Yay. It’s that time of year again. J and I went to both of these last year and came home with some reallygood stuff. Our calendar’s marked for this years market. J got the following message from a Facebook group.
Select Michigan Capitol Lawn Farmers Market
Thursday, July 23, 2009
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
State Capitol lawn
Downtown Lansing
Explore companies selling a variety of Michigan crops including pies, fruits, vegetables, honey, nuts, flowers, maple syrup, and so much more!
Arby's on East Oakland Avenue in Lansing.
In the last year, Arby’s has drastically changed their menu. They’ve added the Roastburger, Fajita Flatbread Melts, and Toasted Subs. Usually when places make that many changes in a short time, the old formula isn’t working. Still, there’s nothing I like better than an Arby’s roast beef and when I saw the 5 for $5 campaign had been brought back, I started looking for a reason to stop for lunch.
I was on my way to Oldsmobile Park for a Sunday afternoon baseball game. First, I needed to grab something quick and cheap for lunch. I drove by the Arby’s on South Cedar and that reminded me of the 5 for $5. I missed the turn and instead of turning around, I kept going and hit the Arby’s a little farther north. Read the rest of this entry »
I found this on Eastwood Towne Center’s Facebook page.
25% off your entire purchase (at GAP) when you bring in 2 or more non-perishable food items!(not valid with any other coupons)
The Food Drive will benefit the Greater Lansing Food Bank. The promotion runs from today (June 26) through Sunday, June 28.
The Downtown Dog House on Allegan Street in downtown Lansing.
I’m last to the party on this one too. Earlier this week, Runs With Spatula Twittered about a place called the Downtown Dog House. I asked what is was and a few hours later, there was a blog post. Yesterday, I get an e-mail from City Pulse about a new article online about…you guessed it…the Downtown Dog House. Heck, I even got five or six replies on Twitter myself about the place. With all this buzz, I had to check it out.
The Downtown Dog House is on Allegan Street in downtown Lansing just off Washington Square. Right now, it’s a horrible location. The entire street is tore up due to the CSO project and Allegan Street is completely closed. If you didn’t already know about it, there’s very little chance you would see the place. I have to say, it takes guts to open a new business under those conditions.
I had to run some errands in the area and J tagged along so we could hit up the place for lunch. We made it downtown just before eleven and found a parking spot on Washington Square. We walked back a block or so to get to the front doors which is even somewhat of a challenge with all the construction.
I think we were both surprised when we walked in. At least in my mind, I had pictured a quick service, order at the counter, find a place to sit hot dog place like I’m used to seeing in Chicago. Instead, we found a very welcoming sit down restaurant. We were shown to a booth along the windows. While we looked over the menus, the man who seated us brought us our Pepsi’s. Read the rest of this entry »
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 »
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
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 »
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 servedLANSING, 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 LugnutsSilver Ladle: Lansing Fire Department
Bronze Ladle: Harrison Road House
Best Restaurant Chili
Gold Ladle: Red RobinSilver Ladle: Harrison Road House
Bronze Ladle: Applebee’s
Best Corporate Chili
Gold Ladle: The Gallery at MSUSilver Ladle: Balloon’s Galore
Bronze Ladle: Marine Corps League
Best Meatless Chili
Gold Ladle: Soup to Nuts BistroSilver Ladle: Texas Road House
Bronze Ladle: The Firm
Best Amateur Chili
Gold Ladle: Shannon ShaversMo’ Hotter, Mo’ Better – Hottest Chili Award
Gold Ladle: Mayfair BarSilver 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 LifeSilver Ladle: Harrison Road House
Bronze Ladle: The State Room
Most Creative Chili Name
Gold Ladle: The FirmSilver 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!
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?
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.
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