STOKE STOKE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. FROM THE EDITOR
STOKE WASN’T BUILT TO LOOK GOOD ON A COFFEE TABLE IT WAS BUILT TO SPEAK TO THE ONES WHO LIVE THIS STUFF
2. COVER STORY: “BACK TO THE STREETS” – THE DETROIT GRAND PRIX RETURNS
THE MOTOR CITY’S MOST DANGEROUS RACE IS BACK IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN IT’S FAST IT’S RAW AND IT BELONGS HERE
3. MICHIGAN SUMMER HIT LIST
12 ESSENTIAL SUMMER THROWDOWNS ACROSS THE STATE FROM SAND-SLINGING TO TRACK-BURNING TO SMALL-TOWN BLOWOUTS
4. SPRING & PORTER: THE FLAVOR OF NOW
CHEF TOMMY’S STYLE ISN’T FUSION, IT’S FOCUSED CLEAN, FRESH PLATES ROOTED IN EXPERIENCE AND FIRE A NEW TASTE FOR PETOSKEY
5. WELCOME TO THE PIGPEN
AN UNFILTERED SIT-DOWN WITH DETROIT’S OWN CAMERA JESUS NO NAMES, NO FLUFF JUST REAL TALK, STRAIGHT FROM THE PIGPEN
6 THE DROP
MUSIC PROMOTER YORG GIVES IT TO YOU STRAIGHT DETROIT GUITAR GOD KENNY OLSON, THEN RISING ARTIST
LOUIE LEE ONE’S A LEGEND, THE OTHER’S A FIRESTARTER PHOTOS, WORDS, AND THE SOUNDS OF WHAT’S NEXT
7 MOUNT BOHEMIA: SUMMER IN THE SNOWBELT
STACEY IN THE SNOW SITS DOWN WITH MOUNT BOHEMIA FOUNDER LONIE GLIEBERMAN TO TALK ABOUT TRANSFORMING THE KEWEENAW’S WILDEST WINTER MOUNTAIN INTO A YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION FROM THE EXPANDED NORDIC SPA TO YOGA RETREATS AND MINERAL POOLS, BOHO’S SUMMER IS JUST HEATING UP
THE RETURN TO THE STREETS
DETROIT GRAND PRIX 2025
BY PHILIP HUTCHINSON | STOKE MAGAZINE
some photos by
Emily Velchansky
DETROIT DID WHAT DETROIT DOES—IT SHOWED UP, THREW DOWN, AND LEFT THE TRACK SMOKING.
THE 2025 DETROIT GRAND PRIX ROARED THROUGH THE HEART OF THE CITY FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR SINCE ITS RETURN TO THE STREETS, AND IF THERE WAS ANY DOUBT MOTOR CITY COULD STILL THROW A PARTY AT 200 MPH, THIS WEEKEND PUT THAT NOISE TO BED. STREETS WERE PACKED, SPIRITS WERE HIGH, AND RUBBER WAS BURNED LIKE IT WAS RITUAL IT WASN’T JUST A RACE IT WAS A REMINDER THAT THIS CITY LIVES AND BREATHES HORSEPOWER
AND FRONT AND CENTER? THE NATIONAL CONEY ISLAND CAR. LOCAL PAINT, BIG ATTITUDE, AND A HELL OF A PERFORMANCE FROM HOMETOWN DRIVER NOLAN SIEGEL, WHO WHEELED THAT #18 DALE COYNE RACING MACHINE WITH THE PRECISION OF A SURGEON AND THE GUTS OF A STREET BRAWLER ADD IN A SPLASH OF FAYGO ON THE LIVERY AND YOU’VE GOT THE MOST DETROIT RIDE TO EVER HIT A GRAND PRIX THAT CAR WASN’T JUST FAST IT WAS OURS. AND THE PEOPLE KNEW IT.
