Travel

Ann Arbor by iphone

Last weekend Adam and I headed up north to attend my cousin’s wedding in Ann Arbor. Neither of us had ever been to Michigan before and I was excited for Adam to meet my dad’s side of the family.

When we got off the plane on Thursday night, we grabbed my dad and immediately headed to Zingermans based on everyone’s recommendations! I don’t know much about Ann Arbor, but it seems like Zingermans is the place to be. Nothing like sitting on a plane for five hours and then stuffing yourself silly with fried chicken, pulled pork and macaroni and cheese!

On our way to the hotel, the boys made the executive decision to snoop around the Michigan stadium at night. My dad’s family are all from Ohio and, as a result, I grew up as a diehard Ohio State football fan…..Michigan stadium = enemy territory. Just sayin’.

Friday I had the opportunity to meet several Ann Arbor readers at a local coffee shop! They were all so sweet and gave me lots of insider tips on where to go and what to eat while visiting. I felt like I was twelve though because my dad dropped me off and my boyfriend sat in the back of the coffee shop to make sure no “internet weirdos” came and got me. Thank you girls for coming…you girls were definitely not internet weirdos! (Jen, I want your blazer)

I think my favorite part of wedding weekends is the rehearsal dinner! I busted out the red lipstick and was excited to show my handsome date off to the fam. Oh, and Gandy Dancer? Best bread basket ever. I didn’t take a photo because it was from basket to mouth in about .2 seconds flat, but they had this extra soft pizza dough-like roll that changed my life. Man, I love bread.

I was so glad that we had a chance to explore Ann Arbor a little bit! So many cool foodie stores and markets. Despite the downpour Saturday morning, we made our way to the farmer’s market and the surrounding shops. I fell in love with the spices at this spice shop in Kerrytown! Talk about senses overload…..can I live here?

OH. And this recap wouldn’t be complete without telling you guys how, on Saturday night, I got all dressed up in that Banana Republic sale dress (remember? the mature dress? with a red belt just like you guys said!) and the extraordinarily high heels that I just had to wear.

Well, there I was, teetering around on those heels between my dad and Adam on our way to the church for the wedding and then before I knew it, SMACK. I was down on the sidewalk, face-first like I was sliding into second base or something.

I’ll give Adam credit—he was down on the ground by my side before I even knew what hit me but I was left with a bleeding and bruised knee. Nevertheless, I wiped the tears of embarrassment from my eyes, dusted off the gravel from my knee and hobbled my way into church. What can I say? I like to make an entrance.

The service was beautiful, the reception was great and I ended up ditching the heels, forgetting about my knee and dancing barefoot all night. The best part though? Adam slipped the server a dollar bill and got me a second slice of wedding cake. I think he still felt bad for me after my fall. But heck, I’ll trip myself anytime if it means extra cake. heh heh heh

Until next time, Ann Arbor!

 

 

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  • Kristen @ notsodomesticated
    May 28, 2012 at 3:22 am

    Aww what a sweet guy you have!! I think the extra cake completely made the fall worth it! 😉

  • Marissa
    May 28, 2012 at 3:59 am

    Sounds like a great trip! Way to rock that red lipstick 🙂

  • Jenn
    May 28, 2012 at 4:07 am

    Pretty! You look older with the make-up. Adam is hannnndsome 🙂

  • AdrienneCarolyn
    May 28, 2012 at 4:31 am

    You guys look fantastic! Come to Toronto!

  • Joy
    May 28, 2012 at 5:05 am

    I’m more than kind of jealous you can wear red lipstick – when I try I look like I was just enjoying a cherry Popsicle

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
    May 28, 2012 at 5:10 am

    Aw sorry to hear about your fall Jenna!!! But the rest of the trip sounds like so much fun, and you look so gorgeous in those photos! My favourite ways to see new towns is to 1) run them, and 2) visit their farmers markets. The spice shop looks so cute!

  • Samantha
    May 28, 2012 at 5:15 am

    Looks like a great getaway! I’m glad to hear someone out there loves bread as much as I do 🙂 You looked absolutely gorgeous in all of your pictures!

  • Teja
    May 28, 2012 at 5:24 am

    I live in Ann Arbor! The one time I don’t read your blog, you’re in my hometown! Glad you had a great time! 🙂

  • Allie (Live Laugh Eat)
    May 28, 2012 at 5:46 am

    Ohh I am NO stranger to faceplanting! I feel your pain. I can fall down while sitting. I’ve only visited Ann Arbor for 24 hours and that was to visit a drab ‘n’ dreary middle-of-winter-it’s-so-cold-I-can’t-feel-my-face Michigan campus. Must return!

