Night 5 - Partying During the Day (Special Event!)

1,000 nights is, admittedly, a lot of going out at night.  Sometimes, you just get tired.  You just want to hang out at home.  And curl up and watch a movie...after you have spent the day doing something really, really unique.  So why not throw out an idea for a day event?  Something that nearly anyone in the State can support.  Something that everyone likes.  Chocolate.

Once a year, for a few hours, The Kellogg Center in East Lansing turns into the center of the Michigan foodie universe.  Or at least it seems like it should.  They host a fundraiser for the Michigan State University museum.  Which, in and of itself, isn't a big deal.  What is a big deal, is the type of fundraiser.  For the past twenty years, the MSU Museum's main fundraiser for the year has been The Chocolate Party. Which might combine two of the best words in the English language.  It is a culinary extravaganza of chocolate. There are cooking demonstrations, but most people are there to see the competition pieces and to sample the wares.  They estimate that they give out upwards of 10,000 samples each year. That is a lot of sugary chocolate goodness.  Fountains of chocolate.  Sculptures of chocolate.  Chocolate in every form and size.  Just looking at the pictures makes me hungry. It is a fun and delicious way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon. And once you get your sugar coma good and broken in, you can go home with your favorite friend and 'sleep' it off.

So if you are in the mid-Michigan area in February, I would encourage you to check out The Chocolate Party.  Good food for a good cause.  Always a good pairing.  And it is likely that you will see me there.

This year, The Chocolate Party is February 21st (this weekend!).  Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door.

Night 1 - Go With What You Know

I have never written a blog before.  In fact, I don't write much at all.  I had a tenth grade teacher once tell me that, and I quote, I have "the unique talent of wrecking the English language with my eloquence."  I have always taken that as a compliment for some reason.  But I have always wanted to write more.  I feel like I am a pretty good storyteller.  And I do have a lot to say...

But a blog takes a certain amount of work.  Specifically, it appears as though I need time and ideas.  I have the time all the sudden.  And I have plenty of ideas.  But how do you start something like this?  I laid out the premise yesterday, intending to keep it a little quiet for a while, fleshing out a few of the first posts.  I had talked to my buddy Jeff a few times about the idea over past few months, how to do it, what to say, etc.  So I emailed him today that I was doing this.  And Jeff's reaction, as with any new/interesting/fun idea he runs across, was to tweet and faceypage it.  Dude is really plugged in.  But I still didn't know where to go first.

So over a beer tonight, it dawned on me to just write about what I know.  Cliche, yes.  Easy, sort of.  Good way to get the creative juices flowing, hell yeah.  So Night 1 in our travels throughout Michigan takes us to Beggar's Banquet in East Lansing.  Which is where I was having a beer...

Beggar's is one of the longest operating restaurants in East Lansing ("Gimme Eat since 1973!") and has long been known for its wine selection and an eclectic menu.  They definitely don't attract the typical college crowd, but they are certainly welcome.  It really is the perfect blend of town and gown, with a solid, but not overly expensive menu, and good beer/wine mixed amongst more accessible labels.  Wednesdays are the legendary 1/2 off night for bottles of wine.  And their beer selection has come a long, long way and is now one of the best in the area.  They haven't really changed much (including a relatively 70's-ish interior), but that is what works.  It feels comfortable.  Even if it is your first time.  I am sure it feels even better for someone coming back to town for a ten, twenty, or even thirty year reunion.  If you are new to town, it is definitely one of the places I would suggest you check out.  They are just north of MSU's campus, on Abbot Road, and parking is around back, in the City lot. 

So there you go.  Enjoy Beggar's if you get a chance.  Check back here for new fun-ness on a regular basis (hopefully at least thrice a week).  I have some interesting places to throw out that I think more people need to know about. Send me your idea of fun too.  I always need more good ideas.  I think this thing has legs, so strap in, this might be a good long road trip.