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Summer 2024 I'm so glad Don and I got to once again have a breakfast adventure, at Fleetwood Diner!  Last June, we made it back in Ann Arbor on a warm summery day. 1980 Before then, the last time we stopped at the iconic diner, was on a frigid February day in 1980. We were still newlyweds, stopping through town on our way from St. Louis, to the Lake Placid Olympics in NY. We had breakfast with my little brother and he snapped our pic.  44 years later, my older brother took a photo of Don and me. The little diner, built from a kit in 1949, had changed a bit over the years. In 1997, stainless steel panels were added, to cover the original enamel exterior. Now stickers cover the stainless walls. On the Corner Don and I arrived around 9 am. The college town was still sleepy on a June morning.  I tried to recall when I'd first eaten at the diner. It must have been around 1973. I was 16 and my family had just moved to Ann Arbor. That was about a year after the old Dag-Wood's Diner building, (from the 1949) became Fleetwood Diner. 2005 I also snapped a photo of the Fleetwood, in the fall of 2005. We were in town with our daughter, who was a freshman at U of M. There was no time for a meal, but I pointed the epic food joint out to Heidi and told her my recollections from when I was a teen. I remember being intimidated by what seemed, a tough dining crowd and a grumpy cook and impatient servers. Could have just been me.  Heidi was amused when I reminded her that her parents never knew each other Ann Arbor. Don and I both lived in the liberal college town, from 1973-75. I was in high school and Don was a UM student. We didn't meet until 1977, when living in St. Louis. Our breakfast in 1980 was extra special, since we were sharing an Ann Arbor experience for the first time. Stickers! Last summer, I admired the quiet diner as we approached. I noticed the glowing neon letters on the sign. (new sign in 1992)  I was surprised to see stickers plastering the stainless steel panels and glass windows. There were bacon smells and sounds of music when I opened the door. Middle Eastern music?  Once inside we found 6 tables and 5 stools, all empty. I don't remember ever seeing this sticker craziness. I do remember having to wait for a table, though. Maybe it's more crowded late at night, since the diner is open 24 hours. Colorful Corner Weather was so lovely outside, but we chose an inside table, where we could be entertained by the happy banter between 2 young women servers and a man standing over the sizzling grill.  We ordered coffee first. The stickers were also entertaining.  The white walls, windows and ceiling were covered in colorful images and words. The YETI sticker was a reminder that it was not 1973.  I don't remember the interior ever feeling this tidy. The stickers weren't at all grungy. They seemed somewhat thoughtfully placed.  We placed our orders with Ari (hope that's right) and I asked her about all those stickers. She laughed that she'd been working at Fleetwood for 7 years and they part of the job was "policing" the stickers. I guess some questionables have to be removed. Ari & Jeff I interrupted Jeff while he was cooking our breakfast on the grill. I seized the moment, just before a party of 6 headed inside.  I never in a million years would have asked to get a photo of any employees on past visits. But now, the vibe was very welcoming. I pulled up my 1980 photo on my phone and both were properly amused. Meaty Hippie Hash Here's a photo of me with my humongous plate of Hippie Hash!  The Original Hippie Hash breakfast has been on the menu since Fleetwood opened in 1971. I ordered the meaty version for $13.59.  Hash browns with corned beef, topped with grilled green peppers, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, mushrooms and feta cheese. 2 eggs any style. It was absolutely packed with tangy flavor. The broccoli may not be for all, but I loved how the tiny pieces blended right in! Family Dining A meal at Fleetwood Diner is always more fun with a brother. This time it was my older brother and his wife. They Ubered over from our hotel for a late breakfast. Don and I took our coffee outside to join them.  I felt like we lucked out with an inside & outside dining adventure, rolled into one. There we were, sitting under the metal awning, dining on the sidewalk at Ann Arbor's very first sidewalk cafe. We did our posing just before taking off. So glad to have made another Fleetwood Memory.  So glad this little business is still on the corner, serving up pretty darn decent diner food!
