After the past couple of years we’ve had, I’m really looking forward to basking in the joys of the holiday season from start to finish. Each year, Santa seems to start visiting towns earlier and earlier, but this time I’m happy about it. If you are too, and want to start harnessing the Christmas spirit, attend a
When travelers cross the Ambassador Bridge into the United States, they land immediately in Mexicantown. I don’t know about you, but I find that a bit amusing. Can’t help but wonder if it has ever confused anyone to be greeted by Mexican flags when entering the U.S. Unfortunately, these days, there are less people crossing that border.
Summer wouldn’t be the same without indulging in some sweet, cold, creamy, decadent treats, but how far would you go to satisfy a craving for creamy, dreamy, greatness? Whether you prefer a cup or a cone, vanilla or chocolate, toppings or plain, these little shops are waiting to delight you, and they are worthy of a road
Michigan’s Lower Peninsula has an obvious resemblance to a hand, making the region around Port Austin the tip of the Thumb. It is an area riddled with small towns you may not have heard of like Ubly, Pigeon and Sebewaing, along with wind farms, and plenty of access to lovely Lake Huron. You can get to the
May is Michigan Wine Month and a great time to explore the budding greenery of the countryside. Why not pair your weekend retreat with some fine wine? Michigan’s flourishing grape industry is not only producing more award-winning wines than ever before, it has sprouted a booming addition to our tourism industry. While wineries and tasting rooms can
After a long winter often filled with gray skies, brown grass, and bare trees, there is something truly spectacular about strolling through a Michigan garden in the spring. While these annual color tours may delight most adults, kids sometimes lose interest part of the way through. That’s why we’ve identified five botanical treasures that will delight your
Wisconsin may be known for as the land of Cheeseheads, but that doesn’t mean it’s cornered the market on making or selling cheese, glorious cheese. In fact, it should come as no surprise that a state with well over 1,200 dairy farms, there is in fact, a Michigan cheese trail. If you are a cheese lover, then
Since the pandemic hit, a number of cities and towns across the state identified specific areas to provide additional outdoor dining space for their restaurants. Some utilized the sidewalk in front of each eatery, while others did full street closures either for the entire period, or at designated times and days each week. Now, with COVID-numbers rising
Grand Rapids first made a splash on the craft beverage scene when it was voted Beer City USA in national polls and named Best Beer Town and Best Beer Scene by USA TODAY readers. Nowadays there’s a lot more than just craft beer on tap in its culinary scene. Cider, spirits, and the cocktail creations they inspire, have led to even
As the harvesting of cherries gives way to apples, and trips to beaches give way to cider mill visits, the craving for the fruits of one of Michigan’s fastest growing industries also seems to naturally increase. While the state has long been known for wine and beer, hard cider has now become a quintessential component of its
It’s a tradition that started in 2009. While we encourage local spending all year long, for one special week each year (July 27-Aug 2, 2020), we ask people to make a more concerted effort to buy and try Michigan-made products; explore independent eateries and boutiques; learn more about local companies; and to share their long-time favorites and
There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic will take a toll on our economy, but we can work together to minimize the negative impact. Place carryout orders from local restaurants One of the easiest ways to help, and let’s face it, give yourself a break too, is to pick up a curbside carry-out from your favorite
There is perhaps no more prestigious honor in the restaurant world than to be acknowledged by the James Beard Foundation. Today, there are a dozen chefs and eateries in Michigan with reason to celebrate. The foundation has announced its list of Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists, and Michigan, particularly Detroit, is well-represented. Best New Restaurant: Saffron De
What was once a small chain of Plum Market grocery shops has gradually expanded into several go-to destinations around Metro Detroit. The latest of these Plum Market Kitchens has now opened in the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. Plum Market Kitchen is a small-format spin-off of the full organics-focused grocery stores with which the company started.
Over the years, the Frankenmuth Cheese Haus has become a Michigan’s Little Bavaria institution. 2018 marked its 50th anniversary, and included a move to a much larger location at 545 S. Main St. Naturally, its most famous resident came along to reside outside the new digs, and now he’s celebrating a big birthday too. I’m speaking, of
When most people think of Detroit’s Eastern Market, they think of food, and for good reason. The market has been the city’s premier site for the buying and selling of fresh, flavorful, local foods for well over a century and a half. However, to think only of scrumptious morsels when visiting the district is to under appreciate
Credit Unions have a long history of boosting local businesses and supporting their communities. This month, in celebration of International Credit Union Week, many across our state will be at it again in the form of a lunchtime cash mob. CU Lunch Local will kick off its eighth year of grassroots economic development on October 15, 2019.
Periodically we hear stories of surviving a shark bite, but what if you battle five sharks at the same time? Can you survive? That’s exactly the challenge entrepreneur Melissa Butler faced after her lipstick business was brutally attacked during a 2015 appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank. Kevin O’Leary implied that her products amounted to clown makeup, and
America just shined its spotlight on the Academy Awards, and now it turns toward the “Oscars” of the food industry, otherwise known as the James Beard Awards. These culinary accolades seek to honor the skill and expertise of top chefs and restaurants across the nation each year. The process begins in mid-October of the preceding year when
If you were to open your medicine cabinet right now, chances are high that you would find some vitamins, over-the-counter drugs, or prescription medications that you either no longer need, or can no longer use because they are expired. You would not be alone, but what do you do with them? Grand Rapids-based Meijer, in a continuing
The concept of a “Restaurant Week” is said to have originated in New York City back in the early 1990s. The idea was to give foodies an opportunity to enjoy prix-fixe menus at some of the best restaurants in the nation at an affordable rate. The concept caught on, and now you can find dedicated restaurant weeks
One of the easiest ways to keep your dollars local this holiday season is to seek out shops that focus on items made in Michigan. These ten retailers from around the state, do just that. Art Is In Market (Ann Arbor, Clinton Township, Livonia, and Novi) Art Is In Market is a unique gallery of original art by
Long known as a palate-pleaser, Detroit’s Eastern Market is now pleasing to palettes of a much different kind. Over the past four years, an astounding visual transformation has been taking place in the historic district. Already worth a visit as one of the oldest and largest year-round markets in the country, it is now a veritable 24-hour
If you’ve ever been to Frankenmuth, especially with kids, chances are you recognize the iconic Cheese Haus mouse. Thousands of families have stopped to see him for what used to be a photo opportunity, but is now better known as a selfie. Most, then wandered into the famous shop, which may well be why it’s celebrating 50
Once upon a time, on the rare occasion that a family went out to a restaurant to get something to eat, they could be confident that the food they would consume came from the same local farmers from which they purchased food for their own homes. Those days are long gone. Today, most people eat out more
