Blondie’s Barn

16 04 2009
  • 5640 Marsh Road
  • Haslett, MI 48840
  • (517) 339-4600
  • No Known Website
  • No Online Menu
Blondies Barn on Marsh Road in Haslett.

Blondie's Barn on Marsh Road in Haslett.

Looks like we could be going to Okemos a lot more.  I read a story in today’s paper that the company that owns Lansing Mall filed for bankruptcy protection, so who knows what will happen.  Mall operators say it won’t close, but we’ll see.  I’d rather go to Meridian Mall anyway.  J goes back and forth, but generally prefers Lansing Mall because it’s not as big, but it doesn’t have a couple key stores.  This morning, we were heading to one of the stores that Lansing Mall doesn’t have.  We timed it out, so we could do a little shopping, find lunch, and still get J home in time to go to work.

A few weeks ago, the LSJ did a story about a place in Haslett that I had never heard of.  They reviewed breakfast, but I figured if breakfast was good, lunch should be too.

We headed down Marsh Road to Blondie’s Barn which sits across the street from the Haslett Village Square shopping center.  J actually noticed.  I would have drove right by the building.  The front of the store faces away from Marsh Road, so you’re left looking at the back.  She happened to see the sign which is on the side of the building facing Haslett Road.  As you can probably guess, the building looks like an old red barn.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Burgers, Haslett, Michigan, Restaurant, Reviews, Sandwiches

Press Release – Cold Stone Creamery Opening in Tim Hortons

16 04 2009

From a Tim Hortons press release…..

TIM HORTONS® AND COLD STONE CREAMERY® MAKE THE SWEETEST WISHES COME TRUE AT GRAND OPENING EVENT
Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Creamery to Donate Proceeds from Grand Opening to Make-A-Wish Foundation®

April 17, 2009- Jackson, MI – Tim Hortons is pleased to welcome Cold Stone Creamery, America’s new favorite ice cream destination, to its 1715 W. Michigan Avenue location. To celebrate the opening, Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Creamery are joining efforts with the Make-A-Wish® Foundation Jackson Chapter to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. The celebration will provide the foundation with funding to help make a child’s most heartfelt wish a reality.

The community is invited to join the grand opening wish celebration on Friday, April 17 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM where there will be a FREE Create-Your-Own-Sundae bar for kids 12 and under, FREE samples of cakes, shakes and smoothies and the first 50 customers will receive a FREE Like-it Signature Creation with one mix-in and a FREE Gift Bag full of Tim Hortons & Cold Stone Goodies. Also, everyone is eligible to register to win FREE cake certificates! During the Grand Opening event on April 17, 5% of all ice cream purchases will benefit the local Make-A-Wish Chapter.

“Cold Stone Creamery has a long-standing relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Creamery support and value the same thing, which includes family, children, and lots of smiles,” says Elias Sayah, Tim Hortons store owner. “I can’t think of a better partnership than celebrating life with sweets, treats and wishes.” Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Jackson, Michigan, Press Releases

Dairy Dan – Revisited

15 04 2009
  • 7035 S. Cedar Street
  • Lansing, MI 48911
  • (517) 268-1264
  • No Known Website
  • No Online Menu
  • Original Review (4/11/08)
Dairy Dan on South Cedar Street in Lansing near the city limits.

Dairy Dan on South Cedar Street in Lansing near the city limits.

J must have been reading my mind this afternoon.  When she came home for dinner the first thing she said wasn’t “hi.”  It was, “I’m craving ice cream.”  That’s funny because I was craving ice cream too.  I was going to suggest making a quick run to Dairy Dan after dinner, but she beat me to it.

Dairy Dan is our go to when it comes to ice cream.  It was the first place we found after moving here because it’s just down the street from our apartment on South Cedar Street near the Lansing city limits.  The building is a walk up that’s only open in the summer.  They opened for the season just a few weeks ago.  We drove by all winter bummed that we couldn’t stop and get ice cream.

