Smoke Free Rally at the Capitol

13 05 2008

Today (Tuesday) was a huge day for hits on this site.  Almost all of them came for info on the smoking ban.  I ain’t stupid…if that’s what your coming for, then that’s what I’ll give, but while you’re here, be sure to check out the reviews and be sure to give me your opinions on places and suggestions on where to eat next….oh yeah, and don’t forget to bookmark the page 😉

Now,  back to the business at hand.  While I was sitting at home waiting for our new kitchen table to be delivered, the American Cancer Socity held a rally at the Capitol.

Meanwhile the American Cancer Society spent the day on the Capitol lawn reminding lawmakers that they can make a difference in the fight.
Smoking,  lung cancer, and heart dissease are just a few of the battles in that war.

“Many states have successfully passed this legislation and it hasn’t hurt business and I’m encouraged we’ll move forward as well” said Rep. Rick Shaffer (R-Three Rivers).

Miss Shoreline 2008 Stephanie Marion added, “I actually think it will bring more business into resteraunts and bars because it will bring those people that don’t like the smoking environment into those facilities and it will raise profits.”

WILX has a report on their website about the ban as well.  They shed some light on why the ban wasn’t voted on today as expected.

“We will have and opportunity to concur our not concur with what the Senate has done as soon as they send it to us and we receive the bill from the secretary, we can do that,” said Andrew Meisner (D) Hazel Park.

So that’s why ther was no vote today.  Again, the bill is not listed on tomorrow’s calendar, so it must not have been transmited to the house as of the end of the day today.  I’ll try to watch the House session again tomorrow and live blog it just in case 🙂


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Categories : Food News, Michigan, Politics

Liveblogging – HB 4163

13 05 2008

MGTV is airing the first half hour of today’s House of Representatives session live.  I’m going to try and live blog the proceedings if they bring up HB 4163.  There is also a feed on the House of Representatives Website, so if it goes past 2:00, I’ll try to watch the webcast as well.

 1:30 PM – The video feed is up, but the chambers still look pretty empty.  The session was gaveled to order. 

1:34 PM – Now members are starting to slowly file in for roll call.

1:51 PM – Still waiting on a quorom.  Rules were just suspended for Rep. Rick Shaffer to introduce representatives from American Cancer Society who are in the chamber.  Pretty much the entire gallery is filled with ACS folks

 1:58 PM – Both parties have called members to caucus, so we may be waiting awhile.

2:40 PM – It looks like the Republicans are filing back into the chamber. 

3:30 PM – Still waiting on the Democrats.  All that’s happened in the last hour is a few recognitions of school groups in attendance.

3:31 PM – Speak of the devil.  It looks like the Dems are filing back in.

3:40 PM – The House has been called back to order.  They’re starting with some resolutions.  I keep losing my connection to House TV….but I’ll do my best to keep updating on the days proceedings concerning HB 4163

4:21 PM – I think they ajourned for the day without calling the bill.  The message on the voting board says “At Ease Call of the Chair” 

4:56 – The House looks like it’s reconvening, but they’re introducing bills for first reading.  I don’t know a whole lot about the process here, but I have a feeling HB 4163 won’t be called today.  I’ll keep an ear open so keep checking back just in case I’m wrong.

4:58 – It’s official.  The House is now adjourned.  They will reconviene tomorrow at 1:30.  I’ll try this again then.


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Categories : Food News, Politics

Press Release – Kean’s 80th Anniversary

13 05 2008

This sounds like an event worth driving to Mason for…..I’m going to be out of town for work this weekend, so I’m not going to be able to go, but thought I would pass it along for those that would like to.

EVENT: Kean’s  80th Anniversary ribbon cutting
DATE: May 16th 2008
TIME: 3:00 PM
LOCATION 412 S Jefferson Mason
HOSTS: Mason area Chamber of Commerce
ATTENDANCE: Local and regional officials and dignitaries will attend, along with local business  owners, and residents.

EVENT: Kean’s  80th Anniversary party and celebration
DATE: May 17 th
TIME: 9AM-6PM
ATTENDANCE: Local regional and state officials and dignitaries will attend along  with over l,500 area residents
HAPPENING; A festive celebration  for the family with clowns, face painting, entertainment, gourmet food sampling and much more,
Enjoy prices from many years ago like a bag of chocolate covered peanuts for $.80 and many old fashioned prices and savings.

