[Real Detroit] Canine to Five Ferndale

There's a reason they're called man's best friend: people go nuts over their dogs. (In a way that is usually endearing, but also sometimes creepy.)

Liz Blondy and her team at Canine to Five – with locations in Midtown and, as of this past January, Ferndale – understand. Canine to Five offers both doggie daycare and boarding, and they baby your babies as if they were their own.

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[Model D] Anthology Coffee finds a permanent home at Ponyride

Anthology Coffee's new space (still under construction.)

2011 Hatch Detroit semi-finalist Anthology Coffee is continuing to build its brand and work on a permanent café in Corktown – happy news, as just a couple of months ago it seemed like they were going to cease all operations.

In 2012 Anthology signed a lease at 2051 Rosa Parks (an office building in Corktown). After some initial efforts were made towards build-out, progress stalled for months and Anthology owner Josh Longsdorf made the decision to leave. At the same time, Anthology also fell short on an Indiegogo campaign that was meant to purchase new equipment; Longsdorf had to use that money to pay off coffee contracts he had purchased in anticipation of being fully open at 2051 months early.

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[Model D] Whole Foods in Midtown gets ready to open, has distinctly Detroit flair

The new Whole Foods in Midtown – set to open on June 5 – is not just another grocery story. It's not even just another Whole Foods store.

Tremendous efforts were made to ensure that this Detroit store reflected the personality of the city itself. While the five other Michigan Whole Foods locations are relatively generic, this location aims to be deeply and distinctly Detroit. "We took the time and effort to really reflect Detroit," says Amanda Musilli, Whole Foods Market Community Liaison.

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[Real Detroit] Younger's Irish Tavern

This post written by EID Co-Conspirator Stefanie Cobb.

Irish potato wedges. Photo by Stefanie Cobb.

In the quaint little village of Romeo resides a not-always-quaint and not-so-little Irish pub. Brothers Glenn and Bill Wilhelm were inspired to open Younger's Irish Tavern with the hope of carrying on the "Younger" name – originating from their great, great Grandfather's brewery in Ireland. The Wilhelm brothers chose to open their tavern in Romeo because they admire the village for its small town feel and historic homes.

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The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

Stella's got an eye for design. Photo by Josh Hanford, courtesy of Stella Good Coffee.

New distillery coming to Eastern Market! About time I get something civilized within walking distance.  (Well, stumbling...all of downtown is within walking distance, but stumbling distance is better.) Sorry Vivio's, but you don't count. [Detroit City Distillery FB]

We're one step closer to being able to fill growlers at bars and restaurants and have wine tastings at farmers' markets! [MLive]

Seriously you should go to this. Guns and Butter at Ponyride. [Thrillist]

Here's more about B Spot in the D spot. [Crain's]

Two out of two news section editors at Model D agree that The Grindhouse Food Truck is pretty spiffy. Read more about Corridor Sausage Co. going mobile, as well as their recent USDA approval allowing them to wholesale. [Model D]

I spent a whole day in Midland. This is why. More to come (including why this is news and why I would drive all the way out to Midland for it) ... later. (Much later.) [EID]

In case you missed it:
-The best-designed public spaces in Detroit right now are its ever-growing number of thoughtfully-designed coffeehouses. The newly-remodeled Stella Good Coffee inside the Fisher Building is joining those ranks. [EID]
-No but really. [Model D]
-I've got tickets to the sold-out Baconfest Michigan event on Saturday, June 1 to give away, but nothing in life is free. You need to give something in return. [EID]

Trinosophes is now serving brunch. [Trinosophes FB]

Mac and cheese: Detroit's contribution to the culinary world. Aside from hot dogs slathered in chili and square pizza with a thick crust. [Freep]

Speaking of square pizza with a thick crust, Buddy's Pizza was featured on Cooking Channel's "Pizza Cuz." [Freep]

Nice SCOOP, lolololololz. Concentrate writer Kim North Shine profiles Go Ice Cream, an artisan ice cream maker based in Ypsilanti which will be available to purchase online, at select markets, and (if you live in the area) by bicycle delivery. [Concentrate]

You don't have to drive four hours out to Traverse City to be in wine country, though you DO have to cross an international border. The 2013 WindsorEats Windsor-Essex Bikes and Beers and Wine Trail Rides have started; this beautiful country is less than an hour away and a lovely way to spend an afternoon IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY! [WindsorEats]

Dominion House Tavern (The DH) - another great reason to cross the border. [Windsor Star]

