Blog Post
Canoeing Anyone??
by darla
With Memorial Day quickly approaching, now is a great time to don your sunscreen, fill your cooler, and head out on one of our many Michigan waterways. If you are a fan of canoeing/kayaking, pick up a copy of Doc Fletcher's new book Michigan Rivers Less Paddled : The Rivers, The Towns, The Taverns here at the AADL. This handy guide will provide you with plenty of ideas for canoeing excursions around the area, including local pubs to hit at the end of your journey. Jerry Dennis' Canoeing Michigan Rivers : A Comprehensive Guide to 45 Rivers is another guide to consider if you are looking for new routes to explore. If you are not the proud owner of a canoe or kayak, there are plenty of rental places in the area. Visit Huron River Net for a list of businesses that will gladly provide you with that canoe you need.
Blog Post
University of Michigan and Tart Cherries
by Stewart
Dr. Sara Warber of University of Michigan Integrative Medicine researched the benefits of eating tart cherries and found that the Antioxidants may help with heart disease and inflammation. This is one of the topics discussed at the Experimental Biology 2009 meeting in New Orleans.
Read more about Michigan cherries and check out a consumer's guide to dietary supplements and alternative medicines.
And here's a story about cherries for the kids.
Blog Post
Ideas for Michigan's economy
by annevm
Is anyone except me tired of hearing bad economic news about Michigan? If you're ready for some inspiring ideas on how our economy might improve in the future, check out the new book Coming Clean: Breaking America's addiction to oil and coal, especially the chapter about how carmakers can save themselves and help save our planet. Or read the fascinating article “Getting Airport City Off the Ground” from the The Center for Michigan. The article says, among other things, that Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport has a branch of the famous Rijksmuseum. Maybe someday a Michigan “Airport City” will have a branch of the newly reopened U-M Museum of Art.
Blog Post
Before MSU game - read this
by annevm
I know virtually nothing about college basketball, but apparently MSU has a fighting chance of becoming the national college basketball champ. Suddenly, I’m a fair-weather MSU fan. Looks like I’ll have to wait my turn for When March Went Mad: The Game That Transformed Basketball, by Seth Davis, which recounts the season leading to the March 1979 NCAA finals, in which MSU’s Magic Johnson squared off against ISU's Larry Bird. Sounds like a good history of the NCAA basketball tournament.
Blog Post
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Betty Ford!
by annevm
Next month former First Lady Betty Ford will turn 91, and to help us all anticipate that, her former assistant press secretary will appear at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library at the University of Michigan. Patti Matson will talk about “Betty Ford: Strength in a Package Marked Fragile” on March 31 (Tuesday), at 7:30 p.m. Mrs. Ford is the founder of the Betty Ford Center for substance abuse and addiction and a Congressional Gold Medal recipient. You can see wonderful images of her life in our AP Images database.
Blog Post
Speeding ticket campaign is hoax
by annevm
A Michigan "speeding ticket campaign” is a hoax, maybe even an urban legend. Check your e-mail for this: "Beware all you lead foots!!! Spring is Coming! . . . and so is Operation Yellow Jacket. Look out for MI-DOT trucks parked along the road or suddenly appearing behind you pacing you - it could be a Trooper driving the truck. Called 'Operation Yellow Jacket', each Michigan State Police District has a truck cleaned up and ready to go! These trucks have specially modified engines that can virtually catapult the truck from snow-plow speed to intercept speed in seconds. And when the engine boost kicks in, the warning lights automatically change from flashing yellow to the dreaded red and blue! . . ."
