littleindiana.com » Jessica Nunemaker

City Office and Pub: Food Fit for the Mayor

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:30:03 +0000

Ask someone in Rensselaer, Indiana where to head for lunch or dinner and you’ll probably hear “City Office and Pub” (if you are 18 and over, that is!)

City Pub, as locals call it, is known for a really nice, laid back atmosphere and great food – and judging from the steady flow of people coming through the doors – it looked like the Cheers of Rensselaer! Everyone seemed to know everyone else but that’s not exactly uncommon in a small town.

Wondering about the name? City Office and Pub is a bit unusual — but once upon a time, the pub also housed the Mayor’s office! Talk about job perks! It’s kind of a tradition in the area for the just turned 18 year old to accompany their parents to City Office and Pub for a nice celebratory dinner.

The building is filled with beautiful woodwork (gorgeous bar!), photos of Rensselaer, Indiana in its early days, and daily specials. We ordered a cheeseburger with Swiss and Fries (hubs) and a Reuben Sandwich with Fries (me). As you can see from the photos – they were good!

What you don’t see in the photo? The awesome Spicy Bloody Mary hubs and I had before ordering. I’ve never had it served with a pickle and olive before but, yeah, that olive was GOOD! Who needs celery?

Indiana Winter…oh, yeah: it’s COLD!

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:30:12 +0000

Some parts of the world possess constant sunshine and warmth year round. Here in Indiana? Not so much. I’m not sure I even remember what the sun looks like at this point!

This late in the game, I am about as tired of snow as I can be but I also know that as soon as the next snowfall hits (we’re talking hours not days) I know I will grudgingly bundle up and head right back out there, looking for that ever elusive perfect shot. Oh, well. As long as there is hot black coffee waiting for me when I get back in…I can take it. After all: I am a Hoosier!

Ayda’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant: Flavorful and Fantastic!

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:30:39 +0000

Rensselaer, Indiana has had a sudden flurry of new restaurants: Papa Bill’s Pizza, A Slice of Pie Pizza, and Ayda’s Mexican Cuisine. Mmm…Mexican food.

Have I yet professed to you my undying love of Mexican food? No? Well, I love it. It is second only to pizza, in my opinion. (Yes, I realize I am talking about a whole culture’s food versus a specific type of food but I don’t care: My blog, my rules) Anyway, back to Ayda’s.

Ayda’s Mexican Cuisine is mouth-watering deliciousness in a fantastic location. Okay, I admit: parking could be a little hairy because it is located smack on the corner next to A Slice of Pie Pizza with not many parking spots between them BUT it is right across the street from Iroquois Park – which has plenty of parking!

Someday when there is actually warm weather and sun and the snow and ice seem like a distant memory…it would be fun to let the kids loose and then walk across for lunch, especially because Ayda’s gives you a choice: carry-out or dine in.

Did I yet mention the prices? Um, cheap! Cheap, cheap, CHEAP! Most everything was $5 bucks and comes with rice and beans. Hubs ordered a monster steak burrito (that’s what it’s actually called) for $6.50, I got Combination #4: one chicken taco, one enchilada, and one tamale for $6, and a healthy order of guacamole with a big bag of homemade tortilla chips for $5. Yum! We cut the burrito in half and divided it all between the three of us…we STILL had a little bit of food leftover!

There is no way I won’t be hitting it up again! The kid loved everything, the hubs loved everything, and I kept sneaking guacamole out of the fridge all night so…yes: the new Mexican Restaurant was a hit with all of us! The only question is…how soon can I get back!

Want to see more? Check out my Flickr photostream for more goodness.

Wolcott, Indiana Architecture: Victorian Extravaganza!

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:30:56 +0000

Struggling though the downtown Wolcott area was…there still were quite a few gems scattered around. Check out the neat balcony on that interesting Victorian! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the door open in the Summer with a good book in hand! Sounds like heaven to me – especially after all the snow lately! Ugh.

As always, if you would like to see these houses a little larger – or even possibly more photos! – check out my Flickr page.

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Wolcott, Indiana: Fading Beauty

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:31:16 +0000

Wolcott is very small. According to the Wiki, Wolcott had a town population of under 1000 at the 2000 census. So, when I say it is very small, you know I am in no way exaggerating. The trouble is, this small town looks like it is dying a very slow and painful death.

You can see from my photos that Wolcott has (or once had) a really amazing downtown. I mean, look at all that detail and unusual touches! But for whatever reason…those days seem far in the past.

Most buildings needed paint and basic repair at the minimum. Many downtown buildings and businesses were for sale or boarded up. We didn’t see very many people around the downtown (true it was super cold but it was also a Saturday) for very good reason – there’s almost nothing there.

You already saw my post about Why I Do What I Do based on a sign I found taped to the window of a Wolcott restaurant. But, there is hope.

