Autumn Leaves by cedarkayak

Welcome to 'The Week' for November 3-9. 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!

Tomorrow, November 4th, is election day and we encourage everyone able to vote to get out and exercise your right to do so. Last week we published Electionpalooza Tuesday: The 2008 Election in Michigan and invite you to revisit this post and get informed about the issues and the candidates.

The weather this week looks great with temps in most areas of the state expected to reach into the 60's making it a great time to get outside and enjoy autumn. Looking at this week's events we see that the C.S.Lewis Festival in Petoskey runs from November 3 - 25. It is a four weekend festival celebrating the life and work of C. S. Lewis through collaborations by the arts, education, and faith communities. The Kalamazoo Russian Festival happens on November 6 - 8. Celebrate the partnership between Kalamazoo, Michigan and Pushkin, Russia at this years Kalamazoo Russian Festival; a unique Russian cultural event in the Midwest.

Although not happening this week we feel we should give advance notice of the Annual Fitzgerald Memorial Service in Paradise on November 10.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum will present the 13th annual Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service at 7 pm on Monday, November 10, 2008, at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Whitefish Point, Michigan. The public is invited to attend. The service includes reflections, music, and the Call to the Last Watch Ceremony in which the ship’s bell is run 29 times for each crewman who went down with this famous vessel – plus a 30th ring for all who have lost their lives on the Great Lakes.

Happy Halloween! by thomasgvsu

Welcome to 'The Week' for October 27-November 2. 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!

Halloween is going to dominate the weekend activities around the state and we invite you to check out our 2008 Michigan Haunted Houses, Mazes & Attraction page. The Michigan Department of Agriculture is reminding families to use the following food safety tips to ensure a fun-filled and safe Halloween. If you still are looking to get your hands on a pumpkin to carve up check the Michigan U-Pick Farms & Farmers' Market Directory. Want to see some wickedly cool pumpkins? Then check out the extreme skills of Michigan's own Ed Moody, Tom Nardone and Patrick Harrison.

The US Census Bureau gives us a glimpse of 'Halloween by the Numbers':

The observance of Halloween, which dates from the Dark Ages, has long been associated with thoughts of witches, ghosts, devils and hobgoblins. Over the years, the customs and rituals associated with Halloween have changed dramatically. Today, many of the young and “young-at-heart” take a more light-hearted approach — donning a scary disguise or one that may bring on smiles when they go door-to-door for treats or attend or host a Halloween party.

“Trick or Treat!”
36.4 million
The estimated number of potential “trick-or-treaters” — 5- to 13-year-olds — across the United States in 2004, a decline of 381,000 from 2003. Of course, many other “kids” — older than 13, and younger than 5 — also go “trick-or-treating.”

6
Number of states that, contrary to the national trend, experienced an increase in their elementary school-age population (children between 5 and 13) between 2003 and 2004. Arizona (8,400), Nevada (7,500) and Florida (7,100) led the way, with North Carolina, Colorado and Georgia rounding out the list.

In 2004, Utah had the highest proportion of its total population in the 5-to-13 age group (14.9 percent), followed by Alaska (14.1 percent).

106 million
Number of potential stops for “trick-or-treaters,” i.e., housing units occupied year-round.

Jack O’ Lanterns and Pies
998 million pounds
Total pumpkin production of major pumpkin-producing states in 2004. Illinois, with a production of 457 million pounds, led the country. Pumpkin patches in California, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York also produced a lot of pumpkins: each state produced at least 70 million pounds worth. The value of all the pumpkins produced by these states was $100 million.

Where to Spend Halloween?
Some places around the country that may put you in the Halloween mood are:

Transylvania County, N.C. (29,525 residents).

Tombstone, Ariz. (population 1,560).

Pumpkin Center, N.C. (population 2,228); and Pumpkin Bend township, Ark. (population 307).

