The Chocolate Garden

5 01 2009
  • 2691 Friday Road
  • Coloma, MI 49038
  • (269) 468-9866
  • Website
  • Menu
The Chocolate Garden outside of Coloma, MI

The Chocolate Garden outside of Coloma, MI

What would you do if you were faced with giant truffles staring at you from a billboard overlooking I-94 in southwest Michigan?  We have passed this billboard so many times on our way back to Lansing from Illinois, but always make excuses not to stop.  A few months ago, we needed gas and I pulled off in Coloma to find a BP, but we couldn’t find The Chocolate Garden, so we gave up and went home.  Turns out, we took a right when we should have taken a left.  This time, we were in no hurry and had no excuse not stop.

The Chocolate Garden is in the most unassuming location.  Heck, we weren’t even sure we were in the right place.  When you get off the Interstate in Coloma and take a left, you pass a number of U-Pick farms and even other chocolate places.  The Chocolate Garden was smart enough to put signs up across the street from these places to tell you to keep going. 

After about a mile, you come up a farm house with a sign out front telling you to turn in for the Chocolate Garden.  Not what we were expecting at all.  The shop sits behind the farmhouse in a little building that would be more in place in a downtown shopping district among other boutiques.  We actually passed the house the first time thinking 1.) it wasn’t open or 2.) we couldn’t possibly be in the right place.  I went up to the next farm house and turned around.  When we made our way back, I noticed the sign on the side of the building that said “open” and the other cars now turning in.  Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : 17 Comments »
Tags: , , , , ,
Categories : Chocolate, Coloma, Local Flavor, Michigan, Reviews

Press Release – 621 is NOT Closed Permanently

5 01 2009

I hadn’t even heard this rumor, but if they’re sending out press releases to local media, there must be something going around.  Apparently they are not closed permanently….just temporarily while they renovate.

From a Brant Johnson & Associates press release….

621, Lansing’s downtown hotspot, is temporarily closed for remodeling.

621 will be closed for approximately 60 days for modernization of the restaurant/bar, according to Julian Darden, MJJJ Inc., owner and operator.

Julian “JJ” Darden says, “For over 5years of ownership, 621 appreciates the loyal patronage and support of Lansing. It has been a blessing to provide entertainment services to the Lansing community. However, it is important to modernize our establishment in order to reflect the revitalization of the New Downtown Lansing area. And 621 looks forward to being the consistent Downtown Nightspot. ”

Within the past 5 years 621 was voted “the BEST” in a number of categories for Lansing Entertainment, including Best Martini Bar. Downtown patrons and Lugnut goers have been enjoying 621 for over 10 years.

621 asks the Lansing community to be patience and cooperative as these changes are taking place. 621 is eager to have a prosperous 2009.


Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : Bar, Downtown, Food News, Lansing, Michigan, Press Releases

7-Eleven – Jolly Rd

2 01 2009
  • 1975 E. Jolly Road
  • Lansing, MI 48910
  • (517) 394-7227
  • Website
7-Eleven on Jolly Road in Lansing

7-Eleven on Jolly Road in Lansing

I just have a thing for slurpee’s.  Not sure what it is, but J got me hooked again on the frozen Coke’s.  Sure, we usually stop at Speedway to get our frozen pop, but I was near a 7-Eleven today and decided to stop in. 

There are several 7-Eleven locations in the Lansing metro area.  This particular store is on Jolly Road where it meets Aurelius on the way to Okemos.  I had to mail some shredded coconut to my grandma to make peanut brittle.  She wasn’t able to find any for Christmas so there was no peanut brittle.  J and I found some at Horrocks so we stocked up and shipped some hoping to get a tasty return package. 

The Holt post office that I usually go to closed at noon for some reason so I had to head out to the post office on Collins Road.  After that, I needed to go back to Kroger to pick something up for dinner.  A third stop was going to be Speedway for a frozen Coke and a Mega Millions ticket, but I saw the 7-Eleven as I was turning back on to Aurelius and realized it was easier to get in and out of a convience store than a busy gas station.

