Exposure.Detroit May Exhibit Opening ~ May 15th

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

urban velvet

urban velvet, photo by Jon DeBoer.

Exposure.Detroit May Show - Poster by Jon DeBoer The May Exposure.Detroit exhibit opening party takes place on Saturday, Saturday, May 15th from 7-10 PM at the Bean & Leaf Cafe in Royal Oak and features the work of these 5 talented photographers:

You can see this photo bigger in John’s My Best slideshow and who knows, maybe up close and personal will be on the wall on Saturday!

Mom & Kit

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Mom & Kit

Mom & Kit, photo by smiles7.

Sorry about missing yesterday … sometimes life happens

Do you suppose foxes celebrate Mother’s Day too? Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there – thanks for keeping the kids learning, the world turning and the flame of love burning.

I waited 364 days to blog this great photo from Julie. Check it out bigger (along with more great shots) in her Foxes slideshow.

Learn more about Michigan’s red fox (Vulpes vulpes fulva) on Michigan in Pictures.

The Last Pitch: Farewell to Ernie Harwell

Posted on by farlane

The Last Pitch
The Last Pitch, photo by baklein62

“I’d like to be remembered as someone who showed up for the job. I consider myself a worker. I love what I do. If I had my time over again, I’d probably do it for nothing.”
~Ernie Harwell

Like thousands of other people, whenever I see a picture like this of my beloved Detroit Tigers, the voice that narrates it in my head is the voice of William Earnest “Ernie” Harwell, who passed away last night at the age of 92.

Probably the best thing that I’ve seen about Harwell is this video. The Detroit Tigers tribute page to Ernie Harwell lists his accomplishments:

He also called the pitch from Todd Jones in the photo above that ended the last game ever at Detroit’s Tiger Stadium on September 27, 1999.

Struck him out.

I’m thinking Ernie would have liked this photo from Barney even more, but I already blogged it. More in his terrific Baseball as Art set (slideshow) and more about Ernie Harwell and the Detroit Tigers on Michigan in Pictures.

Pirates of the Caribbean 4 … in Traverse City?

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Schooner Morning

Schooner Morning, photo by ETCphoto.

Under the “Is that Johnny Depp behind that moonbeam” heading comes the rumor making the rounds that Pirates Of The Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides will film part of the movie in Traverse City, Michigan. Before the Trailer says that they have heard from several sources that the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie will be filming parts in the Traverse City area:

Before dismissing it, for those that have been to Lake Michigan shores in Traverse City, the water and the beaches are as beautiful and crystal clear as any you will find in the Caribbean. It could easily double for any tropical paradise. With Michigan having the best incentives in the country for filming, it would also make sense that producers and filming scouts would consider Traverse City as an ideal location to film parts of Pirates of the Caribbean 4.

While /Film notes that word on the street is that Jerry Bruckheimer is scaling back Pirates 4 to accommodate a smaller budget, /Film’s own Russ Fischer says:

They’ve pretty loudly talked up the deal that has them shooting in Hawaii, where they’ll take advantage of big tax breaks. I know Michigan has its own advantage systems in effect, and the lake there is amazing, but I’d guess it’s a hopeful rumor.

Whatever ends up happening, you have to wonder how long the beautiful Great Lakes of Michigan will go without a starring role in a major Hollywood film.

Terry took this photo of a marina full of schooners at the inaugural Michigan Schooner Festival last September. See it bigger or in his Michigan Schooner Festival slideshow. For many more photos showcasing the beauty of wild Lake Michigan, check out the Sailing Lake Michigan pool.

President Obama delivers the commencement address at University of Michigan

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

sjw.NEW.ObamaGrad.05-01-101391

sjw.NEW.ObamaGrad.05-01-101391, photo by Michigan Daily.

On Saturday, Absolute Michigan sent writer Jacob Wheeler to the University of Michigan for the commencement address to the class of 2010 at the University of Michigan. Be sure to read his engaging account at Obama brings full house to the Big House (includes full video of the graduation speech).

When looking for a photo to blog, I came across this great series of photos by Sam Wolson of the Michigan Daily. Check out President Barack Obama Speaks at Commencement and definitely view the slideshow – it’s great!

Congratulations, UM graduates and to all of the State of Michigan’s Class of 2010!

Step back in time at Greenfield Village

Posted on by farlane

Greenfield Village
Greenfield Village, photo by Michael Lavander

“I am collecting the history of our people as written into things their hands made and used…. When we are through, we shall have reproduced American life as lived, and that, I think, is the best way of preserving at least a part of our history and tradition.”
~Henry Ford on his museum

Greenfield Village in Dearborn (satellite map) is part of The Henry Ford, dubbed America’s Greatest History Attraction. If you’ve ever been to either, you know that’s not just a marketing slogan. Greenfield Village has seven historic districts that are jam packed with historical buildings & artifacts from all over:

Entering Greenfield Village is like stepping into an 80-acre time machine. It takes you back to the sights, sounds and sensations of America’s past. There are 83 authentic, historic structures, from Noah Webster’s home, where he wrote the first American dictionary, to Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park laboratory, to the courthouse where Abraham Lincoln practiced law. The buildings and the things to see are only the beginning. There’s the fun stuff, too. In Greenfield Village, you can ride in a genuine Model T or “pull” glass with world-class artisans; you can watch 1867 baseball or ride a train with a 19th-century steam engine. It’s a place where you can choose your lunch from an 1850s menu or spend a quiet moment pondering the home and workshop where the Wright brothers invented the airplane. Greenfield Village is a celebration of people — people whose unbridled optimism came to define modern-day America.