Cape Fear township in New Hanover County, N.C.; and Cape Fear township in Chatham County, N.C. (with populations of 15,711 and 1,170, respectively).

Skull Creek township, Neb. (population 291).

Candy and Costumes
1,271
Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2003. These establishments employed 43,379 people and shipped $12 billion worth of goods that year. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments, with 146, followed by Pennsylvania, with 120.
see also

519
Number of U.S. establishments that manufactured nonchocolate confectionary products in 2003. These establishments employed 23,343 people and shipped $7 billion worth of goods that year. California also led the nation in this category, with 79 establishments.
see also

25 pounds
Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2004; it is believed a large portion of this is consumed by kids around Halloween.

2,581
Number of formal wear and costume rental establishments across the nation in 2003.

Editor's note: Where to Spend Halloween? How on earth did they overlook Hell, MI!!!!!

And now for something completely different...
A 500 pound pumpkin smashing a car! (Frankfort, Michigan - Fallfest 2008)

Fallen Beauty by lorainedicerbo

Welcome to 'The Week' for October 20-26. 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!

Temps are dropping and most areas have already experienced their first frost with snow coming up in the forecast. With this change in weather it is a great week to check out the The Michigan Story Festival in Mt. Pleasant on October 24 - 25. 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. There is also the History, Mystery & Haunting: THE WHITNEY RESTAURANT in Detroit on October 25th for an evening to be remembered! First enjoy a three-course meal at this beautiful, 5-star restaurant. Later, Kathleen Tedsen and Beverlee Rydel, authors of "Haunted Travels of Michigan" will tell the Whitney story and, in association with paranormal team HIGHLAND GHOST HUNTERS, will share their experience and evidence collected during a two-night investigation. You may be in for a surprise! Photographs, Video & Audio Presented. A ghost hunt will follow.

Also be sure to check out our massive Michigan Haunted Houses, Mazes & Attractions page that features all kinds of haunted houses, corn mazes and scary attractions from all across Michigan.

Also, this Saturday the Michigan State University Spartans travel to Ann Arbor to play the University of Michigan Wolverines at The Big House. Check out our Michigan vs Michigan State Football Rivalry page for a ton of information on this much anticipated annual football game!

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.

Autumn -Grand Ledge, MI by sabatoa

Welcome to 'The Week' for October 6-12. 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!

Looking at our October Calendar we see that the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival in Alpena runs from October 9-12. Now in it's 13th year, the four day event provides activities for the young and old including lighthouse tours (aerial, boat or personal vehicle), entertainment, and vendors. West Michigan’s premier wine tasting event, Food, Wine and All That Jazz, happens on October 10 at The Public Museum in Grand Rapids. Take a trip down memory lane in an old-fashioned covered wagon or glide down the scenic Grand River on a riverboat during on October 10 & 11 during the Color Cruise & Island Festival in Grand Ledge. Head to Charlevoix for Applefest Days at Friske's Farm Market. Enjoy wagon rides, U-pick apples, our own Miss Apple everything apples. Harvest Days in Harbor Country is celebrated October 10-13. Step back in time to a turn-of-the-20th century Hallowe’en at Green Field Village in Dearborn. October 11 - 12 is CRANE FEST XIV at the 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.

Sky View Mirror by Rudy Malmquist

Welcome to the Week for September 8 - 14. A quick glance at this week we see that the Epicurean Classic in Traverse City features cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, receptions, and superb dinners. You’ll find a lot of exciting activity with four concurrent demo stages. And, don't forget to allow yourself time for an occasional stroll into the Tasting Pavilion for an interesting nibble of food or to sample any of the hundreds of international wines. The Silver Lake Sand Dunes Apple & BBQ Cook-Off Festival in Mears features a Michigan sanctioned Kansas City BBQ Cook-Off Competition, farm fresh apples of Oceana County, a dune buggy show and swap, apple pie contest and entertainment. The Michigan Irish Music Festival in Muskegon has 3 days of live music on 3 stages, from traditional Irish and folk to contemporary Celtic rock. The festival centerpiece, the Pub Tent serves authentic Irish Food and beverages. Check out the Annual Grape Harvest Stomp on Old Mission Peninsula let's you experience Old World grape harvesting as you hand harvest and de-stem grapes from the vineyard, then stomp them by foot in a wooden vat. Admission also includes tasting of the wine made from the vineyard's grapes at Peninsula Cellars, and sampling of local delicacies. That's just a sample of what's happening around Michigan. Check out our September Event Calendar for more cool things to do.

