What's Happening in Southern Michigan

Historic Home Tour Marshall Michigan

2010-08-30T15:01:00.001-04:00

The historic Marshall Home Tour is traditionally held each year on the weekend after Labor Day. The tour is the oldest historic home tour in the Great Lakes area. This year, eight private homes, a church, a business, and up to six museums are scheduled to be open for the two days of the tour. There will also be roving musicians, demonstrating craftspeople, a juried craft show, ethnic foods, antiques for sale, and a Civil War Ball with elaborate costumes during the weekend festivities.

Flemming house Marshall Michigan

The most famous midwest home tour is being held for the 47th time the weekend of September 11-12 in historic Marshall, Michigan. Marshall is a small city in South Central Michigan with a population of about 7,500 people. Marshall is best known for its cross-section of 19th century and early 20th Century architecture. It has been called a "virtual textbook of 19th-Century American architecture" by the keeper of the National Register of Historic Places. It is home to the one of the nation's largest National Historic Landmark Districts with over 850 buildings included in the Landmark.

National House Inn Marshall Michigan

With limited lodging in the area, an equally impressive historic home in Jonesville Michigan is also a bed and breakfast. The Munro House is located about 30 miles South East of Marshall at highways 12 and 99. The Munro House is the oldest house in Hillsdale County, dating to 1834. It is also the oldest home in Southern Michigan that was originally built as a private residence. The Greek Revival style house was used as a Station on the Underground Railroad and still has a secret room big enough for 20 people to stand in, along with the remains of what was once a 200 foot underground tunnel.

Munro House B&B Jonesville Michigan

A tour of historic homes in Michigan requires a trip that includes Marshall and Jonesville.

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Marcella's Live 50's Show in Jonesville

2010-08-26T11:04:00.001-04:00

Our gang walked to Marcella's in Jonesville for ice cream on Friday night. The Munro House B&B is located just 2 blocks away. To our delight, they had organized some local talent to put on a half hour 50's show while we enjoyed their hand-scooped ice cream.

The folks at Marcella's have been providing entertainment for quite a while now. It is a quality performance by local multi-generational talent. I was impressed by the song selection, the harmonies, the step routines, and the audience participation that is incorporated into this free show.

This ensemble performs three sets on most Friday and Saturday nights at 7, 8 and 9 o'clock. It's a very enjoyable way to relax after dinner, go out out for ice cream, or to introduce the kids to live entertainment. The show is "free", but many shows are "sold out" as there is a limited amount of seating available. A meal or refreshment is expected from all patrons, and you are encouraged to leave a gratuity in the tip jar for the performers. It is always best to call ahead and reserve seating for the show of your choice. (517) 849-2697.

Marcella's in downtown Jonesville is now a full service restaurant, with live entertainment on select weekends. In addition to panini, Marcella's now offers deli style sandwiches, burgers, and Italian pasta dishes 7 days a week.

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Baptism Celebration in Jonesville

2010-08-22T22:56:00.000-04:00

A miracle baby was the occasion for a celebration at the Munro House in Jonesville. The baby was baptized at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hillsdale and a christening party was hosted at this Michigan bed and breakfast.

A selection of hors d'oeuvres were selected for the open house party, and 25 friends and family welcomed the new addition in the comfort of the oldest house in Hillsdale County.

The Munro House is a Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast that hosts private parties in addition to providing the most comfortable lodging in the area. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and Christmas parties are offered in a private, elegant setting.

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Veteran's Day Free Bed and Breakfast Offer

2010-08-21T09:24:00.002-04:00

To honor veterans from any era and current active duty military personnel, Bed and Breakfasts across America are giving free rooms for vets on the day preceeding Veteran's Day. This is being done to allow veterans to go back to their hometown or to be a guest at a local Veteran's Day gathering.

Veteran's Day is traditionally celebrated at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. This year it is on Thursday, November 11, 2010. With morning memorial gatherings across America, it is important that veterans are in town on time for the salute. That is why participating B&Bs are offering free rooms to veterans on the preceeding day--Wednesday, November 10, 2010.

