Winter Wonderfest Returns to Traverse City
February 9, 2010
A Frosty Weekend of Family Fun comes to the Cherry Capital February 12-14th
The 2010 Cherry Capital Winter Wonderfest is upon us, bringing fun to our frozen city. And this year it’s bigger and better than ever. New events like the Traverse City Microbrew and Music Festival, the "snowball" softball tournament and the Winter Wine Wonderland, will all add the excitement of this growing festival.
This year, there’s something here for everyone; man, woman, child, even dogs! In fact, you can bring your furry friend downtown for the first annual Monster Dog Pull where pooches of all shapes and sizes can test their strength with a weighted sled.
If you’re looking to join the festivities you’ll need to know where to go. Events are schedules across Traverse City, but are primariliy located in three areas: Downtown Traverse City, The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa and Mt. Holiday ski resort.
For details on all the events, check out the Cherry Capital Winter Wonderfest website at www.winterwonderfest.org.
Hearth and Vine Opens for Dinner
February 3, 2010
Black Star Farms announces the opening of Hearth & Vine serving dinner to the public Wednesday through Sunday evenings.
Black Star Farms, already well known for its award-winning wines and cheeses, is now serving dinner in Hearth & Vine, a vineyard café, at the Suttons Bay farm featuring wood-fired fare in a rustic yet elegant atmosphere.
The weekly menu at Hearth & Vine draws on ingredients produced on the farm, including pork and lamb, fresh eggs, 9 Bean Rows hoop house vegetables and hearth baked breads, and of course, Leelanau Cheese Co. cheeses and Black Star Farms wines. It’s truly a celebration of agriculture.
From late spring through fall, Hearth & Vine is open daily serving delicious wood-fired pizzas and sandwiches as well as soups and salads. Black Star Farms wine is available by the glass or bottle along with soft drinks, coffee and tea. Lunch and snacks can be enjoyed out on the terrace or indoors in the cozy cafe.
On the market side they’re all about local. Black Star Farms farm-fresh eggs and fruits and vegetables from their and neighboring farms are offered seasonally. Pastries, cookies and 9 Bean Rows hearth-baked breads, Black Star Farms maple syrup, verjus and kettle cooked jams and preserves, and the best of other locally produced items are also available.
Hearth and Vine is now open for dinner Wednesday-Sunday from 5pm to 9pm. Seating is limited and reservations are appreciated. For reservations, please call 231.944.1297
Downtown TC Chili Cook-Off 1/16
January 12, 2010
Chili Cook-Off to Heat Up Downtown Traverse City
Warm up your winter at the 16th Annual Downtown Chili Cook-Off on January 16. Participants can sample the mild to the wild as the area’s top restaurants vie for awards in various categories. Northern Michigan’s ultimate chili challenge takes place from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Park Place Dome in Downtown Traverse City.
Area restaurants will be cooking up their special recipes as they compete in eight different categories – 1, 2 and 3-alarm, white, vegetarian, no bean, seafood and ethnic as well as the coveted “people’s choice” award. The event will also be feature two organic chilies!
Chili lovers can choose a sampler of eight chilies for $8 or single bowls of their favorites for $4. Pepsi products will also be available. All proceeds from the event help support such Downtown community activities as Friday Night Live, the Halloween walk, the Downtown Art Walk, holiday activities and many other free downtown events throughout the year.
In an effort to reduce waste at community events, in 2009 the DTCA made an investment into trays for the Downtown Chili Cook-Off, eliminating cardboard pizza boxes. Previously, over 1,100 pizza boxes were disposed of and recycled when possible at the event. The plastic trays make for very little waste to be created at such a large event. All plastic bottles and soda cans are also recycled.
Here’s a peek at who will be competing:
Blue Tractor Cook Shop Oryana
Catch Island Grill Red Ginger
Cherry Republic Scalawags
Freshwater Lodge Schelde’s Grille & Spirits
Lil Bo Pub & Grille Serenity Tea Bar & Cafe
Minervas Slabtown Burgers & Cafe
Mt. Holiday Travino Wine & Grille
Omelette Shoppe
Morsels Bite Sized Bakery & Gourmet Coffee will be serving cornbread morsels to compliment the competing chilies.