There was a “coming soon” sign at a building that foretold of pizza and soft drinks. The business owner of Timeless Treasures was in process of relocating to a larger building across the street – and wow does her shop look amazing! Stay tuned for more about that.

As you can see, there was also this amazing Wolcott House on the way in to town. Yes, it really was that amazing. Guess you’ll have to come back to find out more about that one, too!

Of course, I have way more photos of Wolcott than I can fit here so be sure to check out my Flickr page for more Wolcott goodness. Because, struggling small town or not, Wolcott had plenty of goodness.

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Why I Do What I Do

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:30:47 +0000

I don’t know how long John and Darlene were in business. I don’t know how long they have been closed. All I know is that when I bummed around Wolcott looking for somewhere to eat, I happened upon this depressing sign scotch-taped to the window.

This is why I do what I do. People are finding and reading little Indiana (amazingly enough) – hopefully they are also VISITING little Indiana (or their equivalent) so things like this can stop happening. You think the recession is hard in the big cities? You don’t even know how bad it is in a small town.

Personally, I know there are many people in my area who have lost their job. Businesses keep closing all over little Indiana and it is heart-breaking. But, it isn’t all bad. We are all pulling a little closer together as a community, spending more time together instead of at the mall.

The next time you are toodling down I-65 or just passing through and are hungry – well, isn’t it about time you stopped hitting places with golden arches and fast food windows and instead discover the little places around your area?

Book Review: Favorites by Garet Mathews

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:30:45 +0000

It’s no secret that many newspapers and magazines have been folding up across the country (so long, Domino! *sob*). Garet Mathews of Evansville, Indiana is one such newspaper columnist who lost his column.

His focus? Interesting characters around the Midwest (think Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois). But, he made the best of the worst, compiling his favorites together in the aptly named book: Favorites. To make a long story short, he kindly sent me an extra copy for review.

It isn’t very often that I have the opportunity to read something that really stays with me. My life is on information overload, but these days, really, who’s isn’t? I read a lot: blogs, news sites, social networking websites, you name it, I’m on it, but most of the time, it just doesn’t stick. Favorites, however, stuck.

Mr. Mathews possesses a particularly thoughtful turn of phrase. At times I would thrust the book into hub’s hand and demand, “Read this! Read this one!” just because I wanted, no needed, to discuss it with someone. Days later I still think about some of these people and wonder what became of them.

Many of these are tear jerker stories about people that society has almost forgotten. Thanks to newspaper columnist and book author Garet Mathews, though, society never will.

My favorites of Favorites: (in case you were wondering)

*She’s Too Old To Be A Caregiver But She Doesn’t Care

* For This Old Soldier, The War Isn’t Over

* Mortality Tables Creep Up On You

* Thoughts of Baby Girl Don’t Go Away

* Suitor, 91, Has Tough Standards

Want a copy of your own? Yes, of course you do! Go to Newspaper Writer and pick one up right now! You can chose to read it in full online (but, seriously, nothing beats the feel of a book). Shoot me an email when you are finished – or leave a comment below — and we’ll discuss.

Kentland, Indiana Architecture: Jaw-Dropping Loveliness

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:30:55 +0000

Look at these lovely ladies. In this case, I don’t think I have a favorite. While it may be hard to see, they each have some unusual detailing. Really nice!

Want to see more? Check out my Flickr page or join the little Indiana Facebook Fan Page.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers: Dani California

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:30:42 +0000

Okay, so I admit I am not the biggest Red Hot Chili Peppers Fan. They are kind of hit and miss with me. Am I the only person in the world who hates, hates, HATES the song Under the Bridge? Hubs thinks I am some kind of mutant.

I do, however, like Dani California (it’s from the Peppers Stadium Arcadium CD). Hey! it mentions Indiana — and makes me think of warmer weather than the current Indiana freezing!

Black bandanna, sweet Louisiana
robbin’ on a bank in the state of Indiana
She’s a runner, rebel and a stunner
On her merry way sayin; baby whatcha gonna
Lookin’ down the barrel of a hot metal .45
Just another way to survive

Rensselaer, Indiana: Cruise Night Classics

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:30:46 +0000

It’s that time of year…you know, when you start yearning for nice weather and the ability to stand outside sans coat without risking frostbite. It leaves me to dreaming about parades, yard sales, fairs, and Cruise Night.

People flock from miles around for Rensselaer, Indiana’s annual Cruise Night. Most folks gather around the square, sometimes setting up blankets hours in advance (no kidding). With a food vendor or two as well as a car show, it’s a nice way to spend an afternoon gawking at cars I will never remember the name of!

Here are a few fantastic cars from this year’s cruise! Sweet!

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What kind of car are you always excited to see at Cruise Night? For me: it’s all about the 50’s and lots of chrome!