Phil visiting Flint, MI 11/9

“I will be flying into Flint on Friday (11/7) to attend a reunion and leaving Monday (11/10). The reunion goes Friday night thru Saturday night.

My plans for Sunday are somewhat flexible and was wondering about getting together with some TTers for lunch, dinner or something. (I want to be back to my hotel in Flint by about 9 pm because of an early flight).

Weather could be an issue, but would worry about that later.

Anyone available? I might be driving into Rochester Hills to visit a friend anyway sometime around 3 pm.

If you want to email me: prrosenkrant@csupomona.edu”

“Oh Phil, I'm so sorry for you, having t o go to that little s--t hole town.”

“Hey that's great! I will see what I've got going on and I'm sure that others in this great state of Michigan would love to meet up wit you! Emailing soon!”

“About 15 minutes from Flint is the Holly State Rec. Area. It probably has 30 miles of trail in some really neat lake and hill country.

"That little #&%!$hole town"??? I guess you've been blinded by the great mountain views of Florida, eh? To each his own.”

“I'm from Lapeer, Mi., 30 minutes from Flint.”

“You Michiganiacs take care of Phil.He's worth it.I wish I could be there Phil..That's not far from my daughter in Kingston.. : (”

“I'll be leaving Mt. Pleasant sometime on Sunday, and could drive through Flint. Or, heck, even Rochester Hills. We could organize a dinner at Big Buck Brewery (Auburn Hills).

Doesn't look like weather during the day will be a problem. Says chance of snow showers at night, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.”

“Arrggghhh! I'll be out of town from 11/6 to 11/9 (Sun), but I hope to home early Sunday. If you're still in Flint, or at least not too far south of there, I could still visit. (I'm north, in Midland)
It would be great to meet you, Phil.”

“Sunday might work. Dinner is best. Flint would be great cause I'll be driving right through there. But, Roch Hills and the like are just as fine. I'm gonna be hiking this weekend, but I'll make phone calls to see what the plans are!

Would REALLY love to meet you, Phil!!!”

“BTW, I don't know lots of restaurants in Flint. I've only eaten at a few. The easiest one I can think of is Don Pablos right off the Miller Road exit. But, Phil, you're a Flint man, right? Maybe you can tell us about the local joints!!

Just heard from laqtis. He's gonna keep me posted on the plans. I see no reason I can't make this.”

“Well, I'll have to get Q's phone number so I can remain posted as well this weekend. I definitly want to meet you too, Phil!”

“"We could organize a dinner at Big Buck Brewery (Auburn Hills)"

That place rocks! I visited the place while I was in town on business about 2 years ago. Excellent beer and great food.

I would drive up but I will be attending a barmitzva (I don't know how to spell that) in the St. Louis area.”

“I learned to ski at Mt. Holly!! Not much elevation gain, but it was available.

I lived in Flushing while I went to school in Flint.”

“Wow! Lots of interest! Super! Hope we can work something out.

The reunion banquet is in Frankenmuth on Saturday night. I am staying at the Ramada Inn at I-75 and Pierson Road on the north side of Flint.”

“Hey Phil, I know right where that is......I grew up in Clio and my brother lives in Flushing and my Mom in Genesse.

Their is a cool micro brewery off of 75 and Hill Rd., just North of the 75-23 split. It's called Redwood Lodge and you can see it from the freeway.”

“ltwtbkpkr - I lived in the Sigma Chi Fraternity House at 704 E. Main St. in Flushing. Had a blast for four years.”

“Phil, glad to hear you are comin into town. Sass and I have dinner plans already and our day is loaded unfortunately. I would love to meet ya someday...Have a blast!”

“birch - Was hoping to meet you both. Sorry this was so "last minute".”

“Dang, Now I am wondering if we can get outta our dinner plans...”

“Let's get it together! I willnot be able to day hke at all inthe surronding area that Phill will be in, but I'm all about having dinner!”

“I wish I could go! I know I can't do it. So close, yet so far away. I'll meet you yet, Phil... just don't know where or when yet. Have a great time! I'll be there in spirit.”

“Drat! I'm wondering if we can get outta our dinner palns too....



Oh the temptation! They're local friends after all, so what if we haven't seen them in months! We've never seen Phil! ;) We'll see....”

“Ohmygosh!”

“So, we're having dinner on Sunday. Where? What time?”

“That has to be determind. I have no idea what's up in area Flint. Maybe Something around Great Lakes Crossing? There's plenty to do there!”

“Hey Phil--you seem to have a knack for having droves of people eager to meet you!!! :-)”

“Following the posts, I see several possibilities, with room for more:

Flint Area:
1. Redwood Lodge (5304 Gateway Boulevard, Flint, MI 48507) at the I-75/M-23 split.