With 3 months to go, there are already over 200 B&Bs onboard in 35 states. These participating inns are allowing some, or all of their rooms to vets on a first come first served basis for Wednesday, November 10. Veterans are asked to contact the inns directly to reserve a room and to present military ID upon arrival. Mike Venturini, innkeeper at Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville, Michigan, currently has 4 rooms available to vets. He says that he "will be thrilled to have a breakfast table filled with vets on Veteran's Day morning and will enjoy hearing the stories about their experiences in the military."

Kathleen Panek, owner of the Gillum House in Shinnston, WV, came up with this idea and began recruiting innkeepers on a B&B forum and directed them to her B&Bs For Vets website. She says "We just wanted to say 'thank you' to the courageous men and women from our armed forces. These are some trying times for anyone serving or who has served, and a good night's rest is our way to say, thank you."

Additional inns are expected to participate as the word spreads. These bed and breakfast innkeepers can sign up online.

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Murder Mysteries in Michigan

2010-08-20T11:23:00.004-04:00

We have hosted hundreds of Murder Mystery Dinners in Michigan. Since we purchased the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville back in 1999, we discovered that many people want to participate in a Murder Mystery, but few people want to host the party. So we developed a style and a menu that people from around the midwest have enjoyed.

Every weekend in November is usually a Murder Mystery Weekend in Jonesville. People leave all of the detail in our hands as we advertise to fill the table with like-minded guests. The Munro House is one of the few B&Bs in Michigan that do not require a group to book the entire party in order to do a Murder Mystery. We have it open to the public so that couples can come and enjoy the company of other guests at our house while having fun playing the game and enjoying a five course meal.

Although November is Murder Mystery Month in Jonesville, we also offer the event on various dates throughout the year. We try to have at least one during every season. For people that want us to open a new date for a Murder Mystery, all we ask is that 2 couples get it started with at least 6 weeks notice on any available date, and we will fill the table.

Our first course is ususally shrimp cocktail. It is served with wine in our parlor while our hostess explains how the game is played. Characters are assigned based on guest interaction and personality--we want to give the most important parts to the most outgoing people. There is no pressure to bring a costume to get into character. We supply everything. The game then moves into the dining room for soup, salad, entree, and dessert. We feed our guests very well while they play the game.

A typical game begins around 6:30 and ends after 9:00. The goal is not necessarily to figure out who-done-it. The goal is for adults to have a good time playing a game while enjoying a big meal and the company of friends. We judge the success of a party based on how much laughter is coming out of the dining room. That is why we have chosen games that are light-hearted, not too hard to figure out, and fun to play. We ususally hear a lot of laughter on Murder Mystery night.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

What's for Breakfast in Michigan?

2010-08-20T11:00:00.001-04:00

Owning a Bed and Breakfast in Michigan sounds easy. You provide a bed and you make breakfast--simple. But what to serve for breakfast? There are eggs and sausage and bacon and bread and oatmeal and cereal... right? Then you combine ingredients and follow recipes to create a meal that people will enjoy.

We have found that to most people, a normal breakfast consists of coffee along with toast, or a pop tart, or cereal--that's it, if they have anything at all. So for most people, any hot breakfast is a real treat.

Dr. Atkins had a world famous low carbohydrate diet that was extremely popular several years ago. His diet was high in protein and low in carbs. To this day, many people still enjoy this diet for breakfast. This creates a problem for many innkeepers, as most of us offer a breakfast loaded with carbs--pancakes, waffles, French toast, etc.

On the morning we prepared a gourmet high protein/high carb breakfast and all 14 guests informed us that they wanted just eggs on their Atkins Diet, was the morning that we decided that we had to have options for breakfast. Never again will I spend 3 hours preparing a breakfast that will be thrown away.

