Rustbelt Rambler

Jack's New Hat

2012-02-14T07:03:00.007-08:00

So I haven't made a post in a long time, but this one is dedicated to my son Jack's new hat that I made him the other day. One of my more challenging projects, but worth it! The t-shirt is from westmama designs on etsy.com. My goal is to have a line of children's hats produced in the midwest so stay tuned!

I just made teensy hat for baby Donovan's trip home from the hospital. I'm hoping that will be soon, three more weeks to go!

Apple Picking!

2011-09-28T13:27:00.000-07:00

A great way to spend a weekend, and not to mention free entertainment for a 2 year old! Here's a few pictures of my family at a u-pick orchard outside of Chicago. We've already made applesauce and apple pie is next.

Lake Shore Limited

2011-02-03T17:58:00.000-08:00

Due to the Blizzard of the Century (strange to think that there have only been 11 years in this century) I was facing down the possibility of being stranded in New York City. Ordinarily this would sound enticing but I needed to get home to my family in Chicago. All Chicago airports were shut down so I decided to check out old fashioned rail travel.

So I embarked on an epic Amtrak train ride on the Lake Shore Limited Line. What was supposed to be roughly a 18 hour trip turned into 23 hours. But I have to say this is the way to go if you have the time; no lines, no body scanners, and a dining car to boot. All in all it was pretty relaxing and a good way to see the country. Upstate New York was the highlight of the trip, only wished I could have seen more of it before it grew dark. The snow made the trip all the more peaceful, looking out the window to see a farmhouse in a field covered by snow is soothing to the soul. There really is nothing like it.

Blizzard 2011

2011-02-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

I just arrived back in Chicago from an epic train trip via Amtrak from NYC to Chicago. I was greeted with piles and piles of snow, altogether it's over 2 feet!! I have to admit the snow is amazing and quite a sight to see. My husband took some pictures, to give a good idea of how much snow we have just take a look at my son Jack surrounded by a tunnel of snow!

Baby Jack!

2009-08-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

Baby Jack arrived on June 21st, 2009 in all his glory. The first Donovan (and Hopper) to hail from Chicago. We're excited to raise Jack as a "city baby" and hope to take advantage of all the amazing family activities the city has to offer. Here's a pic from our little guy's first train ride!

Baby on the way!

2009-06-13T09:18:00.001-07:00

It's been awhile since I've made any posts but I'll get back on the bandwagon soon. As soon as I have this baby next week... due on Father's Day, June 21st!

Here's a preggo pic of me at the beautiful Warren Dunes State Park on Lake Michigan. Kind of seems like the ocean compared to Lake Erie. I would highly recommend an outing there. This summer my husband and I plan to explore more of the "Third Coast" of Michigan with baby in tow.

Roll out the Barrel

2008-10-07T17:38:00.000-07:00

Quick quiz: What was once known as the brewing powerhouse of the Midwest?? Well I know this can be the claim to almost every Rustbelt enclave, but Milwaukee takes the cake. That and its claim to fame of the setting of a multitude of tv classics, and the mother of them all (Lavergne & Shirley if you haven't guessed it) involves both brewing and manufacturing so it's the best of both worlds. Also found out that up until fairly recently Milwaukee had a quasi-Socialist government. Hurray for public works.
(Yes that is a beer chalice)

Ohio in Chicago...

2008-03-30T09:03:00.000-07:00

Well I'm off to live in yet another Rustbelt city. The grand dame of them all: Chicago. While I'm sad (kind of, it's that love/hate relationship thing) to leave Ohio, I was in Chicago the other weekend and came across a marvelous place called the Ohio House Hotel, a throwback to the era of the motel heyday if there ever was one. I thought of it as a sign (no pun intended) of reassurance from the Buckeye state, casting its glow of approval to my most recent change of locale. Must be some sort of Manifest Destiny, to reach the western-most point of the red zone...

Cookies

2008-02-21T14:15:00.000-08:00

I was in NYC over the weekend and came across the cutest cookie bakery called Eleni's. We got there just in time for the half-price sale (AKA: getting rid of the old stuff). Still good, but next time I'll stop in first thing in the morning for the fresh baked goodies...

