Pantry Cafè Manager Mike Suprise was pleased to receive the Shamrock Club's first place award for window decorating in 2011. Judges were impressed by the excellent precision put into each shamrock and flag on three windows of the small cafè located on South Pearl Street. The plate glass entry door is painted with an Irish shield and says "Shamrock Cafè." The second window is adorned with an Irish flag and a small vine of shamrocks in the corner, leaving way for the main window, with large shamrocks sprouting from the vine. The shamrocks are not all green, though, and when asked about the significance of the colors, some were Irish and others represented the American Cancer Society colors in their quest for a cure to cancer.
Suprise said Josh Abhold and Jessica Buman were there until the wee hours of the mornin' a few nights, trying to get things looking just right. It was evident by the care taken in using Irish lettering for the theme "Everything's Coming Up Shamrocks".
The Pantry has a full breakfast menu served all day and a lunch menu. They make their own pies and desserts, plus wonderful homemade breads. The Pantry Cafè is open 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday -Sat. and 2 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. Sat and Sun.
Back To Original Auto Body received second place with their billowing banners, perky shamrock planters and clever signage. Back To Original Auto Body is located on 333 N. Shawano Street. They provide collision vehicle repair services from window replacement to full body work.
Midtown Pub and Grill received third place in the window decorating contest, covering every inch of their short, wide windows with color and the theme "Everything's Coming Up Shamrocks". It was a family affair for Owners Vance and Cherie Peters, and their children. The ladders were up early in the week, and they extended their visuals by applying a nicely rendered banner above one window.
Midtown Pub and Grill served its share of corned beef and cabbage last week, along with many other Irish traditional favorites.