WWW.SIDETRACKBARANDGRILL.COM
56 E. Cross Street, Depot Town, Ypsilanti 734-483-1035 _____________________________________ NEWS, VIEWS AND BREWS -------------------------------------------------------------- |
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My heart is dancin', to a November tune
And I hope that you hear it, singing songs about you
-The Avett Brothers
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MANIFEST DESTINY: WE'RE MOVING WEST... NEXT DOOR!
Just like the guy who wrote the original Thesaurus, we are excited, fired up, thrilled and pumped... no, we're really excited, fired up, thrilled and pumped to share that,
within the next year, the Sidetrack will be expanding!
BirdBrain, wholesalers of decorative garden products and more, outgrew their storefront at 52 E. Cross (next to Frenchie's) &, after some back and forth over a few cold ones, we made the deal!
Much like The Sidetrack, our new building has quite the history: The George Cappy Saloon first occupied the building in the 1850's. In the 1870's, the New York Gallery Confectioners took over the space. (shown below, behind the Ypsilanti Cornet Band)
100 years later in the early 1970's, the statewide traveling Artrain, featuring Michigan artists, planned an extended stay and an exhibit in Depot Town. They leased the building, which was long vacant, for offices and a 1st floor art gallery. It was known for years afterwards as the Artrain Building.
Fast forward a few years and in enters E.M.U. art professor Bev Shankwiler and her husband Don. Together they undertook the project of renovating the Artrain building and, in doing do, initiated one of the many resurgences of the Depot Town area. It was Bev, Don, and a team of family and friends who removed 17 tons of old rotten flooring, plaster, partitions and more, thus renovating the Artrain Building as their new home- a 3 story townhouse and art studio.
The Artrain Building remained a private residence until BirdBrain took over in 2003. Interestingly enough, it seems what goes around actually may comes around; what was originally a bar in the mid 1800's will - 160 some years later - again be a bar. Well, more than just a bar...
While we have a stack of ideas for our new building as tall as the Ypsilanti water tower, our "short list" is (in the words of Tigers reliever Phil Coke) "Prreettttyyyy Gooooood!" What is for certain is that we are getting a larger kitchen, bigger bathrooms, and more spacious and comfortable seating for our customers and friends.
Just as Ypsilanti boasts the 3rd largest Historical District in the state, The Sidetrack will always remain mindful of its roots. And just as we want to take care to restore the historic integrity of our building, we want take care to keep our friends and customers informed on our progress and development.
In short, this is going to be awesome!
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Keeping It Funny
Ot at least trying to...
Q: What's the best thing about living in Switzerland? A: Well, the flag's a huge plus For our ninth date, my boyfriend finally took me to see a movie. So far our relationship has been dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, BATMAN!
Whenever we ask our delivery driver, Scott, to name two pronouns he always replies, "who, me?" |
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Don't Bother Your Father
96 year old Ramajit Raghav of Delhi India is officially the Oldest Father in the World. Shankuntala, his wife of 10 years, gave birth to a healthy baby boy 2 months ago. Au natural. No fertility clinic. No performance enhancing drugs for 96 year old Ramajit.
Ramajit still works 8 hours a day digging fields and boasts (we'd boast, too) that he and Shankuntala are intimate several times a day.
Ramajit attributes his prowess to remaining celebate prior to meeting his wife, no alcohol, and a vegetarian lifestyle. No sex, no beer, no burgers? No way!
Not we're not doubting Radjit "The Rogue" Raghav, but this does remind us of the 85 year old man who told his doctor that he impregnated his much younger girlfriend.
The doctor responded with a parable about a man who went hunting but accidently grabbed his umbrella instead of his shotgun. He sees a deer, aims his umbrella, and the deer falls dead. The 85 year old says, "Impossible! Somebody else must have shot that deer". The doctor said, "That's kind of what I'm getting at here...
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A White Elephant Never Forgets
Our own world class Ypsilanti Firehouse Museum is hosting a live white elephant  fundraising auction on Sunday, November 11th at 5pm.
The cost of admission is the donation of one item of good quality for the auctioneer Steve Gross to sell to the highest bidder...or a hard cash donation of $10. (Let's be honest, the fun of a white elephant auction is the chance to watch others bid on something you may not need around the house anymore- for a great cause!)
So, what to bring to the auction? Something fun, something that will sell, something cool or collectible... Please, no junque or "G.S.D.'s" (Garage Sale Dreggs).
This will be a fundraiser, with the accent on 'fun'. Food is provided by The Sidetrack and our friend's at Haab's, The Tower Inn, The Bomber, W. Cross St. Domino's, and more.
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Let's Talk Bacon...Numbers?
Sidetrack & The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon
 The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is a real thing; the idea is that any actor can be separated by Kevin Bacon by no more than 6 degrees within the film industry. These days, anyone who is anyone in Hollywood has a bacon number... including The Sidetrack Bar and Grill! That's right, because The Sidetrack was featured in a movie staring Minnie Driver, who was in the film Sleepers with Kevin Bacon, our bacon number is officially TWO! Cool, huh? And speaking of bacon- did you know that we offer only the finest of meats here at The Sidetrack Bar and Grill? Well, the proof is in the puddin...er, bacon! From Boar's Head to Sy Ginsberg, we strive to carry the highest quality ingredients- they just taste better! |
Smashing Pumpkins
Last weekend about 50 people threw pumpkins for fun and distance to win Sidetrack Gift Cards at Depot Town's Fall Fest Pumpkin Toss.