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Fond Memories I have such memories of this old train station, from when I lived in Ann Arbor.  I took this photo for my high school photography class, in 1974. I loved the castle-like stonework. I remember eating inside with my family. The Gandy Dancer Restaurant had only been open a few years. July 2019 The grand building didn't look much different last July, when Don and I visited Ann Arbor.  The Michigan Central Railroad station was completed in 1886. Historic figures from Winston Churchill to John F. Kennedy, stepped off trains at this station. The building was converted to a restaurant, in 1970. July 4, 2019 Last summer, Don and I spent a couple of nights in Ann Arbor and dropped by for lunch.  We crossed over the bricks of old Depot Street and killed a few minutes admiring flowers and flags along the brick sidewalk. At 11:30 the doors opened!
The rounded entrance was just how I remembered it. The inside entry seemed much more dramatic, with soaring ceiling and stained glass. Before Crowds I was glad we'd arrived before other diners, so I could snap some photos. In the past, I never had a chance to study the red oak ceilings or the glowing lamps. (click image to enlarge) My memories all involve family celebrations. I have no photos of dining with my parents and siblings, when I was in high school. I wish I had pics from 1990, when we celebrated my brother's law school graduation. The waiters were patient and delightful, with my squirmy 1 and 3 year olds. Both fell asleep and the adults happily relaxed and finished up our wine. Easter 2005 In 2005, Don and I ate Easter brunch at Gandy Dancer, with our kids. Heidi and Scott didn't fidget and toss food, this time.  We were visiting the U of M campus that weekend. It was the spring before Heidi started college there. It was fun to watch the kids enjoying a little Gandy Dancer experience. I had been between their ages, when I first stepped inside that building. Our Table, 2019 I was a little disappointed that we weren't seated in the space that had once been a grand waiting room.  The area in the old waiting room, seemed cozy and historic. Some of the seating looked like original station benches. But we were taken into the glassed in dining room, where we dined with the kids, 15 years ago.  Our table looked to be pretty close to the same spot, where we sat for brunch! It turned out to be the best table for train viewing. When Amtrak went by, the staff and diners clapped. Power Lunch Special! Don and I were pretty delighted to order off the "Fast & Fresh" lunch menu, for $16.50. As we chowed down on our 4th of July feast, I looked out over the tracks. I remember taking Amtrak, back when Amtrak was a new thing. I remember heading off on those very tracks, to Detroit and St. Louis.  Our meal started with toasty breads and salads. My Caesar was the real thing, with fat anchovies! Don's Martha's Vineyard Salad, was actually the best. Bibb lettuce, pine nuts, blue cheese and maple raspberry vinaigrette! My shrimp and artichoke linguine, was heavenly. Provencale tomato sauce! Don's IPA battered fish came with coleslaw and fries. All mighty tasty. Hard to believe these were lunch sizes! Looking Around After we finished up, we had a wonderful chat with the general manager, Charlene. She had seen me snapping a photo of the first floor bar and encouraged me to look up for another photo op.   I looked up and saw the balcony connected to the room above. And a wonderful train model! Love that!  Charlene pointed me towards the stairs and I wandered up for a look. I could see across the dining room, to the rounded terra cotta fireplace. The Sign Charlene pointed out the sign hanging above the curious fireplace. Funny, I didn't know Detroit was only 38 miles from Ann Arbor.  Charlene said the sign was originally on the outside of the building. It had been damaged in a train accident. Oops! Charlene pointed to photograph, on the wall. She said she found the old black and white print, in the attic and had it framed. "This is why we clap when trains go by!" That's pretty funny. I love traditions like that. Show gratitude for the train safely passing and not crashing!  The image looks much older, but I believe the accident happened in the 1960's. Some kids had caused the derailment, when they vandalized the tracks, by pulling up nails. Charlene showed me where the train hit the building (and sign). Luckily no one was killed. The Baggage Room We also got a peek into what had been the old baggage room, which wasn't always connected as it is today. It was amazing to picture horses coming into this space, with luggage and cargo.  Charlene pointed out the large scale, under the arch. She also reminded me that the name Gandy Dancer, refers to the "section hands" who once laid and maintained the railroad tracks. (Just picture the graceful, synchronized movements of laborers) Cozy Seating Before we took off, I had a quick look at a few dining spots that I would love to enjoy in the future.  I'm so glad we were able to squeeze in a lunch on a holiday, but I would really love to come back for a drawn out dinner at night. There are so many cozy spots.
