The Northern Nerd

There appears to be a common misconception when it comes to small town life. Many people see getting out of their small town as a means of “making it.” There are many cases in which this is true. Home life in small towns isn’t always easy. Many parents aren’t around that much due to work or because they like to have too much fun down at the local bar. Maybe people leave and never come back because they felt isolated. Small town life can be hard for someone that is young and s

Traveling the world is at the top of many people’s bucket lists as they grow older. College graduates are now taking a year off to travel to far away places as they seek new adventures while filling up their passports with stamps. They want to capture photos, try different foods and meet people from different walks of life. Traveling can be great, but many people don’t have the luxury to travel that often and find themselves living vicariously through friend’s Instagram stori

I don’t know if it’s allowed or not as a “foodie”, but I have a favorite restaurant. I’ve put off talking about it because I don’t feel like I will be able to do the restaurant justice, or that my words will be able to accurately describe why I love it so much. I don’t even know if there are words to explain the feeling. I have to give it a shot though, so that if you haven’t gone yet, you will just hop in your car and go there and experience for yourself why I love this plac

March 28th ------------ Spruce IPA IPA W/ SPRUCE TIPS 7% ABV ALASKAN BREWING CO // JUNEAU, AK Spruce tips are one of my favorite adjuncts (non-essential ingredients used to modify the flavor or body of the beer) used in brewing. Interestingly the tips don’t usually taste “sprucey” in beer, rather contributing bright berries and citrus, with a fresh, lightly evergreen note. Surprisingly I haven’t seen or had the opportunity to try many spruce tip IPAs, but the combination of f

Wisconsin is often associated with Friday night fish fries, beer and cheese. “America’s Dairyland” is so much more than what these common stereotypes portray. There are plenty of restaurants scattered throughout Wisconsin where people gather to pound Spotted Cows and munch down on some crunchy fries. There’s nothing wrong with that. We all have our spots, but there’s a gem located in Hayward, WI called The Ranch Supper Club that sticks to it’s northern Wisconsin roots while t

After a long week, Jon and I decided to try the new winery that serves wood-fired pizza, Tamarack Farms Winery last Friday night. Wine and pizza are a match made in heaven, going together just like peas and carrots, so we knew we had to try this new place out. Tamarack Farms is nestled back on an actual farm on Highway B between NN and Round Lake Marina. When you pull in the driveway (is it called that still if you are pulling into a restaurant, or is that term reserved for r

About a week or so ago (or has it been two already?!), some friends and I met up for dinner at The River Deck Restaurant right in Hayward at the Lumberjack Village on Hwy B. We had such a blast! Friends tend to have fun wherever they are, but this restaurant made going out such a treat! For starters, the restaurant is right next to Lake Hayward so you can dine on the lakeside deck and feel miles away from town even though you are right in it. The deck is filled with trees and