Behind the Mitten

On this episode of Behind the Mitten we meet in the middle, and head to Mt. Pleasant. Fall is the perfect time of year to visit, as the entire state turns maroon and gold in honor of the Central Michigan University Chippewas, wink wink. We recorded at the famous Shepherd Bar, located just south of town, and you won't believe what they have planned for Halloween.

We start with our good friend Chris Rowley from Meet Mt. Pleasant, where she is the executive director and the local expert on all things Mt. Pleasant and Isabella County. She shares fall fun that can be found throughout the area, including those incredible fall colors that are just fantastic this year. We then get to meet the owner of the Shepherd Bar, and all around great guy, Kent Roth.

Kent has owned the bar for over thirty years and has built it into a gem of a spot, popular with locals and tourists alike. Shepherd is known for it's maple syrup festival, and many of the dishes on the menu get a little sweet enhancement from the local crop. From personal experience, the Maple Bacon Cheddar Burger here is excellent, as is the shaved ribeye hoagie. Please be sure to say hello to Kathy Dickman, she's been lighting up this place while waIting tables here for almost thirty years. 

Kent and his huge crew of community volunteers do a carved pumpkin display out behind the bar every year, and it is a pretty big deal. When we say a display, we mean a DISPLAY. This year, they are planning on carving 2,000 pumpkins. TWO THOUSAND. Then they'll light 'em up, and you can come walk through any time between October 26 and Halloween. Grab a beer and a burger and absorb a little local flavor.

Jordan Ensing then steps in. She is the Marketing Coordinator for the Mt. Pleasant Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and shares that the downtown construction in MP is finally complete, and the new town center is open. Saturday mornings it's the site of the local farmer's market, and now features a beautiful new space for community events. Jordan also shares some breaking news that everyone is very excited about: Santa Claus is coming back to downtown Mt. Pleasant this holiday season.


Cassandra Chippeway, content and communications coordinator for the Mount Pleasant Area Conventions and Visitors Bureau shares some ideas for indoor activities around town, including the new Valhalla axe-throwing bar, the always excitiing Soaring Eagle Casino, new indoor golf simulators to practice on, and a new restaurant to try, The Twisted Fork.

There is so much to experience in Mt. Pleasant this autumn, whether it's paddling down the Chippewa River on the perfect sunny day, or rolling large on the roulette wheel. It's always time to get Fired Up for Mt. Pleasant.

MT. PLEASANT - Fire Up Edition

Are you planning to attend this weekend's 2024 Central Michigan University Homecoming (Oct. 12)?

On this special podcast we sit down with Chris Rowley, Executive Director of Mt. Pleasant Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as her associates, Jordan Ensing, Marketing coordinator, and Cassandra Chippeway, content and communications coordinator.

We talk about some of the Homecoming festivities, things to do in Mt. Pleasant, where to eat and share details about a train excursion from Owosso to Mt. Pleasant, exclusively for Homecoming.

More details:

Central Michigan University 2024 Homecoming game against Ohio on Saturday, Oct. 12 to kickoff at 4 p.m. ET! Contest to be nationally televised on #espnu! https://bit.ly/4gI3m6n

Train Excursion:

Saturday, October 12th 2024
12:00pm - 10:30pm
Boarding: Steam Railroading Institute
405 S Washington St., Owosso, MI 48867

Climb aboard a fall color tour on the diesel-powered Maroon and Gold Express. Passengers will have two options. Attend Central Michigan University’s homecoming football game against the Ohio University Bobcats or use the time in Mt. Pleasant to dine at Mountain Town Station and visit the downtown area.

$90 Deluxe Club Class train ticket in a vintage diner car & football game ticket
$85 Football Coach Class train ticket & football game ticket
$75 Coach Class train ticket only

Book your tickets now:

https://michigansteamtrain.com/events/

LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST ABOUT THE MICHIGAN STEAM RAILROADING INSTITUTE
HERE.

Learn more about Mt. Pleasant at meetmtp.com.

Follow Behind the Mitten on Facebook or check out the website at amyandgonzo.com.

