Setting the stage - Tallahassee, Florida
In 2001 I was thirteen years old and starting ninth grade. Rough year period. It got even rougher when my dad announced that we would be moving from our South Florida home to Tallahassee. Where? Do people even live up there? Just look at this picture! It's all trees! No, it wasn't a dream- it was real life slapping me in my teenage face.
We moved. I hated life. I grew up, grew used to it, and moved to Orlando the moment I graduated high school. Never to return... or so I thought. After graduating college in 2010 and immediately facing unemployment, I found myself right back in Tallahassee and moved back in with my parents. The end of the world round two. Then a funny thing happened. I landed a job, got engaged, made friends, and started to learn more about this town I found myself living in for the second time in life. After we got married, my husband (also from South Florida) and I decided to stay and make Tallahassee our first home. To be honest, we were both a little overwhelmed. This city, or town I should say, had not ever been our first choice. Regardless of our personal feelings it was the place we both felt God had picked for us and the beginning of our marriage.
And Then
Slowly but surely, we grew to like Tallahassee. We started trying new restaurants, visiting local parks, and taking day trips to nearby cities like Havana and Quincy. In all of our adventuring there was one place we always found ourselves coming back to, Lake Ella - right in the center of Tallahassee herself.
If you are from Tallahassee you may already have a personal opinion about this neck-of-the-woods. If that opinion was formed more than a year or two ago you need to seriously consider a revisit on a late Saturday morning or early afternoon. I promise your mind will be BLOWN.
If you are not from Tallahassee keep this post in mind if you ever decide to come visit. You will regret passing her up, I promise!
The Lake
In all of her glory Ella sits right in the center of Tallahassee off of Monroe Street, a main road here in town.
She is surrounded on one side by small business cottages that sell goods and services ranging from clothing and stained glass to food and coffee. When I am in need of a little RNR- especially now since my husband is always busy studying- I like to start off Saturday morning by going to my all time favorite coffee shop, Black Dog Cafe.
After finish my pairing of a ham and cheese pastry with a cafe mocha I normally head over to Quarter Moon to get my home goods-jewelry-clothing fix.
And because I can never get enough antiquing/vintaging I normally find myself popping over to Chandler Market to check out a nice selection of clip-on earnings, old shutters, and quaint cocktail glasses.
Peanut brittle? Home made ice cream? Fudge? MMMM, yes please! And when I get in this mood I find myself inside Barb's. No better place in town to get some good Southern comfort.
After my coffee and shopping, a lap or two around the lake is normally in store. Let's be clear, by lap I mean a walking-lap not a running-lap. A few years ago the pathway around Ella was paved and new park benches and tables were installed making this lapping very user friendly! More recently a few adorable wooden porch swings have been erected and taking a walk around the lake became that much more romantic! Ah, the romance!
If you are from Tallahassee you may already have a personal opinion about this neck-of-the-woods. If that opinion was formed more than a year or two ago you need to seriously consider a revisit on a late Saturday morning or early afternoon. I promise your mind will be BLOWN.
If you are not from Tallahassee keep this post in mind if you ever decide to come visit. You will regret passing her up, I promise!
The Lake
In all of her glory Ella sits right in the center of Tallahassee off of Monroe Street, a main road here in town.
She is surrounded on one side by small business cottages that sell goods and services ranging from clothing and stained glass to food and coffee. When I am in need of a little RNR- especially now since my husband is always busy studying- I like to start off Saturday morning by going to my all time favorite coffee shop, Black Dog Cafe.
After finish my pairing of a ham and cheese pastry with a cafe mocha I normally head over to Quarter Moon to get my home goods-jewelry-clothing fix.
And because I can never get enough antiquing/vintaging I normally find myself popping over to Chandler Market to check out a nice selection of clip-on earnings, old shutters, and quaint cocktail glasses.
Peanut brittle? Home made ice cream? Fudge? MMMM, yes please! And when I get in this mood I find myself inside Barb's. No better place in town to get some good Southern comfort.
Writing this blurb about my favorite spot in town has given me a new idea for this blog of mine. Reviews. Review of place and spaces! I am truly excited to share my love and passion for the good in life.
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