Amazing food options! Plenty of seating and accommodations. Overall a great place to be!read more

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.

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.

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.

My partner and I went to REO Town Clubhouse for 517 Restaurant Week and had a great sandwich! We'll…read moredefinitely be going back to check out more of their offerings and hopefully to play a little pool. Service was quick and friendly. Inferior is really cool. Will update this review once I've had more chances to visit the Clubhouse. Give them a try!

Batter Up Bistro in Lansing was a great find. I had the pear spiced margarita, which was…read moreexcellent--great flavor with just the right amount of spice--and paired it with the spicy BLT sandwich. The sandwich had a nice kick and was absolutely worth ordering again. I also had the opportunity to meet the owner, which made the experience even better. You can tell there's a lot of pride behind this place. Great atmosphere, friendly people, and the kind of spot where you can grab a good meal and a drink and actually hang out for a while. Definitely a 5-star stop in Lansing. I'll be back the next time I'm in town.

Met up some friends in the middle of MI and they picked out this restaurant on a whim. Beautiful…read moreand homey spot. Very clean and everyone who worked there was so kind and eager to help with our table of 8. The chef/owner came out to chat about our friends adorable baby and gush about her new grandson. very precious interaction. The menu has OPTIONS and literally everything our party had looked amazing. I got the bed head BLT and the bacon was so thicc I want it every day of my life. The bread was hearty and a little more toasted than preferred, but better that than soggy. I think the crusty bread just made it harder to eat. (But we made it work HA! So yummy) the potatoes had so much flavor, rosemary which I loved but some of the kids in the party did not care for. My partner got the breakfast nook and it was pretty simple and tasty. The fruit and yogurt bowl was a hit and looked incredibly fresh. The naan plate also got good reviews. We would go back if we're ever randomly in Lansing again. Plus we love to support a woman owned business!

The following is a text from my best friend and former roommate, Shoe. We've known each other since…read morewe were six, so she's allowed to hit me with my most embarrassing moments of all time without needing forgiveness. Shoe: "I saw a TikTok yesterday where someone talked about getting so drunk that they peed in their closet at 3 AM, and it reminded me of that time you got drunk, woke up in the middle of the night, and relieved yourself on that pile of clothes on your floor at Stormy Garcia (the name we gave our apartment based on its previous occupant). Oh, good times. Anywho, happy holidays!" Oddly, this story has been coming up a lot lately. Before you hear it from someone else, I'd like to go on record. This is my 8 Mile B. Rabbit vs. Papa Doc final rap battle story. The prelude is a little foggy, as this happened nearly twenty years ago and there was alcohol involved. I came home trashed from whatever Wicker Park hipster dive bar I chose to be over-served at that particular night and immediately passed out in my twin bed. I remember having a very vivid dream about needing to pee, but being far too tired to walk the five steps across the narrow hallway to the bathroom right outside my room. I had the brilliant idea to just go on the floor, squatting off the side of my bed. This is genius. I should do this more often. Great idea. I'll just give it a quick Swiffer in the morning. Everyone's gonna be doing this. Zzzzz. When I woke up, I was dry, fully clothed, but something was suspiciously off. I never have dreams that are as clear as that. It's normally an H.R. Pufnstuf bowling-alley strike-screen jumble--. I had, in fact, gone off the side of my bed but into a laundry basket full of my clothes. Not just any clothes. Clothes that had been recently laundered, folded, and had just been minding their own business, waiting to be put away. I remembered this godawful moment for the next nineteen years with a shiver of mild embarrassment. One day, absolutely out of the blue, I reconnect with an old friend. The kind with benefits, backdoor privileges, and a copy of my apartment key at the time. He recounts the exact same story with vivid details, not because I had shared this with him previously, but because he was a primary source. He was in the bed with me, trying (feebly) to dissuade me, and then forced to watch while this all transpired. How the hell did I block that part out? "But I know something about you. You went to Cranbrook. That's a private school." I still don't know what this information was meant to accomplish. As if private education was going to un-do the laundry basket. The Avenue in downtown Lansing reminds me of this moment and of being twenty-three years old again. It's messy, it's weird, it's a bit skanky, it's mixing every spirit behind the bar with reckless abandon, and it couldn't possibly be more fun. I've only been there twice, but it always seems to be "Ratchet Night," which I respect deeply. There was an amateur drag show the last time I was there, so I found myself hobnobbing with the who's-who of the Lansing-area LGBTQIA+ scene. This included a girl in a gimp mask and a bartender dressed as a literal clown. Face paint. Lavender pigtails. A polka-dotted hat with a pom-pom on top. Whatever. It doesn't really matter, because this clown made me one of the best drinks I've had in a very long time. It was a pistachio espresso martini, and it was a work of art. Real pistachios. Whipped cream. It took at least five minutes to assemble. I wanted to order ten more, but on a busy Saturday night, I could not bring myself to be that person with a high-maintenance drink order. After I mixed many exotic drinks together, I took to the dance floor and absolutely destroyed it to I'm Lookin' for the Hoes by Sexyy Red, followed by that seminal work on big jugs, Tia Tamera by Doja Cat. The rest is kind of a blur, but I do remember getting a shoutout from the emcee before I left. They said, "Judith hit so sticky." I said, "Thank you very much." Bent the whole world over and said, "Spank you very much." Nah, I'm just playin'. I went home and got sick in a sink that night. At least I didn't ruin a hamper, though.

Tasty food with a variety of heat on the noodles or rice dishes depending on a person's tolerance…read morefor spicy. The bartender was working double duty waiting tables though kept up with our needs at the table. Prices are on par with other places that are bar meets food options. Be aware music can be on the loud side however for a place with a great variety of pinball machines, pool tables, and a few other game machine this is a given. This is a bar with food not a traditional sit down so it aligns. Fun time as a fan of pinball and ramen.

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!

Well aside from the time I was stalked by the headless child-bride of Woldumar, I must say that…read moreI've had wonderful experiences here at every season of the year. Nah, I'm just pulling your chain. No headless spirits in these woods, but it got your attention, didn't it? Now for some facts: miles of enjoyable, non-challenging trails through a surprising variety of landscapes. Decent visitors center with restrooms. Free; donations accepted. Fair chance for sighting small wildlife, especially waterfowl. Occasional music or craft events may require a fee.

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!

We went to a wedding that COP catered and the food was amazing. When it came time to book the…read morecaterer for my own wedding in July 2024, we wanted COP. We met and discussed options and made a down payment for her services. About a month before the event, she sent us a message that she would no longer be able to cater for us due to a traumatic accident. We gave her time to heal and get through PT but now, a year after paying our deposit, we still have not gotten it back. We also no longer get responses to emails or txts. Wanted to share our experience so others do not have this same experience with COP.

I utilized Center of the Plate for a Baby Shower. The owner is extremely professional and timely…read morein responding to questions. She offered great suggestions and help us to find a great option within our budget when the party kept growing in guests. Communication was great through the planning period and she arrived early to deliver the food. She even helped out with a few other non food related tasks when we didn't even ask her to do so. The food was OUTSTANDING! The absolute best catered food I have ever had. The food was very flavorful, beautifully presented and high quality. Guests raved about the food and a few went back for seconds and thirds. Having owned an event planning company and worked on planning many events that required catering service, I must say that Center of the Plate is the best I've ever worked with and apparently a best kept secret of Lansing.