Get up to Hop Lot Before the Snow Melts!

March 3, 2016March 3, 2016 / juliegtv / Leave a comment

In the northern part of Leelanau County, just south of downtown Sutton’s Bay, is one of the newer breweries to the area. It’s Hop Lot Brewing Company, and we recently ventured up West Bay Shore Drive to check it out.

We were lucky to meet one of the owners, Kurt Ludke who told us a little about the building process. They used huge wooden beams to frame the building. He recalled what it was like being up that high hammering away. The space has lofty ceilings and a nice open feel. There are long tables that seat large parties and encourage mingling. The inside is moderate in size, with a back yard that is expansive and welcoming. Kurt told us how they wanted to bring the brewery experience together with nature. A great idea since we Grand Traverse-ites, (or would we be Grand Traversanians or Grand traversanders?), whatever we call ourselves here in the northwest lower peninsula of Michigan, we love our nature. With that the Ludke’s nailed it, and this brewery turned out to be an awesome place to hang out.

Even in the winter there is a large area out back cleared of snow so that you can enjoy your company and your beer while keeping warm by the fire. On this quiet weekday evening in February there were several fires burning. The yard was beautiful all covered in snow and lit up with the warm glow of hanging lights all around. Kurt explained that in the summer the crowd expands out to the grassy area filled with long tables for friends and strangers to sit together, and talks about a play area for kids that is surrounded by hops growing tall creating a fort inside. We’ll have to come back this summer to see that. Big kids can play in the hops too, right Kurt?

Grand Traverse View fans will want to see it too, but take my advice, don’t wait until summer. Hop Lot is too much fun in the winter to miss out. We Grand Traverse(inians?) love a good winter campfire, don’t we? So call up your people and make it a date soon. Of course, we’ll want to hear all about it. Please come back here and leave comments telling us how much you love Hop Lot too!

A visit to Hop Lot Brewing Company in Suttons Bay, Michigan

Hop Lot Menu

Hop Lot Brewing Company

231-866-4445

658 S West-Bay Shore Drive
Suttons Bay, Michigan 49682

Michigan Breweries Map

Hop Lot Hours

Monday	Closed	Closed
Tuesday	3 PM	9 PM
Wednesday	3 PM	9 PM
Thursday	3 PM	9 PM
Friday	3 PM	10 PM
Saturday	12 PM	10 PM
Sunday	12 PM	8 PM

Found the Funnest Little Antique Store

December 12, 2015December 12, 2015 / juliegtv / Leave a comment

Right downtown Maple City, in a little house next to the post office, is the cutest little store you could find. Unassuming from the front, it looked to me like someone had turned their side enclosed porch into a little store.

When I stepped inside, I realized that the whole house was consumed. Everywhere you turn. You have to stand there a moment to take it all in.

The first thing I saw were some old 6-packs of Pepsi and Vernor’s bottles Continue reading →

The Spectacular View from Eden Hill

May 23, 2015May 28, 2015 / juliegtv / Leave a comment

Apparently, (according to this farmer that my cousin talked to at a farmers market downstate) after the peepers start singing, if you count three hard frosts, it’ll be okay to plant. When you’re downstate in Michigan, it is typically safe to plant on Memorial Day weekend. Up north, in the Grand Traverse area, you may want to wait until the first of June. Or if you listen to the old farmers who would know, you can plant anytime after the 3rd frog frost regardless.

The nighttime low temperatures are rising and I cannot wait any longer. This morning I decided to go see the best growers I know. Eden Hill Greenhouse is small outfit on the west end of the Grand Traverse area in Benzie County, Michigan.

Pete and Tim Volas own the business and oversee all of the growing. Pete had been a vegetable farmer in Missouri before he moved to Michigan about 30 years ago, and while began with veggies here as well, he soon converted his business to growing wholesale flowers. You may know Tim from the Traverse City Farmers Market. They always have the most beautiful chrysanthemums in the fall.

After Tim graduated from college, he came back to the area to join the family business. About ten years ago, Pete’s wife Barbara (Tim’s Mom) became ill. It was a very challenging time for the family all the way around. Running a business only added to the difficulties they were experiencing. In order to lighten the demand from the greenhouses, they converted the business once again, moving away from wholesale they began selling directly to the public.