STORE BACKGROUND:  In 1928 Herbert Hoover was elected president, penicillin was discovered, and Mickey Mouse appeared in his first cartoon. On Friday and Saturday nights farmers from all across  Ingham County rode into town to eat, drink, and stop at Kean’s Five& Dime, the newly opened dry goods emporium in downtown Mason.
Welcome to Kean’s, Mason’s oldest operating business. Kean’s was founded in 1928 by Gus and Fern Kean. Their original store complete with tin ceilings and wooden floors still is part of the Kean’s shopping experience today. The store has grown over the years to more than 17,000 square feet, and is still owned by the Kean family. Teresa Kean,   now runs the store, after taking it over from her father Warner who was Gus and Fern’s son and successfully ran and grew the business for many years.
Today Kean’s offers a fresh completely remodeled look, but still maintains that old fashioned Charm that Kean’s is known for. Kean’s offers a collection of shops that the entire family enjoys. From toys  to candy, to fabrics and crafts, home furnishings and gifts, a charming baby boutique, unique jewelry, gourmet cooking and house wares, and an unsurpassed selection of greeting cards… Kean’s has it all!
Today the family and the friendly sales associates,offer you a cup of coffee as you enter the store, and everyone  quickly feels at home, and  all enjoy the incredible shopping experience that area residents have come to know Kean’s for  80 years. 

 


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Categories : Food News, Mason, Press Releases

House to Vote on Smoking Ban Today

13 05 2008

I saw on ABC 3 News at 10 on the CW 5 that the House of Representatives should vote on the Senate version of the smoking ban (HB 4163) today.  The session doesn’t start until 1:30.  I’ll try to remember to watch on-line to see if it comes up…I’ll update this post as necessary.  I don’t see it on the schedule, but that doesn’t mean anything.


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Categories : Michigan

Food Stamps

12 05 2008

I’m not in the greatest financial situation right now, but this article on WLNS shows that I’m luckier than I realized.

More Michigan families are relying on food stamps to put dinner on the table. The state says the number of households receiving the benefit has risen more than 50% in the past five years. Authorities say one in eight residents now gets help from the nutrition assistance program. This past March, more than 590,000 Michigan households received food stamps.

Wow.  1 in 8 Michiganders are using food stamps.  Then, I see this story on WLAJ.

It’s a plot to cheat the system, when food stamp users spend their stamps on box upon box of sale soda pop, but then dump out the soda, return the cans, and use the return to buy alcohol or other controlled substances. Grocery managers and security guards in Kalamazoo say they see it all the time.

Are you kidding me?!  I know it’s not technically illegal, but the mom interviewed in the story brings up a good point.

“What do you mean its not illegal?” she said. “It’s still fraud use of food stamps isn’t it? Doesn’t it qualify? Wow.”

There has GOT to be a way to prosecute this!  Having worked in news for five years myself, I have pretty much become immune to the type of stories that are shown.  Most of the time, the reporter rehases a generic story that is done in every market and then they put promos on the air designed to scare the viewer into watching.  I was angry when I saw this story.  I’m not on food stamps, but come on!  I’m tired of my tax money going to alcoholics!  I’m all in favor of helping people who need it, but this is ridiculous.


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Categories : Food News, Michigan

Press Release – Empty Plate Raises $168,000

12 05 2008

Got this press release from the Greater Lansing Food Bank….

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Greater Lansing Food Bank raised $168,000 to help feed the area’s hungry at its annual “Empty Plate Dinner & Auction” Thursday May 8, 2008.


“We met our goal thanks to the generosity and participation of the events guests, sponsors, and vendors,” said Peter Pratt, Greater Lansing Food Bank chairman. “This money will help the Greater Lansing Food Bank purchase high-demand foods not available through donations, support innovative programs to rescue and grow nutritious foods, and provide nutrition education and self-help initiatives.”


Over 500 guests savored gourmet delights by some of the area’s top chefs and received a commemorative “empty plate” decorated by local school children. In addition, they bid on one-of-a-kind collector plates — hand painted by artists and celebrities — paired with dinner, hotel, gift certificate and service prize packages.


“The Greater Lansing Food Bank was formed by our community, to serve our community, and all donations stay in our community,” Pratt said. “Even though the auction is closed, I urge all local businesses and residents to continue helping us provide food for the growing number of hungry neighbors in our area.”


