The prompt for this blog post was to take one photo, each hour of the day for twelve hours. The inspiration was to capture these images with Dave’s Canon, with the intent of becoming more familiar with his camera.
Neither intent or purpose made it. I took photos throughout the day with my iPhone, because I have no clue where the Canon decided to hibernate. Also, because I chose Saturday, the day we both are at Tocororo, it was busy as hell and I did not have a spare moment for every hour we were there.
An attempt was made. Behold:
Bright eyed & bushy tailed in Eastern Market, kicking off the workday with fresh flowers for the tables at Tocororo, and loads caffeine.
The market was a little on the empty side, and we nabbed a great parking spot. We therefore assumed that we wouldn’t be a very busy day. We were wrong.
I failed to take a picture an hour, however, I did manage to get some foodie + drink pics for Toco’s socials. A Cajun chicken thigh sammie, which is a new menu item. And rum, because rum bar (also, the box is pretty).
Almost end-of-shift boop w/the Toco kids!
I finished up a little earlier than Dave, so I sat at the bar noodling out some ideas for upcoming posts when a wild Nekita appeared!
Nekita works at Lagerhaus No. 5, a brewery we frequent in the market. She is also a fellow neurodivergent-crafty kid, and one of the besties.
Dave and I then decided to grab a post-work drink at Detroit City Distillery, also located in Eastern Market. They are still decked out for the holidays, so it is festive af in there.
We then headed up to Ferndale to celebrate the birth of another bestie, Aaron! I also failed to take a photo of said kid. Instead, enjoy this photo of Dave, Paige, Dwayne, Nick, et moi.
I have high hopes of doing a series of these posts, hopefully taking photos once per hour and not at random, and with the intent of using all of our cameras. That being said, stay tuned! Hopefully I won’t fuck it up next round!
βIn October any wonderful unexpected thing might be possible.β
– Elizabeth George Speare
A beautiful Sunday off during my absolute favorite, and, simultaneously busiest month of the year? Gallivanting about, dressed like vampires in Detroit’s oldest (and rumored to be haunted, because of course it is) cemetery? On a quintessential, fall as fuck day? How wonderfully unexpected!
Mostly because we had gone out the night before, after working all day, and stayed up way too late like the feral freaks we are.
We had dressed as vampires for Creepy Cheapy, a super-fun Halloween event in Pontiac, MI. It was too dark to take decent photos, and when we finally arrived we found our friends and immediately became complete menaces. Needless to say, we had a good time.
Waking up the next morning and finding the motivation to put our entire costumes back on and document it? Wonderfully unexpected, indeed.
Behold! The Elmwood Historic Cemetery:
Established in 1846, Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit is one of Michigan’s most important historic cemeteries. Located in Detroit’s Eastside Historic Cemetery District, Elmwood is the oldest, continuously operating, non-denominational cemetery in Michigan.
Elmwood is approximately eighty-six(ish) acres, a certified arboretum, and recognized as a significant site for the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, by the National Parks Service of the United States Department of the Interior. There are several famous and well-regarded humans buried in Elmwood’s grounds, rumored ghosts, and ghostly markers with interesting history, but most importantly, IMO, it is gorgeous as hell.
The design and layout of the park was created to preserve and enhance the natural land; groves, hills, beautiful trees, vegetation, and, a historic creek: The Bloody Run.
Elmwood Cemetery contains the only part of the creek that is open and visible, and most likely where all the ghosts like to hang.
Many thanks to Frederick Law Olmsted: landscape architect! (RIP)
Dave and I had made plans last October to visit Elmwood, however, our schedules rudely prevented it. I was elated to finally get to see it in all of its glory, although I would like to make a return visit on a gloomy day. You know, for the “mood” and all.
Speaking of, it could have been the beautiful weather, the fun of taking photos, the confusion on the two different tourist groups faces at the sight of a couple of idiots dressed as vampires, but, Elmwood did not feel haunted. I have only ever felt unwelcome at one cemetery, The Ganong Cemetery in Westland, MI. All of the other cemeteries that I have visited have actually felt very calming, and welcoming. Or, my ghost spidey-sense is broken.
