Beer and Tots at The Grumpy Troll

Summer days at Grumpy Troll Brew Pub are a must, even if you don't live in Mt. Horeb. For those of you outside the Wisconsin area, Mt. Horeb is the troll capital of the world.

The brew pub has its share of trolls, along with delicious food and beer. During my recent visit, I devoured their version of a veggie burger (sans the bun), must-have sweet potato tots, and a sampling of their current tap list. There is a delightful patio that will keep you cool even on the hottest of days.
http://thegrumpytroll.com/

Don't touch my tots

Thirst quenchers

Trust me - you won't be grumpy

Take a stroll around the immediate area to see how many trolls you can find. Here's my catch for the day...

Feeling small

They ride bikes

American Gothic trolls

The cutest *troll* of all right here😃 The drinking fountain has a lower dispenser for dogs - what a great idea!

Next time, I hit the pizzeria🍕

DAY TRIPPING IN MILWAUKEE

I haven't spent any time in Milwaukee of late, so I decided a day trip was in order. Unfortunately, Mother Nature elected to be bipolar with a high of 52°. Couple that with strong winds, and I was running more than walking.

My day began with a tour at Clock Shadow Creamery (http://bit.ly/1HyXJyj). The creamery is located in the Walker's Point district, and I took a stroll after to see what the area had to offer. I was happy to unearth some interesting street art and architecture.

Lunch was to be consumed at the Public Market, where my mind was spinning with indecisiveness. Ultimately, I picked a combo meal at Aladdin and did I choose wisely, because it really hit the spot. http://bit.ly/1Gtroym. Be sure to sip a coffee on the fabulous sidewalk patio at Colectivo across the street.

In my book, no trip to Milwaukee would be complete without a photo op with the Fonz. Ayyy.... 

Due to the weather, my time near the lake was brief; however, I was able to capture a pretty cool photo at the entrance of the fascinating Milwaukee Art Museum.

At last, my highly anticipated jaunt to Lakefront Brewery was about to begin. This delightful brewery earned its own special accolade http://bitly.com/1K6XCNq.

I was a bit discombobulated after exiting Lakefront, getting lost en route to Benelux, my dinner destination. I wound up having to dine at a place near the bus depot, which was nothing to write home about. Benelux will have to wait until next time.

Caught the rowing team in action

 

How gorgeous is this combination?

I look forward to a number of summer days in Milwaukee, and will be keeping an eye on this event schedule.  http://bit.ly/1dWM59D
 

See my NYC in a day!

Summer has arrived and that always makes me think of one of my favorite U.S. cities.  That city would be New York City, also known as The Big Apple and The City that Never Sleeps.

The city can be overwhelming, especially for first-timers. It's ginormous and offers visitors more options than most people have time. Therefore, I decided to share my favorite summertime activities that can easily be done in a full day or an overnighter.

1)  Rooftop Films - This may be the coolest thing I have done in NYC. Picture yourself on top of a building with cocktails, live music and an outdoor film. It's a magical event that everyone needs to experience at least once.  http://rooftopfilms.com/2014/schedule/

Photo courtesy freewilliamsburg.com

2)  The Staten Island Ferry - The ferry is an impressive ship to hitch a ride and guide you between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island. It's a 5-mile, 25 minute ride and it's free! The views are breathtaking, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  http://www.siferry.com/Default.aspx

Photo courtesy en.wikipedia.org

3)  Central Park - Absolutely no trip to NYC would be complete without visiting Central Park. Yes, you can definitely spend a full day here, but again, if you are pressed for time, it's worth spending at least a couple of hours strolling around.  http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/

One of my favorite personal shots

4)  Candle Cafe - This vegetarian restaurant is my favorite place to fill up on ridiculously delicious, healthy food. Pinky swear that you don't have to be vegetarian to thoroughly enjoy their food!  http://www.candlecafe.com/

Chipotle Crusted Tempeh Special taken from their Facebook page

There you have it! A fantastic summer day in NYC, and now I'm ready to book a flight.