Michael took this photo at the museum’s opening day and you can see it bigger in his Greenfield Village 041510 slideshow.

Need more? Check out the Greenfield Village slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool and more posts about Greenfield Village on Michigan in Pictures.

Enjoy your weekend and remember that Michigan’s museums need your patronage more than ever!

Windmill Island is ready for Tulip Time

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Windmill Island

Windmill Island , photo by Kiran Bhat..

It’s Tulip Time in Holland! The annual Tulip Time Festival takes place May 1-8, 2010. The festival is a celebration of Dutch heritage and culture that has something for everyone including 3 parades, Dutch Dance performances, concerts, theatre, Dutch attractions, Dutch food, children’s events, trolley tours and more.

You can follow along with what they’re up to on the Tulip Time Facebook. The Michigan Archives have more about the history of Tulip Time. There’s a bunch (bouquet?) more Tulip Time on Michigan in Pictures.

Check it out bigger in Kiran’s Tulips again slideshow.

American Toad

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

American Toad

American Toad, photo by James Marvin Phelps (mandj98).

The UM Animal Diversity Web says that Bufo americanus (American toad):

…have an immense ability to adapt to their surroundings as long as there is a source of semi-permanent water for them to use in the breeding season. This quality has allowed them to successfully colonize suburban and agricultural areas.

American toads have short legs, stout bodies, and thick skins with noticeable warts. These warts can be colored red and yellow. The warty skin contains many glands that produce a poisonous milky fluid, providing these toads with excellent protection from many of their predators. This poison is only harmful if it is swallowed or if it gets in the eyes, but it can make many animals very sick.

Head over for much more including photos and sounds of the American Toad. More at American Toad on Wikipedia and the Michigan Herps Froga & Toads page.

Toads do not cause warts, and in case you’re tempted to harm these guys, consider what the Michigan DNR says about the American Toad: A beneficial species in gardens, eats many insect pests – a modest-sized toad will eat about 3200 insects in a season.

James says he caught this guy soaking up the sun on the lava rocks in his yard. You can view it extra-large at his web site.

Comerica Park, Home of the Detroit Tigers

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Extra! Extra!

Extra! Extra!, photo by RLHyde.

The page on Comerica Park at ballparksofbaseball.com says that in the mid 90s:

…Tigers President John McHale said that Tiger Stadium had 10,000 of the best seats in baseball, but was supported by 40,000 of the worst. It was clear that Tiger Stadium lacked many of the amenities of newer parks being constructed at the time. In 1995 the city agreed to help fund a new stadium and in March 1996 voters approved a plan to build a new ballpark in downtown Detroit. Following other ballparks that were built during that decade, the Tigers new ballpark was built mainly of steel and concrete, with a brick exterior. Constructed in downtown Detroit, construction began October 29, 1997.

For the first time in over 100 years, opening day baseball was played at a different location other than at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull. Nearly 40,120 fans filled Comerica Park on opening day, April 11, 2000.

The $300 million ballpark is 345′ down the leftfield line, 330′ down right and 420′ in straightaway center. For the name, Comerica Bank pays the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority $2.2 million per year. Here’s a satellite map of Comerica Park at 2100 Woodward Avenue in Detroit.

Whatever you feel about the Tigers’ move from Michigan & Trumbull, it’s hard to deny that Comerica is a beautiful ballpark. The Detroit Tigers section for Comerica Park has some sweet panoramas of Comerica Park and past ballparks that the Tigers have called home.

Ryan says that this looks better the bigger it gets, and he’s right. Check it out on black or background bigtastic.

Need more? Here’s the Comerica Park slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr!

This Bud’s for you? Champion Clydesdale Breeding Farm for Sale

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

clydesdale139team500

clydesdale139team500, photo by CreateWithKim.

Last week’s Traverse City Business News Ticker reported that East Jordan’s Beaver Chase Farms, where the famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales have been bred for more than a decade, is now on the market.

The Anheuser-Busch page on the The Clydesdales says:

On April 7, 1933, August A. Busch, Jr. and Adolphus Busch III surprised their father, August A. Busch, Sr., with the gift of a six-horse Clydesdale hitch to commemorate the repeal of Prohibition.

Realizing the marketing potential of a horse-drawn beer wagon, the company also arranged to have a second six-horse Clydesdale hitch sent to New York on April 7 to mark the event. The Clydesdales, driven by Billy Wales, drew a crowd of thousands as they clattered down the streets of New York City to the Empire State Building.

…Today, Anheuser-Busch owns approximately 250 Clydesdales; they continue to be an enduring symbol of our heritage and tradition.

Kim took this photo of the Budweiser Clydesdales in Marquette Michigan Mattsson Lower Harbor. See more in her Budweiser Clydesdales set (slideshow).