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Pure Michigan Tourism Conference Summary

Pure Michigan Conference Dave Lorenz

Dave Lorenz presents at the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Traverse City

The Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism was held in Traverse City last week. Representatives from convention and visitor bureaus and hospitality professionals from across Michigan gathered to learn about the state of our tourism state.

We had a legislative report from a panel of lobbyists in Lansing. Our keynote speaker addressed the State of the American Traveler. And Dave Lorenz provided an update from Travel Michigan including plans for this year’s Pure Michigan campaign.

Since I know many of our clients missed out on attending I thought I’d share a recap of the event. Here are some of the hot topics, statistics and strategic plans discussed at the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism that caught my attention.

Pure Michigan Legislative Report

Panelists: Michael Krombeen, Partner, Midwest Strategy Group; Matt Sowash, lobbyist, Michigan Legislative Consultants; Justin Winslow, President & CEO, Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association; Evelyn Zois Sweeney, Legislative Consultant, Muchmore Harrington Smalley & Associates. The panelists discussed topics of legislative interest to the hospitality industry and weighed in on the current climate in Lansing.

Pure Michigan Funding

Governor Whitmer’s proposed budget includes cuts to funding for Pure Michigan. Panelists agreed this is too early in the budget talks to be certain of funding dollars for this year. Lobbyists from Michigan Legislative Consultants agreed they are going to educate and push for as much Pure Michigan funding as they can.

Post-Labor Day Start

This is not only an issue of economic importance, but a workforce issue as well. Currently over 165 districts have waivers for pre-Labor Day start. Legislative discussions are exploring alternative schedules. These include allowing Tues-Thurs classes in August, as well as options for year-round classes.

Snow Days

Legislation has been proposed to allow schools options to deal with the increasing number of snow days. Possibilities include tacking on additional hours to the school day, and snow day forgiveness for Governor-declared emergency days.

Short Term Rentals

Panelists discussed addressing short term rentals in terms of regulation. The primary goals are to ensure everyone is paying into the same taxes & assessments. They are also seeking some form of registration, possibly by directly licensing platforms  such as AirBnB.

Auto No Fault

This is becoming a hot button issue for the hospitality industry as employees struggle to afford insurance. Panelists discussed the likelihood of making significant changes this year, with mixed opinions.

State of the American Traveler

Keynote speaker; Erin Francis-Cummings, Destination Analysts

Erin’s presentation, “The State of the Global Traveler – Drawing Wanderlust to Michigan,” presented statistics and trends to watch in 2019 among travelers. Here research reflected the mindset of global travelers, indicated some key demographics to focus on, and gave insight into the changes we’re seeing. Here are few take-aways that illustrate the current state of the industry.

  • The bad news:  Leisure trips are down from 4.2 trips annually to 3.8 trips, and budgets are down 5.6%. Personal finances, work and the cost of travel are the primary reasons for the decrease.
  • The good news:  Travel is still listed as the second most important leisure activity, just under spending time with friends and family. For younger travelers, however, travel competes with a lot more activities.
  • 4 primary traveler types: Generation Z, the National Park Traveler, Family Travelers and Aspiring Michigan Travelers.

Generation Z

The youngest travelers are that of Generation Z—ages 15-24. To reach this audience you’ll need video. You can find them on Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat. Believe it or not they already make up 13.9% of the travel market.

National Park Travelers

This audience tends to be young and travels with their children. They use all types of planning resources. Primary interests include culture and food. They make up 31% of American travelers.

Family Travelers

Representing 47% of American travelers, this is clearly a popular target audience. This group is largely made up of women who frequently travel outside the U.S. This is a very social audience with 50% using Facebook to post both before and after their trips. They like AirBnB and are drawn to cultural and culinary experiences.

Aspiring Michigan Travelers

This is an ethnically diverse audience, largely made up of millennials and Generation X. They like to research travel destinations through travel apps, social media and tourism bureaus. Online video is important and influential.

Only 16% of American travelers aspire to visit Michigan. So how can we compete with other states and attract more travelers to Michigan? (Can you believe we fall behind Ohio!) The number one reason a destination remains top of mind to visitors is because they’ve been there before. The influence of friends and family impacts 65% of travelers. To grow our Michigan brand we need to gain loyalty. We need our visitors to continue to share their love of this region with friends and family—especially if they’ll share it on their social channels.

Michigan Cares for Tourism

This 501c3 non-profit is made up of volunteers from the tourism industry who want to give back to projects across the state of Michigan. They tackle small projects throughout the year and host an annual multi-day volunteer event in a select location. This year’s project is in our own backyard.

Michigan Cares for Tourism is seeking volunteers for the 2019 event at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse in Leelanau State Park, September 16-17, 2019. There are enough projects for 325 volunteers! To register visit michigancaresfortourism.org. C’mon Traverse City, let’s send some volunteers to help our neighbors. It’s a good excuse to hang out in a park on a Monday and Tuesday in the fall.

To kick off the conference, MC4T held an event at Munson Manor where volunteers donated toiletries, cooked food and tackled painting projects. Check In Michigan, the organization behind the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism, donated $10,000 to MC4T, with donations made on behalf of the conference speakers.

Pure Michigan Campaign Update

Dave Lorenz, Vice President of Travel Michigan made his annual trip to the stage to provide an update on the state of our tourism state. He delivered a report on the investment and returns on the 2018 Pure Michigan campaign. Next he shared a few highlights and top performing projects which earned significant results. And we wrapped up by hearing about some focus points for 2019. Here are a few of the take-aways.

