719. Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen – April 27, 2024 – Detroit, MI

Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen serves INCREDIBLE pizza! And fabulous salad and cocktails, to boot. And ambiance, inside and out, for days. And attentive, friendly service . . .. Goodness abounds at this West Village-based restaurant, bar, and market!

Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen flaunts its vintage vibes, displaying whimsical tchotchkes in the wooden cabinets intact from the building’s days as a pharmacy, and strands of colorful twinkle lights. Grab a stool at the gleaming bar and be transported back to the 1920s – in vibes alone, at least. Because Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen’s cuisine definitively has a modern spin, showcasing options that likely didn’t grace pizza parlors of yore. Cases in point: the Life of the Party, a pizza that pairs wild mushrooms with mozzarella, Gouda, basil, and parsley; and the C.A.T. Lover Pizza, topped with the cheese, arugula, and tomato advertised in its acronym name – plus prosciutto, Parmesan, and extra-virgin olive oil.

I can attest to that C.A.T. Lover Pizza being utterly delicious! As is the Indian Village Garden Party Salad, a super fresh and flavorful mix of greens, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, croutons, cucumber, tomato, onion, and bell pepper.

Several other salads are available, such as a vegan Caesar and one named after everyone’s favorite old-money enclave, The GP Salad (an enticing mix of arugula, baby spinach, walnuts, Gorgonzola, pear, and champagne vinaigrette). Other fare featured on Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen’s menu includes burgers and down-to-earth shareables such as chicken tenders, tater tots, and garlic bread.

Speaking of down-to-earth options: Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen offers a $7 beer-and-shot special featuring a shot of house liquor and a can of Stroh’s, Hamm’s, or Narragansett beer. If your alcohol preferences are a bit more refined, you can order a craft beer, glass of wine, or cocktail such as the Rum Old Fashioned with strawberry and grilled pineapple, or the Poblano Daisy with tequila, lime, poblano, and grapefruit.

Whatever drink you choose, cheers to being there at Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen, a neighborhood spot that welcomes you as you are!

8047 Agnes St.

Detroit, MI 48214

www.metropolitanvariety.com

718. Signal Return – April 27, 2024 – Detroit, MI

Engage in art-making AND support printmaking at Signal Return!

The nonprofit’s mission is to keep the ancient art of traditional letterpress printing alive via classes, art shows, and other community-fostering events held at its Detroit-based studio and shop, where its sells striking posters, greeting cards, and other works of art handcrafted at the studio. It works in conjunction with various other arts-and-community-focused organizations, including the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, The Kresge Foundation, and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. Its current class offerings explore topics such as wood-type poster-printing, journal book-binding and screen-printing, and custom coaster-printing and business-card-making.

I visited Signal Return to attend a Mother’s Day-themed card-making workshop with Ann Arbor-based artist Paloma Núñez-Regueiro. Paloma taught us how to hand-carve linoleum stamps, then create printed greeting cards with them using several different types of hand-printing implements, including mini printing presses and other hand-printing tools.

Paloma was a fantastic teacher, offering in-depth instruction in a warm, supportive manner. The half-day class was intentionally kept small, to allow for ample hands-on instruction time. By the end of it, I had an array of gorgeous cards (such as the ones shown above) – designed and created by moi!

What a fun way to support the local arts and spread love to my mama and others in my life. Thanks, Signal Return, for encouraging me to embrace my inner artist!

9301 Kercheval Ave., Ste. 1

Detroit, MI 48214

www.signalreturnpress.org

717. High Octane Café and Bakery – April 25, 2024 – Waterford, MI

Rev up your day at High Octane Café and Bakery!

