Tim Hankewich, 42, Cedar Rapids
Music Director @ Orchestra Iowa

Monthly dinners at Croissant du Jour

Not only do they have the best pastries I’ve ever had, but their monthly gourmet prix fixe dinners are to die
for. Whenever I think of the best times I’ve had with friends in the area, I almost always think of my time there celebrating with a bottle of wine and a great meal. YUM!

Post concert drinks at Zins and Blend
Hmmm, I see a trend here.  I love hanging out downtown over a cocktail at these two establishments. I enjoy the quiet and elegant ambiance, which is perfect after a night of high adrenaline performance.

The Pedestrian Mall, Iowa City

Spending an afternoon sipping coffee, reading a book while people watching on the Pedestrian Mall is one of my favorite pastimes. It’s a place where crowds of all stripes come together — intellectuals, artists and artisans, students, professionals and laborers. It’s an exciting soup of energy that makes this area special.

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and Kernels

As a Canadian ex-patriot, I need to have my hockey fix. Ah the smell of ice and the sound of a clean body check — music to my ears! Always a great night out and the speed and skill level is very high. It’s a taste of home right here in Iowa. Of course the beer and hot dogs at Veterans Memorial Stadium for a Kernels baseball game are the makings of one of my favorite local experiences as well. Nothing can beat a baseball game under the spring sun in Iowa.

Arts and Culture
Nothing frustrates me more when I hear people say there is nothing to do here. NONSENSE! Whether it’s music (of course I’m biased towards Orchestra Iowa), the visual arts with so many amazing museums up and down the Corridor, or the great theater performances throughout the area, one could spend every night of the week experiencing something new and special. Coming from several larger cities, I’ve found that the access and quality of the arts here can equal and in many ways exceed those from larger centers. I’m proud to be living in an area that is so much more than just a 9-to-5 place to hang your hat. It’s more of a 24-7 place to live.

Emily Muhlbach, 25, Cedar Rapids
Media Relations Manager @ Mount Mercy College

The Silver Spider
Chock full of trinkets, baubles, hats and jewelry, the Silver Spider in Mount Vernon (There’s also one in Iowa City) is a glorious treasure-trove of everything from watches to stationary, head scarves to hand bags. The jewelry is unique, trendy, and eye-catching, and if you are lucky enough to stop in during a sale you could nab a fun pair of earrings for a dollar.
The Silver Spider, 117 1/2 1st St W., Mount Vernon

The Grotto
Always my favorite spot on campus as a student, this little haven remains a favorite of mine. Complete with a quiet lagoon, beautiful flowers, stone archway and mosaic bridge, the grotto provides a safe nest for anyone wishing to absorb a few moments of serenity. The atmosphere is perfect for reflection, and the benches are deep enough to sink into for a long conversation or an hour of reading.
1330 Elmhurst Dr., Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, www.mtmercy.edu

Sac and Fox Trail
After biking here once, you’ll find it hard to go back to the city. Hugging the Indian Creek and Cedar River, the trail’s gravel path makes a wonderful crunching noise under your bike tires and the trees create a sheltered canopy. Factor in the chance of catching a glimpse of a baby fawn or a horseback rider and you have the makings for a perfectly nostalgic summer day.
Sac and Fox Trail, Mount Vernon Road, Cedar Rapids, www.cedar-rapids.org/parks/walktrail.asp

Croissant Du Jour
Maybe it’s the perfectly-prepared pastries, the delicious coffee, the custard éclairs or the authentic French accent you’ll hear when you first walk in, but something about this little café reminds me of Europe. The dining space is decorated with adorable artwork and the food is always perfect. Get there early for lunch, because this place is popular.
Croissant Du Jour, 3531 Mount Vernon Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids, http://croissantdujour.biz/

Gettysburg Boulder
For those of you who always wanted to visit a historic battlefield but never have the time, seeing this boulder is the next best thing. Located in the Lisbon Cemetery, the boulder came from the famous Civil War battlefield in Gettysburg, Pa. How it wound up in Eastern Iowa, I’m not quite sure, but at least now I can say I have literally touched a piece of history.
The Gettysburg Boulder, Lisbon Cemetery, Lisbon

What could be better than Paris in the springtime? A small French café in a strip mall on an overcast pre-fall day in Iowa, perhaps? I didn’t know what to expect from Croissant du Jour’s unassuming location as I dodged customers from the True Value Hardware. But when I pushed open the lovely wooden door I was pleasantly taken aback. On the other side were gleaming glass cases filled with delicious-looking pastries, clean white linens and well-polished silverware. Nice silverware, too. None of that fast food plastic nonsense or even the thin, rough-edged cafeteria metal.

I enjoy this type of lunchtime scenario, a small menu of eight or so sandwiches, some salads, a few interesting soups and a little board on the counter with the day’s specials. I love the limitation! Every now and then I like to put my dining experience into an expert’s capable hands.

You’re right, adorable French lady behind the counter, I would enjoy the croque-monsieur sandwich and a cup of lobster bisque. Thank you for cradling me in your loving gastronomical arms and feeding me your premium selections.

The bisque was a smooth, creamy soup with just enough bits of tasty lobster so as not to be too pretentious yet highly satisfying. The croque-monsieur, a very traditional French sandwich, is basically toasted ham and cheese on French bread. The bread was chewy and crisped perfectly and the cheese was melted just so.

To complete my journey I had to try a pastry. Drawn to anything chocolate, I chose a chocolate éclair. Another tradition done just right with velvety chocolate pudding inside an egg-y, light pastry, covered in a gooey chocolate frosting.

I’ll be back. Afterall, “We’ll always have Paris.” And with winter coming, I need to get a new furnace filter from True Value anyways.

Details: 3531 Mt. Vernon Rd. S.E., Cedar Rapids; 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Closed Sunday, lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; call (319) 363-7767 or go online to www.croissantdujour.biz

Where’s your favorite Corridor eatery?

- Andrea 

Want to send Andrea to your favorite restaurant? E-mail cleanplateclub@hooplanow.com