I kind of dig REO Town. It's not Old Town, but I like that's it's not trying to be either. It has…read moreits own vibe. Just a quick skip across I-496 from downtown Lansing, the shops, salons, and eateries offer a small town feel as there's just enough walkability/bike access. However, it has plenty of edgy eclectic charm to balance the adjacent park and garden spaces making it an attractive location for many festivals. The anchors of the area include GM's Grand River Assembly Plant. the Board of Water & Light that occupies a former train depot, and several visual and performing arts hubs. The area has seen good BBQ, coffee, craft beer, New American, breakfast, and pizza but longevity continues to be a challenge. Even this month's review, REO Town Clubhouse, has gone through a change over the last 24 months having just been Ellison's Brewing Co. which we reviewed in August of 2023. REO Town Clubhouse took over a massive footprint on S. Washington and benefits from the previous facility upgrade work turning the warehouse into a brewhouse. The transition to the Clubhouse has been nothing short of extraordinary with modern lighting, seating, and décor in abundance. Marketed as an Italian restaurant, pizza shop, event space, and pool hall, REO Town Clubhouse aims to have a lasting place in the area and serve as a new anchor for entertainment. Walking in and you will be immediately taken aback by the sheer vastness. To the left, you'll find the upstairs event space, which is spacious and lovely, as is the main dining room on the first floor. To the right sits the pool hall, which is also quite large offering sharks and beginners alike enough room to run the table. In the middle sits the pizza shop with its rounded stone hearth oven shrouded in beautiful teal tile. What's Uneven? The brunch menu is intriguing, offering many traditional American breakfast items and others with a more Italian flare. I arrived around 11 on a Sunday morning with my much better half and the littlest of my daughters, having seen the brunch service started at 9 AM on REO Town Clubhouse's own social media. We walked into a mostly empty restaurant and a service crew that seemed to be scrambling to find their sea legs as coffee had not yet been brewed and the waitstaff, while very pleasant, reminded me of a team that hadn't yet had their first cup of coffee yet either. The food was also fairly uneven. My Biscuits and Gravy ($15) was quite tasty. The gravy was creamy and savory with notes of black pepper and the biscuits were dense enough to stand up to the gravy but not sit too heavy afterwards. The golden fried potatoes were crispy, and the sausage patties were large and packed with sage flavor. My much better half enjoyed a Bloody Mary ($9) that had a Caprese skewer atop the glass. She also ordered the Sweet Crespelle Crepes ($15) that looked better than they tasted. The lemon curd overpowered the palette, and the Sugar Cured Ham ($4) is an absolute waste of protein and money. Limp and lifeless with not a single hint of sugar to be found nor a streak of a sear on the meat itself. What's Better I met a mentor/friend/colleague for lunch and had a much better experience. We both ordered the Lunch Pasta Combo. The Caesar salads were fresh and plentiful, especially to be part of lunch combos. I had the Spaghetti and Meatballs ($14) and though the crushed tomatoes will never be my favorite, the meatballs were large and packed with layers of garlic, herbs, and parmesan cheese. The pasta was a bit overcooked, but the dish overall was solid. My companion ordered the Chicken Alfredo ($16) and said it was one of the best she'd ever had. Thick and creamy alfredo sauce was a yummy revelation. The chicken was more well done than I typically care for but spot on for her. She wanted me to be sure to relay that she would return at least 17 times. Best Bite The Fried Shrimp ($16) with a Calabrian pepper sauce were very good. The breading on the shrimp had been fried hard enough to withstand the oil and butter-based bath in which they rested. The sauce was tasty and perfectly spicy for lunch.

I've brought my other half here for dinner twice! Our first time, we were impressed with quality…read moreservice though the food could have used more seasoning. Service was so good I'd give 4/5 for the first visit, even with bland food. Our second trip was substantially better. A bottle of wine, an app, two entrees, plus an exceptional server. Reese (sp) provided just the right amount of attentiveness. 5/5. Will be back.

We have visited Lansing Shuffle several times. Each time we have enjoyed the atmosphere, options,…read moreand prices. On this particular instance we attended a "roadtrip" event. For a cover charge you got to sample nice sized portions from each location. The MC was hilarious, the DJ fantastic, it was open to everyone. It was an all around good time! The parking can be a major annoyance but once you find a space it's worth it! I do wish that there were table wipes readily available since the tables turn over so quickly but don't always get wiped down between patrons.

