Sonic – Flint

9 11 2008
  • 3140 Miller Road
  • Flint, MI 48507
  • (810) 232-2900
  • Website
  • Menu
The New Sonic Drive In on Miller Rd. in Flint

The New Sonic Drive In on Miller Rd. in Flint

I don’t get it.  I still don’t get it.  We needed to run to the mall to pick up some things today so why not run to Flint?   Hell, gas is only $2.05.  Ever since we heard there was a Sonic opening in Flint, J has been wanting to go, so we went.  We hadn’t explored Flint yet and since it was one of the last major cities in Michigan we hadn’t checked, why not?

After grabbing lunch and doing some shopping, we made our way to Sonic.  It’s located on Miller Road right off Interstate 75.  When we pulled in, there was actually a line.  They had workers out in the parking lot directing traffic.  The first person handed us a menu and asked if we wanted a stall or wanted to go to the drive thru.  We wanted to park and eat so she directed us to a roped off area where more cars were waiting.  Then, another worker told us it was time to move into a stall and directed us out of the holding area.  Finally, another person pointed us into an empty stall.  There were five or six cars in front of us but we only waited five minutes or so to get into a stall.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Redwood Lodge

9 11 2008
  • 5305 Gateway Center Dr.
  • Flint, MI 48507
  • (810) 233-8000
  • Website
  • Menu
The Redwood Lodge just off of I-75 in Flint

The Redwood Lodge just off of US-23 in Flint

I don’t usually expect Brew Pubs to be considered “upscale dining”, but when I looked on the Flint Visitors Bureau website that’s what it said.  I just figured it was a mistake or Flint has a pretty low standard.  I was wrong.

Redwood Lodge is located in a business/hotel park called Gateway Center.  It’s right off of US-23 and visibile from the freeway.  There’s a huge parking lot out front and the building makes you think of a lodge in the Rocky Mountains.  As we were making our way to the entrance, we passed stacks of mesquite wood which would be used in the wood burning oven.

The inside carried on the Rocky Mountain Lodge theme.  We were met by a host at the front who showed us to a booth near the bar area.  The booths didn’t butt up to the walls like they usually do.  They were freestanding and you could enter on either side.  A waitress came over and got our order for the usual Diet Pepsi and Pepsi.  We passed up the “World’s Largest Bloody Mary Bar.”  A great deal at $6 for all you can drink Bloody Mary’s, but neither of us drink Bloody Mary’s so we passed. Read the rest of this entry »





Sammy’s Sports Bar & Grill

9 11 2008
  • 310 E. Jolly Rd.
  • Lansing, MI 48019
  • (517) 394-3447
  • No Known Website
  • Menu (not everything served in bar)
The entrance for Sammys Bar & Grill in Lansing on Jolly Rd.

The entrance for Sammy's Bar & Grill in Lansing on Jolly Rd.

After not getting service at Auggie’s Grille and Pub (review HERE), we still needed a place to get a burger.  Sammy’s is a place I have driven  by many times and always been curious about.  You can kind of see their patio from Jolly Road and it’s always looked like a fun place.  November is too cold for a patio, but usually places that put that much effort into outdoor drinking have a good indoor space as well.

Sammy’s was a little confusing.  Apparently, there’s a bar and a restaurant and they don’t serve the same things.  We entered through the bar, but right away, there’s a hallway leading back to the restaurant.  I just assumed they the same place, but the back would be more family friendly.  I wanted to watch the end of the Iowa/Penn State game so I said “let’s sit in the bar.”  After sitting for a few minutes, a waitress came over and asked about drinks.  When we said we wanted Pepsi, she assumed we wanted menus. Read the rest of this entry »





Auggie’s Grille & Pub

9 11 2008
  • 820 W. Miller Rd. #3
  • Lansing, MI 48911
  • (517) 272-0099
  • No Known Website
  • Menu
Auggies Grille & Pub on Miller Road in Lansing.

Auggie's Grille & Pub on Miller Road in Lansing.

I hate writing bad reviews.  I always feel bad, but I’m not going to not write about a place just because it might make me feel bad.  I always look for the good in things because I know a bad review can be bad for business.  If someplace just pisses me off though, I sort of feel like they deserve it. 

Auggie’s Grille & Pub is located in a tiny strip mall on Miller Road.  There’s a party store right next to it and there are signs all over the place saying drinking in the parking lot is illegal.  That should have been a sign.  Auggie’s looked like a nice place, but I’m guessing that it’s not a good area of town.  On Thursday night, I drove by to scout the place out before meeting J at our regular Thursday hang out, Barley’s.  The parking lot was packed so I figured the place was legit.  Read the rest of this entry »





Spartan Stadium

9 11 2008
  • 248 Jennison Fieldhouse
  • East Lansing, MI 48824
  • (517) 355-1610
  • Website
A full endzone at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing

A full endzone at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing

Finally!  When we moved here, I was really hoping to shoot a football game at Spartan Stadium and Michigan Stadium.  Spartan Stadium finally happened.  Michigan Stadium will have to wait and hopefully happen next year.  I’ve now shot games at six of the eleven Big Ten football stadiums (Memorial Stadium (IL), Ross-Ade Stadium (Purdue), Ryan Field (Northwestern), Kinnick Stadium (Iowa), and Camp Randall (Wisc)).  From a working standpoint, Spartan Stadium doesn’t rate that high.  Lack of elevators and access knock it down a lot.  Putting the camera deck in a location that’s not cut off totally from the public knocks it down too.  Parking, however, is one of the best.  They let us park not far from the truck which is outstanding.  I don’t have to carry all the stuff I may need two miles.  I can leave my rain gear until it rains.

So, as most of you know, Spartan Stadium sits on the campus of Michigan State University near the other sports facilities on MSU’s campus.  The first thing I noticed is that it looks much bigger from the outside than it does inside.  The luxury suites and press box tower make it look huge, but that structure also takes away a lot of seats.  Still, the facility hold close around 75,000, so it’s not small either.  Read the rest of this entry »