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The Bank Hilton Head Island

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We recently visited Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and we were lucky enough to check out the hottest new place on the island. The Bank on Hilton Head Island is a must-see for everyone planning on visiting. From date nights to family pizza nights, The Bank should be your new go-to spot.

The Bank Hilton Head Island

About The Bank Hilton Head Island

The Bank, which is located on Pope Avenue just before Coligny Plaza, houses various types of food and drink in an actual former bank — vault and all!

the bank hilton head

The location is spacious. Inside there are long tables meant to fit overlapping parties of guests. It’s a food hall type vibe with open seating. And? it works! We made friends with several people who popped down next to us.

There are two indoor places for ordering. Food orders can be placed on one side for Bank Heist Burgers, Pizza Co (which is wood-fired pizza made fast), and Mo’ Money Tacos.

the beer

The other side of the indoor space features Side Hustle Brewing. There is limited space at the bar for seating. But there are many other beautiful spots to find a seat throughout the building.

Side Hustle Brewing

Side Hustle Beer Company used to be located on Arrow Road in Hilton Head (at a much smaller location). Moving into The Bank provides them with so much more space to make their incredible beers.

The bar for Side Hustle Brewing has an extensive draft list. And, if beer isn’t your thing, they offer wine and mixed drinks, too. Just line up at either side of the bar and someone will take your order. If it’s too busy inside, head outdoors to the Outdoor Beer Garden.

live music at the bank

The Outdoor Beer Garden features many of the same Side Hustle brews, plus you’re in close proximity to the live music, fire pits, and games.

Hungry? There are lots of options.

The Banks has somewhat of a ‘food hall’ vibe. Here are your options:

  • Bank Heist Burgers
  • Mo’ Money Tacos
  • Pizza Co.
pizza

All things considered, there’s something for everyone! But, I have to admit, the pizza is incredible! Truly.

chiccaronnes

Also, order the chicharones. For real. They’re delicious.

Other important (and not so important info)

  • The Bank leans heavy on the puns. From drinks named “Strategic Risk,” to burgers called “The Bandit.” The puns are always present.
The Bank Hilton Head Island
  • The Bank is a cashless venue. Yep, that means that a place called the bank doesn’t actually handle cash. Crazy? Maybe. But, it keeps things simple.
  • Hours are 11 am to 11 pm. No outside food is allowed, but there are plenty of options if you’re hungry.
The Bank Hilton Head Island
  • The entire place is family/kid-friendly. But, there is a specific spot called the Family Zone. The Family Zone is a place made for small kids. But, the whole place is truly family friendly (as are most breweries).
The Bank Hilton Head Island
  • Family or not, there are tons of backyard-type games available outside. There’s cornhole, giant yard jenga, giant connect four, and more!
  • Even if you’re not staying nearby, The Breeze Trolly stops just outside The Bank (stop # 10!).
  • Plenty of on-site parking is available. But, there is also plenty of space to park (and lock) your bikes.

Regardless of what day (or time of day) you visit, The Bank is sure to be a fun time.

The Bank – website
59 Pope Ave.
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

Hours: 7 days a week, 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Video of exactly what you can expect on a trip to The Bank

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7 Ohio Breweries to Visit on National Beer Day

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Did you know that this Sunday, April 7th, is National Beer Day? Well, I for one am here for it, friends! Anyway, to celebrate my love of hops and local breweries is something I can get excited for. And here in Northeast Ohio, we have so many incredible craft brewers and micro-breweries! I’ve rounded up a list of my favorites. Perhaps you should give one (or two) a visit this Sunday!

HiHo Brewing Company  //

This is the local fave of many. Homebrewers turned pro-brewers, Ali and Jon have transformed the local craft beer market. They offer a wide variety of rotating taps as well as local craft soda from local brand Norka.

They run a small kitchen, which currently features meat and cheese boards, salads, and bread options (like a brewery pretzel and pepperoni roll) from the local Brimfield Bread Oven.

