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. 2012 is a Leap Year!
• 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.

Michigan Events for February

Also see the Pure Michigan Blog and the UP Travel Calendar for more events!

Ice Climbing - Tannery Falls
by James Marvin Phelps

February 2 - 5
Michigan Ice Fest, Munising
Ice Fest is an annual tradition that features climbing for sure, but it gives attendees a chance to learn and develop skills, hear from some of the masters if the art and to connect with friends and fellow climbers from around the Midwest! Games, winter gear demos, bonfire, sledding hill, raffles, drinks and food are all part of this event. (check out some of the incredible climbs!)

February 2-5
North American Snow Festival, Cadillac
Featuring snowmobiling, downhill skiing, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, snow softball, polar dip, ice fishing, antique sleds, fun run, food, beverages and much more, the annual Snow Festival is a four-day celebration of winter in northern Michigan.

February 4 - 5
Taste the Passion, Leelanau Peninsula
Get a head start on Valentines Day and join the wineries of the Leelanau Wine Trail for an annual weekend celebrating wine, chocolate and love. The event features food & wine pairings at each winery along with special, winter-themed events.

The Swimmers of 2009 Perchville
by sunrisepenny

February 3 - 5
Perchville USA, East Tawas & Tawas City
The 62nd Annual Perchville USA features fishing contests, polar bear dip, a parade and more perch than you can shake a fishing pole at!

February 4
International 500 Snowmobile Race, Sault Ste. Marie
First run in 1969, the annual International 500 Snowmobile Race offers all the thrills of NASCAR on a one-mile ice oval, with drivers reaching speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. Includes all kinds of snowmobile exhibits and vendors and was proclaimed by Gov. Snyder as Michigan's premier winter sporting event!

February 9 - 12
Michigan Tech University Winter Carnival, Houghton
Events include the famous snow statues, sporting events including skating, curling, broomball, ice bowling, human sled dog racing, the queen contest, a torch light parade, fireworks, the Sno-Ball and much more.

February 10 -12
Midwest Telefest, Porcupine Mountain, Ontonagon
Telefest is the largest gathering of free heelers in the Midwest! Now in its 22nd season, Telefest has evolved into a tradition and is a hallmark celebration of the telemark turn. During Telefest there will be opportunities to try out the latest tele gear, take an instructional course or clinic, compete in races, cut turns in the backcountry, watch a movie, and dance with friends at the party!

Ski Jumping in Michigan by gkretovic

February 11 - 12
Pine Mountain Continental Cup Ski Jumping Tournament, Iron Mountain
For the 73rd year ski jumpers from around the globe will gather in Iron Mountain to try and claim king of the mountain at the 120 meter Pine Mountain Ski Jump. Known around the world as one of the more challenging ski jumping venues, Pine Mountain over time has attracted some of the world’s best. Countries expected to compete in the 2012 competition include Austria, Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Slovenia, Canada, Kazakhstan, Finland, Germany, Turkey and of course the United States.

February 11 - 19
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.

Dog sled races, UP200, 2007 by e.rabior

February 16 - 20
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 17 - 19
Cherry Capital Winter WOW Fest - Traverse City
Winter WOW Fest is a three-day wintertime celebration chock-full of fun for all ages in the Cherry Capital of the World, President's Day Weekend featuring food, wine, music, ice & snow sculptures, a snowboard rail jam and much more.

February 16 - 19
Frost Bite Winter Festival - Harrison
The 2012 theme is "Vegas!" featuring a Casino Party, Fake Vegas-style "Speed Weddings", night out with the Vegas Showgirls and golf and ice fishing tournaments. The golf tournament takes place on 5 groomed nine-hole courses, where novice and veteran golfers hit brightly colored tennis balls over the snow.

February 17 - 19
U.P. Pond Hockey Championship - St. Ignace
The Labatt Blue UP Pond Hockey Championship features over 150 teams competing for prizes is played on the wild ice of Moran Bay in St. Ignace, part of Lake Huron. The tournament is the only one in Michigan where the 'pond' is actually one of the Great Lakes! Includes and appearance of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni team for an exhibition game on Friday.

Winter Microbrew Fest by farlane

February 18
Traverse City Winter Microbrew & Music Festival, Traverse City
The 3rd annual TC Winter Microbrew fest brings over 40 breweries, wineries, cideries, and meaderies to the Grand Traverse Commons along with local food, beer pairings, heated tents, and a wide range of musical entertainment including fire dancers and silent disco to celebrate winter & brewing and benefit Bay Area Recycling for Charities.

February 18
Romancing the Riesling, Traverse City
Northern Michigan is known for producing top notch Riesling grapes, and this annual event celebrates by sharing some of the best Rieslings the Old Mission Peninsula has to offer. Participating wineries will showcase a Riesling, served in your very own souvenir wine glass and perfectly paired with a food offering. As an extra bonus, guests will enjoy at least 10% off all Riesling wine purchases at the participating wineries throughout the event.

Upper Tahquamenon Falls-Winter
by James Marvin Phelps

February 18
Tahquamenon Snowshoe Race, Tahquamenon Falls State Park
Starting at Upper Tahquamenon Falls, this annual event offers 5K, 10K, 20K and 800 meter Kids Snowshoe races. Many age groups with awards to the top three in each age group for each race.

