Event dynamo Michael Moore has teamed up with comedian Jeff Garlin to launch the Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival. The inaugural comedy fest takes place this weekend (February 19-21, 2010) and features and impressive roster of established comedians including Roseanne Barr, John Waters, Whitney Cummings, JB Smoove, Mike Birbiglia along with some up-and-coming comedians, films and associated hoopla. View the schedule of comedians and special events & films and order tickets!

The venues that they use for the annual Traverse City Film Festival will be converted to have a nightclub feel and they'll even be doing free, late night shows in the basement of Horizon Books hosted by Jeff Garlin. They'll also be having a free, outdoor showing of the comedy classic Groundhog Day with special live features. All in all, it's shaping up to be a one-of-a-kind experience for Michigan comedy fans!

You can follow blog posts, #comedytc Twitter posts and other media on the TCFF Blog and on Absolute Michigan's Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival page.

Head over to Absolute Michigan's Traverse City pages to get lodging, dining and other visitor information.

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.

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

This photo depicts apple pickers in the Old Mission Peninsula. It was taken in the early 1890s. (The caption on the front of the photo gives the year as “1894.” However, identifying information on the back gives the year as “1891.” The exact date, then, is uncertain.) Definitely click the photo for a larger view!

Michigan’s Fruit Belt

Michigan’s “fruit belt” strides the shore of Lake Michigan. The Lake itself plays a key role. It functions as a moderating body, preventing temperatures from getting too cold in the fall and too hot in the summer. It also provides the frequent rainfall that fruit farmers require. This climate combines with rich soil and regional topography to provide ideal fruit-growing conditions.

The Growth of an Industry

Michigan’s fruit industry started to boom about the time of the Civil War. By then, Chicago’s growing population had provided a ready market. Transportation improvements (notably the expansion of railroads) provided greater access to this and other population centers.

In Grand Traverse County (where the photo above was taken), the fruit industry grew as the lumber industry declined. In 1872, Grand Traverse County yielded 3,241 bushels of apples. Thirty years later, that number had increased to 276,000 bushels for a single year! Around the same time, Grand Traverse County had become Michigan’s number one county for cherry production.

Some Current Numbers…

Michigan continues to be a leader in fruit production. In the year 2000, it ranked third nationwide in apple production. The state also ranks first in the production of blueberries and red tart cherries and fourth in the production of sweet cherries. Many other fruits, including peaches, plums, grapes and strawberries, grow abundantly here. For more information, click Michigan Agricultural Commodities to visit the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s Commodities Site.

Also check out absolutemichigan.com/apples for some great links and recipes!

Michigan Uncorked is a regular column by Lorri Hathaway and Sharon Kegerreis, writers who are passionate for Michigan and authors of award-winning From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries. Learn all about Lorri & Sharon and their book at www.michiganvine.com.

Love Cabernet Franc? Head to Old Mission Peninsula. The top three honors for the first-ever Michigan Cabernet Franc Wine Challenge were exclusively awarded to wines grown from the region.

The winner of the competition and the coveted Harding's Cup was Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery’s 2007 Artisan Series Cabernet Franc. Brys Estate also took the bronze third place medal for its 2007 Cabernet Franc. And, just down the road from Brys Estate, Two Lads Winery won the silver second place medal for its Reserved Cabernet Franc.

The Michigan Cabernet Franc Wine Challenge, held at the historic Park Club in downtown Kalamazoo in August, was the brainchild of Terry Stingley of Harding's Friendly Markets based in Kalamazoo. Twenty-two wines from 18 Michigan wineries and one wine from the Chinon region of the Loire Valley of France (all 2007 vintage), were evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges.

"It was a great opportunity to taste an exceptional array of well-made wines from a stunning Michigan vintage," said Master Sommelier Claudia Tyagi, who was one of the six judges for the competition. "It is so exciting to realize that we are on the ground floor of something huge for Michigan's future. It was not inappropriate to compare these wines to a classic French Chinon, but our beauties left the Chinon in the dust."

Photo credit: Patrick Brys

The festival will feature beer from great Michigan breweries including Arbor, Arcadia, Bell's, Dark Horse, Founders, Jolly Pumpkin, Keweenaw, Michigan Brewing, New Holland, North Peak, Right Brain, Sergeants, Shorts and Tri-City. Also in attendance will be national breweries like Magic Hat, Red Hook and Sierra Nevada.

In addition to the great beer, there will be music from Buckwheat Zydeco, Clumsy Lovers, Caravan Of Thieves, Mike Moran + Levi Britton and others along with great grub, workshops and other associated fun including the Cherry Roubaix, a criterium bike race through the streets of Traverse City that starts at 12:30.

Absolute Michigan will definitely be going and we encourage you to join us! Tickets are $25 in advance ($30 at the door) and available online at porterhouseproductions.com.

The event is a celebration of craft brewing, a movement that is taking hold all over Michigan and the country. Here's a great video featuring a number of craft brewers talking about why they do what they do and what it means.

