It's Lansing's Birthday! by Eridony

2009 is the Sesquicentennial of the City of Lansing. The Lansing 150 Grand Finale is next Friday (Nov 20) immediately following Silver Bells in the City from 8-11 PM in the Lansing Center. This event concludes Lansing’s year long Sesquicentennial Birthday Party and will include free entertainment and a free reception.

As part of the celebration they are holding an "I AM LANSING" contest. Area residents, businesses and organizations can submit photos, videos and/or essays about Lansing and judges will decide the Best Lansing Story. The winner will receive a $500 cash prize and you can enter until midnight this Friday! Head over to lansing150.com for all the details!

The City of Lansing history page (and the City of Lansing) begins:

In the winter of 1835, two brothers from Lansing, New York plotted the area just south of downtown Lansing, naming the territory "Biddle Town." Most of this land was in a floodplain and underwater for much of the year. Despite the condition of the land, the brothers returned to New York to sell the plots to unsuspecting individuals wanting to test their fortunes in a new land. The group of settlers arrived to Mid-Michigan only to find their plots submerged under several feet of water. Nevertheless, many in the group chose to stay and established what is now Metropolitan Lansing. They christened the town "Lansing Township" after their home village in New York.

You can get a ton more great old photos of Lansing from Seeking Michigan, check out a sweet view of Lansing from the Lansing standpipe in the late 1800s on Michigan in Pictures and learn lots more about Lansing at absolutemichigan.com/Lansing!

Photo: Bird's eye view of the city of Lansing (Mich.); 1866. Courtesy Seeking Michigan.

Autumn Pathways by pentax hammer (gary syrba)

The crowds and traffic have subsided, the harvests are bountiful and the mosquitoes are few and far between. What we're trying to say is that autumn is perfect time to get out and enjoy a color tour, take in a late season festival or event, go camping or hit some of Michigan's numerous wineries and pick up a few bottles for holiday gifts or get-togethers.

MyNorth.com produced a great video a while back that takes you on a tour of Northern Michigan's wine country and we think it is worth a watch and will entice you to plan a visit. On that note we should point out that Absolute Michigan is giving away a pair of tickets for the Toast the Season wine trail event which takes place on the Leelanau Peninsula on November 14 & 15.

MyNorth.com Video: Sit Back and Tour Northern Michigan's Wine Country

Hoping to get one more wine tour in this summer? Or maybe you're envisioning those glorious fall days when wine is an excellent excuse to drive through our wine country. Sit back and get some ideas as we visit Chateau Grand Traverse (cgtwines.com) on the Old Mission Peninsula; Traverse City's urban wineries, Left Foot Charley (leftfootcharley.com) at The Village in Grand Traverse Commons (old state hospital grounds) and Black Star Farms (blackstarfarms.com) in the Mercato, also in the Commons (Black Star also has its winery just south of Suttons Bay); and Shady Lane Cellars (shadylanecellars.com) near Suttons Bay.

Enjoy watching the lush landscape as the vintners each tell us what makes them unique and what it is like growing and selling wine in Northern Michigan.

Also be sure to check out our monthly calendars on Absolute Michigan's home page as well as keywords Halloween, maze, pumpkin, cider and more!

Not the Upper Peninsula, but the Northern Peninsula. by Jenna Belle

NPR ran a special series a few weeks back exploring the culture, traditions and economy of Michigan's Upper Peninsula that we felt was worth bubbling back up. In addition to the articles there are also audio pieces worth checking out in - Michigan's Upper Peninsula: A Trip U.P. North.

Articles

Often Left Out, U.P. Ducks Michigan's Worst Woes

If there's a Michigan map in your mind, it probably looks like a mitten. The Upper Peninsula — separated from the rest of the state by the Great Lakes — often gets left off the map entirely. While that can be irksome, the remote nature of Michigan's northern section can also insulate it from the rest of the state's economic distress.

Initially, Michigan's Upper Peninsula

This week's puzzle is in honor of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Because U.P. is short for Upper Peninsula, each answer has "U" and "P" in it. The first clue is: "U" and "P" are the initials of a common two-word phrase naming something holding a street lamp. What is it?

Pasties: The Meaty Center Of 'Yooper' Food

The meat turnovers were brought to Michigan's Upper Peninsula by immigrant miners from Cornwall, England. "Yoopers" — the local population — are very opinionated about them. A pasty isn't just a meal — it's a heritage. Here's the recipe, too.

In Michigan's U.P., Visitors Welcome, Just Don't Stay

Folks from Michigan's Upper Peninsula — or "Yoopers," as they call themselves — want you to know how lucky they are to live in such a beautiful place, how hard it is to do that, how their jokes about themselves are funnier than anything you've heard — and why you shouldn't move there.

Audio and transcripts from the series

What's A Yooper? [5 min 20 sec]

The people of Michigan's Upper Peninsula are nicknamed Yoopers. Weekend Edition Host Liane Hansen explores what defines the Yooper identity.

U.P. TV Anchor Moonlights At Target [4 min 39 sec]

Host Liane Hansen profiles TV Anchor Vicki Crystal of Marquette, Michigan. Crystal not only works as a full time anchor and reporter, but she also works part-time at Target.

Iron Mine At Core Of U.P. History, Culture [7 min 52 sec]

Host Liane Hansen visits the Cliffs Natural Resources iron ore mining operation near Ishpeming Michigan. Mining has long been a part of the U.P. economy, and Cliffs has been operating there since 1847.

U.P. County Tops State Unemployment Rate [3 min 56 sec]

Michigan's Baraga County has the state's highest unemployment rate, and at around 25 percent it's the third highest in the nation. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Baraga Village Manager Roy Kemppainin.

The Civil War That You Never Heard About [2 min 15 sec]

Stories about war are common. Unusual is the true story of an American war with no casualties. One of the spoils of the Toledo War was the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. And the early 19th century combatants were the Michigan and Ohio militias. Host Liane Hansen talks to State Representative Mike Lahti about the often-forgotten war.

In Contrast, This U.P. Town Is Thriving [6 min 30 sec]

In a country that's seen its share of downtown decay, central Marquette seems to be thriving. There's a bustling farmer's market, and along Washington Street there are coffee shops and quirky businesses including hockey and bingo supply stores. Host Liane Hansen pays a visit to Getz's Clothiers, a business dating from the 1880's that now draws 80 percent of its sales from online business.

Local Apples by nasunto

Fall is here and that means it is once again time to enjoy Michigan's largest and most valuable crop - the apple. With temperatures unseasonably flirting with the freezing point, the race is on to harvest the prized fruit. Adding to this challenge is the fact that Michigan is enjoying it's largest crop in nearly 10 years with an expected crop of 26 million bushels compared to the typical crop of 20 million bushels. The uptick in the number of bushels has been attributed to this year's cool temperatures and more than average rain.

Michigan Farms & Mills

Fresh is the air in the orchards. Fresh are the fruits and vegetables we pick ourselves. Fresh is the fun we have with our families on a visit to Michigan’s farms and mills. This is the refreshing way to answer questions like “Mom, where do apples come from?” This is where open-air markets and u-pick farms enliven our recipes. This is the true meaning of the phrase: farm fresh. So let’s visit the farms and mills. Because nothing refreshes our lives like Pure Michigan.

Check out the huge list of Michigan farms and mills from PureMichigan.org.

Some Michigan Apple Quick Facts - check out more at the Michigan Apple Committee website.

• Apples are Michigan’s largest and most valuable fruit crop, with a value of about $100 million annually to the apple grower.
• Value-added marketing and processing enhance the economic contribution of Michigan Apples up to $700 million of economic impact annually.
• There are over 7.5 million apple trees in commercial production, covering 37,000 acres, on 950 family-run farms throughout Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
• Small family farmers who operate their own orchards dominate the Michigan apple industry. According to statistics, 99 percent of Michigan orchards had fewer than 100 acres in apples.
• Longtime favorite varieties still dominate Michigan’s orchards. The most prevalent variety remains the Red Delicious, followed closely by the Golden Delicious. The Gala is rapidly gaining on tradition, however.
• The Honeycrisp variety is continually growing in popularity. Look for it in September and October, and enjoy it while you can, as it will most likely be gone by mid-November! A growing number of Honeycrisp tree plantings still aren’t in pace with its popularity among consumers! Honeycrisp has a crisp, juicy bite and a sweet flavor. They are best for fresh eating and also a great addition to salads!

New Kid on the Branch

A newcomer to Michigan's apple varieties is the SeeTango. MyNorth.com takes a at this much anticipated arrival in their article - The SweeTango Apple Makes Its Northern Michigan Debut.

Five Northern Michigan apple growers were among the first in the country to plant and harvest the world’s newest designer apple, the SweeTango. The apple, developed at the University of Minnesota, is a cross between the crispy, juicy Honeycrisp (the must-have apple of the last decade, also developed by the University of Minnesota) and the sweet flavored Zestar apple. The SweeTango is "a fabulous piece of fruit," says Mark Evans of Evans Brothers Fruit Company in Frankfort, one of the five Northern Michigan members of the Next Big Thing, the SweeTango growers’ cooperative.

SweeTango - A Sneak Preview

Find out all kinds of interest information about apples at the Michigan Apple Committee's website including the history of apples, the growers and the most popular varieties.

Little do most people realize that there are actually thousands of apple varieties and Michigan has many antique apple farms who strive to preserve them. Absolute Michigan's own Andrew McFarlane took note of one such orchard, Christmas Cove Farm in Leelanau in his article - Antique Apples.

Over on Michigan in Pictures there's a cool old apple picking photo from Old Mission in the 1890s courtesy the Archives of Michigan.

Check out more apple related information and websites using Absolute Michigan keyword apple.

Michigan Apple Recipes

Honey Crisp Apple and Endive Salad with Maple Apple Vinaigrette - via Great lakes chef extraordinaire Eric Villegas

Double Apple Galette - via Great lakes chef extraordinaire Eric Villegas

Barbeque "Mopping" Sauce W/Apple Cider Vinegar, Maple and Jalapeno - via Great lakes chef extraordinaire Eric Villegas

Ginger Apple Stir Fry - via Taste the Local Difference

Grilled Chicken with Apples and Feta - via Taste the Local Difference

Apple Lime Salsa - via Taste the Local Difference

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Nature Bar by SCOTTS WORLD

Time, Inc. bought a house in Detroit:

Why would we ever do such a thing? Because we believe that Detroit right now is a great American story. No city has had more influence on the country's economic and social evolution. Detroit was the birthplace of both the industrial age and the nation's middle class, and the city's rise and fall — and struggle to rise again — are a window into the challenges facing all of modern America. From urban planning to the crisis of manufacturing, from the lingering role of race and class in our society to the struggle for better health care and education, it's all happening at its most extreme in the Motor City. (Read TIME's Detroit stories.)