  • Karen Teague
    May 28, 2012 at 5:53 am

    Love your pics, just had to post, word of caution, no high heels at your wedding, after a year of planning my sons wedding the mother of the bride went down, while wearing her heels, she missed the whole wedding, broke her ankles in three places, spent the entire night in the hospital . Glad you were able to enjoy the entire evening with just a scrape, the second piece of cake def helped.

  • Jae
    May 28, 2012 at 6:15 am

    you look so fab in here Jenna! Love the red lipstick! (and the story that came with the dress haha) 🙂

  • Laura
    May 28, 2012 at 6:21 am

    Beautiful pictures! If you don’t mind me asking, where was the reception? I am trying to plan an Ann Arbor wedding and was considering the Gandy Dancer!

  • Ashley
    May 28, 2012 at 6:35 am

    I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed your stay in Michigan! Sorry about that fall, OUCH! You and Adam look adorable though, you’re making me want to bust out my red lipstick for a wedding I have to go too very soon. I haven’t left the house wearing red lipstick yet, it’s still too scary!

  • Em
    May 28, 2012 at 6:42 am

    Sounds like a great adventure!

  • chloe
    May 28, 2012 at 7:03 am

    Went to undergrad at U of M…this post brought back some great memories of Ann Arbor!

  • Kelly Anne
    May 28, 2012 at 7:04 am

    I’m really glad that you enjoyed your stay in Michigan, but I am incredibly sorry that your time was limited to Ann Arbor — Zingermans is definitely great, but that’s really the highlight.

    So many amazing and highly underrated places to visit in this beautiful state. I hope you come back.
    http://www.michigan.org/

    • Stacy @ Every Little Thing
      May 28, 2012 at 8:44 am

      Ann Arbor has a heck of a lot to it other than Zingerman’s!

  • Maura @ My Healthy 'Ohana
    May 28, 2012 at 7:37 am

    Aw, what a sweet husband you have! I can never have too much wedding cake 🙂

    • Grace (GracefulEats)
      May 28, 2012 at 11:55 am

      Maura, Adam’s actually her boyfriend. 🙂 (But I think all of her readers are hoping for a wedding in the future! 😉

  • em
    May 28, 2012 at 8:16 am

    i lived in ann arbor last year, for about 7 months…such a cute town, and zingerman’s and the farmers’ markets are a must.

    i completed my MS in nutrition at Ohio State, so I know what it’s like to be a buckeye in enemy territory! 😉

    glad you had fun and enjoyed the city!

  • Averie @ Averie Cooks
    May 28, 2012 at 8:30 am

    Sorry about your “grand entrance”….eeek! At least you were okay (and got a second piece of cake).

    I love all the pics of you and the spices in that one…what a fun trip and congrats to your cousin!

  • lauren @ the talking kitchen
    May 28, 2012 at 8:35 am

    uh oh, wish i didn’t see that ohio state sentence, (i grew up die hard michigan fan.) 😉 Looks like Ann Arbor didn’t disappoint, except for the sidewalk – sorry about that. Glad you got to check out Zingermans, Kerrytown and Gandy Dancer- all great sights and eats, but you saw the Stadium.. sooo I think you’re all set. 😉

  • Molly @ RDexposed
    May 28, 2012 at 8:35 am

    I’m ready to read about some other wedding bells 😉

  • Stacy @ Every Little Thing
    May 28, 2012 at 8:43 am

    Glad you enjoyed your visit. I am a die hard Wolverine (graduated ’04) and miss living there so much. It’s a fabulous city and I’m glad you enjoyed it!

  • Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy
    May 28, 2012 at 8:45 am

    How fun! All of my family lives in Michigan, and my dad travels to Ann Arbor a lot for work, so reading this post was fun :). I’m glad you enjoyed it!

  • Rachael
    May 28, 2012 at 8:55 am

    I love Ann Arbor – it has some great quirky vintage/antique shops and a gorgeous sushi restaurant [the name which currently escapes me!]. The church they got married in looks lovely – shame about your little trip but yey for extra cake!

  • Patti Smith
    May 28, 2012 at 9:24 am

    Adding Ann Arbor to my list of U.S. places to visit…lovely photos! I just shake my head at those really really high heels…I know myself too well for that :/
    I sat and looked lovingly and longingly at the spice pantry photo…wow 🙂

  • Debbie
    May 28, 2012 at 9:24 am

    Ohhhh Jenna, I love how you can just laugh at yourself, and then move on! I think we’ve all had those moments, where we wipe the tears of embarrassment from our cheeks and then walk in with our head held high! You look beautiful, what a lovely couple you and Adam are! 🙂

  • B @ Crags and Veggies
    May 28, 2012 at 9:37 am

    Beautiful pictures, looks like a fun weekend! Love the idea of your dad dropping you off and your boyfriend in the back corner haha!

