New Years Eve Party in Michigan

It is New Years Eve. We are hosting a Murder Mystery Dinner Party at the Munro House in Jonesville, and it's 41 degrees outside. That is just too nice a day to not be able to enjoy because of work, so I took 30 minutes and rode my motorcycle around town. I got a snapshot of me in front of the time and temperature at the bank, in front of the Jonesville Water Tower, at the local gas station, and in the Wal-Mart parking lot. So this is my time capsule of what it was like on this day. The price of gas was reasonable, my town was progressive, the parking lots were full, and the weather was outstanding (for December). Now I've got a house full of nice people and everyone is having a good time. Lady Gaga will be on the countdown from Times Square. We'll pour champagne at midnight and I will have to work on day 1 of 2012. It is all good.  Life is good in Jonesville.

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

Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Girls Night Out Part 3-Cooking Party

Sylvia and her girlfriends had a murder mystery dinner and a spa day to begin their women's weekend getaway in Southern Michigan. Now it was time for the original Chef Night Cooking Party--a regular event we have been hosting for years. This is not a class, it is a party where teams of 2 work together to do their part in creating a feast. On this day, we created 11 dishes for all participants to enjoy--3 appetizers, 1 soup, 1 salad, 2 entrees with 2 side dishes, and 2 desserts.

Modern and classic music were played in the prep areas while a tight kitchen added to the fun. Everything but the salad needed to be cooked, but with just a standard 4 burner stove to cook all this food, some negotiating was in order. With everyone being an experienced cook, instructions were kept to a minimum while the hosts were on-hand to locate particular utensils and equipment. Because not all stoves or microwaves are created equal, there was a fair amount of help required to cook in the convection oven or to program the microwave.

The first appetizer came out in the first hour, while additional appetizers followed. The actual meal was served 3 hours after the start of the event. We ate like royalty from an uncommon menu. Bruschetta, seafood nachos, and cheddar bay biscuits are favorite starters that were well-received. Cream of asparagus soup and Greek salad comprised the next 2 courses. Chicken Lombardy and Shrimp Parmesan were flanked by lentil/rice pilaf and carrots Marsala. We finished the evening with fresh raspberry cobbler and Lori's Secret Recipe Crepes.

We went 11 for 11 with successful menu choices and chef expertise. Everything was great--but the bruschetta, chicken, and crepes were outstanding.

Many people do not cook from scratch anymore. Prepared foods are very common, very good, and very quick to prepare. Going "old school" with nothing prepackaged was a nice change. Cooking with a partner was another great experience that is becoming a forgotten art. We encourage camaraderie, patience, and new experiences at the Munro House. Interaction of diverse personalities while completing a common task is a fun way to have a hands-on, fun-time experience in our kitchen.

Our complete menu is titled "General Sylvia 11" and is online at food.com.


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

Girls NIght Out Part 1-The Naughty Murder Mystery Dinner

Sylvia plans a mystery trip for a girls getaway every year. She is the senior member of the troupe and makes all the arrangements. The rest of the women arrive without a clue of what is in store for them. When Sylvia makes a plan, people are drawn to her because with her vivacious attitude, there will be fun! Her style is contagious. We were infected when they first stepped foot into the Munro House, and we may never be the same.

What we know is that these ladies immediately became family, and we want to party with them. Their ages spanned several decades, but from their interaction, we knew they were all kindred spirits.

Day one was a private Murder Mystery Dinner. Eight ladies were suspects but only one of them was the murderess. They chose our naughty murder mystery for women only and transformed themselves from regular fun-loving gals to pole dancers, biker babes, and phone sex operators. All of this was done while being served a 5 course meal.

We can tell a quality murder mystery dinner by the amount of laughter coming out of the dining room. One of the ladies told us her ribs still hurt the next day from all of the laughing during dinner the night before--yeah, we were a very good fit for this group of women.

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

Bridal Shower in Jonesville

Nate and Kate are getting married in June. They brought the whole gang in from all around the country to have a bridal shower in a very nice private location. They chose the Munro House in Jonesville. The guests were invited, the budget was set, and an excellent party was held. The organizer of the party got to enjoy herself because the Munro House did all of the work.

15 guests enjoyed an intimate afternoon in a great old house with an excellent selection of food. Our best wishes are sent out to Nate and Kate for a wonderful and fruitful life together.

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

Green Bay Packers Super Bowl Party in Jonesville Michigan

My beloved Green Bay Packers are once again in the Super Bowl. Boasting a league record 12 NFL championship titles, this will be the Packers attempt at a 4th Super Bowl Lombardi Trophy named after their legendary coach Vince Lombardi.

I will be watching the Pack on our High Definition Big Screen TV and serving snacks and beverages throughout the game. Packer Party plus Bed and Breakfast is just $100 per couple.

Steelers fans are welcome too. Steelers party plus Bed and Breakfast is $200 per couple.


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

Something to Do on New Years Day in Michigan

New Years Day 2010 will be a better getaway holiday this year because it falls on a weekend.  Most everyone does something special for New Years Eve, but they just stay home on New Years Day to watch college football bowl games.  With New Years Day occurring on a Saturday, for a change, it is an ideal day for a winter getaway and do something different, interesting, and fun with your friend or lover.

Chef Night is an interactive cooking party being held on New Years Day at the Munro House in Jonesville, Michigan.  The kitchen will be open at 3:30, so all guests must arrive by 3:00.  Reservations are required. The event lasts about 6 hours and nobody has to drive home because everyone is spending the night.

In our busy lives, there is seldom time to prepare a 3 course meal for our own families. On Chef Night, regular people help to prepare a 7 course feast for themselves and other guests (up to 14!) with helpful instructions available from the hostess.  This year's theme is "international". Food from across the country and around the world will be prepared by 2 person teams of amateur chefs. Favorite and familiar dishes will be served along with tempting and exotic selections that are just not available on many menus in any restaurant. Past favorites and new selections from several continents will be produced on the first day of the year.