Opening to the public has proven to be a good decision for the Volas family. It has certainly been a great thing for those of us who get to shop here too. Stepping into this greenhouse is an experience so incredible they could easily be charging admission. But don’t tell them that!

The Welcoming Committee

Meet Otto. The first thing I saw today when getting out of my car was this face. The picture is a little blurry, and it’s even upside down because I wasn’t ready for him. And by the time I was, he was off to greet the next person. But in my brief encounter with Otto, he brought a smile to my face.

The next thing I saw, brought another one. It was this perfect lilac. Of course it’s not part of the inventory, just a bonus for me there at the edge of the parking lot enhancing the view. So I had to share it with you.

The view from inside the greenhouse offers an even more spectacular view. The display is an explosion of color. You’ll find the selection is superior quality with plants ranging from fresh herbs to cactus. And you’ll find the most amazing hanging baskets ever.

I took the above picture just inside the central greenhouse where Pet and Tim have assembled a nice variety of annuals for our easy shopping. You can see gerbera daisies, geraniums, petunias, fuchsia and the most beautiful coleus. You can call this one stop shopping and be perfectly satisfied or you can venture into the other greenhouses.That would be my recommendation.

There are five greenhouses all together and I found these succulents in one of the greenhouses out on the other side of the drive. There are a lot of unusual plants in this one, many of which are not picture. You’ll have to go there to see them and when you get there, you won’t find planters like this just anywhere. These are really special.

Outside, centered between two of the greenhouses is where you’ll find the perennials all lined up. Whether you are looking for annuals, perennials, flowers for you or for a friend, or just the experience, you’ll find something that delights you.

I highly recommend you stop by Eden Hill. Tell them I sent you! 😉

Eden Hill Greenhouse & Nursery

231-882-7226

2034 Eden Hill Road
Beulah, Michigan 49617

Here’s how to get there. It’s at the top of the hill on U.S. Route 31 just before you go around the bend and down the hill heading into downtown Beulah (coming from Grand Traverse County). You’ll turn west on Lincoln Road by the Presbyterian Church-the one with the big windows that overlook the Lake Michigan shoreline.

The map below is a link to help you out along with some visuals that may help guide you. Look for these signs and the church on the hill at the corner of Lincoln Road and U.S. Route 31. You’re going to actually cross Eden Hill Road and enter off of Lincoln to the back of the greenhouses. Parking is a little tight, but if you pull down the dirt road that winds through the greenhouses you’ll find a spot.

Man cave, meets garage, meets warehouse-Workshop Brewing Company in T.C.

May 9, 2015January 21, 2016 / juliegtv / Leave a comment

There’s a lot of testosterone in this place. And creativity. Filled with authentic industrial pieces, this warehouse space is home to the Workshop Brewing Company’s tap room.

It’s like the man cave, meets garage, meets warehouse. Some of the tables are actually constructed of table saws with glass tops. The sign on the wall looks hand-made with a simple logo that I suspect some of the guys behind the bar had a hand in. Even the lighting is a reflection of the ingenuity that creates this masculine and inviting decor.

The menu board offers a nice selection with a range from light to dark plus several bourbon barrel brews. The bartender was helpful in our decision making. I find it’s often challenging to narrow down to just a few in a place like this.

The Beer

Continue reading →

Michigan Breweries- From the Farm to the Growler- Brewery Terra Firma Does it All

April 26, 2015May 9, 2015 / juliegtv / Leave a comment

A late afternoon stop to experience Brewery Terra Firma was just what the doctor ordered. My brother was up visiting for spring break and I almost never get to spend time with just him. I am lucky to see him quite often despite living in different parts of the state, but I can’t remember the last time it was just he and I. So it was really nice to be able to stop in and have a beer with him for some one-on-one time. We went to Terra Firma because I had been there before, I knew right where it was and that the beer would be great.

The Terra Firma tasting room sits along side a country road just outside the Traverse City shopping district surrounding the mall area. It’s only a couple of miles out-of-town, but it feels like you are way out in the country when you’re there. Terra Firma (Latin for “solid earth”) is actually a farm, brewery and a tasting room. They grow everything they need to make beer right there on their own property.