I looked through some windows and found two romantic tables. I believe these tables might have been part of the old ticket booth. I wish I could click a button and see the interior space, just as it was in the late 1800's. Gandy Dancer in 2020 I'm so glad that we had a chance to dine at the Depot, last summer. It's been almost a year now and the restaurant is struggling like all restaurants across the country. I recently saw an article about how Gandy Dancer was dealing with the pandemic.
I was so happy to see Charlene's name mentioned. She spoke about initially selling groceries and supplies and even toilet paper! The article was from a while back, so I'm hoping they might be at least be partially opened by now. I hope they can survive this difficult time. I also hope to someday get back and eat dinner in one of those extra cozy tables! Update from July 2024 5 years after our last visit to Gandy Dancer, Don and I returned! This time we had my brother and sister-in-law! It was 1974, the last time I dined here with my brother.
What a memorable meal and evening. Chris and I reminisced and all 4 of us devoured our meals and wine! We were the very last to leave and we couldn't have left happier!
Dining in Holland Last July, Don and I squeezed in a little Dutch Dining Adventure on our Michigan trip.
I remember Holland, Michigan from when I was about 10. Sometimes you just have to revisit some of those old memories, when you have a chance. Playing Tourist I remember going to some kind of Dutch Village when I was a kid. So of course, I told Don we needed to play tourist, before lunch.  Actually the village I remember was costly and more for kids. We opted to spend time at Windmill Island, instead.
We got to go up in the DeZwaan Windmill, which is an actual working mill, brought over from Holland over 50 years ago. I saw a lot of wooden shoes and missed the ones I remember buying years ago. Lunchtime Then it was time to catch lunch in downtown Holland. The sweet little diner looked picture perfect.
There was a pair of kissing Dutch kids in the window, plus a welcoming sign. Luckily there was no line. We heard the place could be crowded. It was nearly 2:00 and luckily they were still open. We headed in. Long Counter There were lots of stools available at the counter.  We could have had some chat time with the staff, if we'd gone for counter dining.  There were lots of cozy booths and most of them were full.  I sort of liked this odd one at the very back of the room. It had a framed print of the Big Red Lighthouse, that we also saw in the morning. Dutch Decor We were given a nice booth in the front. Don took a seat and I snapped a few pics.  If I'd had more time, I could have counted tulips or windmills or cute kissing figures. I'm not sure what the history is with the kissing Dutch kids. Food We were actually starved, so everything on the menu looked wonderful.
I ordered the egg salad, with bacon and tomato, on homemade toasted bread. Even the waxed paper had little windmills. Messy Dining! Our messy sandwiches were delicious. Don's French Dip was as good as the reviews we'd read before arrival.
I got my turn to attack my overstuffed sandwich!
I allowed Don to take a photo of me and my egg salad sandwich. I was pretending to be Elaine May in "A New Leaf". Don played Walter Matthau, politely telling me when I had egg on my face. Cafe History Our server was quite young and couldn't tell us much about the history of our restaurant.  I read later that the cozy place had been a restaurant since the 1940's. It didn't take on the Windmill theme until 1964. Tulip Time? Our young server did know a little bit about the annual Tulip Festival.  I asked her if she had ever seen the 1942 movie, "Seven Sweethearts" and of course she hadn't. I told her she must! Street Scrubbing "It's about this very town and the tulip festival!" I practically shouted. She actually seemed curious about the old movie. This photo reminded me of a scene in the old film.  I was excited to hear that the town still participates in a street scrubbing activity, before the festivities begin. Wooden Shoes We finished up and got ready to head off. I took one last look at a shelf of Dutch decor.  Sigh... I laid eyes on the sweet wooden shoes and remembered the pair that I I once owned. I wore those things daily for quite a while, even after my dog chewed off the points!