There is a drive-up window at Dairy Dan, but I prefer getting out and walking up to the window, so I parked under the sign and made the short walk to the window.  I know I wanted a Flurry, but I wanted to let J get a look at the other items.  Like most ice cream shops in this area, they put pictures of all their creations in the window so you know what you’re ordering.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Ice Cream, Lansing, Local Flavor, Michigan, Restaurant, Reviews

Press Release – Biggby Bob to Speak at LCC Commencement

14 04 2009

From a Lansing Community College press release –

LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE ANNOUNCES 2009 COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
Biggby Coffee CEO Bob Fish to Speak May 1

LANSING, MICH. (April 13, 2009) – Lansing Community College has announced that Biggby Coffee CEO and Co-Founder Bob Fish will give the commencement address at its May 1 graduation ceremony. “Biggby Bob,” as he is known by many coffee aficionados, co-founded the company in 1995 with his partner, Mary Roszel, and opened the first café on Grand River in East Lansing. The first Biggby Coffee franchise was sold in 1999, and the company has virtually doubled in size every two years since then. It now has more than 100 cafes located in nine states. Bob earned his degree from MSU’s Hospitality Business School. In addition to serving as Chairman of the Board of the Michigan Restaurant Association, Bob is a Board member of the Small Business Association of Michigan and Junior Achievement of Mid-Michigan. Lansing Community College selected Bob because of his significant entrepreneurial success, his innovative spirit, and his charismatic and inspiring personality. LCC’s commencement will take place at 7 p.m. at Breslin Student Event Center.


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Categories : Lansing, Michigan, Press Releases

Governor Honors Final Four Bet

13 04 2009

From Governor Granholm’s blog.

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm

Photo courtesy - Jennifer Granholm: The Conversation For Michigan's Future

 Krispy Kreme is the best they could do?  I guess since the Krispy Kreme in Lansing Township is boarded up, it’s something Lansing doesn’t have, but come on.   How about Bojangles?  Some good Carolina pork or something other than a baby blue donut and something you can’t get in Mid-Michigan.  It’s about as good as Senator Stabenow putting Little Ceasars on the line.


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Categories : Food News, Michigan

Carrabba’s Italian Grill – Lansing

13 04 2009
  • 6540 W. Saginaw Highway
  • Lansing, MI 48917
  • (517) 323-8055
  • Website
  • Menu
Carrabbas Italian Grill on Saginaw Highway in Delta Township

Carrabba's Italian Grill on Saginaw Highway in Delta Township

It had been a long weekend.  I had worked four days in a row (unusual for my line of work) and J had made a quick trip home to see a friend of hers who just had a baby.  We timed it out where she got home about an hour after I did on Sunday.  That gave me enough time to shower and have a little snack.  By 5:00, we were both pretty hungry.  She did brunch with her parents in Chicago, but that was at 10:00 AM.  We wanted to go out for dinner, but since it was Easter Sunday, we weren’t really sure what would be open.  I knew the chain restaurants would be serving, so we headed out to Delta Township.

We had our choice as far as chains go on that side of town.  I narrowed it down to Outback Steakhouse, Cheddar’s, and Carrabba’s.  J said she didn’t have a preference and since Carrabba’s is the one out of those three that I had never eaten at, it’s what we chose.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill is on Saginaw Highway in front of the Kohl’s in Delta Township.  Usually when we’re in this part of town, Carrabba’s isn’t open. They’re not the typical chain and they’re not open for lunch during the week.  They open their doors at 4:00 Monday thru Friday.  On Saturday and Sunday, they do open at noon, but they serve the same dinner menu.

We were met at the door by a waitress who welcomed us to the store as she stood holding the door for us.  We were then met by a hostess who showed us to a table near the kitchen.  The restaurant was surprisingly packed for a holiday.  The table we were seated at had a good view of the kitchen which was open and on display.  In fact, there was even a bar where you could enjoy your meal while watching the cooks prepare the evening’s meals.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Chains, Italian, Lansing, Michigan, Restaurant, Reviews

El Oasis Antojitos Mexicanos – Michigan Avenue

13 04 2009
  • 2501 E. Michigan Avenue
  • Lansing, MI 48912
  • No Known Phone Number
  • No Known Website
  • Menu (sorta)
El Oasis Mexican stand on East Michigan Avenue in Lansing.

El Oasis Mexican stand on East Michigan Avenue in Lansing.

After a long day at work and only a few hours of sleep, I was on the hunt for something to eat quickly so I could get to bed as soon as possible.  The first thing that popped in my head was Mexican.  I’ve been wanting to try a new place in Holt located in Brower’s Hardware.  When I got there, there was a sign on the cash register that the owner had to make an emergency run to the hospital for a family member and they were not open.  I then drove back out to Jolly Road to try Julie Joe’s for a second time.  Note on the door that they were closed for Easter (this was Saturday, not Easter Sunday).  The last place I could think of where I could get Mexican food quickly was El Oasis on Michigan Avenue.  The thing that really sucks is that if I had just picked that first, I wouldn’t have had to drive all the way back out there.

