Munro House Bed & Breakfast

Movie Review Star Trek Into Darkness ***** 19 May 2013, 8:05 pm

The latest edition to the Star Trek series is "Into Darkness". This is the 2nd prequel to the original Star Trek television series featuring all of the familiar characters in their youth. Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Sulu, Scotty, and Chekov are recent graduates of Star Fleet Academy and run into characters from future TV episodes and movies. There is an attack, a defection, insubordination, demotion, resignation, collaboration, devotion, and resurrection.


Fans of Star Trek will have no problem following the story line and the reemergence of important characters. A lot of the story line is left out of the commercials and reviews because it will absolutely spoil the movie if the synopsis and list of other characters is given up. Viewers new to the classic series may have some questions at the end or may be inspired to watch all of the earlier shows to understand more of the side stories and where these characters go in the future. I have been Trekking since the beginning. I get it. I loved it. 5 out of 5 stars.

Premiere Theater in Hillsdale Michigan shows new release movies on 7 screens. We easily obtained tickets for the 7:00 Saturday show for just $7.25. This theater is soon to be renovated with larger seats in a stadium format. Too cool.

Jonesville Riverfest 2013 12 May 2013, 10:32 am

The weekend after Mother's Day is the traditional timing for Jonesville's Riverfest celebration. May 17-19 are the dates for 2013. This is the kickoff for cleanup of the Village and the celebration of its heritage. The central attraction is the canoe races on the St. Joseph River. Other activities include a triathlon, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, Civil War encampment, car/bike show, and antique tractor show.

Friday night starts with a 2 person triathlon. One person runs 2.3 miles, one person bikes 5 miles, both people canoe 2 miles. All day Saturday features various 2 person canoe races, the car show, and the start of the basketball tournament. On Sunday there is more races, basketball, and shows. plus the Duck Derby with prizes for the winning duck.

All weekend long, there will be food, crafts, shopping, tours, activities, music, and more food. Jonesville Riverfest is the first big thing to do of the season in this part of Southern Michigan.  Most of the participants are locals, but canoe racers have come from as far away as Canada. The car show attracts classic car enthusiasts from 100 miles or more.

Special overnight pricing for people arriving with a car show entry is available all weekend at the Munro House Bed & Breakfast. Folks with a vehicle on display can get pricing as low as $99 per night for bed and breakfast..

Mike Venturini
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Movie Review: Iron Man 3 ***** 10 May 2013, 10:02 am

Iron Man 3 is a Marvel Comics movie about Super Hero Iron Man vs. the bad guys. The evil "Mandarin" is taking credit for terrorist explosions that kill and destroy, but leave no trace of bomb material. His legion of Extremis have incredible regenerative powers that make them seem indestructible. They have a grudge against Tony Stark--the alter ego of Iron Man--and seek to destroy him.

I don't read comic books, so all of this is new to me. The movie is more about Tony Stark and less about Iron Man. It is more about his relationship with his protege--Pepper Potts--and less about his feud with the bad guys. Stark has the American Defense contract and has created a War Machine known as Iron Patriot to do the day-to-day protection of American interests. This allows him time to work on the next generation of Iron Men. His prototypes can be summoned to armor and protect him. The bad guys challenge Stark, and he invites them to a show-down at his house that goes badly. The movie moves swiftly, but they saved all of the action for the last 15 minutes.

It is a well-told story with plenty of action, cool characters, comedic one-liners and a good ending. Bill Maher makes a "New Rules" cameo. Stan Lee appears as a judge at a beauty contest. There is something extra after the credits, so hang around. I give it 5 out of 5 stars because I was entertained. I like seeing movies at Premiere Theater in Hillsdale. It is only 6 minutes away, it shows current movies on 7 screens, and the prices are reasonable--currently just $7.25 on Thursday night.

Mike Venturini
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Memorial Day Special Pricing 5 May 2013, 3:28 pm

Where can you get a deal on lodging over Memorial Day weekend in Michigan? At the Munro House Bed & Breakfast in Jonesville..
What kind of deal? $50 off per night. Where in the heck is Jonesville? South Central Michigan about 20 miles North of the Indiana/Ohio border at highways 12 & 99.
Why Jonesville? Because the crowds will be in Traverse City, Saugatuck, Frankenmuth, and Mackinac Island.
What's in Jonesville? Peace and quiet, good food, and uncommon hospitality.

