Rory Neuner

Rory Neuner has been rediscovering Lansing lately. After 10 years spent in other regions of the U.S., she recently returned and purchased a 1920's American Four Square house in Moores Park with her partner, where they're looking forward to putting in a massive garden in the spring. She's happy with her relocation/return and loves that Lansing has "strong neighborhoods and a great community ethic."

Neuner is passionate about public policy, sustainable design, bicycles, beer, burritos, and urban planning. When she's not busy working on transportation policy, you can find her out exploring, most often by foot or by bike. She makes a conscious effort to spend her time and money within the city limits.

Here are some of her top picks around Lansing:

Eating and Drinking

Mexican food is one of Neuner's food staples. She singles out Pablo's in Old Town and the El Oasis Mexican cart on Michigan Avenue (when it's there). "They might not live up to the glory of cities like Chicago or San Francisco," she admits, but they serve up good versions of her personal favorite: the vegetarian burrito.

For breakfast she thinks Golden Harvest is the best place in town and knows a lot of people who would agree. "The vibe here is what all of Lansing should aspire to," she says. She recommends the swiss chard, gouda and bacon omelette.

For lunch she chooses Sultan's "for a falafel fix." It's Soup to Nutz Bisto in Downtown Lansing, a great little place downtown with plenty of vegetarian options and a patio in the back, for a lunch meeting with a colleague or a friend. And Ann's Thailand, a great little Thai restaurant that's north of the city (and only open on weekends).

For dinner, she frequents DeLuca's pizza in Old Town. DeLuca's is pretty famous around Lansing for really piling on the toppings.

Shopping

"Old Town is the place to shop in Lansing," says Neuner. "The transformation that's taken place there in the last decade or so has been incredible."

A favorite spot of hers is the Volunteers of America Thrift Store, a hidden gem on South Cedar. She also frequents Premier Skate Shop, located in Old Town, "a little slice of goodness with a great selection of urban street shoes."

Being picky about local and organic options, Neuner picks Roma Bakery for specialty foods such as good olives, olive oil and capers. She also visits the Lansing City Market for local produce and "to buy random things, like Trillium rhisomes or handmade fleece socks," and the Allen Street Farmers Market on Wednesday afternoons in the summer. "It's a fantastic place to find good organic veggies, meet some farmers, and you'll run into half the city, too."

Hangouts

Neuner recommends Decker's Coffee Shop on Washington Avenue for a place to recharge. "It's owned by a local woman in her 20's. We need more young people to invest Downtown," she says. But it offers more than just a cool owner: "They have some pretty mean cider in the fall."

In the summertime, Neuner likes to spend time with friends and see the Lansing Lugnuts baseball team play. "Tickets are extremely inexpensive," she says. On Thursdays, aka "Thirsty Thursday's," the beer is inexpensive too.

She likes to spend a lot of time just walking with her dog or biking along the Lansing River Trail, a vast stretch of beautiful wood and concrete walkways which let you enjoy the shining splendor of the Grand River. "Recent improvements and the expansion south have made it even better," says Neuner.

Nightlife

Neuner likes to start off a night with a martini at the bar at Spiral, a clean and swanky lounge. She enjoys it particularly in the early evening, when things are a little more quiet. Later on in the evening, the volume on the techno music goes up and things get pretty wild.

Another favorite is Izzo's Pub, located in REOTown. It's host to college students, blue-collar workers, locals, and young professionals.

For a good dive bar, she picks Art's, "the epitome of the Lansing bar." She appreciates the cheap beer and pizza, and the lack of pretense. "It's not gourmet, but nothing there is," she says.