Let's go ABOVE the Mitten this weekend!


Have you heard about the BIG game that is being played on October 13 in majestic Marquette? It's kind of a big deal, and we'll bring you the whole scoop right from the source.


The Northern Michigan University Wildcats are hosting the exhibition basketball game of the year, when they take on the Michigan State Spartans at the Superior Dome on October 13. MSU Coach Tom Izzo, an NMU alum, is coming home, and the whole town is ready to celebrate.


We'll be sharing how this whole thing came together, and why community events like this are so important to NMU and Marquette. We'll talk about some of NMU's other collaborations in the area, including a very fun one with our good friends at Blackrocks Brewery. Alumni themselves, they've brewed up a special beer for this game (and to be served at other alumni events throughout the fall) the very tasty Wildcat Lager. You can try it too when you are at the brewery.


While we can't attend this fun event, since tickets are currently sold out, we are excited to hear that we'll be able to watch it on the Big Ten Network, how cool is that?


We hope you'll tune in!

Learn more about the game at nmuwildcats.com.

Follow Behind the Mitten on Facebook or check out the website at amyandgonzo.com.

This week we are all over on Behind the Mitten, from Tecumseh to Bellaire, to Lansing and beyond. Sounds like everything is normal then, right?

Located in southeast Michigan south of Ann Arbor, charming Tecumseh is hosting their annual AppleUmpkin Festival on October 12 and 13. Featuring carnival rides, inflatables and bungee jumping, there are also crafts for the little ones, play putt-putt, and explore a corn box.

What is a corn box? We have no idea but will find out for you.  There is also an antique fair, arts and crafts showing, and live entertainment. We love that there is no cost to attend. Get more info at Downtown Tecumseh area; downtowntecumseh.com.

Ahhhhhh thank you google! A corn box is like a children's sandbox, but with the sand replaced by CORN KERNELS. #themoreyouknow 

Moving along, John brings us a great interview with our friends at The Wharton Center in Lansing to discuss their upcoming Broadway season which begins Oct. 8 with Les Miz. Speaking of maize,The Wharton will have the Michigan premiere of “Shucked,” a Tony award winning show about “corn,” in January. Other shows include MJ The Musical, Chicago and Life of PI. More info at whartonseason.com.


After all this we got thirty, so we visit with our good friend Kerry Lynch, director of sales and marketing at our beloved Short's Brewing Company. Did you know they make a stand-out NA hopped up beverage called Thirst Mutilator? And that they just came out with a crazy new flavor that will remind you of your childhood? No? Well, we'll tell you all about it, plus their new fall release, a nice little beer called Only Tourists. It's always fun to hear what's going on up in Bellaire.

Affiliates:
*8 a.m. Saturdays on WBRN - 1460 AM and 107.7 FM in Big Rapids
*8 a.m. Saturdays on Kalamazoo Talk Radio 1360 WKMI
*8 a.m. Saturdays on WILS-1320 AM in Lansing

• 9 a.m. Saturdays on 92.1 Grand Haven's Favorite, WGHN-FM
• *10 a.m. Saturdays 95.3 WBCK-FM in Battle Creek
• *10 a.m. Saturdays on News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM in Benton Harbor
• *4 p.m. Saturdays on WIOS "The Bay's Best!" - 1480 AM & 106.9 FM in Tawas / East Tawas
• *7 a.m. Sundays on the following Black Diamond Broadcasting stations:-WCFX - CFX Today's Hits (95.3) in Mt. Pleasant-WGFN - Classic Rock The Bear (98.1 & 95.3) in Traverse City-WMRX - Sunny 97.7 in Midland-WUPS - The Classic Hits Station (98.5) in Houghton Lake-WWMK - 1063 MAC FM in Cheboygan*Noon Saturdays and 8 am Sundays on News, Talk and Sports - 1380-AM WPHM Radio.
• *1 p.m. Sundays on WSGW-AM (790) and FM (100.5) in Saginaw
• *6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM (1300) and FM (106.9) in Grand Rapids
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On this "Behind the Mitten" podcast, John Gonzalez talks to the Wharton Center's Bobby Hoffman about the upcoming production of "Les Misérables," which kicks of the 2024-2025 Broadway series in East Lansing.

