Black Owl Cafe
414 Walbridge StreetThis past weekend, I saw a lot of Twitter posts about a new coffee shop that opened downtown. I lamented on Twitter that I really wish I was a coffee drinker because there have been a couple of shops open recently that look really interesting. One of those shops saw my Tweet and told me I should come in anyway as they have a lot more to offer.
So, J and I talked about it, but we were still a little hesitant because they don’t have a huge sandwich menu, but this afternoon, J saw on Twitter that they were smoking pulled pork today and that convinced her.
Black Owl Cafe is the new venture by the people that used to operate The Strutt. This new coffee shop is in downtown Kalamazoo on Walbridge Street right off of Kalamazoo Avenue. I’m not really certain what this building used to be, but it’s a perfect setting for a little coffee shop.
I say little because that’s exactly what it is. There are only three tables plus a stand up bar along the wall for seating. There is a nice patio and a couple more tables under a big tree outside, but it’s not exactly the huge venue The Strutt used to be.
The place was actually pretty crowded when we stopped in for lunch at 2:00 on a Monday afternoon. All of the tables were full and there were a couple people in line in front of us when we walked through the open door into the shop. Read more…
Gull Meadow Farms
8544 Gull Road- Richland, MI 49083
- (29) 629-4214
- Website
It’s been a long time since either J or I have been apple picking. For me, it’s probably been at least 15 years. J’s not sure if she’s ever gone, but this Labor Day Weekend, we decided to start a new tradition with L.
All of the news about Michigan’s fruit crop is pretty depressing. If it wasn’t killed in the frost, it was killed in the drought. Luckily, at least one Southwest Michigan farm had enough of a crop.
Gull Meadows Farms is just outside of Richland on Gull Road. The large farm offers a variety of activities in the fall including the aforementioned apple picking.
I was really surprised when we pulled in the large gravel parking lot around 2:00 PM on Sunday. There wasn’t nearly as many cars as I was expecting. We found a spot right up front near the large barn which is the commercial hub of the farm.
The signage for the U-Pick process is pretty vague. We saw the wagon rides coming and going from in front of the greenhouses, but we didn’t really know the process. There was a sign that said everyone must have a wristband, but a sign near the barn said wagon rides were free this weekend. We didn’t really know what to do at this point. Read more…
Bennigan’s – Kalamazoo
5802 Gull RoadSo, the plan for today was to go apple picking. J and I have never done it together, but we thought it would be a good tradition to start now that we have a daughter.
The place we knew still doing U-Pick this year is Gull Meadow Farms in Richland. After L’s morning nap, we started driving east with the intention of eating along the way.
I have no idea why either of us thought of it, but we ended up at Bennigan’s. I forgot that Bennigan’s even still existed. A few years ago, all of the company stores closed down after the parent company went bankrupt. The franchise stores survived, but even many of them ended up closing not long after the bankruptcy…probably due to people like me that didn’t realize that not all Bennigan’s closed.
There’s actually somewhat of a revival as revamping of the brand occurred in late 2010. As of this summer, there are still 42 Bennigan’s franchise locations open with new still franchises being awarded.
At one point, there were two Bennigan’s locations in the Kalamazoo area. The one that is now closed was on South Westnedge in Portage. That space is now Old Chicago. The still open Bennigan’s is on Gull Road right in front of the Meijer. Read more…
Andy’s Frozen Custard – Oak Lawn, IL
9507 S. Cicero AvenueThe end of August in Chicago was much hotter than we anticipated. The weather had been pretty nice in Michigan leading up to our long weekend back home, but once we got back in the Chicago area, it got hot.
After a day of shopping and napping, J and I really wanted something cold.
For the last year or so, every time we go to her parents house, we drive by a giant spinning ice cream cone on the corner of Cicero and 95th. Not too long ago, the building was a Del Taco, but that’s been replaced with Andy’s Frozen Custard.
We were both in sweat pants even though it was the middle of the afternoon, so we decided to hit the drive thru instead of going in. It’s a little hard to get through due to the weird parking lot, but once you get to the back of the building, the drive thru has a menu board but no speaker before you get to the window.
J had looked at the menu online, but I had no clue what they actually had. I stopped at the menu board to look and J was looking for a speaker to order. There’s a sign close to the board that says to pull ahead so I pointed that out then did just that. Read more…
Oak Lawn Family Restaurant
5769 W. 95th Street- Oak Lawn, IL 60453
- (708) 425-4949
- No Known Website
- Menu
After a few days at my parents that included the annual Boy’s Night with the best wings in Chicago and a baseball game at US Cellular Field plus a couple days heavy beer drinking at the annual Ashkum Homecoming, it was time to spend a few days with J’s parents.
On Monday, J wanted to make a run to Babies ‘R Us but not before finding something for lunch. No one was really coming up with any good ideas and eventually J threw out one of her staples from her high school days.
The Oak Lawn Family Restaurant is in downtown Oak Lawn on the very busy W. 95th Street. The building butts right up to the road so parking is in a small lot along the side as well as a larger lot around back.
The restaurant probably hasn’t changed much in the fifty plus years of its existence. It’s a classic family diner with (by today’s standards) cheesy, dated decor.
We were taken to a booth in the back dining room. We asked for a high chair for L and what the bus boy brought out was this really cool seat that attaches to the table. I’m really tempted to buy one of these things. L sat next to me at the table on the inside of the booth and looked like such a big girl.
