Michigan BLUE | Spring 2025 by Grand Rapids Magazine

Welcome to Tannery Bay

A Final Phase for this Lakeshore Gem

With its glistening water views, beach access, pool, marina, and more, Tannery Bay has grown into one of the brightest gems on the lakeshore. Now, the Whitehall-based community is entering into its final phase, with new homesites on the marina that will launch this spring. We invite you to learn more about what sets Tannery Bay apart, and why you should consider building your dream home on White Lake in 2025.

When you build new at Tannery Bay, you gain a private beach, brand-new pool, a private marina, bocce ball courts in the green space, and of course, unparalleled sunset views. But more than that, you will feel a sense of real community among the homeowners at Tannery Bay, who like to plan events and parties throughout the year.

In addition to the community amenities, you also can soak up the local color of a quaint, lakeshore town. Located in Whitehall, Tannery Bay is close to restaurants, recreational activities, and more. Enjoy entertainment at the historic Howmet Playhouse, delicious food at Pekadill’s, and local produce at the Farmers Market in Montague. For outdoor activities, enjoy a trip on the 22-mile Bike Trail to Hart, and rent a kayak or canoe.

Are you interested in this lakeshore lifestyle? Our final phase is located right on a serene marina that overlooks White Lake. We are offering two home plans that you can personalize to your style, The Empire, and a new plan that is launching soon, The Northport. Sign up for our VIP List to learn more about building new in this iconic Michigan community.

MEMORIES begin HERE

WORLD FAMOUS DINING

Enjoy world famous family-style chicken dinners or explore ﬂavors around the world at our many dining options around town. From schnitzels to beignets, Frankenmuth’s food scene has something for everyone.

SPLASH INTO WATERPARK FUN

Dive into two of Michigan’s largest indoor waterparks, Bavarian Inn Lodge’s Bavarian Blast and Zehnder’s Splash Village.

ESCAPE FROM THE CITY

Experience a new perspective of Michigan’s Little Bavaria as you paddle or cruise along the Cass River, whether on a guided tour or your own adventure.

CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR LONG

Shop the World’s Largest Christmas store, Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland to discover every type of ornament, light, and Christmas decor you can imagine. Open 361 days a year.

FOUR SEASONS OF FUN

800-FUN-TOWN really is our number! Frankenmuth is home to over a dozen di erent festivals and events annually. From car shows to dog olympics, endless fun awaits year-round!

FEATURES

38 Photo Essay

A Michigan spring through the lens of photographer Tyler Leipprandt. 44 Island Time

A second home on the St. Clair River includes a bridge and a fish shack. By

Khristi S. Zimmeth

50 Shipwreck Alley

Lake Huron’s history and unique adventures make for fun times in Alpena.

By Ron Garbinski

58 Ramp Up! Find more flavor, freshness, and nutrition by foraging for food. By

62 Force of Nature

Honey Murray

When redesigning a home on Green Lake, this architect made the most of the water and forest. By

On the Cover Sunrise as seen from Rockport State Recreation Area in Alpena. Cover story page 50. Photo courtesy of Rick Houchin, @rickhouchinphoto, rickhouchinphotography.com.

Megan Swoyer

The Lake Huron Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is overflowing with mystery.

PHOTO

Before the hustle and bustle of summer begins, spring is the pe explore Pure Ludington. While it can be hard to predict when it long it will last, spring is a "secret" season to be enjoyed by foot or by bike to explore nature's re-birth. Wander down a sec shoreline or grab a bite to eat and a locally-made brew on a ne matter what you're seeking - fun for the whole family, a beach adventure, a peaceful get-away, or just a community of friendly

faces - you can find it here.

rfect time to will arrive or how all. Hit the trails by luded stretch of nearby patio. No or outdoor

LUDINGTON

WATERWAYS

18 Sky, Sand & Surf

Two DNR harbormasters manage the hustle and bustle at busy Lake Huron ports. By Mark Spezia

20 Field Guide

Detroit is a Michelin-awarded destination, and more. By Ron Garbinski

21 Page-Turner

An engaging children’s book focuses on Lake Michigan and the alphabet, and an artist tells the story of how she came to illustrate her first children’s book.

By Megan Swoyer

24 Get Outdoors

Useful guidebooks overflow with facts about sites and ships you’ll see while traveling around the Great Lakes. By Ron Garbinski

26 Staff Picks

From antiquing to golfing to overnighting, these southwest Michigan spots rank high on our list.

DESIGN CURRENTS

30 Studio Visit

Artist April Wagner shares what it takes to create glass sculptures both big and small. By Megan Swoyer

32 The Elements

Host a memorable party outside with cool glassware, a movie screen, and comfy furnishings. By Jamie Fabbri

33 Notebook

Pantone’s Mocha Mousse, a chic T.C. inn, and more.

By Megan Swoyer

34 Design Star

Matt Mosher designs a stunning landscape for a home on Orchard Lake. By Khristi S. Zimmeth

ANCHORS AWAY

70 Tasting Room

A young couple uncorks a new wine boutique in a quaint East Grand Rapids neighborhood. By Megan Swoyer

72 Dining Out

The Detroit Club invites all to sample its new menu in a more casual atmosphere. By Bill Semion

74 Book It

Big Frankenmuth hotels look to lure more guests with expansions and updates at their water parks. By Mark Spezia

76 Discoveries

Belle Isle’s Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory sparkles after an extensive renovation. By Amy S. Eckert

IN

EVERY

ISSUE

14 Reflections Fresh Perspectives By Megan Swoyer

80 Postcard

Perfectly photographing this bird required persistence and fortitude. By Jocelyn Anderson

wish you were here.

It’s not just a destination – it’s the destination. See why The Wall Street Journal featured Traverse City as one of “The 10 Best Places to Go in 2025”.

Fresh Perspectives

II soaked up some fresh perspectives during the Thunder Bay International Film Festival in Alpena. An annual event held in Michigan’s northeast corner, a wide variety of ﬁlms are shown at area venues throughout a long weekend in January.

The films my husband and I watched at our all-day marathon at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center included an amazing tale of a group of men crossing 40-some rivers on a cycling adventure in Iceland; the story of a tiny town in Alaska in which kids live and breathe a fishing culture, but boredom strikes regularly and they needed a diversion — enter a man with a surf-school idea; a perplexing look at a disappearing fish that’s especially needed to keep the circle of life going in the Atlantic; and in our own backyard, an answer to what we Michiganders often wonder: How does one find a shipwreck?

light show at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Mark your calendars now to plan a visit to see the light show come November — but first, you need to go there now for the Butterflies are Blooming exhibit, which runs through April 30. It’s the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the U.S. and is definitely worth a visit. We’re so lucky to have this astounding attraction in our state. It all started 30 years ago, when Fred and Lena Meijer opened this horticulture and sculpture destination, donating 70 acres of land to start a garden that has doubled in size to become a 158-acre campus.

When in Grand Rapids, be sure to saddle up on the renovated 1928 Spillman Carousel at the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Cook Carousel pavilion, which is slated to open in a few months. The pavilion area underwent a $10.5 million face-lift, making it and the carousel more accessible. Folks have been enjoying thrilling rides above the Grand River for 30 years.

We stayed at the Canopy by Hilton, a new hotel that’s tucked between downtown breweries and the Grand River. Since we were visiting a city renowned for its part in the modernist design movement, this hotel, with its contemporary appeal, was perfect.

Publisher: Jason Hosko

EDITORIAL

Editor: Megan Swoyer

Travel Editor: Ron Garbinski

Copy Editor: Anne Berry Daugherty

Contributors: Jocelyn Anderson, Amy S. Eckert, Jamie Fabbri, Rick Houchin, Tyler Leipprandt, Trevor Long/Maconochie Photography, Sally Matak, Giuseppa Nadrowski, Bill Semion, Mark Spezia, Dianna Stampfler, Khristi S. Zimmeth

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Creative Director: Lindsay Richards

Art Director: Mike Wagester

Associate Art Director: Steven Prokuda

Senior Production Artist: Stephanie Daniel

Production Manager: Crystal Nelson

Account Manager: Elizabeth Kowalik

Production Coordinator: Amanda Kozlowski

Special Project Editors: Emily Doran, Olivia Sedlacek

Graphic Designer: Joe Salafias

SALES

Advertising Inquiries: advertising@hour-media.com

Account Executives: Maddy Gill, Nick Irwin, Jessica Laidlaw

Publishing & Sales Coordinator: Logan Neaton

DIGITAL

Director of Digital Strategy: Travis Fletcher

Digital Development Manager: Matthew Cappo

Senior Digital Development Specialist: Luanne Lim

Digital Development Specialist: Izak Geisler

IT IT Director: Jeremy Leland

CIRCULATION

Director of Audience Development: Geralyn Wilson

Circulation Manager: Riley Meyers

That last topic revealed the mystery behind how shipwreck hunters go about their journeys. First, it’s about research, research, and more research. Then you plot your coordinates based on what you think might be there. Hire a ship and a knowledgeable pilot/captain to take you there, cross your ﬁngers, and test your skill and luck! In Lake Huron’s Thunder Bay region, there are some 200 known shipwrecks — and many haven’t even been discovered yet.

At the Heritage Center gift shop, I purchased a huge map of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The map not only shows the sanctuary’s 4,300 square miles of northern Lake Huron, but also where many shipwrecks occured. The map now hangs in our Up North cottage and provides an immediate sense of place.

Speaking of places, my other recent adventures around the state included a few days in Grand Rapids. As sure as the alluring Grand River ﬂows through its downtown area, the city’s many diversions enlightened us. One of those was a visit to the inaugural

My husband and I also recently popped into the just-renovated Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Detroit’s Belle Isle. A few steps from the Detroit River, this attraction is always a marvelous place to visit, and it’s even more so now with its verdant greens and vibrant blooms.

Getaways long and short offer new insights and fresh perspectives, to be sure. You’ll read about many of these opportunities in this issue of Michigan Blue, and others down the road.

Regarding fresh perspectives, have you noticed anything different about the magazine you’re reading? Yes, the Michigan Blue team gave the magazine a refresh, from the type treatment to creating new departments (that allow us to show off our beautiful state even more) and making small tweaks that might not be readily noticeable. Overall, we’re showcasing home design, art, travel, food, and people in this great state in a new light. We’ll roll out more changes in future issues. Enjoy!

Senior Circulation Coordinators: David Benvenuto, Rachel Moulden

Circulation Coordinators: Cathy Krajenke, Michele Wold

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MARKETING

Marketing & Events Manager: Lyndsay Zelenak

Marketing & Events Coordinator: Maya Stephenson

Marketing & Events Administrative Assistant: Isabella Amadori

Communications and PR: Regan Wright

ADMINISTRATION

Director of Business Operations: Kathie Gorecki

Senior Accounting Associate: Andrew Kotzian

Accounting Associates: Jenna Glod, Austin Schmelzle

PUBLISHED BY HOUR MEDIA, LLC

CEO: Stefan Wanczyk | President: John Balardo

Michigan Blue magazine is published quarterly by Hour Media. Publishing oﬃce: 5750 New King Dr., Suite 100 Troy, MI 48098. Telephone 616-459-4545; fax 616-459-4800. General email: info@hour-media.com

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Michigan Blue magazine,1965 E. Avis Dr., Madison Heights, MI 48071. Subscription rates: one year $14.95, two years $24.95, three years $34.95, U.S. only. Single issue and newsstand $5.95 (by mail $8.95). To subscribe or to order back issues, please contact Circulation at 866-660-6247. Advertising rates and speciﬁcations at mibluemag.com or by request. Michigan Blue magazine is not responsible for unsolicited contributions.

WATERWAYS

Intrigued by the maritime since he was a child, today harbormaster Mike Davenport oversees the Port Huron Harbor. Read about a day in the life of two waterfront bosses inside this section. MICHIGAN

SKY, SAND & SURF

Life on the Docks

BY Mark Spezia

Two DNR harbormasters manage the hustle and bustle at busy Lake Huron ports

Mike Davenport and Kristin Forster both spent their youth developing an affinity for Lake Huron’s enticing waters.

Davenport lived his formative years in Ruby, a mid-Thumb community, but his family docked their boat at Port Huron’s River Street Marina, near where

River empties into the St. Clair River. By the time he entered middle school, he was frequently staying overnight on the vessel and was becoming even more intrigued by maritime life.

Forster’s family settled in Huron County following her father’s retirement from the United States Army. The family began spending summers at their cottage on Lake

Huron, where the young Forster immersed herself in water-related recreation.