About the Festival

The Traverse City Wine & Art Festival is being organized in order to create a landmark celebration of the wine, food and culture for the region. It will feature 22 wineries from the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas along with a selection of Traverse City and Leelanau restaurants providing food & desserts. Art Center Traverse City will be coordinating a sampling of artists and arts organizations who will display and sell their work in booths ringing the tent. Music will be offered for the duration, headlined by Michigan's own Thom Jayne and the Nomads who play a truly unique blend of world and Celtic infused jazz. The music will be punctuated by original dance from the Michigan Dance Collective.

Saharan Caravan by Thom Jayne and the Nomads

"The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association is excited to be building a major wine festival that will showcase the amazing wines of our region against the beautiful backdrop of the Grand Traverse Commons. We feel that the blend of art, food and wine is a natural combination that highlights three things we do very well in Northwest Michigan," said festival chairperson Jaclyn Eikey. "With the addition of some really eclectic music and entertainment, I think it will be an experience like none other offered in our area. The proceeds from this year's party will help us build a festival that we feel will become one of the highlights of summer in the Traverse City area."

Tickets

Tickets are limited and can be purchased online for $20 per person and will be available for pickup on the day of the event. You can also pick them up at the following locations:

Bel Lago, Black Star Farms (All 3 locations), Bowers Harbor, Brys Estate, Chateau Chantal, Chateau de Leelanau, Chateau Fontaine, Chateau Grand Traverse, Cherry Republic Winery, Ciccone, Forty-Five North, Gill's Pier, Good Neighbor Organic, L. Mawby, Leelanau Wine Cellars, Left Foot Charley, Peninsula Cellars, Shady Lane Cellars, Silver Leaf, Tandem Ciders, Traverse City Convention , & Visitors Bureau, Turtle Creek, Two Lads, Willow Vineyard

Tickets purchased online will be available for pickup on the day of the event. They are nonrefundable but can be transferred to another name if you are unable to attend. YOU MUST BE 21+ to attend.

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

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

mikesophia is one of tens of thousands of people taking in the 2009 Traverse City Film Festival. He snapped this shot of one of balloon artist Jason Hackenworth's fanciful sea creatures on the opening night of the festival and we're using it today on a brief article about how the festival is bringing inspiration to the lives of youths in our On Location: Traverse City Film Festival coverage.

The photo is part of Mike's Traverse City Film Festival set. His other sets include Birds and Nature (slideshow).

Check out Mike's Flickriver.

See an interview with Jason Hackenworth over on TED.

Our next stop is the 2009 Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF) which takes place July 28 through August 2 in Traverse City, Michigan.

This is the 5th year, and the annual festival has grown to become one of the largest film festivals in the Midwest and one of the most respected in the country. Last year, there were over 80,000 admissions to nearly 100 screenings, a number of them U.S. or world premieres. A special emphasis is given to foreign films, American independents, documentaries, and films which have been overlooked but deserve the attention of a public starved to see a good movie.

The festival also features some excellent panels with filmmakers and other experts exploring documentary filmmaking, comedy, the new film mecca of the West Bank and Gaza and other subjects.

We'll pay special attention to the Michigan Film Office Advisory Council Meeting which takes place on Friday, July 31st. Council members will hold their regular meeting and then take questions from the audience regarding the booming Michigan film industry.

There's also the new TCFF Film School, parties and even free outdoor movies. Through it all, Absolute Michigan will be there and we invite you to share your comments and also to share your photos in the Traverse City Film Festival Group on Flickr.

We'll also be featuring content from Interlochen Public Radio and the Traverse City Film Festival blog.

by Bill Herd

Camping is as American as apple pie—oops, I mean cherry pie. It’s part of our pioneer heritage. Not too many generations back, we were all outdoor folks, hunters in the forest, shepherds on the hillsides, herders on the plains, farmer tilling the soil, fishing folk and sailors at sea. For many of us, being outdoors is part of our genetic makeup. When the weather turns fair we long to be out of the city and back in the countryside. A tent and a campfire are two of our favorite companions.

Except for recreational vehicle campers that require full hook ups, camping at Sleeping Bear Dunes has something for everyone, so you really can “have it your way.” From vehicle camping with modern restrooms and electric to backpacking on a remote wilderness island, you will find opportunities for the type of camping you seek for your next trip. Best of all, camping is inexpensive. A site with electric and a Lakeshore pass will cost just $150 for seven nights, a small fraction of what a modest cottage on an inland lake would cost for a week. In these tough economic times, camping may be just what we need.

I did not realize just how important camping might be this year until I read two articles in the same newspaper. The first article talked about the stress the current economic crisis is having on individuals and families. The article recommended that families think about alternative vacations, and have fun simply spending time together. The second article reported that a large numbers of families would not be taking a vacation this summer because of the economy. So, just when families need a vacation for their mental health, they will not be taking one. But a camping vacation to Sleeping Bear Dunes can provide an enjoyable, fun-filled vacation and still save a large amount of money, not to mention a number of activities that are available at little or no expense.

