Press Release – New Community Garden in Kalamazoo
From a Fair Food Matters press release….
“Common Ground,” new community garden project, launches in Kalamazoo
Common Ground, a community-wide effort to promote and support gardening in neighborhoods, schools, churches and shared properties throughout Kalamazoo County, was announced today by the project’s sponsoring organizations.
A collaboration of Fair Food Matters, the Kalamazoo County Land Bank, Kalamazoo County MSU Extension/Master Gardeners and the Kalamazoo Nature Center (with funding and support provided by other organizations), Common Ground is designed to support community garden projects throughout Kalamazoo County, with a special emphasis on those that serve low-income residents.
Information and resource-sharing are at the heart of this effort, which will provide free classes and workshops, a free garden tool lending program, grants and even the prospect of land acquisition and improvement, thanks to community funds and support of organizations that recognize the value of gardens in community development.
Common Ground will be based in a new garden shed on Kalamazoo’s East Side built by volunteers and the Kalamazoo County Land Bank.
Resources offered through the project include:
- Garden-starting grants: Grants of between $250 and $1,000 are available to help new gardeners start or improve community garden projects this spring (deadline to apply: March 31).
- Community Garden Resource Shed: This 216-square-foot building houses garden resources (such as shovels, tillers and wheelbarrows) for Kalamazoo County residents involved in the tool-sharing program or beautification projects through the Land Bank. In exchange for volunteer time, area residents can borrow garden resources. Garden plants and seeds will also soon be available at no cost.
- Education: Want to know how to start a community garden? Or maybe how to get rid of critters, save seeds, turn yard waste into rich compost, or water your garden using rain barrels? Common Ground partner organizations will provide classes and workshops, as well as information about other classes throughout the community.
All area community gardeners are invited to find out more about Common Ground on Saturday, April 21, during a “Very Open House” to be held on Kalamazoo’s East Side. Details will be announced soon.
For more information, visit the Common Ground Kalamazoo website at commongroundkalamazoo.com or like us on Facebook.
Burdick’s For Breakfast
100 W. Michigan AvenueI’m still kind of working out this new sleep schedule. I’ve always been someone who likes to sleep pretty late, but with a newborn, that just isn’t possible. J is still on maternity leave, so I’m not having to get up for every feeding/diaper change, but that’s about to come to an end.
This morning, I heard J talking to L as she was changing her diaper and she needed my help getting new clothes and a new diaper cover. It’s right around 10:00, so when I walked in to the nursery to help, I asked J if she just wanted to get L dressed and go to breakfast. I keep forgetting it’s not as simple as just jumping in the car and going like it used to be.
Still, J jumped at the chance to go to breakfast since we haven’t done that since L was born. It just took a little bit longer than it used to for everyone to get ready.
We headed downtown towards The Radisson. I got an email a few weeks ago from Old Burduck’s for a special event with K-Wings mascot Slappy at something called Burdick’s For Breakfast. I had no idea what this was until I found a page on Facebook.
Burdick’s For Breakfast is on the second floor of the Radisson next to Webster’s Prime. When they first opened the space, they called it Burdick’s Breakfast Express but have since changed the name to Burdick’s For Breakfast. It’s in the space that was previously used by Sol World Cafe. Read more…
Old Mill Brewpub & Grill
717 E. Bridge StreetI can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven by the old Eesley Mill in Plainwell and though “That would be an awesome place for a restaurant.” Apparently, I’m not the only one who has thought that as a new brewpub & grill opened up late last week.
Old Mill Brewpub & Grill takes up a space in the front of the old mill on Bridge Street on the east side of Plainwell. The brewpub is one of those ironic things since John Eesley was actually a proponent of prohibition. While it’s called a brew pub, they’re not actually brewing any of their own beer….yet. In the meantime, the only beers on tap are Michigan beers.
We went to a pretty late lunch on a Monday afternoon. There was only one other couple in the restaurant at the time, but the waitresses told us they’re already doing better than expected. The underestimated their business on opening weekend and actually ran out of a few taps.
J and I headed to a table while the owner grabbed us a high chair for L. He picked up a couple menus off the hostess station on his way so we could look them over while our waitress got our drinks. Read more…
A. Papanos Pizza – Kingsley
120 S. Brownson AvenueI’m not even going to try to explain why I was in Kingsley, but the fact it is, I was and I needed something to eat. My co-worker and I sort of drove around town looking for something, but Kingsley isn’t that big of a town. At first, all we could really find was a Subway and a bar and grill. I was leaning towards Subway, but it wasn’t really what I wanted.
