When Tally’s was purchased, we reported there were changes coming.

The restaurant debuted some new menus (with the Silver Spoon name) a few weeks back, they are boasting more exotic lunch specials than ever (grouper on a Thursday, eh), and then last week, began offering outdoor dining as well as evening hours — for now, 5-8 p.m.

Is outdoor dining added because of demand? Or because restaurants wanted to give their smoking patrons a place to enjoy a cigarette, in light of what was going to be a July 1 ban (since delayed until we the people vote in 2010). Or a little of both?

In fact, with so many businesses looking to expand outside, downtown Rapid City may just seem and sound a lot more lively during the summer months — more than it usually does.

At Tally’s, you have the added bonus of being serenaded while eating outdoors by our harmonica friend outside the Alex Johnson. How romantic.

Got word today that Sysco Foods had a sign outside its Omaha St. building stating it was closing.

On further checking, turns out their retail store in Rapid City is closing. They will still be distributing food to local businesses.

So, if you want to stock up on mass quantities of _______ (you name it) hurry down to Sysco’s retail store before they close. Or, you can continue to let them bring it to your local grocery store, where you can buy it in individual-sized quantities.

Posted by the Journal newsroom … In Jeremy’s absence, it would take the entire newsroom to fill his blog shoes.

I’m gone all of next week, so the posting will likely be non-existent on this blog.

But because I’m a sucker for it, and can’t get away from the office no matter how hard I try, I’ll probably log on periodically and approve comments.

So leave them here — thoughts, rumors, opinions.

Happy 4th of July! See you Mon., July 6.

Bring me your clunkers! Your gas guzzlers yearning to be crushed!

Got a clunker of a car, or know someone who does?

I’m writing an article for tomorrow’s newspaper about the new Cash for Clunkers program recently signed into law.

The program (officially called CARS), aims to take older, gas guzzling cars off the road, will give you a voucher to use toward a new car if you turn in your ol’ ride.

To be eligible, the car must:

• have been manufactured less than 25 years before the date you trade it in
• have a “new” combined city/highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less
• be in drivable condition
• be continuously insured and registered to the same owner for the full year preceding the trade-in

Let’s talk.

Call me at 394-8421 or email me at jeremy.fugleberg@lee.net

This just didn’t look right to me.

From today’s classifieds:

HIRING 3, $750/week, foreclosure inspection for 2 banks in Rapid City. No Experience required! Please provide own back ground check. call 1-800-506-1920 or www.foreclosurebankinspector.com

Well, isn’t that interesting? Sounds like an easy job to get, and the pay’s not bad.

From a Jan. 24 Dallas Morning News article about this outfit:

That’s where the foreclosure inspector is beneficial, said Jay Vincent, owner of the Michigan-based Foreclosure Bank Inspection Co., also known as the Nationwide Property Inspection Co.

The foreclosure inspector fills a growing gap between a laboriously detailed inspection and no examination at all, Vincent said. His agency hires contractors nationwide to conduct inspections for banks as well as potential buyers.

Vincent dismissed concerns raised by complaints to the Better Business Bureau. But those weren’t the only concerns mentioned in the article:
Jim Turner, president of the National Association of Home Inspectors, has his own complaints.

He is highly critical of unlicensed inspectors and believes they are circumventing a necessary regulatory system.

“They’re using it as a marketing ploy,” Turner said. “A foreclosure expert is like a first-time buyer ‘expert.’ What makes you qualified?”

It looks like a way to make some money, and it makes sense there’s more demand for this kind of thing.

What do you think of this?

Michele at Prairie Berry Winery passed this along to me:

Prairie Berry Winery near Hill City is doubling both the size of their Wine production area and wine-making capacity.

On June 12, three new custom-designed 10,560-gallon fermentation tanks arrived from California and were put into place by a 115 foot crane. The rest of the building expansion can be finished now that theses giants have taken their spots.

Matt Keck and Sandi Vojta, owners, say the new tanks should be operational by late July, allowing them to make larger batches of wine, with greater flexibility.

This milestone of production also celebrates 10 years of commercial winemaking for the family, who started out with 60 gallon tanks in Vojta’s father’s basement in Mobridge in 1999. The family has been making wine since 1876.

Photo caption: Stainless steel, 10,560-gallon tanks are craned into place at Prairie Berry Winery, Hill City, SD. In the background can be seen the tower at Harney Peak, the highest point East of the the Rocky Mountains.

Good for Prairie Berry!

And like I told Michelle when we spoke on the phone, I still have to get out there for the food.

Seems like I’ve been out there plenty for just the wine.

I apologize for the lack of posts and attention to the blog today.

The Internet died sometime last night to the entire building. As of this morning, long-distance phone service was also down.

From what I understand it’s an AT&T problem or something, they don’t tell me much. Suffice it to say it’s a bit larger scale than just forgetting my cord is plugged in.

I’m currently at a remote, undisclosed location (I’m at home) with wifi, thankfully. I’ll check in when I can.

Any other places around town without Internet and long-distance phone service?

the Real Estate Rental Center recently acquired the Hitching Post dance hall in Whitewood.

“This is a wonderful facility for so many special occasions,” says Sabrina Arnold, property manager at The Real Estate Rental Center, in a written statement.

The hall, renovated in 2007, has a floating 4,000 square foot solid maple dance floor and an outdoor courtyard and flower garden.

For more information, contact the The Real Estate Rental Center at 605-717-5555, at www.therentcenter.com or e-mail Sabrina@RealEstateCenters.com

The list is out for the those restaurants who want permits for outside seating.

Courtesy of crack city beat reporter Emilie Rusch, here’s the list.

The following businesses have applied for sidewalk café permits and are on this Thursday’s (6/25) Planning Commission agenda:

• Dublin Square
• Vino 100
• Thirsty’s
• Tally’s
• Alex Johnson
• Alternative Fuel Coffee House

The following business have sidewalk café permits:

• Firehouse Brewing Co.
• Bully Blends
• Wine Cellar

The biggest surprise for me? Tally’s.

Has Tally’s ever had outdoor seating?

How do you think that will work?

Frontier Airlines, one of Rapid City’s airborne links to the outside world, might soon come out of bankruptcy proceedings.

So what’s next?

Not much, if you ask the company.

In an e-mail to frequent fliers, the company insisted that its purchase by a debtor wouldn’t change any routes:

Your travel plans and your EarlyReturns® miles are secure. This proposed transaction is not expected to result in any significant changes in flight schedules or locations served. We are operating our existing schedule of flights – today and in the future. All tickets and reservations will continue to be honored on Frontier flights as usual.

In the mean time, Frontier is offering by e-mails fares “so low…you’ll think they’re for the birds.” That is, $34-$199 each way.