Wisconsin Weekend Events - November 20 - 22, 2009

Tomorrow, Saturday November 21, 2009 is opening day for the White-tailed deer gun season here in Wisconsin! While that isn't news to most Wisconsinites, it is worth mentioning. Be extra cautious when driving or where hunters may be at work.

If you're not planning on being out in the woods, there are plenty of other Wisconsin activities this weekend! Don't forget the list of Wisconsin Arts and Crafts Fairs going on throughout the state, and of course, check out some of the great events we have listed this week!

Whatever your Wisconsin weekend includes, we hope you have a safe, fun and relaxing couple of days. The holidays are approaching rapidly, now is the time to rest up and prepare yourself and your family for the upcoming excitement!

Wisconsin Weekend Events

Friday November 20, 2009 -
Broadway District Lighting Ceremony in Green Bay, Wisconsin. "Enjoy watching the Broadway District glow for the holiday season. There will be live music, carolers, carriage rides, Broadway Business specials and more! Kick-off your Holiday shopping in the Broadway District."

Friday November 20, 2009 -
45th Annual Venison Feed in downtown Tomahawk, Wisconsin on West Wisconsin Avenue. "Come celebrate the opening of hunting season with this unique event! Burgers are served at 11:30 a.m. until gone. Sponsors for this event are: City of Tomahawk, Nelson's County Market, Northland Stainless, Rodeway Inn & Suites, Silver Threads Boutique, Tomahawk Bowl, Tomahawk IGA, Tomahawk Lumber Co., Tomahawk Surplus, and WJJQ Radio. For more information please call the Chamber at 715-453-5334."

Friday, November 20, 2009 -
MAM After Dark: The Future Is Now at the Milwaukee Art Museum, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. "MAM After Dark is a monthly art happening at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Each event offers a not-to-be-missed feature program, after-hours access to the galleries, music, food, cash bar, and more. Enjoy as you mingle with friends old and new."

Saturday, November 21, 2009 -
Ruby Nouveau Tasting at the Wollersheim Winery in Prairie dr Sac, Wisconsin. "Taste the 2009 Ruby Nouveau wine, the first wine of the new harvest, upstairs in the winery Sugarloaf and Vineyard Rooms along with an array of specialty Wisconsin cheeses. The Ruby Nouveau is an estate-grown dry red with enticing fruit flavors and a zesty finish. It is the perfect holiday wine as it is meant to be enjoyed young and pairs well with holiday foods, such as Thanksgiving turkey."

Saturday, November 21, 2009 -
Milwaukee's 83nd Annual Holiday Parade in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Johnson Controls volunteers will be collecting your non-perishable food items along the route to benefit the Hunger Task Force's Food For Families. Please help Hunger Task Force and Johnson Controls make a difference this Holiday Season.

Saturday, November 21, 2009 -
Holly Jolly Light Parade in Baraboo, Wisconsin. "Celebrating with small hometown charm, the parade has captivated audiences from young to old. Families from miles around have made The Holly Jolly Light Parade a part of their holiday tradition. Grandparents, moms and dads and all the kids bundle up and line the streets of Downtown Baraboo to enjoy the glittering floats, costumed characters, and novelty units that make up the Holly Jolly Light Parade."

Saturday, November 21, 2009 -
Every Woman Expo at the Wave Ballroom, in Appleton, Wisconsin. "A day of fun, shopping, seminars and a fashion show."

Saturday, November 21, 2009 -
5th Annyal Wonderful World of Women Expo at the Plymouth Arts Center, in Plymouth, Wisconsin. "Discover the art of relaxation, find your inner strength, wellness and peace. Renew your natural beauty. Try something new and have fun!"

Saturday, November 21, 2009 -
Christmas in the Village - ROUSE SIMMONS Day in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. "The Christmas Tree Ship, the ROUSE SIMMONS will be open for tours at the Rogers Street Museum from 2:30pm-4pm. The Christmas Tree will be lit that afternoon as carolers sing throughout the Fishing Village."

Saturday and Sunday, November 21 - 22, 2009 -
One of a Kind Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Show at the Alliant Energy Center, in Madison, Wisconsin. There will be stamping and scrapbooking classes, special events and more than 40 national vendors selling all of the products you need to the most modern stamping and scrapbooking projects.

Sunday, November 22, 2009 -
Green Bay Packers Football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Do you know of an event we've missed? Have you been to any of these events before? Will you be at one this weekend? We want to know! Email us at WanderingWisconsin@gmail.com. Find us on Twitter @wandering_wisco. Or just leave us a comment here on the blog.

Have a great Wisconsin weekend everyone!

Two Rivers Activities - Debra Jean Sportfishing

Debra Jean Sportfishing

Captain Jim Hoffman
jhoffman7@new.rr.com
Home#: 920-725-9623
Boat#: 920-605-6155

During a recent trip to Two Rivers, Wisconsin, we booked an early morning fishing trip with the Debra Jean Sportfishing boat and crew. In the past, we’ve used the Two Rivers Charter Fishing service to book our fishing trips, and we used them again for this fishing trip.

