In the years before the Civil War, the Underground Railroad was key to helping slaves find their freedom. This railroad was a network of roads and homes that slaves used to reach northern states and Canada. Michigan was a key state in this route, especially for slaves coming up from Kentucky. Before the 1850s, if escaped slaves
Christmas trees are a popular symbol and decoration for the holiday season. The tradition began in Germany and was brought to America as early as the 1830s by German settlers. They were made popular in 1846 by Queen Victoria of England and her family. Michigan and nearby Chicago had many German settlers living there in the late
Kresge Arts in Detroit will award 20 fellowships and 10 Gilda Awards to artists of all career stages living and working in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Kresge Artist Fellowships are $25,000 no strings attached awards, plus professional development support and the creation of a short film highlighting the artist’s work. Fellowships and Gilda Awards will be
Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today that 16 communities were awarded a 2021 Recreation Passport grant. The Recreation Passport grant program started 11 years ago. It aims to boost visitation and funding for Michigan's state parks as well as local, community parks and trails. This year’s grants include a total investment
We may not often think of how important mining has been to the history of Michigan. When we think of major economies in our state, we think of the automobile industry and our lumber companies. However, Michigan has four important mining ranges. First, there's what's known as Copper Country in Keweenaw, Houghton and Ontonagon counties. Then, the
A great animated film delights the kids, with plenty of other elements that parents can enjoy as well. These Halloween events are in that same vein. The scare level is low enough that your kids can sleep at night, but they, and you, will have plenty of fun at Michigan’s best family-friendly Halloween destinations. Hallowe’en at Greenfield
Michigan is home to many notable individuals, men and women, of all ages. One woman in particular was not only important to our state, but also to the entire nation. She was so remarkable that she was inducted into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. Sojourner Truth was an
At this time of year, you can find them for sale around nearly every corner. That’s because we love Halloween, but also because Michigan farmers grow nearly 80 million pounds of pumpkins each year. You can carve them, roast the seeds, toss some in a smoothie, make soup, and a myriad of other things. Of course, lots
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.
I took a drive up to Mackinaw City this past weekend. Along the way I saw numerous signs warning travelers that the Mackinac Bridge would be closed on Labor Day from 6:30am to 12:00 pm for the bridge walk. Not only that, but I was able to cross the bridge four times that weekend. It made me
Our state, like most of the world, is still reeling from the effects of the pandemic both from a health perspective and an economic one. Many small businesses in particular have been devastated by closures, supply chain issues, and ongoing employment challenges. With so many global events affecting us, it can feel like there isn’t much that
There’s often a debate over whether or not one person can really make a difference. That question has been solved with a resounding yes when it comes to a roadside attraction near Marquette. With just a simple idea, and a fair amount of land, Tom Lakenen has been able to create lifelong memories for passing travelers, as
Though pirates are criminals, usually quite brutal and violent, their lives are often studied, esteemed, and shown as an exciting lifestyle in many stories and Hollywood movies, from Captain Hook in Once Upon a Time to Captain Jack Sparrow. Many of the well-known pirates sailed tropical seas, but the Great Lakes has had their fair share of
I used to be a bit of a purest when it came to my tastes in beer. The closest I came to a fruit beer was adding an orange slice to my Bells Oberon. Times have changed as the brewers in our state have produced so many interesting, flavorful fruity beers over the years, that I just
The aptly named One Thirty Eight Cocktail Lounge has opened at 138 W. Third St. in Harbor Springs. Â The lounge offers an assortment of classic and modern cocktails, along with beer options, ranging from nostalgic domestic brands to craft labels, and wines. The food menu is focused on small bites and shareables. Examples include bleu cheese-stuffed olives
Starting as a local ice cream truck in 2019, Milk & Froth, an ice cream shop is a cool new addition to Detroit's summer. The scoop shop will be serving up both vegan and classic ice cream options daily moving from the truck into its first brick-and-mortar at 535 Griswold Street.
Detroit's oldest operating microbrewery has added a new location on the Avenue of Fashion in Detroit. In addition to a range of craft brews, like the popular Ghettoblaster, the new space features casual fare. It's located at 19350 Livernois Avenue.
Charlie’s Candy Barrel features a large variety of candy, over 200 different flavors of pop in glass bottles, and gag gifts. The owner's intent is to spread joy. Like a good old fashioned sweets shop, customers can purchase the candy for 15 cents each or $8.99 for a bag filled with candy of the customer’s choosing. Visit
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
Since 2008, Kresge Arts in Detroit has awarded more than $6.7 million through 13 Kresge Eminent Artist Awards, 238 Kresge Artist fellowships, and 32 Gilda Awards. Last year, in recognition of the impact of COVID-19 to the arts community, Kresge expanded funding to support two additional Kresge Artist Fellows. That makes a total of 20 annual fellowships,
Beaver Island is the third largest island in Michigan and has been a popular vacation tourist destination since the 1860s. It is well known for its beautiful beaches, awesome forests, recreational harbors and its isolation from the mainland. In addition to this, did you know that it has a colorful and unique history? This is especially true
One of Kalamazoo's most unique bar concepts has opened a new location in Detroit. Beer Exchange 1260 Washington Blvd. At The Beer Exchange guests set the beer prices based on the principle of supply and demand. The interactive drinking environment is complemented by a menu of comfort food and plant-based alternatives.
It’s almost impossible for me to believe, but it’s been 20 years since I first began my entrepreneurial adventure. I had just finished getting my Master’s Degree at night, with the intention of eventually starting a company of my own, when I got a jumpstart ahead of schedule. The corporation I was working for decided to restructure.
Spiked seltzer is now a rapidly growing industry, and Michigan companies are serving up some unique additions to the segment this year. This relatively new addition to the beverage scene really took off in 2019 when sales of hard seltzer surpassed $1 billion for the first time, which was an increase of nearly 200% compared to the
