Press Release – Free Lunch at Tim Hortons

31 03 2009

From a Tim Hortons’ press release…

April 1, 2009 – Dublin, OH – Who said there’s no such thing as a free lunch?  Today at participating locations across the United States, you can visit your local Tim Hortons between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and try a BBQ or Ranch Tim Hortons Chicken Wrap Snacker – for free!

 

The menu at Tim Hortons has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs and tastes of customers.  The Tim Hortons Wrap Snackers are the latest innovation to the chain’s expanding  lunch menu.  With five different varieties of Tim Hortons Wrap Snackers – Chicken Ranch, BBQ Chicken, Tuna Salad, Chicken Salad and Egg Salad –  this snack-sized wrap appeals to variety of tastes and cravings at lunch-time or any-time. Available for only $1.59 each and less than 200 calories, Tim Hortons Wrap Snackers are easy on the wallet and the waistline.


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Bob Evans Restaurant – American Road

30 03 2009
  • 900 American Road
  • Lansing, MI 48911
  • (517) 394-7676
  • Website
  • Menu
Bob Evans Restaurant on American Drive in South Lansing.

Bob Evans Restaurant on American Drive in South Lansing.

After a weekend of standing out in the rain, snow and wind, I really wasn’t in the mood to cook.  I had everything ready to go like I was going to cook dinner, but J e-mailed and said she was in the mood for pulled pork.  Unfortunately, Lansing doesn’t have any BBQ joints.  Our only real option is Smokey Bones, but that’s out near Eastwood and there’s no way I was going to chance construction on 127 when J only had an hour for dinner.  Instead, I thought of Bob Evans.  I thought they may have a pulled pork on the menu and they did.

Bob Evans is one of the interesting chains.  I’ve never eaten at one in the past because I always thought it looked like “an old person” restaurant.  The concept is to be a comfortable family restaurant where everyone is welcome.  The chain actually got it’s start because Bob Evans (real person) needed an outlet to sell his premium sausages.  Local restaurants near Rio Grande, Ohio didn’t want to buy his speciality sausage because people wouldn’t pay a higher prices for a higher quality sausage.  Mr. Evans  believed in his product so much, he started a chain out of his truck stop.

The South Lansing location is on American Drive near Cedar Street.  It’s shares a parking lot/driveway with the Super 8 Motel.  There’s another location on Commercial Drive near Exit 93 on I-96 in Delta Township and one in DeWitt just off I-69. 

Bob Evans restaurants are easy to spot.  They’re big red buildings that remind you of a barn.  That’s kind of fitting considering Bob Evans was a farmer and his farm is on the National Register of Historic Places.  I was meeting J for dinner so I found a spot in the parking lot near the road so she could see me.  I only had to wait a few minutes for her to show up.  Read the rest of this entry »


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

Press Release – Michigan Voters Support Smoking Ban

30 03 2009

This is from a Campaign for Smoke Free Michigan press release.  I’m always a little skeptical of organizations that release “poll numbers” that favor their position.  I’m not saying they did, but they could have conducted this “survey” a hundred times until they got the results they wanted.

Michigan voters support smokefree air
New poll shows overwhelming support for smokefree legislation

LANSING, Mich. – A new poll released today by the Campaign for Smokefree Air (CSA) shows an
overwhelming majority of voters are supportive of legislation to make worksites in Michigan smokefree.
Sixty-six percent — two-thirds of those interviewed — favored smokefree workplace legislation, including 52 percent who “strongly favor” it. When asked specifically about legislation including making casinos smokefree, two-thirds, or 64 percent, were in favor of including casinos in the legislation. The numbers are consistent with the poll CSA conducted in 2005 of Michigan voters.

Support for a smokefree law crosses party lines, as 73 percent of Democrats, 58 percent of independents and 62 percent of Republicans say they favor smokefree legislation that includes restaurants, bars, and casinos.

