Groundhog Day is Game Day for Woody

Posted on by farlane
Woody Getting Ready by Howell Nature Center

Woody Getting Ready by Howell Nature Center

While most of the nation turns its eye towards Punxsutawney Phil, true Michiganders know there’s only one source for your winter woodchuck weathercast: Howell Nature Center’s own Woody the Woodchuck. Woody has been a fixture at the nature center since (at least) 2017 when I shared the photo from John Heinz Jr of lil Woody figuring out if something was or wasn’t food.

If you’re in the neighborhood, their free Groundhog Day Celebration is already underway, but you can also tune into their Facebook livestream that starts at 8:20 am!

UPDATE: They had a little trouble with the livestream but ultimately got it going. Sadly, Woody is in agreement with Phil that we have 6 more weeks of winter on the way!

Here are a couple more pics of Woody cause I love her, especially the little baby pic by John! More Groundhog Day, woodchuck & whistle-pig fun on Michigan in Pictures!

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Big Penny celebrates munching her 100th truck!

Posted on by farlane
Number 98 by STUPID - Lansing

Number 98 by STUPID – Lansing

Back in May, we introduced you to Big Penny, Lansing’s Truck Munching Bridge & now she’s back to show the Mighty Mac it’s not the only bridge making news. This diminutive 12-foot tall bridge has taken some big bites over the years – so many that as of May 1, 2025 she had snacked on 87 semis since counting began in 2004. Despite the added exposure Penny has been on an absolute tear in 2025, and yesterday our friends at STUPID Lansing threw a party celebrating the 100th truck munched! WLNS Lansing was there to document this historic occasion, and you can head over to STUPID – Lansing for more on this important story & some great Big Penny merch!

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Goofy Glory

Posted on by farlane
Goofy Glory by Howell Nature Center

Goofy Glory by Howell Nature Center

Adjectives commonly applied to nature are typically “grand” or “majestic” but Howell Nature Center reminds us to save a little room for fun. “Enjoy these wildly unflattering yet totally adorable photos of our animal ambassadors caught in all their goofy glory 🤪🦊🦉🦝 Come learn their stories and see the real wildlife behind the camera!

Wild Wonders Wildlife Park is open 10am – 5pm every day, and if that first nose seems familiar, it’s because it belongs to Michigan’s Official Groundhog Woody!

More fun stuff on Michigan in Pictures!

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Return of the Turtle: Detroit Tigers Opening Day

Posted on by farlane
Opening Day Flag Downtown Detroit Partnership

Opening Day Anthem by Downtown Detroit Partnership

For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.

Friday, April 4th 2025 is the 124th Opening Day for the Detroit Tigers. As a resident of Midtown in Detroit, I can tell you that this is unquestionably one of the biggest holidays of the year for us. Already the streets are filling with cars as baseball fans from all over Michigan and the world get ready for Tiger Baseball to return to the Motor City!

I’ve rounded up some of the highlights with a laser focus on FREE including and Opening Day party at Grand Circus Park by the City of Detroit and a Wisconsin manufacturer of watery beer that features a LOT of great food trucks, DJ Invisible, and lots of video walls and screens. There’s another free party from noon – 6pm just across Woodward at one of my favorite venues, The Fillmore with giveaways, WRIF and the game on their MASSIVE screen (tell the security guys Andy sent you and they will laugh). Also on the free front are a party at Gilly’s with giveaways, raffle, face painting & DJ Ray Ya Dig (official DJ of the Lions) from 9 AM–4 PM. I think that the Opening Day Party with my friends The Honest to God Jug Band is free, but they’re so fun and Cliff’s Bells is SO cool that I think you won’t mind if there is a cover.

And everywhere there are giveaways, giveaways, giveaways including the House of Faygo Pop-up at Campus Martius this Friday – Sunday.

  • Opening Day Love by City of Detroit
  • Detroit Tigers First Opening Day Detroit Historical Society

Here’s more information on the photos & happenings. Please add yours in the comments here or on our Facebook!

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Loosen up, summer’s almost over

Posted on by farlane
Formal Day at the Beach by Jonathan Brandt

Formal Day at the Beach by Jonathan Brandt

I just realized that summer is almost over, and I hope that we can all act accordingly!!

I have featured Jonathan’s photo of Grand Haven’s “Formal Day at the Beach” before & I will undoubtedly share it again!! Near as I can tell, the event no longer happens but it looks super fun. See the latest from Jonathan on his Flickr.

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Wake up it’s time for the U.P. State Fair!!

Posted on by farlane
Pigs Chillaxing by John Gagnon

Pigs Chillaxing by John Gagnon

The Upper Peninsula State Fair started on Monday in Escanaba and runs through Sunday, August 18th with midway rides & games, free entertainment and of course the time honored fair tradition of animal & produce beauty pageants. One especially great attraction is their Miracle of Life exhibit where children of all ages can see the live births of calves, lambs, piglets and watch chicks, ducks, and quail eggs hatch. I heartily applaud the Fair for helping people get a better idea of where their food comes from!!

John caught these snoozing pigs on Monday. See a bunch more from this year & years past in his UP Fair gallery on Flickr.

View from the Ferris Wheel by John Gagnon

View from the Ferris Wheel by John Gagnon

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Nothing can prepare you for Detroit’s Giant Slide

Posted on by farlane

Looking Down the Giant Slide by Belle Isle Park

Detroit’s Belle Isle Park shares that the infamous Giant Slide – which briefly opened last August before quickly closing after riders were going way too fast – will reopen for the summer this Friday (July 19) from 11-6pm. Regular hours through Labor Day will be Friday 12:30 -5:30pm and Saturday & Sunday from 10:30-3:30pm. It only costs $1 per ride so I’m expecting plenty of pics from all of you!!

Now here’s a look courtesy GmacCash at what’s in store for you on the Giant Slide!

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Detroit Grand Prix this weekend!

Posted on by farlane
Gabby Chaves Harding Racing Chevrolet 88 by Detroit Grand Prix

Gabby Chaves Harding Racing Chevrolet 88 by Detroit Grand Prix

The Detroit Grand Prix takes place May 31-June 2 in downtown Detroit where it began in 1982:

Again in 2024, the Grand Prix will provide unprecedented access with more than half of the event’s footprint along Jefferson Avenue and the beautiful Detroit Riverfront open to the public, free of charge. Grand Prix visitors will be able to enjoy complimentary access to the main fan activation areas at the event, including Spirit Plaza, Hart Plaza as well as the Riverwalk. Fans will be welcomed in these key areas that will feature live music, food, games and displays all weekend long, without the purchase of a Grand Prix ticket.

The Detroit Grand Prix has all the details!

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Rolling into summer

Posted on by farlane

Come on Spring/Summer by Kevin Povenz

Come on Spring/Summer by Kevin Povenz

All right everyone, climb aboard. We’re rolling to summer with Kevin!!

Like many of us, he’s looking forward to a little change in the weather so he shared this photo from August 2019 on the Silver Lake Dunes in case the weather has forgotten the plan. See more in his Fun/Interesting gallery on Flickr.

More Michigan dunes on Michigan in Pictures!

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Seussberries

Posted on by farlane

Seussberries by Blondieyooper

Untitled by Blondieyooper

Here’s an awesome shot I’ve shared before, but it’s always good to have a little Wednesday weirdness. Blondieyooper explained “These cute little ones were fun to find. The blueberries were big compared to the mushrooms. :) I’m easily amused!”

Me too! See more in her Dr Seussish File gallery on Flickr.

Lots more weird & wonderful pics on Michigan in Pictures!

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