Fun stop with good food and good memories! Lunch Stop on Highway 31 When in Michigan, you have to embrace the cherries!  Don and I did last July, when we stopped for lunch at The Cherry Hut! Welcome to The Hut The exterior was pretty welcoming with red house, green lawn and white picket fence.  But the smiling Cherry Jerry face on the sign, was even more so! Cherries Everywhere! When we headed inside, we spotted lots of smiling Jerry's on the jar labels, behind the counter.  There were shelves of cherry jams and sauces, cherry candy and popcorn and even cherry dog treats! Corner Table! Don and I were actually meeting up with my sister and sister-in-law. They had arrived before and grabbed a cute corner table. Jennifer and Kate humored me with some playful, menu posing.  None of us had eaten at Cherry Hut, before, but we were already fans. For a number of years, gifts with smiling Jerry labels have come our way... thanks to my brother and sister-in-law. That very morning, we had come from their home on Lake Michigan. A sibling reunion... with lots of cherries! Homey and Red I quickly took in my surroundings and decided I was in diner heaven.  I loved my cup and saucer and coffee carafe. Even the paper placemat with cardinal, had a vintage style to it. The placemat told me that the Cherry Hut had been around nearly 100 years!
I almost expected to get crayons with my smiling menu, but then I remembered where I was. You don't have to be a kid to smile about cherries! Cherry Hut History There was a large booklet on the table that gave us lots of history about the Kraker Family and their sweet business. The "hut" began as a way to sell pies and other products from their orchards. They moved to the current location in 1937.
The book was packed with history, but mostly I enjoyed the photos. Everything about this one, was retro fun. The hut, with awning and window... the smiling jam selling gals in their aprons... Our Apron-wearing Server I was tempted to ask if our server would mind posing with some jam, in a photo. I decided that would just sound weird.
I did snap a photo, to show that the uniforms haven't changed much. These photos also share a blurry glimpse of the booths and cherry wallpaper. The dining area was packed, just a while later. Lunch! I ordered the Cherry Chicken Salad, which came with fruit and a cherry muffin.  It was all so yummy, I felt like I was having dessert for lunch! My only complaint (which I kept to myself) was about my plate.
I wanted a retro china plate, like the one that held Kate's muffin. Don didn't have a Cherry Jerry face on his plate, but he did have a Maraschino cherry garnish, with his chicken tenders! I think the sauce was cherry flavored, as well. A Cheery, Cherry-filled Restroom I do appreciate a little restroom surprise with my dining adventures, now and then! I was pretty delighted by the cherry framed mirror and the fresh, red & white flowers.
Best of all, the restroom smelled of sweet cherry lotions and soaps... displayed on a delicious little plate! Heads Up Before heading out, I made sure to look above the window, to admire the painted wall mural. What a sweet image of what I'm guessing was the Kraker's original roadside Cherry Hut stand.  The image with cherry orchards, Lake Michigan, barn and farmhouse, reminded me of so many scenes we'd seen during our Michigan visit. We'd even seen a few roadside stands, selling cherries and other goodies. Off We Go As we headed to the car, Cherry Jerry smiled down. It made me a little sad that I hadn't saved room for pie.
When the Krakers first began selling their cherry pies in the 1920's, they cut the smiling face of Jerry on each pie. I don't think they do that anymore, but I'm sure they still taste pretty wonderful. Maybe I should have one shipped? Too bad. I just looked and they don't ship as far as Texas. Then and Now As we headed to the car, I noticed a flat building, that stood behind the house-shaped restaurant.
I know the 97-year-old business has moved and expanded over the years. Maybe the boxy building was from 1937, before inside dining was added. I left wondering. Escorting Jerry We headed off happy. I sent this photo of Jennifer, Jerry and me, to our brother and sister-in-law. David responded to the photo, with concern. "It looks like you're manhandling Cherry Jerry!"
