McDonald’s – South Cedar

12 06 2009
  • 4700 S. Cedar Street
  • Lansing, MI 48910
  • (517) 393-8678
  • Website
  • Menu
McDonalds on South Cedar near Jolly Road in Lansing.

McDonald's on South Cedar near Jolly Road in Lansing.

I know I haven’t blogged all week and I always feel bad when the only thing I have to blog about is a chain restaurant, but I left Oldsmobile Park after a heartbreaking Lugnuts loss and I was starving.  The game went longer than I had anticipated due to yet another extra inning game.  When I started heading home a little after ten o’clock, my choices were limited.  I knew there was some fast food along the way, so I waited until I got a little bit closer to home.

The McDonald’s on South Cedar Street sits just north of Jolly Road.  Being late, the drive-thru was the only option.  As I was heading south, I pulled in to the second drive.  I always think if you pull in the one farther to the north, it gives you a bad angle at the drive thru. 

I’m not a very adventurous eater when it comes to the Golden Arches.  I always get the same thing.  It’s a good thing I looked at the menu board as I pulled up to the speaker though.  It must have been a while since I’ve eaten a burger McD’s because they moved the Double Quarter Pounder w/cheese meal to #3 instead of #4.  Read the rest of this entry »





Press Release – St. Johns “Taste of the Town”

10 06 2009

From a Downtown St. Johns press release.

TASTE OF THE TOWN FESTIVAL

Downtown St. Johns, Michigan will be host the fourth annual Taste of the Town celebration on Friday and Saturday, June 26-27, 2009 on the Grand Trunk Railroad Depot lawn at 107 E. Railroad Street from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. each night. Various vendors will be on hand, with radio personalities from “Classic Rock 94.9” and “Z92.5 The Castle” conducting live radio feeds on Friday and Saturday.

Live entertainment will be featured in the Beverage Tent, and Vegas style gaming is offered in our CASINO tent, both from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. each night. The crowd favorite BBQ contest occurs on Saturday at 4 p.m., with the public casting ballots to determine the winner. A Classis Car “Cruise In” also begins on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

To participate as a vendor, contact the St. Johns Downtown Management Board at (989) 227-1717 or visit http://www.DowntownStJohns.org. There is a $10 vendor registration cost. To participate as a BBQ contestant, contact Jessie at (989) 327-4885. There is a BBQ contestant registration cost. Proceeds from this event benefit Downtown St. Johns projects and improvements.

Taste of the Town is made possible by the generous corporate sponsorship of the following businesses: Major summer events sponsorship by the City of St. Johns – Mint City USA, Firstbank of St. Johns and Z92.5 The Castle radio station. Other funding has been provided by Allaby and Brewbaker Insurance, Michigan Graphics & Signs; along with Abraham & Gaffney, Account Receivable Solutions, The Alibi Bar, Bruno’s Bar, the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, Custom Embroidery Plus, Fifth Third Bank, Jackson, Jackson & Associates, Jet Speed Printing, Katren Industries, Sirrine & Associates, the St. Johns Independent Informer and Swany’s Pub & Grub. Additional funding has been provided by the Clinton County Arts Council, Dershey’s Café, Gill-Roy’s Commercial & Industrial Supply, Hungry Howie’s Pizza, Kurt’s Appliance Center and T. Snow Customs.





Girls Gone Wild in Lansing

10 06 2009

Nothing says classy nightclub or responsible businessman like Girls Gone Wild (I hope you picked up the sarcasm).  From a press release…

The Original Girls Gone Wild Live at the Venue Live NightClub.
Girls Gone Wild will be Searching for the Hottest Girl and Wildest Bar in America, here in Lansing, MI.

Tonight, Wednesday, June 10, 2009

9p – 2am

The original Girls Gone Wild will appear and perform live at the Venue Live Nightclub tonight, June 10, 2009 at 9pm. The Girls Gone Wild Tour Bus will be on site. There will be filming live on location. Also, Girls Gone Wild will be searching for the Hottest Girl and Wildest Bar in America, here in Lansing, MI. The event is for ages 18 and up.

The Venue Live Nightclub is located 6810 South Cedar Street, Lansing, (517) 889-5205





You Can Be The Next Colonel

10 06 2009

I got this in an e-mail from KFC…

For more than 60 years, the image of Colonel Harland Sanders has represented Kentucky Fried Chicken. Now, along with online partner MySpace, KFC is embarking on a worldwide search to identify the new face of Kentucky Grilled Chicken (KGC).

Are you the ultimate KGC fan? Whether it’s an uncanny resemblance to the Colonel, the ability to create a sculpture made of Kentucky Grilled Chicken buckets, or a story about what KGC means to you, fans can submit their videos through July 7 at www.myspace.com/unthinkfc.

