Sunday Sip 🌅

Realizing the love and need we all have for open space

Welcome to the Sunday Sip! I hope your morning is fantastic and you are ready to take a trip with me into Michigan's Thumb.

The Joy of Open Spaces

We volunteered at Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse and Maritime Museum this past week. Located just off M-25 between Port Hope and Port Austin in the thumb of Michigan, it is a wonderful place full of history and ghosts. I didn’t see any ghosts, but I was sort of freaked out by the upstairs closet and Lighthouse Keeper Larry’s mention of Lucy the Ghost. According to Larry, she’s like Casper but requires the right touch from those of us on this side of the curtain to be cordial.

However, ghosts are not the subject of my chat with you today. It’s the wondrous and literally awesome effect that open spaces can have. It hit me as I was driving through the thumb area of Michigan on our way home after the week at Pointe Aux Barques. I took the route that cuts across the thumb and down towards our home in Ann Arbor. This drive takes you through miles and miles of farmland. Giant wind turbines twist in the wind as the crops of corn, beets, and beans spread out to the horizon. The only breaks are wooded boundaries and crisscrossing roads.

As I’m driving along with Brenda, who is working on her latest project, in the passenger seat, I couldn’t help but feel very peaceful. The open farmland seemed to radiate with calm. I thought to myself and later told Brenda there is something about Michigan’s thumb area that invites you to relax. In a way, it is like the Upper Peninsula (U.P. to us Michigan folk). The roads run open and wild for miles with a few houses and lots of land. The exception is that the U.P. is full of evergreen trees, and the Thumb is, well, full of farmland.

Despite the differences in the topography, the joy I experienced as I drove across the Thumb reminded me of the peace I feel in the U.P. The only other part of Michigan that feels this way is the northeast corner of the northern lower peninsula. Basically, it's east of Gaylord and south of Cheboygan. Using our “Hand” map of Michigan, this area would be at the top of your index and middle fingers. Otherwise, in the rest of the Mitten, the peace is erased by the hustle and bustle of too many people and cars. I know folks love the West Coast of Michigan, but honestly, there are too many people buzzing around to invite a sense of peace.

I know that my realization that open spaces bring peace is far from unique. In fact, as I thought of the joy of open spaces I had to smile thinking of a Far Side cartoon by the great Gary Larson. It’s the one where there are a couple of gorillas lounging by a tree in the jungle, eating bananas. The one gorilla remarks to his buddy about how much he actually loves bananas. The gorilla adds that he knows it isn’t profound for gorillas to enjoy a banana, but it goes beyond that for him. I doubt I’ve captured the essence and humor, so take a peek at the comic and meet me back here.

Thanks to our time at Pointe Aux Barques and driving across the Thumb of Michigan, I have a new appreciation for the area. Sure, the smell of manure spread on the fields can take your breath away, but it dissipates quickly. In addition to the peacefulness of the land, this region has a beautiful coastline along Lake Huron, small towns to explore, historical places to visit, and some damn fine restaurants. These excellent eats were as much of a surprise as the peacefulness.

It's funny how the joy of open spaces and the peace it brings lingers on. Just writing this took me back there. Perhaps that is the gift that writing brings, as it allows you to cultivate your memories and restore the sensations that live inside them. I’m already eager to hit the road in search of that joy. How about you? Where do you find the joy of open spaces and the peace they bring?

GIG - The Art of Michigan Music

Tickets for GIG - The Art of Michigan Music 2024 at Art 634 in Jackson are on sale NOW!! Everyone is telling me that the ticket prices are ridiculously cheap. But hell, I want to make it affordable and give our guests as much bang for their buck as possible. This show is going to be awesome!! Did you check out the great artists we’ll have?

You can keep up to date on all things GIG with our newsletter! Subscribe now while your coffee is still hot.

Upcoming Events You Won't Want to Miss

There is so much to share every week. If you have events that we missed, please be sure to post a note on Substack. 

May Erlewine w/ Kate Peterson at Sonic Lunch in Ann Arbor - We love Kate Peterson, and you should, too. You can catch her live at Liberty Plaza in Ann Arbor as the opening act for this week’s Sonic Lunch. Get there early, as Kate starts at 11:30. Then stick around for the incredible May Erlewine! BTW - this is a FREE SHOW!

GRAM on the Green with 88.1 FM WYCE: The Gasoline Gypsies in Grand Rapids on Aug 8 - Join us on the Grand Rapids Art Museum terrace for our free summer concert series featuring The Gasoline Gypsies.

Geoff & Jon’s Record Show at Ore Dock Brewing in Marquette on Aug 8-11 - Geoff & Jon are back at Ore Dock Brewing with their amazing record show featuring every genre of music under the sun and ridiculously great deals on vinyl, CDs, cassettes, books, and more!