OCT 8-13, 2024
"Les Misérables"
Cameron Mackintosh presents the acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, Les Misérables. This brilliant staging has taken the world by storm and has been hailed as “a reborn dream of a production” (Daily Telegraph). Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption–a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More” and many more.

Learn more about the show at whartonseason.com.

Learn more about Behind the Mitten at amyandgonzo.com.

John Gonzalez of Behind the Mitten talks to Bobby Hoffman, the public relations manager at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts about the upcoming 2024-2025 season.

Along with a performing arts series, the Broadway Series season includes:
Les Misérables - October 8–13, 2024
Shucked, January 21–26, 2025
MJ, February 11–16, 2025
Life of Pi, March 11–16, 2025
Chicago, April 8-13, 2025

As well as:

Hamilton, May 21-June 1, 2025
and The Book of Mormon, June 19–22, 2025

More info at whartonseason.com.

It might not seem like it with this incredible weather we've been having, but fall is right around the corner. We paid our friends in Manistee a visit, and are here to tell you that this just might be the perfect place to visit for fall colors.....and so much more.

We recorded this week's show at the Manistee County History Museum, where we met the director Mark Fedder. This place is an absolute treasure trove of treasures! You can spend hours here just looking because this is the kind of place that just puts it all out there.....and we mean it all. We'll share what the most popular exhibit here it, and you just might not believe it, but HELLO it's true.

Our buddy Sammie Lukaskiewicz from Manistee Tourism joined us, and not only told us about some very cool ways to see the blazing fall colors, she also took us out to lunch at The Outsider. Check out their burger, holy moley Batman! We love that they encourage you to take your food out and about around town, and even have a map on the wall showing you where the picnic tables are downtown.

Have you heard of the S.S. City of Milwaukee? We had no idea that this historical ship has been rehabbed into a fabulous BOAT-tel that you can stay on during the summer. We learn from the executive director Rob Laurain that come October, the boat transforms into The Ghost Ship, a floating haunted house that is sure to scare your pants off.

We also head a few minutes north of downtown Manistee to beautiful Arcadia. Paul Brown, Township Supervisor, comes by to share all the news about this small community's efforts to rehab and transform their gorgeous local beach. Now, you can rent kayaks here, borrow FREE bikes to ride, enjoy some local cuisine, and of course, soak up the beauty that is Lake Michigan.

Off the air, we strolled and shopped downtown Manistee, and let's just say this is one healthy downtown. We can't wait to come back.

We hope you'll tune in!

@sscityofmilwaukee
@manisteetourism
#visitmmanistee
#manistee
#puremichigan
#behindthemitten

Fall is festival time in Michigan, so we went on a journey to find a few of the more interesting-sounding ones out there and get the story behind the production of these fine community affairs. This week on Behind the Mitten we'll talk fests that focus on doughnuts and beer, running through the grapevines, hawks, and surprise, surprise, even one festival that celebrates all things Canadian.

Once again back in its hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan's Donut and Beer Festival is happening on October 19 at Homer Stryker Field. Featuring unique donuts from local bakeries, paired up with locally brewed beers, this festival just may be personally made exactly for Gonzo, since it incorporates two of his very favorite things. We learn that this festival typically sells out every year, so plan ahead and get your tickets now.

Our friends at Fenn Valley Vineyards offer a unique way to enjoy their gorgeous rolling hills and grapevines on Saturday, October 5. The Vine Wine'd welcomes both runners and walkers to enjoy a 5k or a 1k through this beautiful spot. Fenn Valley Vice President Brian Lesperance joins us, and shares that after the race you can congratulate yourself with a glass of wine or cider, and a roast chicken lunch.

