Michigan Blue - Spring 2023

Expand Your Horizons

So much to see and do — where to begin?

Cruise the U.S. 23 Heritage Route | Catch The Thumb’s charms

Float down a water trail | Stroll through wildflower heaven | Listen to loons

Plus: Inventive ideas for cottage-style living, from cool salad recipes to home décor and design trends

WATERWAYS

16 Sky, Sand & Surf

Tips for keeping Fido safe when boating, and take a stroll on Boyne’s new 1,200-foot-long SkyBridge and enjoy vistas of the rolling valley below.

By Chuck Warren and Ellen Creager

20 Get Outdoors

Sunrises and sunsets, kayaking, and discovering one of the state’s top farmers markets in The Thumb, and the return of Michigan’s wildflowers.

By Tracy Donohue and Amy S. Eckert

24 The Pike: Cruising U.S. 31

The story of the M22 brand centers around more than just apparel, and naturefocused tour company helps visitors explore the quieter side of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

By Mark Spezia

28 Headwaters

A popular travel writer shines the spotlight on Michigan’s amazing parks and hiking adventures.

By Mark Spezia

DESIGN CURRENTS

32 Studio Visit Water, sky, and nostalgic touches give Edward Duff’s oil paintings a moody aura.

By Megan Swoyer

36 Design Stars

An abandoned fruit farmturned-motel-turned-resort is getting rave reviews for its interior/exterior updates.

By Giuseppa Nadrowski

38 The Elements

New designs in linens, the popular mushroom motif, and Mother Nature’s touch add a fresh and springy feel to cottage interiors.

By Jamie Fabbri

ANCHORS AWAY

82 Tasting Room

Wonderland Distilling blends its spirits with handmade mixers — such as crushed beetle to create red colors — in its cocktails.

By Dianna Stampfler

84 Dining Out

A new age of downtown kitchen talent and restaurant owners shifts the Motor City’s cuisine into drive.

By Bill Semion

88 Book It

The Haworth Hotel’s $7.5-million renovation adds a little Italian flair to Holland’s Hope College campus.

By Dianna Stampfler

90 Discoveries

Detroit History Tours provide an entertaining look at the city’s riveting past, and include insights into its legends, architecture, and food.

By Dianna Stampfler

IN EVERY ISSUE

12 Reflections Pockets of Possibilities

By

Megan Swoyer

92 Postcard

With their jewel-like red eyes and attractive plumage, loons have captured a writer/photographer’s heart.

By Kim Schneider

“You couldn’t build a more Instagram-able attraction.”

JIM POWELL, ON BOYNE’S SKYBRIDGE

Pockets of Possibilities

Small towns such as Port Austin, Empire, or Tawas can miraculously slow the passing of time.

The more time I spend in suburbia, the more I pine for our northern Michigan cottage. Suburbia has its advantages, to be sure, but time fl ies there. There are good schools, great neighborhoods, easy commutes, excellent doctors and convenient access to top-notch health care organizations, gourmet restaurants, theatrical productions, and sporting options.

But I’m fi nding that I crave small — those pocket communities Up North where, for example, Sandy calls us by name the minute we enter her restaurant/brewery and is sure to sit at our table for a while as we sample her latest innovative dishes. This happened the fi rst time we met her, and it hasn’t stopped since.

The last time my husband and I were there, Sandy, of course, stopped at our table — as did her husband, a man we’d never met before, who was eating alone at the bar. We invited him to dine with us and now we know his life story and he knows about us.

Another evening Up North, we sauntered into a small eatery in a community just south of Sandy’s place. Our mission was to check out its charming pub side. About six stools lined the bar. On that evening, one was occupied by a 10-year-old who was happily chatting with his mom, the bartender. We enjoyed talking with both before she poured my husband and me a glass.

Enter a man in his 40s or 50s. We said hi and, the next thing you know, he asked us to sample the wine from the bottle he had ordered. From stage right came a pianist (he started playing the piano at age 50; we know this because there’s a community newspaper article about him on the wall above the piano). He began to tickle the ivories. How could we resist dining there, too?

So we ordered dinner, continued to chat with our new friend, and then owner Bill

arrived to see how we liked the food. A halfhour later, we were still talking with Bill and the regular about boating, barbecue sauce, you name it. Then the regular said his goodbyes and, unbeknownst to us, picked up our tab!

Other couples entered the eatery and the evening played on. As we were about to leave, in walked four women, headed to the bar. They, too, said hello as if they knew us. After some conversation, one of the women said she’d like to join us on our next bicycle outing. Small town, big welcome.

In a local convenience store, we purchase things that might be a little more expensive, but the owner, Scott, is almost always there to greet us and talk about weather and traffic (not much).

I’m reminded of an off-the-beaten-path tree farm where, on the spur of the moment, we stopped to pick raspberries and look at trees for purchase. Owner Chet shared information about his gorgeous evergreens, but then said, “How much time do you have? Jump in my truck and I’ll take you to some additional property.” After a five-minute ride we were bouncing through swaying boughs of beauty that seemed to usher us through the farmer’s rows of green. He gave us cultivation tips and told us a bit about his farm’s history. Another remarkable character on the stage of small-town friendly.

My 2023 New Year’s resolution was to set a better pace. If you, too, wish to slow down, then seek out Michigan’s little pockets of possibilities. Pull up a stool at that tiny pub you’ve always wondered about, heed the arrow on that crooked raspberry U-pick sign that points you down a country road, try out a quaint mom-and-pop grocery store or diner. Promise yourself to take the time to enjoy our small towns.

Volume 19 | Issue 2 mibluemag.com

PUBLISHER: Jason Hosko

EDITORIAL

EDITOR: Megan Swoyer

CONTRIBUTING TRAVEL EDITOR: Ron Garbinski

COPY EDITOR: Anne Berry Daugherty

WRITERS: Ellen Creager, Tracy Donohue, Amy S. Eckert, Jamie Fabbri, Jeanine Matlow, Honey Murray, Giuseppa Nadrowski, Kim Schneider, Bill Semion, Mark Spezia, Dianna Stampfler, Chuck Warren, Khristi Zimmeth

DESIGN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Lindsay Richards

ART DIRECTOR: Justin Stenson

SENIOR PRODUCTION ARTIST: Stephanie Daniel

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CONTRIBUTORS: Jeff Garland, James Haefner, Jean Lannen, Kim Schneider

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FIELD GUIDE

Exploring Michigan: Tips, trends, and tidbits

Best of the Best: Six Traverse City-area wineries won 41 awards in the Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition for American wines. Four earned top honors: Aurora Cellars nabbed three cups, Good Harbor Vineyards received two, and one each went to Brys Estate and Two K Farms. These wineries, plus Left Foot Charley and Mawby Sparkling Wine, captured seven gold, 21 silver, and six bronze medals. The Traverse Wine Coast represents more than 40 wineries from Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas that produce about 60 percent of Michigan wines. traversecity.com.

Celebrated Residents: The new Origins sculpture walk and its 148-page guidebook highlight the people who shaped Manistee history. Its dedication late last year was the final component of the Manistee Historic Sites project, which began in 2014. Included in the walk, located at the west end of the Riverwalk at First Street Beach, are 20 statuesque silhouettes of influential residents, and five sculptural elements and a corresponding colonnade with information plaques that tell the community’s story as it relates to water, life, settlement, and industry. About 8,000 pounds of steel were used to create the sculptures. visitmanisteecounty.com.

New Project: Local developers are planning a multi-use development in Walloon Lake that will include 16 luxury condo units with private dock slips, as well as a market and retail space on the main level. The Renwick, on the site of the former Walloon Village General Store, which will be revived in the new project, is named after that store’s longtime operator, Ross Renwick. The village store served the community for more than a century. therenwickmi.com.

Compiled by Ron Garbinski

Have news that pertains to Michigan travel and exploration? Send a note to MSwoyer@Hour-Media.com.

Welcome Aboard, Fido

Tips on how to ensure your pets are safe and sound while out on the water

By Chuck Warren

It’s no surprise that so many furry family members in Michigan enjoy boating activities with their owners, whether they’re peeking over the rail of a 50-foot yacht or standing watch near the bow on a pontoon.

More than 62 percent of Michigan households are home to at least one pet, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Combine that with Michigan reigning as the third-largest boating market in the country and it’s easy to see why many of our four-legged friends are wagging their tails and sporting a happy face while lapping up a boat ride in the sun.

As a longtime boater and dog owner, my suggestions — and those from my boating pals — might help make the time you share with your pet onboard safer and more fun. Also, visit michiganbluemagazine on Facebook or Instagram and post some of your tips under this story when it appears live on those platforms.

Not all dogs are quick to make the transition from dock to deck, and many need to be coaxed aboard the first few times. Stepping across that watery gap from dock to boat can be a scary encounter and may require a treat or two before the process becomes easy.

Captain is a perfect example of how pets can adapt quickly to fun times on the water with proper safety gear.

Once onboard, the problem may be keeping them on the deck and out of the water, especially for breeds such as springer spaniels and Labrador retrievers. Throw a ball and they’ll likely reward you with a canine cannonball as they give chase.

While cats can be found on some larger or live-aboard vessels, dogs are a much more common sight on the water, especially on smaller boats. With greater affinity for the water than their feline counterparts, dogs seem to quickly adjust to a life at sea.

Pet Safety

Like any other passenger or crew member, keeping your pet safe while on the water is an important responsibility. Although many animals can swim better than their twolegged companions, life jackets are a good idea for dogs — especially on a bigger boat or a large body of water such as one of the Great Lakes.

If a dog falls overboard while the boat is moving, there’s a chance that they may not be missed immediately. A brightly colored life jacket makes your pet easier to see in the water and protects them from exhaustion if a rescue takes time.

For extra safety, clip a water-activated strobe light to your pet’s life jacket to improve visibility and make them easier to find in choppy water.

It’s also important to have a plan in the event your pet goes overboard. A largebreed dog can be hard to get back onboard especially a larger dog that’s panicked. Having a plan for getting your dog out of the water, and even trying it at the dock while others are present, will eliminate surprises and save precious time.

Pet Comfort

The sun can be brutal on the water and dogs can easily overheat in the summer sun — especially long-haired breeds. While swimming may seem like a good way to keep your pet cool, staying afloat can take a lot of energy, so forced time-outs in the shade are important when it’s time to cool down. Although there’s no shortage of fresh water in Michigan, drinking from some

sources can leave pets with stomach issues something nobody wants to experience on a boat. Keep plenty of fresh water on board for both people and pets, and remember to bring a water bowl. Several companies make collapsible water bowls that can be carried in a day pack or easily stored away.

On bigger boats, where the water bowl may occupy a permanent spot in the cabin, a splash-free bowl can help keep your pet’s water off the galley floor when seas are rough.

Day Trips and Overnights

Most Michigan marinas are pet-friendly and provide a spot to walk your dog. However, while out on the water, bathroom breaks can become a challenge. If you’re anchored near the shore, heading onto the beach can solve the problem. But while away from land, your dog may not be able to go.

Many live-aboards and blue-water sailors have taught their dogs to go on a piece of outdoor carpet. This can be

difficult since the entire boat, including the cockpit and swim platform, may be seen as “inside” to your dog.

If you plan to travel with your pet, learn how they’ll handle potty breaks before heading down the coast of your favorite lake. Asking your dog to hold it isn’t fair.

Friends Everywhere

Remember that some people, and other dogs, may not be dog-friendly, so keep your pet on a leash while walking the dock. Although your neighboring boaters will likely share treats and tummy-rubs once they get to know your dog, don’t force them to endure a wet nose in a private place before they do.

Boating with your pet can be a fun experience. For your dog, going for a boat ride is like getting to stick their head out of the world’s biggest car window before chasing seagulls down the beach and swimming after playing with an endless supply of floating sticks.

How could life possibly get any better?

Hoops, a long-haired dog, looks forward to a time-out in the shade to cool down.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTEAN LAPORTE

It sways, it dips, and it offers great views.

Step onto Boyne Mountain Resort’s SkyBridge Michigan if you’d like a bird’s-eye perspective on the state’s northwest beauty.

“There are big timber towers on both sides of the valley, and it’s a suspension bridge — so you need to have an understanding that there’s going to be some movement. Sometimes it’s a gentle sway, sometimes more than that. You feel the aspect of the movement while you’re on it,” explains Erin Ernst, Boyne Resort’s spokeswoman.

Ernst says some people are fearful of strolling the length of three football fields on a walkway suspended 118 feet above the ground, but most folks are excited to try it.

With bridge railings on both sides to hold onto, “we have lots of older people crossing it, all ages. My littlest is 4 now, and she loves it,”Ernst says.“ If you keep your view straight and don’t look down, it doesn’t seem as high.”

SkyBridge Michigan, touted as the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge, opened last October in the peak of the fall color season. Throughout the winter, Boyne Mountain skiers and their families had a chance to walk above the glistening snow. In spring and summer,

The View!

Stroll on Boyne’s new 1,200-foot-long SkyBridge Michigan and you’ll see colorful vistas of the spectacular valley below

By Ellen Creager

Boyne Mountain anticipates welcoming day visitors from nearby Petoskey, Gaylord, and Charlevoix. But others will come from afar. Word is spreading.

“The most interesting part is that it’s brought a whole new customer to Boyne Mountain, people coming specifically for the bridge. And for many people, it’s their first time on a chairlift,” Ernst says.

How do visitors traverse the 1,200-footlong bridge? From the base of the Boyne Falls resort, visitors take the Hemlock chairlift up the mountain for 10 minutes to the top of McClouth. That alone is an adventure for many. At the top, stop for a bite at Eagle’s Nest restaurant and enjoy the firepit and views.

Next, walk across SkyBridge Michigan to the other side, at Disciples Ridge. It also has a firepit and food trailer for lunch or snacks. Some visitors walk downhill back to the resort on the paved walkway from that

side, which also has good spots for those who want to photograph the bridge. Others walk back across SkyBridge, then take the Hemlock chairlift back down the mountain.

The bridge was designed by Todd Domeck of Experiential Resources, whose Hawaii-based company also designed SkyBridge Gatlinburg (Tenn.), and parts of the Milliken Outdoor Adventure Center in downtown Detroit.

The suspended part of SkyBridge Michigan is more than 1,000 feet long. If the bridge is crowded, it sways noticeably. If you’re the only visitor, it’s calm. Boyne Valley spreads out below. Halfway across the bridge, a portion of the walkway becomes clear glass, with a vertigo-inducing view straight down.

For Boyne, the project is a way to expand tourist offerings beyond skiing, golf, and its Avalanche Bay water park. Boyne already has ziplines, hiking trails, a spa, and multiple hotels, and in the summer months it offers horseback riding, tennis, bike and golf cart rentals, and fishing, in addition to worldclass golf. SkyBridge Michigan fits with the resort’s goals — and its overall aesthetic — because its timber structure blends in with the landscape.

Although it’s new, Ernst says, “It looks like it’s always been there.”

