In an emotional message to its devoted guests, the staff behind Umami announced that it would be closing its doors for the foreseeable future because of Covid. The beloved Chagrin Falls eatery that specialized in Asian-influenced seafood opened its doors 12 years ago. The restaurant's small footprint, sporting a dining room with just 10 tables, proved to be too small to survive social distancing.

Here's the full message:

**********

This isn't goodbye forever; it's just goodbye for now...

12 years ago, Jonathan Westrich decided that Chagrin Falls needed an intimate, Asian-inspired restaurant, where friends could gather to eat creative dishes that were made with the absolute best quality ingredients available, from the shores of Hawaii to farms right down the street.

He gathered an all-star team to make his vision a reality. Chef Matt Anderson and General Manager Nikki Williams created unique dishes and a level of atmosphere and service that was unrivaled. A year later, Mike Mendlovic joined the team and the four of them brought Umami to the forefront of dining in Northeast Ohio. With Chef Matt's departure, Chef Andrew Nichols joined the kitchen, putting his own unique spin on the menu, to rave reviews and a consistently packed dining room.

Along the way, Umami has gathered accolades such as the Best 100 Restaurants in America, 40 Essential Cleveland Restaurants, 25 Sexiest Restaurants in Cleveland, 10 Best Sushi Restaurants In & Around Cleveland, and 25 Hard-to-Get Cleveland Restaurant Tables That Are Totally Worth It.

It's that last one that creates the problem we currently find out ourselves in. When COVID first struck, we quickly pivoted to a carry-out model. This worked great, with our amazing customers supporting us at levels that were able to keep us open. As the weather turned nicer, patio's opened, and eventually dining rooms at reduced capacity, our carry out business understandably plummeted. One of the reasons we were on the list of the 25 hardest to get tables is because we only have 10 of those tables in our tiny dining room. It is just not possible to operate at a reduced capacity. Our "patio," which consists of 2 tables in front of our restaurant is not allowed to open due to social distancing rules (the sidewalk is not wide enough to ensure 6 feet of space when pedestrians walk by). In addition, the quality of food we serve comes from all over the country, often being shipped overnight. Our small purveyors are hurting, and therefore have increased their prices or simply stopped selling certain items.

All of this makes it impossible for us to carry on in this current environment, and has led to the incredibly difficult decision to close our doors for the time being. How long with that be? We're not sure yet. We know that we cannot sustain Umami at reduced capacity for dine-in service, so we will need to discern the level of desire to continue offering only carry-out until we are allowed to open the dining room once again.

We are going to continue to explore our options and keep an eye on the ever-changing safety protocols and guidelines to see when, how, or if we can reopen in order to bring the same level of unique food and atmosphere to our amazing friends and guests.

Thank you so much for your continued support over the previous 12 years. We sincerely hope that the circumstances will allow us to once again welcome you and your friends into the special world of Umami in the future. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy, and keep loving life!

Sincerely,Nikki, Mike, Andrew, Jonathan, and the entire Umami crew

Excerpt from:
Umami in Chagrin Falls to Close After 12 Years Because of Covid - Cleveland Scene

The first weekend of the Phase 2 reopenings in some Ontario municipalities is in the books

The first weekend of the Phase 2 reopenings of select Ontario municipalities is in the books, and for many it was a great success and relief.

As of Friday, the Simcoe-Muskoka region was among the 24 of 34 health districts that could open up with restrictions. Restaurant and bar patios, shopping malls, barbers, hair salons, pools, places or worship and a short list of other operations were able to open their doors.

Malones Pint House has stayed closed for the entirety of the lockdown. Owner Sarah Lynne Maloney said she was excited to see her patrons, as they were to see her.

Everyone is so happy and enjoying the great weather. Weve been full this weekend and hearing a lot of comments about how great it is to be out and how this is going to be good for their soul,Maloney told BarrieToday.

When the lockdown began in mid-March, many establishments offered take-out deals. Maloney said she avoided any form of staying open, mainly for her staff, with some worried at the time.

We have some staff with little kids and nobody knew what to expect, said Maloney. I honestly didn't think it would last as long as it has, but we are just glad to be back open and seeing the many friendly faces weve missed.

Maloney saidthe first weekend backwas "well-earned by many people. Our staff is happy to be back and the patrons are definitely having a good time.

The Patios Everywhere Program was recently approved by city council. The program sees fees for restaurant patios waived until Oct. 15, and would allow patios to expand into parking lots.

Malones, located at the intersection of Bradford and Victoria streets, has room on their patio for approximately 40 people and hopes to add more space soon.

We will be expanding the patioand just had a few things to do before doing so, said Maloney.

Go here to see the original:
Return to the patio 'well-earned by many people' in Barrie - BarrieToday

Restaurants across Colorado can now reopen for on-premises dining, with stringent safety guidelines. Although the okay was given on May 27, many eateries are taking their time determining the best way to follow the rules before opening their doors. Among other things, the state stipulates that restaurants must be limited to 50 percent capacity or fifty customers, whichever is lower; tables be at least six feet apart; and all restaurant workers wear masks at all times.