“Racing in Detroit just hits different,” Siegel said after the checkered flag. “You can feel the energy from the fans, from the city, even from the pavement This track makes you earn every inch”
The buzz downtown was electric Bodies shoulder to shoulder, music bleeding from the stages, the smell of street food and burnt clutch in the air If you were there, you felt it The city was alive
Let’s not gloss over the course either tight, fast, and dangerous. This isn’t some pretty little track through the countryside. These are Detroit streets: concrete walls, unforgiving corners, and a setup that demands respect. It’s narrow, technical, and lethal if you get too confident. Drivers called it one of the most challenging layouts on the circuit and you could see it in every aggressive dive and every near-miss at the hairpin This is where champions test their nerve
But make no mistake this race wasn’t just about the danger It was about legacy About what it means to bring world-class motorsport back to the city that built the damn car in the first place. Every tire mark on Jefferson Ave felt like a statement: Detroit is back in the driver’s seat.
From the roar of the engines to the beats from the Saturday night concerts echoing off the Renaissance Center, the 2025 Detroit Grand Prix was more than a success It was a high-octane love letter to a city that refuses to be counted out
WE CAME, WE RACED, WE CONQUERED. AND WE’RE ALREADY COUNTING DOWN TO NEXT YEAR.
SIDEBAR: SATURDAY NIGHT TURNED UP TO 11
As if the racing wasn’t enough, downtown Detroit lit up Saturday night with a music lineup that matched the energy on the track. The main stage fired off sets from Michigan legends and up-and-comers alike, turning the riverfront into a full-blown festival Thousands stuck around post-qualifying, catching the vibes under the glow of the skyline Engines by day, amps by night this is how you do a Grand Prix weekend.
FLAME & GRIT
CHEF TOMMY AND THE SOUL OF SPRING & PORTER
BY PHILIP HUTCHINSON | STOKE MAGAZINE
There’s a certain heat that never dies down in the kitchen at Spring & Porter, and it’s not just the burners It’s the drive The chaos The constant pursuit of something damn near perfect At the center of that storm is Chef Tommy Kaszubowski part philosopher, part Polish country boy, part punk rock pitmaster and entirely in his element
Raised on Sunday dinners, pickled bologna, and the kind of tight-knit family table that doesn’t leave a seat empty, Tommy’s earliest education in food came from his grandparents’ garden and a family fridge full of home-canned goods. “We always cooked,” he says.
“My sisters and I still fight over the pickles” And while Alpena may have given him a high school diploma, it was a little restaurant on Presque Isle Harbor that handed him his first real-life calling “It was the first time in my life the light bulb went off I was 15, and I actually wanted to go to work.”
That restaurant The Portage didn’t just kick off a career. It introduced Tommy to a mentor who steered him away from the factory floor and straight into culinary school The rest of the path wound through fire: Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit Michelin-minded kitchens Intensity Precision Soul
“I told my parents when I left, if I’m going to do this, I want to own my own restaurant up here,” he says “I’m not a city guy forever I wanted it real Not the bullshit Just real food, done right” Life would agree A family illness brought him back north Then a job opened up at a legendary Northern Michigan spot: Tapawingo
“YOU’VE GOT TO LEAVE SPACE IN THE KITCHEN FOR OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS. THAT’S HOW YOU BUILD SOMETHING THAT LASTS.”
BUT NORTHERN MICHIGAN ALWAYS PULLED AT HIS APRON STRINGS.
He stepped into a kitchen that carried weight and he shouldered it with respect “Pete [Peterson] and I saw eye to eye, ” Tommy says “Tapawingo was a destination It was rooted in land, in product, in emotion. I still have the last handwritten ticket I ever cooked there.”
Now, with three years at Spring & Porter under his belt and year four barreling toward him like a freight train, Tommy’s cooking with the same fire just more focused. His kitchen is small Tight Built like a band with no filler players “I don’t scream in the kitchen That’s not me I want to inspire people,” he says “And sometimes, yeah, someone else brings the spark Father’s Day? Vinny made ribs My kid ate two helpings That’s a win”
The Menu: Michigan Born, World Trained
The food?
