I’m not convinced Mother Nature knows this, as it’s 60 degrees out and raining while I write this. Maybe she hasn’t changed her calendar over to May yet – you know how sometimes that just doesn’t get done in a timely manner each month…? I’m trying to give her some leeway with the fact that Memorial Day is considered the start of summer, but we’re not necessarily feeling it based on the weather we’ve been having lately. Regardless, it is Memorial Day weekend coming up and there are a variety of activities and events to help you enjoy the 3-day weekend, including tributes to our nation’s fallen heroes who made our freedom to celebrate possible, as well as the start of summertime fun.
With respect to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country, the American Legion Memorial Day parade will start at 9am, on Monday, May 29. It starts at Walworth Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Delavan, and heads east to St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, then north on 7th Street to the Spring Grove/St. Andrew’s Cemetery, with a ceremony taking place at the Civil War monument. A rifle squad will attend and taps will be played, plus the Delavan-Darien school band will perform before and during the ceremony. The speaker will be Dr. Jeff Scherer, former Lt. Commander of the Navy, and the Poppy Princess is Vittoria Reshkus. From there, the American Legion and the school band will visit Old Settlers Cemetery at McDowell Street and N. 3rd Street. The rifle squad and two buglers will visit Roselawn Cemetery and East Delavan Cemetery, at Highways 50 and 67 and at Bailey Road and Theatre Road, respectively. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at 9:15am in the auditorium at Delavan-Darien High School, 150 Cumming Street.
Come take a spin around the dance floor with me as Phoenix Park Bandshell kicks off its 2017 season on Saturday, May 27, with the Eddie Butts Band at 7pm. Enjoy an evening of entertainment, dancing and fun with this must-see band. Eddie is well known as a premier vocalist and when you combine his smoky baritone with the sweet tones of the band’s female singers and the fantastic musicianship that emits a delicious blend of jazz, pop and R&B, it’s easy to see why the Eddie Butts Band has been such an icon for so many years. Then on Sunday, May 28, at 3pm, the Basin Street Boys will have you stomping your feet, clapping your hands and on the dance floor in no time all over again. They are an award-winning, 6-piece Dixieland group that plays both jazz standards from the 1920s and 30s, as well as more modern tunes played in the Dixieland style. New Orleans will certainly feel closer when you hear them play!
After shaking your booty Saturday night and before doing it again Sunday afternoon at the Phoenix Park Bandshell, let’s meet up at Rosewood and get refueled by joining their three Culinary Institute of America chefs as they celebrate Memorial Day on Sunday, May 28, with a unique chef-attended, farm-to-table brunch. Brunch includes a chef-attended pasta station, omelets made-to-order, a carving station, displayed hot and cold buffets, and fresh baked pastries. There is also an unlimited Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar. Brunch seating times are 11:30am and 1pm, with reservations required. If you haven’t been to Rosewood, then where have you been? Add all this delectable food and drink options to the casually elegant space, tastefully designed in a modern refined rustic décor, and you’ve got an extraordinary environment to enjoy besides enjoying the food. Don’t forget to wander in to the gift shop to peruse and purchase some of the unique items found there. I’ve got a wish list, so if you need help deciding what to get, ask me!
It’s holiday weekend and isn’t there some rule that calories are all null and void on a holiday? If so, and even if not, Lake Lawn Resort’s Lakeside Lawn Party & Pig Roast on Sunday, May 28, from 12-7pm offers another great option for putting the feedbag on. The Pig Roast is from 4-7pm and besides offering pulled whole rotisserie roasted pork sandwiches with blackstrap molasses BBQ sauce, there’s also KC-style BBQ chicken, grilled brats and burgers, slow roasted smoked brisket, baked beans, pasta salad, potato salad, fresh broccoli salad, seasonal fresh fruit salad, jalapeno cheddar chive corn bread muffins with honey butter, watermelon slices, make-your-own spring berry shortcake, M&M brownies, and all washed down with Lake Lawn’s famous pink lemonade. If you walk away hungry, there’s something wrong! Live music will be provided by Triple D from 12-4pm, performing current Top 40 dance, classic rock, 80s hair band, country, smooth jazz and much more. I don’t know about you, but I’ll need to do some shaking and grooving to build up the appetite that will allow me to eat all that great food!
No matter how you choose to spend this Memorial Day weekend, enjoy it in Delavan and come find your adventure!
