Detroit Restaurant Week

I'm just hearing about this, but I'm very excited! From September 18 to September 27th, 17 premiere Detroit restaurants will be offering a three course menu for $27 per person. This is a great way to check out some of the more exclusive eateries downtown for less money than usual.

Some of the restaurants participating include: Roast, The Whitney,and Opus One. For a full list of participating restaurants, menus and reservations check out: Detroit Restaurant Week.

Michigan Artisan- WoodNGoods

Well, there's no denying it: fall will be here before we know it. That means that Back-to-School, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and all sorts of holidays and occasions are going to be upon us before we know it. Some of these occasions warrant gift-giving. This year, consider giving beautiful gifts that were handmade right here in the great state of Michigan!

Periodically, I'll feature a Michigan artisan here on Yes Michigan! I hope that you'll check them out and consider them for all your gifts this year!

WoodNGoods makes amazing wood "paintings" as well as ornaments and other fun stuff. Check them out!

Come Cheer on the 3-Day Walkers!

For those of you who don't already know, this weekend is the Michigan Breast Cancer 3-Day. Around 2000 men and women will walk 60 miles over 3 days to raise funds for Susan g. Komen for the Cure. Another 500 folks have volunteered to serve as crew to meet the needs of those awesome walkers. Come on out to one of the official cheering stations to cheer them on as they walk! Or make your own cheering station along the route! If your house or place of business is on the route, consider putting out some cold water, lemonade, or just leave your hose on and out! It's going to be a warm one! Kids with squirt guns are also appreciated!

You can find the official cheering stations here.

Waterparks in Michigan

Now that summer is in full swing, folks are looking for a fun way to stay cool. Try a water park! In addition to the parks listed here, check with your city, county, state and other park organizations (such as the Huron-Clinton Metroparks). Some of those have spray and play areas or waterslides.

I have not been to all of these, I am just compiling links here. If you have experiences with any of them, please feel free to comment.

Indoor Waterparks:
Surfari Joe's
Zehnder's Splash Village
Avalanche Bay
Splash Universe
Great Wolf Lodge
Sterling Inn

Outdoor Waterparks:
Michigan's Adventure-Wildwater Adventure
Waterford Oaks
Thunder Falls

Did I miss your favorite Michigan waterpark? Leave a comment and tell us about it!

Are you a Michigan Artisan?

Do you make awesomely beautiful jewelry? Are you a woodcarver? Do you craft yummy Michigan cherries into equally yummy jams? Would you like to expand your business past local craft shows and farm markets? Then here is your answer:

Artfire.com!

Artfire is a new venue for artisans around the world. If you sign up now, you can lock in a $12 per month fee. That's it. There are NO listing fees and NO commissions taken on sales. Studios are customizable and staff is attentive and responsive.

Join now and get your Michigan-made product on the map!

Register on ArtFire.com

Walled Lake Farmer's Market

I love farmer's markets. Eating locally produced food is important to me. If you're with me on this, then check out your local market! I have several that are near me. The Oakland County Farmer's Market on Pontiac Lake Road is now open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and they have some great vendors. Hartland and Howell have markets as does Royal Oak. Later in the summer Clarkston will start up. And, of course, the Eastern Market in Detroit is legendary. My personal favorite is the Walled Lake Farmer's Market.

The Walled Lake Market is on Maple Road next to the Fire Station. You can find fresh-baked breads and cookies, pickles, tea and-my family's personal indulgence-the BEST tortilla chips in the world (try the "Secret Recipe"). Currently, you can also buy your own plants for your garden. Later in the season you will be able to find yummy produce at great prices. The market runs from 7am-1pm on Wednesdays. I'll be there tomorrow!

If you need to find the market nearest your house, go check out Local Harvest.

Henry Ford Special Offer

I've already posted about how wonderful The Henry Ford is, in my opinion. Now that spring is here Greenfield Village is open and bustling. Right now you can download a coupon at The Henry Ford's website that allows you to get a family membership for only $99. This allows two adults and all of their children (or grandchildren) who are under 18 in the household unlimited admission to Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum, plus discounts on rides and special events. Depending on the number of folks in your family and which venues you visit, the membership will be paid for with one or two visits! You can get all the details on the website!