In Denver, customers need to wear masks to their tables and when they leave them. Otherwise, the city's rules correspond with the state's guidelines, though Denver's Facebook page warns that it "may make additional adjustments in the coming days."And to-go options and delivery of both food and booze, praise the lord are not only still allowed, but encouraged; you can find out more about those offerings here.

Keep reading for our list of metro Denver restaurants where you can eat on-premises now, with those opening this week at the bottom of the post. (As always, we recommend verifying with individual establishments.)

[A ] [B ] [C ] [D ] [E ] [F ] [G] [H] [I ] [J ] [K ] [L ] [M] [N ] [O ] [P ] [Q ] [R ] [S ] [T ] [U ] [V ] [W] [Z] Acorn3350 Brighton Boulevard720-542-3721denveracorn.com Both Acorn's patio and dining room are open.

Ace Eat Serve501 East 17th Avenue303-800-7705aceeatserve.com Ace Eat Serve's patio is now open to diners. Make a recommended reservation on Open Table.

Acova 3651 Navajo Street303-736-2718acovarestaurant.com Acova is open; reservations on Open Table or by phone are encouraged.

Adelitas Cocina y Cantina1294 South Broadway303-778-1294adelitasco.com Adelitas is seating customers in its dining room and on its patio on a first-come, first-served basis.

African Grill & Bar18601 Green Valley Ranch Boulevard, 303-375-7835955 South Kipling Parkway, Lakewood, 303-985-4497 africangrilllakewood.com The unassuming but delicious restaurant has reopened both restaurants for eat-in service.

AJ's Pit Bar-B-Q2180 South Delaware Street720-815-5571pitbarbq.com AJ's is open with limited outdoor seating.

Ale House2501 16th Street303-433-9734alehousedenver.com The Highland taproom and its expansive rooftop patio are open.

American Elm4132 West 38th Avenue720-749-3186amelm.com American Elm's dining room has reopened.

Angelo's Taverna/Carboy Winery620 East Sixth Avenue, 303-744-33666885 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, 720-532-1389angelostaverna.com carboywinery.com Both Angelo's outposts are open for dine-in service; reservations are recommended. Carboy Winery, which is attached to the Littleton location, is seating guests on a first come, first served basis.

Annette2501 Dallas Street, Aurora720-710-9975annettescratchtotable.com Chef Caroline Glover's much-lauded restaurant has opened its patio for diners. Make a reservation on its website.

Annie's3100 East Colfax Avenue303-355-8197annies-cafe.com The cafe has reopened to diners with indoor and patio seating.

Appaloosa Bar & Grill535 16th Street720-932-1700appaloosagrill.com Reservations are encouraged for both indoor and outdoor seating; the restaurant also has live music at 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The Arvada Tavern5707 Olde Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada303-690-6269arvadatavern.com The Arvada Tavern is now open, with first-come, first-served outdoor seating and indoor seating by reservation only.

Ashkara2005 West 33rd Avenue303-537-4407ashkaradenver.com Ashkara is now open for dining in; reservations are encouraged and can be made on Tock.

Atelier by Radex2011 East 17th Avenue720-379-5556atelierbyradex.com The French-influenced fine-dining restaurant has reopened its dining room.

Attimo 2246 Larimer Street 720-287-4988attimowine.com The tasting room will be reopening on Saturday, June 13.

Atomic Cowboy/Denver Biscuit Co./Fat Sully'sMultiple metro locationsatomiccowboy.net denbisco.com fatsullys.comAll locations are currently open; you can join the waitlist on the eateries' websites.

Avanti Food & Beverage3200 Pecos Street720-269-4778avantifandb.com Avanti and all of its food stalls (Bistro Georgette, Brava! Pizzeria della Strada, Lea Jane's Hot Chicken, Meta Asian Kitchen, Quiero Arepas and the Rotary) are now open; see its Instagram page for up-to-date hours and info.

Avelina1550 17th Street720-904-6711avelinadenver.com Avelina's dining room is open for dinner service; call to reserve a table.

Baba & Pop's Handmade Pierogi9945 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora720-476-7183babaandpops.com The pierogi purveyors have reopened for in-house dining.

Bacon Social House2434 West 44th Avenue720-550-7065baconsocialhouse.comOn June 6 and 7, the Sunnyside location will open its patio and dining room for brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; reservations are strongly recommended. Currently, the eatery will be serving in-house brunch on weekends only and will continue takeout service Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bad Daddy's Burger BarMultiple metro locationsbaddaddysburgerbar.comBad Daddy's dining rooms have reopened with single-use menus and a maximum of six guests per table.

Bar Car819 Colorado Boulevard720-524-8099denverbarcar.com The bar is now open.

Bar Dough2227 West 32nd Avenue720-668-8506bardoughdenver.com Bar Dough is accepting reservations (ninety-minute slots) for its dining room and patio. Make one on Tock.

Barbed Wire Reef4499 West 38th Avenue970-390-8303barbedwirereef.comThe restaurant is currently open for full-service dining Wednesday through Sunday for parties of eight or fewer. Reservations are recommended.

