Getting Married in Jonesville Michigan for $1,000

Weddings can be very expensive, even in Hillsdale County. There are plans to be made and money to be spent (that often gets well into 5 figures). The plans include selecting a date, finding a venue that is available on your chosen date, sending out invitations, planning a meal, and selecting an officiant to perform the ceremony. Entertainment is an option along with a place to spend the wedding night.  I started thinking that there needs to be an affordable all-inclusive wedding planner.

For most people, a big wedding is a life-long dream event that requires a lot of planning. However, some people have a simple life, or are on a budget, or are on their second time around and just want to make it legal. Some people are also not affiliated with a church--most preachers will only marry people in their congregation.  Judges will marry people in the courthouse--but only Monday-Friday during regular business hours. So who is going to marry the couple and where will it be done?

This is how I got the idea to host a Thousand Dollar Wedding©. I believe that consenting adults who want to get married should be able to get married. I own a great old house that is a wonderful venue for a simple elegant ceremony. I am an ordained minister and have nice rooms where people like to spend their wedding night. An all-inclusive wedding for $1,000 is very affordable and we can make it happen on most any day at the Munro House bed and breakfast in Jonesville.





Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Governors Tourism Award Article from Hillsdale Daily News



Munro House owner Mike Venturini
honored with Governor's Tourism Award
The Munro House Bed and Breakfast
was presented with
the Governor's Tourism Award on Monday.



DAILY NEWS/ KELLI AMELING

Hillsdale Daily News

Posted Mar 28, 2011 @ 10:00 AM

Hillsdale, Mich. — The Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville received the Governor's Tourism Award presented by Gov. Rick Snyder in Kalamazoo on March 21.

There were nine Michigan inns which collaborated with the Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association and two other organizations to win the 2011 Governor's Award for Innovative Tourism Collaboration in the category of tourism marketing and promotion, stated a release about the event.

“It's a big deal, a real big deal,” Mike Venturini, owner of the Munro House, said.

The Munro House won for its cutting-edge website, successful use of blogging and social media, e-marketing efforts through Pure Michigan and the publicity and goodwill generated by member inns’ participation in the National B&Bs for Vets Event.

 Venturini and his companion Lori have owned the Munro House for 12 years, but he said it has been a bed and breakfast since 1985.

They decided to get into the bed and breakfast industry after taking a trip to Italy.

Venturini said they wanted to stay at a bed and breakfast in Rome. They decided to search the Internet to see what was available when an advertisement popped up about bed and breakfasts for sale.

They decided to look to see what was available and stumbled across the Munro House later on.

"I made the mistake of telling my wife I wanted to spend more time at home," Venturini joked and added he likes the 33 steps it takes to get to work.

He said the Munro House has had about 20,000 guests stay there from all 50 states and from 63 countries.

"I get to meet interesting people with interesting lives," Venturini said.

The normal day for Venturini consist of waking up at 6 a.m. and having breakfast ready by 7 a.m. He said the house is usually empty by 7:30 a.m. so he does the dishes and starts the laundry, while the housekeeper, Sara, cleans the rooms.

Venturini said he tries to get away during lunch, whether meeting his wife or friends for lunch or just getting out of the house.

Anywhere from 3 to 9 p.m. guests will arrive at the house and Venturini said he likes to greet them with a smile.  "B and B's are a better way to stay," Venturini said. "We're different."

He said his favorite part about having a bed and breakfast is meeting the people who come to stay.

"They are just the nicest people," he said. "Once we think we have met the nicest people, someone else comes along. I am never done being impressed."

Venturini said he appreciated Sandy White, who did all the leg work to get the Munro House nominated for the Governor's Tourism Award.

Copyright 2011 Hillsdale.net. Some rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.



Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

All Night Quilting Party at Trevathan's

Trevathan's Sweep and Sew Shop (517-437-5555) in Hillsdale is having an "Almost All Nighter Mystery Quilting Party" on Saturday, April 9, from noon to midnight. Bring your own sewing machine, a potluck dish, and enjoy creating a mystery quilt with other sewers and quilters. A team of sewing wenches will do your ironing for you, so all you have to do is sew and eat and have some fun. Trevathan's has a modern spacious classroom with high ceilings and lots of natural light, plus instructors who will help you through the project, when needed.

My wife, Lori, loves to sew. She has had a real nice sewing machine for years, but has only recently been using it creatively. Her Janome sewing machine does embroidery plus all of the special stitches. But what good is the fancy machine if you only use it for an occasional logo or just to fix tears and rips? So she went to Trevathan's Sweep and Sew Shop in Hillsdale and took some classes to learn how to use her machine.

