Holidays

Veteran’s Day Special at Grand Rapids Bed & Breakfast

2012

Words cannot express the sheer amount of gratitude that we here at PrairieSide Suites Luxury Bed & Breakfast feel when it comes to the brave men and women that currently are, and have served, in our countries Armed Forces. Without you, our freedom and happy lives, would not be possible. So with that being said, we here at PrairieSide Suites are excited to share that for a 3rd straight-year, we are running a Veteran's Day special to honor our veterans! So pass this along to friends and family members that are veterans.

All you have to do is stay in one of our suites on Sunday, Nov 11th. And you'll receive Monday for free! You just need to book your favorite suite online @ www.prairieside.com for the 11th, and write "Free Monday for Veterans" on your confirmation." We'll add Monday at no charge and send you a new confirmation.

The respect for our Veterans goes beyond our romantic bed and breakfast located in Grandville. Veterans are being honored in many ways through out the city of Grand Rapids. One example is that every year the city holds the Grand Rapids Veteran's Day Parade followed by a special ceremony at Veteran's Park all in commemoration for our Veterans. The parade begins at 10am on November 10th. It will start on Division (just North of Michigan St) going South to Fulton ending at Veteran's Park for a ceremony honoring veterans.

Here are some other notable events occurring around the city honoring veterans.

Davenport University Veteran's Day Celebration

When: Friday, November 9, 2012 | 9:30am

Where: Davenport University – 6191 Kraft Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, MI, 49512

What: Davenport will be displaying Army and National Guard equipment that is currently being used in Afghanistan and Iraq starting at 9:30am. A Blackhawk helicopter will be touching down on the campus at 10am. A military fly-over is then planned at 10:40am (weather permitting). Finally, there will be a moment of silence observed at 11am.

The City of Wyoming Veterans Day Ceremony

When: Friday, November 9, 2012 | 6pm

Where: Veteran's Memorial Garden – Veterans Memorial Dr SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49534

What: The city of Wyoming is honoring it's veterans with a ceremony being opened by a message from Mayor Jack Poll. The ceremony will feature the commander of the 63rd brigade in Wyoming, Colonel Pablo Estrada Jr.

Fountain Street Church Veteran's Day Ceremony

When: Friday, November 9, 2012 | 11am

Where: Fountain Street Church – 24 Fountain Street Northeast, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503

What: The ceremony will take place in the Memorial Tower room and feature a wreath laying and remarks from Mayor George Hartwell.

Filed Under: Holidays Tagged With: grand rapids b&b, Grand Rapids Bed and Breakfast, grand rapids inn, grand rapids parade, prairie side suites, veterans day event, veterans day grand rapids

Best Gift Ideas

2011

I have always loved to entertain and host family events… birthdays, Christmas, weddings, baby showers, or family reunions. You name it and I have hosted it! Now that we have Prairieside Suites Luxury Bed & Breakfast [Grand Rapids, MI] we have plenty of opportunity to host special occasions for our guests too, [boy can we keep a secret]!

Most of these occasions include gift giving. Like a kid, I am excited to give gifts and want them to be personalized to the recipient. I think about what they enjoy, favorite restaurants, drinks, etc. I feel that it’s a bonus if you can give favorites that are consumable or naturally need replacing over time [they are even more appreciated]. Even if you have someone who is hard to buy for, you can’t go wrong with this list of gifts that are proven winners.

1. Gourmet coffees with a personal coffee cup or gift certificate to a coffee house

2. Nuts-pistachios, cashews, smoked almonds, mixed nuts…a great man or hostess gift!

3. Teacup with variety of herbal or Chai Tea’s, don’t forget the honey

4. Homemade cocoa mix in a pretty jar with a candy cane to stir with

5. Bottle of sparkling cider, wine or 6 pack of favorite beer

6. A subscription to Netflix… instant streaming is wonderful if they have the capability.

7. Disposable cameras [a great hostess gift] pass around so each guest takes a picture

8. Basket filled with deli cheese, fruit, olives and crackers

9. Fancy chocolate bars or homemade fudge tied with a ribbon

10. Pretty basket filled with homemade jams, a fresh loaf of bread, wrapped with a dish towel

11. Gardening gloves with a plant or planting tools

12. Homemade cookies or cookie mix with instructions for baking

13. Special coffee cup filled with candy or lottery tickets

14. A bottle of real maple syrup with a pancake mix

15. Movie theater gift certificates, along with candy to enjoy during the movie

16. Set of dish towels, dish cloths & Hot Pads

17. Basket filled with kitchen gadgets, an Oven glove & some favorite recipes

18. Gift Certificate to a techie store [great for teenager and men] OR Amazon gift certificates… they even electronically deliver right up until Christmas!!!

19. Puzzles, your favorite game and mind teasers [fun at a party]

20. Wonderful socks or slippers [so cozy]

21. Jewelry [always picks up the spirit]

22. A variety of gift cards to their favorite places to eat lunch

23. For someone unemployed…Gift Certificate to a Gas station

24. For the reader in the family…Gift Certificate to a book store OR buy them a Kindle. Then you can send books as future gifts. Or a subscription to a favorite magazine.

25. For someone who’s tight on money…Gift Certificate to where they get their hair cut

26. For the elderly…Gift Certificate to where they buy groceries or to their pharmacy

27. For the cook…sneak a peek at their non stick fry pan or 9×13 pan [it may need replacing]

28. For your sweetheart…a gift certificate to a Bed and breakfast. [At breakfast our guest often talk about how they surprised their sweetie].