Bardo Coffee House238 South Broadway, 303-629-83316150 West 38th Avenue, 720-485-3508bardocoffee.com Both locations are open for seating.

Barolo Grill3030 East Sixth Avenue303-393-1040barologrilldenver.comCall Barolo Grill to make a reservation for bar seating; dining room tables can be reserved by phone or on Tock. The Italian restaurant is offering three- and five-course tasting menus.

Bastien's 3503 East Colfax Avenue303-322-0363bastiensrestaurant.com The venerable steakhouse is open with a limited menu. Reservations are recommended and are only being taken by phone.

Beckon2843 Larimer Street303-749-0020beckon-denver.com Beckon is seating guests on its newly remodeled patio. Make a reservation for a high-end tasting menu on its website.

Berkeley Park Sushi Co. 4404 Yates Street720-379-5261cosushico.com Berkeley Park Sushi Co. has reopened its dining room to guests with reservations; call to secure a seat.

Bertha's Baja Bistro900 Jersey Street720-216-5735berthasbajabistro.com Bertha's is now open for in-house dining.

The bar at Bigsby's Folly is now (re)open for business.

Mark Antonation

Bigsby's Folly3563 Wazee Street720-485-3158bigsbysfolly.com Groups of one to four can dine in without a reservation; parties of five to eight should make reservations on the winery's website.

Billy's Inn4403 Lowell Boulevard303-455-9733billysinn.com The longstanding bar and grill is now open; make a reservation on Tock.

The Bindery's spacious interior makes it perfect for social distancing.

Courtesy the Bindery

The Bindery1817 Central Street303-993-2364thebinderydenver.comThe Bindery's dining room is now open. Reservations are required; call to make one.

Bistro Vendme1420 Larimer Street303-825-3232bistrovendome.com The French restaurant and its lush patio are now open.

Black Shirt Brewing Co. 3719 Walnut Street303-993-2799blackshirtbrewingco.com The brewery and pizza joint is open for dine-in service with a new (third!) outdoor seating area.

Blake Street Tavern2301 Blake Street303-675-0505blakestreettavern.comThe tavern's dining room is now open.

Blanchard Family Wines1855 Blake Street303-328-1732blanchardfamilywines.comThe Dairy Block winery is open with indoor and patio dining.

The Block Distilling Co.2990 Larimer Street303-484-9033theblockdistillingco.com The craft distillery is now open; see its Facebook page for details.

Blue Agave Grill1201 16th Street720-550-8389blueagavegrillcolorado.com The Southwestern joint is now serving customers in house.

Blue Bonnet 457 South Broadway 303-778-0147bluebonnetrestaurant.com The Denver institution reopened its patios with a limited menu.

Bonbons Cafe & Dessert Bar1675 West 67th Avenue720-845-2186bonbonsmidtown.com The sweet spot reopened its doors with expanded outdoor seating.

Bonnie Brae Tavern740 South University Boulevard303-777-2262bonniebraetavern.com The 80+-year-old diner has reopened and converted a portion of its parking lot into a shaded patio. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

Brass Tacks 1526 Blake Street 720-379-3993brasstacksdinebar.com The LoDo bar is now open; visit its Instagram page for updates.

Brazen 4450 West 38th Avenue 720-638-1242brazendenver.com The eatery is opening its patio to on-site dining.

The Breakfast King1100 South Santa Fe Drive720-575-1525The beloved 24-hour restaurant has reopened for the full diner experience.

The view from the rooftop patio at Briar Common Brewery + Eatery.

Bridget Wood

Briar Common Brewery & Eatery2298 Clay Street720-512-3894briarcommon.com The brewpub reopened its taproom; call to make a recommended reservation.

Brightmarten730 South University Boulevard720-541-7696brightmarten.com Brightmarten has reopened for dinner service; reservations are advised.

Broadway Roxy554 South Broadway720-456-7041broadwayroxy.com The music venue and restaurant has reopened.

The Brutal Poodle 1967 South Broadway720-379-6281brutalpoodledenver.com The kitchen turning out the best loaded tots in town opened its doors with extended patio seating; it's also installing an antiviral air purification system.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. 1437 California Street303-623-4867bubbagump.com The restaurant's dining room is now open.

The Buckhorn Exchange1000 Osage Street303-534-9505buckhorn.com Denver's oldest restaurant has weathered COVID-19 (so far) and has reopened its dining room. Reservations are recommended and can be made by emailing info@buckhorn.com. Cafe Brazil 4408 Lowell Boulevard 303-480-1877cafebrazildenver.comCafe Brazil reopened for service; details are on its Facebook page.

Carmine's on Penn 92 South Pennsylvania Street 720-441-6613carminescolorado.com The Italian mainstay is now open with its full menu.

Cart-Driver2500 Larimer Street303-292-3553cart-driver.com Cart-Driver's RiNo location has opened its patio for eating in; see its Instagram page for updates.

Cativella10195 East 29th Drive303-645-3779cattivelladenver.com The Italian eatery has reopened for reservation-only dinner service. Visit its Facebook page for updates.