Lately she has been quilting. Trevathan's has several quilting projects that have monthly objectives so that completion is in 12 months time. They provide all the clipped pieces, and you have to put them together. Lori is in the midst of quilts with themes that include Underground Railroad and Hobo. These projects began last year and will be finished to become Christmas gifts. Again, Trevathan's supplies the pieces in a kit that need to be sewn together as the project.

This mystery quilting project on April 9 will be an extra gift or something we will use ourselves. These classroom projects are great ways to be creative, to deal with stress, or to hang out with like-minded individuals. The class size is limited so reservations are required. Call Trevathan's at 517-437-5555 for more information and to reserve your spot in the classroom or to find what other sewing events are coming up.

Folks from out-of-town can get a nice place to stay at the Munro House in Jonesville. It's only about 10 minutes away and a carpool or caravan with Lori can get you there and back with ease. Tell us the secret word is "MYSTERY QUILT" when you make your reservation to stay with us and get your quilting kit for free.

Mike Venturini

Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper

"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Toasted Mud Pottery Studio in Hillsdale MI

Toasted Mud (517-439-1677) is a new art studio in downtown Hillsdale Michigan where everyone is invited to spend a few hours creating their own piece of artwork. Toasted Mud provides all of the materials necessary to create a unique piece of pottery. Ready-to-go pieces include plates, mugs, and cookie jars. They give you instructions on how to design your unique project and turn you loose. The classroom style studio is a fun venue where anyone can be creative or just spend quality time with friends and family creating an heirloom.

The studio is open every day plus Thursday and Friday nights. Reservations are recommended because space is limited. Groups of up to 50 people have reserved the studio for a day of comradarie and team building. This hands-on artistic and fun activity usually occupies a few hours of time in the initial portion of the project.

Your design is held until the day comes for it to be fired in a kiln to complete your unique glazed masterpiece. It can take a week or more to get your finished product, but the wait is well worth it to enjoy a piece of art that you created yourself. Toasted Mud is a great half day activity that guests of the Munro House will enjoy. Just 10 minutes away to a good time in Hillsdale.


Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

An Underground Railroad of History

The Hillsdale College Newspaper "The Collegian" interviewed me and wrote a nice article about the Munro House and its connection to the Underground Railroad.





Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Governor's Award for Innovative Tourism Collaboration

Accepting the Governor's Award for Innovative Tourism Collaboration in Michigan was Mike Venturini President of Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association and owner of Munro House B&B in Jonesville. The award honored the association's nine member inns who participated with Pure Michigan and website developer InsideOut Solutions to combine forces in creating an upgraded tourism presence in Michigan.

It started with the creation of a cutting edge website that integrated photos, links, and user friendly maps. It continued with the implementation of a successful and well-followed Michigan bed and breakfast blog, and a well used social media platform that contains regular postings to facebook and twitter.  e-marketing efforts through state tourism partner Pure Michigan gave us access to over 100,000 additional visitors who participate in their e-mail advertising campaign. An avalanche of publicity and goodwill was generated when 33 member inns participated in a national "B&Bs for Vets" campaign in November.

Our Association is all about Michigan says Keith Charak of Sherwood Forest B&B in Douglas. “Our bed and breakfasts stretch across this state, from the Keewenaw Peninsula on Lake Superior to Algonac on Lake St. Clair, from Oscoda on Lake Huron to Douglas and Saugatuck on Lake Michigan. We are the heart and soul of Michigan and always ready to open our doors to show people the warmth and hospitality theyʼd expect when they come for a visit.”

When you think about it, what is Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association (L2L) but a collaboration of small businesses that pool resources, including money, time, and talent, to obtain a level of tourism marketing and promotion (plus education and influence) that is not realistically possible for us to achieve on our own?

What do members get out of the partnership in an ordinary year? Barb Phillips of Dewey Lake Manor in Brooklyn, said “Dewey Lake joined L2L when we first opened 20 years ago -- didnʼt know much about it (or anything for that matter) but because it was a collaboration of the stateʼs B&Bs, I felt it gave us credibility and that we could learn lots from others, which we have. And the e-specials are an example of something that would be too expensive to do on our own but, working as a group we can promote all of us.”

Janice Duerr of the State Street Inn of Harbor Beach, said: “For the past ten years, we have looked to Michigan Lake to Lake Bed & Breakfast Association for guidance in many areas of innkeeping and operating a bed and breakfast, from marketing strategies, understanding state laws and new legislation that affects innkeepers and state tourism, to best business practices, proper business insurance and so many other topics.”