As a story, Detroit has been misunderstood, underreported, stereotyped, avoided and exploited for decades. To get it right, we decided to become stakeholders. Over the next year, we intend to flood the D-zone with journalists, photographers, videographers and bloggers from TIME and TIME.com, Fortune and Fortune.com, CNNMoney.com, Money, even Sports Illustrated. Some will live in the house — dubbed the "D-Shack" after Detroit-area native Kid Rock dropped by with a housewarming gift of a Gothic D (for the mantel) plus a keg of his Badass Beer — and others will stay there while reporting.

Beautiful View - MCS by MikeRyu

With questions such as "How do you survive in Detroit" (below) and What do you love or hate about Detroit answered by city residents and profiles from the Telway Diner's 85 cent burgers to urban farming supported by the kind of in-depth reporting (and national audience) that one of the world's largest news organizations can bring, I really think we'll find Assignment Detroit to be a phenomenal boon for Detroit and all of Michigan.

Be sure to visit Assignment Detroit to watch and read and explore Michigan's largest city through fresh eyes.

You might also stay tuned to AbsoluteMichigan.com/Detroit for features on the Motor City and definitely check out the Detroit Slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr (most recent).

The Beauty of Fall by CaptPiper

A sampling of Michigan festivals & events for the month of October. 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.

Quotes

"October's poplars are flaming torches
lighting the way to winter."
- Nova Bair

“On the motionless branches of some trees, autumn berries hung like clusters of coral beads,
as in those fabled orchards where the fruits were jewels . . .”
- Charles Dickens

"I saw old Autumn in the misty morn
Stand, shadowless like Silence, listening
To Silence."
- Thomas Hood

Fast Facts - Wikipedia

• October's birthstone is the opal. The opal is thought to have the power to predict illness. This is because the opal responds to heat. If you are sick your temperature increases before signs of illness appear. The increased body heat causes the opal to loose its shine, leaving it dull and lacking color. It is also said that the opal will crack if it is worn by someone who was not born in October.
• Its birth flower is the calendula.

The Harvest Moon - SPACE.com

Oct. 4, 2:10 a.m. EDT -- Full Harvest Moon. Traditionally, this designation goes to the full moon that occurs closest to the Autumnal (fall) Equinox. The Harvest Moon usually comes in September, but sometimes it will fall in early October as is the case in 2009; the next time won't come until 2017. At the peak of the harvest, farmers can work into the night by the light of this moon. Usually the full moon rises an average of 50 minutes later each night, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night: just 25 to 30 minutes later across the U.S., and only 10 to 20 minutes later for much of Canada and Europe. Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice -- the chief Indian staples -- are now ready for gathering.

Things to Do and Places to Go

Thru October 31
Colorfall - Grand Rapids
This annual celebration of autumn at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park highlights thousands of flowering chrysanthemums in both interior and exterior venues. ColorFall tours of the gardens, trees and sculpture collection are a visual delight. Harvest at Michigan's Farm Garden includes heiloom vegetables, herbs, maize, gourds and giant pumpkins. Floral displays by leading area florists and a variety of seasonal demonstrations round out this botanic gala of color.

Saturdays and Sundays in October
The Famous Pumpkin Train - Coopersville & Marne Railway
Saturday trains depart the station at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Passengers are entertained with music, jokes, songs and dance written especially for the youngest riders and performed by The Great Pumpkin, Scarecrow and Little Crow.

Thru October 31
Michigan's Upper Peninsula Calendar of Events - UP
Comprehensive listing of events in the Upper Peninsula provided via the Upper Peninsula Travel & Recreation Association.

October 2 - 3
The Red Flannel Festival - Cedar Springs
The Red Flannel Festival Board of Directors has been working diligently to provide fresh new events for the 70th “Soaring at 70…and Beyond!“ Festival celebration. “The board has added 18 new events in the last few years,“ said President Michele Tracy Andres. “This board is extremely dedicated to ensuring the Red Flannel Festival the biggest and best ever! We’re already working on plans for the 71st celebration in 2010!“

October 2 - 4
Scarecrow Festival - Trenton
The Trenton Scarecrow Festival is one of the best of its kind in the Southeast Michigan area. We are a Family event for all ages - a fall festival featuring a Scarecrow Contest a Dog Costume contest, children's area with games/rides, a carnival, local and national musical acts, a karaoke Scarecrow Idol contest, and many other events.

October 3
Oktoberfest - Douglas
Beery Field in Douglas, while it's not Germany, it does have a festive atmosphere, beer, brats, prizes galore and music. The festival begins at Noon and goes until 8:00 PM.

October 3 - 4
First Annual Skitoberfest Weekend - Boyne Falls
Join us for the first annual Skitoberfest, a fall extravaganza and homecoming taking place in the Boyne Mountain Village and surrounding area. Skitoberfest celebrates the coming winter season with a Snowsports Summit hosted by Cary Adgate and the best of fall’s family offerings in an Oktoberfest style setting. Highlights include great food, Michigan brews, live music, meet and greet with Winter X-Games gold medalist, Simon Dumont, and former U.S. Ski Team Coach, Greg Needell plus local art, kids’ art, parade and more. Everyone is invited to experience this two day event and a special welcome goes to our family of loyal BOYNE homeowners and passholders. It's art, it's drama, it's entertainment plus food, beer, wine and fun for everyone!

October 3 - 4 & 10 - 11
Benzie County Fallfest - Benzie
Enjoy a scenic chair lift ride, taste the great soups in the Fall Soup Contest, get your "once a year chance" to get a piece of Cherry Hut's apple cinnamon pie, watch the Pumpkin Carving of Ed Moody, or guess the weight in the Giant Pumpkin Weigh off!

Enjoy the parade, or canoe or kayak while enjoying the beautiful colors of Fall !

October 8 - 11
Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival - Alpena
The four day event provides activities for the young and old including lighthouse tours (aerial, boat or personal vehicle), entertainment, and vendors. The festival boasts over 100 maritime related vendors including lighthouse preservation groups, artists, authors and more.

October 9 - 10
Old Town Oktoberfest - Lansing
Mid michigan's only German-style event, will feature all things German, including live Polka, dancing, tasty food, and 12oz souvenir mugs filled with world renowned German-style beer.

October 9 - 10
Applefest Days - Charlevoix
Apple fest days at Friske's Farm Market Wagon rides, U-pick apples, our own Miss Apple everything apples. At the market: apple pie, apple donuts, caramel apples, and apple brats in the cafe. It’ll be a bushel of fun at Friske's!!

October 9 - 11, 16 - 18, 23 - 25
Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village - Dearborn
Step back in time to a turn-of-the-20th century Hallowe’en. Follow an endless path of hand-carved jack-o-lanterns and meet colorful characters along the way. Feel the whoosh as the headless horseman rides by, banter with a clever witch, and make stops at several treat stations spread throughout Greenfield Village. It’s frightfully fun for the whole family!

October 9 - 11
Color Cruise & Island Festival - Grand Ledge
Take a trip down memory lane in an old-fashioned covered wagon or glide down the scenic Grand River on a riverboat. Pioneer demonstrations captivate visitors with freshly popped black kettle caramel corn, live folk music, traditional dance and more.

October 9 - 12
Harvest Days - Harbor Country
This three-day weekend gives ample time to explore farm and field, but it also brings the celebration to the back door of our many shops, galleries, restaurants and lodging facilities. Many of our Harbor Country businesses-from New Buffalo, Three Oaks, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert and Sawyer-host special events that include open houses, gallery and artist receptions, culinary demonstrations, special sales, and family fun activities.

October 10 - 12
CRANE FEST XIV - Baker Sanctuary
Anywhere between 2,000 - 6,000 Sandhill cranes congregate at the Michigan Audubon Baker Sanctuary along with thousands of birders! This event is the largest wildlife congregation in Michigan that attracts as many as 10,000 folks over the weekend.

October 18
Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon - Detroit
Get down to Motown for the 2009 Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon! They're celebrating their 32nd anniversary with an exhilarating, world-class, international marathon. With a unique course crossing the U.S./Canadian border twice and great musical entertainment along the way, there’s no end to the excitement of running this race!

October 23 - 24
The Michigan Story Festival - Mt. Pleasant
The two-day Michigan Story Festival offers a complete showcase of the power of storytelling in all its art forms. Michigan Story Festival is one of the only storytelling festivals to integrate the stories of many cultures and traditions. With the exception of the opening performance, there is no charge to experience the magic of Michigan Story Festival events and presentations.

October 30
Food, Wine and All That Jazz - Grand Rapids
A fantastic evening of food, wine and jazz music at the Public Museum in Grand Rapids hosted by WGVU and D&W Fresh Market. With over 300 wines and food from around the world to sample, all included in one ticket price. This is the MUST attend event of the fall.

Also be sure to check out Absolute Michigan keywords "haunted", "maze", "apple" and "harvest"!

Today I'm at the Michigan Downtown Conference in Lansing. This morning I'll be posting some updates from the conference as I'm able. This afternoon I'm on a panel with Julielyn Gibbons, Ryan Knott and Bigby Coffee co-founder Bob Fish, talking about new media marketing and promoting our downtowns.

capital evening by cmu chem prof

Downtown Lansing

Flash back to last night at 9 PM. I checked into the Radisson and then went out to walk around downtown Lansing. I spent some time talking to a guard at the city jail about the "vibe" downtown (or lack thereof).  She said that when there are events, the area is humming but that on nights when there's no planned festivities, it's ghostly.

Over on Facebook, Bill Palladino noted that in his travels, state capitols are seldom (Austin TX, go get a drink of water)  happening places. Richard pointed out several others that were doing well. In any case, I think there's something a little sad about a city that is supposed to be the heart of Michigan with shuttered storefronts, perpetually torn up sidewalks and lack of life.

Durant Hotel by detroitsky

Dan Kildee, Keynote Speaker

"Our ability to make progress is determined in large part by our ability to work together"

Dan Kildee is the Genessee County Treasurer and director of the Genessee County Land Bank who has worked to use Michigan's new foreclosure law for community development and neighborhood stabilization. He's also pretty proud that he drew Rush Limbaugh's ire for his plan to reduce the size of Flint (and ultimately cities across the country) to reduce their size and increase the ability to deliver services.

Dan notes that even in our terrible economy, it's easier to build on a green field than to reinvest in our cities. He says that Michigan's foreclosure system had a large role in creating our downtown problems by setting up a system that rewarded speculators. Now, he says, the system allows cities to treat urban land as if it has value and to apply community values and vision.

He had a very interesting talk in which he looked at the toolbox that is available to Michigan downtowns and some success stories from Flint including the redevelopment of the Durant Hotel in Flint as rental housing for students and young professionals. He notes that 70% of Michigan's population lives on 8% of the land and that an overwhelming 97% of Michiganians feel that redevelopment in existing urban centers is preferable to building new. With a decent set of tools, he says all that's missing is a bias on the part of lawmakers and our laws to support this pattern of development.

