Marcella's Live 50's Show in Jonesville

Our gang walked to Marcella's in Jonesville for ice cream on Friday night.  The Munro House B&B is located just 2 blocks away.  To our delight, they had organized some local talent to put on a half hour 50's show while we enjoyed their hand-scooped ice cream.

The folks at Marcella's have been providing entertainment for quite a while now. It is a quality performance by local multi-generational talent. I was impressed by the song selection, the harmonies, the step routines, and the audience participation that is incorporated into this free show. 

This ensemble performs three sets on most Friday and Saturday nights at 7, 8 and 9 o'clock. It's a very enjoyable way to relax after dinner, go out out for ice cream, or to introduce the kids to live entertainment. The show is "free", but many shows are "sold out" as there is a limited amount of seating available.  A meal or refreshment is expected from all patrons, and you are encouraged to leave a gratuity in the tip jar for the performers.  It is always best to call ahead and reserve seating for the show of your choice.  (517) 849-2697.

Marcella's in downtown Jonesville is now a full service restaurant, with live entertainment on select weekends. In addition to panini, Marcella's now offers deli style sandwiches, burgers, and Italian pasta dishes 7 days a week.

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

Marcella's Free Disney Show Near Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast

There is a shop in downtown Jonesville that specializes in coffee and pasta. It is called Marcella's.  These folks also run the hand-dipped ice cream parlor next door.   Both are located just 2 blocks from the Munro House Bed and Breakfast.

During the month of July, the staff along with some local talent put on a free show on Friday and Saturday nights at 7, 8, and 9 p.m.  This month is their 2nd Disney production that lasts about 30 minutes. It is an excellent show complete with Mouseketeers, singing, choreography, and audience participation.

I am a big fan of their ice cream. Blue Moon is my favorite of the Mackinac Flavors Brand Ice Cream that they feature. There's nothing like a cool refreshing dessert and some quality live entertainment on a hot summer night just a short walk from the place you're staying for the weekend.

The ensemble has developed some wonderful harmonies along with plenty of solo performances of some very familiar Disney songs.  Some well-choreographed dance steps throughout the entire show make it an audio and visual experience.  The polished production is delivered exceptionally well by the multi-generation cast. 

Our guests have returned from their night out and told me that they totally enjoyed the show.  They were impressed at the quality of the show--expecially because it was free and just a couple blocks away.  More live entertainment is planned for the month of August. 


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

Chicago Water Grill is Being Rebuilt

Construction has begun to build a new restaurant in downtown Jonesville.  A horrific fire destroyed May's Furniture Store and the Chicago Water Grill around Thanksgiving in 2009. Delays have turned back the project that was originally scheduled to begin on June 1. But here it is, July 15, and construction has begun. Wayne Babcock, owner of the restaurant, is rebuilding a state of the art facility that will occupy the space of both former businesses. Architects will work to make the restaurant fit in to the historic feel of the downtown area.  The new building is scheduled to have a banquet room for large parties, a private dining room for meetings and smaller gatherings, plus a larger dining area for the restaurant along with outdoor seating.  The new restaurant has not yet been named, but Wayne will use the location and history of the town to come up with something that is identifiable and appropriate.


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

Veteran Motor Car Club of America (VMCCA) visits Jonesville Michigan

A group of vintage automobile enthusiasts set up a tour of the tri-state area (Michigan-Indiana-Ohio) for a week of fun. They trailered their vehicles and met up in Fremont, Indiana. From their headquarters, they made day trip to visit cool places within 100 miles in their cool old cars. More than 50 members of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America made the trek to enjoy mid-America.

The car museums in Auburn, IN, Shipshewana, IN, and Spring Arbor were highlights for the drivers. But all enjoyed their trips for a meal in Turkeyville, tours of the historic cities of Marshall and Jonesville, plus the wood working place in Ohio that we know as Sauder Village.

The leaders, Rich and Jan, had been planning this trip since 2009. Arrangements were made to tour many places including the Historic Munro House Bed and Breakfast and the Grosvenor House Museum in Jonesville. In addition to being the oldest house in Hillsdale County, the Munro House was also used as a station on the underground railroad. These and more historic tales were enjoyed by the drivers and their passengers.

You can see all 26 pictures of these vintage automobiles on my facebook page.


