Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

Wisconsin

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Lazy Saturday: Nieman Orchards

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Our Fall + Funvember list is coming along pretty well. We checked off scary movies, a dinner party and Wine + Harvest Fest, and we’re working on Twin Peaks right now. But you know a good fall checklist isn’t any good without some standards, namely apple picking. So this past Saturday, Michael and I headed out to Nieman Orchards in Cedarburg.

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We’ve picked at Nieman’s something like five times now – it’s definitely in tradition territory. Every year is the same song and dance: ultra nice people, tons of apples, giant pumpkins and the best apple cider – they make it right there and leave out all that processing that takes out that fall flavor. Seriously, it’s good stuff (and it’s also on our list).

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And this time around, it truly was a lazy Saturday: got up, putzed around, went to the orchard, got home and changed into jammies for a few episodes of the aforementioned Twin Peaks. Essentially, it was the best kind of day.

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You know what the real kicker was for Saturday? What made it just about perfect? Annual Garfield photos. Michael and I used to love us some Garfield, and this little cutout just kills us.

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Hey There, Hayward

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Hey, ladies and gents! I’m finally back from my northwoods vacation. I will say it feels pretty good to be back at home with Michael and the cats, but I’ll also say that I do miss the weirdness of northern Wisconsin already. So with that in mind I thought I’d show you a few of my favorite stops on our day trip to Hayward.

OK, out-of-towners, get ready for a lesson in northern Wisconsin quirk. Hayward is way way up there. It’s the biggest town for miles and therefore the place to be. I’ll be honest, there’s not much to it (the whole town has about 2,000 people after all), but I love it nonetheless. So here’s a rundown of my three favorite locales just in case anyone is looking. 🙂

Moccasin Bar

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I’ll start with the stop closest to my heart in the weirdest way: the Moccasin Bar. You can’t miss this place. Besides being right off the main drag, it’s also a glorious eyesore. I mean that with great affection (I have wall-to-wall green shag carpeting after all). The place stands out with its mint green siding and musky sign. If I’m a sucker for anything, it’s a massive pop of color and vintage Wisconsin.

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OK, I’m also a sucker for a good old fashioned. The Moccasin bar doesn’t have good old fashioneds, though – they have great ones. I don’t know what the bartender did to my standard brandy sweet, but it was incredible. Heavy on the bitters, this cocktail went down easy – I could have sat there all day.

Ben Franklin

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I’ve got a real soft spot for Ben Franklin stores. For starters, I’m a crafter. Beyond that, though, my first job was at my hometown’s successor to Ben Franklin – Banner Crafts – and because of that, I’ll always love these sorts of local craft stores. Hayward’s compact store is a real treat with a pretty incredible fabric selection. There are aisles jam-packed with some adorable quilting cotton and flannel. It’s no Mood (for you Project Runway fans), but the selection is actually pretty impressive. I grabbed a little tipi fabric because I couldn’t help myself. I’m thinking one day I’ll make it into some pillowcases or maybe a little tote. Who knows – I’m still sitting on a cut of 60s-inspired fabric from my trip last year that I said was going to be a kitchen curtain.

Tremblay’s

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I’m pretty sure I saved the best for last. Tremblay’s Sweet Shop, or as my family calls it: Taffy Town, is the highlight of our trip. My family has been going up north to the Hayward area for 15+ years now, and after all this time Tremblay’s is still a highlight for us all. Every year it’s the same song and dance with us: we file in, my Aunt Mary hands us all a basket, we load up on taffy in every flavor you could ever want (even though my favorites are the ultra-basic chocolate and mint).

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But beyond a great selection of taffy, Tremblay’s has gummies galore, kid candy abound and some damn good chocolately treats. This year I grabbed some sea salt caramels and chocolate covered Oreos for me and handful of chocolate-nut combos for Michael. Oh – and peanut butter fudge. I saw a slab of it sitting on the counter by the register and had to ask what it was because OMG it looked incredible. Because the girl at the counter was very kind (or an excellent salesperson) she let me try it, and because I’m a sucker I took home a half pound then and there.

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This mini list doesn’t even cover all the awesome and weird and weirdly awesome things Hayward has to offer, but it’s a little start if you’re bumming around. If you need a few more ideas, I’d recommend West’s Dairy for a scoop of ice cream (they were closed by the time we got there this year – bummer), the Fishing Hall of Fame if you’re into having your picture taking in a giant musky mouth and Outdoor Ventures if you’re in need of outdoorsy things and like having nice people help you.

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The Greatest Thing: Supper Clubs

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Let’s get this out in the open: I love supper clubs. Ever since I’ve been a kid, I’ve loved them. There’s something to be said about weird mid-century vibes, wood paneling and more kiddie cocktails than you can handle.

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But let’s back up for a second, because chances are that non-Midwesterners are a little lost here. Supper clubs are really just a specific type of restaurant that you’re likely to find in small towns and tourist spots. They’ve got a pretty limited menu – we’re talking prime rib, steaks, a Friday fish fry and maybe a lazy Susan of crudites. There’s also a standard roster of supper club drinks which are all my favorites: the brandy old fashioned sweet, Grasshoppers and Brandy Alexanders.