Feel free to add news, interesting blog posts, cool video and media and coming events for the week of September 8 - 14 in the comments section below.

so i've got my ducks in a row by artsy_T

Welcome to the Week for September 1 - 7. School bells are ringing, summer is fading but being a true four seasons state, Michigan has something for everyone no matter what time of year. A quick glance at this week we see that the Smokin' Jazz Barbecue Blues Festival in Brighton features authentic jazz, blues and zydeco, but it also offers some of the tastiest barbecue this side of the Mason/Dixon line. The Hopps of Fun Beer & Wine Festival in Mackinaw City features an extensive sampling of 50 plus award winning Michigan microbrewed beers and over 40 wines from Michigan’s four internationally recognized wine regions. The Wheatland Music Festival boasts a wide variety of activities, as well as the star-studded lineup on the main stage. Some of the acts include nationally known performers like Pine Leaf Boys, Dale Watson, Crooked Still, Cheryl Wheeler, David 'Honeyboy' Edwards, The Cherryholmes Family, The Chicken Chokers, Tim Graves & Cherokee along with Michigan favorites like Earthwork Music, The Ragbirds, Madcat & Kane with Mark Schrock. Check out the Great Lakes Cider & Perry Festival in St. Johns and sample of the finest cider and perry (cider made from pears) from the Great Lakes area will be available for tasting. In addition to the cider and perry tastings, food vendors will be selling sweet and savory selections.

Feel free to add news, interesting blog posts, cool video and media and coming events for the week of September 1 - 7 in the comments section below.

Flying by s•stop

Welcome to the Week for August 25 - 31. Heading into Labor Day weekend there is plenty to do around the state including the Michigan State Fair in Detoit which runs through September 1 and is the nation's oldest state fair. The Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly is held through September 28 on weekends and Labor Day, rain or shine. The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix in Detroit, August 29 - 31, features the American Le Mans Series, the IndyCar Series and, new for '08, the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT Championship. The Detroit International Jazz Fest in Detroit, August 29 - September 1, features six stages over four days, with blues, gospel, R&B, and one of the finest jazz lineups on the planet. The Arts, Beats & Eats in Pontiac, August 29 - September 1, offers more than 200 performances on eight stages, the top ranked HealthPlus Juried Fine Arts Show, local restaurants with some of the finest cuisine in metro Detroit and international, regional and local features that will continue to make the city of Pontiac the premier family destination for Labor Day weekend.

Feel free to add news, interesting blog posts, cool video and media and coming events for the week of August 25 - 31 in the comments section below.

Dog_Parade_3 by scherbis

Say hello to August and the dog days of summer! Our Michigan August Event Calendar is loaded with great opportunities to explore the Great Lakes State. The PGA Championship is in Bloomfield Township August 4 - 10. Celebrate the blueberry industry in and around South Haven at the National Blueberry Festival August 7 - 10. Crystal Falls is "Home of the Humungous Fungus" and the annual festival is August 7 - 10. Not to be missed is the Great Lakes Folk Festival in East Lansing August 8 - 10. The festival is a FREE, unique fusion of arts fair, music festival, county fair, multi-ethnic festival, hands-on activity workshops and celebration of cultural heritage. The St. Johns Mint Festival runs from August 8 - 10 and the Northport Wine and Food Festival & Dog Parade happens on August 9th.