The Platte River Campground is the park’s premier campground. Campers who have camped at many different National Parks often remark that is the nicest campground in the entire system. The campground has paved roads, which keeps dust from smothering you, your campsite and the nearby vegetation. Campsites are generous and spaced well apart and take full advantage of the terrain with abundant vegetationbetween sites. Campground staff keep the modern restrooms immaculate and “These are the cleanest restrooms I’ve ever seen” is often heard by Park staff. The ultimate luxury for a camper is a hot shower, which is available for a small fee. (They are a $1 for six minutes—let your teenagers use their own money for any additional time they feel they need) Some of the Platte River Campground sites have electric hook-ups and some can be reserved ahead. From the back of the campground there is a half-mile trail that leads to Lake Michigan and a nice sandy beach. One of the big advantages of the Platte River Campground is that poison ivy is not common and most years mosquitoes are few because of the well drained sandy soil, which are actually ancient dunes.

The campground also features 25 walk-in sites, which give campers a rare opportunity to get away from vehicles and traffic and get closer to nature with a short hike that's not farther than a city block. Once set up, life at your walk-in site takes on a relaxed pace and atmosphere. Parents of young children do not have to constantly watch to be sure the kids are not in the campground road. They can also enjoy themselves as the young ones amuse themselves in nature’s playground. Campers are often reluctant to use these sites fearing the extra work required to carry their gear to the campsite. Usually, however, they are pleasantly surprised to find that the close-to-nature experience is worth the extra effort. Here is a hint: it is not necessary to carry all your gear to the campsite. Rangers suggest that campers store food in their vehicle at night, so just take the food you need for the next meal. Likewise, you will be returning to the parking area to use the rest rooms and showers so just leave your clean clothes and towels in the vehicle. I cannot think of any other place where you can camp away from traffic and still have easy access to modern restrooms and hot showers. You get the best of both worlds. If that's not enough, at the back of the restroom is a kitchen sink with hot water where you can wash dishes. I encourage you to consider the walk-in sites. However, full disclosure requires me to inform you that the walk-in sites were my idea when we were developing the design plans for the reconstruction of the campground.

The D.H. Day Campground on Lake Michigan near the Sleeping Bear Dunes provides traditional rustic campsites—no electric, no flush toilets, no showers. It has been a favorite campground for Michigan families for generations. Highlights of the campground are its simple, widely spaced campsites, airy pine and oak forest and its close proximity to the Lakeshore’s main attractions. D.H. Day Campground is named for local lumber and shipping entrepreneur David Henry Day, who owned most of the adjacent forest, and donated 32 acres of land along the shore of Lake Michigan to the state for Michigan’s first state park in 1920. You can visit his company town of Glen Haven, which is now a historic village, just a short walk from the campground. One disadvantage of this campground is the large amount of poison ivy. Just about every plant that is not a tree is poison ivy, so beware and stay on the campsite, paths and roads. Since the early part of the last century the National Park Service has provided high quality ranger programs in its campgrounds. Both campgrounds continue this National Park tradition with evening amphitheater programs or hikes.

For those who wish for a more adventurous camping experience, the Lakeshore has two hike-in campgrounds on the mainland and two on South Manitou Island. Hiking distance is about a mile to a mile and a half depending on the one you choose. On the mainland the White Pine Backcountry Campground is the most popular since its sites are near Lake Michigan. The six sites are in the pines just back of the dunes at the middle of Platte Plains, close to the lake but not so close that you will have sand in your sleeping bag and food. The Valley View Campground on the edge of the Port Oneida Historic District seldom gets used since its sites are not on a body of water. They are located in a sunny meadow surrounded by mature hardwood forest, and if you want to camp in solitude, this is your place. The hike-in campgrounds on South Manitou Island are the Bay and Weather Station; both are close to Lake Michigan. A normally overlooked hike-in campground is on North Manitou Island not far from the dock. Since most campers to the north island are backpackers who want to put some miles on their boots, you can usually have the campground to yourself. Set up camp and enjoy the beach, forest and historic village. If your family is not up to backpacking because of age, this may be the best place in the park. On one of our family camping trips to this campground, campers ranged in age from one year to 80. All campers on North Manitou need to be prepared to purify their drinking water, including those camped in the campground.

Backpackers who want to hike farther have two choices: Popple Campground on the north side of South Manitou and North Manitou Island. The Popple Campground is slightly over three miles from the dock. On North Manitou backpackers can select their own camping spot on the 15000 acre island, an opportunity not allowed on most other public lands. However, there are some important restrictions the ranger on North will tell you about when you register for a backcountry permit. Campers on either Manitou Island need to remember to take everything they need. There are no stores on the islands so if you forget batteries for your camera or insect repellant you will have to do without. On the other hand, the islands are about as safe as backcountry camping venue as you will fine anywhere. There are no dangerous animals, you can not get lost for too long before you find a known landmark, rangers are nearby if someone gets hurt or sick and, if needed, for emergency evacuation the Coast Guard helicopter is just a few minutes away in Traverse City.