Normal weekend rates start at $149. But on Memorial Day weekend, rooms are just $99 and up for guests who stay 2 nights. Getaway Friday & Saturday nights, Saturday & Sunday nights, or Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights to save $50 per night. A two night stay will save you $100. A three night stay will save you $150. Put that money in your pocket, or use it to get some extra stuff.

Some people come to Jonesville to shop for antiques. Allen Michigan is just 5 miles down the road and is known as the "Antique Capital of Michigan".
There is an onsite spa at Munro House that specializes in massage. Guests have said "I've had massages all around the world, but had my best one in Jonesville".
Excellent restaurants are in town. Olivia's Chop House for fine dining; Saucy Dog for barbeque; Cedars, Rosalie's Roadhouse, Los Mariachis, and King Buffet for casual dining. Fast food and ice cream at McDonald's, Subway, Coney Hut, and The Udder Side.

Most people come to Jonesville to relax. Crowds are almost non-existent, even on holiday weekends. To truly get away, places like Jones
ville are an ideal choice. There are enough choices for casual activities, plus 10 restaurants in a town of 2,400.
The rooms at Munro House have queen size beds, private baths, high definition cable television, and free wireless internet along with complimentary soft drinks and snacks.
A big breakfast is included every day. People say that the best part about bed and breakfast is the breakfast--at Munro House, it has nothing to do with the food--although Lori's secret recipe waffles are famous on 6 continents.

Mike Venturini
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Movie Review: Pain and Gain *** 29 Apr 2013, 4:00 am

"Pain & Gain" is a movie about a trio of muscle-heads who decide to take a shortcut to wealth by engaging in criminal activity. Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson are two of the body builders who devise a scheme to kidnap a wealthy man and take everything he has. They learned their techniques from watching movies and everything goes horribly wrong--but they get what they wanted. They try to blend in with their new found fortune, but it doesn't take long for them to run out of money. They then decide to try it again, and things go even worse than the first time.

There are a lot of F-bombs, torture scenes, and extremely graphic violence. The first half drags a bit, but the 2nd half is filled with action. This unbelievable tale is a true story--proving once again that truth is stranger than fiction. Not a movie for the squeamish. I give it 3 of 5 stars.

There are 7 screens at Premiere Theater in Hillsdale Michigan showing new release movies 7 days a week just a few minutes from the Munro House in Jonesville. Sunday night movies are currently just $7.25 per ticket. Popcorn, pop, and candy are also reasonably priced.


Mike Venturini
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Lodging for Gina Relays at Hillsdale College 28 Apr 2013, 1:43 pm

The annual major track and field meet at Hillsdale College is known as the Gina Relays. The event honors the legacy of Hillsdale College All-American Gina Van Laar Lanser who continues to inspire athletes to "run fast". Collegiate and unaffiliated athletes from across the Midwest come to Hillsdale Michigan to compete at this April competition. Running, jumping, and throwing events are held over 3 days on the grounds of Hillsdale College.



Mike Venturini
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Movie Night at the Dawn Theater in Hillsdale 24 Apr 2013, 2:27 pm

"Black and Blue" is the story about two famous Michigan Football players. Willis Ward went on to become a probate judge, the other player was President Gerald Ford. Long before the Civil Rights era, black athletes played collegiate football at Michigan. After consecutive NCAA national football titles, Michigan sought to play against teams outside of the Big 10 Conference. Georgia Tech agreed to play, but only if the black players wouldn't play. This film is about that controversy.

I had a great time at the Dawn Theater. Films are an occasional feature. Live music is their staple business. Most weekends feature Rock, Blues, and Jazz artists live on stage. John Primer and American Idol winner Kris Allen are a couple of the artists who have been booked to play in Hillsdale. The theater is also available for meetings, private parties, and weddings. It is located about 10 minutes from the Munro House in Jonesville and features the area's best night life on weekends.


