Home to over 140 wineries, it stands to reason that Michigan deserves to have its own wine competition once again. Last month the Michigan Wine Collaborative (MWC), in partnership with the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) launched the inaugural Michigan Governor’s Cup wine competition. Out of 300 entries from 46 wineries around the state, St. Julian scored uncorked
Have you ever wondered how far you could hit a ball at Comerica Park if given the chance? This fall, you may have the opportunity to find out, although there’s a catch. You won’t be using a bat, and the ball will be of the golf variety. Swings in the home of the Detroit Tigers are about
Cherries are in season! It's a great time to think about all the incredibly delicious and unique ways our state has found to incorporate them into food and drink. This fruit is not only spectacular for our economy, it's also exceptionally tasty and diverse. You'll find them in a wide range of scrumptious products from savory to
The smoke has finally cleared and it’s time to get back outside. Fun events are around every corner, and here are some of the state’s best in our 12 things to do in Michigan in July 2023. July 1-8 National Cherry Festival – Traverse City It’s time for the biggest party of the year in our nation’s
It’s crazy to think about it, but one of the most critical events in the history and settlement of Michigan didn’t even happen within the state. On July 4 of 1817, construction started on a crucial waterway. The Erie Canal, affectionately known now as The Nation’s First Superhighway, opened up the west, accelerating the region's settlement and
They say the best thing isn't owning a boat, it's having a friend who does. Whether you are that friend, or just someone who longs to spend summer hours out on the water, it’s time to hop aboard a Michigan boat. Luckily, there are some incredible options. Tall Ships There are few sights more majestic on a
The Buy Michigan Now Festival is returning to Downtown Northville Aug 4-6, 2023. In keeping with tradition, the event offers Michigan-based authors an opportunity to sign and sell books. Traditionally, over the course of the weekend, 25-30,000 people attend this upbeat celebration of Buy Michigan Week. BMNFest Writers selected to participate will be provided with a sheltered
If you live in Michigan, you have most likely heard the Meijer name. The company pioneered the modern supercenter concept in 1962, but the beginnings are much humbler than that. It all started in June of 1934 when founder Hendrick Meijer opened a small grocery store in Greenville and the company grew from there. Hendrick Meijer's Early
Kids are getting out of school, boats are filling our waterways, blue skies are becoming a common occurrence again. Let’s get out there and enjoy the summer we’ve been waiting for, starting with our 12 things to do in Michigan in June 2023. June 2-4 Grand Prix – Detroit If you never had the chance to experience
While the roar of engines could be heard faintly on Woodward when cars made the circle on Belle Isle, it’s been three decades since the sound echoed between the skyscrapers of the city. This year, Grand Prix racing returns to the downtown streets June 2-4. Here’s what you need to know to enjoy Detroit’s Grand Prix weekend.
Michiganders wait all winter for the opportunity to fire up the grill again and enjoy hot dogs, burgers, chicken, ribs, steaks, fish, and just about anything else we can think of. Any of those items can be fine on their own, but the right enhancements can really take your backyard barbecue from an ordinary meal to an
Earlier this month, Melrose Township (Walloon Lake) was named a Monarch City USA – just the fifth such community in Michigan and the fourth in northern Michigan. It joined Highland, Boyne City, Kalkaska and Elk Rapids. These communities pledge to provide environments and native areas for pollinator plants to grow wild, thus feeding and protecting monarchs and
Consumers in all 50 states and 18 international markets know the convenience of Little Caesar’s Hot-n-Ready pizzas. I personally can make a meal out of their Crazy Bread. It was quite interesting to me to find out that this famed chain all started with a blind date. Mike Ilitch was born in 1929, in Detroit, to Macedonian
Kids and their teachers are ready to leave school, cherry blossoms are popping, and boats are starting to hit the lakes, so summer is right around the corner. Get an early start on your fun in the sun with our 12 things to do in Michigan in May 2023. May 6-14 Tulip Time – Holland Any time is a
The merry month of May brings us daffodils and tulips, warm nights that hint of summer, and an excuse to sip and savor local wine. It’s Michigan wine month and we’ve got lots of ideas on how to celebrate. Host a Michigan Wine Dinner If you love to entertain then this is a wonderful theme. Design a
Despite being home to Eastern Michigan University, Willow Run Airport, and a readily recognizable water tower, Ypsilanti often lives in the shadow of neighboring Ann Arbor. Yet, there is much to see and do, especially when you make a stop in Depot Town. Named for the train station that was once the primary focus of the area,
On the surface, the MSU Product Center’s annual Making It In Michigan conference and trade show may seem like an event that is just for people with agricultural-based businesses to attend. Yet, the trade show is actually one of the state’s best kept secrets for foodies and entrepreneurs of any ilk. Where else can you get a
What do you get when you combine entrepreneurial ingenuity, capital investment, and a public eager to support new endeavors? The answer is Hatch Detroit. The competition recently announced its Top 10 semi-finalists, and now it’s your turn to weigh in and help determine which new brick and mortar business you most want to see added to the
If you live in Michigan, or anywhere else in the Midwest for that matter, you’ve likely tasted a Vernors Ginger Ale. It is considered Michigan’s #1 cold medicine and is great when heated and mixed with lemon juice for sore throats and coughs. It is also known to cure the occasional queasy stomach. The inventor of this
Snow is melting. Waterfalls are thawing. Maple sap is flowing. These are all among the many joys of springtime in Michigan. As the weather warms many beer drinkers find their tastes moving away from the brown ales, stouts, and porters of winter and toward the wheat and fruit that transitions us into summer. These 5 delectable spring
It’s unlikely that you’ll spot any actual leprechauns, or even stumble across a four-leaved clover, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in our state. In fact, it was once a single day commemorating the arrival of St Patrick and Christianity to Ireland on March 17. However, now it has
Michigan maple syrup producers are hoping for another sweet season of tapping trees and boiling sap after producing 190,000 gallons in 2022 (up from 150,000 gallons in 2021), according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In 2019, Michigan produced 195,000 gallons – the highest amount on record. To celebrate Michigan’s oldest agricultural activity, 18 members
Once upon a time, Frankenmuth was a relatively ordinary little hamlet in Saginaw County that had been founded by German settlers. That is, until local businessman William “Tiny” Zehnder had an idea. He wanted to add atmosphere to what was then Fischer’s Hotel, by adding Bavarian Architecture. The idea took hold in the late 1950s, and before
I would be willing to bet that almost everyone has heard of Kellogg's, and also that many know it all began in Battle Creek, Michigan. As for the story of how this business came to be, not so much so. It is a story of bullying, jealousy, and sibling rivalry between the Kellogg brothers, John and Will.
March is National Reading Month so it’s an excellent time to highlight works from local authors that have earned the distinction of a 2023 Michigan Notable Book. Every year the Library of Michigan selects up to twenty of the most notable books. Each is either about, or set in, Michigan, or written by a Michigan author. Selections