Measurable Results from the $16.5 Million Advertising Investment in Pure Michigan in 2018

  • Influenced 6.4M person-trips
  • $2.5B in visitor spending
  • $153M generated in state taxes
  • $9.28 return on investment

Want to check out all the details? Here’s a link to the Pure Michigan Advertising Effectiveness Study. You can find more about what Travel Michigan is doing for you on Michigan.org. At the bottom of the page click Travel Industry and then look for Research.

Social Media Summary

Nick Nerbonne, MEDC Digital Media Director responsible for Pure Michigan social media accounts provided some additional insight during one of the social media sessions. Facebook engagement is down, however user base is still growing. Instagram engagement is up by 75%, due in part to the popularity and use of Instagram stories.

Pure Michigan has been exploring some longer-format feature videos to provide in-depth experiences. They include interviews that explore why people are passionate about these activities.

Two hugely popular social media campaigns were hashtag projects that drove user-generated content. The #FallFilter invited fans to share fall photos. Pure Michigan selected 5 photos each Friday and reposted. Another campaign debuted on billboards in Chicago seeking images at #LongLiveSummer. The digital billboard published user photos from that hashtag, sharing them on billboards for all to see.

Top social media post subjects in 2018 from Pure Michigan included images of the Mackinac Bridge, fall foliage, wildlife, ice waterfalls, Vernors lighthouse cans and blue ice on the Straits of Mackinac. Favorite fan subjects to share were sunsets, fall colors and Michigan lakes.

Pure Michigan Ad Campaigns and Projects

Pure Michigan partnered with influencers and publications last year to grow their brand awareness. Ginger Zee, meteorologist on Good Morning America and a Michigan native, was part of a social media promotion. They also teamed up with Outside Magazine for an engaging online experience that involved video creation, a landing page and interactive trail map.

Other notable projects included the Pure Michigan 18 – featuring 18 signature golf holes across the state in a season-long invitation to share your experience playing that hole. And an Urban DNA video series with Jason Hall was created to boost the state’s appeal for travelers seeking a world-class city experience.

We wrapped up with some sneak peeks into plans for 2019. Pure Michigan intends to focus more on digital platforms, targeting millennials, promoting the Upper Peninsula and highlighting our Dark Sky Parks.

Accessibility Takes Center Stage

One other significant take-away which made me very proud is our state’s focus on accessibility. If there was one buzz-word of this year’s conference that would be it. All three winners of the Stars of the Industry award for tourism innovations were programs and organizations supporting accessibility. Pure Michigan is embracing the opportunity to make our state more friendly to people with disabilities. And I for one couldn’t be happier to see it.

With three days of meetings, events and networking there was a lot to take in at the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism. It was great to see the new conference center at the Park Place Hotel, and the remodeled Governors’ Hall at the Grand Traverse Resort & Casino. Traverse City Tourism played host to a bustling crowd of tourism professionals from across the state. And I even had a chance to meet a few people who mentioned they tuned in to our channel and saw me on TV!

Now it’s time for us all to return to the business we live everyday: celebrating the reasons we choose to call Pure Michigan our home.

By |2019-03-12T22:26:39-04:00March 12th, 2019|Check This Out, Events, Lodging, Traverse City|0 Comments

From Unemployed to Entrepreneur — Mealtickets Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

Mealtickets Celebrates 10 Years

10 Miles Down the Road Less Traveled

11-1-11 is the anniversary of the day I let go of the the 8-5, steady paycheck life and slapped on a new name tag:  Entrepreneur.
I had just lost my graphic design job, after 9/11 collapsed the travel industry, taking with it our ad agency’s biggest client. So there I stood in my Robert Frost moment, facing two roads diverged. I took the road less traveled by. It lead to the start of a little card company called Mealtickets & Unusual Ideas.
Now here we are, 10 years later. Still alive, still creating, and still working to promote the Traverse Area to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who travel to northern Michigan each year.
In honor of this milestone I decided to throw a party to thank my clients and friends in the hospitality industry, without whom my little business wouldn’t have grown.
On November 1, 2011 we’ll mark that moment in time when faced with two roads I took the one less traveled by…and that has made all the difference.

 

Mealtickets 10 Year Anniversary Celebration
Date:  11-1-11  from 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Food & Wine Pairings | Giveaways | Door-prizes | Drink Specials

We’re hosting a Happy Hour reception for our clients and guests to celebrate, with fabulous door prizes, Traverse Traveler swag and a throw-back to old fashioned social networking: face to face!
Want to join us?
Rate our app on iTunes and you’ll be entered to win a special Traverse Traveler prize pack including a guest invitation to our party!

Here’s how to enter:
1. Rate the app on iTunes
2. Email Brandy at info@mealtickets.com with a copy of your review!

 

We will draw names from the emails we receive and announce the winners on Friday, October 29th!

 

This event is by invitation only, so rate the app Today!

Plan Your Trip to Traverse with New iPhone App from Mealtickets

Traverse Traveler iPhone app screen imageMealtickets & Unusual Ideas is proud to present a brand new iPhone app called Traverse Traveler.

The Traverse Traveler iPhone app is a handy mobile guide for the Traverse area visitor designed to promote local restaurants, wineries, attractions, shopping, events, services and more. And best of all…it’s a FREE download for iPhone and iTouch users.

Whether you’re planning a trip to northwest Michigan, or are lucky enough to live here, this app makes it much easier to find local businesses.

Today’s smart phone user is accustomed to finding everything they need right there in the app store. And now they can find information about Traverse City there too.

 

Want to plan a wine tour that includes a nearby restaurant stop for lunch? Our app can do that.

 

Need to find the quickest route from your hotel to the ski lodge to meet friends? Our app can do that.

 

You just arrived in town and wondered if there are any events to check out? Our app can show you that too.

 

Can’t wait? Download the Traverse Traveler iPhone app here

 

Traverse Traveler app iconWhat makes Traverse Traveler unique?