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

Freedom Memorial at Sunset View Cemetery in Jonesville Michigan

The Freedom Memorial in Jonesville Michigan was the site of a well-attended service on Memorial Day. Hundreds of locals turned out as fallen local soldiers from the Vietnam War era were honored.

Guest speakers from different branches of the military spoke about honor, duty, and sacrifice. They reminded the crowd of the need to acknowledge the job soldiers do to allow freedom to exist in our country and in many other places around the world

The Freedom Memorial is located at the Sunset View Cemetery on highway 12 at the East end of Jonesville. The memorial was conceived, funded, and built over a very short period of time for its completion in 2008. It is an ideal site for a gathering of a good size crowd remembering soldiers who gave their life in the line of duty.


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

Memorial Day Parade and Service Jonesville Michigan

The Memorial Day parade in Jonesville Michigan is a small one, but the Memorial Service at the Freedom Memorial is awesome. The parade began promptly at 9:00 a.m. on May 31, 2010 and the Memorial Service was complete following the parade by 10:15 a.m.



The 21 gun salute, the firing of the artillery cannon, and the playing of "taps" completed the ceremony as military veterans from current and past conflicts were honored. Soldiers from Hillsdale County who gave their lives during the Vietnam conflict were honored.




Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
Munro House B&B - Jonesville MI
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Lodging for NASCAR Races at Michigan International Speedway (MIS)

Once again, the NASCAR races are coming to Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, MI for two events--one in June and one in August.  The track has seating for about 140,000 fans, but there is lodging available for nowhere near that amount.  So race fans who want to make it a long weekend have to choose an alternate plan. The local hotels, motels, and B&Bs are usually filled with race teams, vendors, and other workers, so a bit of travel or a camping experience is what many fans choose.

The Munro House Bed and Breakfast is located about 30 minutes due west of the track on highway 12 in downtown Jonesville. Comfortable lodging in a historic home can be a great alternative lodging choice for couples wishing to enjoy the race weekend at MIS and spend some time away from the crowds.

There are many restaurants and stores in the area. This makes Jonesville a very good choice of headquarters for NASCAR race weekends in Southern Michigan. Businesses welcome race fans and provide Midwestern hospitality to folks from all across the country.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Geocache Found at Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast

Once again, geocachers were seen searching through the bushes in front of the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville, Michigan. They found the treasure and were signing the log book when they were greeted by Mike Venturini, the innkeeper.

It turns out that Lilly and her sister were on their first Geocaching adventure and were excited that the cache was easy to find and had some cool stuff inside to trade. They chose to take the rubber snake and a bouncy ball and left some stickers and a cool necklace.  As their mom said, "all treasures need to have some jewelry".

There are currently over 1,000,000 geocaches hidden near interesting locations all around the world. One is right outside this Michigan Bed and Breakfast. It's easy to find and is a fun activity for anyone with a GPS device.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Underground Railroad History of Jonesville MI Tour by Williams Elementary School

The 4th grade students at Williams Elementary School in Jonesville, Michigan, take an annual field trip to tour the Munro House Bed and Breakfast. Legend has it that Munro House was once used as a Station on the Underground Railroad and hid over 400 runaway slaves for at least one day on their journey to freedom in Canada. The tour can last from 20 to 45 minutes--depending on time constraints. 

The elementary school students are invited to walk into what is left of a tunnel that was once over 150 feet long. Only about 30 feet of the tunnel remains and it is currently used as a landing to the basement.  Additionally, Munro House has a secret room that allegedly hid hundreds of runaway slaves over a 15 year period preceeding the American Civil War. A photo array shows several views of the hideaway that is large enough for thirty 4th graders to stand in. Unfortunately, to let 30 kids go up there would be an exercise in futility.  Only 2 people have been up there in the last 11 years.  The pictures are a much better alternative.

The Munro House can arrange tours of the house for various size groups.  Thirty kids or twenty adults at a time would be about the limit. Weekdays are preferred and Sunday afternoons are O.K., by appointment only. A group of 53 car club enthusiasts are coming by in waves next month. They love their old cars and they enjoy the historic tales of cool old buildings, too.

