As everyone Around Here knows by now, Chris and Sonny divided the Torch Lake Market in two and put both sides up for lease. Then they went on vacation. All winter snow piled up in the parking lot and I mourned. However.
On Saturday morning at 8 am the Torch Lake Cafe will reopen.
I will be there, along with Babs and Betty Jo and Chris and Sonny and New Neighbor Nanette and all the usual suspects–along with some new faces. Meet the New Management.
Vocalist/guitarist Leanna Collins, her husband Jim Hettinger, Chef Rob Bruce and manager Nick Olson have been all over the place for the last month repainting, hanging new fixtures, making a special corner for Leanne’s guitar, just in case she feels like playing it. They are keeping lots of menu standards, but there will be some surprises, too. For one thing – they will be open for dinner. There might even be Xango for dessert.
Snowbirds, I will keep you apprised of developments. As for the rest of you, come on over for breakfast tomorrow. Or lunch. Or dinner. I don’t see how you can go wrong.
And now, because April is Poetry Month, and because this poem was one of the very first to ever stir my heart, and because I stole the refrain . . .
The Pasture
by Robert Frost
(from North of Boston, 1915)
I’m going out to clean the pasture spring;
I’ll only stop to rake the leaves away
(And wait to watch the water clear, I may):
I sha’n’t be gone long.—You come too.
I’m going out to fetch the little calf
That’s standing by the mother. It’s so young,
It totters when she licks it with her tongue.
I sha’n’t be gone long.—You come too.
Torch Lake Views 
Deb Zeiner
April 5, 2013
I’m so happy to get this ‘edition!’ I’ve missed you and news of The Township.
Gerry
April 5, 2013
It is happy news, isn’t it! I can hardly wait.
wendiwoot
April 5, 2013
Thanks for the information Gerry! We have been wondering what is going on there. Kind of feels like spring may really happen now 🙂 Always happy to see your new posts.
Gerry
April 5, 2013
Always happy to see your new comments – and look forward to seeing you at the Roundup Roadshow at Pearl’s tonight. [Everybody Around Here? C’mon down to Pearl’s in Elk Rapids this evening for fine music and poetry and other excellent treats. Think of it as rehearsal for breakfast tomorrow.]
Martha
April 5, 2013
Hey, Gerry! That is good news. I’m away from that tourist stuff finally but we both know this is how it goes and it doesn’t always change for the better. Sounds like it has in this case! And it will be fun to see how you report on it all!
Are you out of the winter landscape now?
Gerry
April 5, 2013
Rumor has it that we might get some additional s@#$ tonight, but we are confident that the back of winter has broken. Oh dear, perhaps it’s bad luck to admit that . . .
lifepotentials
April 5, 2013
Wahoo! Am dying to hear Leanna sing in person! Wonder if her yoga classes will be held there so we can all eat afterwards! HA! GREAT NEWS! Say hi to all our Torch Lake friends for us….bill and diantha xo
Gerry
April 5, 2013
It is bound to happen. The singing I mean. I think there will not be room for yoga unless we do it in the parking lot–after the snowpiles have melted of course. As far as I know the yoga studio up at the corner will remain in operation.
tootlepedal
April 5, 2013
I hope the opening is splendid.
Gerry
April 5, 2013
It will be – we are a cheerful bunch so long as someone else is cooking breakfast. This is just the “soft opening” you know – the splashy Grand Opening will occur in May as the Summer People arrive. By then all of us year-round denizens will have claimed our regular tables.
tootlepedal
April 5, 2013
I’ve seen the likes of you. Sitting in a corner making remarks as visitors come in.
shoreacres
April 5, 2013
So nice to see you, and hear the good news. I must ask – what is this Xango? My google search returned some very interesting and in some cases mutually exclusive results. 😉
I was especially pleased to read the Frost poem again. It’s one I’d forgotten. I’m glad now to remember it.
Gerry
April 5, 2013
I am pretty sure Xango is a made up word–not that I mind that, I’m fond of making up words myself–but Leanna has described this marvel to me and it sounds fairly sinful. I will not tell you more about it until I have seen it with my own eyes and sampled it with my own tastebuds.
P.j. grath
April 5, 2013
Oh, Gerry, good to hear from you again! Good news that the cafe is re-opening! I looked across the water yesterday morning and waved. Did you see me?
Gerry
April 5, 2013
May good things happen in threes. I thought that was you waving–Miss Sadie and the Cowboy waved back with great energy.
uphilldowndale
April 5, 2013
Wonderful to hear of your world, I do feel, spring can now arrive. It simply must…
Gerry
April 5, 2013
I feel as bedraggled as a parrot blown off course and finding itself on the shores of Lake Michigan. We are in definite need of spring Around Here too. Although it may be only lemon pie deficit.
Martha
April 5, 2013
Oh, lemon pie….yes, please.
Joanna (Ruth) Hicks
April 6, 2013
Gerry.. I just posted your article on their FB page; then shared it in the Central Lake News FB page. 😀 Excited to have this type of establishment so close to home. Maybe I’ll get Bob out of the house once in awhile!!
Gerry
April 7, 2013
Well you foxy li’l Director of Social Media! Leanna was in fine voice last night – you should definitely get over there.
Dawn
April 6, 2013
Sounds fun. Hope you let us know the best of it….and what a Xango turns out to be. Loved the poem…would love, as always, to come too…but it will have to be in spirit.
Gerry
April 7, 2013
Your spirit is strong and always welcome. More to come on Xango.
Karma
April 7, 2013
Wonderful to hear from you again. I’m hopeful that regular views from Torch Lake will be another sign of spring. Spring has certainly taken its time arriving this year. I hope the snow has melted in your neck of the woods.
Gerry
April 7, 2013
The snowpiles won’t melt until May at this rate, but the roads are clear and that’s all we need to make it out and about. Life is good.
Leanna
April 7, 2013
Thanks for your beautiful article. So many people have come because of you . We had a wonderful first day. We here at the “Torch Lake Cafe” thank you all for your patronage.
Gerry
April 7, 2013
I’d say welcome to the Township but, um, since you grew up here and have the yoga studio up at the old township hall site, that would be silly of me. Not that I mind silly, I’m just saying. But all of us are very, very glad that you reopened the cafe in Torch Lake Village. You will have many wonderful days. Heck, by the time the Summer People get here they’ll be lining up in the parking lot.
Leanna
April 8, 2013
:)))))))) I hope so!!!
Joss
April 8, 2013
Glad to hear of someone making things happen round your way. Here, we are starting a new Women’s Institute branch so lots needs doing. Luckily we have loads of enthusiastic volunteers. It’s going to be big! I’m Press and Publicity Officer. I’m afraid of getting too many people to join. Will we be able to find a big enough hall? They like joining things round here. One thing is for sure though – there will be lot of cake as the WI is renowned for it!