Great location right on the river. The indoor space has shuffle games and a few other activities…read morelike corn hole. My only beef is $6 to park for an hour when there is no event and parking lot is empty! Lots of different cuisine to choose from. The crab nachos were insanely good. We really loved the tikka masala as well. Everyone was so friendly and helpful while we walked around and tried to decide what to eat.

What an absolutely wonderful nature center! There are so many nooks & crannies to this space and…read morejust so much educational learning to be had here. I came here in the winter and really loved walking the trails throughout the center. It helped that one of my friends, Dan, manages the programs here and would point out all the cool trees, plants, and general history as we walked along. He truly made my first time at Woldumar so memorable and his passion for this nature center truly shines through in everything he does - even when he's off the clock just showing boring ol' me around! I've heard so much of all the work Dan has put into this place over the years and he truly makes Woldumar shine bright for all those who come and visit, whether for an afternoon or for a summer-long program! I imagine this place overrun with kids and adults alike when the weather is great and can only imagine how much fun it would be to experience this place in the summertime. There is truly something for everyone here and definitely recommend this if you're looking for a low-key place where not a ton of people will be with some majorly high-key fun and exploration!

Our family loves WNC! Snow shoeing the winter trails is magical and one of our favorite traditions!read more

If zero stars were possible, that's exactly what this venue would get from us. Our wedding day took…read moreplace in a truly beautiful setting, and if not for the endless issues with the staff, it would have been a perfect five-star experience. My wedding day should have been a joyful, worry-free celebration, and while my incredible coordinator and wedding party worked tirelessly to shield me from issues, the venue's rude and unprofessional behavior added unnecessary stress and frustration for everyone involved. Throughout the day, the venue staff acted with an astonishing lack of respect toward my coordinator, who was repeatedly interrupted and questioned about matters that had already been addressed. One of the most disruptive issues revolved around our dog (a well-behaved pug, who napped half the time he was there). He had been present at pre-event meetings, and nothing was ever mentioned about restrictions on him being there. Yet, on the day of the wedding, the venue staff fixated on him, even though he was only briefly there. The staff repeatedly pestered not only our coordinator but also our other vendors--including our photographer and bartender--to "confirm the plan" regarding the dog, over and over. My coordinator handled this graciously, keeping me blissfully unaware, but the venue's disruption and hostility were completely unwarranted. To make matters worse, the venue's staff began to hound my coordinator about our departure time early in the evening, despite our clear timeline and previous agreements. They insisted on last call announcements as early as 9:30 p.m. and returned multiple times to "remind" everyone that we needed to be out by midnight, making us feel unwelcome long before the event was even close to ending. There was no help or hospitality, either. Basic requests were met with resistance--when we needed additional trash bags, they refused to replace full ones and only begrudgingly provided a bag at the end of the night after the groom attempted to make peace. Simple requests, like unlocking the door or providing a bandaid were met with irritation, as though we were inconveniencing them. On top of this unprofessional behavior, they withheld $100 of our deposit solely because of our dog, even though he'd been present at previous meetings without issue. Additionally, and most shockingly, one of the staff even insulted my sister-in-law, calling her an inappropriate name. Had my coordinator and wedding party not gone above and beyond to handle all of this quietly, my day would have been overshadowed by these issues. But no couple should have to endure this type of treatment, and no one should ever have to rely on their wedding party to absorb such poor behavior from a venue. I cannot recommend this place to anyone seeking a respectful, cooperative environment on their wedding day, no matter how beautiful the setting.

Our wedding reception was held here. The experience was awesome. The staff was very helpful and…read morefriendly. Our reception ran very smoothly with no mishaps. We are so happy that we decided to go with the Cadillac Room. There was no better choice!

Didn't get any pictures. But this place was awesome!! The bartender she was amazing!! Drinks were…read morestrong and not expensive. Line went pretty fast. Owner was cool! Food from what i remember was good lol. Definitely would go again. We went to the area for Krampus.

I like this cozy venue, it's small intimate serves, food, alcohol, and beer…read more They have many different Acts from comedy to music. I would say that the food and drinks are reasonably priced.

