up front encore
First Things Something Good
Support the Bigs and Littles of Kalamazoo Break out the bowling
shoes and some buddies for a good cause. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kalamazoo is hosting its annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake bowling event Feb. 20-22 at Pinz, 4500 Stadium Drive. Participants register a team of at least five people who work together to collect donations from friends, family members and coworkers in person or via a personalized team Web page provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters. All donations go toward Big Brothers Big Sisters programs. Once the money is raised, teams are rewarded with a two-hour bowling event complete with door prizes and a team costume contest. For more information, to register a team or to join a team, visit BBBSMI.org.
Something Romantic Skate under the stars Ice
skating under the stars is a romanticcomedy-perfect activity, and Millennium Park Ice Rink, in Portage, is offering a chance for you and your sweetheart to do just that at its Valentine’s Day Skate. The Feb. 14 event starts at 4:30 p.m. and offers participants a private skate, live music and dinner at the rink. Grand Traverse Pie Co. will cater the event, and patrons will be served by wait staff on skates. To participate, register by Feb. 12 by paying $15 per person at the rink. For more information, visit PortageMi.gov.
8 | Encore FEBRUARY 2015
Something Delicious Wake up on the right side
At the intersection where the Stuart, Douglas and Northside neighborhoods meet sits Station 702, a new fast casual breakfast and lunch eatery. The restaurant opened in September, and owner Brad Loomis says it has had “an absolutely phenomenal response” from the community. Loomis and his business partner, Jason Newton, are focused on homemade foods using fresh ingredients. For new Station 702 visitors, Loomis has several recommendations: the breakfast flatbread, the breakfast burritos and one of his personal favorites, the Barbeque Brisket Scramble. “It’s a smoked beef brisket that we caramelize in a pan with onions, scrambled eggs and spuds, which are chunked potatoes, and it’s topped with barbecue sauce and cheese,” he says. “I haven’t had anyone who’s been disappointed in it.” Station 702 is at 702 Douglas Ave. and open 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. For more information, visit Station702.com.