Soon enough they will have a full-service wood-fired pizza oven to round out their food offerings.

Bonus? They are offering Yoga On Tap this Sunday, April 7th at 10:45 am. For $15, you’ll receive a 60-minute yoga class led by the instructors from the Yoga Lounge in Hudson plus a post-flow beer (or coffee from Akron Coffee Roasters).

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

R. Shea Brewing  //

In my humble brewery snob opinion, this is by far the best brewery around — and it is severely underrated. Ronald Shea is another home-brewer turned pro-brewer, operating out of a little spot on Merriman Road in the Valley of Akron.

They previously had partnered with local-legends of Diamond Deli to serve kitchen-fare, but have since spun off with their own homemade sandwiches and wraps. Truthfully, they are on par with the Diamond Deli sandwiches (and are well worth a visit to the brewery if beer isn’t your thing).

Ronald is currently documenting his journey at opening a second location in Downtown Akron on Facebook. As a previous employee of this area of Akron, I can tell you that this would be an incredible addition to the area. In the meantime, check out their taproom in the Valley and tell my favorite bartender, David, Rachel says hello.

Bonus? Compared to almost every other craft brewery, they are the most reasonably priced. They also offer a “sandwich of the week” for just $5.

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

Sibling Revelry  //

This gorgeous and open brewery, located in Westlake, not only is home to some incredible beers (such as Cherry Wit, Siblime, and Quiet Hero), but they frequently partner with food trucks so that they can deliver what they do best — make beer.

If you head to the taproom you’ll be able to get a delicious flight of beers and try a variety of local food options (from Barrio to Burning River Bagels), making each visit different from the last.

Bonus? Their patio is super inclusive for those of us with babies and fur babies!

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

The Brew Kettle  //

Want to try and make your own beer? There’s no better place to do it than the Brew Kettle in Strongsville. Not into brewing your own beer? Well, the good news is that they have their own lineup of awesome beers (I’m looking at you White Rajah).

They have two other locations — one in Amherst and one in Hudson — this brewpub is super accessible and a great way to dabble in craft beers for the first time.

Bonus? Their food menu is pretty good, too (try the smokehouse wings and the smoked turkey spinach salad — you won’t be sorry!).

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

Akronym Brewing //

This relatively new brewery is nestled into the bottom of the building that houses the parking deck for the library and the Akron Art Museum. It may seem like a strange location, but it’s honestly perfect and absolutely beautiful.

It’s definitely not huge inside the brewery, but it is a really contemporary space. Also, the name Akronym and the story of the brewery (go read it here) speaks to my nerdy soul in a serious way.

For those non-word nerds, there’s still plenty for you to enjoy — including, but not limited to, a wide array of award-winning craft brews and a patio that makes other breweries envious.

Bonus? The brewery regularly partners with Akron Yoga and Wellness for classes and they offer food via Any Thyme Any Plate (a delicious food truck) for brunch on the weekends.

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

Fat Heads Brewery and Saloon  //

I feel like this should come with a disclaimer, but Head Hunter from Fat Heads is one of my favorite beers of all time. And the only thing better than a bottle of Head Hunter is getting it on tap at the brewery itself.

Established in 1992, the brewery exploded on the craft beer market. The original location has had to expand several times but is continuing to call Middleburg Heights home.

With the addition of their Canton location last year, you’re now able to enjoy Fat Heads Brewery whether you’re a “northerner” or a “southerner” in Cleveland!

Bonus? Catch the Balance + Brews team at the Middleburg Heights location monthly for a yoga class and post-flow brew!

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

Royal Docks Brewing Co.  //

Part craft brewery, part British pub, this cozy spot is perfect for the craft beer foodie! Stop in for a Backyard Crusher or a Dare IPA and get to know the staff of this ‘neighborhood’ pub.

While you’re there, try out some of their signature flatbreads like the Royal Scotch Egg or The Castro. And if you are feeling adventurous, visit their brewery and cannery for a behind-the-scenes look at the process (which just so happens to be housed in an old roller rink).

