Traverse City Restaurant Week 2/26 - 3/3

February 3, 2012

Second Annual Restaurant Week Highlights Traverse City Dining
 
The Downtown Traverse City Association will host the second Traverse City Restaurant Week in response to the many accolades regarding great restaurants and food offerings in the Grand Traverse Region. TCRW promises to be the most delicious week of the winter where patrons may perfect the art of wining and dining by discovering the talents of local chefs, with many offerings focused on the farm to table movement and local agriculture.
 
Restaurant Weeks are quickly popping up in communities all over the country and have proved to be a success. The Traverse City region is a natural fit for our finest restaurants to offer multi-course meals that have been especially prepared for this gourmet event. Traverse City’s finest restaurants will offer multi-course meals that have been especially prepared for this gourmet event with three courses for $25 per person.
 

“Traverse City Restaurant Week offers seven days of dining in one of Michigan’s great food regions. Exploring news eateries and dining at your favorite are truly the highlights of this culinary event,” says Colleen Paveglio, DDA/DTCA Marketing Director.

 

Enter to Win!

During Traverse City Restaurant Week, diners may enter to win a prize package that includes $50 gift cards to each participating restaurant.
Visit the downtowntc.com website for further information on participating restaurants and menus.  

Reservations are recommended as this event proved quite popular last year. Check out the Events category on our smartphone app, Traverse Traveler,  where we’ve listed each restaurant along with a phone number for one-touch dialing. Following is a peek at who will be participating:

Traverse Traveler app events7 Monks Taproom

Amical

Apache Trout Grill

The Bay Leaf

Blue Tractor Cook Shop

The Boathouse

Chez Peres/Patisserie Amie

CW’s Blue Water Bistro: Holiday Inn West Bay

Firefly Café & Lounge

Hanna Bistro

Harrington’s By the Bay

Mackinaw Brewing Co.

Minervas: Park Place Hotel

Modes Bum Steer

North Peak Brewing Co.

Phil’s on Front

Poppycocks

Red Ginger

Relfect: Cambria Suites

The Soul Hole

Trattoria Stella

Travino, Traverse Wine & Grille

Union Cantina

 

Traverse City Restaurant Week is hosted by the over 200 merchants, restaurants and businesses who are members of the Downtown Traverse City Association.  For more information or to volunteer, call the DTCA office at (231) 922-2050 or email colleen@downtowntc.com  

Posted by Brandy Wheeler | Filed Under Events, Traverse City | Leave a Comment 

Winners Announced in Downtown TC Chili Cook-off

January 14, 2012

Mt. Holiday White Chili Takes the People’s Choice Award in today’s Downtown Traverse City Chili Cook-off.

 
The snow finally arrived in Northern Michigan and the temperature was perfect for a day spent noshing on chili at the 18th annual Downtown Chili Cook-Off presented by Pepsi Cola, C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., WTCM and ABC 29&8, held today at the Park Place Dome in Downtown Traverse City.

Thirteen area restaurants entered 17 different chilies in the annual Chili Cook-Off.  The eateries competed in seven different categories as well as the overall favorite, the “People’s Choice” award.  Categories included:  1-Alarm, 2-Alarm, 3-Alarm, Seafood, Vegetarian, Ethnic, No Bean and White.

 

Over 1,800 people attended the cook-off with each casting a vote for their favorites in each category at this favorite culinary event.  The DTCA managed to raise approximately $13,000 in 2011 to help fund Downtown community events such as Friday Night Live. Revenue totals will be calculated this week.  Winners included:
1-Alarm – Red Mesa Grill
2-Alarm –  Lil Bo Pub & Grille
3-Alarm – The Omelette Shoppe
Seafood – Scalawags Whitefish & Chips
Vegetarian – Oryana: Lake St. Cafe
White – Mt. Holiday
No Bean – Chateau Chantal Winery and B&B
Ethnic - Red Mesa Grill
People’s Choice – Mt. Holiday, White

 

Competing restaurants included:

  • 7 Monks Taproom
  • Chateau Chantal Winery and B&B
  • Lil Bo Pub & Grille
  • Minervas: Park Place Hotel
  • Morsel (providing cornbread morsels)
  • Mt. Holiday
  • Omelette Shoppe
  • Oryana: Lake St. Cafe
  • The Red Mesa Grill
  • Reflect: Cambria Suites
  • Scalawags Whitefish & Chips
  • Union Cantina
  • Wingers Sports Bar: Holiday Inn West Bay
  • Zakey Middle Eastern Cuisine
  •  

 
All proceeds from the event help support such Downtown community activities as Friday Night Live, the Halloween walk, holiday activities and many other free downtown events throughout the year.