Lansing Mayor Virg Benaro asked us to close our eyes and imagine when the auto industry was in its heyday and how we built great cities during that time. Now, as the auto industry contracts we are still left with these great cities, but what are we doing to preserve and restore them. He then talked about how East Lansing and Lansing - two one horse towns driven by MSU and the Capitol could be 10 times the city if they worked together. He also called for cities and their surrounding communities to cooperate and build the brand of Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit and other cities.

Why Live in Detroit? by Derek Farr

Niche Marketing: Success through creativity and collaboration

A panel with Elissa Sangalli Hillary (Executive Director of Local First in Grand Rapids),
Claire Nelson (Co-Owner & Operator of the Bureau of Urban Living & cofounder (with Liz Blondy) of Open City Detroit) and Liz Blondy (Founder of Canine to Five Detroit Dog Daycare) talking about what they do and how small business can be a driver of vibrant downtowns.

Elissa noted a commonly cited statistic (view graphic) that shows 73% of dollars spent at a local business stay in the community as compared to 43% if you spend your money at a national chain. She discussed some strategies they are using to give small businesses access to pooled advertising and purchasing.

Claire talked about her small business and how Detroit offered an opportunity to start a business that would have been impossible in New York City where she moved from. She talked about the importance of creating a climate that's business friendly and also - through events and collaboration - draws folks to burgeoning downtowns. She also drew a laugh by noting that small business in Detroit doesn't face too many threats from national chain stores.

When Liz Blondy came on I lost wireless, making me again think that about the best thing a downtown can do is to deliver a free wireless cloud. She explained her philosophy of focusing on free networking and and promotional efforts rather than exclusively advertising. Small actions like referring waiting customers to another business to pass the time cost nothing and reap big rewards. Wireless is apparently back.

Mackinac Bridge Walk by carolynne marie

Since1882 the first Monday of September has been recognized as a time to salute Americas workers with festivals, cookouts and parades on "a day off for the working man." With school starting after the Monday, September 7 holiday, the long Labor Day Weekend is an ideal time to squeeze in some last-minute summertime fun. An estimated 1.4 million Michiganians will travel during the 2009 Labor Day holiday, according to a recent AAA survey. Michigan, the Great Lake State, offers ample opportunities to celebrate the end of summer.

Labor Day via Wikipedia

The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City. In the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the US military and US Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike. Cleveland was also concerned that aligning a US labor holiday with existing international May Day celebrations would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair. All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.

Stuff to Do, Places to Go

August 28 - September 7
Michigan State Fair Detroit
The Nation's Oldest State Fair was officially first held in 1849, only twelve years after Michigan attained statehood. At the onset it was customary, in fact, for the fair to be held one year in one city, the next year in another, and there was always a hot contest to be the city selected. The Michigan State Fair settled down at the present fairgrounds in 1905. The 2009 Michigan State Fair will be held August 28th - September 7th.

Popular attractions include the FREE Concerts under the stars in the Band Shell, daily parades, competitions, horse shows, agricultural displays, arts & crafts, racing pigs, rabbits & poultry, dairy exhibits, carnival midway rides & games and the world's largest stove.

August 22 - October 4
Michigan Renaissance Festival Holly
Festival is held on weekends and Labor Day, rain or shine. "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 it's awe-inspiring full-contact armored jousting tournaments where gallant knights defend their honor until the last man is standing!"

September 3 - 7
Michigan Peach Festival Romeo
If you are looking for something fun for the whole family, there is no better place to be on Labor Day Weekend! Bring your family & friends to the Michigan Peach Festival in the beautiful Village of Romeo. There's something fun for everyone!

September 4 - 7
Hamtramck Labor Day Festival Hamtramck
Hamtramck Festival has more than 500,000 annual visitors, live music on two stages, carnival rides, Polish Day Parade, samplings of ethnic food, cultural dancers, children's activities, more.

September 4 - 7
Detroit International Jazz Fest Detroit
For 30 years, the Detroit International Jazz Festival (DJF) 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 five stages and 100 acts over four days in a city with a rich musical legacy. Sprawling over several city blocks in downtown Detroit – from Hart Plaza to Campus Martius – the festival also offers educational activities, giant puppets, fireworks, rare opportunities to meet the artists and much more. And it’s all FREE!

September 4 - 7
Arts, Beats & Eats Pontiac
Arts, Beats & Eats is excited to add to its name, mission and purpose in 2009. We are now Arts, Beats & Eats - Festival of Hope and we are excited to announce new changes and partners for the 2009 festival.

Arts, Beats & Eats will still feature The HealthPlus Art Fair, one of the top art shows in the US, incredible food, more than 125 bands on six stages, and dynamic and interactive fun for the kids.

September 4 - 6
Logging Fest Newaygo
The Logging Fest takes place over Labor Day Weekend. Newaygo was built around the logging industry, and we are celebrating our logging heritage. Highlights of the Logging Fest include the Chainsaw Sculpture Competition and Auction, Lumberjack's Competition and Fireman's Water Battle. The Arts & Crafts Show in Brooks Park is host to exhibitors from all over the country displaying their arts and crafts. The local merchants have sidewalk sales. The event also includes kids activities and games, and on Sunday a parade route goes through downtown Newaygo.

September 5 - 6
Marquette Area Blues Fest Marquette
The Marquette Area Blues Society has announced the headline performers for the 2009 Marquette Area Blues Fest. The festival, now in it's 6th year, will once again be held at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in downtown Marquette over Labor Day Weekend. The dates are Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, 2009. Featured performers on Saturday include Blue Bass entertainment recording artists Biscuit Miller & the Mix, VizzTone recording artist Gina Sicilia and Chikan Howse Records recording artist James "SUPER CHIKAN" Johnson.

On Sunday, the featured performers are Michigan's very own "The King of the Party Blues" Maurice Davis, Shanachie Entertainment recording artist Curtis Salgado and Blind Pig recording artists Smokin' Joe Kubek and B'nois King. Also on the bill for the weekend will be the finest in local and regional blues performers. The music will begin both days at 1-pm with gates opening at noon. Be sure to take in the food and merchandise vendors as well as the workshops offered during the weekend to make it a complete blues experience!

September 7
Labor Day Bridge Walk Mackinaw City
The Labor Day Bridge walk, recognized as "the world's greatest walking event", brings over 70,000 people to the area. Buses are available for transportation to the north end of the bridge. Participants walk from the north side to the south. At the finish line you are awarded a certificate of completion.

More Labor Day Getaway Resources

Stretch Your Labor Day Holiday with Michigan Fairs and Festivals from PureMichigan.org

Labor Day Getaways from the West Michigan Tourist Association

MDOT Halts Most Work for the Labor Day Weekend from MDOT (54 work zones will be active so check it out to plan your route)

Michigan's Upper Peninsula Calendar of Events - All the happenings are listed here

Thinking of doing some camping then check out this cool 'Campground Search' from the DNR

If you are not hitting the road then take a virtual Labor Day tour of Michigan courtesy of our Absolute Michigan Flickr pool

"We've extended our efforts to stay connected with travelers. Social media allows us to get the Pure Michigan message out to potential visitors on other platforms," commented George Zimmermann, Vice President of Travel Michigan, a business unit of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. "It opens another line of communication with travelers."

In addition to the most popular state tourism Web site, michigan.org, visitors now have other means to stay up-to-date on Michigan tourism deals, discounts and events.

Connect and get the inside scoop on where the fish are biting, what greens are running fast and how you can make your visit Pure Michigan at the newly launched blog, Pure Michigan Connect. Read about bloggers' experiences along the nation's longest fresh water coastline or experience at a small town celebration. Take a minute to comment on the blog posts, or submit one of your own.

Follow @PureMichigan on Twitter for the latest events and breaking news, along with some fun behind-the-scenes information on all the things going on with Michigan tourism. Search hashtags #puremichigan, #MIevents, #MIdine, #MIgolf, #MIfish, and #MIwine, for all the latest.

Join the Pure Michigan Fan Page on Facebook to stay up-to-date on all the latest events in Michigan and talk to others with the same love for Michigan. The fan page is another great resource for planning a trip.

In addition, visitors can now enjoy all the photos from the Pure Michigan Photo Contest on Flickr, or watch all of the Pure Michigan commercials on YouTube.

Michigan.org continues to be a source for Michigan travel information, featuring more than 12,000 attractions, events, hotels, resorts, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses.

Travel Michigan, a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is the State of Michigan's official agency for the promotion of tourism. Travel Michigan markets the state's tourism industry and provides valuable visitor information services.

Director Larry Charles, Producer/ Actor Jeff Garlin, festival co-founder Michael Moore, TCFF Director Deb Lake and others give their thoughts on Traverse City and the Traverse City Film Festival in this video by Scott Allman Video.

Absolute Michigan: On Location has much more coverage from the 2009 Traverse City Film Festival.

In 1954, five-year old Tom Friggens was awed by the dinosaurs at Domke’s Prehistoric Zoo in Ossineke, Michigan. In 1987, the adult Friggens took his sons there. (The photo below, dating from 1987, depicts the latter experience. The photo to the right depicts young Tom Friggens in 1954.)

Currently, quite a few people are reliving childhood vacations—or getting a taste of places their parents visited—at Michigan’s Roadside Attractions, a special exhibit at the Michigan Historical Museum. Featuring more than fifty attractions created to lure travelers off the road, the exhibition includes advertising, artifacts and souvenirs from destinations across the state. American Road Magazine sponsored the exhibit in cooperation with Friends of Michigan History.

It turns out that roadside attractions, derided by some as “tourist traps,” have quite a history. Michiganians began thinking about attracting auto tourists almost as soon as they began making cars. In the 1920s and 1930s, many attractions aimed to make nature more accessible to the residents of Michigan’s growing cities. Castle Rock in St. Ignace and no less than four towers in the Irish Hills offered new vistas. Special rides showed off Tahquamenon Falls, Silver Lake’s sand dunes and the Soo locks.

Car travel boomed in the post-World War II period. Paul Bunyan and other giant figures appeared along the roadways. Nature, in the form of animal attractions, remained popular at Spikehorn’s Bear Den (Harrison), Call of the Wild (Gaylord) and deer parks in Coloma, Pinconning and St. Ignace. Lund’s Scenic Garden and the Cross in the Woods presented religious experiences in vacation settings. Regional foods like cherries, pasties and cheese added memorable smells and tastes to many Michigan vacations.

There was excitement along Michigan highways, too: concrete dinosaurs at Domke’s or the Prehistoric Forest in the Irish Hills and the Haunted Fort in Mackinaw City. Suspension of the laws of nature at places like Mystery Hill (Onsted), Mystery Ridge (West Tawas) or the Mystery Spot (St. Ignace) intrigued curious travelers.

Michigan’s Roadside Attractions features these sites and more! Come see the exhibit at the Michigan Historical Museum in Lansing. Admission is free.