In addition to the tales of the Underground Railroad, the tour guides also tell about the history of Jonesville, early pioneers in Hillsdale County, and the tribe of Pottawatomie Indians who originally lived in the area. It happens that George Munro, the namesake for the house, was a local politician, businessman, and entrepreneur with many interesting stories of early Michigan settlers and politics. The legacy of his deeds are some of the foundations upon which Jonesville was built. Munro House has historic significance because it is the oldest house in Hillsdale County (circa 1834) and has a "new" addition that is the first brick building in Hillsdale County (1840).


Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Jonesville Riverfest River Festival

The annual Riverfest celebration in Jonesville, Michigan, is traditionally held on the weekend following Mother's Day.  In 2010 it will be held May 14-16 and features fun, food, and festivities. The fun stuff includes a triathlon, canoe races, and a 3 on 3 basketball tournament. The food features the fire department BBQ, sidewalk vendors, and local restaurants. The festivities include the fireman's waterball competition, an arts and crafts exhibition, car & bike show, live music at Saucy Dog's, cloggers, an hourly musical show at Marcella's Coffee House, plus tours of the Sauk Theater and the Grosvenor House Museum, along with the Domestic Harmony Duck Derby.

The river-themed triathlon features running, biking, and canoeing, and kicks off the weekend at 6:00 p.m. on Friday night. The canoe races run all day Saturday on the St Joseph River in downtown Jonesville with competitions in various categories with cash prizes for the top 3 finishers. Even the inexperienced can participate by renting a canoe, finding a partner, and joining the fun. The basketball tournament is held at the high school with early rounds of competition on Saturday morning and the finals on Sunday.

The River Rats have cleaned up the shoreline to help make Riverfest a pleasant experience for canoers and race-watchers. The events have attracted competitors from Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Canada. Riverfest began in 1974 and is enjoying its 36th annual celebration of River Fest in Jonesville.

Riverfest details and participation forms can be found online at Jonesville Riverfest.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Geocaching in Jonesville Michigan

Geocaching is an outdoor activity where people use a GPS (Global Positioning System) to find hidden treasures.  Now that GPS devices are smaller and more affordable, there seems to be more people participating in this activity around my house--the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville, Michigan.

Just having the GPS is not enough. First you have to find out where the cache is hidden.  That can be done by going on the internet to a website called Geocaching.com.  From there, you can type in your location and a list of hidden treasure coordinates will come up. They boast about having over a million active geocaches listed around the world.  You can then enter them into your GPS. A smart phone with a geocaching app can allow you to skip the logging on to the internet portion. Just call up your app and a list of caches near where you are will come up automatically.

Lately, I have noticed a lot of parents spending time with their kids looking for treasures during their Spring Break from school.  Kids like to get involved because the geocache containers have trinkets inside that you are allowed to take and replace with something of equal value. It is also a good way to explore your hometown or a place you are visiting. 

Back in 2005, a guest at the Munro House asked permission to place a geocache in my yard. At that time, I had no idea what he was talking about, but when he showed me, I knew it was a good idea.  It is an opportunity for me to make sure local folks know about my business and to let people from out-of-town know that there is an alternative lodging facility should they need a place to stay.  Either way, it is an opportunity to provide some good clean fun for adventurous spirits to occupy their time. I usually greet them when I notice they are milling around in my yard. When I have time, I also offer up a tour of my great old house.

Our cache is pretty easy to find (it's in the bush closest to the light pole).

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Hillsdale County Minister Weds Local Couples

A nice young couple wanted to get married, but were unafilliated with a church in Hillsdale County.  They also didn't want to do it at the courthouse with criminals, traffic violators, and people resolving disputes watching, so they called on Reverand Mike at the Munro House Bed and Breakfast to perform a private ceremony in a comfortable yet elegant setting in downtown Jonesville, Michigan. With 6 guests to witness the event, the marriage took place on a weekday afternoon followed by a toast to their longevity as a couple.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper & Minister
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Map of Michigan Looks Like a Mitten

Those of us who live in Lower Michigan have become accustomed to show people where we are by pointing to a spot on our right hand.  Our state is shaped like a mitten, so we, Michiganders, carry a map with us at all times.  The folks who live in the Flint-Tri Cities area refer to their portion of the state as "the Thumb" for obvious reasons.

I own the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville.  Not many people know where Jonesville is--even people who have lived in Michigan all of their lives.  It just happens that Jonesville is located approximately where 2 creases in my palm form an "X".  When I am out of town, and people ask me where I'm from, I just show them on my personal map and tell them that "X marks the spot".


Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Chicago Water Grill Is Gone, But It Will Be Back

A horrible fire in downtown Jonesville, Michigan, burned the Chicago Water Grill and May's Furniture Store in November of 2009.  Both businesses were a total loss and had stood charred and boarded up through the winter months.  In mid-March of 2010 the excavators came in and tore both buildings down. Now, the corner of Chicago and Water streets is empty.  All of the debris is gone and clean fill covers the area that once was home to two fine businesses.

Conversations with Wayne Babcock, owner of the Chicago Water Grill, has us looking forward to a larger restaurant that will occupy the site of both businesses.  There are still some issues that need to be resolved--including insurance, construction, financing, zoning, and the purchase of May's property.  The wheels are in motion to get agreements, proposals, and approvals to make the opening of the new grill a reality in November of 2010.  An addition to the business is the idea for outdoor seating along with a banquet room for private parties and live entertainment to complement the larger restaurant.

The Chicago Water Grill was definitely the cornerstone of downtown Jonesville.  As the owner of the Munro House Bed and Breakfast with a consistant flow of visitors from across the country and around the world, a great restaurant within 2 blocks had been a huge asset for virtually all of our guests.  Rebuilding the grill will be a welcome addition to Jonesville and all of Hillsdale County.


Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Elementary School Tour of Historic Home

The Munro House Bed and Breakfast is a historic home in downtown Jonesville, Michigan, that arranges private tours and shares tales of our local history. This pre Civil War home (1834) has a link to the Underground Railroad. The original owner, Brigadier General George Clinton Munro, was a pillar of the community and was very active in business and politics of the day. 

Every overnight guest gets to hear about the history of our house, and the family that owned it for over a hundred years.  We have also led many tours to private groups like Elder Hostel, the Red Hat Society, and elementary schools form all around Hillsdale County.  I try to keep it interesting and fact-filled.

This week, as a field trip for a group of local 5th graders, we are giving tours and telling stories about the early pioneers and the runaway slave route through Southern Michigan. The kids seem to be very interested in this piece of American history that has a link to our community.  They like being in this big old house,  walking into our stone walled tunnel, and viewing photographs of our secret room that was used to hide runaway slaves during the Underground Railroad era.

I would like the groups to be no larger than 15 adults or 25 children.  In the case of many schools, that means that I may have to offer several tours over several days and times to accommodate an entire class.  It also makes for a nice size group to take into what's left of our tunnel.

There are many great old houses in almost every city in America.  Most are private residences and are not open to the public on a regular basis.  The Munro House can be made available for private tours every month of the year.  A phone call can set up a day and time for any size group.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
1-800-320-3792

Winter Getaway in Michigan

Christmas is over, New Years has been celebrated, and the next holiday on the calendar is Valentine's Day. But is a winter holiday necessary to take a weekend getaway in Michigan?  Some people call it cabin fever when there is a desire to get out of town for a few days in January and February. The cure for this ailment could be a weekend getaway to an interesting bed and breakfast in a small South Central Michigan town.  I'm talking about my town, Jonesville.

Jonesville is located at highways 12 & 99 about 20 miles North of the Ohio, Indiana, Michigan border. Toledo, Battle Creek, and Kalamazoo are all about an hour away. Detroit and Fort Wayne are about an hour and a half from here.  Chicago, Cleveland, and Indianapolis are a 3 hour drive. Near or far, we try to provide a great experience with a reasonable drive time.

Here, at the Munro House, we offer onsite spa services 7 days a week. We have professionals who can provide a manicure, pedicure, facial, massage, body wrap, and waxing services. A day at the spa or just an hour of massage can provide a great cold weather pick-me-up or alternative to just sitting home.

A wide variety of eateries are available from fast food to fine dining to what US Today once claimed was the best hamburger in the world at Ray's in Reading.

The pace is slower around here. Traffic jams are virtually non-existant, the food is good, and there is a lot of antique shopping within 10 minutes. Allen is the "Antique Capital of Michigan" and is just 5 miles away on highway 12. Several antique malls boast a total of over 1,000 dealers who display their treasures in a climate-controlled atmosphere. Dishes, tools, signs, toys, books, and lots of memories can be found here. The inventory is constantly changing so  there will always be a new selection of goods to peruse and reminisce about with you family, friends, or mate.  I am partial to the big red barn know as the Allen Antique Barn, but there is a big selection at Allen Antique Mall, Capital Antiques, and Hog Creek Antique Mall.