There are thousands of apps out there, many of which promote restaurants, movie theaters or general information about an area. So what makes Traverse Traveler unique?

  • Listings are ordered by proximity to the iPhone user. So if you’re hanging out Benzie county, the listings nearest to you come up first. This is helpful for finding a hotel or the closest bar.
  • Maps & directions make it easy to navigate from one location to the next. Great for planning a wine tour or discovering that off-the-beaten-path restaurant.
  • Social sharing from the app means you can post to Facebook or Twitter, or email info to your friends without leaving the app.
  • Events by date let you know what’s going on while you’re in town.
  • Near Me feature pinpoints the 25 listings closest to you, from within all categories. See exactly how close your hotel is ski lodge to plan your drive time.

Free for All

Not only is Traverse Traveler a FREE download, it’s also free for local businesses to get a listing.

The Traverse Traveler app offers three types of listings to accommodate any business that’s interested in joining:

  • Basic Listings
  • Enhanced Listings
  • Event Listings

Submit information to us and you can receive a FREE basic listing in the Traverse Traveler app. Basic listings are free, and we’re glad to give them. The enhanced listings will give you a lot more interactive options and visual presence in the app—if you’re into that kind of thing. You can link to your website and email, add photos to your listing, promote events and specials, and utilize social media. So if you have an active online presence, you might want to consider this valuable addition. And we’re selling them for only $99/year, so why not?

Visit the all new Traverse Traveler website to learn more about the app. List Your Business today!

 

Why develop an iPhone app for Mealtickets?

The Mealtickets & Unusual Ideas mission has always been to provide Traverse area visitors with useful information and directions to local restaurants and attractions, in a colorful, convenient and portable way. The number one reason our little cards are so popular among visitors is their size. Travelers love them because they fit in their pocket or purse. Right next to their phone.

An iPhone app is a perfect expansion of the services we provide as it fits our mission to a tee. We work hard to keep up with technology, and the needs of our customers. The app is a great way to do just that. We hope you’ll agree.

 

Mealtickets & Unusual Ideas also believes in keeping it local. Our card displays feature only distinctive, locally-owned restaurants and attractions because that’s what makes our area unique. And our Mealtickets advertisers benefit most of all. Card advertisers receive a fully-enhanced listing in the Traverse Traveler iPhone app as part of the service, at no additional cost. Now is the best time to become a Mealtickets advertiser and take advantage of this great new feature.

To advertise with Mealtickets & Unusual Ideas contact us at info@mealtickets.com.

To list your business on the Traverse Traveler app, click here for our easy online forms.

To download the Traverse Traveler iPhone app, click here.

 

By |2019-12-26T16:20:34-05:00December 17th, 2010|Check This Out, Mealtickets News, Traverse City|0 Comments

Local Chefs in the Running for James Beard Award

scallops at Blu in Glen Arbor, MichiganConsidered “The Oscars of the food world,” by Time Magazine, the James Beard Foundation Award is one of the highest honors a chef can receive. And three Traverse Area chefs are on the cusp of receiving this very honor.

Semi-finalists in the category Best Chef: Great Lakes 2010 are chef Miles Anton of Trattoria Stella, chef Randy Chamberlain of Blu, and chef Guillaume Hazaël-Massieux of La Bécasse.

 

The semi-finalists were chosen from thousands of on-line entries in over a dozen categories. Finalists will be announced by the Foundation on Monday, March 22nd. Winners will be revealed on May 3, 2010 at the James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception in New York City.

Congratuations to our local chefs, and best of luck in the competition.

 

By |2019-12-30T11:22:03-05:00February 25th, 2010|Check This Out, Leelanau, Restaurants, Traverse City|0 Comments

The Village: Behind the Scenes Tour with Ray Minervini

hometown highlights The Village graphic

Hometown Highlights: The Village at Grand Traverse Commons

Building 50 The Village at Grand Traverse CommonsDid you know…the entire campus at the old Traverse City State Hospital, one million square feet of brick, wood and stone, was built from the ground up in less than 2 years? There’s 400,000 square feet of space in Building 50 alone! That’s an architectural feat that must have taken an army. And that’s just one of the amazing facts I learned from Ray Minervini, developer of The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, on my recent behind-the-scenes tour.

 

When I was in high school, here in Traverse City, the old State Hospital was shut down and abandoned. The grounds became a destination for vandals and daredevils who returned with stories of ghosts, eerie tunnels and mysterious bumps in the night. It was sad to see the such a huge piece of Traverse City history disappearing into the landscape as new developments surrounded it on all sides. Most of us just drove past the big stone pyramid on Division street and barely wondered about the towering structures that lie dormant behind the tall pines.

And then came Ray Minervini. He had a vision of a thriving community, reminiscent of European cities where people worked, ate, entertained and lived together in the presence of history. Now the site that was built in 1885 to house the mentally insane has begun a transformation into this vibrant hub of arts and culture just as Ray imagined.

Other than a few cups of coffee at Cuppa Joe, and special dinners at Stella, I hadn’t spent much time on the new Village campus until I met Bryan Ulbrich of Left Foot Charley when they became a Mealtickets client in 2007. He had begun transforming the old Laundry facility into the winery and tasting room for Left Foot Charley. The image that stands out in my mind was a 2′ heaping pile of faucet handles leftover from the mazes of underground plumbing they removed during reconstruction. It was this salvation of the old, amidst plans for something new, that piqued my curiousity.

Which brings me to my recent tour with Ray. Beaming at the success of the Traverse City Wine Festival this summer on the grounds in front of Building 50, I asked Ray Minervini if he would take me on a behind the scenes tour this fall. “We’ll work our way from the bottom, to the top,” he promised. I was determined to make sure he kept his word, and did he ever.