For detailed information about camping fees, reservations and rules check the camping pages on the official Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore web site and also the camping fees & reservations page. Group sites are also available at both main campgrounds and on both islands.

Photos

• Platte River National Campground by rharlow
• Untitled by cyoas55
• Untitled by cyoas55
• Tent Crescent City by Arace

Michigan Uncorked is a regular column by Lorri Hathaway and Sharon Kegerreis, writers who are passionate for Michigan and authors of award-winning From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries. Learn all about Lorri & Sharon and their book at www.michiganvine.com.

Forty-five years ago, Bernie Rink planted grapes in northern Michigan. As a reflection of his own childhood on a vineyard in northern Ohio, Bernie believed the labor-intensive farming would instill good values in his five sons.

“Every time I sat next to my wife on the couch, I got another son,” Bernie jokes. “After the fifth one, I knew I needed to do something to put them to bed tired at night.”

At the time, wine grapes were not being commercially farmed in northern Michigan. Bernie tested 35 French-American hybrid varieties to determine which ones could survive the cold winter temperatures. Six varieties made the cut, and Bernie has kept things simple by handcrafting quality table wines from the same varieties ever since. The six include Bernie’s favorite de Chaunac, as well as Vignoles, Seyval Blanc, Aurore Blanc, Vin Blanc and Soleil Blanc.

“Everybody should be able to afford to put decent wine on their dinner table each night,” states Bernie, who opened Boskydel Vineyards in 1976. Three price increases in almost 40 years has kept Bernie’s wines under $10 a bottle.

Boskydel wines can only be found in the simple tasting room on Leelanau Peninsula overlooking Lake Leelanau. On your way, keep an eye out for the small sign hidden among the trees and the rusted mailbox at the bottom of the drive. Also, be sure to just take a friend or two as the self-proclaimed “Wine Nazi” does not encourage groups or crowds and allows only eight tasters at a time; and be prepared with cash or check, the only two forms of payment accepted at the tasting room.

On a sunny day, you may find Bernie sitting outside his entry door. Most likely, though, you’ll find him pouring wines from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. every day amidst his piles of books and the haphazard collection of faded newspaper clippings, artwork and favorite sayings covering the four walls. A notable family treasure hanging on one wall is an 1847 grape picking basket brought from Germany on the Mosel River by Bernie’s great grandfather, Martin Rink. One of our favorite posted sayings is, “I’m a prisoner in a wine cellar… don’t shend help.” (An intentional play on “send” of course!)

The result of Bernie’s vision and hard work years ago has paid off five times over. Bernie is proud of his five sons and believes the values he instilled in them as young boys gave them the tools for their success today. Amazingly, a smart, fatherly decision in 1964 ignited northern Michigan’s now booming wine industry. So, while you won’t find gourmet cheese plates or fancy wine décor when you visit Boskydel, you will find one of northern Michigan’s most respected winemakers.

Morels ! by cedarkayak

The latest issue of Midwest Living feature on the Best Midwest Food Towns served up a platefull of restaurants in our region that might entice the culinary tourist. Their editors selected Traverse City as the #2 town and Ann Arbor #3. Also featured were a collection of recipes from Traverse City including Morel Mushroom Cream Sauce With Pasta and a Creme Fraiche from Shetler's Dairy.

The Detroit City Council's proposal to demolish Michigan Central Station as a means to bring in Federal stimulus dollars seemed to many to have all the brilliance of a plan to get rich quick by selling both your kidneys. Now the Detroit News reports that developer Manuel (Matty) Moroun is proposing to lease Michigan Central Station to the United States government for redevelopment. The Department of Homeland Security offices for Customs and Border Protection are seeking to lease almost 50,000 square feet of space in the Detroit area to house personnel.

Of surprise to nobody - outside of State government at least - the Detroit News is reporting that Michigan's agricultural industry is bucking the trend of decline:

The state's overall agricultural industry -- which includes not only farming but also food processing and biofuels, wineries and beer-making -- grew 12 percent to $71.3 billion in revenue in 2007, following several years of single-digit growth; 2008 figures are not yet available.

...Some 100 agri-food businesses have started in Michigan during the past five years, according to the MDA.

Imagine what we could do if we really invested in building and promoted our agricultural bounty.

Edward Vielmetti has a tasty post that includes Michigan's morel festivals and the book How to Find Morels by Milan Pelouch. Even more about morels at Absolute Michigan keyword morel!