Elmwood is also very close to our home, so, we are basically neighbors. I fully plan to make return visits, and I will keep y’all posted on any ghostly happenings.
The past few years have been full of endings and new beginnings: moving three times, friendship and relationship breakups, etc. Resulting in the loss/damage of most of my Halloween decor. Little remained, but last year I was able acquire a few things for my Dreamtroit Dorm.
Over the years, my aesthetic has changed little-by-little when it comes to decor in general. My old apartment in Ferndale was very hedge-witch/vintage mixed with horror-regardless of the time of year, and after that it was more of a mix of vintage Halloween decor with whatever came along. When I moved into Dreamtroit, I had so very little that it was almost nothing, a hollow.
Obviously, I love blue. So I started with adding a few blue pumpkins mixed in with whatever I had leftover. My parents, and Dave, gifted me two of my most favorite items: a light-up haunted house, and a ceramic pumpkin with an almost folk pattern. Both have remained up all year, because us spooky-nerds have wants and needs.
When Dave and I first started shopping around for Halloween decor for the house, we both ended up really loving the vintage-inspired items we found at Marshalls/Home Goods, etc. So began filling the Halloween hollow.
I took these photos specifically for Halloween, but, you lovely readers also get an unintentional house-tour: spooky edition!
The first set of photos are of the entryway to our home, that is quickly becoming one of my favorite areas of the house. I never used a front door as the main entrance before, I have always lived on corner-lots in houses, or in an apartment. We have a giant tool-chest thing, and my old table set from the dorm as the furniture, and new MCM shelves that Dave installed earlier in the year. Most importantly: the blue typewriter that Dave gifted me last year that was my favorite item to display at Dreamtroit.
Who uses typewriters anyway?
Most of the DΓa de los Muertos decor was gifted to me over the years from my mom, and they reside in the kitchen-one of the most colorful rooms of the house. Obviously here I only focused on the Halloween decor, but, I will have to do a follow-up post showing off all of the art.
A few of our vintage-esq bois that we picked up are mixed in, which I love because despite the entire house leaning on the eclectic side, this room holds the most variety. And jars. Hi, my name is Sara and I am a jar goblin.
Our dining room is a work-in-progress, but very pretty at the moment. A headless doll prop from a photoshoot a few years back sits on the tinest chair, that I had picked up for a whole dollar. My brother had said that I needed an accent chair in my dorm, but there really wasn’t room in that studio. After acquiring this vintage, children’s chair that can barely hold a pillow, it became my “accent” chair.
My brother was not amused.
My mother gifted us the spooky tablecloth that doesn’t quite fit our table, so I folded it and it makes a nice little layer under the runner. We also have a random end table that was thrown in the corner, and now looks like a spooky-altar of sorts.
At some point I started collecting both wood, and dried florals, and Dave has brought home more (blue ones!!) and they are scattered throughout the dining and living rooms.
My second favorite nook of the house is in the living room: The Record Corner. That Ikea bookshelf has survived six moves, a beast! Dave placed it there and I wasn’t excited about it until we turned it into the *coolest* record/music station.
Surprisingly, that other large shelf does not hold all of our house plants. They breed like rabbits and have taken over. A spider plant actually wrote this blog post.
The living room is Bella’s abode. We just live here.
Last year I had the great idea to put a bunch of cheap bats all over the walls, and despite putting up 834 bats, 835 bats remained. Our bathroom mirror is Pinterest porn, and I am not mad.
Also, Dave got this cute lil blue bubbly boi and he is precious as hell.
The top-tier nook of the house is this little area that became my office/mini-library. It’s also the only “room” that we have painted thus far, and I didn’t pick blue! Instead, I added a million blue items: carpet, curtains, shelves, trinkets, etc.
Nagi also resides in this area, right across from our bedroom door where she can wheek at us whenever she feels the need to demand treats. There are no photos because these were taken prior to her cage being cleaned, and she is a poop miser.
Our bedroom is the only other upstairs room documented, because the spare room and Dave’s office take turns in being fallout rooms. I have had that cheap “Nevermore” banner for years, and I was having a hard time finding a spot for it, until the panel was hung and there is where it lives now.
