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Join us as we explore Michigan to find the best our state has to offer. Follow along as we travel to find and tell stories about Michigan’s best adventures, foods, events, nature, innovations, businesses, and communities. Your source for feel-good, positive Michigan news. Find us on MLive.com/MichigansBest and our social channels.
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When we chose the stories for this edition, all the events and dates were accurate. As always, find the mostup-to-date information on the business/event/activity website, Facebook page or other direct information source.
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EMILY BINGHAM | ebingham@mlive.com
If you see this bird in your backyard, winter is on its way es, it’s still autumn, but one of the earliest signs of winter might already be in your own backyard. The Dark-eyed Junco is a small sparrow that’s synonymous with winter’s return across much of the U.S. True to their “snowbirds” nickname, they fly south from their Arctic summer homes this time of year to avoid the deep freeze, and happily spend the colder months in comparatively warmer climates in many states. “People really think of them as the harbingers of winter when they start to show up at feeders,” Elliot Nelson, extension educator for Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension, told MLive in 2022. Even their appearance echoes that of a December snow day: According to Audubon magazine, most Dark-eyed Juncos in the eastern U.S. are the “slate-colored” subspecies, with bright white bellies and darker backs that can range from soft gray to nearly black, sometimes with
brownish tinges. Regardless of each individual’s coloration, you can always look for their sweet pink beaks and white tail feathers that flash when the birds are startled into flight. Perhaps what makes juncos so widely recognizable this time of year compared to other early, birdy signs of winter, such as kinglets or other sparrows, is that juncos are both very common and easy to find. Typically birdwatchers don’t have to look much farther than the ground below their feeders, where these sprightly little birds are often spotted hopping around in search of fallen treats. If you’d like to attract these snowbirds to your yard, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch suggests Darkeyed Juncos enjoy seeds like sunflower, safflower, thistle, cracked corn, peanut hearts and millet, either on the ground or in platform or hopper-style feeders. Juncos have already been reported arriving in parts of the northern U.S., making now a good time to keep an eye out for their — and winter’s — return.
New
Detroit PIZZA PASS gets you prizes and deals at pizzerias all over the area
y EDWARD PEVOS | epevos@mlive.com
DETROIT, MI
ou can now get deals and prizes when you dine at area pizzerias thanks to a free Detroit Pizza Pass. More than dozen area pizzerias have partnered with Visit Detroit to take part in the Pizza Pass. Participating restaurants include Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina, Buddy’s, Jolly Pumpkin and Mootz. There’s no mobile app. To get the free Detroit Pizza Pass, all users need to do is sign up for it here and then bookmark the pass page to easily access it at participating pizzerias. “Detroit’s pizza heritage is unlike any other, and the Detroit Pizza Pass lets visitors savor it all,” said Claude Molinari, President and CEO of Visit Detroit. “It’s a celebration of our city’s culinary creativity and we can’t wait to take people on this delicious journey.” Passport holders can earn points by checking in at participating pizza joints and redeem them for prizes like Detroit pizza hats, aprons, shirts and stickers in the rewards store.
HERE ARE ALL THE PARTICIPATING PIZZERIAS: • Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina in Plymouth and Southfield • Bob’s Pizza Palace in Detroit • Buddy’s in Detroit and downtown Detroit • Como’s in Ferndale • Francesca’s Brick Oven Pizzeria in Brownstown Twp. • Great Lakes Burger & Pizza Bar in Detroit • Hockeytown Cafe in Detroit • Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria & Brewery in Detroit • Mad Nice in Detroit • Mike’s Pizza Bar in Detroit • Mootz Pizzeria and Bar in Detroit • Motor City Brewing Works in Detroit • Pie Sci Pizza in Detroit • Pizzaman Pizza in Detroit • PizzaPapalis of Rivertown in Detroit • PIZZAWALA’S in Canton • Shorty Bell’s in Detroit • Union Assembly in Detroit
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But first,
coffee.