Jessy's 40th Birthday Bash - With special musical guest K. Edward Smith at Ramshackle Brewing in Jonesville on Aug 9th - Come celebrate Co-Owner Jessy's (AKA Corporate) 40th Birthday at Ramshackle on Friday, Aug. 9th at 8 pm. They will have live music, cake, and friendship! K. Edward Smith, one of Jessy’s most favorite local artists, will be telling tales through his amazing music experience!

Black Out BBQ 2024 with FEAR, Giuda, D.O.A., War On Women, Against The Grain, Bastardous & Bill Kozy's Rising Force at Magic Stick in Detroit on Aug 9 - BBQ and punk rock are the name of the game in Detroit on Aug. 9th. Get there early to check out our friends in Against The Grain!

Porch Sessions 2024 in Pleasant Ridge on Aug 10 - The porches in the community of Pleasant Ridge turn into stages featuring tons of great local music, including our friends from Moonwreckers and Ladyship Warship. Bring your lawn chairs and join the fun.

Artpop '24 in the Ogma Beer Garden in Jackson on Aug 10 - Art, music, beer, and food - all the essentials of a life well lived can be found at Ogma Brewing in Jackson. I’ll be there all damn day, and so should you.

Proud House Records' P.H.S. • Busby Death Chair & Dj Chuk Amøk at Bowlero Lanes & Lounge in Royal Oak on Aug 10 - Enjoy a night of gritty rock and punk in a bowling alley of all places.

Strength Fest III at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor on Aug 10 - Celebrate the strength of the music community at the legendary Blind Pig in Ann Arbor and hang out with our pals in Sometimes Pretty.

The 4th Annual Fun Fest at Frog Island Park in Ypsilanti on Aug 10 - A day of music in the park hosted by Fundamental Sound Co. You’ll find Art, Food, Vendors, and Live Music all day long. Featuring music from Thornetta Davis, Pajamas, Nique Love Rhodes, The Pherotones, Harmolodics, and Bunkerman

CommUNITY Picnic at Timber Town in Chelsea on Aug 10 - The Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce and the Chelsea District Library are serving lunch during Timber Town build week for the CommUNITY picnic!

Old Mountain Acid Test, Ladyship Warship, Lucius Fox at Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill in Grand Rapids on Aug 10 - Trip out and get wild with a stacked deck of killer rock music.

14th Annual Ton Up Ypsi Motorcycle & Music Festival at Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti on Aug 11 - You don't need to ride a motorcycle to enjoy this festival. Just show up for the great live bands, vendors, food, and beverages while hanging out with friends and getting up close with some incredible vintage and custom bikes.

Ash Can Van Gogh at the Nelson Gallery in Lansing on Aug 15 - Ash Can Van Gogh performs at the beautiful Nelson Gallery, a mid-century modern architectural gem in Downtown Lansing’s Social District. Just a block from the Michigan State Capitol.

Punk at Flipside Records in Berkley on Aug 16 - Come see some awesome local punk bands right here at Flipside Records! Come out fighting, Macho and the lowcocks! Last show of the summer; come hang! Music 7-9 pm.

Great Lakes Beer Festival at Dow Diamond in Midland on Aug 17 - The ballpark becomes a beer park at this special beer festival in Midland. Check out our coverage from last year and then get your tickets and join us for this year.

The Fat King Release Day at Loaded Dice Brewery in Troy on Aug 17 - Enjoy a peanut butter and banana sandwich in a glass. Seriously this Weizenbock beer is fabulous and a great way to riff on the king of rock n roll.

Old Town ArtFeast in Lansing on Aug 17 - it's time for the Old Town ArtFeast, a fantastic event that celebrates some of the best things in life: beautiful art and delicious food!! ArtFeast will take place Saturday, August 17th, from 11 am-6 pm on Turner Street in Lansing's historic Old Town neighborhood.

Beanstock 24 in Croswell on Aug 17 - Bring your tents or camper and hang out by the bonfire for a night of rock music under the stars.

Mark Lavengood at Ore Dock Brewing in Marquette on Aug 17 - Slide guitarist extraordinaire Mark Lavengood lights up an evening of bluegrass and Americana.

MAP BBQ and Cornhole Tournament in Ann Arbor on Aug 17 - Enjoy pork BBQ and enter the cornhole tournament with proceeds benefiting the wonderful Michigan Ability Partners (MAP)

Indian Feast at Barrel + Beam with Young Mountain Tea & Northwoods Test Kitchen at Barrel+Beam in Marquette on Aug 18 - A collaborative event brought to you by Young Mountain Tea and Northwoods Test Kitchen: A feast of 4 courses, covering regional cuisines of India with a Yooper twist! Young Mountain Tea will serve single-origin teas from India throughout the afternoon. Other beverages will be available for purchase from B+B.