“Smokefree air is not a political issue – it’s a public health issue that will improve the economy of our state and keep all workers from having to inhale secondhand smoke in the workplace,” said Susan Schechter, spokesperson for CSA and advocacy director for the American Lung Association. “We’re hoping that legislators will take this information seriously and listen to what Michigan residents want and pass legislation – with no exemptions.” Read the rest of this entry »


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Li’l Porgy’s Bar-B-Q – Champaign, IL

30 03 2009
  • 1917 W. Springfield Avenue
  • Champaign, IL 61821
  • (217) 398-6811
  • Website
  • Menu
Lil Porgys Barbecue on Springfield Avenue in Champaign, IL

Li'l Porgy's Barbecue on Springfield Avenue in Champaign, IL

My last day in Champaign and I needed something good for lunch.  As I was driving away from Eichelberger Field on my lunch break, I remembered a BBQ place I ate at a couple years ago.  I was pretty sure I remembered how to get there once I found Springfield Avenue off of Neil Street. 

Li’l Porgy’s has two locations in the Champaign/Urbana area.  I chose the Champaign location which is on West Springfield Avenue near Mattis Avenue.  There are a number of other restaurants in the area including a Famous Dave’s. 

The building is nothing more than a run down old fast food joint.  It’s not much to look at and I wondered if it was even open on a Sunday morning when I pulled in.  As I was nearing Mattis Avenue, I knew I was close, but it wasn’t until I got right up on the sign that I noticed it.  As I turned in the parking lot, I noticed a couple other cars, so I figured I was go for Q.

Inside gets a little wierd and I remember I didn’t quite get it my first trip.  There obviously used to be a huge order counter like you’re familiar with at the fast food joints, but they put an oven or food warmer or something right in the middle and divided it up into two windows.  The openings are very small.  There’s not really room for anything but the cash register at the order window. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : BBQ, Big Ten Tour, Champaign, Champaign/Urbana, Illinois, Restaurant, Reviews, Sandwiches

Eichelberger Field – Urbana, IL

30 03 2009
  • 1201 W. Florida Avenue
  • Urbana, IL 61801
  • (217)
  • Website
Eichelberger Field on the campus of the University of Illinois

Eichelberger Field on the campus of the University of Illinois

Nothing like getting up early on a Sunday morning to drive in blizzard like conditions to a softball game.  That was how my day started. 

After getting rained out Saturday at Illinois Field, I made the trek back to Champaign/Urbana from my parents house for a softball game between the University of Illinois and Michigan State University.  Unfortunately, the weather didn’t want to cooperate.

The University of Illinois softball team plays their home games at Eichelberger Field in Urbana.  It’s actually just a few hundred yards from the men’s field, but the city limits for the two towns lie just outside the center field wall at Illinois Field.  Even though the street addresses are different, they’re on the same street. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Big Ten Tour, Champaign/Urbana, Entertainment Venues, Illinois, Live Entertainment, Urbana

Mia Za’s Cafe – Champaign, IL

28 03 2009
  • 629 E. Green Street
  • Champaign, IL 61820
  • (217) 352-2697
  • Website
  • Menu
Mia Zas Cafe on Green Street in Champaign, IL

Mia Za's Cafe on Green Street in Champaign, IL

Another Saturday.  Another Saturday working.  Actually, that’s been rare the last year and very welcome.  I was back in Champaign for game two of a three game set between the University of Illinois and Michigan State University’s baseball teams.  Once again, lunch time rolled around and I went in search of good food.

Yesterday, I ran into some trouble finding businesses open on Green Street, but I did notice a cafe open near the end of the stretch of businesses.  I was craving an Italian beef and knew this place wouldn’t have it, but today, I just wanted a sandwich, so I headed back.