Ferndale's Woodward Avenue Candy Shoppe is closing. The space has a new tenant and owner Janie DeJaeghere plans to move somewhere else in Ferndale, while still taking orders for candies and baked goods as she looks for a new space. [Ferndale Patch]

Ferndale loses one sweets shop, gains another. [Ferndale Patch]

What's going in the old Five Lakes Grill/Cinco Lagos spot in Milford? UPSCALE BBQ. [EID FB]

The 'burbs are gettin' graffiti'ed up: first Birmingham (at Toast Birmingham), now Franklin. [Bloomfield Patch]

This "Simple" evening was anything but. Thrilled and flattered to have been a part of it, with thanks to all of the wonderful, lovely people who made it happen -- Luciano, Chet, Kyle, Joe, everyone! Now peep these pretty pics. [The Fresh Exchange]

This is kind of a quick-hitting list of different developments in the works downtown happening with the oversight of Quicken et.al., among them a possible second location for the owners of Vicente's Cuban Cuisine also serving Latin food. [Detroit News]

Vander Mill has completed their $600,000 renovation and has started canning three of their ciders, which will be available in stores starting this month. [Promote Michigan]

Travel blog-thing Gadling profiles Detroit. [Gadling]

Etc.
~Grand Rapids says to Kalamazoo, others: "SAY MY NAME, BITCH!" Welcome back, Beer City USA! Way to reclaim your title and MURDER the competition! (Just look at the stats.) [Examiner]

~Get ready for even more Chicagoans to infest Traverse City's wine country. [Chicago Tribune]

~MTV: still not playing music videos; now trying to be the Food Network. [MTV]

[EID Giveaway] Give Something to Get Something: Baconfest Tickets

Photo from Baconfest Michigan.

You want Baconfest Michigan tickets? For free? Of course you do, especially since the event is sold out.

It just so happens I've got a pair of general admission Baconfest tickets to give away to a lucky reader. Last year I made people drive all over the many, many miles of metro Detroit in search of clues on a sadistic scavenger hunt I thought no one would actually complete (one team did, and that very same day if memory serves).

This year I quite frankly do not have the time to be so detailed, but one of the most valuable things you can learn in life is that nothing is really FREE. So, I'm making you give something to get something.

My friend Nikita Santches of Rock City Pies is in the middle of a crowd-funding campaign through Indiegogo for his new venture, Rock City Eatery in Hamtramck. So here's the deal. Click on the link (^^^THAT IS A LINK, RIGHT THERE IN ORANGE), make a donation of $25 or more, and be entered for your chance to win a pair of free Baconfest Michigan tickets for Saturday, June 1.

#WERQ

PLEASE NOTE: The ONLY WAY you will be entered is if you (a) donate $25 or more, and (b) forward the Indiegogo confirmation email to info@baconfestmichigan.com.

You might remember Rock City Pies as being the first vendor to run out of food at Baconfest last year. Nik will be back at Baconfest again this year (and with more food this time, you fucking savages).

But wait, there's more! With 12 days and counting left in his campaign, Nik still has a long way to go. If you guys put him over the top and fully fund his project, then I will personally put together for you your very own Baconfest grab bag filled with Baconfest T-shirts (you tell me the sizes), a poster, bacon-themed art, food items from local purveyors, and other freebies. At my own expense. Just for you. This grab bag will be worth over $100 in free stuff, PLUS the general admission tickets, PLUS your face all over EID + Baconfest + Rock City social medias.

Plus plus PLUS, not only do you get entered for a chance to win tickets; you'll also get whatever prize is listed on the Indiegogo campaign for the amount of your donation. So really, either way you win.

So! Donate, and get your friends to donate too. My contest will run through the end of the Rock City Eatery campaign. The winner will be selected at random by Baconfest staff on Friday, May 24, and will be notified immediately. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

XOXO,
Nicole Rupersburg, HBIC of EID

[Real Detroit] Hog's Hollow

This post written by EID Co-Conspirator Stefanie Cobb.

Photo by Stefanie Cobb.

Major changes are in store for Cass Bar and Grill this month and it would be a poor decision not to partake in the excitement. First of all, the name Cass Bar and Grill is dead and gone. Gather round y'all, and acquaint yourselves with the new and improved Hog's Hollow, the revitalized version of Cass Bar and Grill (same ownership). John Sattmann, owner of Hog's Hollow, is avid about the success of his restaurant. It is clear that his passion lies in good old-fashioned barbeque, as well as providing a community for people to relax with a beer and a good meal.

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