Sam, Adi and Lilly Sawyer at The Farm

Adi petting a baby goat

Even if you don’t have a kid to take, check out The Farm, it will bring the kid out in anyone.

The Sawyer Family

I haven’t blogged in awhile… we were in Florida with our family.  All four of our kids and our two grandkids were able to come as well as the “significant others”  so we really had a special vacation.  Nellie and I drove down and spent a day with her friend Chris Saladin who was in Clearwater, Florida at the time.  He works for comedian Craig Ferguson’s stand up show so we got to meet Craig and see the show.  Chris was in the show as well so it was really a treat to watch it.  We then headed to our friend Ruth’s house in Lakeland for a couple days where she treated us like royalty.  After that we drove down to the gulf coast were we had rented a house and the rest of the family flew in.  Our friends Paula and Lou Osadjan who have a beautiful summer home in Egg Harbor and own a condo on Longboat Key had us over for cocktails and took us out for dinner which was fun.   The weather was great and the we all had fun in the pool.  It was relaxing to get away but it is always nice to get home.

Adi and Jaden

There have been a few new doings in Door County over the fall and winter… For instance,  when you go down the Fish Creek hill there are those cedars that line the road on the right.  Well, they cut a big chunk of those out which left a beautiful view going down the hill.  Our Egg Harbor Marina has had some setbacks (like a tug sunk!) but is progressing nicely.  The ice is out so when we begin our spring cleaning we won’t have a cold breeze blowing up the bluff at us.  On a controversial note, a developer has plans to build a Subway restaurant in Sister Bay and it is leaving a very bitter taste with many who live there.  There really isn’t an ordinance that says “no chains” as many of us always believed. We’ll see what happens.  Chef Andrew Mueller who was the head chef at Glidden Lodge for many years then bought The Nautical Inn Restaurant in Sturgeon Bay, has purchased the Hillside Inn in Ellison Bay which can only mean good things for Ellison Bay.  I love the Nautical’s food so I am sure the Hillside will be equally as popular.  Our friend and neighbor Bob Erickson of Door County Realty was named Realtor of the Year… congrats Bob!

Egg Harbor will host the YMCA’s Blossom Run May 8 and Egg Harbor will have its Girlfriends Great Eggscape weekend May 13- 15.  My friend Jeff Larsen from the Landmark Resort has tons of chick activities planned for the weekend.  Most of the festivities will be a the Landmark Resort although the boutiques in Egg Harbor will be having sales and there should be some restaurant specials as well as kayaking and a pub crawl.   Last year at Egg Harbor Lodge, we had Mexican food and drink at cocktail hour for our guests that Friday night so I am sure we will be doing something like that this year as well.  My margaritas were a hit and we have guys that also come that weekend so of course we had Mexican beer and snacks.

If you didn’t catch us on Living with Amy in the fall we posted the video on our video page… check it out.  Amy emailed me while I was in Florida to come cook on her show again, but obviously I couldn’t.  Hopefully a different time.

I am going to be blogging about some of Egg Harbor’s different boutiques and restaurants this spring so check back and see what’s new in the village.

The Landmark in Egg Harbor is offering specials for the weekend (including Karaoke!) as are other lodging places and restaurants.  Mike’s Port Pub and Innlet Motel in Jacksonport is offering a nice special which includes lodging, dinner and drinks on New Years Eve for $175.00 (and no driving!).  Jacksonsport is also serving up a New Years Day breakfast at the fire station before the famous Polar Bear Plunge at noon.  Our friend, JR Jarosh of Jacksonport is the founder and along with his family, has turned the “plunge”  into an annual event that attracts thousands of people each year either as participants or spectators.  It really is a fun Door County event that shouldn’t be missed.  Trust me… we have done the plunge as well as witnessed it and there really is no equal. If you have never done the plunge, it is an invigorating way to start the year… especially after the crazy year we had this past year.

At 1:00 in Egg Harbor, is the Annual New Year’s Day Parade.  I  believe it is the only parade in Wisconsin on New Year’s Day.  It is a fun, quirky parade that is pretty much thrown together in the morning.  We (meaning my family) are in it every year… usually with the same float.  We aren’t original, but we are consistent. Here we are last year in our hot tub float…yes, there is really water in the cherry pallet we are riding in.

Sawyer chicks

Almost all the boutiques and restaurants are open in Egg Harbor for post-holiday sales.  After the parade,  we head to Mojo Rosa’s where Kimmy has complementary hors d’ oeuvres and music.  Our friend and neighbor, Bob Erickson (Door County Realty) celebrates his birthday on January 1 and we help him celebrate at Mojo’s each year.  The day isn’t complete without checking out Egg Harbor’s other haunts, John Henry’s, Casey’s and Shipwrecked.  PS… the new C & C in Fish Creek has reopened under the new name Cooper’s Corner (same owners as Shipwrecked and Peninsula Winery).  More on that later after I scope it out.