Thursday April 30th at the Magic Bag in Ferndale features Rachael Davis, My Dear Disco, Nervous But Excited, and Chris Bathgate. ACLU of Michigan staff attorney Jay Kaplan will discuss what his organization’s LGBT project is working on to help the cause of LGBT victim rights. Tickets are $10 at the door and the show starts at 8pm.

Friday May 1st in Ann Arbor is Nervous But Excited and Breathe Owl Breathe will play at The Ark. Coalition for Adoption Rights Equality (CARE) President Beverly Davidson will discuss House Bill 4131 that could allow for second-parent adoptions in Michigan. Tickets are $15 at the door and the show starts at 8pm.

Saturday May 2nd at the Insideout Gallery in Traverse City is Kalamazoo-based old time string-bang Who Hit John? (pictured above) will be there along with songwriter Michael Beauchamp and Cmoon, featuring local freestyle artist Cnote, Moon Beam and Adam Reid. Triangle Foundation Victim Service Director Melissa Pope will discuss various legal and political issues. Tickets are $15 at the door, $12 in advance.

Here's their promo video...

The photo is Midcentury Mondo Atomic Modernism from docksidepress. You'll probably want to see it bigger

We'll get back to Linda's Weird Wednesdays next month! In the meantime, check out Happy Birthday to you, Traverse Colantha Walker on Michigan in Pictures.

Check Absolute Michigan keyword "syrup" for more maple syrup goodness!

Our latest Photo Friday comes to us from above Traverse City and shows the west and east arms of Grand Traverse Bay, divided by the Old Mission Peninsula. Be sure to check this out larger.

Matt (Airplane Lane) has a bunch of sets from all over the world, but if you're specifically focused on Michigan, check out sets incuding Union City Lake, Saline and Aerial Photography (slideshow)

Sweet Treat by ( Jennifer )

"All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!"
~Lucy Van Pelt (Peanuts)

While many of us count chocolate as a food group, there's no doubt that interest in "the 5th food group" peaks around Valentine's Day. Whether it's pairings of Wine & Chocolate, Beer & Chocolate or just plain Chocolate & More Chocolate, it's the time of year to celebrate the tastiest of health foods. It's more than just for Valentine's Day as researchers have found that chocolate benefits your mood too, and goodness knows we can all use a little boost here and there in February and March!

Because I would rather think about chocolate than work, I spent a little time digging around Absolute Michigan's chocolate collection to help you indulge your sweetie's - or your own - passion for chocolate.

I have to start with the chocolate I eat the most of: Grocer's Daughter Chocolate from Mimi Wheeler. I am lucky enough to manage her web site, and thereby to be the recipient of all kinds of tasty truffles and chocolate delights. While it may be too late to order for Valentine's Day this year, keep Mimi's Valentine's boxes in mind and visit her shop in Empire any time for some amazing handmade goodness.

Last weekend at the annual Taste the Passion wine tour, I met Patricia of Patricia's Chocolates in Grand Haven.  Her gorgeous artisan ganache and caramel chocolates (pictured right) have to be seen (and tasted) to be believed. You can view her selection and take my word that beyond flavors like Michigan Blueberry or Cherry and Hazelnut Cube are some chocolates that will take you to a whole new level like Saigon Cinnamon and perhaps the best chocolate I've ever had: Earl Grey Tea! You can read much more about Patricia in Patricia's Psychology of Chocolate from Rapid Growth.

There's a whole bunch more links waiting for you in Absolute Michigan's chocolate collection, and if you're still not full, check out the Chocolate slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool (and feel free to add your own!)

All winter we have the chance to walk on water, frozen water that is. Snowshoeing allows us to walk into the magic of winter, discovering the quiet sounds and subtle colors that await our discovery, often right outside our backdoor. Snowshoeing in Michigan is available to anyone who can walk; basically we can all discover the miracle of winter and walking on water.

The event Snowshoe d' Art offers us that opportunity. Spend a morning discovering the beauty of northern Michigan and the hidden beauty of the Michigan Legacy Art Park on Saturday, January 31st. The art park offers a snow-covered gallery of sculptures, a visual hide and seek of shapes and colors. All ages can begin their Saturday morning with a choice of guided tours, sharing it with friends or enjoying it alone.

Besides the spiritual side of snowshoeing, there is the obvious physical benefit of getting outside and discovering the winter landscape.

Snowshoeing is a weigh baring activity that all ages can participate in. It offers an aerobic workout that builds muscular strength in both the legs and upper body (when poles are used). Snowshoeing offers a low impact activity that is easy on joints especially in deep powder and the design of snowshoes act as shock absorbers on hard packed snow.

High caloric expenditure is another perk- allowing us to drink more hot cocoa and enjoy the comfort foods of the winter season!

There is no excuse to feel good, and connect with your inner spirit and strengthen your physical body!

