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We heard your burger preferences, so now we move to the places that serve up the coffee and eats we all need to get our morning motor moving. Are you a bacon and eggs type or lean more toward biscuits and gravy? Omelets more your style or prefer a little toss back to your youth with the magic of (even sounds good to say) French Toast? Whatever your personal tastes might be we all have our favorite spots to enjoy the sanguinity of a leisurely morning meal. So let’s hear yours. Then maybe tell us why.
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Well, they say even a Blind Squirrel....
Here are the results of our burger poll-a non scientific random sampling of N3 readers who bothered to take the time to complete the survey instead of going off tangent on fb about nearly everything but hamburger preferences... But we digress… The winners? The Blind Squirrel (Fremont) with their PBBJ and Jalapeno selections getting special attention. “Killer specialty burgers” Runner Ups came in dead even as The Riverstop Saloon (Newaygo) and Lakes 23 (Fremont) drew equal votes and rave reviews from their fans. R-Stop: “Bacon, bleu cheese, BBQ Sauce, fried egg and a cardiologist on stand by.” Lakes. “The B & B . Fresh Flavorful, Mouth watering burger” Honorable Mention: Red Anchor (Croton)“Handmade and cooked to order.” Woody’s (Woodland Park)“Awesome burgers.” Grant Depot “Every time I get one somewhere else I’m disappointed.” Others getting a shout out: Old Iron (Grant), Shamrock (White Cloud), Jimmy’s (Newaygo), The Commons (Fremont), Kick Start Cafe (Grant), Daniel’s (Hesperia), Hesperia House (Yes, it’s in Hesperia) and The Hilltop at Hardy. Next? Best Breakfast Spot.  The Hesperia Area Chamber of Commerce will host the Annual Hesperia Family Fun Fest on July 3rd and July 4th. The Fun Fest is a staple for Hesperia natives, and historically attracts thousands into the Village of Hesperia. The festivities kick off Wednesday night at 6pm with the Beer Tent at Weaver Park Pavilion and the much anticipated Arm Wrestling competition at 7pm. DJ Dan Dipple will be on site from 7pm until midnight. “I’ve been going to the Family Fun Fest since I was a kid, and I’m so excited that my kids are big enough this year to participate in so many things!” said Julie Burrell, Newaygo County Business Development Coordinator for The Right Place. “We will be starting the day with the Panther Prowl (Kids Run), participating in Color The Town (new this year!), browsing the art fair, bike decorating contest (look for a unicorn and Captain America in the parade!) & walking in the parade, kids games (inflatables) and then ending the day with the fireworks! This event is where our town really comes together.” Independence Day activities begin at 8am with the Ed’s Orchard Market 5k White River Run and ends at dusk with an incredible fireworks display over the White River. Division Street will be closed to vehicular traffic during the day to allow for classic events such as the Pedal Pulls, Kids Games and, of course, the parade. Making a much anticipated return this year will be live music and street dance! There are events for every age and interest with more details at: https://www.facebook.com/Hesperia-Area-Chamber-of-Commerce-711565179010946/ As a side note... Volunteers are still needed – please contact the Hesperia Area Chamber of Commerce’s facebook page if you’d like to lend a hand.  The Mark Lavengood Band presents the “Bluegrass Bonanza,” in the Dogwood Black Box on Friday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a lively night of roots, bluegrass, and expert picking from Michigan’s premiere acoustic artists. With Mark Lavengood at the helm on dobro/guitar/mandolin, the band includes Justin Wierenga on guitar, Justin Avdek on upright/electric bass, Dutcher Snedeker on keys, Nathan Coles on drums, Jason Wheeler on mandolin, and multi-instrumentalist Brad Phillips. Join this eclectic cast of musicians for a night of entertainment and stellar musicianship! A Grand Rapids-based musician, Mark Lavengood picked up the dobro in the mid-2000s and in the time since his introduction to the instrument has performed and instructed dobro on local, regional, national and international levels, winning the prestigious dobro competition at the renowned Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2012. In addition to Telluride, Mark has given workshops at notable festivals like Celtic Connections, World of Bluegrass at IBMA, Pagosa Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Wheatland Music Festival, Blissfest, and a laundry list of folk and roots music festivals of esteem. In November of 2018, Lavengood recorded a series of instructional Dobro modules for the beginning, intermediate, and advanced player, each accompanied by their own song to learn, as well as myriad video tutorials on technique, method, and style. The instructional content is accessible via Lavengood's webstore at marklavengood.com. Mark is endorsed by Beard Guitars, GHS Strings, and K & K Pickups, who recently named him their April 2019 artist of the month. Tickets are $15.00 and are available through the Dogwood Center Box Office, NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont, or on-line at www.dogwoodcenter.com. For information, phone 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont.  