Frankenmuth Dog Bowl

Champion coming!, photo by Frankenmuth Fun.

Frankenmuth invites you to Dog Bowl 2011, the Midwest’s largest Olympic style event for dogs. This annual event takes place Memorial Weekend (May 28 & 29) at Frankenmuth River Place and includes events for dogs including agility competitions, dock dives, dog disc competition, fashion shows, canine cruise and (of course) biggie dog & weiner dog races! The event is FREE – there’s even a hot air balloon show – and you can click the link above for all the details!

Check this out bigger than a beagle and also see their huge 2008 Dog Bowl and 2009 Dog Bowl slideshows!

Local Blossoms, Local Bucks

Cherry blossoms . . . ., photo by Dr. Farnsworth.

Over on Absolute Michigan today we’re featuring the new Taste the Local Difference guide. This year they are encouraging folks to sign up to Spend $10 on Local Food – a small step that can make a big difference in Michigan’s economy.

Sustainable Table explains:

Buying locally or directly from farmers can dramatically increase a farmer’s income. The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardener’s Association published a study (pdf) that demonstrates what would happen if consumers shifted 1% of their purchasing power to buy locally grown products: farmers would see a gain of 5% in their income. Even better, buying direct from a farmer sends 90% of those food dollars back to the farm. Increasing farm income means more money can be spent locally by the farmer to run their business and home, helping keep the local economy alive.

Annually, Americans consume more than $600 billion in food. In most communities today food is purchased entirely at a grocery store or market, with only about 7% of local food dollars staying in the community. The other 93% of the modern food dollar travels to pay processors, packagers, distributors, wholesalers, truckers and the rest of the infrastructure that a global food system demands, a stark comparison to 40% in 1910 by contrast, 40% of food dollars spend remained in the local economy. When more food dollars stay in the community, through buying local, they are transformed into thriving main streets and local jobs.

Check this out background big and in Dale’s slideshow.

When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom’d

Lilacs, photo by Ann279.

When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom’d,
And the great star early droop’d in the western sky in the night,
I mourn’d, and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.
~Walt Whitman (read the complete poem)

Check this out background big and in Anne’s slideshow.

Michigan Wild & Scenic Rivers: Ontonagon River

Upper Bond Falls, photo by James Marvin Phelps.

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States that certain selected rivers of the Nation which, with their immediate environments, possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values, shall be preserved in free-flowing condition, and that they and their immediate environments shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Congress declares that the established national policy of dams and other construction at appropriate sections of the rivers of the United States needs to be complemented by a policy that would preserve other selected rivers or sections thereof in their free-flowing condition to protect the water quality of such rivers and to fulfill other vital national conservation purposes.
~Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, October 2, 1968

Michigan has 16 nationally designated Wild & Scenic Rivers. Since Field & Stream tapped Michigan #1 for flyfishing in the USA, I thought it would be cool to profile these unique rivers & streams. We’ll start with the Ontonagon River. The Our Favorites page at upflyfishing.com says:

The Ontonagon River, along with its four branches and tributaries drains an enormous area of the western Upper Peninsula in Ontonagon, southwest Houghton and northern Gogebic Counties. The system offers a wide diversity of opportunities for wading, canoeing, shoreline, and even boat anglers. Much of the flow is through wild, scenic country. Several beautiful waterfalls and whitewater rapids appear along its journey.

…A 12 mile stretch of the East Branch (from Lower Dam Falls to Sparrow Rapids has been designated as a Michigan Blue Ribbon Trout Stream. The Middle Branch supports a good population of resident Brown, Rainbow, and Brook Trout. Access is fairly good with sections flowing along the Ottawa National Forest. A few anglers tube or canoe and the river is wide enough to permit flyfishing in most stretches. Overall, the Middle Branch supports the best trout fishing on the Ontonagon and the village of Watersmeet is in the heart of several of these great fishing areas. Down stream from Agate Falls, the river becomes receptive to anadromous fish, and anglers enjoy an extended fishing season. Expect good Steeelheading in spring, with browns up to 6 pounds and salmon showing up in the fall. Some Brook trout also frequent the river here.

FYI, Bond Falls are on the Middle Branch. Check this out background big and in James’ Bond Falls slideshow.

More Wild & Scenic Rivers on Michigan in Pictures!

Cherry Blossoms in Leelanau County

Cherry Blossoms, photo by leelanau2010.

One of the sites I work on is Leelanau.com, and every May I’m always asked “When will the cherry blossoms be out?”

It’s been a slow, cold spring but I’m happy to report that the answer is “Right now!”

Tart Sweet cherry blossoms are out all over and the tart cherry blossoms will be along in a few days. That means this weekend will be the best one for photos.

David took this shot near Northport. Check it out background big, on his map or in his Cherry Blossoms slideshow.

Enjoy more blossoms and more Spring Wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures!

Oz to be Filmed in Michigan!

oz or bust, photo by Jeff Westover.

My mother had every single Oz book in a shelf right outside my bedroom, and I spent a couple of years reading and re-reading my way through the adventures of Dorothy, the Wizard and company. The LA Times OnLocation blog says:

Michigan isn’t exactly Kansas, but anything is possible in the world of “Oz” — and film tax credits. Walt Disney Studios confirmed Friday that its upcoming film “Oz” — a prequel to the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz” — will be filmed in Michigan after all.

The movie, directed by Sam Raimi, has a production budget of more than $150 million and would be the largest feature film to ever shoot in Michigan.

