State park trail entry point.

Journey Home

Tales from the pilgrimage.

restaurants

  • Farmers Night Out

    SOLON— Happy hour turned into dinner hour as a group of participants in the local food system spent the inaugural Friday afternoon at Big Grove Brewery. It was farmers night out. The new restaurant got a collective thumbs up from the group. My happy hour choice was a beer brewed in the building, one of… Read more

  • Big Grove Brewery Debut

    SOLON— Today at 3 p.m., Big Grove Brewery makes its much anticipated debut on the Solon restaurant scene. I may stop for a brew after work at the farm. My regular posting will resume after the Labor Day weekend. Read more

  • Checking out The Dock

    SOLON— In a small town any new restaurant gets a try from locals and last night we had dinner at The Dock on Windflower Lane. Billed as “Fine Dining and Spirits,” there were white tablecloths set out amid decorations reflecting proximity to a place where fish live and boats tie up. Despite nearby Coralville Lake… Read more

  • New Restaurant in Solon – Again

    SOLON— While stopping in town to pick up a gallon of milk, I spotted something in the door of the restaurant previously known as Reggie’s Weenies. Salt Fork Kitchen, hoping to be open Sept. 1. I checked with the Secretary of State, and Eric Menzel of Sutliff Road near here registered Salt Fork Kitchen, LLC.… Read more

  • Reggie’s Weenies is Gone

    SOLON— Word is out that another Main Street restaurant is gone. Reggie’s Weenies of Solon shuttered their doors last week. I noticed the for lease sign, then it was taken down, then the lights were off during the breakfast service and people started talking. Telltale signs of the end in a small town. Partly, the restaurant… Read more

  • Firefighter Breakfast

    SOLON— The umbrella snapped open as I exited the car on Main Street, heading toward the fire station and the 50th Annual Firefighter Breakfast. It was a steady rain and the breakfast traffic was light at 6:30 a.m. Despite the fact that eggs, sausage, ham, pancakes and beverages are not my usual breakfast fare, I… Read more

  • The Customer is Always Right — but they lie

    LAKE MACBRIDE— A friend worked at a fast food restaurant and spoke about their policy of replacing food items that were wrong when the order was prepared. For example, if a person asked for a burger with no pickles, and pickles were found when the package was opened. The restaurant replaced such items without hesitation,… Read more