The menu is huge and breakfast is served all day. That makes deciding on a meal even harder. I glazed over the breakfast menu, but ended up on a burger…like I usually do. Read more…
The Warehouse Wood Grill & Pizzeria
1887 Armour RoadThe first stop on our way to my parents was actually meeting them for lunch. My parents really wanted to meet with my dad’s cousin who is looking for a lake house somewhere here in West Michigan so they could ask some questions and meet L for the first time.
The best meeting place for the three groups was somewhere in the Kankakee, IL Metro area. Growing up, this was the closest “Big City” and it was about a half hour away. By closest big city, I mean the closest Blockbuster, the closest Walmart, and, yes, even the closest McDonalds. I lived pretty much in the country.
The restaurant chosen was a new restaurant in an established location. Right at the very busy intersection of Armour Road and IL-50 in Bourbonnais is a bar that has been around forever. I remember it as Jailhouse Rock. Most recently it was Vito’s Pizza. Now, it’s known as The Warehouse Wood Grill & Pizzeria.
None of us had actually been in the restaurant before under any of the previous incarnations. My parents had heard the pizza at The Warehouse was really good and they had a lunch buffet which is what led to the selection for lunch. Read more…
Press Release – Food Dance Heirloom Tomato Farm to Fork Dinner
From a Food Dance press release…
SO MUCH MORE THAN THE “T” IN BLT.
We get so excited about tomato season at Food Dance that we’re celebrating by having a five-course local tomato dinner. Seems a bit over the top? Not when you consider the beauty, flavors and versatility of the thousands of varieties of tomatoes. We promise, you will never think of them as just plain ol’ sliced fruit again.
$50 per person
Just click to make event reservations.
Ray’s Drive-In
20 N. Beacon Boulevard- Grand Haven, MI 49417
- (616) 842-3400
- No Known Website
- Menu
So,…..I’m about a week behind with the whole blogging thing. We had a jammed packed weekend in Illinois last week (you have a bunch of Chicago area blogs to look forward to over the next few days) and we’re still getting back in to our routine here back in Michigan.
Before we left last Thursday, I had to work my usual evening shift. My day actually started in the Zeeland area before ending up in the Muskegon area. I had time between my appointments and wanted to stop somewhere for lunch.
That somewhere is a little drive-in I have passed many, many times on US 31 in Grand Haven, but have never had time to stop.
Ray’s Drive-In in a small building on Beacon Street which most people will recognize as U.S. 31. If it wasn’t for the flashing LED sign out front, you’d probably never notice it. Just a square building with a parking lot and inconspicuous food items written in large letters across the facade.
My stop needed to be pretty quick and I picked just the right place. The only thing inside the building is an order counter. There are no seats. There is no dining room. Read more…
Wing Heaven – 44th St. SW
1500 44th Street SWAs I was sitting at work, I got a Facebook message from J that she had got me a Concrete Mixer and some chicken strips from Culvers that would be waiting for me when I got home. As good as that sounded, getting home was still five hours away and it just so happened, I got this message just as I was trying to find some place for dinner.
The lure of chicken strips made me hungry for chicken. More specifically chicken wings.
My first thought for chicken wings in Grand Rapids is Wing Heaven. The problem with Wing Heaven is I never know if any of their stores are still in business. It seems like a new Wing Heaven will open and a few weeks later, it will be closed or renamed something else. Case in point, I called what I thought was the Wing Heaven on Division and the guy that answered the phone called the place Wing Kingz. I was taken by surprise so I hung up the phone. Did I call the right number? Well, I found out later, when I drove by the Original Wing Heaven on Monroe, that they too have been rebranded Wing Kingz. I’m so confused.
I decided to just take a drive. I had seen a Wing Heaven on 44th Street near Burlingame not too long ago, so I headed there.
In somewhat of a surprise, this store is actually still a Wing Heaven. There were a few cars in the parking lot, but they all seemed to be waiting for take out orders. The dining area at this store is actually pretty nice. There are a couple dozen tables in a large, clean dining room with a couple of LCD TV’s turned to ESPN.
I stepped up to order a 12 wing basket which comes with fries and a drink. I decided to break up the 12 wings in to two flavors. I got six in my all time favorite wing flavor, Garlic Parmesan and six Caribbean Jerk. The drink is Coke products. I was handed a Styrofoam cup with ice already in and found the pop machine on the other side of the Kool-Aid machine. Read more…
Teapot East
30163 Red Arrow Highway- Paw Paw, MI 49079
- (269) 657-2838
- No Known Website
- Menu
I don’t know how we ended up in Paw Paw today. I really don’t. Our day started at the Kalamazoo Farmers’ Market. After picking up a whole bag of goodies, J wanted to get something to eat. I suggested BBQ at the Rib Cage, but when we got over there, the cart was gone and they fence was locked up.
As we drove away, I asked J what she wanted. She was indecisive. I was indecisive. We were both hungry, but didn’t have a taste for anything. I started driving towards home when J casually mentioned breakfast. It was 11:30, well past breakfast time, but it is a weekend, so anytime is breakfast time.
I was already heading west on Stadium Drive and I just kept going. I don’t think J was really happy with a drive to Paw Paw considering we had a baby who was about ready to take a nap. I was playing with fire.
The restaurant I was heading towards was Teapot East on Red Arrow Highway just to the east of Paw Paw High School. By the time we made the drive to Paw Paw, we were pushing it on time. They are only open until 1:00 on Saturday it was already 12:15.
The four of us walked in to a restaurant that was busy, but was starting to clear out. The small restaurant has only about a dozen or so tables. Most of them were either being used or still dirty from previous customers. I spotted a booth in the back of the restaurant and headed that way. Read more…
SW Michigan Dining 