Mouths on Fire and the Search for a Michigan Sunset

Once I was settled in the Cadillac cottage, it about 3 p.m. Too late to set off on a big adventure, but too early to not do anything, either. We decided to drive about an hour north to Traverse City to explore the downtown and see what the self-proclaimed Cherry Capital of the World had to offer.


On the drive on M-37, we conveniently passed a multitude of cherry stands just as our stomachs were starting to grumble. We pulled over when we entered Buckley and opted to squash our hunger with two bags of cherries. Dark, sweet cherries and slightly tart white ones. They were so fresh and delicious and I'll be honest...it felt great to help a local guy out. We could have just as easily gone to a fast food place for a burger, but there are few things that beat the taste of a fresh-picked cherry. Besides, I have made it a Project Michigan goal to avoid fast food whenever possible. I'm not sure how much time I'm going to have to work out and besides, I can hit up a McDonald's anywhere in the world. Why not go somewhere that's an area exclusive instead? :)


When we got to the downtown, we parked across the street from the waterfront and did a little shopping. Among the highlights was Cherry Republic, a business I will be exploring in depth in my next entry. Since I was scheduled to interview the president and founder the next day at the flagship location in Glen Arbor, I thought it wouldn't hurt to re-familiarize myself with the atmosphere and the products.


One of my favorite things about the Cherry Republic are the generous portions of samples. By nearly every display there are usually heaping bowls of salsa, chips, jelly and chocolate covered cherries not far behind, making your shopping experience a little like a treasure trove to try everything you can. So imagine my excitement when I spotted a new product.

The Chili Chocolate Covered Cherry. Emphasis on the Chili./Samantha Franz

Now, how many times have you read a label for a "hot," "spicy," or "flaming" product, only to discover that it  was mild at best? Those were my expectations as I popped one of those puppies in my mouth and waited for the milky chocolate coating to melt over my tongue. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see an older gentleman, who had been thinking of trying one of the chili cherries himself, waiting for my reaction. 

Holy. Crap. 

I flashed back to many years ago to the time when I bit into a dried chili pepper after my mom accidentally missed fishing out one in her Franz famous pot of chili. My eyes welled up with tears and I could feel my face turning a shade of crimson. I couldn't taste food, just that needle-like burn that comes with eating something that is, well, made with a chili pepper. 

The man came over to me and asked, "Well, are they hot?" knowing darn well that the answer would be. Fanning my hand in front of my mouth, I was able to muster up a nod and a yes. "Okay, well I won't try them then," he replied as he moved on to the much safer cherry white chocolate peanut butter. My mouth felt the spicy aftermath for more than 10 minutes after, so heed my warning, food-lovers. These are not for the meek. 

We drove around the area more, but after living on cherries, potato chips and Teddy Grahams since about 1 p.m., we were craving something a bit more fulfilling. So we opted to drive back to Cadillac and eat someplace where some of my mom's fondest Michigan memories lay: the Sun-n- Snow. 

The Sun-n-Snow in Cadillac/Samantha Franz

Lakeside Charlie's at the Sun-n-Snow/Samantha Franz

When my mom was growing up, she came from a rather large family of nine children, though most had already moved out of the house by the time she was born. Nonetheless, raising four girls left my grandparents without much time to relax. But they always blocked off one week every summer where they would rent a cottage at the Sun-n-Snow for my grandpa to fish and for the girls to relax and play on the beach. Lakeside Charlie's, which at that time had been a bar, evolved to a waterside restaurant and it was there we decided to eat dinner our first night. Over white wine and a delicious stuffed pork tenderloin, we talked about our trip thus far, as well as her childhood memories at the Sun-n-Snow.

After dinner, we drove around Cadillac in an attempt to find a perfect spot catch a timeless Michigan sunset, since our cottage didn't face the sunset side of the lake. 

Saw this little guy having a joyride in downtown Cadillac./Samantha Franz

After making the loop, we came back to none other than the good old Sun-n-Snow and man, did we get there just in time. 