Jim Powell, the recently appointed

director of the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, tried the bridge in the fall. The thing that struck him was that the bridge isn’t visible from the road or resort base. It comes into view as you go up the chairlift, “and it’s pretty grand and striking when you see it.”As he stepped onto the swaying bridge, “that’s when I realized how far 1,200 feet is,’’ he says.

When the bridge opened during peak fall color in October, phones rang off the hook at hotels and resorts in the region, Powell says. “I think Boyne knew it was going to be big, but they didn’t know how big; the line was out the door. Up here, a lot of our stuff is very seasonal, but this is a year-round attraction. There really is nothing with the cachet of this.”

The bridge’s walkway is 5 feet wide. Because it sways, no strollers, wheelchairs, skis, or bicycles are allowed. The entry cost varies depending on the season and demand, but starts at $25 for adults; it’s less for children and seniors. Those who stay at the resort get ticket discounts.

In the spring, SkyBridge Michigan is open on weekends. It begins daily operations on Memorial Day. A grand opening is planned for a summer date yet to be announced.

Boyne Mountain has been around for more than 70 years; it was founded by Michigan skiing legend Everett Kircher in 1948. Kircher, known for taking risks, likely would have approved of this bridge to the future.

Says Powell: “You couldn’t build a more Instagram-able attraction.”

PLAN IT!

SkyBridge Michigan boynemountain.com/skybridge-michigan

This page: The 5-foot-wide wooden suspended section of SkyBridge Michigan becomes clear glass in the middle.

Opposite page: The bridge opened during peak color season last fall.

Driving along the 120 miles of M-53 leading north out of metro Detroit, the transition from urban to suburban to rural added a relaxing aspect to an action-packed Port Austin getaway. As I passed through small towns and sprawling farmland where beans, corn, grain, and sugar beets grow, I shared the highway with farm vehicles and kayak-carrying SUVs en route to their Tip of The Thumb destinations.

Outdoor adventurers love the Port Austin community of about 700 residents (32,000 in Huron County) because it sits along the sparkling blue waters of Lake Huron. Plus, its unique northern tip location offers stunning views of Great Lakes sunrises and sunsets.

“We’re a hidden gem with outdoor activities, arts and culture, and great restaurants including fine dining and places to stay. It has an ‘Up North’ feel that’s an easy drive to get to,” boasts Jill Babcock, Port Austin Area Chamber of Commerce officer and local business owner.

My family favorite is the bustling downtown Port Austin Farmers Market,

Exploring Port Austin

From sunrises and sunsets to Lake Huron kayaking

at the tip of The Thumb

By Tracy Donohue

which comes alive on Saturdays between May and October. Tucked in among historic buildings that house restaurants and stores, retro motels, charming inns, and The Village Green Shops, the lively outdoor market has sprouted into a prized community attraction. Just ask Lisa Pridnia, who developed the Port Austin Farmers Market nearly 20 years ago with her late husband, John Pridnia.

“After our early retirement, my husband and I traveled around the country in a motorcoach and sought out farmers markets. We came to understand that local farmers markets reflect the culture of a community whether it be artisans, produce, flowers, or livestock,”she says.

When the couple settled in Port Austin, they had the idea of creating a farmers market that not only reflected the area’s local agricultural roots but could help re-energize the downtown area. Since John formerly served in Michigan’s Senate and House representing northern Michigan, and Lisa worked in public policy and community development, they were able to utilize their professional backgrounds to help their new community.

Today, the thriving Port Austin Farmers Market is run by the local chamber and is recognized as one of the top farmers markets in Michigan. It features more than 70 vendors each week, including many local farmers and businesses offering fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, and baked goods, as well as items from local artisans, crafters, and vendors. It

and one of the state’s top farmers markets, fun awaits

often features live entertainment.

“Looking back, the farmers market really was the awakening of our community. So many people embraced it. We started seeing young people staying, raising their families, buying businesses, and investing in the community,” Pridnia explains.

On the Waterfront

Port Austin’s biggest year-round draw is its scenic waterfront and the recreation associated with it. Babcock says the visionary and driving force behind the multimilliondollar renovation of the harbor nearly a decade ago was John Pridnia. The busy harbor area includes a marina, parks, a welcome center, and other amenities. The half-mile-long breakwall is popular for walking, fishing, or just taking in the view. Further improvements to the harbor are expected this year.

The Port Austin Reef Light, first lit in 1878 and still operational today while it undergoes renovations by a nonprofit lighthouse association, shines as another local attraction. Located about 2.5 miles offshore from the

Port Austin State Harbor, pontoon boat tours to this grand “Castle on the Lake” can be scheduled for Saturdays during the summer season. Those on the tour can climb to the top of the seven-story lighthouse for panoramic views.

Kayaking has emerged as a big lure to the area, especially trips to picturesque Turnip Rock, the delightful Instagram-able turnip-shaped rock formation near the Lake Huron shoreline.

In 2006, Chris Boyle started his Port Austin Kayak rental business with just a few kayaks. From that modest beginning, his operation has grown and helped transform Port Austin into a major kayaking destination. He also rents paddleboards and bikes.

Boyle recommends two kayaking trails on Lake Huron from Port Austin: The sevenmile round trip trail to scenic Turnip Rock, which takes two to four hours, depending on weather conditions, and Broken Rocks Trail, an easier and more family-friendly paddle that that takes about two hours round trip and includes rock formations and sea caves. At Table Rock, he says paddlers can pull up their kayaks, swim, and enjoy a picnic. Kayakers also can paddle the slower, winding Pinnebog River, which flows through Port Crescent State Park into Lake Huron.

Boyle continues to invest in the

community through new retail businesses and restaurants. “There’s been a real transformation in Port Austin over the last 10 to 15 years. Port Austin is still small and quaint, but there’s so much to do here. We have great outdoor activities for everyone — trails, golfing, boating, and fishing.”

Crown Jewel

The most buzzworthy park, day or night, is Port Crescent State Park. Its highlights include three miles of sandy shoreline, five miles of hiking and cross-country trails, and a meandering boardwalk that features scenic views of Saginaw Bay. It’s also one of only six dark sky preserves in Michigan, and visitors enjoy awe-inspiring starlit night skies.

Babcock, who also works in her family’s real estate and motel businesses and recently launched 85ten, a boutique hotel, encourages visitors to maximize their time at the Tip of The Thumb. “Port Austin is a magical place with four seasons of beauty. Don’t limit yourself to visiting in the summer. Get out and explore year-round. Port Austin is beautiful in fall and winter, too.”

PLAN IT!

Port Austin Area Chamber of Commerce portaustinarea.com

Port Austin Outdoor Adventure portaustinoutdooradventure.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF PORT AUSTIN KAYAK

This page: Beautiful star-lit views are the main attraction at the Port Crescent State Park Dark Sky Preserve. Below: The seven-mile round trip water trail from the Port Austin harbor to Turnip Rock takes between two and four hours by kayak, depending on weather conditions and skill levels.

Columbine, a favorite of hummingbirds for its nectar, can grow up to 3 feet tall. The bloom usually lasts about a month.

Eye-Catchers

Nothing signals springtime like the return of Michigan’s wildflowers and the arrival of beautiful colors

By Amy S. Eckert

Head into the woods in the spring and you can watch as nature comes alive. Winter’s blanket of snow thins, allowing yellow-green leaves their first peek at the sunshine. Celebrate the season with a walk through any of the

nature preserves listed here and discover a beautiful landscape of delicate wildflowers. It’s the perfect way to welcome spring.

Pete’s Woods

“Trilliums are what drew my wife, Brenda, and me to Pete’s Woods,”says Steve

Begnoche of Ludington, who discovered this section of the Arcadia Dunes in 2020. As they neared Pete’s Woods via car, the couple began to notice splashes of color. But nothing prepared them for the eventual display. “It proved to be an Oh my God! experience,” Begnoche says. “(There were) trilliums unlike any I’ve encountered elsewhere.”

The 1.5-mile trail through Pete’s Woods traverses a landscape nourished by Herring Creek and tempered by Lake Michigan. A carpet of trillium emerges between late April and mid-May; thousands of the flowers’ white and pink hues change subtly as the sun’s rays shift overhead. Tucked in among the trillium grow Dutchman’s breeches, squirrel corn, Canada mayflowers, trout lilies, and celandine, Michigan’s only native yellow poppy.

“We savored the variety and the search,” Begnoche says of the woods’ diverse display. “There may be other places with thousands of trilliums, but the walk on this little footpath is remarkable.”

Saugatuck Dunes State Park

Protected from Lake Michigan’s winds by a barrier of sand dunes, the 13 miles of trails at Saugatuck Dunes State Park wind beneath a mixed deciduous and evergreen forest. Over and through ancient dunes the trails lead, bordered with a sprinkling of delicate wildflowers.

The park’s Livingston and Beach trails are especially colorful in spring. Tendrils of tiny leaves poke above ground as the snow melts, giving way to yellow trout lilies, lavender-pink spring beauties, hepatica, and finally, as spring progresses, snowywhite trillium.

The park’s real eye-catchers, though, are the pink lady’s slippers that appear in May. Rising out of the sandy floor of the dunes’ pine groves, lady’s slippers rank among the largest orchids native to North America.

The Saugatuck Dunes’ trails lead eventually to the Lake Michigan beach, where an entirely different variety of wildflowers thrives. Reveling in the fresh breeze and unfiltered sunshine, yellow hairy puccoons, milkweed, and beach peas assert their place on the windswept dunes.

right: A perennial bloodroot flower opens in full sun and closes at night. Blooms last about two weeks. Bottom: The hepatica is a member of the buttercup family and is classified as a small evergreen herb. Common colors are blue and lavender. Older plants can form clumps with more than 20 flowers that open to their fullest on sunny days.

P.J. Hoffmaster State Park

The showy star of this Lake Michigan state park — and the star of many of Michigan’s springtime wildflower walks — is the trillium. With its flashy white blossoms that morph pink with age and its tendency to form broad drifts of plantings, the largeleafed trillium demands to be noticed.

But if you wait until late April or May, when they’re most likely to bloom, you’ll have missed the beauty of a halfdozen other wildflowers that brighten Hoffmaster’s 10 miles of trails.

As soon as the ground thaws, hikers will spy signs of spring ephemerals — plants that grow, flower, and die within a few days’ time. The half-inch blossoms of pink- and lavender-hued hepatica and spring beauties, the yellow and purple petals of early spring violets, and the white blossoms of cut-leaved toothwort all serve as short-lived harbingers of the warm Michigan weather to come.

Dowagiac Woods Nature Sanctuary

Part of the Michigan Nature Association, a collection of more than 180 nature preserves across the state, Dowagiac Woods draws its most ardent fans in spring, when the banks of the Dowagiac River explode with the color of trillium.

The forest preserve can be explored by following an easy 1.5-mile trail and boardwalk — the latter is a welcome addition when snowmelt and flooded riverbanks can make hiking difficult. While more than 50 wildflowers have been cited within the sanctuary, it was the park’s thousands of trilliums that first attracted retired Battle Creek teachers Frank and Jeanine Skeltis.

“We were enthralled by the serenity of the trillium carpet,” says Frank Skeltis, who along with his wife has become an avid hiker and nature-lover. “But even more delightful were the patches of rare,

delicate, blue-eyed Mary,” a wildflower of the snapdragon family. “This hike has become a ‘must-do’ every year when spring returns, to lift our spirits,” he says.

Chippewa Nature Center

The Chippewa and Pine rivers cut through Midland’s Chippewa Nature Center where, as soon as the snow melts, the season’s first delicate wildflowers burst into color. Spring beauties such as bloodroot unfurl their blossoms first, followed soon after by trout lilies and fragrant cream-colored Dutchman’s breeches. As the days grow longer, more flowers appear: leafy Mayapples, golden Alexander, and crimson

red columbines. They can all be enjoyed along the 19 miles of trails.

Although wildflowers can be seen at the nature center throughout the growing season, from early spring through late fall, the prevalence of blossoms changes as the trees leaf out. In early spring, when trees remain bare, ephemerals sprout along the Sugarbush and Meadow Mouse trails, eager to soak up the sun before the leafy canopy develops. In late spring, head to the Arboretum and Field trails, where patches of blue, yellow, and white flowers brighten exposed grassy fields.

PLAN IT!

Visitors should enjoy wildflowers by taking photos, not picking them. If you would like plants of your own, visit michiganmastergardener.org for information on native plants and seed suppliers. Mark your calendar for National Wildflower Week, celebrated the first full week in May.

An Adventurous Spirit

The story of the M22 brand centers around more than just apparel; it’s based on friendship and a northern Michigan lifestyle

By Mark Spezia

Learning to kiteboard with Traverse City brothers Matt and Keegan Myers in 2003 wound up leading Nick Madrick on a journey of a different kind.

He ultimately teamed up with the duo in 2016 to run their Michigan-made M22 apparel brand.

“It’s kind of a cool story how we all met,” Madrick says. “I loved growing

up on the water (around Petoskey and Walloon Lake). One day I came across some images of kiteboarding and was like, ‘I’ve got to try it.’“

The wind-and-waves-loving brothers, both in their early 20s back then, had founded Broneah Kiteboarding, which they essentially operated out of a cargo van. They offered to give Madrick, a high school senior, lessons. They first hung out at Point Betsie Lighthouse Beach and Madrick quickly became enthralled by the sport, which involves standing on a board while harnessing wind power with a large kite and being pulled across the water.

After their second day of bonding on the water, the trio realized they were kindred spirits who treasured northern Michigan’s outdoor adventures along the Lake Michigan coast. Little did Madrick anticipate where that friendship would eventually take him. Soon, he was helping the brothers provide kiteboarding lessons in the summer months. He also attended the camps they conducted during the winter months in warm-weather regions.

Eventually they separated, and Madrick and the Myers brothers spent the next dozen years forging their own personal and professional paths — which would, on occasion, intersect. While pursuing a communications degree at Hope College, Madrick started Stoke International, a clothing and lifestyle brand that was eventually sold in about 75 stores. He also became intrigued with acting, after enrolling in a theater class. Madrick spent 2012 to 2016 living in Charlotte, N.C., and Atlanta pursuing an acting career, as film subsidies made those areas ideal for movie and television production. With the help of an agent, Madrick landed some significant roles, including playing a guard in the 2016 blockbuster “Allegiant”and appearing as a bartender in the 2017 comedy “Office Christmas Party.”

Meanwhile, demand for the Myers brothers’ services only grew. Roughly a year after meeting Madrick, they produced some T-shirts featuring a

Nick Madrick’s favorite kiteboarding hangouts are Frankfort and Point Betsie Lighthouse beaches.

logo of the M22 highway road sign and sold them out of their van before and after giving lessons. The brothers later trademarked the brand and opened a store selling their M22 clothing and accessories in downtown Traverse City.

In 2011, they launched a popular sub-brand called I Love Michigan, which featured a logo with an image of the Lower Peninsula serving as the V.

