Summer’s waning and there are just a few weekends left before school, football season and chilly temperatures put a cramp in our lazy Sunday style. So here’s our suggestions for some ways to turn your Sunday into a Sunday fun day.
Wineries
Cedar Ridge Vineyards offers wine and spirit tastings during their regular business hours throughout the year. There also is a full menu of wood fired pizza and other seasonal local small plates. But on Sunday they turn it up a notch. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the winery serves brunch by reservation for $15 per person. The menu includes a buffet of eggs, meats, sweets, local greens, hashbrowns, fruit, and, of course, mimosas. On Sunday afternoon, music starts at 3 p.m. This weekend features Jasmine. If you can’t make it, the music continues through the end of October every Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.
- Details: Cedar Ridge Vineyards, Winery and Distillery, 1441 Marak Rd., Swisher. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11 to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Crwine.com
Fireside Winery is open daily year-round. Spring through fall, though, the winery extends its hours on Fridays and adds live music to the already welcoming ambience of the winery’s acreage. On Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. grab a bottle and relax on the outdoor patio either under the arbor or under canopy of blue skies. There is ample seating and multiple fire pits. This Sunday Two-Bit Maniac will play. Live music continues through the end of October and includes a few other special events, such as a Harvest Celebration on Sept. 2, Oktoberfest of Sept. 29 and a Halloween Costume Party on Oct. 27.
- Details: Fireside Winery, 1755 P Ave., Marengo. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday (seasonally through Sept. 28), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Firesidewinery.com
Tabor Home Vineyards is the oldest winery in the area. So they know a thing or two about throwing a party and they do so every other Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. with live music on the barn patio. Picnics are encouraged as are families. There’s free lemonade and water. Buy a bottle and they’ll put it on ice (in a plastic kid’s sand pail) for you. Pulled pork sandwiches and cheese plates are for sale as well. The summer music series continues on Aug. 19 with Scott and Michelle Dalziel. Oct. 6 is an annual anniversary party. It marks 16 years and the end of the summer music with a festival featuring Bob Dorr and The Blue Band.
- Details: Tabor Home Vineyards and Winery, 3570 67th St., Baldwin. Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays (May to December) through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Taborhomewinery.com
Eateries
Nestled in the rolling hills just west of Anamosa in Stone City, the General Store Pub is a destination any day of the week. It overlooks the Wapsipinicon River, which inspires customer favorites like the Wapsirita and Tacklebox full of fried appetizers. On Sunday, though, there’s another reason to head to Stone City. Starting at 4 p.m. Sundays it is open mic night at the restaurant. Sing a song, do a dance, read a poem or just enjoy your talented neighbors.
- Details: General Store Pub, 12612 Stone City Rd., Anamosa. Open 4 to 11 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Generalstorepub.com
At the corner of Third Street and 12th Avenue SE in the New Bohemia District, Parlor City has become a post-flood anchor for the neighborhood. A popular weekday spot for lunch and weeknight hang out, it’s also a place to be on Sundays with free live music at 6 p.m. This week features Blue Martian Tribe. Or go early for breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. on Sundays (Saturdays, too) along with a Bloody Mary bar until 3 p.m.
- Details: Parlor City Pub and Eatery, 1125 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Parlorcitypub.com
Located just south of Lisbon near the Cedar River crossing at Sutliff, Sutliff Cider is a seasonal destination. Open spring through fall on Saturday and Sunday only, it makes the most of its weekend hours with live music at the barn on Sunday afternoons from 3 to 6 p.m. This Sunday features the Mississippi String Band. Get glasses of hard or soft pressed cider or draft beers both days, but Sundays are the only day they serve food as well.
Details: Sutliff Cider, 382 Sutliff Rd., Lisbon. Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through November. Sutliffcider.com
Bloody Mary Specials
Cedar Rapids
- Cedar River Landing, 301 F Ave. NW. Bloody Mary Bar from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. $3.
- Chuck’s Bar and Grill, 4958 Johnson Ave. NW. Bloody Mary all day, $2.
- Cooper’s Mill, 100 F Ave. NW. Bloody Mary all day, $3.
- Fieldhouse Southwest Sports Bar, 2645 Wiley Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. Bloody Mary Bar from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.
- Jersey’s Downtown, 200 First Ave. NE. Bloody Mary Bar from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., $3.
- Mulligans, 1060 Old Marion Rd. NE. Bloody Mary all day, $3.
- Red Baron, 62 16th Ave. SW. Bloody Mary Bar noon to 4 p.m.
- Red’s Public House, 112 Second St. SE. Bloody Mary all day, $1 off.
- Sip n’ Stir, 1119 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Bloody Mary Bar from 8 a.m. to noon Sundays.
Iowa City
- Graze, 115 E. College St. Bloody Mary 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., $2.
- IC Ugly’s Saloon, 210 N. Linn St. Build your own Bloody Mary all day, $4.
- Jo’s Roadhouse, 101 Windflower Lane, Solon. Bloody Mary, ally day, $3.
- Micky’s Irish Pub, 11 S. Dubuque St. Bloody Mary with beer chaser from 8 a.m. to noon, $4.









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