Press Release – Local Bennigan’s Win Franchise Award

10 09 2008

From a press release….what did they win?  Best of one?  There can’t be many left….

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: LaBelle Management Named Number One Bennigan’s Franchisee

LaBelle Management, a hospitality company that independently owns and operates all of the Bennigan’s Grill & Tavern locations in Michigan, has been named the 2008 Number One Bennigan’s Franchisee for all Domestic and International locations. This award, given by Bennigan’s Franchising Company, is based upon each Bennigan’s mystery shopper scores, Guest satisfaction focusing on quality, service and cleanliness and local store marketing efforts.

“LaBelle Management is a key franchisee that we rely heavily upon for their marketing, purchasing and menu expertise. They are truly a leader in the hospitality industry,” said Vince Runco, Interim President and CEO of Bennigan’s Franchise Company. “They have the highest mystery shopper and Guest satisfaction scores in the nation. In fact, the Michigan Bennigan’s consistently receive 100% mystery shopper scores.”

“We are proud of the level of hospitality, service and cleanliness that our Bennigan’s provide to our guests on a daily basis,” said Brad Hansen, CEO of LaBelle Management. “We are honored to receive this prestigious award.”


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Food News

Press Release – International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers

8 09 2008

Haven’t had a smoking ban post in a while, but I got this press release today from the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retaliers…..out of Georigia. 

LANSING, Michigan September 8, 2008 – According to Chris McCalla,
legislative director of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers
Association, his organization has learned that the Michigan state
legislature will likely reopen debate on a proposed statewide smoking ban
based on erroneous information provided by well-funded anti-smoking forces.

Michigan’s State Representatives and Senators have been deadlocked on a
proposal for several months with each preferring their own version of such a
ban. McCalla believes the two chambers are working to approve a statewide
smoking ban by the end of this current session. Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : Food News, Lansing, Michigan, Politics

Press Release – Garden Project’s 25th Anniversary

4 09 2008

From a press release….

The Garden Project’s 25th Anniversary “Harvest Dinner” Potluck

The Garden Project welcomes you to join us at our annual Harvest Dinner potluck! This year we are celebrating our 25th anniversary of helping folks in the greater Lansing area to grow their own healthy food and cultivate connections with their neighbors. Many of our gardeners will be cooking up delicious dishes with food right from their own gardens. Anyone is welcome to come with a dish to pass; ingredients from gardens are encouraged. The Harvest Dinner will be held on Wednesday, September 10th at the Peregrine Pavilion in Hawk Island Park. Come share a fun outdoor meal and get to know some new friends!

ABOUT THE GARDEN PROJECT-As a program of the Greater Lansing Food Bank, The Garden Project is dedicated to growing healthy food and cultivating connections. The Garden Project supports over 30 community gardens throughout the Greater Lansing area, including many operated by schools, churches, service agencies, housing groups and others working together to strengthen community and community food systems. Other services include home garden assistance and gleaning/distribution of seasonal farm crops.

On the web – Lansing Food Bank


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Food News, Lansing, Michigan

Big Ten Weekend Update

3 09 2008

I’m heading back to Illinois AGAIN this weekend, but this time, it’s for work.  I’ll be in Champaign for the University of Illinois football game against Eastern Illinois.  The Big Ten Tour will start up again as I will find at least one if not two or three places for a meal in Champaign-Urbana and I’ll let you know what the new Memorial Stadium looks like since MSU won’t be making the trip to Champaign or even playing U of I this year.

On Sunday, I scored free tickets to the Indy Car race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL.  I’ve been to Chicagoland once before the year it opened, but I’ll probaby post about my experience for the open-wheel racers. 

The whole weekend should lead to a handful of reviews of places I stop along the way.  Posting will be light for a while…just wanted to let you know why.


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Categories : Food News

Press Release – Michigan Summer Vacation Stories

2 09 2008

From a press release sent by House Speaker Pro Tempe Michael Sak.

“MADE in MICHIGAN MAKE it MICHIGAN” contest deadline is September 8

LANSING – House Speaker Pro Tempore Michael G. Sak (D-Grand Rapids) is urging residents who vacationed in Michigan this summer to submit their contest entries in order to be eligible to win a free “Destination Pure Michigan Adventure” vacation this fall. Announced in late June, Sak’s “MADE in MICHIGAN MAKE it MICHIGAN” (MiMMiM) campaign encouraged residents to travel the Great Lakes State during the summer months to experience all that Michigan has to offer.

“I have heard from countless residents in all corners of the Great Lakes state who spent their summer vacation experiencing the grandness of Michigan,” Sak said. “But I’m sure there are many more wonderful stories I haven’t heard. With Labor Day behind us, which marks the unofficial end of summer, I want to remind our residents to send me a summary of their wonderful summer experiences before our contest deadline passes. All you need to do is send me your story.” Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : Food News, Michigan, Politics

Michigan Pit Master Wins Best in West..

2 09 2008

I keep giving Michigan a hard time for having sub-par BBQ joints, but a shop in Midland proved me wrong over the weekend by winning the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off in Sparks, Nev.

Bone Daddy’s BBQ of Midland, Mich., won the top prize Monday as the 20th annual Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off wrapped up in Sparks, Nev.

Bone Daddy’s was among 25 cookers from around the country that competed in the event sponsored by John Ascuaga’s Nugget.

The title came with a trophy and check for $7,500.