Cerebral Brewing 1477 Monroe Street 303-927-7365cerebralbrewing.com The taproom is now open and has converted its parking lot into outdoor seating.

Charcoal Bistro1028 South Gaylord Street303-953-8718charcoalbistro.com Charcoal's dining room is open; its hours and menu are currently abbreviated.

Charlie Brown's980 Grant Street303-860-1655charliebrownsbarandgrill.com The piano bar with the giant menu and one of the greatest patios in town is now open.

Chart House25908 Genesee Trail Road, Golden303-526-9813chart-house.com The restaurant's dining room is now open.

Chef Zorba's2626 East 12th Avenue303-321-0091chefzorbas.com The patio of the 41-year-old Greek diner has reopened.

The Cherry Cricket2220 Blake Street, 303-297-36442641 East Second Avenue, 303-322-7666cherrycricket.comDenver's beloved burger joint reopened both dining room; the Cherry Creek location is also currently converting its parking lot to outdoor seating.

Cherry Hills Sushi Co. 1400 East Hampden Avenue, Cherry Hills303-761-1559cosushico.com Cherry Hills Sushi Co. has reopened its dining room to guests with reservations; call to secure a seat.

The Firebird sandwich at Chicken Rebel.

Linnea Covington

Chicken Rebel 3618 Tejon Street 720-710-6620facebook.com/chickenrebelcluckThe dining room is now open.

Chocolate Lab2504 East Colfax Avenue720-536-5037chocolatelabdenver.com The Chocolate Lab is open on a reservation-only basis. Call to secure your seat.

ChoLon1555 Blake Street, 303-353-522310195 East 29th Drive, 720-550-6934cholon.com Both locations have opened their patios; reserve your spot on ChoLon's website.

City, O' City206 East 13th Avenue303-831-6443cityocitydenver.comThe cafe, coffee shop and bar is open; the restaurant's Facebook page has updates.

Cochino Taco176 South Broadway, 720-324-88593495 South Downing Street, Englewood, 720-573-6174cochinotaco.com Both locations each with an expansive patio are open for in-house dining.

Colorado Campfire400 East 19th Avenue720-612-4604coloradocampfire.com Colorado Campfire (formerly Tap Fourteen) is open.

Comida2501 Dallas Street, Aurora303-484-1632eatcomida.com Comida is open with a limited food and drink menu.

Colorado Sake Co. 3559 Larimer Street720-449-6963coloradosakeco.com The sake brewery has reopened with new outdoor seating, masks and hand sanitizer for guests and food from new pop-up Denver Sushi House.

Coohills1400 Wewatta Street303-623-5700coohills.com Coohills is open; call to make a reservation.

The Cooper Lounge1701 Wynkoop Street720-460-3738cooperlounge.com The exclusive mezzanine bar is now accepting reservations on its website.

Crimson & Gold2017 South University Boulevard720-379-5454candgdenver.com The University of Denver bar is open for action.

Cru Food & Wine Bar1442 Larimer Street303-893-9463cruwinebar.com The wine bar and dining room are now open.

Crush Pizza & Tap1200 West 38th Avenue303-481-6232crushpizzatap.com The pizza and wings joint is now open with indoor and outdoor seating; reservations are a must. Stay up to date on the pizza parlor's Instagram page.

Cuba Cuba Cafe & Bar 1173 Delaware Street303-605-2822cubacubacafe.comCuba Cuba is now seating diners inside and out (with newly expanded garden seating) from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Cucina Colore3041 East Third Avenue303-393-6917cucinacolore.comThe Cherry Creek trattoria is open for dine-in service; make reservations on its website.

Daughter Thai Kitchen & Bar1700 Platte Street720-667-4652daughterthaikitchenandbar.com Daughter Thai's dining room is now open.

Deep Roots Winery1516 Wazee Street720-328-4786deeprootswines.com The winery and restaurant has reopened.

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse8100 East Orchard Road303-625-9195delfriscos.com The restaurant's dining room is now open.

Del Frisco's Grille100 St. Paul Street303-320-8529delfriscosgrille.comThe restaurant's dining room is now open.

Denver Milk Market1800 Wazee Street 303-792-8242denvermilkmarket.comThe food hall is seating diners inside, on its patio and in the Dairy Block alley.

Dimestore Delibar1575 Boulder Street303-537-5323 dimestoredelibar.comDimestore is now open for dining in.

Dio Mio Handmade Pasta3264 Larimer Street303-5621965diomiopasta.com The pasta joint is now open; it's accepting a small number of reservations as well as walk-ins.

Dog Haus8316 Northfield Boulevard, 303-353-438512023 East Arapahoe Road, Centennial, 720-330-0823doghaus.com The wiener chain (sausage link?) has reopened both its dining rooms.

Domo 1365 Osage Street303-595-3666domorestaurant.com The Japanese restaurant reopened its dining room and picturesque garden with a limited menu.

Dos Santos1475 East 17th Avenue303-386-3509dossantostacos.comThe uptown taqueria is open. Current hours are noon to 9 p.m. daily.