Gorgeous./Samantha Franz

The plan of attack the next day? Drive both the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas, all while making stops in Glen Arbor, Historic Fishtown, the Pierce Stocking Drive, the Sleeping Bear Dunes climb, Old Mission Lighthouse and Leelanau Cellars winery, at the very least. Look for updates soon!

Tales From the Road: Clare Welcome Center

First off, my apologies for the delay in posting. Upon traveling Michigan's northwest, I quickly realized that a wireless internet connection is hard to come by, especially when you are on the move, trying to fit as much as possible into one day. Therefore, I went back to my reporter roots, jotting down notes in my notebook to blog when I got back.


So with the exposition aside, here is the first of multiple entries from my trip to the northwest, which included stops in Cadillac, Traverse City, Glen Arbor, Leland, Charlevoix and Cross Village. Enjoy!

~*~*~*~

It was a great arrangement: I wanted to work on my thesis, Mom wanted a vacation. So after some planning and pooling our resources, we loaded up the Chevy Tracker and made our way to Michigan's northwest. I made it a personal goal of mine to not use my GPS, Tom, (yes, he has a name and is programmed with a British accent) and to instead, navigate the way to Cadillac with only a map. 

At the Clare Welcome Center. As anybody that has ever traveled 

with me can attest to, I am a big fan of signage. / Samantha Franz

We made a stop at the Michigan Welcome Center in Clare and like kids in a candy store, we made a beeline for the Michigan guidebook section with rows and rows of glossy covers staring back at us, advertising everywhere from Macomb County to Grand Rapids to a bear ranch in the U.P. Probably the last thing I needed was more maps and guidebooks, but here I was, stocking up and getting my hands full pretty quickly. It was then that a very sweet old man, probably pushing 90, with a Pure Michigan polo asked if we needed a bag. He wisely came back with two. 

"Are you two teachers?" he asked us, probably assuming so by the way we were grabbing literature left and right. I smiled and briefly explained Project Michigan to him and he asked where I was headed first. After replying the northwest, he scurried off and promptly returned with a small stack of guidebooks. "These are about the wine country," he said as he dropped them in my open bag, like a child accepting a treat on Halloween. 

"Oh, you need this one, too!" he said, reaching over and adding a pamphlet about the Sleeping Bear Dunes. "I've been reading all winter," he added proudly. 

The man then pointed us in the direction of yet another rack of information we might find interesting, which we of course grabbed a few more for the road. 

I really wanted to get this name before I left, but that's when I spotted him across the room, helping an older couple with the same beaming enthusiasm as he had with us. With a smile, we walked out, bulging bags in tow. There wasn't much else to do at the Welcome Center, so after posing with my boy Smokey the Bear, we set off to Cadillac. 

Man, did Smokey get buff over the years or what?/Samantha Franz

When we arrived at the cottage (Thanks so much for letting us stay, John and Helen!), I laid out all of my Michigan literature, which was everything I had before, plus the two bags from today. It was really cool to see everything that Michigan has so much to offer, no matter what region you are in. It made me even more excited to commence my travels. :)

How's that for Pure Michigan?/Samantha Franz

Party It Up, Michigan Style

As I begin setting up a game plan for my travels, my room looks like a AAA office exploded. My nightstand is covered in maps and my stack of Michigan books and notepads is starting to look like a dangerous game of Jenga. Even when I manage to tame everything inside a farmer's market bag, it bulges to the point where I think it is going to burst if I even breathe on it the wrong way. 


One thing I have learned in my preliminary research is that we Michiganders love a good party and will look for any excuse to throw one. Whether it's of the culinary variety (cheeseburgers, fish sandwiches, bologna), a chance to hawk homemade goods at an art fest or just plain odd (Bigfoot Bash or Red Flannel Festival, anyone?), the excuses to celebrate seem limitless. 


