March 2012 Ice on the Great Lakes (NOAA)

In Continued ice loss on the Great Lakes may cause widespread change in ecosystems at the Great Lakes Echo, Jennifer Kalish writes that a lack of winter ice is increasing evaporation which can harm our economy by affecting shipping and can also pose big problems for species like whitefish that rely on ice cover for spawning. A new study by Research Ice Climatologist Jia Wang has found that Great Lakes ice coverage has decreased by 71% in the past 40 years. Lake Ontario is tops with a reduction of 88% since 1973 with Superior not far behind at 79%.

National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration research ecologist Henry Vanderploeg explains that while it's clear there are impacts, a lack of research on the topic leaves a lot of unknowns. Our very mild winter raises the level of concern:

“We’ve never seen water this warm this soon, ever,” said Vanderploeg. “We’re into a new temperature area that we’ve never seen before. We don’t know whether the fish will benefit from it or not.”

Less ice allows the water to warm earlier, speeding growth of invasive species like zebra mussels and quagga mussels. Mussels are sensitive to temperature changes. Just a few degrees change in temperature can cause them to eat phytoplankton twice as fast, Vanderploeg said.

And phytoplankton are the foundation of the food web, producing energy for many Great Lakes species.

The earlier mussels feed on phytoplankton, the quicker the rest of the food web will be robbed of their fair share, he said.

Read on for more, and also watch this great video from NOAA about how our changing climate can impact the Great Lakes.

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Walleye season opens today in Michigan (May 15 - March 15), so here's a little bit about this tasty sport fish. The Michigan DNR page on walleye (Sander vitreus) are the largest member of the perch family.

Walleye Glory Days by UpNorth Memories

They lack the distinctive vertical bar makings of the yellow perch and have fan-like canine teeth. These battling fish are exciting to catch, delicious to eat and because they feed actively all winter, they provide a fine year-round sport fishery.

...Walleyes are greedy predators. They eat small bass, trout, pike, perch and sunfishes. Prime feeding times are early morning and evening. Although in turbid waters walleyes are active throughout the day. Walleyes often associate with yellow perch, smallmouth bass, northern pike and muskellunge.

In April and May, walleyes spawn over rock shoals. Males mature at age two to four years, females at three to six years. The average walleye caught by anglers is three years old and weighs from one to three pounds. Northern pike and muskellunge prey heavily on walleyes, while yellow perch, smallmouth bass and lake whitefish compete with walleyes for food.

We found a nice list of the top 10 walleye lakes in Michigan. They say that experts believe Holloway Reservoir in Genessee County holds the most walleyes per surface acre of any lake in Michigan. One reason - something you can use when fishing for walleye - is that the movement of the water attracts baitfish which in turn attracts walleye.

If you're in the Saginaw area this weekend, you can check out the Michigan Walleye Tour tourney on Saginaw Bay. There's also the Marbleye Classic on the St. Clair River (May 18-20).

If you manage to land any of these tasty fish, you'll want to cook them up. MyNorth.com has a great recipe for Roasted Lake Michigan Walleye with Fennel - a perfect way to appreciate the delicious flavor of walleye! In closing, here's a video of fish at the Port Huron Water Intake that opens with a nice walleye!

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The Wizard of Oz rolled off the presses on May 17, 1900, but Baum actually had the top selling children's book of the year one year earlier:

In 1899, Baum published “Father Goose: His Book.” The collection of children’s poems exploded in popularity and provided Baum with wealth and prestige for the first time in his life, his great-grandson, Bob Baum, recalled.

The author used the profits from his book to rent a large, multi-story Victorian summer home nestled on the southern end of the Macatawa peninsula on Lake Michigan.

The home, which he eventually purchased, came to be known as the Sign of the Goose, an ever-present reminder of the fame that came along with “Father Goose.”

Definitely read on for more, including a little about Baum's 1907 novel Tamawaca Folks: A Summer Comedy, lampooning the resort community. You can also read the complete text of Father Goose right here.

This summer, Oz comes to Macatawa and Holland. The area will host the International Wizard of Oz Club Convention August 17-19, 2012 (click for program). This year the convention will focus on the homes of L. Frank Baum and the lakeside retreat he loved. They will even stage Tamawaca Folks: A Summer Comedy and explore Holland's Castle Park.

Also see the Oz Club Facebook page for all kinds of photos & history.

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This picture of a large chunk of puddingstone from Drummond Island is part of his set of photos of "The Gem of the Huron.".

James G. Kelley writes about puddingstone on the Drummond Island website:

Jasper Conglomerate, locally known as PUDDINGSTONE finds its beginnings in the Huronian Period of the Proterozoic Era, an estimated billion years ago. During this time great amounts of sediment that came from erosion from older rocks were deposited in large bodies of water. The different hues of red jasper pebbles were deposited in small parts over an east west band about fifty miles in size that lays mainly in Ontario, but touches a small area of the Upper Peninsula. Sandstone under the weight of later sediments formed the grains becoming sand conglomerates. Erosion and weathering uncovered loose fragments and great masses were moved by the Labrador portion of the continental sheets.

The Puddingstone got its name from the British settlers that were stationed at area forts like that found on Drummond. It is so named because the English believed it looked like boiled suet pudding with berries. The one you see below is an example of a Jasper Conglomerate. Puddingstones can be found as small as a pebble and larger than a dump truck! They can be found along the shores of Drummond in our forests and anywhere earth has been turned.

