#41 MICHIGAN

Known as the Great Lakes State, Mitten State, Winter Wonderland, and Wolverine State;  Michigan is clearly visible from space according to Jerry Linegar, an astronaut from Michigan who spent time on Russia’s Mir Space Station.  His Russian co-workers were able to identify the Great Lakes and Michigan nestled along their shores.  Michigan is the only state that borders four of the five Great Lakes (Superior, Huron, Michigan and Erie) and guards those coasts with and impressive 124 lighthouses. **  The State Quarter might be rather boring compared to other designs but it focuses on Michigan’s most distinctive feature.

We had a terrific lunch in New Buffalo and I was very impressed with this resort community on the Lake Michigan.  I can definitely picture myself returning to spend a relaxing lakeside weekend basking in the summer sun.  We ate at the charming Stray Dog Bar & Grill.  The dog portraits in the bathroom were great, the logo glasses were great and believe or not the food was great, too.  The beach was welcoming on a fall afternoon with several sunbathers basking in the final rays of the season.

The Kellogg Brothers established a breakfast cereal dynasty in Battle Creek, MI in 1894 and Vernors Ginger Ale became the nation’s first soda pop made in Detroit in 1866.

The Makinac Bridge crosses 5 miles over the straits of Mackinac.

The first regularly scheduled airline passenger service in the
US started in 1926 between Grand Rapids and Detroit.

Michigan is rated the 12^th most bike-friendly state and the League of Michigan Cyclists have an impressive selection of maps and resources.  It is possible to circle Lake Michigan by bike which, of course, appeals to me greatly.

Michigan is home of author Edna Ferber, industrialist Henry Food, Charles A. Lindbergh, Madonna, Lily Tomlin and Stevie Wonder.

My song choice with difficult, I compiled a list of way too many options.  The Scottish band The Bay City Rollers earned their name after sticking a pin in a map of America, which landed on the Michigan city but they were never a contender, even though I confess a fondness for S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night.  Motown gave so many greats:  how do I choose between the Supremes, Marvin Gaye or Martha [Reeves] and the Vandellas…   One of the most famous songs in Motown's rich history, Dancing in the Street, was released in 1964 to become both a dance floor filler and a civil rights anthem. The song is a roll-call of American cities, including Chicago, New Orleans and New York City, but urges us not to forget Detroit, "the Motor City".  Then there’s Bob Segar, Ted Nugent, Eminem who I never considered.  Madonna hails from the Wolverine State but I’m selecting Kid Rock’s All Summer Long as my Michigan choice.  I simply like this song and have heard it over and over again on my rental car radio during my travels.  I will always associate it with 50 States in ’08 and it brings to mind images of enjoying a time of life that we all look back at fondly plus its set in Michigan and performed by a Michigan artist.  The boat which Kid is tooling around in on the video, a Chris Craft I believe, is a classic but he overdid the bikini babes IMHO.

 

I enjoyed reading the 50 States of Literature selection:  The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides.  I’d seen the movie but not picked up the book before.  I must agree with Book Club Classics  that Eugenides’ Middlesex would have been a better option.  I read Middlesex earlier this year and really enjoyed the description of Detroit and the surrounding area.  Middlesex had a sense of place missing from The Virgin Suicides.  That being said I’m pleased that Virgin was the choice because it prompted me to pick up a book not on my radar.  In my estimation anything Eugenides writes is worth reading.

 ** http://www.amazon.com/Pocketful-History-Hundred-America-One-Quarter/dp/0306815788

www.eatatthedog.com

http://www.bikeleague.org/news/090508bfs.php

http://www.lmb.org/pages/Resources/biking_in_MI/Biking_in_MI.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwIGZLjugKA 

http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/28877 

http://bookclubclassics.com/Blog/2008/02/07/50-states-50-books-michigan/