February 20 - 25
Grand Rapids Beer Week, Grand Rapids
With seven established breweries within the city limits, Grand Rapids is quickly becoming a destination for craft beer culture. GR Beer Week is a celebration of that and will feature beer dinners, rare beer tastings, tap takeovers and other unique events.

February 24
The Great Wine & Food Symposium, Grand Rapids
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, and your single ticket price includes unlimited sampling of over 300 wines and beers from around the world as classical music drifts through the halls. Order your favorite wine and beer with up to a 40% discount.

February 25
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 25
Winter Beer Festival - Grand Rapids
NOTE - this event is (already) sold out!! The Annual Winter Beer Festival takes place 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. The event includes more than 35 Michigan microbreweries and brewpubs with more than 200 different beers available to sample.

Trenary Outhouse Suessical by CreateWithKim

February 25
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.

February 29
Leap Year!, all over Michigan
February 29th only comes once every 4 years, so do something special to mark it!

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Mackinaw bridge walk by KatSwinehart

On Labor Day (Monday, September 5th) the 54th annual Mackinac Bridge Walk takes place. The walk is free to all and starts at 7 AM and you can leave any time up to 11 AM. They have a blog with information for and about the 400 runners who won the lottery for an opportunity to take part in the early morning Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Run. It includes information for how to enter next year.

The first walk took place in the early morning hours of Labor Day, 1958. Just 68 people took that first 5 mile walk across the Mighty Mac. In the early years, it seems that the walk was sparsely attended and viewed as an annoyance until the Governor was brought in to lead the walk. The walk averages 50,000 to 65,000 attendees and the record is estimated to be 85,000 when George H. W. Bush led the walk in 1992.

In 2007, the Mackinac Bridge marked its 50th anniversary and Absolute Michigan & Michigan in Pictures posted a TON of information about the Mighty Mac that you can see on our Michigan's Mackinac Bridge page.

Here's a cool video from the Michigan Department of Transportation about last year's walk that features Lawrence Rubin, one of the primary people behind the construction of the Mackinac Bridge. Another nice video is the one we featured last year that you can watch on YouTube!

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Through the Vineyards III by lpwines

The season wineries eagerly await year-round is upon us, and the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association will usher it in in fabulous, footloose fashion with its annual Harvest Stompede. The event features fantastic food and wine pairings at participating LPVA wineries — with unique dishes at every stop — and kicks off with a 7-mile run and 5K run/walk through the grapevines Sept. 10.

The LPVA has kindly supplied MBTB with two tickets to give away to the fall festivities, set for September 10-11. Getting entered to win is easy; we'll tell you more about that in a moment!

If you're not too keen on running for your vino, no worries — participation in that segment of the celebration is strictly voluntary. The only requirement for the self-guided vineyard tour portion of the event is to have your thirst and appetite at the ready.

Here's how the 12-hour shindig works: Attendees purchase tickets to start their weekend at a specific LPVA winery, but can swing through the remainder of the stops in any order they please. Tickets allow the bearer to visit up to eight wineries on Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and eight wineries on Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Each starting point's allotment of tickets is limited to space out guests and ease crowds.

Using a plethora of locally sourced ingredients — from cherries and corn to bratwurst and whitefish — participating LPVA wineries will serve up fare orchestrated to pair well with their designated wine (or wines) of the day. (See below for a full list of the mouth-watering lineup.)

2008 Harvest Stompede157 by lpwines

LPVA spokesman Andy McFarlane said it's only natural to bring together food and drink produced in the immediate area.

"For the second year in a row, all of our tasting rooms are featuring local items in their food pairings," he said. "The wine, of course is local, and I think pairing it with food from our region makes it extra special. There's a ton of interest out there in supporting local food and local farms, and it's important to remember that local wine IS local food."

Tickets for the vineyard tour are $40 apiece. There also are $30 tickets available for designated drivers, who receive food at each site, but no glass for wine, though some locations will may provide non-alcoholic beverage substitutes.

The races and walk begin at 9 a.m. Sept. 10 at Ciccone Vineyard, located at 10343 E. Hilltop in Suttons Bay. Openings are capped at 850, and the event was at capacity last year; as of Aug. 29, the number of slots remaining was down to 80. Chip timing is available, and organizers joke that the reward for the winner is "bragging rights provided at the finish line."

McFarlane said he's not a runner himself, but adores observing the race along with other spectators.

"I know that I'm biased, but I think the Harvest Stompede race is one of the most unique running events in Michigan," said McFarlane. "The runners start to gather before sunrise and it's pretty cool to see them stretching and getting ready as the light breaks over the vineyards. At 9 a.m., the runners take off, and from the vantage at Ciccone, you can see them stream through Ciccone's vineyard and into Larry Mawby's on their way to Black Star Farms."

Entrants don't have to be seasoned runners to enjoy themselves, he noted.

"Everyone really seems to have a lot of fun with it," said McFarlane. "We have people who run barefoot and a lot of folks who walk it, too. It's really cool to me to see all the people in the vineyard with the grapes almost ready for the crush."

At the end, everyone crushes a "symbolic tub of grapes," he added.

Participation in running/walking events entails a separate fee. Advance registration through Sept. 8 is $26 for the 5K walk, $27 for the 5K run and $27 for the 7-mile run. Runners can register in person during packet pick-up on Sept. 9, but the price increases to $30 that day. No day-of registration is available.

