Property: Soup to Nutz Bistro courtyard, 121 E. Kalamazoo St., Lansing

Owner: Soup to Nutz

Assessed value: $5,000

Outdoor spaces, especially in urban settings, function
best and are most loved when articulated as a room with defined sides.
Soup to Nutz Bistro’s secluded courtyard is a perfect example.

In the heart of downtown near the corner of Grand Avenue
and Kalamazoo Street, the courtyard is one of the best outdoor
experiences in Lansing. Brick masonry buildings with cornflower blue
shutters and fencing with creeping vines define the walls, while the
tree canopy forms a ceiling. It’s like sitting in the garden of a French
chateau. In a word: heaven.

Cindi Swope, owner and chef at Soup to Nutz, said she
chose the Kalamazoo Avenue location because of the courtyard — she
really felt it could be something special. It more than doubles the
capacity of the restaurant and is open as early as mid-April to early
November, depending on the weather.

Has it been a while since you last enjoyed this glorious
outdoor space unique to Lansing? Perhaps you’ve never been? I recommend
going immediately to savor the beauty and to enjoy the tranquility. Soup
to Nutz is open Sunday through Friday. Check www.souptonutzbistro.com
for specific hours.