Mia Za’s Cafe is on Green Street near the corner of Green and Sixth.  The cafe is one of three locations in Big Ten communities.  The other two stores are in Madison, WI (University of Wisconsin) and Ann Arbor.  If the name sounds sort of familiar, but not really, they used to go under the name Za’s Italian Cafe.  The Ann Arbor store is located at 615 E. University. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Big Ten Tour, Cafe, Champaign, Champaign/Urbana, Chicken, Illinois, Restaurant, Reviews, Sandwiches

Niro’s Gyros – Urbana, IL

28 03 2009
  • 1007 W. University Avenue
  • Urbana, IL 61801
  • (217) 328-6476
  • No Known Website
  • Menu
Niros Gyros on University Avenue in Urbana.

Niro's Gyros on University Avenue in Urbana.

The Italian beef craving set in again.  I’m just not going to go back to Illinois and not get one.  I left Illinois Field on my lunch break and headed towards Green Street to get lunch like I always do.  Problem is, when I got there, everything was closed.  U of I is on spring break and everything closed up with them.  I panicked a little.  Where else was I going to go?  I was driving around and I came up to University Avenue.  Then it clicked.  There was a little Greek place up the road where I could get my Italian beef.

Niro’s Gyros is located on University near Lincoln in Urbana.  Niro’s has several locations in the Champaign/Urbana area and there are even stores that I know of in Bloomington, IL.  I have no idea why Greek places tend to have Italian beef in Illinois, but it’s fairly common.  Places like Niro’s are almost cookie-cutter to the extent that you know what’s on the menu before you get there.

There’s not much to this Niro’s location.  There’s a drive thru which I should have used and a walk up window.  There’s no seating inside.  They have some concrete tables outside, but that’s it.  When you walk in, there’s just enough room for a menu board and a window. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Big Ten Tour, Champaign/Urbana, greek, Illinois, Restaurant, Reviews, Sandwiches

Illinois Field – Champaign, IL

27 03 2009
  • 1605 S. Wright Street
  • Champaign, IL 61820
  • (217) 333-3630
  • Website
The view from the press box at Illinois Field in Champaign, IL

The view from the press box at Illinois Field in Champaign, IL

I freakin love baseball.  I played growing up.  I played a couple years in college.  I can’t get enough of it.  I’ve never been much of a football person, but I love when baseball season comes around.  I know…that’s weird.

Now that I work in broadcasting, spring is my favorite time.  I love it when I get a call to shoot a baseball game.  Yes, chances are it’s going to be cold and rainy, but that’s ok with me.  I got a last minute call to make the trek to Illinois for three games in three days.  The first two days were U of I vs. Michigan State University baseball.

Illinois Field in located on Wright Street right at the boundry for the cities of Champaign and Urbana.  It’s just down the street from Assembly Hall and Memorial Stadium.  The grassy lot next to the field is actually used for overflow parking during football season. Read the rest of this entry »


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Quality Dairy – Charlotte

27 03 2009
  • 686 Lansing Street
  • Charlotte, MI 48813
  • (517) 541-0738
  • Website
Quality Dairy on Lansing Street in Charlotte

Quality Dairy on Lansing Street in Charlotte

I told you I was working on getting to every Quality Dairy store.  Actually, this time it was kind of necessity.  I had to work in downtown Lansing at 6:00.  As soon as I got done, I was hitting the road to work in Champaign, IL again this weekend.  I had to make the four hour drive to my parents house that night.  Work took a lot longer than I had anticipated and I ended up leaving at 9:00.  By the time I left, I had to pee.  I hadn’t eaten since lunch and I was really thirsty.  As I got on I-496, I thought to myself, “Self!  Where I can I accomplish all three tasks in one stop?’  The answer was easy.  Quality Dairy.

The Quality Dairy in Charlotte sits right off I-69.  I see it everytime we pass through Charlotte on our way home.  It’s a large store with gas pumps and a laundromat as well as the typical Quality Dairy staples. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Charlotte, Local Flavor, Michigan, Reviews, Sandwiches

Press Release – Cheese Recall Expanded

27 03 2009

From a press release….

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause Listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths. The very young, the pregnant, the elderly and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to infection. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

Products were distributed to the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Alabama. Read the rest of this entry »


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