Women's Winter Tour Weekend - January 31 - February 1, 2009

You can register for Saturday's Snowshoe d'Art at womenswintertour.com. It's just one of many events the Women's Winter Tour Weekend at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville offers. The weekend benefits Active Women Now, an organization dedicated to supporting domestic abuse charities and shelters. Check the schedule for complete details, and definitely think about Saturday night's LUNAFEST and Chocolate, where you can learn about the nuances of African & South American chocolate while watching the short films in the LUNAFEST national traveling film festival. It's followed by  dancing in your best sixties costume with music from the Fabulous Horndogs. On Sunday there's the original WWT, a cross-country ski or snowshoe through scenic, private courses with great food, wine and chocolate featured along the trail and at the main staging area!

About the Author

Kaye Krapohl is the founder of the Women's Winter Tour, and believes that art, as well as outdoor activity is a vital part of a person's development. An artist herself, she envisioned the Snowshoe d'Art as a way to help share her love of winter, but also support two causes near and dear to her heart: resources for women struggling to escape an unhealthy relationship by donating funds to domestic abuse centers and an appreciation for art.

The video is May Erlewine singing her song Water and it includes some water photos courtesy photographers of the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr. There's links to view the photos bigger on Flickr below and you can click to YouTube if you want to spread the word on your blog or Facebook or see the video in high quality.

Sarna mentions the Independent Media Conference - there's a link.

More videos from Scott Allman on YouTube and also visit Fork in the Road!

courtesy Leelanau.com

The Michigan Land Use Institute hosts nationally known author Bill McKibben whose work includes The End of Nature and the new Deep Economy to explain how doing simple things like eating more local food, living in more vibrant urban communities, investing locally, and enjoying our own area's entertainment and culture can be a big part of stopping global warming and encourage genuine prosperity in Michigan.

Special Guests Seth Bernard and Daisy May Erlewine, two of northern Michigan's most acclaimed and popular singers and songwriters, will perform as well.

The event takes place on Sunday, September 7 at Lars Hockstad Auditorium on 301 W. 7th Street in Traverse City from 6-9 PM. Admission is free and the first 350 people under 21 get free T-shirts. More details at mlui.org.

For more on the author, check out the Wikipedia entry for Bill McKibben and billmckibben.com, where you can read an excerpt from Deep Economy.

How is our nation going to cope with global warming, peak oil, inequality, and a growing sense of isolation? Bill McKibben provides the simple but brilliant answer the economists have missed—we need to create 'depth' through local interdependence and sustainable use of resources. I will be requiring this inspiring book for my students, and passionately recommending it to everyone else I know."

—Juliet Schor, professor of sociology, Boston College
author of The Overspent American

Thanks everyone for your entries and stay tuned for more opportunities to dig into Michigan from Absolute Michigan!

Get a taste of what awaits you at the Epicurean Classic with this video from the Epicurean Classic from Fork in the Road!

Tasting Tent II by farlane

Absolute Michigan is excited to have given away a pair of Two-Day Passes to the 2008 Epicurean Classic held in Traverse City, Michigan (note - tickets are still available!)

The Epicurean Classic is one of the premier annual celebrations of culinary artisanship, and your day passes will grant you access into all four cooking demo stages and the Tasting Pavilion on Friday, September 12 and Saturday, September 13, 2008! We're talking TOTAL ACCESS to every cooking demo taking place on Friday and Saturday - nearly forty classes in all featuring chefs like Joyce Goldstein, Matthew Kenney, Joey Altman, Lori Narlock, Martha Foose, Brian Polcyn, Raghavan Iyer, Deborah Schneider, Danyel Couet, Diane Morgan, Wendy Rahamut, Don Yamauchi and more.

When you're breathless and parched from watching chefs do their thing, wander into the Tasting Pavilion where you'll find thirty-plus wine tables hosted by prestigious importers and wholesalers including Trinchero, Diageo, Terlato, Vin Divino, Moet-Hennessy, Wilson-Daniels, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Kobrand, Fosters, Icon Estates, Palm Bay, etc and - of course - a superb collection of Michigan wineries and winemakers from Leelanau, Old Mission and elsewhere will be on hand along. There will also be some fabulous brewers like Stella Artois, Jolly Pumpkin, New Holland, Sam Adams, and Short's. Don't forget the separate General Cigar tent outfitted this year with a Cuban lounge feel. Leo Peraza, the cigar roller is back again demonstrating the magical art of rolling whole leaves of ultra premium cigar tobacco, and the legendary creator of the Cohiba brand, Benji Menendez, too. Traverse City's own Habana Cafe will be muddling and shaking mojitos and serving Cuban apps with the General guys, too.

The Long Crossing

A combination of Wikipedia's Traverse City, Michigan entry and the Traverse City CVB the Grand Traverse Bay got their name from 18th century French voyagers who made la grande traverse or "the long crossing" across the mouth of the bay Grand Traverse Bay. In 1853 the only post office in the region was located at Old Mission, then known as "Grand Traverse." While in Washington, D.C. in 1852, Tracy Lay convinced the U.S. Post Office to authorize a new post office at his newer settlement across the bay. The village was known as "Grand Traverse City," but at the suggestion of a postal clerk the "Grand" was dropped to limit confusion.