 

From the Bottom

Building 50 at The Village of Grand Traverse CommonsThe Village at Grand Traverse Commons is a 500 acre site located in the heart of Traverse City. That’s right, 500 acres, over 400 of which are parkland. Ray likes to call it, “Traverse City’s central park.” The former asylum campus occupies 60 acres. And Building 50, the central building with the red spires, is over 400,000 square feet. Ray and I began the tour at the bottom, in what’s called the Mercato of Building 50.

 

The Mercato in Building 50 at The VillageJust below ground level on the south side of Building 50 lies the Mercato. At one end is Stella, a fabulous Italian restaurant and one of the first tennants of The Village. I met Ray outside the elevators at the far end of the building. Just around the corner from Stella, as we entered the Mercato, I noticed there’s a small gallery exhibiting before & after images of the redeveloped spaces as well as artifacts discovered during renovation. It’s a great place to stop and appreciate all the work they’ve done so far.

 

The Mercato in Building 50 in The VillageThe Mercato is the main shopping venue at The Village, with everything from art and fashion to wine and gelato. The long hallway opens up on each side with arched open doorways leading into each space. Vendors goods extend out into the hallway which is lined with an ever changing exhibition of art. Unlocking a non-descript door in the Mercato Ray revealed a narrow steep staircase leading to the underground tunnel system.

 

I have to admit, I was a little leery of the “tunnels”. My great aunt worked in the asylum for a short time and one of her jobs was the transportation of patients in and out of the buildings by way of the tunnels. Her descriptions left me in no hurry to visit such a place. But times have changed, and so has The Village. So I ventured in.

 

tunnel under Building 50 in The VillageLit from beginning to end with only small blubs overhead was a long tunnel constructed in hand laid brick. The roof was arched and the floor bowed in the center. It felt like looking down the barrell a gun, only we were standing in it.

As we walked toward the mid-point of the tunnel Ray explained how they would have built the space by slowly moving a wooden arch form, laying bricks on top to create the dome, and then sliding the form a few feet forward to continue the tunnel.

Up ahead we could see a more recent addition to the roof, an iron covering, indicating we were directly underneath the parking area for the Mercato. As development continues Ray imagines taking advantage of unique spaces like this, perhaps for private wine cellars.

Upon returning to land level, back the way we came, we proceeded straight to the top.

 

To the Top

condo inside Building 50, The Villagecondo view inside Building 50, The VillageThe south wing of Building 50, where reconstruction is nearly complete, was originally the Men’s residences. The first and second floors now house offices including those of the developer, The Minervini Group. The third floor is largely residential, offering beautiful condos with open loft-style spaces. The renovation of these areas was often the most difficult as they had to meet the requirements of several agencies including the National Trust for Historic Building, State regulations and National Park Service guidelines. The respect for historic craftsmanship is evident in every detail, from the polished wooden floors to the top of the 13′ plaster walls. For a look inside, our next stop was Ray’s condo in the restored attic.

 

The attic space was not utilized as living or working space in the original design. But the Minervini Group decided it would make a great place for condos. And the view would be spectacular. The beauty of living inside the Village is this amazing juxtaposition of old and new. Butter yellow bricks and tell tale high ceilings remind you it’s The Village, but otherwise you might think it’s a loft in New York. Around the corner from the entrance an iron staircase spirals up to the small loft bedroom. But we we came to see lies higher yet.

view inside spire at The VillageLooking up from the stairway landing Ray pulled down a latch and released a small wooden ladder. After the trip into the tunnel I realized I was wearing the wrong shoes for this tour. Sneakers would have been the way to go. And at the sight of this ladder with 2 inch rungs I was going to have to be careful. Did I mention heights are not my favorite thing? So up we went. One at a time, up short ladders, holding pipes and wooden ledges, zigzagging our way up several small flights, until we reached another latch. The roof.

We made it to the top. At last we were inside one of the red spires that are synonymous with The Village. Even with the latched closed the space was small, probably 5 feet wide at most. But the view was amazing. This is what I came for. We could see the colors of autumn in every direction, and with clear blue skies it was easy to make out the view of west Grand Traverse Bay to the north, and the Great Wolf Lodge and East Junior High, to the south. Other than the top of the watertower, this is the highest view in The Village.

 

 

From South to North

brick wall at The Villagefaded bricks inside Building 50, The VillageAfter safely managing my way back down the ladder Ray offered to continue the tour on the North side of the building, so I could see the areas not yet restored. We wandered through the Mercato once again, past Sweet Asylum and “the best gelato this side of Italy,” according to my guide. If you’ve ever wondered what lies behind those heavy metal doors displaying Employees Only signs, this is where your tour begins.

The large central area in the middle of Building 50 is the Chapel. There are several huge spaces, one leading into the next, with towering brick walls brightened by natural light spilling in from 8′ windows. Here Ray invisions a grand restaurant. I love turning my camera to macro mode to capture the details and textures all around me. So many modern restaurants like Olive Garden try to recreate this atmosphere but it’s not the same. But here the history is real. Ray agreed, “When you look at it, it has the patina of age that you just can’t create.”

 

chapel inside The Villagechapel windows inside The VillageThrough more hallways and passages, in which I’d surely be lost without a guide, we ended up in the chapel itself. This will be the gathering space for the Commons. The perfect place for wedding receptions, dances, and a host of community events. Closing my eyes it’s easy to imagine music and laughter spilling from the windows, while the neighboring condo units are barely disturbed — thanks to solid brick walls 2 feet thick to buffer the sound. After seeing the transformation of Stella and Left Foot Charley, it’s not so difficult to picture how beautiful this too will be.