“I loved seeing Matt and Keegan’s M22 brand take off because it represents the lifestyle and adventurous spirit that’s along the route and surrounding area,” Madrick says.

The company opened a franchise store in Glen Arbor in 2013. In early 2016, the brothers began printing a booklet that listed a variety of activities available along M22, a 117-mile-long highway that follows Lake Michigan and stretches from Manistee into the Leelanau Peninsula, north of Traverse City. They titled their booklet “M22 Microadventures.”

Through it all, an offer for Madrick to join the fun on a full-time basis remained. “We told Nick he always had a spot with us because we knew he was

going to crush it from the start,” Keegan says. “He understands M22 is a lifestyle, not just a road.”

In 2016, Madrick finally took his friends up on their offer and was named M22’s chief operating officer. “I loved acting, but I missed my family and close friendships in Michigan,” he says. “When Matt and Keegan heard that, they thought running their operations would be ideal for me.”

Madrick has helped expand M22’s product line and its social media footprint (M22’s Instagram has 107,000 followers), and is working to improve the customer experience and grow the list of M22 Microadventures. He also oversaw expansion of the Traverse City location.

Products now include men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing; caps; bicycling apparel; and accessories including towels, pillows, flags, candles, mugs, magnets, and even dog collars, leashes, and bowls.

Madrick’s duties include purchasing, selling, product development, marketing, design, wholesale account management, and business development. “I oversee all daily operations, and I’m the main wholesale representative and make website improvements,” he says. “I’m

also constantly working on long-term product development and expanding our presence to more areas. We’re all determined that everyone who comes into our store or shops online will enjoy the best customer service experience they’ve ever had.”

Among the M22 experiences Madrick most recommends, of course, is kiteboarding, particularly at the Frankfort and Point Betsie Lighthouse beaches. For a satisfying workout, he likes to mountain bike and run the trails of Arcadia Dunes, starting from the Mt. Baldy trailhead off M-22, south of Matzinger Road.

One of Madrick’s favorite places to unwind is pebbly Glen Haven Beach in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. “I love to pack a meal and go out there with my fiancé and our dog, and watch the sun set,” he says. “It’s magical.”

As for the future, Keegan Myers is eagerly anticipating Madrick’s next vision for M22. “Yes, Nick is COO, but we don’t get too caught up in titles with me, Nick, and Matt equally running the company,” he says. “As far as what Nick has done for the M22 brand, I just call him The Man.”

right: With the use of its branded vans, the company and Madrick offer a lineup of M22 Microadventures, billed as the best 40 adventures in northern Michigan. Below: Company founders Matt Myers (sitting on bench) and his brother, Keegan, taught Madrick (standing) how to kiteboard.

Avoiding the Crowds

Nature-focused tour company helps visitors explore the quieter sides of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

By Mark Spezia

With annual numbers now topping 1.7 million visitors, one might wonder whether there are any areas of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore where you can escape the craziness to enjoy the serenity of Michigan’s most popular national park.

Absolutely, says Julie Den Uyl, a former Sleeping Bear ranger and lifelong nature enthusiast with extensive plant and wildlife knowledge and EcoSystem expertise. She founded Sleeping Bear Dunes Tour Co. in 2020 and was granted authorization by the National Park Service to guide visitors into the park’s lesser-known, protected

wilderness areas.

“As a Michigan native, I was thrilled to spend 2020 as a ranger at Sleeping Bear, but I was ready to do something that didn’t involve as much office work when that position ended,” Den Uyl says.“I felt I was in a good position to show people there’s more to the park than the popular dunes which, of course, can become really crowded at places like Empire Bluff and the Dune Climb.”

She developed opportunities for all ages and physical capabilities to explore nature in the park and gain a greater understanding and appreciation of it. “We take people off the main trails to the park’s hidden gems

like forested areas, near rivers and inland lakes, and more secluded spots near the Lake Michigan shore.

“I live a very nontraditional life and prefer wilderness settings, next to water, and with wildlife,” she continues. “My ‘co-workers’ are the animals within Sleeping Bear Dunes. By integrating myself in wilderness settings and connecting to the rhythm of nature, I developed the traits to guide others toward their own connections and appreciation of the natural world.”

Den Uyl usually meets clients at a trailhead. Her outings can be tailored to their specific abilities and interests. All her tours support the National Park Service with a 3 percent gift.

Dune Options

Den Uyl offers multiple wilderness hikes, alternating with the seasons to avoid overuse of the landscapes. The hikes usually include numerous natural features such as maple beech forests, cedar swamps, open dunescapes, a natural spring, inland

Several of the Sleeping Bear Dunes Tour Co.’s adventures explore the park’s hidden gems and more secluded spots near the Lake Michigan shore.

lakes and streams, and a stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline. Bald eagles are often spotted in flight or nesting.

“I really encourage people to hike the full five miles to get the most out of the experience,” Den Uyl says. “We always go at whatever pace they feel comfortable with and usually take three hours to really experience everything.”

The Shore hike involves simply walking for miles along Lake Michigan while observing the terrain carved by winds and waves, a bald eagle’s nest, shorebirds, wildflowers, and coastal plants, including the endangered Pitchers Thistle. Den Uyl’s clients determine the distance.

“The Shore hike offers probably the best opportunity to learn about the Anishinaabe culture of the area’s native peoples,” Den Uyl says. “I found how they cared for the land and lived, (which is) very inspiring.”

The Dune hike heads to coastal dunes where wildflowers, songbirds, glacial moraines, kettle ponds, and some trekking through deep forest are all part of the experience, along with opportunities to identify trees, animal tracks, or other clues from nature. Patrons choose the exact terrain and distance.

After working with park officials and conservation experts, Den Uyl was thrilled to begin guiding Michigan’s only Great

Lakes Piping Plover tour last year. The treks, offered from May to July this year, take visitors to the nesting areas of the sparrow-sized shorebird known for its large head, full neck, and short, blacktipped bill. The area is home to more than half of the world’s nesting population of the small bird, which has been on the federal endangered species list since 1986.

“We can take people on different stages of the plover’s activity, depending on the time of year they go and what they want to see — like hatching time or when they’re doing their mating dance, for example,”

PLAN IT!

Sleeping Bear Tour Co. sleepingbeartourco.com

she says.“People also have loved escaping for two hours to get views of the Manitou Passage (the waterway separating North and South Manitou islands from the mainland) and listening to the call of these birds.”

Other Trips

The busy Den Uyl also narrates full- and half-day, interpretive motorcoach tours for various touring companies to showcase the area’s top sites, including Pierce Stocking Drive, portions of M-22, and the Dune Climb. She’ll even help people find the perfect place for marriage proposals and ceremonies within the northern Michigan park.

“Julie’s personal touch makes (her outings) an experience worth including in your travel plans,”says Tony Farragh, sales director at The Homestead, America’s Freshwater Resort in Glen Arbor. “For first-time explorers, she’ll take the stress out of adventuring off the beaten path. For experienced hikers, she’ll share fun facts and history.”

Den Uyl lived in Holland for 30 years nurturing an outdoor-focused family and working in school administration. In 2015, she jumped at the chance to turn her passion into a new career at Antilles EcoQuest guide service in the U.S. Virgin Islands. After hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the business, she traded a tropical paradise for the tundra, and spent 2018 as a ranger in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. A desire to return to her home state led Den Uyl to Sleeping Bear in 2020.

Hikers explore the coastal dunes where wildflowers, songbirds, glacial moraines, kettle ponds, and other natural features help provide a greater understanding of the park.

The company introduced Michigan’s only Great Lakes Piping Plover tour last year, taking visitors to the nesting areas of this endangered sparrow-sized shorebird. The dunes are home to more than half of the world’s population of the small bird.

Tales and Tips

Popular travel writer shines spotlight on Michigan’s amazing parks and hiking adventures

By Mark Spezia

Guidebook author and cartographer Jim DuFresne’s extensive collection of travel tales and outdoor advice have helped introduce the world to Michigan’s hiking opportunities. Over the past 40 years, the Clarkston resident has produced more than 20 guidebooks and countless detailed maps covering destinations from New Zealand to Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park to Michigan’s myriad hiking, backpacking, and paddling possibilities.

Along with “Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails & Water Routes,” first released in

1983, titles such as “Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park Guide,” “The Trails of M-22,” “50 Hikes in Michigan,” “Best Hikes with Children in Michigan,” and “Michigan State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide” have become nearly as essential as an ample supply of food and water, the right clothing and gear, and sturdy boots.

Updated editions of his most popular Michigan-related works are published through michigantrailmaps.com, a site DuFresne founded in 2009 with the help of his son and daughter.

“Being able to work with my kids and turn michigantrailmaps.com into a family

business has been very special. There’s certainly no way I could have done it without their technical knowledge and the passion they share with me for the outdoors,” DuFresne says.

The site has grown steadily and now features comprehensive descriptions and maps of more than 300 trails. Single maps are just 99 cents. Trail guidebooks and larger, waterproof maps are also available.

“In the end, the books, the site, and maps are all about making it easier for and encouraging people to get outside for activities like hiking and kayaking,” he says. “There are easy ways to search the trail database to find exactly what interests them. Then, they can download maps and detailed trail descriptions to a device, or print the information and go.”

DuFresne’s books are available at stores throughout Michigan and on most major bookselling sites such as Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Noble. “The Trails of M-22,” which details the many miles of paths along the famous route, has been the most popular title of late, with sales surpassing 3,000 copies last year.

“The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy approached me about doing the book because they felt their trails were being overshadowed by Sleeping Bear Dunes,” DuFresne says. “The conservancy has done great things in promoting the book and their trails have, indeed, become more popular.”

The same holds true for the Isle Royale guidebook, which sells roughly 2,000 copies annually. The latest edition, released in 2020, includes maps with QR codes for downloading larger, more detailed maps. “It’s hard to believe we’re approaching 40 years that the Isle Royale book has been in continuous publication,” DuFresne says. “It was the first backcountry and paddling guide to the park.”

DuFresne’s first trip to Isle Royale at age 9, with his father, and two excursions to the 141,000-acre Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout helped ignite the Grosse Ile native’s passion for outdoor recreation. Turning that passion into a living, however, didn’t cross his mind growing up. After earning

Jim DuFresne is working with the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes (dunes shown here) organization to produce an updated, full-color guide to the northern Michigan national park’s trails.

varsity letters in football, wrestling, and track at Grosse Ile High School, DuFresne enrolled in Michigan State’s journalism program and dreamed of becoming a sportswriter.

It was the location of DuFresne’s first job after graduating in 1977 that changed everything. He was hired as sports editor of the Juneau Empire, in Alaska’s capital city, far from any major sports teams. While editing the weekly outdoors section, he immersed himself in all the untamed adventures the area is known for. Often, the locations were only reachable by airplane.

“As someone already so enthusiastic about the outdoors, doing things like flying into remote areas for those cool activities was awesome,” DuFresne says.

He left the Empire in 1980 but remained in Alaska, working for Alaska Discovery specializing in kayak trips in Glacier Bay National Park, among other destinations. During that time, he was living in a flat with several other people; among them was an

Australian. She suggested DuFresne would love backpacking in New Zealand.

While in New Zealand, DuFresne began envisioning the fun of writing a guidebook to the country’s hiking trails. He contacted Lonely Planet’s publishing brass and found them receptive. The first edition of “Hiking and Tramping in New Zealand” was released in 1981, the year DuFresne returned to

Michigan. It was followed by Lonely Planet’s “Alaska Guide” and “Backpacking in Alaska.” DuFresne then began writing Michigan guidebooks, starting with his Isle Royale guide.

“Once I did that first book for Lonely Planet, I was hooked,” he says. “I loved that they wanted me to return to New Zealand and Alaska about once every four years to update the books.”

Showing few signs of slowing down, the 67-year-old DuFresne began his latest project in 2022, working with the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes to produce an updated, full-color guide to the park’s 15 trails, complete with detailed maps with QR codes for downloading. He expects to release it this spring.

Trail Maps michigantrailmaps.com

Michigan

Jim DuFresne recommends exploring the full length (42 miles) of the Lakeshore Trail at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along Lake Superior. It requires good planning and reserving backcountry campsites in advance. There are shuttles between starting points in Munising and Grand Marais.

“In the end, the books, the site, and maps are all about making it easier for and encouraging people to get outside for activities like hiking and kayaking.”

Jim DuFresne

DESIGN CURRENTS

38

Artist Edward Duff was inspired by this view from Bonobo Winery in Traverse City when he created this painting, “Bonobo Sky.”

DESIGNERS’ NOTEBOOK

Home-related tips, trends, and tidbits

Kitchen Must-Have: Sixty percent of designers and industry professionals cited a working pantry as being on their list of the top five emerging kitchen ideas, reports kitchen sink/faucet company Blanco. Located just off the kitchen, a pantry offers a bonus workstation for prep, provides additional storage, and hides dirty dishes. Plus, butler pantries serve as a swoon-worthy spot for trendy coffee bars. blanco.com.

Green-Thumb Trends: We’re officially in the throes of spring and gardening season!

Experts from OnBuy Garden Furniture Sets say the three most up-and-coming gardening trends are balcony gardens, a great way to elevate and maximize smaller outdoor spaces; garden recycling that features greener habits like upcycling, old-furniture repurposing, and creating tree-branch plant supporters; and wild gardens, which are super low-maintenance and attract butterflies and bees. onbuy.com.

Stay Safe: Ellie Krieger, dietician, nutritionist, and host of the Food Network’s “Healthy Appetite” and PBS’ “Ellie’s Real Good Food” offers tips on making your cookouts the best. Avoid food-borne illnesses by not basting meat with the same marinade it’s been sitting in. Also, don’t use the same cooking utensils for all food. Using the same tongs to move a raw steak onto the grill as you do to remove the cooked steak from the grill is a recipe for a foodborne illness, she says. Set out plates for snacks and put a serving utensil in every bowl to encourage guests to serve themselves and eat away from the table, rather than hovering over the chip bowl. And don’t let food sit out too long. Set a timer for either one or two hours, depending on how hot it is outside, as a reminder to refrigerate food. elliekrieger.com.

Compiled by Megan Swoyer

Have news about waterfront living? Email MSwoyer@Hour-Media.com.

In the

Mood

Water, sky, and nostalgic touches give Edward Duff’s oil paintings a unique aura

By Megan Swoyer

Mood, light, memory, nostalgia — Edward Duff says those words quite often when talking about his artwork. And transferring those thoughts onto canvas is exactly what he successfully does. It’s no easy task, especially when you see the world the way

he does.

“I feel overwhelmed by beauty, and that’s the challenge — taking something that’s so overwhelmingly beautiful on an epic scale and condensing it down to a canvas. (The final painting) is a fraction of what I’m looking at,” Duff says. “I try to capture the mood, and my reaction and feelings. As an

In “Emerald Surf,” Edward Duff has captured the lake’s essence through various blue shades and a watery, green glass bottle color.

artist, you see so much.” The oil painter and art teacher admits it took a few years to train his eye to see. “When you study light and shadow, you see more and more and more,” he says. “It’s like you’re seeing too much, so the question is, How do I scale it back?”

