Lunch at Lagomarcino's

Pro tip: totally catch your phone's reflection when you take pictures of shiny things. D'oh. 

Last month, I took Zack home to the Quad Cities to attend my high school friend's wedding. (Congratulations, Leslie and Mark!) Before the ceremony, I took him to lunch at the original Lagomarcino's soda fountain in Moline.

This particular Lago's still has some original features from its founding in 1918 -- I love the wood-backed fountain, especially -- and they make a darn good chocolate egg cream (my drink of choice during my Harriet the Spy phase) alongside ice creams and candies.

I wish I'd been alive to see the days when Lagomarcino's was a purveyor of oysters (?!) in addition to candies.

We started off with sandwiches and our own glasses of Lago, a fruity, clove-y cola invented at Lagomarcino's in the 1930's, and followed it up with a turtle sundae.

As we ate, I ran into my most familiar blogging problem: feeling like a huge jerk for taking pictures of my food and general environs. I hope that these furtive iPhone photos still do the place justice, and I hope that somebody air-mails me a cone of Lagos' butter pecan ice cream, stat.

P.S. Sharing this picture of Zack and me from the wedding that day, because I'm pretty sure it's the best picture ever taken of us. We might as well shy away from cameras for the rest of our lives. Game over. 

Milwaukee: Lakefront Brewery and Cheeseburger in Bloody Marydise

Before we left Milwaukee after our Wisconsin State Fair adventures -- see parts one, two, and three -- we stopped by Lakefront Brewery and Sobelman's, home of the cheeseburger-topped bloody mary.

We were too late for the last brewery tour of the day, so we took our flights down to the riverside patio.

We quizzed each other from the Inside the Actors Studio questionnaire as we admired the view. I won't tell you my favorite curse word right here, but I did reveal that sleeve tattoos are a turn-on.

Next, we needed something to eat, so we went to Sobelman's, where their bloody marys are more snack than drink. (In the greatest way.) 

Am I laughing? Am I crying? I don't know. It was overwhelming.

I mean, just look at that masterpiece. Asparagus, mushroom, onion, brussels sprout, cheese, sausage, green onion, olive, pickle, lemon, shrimp, cheeseburger..!

Shortly after giving Andy my cheeseburger, we very nearly missed the train to take us home to Chicago -- those bloody marys were projects, plus we had to make a run for New Glarus beer -- but part of me wishes we'd been stranded in Milwaukee forever.

Wisconsin State Fair, Part III: The Animal Palaces

This bunny has had enough of your sass, buster. 

If Blue Boy the pig from State Fair taught me anything, it's that fairs are about prize-winning animals just as much as they're about romance on the ferris wheel.  My Wisconsin State Fair compatriots and I spent most of our day cooing over animals in the goat and sheep, cattle, and small animal pavilions. 

Goats gettin' judged!

Oh, what a welcome it was. 

Snuggly sheep!

... and sheep with questionable racial politics.

Gettin' sheared. 

We lost our focus in the cow pavilion -- too many majestic animals! -- but we did manage to put ourselves in the cattle stocks: 

In the scant 30 minutes we had to spare before the Weird Al concert that night, I ran around the Small Animal Palace and lost my mind over every pretty chicken.  

This gal had a bustle like a Victorian lady!

Despite his fun, fluffy feet, this guy did not appreciate getting his picture taken, thank you very much. 

This duck was the happiest animal we saw all day, and had a little pouf of feathers on her head like a pillbox hat.  She is my new dream pet, hands down.

We also scoped some bunnies:

This one forgot to put his nose on that morning, I think. 

And here is darling, darling Nibbles, a Flemish giant.


These guys and gals all deserve blue ribbons, as far as I'm concerned, and in the multiverse in which I lead a contented country life, I like to think all of these animals live there with me... except for that mean rooster.

Miss the first two Wisconsin State Fair recaps? See Part I about racing pigs and ducks, and Part II about fair food. 

Wisconsin State Fair, Part II: Fair Food

First things first: there is a hole inside of my heart that can only be filled by a New Glarus Spotted Cow and a bratwurst with sauerkraut and beer mustard. This hole is shaped like the state of Wisconsin. After locking this snack down within our first hour at the fair, I was ready to try some other treats.

Other treats, like flavored milk. 

We managed to get at least one cup of every flavor. Cherry vanilla was my favorite, followed by root beer. 

Soon after, we moved on to the obligatory cream puffs. I respect and appreciate the Wisconsin State Fair's cream puffs. I love their mystique, and I love their eerily efficient assembly line construction. That said, I can't handle a whole puff myself -- I think I made it through a quarter before tapping out -- and find the puff itself a little eggy. Am I alone? Am I a lout?

Shelby adopted an air of scientific curiosity, while Andy immediately adopted a cream puff mustache, as my friend Anna recommended in her guide to the fair.

 I already regret not buying a cream puff ornament.

We introduced Shelby to her first deep-fried cheese curd, and before we left that night, we all had our first deep-fried green beans.

There were also a couple of unexpected food cameos: this stuffed, singing bacon doll (?), and the super-hip pickle on a stick that Mike found.

The gang also insisted we try a deep-fried Snickers bar.

The fellas found this Snickers quite alluring. Zack found it hot in another way. A literal way. 

While the deep-fried Snickers could have been a little less bready, we couldn't have been more charmed by our day of fair snacks. Miss you already, Wisconsin! 

Stay tuned for Part III of my Wisconsin State Fair recap (prize-winning rabbits and chickens!), or take a look at the racing animals of Part I.