Three finalists will be selected and MySpace members will vote on the winner, who will receive Kentucky Grilled Chicken for life – valued at more than $13,000! In addition, the winner might even have the opportunity to participate in KGC marketing activities. Good luck, all you wannabe Colonels!





Pizza Delivery To Your Boat

8 06 2009

Have you ever been out on the lake, got hungry, but didn’t want to drive back to shore to get food.  If you’re on Lake St. Clair, that’s no longer a problem.

The Sam’s Sorrento Pizza chain is launching the SS Pizza, with an oven and fully equipped kitchen. It will use dingy-size boats to make weekend deliveries of pizza, chicken wings, hamburgers and other foods to vessels on the popular lake, northwest of Detroit.

Owner Al Marino tells the Detroit Free Press boaters can visit the SS Pizza or phone in orders and have food brought to them.

Awesome.





Fiesta Vallarta

7 06 2009
  • 6724 S. Cedar Street
  • Lansing, MI 48911
  • (517) 699-3691
  • Website
  • Menu
Fiesta Vallarta on South Cedar Street in Lansing.

Fiesta Vallarta on South Cedar Street in Lansing.

I always thought it would be great if there was a sit down restaurant that J and I could easily walk to.  When we moved here, the only choices were Ponderosa or Charlie Kang’s II.  We put off Ponderosa for a long time (and with good reason) and we’re not into any Asian cuisine.  When I saw work at the closed Charlie Kang’s, I had hopes that it would be someplace we might like.  When I saw the building being painted orange, there was no doubt a Mexican restaurant was moving in. 

For the last several weeks, we passed by hoping to see signs of life inside or at least a “coming soon” side.  On Thursday, we saw the “open” sign lighted up and by the time we finished running errands, there was a huge “now open” banner on the side of the road.   It was just a matter of time before we stopped in for lunch.

Fiesta Vallarta is on South Cedar Street almost underneath I-94.  It takes the spot that used to be Charlie Kang’s II.  I never went in that business, but  I never saw cars out front.  I’ve seen more cars in the last four days at Fiesta Vallarta than I did in almost a year at Charlie Kang’s.

I’m not 100% on the story behind the business.  When I got home, I typed http://www.fiestavallarta.cominto my browser.  What popped up was a website for a Fiesta Vallarta in California.  The menu was nothing like this one in Lansing, but the logo’s were very, very close.  Turns out, I typed the address wrong.  It’s actually a .mx address, but it’s http://www.fiestavallarta.com.mx.  So, I don’t know if there’s a relationship, coincidence, or an homage to the California restaurant.

We found a parking spot in front of the building, but there’s also parking in back and along the side.  The door is accessible from both the front and back lots.  When we got inside, we came to a waiting area with a cash register.  There was a waiter who handed us two menus and told us to find a seat.  That seemed odd.  The next party that came in was shown to a table.  The party after that was treated like we were.  There was a pattern I’m not going to mention and just believe it was coincidence.  Read the rest of this entry »





Press Release – BWL Chili Cook-Off Sees Record Crowd

5 06 2009

I guess this is why the lines were ridiculously long.  Great for the charities, but it made for an unpleasant experience.  From a press release….

 Sunny Skies Bring Record Crowd to 14th Annual Chili Cook-Off
More than 12,000 attendants and 2,000 gallons of chili served

LANSING, Mich. – Superb weather and an true love of chili attracted thousands of chiliheads to Adado Riverfront Park in downtown Lansing this evening for the 14th Annual BWL Chili Cook-Off. More than 12,000 people attended the annual event, which benefits the Sparrow Foundation, the Hope Scholars Connections Program and Impression 5 Science Center/Adopt-A-River.

“A combination of perfect weather, fabulous turnout and the fact that there were more vendors than ever before made this year’s Cook-Off one of the best yet,” said BWL Communications Director Mark Nixon. “It was really great to see so many people come out to support three great charities.”

Fifty different Lansing-area restaurants, non-profits, businesses and amateur chefs combined to make approximately 2,000 gallons of chili. Vendors competed in nine different categories in hopes of being awarded “People’s Choice Best Overall Chili.” The People’s Choice award is determined via ballots given to event attendees. For all other chili categories, local celebrity judges determined the winners.

This year’s judges included: Lansing Police Chief Mark Alley, Lansing City Council Member Kathie Dunbar and City Council President Derrick Quinney, Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope, radio personality Walt Sorg, Impression 5 Science Center Board President Jeff Maloney, as well as Andrea Price and Elizabeth Hernandez of Sparrow Healthcare.