Midland’s not all that far.  Wish I would have known that this past weekend when we were in Frankenmuth…..


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : Cook offs, Food News, Local Flavor, Michigan, Midland

Another Grocery Store Coming to Jackson

2 09 2008

You’d think two Meijer’s would be enough in a town like Jackson, but Save-A-Lot is opening it’s second store at 3525 O’Neill Drive.

The new store is going in a building formerly occupied by Staples, which closed in 2001. Rabban said he liked the building’s location off I-94 and the building itself, which is 20,000 square feet and in relatively good condition.

“It’s easy for you to get to, very visible,” Rabban said. “The building was ideal. It almost looks like it was designed for a Save-A-Lot.”

Renovations are ongoing. The Save-A-Lot sign is now up, the checkout counters are in, and the aisles are going in.

“It’s really coming along. Wow! Beautiful,” Rabban said during a recent walk-through.

The first Jackson-area Save-A-Lot opened in 1994 in a former Polly’s building at 3152 E. Michigan Ave. It was called SAL Food Store to distinguish it from Sav-A-Lot Drugs, which closed in 2000.

Save-A-Lot isn’t my favorite store, but discount options are a good thing in this economy.


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Chains, Food News, Grocery, Jackson, Michigan

Coke Zero – My Replacement Vice

27 08 2008

If you’ve been following along, you know Pepsi is my weakness.  I’m not the healthiest eater in the world, but my biggest problem with weight gain since college has been Pepsi.  I got in a bad habit of drinking out of a 2-liter whenever I got thirsty instead of drinking water. 

My Pepsi replacement....Coke Zero

My Pepsi replacement....Coke Zero

Well, it’s time to lose the weight.  I’ve been fairly inactive this summer but have managed to keep my weight steady.  I’m not gaining or losing, but I’d much rather be losing.  In order to do that, the four to five cans of Pepsi a day need to stop.

I’ve tried Diet Pepsi and Diet Coke.  Both taste like crap.  I’ve tried mixing Pepsi with Diet Pepsi.  That sorta worked, but I don’t want to open both a can of Diet and regular whenever I need a fix.

The other day I was in Kroger and I was walking buy the single serve cases near the check-out.  I started to grab a Diet Coke to see if I could stomach that.  My brother swears it’s better than Pepsi.  As I started to reach, another bottle caught my eye.  Coke Zero. I’ve seen the commercials but never paid attention because I prefer Pepsi to Coke, but I picked it up to read the label.  Zero calories!  Like a diet pop they use aspartame to sweeten the drink instead of HFCS.  Why not give it a shot.  I can handle regular Coke so if the commercials are true, this could be the solution to my problems. 

I got home and took a drink.  YAY!  It works!  It doesn’t have that bitter after taste that Diet does.  It tastes like Cola, so until Pepsi comes out with a competitor, it looks like I’m going to have to switch over to the dark side and start drinking Coke.  It looks like I picked the right time to give up Pepsi.  A few years ago and I would have been stuck drinking Diet.


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Food News

Welcome Enlightened Spartan Viewers

21 08 2008

I’ve noticed the last couple days that a lot of hits are coming from the Enlightened Spartan website.  For those of you finding this blog for the first time, thanks for checking it out and I hope you find something you like.  For those of you regular readers, make sure to check out Enlightened Spartan for some incredible Spartan sports coverage.


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : Food News

City Market Vote – Liveblogging – Market Approved!

18 08 2008

The City Council is taking up the issue of the City Market at tonight’s City Council Meeting…I got the TIVO going on this one, but it’s going to be a long, long night.  There are almost 70 people signed up for public comment on legislative matters and general matters.  The Council did vote to limit public comment to 2 minutes instead of 3, but if everyone speaks, that’s still 2 hours and 20 minutes of public comment.

Before that though, Mayor Bernero made a few comments about the project.

He said it will create jobs for 100’s of skilled trades people and opportunities for citizens.  It will grow the city’s taxbase and help pay for essential services.  It will also clean up historic environmental contamination along the riverfront. The new building will be a $1.6 million new facility that is energy efficient and more spacious. 

“This is the plan that will catapult the Lansing City Market to new heights of success”

Update 7:51 PM – There were some updates to the final development agreement over the weekend. 

  1. Added definition to not include strip malls.  No single story commercial structure
  2. Defined expected economic tools from city.  Struck Dept. of Environ. Quality loan.
  3. Developer may make application for incentives that will require approval from City.
  4. Developer has agreed to make good faith efforts to hire diverse Mid-Michigan workforce.  Developer agree to put in contract with construction manager language that reads “All contractors must adhere to the City of Lansing’s taxing regulations which include reporting income tax and wage detail information.”
  5. Some dates have been tweaked a little bit to bring in to unity time to complete the project. 
  6. Closing date was moved up by a month from May1 to April 1 to fit new payment schedule.  Full payment for property due April 1 so construction cannot be started before property is sold
  7. Prepayments will not returned if developer decides not to build before closing
  8. In a scenario in the future, if he were to sell the building or piece of property to any non tax paying entity, he would agree to pay the full millage rate on the property 63.63 mills for 15 years starting with the date of the occupancy permit being issued on whatever that project is.

Update 8:00 PM – Public comment starts and one of the first guys up come out yelling about historical buildings and bashing the mayor and threatens that everyone up there can be replaced. Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : 7 Comments »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Food News, Lansing

« Previous Entries Next Entries »