Of course, he does manage to scale it back, but the intensity of the emotions remains. One look at any of Duff’s works and

you’re immediately reminded of your own childhood strolls down to the beach, perhaps with a pb&j in hand. A vintage canoe soon has you thinking of your very first ride in a similar vessel.

Then there are the rolling waves awash in green-glass colors that evoke summer swims in the Great Lakes. As alluring as they are, they can also stir unsettling

lakes and rivers.

right: Edward Duff, of Rochester, takes a well-deserved break from painting the large, majestic works behind him.

Above: Edward Duff’s “Blue Canoe” is filled with memories for the artist, who says he cherishes time spent canoeing inland

feelings: The light peeking out ever so softly from an incoming stormy sky has you contemplating days spent at the cottage playing cards or doing jigsaw puzzles, waiting for the inclement weather to pass.

Lone houses also star in his repertoire and may remind you of structures whose history you’ve often wondered about. “My scenes aren’t only visual experiences; they conjure emotions and memories far beyond communication through words,” the artist declares.

Duff says his boat portraits, like the canoes, convey nostalgia. “My blue canoe painting, for example, was a memory of canoeing inland lakes and rivers (Pere Marquette) in northern Michigan and Vermont.” He’s also a fan of old barns. “We have so many interesting structures in Michigan,” he asserts.

The artist, who spent most of his childhood in Birmingham, now lives in Rochester and paints in a home studio. He and his wife, Elise, often hit Michigan roads and head to his favorite spots for exploring, and he often sets up a place for plein air painting or teaching. “We love the Traverse City area, Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission, Glen Arbor, Empire, St. Ignace, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Saugatuck and Douglas (in southwest Michigan),” he says. “And, of course, Mackinac Island.” Duff says he visits

these areas for inspiration during trips to galleries where his work is sold, including the Water Street Gallery in Douglas and the Higher Art Gallery in Traverse City.

If he’s not on the road, you just might find him at the Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center in Birmingham, where he teaches painting. “Oil is the medium that I find best suits me,” he shares. “I can keep manipulating the paint surface to create luminosity and a timeless feeling. Light is very important to me.”

Duff says he’s wanted to be an artist since he was a child. “I loved to draw when I was really little. My subjects were always comics. I was also influenced by film and people (behind the scenes) like Ralph McQuarrie, one of the chief concept artists for Star Wars. Creating another world that you can step into is the best.”

The artist, who has a bachelor of fine arts degree from Wayne State University, says he became interested in landscapes while attending college and has been a fine-arts lover ever since. His parents are

from the East Coast, so Duff would often travel there with them growing up, and that’s where he first fell in love with the ocean, which also appears in his repertoire.

When asked about artists who inspire him, Duff says his list would have to include Wolf Kahn; Andrew Wyeth and his son, Jamie; Edward Hopper; and Frederic Church (he refers to a favorite painting by Church, “Cotopaxi,” at the Detroit Institute of Arts — “it’s such a dramatic and epic painting!”).

“I’m drawn to imagery that’s dramatic, with a mood that stops you in your tracks. I make art that will hopefully move the viewer emotionally, conjure a memory, or inspire them to pause and reflect.”

MORE INFORMATION

Edward Duff is represented by galleries in Michigan, as well as the East Coast and the South. His art is on display and for sale through the Water Street Gallery in Douglas and Higher Art Gallery in Traverse City. Additionally, he does commission work and sells paintings that can be viewed and purchased through edwardduff.com.

Below: “Atlantic Surf” showcases an acute sense of water tones and movement.

Right: “Lake Shadows” features glints of light and shadows amid a mesmerizing lake that complement a vintage boat.

Inside-Outside Beauty

An abandoned fruit farm-turned-motel-turned-resort is getting rave reviews for its design updates

By Giuseppa Nadrowski

With its prime location on Lake Michigan, Saugatuck’s Lake Shore Resort has delighted guests since the late 1940s. It’s not just the sweeping views that draw visitors to the 32-room hotel — the incredible Mid-century-inspired design of its remodeled suites and recently renovated lobby are attracting attention, too.

The new look is the work of owner Andrew Milauckas, a former graphic designer and art director at Herman Miller. Milauckas, whose grandparents transformed what was once an abandoned fruit farm into a beloved motel, took over the family business

from his parents five years ago, hoping to reimagine the resort for the 21st century.

Located just three miles from downtown Saugatuck, the resort — situated on scenic Lake Shore Drive — is a welcome respite from the city’s bustling downtown district; Lake Michigan can be seen from the rooms, lobby, and pool. There’s also the unbelievably beautiful dock, where yoga takes place in the morning and guests relax on lounge chairs throughout the day. The hotel sits atop a breathtaking bluff, and a staircase leads down to the lake. When water levels allow, there’s a private beach. Complimentary kayaks and beach cruisers, along with about two miles of wooded

trails and firepits, enable guests to immerse themselves in the spectacular environment.

Renovations to the hotel’s suites included replacing and refinishing every surface and material. Milauckas, who did the initial design work, took inspiration from the property’s towering trees and its original motel-style structures in creating a minimal yet warm ambience that lets the lake and forest be the focus. “It seemed like the design aesthetic needed to follow this more modern, Mid-century direction,” he says. Embracing the “idea that things can be simple, beautiful, and useful,” white oak, natural stone, and sleek furnishings were used.

When renovations to the lobby began in late 2020, Milauckas collaborated with a friend, UK-based interior designer Tim Wykeham, to give the communal space what they call an “elevated” feel. “We wanted people to immediately feel at home,” Wykeham says. “We needed a real reception experience for guests to be welcomed when they first enter.”A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily in the space, so a larger dining area was also needed, as well as a coffee and snack bar. “The space already had a lot of windows, but the view is such an important piece, so it was about how we could open up the views even more,” Milauckas adds.

A down-to-the-studs renovation ensued, and walls were removed while window and door locations were rethought. Milauckas, who wanted the hotel to feel authentic to the environment, says he often thought about the cottages that line the Lake Michigan shoreline, many of which he had visited in his youth. The pair also looked to the West Coast. “Andrew and I both have an affinity for Big Sur, that relaxed style, as well as the Mid-

Renovations to the Lake Shore Resort have resulted in a minimal yet warm ambience that lets the lake and forest be the focus.

Tim Wykeham

Andrew Milauckas

century aesthetic,” Wykeham says. “The calm, simple vision pairs very well with the Michigan lakeshore.”

To achieve the look, “natural was key — we wanted everything to have a handmade, hand-crafted feel to it,” Wykeham says. White oak covers the walls, reception desk, and bar, while a hand-cut brick floor sets an artisanal tone. Soapstone counters, brass details, terracotta hues, linen fabrics, and handwoven textiles create a “tactile and layered” look, which is enhanced by a mix of new and vintage furniture. “I think that was a key piece of wanting to have the space feel like it could have always been there,” Milauckas says.

“(The lobby) overlooks the lake and it’s just so peaceful,” Wykeham says. “What also helps is the calm landscaping that Andrew introduced a few years ago — it softens the sight and introduces just a smidge of a West Coast spirit. The lobby and

rooms form a crescent shape that envelopes you as you drive through the site.”

Open May through October, Milauckas is expanding the resort’s lodging options this year by adding two, two-bedroom lake view bungalows. Construction on six forest-view bungalows is set to begin in the fall. Once again, he’ll be collaborating with Wykeham on the design.

“I always describe Andrew as a design partner first, client second. I think both Andrew and I thrive on the design dialogue the back-and-forth at the beginning of the project, when the ideas are being put on paper. He really knows what he likes and has impeccable taste,” Wykeham says.

“We’d share ideas and it was great to have someone that I trust so much,” Milauckas says.“I think we kind of challenged each other, too, and he was just really great and easy to work with. The lobby is very relaxed, which is what we wanted to evoke. There’s always some music playing in the background, and the guests really do spend time in there hanging out,” he adds. “The resort was just all about the outdoors. People stayed here because we were right on the lake. Now they stay because we’re in a great location, but also because it’s a beautifully designed experience.”

For more information, visit lakeshoreresortsaugatuck.com

This page, clockwise from top: Beautiful Lake Michigan can be seen from the deck and lounge spaces at Lake Shore Resort. Lounge chairs invite guests to enjoy the beach.

colorful, whimsical vibe. To the trade, Kravet | Lee Jofa | Brunschwig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy, kravet. com, michigandesign. com.

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Linens to Love

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1. Offshore, part of the signature Nord Collection and made locally by FRESH WATER TEXTILES, is available in a variety of lightweight, versatile blankets and towels. $30-$165, Fresh Water Textiles, Traverse City, freshwatertextiles.com.

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1. ANDREA DOSS’ original painting, titled “A Whimsical Tea Party,” is sure to add charm to your space. $500, 1stdibs.com.

2. Herend’s Mushroom Trio, available at SCULLY & SCULLY, is beautifully handmade and hand-painted with 24K gold accents. $495, Neiman

Putting the Fun in Fungi

Mushroom-themed adornments are cute additions to your cottage’s design motif

Styled by Jamie Fabbri

Marcus, Troy, neimanmarcus.com, scullyandscully.com.

3. Mushroom Forest Pocket Pillows from CORAL & TUSK are full of fun. $232, coralandtusk.com.

4. Garden Merit Mushroom Fabric by KRAVET is a soft way

to try the mushroom trend. To the trade, Kravet | Lee Jofa | Brunschwig & Fils, Michigan Design Center, Troy, kravet.com, michigandesign.com.

5. Featuring panda marble, Mushroom Mini Lamps from REVELATION BY UTTERMOST will set the mood. Price upon

request, Lighting Resource Studio, Michigan Design Center, Troy, michigandesign.com, uttermost.com.

6. MCGUIRE’s Spin Outdoor Cocktail Table gives a modern nod to the mushroom shape. Price upon request, Baker | McGuire, Michigan

Design Center, Troy, bakerfurniture.com, michigandesign.com.

7. The enchanting Toadstool Drink Table by ANTHROPOLOGIE is guaranteed to surprise and delight. $248, Anthropologie, anthropologie.com

8. This Mushroom Ottoman in Persimmon Boucle by 1STDIBS provides a fun footstool or extra seating. $375, 1stdibs.com.

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1. Take a flight of fancy with the Meadow Butterfly Trio wall décor by MACKENZIE-CHILDS. $78, Cutler’s, Petoskey, cutlersonline.com, mackenzie-childs.com.

2. Give your skin some love with this Carrot & Chamomile Soap from ORGANIC INFUSIONS

The Balm for Calm

Inject wellness into your life by embracing everything from simple, restorative soaps to detailed, nature-inspired fabrics

Styled by Jamie Fabbri

BY

3. This Zen Beach piece by TROWBRIDGE ARTWORK showcases artfully stacked pebbles from Greece. Price upon request, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy,

citylightsdetroit.com, michigandesign.com

4. Inspired by lush summer gardens, SERENA & LILY’s Gardenside Grasscloth Wallcovering enlivens a room with a pretty fern motif. $598/roll, Serena & Lily, Birmingham, serenaandlily.com.

5. The DESIGNERS GUILD’s Assam Blossom Emerald Fabric features expressive, painterly blossoms tumbling toward an exquisite and detailed meadow of daisies. To the trade, Rozmallin, Michigan Design Center, Troy, designersguild.com, michigandesign.com.

6. The Sway Bench by THOMAS PHEASANT FOR MCGUIRE has a subtle, sweeping shape that’s finished in an organic cane texture. Price upon request, Baker | McGuire, Michigan Design Center, Troy, bakerfurniture.com, michigandesign.com.

7. Avram Wood Wall Art from REVELATION BY UTTERMOST is hand-crafted with natural suar wood. Price upon request, Lighting Resource Studio, Michigan Design Center, Troy, michigandesign.com, uttermost.com.

PAULA $8.99, Charming North, Cadillac, charmingnorth.com.

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michigan magic

Bewitched by the state’s northern beauty, a couple crafts a gorgeous retreat

BY KHRISTI ZIMMETH

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY JEFF GARLAND

The Empire getaway provides instant relaxation. The homeowners’ goals were to “create something that when you pulled in the driveway you had an immediate sense of peace and comfort ...” says Chris Coffman.

WWisconsin natives Chris and Traci Coffman grew up on the other side of Lake Michigan. After moving to the Great Lakes State in 1993, the pair started spending one week a summer up north with their young family, and they soon found themselves enamored with northern Michigan.

Eventually, their annual week-long getaway spurred a desire for something more permanent. Driving back to their Ann Arbor residence in 2017, Traci told Chris she had something she wanted to talk about. “After 25 years, she suggested we stop renting and find a special place that we could call our own,” Chris recalls.

They eventually settled on Empire, in part because the feel of that area reminded them of the Door County Peninsula in Wisconsin, an area they visited frequently while growing up, Chris says. They also say the beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes area gives them easy access to Frankfort, Glen Arbor, Leland, and Traverse City and its

convenient airport for family members flying in. They found a rare empty lot with approximately 160 feet of Lake Michigan frontage in a small association called Storm Hill. The Coffmans closed on the property in the spring of 2018 and started working on building plans, permits, and securing a builder that could navigate the challenges of the project and “deliver great results,”Chris says.

The couple had had a wonderful relationship for many years with Johnson Brothers in Ann Arbor, with whom they had worked on other projects downstate, Chris says, so their decision was easy. Talking the builder into the long-distance project, however, wasn’t quite as simple. Fortunately, “he has a house in Elk Rapids,” Chris explains, “and once we begged, he agreed it felt like a good fit.”

Don Johnson, who was ready to retire, says he was smitten with the dramatic

Above: Designers used texture, contrast, good lighting, and other design attributes to create character and warmth, as seen in this bedroom, while making the most of the gorgeous water views.

location. “I never got tired of the view,” he admits.

The team also included Wisconsin architect James Marriott of Miller Marriott Construction and Todd Mathews of MOMUS in Ann Arbor, who works frequently with Johnson Brothers. The Coffmans were involved every step of the way. “They had decided they wanted a Cape Cod Shingle style, which we do quite a lot,” Marriott says, adding, “it fits the relaxed vernacular.” The same went for the interiors. “The owners provided many ideas and examples of what they wanted,” Mathews says.“I took those ideas and

synthesized them to support their overall design aesthetic of a cozy cottage.”

The lot, which is next to a public beach and includes views of both the water and the nearby dunes, was prepared for construction in the fall of 2019; the foundation was poured late in November that year.

The Coffmans’ goals for the project were to “create something that, no matter what was happening in your life, when you pulled in the driveway you had an immediate sense of peace and comfort, followed by a grin.” Beyond that, the goal was to “take advantage of the world-class view,” Chris says.