For more on this, head over to Weird Wednesday: Domke's Dinosaur Gardens & Michigan's roadside architecture on Absolute Michigan and the web site for Dinosaur Gardens Prehistoric Zoo.

Feel the Rush by Diann

In its heyday, the Idlewild Resort area was the place to perform for musicians and other entertainers who had already "arrived" and for those that were hoping to get noticed. The Idlewild Music Fest recognizes these musical roots with a two-day celebration. Coordinated and supported by business leaders, the nonprofit community and faith community of Lake County, the Idlewild Music Fest brings an unmistakable beat back to echo across Idlewild Lake and Williams Island, if just for awhile.

Wikipedia tells us:

Idlewild is a vacation and retirement community in Yates Township located in a small rural northwestern part of the U.S. state of Michigan near the southeastern border of Lake County. It was one of only a few resorts in the country where African-Americans were allowed to vacation and purchase property before this discrimination became illegal in 1964.

Idlewild surrounds the lake it was named for. The headwaters of the Pere Marquette River run through here, with a couple of public access points adjacent to Broadway Road, where it crosses. About half of the township is contained in the Manistee National Forest.

Called the "Black Eden", from 1912 through the mid-1960s, Idlewild was an active year-round community and was visited by well-known entertainers and professionals from throughout the country. At its peak it was the most popular resort in the Midwest and as many as 25,000 would come to Idlewild in the height of the summer season to enjoy camping, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, roller skating and night-time entertainment.

When the 1964 Civil Rights Act opened up other resorts to African-Americans, Idlewild's boomtown period subsided but the community continues to be an important place for vacationers and retirees and as a heritage landmark.

The Idlewild African American Chamber of Commerce was founded in the summer of 2000 by businessman John O. Meeks for the purpose of promoting existing local businesses and for attracting newer ones to the Lake County area.

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Bubble and Droplet. by G0Da

It seems that many media outlets are preaching the "staycation" this year. We say cut some corners, pack a lunch, brew your own coffee, just do what you have to do and support the festivals, events, cities and businesses that are making things happen. You might just have some fun and create some great memories in the process.

As usual we by no means have listed all the events happening around Michigan. Add ones we missed (with links) in the comments below!

July Quotes

"Many public-school children seem to know only two dates: 1492 and 4th of July; and as a rule they don't know what happened on either occasion. - Mark Twain

"Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels." - Mark Twain

"Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit." – Henry David Thoreau

"You know, when you get your first asparagus, or your first acorn squash, or your first really good tomato of the season, those are the moments that define the cook's year. I get more excited by that than anything else." - Mario Batali

"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." - Lewis Grizzard

Fast Facts - Wikipedia

• The second half of the year commences in July
• The birthstone for July is a red ruby
• July was renamed for Julius Caesar... Previously, it was called Quintilis...

Stuff To Do!

June 12 - July 5
Ann Arbor Summer Festival Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is an exhilarating celebration of performing arts, outdoor entertainment, and community spirit. Each year, this three-and-a-half-week cultural and social event offers dozens of performances, activities, screenings, and more, with eclectic music, dance, comedy, film, visual arts, and family fun.

Now celebrating its 26th season, the festival has invigorated the cultural life of the community for over two and a half decades. It brings the world to Ann Arbor: innovative artists, enthusiastic audiences, eager students, curious visitors, and anyone looking to be inspired and entertained on a Michigan summer evening.

July 1 - 5
Comerica Cityfest Detroit
Comerica Cityfest is a five-day outdoor food and culture rich entertainment street festival in Detroit’s historic New Center over each Fourth of July weekend. The event exemplifies city life, (what it is and what it could be), in one of Detroit’s fastest growing 24-hour districts.

A diverse and family friendly crowd looks forward each year to our free national and local talent on four stages, over 40 Michigan restaurants selling “tastes” of their specialties, free stage shows, activities for children, and a marketplace of unique Detroit products and memorabilia. Comerica Cityfest is free and open to the public.

July 1 - 5
Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival Battle Creek
Twenty Six Years and Counting...The US Air Force Thunderbirds and Over 60 Hot-Air Balloons Headline Acts at the Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival.

Appearing for the 26th time in Battle Creeks Field of Flight and Air Show history, will be the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. Featured as one of America’s top-precision aerial demonstration teams, the Thunderbirds, over 60 hot-air balloons and an array of aerial demonstration teams will color the skies over W.K. Kellogg Airport during the 2009 event that will be held the week of July 1 - July 5.

As one of Michigan’s largest family festivals, the event began in 1980 with only hot-air balloons and has grown to become one of the largest air shows in the country. "The hot-air balloons will always have a special place at our event, said Barbara Haluszka, Executive Director. "But adding the air shows has definitely put us on the map in the aviation world."

July 2 - 5
Rothbury Rothbury
This year the Rothbury Music Festival takes place July 2-5, 2009 in Rothbury, Michigan (near Muskegon). RothburyFour days of music on six stages feature some of the biggest musical acts around.

The Rothbury Think Tank will be focused on finding energy independence and feature the innovators, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, celebs, and rabble rousers who – in this time of economic, energy and climate crisis – are offering a green path to a brighter future.

July 4
MichiganFireworks.com - Independence Day Michigan
Currently listing 372 Fireworks displays in Michigan for 2009!

July 4 - 12
National Cherry Festival Traverse City
The National Cherry Festival features over 150 events including free air shows over the Bay, colorful parades & marching bands, music shows, sporting events, rides & carnival games on the midway, pie-eating contests, clean blue skies, warm sunshine, crowds of smiling faces, and loads of luscious cherries prepared every way you can imagine!

July 6 - 12
Common Ground Lansing
Common Ground is situated in downtown Lansing along the banks of the Grand River in Adado Riverfront Park. Common Ground is an event for all your senses. This annual celebration features an outstanding line-up of musical acts, focusing on top-level, national, contemporary music performers, scores of food vendors, and a dynamic display of outdoor interactive activities for kids. With an attractive, intimate venue, state-of-art production and a comprehensive array of patron amenities, the festival is the premier special event of the summer in the greater Lansing region.

July 10 - 11
Idlewild Music Fest Idlewild
In its heyday, the Idlewild Resort area was the place to perform for musicians and other entertainers who had already "arrived" and for those that were hoping to get noticed. The Idlewild Music Fest recognizes these musical roots with a three-day celebration. Coordinated and supported by business leaders, the nonprofit community and faith community of Lake County, the Idlewild Music Fest brings an unmistakable beat back to echo across Idlewild Lake and Williams Island, if just for awhile.

July 10 - 11
Michigan Elvisfest Ypsilanti
The world-renowned Michigan Elvisfest began in 2000 in Ypsilanti, Michigan's Historic Depot Town. Beautiful Riverside Park is the place where Elvis fans flock by the thousands every July to pay homage to the King of Rock & Roll and to hear the most award-winning professional Elvis Tribute Artists in North America, as well as other talented Legend Tribute Artists.

July 10 - 12
Blissfest Cross Village
he 29th Blissfest Music Festival will present a world of innovative folk and roots music and dance at the Festival Farm in unique and picturesque northern Michigan. It is truly a blissful musical weekend to be shared with families, friends and music-lovers of all ages. This year's 29th Celebration will feature Jamband, Bluegrass, Blues, Cajun, Celtic, Folk, Jazz, Latin, Ethnic and World music and dance. Follow the links above for all the details of the 29th annual festival. Remember, Life is Bliss so follow your Bliss to the Blissfest!

July 11 - Aug 9
Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire Battle Creek
Neither heat, rain nor scary beast will shut our gates. They will open at 10:00 am to the Queen's delight and close at 7:00 pm with the children's sighs. Come spend your day with us.

Welcome to the Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire - West Michigan premier Artisan Marketplace. With over 100 vendors selling their wares and crafts, you will find everything from turkey legs to wood-carving, leather to silks, and blacksmiths to fairy wings. Silver Leaf offers vendors that will appeal to both men and women and the young and the young at heart. Shop ‘til you drop at the Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire.

July 14 - Aug 2
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival Jackson
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival has been presenting the timeless themes and glorious language of William Shakespeare since 1995, growing each year into a premier regional event that draws respected actors from across the nation, and satisfied audiences from throughout the Midwest.

Check out their Face Book page!

July 15 - 18
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair Ann Arbor
Established in 1960, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is the Original of the now four award-winning Ann Arbor Art Fairs:

* The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original
* The State Street Area Art Fair
* The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair
* Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair

Together, the fairs attract over 500,000 attendees from across the nation. The Original Fair was named the Number One Art Fair in the country by AmericanStyle magazine readers survey (October 2004) and has made the Top Ten Fairs and Festivals list every year since.

July 16 - 19
Venetian Festival St. Joseph
The name implies gracious glides on a glowing river and the gentle sounds of water rippling as gondoliers pole their slender boats and sing soft love songs to couples snuggled in the bows. Such were the hot days and long nights in Venice, Italy, where Venetian Festivals started so many years ago.

In St. Joseph, they still celebrate hot July days and long summer nights with boat rides and love songs and couples holding hands. The Venetian Festival on the St. Joseph River is all of that and so much more.

July 16 - 19
Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium Grand Marais
The oldest kayaking symposium on the Great Lakes welcomes paddlers of all ages and abilities for a weekend packed with fun and learning opportunities. Grand Marais has a protected harbor that is ideal for class sessions and skills practice while offering a perfect starting point for unforgettable trips along the scenic lakeshore.

July 18 - 19
Concert of Colors Detroit
The Concert of Colors is metro Detroit’s free annual diversity music festival. It is presented by ACCESS/Arab American National Museum, New Detroit Inc. and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) with the goal of bringing together metro Detroit’s diverse communities and ethnic groups by presenting musical acts from around the world. Over its 16-year history, the festival has become a beloved highlight of metro Detroit’s summer festival season.

July 17 - 19
Michigan Storytellers Festival Flint
See website for details...

July 17 - 19
Hiawatha Music Festival Marquette
The Hiawatha Festival is the only event of its size and scope in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Without Hiawatha, local performers and fans would have to travel between four and six hours to the nearest festivals of its size and type.

Each year's event features traditional-music styles that include bluegrass, old-time, Cajun, Celtic, acoustic blues and folk - including singer/songwriters - and dance. Mainstage acts include nationally known performers as well as regional and local favorites.

July 17 - 19
Quake on the Lake Waterford
Over the past 9 years, “Quake on the Lake” has gained a reputation as one of the premier summertime events in/around Oakland County, Michigan. It has become a “must attend” event for North American Inboard Hydroplane owners and drivers; and since its inception, nearly 300,000 people have witnessed world-record racing performances from the top teams in the business. The event is the proud recipient of 15 American Power Boat Association (APBA) records being set in 5 different racing classes making Pontiac Lake one of the fastest one-mile race courses in the country!