Rustbelt Sway

2008-02-20T15:41:00.000-08:00

Apparently Hillary has paid her dues in the Rustbelt over the past week. Speaking to a large union audience in Youngstown, OH, she said something to the extent of "Some people may think of this as the Rustbelt, but I see it as an area of opportunity".

It made me stop and think that my Rustbelt Rambler post name may conjure up images of despair and neglect. For clarification, I would like to say that I hope this is not the case and I would like to use it rather as a term of endearment and use this forum to highlight the positive aspects of this area. So, political beliefs aside, thank you Hillary for paying a tribute to the iron oxide region. Now Obama better get over here to do the same!!

Rustbelt Defined

2008-02-08T15:11:00.001-08:00

Ever wondered what "officially" defines the rustbelt? Well here's a visual for you straight from Wikipedia:
(It kind of looks like one of those maps of your body where the problem areas are in red. Hmm, I wonder what that means...)

I recently found out that the Rustbelt starts "west of the Bosnywash corridor and running west to eastern Wisconsin". What is this Bosnywash??? Just a fancy word for the Northeast megalopolis. I propose that a similiar term is coined for the Rustbelt. How about Paohmiil? Or just Pail for short. Or maybe Ohpa. Or Chicmich. I think I'll have to work on this.

Obama/Clinton Debate in Cleveland

2008-02-08T15:02:00.000-08:00

Finally, they're focusing their efforts on the Midwest! It's about time...

I'm leaning toward the change agent. Oh wait, which one was that again?

Buy Handmade!

2008-01-28T17:46:00.000-08:00

I've decided join the handmade revolution that has swept the nation, otherwise known as Etsy. Check out my online shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5545506 where you can buy handmade dolls and quirky plush items. Skeptical of buying something handmade over the internet instead of going to your holiday craft show or neighborhood store?? Well, I was too until I found out that you can still support the locals, just click on the "Shop Local" tab to find other crafters/artists in your area!!

A few of my favorite things...

2008-01-28T10:23:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you but this long, cold winter has definitely got me down. So, as the song goes, I'll simply remember my favorite things and then I won't feel so bad. As this is an ode to the Rustbelt, I'm going to share a few of my favorite places that can be enjoyed all year long so we don't have to wait until the sun starts shining again to venture out.

First off is the Westside Market in Cleveland, a fabulous city landmark on the corner of W.25th & Lorain if there ever was one. If the food isn't enough to entice you the historic structure is definitely a draw for architecture buffs.

Now, if you find yourself in Southeast Michigan, I would highly recommend a stop in Ypsilanti's Depot Town. Often overshadowed by its larger neighbor Ann Arbor, historic Depot Town is a quaint village with a nice selection of shops and restaurants. I've yet to get there during the summer but apparently there are quite a few festivals and events including an Elvisfest!!
Check out those cute, colorful buildings and visit www.depottown.org.

This next one takes the cake: Rustbelt Books in Buffalo, New York. I mean it has rustbelt right there in its name, what pride! I haven't been there in quite some time but I remember it to be one of those cozy corner bookshops with an atmosphere that you just can't find at a big box conglomerate. It's on Allen St. in downtown Buffalo, so check it out next time you're in that neck of the woods.

Ok, so it might not be that exciting but next time you are in downtown Perrysburg, Ohio, I highly suggest you stop by and take a gander at the immortalized Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry overlooking the great Maumee. As the "Hero of Lake Erie" he was quite the handsome brut back in his day when he was in the Battle of Lake Erie (1813). Take a look at those mutten chops, not to mention that his middle name is "Hazard"!!

A few more of my favorite things:

Beer and blimp lovers out there: a blimp-shaped beer tap! This used to be at the Lime Spider in downtown Akron, I'm not sure if the new owners of Lockview have kept it or not but it is worth a trip to find out!

Right in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio is a slice of the Southwest. On Chestnut St. is what I call
"Adobe Row", the cutest houses you've ever seen:

Welcome to the Rustbelt Rambler!

2008-01-28T08:29:00.000-08:00

I'm new at this blog thing, so it will take a day or two to get this up and running... check back soon for posts, comments, etc.