Beezy's Cafe: Something to Hold On To

Wanna feel the love? It's pretty unavoidable at Beezy's Cafe in Ypsilanti, MI. Beezy's is a local brunch serving machine whose philosophy revolves around simple, honest food and top-notch service. Whether I'm preaching to the harmonious choir of Beezy Bodies or if you've never been - I'm here to promote the idea that a sense of pride can happen to a community through an honest business that has the best intentions.

THE FOOD!

(There once was a Breakfast Burrito on this plate but somehow it disappeared...)

Ladies and gentlemen and everyone in between, I am here to tell you as a health-concious student, Beezy's Cafe is the best option in town. Homemade recipes with no more than 10 ingredients. Everything is less than $8. And if you bring in a traveler's mug, you get a cup of coffee for $1! (Riiiight??)

Beezy's is open until 4pm and is known for serving perfectly portioned brunches to the town packed with starving students and artists. I'm usually found annihilating a Breakfast Burrito (eggs, chorizo, cheese, grilled to perfection) OR a Pepper & Egg Sanwich (eggs, sauteed onions and peppers, and parmasean cheese on sourdough bread) for breakfast. The best part? Breakfast is served until 2pm. Beezy's definitely knows they have customers who barely roll out of bed by noon...How thoughtful!

Lunch begins at 11am and includes salads, sandwiches, and ever changing soups that cause serious recipe envy. I usually go for a Beezy's Salad (mixed greens, pesto ranch dressing, carrots, radishes, croutons, chopped bacon, muenster cheese, sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onion, sliced chicken breast and egg salad) or an Avocado Veggie sandwich (sundried tomato pesto, avocado, roasted red peppers, red onion, lettuce and tomato).

But the original reason I became hooked on Beezy's is the soup. The glorious glorious soup. Everyday Beezy's updates Facebook and Twitter announcing two Soups of the Day. Pumpkin cheddar, cream of mushroom, vegan lemon broccoli, and creamy chicken noodle are just a FEW of the alternating options.

Owner, Bee Roll, never fails and never wastes. She'll add on a soup or a special (apple cinnamon french toast, corn beef hash skillets, etc.)  to make sure NO FOOD is wasted in the Beezy's kitchen.

To sum it up, you're gonna get a great meal when you come to Beezy's. So the next time you're starving before 4pm, go to Beezy's and eat some real food made by great people. It's that simple.

THE SERVICE!

 

Bee Roll is dedicated to the city of Ypsilanti. She is giving the community a sense of pride by providing a place where the public can hang out and eat deliciously healthy food.

Most reviews regarding the local treasure comment on the unique and friendly staff, "Behind the register, in the kitchen, around the dining room, everyone is pleasant and clever, quick with a joke but thorough in addressing questions about the food," said Evan Hansen of Metrotimes.

It's likely to find a line outside of the inconspicuous gold mine. As my favorite Beezy's employee likes to say, "People are willing to wait because they know they're getting the best food and service in town. If they get angry that we have a line, I can point them to a few places that NEVER have a wait...And they'll see why." (heh.)

The aromas from the kitchen and trendy layout stir good moods among the customers as they gaze at the mouthwatering list of options. A friendly worker will start a conversation with you and write down your order on a ticket. You then take the ticket up to another friendly worker (who will also share an awesome conversation with you) and they will place your order. You then find a seat in one of the bustling rooms and hear your name being called...Your food is up!

THE JOY!

Whenever an out-of-towner comes to visit me in Ypsilanti, I take them to Beezy's. It makes me feel cool, okay? It makes it seem as though I make awesome choices my in life and live in a really nifty city...which I do!

If you're from Ypsi and you have yet to head over to Beezy's. Get moving, already! You can park in the lot on Washington & Pearl for FREE for two hours or you can walk (it's right across the street from Deja Vu)! OR if you're not from these parts, make a special trip for a unique experience in Ypsilanti. It'll do ya some good. Click here for a map.

That's all I have for you! Leave a comment and tell me which dish is YOUR favorite at Beezy's. And while you're at it...Check out my Tumblr! Follow me on Twitter! Keep reading...You never know...Maybe I'll blog about YOU next time...

The Detroit Institute of Arts: Collection, Interaction, and Variety.

(The Nut Gatherers by William Adolphe Bougereau)

My best friend, Natalie Gregorarz, treated me to a journey to the Detroit Institute of Arts.  Located on Woodward Avenue. The DIA is surrounded by The Detroit Public Library, MoCAD, and other noteworthy Midwestern cultural centers. The DIA's collection ranks in the Top Six in the United States. Originally known for their unbeatable American Art collection, the D.I.A. now features comprehensive selections which range from Egyptian, puppetry, Islamic, American, European, African, Native American, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Impressionism, Photography, Modern, and Contemporary (basically, they got it on lock-down).

