What Temperature is Your Drink?

16 07 2008

Remind me if I ever meet this guy to punch him in the nose.

His friends may call him a snob, and waitresses may give him odd looks, but David Turley isn’t about to drink a beer with chunks of ice floating in it.

But that’s what can happen at restaurants that insist on serving his favorite beverage in icy mugs. And so Turley has no qualms about insisting upon another, unfrosted, glass.

“I’m pretty passionate about it,” says Turley, a 50-year-old information technology worker from Fredericksburg, Va. “The first thing I look at in a restaurant is the beer menu. I consider it a food.”

No, you’re a douchebag and you shouldn’t be allowed to leave your house.  Besides this example of douchery, the article has some interesting insights on what temperature your drinks should be served at.  It reinforces why I don’t like dark beers.  No beer should be served at 50 degrees. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Food News

Farmer’s Market or Supermarket?

15 07 2008

WILX picked up on what I’ve been saying for quite a while.  Ditch the supermarket when you can and you’ll get fresher food. (I’ve made grammar corrections so they story makes sense)

To compare the prices at the Farmers Market to the Supermarket we bought all of the same items that Anne bought at a local grocery store, broccoli, zucchini and 10 baby potatoes, now while we may have spent the same amount of money at (as) Anne this (the) difference is her produce will likely last longer; us on the other hand, we’ll probably have to make another trip back to the grocery store pretty soon. Read the rest of this entry »


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Sonic in Lansing?

15 07 2008
Could a Sonic come to Lansing?

Could a Sonic come to Lansing?

I’ve seen ads in the Lansing State-Journal for Sonic managers and there’s even been a little bit of talk on this blog about what, where, and when.  I contacted Sonic’s PR department to see if I could get any more information.  This afternoon, I recieved a reply from Christie Martin who is the Real Estate Coordinator for Sonic Restaurants Inc.

She did confirm that Sonic is interested in the Lansing market and they are actively looking here for expansion.  However, no specific location has been identified yet.  The hope is to have a store open in the next 12 months.

I remember the first time I ever saw a Sonic.  It was in Vandalia, IL (home to the oldest surviving State Capitol in Illinois).  We were coming home from a family vacation in St. Louis.  It had ben a long week and every body was exhausted and just ready to get home.  We still had about a three hour drive, so we didn’t want to try something we weren’t familiar with.  It was years before I finally ate at one.   Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Food News, Lansing

Press Release – Secondhand Smoke Study

15 07 2008

The following press release was sent out by the Campaign for Smoke Free Air.  I haven’t posted anything about the smoking ban for a while because the state legislator is on summer break.  They will be coming back next week to take up a few issues.  Could the smoking ban be one of them?  I have no idea.

LANSING– Recent declines in the exposure of U.S. residents to deadly secondhand smoke is attributable to smokefree workplace policies like the one currently being held hostage in the Michigan House of Representatives. A new study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals the exposure levels of secondhand smoke have declined significantly among the U.S. population between 1988-1994 and 1999-2004.

“This study is another testament to the need for a smokefree worksite law, including restaurants, bars and casinos,” said Judy Stewart, spokesperson for the Campaign for Smokefree Air. “It’s becoming clearer every day that exposure to secondhand smoke is dangerous and the only way to combat those dangers is to have a smokefree law in place.” Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Food News, Michigan

Press Release – Arts Council and Red Cross Seek Artist Submissions

15 07 2008

The American Red Cross and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing are looking for talented artists.

Lansing, Mich.—The American Red Cross, Mid-Michigan chapter, with the support of the Arts Council of Greater Lansing is seeking an artist to design an image that will be used to help promote the 18th annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser held on October 14, 2008.

Empty Bowls was originally brought to Lansing in 1990 by a group of local potters who wanted to help fight hunger in the community.  The potters believed that by creating and donating original ceramic bowls to a fundraising event fit the concept.  The purchaser of each bowl would be allowed to take home that bowl as a reminder that there are hungry people in the community, and the proceeds would benefit the local food pantry and community kitchen network. Read the rest of this entry »


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Anheuser-Busch Sold to Belgian Company

14 07 2008

UGH!  I can’t even express in words how disgusted I am that an American institution or my second choice of beers sold out to a Belgian company. 

Anheuser-Busch Cos. and InBev late Sunday announced an agreement to combine the two companies, in a deal that would create the world’s largest brewer and one of the largest consumer products companies.