Culinary Delights

The Grand Traverse region earns the nickname of "Cherry Capital of the World," producing an estimated 360,000,000 pounds of cherries annually. It's not just cherries though - the wineries of the Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula have risen quickly to the top due to a conducive micro-climate for growing grapes. You can enjoy the region's agricultural bounty through a wide array of farm markets and food producers like Shetler Family Dairy, Moomers Homemade Ice Cream (named America's Best Scoop in 2008) and Carlson's of Fishtown. There are also at a number of great restaurants in the city and scattered throughout the area. Just a few of these to not miss are Fusion, amical, Trattoria Funistrada, The Old Mission Tavern and (of course) the Cheese Shanty.

Traverse City, in pictures

The photo above is titled Sunrise, East Arm, Traverse Bay and it was taken by Joel Dinda, who has several more from Traverse City and this set of Leelanau County photos (slideshow). As you can see from Joel's photos, the countryside and shoreline surrounding Traverse City is some of the most beautiful in Michigan. In addition to Traverse City, some things you might want to look at include Old Mission, Sleeping Bear Dunes and of course photos of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee & Wexford.

TJ's Pub by the pentax hammer

But what is there to DO in Traverse City?

If you enjoy the outdoors, Northwest Michigan is the place to go. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is among the most beautiful natural areas in the nation, offering miles of untrammeled Lake Michigan coastline, hiking, camping and cultural opportunities and the world's largest shifting sand dunes. There are many more beaches offering swimming and fishing on the area's many inland lakes like North and South Lake Leelanau and Torch Lake. You can also hike the trails of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, bike on the many backroads and trails including the TART Trails and the Betsie Valley Trail and enjoy golf at a dizzying number of golf courses.

If the outdoors isn't your thing you can experience shopping in downtown Traverse City and at villages across the region. The State Theatre - home of the Traverse City Film Festival - has been beautifully restored and shows a variety of independent and classic movies every day. The region also boasts some excellent museums including the Dennos Museum, Music House (private museum), and Great Lakes Children's Museum in Traverse City, the Manistee County Historical Museum, the Empire Area Historical Museum, Grand Traverse Lighthouse, Guntzviller's Spirit of the Woods Museum (private) and the Carl T. Johnson Hunting & Fishing Center in Cadillac.

Where do I go for more?

You can dig deeper through Absolute Michigan by checking out Absolute Michigan county pages for Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee & Wexford and also try the pages for Traverse City, Manistee, Cadillac and many other towns that you can see on the Absolute Michigan Map of Michigan. Of course there are tons of other web sites with useful information. Some of our favorites are the Traverse City Visitors Convention & Visitor's Bureau, MyNorth, Kalkaska County Michigan Online, the Benzie County Visitors Bureau, and our own Leelanau.com and betsiebay.net.

TCFF2008 by tcfilmfest

tcff/blog is an great blog covering the the also great Traverse City Film Festival. This film festival is committed to showing "Just Great Movies" and helping to save one of America's few indigenous art forms — the cinema. TCFF blogger John Williams informs us that:

Day one of the TCFF panels was a hoot. It is a MUST to attend! Such wonderful brain power in one room, chatting for our benefit. I sat in the audience with film maker/ director/ wonderful person Laura Winter, creator of "Baghdad High" a film I can't wait to see. She is so astute. Her quote, describing the TCFF and Traverse City as " like slipping into a warm bath, so comfy and cozy". How poetic. We ARE worthy!

YUCK/YUM - Pick a Side by Rudy Malmquist

Taste the Local Difference says that asparagus is ready to pick!

It's a member of the lily family and can grow as quickly as 10 inches in one day! Michigan ranks third in the nation for asparagus production (behind California and Washington) and the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board says that well cared for asparagus planting will generally produce for about 15 years without being replanted. Asparagus has no fat, cholesterol and is low in sodium. It's a nutrient-dense food which in high in folic acid and is a good source of potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, vitamins A and C, and thiamin.

It's probably little wonder that the vegetable is the subject of a documentary film, Asparagus! Stalking the American Life. The film is set in Michigan and Filmmaker Magazine writes:

Anne de Mare and Kirsten Kelly's feature-length film Asparagus! "takes viewers to the small town of Oceana, Michigan, the self-proclaimed asparagus capital of the world. After 30 years, Oceana is facing the destruction of its farming base because of a little known provision in a trade bill resulting from the 'war on drugs' [which has inadvertently created a a strong Peruvian asparagus competitor]. Faced with economic ruin and the loss of their beloved vegetable, the community decides to fight back."

Visit asparagusthemovie.com to learn more about the movie and view a trailer, and if you happen to be up in Empire this weekend, catch a screening at the Empire Asparagus Festival.