Fittingly, Davenport and Forster are now Michigan Department of Natural Resources harbormasters, bringing their affection for the Great Lakes to a role they were seemingly born to play.

Davenport oversees Port Huron Harbor and the same marina where he spent so much

the Black

of his childhood. After watching River Street Marina dock workers perform their duties, and sometimes offering to lend a hand, Davenport became one of them in 2002, at age 16, through a job with the Desmond Marine Co. Six years later, he was named Port Huron’s harbormaster.

“When the job became available, I was asked if I had any interest and if I was up for the challenge of running the harbor daily,” recalls Davenport, who still works for Desmond Marine during his offseason.

“What a great feeling to be offered what’s a dream job for me. I’ve never looked back.”

Forster is stationed at Port Austin Harbor, not far from the cottage that helped shape who she is today. She began her DNR career in 2015 as a summer employee at Sleeper State Park in Caseville before becoming Port Austin harbormaster in 2020. When the 74-boat-slip harbor closes in the fall, Forster performs ranger duties at nearby Port Crescent State Park.

A GREAT LAKES NETWORK

Forster and Davenport are two of the 82 harbormasters running the Michigan DNR’s harbors serving Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior.

Each harbor presents unique challenges, but all harbormasters are responsible for ensuring their facilities are clean and in sound working order, controlling boating traffic around marinas via radio communication, providing boaters with weather and other critical information, and enforcing rules and regulations. A staff of dock workers assists them.

“The lake can change by the minute. Some of the boaters we see are first-timers who might not understand the severity of what can happen out on the lake.”

— Kristin Forster

“From the first of May to the end of September, we’re really humming,” Davenport says. “We have about seven dock workers to keep our busy (136-boat-slip) marina running smoothly. It’s crucial to maintain a clean, top-notch facility for our guests, whether they’re spending the weekend or they keep a boat here all season.”

Opposite page: Growing up, Port Huron Harbormaster

Mike Davenport’s summers were always filled with boating adventures. He loves being on the water and around the atmosphere of a marina.

Right: Since her youth, Port Austin Habormaster

Kristin Forster has immersed herself in water-related recreational

There are plenty of facilities and services to maintain. The Port Huron and Port Austin marinas both offer water, electrical hookups, restrooms, showers, fuel, ice, laundry and pump-out services, marine supplies, grills, and even dog runs, among other amenities. Port Huron even offers bike and car rental programs, and has two gas fire pits. Port Austin has a visitor center.

“My days during our May-September season are pretty busy, so I begin each day by making sure the docks are in good shape, the facilities are clean, and my team is ready to greet and assist boaters,” Forster says.

“In fact, one of my biggest roles is making contact with boaters — so I can usually be found on the docks, catching lines, or answering questions about where they can find what they need in Port Austin.”

Davenport and Forster also are constantly monitoring weather conditions. “Lake Huron is so unpredictable, and making sure everyone is aware of current and upcoming conditions is quite a task to stay on top of,” Forster shares. “The lake can change by the minute. Some of the boaters we see are first-timers who might not understand the severity of what can happen out on the lake.”

Davenport has the added task of monitoring international traffic. “We get

plenty of boats coming into our facility from the Canadian side, sometimes simply to fill their boats with less expensive fuel. But we need to be sure they’re still following rules for traveling between the two countries,” he explains.

Davenport’s greatest logistical challenge comes each July, when the city serves as the starting line for the Port Huron to Mackinac Race following a week of festivities. Last year’s 100th edition of the event featured a record 328 boats.

“The race requires so much advance planning. We have to carefully plan where they’re going to go between when they arrive and race day,” says Davenport, who has served on the Bayview Yacht Club’s race committee the past 15 years.

As soon as the boats are off, he heads north in order to arrive at the Mackinac Island finish line well before the first sailboats do. There, Davenport helps facilitate an orderly finish with the island’s harbormaster, Derrick Horn.

Davenport was recognized last year for his role in ensuring smooth sailing for one of the nation’s largest boating events when he was named the Port Huron to Mackinac Race Person of the Year.

Boater Information: Michigan Harbor Guides, michigan.gov/boating

Motown joins other Michelinaward-winning destinations with its own “Michelin Green Guide,” now available at select bookstores and online at Amazon and other sites.

Exploring Michigan: Tips, trends, and tidbits

Field Guide

Detroit’s Top Honors: “I think Detroit is a really good introduction to what America is all about. It’s very human. Detroit is a place that makes people believe anything is possible,” Philippe Orain, Michelin Travel Guides editorial and contents global director, said when he introduced the premiere “Michelin Green Guide” for Detroit to the public. It’s an important milestone for metro Detroit because it’s Michelin’s highest ranking for an attraction, and is reserved for noteworthy landmarks. Making the three-star list are the Detroit Institute of Arts, Downtown Detroit (as a whole), the Guardian Building, The Henry Ford Museum, and the Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills. visitdetroit.com

Boat Sales: With $1.6 billion in sales, Michigan ranked third in the U.S. for 2023 recreational powerboat sales, according to data from the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Michigan’s sales were down 2.9 percent from 2022, a good year for boat purchases, due largely to the Covid pandemic. Top-ranked Florida sales increased 3.1 percent to $6.4 billion, while sales in Texas, in the second spot, were at $2.4 billion. New freshwater fishing boats held steady in 2024 and are expected to end the year flat compared to 2023, at approximately 51,000-54,000 new units sold. nmma.org/statistics/news

Funding Recreation: After reviewing 122 applications, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board recommended earlier this year that the Michigan Legislature approve 68 recreation development projects and 17 land acquisitions totaling $41.7 million in 2025. “From fantastic land purchases like a $4.2 million property that will connect additional Michigamme Highlands habitats to Craig Lake State Park in Marquette County, to a $400,000 project to develop the Nakwema Trails in Charlevoix County, these grant recommendations by the board will make significant improvements to outdoor recreation across our state,” Michigan DNR Director Scott Bowen says. michigan.gov/mnrtf

— Compiled by Ron Garbinski

Have news that pertains to Michigan’s natural resources, travel, or exploration? Send a note to MSwoyer@Hour-Media.com.

WPAGE-TURNER

Lake Michigan, Letter by Letter

An engaging children’s book focuses on a Great Lake and the alphabet

BY Megan Swoyer

hen Julie Dickerson retired from elementary school teaching in 2010, she started thinking about writing a book. Fast-forward some 15 years and now she’s published! The teacher-turned-author recently sat down to share some insights on her ﬁrst book project, “Beaches, Boats, and Birds: A Lake Michigan Alphabet Book,” illustrated by Rhonda McKinnon.

Michigan Blue: Why is reading important to you?

Julie Dickerson: My grandmother was a teacher who read good books to my father, who then read them to me. I absolutely loved reading and being read to, and going to the library. Getting a book of my own was a real treat. In turn, our grandchildren love to hear stories — so the seed of the joy of reading goes on through the generations.

MB: What were your goals for “Beaches, Boats, and Birds”?

JD: To inspire the love of reading and the love of playing outside, where children (can) engage in creative and imaginative play. I want families to be encouraged to visit beaches and get away from the screens. As for the illustrations, I was looking for watercolorists and I liked Rhonda McKinnon’s muted colors. She was just what I needed. She did a splendid job.

MB: You live in Jackson and, in the summer, Manistique. How have Michigan’s lakes inspired you?

JD: Firstly, my daughter, who has autism, was always so calmed by the waves and (enjoyed the) sensory experience of being at a beach. I hope the things the children do at the lake in my book will (inspire) other families to try a lake vacation for their children with autism or anxiety issues. I also hope the book will be a nice keepsake of a Great Lakes vacation. To share and tell others of our beautiful state and its lakes is a privilege.

MB: What are your favorite pages?

JD: The night sky up north, away from light pollution, is awesome in the real meaning of the word! Seeing the sky covered with so many stars that you’ve never seen before, and seeing the Milky Way so clearly, is just astonishing. Add the meteors in August, with the Perseid meteor shower, and it’s truly incredible entertainment. Also, I love the child’s view of the lighthouse. I really love

lighthouses. and kids seem attracted to them, too, with their high towers. Look at that child perching on the rocks he just climbed out to, and the depiction of the voyageurs as ghostly ﬁgures on the lake. The history of the Great Lakes is compelling and this picture makes one want to know more. And I like the pages with the universal activities all kids love — jumping in waves, and writing and drawing in sand. The illustrator conveys the reluctance when seeing a big wave (approach), as if this is a new experience, and the joy of just jumping right in. Another spread shows the immense size of the lake and what kids and adults love looking for — an eagle and a freighter.

MB: Tell us about the do-it-yourself idea in the back of the book.

JD: The do-it-yourself idea is the teacher in me, as I know little ones love to make things pertaining to stories. Hopefully it serves to reinforce the memory of what they’ve learned and it makes the story personal. And kids naturally pick up things they see on the beach for a closer look. This little project encourages them to be visually creative and to experiment with colors. At book signings, it’s been fun to see the ideas they have and how they decorate their driftwood pieces.

MB: What do you love most about Michigan?

JD: The Lure of the Lakes, we call it in my family. The lakes are so changeable, and a constant source of entertainment — whether it’s way up in the Keweenaw Peninsula on Lake Superior, or watching ﬁshing boats in Leland. Best of all is Lake Michigan, where childhood vacations were glorious for me and our children. Ultimately, we found a beach on that lake — remote, exquisitely beautiful, with soft sand for bare feet and white pines all around that whisper in the moonlight. There, we’ve experienced such joy in the splendor of Lake Michigan and just staring out at it.

Find It

“ Beaches, Boats, and Birds: A Lake Michigan Alphabet Book,” written by Julie Dickerson and illustrated by Rhonda McKinnon (2024, Mission Point Press), is available at Paper Mill Books in Manistique, Falling Rock Cafe in Munising, Blaney Park Antiques in Blaney Park, Indian Village gifts in St. Ignace, Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Horizon Books in Traverse City, and other locations. Also through missionpointpress.com.

Northern Nuances

An artist tells the story of how and why she came to illustrate her first children’s book

BY Megan Swoyer

When artist Rebecca Deneau’s three sons were very young (they’re teenagers now), she would bring home a fresh stack of children’s books from the library every week. “My most joyful times were spent snuggled up on the couch reading with them,” recalls Deneau, of Traverse City. After taking in a variety of artistic styles and different types of poetry, plots, and prose, Deneau’s desire to illustrate a book began to take off.

“Over the years of being a mom, I’ve probably read a thousand children’s books,” she shares. Her brother, who has an MBA in creative writing, loved reading to his young son, too, and thus a collaboration was born. Daniel (Hoye, of Wisconsin) wrote “Let’s Go North,” while Deneau was responsible for the illustrations. “We wanted to create a book that kids (would) request at bedtime and that parents would enjoy reading, too — one that would evoke warm memories of summer vacations Up North.”

Michigan BLUE: What was the inspiration behind “Let’s Go North?”

Rebecca Deneau: My brother and I grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Our grandparents would rent three cabins on the same lake each July. We would spend the week fishing, enjoying campfires, swimming, and relaxing together. It was just what we needed.

Those were such good memories; we thought they would make a great jumpingoff point for the book.

Then we found ourselves in the Upper Peninsula enjoying a vacation with our own families, doing some of the same activities we did as kids, now with our children. We realized how valuable it was to us to pass down these cherished memories to the next generation. That became the focal point of the book. It’s about children enjoying summer vacation and learning how to experience joy in all the beautiful things life has to offer.

MB: What do you love about Michigan?

RD: I’ve lived in northern Michigan for more than 20 years; my husband’s hometown (Traverse City) is now my home, too. I love the slower pace here. The people are kind and will stop to chat at the grocery store and help when you need it. Around here, there’s a collective love for the outdoors, because there’s something for

everyone. Biking, kayaking, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, skiing — there’s enough to keep us looking forward to our next outdoor adventure.

MB: What’s your favorite spread in the book, and why?

RD:. It’s hard to pick a favorite. Maybe it’s the page with the girls picking raspberries. It feels nostalgic and carefree, like childhood should be. It reminds me of picking wild raspberries in late August on our hikes out to a favorite beach.

Our hope for this book is that readers will connect their own memories of time Up North with family and friends.

MB: I love the activity page at the end; can you tell me what inspired that idea?

RD: The Look and Find page was one of my son’s ideas! We used to love the interactive pages in children’s magazines. It creates a fun surprise at the end, and supports our desire to help little ones pay attention to details and find wonder in the world around them.

MB: Is there another book coming?