Before heading to dinner, we had to meet someone at The Rock Youth Center just off the main drag in downtown Kingsley. As we were leaving, I noticed a pizza joint. My co-worker and I immediately looked at each other and said, “dinner?”
A. Papanos Pizza is a small Northern Michigan chain. They have five locations including the one in Kingsley plus a location in Germany. Yup, this small Michigan chain has gone international.
Since we just happened to notice the store as we were driving, we didn’t call ahead our order. We walked in to the kitchen area where a menu board hangs above the counter. I knew I was just going to get a pizza but they do have a number of toasted sub sandwiches as well as wings. Read more…
Could Giordano’s Be Coming?
How great would that be? Chicago pizza chain Giordano’s announced today that they will be undergoing a major expansion. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, the pizza chain is looking to expand by 86 stores with a focus on college towns and Michigan and Wisconsin. Kalamazoo is both a college town and in Michigan…..here’s hoping, right 🙂
Chicago Style Gyro
539 Leonard Street NWAs much as I’d like to be, I’m no expert on Chicago style food. I know my way around an Italian beef and I know good pizza, but there is so much other cuisine in the city that I’m completely oblivious about.
I know Gyro’s themselves are not Chicago inventions and honestly, I wasn’t even aware they were a popular thing in Chicago. The thing is, I don’t like Gyro’s…..but I do like Italian beef.
As I was driving down Leonard Street on Grand Rapids northwest side, I noticed a little yellow sign hanging off the side of a building. On my first pass, I only saw the words “Chicago style.” It was until I went back and parked in the empty gas station next door that I saw the word “Gyro.” I was about to move on, but a sign in the window showed they had my favorite sandwich.
Chicago Style Gyro is on the corner of Leonard Street and Gezon Avenue. The joint doesn’t look like much from the street, but after you find a spot to park and make your way inside, you’ll be surprised to find a large restaurant that’s decorated with brightly colored walls. The space is divided in to two spaces with tables in both.
The kitchen area is in the back of the space when you walk in. There’s a counter that separates the kitchen from the dining room and that’s where you order. Read more…
Press Release – Girl Scout Donut Day at Sweetwater’s
From a Sweetwater’s Donut Mill email…
On Saturday, March 24th, beginning at 6:00 am and going until 6:00 am the following morning, Sweetwater’s Donut Mill is sponsoring Girl Scout Donut Day!
20% of all sales, not just proceeds, will be donated to our area Heart of Michigan Girl Scout Council to support educational programs for these fine young girls.Throughout the morning and afternoon, Girl Scouts and their leaders will be on hand to meet the public and share their enthusiasm for scouting.Please visit your favorite Sweetwater’s Donut Mill location between 6am Saturday, March 24 and 6 am Sunday, March 25 to help support our area Girl Scout program!To find out more about the Heart of Michigan Girl Scout’ Council, please click here on the word Girl Scouts
Thanks you in advance for your support! We look forward to seeing you at Sweetwater’s for a truly great cause.
From a Millennium Restaurant Group press release….
Join us for a fun evening for a great cause: to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters The 3rd annual “Spring Fling” wine tasting will be held on Monday, March 12, from 6pm-8pm at The Wine Loft.Enjoy Fine Wines paired with appetizers, live auctions, door prizes, and live entertainment by the Lana Hawkins Trio.Tickets are just $75/person and space is limited.For tickets, please contact Sherry Butler at (269) 382.4108, or order online HERE
Press Release – Rosie’s Diner To Be Auctioned Online
From a LastBid Real Estate press release…
ROSIE’S DINER
-Worlds Most Famous Diner –
going to AUCTION!
In Cooperation with Secured Creditors – 4.5 acres, Historical Diner Cars including the Worlds most famous diner “ROSIES DINER”, will all be sold intact to one bidder.
ROCKFORD, MI- Rosie’s Diner, made famous by the Bounty® paper towel commercials featuring Nancy Walker who played Rosie the waitress, cleaning up spills with “the quicker picker upper” is going to auction! Built by the Paramount Dining Car Company in 1946 as a Deluxe model Diner, it was originally named the “Silver Dollar Diner” and resided in Little Ferry, New Jersey. In early 1991, the diner was loaded up and four days, 10 flat tires, and one fire later, it had found a new home in Rockford, Michigan. This diner and 3 others including: the “Uncle Bob’s diner, built in 1947 by Jerry O’Mahony Dining Car Company, and the 2 car “Garden of Eatin” from Fulton, New York are all joined together on one property. This is likely the finest collection of diners in America in one Location. Currently set up as restaurants, sports bar, and ice cream parlor with over 6000 sq.ft. of space and miniature golf course, the Auction will offer someone a rare opportunity to operate a historic landmark!