For more information on the Harvest Stompede, visit http://lpwines.com/harvest.

Get tickets!

To be entered into the MBTB's Harvest Stompede drawing, find the contest post marked OFFICIAL on the Michigan By the Bottle Facebook page and respond to that post with any ONE of the following:

• An ode to your favorite Leelanau Peninsula winery (whether it be a little poem, a limerick, a song, etc.).
• Your favorite memory of visiting a Leelanau Peninsula winery.
• The name of a Leelanau Peninsula winery you would like to visit in the future, and why you want to go there.
• Please do NOT start a new thread with your entry into the contest; simply post your response as a reply to the OFFICIAL thread.

If you do not use Facebook, please feel free to email MBTBs with your name and answer at cort@michiganbythebottle.com.

While they encourage creativity, and can't wait to read your submissions, the winner will be drawn randomly via a random number generator. So even if you feel like your poetry-penning skills are lacking, you have just as good of a chance to win! The contest runs through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

Just in case luck isn't on your side, you can also purchase tickets online at http://lpwines.com/harvest or join the Absolute Michigan email list for a giveaway on Thursday! (form at the bottom of the post!)

To register for the race or walk, visit https://www.signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/75458.

Planned pairings include...

• Hardy corn chowder made with local corn, paired with 2009 Pinot Grigio, at Ciccone.
• Toasted puff pastry wrapped with local cherries, local vegetables and feta cheese, paired with Cherry Twist wine at Cherry Republic.
• Barbudos en Salsa de Chile Dulce — a baked omelette made with local green beans, pulled chicken and roasted red pepper sauce — paired with 2010 Riesling at Gill's Pier (a vegetarian option also will be offered).
• Grilled pita, local cherry hummus and naked brats paired with wine — and beer — at Good Neighbor Organic.
• Macaroni and cheese with local squash and a sage cream sauce, paired with Green sparking wine, at L. Mawby.
• Local bratwurst and sauerkraut, paired with 2009 Riesling (and a hearty side of German music, to complete the Oktoberfest theme!), at Silver Leaf.
• Local fall harvest vegetable soup with Italian sausage, paired with Bel Lago Red, at Bel Lago.
• Grilled focaccia with pear poached in Isidor's Choice Pinot Grigio, Leelanau fromage blank and a caramelized wild leek, paired with 2010 Arcturos Riesling, at Black Star Farms.
• Smoked Carlson's whitefish on crostini with chevre, paired with Forty-Five White, at Forty-Five North.
• Philly cheesesteak sandwich made with local beef, peppers, onions, mushrooms, cheese and bread, paired with the Solem Farm Red, at Chateau de Leelanau.
• Carlson's of Leland fish pate with grapes and crackers, paired with Fishtown White, at Good Harbor.
• Cincinnati-style chili with (optional) local onions, paired with Big Paw Red, at Chateau Fontaine.
• Savory buckwheat crepes with Leelanau raclette, Shetler Dairy milk, local eggs and honey-cured ham, paired with Ida Gold hard cider, at Tandem Ciders.
• Smoked whitefish chowder, featuring local whitefish and potatoes, paired with Pinot Gris or Pinot Noir, at Verterra.
• Local apple caramel crisp, paired with Pinot Gris, at Willow.

For another chance at 2 tickets, just join the Absolute Michigan email list using the form below! We give stuff away almost every week and will tell you a thing or two about Michigan as well!

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With the EcoTrek Fitness motto in mind, "integrating your workouts with nature", we combed our closet for workout outfits and met Cari and Georg on the trails behind at the Grand Traverse Commons. Cari & Georg handed us our resistance bands and we were off into the trees for a session on a beautiful spring day.

As we trotted down a tree-lined path, Cari explained, "When most people think of outdoor exercise, they think of jogging. And that can turn a lot of people off. EcoTrek uses nature and man-made 'props' to get in a great workout."

Right after explaining this, she stopped us on a wooden bridge above a picturesque creek. We wrapped our resistance bands around the handrails and used them for exercises that worked the arms and legs. The exercises were low- intensity but worked a surprising amount of muscles in our arms, legs and core.

Each session lasts for 75 minutes and take place at a variety of days and times to help fit into all kinds of schedules. They even have single-session drop-in rates so you can try it out with no committment.

Cari, who is an ACE certified fitness trainer with an additional outdoor certification in a Nike training program, is excited to be expanding her program to Northern Michigan but has been careful not too expand too fast despite its popularity. Her website boasts that if you're in West Michigan, you're never more than 15 minutes from an EcoTrek Fitness workout.

With EcoTrek Fitness series available throughout western Michigan in places like Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo and Muskegon (and many more), Cari has been careful to keep the same elements in every session no matter where you are. The sessions run year-round in the sun, rain, sleet and snow.

"There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing." Cari says before we stop to stretch on a picnic table. "Being out in bad weather can make for a surprisingly fun experience. On rainy days, I usually find myself jumping in puddles. There's really nothing better than using the outdoors as your gym."

Once our session ended, we were hooked on the EcoTrek workout. As people who would much rather cycle, hike or hit the basketball court then step into a hot, stinky gym, Absolute Michigan had a blast using our backyard as a gym and Cari and Georg were great. In fact, they did what this writer thought was nearly impossible, made an organized workout with a professional fitness instructor fun.

