ALPENA – There is a large variety of food and drink options at restaurants and watering holes in Alpena. As a way of showcasing them the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Grub Crawl.

During this year’s crawl on Sept. 11, people will shuttle from one location to another to sample food, drinks and learn more about the businesses they visit. It offers a unique opportunity for people to visit a bar or restaurant they may never have been to before and for the businesses to offer a glimpse of what they offer.

Chamber Executive Director Jackie Krawczak said the event is popular and even people from outside Alpena purchase tickets and take part. She said this year the crawl will have a Monopoly theme in which the ticket also acts as a game board. She said people who visit each establishment and have their game board full, are eligible for prizes.

“You buy your ticket and go to the 12 locations where there will be food samples and drink specials at each stop and you’ll get a stamp,” Krawczak said. “The ticket and game board is actually a bandana, which you can display creatively and win prizes. There is also a game at each stop where you have a chance to win additional prizes.”

Krawczak said this year’s participants include the 19th Hole, the Black Sheep Pub, Bogart’s Tavern, Chief’s Bar & Grill, Court Yard, CW’s, Dry Dock, Fresh Palate, Krash Bakery, Latitudes Tavern, Loco Burrito and Tuskies. She said the businesses have been supportive of the grub crawl and have gained customers because of it. She said there was some apprehension about it in the beginning, but after seeing the benefits that is gone.

“One business owner was very hesitant about doing it for a few years, but they did. A customer came in and specifically told them they have lived in Alpena for years and had never been to the business and they went on the grub crawl and was there for the first time,” Krawczak said. “Ever since then that business has been one of the biggest supporters of it.”

Because many of the businesses will be serving cocktails the chamber has arranged to have shuttles providing transportation to and from each of the businesses. The hub for the shuttles is Culligan Plaza downtown. Krawczak said this makes it easy for people to get to all of the locations and not have to worry about driving.

“You can hop from shuttle to shuttle and take the north route or south route and make all of the stops,” Krawczak said. “Plus that night Huron Distributors is providing free cab rides home to any of the people who purchased tickets to the grub crawl.”

Krawczak said there also will be a photo booth set up at Culligan Plaza where people can take snapshots of themselves and their friends. She said tickets are on sale at the chamber for $20 until Sept. 4 and then the cost will increase to $25. For more information contact the chamber at 354-4181.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews. Read his blog, Upon Further Review … at www.thealpenanews.com.