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Street Fighting Man is a feature-length documentary by Andrew James with Greg Snider, award-winning editor of How to Die in Oregon.

The story follows three inner-city men – each a generation apart – as they seek to define their lives in post-industrial Detroit. Deris Solomon is a young single father who wants to leave behind a high-risk life on the streets; Luke Williams is a middle-aged man remodeling a former crack house after being homeless for several years; and James “Jack Rabbit” Jackson is a retired police officer struggling to save his neighborhood from crime after the local police station is dissolved. Through the stories of these men, the film unflinchingly reveals how hard it can be to build a future when everything seems to be crumbling around you.

Detroit is in the national eye a lot lately, whether it be for "ruin porn" or for the slate it provides for rebuilding. One story that we don't hear a lot about (and the story this film seeks to tell) is the story of Detroit's neighborhoods and those who seek to hang on the face of extreme hardship. The filmmakers are are currently trying to raise money for the post-production of the documentary on Kickstarter. Click that link for lots more information and watch their Kickstarter pitch and the excellent trailer below.

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Sturgeon, and mustaches, used to be more common in the Great Lakes region. Photo: Brian Bienkowski (of a Michigan Sea Grant archive photo)

In New St. Clair River reefs to spur sturgeon spawning on the Great Lakes Echo, Brian Bienkowski writes:

Michigan organizations and agencies are building nine rock reefs in the Middle Channel of the St. Clair River to bolster native fish spawning and restore habitat. The Middle Channel of the river connecting Lake Huron to Lake St. Clair supports one of the largest remaining populations of sturgeon in the Great Lakes.

Led by Michigan Sea Grant, the team will finish the nine reefs this week. Each will be about 40 feet wide, 120 feet long and 2 feet high. Made of angled limestone and rounded fieldstone, the reefs are an effort to return the river to a spawning hotspot – just like in the good ol’ days.

“This gives us a chance to bring back the sturgeon numbers … without stocking,” said Mike Thomas, lake sturgeon coordinator with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which is a project partner.

About a century ago, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River – which is between Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie – were straightened, widened and deepened for shipping. This harmed the places where fish spawn, as limestone and other rocks were displaced and damaged.

Read on for much more about this project, check out the history of Lake Sturgeon in Michigan on Absolute Michigan and watch a brief video with the DNR's Mike Thomas below.

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Boyne City has hosted the Morel Festival for over 50 years, and once again May 17 - 20th, it's all about the morels as restaurants prepare exotic, morel-laden entrees, songsters sing of the morel, secret hunting places (maybe) and recipes (definitely) are shared, and everybody goes on one of the mushroom hunts. There's also all kinds of fun to be had that you can read about on their events page. We also invite you to enjoy a feature from Absolute Michigan writer Cherie Spaulding's visit to the Mushroom Festival a few years ago.

We're going to give one lucky person a pair of tickets to their Friday night concert with Michigan's own Thornetta Davis and entry for two and 7 taste tickets each to the fabulous Taste of Morels, which features Boyne City restaurants dishing up fabulous morel mushroom dishes!! All you have to do to be eligible to win is to be on one of our lists - click below to make that happen!

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Don't Mess With A Yooper by siskokid

The Detroit Free Press reports that the topic of the U.P. seceding from Michigan to form the 51st state was raised at the last Marquette County Board of Commissioners meeting:

"Don't you think it would be kind of nice to start from scratch?" asked Marquette County Commissioner Mike Quayle, who first raised the issue with the commission. "It would be kind of interesting to see what kind of government we could form up here. Maybe we could be a showcase for the rest of the United States."

This isn't the first time there has been talk of the U.P. shedding itself of the trolls. (Trolls are creatures who live under the bridge, in this case, the Mackinac Bridge.) U.P. secession has come up periodically ever since Michigan lost what's called the Toledo War in 1836, and ended up with the U.P. instead of Toledo. The Michigan Legislature defeated U.P. secession by a single vote in the 1970s.

...The bottom line, folks in the U.P. say, is that Lansing takes a whole lot more in tax dollars than the U.P. gets back. And in this peninsula with only about 3% of the state's population but more than 30% of the land, that's just not cutting it.

"I feel that they're attempting to use the U.P. as a resource colony," said Catherine Parker of Marquette, who said she sees an increased interest from lawmakers in cashing in on the U.P.'s mineral and timbering resources.

Click through to read more, check out a video from WZZM-13 on the topic, read about some ideas for the new state's symbols & slogans and click for the Wikipedia entry on various proposals for the state of Superior.

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Giant Mechanical Man Premiere by Sachyn

In Michigan-made 'Giant Mechanical Man' rolls into theaters Sam Logan Khaleghi writes that Lee Kirk (screenwriter of “Pants on Fire”) makes his directorial debut with "The Giant Mechanical Man." The film stars Jenna Fischer (The Office) who is also the producer, Chris Messina (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) and Topher Grace (That 70s Show) and was shot entirely on location in Michigan:

Although the film takes place in a fictional metropolis, metro-Detroit citizens will notice famous landmarks and bearings throughout the downtown area as well as Southfield, Ferndale, and Royal Oak.

...According to the Michigan Film Office, the project spent $625,000, which absorbed directly into the local economy; an incentive of $248,849 was awarded, while 54 Michiganders took on jobs on the project and an additional 243 individuals worked as background extras.

