August 2010

"In summer, the song sings itself."

-   William Carlos Williams

Pure Michigan 2

Only in Michigan (that I know of) when asked, "What did you do this weekend?"  one can say with a wry grin, "I went wine tasting at the insane asylum. Isn't that crazy?"

There are so many great wines in Michigan, and the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas' wineries have found a very unique way of showcasing them.  Packaged with art, food and blues, the tasting takes place in front of a Michigan historical and architectural landmark formerly known as the Traverse City State Hospital and before that, the Northern Michigan Asylum.

The beautiful, century-old Victorian-Italianate style buildings that spread across 63 acres are now owned by the Minervini Group of Traverse City, and have been renamed Grand Traverse Commons. Under their vision Minervini is revitalizing the site into a wonderful community of residential, retail and commercial opportunity. 

What a refreshing approach, when so many other companies would haven't bothered and would have taken a wrecking ball to it, the Minervini Group saw the possibilities and the historical value, and through their careful restoration have honored the memory of so many of our ancestors and friends who lived in the facility. 

So mark your calendar for the last Friday of August in 2011. Then you can walk around saying silly, politically incorrect one-liners like "I'm just nuts for Circa's Improvisation!"

p.s. It's true. While I thought Bel Lago's Leelanau Primavera was my go-to white, along came a couple new wineries (2008) that are giving it a run for its money. Originally when I was tasting this weekend I fell for Forty-Five North Vineyard's 45 White, but after a thorough completion of a bottle of each (not all at once), the Circa Improvisation won out. Not to worry though, I purchased plenty of all three!


http://www.thevillagetc.com/

http://traversecitywinefestival.com/

Jinxed It.

Last week I was lamenting for my fellow Americans in the Gulf Coast, and pondering the impact that such a disaster could have on Michigan. Looks like I jinxed it. We're about to find out. Right now 800,000+ gallons of oil have flowed into the Kalamazoo River. The Kalamazoo River flows into Lake Michigan.

When are we going to come together and put greed aside and think about the future of our planet?

Americans talk about how hard it is to break our addiction to oil, it can't be done. I understand it is difficult. A lot of things in life have been. America was built on a history of hard.

History proves THAT is when Americans rose to the occassion. We've crossed formidable oceans to start new lives, we've stopped incurable diseases, we stepped foot on the moon. People said it couldn't be done, but we proved them wrong.

Now we are at a crucial turning point in our survival as a human race. Have we given up on that can do spirit? Have we lost our ability to innovate? Have we lost our desire to care about a better life for our future generations?

Right now, I'm hanging my head in sorrow.

Follow the story here.