Cheese Lady in Grand Rapids

We were thrilled with our recent discovery of the Cheese Lady in Grand Rapids.  Only open three months, they were doing a brisk business last Friday afternoon.  Susie gave us samples and sold us on several products which make up into beautiful gifts in their wooden boxes. We bought cheese made in Benton Harbor, Muskegon and Fennville. Yum! They taught us a new word: "turophile", which means lover of cheese! To go with their fine foods, they sell good quality Eagle Eye import wines. The Cheese Lady started in Muskegon and they have an additional store in Kalamazoo. Woohoo!

Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo

One of the best known Michigan craft beers is Bell's in Kalamazoo.  You'll love their trays on which they serve their beer samplers--do you want the upper peninsula or the lower? Our choices tonight were sangría, milk stout, smoked vienna lager, raspberry wild one, rye stout and Deb's red. Launched in 1985, Bell's employs over 100 people and distributes in multiple states, Puerto Rico and DC. They have a barley farm in Shepherd Michigan which they use in their beer-making. Their green efforts on the farm and throughout the brewery must be leading the industry. Tours are given at the downtown brewery which also contains their Eccentric Café and their General Store.

University Roadhouse in Kalamazoo

We've built some great memories at the University Roadhouse in Kalamazoo. It's a great place to hang with friends especially on the upper outdoor deck which lets you soak up the sun's beautiful rays. The young crowds flock here for the great food (Bell's battered cod, black n bleu burger, perch reuben), live music during the week and a DJ on Thursday nights. Then there's the boombas of sangría. And most nights, your kids eat free. Before you catch Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at Miller's Auditorium this month, grab a bite to eat at the Roadhouse.

Henderson Castle in Kalamazoo

You'll succumb to the history and charm of a lovely Queen Anne style B and B in Kalamazoo called the Henderson Castle. Built in 1895, it rests high above the city where the views are fantastic. There are seven totally restored rooms with beautiful quaint fixtures. François Moyet, Master French Chef, is the owner today and he serves up some very gourmet meals. The cuisses de grenouille (frog legs) were done to perfection. Some paranormal enthusiasts say the house is haunted, but we did not sense the presence of any ghosts.  The hot tub on the roof, however, is wonderful under the stars! Thanks for the photos, Mary France Oudin.

Celery Flats in Portage

In the town of Portage, south of Kalamazoo, lies an interesting historical area called Celery Flats. Much like the Troy Historical Corners, people have worked hard to preserve their heritage and move their beautiful buildings with stories behind them to one particular area. Above is the grain elevator, the oldest commercial structure still standing in Portage. It was moved here in 1990.  Below is the one room school house which dates back to 1856. There is an interpretive center which tells us everything we want to know about the important celery crop in this area! You can bring your snowshoes and hike the beautiful walking trails this winter. The 100 year old barn turned into Hayloft Theatre holds cultural events in the summertime.

Kalamazoo's Cathedral Church of St Augustine

St Augustine's is celebrating 155 years in Kalamazoo which began its existence in 1856, the same year that Abraham Lincoln spoke in nearby Bronson Park!  The small wooden church of 1856 was replaced by a larger brick edifice in 1869, followed by expansions that included a new rectory, school, convent, Borgess Hospital and then the present cathedral which was completed in 1951. It miraculously survived a tornado that slammed into it in 1980 and continues to serve 110,000 parishioners in the surrounding nine counties.

Kal-Haven Trail

Today is National Trails Day and Michigan has a lot of beauties. The Kal-Haven Trail is 34 miles of converted railroad lines meandering through the beautiful countryside from South Haven on the shores of Lake Michigan all the way to Kalamazoo. It is a bit of heaven for hikers and bikers, joggers, roller bladers and parents pushing children in strollers. It is only through the tireless and unceasing efforts of groups like Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance that we have converted these excellent paths that traverse cities and countryside alike. Michigan is second only to Wisconsin with established rail-trails covering over 1500 miles.

