new snow, fog and sunrise by Latitude45

As snow arrives (which it did with a vengeance in the southern part of Michigan yesterday), Michiganders divide into two camps: those wishing they could hit the road for Florida and those readying their snow gear for all that winter has to offer. Here at Absolute Michigan we (mostly) fall into the latter camp and are psyched up to get out and enjoy Michigan's frozen fun!

A decade ago, an internet magazine we published called The Northern Michigan Journal featured Nature Baroque: Snowflakes & Crystals, an excerpt from It's Raining Frogs & Fishes by Michigan author Jerry Dennis with illustrations by Glenn Wolff that begins: What child can resist tasting snowflakes? Head back, mouth open, tounge stretched to catch that bit of coldness--for children, snowflakes on the tongue are as essential to a northern winter as sleds and snowmen. It's a fantastic tour of what snow is - be sure to read it!

Back in February of 2006, Michigan Tech students set 3 snow-related records: largest snowball, most snow angels and biggest snowball fight! The record attempts are part of an ongoing battle between Houghton and Bismark, ND (who has since reclaimed the snow angel record) They know a thing or two about snow in the Keweenaw as the peninsula holds the record for annual snowfall in Michigan with 355.90" in 1978-79.

A number of Michigan Snow Cams give you the current live look at snow and weather around the state. Almost everywhere in Michigan you can find a hill that offers great sledding, and the Michigan Sled Riding Forum seeks to provide locations and will let you add yours! If there's no hill and you're somewhat insane, you could learn how to ultimate sled from the pros.

Further up the evolutionary chain from tobaggon and car-towed sled are snowmobiles, and Michigan offers some of the finest snowmobiling in the nation. Every February, Sault Ste. Marie hosts the I-500 Snowmobile Race. This year is the 40th annual and you can watch a quick I-500 video to get an idea of what it's like.

Of course there is always the good old standbys of cross-country & downhill skiing and snowboarding, check out our Michigan Ski Tour. Downhill or cross county skiing not enough for you? Check out the backcountry telemark Skiing in Leelanau County.

For beautiful pictures of snow in Michigan check out snow photos (slideshow) in the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr. There's little doubt we missed a shovel or two of Michigan snow info - let us know what in the comments!

The Drueke Company was founded in 1914 in Grand Rapids, filling the gap left when World War I made it impossible to get European chess boards. The company was purchased in 1990 by The Carrom Company of Ludington. They are still producing wooden games today. In addition to cribbage boards, they also sell backgammon, dominos, checkers, game boxes, chess tables and wooden accessories - all made in Michigan from walnut, maple and aspen.

turkeys by The Amazing Mr. Keebler

The fall turkey hunting season ended yesterday (November 18th). The spring season is from April 23 to March 31 (so that means you'll have to continue the hunt for your holiday feast below). The Michigan DNR's wild turkey page has more info about Michigan's turkeys and there's more from Michigan Sportsman Magazine. All this turkey hunting there has to be someone out there protecting them: namely the Michigan Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Absolute Michigan might not know as much about turkeys as the National Wild Turkey Federation, but we do have the Totally Terrifying Turkey Trivia Test. Turkey related links include the Michigan Turkey Producers Co-op, who have information about the various grades of turkey including organic and ABF. Standard ABF are Antibiotic Free, but Michigan ABF turkeys are also Animal Byproduct Free, meaning that they are raised on a vegetarian diet of corn and soy rather than the traditional diet of meat and bone meal. You really can't say you've experienced Michigan turkey if you haven't been to Turkeyville USA.  We have to issue a "Cubicle Music Warning" on that link and while we're on high alert, here's UM Musical Theater majors performing Turkey Lurkey Time.

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you need help recovering from that, you may need to see these turkeys in the Absolute Michigan group on Flickr - add your own Thanksgiving glamor shots!

Finally, if you have turkey or Thanksgiving recipes with a Michigan flair, post them in the comments below!