In a joint press release, the companies said Anheuser-Busch shareholders would receive $70 a share in cash and that the combined companies would be called Anheuser-Busch InBev. Read the rest of this entry »


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Claddagh Irish Pub

14 07 2008
  • 2900 Town Centre Blvd.
  • Lansing, MI 48912
  • (517) 484-2523
  • Website
  • Menu
The Claddagh Irish Pub in Eastwood Towne Centre

The Claddagh Irish Pub in Eastwood Towne Centre

My parents had come to town for the final day of Common Ground to see Trace Adkins.  After a four hour drive, they were a little hungry and it was still way to early to head to Riverfront Park, so we decided to find a place for dinner.  One of our first weeks in Lansing, we went and found Edgewood Towne Centre and noticed an Irish pub on one end.  Since pub food is usually a sure bet with everybody in my family, we headed out to Lake Lansing Road for some grub.

Claddagh is a chain of fifteen Irish Pubs located in the midwest with the home office in Solon, OH (you know, “we’re going bowling, so don’t leave her in Solon.  Moon over Parma, tonight!”  I love Drew Carey 🙂 )There are only two locations in Michigan with the other being in Livonia.  It was a beautiful day so we opted for the patio over the dining room.  We got a quick look at the inside and it’s a gorgeaous pub.  Very typical of what you expect.  Lots of dark woods with a huge horseshoe shaped bar in the middle.  The really interesting feature was the pub tables located near the bar.  They took old whiskey barrels and put a table top on them.  I noticed it when we were walking out and I actually went back to take a closer look.  It was a really cool idea and added nicely to the overall theme. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Burgers, Chains, Irish Bar, Lansing, Pub, Restaurant, Reviews

Chuck’s Southern Comforts Cafe – Burbank, IL

13 07 2008
  • 5557 W. 79th St.
  • Burbank, IL 60459
  • (708 ) 229-8700
  • Website
  • Menu
Chucks Southern Comforts Cafe on 79th and Central in Burbank, IL

Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe on 79th and Central in Burbank, IL

I ended up back in Chicago again this weekend for work.  I picked up another job working at Toyota Park in Bridgeview.  Initially, I was supposed to get a hotel room by Midway which is a stone’s throw from Bridgeview, so I got on-line to start looking to see if there were any 24-hour restaurants nearby.  My search brought to a dining out in Chicago message board.  It didn’t really answer the question I was looking for, but this thread introduced me to Chuck’s Southern Comfrots.

I was worried about construction in Indiana so I left much ealier than I needed to.  I ended up geting to Bridgeview about three hours before my 1:30 CST call time.  I drove around the area for a while hitting up malls, Best Buy’s and Circuit City’s looking for Mario Kart.  Finally, I got hungry and remembered there was a BBQ joint on 79th and Central and I was pretty close to there. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : BBQ, Big Ten Tour, Chicago, Illinois, Restaurant, Reviews

Leo’s Outpost

11 07 2008
  • 600 S. Pennsylvania
  • Lansing, MI 48912
  • (517) 367-7755
  • Website
  • Menu
Leos Outpost on S. Pennsylvania Ave.

Leo's Outpost on S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Lansing

It’s time to go grocery shopping again and I didn’t feel like doing it today, so I picked my girlfriend up from work and took her out for a Friday night dinner.  We both really liked Leo’s Lodge when we ate there a week or so ago, so we decided to give Leo’s Outpost a try. 

As we pulled up to the log cabin style building on south Pennsylvania, we were concerned we weren’t going to be able to get a table.  The parking lot alongside the building was packed.  We turned down a side street next to Leo’s and found another parking lot which wasn’t as full.  There are two entrances to the building.  There’s one off of Pennsylvania and another on the side of the building.  We entered through the side door which brought us to the bar.  Just like Leo’s Lodge, the interior is decorated like a rustic cabin you’d like to find in the Upper Pennisula.  There are deer heads mounted on the wall alongside birds that have been stuffed.  The entire interior is sided with the same log cabin look that dominates the outside.  Just like it’s sister restaurant, the chairs had the wicker weave for the seat and back.  The bar and dining room was seperated by a decorative brick half wall.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Lansing, Pub, Restaurant, Reviews

Salmonella Scare Continues..

11 07 2008

..and now they’re calling the Saintpaul Outbreak.  Is it tomatos?  Is it something else?  Who knows?  No one yet.  Local officials say that it’s hard to figure out.

“Going back to figuring out the origin is so complex given that tomatoes are used for so many different things,” said Michigan Department of Community Health spokesman, James McCurtis Jr.

Health officials are warning consumers jalepeno and serrano peppers along with cilantro may also be included in the outbreak. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Food News, Michigan

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