We decided that we would offer eggs every day. We will make them fried, scrambled, or as an omelet. In addition to that, we will have a choice of either French toast, or waffles, or pancakes, or oatmeal. In addition to that, we will serve coffee, orange juice, bacon, and fresh cut fruit.

We decided to not go the gourmet route and just make a traditional American breakfast using family recipes--all developed by my wife, Lori. After all, for most people, any hot breakfast is a real treat.

Based on the reviews that we get, folks like our simple traditional breakfast style and our secret family recipes. Because everything is made fresh, we can always make more, so no one leaves the table until they are full.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

NASCAR Fans Stay at Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast

2010-08-14T18:35:00.000-04:00

NASCAR race fans have been coming to Southern Michigan for years to enjoy Sprint Cup Series races at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in Brooklyn. Most of them will be in and out in a day for the big race. Many will be camping near the track. Few will get a good night sleep in a real bed.

The big issue is that there are not many lodging facilities near the track. Brooklyn is a town of just 1,200 people. Nearby cities within 30 miles include Jackson, Adrian, Clinton, and Jonesville. Total population of these cities combines to around 60,000. MIS has hosted over 150,000 fans for a single day of racing in the past. All of these people have food and lodging needs. The food part is relatively easy as more food can be brought in to feed the fans. The lodging part is a bit of an issue. The best way to lodge the masses has been via campgrounds in and around the track.

Fans who don't mind camping have a plethora of choices. Fans who desire traditional lodging need to seek out hotels, motels, plus bed and breakfasts in Michigan. The Munro House Bed and Breakfast is located about a half hour west of the track just a block off of US-12 in downtown Jonesville. Seven lucky couples get a good bed to sleep in and a convenient location to enjoy the NASCAR races in Southern Michigan for the June and August races. Call early to reserve or book online.

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Best Way to Garage Sale

2010-08-02T10:46:00.002-04:00

Our guests organized a "Garage Sale Rodeo" on Friday. They went through the local paper, copied the locations of 18 sales, mapped it, and spent the day searching for treasures. This is an annual event that gets the whole family together from all across the United States. Imagine the surprise when a dozen vehicles pull up at once to wheel and deal at each of the selected locations.

John and Julia joined family members from Arizona, Texas, Missouri, and Michigan as they bargained for the best prices while touring garage sales in nearby Jackson, Michigan. Small items will be packed in carry-on bags for the flight home. Larger items will either be shipped or hand-delivered at a later date.

We finished our household chores and joined up with the group at about mid-day. We enjoyed the beautiful day and found a few items that were too good to pass up. It became a very fun day because it was extremely well-organized and spent with some interesting new friends.

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Motorcycles Welcome at this Michigan Bed and Breakfast

2010-07-31T14:33:00.001-04:00

T.J. called and said he needed a room for the night. He and his daughter were visiting the area and needed a place to stay near Hillsdale College. The school is just 7 1/2 minutes away, so I knew that our Jonesville, Michigan B&B was a close, comfortable, and convenient fit. When they pulled in on a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, I knew that they were going to be very interesting guests.

It turned out that this father-daughter team from Milwaukee had been on a road trip for over 2 weeks visiting schools as far south at Tennessee and as far north as Massachusetts. They were happy to finally stay at a homey place instead of the typical hotel or motel. I sent them to Saucy Dog's Barbeque for a good meal and ended up chatting with them on our patio until well into the evening.

His restaurant in Milwaukee has earned him a place in the Hot Dog Hall of Fame. If I had a Hall of Fame, he'd be on the father-daughter page, the motorcycle rider page, the small businessman page... Yeah, we get some really cool gusts here, and I get to hang out with most of them. That's what makes 'innkeeper' the best job ever.