Country Bee Soaps are handmade all natural soaps, made by Amy and Rob Oliver. Using Amy's dad's locally harvested honey and beeswax Amy and Rob have managed to create nourishing, healing soaps, lip balms, and salves. The company was founded in the basement of Amy and Rob's farmhouse. As the business began to boom Amy left her job as a computer administrator and is now fully immersed in a job she loves. Country Bee Soaps are dedicated to incorporating locally farmed products into the business. Country Bee Soaps now have new products: wood polish, leather protector, cuticle oil, herbal facial grains, and herbal “boo-boo” pads. At the moment Amy and Rob are slowing down while their second daughter is born, so orders will take 2-3 weeks to be processed from October 1st to December 1st.

Mick Morris Myth Solver #4: Grudge of the Gremlins! is a captivating young adult book in which Mick, Sissy and Nathan are in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan at night, "It's creepy and scary being in a museum at night, but even worse when gruesome little gremlins take over!"

The book is the 4th in the Mick Morris Myth Solver series that was created by the husband and wife team of Karen Bell-Brege and Darrin Brege and their son Mick. The series is designed for readers aged 7-12 and tells the stories of Mick and his friends who go on hair-raising, wild adventures while trying to solve myths. Each book also has five different ways to finish the story ranging from silly to scary. As Dan Miller, the sports Director on WJBK Fox 2 and parent says, "the alternate ending and the roller coaster ride between being a bit scared and having a good laugh, keeps my guys coming back." Other books have dealt with aliens, Bigfoot and the Lake Champlain monster and they already have plans for future books.

Oak Grove Alpaca is a small alpaca ranch near Howell that is committed to raising world-class Huacaya Alpacas. They write:

We are presently in the process of creating our own special line of alpaca products. All of the steps involved in creating a special alpaca item: fleece processing, spinning and creation of the final product will be done at our ranch or by talented local fiber artists. The ability to control all aspects of fiber processing will produce the finest alpaca products.

Check out their web site for information about their herd and a wide variety of products including fleece & yarn, sweaters, vests, scarves and hand-woven ladies and children's clothing.

The Higher Grounds Trading Company provides premium, gourmet handcrafted coffees while supporting their coffee-producing partners who are leaders in sustainable development and environmental preservation around the world. Higher Grounds is part of the Fair Trade Coffee Federation, and all their coffee is certified organic by the USDA.

Their Customer Happiness Department would also like to invite you to the Grand Opening of their new coffee bar and roastery in the Village at the Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City next Thursday (Sept 13) from noon - 9 PM.

You can't buy online, but if you're in Rogers City, at an event they're at or if you have a phone that can dial (989) 734-4100, try Nowicki's Trademark Original Potato Brat, made with %25 potato and %75 lean pork.

You can read more about Nowicki's Sausage Shoppe in the August issue of Traverse Magazine.

Chateau Chantal was opened in 1993 as a B&B, winery and vineyard estates. The property is located on a 65-acre estate on the Old Mission Peninsula, located directly north of Traverse City. Robert and Nadine Begin bought 60 acres of cherry orchards in 1983. From 1984 until 1991, the Begins cleared the land and planted their vineyard. Since opening day Winemaker Mark B. Johnson has worked with the Begin family to produce some of the best wine the Old Mission Peninsula has to offer.

pig races by radiospike

A sampling of Michigan festivals & events for the month of September. As usual, there's no way we'll get them all, so please add links and information about those we've missed (or reviews of ones we have here) in the comments below.

August 18 - September 30

Michigan Renaissance Festival- Holly (Open Weekends and Labor Day)
Inside the turreted gates of Hollygrove you are free to roam the festive marketplace featuring friendly village merchants lining every path. In addition to the fantastic selection of handcrafted wares, Hollygroave visitors may also partake in games of skill or enjoy non-stop entertainment where belly dancers, sword swallowers, musicians, comedians, and sword fighters provide merriment for all ages. The Festival is best known for its awe-inspiring full-contact armored jousting tournaments where gallant knights defend their honor until the last man is standing.

