Summer begins in Delavan WI this Memorial Day Weekend!

I’m not convinced Mother Nature knows this, as it’s 60 degrees out and raining while I write this. Maybe she hasn’t changed her calendar over to May yet – you know how sometimes that just doesn’t get done in a timely manner each month…? I’m trying to give her some leeway with the fact that Memorial Day is considered the start of summer, but we’re not necessarily feeling it based on the weather we’ve been having lately. Regardless, it is Memorial Day weekend coming up and there are a variety of activities and events to help you enjoy the 3-day weekend, including tributes to our nation’s fallen heroes who made our freedom to celebrate possible, as well as the start of summertime fun.

With respect to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country, the American Legion Memorial Day parade will start at 9am, on Monday, May 29. It starts at Walworth Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Delavan, and heads east to St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, then north on 7th Street to the Spring Grove/St. Andrew’s Cemetery, with a ceremony taking place at the Civil War monument. A rifle squad will attend and taps will be played, plus the Delavan-Darien school band will perform before and during the ceremony. The speaker will be Dr. Jeff Scherer, former Lt. Commander of the Navy, and the Poppy Princess is Vittoria Reshkus. From there, the American Legion and the school band will visit Old Settlers Cemetery at McDowell Street and N. 3rd Street. The rifle squad and two buglers will visit Roselawn Cemetery and East Delavan Cemetery, at Highways 50 and 67 and at Bailey Road and Theatre Road, respectively. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at 9:15am in the auditorium at Delavan-Darien High School, 150 Cumming Street.

Come take a spin around the dance floor with me as Phoenix Park Bandshell kicks off its 2017 season on Saturday, May 27, with the Eddie Butts Band at 7pm. Enjoy an evening of entertainment, dancing and fun with this must-see band. Eddie is well known as a premier vocalist and when you combine his smoky baritone with the sweet tones of the band’s female singers and the fantastic musicianship that emits a delicious blend of jazz, pop and R&B, it’s easy to see why the Eddie Butts Band has been such an icon for so many years. Then on Sunday, May 28, at 3pm, the Basin Street Boys will have you stomping your feet, clapping your hands and on the dance floor in no time all over again. They are an award-winning, 6-piece Dixieland group that plays both jazz standards from the 1920s and 30s, as well as more modern tunes played in the Dixieland style. New Orleans will certainly feel closer when you hear them play!

After shaking your booty Saturday night and before doing it again Sunday afternoon at the Phoenix Park Bandshell, let’s meet up at Rosewood and get refueled by joining their three Culinary Institute of America chefs as they celebrate Memorial Day on Sunday, May 28, with a unique chef-attended, farm-to-table brunch. Brunch includes a chef-attended pasta station, omelets made-to-order, a carving station, displayed hot and cold buffets, and fresh baked pastries. There is also an unlimited Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar. Brunch seating times are 11:30am and 1pm, with reservations required. If you haven’t been to Rosewood, then where have you been? Add all this delectable food and drink options to the casually elegant space, tastefully designed in a modern refined rustic décor, and you’ve got an extraordinary environment to enjoy besides enjoying the food. Don’t forget to wander in to the gift shop to peruse and purchase some of the unique items found there. I’ve got a wish list, so if you need help deciding what to get, ask me!

It’s holiday weekend and isn’t there some rule that calories are all null and void on a holiday? If so, and even if not, Lake Lawn Resort’s Lakeside Lawn Party & Pig Roast on Sunday, May 28, from 12-7pm offers another great option for putting the feedbag on. The Pig Roast is from 4-7pm and besides offering pulled whole rotisserie roasted pork sandwiches with blackstrap molasses BBQ sauce, there’s also KC-style BBQ chicken, grilled brats and burgers, slow roasted smoked brisket, baked beans, pasta salad, potato salad, fresh broccoli salad, seasonal fresh fruit salad, jalapeno cheddar chive corn bread muffins with honey butter, watermelon slices, make-your-own spring berry shortcake, M&M brownies, and all washed down with Lake Lawn’s famous pink lemonade. If you walk away hungry, there’s something wrong! Live music will be provided by Triple D from 12-4pm, performing current Top 40 dance, classic rock, 80s hair band, country, smooth jazz and much more. I don’t know about you, but I’ll need to do some shaking and grooving to build up the appetite that will allow me to eat all that great food!

No matter how you choose to spend this Memorial Day weekend, enjoy it in Delavan and come find your adventure!

