Welcome to Lakewood!

It's not like I grew up far from Lakewood.

And it's not like I didn't spend many weekends, especially over the past year, in Lakewood. But somehow I missed the memo on parking. So imagine my surprise when my boyfriend and I went apartment shopping and were informed that parking was free...on the street.

I don't want to sound like a suburban snob, but I couldn't believe it! Yes in all my years of frivolity in Lakewood, I always parked on the street. After all, I was a guest. But after signing the lease on my first Lakewood apartment, I realized that parking on the street is just a way of life for true blooded Lakewood residents. Everyday they fight their way for the closest space by their apartment building. They go up and down streets waiting and watching for a prime spot when they shop. And they are pretty much pros at parallel parking in front of restaurants.

I do not expect to be at pro level anytime soon...my apartment has a garage.

Anyway, welcome to my blog. I'll be exploring Lakewood and letting you know how it goes.

There's so much to see and do in this town. Hopefully I can help put a spotlight on some familiar (or maybe unfamiliar) restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and stores. And hopefully I don't get any parking citations along the way.

Right now I'm just getting unpacked and putting the final touches on my new apartment in a very old building on the West End of Lakewood. It's been great having the opportunity to simply walk to things such as Taco Night at the West End Tavern on Tuesdays, with 99 cent beef tacos and $2 Coronas. At first I wasn't sure about eating a taco for less than a buck. But then I remembered Taco Bell has tacos for less than a buck and I've fearlessly eaten those. And I have to say, has some really good beef tacos. This is no .

It's actually good and the beef looks like beef and there's a never-ending supply of Coronas. That being said, I would highly recommend Taco Tuesday at the West End Tavern. Good food, awesome staff, and just an overall good atmosphere.

But Lakewood isn't messing around with it's taco nights.

I've quickly discovered you can get cheap tacos on any given night in Lakewood. Yes, Lakewood loves tacos. So if Taco Tuesday is too much alliteration for you, there's also a Taco Wednesday at Riverwood Cafe which has $1 tacos. Now I love the West End Tavern, but Riverwood Cafe has chicken tacos and they are amazing. Seriously, don't skip out on the chicken taco. Plus there's four salsa varieties to try, the last being “suicide." I usually go with the medium because I respect my body too much to endure the pain of what the suicide flavor salsa suggests.

I spotted a taco Thursday somewhere on Detroit, so I'll let you know when I check it out.

Writing this blog has made me hungry. With that being said, I'm off to find food.