Michigans Best Weekend Show – Things to Do, Jan. 16-19, 2020 – mlive.com

Welcome to the weekend, Michigan!

Each week our Michigans Best team (thats us, Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez) come up with a list of great things to do for our Michigans Best Weekend Show, and share them with you here.

You can view our show by going to Facebook.com/MLiveMIBest.

This weeks show is brought to you by the Grand Rapids Remodeling & New Homes Show, happening Jan. 17-19 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. You can find more information on this event below, as well as at buildremodelgr.com.

Here are the events that we covered on this weeks show, plus a few Michigans Best picks that weve been craving lately.

Have an event that we missed? Feel free to add it to the comments.

You can always email us your events, or your suggestions for Michigan's Best.

gonzo@mlive.com

asherma2@mlive.com

We hope you make it a Michigan's Best weekend!

Michigans Best Weekend Show - Jan. 16-19, 2020

Grand Rapids Remodeling & New Homes Show

Jan. 17-19, DeVos Place

This annual event features 200 local exhibitors, including kitchen design seminars by Sarah Reep, as wel as hands-on training at the DIY Homeowner Series. Hours are:

Fri, Jan 17: 12pm-9pm

Sat, Jan 18: 10am-9pm

Sun, Jan 19: 11am-5pm

Tickets: Single-Day Tickets: Adult $10 Online / $12 At the Door | Child (6-14) $4 | 5 & Under Free; Multi-Day Tickets:Adult $18 Online Only (Good for any 2 or all 3 days). Tickets available online now or at the DeVos Place Box Office during all hours of the show. More details at buildremodelgr.com.

Mackinaw City Winter Festival

Jan. 18-19

Downtown Mackinaw City

https://www.facebook.com/events/499593787348028/

Its a big weekend in Mackinaw City! Festivities begin with a DJ & Dancing at the Dixie Saloon at 10 p.m. Friday. Then on Saturday:

Winterfest Ice Fishing Tournament: (Weather permitting) From 8am until 2pm at the Carp Lake Marina, only seven miles from downtown Mackinaw City. Anglers can preregister at Carp Lake General Store, Clydes Bar or Paradise Lake Marina. All entry fees include a chance ticket valued at $5. The three categories to be judged are: Heaviest Pike, Heaviest Walleye and Heaviest Pan Fish with cash prizes for each category. Anglers may also preregister from 3-6pm on Friday in the headquarters located at Paradise Lake Marina. Registration on the day of the tournament is from 6:30-8am at the headquarters.

Chili Cook Off Competition: Begins at Mama Mias Pizzeria located at 231 East Central Avenue from 11am until 1pm. Come early to taste and vote for your favorite recipe.

Mackinaw Pepsi International Outhouse Races: Begins at at 2pm at the Sheplers Lot located on Huron Ave and Central Ave. This novelty event starts with the parade of outhouses which proves to be creative, colorful and entertaining a must see! The races are open to Adult & Junior Teams. The Outhouse must be 4x4x6 on skis. Must have a 5-person team {1-must ride & 4-push or pull}. The Outhouse must have a Toilet Seat and have Material to Wipe with. Entry must have a Name. CASH PRIZES: 1st Place: $500 | 2nd Place: $300 | 3rd Place: $200 | Best in Show: $100. Entrants under 18 must have a parents signature and ALL teams and participants must sign a waiver. http://www.mackinawouthouserace.com.

Other events include: Poker Walk from 10:15am to 1:15pm at B.C. Pizza; Sleigh/Wagon Rides from 11:30am until 2pm sponsored by Marshalls Fudge & Mackinaw Clothing Store.

For lodging reservations visit MackinawCity.com/stay/.

Pronto Pup Winter Weekend

Pronto Pup in Grand Haven has announced the dates for this years Winter Weekend - the only time during the off-season when its famed corn dogs are for sale. The food stand will be open on January 17, 18, and 19, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Owners Carl and Nancy Nelson run the 63-square-foot stand off Snug Harbor throughout the summer months, and customers sometimes line up down the block to buy their Pronto Pups - a Koegel hot dog, dipped in batter and fried, and served on a stick with ketchup or mustard.

Carls father, Charles Chuck Nelson, opened the stand in 1947.

Spicy Saturday at the Downtown Market

January 18, the Grand Rapids Downtown Market

9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Guests can experience blazin bites and strong sips during the fourth annual Spicy Saturday event throughout the Market Hall. This one-day-only event features hot items and other sizzling specials from various Market vendors and restaurants. Additionally, the second annual So Cluckin Hot spicy wing challenge takes place at noon on Spicy Saturday, hosted by Juju Bird. Participants will have 10 minutes to eat 12 of Juju Birds famous So Cluckin Hot wings. The winner will receive a $50 gift card to Juju Bird, a $50 gift card to the Downtown Market and $100 cash. All participants receive a $10 Juju Bird gift card.

