So this last Saturday was a pretty fantastic day. It didn’t cost much money and it was quite a bit of fun. My friend Amanda and I had decided that we were going to explore the hidden parts of Marquette (or not so hidden if you actually walk around). First stop was lunch at Donker’s. Donker’s appears to be an old fashion candy store, but if you go in and up the stairs there is a little lunch counter with the best burgers you’ve ever had, for quite the reasonable price. It seems to be set up in a 50’s atmosphere, small, and very friendly. I would definitely recommend it. After leaving Donker’s I told Amanda I wanted to show her what I like to call “The Hidden Mall.” It’s actually Masonic Square, but it’s downtown between and behind the main stores. Most people don’t even know it’s there. You go in the front doors, and it looks like your average (or smaller than average) mall, little shops borders a staircase with little trinkets for sale, a records store, and a water fountain extending to the lower level. The funny thing about this “mall” is after you first walk in and see the few stores at the front, there is just nothing. I mean absolutely nothing. Just empty space fills the rest of this mall, and I mean it. We walked down the open stairs to find exactly three things, the rest of the water fountain, a small wooden model of a plan for the old docks at lower harbor, and a mini-fridge with a coffee pot sitting on top. That’s it. There’s big open spaces where I would assume stores would go, but there aren’t any lights to illuminate them, no doors to separate them, and no signs to say what any of it would be. There was one long dark hall that turned a corner that needs to be explored, but we figured that would best be done with a flashlight.
So it didn’t take us longer to explore the vacant, under-ground mall and take off for bigger and better things. We walked up the street to the history museum that was unfortunately closed, and then over to the “Riding Club” which is a store for anything and everything you could possibly want to ride a horse. After about 10 seconds of being in the store I decided I needed a pair of cowboy boots, but could never afford a pair. The owner did make a joke about us needing a part-time job as they were recently renovating the place, and needless to say, we’re going back to see if she was serious, because then I COULD buy some cowboy boots. Anywho, down the street we went where we saw a pretty sweet looking husky with sunglasses on and a little wool hat. Just to top it all off, the man holding the leash was what we liked to call a “ZZ Top wannabe” Needless to say, his beard was pretty impressive. A quick stop at “Bella Beads” (self-explanatory) and Babycakes, which is a coffee and muffin shop and just so happens to be delicious!
After our lovely jaunt, we went back to my apartment, watched a movie and made jewelry out of the supplies we bought at “Bella Beads” and later went to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Needless to say, it was a good day. In fact I wish all weekends could be like that, free from worry and just nice and sunny.
Anyways, I’m annoyed with this blog because I feel as though my writing skills today were less than fair. Oh well, whatever, time for lunch.