new places to eat good food

Not that I get out much, but I am excited about the opportunity to eat at two new restaurants in town. One being that Orchard Green on Gilbert and the other being the little authenic Mexican place on Market, Banditos. Food Food Food!

(I have to laugh at the comment in the Daily Iowan article about that neighborhood being “up and coming”).

company

Look, another Iowa City blog! It is called The Iowa Blog, and the dude writes a lot more about food and film. Plus photos!

goulish

Shadowy monster decoration at the Old Capitol Building during the Creepy Campus Crawl (where lots of fun was to be had!)

Your Halloween To Do List

For Kids & Families:

Friday Oct. 30th

5:00-8:00pm Iowa Children’s Museum Family Free Night and Art Adventure (Make Pasta Skeletons)

6:30-8:30pm Creepy Campus Crawl at Old Capitol and Natural History Museum

7:00-8:30pm Halloween Dance at North Liberty Community Library (for 5th and 6th graders)

Sat. Oct. 31st

9:00am-12:00pm Festival of Pumpkins at Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp

1:00pm Spooky Tales at Old Creamery Theatre in Amana

7:30pm-11:30pm Field of Screams haunted corn maze at 2971 Black Diamond Road SW

For Grown-Ups (sorta):

Friday Oct. 30th

7:30pm Zombie Prom the Musical by Iowa City Community Theatre

8:00pm Masquerade Ball at The Englert

8:30-10:30pm House of Iowa: Real Iowa Ghost Encounters Brought Back to Life at Stone City General Store (Stone City is about an hours drive away, but this sounds fun!)

10:30pm Wylde Nept Halloween Show at The Mill

Sat. Oct. 31st

8:00-11:00pm Halloween Costume Party and Dance at Iowa Theatre Artists Performing Arts Center in Amana

9:00pm Halloween Bash at the Mill

9:00pm Picador Halloween Bash

11:59 Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Englert

cats and dogs

We’ve been making some trips to the local animal shelters lately because my six-year-old has developed an obsession for dogs, and she’s not one to deny the affection of cats, either. We aren’t planning to get a dog at this time because we have two cats and a small place and because my dad is so extremely allergic to dogs he wouldn’t be able to hang out in our home for more than a short time without bringing on an asthma attack (though my heart strings get pulled, that’s for sure), but we figure it doesn’t hurt to visit. The animals get some extra attention and the kid gets a fix.

I’m a huge proponent of adopting animals from shelters rather than buying from pet stores or breeders. If you HAVE to have a certain breed or a small fluffy kind of dog, they certainly show up in the animal shelters, too. Other good things: you may save a life, or at least give an animal a home instead of a cage; you don’t contribute to the overpopulation of dogs and cats we have; you support the good work these shelters do; you avoid the stress of puppy training (unless you happen to get a puppy from the shelter); and finally, you get to experience the joy of bringing love to an unwanted animal. An animal like Ron.

Somebody please adopt Ron!

yay for the apple orchard!

I’m sad that I only went to Wilson’s Apple Orchard once this year. We were either too busy or the weather was bad. And now it is almost the end of October and Wilson’s will be closed until next year.

I can’t tell you how great it is to just be there, wandering through the apple trees, people passing by with barrels full. Ah, nature! And the apple turnovers are a must!

flawed

Leftover pumpkin patch pumpkins at Wilson’s Apple Orchard.

Local Green Cleaning

I am attracted to the idea of a “maid” service–someone coming in weekly to scrub my toilets and clean my floors, but besides the expense (which might be worth it if you can manage) I’ve been hesitant to have so many chemicals used in my home. I like to green clean–I use mostly products made without toxic chemicals (Method, Ecover, Seventh Generation, or just plain vinegar and baking soda). I’m pretty sure Merry Maids and Molly Maids aren’t going to spare me the bleach and windex.

But driving around town the other day I noticed a car advertising a local company called Clean Sweep that proclaims being eco friendly. At their website, I learned they use only 100% Child, Pet, and Eco-Friendly Cleaners! How nice! How refreshing.

The site doesn’t quote any prices–you have to call, unfortunately–but I think if or when I start finding this kind of service invaluable, it will be Clean Sweep that I call.

The Hancher Moved

I’m kinda bummed about the idea of a new spot for Hancher. I like it where it is–sort of on a hill, in a little university arts village. I suppose I’m equally depressed that the Art program now resides in a former Menards. Roll with the times, I guess. But still, it is cooler to have a walkable campus, no? I suppose downtown would be kind of exciting. And one could potentially dip into a local coffeeshop for an after show dessert and espresso. I know the other idea is to build close to where it currently resides, and I think that is the way I lean. Preserve an arts village. I suppose either way we aren’t going to have to drive to HWY 6 out by a car dealership. Poor art students.

Sand Cat?

One of the sculptures at Iowa City’s Sand in the City last weekend.