August 22 - September 3

Michigan State Fair - Detroit
Celebrating 101 years, the Michigan State Fair includes many different events. Some of which are: a circus, daily parades, 60+ rides, a livestock pavilion & show, farm exhibits and live farm animal births, a petting zoo, pony rides, free concerts featuring national & local acts, a lumberjacks timber show, all kinds of contests and competitions, food, arts & crafts and more.

August 31 - September 3

Detroit International Jazz Festival - Detroit
For 28 years, the Detroit International Jazz Festival has attracted visitors and locals to an end of summer ritual on Labor Day Weekend that celebrates one of America's most important art forms. The festival boasts six stages and one hundred acts over four days in a city well known for its musical legacy.

Arts, Beats, & Eats - Pontiac
Celebrating art, cuisine, music and humanity throughout downtown Pontiac, with 50 restaurants, 200 music performers, and 155 art exhibitors.

September 3

The 50th Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk - Mackinaw City
The Mackinac Bridge Walk is an annual walk in which people may walk the length of the Mackinac Bridge. Walkers are led across by the governor of Michigan, currently Jennifer M. Granholm.

September 7 - 8

Hopps of Fun Beer & Wine Festival - Mackinaw City
Sampling of more than 50 award winning Michigan microbrewed beers and over 40 wines from Michigan's four internationally recognized wine regions. Brewmasters and winemakers will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the brewing and winemaking process.

September 7 - 9

Paw Paw Wine and Harvest Festival - Paw Paw
The Paw Paw Wine and Harvest Festival lets visitors enjoy wine tasting, tours at area wineries and vineyards and a grape stomping competition. There will also be a classic car show, craft fair, polka and jazz music, a bicycle tour and fireworks.

September 13 - 15

Traverse Epicurean Classic - Traverse City
Experience the defining character of the Traverse Epicurean Classic: a comfortable approach and fresh ideas for pairings in Food, Wine, Cookbooks and Culinary Literature – where culinary meets literary. A place where the artisans are eager to share their time, talents and experience with you, the attendee.

September 14 - 15

Michigan Irish Music Festival - Muskegon
The Michigan Irish Music Festival features all things Irish, an outstanding line-up of music on 2 stages, an Irish Pub, Market vendors, cultural activities and much more.

September 14 - 16

Victorian Festival - Northville
Northville turns back the clock and transform itself into a Victorian Village complete with period costumes, free trackless train and horse and carriage rides, storytellers, magicians, musical entertainment and demonstrations. Ryde Park features rides for kids and the Victorian Saloon offers entertainment for adults.

September 15

Tour de Leelanau - Leelanau County
The Tour de Leelanau is an international event hosting cycling's premier teams and athletes. During the week before the race, team members from all over the country will quietly arrive and scope out the layout of "The County" and the course to begin preparing themselves for Saturday's test. By Friday, a strong undercurrent of tension will be in the air at Leelanau Sands Casino, the site of the finish line and a new event, the Expo. Saturday will explode with excitement as spectators crane their necks to catch a glimpse of and/or collect some autographs from their favorite riders.

September 21 - 23

Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association Harvest Stompede - Leelanau County
The Harvest Stompede includes several events. Participants may choose just the wine tasting package that includes special pours and food pairings at the wineries, or the wine tasting may be combined with one of several different in the vineyard experiences. "The Harvester" is a three mine recreational hike through the vineyards, the "Stinger" is a 5 K walk or run. "The Grape Stomper" is a seven mile challenging run through three vineyards and an orchard blended with some breathtaking views of West Grand Traverse Bay and the scenic vistas of the Leelanau Peninsula. Participants may choose solely to enter one of the runs or the walk or combine with one of the wine tasting packages.

Photo: Pig Races by Radiospike

The Michigan Department of Transportation is selling four beautiful Mackinac Bridge 50th Anniversary Posters.

To celebrate The Mighty Mac's 50th anniversary, artists have designed four posters, each with different views of The Mackinac Bridge. Each poster costs $4.00 and are all well worth the price - get yours soon as there are only limited quantities available.