Blog Post
Detroit's Healing Work of Art
by darla
In 1968 Detroit Receiving Hospital began an art collection designed to provide an environment colorful, attractive, and beneficial to patients, their families, and the hospital staff. Today, that collection includes more than a thousand works of art. The Healing Work of Art : From the Collection of Detroit Receiving Hospital documents this amazing collection, highlighting the diversity of its holdings as well as its history. Detroit Receiving Hospital is home to major sculptures, as well as hundreds of paintings, works on paper, textiles, and crafts. Over the years, the collection has been broadened by the addition of African beadwork, tapestries from the USA, Africa, and Columbia, a site-specific Pewabic tile water fountain, and large photo murals in the Emergency Department. The collection, which continues to grow in scope and quality, retains its original purpose of lightening the burden of illness carried by patients and their families. Art enthusiasts, as well as those interested in Detroit culture and history, will appreciate this book.
Blog Post
Asparagus! Stalking the American Life
by manz
Think Local First presents a screening of Asparagus! Stalking the American Life tonight at 7:15pm at the Michigan Theater. “For 30 years, Oceana County Michigan has been the Asparagus Capital of the World. Now its spear-struck residents and family farms take on the U.S. War on Drugs, Free Trade and a Fast Food Nation, all to save their beloved roots.” Asparagus’ director Kirsten Kelly will be available for a Q & A session after the film. Proceeds from the screening of this multi-award winning film will benefit Think Local First. Planning on having asparagus for dinner before you go? Check out some of AADL's tasty vegetable cook books.
Blog Post
Michigan Turns 172!
by aschling
Michigan is turning 172! On January 26 1837 Michigan entered the Union becoming the 26th state. Michigan has many beautiful natural attractions such as: The Great Lakes, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mackinac Island and Tahquamenon Falls. Michigan was originally home to Native American tribes before the French settlers came. Michigan's largest city is Detroit aka the Motor City, Motown, Hockeytown or The D. Detroit is home of Defending Stanley Cup Champions the Detroit Red Wings, Tigers, and Lions. Our Capital is Lansing and this is the only state that is made up of two peninsulas. Michigan has also produced a number of renowned people such as Henry Ford, Gerald R Ford (raised in Michigan) Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine), Sam Raimi (producer), Thomas Edison and Stevie Wonder to name a few. For a more complete list click here.
Michigan is also home of Meijer, Better Made Potato Chips, Faygo and Kellogg Cereal. To learn more about the history of our state check out the local history room at the Downtown library. Happy Birthday Michigan!
Blog Post
Michigan Notable Books 2009
by Van
The Library of Michigan's annual selection (annotations are from the Library of Michigan list):
Asylum for the Insane: A History of the Kalamazoo State Hospital by William A. Decker, M.D. (Arbutus Press)-- The Michigan Asylum for the Insane opened in Kalamazoo in 1859 as Michigan's first state institution created solely for the care and treatment of the mentally ill. In this outstanding history, complete with dozens of images and schematic maps, Dr. Decker, a former medical superintendent of the hospital, places emphasis on the treatments themselves, including hydrotherapy, electro-convulsive therapy and psychoanalysis, the various instruments used, and the growth and development of the hospital's campus and buildings.
The English Major by Jim Harrison (Grove Press) --Harrison's 14th book of fiction is a humorous novel exploring a man's journey to self-discovery. After being dumped by his wife, Cliff, a 60-ish former English teacher turned farmer, hits the road in his old Ford Taurus with a plan of renaming all the birds and all the states. Told in a believable first-person voice, the story describes Cliff's attempt to shed his former life, by crossing the boundaries of as many states of the Union as he can reach in a year. The novel revisits many of Harrison's longtime interests: travel, literature, food and man's interaction in the natural world. This is Harrison's sixth time on the Michigan Notable Books list.
The Expeditions: A Novel by Karl Iagnemma (Dial Press)-- This debut novel by suburban Detroit native Karl Iagnemma is set in historic Michigan during the 1840s. Elisha Stone, a 16-year-old runaway, heads to Detroit to get away from trouble at home. He winds up working with a party of naturalists, embarking on a voyage to the Upper Peninsula to both discover treasure and prove theories about the origins of man. Iagnemma skillfully displays the interactions of the unstable research party, richly describes the historical attitudes and conditions of this frontier era, and reveals the interaction between father and son, as Elisha's father comes in search of his prodigal son.