RD: We have an idea for the next one, and we think it will be a bit unexpected. But it supports our love for the north, teaching kids resilience, and evoking wonder.

Find It

“Let’s Go North” (self-published) is available at rebeccadeneau.com, as well as select retail shops in the Traverse City area such as Crystal River Outfitters in Glen Arbor, The Find North in Leland and Northport, and Flora Bae Home in Petoskey. It’s also available at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, near Sleeping Bear Dunes in Empire.

Top left: “Let’s Go North” features an inviting cover that inspires little ones to join the adventure. Above: Creating color swatches and practicing sketches are all part of the illustrator’s process. Top right: Illustrator Rebecca Deneau.

Two recently updated guidebooks —

“Know Your Ships” and the “Historic Michigan Travel Guide” — contain rich content about our state. I keep copies of both in my truck door’s side pocket, so I’m ready to provide interesting information that dazzles my friends while I’m off on tangents around the Great Lakes region. I love how the books complement each other.

“Know Your Ships,” the 204-page field guide to boats on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, overflows with fascinating facts and figures for freighter-watchers like me. I’ve used it as a checklist to cross off scores of ships that I’ve spotted over the

Updated Editions

Useful guidebooks overflow with fascinating facts about sites and ships. Michigan Blue chats with one of the books’ editors.

BY Ron Garbinski

years. The book, which premiered in 1959, has been updated every year since 1983.

The forerunner to the “Historic Michigan Travel Guide” first appeared in 1978; in 2024, the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM) released its eighth edition. Larry J. Wagenaar, HSM’s executive director and CEO since 2001, and Amy Bradfield, HSM’s senior director of education and communications, edited the new guidebook.

Wagenaar was excited to share some background with me on the latest 164page edition.

BLUE: How did you collect all this information?

Larry J. Wagenaar: The site included must be a historical destination that’s open to the public (and has) something to see, and it must be an organizational member of HSM. The current edition includes about 500 sites that help promote cultural and heritage tourism. We contacted every local history destination in early 2023 and

Above: The new “Historic Michigan Travel Guide” is now available. Readers love the handy 5- by 8-inch size. Inset: Larry J. Wagenaar is the executive director of the Historical Society of Michigan; he coedited the new guide.

requested updated information. There are always new entities that form, and ones that cease operations, so we’re always looking to update our data. I’ve also started a process of taking Fridays, when time allows, to visit regions of the state, county by county, and visiting historical organizations to check in with them and also to update the information in our records.

BLUE: What do you like best about the guide?

LJW: I like that its 5- by 8-inch size is easy to access. Our approach to list museums and other historical sites by region, and then alphabetically by community name, makes it very easy to use. I also like that it includes so many destinations. All areas of the state are represented well. The guide doesn’t ignore or slight the Upper Peninsula or northern lower Michigan. (There’s a QR code for each listing that connects to the attraction’s website.)

BLUE: What’s your goal in publishing this guide?

LJW: Our main goal was for it to be a useful tool in planning visits to local historical destinations as well as to keep in your car as you happen to be in specific locations. We’ve heard from some users that they’ve used it when they’re planning a trip within Michigan, while others have just kept the guide in their vehicle and used it when they happen to be in a specific area.

BLUE: What encouraged you to update the guide? Were you involved in previous updates?

LJW: I’ve been involved since the fourth edition in 2008, which appeared 28 years after the third edition. Our goal, since the fourth edition, was to do a new edition every three years. The Covid pandemic put a wrench in those plans. We were already a year late in 2020 in getting a new edition out (the seventh became available in 2016), but when Covid happened and no one was touring, we decided to wait. We started in earnest in 2023 to revise the content.

BLUE: Who created the original edition?

LJW: The first hand-stapled edition came out in 1978 as “Historical Museums in Michigan: A Visitors Guide (1978-79).” The second edition (1979-80) bore the current name and listed 163 museums in the state. There was one more, the 198182 third edition, before the publication went moribund. The original 1978 edition was the brainchild of Frank Wilhelme, who was HSM’s executive director at the time. Frank, by the way, just completed his second and final term on our board of trustees. Between that first edition and the next one, Tom Jones took over as executive director and only published two editions. In 2007-08, I approached Meijer (stores) about the possibility of sponsoring a revised and improved edition of the guide to support cultural and heritage tourism, and they agreed to support the project — which resulted in the fourth edition.

Get a Copy!

“The Historic Michigan Travel Guide,” sponsored by Meijer, is available at all Michigan Meijer stores, most bookstores, and online at hsmichigan.org.

“Know Your Ships” is produced by Marine Publishing Co. knowyourships.com.

 Take a spin: The Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Cook Carousel Pavilion, housing the 1928 Spillman Carousel, is scheduled to reopen later this summer or in the early fall. Upgrades to the pavilion structure were made to detach it from the museum’s main facility, allowing for accessible trail connections along the downtown riverfront. New ramps added inside and outside of the pavilion will create universal access around and into the carousel area. A new chariot feature will allow individuals with mobility devices to ride the carousel. grpm.org

 Park It: The scenic Blue Star Memorial and Red Arrow highways form a scenic route along the Lake Michigan shore, twisting and turning through ancient dunes and beneath towering trees from Saugatuck to the Indiana border. You’ll ﬁnd plenty of perfect picnic spots along the way. One of those is Coloma’s dog-friendly (leashed) Hagar Park/Beach, which features paved parking, a small beach, picnic tables, grills, and a playground. A boardwalk and stairs leading to the beach make exploring extra fun. swmichigan.org

 Golf Honors: The Jack Nicklaus Signature course at Harbor Shores Resort in Benton Harbor was named the 2024 Michigan Golf Course of the Year by the Michigan Golf Course Association. It’s a delightful and challenging layout showcasing Lake Michigan views as it weaves through dunes, woodlands, and wetlands along the Paw Paw River. Golf Digest magazine calls it one of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. harborshoresresort.com

STAFF PICKS

to Try

From antiquing to golﬁng to overnighting, these southwest Michigan spots rank at the top of our list

 Overnight Success: Douglas’ Forest Inn (the former Sherwood Forest B&B) is now open, thanks to renovators and owners Eric and Tracy Lanning, lifelong West Michiganders. “Our love of exploring and experiencing inspired us to create a special place for like-minded travelers,” Eric says. In addition to traveling, the couple has an affinity for renovating historic homes. “We were captivated by the original gracious design (1904) and the prospect of breathing new life into it,” he adds. Over the winter of 2023-2024, the Lannings conducted extensive renovations to the many spaces in both the main house and the cottage, as well as the entire grounds. “I do all of the cooking (daily made-fromscratch full breakfasts), and Tracy and I handle the day-to-day operations,” Eric says. “We absolutely loved our first several months of innkeeping and can’t wait to see what this year brings.” forestinnsaugatuck.com

 What’s Old Is New: Antiques on the Bluff in St. Joseph features more than 50 antiques vendors and takes place on the first Sunday of the month, rain or shine, from May through October. Something old can be new for shoppers, who can browse among hundreds of vintage treasures at Lake Bluff Park overlooking Lake Michigan. Admission is free! stjoetoday.com

 Cyclists’ Delight: The multiuse, 34-mile Kal-Haven Trail State Park, connecting downtown South Haven and Lake Michigan with Kalamazoo, rolls along a rural landscape and through several old railroad towns near wetlands and the Black River, and even passes a ghost town. Heading east, there’s a 387-foot elevation change. Two old train depots, in Bloomingdale (a railroad/local history museum) and South Haven, serve as trailside visitors centers. Kal-Haven is a Michigan Heritage Trail with 31 exhibit panels along the route. kalhaven.org

DESIGN CURRENTS

A gorgeous property on Orchard Lake makes the most of water views — and even features an orchard and vegetable garden. Read more about it in the Design Star story inside this section.

MICHIGAN

BY Megan Swoyer

Ever since she was a young child, glass artist April Wagner knew that she’d one day be an artist. “I was the kid messing around, trying things,” says Wagner, who grew up in Muskegon. “And then I went to Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen for high school and that was eye-opening for me.”

Wagner, whose Pontiac-based glass business is called Epiphany Studios, also attended college in upstate New York (Alfred University) and graduated from Detroit’s College for Creative Studies with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in glassblowing.

“The first time I tried glassblowing, in 1992, it was an epiphany moment,” she says, explaining the name of her business. “The material is captivating — and it still is, for me, after 30 years of working with it. I’m excited to get in there and try new things every day.”

Working with glass is an all-or-nothing undertaking, she notes. You’re dealing with everything from blow pipes (which allow glassblowers to blow into an expanded bubble of hot glass) and molds, which shape hot glass, to carving and polishing (once it’s cooled down) and paddles. And all the while, you’re just inches from piping-hot furnaces.

She Had an Epiphany

Artist April Wagner shares what it takes to create glass sculptures both big and small

“Glass isn’t like any other material; it’s captivating. You can’t set it down and walk away. You can’t take a phone call or stop to have lunch. It’s high-focus. It’s immediate and responds to you and your input. I love the adrenalin of that,” Wagner shares.

Other glassblowing requirements call to mind dance steps, she says. “It’s physically dynamic and you work with a team. That’s a lot like dancing.”

Together with approximately six assis-

Above: At Huntington Place, on the Detroit River, a two-story stairwell installation by April Wagner evokes a sunset over water with birds flying above. Right: Glass artist Wagner is focused on her craft.

tants working within a large space (due to business growth, she built a 2,600-squarefoot second building next to the original 4,000-square-foot space in 2022), Wagner turns out everything from large commissions to small holiday ornaments. Lovely tabletop pieces and garden art also are featured in her repertoire.

“I tend to love colorful and contemporary, as well as feminine forms,” she shares. She says she and her team create leaves, birds, branches, and more “natural forms.” Beyond shopping online or in her studio, customers can also find her work in department stores and small shops all over the world.

Wagner’s public works are one-of-a-kind, large-scale installations that turn heads in places ranging from convention centers to hospitals. One of her most memorable projects was for the Oregon Supreme Court Building.

“I made a three-story sculpture with 2,000 glass feathers that, together, look like the wings of an eagle,” Wagner says. She first arranged the feathers in a large, empty space that had enough room to accommodate the pieces, “then it took two weeks to install,” she recalls. Presently, she’s working on a sculpture called Two Songs: Paul and Orville for the Dayton Convention Center.

As for sourcing materials to perform her magic, it’s often a challenge, Wagner says.

Above: Wagner’s stunning, waterthemed Resolution hangs in an arbitration firm.

“Water is universal,” the artist says.

Right: Glass garden art, like this robin, is embedded with copper posts for easy installment.

On April 26-27, visitors to the studio can try their hand at making a glass bird. Visit ephiphanyglass. com for Wagner’s spring open house schedule.

“We source colored glass from Europe. American manufacturers went out of business during Covid. Clear glass comes from North Carolina, but weather can affect availability.” Glass arrives in powder form as raw material. “It’s not glass until we melt it,” she says, and then color is added and shaping comes into play. The artist also works with glass that has a metallic finish (dichroic glass) — which, she says, is very expensive.

One of Wagner’s favorite colors in the glass world is blue. “Part of that is a water tie-in,” she says. “Blue, from light to dark, on glass looks organic and natural.” Wagner says there are a lot of water themes in her work. “Glass is a lot like water, moving from liquid to solid. And it’s clear.”

Growing up near Lake Michigan and being on a body of water in Pontiac (Dawsons Millpond in Beaudette Park), Wagner has an awareness of its calming effect. “Water is universal, and water-themed works are perfect for hospital environments. I also did a project (called Resolution) for an arbitration firm that was water-themed.”

Two more impressive sculptures fill spaces in Petoskey’s McClaren Northern Michigan Hospital. One is water-themed and is called Long Shore Current; it’s comprised of more than 200 glass pieces suspended

from the ceiling that appear to float through the air. It’s inspired by the water currents found in Lake Michigan.

In the lobby/entryway, you’ll see another piece that’s reminiscent of falling autumn leaves.

For inspiration at Huntington Place on the Detroit River, Wagner walked outside to see what types of views one would get when observing her sculpture there. “It’s in a two-story stairwell and I made the glass water pieces on the wall wrap around the stairwell; it looks like a sunset with birds.”

Inspiration comes not only from the Great Lakes and state rivers, but also from the backyard at her home in Franklin.

“I like to think I’m an amateur landscape designer,” she says, sharing information about her 1-acre property. Birds, too, inspire, and thus a flock of beautiful bright glass songbirds also are available; some are embedded with copper posts, for the garden. “I’m a big gardener and love trees, vegetables, flowers, and different grasses. The world is such a beautiful place; there’s inspiration all around us.”