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I really enjoy the first two months of winter. The dropping temperatures are refreshing. There's the anticipation of the holidays and the over-indulgences that come with them. And I love the snow. The first, fat flakes of pretty white snow. What's not to love?

High Rollaways winter hike by Happyhiker4

But our recent spat of spring-like weather, though painfully short, has reminded me that I'm over winter. It has outstayed its welcome and we are smack dab in the middle of the long, claustrophobic and  cold doldrums when winter is just greedily clinging to its existence like some awful drunk who won't leave your party.  When the temperature recently hit 50 º and the sun came, and stayed, out, winter officially ended for me. My daydreams are now filled with trilliums, birdsong and shouldering a pack and hitting the trail. This is the time of year when guidebooks are bought and the kitchen table becomes an ops center, strewn with maps detailing the promise of upcoming adventures.

With these thoughts in mind, I headed over to Horizon Books in downtown Traverse City to talk hiking with two of Michigan's experts. John Heiam, president of the Grand Traverse Hiking Club (GTHC), and Dick Naperala, field trails coordinator with the GTHC. They both generously took time to talk to me about some great spring hikes, the North Country Trail and ways to get involved with the outdoors in the Grand Traverse Region. The  GTHC helps to oversee a 100-mile stretch of the North Country Trail, a 4,600-mile trail that stretches from New York to North Dakota and runs through some of America's most beautiful country.

Valley of the Giants by North Country Trail

John Heiam: Let's start with sections of the North Country Trail and close to Traverse City. One of my favorites is the north branch of the Boardman River. Starting at the N. Broomhead Road Trailhead, the southern trail takes you down right next to a trout stream and next to cedar trees that deer have browsed to about seven feet high. The trail then climbs and you get views down into the river valley. It's absolutely gorgeous and right in our backyard. Take the trail north to Sand Lakes Quiet Area to see the brilliant blue pit lakes. You can easily spend two hours, if not more, hiking here.

Another great place to hike in the Traverse City area is a place called the Valley of the Giants. This is a very steep-sided valley that has never been logged and is a patch of old growth forest. It was so steep nobody bothered to log it and it is very wet so it never burned in the wild fires that swept through Michigan in the late 1800's and 1900's. You'll find white and red pines and huge oak trees right next to a creek. The trailhead for this hike is either the Mayfield Road Trail Access or near Scheck's Place Campground.

High Rollaways by Happyhiker4

Dick Neperala: The Highbanks Rollway is one of the best places to hike in the state of Michigan. It is on the North Country Trail and can be accessed at Harvey Bridge over the Manistee River. Once you gain elevation, you can see for miles.

The Hodenpyl Dam and Pond area are some of the most popular places in Michigan to hike especially for backpackers. There is a 20 mile loop around Hodenpyl Pond that is perfect for a weekend trip. From the Hodenpyl Dam Parking area you can walk along the lake to the Northern Exposure Campground. And the trail that is right along the river is easy. It is flat and great for kids.

John and Dick shared some more of their knowledge for great outdoor spots in our area this spring.

Wildflowers: If you are looking for wildflowers, and those aforementioned trilliums, mid-April and May are generally the best times to hit the trail. And head to North and South Manitou Island for the most diverse and unique wildflowers in our region. Ferries depart to the island from the town of Leland on the Leelanau Peninsula. South Manitou is more scenic with a lighthouse, shipwrecks and dunes while North Manitou provides better opportunities for backpacking and multi-day trips.

Sleeping Bear Sandunes by Happyhiker4

Most overlooked hike: The Dune Climb and walk to Lake Michigan at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. John says that the hike is deceptively difficult and once you climb the main dune, you'll have a few more smaller ones to get up and down before you finish. He also says the wildflowers; lilies in particular, are spectacular here in the spring.

Why early spring is a great time to hike: No bugs! Both John and Dick say that this time of year is among their favorites for hitting the trail. And, the forests of the Sleeping Bear Dunes are carpeted with trilliums this time of year.

About the GTHC and the North Country Trail: The GTHC is a chapter of the North Country Trail. The club maintains a 100-mile stretch of trail, 35 to 40 of which run along the Manistee River, from south of Mesick to north of Kalkaska. People come from all over Michigan to hike one of the most beautiful sections of the NCT. John calls the 60- mile section from Red Bridge to Kalkaska the prettiest trail in Lower Michigan.  In addition to planned day hikes, the club also has ongoing work sessions on the trail including maintenance, bridge building and rerouting.

Visit  northcountrytrail.org/gtr/ for information on volunteering, local outfitters, membership, trail maps and contact details. The club is currently fundraising by selling “clean seats” through the club or at Backcountry North in Traverse City for $6 /$5 for club members. The seats are a paper-like material that you can put on the ground, wet grass, mud, anything to keep you dry when you need a rest in the outdoors. The seats are made from tough material that won't rip or deteriorate, definitely a great addition for your pack on day and multi-day hikes!

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Absolute Michigan's Andrew McFarlane is involved in this effort and (since he has the keys to our blog) we let him post this!

Starting on January 8, 2011 and continuing to the 20th, a small group of runners are running 400 kilometers across Southern Ethiopia as part of a campaign to generate awareness and funding to build & maintain schools in Ethiopia. The Run Across Ethiopia aims to raise $100,000 for Ethiopian education projects, including the construction of schools in other coffee-growing communities. You can tune into RAE Live for daily updates and also get updates at the Run Across Ethiopia Facebook.