29. For a sick friend…Soup, cough & flu remedies, movie, magazine, box of kleenex, chocolate bar [hey you never know what'll work]?

30. For yourself…the gift of rest & relaxation. Exchange weekend childcare with a friend, it won’t cost anything and you can both have a romantic get away. Bring someone special and fall in love all over again by experiencing one of our luxurious two person whirlpool suites with all season fireplace and king size bed.

Come experience my world!

Cheri Antozak is the owner, Innkeeper & Designer of Prairieside Suites Luxury Bed and Breakfast, Grandville, MI

Filed Under: Holidays Tagged With: Bed and Breakfast, Best Gift Ideas, Birthday Gifts, Christmas Gifts, gift baskets, Gift Giving Ideas, Grand Rapids Bed and Breakfast, list of gifts that are proven winners., Romantic Get Away, two person whirlpool suites, whirlpool & fireplace suites

‘Twas the Day Before Christmas

2010

Twas the day before Christmas and all through the house

women were frantic [while men slept on the couch]!

Not a creature was stirring…not even a mouch?!

Gift Certificates to “Prairieside Suites Luxury Bed & Breakfast”

were being instantly delivered by email for those hard to fit in-laws and snoring dads.

Cappuccino’s and chocolates for all because you’re no longer mad!

Give your sweetheart the gift of a lasting memory

[also keep us in mind for Valentines Day!]

and get what YOU really want for Christmas too…

a relaxing soak in a whirlpool tub with the fireplace on

and then slink into a king size bed with luxury linens-

He’ll be happy too!

Our goal at Prairieside Suites is to create an “Experience” not just a “Stay”. Luxury guest rooms are at the heart of this nurturing environment. Relax and unwind while you enjoy your stay in one of our spotless and allergy-free spa rooms featuring extra long & deep whirlpool tubs with views of the fireplace. These tubs sit in our beautiful bedrooms [not in a cramped bathroom].

We serve a full hot candle light breakfast in our dining room @ 9:30am. For the guests who prefer to snuggle and sleep in, a deluxe continental breakfast can be packed in your [in room] refrigerator and eaten in the privacy of their room. The elegant decor, quiet relaxed atmosphere and convenient location (restaurants and shopping malls only minutes away), make this a perfect getaway. This “Award Winning” Luxury B&B featured in the “Inn Traveler Magazine” caters to getaway couples is located only 6 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids.

Downtown Grand Rapids has so much to offer, including Bodies Revealed- a spectacular exhibit at the Public Museum, going on now through May 2nd. BODIES REVEALED features 14 full body human specimens and over 200 organs to tell the story of the miraculous systems at work within each of us every second of our existence. Intriguing and insightful, it’s an exhibit you don’t want to miss!

Come experience my world. Cheri Antozak is the designer and Innkeeper of Prairieside Suites Luxury B&B, Grandville, MI

Filed Under: Holidays Tagged With: Bed and Breakfast, Bed and Breakfast Gift Certificate, Bed and Breakfast Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Bed and Breakfast, Grand Rapids Lodging, Grandville Bed and Breakfast, Prairieside suites, west michigan bed and breakfast, whirlpool & fireplace suites

Christmas light displays at Frederick Meijer Gardens & Fifth Third Ballpark

2010

We have some spectacular Holiday events in our area. That’s the glory of living near a big city- everything you need for entertainment is at your fingertips and only minutes away. One of the big events going on right now is at Frederik Meijer Gardens. Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World is a magnificent display of lights and trees decorated to portray Christmas in different parts of the world, Nativity scenes, and more! You can also enjoy strolling carolers and horse drawn sleigh rides at this exhibit. Travel the world with Frederik Meijer Gardens!

Another don’t miss event is the Nite Lites Christmas Display at Fifth Third Ballpark. In its 13th year, this light show is Michigan’s Largest Christmas Light Show, with over forty creative and animated displays and over 1 mile of fun with around a million lights!

Tickets are $12 per vehicle and you can visit November 20th through January 2nd between 6:00pm and 10:00pm. Or, if you prefer, you can take a ride on Santa’s sleigh though the lights for $6 per person. What a romantic evening for two!

It has become a tradition for us here at Prairieside Suites Luxury Bed and Breakfast to decorate for Christmas the Monday before Thanksgiving. Out guests have come to expect it along with the peace and tranquility they find here all year long. We spent the day yesterday putting up garland, trees, lights, and other fun Christmas decorations. Outside, we created beautiful hanging baskets and planters to replace where we had our summer annual flowers. It is looking very warm, cozy and festive here [and we have vacuumed 654 pieces of tinsel, pine and glitter in the process]! You’re smiling because you know it’s true ) Here is a picture of our Holiday table all ready for our guests to enjoy!

What are your plans for Thanksgiving? If you’re looking for a place to stay in the Grand Rapids area, Prairieside Suites is sure to delight! And, if you live in the area but are looking for a mini getaway [many local's hide out at our home] over the Holiday weekend or need a place for your dinner guests to rest their heads, we still have availability! Check our website for room descriptions, amenities and make your reservations online www.prairieside.com! After a day of shopping and enjoying what Grand Rapids has to offer, you can retreat back to Prairieside B&B for a warm fire, a soak in your room’s whirlpool, and some homemade hot cocoa and baked goods!