Shen Yun
Presenting classical Chinese dance and music in gloriously colorful and exhilarating shows. An art form several millennia old, Chinese dance is refreshingly dynamic and expressive. Ancient legends and heroic figures come to life through its leaps, spins, and delicate gestures. 7pm. $36-$110. Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo. 419-381-8851.
Walking With Dinosaurs
Internationally renowned designers and scientists have crafted fifteen life-size dinosaurs. Be amazed as the greatest creatures ever to walk the earth return before your eyes. It’s a dazzling ten-million pound arena spectacle set to captivate young and old alike. Watch them walk. Hear them roar. Be there as they fight for survival and supremacy. From the ripple of their skin to the glint in their eye, these dinosaurs appear to be the real deal. Call for tickets and showtimes. Tickets available through Ticketmaster. $17.50-$47.50. Lucas County Arena, 500 Jefferson Ave., Toledo.
1-800-745-3000. www.dinosaurlive.com.
Hot time in the city
Depending on the situation, I either possess an abundance of patience, or unfortunately, not so much. When I have to wait anywhere with all three children in tow, (two being very antsy young boys), my patience meter can bottom out. Throw in the hungry and tired factors, and we almost have a recipe for disaster.
Granite City is a chain of restaurants that began in Minnesota in 1999. Currently there are 26 restaurants in 11. The Maumee location is the only one in Ohio. I’ve had countless friends tell me how much they love Granite City and we needed to try it out. Ironically, we even ran into a couple friends the evening we stopped in for dinner. Our friends that were out for a family dinner arrived quite late thinking there wouldn’t be a wait. At least by 8 p.m. their children could actually sit down near the hostess stand and their Nintendo DS kept them occupied while they waited. I’m taking notes for next time.
Ready, set, wait!
So went our outing to Granite City Food & Brewery on a recent Saturday evening. Thank goodness for good micro brew beer at the bar is all I can say. I was the only one who scored a bar stool as my husband and three children stood near me like sardines. We waited just over an hour for our table with what seemed like half the city as well. “Generally we go on a wait about 5:15p.m. -5:30p.m.on Fridays and Saturdays,” said manager Sarah Shively. Obviously I missed the memo. Unless you have a large party, they do not take reservations. Even then, they won’t take reservations past 5p.m. on the weekend.
According to the manager, when the weather is nice people can wait outside near the pond and fire pit, and even enjoy the giant chess set with pieces that are 2.5ft. tall. They have a wonderful patio for outdoor dining, too. I’m confident our future experience will be vastly different on a nicer day, or an evening when we arrive much earlier.
Tasty brews
As I previously mentioned, it’s a good thing they brew some tasty beers on site, as they helped to pass the time. I highly recommend the Brother Benedict’s Bock. This German style lager is a little nutty and sweet, with an undertone of chocolate. Their blueberry beer is refreshing in its own unique way, but my husband preferred his IPA. We passed some of our wait time chatting it up with a couple who had three older children. They had lots of great insight into life with kids beyond preschool and grade school. And unfortunately, they confirmed the kids only get more expensive as they get older.
Flavorful options
The restaurant has a casual, comfortable atmosphere with a view of the kitchen. Once seated, things moved a bit faster. We didn’t order their Idaho Nachos, but wow were they gigantic, and I’ve been told they’re very yummy as well.
The kids’ menu ranged from $3.99 to $4.49 and included the usuals along with their beverage. Take note, kids eat free off the kids’ menu on Tuesday evenings from 5p.m. to close. My children gobbled up mini corn dogs and grilled cheese. While we waited, they each received a different fun, yet educational activity placemat and crayons. Ahhh, all were happy once again.
The menu is rather large offering eleven sandwiches, burgers, seven pastas, flatbread pizzas, and signature selections ranging from chicken, shrimp and fish, to filet mignon. My husband really enjoyed one of the house specialties; Charlotte’s Pasta, which had chicken, shrimp, prosciutto, and a spicy marinara sauce over linguine. The Grilled London Broil with Bourbon Sauce served over crispy onion strings was most flavorful and was one of the pricier items at $17.99. Though the meat was a little chewier than my liking, I still managed to finish every last bit of my leftovers the next day. Mmm, mmm, good.
A friend told us the Granite City Big Cookie was a must. This enormous toffee almond chocolate chip cookie made fresh and served with ice cream and caramel was one sweet ending. Our waitress was kind enough to throw in an extra scoop of vanilla ice cream for only $.50 for my son with the nut allergy, and he, too, enjoyed a sweet ending.
Bottom Line: Granite City Food & Brewery has fast become a favorite of area residents since its opening in 2008. It offers great micro brews, good food, and a specialty brunch buffet on the weekends. A word of caution: arrive before 5:15p.m. on the weekends or be prepared for a lengthy wait.
Karen Zickes is a mom of three active children and freelance writer who resides in Holland, OH. She can be reached in c/o [email protected].