The Annual Chili Cook-off 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.
Ethnic Night at The Bluebird 2010 schedule
January 8, 2010
Looking for a dinner with a twist, check out Ethnic Night at The Bluebird in Leland
Foodies across the area look forward to Wednesday and Thursday nights each winter for one reason: the fine wine and food pairs at Leland’s oldest family restaurant, The Bluebird. Tempting dishes from Greece to South America, Thailand to France, give us something warm and spicy to celebrate when the bitter winds blow.
If you haven’t been out for one of these festive events, you might want to take a look at the schedule and plan ahead. Here’s the list. Let the mouth watering commense.
The Bluebird 2010 Ethnic Nights
Wednesday and Thursday nights, 5pm - 9pm
Jan. 13 – 14 Mediterranean – Southern Spain, France, Italy, and Greece
Jan. 20 – 21 45th Parallel Feast – Food and Wine bounty from our region
Jan. 27 – 28 South American Cuisine – Focus on glorious Malbec from Argentina
Feb. 3 – 4 Chinese/Thai – Sparkling wines and aromatic whites from Leelanau
Feb. 11 – 12 France – Celebrate Valentines Day, great food and the wines of Bordeaux
Feb. 17 – 18 New Orleans – Wines you have never heard of. We will root out hidden gems.
Feb. 24 – 25 The Cuisine of India – A sampling of this aromatic, delicious, healthy cuisine.
March 3 – 4 Southwest – The “real” Tex/Mex
March 10 – 11 Asian Fusion – A glimpse of China, Japan, Thailand, etc.
March 17 – 18 St. Patrick’s Feast – Local Beers from Short’s and Right Brain Breweries
March 24 – 25 The American South – Recipes from “Southern Living” and regional wines.
April 7 – 8 Greek Islands – As always, great food, toss in some outstanding Greek wines
April 14 – 15 New England – Enjoy Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Burgundy and America
April 21 - 22 France – The Rhone Valley – Chateauneuf du Pape, Cote Rotie, Hermitage
April 28 – 29 Greatest Hits – An amazing array of Cuisine, and legendary wine sale.
The Bluebird Restaurant is located in Leland, Michigan. To make a reservation call 231.256.9081. For more details on the ethnic night dinners visit their website at www.leelanau.com/bluebird
Celebrate the Snowflakes at Buds 12/5
December 1, 2009
It’s a Snowflake Christmas at Bud’s in Interlochen
Winter is coming, along with snowflakes and Santa. Celebrate this Saturday, December 5th with fun activities for the family at Bud’s in Interlochen.
- Breakfast with Santa 9am-1pm
- Meet two of Santa’s reindeer
- Live music from Barbara Jordan 12pm-3pm
- Snowflake crafts
- Sample treats and specialty foods all day
- Free gift wrapping
Stop in and start celebrating the magical season. Buds is located on M-137 in Interlochen. For more information on Buds upcoming events check out their website: www.budsisback.com.
Gallery
-
Articles of Interest
-
Recent Posts
- Traverse City Restaurant Week 2/26 - 3/3
- Winners Announced in Downtown TC Chili Cook-off
- Mealtickets Top 10 Moments from 2011
- Downtown Traverse City Holiday Events
- Shop Local Michigan Holiday Gift Guide
- From Unemployed to Entrepreneur — Mealtickets Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary
- Shop Your Community Day | Downtown TC Gives Back 15%
- Video | Fall Canoeing on the Platte River
- Traverse Traveler App Featured in New Visual Marketing Book
- 10 Places I’ve Never Been: Nonna’s
Traverse Area Updates
Subscribe to our website using our free RSS service and get the latest information on traverse area news and events delivered directly to your computer. Click here for info.
Advertise with Meal Tickets
Looking for a great way to promote your business to more than 2,000,000 Traverse Area Visitors? Click here for info.
Proud Member, Traverse City Chamber of Commerce