Last but not least, preseason football kicks off this week with the Lions taking on The New York Giants, Thursday August 7th at Ford Field. Game time is 7PM and you can purchase tickets online.

Feel free to add news, interesting blog posts, cool video and media and coming events for the week of August 4 - 10 in the comments section below.

< The Week for July 28 - August 3, 2008

And so is the CSL Tadoussac by mdprovost

"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt." -Measure for Measure

Hundreds of years later, Shakespeare still has wisdom aplenty to share. You can pick up some of that, along with a healthy dose of entertainment at the The Michigan Shakespeare Festival in Jackson. It starts Tuesday (Jul 15) and continues through August 3rd.

There's a whole slew of other events in our July Michigan Event Calendar for this weekend including the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Venetian Festival in St. Joseph, the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium in Grand Marais, Concert of Colors in Detroit, Michigan Storytellers Festival in Flint, the Hiawatha Music Festival in Marquette, Waterford's Quake on the Lake boat race, the Ragtime Street Fair in Dearborn and the Great Lakes Irish Music Festival at Comstock Park in Grand Rapids.

The photo above is from the early stage of last weekend's Port Huron to Mackinac sailing race. I'm told it was one of the faster ones on record - the bigger boats were actually moving faster than the Coast Guard Cutter that was going to mark their midway times - and that one boat made just two jibes! Hope the wind is at your back this week and as always, post your comments & observations below!

< The Week for July 7 - 13, 2008 | The Week for July 21-27, 2008 >

the gardener by jenny murray

The Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr chronicles the storms that rolled through southern Michigan once again last week, downing trees and cutting power to hundreds of thousands of homes. On a less destructive note, there are plenty of photos of fireworks and parades. Click over and add your best photo from the Fourth of July weekend.

Our Michigan July Event Calendar says that we can look forward to a slew of festivals and events including the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Lansing's Common Ground, Michigan Elvisfest in Ypsilanti, Blissfest in Cross Village and the Idlewild Music Fest.

Hope you have a great week - be sure to post any news stories or other items of weekly interest here!

< The Week for June 30 - July 6, 2008 | The Week for July 14-20, 2008 >

Rainbow of Color by Patti

Summer has officially arrived and festival season is kicking into full gear! Events for this week include the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival, the Muskegon Summer Celebration kicks off with 11 days of concerts, events, fireworks, arts & crafts and carnival rides, the Alpena Blues Festival, now in it's 5th year is looking like a premiere blues event in Michigan and the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest in Howell offers entertainment for the whole family.

Our featured event this week is the Michigan Energy Fair.

The Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA) is presenting the 3rd Annual Michigan Energy Fair. This three-day event will unite people from throughout Michigan and the Great Lakes region to learn about energy issues and sustainable living. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend educational workshops; meet vendors offering valuable goods, services, and information; eat local food; and hear great live music.

< The Week for June 16-22, 2008 | The Week for June 30 - July 6, 2008 >

tahquamenon falls by ercy

In his SE Michigan 2008 Strawberry season field report, Ann Arbor blogger Edward Vielmetti says that strawberries are ready to pick. In addition to continuing storms and flooding, the presumptive Presidential nominees are setting their eyes on Michigan with Barack Obama in Flint and Detroit today and John McCain reportedly deciding on a suburban Oakland County location as the Michigan campaign HQ. With a recent poll by Rasmussen Reports finding 45% of Michigan respondents favoring Obama with 42% for John McCain, it's safe to say that we'll see much more of them in the months to come.

Our Michigan June Event Calendar says that events on tap for this weekend include the Straits Area Car Show in St. Ignace, the Dearborn Arab International Festival and the International Freedom Festival in Detroit (which features a massive fireworks display).

Ercy also posted a short Tahquamenon Falls video that does a good job of showing the second biggest waterfall east of the Mississippi. You can read about and see more of the Tahquamenon Falls from Michigan in Pictures (be sure to check out Sunday Study: Upper Tahquamenon Falls).