Click through to the article to hear Sam's interview with the director, check out this Freep article on the film and watch the trailer below:

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ernie harwell by mlephotos

Mitch Albom has an interesting column on his play "Ernie" and Harwell's broadcasting style that re-opens for its second season at the City Theatre in Detroit. Mitch wrote the play at legendary Detroit Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell's request, and last year the play was able to donate $30,000 to Harwell's favorite charities. Mitch's column begins:

There's a scene in the play "Ernie" in which the actor playing Ernie Harwell re-enacts the way he broadcast minor-league baseball games in the 1940s, when there was no money to send him on the road.

"We stayed in the studio and waited for the play-by-play ticker to come through," he says, taking a strip of ticker tape and reading it. "Johnson, B-1-0. That meant Johnson took ball one, outside. Of course that's pretty dry, so we'd have to embellish it."

He then demonstrates his embellishment: "There's a high loping curveball, way outside, Johnson looks at it, doesn't move his bat, and it's ball one!"

When asked what he did if the ticker-tape machine broke, Ernie replies that sometimes he'd make up a distraction, like a dog running on the field. And he'd have that dog racing back and forth, eluding escape, until the machine was fixed.

Of course, when the ballplayers came home, their wives would ask, "What happened to that poor dog?" And they'd say, "What dog?"

Read on for more and visit Ernie at Olympia Entertainment for more on the play and to order tickets. Harwell passed away two years ago tomorrow. You can read more about him on Michigan in Pictures and here's a great interview that Albom did with Harwell at the Fox Theatre in 2009 that will probably make you tear up.

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The 2012 Great Wakes Festival is a brand new event that comes to the Traverse City bayfront the weekend of June 1 & 2, 2012.

In addition to local food & drink and music from local and regional musicians including That 1 Guy, Heatbox & Funktion, the event features all kinds of water-themed education and competitions including water education & expo, stand-up paddleboard race, a zany Great Wakes Beach Race, Wakeboard Aerials & Pro Competition, demos and much more. Click the poster to the right for more.

Many of the daytime events are free, but to make sure you can enjoy it all, we have 2 Friday & Saturday evening tickets (available only in advance - winner MUST be 21 years of age or older). Head over to Porterhouse Productions for all the information and to purchase tickets.

Click here to sign up (and to learn how you can win)

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The Library of Michigan released the list of 2012 Michigan Notable Books - 20 books published in 2011 that highlight Michigan people, places and events.

"This year's selections prove that persevering through economic and personal hardship is nothing new for Michiganians, and that this enduring and independent spirit has a long, rich history in the Great Lakes State," said State Superintendent of Public Education Mike Flanagan.

A collection of Michigan ghost stories; a biography of one of the most recognized women in the Republican Party; a history of the role Jacobson's department stores played in Michigan communities; fiction by nationally-recognized authors; and three children's books that range from topics covering race relations, "what is art?" and teachers from Mars are among this year's most notable Michigan books.

"This year's Michigan Notable Books bring to life the Michigan experience through vivid storytelling that creates portraits of the people and places that make Michigan great," State Librarian Nancy Robertson said. "Addressing Michigan's natural beauty, its innovative leaders or the faith of its people, these books celebrate Michigan as a place and a people that even in the most trying of times find transformation."

Each year, the Michigan Notable Books list features 20 books published during the previous calendar year that are about, or set in, Michigan or the Great Lakes region or are written by a native or resident of Michigan. You can see the list of 2012 winners (which includes works by Michigan poet & author Jim Harrison and Michael Moore) and also read the bios of authors. Below is a video from the recent "Night of Notables" celebration at the Library of Michigan.

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Red Bridge by Alanna St. Laurent

"Spring - an experience in immortality." - Henry D. Thoreau

"An optimist is the human personification of spring." - Susan J. Bissonette

"Never yet was a springtime, when the buds forgot to bloom." - Margaret Elizabeth Sangster

"If we were flowers, We would worship the sun" - Jon Anderson

Fast Facts - from Wikipedia

• May's birthstone is the emerald which means love or success. Its birth flower is the Lily of the Valley and the Crataegus monogyna.
• May is the fifth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. It is also a month within the northern season of spring.
• The month may have been named for the Greek goddess Maia, who was identified with the Roman era goddess of fertility, Bona Dea, whose festival was held in May.
• In both common and leap years, no other month begins on the same day of the week as May. This month and June are the only two months that have this.

Check below for things to do and places to go and also see the Pure Michigan May Event Roundup.

May 1-5
Blossomtime Festival - Benton Harbor
The Blossomtime Festival began in 1906 and is an annual celebration of southwest Michigan's agricultural heritage. This multi-community event spans 25 communities and is the oldest festival in the state. A highlight is the 2 hour Grand Floral Parade with floats of community queens and their courts, bands, clowns, costumed characters, antique cars and special units.

May 3-5
Jackson Storyfest - Jackson
Organized by volunteers and supported by generous foundations, businesses and individuals, Jackson Storyfest has offered a free weekend of storytelling for more than twenty years. Annually, over 5,000 students visit downtown Jackson to hear stories by national, regional and local tellers as they weave their magic at various downtown locations.