More Information

Epiphany Studios, 770 Orchard Lake Rd., Pontiac, ephiphanyglass.com, is open to the public Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. It’s closed during the late spring and summer. The Spring Show is April 26 (projects: bird and cat) and April 27 (projects: pulled flower and heart), from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Spring Shows offer workshops in which participants over the age of 6 can work with an artist to create beautiful glass keepsakes. Check the website regularly for updates and to sign up.

DESIGN CURRENTS

The Great Outdoors

Host a memorable party outside with cool glassware, a movie screen, and comfy furnishings

1. Sit in comfort on the Settle Lounge Chair by MUUTO. Price varies, Design Within Reach, Grand Rapids, dwr.com 2. Bring the big screen to the backyard with an Outdoor Movie Screen from POTTERY BARN. $349, Pottery Barn, multiple locations, potterybarn.com 3. Chill beverages in style with the Leland Rattan Beverage Tub from CRATE AND BARREL . $199.95, Crate and Barrel, Novi, crateandbarrel.com 4. Complete your barware lineup with a set of Hammered Handcrafted Stemless Wine Glasses from POTTERY BARN. $48/set of 4, Pottery Barn, multiple locations, potterybarn.com 5. From the beach to the bonﬁre, SERENA AND LILY’s Mallorca Beach Towels will keep you warm and dry. $348/set of 4, Serena and Lily, Birmingham, serenaandlily.com 6. Get a pickleball game going with this set from SERENA AND LILY. $248, Serena and Lily, Birmingham, serenaandlily.com 7./8. Keep your appetizers looking stylish with the Chip & Dip Bowl and Lazy Susan from SERENA AND LILY’s Hawthorne Collection. $98-$148, Serena and Lily, Birmingham, serenaandlily.com 9. Sit pretty in POLYWOOD’s Vineyard four-piece Deep Seating Rocking Chair Set. $3,149, Cottage Works, Ludington, polywood.com yourcottageworks.com 10. Celebrate lake life with these Great Lakes Glasses by CATSTUDIO. $19 each, Little Luxuries of Mackinac Island, Mackinac Island, littleluxuriesofmackinac.com 11. Nothing sets the mood like lantern lighting, and this chic design from RUTH CASPER DESIGN STUDIO is perfect. Price upon request, Ruth Casper Design Studio, Michigan Design Center, Troy, michigandesign.com, ruthcasperdesign.com 12. This 2-in-1 Bean Bag Toss from CRATE AND BARREL doubles as a Tic-Tac-Toe board. $159.95, Crate and Barrel, Novi, crateandbarrel.com 13. A Hammered Outdoor Pitcher by POTTERY BARN is a must for any party. $29.50, Pottery Barn, multiple locations, potterybarn.com

STYLED BY Jamie Fabbri

 Peaceful Pantone

We asked Mary Petruzzello, a designer at Ethan Allen furniture in Birmingham, to share how some of the store’s accents and adornments can work with Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, and its creamy, relaxing, neutral vibes. “Our Woodland Nest pictures (right) create an organic foreground that’s reminiscent of spring and nature, and allows the warm mocha tone to peek through,” she says. “The Sierra Leaf Bowl is a sculptural and expertly crafted sand-casted bowl that has a soft antique brass finish that’s perfect for a room painted with a Mocha Mousse shade. Also, handblown Desert Smoke Glass Vases look beautiful on an accent table, or you can use multiple vases to create a breathtaking display.”

Notebook

Tips, trends, and tidbits for home and away

by Megan Swoyer

 Cue the Glass

When it comes to interior design, glass is no longer just a functional material — it’s becoming an exciting way to create visually striking, unique, and sophisticated products. Mustard Made cabinets with storage solutions look great in cottages, and include The Collector, in mustard (left). us.mustardmade.com

 Flat-Out Beautiful

A little more than two years ago, Steve and Jen Vander Roest purchased one of Traverse City’s most historic structures, the Masonic Building, with hopes of transforming it into the boutique hotel of their dreams, The Flats at Front + Union. Today, the hotel’s Scandinavian-inspired design is sleek and modern, yet laid-back and comfortable, boasting one-, two-, and three-bedroom flats unlike anything in the region. One-night stays are available Sundays through Thursdays, November through April, except holidays. Holidays require a two-night minimum stay. theflatsatfrontand union.com

Have news about home design and waterfront living? Send a note to MSwoyer@Hour-Media.com.

It’s hard to compete with 100 feet of Orchard Lake frontage, but the landscape that Matt Mosher, of Mosher Design Co. in Royal Oak, developed for a couple who moved from Chicago does just that. Part of a property that formerly housed one of the lake’s original estates, the house and gardens underwent a two-year renovation that began in 2019.

Orchard Lake Oasis

Designer Matt Mosher creates a stunning expanse with estate vibes and a vegetable garden

BY Khristi S. Zimmeth

This page: Landscape designer Matt Mosher, of Mosher Design Co., provided an elegant and stylish look for the sprawling grounds of an Orchard Lake home.

Inset: Mosher at his Royal Oak-based office.

A new, 4,000-square-foot residence and guest house replaced the site’s original 1921 farmhouse. “The new owners wanted (it) to be an elegant, classic Colonial estate,” Mosher explains. “They tore down everything except the fireplace. The goal was to create an estate that looked like it had been there for 100 years.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Sally Matak

Mosher, who started his landscape design firm at 17 and has been in the business for 23 years, worked with his father, builder Doyle Mosher of Mosher Dolan, on the site. “We’re fortunate to specialize in high-end and unique boutique projects,” he explains.

The lot is unusual, he says, because it’s long and deep, with a variety of site variations. He tailored each landscape design to the site, sticking with “clean, simple, and classic” plantings such as boxwood and hydrangea around the house. On the water side, he concentrated on fashioning outdoor living spaces, with a rolling lawn to the patio complemented by light plantings around the edge to soften the space.

Other gardens include a 20- by 20-foot vegetable garden, a fruit tree orchard, and a cutting garden. For the vegetables, Mosher designed a 6-foot-tall custom wood and metal fence that’s “protective, but also visually pleasing,” he says. “The main purpose was to keep the deer and other critters out.” The cutting garden includes zinnias, black-eyed Susan, hydrangea, and pollinator mixes.

The homeowners recently purchased 12 additional wetland acres and turned them into a nature sanctuary that showcases a variety of native plants including New England aster and rudbeckia, Mosher says. Although each featured landscape area is part of the same location, the project allowed him to experiment with a variety of styles. “It starts with a structured classic presentation around the house and loosens

:Right: The vegetable and flower gardens are thriving, thanks to expert planning that emphasized lots of light and called for a custom fence.

Inset: A fruit tree orchard is also loated on the property.

up in the garden,” he explains. “The deeper you go, the more natural it gets.”

The designer admits that making decisions about the wetland plantings were some of his favorite parts of the project.

“It was such a unique experience to design and replicate nature,” he says.

The gardens are beautiful even in winter, when snow blankets the evergreens, trees, serviceberries, and ornamental grasses.

“We make sure there’s interest year-round,” Mosher says. “Being a lake house, however, summer is when it really shines.”

Grow Your Own

Pro tips for cultivating a veggie garden

Left: A classic 4,000-squarefoot residence and guest house replaced the site’s original 1921 farmhouse.

Designer Mosher chose timeless plants, including hydrangea, for many of the garden beds.

Location, Location, Location: “Vegetables are big sun-lovers,” Matt Mosher says. “Make sure your garden faces west or south for best results.”

Mix It Up: Mosher recommends prepping your beds by adding organic peat, topsoil, manure, and sand for drainage.

Supplement: Adding organic fertilizer once a week should ensure the soil gets enough nutrients to support the plants.

Rise Up: Build raised flower/vegetable boxes at least 20 inches off the ground, Mosher says. While it might not do much for the plants, “it saves a lot of back pain.”

TOP LAWYERS WOMEN LEADERS

BASED UPON A SURVEY OF THEIR PEERS

Jennifer M. Grieco Altior Law PC

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Kellie S. Devito

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Sandra User Green Green & Green PLLC

R. Saleha Mohamedulla Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC

Michelle D. Bayer Joelson Rosenberg

Raechel M. Badalamenti Kirk Huth Lange & Badalamenti PLC

Lisa B. Kirsch-Satawa Kirsch Daskas Law Group

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some Michigan standouts,

Soaking up

through the eyes of photographer Tyler Leipprandt

Text by Megan Swoyer

Pink shell-colored sand, Caribbean-blue waters, and a crisp white surf mingle along a curvy coastline that is perhaps the most idyllic and alluring setting in the state. Empire’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore — quintessential Michigan, to be sure.

Spring at northwest Michigan's Black Star Farms on Old Mission Peninsula bursts with neat rows of vineyards reawakening from dormancy, and a cherry orchard blooming with puffy pastel pinks, fresh greens, and the promise of some delicious fruit.

Close your eyes and feel the water’s misty spray, and then open them to yet another blazing Frankfort sunset as Lake Michigan’s waves shimmer at Frankfort North Light. Cresting, receding, splashing, twinkling, lulling — the waves’ many facets mesmerize. You can take this in while strolling on the pier or along the beach, where you can dip your toes into the sunset’s liquid gold.

 A peninisula of possibilities, Sand Point, in Caseville Township, juts into Saginaw Bay from the west side of the “Thumb’s mitten.” Glazed in golden rays of sun, sandy beaches meet azure waters that stretch to islands (Charity and North) reminiscent of shiny green jewels.

Somewhere over or within these rainbows sits Grand Traverse County’s bass- and bluegill-filled Silver Lake, known for its pine coasts, irregular shoreline, and intriguing peninsulas and islands. It's awe-inspiring — like those dreams that you dare to dream that really do come true. 

 At night, head to Empire Bluff Trail within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Be attentive! If your timing is right, you may be treated to a display of the Northern Lights and see thousands of glittery stars shimmering within the pinks and violets. The show goes on, will you see it?

Fort Holmes, on the highest point of Mackinac Island, is named after American Maj. Andrew Holmes, who died in a failed British attempt to retake the island in 1814. Some say this is the best (and, definitely, most mist-ifying) island spot for watching the sunrise. 

A paddle to Turnip Rock near Port Austin to bask in an orange-sorbet sunrise is a sought-after activity for kayakers on Lake Huron, but the trip is reserved for the calmest of weather days. A petite island pops out of the water’s surface, evoking a fairytale world. One’s imagination runs wild when contemplating this root vegetable-shaped outcropping, which is some 3 or 4 miles from Port Austin.

Get his book: A new coffee table book features some of Tyler Leipprandt’s favorite images from all over Michigan and includes stories of some of his most viral photos. You can order “MIconic” at michiganskymedia.com or find it at M-22, a shop in Traverse City. Follow Leipprandt on Instagram at michiganskymedia.

Lots of seating and large windows await family and friends at this Harsens Island home, where the views are part of the entertainment.

Interior Design: Nicole Withers,

PHOTOS BY Trever Long/ Maconochie Photography BY Khristi S. Zimmeth

Who hasn’t dreamed about having their own private island getaway? For the lucky owners of this Harsens Island second home, that dream is now a reality.

Designer Nicole Withers worked with the Marine City-based homeowners, Vince Cataldo of Infuz Architects, and South Channel Homes on the project. Withers, of Jones-Keena & Co. in Troy, began working with the couple more than 20 years ago after Cataldo introduced them, when the architect and designer worked on the couple’s primary residence. “We’ve all basically grown up together,” Withers explains.

With an enviable 300 feet of St. Clair River frontage, the second home’s site on South Channel Drive offered “a unique opportunity to create a campus feel,” according to Cataldo, a Port Huron and Detroit-based architect. The property consists of a private island, requiring a bridge to reach the main residence. The architect’s website explains: “A large boathouse and

‘fish shack’ are located on the primary parcel. The design solution was to create three separate buildings … allowing privacy for the owner.”

Surrounded by water on all four sides, the 4,600-square-foot main house, known as the River House, is accessed from the other structures by a bridge. The homeowners purchased the land in 2014, and built the boathouse first. With upstairs living quarters that includes five bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a full kitchen/bar opening to the great room, a game room, and a roof deck with an additional bar/ kitchen, the homeowners were able to use those accommodations initially, although they always intended to expand. The fish shack, which Cataldo calls “a funky little building,” came next.

“Visually, the plan always was to make the compound look architecturally connected,” he explains, adding that the three segments “have the same vocabulary” and a “Coastal Michigan” aesthetic.