This room is the one that reminds me the most of my studio at Dreamtroit. Stacks of books, layers of pillows and blankets, using the desk as a vanity, but it’s mostly the shades of blue and the boobs.
Dave picked up some remote candles that were supposed to be used for my birthday decorations, but apparently that day came early because I put them everywhere.
I never thought that I would live in a house again-I didn’t want to deal with the responsibility, and, I have been spoiled by being in walking distance of groceries, bars, coffee, etc. Our home is in one of the coolest little neighborhoods where there’s an abundance of things in walking distance, and, we are a bike ride away from Eastern Market. Dave is also a chef, and therefore he is always fucking cleaning, etc.
I love our home, and creating a cozy-spooky aesthetic for our first Halloween-my favorite holiday-living together has been absolutely amazing.
A question that I have been asked on more occasions than not, often resulting in myself mumbling about being an ‘aspiring digital creator’.
“Like an influencer?”
Surprisingly enough, I am not affiliated with Weezer, despite the tattoos on my person (yes, plural). Nor am I paid to post content from any of the coffee shops/bars I frequent (Tocororo aside), so no, I am not an influencer. Though I do try my best to post/recommend local and small businesses that I do regard highly, and encourage others to check out.
I stated in the very first Create Cohort blog post what my mission in this creative endeavor is, and it’s %99.9 still very true.
Outfit recap and GRWM reels? Highlights of the books I am reading this year, homemade croutons, Halloween decorations, meticulously curated Spotify playlists, Renaissance festival shenanigans, nerd shit, kissing my partner, Nagi’s inevitable world domination, and of course, editing, editing, editing.
I didn’t start on this journey in the hopes of running ten different social media accounts for others, nor did I expect to be hired as a digital creator for some giant, conglomerate company. Not that I wouldn’t mind having a gig that would pay off my debt, but, I would need 4-85 years experience, as well as being an expert in EVERY single editing program that exists, as well as sacrificing my first-born.
No, this will be done organically. I am constantly learning something new, a better way to tackle a problem, discovering some setting on my camera that I never knew existed. Also, I don’t have any children, so, I am left to my own devices. Which sadly involves fighting with Meta Business Suite, and ever-changing , bullshit algorithms. How do I go about doing this? The same way that I always have: documenting my life.
What better content to use than yourself, your hobbies, your loves, your pet-peeves, etc? No one is a better expert on you than you. Well, that might not always be the case, but, I am a firm believer that it is mostly true. I might have spent the majority of my adult life not knowing what to do with myself, and eating cheeses that I knew would wreck my innards, that doesn’t mean I don’t know how I want to capture an event I enjoyed, how to dress myself comfortably/sexy/as a Gallifreyan, the very specific way I want the kitchen pantry organized-mostly with all of the jars that I have dragon-hoarded. By knowing these aspects of myself, I know how I want to represent myself to the rest of the internet world. I know my voice.
I blame my meticulous tendencies.
It’s weird, but, it works in my favor.
Managing Tocororo’s social media accounts, assisting with events, etc-I have to know Toco’s voice. The owners, the staff, the patrons, the environment, the vibe, all create a voice. There is a story. The regulars know who the twink behind the curtain is, and that is a factor as well.
How does that all workout? The content shared, the captions/phrasing/puns even, the music picked, the angles of the images in the photos, the lighting, the colors in an advertisement, all are emulating what this physical place is-with my own creativity mingled in the mix.
Is it hard? Coming up with content for Toco-no. There’s always something going on, and, a plethora of unused content is stashed away on my phone, Google Drive, old Instagram stories, etc. Coming up with content for myself? Kinda. I have had this exact post in draft for like, two weeks. I went from being the friend that did nothing but get high and rearrange everything in their apartment out of pure boredom, to scheduling most everything I do a week or more ahead of time, to make sure there is that in itself, time. I don’t write out blog posts for the sake of needing something to post, or create TikTok’s/Reels just for the trend-unless it actually makes sense and fits me.
At the end of the day, everything I create has one major requirement: authenticity. That includes having to go back and re-edit blog posts after they have been posted, reading over a misspelled word because I was too hyper-focused on what photos to use is %100 authentic. Spending the last three hours prepping one post for Toco, while noodling out 12+ more with Dave, is also %100 authentic.