There were challenges along the way, including extra restrictions building on Lake Michigan and unexpected erosion.“We lost 15 to 20 feet of bluff that had fallen into the lake,”Chris remembers. Johnson says he recommends building at least 100 feet from the lake, and says he talked the Coffmans into building farther from the water than they had initially planned. The team also decided against an attached garage, to ensure that the

home had “moveability”if needed in the future. The couple also decided to add a sea wall. “We’re experts on sea walls now,”Chris laughs.

Interior design challenges included “taking a large-volume space and making it feel homey,” Mathews says. “We used texture, contrast, indirect lighting, and other design tricks to add interest to the

Above: A chandelier from The Urban Electric Co., wood beams, and a handsome front door from Lewis Fine Carpentry and Millwork, LLC, in Concord, give the home instant appeal.

space and give it character while still making the view the focal point.”

The 6,000-square-foot house is designed to accommodate a large number of guests while still remaining cozy, he adds. The homeowners agree: “We wanted it to work if it was just us or if we had 22 people,” Chris says. Four master suites, two bunk rooms, and 6.5 baths make that possible.

An open kitchen and great room serve as the home’s main gathering spaces. “The grand fireplace and the beams on the ceiling make this room stand out,” Mathews says. Different ceiling treatments allow the spaces to feel defined while assuring they feel connected. “We had to give the interior architecture enough interest and character without overshadowing the view,” he explains.

“Also, we didn’t want the house to have an up-

tight feel,” Chris says. “We have dogs and we wanted it to be a really mellow, no-drama, comfortable type of experience.”

The family visited at Easter last year for the first time, and then spent as much time there as they could last summer. “It was better than we expected,” Chris says, adding that every time they have to leave, they try to find a way to squeeze in an extra day.

“We wanted it to be easy for our grown kids to come, and hopefully it will be a place for our grandchildren someday,” he adds. The family visits year-round.“The beach is amazing and the sunsets rival any in the world” Chris says, noting that they’re also partial to afternoon swims with their two golden retrievers, Blue and Stella, and love using the firepit on the patio and looking up at the stars.“The only thing we regret is that we didn’t do this sooner.”

We have dogs and we wanted it to be a really mellow, no- drama, comfortable type of experience.” CHRIS COFFMAN

BUYER’S GUIDE

BUILDER Johnson Brothers Construction, Ann Arbor, jbcaa.com

BEDROOM

Ceiling Treatment – Lewis Fine Carpentry and Millwork, LLC, Concord

Flooring – Launstein Hardwood

Floors, Mason Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Drift of Mist

FOYER

Ceiling Treatment – Benjamin Moore, Pale Smoke

Chandelier – The Urban Electric Co.

Door – Lewis Fine Carpentry and Millwork, LLC, Concord Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Drift of Mist

Wood Beams – Lewis Fine Carpentry and Millwork, LLC, Concord

GREAT ROOM

Ceiling Treatment – Lewis Fine Carpentry and Millwork, LLC, Concord

Chandelier – Visual Comfort

Flooring – Launstein Hardwood

Floors, Mason

Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Drift of Mist

KITCHEN

Cabinetry – Lewis Fine Carpentry and Millwork, LLC, Concord

Ceiling Treatment – Benjamin

Moore, Pale Smoke

Chandeliers – Lightology

Flooring – Launstein Hardwood

Floors, Mason

Wall Paint – Sherwin-Williams, Drift of Mist

EXTERIOR

Building Materials – Cedar

Shakes, James Hardie; Trim

Siding, Boral

Masonry – Buechel Stone Corp

Paint Color – Sherwin-Williams, Ice Cube

Roofing – Timberline Ultra

Windows – Andersen

Architectural

ADDITIONAL PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS

Interior Design – MOMUS Inc., Ann Arbor

Architect – Jim Marriott, Miller Marriott Construction, Wisconsin

Landscaping – Terra Bella Landscape, Traverse City

Both pages: An open kitchen and great room serve as the home’s main gathering spaces.

Water, Water Everywhere

Love

BY BILL SEMION

When we were young, my cousin and I were always planning trips. One was a journey to the Tawases by bike from southeast Michigan. The other was a paddle down the Huron River. We figured each would take four days or so, and we’d camp along the way.

While we ended up taking the trips together only in our imaginations, you can kayak the Huron River and a lot more. Michigan now boasts a 3,000-mile network of water trails — state, nationally designated, or local routes — many of which are in areas you may not expect.

There are nine state-designated water trails, most of them in southern Michigan, several nationally designated routes, and so many other local routes that it’s hard to keep count. Here are just a few favorites you can try.

Southeast Michigan

Planning for designated trails in southeast Michigan got underway in earnest in the early 2000s, says Anita Twardesky, a former president of the Downriver Linked Greenways who was also involved in developing the 32-mile Detroit Heritage River Water Trail. Both are now chaired by Mary Bohling, interim district director with MSU Extension.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRIENDS OF THE DETROIT RIVER

The Detroit waterway was declared an American Heritage River in 2001 under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines established in the 1990s. It was an easy leap from greenways to include the river itself, which is divided into nine easily handled sections adventurers can explore. Twardesky’s favorite is the route around Belle Isle.

Bohling agrees. “You’re in the middle of this huge urban area and you’re still able to kayak the Detroit River, even with all the (big freighter) shipping activity,” Bohling says of the intermediate-rated trail. “It does take

more experience, so only (people who aren’t novices) should attempt it.”

The 104-mile Huron River is another nationally designated water trail, running from its mouth at Lake Erie Metropark to Oakland County. “Again, you’re really close to a major metro area, but it feels like you’re up north,”Bohling says.

Katie Stepp, marketing manager for the Blue Water Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, and former City of St. Clair harbormaster and boat rental owner, suggests checking out the 10-mile, intermediate-rated Island

If you’re searching for a little solitude and nature viewing during a morning paddle, check out the wetlands of the Humbug Marsh in Trenton. It’s one of 30 separate parcels that make up the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge along the lower section of the river and the western shore of Lake Erie.

An aerial view of a paddling route on Belle Isle in Detroit presents an exciting perspective of the opportunities along the island’s inland waterways.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VITO PALMISANO

Just south of Sault Ste. Marie, Voyageur Island offers secluded areas to paddle and hike, and to watch freighters cruise the St. Marys River.

Both photos: Paddlers will find plenty of scenery and fun places to stop along sections of the 104-mile Huron River nationally designated water trail, which starts in northern Oakland County. The river forms the border between Wayne and Monroe counties on its way to Lake Erie.

Loop Route in the St. Clair River, a national water trail. She recommends getting on the trail on the Black River, upstream at Bakersfield Park. The Black River Canal is immediately opposite the park.

“You go right into the canal, which is absolutely beautiful in summer. People say they feel like they’re in the Amazon. The sidewalls are high and you can hear all the birds and experience nature at its best,”Stepp says.

As long as a special gate to protect against wind-driven water is open, you’ll pass into Lake Huron. Stop for a swim at Lakeside Park and beach, then glide by Michigan’s oldest lighthouse. You’ll tackle currents under the Blue Water Bridge, the St. Clair River’s narrowest point, and turn into the Black River proper past the Great Lakes Maritime Center to return to the park.

“If you happen to go under the bridge when two freighters are passing, it’s pretty incredible,” Stepp adds.

Northern Michigan

The 42-mile Chain of Lakes Water Trail is one of nine designated state routes recognized by the DNR.

Deana Jerdee is trail executive director of Paddle Antrim, which looks after the trail and offers biweekly community paddles, paddle classes for adults and children, and invasive species training. It also sponsors the annual September Paddle Antrim Festival, which last year brought 200 craft, from kayaks to paddleboards, to the waterway. Jerdee says one participant stand-paddled the entire way.

“The Chain of Lakes Water Trail started in 2014,” Jerdee says.“We’re actually on a lake system, so you can start at one point and return. It connects 12 lakes in Charlevoix, Antrim, Kalkaska, and Grand Traverse counties, so you can go over 100 miles from Charlevoix County to Grand Traverse Bay,” she explains.

Paddle Antrim sells waterproof maps and has a digital map online. The route is divided into lower and upper areas by a dam on the Intermediate River at Bellaire. Signs both on roads and on the water denote access sites, and there are designated campsites for longer trips, plus guidelines for beginner to advanced-level paddlers along each section.

Jerdee says one stretch in particular is her favorite:

the upper chain, made up of St. Clair and Six Mile lakes. “This is a beautiful stretch, with over a mile of protected shoreline,”she says. She also likes paddling in Ellsworth, Bellaire, Central Lake, and Elk Rapids.

“They make great spots to start and end a trip, and if you need a restaurant, an ice cream, or a Shorts beer (headquartered in downtown Bellaire), they’re all there. One portage over the Bellaire dam is needed.”

Upper Peninsula

In the eastern U.P., try the Lake Superior East Water Trail, overseen by the Eastern Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Commission in Sault Ste. Marie.

“In 2014 or 2015, we started getting involved,”says Ellen Benoit, the commission’s finance and program manager. A few grant applications later, they were on the way. “The state has some guidelines on what water trails should be. They want a campsite every 10 miles and a rest area every five. We decided we’d go around the St. Marys River.”

The route runs from the eastern end of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, follows the Lake Superior shoreline through the St. Marys River, and connects to routes in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. It’s part of a larger route along most of the Upper Peninsula’s Lake Superior shoreline. Kayaking also is extremely popular on routes along the lake’s Canadian shore, Benoit adds. Her favorite Michigan stretch? The Brimley area, just west of the Soo, for its sandy beaches. “You have limestone shore in the south and Superior is more sandy, but as you go west, it’s rock.”It’s a unique trip no matter where you paddle, Benoit contends.

From the 91-mile Upper Grand River Water Trail in central Michigan to the Superior cliffs of the Pictured Rocks, you can paddle a path through, or around, the state. Heck, you can even make up your own route. Just climb in, atop, or on your canoe, kayak, or paddleboard, and enjoy the ride!

PLAN IT!

Always practice safety on the water by wearing a personal flotation device, or PFD; letting someone know your route; carrying items such as a flashlight, sunscreen, water, and waterproof gear; and being weatheraware. If you’re a first-timer, take a beginner kayak class like those offered by Paddle Antrim.

Michigan’s water trails michiganwatertrails.org

Downriver Linked Greenways/Detroit Heritage River Water Trail downrivertrails.org

Island Loop National Water Trail, St. Clair River bluewaysofstclair.org, bluewater.org

Paddle Antrim paddleantrim.com

Huron River National Water Trail huronriverwatertrail.org

Eastern U.P. Water Trail upwatertrails.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRIENDS OF THE DETROIT RIVER

This Cass Lake gem, with Mid-century Modern appeal, is a favorite summer retreat for a Birmingham family.

Seasonal Retreat

Renovated lakefront home provides a warm-weather getaway

BY JEANINE MATLOW | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES HAEFNER

What began as a modest cottage has become a Mid-century Modern gem on Cass Lake in Waterford, thanks to several renovations. The first update happened 25 years ago, before the current owner bought the house as his primary residence. The next two, with DesRosiers Architects in Bloomfield Hills at the helm, included one a decade ago, followed by more extensive updates in 2020. When the owner moved to Birmingham, he decided to keep the lake house as a summer home where he could enjoy extended weekend stays with his kids.

On the lake side, a unique combination of hip and beamed gable roofs creates a distinct profile. “When I started working on the project, there was only a Mid-century Modern roof, but we built a new addition with a hip roof that looks like a pyramid,” the architectural firm’s president, Lou DesRosiers, says. Exterior materials include Fonddu-Lac stone and horizontal cedar siding. “The cedar adds to the overall warmth of the home,” he explains.

Expansive windows blur the lines between inside and out. A new infinity-edge pool and the beautiful Oakland County lake, easily visible from the indoors, are the stars of the show. “From the great room, all you see is blue,” DesRosiers says, adding that the glass is slightly tinted. “My homes have so much glass, they’re wearing sunglasses,” the architect likes to say.

In the great room, which features indirect lighting, bookmatched walnut panels surround the marble fireplace and stretch across the ceiling. “The two-story great room has a fairly tall ceiling, so the wood makes you feel cozy,” DesRosiers says.

Carrie Long, lead designer and owner of Carrie Long Interiors in Royal Oak, also worked on this project. She says the client had already fallen for the shapely sectional in the great room, giving her a starting point for the space. “The homeowner likes what’s modern and new, and he encourages you to push the envelope,” she says about the client, who also likes unique finds and mixed finishes.

The foyer sets the tone for the home, with handsome paneling and mirrors behind a striking chandelier. As the well-appointed interiors reveal, style and comfort are key. In the family room, a generous sectional, leather swivel chairs, and a game table complement a custom rug. “The sectional is like a vortex,” Long says.

The designer also added chic pendants and seating around the kitchen island. “The woven leather

Above: The great room’s huge windows blur the lines between inside and out.

Above: The welcoming foyer with handsome paneling is open and airy, and featues eclectic lgihting that makes a statement. Below: Beautiful millwork in the kitchen adds pizzazz to the clean-lined space.

Above: The daughter’s room feels like a little “New York apartment where you have everything you need and never want to leave,” says interior designer Carrie Long. Below: A Nathan Anthony sofa in a bathroom evokes a spa-like ambience.

chairs are so comfortable, you could sit there all day,” she adds.

Other fashionable-meets-functional aspects include the master suite, which boasts a floor-to-ceiling upholstered bed and an illuminated bar with floating shelves backed by a leather wall. A nearby doorwall leads straight to the pool. In the master bath, a daybed turns the deluxe space into a lounge area. The porcelain concrete slab on the floor and the shower wall joins quartzite counters and wood details to create a splendid visual.

Woven wallpaper lends texture to the daughter’s bedroom, with its custom furniture and a pop-up TV at the foot of the bed that can swivel to face her daybed. Skateboard art adds a fun element to the son’s room, while flannel wallpaper envelops the space, which includes an upholstered bed and a massive built-in daybed, great for extra friends and overnight guests.

“The house is a very generous size, but it feels like it has pockets,” Long says. “The son’s and daughter’s rooms almost feel like little New York apartments where you have everything you need and never want to leave.”

The designer says she enjoys collaborating with this client. “He’s always open and wants you to take it to the next level. He’s so savvy in the design world, and he’s meticulous,” she says.

The homeowner says it’s hard to pick a favorite spot. “I love the whole house, but I spend a lot of time outside,” he says. Michael J. Dul & Associates Inc. provided the enticements to do so with a pool and spa, a covered outdoor kitchen and bar, fire features, ornamental hardscape, lush landscaping, and lighting that’re just right. Before these amenities existed, the homeowner was often on his boat. “Now I spend more time in the backyard at the pool,” he says.