< The Week for June 9-15, 2008

Lightning by bohemianrobot

Over the last week we've had some damaging storms all over the state - here's hoping that bohemianrobot's great capture puts the lightning back in the bottle!

Our Michigan June Event Calendar says that the Lilac Festival continues on Mackinac Island this week. Other events this weekend include the Charlevoix Renaissance Festival, the Water Front Film Festival in Saugatuck, Frankenmuth's Bavarian Festival, the Nor-East'r Music & Art Festival in Mio, the Leland Wine & Food Festival and the The Belleville National Strawberry Festival.

The photographers of the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr have a ton of cool pics for your viewing pleasure including some great shots from last weekend's Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts (slideshow) and over on Michigan in Pictures there's a look at photos from last Friday's Detroit Red Wings 2008 Stanley Cup Victory Celebration.

< The Week for June 2-8, 2008 | The Week for June 16-22, 2008 >

first boats in the morning by haglundc

Welcome to the Week on Absolute Michigan, the place where we (and you!) talk about the news & happenings of the week.

Now (happily) that Delegate-Gate is winding down and (sadly) that the Pistons have lost for the third straight year in the Eastern Conference Finals, lots of eyes in Michigan are focused the Detroit Red Wings and the Stanley Cup. Tonight could be the night!

In our Absolute Michigan photo group on Flickr we're seeing pictures of big and bold dandelions, bright flowers, speeding planes and people starting to "dip the piggies" into that Michigan water!!

Our Michigan June Event Calendar says that this weekend is absolutely stuffed full of events including The Mackinac Island Lilac Festival, Charlevoix Renaissance Festival, Leelanau Vintners Premium Pour,
the Upper Peninsula Championship Rodeo in Iron River, the Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts, Greek Festival in Kalamazoo and Potterville's Gizzard Fest.

four tops by bkromer
(Lake Erie Metropark)

The big stories heading into the week are the playoff runs of the Detroit Pistons (Eastern Conference Finals v Celtics) and the Detroit Red Wings (Stanley Cup v the Pittsburgh Penguins). Both teams have won 2 (Pistons @ 2-2 and Wings at 2-0).

Photos in the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr include shots from the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, some of the latest morels we've seen in recent years and a baby fox that rocked the cuteometer to 11.

Our Michigan May Event Calendar says that we can look forward to the Mancelona Bass Festival and the Red Bull Air Race in Detroit this weekend. Monday was of course Memorial Day and you might enjoy this story from last year about Michigan's first Memorial Day.

Untitled by flatgraphic (wren at Dodge Park)

Welcome to The Week!

Our Michigan May Event Calendar says that this weekend's fun includes the Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City, the East Lansing Art Festival, Ann Arbor Book Festival, the Motor City Comic Con and the Annual Flower Fair & Home & Garden Marketplace in Lake Orion.

In the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr we're seeing photos of irises, trillium, apple blossoms and tadpoles.

Go Wings, Go Pistons and somebody wake up those Tigers!

< The Week for May 5 - 11, 2008 | The Week for May 19-25, 2008 >

tasty by postpurchase

The Week is where we post comments about the news, happenings and events of the week. We invite you to do the same.

Our Michigan May Event Calendar is jam packed full of fun. There are a bunch of events this weekend including the Mushroom Fest in Mesick, the Downtown Hoedown in Detroit, the Birmingham Fine Art Festival in Birmingham and the Tulip Time Festival in Holland
.

Behind the Tulips by lorainedicerbo

The Week is where we post comments about the news, happenings and events of the week. We invite you to do the same.

Our Michigan May Event Calendar is jam packed full of fun. There are a bunch of events this weekend including the Victorian Days in Grand Ledge, the Spring Sip & Savor in the Leelanau Peninsula, the Green Street Fair in Plymouth and the Tulip Time Festival in Holland
.

Bumps On A Log by MD2!

The Week is where we post comments about the news, happenings and events of the week. We invite you to do the same.

Our Michigan April Event Calendar says that tomorrow is Earth Day. There are a whole slew of events this weekend including the National Trout Festival in Kalkaska, the Gilmore Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo (the nation's largest!), the Detroit Music Awards (like the Grammy's), the Michigan Chef's Challenge for Challenge Mountain in Bellaire (competing for the title of Best Chef in Michigan), the Newberry Energy Fair and the Night for Notables at the Library of Michigan, honoring the 2008 Michigan Notable Books authors (check out Absolute Michigan's coverage of all 2008 Michigan Notable Books.

Wild Turkeys by forestlady

Our Michigan April Event Calendar says that some of the events on tap for this week are the Earth Day Festival in Calumet on April 19 (featuring EarthWork Music artists), the Michigan Wine Celebration on Pioneer Wine Trail in SE Michigan on April 19 & 20 and the Ann Arbor Antiques Market (also Apr 19-20).

If you have an event, news, happening, new web site or whatever to tell folks about, post it below. If it's an event in the future, you might also try The Michigan Shout-out Page.

Last week: April 7-13, 2008

How Sweet It Is -Gladwin, Michigan by jfactor1

Our Michigan April Event Calendar says that this week is pretty much the best week to plan an event if you want to be the only game in town because we've got nothing to suggest.

If you have an event to suggest, a comment on the news, a link to a cool photo or an observation about the weather, post a comment below!

The question for the week is: have you already given up on the Tigers like Drew Sharp?

Last week: March 31 - April 6, 2008 | Next week:  April 14-20, 2008

lil white flower by artsy T

OK, it's spring now. Thanks for the great memories, Winter, see you in 8 months or so. As usual, The Week is the place to post comments on what's popping up in your garden or in the Michigan news. You can complain about the weather too if Winter decides not to take the hint!

The photo was taken April 1, 2007 at the Ford's Fairlane Estate and is a fitting way to head into Garden Month on Absolute Michigan. Tina writes that Clara Ford's:

...love of gardening and horticulture was said to be second only to her devotion to her husband and family. Her tastes in gardening were simple, at least as far as design and color were concerned ... She preferred old-fashioned plant varieties such as Bachelor Buttons, Petunias, Irises, Peonies, Tulips, Lillies, Heliotropes, Delphiniums, Forget-Me-Nots, English Primrose, Scilla and, of course, Roses planted in relatively informal patterns.

Click the photo to read more and be sure to check out her slideshow from the Henry Ford Estate.

Last week: March 24-30, 2008

Sandhill Cranes 1 by C.A. Mullhaupt

We're in the first full week of spring, which of course means that there's big piles of snow on the ground and even the Easter Bunny is feeling the cold. CA says that sandhill cranes are migrating back through Michigan in mid-March and that she captured this pair was at Kensington Metropark in southeast Michigan (see them coming in for a landing too!).

Our Michigan March Event Calendar says that the big event this week is the Ann Arbor Film Festival. There's also the 2008 U.S. Open Snow X Championships at Boyne Mountain and the 2008 Cottage & Lakefront Living Show in Grand Rapids. With many schools out for spring recess, Travel Michigan offers advice for a Michigan spring break. You might also check out the Copper Country Spring Home Show (Houghton).

The Week is the place to read (and post) links to news from the week, interesting blog posts, cool video and media, coming events and new Michigan web sites.

What's on your mind? Let us know in the comments!

Last Week: March 17-23, 2008 | Next Week: March 31 - April 6, 2008

Detroit Night Walk 03/14/2008 by army71rich

Welcome to another installment of The Week - our place for comments and links to news from the week, interesting blog posts, cool video and media, coming events, new web sites added to Absolute Michigan.

According to our Michigan March Event Calendar, events tap this week around Michigan include ArtServe Michigan's Arts & Culture Advocacy Day in Lansing, the Winterfest Antique Show & Sale at Calvin College, a fundraiser for the Waterfront Film Festival on Thursday night in Grand Rapids and a bunch of Easter Egg Hunts.

Last week: March 10-16, 2008

Rusty Old Boat by ~Jetta Girl~

The Week is a place for comments and links to news from the week, interesting blog posts, cool video and media, coming events, new web sites added to Absolute Michigan and other stuff you find on these Michigan internets. A big thing that happened this week was the addition of the 30,000th photo to the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr.

Some notable things that are happening this week include the Lansing Home & Garden Show, Carnival Weekend at Boyne Mountain, the Kalamazoo Living History Show, the 2008 East Lansing Film Festival and a bunch of St. Patrick's Day celebrations this weekend.

Last week: March 3-9, 2008 | Next week: March 17-23, 2008

We invite you to do the same!

The photo is Conservatory No. 7 by rckrawczykjr ... and I'm pretty sure that Professor Plum and a wrench had a hand in this as well!

Next week: March 10-16, 2008

Click here to view the embedded video.

This week's music is The Ride from Critical's Bill's new CD Downtown the World. More information, tunes and ordering at critical-bill.com and myspace.com/criticalbillmusic.

This episode was underwritten by Leelanau.com webdesign, building sites for Michigan businesses and organizations for over a decade.

Add your photos to the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr and add your videos to the Absolute Michigan Group on YouTube.

Photo of iceboats on Elk Lake and video of iceboating on December 29th 2007 on Bass Lake, both by Jack & Kelly Jacobs.

The Library of Michigan's 2008 Notable Books on Absolute Michigan we featured were Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis, Fork in the Road with Eric Villegas by Eric Villegas, From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries by Sharon Kegerreis and Lorri Hathaway and Iggy Pop: Open Up and Bleed by Paul Trynka. We also featured The Father of All Things: A Marine, His Son, and the Legacy of Vietnam by Tom Bissell and found a video of Bissell reading and answering questions in the Authors @ Google program.

For the 2008 Detroit Auto Show segment, we used murcielago roadster by joojanta and I'll Take This One! by suesue2. We were also going to include this video of Kid Rock and the 2009 Corvette at the 2008 GM Style event, but we ran out of time!

Our Michigan January Event Calendar features The North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Tip Up Town USA at Houghton Lake, the Winter Warm-Up Weekend - Traverse City Old Mission Peninsula and Heikinpäivä in Hancock.

Don't forget Exposure.Detroit's January 2008 Photography Exhibit on Friday, January 18 at the Bean & Leaf in Royal Oak.

The week's photos are:

• maybee, michigan? yeah....i live here by riot jane
• Winter Fog-Tungsten by paulh192
• Photo Friday: Fayette Cliff by whitewaves
• Never ending rain by capntoo
• big screen TV by Hooks Pix
• Spirit fingers during a free throw by MSU Ben
• from the belly of the whale by Rhonda_Marie
• Untitled by stucopley
• Standing alone by spring chick
• Another Beauty by A Dubs

Click here to view the embedded video.

The featured tune this week was Pass Away from The Harvestmen, whose music can also be heard at myspace.com/theharvestmen (including the rest of Pass Way).

This episode was underwritten by Leelanau.com webdesign, makers of quality internet since 1996.

Hamilton's Standard Arithmetic by pizzo led off our Michigan books feature. You can read about the Library of Michigan's 2008 Notable Books on Absolute Michigan and visit the Library of Michigan to learn about the Michigan Notable Book Program and see past winners. Books profiled last week are Alden B. Dow: Midwestern Modern by Diane Maddex and Connecting the Dots: Tyree Guyton's Heidelberg Project. The video can be seen in its entirety on YouTube and you can learn more about the Joyce Foundation on their web site. The photo was Animal House at the Heidelberg Project by Detroit Derek, and he has a bunch more that you can see if you click through!