The project’s fate had been uncertain after Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder recently proposed a big cut in the state’s film tax credit program to balance the budget. Snyder called for capping the program at $25 million a year.

…Burbank-based Disney decided to proceed with the film after receiving assurances from state officials that its previously approved $40-million tax credit would not be affected.

That was welcome news to Los Angeles-based Raleigh Studios, which has just opened a $76-million studio in Pontiac, Mich., where “Oz” will begin filming in August. The production will fill up most of the studio’s seven stages.

Casting is underway and information can be found right here.

Jeff took this at a few years ago at the Hot Air Jubilee. It happens July 15-17, 2011 at Ella Sharp Park in Jackson.

Check this out bigger and in his 2007 – various photos slideshow.

Buses by the Beach

Bus by the Water, photo by Steven Pham | stevenphamphoto.com.

Steven spotted this VW by the water at the Metropark. Check it out bigger and in his spotted slideshow.

If you’re interested in VW buses, check out Buses by the Beach. The annual event is held every Memorial Day Weekend in West Olive by a Grand Rapids based group of VW van lovers (see photo gallery). Since 2002, they have drawn VW bus owners and their families from all over the USA and Canada to raise money for The Phoenix Society For Burn Survivors, the world’s largest burn support organization.

They hold three fundraiser/campouts: the Bus Benefit on Memorial Weekend; Bus BOO, held the first weekend in October and Bus BRRR over the last weekend in February. You’re welcome whether you own a VW or not!

Atop Jackson’s Golden Towers

Art Deco Tower with Antennas, photo by benft.

Jackson County says:

The 17-story Tower Building was built in 1929 for the new Union and Peoples National Bank. The Tower Building was at that time referred to as the “Golden Towers.”

…In 1975 it was sold to the County for a nominal sum by the Raymond Kolowich family and became the County Tower Building. The County Commissioners’ Chamber is located on the 2nd floor up the marble flight of stairs. Italian leaded stained glass windows surround the chamber which was originally the main banking area.

At the top there is a “Falcon Cam” that is trained on the nest of a peregrine falcons! Click through to watch the chicks grow up!

Check this photo out bigger and in Ben’s cool architecture slideshow.

More architecture and more from Jackson on Michigan in Pictures!

Michigan Birds: Sandhill Crane

Flying Crain, photo by GLASman1.

The Baker Sanctuary in northwest Calhoun County is a Michigan Audubon sanctuary that hosts thousands of cranes. It was established in 1947 and was the first crane sanctuary in America. They have fantastic information about sandhill cranes in Michigan. They write that the Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) is one of only 15 species of cranes in the world and is one of just two crane species native to North America.

While the Whooping Crane, our other native crane, is highly endangered and restricted to only a few areas of the West, the Sandhill is more widespread and in most areas is more abundant. Once nearly eliminated from Michigan, Sandhill Cranes have made a comeback and now are becoming one of the state’s most popular watchable wildlife species.

Cranes are tall, stately birds with a heavy body, long neck and long legs. Standing four to five feet high and possessing a wing span of six to seven feet, Sandhill Cranes are Michigan’s largest bird. Long, skinny legs and neck give a false impression of size; the males weigh an average of about 12 pounds and the females around 9-1/2 pounds. Except for this size difference, both sexes look alike.

…Sandhill Cranes have a variety of vocalizations, the most common of which is generally described as a repeated series of trumpeting “garoo-a-a-a” calls that can be heard for over a mile. One of the reasons for this remarkably loud and penetrating call is an unusual windpipe. In most birds the trachea passes directly from the throat to the lungs, but in Sandhills it is elongated by forming a single loop which fills a cavity in the sternum. It is not surprising that the louder and more harmonic Whooping Crane has a longer trachea with a double loop.

You can hear these crane calls including the unison call at that link. Don’t miss the Michigan Audubon Crane Fest they hold every October too! Also see Sandhill Crane on All About Birds has more information and some crane calls and on Wikipedia

Mark says that sandhill cranes are quickly becoming his favorite birds. Check this out bigger and see a couple more views in his slideshow.

The Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr has a cool Sandhill Crane slideshow.

Catching a wave to the Petoskey Stone Festival

petoskey stone in surf, photo by northernlightphotograph.

The 6th annual Antrim County Petoskey Stone Festival takes place on May 28, 2011 in Barnes Park in Eastport. The Petoskey Stone is of course Michigan’s state stone.

Almost a century after the founding of Petoskey, on June 28, 1965, Governor George Romney signed a bill that made the Petoskey Stone Michigan’s official State Stone. It was fitting that Miss Ella Jane Petoskey, the only living grand-child of Chief Petosegay, was present at the formal signing. The legislation is very general. The bill simply states that the Petoskey Stone is the State Stone. The designation of Hexagonariapercarinata was made by Dr. Edwin C. Stumm in 1969. Dr. Stumm made this distinction based on his extensive knowledge of fossils.

This specific fossil coral is found only in the rock strata known as the Alpena Limestone. The Alpena Limestone is part of the Traverse Group of Devonian age. The Alpena Limestone is a mixture of limestones and shales. The outcrops of these rocks are restricted to the Little Traverse Bay area near Petoskey.

Check this out bigger and in Tim’s slideshow. See more of Tim’s photos on Michigan in Pictures.

You can read the story behind the Petoskey name on Michigan in Pictures (and learn about the little known holiday “Throw in a Petoskey Stone Day”).