Planning for the main house began in 2021, and construction got underway in 2022. Withers and the homeowners traveled to the High Point (N.C.) market twice that year to purchase furnishings, accessories, art, and unique custom items.

The multiyear project was stalled by the Covid pandemic, and additional DNR permits were needed for the unique site,

Left: With some 300 feet of St. Clair River frontage, the homeowners’ second home’s site on South Channel Drive features a campus feel. Opposite page, top: There are outstanding views from every room, including this lovely primary bedroom. Of note is the venetian plaster ceiling, which wonderfully reflects light from the sparkling water outdoors. Opposite page, bottom: While the designers were inspired by the expansive and color-rich vistas outdoors, they used color sparingly inside. In the kitchen, neutrals provide a peaceful palette.

which is reached by a ferry and bridge. The extra permits and approvals added “a lot more red tape,” the designer explains, and the site had to be elevated to make it easier to build on, Cataldo notes. “The scale the client went to, (in order) to get it right, was impressive,” he says.

The result is a three-bedroom escape that all parties agree was well worth the extra work and the wait. With views from every room, it’s everything the owners hoped for, Withers says. “Every window you look out, you see water.”

The homeowners’ priorities include “making everything comfortable,” the designer explains, adding that “it was also really important that it be family-friendly.” To achieve that, she and associates Rachel Hartung and Gabrielle Estes used performance fabrics in the great room and dining room, and incorporated a lot of texture so that “even if it wasn’t perfect, it would hide things.”

While the designer was inspired by the expansive blue horizon beyond, she used the color sparingly in the home’s interiors. The palette was drawn from the dining room rug, which features hints of orange and blue, and the Moroccan Tulu rug in the great room. “We wanted it to have a more California, beachy feel,” Withers says.

Right: The orange and blue shades in this rug are used sparingly in other areas of the home. Head-turning artwork by Linwood provides interest and picks up on outdoor colors like sandy beiges and watery blues. The abstract was the first serious piece of art the couple purchased at High Point, N.C.

Left: The primary bathroom is one of two rooms with blue accents. The house is more about texture, though, than color. For example, the mirror’s ultra-tactile driftwood surface adds plenty of “wow.”

“There are two rooms with blue accents, but it’s pretty subtle.

“The house is more about texture than color,” she continues, noting that they added color in the artwork, accessories, and in some surfaces, including the powder room walls, which feature a Detroit Wallpaper Co. design that resembles a sunset. A nod to blue is also seen in the primary bedroom and bath, which grew from a porcelain tile chosen for the shower that’s reminiscent of a geode, Withers says. The white-painted mirror, meanwhile, calls to mind driftwood.

The homeowners’ goal was to create a quiet getaway, yet Withers says they don’t often find themselves alone. The compound attracts their grown children and grandchildren, as well as neighbors of all ages. Local children love the built-in pool. “They’re all about entertaining,” the designer says. “They’re the most generous people and it’s a large boating community, (so there are) often gatherings at their house.”

The property is used two-and-a-half out of the four seasons. “The beauty of Harsens Island is that if you’re a boater, it’s close and you’re not spending hours in the car. For my clients, it’s really all about the boating,” Withers says. “They’re there as soon as they can put the boat in the water.”

A few of interiors pro Nicole Withers’ favorites

1. Entryway painting, “Losing Dreams” by Linwood, South + English, High Point, N.C. southandenglish.com

“Art makes a home. This was the ﬁrst important and big piece of modern art the homeowners purchased,” Nicole Withers says.

2. Isabella Rope Pendant Light, M2C Studio, High Point, N.C. Price upon request. m2cstudio.com

“The braided rope in the Isabella pendant is a modern nod to the nautical nature of the property,” Withers notes.

3. Hickory Chair Saint Giorgio Bar Stool , available at CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center, Troy. Price upon request. hickorychair.com

“The bar stool has so much intricate detail. The top wooden handle makes it practical for families, protecting the leather upholstery when pushing and pulling the stools in and out.”

4. Michael Aram Gotham Steel tile from Artistic Tile, available at Beaver Tile & Stone, Troy. $85 sq. ft. artistictile.com

“The island tile (behind the bar stools) adds texture and detail.”

5. Cade Blue Box (not shown in story), set of two, $340, Currey & Co., curreyandcompany.com

“The blue boxes repeat the tribal feeling of the custom bedroom rug.”

6. Artefact Wildwood Upholstered Poster Bed, Century Furniture, CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center, Troy. michigandesign.com

“I particularly love the silver leaf ﬁnish over the wood. I chose a Schumacher (Michigan Design Center) Heceta Embroidery fabric in blue for its custom upholstery.”

STYLED BY JAMIE FABBRI

Lake Huron history and getaway adventures create amazing times in Alpena

PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT ALPENA

A diver checks out one of more than 200 sunken vessels in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

BY Ron Garbinski

The first time I rolled into Alpena was one fall day long ago when a friend invited me to visit her parents’ house overlooking the city harbor, where they docked their sailboat. My buddies and I eventually used the dad’s backyard garage as a staging area for a delightful weekend bike tour to the community’s old Presque Isle Lighthouse and beyond. I’ve been smitten with this friendly Lake Huron small town and cottage enclave ever since.

Part of the reason centers around the many things the city offers that my family likes to experience when touring Michigan: exploring less-crowded areas, discovering new things about the state’s history, participating in water-related fun, and enjoying the local hospitality. Alpena clicks all four welcoming buttons and more.

On my latest visit, I finally fit in time to learn more about the fascinating and vast 4,300-square-mile Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. The sanctuary encompasses most of northern Lake Huron, all the way to the Canadian border. It’s known as Shipwreck Alley because there are more than 200 sunken vessels on the sandy bottom throughout this treacherous section of the great lake.

A Must-Do: I joined 30 others on a two-hour, narrated glass-bottom boat ride to view the watery graveyard, but I definitely want to return soon to kayak — or maybe even snorkel — over other interesting wrecks. Tip: The best cruise days are in the spring, when the water is at its clearest.

The 1870 New Presque Isle Lighthouse in Presque Isle is the tallest light on the Great Lakes that the public is allowed to climb.

Base Camp: Located near six galleries, live theater, neat small shops, and dining and entertainment options, the Holiday Inn Express & Suite’s downtown location overlooking the Thunder Bay River provides a great base camp for exploring Alpena. I like the easy stroll from there to the downtown district, the historic buildings, and a harbor walk leading to views of the 1914era Little Red lighthouse. Ask for a river view room (quite comfortable with queens or kings, and nice hotel amenities) at the four-story, 90-room inn, which opened in 2017.

From there, you’re a short walk from many of the 20-plus beautifully painted building murals scattered around town.

A Plus: A trek along the riverwalk loop, with numerous interpretive signs detailing the significance of Alpena’s marine history, helps to maintain your daily step count while away from home.

Best Bets: The following stories highlight some favorite top-of-the-mitt activities in this historic lumbering, fishing, and mining community. From the Dark Sky Preserve and the old limestone quarry at the nearby Rockport State Recreation Area, with its sandy Lake Huron beaches, to the digital dome planetarium theater at the Besser Museum, the suggestions in this section outline an adventure-packed getaway itinerary for anyone visiting this impressive Pure Michigan destination.

Plan It!

Visit Alpena visitalpena.com

Incredible Views

Visitors can climb to the top of two classic lighthouses

ONLY THE HARDY opt to climb the steep, winding 130 steps to the top of the New Presque Isle Lighthouse north of Alpena.

At 113 feet tall, “it’s the tallest lighthouse on the Great Lakes that can be climbed by the public. The view from the brick tower is spectacular,” reports Mary Tagliareni, president of the Presque Isle Township Museum Society.

For those who make the challenging climb, a reward awaits. “On a clear day you can see northeast across Lake Huron to Great Duck Island, which sits off Manitoulin Island — which, in turn, forms the north side of Canada’s Georgian Bay. To the south you can see the limestone quarry beyond Lake Esau and the Rockport docks, where massive lake freighters put in to be loaded. To the west you can see deep into Presque Isle County,” she says.

Within about a mile of each other, visitors can see two lighthouses. The second is the Old Lighthouse, which was built in 1840 and continued to operate until 1870, when range lights took over. It’s one of the oldest on the Great Lakes. The much taller New Lighthouse was built in 1870 and remains in service.

Exhibits at the fully restored 1905 keeper’s house document the history of both lights and the stories of the keepers, including the members of one family who managed the two lights over a period of 74 years.

The lighthouses (you can climb both) and their museums are open seasonally. The parks around the grounds are open year-round. Randle Light Park — featuring the original 1870 Front Range Light tower, picnic shelter, and beach — is along the drive to the lighthouses.

It’s a fun outing along a delightful, less-traveled route for lighthouse enthusiasts. Pack a picnic and a couple pops, along with some folding chairs to relax in after hiking the trails to either the rocky shore (my favorite) on one side or the sandy beaches for swimming on the other side of the new light park. The old light park is good for freighter-watching.

Beware: “There are persistent rumors that the old lighthouse is haunted. We place no great stock in these tales,” Tagliareni laughs. “However, many people say that curious things happen at the old light.”

Plan It!

Presque Isle Township Museum Society presqueislelighthouses.org

Other nearby lighthouses visitalpena.com/adventures/lighthouses/

The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center features all kinds of things to discover, including old vessels, ship models, and shipwreck history.

Legends of the Lake

Make

the Maritime Heritage Center your first stop

EXPLORING AND PRESERVING the Lake Huron depths spanning 4,300 square miles — the expanse of the enormous Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) — is the mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Alpena facility. And they love searching for undiscovered shipwrecks.

The sanctuary, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2025, was the first freshwater national marine sanctuary in the country. Its boundaries extend from just shy of Bois Blanc Island near Cheboygan to just north of Oscoda, and eastward to the lake’s international border with Canada.

Beyond the activities of NOAA staff and partners, the sanctuary’s main visitor attraction is the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, located along the Thunder Bay River near downtown Alpena. The center is co-managed by NOAA and the State of Michigan. Education and outreach are supported by the popular nonprofit Friends of TBNMS. An entertaining multiday, water-focused film festival run every January. The next fest is Jan. 22-26, 2026.

“Being free and open year-round, the visitor center and sanctuary waters are a special place to visit to really dive into the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes,” says Stephanie Gandulla, the sanctuary’s resource protection coordinator.

“The nearly 100 shipwrecks preserved in the sanctuary waters are some of the best-preserved in the entire world. This significant collection is also very accessible, and you don’t have to be a diver to witness this amazing history,” she adds. “Whether you climb aboard a life-size schooner in the exhibits or paddle, snorkel, scuba dive, or even take a glassbottom boat to see shipwrecks, there’s really something for everyone.”

Where to Start: “I personally love exploring our Visible Artifact Storage exhibit (from shipwrecks), but there’s so much to do in the 10,000 square feet of interactive maritime exhibits,” Gandulla says. “You can climb aboard a life-size wooden schooner (that rocks with the power of a Lake Huron storm as you walk through), watch a film in our NOAA Science on a Sphere theater, and much more.”

I recommend taking a good 90 minutes to explore the twofloor center and learn about the sanctuary’s secrets before taking a glass-bottom boat tour, which departs from the center’s dock. The model gallery of Great Lakes ship types is fascinating.

Plan It!

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary thunderbay.noaa.gov

Underwater Museum

Glass-bottom boat tours provide a glimpse into the past

The Alpena Shipwreck Tours crew likes to say their glass-bottom boat cruises “explore the underwater museum” of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Only about 100 of the more than 200 estimated shipwrecks around this dangerous stretch of Lake Huron have been identified, so there’s plenty more to discover.

For me, nothing beats going out on the great lake and seeing the sanctuary’s dazzling collection of well-preserved shipwrecks.

“During the trip, we explore shipwrecks and get up close, all while staying dry. We visit two to three shipwrecks per tour, depending on the weather and visibility. There’s live narration throughout the tour where the rich history of Alpena’s industries, lighthouses, and even more shipwrecks are discussed,” explains Chrissy Carriveau, office manager for Alpena Shipwreck Tours.

“You’re able to get close without needing any sort of diving equipment or swimming skills, or getting wet. Each tour is unique based on the time of year, the captain in charge, and the deckhands,” she continues. “Each captain has their favorite shipwrecks and their favorite areas to explore. They truly get excited when the wrecks are clear and they’re able to share their love of shipwrecks with passengers.”

• Tours ($39 for adults) run from May through the beginning of October, with the 9 a.m. cruise typically being the calmest and clearest for viewing. However, be aware that water visibility changes daily and even throughout the day.