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks encompasses thirteen very popular and very different parks across five counties in the metro Detroit region. We have Danielle Mauter, Chief of Marketing, Huron-Clinton Metroparks join us, and she shares that this fall they have several fun events to attend. The Night of Dragon, a family-friendly take on a Renaissance fair takes place in two parks (Indian Springs and Stony Creek Metroparks) on two different dates. Get the details here: https://www.metroparks.com/dragon/   If you are into birds, how about joining them for the hawk migration across Lake Erie? Happening on September 21 and 22 Hawk Fest features live birds of prey exhibitions as well, get more info here: https://www.metroparks.com/hawkfest/

Finally, we have a firecracker of a guest who shares her incredible passion for all things Canadian. Channon Mondoux, Event Creative for Canadiana Fest, is putting together what is sure to be a great time. Canadiana Fest is happening Saturday September 21 at Arcadia Creek Festival Place. After hearing her plans, we're just going to say that you don't want to miss this one. From incredible Canadian musical artists, to authentic food and drink, it's going to be a great time, eh!

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Canadiana Fest Podcast

Celebrating the culture, food, music and art of our neighbor to the north in Downtown Kalamazoo Michigan. September 21, 2024 at the Arcadia Creek Festival Site!


Amy and Gonzo interview event coordinator Channon Mondoux, originally from Windsor, who goes behind the scene of this year's event after they recorded the show segment (which aired Sept. 14-15, 2024). During the podcast she reveals that Pelee Island Winery is the official wine, and, as a chef, she is excited to serve Peameal Bacon - "real Canadian bacon." They will have curling and lacrosse, as well as First Nation entertainers. A Poutine Passport. Authentic country Scottish dancing and more. She calls the all-day event a chance to visit Canadian Disneyland!

Joining them on the Podcast is Taylor Abfall, who is the Marketing & Communications Coordinator of Discover Kalamazoo, which is one of the big supporters of Canadiana Fest.

Get more information at wmta.org.

Or at canadianfest.fun.

Learn more about Behind the Mitten at amyandgonzo.com.

On Behind the Mitten, we love to take you to special spots all around Michigan. We always hope that you'll find new favorite places to visit, or remember a favorite spot that you just have to get back to. We believe that travel is amazing, and want to make sure that our gorgeous Michigan destinations stay that way for all future visitors.

Our friends in Marquette completely agree, and as a community, they've come together as a formal group to "inspire locals and visitors alike to respect the local culture and natural resources of Marquette County." The initiative is known as Respect Marquette County and it is the focus of this episode of BTM.

We kick off the show with Susan Estler from Travel Marquette one of the main sponsors for this initiative, as well as Sven Gonstead, from the Marquette County Planning and Recreation/Big Bay Stewardship Council. The sharp increase in tourism throughout the Upper Peninsula during the pandemic brought many new visitors to the area, which also brought more natural resource destruction and misuse. Through education, the coalition hopes to make visitors more aware of using resources smartly and sustainably. 

Tyler Penrod, the Great Lakes Climate Core program manager for the Superior Watershed Partnership stops by to share some good news for electric vehicle drivers. His group has recently expanded the availability of charging stations throughout the U.P., in addition to their many other important projects. Tyler shares how important it is to maintain proper trail etiquette, including new-to-us knowledge that you've got to go through the puddles people, not around. Muddy boots are a sign of authenticity in MQT.

Lyn Durant who is the Marquette Township Supervisor shares a few more tips and tricks from the Leave No Trace initiative, which encompasses seven different principles. Planning ahead, visiting during quieter times, and letting friends know where you'll be can all make for a better adventure if something goes wrong. Following the trails, packing everything you bring in back out, and leaving nature the way you found it are more tips to track. Wildlife is awesome to see, but let them be, and from a safe distance, please. If you bring your own animal on the trail with you, please manage them accordingly, and pack out that pet waste too.

Finally, Hannah Boyd,  the communications manager for the Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy joins us. The Conservancy, which has over 6500 acres of land in the U.P.,  has several protected tracts of land in Marquette County, and Hannah shares a few of her favorite hikes to take in the area. She also talks about what makes this community special, and other fun things to do when you visit.

Big thanks to Kognisjon Bryggeri for hosting our recording session, we appreciate the hospitality.

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