Most often, the phenomenons which occur in nature are my inspirations, but sometimes a different technical presentation is needed. In 1991, the idea of a form-fitting bracelet with an interchangeable stone memento led to the design of a single bracelet base and a selection of stone tops. After more than a year of developing prototypes to be both secure and comfortable, the dual concept evolved into this copyrighted curved base which attaches to various attractively bezeled stone tops via connecting hooks and loops.

Becky Thatcher Designs creates magnificent jewelry and has locations in Glen Arbor, Leland, Traverse City and Harbor Springs (Key West too for you snowbirds!). You can also shop via webcam and read about jewelry and store events in their blog.

Moosejaw is a Michigan company supplying high quality gear from the best brands out there. Not only does Moosejaw have sweet clothes from other companies, they also have their own with cool logos on them. And they love you.

Love the Madness.

Author & photographer Ann Teliczan grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and always dreamed of traveling to Michigan. In 1980 she moved to Michigan and started exploring the hidden treasures that Michigan has to offer. She started Michigan Sweet Spot in order to give people the inside scoop on secret places throughout Michigan and to show them why people love Michigan.

"I was lucky I didn’t get into any wrecks when I first moved to Michigan. I was constantly distracted by the most beautiful skies I’ve ever seen in my life. This was taken in the early spring in the Leelanau peninsula along a little detour off M-22, just take the loop around South Port Oneida Road."

Photo: Chickens at the Side of the Road by Ann Teliczan

Great Lakes Shore II by Phoenix828979

Andy Guy is the Great Lakes Guy. On his blog, he is tracking the trends transforming the Rust Belt into the Blue Belt. He has called Gov. Granholm for Michigan's failure to develop a green energy strategy and praised Marquette, MI for starting a transformation for its downtown waterfront.

The Great Lakes Guy stays abreast of any news relating to the Great Lakes and is sure to comment on it, and also looks at strategies used in other areas for development and environmental protection and shows how they pertain to the Great Lakes region. While his blog has an environmental bent, Andy's also sure to point out ways in which the correlation between green policies and monetary green.

"If the way forward to a new economy requires talent, entrepreneurialism, innovation, risk-taking, and a more educated workforce," the report states, "then focusing only on negative news will hinder the state's ability to take the positive steps required to reach that brighter future."

"The sense of gloom has to be overcome," the report continues. "The self-image of a rust-belt wasteland has to be replaced by a more complete view of a state in transition. The new economy requires vision, optimism, and hope."
-Beat Down Economics

We're confident that if you make Great Lakes Guy (and his great links) one of your regular stops, you'll have a whole lot more to say about what this region could be (and less worry about what it isn't).

Copperland is located in Lake Linden, Michigan (Houghton County) and is operated by the Gariepy family. Founder Jake Gariepy worked twenty-eight years as a furnace operator for the Calumet & Hecla Mining Co. in Hubbell, MI and learned copper-smithing after the mining company ceased operation. He was a welder on the famous Bishop Baraga Statue erected in 1972 that now overlooks Keweenaw Bay between L'anse and Baraga.

In 1977 he founded Copperland, which is now run by his son and daughter-in-law.

Shout Sister Shout by Patrick T Power

Shout Sister Shout, the first album by Rachael Davis and Steppin' In It, "focuses on old-time American Jazz featuring torch swing numbers alongside bluesy ballads."

Rachael Davis and Steppin' In It came together by the fall of 2006, after playing at many concerts as a double-bill and now, by "Combining the timeless rhythm section of Steppin’ In It and Rachael’s velvety vocals, this group 'creates a live show that is hot, energetic and brilliant…'"

You can find out more about the band and disc and listen to tracks through myspace.com/shoutsistershout and Fox on a Hill Productions. (and do click Patrick's photo above for a great set of photos of the band!)

Help Justin out by Sponsoring a state, becoming/nominating a host, or by promoting The Hometown Invasion Tour through word-of-mouth and the world wide web.