Bonus? You can book your next event in their roller rink/cannery! Such a cool setting.

Follow them on social:  instagram  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  website

 

Wherever you find yourself on National Beer Day, make sure you bring a friend, relax and unwind, enjoy the flight, and always drink responsibly. 

 

 

 

Explore Ohio // Put-in-Bay

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One of the perks of living on the “North Coast” is that we have islands and beaches nearby. For those not located in the Midwest, the “North Coast” is Lake Erie, or whichever of the Great Lakes you happen to find yourself south of. And if you have never actually seen the Great Lakes, you would likely be surprised to find that the view of these lakes could easily be mistaken for an ocean. They are, as Ari would say, GINORMOUS.

I recently jumped at an opportunity to visit one of the islands on our great ‘North Coast,’ Put-in-Bay! In all fairness and honesty, I had only visited once before this. I was young and I don’t remember much except that there are very few (if any?) cars on the island. That’s literally all I remember from my experience as a child. As an adult, my images of Put-in-Bay are all of college friends (and work colleagues) partying in a pool, drinking out of fishbowls. That? That has absolutely zero appeal to me.

But kayaking, biking, and wine tasting?? That. That is right up my alley!

So my friend Olivia and I met up at the Jet Express in Port Clinton. The Jet Express ferry shuttled us the 14 miles from Port Clinton (on the ‘mainland’) to Put-in-Bay island in just 45 minutes!

We arrived in PIB (Put-in-Bay) at about 9:45 on a Sunday morning — basically while everyone on the island was still asleep from
partying the night before. But we rented our bicycles and went on our merry way.

PS. I say that like it was easy — but did you know that even if you cycle on a stationary bike 3x per week an actual pedal bicycle is totally weird and difficult?? True story.

After leaving the marina and bike rental, we did some exploring — and with a quick stop at Perry’s Victory + Peace Memorial — we headed to Old Forge Café for breakfast!

It turns out they’re a creperie and have amazing mimosas. I mean, this prosciutto crêpe was aaaaaaamazing. No joke.

Post-crêpes and mimosas, we ventured to South Bass Island State Park to take in the sights. Pretty much everyone was still asleep, but we were able to bask in the quiet and enjoy the waves.

After taking in the scenery we ventured to Perry’s Cave where we legit KILLED the maze (under two minutes, ya’ll!) and learned all about the the limestone cave and it’s historical impact on the creation of what we know to be our United States!

Then we ventured to Heineman Winery for a tour and tasting. I’ll say this — PLEASE don’t try the dry wine. Please. I beg you. From my experience, Ohio wines are not, by any means, dry wines. They are sweet. So don’t go for the dry reds. Lesson learned.

But the sweet red? Delish. Absolutely DEEElish.

Once we were done with our wine and cave adventures we ventured for more food. Yep, we hit up the Upper Deck at the Boardwalk. We were still a bit full from our crêpes, so we decided to get the ahi tuna nachos as an appetizer and a side of fries.

Guys — we legit tried to GIVE away the leftovers from our ahi tuna nachos!! There were so many nachos that it looked like we barely made a dent (for the record, we made a serious dent — it just didn’t appear that way).

After we filled up on nachos we went to the Put-in-Bay Brewery and Distillery. I wish I would have tried something other than the Double IPA, but it was delicious! I’m just so predictable!

Post-brewery, we headed back down to South Bass Island State Park for a kayaking adventure. The double kayak was totally fun, but I was a tad bit hesitant about leaving my phone on land; and because of that, I was also more than a teeny bit nervous about dropping it in the water. So we cut our kayaking short to head back to the Jet Express.

It was such a jam-packed day. I would absolutely recommend doing the Kayas and Caves adventure through the Jet Express, but make a weekend of it for sure! I really wish I would have stayed the night.

If you’ve visited Put-in-Bay, what was your favorite thing to see/do!?

