Back to Huntsville

The last time I'd taken a day trip to Huntsville was October 2013, and I'd assumed I'd be making more frequent trips down to visit my friends EM and CM.  Well, life sure gets hectic, and while we've seen each other in TN since then, they now have a baby girl who is over a year old!  Yikes!  So when Dan and I had a free Saturday last weekend, we headed down to visit that adorable family for the day.

Our first stop, however was lunch... Korean food!  We stopped at Shinsegae Restaurant, a casual little hole in the wall.  The food was tasty (the japchae bulgogi dish was my favorite) and the prices were reasonable.  There was only one waiter so you have to be patient with service, but the food was solidly good.  It wasn't upscale or LA/NY-quality Korean, but not bad.  There are more Korean restaurants in Huntsville due to the defense industry, so I want to try more every time I'm in town.

After meeting up with EM and CM (and their little Bee!) we headed out to enjoy some of the local craft beer.  It was a hot and sunny day.  We did tastings at Straight to Ale and Yellowhammer.  I loved the outdoor space and beer at Yellowhammer the best.  Their Belgian White was perfect for the hot weather!  Both breweries are relocating to a new "old" space, a reclaimed old middle school that is being fixed into a community gathering place and venue.

Back Alley Bistro's food truck was at Yellowhammer, serving up some tasty sandwiches.  It wasn't as good as our Grilled Cheeserie truck, but the sandwich creations were unique.  I had a white cheddar pimento grilled cheese with bacon chutney, and we split some loaded waffle fries.  Again, perfectly suited to the day with cold beers!

I have no idea where the time went, because before we knew it, it was time to depart Huntsville for the 90-minute drive home that evening.  I leave you with my most favorite picture of the day, celebrating a connection that social media made seven years ago this July, now a real-life friendship!

Huntsville, Alabama

I am super behind in blogging, but I wanted to write a quick post about a day trip I made to Huntsville, Alabama!  My friends EM and CM recently moved from South Bend to Huntsville, which happens to be only 90 minutes away from moi...  which means I get to see them way more often than every few years.

True to form, it rained.  It has rained every time we meet up... zip-lining in St. Lucia, visiting Conner Prairie, and now Huntsville.  No mind though, I had a fantastic day with friends!   Even though it was a drive both ways, I felt so relaxed and happy.

Since Huntsville has a number of former military folks, there are a few Korean restaurants in the area to choose from.  We decided to try one, but while the meal was delicious it definitely was more expensive than it should have been.  Pretty authentic, but for the portion received it was pricey.  Still, my tummy was surely happy!

Despite the rain, we headed up to Monte Sano State Park to check out the view from the mountain.  Not only was the view awesome, but there was a big art festival happening!  There was a beautiful lodge to explore, plus tons of tents with eclectic and beautiful art.  I think our favorite was the great woodwork done by a few of the artisans, creating unique and beautiful furniture pieces.  I only wish I could afford them!

After checking out the view, we headed to the M home to spend some time with what I affectionately call "the zoo".  EM used to be a zookeeper, and their home is full of some of the nicest pets I've ever met: two dogs, three cats, and two birds, all rescues and beloved pets!  I got a photo with a few of the brood that would join me.  Swoon.

Our dinner may have been one of my favorite events of the day... delivery Papa John's pizza, enjoyed during the Notre Dame game.  It was just insanely nice to kick back and relax with my friends, forgetting about work and school and responsibilities.  Plus, the adorable pup Carrot Cake was a great cuddle buddy!

I can't wait to spend more time with my friends now that they are closer.