Rockford is a charming small town only minutes north of Grand Rapids. Originally called Laphamville, the iron-fisted bosses at the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Company forced the village to shorten its name to save on stenciling costs. (Gold leaf ain't free!) Newly arrived residents from Rockford, Ill. proposed the name of their former town, which narrowly passed in 1865. Today, Rockford is blessed with Victorian houses on rolling hills, a soothing river and dam, and a lively downtown. It also is known for its high school sports, with the black and orange togs of the Rockford Rams football team dominating Division I.
Sam's Joint (19 N. Main St.) is a Rockford tradition. Beginning in 1977 as a small card room with good eats for those in the know. (Wink, wink.) The joint became popular and Sam Bravata had to start buying rundown buildings in downtown Rockford to handle the crowds. He outfitted the former Hotel Maine — named after the U.S. battleship that sank in Havana Harbor (curse you, Spain!) — with twisted taxidermy and antique curiosities that set the stage for good times. Sam's Joint is known for its lip-lickin' barbecue and tummy ticklin' burgers and fried delicacies. Sam's Joints catch on fire every once in a while, which is a sure-fire indication of good barbecue. The menu includes all the usual suspects: spicy chicken poppers, super onion burgers, four-piece crispy chicken dinners, and 8 oz. sizzlers, all for less than $10. Sunday through Thursday you can get 1.5 pounds of lean and meaty Baby Back Ribs with fries and coleslaw for $11.95. Or, get the Poppa Steve Double Order with extra tangy dipping sauce for only $21.95. Bring a toothpick, my pets.
Custard by the Dam and Dam Dogs (25 Squire St.) are two Rockford classics that are now neighbors. Jennifer Kramarz and her mom opened Custard by the Dam in 2002. The charming ice cream parlor is an icy white oasis on a hot August afternoon. The shop offers handmade fudge, a candy display that would make a dentist cry, and hand-dipped ice cream by Ashby's Sterling Ice Cream and Mackinac Island Fudge & Creamery. The most popular flavor is Buckeye Bites (or Peanut Butter Chocolate for the Maize and Blue). The Turtle Sundae is popular with hot fudge and caramel, candied pecans and whipped cream. Cherry, too. But Custard by the Dam is known for its rich, creamy frozen custard. Take your custard to the next level by mixing in neon-colored syrups to create 32 fantastic flavors, like cotton candy, blueberry, and tutti frutti. But not peach. Seems nobody liked the peach. Look for the rosy-cheeked dippers Kelly Baker, Kelli Egeler, and Lauren Girard the next time you are in the shop. They served Poppa Steve and his antic brood with nary a scoop nor twist awry.
Dam Dogs is the Cain to the Abel of Custard by the Dam. It moved next to the ice cream shop to create an EKG-shocking one-two punch after being bought by Jennifer Kramarz and her husband Frank. Dam Dogs may not have the hippy street cred of better-known shops in Grand Rapids, but it offers tasty wienies in a friendly ambience. This reporter tried the Rockford Dog, which blankets a meaty hotdog with chili, ketchup, mustard, cheese, pickles, and onions. It is truly the "dog you have to eat with a knife and fork." The hobbled Miss Carolita grabbed a 6th Street Dog with chili and cheese and Miss Qiqi had the nachos, with an extra cup of gooey cheese. Miss Lourdie ate her Corn Dog Polish style: hotdog first and then the fried batter. Dam Dogs offers a hearty meal at a fair price for a family on the move in Rockford.
Grill One Eleven (111 Courtland) is a sharp American-style bistro that announces Rockford's culinary coming of age. Owners Aaron and Amy Zainea have created a handsome space featuring a full bar and elegant table settings that encourage a relaxed dining experience. You will find pastas, steaks, soups and sandwiches made with style using the freshest ingredients. Executive Chef Matt Lenkiewicz recommends the signature dishes, such as the Seafood Stuffed Grouper, which could only be better if the seafood was stuffed with seafood. The One Eleven Chicken Marsala is also topnotch with roasted portabella, shallots, and sun-dried tomatoes in a sweet Marsala cream sauce. Sound good? Chef Matt says he is busy updating the menu with new pasta, salmon and risotto dishes. Nothing is certain, but there was mention of a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Burger that sounds so good that Poppa Steve will reach through this magazine and eat it off your plate. Grill One Eleven's manager, Melissa Lenkiewicz, organizes live acoustic music shows Thursday through Saturday evenings, which is another reason to keep going back.