Think Space is a fantastic venue to hold a meeting of any kind! Work Meeting, Board Meeting,…read moreNon-Profit Meeting, Book Club; you name it, Think Space will make it a wonderful experience. The staff made sure the event was prepared for success. Our experience could not have been better & I highly recommend Think Space for your next meeting space!

From the owner: Think Space is a unique business meeting and retreat center focused on providing you a creative and…read moreamazing experience. We have spent countless hours in dull conference rooms struggling to stay awake and wishing there were a better way to energize our meetings and improve results. That's why we created Think Space, where new ideas are born. We believe when you combine the right elements, inspiration and creativity ensue. We have those key ingredients - a passionate team of innovators, a historic building on the banks of the Grand River, and a focus on creativity, flexibility, and comfort. Think Space is specifically designed to help your team have fun and productive meetings. Whether you seek to invent the next great product or you simply want to energize a training session, Think Space is your destination for something different.

What an amazing atmosphere and the FOOD WAS OUTSTANDING!!! The service was great and the mimosas…read morewere tasty. Highly recommended

What's Good This is the kind of place I generally root for…read more Locally owned, attention to ambience and identity, a focused menu that doesn't try to do too much, and an effort to make you feel welcomed. Batter Up Bistro reminds me of several places I've visited in New Orleans with a jazz trio playing ragtime as I enjoyed brunch and maybe a midday Hurricane cocktail. The interior is rustic chic while still being warm and inviting and I really enjoyed the beverages I ordered. The Apple Crisp Latte ($8) I ordered for my breakfast visit was hot and made me feel even more cozy. Apple simple syrup paired with house coffee blend and oat milk with notes of cinnamon was very pleasing to the palette without been blown away by apple flavor. The Baron ($15) was a pre-dinner cocktail with whiskey, ginger beer & liquor, almond bitters, and a hickory smoked finish. It was strong, but not breathtaking, a well-balanced flavor profile. What's Really Good Dinner service was suitable even if a bit slow, especially given the few diners that were also in attendance that evening. The bar tender was also waiting tables and while he was capable and hospitable, he clearly had too much on his plate running the front of house solo. I started with the Sea Scallop appetizer ($17). Three substantial scallops with a dill forward dusting sit atop a lovely, creamy parsnip puree. The puree was slightly sweet and the microgreens that were likely intended more as a garnish offered a nice textural note. The scallops were cooked uneven if I'm being honest where only one out of the three had a desirable brown crust and the other two were grayer. Dinner went up several notches with the Pan-seared Salmon ($32) which I ordered blackened. The fish was tender and flaky, and the blackened seasoning was right on target. The salmon paired quite well with the roasted Brussels sprouts, which themselves had a lovely char, and the wild rice. I also appreciated the accompanying blackberries which offered a touch of sweetness without compromising earthiness. Best Bite My first visit was a bit lonely as I was the only patron dining on a Thursday mid-morning. Perhaps the previous day's snowfall had scared others away, but I was itching to get out and about finding the breakfast selections a respite from winter's doldrums. I ordered the Eggs Benny ($20) with perfectly poached eggs atop their delightful house baked toast which was dense enough to hold up the thinly sliced ham, eggs, microgreens, and herbaceous hollandaise sauce. The sauce was rich and creamy with a pleasant punch of lemon and dill. The dish is served with garlic and herbed red skin breakfast potatoes and they were a hit. Also, a star was the side of thick cut bacon ($8) which was smokey and a perfect medium cook. Chef Cari came out to express her gratitude for my visit, which only made me wish more folks had joined me that day.

Such a cute place to get a tree a the train ride to Santa's cabin is amazing. Such a great time…read morewith the family

This was our first year for the Santa Experience. We took our four kids, 6yrs-8yrs at 7pm on…read moreWednesday. What an amazing experience. It was so pretty, all lit up. The staff was beyond friendly and gave very clear instructions. The trains were running about 20 minutes behind but the kids were running around, petting animals, playing on the playground. A lot of things to see even in the dark. The train ride was very magical for them. Most legit looking Santa I've seen in a while! Each family (only four cars on the train) had time to take pictures. Free cocoa by the fire, while waiting for the train to come back, was perfect!