It is so fun having my sister come visit me at my home. We usually meet somewhere for our sister's week, but since she hadn't seen our new condo life yet, she came to join us.
We started by walking around the neighborhood. We stopped into Iowa Running Company where we met Buddy … and found my sister a new pair of running shoes and an Iowa Running Company t-shirt.
Next stop was neighborhood restaurant Black Sheep Social Club, where we had an amazing supper. I got the Captain Crunch Breaded Fish Nuggets (Cedar Rapids is home to the Quaker Oats factory that makes the cereal, so the air often smells of Captain Crunch) and my husband got the Beer Cheese Pasta. We shared an order of Duck Fat Fries with their house-cured bacon.
Sister Darcy had an amazing Lamb Burger (yes, we are a family that shares our food) with the house Dill Pickle Soup (don't knock it until you've tried it). She and Rod had some local brews from Clock House Brewery (in the same building as Black Sheep) and Rod filled a growler to take home with us.
Saturday we got up early and broke out the bicycles for their first ride of the year. We did about 4.25 miles around the Cedar Lake on a gorgeous morning.
Next we took a walk to local Coffee Shop LightWorks for Breakfast … Earl Grey for me … Cafe Au Lait with Almond Milk for Darcy. We shared Pork Hash, Breakfast Tacos and one of the best biscuits in town (says the girl who knows her biscuits).
Then we hopped in the car and headed to the SPRING ART EXPOSÉ in Iowa City. We ended-up picking-up quite a few gifts and had fun looking at all of the artful creations.
Next stop was Exotic India for lunch.
We shared an appetizer sampler platter, Vindaloo Goat and Mango Curry Chicken with wonderful Chai and Roti. We finished with warm Golab Jamon.
We headed downtown to explore and really loved seeing all of the awesome art for Benchmarks 6.0. Here are just a few of the painted benches.
We also had fun trying on lots of sunglasses.
Final stop was Trader Joe's for some grocery shopping before we headed back home to Cedar Rapids. We headed to Siamville Thai Cuisine for a feast to end the day.
When mango is in season, always get the Mango with Sticky Rice.
The next morning my sister tried out her new running shoes for the same 4.25 mile trek (I rode along on my bicycle, and I won't lie … she kicked my butt).
Next we headed to the Williamsburg Tanger Outlet Mall where we shopped until we dropped.
Now we're off for a few days in Chicago … there will be tons of walk, even more laughter … and lots of good eats & drinks.