Ice Breaker Festival heats up South Haven this February



Ice Breaker Festival is the hottest festival during the coldest time of the year, and South Haven is gearing up for the fun on February 3rd, 4th and 5th.

 

Ice Breaker Festival Map, 2012

Downtown will literally be buzzing with chainsaws as carvers tackle big blocks of ice on the sidewalks.  Watch as professionals, students and amateurs go to work with chainsaws, irons, routers, chisels and a host of other tools.  Judging begins at 2 pm, with the awards presentation at 5:30 pm in Foundry Hall.

Plan a light breakfast for the day of the chili cookoff, because the public not only enjoys free samples of the competing chilis but they also are the judges.  Pick up a ballot to score each sample on heat, consistency, flavor and other factors.  Ballots are quickly tallied that afternoon, and bragging rights (plus an awesome trophy to display) are awarded in the evening.

The ice skating rink will host performances by three synchronized skating groups.  The Western Michigan University synchronized skating team will be back this year, as well as Grand Valley State University's team and Skater's Edge of West Michigan.  Saturday afternoon performances will be 1:30 to 2:15pm and 3:30 to 4:15pm, so bring your camera to capture these talented performers.

For adult participants, the "Pub Slide" focuses on a different method of warming up.  Stop by participanting bars and restaurants for special beverages, entertainment and more.  South Haven Yacht Club's deck party on the river is always a hot spot, while Joe's Bar & Grill will have a fire pit, BBQ pit, heaters for the outside patio and live music.  The Black River Tavern will host a "Don't Break the Ice" challenge Friday evening and live music by TimVelez on Saturday. 

Bitter-Sweet Acres will have their team of Belgian horses offering wagon rides through the streets of downtown, sponsored by Chemical Bank in downtown South Haven.  In addition to the wagon rides, there will also be a heated bus sponsored by Mervenne Beverage.

Lodging is available for rooms in the bed & breakfast at the Victoria Resort in South Haven.  Festival maps and event schedules will be provided to all guests that weekend, and the Getaway Packages are also available.  Reserve two nights in select rooms and cottages to receive $50 towards dining in downtown South Haven for free.  Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-473-7376 or reserve online at http://www.victoriaresort.com/.

South Haven's Cafe Julia Offers Winter Warm Ups

This winter, Cafe Julia presents a new menu geared toward the modern, mature crowd seeking a little warmth after time spent outside.  Located within sight of the outdoor ice skating rink, Cafe Julia already has an outstanding reputation for coffee, lattes and other specialty morning drinks.

Jay and Julia, the owners, have introduced new offerings perfect for the evening hours.  Their "small plates" menu includes some warm comfort foods, such as the melted Gouda on sourdough with a cup of tomato soup and a crock of homemade mac 'n cheese.  The edamame, tossed with olive oil, sea salt and garlic, is a little more cutting edge.  The Mediterranean plate includes hummus, grilled pita and tasty Mediterranean olives.  Best of all, these are small portions at a reasonable five dollar price.

The cocktail offerings are worth noting, because what could be better than watching the snow fly with a warm drink in hand?  Autumn Mist features hot tea with a twist of Grand Marnier and the Fireside cocktail includes cider, honey, lemon, ginger, bitters and Makers Mark.  Local residents extoll the espresso martini, which includes the house made Kahlua, vanilla vodka and chilled espresso.

For those with a sweet tooth in the evening hours, the Italian Almond Torte and Mocha Latte Torte are divine - beautiful to behold and heaven in each bite.  The surprise success through, has been the Affogato.  An affogato is a traditional Italian espresso-based treat that you’ll find on the menu at many Italian restaurants, as well as at many cafes serving espresso and other coffee drinks. The full name is really “affogato al cafe” or “drowned in coffee,” in Italian. The name really suits the dessert, as it consists of a scoop of ice cream/gelato with a shot of espresso poured over the top.

Venitia Sekema performs at Foundry Hall in South Haven

Foundry Hall welcomes singer/songwriter Venitia Sekema with musician Danny Dine for a performance this Friday, January 30th at 7:30 pm.

Venitia's style is hard to pin down, a typical performance ranges from delta Blues to uptown Jazz, down-home Country to the most modern Folk. Even with so much variety, the audience connects with what she has to say, since deep down she has the heart of a storyteller, and each person can find something in her songs that relates to their own life. Sekema's brand new album, "Boomland," is about achieving dreams, empowerment, love....lost and found, a little bit of heartache, humor and hope.

If you are headed to the South Haven area this weekend, tickets for the show are just $5 per person and can be purchased in advance through http://www.foundryhall.com/.  Overnight accommodations are available at the Victoria Resort Bed & Breakfast in South Haven.

Cottages at Victoria Resort for Weekly Rental - 2012 update

While the calendar still reads winter, the summer season is on the horizon.  The Victoria Resort's guest cottages are available for weekly rentals in June, July and August.  The following weeks are available as of this posting:

June 16 - June 23, two bedroom/one bathroom Cottage D, featuring a beautiful whirlpool tub in the bathroom, king bedroom with flatscreen tv/dvd, living room with large fireplace and flatscreen tv/dvd, second bedroom with a bunkbed.  $1470

June 16 - June 23, three bedroom/three bathroom Cottage C, offering space for a big family gathering with two queen beds and two twins, large living room with a fireplace, $1630

June 23 - June 30,  two bedroom/one bathroom Cottage B, one queen, two twin beds, bathroom with extra long whirlpool tub, screened porch.  $1470

July 14 - July 21, two bedroom/one bathroom Cottage A, one queen, two twin beds, nice size living room, eat in kitchen and long screened porch.  $1470

July 21 - July 28, two bedroom/one bathroom Cottage D.  $1470

August 4 - August 11, three bedroom/three bathroom Cottage E, $1630 and two bedroom/one bathroom Cottage A, $1470.  Together, they accommodate ten people for a great family reunion opportunity!