More than 600 years ago, merchants trekked through the mountains and valleys of Ethiopia to export the world's first cultivated coffee beans, but in modern-day Ethiopia many coffee farmers and their families live in dire poverty. Education, health care, and access to water are all very limited. In the Yirgacheffe region, where some of the world's most unique and sought-after coffees originate, little more than half the region's children complete primary school. The adult literacy rate is 36 percent. Life expectancy is 53 years.

You can get video updates on YouTube from Jacob Wheeler of the Glen Arbor Sun and also from On the Ground Global (here's Michigan musicians Seth Bernard & May Erlewine at the New Hope Academy in Ethiopia!). Here's a great video by James & Jamaica Weston that explains the who, why and how of this effort! You can contribute to their documentary at Kickstarter!

Photo used by permission of Timothy Fitzgerald Young and are (c) copyright 2010 On The Ground, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Strangely enough, Wikipedia seems to have the most historical information on the walk (which is not much). They say that the first walk took place in the early morning hours of Labor Day, 1958. and that just 68 people took that first 5 mile walk across the Mighty Mac. In the early years, it seems that the walk was sparsely attended and viewed as an annoyance until the governor was brought in to lead the walk. The walk averages 50,000 to 65,000 attendees and the record is estimated to be 85,000 when George H. W. Bush led the walk in 1992.

The Governor's party leads the way at 7 AM with registered and pre-qualified joggers (details from the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness). Important things to note (according to the official site) are that traffic still moves across the bridge during the event, that it starts on the St. Ignace side, that the last walkers have to start by 11 AM, that they really recommend you figure your return transport out, that it's FREE (my capitalization) and that there are NO RESTROOMS ON THE BRIDGE (their capitalization).

The Michigan Department of Transportation has a photo gallery from past Mackinac Bridge Walks. A photographer named Chuck contributed one of his photos from the bridge walk to Wikimedia, and he has a nice gallery of Mackinac Bridge Walk photos. A search of Flickr finds some bridge walk pics as well (hopefully more after this year's walk!). Do you have more links? Post ‘em in the comments and please share your story/photos if you walk this year! If you click that button to the right, you can get a ridiculous amount of information on the Mighty Mac!

Now here's that video...

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Beautiful! by Pentax K1000 Gal

The Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula (WOMP) have teamed together with area restaurants for the third annual Old Mission Peninsula Wine & Food Celebration. The event takes place this Saturday (September 12) from 3-8 PM at Bowers Harbor Park on the Old Mission Peninsula.

A ticket includes a souvenir glass, wine tasting tickets and live music from the Northwestern Michigan College Community Concert Band. Menu offerings will range in price from $3-$10.

For further information, call 231.944.1300.
2008 Harvest Stompede051 by lpwines

The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association's annual Harvest Stompede Vineyard Run & Walk and Wine Tour over the weekend of September 19 & 20. It's considered one of the most scenic running & wine touring events in the Midwest and is returning to the Leelanau Peninsula for the eighth year.

The race itself is the kickoff of the weekends festivities and will be held on Saturday, September 19 at 9 a.m. Designed for both serious and recreational runners & walkers, it's a great event for spectators as well. Race coordinator Nate Rousse says "This is a one-of-a-kind annual run sponsored by the Traverse City Track Club and hosted by the Leelanau Peninsula winemakers. The course winds through absolutely gorgeous vineyards and is open to the public only on race day."

The Harvest Stompede Wine Tour follows the race and offers a special pour and food celebrating the season at each of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association member wineries.

There are still some tickets available and you can get tickets and more information on the Harvest Stompede page at the LPVA web site. Also check out these slideshows from the 2007 and 2008 Harvest Stompede!

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Benzie County Coastal Color by John Clement Howe

The annual Fall Festival offers two weeks of fun in Frankfort, Beulah, Benzonia and the surrounding area. The Benzie County Visitor's Bureau has a page of information on the festival and for more details visit the Frankfort-Elberta Chamber.

Weekend of October 4-5

Fall food takes center stage with the Fall Soup Contest on Saturday (Oct 4) in Beulah Park and the Honor Lions Club Hillbilly Breakfast from 8:00 - 12:30 and Darcy Memorial Library of Beulah Cookie Bake Sale at the Trailhead in Beulah. 10am -2pm on Sunday (Oct 5).

There's also a Sidewalk Art Contest and a Fall Market in Beulah on Saturday and the Crystal Lake Elementary FallFest Fundraiser in Benzonia on Saturday with a full lineup of fun for families including a produce & products market, cider press, carnival with prizes, food, refreshments, petting zoo and fire truck rides.

Crystal Mountain offers scenic chairlift rides to view the fall colors (4-6 PM both Saturday the 5th & 12th) and a haunted forest (6:30-9:30 PM) on Saturday and then hosts the Betsie Valley Run on Sunday with a 10K Run and Half Marathon Walk & Run.