At 4:30 am on a Saturday morning, our group of 6 arrived at the Seagull Marina ready for a half day of salmon fishing. We were immediately greeted by the Debra Jean’s owners, Captain Jim Hoffman and his wife, Debra Jean. Once we were settled on board, we took off in the dark, ready to catch some fresh Lake Michigan fish!

Our group really lucked out, and the weather was perfect, sunny and warm, with a slight breeze. The water was very smooth. The boat was beautiful, comfortable seating for all 6 of us on the upper level, in the sunshine, with a cabin area on the first level, with a bathroom and small kitchen area. Our hosts brought pastries from the local bakery along, and had made coffee and provided juice as well to start the morning off right.

Without getting in to too many of the exciting details, our group brought back 7 fish in total. We had 2 Lake Trout and 5 salmon, some which put up quite the struggle to get in! We also “lost” probably 3 other fish we just couldn’t get into the boat.

We got back to the marina around noon, tired, but having had an awesome time. Our fish were cleaned and put into bags for us, and Deb sent us with some Cajun Grilled Fish marinade. Though I haven’t dug into my bounty yet, we heard from some of the others that joined us that the fish was delicious, can you beat fresh Wisconsin salmon? And the marinade was a perfect compliment.

F our of the six of us had been salmon fishing on Lake Michigan prior to this trip, and all agreed that this was by far the best experience we’d had. Jim and Deb were amazing guides, friendly, knowledgeable and experienced. They really pushed a good day over the edge and made it a great one. This was an experience we won’t soon forget, and one we’ll definitely repeat on the Debra Jean.

Two Rivers Restaurants - Machut's Supper Club

Machut’s Supper Club
Hwy 42 North
Two Rivers, WI 54241-3599
(920) 793-9432

Machut’s Supper Club in Two Rivers, Wisconsin is an old fashioned Wisconsin supper club for sure. Walking in, we were sent to a table at the bar, and given menus. Drinks were ordered, and our dinner orders were taken. We were kept at the bar for over 3o minutes, though we could see empty tables in the dining area. Once our number showed up on the digital sign, we were given a table number, and told to go find it.

Though there were 2 salads at the table (the rest of us ordered the salad bar) we had to ask two different staff members for water. We still aren’t sure who our server was, as we dealt with 3 different people while seated at the table.

The salad bar was fresh, but offered very little in terms of fresh vegetable toppings. There were more dressings than anything else. It also cost $1.95 extra to get a trip to the salad bar, when the plated dinner salads actually had more veggies on them.

Our salad plates were cleared but our entrees didn’t arrive for another 30 or so minutes. Over an hour after we’d placed an order. This is definitely not the place for a quick meal.

I ordered the $17.75 New York strip, broasted potatoes, and a side of 6 scallops. ((On the menu, there is an Add-On Favorites section with options for you to make your own combination dinner, and the sides were VERY reasonable, the side of 6 scallops was $3.95.)) My steak was cooked well, medium rare, as I ordered, but wasn’t exactly tender. The menu said it was broiled, and had good flavor, but was a bit chewy and hard to cut through. The scallops were sauteed, though they looked and tasted very much like the grilled option our table ordered as well. The broasted potatoes were nothing special, I wouldn’t order them again.

Two people in our party ordered a special, 4 Way Shrimp. This included sauteed, grilled, butterfly, and fried. The fried was by far the best, a light crunchy batter and plenty of shrimp. The sauteed and grilled looked and tasted the same, much like the scallops. Left us wondering how they were really prepared?

Both the $7.95 Tenderloin Sandwich and the $14.95 Ribeye Steak were ordered. Like the New York Strip, both steaks were a bit tough, but with good flavor. Fresh bread was a plus on the sandwich. Apparently this isn’t the place to go for steak.

The $11.95 Lake Michigan Whitefish was ordered, broiled, and looked much like the Whitefish we’d had the night before at the Water’s Edge Restaurants in Two Rivers. There was a large portion, but it was lacking flavor. A half of a pound o Sauteed Frog Legs were added from the Add-On menu for an additional $4.95.

We noticed the Machut Knee Caps for fifty cents a piece offered on the dessert menu. The waitress informed us they were doughnuts, so we ordered 3 to split around the table. These were by far the best part of the meal. Small doughnuts, like the ones you get at Asian restaurants, but covered in sugar and whipped cream. Delicious!

Overall, Machut’s offered a large menu, we failed to order anything that really impressed though. While the atmoshpere was definitely an authentic Wisconsin supper club, it lacked in the food department, and in the service department. The service was slow and very unaccomodating, one of the waitresses seemed downright rude. Perhaps for locals this is the place to go, but it wasn’t welcoming to outsiders at all. This was our first trip to Machut’s in Two Rivers, and I can’t forsee going back anytime soon, even for the Knee Caps…

Two Rivers Restaurants - Water's Edge

Lighthouse Inn/Water’s Edge Restaurant
1515 Memorial Dr
Two Rivers, WI 54241-3599
(920) 793-4524

The Lighthouse Inn in Two Rivers, Wisconsin is home to the Water’s Edge Restaurant. Two Rivers has been a summer destination for my family and I since I was little. We used to camp at Point Beach State Park every summer. Recently, we have begun the annual tradition of salmon fishing on Lake Michigan. Always a treat, we have traded in the camper for a hotel, and we always stay at the Lighthouse Inn.