August 18 - August 25, two bedroom/one bathroom Cottage B, $1470

August 25 - September 1, the very last week of summer!  If you stay the week, you have the option of adding on two more nights at only $100 per night to stay through Labor Day (Monday, September 3rd).

If you are looking for any other weeks in June, July or August, please call us directly.  This is the time of year that the most changes happen, and there may be a spot open that we haven't had time to post!  Get ready for your summer vacation in South Haven by calling 1-800-473-7376.

Winter Sports in West Michigan (and the best place to recover)

After a very long wait, snow has arrived in West Michigan.  The sleds, snow shoes, skis, boots, gloves and assorted winter gear will finally have a purpose.

Sarett Nature Center, a non-profit organization, offers cross country skiing on their property.  Nearly five miles of trails loop through the lowland marsh, the upland prairie and a particularly beautiful stretch goes through a grove of pine trees.  Snow shoes are also available to rent, and designated trails are available for anyone on snow shoes.  Sarett Nature Center is located just off I-196, about twenty minutes from South Haven.

Timber Ridge is celebrating fifty years of downhill skiing, and has opened all runs & lifts on their ski resort.  Snowboarders are welcome to have some fun on the resort, and of course the tubing runs are great for kids of all ages and sizes.  Timber Ridge is located in Gobles, Michigan - about a forty-five minute drive from South Haven.

Once again, the Victoria Resort Bed & Breakfast has teamed up with Timber Ridge to put together the ultimate ski package.  Stay two nights, and two all-day lift tickets are included!  Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the inn, hit the slopes, then return in the evening to enjoy the warmth of the whirlpool tub and fireplace in your room.  Packages begin at $135 per night, depending on the room selected.  Rooms at the Victoria feature large whirlpool tubs, gas fireplaces, and even some guest cottages with wood fireplaces.

The city of South Haven proudly reports that the outdoor ice rink is open six days a week for public skating time - more than any other rink in the area.  Each evening the snowflake lights illuminate the rink, and just steps away are local restaurants, bars and coffee shops to warm up.  This is also the second year that the South Haven Ice Rink has offered curling, a sport less familiar to most winter enthusiasts.  To read more about opportunities to try curling, click here.

Packing the Kitchen for a Week in South Haven

If you're planning a family vacation to South Haven, there are a few tips to make packing a little easier.  Here are some ideas for the kitchen...
Aluminum Foil:  Works perfectly for wrapping up a few leftovers or wrapping potatoes for the grill.
Salt-Pepper-Garlic:  Use an old spice container for a mix of sea salt, ground pepper and a little garlic powder.  It's an easy, all purpose seasoning for steaks, baked potatoes, corn on the cob and more.
Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo:  Bring the basics to keep kids happy, or bring the upscale versions to spice up your meal times.
BBQ, Ranch and Italian Dressing: For dipping, for dousing burgers and for keeping the kids happy.  Of course, the Italian dressing can double as a marinade.
Can of Cooking Spray:  Even the open one from your cupboard will be fine - it's only a week!
Zip Bags:  Pack a variety of zip bags into one large bag. You'll need a few for munchies, marinating grill food and saving some leftovers.  Use a quart size bag for some basics from home (sugar, ground coffee) to make packing easier.
Disposable Drinkware & Sharpie marker ~ Let the kids write their names or make their mark on their cup for the day.  It will save your stack of cups and settles arguments!
Disposable Plates & Silverware:  Perhaps not the most eco-concious item to pack, but it sure saves a lot of dishwashing (it is a vacation, after all)
Paper Napkins & Paper Towel:  There's a roll of paper towels provided, but your family may need more.

So what can you leave at home?  Dish soap, dish cloths and dish towels, garbage bags, coffee filters and dish soap.  Feel free to email us with any questions as you begin to pack...and if you have any ideas to share, feel free to post them below!

South Haven to host the Queen's Cup in 2012

The Milwaukee-based Queen's Cup annual yacht race will come to South Haven in 2012.  The Milwaukee club announced it has accepted the South Haven Yacht Club's invitation to host the 2012 Queen's Cup, the organization's 74th annual race. Next year's race will begin in Milwaukee the evening of June 29 and finish in South Haven throught the day on Saturday, June 30th.

“We are pleased to have South Haven as our finish destination in 2012,” Queen’s Cup Committee chairman Dave Wehnes said in a written statement. “All can join the excitement of the post-race festivities in South Haven where I expect that the hospitality will be outstanding.”

“The Queen's Cup is a terrific way for us to showcase South Haven, a premier Lake Michigan beach town and boater's paradise,” South Haven Mayor Bob Burr said in a news release.

More than two hundred craft take part in the event every year, and requires nearly 1,400 crew members to make the 76 mile crossing of Lake Michigan.  The finish line will be located about a mile off shore, with the replica tall ship Friends Good Will marking the official end of the race.

Visitors to the area this June should be able to spot many of the yaghts on their last leg of the journey from the beaches.  Guests of the Victoria Resort are encouraged to pack a pair of binoculars for an even better view of the participants.  Reservations for rooms in the bed and breakfast should be booked soon for the best availability.