Train Trip to Bell's in Kalamazoo

Last winter, shortly after Larry Bell withdrew his beer from the Chicago market, there wassome talk around hereof organizing a trip on Amtrak to Kalamazoo for a day. Now that the weather is warmer, and Amtrak has posted its specials for April, maybe it is time to make the trip. Besides, I am totally jonesing for a pint of 2-Hearted draft.

The Amtrak station in Kazoo is very close to Bell's Eccentric Cafe and General Store, as well as another brewery. If we go on a Saturday, we can also hit Larry Bell's favorite corner bar and grill, the Corner Bar and Grill, for a lunch of All-You-Can-Eat Coney Dogsand fries and $2.50 pints of Michigan Microbrews (it is a long walk or a short bus ride from Bell's).

The train (#350-Wolverine) leaves Union Station in Chicago at 8:30 am, and arrives in Kalamazoo at 12:10 (2hrs 40min). The return train (#355- Wolverine) leaves Kalamazoo at 8:52pm and arrives back in Chicago at 10:38pm (a long day). If you buy the tickets online in Amtrak's "weekly specials" section, the price is $27.60 roundtrip. Anyhow, if anybody is interested, we could go on the 14th, 21st or 28th of April. I am leaning towards the 21st or 28th since it is after tax-day.

dave

edited title to reflect changes

Sounds like a great plan. Put me down tentatively for one or two.

Unfortunately, my weekends are all tied up for the next 8-9 weeks, otherwise I'd join you.

what a great idea ... sounds like fun

I'd love to go on this trip if a Sunday worked out for other travelers. Saturdays are busy for me [at least at the moment].

Giovanna

I was in K'zoo on Saturday and stopped by Bell's for some beer and a bite and a couple of drafts. A pint of Two-Hearted is just the tip of the iceberg. On tap were Expedition Stout, Consecrator Doppel, Hell Hath No Fury, and (I think) Third Coast Old Ale, among others.

Oh, and most of the beer on tap is 2 bucks for a 12 oz, 2.50 or 3 for a pint, etc. Hard to beat. Cellar aged bottles in the fridge, etc., etc.

Food was creative, but just OK. Elk chilli and a grouper sandwich (likely of the "blue nose" variety, but pretty good). I was a little disappointed not to see some perch or walleye and/or local meats and produce (recognizing it's early in the year). But the food is not a major focus.

I think this sounds fun, and would be up for it. I'd rather not do it on the 21st due to the Indonesian dinner.

d4v3 wrote:Anyhow, if anybody is interested, we could go on the 14th, 21st or 28th of April. I am leaning towards the 21st or 28th since it is after tax-day.

I've been a proponent of this trip since you first mentioned it. How close does the train go to Stop 50? What kind of triumphant excess would it be to go to the Bell's brewery all afternoon and then stop back to meet the rest of the LTH'rs at the pizza meal there? Seems implausible, really, since that event is supposed to start at 5 pm.

And the Indonesian dinner on the same day. Ay. I'm not really sure I can commit to anything right now, but I'm interested in the trip if I can swing it.

It seems that now that the weather is decent, LTHForum has a ton of events planned for April. I would be willing to make the trip on a Sunday, but Amtrak only sells reserved seats on Sundays, which would make the cost go from $28 to $96. I know it is a long way off, but let's plan on 4/28, and let the chips fall where they may. How does that sound?

I'm interested in the trip, on the Saturday (the 28th). There's a large gap in the time of arrival, and departure . . . how would we fill that (other than drinking/talking)? I like to drink, but after a half-dozen pints . . . I've had it! I see, from checking online, that there's another local brewer - Kraftbrau Brewery - and maybe we could visit both, to do a comparison (I know nothing about this second brewer option, other that what I'm reading about it online). There's a klezmer band playing Saturday night (after 9 p.m.) at Bell's - too bad it's not an earlier performance. I also checked to see what other social/lifestyle events are taking place on that day, but came up empty (other than a local Dia de los Niños library event). About the Michiana Shores question: it's in another part of the world, for this trip.

