Beezy's Cafe: Something to Hold On To

Wanna feel the love? It's pretty unavoidable at Beezy's Cafe in Ypsilanti, MI. Beezy's is a local brunch serving machine whose philosophy revolves around simple, honest food and top-notch service. Whether I'm preaching to the harmonious choir of Beezy Bodies or if you've never been - I'm here to promote the idea that a sense of pride can happen to a community through an honest business that has the best intentions.

THE FOOD!

(There once was a Breakfast Burrito on this plate but somehow it disappeared...)

Ladies and gentlemen and everyone in between, I am here to tell you as a health-concious student, Beezy's Cafe is the best option in town. Homemade recipes with no more than 10 ingredients. Everything is less than $8. And if you bring in a traveler's mug, you get a cup of coffee for $1! (Riiiight??)

Beezy's is open until 4pm and is known for serving perfectly portioned brunches to the town packed with starving students and artists. I'm usually found annihilating a Breakfast Burrito (eggs, chorizo, cheese, grilled to perfection) OR a Pepper & Egg Sanwich (eggs, sauteed onions and peppers, and parmasean cheese on sourdough bread) for breakfast. The best part? Breakfast is served until 2pm. Beezy's definitely knows they have customers who barely roll out of bed by noon...How thoughtful!

Lunch begins at 11am and includes salads, sandwiches, and ever changing soups that cause serious recipe envy. I usually go for a Beezy's Salad (mixed greens, pesto ranch dressing, carrots, radishes, croutons, chopped bacon, muenster cheese, sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onion, sliced chicken breast and egg salad) or an Avocado Veggie sandwich (sundried tomato pesto, avocado, roasted red peppers, red onion, lettuce and tomato).

But the original reason I became hooked on Beezy's is the soup. The glorious glorious soup. Everyday Beezy's updates Facebook and Twitter announcing two Soups of the Day. Pumpkin cheddar, cream of mushroom, vegan lemon broccoli, and creamy chicken noodle are just a FEW of the alternating options.

Owner, Bee Roll, never fails and never wastes. She'll add on a soup or a special (apple cinnamon french toast, corn beef hash skillets, etc.)  to make sure NO FOOD is wasted in the Beezy's kitchen.

To sum it up, you're gonna get a great meal when you come to Beezy's. So the next time you're starving before 4pm, go to Beezy's and eat some real food made by great people. It's that simple.

THE SERVICE!

 

Bee Roll is dedicated to the city of Ypsilanti. She is giving the community a sense of pride by providing a place where the public can hang out and eat deliciously healthy food.

Most reviews regarding the local treasure comment on the unique and friendly staff, "Behind the register, in the kitchen, around the dining room, everyone is pleasant and clever, quick with a joke but thorough in addressing questions about the food," said Evan Hansen of Metrotimes.

It's likely to find a line outside of the inconspicuous gold mine. As my favorite Beezy's employee likes to say, "People are willing to wait because they know they're getting the best food and service in town. If they get angry that we have a line, I can point them to a few places that NEVER have a wait...And they'll see why." (heh.)

The aromas from the kitchen and trendy layout stir good moods among the customers as they gaze at the mouthwatering list of options. A friendly worker will start a conversation with you and write down your order on a ticket. You then take the ticket up to another friendly worker (who will also share an awesome conversation with you) and they will place your order. You then find a seat in one of the bustling rooms and hear your name being called...Your food is up!

THE JOY!

Whenever an out-of-towner comes to visit me in Ypsilanti, I take them to Beezy's. It makes me feel cool, okay? It makes it seem as though I make awesome choices my in life and live in a really nifty city...which I do!

If you're from Ypsi and you have yet to head over to Beezy's. Get moving, already! You can park in the lot on Washington & Pearl for FREE for two hours or you can walk (it's right across the street from Deja Vu)! OR if you're not from these parts, make a special trip for a unique experience in Ypsilanti. It'll do ya some good. Click here for a map.

That's all I have for you! Leave a comment and tell me which dish is YOUR favorite at Beezy's. And while you're at it...Check out my Tumblr! Follow me on Twitter! Keep reading...You never know...Maybe I'll blog about YOU next time...

#DeadMansCellPhone @EMUTheatre

Hello once again. I tend to blog about art events/artists I encounter. This particular post will concern my current project at hand, Dead Man's Cell Phone (Feb 3-16). Performing in a play I am simultaneously promoting has quite possibly been my nerdiest indulgence to date. (And yes, I use the adjective "nerdy" with a positive connotation.)

Let me start off by telling you a little about myself....

My name is Marissa Kurtzhals. I am 22 years old. I live in one of the best cities in the state of Michigan and I put most of my energy into EMU Theatre. I have actively participated in the theatre program (acting, crews, classes, student organizations, etc.) since I was a freshman, but it wasn't until Fall 2011 that I joined the marketing team as the Social Media Specialist.