Have they come to our area just to party? Electric Forest. Ok it’s not likely you’re going perhaps but some 40,000 or so are so we could not go without giving it a mention. I’ve not been since getting in with press credentials during the final year it was still known as just Rothbury. It was pretty intriguing. I remember being duly impressed by the young people I saw who seemed to be caught up in the experience and it fostered memories of similar events attended in my youth. An interview with a young woman who seemed to be dressed in an all black spiderish outfit stands out. She said she had been in public relations with a well known East Coast firm since college and had a condo in the Providence R.I. area but after coming to Rothbury the previous year she decided to quit her job, sell her condo and begin life as a street theater performer. Like I said, intriguing. Closer to home (and perhaps reality) Ben Kolk will be entertaining folks with some bluegrass Celtic, old time music on the patio at The Commons in Fremont Friday starting at 7pm. It’s gorgeous out at last so a little patio music sounds like an appealing option. Do you rodeo? If you do this is already on your calendar but if not you might like to check out the Adam Scott Memorial Rodeo this weekend. The events feature highly skilled competitors, it’s a great place to bring the family and the prices are very reasonable with 10 bucks for 13 and over, a mere fin for ages 6-12 and anyone younger than that gets in free. The doing begin at 6pm Saturday at Circle Star S Ranch located just a bit east of M-37 on 40th. There’s a facebook page for more info. The Concert in the Park series at Vet’s park in Fremont has seen a rather wet start but tonight (Thursday) will be golden with dry weather on tap and the nearly world famous Braunschweiger Blues Band hitting the stage at 7pm, The B3 gang will be ready to put a little frolic into Fremont so make it over to the park and get ready to boogie with BBB. Market times: Friday in Newaygo (Brooks Park) noon to 6pm and Saturday in Fremont (City Market Square) 8am-1pm. Friday at the Riverstop Saloon sisters Marquita and Jesse will be cranking out some soulful and sultry sounds starting at 8pm. Might want to arrive early. The duo generally draws a good crowd because they play some really fine music. The Driftwood has Mid Michigan favorite DC True on the deck Saturday and Sunday. Good time rock and roll featuring an interesting range of covers and some originals as well. Saturday 5-9pm Sunday 3-7pm Tired of Tiger baseball? The team is rebuilding to be sure and are 24 games out of first place with each win becoming scarcer as the season rolls along. (They will lose 100+ this season and trade anyone they can before the deadline). Of course you can go to GR and catch a future Tiger or two at a Whitecaps game but they finished the first half 23 games out of first and seem to possess the same propensity for losing streaks as the parent club. Did watching Michigan’s run pique your interest in college level baseball? Well then head to historic Marsh Field in downtown Muskegon and check out the Clippers of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.They’re home Friday for a 7pm game against the Hamilton Joes. Best of all? Wooden bats.  Suggestion Box is sponsored by Newaygo Brewing Co where inside or out you'll find good food, good drink, and a welcoming atmosphere This is indeed the prime time for vacationers to escape to the lakes, rivers and woods because Independence Day, in addition to being a time set aside to honor our country, also tosses an extra day off from work into the mix for many folks, so a vaca during this stretch squeezes out a bit more precious time. With the coming of the much anticipated 4th of July (that Midsummer Celebration known to begin days earlier and find its ending days afterwards), the Near North is going to be buzzing with activity and water related fun. There’s a bit of electricity in the air beyond the fireworks that some years seem to linger as long as the Revolution itself. We at N3 thought it might be timely to do a poll on local options for those who might be visiting our area. It is our hope to survey those who know in order to provide a guide to our local options when it comes to food fun and favorites. Give us your choices and add a few words and we’ll post up the results and some of our favorite comments. One category a day starting with Best Burger. Ready? So here we go...  Listen up! Heard about The Dragon yet? This is the non motorized pathway that will circumnavigate Hardy Pond creating a mountain biking Nirvana. It is a joint effort between Newaygo and Mecosta counties awaiting approval from the feds to begin with construction crews at the ready should the anticipated approval arrive in a timely fashion. Well, this Saturday at Brower Park (9am) and Sandy Beach Park (1pm) you can hear all about it as representatives from Newaygo County Parks & Recreation, Mecosta County Park Commission and Consumers Energy will be onsite to answer questions and explain the project more thoroughly to residents, business owners and visitors. You’ve heard the rumors...now hear the facts. Speaking of bears… Well we weren’t exactly referencing our ursine brethren but since our bear story we’ve been getting a few notes about sightings in the county now known (according to no less than Forest Service folks) as ‘Bear Country”. N3 Reader Ron Raedeke sent us this note and a couple of photos about some recent ‘visitors’ to their place on Sylvan Lake. The photos were taken last Monday, June 17 about 4:00 PM. They was taken by Steve Wever, a contractor who is working next door. The two bears were here the preceding Saturday and again Tuesday night. My days of feeding the Orioles are done for now. Sad to say.
