Spin Cycle: Catch SuperDre@ Electric Forest

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Spin Cycle

Spin Cycle, photo by TerryJohnston.

Grand Rapids DJ SuperDre is one of the Michigan musicians who will join a fantastic lineup at the Electric Forest Festival in Rothbury June 30th – July 3rd. Absolute Michigan is partnering with Electric Forest and will be at the festival with interviews, blogs and more.

We are interviewing all the Michigan-based acts, and here’s our interview of SuperDre aka Andrea Wallace. It includes a cool video so definitely check it out and consider Electric Forest or one of the other great Michigan festivals & events we are giving tickets away to through Festival Summer giveaway!

You can see this bigger and check out more photos in Terry’s DJ SuperDre slideshow.

Otsego Lake Seaplane Splash-in

Posted on by farlane

Flight of four S7ACs, photo by Isaac Adler

Every June since 1981, seaplane pilots from across the state and nation have converged upon Otsego Lake by Gaylord for the annual Otsego Lake Seaplane Splash-In (also some info at seaplanes.org). The event attracts seaplanes, floatplanes and flying boats from all over the country and it includes an aerial parade, competitions and cookouts.  FYI, there’s the Grand Marais Splash-in next weekend too!

Check out their amazing photo gallery for pics from the event. You can get an idea of the number of planes in this photo by Scott Millard and the level of skill of the pilots in this pic of an aerial formation.

Isaac took this shot last year – he has a lot more in that slideshow above including this sweet photo of a big seaplane splashing down!

North light

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

North light

North light, photo by R.J.E..

June in Ludington. More about the North Pier Light (a wintry view at that).

Don’t miss the Michigan June Calendar on Absolute Michigan. Lots of fun stuff to do when you’re not soaking up a Michigan sunset!

Check it out bigger and on the map. More from R.J.E. on Michigan in Pictures.

And yes, we have sunsets.

Festival Summer starts with Electric Forest

Posted on by farlane

Huge Crowd at The Dead Concert, Rothbury 2009, photo by Ann Teliczan

I’m not sure if this qualifies as a commercial break, but in addition to Michigan in Pictures, I also work to promote the enjoyment of Michigan through Absolute Michigan. We have just kicked off a summerlong campaign we’re calling Absolute Michigan’s Festival Summer. The goal is to give away as many tickets as possible to Michigan festivals and events all summer long. After just a week of reaching out to folks who make these events happen, we have tickets for a half dozen music festivals and events  including a pair of June ones – the Leland Wine & Food Festival (Michigan’s oldest – Jun 11) and the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival (Jun 18) with more on the way!

This weekend we are giving away a pair of weekend passes to the first-ever Electric Forest Festival (June 30 – July 3) in Rothbury, Michigan. That’s about a $500 value and we’re happy that Electric Forest is sponsoring Absolute Michigan in part by providing a pair of tickets for us to give away to our readers. The festival is headlined by String Cheese Incident, Tiesto, Pretty Lights, Bassnectar and REO Speedwagon, but for my money, a big part of the experience are some fantastic acts from Michigan (Greensky Bluegrass, SuperDre, Macpodz and the Ragbirds) as well as from points near and far that many of you (including me!) have never heard of.

All you have to do to enter is to join the Absolute Michigan email list – do that and get all the details in our interview of Rothbury and Electric Forest founder Jeremy Stein!

The photo above was taken by Ann of the great blog Michigan Sweet Spot. Ann went to Rothbury in 2008 and 2009, and she has some cool shots and recollections at Rothbury in her blog along with lots more Michigan photographic goodness.

Be sure to check out the work of another Anne, her 360 degree Rothbury panoramas include ambient sound and are a real treat and she has a nice slideshow too. Speaking of slideshows, here’s one from the Absolute Michigan team at Rothbury 2009.

 

Frankenmuth Dog Bowl

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Champion coming!

Champion coming!, photo by Frankenmuth Fun.

Frankenmuth invites you to Dog Bowl 2011, the Midwest’s largest Olympic style event for dogs. This annual event takes place Memorial Weekend (May 28 & 29) at Frankenmuth River Place and includes events for dogs including agility competitions, dock dives, dog disc competition, fashion shows, canine cruise and (of course) biggie dog & weiner dog races! The event is FREE – there’s even a hot air balloon show – and you can click the link above for all the details!

Check this out bigger than a beagle and also see their huge 2008 Dog Bowl and 2009 Dog Bowl slideshows!

