Maybe you can go home again... (Part 1)

Get ready for an epically long post... ;)
This summer, I took advantage of our shutdown time at work to take a full week off and drive back to Michigan. Yes, a little insane (especially with my insistence on making the drive each way in one day), but worth it to have the mobility once I made it there. It was so wonderful to get to catch up with friends from so many stages of my life, from childhood to my last job before leaving for Boston.
I drove into the Metro Detroit area first (after a slight disagreement with Pennsylvania, where road construction added a couple hours onto my drive...sigh) to stay with Shelley, one of my (old) work besties. She was dog/housesitting, so as a bonus I got to play with an adorable pup!

On Sunday, we participated in a fundraiser event put on by her barre studio, Barre Code Metro Detroit, at Atwater Brewery. Nothing better than barre + beer + raising money for an animal shelter! Naturally we followed this up with brunch-at Vinsetta Garage, a restaurant I had actually been wanting to try back when I did a show with Birmingham Village Players. It was worth the wait!

On Monday morning I drove into Ann Arbor to spend some time just wandering around my hometown (and shopping for Alvan's birthday present!) and spend time with friends who live there. I hit up Roo's Roast for breakfast-my favorite avocado toast in Michigan and amazing coffee-then wandered around all my favorite stores downtown. Naturally I went to the M Den (where I limited myself to just one sweatshirt!), but also made it into Shinola, Cherry Republic, Rock Paper Scissors, and Literati (where I did not manage to limit myself to just one book...oops). I need to do some more research into Boston bookstores, as I'm sure there are wonderful ones...but I just miss Literati so!

obsessed with the food & drink section here!

I then met Elizabeth, a friend from the Ann Arbor theatre scene (particularly Brass Tacks Ensemble) for lunch at Sava's and a stroll through the Arboretum. It was a hot and humid day, but there was no way I was passing on the Arb-I love it not only for the natural beauty but also memories it holds from my childhood all the way through Shakespeare comedy performances with the Residential College Players (you never forget it when you have to spring through the woods on a hot summer night in Elizabethan dress to beat the audience!).

I had to get some ice cream at Blank Slate Creamery, of course-they have the best flavors and I love that it is all made fresh from quality ingredients! I then decided to take full advantage of happy hour (as it doesn't exist in Boston-which just drives me crazy) at the Raven's Club. I always love trying out their seasonal infused vodkas!

That evening I got see a number of people-first dinner with Alex (we became friends in middle school when I did my first play with Ann Arbor Civic Theatre) at Jolly Pumpkin, then sangria with Megan (friends since I volunteered to be her buddy when she transferred schools in 6th grade) at Aventura, then some of my trivia crew-Joe, Steve A, and PJ-where Megan and I helped them secure first place in the final round.

Tuesday was pretty chill, as it was planned entirely around lunch and dinner plans. I did make sure to go by Zingerman's for breakfast-and a couple drinks to take home-where I wondered why I couldn't just have leisurely mornings with pain au chocolat and café au lait all the time.

Megan and I had made reservations at the Lunch Room's new restaurant, the Detroit Street Filling Station, as it was their soft open-perfect timing, right? The food was fantastic and I cannot wait to go back (someday) now that they have a full menu-and to hit up the Diner & Canteen for some vegan ice cream treats!

Megan refused to take a photo with me...so I made her dog, Sophie, take one instead!

Tuesday evening I got to have a reunion of sorts with my old coworkers, my warriors of love. Binh hosted us all and it was truly fantastic to get to catch up with everybody. I have become close with some of my coworkers here, but there was something magical about our relationships there.

Stay tuned for part 2...I promise it is waaaay shorter!

xoxoxo
Emma

Reading in D.C.

One of my favorite things to do when visiting any city is to hit up the local bookstore(s). D.C. certainly has no shortage-I managed to visit three and definitely have many more I need to make it to!

Unsurprisingly, many of these bookstores have a political bent. The store that is connected the restaurant/cafe Busboys and Poets makes that very clear with the name Politics and Prose. I couldn't resist getting two books for myself in addition to a gift for my dad. Mine naturally revolve around feminism-Rebecca Solnit's follow up to Men Explain Things to Me, the Mother of All Questions, and a discussion on the rise of the single woman, Rebecca Traister's All the Single Ladies. It's always reassuring to read work by and about women with similar attitudes to mine regarding marriage and children. 

Hannah is lucky enough to have an adorable used bookstore, Idle Time Books, around the corner from her apartment-and they're hiring! If I lived there, I would have applied in a heartbeat. Their cookbook and food writing section is fantastic, though I did manage to limit myself to purchasing only one book. 

On my last morning in D.C. I went to breakfast at the Potter's House, another combination coffee shop and bookstore. They are very social justice oriented, with a pay-what-you-can soup of the day and an atmosphere welcoming to those who might not have anywhere else to wait out a rainstorm. I missed out on the vegan bacon and sausage, as Monday is their produce delivery day and they make it all in-house, but the granola with Greek yogurt and latte were an excellent lighter breakfast. I could have happily purchased every book in the store, but had to hold myself back due to limited space in my "personal item" and knowing I was already very weighed down! I know I'll be returning when I visit Hannah next.

Any bookstore recommendations for my next visit?

xoxoxo

Emma