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Rakers 2010 Trial Gardens Is Something to Do when Visiting Munro House B&B in Jonesville MI

2010-07-20T09:51:00.000-04:00

Rakers Acres Trial Gardens are once again open for the season. Located just 5 minutes from the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville, Michigan, Rakers is at 10371 Rainy Road near Litchfield. C. Raker & Sons offers thousands of Annuals, Perennials, and Herbs--many of them on display in full bloom. Several suppliers have set up gardens of their unique varieties on the grounds to display their fully grown product in a competitive and cooperative setting. Several acres of flowers and foliage are on display and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This is the midwest's largest floral show.

Call ahead (517-542-2316) to arrange an interesting and informative private tour for garden groups, greenhouse owners, or floral enthusiasts. Self-guided tours are also available for individuals and small groups. It is best for large groups to call ahead to reserve a tour guide for the day and time of your visit.

There are several flower shows in the region, but Rakers hosts the biggest. Plan on spending a great deal of your time at Rakers and relax in comfort at the nearby Munro House B&B in Jonesville. The trial gardens at Rakers are open right now and will continue through the month of August.

The displays include hanging baskets, potted plants, and planted gardens. There are many new breeds of flowers including the unique Black Velvet Petunia pictured below.

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Marcella's Free Disney Show Near Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast

2010-07-19T13:13:00.001-04:00

There is a shop in downtown Jonesville that specializes in coffee and pasta. It is called Marcella's. These folks also run the hand-dipped ice cream parlor next door. Both are located just 2 blocks from the Munro House Bed and Breakfast.

During the month of July, the staff along with some local talent put on a free show on Friday and Saturday nights at 7, 8, and 9 p.m. This month is their 2nd Disney production that lasts about 30 minutes. It is an excellent show complete with Mouseketeers, singing, choreography, and audience participation.

I am a big fan of their ice cream. Blue Moon is my favorite of the Mackinac Flavors Brand Ice Cream that they feature. There's nothing like a cool refreshing dessert and some quality live entertainment on a hot summer night just a short walk from the place you're staying for the weekend.

The ensemble has developed some wonderful harmonies along with plenty of solo performances of some very familiar Disney songs. Some well-choreographed dance steps throughout the entire show make it an audio and visual experience. The polished production is delivered exceptionally well by the multi-generation cast.

Our guests have returned from their night out and told me that they totally enjoyed the show. They were impressed at the quality of the show--expecially because it was free and just a couple blocks away. More live entertainment is planned for the month of August.

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Goldwing Rider Runs Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast

2010-07-18T19:49:00.000-04:00

There is a motorcycle riders safety course offered at the Town and Country Harley Davidson dealer near the Artesian Wells in Cement City, about 20 minutes from my place, the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville, Michigan. This innkeeper took the 4 day class last Summer and bought my first bike on Mothers Day this year.

I wanted a touring bike and pursued listings online at Craigslist. After narrowing the selection down to about 20 different bikes, I chose to check out a Honda Goldwing that was offered by a guy up in a northern suburb of Detroit. I loved the bike, we struck a deal, and now I ride my Aspencade at every opportunity.

I had a couple thousand miles experience before I had the confidence to take a rider. Now, Lori and I go for a ride at every opportunity. We wait patiently for all of our guests to arrive, then take an early evening ride for dinner, ice cream, or just to enjoy the day.

To encourage bikers to select our Southern Michigan Bed and Breakfast as a place to stay when touring the state, anyone who rides their bike to our house during 2010 can get any room for $50 off our regular rates priced at $139 and up by asking for the "2 Wheeler Special". Even if you are not a biker, it can pay to follow our blog as different groups or special promotions are offered on a regular basis.

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Chicago Water Grill is Being Rebuilt

2010-07-15T12:05:00.000-04:00

Construction has begun to build a new restaurant in downtown Jonesville. A horrific fire destroyed May's Furniture Store and the Chicago Water Grill around Thanksgiving in 2009. Delays have turned back the project that was originally scheduled to begin on June 1. But here it is, July 15, and construction has begun. Wayne Babcock, owner of the restaurant, is rebuilding a state of the art facility that will occupy the space of both former businesses. Architects will work to make the restaurant fit in to the historic feel of the downtown area. The new building is scheduled to have a banquet room for large parties, a private dining room for meetings and smaller gatherings, plus a larger dining area for the restaurant along with outdoor seating. The new restaurant has not yet been named, but Wayne will use the location and history of the town to come up with something that is identifiable and appropriate.