May 4-5
Green Street Fair - Plymouth
Green Street Fair was founded to help educate and inform people of all ages about the benefits of green, organic, and eco-friendly products and services. To promote global interest and personal well-being, the Green Street Fair blends companies, artisans, entertainers, workshops and speakers together in a friendly and family-oriented outdoor environment. In 2011, over 200 exhibitors and 30 sponsors were on-site showcasing, demonstrating and selling eco-friendly, organic, and green products.

May 5
Cinco de Mayo - Imlay City
The streets of Imlay City will be alive with Hispanic music, art, crafts, food and entertainment as they celebrate Cinco de Mayo. It's a celebration of the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862.

May 5
La Fleche du Nord - Houghton
The toughest day of cycling this side of Belgium is a 76 mile point-to-point ride from Houghton to the top of Brockway Mountain with a post-ride fest in Copper Harbor.

May 5-6
Spring Sip & Savor Wine Tour - Leelanau Peninsula
Celebrate the return of spring to the vineyards with food & wine pairings at 19 wineries and the fabulous Sip 'o de Mayo hat contest with tons of prizes. A great chance to learn about wine and have a lot of fun that helps benefit migrant education in northern Michigan.

May 5-12
Tulip Time Festival - Holland
The Tulip Time Festival is a celebration of Dutch heritage and culture, a multi-generational event that has a little bit of something for everyone including; 3 amazing parades, multiple Dutch Dance performances, concerts, theatre, Dutch attractions, Dutch food, children's events, trolley tours and so much more!

May 6
Kalamazoo Marathon - Kalamazoo
The 26.2 mile race takes place on Mother's Day, with other weekend races including the Borgess Half Marathon, Borgess 5K Run, Priority Health 5K Walk and Meijer Kids Fun Run on Friday, May 4.

May 11-13
Mushroom Festival - Mesick
Mesick is billed as the mushroom capital in the United States. Head over and enjoy their adventurous fun filled days, for people of all ages. Carnival rides for the thrill seekers, crafts and hobbies or flea market for treasure hunters, ball games for the players. Several contests for mushroom hunters, lucky duck race, horseshoe toss, horse pull.

May 13
Mother's Day - All Over Michigan!
Celebrate your mother and mothers everywhere!

May 15th, 2012
Opening Day of Walleye Season
Statewide!

May 17-20
Morel Mushroom Festival - Boyne City
Each May for over 50 years, Boyne City fills with hundreds of mushroom lovers from around the country who come seeking that elusive delicacy-the marvelous morel. Includes the fabulous "Taste of Morels", all kinds of entertainment and fun for all ages, guided hunts and much more.

May 18-20
Durand Railroad Days - Durand
Durand Railroad Days was established in 1975 to pay tribute to the rail industry that helped develop the nation and was responsible for the settlement of Durand late in the 1870s. What started as a small hometown celebration with a few rides for children, has grown into a celebration that covers the entire downtown area.

May 18-20
Empire Asparagus Festival - Empire
The lakeshore village of Empire greets the arrival of asparagus season with parade, good food, wine & beer, dancing and an annual poetry contest for the best "Ode to Asparagus." For more information click on the web site link or call (231) 326-6081.

May 19
MIS Great Lakes Wine Fest - Brooklyn
Join wineries, meaderies, cideries & breweries from all over the state at the Michigan International Speedway for a chance to taste and enjoy the fruits of Michigan!

May 19
Annual Big Bay Relay - Marquette to Big Bay
This race has brought in 50+ teams comprised of elite runners to a team of friends that just like to get out and have an adventure together to run from Marquette to Big Bay. Divisions include: All female, all male and mixed team divisions, as well as a junior division. Race begins at River Sports Complex, Marquette, and ends at Perkins Park, Big Bay.

May 19
Romeo Victorian Festival - Romeo
On Saturday, May 19, from 9am to 6pm, the historic village of Romeo will host their Seventh Annual Victorian Festival. Events include ice cream making, Civil War reenactment camp, Victorian style children’s games and entertainment. For more information call (586) 752-4111, or click here.

May 22-23
Annual Flower Fair & Home & Garden Marketplace - Lake Orion
Get ready for warm weather with flats of flowers, buckets of perennials, yard ornaments and expert advice. Look to their Home and Garden Marketplace for the latest trends in updating and remodeling your house. Located in the heart of the downtown district in Lake Orion, special features include: Kids Activities - Entertainment - Easy Eats - Art Fair.

May 18-19
World Expo of Beer - Frankenmuth
The World Expo of Beer is a beer sampling extravaganza! If you love beer, you will love the World Expo of Beer, with nearly 300 brews to choose from. Includes live entertainment both nights, an expanded area to accommodate more beer enthusiasts, great local food, and all proceeds benefit charitable causes! Prost!

May 19-20
East Lansing Art Festival - East Lansing
Hundreds of artists from Michigan and beyond come to Downtown East Lansing to exhibit art of all kinds. Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture, Blown Glass, Wood, Metal, Photography and more fill the booths that line the downtown streets. The East Lansing Art Festival features a variety of activities, performances, and demonstrations for your enjoyment. The international food court features dozens of vendors with tastes from around the world!

May 25
Towel Day - The Galaxy
Towel Day is an annual celebration on the 25th of May, as a tribute to the late author Douglas Adams (1952-2001). On that day, fans around the universe proudly carry a towel in his honour.

