Farewell to a Legendary Detroiter

Soupy Sales has passed away at the age of 83. Soupy's show was a staple of lunchtime TV in the 1950's and he is credited with saving the American Broadcasting Company. His full obituary is here.

Having a Handmade (and Local!) Holiday

It's getting to be that time of year. The winter holidays are getting close and that means folks are going to be shopping for gifts! Let me suggest that you support the local economy, as well as hard-working local artists, by making the commitment to have a handmade holiday.

 It's not hard to find handmade gifts from right here in Michigan. Here are several ways to find them:
1) Visit a local craft show. Many schools and churches have them this time of year. There is probably at least one near you!
2) Check out Artfire's Michigan Artists Guild.
3) Check out Etsy and do a search for "Michigan Trolls". It's a group of Michigan artists. Or just search "Michigan".
4) Check out local boutiques and craft malls that bring together many handmade artists for convienent shopping. Try The Town Peddler in Livonia or Countryside Craft Mall in Sterling Heights.

If you're anything like me you're tired of buying a bunch of mass-produced items for holiday giving. This year, concentrate on spending the same money that you would've spent at the local department store at a craft fair, craft mall or an online artist venue. You may not be able to get as many items for each person for the same money, but I guarantee that the items you get will be of better quality and more cherished than anything you could find on a shelf full of identical, mass-produced "stuff". You will also be supporting the Michigan economy on the most basic level.

So get out there and start shopping!

Sidetrack Bar and Grill in Ypsilanti

Sidetrack has been one of my favorite restaurants since I live in Ypsi several years ago. Their burger has been rated as one of the best in the country by GQ magazine and their sweet potato fries are awesome! I have never had anything at Sidetrack that I didn't enjoy and they have a really nice selection of wine, beer and liquors. It's not a huge place, but it's cozy and fun, and the staff is friendly and efficient.

For a little under $20 (not including tip) you can get a cheeseburger, sweet potato fries, a drink (I had the hard cider on draught) and dessert.

Next time you're in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area, I highly encourage a stop at Sidetrack!

Extreme Comfort Food at Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

As we get closer to the cool days of fall, I can't help thinking about a hot bowl of soup and a gooey, rich sandwich. Where do I go to satisfy the comfort craving? Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup! Several varieties of soup are made fresh every day, with tomato bisque always on the menu. A wide assortment of sandwiches and salads are also available. Try the pulled pork for a modern twist on the southern favorite. Or go traditional with a grilled cheese (you get to choose up to three kinds of cheese for your sandwich). Meatloaf, mac and cheese, and chicken pot pie are also available.

I highly recommend treating yourself to some gourmet comfort food at this really yummy Michigan restaurant!

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup is located on Northwestern Highway in Farmington. Check out the menu here.

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.