Downtown Aquarium700 Water Street303-561-4450aquariumrestaurants.com The restaurant's dining room is now open.

Duo2413 West 32nd Avenue303-477-4141duodenver.com The Highland mainstay has reopened with additional sidewalk seating. Earnest Hall2915 West 44th Avenue303-955-5580earnesthalldenver.com The pizza joint and bar has reopened.

See the article here:
Denver Restaurants and Bars Reopening for In-House Dining - Westword

Sometimes, building a fence is not about keeping people out, its about inviting more people in.

Downtown Holland like other Ottawa County communities, including Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and Zeeland is turning outdoor space into extra dining capacity to promote social distancing and allow restaurants to seat more people.Volunteers built the 80-foot fence that allowed the Curragh Irish Pub to extend its patio.

When the Curragh Irish Pub was looking to expand its outdoor space recently, owners found they had a lot of extra hands. Pub owner Sophia Leongas says longtime friend Greg Snook took charge. What began as an idea for adding planters shifted to installing a fence. Some donated scrap wood that was torched to give the perimeter a rustic feel. Nearly a dozen people came together to help with the construction.

I have a village of friends that I'm just so blessed and grateful for, says Leongas. This didn't cost me a dime. Our patio business is everything. It gets us through the winter, basically. This is doable; we can make this work. We can make it through the summer. And, granted, we don't know what to expect, but at least we're going to give it our best shot.

In this together

When Holland Mayor Nathan Bocks heard the story behind the fence, he asked the city to make a short video.

Sophia Leongas, owner of the Curragh Irish Pub, next to the fence.There is a spirit of cooperation and collaboration in the city like I have never seen before. Everybody has gotten along really well together, but there is this feeling were all in this together now. Were going to work well with each other, Bocks says.

He was impressed with how well everyone did during the first weekend of the return of dine-in service. The sunny weather drew crowds to the newly opened restaurants and diners were practicing social distancing.

Safety protocols

Businesses are implementing a number of safety protocols to protect their employees and customers from the spread of COVID-19.

Among these are front-door signs outlining safety precautions and occupancy restrictions, installing hand-sanitizing stations, requiring employees and customers to wear masks, increased sanitizing of all surfaces, and ensuring that customers practice safe social distancing of 6 feet at all times.

Per Gov. Gretchen Whitmers recent executive order, retailers will be able to operate with 25% of total occupancy, while restaurants will be limited to 50% occupancy.

Using outdoor space

To help businesses navigate these new occupancy restrictions, Downtown Holland is allowing retailers and restaurants to expand their business operations onto the sidewalk and into parking spaces for the time being.

A dozen volunteers built a patio fence for the Curragh Irish Pub.Retailers are allowed to display merchandise outside, while restaurants can expand their current sidewalk caf operations into the parking spaces in front of their business. Some are using plants to mark outdoor space while others are using fences. The city relocated cement planters to create safe zones.

The plan was developed by the Downtown Development Authority and the Principal Shopping District, two city committees made up of merchants. They agreed to expand restaurant seating into sidewalks and some parking spaces, but decided against closing down Eighth Street to vehicular traffic taking a different approach than some Michigan downtowns.

Final preparations

The downtown reopened gradually a few weeks ago, after the governors executive order let shops open on June 4 and restaurants on June 8. A handful of restaurants have delayed their opening by a week or two to put final preparations in place to operate safely.

Our business owners have been working extremely hard these past few weeks to ensure that the proper protocol is in place, so customers can shop and dine safely within their businesses, says Downtown Holland Marketing Coordinator Kara de Alvare.Greg Snook in his workshop. The businesses are grateful for everyone who supported them while their doors were closed, she says.

Online options remain

Customers uncomfortable with shopping in-store are invited to visit shopdowntownholland.com to shop online and place orders for delivery or curbside pickup from their favorite retailers. Likewise, customers who prefer to dine at home can visit dinedowntownholland.com for a list of restaurants offering takeout services.

Leongas says she is grateful for the support of customers during the three months her restaurant could offer only takeout and curbside delivery.

We are blessed with the support of the community for the takeouts, everybody stepping in and buying gift certificates, and spreading the word that we are open, Leongas says.

Finding a way to help

Greg Snook says he was thinking about how much he wanted to help the community during quarantine when he came up with the fence idea. He feels a special connection to the restaurant because of his friendship with Leongas and her husband, Dave Jurgensen. His teenage daughter, Sonora, also works at the Curragh.

Its actually amazing how quickly that came together, Snook says of the 80-foot fence made from donated Gentex pallets and a pile of wood his dad had collected for a forgotten project. The reinforced fence with planters and dividers adds 24 outdoor seats. The wood was charred to resemble the aged dark wood of the pubs interior.

I love woodworking, and I always have made projects for friends, but they very seldom come out looking like I envisioned, says Snook, who has a woodshop. I wish I had the energy and the materials to make fences for all the restaurants on Eighth Street. They all need help. Everybody is struggling really hard, and I'm glad I could help at least someone.