I had been to The DIA about a year ago - previous to my internship at MASS MoCA. My appreciation for this Detroit treasure was heightened after working in a museum for a semester. I am amazed with the level of interaction and information that is provided to the visitors of the D.I.A.  (i.e. The Eye Spy games throughout the collections give clues to find a specific element of a piece in the gallery. It forces you to look around and usually draws attention to something you may have overlooked!) I've visited over a dozen museums in the past year - and no one does it quite like the D.I.A.

(Blood Sweat and Tears by Alison Saar)

The DIA does not take itself too seriously and does not require attendees to have any prior knowledgeof art before they enter the galleries. Each exhibition includes an ample amount of information about the era, artist, and selected pieces. 

(Bank of the Oise at Auvers by Vincent Van Gogh)

Several works by Van Gogh are featured at the D.I.A.  My best friend worships this genius and we gazed in awe at his raw techniques. This particular piece struck me on this visit to the D.I.A.  Van Gogh's manic brushwork emulated despair while composing a work that is undeniably beautiful. (Other Van Gogh's include Portrait of a Postman, [The Yellow Hat] Self Portrait, and The Diggers.)

(Judith and the Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi)

Surely, there is something everyone can enjoy at the D.I.A. If you're a good ol' Michigander or just passing through - I highly suggest you stop on by as the weather is becoming increasingly and bitterly cold.

And Turn the White Snow Red as Strawberries in the Summertime

On September 29, 2011 indie-folk harmonies glazed through The Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor Michigan during the live performance of The Fleet Foxes. The Seattle natives’ lyrics oozed with togetherness and sadness while clear and concise voices echoed a calm chaos.

The Fleet Foxes express their ideas and motives through words of togetherness, nature, and life and death. Their lyrics are cryptic in the sense that they are almost too personal to decode the precise situation that inspired the artists to writing the song. However, the words are accessible enough that you can find yourself relating to them at any given moment in time. “So now I am older, Than my Mother and Father were, When they had their daughter, Now what does that say about me?” Along with their organic timbre, The Fleet Foxes often resonant statements regarding nature and the undeniable human connection with the earth. “The world is alive now, in and outside our home. You run through the forest, settle before the sun.” Lastly, The Fleet Foxes are accustomed to shedding light on perhaps the most human part of life – which is death. “Why is life made only for to end? Why do I do all this waiting then? Why this frightened part of me that’s fated to pretend? Why is life made only for to end?” The audience was perfectly attentive as the lead singer, Robin Pecknold, spilled out these vulnerable lyrics. Everyone can relate to the fear of death, of age, the pleasures of the sun, and the unanswered questions to life. The Fleet Foxes not only address these thoughts, but articulate them in an accessible yet challenging style.

The most important elements of the performance were the quality of the voices of the band and the calm excitement that radiated off of the audience. The Fleet Foxes are known for their tenor-like pitches and clear tonality. However, a lesson we have learned from most popular music artists is that a great studio band does not always translate to a great live band. Thankfully, The Fleet Foxes were far from the clichés that we often see at the MTV Video Music Awards. Every member of the band contributed to the heaven-like vocal harmonies with severe control and concentration. Every high scale note was delivered and the tight harmonies were executed cleanly. The audience was fueled by this experience. Even before the band struck the first chord, the fans were giddy. The Fleet Foxes casually walked onto the stage with an (obvious) roar from the audience, but actually, it took them quite a bit of time to get themselves situated. The audience sat in silence for about 30 seconds and one person began clapping. Before you knew it, everyone was cheering for a band that was clearly appreciated. The audience fell silent again (the band was still getting ready) and an energized attendant screamed “YOU’RE MY FAVORITE BAND!!” The audience began to giggle and sure enough - erupted with excitement all over again. And from that moment on, every time the band began to play a song, the audience cheered immediately. It was clear there were many people at the Hill Auditorium that listened to The Fleet Foxes on repeat since they debuted in 2008. During the encore, Pecknold thanked the audience and mentioned, “Thank you so much. This has been one of our favorite shows of all time.” The feeling was irrefutably mutual.

The genre that The Fleet Foxes are most typically classified under is Indie-Folk. Although the definition of “Indie” has become convoluted over the past three years – The Fleet Foxes represent the non-mainstream qualities that are usually found in most Indie artists. Their sound supports traditional qualities of American Folk music with narrative lyrics, serene and catchy melodies, and the use of the piano, guitar, harmonica, and bass. Unlike some Folk artists, such as Dylan, The Fleet Foxes (as mentioned earlier) place a clear focus on their vocals. The vocal qualities are just as important to the story of the songs as the actual words for The Fleet Foxes.

The overall experience was completely exhilarating and relaxing. The undeniable talent and passion of The Fleet Foxes carried through to every person inside the Hill Auditorium.