Insider Irene

Grocery Shopping at a Local Favorite in Ann Arbor, MI

Published on July 17, 2019July 14, 2019 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

When you’re in Ann Arbor, Michigan no trip would be complete without a visit to Zingerman’s, a local market and Food and Wine Magazine’s Top 10 Jewish Deli’s in the Country Located right in Kerrytown, this quirky and colorful shop evokes a Trader Joes feel with their “hand written” packaging and cartoony advertisements. However, in addition to their signature baked goods they also carry everything you need to make a perfect sandwich or bagel-wich. Though my favorite baked goods were definitely their dessert ones! If you have a sweet tooth you’re in for a treat! I picked up a few loaves of banana bread (various flavors) and the brownies – oh man!! Those were money!!! The Magic Brownies (with walnuts) and the Buenos Aires (a dulce leche flavor) specifically were so amazing! You definitely want to pick up a pack if you get a chance.

Overall, Zingerman’s is a super friendly neighborhood market and they allow you to sample their goods as well! Everyone is super hospitable and I can totally see how locals and residents would come here to enjoy fresh bread and other baked goods.

What would you get all this local bakery?

XOXO,

Rockstar

Zingerman’s Delicatessen
422 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 663-3354

Hours
Sun – Sat: 7:00 am – 9:00 pm

Starting the day with a Healthy Lebanese’s Breakfast in Garden City, MI

Published on July 12, 2019July 14, 2019 by Insider Irene1 Comment

As my friend and I continued our Midwest Travels and headed North from our next stop was Detroit, Michigan. Unfortunately it was raining cats and dogs on our visit so we decided to head towards Dearborun, home to Motor Citie’s very own Henry Ford (yes, of the Ford Car Company). Along the way we decided to check out Al Tayeb Restaurant (Yelp), a Lebanese breakfast shop, and fill our tummies with some warm food. Upon entering we saw a mostly middle eastern clientele and were excited to start our day with an authentic breakfast.

We started the meal with some complimentary tea and glanced around the room to see what other tables ordered. It looked like a family style meal with members ordering a few items to share and while my friend and I were only two people we ordered four items to share. It was way too much food, but the colors and taste were worth it!

We were recommended the fool ($7.99) as it was a crowd favorite, along with the Fatteh, cooked chick peas with garlic yogurt and pan fried nuts ($8.99), Hummus ($7.99), and Spicy Potatoes ($5.99). I wasn’t a fan of the fool, but loved making mini pita sandwiches with their fatteh, hummus, and assortment of veggies. It felt light and you could mix and match for different textures and tastes.

What kind of meal would warm you up on a cold rainy day?

XOXO,

Rockstar

Al Tayeb Restaurant
873 Inkster Rd, Garden City, MI 48135
(734) 237-4606

Hours
Sun – Sat: 8am – 4pm

Screaming my head off at the Roller Coaster Capitol of the World in Sandusky, OH (Part 2)

Published on July 10, 2019July 14, 2019 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

Earlier this year I purchased a Platinum Knotts Berry Farm Annual Pass to help with my workout regime (to which I attribute a part of losing 12 lbs – post here) and also to visit Cedar Point as it was one of the participating theme parks. I had seen so many videos and articles highlighting Cedar Point’s intense roller coasters and as an adrenaline junkie I had to test it out myself.

After extensive research I found out that there were 17 roller coasters and since I was only going to be at the park for one day I decided to splurge on the Fast Lane Plus (you get a discount with your Platinum pass) to maximize my time at the park and ride EVERYTHING! It was absolutely worth the investment and I rode every big coaster at least once (except for Millennium Force – which unfortunately was closed for repairs), and several other rides more family friendly rides. To my surprise one of my FAVORITE rides wasn’t a coaster and you can read about it in the Part 1 Post.

My friend and I arrived at the park around 10:15am and rode the following coasters: Windseeker, Wicked Twister, Gatekeeper, Gondola Ride, Raptor, Blue Streak, Valravin, Rougarou, Corkscrew, Magnum XL-200, Top Thrill Dragster, Maverick (x2), and Steel Vengeance (x2). Among these Maverick was my favorite followed by Steel Vengeance (the longest line – my friend and I waited 20 minutes even with our Fast Lane Pass, but it was so worth it!) and Top Thrill Dragster, which is the tallest and fastest roller coaster on earth with speeds of 120 mph in 3.8 seconds!

If I’m traveling from a way away I don’t usually visit any location twice, but I would certainly welcome another opportunity to come back to Cedar Point, and hopefully ride the award winning Millennium Force!