 

Disclosure: I received a complimentary Jet Express Kayak + Cave package for two in exchange for this post. As always, all opinions herein are my own.

Elevate, Play with Lark, SOAK, and Eat Local! // Embracing the Chaos

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We’ve been so crazy busy lately that we’ve hardly had a chance to slow down. It’s my own fault, really. I’m a chronic over-scheduler. It’s a blessing and a curse, friends. It really is.

See, I thrive on the crazy; I need the busy days. I need them because they make me feel accomplished. And slowing down just isn’t in my vocabulary. At least, not in this current season of my life.

So here’s what we’ve been up to as of late:

Lots and lots and lots of playing with the kids. Lucky for me, we have a standing playdate at the YMCA every day but Sunday (because, well, I’m there for 4-6 hours a day). So both kids really love (and need) this time with their friends.

But it’s been HOT, friends. Like, hot and crazy humid. Which has truly limited our outdoor play. However, I have felt a bit more comfortable playing outdoors with the kiddos knowing that Miss Bea is wearing moisture-wicking baby clothes from Lark.

If you haven’t heard of Lark, their mission is to make quality baby clothes that can easily endure the daily life of an active infant or toddler. They have developed a proprietary natural, eco-friendly moisture wicking fabric. Safer for babies sensitive skin than some of the synthetic wear that adults wear when outside or working out! Awesome, right!?

Well Miss Bea is truly comfortable in her rompers and bodysuits from Lark. And I breathe easy knowing the fabric is not only breathable, but free of synthetic fabric and chemicals, and is made in the USA!

And you can get free shipping on any order using this code: SHIPPING. Go support this awesome business, friends!

Living in my SOAK sandals. So I am weird about shoes. See, when I find shoes I love, I live in them. Like, I wear holes in my flats because I wear them every day and literally nothing else. So when I was offered a pair of slides from SOAK, a company right here in the United States, I truly didn’t know what to expect.

See, I have super high arches in my feet and it makes wearing anything slip-on quite difficult (and sometimes painful). But I’ve worn these every single day for the last 30 days and I’m in love.

A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on

They’re comfortable, incredibly stylish, and crunchy-mama-friendly! Yep, not only are they made in Maine, but they are made from BPA-free recycled materials!

And so versatile! I’ve worn them with dresses and to my yoga classes! Seriously the only shoe I’ve needed (well, except for my running shoes to, well, run!).

Check out their full line of slides here and use code CHIC15 to save 15% off!

Yoga. Not quite #yogaeverydamnday, but my fire for yoga has been reignited, thanks to a couple of amazing yoga classes.

Last week I went to Elevate Akron, an annual outdoor yoga event here in my amazing city. It was powerful, friends. So powerful! I realized that all of the cycling, running, and strength training I’ve been doing has totally made me more physically fit — in ways I didn’t even realize before! I am so much stronger than I’d recently given myself credit for.

Oh, and I’m certain that the stretching and conditioning alongside the gymnasts I coach doesn’t hurt!

But then I decided to go, solo, to my first Yoga on Tap/Balance and Brews event. See, here in Northeast Ohio, we’ve been on the beer + yoga train for a long time — at least the last 4 years! But, sadly, I’ve never been able to actually make a class.

Well, that changed yesterday. I was elated to find out that Melissa of Balance and Brews was teaching a class right here in my own town, at HiHo Brewing Co.!

It was a great class and ended with a complimentary beer (the Smash Smash Pilz Pilz double pilsner was the bomb!).

So many markets! Guys, I’m a sucker for a good farmers market. Throw in some hand-crafted goodies? Double-sold.

Between the Cleveland Flea, the Akron Honey Market, and the Countryside Conservancy Market in Highland Square? We’ve been biz-zeeee! Busy getting delicious food, ya’ll!

Cycling. Kickboxing. and Gymnastics, Oh My! I’ve been working out non-stop and, like I said, I’m feeling so much stronger! One thing that’s truly been helping is how much I’ve been trying to remain committed to my schedule of workouts. At times it’s been a struggle, but it’s also been a saving grace during the crazy moments. As much as, in those moments, I want to just hide or cry or sleep, I find myself working out all of my frustrations and it’s helped me tremendously.