Posted by Brandy Wheeler | Filed Under Events, Traverse City | Leave a Comment 

Downtown Traverse City Holiday Events

November 29, 2011

Downtown Traverse City Christmas imageCelebrate the Spirit of the Season in Downtown Traverse City

There’s nothing like strolling the streets of Downtown, popping in and out of shops while snowflakes drift to the ground. With Thanksgiving behind us you know that Christmas shopping is next. Downtown Traverse City wants to make sure you enjoy the holidays, so they’re getting ready to kick-off the season with the Arrival of Santa on December 2nd, followed by special shopping nights for the Ladies and the ever popular Men’s Night.

A recent study conducted by Think Local First of Grand Rapids showed that $73 out of $100 spent locally stayed in the community, compared to $43 out of $100 spent in a business that was not locally owned.

Here’s all the details you’ll need to throughly enjoy a local shopping experience in Downtown Traverse City.

 

Santa’s Arrival, Tree Lighting & Holiday Open House
Friday, December 2nd
Downtown’s seasonal magic lights up on the first Friday in December with the excitement of Santa’s Arrival.  Spend the evening with Santa and shopping throughout the unique shops in Downtown Traverse City. At 5 pm, shoppers will be serenaded with holiday music and can gather at the community trees at the corner of Cass and E. Front St. Attendees can join in a community sing-a-long of their favorite holiday carols accompanied by the Interlochen Arts Academy Chamber Choir.  The excitement continues with Santa’s arrival in bright red antique fire engine!  Santa will join the carols, receive the Key to the City from the Traverse City Mayor, Chris Bzdok and then light the tree at 6 pm, before spending the rest of the evening (6-8 p.m.) visiting with little ones at his holiday house at Cass and E. Front Street.  While Santa is in his house, Horse & Carriage Rides from Abraham Carriage Service will be available at an affordable price until 8 pm.
 
Bringing a little bit of the islands to the blustery winter in Downtown Traverse City, the Steel Drum Band "Uprizin" will be performing at the corner of Cass and E. Front from 6:15 – 9 pm. You won’t want to miss the amazing sounds that this troupe will bring to the north.

Ice on Display! Eight ice sculptures created by former World Champion and Traverse City resident Steven Berkshire will be on display throughout Front St. Park Place Hotel Chef, Marc Pritchard, will perform a live ice carving demonstration at the Jay Smith Walkway from 6 to 8 pm.

Live Reindeer will be located for little ones to enjoy in front of Red Ginger, while next door, the State Theatre will be offering FREE Holiday cartoons at 6:45 pm.
 
Share the spirit of the season with family and friends while merchants throughout the Downtown district host open houses and in-store specials.  Participating stores will have extended evening hours and offer store specials, free gift wrapping, food, refreshments and more!

 
Ladies’ Night
Thursday, December 8th
Downtown Traverse City will be hosting Ladies Night, Thursday, December 8th from 5 to 9 pm.   Visit participating stores for specials, refreshments, prize drawings, free gift wrapping and more! Caroling throughout the evening with the Sweet Adelines.

 
Men’s Night Downtown
Thursday, December 15th
Gentlemen, the evening is yours, finally!  Celebrate and shop with friends during Men’s Night Downtown on Thursday, December 15th.  The gents can enjoy hors d’oeuvres and specials at many restaurants and merchants will be offering in-store specials, gift wrapping and drawings. Caroling throughout the evening with the Sweet Adelines.
 

Downtown Holiday Lights
Downtown Traverse City shines during the holiday season due to Traverse City Light & Power.  A special thank you goes out to Traverse City Light & Power for making possible the purchase of over 133,000 new LED lights in 2008. Traverse City Light & Power begins installation of the lights in early November. The process of installing lights on over 300 trees in Downtown Traverse City takes about three weeks.