What’s your favorite ride of all time (either at Cedar Point or somewhere else)

XOXO,

Rockstar

Cedar Point
1 Cedar Dr, Sandusky, OH 44870
(419) 627-2350

Hours
Months: May – October (See Ticket Website for Dates Open)

Enormous Cheap and Delicious Sandwich Lasting Three Meals in North Olmsted, OH

Published on July 5, 2019July 14, 2019 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

I generally try to refrain from eating theme park food, so I heavily researched local bakeries that were along my route from Cleveland to Cedar Point and found Fragapane Bakery (yelp) as an inexpensive local option. I’d read many positive review, but holy cow! I was not expecting to be blown away by this mom and pop shop. They’re known for their cold subs and while I was expecting a standard subway size sandwich, I was given over a pound of meat that lasted me for three meals! THREE!!!

They use Boar’s Head products and allow you to sample before making your final selection. I couldn’t decided so I ordered the 3 meat combo (teriyaki ham, corned beef, chicken) and with Provolone cheese and mayo. I’m still amazed at how much meat they gave you – and when my friend and I were eating lunch at Cedar Point several people were eyeing ours subs. For $6.99 I was beyond impressed and know that if I make another trip to Cedar Point from Cleveland, Fragapane will surely be my grab-and-go option!

What meat would you select in your sub?

XOXO,

Rockstar

Two Locations
Fragapane Bakery
28625 Lorain Road, North Olmsted, Ohio 44070
(440) 779-6050

Fragapane Bakery
650 Dover Center Rd, Bay Village, OH 44140
(440) 871-6340

Hours
Sun: 6am – 3pm
Mon: Closed
Tues – Fri: 6am – 6pm
Sat: 6am – 3pm

First time visiting THE best theme park in the USA – Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH

Published on July 3, 2019July 14, 2019 by Insider Irene3 Comments

Over the past few months I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my weekly visits to Knott’s Berry Farm – 1) because it’s close to home and I can complete my 10k steps and 2) everyone loves Snoopy! So when summer started and I prepared for my Midwest Trip I was immensely curious on how Knott’s sister park, Cedar Point, would compare.

On my visit I got to see both Schroeder and Snoopy in the Camp Snoopy Meet and Greet, and take tons of funny photos throughout the park. However, the sheer size of the park plus the variety of rides is on another level and while I came primarily for the rollers coasters (see Cedar Point Part 2 next week!), there were a number of attractions that I loved including the Horse Racing Carousel. My gawd! How ingenious! and it actually goes pretty fast! There was also a barnyard with camels, horses, pigs, goats and other farm critters. Many of the locals and tourists alike were taking selfies with Samuel and Camel. lol And for those of you aren’t afraid of heights Winkdseeker has the most uh-mazing view of the park and lake. This swing set goes up 301 feet giving you a birds eye view of the park in it’s glory and extends out at a 45 degree angle.

Would you be brave enough to see the entire park up that high?

XOXO.

Rockstar

Cedar Point
1 Cedar Dr, Sandusky, OH 44870
(419) 627-2350

Hours
Months: May – October (See Ticket Website for Dates Open)

Jamming to legends at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH

Published on June 26, 2019June 25, 2019 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

No trip to Cleveland would be complete without a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I mean Drew Carey had continuously claimed how much “Cleveland Rocks” and it would be unpatriotic to ignore such a catchy tune. Open daily from 10am-5pm, my friend and I decided to visit the 6 floor iconic museum on Day 1 of the Midwest roadtrip and loved seeing artifacts and hearing some timeless pieces.

Photos from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

On this visit the museum hosted a special Woodstock exhibit featuring photos and artifacts from the 70s. While this period was instrumental in the development of Rock and Roll, I was most eager to see and learn more about Elvis, The Beatles, and The Jackson Five. And there were definitely some awesome garments and instruments.

You might notice that a few of the photos above feature artists in different genres. For example Britney Spear’s “Opps I did it again” outfit and Michael Jackson’s magic glove were prominently featured in the museum. Yet, I recently learned through one of the movie screenings (included in admission) that to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the criteria is based on global impact through music. This year Janet Jackson was inducted as a Class of 2019 recipient even though her music is predominately R&B and and Hip Hop.

Based on impact, who do you think should be inducted into the Hall of Fame? I think Kelly Clarkson, the first American Idol winner, should be considered for the Class of 2020!

XOXO,

Rockstar

Adventurously Eating African Food in Cleveland, OH

Published on June 21, 2019July 14, 2019 by Insider Irene1 Comment

When you think of Cleveland, OH you probably think of the Drew Carey Show and maybe the Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s doubtful to even consider a predominately Caucasian area to be home to authentic mouthwatering African cuisine; however, after extensive research with many positive reviews I was curious to see if Kifaya’s Kitchen’s would truly be a diamond in the rough.

My friend and I finished a day of exploring Garfield’s Memorial (post here) and another iconic landmark that you will get to read bout next week (!!!) and eagerly anticipated our dinner. We drove up to the hole-in-the-wall with some reservations as the exterior evoked a Chinese take-out vibe. Nevertheless the philsophy of “never judge a book by it’s cover” could not be more true here.