7-Eleven is big in the Chicago area so they a history with me.  I always think of 7-Eleven as dirty stores run by shady people.  That seems to be the trend in Chicago.  I don’t always feel safe going in one.  My opinion completely changed with my first trip to the Holt 7-Eleven (review HERE).  That store was spotless, well staffed, and the people were friendly.  Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: , , , , ,
Categories : Michigan

Chili’s Grill & Bar- Okemos

1 01 2009
  • 5055 Marsh Road
  • Okemos, MI 48864
  • (517) 347-7188
  • Website
  • Menu
Chilis Southwestern Bar & Grill on Marsh Road in Okemos

Chili's Grill & Bar on Marsh Road in Okemos

Hey, why not start of the 2009 with a review of a chain restaurant?  J’s mom picked up a gift card for Chili’s for me for Christmas.  Just like Applebees (review HERE), I have never been to a Chili’s.  Growing up in the Kankakee (IL) area, there was no Chili’s and by the time I moved to Peoria, I was already on my “hunt out the local joints” kick, so I never took the time to actually eat at Chili’s.  J said she used to eat there all the time when she lived in Idaho Falls (ID) because they had great drinks and appetizers, so when I opened up the gift from her mom on Christmas and found a Chili’s gift card, J got excited that she was going to get to take me to what could maybe be called her favorite chain.

The Chili’s Grill & Bar in the Lansing metro is in Okemos adjacent to the Meridian Mall.  It sort of shares a parking lot with the Olive Garden. Our plan was to hit up Younkers at Meridian Mall then go to dinner, but we were too late for shopping as the mall must have closed at 6:00 and we arrived closer to 6:30.  Since we couldn’t go shopping, we just headed over to Chili’s for dinner. 

We were met inside by a hostess who I’m pretty sure punished us for picking non-smoking over smoking.  I was hoping to be seated where I could see the Rose Bowl game, but the only TV’s must have been in the smoking section which is basically the bar area.  Instead, she took us into a cramped dining room around the corner and sat us in a booth right next to the Chili’s To Go entrance.  The restaurant was not packed by any means so there was really no reason to put us at this table.  The table was fine, but it was right next to an outside door so every time someone came in or went out, we were also treated to the 20 degree weather outside.   Kind of ruins dinner when you have to eat with a coat on. Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Categories : Bar, Burgers, Chains, Michigan, Okemos, Pub, Restaurant, Reviews, Southwestern

Harrison Roadhouse Goes Smoke Free

1 01 2009

Saw this story on WLNS’ noon show today. 

An East Lansing restaurant is making it’s New Year’s resolution very public… it’s going *smoke free.*

The Harrison Roadhouse will officially make the move Thursday.

Just in time for it’s New Year’s day Bowl party for Michigan State University.

The operations manager says he’s been an opponent of the statewide smoking ban for a number of years and adds at this time…there’s enough people in the East Lansing area that want smoke-free dining.

All I can say is good for them.  We ate at Harrison Roadhouse back in the spring (review HERE) and really liked the place.  Going smoke free makes a second visit even more appealing.


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

Dinner Train Ending Run

31 12 2008

This is something else I thought was outdated.  I had no idea these dinner trains still ran yet this is the second one I’ve heard of in Michigan.  When we moved here, I found info on the Murder Mystery Dinner Train and tonight, J saw a story in the Detroit News about the Michigan Star Clipper making it’s last run.

After 24 years, the Michigan Star Clipper dinner train is making its last passenger run on New Year’s Eve before it embarks on plans to relocate to the East Coast in 2009.

Plans are also under way to sell the nine-mile-long rail line and eventually transfer the land to local communities, possibly for use in a trail network.

The Monday announcement by parent company Railmark Holdings Inc. has nothing to do with the dinner train’s derailment Friday because of icy roads and tracks, President and CEO B. Allen Brown said.

Anyone ever gone on one of these?  They sound cheesy to me, but I’m still a little curious.  Everytime I see these now I think of the King of the Hill episode when they went on a murder mystery for Peggy’s birthday and Luanne ruins it.  J loves King of the Hill 😉


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

Quality Dairy – Cavanaugh Ave

31 12 2008
  • 917 E. Cavanaugh Ave.
  • Lansing, MI 48910
  • (517) 272-1509
  • Website
Quality Dairy on South Pennsylvania in Lansing.

Quality Dairy on South Pennsylvania in Lansing.

For some odd reason, J and I have started a tradition of making ice cream sandwiches and playing games on New Year’s Eve.  Last year, we played Trivial Pursuit.  This year, it will probably be Rock Band 2, but the thing that will be the same is the ice cream sandwiches. 

As we left Corey’s, J suggested stopping at Meijer to get some ice cream so we could keep this odd tradition going.  I wasn’t really in the mood to go into Meijer.  Just getting something simple seems to take 20 minutes.  When we left Corey’s, we headed back towards Pennsylvania.  I knew somewhere along there their was a Quality Dairy. The store sits on the corner of Pennyslvania and Cavanaugh, but apparently, the address is on Cavanaugh.  The store faces Pennsylvania though…weird

Quality Dairy is one of those things that is foreign to me, but for people that grew up here, it’s something they have a hard time living without once moving away.  I see it as just another convenience store, but with ice cream and it was the ice cream that drew us in. Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : Grocery, Ice Cream, Lansing, Local Flavor, Michigan, Reviews

Corey’s Restaurant & Lounge

31 12 2008
  • 1513 S. Cedar St.
  • Lansing, MI 4891
  • (517) 484-7060
  • No Known Website
  • Menu
Coreys Restaurat & Lounge on South Cedar Street in Lansing.