"In the last week since I’ve been on and around I-75 I have seen several Michigan license plates. When I was out west I hardly saw them at all. I was a long ways from home. But there is always something special about seeing a Michigan plate when on the road. It always makes me smile and reminds me of home... There is nothing like seeing another one of those deep blue Michigan plates on the road. A touch of home. Oh, but wait! Terrible news was passed my way this week that Michigan is no longer going to make the classic blue license plate... There’s not another plate like it, and it’s simplicity has always won me over. After all, it should be full of blue; our state is beautifully unique and has access to the freshest water in the world. That blue represents the Great Lakes." - Michigan Mistake

History from Southwest Michigan Directory

Steamer on the Black River (LC-D4-42466)
Library of Congress American Memory

The Pottawatomie Indians lived in the Van Buren area for many hundred of years until they were forced out by the white settlers. The first of these were Virginians Dolphin and Nancy Morris in 1829. A few years later, Dutch immigrant Peter Gremps moved to present-day Paw Paw and started the town. Friends and family followed, and much of the county was settled by Dutch Americans. In 1937, Van Buren officially became a county.

The county is named after the U.S. Secretary of State Martin Van Buren (who later went on to become Vice President and then President). It's one of Michigan's "Cabinet counties," those named after President Andrew Jackson and his members of Cabinet. The county seat of Van Buren is Paw Paw, which derives its name from the pawpaw tree. The largest city in the county is South Haven, which started as a lumber town but became popular as a tourist destination for steam boats carrying travelers from Chicago and Milwaukee.

Van Buren Today

Almost good enough to eat by norjam8

Van Buren is known as the fruit basket of Michigan. South Haven is the Blueberry Capital of the world, and the rest of the county produces apples, grapes, peaches, and tart cherries (check out this awesome Paw Paw barn on Michigan in Pictures and also this cool pic of the Van Buren County Courthouse by Marjorie O'Brien). Van Buren has many wineries, two of which are on the Southwest Michigan Wine Trail. The Lake Michigan shoreline of the county remains a popular tourist destination.

County/City Information

• Van Buren County links from Absolute Michigan - also see our South Haven, Paw Paw and Bangor pages!
  
• South Haven History at Michigan in Pictures
• Van Buren County Community Center
• South Haven Visitors Bureau
• The City of South Haven
• Greater South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce
• The Village of Paw Paw
• Wikipedia entry for Van Buren County
• History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With ... biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers - eBook from Michigan County Histories at UM Library
• Van Buren County, Michigan photo map - from flickr

Things to do in Van Buren County

• Michigan Maritime Museum
• South Haven tag at Michigan in Pictures Be sure to check out the Van Buren State Park
• South Haven Pier Light
• Southwest Michigan Wine Trail
• Events including Hartford Strawberry Festival early June, The National Blueberry Festival early August, Paw Paw Wine & Harvest Festival early September and the Bangor Apple Festival mid October.

More museum links from Absolute Michigan.

Michigamua (ibid)

If you've gone through life thinking that college students were smart, Left Behind at the Fishbowl will correct that assumption pretty quickly. Left Behind at the Fishbowl is a collection of "student leftovers at the printers at U of M's 'Fishbowl' computer lab". To these, the editor adds his thoughts (and drawings).

"Here's a short story by a person that obviously has something against Jewish sorority girls. Can the main character change in the end? Can she turn from her ways? Give it three pages and the story actually starts." -Hold the Sprinkles

"Diversity is to Chinatown as a capella music is to Espresso Royale. Remember that if you ever take the SAT." -Chinatown and Expresso Royale

From taking on the tough issues like plagarism to offering pointed analysis of the Michigamua secret society's search for identity, we're confident you'll find something you like that was left behind.

July 4-8

The Comerica CityFest - Detroit

The Comerica CityFest is an impressive mix of restaurants, stellar local and national musical acts, boutique retail, fun for kids, extreme park and social gathering spots, Comerica CityFest is a celebration of city life and a fantastic way to spend five days in Detroit’s historic New Center. Comerica CityFest is free and open to the public.