This year’s winners are as follows:

People’s Choice – Best Overall Chili
Gold Ladle: Lansing Lugnuts

Silver Ladle: Lansing Fire Department

Bronze Ladle: Harrison Road House

Best Restaurant Chili
Gold Ladle: Red Robin

Silver Ladle: Harrison Road House

Bronze Ladle: Applebee’s

Best Corporate Chili
Gold Ladle: The Gallery at MSU

Silver Ladle: Balloon’s Galore

Bronze Ladle: Marine Corps League

Best Meatless Chili
Gold Ladle: Soup to Nuts Bistro

Silver Ladle: Texas Road House

Bronze Ladle: The Firm

Best Amateur Chili
Gold Ladle: Shannon Shavers

Mo’ Hotter, Mo’ Better – Hottest Chili Award
Gold Ladle: Mayfair Bar

Silver Ladle: Lansing Teen Challenge

Bronze Ladle: Paramount Coffee

The Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau awarded the Red Hot Hospitality Award to the CVB member organization that was most fun and welcoming.

Red Hot Hospitality Award:

Gold Ladle: Dublin Square

Silver Ladle: Jackson National Life

Bronze Ladle: Beggar’s Banquet

Most Creative Chili Booth
Gold Ladle: Jackson National Life

Silver Ladle: Harrison Road House

Bronze Ladle: The State Room

Most Creative Chili Name
Gold Ladle: The Firm

Silver Ladle: Radisson Hotel

Bronze Ladle: The State Room

In addition to the chili, this year’s Cook-Off included live performances from Lansing bands 496 West and La Inspiracion. Attendees were also able to burn off their chili calories on a mechanical bull and an inflatable obstacle course and climbing wall.

The BWL would like to thank participating restaurants, businesses, sponsors and thousands of Chili Cook-Off attendees for another great year!





BWL Chili Cook-Off

5 06 2009
Lines for chili at the 2009 BWL Chili Cook-Off

Lines for chili at the 2009 BWL Chili Cook-Off

I’m not going to elaborate too much, but the BWL Chili Cook-Off was kind of a disappointment.  I don’t know if it was the change in location, the nicer weather, or something else.  About half of the booths were empty by the time we got there at 7:30 and the lines were so long, we only had two samples in the 20 minutes we were there.  On top of that, we couldn’t figure out where to buy a Pepsi.  I’m not angry that I pretty much wasted the $10.  Really, I’m sad.  I’ve been looking forward to this day for a year….and I was so excited I couldn’t sleep last night. 

What I’m really interested in, and why I’m even posting this,  is your experience…especially those of you that have been going for many years.  Were things different this year?   Good or bad?





Press Release – Free Ice Cream

5 06 2009

From a Melting Moments press release..

Please join us as we celebrate “A Quarter Century of Good Taste!”.
Come on out to East Lansing’s Patriarche Park on Sunday, June 7 from 3 to 6 pm.

We’ll have games and fun for the kids and of course, FREE Melting Moments ice cream for everyone. You’ve enjoyed our ice cream for 25 years, and it’s time for us to thank you.





Press Release – South Lansing Farmer’s Market

4 06 2009

This is the first I’m hearing of this.  I’m sure J and I will be checking it out soon!  From a press release…..

NEW!!! South Lansing Community Farmers Market and Paved Trail at Davis Park
Every Saturday, Benjamin Davis Park is the place to be for Fresh Food, Fitness, and Fun!

Lansing, MI – June 3, 2009 – For years, residents across South Lansing have wanted a farmers market where they could purchase fresh, locally grown produce. In addition, residents in Southeast Lansing have wanted a safe place to walk and bike in an area that lacks sidewalks on several major roads. Thanks to the South Lansing Community Development Association, both dreams are about to become reality.

What: South Lansing Community Farmers Market

When: Every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., June through September

What: Grand Opening of Paved Path at Benjamin Davis Park

When: Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m.

Where: Benjamin Davis Park, 5614 Pleasant Grove Rd. (between Jolly and Miller)

Join us as we officially open our new market and the new 3/4 mile paved path. Shop at the market, meet local growers, learn about food preservation, try new recipes, stroll along the newly paved walking path and visit with neighbors. Our market is unlike any other because it offers produce from community growers and urban yard gardeners as well as local farmers.

This Saturday, the market will offer early harvest produce, including asparagus, radishes, rhubarb, salad greens, spinach, Swiss chard, and turnip greens, as well as garden starts and potted perennials. We’ll also have a children’s activity table and information on food preservation presented by MSU Extension.

Throughout the season, we’ll offer a growing variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as value-added products like dips and sauces, jams and jellies, honey, maple syrup, baked goods, and soaps.

The market and the path were made possible with support from the Michigan Department of Community Health, the Ingham County Health Department, the Lansing Parks & Recreation Department, MSU Extension, and members of the South Lansing community.