Here's the article (900 + 25,000 = a whole lot of photos!) on the Absolute Michigan group on Flickr's 900th member (cedarkayak) and 25,000th photo (added by David). We featured a few photos from the 845th page of photos - aka "Page 1" in the Absolute Michigan pool: Lake Freighter by g.s. george, Monday Morning August 1...One more month of Summer by mstephens7 and Fell by Mr. Physics.

Wonderland on Michigan in Pictures has the lowdown on the New Years Day Blizzard of 2008. Phots featured here were Untitled by chad™, Trees split by the weight of a new snow, Vinsetta Park neighborhood, Royal Oak, Michigan, New Year's Day 2008 by Conlawprof, On the Fence by Kathy~, New Years Day by Karen from Michigan and Big Kid and Little Kid by Daylily18.

For more on Book Month on Absolute Michigan and to add YOUR favorite writers, books and booksellers, check out The Michigan Reader.

Add your photos to the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr and add your videos to the Absolute Michigan Group on YouTube!

• It's a Gas Gas Gas! by ldicerbo
• Snow Tires by bellzatk
• fence corner by jeff lamb
• greatcliff Fayette Michigan by whitewaves (pictured right)
• Big Waves by ER Post
• Untitled I & II (from Nubs Nob) by btwphotography
• Untitled by by Patrick T Power
• the road leads where it's led by Where's Walden?
• Barnz by Miss Lauralee
• House by deszpuna
• Children of the Snow by Allan L. McFarlane
• Blizzard NYE 07 Clarkston, MI by Curtnrod

Comments? Questions? Things you'd like to see? Let us know in the comments below or by email!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Featured music is White Bird by Song of the Lakes from their CD Poets Say - follow that link for an MP3 of the full song and to hear and order their music.

ON A COLD WINTER'S NIGHT by robmelody

This episode was underwritten by Leelanau.com webdesign, makers of quality internet since 1996.

The Weather Outside Is Frightful, photo by siskokid

Snowmaking on Victor @ Boyne Mountain, photo by Boyne Mountain

Carousel, photo by jnhkrawczyk. She writes: A carousel (or carrousel) is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating platform with seats for passengers. The "seats" are traditionally in the form of wooden horses or animals, which are often moved mechanically up and down to simulate galloping. This leads to one of the machine's alternative names, the galloper. Other popular names are merry-go-round, roundabout and flying horses. Usually, music is looped while the rides spins. (Wikipedia)

The Absolute Michigan Archive for December 2007 has all our December features.

Service Tax repeal appears certain and www.michigan.gov/mbt.

The 1913 Massacre Film Project, Italian Hall Massacre, Christmas Eve 1913 and photos from The Copper Miner's Strike of 1913 and the tragedy at Calumet's Italian Hall on Michigan in Pictures and Michigan Tech's Digital Archive (search "Italian Hall")

Absolute Michigan's Michigan Ski Tour and
Michigan 4th graders ski for free (includes info on White Gold Card).

Michigan New Years Eve Happenings and the Michigan January Event Calendar.

Snowmobile Olympus - Ironwood, photo by North Guide and Ironwood Sledfest event information.

Our Dog Team, photo by Gradys Kitchen and the Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race.

Chain of Skaters, photo by Ashley Dinges

Add your photos to the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr and add your videos to the Absolute Michigan Group on YouTube.

The Waiting Room II, photo by caterpillars

Window on the City, photo by SNWEB.ORG Photography

pru center fogged, photo by buckshot.jones

ON A COLD WINTER'S NIGHT, photo by robmelody

Leaving Albion, photo by Andy McFarlane

Tyree Guyton, photo by rckrawczykjr

Lit Snow, photo by J.E.T

Christmas on Empire Beach 07, photo by 1cher (why yes, they ARE swimming on Christmas Day.)

Icy, photo by Bethann

Comments? Questions? Things you'd like to see? Let us know in the comments below or by email!