• Passengers can move around between the open upper deck and lower enclosed-glass viewing well deck. On clear days, shipwrecks can sometimes be seen from the top deck.

• The 80-passenger Lady Michigan floats over the shipwrecks, moving the length of the wrecks to see as many sections as possible.

Left: Boarders and kayakers love to explore shipwrecks located near shore.

Above: Visitors aboard an Alpena Shipwreck Tour can peer through a glassbottom boat to see remants of vessels lost to Lake Huron.

• I’d recommend you ask questions, because the crew has great stories to tell. On my cruise, I sat in the pilot house with the captain for a while and heard some amazing tales.

New Offering: The company launched Alpena Kayak Tours last summer and will schedule more four-hour, no-experience-necessary adventures off its catamaran; tours include about two hours of paddling. Kayakers paddle over limestone formations and view lighthouses near Thunder Bay Island during the guide-led historical tour.

Plan It!

Alpena Shipwreck Tours alpenashipwrecktours.com

A Birding Hotspot

From shorelines to wetlands, loads of worthy viewing sites await

Because of its flyway location along Lake Huron, the four-county Alpena region offers outstanding bird-watching outings at prime habitats.

“Literally hundreds of bird species visit Alpena each year. Some migrate and nest in Alpena’s many wetlands, such as the 450-acre Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary,” reports Mary Tetzlaff, president of the Thunder Bay Audubon Society. “There’s a number of different types of habitats where birds can be found, each with its own unique birds and wildlife species.”

She says the Alpena Bi-Path is a good starting point for birders who are new to the area. “It circles the wildlife sanctuary and runs along the river into downtown and the parks along Lake Huron. The path along the river through the fairgrounds is easily accessible, and Island Park has a handicap-accessible trail to a lookout point over the river. Ample opportunity exists for kayaking the river, its tributar-

Left: An owl finds comfort atop the “Departure of the Great Blue Heron” sculpture, located in the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary. Below: The Thunder Bay Audubon Society hosts various birding adventures.

ies, and our inland lakes, offering additional places where you can view birds.”

The spring and fall migrations are the best times to see a variety of birds, but Tetzlaff says successful birding can occur at any time of the year. “Early morning and evening are best for viewing here, but a rare sighting of an American white pelican took place during the day in early spring, near the mouth of the Thunder Bay River.

“In the spring, we’re particularly focused on the small migrators, such as warblers, because they’re colorful and can most easily be seen before the trees and shrubs leaf out,” Tetzlaff continues. “In the fall, we enjoy looking for migrating raptors.”

Magic Moment: On a visit last fall, my wife and I ventured out for an afternoon hike through the charming Misery Bay Nature Preserve. It was decked out in pretty wildflowers and was heady with the scent of pines. As we walked to the lakeshore, she was excited to photograph a blue heron in flight very close to us. To our surprise, a bald eagle flew into her camera viewfinder, along with the heron, making for a fantastic photo op. Next time, we’ll pack a picnic and chairs to stay a little longer waiting for another big thrill.

Local Tips:

• See the “Departure of the Great Blue Heron” sculpture in the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Download a copy of the Sunrise Side Birding Map, which highlights prime birding spots along U.S. 23.

• Check the society’s website for details on recent bird sightings, hot locations, and monthly activities where visiting birders from beginners to pros are welcome.

Plan It!

Thunder Bay Audubon Society thunderbayaudubon.com

Sunrise Side Birding Map us23heritageroute.org

AFTER LIVING downstate for several years, Alpena native Levi Goebel was happy to return home because of all the opportunities to play outside.

“Alpena is somewhat of an outdoors enthusiast’s hidden gem. You’ll find trail options for scenic rides, mountain biking, and gravel biking; there’s a wide range of biking options, and there’s something for everyone. It’s also perfect for kayaking, fishing, and hiking, with plenty of parks and trails to explore,” he says.

Hit the Road

Bike routes for all levels fan out in many directions

Last year, Goebel took over ownership of Harborside Cycle & Sport, which opened downtown in 2015. “We have big plans in store for our space. It may not be (happen in) 2025 but we plan to move into a larger storefront and offer the community more options,” the owner says. In the winter, his focus turns to fat-tire bikes, snowshoes, and skis.

Top Picks: “Norway Ridge and Chippewa Hills are the best in the area. The trails are well-kept by the Thunder Bay Trails Association. Both offer walking and single-track trails,” he says.

For a short, paved bike ride, Goebel recommends the 18.5-mile Alpena Bi-Path, which follows the Thunder Bay River and hits most parks in town. With some 100 miles of pathways circling Alpena, he says there’s a selection of trails for all levels.

“Last year we started sponsoring a local gravel bike race called Thunder Bay Thriller by RockCF,” he says. “New this year is the race on the Michigan Gravel Bike Series tour. A short 16-mile course option was also added. The race was a big hit and brought many cyclists to Alpena.”

My Favorites: The scenic, packed limestone North Eastern State Trail, which runs 70 miles from Alpena to Cheboygan, ranks as my No. 1 ride. The little-used converted rail-trail is fun as an out-and-back day ride of various distances, or as a longer, round-trip overnighter into the Mackinac Straits area. I also love a back-road route of about 30 miles from Bay View Park downtown out to the Presque Isle lighthouses. It has pretty lake views and friendly stops along the way. A gravel biking option is the 22-mile Alpena to Hillman Trail (rail-trail).

Plan It!

Top of Michigan Trails trailscouncil.org

Cyclists prepare to take off on part of the North Eastern State Trail, which runs 70 miles from Alpena to Cheboygan.

dining options are

Good Eats

Best bets for tasty downtown treats

Who doesn’t like a “been-there” recommendation when you’re wondering where to dine in a new town? Here’s a sampling of downtown Alpena restaurants I’ve enjoyed on recent visits.

Red Brick

My wife and I were lucky to grab two cozy bar seats inside this 130-year-old renovated

building during Alpena High’s busy homecoming weekend. It’s an energizing place with modern touches that was a saloon for more than 100 years. Chef Kevin Peterson, his wife, Brooke, and partner Corey Canute opened it in 2020. He switches up the scrumptious menu from summer to winter, to take advantage of seasonal flavors. His goal:

“To bring big-city vibes to our local small town.” A yummy favorite is the gluten-free fish and chips (yes, gluten-free!). Pluses: Impressive whiskey, craft beer, and spirits selections; outdoor dining; and menu ingredients from local growers.

HopSide Brewery

This friendly hangout, serving special-recipe comfort food in an airy dining space with lots of windows overlooking the main street, opened in 2021. It’s the creation of five owners, says co-owner/ manager Amy Greenway. “All are local friends who have a passion for the craft of a brewery and distillery. We’re proud of what we’ve become as a nano-brewery, Alpena’s first legal distillery, and a restaurant.” Everything is brewed and distilled on-site, and at least 24 of its beers, six spirits, and a seltzer are on tap (many are available in cans to go). A beer garden patio is pet-friendly and there are six TVs for watching sports.

The Old Polish Corner

The traditionally Polish area on the city’s north side is home to Brian Peterson’s wonderful gathering place. It’s so delicious that this Polish boy calls it a must-stop. Opened in 2022, it features authentic Polish dishes combined with American fare, 15 beers, and 30 vodkas (all Polish). “Our dishes are handmade. Our Polish and fresh meats come from nearby Nowicki’s Sausage Shoppe,” Peterson says. My wife says the dill pickle soup is the best she’s had. Peterson’s rotating weekly menu items often are Polish fusion dishes. He’s working on expanding the kitchen and adding a second-story patio. There are two Airbnb-style rentals above the restaurant.

Delicious

available at the Red Brick (right) and The Old Polish Corner (below).

Mangos Tequila Bar

When you see the owner serving tables and mixing drinks, I usually believe the service and the food will be pretty good. So, when I saw owner Arturo Mendez out on the floor, my wife and I ordered another round of Margaritas to celebrate that fact. “We pride ourselves on bringing our community a space for great food with even greater memories,” Mendez says. Open since 2018, the spacious Mangos offers a huge variety of Mexican cuisine (big servings) complemented by just as huge of an assortment of tequilas and Margaritas. Mangos has another location in East Tawas, and Mangos Express is slated to reopen at a new location in Alpena this year.

Starlite Bay Café

For breakfast or lunch, check out this gem near the harbor, which opened last July. Dana Kolnowski and her husband, Nick, are the owners/chefs. “We use as many fresh and local flavors as possible to make handcrafted dishes from scratch with love and care,” Dana says. “Our biscuits and gravy is one of our top sellers, and our homemade jam is another big hit.” You’ll find generous portions, delicious soups, and convivial service, all in an inviting setting.

Other Faves

• JJ’s Steak and Pizza House has been a casual city institution since 1993, and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Expect top-notch fare in a bar-like setting, complete with a drive-thru window. They even have a wooden table made from an old shipwreck.

• For your morning fix, check out the family-run Cabin Creek Coffee shop. It features an espresso bar

(cappuccinos, lattes, and mochas), specialty coffees, smoothies, sandwiches, and homemade baked treats (delish cookies and scones). The shop has a relaxing vibe, seating, free Wi-Fi, and some 20 coffee blends you can take home.

• For a nice afternoon break, sample locally produced wines at the Thunder Bay Winery’s tasting room inside the Center Building. There’s outdoor seating and comfy inside tables where you can relax with a glass from its impressive wine lineup. The winery hosts a harvest festival every September.

Plan It!

Visit Alpena, visitalpena.com

Destination Highlights

Here

are a few extras to round out your Alpena visit

Local Heritage: The Besser Museum showcases its new Discover Northeast Michigan History exhibit and is making other facility upgrades. There are several permanent exhibits and three celebrated art galleries worth visiting, plus you can learn how the Besser Co. revolutionized the worldwide concrete block-making industry. The digital dome Planetarium Theater presents a great selection of sky shows on Fridays and Saturdays. bessermuseum.org

Water Sports: Kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, and more provide up-close ways to see the shipwrecks near the Lake Huron shore, or to explore the many local lakes and quiet rivers, including Duck Park, Island Park, and the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary. There are dozens of sandy beaches and other places around town to launch your adventures. Contact Alpena Pedal & Paddle for snorkeling excursions or equipment rentals. Several captains offer Lake Huron fishing charters for salmon, walleye, and trout. Clem’s Bait & Tackle, by the Ninth Avenue dam, is a good place to start.

Fossil Hunting: Spend the day at the 4,237-acre Rockport State Recreation Area along Lake Huron’s shoreline. Here you’ll find dozens of sinkholes, ghost town remains, neat hiking and biking trails, sandy beaches, and picnicking areas. The landscape at the abandoned 300-acre limestone quarry is peppered with fossils you can collect that date back 400 million years. The adjoining Besser Natural Area has one of Michigan’s last remaining stands of virgin pines.

View the Cosmos: The Alpena countryside has some of the lowest light pollution readings around the Great Lakes. That’s why the Rockport State Recreation Area makes for amazing stargazing as a designated 24-hour Michigan Dark Sky Preserve with clear views over Lake Huron. Other nearby Dark Sky Preserves are at Thompson’s Harbor State Park (26 miles north of town) and Negwegon State Park (20 miles south).

Plan It!

Download the Visit Alpena planning app from the App Store or get it on Google Play.

The 24-hour Michigan Dark Sky Preserve, with clear views over Lake Huron, makes for a fabulous experience.

BY Honey Murray

RECIPE PHOTOS BY Bear Nelson, Ciesa Design

Although most of the groceries we need can be found in our neighborhood stores — or can even be delivered directly to us — many home and professional cooks enjoy using fresh, tasty, and, sometimes, unusual ingredients that they can forage on purposeful searches in parks, forests, or even in their front or back yards.

The Great Lakes area is rich with edible treasures and treats for enthusiastic foragers: nuts (black walnuts, hickory nuts, beechnuts, chestnuts); wild berries, including raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, elderberries, juneberries (tasty, purplish fruit, similar to the blueberry and used in smoothies and baked goods); mushrooms, with morels and chantarelles among the most popular; wild greens, including dandelion, leeks, ferns (especially fiddleheads, the top of ostrich ferns), garlic mustard leaves, chicory, and nettles; and many others.

It’s important to note that there are laws, rules, and ethical procedures for foraging. In her classes and on her In Your Element website (iyewellness.com), Katie Venechuk, a Michigan State University-certified Michigan Master Naturalist with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and many other skills and certifications (including wilderness first aid/CPR training and therapeutic yoga), shares vital information for foragers.

