Erie Local Spotlight 2023: 814 Day

It's been four and a half years since Brandon and I moved to Erie. During this time, we have truly made Erie our home. The first year was tough, don't get me wrong. I'd grown very accustomed to being close to our family and friends. We had our favorite Thai spot, pizza joint, dive bars, and coffee shops. Life was good in Buffalo. The housing market, however, not so much. 

Fast forward to March 2019, we bought a new house, ripped out the carpets, and painted every room. We were living in a brand new city during the bitter end of winter, with friends and family 90 minutes away, which is not far but it's also now more than just a 10-minute commute. Brandon was my biggest supporter as we started this new life together in Erie, PA. It was all very exciting and simultaneously terrifying.

Today, Brandon and I have made a wonderful home in the Gem City. We own house from the 1900 with a lot of character.  We added two new (furry) family members, Perry & Oliver, and immersed ourselves in the Erie community. We have a new favorite Thai spot, pizza joint, and local coffee shop. I am a social butterfly and have made some very good friends. 

In honor of 814 Day and the lovely life we have built in Erie, here are 8 local restaurants and shops we love, 1 amazing state park, and 4 Erie activities we enjoy in our lakeside city. 

8:

• Bar Ronin
• Thai Eatery
• Purrista Cafe Cafe
• Tipsy Bean
• Pressed
• Erie Apparel. They have a big sale today! Check it out. 
• Werner Books
• The Dollhouse at Pointe Foure
• Cha Cha's Vintage Home Decor
• E. Lane Boutique

The Erie Apparel store is a vibe.

1: 

• Presque Isle State Park. My favorite thing about Erie is this beautiful park. We have seen the most beautiful sunsets at the beaches. Presque Isle is the one place we have to bring all of our out-of-town guests. 

Perry at Presque Isle for a July Sunset

4:

• Spending an afternoon at The Erie Art Museum
• Walking Perry around the LEAF Open Market Frontier Park & buying local flowers
• Sipping on local wine in Lake Erie Wine Country. Check out my foodie account @ErieFoodandBeverage.
• Photographing & documenting old and new murals in the area. Check out my local art Finsta: @MuralsofEriePA.

Fresh flowers from LoveLetters.ink

I truly cannot believe we have lived in Erie for four years. In these short years, Brandon and I live in a beautiful, cozy home with our three furry friends and a thriving vegetable garden. We have already created so many lasting memories and cannot wait to continue to explore all Erie has to offer in the years to come.