Historic Cottages of Glen Lake by Barbara Siepker. Photography by Dietrich Floeter (Leelanau Press)-- More than 50 historic cottages' interiors and exteriors are documented in this beautiful publication detailing the resort community nestled in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes in Leelanau County. Like taking a trip back in time, the book's descriptive narratives and lavish photographs highlight each individual cottage's lore and memories, and will delight readers with interests in local history, architecture and family traditions.
"Jiffy" A Family Tradition: Mixing Business and Old-Fashioned Values by Cynthia Furlong Reynolds (Chelsea Milling Company, distributed by University of Michigan Press)-- In this well-crafted history of the Chelsea-based company that has become an icon of Americana, Reynolds perfectly blends the story of the company, the family that owned it and the charming Washtenaw County town that supported it. This is Reynolds' second time on the Michigan Notable Books list.
Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories of Growing Up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka (Viking) -- In this lively and entertaining story about growing up in Flint as the second of six brothers, Scieszka lived in a rambunctious household filled with pranks and typical boy adventures. The brief and humorous stories fit the wonderful illustrations perfectly, suiting Scieszka's mission of reaching the reluctant reader. The award-winning author of The Stinky Cheese Man, Scieszka is the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.
Looking for Hickories: The Forgotten Wildness of the Midwest by Tom Springer (University of Michigan Press) -- Looking for Hickories is Springer's ode to the people and the natural world found in the heart of the Great Lakes region. Often beginning with amusement and ending with wisdom, his touching essays explore topics and issues unique to the upper Midwest, including building barns, land preservation, wild fruit, fossils and the death of the small town salesman.
Measure of the Heart: A Father's Alzheimer's, a Daughter's Return by Mary Ellen Geist (Springboard) -- In this tender memoir, Geist details her experiences as she gave up her job and returned home to Northern Michigan to take care of her ailing father stricken with Alzheimer's. Geist deftly describes the painful hardships of the disease and the factors that influenced her decision to return home, and shares the blessings of growing closer to both her parents.
The Model T: A Centennial History by Robert Casey (Johns Hopkins University Press) -- Debuting in 1908 as the first mass-produced and truly affordable car, the Ford Model T quickly revolutionized automotive design, engineering, manufacturing and sales, and American society as a whole. Complete with historic photographs and color advertisements, many from the Benson Ford Research Center in Dearborn, Casey details the story and technological innovations of this great American icon.
Ninety Years Crossing Lake Michigan: The History of the Ann Arbor Car Ferries by Grant Brown, Jr. (University of Michigan Press) -- In 1892, the Ann Arbor Car Ferries began the seemingly impossible task of carrying loaded railroad cars by ship across Lake Michigan from Frankfort, Mich., to Kewaunee, Wis. Brown has written a remarkably detailed and well-researched history of the Ann Arbor Car Ferries, how they started, and the men who ran the company, and the ferries' final days in 1982.
A Picturesque Situation: Mackinac Before Photography, 1615-1860 by Brian Leigh Dunnigan (Wayne State University Press) -- Essential reading for anyone interested in the history of Mackinac Island and the people that have lived there, Dunnigan's impressive collection of pre-photographic images of the Mackinac region draws from decades of research. Rare maps, plans, drawings, sketches, engravings and paintings, all in full color, are enhanced by the highly readable text. This is Dunnigan's second time on the Michigan Notable Books list.
Ravens in the Storm: A Personal History of the 1960s Antiwar Movement by Carl Oglesby (Scribner) -- In this powerful first-person account of the Students for a Democratic Society (S.D.S.) and the University of Michigan during the 1960s anti-war movement, Oglesby draws from more than 4,000 pages of government intelligence on himself and the organization he led. As a former employee in the defense industry with high security clearance, Oglesby became president of S.D.S. and a leading anti-war spokesman; his centrist stance on many issues made him unpopular with S.D.S.' more militant members.
