Welcome to the "Big Tuesday" edition of Five Things you need to know about Michigan (sequel to our critically acclaimed Big Wednesday edition). For us, some big news was the fact that the Nick of Time Gang in Lansing managed to replace the service tax with something a lot fairer and more sensible. AP writer David Eggert notes it's just too bad that they could have gotten it handled sooner.

Day off at the DIA by buckshot.jones

Big Numbers for Mackinac Island

In their Island Destinations Rated: North America, National Geographic Traveler gave their highest North American rating (80) to Michigan's Mackinac Island. They note that while the downtown can be a overcrowded, the island is a great example of conservation / preservation / education all converging in a project that the local community clearly benefits from and is proud of. I'll point you to Absolute Michigan keyword Mackinac Island for a ton of links including Destination: Michigan visits Mackinac Island. I'll also say that I think that elements of what they've done right could be translated to other areas in Michigan.

Big Makeover for the DIA

Joining the major magazine parade (and after delivering the obligatory crime spiel), Newsweek takes a look at the recently completed major facelift of the Detroit Institute of Arts in Makeover For a Motor City Gem. They say the DIA may be the greatest of Motor City treasures: It is stuffed with masterpieces—including Greek and Roman antiquities, eight paintings by Rubens, Bruegel's "The Wedding Dance," the first van Gogh to enter an American museum (a self-portrait, bought in 1922) and the spectacular 1933 Diego Rivera mural cycle, "Detroit Industry."

Day off at the DIA by buckshot.jones

Today's photo by buckshot.jones is one of a number of photos of the DIA in the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr. Scott has a lot of great photos of Detroit in his Detroit & Metro Area photo set and all kinds of other places. He also had a really cool photo of Detroit's Joe Louis memorial featured on Michigan in Pictures last week.

Big Coal in Michigan

The Freep reported last week that while Gov. Jennifer Granholm was in California touting Michigan as a center of new energy technology, seven new coal-fueled power plants are formally proposed or under serious discussion in Michigan. Right now, coal produces almost 2/3 of Michigan's energy and there's a nationwide rush of permit applications due to expected tighter restrictions in the pipeline. If you're so inclined, you can sign a petition at nocoalrush.com.

Big Rapids, Michigan

The City of Big Rapids was settled in 1851 by John Parish (more on their Big Rapids history page). It is home to Ferris State University and (according to Wikipedia's Big Rapids entry) it's the county seat of Mecosta County with a population of 10,849. Absolute Michigan keyword Big Rapids says that every July they hold the Mecosta County Free Fair and that it's the hometown of May Erlewine aka Daisy May. Speaking of music and festivals, the Wheatland Music Festival is held in September not far from Big Rapids!