GLFB supports a network of 58 community kitchens, shelters, and food pantries in Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties. In 2007 alone, the network served 1.2 million meals to children, seniors, working families and those on a fixed income. Unfortunately, it is still only able to reach about half of those in need — and the need is growing:

  • The number of Ingham County residents receiving food stamps increased nearly 50 percent in the last four years — many use the food bank to avoid missing meals at home

  • As many as 65 percent of Lansing students qualify for free or reduced breakfast and lunch

  • Eaton and Clinton county populations are increasing and Lansing/East Lansing area incomes are decreasing

  • Higher unemployment, and the rising cost of food and transportation are stretching everyone’s resources to the limit

The Greater Lansing Food Bank is a non-profit organization established in 1981. Its mission is to raise money, food and in-kind contributions for Lansing area emergency food needs; coordinate and support the food pantries in the area; promote, encourage and emphasize self-help programs toward the goal of self-sufficiency; and educate the community on hunger issues. It is the area’s leading source of food for those who need it most.


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Michigan Brewing Company in Downtown Lansing?

12 05 2008

I missed this when I read the on-line edition of Noise this past week, but I noticed it in the print copy.  The Michigan Brewing Company based in Webberville, MI is looking to open a micro-brewery in Downtown Lansing.

The Michigan Brewing Company plans to open another microbrewery and pub at 402 Washington Square in downtown Lansing this year. Owner Bobby Mason said a microbrewery license is “in the works” and plans to lease the building that housed the former Greenhouse Bistro.

We ate the Michigan Brewing Company (review HERE) back on April 12 on our way to Howell to shop at the Tanger Outlets.  The food was alright, the beer was good, but the atmosphere wasn’t all that great.  A Downtown Lansing location would really add a lot the micro-brew.

 


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Categories : Food News, Lansing

Pizza Al Forno

11 05 2008
  • 1943 Cedar St.Pizza Al Forno
  • Holt, MI 48842
  • (517) 694-4175
  • No Known Website
  • Menu

No matter where you live in the country, there’s one place that the locals go for pizza.  There’s one place somewhere that is just a little, locally owned, shop that serves up the most delicious pizza you swear you’ll ever eat.  I haven’t had much of a chance yet to find that place and no one has really been able to offer that information up here in Lansing.  I’ve been getting coupons in the mail for some local places, so I figure it’s finally time to start looking.

The first place I tried was Cottage Inn (review here).  That’s kind of a chain, so not really what I’m looking for.  The next place we tried was a little place called Pizza Al Forno in Holt.  I called the order in at about 6:30 on a Sunday night.  They offered delivery, but I really needed to get out of the house, so I got it for pick up.  We headed down Cedar St through Holt to find a pretty non-descript shop in a non-descript strip mall next to the Edru Skae-A-Rama.  It’s strictly a carry-out place….only a counter and the kitchen inside.  My pie was really reasonably priced.  I got a 16″ pepperoni pizza for just under $11.

Once we got it back home, we didn’t waste anytime digging in.  The menu brags that they use all locally grown ingredients and make their sauce from scratch.  That’s what it looked like to me.  The sauce is put on pretty thick and you can taste the fresh tomatos. There was a kind of a sweetness to it instead of a spicyness that most places shoot for.   It’s not a smooth, blended sauce.  There are chunks of tomatos and you get that in every bite.  The cheese was a nice golden brown and held up on each bite.  My girlfriend called the pepperoni’s “cute.”  Instead of a handful of huge pepperoni’s, there were a lot of little pepperoni’s.  The crust is a thin New York-style crust and sort of chewey.

She wasn’t very hungry and only had two pieces and I didn’t finish the rest of it by a long shot.  Even if she had been hungry, the 16″ would have been enough and there probably would have been a little left.  Pizza Al Forno was good.  It wasn’t the knock your socks off I’m looking for, but it is good enough to put the phone number away for another day. 


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Categories : Holt, Local Flavor, Michigan, Pizza, Reviews

Clara’s Lansing Station – Brunch

11 05 2008
  • 637 E. Michigan AveClara's
  • Lansing, MI 48912
  • (517) 372-7120
  • Website
  • Menu

I originally reviewed Clara’s Lansing Station on April 14 (review HERE) after my girlfriend I and stopped in for dinner on a Sunday night.  We liked the place so much, we decided to get Mother’s Day Brunch reservations since her parents were going to be in town.  The atmosphere is what sold us on the return the visit.  The old train station is just beautifully restored that she wanted to show her parents.

Reservations were a good thing.  The place was packed and there were people waiting. We got there about 10 minutes before our reservation, but were shown to a table right away.  This time, we were up in the balcony.  The buffet is on the main floor and takes up space where there are tables the rest of the time.  The trip up the stairs was probably good for us to burn a few calories before hitting the line. 

