Egg Harbor Lodge News

Yesterday was the 32nd Annual Egg Harbor New Year’s Day Parade.  The first year, our friend Darrel Lautenbach rode through the village on a horse.  By the third year, the parade had a decent sized audience who then retreated into Mark’s parents tavern The Midtown Tap (now Mojo Rosa’s) after the parade.  Mark’s mom would make a venison stew and homemade bread for all the patrons.  Within a few years, parade grew larger and so did the crowd watching it. There were hundreds watching yesterday.  Of course we were in the parade.  Check out our You Tube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNHcN02-Ns8

Our signs read POLAR BEAR PLUNGE… EGG HARBOR LODGE STYLE!

What a fun day…

Sorry if these take time to load.  My earlier photos were taken a bit to large for downloading.  I think I finally figured it out.

Look for us in Egg Harbor’s Annual New Year’s Day Parade at 1:00.  We also will be celebrating our friend and neighbor, Bob Erickson’s B-Day at Mojo Rosa’s. 

Happy New Year!

Girls just wanna have fun…

Josh and Carissa’s wedding January 2008 

A year has passed… it has been bittersweet for me at best… I lost my dad and the rest of my family (brothers and sisters, that is) this past year.  I am thankful for all the things I have learned from my Mom and Dad.  Mom and Dad and I had  many good times at Egg Harbor Lodge.  Mom taught me about the books and people.  Dad taught me to figure things out for myself… everything from marketing to fixing toilets.  I know now that for the most part that what needs to be done… we can do it ourselves.  I miss my parents and I am thankful for the times we had together, particularly at EHL.  Back in the day, Mom babysat and I worked the front desk… kind of a job-switch sort of deal.  Mark was a farmer and when he had time time he worked with us also.  Eventually, Mom and Dad built the house next door and I took over,  that was probably in the early 90’s.  We have had a good year thanks to all of our return guests but also to our staff who is like family to us.  I am not quite sure what I would do without them.   I miss my parents terribly but I am thankful for their wisdom and love. Thanks Mom and Dad… we miss you tons.

Em and me… Polar Bear plunge, Jacksonport-Door County 2008 January

Stephen Hawk’s Award winning photo taken at Egg Harbor Lodge

Dad and Ruth at Josh’s wedding January 26, 2008

Mark, Me, Kerana and Avram Kraft

We ate at Birmingham’s last week after Mark got done working.  At first glance, Birmingham’s would seem to be a dive but au contraire my friends… it is anything but- the food and company are superb.  Birmingham’s has been a family business since the 30’s. It is located on County G about 12 miles south of Egg Harbor.  Brad Birmingham (the son) is usually the bartender and can be seen playing cards with the locals who stop every day.  He is a really nice guy and was raised in Door County.  His mom is elderly (probably in her 80’s) and is still cooking lunch and dinner.  I snapped her the other day cooking with her favorite pan… a black, cast iron skillet.  

  They are well-known for their burgers which Mrs. Birmingham pan fries in her skillet.  They are served on bread as opposed to the customary bun.  Since we were ordering dinner I had the deep fried lobster.  If you have never had it, I’ll tell you this… there is no equal.  It was lightly deep fried, delicious and of course highly fattening.  We also got homemade breads before dinner and homemade cookies and biscotti after dinner. Brad knows everybody and is probably one of the most popular bartenders in the county. 

If you are lucky, you may see our friend and co-worker Mary with her family in there since it is one of their favorite haunts.  They are a wild and crazy bunch.

Check out Birmingham’s if you are looking for somewhere a little different to eat.  They are open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.

Tonight we will go to St. John the Baptist Catholic church in Egg Harbor for the 4 o’clock mass.  The mass is in memory of Mark’s dad who passed away a few years ago.  There seems to be quite a few people around the village for the holiday so I imagine church will be packed tonight.  It has been snowing the last few days and the snowmobile trails are open so  snowmobilers are taking advantage of the situation.  Phil from the Door County Visitor Bureau sent a list of restaurants that are open today and tomorrow so yes, things are still happening even at Christmas time in Door County.

So, from our family to yours… MERRY CHRISTMAS!