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Minister in Jonesville Michigan Performs Weddings

2010-07-06T17:35:00.000-04:00

Some friends called and asked me to officiate over their marriage on the 4th of July.

We arranged a simple ceremony in the comfort of our classically decorated home in Jonesville, Michigan.

This nice couple, both on their second time around, committed to love, honor, and cherish...

The event was toasted with the hopes that they live "happily ever after".

Our Michigan Bed and Breakfast is a great location to host small weddings like this one.

Reverend Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Underground Railroad Tunnel is Still a Safe Place During a Tornado Warning

2010-06-29T11:51:00.000-04:00

We have regular tornado watches and an occasional tornado warning, but a devastating tornado has not hit Hillsdale County since the 1960's. The locals are still talking about that fateful Palm Sunday when 2 tornados landed and pretty much wiped out all of the homes on Baw Beese Lake.

It's a good thing that our house was once an Underground Railroad Station. The remains of the tunnel that the runaway slaves used is now a landing to our basesment and is easily the safest place in the house when a tornado warning is in effect. It is a stone wall corridor that measures about 4 feet wide, 7 feet high, and 20 feet long.

My wife and I took shelter in the tunnel this past week when the local weather service issued a tornado warning. Our guests were away, so we left a note for them to join us if they arrived home before the warning expired. There were heavy winds that knocked down some branches and ravaged a few trees here and there, but no extreme damage. We were safe in our Underground Railroad Tunnel.

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

3 Extra for Breakfast

2010-06-28T17:32:00.001-04:00

On occasion. we have a few extra people come over for breakfast at the Munro House. On this occasion, it was three unusual guests--Frank, Deano, and Sammy.

My wife, Lori Venturini, has been helping out the local cat rescue person by taking over feeding duties for 3 little kittens. Their mother had died, and now they needed to be fed every 2 hours.

This feeding just happened to be right after breakfast on Sunday morning. The threesome was so cute that several guests volunteered to assist in bottle feeding them some kitten formula.

Everybody eats good at the Munro House. Even these cute little guys. They are not permanent residents. We were just helping out a friend in need.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Veteran Motor Car Club of America (VMCCA) visits Jonesville Michigan

2010-06-17T16:26:00.003-04:00

A group of vintage automobile enthusiasts set up a tour of the tri-state area (Michigan-Indiana-Ohio) for a week of fun. They trailered their vehicles and met up in Fremont, Indiana. From their headquarters, they made day trip to visit cool places within 100 miles in their cool old cars. More than 50 members of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America made the trek to enjoy mid-America.

The car museums in Auburn, IN, Shipshewana, IN, and Spring Arbor were highlights for the drivers. But all enjoyed their trips for a meal in Turkeyville, tours of the historic cities of Marshall and Jonesville, plus the wood working place in Ohio that we know as Sauder Village.

The leaders, Rich and Jan, had been planning this trip since 2009. Arrangements were made to tour many places including the Historic Munro House Bed and Breakfast and the Grosvenor House Museum in Jonesville. In addition to being the oldest house in Hillsdale County, the Munro House was also used as a station on the underground railroad. These and more historic tales were enjoyed by the drivers and their passengers.

You can see all 26 pictures of these vintage automobiles on my facebook page.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

4th of July Discount on B&B Lodging

2010-06-16T10:59:00.000-04:00

Every Michigan Bed and Breakfast has its high season and low season. These are times in which there is either a big demand for lodging or a small demand. Inns on the water can command a higher than normal daily rate due to supply and demand and location. The 4th of July weekend is a prime example where many bed and breakfasts have a higher than normal demand. During this time frame, many B&Bs will get top dollar for their rooms and can require guests to stay 2, or 3, or 4 nights, or more.