Roadie: The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer by Jamie O. Smith. Illustrated by Jef Mallett (Velo Press) -- With a keen sense of humor and a wealth of experience as a cyclist, Smith explains the wonderfully addicting but equally strange world of bicycle racing, including many of its charming habits and obsessive practices. Training, diet, several of the Michigan courses, cycle repairs, race strategies, and the puzzling question of why cyclists wear Lycra are all outlined in this unique book. Mallett's comic illustrations perfectly complement the narrative.
Sirens of Chrome: The Enduring Allure of the Auto Show Model by Margery Krevsky (Momentum Books)-- A fascinating glimpse at the "real" auto show models, Sirens of Chrome illustrates the history of models and female imagery in sales advertisements and promotions, dating back to the origins of the auto industry. Many of the photographs are of Detroit's auto show over the years and come from the National Automotive History Collection at the Detroit Public Library.
Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island by Patrick Livingston (Wayne State University Press) -- Located nearly 20 miles south of Detroit, Bob-Lo Island served as the ultimate summer playground for many southeastern Michigan families for nearly 100 years. In this well-researched and nostalgic book, Livingston explores the island's history from its discovery by the French to its use by missionaries, the British military, escaped slaves, farmers, and finally the wealthy class that transformed it into a summer resort. This is Livingston's second time on the Michigan Notable Books list.
The Toledo War: The First Michigan-Ohio Rivalry by Don Faber (University of Michigan Press) -- Long before their legendary battles on the gridiron, Michigan and Ohio fought over a narrow slice of land in 1835 known as the Toledo Strip. Utilizing newspaper accounts from the era, Faber expertly explores the roots of the conflict, the politically charged environment contributing to Michigan's delayed admission to the Union, and the many fascinating personalities involved. Although Ohio technically "won" by maintaining possession of the strip, Michigan received a large portion of the Upper Peninsula as a consolation, thereby answering the popular trivia question, "Why is the U.P. part of Michigan?"
War as They Knew It: Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, and America in a Time of Unrest by Michael Rosenberg (Grand Central Publishing) -- The greatest years of the storied football rivalry between the University of Michigan and Ohio State University took place in the late 1960s and early 1970s amidst campus unrest, Vietnam War protests and great political and social upheaval. More than just a history of the rivalry, Rosenberg integrates the story of the two iconic head coaches with the unfolding national dramas of the era.
When the Church Becomes Your Party: Contemporary Gospel Music by Deborah Smith Pollard (Wayne State University Press) -- Pollard provides a detailed overview of the contemporary gospel music scene in Detroit. Often difficult to distinguish between R&B and hip-hop, contemporary gospel has become much more urban and commercial than the traditional sound of the past. Pollard expertly explains these changes and explores how the various changes are being received in the black church community.
Who's Jim Hines? by Jean Alicia Elster (Wayne State University Press) -- Based on real events about Douglas Ford, Jr., a 12-year-old African-American boy growing up in Detroit during the Great Depression, Elster's novel geared toward young readers touches on family, father-son relationships, racism and friendships. Doug's father owns a lumber company, and when Doug is forced to join his father in the physically demanding work of delivering lumber, he unravels the mystery of a man named Jim Hines, whom he always hears about but has never seen.
Wreck of the Carl D.: A True Story of Loss, Survival, and Rescue at Sea by Michael Schumacher (Bloomsbury USA) -- 2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley. Caught in one of the most violent storms in history on Lake Michigan, the Bradley sank on Nov. 18, 1958. Intended as a tribute to the men who died aboard the ship, Schumacher's powerful narrative explores the circumstances of the shipwreck itself and the resulting devastating impact on the small community of Rogers City, where many crew members were from. This is Schumacher's second time on the Michigan Notable Books list.