When Michael and I found out we were going to Door County for our honeymoon, I immediately declared that we had to go to the Greenwood. The Greenwood was one of my favorite places growing up. The French fried chicken was to die for and the kiddie cocktails always came with extra cherries. That’s what I’m talking about.

The first night of the ol’ honeymoon we donned our finest vacation garb and headed up to Fish Creek. I hadn’t been in a dozen years and I was desperately hoping it was as I remembered. And to my great pleasure, not a thing had changed. Murals of Door County landmarks still graced the walls, the tables engraved with maple leaf designs were still shining and it was just as dimly lit as I remembered – sheer supper club perfection.

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Because we are Wisconsinites through and through, we ordered brandy old fashioneds and followed our dinner up with Grasshoppers at the bar. And either because we are very adorable, the only people at the bar or the youngest people in the joint by 25 years, we got our picture posted on their Facebook page. Day maker for sure.

Now I know I haven’t done the topic justice, so I recommend Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old Fashioned Experience for those of you that know and love these places just as I do.

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Door County Days

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If you grew up in Wisconsin (or Illinois I suppose), chances are you’ve been to Door County. It’s just a vacation staple in these parts, and I spent many a summer in Ephraim sightseeing and eating all the candy I could get my hands on. That being said, I haven’t been up to the peninsula in ages and was starting to miss its maritime charm.

Lucky for me and Michael, my Aunt Debby and close family friend Jean swooped in with just about the best wedding gift a couple of lovebirds could ask for: a honeymoon trip up to Door County. I’m telling you it was just the ticket.

I can’t begin to tell you about the must-see sights and must-eat eats, but I’ll fill you in on a few.

Let’s start with our home base for this whole affair: Sturgeon Bay. Growing up, I only saw Sturgeon Bay as we passed through it, thinking it wasn’t really that Door County compared to the rest of the peninsula. Well, I was a fool because Sturgeon Bay is great.

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Our home for the trip was The Foxglove Inn. This place! How can I tell you how great it is? I can’t because its charm is beyond words, truly the stuff of dreams.

This little inn had it all. Beautiful rooms filled with the most opulent but comfortable accommodations, and the most lovely, thoughtful owners. They have the greatest eye for detail and I can’t tell you how much I love that. And did I mention they deliver a beautiful and and totally delicious breakfast every morning? Because they do, and it is to die for.

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Michael and I were also fortunate enough to catch the tail end of Steel Bridge Song Fest, a music festival led by the owners of the Holiday Music Motel, which is so cool in its own right. Michael and I stayed their for a short weekend years ago and that place is killer – but that’s another can of worms. We stopped by for a few tunes and loved it.

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But enough about Sturgeon Bay and its many charms. Onward and upward into the peninsula! On our full day, Michael and I decided to hike Peninsula State Park – or at least a small part of it. The park is giant and is filled with trails, a lighthouse, lookout points, beaches, a fire tower and so so much more.

Growing up, I had a real thing for lighthouses; I read everything I could about the Great Lakes variety and all the potential ghost stores that went with them. When I met Michael, I found out that he also had an interest in lighthouses (although not with the strange specificity), and we bonded – talk about a love connection. To get to the point, when we came up to Door County, we knew we had to get some lighthouse sightseeing in, and Eagle Bluff (which is inside the park) was the perfect place to start.

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There are ten other lighthouses scattered across Door County. We knew we couldn’t fit all of them in (or at least the ones open to the public), so I decided to get the most bang for our buck and drove Michael up to the very tip of the peninsula where I knew we could spot a two from the ferry dock at Gills Rock: Plum Island and Pilot Island Lighthouses.

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The one way off in the distance is Pilot Island, and it’s creepy as hell. It used to be called Porte des Morts – yeah that’s right “death’s door.” The passage between the point of the peninsula and Washington Island is known as Death’s Door because it was historically difficult to navigate and was home to many a shipwreck. That’s one thing, but naming a lighthouse and island after death is even creepier to me. I like to imagine this place is haunted. It’s not hard to do with the dead trees and ominous old light out there.

But enough about that for now. I’ll add in a few lighthearted stops. First, a total Door County standard: Wilson’s. This 1950s ice cream parlor scoops cones high and dishes full. I’m not one to bail on my ice cream, but I couldn’t do it, boys and girls. I couldn’t make it to the bottom of my cone for the surprise jelly bean at the bottom. I’m a little embarrassed.

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I saved the best stop for last, though. It was pure serendipity that we came across my favorite childhood stop, a shop that was hardly ever open, but when it was – oh when it was! – it was home to all things cat. That’s right, the one and only Kitty Korner.

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I won’t lie to you – we spent a good amount on cat toys and catnip here. And that smile is 100 percent sincere.

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Lazy Saturday: Sinsinawa Mound

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This Saturday I paid a visit to my great-aunt Sister Pat – seriously the most wonderful little old lady you could ever meet – at her convent in Sinsinawa, WI. I haven’t been down to the Mound (what her order calls their motherhouse) in over a decade, so she took me on a tour and, like Pat, it was delightful.