The Recycle Show at Art 634 in Jackson on Aug 18 - The Recycle Show is an annual celebration of sustainability and creativity. All featured artworks are Mixed-Media and crafted from 80% recycled materials. Sculptures and 3-D art are warmly welcomed! Join us in celebrating ingenuity, sustainability, and the beauty of art created from reclaimed materials!

Bad Idea Social Club LIVE podcast with Edwin Collazo at City Built Brewing Company in Grand Rapids on Aug 18 - Spend the afternoon at City Built for a live podcast with the man behind the brewery, Edwin Collazo. This podcast is super and Citybuilt rules, so come hang out for an awesome afternoon.

In Other News

Brenda’s excellent story about Chef Alexandria Palzewicz from Barrel + Beam’s Northwoods Test Kitchen and her efforts to transform local food systems is on UpWord.

Doug Coombe (who happens to be one of our artists in GIG this year) has a great story on the Amplify Fellowship which strives to support black musicians in this joint effort between Grove Studios and Leon Speakers.

On our home base of Life In Michigan, we’ve got coverage of Chelsea Sounds & Sights with Warhorses. We also had a ball at the Michigan Brewers Guild 25th Annual Summer Beer Fest in Ypsilanti which you can read all about.

Substack Restack Attack

Substack is where it’s at. Check out these other superb publications:

Undone by Manuela Thames: Stealing Like An Artist - Great article on leveraging the work you admire and paying attention. I know that I could definitely stand to pay attention more (I’m already stealing a bunch of stuff 🙂)

New Music for Olds by Christian Finnegan: #62 - I should have shouted out New Music for Olds a while back as it's great. Christian’s writing is fun, and he picks out music that I probably would have never listened to. Dig it!

Introducing 5AM StoryTalk's Newest Feature: 'In Search of Beautiful Things (and Creative Inspiration) by Cole Haddon - I’ve been a fan of Cole’s 5AM StoryTalk, and his new feature ‘In Search of Beautiful Things sounds fun and thoughtful. I may even send him one of my photos 🙂

Anthony Morganti on Photography: The Photography of Alexey Titarenko - The images created by Alexey Titarenko are hauntingly beautiful. I have discovered so much thanks to Anthony’s substack.

Playing in the Detroit Area Tonight—A newsletter of coming gigs to the Detroit area curated by the talented Jennifer Westwood. Pair this with the Sunday Sip, and you’ll have a lot of events to keep you busy!

Adventures Yet To Print

Brenda is hard at work on a story about the Peace Pie Company in Marquette. As soon as I wrap up this Sunday Sip, I’m working on the convergence of beer and pickleball at Wolverine Pickleball in Ann Arbor. Plus, we still have a long list of stories to work on, including 24hrs in Allegan, a recap of Michigan Cider happenings, and our brewdays with the Barrel + Beam and Kognisjon Bryggeri.

What Are You Reading?

I couldn’t resist another adventure with Sammy and The Cheese, so I picked up the next book in the series called Razzmatazz by Christopher Moore. It was another zany adventure set in late 40s San Francisco that included characters from Noir such as Eddy Moo Shoes, Uncle Ho, Milo, and The Kid. It was a fun read with plenty of 12-year-old humor. The only problem was a bit of recapping of characters. I understand doing the recap allows a reader to start with this book instead of Noir. But why in hell anyone would do that is beyond me! The quick pacing of Noir was slightly subdued in Razzmatazz, but it didn’t cause the book to suffer. As with Noir, I could see the action play out as I listened to the story. Both these books would make for a fantastic TV series on Netflix. Someone with some production skills and plenty of cash needs to make that happen pronto. I guarantee if it was a streaming series, it would be huge.

What Are You Spinning?

Tough call this week on highlights from the turntable. I got the new Billy Strings Live album, which is awesome and gives you a perfect snapshot of the musical wonder of a live Billy Strings performance. However, I’ve got to go with Nevermore’s Godless Endeavor album.

Godless Endeavor was Nevermore’s sixth and, in my opinion, best album. I’ve been a fan of vocalist Warrel Dane since his time in Sanctuary when he blew me away opening for Megadeth back in the day. His vocals on this album are the strongest he ever produced and the lyrical content is on point. The shining star of Nevermore is two-fold, with the magic of Jeff Loomis on guitar and the powerhouse rhythm section of Jim Shepard (bass) and Van Williams (drums). Loomis is a master of technical heavy riffs and dazzling leads. I want to cry when I hear his sweeping arpeggios on the title track. The drum and bass are another feature that sets Nevermore apart, with plenty of dynamics and aggression. Godless Endeavor is a fantastic album, and I’m so glad I finally have it on vinyl.

That’s A Wrap

Another Sunday Sip is in the books. I’d love to get your thoughts on our newsletter. Are you finding it entertaining? Is it worth your time? Drop us an email or leave a comment. Brenda is up next week, and she’ll surely have a wonderful story to share. Until next time, be well and kick out the jams!