I don’t know about you, but I have been wrapped in a blanket burrito* since November 1st.
Perhaps it's just my way of coping with 2017, or maybe it's this cold I've been fighting for the past few weeks. Either way, all I want to do is cozy up in my favorite blanket with a cup of tea and those issues of Bon Appetit left unread on my coffee table while I was out enjoying those warmer days. Well, I’m about through playing catch-up, and I know it's time to crawl out from under my pillow fort before I reach full-on hibernating bear status. I know, I know... we all miss those sunny Saturday afternoons on the patio at Queen City Radio, but the mourning period has passed. Time to move on. Unwrap your blanket burrito, swap those flannel jammies for actual pants and rally the crew. I promise — there ARE things to do.
*Blanket burrito (n.): Me, wrapped up in a blanket so tightly that I am unable to move and resemble a burrito.
Games are fun.
And as I learned the first time I played apples-to-apples with my family while drinking bourbon... games with alcohol are even better.
Need an excuse to drag your friends off the couch on a weeknight? Try Monday Night trivia at Taft's Ale House. This former Evangelical church originally constructed in 1850 now houses one of OTR's favorite breweries. It has three floors of impeccably renovated space, and the lowest level, Nellie's Tap Room, is where trivia is held. In contrast to the high-ceilings and brightness of the upper two floors, Nellie’s is oozing with handsome dark wood and tidy industrial vibes. Pair that sultry atmosphere with a glass of Taft's Amber Ale, Cherrywood. If your friends won't get off their couches for that, ditch 'em.
I'm pretty wimpy when it comes to being sick...
And with every change of the season, I seem to always catch a cold. I pretty much just lounge around in my blanket burrito with a tissue up my nose, a cough drop in my mouth and a cup of tea nearby. Last Monday I definitely wasn't going to trivia (alcohol is a no-go for me while I'm sick), but my appetite made a surprise appearance. I knew exactly what I wanted — Ramen from Quan Hapa.
There’s nothing quite as soothing as a bowl of warm broth and noodles. Quan Hapa has a great list of proteins and add-ons to choose from to make your perfect bowl. I love to play around with it, but mine usually consists of mushroom broth + fried tofu + shitake mushrooms + soft boiled egg + cabbage or kimchi + burnt garlic chili oil. The tofu has such a balanced, slightly sweet crisp on the outside, and the noodles are always on point.
More hiding spots for when....
you're still in denial that summer is really gone
Fine. If you're going to throw yourself a pity party, at least do it right. Grab a booth at Pontiac, order yourself some fried pickles, and sip on tiki drinks until you've forgotten that it's below freezing outside.
you just need a little extra love
A bowl of butternut squash soup from Che is like getting a warm hug. While Che is also home to one of my very favorite summer patios, its woodsy, festive interior is a cozy refuge from those cold, dark winter evenings.
you start to wonder if there's a time machine you might jump into...