twirl a knife through it to create a "ripple."

Hi all! I know I just posted last week but I'm so excited about a few things so I had to share them with you. First off... my attempt to achieve every item on my 2012 Summer Bucket List is well on the way. I recently went to Chicago (again!) and was able to check another thing off the list!

2012 Summer Bucket List Item: Eat Ice Cream Outside

What makes this even better is that it's boozy ice cream. Pizzaria The Boiler Room, is right in the hot spot of Logan Square/Bucktown under the California stop on the Blue line. They've got create pizza from an oven and an awesome "El" theme. The doors to the bathroom look like "El" train doors! They also have... JAMESON FLAVORED SOFT SERVE! Mind blown!!!!!!  The fat kid in me didn't even want to try the pizza. I ordered up 3 cones (I shared with my friends) and we sat outside on the patio and went to town. My review? More please! My friend Melanie HATES cake cones and she was willing to chomp hers down in order to get at the soft serve deep inside. Such a great treat on a hot summer night. It's like a dessert & cocktail mixed together!



I was in town briefly for a job interview and my gracious friends let me crash at their house yet again. So I showed my appreciation by making them some adult crisped rice marshmallow treats. (No copyright infringement here!) What makes them adult? I classed them up by adding salted caramel and chocolate ganache. I sprinkled a lil' kosher salt on top to tickle the tongue too. Do you remember the 1st time I made caramel last summer? I do. It seems I've come so far in roughly 365 days.



In approximately 48 hours I'll be ticking a few more things off my Summer Bucket List during my trip to Mexico! There'll be plenty to share when I get back.

Has everyone created their summer playlist yet? Mine has been on repeat for the past month. I love making playlist... when a new song comes on I always think, "I LOVE that song!" And then I remember that's why I put it on the playlist. Here's the track list for this years Summer Funtime 2012:

1. Nobody- Eliza Doolittle
2. Radio Song- Esperanza Spalding f/ Algebra
3. My Thing- Estelle f/ Janelle Monae
4. Stuff- Nikka Costa
5. Gonna Get Over You- Sara Barreilles
6. Comeback Kid- Sleigh Bells
7. Darling- Kids These Days
8. Summer Scent- Kids These Days
9. Play the Guitar- B.o.B f/ Andre 3000
10. Breaking Down- Florence & the Machine
11. Children- V.V. Brown
12. No Make-Up- Kendrick Lamar
13. You Called Me- Mayer Hawthorne

I'm still tweaking it and I might swap out a few. I also think I'm gonna round it up to a nice 15 songs total. But, it's been doing my ears well so far! What are you listening to?

It was my very dear friend Mosaic Geek's birthday this past weekend and she joined me in the 3 decades old club. I wanted to do something nice for her so I got into the kitchen and went to work. This small gesture was a win/win situation all around because it allowed me to knock off 2 things on my 2012 Summer Bucket list!

2012 Summer Bucket List Check: Make some ice cream!!!!  
I know I've said before there's always room for ice cream but summer time holds a special ice cream enjoyment quality that's unique in its own right. It's also a time I like to visit the Washtenaw Dairy in Ann Arbor, MI. I love this place.  I especially love their lemon custard ice cream. It reminds me of when I was a wee griot and my grandma would take me to this other ice cream stand for lemon soft serve. I know ice cream & soft serve are two separate things but it's the creamy lemon flavor that becomes a mufti-sensory memory. So I decided to make myself some lemon ice cream at home. I came across a nice egg-less recipe for lemon ginger ice cream online at We All Scream. This lovely lady has tons of ILLUSTRATED ice cream recipes. So I know I'll be going back to test out some more. She's also got a great basic recipe for experimenting in making your own flavors.