The menu was very simple with one page of offerings. We wanted to sample their goat dish; however, they were out so we settled on a chicken platter with rice and vegetables. For $16.10 we were given this massive plate and a side of salad. The charred chicken was a little dry, but the vegetable stew mixture with their rice was money. My friend and I kept scooping spoonfuls into our mouths. It was so delicious I can only imagine how delicious the goat would have tasted, but we did come at the tail end of the night. Overall, this quaint mom and pop shop was a win in my book and I recommend for locals and tourists alike to check ’em out.

Have you tried African food before?

XOXO,

Rockstar

Kifaya’s Kitchen
3650 W 117th St, Cleveland, OH 4411
(216) 219-8263

Hours
Sun – Sat: 11am – 9pm

Touring President James Garfield Memorial in Cleveland, OH

Published on June 19, 2019July 14, 2019 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

As I was researching things to do I came across Lakeview Cemetery as a popular attraction. I thought it was an unusual destination especially since Cleveland is known for the lively Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but many reviews commented on the spectacular architecture and stainless glass windows so I decided to make a it a pitstop on my Midwest Roadtrip.

James Garfield Memorial Photos

My friend and I drove into the cemetery and headed towards Section 18. While the cemetery was vast and had many elaborate tombstones spread across the plot of land, we found the memorial site fairly easily as it was the tallest building there. There were three floors and two narrow spiral staircases for patrons to climb. The artwork inside and outside were very ornate and because it was a sunny day we were able to see the vibrant colors shine through. My friend and I paid also our respects to the president in the crypt.

James Garfield was our 20th President; however his term was short lived as he was assassinated 6 months into his term. Nevertheless, he was an important figure in history as he was one of the first sitting members of Congress to be elected to the presidency. The exhibition is a great place to visit as it’s both educational and free!

Have you visited Cleveland? What’s a cool attraction you’ve seen?

XOXO,

Rockstar

President James Garfield Memorial – Lake View Cemetery
12316 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 421-2665

Hours: Garfield Memorial is undergoing a restoration process and will be CLOSED to the public from July 10 through at least July 24.

Apr 1 – Nov 19: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Open daily.

Forgoing the Fork and Knife to eat with my hands in a Kamayan Feast in Covina, CA

Published on June 14, 2019June 14, 2019 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

On my Facebook feed I saw video that featured an impressive spread of food laid across several banana leaves. There was rice, meat, fruit among other things and the video made me drool across my keyboard. I inquired about this custom with one of my Filipino friends and he asked if I was interested to partake in Kamayan Feast, also known as the the Boodle Fight. I instantly said yes!!

The video that I watched was a shop located in Anaheim, but this friend said that Nova’s Grill (Yelp) in Covina (while far) would be an authentic experience as he knew the owner and had visited in the past. And as an added bonus this boodle fight was basically $10 per person (minimum of 8 people). My friend make a reservation for 20 and we easily found friends to join in on the fun. We had two tables and were ready to devour everything!

The setup was quite impressive and for this location they gave every participate an entire fish! (!!!). At the center the table shrimp and sig sig (pork belly mixture) were communal offerings and lumpias (egg rolls) were scattered throughout the table. Initially I was hesitant on how to start, but after grabbing with my fingers, tearing pieces, and dipping them in the different mixtures was so much fun! There’s something really satisfying with eating with your hands and not worrying about making a mess. lol

Nova’s Grill

989 W San Bernardino RdCovina, CA 91722

(626) 316-0595

Have you tried boodle fight? What did you think?

XOXO,

Rockstar

Reliving the Wild Wild West at Knotts Berry Farms Ghost Town Alive Event in Buena Park, CA

Published on June 12, 2019June 1, 2019 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

My investment in the Knott’s Berry Farm Season Pass has been a worthwhile one as I’ve been a regular guest since the beginning of 2019. I’ve already visited several time for the Boysenberry Festival (Post Here), Peanut Celebration (Post Here), and even lost 12 lbs through my weekly walks (Post Here). Over Memorial Day weekend Knotts began their newest series – Ghost Town Alive, where guests can roam Ghost Town and see re-enactments before their eyes. I went during the opening weekend and had a blast! As you wander through the town you’ll pick up the paper with a “Founders Day” headline detailing the activities going on in town. There were several competitions including a pony race, bean bag toss, among others and guests can visit different shops to learn about the people who live there. I recommend you start your day at the Town Hall then check out the school-house next door for lessons. However, my absolute favorite part of the day was when they hosted the hoe-down! There was live music, a ringleader to lead us in the different routines and many adults and children alike participating.Ghost Town Alive runs daily from May 24th through to August 11th, then weekends only beginning on August 17th through September 1st. Gallop on over before it becomes a Ghost Town.

What role would you want to take? Sheriff? Teacher? Bank Teller? Comment below.

XOXO,

Rockstar