Yeah, I was a little concerned with finding something else to do for 8 1/2 hours besides drinking (although I certainly have been known to do that). However, it does seem that most of the locally available activities involve the consumption of frothy beverages. Like I said above, the Corner Bar has cheap Michigan pints on Saturdays. Actually, If anybody has any other shopping/eating/sightseeing suggestions for Kalamzoo, my liver would appreciate it.

There is a later train that gets into K'Zoo at 3:45pm, which might make more sense. That still leaves 5 hours. Bell's and KraftBrau are only 2 blocks from the train station. We could just meet up at Bell's around 4, and leave it up to the individual which train they take.

Guys, it's not Stop 50, but another somewhat acclaimed wood-burner is on the route to K'Zoo, Woodfire Grill.

Bruce likes it, which is good enough for me.

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=6431

http://www.woodfiredining.com/

I've been to Dowagiac many times for sundries while in MI. It has a lovely little one-stop Victorian downtown, and Wood Fire looks swell. Have not been able to drop inyet, however.

I also heard good things about the other brewpub in K'Zoo and that it's more of a restaurant.

Between the two towns, you could probably fill up 8 hours.

I agree the later train looks better.

d4v3 wrote:If anybody has any other shopping/eating/sightseeing suggestions for Kalamzoo, my liver would appreciate it.

Kalamazoo County Convention & Visitors Bureau website

Sorry, I let this one drop off the radar for a while. I am still on for this trip. I just purchased tickets for myself and a friend online. Anybody who is still interested in going is more than welcome.

You can purchase tickets on the amtrak website. The outgoing train is the 352 Wolverine which leaves Union Station at 12:15pm. The fare is $18.

The return train is the 355 Wolverine which leaves KaZoo at 8:52pm. It is one of the weekly specials which can be booked at:
http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak/WeeklySpecials
The special fare is $13.80.

That gives us about 5 hours to enjoy what Bell's Pub and the adjacent environs have to offer.

There is also a much earlier train (8:30am), if anyone wants to spend more time wandering around Kalamazoo. We can meet up with you at Bell's around 4pm.

Keep in mind that you will probably have much more time in KZoo than you think because the 355 Wolverine is notoriously late in getting to Chicago. I used to pick up my MIL at Union Station who would take this very train. It was normally up to 2 hours late getting in. You'd do well to call Amtrak to make sure what time it will actually be getting to Kzoo.

stevez wrote:Keep in mind that you will probably have much more time in KZoo than you think because the 355 Wolverine is notoriously late in getting to Chicago. I used to pick up my MIL at Union Station who would take this very train. It was normally up to 2 hours late getting in. You'd do well to call Amtrak to make sure what time it will actually be getting to Kzoo.

Thanks for the heads up. Another example of our tax dollars at work. Oh well, what do ya want, this ain't Switzerland. If the train is late, I am sure we can find something to occupy the time (Bell's is only 2 blocks from the station).

This sounds like a great time. Unfortunately, a conflict has come up for me. But I'll look forward to the reports!

nr706 wrote:This sounds like a great time. Unfortunately, a conflict has come up for me. But I'll look forward to the reports!

That's OK. I know it is hard to commit a whole day to make the trip. You know, I just discovered that Saturday is also "Dark Lord" day at 3 Floyds Brewery. Since interest seems to have waned considerably since this trip to Bell's was first proposed, I may just postpone the outing by a few weeks and go to the Dark Lord festival instead. Nobody has actually firmly committed to going, so I don't think that should be a problem. If anybody was planning on making the trip to Kalamzoo this weekend, I am still willing to do it (send me a PM). Otherwise, I may go visit Nick and Barnaby in Munster.

--Dave

I don't read the board as often, so I must say I am a little excited the trip was postponed. Saturdays in the month of May are booked, but June or July may work.

pd

I have a rare Saturday off on June 9th. This date work for anybody???

Giovanna