To determine the longest pumpkin thrown (85'!), we measured from the crosswalk in front of the Sidetrack to the point of landing.To determine the largest pumpkin thrown, we measured the circumference by the diameter to get (altogether now) pumpkin pi.
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Beer and Loathing
in Denver, CO.
Sidetrack crew takes a field-trip to The Great American Beer Fest
 | "In dog beers I've only had one"
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Well, no one can say The Sidetrack Crew takes the job of beer scouting lightly. This past month, we sent a team of brave beer drinkers out to Denver to take on The Great American Beer Fest. The crew's travels paid off- keep your eyes open for plenty of news brews making their Sidetrack debut. |
Ypsilanti Crime Blotter Hall Of Fame
We couldn't make this up if we tried...
Sept. 2012
A sleeping Ypsilanti couple were awakened by somebody crawling into bed with them. They called 911. When the police arrived, they woke the intruder who looked around and said, "This isn't my house". He was arrested for illegal entry. Been there, done that.
Dec.2011
An Ypsilanti man robbed a bank near Briarwood Mall. The crook left on foot as bank employees and customers watched him make his getaway by boarding an AATA bus. Ypsilanti police were waiting when he got off the bus near the Hawkins St. And Franklin area.
June 2008
An Ypsilanti man threatened his Mother with a fork while demanding money, and later assaulted a neighbor with a ten pound frozen chicken.
Oct. 1999
At 10 am, a man showed a gun to an employee at the E. Michigan Ave. Burger King demanding cash. The employee explained that he could not open the cash register without a food order. The robber ordered onion rings, and was told by the employee that onion rings are not on the breakfast menu. The crook got frustrated and left empty handed. No blings, no rings.
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Make New Friends,
But Keep The Old
Be Sure to Check Out Our Friends!
What's cooler than an automotive museum housed in an old auto dealership? Not much, which is why we love to spend our spare time wandering through the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum. From the cars to the old automotive advertising, this museum has something for everyone!
 Just click to like them on facebook! _______________________________________
Another favorite local attraction of ours is the Michigan Firehouse Museum, located just two blocks from The Sidetrack. This museum houses everything from old firetrucks to vintage firefighting memorabilia...and it is all WAY COOL. Like them on facebook, too! ______________________________ Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse have been working tirelessly over the past few years to reopen this historic Ypsilanti landmark... and they are making great head way. Look for the Freighthouse to reopen in the future... but you should check out their facebook in the meantime! |
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Turkey vs. Cheeseburgers: Rethinking Thanksgiving Dinner
Procrastinators hate February. Turkeys really hate November. All year long a turkey lives its life in relative obscurity, and - come November, Bam! The turkey is constantly in the media, pumped full of preservatives, and frozen. Just like Walt Disney.
At what is considered the first Thanksgiving dinner in 1621, the feast lasted 3 days and included duck, venison, goose, lobster and more. Interestingly, no record of turkey. Though deer and goose were part of the main course for the early Thanksgiving Day meals, it has now been well over 3 centuries of passing the turkey at our Thanksgiving holidays. Why not duck? Why not lobster, goose or rabbit? Why turkey? It's murky.
Hey look, we love turkey as much as everybody else, but maybe it's time to ruffle some feathers and make a change. Maybe it's time to give the turkey something to be thankful for, and start a new holiday tradition - the Thanksgiving Cheeseburger. Yes, cheeseburgers instead of turkey, fries instead of mashed.
Hear us out.
In many countries, the cow represents prosperity and fertility. At Thanksgiving, we celebrate just that. All that we are fortunate to have, while surrounded by family.
In the U.S., the average person eats 18 lbs. of turkey each year, and 28 lbs. of beef, so the popularity of the cheeseburger is unquestionable.
In Michigan alone, there are thousands of burger bars. Turkey bars? Zero.
"Let's talk turkey", you say. "Give us one good reason to make the change from Thanksgiving turkeys to Thanksgiving Cheeseburgers".
One?!? How about ten?
1. You don't have to stuff a cow. And we don't think you'd want to.
2. With the entire family gathered for Thanksgiving, you're still assured of having a turkey at the table.
3. No more deciding between white or dark, breast or legs. This is dinner, not Match.com. 4. A 'turkey' is a bomb or a bust, something boneheaded, bungled or botched. A cheeseburger is something well done.
5. Few people can pick up a turkey and eat it with both hands.
6. A slightly charred rare cheeseburger is delicious. A slightly charred rare bird is Aunt Shirley.
7. A turkey is called a "Tom", a cheeseburger is called a "Patty".
8. The most expensive cheeseburger in the world is $275 in Vegas. The most expensive turkey in the world is Spiderman on Broadway.
9. Sliders at the kid's table!
10. Who cares what we have for dinner? We have to be at the mall by midnight!
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Ho-Ho-Ho-Holidays
(Yeah, we know it's not the holiday season yet, but its never too soon to start planning your next reason to party...)
 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24th, 5:30pm: DEPOT TOWN TREE LIGHTING To kick off Christmas in Ypsilanti style, the Depot Town Association is hosting a tree-lighting celebration, just across the street from The Sidetrack! This event will additionally include roaming carolers and a visit from Santa... and more!
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FREE
BURGER
MONDAY |
FREE BURGER MONDAY HAIKU:
A Burger is free,
if you buy another one,
and have this coupon.
(Included: Turkey Burger, Our Famous Burger, Black Bean Burger, tempeh burger... Not Included: fries, sides or salads...)
| | OPPER VALID ON MONDAYS IN NOVEMBER- ONLY WITH COUPON. DINE IN ONLY. |
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