I know this may seem like an unusually religious post coming from someone that isn’t particularly fervent in her faith, but the Sinsinawa Mound is beautiful in a historical and architectural way. Plus, my aunt is very proud of this space and I want to show it off for her to a generation that is under 60 – and I mean that in the best way possible.

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The space above (with my two lovely aunts looking on) is Pat’s pride and joy. It’s impossible to get a good photo of how pretty it is, so you’ll have to deal with what I’m giving you here, but know that it’s a stunning round room surrounded completely by technicolor  stained glass panels designed by one of the sisters in the early 1960s. For a chapel, it’s pretty rad.

From there, Pat took us all over the complex, and I do mean complex; it’s got another chapel, apartments, housing for nuns, an auditorium, a library, a bakery (shoutout for the best cinnamon bread), a labyrinth, and wayyy more. In its heyday, this place housed hundreds of nuns so it had to be big, and it had to accommodate all of these ladies’ needs from spiritual to intellectual to physical.

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My favorite part of the whole tour was the original St. Clara’s Academy and old chapel, built in the 1860s. This imposing and beautiful sight was what my aunt first saw when her mother and brother brought her to Sinsinawa. Just imagine being dropped off in what I’m sure felt like the middle of nowhere at a place like this.

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Isn’t this some real Trouble With Angels type scenery? And if you haven’t seen that movie – Catholic or not – you have to; it’s got Hayley Mills and some perfect 60 vibes.

Sinsinawa Mound

All this church talk might be sort heavy, so I have to share you a little story with you. Pat’s been having some problems with her cell phone. It could be that she’s in southwestern Wisconsin (notorious for bad cell service), it could be that she’s not very familiar with the technology, or it could be that she’s using a flip phone from 2005. Whatever the case, Pat didn’t know how to operate its camera. So when I asked if she’d like to see a picture of my tree that I had on my phone, and she said, “Sure. Do you want to see one of the inside of my pocket?” And we all had one of those great laughs that families only have on sitcoms.

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Well, I hope I haven’t lost all of you on this one. I’ll be back soon with some craft posts and a fun announcement!

 

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Lazy Saturday: Halloween Legends and Lore

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Like most couples in their mid-twenties, Michael and I spent our Saturday night wandering around Old World Wisconsin. Oh wait – no one else does that? For shame because Old World Wisconsin’s Halloween Legends and Lore was awesome.

For you Wisconsin kids that didn’t end up there on a field trip as a child, let me give you the gist: it’s a giant outdoor museum with dozens of historic buildings you can check out with reenactors to show you the ropes. But let me tell you, their Halloween event is crazy cool – at least to history nerds like me.

Lazy Saturday: Old World Wisconsin Legends and Lore

Now let me geek out at you for a few paragraphs. Michael and I got there and we jumped right into the action, visiting each building where there’d be actors telling a story, playing a game or acting out a spooky tale. We started out learning about the legend of the Ban Sidhe (or banshee) and that woman could scream. She was so cool and I totally regret not taking a photo with her and her spot-on costume. On the plus side, I did get to hang out with this vampire. Terrifying.

Lazy Saturday: Old World Wisconsin Legends and Lore

Things got spooky when the sun went down. We checked out this haunted house. Ooooh spooky bride! It was totally my favorite vignette of the evening. Michael and I walked in, and we were greeted by a woman in mourning and she proceeded to tell us how her son-in-law just passed away and that Michael reminded her of him “only much less attractive,” and I had a good little giggle. And of course there was a good corpse bride scare.

Lazy Saturday: Old World Wisconsin Legends and Lore

We ended our evening with the tale of Baba Yaga and Vasalisa. The only thing I remembered of the folk tale was that Baba Yaga rides on a mortar and pestle, and if that’s not enough to send you into a Wikipedia wormhole, then you have higher standards than I do (but still check it out).

Lazy Saturday: Old World Wisconsin Halloween Legends and Lore

This is probably on the more obscure end of Halloween activities, but it was totally my favorite yet. If you’re intrigued, check it out! You’re last chance is October 31!

 

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Lazy Saturday: Apple Picking

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Every year my boyfriend fiancé Michael and I make a list of all the fun things we want to do in fall. This year we’ve got a Spoon show crossed off, watching American Horror Story in the works, and of course a few fall standards like apple picking and pumpkin carving. This year, like last year and the year before (I like my traditions), we went picking at Nieman Markets in Cedarburg.

Lazy Saturday: Apple Picking

Like every year, we had a great time running around the orchard snapping pictures and picking all sorts of apples. I climbed a particularly gnarly tree too thinking it would make for fun pictures, but I got stuck like a cat. Let’s pretend that didn’t happen and you can just look at this rustic old barn instead. Oooh!

Lazy Saturday: Apple Picking

After getting stuck, losing a lens cap, and lugging two bags of apple out of the orchard, we snagged a gallon of fresh-pressed apple cider and picked a few pumpkins to make it an exceptionally seasonal outing. And before we left, I convinced Michael to do my favorite thing: pose with Garfield. Success!

Lazy Saturday: Apple Picking

Hope your weekend was as fun (and Garfield-filled)!