El Oasis is a cart that set up shop in a parking lot on the corner of East Michigan and North Francis Avenues.  They have another location inside Tony’s Party Store on Cedar Street (review HERE)which we tried last summer and had some problems with.  They got our order totally wrong and J ended up with ground beef, which she doesn’t eat, on her tacquitos and I ended up with her chicken on my tacos.  We had to trade dishes and I’m not a fan of avocado, sour cream, or raw tomatoes, so, needless to say, we weren’t very impressed. Read the rest of this entry »


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

Press Release – Wine Tasting Will Help Feed Animals

13 04 2009

From a Cascades Humane Society Press Release –

Wine Tasting Benefit to Feed Animals

Jackson, Michigan – Each year almost 1000 animals are fed and sheltered at Cascades Humane Society while they wait to find new homes. Each animal is vaccinated, spayed or neutered and micro-chipped. “The average cost per animal for testing, medical care and sheltering costs almost $500 but only a small portion of this is recovered in adoption fees,” said Debra Carmody, Executive Director. “Fortunately, we have a group of Friends who coordinate numerous events to raise money for the animals.”

Friends of Cascades Humane Society are hosting a Wine Tasting Party and Silent Auction at Daryl’s Downtown on Friday, April 17 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Funds from this event will help cover the cost of food for the animals. Tickets are $40 each or $70 for two.

Cascades Humane Society connects animals in need with people who care by providing a number of services, including adoptions, low-cost spay and neuters, Pet Food Pantry, lost/found, and humane education programs.

For ticket information, call Cascades Humane Society at (517) 787-PETS.


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Categories : Food News, Jackson, Michigan, Press Releases

Quality Dairy – Michigan Avenue

12 04 2009
  • 2400 E. Michigan Avenue
  • Lansing, MI 48912
  • (517) 319-4125
  • Website
Quality Dairy on East Michigan Avenue in Lansing.

Quality Dairy on East Michigan Avenue in Lansing.

After less than four hours of sleep, I needed more Pepsi.  I don’t do coffee, so another 44 oz Pepsi is the next best thing.  I had just picked up a breakfast sandwich from GrandRiver Coffee Cafe and they didn’t have any regular cola, so I had to make other arrangement.  Sure, I could have went to the QD on Michigan Avenue in East Lansing, but how would the QD tour roll on if I did that?

The next closest Quality Dairy is on East Michigan Avenue at North Foster Avenue.  It’s another corner location, but it’s also a mini-strip mall.  It shares a building with another business. 

It was a hopping Saturday morning at the Quality Dairy.  The store was packed with people picking up coffee, doughnuts, and their morning paper.  I actually missed the fountain soda machine at first.  I was expecting it to be in the middle of the room, but it was all the way on the far wall.  Conveniently enough, right next to the doughnut case. 

The funny thing about this Quality Dairy is the logo’s on the machine.  The Pepsi logo is from the 80’s.  It was probably five logos ago.  I had a little chuckle.  The rest of the logos were also from days long gone.  I filled up my cup and then glanced at the doughnuts.  As good as they looked, I had already ate and was trying to get by on the cheap.  I already spent more money than I would have liked to in two days of working, so I kept walking and paid for my pop which was actually cheaper than the one I bought at Speedway earlier in the day.


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Categories : Grocery, Lansing, Michigan, Reviews

GrandRiver Coffee Cafe

12 04 2009
  • 515 W. Grand River Aveninue
  • East Lansing, MI 48823
  • (866) 356-5301
  • Website
  • Menu
GrandRiver Coffee Cafe in East Lansing.

GrandRiver Coffee Cafe in East Lansing.

I hate it when I have to work on four hours sleep.  Hell, I was lucky if I got that Friday night.  I worked in Ann Arbor and got home around 12:30 AM.  Saturday morning, I had to be at MSU at 6:00 AM.  By the time I had a quick meal and showered, it was closer to 1:30.  That leaves just about four hours until I had to get up and get going.  It was rough.  Really rough, but at least everyone I worked with was in the same boat.  We were all a little cranky Saturday morning.  By the time lunch (actually breakfast) came around, I was really needing a Pepsi.  I knew I didn’t want to go sit down somewhere and have a huge breakfast since that would just add to my sluggishness.

I’m not much of a coffeehouse person, but I thought I would be able to get something light.  I was just going to go to  Biggby but on my way, I remembered a local coffeehouse just down the street.  I drove by the Biggby and found my destination.

GrandRiver Coffee Cafe is on Grand River Avenue in East Lansing a few blocks from downtown.  It’s a rather large building for a local coffee house.  There were a few cars in the parking lot when I pulled in and when I made it inside, it looked like most of those people were taking advantage of the free wi-fi.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : breakfast, Cafe, Coffee, East Lansing, Michigan, Restaurant, Reviews

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