Casual and automated shade parasols were incorporated for protection from the elements. “The client

BUYER’S GUIDE

ARCHITECT

DesRosiers Architects, Bloomfield Hills, desarch.com

BATHROOM

Countertop – Quartzite Niaca

Flooring – Lacava Porcelain,

Ciot, Troy

Sofa – Nathan Anthony

Wall Tile – Aesthetic Wallpaper

BEDROOM

Bedframe – Carrie Long

Interiors, Custom, Royal Oak

Flooring – Stark Carpet, Troy

Sofa – Lee Industries

Wall Treatment – Phillip Jefferies

Wallpaper

FOYER

Flooring – Everlast Floors, Custom Stain Oak, Troy

Wall Color – Benjamin Moore, White Dove

GREAT ROOM

Area Rug – Stark Carpet, Troy

Chandelier – Christopher Boots, Fitzroy

wanted an elegant and sophisticated entertaining space at his lake house,” Patrick Funke, a partner at Dul & Associates, says. “With the fire features and paver system, and the infinity pool as the centerpiece, it creates a contemporary feel that capitalizes on the view of the lake.”

With each renovation, the latest technology has been incorporated inside and out. “There’s a lot of home automation with the lighting and the sound system,” the homeowner says.“I do a lot of entertaining in the summer; there might be 70 or 80 people. The house is designed for that.”

The homeowner says he grew up in various homes on Cass Lake and appreciates the convenient location.

Before the pool was added, the homeowner spent much of his free time on his boat. Now he’s often pool-side.

Fireplace – American Fireplace & Barbeque, Ferndale

Flooring – Everlast Floors, Custom Stain Oak, Troy

Light Fixture, Corner – Holly Hunt

Side Table – Holly Hunt

Wall Color – Benjamin Moore, White Dove

KITCHEN

Backsplash – Ann Sacks Tile & Stone Inc., Troy

Chandelier – Tom Dixon

Countertops – White Caesar Stone

Flooring – Everlast Floors, Custom Stain Oak, Troy

“What I like about it is that it only takes me 25 minutes to get from my main house to the lake house, so I can go to dinner in Birmingham and I don’t have to drive up north to get (to the lake),” he says.

Oven – Wolf, Sub Zero

Stools, Bar – Holly Hunt

Wall Color – Benjamin Moore, White Dove

PATIO/POOL

Firepit – DesRosiers Architects, Custom, Bloomfield Hills

Patio – Ciot, Troy

Pool – Infinity Edge Pool, Butcher & Butcher Construction, Rochester Hills

Umbrella – Tucci, Troy

EXTERIOR

Building Materials – Fonddu-Loc Stone, Cedar, Mahogany Banding

Landscaping – Michael J Dul & Associates Inc., Birmingham

Masonry – Albaugh Masonry

Stone & Tile, Waterford

Paint Color – Benjamin Moore, Custom

Roofing – Asphalt

Windows – Weather Shield, Butcher & Butcher

Construction, Rochester Hills

ADDITIONAL PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS

Contractor – Thomas Sebold & Associates, Bloomfield Hills

Interior Design – Carrie Long Interiors, Royal Oak

“With the fire features and paver system, and the infinity pool as the centerpiece, it creates a contemporary feel that capitalizes on the view of the lake.” PATRICK FUNKE

Turning out crowdpleasing dressing is as simple as combining lemon, garlic, oil, and other fresh ingredients.

All “Dressed” Up

As fresh as a spring rain, these toppers ensure your salads will be special

BY HONEY MURRAY

D

ays are (finally!) longer, snow piles have oozed into puddles, and winter’s bitter winds have mellowed into invigorating puffs of blustery breezes. And it seems that if you listen, you can almost hear Michigan’s crisp, green asparagus spears bursting through the earth of Oceania County along the shore of Lake Michigan, near Manistee and Ludington. Here, rich loam soil (with sand particles and sediment for structure and fertility) provides the perfect ground to help our state grow 20 million pounds of this springtime crop each year.

Baby leaf greens, spinach, arugula, and broccoli, not very tolerant of heat, are also growing well under Michigan’s cool spring conditions especially near the lake shores, where temperatures are moderate.

As gorgeous as these vegetables may be in their naked state, it’s easy to enhance their flavor and appearance with a variety of simple-to-make, healthy dressings that can suit all the tastes of your family members and guests.

Each of these dressings would be delicious over a base of Michigan’s crisp Broccoli Floret Salad (see sidebar) or your favorite fresh greens. Let’s get dressed!

Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette

Ingredients

¾ cup extra virgin (or light, if preferred) olive oil

4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 clove garlic, finely minced

½ teaspoon salt

Ground pepper to taste

Tip for Success Use a jar with a tight-fitting lid for mixing the dressing and then storing it for up to a week, refrigerated.

Prep Combine all the ingredients in a jar and close the lid tightly. Shake well to combine.

Let’s Eat! This versatile grab, shake, and pour add-on is perfect over grilled or steamed asparagus, baked chicken or fish, tossed green salads, and so much more. It’s an easy and healthy flavor option for family and guests.

Creamsicle-Yogurt Dressing

Ingredients

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

3 tablespoons orange juice

3 tablespoons maple syrup

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional: 1 teaspoon orange zest

Tip for Success Choose Greek yogurt with a fat base of at least 2 percent (not fat-free) to avoid a watery consistency.

Prep Gently stir all ingredients. Chill for 30-60 minutes before using.

Let’s Eat! You, your family, and your guests can use this tasty, healthful, fun dressing in so many ways: over fresh-cut fruit, granola, or greens with blueberries and new Michigan strawberries; as a condiment for baked poultry or pork; or as a dressing for Broccoli Floret Salad (see sidebar).

Greek yogurt-based dressings get rave reviews as toppings for all types of salads.

Big Red’s Yogurt-Dill Dressing/Dip is always a crowd favorite for dipping vegetables.

Big Red’s Yogurt-Dill Dressing/Dip

(Big Red is my mom and was manager of the restaurant I owned)

Ingredients

1 cup plain Greek yogurt (2 percent or higher fat content)

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon dried or 2 tablespoons fresh dill

1 tablespoon dried or 2 tablespoons fresh parsley

1 teaspoon granulated onion

1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash salt-free seasoning

1 small clove fresh garlic, minced

½ teaspoon Lawry’s salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

Tips for Success If your guests aren’t huge yogurt fans, regular mayonnaise can be substituted for a portion of the yogurt. This can be made ahead and stored, refrigerated, for 4-5 days with a light stir before using.

Prep Gently combine all ingredients.

Let’s Eat! This recipe is the perfect spread for any type of sandwich, especially vegetarian. It’s also great as a dip for fresh carrots, celery, peppers, snow peas, and (in moderation, of course) your favorite chips.

Best Creamy, Tangy Homemade Dressing

Ingredients

½ cup mayonnaise

½ cup plain Greek yogurt

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3 tablespoons maple syrup

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper (optional)

Tips for Success If using this for a pasta salad or for the Broccoli Floret Salad (see sidebar), make sure the salad is thoroughly cooled before adding the dressing. If you’re serving more than 4-6, double the recipe. Leftovers will keep, refrigerated, for 4-5 days.

Prep Combine and gently mix all ingredients. Before putting ingredients away, taste for the desired tanginess. Lemons can vary in their tartness. You may want to add more lemon juice or syrup.

Let’s Eat! This dressing is especially ideal for any pasta salad or chunky, all-vegetable salad. It’s what I always use for the fruited version (my favorite) of Broccoli Floret Salad (see sidebar).

BONUS RECIPE

Very Versatile Broccoli Floret Salad

Basic Ingredients for All Versions

1 bunch broccoli, cut into very small florets

2 ribs celery, diced

¼ cup red onion, diced small

Additional Ingredients for Fruited Version:

1 chopped red apple

1 chopped green apple

½ cup dried cherries or cranberries

If desired: ½ cup chopped walnuts, pistachios, or pecans

Apples, cranberries, nuts, and more are some of the tastiest ingredients for a broccoli salad.

Tips for Success for Fruited Version If the salad won’t be eaten right away, you can toss the diced apples in a little orange or lemon juice to keep them from turning brown, and then drain the juice. Instead of adding the nuts and dried cherries or cranberries, it’s easy to add the contents of a 2-ounce “snack pack” of dried fruits with nuts and/or seeds.

Additional Ingredients for Non-Fruited Version As desired:

½ cup chopped bacon

½ cup drained chickpeas or red kidney beans

½ cup feta, or shredded or diced cheddar cheese

½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes

1 carrot, finely chopped or shredded

¼ cup sunflower seeds

Other add-ins might include: sliced black, green, or Greek olives; capers; chopped red pepper; cauliflower; grape tomatoes; or other fresh vegetables

Tip for Success for Non-Fruited Version If your guests like garlic, you can include ¼ teaspoon granulated or 1 small finely minced clove of fresh garlic in the recipe ingredients.

Tip for Success for All Versions If you’d prefer your broccoli florets a little more tender than raw, you can blanche them for 1.5 minutes in a covered pan with 3 cups of boiling water. Drain, then plunge into a bowl of ice-cold water to cool and to stop the cooking.

Prep In a bowl, combine all chosen ingredients except dressing. Gradually add dressing, stirring, until the desired consistency is reached.

Let’s Eat! This salad can be eaten immediately or refrigerated for a day, and your guests and family can enjoy their own version and ingredient choices.

The 23.5-mile River Road National Scenic Byway heads westward from the U.S. 23 Heritage Route in Oscoda and follows the Au Sable River, which flows into Lake Huron. The byway travels through the Huron National Forest.

driving the Sunrise side

Wonderful water activities, tasty treats, and momand-pop resorts await along the Standish-toHarrisville stretch of the U.S. 23 Heritage Route

BY BILL SEMION

With all the attention Michigan’s west coast receives, it’s no wonder some call the stretch along east Michigan’s U.S. 23 the “Quiet Side.” For obvious reasons, it’s also known as the “Sunrise Side” of the Lower Peninsula. As a lifelong adventurer around these treasured lands, I’m here to tell you it’s one part of the state you need to visit.

The pace is slower in the towns that run from where U.S. 23 north leaves I-75 and begins its journey along the Lake Huron shore. Miles of beaches, great shopping, small town summer fun, and lots of water activities await on the 68-mile stretch from Standish to Harrisville.

Gateway to the Sunrise Side

In the winter issue of Michigan BLUE, my story about the route focused on things to do along M-13, which used to be U.S. 23 before I-75 was built. This story starts just south of our first town, Standish, which rightly calls itself the Gateway to the Sunrise Side and, since 2009, has been the start of the official Huron Shores Heritage Route.

In downtown Standish, stop for visitor information on Arenac County and the five other counties on the heritage route at the 1889 fieldstone railway depot, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Hopefully while you’re there you’ll meet Brenda Matt, a lifelong Standish resident who can share local and regional brochures with you.

In Standish, U.S. 23 bends toward the Lake Huron shore. Highway M-76, which once brought travelers toward West Branch and Houghton Lake, starts in Standish. Eventually I-75 replaced it, but the old highway remains.

“We’re the divider for the routes north,” Matt says. “You’d take 23 up the coast or 76 toward Roscommon and West Branch. It was the only way into northeast Michigan from the state’s east side.” Travelers would stop at landmarks such as Wheelers Restaurant, a town fixture since 1935. It’s also an outlet for baked goods from Clare’s Cops and Doughnuts, delivered daily.

Matt notes that Arenac County is home to at least eight campgrounds, as well as Saganing Eagles Landing Casino and Hotel, so there’s plenty to keep you busy.

The Tawas Point Lighthouse, built in 1853 and open for summer tours, shines as one of the top attractions at Tawas Point State Park. The park’s sand-spit point is a major flyway and a favorite of bird watchers during the spring and fall migrations.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHEAST MICHIGAN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS/U.S. 23 HERITAGE ROUTE

The pace is slower in the towns that run from where U.S. 23 north leaves I-75 and begins its journey along the Lake huron shore.

Omer

One of Michigan’s least populous cities is located on the Rifle River — which, farther upstream, is a trout stream. Omer is famous for its springtime Suckerfest, when fish by the thousands are caught using special hand-lifted nets at the U.S. 23 bridge. It’s also home to one of three Rifle River canoe liveries: Riverbend Campground and Canoe Rental.

Au Gres

This small community on the Au Gres River is one of the major ports for anglers going after Saginaw Bay’s most popular gamefish, walleye. But Au Gres has more going than that.

The Au Gres city campground, located along the river, has a reputation among many RVers as one of the best municipal-run stay places in the state. And it’s only a mile or so from the walleye waiting off the DNR boating access on the bay. Pick up a license and night crawlers (another option is to stop at a branch of the M-65 Bait Shop on the way to the DNR access) at Wright’s Sports Store on U.S. 23. You’ll recognize it by the old sign that says “Hamburgs.” Yup, Hamburgs.

Wright’s is down the street from Zanner’s Ice Cream Shoppe, now in its 51st year — a short walk from the campground across the pedestrian bridge over the river. Edmonds Au Gres Inn is near the river and marina, as is a new splash park. The city also hosts a variety of musical entertainment in the summer.

Then there’s the Pickle Palace, aka the home of Freakin’ Pickles, now sold across the state in nearly 100 stores. Owner Cheri Leppek-Harpham says you can choose from a dozen varieties.

The H & H bakery and restaurant, open since 1983, is one of several local eateries. Heading north, stop next at the tiny and seasonal Pointe Market, just south of where a string of great regional golf courses begins with the William Newcomb-designed Huron Breeze Golf Club.

You’ll then pass Alabaster, home of a huge gypsum deposit that provided the white covering for the main buildings at Chicago’s 1893 Columbian Exposition. Wallboard for homes originated here. It’s since been reclaimed and is also where The Sunrise Side Pathway, which will take you into our next destination and beyond, begins. The path into Tawas eventually will be part of the state’s Iron Belle Trail, linking Detroit to Ironwood in the Upper Peninsula.

Lake Huron’s Cape Cod-style Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, built in 1870 near Harrisville, is open for summer tours. Visitors also can picnic near the beach and tour an old schoolhouse on the grounds.

Opposite

on

Tawas City/East Tawas

Named for a local Native American chief, the twin cities hugging Tawas Bay are favorite yearround destinations. The Corsair cross-country ski trails beckon in winter, while in the summer, the beach is the thing at the city park next to the new dock boardwalk.

Each Tuesday from mid-June to mid-August,

Newman Street in East Tawas is closed to cars for a few hours so it can host a street dance and music. Mondays, a band performs at the city park. Pleasure boat dockage at both towns has recently been renovated.

Lodging includes the Tawas Bay Beach Resort, the only full-service hotel on Lake Huron. For a quiet stay, try two B&Bs: East Tawas Junction or Always A Holiday.

Take in a movie at the small Family Theater in East Tawas, grab some hand-dipped treats at the Village Chocolatier, and shop for dinner at Klenow’s, part of downtown since 1900. Top it off with a visit to Marion’s Dairy Bar, part of the scene since 1945.

Tawas Point State Park is a birder’s favorite for watching the large spring and fall migrations that use the terrain as a rest area. The point also has an endangered Piping Plover nesting area. The bike trail that began in Alabaster takes you into the park and to its 19th century lighthouse, where you can become a volunteer lightkeeper. By fall, the trail should connect with Oscoda.