“If you’re on your own or on other private land or have permission from the landowner, you’re good to go. Public lands aren’t so simple, as each type of public land has its own rules. It’s not uncommon for specific parcels of public land to have their own specific rules, as well.”

There are also rules that pertain to specific items. For example, fiddlehead ferns, ramps (wild onions), and all plants that are cut or killed upon harvest may not be taken from public lands, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/foraging).

If you’re able to find these items on private property, it’s important that they are harvested conservatively, leaving the roots or bulbs intact, since they take many seasons to reproduce and mature. And

if you’re lucky enough to have property you’d like to forage on, Venechuk has a “Forage-at-Home” service package that includes a home visit for marking and identifying the property’s wild foods.

Some people are interested in the social and outdoor aspects of foraging, in addition to reaping fresh edibles.

“A few years ago, when we had a cottage in LeRoy (south of Cadillac), we started foraging for mushrooms,” says Royal Oak resident Bob Wayner. “It’s great fun to be outside, searching for morels. And if you find something, it’s a bonus!”

He and his wife, Tenchi, joined the Michigan Mushroom Hunter’s Club (michiganmushroomhunters.org) and began going on weekend mushroom-hunting trips, learning to identify different types of safe, poisonous, and “false” mushrooms.

“You need to be careful,” Wayner shares, “but once you learn, it’s great to find so many types and be able to enjoy them.”

You can also find button mushrooms in Michigan woods — or just head to the supermarket if you’re craving a mushroom-y dish and don’t want to work for it. Certified Executive Chef Mary Brady shares a lovely mushroom pâté recipe in her new book, “Looking Back, Cooking Forward.” (Book available at chefmarybrady.com.)

“It’s from the Cork and Bottle in London. Tom (Brady Sr., her late husband) and I were visiting my sister and happened upon a tiny downstairs bistro-of-sorts while waiting to see a play. There were no servers, only a case with the few choices on the menu displayed. The ramekin of a veggie pâté looked amazing, and it was. I asked the chef, a delightful Jamaican gentleman, for the recipe.”

Brady also says that rhubarb can be spotted in the wild in Michigan, but she’d prefer to grow hers in her own garden. It’s said that the leaf blades, in contrast to the stalks, are poisonous and may even be fatal if eaten, so avoid leaves at all costs. “One of the first things I added to my new garden, nearly three decades ago, was a small but hearty rhubarb plant. I’m not sure why. Until that point, I had little experience with it,” Brady says. “Now it grows by leaps and bounds, and I can get dozens of delicious, easy-to-make pies every season. Although rhubarb is often thought of as a fruit, it’s botanically classified as a vegetable. I’ll also make jam or a savory salsa that’s great on salmon.” Recipes follow.

Mushroom Pâté 

(From “Looking Back, Cooking Forward” by Certified Executive Chef Mary Brady. Recipe creates four servings, as an appetizer. )

Tips for Success

“You can eliminate the roll; the pâté will be lighter and gluten-free,” says Chef Mary Brady. “I have successfully substituted Neufchâtel cheese, which is lower in fat, and cut the butter to a quarter pound. It won’t be as rich, but for those of us who like lighter, it’s delicious, and the sweet and sour onions give it a great oomph. The recipe divides or multiplies easily.”

Ingredients

½ pound salted butter

½ medium onion, medium diced

2 tablespoons minced garlic, about 2 large cloves

1 pound sliced button mushrooms

1 cup of sourdough or dense bread, cut into large chunks

1 pound cream cheese, room temperature, cut into 2-inch pieces

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation

Melt the butter in a large sauté pan. Add the onions and garlic, and cook until translucent. Add the mushrooms and cook until they’re soft. Season with salt and pepper. Add the bread and toss with the mushroom mix until softened. Put softened cream cheese in the bowl of a food processor. Add the warm mushroom mix and process until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. Chill before serving, preferably overnight. Top with chives. Serve on croutons or crackers.

Let’s Eat!

An optional and delicious way to enjoy this pâté is with a dish of pickled red onions for garnish. Heat ½ cup sugar with ½ cup apple cider or white vinegar until the sugar is dissolved and bubbly. Meanwhile, cut 1 medium red onion in slices, ¼-inch thick. Add onions to the sugar/vinegar mixture and cook until soft. Season to taste.

Sliced button mushrooms are the stars of this yummy spread that’s great for parties.

Mary Brady’s Rhubarb Custard Pie 

(From “Looking Back, Cooking Forward” by Certified Executive Chef Mary Brady. Recipe creates four servings, as an appetizer. )

Tips for Success

Organic sugar works equally well in the same quantities as the sugar in the ingredients list. Also, half-and-half works in a pinch for the heavy cream.

Ingredients

1 9-inch deep dish pie shell, homemade or purchased, defrosted

Custard Filling

2 cups thinly-sliced rhubarb, about ½ inch long

1 cup granulated sugar

4 large eggs

1 tablespoon heavy cream

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prick the bottom of the pie shell (this keeps the bottom from puffing up) and bake for 15 minutes. Cool. Toss the rhubarb with 2/3 cup of the sugar and allow to sit until the juices release from the fruit, about one hour. Strain, saving the juices. Beat the eggs with the cream and the remaining 1/3 cup of sugar until the sugar is well incorporated. Stir in the reserved rhubarb juices. Distribute the rhubarb over the crust and add the custard mixture. Bake until the custard is set, about 40 minutes. Check by inserting a toothpick into the pie. It should come out clean. Do not overcook, as the custard will crack.

Let’s Eat!

A drizzle of salted caramel sauce is the perfect finishing touch!

Rhubarb is tart and sour until it meets sugar and other goodies. Baked into a pie crust, it’s the perfect dessert vegetable.

Honey Murray’s Fresh Garlic Mustard Green Pesto

Tips for Success

Garlic mustard, an invasive plant that’s bountiful in Michigan and found in wooded areas, smells like garlic when crushed. The Michigan United Conservation Clubs (mucc.org) suggests harvesting and eating garlic mustard when the plant is young and less bitter. If using the pesto after it has been refrigerated, first let it come to room temperature.

Ingredients

5 cups of washed and destemmed garlic mustard leaves, with larger stalks removed ¼ cup of pine nuts; walnuts or almonds may also be used

1 cup of grated parmesan cheese, preferably freshgrated

1/3 -½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Salt to taste, about ½ teaspoon

Preparation

In a food processor, pulse the nuts several times for a rough texture; be sure it’s not too fine. Add the parmesan and the greens. Pulse again, thoroughly mincing the leaves until all ingredients are blended. While continuing to pulse, slowly add the olive oil, until the mixture is moistened. Add the salt and pulse again, taste, add more salt if needed.

Pesto can be frozen or stored in the fridge for up to a week.

Let’s Eat!

This pesto can be used on pasta, spread on a sandwich, mixed in with yogurt or cottage cheese, mixed in with meatloaf, and more. Mustard garlic is a tasty green and is said to have medicinal qualities, especially healing and cleansing for the liver and kidneys.

Honey Murray’s Sautéed Fresh Morel Mushrooms with Onions

Tips for Success

Make sure the mushrooms are dry and the oil in the pan is heated to the almost-bubbling point before adding the mushrooms, to give them a browned color and a richer flavor.

Ingredients

Light olive oil for sautéeing: 1-2 tablespoons, depending on quantity of mushrooms; enough to thoroughly coat pan

1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of butter, depending on mushroom quantity

Morel mushrooms, prepped for cooking

Diced onion, to taste

Salt and pepper, to taste

If desired: minced clove of garlic

If desired: dash or two of Worcestershire sauce

Preparation

Clean mushrooms well. Cut each in half lengthwise and rinse gently. Soak them in a bowl of cool, heavily salted water for one hour. Gently rinse, and lightly pat dry with paper towel. Let dry on towel for an hour. At this point, you can freeze some for future use, if you’d like (on lightly sprayed cookie sheet, then in freezer storage bag). Add the olive oil to a large skillet on medium heat. When the oil just reaches the bubbling point, toss in the mushrooms. Increase the heat for one minute, letting the mushrooms cook on one side, and then decrease the heat back to medium. Add the diced onions and, if you’re using them, the garlic and/or Worcestershire sauce. Gently stir. Add the butter, salt, and pepper. Gently stir and cook until the mushrooms are softened.

Let’s Eat!

“These are delicious over burgers or steak,” Wayner suggests, “ and as a side dish, anytime.”

PHOTOS BY Sally Matak

BY Megan Swoyer

This page: Designer Kimberly Steiner, of Royal Oak-based Diagram, oversaw the interior design of much of the West Bloomfield home. Note the great room’s pops of color via the rug and various adornments. The vintage Knoll Bertoia chair and ottoman, inherited by the clients, were given a face-lift with a neon Knoll Textiles fabric. Opposite page: To update the 1980s-built home, architect Charles Heid applied decorative fins to the exterior window bays.

Two decades ago, Charlie Heid, 20 at the time, was fixing up old houses and working for a West Bloomfield-based painting company. He eventually became friends with the company’s owner, also in his early 20s. Fast-forward to 2021, and Heid got a call from his old friend/boss. “I know you’re an architect now,” said the friend, “and I have a house that needs you.” Heid, who owns architectural firm Heid Architects, based in Birmingham, was happy to check out his friend’s 4,600-square-foot home.

Situated on 5 acres on Green Lake in West Bloomfield, the 1980 house, complete with an apple orchard, was clothed in an outdated design but had a beautiful, heavily forested lot. Indoors, the post-modern spaces were “cut up or partitioned, and small,” Heid recalls. “The home’s layout wasn’t functional.”

Location-wise, the property was perfect for Heid’s clients and their three young children. The owner, in fact, had grown up on the lake, and his parents live next door in his childhood home.

Without structurally changing the footprint of the house, Heid set to work on several layouts. His background includes stints at notable firms including Frank Gehry’s offices in Los Angeles; Behnisch Architekten in Venice, Calif.; Montalba in Santa Monica, Calif.; and McIntosh Poris Associates in metro Detroit. He holds a master’s degree in architecture from the University of California Los Angeles and an undergraduate degree in architectural studies from the University of Illinois Chicago.

With that resume and his passion for Southern California’s contemporary design, Heid was the perfect man for the job. One of the homeowners’ overarching goals was tying the home to nature. “Being connected with nature in your living space really does improve how you feel, rest, and rejuvenate,” Heid says. Committed to that theory, he focused on natural materials and outdoor views.

Heid worked with longtime friend Mark Pytiak, of West Bloomfield-based Pytiak

Design Build. The landscaping design and construction were overseen by Pontiac-based Zaremba and Co. “Zaremba and his team carried the design of the house into the surrounding property. The stone pathway and retaining features align with the lines of the home, while the native plantings provide the perfect softened exposure to the home’s warm tones and expansive glass areas,” Heid says.

“The skin of the home was completely redone using contemporary materials and windows,” Heid adds, noting that the exterior was updated with new Eastern white cedar shingles.

Trim and accent details in white oak — including decorative fins that were applied to the exterior between each window bay, defining the windows — add panache. “They bring in warm tones and tie in with the vertical nature of all the trees,” Heid says. All of the windows were replaced with full-height, fixed-pane glass (with no muntin bars) so that all you see are the views of the lake and woods.

The front door is accessed by walking across a long bridge that leads to the third floor (main level) of the home. “The far end of the house is the highest point, so we created an outdoor porch/balcony there. It has the best views of the trees, and you can open the doors (Fleetwood, premium swing doors with an aluminum frame) to let the air come in,” Heid says.

Since roof trusses span the width of the home, the kitchen, great room, and dining room walls were able to be removed. “We didn’t need supporting walls,” Heid explains. Making the most of that open flow, the homeowners wanted a wood-burning grill in the great room and in the kitchen. Those two items required new structural lumber and became “the bookends, anchoring the third (main) floor,” he says.

“I’m proud that we were able to work that grill station into the kitchen. Not many have a wood-burning fireplace that you cook on, with its own chimney,” Heid says. “That kitchen was a labor of love.” With evergreen ceramic tile and gray soapstone countertops, the kitchen sings with beauty.

The homeowner and his family are embracing the home’s flow. “Charlie translated what we thought we wanted into what we actually wanted but couldn’t articulate,” the homeowner says. “His attention to detail, thoughtful suggestions, and guidance helped transform the home

page, clockwise from upper left: The evergreen tiles that frame the fireplace in the living room and kitchen

the colors of the forest outside. All the custom woodwork was designed by Heid. The custom dining room table’s “leg detailing and motif is inspired by the paired wood fins that we used for the outside of the house,” Heid says. There’s no shortage of windows, so the outside is always an integral part of the interiors. One of the overarching goals was tying the home to nature. “Being connected with nature in your living space really does improve how you feel, rest, rejuvenate,” Heid says. Committed to that theory, Heid focused on outdoor views. Note the accompanying vertical slats, whose shapes echo throughout the home.