Mike Venturini
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Movie Review: Oblivion * 20 Apr 2013, 12:01 pm

Oblivion is a futuristic movie starring Tom Cruise as Jack Harper. Jack and his partner are survivors of the war that annihilated the Earth. The Scavs (Scavengers) are blamed for destroying the Moon which led to natural disasters on Earth. A nuclear war ensued that wiped out much of the population. A colony was started on one of the moons of Saturn. The remaining resources in the Earth's Oceans are being mined by machines protected by drones. The materials are then transported to support the new colony. Every day, Jack is sent on a mission to repair machines that have been damaged by the Scavs.

The idea is good. The drones are cool. Jack's flying machine is super cool. The movie is almost over before we find out what the real story is. Most of the first 2 hours is fluff, and the last 6 minutes is lame. Morgan Freeman has a very small part. Even he can't save the movie. I was tempted to get up and leave at the 30, 60, and 90 minute mark, but decided to suffer until the end. I hated it. Just 1 out of 5 stars.

A first run movie on Friday night at Premiere Theater in Hillsdale is just $7.00 per person. They have a rewards card that can be used to earn free snacks and movie tickets. The theater is less than 10 minutes from the Munro House in Jonesville. Many getaway packages can include a gift card that will get you in to see your choice of movies on 7 screens.

Mike Venturini
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Movie Review: Olympus Has Fallen ***** 17 Apr 2013, 2:40 pm

"Olympus Has Fallen" is an action movie, starring Gerard Butler, about the attempted takeover of the White
House. The film is set in Washington D.C. and follows a plan to infiltrate the White House, take top officials hostage, and force them to divulge information that will ultimately cause the demise of America.

Butler plays a Secret Service agent who was demoted to desk duty after an accident involving the President and his wife took him off of the First Family detail. He happens to be near the White House when the siege begins and does his best to help out. He gets stuck inside the White House and uses his Secret Service knowledge to try to protect the First Family, thwart the terrorist plan, and rescue the hostages.

This is a high action assault story with a plan to destroy America in an unusual manner. The acting is strong and the story is well told. The assault is very well thought out. There is lots of shooting and killing. The pieces of the puzzle fall into place in an acceptable manner and include futuristic high tech weapons on both sides. I was engaged from start to finish and thoroughly enjoyed the film. My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Tuesday night movie rates are currently just $6.50 for first run movies like "Olympus Has Fallen" at Premiere Theater in Hillsdale. The movie theater is a short drive from the Munro House B&B. Any overnight package can include an option for dinner and a movie.

Mike Venturini
"Life is good in Jonesville"

Overnight Cooking Party in Michigan 4 Apr 2013, 4:00 am

Anyone can cook, and everyone should cook. However, most people choose not to cook. It is too easy to go out, order in, or heat it up in the microwave. Amateur cooks can expand their repertoire in the kitchen by participating in an interactive fun-filled cooking party that we call Chef Night. The next scheduled event with space available is on Saturday, April 20. It involves a weekend getaway to Jonesville Michigan for foodies and people who are getting more interested in preparing food at home.

On Chef Night, 8-14 people gather at the Munro House B&B to take part in preparing a feast for all to eat. Whether you make dinner every night or have never cooked an entire meal before, this is a fun learning experience that we hope will improve your comfort level in the kitchen. It is an opportunity to try new things and meet new people. We hope that you will enjoy our party so much, that you will be inspired to spend more time creating a meal for your spouse, your family, or yourself.

The event begins mid-afternoon. We eat the first appetizer about a half hour later, with more courses to follow. Some recipes are simple, and some are more involved. Every dish we choose can be prepared by even the most inexperienced chef with stellar results. After about 5 hours, all of the recipes have been prepared, presented, and consumed. New friends have been made, good stories have been told, and a good night's rest is just a flight of stairs away.

When the party is over, everyone retires to a comfortable room and reconvenes for a big breakfast prepared by their hosts the next morning. Chef Night is the single most fun and interactive event hosted at the Munro House. Space is limited.

Mike Venturini
"Life is good in Jonesville"