May 25-27
Traditional Arts Weekend - Remus
Where else can you learn to play the fiddle, go to a day-long bluegrass school, learn songwriting tips, tie a fly for trout season, explore yeast dough baking, practice yogo, learn to Tango, Clog or Swing dance, stargaze with fellow astronomers, weave a black ash basket, make a pine needle rimmed gourd and paint a silk scarf ~ all in one weekend?......At the annual Traditional Arts Weekend held every year in Remus, Michigan over the Memorial Day Weekend. Over 80 workshops, dances, performances and hands-on activities for the entire family taught by over 60 instructors. This very popular Wheatland event is for those seeking more personal instruction in traditional dance, music, song, arts and crafts.

May 26
Petoskey Stone Festival - Eastport
Head to Eastport and help celebrate everything Petoskey, our much treasured state stone, at Antrim County's Barnes Park. Petoskey stones are composed of fossilized skeletons of colony corals which lived their lifespan in the warm sea waters that at one time covered all of what is now the beautiful state of Michigan.

May 26
Annual Mackinaw Memorial Bridge Race - Mackinaw City
GEAR UP for an Active Summer with the Mackinac Bridge Memorial Weekend Race. One of only two times of year that runners are allowed to run the Mackinac Bridge! Must register in advance and be able to run a minimum of 12 minutes per mile pace.

May 26-27
Dog Bowl - Frankenmuth
Events include: Great Lakes Dock Dog Competition, Disc Dog Competition, Border Collie Sheep Herding Demonstration, Canine Cruise on the Cass River, Weiner Dog Races, Pet Parade, Silly Pet Tricks, Rockin' Dog Look-Alike Contest, 100 Yard Doggie Dash, Dog Breeds of the World with Pet friendly dining and lodging available!

May 26-27
Alma Highland Festival and Games - Alma
The Alma Highland Festival and Games began in 1968. The festival is located on the Alma College campus in Alma, Michigan. Each year the festival brings visitors the very best of Scottish tradition. The festival combines great competition with Scottish hospitality.

May 26-28
Movement - Detroit's Electronic Music Festival - Detroit
The Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF) festival is now known as Movement. Detroit is widely considered to be the the birthplace of techno, and Movement remains true to those roots. On Memorial Day weekend 107 dance music stars will perform across five stages with headliners including Zeds Dead, SBTRK, Public Enemy, Claude Vonstroke and Major Lazer.

May 26-28
Ft. Michilimackinac Historical Re-Enactment Pageant - Mackinaw City
The Fort Michilimackinac Pageant Committee along with the re-enactors would like to cordially invite you to join them in their annual re-enactment at Fort Michilimackinac during Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of Memorial Day weekend. This unique performance of the area's rich history is the longest running FREE attraction in the State of Michigan.

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DLECTRICITY is a new nighttime, outdoor contemporary art festival that will invite emerging and established artists, performers, lighting designers, and architects to make site-specific installations of light, sound, performance and projection along the Woodward corridor. The inaugural DLECTRICITY will take place Friday, October 5, 2012 (7-midnight) and Saturday, October 6 (5 - 2 AM).

Artists will be utilizing various mediums that fuse sci-fi technology & Victorian spectacle on a grand scale. In addition to commissioning 6-8 major art installations, organizers have issued an open call for entry from which they will select up to 25 projects to transform Midtown Detroit into an illuminated urban spectacle. The Freep reports:

"We want to offer multiple experiences," said Marc Schwartz, cofounder of Art Detroit Now, an advocacy group that dreamed up the idea and has partnered with economic development nonprofit Midtown Detroit Inc., which is acting as producer. "You'll be able to drive, but we also hope for people to walk and be able to just come upon work in some intimate spaces."

...A half-dozen artists with national and international reputations already have been signed up, including Jacco Olivier from the Netherlands, Evan Roth of Paris and the Detroit-based team of Annica Cuppetelli and Christobal Mendoza.

The name for the event was inspired by Detroit’s very own Electric Park which was located on the site of what is now Gabriel Richard Park. From 1906 until 1928, Detroit Electric Park served as a major attraction, beginning as a trolley park and later expanding into an amusement park with the development of electrification.

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We're continuing our Mother's Day giveaways through The Daily Michigan with a $50 Gift Certificate to Larner Creations.

You can use this gift certificate for whatever you or the mom in your life want, but the folks at Larner Creations would suggest you consider their Anti-Aging Lotion with Sunscreen. It's the perfect travel companion, a rich and moisturizing (not greasy) lotion with natural sunscreens and the natural anti-aging agent Vitamin A. Using regularly will help you prevent wrinkles and repair skin damage and it's available in Unscented, Eucalyptus & Spearmint, Lemon & Lime, Litsea Cubeba and Rosemary.

Larner Creations is based in Monroe and makes natural and organic bath & body products including organic soaps, lip balms, creams, lotions, oils, bath salts, milk baths, body sprays and other products for your feet, face, and home. Visit their website at larnercreations.com to view many more of their products!

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Team one gets down to business by farlane

Absolute Michigan was fortunate enough to be able to attend the 2012 Chef's Challenge at Boyne Mountain last weekend. This annual event benefits Challenge Mountain, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching and improving lives for the mentally and physically challenged through outdoor recreation.