As we wandered through more twists and turns, along peeling lead paint and plaster walls I picked up a few more interesting facts. The State Hospital once housed over 3500 patients. The philosophy used to treat their mental health was that of Thomas Story Kirkbride. He believed the road to mental health was surrounded by beautiful architecture, immersed in nature and grounded with hard work.

 

north hall in Building 50, The Villagenorth hall in Building 50, The VillageWe made it to the long hallway of the women’s dormitory and I realized it looked familiar. In fact, the north and south wings of Building 50 are built in exact mirror image. But what’s really amazing is to realize these were built before computers, and laser levels, scaffolding and even electricity…and yet the length of the hallways in both buildings are a perfect match, down to the micrometer.

 

Speaking of electricity, here’s another fascinating tidbit I picked up on the tour. Did you know the State Hospital was the first state owned building with electricity? An on-site steam generator produced heat and electricity for the entire campus. In fact, they had electricity 20 years before the rest of Traverse City!

 

The Village, by the Numbers

Building 50 in The Village at Grand Traverse CommonsBack at street level we exited Building 50 into the parking lot to take in the perfect autumn day. As we looked across Cottageview Drive Ray explained more of the history of the other buildings on campus. Directly across from Building 50 is Pleasanton Bakery, formerly the firestation. I mentioned earlier that Left Foot Charley and Higher Grounds occupy the former laundry facility. And next door to them, along Red Drive, is Underground Cheesecake in the old potato peeling building. That’s right, the hospital needed an entire building just for removing potato skins. With 3500 patients, and countless staff I guess that makes sense. There was also a butcher and a slaughterhouse on-site, but not on my tour, thanks.

 

I’m not great with numbers, but I am amazed by some of the statistics associated with constructing Building 50, the main adminstration building. Forgive me for all the zeros, but you have to admit this is impressive.

  • 11,000,000 bricks, made locally in neighboring Grelickville
  • 1,800 windows, many of which are over 8′ tall
  • 400,000 sq.ft. in the main building alone.
  • With 1,000,000 sq.ft. of redevelopment space in the entire project, of which 250,000 sq.ft. are already complete, I asked Ray how he manages to tackle one of the largests historic redevelopment projects in the United States. “One little bite at a time,” he said, with a smile.

 

Ray Minervini inside Stella, The VillageWe ended our tour that day with a quick photo of the developer in one of his favorite spots, inside Stella. Before I left though, I had one last question for Ray. There are so many rumors about ghosts from the old asylum, so I wondered if Ray had seen anything unusual. “Not once,” he said, almost as surprised as I was to hear it. He did have a great story about Genevieve, the ghost at Bowers Harbor Inn…but that’s a tale for another time.

 

For more information about The Village visit their website at www.thevillagetc.com.

 

 

Stay in Style at the Wellington Inn

Wellington Inn carriage houseCharming Carriage House still has Room at the Inn

When I roam around the county filling displays at hotels, motels, resorts and wineries I try to take a moment and chat with the owners and staff. I stopped this week at the Wellington Inn in Traverse City and was surprised to learn that there was still room available in the carriage house this summer. Since I’ve never taken a tour of the property I asked Barb if she’d mind showing me around.

 

The carriage house was the first building to be renovated when Barb and Hank Richel purchased the Inn in 1999. The care and attention to detail of the property is evident everywhere you look. From the well maintained exterior to the antiquities it holds, the carriage house, and the Inn next door, is a perfect Traverse City getaway.

 

Wellington Inn carriage house imageWellington Inn carriage house imageWellington Inn carriage house image

Wellington Inn guest notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are two apartments located on the upper level of this former barn. Even as we entered the stairwell I couldn’t help but enjoy the collision of past and present. An antique original wallpaper mural guides us to the stairway and the apartments above. We opened the door to the first and walked into a casual comfortable place. The decor is French Country. Our view roamed from the tiny, but full-service period kitchen, to the living space and bright windows. There are two bedrooms which share one bath in this apartment. Each beautifully decorated with an attention to detail and nod to history and comfort. Guests leave their thanks and compliments in a notebook on the dresser for future dwellers to enjoy.

 

 

Wellington Inn carriage house imageWellington Inn carriage house imageWellington Inn carriage house imageWellington Inn carriage house

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second apartment is slightly larger, with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. The light from the windows pours into the room and illuminates the Rishel’s attention to detail. Art Deco decor can be found throughout, from the fixtures to the artwork. And the condition of the pieces is amazing. The stamped velvet couch is vintage 1930s and it’s the origianal covering. The rooms are filled with antiques, many of which have been lovingly restored by Barb and Hank.

 

The Wellington Inn Bed & Breakfast is located in the heart of Traverse City. Guests are within walking distance of shopping, dining, galleries, the State Theater and of course, Grand Traverse Bay. Whether you stay in grand elegance at the historic 1905 Inn, or in pristine comfort at the carriage house, The Wellington Inn will not disappoint.

I doubt these apartments will last long, so contact The Wellington Inn today while there’s still room this summer. For more information on the Wellington Inn visit their website at www.wellingtoninn.com or give Barb a call at 877-968-9900.

By |2020-01-06T13:07:40-05:00June 10th, 2009|Check This Out, Lodging, Traverse City|0 Comments

Hometown Highlights: Spartan Flag Company

hometown highlights Spartan Flag Company graphic

Hometown Highlights: Spartan Flag Company

Spartan Flag Company flag imageDid you know, the majority of the world’s golf flags are made in Northport, Michigan? I had no idea. That is, until I had the chance to get a tour of the Spartan Flag Company, in beautiful Northport, Michigan. It was there I came to see why the golf industry has grown to depend on the craftsmanship of this hometown family business.