July 18 - 19
Ragtime Street Fair Dearborn
Come dance, enjoy and celebrate Ragtime in Greenfield Village all weekend long. Our popular new signature event focuses on the early “jazz age” of 20th century America’s first decades. The unique, ragged rhythms of this hugely popular genre present the background for two days of dancing, music, drama, parades and fantastic food. Ragtime Street Fair is free to members and free with Greenfield Village admission.

July 24 - 25
Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival Ypsilanti
The Michigan Brewers Guild’s Summer Beer Festival is a showcase event featuring well over 200 beers from more than 30 Michigan breweries.

July 24 - 26
Yale Bologna Festival Yale
Every July Yale plays host to the Yale Bologna Festival, a 3 day weekend event that closes the streets and transforms this small community of just under 2,000 to a gathering of over 20,000 Bologna starved party-goers! A tradition in Yale since 1989, this festival has grown considerably since its humble beginnings. The festival draws people from all around Michigan as well as other states, eager to see who will be the next King and Queen of Bologna. The Bologna Festival includes such events as the famed outhouses races, a street dance, fireworks and a parade down Main Street that continues to grow each year.

July 25 - 26
Art On The Rocks Marquette
Located in a beautiful wooded area on the shore of Lake Superior in north Marquette. Enjoy the 51st annual Art On The Rocks at Presque Isle Park.

July 24 - Aug 2
Coast Guard Festival Grand Haven
As we celebrate the 219th birthday of the United States Coast Guard and the 84th anniversary of the founding of the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival, as we know it today, they welcome you and thank you for your support of these gallant men and women who serve us all year long...the members of the United States Coast Guard!

Enjoy your visit...There is only one COAST GUARD CITY USA and we're ready to show you a wonderful time!

July 28 - Aug 2
Traverse City Film Festival Traverse City
The Traverse City Film Festival has grown to become one of the largest film festivals in the Midwest, and one of the most respected in the country. Last year, there were over 80,000 admissions to nearly 100 screenings, a number of them U.S. or world premieres. A special emphasis is given to foreign films, American independents, documentaries, and films which have been overlooked but deserve the attention of a public starved to see a good movie.

July 30 - Aug 2
Woodtick Music Festival Hermansville
The Woodtick Music Festival is a home-grown, Upper Peninsula style shindig featuring a variety of regional and not so regional bands who all have one thing in common....they're damn good!

urban hope by buckshot.jones

Throughout each month we post items of Michicentric interest to our Michitwitter page. In case you missed them here is a look back at just a few of the items for the month June. If you find these interesting there are plenty more for you to check out. We encourage you to add any news items, events, links to vids, podcasts or whatever you find interesting about the Great Lakes State!

The photo featured in this post is from the Absolute Michigan Flickr pool and was shot by the very talented buckshot.jones. He states:

This little garden is on the near west side of Detroit. The significance for me is it may very well be on an empty lot where one of my mother's childhood homes once stood. I also find it significant because it makes a statement about the resourcefulness of the folks in Detroit- a turning lemons into lemonade kind of a thing. Around the corner, right off Cass Avenue, sits a vacant corner lot. The locals have salvaged old couches and discarded auto bench seats and have fashioned a small park with the make- do seating placed under of the shade of a few low hanging maple trees.

A Sampling from Michitwitter June 2009

The folks attempting to save Tiger Stadium lost their fight in preventing the demolition and the Freep let us know in their article Detroit commission votes to level Tiger Stadium.

A Detroit city commission has voted to demolish the section of Tiger Stadium left standing after much of the historic ballpark was knocked down last year.

The city’s Economic Development Corp. board voted 7-1 today to authorize the complete demolition of the stadium.

We often talk about how the buy local revolution and urban farming is gaining popularity and that farming is once again becoming a viable career choice. The State News ran the article More students opting to take on farming opportunities in summer, as career choices.

Growing up in metro Detroit, Adam Montri, outreach coordinator for the MSU Student Organic Farm, didn’t consider farming to be a career choice. “I definitely grew up in the suburbs and thought of agriculture as something you did on the weekend or after school or that kind of thing,” he said. Now, Montri, who graduated from MSU in 2001, owns his own organic farm in Bath, Mich.

In our state's quest to harness the power of wind a report was released that the Thumb area is ranked #1. From Crains Detroit Business West Michigan, Thumb best for wind energy, report says

Three regions in West Michigan and one region in the Thumb area have the state’s highest potential for wind energy projects, according to a report released Tuesday by a state board.

We were shown a ray of light shining through the darkness of our current economic quagmire. The Freep reported Economist: Michigan to start to recover in 2010

Comerica Bank's chief economist predicted today that Michigan's battered economy will finally start to recover next year, aided by a rebound in the national economy.

In another positive story on Michigan's economic turnaround Michigan.gov announced Granholm Announces Companies Investing Over $247 Million, Creating More Than 11,000 New Jobs in Michigan

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that Michigan's aggressive strategy to diversify the economy and attract investment to Michigan has resulted in 15 job-creating projects, which will generate more than 11,125 new jobs, retain another 846 and bring more than $247 million in new investment to communities across the state.

One of the more interesting and unusual biit of news came from mlive.com in their story University of Michigan researchers find clues at bottom of Lake Huron to ancient hunters

University of Michigan researchers have found the first archaeological evidence of ancient human hunting activity preserved under the Great Lakes.

Using detailed government data on lake floor topography, a research vessel and a remote mini-rover equipped with a camera, scientists found what they believe are hunting pits, camps and rock structures called caribou "drive lines" on the bottom of Lake Huron.

Much discussion has been made of late that the revitalization of our auto industry would be to go back to square one and the inventors, entrepeneurs and small company jump into the game for some fresh thoughts. Wired.com brought us Tesla Motors Founder: Let Me Run Detroit

Elon Musk has tackled electric cars, space ships and modular renewable energy stations. Now he wants a real challenge: running Detroit.

“When the mess gets sorted out, I’d like to have a conversation with whoever’s in charge at the time — the car czar or whoever — and say ‘I’d like to run your plants, if you don’t mind,’” Musk said, starting that conversation Monday at Wired’s first-ever business conference, Disruptive by Design in Manhattan.

Last but not lease Detroit's art community received some huge support and encouragement. The Detroit News reported Kresge Foundation steps up gifts to Detroit causes

Call it an artist's jackpot, or a clever gambit to help Michigan hold on to some of its best creative talent.

Today, 18 Detroit-area artists officially will win $25,000 each, the first awards of an unprecedented no-strings-attached annual fellowship program designed to keep the area's top visual artists from leaving the state in search of greener pastures.

The June 10th, 2009 kickoff of the four-day festival will feature the documentary "Surfing 50 States". Actress Yeardley Smith, better known as the voice of Lisa Simpson, will be there, as will Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund and world renowned street artist Ron English. The opening-night party will also include a musical performance by South Florida rock band, Fallbrooke.

The festival itself will run June 11th-14th. Michigan's own Jeff Daniels will be there for the Midwest Premiere of his film, "Answer Man", and Daryl Hannah is scheduled to attend to promote her film, "Fierce Light".

Check out Absolute Michigan keyword Saugatuck for more about the festival and Saugatuck links and visit our Michigan Film Festivals page for many more film experiences!

Craftsman Home, McLean Street
Highland Park MI by pinehurst19475

A few weeks ago, the Chicago Reader had a great feature saying there's nowhere in America quite like Detroit right now. You should read the whole thing but here's a taste:

They say when the country catches a cold, Michigan gets the flu. Projects that started before the subprime crisis and ensuing global economic collapse have been either quietly completed or left to wait. New projects have shelved while the region watches the auto industry.

Yet even as GM closes plants and Chrysler faces Chapter 11, things are sprouting in Detroit. The city made the New York Times in March not for news about the Big Three but for the purchase by a Chicago couple of a house for $100, on a block being taken over by artists with plans for solar-powered art center and a vegetable garden. The city has a booming urban agriculture movement, and in April financier John Hantz, working with Michigan State University and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, proposed building the “world’s largest urban farm” on vacant and abandoned properties, starting with a 70-acre fruit and veggie patch on the east side. Also last month, a group of local businesses began printing their own currency, the Detroit Cheer, in an effort to encourage local spending. (Model D article on the currency)

...“Detroit right now is just this vast, enormous canvas where anything imaginable can be accomplished,” wrote novelist Toby Barlow, who paid $100,000 for a Mies van der Rohe townhouse in Detroit’s Lafayette Park, in the Times piece. “In a way, a strange, new American dream can be found here, amid the crumbling, semi-majestic ruins of a half-century’s industrial decline.”

Beverly's House/1874 by Mr. History

If you are looking for a home in Detroit, check out the Detroit Realtors Association and also Southeast Michigan Realtors on Absolute Michigan. The feature references Room for 2 Million More at the Powerhouse Project, which says that although there are great deals in Detroit, don't purchase something without seeing it, no matter how cheap it is. They also call out some of the organizations in the D who are working to transform the city (if you know of others in Detroit or elsewhere in Michigan, share them below):

Georgia Street Garden
Urban Farming
Model D Media
Catherine Ferguson Academy
The Yes Farm
Motor City Blight Busters

So we present to you:

Be A Tourist In Your Own Town brought to you by the fine folks at the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau. Consider organizing one in your area!

About Be A Tourist In Your Own Town

Fifteen years ago, the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau created this event to increase community awareness of it's attractions and the tourism industry's impact on the area. So once again the doors are open for you to explore culture and creativity in mid-Michigan.

As Lansing celebrates its 150th anniversary, take this opportunity to enjoy attractions that highlight both Lansing’s unique history as well as its innovative and progressive future. This year they have included old favorites such as Impression 5 Science Center, Potter Park Zoo and the Michigan Historical Museum, and added new hot spots like the FRAG Center, MSU’s Breslin Center, WKAR Studios and taste the new “Capital City Sundae” ice cream flavor at the MSU Dairy Store. You can view a complete list of the participating places to go and things right here.

How it Works:

For only $1 you can purchase a “passport” which allows you FREE admission to more than 60 area attractions, local businesses, and special activities on May 30, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. **Ages 3 and under do not require a passport. Get from place to place with CATA. For only 50 cents you will receive a stamp which will allow you to ride the Be A Tourist routes for the rest of the day for no extra charge.

Check out a slideshow of the Lansing area from the Absolute Michigan Flickr pool!

Happy Memorial Day by lorainedicerbo

Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial beginning of the summer season in Michigan and the weather forecasts around the state look to be favorable. Businesses in sleepy towns are waking up, and community plans for festivals and ongoing summer fun are taking shape after weathering it through an extended winter.  

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally one of the biggest travel holidays and this year will be no exception. With gas prices almost 40% lower than last year and MDOT halting road work for the holiday, travel is expected to be up this year. In fact according to AAA around 1.1 million travelers will be out on the road headed to and from their holiday destinations.  For many, this weekend is the first trip up north of the year and if you want to set up camp in one of our beautiful state parks there is still availability. Even if you are planning on sticking close to home for the holiday, we have found plenty of events happening all around Michigan.