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Michigan’s Best Local Eats:
Hyperion Coffee Co. brings ethically sourced coffee to Washtenaw County
MAKAYLA COFFEE | mcoffee@mlive.com
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI
rab a cup of Hyperion Coffee in Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor. Hyperion Coffee Co. began strictly as a roastery in 2015 at 306 N. River St. in Ypsilanti. Eventually, the space transformed into the café people know now and its roasting operations moved elsewhere. Eric Mullins, Dan Kubera and Alex Merz run Hyperion Coffee Co. with the goal of producing coffee that’s ethically sourced and working closely with farms in countries like Guatemala and Honduras. The business opened its Ann Arbor café at 111 West Liberty St. in 2021, and it also does online sales and wholesale sales with many other local businesses. “We just wanted to have a coffee shop and a company where ownership actually cared about the coffee and made connections with producers around the world,” Mullins said. Hyperion has made many connections with a variety of farmers, Mullins said, adding the business has probably visited close to 20 different countries and sources from around 100 farms. The Ypsi and Ann Arbor locations serve coffee alongside pastries sourced from local businesses like Bird Dog Baking, The Songbird Café and Botanical Bakeshop, which is known for its vegan options. The two locations also serve some seasonal fall drinks including pumpkin tahini lattes, bourboninfused maple syrup lattes and a caramel apple cider
INFO Hyperion Coffee Co. is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day at both locations. Find it online or on social media.
for a non-coffee option. When it comes to coffee, Hyperion Coffee Co. is known for light to medium roasts, Mullins said. “We like to compare coffee roasting to baking bread,” he said. “Nobody wants a burned piece of toast.” A few coffee blends that can be found year-round include Hyperion’s Titan Espresso Blend and its Helios House Blend which each have different tasting notes customers can expect. “What you see on our bags are ever revolving taste profile like you would taste in wines,” Mullins said. “People will pick up different kinds of things so (this) helps guide consumers.” Each bag of coffee may have differing notes depending on the time of year, Mullins said. However, Titan Espresso seems to have notes of roasted nuts, dark chocolate, graham cracker and
tangerine while Helios has notes of milk chocolate, roasted peanuts, honey crisp apples and mandarin, according to Hyperion’s website. Overall, Mullins said the company’s “guiding light” has involved being “intentional” about the coffee it sources while “investing in quality baristas” who know what they are doing. The business also focuses on taking care of its staff and creating careers with “long term stability” with health benefits and 401K opportunities, Mullins said. “We’re not just like the run-of-the-mill coffee shop,” he said. “We’re trying to become something that’s more (and) provide something greater for our community.” Currently, Hyperion isn’t actively seeking out another location, but Mullins said, “Never say never.”
Michigan’s Best Local Eats:
The Kirby House
is the ‘place to meet and eat’ in Grand Haven
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SUTTONS BAY, MI
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meet. eat. repeat.
MICHIGAN’S BEST | 11.5.23 | 2
SUTTONS BAY, MI TANDA GMITER | tgmiter@mlive.com
Northern Michigan vineyard stirs up new wine cocktail collection
SKYLA JEWELL-HAMMIE | SJewell-Hammie@mlive.com
ituated right in the heart of downtown Grand Haven, this historic restaurant has been a staple in the community since 1873. The Kirby House at 2 Washington Ave. has functioned as a hotel, residence, restaurant and community space. Purchased by the Gilmore family in 1989, The Kirby has offered a restaurant and social hub on the lakeshore ever since. Tim Riley, general manager of The Kirby House, said it is coined as “the place to meet and the place to eat” in Grand Haven. “People are like, ‘Let’s meet at The Kirby House,’” Riley told MLive/ Muskegon Chronicle. “Everybody knows where that is when you are in Grand Haven.” The three-story building features a little bit of everything, he said. It’s home to The Kirby House, which has eclectic bar and grill eats, The Grill Room offers premium steaks and chops, and K2 has wood-fired pizza and craft beer. Bestsellers on The Kirby House menu continue to be staples like the savory cashew chicken stir fry ($17.99), wet burrito ($15.99) and Thai chicken lettuce wraps ($15.99). Riley said customers with dietary restrictions can INFO also order from a list of diverse menu items, including gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan. Hours of operation for The “The Kirby House has got a Tommy Bahama beach Kirby House are Wednesday island feel, The Grill Room is a classic steakhouse with through Thursday, from wine glasses on the table and K2 is real causal with a 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m., 11:30 game room,” he said. a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday through He touts the historic space as a fun atmosphere for Saturday and 11:30 a.m. families but for adults too, equipped with waterfront 9 p.m. on Sunday. views and outdoor seating in the warmer months. Call the restaurant at Customers interested in other fun activities can also (616) 846-3299 or visit their look forward to the nightclub called the Dark Room, website to place a carryout open once a month for special events. order.
