Behind the Mitten

On this weekend's show, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman bounce around -- from the UP to Detroit and a quick stop in Grand Rapids.

Segment 1: John and Amy talk about the Little Caesars Arena and how it is changing the footprint of Detroit. They talk to Michael O'Callaghan, the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau Vice President and COO.
More info at http://visitdetroit.com/

Segment 2 (Listen at 9:50): Jeff Lobdell of Restaurant Partners in Grand Rapids and Traverse City stops in to talk about Rockwell Republic, one of his newest restaurants, but one of GR's favorite hot spots for craft cocktails, craft beer and Happy Hour.
More info: https://www.rockwellsrepublic.com/

Segment 3 (Listen at 19:30): John and Amy go to Ishpeming to visit friends at Cognition Brewing. They were picked as one of Michigan's Best new breweries.
More on Cognition: https://www.facebook.com/CognitionBrewingCompany/?rf=483914298343903

Segment 4 (Listen at 29:22): While at Cognition, John and Amy also meet local brewers from Chocolay River Brewing near Marquette and Jasper Ridge Brewing in Ishpeming.
And they do BEER of THE WEEK. It is "Hop Goddess," a red IPA with Citra and Styrian Wolf, a new hop from Hop Head Farms. The Beer is "in honor of Amy Sherman," said Cognition owner Jay Clancy
More on Chocolay: http://www.chocolayriverbrewery.com/
More on Jasper Ridge: https://www.facebook.com/JasperRidgeBrewery/

Learn more about Behind the Mitten at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/

On this weekend's show, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman record a few interviews in Detroit while at the annual tourism conference, and then they head to Lansing for Beer of the Week.

Segment 1: John and Amy talk to Mike Norton of Traverse City Tourism about TC Uncorked (May 1-31, 2017), the National Cherry Festival and other TC events.
Learn more at https://www.traversecity.com/
Or at http://traversecityuncorked.com/

Segment 2 (Listen at 10:34): They go to Lansing to learn about the Fish Rodeo and other events this spring and summer. Thanks to Jack Schripsema of the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau for being on the show.
Learn more at http://www.lansing.org/

Segment 3 (Listen at 20:00): They talk to Brandy Henderson of Visit Ludington about a new Guinness Book of World Records attempt. And they also talk to Terry Veen about how you can enjoy a trip this summer on the SS Badger.
Learn more at http://pureludington.com/
Or at https://www.ssbadger.com/

Segment 4 (Listen at 30:30): They head back to Lansing to interview their friend and Mid Michigan craft beer expert Nate Carley, who brings us Beer of the Week from Old Nation Brewery. The beer is M-43, a juicy, New England-style IPA.
Learn more about Old Nation at http://oldnationbrewing.com/
Keep in touch with Nate on Twitter at https://twitter.com/KingCalery

Learn more about Behind the Mitten at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/

This episode aired April 8-9, 2017.

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman broadcast this week's show from all over the state.

Segment 1: Learn more about Silver Lake and the sand dunes. It is located about 20 minutes south of Ludington or an hour north of Grand Rapids. John and Amy talk to Don Tucker of ThinkDunes.com and Silver Lake Resort & Campground about why you should visit this summer. Learn more at http://www.thinkdunes.com/ or https://silverlakerc.com/.

Segment 2 (Listen at 10:01): More on TC Wine Month with Lorrie Hathaway at LPwines.com and the upcoming "Traverse City Uncorked" in May. Learn more at traversecity.com.

Segment 3 (Listen at 19:15): John and Amy are joined by their good friend Paul Beachnau of the Gaylord Tourism Bureau, who tells us all about summer events in the Golf Mecca. More info at https://silverlakerc.com/

Segment 4 (Listen at 29:45): John and Amy go to Ozone's Brewhouse in Old Town Lansing where they talk to Mid Michigan craft beer expert Nate Calery who runs down Beer of the Week from Old Nation Brewery in Williamston. The beer is M-43, a juicy IPA. Nate also reveals he will be involved with a new brewery (Looking Glass Brewery) to open this fall in DeWitt

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman talk to Don Tucker of ThinkDunes.com and Silver Lake Resort & Campground about why you should visit this summer. Silver Lake is located in Hart, near Pentwater and on the shores of Lake Michigan. Learn more at http://www.thinkdunes.com/ or https://silverlakerc.com/.

On the 100th episode of Behind the Mitten, John and Amy record from the Michigan Tourism Conference in Detroit.

Here are the show notes:

Segment 1: John and Amy reconnect with their good friend Tim Hygh of the Mackinac Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. Tim runs down what's ahead this season, and John and Amy talk about returning as emcees of the annual Lilac Festival Parade in June.

Segment 2 (Listen at 10:00): John and Amy learn more about Alpena. Their guest is Mary Beth Stutzman of visitalpena.com. She says "Alpena is the place were relaxed outdoor adventure collides with history and heritage. That's the best way to describe what we have going on in Northeast Michigan." Learn more at http://www.visitalpena.com/

Segment 3 (Listen at 18:57): John and Amy spend time with Ken Hayward of Grand Hotel, which is opening new suites this season and also offering some new features. When is the best time to visit? Ken has the scoop. Learn more about Grand Hotel at https://www.facebook.com/grandhotel/

Segment 4 (Listen at 29:00)
John and Amy leave the tourism conference to check out Ozone's Brewhouse, a brewery that opened in August of 2016 in Old Town Lansing. Co-owner Kyle Malone says their goal is to offer beer as "liquid art," which fits the neighborhood's artist vibe. Their No. 1 seller is our BEER OF THE WEEK: Kyrptonale (5.1% ABV), a Cherry vanilla amber ale made with cherry syrup from King Orchards in Traverse City and real vanilla beans. You will also find Detroit Frankie's Wood Fired Brick Oven parked outside.