  • Erin
    May 28, 2012 at 9:41 am

    I’m a Buckeye alumni so I’ll keep my Michigan comments to myself. But I did have a good time when visiting friends there.

  • Angela @ Happy Fit Mama
    May 28, 2012 at 9:53 am

    Awwww…what a guy! I think you have a keeper! 🙂

    I’m glad you enjoyed my home state. Good thing you didn’t miss with the big house. 🙂

  • Judith
    May 28, 2012 at 10:06 am

    Oh Jen, I know exactly how you feel…except when I took my “blame-the-heels-header” at a wedding, it was during the reception! In front of everyone :-(. At least you only had you adorable and kind BF beside you to be chivalrous.
    And, yes, the red lipstick totally works, but where is the full length pic of the mature dress with red belt???

  • kristen
    May 28, 2012 at 10:25 am

    You guys make a great couple! I totally have done the same thing. I have actually done it enough times that my FI got me these: http://www.amazon.com/Foot-Petals-Stopperz-Non-slip-Pairs/dp/B006RJODRY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

    You can also get them at places like Target & Ross. I think they are good because they will last the first couple of times you wear new heels so you can break them in with a little extra protection from falls!

  • Ash Bear
    May 28, 2012 at 11:04 am

    Ironically, my dear friend is getting her PhD at Michigan right now and was trying to tell me all about the town and now I get to see pictures and read about the restaurant scene. 🙂

  • Liz @ iheartvegetables
    May 28, 2012 at 11:17 am

    It IS enemy territory!!!! 😉 O-H!!!

    Hehe I’m a Buckeye alumni 🙂

  • sana
    May 28, 2012 at 11:28 am

    I neverrrr wear heels, I would totally fall on my face.

  • Grace (GracefulEats)
    May 28, 2012 at 11:40 am

    Jenna, you look so pretty rockin’ the red lipstick! Looks and sounds like it was a lovely weekend…and I completely sympathize about the face planting! Happens. To. Me. All. The. Time. I’m kind of infamous for it…but hey, at least it was at someone else’s wedding, not your own!

    You and Adam look so adorable, btw! 🙂

  • jessica
    May 28, 2012 at 11:45 am

    how did i miss that you were going to be in A2? i used to live there and would have also joined in the reader fun. oh well. hope you enjoyed yourself. i live in detroit now and sometimes miss zingermann’s despite the fact that we have some incredible food places here in the city as well.

  • Sara
    May 28, 2012 at 12:25 pm

    You look smashing in the red lipstick! Glad you liked Ann Arbor, it is a fun city. If you ever come to Buckeye country let us know! 😉

  • naomi
    May 28, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    i love all your iphone pictures! what app do you use for editing on the phone?

  • Sonal
    May 28, 2012 at 12:53 pm

    Jenna you look soo pretty with the red lipstick! Sounds like a fabulous weekend! (minus the fall!) 😉

  • Margarita
    May 28, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    I love your style in that coffee shop picture… So pretty!

  • Mel P
    May 28, 2012 at 6:08 pm

    Spice Merchants is one of my favorite nooks in Ann Arbor! Glad you enjoyed one of my favorite cities in the Mitten!

  • Lily O' Dare @ Candied-Life
    May 28, 2012 at 6:09 pm

    love the look of that church, beautiful…

    nothing like a good trip in heels, happens to the best of us.

    also-buying red lipstick tomorrow, you’ve inspired me!

    Lily

  • Elisabeth
    May 28, 2012 at 8:27 pm

    You two look so cute together all dressed up 😉 Glad you had a good trip to Michigan. I’m from (and live in) Ohio myself – a little south of Toledo & am a diehard OSU football fan myself!

  • Koko @ Koko Likes
    May 28, 2012 at 9:55 pm

    LOVE Zingerman’s!

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  • Alicia @ The Reluctant Home Cook
    May 29, 2012 at 6:17 am

    Most Ann Arbor restaurants have fantastic bread! Can’t get enough of the bread baskets when I visit my parents for a weekend. Glad you enjoyed your time there.

  • Francesca
    May 29, 2012 at 7:03 am

    You weren’t too far from my hometown of Monroe, MI. It’s about 30-45 minutes from Ann Arbor. Definitely great food around Ann Arbor. You should have tried Mongolian BBQ. Mmmm!

  • Lori
    May 29, 2012 at 8:00 am

    So sorry to have missed you! Glad you enjoyed your visit to our wonderful state!