This article is part of The Lakeshore, a new featured section of Rapid Growth focused on West Michigan's Lakeshore region. Over the coming months, Rapid Growth will be expanding to cover the complex challenges in this community by focusing on the organizations, projects, programs, and individuals working to improve conditions and solve problems for their region. As the coverage continues, look for The Lakeshore publication, coming in 2020.

More here:
'Village of friends' gets creative to help downtown Holland restaurant reopen - Rapid Growth

By: Nick Piastowski May 2, 2020

Thomas Bjorn's chip shot goes a little right during an instructional video.

twitter.com/thomasbjorngolf

Thomas Bjorn provided a window into how to play like a professional golfer.

Now he needs a new one.

As part of the Callaway Golf Tour Tips series, the longtime pro and 2018 European Ryder Cup captain broke down a chipping drill on a video earlier this week. He set up a green mat inside his home in London, plopped down a few balls and opened the glass doors into his patio to demonstrate.

His lesson focused on using one arm to chip. It helps with body movement in the stroke. It takes away wrist movement.

Ideally.

Bjorns first shot rocketed through one of the windows next to his patio door.

When you try and film a @CallawayGolfEU Tour Tip but you havent picked up a club since Feb! he tweeted.

His fellow pros broke down after his breakdown. Even the Callaway company.

It tweeted a picture of orange practice balls which are softer.

Hi @thomasbjorngolf, Your recently ordered package of practice balls are on their way to you! Many thanks, #TeamCallaway the company tweeted.

On a video released Saturday, Bjorn gave the full instruction. And he hit three balls through the opening. Without a scratch.

So hitting pitch shots, one of the great exercises you can do is to hit them with one arm because it enables you to be able to turn the body instead of just using your arms, he said. If you only use your arms, then your hands will break down because of the weight of the club. So what I try and do is I stand up with one arm and try and turn, which is now the camera, and to the ball and through.

Good stuff.

One Twitter user liked the initial lesson more.

This one is so much more boring without windows being broke tweeted @delaney_rob

Visit link:
How to hit a chip shot and how to break a window, according to a pro golfer - Golf.com

San Francisco | $1.595 MillionA condominium unit in a Victorian house built in 1900 and recently renovated, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms

This house, which now contains two residential units, was built in 1900 and recently renovated by Jeff Schlarb Design Studio. (Mr. Schlarbs studio occupies the buildings ground-floor commercial space.) It is in the Presidio Heights neighborhood, within walking distance of well-known restaurants, the Sacramento Street Shopping District, known for its concentration of high-end design stores, and the Laurel Heights campus of the University of California, San Francisco. The Presidio, an 18th-century Spanish fort and the beloved outdoor space that surrounds it, is four blocks away.

Size: 1,435 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,111

Indoors: A short staircase leads from the ground level to the units front door and a foyer with a frosted-glass window and refinished hardwood floors. Down a hallway is an open living-and-dining area with graphic wallpaper on one wall, a marble fireplace and sliding-glass doors that open to a deck. The dining space flows into a windowed kitchen with marble counters, room for a breakfast table and an adjacent pantry space.

The bedrooms are also off the main hallway. Closest to the living area is a guest room with three windows and space for a queen-size bed. Across the hall is a bathroom with a stall shower and a single vanity.

At the end of the hall is the master suite, with a decorative fireplace and a bay of windows looking out at the Victorian houses across the street. A small adjoining room could be used as an office or a nursery. The en suite bathroom has a double vanity and a combination tub and shower.

Outdoor space: Off the main living area is a deck with space for a small table and chairs, and south-facing views of the San Francisco skyline.

Taxes: $19,459 (estimated)

Contact: Missy Wyant Smit, Compass, 415-203-7747; missysmit.com

The section of the Hollywood Hills surrounding Laurel Canyon is known for its privacy: Many of the homes are on twisty, dead-end streets, and driveways are so steep its easy to miss them. This house is on the outskirts of the Mount Olympus neighborhood, which is equally private, but within walking distance of the Sunset Strip. Central Hollywood is 10 minutes away by car, and downtown Los Angeles is a 30-minute drive.

Size: 1,324 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,171

Indoors: A steep driveway leads to the front yard, which is landscaped with succulents. Stairs paved in terra-cotta ascend to the front door, which opens to a small foyer. A wide, arched doorway divides the entry from the living room, which has dark wood floors and stucco walls.

The owner, who bought the house in 2018, updated it but retained much of its 1920s charm, including the centerpiece of the living room: a fireplace with a brick hearth and its original plaster ornamentation.

Two sets of French doors open to a street-facing balcony. Above, overlooking the living area, is the dining room, with its own small patio. Behind it is the kitchen, which was refreshed by the owner several years ago. White cabinets with white marble counters line the walls, and a laundry nook is tucked into one corner.

The hallway behind the living and dining rooms connects two of the bedrooms and one of the bathrooms. The master, which has two walk-in closets, looks out onto the street and has access to the rear patio. The second bedroom, currently used as a den, also has access to the patio. Between the bedrooms is a bathroom with a copper vanity and a glass-walled walk-in shower.

