One year ago today, I shared Joe’s photo of them laying the last girder on the Gordie Howe’s Bridge. With over 3,000,000 views on Facebook & Michigan in Pictures was the most popular post ever so I figured I would return with his shot of the crews meeting in the middle of this Canadian-funded bridge from Canada to the US.
From Friday night through Sunday morning, Northern Lower Michigan was hit with a massive ice storm that left tens of thousands without power, closed the Mackinac Bridge with “the worst ice we’ve every seen on the Bridge”, and led Gov Whitmer to declare a state of emergency in Otsego, Oscoda, Montmorency, Presque Isle, Emmet, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Mackinac and Alpena counties. Great Lakes Energy shared the status as of yesterday morning
Since the storm began, power has been restored to over 56,000 members.
Just over 45,000 Great Lakes Energy (GLE) members remain without power this morning across 15 of our 26 counties.
Unfortunately, a new storm system hit our southern territory late yesterday, causing additional damage and compounding restoration challenges.
The organization is now working to replace about 600,000 pounds of meat, cheeses and milk that would have come from these USDA shipments. “We’re looking at our current food suppliers, and donors, but we’re also looking at the fact that we’re going to have to purchase food in order to fill in some of the gaps,” Estelle explained.
A USDA grant allowing the food bank to purchase from Michigan farms was also initially suspended but has since been reinstated through October following meetings with elected officials. “We’re just getting into the Michigan growing season and we have made commitments to a lot of these smaller farms of what we would be able to purchase from them. So they were… the farms were also depending on us to be able to be one of their customers for their products,” said Estelle.
No word yet on if hungry folks in West Michigan will be able to “pause” their hunger, so consider a donation to Feeding America West Michigan or your local food bank. Big fan of Forgotten Harvest in Metro Detroit.
Mark took this photo back in March of 2017 when the Popp farmstand on the Leelanau Peninsula was closed as it normally is. See lots more from Northern Leelanau County in his East of Leland gallery on Flickr.
Ray Harryhausen is regarded as a pioneer and one of the great 20th century artists of stop-motion animation. His extensive career is showcased through over 100 original creations on display at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Through original armatured models, artwork, miniatures and props, the exhibit transports us back to the silver screen. Creatures and artwork from such films as 1949’s Mighty Joe Young, where Ray began as a technician, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Earth vs the Flying Saucers, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Jason and the Argonauts, and the 1981 Clash of the Titans bring to life the imagination of Ray Harryhausen.
If you thought (like me) that you could see the solar eclipse on Saturday in Michigan, I regret to inform you that no you can’t 🫤
Back in 2021, Rod also got a shot of the Canadian laker Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin in subdued light of the eclipse. You can see a BUNCH more shots of ships on his Flickr! Lots more eclipses on Michigan in Pictures!
Although winter “officially” ended yesterday, the snowy pictures I’m seeing from around Michigan this morning make me feel OK sharing these pics Marty got of blue ice on the Straits of Mackinac last weekend. Click to follow Marty on Facebook & for sure check out some of his past photos on Michigan in Pictures!
As with water, this color is caused by the absorption of both red and yellow light (leaving light at the blue end of the visible light spectrum) … In simplest of terms, think of the ice or snow layer as a filter. If it is only a centimeter thick, all the light makes it through; if it is a meter thick, mostly blue light makes it through. This is similar to the way coffee often appears light when poured, but much darker when it is in a cup.
Join the Golden Boy at the Marche du Nain Rouge by Andrew McFarlane
The annual Marche du Nain Rouge takes place this Sunday, March 23rd 2025 along the Cass Corridor in Detroit. The festivities begin at 11:30 on the Community Stage at the intersection of Canfield & 2nd with Detroit-centric sets & hilarious entertainment as excitement builds toward the Nain leading the celebratory procession down to the Masonic Temple and the FREE Official Afterparty with drinks, friends, vendor tables, and DJs spinning.
In the mythology of Medieval Normandy, the Nain Rouge (or Lutin, or an earlier version called “Netun”) is a sort of house spirit that has many names, assumes many forms, and plays nefarious pranks. The Lutin of Normandy is very similar to domestic spirits of England, Scandinavia and Germany. They are fond of children, horses (often taking their form), and young maidens also, but are cruel to those who do not treat them with respect. In Archibald Maclaren’s The Fairy Family: A Series of Ballads and Metrical Tales Illustrating the Fairy Mythology of Europe, the Lutin is compared and contrasted with England’s trickster Robin Goodfellow, and found to be quite a bit more mean-spirited, remarking “Many a man laid his ruin at the Lutin’s door; although it must be confessed that in these cases neighbors were uncharitable enough to fay, that the Lutin had less to do with it than habits of Want-of-thrift and Self-indulgence” (Maclaren, 1857, p.67). The subclass of Lutin called the Nain Rouge is described in the folktales of Normandy as playing dastardly tricks on, but on occasion being particularly kind to fisherman.
PS: My friend Joel was there in 2017 as well and he took MUCH better pics that I have featured before.
PPS: I didn’t know the guy in the first pic when I talked to him about the paper mache head he made, but he’s now one of my best friends and we work together. Magic!!
PPPS: The Trinidadian dancers & steel drum band ROCK!!!
Wearin’ o the Green (lights) at Michigan Central by Andrew McFarlane
Longtime followers of Michigan in Pictures who know how near & dear to my heart and the very existence of this photoblog Detroit’s Michigan Central Station is probably won’t be surprised that a string of requests from readers & friends to share pics of MCS lit up for St Patrick’s Day moved me to ride over there at 5am today!
I don’t have a photo site (yet at least) but you can always throw me a buck or two on Patreon! And for sure check out lots more Michigan Central Station on Michigan in Pictures!
PS: WOW do I wish I’d brought my dSLR over – the moon was incredible!!!
Today is 313 Day, a celebration of all things Detroit. While I’m not usually a fan of making up holidays, I have to say that as a Detroit resident, it’s a pretty cool day with all kinds of free fun from the 313 Celebration at Robert C. Valade Park to free admission at museums for things like 313 Day at the Detroit Historical Museum that includes a popup Detroit vs. Everybody creator Tommey Walker.
Glen is one of the prime movers & shakers of the Eastside Camera Club, and he took this pic of the Spirit of Detroit at their July 2024 outing. They are providing the opportunity to photograph fast-moving racing bikes in the low-light setting of the Lexus Velodrome in Detroit this Saturday, March 15 at 7:30pm! Get details on their Facebook & follow Glen on Flickr for his latest.
Since the storm began, power has been restored to over 56,000 members.
Just over 45,000 Great Lakes Energy (GLE) members remain without power this morning across 15 of our 26 counties.
Unfortunately, a new storm system hit our southern territory late yesterday, causing additional damage and compounding restoration challenges.
Michigan in Pictures 