Buses by the Beach

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Bus by the Water

Bus by the Water, photo by Steven Pham | stevenphamphoto.com.

Steven spotted this VW by the water at the Metropark. Check it out bigger and in his spotted slideshow.

If you’re interested in VW buses, check out Buses by the Beach. The annual event is held every Memorial Day Weekend in West Olive by a Grand Rapids based group of VW van lovers (see photo gallery). Since 2002, they have drawn VW bus owners and their families from all over the USA and Canada to raise money for The Phoenix Society For Burn Survivors, the world’s largest burn support organization.

They hold three fundraiser/campouts: the Bus Benefit on Memorial Weekend; Bus BOO, held the first weekend in October and Bus BRRR over the last weekend in February. You’re welcome whether you own a VW or not!

Catching a wave to the Petoskey Stone Festival

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

petoskey stone in surf

petoskey stone in surf, photo by northernlightphotograph.

The 6th annual Antrim County Petoskey Stone Festival takes place on May 28, 2011 in Barnes Park in Eastport. The Petoskey Stone is of course Michigan’s state stone.

Almost a century after the founding of Petoskey, on June 28, 1965, Governor George Romney signed a bill that made the Petoskey Stone Michigan’s official State Stone. It was fitting that Miss Ella Jane Petoskey, the only living grand-child of Chief Petosegay, was present at the formal signing. The legislation is very general. The bill simply states that the Petoskey Stone is the State Stone. The designation of Hexagonariapercarinata was made by Dr. Edwin C. Stumm in 1969. Dr. Stumm made this distinction based on his extensive knowledge of fossils.

This specific fossil coral is found only in the rock strata known as the Alpena Limestone. The Alpena Limestone is part of the Traverse Group of Devonian age. The Alpena Limestone is a mixture of limestones and shales. The outcrops of these rocks are restricted to the Little Traverse Bay area near Petoskey.

Check this out bigger and in Tim’s slideshow. See more of Tim’s photos on Michigan in Pictures.

You can read the story behind the Petoskey name on Michigan in Pictures (and learn about the little known holiday “Throw in a Petoskey Stone Day”).

Durand Union Station & Durand Railroad Days

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Durand Train Station, HDR

Durand Train Station, HDR, photo by friday1970.

This weekend (May 13-15) is Durand Railroad Days. This annual event is in its 36th year and was established in 1975 to pay tribute
to the rail industry that helped develop the nation and was responsible
for the settlement of Durand late in the 1870s. The Michigan Railroad History Museum at Durand Union Station says:

The village of Durand was built up around the railroads in the late 1870’s. Durand Union Station was designed by Spier and Rohms and originally built in 1903. Eighteen months thereafter it was almost completely destroyed by fire and was rebuilt in 1905.

This was a very busy station as the Grand Trunk Western and Ann Arbor Railroads crossed at grade there. During the early 1900’s when the railroad industry was at its peak, 42 passenger trains, 22 mail trains, and 78 freight trains passed through Durand daily. Durand Union Station handled approximately 3,000 passengers per day, making it a prospering hub of the industry.

Read about the event & museum using the links above and definitely put the museum on your list of places to visit!

Check Tim’s photo out bigger. He writes that he was inspired by an old black & white photo from nearly the same spot.

You can see a similar photo right here and learn a lot more about Michigan’s railroading heritage from the Michigan Internet Railroad History Museum. There’s also a cool wallpaper sized photo of the station in the Absolute Michigan pool and (of course) you can learn a lot more about Michigan Trains & Railroads on Michigan in Pictures!

It’s Tulip Time Again!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

It's Tulip Time Again

It’s Tulip Time Again, photo by Mi Bob.

Holland’s annual Tulip Time celebration kicks off today and runs through May 14. Fireworks! Vintage Base Ball! Tulipalooza! Kinderplaats! Volksparade! Klompen! …and of course more than a million tulips and almost that many visitors!

Check it out bigger and in Bob’s Tulip Time slideshow.

More Tulips on Michigan in Pictures

Detroit Studio Collective Grand Opening

Posted on by farlane

The Fog

The Fog, photo by E.Peoples

The Detroit Studio Collective is holding their Grand Opening this Saturday (May 7) from noon to 10 PM (location). The photographers (some of whom have been featured on Michigan in Pictures) are Bobby Alcott, Rebecca Gutierrez, Kellie Saunders, Rob Terwilliger, Josh Willerton and Eric Peoples.

Check Eric’s photo out bigger and in his Greatest Hits slideshow.