My niece Jennifer will turn 21 on New Year’s Day as well. Happy Birthday Jen!

Have a safe and Happy New Year everyone and we look forward to a fantastic 2010 in  beautiful Door County!

I played tourist a couple of weeks ago.  My friend Kelly, a close friend I have known since I was 11 years old, stayed at Egg Harbor Lodge along with her parents.  One of the days they were here, we took a ride up to Northport using most of the back roads.  We stopped at Bayside and the Oilerie in Fish Creek with our final stop being at Orchard Country Winery where we did a little wine tasting.

Playing tourist...

Kelly and her husband Tom were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary.  We had a blast…I hope they are able to come next year too.

Speaking of anniversaries, Mark and I celebrated our 30th on Tuesday.  We decided to go to Green Bay for the night.  We ended up staying at the Radisson at the Oneida Bingo and Casino.  Not much of a gambler, it took me awhile to figure out the slots.  You know the arm that you pull… well it doesn’t pull (you press a button instead)  and did you also know videoing is not allowed?  Apparently, I am the only one who didn’t know that.  Anyway, I got in a bit of trouble.  I want to post the video cause it’s kind of funny but I don’t want any more T-R-O-U-B-L-E.  Los Lonely Boys were playing there that night so we got to see them in concert as well.  Oh well, I’ll take my chances… here’s the video…

Right after I stopped at the craps table is when I got busted with “SECURITY”!  There was no way I was letting them have my FLIP however.  After that, the security guards were very attentive to me and I don’t think it was because they liked my sweater.

Today is our last day open until May 1, 2010.   I want to send out a sincere thank you to all of our guests for staying with us this year and every year.  We had a really great season and we look forward to  next year and many more years.   We start taking reservations in January for next year.  Stay tuned for winter in Door County through my blog… winter isn’t super exciting but it is really beautiful… even in November.  We have our annual Deer Hunters Venison Stew in a couple of weeks in anticipation of the deer hunt which is the one of our absolute favorite times of year.

Don’t forget Egg Harbor’s Holly Days is November 27 & 28… more on that later!

This is my newest item on my Door County must do list.  You haven’t experienced the real Door County unless you have seen it by air.  I just wish it hadn’t taken me so long.  Give them a call at 920.493.2729 you will be glad you did!

Door County Trolley

One of the newest, cool things to do in Door County is to take the Door County Trolley.  The Door County Trolley has a number of different tours including the Lighthouse Tour, The Premier Wine Tour, The Scenic Tour and even a Ghost Tour.   One of the Ghost Tours is a tour of haunted Door County Bars (must be 21 or older obviously) which is really popular in the fall.  In the winter (January through May) they offer a Progressive Dinner Tour which includes dinner at The Inn at Kristofer’s and two other surprise locations for cocktails/hors d’ oevres and dessert.  We are definitely getting a group together this winter to check out this tour… it sounds like fun.

Our guests love the Trolley… I think most of them choose the Winery Tour or the Scenic Tour which takes them  around the county and through the park.  The main pick up area is in Fish Creek at Orchard County Winery which is only a few miles up the road.

Next time you are in the county and are looking for something new and fun to do, check out the Door County Trolley… you won’t be sorry.

reading my new favorite mag...

I just picked up the autumn edition of Door County Living… it is now my new favorite magazine.  Door County Living is the sister publication of the Peninsula Pulse a free weekly publication and resource of Door County arts, news and entertainment.  Both publications have tons of interesting articles with info about Door County residents, businesses, characters, restaurants, nature and of course art.  The Pulse is the go-to guide for entertainment in DC.   Coincidentally, both are free… yes, free.  I love free stuff.

Anyway, while I was reading the latest edition of Door County Living I stumbled across an article (The Small School Experience by Gary Jones a Gibraltar teacher) about the three Northern Door Schools… Sevastopol (where our kids attended), Gibraltar (where Mark and I graduated) and Washington Island (there were 6 graduates this year) and low and  behold there was a quote from our son Joe who just graduated from Sevastopol.  Upon further reading,  our older son Josh’s  in-laws were mentioned (A Sea of Orchards) as owners of  Schartner’s Farm Market along with our grandson Jaden.

In the article about Door County golf,  there were three photos of our God son, Ed Strege.  I guess it is just really special to have a nice, glossy magazine that can really get to the heart and soul of Door County.  Like George Bailey said,  it is the citizens that “do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community” … it is nice to read about them as well.