  • Stephie @ Eat Your Heart Out
    May 29, 2012 at 9:44 am

    I love that Adam sat in the back of the coffee shop watching for “internet weirdos”! Before my parents went on their first date, my uncle told my mom to make sure they went somewhere really public in case this guy turned out to be an ax murderer. (He clearly was not.)

    And getting you a second piece of cake?? Keeper!

  • Ashley @ Hudson on the Potomac
    May 29, 2012 at 10:25 am

    You look gorgeous Jenna!!!

  • Tricia
    May 29, 2012 at 10:38 am

    I did this, this weekend! It makes me feel so much better that I’m not the only one who wore too high of heels and ate it. Hopefully you’re feeling better!! Eat more cupcakes!

  • d.liff @ yelleBELLYboo
    May 29, 2012 at 11:32 am

    I love these photos- they make me nostalgic of my college days. Ann Arbor is such a special place – I loved bringing my boyfriend there for the first time last winter. We will be back lots for football this fall now that we will be living back in the Midwest.

    Also, I would love to be at Zingerman’s right now, eating a corned beef sandwich on sourdough with mayo and an old pickle. I die.

    GO BLUE

  • Nicole
    May 29, 2012 at 1:37 pm

    I finally figured out who you remind me of… Reese Witherspoon! You are so pretty and adorable. I mean it in the biggest form of complimenting haha Love that outfit on you in the picture with the bloggers!! I spill things on me too whenever I eat so don’t worry I will never be a clean classy broad either 🙂

    • jenna
      May 29, 2012 at 3:55 pm

      aww thank you so much!

  • Courtney
    May 29, 2012 at 2:25 pm

    I cant believe you took all those pictures on your iPhone! What app do you use?

    • jenna
      May 29, 2012 at 2:34 pm

      Camera + and Instagram 🙂

  • Cacmuffin
    May 29, 2012 at 6:31 pm

    Love, love, love Ann Arbor looks like you guys have a great time!!!!

  • Lisa
    May 29, 2012 at 7:31 pm

    Ann Arbor is a lovely town! In fact, we’re thinking of moving there in the next couple of years. One word of advice though, if you ever make it back to Zingerman’s: Get a sandwich! Honestly, I lived there for four years and didn’t even know they had fried chicken and pulled pork, because they’re so well-known for their deli options. (I think you might have been at the Zingerman’s Roadhouse and not the original Zingerman’s, but I am just speculating based on my confusion over the fried chicken even though I’m 100% positive it was delicious!)

    I am sorry to hear about your fall, however. I’ve been known to do that myself. 🙂

  • Carryn
    May 29, 2012 at 8:22 pm

    Yay for Ann Arbor!! Bummed I couldn’t make it to the meetup, but it looks like you had a wonderful trip. You hit all all the good places in town (how about that spice shop?!).

  • Kristy
    May 29, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    I grew up outside of Ann Arbor and I miss it so! So much good food there. I want some Zingerman’s Farm Bread right now…[sigh]. Glad you had a good time!

  • Emily @ Life on Food
    May 30, 2012 at 3:18 am

    Ann Arbor is such a cute town. I am an tconsultant for colleges and universities and I visit UMichigan several times a year. It is one of those town I go to and think, ” I could live here.” That church is so pretty!

  • Kim
    May 30, 2012 at 6:40 am

    Ah Zingerman’s, you can’t go wrong there! Your post makes me really miss Ann Arbor! Go Blue 😉

  • Lauren
    May 31, 2012 at 10:41 am

    Just wanted to say that I grew up going to the Gandy Dancer – it’s fabulous! (My Dad is a U of M alum, and takes every available opportunity to go back and visit his alma mater).

    Love your lipstick.

  • Karleen
    June 1, 2012 at 6:42 am

    I’m so bummed I missed you in Ann Arbor, I would have loved to have joined the little blogger meet up. I’m glad you enjoyed it and hope you come back soon!

  • LeAndra
    June 4, 2012 at 5:54 pm

    Heart = warmed for saying you grew up a diehard Ohio State football fan. When I saw this post come through my reader I thought, “reading that is the closest I ever hope to get to Ann Arbor.” I grew up a Buckeye and therefore have a(n) (un)natural aversion to all things maize and blue.

    I’m a fairly new reader to your blog, so I was with you only in spirit during your previous mentions of watching OSU games. I found those posts after I searched for your take on a buckeye recipe. I would love to see your take on the candy sometime.

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  • Christy
    September 24, 2012 at 5:50 pm

    Im so mad I missed you!!!!!!!! I hope you went to Comet coffee, love that place. Maybe you’ll drop by ann arbor for your book tour????????? pretty please? congrats again on the book!!!!!!