2013 Crooked Bayou Restaurant

Fowlerville has a new restaurant -- the Crooked Bayou.  As of August 13, they have been opened; something they have called a "soft opening."  Right now, the chef is offering a limited menu and seating is at a premium, so figure on take-out.  

It is well worth the visit!  My husband and I stopped there Wednesday evening and enjoyed a couple of "po boys."  I had a shrimp po boy that was delish and my husband had a "dibris" po boy.  Dibris, you ask.  Basically what that means is the sandwich is made from roast beef that falls into a pan gravy and then is served on a roll.  It was so very worth being so full afterwards! 

 

I took a few pictures but you need to head there to see what the new owners are putting together.  Some of the original brick walls are exposed and they've used barn wood and repurposed pallets to create a bayou, old shack atmosphere. 

Fowlerville is certainly becoming a destination for some "good eats" -- as Alton Brown used to say on the Food Network.  We've been lucky for many years to have Olden Days on North Grand Avenue, and now we have both the Grille in the Ville and the Crooked Bayou across from each other.  Dueling goods, so to speak.

2013 Northwest and Northeast Quadrants

I was in town yesterday morning and it seemed so strange to see the large, long arm of a digger reaching into the main four-corners intersection.

And then, later in the day, after 5 pm to be exact, the work continued:

My husband and I had just finished having sandwiches and gumbo at the newest restaurant in town.  I'll post pictures and comments in a day or two.  Be sure to check back, or head to the Crooked Bayou, located in the southeast quadrant, between the old BeeCharmer building and Chase Bank.

2013 North Grand Roadwork

I stopped by this morning to grab a few pictures of the continuing work on North Grand Avenue.  The block between Power Street and Grand River Avenue has now been cleared of old asphalt and sewer and water work is to commence.  

Following are three pictures I took while standing in the crosswalk area:

2013 Water Main from 1927

Work continues to progress on the water and sewer construction on North Grand Avenue, and I'm pretty sure some of the workers are beginning to wonder about me.  The other day, for instance, I was making a delivery to the Carpet Depot (right in the midst of all the chaos) and I noticed a number of the men standing around a rather large hole.  Just looking in, talking, contemplating, I supposed.

So, of course, after I made my delivery, I crossed the street to join them gazing down into this 8-foot (at least) deep hole.  A couple of the village DPW workers were there (and recognized me) so I got into conversation with them.  

At that point in the day, the guys digging had exposed a major portion of the 1927 lead (I believe) watermain and were in the process of capping it off to stop any water flow from about in front of Kim's Barber Shop to South Street.

Me, being the crazy lady I've become, asked if there was anyway I could get a chunk of the old main for our historical collection.  After a few puzzled looks from those not knowing me, one of the guys deep in the hole asked, "how big?"  

Below is what he then easily tossed up onto the grass between the road and the sidewalk.  It didn't look nearly as nice as this, as it has since been power-washed and dried.  So, this is what a watermain looked like in 1927 and was still very operational 86 years later.  And, by the way, this little chunk of 6" (inside diameter) by about 2-feet long watermain is heavy -- not something I could easily toss up from a deep hole!

Eventually, when we can put together a display, this will definitely be available for a close-up look.

I did some cursory research for around 1927, looking for information on the watermain work and possibly of the old water tower that used to stand in the northwest quadrant (behind Fowlerville Lumber) but couldn't find anything.  I did find an article, though, of a watermain break on East Grand River, which follows:

The lead pipe to the water main in front of the Novara store sprung a leak Saturday and a hole had to be cut in the new pavement and a tunnel dug under for some distance to make the repair.

The Novara store was located in the northeast quadrant about where Edward Jones is now located.

2013 Michigan Rock

Driving back from Lansing today, I finally got a good look at a painted rock on Grand River Avenue, between Webberville and Gaston's garden center.  I pulled over to grab a picture and thought I'd post it here.  Pretty cool:

Next time you are traveling that way, look on the north side of Grand River Avenue and check it out too.

2013 North Grand Avenue Construction Progress

Good morning, all.  It has been a while since I've posted--lots going on with a project I'm working diligently on.  But . . .

I did have time to stop by the North Grand Avenue construction and talk with Larry Davis.  I had heard something about wooden planks found once the workers had dug down into the viaduct under the road at about the northwest corner of Centennial Park.  He didn't know of any planks but said some old trees had been found that were possibly supports for the road.

I did grab the above picture of the viaduct as the men worked away.  I'll get back in a day or two to see the finished look.

2013 Community Park

I like to walk the Rotary Mile at the Community Park a couple times a week for variety, and the other day I finally slowed down to read a sign posted on a fence by the path, about in the southeast corner of the park.  It reads:

This is a blackberry plant.  The fruit is not ready to be picked until it is black.  If the fruit is red, please do not pick!  If the berry does not 'fall' off with a slight pull, it is not ripe.  Be responsible . . . enjoy a few as you pass by.

Here's the bush -- I'll be watching to see when the berries are black! 

Isn't this just the coolest thing!?