In 2010, we all pulled together in an extraordinary way on several fronts. These four cooperative initiatives are the basis on which we staked our bid to be recognized for contributing an “Innovative Tourism Collaboration” that benefits many organizations around the state and, most of all, the traveling public.




Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Saucy Dog's Barbeque Serves Hot Dogs, too

I find myself going to Saucy Dog's Barbeque Restaurant in Jonesville several times a week. Usually it's lunch with friends, or dinner with my wife. Today it was lunch.  I had a Clifford Hot Dog--spicy mustard BBQ sauce, plus onions and relish on a home made bun. When a hot dog comes with a knife and fork, you know they didn't skimp on the ingredients. I managed to eat it in the traditional way--using just my hands--and also enjoyed the home made potato chips and a bottomless glass of Pepsi.

Great things about Saucy Dog is it is just 2 blocks from my house and the food is unique, delicious, consistent, and fast. The prices are reasonable and the staff is nice.

Another good thing is that I always run into someone I know at Saucy Dog. It is fun to be acknowledged and recognized by the owner, the staff, or local patrons. Even my guests at the Munro House often run into someone they know--the other guests in the house, or me!

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Romantic Weekend Getaway Ideas

The Munro House B&B in Jonesville, Michigan, has some good ideas for your romantic weekend getaway. The packages include privacy and intimacy.

The privacy part is easy. Jonesville is located in South Central Michigan about an hour South of Lansing at highways 12 & 99. When some people plan a getaway, they go where the crowd goes. In my opinion, those locations are more touristy than romantic. You can mix the two, but a true romantic getaway involves the kind of privacy that can be found in a small town, away from the crowds, and away from the kids. Just time together, one-on-one, with your lover.

Intimacy can be achieved when there are few distractions. A small town like Jonesville may fit perfectly, as there are no amusement parks, tourist attractions, or long lines. There are things to do and excellent restaurants at a slower pace. This small town Michigan inn caters to romance, can give you suggestions and will make all the arrangements for a wonderful getaway with just one phone call.

A sample weekend itinerary includes:

FRIDAY

3-6 pm -- Check-in and tour of our historic home

7 pm -- Casual fine dining for 2 at Johnny T's Bistro

9 pm -- Video movie from our collection, popcorn, and relaxing Jacuzzi tub for 2 in your room

SATURDAY

8:30-9:30 -- Enjoy a big country style breakfast

10:30 am -- One hour massage for both of you in a private room onsite

1 pm -- Lunch at Saucy Dog's Barbeque

2-5 pm -- Browse hundreds of dealers in Allen, the Antique Capital of Michigan

7 pm -- Casual fine dining at the best restaurant in Hillsdale County--Olivia's Chop House

9 pm -- After dinner choice of movies at Premiere Theater

SUNDAY

8:30-9:30 -- Enjoy another country style breakfast

11 am -- Check out and farewells

Noon -- Wine Tasting in Southeastern or Southwestern Michigan, Outlet shopping in Angola, Indiana, or a nature trip to Hidden Lake Gardens near Brooklyn, Michigan

OPTIONS

Dozen Roses Floral Arrangement - nothing says "I Love You" better than roses

Chocolate Truffles - Indulgent, sexy, romantic

Spa Services - Manicure, Pedicure, Facial - Pamper her, and guys like it, too!

Golf - Spend time outside on a beautiful local course

We organize a lot of getaway packages at the Munro House in about 15 minutes. You can pick from our list of packages or we can create something special, just for you, on any day of the week. A wonderful romantic getaway is just a phone call away.


Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Caffe Azzurri New Restaurant in Hillsdale MI

Caffe Azzurri (517-437-7538) will be opening on Tuesday March 15, 2011. The restaurant is on the site of Hillsdale Golf and Country Club at 1990 Ash-te-Wette Drive on Lake Baw Beese just South of Hillsdale on highway 99. The restaurant is scheduled to be open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The main dining room features a view of beautiful Baw Beese Lake.

"Azzurro" is Italian for "blue" with "Azzurri" being the plural form, "blues". The restaurant has taken the blues theme for its location on a lake with a blue theme throughout their menu. A sneak peak at the menu shows interesting choices for lunch including Chicken Walnut Pesto on a Croissant and Grilled Shrimp Po-Boy along with other more traditional salads, burgers, and sandwiches priced at $6 and up. The dinner menu includes Filet Mignon, Lake Perch, and Veal Marsala along with a nice variety of steaks, poultry, seafood, and pasta. Most of the dinner selections are priced at $12-$16.