KIA'S Dale Chihuly: Glass Master

There's a 1998 Chihuly chandelier hanging in the entryway of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts that you cannot miss. It's a massive snakelike tangle of 400 orange and fiery red glass arms. The sculptor, Dale Chihuly, is known throughout the world for his massive glass-blown creations that evoke the sea and nature. The KIA has been in existence since 1924, but it's current facility will be 50 years old next year. You would never know it. Their '97 expansion and renovation make it one of Michigan's foremost museums.

Kalamazoo's National Library of the Year

The absolutely astonishing renovation of the Kalamazoo Public Library is simply a beauty to behold. To be named the library of the year nationally is an incredible feat! Their motto is TLC which stands for Technology Learning and Collaboration. We were blessed to enter on a sunny day and see the rainbow prisms dancing around the main hall from light sculptor Michael Hayden. They call it the Electrolier. Every where you look, there are other works of art in various forms --3-dimensional fabric, stained glass, painted columns, oh my! We were like kids in a candy factory in a heckuva dream library that oozes comfort and charm and earnestly beckons return visits. Many thanks to librarian, Ann Fleming, for her keen insights.

Air Zoo Larry

Being greeted by WWII veterans and having them tell us the highlights of the museum is a very special touch at the Air Zoo of Kalamazoo. Larry's firsthand experience stories made us tear up and we all had to give him a hug. Talk about starting visitors off in the right frame of mind! Behind him is the Ascender, a rare plane that very few people get to see. Larry so enjoyed filling us in on all the details. This museum is being lauded world-wide. They doubled their number of visitors last year. Just go!

Air Zoo

Last weekend we visited the fantastic Air Zoo just outside of Kalamazoo. The layout, exhibits and methods of display made this museum experience one of our favorites in Michigan. No wonder it was voted the "Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners" and "Best Place to Spend a Day with Your Family," the Air Zoo features amusement park-style rides, full-motion flight simulators, 4-D Missions Theater, Space Ball and Zero G, as well as more than 50 rare aircraft, exhibits, educational activities.... and the admission is free!

First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo

Is cupid on its way? This angel hovers over the doors of the First Presbyterian Church in Kalamazoo, one of the most photographed in the city with a long history going back to 1849. They are involved in many ministries such as Habitat for Humanity and Martha's Table (housing of the homeless). Happy Valentines Day.

Stuart Avenue Inn in Kalamazoo

This 1886 Bed and Breakfast has history! The Upjohn family, famous for it's vast pills and drug empire, is part of the lore of the Stuart Avenue Inn. James Upjohn lived in this stately mansion in the early 1900's. Owners Chris and Dana make guests feel very much at home and cook up a sumptuous breakfast. Our most recent visit included apple brie french toast with warmed maple syrup. The top floor has two suites with beds for 8-10 people, which we used on another visit as our girls' weekend away. There's so much to see and do in Kalamazoo!

Rustica!

Yummy European bistro comfort food--that's what we were told to expect at the newest eatery Rustica, in Kalamazoo and it far exceeded our expectations in every way! With lovely ambiance, great service and food to swoon over, we left in a state of bliss. We highly recommend for appetizers, the yellow fin tuna crudo and the bay scallops with lemony-parsley risotto. The cassoulet with a glass of gewurztraminer was absolutely superb. Other hits were the grilled arctic char, the handmade potato gnocchi and the winter mushroom dish with marsala. It's location is on the Kalamazoo pedestrian mall in the heart of everything--a perfect end to our Art Hop crawl.

Art Hop in Kalamazoo

We were blessed not to have that 2 feet of snow that hit the East coast and took immense pleasure in participating in our very first Art Hop in Kalamazoo this weekend, which is done every first Friday of the month. Wow, were we impressed! It's not only located in art galleries, but in restaurants, an architectural firm, hospitals, stores, and virtually any business that wants to participate. There was even one located in a prayer clinic. Each of the 19 venues featured a particular local artist or group of artists whom you were able to meet and chat with. It was all pretty fascinating. This photo is in the Studio Grill café. Imagine the hordes of onlookers behind us! It was fun discovering downtown Kalamazoo and hoofing it around town to nearby sights. We met lots of genuinely friendly people. The next Art Hop is March 5th. You simply download the map and sites from their site here. You won't be disappointed!