There are probably 6 Door County radio stations but of course I have two favorites.  WDOR owned and operated by Eddie Allen and his son Danny.  We have known Eddie for well over 30 years.  I met him when I worked at the Savings and Loan in Sturgeon Bay and he did the play by play for the Door County League Baseball which he still does to this day.  The radio station is still listened to by many for its local sports, news and interviews with people regarding current events.  Deloris Allen, Eddie’s mom used to read a new recipe everyday…   many which I still have.  At Christmas time, The Cinnamon Bear story was told bit by bit each day for the children after school.

While WDOR will always be a favorite, as far as music goes, I would have to go with 106.9 The Lodge.   I love it.  Good music,  local artists on Wednesday nights at nine and best of all… no “opinions” from the owners or anyone else for that matter.  They also don’t read the police report… another bonus.  They play tons of Bob Marley and Jimmy Buffet.  It is not a “classic” station or a pop station but a combination of really great music, some old some new.  Our daughter Emilie’s friend Chrystal Kugle is a DJ on the weekends.  She is a communications major at UW-Milwaukee.  One of  The Lodge slogans goes something like no sports, no shopping shows or court reports.  Now that is music to my ears.

In my honorable mention catagory I would have to mention WSRG 97.7 The Big Dawg… my kids are all a huge fan of this station and its music.  While I am not a big country fan I am probably in the minority in Door County.

At any rate publications or music… Door County rocks!

After dinner we checked out Double Delites (just down the road) for some Italian ice cream otherwise known as Gelato.  The owners Julie and Jeff Perley hand make the gelato and gourmet popcorn right in their store.  (Jeff is the brother of one of the Trio owners, Ron Perley.)  During the summer, Mark talks our niece Annie (who works for us) into running down to buy herself some Gelato… as long as she bring some back for him!  Double Delites also ships their popcorn which would make a perfect Door County gift!

Trio and Double Delites make for a perfect Italian evening… Egg Harbor style.

P.S.  One more super cool thing about Dovetail Gallery are their Copper Sprinklers… and seriously folks a DINOSAUR EGG… owned by Steven Spielberg!  This place is definitely on the Door County to-do list!

We not only have the “Best Water View in Door County!” we also have the Best Guests in Door County!

Don’t forget the Door County Triathlon and Half Iron man will be held this weekend… sadly we will not be participating this year but my niece Annie is and I am going to film some of the race tomorrow morning.  I know Annie is going to do great… can’t wait!  Here is a picture of Nellie, Emilie and I last year…

DC Triathlon

Wait till next year baby… we will kick some ***!

The "New" Cookery Restaurant and Wine Bar

Not only does the restaurant have a new look there are also a few changes inside.  The Skare family has incorporated a wine bar at the top of the restaurant to enjoy a glass of wine and look out over the bay… say before the theatre or after shopping. The wine bar will offer light dining and desserts and will also be open for coffee and baked goods on weekends. There are a few menu changes too… they will no longer be offering daily breakfast but will add a Saturday and Sunday brunch with their usual favorites along  with some new twists like crab cakes… it sounds delicious.  The menu seems to be a bit more upscale than their previous menu but in a good way.  They will still offer their original standbys of whitefish chowder, cherry pie and daily specials.  We here at Egg Harbor Lodge wish the entire Skare family and the Cookery a great season.  I for one can’t wait to check it out.

I took this picture of the owners at our business association dinner a couple of weeks ago…

Vonnie and Dave Callsen and daughter Kaaren and husband Steve Northrop

At least one of the Callsens or Northrops  or most of the time, ALL of the family is in the grocery store working.  They will also try to special order items.  Last year, I had Kaaren look for this “secret” ingredient Mark’s mom uses in her venison stew and of course Kaaren was able to get it for me.  I got a case of the “flavor booster” as it is called so I should be set for awhile.

They have an an equally nice deli department with imported cheeses, hand sliced meats, salads, subs and a lunch special every day. There is a counter and stools next to their bakery so you can get a pastry and coffee and read the paper.

I think one of the nicest things about Main Street Market is their customer service… there is no equal AND they carry out your groceries.  Yes, you heard it right, they carry your groceries out to your car.  This was huge for me when my four kids were young.  The store is the main hub of the village… it is where we get the latest news and visit with our friends particularly in the winter when I head to the store nearly every day just to see civilization.

I for one am glad they moved to Egg Harbor twenty two years ago… they give to back to our community through charities and donate to many of the arts and festivals in Door County.  We also count them as some of our best friends… lucky us.

 Mark and I like to stop for cocktails at the Top Deck which is located on the same property.  It is one of the few restaurants on the water.  There is a big bar with windows on three sides overlooking North Bay.  It is kind of out of the way but well worth the beautiful drive. We saw a buck standing next to their sign when we pulled in.

We saw tons of people we knew at the get together and the mood was really high (no pun intended).  The new direction the DCVB is taking looks promising and everyone is pretty excited.  Most business owners talked of having a good year despite the gloom and doom in the media.  I think everyone is thankful and excited for the future of Door County.