Corey's Restaurat & Lounge on South Cedar Street in Lansing.

Since we found out our bar of choice wasn’t going to be open past 10:00 on New Year’s Eve, we decided to go out for dinner.  We had driven by a very uninviting building on Cedar Street with a old sign hanging off the building that simply said “Corey’s Coktails.”  We never gave the place much thought until a co-worker of J’s recommended it during a discussion of local eateries.   J e-mailed me and asked if I just wanted to go out for dinner and I said, yes and suggested Corey’s, so that’s where we ended up for dinner on New Year’s Eve. 

Corey’s Restaurant & Lounge sits on Cedar Street not too far from downtown.  From the outside, you’d never guess what was inside.  We pulled up to the building around 7:30 to find a packed parking lot.  We entered the lot off of Cedar Street and found a place to park, but we had no idea where the door was.  It definitely wasn’t on the Cedar Street side, so I assumed it was around back.  As we were walking towards the building, we saw someone walk out solving the mystery of the front door.

When you walk in, you take a step down and enter in the lounge part of the space.  There were no signs about seating or a hostess.  I noticed a pub table along the wall not too far from the entrance so that’s where we went.  There are two rooms  to the space.  Had we kept going, we would have found a more traditional dining room separated from the bar.  We climbed up the chairs and waited.  And waited.  And waited.  And waited for a waitress to see us.  After a five to ten minute wait, we were finally noticed and a waitress came over for drink orders and left a couple menus.  Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Categories : Burgers, Lansing, Local Flavor, Michigan, Restaurant, Reviews, Sandwiches

More on New Year’s Eve….

31 12 2008

One station does a story on how places are struggling and another does a story on how everything’s ok.  Last night, WLAJ did this story on how places are targeting a little older for New Year’s.

Some local entertainment venues are finding success this New Year’s Eve… but often only with a certain audience.

Local hot spots have found the audience that is willing to spend for entertainment, even in this recession. The age sweet spot is somewhere between 25 and 45. 

“Occasionally we’ll see some older clientele come in, but the bulk of what we’re marketing for is that younger group… who seems to come out, not really afraid of what the current economy situation looks like,” says Patrick Wisema, manager at Club X-Cel in Lansing.

Eh.  Who cares.  Found out I’m not going out at all.  Barley’s is closing at 10 PM tonight.  10 PM!  On New Year’s!  Things must really be bad if bars are closing early.  So, J and I will spend New Year’s watching Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve in the right time zone for the first time ever.  In the Central time zone, they play it live so the ball drops at 11:00 and then we’d turn to a Chicago station for a countdown to Midnight….this year, midnight in New York will actually be our Midnight…yay!


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

New Years Eve Plans?

30 12 2008

Ugh.  It’s that time of year again.  I’ve never understood why people actually go out on New Year’s.  I usually spend it just like I do any other night.  No crowded bars for me.  Last year, J and I played Trivial Pursuit while watching Dick Clark’s Rockin New Year’s Eve.  I can’t even remember how I spent the year before that.  J has to work until 11:30 this year and it looks like we’ll probably stop in to Barley’s for a couple beers.

It looks like we’re not the only ones planning a low key New Year’s this year.  I found this story on WILX pretty interesting. 

As the ball drops this year, fewer people will be ringing in the New Year at a prime-time party.

“Our ticket sales are about half what they have been the past four years at this time,” says Dave Sheets, who owns Lansing’s Cadillac Club. “Normally by now we’re pretty much sold-out but now we’ve got a few hundred tickets left.”

For years, Sheets has been hosting what he calls a New Year’s Eve Extravaganza–a sold-out soiree that, this year, is slumping. Sheets blames the economy for slow sales.

I never got these big parties that you paid $100+ for.  Why do you want to spend your New Year’s Eve with strangers making small talk.  That sounds like something my grandparents did in the 1940’s…not something that people would do today.  I’m guessing this may be the end of these big New Year’s Parties.  It’s not a tradition that I’ll be sorry that goes, but there are better ways to spend your hard earned money than on some mass prepared meal, some cheap booze, and swing music.  I feel bad for the places that count on these shindigs like the Cadillac Club and The Radisson, but it seems like an outdated tradition.


Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: , , , , ,
Categories : Food News, Lansing, Michigan

« Previous Entries Next Entries »