This car-themed coffee shop and bakery based in Waterford sells fresh-baked goods and breakfast and lunch fare, plus coffee-, tea-, and espresso-based drinks. Visit High Octane and revel at its assortment of bagels, breads, cakes, pies, muffins, and decadently-stuffed cookies in varieties such as Nutella-stuffed chocolate chip and peanut-butter-stuffed double-chocolate; its build-your-own bagel sandwiches, loaded curly fries, and bagels stuffed with goodies such as bacon, egg, and cheese; and its flavored coffees, cold brews, and frappés in flavors such as Caramel Latte, Cake Batter, and Chocolate Strawberry. Gawk at its assortment of car stuff: auto-themed posters, plaques, and signs, plus oodles of mini toy cars arranged in row upon row at the bottom of the bakery cases and in tabletop planters – a whimsical touch I absolutely love.

High Octane carries the car theme even further by hosting its Cars & Coffee meet-ups, which invite local car enthusiasts to bring their vehicles to High Octane to hang out with other car lovers. Held weekly during the warm-weather months, each meet-up features a different theme; themes covered thus far in 2024 have included Mustang Day, Euro Day, and Lifted Truck Day. See the current Cars & Coffee schedule on this page of High Octane’s website.

Cookies, coffee, AND car shows? You’ve captivated this Metro-Detroiter, High Octane!

7192 Highland Rd.

Waterford, MI 48327

www.highoctanecafe.com

716. Splatter – April 19, 2024 – Ferndale, MI

Exuberantly get your art on at Splatter!

The Ferndale art studio offers 60-minute sessions that allow patrons to spray, sprinkle, and – of course, splatter – their way to artistic masterpieces.

Splatter currently offers two artists’ adventures: Splatter Masterpiece and Pour + Spin. Via a Splatter Masterpiece session, guests use various types of brushes to fling various colors of paint at 16-by-20-inch canvases hung at their respective artist’s stations, to the beat of upbeat music blasting throughout the studio.

One of the Splatter Masterpiece painting tools is more Super Soaker-esque than brush-like. It allows an artist to pull up paint into a foam tube, then spray it (at impressive velocity) at their canvas!

The Pour + Spin Splatter package also allows painters to flick, splatter, and splash paint onto a 16-by-20-inch canvas. The twist here (pun totally intended!) is that the canvas is attached to a table that’s continually spinning – yielding cool, momentum-inspired patterns.

Each of the two art packages includes a few minutes of instruction from Splatter’s awesome staff artists – who are also on hand to regularly change brush water and help as needed – plus a full suit of protective regalia: plastic ponchos with hoods, zip-up jumpsuits, and plastic booties that not only cover your shoes, but extend up your thighs. Not a drop of paint sullied my clothes during my Splatter Masterpiece session!

My friends and I had an absolute blast at Splatter. It was delightful to watch our paintings morph and change over the course of our hour-long sessions. Mine (shown above, in the second photo) ended up a drippy, trippy kaleidoscope of colors that I quite like. It’s a memento of that Friday night I spent blowing off steam at Splatter, in my own personal art-therapy session – an experience I most exuberantly recommend!

1956 Hilton Rd.

Ferndale, MI 48220

www.splattermi.com

715. Sexy Steak – April 18, 2024 – Detroit, MI

Sexy Steak offers a most alluring dining experience!

The upscale steakhouse housed in the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) building in downtown Detroit lived up to its name during my visit. I and the friend who accompanied me savored what we both agreed were probably the best steaks of our lives: luscious ribeye cap steaks that came to our table sliced up and sizzling in house-made zip sauce and their own juices. My steak was a perfect iteration of the medium-rare temperature that I called for: tender, juicy, flavorful . . . flat-out INCREDIBLE!

That ribeye cap steak was accompanied by a whole-roasted clove of garlic, which I relished along with the steak and two sides my friend and I shared: spinach sautéed in olive oil, lemon, Calabrian chilis, and garlic; and buttery Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. Rich and flavorful in their own right, both sides held their own with that ribeye cap steak.

What a MEAL! What a dining EXPERIENCE! Because it’s not solely the cuisine that’s oh-so-sexy at Sexy Steak, it’s ALLL the things, from the feast-for-the-eyes ambiance to the impeccable service, the carefully curated wine list to the expertly mixed cocktails.