Many guests have chose to dress-up in a theme from the country of their choice. We've seen togas, lederhosen, leis, and more.  With Austin Powers being the International Man of Mystery, and this being an international food menu, 60's fashion is the suggested dress-up theme.  Some guests find it more festive to create a "look" for the day, and some people create a new look just by putting on an apron.

The 6 hour interactive cooking and eating food party costs $299 per couple and includes bed and breakfast.  It's a one night package with limited availability. Mention this blog post and give us the secret word "YEAH BABY, YEAH" to get a voucher for 10% off of this one night package only. 7 days notice required.

Mike Venturini

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

Murder Mystery Dinner at Munro House

November is our Michigan Murder Mystery Month and another successful Murder Mystery night occurred over the weekend. 11 guests, mostly from the Detroit area, took the 100 mile drive to the Munro House in Jonesville to spend an evening of adult activity in this small Southern Michigan town. Fun, frivolity, and a feast were provided to like-minded people for an in-house getaway weekend.

Our guests were age 24 and up. The younger crowd was a little leery of what to expect. They had never been to a bed and breakfast before and had never taken part in a murder mystery. Upon meeting the older crowd, they all melded and spent the evening enjoying each others' company while laughing, eating, and trying to figure out who-done-it.

It quickly became evident that our games are not too serious. We bring people together and put them in a setting where they can have fun with other adults without the pressure of actually having to figure out the crime.  We started out with an appetizer of shrimp cocktail accompanied by a nice variety of Michigan wines. This night's selection were from St. Julian's and Leelanau Cellars. The beauty of hosting a murder mystery at a bed and breakfast is that everyone can have as good a time as they want to have and no one has to worry about driving home--because everyone is spending the night.

Our award winning harvest soup was followed by our house salad--the secret ingredient is caramelized blanched almonds.  A beef tenderloin was accompanied by roasted potatoes, and our peppers and beans vegetable mix. The interactive game was played while dinner was served and consumed.

Lori's butter cream frosting coated the devil's food cake. Dessert was served while the guests discussed clues that accused just about everyone at the table for having done the deed. In the end, it was not about figuring it out, it was about acting silly, wearing funny hats, and spending time with new friends.

Mike Venturini

Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper

"Life is good in Jonesville"

Munro House Bed and Breakfast

New Years Eve Ideas in Michigan

New Years Day becomes a getaway night when it falls on a weekend.  In 2010, New Years Eve falls on a Friday, so New Years Day is a Saturday, making it a great weekend for 2 nights of winter festivities. 

At the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville, we are celebrating with our 12th annual Murder Mystery Dinner on New Years Eve and the original Chef Night Cooking Party on New Years Day. 

We have hosted hundreds of Murder Mysteries since the 90's. We have thrown away the boxed games and have found a variety of scripted games for various sized groups. After taking the games for a test run, we only play the ones that are fun. There must be interesting characters, amusing dialogue, and solvable puzzles to be a murder mystery worthy of playing at our house. Our murder mystery dinner party lasts about 3 hours. 

Chef Night is a cooking party that we have developed that incorporates interesting recipes, a mixture of flavors, a bit of instruction, and serious interaction between amateur chefs.  Several two person teams prepare portions of an atypical meal of diverse flavors using recipes from around the world which are consumed by all participants in a fun and cooperative atmosphere. There is about 6 hours of preparation and consumption in this interactive cooking party.

This two night New Years Eve package is a great way to say "goodbye" to 2010 and "hello" to 2011.

Mike Venturini

Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Baptism Celebration in Jonesville

A miracle baby was the occasion for a celebration at the Munro House in Jonesville.  The baby was baptized at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hillsdale and a christening party was hosted at this Michigan bed and breakfast. 

A selection of hors d'oeuvres were selected for the open house party, and 25 friends and family welcomed the new addition in the comfort of the oldest house in Hillsdale County.

 
The Munro House is a Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast that hosts private parties in addition to providing the most comfortable lodging in the area.  Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and Christmas parties are offered in a private, elegant setting.
 

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

Tea Party in Hillsdale County

The Munro House Bed and Breakfast in downtown Jonesville was the site of the latest tea party in Hillsdale County. No politicians were there to speak and the subject of taxes never came up.  This was a real tea party for young people celebrating a birthday. They came all dressed up for the celebration and were given access to a collection of hats to complete their ensembles. 

 

Mike Venturini hosted the party and played the role of butler to these fine young bebutants.  Dressed in a tuxedo, he became servant for the day while the young ladies enjoyed cake and ice cream with lemonade.  They took advantage of Butler Mike and had him perform menial tasks all through the party.

 

This event was not complete until the girls performed a fashion show for the parents in attendence.  With hip-hop music playing, the ladies moved down the catwalk, twirled, and showed off their outfits while a prepared script describing their formal wear was recited by their host. 

 

The gift exchange was full of oohs and ahhs as the birthday girl got some nice presents. No one left empty-handed as the attendees also received gifts for attending the party. Lots of smiles and laughter were eminating from the parlor as the ladies enjoyed each other's company.

A trip to the Munro House is not complete without a full tour.  The girls went from room to room while interesting stories about the history of the house and of Hillsdale County were told. They were almost unanimous in voting Sara's Room as their favorite.

A nice alternative for young people to have a birthday party is when they get to dress up and become ladies for a few hours in a great old house that welcomes kids.  Sunday afternoon is almost always the best day to have a private event for up to 12 children ages 6 and up.

Mike Venturini - Innkeeper

"Life is good in Jonesville"