Trick or Treat!!! by John Clement Howe

Weekend of October 11-12

At 11 AM on Saturday, October 11 2008, the Fall Festival Parade and Mutt March will take place in downtown Frankfort (costume judging for the Mutts is at 10 AM). Other events following the parade include a Pumpkin luncheon at the Recreation Center, performances by the internationally acclaimed Scottville Clown Band and a ton of fall fun at the Open Space including:

• Giant Pumpkin weigh-in (guess the weight and win a bike!)
• Mutt Corral with awards and doggy fun
• Giant Pumpkin Carving by Ed Moody and Auction
• A hay wagon ride through Frankfort with a storyteller
• The Pumpkin Regatta
• Activities for kids including games, pumpkin decorating, face painting, balloon man, straw maze, fortune teller, pumpkin bowling and pumpkin hillbilly golf!

On Saturday a really cool feature is the Pumpkin Chuckin' Catapults and the Giant Pumpkin Drop on a Car at 3:00 PM in Frankfort! Check out the video below to see what happens when a 500 lb. pumpkin is dropped on a vehicle from over 100 feet in the air.

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A Brief History
Through Discover Kalamazoo we learn that Kalamazoo County began as a small fur-trading post founded by Titus Bronson in the late 1700s. Like many Michigan cities, Kalamazoo's name was adapted from an Indian word, "kikalamazoo," meaning boiling water. Water has long been a vital component in Kalamazoo's major industries including papermaking and agriculture which have helped the area grow and prosper.

Some of the many famous products manufactured in Kalamazoo include Checker Cabs, Gibson guitars, Kalamazoo Stoves, Stryker hospital beds and Shakespeare fishing rods and reels. In the late 1800s, W. E. Upjohn moved to Kalamazoo and created The Upjohn Company, which is now part of Pfizer Corporation, the world 's largest pharmaceutical company.

Recently Kalamazoo has made national news with the Kalamazoo Promise which provides a scholarship to every Kalamazoo Public School student. It has served as a catalyst and an inspiration throughout Michigan, the United States and even the international community.

Culinary Delights
Once know as 'Celery City', Kalamazoo was once was noted for celery and bedding plants. To this day the surrounding countryside still continues to produce significant quantities of farm crops of which can be found at one of the many area farmers markets and u-pick farms. Like other regions in Michigan the Kalamazoo area has become home to the burgeoning wine industry. The Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail hugs the southeast shore of Lake Michigan, extending from the Michigan-Indiana border north 70 miles to the Kalamazoo River. The Kalamazoo area also is home to several micro-breweries such as Aradia brewing Co in Battle Creek and the granddaddy of them all Bell's Brewery. Other notable food producers include Tree-Mendus Fruit which is home of the world famous International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship, the A.M. Todd Company which is a leading producer of peppermint oil and their offshoot Kalsec which produces spice, herb, hop, and vegetable extracts. Just a few of the great restaurants in the area include Zazios which features an interactive dining experience, the Epic Bistro, Food Dance, Tello Wine Bar and the historic Schuler's Restaurant & Pub.

Kalamazoo and surrounding areas, in pictures
The photo above is titled july 20 station taken by Kathie Gibson aka noearlybird and is part of the Kalamazoo flickr pool. The location of the photo is the new Kalamazoo Transportation Center. Also check out Kathie's shots of Binder Park Zoo in nearby Battle Creek. In addition to Kalamazoo, some other areas you may want check out include, South Haven, St. Joseph, Battle Creek and Saugatuck.

South Haven Pier by the kcephoto

But what is there to DO in Kalamazoo?
Known as the land of rolling hills and numerous lakes it is the cities that bring rich and diverse community culture to the Kalamazoo region. This area of Michigan is packed with must see attractions, abundant recreation and unique shopping experiences for everyone. In the summer months the beautiful inland lakes and the the Lake Michigan shoreline towns of St. Joseph, South Haven and Saugatuck are popular destinations. Other notable outdoor hotspots include the Kal-Haven Trail State Park, which is a 34.5 mile linear Kal-Haven Trail State Park extends from South Haven, on the shores of Lake Michigan, to the northwest suburbs of the City of Kalamazoo, the Kalamazoo Watershed Heritage Water Trail and Warren Dunes State Park. There is also plenty to do year around such as the Air Zoo, the Gilmore Car Museum, the #1 in the nation rated Kalamazoo Nature Center, the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, the Binder Park Zoo, the American Museum of Magic and the expansive Fort Custer Recreation Area.

Where do I go for more?
You can dig deeper through Absolute Michigan by checking out Absolute Michigan county pages for St. Joseph , Kalamazoo, Cass, Barry, Van Buren, Allegan, Calhoun & Branch and also try the pages for Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, South Haven 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 The City of Kalamazoo, South Haven Visitors Bureau, St. Joseph Today and Battle Creek Play for Keeps.

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Rudy says he's a sarcastic joke-bomb manufacturer that happens to own a camera.

It also appears that he's a runner who sometimes finds cool things like old firetrucks and old tractors ... and a unique way of framing common scenes. Check out his Top 25 slideshow.

Happy 4th of July folks!

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This video by mattmb1 from High Gear Racing features a ride through Detroit with Andy Staub and other riders from Beat the Train and Saturday's Komen Detroit Race for the Cure.

We're linking to the high quality version - if that doesn't work, here's standard quality. The photo is Cannondale Bike Detail by bmg5.