Striving to continuously educate myself-be it over a new feature on Instagram, and learning from my mistakes? You get it.
In the meantime, I will continue to, and also encourage anyone else trying to learn by experimenting with what you know. I am 10/10 suggesting playing with yourself-don’t make it weird.
Question for the girly-pops: Without being diagnosed as a neurodivergent in your thirties, with anxiety and/or depression, and a spicy tummy, can you really call yourself a millennial?
It all started with poop.
I always knew that I was lactose intolerant, though I am one of the lucky few who can get away with low-lactose foods; hard cheeses, goat/sheep dairy, even cream cheese! However, at some point in my early thirties my digestive system became a complete menace.
Cheese, ice cream, yogurt were no longer the culprits. Every single thing I ate/drank was a betrayal to my digestive track. I did what every logical adult would do: fall down a Reddit rabbit hole. I wasn’t sure if I had Crohn’s, IBS, or something else entirely. I mainlined Imodium, nothing. I made the brilliant decision to just live with it for longer than I should have, because I knew I would have to go to a specialist and my insurance was rudely expensive.
In 2022 I ended up in the emergency room twice within a month, both times staying several days. I knew that I would hit my Mount Everest sized deductible, so I told the doctors about my…shitty situation.
After eventually getting setup with a G.I. doctor, and lots of testing, I was diagnosed with Microscopic Colitis, an auto-immune disease. I was also put on the best steroid for MC, and after about a month, it really helped.
After being on the steroid for about two years, I started to notice some strange swelling around my ankles/legs/abdomen, and hands. I stopped taking the steroid (bad idea), went back to the G.I. doctor, and since I am on the lowest dose possible, I will most likely be on it for life. The swelling, Cushing’s Syndrome, is a very not awesome side-effect.
I have a standing desk at my 40 hour/week day-job, and although I do move around a lot when I am at Tocororo, I often have to sit or stand to do all of the editing, posting, file organizing, etc. I probably spend an additional 15+ hours per week with my face buried in a laptop.
So what’s a swollen kid to do? Move. Movement is the best way to circulate blood and reduce swelling. Dave and I now are Fitbit wielding, nerdy gym-rats. And as much as I really loathe the gym, the swelling improved a lot after a week or so. That and consuming more water, and stretching. When I remember.
My dislike for going to the gym can mostly be summed up into one category: time. As mentioned, I work a lot. When I am not working, the life things that people do need to be done: cleaning, laundry, taking care of pets, grocery shopping, etc. People also have needs like rest, socializing, hobbies/hyper fixations. I wasn’t sure how to fit it all in.
I also tended to neglect the latter. Stupid priorities, and bills (rude). If I rarely have the alone time to recharge, or read a book, or see my friends on the regular, sacrificing even more time wasn’t ideal. Except, I didn’t have to.
Once the weather became warm, Dave and I opted to take walks outside instead of at the gym, which ended up being a great way to recap our days, and noodle out ideas. Because we do have days where our work leads to opposite shifts, I often started going on walks alone. Blasting music while charging down the Dequindre Cut, or along the Detroit River Walk became therapeutic. And, probably why I haven’t slain any of my coworkers.
One of my biggest hobbies is reading, and despite my clumsiness, I am pretty good at walking and reading. My day-job is two miles away from Tocororo so I often will walk there after work, reading along the way. I now bribe myself to go to hit the treadmill, because I can most likely knock out a couple of chapters. I read like, six books that way. Awkward high school years spent avoiding people while wandering the halls reading comin in clutch.
Some weeks are better than others, and I have had a few where I set a goal of 20k steps per day and managed to hit it. I do love my newfound alone time, but I have also had friends join me on walks a couple of times this summer and it has been an enjoyable and therapeutic way to catch up. Bonus: cute selfies to hold accountability.
I have always been a decent walker, but if you told me circa 2007-2016 when I thought that my 3-5 mile walks per day were a lot, that I now can occasionally breeze through 7-10 miles? Crazy pants.