Right by the door, the buffet started with an omelet station and a carving station.  I passed on both, but my girlfriends mom stopped and got an omelet that was loaded with two kinds of cheese.  Next came the buffet line.  It started with breakfast favorites like biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage then transitioned into lunch food like cheesy potatos (which my girlfriend LOVED), ham steaks, and chicken wings.   I, of course, loaded my plate with meats.  The bacon was crispy, but pretty generic.  The ham was good and the chicken wings were hot.  Nothing would have been fabulous had I ordered it off a menu, but for a brunch buffet, this stuff was good.

There was also a salad bar to the back and a huge spread of desserts.  I just grabbed a piece of chocolate chip cheesecake with an oreo crust.  My girlfriend got a huge sampler platter to share with her mom and her stepdad came back with his own assortment of goodies.  The desserts were all top notch.

The brunch price was around $17 per person, so it did end up being pretty expensive, but it’s one of the better brunches.  I’ve definately paid more and gotten less.  Clara’s was really packed which is always a good sign when it comes brunch.  I’ve heard it was the best in town and I have no reason to doubt that.  Clara’s was the first repeat visit for us since moving to Lansing and we’ve been really happy with both meals.


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Categories : Brunch, Lansing, Local Flavor, Michigan, Restaurant, Reviews

Dusty’s Tap Room

11 05 2008
  • 1839 W. Grand River Ave.Dusty's Tap Room
  • Okemos, MI 48864
  • (517) 349-5150
  • Website
  • Menu

Dusty’s Tap Room is part of a larger Dusty’s Cellar complex.  My girlfriend’s parents were in town one weekend and we wanted to go to Meridian Mall to go to Caruso’s (reviews HERE).  After a 3 1/2 hour drive, they were hungry, so we needed a place for lunch first.  I did a search for restaurants in Okemos and Dusty’s came up.  Just another reason why restaurantuers need to have a website.

The Tap Room is located in a strip mall just down from Dusty’s Cellar.  The Tap Room is a really comfortable bar with high pub tables, low lighting, dark wood and of course TV’s in front of the bar.  There was one other guy in there with his two daughters when we stopped in.  We took a table near the back of the bar.  The waiter came over with menu and to get drinks.  The menu was a lot of sandwiches, wraps, salads, and hot dogs.  Our waiter, Joel, came back with drinks, but didn’t ask if we were ready to order.  He just dropped them of and left.

So, five mintues later, Joel comes back and we order.  My girlfriend ordered the smoked turkey pretzel sandwich and her mom got the Dusty’s chicken sandwich.  They cut each sandwich in half and gave it to the other.  The smoked turkety pretzel sandwich is turkey, bacon, and provolone on a pretzel roll.  It came with a side of honey mustard and your choice of fries.  All four of us ordered the beer battered fries which good and salty.  You could really taste the sea salt…that’s not a bad thing..it’s not like iodized salt which is overpowering when you get too much of it.  Back to the sandwich, the pretzel roll is the reason she ordered the sandwich and it didn’t disappoint.  The grilled chicken sandwich came with a mixture of spinach, sun-dried tomatos, and a garlich-herb cheese spread on top of a pretty good size chicken breast. Both ladies liked both sandwiches, but I think the pretzel roll won.

Myself and my girlfriends step dad went pretty boring and got the Classic Burger.  I really wanted a Black and Bleu burger, but they mix the bleu cheese with a black olive mayo and that didn’t really sound appetizing, so I backed off.  The burger is a 1/2 angus burger.  I got mine with cheddar…her stepdad got it without cheese.  The burger comes on a square seasme seed bun.  I had mine cooked medium  which left it juicy and just a little pink in the middle.  It was good, but it was just a burger.

It took Joel a long time again to come back to refill drinks and quite a while to come back with the check.  We sat there for a while with empty plates waiting for the bill. Once it finally did come, the total for four people was about $45. 

After we ate lunch, we decided to walk down to Dusty’s Cellar.  There’s another restaurant there…a little more fancier and an upscale grocery store with wine, a deli, baked goods, and some gourmet items.  They even had my girlfriends favorite salsa which we can’t find anywhere (Sable and Rosenfeld’s).  The Tap Room has a great ambience and pretty good food.  The whole complex is a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon.  There’s private dining on top of the two dining rooms and at the Wine Cellar, there’s an outdoor patio.  I don’t know if we would try the Tap Room again as it doesn’t really stand out, but I am looking forward to trying lunch at the Cellar.  It was good and the experience is good. I would recommend it to someone looking for a place in Okemos…just not sure if I’d go back.


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Categories : Burgers, Local Flavor, Michigan, Okemos, Pub, Reviews

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