The third bedroom is down a hallway behind the kitchen. It has room for a queen-size bed, and access to a bathroom with a walk-in shower.

Outdoor space: Nearly every room in the house is connected to outdoor space. Off the living room is a front-facing patio with a Spanish-tile floor and a roof overhang for shade. Along the back of the house is a larger patio that could be used as an outdoor dining room. A third small patio, accessible through one of the bedrooms, has a terra-cotta fountain. The attached garage holds one car.

Mendocino, on the North Coast of California, was founded in the 1850s as a logging community. This house was built by a lumberman named Charles Cavanaugh, and sits next to Mendocino Presbyterian Church, built in 1868 and one of the oldest continuously operating Protestant churches in California. Today, the community attracts artists and weekenders, drawn by the ocean views and abundance of bed-and-breakfasts and cozy restaurants. The small-town seaside vibe of Mendocino was immortalized on the television series Murder, She Wrote, where it stood in for coastal Maine.

This property backs up to about 75 acres of parkland and is within walking distance of Big River Beach, where the Big River meets the Pacific Ocean. San Francisco is about a three-and-a-half-hour drive to the south.

Size: 1,700 square feet

Price per square foot: $938

Indoors: Turning onto the driveway from the street takes you past a garage and a cottage used as an art studio. A wooden footpath leads from the cottage to the main house.

The front door, inset with a marine-themed stained-glass window, opens into a living room with a fireplace, hardwood floors and white-painted ceiling beams and crown molding, as well as French doors that open to a deck. A half bathroom sits between the fireplace and a staircase to the upper level.

To the right of the living room is an open dining and kitchen area. Built-in storage forms a window seat along one wall, and a marble breakfast bar faces the kitchen, which has new stainless steel appliances and a farmhouse sink, as well as a separate bar area and wine refrigerator. A small hallway off the kitchen leads to the laundry room, a walk-in pantry and a door to the yard.

On the second level, at the top of the stair landing is a bathroom with a double-vanity topped in white marble and a separate shower and soaking tub. Just down from the bathroom are the two bedrooms. The master has a wall of windows looking out over the deck to the ocean in the distance; the second bedroom, has sloped ceilings and space for a full-size bed and a desk.

Outdoor space: Off the living room is a large deck with a hot tub, overlooking the beach. There are three additional structures on the property: a guest cottage with room for two beds; another cottage, closer to the street, that could be used as a home office or an art studio; and a detached garage with space for two cars.

Taxes: $17,688 (estimated)

Contact: Kira Meade, Mendo Sothebys Internationals Realty, 707-357-2194; movetomendocino.com

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$1.6 Million Homes in California - The New York Times

Workers at the McDonalds restaurant on San Franciscos Fillmore Street went on strike Thursday, saying that their colleagues are falling ill but must still come to work.

According to a Wednesday tweet from the East Bay chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), at least one worker planned to strike Thursday after discovering confirmed cases of COVID-19 among her co-workers and no response from management.

At the April 30 demonstration, numerous cooks and cashiers told the San Francisco Chronicle that at least four employees of the restaurant at 1100 Fillmore Street had tested positive for the new coronavirus (COVID-19). The group also made a complaint to the San Francisco Department of Public Health, alleging that employees have come to work while visibly sick, and when personal protective equipment was in short supply at the restaurant, employees were told to wear coffee filters as masks.

Peter Ou, the franchisee who owns and operates that McDonalds (and who also sold the notoriously troubled Haight and Stanyan McDonalds to the city of San Francisco for a reported $10 million in 2017), denies the claims that any workers have fallen ill, and says that the restaurant is in full compliance with all state-level orders, including sick pay and PPE requirements. Meanwhile, company-owned McDonalds in the U.K. will reopen on May 13, despite health and safety concerns from workers, who are asking how theyll be able to find personal protective equipment (PPE) to wear to work when healthcare workers in the region remain unsupplied.

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SF McDonalds Workers Protest Over Alleged Lack of Coronavirus Protections - Eater SF

The goal of the house, aesthetically, was the integration of all the parts and pieces, rather than just letting things float on their own, says Williams. That seamless design aesthetic manifests in details large and small. More plate-glass railings on the interior stairs eliminate any visual barrier between front door and main floor, whichhouses Parhams essential living spaces: media room, kitchen and master suite. Theres also not a door hinge in sight on this floor; pocket doors disappear into walls, and massive sliding glass doors whoosh quietly open to the courtyard and deck, flooding the space with fresh air as well as brilliant daylight.

In the kitchen, granite countertops flecked with royal blue inspired the azure back-painted glass behind the stove (also a sleek disguise for the kitchen exhaust hood) and coffee bar. These saturated colors sizzle against the muted blond and dark wood cabinets, which conceal a staggering amount of storage space. Customizable LED track lighting above the kitchen and living areas enables Parham to continually tweak his illumination, and a tomato-red light fixture (a dimmable, 4,000-Kelvin color temperature LED, which appears much closer to natural light than the traditional Edison bulb) pops like a piece of contemporary art, complementing the Saarinen Tulip chairs and table below. Im very particular about my lighting, says Parham, who says he prefers natural daylight whenever possible. So, every fixture in the house is dimmable, unless its in the garage or the mechanical room. Even the closets.