I guess there is something to physical movement, staying hydrated, and eating healthy (when Dave is around, because when I am left to my own devices it’s chicken nugget city). So with that being said, I will continue going on my stupid walks for my stupid mental health. And swollen body parts.
During one of the very first coffee-conversations that Dave and I had together last year, we discussed the importance of time. Time is something that Dave holds with very high importance; it is something that isn’t given back. Not just in the sense of having to spend hours at the DMV, stuck in traffic, or regretting the movie choice made for the evening. Time is the biggest aide in growth, and healing. Time is needed for rest, enjoyment, to appreciate what we have around us, what to address, to work on. Time can also become very different for individuals. Days of the week, as well as seasons, can alter how time is experienced depending on schedules, residence, lifestyles, and perspective.
Sundays are Dave’s Saturdays, and they are my…Sundays, and the only current days that we have off together. We try to balance them with a mix of attacking tasks that neither of us were able to get to during the week; romanticizing the mundane with grocery shopping/cleaning/errands together with coffees from a local shop. Sometimes we spend the day with friends, brunching, bar-hopping, or shopping. Occasionally we tackle something off of our list of wants. On this particular Sunday, we invented: The Village Crawl.
Dave has lived in Island View for a few years now, but hadn’t had the chance to checkout some of the newer places in the nearby villages. I, a new resident to the area, as well as directionally challenged, wanted to get a better idea of where everything was in the area. We decided to go exploring by foot, starting with coffee!
Or so we thought. Because someone (me), decided to sleep in, and then take a little longer getting ready, the coffee shop we frequent was closing up for the day. The diner next door however, was still open for a few hours and had coffee, and more importantly, food.
Norm’s Diner is a charming, women-owned spot located in Detroit’s West Village. Their focus is serving fresh and locally sourced food for all-day breakfast and lunch, with specials. The interior is bright and cozy, and the vintage touches like the candy machine, are top-tier nostalgia.
Our food was delicious! We split the biggest BLT I have ever seen, a salad special, and some house-made sausage. They had sold out of a lot of items, which tracked because they were bustling with customers. They have grab & go items as well, which we want to try for the errand-running days because I love me some pasta salad.
Next up was a walk over to Brewery Faisan, a place I have frequented often, but Dave had his cherry popped.
Brewery Faisan is a micro-brewery, that not only brews tasty beers, they are almost always hosting events featuring local music, artists, and food pop-ups. They are located in Island View, close to the house, which is great because the Periphery, a Raspberry Saison, is my favorite and it is 7.3%.
I love the Mid Century Modern furniture, ample seating both indoor and outside, the awesome staff that we love chatting with, but my favorite thing about this brewery is that it is the best place to meet new dog friends. I don’t think that I have ever been there when there wasn’t a doggo present, and I can’t wait to bring our pit Bella on our next visit!
We left the brewery and wandered over to the Island View Kiwanis Park, as the cutest, hand-made sign informed us. I have rode past these statues on my bike many times and had always wanted to take dumb photos with them, we checked that item off my list, hence the dumb photos.
I wasn’t even aware of the little library, which is probably the biggest little library I have come across.
On our way to a frequent haunt of ours, we saw that a new shop was opening up, Dandy Detroit. Dave is basically the mayor and knows everyone, so of course he knows the person behind the operation. I love that the building is being used, and for something exciting and unique.
We also passed by another coffee shop that we hadn’t tried yet. We will amend that and report back, like the good coffee sluts we are.
We weren’t actually going to stop at Two Birds until the way back home, but after two beers and park shenanigans, our bladders were pissed. We resolved that, and then immediately refilled with gin and sodas.
Next up: Father Forgive Me, located on the grounds of The Sheppard. I had first heard of The Sheppard when I had moved into Dreamtroit last summer. We explored the outdoor sculpture park, honoring the late Detroit artist Charles McGee, and had drinks at Father Forgive Me.
There’s a lot more involved in The Sheppard, and I would like to do a follow-up post sometime soon. It was the perfect early-evening to sip gin in a beautiful space, and run around the grounds before wandering off to our last stop: Collect Beer Bar.