If you’re a golfer you may have heard of a company called Standard Golf. They supply over 75% of the world’s golf courses with quality nylon golf flags. And their exclusive manufacturer is the Spartan Flag Company, located at the tip of the Leelanau peninsula.
A small business, in a very small town, the Spartan Flag Company is a family operation dedicated to producing quality products. With only 10 employees, most of whom share the Kilcherman name, 18 sewing stations and countless bolts of colorful nylon, they create flags which last a lifetime. Casey Kilcherman, president of Spartan Flag Company, is a third-generation family owner. She purchased the business 5 years ago from her aunt in order to keep the company in the family. “I wanted to make sure my father and brothers would always have a home here at Spartan Flag,” said Casey.
Carnie Kilcherman imageMy tour guide for the day was Carnie Kilcherman. Like a proud mother she welcomed me to her home-away-from-home. And it’s no wonder she feels this way. Her daughter is the president, and her husband and three sons were working away behind the scenes.
The Spartan Flag Company is located in an unassuming building right in the entrance to the village of Northport. If you’ve followed M-22 to Northport, you’ve probably driven past without noticing. It’s here in Leelanau County that all of their flags are made. The room we first entered was longer and narrower than an average two-car garage, but filled with sewing stations, cutting tables, and boxes of flags in various stages of production. Carnie ushered me to a small station along the wall where she spent the morning working on black and gold checkered flags. I came to learn that every flag produced by Spartan Flag Company is machine-stitched in a process called applique. Pieces of fabric are cut to size and sewn onto a larger piece of fabric. Or, in the case of the checkered flag, several pieces are sewn together to create one large flag. This requires attention to detail and precision. And it’s the reason Spartan Flag Company flags will last a lifetime.
Spartan Flag Company imageMuch like other manufacturing facilities there were several jobs in progress, at various stages of design, and everyone was busy. We visited with her sons, who were packing boxes for shipping, and Carnie’s husband Dave who fills in wherever he’s needed. There were four sewing stations stitching with expert care, and speed that I couldn’t muster on my best day.
While there were many golf flags, ranging in colors and design, the Spartan Flag Company also creates banners, pennants and International Shipmasters’ Burgees (maritime flags). Their craftsmanship has been utilized by schools throughout the area to create marching band flags, school banners and seasonally to decorate light pole flags in the Village.
Spartan Flag Company imageOne thing I didn’t see on my tour was a computer system for creating templates or custom designs. That’s because they don’t have one. “All of our designs are drawn by hand,” explained Pino. When a customer brings in a family crest, or wants a custom banner, they work with an artist who translates their designs into flag templates using only a pencil, paper and practiced skill. That’s craftsmanship you don’t see everyday.
Here are a few more interesting facts I learned on my visit to the Spartan Flag Company:
  • The secret to the longevity of their sewn flags: new waxed thread. While it makes a mess of the machines, it produces a longer-lasting stitch
  • One of the most intricate banners was created for a wedding and covered with roses
  • Most notable golf flags were created for a special golf tournament with President Bill Clinton
  • Standard Golf holds a patent on the plastic part of the flag which attaches to the pole; one of the reasons they hold the corner on the golf flag market
  • At one time or another nearly every member of the Kilcherman family has worked for the flag company

 

Spartan Flag Company imageThe Spartan Flag Company has been sewing flags, pennants and banners since 1950. If you’re in the market for a new flag for the cottage, or perhaps a nautical flag for that new boat, give Casey a call. They are also a great resource for American flags. While not made in-house, they will guarantee that your American flag was made in the U.S.A. To contact the Spartan Flag Company call 231.386.5150 or visit the Spartan Flag Company website.

Hometown Highlights: Michigan Maple Syrup

Hometown Highlights Michigan maple syrup graphic

 

From Sap to Syrup

The Making of a Michigan Specialty

 

I grew up in Suburbia. Our food came from the grocery store, not a garden. We prepared meals from fresh, canned or frozen foods like everyone else I knew. On weekends we’d enjoy a breakfast of pancakes, always topped with pure Michigan maple syrup. Never had I imagined the hours of labor involved in producing something as simple and pure as Michigan Maple syrup. And then I met my in-laws.

collecting sap from maple trees photoNestled in the woods on a few acres just outside of Honor is a modest home, surrounded by maples. A large garden lies dormant in front of the house, which from the road appears to be resting on a foundation of cord wood. The driveway slopes downhill and curves in front of the pole barn meeting the road and bisecting an old wooden split-rail fence. A weathered hand painted sign rests against the rails and offers Firewood For Sale. A much smaller sign, only posted when inventory is high, and only noticed by those in-the-know, markets pure maple syrup.

When I met my in-laws I began to truly appreciate the time, labor and patience involved in making one of nature’s most healthful products.

Michigan maple syrup is 100% natural, organic and fat-free. Producers are licensed by the state and are forbidden from including any additives including artificial colors or preservatives. There are around 500 commercial producers in Michigan, and over 2000 home operations, like that of my in-laws.

The season for producing maple syrup is sort, generally around 6-8 weeks, and weather dependent. When the temperatures at night drop below freezing, and rise to 40 degrees or higher during the day, the sap will flow. In Michigan that usually begins around late February or early March. Small producers, those collecting sap in buckets or bags, will tap trees based on the weather, whereas commercial ones will start and stop based on the calendar. The sap will only flow on days when the conditions are right.

 

maple sap drips from a spile photoTapping the Trees

In Michigan sugar and black maple trees are preferred sap makers, although any maple tree sap can be collected and converted to syrup. Holes are drilled in the trees and fitted with collecting spouts called spiles. Buckets or bags are then hung from the spiles to collect the sap. Commericial producers often use elaborate tubing collection systems equipped with vacuums which can increase the yield as much as 50%. A maple tree should be about 40 years old and 10 inches in diameter to be tapped. The number of taps per tree depends on it’s size, with as many as 4 per tree.