Auburn Hills Area:
2. Great Lakes Crossing (which restaurant?) - Located at 4000 Baldwin Road, Auburn Hills, MI. 48326, off I-75 between Baldwin Road (exit 84) and Joslyn Road (exit 83). Just 30 miles north of Detroit and 25 miles south of Flint.

3. Big Buck Brewery & Steak House (2500 Takata Drive, Auburn Hills, MI 48326)

There is about 31 miles between Redwood Lodge and Great Lakes Crossing. 37 miles from Redwood Lodge to Big Buck Brewery.

Which one would be most central and easiest for the most people? le subtil is in Midland, others are in the Detroit area.

Help please? I think we need to decide today. le Subtil: How far South can you make it on Sunday?”

“I vote Redwood or Big Buck. Big Buck is only 2 exits past GLC. I would like nothing to do with Great Lakes Crossing, if possilbe.


Oh, but at the Auburn Mile (across the freewy) there's a bunch of restaurants. Let me check what's there....stand by.”

“Montana's (I'm not sure what that is), Applebee's, I think there's an Olive Garden there.

I still vote one of the breweries.

Big Buck is off of University Road, south of Great Lakes Crossing.”

“le Subtil and others: Big Buck (Auburn Hills) or Redwood Lodge (South Flint)?

That avoids the Mall”

“yam - I think it is cool that TTers will gather together!!! The Nashville Gathering was great. I am looking forward to tonight in Pomona and Sunday in Flint or Auburn Hills!”

“I would be down for 'da Buck. It's an easy on and off.

Phil - you have my home phone number incase we don't get this nailed down before you leave.

MMer's I'll post that info on our site just incase.”

“Q - I'll e-mail ya and send you my phone #. I'll be out of town all weekend, and won't have computer access. Can you give me a call on Sunday with the final plans?”

“Phil, Tara and LeSubtil are both up in the up hiking. I imagine Lesubtil is on his way already. Your best bet is probably to make your plans and have Q or Smiley call and tell Tarabull, or leave a voicemail for her asap. Then they'll know what time to shoot for on Sunday. If you'd like her phone number, drop me an email. I'm sure she'd be delighted to hear from you.

I'm afraid my conscience just won't let me cancel our plans Sunday. I've cancelled twice already with this couple and they have gotten a babysitter for their two kids for THE FIRST TIME EVER. I just can't do it, (but boy would I really like to). I'm sorry, and we'll catch up with you one of these days. =(”

“Nope, I'm not in the UP hiking. I'm stuck at work trying to sell off a machine...

None of the options you presented are bad. I'll let you folks decide, and if I can make it, I certainly will.

Thanks for trying to accomodate me.
Hope it works out!!!”

“Sass - You are right not to cancel your the prior engagement. Just wondering, what time is it at?”

“SG - Yep Yep! Have fun what ever it is yer doing!

Me thinks some time 'round dinner time, so to give 'bull and LeSubtil time to gets back and showered. How does around 6 sound to everyone at 'da Buck?”

“Sounds good!

Q - I got your phone #'s off your post on the other place, so I'll just give ya a call on Sunday to verify plans.”

“6:00 p.m.

Big Buck Brewery & Steak House 2500 Takata Drive
Auburn Hills, MI 48326

Apparently, Big Buck is off of University Road, south of Great Lakes Crossing.”

“Coming south, it can be seen on the right from I-75. Of course if you have seen it on the right, then you have just passed it...LOL!

Me, the wife and boys are excited 'bout metting up with ya!”

“I'm in for Sunday dinner. See you all at 6ish.

It'll be nice to meet you Phil.”

“YEAH!!!”

“Awesome! I am looking forward to this!!”

“So am I!!”

“Alright. 6pm should work. I'm in the UP right now. Getting ready to do a few days of hiking.

I'm fine with any location. Big Buck has yummy beer and great nachos. But, the Flint place would be great, too, seeing as how I'll be driving right through it anyway.

Depending on what time we get off the trail, I might come stinking like a backpacker. Hope y'all don't mind! hehehe

But, ya'll decide. I already talked to Q and will be keeping in touch w/ him to see if anything changes between now and Sunday.

Looking forward to meeting ya, Phil!”

“I should be able to make it too!”

“This sounds like a fun gathering.
It's a little funny - I just re-watched "Roger and Me". Aparently it is illegal to show in Flint but you can watch it for a little background before you go. Track down that lady selling bunnies "for pets or meat". She would be handy to have along on a long backpacking trip.”

“pepper - thanks for bringing that up. I only caught a little bit of that flick. I didn't know it was illeagal to show in Flint, but wouldn't suprise me. I did see the bunny chick. That was wicked!!”

“Roger devastated Flint. Hopefully it has come back some.”

“I think it's been up and down since that film. Plants are still closing....

I think we should be able to make it for a beer before heading off at 7 to meet up with our friends. We're going to try real hard, still have to call the sitter and see if she'll come earlier. Hope to be there! (We meet our friends at 8, in Novi)”