Hard to pin down and that’s the point “I don’t want to be an Italian restaurant, a French restaurant, a Polish one. I want to cook the food I’ve learned and the food I love,” he says
That might be a long-simmered Bolognese built from trim that never goes to waste. Or it might be Chicken Takashi a fried chicken dish rooted in his time with chef Takashi Yagihashi in Chicago. “When the first critic came through, he kinda ripped us except for that dish Said he could eat a whole bucket That stuck with me ”
Tommy doesn’t just cook food He composes it Loud, proud, layered stuff that wears its scars and its story on the plate “Cooking is emotion,” he says “It’s you, on a plate That’s the way it has to be”
East Meets West — and It Works
One of Spring & Porter’s most talked-about events is its rotating “East Meets West” dinners a play on Tommy and his partner Sean’s migration from the east side of Michigan to the west. But in the kitchen, it’s full-on global fusion. “We’ve done 13 now everything from ramen to curries to sushi to Chinese,” he says. “We call them Asian Nights, and yeah everyone gets to wear cool shirts.”
“I MEAN, WE ALWAYS COOKED… BUT NOW I TRY TO MAKE SURE MY CREW GETS THAT SAME FEELING. LIKE, WE’RE NOT JUST BANGING OUT FOOD—WE’RE BUILDING SOMETHING TOGETHER.”
Fueling the Fire
The fuel hasn’t changed much It’s in the bones he slowsimmers into stock on his day off It’s in the drive to tweak a dish just enough to make it better without overworking it “Cooking’s the easy part,” he says, quoting his mentor Chef Dan Hugelier “But perfection? That’s the thrill That’s what you chase”
His kitchen runs lean Five cooks, some regulars behind the bar and the front of house, all playing off each other like a touring band that’s been on the road too long in the best way “It’s our second family,” Tommy says “We know each other’s quirks It works”
That energy? You feel it when you walk through the doors There’s a Clutch poster hanging in the entryway autographed, of course “I love heavy metal. Kitchens are the same way. Organized chaos. That intensity that’s where I live.”
MICHIGAN SUMMER HIT LIST
ESSENTIAL SUMMER THROWDOWNS ACROSS THE STATE
1 Blissfest Music Festival
Dates: July 12–14, 2025
Location: Festival Farm, Cross Village
A legendary three-day celebration of folk, roots, and world music Expect camping, workshops, local food vendors, and nonstop dancing in a beautiful northern Michigan setting
2 Boyne Thunder
Dates: July 11–12, 2025
Location: Boyne City, Lake Charlevoix
A high-performance powerboat poker run with shoreline parties, fireworks, and high-octane waterfront energy.
3 Gridlife Midwest Festival
Dates: June 5–8, 2025
Location: Gingerman Raceway, South Haven
A wild collision of motorsports and music featuring time attack, drifting, car shows, EDM, and hip-hop for a one-of-a-kind festival experience
4 Top O’ Michigan Outboard Marathon Nationals
Dates: August 10–11, 2025
Location: Indian River to Cheboygan (Inland Waterway)
An 87-mile, two-day outboard boat endurance race weaving through scenic northern waterways with small-town finish lines and serious speed.
5. Marquette Trails Fest
Dates: June 27–29, 2025
Location: Marquette, MI
A weekend of mountain biking, trail running, live music, craft beer, and Upper Peninsula adventure through Marquette’s rugged terrain
6 Detroit Grand Prix
Dates: May 30–June 1, 2025
Location: Downtown Detroit (Streets of Detroit Circuit) IndyCar racing through downtown streets, backed by concerts, food trucks, and Motor City grit on full display
7 Bay Mills Indian Community Powwow
Dates: August 2–4, 2025
Location: Bay Mills Indian Community, Brimley
A vibrant celebration of Native heritage featuring traditional dancing, drumming, storytelling, and food on the shores of Lake Superior
8 Lake Superior RallyCross Series
Dates & Locations:
• Spring: May 17, 2025
• Summer: July 19, 2025
• Fall: September 13, 2025
• Late Fall: October 11, 2025
Region: Various locations across the Northern Upper Peninsula
A gritty four-event rallycross series, where local drivers tear across dirt and gravel courses deep in the UP wilderness.