The team from The Art Institute of Michigan in Novi (who placed second last year) was named the 2012 winner, edging out the team from Odawa Casino & Resorts. Judges included Chef Angus Campbell of the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education, Chef Matthew Millar, Reserve Wine & Food in Grand Rapids; Chef Nathan Mileski of Northern Michigan University, Pastry Chef Rob Haney, retired pastry chef; Chef Robb White, Culinary Institute of Michigan and author Ruth Mossok Johnston. Chef Chris Kibit, professor at Northern Michigan University in Marquette once again served as liaison to the judges. Chef Michelle Bommarito served as emcee for the evening’s activities. The team from Marquette High School was named winner of the student competition on Friday night.

Check out our photos below and click the Facebook icon to the left to see more photos and video on the Challenge Mountain Facebook!

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Today's offering is from one of our featured partners, Grocer's Daughter Chocolate. They invite you to treat your mother to this 9 piece box of truffles and caramels. It's a diverse assortment that includes Arriba, Cherry, Lavender, Basil, Raspberry, Gianduja, Sea Salt Caramel and Maya Caramel. As they know that chocolate & flowers make it extra-special, they add a bouquet of chocolate daisies for a perfect presentation!

For their hand-made chocolate creations, Grocer's Daughter uses sustainable chocolate from Ecuador infused with local flavors for their handmade chocolate creations. They have a bunch more items in their online store and you can visit them in Empire in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore or next Sunday at the Traverse City Chocolate Festival. Recently the complex City Guide listed their 50 best chocolatiers in America and Grocer's Daughter clocked in at #2!

Click here to sign up (and to learn how you can win)

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The Detroit Lions wideout beat out second-year Panthers quarterback Cam Newton for the honor. The vote was announced Wednesday afternoon on "SportsNation" on ESPN2.

Johnson, who won by garnering 52 percent of the more than 651,000 votes cast in the competition, said he was "shocked" by the decision.

"Man, it's great," a smiling Johnson said. "Just to see yourself on this Madden (cover) and seeing all the guys that have been on Madden? C'mon, man."

...Johnson is coming off a spectacular season in which he caught 96 passes for a league-best 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns. He became the third player in NFL history with at least 95 receptions, 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns in a season, joining Jerry Rice and Randy Moss.

The Lions, who made the playoffs last season for the first time in a dozen years, rewarded the former No. 2 overall pick with an eight-year deal worth up to $132 million dollars in March.

While the video game is tremendously popular (selling 1.2 million copies in 2011) it is also purportedly haunted by the Madden Curse, with nearly every superstar who lands the cover having a shattered career following the selection. Richard Langford at the Bleacher Report suggests that Johnson's freakish size, speed and health will prove tougher than the curse - here's hoping that we'll see many more highlights from Megatron.

Here's Calvin Johnson's NFL page, his page on the Detroit Lions website, his Wikipedia entry and his Twitter at bigplayCJ. You can see the science behind Calvin's freakish abilities from Sports Science and watch the ESPN award show below.

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While you can use the certificate for any three download discs they offer, we're going to suggest that you select Mother Moon by May Erlewine (aka Daisy May). In addition to the beautiful title track, the album includes a very fitting song for mothers everywhere, Big Mama Brown.

Check out the video below and here's wishing all the luck and fortune in the world for Michigan's many mothers.

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nlightsframed copy by CreateWithKim

Late Sunday night and early Monday morning, the aurora borealis exploded over Michigan. They were seen from the UP as shown in the photo to the right from Marquette all the way down to the Indiana/Michigan border.

Without a doubt, Shawn Malone is Michigan's reigning queen of Northern Lights photography. Her Lake Superior Photography Facebook page has a bunch of shots. About this video she writes:

2am and the solar winds decide to ignite the night sky with a spectacular burst of auroral activity, this activity level definitely not expected, so a few frames overexposed, but amazing nonetheless. Pphotographed over the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Check out the passing freighter for scale- what a view those sailors must have had!

Indeed. Purchase a panorama from Lake Superior photo, enjoy video below and see another one right here.

Northern Lights Aurora over Lake Superior Upper Peninsula of Michigan 04/24/12 from LakeSuperiorPhoto on Vimeo.

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Tiger Stadium Deconstruction by paulhitz

Tiger Stadium's 100th birthday was last Friday. In a fairly heartbreaking story, Eric Adelson of Yahoo Sports observed that this milestone passed largely unmarked:

Tiger Stadium opened on the same day as Fenway Park – April 20, 1912. It was 100 years ago this weekend. Ty Cobb scored the first run by stealing home. From that day until 1999, this very spot rumbled with din and greatness. Pretty much every legend that played in Fenway in the 20th century also played here. Lou Gehrig sat himself down for the first time in 2,130 games here, ending his incredible ironman streak. Babe Ruth hit his 700th home run here. Reggie Jackson hit one into the right field light tower here during the '71 All-Star game. The Tigers won World Series titles here in 1968 and again in 1984, with Kirk Gibson launching a late-inning home run off Goose Gossage that no Tigers fan alive to see it will ever forget. Fair to say this was the most exciting place in the history of Michigan.

And now there's hardly a trace.

The story goes on to note that there were no planned observances of this occasion at Comerica Park. We at Absolute Michigan feel especially sad that we missed this important anniversary. By small way of penance, here's some of Tiger Stadium's rich history via Michigan in Pictures.