I have compiled a list of some of Michigan's festivals below. I'm not sure how many I will be able to hit in my travels, but I find that one of the best parts of the Michigan spirit is the desire to bring the community together for a great time. Even if it's over a fish sandwich. 


June
New Hudson - Lyon Township Kite Festival - June 5
Sturgis - Sturgis Dam Days - June 6-12
Frankenmuth - Bavarian Festival - June 10-13
Potterville - Gizzard Fest -June 11-13
Grand Haven - Feast of the Strawberry Moon - June 12-13
New Baltimore - BayRama Fish Fly Festival - June 23-27

The Feast of the Strawberry Moon is a historical festival

where visitors can learn about life during the 1760s, as well

as the learn the art of throwing shiny objects./grandhaven.org

July
Traverse City - National Cherry Festival - July 3-10
St. Helen - National Bluegill Festival - July 8-11
Saranac - Skinny Dip Guinness Records and Hat Dance


That one made me pump the brakes and ask, "Whaaaaaat?" Here's an article from MLive that explains the former part of that one. 


Elkton - Wind Turbine Day - July 17
Fremont - National Baby Food Festival - July 21-24
Mayville - Mayville Sunflower Festival - July 22-25
Commins - Bigfoot Bash - July 23-25
Yale - Yale Bologna Festival - July 24-25

Elkton is home to the energy efficient Harvest Wind Farm,

which is located on 120 acres./Samantha Franz

August
Bay Port - Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival - Aug. 6-7
AuGres - AuGres Pirate Festival - Aug. 7
St. Johns - St. Johns Mint Festival - Aug. 13-15
Allegen - Michigan Fiber Festival - Aug. 21-22


September
Royal Oak - Arts, Beats and Eats - Sept. 3-6
Marquette - Michigan Brewers Guild U.P. Fall Beer Festival - Sept. 11


October
Cedar Springs - Red Flannel Festival - Sept. 2

A great photo courtesy of a Life photo Google search. This link offers a 

little history on the festival/life.com

A huge listing can be also found on the Michigan Festival and Events website. 

Welcome to Project: Michigan

It hasn't been an easy go around for Michigan lately. The economic climate has the state teetering on the edge of uncertainty and with unemployment at an all-time high, many have fled their hometowns for other parts of the country in hopes of starting anew.


But it doesn't stop there. Michigan has become a popular punching bag in the media, taking blows from the 24-hour news cycle, late night comedy and jaw-dropping documentaries.


And yet, there are those who are staying put. These people have chosen to fight along side Michigan rather than run away from it. Whether they are setting up shop, using the state's resources to cultivate crops or simply hanging tough, there is no doubt that these Michiganders have a multitude of stories to tell.


This is what Project: Michigan is all about.


As a lifelong resident of the state, I have been gifted a truly unique living experience, thus spawning the inspiration for this master's thesis project. Wineries and pasties, parks and trails, endless bodies of water, picturesque seasons and Tigers games under the lights in early September. It is my love for my home state and the boundless curiosity of my inner journalist that has driven me to find out the answer to the ultimate question: What keeps people in Michigan?

       The grapes of Chateau Chantal Winery in Traverse /Samantha Franz 

To learn the answer, I will travel to five regions of Michigan: Detroit, the West Side, the Thumb, the North and the Upper Peninsula and document my travels and the stories I hear with the help of virtual journalism. I will be blogging my adventures here, as well as posting photo galleries and video interviews on my corresponding website.


While I definitely have some places to go in mind, it is the anticipation of the unknown that is generating the most excitement. There so many roads less traveled in Michigan that go far beyond the news lens and  guidebooks and it is these blue-plate diners, offbeat festivals and unique personalities that I look forward to discovering the most.


So, with introductions aside, let me welcome you once again to Project: Michigan! In the coming weeks, I will begin my travels across the state, so be sure to check back for updates.


Thanks for reading!

Comerica Park in Downtown Detroit, home to many a 

memory/Samantha Franz