9. Castle Farms Summer Concert Series
Dates: Starts June 6, 2025 (“Nostalgia Night”) and runs through summer
Location: Castle Farms, Charlevoix
The iconic Northern Michigan venue returns to form with a full season of concerts, classic rock tributes, and regional bands under the lights of Castle Farms
10 Electric Forest
Dates: June 19–22, 2025
Location: Double JJ Resort, Rothbury
A four-day immersive music and arts experience in Sherwood Forest Expect jam bands, electronic sets, installations, and a tight-knit festival community
11 Off-Road Rumble in the U.P.
Dates: August 8–10, 2025
Location: Bark River International Raceway, Bark River, MI
The 49th Annual Island Resort & Casino Off-Road Rumble brings short-course off-road truck racing back to the UP mud, speed, horsepower, and chaos in the best way.
12 RedBud National Motocross (Red Bud MX)
Date: Saturday, July5,2025
Location: RedBud MX Park, Buchanan, Michigan (just north of Buchanan on Red Bud Trail)
Overview: This legendary AMA Pro Motocross Championship event is Round6 of the 2025 season It attracts over 30,000 fans each Fourth-of-July weekend, thanks to massive triple jumps like LaRocco’s Leap (a 120-ft step-up built in 1991) and iconic, deep, loamy dirt earned the nickname “the best dirt on Earth”
WELCOME TO THE PIGPEN
Words by Philip Hutchinson.....Photos by everyone.
There are photographers you admire from a distance and then there are the ones you somehow end up knowing, working with, and calling a friend For me, that’s Joe Gall Camera Jesus
I think the first time I noticed his name was tied to this shoot inside the old Pontiac Silverdome. Red Bull definitely did something big in there I remember that for sure. Whether Joe was part of that crew or just went in there with some buddies at another time, I honestly don’t know anymore I might’ve even made that part up But at some point, what he did shoot started catching everyone ’ s eye including mine His images just felt different They moved And I remember thinking, That dude seems cool We’ll probably cross paths someday
Later on, Pure Michigan had their eyes on Harbor Springs and the Ugotta Regatta I was already working in the area and thought he might want to be part of it
He’s one of the most living-life people I’ve ever met One minute he’s deep in the woods with his son, off the grid and unplugged, and the next he’s somewhere halfway across the planet on assignment for Adidas or kicking it with Tony Hawk That’s what I admire most the range, the pace, the balance He’s never chasing clout, just experiences Always moving, always making, and always grounded in what matters It’s a kind of drive that doesn’t come from ego it comes from passion, from being fully locked in to both the work and the moment Watching Joe live it is like watching the blueprint for how this creative life should be done.
We got him on a boat, did the thing Around that same time, he shot for Little Bay Boards I helped line up some paddleboards and a couple local folks, just playing connector where I could It’s always felt like locals helping locals He didn’t need me Joe knows how to move but he’s the kind of guy who welcomes that support and returns it in full
What I respect most is Joe’s consistency. He’s stayed grounded, stayed humble, and never stopped creating. Even now, living off the grid in the Upper Peninsula like a full-on mountain man, he’s still turning out top-tier commercial work, flying out of tiny airports and making things happen It’s pure hustle and heart no frills, no flex, just the real thing
This round of The Pigpen is from me Philip Hutchinson and it’s personal Joe’s a mentor, a homie, and one of the most patient, thoughtful creatives I’ve had the pleasure of calling a friend I shot him a few questions just to give y ’all a peek into the world of Camera Jesus father, artist, wanderer, and one of the best to ever point a lens in this state.
**Q: What pulled you north? What was it about the UP that called your name?**
A: Shout out to my Pops for going to NMU and convincing my Grandpa to buy some land up here. The long roads trips to our cabin as a young kid stuck as core memories Deep down this has always felt like home The UP offers an unparalleled connection to nature, with its stunning landscapes, vast wilderness, and serene lakes The tranquility and beauty of the region drew me in, providing a perfect backdrop for both personal reflection and creative inspiration My girlfriend and I have been restoring a 100 year old cabin so that keeps us busy. We always have something to work on.