Through another light-sealing pocket door, the media room, built to Parhams own design specifications, features a full Dolby Atmos sound system, four cushy movie-theater-style chairs, a bar with stool seating and well-vented rollout racks for storing all the necessary A/V equipment. (LED lights are set inside those tech cabinets, so nothing distracts from a film should a cabinet be opened during a screening.) I spend a lot of time in this room every day, says Parham, a self-described movie buff. In the master bedroom, another projector screen can drop down from the ceiling at the touch of a button, as can motorized shades that obscure the wall-size glass door that opens from the bedroom onto the courtyard. Im kind of a home-automation buff, too, he says.

Materials inside and out were chosen for their durability, sustainability and simple as is beauty. Unpainted concrete and clear-coated aluminum exteriors are juxtaposed against a backdrop of greenery, and brick and cedar accents combat what Williams describes as a perennial aesthetic problem with suburban lots: the street-facing garage. Look closely, Williams says, and youll notice that, in addition to the overhead doors, theres a main door leading into the garage, but all those edges meld into the pattern of the cedar, making the garage a less prominent design feature. Were trying to draw peoples eyes to the front door and the main body of the house, Williams says.

Four years into his residence here, Parham is never quite done making adjustments; he says the new acoustic panels he recently installed in the media room have greatly improved the sound quality, and hes always modifying his lights. But not to worry, says Williams, while sharing with Parham a beloved proverb of unverifiable origin: The man who finishes his house, dies, Williams says, with a laugh. So youve gotta keep at it.

This Mercer Island home was selected by a panel of architects for the AIA Seattle Home of Distinction program for its level of detail, quality of craft and its exceptional specificity of design to this particular client. Dreaming about a home design project and not sure where to start? AIA architects can help:aiaseattle.org/askanarchitect

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AIA Home of Distinction: Turning Up the Brightness in a Mercer Island Split-Level - Seattlemag

One of the first events held at the Richfield Regency was a 1965 tribute to Jed Graef, a Verona swimmer who won a gold medal in backstroke the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Since then it is fair to estimate that hundreds of Veronans have passed through the Richfields glass doors, including Michael Schumell. He won the April 27 edition of Doors Of Verona by being the first of three people who guessed the Richfield, and for his guess won a $25 gift certificate to The Guac Spot. If you havent eaten there yet (its open for curbside pickup and delivery), The Guac Spot serves up some delicious twists on tacos, quesadillas and burritos like candied apple pork, bourbon chicken and sweet potato chickpea.

Fred Goodes Doors Of Verona photo for April 28 is above. Your guesses go below in the Comments box, and if youve won already you cant win again. Todays winner will get a gift certificate to Hillcrest Farms, which carries plenty of flowers to brighten your patio or front walk. MyVeronaNJ.com is spending $1,000 to buy gift certificates from Verona businesses to give away to our contest winners.

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Doors Of Verona: April 28 - My veronanj

A gated and fully remodeled beachfront house in the exclusive coastal community of Montecito, California, hit the market on Wednesday for $25 million.

The 3,813-square-foot, three-bedroom house overlooks Butterfly Beach, with 101 feet of beach frontage and panoramic views of the ocean and Channel Island.

The one-story 1956 home faces south and has been extensively remodeled and completely updated, said listing agent Tim Smith of the Smith Group, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Everything is newthe house has been completely redone, he said.

Read MoreAcross the U.S., Supply of Luxury Homes Falls Further Than the Rest of the Market

The owner of the Santa Barbara County home is Hadi Makarechian, a real estate developer and philanthropist and a member of the governing board of the University of California. Mr. Makarachian owns several properties and is selling his beach house with plans to build an equestrian estate on a large-acreage property he already owns in Santa Barbara, Mr. Smith said.

Hes just not spending as much time at the house, Mr. Smith said. Mr. Makarachian was not immediately available for comment.

Inventory of luxury homes in coastal southern California is down 40% over the last eight weeks, Mr. Smith said, and the owner thought it was a good time to put the home on the market. Were not seeing many other options that are modern like this one.

Amenities include a vanishing-edge pool, large terraces with multiple seating areas and a heated loggia. A private rear patio features an outdoor kitchen and a fireplace with a pizza oven, according to the listing. In all, there is nearly 6,000 square feet of living, finished or covered space on a 26,000-square-foot lot.

From PentaWithout Movement Restrictions, the Wealthy Are Turning Their Attention to Taipeis Real Estate

It feels like there is no transition from indoor to outdoor in this house, he said. Its almost like being in Hawaii.

Interior design features include high ceilings, frameless fold-away glass doors, high-end stone floors, whole-house audio, video surveillance, automated shades and a subterranean media room. The living room fireplace has a backlit surround made of book-matched onyx.

The master suite features a private office, a seating area with built-ins, a spa-caliber bathroom and ocean views throughout.

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Midcentury Beachfront House in Exclusive Montecito, California, Lists for $25 Million - Mansion Global