A full bar stocks a wide variety of beer, wine, and spirits. For dessert, they will be making their soon-to-be-famous Apple Bread Pudding plus house made ice cream.

Whether you spell it Cafe Azure, Cafe Azuri, or Cafe Azurri, make some time to welcome this new fine dining restaurant--Caffee Azzurri--to the shores of Lake Baw Beese in Hillsdale County.


Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Hillsdale College CCA The Great American Songbook

Hillsdale College regularly provides a forum for discussion about various topics of interest during its quarterly Center for Constructive Alternatives (CCA) program. A recent CCA at Hillsdale College was titled "The Great American Songbook". This topic discussed how American songwriters composed what has come to be known as the Great American Songbook. Influenced by Jazz, and written mostly for Broadway shows and Hollywood musicals, these songs are identifiably American and say something about our character. Songs written by the likes of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and others were made popular by some of our favorite American singers--Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nat 'King' Cole, Tony Bennett, and Billie Holiday.

Recent Hillsdale College CCA events have featured diverse themes that include the Korean War, the Art of Rhetoric, and the Great Society, plus Big Hollywood, How to Think About Islam, Cars and Trucks/Markets and Governments. Authors, editors, politicians, economists, entertainers, and military personnel participate as guest speakers in these diverse 3 day events at Hillsdale College that are open to the public, but require reservations. 

Famous guests have included former president Ronald Reagan, Rev. Jesse Jackson, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader, plus Clarence Thomas, P.J. O'Rourke, Ann Coulter, along with director Peter Bogdonavich and Actress Shirley Jones.

Lodging near Hillsdale College is limited for these special events, so many guests take the 7 1/2 minute drive to stay at the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville. Requests for more information about upcoming CCA events and invitations to these events can be coordinated by contacting CCA@hillsdale.edu.

 

View Hillsdale College to Munro House in Jonesville in a larger map



Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

The Perfect Spatula

I have been the chief breakfast short order cook at the Munro House B&B in Jonesville Michigan since 1999. I have served over 20,000 breakfasts. I offer eggs every day, plus an optional choice of Belgian Waffles, or French Toast, or Pancakes along with fruit, juice, and coffee. In all that time, I have preferred one spatula over all others. It is not from Pampered Chef or Rubbermaid or any of those high end kitchen utensil manufacturers. The perfect spatula in my kitchen comes from Tailor Made Products in Elroy, WI. I have preferred this spatula over all others for its size, weight, shape, flexibility, durability, and familiarity. I bought it back in the 1990's when we lived in Wisconsin and have used it virtually every day since. Oh, I've tried other egg turners, but this has been my favorite by far.

Today will live as a day of infamy in my house. It was today that I received an odd numbered order of egg dishes for breakfast. Usually, I make everything 2 at a time and use just 2 of my 4 stove top burners. Today I decided to use 3 of the 4 burners and cooked everything as ordered. In my routine to turn off the stove top, I switched off the burners I usually use and left the third burner on... with my perfect spatula resting on it.

I came back several minutes later to find the part of my perfect spatula that was touching the burner in a near-liquid state. I carefully removed it from the stove top with 2 hands and placed it under cold running water. The molten nylon immediately hardened and my perfect spatula was saved, but is not-so-perfect anymore.

In my haste to keep it near its original shape, I inadvertently let in harden at an opposite angle. Now the bottom is the top and the top is the bottom. My search has begun to get a replacement perfect spatula. I hope that Tailor Made Products in Elroy, WI, will sell me 1 spatula. If not, I hope that someone from Wisconsin will read this post, find the spatula at their local grocer, and send it to me before my imperfect spatula wears out.

Mike Venturini

Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper

"Life is good in Jonesville"

Munro House Bed and Breakfast

p.s. The folks at TailorMade Products read this blog and sent me 2 replacement spatulas that I received within a week of its original posting. I appreciate companies that stand behind their products and go out of their way to make consumers happy.

Thank you very much.

Mike

Olivia's Chop House in Jonesville MI Now Open

Olivia's Chop House (517-849-3663) in downtown Jonesville is officially open. We arrived for the grand opening on March 1, 2011, and enjoyed a great meal in a wonderful atmosphere. Their prime rib is slow cooked for 10 hours and is tender, juicy, and delicious. There is plenty of seating in a modern atmosphere, along with more intimate tables in the bar area, plus a private dining room and a banquet room. When the weather warms up, outdoor seating will also be available.

Currently, Olivia's Chop House is open just for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. There is a plan to offer Sunday Brunch in the near future with the possibility of expanded hours at some point.


Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast