Of the 20 beers we tasted, 10 were from Belgium, nine from the United States and one from Canada. It says something about the skill and ambition of American brewers that three of our top four were from the United States.

Our No. 1 beer was the Oro de Calabaza from Jolly Pumpkin, which, like the Good Harbor Ale, is from Dexter, Mich., a small town near Ann Arbor. A cabal of Belgian beer lovers in Dexter?

Perhaps, but these two beers were brewed by the same man, Ron Jeffries, the founder of Jolly Pumpkin, who also finds time to do the brewing for Leelanau. Both of these beers were unfiltered, giving them a hazy appearance, and aged in barrels, but beyond that they are completely different. While the Good Harbor was funky, the Oro de Calabaza was spicy, fruity and floral, with soft carbonation and fresh, vibrant flavors. Same man, different yeasts, at the least.

Congratulations to these great Michigan beers and brewer Ron Jeffries. If you'd like to go in-depth with both of these beers, MyNorth.com has features on Jolly Pumpkin and Leelanau Brewing.

Myles Anton, Trattoria Stella, Traverse City, MI
Randy Chamberlain, Blu, Glen Arbor, MI
Guillaume Hazaël-Massieux, La Bécasse, Maple City, MI
Brian Polcyn, Forest Grill, Birmingham, MI
Alex Young, Zingerman's Roadhouse, Ann Arbor, MI

Michigan also notched nominations for Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional (Larry Bell of Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo) and Outstanding Service (Aerie Restaurant & Lounge in Traverse City).

On March 22 the final nominees will be announced live at twitter.com/beardfoundation, with the final award ceremony taking place on May 3, 2010 in New York City.

Established in 1990, the James Beard Foundation Awards recognize culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their fields and continue to emphasize the Foundation's mission: to celebrate, preserve, and nurture America's culinary heritage and diversity. The annual James Beard Foundation Awards honor the best and the brightest talents in the food and beverage industries, celebrating outstanding achievement in each of the following categories: Restaurant and Chef, Restaurant Design and Graphics, Books, Journalism, Broadcast Media, and special achievement awards. Each category has an individual Awards Committee made up of industry professionals who volunteer their time to oversee the policies, procedures, and selection of judges for their respective Awards program.

Photo by Gary L Howe, courtesy La Becasse

Video from the 2008 Winter Beer Festival in Grand Rapids

Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart. - Confucius by Church of One

The day for lovers, sweethearts, paramours and chocoholics is drawing near. Like it, love it, or hate it, Valentine's Day has become an annual tradition. Such a tradition, that according to the Greeting Card Association, over one billion valentines will be given out, and eighty five percent of those by women.

As you celebrate the holiday, consider making your day special with something from Michigan. There's plenty of delicious Valentine's Day recipes from Pure Michigan at Michigan.org. The Food Network also offers up some culinary advice on the 'Holiday's & Parties' section of their website. Lansing's WLNS CBS channel 6 website has a complete Valentine Day section on their website. Over at mlive.com you can check out "Valentine's Day is perfect for creating fun foods with kids".

Of course, if you're looking for something to compliment that tasty treat, consider the MDA's Wine Recommendations for that special day. According to the Wine Market Council and Merrill Research, a whopping 95 percent of wine drinkers agree that wine makes a perfect gift and 50% of both men and women said they would rather receive wine of Valentine’s Day, compared with 41% who preferred a box of chocolates. You can't go wrong with a Michigan wine!

Pure Michigan has put together a great selection of Romantic Escapes in Michigan. Their getaways and packages are perfect for couples who are looking to get away from it all (but not each other). Join the wineries of Leelanau, Old Mission & Traverse City for the Traverse City Wine & Art Festival Winter Wine Wonderland at the Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest at the Grand Traverse Resort for a celebration of wine, gourmet desserts, art & fun this Valentines Day.

Get a whole ton more events for the Valentine's Day/President's Day Weekend via Pure Michigan.

If you're left scratching your head over what to buy him or her, be sure to check out 'In tough times, Cupids can shoot for a bargain Valentine's Day' from The Detroit News or from WLNS.com, 'Valentine's Day Gift Giving Guide' for that perfect gift!

Don't forget the furry friends in your life, be a homeless pet's Valentine. WXYZ-TV 7 in Detroit is hosting their Annual Valentine's Day Telethon to support the Michigan Humane Society. Tune in or donate online!

If that's not enough and you really want to get your Valentine on, check out Absolute Michigan keyword Valentine for food & gift ideas.

For a little eye candy, you should check out the Valentine slideshow from the Absolute Michigan flickr pool!

We also have a large number of Michigan web sites to check out (though if we're missing one, be sure to add a link to it).

Flowers & Florists … say it with flowers

Chocolate … there's also candy companies

Candles … lighting the way for romance for thousands of years

Jewelry … silver & gold, platinum and bronze, pick your favorite.

Wow, you actually made it to the end of this post!

Now head over to NPR and check out their article 'Listeners Pick Love Songs for Valentine's Day'....

Belly Up by photoshoparama

Social media is changing the Michigan wine landscape. Michigan By the Bottle is teaming up with Black Star Farms for the state's first virtual wine tasting conducted through Twitter. Tweet & Taste Michigan will be held on March 8, 2010 at 8pm.

Michigan wine fans are invited to log onto their computers and participate as we taste through a flight of wines, selected by Black Star Farms winemaker Lee Lutes. Along with myself, featured participants include Lutes, Master Sommelier Claudia Tyagi (winegenie@Twitter), wine educator Bill Wilson (WineforNewbies.net), George Heritier and Kim Adams (Blogs.GangofPour.com), Mike Fifer (TheWineMonologues.com), Chris Ternes (thewineauxs.blogspot.com), and Joel Goldberg (MichWine.com).

We will be tasting 2008 Black Star Farms Arcturos Dry Riesling, 2007 Black Star Farms Arcturos Pinot Noir, and 2007 Black Star Farms Arcturos Barrel Aged Chardonnay. Participants can pick up the wines at their local wine shop or order online at BlackStarFarms.com. Black Star Farms is offering $.01 shipping between Feb. 23 - March 9 to business addresses to encourage participation.

During the event, participants will log onto Twitter and search using #ttmi, the Tweet & Taste Michigan hashtag. As the facilitators and winemaker taste through the wines, users can share impressions and ask questions, by adding the #ttmi hashtag to every tweet to ensure everyone participating sees it.

The event, which I will be expanding in future months to include other Michigan wineries, is designed to encourage wine lovers and newbies from throughout the state and beyond to sample a little of what Michigan's wine regions have to offer.

Full details of the event can be found on www.TweetAndTasteMichigan.com.

Taste the Passion ~ Wine, Chocolate & Love - February 6 & 7, 2010

This special weekend celebrates wine, chocolate and love in anticipation of Valentine's Day! The combination of winter's beauty in Leelanau with the special pleasures of life always makes for wonderful weekend. Then the fun begins on Saturday as participants head to their first winery stop to collect a souvenir glass and continues with special pours and decadent chocolate treats and other offerings at wineries between the hours of 11am and 5pm on Saturday, and Noon and 5pm on Sunday. To add to the weekend's festivities, several of the wineries will hold special events and activities exclusively for "Taste the Passion" ticket holders to celebrate the beauty and fun to be had in this winter wonderland. On Friday night (Feb 5) at Mountain Flowers Lodge from 6-8pm, the Homestead Resort and Glen Arbor Artists will be hosting "Art from Michigan's Wine Coast." Art will be on display and for sale from local artists.

Video from Taste the Passion 2009!

Traverse City Wine & Art Festival Winter Wine Wonderland - February 14, 2010

The public is invited to experience the fun and romance of local wine, desserts, art, music, and Valentine’s Day at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa during the Winter Wine Wonderland - a celebration of wine, gourmet desserts, and art. The event is the winter version of the popular Traverse City Wine & Art Festival held annually in August.

The Winter Wine Wonderland will take place on Sunday, February 14, from 3 to 8 p.m. in a large heated tent located next to the Resort’s Clubhouse. Approximately 20 wineries from Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas, and Traverse City will offer tastings of a variety of white, red, and sparkling wines, plus ice wine and mulled wine.

The festival will also feature a unique musical experience. The New Third Coast will provide backing for a select group of Northern Michigan musicians singing love songs. Musicians include Ingemar & Lisa Johansson, Jay Webber, Elizabeth Rivers, Janice Keegan and Claudia Schmidt. Also on hand will be the Beach Bards who will perform some love poems.

Iron Works #2 - Cranbrook by MikeRyu

Our Michigan February Event Calendar shows that the more the weather tries to keep us holed up, the more ways we find to get out and have fun!! Of course, there's still many, many more and we invite you to fill us in on other February events in the comments.

February Fast Facts - Wikipedia

• Having only 28 days in common years, it is the only month of the year that can pass without a single full moon.
• It has 29 days in leap years, when the year number is divisible by four (except for years that are divisible by 100 and not by 400 in the Gregorian calendar)
• It is the only month of the calendar that once every six years and twice every 11 years, will have only four full 7-day weeks.
• Its birth flower is the Viola (plant) and the Primrose.
• Its birthstone is the amethyst.

February Quotes

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." - Edith Sitwell

"Surely as cometh the Winter, I know
There are Spring violets under the snow." - R. H. Newell

"February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March." - Dr. J. R. Stockton

"Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour." - John Boswell

"February makes a bridge and March breaks it." - George Hebert

Notable February Dates from Michigan History Magazine

• February 13, 1855 The Michigan legislature protects escaped slaves.
• February 24, 1863 Michigan supports the Emancipation Proclamation.
• February 17, 1864 The First Michigan Colored Infantry is mustered into federal service.
• February 21, 1905 The National Ski Association is organized in Ishpeming.
• February 20, 1909 The Hudson Motor Car Company is organized.
• February 2, 1936 Ty Cobb becomes one of the first players selected to enter the newly formed Baseball Hall of Fame.
• February 8, 1985 The Stroh Brewery announces it is closing its Detroit plant.

Things to Do, Places to Go

February 2 - 7
International 500 Snowmobile Race Sault - Sault Sainte Marie
2009 marks the 41st running of the International 500 Snowmobile Race and they invite YOU to join them for this outstanding event that is second to none! "All the thrills of NASCAR" All the excitement of I-500 Snowmobile Racing.

February 3 - 6
Winter Carnival - Houghton
Michigan Tech often registers more than 200 inches of snow in a season. Not content to let this abundant natural resource go to waste, students band together in an annual celebrtion of our beautiful, tough, exhilarating, and character-building climate. For complete event detail visit their website.

February 4 - 7
12th Annual Michigan International Auto Show - Grand Rapids
This is the greatest annual opportunity to view your "next new car!" More than 35 car manufacturers from around the world will bring their finest traveling displays with 300 + new vehicles - including sedans, vans, SUV's, trucks, hybrids and sports cars. Not only is the Auto Show the BEST place to shop and compare options for every day vehicles, it is also the first opportunity for West Michigan residents to see many of the most recently released or "soon to be released" models!

February 4 - 7
North American Snow Festival - Cadillac
Opening ceremonies begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Fox Hill Event Center on February 4. Various events take place on Lake Cadillac on February 4 - 7.

February 4 - 7
59th Annual Perchville USA - Tawas
The 59th Annual Tawas Perchville Festival includes a Perchville queen, live entertainment, a Polar Bear Swim, a "Chilly" Cook-off, ice-fishing contest, the Perchville USA Parade, and many more fun winter events.

February 6
White Pine Stampede - Mancelona
The White Pine Stampede is a major Nordic Ski race, part of the Michigan Cup series and the Midwest's premier Nordic event. The White Pine Stampede has a 50 Kilometer Event, a 20 Kilometer Event, and a 10 Kilometer Timed Tour.

February 6 & 7
Taste the Passion - Leelanau
Love is in the air as you celebrate the upcoming Valentine's Day at the "Taste the Passion" weekend February 6 & 7. This special weekend celebrates wine, chocolate and love in anticipation of Valentine's Day! The combination of winter's beauty in Leelanau with the special pleasures of life always makes for wonderful weekend.

The weekend starts on Saturday as participants head to their first winery stop to collect a souvenir glass. Then the fun begins with special pours and tasty chocolate treats offered at wineries between the hours of 11am and 5pm on Saturday, and Noon and 5pm on Sunday. However, because one cannot survive on chocolate alone (tempting as it may sound), savory dishes will be served at a number of tasting rooms.

February 12 - 14
Detroit's Winter Blast - Detroit
Many signature winter activities are returning with free ice-skating in Campus Martius Park, Professional skating demonstrations, unique sculptures in the Ice Garden, the Meijer Kid’s Family Fun Zone and more. Detroit’s music scene will be on display on two stages, with more than 50 entertainment acts performing. Plus- you can always find a place to warm-up with DTE Energy’s Comfort Zones. You’ll find heat every 150 feet on the Winter Blast site, including both heated tents and warming stations in local buildings.

February 12 - 14
West Michigan Youth Wintersportsfest
Three days, 22 Sports competitions and 3,000 athletes. Open to any athletes 18 and under. This will be an awesome event with youth athletes from all over the state and Midwest! There will be 20 sporting events taking place in 3 days with 3,000 athletes in participation. There will be indoor and outdoor activities including events like bowling, target shooting, figure skating, and many more

February 12 - 14
North American VASA - Traverse City
The VASA weekend festival of Races includes both a 27 and 50km special classic skiing race, a 12km Timed Class, and a 6km and 16km challenge. Junior VASA Races are also part of the weekend festival.

February 12 - 15
Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest - Traverse City
The Third Annual Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest is a three-day wintertime celebration chock-full of fun for all ages in the Cherry Capital of the World, President’s Day Weekend, February 13-16, 2009. Whether you enjoy outdoor activities with wintry frost nipping at your nose, or indoor activities that warm the body and soul, we have something sure to please you and your loved ones.

February 13 - 21
Detroit Boat Show - Detroit
The Detroit Boat Show has been staged every year for 51 years, and is known as the premier boating event in the State of Michigan. The Detroit Boat Show is known as one of the top boat shows in the country in regards to size, sales and attendance.

February 14
Winter Wine Wonderland - Traverse City
Join the wineries of Leelanau, Old Mission & Traverse City at the Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest at the Grand Traverse Resort for a celebration of wine, gourmet desserts, art & fun this Valentines Day. The Wine Festival will take place on Sunday February 14th from 3-8 PM (Fireworks at 7 PM) .

February 19 & 20
Frost Bite Winter Festival - Harrison
Event takes place on 5 groomed nine-hole courses, where novice and veteran golfers hit brightly colored tennis balls over the snow. Bring a partner and sign up for the two-person scramble. Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, men's and women's divisions.

February 19 - 21
U.P. Pond Hockey Championship - St. Ignace
The 2010 U.P. Pond Hockey Championship will be played on the Wild Ice of Moran Bay, Lake Huron, downtown St. Ignace, Michigan! We hope to have 160 teams competing for prizes!

February 19 -21
UP 200, Midnight Run Sled-Dog Championships and The Jack Pine 30 - Marquette
Three UP sled dog races provide a variety of challenges for mushers. The UP 200 is actually 240 miles in length and is a qualifying race for the Iditarod. Over 15,000 visitors come to Michigan's Upper Peninsula (U.P.) to see the U.P. 200! It is a favorite winter event for local residents and out of town guests. The U.P. 200 has a dedicated group of over 500 volunteers from the U.P. and the mid-west region that come together to stage this great event each year.

February 26
The Great Wine & Food Symposium
Escape the snow with an evening of indulgence at The Great Wine & Food Symposium, west Michigan’s premier wine tasting event. You'll enjoy gourmet food selections, as well as over 300 wines and beers from around the world. Sample these tastes as classical music drifts through the halls and the snowflakes drift outside.

February 27
The Outhouse 500 - Coopersville
Join in with the hilarious and wacky fun of the 6th Annual Outhouse 500 on Main Street in Historic Downtown Coopersville! Hosted by the Main Street Merchants Association. Teams parade, then race their uniquely decorated outhouses down Main Street!

February 27
Winter Beer Festival - Grand Rapids
The 5th Annual Winter Beer Festival will take place Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at the Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, just north of Grand Rapids. The Winter Festival is a unique opportunity to sample some of the best beers in the world, all brewed in Michigan. We are expecting more than 35 Michigan microbreweries and brewpubs to participate and there will be more than 200 different beers available to sample. The event is open from Noon to 5:00pm.

February 27
Trenary Outhouse Classic - The Outhouse Races - Trenary
The Outhouse Classic is an annual race in Trenary where outhouses are built and raced down the main street. There are categories: speed, presentation, best use of theme, most humorous, best workmanship, and most miles traveled. Families come to the event to watch and to compete, there are two different age brackets making competitions fair. A few years ago nuns came to compete and built the Vati-Can. Make sure to head on up to Trenary for the annual Outhouse Classic. Read Absolute Michigan's Sports that ARE Silly: Outhouse Racing or watch Outhouse Classic Outhouse Race in Trenary, Michigan.

Grapes for ice wine are hand-harvested while rock-hard. Water components of the grape juice stay frozen during the pressing process. Sugars, acids and other flavor components remain concentrated in the grape nectar, which ultimately will become ice wine. The process of pressing precious drops of juice from these icy gems can take days, and the fermentation can take weeks or even months...

Ice wine can be made from any grape variety, but traditionally it shines with varieties such as Riesling, Vidal, Gewürztraminer, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Gris (a.k.a. Pinot Grigio). Germany is the traditional home of fine ice wine, but climate conditions in the regions mentioned above are ideal as well, and world-class ice wines are now made in each region.

Michigan wineries producing ice wine include 45 North, Bel Lago, Black Star Farms (2002 State Champ), Bowers Harbor, Brys Estate (2008 State Champ), Chateau Chantal, Chateau Grand Traverse (2007 State Champ), Cherry Creek, Domaine Berrien Cellars, Fenn Valley (2009 State Champ), Free Run Cellars , Lawton Ridge, Left Foot Charley, Lemon Creek, Longview, Mackinaw Trail, Peninsula Cellars, Pentamere, Sandhill Crane, Tabor Hill and Warner.

Read on at the Lansing City Pulse for more about ice wine! Many of these wineries are listed at absolutemichigan.com/Wine, so check them out and try some smooth and sweet ice wine soon! We've featured this video from Black Star Farms about making ice wine, before, but if you haven't seen it, have a look!

Photo courtesy Longview Winery.

Quotes

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

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.
A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." - Bill Vaughan

"To leave the old with a burst of song,
To recall the right and forgive the wrong;
To forget the thing that blinds you fast
To the vain regrets of the year that's past." - Robert B. Beattie

The Happenings

The HOT New Year’s Eve - Grand Rapids
Join in the fun downtown Grand Rapids this year with The HOT New Year’s Eve Party at Rosa Parks Circle. Featuring live free concerts from Priscilla Renea, Uncle Kracker, and Boys Like Girls and DJ Curtis Avison as well as a ball drop at midnight featuring a giant illuminated globe above the stage.

50 Monroe Rocks New Years Eve Party hosted by T.G.I. Fridays
Step out of the cold & the crowds & still be part of the action. Watch the ball drop in comfort from the lobby of 50 Monroe, located across the street from Rosa Parks Circle. Your ticket to a rockin New Years eve includes live entertainment, all-you-can-eat T.G.I. Fridays munchies and a champaign toast to ring in 2010. Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased at the downtown Fridays, 50 Monroe NW, or by calling 616.742.8443 or 1592@crww.com.

T.G.I. Fridays Rockin' New Years Eve Tent
Escape the cold for a cold one in the T.G.I. Fridays Rockin' New Years Eve Tent located across the street from the ball drop & the Rosa Parks Circle Stage in the parking lot on the corner of Monroe and Louis. Cover to the clear-sided, heated tent is only $5 bucks. Stop in and pick-up your ticket early & move to the front of the line ahead of the crowd. 21 & over only - bring your holiday green -because the tent bar is cash only. 616.742.8443 or 1592@crww.com.

New Year's Fest - Kalamazoo, MI
Welcome to New Year's Fest – a performing arts celebration in downtown Kalamazoo. Hosted on December 31, 2009. New Year's Fest provides 28 different entertainers who perform inside 9 buildings surrounding Bronson Park.

Resolution Ball - Detroit, MI
Two of the biggest area promoters come together to put on the single largest New Years Eve celebration in the Detroit area. 313rd.com in partnership with TheSocialConnection.com, presents the Resolution Ball at the Fillmore in downtown Detroit. A black tie optional event featuring an open bar, food and great music all night. Pre-sale tickets available, more details coming soon...

New Years Eve Detroit - Detroit, MI
New Year's Eve Detroit offers an all inclusive party for couple and singles. We offer a fun and fashionable event where just about everything is included and you DO NOT have to leave by 1AM when the party is in high gear. From a chef prepared dinner buffet with dessert to Champagne toast, noisemakers and a late night/early morning snack we provide all the essentials for a roaring good time.

New Year's Eve Detroit 2010 - Detroit, MI
NYEDetroit.com is run by local event and marketing company, The Social Connection, and is designed to showcase all of the NYE parties offered in metro Detroit with FREE listings, search engine optimization and an aggressive digital and traditional media campaign.

The NYEDetroit.com website provides a virtual cafe for partygoers in metro Detroit to search for and learn about the many NYE party options offered and then how to purchase their tickets.

New Year's Nation Detroit - Detroit, MI
DeNew Year’s Nation is the only event of its kind, connecting thousands of people in multiple cities on the biggest night of the year.

On New Year’s Eve 2010, more than 15,000 guests in 10 cities will join the New Year’s Nation celebration as thousands more join the party on-line with NYN-TV, New Year’s Nation’s live broadcast.troit's Largest & Most Exclusive New Year's Event-Live broadcast connecting 8 Cities. 5HR Open Bar, Food Stations, Balloon Drop & Champagne Toast:That 80s Band:DJ Urban Kris

Downtown New Year's Eve Gala & Fireworks - Mt Clemens, MI
Join us for the 16th Annual Downtown Mount Clemens New Year's Eve Gala. This is Metro Detroit's Best Family New Year's Eve Party featuring live entertainment and Midnight fireworks! Schedule for the evenings festivities are as follows:

Pistons vs. Bulls - Auburn Hills, MI
Watch the ball drop ... through the net!

Griffins vs. Hamilton Bulldogs - Grand Rapids, MI
13th Annual New Year's Eve Celebration/Griffins Calendar Giveaway presented by Fox Motors! Fan 4-Pack: Fans can receive four tickets and $12 in concession cash for a great low price. Jersey Auction: Griffins jerseys designed by Chad B. Stilson will be worn by the players and auctioned off following the game to benefit Grand Valley State University's club rollor hockey team. Post-Game Skate: Bring your own skates to take to the ice following the game.

New Year's Eve at The B.O.B. - Grand Rapids, MI
Ring in the New Year in style at The B.O.B. with a bash that is highly anticipated every year. Live entertainment and a ton of options to choose from.

Craig's Cruisers New Years Eve Parties - Grand Rapids, MI
Festive food and family fun for everyone! Two different party times. Both parties include Craig's Special New Years Eve Feast! Join Cruiser and count down to 2010! Balloon drop at Midnight! Music and Karaoke by DJ Specialists (6pm to 1am). Party favors and bubble machine. Unlimited Indoor Go-Karts, Laser Tag, Bumper Cars, High Ropes Course and Frog Hopper. Plus, unlimited play on all video games (non-redemption). Times are 4pm-8pm or 9pm-1am.

Ring In the New Year at Boyne Highlands Harbor Springs, MI ...or at Boyne Mountain Boyne Falls, MI
Ring in the New Year at Boyne Highlands with choice of several festivities. Fine dining specials in the Main Dining Room, The Olympic Buffet, a party in the Slopeside Lounge and the Zoo Bar.

Grand Traverse Resort New Year's Celebration - Traverse City, MI
There's simply no better place to celebrate New Year's Eve than Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. This year, we're offering three different parties. "Dancing through the Decades" Live Concert ~ Presented by Pepsi * Latin New Year's Eve at Aerie Restaurant & Lounge * Kid's New Year's Eve Fun

New Year’s Eve Dinner Train: Murder Mystery Charlotte & Blissfield, MI
Join us for a 5-course meal and 5-star service on the longest continuously operating dinner train in North America, as we bid farewell to 2009 and welcome in 2010. Our famous Murder Mystery Dinner Train features a leisurely 3-hour trip while a comedic murder mystery unfolds tableside.

About this recipe Eli writes: It is actually our Nana's recipe that we both have loved ever since we were young boys. My Nana actually makes it specially for me now when I visit from California (she made it for Thanksgiving and it was delish). When I think of this soup I can envision winter in Michigan. It's delicious and extremely hearty with a rich meaty flavor from the mushrooms.

Mushroom Barley Soup

1-2 ounces dried porcini mushrooms, 1/2 in pieces
6 ounces fresh button mushrooms
2 stalks diced celery, 1/2 in pieces
2-3 diced carrots, 3/4 in pieces
1 diced medium onion, 1/2 in pieces
3 tablespoons butter
2 medium diced potatoes, 3/4 in pieces
3/4 c pearl barley
2-3 c vegetable stock
2-3 c mushroom stock
salt and pepper to taste

Re-hydrate the dried mushrooms by soaking in enough warm water to cover until soft. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, reserving the liquid, and set aside

Saute the mushrooms, celery, carrots, and onion in butter in a large soup pan until soft.

Add potatoes, barley, reserved mushroom liquid and stock. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and cook slowly until flavors blend and soup thickens. If it thickens too much, more broth can be added.

beets450 by CreateWithKim

The Michigan Land Use Institute's Patty Cantrell is reporting on how communities across Michigan building stronger communities with healthy, local food in the Good Food Tour. The latest, Kalamazoo: Oh, the Webs They Weave!, begins:

The rise of Kalamazoo’s strong Good Food movement is a story about people—and about how one good thing often leads to another when those people are passionately committed to a local food economy—and communicating with each other.

For many in this region, the Good Food movement revolves around a non-profit called Fair Food Matters. FFM hosts the Eat Local, Kalamazoo! group, which sponsors events throughout the year to connect local people and local foods. FFM also puts on the Fair Food Film Festival and operates projects like the Can-Do Kitchen, summer chefs classes for kids, and learning gardens, like the Roots of Knowledge garden at Woodward Elementary School, in nearby Portage.

Read on for much more about good, local food in Kalamazoo & Southwest Michigan and also check out Fair Food Matters.

You can learn more about the book and order online from Spirituality & Health Books. It's a beautiful book and you may find it easier to use the recipe as it appears in the book (612k pdf).

Classic French Onion Soup Gratinée

We've made hundreds of gallons of this soup and still can't get enough of it. Oddly, however, it's one of those dishes that too many cooks make incorrectly. We've seen recipes call for everything from soy sauce to Worchester sauce to balsamic vinegar. Others want the onions to cook until they all but fall apart. All this extra stuff makes a simple and satisfying dish way too complicated. It's really very easy to make and requires only a few ingredients, some patience and a hot oven.

1/3 pound butter
3 yellow onions, sliced with the grain of the onion then cut into 1-inch lengths
(This is to make it easier to eat the soup with a spoon. There is nothing worse than onion dribbling down your chin.)
1/2 handful flour
1 cup red wine
2 sprigs thyme
7 cups chicken stock
olive oil
8 slices of day-old baguette, sliced
to 1/2-inch thick
8 slices of cheese

The traditional cheese is a French cheese called Comte. You can also use Gruyere, Emmental or Swiss cheese. Some American-made cheeses that would also fit the bill are: Roth Kase's Grand Cru Gruyere or Upland's Pleasant Ridge out of Wisconsin. Here in Michigan, Grassfield's Edam. Don't use provolone or mozzarella as they're much too rich and get stringy. The Swiss/Gruyere style cheeses offer a bite that counters the oniony richness of the soup.

for the soup:

Put the butter into a 4-quart pan and melt over medium-low heat. Add the onions and season with salt and pepper. For the next 30 minutes, let the onions cook slowly. Slowly is the key word here. If you cook them too quickly, their natural sweetness won't come out.

Sometimes you'll see sugar called for in an onion soup recipe; this is because the recipe is asking you to cook the onions too quickly, thus missing out on the onions' natural sweetness, and even inviting a hint of bitterness. But, if cooked correctly-and by correctly we mean slow, patient cooking - then no sugar is needed. Mom would be proud.

Sweat the onions, making sure to stir frequently with a wooden spoon, especially after all the water has evaporated. The onions will not begin to color until all that liquid is gone, and you'll have to pay close attention so they don't burn to the bottom of the pan. Your attention will be rewarded though, once the onions start to turn a beautiful, golden brown.

The color of the onions is very important. Too little color (too white) and the flavor will not develop correctly; your soup will be characterless. Too much color (very brown) and the flavor will be too strong. Golden brown is the color you're looking for. Golden brown gives you a rich, mellow soup.

Once you have the right color, sprinkle in a half-handful of flour while stirring with the wooden spoon. Basically, what you're making is a roux, a classic French thickening agent. Only add enough flour to lightly coat the onions - you don't want to make wallpaper paste. Stir in the red wine, add the sprig of thyme and finally, the chicken stock. Turn up the heat to bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes. Adjust the seasoning.

for the croutons:

In an 8-inch frying pan, pour enough olive oil to fill the bottom to a 1/4-inch. Turn the heat to medium-high. When the oil is hot (you can check this by dipping a corner of your sliced baguette in the oil to see if it fries) fry 4 pieces at a time until golden brown. Turn the slices over and fry on the other side until golden brown. Do this for all the bread. Drain the croutons on a paper towel.

to finish:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Ladle the soup into 4 8-ounce, ovenproof cups, leaving 1.4-inch at the top. Put two croutons on top of the soup.

You may need to get creative fitting these croutons in the bowl. Sometimes they are just too big and you'll need to break one up. The important thing is that the croutons cover the entire top of the soup. Don't break them up so small that you end up with crumbs.

Over the croutons, place 2 slices of cheese, making sure to crisscross them so there are 8 corners showing, not 4. Place the cups on a baking tray and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is nice and brown and bubbly. Serve the hot cups on napkin-covered plates. (The napkin keeps the cup from moving around on the plate.)

The best way to transfer the soup cups hot from the oven is to fold a towel into a long strip and use it like an oven mitt with each end for each hand. Sometimes the cheese will drip down during baking, sticking the bowl to the pan; a gentle twist of the cup will loosen it.

There's some controversy over what's actually "classic" in this recipe. For example, some say you have to use beef broth for the soup to truly be "classic." Some say the wine must be Port. There's no real consensus on the matter no matter how far back you go. These days, Joel Robochon uses chicken stock, and since he's one of the best chefs of the 20th century I am willing to bet it's okay. Personally, I like chicken stock because it doesn't overpower the soup, thus allowing us to better taste the onions.
-Eric Patterson

market vendor. by sarah. reed.

Last weekend's Chicago Sun Times featured a great writeup on the Flint Farmer's Market, nothing that one thing Vehicle City has over the Windy City is a year-round, enclosed farmer's market:

In September, the market was named “Most Loved Market in America” in a nationwide contest sponsored by Care2.com and LocalHarvest.org. Hundreds of the country’s 4,500 farmers markets entered the competition. The Flint market grabbed the $5,000 prize thanks to Web blasts and Facebook voting.

The Flint Farmers’ Market is anchored by a beautiful red brick WPA (Work Progress Administration) building from 1940. It is set in a ravine along the Flint River and has more than 30 vendors. The steel trusses supporting the roof date to 1920, when they were used at the feisty auto town’s former Union Market.

The 15,000-square-foot market features an art gallery, book store, restaurant and Michigan’s only farmers market wine shop....

“One of the downsides of Flint is that there are 18,000 vacant properties,” (market manager Dick) Ramsdell explained during an autumn stroll through the market. “People who worked here left. The upside is that there’s community gardens opening up all over Flint. There’s an emerging food security system for low-income folks, using not only local farmers but people who are starting to grow on vacant lots inside the city.”

Learn more in the article and also on the Flint Farmer's Market web site. Be sure to check out Sarah's slideshow in the link above as well!

What’s your favorite part of the Thanksgiving turkey? Drumstick? Breast? Gizzard?

Odds are that not many readers would choose the third option. That is, unless they live in Potterville, Michigan (Eaton County) where poultry gizzards are considered haute cuisine. Potterville is the home of Joe’s Gizzard City, a restaurant that prides itself on its deep-fried chicken gizzards to the point of inspiring an annual, citywide festival -complete with giant, fiberglass chicken mascot. Over 15,000 fans flock to Potterville every summer for their yearly gizzard fix.

There are children dressed as chickens, a parade, people singing chicken songs, but above all, mounds of delectable gizzards to be consumed, with around 1500 pounds downed by festival-goers each year. Joe’s holds a gizzard-eating contest to see who can ingest two pounds of the fried bits the fastest.

Gizzards, muscular organs that help birds grind up whatever they peck out of the dirt, require a sure hand in the kitchen to make them edible, and Joe’s claims to have perfected the process. A generous dunking in cocktail sauce helps them go down even easier. The next Gizzard Fest will be June 10-13, 2010.

Gizzard Fest is also featured in Strange Michigan; More Wolverine Weirdness, published by Trails Books.

Photo by Cherie S.

Think Globally, Shop Locally with our Michigan Holiday Gift Guide, designed to help you find the perfect Michigan gifts online or off. Feel free to add your Michigan based gift suggestions in the comments section below!

The photo in this post was taken by Cherie S. and is titled "Don't worry about the past, rejoice in the present and have hope for the future." Words to live by....

Art, Books & Music
Fire Center Studio - Ishpeming, MI
Savu has owned Fire Center Studio in Ishpeming, Michigan since 1987. While her painting and illustration is done out of her studio, her work sells in galleries and gift stores throughout northern Michigan and the midwest. Her primary gallery retailer is Michigamme Moonshine Gallery in Michigamme, Michigan. Savu's 'Colours of Home' annual collectible calendar series is available at bookstores and gift shops throughout the midwest as well as on website.

Mackerel Sky Gallery of Contemporary Craft - East Lansing
Mackerel Sky Gallery of Contemporary Craft, a gallery of fine craft located in East Lansing, Michigan. Owners Tom and Linda Dufelmeier created a format for the Gallery that includes an exhibit space featuring individual artists in shows that last for approximately two months. The works of art are presented in a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere allowing people from all backgrounds an opportunity to experience thought-provoking imagery by a single artist. The larger portion of the Gallery includes an eclectic selection of paper products, blown glass, jewelry, fiber, ceramics, garden accessories, fine woodworking, furniture, and lighting chosen for excellence in design and function.

Brian Vander Ark Music - Grand Rapids, MI
The lead singer of the Verve Pipe and author of the hit song "The Freshmen", Brian has just released his debut solo CD "Resurrection".

Fork in the Road by Eric Villegas
The new cookbook Fork in the Road with Eric Villegas (Huron River Press) is a companion to Chef Eric's award-winning national PBS cooking show of the same title. The 192-page, hard cover, book is filled with gorgeous food & other photography that sweeps you across the magical mitten, the great state of Michigan. From north to south and east to west Chef Villegas covers the great agricultural heritage of the state in his sumptuous recipes.

Pewabic Pottery - Detroit, MI
Pewabic Pottery is a living treasure and offers visitors an exciting glimpse of a little known part of American history. Founded in 1903 during the Arts & Crafts Movement, Pewabic is nationally renowned for its tile and pottery in unique glazes. Today it is a non profit ceramic art education center which welcomes 70,000 visitors annually.

Ducksicle - Detroit, MI
Detroit's only Chilled Poultry Rock quartet starring Tony, Helmut, Erica and the fantastischen Erik Jensen.

Elderly Instruments - Lansing, MI
The best music is the kind you make yourself and Michigan's largest instrument seller has a wide range of instruments and accessories for the accomplished or novice musician.

Heritage Guitar Inc. - Kalamazoo, MI
Heritage manufacturers Custom Carved Hollow Body Guitars, Semi Hollow Body Guitars, and Solid Body Guitars. This is to say nothing of the countless number of custom instruments made in each of the groups previously mentioned. Banjos, Mandolins, Flat Tops, and Basses, are no longer being produced because of the demand for the guitars mentioned in the above 3 categories.

From the Vine - Exploring Michigan Wineries
Get the only book that celebrates Michigan wine country, wines and winemakers with intriguing behind-the-scene stories, beautiful photographs and interesting side features (192 page, hard-cover book).

Harry Goldson - Suttons Bay, MI
Harry says that music is now more fun than ever, because now he is playing what he wants to play in a way he thinks it should sound, and what a sound it is! Harry's eighth album Flirtations is now available.

Earthwork Music
The Earthwork Music collective believes in the intrinsic and historical power of music to raise both community and self-awareness and serves to facilitate and encourage original music in the state of Michigan and beyond. Give Michigan music!

Glenn Wolff Studio - Traverse City, MI
Welcome to the Glenn Wolff Studio Store. The shelves are stocked with prints, original art, and music by Glenn and a few friends. Come on in and look around. We never close, and we are offering free shipping for the month of December.

Log Art Inc - Boyne City, MI
Welcome to Log Art Inc.'s Gallery which features samples of our line of fine-crafted rustic furniture and accessories. This sampling will give you a sense of the impeccable quality and craftsmanship that have come to be our trademark, "Lodge Look of Northern Michigan." Our design and building skills are of heirloom quality and the finest made in Michigan. We welcome custom orders and enjoy working with our clients to help build their dreams.

The Art of Karen M Smith - Lapeer, MI
Original paintings are available on this website, and listed for auction on Ebay. Many paintings available at Gallery 194 in downtown Lapeer.

Michigan History Magazine - Lansing, MI
Published since 1917, Michigan History is about and a part of Michigan's fascinating past. Every colorful 64-page issue tells the exciting stories of Michigan people and their impact on their communities, the nation and the world. Michigan History overflows with intriguing feature articles, bold illustrations and departments highlighting history-related books, travel and events six time each year.

Hollander's - Ann Arbor, MI
Since 1991, when the store first opened, Hollander's has become one of the leading and largest sources in the country for unique decorative papers and bookbinding supplies. It is also well known for its outstanding offerings in book and paper arts workshops. In addition, Hollander's has grown as a retail store, specializing in stationery items ranging from journals and photo albums to cards and unique gifts.

Nature's Way Woodworking - Alberta, MI
We design beautiful furniture and gifts made with rare birdseye maple wood. Our fine hand crafted items are locally made in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, by our very own wood turning and wood designer expert: Dave Stimac. One look at our quality wooden gifts and accessories will bring you back again and again to see what's new in our latest line of weather instruments, barometers, clocks, dining room sets and kitchen items. Each item is a one-of-a kind work of art that you and your family will cherish for years to come.

Clothing & Jewelry
Yooper Steez - Marquette, MI
Steez: Style with ease! We believe everyone who lives in the U.P., or loves the U.P., should have a cool U.P. t-shirt. The way we see it, it doesn’t need words. Take the Nike logo for example, they don’t have “Just do it” under the swoosh. And the U.P. is the same. It has enough presence to stand on it’s own. In our opinion we expect people to recognize it, we shouldn’t have to tell them, they should know!

Aurora Borealis Designs - Leland, MI
Aurora Borealis Designs of Leland, Michigan hand crafts unique jewelry from beach glass, beach stones and silver.

Kathy Fagan Handbags - Okemos, MI
Welcome to Kathy Fagan Handbags—chic and charming bags for every occasion. Individually designed and handcrafted, each handbag exudes elegance and a touch of cheeky charm. Indulge in the chillier seasons' most crucial and decadent accessory, the fur handbag. Made from vintage and new fur pieces, each bag is one-of-a-kind—they are true collectors’ items.

baabaaZuzu - Lake Leelanau, MI
Hats, mittens, scarves, jackets, purses and bags, posy pins, christmas stockings and more are handcrafted in beautiful recycled wool... each a work of art.

Pure Detroit - Detroit, MI
Authentic Detroit apparel + unique gifts that represent the 313. Spend an afternoon and shop in the City. Each Pure Detroit store is located in Detroit's most architecturally significant buildings - the Fisher Building, the Guardian Building and GM Renaissance Center.

Catherine Doll - Sawyer, MI
Located in the popular Harbor Country of southwest Michigan, on the shores of Lake Michigan, Catherine Doll is 80 miles from downtown Chicago. Sustainable fashion created from repurposed clothing - overdyed, pieced, crushed, tied, clamped, taken apart and put back together again. Each piece is one-of-a-kind.

Food, Dining & Drink
Zingerman's - Ann Arbor, MI
Send great food anywhere in America. Gift boxes of bread, cheese, pastry, olive oil, vinegar and more. You really can taste the difference.

Jampot - Eagle River, MI
Jampot is closed for the season. However, they currently have a full selection of jams,jellies, fruitcakes and truffles available for immediate shipping and the Christmas mail order season.

Sweetie-licious Pie Pantry - Dewitt, MI
Sweetie-licious Pie Pantry is a charming bakery cafe located in downtown DeWitt, Michigan. The vintage ambiance paired with delicious, old-fashioned food makes for a perfect dining or take-out experience. Our fare is created by infusing the best vintage recipes along with the latest taste sensations. All of our foods are homemade, made with only fresh and quality ingredients - no preservatives are ever added. We specialize in retro baked goods, but we have an amazing lunch and dinner menu as well. Simply put, everything we make is truly unique and yummy.

Vintage Michigan Club
Join the Vintage Michigan Club and discover Michigan's best-kept secret! Enjoy your favorite Michigan wines and reward yourself with special savings. With your lifetime membership you will receive these terrific benefits:

• Discounts at participating wineries, wine retailers, and restaurants across the state. View the list of participating businesses (PDF).
• Complimentary Michigan Wines Corkscrew or Etched Michigan Bottle Stopper.
• Michigan Wine Country magazine, an annual publication with maps to Michigan's wineries, interesting articles, and all the information you need to enjoy Michigan's wine country.
• Monthly email newsletter with the latest Michigan wine-related information.
• Discounts for selected Michigan wine festivals and events.

Cherry Republic - Glen Arbor & Traverse City, MI
Welcome to Cherry Republic, the land of Life, Liberty, Beaches & Pie! Over 141 gourmet food products made from Michigan cherries to sample, purchase and send as gifts. Cherry Bakery, Cherry Winery, Cherry Cafe and Retail Store. Free gift-boxing.

Leelanau Coffee Roasting Company - Glen Arbor, MI
Leelanau Coffee Roasting has wonderful gifts for all of the special people in your life... Coffee beans! French Presses! Logo Mugs! Grinders! Leelanau Coffee sells all the exciting coffee accessories to make your coffee drinking a true "up north" experience. 2008 marks our Fifteenth Year, and we are proud of our heritage, and excited about the future!

Earthy Delights - Dewitt, MI
Earthy Delights is America's premier supplier of specialty foods to quality conscious American Chefs. We pioneered the use of overnight delivery to get fresh produce from the farm to the kitchen in the shortest time possible. We are leaders in offering wild-harvested and hand-crafted foods from small harvesters and growers to a larger audience. Now we are bringing this same selection of fine products to the adventurous home chef, using the power of the internet.

Higher Grounds Trading Company - Traverse City, MI
Roasting 100% Fair Trade and Organic Handcrafted Coffees. Check out our great coffee, gifts and gear this holiday season!

Rudy Baggs - Lansing, MI
Rudy Baggs Coffee Roasting Company roasts only world class Arabica coffee and specializes in weekly home delivery.

Pasty Central - Calumet, MI
Order Delicious U.P. Pasties and see why Pasty Central has become a primary starting point for many visitors to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Fresh from the U.P. to you! Great gifts!

Stone House Bread - Traverse City, MI
Our promise is the freshest bread in the North, made every morning with the finest organic flour—fragrant, crusty loaves with the sweet tang of sourdough. The baguettes and boules that emerge from our venerable Matador oven (built in Stuttgart when John Kennedy was president) will prompt memories of morning walks in Paris and Rome. We believe you'll say, with celebration: Now that's an honest loaf of bread!

Eden Foods - Clinton, MI
The finest locally grown and organic foods since 1968. Michigan organic beans, processed fruits and juices, pastas, whole grains, Edensoy, vegetable oils, vinegars, soy sauces, misos, snack mixes, teas, dried fruits, popcorn, etc. Buy on-line.

Grocers Daughter Chocolates - Empire, MI
Our artisan, hand-made chocolates and hand-dipped truffles are made with many locally grown/blended products such as herbs, spices, berries, spirits, coffees, teas and nuts. We use no artificial flavors or preservatives, and we buy locally when it is possible.

The Great American Pretzel Company - Howell, MI
At The Great American Pretzel Company® we make the best gourmet Chocolate Covered Pretzels in America. Our products are made using only the finest milk, dark and white chocolates, the freshest pretzels and highest quality ingredients. Our beautifully packaged, made-to-order pretzels make a perfectly decedent gift for someone special or an indulgent treat for oneself. 1-866-889-5778

Leelanau Peninsula Vinter's Association - Leelanau county
The mission of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association (LPVA) is to help spread the word about all the good things happening here in our corner of paradise. Our cool-climate, Michigan wines have been winning more national and international awards and praise each and every year. Leelanau County wines and vineyard tours make the perfect gift.

Pioneer Wine Trail - Southeast MI
Southeastern Michigan's Pioneer wine making region is a great place to spend a few hours...or a few days! The beautiful rolling Irish Hills, many lakes and Hidden Lake Gardens are right along the trail. Relax, savor our wines, stop for some antiquing and perhaps stay in one of the many Bed and Breakfast inns in the area.

Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail - Southwest MI
Discover the world of wine in your own backyard by visiting our tasting rooms nestled among the rolling hills and inland lakes. We are a short ride from our harbor towns of New Buffalo, St. Joseph, South Haven, and Saugatuck. Enjoy award winning Michigan wines as spectacular as our sunsets on the beach.

Wineries of Old Mission - Traverse City, MI
Jutting north between the azure arms of Lake Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay lies Old Mission Peninsula. Situated at the globe's 45th parallel – the ideal climate for growing varietal wine grapes – the seven distinct wineries that comprise this stunning appellation have been well recognized by international wine enthusiasts. Discover the beauty of the Old Mission Peninsula and experience its award-winning wines: Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Gewürztraminer, sparkling varieties and the prestigious ice wines.

Home & Garden
Ciao Bella - Petoskey, MI
Garden and home products and services personally chosen to appeal to one's pursuit of the well-lived life, no matter how great your dream or how small our product.

Spa & Pampering
The Great Lakes Natural Soap Company - Canton, MI
The Great Lakes Natural Soap Company is a Michigan-based producer of top quality natural soap. All of our soaps are handcrafted, in small batches, using premium ingredients and exceptional quality control. No two soaps will ever be exactly alike. Great for gifts!

Little Black Book of Beauty - Detroit, MI
Looking for a new Michigan salon or spa? Or a great skin care provider or personal trainer? Or any other hair, make up and beauty related therapy? Our guide to beauty services will help you find whatever products and treatments you're after.

Two Bees Candles
100% Beeswax, all natural candles. Free of fragrances, chemicals, paraffin. Great Lakes area beeswax, with the natural aroma of honey from the hive.

Sports & Recreation
Old AuSable Fly Shop & Old AuSable Outdoors - Grayling, MI
Old AuSable Fly shop has Scott, St.Croix, Keystone & TFO Rods Ross, SA, TFO and Bailey Reels. Fish Pond, Pacific Fly, Logo shirts & hats, Dan Bailey Waders, Fly tying materials. Any gizmo or accessory you need! Old AuSable Outdoors is a full service fly fishing pro shop, a complete paddlesports center and a sundries shop with unique items including art, books and gifts with a Northern Michigan flair. We are located on the banks of the beautiful AuSable River.

Lee's Adventure Sports - Portage, MI
Lee's Adventure Sports is a family owned Southwest Michigan outdoor sports gear business that was started in December of 1954 by Bill and Evelyn Lee. Lee's is presently located at 311 West Kilgore Road and being run by Skip and Chris Lee, the next generation. We offer outdoor sports gear product mix of camping, kayaking, hiking, backpacking, skis, snowboards, xc skis, snowshoes, canoes, kayaks, footwear, travel gear, luggage and the clothing to do it all in. Performance and quality is in all of our products.

Bay de Noc Lure Company - Gladstone, MI
Ice fishing and saltwater fishing may not have much in common, but the fishing lures found at the Swedish Pimple website can be used for both ice fishing and saltwater fishing. Ideal lures for saltwater fishing include the Swedish Pimple, Swedish Pimple Ice, Do-Jigger, Laker Taker and the Flutter Laker Taker. On your next excursion, include some of our fishing lures in your saltwater fishing tackle. You'll be surprised at how many limit catches they produce.

Indian Country Sports - L'Anse - MI
Indian Country Sports is a family owned and operated retail sporting goods business located on the shores of Lake Superior in beautiful downtown L’Anse serving fishing, hunting, and outdoor enthusiasts since 1968.

Toys & Hobbies
Down to Earth Toys - Ortonville, MI
Why Down To Earth Toys? Over 90% of our toys are Made in USA! Offering top quality Wooden and Natural toys made in the USA.We feel that protecting your child, while also supporting America’s economy, are of utmost importance. Whether you are looking for baby toys made in USA, toddler toys, or outdoor toys… know that you have found a store who is dedicated to offering you toys that you will feel great about giving!

Enerdyne Science & Nature Store - Suttons Bay, MI
Gifts for all ages! Enerdyne's website exists to introduce you to our science and nature store and its products. We also provide interesting information about various science/nature topics. We'd love to have you stop in and visit Enerdyne for your gifting needs!

Drueke - Ludington, MI
The Drueke Company is America's oldest manufacturer of traditional board games. The chess boards and chess accessories that we offer are second-to-none. Our reputation for quality chess sets inspired us to produce a variety of classic games for our customers to enjoy. Our product line includes action games, backgammon, cribbage, dominos, checkers, game boxes, chess tables and wooden accessories.

Grand Rapids International Wine Festival by farlane

Shannon writes:

From my perspective, the show was a huge success. We had a blast tasting not only Michigan wines, but comparing them to their worldwide counterparts. I am happy to say that the local wine held up very well. I was particularly blown away by the number of young people at the show. This really excites me, as I am a huge advocate of getting the 21-30 something crowd more involved with wine.

I was really impressed that at every Michigan booth, there was representation from the winery -- most of the time it was the actual owner or winemaker.

They'll almost certainly be back in 2010 - stay tuned at  grwinefestival.com!

In Five questions with wine expert Claudia Tyagi, the Detroit Free Press asks Master Sommelier* Claudia Tyagi about selecting Michigan wines to go with a Thanksgiving dinner. She recommends a few and says:

I always like Riesling with turkey, although with poultry Chardonnay would be beautiful. You have a lot of versatility and a lot of possibility with turkey. You could use a white wine or an aromatic wine. Those tend to go well with turkey, too.

Click through to read the rest and you might also want to try this recipe for roasting your turkey with white wine & rosemary.

Photo: Ciccone by Kiran Bhat

*Wikipedia's Sommelier entry explains that a sommelier is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional who specializes in all aspects of wine service. Since the Master Sommelier Diploma was introduced in 1969, 171 people from around the world had become Master Sommeliers by 2009. Of these there were 74 active Master Sommeliers in the Americas.

Claudia is one of three in the state of Michigan, and her observations can be found at twitter.com/Winegenie. Get many more Thanksgiving ideas at absolutemichigan.com/Thanksgiving.

Turkey by Vaughan

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Michiganians will soon be hitting the road to attend family get togethers and enjoying annual traditions. To help get ready for the upcoming holiday we have compiled a bunch of informative and entertaining Thanksgiving related links for you to enjoy.

Head over to Michigan.gov and learn all about Michigan's contribution to the traditional Thanksgiving meal. You can also find some great ideas for holiday food and wine pairings in 'Tis the Season to Taste the Bounty of Michigan, Thanksgiving Dinner Wines and Celebrate the holidays with Michigan Ice Wine and dry fruit brandies. For a healthy but flavorful take on your holiday meal check out this podcast from the University of Michigan's MFit Health Division titled 'Make Thanksgiving healthy without losing flavor'. 

Check out a ton of great Thanksgiving recipes and dinner ideas on the Food Network's website.

For more Turkey Day food ideas & articles check out Absolute Michigan keyword "turkey", a search for Thanksgiving and our Michigan Grown section in Food & Dining!

2009 marks the 83rd birthday of America's Thanksgiving Parade and this year's theme is 'Together We Shine'. The theme celebrates The Parade Company bringing a spark of magic and people together to enjoy one of Detroit’s largest and free events where for one special moment, families can be entertained, share a tradition and create a memory.. America's Thanksgiving Parade is one of the country’s oldest and most celebrated parades and will step off at 9:20 a.m. on Woodward Avenue and Mack and end at Woodward Avenue and Congress in downtown Detroit on Thursday, November 26, 2009. Hundreds of thousands of parade-goers will be watching as the Parade makes its way down Woodward Avenue.

If you Motown is off your radar on Thanksgiving, how about a nice set of parade photos from the our Flickr pool, a clickondetroit.com article - "Thousands Cheered As America's Thanksgiving Parade Rolled Down Woodward " (with video), a historical look at Detroit's Thanksgiving Day Parade and a TV tuned to WDIV-TV Local 4 at 9 AM (also on for an hour nationally). If you're the prudent type, you might consider building up a calorie credit balance at the Annual Detroit Turkey Trot.

Thanksgiving Day by Dave Hogg
Dave writes: As bad as the Lions get,
Thanksgiving is always special.

The Detroit Lions’ 70th Thanksgiving Day Classic will feature the Lions hosting long-time rival Green Bay Thursday, November 26 at 12:30 p.m. ET. The Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field will be aired live nationally on FOX.

Via the Detroit Lions Official web site:

Four generations of fans in Michigan share a special tradition. Every year since 1934 (with a break during World War II), Thanksgiving Day in America means a time for acknowledging our nation's forefathers and giving thanks to them for blazing the paths we travel today. For Michigan, the festive turkey dinner is also accompanied with a side of Detroit Lions football.

Amaze your family, friends with what you learn about the origins and history of Thanksgiving on Wikipedia.

Wind farm in Ubly Michigan by Ray Dumas

The 2nd annual Conference on Michigan's Future will be held Friday November 13 through Sunday, November 15, 2009 at Crystal Mountain Resort near Traverse City.

The conference will explores visions of a sustainable future for Michigan, from the critical challenges facing our economy to strategies for developing a stable, enduring economic, energy and environmental future. It features forty speakers providing high-powered, cutting-edge presentations including Robert Costanza, Albert Bates, Thomas Greco, Richard Douthwaite, Patrick Moore, Harvey Wasserman, Richard Gilbert, Soji Adelaja, Joe Welch, and Dan Scripps.

Last year Absolute Michigan talked with Crystal Mountain GM Jim MacInnes about the last year's conference and you can watch it right here:

Photo Credit

The photos in the video are from the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr. If you mouse over them you can see title and photographer's name and you can click to see more great work from them.

Pumpkin Patch by Larry the Biker

In his essay Threatening Agriculture, Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says that it looks as if Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm will veto funding for agricultural extension programs after witholding the October payment for extension. He quotes dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University Jeffrey Armstrong as saying this would be devastating to Michigan's second largest industry in a variety of ways including the loss of millions more in federal matching funds.

“The Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station system and MSU extension are providing the research, development, and education for Michigan’s emerging green economy,” Armstrong said.

If that funding is eliminated, or even if it is withheld, he says it would “destroy our ability to build the one economic sector in which Michigan has an advantage,” he says.

What that would mean is that MSU would have to shut down its 83 extension offices -- one per county - plus 15 agricultural and biological research stations and some other programs.

Jack notes that we're not just talking 4H here - we're talking after school programs in inner cities and a wide range of health and education issues that touch all aspects of our lives in Michigan.

I'll switch to italics to editorialize: This is about the most senseless thing I've ever heard of. Michigan is defined by what we grow and right now it seems like we're growing stupidity.

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!

The annual Toast the Season wine trail tour is a great chance to experience the wineries of the Leelanau Peninsula. event features a special wine pour accompanied by holiday themed gourmet food at each of the 17 Leelanau Peninsula member wineries. At your starting winery you will be given a commemorative glass and a holiday gift bag featuring a unique holiday ornament and food & drink from the members of Sleeping Bear Gourmet, a group of local, fair trade and organic food producers.

Leelanau Tarts (fo-lomo) by farlane

Old Orchard Brands debuts 'Very Cherre' premier line of cherry juice on mLive begins:

Move over exotic pomegranate, acai and mangosteen. The All-American tart cherry could be the next rage in superhealthy “superfruits.”

Old Orchard Brands is giving the simple pie fruit a chic makeover with its introduction of a premier line of juices called Very Cherre.

The Sparta-based fruit juice company will debut the 100 percent tart cherry juice product this week at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, J.W. Marriott and other Amway properties. There, Very Cherre — available in Pure Tart Cherry and three cherry blends — will be added to sauces, mixed in cocktails and sold in gift shops.

“I think it’s a superb product,” said Gerhard Schmied, vice president/director of food and beverage for the Amway Hotel Collection. “It’s from our own backyard. I can’t emphasize how important that is.”

Very Cherre juice is made from Montmorency tart cherries grown in the Leelanau Peninsula. The northern Michigan region is the biggest producer of the Montmorency cherries.

Read the rest at mLive and check out verycherre.com - kind of cool to see a private company promoting their product AND the region it's grown in! (especially since it's in Michigan!)

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.

the biggest pumpkin in Michigan by farlane

Halloween season of course means pumpkins, and if possible, the bigger the better!

The largest pumpkins are Cucurbita maxima. They were cultivated from the hubbard squash genotype, crossed with kabocha-pumpkin types by enthusiast farmers through intermittent effort since the early 1800s.

Weigh-off competitions for giant pumpkins are a popular fall festival activity. It's hard to believe that just 30 years ago, 460 pounds was the world record for the largest pumpkin until Howard Dill (of Nova Scotia) broke the record in 1981 with an almost  500 pound pumpkin. Dill patented the seeds as Dill’s Atlantic Giant and he's really the father of all the giant pumpkins today, most of which are borne from crossing and re-crossing his patented seed with other varieties. In 1994, the Giant Pumpkindom passed the 1,000-pound mark and the current record is from September 2007, when Joe Jutras of Rhode Island whelped a 1,689-pound monster!

Michigan's largest this year (pictured right) was 1489 pounds, grown by Ken Sweet of Washington, Michigan. It was carved by Frankfort master carver Ed Moody. Speaking of Frankfort & pumpkins, here's a video from a few years back showing who wins when giant pumpkin meets car! As promised, here's the pumpkin slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr!

ART PRIZE 2009 by RichardD72

Michigan has taken the national stage with one eye on the ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids and the other on it's burgeoning and award winning wine industry which gaining credibility amongst wine experts and wine lovers. This is truly a positive and a definite 180 degree flip from most of the national news our state receives as of late.

ArtPrize garners national attention in the New York Times

The New York Times reports on the competition and the overwhelming positive response and impact on Grand Rapids in their article Eyes on the ArtPrize by Micheline Maynard. The article also takes note of several of the exhibits including some of the final top 10 entries. The winner of ArtPrize drew over 1,200 artists and has had about 32,000 people register to vote on the works. The winner will be awarded 250,00 with a minimum of $7,000 for the nine runners-up.

No matter who wins, the 17-day competition has spurred a lively debate in Grand Rapids, a city of about 200,000 with a tradition of interest in art. It is home to several museums and a college of art and design.

“Every conversation I’ve had here for the past two weeks has been about art,” said Dustin Dwyer, a correspondent for Michigan Radio, a public radio network, who is based in Grand Rapids and has reported on the competition since its inception earlier this year. “From that perspective, it’s a success. But are we rewarding good art? That’s up for question.”

Be sure to check out Absolute Michigan on Location - ArtPrize and the Absolute Michigan's ArtPrize 2009 Page.

Michigan wine continues to gain ground as a world class product

The 45th parallel yielding good wine from Michigan, ABC reports.

Other national news regarding Michigan wines and wine trails

Off the beaten wine trail: Explore four emerging regions - USA Today

Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan: The state's 56 wineries are spread across Michigan along four wine trails, but most of the best grapes are grown near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan and its bays.

Exotic vacations may be closer than you think: Napa Valley-esque wine tastings - CNN

If it's wine you want, find an alternative to Napa Valley in Michigan's Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas. Here you'll discover more than 850 acres of land and more than 20 wineries for your choosing.

The area offers tastings and gourmet meals, and Kantrowitz says, "The region is particularly known for its great pinot blancs."

The new Napa Valley: Taste one of Obama's favorite wines at this Michigan winery - Examiner.com

The rumor is that Michigan is soon to become the new Napa Valley. With climate changes potentially affecting the California coastline, Napa vineyard owners are looking to Northern Michigan to grow their grapes.

Part of the appeal of Northern Michigan is the colder climate on the 45th Parallel where grapes for rare ice wines flourish. For more information on why wines do so well along the 45th parallel, read the Chicago Tribune’s story on this region.

Best North American Wine Destinations - Digital City

8. Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City lends itself to making Baco Noir and Cabernet Franc, thanks to grapes that grow near the shores of Lake Michigan, offering a unique climate. The rest of the state's wines come from Michigan wine country, where you can also find rare fruit and ice wines.

According to Michigan Wines - The Official Website of Michigan's Wine Industry:

Michigan's wine, grapes and grape juice products and related industries ...

... produced nearly $790 million of total economic value to the State of Michigan in 2005

... paid more than $42 million in state and local taxes in Michigan, and an additional $42 million in federal taxes

... account for more than 5,000 jobs across the state, for a payroll of more than $190 million

Check out their collection of photos of Michigan's vineyards and wineries.

The week-long series of beer-centric events will be held at participating venues in Detroit, with satellite events at Metro-Detroit brewpubs. These events will consist of brewery tours, tasting flights, meet-the-brewer sessions, food pairings, and a wide array of other unique activities. Events will be hosted by Detroit Beer Week staff and the Detroit Beer Barons, a group of Metro-area brewery personalities.

“We wanted to stay away from the traditional ‘drink this beer, get a keychain’ –type promotions, and instead focus on events that give value to the consumer and to the venue hosting the event,” stated Jon Piepenbrok, principal organizer of the events, AKA Chief Imaginationer.

The grand finale of Beer Week is the Inaugural Harvest Festival, hosted by the Michigan Brewers’ Guild and Metrotimes on Saturday, October 24, in Eastern Market.

While the Guild is not organizing Beer Week events, they have given their full support and cooperation to the organizing committee. “When the Guild announced the Harvest Festival in Eastern Market, we not only saw an opportunity to promote Michigan Beer in southeast Michigan,” stated Jon Piepenbrok, “but to promote the Great City of Detroit, as well; and the Guild has been extremely supportive of our efforts, even including information about events on their website at www.michiganbrewersguild.org.”

The participating venues include Slow’s Bar BQ, Foran’s Grand Trunk Pub, Park Bar, Motor City Brewing Works, Traffic Jam & Snug, Atwater Block Brewery, Detroit Beer Company, Wolfgang Puck Grille, Michael Symon’s Roast, 24Grille, and Fender’s Pub at the Omni Hotel.

A complete, updated list of events and information can be found Facebook.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

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

Oktoberfest is Mid-Michigan’s only authentic German festival, and the authentic food, imported German beer, and traditional German dancing, bring crowds from all over the state. Every year the festival continues to grow, and this year the festival is expected to attract more people than ever. No one will want to miss out on the “music, essen and bier” at the 2009 Old Town Oktoberfest!

For more information and/or tickets visit, www.oldtownoktoberfest.com or visit the Old Town Commercial Association website.

A Brief History of Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest began as a celebration of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese’s marriage on October 12, 1810. This year, Munich is celebrating the 176th anniversary of Oktoberfest. Throughout the past 199 years, Oktoberfest has become the world’s largest festival and brings nearly six million attendees to Munich during the sixteen-day event to experience their Bavarian culture.

TravelChannelTV - Shane-O guides us through Munich's biggest party - Oktoberfest.

Find your way to Oktoberfest in Lansing's Old Town

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