This week, D. took a tour of the new StandArt Lofts. The rectangular shaped building, which you may have noticed when driving into Downtown from The Trail or I-75, was built in 1906 for Standart-Simmons Hardware Co.

More than a 100 years later, this building has been converted into fantastic apartments… with some serious ceiling height!

The windows and exposed brick look great.

I love D.’s shot of the staircase. No worries, the building has elevators… which is more than I can say for most of the buildings where I lived in NYC. That’s luxury!

Standart Lofts | 34 S. Erie Street | Downtown | (419) 249-9800

Once upon a time there was a Vietnamese restaurant on Airport Highway. It has been gone for a long time so when we heard about a new Vietnamese joint that opened on Upton we rushed to check it out.

Pho Viet Nam is fantastic! The story is they opened about a year ago as a soul food place. About a month ago they started adding Vietnamese dishes to the menu and have gotten rave reviews from friends and foodies in Toledo. On our first visit I asked if they served banh mi (a wonderful sandwich I used to enjoy when living in NYC). They didn’t have it then… but on our next visit BAM! There it was on the menu. YUM.

You should really check this little gem out for yourselves. I’m looking forward to this Summer when we can take advantage of the sweet deck they have out front with tables.

Pho Viet Nam | 3636 Upton Avenue | (419) 720-2952

The Smoking Cat seems to have popped up all over Toledo this year. It’s certainly one of my favorite pieces of street art. Have you seen the Smoking Cat?

So excited about this… Toledo-favorite Cake in a Cup gets invited to the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars. AND WINS! We were happy to join them in a viewing party where their lips remained sealed about the outcome until it was shown on the TVs. What a night. Congrats to Lori and Dana… well done girls. Well done!

Cake in a Cup | 6801 W Central Ave # 2 | (419) 491-1104

My favorite weekend of the year is The Old West End Festival weekend! And to kick it off, our neighborhood hosts the King Wamba Parade. The best way to describe the parade is “eclectic!” I absolutely loved this old car.

For every antique beauty there were equally amazing art cars. I love the tiki wonder pictured above–a creation by OWE resident, Melanie Harris.

Parade watchers were serenaded by The Toledo Glassmen…

… and entertained by the dancing girls (and guys) of JJ Express!

This year’s King Wamba is Michael Szuberla of Toledo Grows and Queen Sancha is Rachel Richardson, activist extraordinaire.

I was most pleased by the visiting Detroit Party Marching Band.

And a party they were!

Great parade, great food, fun parties, golf carts!, and an all around great weekend. I will post video from the entire weekend shortly.