Tiger Stadium #1, found by m7k7k7

Many folks in Michigan have a piece of their heart stored at the Corner of Michigan & Trumbull. Wikipedia's Tiger Stadium entry says the ballpark located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit hosted the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team from April 20, 1912 when it opened as Navin Field, through its expansion in 1938 when it was renamed Briggs Stadium (and began hosting the Detroit Lions as well) through 1961 when John Fetzer took control and renamed it Tiger Stadium. It saw two World Series championships, 1968 and 1984 and was the home of the Tigers until Comerica Park opened in 2000. It was declared a State of Michigan Historic Site in 1975 and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1989.

From honorary bat boys spending a few moments with a player to huge and cheering crowds, this ballpark has made millions of memories. Here are a few more of our favorite articles:

• Tiger Stadium, at the Corner of Michigan & Trumbull is a good look at the most famous address in Michigan.
• In September of 2007, a group of very lucky photographers from Exposure.Detroit got to tour Tiger Stadium. View their slideshow right here.
• The Last Pitch: Farewell to Ernie Harwell looks at the man for whom Tiger Stadium was the home office for 31 years.
• Legends Stood Here by Buckshot Jones (Scott has a bunch more photos of Tiger Stadium)
• R.I.P. Tiger Stadium by Ralph Krawczyk Jr. (includes a link to the demolition of Tiger Stadium) and Tiger Stadium by Rhonda Marie.
• Here's a whole lot more photos in the Tiger Stadium group on Flickr.
• The Last Days of Tiger Stadium by Lawrence Creative features photos from the last season played there. Here's the slideshow.
• Here's a shot from a pickup game played there on Friday.

If you have any photos (or memories) to add, post a comment below.

Here's a fantastic video on Tiger Stadium from The Story of America's Classic Ballparks narrated by Jeff Daniels that includes some great old footage and interviews with Al Kaline, George Kell and Ernie Harwell.

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Funky Mamacita is full-bodied and smooth, with notes of roasted nuts and a bold, creamy finish. They created it in commemoration of the first Higher Grounds employee to have a baby! They know that moms are often on the run and unable to drink their coffee when it's hot. Because cold coffee makes for sad mommies, they are including one of their great travel mugs.

Higher Grounds was founded to with the social mission to advance economic justice worldwide by identifying and supporting fair trade sources for the highest-quality coffees from around the world. Click to read about some of the work with girls & women they support.

Click here to sign up (and to learn how you can win)

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Flat, Black & Circular by Eridony

Saturday was Record Store Day, a national celebration of independently owned record stores and the art of music. Pitchfork Magazine, one of the premier independent music publications, posted their list of favorite used record stores in the country. Michigan got two shoutouts, Encore Records in Ann Arbor and Flat, Black & Circular in East Lansing. This particular review was written by Pitchfork editor-in-chief Mark Richardson who begins:

This is the first record shop I ever walked into. Flat, Black, and Circular, or FBC as it's known to the locals in East Lansing, opened in 1977, and I was in there for the first time around 1980. I didn't buy a record there for a few years, but this is where I discovered how fun it could be to poke around amongst obsessives. FBC's most striking feature is an archway that frames the entrance, which is built from 45s. It's in a nondescript sort of mall-like building that also houses offices and an assortment of retail shops-- in the early 80s, a place opened across the hall called the CD Emporium, back when CDs were a major curiosity.

But FBC has outlasted them all. They have a glass display that features rare records assembled around a single theme. Many of these are local. These guys are collectors, and yet, somehow, they've managed to remain on top of things. I remember walking in after having been away from East Lansing for a number of years and being shocked at the collection of electronic and experimental vinyl.

FBC has a timeline that takes you from when FBC founder Dave Bernath called co-founder Dick Rosemont's Audio Aftermath program on WKAR-FM to the opening of Flat, Black & Circular Recycled Sound in the Campus Town Mall on September 26, 1977 with such innovations as two extra turntables with headphones to audition albums while sitting on living room furniture and beyond.

Record Store Day had a special Michigan tie this year - it was also the birthday of their 2012 ambassador Iggy Pop.

Here's a great interview with Dick & Dave on the occasion of their 30th year in business.

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Untitled by Brooke Pennington

Sunday (April 22) is the 42nd Earth Day. Here's some highlights from this morning's Earth Day post on Michigan in Pictures - don't miss the CBS News segment on Albion featuring Walter Kronkite from Earth Day 1970 below!

• The Michigan Green Living Festival in Rochester takes place April 22-24, 2012 and is is one of the largest green/wellness events on the planet, bringing together tens of thousands of people eager to learn about healthy living and seeking earth-friendly products, services and programs. (Facebook)
• The state of Michigan has a list of Earth Day events by region and the winners of the Michigan K-5 Earth Day poster contest.
• The Flint Journal has 7 easy tips to make a difference for the environment including buying local, organic produce and planting native Michigan plants. Speaking of ways to make a difference, here's some tips for saving green by going green in Northern Michigan. mLive also has an Earth Day poll.
• From Scientific American here's news that Michigan Tech grads will be wearing caps & gowns made from recycled plastic water bottles. (it takes 27 bottles for one gown)
• See more Earth Day features on Absolute Michigan including Earth Day's Michigan Roots.
• Here's a slideshow of Earth Day photos from the Absolute Michigan pool.

