REGIONAL NEWS
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Indoor Dining Resumes at Margaux Margaux, the contemporary French bistro at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids, has reopened for indoor dining after following all safety guidelines implemented by local and state health officials. Located on the first floor of the downtown property, Margaux is once again serving lunch, brunch and dinner with new menu options in a revamped space. New menu items include short rib à la Bourguîgnonne, a classic steak frites Café de Paris, and a Scottish salmon wrapped in flaky pastry in a white wine sauce, while updated interiors boast a modern yet comfortable Parisian aesthetic, velvet and tufted upholstery, exposed gray brick, dramatic draping and a sleek marble bar. Ilovethejw.com
Pop-Up Transforms AC Lounge The AC Lounge at the AC Hotel Grand Rapids Downtown has been reimagined as a tropical hot spot. Officially opened in September, La Ventanita, a pop-up featuring Spanish- and Latin American-inspired bites like crispy ham croquetas and a frita cubana with papas criollas (a Cuban hamburger with Colombian-style fried potatoes), brings tropical vibes to Grand Rapids’ Hotel District. Guests can also enjoy a drink menu full of fun twists on the classics, including a piña colada milk punch and a smoked Manhattan. marriott.com/grrar
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MIM+E
| FALL 2020 / WINTER 2021
USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards has named the Inn at Black Star Farms the nation’s Best Wine Country Hotel 2020. A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. The family-owned, 10-room inn is located on 160 rural acres in Leelanau County, Northwest Michigan’s notable wine region. The Kentucky-inspired estate is located along a hillside of vineyards with sweeping pastoral views, and features picturesque rolling farmland, sandy beaches, parks and quaint villages. Guests of the Inn enjoy VIP access to the winery’s tasting room, a nightly hospitality hour, luxurious guest rooms with in-room wine, gourmet breakfasts, onsite trails and more. The Inn also hosts weddings, special events and corporate retreats and offers on-site catering. Standing out front of accommodations in notable wine regions like California and Oregon, “the nomination in itself was an extreme honor, and one that shines a spotlight on a tremendous team that we are so fortunate to have at our Inn,” says Sherri Campbell Fenton, the Inn’s managing owner. “It’s very exciting to see our unique experiences and incredible wines making such a tremendous, lasting impact on so many.” blackstarfarms.com/inn
P H OTO S : M A R G AU X ; AC H OT E L G R A N D R A P I D S D OW N TOW N ; J O H N R O B E R T W I L L I A M S ; ( O P P O S I T E ) D O U B L E T R E E B Y H I LT O N B AY C I T Y - R I V E R F R O N T
Michigan Inn Named Nation’s Best Wine Country Hotel