Oscoda

From Tawas north, 23 has long been lined by lakefront mom-and-pop vacation resorts. Located at the Au Sable River’s mouth, Oscoda is a former lumbering town like the Tawases. There’s a fabulous Lake Huron beach (one of the best in the state), great restaurants, and more — such as the Wurtsmith Air Museum at the former Air Force base.

Oscoda also is the gateway to the River Road National Scenic Byway, which leads you along the Au Sable. Reference this magazine’s fall 2021 issue for stops on the route.

page: Boaters, kayakers, and canoeists will discover plenty of solitude

Au Sable River beaches. Businesses such as Sunnybunns Marina in Greenbush Township offer pontoon rentals for use on the river, and local liveries provide canoes and kayaks for leisurely floats down the waterway.

Visitors can enjoy the many steep dunes along the Au Sable River.

Places to stay in the area include the soon-toopen Holiday Inn Express and B&Bs like the lakefront Huron House. Like barbecue ribs? You’ll want to head to the friendly Tait’s Bill of Fare in downtown Oscoda for some of the best barbecue sauce around. Owner Bill Tait says he’s won a few awards for the sweet-and-subtly-spicy condiment.

North to Harrisville

Just north of Oscoda, if you haven’t done so in town at Shoreline Park, dip your toes into the big lake at the gorgeous Three Mile Park Rest Area on U.S. 23. You’ll also travel past several more momand-pop beachfront resorts where you can stay.

At the mapdot town of Greenbush, add another resort to your list. Blue Haven Beach Resort has been there since the end of World War II and is now owned by four families, including that of Kyle DuBuc.

“We bought it because we loved the idea of having this place to bring our families and others to in this beautiful area,” DuBuc says. With 200 feet of beach and 14 cottages, they’re on a mission to restore the place to its former self, when late Detroit radio/TV personality Ron Gamble owned it.

A few miles farther up the road and you’re at Harrisville State Park on the lake, with great waterfront campsites and a paved bike route into town for shopping or a bite. North of the park grab something to eat and enjoy a local brew at the Alcona Brewhaus, where 14 haus-made beers are always available, and many of the menu’s items

can be made food-allergy-free. Other stops include Shot Maker Sports Bar & Grill or The Red Fork in Greenbush to the south.

Check out Harrisville’s restored harbor, where you can charter a boat and fish for Atlantic salmon, steelhead, and walleye, or fish from shore. Coming by boat? Bikes are available at the harbor, and there’s a local shuttle. The historic Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, north of Harrisville, is run by the

Mornings are showtime at the Huron House B&B, located between East Tawas and Au Sable Township, as guests are treated to amazing Lake Huron sunrises.

PHOTO FAR LEFT COURTESY OF CHRISTIAN GIANNELLI PHOTOGRAPHY

This eagle-eye view looking north highlights the 1,025 feet of Oscoda Beach Park, regarded as one of the state’s top beaches. There’s also the alluring pier and boardwalk along the shoreline.

Alcona Historical Society and is definitely worth a stop. There’s even a rustic old schoolhouse on the property, and it’s open for tours.

I’ll stop here and save the remainder of U.S. 23’s long journey from Florida to Mackinaw City — the stretch from Harrisville to the Mackinac Bridge for another time. But you don’t need to; you can continue north to enjoy the rest of the state’s Sunrise Side.

PLAN IT!

U.S. 23 Heritage Route us23heritageroute.org

discovernortheastmichigan.org

THIS SPRING, BREAK AWAY TO SOMEPLACE NEW

DEPENDING ON WHICH GROUNDHOG YOU LISTENED TO, we’re either having an early spring or we’re not. Either way, we Michiganders know spring will come eventually and, as usual, bring a few surprises along the way. That’s OK; we’re prepared! The beauty of a new season is that it offers us renewal — and that can mean trying something new or exploring someplace different.

In Michigan, an escape from the familiar is never far away. Our bordering and inland lakes, abundance of woodlands and trails, cute small towns, and brightly lit urban centers offer great variety for every kind of vacationer, whether you like to relax or crave a thrill. There’s also plenty of history in the Mitten, and pairing a fun getaway with activities that spin tales of our past is a great way to get in some education along with our recreation. Not sure where to go? The destination we’re featuring in this section is a great place to start!

Port of Ludington Maritime Museum/ Mason Co. Historical Society

LL udington , a vacation wonderLand and one of Michigan’s most beloved destinations, draws travelers year round for all-season recreation, inspired food and drink, and family-friendly activities galore. Behind all of its appeals lies a vibrant history told through three area museums that are operated by the Mason County Historical Society, which was founded in 1937. All are must-sees for visitors and residents alike.

Historic White Pine Village is a late 19th/ early 20th-century pioneer village with 30 historic exhibit buildings, including the original 1849 Mason County Courthouse. The collection features thousands of artifacts and archives depicting the region’s fascinating lumbering and agricultural history.

The Mason County Research Center Museum, the historical society’s newest

location, houses a collection of more than 125,000 archival documents and photos enthusiasts can peruse.

The Port of Ludington Maritime Museum boasts 24 different exhibits that are housed in the former 1934 U.S. Coast Guard Station, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Overlooking the Lake Michigan shoreline, the three-story museum offers guests an interactive experience that brings to life the maritime history of Ludington. Through digital storytelling, authentic images and artifacts, and engaging exhibits, it showcases several famous captains and the industries that shaped west Michigan.

Nearby is Ludington’s North Breakwater Light, ranked the No. 1 lighthouse in Michigan, and named among the top 10 lighthouses in the United States. The S.S.

Badger car ferry is docked a short walk away. Both attractions extend the maritime experience beyond the three museums.

The Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, Historic White Pine Village, and Mason County Research Center Museum operate from May to October and offer senior and veteran rates. Museum combo tickets are available, as is a behind-the-scenes tour of the research center, which details how a historical society saves history.

130 E. Ludington Ave. Ludington, MI 49431

231-843-4808

masoncountymihistory.org

ANCHORS AWAY

Fun stories, spirited legends, and notorious characters come to life on Detroit History Tours.

An interior update at the Haworth Hotel in Holland introduced a vibrant Midcentury Modern motif.

A Muskegon Must-Try

Wonderland Distilling blends its spirits with handmade mixers and classic methods to craft creative cocktails

By Dianna Stampfler

its own character with boutique shopping, distinct restaurants, a florist, and a market, in addition to the distillery. It’s also conveniently within proximity to Safe Harbor Great Lakes Marina, the Lake Express High Speed Ferry dock, and the bike path to Pere Marquette Beach.

“During the summer, the whole neighborhood comes alive with people driving, riding, or hiking to or from the beach or marina,”Serio says.“We open our garage doors to the street so we can bring the outdoors in, and it creates an amazing experience for our guests.”

Wonderland’s tasting room accommodates 125, and an additional 50 seats are available outside during the warmer season. A new event space called the Barrel Room holds another 80.

In addition to its cocktail offerings, guests will find a full food menu with starters and shareables, sandwiches, tacos, pizzas, and mac-n-cheese bowls. Every Saturday, a variety of live music acts — folk, rock, blues, and more — provide entertainment. Wonderland is also home to the Truth in Jazz Orchestra, which plays every third Tuesday evening.

Alove of Michigan’s great outdoors and a nod to the state’s former “Water Wonderland” promotional travel slogan were the inspirations behind Wonderland Distilling Co., located in Muskegon’s Lakeside District.

“Being a lifelong Michigan resident, I’ve always been attached to the water. Swimming, boating, fishing, and the Big Lake have always helped me get outside,” says Allen Serio, one of four partners who founded the distillery in 2018. “When we looked at what we wanted Wonderland to be, what we wanted to celebrate, we wanted the brand to represent the outdoor adventures each of the partners have had. That also held

true when we decided where to locate our cocktail bar.”

Stretching out along the southern shore of Muskegon Lake, the Lakeside District’s history dates back to 1883, when it was incorporated as an independent village. After surviving a devastating fire in October 1888, it became the 8th Ward of Muskegon in early 1889.

“The area has always retained a certain air of independence and a deep-rooted sense of place,”Serio says. “Our building has a great history. Most people in the neighborhood will remember this space as Etterman’s Super Market, which was an essential market for the neighborhood. I remember shopping there with my mom when I was a kid.”

In recent years, Lakeside has enhanced

A craft distillery was a natural progression for Serio, who spent more than a decade opening restaurants, nightclubs, and golf resort clubhouses nationwide, helping train staff, coach owners, and manage kitchen operations. In 2014, he was working close to home launching Rebel Pies inside Unruly Brewing in Muskegon with Mark Gongalski a client who became a friend and, ultimately, a business partner (along with fellow Muskegonites Zach Noling and Greg VanWorkem) in Wonderland.

“In 2016, the craft spirits industry in Michigan was really picking up steam, with several brands making some noise, so we looked at each other and said, ‘It’s now or never,’ ”Serio recalls. “By 2017, we decided to create what would become the Wonderland we have today.”

As a scratch bar, Wonderland blends its spirits with handmade mixers using classic methods — like crushed beetle to create red colors — to craft its cocktails. It’s this attention to detail that likely earned them the

Blueberry Lavender Gin is one of Wonderland Distilling Co.’s most popular flavors.

No. 2 spot nationally on USA Today’s list of Best New Craft Distilleries in 2021.

Among the more fashionable drinks are the whiskey-based Leather & Tobacco Old Fashioned, Cheap Sunglasses (vodka-based with coconut milk, spiced pineapple syrup, and lime), L.S.D. (gin-based with house-

perfect for enjoying in the great outdoors which reinforces Wonderland’s original mission. Another product of the pandemic was the creation of the yearround Lakeside Social District, allowing for the outdoor consumption of alcoholic beverages purchased from participating establishments (such as Wonderland) within a defined strolling area.

whiskey when it has finished aging.

made rosemary syrup, lime, and grapefruit), and the classic G&T (gin and tonic).

Canned cocktails, which were introduced during the first year of the pandemic, remain a growing part of the business. These freshly batched beverages are

Those looking for an enhanced Wonderland experience might enjoy membership in the Rocks Society or Single Barrel Club (at a cost of $65 and $250, respectively). In addition to receiving a Wonderland-logoed cocktail glass, members are invited to exclusive events and have early access to limited-release products such as Amaro Barrel Aged Gin and Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Whiskey, which have been previous offerings. In addition to a variety of VIP benefits, the Single Barrel Club also provides opportunities to serve on a tasting panel with the distiller, to evaluate the progress of the whiskey’s maturation and to help bottle the

While the public tasting room is in Lakeside, Wonderland’s production facility is two miles away on Lemuel Street in Muskegon Heights. It’s in this 3,000-squarefoot building that a custom-built, 700-gallon NexGen pot is used to craft Wonderland’s portfolio of distilled spirits, including Blend of Straight Whiskey, which recently earned a 91-point rating from Wine Enthusiast, and the newly launched 50-milliliter bottles of awardwinning whiskey, gin, and vodka.

In addition to running Wonderland, Serio is the co-founder of the Lakeshore Brewers Guild and helps produce its annual Burning Foot Festival, a celebration of craft beer held on Muskegon’s Pere Marquette Beach. This year’s event is scheduled for Aug. 26.

PLAN IT!

Wonderland Distilling Co. wonderlanddistilling.com

Located in the historic Lakeside District, the distillery’s neighbors include Safe Harbor Marina, the Lake Express Ferry dock, and the bike path to Pere Marquette Beach.

“We open our garage doors to the street so we can bring the outdoors in, and it creates an amazing experience for our guests.”

Allen Serio

Regaining National Acclaim

A new age of downtown kitchen talent and restaurant owners shifts Detroit’s cuisine into drive

By Bill Semion

Years ago, no less than The New York Times restaurant critics named Detroit the best city in the nation in which to dine — outside of The Big Apple, of course.

Then came the 1970s. And the ’80s. The word used to describe Detroit’s dining scene became “decline,” and “Closed” signs took the place of menus on windows.

That all began changing a few years ago. Younger owners and chefs, who saw blank canvases inviting them to create a new generation of restaurants, began looking for buildings to restore. With that came a revival of interest in both living in and dining in the city. It was a perfect storm of goodness. All one can say now is, Wow, how times have changed!

Today, publications as notable as Forbes, National Geographic, and the Times, as well as the prestigious James Beard Foundation, are again taking notice of Detroit. And they’re finding a city with diversity, newfound stability, and growth — especially among the new generation of chefs and entrepreneurs who are again giving Detroit a seat at the nation’s table of the best places to dine.

Award-Winners

Last year alone, more than a dozen Detroit-area restaurants and their chefs were nominated for 2022 James Beard awards, the most prestigious culinary

Warda Pâtisserie on West Alexandrine in the Midtown District (left) treats diners to tasty delights such as its creative rhubarb and pistaschio tart (above).

prize of all, and three were finalists: Omar Anani, of Saffron De Twah on Gratiot, for the Great Lakes region’s best chef; Warda Bouguettaya, of Warda Pâtisserie, for outstanding pastry chef; and Barda, on Grand River, for best new restaurant.

Bouguettaya, who creates art as food and food as art at Warda Pâtisserie on West Alexandrine in Detroit’s Midtown District, went on to win the title of best in the nation. Yes, the nation.

Detroit landed back on the radar of the Times when it named Freya on East Grand Boulevard, where the kitchen is headed by chef de cuisine Phoebe Zimmerman, one of the top 50 restaurants in the nation.

So, what’s behind Detroit’s restaurant renaissance? A lot, says Timothy Tharp, owner of the downtown’s Grand Trunk Pub on Woodward, named for its location in the former ticket office of the Grand Trunk Railroad, and the nearby Checker Bar on Cadillac Square, a downtown fixture since the 1950s.

Tharp is also on the board of the revived Detroit Restaurant & Lodging Association and is a past chairman. He’s been in the business a long time; he started as a janitor at two renowned but now closed area restaurants: the Golden Mushroom and The Lark.

Tharp contends the hospitality industry is one of the few left where one can rise through the ranks, and he’s proof that it’s possible. He says he’s loving what he sees now along downtown’s streets.

“Detroit had so many years of decline, where I think the institutions we all grew up knowing and loving left a hole in all of our hearts,” he says. “To see Detroit decline and seeing all those eating and drinking establishments decline — I think no matter how big Royal Oak or Ferndale or Birmingham got, they just didn’t fill (the void). There’s something magical that happens when you go downtown.”

Motown Magic

The magic of yesteryear is returning quicker than anyone could believe.

Head downtown and you feel that positive vibe, and remember what it was and feel

Chefs at the award-winning Freya Dining Room (above) on East Grand Boulevard prepare such wonderful dishes (below, clockwise from top right) as a raspberry macaron with raspberry sorbet, sockeye salmon, and red pepper coulis.

what it’s becoming again, Tharp maintains. “You remember the synergy, the hustle and bustle. At some point, people who are into the restaurants (that were) made popular over the last 20 years by reality cooking shows,”also helped create renewed interest, he asserts.