On Friday night, as our group was arriving at different times, we went to the bar for a drink before dinner. Though busy, the staff was very attentive, keeping our glasses full, and making polite, friendly conversation. Drinks were reasonably priced, with a large selection of beers available.

Once we were all assembled, we made our way into the restaurant, our waitress brought our water and bread immediately. With 6 people, we had many questions, and our waitress was very honest. First informing us that there were only 3 orders of one of the specials left, then letting us know that the baked haddock came out as a very small portion.

To start things off right, we ordered the appetizer Sampler Platter. From the menu: “Combination of broccoli bites, mozzarella sticks, cheese nuggets, & our homemade onion rings. Served with roasted red pepper sauce and marinara sauce … $9.95″ The broccoli bites were awesome, like deep fried bites of cheesy broccoli soup. The mozzarella sticks were good, not too much breading, plenty of stringy mozzarella cheese. The cheese nuggets were everything a Wisconsin fried cheese curd should be, though they were a bit small. The homemade onion rings were my favorite part of the platter, thin, lightly battered, and perfectly fried, not too greasy. Quite a bit of food for $9.95.

I ordered the fried cod. Not very adventurous, I know. Mom and I were splitting our two dinners, and went with one fried fish meal and the other baked. The friend cod was good, big pieces of fish, battered and fried to a golden brown. Exactly like a Wisconsin fish fry should be. The homemade tartar sauce was a great treat, and a good balance for the fish. The price of my fried cod was $9.95. It came with a salad, vegetable medley (green beans, yellow beans and carrots) and choice of potato. I went with the baked potato, very good. The vegetables were good, nothing special. Well prepared, but lacking seasoning.

The other half of my meal, the portion my Mom ordered, was the baked whitefish. From the menu: “Baked fish prepared in Chablis, butter, and lemon & served with drawn butter…$10.95″ I loved it, the fish was mild and flaky. You could taste the lemon and Chablis. The drawn butter was unnecessary, the fish was so good, but I used it anyways, as it made the fish even better. Plus, I am a huge fan of anything I get to dip in butter. Typically, I order fried over baked, but in this instance, I definitely preferred the baked whitefish to the fried cod, while others at the table preferred the fried to the baked. Just a matter of taste I guess. We ordered onion rings as her side. They were the same that we had on the appetizer platter, very good.

My dad got the Herb Crusted Salmon. From the menu: “Norwegian Salmon fillet baked in a blending of herbs & breading and topped with a cucumber dill sauce … $15.95″. He reported that the salmon was good. He would know, he typically orders salmon out wherever we are. It must have been good, by the time I was ready to taste it, there wasn’t much left!

The Summer Harvest Pasta was ordered. From the menu: “Cavatappi pasta sautéed with olive oil, squash, asparagus, red pepper pesto, sun dried & grape tomatoes (vegetable side not included)* … $13.95″ With all the veggies in the dish, the vegetable side wasn’t missed. The pasta was flavorful, and vegetables were cooked well, not mushy or overdone as can easily happen in these kinds of dishes. I love sun dried tomatoes, so this was a great dish in my opinion. New to the menu, I would guess it becomes a summertime favorite!

Another order of fried cod was ordered, and loved.

My boyfriend ordered the Broasted Chicken. From the menu: “Marinated and lightly breaded chicken broasted to a golden brown exterior with a moist and tender inside.” The $12.95 4 piece meal was ordered, as I let him know I’d be wanting to try it for sure! The chicken was awesome, I love broasted chicken, and this was no exception. The skin was crunchy and well flavored, the meat was tender and not overdone. Though a bit dry in my opinion, it was still really good. It was my second favorite meal ordered, coming in after the baked white fish of course!

Overall, the Water’s Edge restaurant at the Lighthouse Inn is a wonderful place to spend the evening. From the bar to the service to the food, it’s a great environment, with an amazing view of Lake Michigan right outside. There is outdoor seating in the bar area, and windows so big you’ll feel like your outdoors in the dining area! Always a favorite place to go, this Wisconsin restaurant didn’t disappoint, as usual.

The meal fueled a great night’s sleep and gave us the energy for the 3:30 am wake up call that was necessary for our salmon fishing adventure early Saturday morning. When in Two Rivers, check out the Lighthouse Inn and the Water’s Edge restaurant!

Wisconsin Restaurants

Wisconsin Restaurants:

• Appleton - O'Charley's
• Two Rivers - Machut's Supper Club
• Two Rivers - Water's Edge
• Oshkosh - Ardy and Ed's
• Oshkosh - Bangkok Thai
• Oshkosh - Becket's
• Oshkosh - Brooklyn Grill
• Oshkosh - Dublin's Irish Pub
• Oshkosh - Player's Pizza & Pub
  
• Oshkosh - The Roxy
• Oshkosh - The Tilted Kilt
• Wisconsin Dells - Buffalo Phil's
• Wisconsin Dells - Baja Cantina