Collect Beer Bar used to be located on Gratiot, in the Eastern Market area. Because I had lived in the market for a couple of years, I had frequented Collect often. At first I was sad when they announced that they were moving to English Village, but the newer space is fantastic. They are family-owned, and another place that you will most likely find a doggo, or five, hanging out at.
They have a rotating tap, as well as a fridge stocked with beers, ciders, and wine. Lots of NA options, and delicious/dangerous shots of Four Roses.
We were going to stop back in at Two Birds, but at this point we had walked 1-2 miles in between each stop, and my tired butt was craving the couch and Indian take-out.
I cannot express enough of how much I love where we live, and spending the day slowly enjoying our time together here. Walking, taking silly photos, talking, planning, wandering down streets we haven’t walked down before, and making new friends were all a welcome recharge from the business of everyday life. Taking our time to enjoy what we have, together.
Until next post, xo.
βI wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.β β J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
When I first began tinkering with ideas for the Create Cohort Blog, I wanted to include some elements of my old blog, Cat Ears & Coffee. Giving personalized recounts detailing local places and events with my own photos for visuals had, and continues to, set the format for my style of blogging. What else might I want to include in this new blog? Dave and I really liked the idea of revisiting some old haunts, parks, festivals, venues, etc. with the intention of a “Then vs Now” sort of approach.
As I continue tedious task of reviewing every. single. post. on the old blog, I have a stash of ideas brewing for said future posts. However, I didn’t want to just compare how X event/place physically/environmentally is now compared to however many moons ago, I really wanted to poke a little at the Blogger behind those earlier posts, and see what might have changed in my own person since then.
I decided to start with this post from March, 2016: A Day in the Life. A post dedicated to being fascinated by the habits, favorites, routines, etc. that aide in creating the character of a person. Here we are in July of 2025, documenting a day in the life of a Digital Creator, fabricating what is currently the digital creation you are currently reading. *Insert meta pun here.
It has taken me awhile to get a handle on a morning routine that my ADHD brain can function with, but also aides in getting my pokey-ass to work on time. It has been a struggle bus this past year, but over the last few weeks I have finally gotten the hang of it. As we all know, accomplishing such a feat absolutely results in the obvious: a little treat.
We reside in Islandview, Detroit, and our favorite morning coffee spot is The Red Hook on Agnes. It is also apparently everyone’s favorite in West and Indian Village, as it is always bustling. Dave is on a first-name basis with all of the baristas, and I, tend to forget every single person’s name I have ever met within five seconds of being introduced. I nevertheless partake in the friendly banter that almost always ends up ensuing. I don’t have a typical order perse, but I have been on an cold brew + oatmilk kick with lavender simple syrup (they make their own!) these days.
I then trucked off to work, where I am still greeted with truck-butts in the morning. Yes, I still work for the same company, however, I was moved upstairs to the Purchasing department a couple of years ago. I don’t think it is physically possible for me to not decorate any space that I have to spend copious amounts of time in, and my corner of the office is decked out in all sorts of decor. I married a chef, so, my lunches are pretty fantastic, and I tend to eat while I work, then take a lunch to practice either French or Spanish) crushing that Duolingo Owl is %100 a daily priority).
I then ventured out to the gym. It is funny, because I stopped going for years, and then I had a few weird flare-up issues that prompted me to try to be healthier. I like to bribe myself to go to the gym by bringing a book, and walking on a treadmill while reading is something my uncoordinated ass never thought were possible, but I haven’t broken anything…yet. I am currently reading The Spellshop, by Sarah Beth Durst as part of a summer-fantasy-book-read with a few other friends, my very first (informal) reading/book group thing!
I am learning how to navigate around the city on my own, so I stopped taking the freeway to and from Pfit. I am very proud to say that yesterday was the first time I made it both to the gym and home without relying on GPS, and, I managed to get a few red-light photos.
I then ventured up to Tocororo to work on some Spanish, transfer all of these completely unedited photos to WordPress, bribe Dave into making me food with the bag of salad mix I stashed in my purse, and to read some more.
We ended the evening with a little late-night walk around the block with Bella, as it cooled off enough for her, and that was the day!