July 7-14

The National Cherry Festival - Traverse City

The National Cherry Festival is seven days of fun, with everything from cherry pie eating competitions to a Cherry Queen. Listen to some great concerts, ride as many carnival rides as you can stomach, and watch the Blue Angels as they tear up the sky.

July 8-15

Common Ground Festival - Lansing

The Common Ground Festival is "the event of the summer" with over 30 bands on 3 stages in just 7 days!

July 12-14

Meijer Taylor Summer Festival - Taylor

The Meijer Taylor Summer Festival represents one of southeast Michigan's most popular summer family events and celebrations of American music. This year, the festival's headlining performers include some of the hottest country artists in America on Friday, classic rock-n-roll on Saturday, and Disney acts on Sunday

July 13-14

The Michgian Elvisfest - Ypsilanti

The Michigan Elvisfest is officially sanctioned by Graceland. The Elvisfest is one of the Largest Elvisfest Concerts in North America. The fest has spectacular performances by the best professional Elvis Tribute Artists in North America.

July 14

Shadow Art Fair - Ypsilanti

The Shadow Art Fair is just one day of fun with more than 40 artists and 9000 gallons of beer. The fair allows folks doing under-the-radar creative work to network and show off. And drink beer.

July 18-24

Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair - Ann Arbor

The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair transforms Ann Arbor into an impressive outdoor art festival showcasing the best in fine art and fine crafts. This award-winning, juried fair features ceramics, painting, jewelry, sculpture, photography, glass, wood, fiber and much more!

July 27-28

Summer Beer Festival - Ypsilanti

The Summer Beer Festival features tons of Michigan breweries for a celebration of the local art of beer brewing featuring a chance to talk with brewery personnel and learn about the art of beer making; home brewing, tasting of over one hundred different great local beers, delicious food, and excellent live entertainment.

July 31 - August 5

The Traverse City Film Festival - Traverse City

The Traverse City Film Festival is committed to showing "Just Great Movies" and helping to save one of America's few indigenous art forms — the cinema. The Traverse City Film Festival presents the best of independent, foreign, and documentary films. It also presents classic movies free of charge on a giant, inflatable outdoor screen overlooking Grand Traverse Bay in the Open Space Park at dusk.

Third Coast Surf Shop is "The Great Lakes' Premier Surf and Beach Lifestyle Shop." Their mission is "to spread the joy of the surfing in the Great Lakes." The shop is owned and operated by Great Lakes surfers, it offers rentals, lessons, repair, and a full line of surf and skate gear, clothing, and accessories—everything needed to experience the surfing lifestyle!

You can click on the picture for lessons, check out their website, or even check out their shop.

Shop Michigan will be a regular feature on Absolute Michigan, designed to help you support Michigan businesses. If you have suggestions for a product to feature, send an email to absolutemichigan@gmail.com - we'll check it out!

Check them out to see what you can do to help.

More conservancy links from Absolute Michigan.

Carolyn not only cooks like she is in the 18th century, she also takes part in French Colonial reenactments She even moved to Michigan to be closer to historic French sites.

Fancy trying historic dishes? How about a fritter or beignet made from the blossom of any edible flower, or some pickled green walnuts, or how about a confiture of summer fruits (otherwise known as "bachelor's jam")? (pictured right)

Did you know: "Dandelions (dente lion) or pissenlit (from its use as a diuretic) is an herb with many uses. Leaves harvested early in spring can be eaten as a salad vegetable; its blossoms make a delicate wine, jelly and syrup for flavoring drinks. Its leaves can also be cooked like spinach." -Pissenlit or Dandelions

Festival by One Foot Over The Moon

June 8-10

The Detroit Festival of the Arts - Detroit
From hot Latin rhythms to the comic antics of international street theatre or a 75-ton sand sculpture, the Detroit Festival of the Arts will delight the whole family. Now in its 21st year, the Detroit Festival of the Arts presents outstanding visual and performing artists from around the world, while showcasing the City's premier cultural institutions clustered within its boundaries.