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The tour is presented by the wineries of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association and takes place every year on the weekend before Mother's Day (May 5 -6, 2012) and makes a great gift. Like all their wine trail tours, Sip & Savor features food & wine pairings at 19 wineries. With choices like pound cake topped with strawberry honey butter paired with Rose of Cabernet Franc or roasted salmon chowder and Pinot Gris, it's hard to go wrong.

This year the event also features the "Sip-o de Mayo Hat Contest" with prizes awarded in categories like "Biggest Hat" and "Most Eye-Catching Hat" at every winery. There's also a grand prize that includes two nights lodging at The Homestead, dinner for two with appetizers and dessert at La Becasse, Sunday brunch for two at the Bluebird, a wood-fired pizza from the Hearth & Vine Cafe at Black Star Farms and a pair of tickets to any of their Weekend wine tours or the Traverse City Wine & Art Festival!

Because wine is all about pairing, we're pairing the tickets with one of the individual prizes being offered, a pair of Wine Sippin' Socks to help you "sip without slippin'" Click through for more about these cool wardrobe additions!

Note that you must be 21 to win this prize!

Click here to sign up

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The winner will receive our "Category Supporter" sponsorship for their business, nonprofit organization or other website OR the business, nonprofit organization or other website of their choosing. The sponsorship is a $500 value and includes 2 banners that show up in rotation on your chosen category page and on our website, blog and in our emails as well!

Just as with all our sponsorships, the winning business or organization must be located in Michigan or sell Michigan products and you must be registered for The Daily Michigan (use the link below if you're not already!).

We recognize that this prize may not work for everyone, and for that reason we ask you to take a special step for entry. Between now and midnight on Tuesday, April 24th, please send an email to sponsors@absolutemichigan.com with your name and a note about the business or organization you want the sponsorship for. We will select at random from all received by next Wednesday!!

Click here to sign up

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The Elusive Black Morel
by cedarkayak

1 Morechella, true morels, are a honeycomb-like mushroom that  are prized by chefs the world over. The Great Morel Homepage can take you a lot deeper with links about the science of  these woodland delicacies. If you're looking for information about hunting morels this feature on Leelanau.com has some great tips to help you hunt and to be a good citizen of Morel Nation. Ed Vielmetti in Ann Arbor has a bunch more thoughts on the hunt.  MichiganMorels.com has tons of information as well about where to look, saying: Black morel habitats includes Ash, Fruit and Aspen trees (also known as: Popple or Poplar) or even lawns and fields.White (yellow) morels especially like Elm, Fruit trees, and Maple. And in southern Michigan, the Tulip Poplar tree is a good host.

2 When you find morels, you're going to want to cook them. The easiest tip is to soak them and rinse very well - they do have a lot of "grit" - and then fry them in butter. You can of course do a lot more with them. Check that Leelanau.com article and the recipes page at The Great Morel (one suggests a Michigan Dry Riesling pairing - we couldn't agree more!). Even if you don't find morels, you can buy them from Michigan-based Earthy Delights. On their recipes page they offer several ideas including Spring Wild Harvest Ragout With Fiddlehead Greens & Morels!

My favorite part of Spring by Apocaplops

3 Michigan loves its morels and we have two great morel celebrations. The annual Mesick Morel Festival is slated for May 11-13, 2012. Follow their Schroomers Log for updates on who's finding what and where. The second is the National Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City that takes place May 17-20, 2012. When you click that link you'll hear the strains of the Mushroomers Waltz, and when you visit the festival, you'll have a chance to taste an incredible array of morel dishes and enjoy an experience much like  Absolute Michigan did a few of years ago.

Although morels are early, Morelfest committee member Scott MacKenzie assures us that restaurants & chefs are storing up plenty for their featured Taste of Morels event. Scott says he's starting to find black morels and adds "Who knows what Mother Nature has in store. The gal I was hunting with found one gray. If it stays cold, it may turn out just perfect. One thing is for sure: if you come up, I guarantee you'll have a good time! Thornetta Davis is performing and there's all kinds of fun to be found."

4 Finding morels means knowing what they look like, and being able to distinguish them from poisonous false morels. You can see a whole bunch in the Michigan Morel Slideshow from the  Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr, including one from Sunday posted by the Honor Motel.  Michigan in Pictures has a bagful of photos and articles about morels as well. If you want to share YOUR photos with us, add them to the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr or post them to the Absolute Michigan Facebook!

5 There's a bunch of great videos out there on morels including a sweet time lapse of a morel growing over 8 days by Ken Scott, a nice tour of the Michigan woods in morel season, one with Zachary Trost and morel expert Tom Nauman and a very nice primer to morel hunting from Country Living. I have to go with my buddy Tony Williams and the Boyne City Morel Fest - enjoy and good hunting!!

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We feel bad that most of the giveways have required you to go somewhere, so today on The Daily Michigan we'll be bringing wine country to you with an original painting by artist Stephanie Schlatter from her series of works entitled On the Michigan Wine Trail.

Stephanie lives in Grand Rapids and finds herself inspired by Michigan's vineyards. The painting (pictured right) is 5 x 7, matted and signed. Stephanie set out to explore the artistic processes of Michigan's winemakers from ground to the vine and grape to glass. She does this through her painting and also through a video series.

Check below for a fun video from a recent visit to the bottling line at Brys Estates Winery on the Old Mission Peninsula near Traverse City.

Click here to sign up (and to learn how you can win)

If you are on any of our lists, you are automatically registered for EVERY giveaway!

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