Speaking of Sexy Steak’s cocktails: if you’d like a recommendation, may I suggest the Margarita Italia? A blending of reposado tequila, limoncello, fresh citrus juice, and agave syrup, it goes down utterly easy.

As the neon sign outside the restrooms proclaims, “Sexy is a state of mind” at Sexy Steak. That ethos most obviously influences its patrons – and I’m HERE for it.

This is a place to get glam for – and the guests dining there during the night of my visit did just that, flaunting evening attire ranging from business-professional to cocktail-hour to club-wear. Many of them appeared to be dining at Sexy Steak to celebrate special occasions, from birthdays to big date nights.

My friend and I weren’t at Sexy Steak to celebrate a special occasion. We simply wanted to spice up our Thursday night. THAT is occasion enough, in my book, to rendezvous with this desirable dining experience!

1942 Grand River Ave.

Detroit, MI 48226

www.sexysteakdetroit.com

714. Spot Lite Detroit – April 18, 2024 – Detroit, MI

Savor SO MUCH GOODNESS at Spot Lite Detroit!

The Detroit establishment is a lot of things: an art gallery, coffee house, record store, music venue, food truck depot, and bar. Most of all, it strives to “foster a home of collaboration and creativity in Detroit for the enjoyment of all people,” as it states its mission on its website.

I was definitely digging that spirit of collaboration and creativity during my Spot Lite Detroit visit. A friend and I met there for some afternoon coworking before dinner in the city. We savored drinks by Cairo Coffee (which runs the coffee bar), petted sweet pups cavorting about (little Spot Lite Detroit mascots!), and soaked in the sweet, homey vibes of the place: the vibrant art, abundant greenery, shelves of records, and visitors gathered in living-room-like spaces.

I was especially intrigued by the bar area, which was more dimly lit than the rest of the venue and contained a patron or two during the time of our visit. I envisioned myself there, kicking off an end-of work happy hour. That’s a dream I definitely intend to make a reality!

Speaking of repeat visits to Spot Lite Detroit: there’s more than enough reasons to return – namely, the nightly DJ sessions, but also special events such as film screenings and its Third Thursday wine tasting. Not to mention, there’s Spot Lite Detroit’s resident food truck, Gladys Nite, which serves up burgers, fries, hot dogs, and other fare that pairs well with booze and sick beats. Oodles of goodness on order here!

2905 Beaufait St.

Detroit, MI 48207

www.spotlitedetroit.com

713. Rosita’s Treats – April 14, 2024 – Shelby Township, MI

Dine like royalty at Rosita’s Treats!

The Shelby Township restaurant serves INCREDIBLE Columbian fare, including bandeja paisa, arepas, and empanadas stuffed with a variety of fillings – from the traditional (beef and potato; cheese) to the delightfully unconventional (kimchi; peanut butter and chocolate; prosciutto and Merlot cheese).

Feast on a whole deep-fried red snapper, the grilled octopus platter, or – my pick – the shredded pork with black beans, rice, and fried plantains. It’s utterly delicious!

What else can I attest to being utterly delicious at Rosita’s Treats? The guava-and-cheese-stuffed empanadas (a delectable blend of savory and sweet!) and the Arepa con Queso, a corn pancake filled with cheese and deep-fried (yes, it’s as decadent as it sounds; it is EVERYTHING).

Not only is the food at Rosita’s Treats rich in flavor, it’s free of gluten. Yes, everything at Rosita’s Treats is gluten-free! That’s a fact most definitely worthy of a royal proclamation.

48770 Van Dyke Ave.

Shelby Twp. MI 48317

www.rositastreats.com

712. All About Animals – April 14, 2024 – Warren, MI

I’m SO excited to highlight my visit to this INCREDIBLE organization, All About Animals!

The non-profit is, according to its website, “the largest high quality, high volume, low-cost to no-cost spay/neuter, non-profit, animal welfare organization in Michigan.” It performs the ultra-worthy work of providing affordable veterinary care to local cats and dogs; is a no-kill shelter running foster and adoption programs; and offer an amazing class on cat TNR.