However, not every inn is near water, or an attraction, or a special event. At these locations, a special deal may be available for travelers who want an affordable getaway on a holiday weekend. The Munro House in Jonesville is a prime example.

The Munro House has discount pricing for guests staying any 2 nights from July 1-5. They call it the "Proud to Be An American" promotion where Americans are honored by getting a great deal on any room during the Independence Day holiday weekend. $99 a night for bed and breakfast is a significant discount for any of their rooms.

Coming to a small town during a holiday means that there will be more peace and quiet than crowds and activity. Premiere Theater shows new release movies on 7 screens in Hillsdale. There is a parade plus activities and fireworks at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds. Spa services including manicure, pedicure, facial, massage, body wraps, and waxing are available onsite every day at the Munro House to create a relaxing getaway over the Fourth of July holiday.

Whether you need a couples getaway or are visiting family and friends in the area or just need some quiet time, the Munro House is a good choice for escaping the crowds that congregate near beaches and amusement parks and casinos in Michigan.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper

"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Allen Antique Capital of Michigan

2010-06-13T13:51:00.000-04:00

Allen, the Antique Capital of Michigan, is located on highway 12 in South Central Michigan about 5 miles West of the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville. It is a community that is small in every respect except the availability of antique shops.

A town that was once a series of homes transformed into antique stores has expanded to include several antique malls, including Michigan's Largest. Capital Antiques boasts 36,000 square feet and 300 dealers. Allen Antique Barn has 300 dealers on 2 floors. Hog Creek has 23,000 square feet and is Allen's newest mall. The Primitive Connection is just what it says it is. There is also Allen Antique Mall, Thistle Dew Antiques, Michiana Antiques, Peddler's Alley, and Preston's Gas Light Village.

In addition to traditional antiques, are memorabilia, knick-knacks, and collectibles. There is a booth that just offers Coca-Cola items, one with candles, several with sports cards, and many with glassware, tea sets, and furniture. Arts and crafts, books, games, and toys are also available to provide an eclectic variety of items. Barbie, G.I. Joe, and American Girl are well represented. There are also records, video tapes, magazines, and text books.

Many booths have a collection of cookbooks, kitchenware, and baskets along with cabinets, table sets, and lamps. Some have bedroom sets, end tables, and victrolas. There is also wall art and table art in surprising quantities. Basically, there is an enormous assortment of valuables within a few minutes of each other.

Many Munro House guests spend a liesure day walking. shopping, and reminiscing at one or more of the Antique Malls in Allen. The malls are open most every day from 10-5, so any day can be a good day to go antiquing.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

The Fly Trap in Ferndale Michigan

2010-06-11T00:19:00.000-04:00

Being the owner of the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville, Michigan, is sometimes more than a full time job. In other words, "we don't get out much". The day-to-day business requires for one (or both) of us to be at home almost all of the time. When we do get out, we like to find interesting places for a new experience. We got that at the Fly Trap in Ferndale, Michigan last week.

A year or so ago, I happened upon the Fly Trap while going to a concert at the nearby Magic Bag on Woodward Avenue. It has taken this long to be able to have my wife join me for a most excellent lunch at what is known as a "finer diner". We got there just in time to get the last table before the lunch crowd arrived.

From the blood red walls to the pool table slate (that doubles as a chalk board), this is the most unique restaurant I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy. The food was unique and very, very good. I had the Charmoula Chicken - North African Spiced Chicken Breast, Jack Cheese, Caramelized Onion on Grilled Sourdough with a Lemon, Garlic Aioli. Lori had Eggs a la Boring--speaks for itself. This is the kind of stuff you just can't get everywhere, and we found it at a diner in Ferndale, MI!

