Ever since I heard that 225 South was opening in Waukesha, I wanted to check it out. Finally, last week Thursday, a few of my girlfriends and I found a night that our schedules aligned for a dinner, and we chose 225 South – Mia Famiglia for our dinner. My parents used to frequent the Mia Famiglia in Hales Corners until the restaurant closed to focus on retail business. The food was fresh and always made to order. A friend of mine also took a cheese-making class at that location. When I heard that Mia Famiglia was coming to Waukesha, I followed the construction updates regularly. And then when it…

August is just a few short days away and with the start of the month comes a big weekend in Waukesha. Friday Night Live takes over downtown on Friday night. I have only made it out to one of these so far this year, but I’m planning to change that now that my schedule is a bit more open. The music I heard the last time at a few stages was very enjoyable and the community has so many talented musicians. I really like Friday Night Live and seeing all the businesses open and busy with customers milling around and purchasing gifts. Saturday starts off with the Waukesha Farmers’ Market.…

My friend and I recently went to get drinks and dinner at The Clarke Hotel. I had heard great things about the fish fry on Fridays and a few other dishes, so we decided to check it out for ourselves. We went on a Thursday evening and decided to sit in the bar for a drink before we had our dinner. I went for a traditional Irish beer, Kilkenny that pours from a nitrogen tapper. It was very refreshing and hit the spot. The bartender told us that the hotel was seeing great occupancy rates and the restaurant was a hit! In addition to being the bartender, he was also…

How quickly this month seems to sneak up on me every year, but at the same time, I am always very excited to see it come. I have worked for the Waukesha County Fair for the past ten (maybe more) years and it’s coming up just next week! I could not ask to work with a better team at the Fair each year and help make this great family tradition happen. The Fair Association is an amazing group of people to work with and their fantastic Executive Director makes sure there is something for everyone at the Fair. Though I have seen it all – rain, hail, wind, heat advisories,…

My parents have been so helpful in getting projects done around my condo. One Saturday, my dad had a few things to finish up at my place, so my parents drove out to Waukesha and we met up at the Farmer’s Market. It was a beautiful start to the day. This was my first time at the market for the season and I like the new changes they made. The market is located on both sides of the Fox River in downtown Waukesha. Some buildings were torn down in the Waukesha State Bank parking lot last year and grassy areas were put in their place. The booths line that grassy…

Last month, my guy and I took a long weekend to Wisconsin Dells. It was relaxing and just what we both needed. Besides the boat tour being the number one favorite thing we did, The Cheeze Factory Restaurant experience is definitely right up there. I was contacted by The Cheeze Factory Restaurant a few months ago and offered the opportunity to dine “on them” and see what they are all about. The Cheeze Factory has recently gone 100% vegan with their menu. Vegan is something that I had never experienced before, but I’m always up for new opportunities. My guy was a little less excited of eating vegan food, but…

This is Part 2 of my blog about my getaway with my guy to Wisconsin Dells.  Day two started with breakfast on the patio that overlooks the pool at the White Rose Inns. This is something I definitely love about B&Bs –the breakfasts are always so good. We were provided a few options – quiche, french toast, scrambled eggs or a yogurt parfait. I went with the quiche and my guy chose the french toast. The patio is covered from the sun and built around a gigantic tree. We were the first ones up for breakfast as we wanted to get an early start on the day so we enjoyed…

My guy and I took a long weekend and did a mini getaway to Wisconsin Dells. We left shortly after 1 pm on Friday and figured we would stop for lunch when we started heading north. My guy says that when you are vacation, you should try someplace new and not go to the franchises to help add to the vacation experience. I agreed completely. So, we stopped for lunch at the Rodeside Grill in Windsor, WI. The area around the restaurant looks like it’s under construction but the restaurant has been there for a few years. The inside reminded me of a log cabin with a lot of wood…

My guy and I were looking for someplace to eat recently and I suggested taking him to a place that I love and know that he would enjoy the food too. Andrea’s Red Rooster is off of Springdale Rd., just north of the Majestic Theater. In my opinion, it’s a bit of a hidden gem with great food and drinks. I actually worked here over a decade ago as a summer job. I met some great friends from that job that I still talk to these days. The place has changed slightly since I worked there – a bit more of a pub atmosphere with more high-top tables to extend…

Last week Wednesday, the weather was absolutely perfect. I’m so glad that summer is on the way. My guy came over for the night and I made us meatball subs, another Ree Drummond-Pioneer Woman success (more on that later). We ate with the patio door open and enjoyed the fresh air. I thought it would be nice for us to enjoy a walk after dinner and I had the perfect location for us – the Gasthaus parking lot for the car show. I was 90% sure that they were going to have the show because it was after Memorial Day, it was a Wednesday night, and the weather was gorgeous.…