Reds on the River (8 E. Bridge St.) offers a more refined dining experience. The rambling Tuscan-influenced pile hugs the Rogue River, offering breathtaking views that complement the gourmet cuisine. Enjoy the casual upscale ambiance on the deck during the summer or gather around the circular fireplace in the wintertime. Executive Chef Glenn Forgie has been with Reds from the beginning. He trained at the California School of Culinary Arts and has his certification from Le Cordon Bleu, which sounds fancy. He has crafted a menu around hand-cut aged steaks and fresh fish seasoned to accent, not mask, the taste. General Manager Buzz Goebel likes to promote the Reds experience through regular wine dinners in the restaurant’s massive wine cellar and cooking classes with its world-class chefs. Buzz also organizes ethnic nights on the second Wednesday and Thursday of every month. These special dinners offer a variety of appetizers, entrees, and wines from countries like Morocco, Mexico, Thailand and Spain. "All of us at Reds enjoy Rockford, because it is a friendly walking community with an eclectic group of restaurants," Buzz said.
If you’re looking for an authentic diner, head over to Rosie’s Diner (4500 14 Mile Rd.). Dating back to 1946, Rosie’s was originally The Silver Dollar Diner and was located in New Jersey until 1991 when it was purchased by Jerry Berta and moved to Michigan. You may have seen Rosie’s Diner on an episode of The Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” She’s a big deal.
The record holder for The Corner Bar’s Hot Dog Hall of Fame had not been broken for 23 years. That was until December 2005, when Balinda Gould pounded 43 hot dogs in a four hour time period. Think you can beat Balinda’s record? If not, you can at least enter the Hot Dog Hall of Fame, where you’ll have to eat 12 dogs with The Corner Bar’s special chili sauce within four hours. If you can do that, you can be one of the more than 5,000 names on the wall that have beaten the challenge.
Rockford Lanes (117 E. Bridge St.) is a great idea for fun family and group activities. The 16-lane bowling alley is tucked into a side street with a modest brick facade and simple sign announcing the kick-ass kegling inside. Cory Brown and his father Dale bought the alley in 2005. You can see the money they have spent on new synthetic lanes and modern equipment. Don't worry; it's no frou-frou Taj Majal. They offer daily open bowling, which currently costs $6 for two games and shoes. They also have year-round leagues for Mixed Teams, Future Star Juniors, Ladies, Men, Pee-Wees, and Adult/Child Teams. "Rockford Lanes is the best deal in town for total entertainment value," Cory said. The full service snack bar will help you forget that gutter ball you just tossed with gnarly nacho cheese, popcorn, soda pop and candy. When the sun goes down, Disco Dale turns up the music and turns on the black lighting for Glow Bowling. Watch the teens and the young at heart rock out while they bowl the night away.
Rockford has many natural attractions, so get outdoors, my little petunias. The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail runs through Rockford and you will see many people on bikes and roller blades and hoofing it on foot on the trail. While they may look miserable, they are enjoying the longest rail-to-trail system in the state. The trail stretches just less than 100 miles from Grand Rapids to Cadillac along the old Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad bed. Since the trail is a former rail line, it is mostly flat and smooth for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. Sorry, no horses, Mr. Ed.
The trail runs along the Rogue River, Sarah Palin's favorite tributary. The slow-moving and shallow river is ideal for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, bird watching and hiking. The 42-mile river was originally named the Rouge River, but was misnamed by a 19th-century Wisconsin mapmaker. (Another drunken cheese head!) Begin your river adventure at AAA Canoe Rentals (525 Northland Dr.). According to Mary, you can sign up for a two-hour canoe trip for $35, or a three-hour deluxe inner tube ride for $20. Prices include paddles, life jackets and transportation. Powers Outdoors (65 S. Main St.) is Rockford's paddle sports gear headquarters. They can outfit you with the latest rugged gear for hiking, camping, canoeing, and kayaking. Kayak rentals range from $25-$35 for a two-hour trip and canoes rent for $45-$50; all include transportation, paddles and life jackets. Heather mentioned Powers Outdoors will be bringing back the popular Tuesday Night Tours. After the shop has closed, the employees will take customers out to paddle on the river for $10 per person. "It's so cool to experience the river in the dark," she said.
Jump out of the canoe and try your hand at fly-fishing. The Great Lakes Fly Fishing Company (8460 Algoma Ave. NE) can help you do just that. The 2500-foot shop is conveniently located at the juncture of Michigan's finest trout streams: the Muskegon, Rogue, Pere Marquette, White, and Manistee Rivers. The expert staff includes experienced anglers, expert fly tyers, grizzled river guides, and all-around outdoorsmen. They can set you up with the best equipment — and secret spots — which you will need to make the most of your fly-fishing experience. It sells sweet rods from Sage, Thomas & Thomas, and Scott Rods; rad reels from Able Reels, Bauer Reels, House of Hardy, and Scientific Anglers; and fearsome flies from Tiemco, Renzetti, Spirit River, and Umpqua. The Great Lakes Fly Fishing Company offers regular classes in casting, fly tying, practical entomology and fishing techniques as well as demonstrations on the latest fly-fishing gear.
Rockford radicals can send their tips and suggestions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Photos: Dam Dogs: Steven de Polo; Reds on the River: Green Frog Photography