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Eben6119 by ETCphoto

The Chicago Sun-Times has a cool feature on ice climbing and the annual Michigan Ice Fest by Felicia Schneiderhan. The Ice Fest is held in Munising (home to over 100 climbable waterfalls) and celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Schneiderhan says:

Ice festivals are great for beginners since the cost of admission -- $25 for the Michigan Ice Fest -- includes use of the necessary and pricey gear: crampons, boots, pick axes and harness. (Helmets and eye protection are a must for falling ice, and you usually can borrow them at the climbing site.)

Event sponsors often let you try out clothing like snow pants, gloves and belay jackets. Classes are available for an extra fee, or you can try your luck at the "Curtains," a popular site where dozens of climbers can help a newcomer.

Read Upper Peninsula, Mich.: Faster, stronger, better: Climbers brave wall of ice in test of wills at Michigan festival in the Sun-Times, get a bunch of photos of climbing the ice in the Munising area on Michigan in Pictures and learn more about the Michigan Ice Fest from Downwind Sports (the 2009 Ice Fest will take place Jan 31- Feb 2, 2009).

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Champion Hill Nordic Trails by Lucky Gus

Cross Country Ski Headquarters - Higgins Lake, MI

Over ten miles of Big Snow Cat groomed trails, from flat to hilly with molded track set and corduroy skating lane. You will also find one the most extensive X-C Ski Stores in the USA with many different models of the latest no-wax and waxable and skating skis.

Champion Hill XC Ski Trail - Beulah, MI

Miles of trails for beginner, intermediate and expert that wind through 370 acres of wooded and open terrain of the highlands of Benzie County with views of Lake Michigan and the Platte Lakes. Also features waxing tables, a heated Nordic Center and food & drinks available.

Forbush Corner, Frederic, MI

Forbush Corner features miles of rolling, wooded trails that are carefully designed for all levels of ability and immaculately groomed by the largest fleet of nordic only grooming equipment in the midwest. The Frederic micro climate of early and frequent snowfalls keeps conditions great and instruction is available from beginner to expert.

Garland Resort - Lewiston, MI

Cross country skiing at Garland will take you through our majestic snow covered pines, streams and forests for an unforgettable adventure. Here on our hundreds of miles of pristine trails you will exercise your body and rejuvenate your mind. Enjoy stress free living as you breathe our crystal-clear air and commune with nature, safe in the knowledge that your cell phone won't work, even if you want it to!

Also see these general information web sites!

Statewide Cross Country Ski Listings

Enjoy the fun and excitement of cross-country skiing in Michigan. Search the properties for cities, towns and communities with cross-country trails, groomed and ready for skiing. Many trails are mapped and marked according to skills. Trails lead through forests, beside lakes, across meadows, and many with rest stops along the way.

Great Lakes Winter Trails Council

The Cross Country Ski areas of the Great Lakes Winter Trails Council are committed to providing you with the finest and most diversified groomed cross-country skiing trails. The organization also strive to keep you informed about the latest cross country trail conditions.

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Tayshaun by radiospike

If you can't afford a hybrid, go PB&J

Via Michigan-based blog Scientific Ink, I learned that A PB&J will slow global warming, reducing your carbon footprint by saving the equivalent of 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions over an average animal-based lunch like a hamburger, a tuna sandwich, grilled cheese, or chicken nuggets. That's about 40% of what you'd save driving around for the day in a hybrid instead of a standard sedan and it also saves water, land and the fats in PB&J aren't as bad as you might think!

Prince Kicks Down

Sports Illustrated reports in A prince among men that last week Pistons' star Tayshaun Prince and his wife Farah purchased and redecorated a luxury suite at the Palace to donate to Kids Kicking Cancer, a Detroit-based charity that uses martial arts techniques to empower hundreds of children and help them cope with their illness. Great article about a great guy and a program that really looks special (be sure to check out that link - they have an excellent video on their site from TV-4 as well).

Radiospike, Courtside

If you live in Detroit, you might know Spike aka radiospike from Mojo in the Morning. I'm not sure if these awesome courtside seats at the were a perk from that or just from living right, but he sure got some great shots in his Pistons 11-23-07 set like this one of Tayshaun Prince and this one of Chauncey Billups. The cheerleaders seem to have gotten in his way in a lot of the other photos, but I guess that's a hazard of being courtside.

Foreclosure Madness and the Motor City

Easy money, risky loans drive area home losses in the Detroit News is an excellent, in-depth feature probing the causes for the sky-high foreclosure rates of Michigan (particularly Metro Detroit) has as much to do with the mortgage industry as the auto industry in that money remained "incredibly easy to borrow." The result was a very high percentage of subprime loans - 55% in the region and 2 out of 3 in Wayne County. According to the article, the root of the problem (if indeed there is one) is the fact that loans became a Wall Street commodity, and it didn't matter if some loans went bad when the yield was that high. But as Bill Matthews, senior vice president of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors notes: "What the hedge fund manager is missing, is it's destroying communities."

Video from YOUR Town

There's no way that I'm going to feature any Michigan city or town after that story. Instead, I'll call out our new Absolute Michigan group on YouTube. We'd like you to share your videos about all aspects of the Great Lakes State - your hometown, history, fun things to do, good eats, great businesses and places to visit. We'll feature videos from the group here on Absolute Michigan!

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tour de two by various artists

Next Saturday (September 15, 2007) Michigan hosts two very different bike tours. The annual tour de troit is billed as a leisurely 40-mile ride through the streets of Detroit that begins at 10 AM explores the city's historic areas and sights. I'm not sure if I'd use "leisurely" and "40-mile ride" in the same sentence, but it looks like a great ride! You can get more information about biking the Motor City from Beat the Train - check your volume before clicking through 'cause Andy likes his music loud!