Sure, we’ve been busy. But it’s been perfect. Perfect chaos! So tell me — Do you thrive on chaos, like me? Or do you prefer to have unscheduled days and relaxing weekends!?

 

 

 

5 Course Tasting Menu // Devils Backbone Brewing Company + the Black Pig Cleveland

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Last week I was fortunate enough to attend the Devils Backbone Brewing Company release party for Cleveland at Ohio City’s own Black Pig restaurant!

I’ll admit something — I had never heard of Devils Backbone Brewing Company prior to this event. In fact, although I have frequented many of the restaurants in Ohio City, The Black Pig is one of the few that I had yet to make it to! So I was extra excited.

I brought along one of my fave bloggers (and dear friend) Crystal of Eat Drink Cleveland. We arrived early so that we could chat with the DB crew (and because we’re a little OCD and wanted to ensure we found good seats). We were able to convince one of the gals from DB to sneak us a taste of their signature Vienna Lager and it was delicious and left us eagerly anticipating the rest of the beer lineup!

We sat down and awaited our first course, but it was an anything but dull wait! It just so happens the COO, Hayes Humphreys, so we got the scoop on the whole DB Brewing story! Founded in 2008 by Steven Crandall, Devils Backbone Brewing Company is located in the heartland of Virginia — at the base of a mountain in ski country! They’re a 4 star champion brewery that has slowly been expanding down the coast and through the midwest.

And then came the first course from Chef Michael Nowak of The Black Pig — Roasted Butternut squash, topped with Foie Gras, on a bed of Rye Berries.

While some may be offput from the Foie Gras, it really did give the butternut squash a buttery flavor and great contrast to the crunchiness of the squash and rye berries. It really complimented the Vienna Lager, one of 3 year round beers and also their flagship beer. As someone who gravitates towards IPAs over everything else, this lager was delicious, smooth, and I would pair with literally everything I eat.

The 2nd course was Squid Ink Agnolotti filled with Smoked Trout, topped with Mussels and Fennel, in an IPA Beer Broth.

Ya’ll. Holy. heck! I’m in love this pasta. And it paired wonderfully with the Catty Wompus, a Belgian inspired IPA. We learned that this particular IPA has gone through several name changes before this one stuck (apparently they couldn’t get the others approved — which is funny in itself!).

The 3rd course was a Pork Tasting — Bierwurst, Roasted Tenderloin, Braised Collar, Sauteed Spaetzle, Carrot, Cabbage, with a Smoked Demi Glace — and was paired with the Black Lager.

Just after I thought I couldn’t love something more than the pasta with the IPA…. in walks this pig and this lager! First of all, I am generally kind of off-put by any beers quite this dark. My immediate gut reaction is “I don’t like stouts or porters.” And, even though I’m a self-proclaimed IPA aficionado, this Black Lager was the bomb dot com. For serious. It was my favorite. More so than the TWO IPAs we tasted. Woah.

Also? This course? My dreams are made of this pork.

The 4th course — a tamale, of sorts. Braised Venison, Smoked Poblano, Ancho, and Masa De Maiz. Paired with the 8 Point IPA (another one of the 3 year-round DB offerings). All I kept thinking while I was eating this delicious tamale-ish dish was “My husband would absolutely love this.” I liked it a lot — but few things could top the 3rd course for me.

And apparently I forgot to snap a picture of the 8 Point IPA prior to drinking it. Needless to say, it was delicious.

The 5th and final course — Affogato — Espresso Ice Cream, Warm Spiced Chocolate, with Stout Malt Biscotti paired with Cocoa Bear Stout. Crystal told me at the beginning of the night that if I hated the stout, she would drink mine. And not having had dairy in ages, I thought for sure I might have to hand that off to her as well.

