"Craic" Hospitality

You don't have to be Irish to appreciate great Irish food. At Gus O'Connor's, people from all over come to visit this one of only five authentic Guinness approved Irish pubs, to experience it's amazing menu and atmosphere. I felt like I had stepped into another country when I went there. Everything in this place resonates the Irish culture, and the food lives up to the tradition it represents. Gus O'Connor's is located in Novi, Michigan. The larg imposing red brick building is easy to spot from Grand River road. It's just off the I 96 expressway from the Novi Road exit. The pub is not only easy to get to, but the area surrounding it has plenty of nice stores, including the 12 Oaks Mall just the other side of the expressway. This is an ideal way to get something to eat that is out of the ordinary, and indescribably delicious after a hard day of shopping.

The building is very unique to say the least. The well-designed web site describes it perfectly. I was impressed with how the place was designed and made. It was built in Waterford, Ireland, shipped over, and reassembled here. I felt that I looked like a tourist as I wandered about gazing at the decor. My favorite corner of Gus O'Connor's is at the stone fireplace near the main entrance. You can see fossil tracks imbedded in the stone floor in front of this cozy, two-sided fireplace. The staff doesn't mind when people walk around looking at the place, they will save you seat for you if you ask. The only time you will need to have a reservation to dine without losing your seat would be on St. Patrick's Day. This is the biggest day of the year for business. There's a crawl sign that counts down how many days there are until St. Patrick's Day get here in March, that's how important that holiday is for them. There are flat screen TV's in every room that broadcast sports events. Every Saturday they air the University of Michigan's football game during the fall season.

With a full menu to choose from, you old idea of what Irish food is will be rdefined. The list of appetizers alone will stop you at first. I tried the Bangers and Mash, which is Irish sausage with dipping sauces, and thick mashed potatoes. The sauces are spicy hot, but not the sausage itself. Then I ordered their signature dish, a Steak Boxty. This is a traditional dish that is described as a stuffed potato pancake, which can be ordered with different kinds of fillings. The steak was tender, perfectly cooked. I would like to try the salmon filling next time I go there. I had a difficult time deciding what to order, it all sounded so good. Be prepared to share with a friend, or you will be toting a box of leftovers home, because they give generous size servings for a moderate price. Besides the Boxties, ther are many other Irish dishes that will suit any appetite. Every dish is homemade, including soup that is great with a salad if you don't have time for a full meal. Children can choose from the familiat foods they like, such as, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, fries and a burger. Be aware that there is smoking allowed, but there are seats located away from the bar where smoke isn't a problem. I found the ventilation to be good.

If you wwant to order something more American style, you might want to try a pizza or a burger. The dessert list was subject to change with the seasons, and had two items on it, a chocolate brownie dish, and an apple pastry. I chose the apple pastry and was glad I did! It was served warm with caramel drizzled on it with creamy vanilla ice cream.

No true Irish meal is complete without having a beer with it, so I ordered the Guinness on tap. The foam head on the beer had a shamrock shape on it. I asked the waitress how the shape was done, and she said the bartenders use the beer spigot to carve it. They have lighter color American beers to choose from if you don't care for the darker brews. Guinness beer is like a food group all it's own, it's so thick you almost have to chew it. There is a full bar with non-hlcoholic drink's to choose from besides beer. I chose the Guinness to complete the traditional Irish meal experience.

I strongly recommend visiting Gus O'Connor's in Novi. This isn't a traditional style restaurant, but don't let the pub concept keep you from trying this place. The atmosphere is relaxing, and the food is extraordinary. Go, and take it all in, the historic decor, friendly staff, and the best Irish food this side of Michigan.

Photo credits: Gus O'Connor's web site: http://gusoconnors.com/

Mood Music

My favorite type of music changes with the mood I happen to be in at the moment, but I mostly like country because it has different kinds of styles. Country music has a little something for everyone. There's the hard driving style of artists' like Hank Williams Jr., then there is the strong soulful sound of Martina McBride. There again, it depends on the mood I'm in that determines what I want to listen to. I love the old classics like Patsy Cline, and Johnny Cash, but I'm wild about the newer artists' like Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. There's always a variety to choose from in this fascinating field of music.

This was an exceptional evening at the CASL building on campus. The occasion was the UMD writing awards. The awards were given out to some deserving UMD students for the poems and essays they wrote. I was greeted in the lobby by Professor Potvin, and offered some nice snacks, and seasonally fresh cider. A very comfortable feeling was in the air as I stepped into the ceremony room. The lights were dimmed, and voices were kept low as everyone waited for the ceremony to begin. The sound system was pleasant as Professor Potvin began introducing the UMD dignitaries and guests. The names of the recipients were announced. Some of the recipients were not there to pick up their awards in person. A few winners there read their writings to us.
As I listened to each one read their work out loud to us, I had to think that it must be hard to read to an audience for some of them. Putting yourself out there like that is like bearing your soul to the public. Of course, with us being students also, it's not so bad because we understand what it's like to have to do that sometimes. Everyone did a beautiful job conveying the emotions of their writings while reading. One of the first read was about tornados. This poem let you feel like you were there, to see the devastation left from a tornado. I can't remember the exact names of the poems and essays, but I did jot down the ones I liked the best. The story I liked best of all was the home school one. It was in the non-fiction category. I liked how she places us with her as a child, and how she looked at her mother. This story gave me a very good, real life type of feeling, and left me wanting to hear more.
I have never been to a writing awards ceremony before. In this day and age with everything fast paced, it's great to sit down and enjoy listening to someone reading out loud. Reading is one of my favorite pastimes. Listening, I didn't have to focus on reading the print. I could sit back, close my eyes and relax! I could see the images in my own mind as I heard the words being read. This was really a nice experience. The entire tone of the event was very pleasant. Congratulations to all the award winners!