Parades, Festivals, Reenactments and more!

Parades abound and if fudge is calling your name then head to Mackinaw City and honor our nation's Veterans at the biggest parade in Northern Michigan, the Mackinaw Memorial Parade. Held on Saturday, at 1:00pm this parade complete with floats, queen, and clowns is a family fun, must attend event. For events happening in your area please check with your local media outlets.

Step back in time and experience Civil War Remembrance at Greenfield Village in Dearborn. Become a part of living history as you travel through a microcosm of the American Civil War. Union and Confederate soldier re-enactors, civilians, musicians and historic presenters—all in period costume—are eager to immerse you in the life of this turbulent American era.

If your looking for something a little more cutting edge then check out Detroit's Electronic Music Festival or head to Marshall for the first weekend of their Renaissance Festival. You will find these events, other Memorial weekend events, and yet even more Michigan events happening throughout the year in the Absolute Michigan Calendar.

Since most of Michigan Memorial Day travel is done via the highways and byways why not check out a celebration of cars?  Northport hosts their 12th annual Cars in the Park on Saturday, with food, music, and prizes.  Manton combines their 14th annual Classic Car and Truck Show with a craft fair and in Frankenmuth visitors can enjoy a Ford classic car show featuring 125 vehicles, plus a gathering of hot air balloons.

Eat, Drink and be Grateful

For those who just want to kick back at home, support Michigan and grab your favorite bottle of Michigan wine, some fine Michigan made beer , stock up on the Faygo and fire up the grill. The Detroit News has a delicious looking recipe and basic grilling information in their article Grilled dishes add sizzle to Memorial Day weekend. For all you localvores we present Planked Great Lakes Whitefish with a Potato Chip and Parmesan Crust from Michigan-centric chef Eric Villegas. This recipe can easily be prepared on the grill and we recommend using Better Maid chips, Michigan cooking planks and any other ingredients the recipe calls for that you can purchase from Michigan based producers.

Another Villegas classic and a good Memorial Day twist would be to whip up Eric's Michigan White Shrimp & Smoked Whitefish "Gumbo" using Michigan white shrimp. Shrimp in Michigan? You better believe it! Russ Allen, after having transformed Belize and Ecuador from shrimp niche players to powerhouses returned to Michigan as a modern-day seafood equivalent of Johnny Appleseed and created an indoor shrimp farm in Okemos that is aiming to produce around 5 million pounds of shrimp per year.

Absolute Michigan Memorial Day Archives

Some articles worth revisiting on Absolute Michigan include one on poet Will Carleton's visit to Arlington Cemetery as well as Michigan's first Memorial Day from Michigan History Magazine. Also, do not miss the post about the Michigan Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Detroit from Michigan in Pictures.

Lest We Forget by scherbis

Last and Certainly not Least...

A visit to Wikipedia for insight to what this day truly stands for and why we all should take a moment, step back from our grills and give pause says it all. It is a lengthy page and we are posting just a blurb so we invite you to head over for further information.

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 25 in 2009). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.

Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers often place American flags on each gravesite at National Cemeteries. Many Americans also use Memorial Day to honor other family members who have died.

Here's the process of prairiefying a city:

1. A city is built on the river, allowing for trade and commerce and irrigation of farms.
2. The city prospers and more people move in, the city expands. Farms on the edge of town are converted to housing, forest further on the edge are cleared for farms.
3. Over a few generations this process repeats.
4. A lightening bolt of innovation strikes the heart of several men at about the same time (Henry Ford, The Dodge and Fisher clans, Henry Leland, Billy Durant and the crowd from Flint, et al), and all hell breaks loose, suddenly the timber town on the River is an industrial gold mine.
5. An insane number of people flow in from all parts of the world. Black and white folks roll in from the south. All the farms are snatched up and houses, mills, factories and shops are planted in the field.
6. Everyone wants to drive and the emotional tie of the car to an entire nation is so intense the money whooshing through the city is almost palatable. The wealth is spread around and the workers decide to spread out, move out to the “country”. They have the means to do it, these middle class kings.
7. Then one day the money flow slowed down. Innovation and competition meant fewer jobs. Factories began to close. New factories followed the workers out to the “country”.
8. Too many people left behind lacked the money and prospects to maintain their homes and in the Michigan climate a home requires money to keep it standing.
9. Slowly at first, then faster as time passed, neighborhoods were simply deserted.
10. As folks moved out, businesses and churches and such that needed them soon closed their doors. With no buyers for their stores, they stood abandoned.
11. One by one these homes, factories and stores fall victim to the elements and arson. In time entire blocks are cleared. Native grasses and trees take root.

A city is built on the river, allowing for trade and commerce and irrigation of farms.....

Hamtramck's Pazcki Day page gives you all kinds of lore and legend on these traditional Polish doughnuts which are also known as Bismarcks or plain old jelly doughnuts. They explain:

Pączki is the plural form of the word pączek in Polish, but many English speakers use paczki as singular and paczkis as plural. A pączek is a deep-fried piece of dough shaped into a flattened sphere and filled with Plums or other sweet filling...

Pączki have been known in Poland at least since the Middle Ages. Jędrzej Kitowicz has described that during the reign of the August III under influence of French cooks who came to Poland at that time, pączki dough baked in Poland has been improved, so that pączki became lighter, spongier, and more resilient Pączki Day Traditionally, the reason for making paczki has been to use up all the lard, sugar and fruit in the house, which are forbidden during Lent.

I guess that if you're facing 40 days without sugar & fruit, a plateful of paczki makes a lot more sense. Dig in with the links below!

• The photo to the right comes from Wikipedia's Pączki entry.
• Forgot to buy your paczkis? Vina at recipezaar has an Authentic Polish Paczki recipe that she found handwritten in her Polish grandmother's cookbook!
• The Paczki Headquarters at the Hamtramck Star is packed with paczki goodness including photos of paczki as big as your head!
• Your Diet Is About To Meet It’s Nemesis (or why it’s called Fat Tuesday in Detroit) by Detroit Derek on Michigan in Pictures got this big ball of dough rolling!
• You can get even more photos at Flickr Hive Mind: Paczki
• There's a bunch more Pazcki Day info at Kitchen Chick including audio of the correct pronunciation of paczki and the story of  THE FAMOUS PACZKI THAT SAVED EUROPE!
• If you need a sound track to get going, head over to paczkiday.com.
• ArborWiki has a Paczki entry that includes a list of the best bakeries in Hamtramck.
• Absolute Michigan has more Hamtramck links for you to snack on.
  
• The Freep is supposed to be posting the results of their Paczki Limerick Contest this morning but haven't ... maybe they're in a food coma.
• What kid can resist Paczki Pals & Bobbleheads?

Here's a link to part two of the program. More about the Luge run at the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex from Michigan in Pictures and also visit their web site.

Michigan Cherries by jdurchen

Did you know that Michigan is the largest producer of Montmorency tart cherries, growing 70-75% of the crop? With February being National Cherry Month, it's only appropriate we celebrate Michigan's almost-official fruit!

The Cherry Marketing Institute has information available for educators and other folks regarding the history and present state of the cherry industry including growing research showing that antioxidants in tart cherries may relieve the pain of arthritis and gout & help fight cancer and heart disease.

For more tasty cherry info, be sure to check these out!

Michigan Cherries from Taste the Local Difference is PACKED  with all kinds of information and delicious cherry recipes.

Michigan Cherries from the Department of Agriculture

Cherry Marketing Institute

Absolute Michigan's Cherry Links

MSU's Michigan Cherry Information features more cherry information than you can shake a whole tree at!

For all things edible, drinkable and wearable, check out Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor

The National Cherry Festival in Traverse City is a celebration of cherries and the cherry industry held every year at the beginning of July.

Recipes from Chef Eric Villegas - Fork in the Road

Balaton Cherries Jubilee - The great French chef Auguste Escoffier has been held responsible for creating Cherries Jubilee in honor of Queen Victoria. Here's Eric's version with the "new" Balaton cherry…

Balaton Cherry & Michigan Maple Crisp - A unique combination of Michigan flavors…

Balaton Cherry Mojo - This sauce is great hot or cold on poultry, waterfowl, pork and veal

Grilled Grape Leaves Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Michigan Cherries - Grape Leaves and Goat Cheese on the grill

Michigan Steamed Brown Bread with Dried Cherries and Walnuts - This bread is a variation of the classic steamed brown bread of Boston

Michigan Tart Cherry Worcestershire Sauce - A great taste treat as a condiment with meat. In Show #110 it was served it with our Buffalo Hanger Steak.

And Now for Something Completely Different...
Neil Diamond, 'Cherry Cherry' (circa 1967), and I do hear the influence it had on the Michigan based band The Romantics and their song 'What I Like About You'.

Chelsea by jhoweaa

City of Chelsea – An upcoming event to plan for is the celebration of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of the City/Village of Chelsea. The celebration (June 25-28) will include a parade, youth activities, contests, music and folks in period costumes-family oriented fun. visit web site

Lansing - In 2009, the capital city will celebrate its 150th birthday. They're planning a year-long birthday party! At the request of Mayor Virg Bernero and City Council, the Lansing Rotary Club has committed to be the lead organization in the planning and coordination of Lansing's upcoming Sesquicentennial Celebration. To that end, a non-profit Lansing Sesquicentennial Corporation has been established and an impressive number of citizens have come together to begin the planning process.

Michigan State Capitol Building by Mario.Q

Village of Paw Paw – August 8, 2009 is the 150 birthday anniversary of the Village of Paw Paw.visit web site

Stafford's Perry Hotel – 110th Anniversary (20th year for Stafford's Hospitality). Built in 1899 as one of some twenty original luxury resort hotels, Stafford's Perry Hotel is the only one still in operation. Experience the grandeur and elegance of a by-gone era without leaving modern day conveniences behind. Perched high on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, the Perry Hotel stands as a proud symbol of the early 1900s when northern Michigan tourism was in its infancy. visit web site

Schuler's Restaurant in Marshall – For 100 years the Schuler's have built the family reputation and have helped to maintain traditions that grow out of good, honest work and a love of food, people, and the community. visit web site

Traverse City Record Eagle - The Record-Eagle's anniversary celebration starts with a 40-page special section in four sections that chronicle the city's history. They will continue to mark their heritage throughout the next year with stories every Sunday appearing here on their Web site, and with four exhibits in 2009 at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center.