But it turns out I liked both! Neither were what I would choose to drink or eat in a million years (truthfully, I am not a fan of chocolate), but I devoured them nonetheless.

I left the event happy, full, and so excited to have this new craft beer available to those of us here in Northeast Ohio!

Thank you to everyone at The Black Pig and Devils Backbone for a great night out. And thanks to Brewmaster Jason Oliver and Chef Michael Nowak for an amazing tasting!

 

 

**Disclosure: I received two complimentary tickets to the 5 course tasting, courtesy of Devils Backbone Brewing Company. I was asked for nothing in return; but all of my opinions herein are wholly my own.**

FeBREWary Beer School at Ohio Beergarden

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I’m finally just catching my breath coming off my crazy-busy week last week. While things had been crazy since Monday, the fun really took off on Wednesday when I had the pleasure of attending FeBREWary Beer School at Ohio Beergarden in North Olmstead.

While Chad and I have frequented The Rail since it’s early beginnings in Akron, this was my first visit to it’s sister ‘restaurant,’ the Ohio Beergarden, which features strictly 24 taps of all-Ohio beers! Even their bottles, cans, and wine offerings are sourced locally from Ohio breweries and wineries!

But we were there for a special Beer School of new Ohio brewery, Goldhorn Brewery. Goldhorn Brewery is located in the Hub-55 development on E.55th street in Cleveland. While it’s been open less than a year, the head brewer Joel Warger, formerly of Great Lakes Brewery, has made a mark on the local craft beer market.

We started the night with Soft Pretzel Bites and Beer Cheese paired with Goldhorn Brewery’s Polka City Pilsner. Admittedly, I almost always (okay… always) gravitate towards super hoppy IPAs, but I was so into this beer. It was super light, crisp, and I could still taste quite a bit of hops!

Next up, the Fire Pug Pale Ale, which is a smoked pale ale with Azacca and Chinook hops. I definitely could taste the smokey flavor and it was delicious! Still very light and easy on the palate!

Finally it was time to taste a few burgers, courtesy of The Rail. I’m not going to lie, and I’ve talked about it extensively here on this blog, but The Rail is one of my favorite restaurants of all time.

The burgers were paired with Play That Funky Music Witbier. Yep. Cheesy – ha! And apparently derived from a joke. But, like many jokes, they sometimes turn into reality. For a Belgian beer, definitely one of the best — even if Belgians aren’t my favorite! I could big time taste the coriander and orange peel! Yum!

Last but not least we were able to taste some of Ohio Beergarden’s pizza. The previous restaurant that was located in this space built a stone pizza oven so the folks at Ohio Beergarden are totally taking advantage of that hidden gem — and they’re doing it OH SO WELL!

I have to admit — I may have cheated a teeny tiny bit with the ‘no dairy’ thing. I did eat two crust pieces, but for the first time in a year, I didn’t pick off the cheese. And it was incredible!

Our last beer was the St. Clair Stout. Admittedly, I despise stouts. They are… heavy; thick; and overwhelming. But I tasted it. It was much lighter than other stouts I’ve tasted. It almost tasted like a Christmas ale of sorts, thanks to the cinnamon, ginger and honey. In recent years I’ve turned my nose up at Christmasy beers. And after tasting this stout, I immediately handed it to my friend Cristin and was like “Nope. You have it.” Except I kept coming back to it. I kept tasting it. It kept growing on me. Of all stouts, I think it’s the best I’ve tasted. I ended up finishing it; I just wouldn’t go as far as liking it.

It was so awesome hearing about the story of Goldhorn Brewery and spending an evening surrounded by friends! I have to say that my absolute favorite beer of the evening was the Polka City Pilsner and, as delicious as the pretzels and pizza were, my heart belongs to The Rail burgers.

Thank you so much to the folks over at The Rail and Ohio Beergarden for hosting! I can’t wait for our next event.

 

*Disclosure: I received to complimentary seats to The Rail Beer School in return for my honest opinions and review. As always, all opinions are my own.*