Learn more about Ozone's Brewhouse at https://www.facebook.com/ozonesbrewhouse/

Learn more about Behind the Mitten at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman check out Ozone's Brewhouse, a brewery that opened in August of 2016 in Old Town Lansing.

Co-owner Kyle Malone says their goal is to offer beer as "liquid art," which fits the neighborhood's artist vibe. Their No. 1 seller is our BEER OF THE WEEK: Kyrptonale (5.1% ABV), a Cherry vanilla amber ale made with cherry syrup from King Orchards in Traverse City. Ozone brewer/sales rep Mike Rogers said it is made with 86 vanilla beans in each batch. "We hand split them open every time; it's a little labor of love, a little time consuming, but we put in every batch." It's sweet and tart, and it appeals to a wide audience, he added.

You will also find Detroit Frankie's Wood Fired Brick Oven parked outside.

Learn more about Ozone's Brewhouse at https://www.facebook.com/ozonesbrewhouse/

Learn more about Behind the Mitten at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman recently co-hosted "West Michigan Live" on WOOD Radio. They invited their good friend Dave Ringler of the Cedar Springs Brewing Co.

Dave brought a special beer for them to sample as he prepares for the second-year STARKBIERFEST on April 1. Dave said this Bier Tent celebration features the spring release of their BOCK Biers. He is releasing 6 new beers!

Date:
Saturday, April 1st from 3-9 p.m. (Stammtisch members 2 p.m.)

Beer Releases:
Küsterer Pale Bock - Traditional Bavarian Pale Lager Bock
Küsterer Weizenbock - Full bodied Bavarian Wheat Bock
Küsterer "Mandamator" Dopplebock - Traditional Bavarian Spring Double Bock
Küsterer Holzweizenbock* - Buffalo Trace Bourbon barrel aged Weizenbock
CSIPA 3.0* - Cask, dry-hopped with Cascade hops
CSIPA 3.1* - Cask, dry-hopped with Centennial hops
(* limited quantities of aged & cask beers)

Live Music:
Pete Kehoe - Northern Michigan legendary performer
Dave Slavinski - German/folk
Branded - Cedar Springs favorite country-rock band reunited!
Delilah DeWylde - Rockabilly

Sausage Party:
Michigan made tube steaks!
Entry is FREE for those aged 21+
LINK

On Episode 99, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman take you all around the state.

Segment 1: Amber Stokosa of 20 Monroe Live stops in to talk about Grand Rapids' newest concert venue. More info at http://www.20monroelive.com/

Segment 2 (Listen at 10:00): Trevor Tkach of Traverse City Tourism talks about his recent trip to Berlin and how Europeans view the Great Lakes State. More info at https://www.traversecity.com/

Segment 3 (Listen at 19:38): Meg George of the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center talks about this year's season and what might be ahead for next season. More info at http://www.fhfineartscenter.com/indexnight.html

Segment 4 (Listen at 29:41): John and Amy head over to Mitten Brewery in Grand Rapids to hang out with brewer Robert "Wob" Wanhatalo. They talk about the upcoming baseball season, which is always a busy time for the brewery located in a former firehouse and dedicated to the National Pastime. Look for its "Peanuts and Crackerjack" Porter to be distributed around the state this spring. Oh, and BEER of the WEEK is "Schwarzstop," a delicious schwarzbier, which is a traditional black lager. It comes in at 6.3% ABV.

Listen to a special shout out from Shannon Long of Pure Brews America TV show. Season 3 returns in July and August on CBS stations around the state.

Meg George of the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center talks about the last show of the season - the Golden Dragon Acrobats (March 22, 2017). She also talks about all the opportunities the facility provides to the students and the community.

More info at http://www.fhfineartscenter.com/indexday.html

On this episode of "Behind the Mitten," John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman travel to FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek where they go behind the scenes to its newest addition: Dacey's Taphouse.

The restaurant features 52 taps, including 42 from Michigan. Plus, the food is more than just bar food -- we sampled mac and cheese, tacos and even a short rib bowl with tons of delicious veggies. The taphouse has a separate entrance, so even if you don't gamble, you can still check it out.

This episode aired March 11-12, 2017.

Segment 1: John and Amy talk about what's new at FireKeepers with CEO Brian Decorah, and the kind of employees they are looking for. More than 1,700 people work at FireKeepers.

Segment 2 (Listen at 10:00): Brandon Coco, the Taphouse & Beverage Manager, talks about all the new features of Dacey's, and also shares his story of starting as a bartender to becoming a manager.

Segment 3 (Listen at 19:00): The food comes out! John and Amy sample a delicious burger, giant pretzel, mac and cheese, tacos, short rib bowl, nachos and more! Also, Brandon and Amber Ballard of FireKeepers talk more about the menu, and Dacey's.

Segment 4 (Listen at 29:00): Jim Wise, Vice President of Marketing at FireKeepers, stops by to talk events for St. Patrick's Day and how to win a $100,000 Luxury RV on March 25, 2017. John and Amy also do BEER of THE WEEK: The FKC Ale made by Arcadia Ales. It is available exclusively at Dacey's Taphouse.

More on FireKeepers at https://www.facebook.com/firekeepers/

More on Behind the Mitten at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/