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Dear Jim,
Ray and I are getting ready to go outside and clean up
from the long, cold winter. Spring begins March 20th
and not too soon for us. This has been one of the
coldest, snowiest winters we've seen since we've been
here. It's been ideal for our guests who love winter
sports! And our five fireplaces sure have had their use.
| Web Site Enhancements! |
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If you haven't been to our website lately, be sure you
make a visit soon! We've added several enhancements
to make your visit to our site more interesting and
interactive!
We've added the Saugatuck SkyCam. Just click on the
link and you'll see the latest skycam picture of
downtown Saugatuck. So if you're sitting at home or
work, and dreaming of your next visit to the Kirby
House which is months away, you can take a "virtual
visit" and see the most current view of downtown
Saugatuck! We've also added the current Saugatuck
temperature!
If you need to be reminded about someone's birthday,
anniversary, or special occasion we can do that! Just
click on our "Gift Reminder" link and fill in the
information. You'll be reminded automatically on the
date you choose! (Please note that your pop-up
controls must be turned "on" in order to fill out the
reminder page.)
And be sure to check our "Links" page for information of
area activities and restaurants and menus! It's very
helpful in planning your next visit to The Kirby House!
Visit Our Web Site... »
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| Happy Birthday Kirby House Bed and Breakfast! |
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Twenty years ago The Kirby House Bed and Breakfast
opened it's doors as the third bed and breakfast in the
Saugatuck-Douglas area. We've been here for the last
six of those years and want to pass along a birthday
gift to YOU!
For the entire month of April we are giving you 20% off
for the 20th Birthday! Any room, any day, any length
of stay!
And, as we mentioned in our last newsletter, we've got
a special offer for our current Kirby Rewards
Members! You'll receive 26% off for the
entire month of April in celebration of the Kirby House
Bed and Breakfast's 20th birthday and our 6th
anniversary here! AND during the entire month of May
current Kirby Rewards Members will continue to
receive a 26% discount! (This 26%
discount is only for current Kirby Rewards Members.)
Be sure to pass this along to your family and friends
too, because everyone can take advantage of our April
20% savings! But be sure they mention the discount!
Come and celebrate with us!
(You MUST mention this special offer at the time
you make your reservation in order to receive your
Birthday discount! Discount cannot be used with any
other discounts or specials.)
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| Ray's Recipe - Drunken Shrimp Sambucca |
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When staying at The Kirby House most of our guests
have to make a trip to the Everyday People Cafe for
dinner, and get the Drunken Shrimp Sambucca
for an appetizer. Well, they've shared the recipe and
we're passing it along to you. Enjoy!
1 5x5 puff pastry square
1 large Tablespoon garlic butter and 1 "ring" of olive
oil
3 Shrimp (16-20 count)
Drakes crispy fry mix (or flour) for dredging
1 Tablespoon sundried tomatoes
1 Tablespoon minced shallots, 1 teaspoon Minced
garlic
1 Pinch of salt
½ oz dry vermouth for deglazing
2 oz heavy cream
1 pinch fresh chopped basil
Place puff pastry on a pie tin and bake at 350° F until
golden brown.
Heat garlic butter and olive oil in small sauté pan until
bubbling (not brown)
Dredge shrimp in Drakes batter, and place in hot
butter/oil mixture.
Sauté until golden brown on one side, then turn.
Add garlic and shallots to butter/oil (do NOT place on
top of shrimp).
Add sundried tomatoes and sauté for 1 minute. When
garlic and shallots are fragrant, and pinch of salt.
Deglaze with dry vermouth and reduce slightly.
Carefully add Sambuca and flambé.
When flame dies down, add cream and basil, toss and
reduce until cooked.
Place puff pastry on a 10" round plate and make a hole
in the center for shrimp.
Pour some sauce on the edge of the pastry and some
onto plate edge for decoration.
Place shrimp and remainder of sauce in the center of
puff pastry. Garnish and serve.
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| More Beach Facts! |
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So, what other facts did National Geographic
Traveler magazine find? They conducted a poll
in which 2,208 replies were received and we've
reprinted their findings below. Sounds like there's a lot
more fun going on at the beach than we all knew!
25 percent of respondents had been to the beach ten
or more times in the past year;
Ninety percent indicated that they will "very likely"
or "definitely" head to the beach this upcoming
year;
While 13 percent of respondents said they had
sunbathed nude, more than a quarter claimed to have
had sex on the beach. Bring on the SPF 15;
74% selected the beach as the place they
would most likely visit if taking a leisure trip;
5% prefer to visit the beach solo (the rest favored
going with a significant other, family, or friends);
Top activities engaged in on the beach
(multiple responses allowed):
48% drinking alcohol;
45% building sandcastles;
43% having a party or BBQ;
27% having sex;
21% flying a kite.
The most important qualities influencing choice of
favorite beach (multiple responses allowed)
:
56% cleanliness;
55% scenery/panorama;
42% climate;
32% water temperature;
21% romance.
Now make a reservation to the Kirby House,
pack your sunscreen and swimtrunks (although 13% of
you don't need to) and head to Oval Beach!
More on The Kirby House »
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| Oval Beach Ranked One of American's Best Beaches! |
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National Geographic's Traveler magazine teamed
up with coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman (known
to millions of Today show viewers as "Dr.
Beach") to compile a checklist of the best American
beaches.
According to Traveler magazine, "It's about
beaches that balance sustainable development with
ecological preservation, shores that offer a safe, clean,
and soothing respite from the overcrowded sand
circuses that threaten to combust your maritime
mellow."
Only 38 beaches across the nation made the list, and
Saugatuck's Oval Beach (which by the way is
named for it's "oval" parking area) made the list! Oval
Beach shares this honorable title with other beaches
such as: Hanauma Bay, Oahu, HI; Kaanapali, Maui, HI;
Race Point, Provincetown, Cape Cod, MA; Siesta
Beach, Siesta Key, FL; Clearwater Beach, Clearwater,
FL; Ogunquit Beach, Ogunquit, ME; South Beach, Miami
Beach, FL; and 30 other beaches.
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