Adventures in Michigan
We’re all trying to save money but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on fun this summer. This spring I’m highlighting great ideas for Backyard Getaways on 13 Action News. You’ll enjoy a fun vacation and you won’t break the bank.
Stay at the Monroe KOA
Our first Backyard Getaway is the Monroe KOA. The campground is under new management and they’ve introduced fresh new features for your entire family. The new manager says the staff is working to create an entire family camp experience. There’s the swimming lake, fishing lake, paddle boats, and bikes, but new this year is an inflatable obstacle course and outdoor movie theater. KOA has hired five recreation counselors who lead family camping activities seven days a week! In addition they have every level of accommodation. If your idea of camping is a tent and a fire pit they’ve got you covered. Perhaps you’d like to plug in your RV? Go for it. If your idea of vacation is a lovely suite of rooms with a kitchen, they’ve got newly renovate suites that allow mom to put her feet up while the kids play mini-golf. A day visit is only $6 for adults and $4 for kids. KOA is off of Exit 9 on US 23 in Petersburg, Michigan.
Head up to downtown Ann Arbor
Our second Backyard Getaway is to downtown Ann Arbor. If you’ve got little ones who love Harry Potter or Percy Jackson this is the day trip for you. Tiny and mysterious doors have been appearing at businesses all over town. Turns out these doors are for fairies! That’s right, going on a Fairy Door Hunt is the perfect enchanted afternoon for your young wizards. Start online at the Urban Fairies site, https://urban-fairies.com/locationspages/locations.html. I recommend you visit the Ann Arbor Library first (where you may spy your first door) and read the book about the doors. Then head out on your adventure. The other great thing about the magical little scavenger hunt is that it’s free. Fill your tank, pack the kids a lunch, and head up to Ann Arbor.
And these two getaways are just the beginning. Join me every Friday on 13 Action News at six p.m. We’ll be going on Backyard Getaways throughout May to help you plan your summer vacation.
An inspirational gift
— that’s Russian for “A touch of Love. An impression of Faith. A mission of Compassion,” and exactly what Sylvania native husband and wife team Phillip and Lisa Wurster provide through Friends of Russian Orphans (FORO).
After going through the process of adopting a child from Russia in 2001, the Wursters witnessed the state of orphans and orphanages in Russian and saw an opportunity to provide practical, emotional and spiritual assistance to these special boys and girls and their caregivers from across the globe in America.
“When we adopted Peter in late 2001, we were immediately aware of what a tremendous gift we had been given by God and the Russian people with the privilege of adopting a remarkable little boy,” says Lisa. “As we contemplated the gift we had been given, we wondered how we could express our thanks to God and the Russian people for our great gift.”
Did you know that more than 700,000 Russian children are institutionalized in orphanages, and close to half of these children turn to crime, suicide, and destructive lifestyles once they come of age? Neither did the Wursters, until they did the research, visited Russia to adopt their own son, and learned the truth.
In 2002, the Wursters formed FORO, an Ohio non-profit 501(c)(3) Christian charitable organization. “We did our due diligence about the existence of orphan aid organizations and concluded that there clearly was a need for more work to be done,” Lisa says. Initially, it was just Lisa and Phillip, but as they became more involved and passionate about the work they were doing and shared this with others, friends and members of the community joined in to help. “We created a legal organization, solicited a Board of Directors, established contacts in Russia—and prayed.” Now, FORO has a 12 member board of directors working from both America and Russia, and numerous volunteers.
FORO now donates to, organizes programs and support for, and keeps fifteen Russian orphanages in their thoughts and prayers. Friendship programs include assistance with special medical concerns, spiritual guidance, scholarships, vocational training, and “Journeys of Joy,” a special program where American families host a Russian orphan for two weeks, providing the experience of the benevolent warmth and sturdy foundation of family life for those unfortunate enough to have never experienced it. But the benefits aren’t only seen through the eyes of the orphans. Host families are gifted with the special blessings and repercussions of selfless generosity and unconditional love.
Lisa, a Managing Attorney for the Dana Corporation, a Sunday School Teacher and an active Sylvania community member, and Phillip, an attorney in a private Toledo practice with a focus on municipal law and adoption and founder of the domestic and international adoption agency Spirit of Faith Adoptions – have four children, two adopted from Russia.
“Adopting a child from Russia was probably the most life-changing event —even more so than becoming a biological parent,” says Lisa. “It led directly to the creation of FORO, (and) now it’s a major part of our lives and has enriched us in ways unimagined…”
The Wursters dream of expanding their organization with more programs and orphanages with the help of donations and funding, but right for right now they are glad to be a part of these Russian children’s lives.
“Our pastor often reminds us that no one person can change the world, but anyone can change the world for one person,” says Lisa, and through FORO, she and her husband have accomplished just that.
If you’d like to learn more about FORO or make a donation, please visit https://www.fororphans.org or call 419-841-6971.