TIme Flies...and it's Friday!

   I can't believe it's already Friday again, and it's been over a week since I have last posted.  I have lost 15 pounds, just kidding, despite my lack of posts, I have been eating!  Don't worry :)  Of course, Fridays get me thinking about the weekend.  I am thinking about doing a weekly post on Fridays about good places to go for weekend, most likely, brekky grub.  We usually go out at least once for some sort of breakfast treat on the weekends, whether for a real breakfast, or just for some coffee and a pastry.  This is a popular place in Indy that I'm sure a lot of you have heard of or been to...Long's Bakery!

The Place

 This is a local joint!  It's a real city bakery located on the Westside of Indy.  You are likely to see a line out the door and wrapping onto the sidewalk on the weekends.  It is a VERY popular place and we were lucky enough to have one of our friends from graduate school who is from the Indianapolis area introduce us to Long's a few weeks after we moved here.  So, if you're new to the area, or just passing by, this is a place you just might want to hunt down...if you like hot, fresh, yeast glazed donuts, that is.

The Goods, baked ones


   Now, don't anyone get mad when I say this, try to hear me out.  I want to compare this place to Krispy Kreme, because, frankly, there are a lot of KK lovers out there and there are comparisons to be made!  The most coveted menu item are Long's glazed yeast donuts, which KK's glazed are also very popular.  They both turn on a light indicating when you can stop in for hot treats.  Okay, so here's what I like more about Long's.  It's the real deal.  You know you're supporting a long standing family business.  You get to stand on line and chat with all the other donut lovers that have made their way out on a lovely Saturday or Sunday morning.  It's real service for real people!  Also, they have tons, and I mean tons, of other baked goods if you want to try a crazy bear claw or a pie or whatever your sweet tooth desires.

   You can be like me and not get another treat in lieu of the yeast donuts, just add some other treats on!  I grabbed myself a maple glazed cake donut too.  You do not want to miss out on the soft, creamy taste of their signature yeast donuts.  Especially when they are warm, they literally melt in your mouth and go amazingly with a nutty coffee to zzzzzzhhinnng you up for the day.  You will be zzhinged my friends!  

What's up?


   I really like Long's.  I love the experience and the donuts are good in a devilish sort of way.  You can get extras and heat them up in the microwave after and they are yummy all over again.  It's definitely worth a trip from wherever you reside in Indy to get a taste of this bakery.  I hope you enjoy some tasty, local brekky treats this weekend!

Hoping for a great weekend? Perk Up!

     On the weekends I have a hard time relaxing.  I am always about "doing something."  I don't care what that something is, but I know there are things going on out there, and I want to be a part of it.  I don't know, that's how I've always been, no time for sitting around and missing out, am I right?
     As always, I am looking forward to the weekend and constantly trying to convince someone (mostly Hubs these days :)), to participate in my shenanigans.  This is what we did for a couple hours last weekend, and it was so cool!

   Hubs found this little flea market, Syd and Harper Recycled Style.  They happened to be set up right behind Perk Up here in Broad Ripple.  I thought, what a great idea, flea market, Hubs loves, coffee and something new to try, I love.  We scored.

     If you peek into the back parking lot you can see where they had their little flea market set up.  They had all kinds of cool things to look at and buy.  Some really unique items and some awesome nostalgia pieces, like old school desks (no, really desks that were from a school, and old) and lockers that reminded me of being back in high school.  How cool would it be to have lockers in your house for storage instead of ugly totes?!?  I love it.  Definitely check out their website and see where they will be displaying the goods next.  It's a nice outing for anyone who loves unique decor and interesting people.

     Doesn't this iced coffee look so delicious with the cute little bendy straw?  I cannot resist a beverage with a bendy straw, Perk Up wins my heart with this one.  The coffee was really good too.  I didn't get a picture of the blueberry muffin we grabbed on a whim to split.  We just wanted a little something to eat while we had our coffees.  The muffins are baked on site, and man, they were really good.  Probably the best muffin I've had in a long time.  I wasn't really expecting anything out of the ordinary, it's a muffin, you know, but it was so buttery and decadent.  I love this place.  It's very cute inside, with a nice deck outside that overlooks the Monon.  A great place to sit and relax...if you can.  We didn't sit for too long...there were other things to explore on this beautiful weekend day!!!

Happy weekend, enjoy it!

Rene's Bakery Brekky

I've seen Rene's Bakery while wandering around Broad Ripple and I have read a couple of things about it.  It looked quaint and the reviews made it sound amazing, so of course, I must see for myself because brekky is one of my favorites.  I can't resist a deliciously carbby baked good!

I happened to be out early one morning and thought I would surprise Hubs with some treats.  Pretty sure he would still be snoozing when I got back, but what better to wake up to than some fresh baked delights!?!

I got these puppies to split.

Strawberry danish

Blueberry and cream cheese danish

The blueberry and cream cheese danish was to die for.  The pastry was buttery and croissant-like, and the blueberries were surrounded by a sugary glaze over the cream cheese filling.  Magnifique!  The strawberry danish had a similar pastry, buttery and flaky...and they both look super darn pretty, for sure!  The strawberry danish could've used a little more filling.  It seemed like it might have cooked out or snuck away somewhere.  I will forgive it and I will definitely be trying other things from this bakery.  I saw a rack full of fresh baked breads while I was in there, which will likely be my next purchase.  I love fresh baked breads and can't wait to try theirs.