So Cluckin Hot wing eating challenge - noon

http://downtownmarketgr.com/classes-events/spicy-saturday-2

Spicy Saturday specials include:

Tip Up Town

January 16,17,18,19 and January 24-25

1625 W Houghton Lake Dr

Houghton Lake, Michigan 48629

989-366-5644

Its the 70th anniversary for Tip Up Town, and the theme is Groovy 70s. The festival is held at the southern DNR boat launch, off of M-55 near the Pines theater and Pineview Golf Course. Free parking is available at the High School and library with free shuttle service to and from Tip Up Town.

This is the largest ice fishing festival in north central Michigan, and runs the last two weekends in January.

Activities include:

Tip Up Queen is crowned at noon on Saturday, a 5k run on Saturday, Grand Parade at 10, and fireworks at dusk.

Indian River Winterfest

Friday January 17 and Saturday January 18

Throughout downtown Indian River

This family friendly festival take place in beautiful Indian River. There are events throughout the weekend, including a cornhole tournament, live music, poker run, ice fishing tournament, and much more.

Head to Cooperation Park for family activities on Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., including build your own cardboard sleds (with cardboard provided), ice skating and cross country skiing. Free cookies and cocoa!

Cornhole is at 11 a.m. Saturday, Live music from Mike Ridley both nights, and a very rare Jelly Roll Blues Band sighting on Friday at 8 p.m.

Look up Indian River Winterfest 2020 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/441772370110478/?event_time_id=441772373443811

Johns Michigans Best Pick

This is the Tortellini Alfredo pizza at Tiffany Foods and Spirits in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Tiffany's was a finalist in the search for Michigan's Best Pizza in 2013.Jeff Schrier

Tiffany's Food and Spirits

656 S. Main, Frankenmuth

989-652-6881

Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m daily (bar open until midnight)

Facebook

On our search for Michigans Best Pizza in 2013, Tiffanys was known for maybe the most unique pizza -- the signature PastaPitza. The pizza is topped with homemade pasta on a thin homemade crust and sauce and topped with cheeses before its baked into a rich, filling dish. You can get 8 different pastas from Chicken Marsala to Seafood Alfredo. The menu also includes traditional and Sicilian pizzas, as well as sandwiches, burgers, great appetizer (try the escargot) and homemade pasta dishes, of course. Built in the 1900s, youll love the old house feel of the restaurant and the large display of Tiffany Lamps.

Photos: Our MLive visit in 2013

23 great pizza places not to miss (2013)

Amys Michigans Best Pick

Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez of MLive search for Michigan's Best Bloody Mary. Here they visit the Hunt Club in Jackson (April 17, 2016).John Gonzalez

The Hunt Club, Jackson

1514 Daniel Road, Jackson

http://thehuntclubmichiganjh.com/

One of our top picks from one of our first searches together, The Hunt Club in Jackson has not only a top notch bloody mary, but also just great drinks altogether. The search for Michigans Best Bloody Mary was an epic adventure that took us across the state, as we traveled more than 1,500 miles and visited 47 places. We tried spicy ones, beefy ones, ones that were slightly sweet, and some that were very savory. We had a few that burned our tongues with lovely heat and some that werent hot at all. Several were loaded with full meals balanced on the top, and some came with a simple pickle and olive. The most amazing thing? Not one of them tasted the same. One of our top ten picks was The Hunt Club.

The Bloody Mary Breakdown: The Bacon Bloody Mary starts with a vegetable juice base, enhanced with fresh citrus and spices. Ugly Dog bacon infused vodka is used.

Garnish: Housemade beer-candied bacon, blue cheese-stuffed olive, regular olives, pickle, celery, lime wedge

Why try it: They spent a lot of time creating this drink, working on a sweet vs. salty vs. spicy balance. This is very refreshing, with lots of citrus flavor. The bacon vodka gives the drink depth without being overly bacony. Bright, twangy, light, this drink is all-around delicious. And that candied bacon is incredible.

When The Hunt Club switched to using the Ugly Dog bacon vodka, they saw their Bloody Mary sales quadruple. They have something for everyone, with a full restaurant, several bars, banquet rooms for rent and a game room.

LOOKING AHEAD

Amy Sherman of MLive interviews Angielena Muellenberg, co-owner of Snowbelt Brewery in Gaylord, Michigan. This was part of Michigan's Best Day in Gaylord.John Gonzalez

We are celebrating another Michigans Best Day! Amy and Gonzo just finished filming another best day video, this time in Gaylord. The video will debut at Snowbelt Brewing Co. in Gaylord at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21. The brewery is located at 132 W Main St, Gaylord, MI 49735.

We appreciate you following our Michigans Best adventures.

Follow Michigans Best on social media:

@mlivemibest on Twitter

@mlivemibest on Instagram

Also, be sure to follow our MI Best Facebook Page, which you can check out here.

Join in by using the hashtags #mibest and #ItriedMiBest

In addition:

Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.

John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.

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Michigans Best Weekend Show - Things to Do, Jan. 16-19, 2020 - mlive.com