At My Witte's End!

While strolling around the little downtown square in Marion today, after a painfully coffee-less morning, we stumbled upon Witte's End coffeehouse. Inside this little brick house you'll find a series of rooms containing an eclectic and charming array of goodies for the eyes as well as the taste buds. My husband and I both savored a beautifully frothy cappuccino while our 8-month old son enjoyed all the colorful artwork. Whether you choose to bask in the sun on the patio or cozy up on the couch, it's a delightful place to enjoy a cup of joe, or a fizzy Italian soda. I look forward to making this my new "hangout." It's the perfect place to enjoy a homemade scone and get morning caffeine jolt. I also anticipate that the bookshelves filled with inspiring artwork will give me plenty of food for thought.

http://uptownmarion.com/directory.html?item=10

Cool Colorful Kid's Clothes

The other day, I got a fun catalogue in the mail that I just could not put down. Mini Boden is the brainchild of Johnnie Boden, who started the company in 1991. He creates bright, colorful clothes that are as much fun to wear as they are to look at. They're also made to last and manufactured with the environment in mind. Best of all...they offer grown-up garb too!

www.bodenusa.com

Zin's Will Make You Sin!

Okay, maybe not literally. But their drinks ARE sinful! My favorites:

Rye & Sweet: Iowa's own prohibition Templeton Rye & Fever Tree's premium ginger ale.

Hendrick's & Tonic: Obviously, Hendrick's gin with Fever Tree's premium tonic and a cucumber garnish. It is so good!

For your sweet tooth, try the Cucumber Mojito or Rhubarbarita.

Located in downtown Cedar Rapids, Zin's serves small plates meant for sharing. Like a Spanish tapas restaurant, each serving is made of "small bites" so you get to sample as many as your little heart desires.

With a name like Zin's, I guess the wine is really the focus. But, if I were you, I'd stick with their great list of "classic cocktails" with an innovative twist.

Try the tater tots with homemade ketchup. The mac & cheese is also worth the price of admission. The very iron chefy-style desert "Bacon & Eggs" does not disappoint! (Literally, bacon dipped in chocolate with savory sea salt. Trust me. It's fantastic!)

The atmosphere is bumping (by Cedar Rapids standards) and Keeley, behind the bar, is the best.

www.zinsrestaurant.com

High Tech Home

See some of my favorite household gadgets in my latest High Tech Home article in Southern California Spaces and Twin Cities Spaces magazines...

http://www.spacesmag.com/la/index.php?src=news&srctype=detail&category=Department&refno=101

Glass Act

Four gorgeous hand-blown chandeliers by Kaindl, commissioned by the iconic Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Words fail when describing the premium custom art glass created by Robert Kaindl. Based in Washington State, his new chandelier collection was designed "to be completely functional, illuminated from within, which mimics the fire from which it was created."

Check out his sexy website:

http://www.robertkaindl.com/index.htm

Ahhhhh, finally!

A restaurant in Cedar Rapids that feels like Los Angeles.

Blend is a downtown gem featuring a progressive-American menu. The atmosphere is clean, modern and comfortable. Crisp white linens contrast with richly colored walls and high-back (comfy) leather chairs. The dining room features a waterfall wall, perhaps standing in defiance of last year's flood that destroyed so many downtown businesses, including blend. Funky reggae music and a menu that changes monthly prove that blend truly is a mixture reliable eclecticism.

They offer a "Sushi of the Day" on the dinner menu. And it was tasty! Need I say more?

www.blendcr.com

Welcome to dine-life!

For a gourmet, wine is not a drink but a condiment, provided that your host has chosen correctly."
Edouard De Pomaine, French author

Now, I'm no gourmet, but I know what I like. And this blog is designed to share with you the things I come across that enrich my life. Be they food, wine, a great bag, a cool new toy for my adventurous 8-month-old, a poem, a song or a work of art, these are the things that make me smile.

enjoy!