If you’re unfamiliar with the term TNR, it stands for Trap – Neuter – Release: the practice of humanely capturing feral cats – or community cats, as All About Animals prefers to call them – to spay or neuter them, then release them back into their territories to live out the remainder of their lives. Fixing community cats not only helps keep their populations in check but also increases their chances at long, healthy lives. As a cat lover, I am all for that!

I can’t speak highly enough about All About Animal’s TNR class, which was the reason for my visit to its Warren location. The in-person class is only $10 and includes three hours of highly informative instruction and a TNR handbook chockful of information covered in the class. An online version of the class is regularly offered, as well, and is free. Topics covered include the optimal feeding routine for community cats; how to build safe, weather-resistant shelters; and its recommended TNR process, outlined in step-by-step detail.

Moreover, TNR class attendees are entitled to a discounted rate on All About Animal’s TNR-sterilization package, which includes the spay/neuter surgery, the ear-tip procedure that indicates that a feral cat has been fixed, and a rabies vaccine (normally $55, as of the writing of this post, but discounted to $25 with the class certification). Find out more about All About Animals’ TNR class – including upcoming session dates – here.

I LOVE knowing All About Animals exists to help those in need of low-to-no-cost care for their cats and dogs; to offer no-kill shelter for adoptable pets; and to help Michiganders care for community cats. Can you believe they fixed over 11,250 community cats in 2023 alone??? That’s a load of good – and only a fraction of what All About Animals does. Thanks, All About Animals, for helping us keep Detroit-area cats and dogs safe, healthy, and happy!

23451 Pinewood St.

Warren, MI 48091

(With additional locations in Auburn Hills, Flint, and Detroit)

www.allaboutanimalsrescue.org

711. Rose House Brunch – April 13, 2024 – Shelby Township, MI

Indulge in good food and glam at Rose House Brunch!

The Shelby Township restaurant is Instagram-pretty – and she knows it. Glitz and gold and flower garlands; velvety pink and turquoise upholstery; marbled floors and walls blooming with pale pink roses (not to mention, a mammoth mural of Audrey Hepburn à la Breakfast at Tiffany’s) make this a place to dress up for. Meet your gal pals here for luxe brunch fare, including strawberry pancakes, lamb sliders, candied pecan waffles, a Mediterranean-inspired omelette, and an avocado-and-crab-topped eggs benedict.

The coffee bar makes an EXCELLENT oat milk cappuccino, plus mocktails such as the Lavender Butterfly, a lavender lemonade infused with butterfly pea flower tea and soda and served in a bird-shaped, orchid-garnished glass.

At the time of this visit, Rose House Brunch was working on obtaining a liquor license, which they now have. Chocolate martinis, mimosas, and more tipsy tinctures are now on the menu – including the Queen Audrey cocktail inspired by guess-who? The mixture of vodka, lemon juice, and muddled blueberries certainly sounds like it would do her Mural Majesty proud.

47363 Van Dyke Ave.

Shelby Twp., MI 48317

www.rosehousebrunch.com

710. Valentino’s Italian Grill – April 10, 2024 – Lake Orion, MI

Savor deliciously luxe Italian fare at Valentino’s Italian Grill!

The Lake Orion restaurant serves Italian food that is utterly delicious. Case in point: its veal piccata with its tender slices of pan-sautéed veal and artichoke hearts, piquant capers, and rich lemon-butter sauce. It’s incredible! Valentino’s menu abounds with similarly rich offerings, from stuffed gnocchi to lamb chops to lasagna, crab-stuffed salmon to seafood risotto.

I’m also VERY here for Valentino’s Wednesday special that prices wine bottles at half-off. Wine Wednesdays are the BEST Wednesdays! Especially when they’re facilitated by as good a host as Valentino’s.

185 S. Broadway St.

Lake Orion, MI 48362

www.valentinosoflakeorion.com