I assured him we weren't, but it does look like we are about to escort him to our car. Which leaves me with one more question. Has Cherry Jerry ever been stolen?
Hot Dogs and Root Beer! How can anyone resist a food adventure, that involves a barrel-shaped building?
If Don and I had spotted this beauty while driving, we would have screeched on the brakes and raced towards it. But we learned about The Barrel, before we laid eyes on it. The Adventure... That Led Us to The Barrel Last July, Don and I were in Saugatuck, Michigan. We were off on a morning adventure with my sister and sister-in-law.  First we crossed the Kalamazoo River in a hand-cranked, chain ferry.
Then we climbed 300 steps up to the top of Mount Baldhead. That name refers to the 600-foot sand dune, that is now covered in vegetation. The round bald-headed tower that we found on top, was actually a radar tower, constructed in 1956. The overgrown image was an eerie reminder of the days, when schools did Duck and Cover drills, to prepare for Nuclear invasion... yikes. View A more refreshing view was looking down towards the town of Saugatuck.  Through the trees, we could see where the Kalamazoo River widens, into Kalamazoo Lake, before it flows into Lake Michigan. I chatted with a local, who was doing his daily step-climbing hike. He described the scene in the winter! Snow! Cool Off Time After enjoying the view, we headed down and decided to cool off inside a lakeside museum, located inside the old Pump House. (Shown in the vintage photo)
It was in this marvelous little museum that we became more and more intrigued with the history of this wonderful waterside community! The Photo! The museum shared much of the community's history, through old family snapshots. I spotted this one, with two kids and the shiny barrel. When I read the words below the photo, I got excited! The roadside favorite that was built in 1952, had recently reopened!
It stilled served hot dogs and root beer! Yay! I asked the young woman at the counter about the place and she thought it might be too far to walk. She suggested we call for the 2-dollar shuttle service. Yay! A Barrel on the Lawn! It took a while for our shuttle, but it was worth it. The van dropped us right off at the corner of Center and Ferry, in Douglas.  What a scene! There were shady trees and kids playing badminton and corn hole. A young woman performed on guitar and summer food smells wafted out of the barrel windows. No Line
The picnic tables were almost full, but there was no line for ordering. After taking a peek at the menu, we stepped right up to the window. Pick Up Window Waiting for our orders took a little longer, but that's because food was made to order. This was not a concession stand at the ball park.
It was actually entertaining watching the buzz of activity inside the round space. Three men worked swiftly under the whirling fans. I recognized one as Michael White, from a photo I'd seen. The incredibly polite and hardworking man, is main force behind the business.
I read the info sheet near the window and wondered about the last two sentences. Who were the rude, impatient people who made them have to address abuse and respect? Everyone working in the barrel seemed top notch to me! Sharing the Table We were able to grab the end of a picnic table, just as our orders finished up.  It seemed more authentic, sharing our retro, Root-Beer-Barrel-Dining-Adventure, with a family we didn't even know. Our Feast The cold, root beer was straight from the keg. It was refreshing, even if it wasn't served in a frosted mug. I'm now wishing I'd had the root beer float!  Our gourmet treats were definitely a modern twist on the Barrel's original dogs. I had "The Donna", which was smothered in mac-n-cheese, with bacon! Don went a little more traditional with the Kraut dog, served with stone-ground mustard. Both, pretty fun and yummy! The Size This photo better shows the size of my crazy dog!  It was yummy, but I am a hot dog fan and a macaroni fan. Maybe I would have them side by side, next time. Thanks! So our morning adventures led us to a delightful treat! Eating at The Barrel was like taking a trip back into someone else's childhood. I don't have memories of coming to this place as a kid, but I'm guessing there was at least one adult sitting at one of those tables, who had that memory!
It's hard to believe, this iconic place was nearly demolished, after it closed down in the seventies.
Thanks to Michael White and "Friends of the Barrel" who volunteered years of time and lots of money, to refurbish and reopen this fun place! |
The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
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