An addendum from Mr. R. : The red dot in the second pic is my wife’s red shirt. She was not aware of the bears presence. Also, I did venture back to setting out two cups of grape jelly this morning. Within two minutes the orange friends were back and thankful. I do intend to take in the jelly when I’m not actually on the screen porch. The opening of the Farm Market season has arrived however thus far given the so called spring we just endured wasn’t particularly conducive to a flourish of early season delectables hitting the market stands the pickings are a bit slim A little lettuce and some asparagus made cameo appearances this past week but the colorful cornucopia of crops often making their way around the tables this time of year has been stalled a bit. Everyone loves having the farm markets available but in order to get vendors to set up shop business needs to be a bit brisk so get yourself down to one of the markets (Friday afternoon at Brooks Park and Tuesday afternoon and Saturday morning at Fremont Market Pavilion) and for pity’s sake make a purchase or two. Indulge in a delicious cookie or two from the Koster family booth, perhaps score a little addition to the look of your yard from the always interesting to chat with John Mellema and check out what’s being offered by Cameron and Ronda from Country Roots. Support these local vendors and help grow our local farm markets. And never fear the fruits and veggies are coming. A bit late like our summer... but arriving just the same. 
By Ken DeLaat “It’s a smile it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine….it’s summertime.” Kenny Chesney As I write this we are on the cusp. It will happen tomorrow (Friday) a bit before noon. The official, no turning back, and no longer accompanied by a far too patient demeanor from us bipeninsular types, arrival of summer. So let’s go. We want sunshine. We want 80 degrees plus. We want beach weather, lake weather, outside having fun weather. And above all for at least a bit of a reprieve… We want dry weather. Let’s get to it. The Newaygo Library is tearing it up Friday with their Community Shout Out a day’s worth of activities aimed at celebrating the community they serve starting at 10am with food, prizes, crafts, and live music in Brooks Park. The first 150 people to get or renew a library card and check out materials will be entered in a prize drawing and receive a complimentary gift. And those wonderful folks known as the Friends of the Library will be selling cotton candy and lemonade as well as books. Lots more going on with the library folks and from Noon- 6pm their event will be sharing space with the first appearance of the much missed Farmers Market. Side note: The stalled season has made me realize my sweet corn obsession will likely need to percolate well into the late summer. At 6 the market closes and Silverado will take to the stage with their country and rockabilly sound.To make it even better Shake It Up BBQ will be on the grounds serving up the eats to go with the tunes. Good times.. Max Morrison whose Australian adventure was chronicled in our pages by Mom Kathy Morrison, will be entertaining folks al fresco at The Commons in Fremont Friday from 7-10pm. Check out his website and give a listen to “Don’t Take Yourself Away”. Then get yourself down to The Commons, take a seat on the patio and get ready to hear some more. Good stuff... At the Riverstop Saloon in downtown Newaygo local favorite Whiskey Bizzness rides into town Friday night to liven things up a bit. Music starts at 9pm. Good company.. Megan Wirts is our favorite standup performer. A multi talented woman who on occasion graces the pages of N3, Ms. W’s second career as a domestic goddess provides ample material for both genres. You can catch her act as part of the comedy show at Back Alley Comedy Club (1531 Sherman Muskegon) Friday starting at 8pm. Good laughs.. If it’s Saturday afternoon it’s Acoustic Lunch at the Newaygo Brewing Co in downtown Newaygo. From Noon to 4pm grab some eats and drinks and tune into Nathan Dill of the band SKYKING laying down some sweet solo selections. Good tunes.. Ever been to one of the Dark Sky Astronomers events? If you have never mind because you are already likely to be there Saturday night for a special summer solstice viewing as they observe Jupiter Saturn, Mercury and Mars from the telescopes of the SF Wessling Observatory at 6523 W Baseline Road, Fremont, Michigan 49412. Starts at 9pm. Seriously, a very cool place. Go. Even better? Bring a young person along.Get them hooked on the stars. Good night.  Suggestion Box is sponsored by Newaygo Brewing Co. A summertime must.  Grand Rapids Accordion Ensemble Returns to Newaygo
Family of God Community Church is very proud to again sponsor a concert featuring the Grand Rapids Accordion Ensemble. The concert is scheduled for Brooks Park in Newaygo, on Tuesday, June 25, at 7 p.m. This will be the ninth consecutive year the ensemble has performed in Newaygo. Before the concert, there will be a dinner of grilled hot dogs, chips and ice cream from 6 to 7 p.m. A freewill offering will be collected. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy this wonderful concert. In case of rain the concert and dinner will be held at the church at 90 Quarterline in Newaygo. |
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