Ann Arbor Art Center – In celebration of its 100th anniversary, the Ann Arbor Art Center has invited the city's most creative restaurants to develop commemorative martinis. Join us for this Mardi Gras themed martini crawl and afterparty, and help us choose the most artful martini. February 20th starting at 6PM. visit web site

KitchenAid (a product of Whirlpool) in Benton Harbor – Back in 1994 KitchenAid released a special edition of their iconic mixer to celebrate their 75th anniversary. Well, they're doing it again for their 90th, and here's what it looks like. visit web site

Michigan State Parks – Michigan's 97 state parks and recreation areas draw more than 20 million visitors each year, but their existence did not really start until 80 years after statehood. Although Mackinac Island had been declared a national park in 1875 and became a state park 20 years later, the state park system managed by the Department of Natural Resources actually began in 1917, when the legislature authorized the purchase of 200 acres of land near Interlochen for a state park. visit web site

Tulip Time Kids by raddad!

Tulip Time Festival in Holland – Tulip Time Festival is an annual festival in Holland, Michigan and this year marks the 80th Anniversary. Tulip festivals are held in many cities around the United States of America that were founded or largely inhabited by Dutch settlers. It has been held every year in mid-May since 1929 and is currently the largest Tulip festival in the United States. The festival currently runs from the first Saturday in May through the second Saturday. visit web site

Ellis Lake Resort – Now in its 70th year, Ellis Lake Resort is a family-owned and operated rustic log cabin getaway in Northern Michigan. Established in 1939, they own 20 acres of beautiful northern woodland and have private access to Ellis Lake. They feature Authentic Log Cabins, Logrooms and a three bedroom Chalet, all nestled in a camp-like setting under the trees. visit web site

Boyne by btwphotography

Boyne USA Resorts – The grandest of celebrations for the resort's 60th anniversary comes the weekend of January 9-11, 2009. On Friday, listen in as WJR's Paul W. Smith broadcast's live from Boyne Mountain, 5:30 a.m. - 9 a.m., and features the original 1949 Boyne Mountain Grand Opening broadcast. Saturday highlights include on-hill events, a mountain adventure hunt for kids and adults, recreational ski race, rail jam, torchlight parade, fireworks and a 60th anniversary party like no other. visit web site

House of Flavors in Ludington – Celebrating their 60th anniversary, House of Flavors are producers of premium quality private label ice creams, yogurts, sherbets and sorbets for customers around the globe.visit web site

Amway Corporation in Ada – In 2009, Amway Global will celebrate its 50th anniversary and according to Internet Retailer, is the number-one online retailer in the Health and Beauty category.visit web site

Motown – Celebrating its 50th anniversary Motown Records, also known as Tamla Motown outside of North America, is a record label originally based in Detroit, Michigan. Founded by Berry Gordy as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, the company was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in 1960. The name, a portmanteau derived from the words motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit. visit web site

Another Brookie by mickey-finn

Trout Unlimited (founded in Grayling) – Celebrating their 50th anniversary, July 2009 will mark the 50th anniversary of TU's founding on the banks of the Au Sable River near Grayling, Michigan. The 16 fishermen who gathered at the home of George Griffith were united by their love of trout fishing, and by their growing discontent with the state's practice of stocking its waters with "cookie cutter trout"—catchable-sized hatchery fish. Convinced that Michigan's trout streams could turn out a far superior fish if left to their own devices, the anglers formed a new organization: Trout, Unlimited - the comma was dropped a few years later - dedicated to ensuring that wild and native trout populations were allowed to thrive, as nature intended. visit web site

Riviera Resort in Prudenville – Celebrating their 50th anniversary the Riviera Resort is located on the beautiful east shore of Houghton Lake. Featuring 9 rooms, 8 cottages, a TV room with cable, a meeting room for 30-80 people, a beach, a docking facility, and daily coffee. visit web site

Ann Arbor Street Art Fair (the original) – The 50th annual Fair will take place July 15-18, 2009. Established in 1960, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is the Original of the now four award winning art fairs, which together attract over 500,000 attendees from across the nation. Among the many accolades received by the fair is the Number One Art Fair rating in the country (October 2004) and Top Ten Art Fair (October 2005, 2006 and 2007) by the AmericanStyle readers survey. visit web site

Frankenmuth by Tony Tanoury

City of Frankenmuth – Frankenmuth celebrates its 50th year as a chartered city Oct. 1, 2009, and officials plan to make it a huge event. visit web site

City of Wyoming – The city is planning a poster contest to celebrate its 50th Anniversary. visit web site

Anatomy of a Murder (Movie) – The Library of Michigan is spearheading a series of special events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1958 publication of Anatomy of a Murder by Robert Traver. Traver was the pen name of Marquette County attorney, prosecutor, and Michigan Supreme Court Justice, John D. Voelker, who used his experience with the legal system to write his court room thriller. Anatomy of a Murder went on to become a movie by the same name and was filmed in Marquette County in 1959. visit web site

"La Grande Vitesse" (Grand Rapids Calder) – Celebrating its 40th anniversary the impressive sculpture is stamped on everything from the city's letterhead to its garbage trucks, Alexander Calder's La Grande Vitesse is much more than a landmark. It's the ubiquitous symbol of Grand Rapids, Michigan.visit web site

Ann Arbor Transit Authority – Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the AATA, a not-for-profit unit of government, operates the local public transit system for the greater Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area. AATA enables the area's residents to reach their destinations at reasonable cost, and offers the region efficient, environmentally sound transportation alternatives.visit web site

Abracadabra Jewelry/Gem Gallery in Ann Arbor – Abracadabra Jewelry/ Gem Gallery recently celebrated its 35th year of business in Ann Arbor. Steven and his staff are working to ensure that the next 30 years are as magical as the first! visit web site

Crusader_floor by scherbis

Chateau Grand Traverse on Old Mission Peninsula – celebrating its 35th anniversary Chateau Grand Traverse has seen many successful vintage years. In the last year alone our wines have been awarded more than 100 medals in national and international competitions. visit web site

Kalamazoo Air Zoo – Celebrating its 30th anniversary the Air Zoo is a highly charged, multi-sensory atmosphere that goes beyond anything you've ever seen. Everything is designed to help you achieve the total flight experience. There's nothing else like the Air Zoo. visit web site

Visit Up North Vacation Rentals (Formerly Harris Properties) – 30th anniversary, find the perfect rental for your Leelanau County and Traverse City Area Vacation! visit web site

The Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor – Celebrating its 25th anniversary the Homestead resort is located along a great inland sea within the confines of a spectacular national lakeshore lies The Homestead. It's on the shore of Lake Michigan's Manitou Passage across the bay from Sleeping Bear Dunes, the largest moving dunes in the world. visit web site

Goose Festival in Fennville – The 25th anniversary festival dates are October 9th, 10th & 11th, in Fennville, Michigan visit web site

University of Michigan Department of Musical Theatre – This comprehensive training program, now approaching its 25th anniversary year, has a national reputation among professional agents, casting directors, and producers as being among the best of its kind. visit web site

Keweenaw Brewing in South Range – 5th Anniversary - The KBC taproom is located smack in the middle of historic downtown Houghton. Its rustic barn-wood interior welcomes all with cozy, homey comfort. A large fireplace area, outfitted with couches and footrests, completes the inviting scene. visit web site

Paesano's Restaurant & Wine Bar in Ann Arbor – Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the goal at Paesano's is to give their customers an authentic Italian experience... and that goes beyond our food. They celebrate Italy year-around wine many events and activities, designed to give you a glimpse of the Italian way of life. From wine-maker dinners featuring Italian vintners, to holiday wine tastings, to our annual Carnevale celebration, events are a part of life at Paesano's.visit web site

Tridge by mama wolf.

Midland County CVB – 25th anniversary; Nestled in the heart of mid-Michigan, Midland County is the land of a many possibilities a perfect location for you to travel, play and explore.visit web site

Coopersville & Marne Railway – Celebrating its 20th anniversary the train of antique passengers cars, which date from the early part of the last century, goes out into the countryside and through family owned farmlands. You will cross over an open deck girder bridge, four creeks and one road bridge before you arrive at the Village of Marne. visit web site

Bayshore Resort in Traverse City – Celebrating its 15th anniversary their Victorian style hotel is nestled on the sandy beach of Michigan's West Grand Traverse Bay and offers the best of all you love about Traverse City - a great waterfront location and only a stroll away from the charm of downtown Traverse City, with its diverse dining, shopping and nightlife. visit web site

Peninsula Cellars on Old Mission Peninsula – Peninsula Cellars, celebrating its 15th Anniversary, is a family run winery located on the Old Mission Peninsula, just north of Traverse City, Michigan. The region lies along the 45th parallel, halfway between the north pole and the equator. This gives the region its distinct micro-climate, that makes it perfect for growing high quality wine grapes. Other well known wine regions that lie near the 45th parallel include, Alsace, Burgundy, and Bordeaux. visit web site

King Brewing Company – Located in Pontiac, MI is celebrating its 15th anniversary visit web site

Cherry Tree Inn & Suites in Traverse City – Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Cherry Tree Inn & Suites offers so many vacation options for the whole family; you may never want to leave. Swim, golf, sun, ski, shop, dine and play the day away. visit web site

The Chop House in Ann Arbor – Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009. Sink into the luxury of unparalleled comfort and plush elegance. Perfect for that very special night out, an elite American dining experience featuring USDA Prime beef, the finest Midwestern, grain-fed meats, and exceptional premium wines. Head next door to indulge in the ambrosial delights of La Dolce Vita: gourmet desserts and pastries, madeira, ports, cognacs, and single malt scotches, maybe even a fine, hand-rolled cigar. Treat yourself to the finer pleasures with consummately satisfying dining at The Chop House. visit web site

Schmohz Brewing in Grand Rapids – 5th Anniversary . . . tell them to drink it up so I can make more! - Chas, Gentleman Brewer visit web site

Washington Street Gallery in Ann Arbor – Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009. The WSG Gallery, located in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan, represents contemporary regional artists. The gallery features original fine art including paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, ceramics and art glass. Special exhibits change every six weeks and include a variety of 2 & 3 dimensional media, with an ongoing rotation of works by gallery artists.visit web site

Like we said - we're sure there are more Michigan anniversaries in 2009 - add a note about them in the comments!

Jumping over the sun by Ashley Dinges

Here's a few highlights of the many events being held around Michigan for the month of January. A lot of them are out in the snow for snowmobiles, skates, skis and sled dogs, but there's also a chance to heat up with the Ann Arbor Folk Fest, Ferndale Blues and the Detroit Auto Show. The weatherman says there's a 100% chance we didn't get them all so please add links and information for those we missed along with reviews of ones we list in the comments below!

January is named for Janus (Ianuarius), the god of the doorway; the name has its beginnings in Roman mythology, coming from the Latin word for door (ianua) - January is the door to the year. - Wikipedia

"New Year ceremonies are designed to get rid of the past and to welcome the future." - New Year's Customs

"The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months!" - Edward Payson Powell

All Month
Ice Skate Campus Martius Park - Detroit
Skating among the skyscrapers at Campus Martius Park. At 64 feet by 120 feet, it's a bit larger than the Rink at Rockefeller Center and showcases surround-sound music and color-changing lighting. Skaters and visitors can enjoy a warming pavilion for renting and changing skates, as well as outdoor seating. The rink is open daily though March 15.