It is apparent that I still love Romanizing the Mundane, as I have created many Tik-Toks and Reels over the last few years doing just that. I don’t think I will ever change in that sense, there is an importance in making the boring bits of the day have recognition as part of life. Driving to work, scream-singing Remi Wolfe is a million times more enjoyable than the feeling of impending doom of being a desk-jockey for eight plus hours. At least I like to think that it is.
What are some of the things you like to romanticize that could be seen as mundane or boring? I might steal an idea or five.
Home, post-gym: laundry (we just installed the dryer last week), and a few scritches for some of our current menagerie. I made it a point to use my Sony ZV-1F for all of the photos for this post, as I mainly only use it for video. Bella, and Elvis Catsello were feeling particularly modelesque. Trying out some of the lens filters and editing software that came in the camera kit is not a want, but a need that I have yet to accomplish. But when I do, coffee reward!
Around a year ago, I was sitting alongside a beautiful canal in the sun at a picnic table, enjoying a lunch packed with giggles and a pretty amazing person. I had no idea that the person sitting across from me, one of my best friends at the time, would end up eloping with me, about twenty feet from where we were sitting.
“Eloped? Eloped!” Was exactly how we announced it to our loved ones, and the rest of the world. We knew we had found each other, finally, and we wanted to just do something simple: Wear what we want, pick a spot we loved, just for us-and, a few lovely friends who thought they were just coming to brunch and a little bar-hop around Hamtramck.
We were sneaky, and we had a few hiccups, however, we wouldn’t change any of it. Perfect day was perfect.
Coriander Kitchen & Farm is one of the most unique restaurants in Detroit; being woman-owned, and in a former canal. The decor is a little vintage, a little hodge-podge, with a self-described “Drunk Grandma” vibe. Settled in a former marina, the establishment is nestled up to a beautiful canal, that is often full of kayakers, canoes, geese, swans, turtles, etc. Which makes waiting for your table at the outdoor mini-camper turned into a bar an endearing experience.
The atmosphere alone is enough to charm your pants off, however, the food is always fresh, creative, and incredibly delicious. Being one of the only restaurants in Detroit that also has its own farm, the menu changes with each season, and there’s almost always specials for both lunch, brunch, and dinner. Not to mention Grilled Cheese Monday, with a different sandwich featured each week. Not me over here, drooling on my phone at their Insta posts.
We were graced with a visit from some family from out of town over this past weekend, so we took them to our Place of Elopement for brunch. My parents had also never been, so, we got to pop five Coriander cherries on Sunday. Between sharing a few appetizers, the excitement of seeing an entire crew of kayaking kids, a variety of water fowl, and of course, reminiscing about previous dining experiences, we created another amazing memory here.
Coriander is located in Jefferson Chalmers, Detroit’s far-east side.
They are open on Wednesday-Friday, and Mondays, 11am to 3pm & 5pm to 9pm, with the kitchen open until 10pm. However, be sure to check their website and socials for special event closures, as they are a popular wedding venue location.
As far as a location for elopements, I am not sure if anyone else has or not, but 10/10 recommend.
I am very often a person who wears their Stubborn flag high; I routinely pack a metric ton into my schedule, ignoring the fact that I will never accomplish all of it. I am incapable of not attempting to bring in all of the groceries in one trip, accidental jars of pickles deaths be damned (RIP), and don’t even think about suggesting that I go to sleep earlier. I am convinced that not only do I have time to work 40 hours at my day-job, have some sort of gym/health routine, can 180 my career by myself, spend 5-8 hours per week editing photos/videos/reels/etc. that I obviously have time to learn both French and Spanish. I may only have about 30 minutes per day to dedicate myself to the school of Duolingo, and therefore am not actually retaining anything, I do have a 93 day learning streak so that unhinged green owl can go kick dirt.
The thing with us Stubbornists, is we start to know when we have taken on too much, but instead of accepting defeat, we fight it. Kicking and screaming. Or, until we pass out from utter exhaustion. Which has lead to deciding to take care of my health and see my PCP on the regular. This last visit resulted in sending me in for a test to double-check that things were fine, and they were, until the only appointment I could get for said test was at 6:45 am on a weekday.