The tasting room is in the big yellow barn with a big wall of windows overlooking the hops field which currently lies dormant as it is still early spring in Michigan. We were greeted by these two lovely ladies who gave us all the details.

GrandTraverseView.com's list of Michigan Breweries- Terra Firma Tasting Room

Terri and Kristina at Brewery Terra Firma Tasting Room

Although we didn’t meet him today, John Niedermaier, who is a Traverse City native is the Brew Master. He has years of experience (some at Traverse Brewing Company and some at Right Brain Brewery) and supposedly to date, over 1,000 personal recipes for beer. It would take some time and dedication just to taste that many beers, let alone to actually be the one brewing them. While John has that many brews under his belt, you will find no more than forty to taste at the tap-room at any given time. Still, that’s quite a lot. Today there were twelve. I tasted three.

The Beer

Continue reading →

Spires in the Outfield- A trip to Grand Traverse Commons

April 11, 2015May 9, 2015 / juliegtv / Leave a comment

It’s a Saturday morning in April, and while it’s a beautiful sunny day here in northern Michigan. It is still early spring so it’s still not quite beach weather yet. If it were, I might grab a coffee and a book and head down to the bay for a little while. Instead, there’s an indoor farmer’s market at the commons that I have decided to check out.

If you’re not familiar with the commons, it is the area of town that was historically the grounds of the Traverse City State Hospital. You may hear it referred to as The Mercado, The Old State Hospital, Building 50, or more formally as The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. I’ve heard it referred to most (by locals) as The Commons.

When you’re driving north into Traverse City on US Route 31, (when you are near Meijers grocery store) if you look up you’ll see the red spires peeking out over the fields and above the treeline. Today,the tall pointed peaks stand out against the bright blue sky pointing the way. To get there, continue past the intersection at Fourteenth Street and turn left onto W. Eleventh street.

Just past the State of Michigan Offices, go straight through the four way stop and up toward The Commons. You can go straight up to Building 50 and park around the circle drive, or you can turn left and go around back. I parked in the front and entered through this door to the center of the Mercado.

Front entrance to The Mercado at Grand Traverse Commons

Center Entrance off the Front Entrance

Back Entrance to the Left End of The Mercado Hallway

Around the back, you’ll find more parking as well as some other businesses that have established themselves in what appear to be the restored out-buildings from when the original hospital flourished. There are two entrances to the Mercado from here, one at each end, and these are more difficult to see especially if you don’t know where you’re going. The key is to look for the red signs. They are painted the same red color as the spires.

The Mercado is an indoor marketplace that now inhabits the restored lower level of the main building. Partly underground, with it’s pale yellow brick walls, it feels a little bit like a secret underground tunnel. But the sun shines in brightly through the windows and creates an ambiance that is warm and refreshing at the same time.

Inside view of The Mercado at the Commons

As soon as my eyes adjusted to the lighting (after coming in from the bright sunshine), I was drawn to some fresh greens and couldn’t help but to stop for a photo. Believe it or not, Continue reading →

Chocolate Puddles in Leelanau County

March 30, 2015May 9, 2015 / juliegtv / Leave a comment

Chocolate meditation? I think I could get into that. I have practiced meditation most of my life. Ever since I can remember, I’ve also been totally into chocolate; although I never thought to marry the two. It sounds like a brilliant idea.

“On any given day you’ll find chocolate-makers in deep chocolate meditation”, says the website of a local chocolate shop, Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate.

Here, in a little village in northern Michigan, apparently, “on any given day”, you can walk into Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate and witness this! So today I drove over there to see it for myself.

Google map to Grocer’s Daughter

By the time I got to the lakeshore, out of Traverse City, and into Empire, I was in a full blown snow storm. It’s almost April and there was blowing sleet and snow. When I stepped inside the happy little green building on the side of the hill, I quickly forgot about the weather outside. Inside it was warm and welcoming. And it smelled amazing.

Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate is a local foodie favorite. And to some degree, it’s still a relatively un-discovered gem. While they haven’t (yet) won nationally acclaimed awards like Moomer’s Homemade Ice Cream has, they have become a ‘must do’ on the annual bucket list for many summer visitors. For some, it’s right up there with climbing the dunes, tubing the Platte River and a day trip to Leland.

