Let the Chopsticks Entertain Your Kids at this Grown-up Meal

We've all done our time with the coloring place mats — there's nothing wrong with that. But sometimes you've got to just step away from the restaurants that are known for catering to kids. Tonight it's Mama and Daddy's choice and we're choosing Sumo sushi.

But don't worry kids: there's something for you. It's called Chicken Katsu, or as my kids call it, "Chopstick Chicken." It's yummy, you can dip it in ketchup and the restaurant provides kid-friendly training chopsticks for kids to use. They'll provide at least an hour of entertainment ("try picking up a single piece of rice with them — I dare you!") while parents chow on sushi and drink cheap domestic beer. Brilliant!

Sumo is on Main Street downtown; Chicken Katsu is on the appetizer menu for $5.50.   

Then for Dessert.....

I am a cupcake junkie. When I heard Rochester was getting its own cupcake store, I shouted with joy. Down in the basement, my exercise bike gave a tortured little groan.

Turns out my bike has plenty to fear. Rockin' Cupcakes are made fresh every morning (no day-olds allowed) by husband-and-wife team Jim and Mary Ohngren. They combined their love of baking with their passion for rock 'n' roll to bring cupcake delights to our town.  

The local favorite seems to be The Lexington, named after the owners' son's band. It is a chocolate cupcake filled with homemade salted caramel and topped with chocolate salted butter cream.

The cupcake that rocked my world was The Yellow Submarine.  It's a lemon cupcake with homemade lemon curd filling and lemon buttercream topped with lemon zest. (And this is from a self-proclaimed chocolate lover.)

Not in the mood for cake? Rockin' Cupcakes also serves Cook's Farm Dairy ice cream. (All of the creamy goodness, without the drive.)

Rockin' Cupcakes is at the corner of Tienken and Rochester roads in the Papa Joe's Plaza. Cupcakes are $2.75 each or $28 a dozen. Single cones are $2.95.

School Spirit on Sale

Want to show your school spirit at tonight's playoff game? Maybe you've already hit the school stores (Adams High School store is open Mon.-Fri. 10:42 am - 12:20 pm; Rochester High School's store is open Mon.-Fri. 11 am - 12:15 pm) or maybe not and now you're in a mad scramble to pick up some garb. Here are a couple options I have found:

• The CVS on the corner of Adams and Walton features Highlander wear and gifts.  The Livernois location is all Falcon blue, from flannel pants and mesh shorts to outerwear. The goods are from www.mytownoriginals.com with a portion of each sale benefitting the schools. From a Highlander teddy bear for $8.99 to a Falcon sweatshirt for $24.99, CVS has a variety of fan merchandise.  
• Wal-Mart Supercenter at Adams and 59 is also showing its spirit with Highlander shirts in their men's department. The long-sleeved t-shirt is $11.83.