January 10
Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race - Newberry
We are again looking forward to pristine trail conditions over beautiful terrain. Each year we seem to get just the right amount of snowfall, and each year our trail crews do a fantastic job of preparing great racing conditions for all our classes.

January 11 - January 25
The North American International Auto Show - Detroit
In terms of sheer news impact, the North American International Auto Show 2009 is poised to keep pace with NAIAS 2008, which featured a total of 58 vehicle debuts—44 worldwide and 14 North American. You can expect plenty of thought-provoking new technologies and head-turning designs as well as across-the-board participation from international and domestic manufacturers alike. NAIAS 2009 plans to welcome more than 700,000 attendees including hundreds of celebrity names from all walks of life, nearly 7,000 international media from some 60 countries, and approximately 40,000 industry insiders from over 2,000 companies. In addition, we expect to meet or exceed the $6 million we raised last year for children’s charities at the annual black-tie Charity Preview. The North American International Auto Show 2009 is truly where the automotive world comes together.

January 12
Motown 50 (Motown's 50th Anniversary Celebration) - Detroit
A year long national celebration of the start of Motown Records on Jan 12, 1959, in Detroit and the following success of its many music artists.

January 16-18
Hunter Ice Festival - Niles
As the snow starts to fly and the holidays are upon us, it’s time to think Hunter Ice Festival 2009. The fifth annual Hunter Ice Festival, January 16 through January 18, is a free family event offering fun-filled activities from morning ‘til night.

January 16-18 & 23-25
Tip Up Town USA - Houghton Lake
It's hard to put into words how Tip Up Town USA has come to be the very description of winter fun and enjoyment for the whole family at Houghton Lake. Thousands of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and neighboring residents return each year to see this largest Winter Festival in Michigan, held annually the last two weekends in January. Whatever the weather, TUT will be fun, fun, fun all the way. There will be all the usual popular attractions - the carnival, parade, Polar Bear Dip, Family Fun Tent, Beverage Tent, crazy games and more! Plus, the Ice Fishing contests will be bigger and better than ever and we're adding Broomball this year!

January 17-18
Winter Warm-Up Weekend - Traverse City
Cabin Fever? Cooped up with the kids! If you are looking for an excuse to take a weekend getaway, then look no further! The Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula (WOMP) has teamed up with peninsula area businesses for 2009’s WINTER WARM UP. Guests may visit any of the five Old Mission wineries between 12-5 to purchase a souvenir mug. This mug is your “ticket” into each participating winery and business on Old Mission, entitling you to mulled wine tasting, desserts, appetizers and other special promotions. On Saturday Jan 17, 2009 each of the wineries will have a special artistic/performance offering! Some peninsula area restaurants are offering special promotions when you present your mug.

January 21-25
Zehnder's Snowfest - Frankenmuth
Zehnder's Snowfest has been host to one of the top snow sculpting events in North America for the past 17 years. Visitors have enjoyed larger-than-life snow sculptures and beautifully detailed ice carvings each year. Zehnder's Snowfest 2009 will again dazzle and excite you with snow and ice sculptures created by professional ice and snow carvers from around the world. Zehnder's Snowfest is also host to the National Collegiate Ice Carving Championship and the High School Snow Sculpting Competition. In addition, Zehnder's Snowfest will have entertainment for the entire family in the warming tent, a fireworks display, petting zoo and children's activities. Plan now to attend Zehnder's Snowfest 2009!

January 23-31
Ferndale Blues Festival - Ferndale
Created to help combat "winter blues" and benefit local charities, this year marks the 8th annual festival and will be held at various venues over the span of 9 days. Each year, the Annual Ferndale Blues Festival donates 100% of proceeds to charity.

January 24
Subaru Noquemanon Ski Marathon and mBank Half Noque - Marquette
The MGH Noquemanon Ski Marathon and mBank Half Noque, both in their eleventh year, continue to attract cross country skiers from around the nation and around the world. Thousands of skiers have taken the 51K or 25K trek from Ishpeming, the birthplace of organized skiing and home to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame to Marquette’s Superior Dome, the world’s largest wooden domed stadium along the shores of Lake Superior.

January 24
Heikinpäivä - Hancock
Heikinpäivä is set for January 24, 2009, with events throughout the week leading up to the primary festival day, as well as the days immediately following. Organizers keep a watchful eye on the celebration's uniquely ethnic flavor and it features Finnish crafts, music, food, films and games. Although a Hancock City event, the Heikinpaiva spirit has spilled into neighboring communities from Calumet to South Range.

January 30-31
Ann Arbor Folk Festival - Ann Arbor
The Festival returns to Hill Auditorium for two dynamic and different nights of folk and roots music on Friday, January 30, and Saturday, January 31, beginning at 6:30 p.m. each night. In keeping with the Festival's longstanding reputation, each night will feature a blend of renowned and up-and-coming performers, providing audiences with the opportunity to hear popular artists working at the top of their field while discovering terrific new talent. All funds raised through the Festival benefit The Ark, Ann Arbor's non-profit home for folk, roots, and ethnic music.

One of Those Moments by MAGICDUDE PHOTOGRAPHY

The New York Times reports that 30 states are looking at running out of funds to pay unemployment compensation in the next few months. Two states have already run out. One is Indiana. One guess as to the other:

Michigan, which has been borrowing money from the federal government for the past few years to replenish its fund, is now $508.8 million in the hole and unable to repay it. Next month the state, where the unemployment rate is more than 9 percent, will begin levying a special “solvency tax” against some employers to replenish its trust fund.

If you're like me and saying: "What? Solvency tax?" here's a Detroit News article explaining that the solvency tax will apply to  "negative balance" firms - companies whose employees have received more in unemployment benefits than the companies have paid in unemployment insurance taxes (about 34,000) and also the scintillating description of the Solvency Tax from the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Speaking of news that was news to me; yesterday while checking out a startling story I learned that Ford Field in Detroit will host the 2009 NCAA Final Four (also see the official site). An amazing coup for Ford Field, University of Detroit Mercy and the city of Detroit to be sure.

The Roof, the Roof, the Roof was on Fire by pairadocs

That story (via the Freep via Michitwitter) begins:

Detroit's thinning population is vividly -- some would say disturbingly -- illustrated in a new map that is creating a buzz in local planning circles.

The map shows how to tuck the land mass of Manhattan (23 square miles), San Francisco (47 square miles) and Boston (48 square miles) -- and their combined populations of nearly 3 million people -- into Detroit. All three urban areas fit snugly within Detroit's 139 square miles with room to spare.

It ends with this map showing how you could fit Boston, San Francisco and Manhattan into Detroit and conclusions that if Detroit were to think about all that space - 30% of the city - differently, the results could be truly amazing. Please take the time to read Acres of barren blocks offer chance to reinvent Detroit in the Detroit Free Press.

Allegan Sunset 2 by raddad!

Autumn is when Mother Nature packs the boards with a feast for the eyes. AAA Michigan says that the best viewing conditions are being reported in the Southwest and Southeast Lower Peninsula with fair to good fall color conditions are reported in Holland, Jackson, Milford, St. Joseph, Tipton, with color development ranging between 60 and 90 percent. There's still a surprising amount of color all over the state. If you want to plan your color touring, check out the Fall Color Tour posts on Michigan in Pictures (based on the great Fall driving tours from Michigan.org). If you can't get our, check out Fall wallpaper at Michigan in Pictures and the Absolute Michigan autumn slideshow.

Our November Michigan Calendar lays out a bountiful buffet of events that happen around the state in November, including Opening Day of Deer Season with the disclaimer "If you think this isn't a major event, then you probably live south of Clare". While I'm not a hunter, one event that I will try and do this year is the Great Macaroni and Cheese Bake-off on Old Mission near Traverse City. One that I really want to do but probably won't be able to is the Kalamazoo Russian Festival.

Delicata Squash by JTWilcox

While most of the harvests are winding up, Taste the Local Difference reminds you that winter squash - Acorn, Butternut, Hubbard, Buttercup, Carnival and others - is just getting ready to pick. Janice writes that although they are harvested in the fall, they're called "winter" squash because they can be stored through winter. Winter squashes and pumpkins can be interchanged in recipes and they're some tasty looking ones including Twice Baked Butternut Squash.

Andy Dragt of Rapid Growth shows how Muskegon's newest foodie hot spot, Mia & Grace, is showing West Michigan diners how to run a restaurant farm to table: Organic, local, fresh and seasonal.

Hope This is the Fountain of Youth by Cherie S.

I came to Detroit for the Creative Cities Summit unprepared, frankly, for the scale of the challenge that Michigan's largest city is facing. As we toured sights selected to offer hope this morning, I found myself rendered nearly hopeless by incredible magnitude of the challenge at hand. There's no doubt that there are a lot of brilliant and committed people who are working to reshape the city, but when you stare into the face of the challenges they face, you wonder how they even have the strength to try. Or at least I did.

It was then more than welcome to hear Toronto's Poet Laureate (can we get a few of those here?) and author of The Municipal Mind Pier Giorgio Di Cicco, deliver an impassioned plea for fostering good urban citizenship as a core element of a vibrant city. He said that a city is place where one discovers their destiny through other people - a place to enjoy yourself through enjoying others. He called for strategies aimed at not just economic development, but at creating the kind of environments where people will bump up against each other, exchange ideas and help to build each other's stories.

John Howkins started with the concept that "thinking is a proper job." He wrote about the creative economy a few years ago. He's now talking about "the creative ecology" and sees creative ecologies as systems that are chaotic, nonlinear and self-organizing. Howkins says that such systems are inherently difficult for government to nurture through policy and funding due to the fact that the don't always behave in predictable patterns and don't generate directly measurable benefits.

I have to think at the end of the day that a focus on intangibles like the culture and ecology of Detroit and other cities has to be at the core of our thinking about how to rebuild them.

Golden Slumber by baklein62

Welcome to 'The Week' for October 13-19. This is where we will be posting comments such as news items, interesting blog posts, cool video and media, coming events, new web sites added to Absolute Michigan and other items of note.

We invite you to do the same!

After a nice stretch of unseasonably warm temps we are now back to where you should be for October. Lower peninsula colors are beginning to peak so a color tour would be perfect right now. Looking ahead at this week's event you can step back in time to a turn-of-the-20th century Hallowe’en at Greenfield Village in Dearborn. Check out a very special "Ghost Hunters Weekend" will be held Oct 17-19, 2008 at the Terrace Inn in Petoskey. Join Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History Executive Director Chris Gordy and his wife, Susan, for the ambiance and culinary fare of an earlier Jackson. 'An Evening in the Log House' is held October 15th in Jackson.

The photo is Yes by Amy Palomar, seen (with so many others) in Exposure.Detroit - dive into the Exposure.Detroit Flickriver.

Amy says that if she could add music, it would be this.