The bright green building sits on the edge of an empire, just around the corner from the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Visitors Center in Empire, Michigan. When you pull up outside, you get a sense of its charm, but until you enter through the door, you couldn’t possibly imagine how special this place is.

Inside Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate shop, the warm, natural colors and it’s simple decor are comfortable but not pretentious. Wooden crates and baskets filled with different chocolate creations line the walls. Continue reading →

The new Red Door in Lake Ann

January 30, 2015May 9, 2015 / juliegtv / 1 Comment

Historically, a red door on the front of a building has meant many different things. From welcoming visitors to signifying status. A red door has even signified a safe house in the underground railroad in the time of the U.S. Civil War.

In my research, I found a site with a nice summary of the variety of meanings from over the years. According to American Red Door, in early American tradition, a red door became a symbol to weary horse and buggy travelers that a home was a safe place to rest.

Have you seen the new red door in downtown LA?

In downtown Lake Ann. In Michigan, that is.

And what this particular red door represents is a good cup of coffee and a cool place to hang out. (You’ll have to leave your horse and buggy outside though.) Right next to the Almira Township Hall, and across from the Lake Ann Post Office, you’ll find it.

You’ll begin to relax as soon as you pass through that red door. The welcoming eclectic decor is highlighted by the corrugated steel ceiling original to the building (when it was the village fire house). The walls are covered with work by local artists that are available to purchase. There are cozy sitting areas as well as dining tables. It would be a great place to bring your laptop and get some work done. All in all, The Red Door Coffee House is a good representation of the best of northern Michigan.

The business was opened in 2014 by long time Lake Ann residents and entrepreneurs, Gary and Lori Florip and their daughter and son-in-law, Greta and Travis Kemp. They also have an office on-site for their real estate business, Lakeview Realty. So if you’re in the market for a new house, or looking for someone to manage your property, they can help you with that too. Continue reading →

As good as it looks! Pizza from Pegtown

January 23, 2015May 9, 2015 / juliegtv / Leave a comment

Large pepperoni pizza please.

A few minutes later, this was on the table. I mean, just look at that crust!

Pizza at Pegtown Station Maple City

The texture was crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. Just how I want my pizza!

Best crust pizza Leelenau County I know this may seem weird, but I had to show you the bottom of the slice. It was perfectly coated in corn meal (which is one true measure of a good crust if you ask my husband).

So the place is Maple City, formerly known as Pegtown. Right on the corner across from the Post Office and Gabe’s Country Market you’ll find Pegtown Station. Continue reading →

A Taste of Detroit on M22

November 5, 2014May 9, 2015 / juliegtv / Leave a comment

Right across from Little Traverse Lake on M-22 north of Maple City in Leelanau County, I found a little piece of the big D. From the antique truck at the edge of the driveway to one of the best square pizza’s I’ve had in a long time, this little market is a nostalgic reflection of the best that Michigan has to offer.

Market 22 sits across from Little Traverse Lake

Market 22 was carefully crafted out of an antique barn on the side of a road near Glen Lake, Michigan. The interior is warm and inviting with an eclectic mix of re-purposed woods and chalkboard menu signs.

market22 on Little Traverse Lake Leelanau County cool decor

The first (chalkboard) sign I noticed after stepping inside the warm inviting space, said “Featuring Detroit Style Pizza in the true automotive blue steel pans”. When I asked what was a Detroit style pizza, the answer was, “like Buddy’s“. Ah, yes, I know Buddy’s Pizza. Continue reading →

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grand traverse view

Views & Reviews of the Grand Traverse area

What to Do

Get up to Hop Lot Before the Snow Melts!

Hop Lot Brewing Company

Michigan Breweries Map

Found the Funnest Little Antique Store

The Spectacular View from Eden Hill

Eden Hill Greenhouse & Nursery

231-882-7226

Man cave, meets garage, meets warehouse-Workshop Brewing Company in T.C.

The Beer

Michigan Breweries- From the Farm to the Growler- Brewery Terra Firma Does it All

The Beer

Spires in the Outfield- A trip to Grand Traverse Commons

Chocolate Puddles in Leelanau County

The new Red Door in Lake Ann

As good as it looks! Pizza from Pegtown

A Taste of Detroit on M22