**Q: You’re off the grid now how’s that feel for someone who’s spent years in the middle of the chaos?**
A: It feels liberating, like a breath of fresh air. Stepping away from the chaos has allowed me to slow down, focus on what truly matters, and rediscover my passion for photography without spending half my day sitting in traffic
**Q: When you ’ re not behind the lens, what keeps your soul full?**
A: I find fulfillment in spending time outdoors, whether hiking, fishing, or just enjoying nature
Connecting with my family and engaging in creative hobbies like woodworking
**Q: You’ve shot everything music, action sports, brands, street what’s still left on your creative bucket list?**
A: I’d love to explore more documentarystyle photography, focusing on storytelling and capturing subjects in a way that hasn’t been done a thousand times
**Q: Has being a dad changed how you shoot or see the world through the lens?**
A: Absolutely Being a dad has deepened my appreciation for life's simple moments I now find joy in capturing everyday experiences, and documenting our adventures together. It’s really cool to see my son behind a camera these days.
**Q: You’ve been a mentor, whether you meant to or not. What advice do you give the young shooters coming up?**
A: Stay curious and never stop experimenting Embrace failure as part of the learning process, and find your unique voice Most importantly, capture what you love and let your passion guide your work
**Q: Your work ethic hasn’t slowed down at all How do you stay sharp while being so remote?**
A: I maintain a routine that includes regular shooting, and exploring new techniques I recently invested in an underwater housing , and continuously seek inspiration from nature and my surroundings
**Q: How has your photography changed since leaving Detroit? Any new rituals or routines?**
A: My photography has become more introspective and focused on the natural world I’ve developed a routine of early morning shoots to catch the best light and dedicate time each week to review and reflect on my work
THE DROP
MUSIC PROMOTER YORG GIVES IT TO YOU STRAIGHT DETROIT GUITAR GOD KENNY OLSON, THEN RISING ARTIST LOUIE LEE. ONE’S A LEGEND, THE OTHER’S A FIRESTARTER.
1. Can you share a memorable behindthe-scenes moment from your latest tour?
There’s so many, man But right now, my memory ’ s kinda like jalapeño string lights in a Tijuana taxi I’m shaking ’ em, but they ain’t lighting up
2 What’s the most bizarre thing that has happened to you on stage?
Back in the day with The Twisted Brown Trucker Band? We were a straight-up traveling circus Thousands of wild moments Too many to pick just one
3. What’s the craziest rumor you ’ ve heard about yourself?
That I crashed my Trans Am into a tree in Atlanta with some girls in the car Meanwhile, I was sitting on a tour bus across the country. It was all over the radio People ran with it
4. What’s the most surprising thing a fan has done for you or your music? I’ve had fans turn into lifelong friends, which is beautiful. But people have also tried to jump through the windows of my limo or tour bus just to get in That’s wild
PHOTOS, WORDS, AND THE SOUNDS OF WHAT’S NEXT
1 What’s the most surprising thing a fan has done for you or your music?
We really have the best fans Bandit Nation is growing every day, and they impress me all the time But I gotta say there’s about four or five people walking around with tattoos inspired by this project. That blew me away.
2. Can you share a memorable behind-thescenes moment from your latest tour? At one show, we scrapped the setlist Wrote every song title on a piece of paper, tossed them in a bowl, and let fans pull the songs That was the show It was chaos in the best way and honestly, unforgettable
3. If your latest album was a movie, what genre would it be, and who would star in it? It’d be Country Hop and Roll, no question Starring everyone in The Louie Lee Show plus some throwback legends: John Wayne, Johnny Cash, Tina Turner, Elvis. I’d throw my grandfather Fred Hilliker in there too And Sebastian Perez he helped shape this whole thing
4. What’s your favorite lyric you ’ ve ever written, and what inspired it?
“I think it’s time to grow, say goodbye to the old Old ghosts won’t steal the show” It’s about owning your past but not letting it steal your light I’ve had to remind myself of that more than once
KENNY OLSON: RIFFS, RUMORS, AND DETROIT ROOTS
Interview and photos by Yorg | STOKE Magazine
Interview and photos by Yorg | STOKE Magazine
LOUIE LEE: FROM THE D TO THE SPHERE HE’S GOT VEGAS DREAMS AND MICHIGAN ROOTS — AND HE’S TAKING BANDIT NATION WITH HIM.