As much as we love wine-tasting trips to Northern Michigan, sometimes we’re in the mood for something a little more adventurous. Shady Lane Cellars is stirring up new tastes for fall and the holiday season with their wine cocktail collection. This includes a cocktail made with the vineyard’s Pomeranz - an orange wine that’s actually a skinfermented Riesling - to capture the very essence of autumn color in a glass. The rest of the winery’s collection features slow-sipping blends, some with a touch of caramel or even festive rosemary. “Shady Lane’s executive winemaker and general manager, Kasey Wierzba, and her team recently introduced Fall Wine Cocktails that change monthly to highlight the flavors of the region and season,” the winery’s staff said. “As far as we can tell, no other winery in the region is doing this at this moment.” Shady Lane, a 150-acre winery on the Leelanau Peninsula that has more than 50 acres planted in estate-grown vines, is known for its award-winning Rieslings and big, flavorful reds. It’s also attracted a following for its peppery Blaufrankisch. The winery, which sits between Traverse City and Suttons Bay, has a nice outdoor gathering area and a picturesque tasting room made of fieldstones.
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INFO The store’s last day open at its Main Street location this season will be Sunday, Oct. 29. Threads’ online store is available yearround and orders are shipped to customers.
TANDA GMITER | tgmiter@mlive.com
MACKINAC ISLAND, MI
orses have been powering Mackinac Island for more than a century, pulling the drays that deliver goods as well as the passenger-packed taxis that fill the island’s main streets. But this summer, there was a different kind of horse sighting among the tourists. Threads of Mackinac, a design shop that features unique T-shirts, sweatshirts and other apparel, rolled out two new lines featuring horse art. The new Royal Spirit and Mackinac Sprit both feature trotting horses in different poses. As with all designs featured on Threads’ merchandise, the goal is to offer clothing that makes it easy for people to connect with their Mackinac memories. The shop, opened by Micah Paldino in 2019, is all about a “wearable postcard art” style that features places and things iconic to the island. The new designs are meant to
Mackinac that is so closely intertwined with the sights, sounds, and characters of the island is how inspiration and new ideas flow,” he said. “We’re always keeping our eyes open for new ways our visitors can take that special memory home with them.” Royal Spirit: This design has bold “Mackinac Island” lettering on the front. On the back, there’s a silhouette of a trotting horse with the words: “Where Horses Reign.” It’s available only in adult sizes as a long-sleeve T-shirt or a short-sleeve T-shirt. Mackinac Spirit: This horse design is bigger and comes with a touch a whimsy. The carousel-style horse is prancing on the front of the shirt and topped by a “Mackinac Island” banner. It’s available in toddler, youth and adult sizes in a couple different colors. “We first launched this in kids’ sizes and so many adults were drawn to it, so we started testing this design
Mackinac shop trots out 2 new shirt designs celebrating the island’s horses
Photo provided by
Threads
remind Mackinac lovers of not only the massive draft horses that do the heavy work on the island, but also the stables full of riding horses and even the children’s ponies. Hearing the clip-clop of the working horses’ hooves on Main Street is as much a part of the island experience as hopping on a ferry boat or tasting freshly-cut fudge. Paldino said adding the new horse art to the shop’s design line-up was an easy decision. “Part of the joy of having a business on
with that audience and it’s selling really well,” Paldino said. For fans of Mackinac Island’s famous horse Mustache Merle - yes, this sweet boy really has a mustache - Threads has also launched a special shirt design featuring his likeness. On the front, it features a horseshoe and “Mackinac Island.” On the back, it has a likeness of the mustached horse with the words “Have a Mackinawesome Day! Love, Merle.” “We launched our new Merle shirt in collaboration with an island employee who was inspired by his fame,” Paldino said.