I mention this place to many of our guests who visit us from the Detroit area. I recently received a couple of bottles of their home-made SWAT sauce as a thank you from people who enjoyed it as much as I did. The Fly Trap is about 2 hours from my house. That's why we don't get to go there very often. When we have the time, we will make another trip to Ferndale to enjoy the finer diner known as the Fly Trap.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Freedom Memorial at Sunset View Cemetery in Jonesville Michigan

2010-06-03T23:52:00.002-04:00

The Freedom Memorial in Jonesville Michigan was the site of a well-attended service on Memorial Day. Hundreds of locals turned out as fallen local soldiers from the Vietnam War era were honored.

Guest speakers from different branches of the military spoke about honor, duty, and sacrifice. They reminded the crowd of the need to acknowledge the job soldiers do to allow freedom to exist in our country and in many other places around the world

The Freedom Memorial is located at the Sunset View Cemetery on highway 12 at the East end of Jonesville. The memorial was conceived, funded, and built over a very short period of time for its completion in 2008. It is an ideal site for a gathering of a good size crowd remembering soldiers who gave their life in the line of duty.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
Munro House Bed and Breakfast
"Life is good in Jonesville"

June NASCAR Race at Michigan International Speedway (MIS)

2010-06-02T07:37:00.001-04:00

For the first time since I can remember, the June 2010 NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) is not being held on Fathers Day Weekend. It is being held on the preceding weekend, June 11-13, 2010. Folks who assume that the race will again be held on the traditional Fathers Day weekend, will be a week late.

With over 100,000 race fans expected at MIS, it is a good idea to check your calendar, make your reservations, and plan accordingly.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
Munro House B&B - Jonesville, MI
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Memorial Day Parade and Service Jonesville Michigan

2010-06-01T10:33:00.009-04:00

The Memorial Day parade in Jonesville Michigan is a small one, but the Memorial Service at the Freedom Memorial is awesome. The parade began promptly at 9:00 a.m. on May 31, 2010 and the Memorial Service was complete following the parade by 10:15 a.m.

The 21 gun salute, the firing of the artillery cannon, and the playing of "taps" completed the ceremony as military veterans from current and past conflicts were honored. Soldiers from Hillsdale County who gave their lives during the Vietnam conflict were honored.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
Munro House B&B - Jonesville MI
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Iron Man 2 Movie Review

2010-06-01T08:19:00.002-04:00

I went to Premiere Theater in Hillsale, Michigan, to see Iron Man 2 over Memorial Day weekend. It had already been out for a few weeks and I wanted to see it on the big screen before it gets released to DVD. I do not read comics, but I like superheroes and action adventures, so I am just a casual fan of Marvel characters.

The movie is about a super smart/super rich guy who invents an armed flying suit that he uses to personally defend the United States. He discovers that there are others out there who are trying to make a similar device with evil intentions and has to fight to find out who is superior.

The story is easy to follow and the characters are superb. There is lots of action, some smart lines, and it is a very entertaining 2 hour movie. The AC/DC soundtrack was a bonus. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Note to stay and watch the movie past the credits. There is a hint about a future movie or storyline that relates to Iron Man.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper "Life is good in Jonesville"

Jonesville Michigan Geocaching

2010-05-31T08:09:00.002-04:00

A mother-daughter team found the geocache in front of the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville Michigan over Memorial Day weekend. I spied them as they pulled up and knew what they were up to. I grabbed my camera, and by the time I got out there, they had already found the treasure and retreated to the comfort of their air-conditioned vehicle to fill out the log book.

It turns out that the daughter has a nose for finding hidden treasures and found this one instantly. They are experienced geocachers and are approaching 300 found treasures in their travels. The app on their smartphone led them to within feet of our hidden container. As of this moment, they are still a ways away from finding all 1,084,870 treasures listed on the Geocaching website. It is a fun activity wherever your life takes you. The caches are usually found near places of interest. The Munro House was once a Station on the Underground Railroad and is now a comfortable place to stay in a great little town in south central Michigan.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper

"Life is good in Jonesville"