 
Shop Downtown and Win!
Spend $200 in Downtown Traverse City between December 1-10, 2011 and enter to win a $250 Downtown Shopping Spree. It’s easy to enter. Visit the Downtown Office no later than December 12, 2011, show your receipts totaling $200 in purchases between December 1-10, 2010 and enter to win. The drawing will take place on Tuesday, December 13, 2011.  And don’t forget to keep your dollars local this holiday shopping season, Downtown Gift Certificates Make the Perfect Gift!
 

 
Santa’s Hours
Santa will be visiting with little ones in his house at the corner of Cass and E. Front throughout the holiday season.
 
Friday: 12/2  6 – 8 pm
Fridays: 12/9, 12/16  5 – 8 pm
Saturdays: 12/3, 12/10, 12/17   11 am – 4 pm
Sundays: 12/4, 12/11, 12/18   1 – 4 pm
Extended hours:
            12/21 & 12/22: 3 – 7 pm
            12/23 & 12/24: Noon – 3 pm
          
 
Parking  - Free and Easy!
The price is right for downtown parking this holiday season. Parking is free at the Larry C. Hardy and Old Town Parking Decks after 5 pm, Monday through Friday and all day on Saturday and Sunday.
 
Downtown Holidays are hosted by the over 200 merchants, restaurants and businesses who are members of the Downtown Traverse City Association.  Please contact the Downtown Traverse City Association at 922-2050 or e-mail colleen@downtowntc.com for further information.
                      
www.downtowntc.com

Posted by Brandy Wheeler | Filed Under Events, Traverse City | Leave a Comment 

Shop Your Community Day | Downtown TC Gives Back 15%

October 14, 2011

Shop Your Community Day is November 12, 2011
 
Downtown Traverse City will continue to give back to the community on Saturday, November 12, 2011 during Shop Your Community Day.  For every purchase made at the following stores, 15% of the sale will be donated to the participating organization of the customer’s choice!  It’s that easy to support your favorite non-profit, and get a jump start on holiday shopping.  In 2011, with the support of our community, Downtown Traverse City gave back a record setting $23,000 during this one-day promotion. The goal is to exceed the $25,000 mark this year.
 

Downtown Traverse City has always put charitable donations high on the priority list. Donations including goods, services and sponsorship of events benefit the local community all year long. When making local purchases, the business keeps three times more dollars in our community, supports and strengthens local jobs and preserves and enhances our unique neighborhoods, parks and public services here in Traverse City. Shopping local keep’s our community alive and has a profound economic impact on the Traverse City.

“We are blessed with a healthy Downtown here in Traverse City, but continued support of our local businesses is critical. A commitment to do so during this one-day event will also result in greatly benefiting the nonprofit organizations in our community. This truly is a win-win,” says Colleen Paveglio, DDA/DTCA Marketing Director.
 

Support your favorite organization and your local economy on Saturday, November 12, 2011 just by shopping Downtown.  Look for the shopping bags with balloons to signify participating stores. Following is a list of participating Downtown merchants and non-profit organizations.
 

 

Shop Your Community Day is sponsored by the over 200 merchants, restaurants and businesses who are members of the Downtown Traverse City Association.  Please contact the Downtown Traverse City Association at 922-2050 or e-mail colleen@downtowntc.com for further information.

Posted by Brandy Wheeler | Filed Under Events, Traverse City | Leave a Comment 

Traverse City Film Festival July 26-31

July 25, 2011

Traverse City Film Festival poster imageTraverse City welcomes visitors to 7th annual Film Festival

 

Whether you’re a film fanatic, or just looking for a fun activity while visiting Traverse City, the Traverse City Film Festival is a event for the whole family. This year’s fesitival is packed with movies from near and far, including a community-wide Lip Dub that premiere’s on opening night.

 

The festival features:

  • Indie Films, Foreign Films, Documentaries and Shorts in 7 different venues
  • Free movie screens at the Open Space each night
  • Kids Fest with $1 daily films
  • Panel discussions & Film School at NMC

 

Free Open Space begin at dusk:

July 26 - Star Wars V: Empire Strikes Back and the premiere of the Traverse City Lip Dub

July 27 - Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

July 28 - Mrs. Doubtfire

July 29 - People’s Choice: Batman, the Dark Knight

July 30 - Tangled

 

An event this popular often sells out, so if you haven’t purchased tickets yet what are you waiting for? Visit their website: www.traversecityfilmfest.org.

 

 

Posted by Brandy Wheeler | Filed Under Events, Traverse City | Leave a Comment 

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