Michigan’s Best Local Eats:
S ta c k e d
live burger
a KAYTIE BOOMER | kboomer@mlive.com
MIDLAND, MI
happy atmosphere. That’s what the community should expect when they are welcomed into Andy & Nathan’s U.S. Coney & Cone, according to co-owner Nathan Widmer. The restaurant, located at 601 S. Saginaw Road in Midland, opened in January of this year. Nathan Widmer owns the business with his father, Andy Widmer, and they both said they are passionate about serving smiles and good food to the community. “We hope when they come in and they’re frowny and having a rough start to the week and hungry, they get some good food and they leave happy,” Nathan Widmer said. “That’s the most important part. Our slogan is ‘Food that makes you
from Andy & Nathan’s U.S. Coney & Cone in Midland
happy,’ so that’s what we strive for.” Once the family gutted the space and built it back up to what it is today, Andy and Nathan Widmer decided what kinds of food they wanted to serve the community. Andy Widmer said the most popular items include the Coney dogs, ice cream, Dole soft serve, burgers and the garlic bread cheese curds. The burgers are made from fresh ground beef, and Andy Widmer makes the Coney sauce from scratch, just like most of their menu items. They also offer salads, sandwiches, chicken tenders, chicken noodle soup and
a variety of side dishes. Each item on the menu is below $10, and they have a buy one, get one coney dog special on Tuesdays. “It’s been absolutely awesome. It’s better than I ever imagined so far,” Andy Widmer said. “I would like to thank Midland for the tremendous support they’ve given us. It’s beyond my wildest dreams.” This isn’t the first business Andy Widmer has owned. He is a co-owner of another business with his wife called Great Gifts, Arts, Antiques & Handmades, located at 600 Cambridge St., suite 2, in Midland.
INFO Andy & Nathan’s U.S. Coney & Cone is open 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. The restaurant offers online ordering as well. Check out its website or its Facebook to see the menu and up-to-date information. Call the restaurant at (616) 846-3299 or visit their website to place a carryout order.
HERE IS THE FALL AND HOLIDAY WINE COCKTAIL COLLECTION, WITH A NEW TASTE ROLLING OUT EACH MONTH: • Last month, October: Not red or white but orange wine is headed to table. Shady Lane Cellars’ Vin d’Pom wine cocktail pairs Pomeranz wine with elderflower liqueur, ginger syrup and an orange twist. • November: Caramel Apple Mimosa will be made with Shady Lane Cellars’ Sparkling Riesling. • December: Shady Lane Cellars brings outs the Blau & Holly - made with Shady Lane Cellars Blaufrankisch, vodka, rosemary simple syrup and orange bitters
Photo provided by Shady Lane Cellars
“Leelanau Peninsula’s sustainably-minded estate winery is out to prove that wine cocktails aren’t just meant to be enjoyed during warmer months. You can also sip them by the fire as sweater weather settles in,” staff said.
INFO
Here are Shady Lane’s fall and winter tasting room hours: November to April 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Closed Tuesday, Wednesday
MICHIGAN’S BEST | 11.5.23 | 3
Michigan’s Best Local Eats:
Crispy walnut-breaded chicken is a seasonal staple at One North
O CHLOE MILLER | cmiller@mlive.com
JACKSON, MI
ne North Kitchen & Bar is always looking to change its menu to offer unique seasonal dishes. One North typically comes out with an updated menu each quarter, with some items removed and others added for the season. The restaurant’s new fall menu debuted Monday, Oct. 2, and features a range of seasonal salads, entrees and cocktails. A popular item from last year’s menu that’s back on this year’s fall menu is the Harvest Salad. It’s a spinach salad topped with roasted butternut squash, feta cheese, blackberries and a housemade balsamic vinaigrette. A protein can be added, and the blackened shrimp is typically a popular pick, General Manager Kraig Foreman said. “I think the name itself speaks (for
it), as well as the color,” Foreman said. “Just all kinds of flavors, textures and ingredients in there that you can’t get at home.” Another item featured on the new fall menu is the Walnut Chicken. It’s crispy chicken coated in walnut breading and a mustard glaze that comes with redskin mashed potatoes and vegetables. “Everything on the plate is made from scratch, from cutting the chicken ourselves, to the breading, to the cooking,” Foreman said. A pumpkin spice crème brûlée also has been added to the dessert menu for the season. Seasonal cocktails, exclusive to the Jackson location, include a Pumpkin Spice White Russian and The Caramel Apple Mule. Aside from the food, the restaurant prides itself as being a destination for
sports and entertainment. One North offers plenty of televisions for sports viewing, trivia, lady’s night, live comedy and music performances. The Jackson-based eatery has been open since 2018. There’s also a Lansing location at 5001 W. Saginaw Highway.
INFO One North Kitchen & Bar, 2115 Bondsteel Drive in Jackson, is open 11 am. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. More information can be found on its Facebook page and website.
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