I am a fourth year Arts Management student with minors in Theatre Communications and Marketing. I began my studies as an Accounting major and a Theatre minor until my wise pal, Charles Jabour, suggested I take a gander at EMU's Arts Management program. I was sold pretty quickly. I swiftly changed my major. And it has (literally) been the best decision I have (ever) made. I could walk you through every single amazing experience my studies have granted me like...

Attending the National Arts Marketing Project Conference...

...meeting my professional soul-mate and kick-ass designer, Danelle Cheney...

...or interning at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (more fondly known as, MASS MoCA)...

....but let's just stick to one thing at a time (you can check out my resume on my LinkedIn Profile).

In my earlier days at EMU Theatre, Jabour directed a small production of The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl. I immediately fell in love with the juicy yet straightforward dialogue that Ruhl paints for actors, viewers, and readers. I was cast as Lane and was forever hooked as one of Ruhl's avid cult followers.

Shortly after, my strict yet dedicated high-school theatre director suggested I read Ruhl's Dead Man's Cell Phone. He lent me his personal copy and I was immediately intrigued by simply reading the reviews listed in the index...

"Ruhl's affection for the unexpected phrase, the kooky observation, the unlikely juxtaposition is essential to her central belief that the smallest and most trivial things in life can be charged with meaning," - Charles Isherwood, The New York Times.

I also took note to the fact that Mary-Louise Parker starred in the New York Premiere of Dead Man's Cell Phone, directed by Anne Bogart (that is Thespian Gold, people).

Within 60 minutes I completed reading the script. Chills ran through my core and I started crying as I read the final stage direction. The tears were partly caused by the story itself  and partly because I simply wanted more of the script. I had never encountered a work of art that encompassed so many of my interests: mortality, communication, contemporary art, theatre, romance, tragedy, comedy, irony, dark humor, action, symbolism,  subtleties, and profound themes translatable to every human being.I wanted to work on this show, someday on some level.

I returned the book to my teacher. From time-to-time I'd drop the title, Dead Man's Cell Phone, in philosophical conversations about theatre or technological communication, but for the most part - I put the show in the back of my mind. One lonely day in Massachusetts, I called a friend from EMU Theatre. He then revealed that Pirooz Aghssa had announced he would be directing Dead Man's Cell Phone at EMU Theatre.

...SAY AGAIN???

That night I hopped on Amazon.com and bought a $7 used copy of the script and cracked open my collection of Sarah Ruhl scripts.

"I'm going to be a part of this show," I thought. "I don't know how, exactly, but I need to be a part of this."

Dead Man's Cell Phone no longer lived in the back of my mind. I analyzed every female character, mentally preparing myself for anything auditions would throw my way. Around the same time is when I was offered the marketing position at EMU Theatre. (Let's pause for a second and so I can tell you that I actually get some of my kicks from marketing...it gets me all giddy.)

The first semester working for EMU Theatre was smashing success. I was sent to the NAMP Conference, EMU Theatre's social media numbers were up unlike ever before, I have been blessed with life-changing mentors, and my co-worker, Emily Clarkson, and I basically get paid to have fun and tell people to come watch our friends perform. (Check out our Inside EMU Actor's Studio project!)

ANYHOW! November rolled around the corner, Dead Man's Cell Phone auditions were straight ahead, I picked out my audition monologue, entertained the idea of skipping auditions to spare myself the grief of not being cast, decided to do it anyway, auditioned, and was cast!

(only Parks & Rec fans will find this funny, and I'm okay with that)

So you know what THAT means? That means I am working on the show in every possible way I could have ever wanted. I'm writing press releases as I memorize lines. I'm hanging posters as I exercise my voice. I ask people with smart phones to Tweet photos of the fight scene (THAT I'M IN!).

Not to mention... top-notch creators, designers, directors, and staff are elbow deep in the process of the highest form of storytelling. (Oh...And one of my best friends, Eric Hohnke and I are opposites. My roommate is in the show. And there's not a single person at rehearsals that I haven't known for 3+ years.)

On Monday (Jan. 23), we begin our last week of rehearsal before we move to tech-week. Promotional videos, blogs, and tweets are being produced and I'm currently pushing an effort to increase student attendance called "Student Night".  The idea is to add an extra performance of Dead Man's Cell Phone that will take place at 10pm and student tickets are Two-For-$Ten. (I'll report the results if the idea goes through!)

Dead Man's Cell Phone is a dark romantic comedy about a woman named Jean who unknowingly answers the cell phone of a dead stranger. She continues to create elaborate "confabulations" to make up for her self-imposed insensitivity as she explores the molecular afterthoughts of a man's life and his secrets within his cell phone. It has been a joy to create this character and we can't wait to show everyone how much we love this show.

(Tweet Pic of rehearsals. #DeadMansCellPhone Act One, Scene One.)

Thank you to every single person who has had anything to do with this production (and) or my involvement with this production. This show means a lot to us. It has made me stronger and has given me a fiery purpose until closing night. Show opens Feb 3. Click here for more and more info. COME SEE THE SHOW!!! WE CAN'T WAIT TO TELL YOU THIS STORY!!!