I've had countless rich and extravagant desserts over the years: flourless chocolate cake, creme brulee, vanilla and chocolate mousse swirled in an elegant parfait glass, cheesecake and key lime tartlets. Yet I would trade them all for one simple favorite: a piece of moist yellow cake with thick, white frosting, oozing in cream and sugar, the kind I delighted in as a child at backyard birthday parties. Long after my kids have had their two bites of their birthday cakes, I find myself taking finger-fulls of frosting off their plates.

So I was more than happy to survey the burgeoning cupcake market in the area. There are plenty to choose from, some specializing in cupcakes, others offering other treats.

Arriving at Rick's American Cafe on Church Street recently, I was surprised to find that the dress code seemed to have been recently revised to allow ... paint.

Every last one of the 15 or so patrons (it was early yet) was covered in it, mostly yellow and blue. One guy's ear was so thoroughly recolored that I wondered if he would ever again use a Q-tip that didn't come out slightly azure. It turned out that it wasn't a hot new midweek apparel theme - it was a group of U-M business school students returning from an excursion to paint The Rock on the corner of Hill Street and Washtenaw Avenue.

Heading to Dominick's when the leaves are changing color is a bit like coming upon a ghost town. During balmy summer evenings, it's not uncommon to see throngs of students sipping sangria on the outdoor patio, making for a festive, party atmosphere.

But when the colder months of autumn barrel in, closing the restaurant's outdoor patio and quaint, Italian-style courtyard, there aren't many diners lingering. Owner Richard DeVarti said that diminishing traffic has influenced the decision to only stay open from March through the last home football game, this year, on Nov. 15.

Does fun frighten you? If not, here are some suggestions on how to mark the annual pagan ritual we call Halloween (and boo to those who got started early with all those parties last weekend!).

"I mean, really," Pat Valant, of Dearborn, asked the eight of us seated at his table, sipping wine outside Vinology as the sun set on a glorious night, "can you think of any place you'd rather be?"

We all tried to look like we were politely considering the question for a minute, but the answer was clearly, "No." Our group made up about a third of the attendees at Vinology's monthly wine-tasting event, the August installment of which was billed as "On the Patio." English poet John Gay wasn't kidding when he noted that "from wine what sudden friendship springs."

As a new burger joint, Bagger Dave's felt like a perfect choice for dinner following a University of Michigan home football game.

Surprisingly, my family and I were able to find an open table as the masses of Wolverine fans streamed out of the stadium.

Finding the new Glass House Cafe in the University of Michigan Life Sciences complex is a feat in itself. You won't see the name of the restaurant on or outside the building, and it's tucked away on the third floor of a building that overlooks Washtenaw Avenue. Its convenient location adjacent to classrooms makes it a draw for U-M faculty and students.

Once I located it, I was drawn to the serene setting. There is glass everywhere, starting with the tables. There are floor-to-ceiling windows, and acrylic resin panels made from recycled materials suspended, cloud-like, in the air, making for a picturesque setting with an incredibly sleek, contemporary feel.

Owner Sandhu Gajjan spent six months renovating the new Indian restaurant, Mahek, transforming it from a dark, closed-in space (when it was Shehan Shah) into a larger, bright and airy atmosphere.

Gajjan expanded the restaurant into an adjoining former office building and redid all the electricity and lighting. Bright white walls are decorated tastefully, with intriguing Indian paintings. The dramatic facelift contributes very positively to the dining experience.

First of all, he's cute.

I mean the leprechaun. In the blue outfit. Beaming down at you from several vantages in the new South University Avenue sports bar called - wait for it - The Blue Leprechaun.

There are few restaurants in Ann Arbor where I know that, whatever I'm in the mood for, be it a burger or a healthful salad, I can count on consistently reliable, high-quality food for every member of my family and know that I won't have to spend a fortune. Grizzly Peak Brewing Company is such a place.

Choosing an appropriate dinner wine with friends quickly turned into a comprehensive, guided tour of the restaurant's selection by the very helpful sommelier, who chatted at leisure and recommended his favorite bottle. He returned throughout the evening to make sure it met our needs. This is just one of the special touches that an evening at Logan provides.