5. If your latest album was a movie, what genre would it be and who would star in it?
Jim Jarmusch vibes all the way with Dennis Hopper starring Trippy, raw, real
6. What’s your favorite lyric you ’ ve ever written, and what inspired it?
“Stumbling blocks are stepping stones” Simple, but that line says everything about how I live and move through life
7. How do you stay creative when you hit a songwriting block?
Free your mind and your ass will follow. That’s always been the motto. Inspiration comes when you stop forcing it.
8. Do you have any pre-show rituals or superstitions?
If soundcheck goes too good, it usually means the show won’t. So I keep it chill. Then I’ll throw on Van Halen, Tom Waits, Iggy, whatever fits the vibe Sometimes I just sit with it all and let go before walking out there
9. How has the Michigan music scene influenced your style and sound?
In every way Motown Detroit rock Growing up here, that energy becomes part of your DNA Everyone from here carries that sound it’s raw, soulful, and heavy.
10. Looking ahead, where do you see your music taking you in the next five years?
I’ve got so much unreleased music stuff that’s better than anything I’ve put out. I’m writing and recording nonstop. I just hope it gives people something real to hold onto in these crazy times
5. How has the Michigan music scene shaped your sound?
My sound is Michigan We’ve been blessed with so much variety here from Motown to garage rock to hip hop I soaked it all in It’s why The Louie Lee Show can sound like three genres at once
6. What advice would you give to young musicians coming up in Michigan?
“Find your sound” isn’t just a cliché it’s a process. I didn’t get it until I started writing to heal after losing people I loved That’s when it clicked Do it for yourself first That’s how it becomes honest, and that’s how your fans feel it
7. Can you describe a moment where everything changed for you?
It was our first hard ticket show — looked out and saw a full room. People spending real money to be there with us. I knew then if we could do it once, we could do it again.
8. What’s a song you wish you wrote?
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen I used to sing it in a cover band and would just be floored by the structure and brilliance If I wrote that? I’d probably retire lol
9. What’s one track you’d play for someone who’s never heard your music?
“Borrowed Time” That one ’ s got my DNA in it the artist, the producer, the soul behind the whole thing
10. Dream venue and what does that setlist look like? The Sphere in Vegas Visuals, sound, all of it turned up to 100 The setlist would feel like stepping into the world of Country Hop and Roll. Immersive, loud, emotional, real
SUMMER IN THE SNOWBELT
“Stacy in the Snow”
sits down with Mount Bohemia founder Lonie Glieberman to talk about transforming the Keweenaw’s wildest winter mountain into a year-round destination
THE SUMMER SHIFT
Stacy: So what inspired the summer operations push?
Lonie: We’ve got the space, the facilities, and the staff It makes business sense to stay open and Bohemia in summer is still wilderness, escape, and adventure The Nordic Spa became a perfect fit.
Stacy: What’s the summer vibe like?
Lonie: A little more chill. Families, couples, fewer party vibes It’s still fun, just in a different way
Stacy: What are people doing up here in the summer?
Lonie: Spa, hiking, paddleboarding. A lot of folks check out Copper Harbor for mountain biking It’s peaceful but active
SPA LIFE IN THE SNOW BELT
Stacy: The Nordic Spa has grown fast with four saunas, two steam rooms, a rain room, and multiple pools And it’s only getting bigger
Lonie: We’re building a new mineral hot pool that’ll hold 49 people That helps reduce congestion and adds another element And we ’ re kicking around the idea of yoga, stretching, maybe becoming more of a wellness resort But we’ll see
Stacy: Mount Bohemia isn’t like any other ski resort Can you break down what makes it so different?
Lonie: Bohemia’s core has always been wilderness, adventure, and escape We started super rustic just the ski runs and basic facilities Lodging came a few years later, then the bar, and that changed everything That’s when we really started building a vibe not just skiing, but energy, life, something unique
Stacy: It’s always felt non-traditional Like it’s not trying to be anything else
Lonie: Exactly We play to our strengths: snow, terrain, the glades and we don’t groom It’s real You can’t see all the runs from the lift, and you can spend an hour chasing a trail like Seven Dwarfs That’s what makes it an adventure. Most Midwest resorts just don’t have that.