During the season an average tap will generate up to 10 gallons of sap; almost enough to make one quart of syrup.

Collecting the Sap

When I was a child I assumed that maple sap must be like other tree sap; thick, sticky, brown and gooey. Not so. The sap that runs from the tree is clear and made of about 98% water. The remaining 2-3% contains sugars and trace minerals including calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium and potassium. The liquid is slightly sweet and completely pure. Freezing and thawing temperatures create pressure which forces the sap from the tree. Collection buckets are generally covered to keep out debris and rainwater. Maple syrup is made by boiling this sap to evaporate the water to concentrate the sugars.

maple sap collecting in a bucket photoIt takes 43 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup. So 42 gallons of water must be evaporated.

From Sap to Syrup

It’s a good thing my father-in-law cut wood on the side because it can take more than a cord of hardwood to keep the fires going long enough to create a few gallons of syrup. They gather the sap, one heavy pail at a time, and transfer the liquid to a deep evaporation pan which rests atop a firebox. Smoke is routed away from the syrup with a stovepipe. Sap is continuously added as the water evaporates while foam and debris are carefully skimmed. It’s a labor intensive process, and must be carefully timed and attended to avoid boiling over or scorching. When the sugar concentration in the syrup reaches the desired consistency they finish it indoors on the stove.

Syrup boils at 219 degrees Fahrenheit, just above that of water. With a high sugar content the temperature rises quickly, and so does the potential for disaster. More than one stove has been destroyed in the split second between simmer and foaming over-boil. When the syrup reaches the desired temperature it is carefully filtered through clean wool to remove sugar sand and other solids. Stored syrup is packaged hot in tightly sealed air-tight containers.

 

Maple Syrup and Maple Products

Maple Syrup can be made into other sweet confections including maple cream, sugar and candy. For a fun treat with the kids try pouring it over fresh snow for nature’s own snow-cone. Aside from pancakes and waffles maple syrup is also great drizzled over grapefruit, granola or ice cream, incorporated in a marinade and in vinaigrettes.

 

Here are a few of my favorite local products made from Michigan Maple Syrup

Maple Walnut Biscotti, Way North Foods

Sirius Maple Dessert Wine, Black Star Farms

Cherry Maple Vinaigrette, Leelanau Country Inn

Maple Walnut Fudge, Murdick’s Fudge Shoppe

 

Fun Facts

  • The average maple syrup production in Michigan is roughly 90,000 gallons per year, ranking 6th in production nationwide
  • Maple syrup is one of the few agricultural products where demand exceeds supply
  • North America is the only producer of maple syrup since the climate in Europe isn’t favorable for producing sap
  • The production of pure maple syrup is the oldest agricultural endeavor in the U.S.
  • The economic impact of the Michigan Maple Syrup industry is estimated at $2.5 million annually

 

For more information on the Michigan Maple Syrup industry check out the following links:

Michigan Maple Syrup Association

Hobby Maple Syrup Production

Michigan Maple Syrup

By |2020-01-06T15:46:49-05:00March 8th, 2009|Check This Out, Hometown Highlights|0 Comments

Michigan Ice Wine Poured at White House Dinner

Black Star Farms Michigan ice wineThere’s a Black Star in The White House; Black Star Farms to be exact

President Barack Obama and his wife recently hosted a governor’s dinner where the featured wine was something special; a Michigan ice wine. Paired with a dessert of huckleberry cobbler and caramel ice cream was the A Capella ice wine from Black Star Farms.

This isn’t the first time a Black Star Farms wine has been served by Presidents. In fact the A Capella ice wine, and the Sirius Maple dessert wine were also chosen by President George W. Bush during his tenure at The White House.

 

For more information about Michigan ice wines check out the post, Why Ice Wine is Divine. You can also see a video of how the 2007 A Capella ice wine was created if you check out this link.

By |2020-01-06T15:50:53-05:00February 25th, 2009|Check This Out, Leelanau, Wineries|0 Comments

Celebrate February, National Cherry Month

tart cherries photoThe Cherry Capital is the Perfect Place to Celebrate National Cherry Month

Traverse City is home of the Cherry Festival, and known as the Cherry Capital of the world. So what better place to celebrate National Cherry Month than right here in Northern Michigan.

The Cherry Stop has christened it Febru-Cherry and they’re throwing a discount party all month long to celebrate. All month long their entire store is 15% off (some exclusions apply). There is no better time to stop in and pick up some of nature’s wonder fruit.

 

If you thought the only way to enjoy cherries was fresh or dried, here are a few of my favorite local products that show the versatility of this healthy fruit:

Chateau Fontaine Cherry wine – According to winemaker Dan Matthias it tastes like “cherry pie in a bottle,” I tend to agree

The Cherry Stop Cherry Salsa – Available in Hot, Medium or Mild to suit your tastes

BoomChuggaLugga Cherry Soda – Cherry Republic’s original cherry soda with 8% cherry juice

Hip Bones Cherry Dog Treats – Great treats for older dogs, helps maintain healthy hips and joints and it’s made with all natural ingredients

Cerise Nutraceuticals Cherry Lotion – From the originator of Plevalean, Ray Pleva. Shown to clinically benefit arthritic patients. I like it because it’s not greasy and absorbs fast

 

If you’re interested in learning more about cherry products, and Traverse City’s role in world cherry production check out our previous post on the subject: Michigan Cherries, a Little Fruit with a Lot of Power.