Bay City YWCA Riverside Art Festival - Bay City
Over 130 exhibitors will be featured and the weekend will include live music, entertainment for the whole family, and plenty of food vendors to make the festival an all day excursion!

June 9-24

The Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival - South-east Michigan
Experience the artistry of world-class musicians performing classic and contemporary chamber works in beautiful venues this summer. This season the Great Lakes Festival is highlighting the music of two composers roughly two centuries apart: Ludwig van Beethoven and Leon Kirchner.

June 15-17

Riverbank Traditional Pow-Wow - Lansing
The Riverbank Traditional Pow Wow is a place where people come together and celebrate life, it is about the Native American community and respectfully sharing their cultures with others.

June 21-24

Mountain Country Music Festival - Farwell
The Mountain Country Music Festival is hosting many big name preformers this year; LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Darryl Worley, and Sawer Brown. Bring a tent and camp while you enjoy the four days of music fun.

June 22-23

Kalamazoo Island Festival - Kalamazoo
The Island Festival is the largest celebration of Caribbean Culture in Michigan. Food vendors sell Caribbean cuisine and beverages, arts and crafts vendors sell handmade drums, woodcarvings, jewelry and more. Enjoy the music of international Reggae musicians, Winston Jarrett, Zion Lion, Gypsi Fari Trio, and many others.

June 22

Festival of the Moon - Lansing
Like its sister festival, The Festival of the Sun, the Festival of the Moon is a great community gathering from 6pm-11pm. Enjoy some fantastic music, try beer from Michigan's best microbreweries and wine from around the world, and eat food from some of Lansing;s finest restaurants.

June 23

Festival of the Sun - Lansing
The Festival of the Sun is a great place to listen to music, sample some of Michigan's best microbrewery beer and wine from around the world, and enjoy a few of Lansing's finest restaurants.

The annual Michigan Energy Fair will be held June 22-24, 2007 at the Manistee County Fairgrounds in Onekama. Billed as "one of the most comprehensive expositions of renewable energy generating equipment, home and business energy efficiency techniques, and technical workshops in the state" the Fair features over 100 exhibitors and 60 workshops promoting energy efficiency, biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, renewable energy technologies like solar and wind power, and techniques for living sustainably.

The Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association is bringing in several noted speakers including Eric Larsen, William Cooke, Jim Nichols, and Dr. Chris Schilling. Workshops will address topics including making gasoline from waste plastics, creating jobs, reducing pollution through renewable energy and energy efficiency, local government or school district green power project, and energizing Michigan's economy.

Michigan send $18 billion dollars to other states in energy costs. With activities for kids, food, music and a wide range of exhibitors, the Michigan Energy Fair is a great place to learn about how we can go about reversing this drain on our state's economy.

Energy Fair Links

The Michigan land Use Institute took a look back at the 2006 Michigan Energy Fair.

The Energy Fair model house pictured above was designed by Image Design, LLC and built by Hybrid Homes LLC and you can see some pictures of the home in process at those sites.

Check Absolute Michigan keyword energy for a gigawatt more related links and articles.

Just 11% of us eat the USDA-recommended 5 to 9 servings of vegetables and fruits per day. Founders (and parents) TJ and Melissa Ewing explain:

Our idea began when our 2 year old son refused to eat his vegetables. Like most parents, we want our family to eat more veggies. So we consulted our pediatrician, talked to moms, read books, and searched the internet The #1 recommendation by far was to hide vegetables in other foods. So that is exactly what we did ... This is the root of our company, which we named the Undercover Vegetable Company. We help people sneak more vegetables into their diets.

Yotta Bars are all natural, with no refined sugars. They also meet evolving state nutrition standards for products allowed to be sold in schools. As a bonus, they have ingredients that everyone can pronounce.

More Beaver Island links from Absolute Michigan

More trail links from Absolute Michigan.