Recently closed on October 2, 2011, the current owners, in cooperation with secured creditors, have decided to utilize an Online Real Estate Auction in an effort to find a buyer for the property quickly.
According to Doug Heuker, President of LASTBIDrealestate, “an online auction allows the property to be exposed to a very broad audience as well as offers the convenience of competitive bidding from any location in the world. Given the historical nature of the dining cars and unique opportunity this auction provides, it is hard to say where a buyer may come from. Our feeling was that in order to achieve true market value, we needed to open the market up to the broadest spectrum possible which is why we recommended this format.”
The Auction will be held April 26, 2012 and all bidding will be done at www.LASTBIDrealestate.com.
More information about the property and auction process can be found there as well.
Press Release – Bravo! Beer Month
From a Bravo! email…..
MARCH IS BRAVO! BEER MONTH
AND LOOK WHAT WE ARE BREWIN’Bravo! Beer calendar
All Month: Special Food & Beer Pairing Menu
March 6 & 7: Chef Shawn Hagen’s Cooking Classes
March 15: Celebrity Cheese And Beer Tasting
(The Cheese Lady meets the Brewers)March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
March 20 – April 1: Four Seasons Menu saluting the “Jersey Boys”
Food & Beer Pairing Menu for March
Our chefs have built the following menu of great foods paired with three of our great beers. Come on in and enjoy these match-ups. This menu is available all month.
Grilled Chicken Appetizer
with asparagus and served with barley
Paired with Bravo! Irish Red (8 oz.)Grilled Flat Iron Steak
with caramelized onions
Paired with Chef’s Amber Ale (8 oz.)“Triple Chocolate Obsession”
Layers of dark chocolate cookie, white chocolate ganache
& Bittersweet chocolate mousse
Paired with Oatmeal Stout (8 oz.)$35 per person – Cheers!
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Cheese And Beer Tasting
Beer and Cheese – what a pair!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Bravo! handcrafted beer meets “The Cheese Lady.” Join us for an evening of pure
delight as we pair her favorite selected cheeses with our favorite Bravo! beers!The Cheese Lady opened her store at 7035 West Q Ave, Texas Corners
March 17, 2011, offering more than 60 cheeses along with sausages,
specialty foods, cheese boards and knives.On March 15 she will be at Bravo! to discuss cheese and beer
pairings with our beer brewers.Bravo! Beer and Cheese Pairings
Bravo! “Blonde Ambition” Blonde Ale
Paired with Cave Aged Gruyere
Served with a classic Swiss fried cheese and tomatoBravo! “Chefs Ale” Amber Ale
Paired with Aged Manchego
Melted on a brioche with pear preservesBravo! “Adams Ale” I.P.A.
Paired with Emmentaler
Served in a tart with sweet Vidalia onionsBravo! “Nimbus” Oatmeal Stout
Paired with Trugole – a sweet creamy fruit cheese from Italy’s Asiago region
Prepared in a mini cheesecake style$20.00 per guest
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Tuesday March 6 & Wednesday March 7
Chef Shawn Hagen’s cooking class 7:00 – 9:00 pmChef Hagen teaches the art of cooking using the special recipes of Chef
Marcus Samuelsson. Marcus grew up using unusual spices and serving food
with an Ethiopian flavor. Currently he is the well-known Chef at Harlem’s
“Red Rooster“. Join us either night (or both if you wish remedial work.)March 17 St. Patrick’s Day.
Great handcrafted Irish Red Ale and the ultimate “gastro pub” foods at Bravo!
No schmaltzy green beer at Bravo!, just the finest micro brewed Irish Red we
can make. Remember, Bravo! restaurant may be Tuscan inspired, but
brothers Terry and Shawn Hagen are from Ireland.March 20 – April 1. Four Seasons menu in honor of
“Jersey Boys” at Miller Auditorium.This delightful musical uses the songs of the popular group to tell the saga
of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.The Four Seasons Menu
“Spring” Rolls – The Jersey Boys Asian tour special
“Summer” Squash Ravioli – Take ’em out of Jersey and see
what these Italians like to eatPork Scallopinis With “Winter” – Truffles Now dats Italian
“Fall” en Chocolate Souffle – “Get Down” with this molten chocolate dessert
4 Seasons/ 4 Courses/ 40 Dollars.
SW Michigan Dining 