Beauty, courtesy Michigan Asparagus Board

Featured Recipe: Asparagus Frittata

1 small bunch asparagus, about 3/4 pound
1 large or 2 small leeks
2 Tbsp. butter
4-5 hen's eggs from family farm chickens
1/2 cup cream, half and half or whole milk, from a family dairy, if possible
Sea salt, to taste
Pepper, freshly ground
Nutmeg, a little grated fresh, or 1/8 tsp. ground
1/4 cup grated cheese, such as cheddar or Monterey Jack, or crumbed feta

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Break off the tough ends of asparagus. Cut the spears into 1-inch pieces on the diagonal.
3. Slice leeks into thick rounds. Put them into a bowl of cold water and mix to get the dirt out.
4. Melt the butter in an oven-safe skillet (cast iron or stainless steel). When it's hot, lift the leeks out of the water in handfuls, shaking off any excess water, and put into the pan. Saute over medium heat until just tender.
5. Add asparagus pieces to the pan along with about a Tbsp. of water. Cover the pan and allow the asparagus to steam for 1 to 3 minutes, until just tender.
6. Meanwhile, mix together the eggs with cream, milk or combination.
7. Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
8. Add asparagus to the pan and pour the egg mixture over, then add the cheese, pressing it gently into the eggs. Let this cook on the stovetop over low heat for a minute or two, and then transfer to the oven and bake until the eggs are just set-this may be as little as 5 minutes.
9. Remove from the oven, cool for a few minutes, and slice. Serve with salad, good bread, and maybe a few steamed new potatoes.

Submitted by: Full Moon Feast, Jessica Prentice, March 2006

More asparagus recipes over at Taste the Local Difference.

(Old Mission Peninsula AVA)

The meso-climate of Old Mission Peninsula is unique not only in the state of Michigan but probably in the world. Lying on the 45th parallel (like Bordeaux, Milan, etc.), the Peninsula stretches 18 miles into Grand Traverse Bay and is only four miles wide at the broadest point. We are virtually surrounded by the 600 feet deep waters of East and West Bays. It stays cold longer in the spring, protecting us from the late frosts and warm longer in the fall when we benefit from an extra six to seven weeks of ripening. The rolling hills and lake-effect snow ensure that no Arctic blasts of freezing air will stay around long enough to harm our vines.

Since most of the volatile compounds which give any fruit its flavor are formed during the last few weeks for ripening, warm (not hot!) dry conditions in October are key in creating the fully ripe, unique wines of the Old Mission Peninsula. Our maritime climate in the middle of North America’s vast continental climate provides these conditions for us. We get the warmth when we need it most. The fantastic growing seasons provide us with wines that match and even top the best wines of many of the worlds more famous growing regions.

--Mark Johnson, Winemaker, Chateau Chantal

Get information about the wineries & winemakers of the Old Mission Peninsula including their upcoming Blossom Days event (May 17 & 18).

From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries is a must-have for wine enthusiasts, first-time tasters and travel buffs alike. Authors Sharon Kegerreis and Lorri Hathaway capture the personalities of the hardworking families behind the wines and the exceptional experiences awaiting you at 51 Michigan wineries.

The 192-page hardcover book, honored as a 2008 Michigan Notable Book, begins with an insightful foreword by Governor Jennifer Granholm and wraps up with a handy wine glossary. The book is organized by four designated wine trails and “beyond the trails,” providing a sneak peek at Michigan’s wine trail destinations. Interesting tidbits on wine topics including Pinot Grigio vs. Pinot Gris, Syrah vs. Shiraz, Sparkling Wine: Why Can’t We Call It Champagne? and Ice Wine provide basic answers to lingering questions; and delicious side stories on local chocolate and cheese artisans tempt your taste buds.

Grab a glass of your favorite Michigan wine and let the beautiful photographs and intriguing stories take you on a journey through Michigan wine country. Order autographed copies of From the Vine at www.michiganvine.com during the month of April and get a $5 discount and free wine journal.

Wildflowers by Leon Baker

In Michigan, the number of native plants being buried under bulldozers is decreasing, thanks to the efforts of the Cranbrook Wildflower Rescue Committee in southern Michigan and the Leland Wildflower Rescue in northern Michigan. The Cranbrook committee has been in operation for over 25 years, the Leland committee for over 15. Both of these groups are formed of dedicated volunteers who have saved thousands of Michigan woodland plants each year, digging up native species before their habitats are razed for development. These folks have learned a lot and offer these tips for people wishing to start similar rescue programs in their areas.

A couple things to do if you're interested in starting a program, remember that you have to get signed permission from the developers or the property owner to take plants from the property. You should also have a plan for where to plant the rescued plants. They could be transplanted to a community garden, and some end up in private gardens as well. For example, every Memorial Weekend the Leland Wildflower hosts a sale of all of their plants with the proceeds going to the Leelanau Conservancy.

Here's an interesting article about wildflower rescue in Michigan and elsewhere from USA Weekend.