TIKI BAR IN THE U.P.? YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT.
Stacy: What’s this about a tiki bar?
Lonie: (laughs) It started as a Nordic bar idea Then an employee said “surf bar,” then someone else said “tiki bar” That was it A rooftop tiki bar It’d be open year-round but awesome for summer Totally different We’re planning for a December open if it all lines up
LOOKING AHEAD: LODGES, VOODOO, AND MORE SNOWCAT MISSIONS
Lonie: We’re adding new runs this fall in the Far East section and possibly in the Outer Limits Long-term, we ’ re thinking of a backcountry lodge at Voodoo Mountain for snowcat skiers and hikers A place with food, drinks, and a sauna where 20 people can crash that’s the dream
Stacy: Who’s the summer audience for Bohemia?
Lonie: Some are spa-only people never skied a day in their life And we ’ re fine with that We want people to discover this place in whatever way suits them
THE FUTURE OF BOHEMIA
Stacy: What’s your vision for Mount Bohemia ten years from now?
Lonie: Same place More runs More lodging More spa features But still the same vibe We’re growing, but we’re not selling out.
MEET THE CREW BEHIND STOKE
We’re not a company we ’ re a crew. A handful of people doing what we love, chasing stories that matter to us, and building something that feels honest.
Philip Hutchinson
Founder, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Photographer from Michigan. Founder of Northern Territory Imaging. I started Stoke because I felt like it needed to exist something that captures the energy we live in Snowboarding, motorsports, music, art, adrenaline, and storytelling all under one roof. It’s not about trends. It’s about people doing real things in a place we care about. I’m just doing my best to document it the way it deserves to be seen.
Yorg Chief Hype Man & Founder of The Drop
Detroit music promoter and longtime connector Yorg runs The Drop, brings in the voices that matter, and keeps the conversation honest and loud. He knows who’s next and who’s real and makes sure they get seen
Taylor “The Birdman” Jepsen
Rider & Creative Contributor
I’ve known Taylor since he was a kid. Like a nephew to me. He’s the reason I got into snowboarding in the first place Always down to ride, always pushing things forward, and always showing up when it matters
Kenny “The Missile” Forton
Snowboarder & Cultural Vibe Manager
Kenny brings the heat Fast on a board, louder in the lot, and the kind of energy that keeps everything fun even when it’s chaos He’s the vibe guy pure stoke, start to finish.
Al King
Creative Contributor & Cultural Guide
Snowboarder, drummer, and co-founder of the Charlevoix Mushroom Tour. Al’s got a sixth sense for what’s coming in the snowboard world. Nobody’s more tapped in he’s part of the reason the Pigpen even works
The Mission
Stoke is about the people who bring fire to this state whether they’re carving lines in the Keweenaw, dropping sets in packed clubs, tuning rally cars in a pole barn, or sewing art into clothing that carries generations. It’s for the ones who move differently and think louder It’s for the creators, the makers, and the brave
A Note on the Magazine
There’s no formula. Each issue changes shape. Some regulars will be there The Drop, Welcome to the Pigpen but nothing is guaranteed The stories shift with the season, the inspiration, and the people who show up. Stoke is a platform for creatives in the adrenaline and art worlds who are pushing what’s possible and doing it in Michigan.
The Bigger Picture
We’re just the core. The truth is, Stoke only happens because of the whole crew around us photographers, riders, creatives, people who give their time and talent because they believe in the vision. We’re all part of the same spine no one ’ s more important than anyone else
THE END
A NOTE OF THANKS
I’ve always believed I could build something like this. And now that it’s real, I know this is only the beginning. Making something is one thing keeping it alive is another. It needs care. Attention. Time. Love. It’ll grow. It’ll get stronger. And when it does, I believe it’ll mean something to this state, to the people who shaped it, and to the ones still to come
To everyone who carved out a little space in your packed lives to be part of this thank you I know how full your plates already were Your words, your stories, your presence made this real
To the ones who kept me going through long drives, wandering conversations, and those moments where this thing started to take shape you helped more than you know
This is the first spark And with the right fuel, it’ll burn bright