Also on Saturday is the annual Tour de Leelanau, a point to point open road race in the tradition of a classic European road race for the top male and female racers in the country. This year's Tour de Leelanau is sanctioned by USA Cycling and held under permit by the United States Cycling Federation making it one of the nation's premier road biking races! You can check out their site for all the details and view photos at the tour de leelanau tag on Flickr (view slideshow) and also in the Tour de Leelanau group on Flickr. If you're thinking of heading up to Leelanau, check out our Leelanau.com web site for all the details on things to do, places to stay and where to eat!

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Mackinac Bridge Walk by Maggie

The Cheboygan Tribune reports that an estimated 57,000 people walked (or ran, wheeled or swam) the Mackinac Bridge. That's short of the 85,000 that traversed the span in 1992, but still a whole lot of folks! Regarding those swimmers, the Freep says that:

As crowds gathered before dawn near the tollbooths to begin the trek, 54 people in wetsuits plunged into the water nearby. Long-distance swimmer Jim Dreyer organized their participation as a fundraiser for Mentor Michigan, a program led by Granholm and her husband, Dan Mulhern. Fifty made it across, while four climbed aboard boats without finishing.

The LSJ adds a nice photo from John Russell, but on the whole, it seems like Michigan's papers spent the day barbecuing. Thank goodness for Flickr.

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This year's walk is the 50th. The Annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk on Michigan in Pictures notes that the first walk on Labor Day, 1958 drew just 68 walkers - we're guessing there's a few more in the picture to the right from MDOT's Mackinac Bridge Walk gallery.

Can't make the walk? How about the Virtual Mackinac Bridge Walk in South Lyon? It's a 5 mile walk in support of the "Getting Michigan Moving" campaign from MichiganFitness.org. As you may or may not know, Michigan is one of the most inactive (and plumpest) states.

One man who's bucking that trend of inactivity is 88 year-old Clayton Klein , who will walk from Paradise to Hell. According to the Freep, he plans to cross the bridge with the walkers and:

He averages 20 miles a day on his 400-mile trip, taking to the road from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

"I walk 5 or 6 miles, find a place to sit down for four or five minutes and go another 5 or 6 miles," he said. "I find a place to get ice cream, and I just keep going."

He hopes that folks will join him on his walk (if you arrive in Hell in his company you get a free ice cream cone!) and says that "If I were younger, I probably would have a goal. My goal now is to stay healthy and keep walking."

Clayton Klein, you are officially my new hero.

Photo courtesy Michigan DOT.

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You can start the day in Flat Rock and pedal or paddle your way to food and fun in Rockwood and Gibraltar. Take a bicycle tour through Lake Erie Metropark where American Lotus will be in bloom (don't miss Lake Erie Metropark's & ice cream cart). You can bring your kayak or rent one from Riverside Kayak Connection for group paddles along the lower Huron River and the canals of Gibraltar, both part of the Detroit Heritage River Water Trail. There's lots more including lessons, bicycle helmet giveaways, live entertainment, food and refreshments.

You can get information on the event and also downloadable brochures, trail maps and more at their web site above, and they also have a cool new Southeast Michigan (and Southwest Ontario) Nature Tourism Event Calendar featuring outdoor recreation activities from all over Southeast Michigan.

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Michigander ready by Mike Wendland

From the "Watch This Year, Do It Next Year" files, here's Freep.com video columnist Mike Wendland is taking part in the 16th annual Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance Michigander Mountain Bike Tour. Check out The Michigander: Day 1 and follow along all week at Mike Wendland's Blog.

The ride begins in Midland along the Pere Marquette Railtrail all the way to Clare. As the tour unfolds, it   winds past Houghton Lake, Michigan's largest lake, on to Grayling and the AuSable River, by Hartwick Pines State Park, to Gaylord's Alpenfest, the crucifix at Indian River and Burt Lake State Park. A stop in Mackinaw City and ferry to Mackinac Island and then ends up at the Legs Inn in Cross Village.

You can get more information and sign up for next year's 2, 6 or 7 day tours the the Michigan Trails & Greenways link above!

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The current version of Introduce Your Michigan Business or Organization is right there.

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Every Labor Day the Mighty Mac opens to pedestrian traffic for the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk. Below is a slew of information about the walk and the bridge itself.

50th Anniversary Mackinac Bridge Walk of 2007

Check out Get moving, Michigan with the annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk   on Absolute Michigan, a report on the 2007 Bridge Walk with pictures and also see the Mackinac Bridge Walk on Michigan in Pictures.

Information from Wikipedia:
Mackinac Bridge Walk
Mackinac Bridge information
Mackinac Bridge designer David B. Steinman

Other Sites:
DOT Mackinac Bridge Website
Official Website of the Mackinac Bridge
Straits of Mackinac & Mackinac Bridge
Building the Mackinac Bridge
The breathtaking Mackinac Bridge from the Detroit News
The Mackinac Bridge - Background Reading

Video:
Cool old film footage of a drive across the bridge
Various YouTube videos of the bridge

Have a great Labor Day weekend and be sure to check out an interesting shot of the bridge over at Michigan in Pictures.

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