Let the Spoiling of Mom Begin: Mother’s Day 2017

I know you’re probably still finishing off the Easter candy, unless you have no willpower like me, especially when it comes to black jelly beans (yes, I’m one of those and I’m pretty sure you already know this about me from the Easter blog…!). Just to keep you in the real world and on real time, Mother’s Day is coming soon, specifically on Sunday, May 14. Are you ready? Do you have your plan in place for showing Mom how special and appreciated she is? To help you out, here are some ideas of things happening in Delavan to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Getting things warmed up a week early, Staller Estate Winery is hosting a Mother’s Day Inspired Wine & Dine event on Sunday, May 7, from 12-2pm. Chef Tyler from Black Sheep of Whitewater is preparing a 5-course meal of absolute deliciousness with fresh, local foods, and then excellently pairing them with Staller Estate wine. What a perfect way to spoil Mom and get her away from the kitchen. Think of all the meals she’s prepared for you…! How many “All I want is mac ‘n cheese” nights in a row did she have to go through when that was all you’d eat?

How about rocking some entertainment along with fabulous eats? At Rosewood, they believe Mother’s Day is that one special moment where we all take time to recognize the wonderful contributions of the great women in our lives, of the hours and days dedicated to loving and caring for us. With that, Rosewood is offering fresh, farm-to-table cuisine, with reserved seating at both 11:30am and 1pm, followed by a musical cabaret performance at 2pm. Brunch includes a chef-attended pasta station, omelets made-to-order, a carving station, hot and cold buffets, and a delectable sweets table. Did I mention there is also an unlimited bloody mary and mimosa bar?!The “Legends” show features unforgettable voices in popular music, with the melodies of Elvis, Diana Ross, Barry Manilow, Frank Sinatra, Patsy Cline, Aretha Franklin, Tom Jones, Barbara Streisand, Roy Orbison and Celine Dion, and offers a succession of hits spanning 30-40 year long careers of performers that have carved a unique space in the history of modern music. I’m thinking between lip smacking tasty food and toe tapping good sounds, Rosewood is going to be happening on Mother’s Day!

Go with this next thought – Mother Nature, by virtue of being a mom (otherwise why is her name Mother Nature?), will guarantee that the weather is beautiful for Mother’s Day. Not even questioning the validity of that statement, plan on a walk through Congdon Gardens with your mom! Enjoy the treasury of gardens that feature unique designs that will inspire Mom to add to her own garden, all planted with Midwestern hardy plants suitable for the area. Sounds like ideas for gifts to go get Mom after the walk…! Visit the Gazebo Garden that frames the gazebo and overlooks the pond. This is a nice place for a picnic, so maybe that’s part of the day’s plan with Mom. Rotary Peace Garden features the fountain made of seven granite boulders, representing the seven continents of the world united by the water of the oceans. The Peony and Daylily Exhibition Garden offers examples from world-renowned breeders from Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. The peonies, which take several years to mature, will continue to become more beautiful each year. The Willemsen Pergola Garden was designed, built and funded by the Willemsen Family as a memorial to Roger Willemsen. It’s a sheltered spot to just sit back and enjoy its plantings, peeking into the adjoining gardens, and perhaps viewing some of the wild life that exists in the gardens. Independence Garden has, of course, red, white and blue plantings that surround the courtyard of crushed blue granite. This is a nice gathering spot for music and other group activities. Linden Garden was designed to showcase sustainable, native plant communities. Finally, the Signature Garden is a work in progress. It contains the main signage for Congdon Gardens, the fourteen individual letters spelling out the name that will eventually be solar-lit. The area is complemented with distinctive plantings that act as a preview of what’s found within Congdon Gardens. Congdon Gardens’ vision is to create a sanctuary through horticulture and art to fulfill the basic human need of achieving inner peace. What a wonderful idea, and therefore a perfect place to take Mom, as a haven for relaxation, reflection and beauty – all things Mom deserves for all she does.

Personally, being a mom, I’m kind of thinking one day isn’t enough to celebrate the awesomeness of what we all are as Moms, right? Lake Lawn Resort seems to agree with this thought as they have a Mother’s Day Getaway turning the one day into the entire weekend! The Getaway (based on 2 adults and 2 children) includes a 2-night stay, Mother’s Day Brunch and a $50 Resort credit to be used at any Lake Lawn Resort outlet. The extravagant Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet at the Frontier Restaurant, from 9:30am-3pm, features everything from chef-prepared omelets and malted Belgian waffles, to peach cider-brined breast of turkey and gaucho spiced roast beef at the Chef’s Carvery, to a variety of tempting culinary choices that will please everyone’s taste buds. The best part is that Mom doesn’t have to lift a finger! Another added bonus, is Mom will also get both a fresh cut flower and entry into a special Mother’s Day Drawing where she can win a fabulous pampering in the Calladora Spa. I want that ~ somebody tell my kids! Seriously!

With all the fabulous Mother’s Day ideas in Delavan, which one, or two or more, are you going to choose to show your mom how much she means to you? I think I know what I’m going to make sure my kids are aware of…! Happy Mother’s Day!