For those who just want to sit back, relax, and enjoy their mate, we've got rooms with big double Jacuzzi tubs, rooms with fireplaces, and musical instruments that include a baby grand piano, accoustic guitar, mandolin, and ukele that our guests are welcome to use.  Our movie collection has hundreds of titles and Blockbuster is just a couple minutes away for our movie lovers.

Of course, I'm going to bake cookies and have soft drinks available all of the time.  We also make a big breakfast 7 days a week.  We are famous for Lori's Secret Recipe Belgian Waffles, but we offer other things for breakfast, too.  A big bowl of fresh cut fruit along with coffee and juice is offered every morning.

If a getaway to Southern Michigan is what you are looking for, we are open 7 days a week through all seasons and will be happy to accommodate your needs.  Find out for yourself why "life is good in Jonesville."


Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Chicago Water Grill Fire in Jonesville Michigan

A friend notified me of a fire at our favorite local restaurant, the Chicago Water Grill in Jonesville, Michigan. I ran downtown hoping that it was not true. My mind asked, how could there be a fire in a building that is not open on Sunday? I rounded the corner astounded to find the finest restaurant with the nicest staff and the tastiest menu engulfed in flames and smoke. As I watched, the fire moved next door to May's Furniture Store. The good news was that it appeared that the fire was confined to the attic area of the two businesses and because neither business was open, there were no injuries.

Many fire departments were on the scene. I saw vehicles from Jonesville, Hillsdale, Litchfield, Coldwater, Reading, Allen, Moscow, Montgomery, North Adams, and Somerset. Firefighters from these municipalities were working together to keep the fire from destroying the entire downtown.

Hundreds of people gathered across the street to watch the firefighters in action. Ground crews and ladder workers were keeping the fire from spreading. The big extension ladders from Hillsdale and Litchfield were put to good use, one in the front of the building and one in the back.

When an excavating vehicle was brought on the scene, it was evident that some of the building would have to be knocked down to control the spread of fire. The long armed wrecking machine brought down the back side of both businesses.

By 10 p.m. most of the firefighters had done their jobs and were heading home. I was told that some of them would have to pull an "all nighter" to be certain that a smoldering fire would not start up again. I am sure that downtown will have a totally different look and feel when I get up in the morning. My hope is that both businesses were insured and that both will be rebuilt in the near future. In the short term, both will be missed. In the long term, I hope their legacy will lead to a quick reconstruction.

The Chicago Water Grill has always been a great business partner to me at the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville, Michigan. I hope the future brings a rekindling of this relationship.



Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
Despite this disaster, "Life is good in Jonesville"

Halloween in Jonesville 2009

We decided to be Yoopers at deer camp for Halloween this year. It is a fun and simple idea that is very Michigan. Both of my parents are from the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan, so we were type cast for this role. Folks who live in the U.P. are called Yoopers and Deer Hunting Season is practically a holiday. We donned our red flannel one piece long johns, plus wore wool socks, boots, and a fur hat--simple.

With temperatures in the 40's and a brisk wind blowing, we were concerned about the turnout of trick or treaters on Halloween at our house. Living in a business does not allow us to turn our lights off when we run out of candy, so we had to be prepared for however many kids showed up at the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville, Michigan.

With a lousy forecast, but no rain, we really didn't know what to expect. Last year, under ideal weather condiditons, we treated about 650 chidren of all ages. I went to the store, chose the treats, read the number of servings, did the math, and bought candy for 720.

Lots of Ninjas and Princesses this year, as always, along with vampires and bloody accident victims. The more unusual costumes included the headless dad who watched from the corner Little Bo Peep and her poodle dressed as a sheep, and the masked wrestler. I like the group theme. This year we had 4 Indian Maidens, the rock band KISS, and a package of M&M's.

We stayed warm in our long johns, but felt the need to bring out a portable radiator that kept half of our bodies warm and also kept our fingers from freezing. At the end of the night, we figure that we had provided treats to about 575 trick or treaters in Jonesville.

Yup, Halloween is our favorite holiday.




Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"