“I hate early, must kill early” – Lorelei Gilmore
Me, being me, I whined. A lot. I also have the love and support from my husband/partner, who never needs sleep and doesn’t mind getting up early. Ew, David.
We arrived on time for my appointment, only to be told that I was early. By 24 hours. We decided this mishap could be corrected: with breakfast.
As a former Ferndale-rat, I have frequented many of the breakfast/brunch establishments both during and after my residency in the area, and although this particular one is technically in Pleasant Ridge, The Whistle Stop is a favorite.
Decked out in mid-century diner decor, the place is pretty damn charming. Each table, as well as the seats at the bar/counter include the cutest salt and pepper shakers that are changed out seasonally. Prints of Woodward from days of yonder hanging from the ceiling, a hand-drawn menu board, and a sticker wall give the place that slightly-cluttered environment that us neurodivergent kids thrive in, its cozy.
Operating during the hours of 7:30am to 3pm, they serve both breakfast and lunch. One side of the menu has omelets, griddles, hot cakes, avocado toast, etc. and the other sandwiches, soups salads, quesadillas, and other lunch fare. They also have specials, and if you are not a sucker with work obligations, Spanish coffee and mimosas are available.
I had a Kurtzy omelet, with a side salad, rye toast with house-made mixed berry jam, and loads of coffee (stupid early appointment and all). Dave also had an omelet, and although I can’t remember which one he ordered, everything was delicious and I ended up taking half of it with me for lunch later.
After taking enough photos to make myself look like the worst influencer in the Detroit area, a lovely dog-walking individual offered to take a photo of us. Behold us looking like we are tourists on vacation next to the city I grew up in: C’est la vie/AsΓ es la vid.
Local vintage, food, music, jewelry, and drinks in Detroit on a beautiful, unseasonably warm spring day? Heard!
Kerch Market is a pop-up event hosted by Two Birds, Huddle, and The Velvet Tower, featuring an abundance of local vendors offering a variety of goods and treats.
Located in West Village, Two Birds is family-run neighborhood bar, and seasonal custard shop (Huddle) nestled in an old house located in Detroit’s West Village. Dangerous as it is, I say that only because they are located within walking distance of Dave’s house in Islandview, and they are open seven days a week. Not only do they have fantastic house cocktails, and a decent selection of beer and wine, they also host local food vendors, DJs, and even art exhibits. You can see how vast the temptations are-and so close! Needless to say, we have walked here quite often and indulged ourselves once or thirty times.
The Velvet Tower is a vintage clothing and retail shop, also located in an old house that shares the porch with Two Birds and Huddle. Also, dangerous because if anyone knows me (and for those who don’t) I am a whore for clothes, especially of the vintage variety. One of my current favorite items; a 90’s baby blue vest I picked up from the International Women’s Day Market pop-up at Batch Brewing back in March, was from The Velvet Tower and have been in the shop a few times since. I am not going to lie, the place is a T.A.R.D.I.S, the rooms just keep going. Much like their neighbors, The Velvet Tower often has local artists on deck. Hair stylists, and seamstresses are hosted weekly, but wait, there’s more! %10 percent off for Service Industry kids.
I had popped in the Winter Kerch Market back in February, but had only taken a bit of video with my Sony ZV-1F, while also trying to carry a coffee, and a phone. As your neighborhood accident-prone twink, I wasn’t able to take many photos. For this event, Dave was kind enough to let me man-handle his Canon, a Mark II 7D, as well as taking a few pics of his own, so that I could write up the blog post you are (hopefully) currently reading.
Not only are there a variety of really cool vendors, the market might as well be nicknamed Street Fashion on Parade. Everyone showed up looking incredible! We did get a few shots of some very kind kids who were sweet enough to allow us to photograph them, however, it was difficult to keep our A.D.H.D brains on task with all of the people-watching to be had.
We ended up staying long after the event was over, chatting with the new friends we made and having a pretty decent time enjoying ourselves.
Jealous you missed out? Fear not, there is another Kerch Market event this Sunday, and the vendor list is packed so you should absolutely go check it out.
Kerch Market, 8131 Kercheval. Sunday, May 18th, 12 noon to 5pm.
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