Burger of the Week #175

Isn't reality fun? I mean, isn't marketing awesome?

Ice Cream Winning

It wasn't that long ago that it was fairly difficult to find ice cream in downtown Grand Rapids (in desperate times, Local Mocha does serve Hudsonville Ice Cream by the scoop, FYI!)

Then last summer GR was inundated with weighable yogurt: Spoonlickers, Sweet-Yos, Scoops. But I've always preferred the creamy purity of ice cream to yogurt and toppings, which when proper restraint isn't shown, just taste like expensive cavities.
But my whines have been heard and my pleas have been fulfilled! This summer, real, handmade, creamy ice cream is available all over the city. Love's (downtown market), Pinkie's (Wealthy Street), and the heart stoppingly good Furniture City Creamery (Cherry Street).

My first visit to Furniture City Creamery this week,was beyond what this avid ice cream maker/eater could even set as expectations! The flavors were unreal, dead-on and totally vegan (how are they doing this???). I left with Raspberry-Basil (refreshing and bright) and Molasses Cookie (creamiest cookie ever!). Not sampling the entire case of ice cream and/or buying out their selection of baked goods was a show of significant self-control.

The place is adorable, the style is precise, the logo is clever and the people were cheerful and accommodating (both the staff and the other patrons). I honestly cannot wait to become a regular here! 

Burger of the Week #174

This leaning tower of burger reminded me of the leaning tower of corrugate (fondly dubbed Mount Corrugate) that's currently taken form in our office.....

Burger of the Week #173

A little birthday treat (and a small piece of advice) that was hidden inside a card from a dear friend.

Invisible Reflections

An 18-year-old photographer in Cambridge, UK got a bit of attention last fall for her work with mirrors. Laura Williams' haunting image of a girl and a mirror, called Invisible, got over 114K comments on Tumblr. Part of a larger portrait set, Mirrors, I just can't stop looking at these images. They seem so simple and yet are conceptually quite deep.

Burger of the Week #172

Spotted this at the Allegan Antique Fair > make your own burger buns with these burger bun bake rings! Basically they help you make 4 mini round loaves of bread, for the real Burger DIYer. 

Branded for the Perfect Pour

A good logo represents a brand and the product or service to which they belong. A great logo serves a greater purpose....

As it turns out, the harp on the glass has more than ornamental purposes. When Guinness is poured properly into a branded Guinness pint glass, the harp icon serves as a measuring aid.

Back at the Guinness Storehouse, the fourth floor is home to the Guinness Academy, where you can learn the art of the perfect pour. Start the pour by holding the glass at a 45-degree angle under the spout and slowly fill the glass to the top of the harp. Allow the beer to settle before topping it off.
 
The harp has been a widely recognized beacon of the Guinness brand since 1876. It is based on the harp of Brian Boru (housed at Trinity Library), the high King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014.
 
Coincidentally, a harp is also the official national emblem of the Republic of Ireland, appearing on passports and state documents. The Guinness harp always has a Left straight edge and the Republic of Ireland harp always has a Right straight edge in order to distinguish the two trademarks.

Awfully nice of the Country to adjust their national symbol to accommodate the trademark of a (albeit beloved and iconic) beer brand!