By |2020-01-06T16:01:23-05:00February 3rd, 2009|Check This Out, Traverse City|0 Comments

Michigan Cherries; a Little Fruit with a Lot of Power

tart cherries ripen on the branchCherry Festival is Over, but the Cherry Season Has Just Begun

 

Local cherries are the gems of the northern Michigan summer. Each year we anxiously await the arrival of the ruby fruit that brings visitors to the area, and keeps many of our businesses running.

 

 

Farm report

While growers expect a smaller harvest of tarts, the sweets are shaping up nicely, weather dependent of course. It was a bit of a rocky spring with concerns over frost and cool weather which made pollination a challenge. The National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates a tart cherry harvest of 135 million pounds in Michigan.

For the sweets, it’s all about Mother Nature, and how much rain she decides to send our way. During the harvest rain is unwelcome since it causes the fruit to crack. Northern Michigan is responsible for 90 percent of the state’s sweet cherry production.

 

Cherry Fun Facts

  • Michigan grows 75 percent of the US crop of tart cherries, and about 20 percent of sweet cherries
  • There are close to 7000 cherries on the average tart cherry tree, enough for 28 pies
  • The World Record for spitting a cherry pit is now 100 feet 4 inches, held by “young gun” Krauss, son of 10 time record holder “pellet gun” Krause
  • It takes 100 cherries to produce an 8 oz. glass of cherry juice
  • Ease arthritis pain and inflammation naturally with cherry juice, thanks to the anthocyanins, which give tart cherries their color
  • Michigan cherry wine is made primarily from Montmorency cherries
  • Peninsula Cellars is the only area winery to produce a white cherry wine, made from the Emperor Francis cherry

 

Leelanau michigan cherry treesPick up a Pound

If you’re looking to pick up some fresh cherries on your visit up north there are plenty of options. A drive along the Old Mission or Leelanau Peninsula will offer several roadside opportunities to buy direct from the grower. And you can’t beat the scenic views along the way.

For those of you who would rather grab and go, The Cherry Stop in downtown Traverse City has everything you could ever need. Fresh cherries are available on site, and they’ll even ship if you’re craving a taste of Michigan from far away. There are also dried cherries which make great snacks, frozen cherries for pies, and all sorts of products made from the healthy fruit we all love.

But some of my favorite childhood memories are from roaming the U-Pick farms. We’d lug around our galvanized buckets and climb the rickety old wooden ladders to carefully select the largest, juiciest, ripest cherries. When the buckets were full, or too heavy to carry, we’d know it was time to go home. It took a long swim in the lake to get rid of the purple stained fingers, but it was worth the memories.

For a list of local U-Pick farms, check out LocalDifference.org

 

Tips and Tricks

  • Cherries with the stems attached will stay fresh longer
  • To remove cherry stains from fingers and clothing try a little lemon juice, and rinse with water
  • For an inexpensive cherry pit remover try placing a metal pastry tip on your finger and pushing them out. A bobby pin or a bent paper clip can be used to scoop out the pit and only leaves one hole.

 

Michigan tart cherries up closeFor more information on cherries check out these local links to related stories:

TV 7&4

Taste the Local Difference

Absolute Michigan

The Cherry Marketing Institute

By |2020-01-09T11:42:31-05:00July 16th, 2008|Check This Out, Leelanau, Traverse City|0 Comments

75th Anniversary of the Drive-In Theater

 Did you know the first drive-in movie theater opened on June 6, 1933 in Camden, New Jersey. The patent held by Richard Hollingshead first began with one car, a screen stretched between two trees and a radio hidden behind it. After several beta tests to determine, among other things, the best position for multiple cars and the creation of a ramping system to allow each vehicle a full field of vision, the project was ready for movie goers. The price was a mere 25 cents for the car, and 25 cents for each person.

By the ’50s the Drive-In Theater was an event not just a destination. The double feature drew carloads of teenagers and families brought their kids for an evening out. At the peak of popularity there were over 4,000 drive-in theaters across the nation.

Today over 500 theaters continue to operate. Of the 123 theaters that once existed in Michigan, only 11 remain.

 

The Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theater in Honor, Michigan is celebrating 55 years and still going strong. In the years since their opening in 1953 they’ve made many additions and improvements. While they still have the original carbon arc antique projectors they now use modern projectors with Xenon gas bulbs. The sound system still consists of vaccum tube motiograph amplifiers which power the speakers at each parking space for a truly authentic experience. Or, you can tune in to their own FM station and hear every nostalgic note through your interior car speakers. Either way the experience is exceptional.

From the vintage introduction cartoons, to the homemade broasted chicken and caramel corn at the concession stand, the Cherry Bowl Drive-In is an event the whole family will enjoy. So celebrate this special moment in history with a trip down memory lane…which happens to be just 18 miles southwest of Traverse City in the village of Honor.

 

For more information on the Cherry Bowl Drive-In check out our Attractions page, or visit their website here. Resources on the history of the drive-in include driveintheater.com and inventors.about.com.

By |2020-01-09T12:26:57-05:00June 6th, 2008|Attractions, Benzie, Check This Out|0 Comments

Moomer’s Featured on Good Morning America

Moomers Homemade Ice Cream is in the “Final Four” for Good Morning America Weekend’s “Ice Cream Challenge” – best ice cream shop in America. 

Four stores, nominated by customers, will be featured on ABC’s Sunday edition this Sunday, May 18, 8:00 – 9:00 am. Voting then takes place on-line (www.abcnews.com, then go to Good Morning America, then to the ice cream contest) through Saturday, May 24. You can vote as many times as you’d like!!! The winner will be anounced on their show Saturday, May 24

Let’s show our support for Moomer’s, a hometown ice cream favorite. For more information on Moomer’s including a list of all their homemade ice cream favorites, check out their website here.

By |2020-01-09T12:44:16-05:00May 15th, 2008|Attractions, Check This Out, Traverse City|0 Comments