“In Detroit, there’s a never-ending opportunity to explore a new restaurant and go someplace you probably haven’t been. To restaurant owners and operators, that blank slate is very exciting,” he says. “To be in a neighborhood that hasn’t had a new restaurant in 30 years, or a new style of cuisine to rehab a building that’s been neglected all those years is incredibly exciting and fits well into the restaurant operator’s vision for what one can be. It’s not just about the food or beverages, it’s also about where you do it. That has so much to do with how your food is embraced.

PLAN IT!

Saffron De Twah saffrondetwah.com

Warda Pâtisserie warda-Pâtisseriemidtown.square.site

Barda bardadetroit.com

Freya freyadetroit.com

Grand Trunk Pub grandtrunk.pub

“I think Detroit was fortunate to have all those things come together at a time where interest in the culinary arts was exploding. The other thing that has played well is because the pie here is so big, there’s no competition it’s collaboration. It’s cooperation. You go to other towns and there’s a fierce competition for that foot traffic. In Detroit, most of us operators know each other, share recipes, share employees, share success hacks, and help each other out,” Tharp says.

Checker Bar checkerbar.com

Rattlesnake Club rattlesnakedetroit.com

“It’s certainly nice to get the recognition that what we’re trying to execute has been received as we intended,” Levine says of making the Times’ list. “When I was coming up as a server in the ’90s, it was a little rarer to find restaurants in this category here. We’re at the north end of downtown and our neighborhood has a really rich and fascinating history, and currently (there are) a lot of super talented artists and musicians. That fits with what we wanted our clientele to be. We feel like people who appreciate art and lovers of art are those who we’ve connected to the most. It’s a perfect fit.”

Fancy Flavors

Freya, one of the Times’ best 50 U.S. restaurants, is run by Sandy Levine and chef Doug Hewitt in the city’s New Center area. It features five-course, prix fixe dinners. Levine also is involved with Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails, near the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the more casual Dragonfly, next door to Freya, and is owner of Ferndale’s The Oakland Art Novelty Co., an upscale neighborhood bar.

Adding his touch to Detroit’s mix is Jeff Lanctot, executive chef at one of the city’s best riverfront eateries, The Rattlesnake Club. He lauds the city and its police with improving downtown’s atmosphere. And frankly, he says, that meant getting a handle on crime.

“As a longtime Detroit resident, I can say that the municipality has really done a great job. Without feeling safe down here, it’s hard to get those suburban dollars. Detroit has done a much better job making people feel safe,” Lanctot says.

“The investments by Dan Gilbert and the Ilitch family, that’s also a big driver. You get an influx of college grads working downtown, and with the massive expansion of the hospitals, Quicken Loans, and getting businesses here, then you need restaurants, you need bars, you need things for people to do after work. There were things that needed to be done. It’s synergy that’s created expansion. And erasing negative safety concerns has been a big deal,” he says. “People want to come down, whereas for a long time, that wasn’t the case.”

Some say that spirit may die out eventually. Tharp doesn’t agree.

“I think we have decades of an interesting culinary future ahead of us. This isn’t the easiest place to do business sometimes. Those are things we’ve overcome and worked with the city on. Social media helps drive foot traffic, and these days people are excited to find that new little secret spot. So I think the renaissance is just beginning. It’s fundamental, as humans, to break bread, to serve, and to be served and commune,” Tharp explains.

“You can have all the Amazons and Fiat Chryslers you want. If you don’t have an interesting restaurant scene, who’s going to go downtown? It’s restaurants that create a renaissance in a city.”

The seasonal terrace at the Rattlesnake Club, which has been a downtown fixture for more than 25 years, offers inviting dining opportunities and features views of the Detroit River and RiverWalk.

A Holland Showpiece

The

Haworth

Hotel’s $7.5-million renovation adds a little Italian flair to the Hope College campus

By Dianna Stampfler | Photography by Kendall McCaugherty

The brick-and-glass exterior of the Haworth Hotel & Conference Center on the Hope College campus in downtown Holland conceals a stunning surprise. While this lakeshore community boasts a variety of architectural gems — in styles ranging from the traditional Dutch influence to Neoclassical and Queen Anne to Tudor — this newly renovated hotel delivers a refreshingly colorful look and feel.

Award-winning international architect and designer Patricia Urquiola, who has worked with Holland-headquartered Haworth for years, was brought in from Milan, Italy, to turn the collegiate hotel into a boutique showpiece. It’s the first renovation the property has undergone since its opening in 1997; it made its second debut in June 2021 after a 20-month, $7.5-million face-lift.

The Mid-century Modern motif is rich with vibrant hues and patterns that evoke warmth and playfulness, with an undeniable sense of sophistication. At the heart of the transformational redesign is the grand spiral staircase connecting the lobby to the second floor. Designed by Urquiola, who worked with GMB Architecture + Engineering to adapt the design to local codes, it’s reminiscent of the Frank Lloyd Wrightdesigned Guggenheim in New York City.

“The lobby’s spiral staircase was designed to be a striking visual focal point for guests as they enter the lobby, and it also creates a unique backdrop for corporate events, weddings, social media, and more,” notes Dan Tyrer, an architect with GMB.

Left: The Haworth Hotel’s spiral staircase is the lobby’s focal point. Above: Vibrant colors and hues add a warm feel to gathering areas. Below: Guest rooms showcase Haworth’s various product brands.

Upstairs, Urquiola’s signature influence can be found throughout the 48 guest rooms, including the top-floor king room with an adjoining private dining area and three ADA-accessible rooms. Her hand-selected choices for bed coverings, textured wallpaper, and furniture — much of it representing Haworth’s eight furiture brands — create elegant yet approachable spaces. From floor to ceiling, the rooms are masterfully assembled with bathroom fixtures from Kohler, lighting by Pablo Designs, rugs by GAN, and textiles by Kvadrat. Global design elements from Cassina, Cappellini, Poltrona Frau, and JANUS et Cie enhance the spaces, which also include many products designed by Urquiola for Haworth Inc. “The rejuvenation of the property has certainly provided a whole new experience in services and offerings that’s attracting a broader range of clientele than in the past. Many of them haven’t been to the Holland area before,” says Katie Klingenberg, director of sales.“The hotel also has seen

an increase in Hope-sponsored collegiate conferences. The fact that we’re located in the heart of downtown is a huge draw for clients. For many of the attendees, we hear that this is their first time in the area and they rave about the Hope campus and all that Holland has to offer. When we build awareness about the hotel, it translates into increased awareness for the college and the Holland area.”

While contemporary, the common spaces are comfortable and inviting, with intimate seating areas and larger social spaces for business meetings or catching up with friends. The upgraded convention center is a sprawling 10,000 square feet, with 14 distinct conference spaces. Additional amenities include an on-site fitness facility, complimentary parking, a Biggby Coffee bar, and a Hope Store with souvenirs and necessities.

While perhaps thought of as a collegeexclusive venue, the Haworth Hotel actually draws about 60 percent of its guests from across the state and country.

Leisure travelers appreciate its proximity to shopping, dining, and cultural attractions and events such as the city’s awardwinning Tulip Time Festival each May.

“We’re fortunate to have the Haworth Hotel just steps from downtown Holland, giving our visitors an opportunity to walk to more than 100 locally owned shops and restaurants, public parks, and arts and entertainment venues,” says Linda Hart, executive director of the Holland Area Visitors Bureau.

Those looking for even more reason to check out this renovated gem should note that the Haworth Hotel is one of only six properties in Michigan currently participating in Stash Hotel Rewards, a loyalty program designed exclusively for independent boutique hotels.

Haworth Hotel & Convention Center haworthhotel.com

The transformational Mid-century Modern motif reflected in the common areas and meeting spaces evokes an undeniable sense of sophistication.

Time Travelers

Detroit History Tours presents an entertaining look at the city, including its legends, architecture, and food

By Dianna Stampfler

Detroit sports a rich and colorful heritage. The entertaining stories, spirited legends, and notorious characters of the Motor City’s past are the foundation upon which Bailey Sisoy-Moore built Detroit History Tours in 2014, followed by the Detroit History Club (which boasts nearly 10,000 members) in 2016.

“I traveled a lot, and as a native Detroiter it bummed me out that I wasn’t able to book tours in my hometown the way I was in many of the great cities around the world,” Sisoy-Moore says.“I envisioned a company that offered a portfolio of tours available every weekend for visitors and locals alike, to celebrate the history of our city. Never in a million years did I imagine it would grow to become my full-time job.”

Sisoy-Moore grew up in a family that loved visiting cemeteries, going to historic homes, and participating in cultural events. “One of my earliest memories is being at the Wiggle Club at the Detroit Institute of

Arts for their children’s theater program. I remember spending a lot of middle school time at Greenfield Village and exploring local cemeteries with my mom. By high school, I was completely hooked on history,” she recalls.

A graduate of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Sisoy-Moore went on to work as an automotive sculptor for General Motors. Although she enjoyed her job, the growing interest in her tours allowed her to retire in 2018 to dedicate herself full time to her historic endeavors. That year, she also published a children’s book,“Rosie — A Detroit Herstory.

Finding New Facts

“We work incredibly hard reading every journal article, every book, watching every documentary,” Sisoy-Moore says, adding that she frequently explores the Burton Historical Collection at the Detroit Public Library, the Walter P. Reuther Library, and the Benson Ford Research Center in

Dearborn to gather information.

In doing so, she has also become an educator not only for tour participants, but for her staff of four full-time and 18 parttime employees who conduct the one- to four-hour walking, bus, boat, and food tours.

“It was becoming evident to me that history could be as interesting or as boring as a teacher made it,” she admits.“I think in some little part of my mind, the company actually started all the way back in school. A great teacher and a great learning experience can stick with you for life.”

The first Detroit History Tour offered was “Wild Women of Detroit Bus Tour” which highlights the contributions of Detroit’s females — including music legends, Civil War spies, Rosie the Riveters, an all-female jury, and other saints and sinners. Last year, the most popular program was “Felonies and Misdemeanors; The Detroit Cops and Mobster Bus Tour,” which sheds light on some of the world’s most infamous criminals, gangsters, and mobsters, such as the Purple Gang and Detroit mob families.

Other well-attended tours included the “Meandering Meal, A Walking Progressive Dinner Tour of Hamtramck,”“Bizarre Detroit Bus Tour,” and “Historically Haunted Detroit,” which is only offered in September and October (it was attended by more than 2,700 guests in 2022).

“Detroit History Tours guides have a genuine affection for local history, and it’s contagious,” says Annette Januszczak of Dearborn, who participated in three different tours during the fall of 2022. “You leave their events feeling wholly entertained, a little smarter, and much, much more appreciative of the richness of a history so long overlooked.”

What’s On Tap

Two new themes this year are “Booze, Bank Robberies, and Baseball” and a return of the “Golden Age of the Automobile” tour.

In addition to the walking tours and bus trips (which include stops at two historic bars and are available only to those 21 or older), DHT offers a “History Under Sail” tall ship series, which cruises around the Detroit River covering topics such as history,

Above: The Detroit History Club recently transformed an old funeral home in Hamtramck into its new headquarters. Opposite page: Detroit History Tours guides often utilize a variety of archive materials, such as this early map of Detroit, with their guests during visits to noted points of interest around the city.

stargazing, biology, and music.

The Detroit History Tours app was developed at the onset of the pandemic, allowing people to take personal walking, biking, or driving tours past historic sites throughout the city without having to commit to a larger group tour. There’s also an option that enables those outside the geographic area to listen to audio and see featured images that tell a compelling story (and hopefully inspire a future in-person visit).

With the help of a bilingual staff and local interpreters, Detroit History Tours is able to offer tours in five languages in addition to English: Arabic, German, Russian, Spanish, and American Sign Language. More than 250 individual tours are offered in a normal year; since its founding, more than 208,000

people have collectively taken more than 3,700 tours.

Public tours are posted online and updated throughout the year. Ticket prices for public tours range from $12 to $90. There are also options for group tours, from bridal parties to corporate outings and everything in between. Sisoy-Moore advises guests to schedule these private tours four to six months in advance, to ensure the preferred date, time, and guides are available.

Sisoy-Moore says Detroit History Tours was named the Michigan Historical Society’s 2021 Business of the Year. She’s also proud to support several local charities. To date, she has donated more than $38,000 to nearly 40 charities and a dozen worthy causes.

In between researching history, scheduling tours, and sharing stories, Sisoy-Moore recently completed the transformation of a 5,600-square-foot former funeral home at 3103 Commor St. in Hamtramck into the new headquarters for the Detroit History Club. The $5-a-year, members-only club offers a variety of programs, tours, holiday events, dinners, and themed balls throughout the year.

PLAN IT!

Detroit History Tours detroithistorytours.com

Detroit History Club detroithistoryclub.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADOBE STOCK

Loon Love

With their jewel-like red eyes and attractive plumage, these aquatic birds have captured a writer/photographer’s heart

Text

Everything I know, I’ve learned from photographing loons.

While that might not exactly be true, there’s revelation in what you experience when you make a ritual of watching summer sunrises from a kayak in the company of a lake’s resident loons.

Maybe I’m so attached to the pair of loons that make Bear Lake in Kalkaska County home each summer because we share a core value: a love of this lake. You might call loons the original cottagers; like many of us, they return to the same inland lake each year to raise their young, swim, eat, and play.

My lake attachment came through my marriage into a family with a simple summer cottage, and it grew over multigenerational games of horseshoes and bingo, building sand castles, and making s’mores. The soundtrack of it all was that

otherworldly call of the resident loons.

But we weren’t friends yet, the pair and I. That took buying a kayak and starting a very unexpected ritual of rising at first light (roughly 5:30 a.m. near the summer solstice) and honing all my senses as I’d glide with my Canon and longest lens amid total silence on a lake still as glass. To find loons in the morning mist, you must hear them first: the whir of wings, the splash landing, and the soul-stirring call to their mate.

Watching them, you learn persistence. Who wouldn’t admire the mama who, some years, nests twice after losing her first eggs to an errant wave, human interference, or a hungry turtle? No wonder the Odawa called them “mahng” (brave), likely naming them after watching parents spend whole days diving and feeding and protecting their young from harm.

Over time, I developed a deep sense of wonder. It started as a photography

practice — finding a spot at some distance behind the pair and catching their silhouette just as the sun crested the horizon. It grew as I saw, day after day, how the loons would rise up and flap their wings as they faced the rising sun, as if performing a daily dance of thanks.

P.S. Bear Lake, a 316-acre lake in eastern Kalkaska County, lies within the Manistee River watershed. It has no inlets or outlets. The lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet and is managed as a two-story lake. Two-story lakes are those that have shallow water habitat for warm- and cool-water gamefish such as bass and panfish, along with a deep, cold-water habitat suitable for trout. Public access to Bear Lake is obtained on the southeast corner. The access site has a paved launch ramp and parking for six or so vehicles with trailers (447 E. Bear Lake Rd., Kalkaska). Loons are a protected species; you must stay at least 300 feet away and avoid nests or loons with their young.

and Photo by Kim Schneider

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