Opposte

evoke

into a place we’ll love forever.”

All the custom woodwork and cabinetry was designed by Heid. Growing up around lumber, it’s no wonder he was focused on the best in wood materials for the overhaul. His grandfather started Wallich Lumber Co. in Detroit in the 1950s, and eventually Heid’s father ran the company. In fact, nothing but custom white oak would do for the home’s main staircase, installed by Classic Woodworks of Lapeer County.

The great room’s bookshelf was constructed of vertical-grain, rift-sawn white oak, and was custom-built to give the owners storage for their record player and other decorative items. Its style parallels the verticality found on the stair screen.

Heid brought in architect and designer Kimberly Steiner, of Royal Oak-based Diagram, to select interior furnishings and accents that echo the entire home’s vernacular. Take, for example, the restored vintage Knoll Bertoia pieces inherited by the clients. Selecting a hot pink wool fabric from Knoll Textiles, Steiner made sure the pieces make a splash in the great room. Complementing them is a vintage Persian rug in cranberry, cobalt, orange, and pink. Also of special note is a custom dining room table that the homeowners commissioned to be made from a walnut tree that once stood on their property.

“I got spoiled on this project; I got to do everything I love,” Heid says. “I really hope it’s their dream home. It’s definitely mine.”

Undoubtedly, it is. Says the homeowner: “We get to see our kids grow up and thrive on a lake, on a piece of property that can host all their imaginations. The home is now a place that highlights the landscapes around it — the lake to the west and the forest to the east. And in every room, you get to engage with nature in a setting that’s designed so well to facilitate it.”

Opposite page, top: Looking inside from the outdoors provides a peaceful feeling of warmth. Bottom: Locationwise, the property was perfect for the family, which includes three young children. The owner, in fact, grew up on the lake, and his parents live next door in his childhood home.“We get to see our kids grow up and thrive on a lake, on a piece of property that can host all their imaginations,” the homeowner says.

A few of architect Charles Heid’s

favorites

1. The Langelier Elite 54, Grillworks, grillworksusa.com

This grill is both an engineering and design innovation, Heid says. A gril from the same manufacturer in the home mirrors the central fireplace in the living room and serves as the shared bookend of the entire room.

2. Evergreen Ceramic Tile, Fireclay, fireclaytile.com

“Borrowing from the property’s heavily forested backdrop, the fireplaces are tiled in an artisan evergreen ceramic tile. The detailing of both fireplaces took a lot of time and iteration with the owner, who had interest in both aesthetics. We ultimately landed on different tile patterns and very subtle millwork details for both fireplaces, but this tile was a bold color and finish selection to help define the aesthetics of the home.”

3. Custom White Oak Stair Screen, Classic Woodworks, classicworkwork sofmi.com

“Following the vertical concepts of the exterior paired fins, the main stair in the home is designed from rift-sawn, clear white oak that orients vertically and flows down the staircase, at moments providing slivers of openings to see through into the living room.”

4. Custom White Oak Bookshelf, Burke Architectural Millworks, burkemillwork.com

“Positioned next to the second staircase screen, the living room bookshelf, constructed of vertical grain riftsawn white oak, was custom built to provide the owners storage and setup for their record player and specific family items. Its style follows suit

with the emphasis of verticality found on the stair screen and exterior fins of the home.”

5. Vintage Persian Rug, Kimberly Steiner, Diagram

“Kim sourced this one-of-a-kind vintage Persian rug as the centerpiece of the great room. The rich cranberry field is ornamented with bright accents of cobalt, orange, and pink, intricately hand-knotted into a classic Kashan motif. The wool construction offers both durability and a luxurious texture underfoot, blending practicality with comfort and beauty.”

“As the founder and design principal at Diagram, Kim oversaw the meticulous restoration of a collection of vintage Knoll Bertoia pieces inherited by our clients. These iconic Mid-century seating elements were expertly repaired, powder-coated, and upholstered in a shockingly hot pink wool fabric from Knoll Textiles, originally introduced in 1961.”

6. Knoll Textiles Cato, 1961 in Hot Pink, Maharam, maharam.com

ANCHORS AWAY

Chateau Grand Rapids is located in a building that originally was known as the Boulevard House, an inn built in 1870. Read more about it inside this section.

About a year ago, Chris and Allaire Swart took a splashy, entrepreneurial plunge. Diving into veritable vats of tasty wines and learning all they could about grapes, the couple opened Chateau Grand Rapids in the historic East Hills area of the bustling west Michigan city. Having been avid wine lovers who traveled to Europe for years, and loving the idea of experiential real estate development, the two recently opened their own boutique tasting room in a lovely neighborhood where you can find everything from cafes and boutiques to bookstores and quality eateries.

“Experiential means that it’s a place you interact with and relax and enjoy,” says Chris, who grew up in Riverview. “Many bars and restaurants are starting to come around to this. I think there was a need for this type of experience in Grand Rapids.”

Prior to its rebirth as a tasting boutique, the space housed Books & Mortar, an independent bookstore that has now moved across the street.

The same Cherry Street neighborhood is also home to the Green Well restaurant, the farm-to-table Grove, Maru Sushi, and the Ritual wine store. “Seeing that there was an abundance of critical mass with excellent quality restaurants and wines,

ROOM

European Flair

A young couple uncorks a new wine boutique in a quaint East Grand Rapids neighborhood

BY Megan Swoyer PHOTOS BY Arseni Khamzin

these are great neighbors to join. Here, there are enough things to enjoy, all in one spot,” Chris adds.

The entrepreneur admits he’s a recovering finance professional. “My career has (consisted of) finance roles for hospitality companies, and I also worked in investment banking in New York City,” he shares. He says his previous experience, including holding a finance role at Wynn resorts, has set him up for his newest venture.

The wine is the big draw at this cozy enclave. “We find, curate, and serve the best wines possible in Grand Rapids,” Chris says. The couple also sells bottles for folks to take home. “We have 400 bottles on our growing list and offer a different wine by the glass every week, so we can introduce our guests to new wines.”

Above: Chris and Allaire Swart enjoy checking out vineyards around the world. Top: The Swarts opened the Chateau Grand Rapids, a cozy wine-tasting boutique.

What you won’t find is a stuffy atmosphere full of wine afficionados. “We’re not looking to intimidate or overwhelm the guest. All you need to bring is a love for or interest in discovering wines,” Chris says, adding that some of the crowd favorites include sparkling crémant, Beaujolais, and Barolo. “Allaire (who grew up in Grand Rapids) and I share a strong interest in high-quality experiences and social things to do outside of the home.”

And, voila, Chateau Grand Rapids was born.

Nibbles between sips come in the way of an assortment of small plates. Patrons will find freshly cut cheese and charcuterie, sardines, caviar with crème fraiche on Spanish potato chips, and the popular pimento cheese spread from Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor. Also getting rave reviews is the couple’s whipped goat cheese, on top of which they drizzle chili-oil honey. “We’ll also have special nights, like an oyster night where we order in and shuck like 100 oysters,” Chris says.

For those who would rather imbibe on grains than grapes, there are always classic cocktails on the menu, as well as a few beers and non-alcoholic options.

As for his favorite, Chris goes right for a Beaujolais. “We always have that on the list and it’s from one of our favorite regions of

France,” he notes. He says it’s not intentional to have mostly European wines on his list, but he does focus on minimal intervention and fruit that’s grown organically. Prices range from about $12 to $20 per glass.

As for Chateau’s style, the Swarts called on design firm Obata Noblin Office. With a contemporary vibe imbued with nostalgic French charm, the 1,100-square-foot space takes on quite a mood.

“Max Obata went to U-M when I was there. He was in the architecture program, and we had a mutual friend. I was searching for an architect who had an eye from outside Grand Rapids, so it wouldn’t look like other (local) spaces.” When the two met and looked over the building, which includes a lot of historical details, Obata, who has offices in California and New York City and has a home in northern Michigan, jumped at the chance. “He’s brilliant and a super hard worker,” Chris says.

Original materials, warm tones, and soft lighting are housed within the tan brick walls, and a traditional ornamental, white-painted gridded tin ceiling adorns the early 1900s building.

The age and character of the room have been preserved, and are complemented by classic French wooden bistro furnishings such as iconic bentwood chairs, a custom

white oak bench that stretches the length of the primary dining room, and a wine glass shelf suspended from brass rods. The hanging shelf behaves much like a lighting element, as the illuminated fluted glass structure emanates a soft glow above the long marble bar, which helps emphasize the length of the room.

Emerald-green velvet lines the benches and offers contrast to the prevailing natural color scheme. The vivid green color continues to the back lounge, with its Venetian plaster and painted brick. The lounge also reveals the original concrete floor, which was ground down and refinished to create a warm terrazzo texture.

Chris says the building originally was known as the Boulevard House, an inn built in 1870. “The building to the left is three stories and even older; our space was an addition to that.”

Swart says you can’t go wrong visiting his neck of the woods, and his boutique wine-tasting emporium. “The area is beautifully romantic and has a small-town kind of feel. Just driving over here and hearing the bricks under your car tires on Cherry Street — I love that.”

Plan It!

Chateau Grand Rapids chateaugrandrapids.com

Chris Swart called on college acquaintance and architect Max Obata to redesign the historic space and make the most of its vintage decorative offerings. Its age and character come to life with a gridded tin ceiling, classic French wooden bistro furnishings, and a wine glass shelf suspended from brass rods. “All you need to bring is a love for or interest in discovering wines,” Swart says.

For more than 134 years, the sandstone Romanesque Revival exterior of the venerable Detroit Club (founded in 1882) has dominated the corner of Cass Avenue and Fort Street downtown, just a quick stroll from Detroit’s riverfront promenade. While the Wilson Eyre-designed structure, now on the National Register of Historic Places, was completed in 1891, what’s been happening inside has been anything but static.

In the past few years, remodeling work on the formerly “members only” club — which has hosted many of the city’s male movers and shakers from the 19th and 20th centuries, including governors, U.S. presidents, and business luminaries — has been transformative, especially at its reimagined Bohemia restaurant.

General Manager Jenny Thomason is getting the word out that The Detroit Club is open to all — movers, shakers, and everyday people — with no membership required. Thomason notes that there’s a noticeably more casual style in the dining room that says, “Come on in,” reflecting the city’s changed restaurant scene.

“People don’t understand yet that they can come in,” Thomason says. “We want them to come in!”

Dinner service at the Bohemia restaurant, which features fine American cuisine balancing “classic flavors with contemporary flair,” runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and from 5 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The Library, a full-service craft cocktail bar with light bites, is open Tuesdays-Saturdays.

The Detroit Club has joined the group of the city’s growing number of boutique hotels, with 21 “contemporary designed” queen and king suites in the $200-$600 range. Just a block from the Huntington Place convention center, the establishment

Restaurant Revival

The Detroit Club invites all to sample its new menu in a more casual atmosphere

BY Bill Semion

also offers a full-service spa, aptly named Soak. But most Detroit Club guests will visit to enjoy Bohemia’s new menu, which debuted last fall.

Since the Covid pandemic, lunch crowds have been thinner as more downtown employees work remotely, Thomason says. So, the emphasis in this new space is creating a softer, more inviting atmosphere. “Instead of ordering just a filet, then a vegetable and potato, more meals are complete,” she adds.

Bohemia’s overall goal was to make the space feel more approachable. The restaurant has retained its rich wood interior, though, featuring accents that include works by local artist Tony Roko.

Lynn Uralli purchased the club, which was closed for several years, in 2014 and invested millions to renovate the facility — including the dining room, reception area, and guest rooms. It reopened in 2018.

Plan It!

The Detroit Club thedetroitclub.com

Both pages, clockwise from top left: The Detroit Club’s reimagined Bohemia restaurant features a more relaxed feel. Perfeclty cooked filets are de rigueur. Classic cocktails, which often feature a fresh garnish, evoke a throw-back feel.

The new menu includes appetizers such as a charcuterie board, oysters, and sticky rum or hot butter chicken wings. Entrees range from a duck bolognese and truffle and wild mushroom gnocchi to an 8-ounce Snake River Farms filet with potato pave. Salad choices, ordered separately, include a burrata and beets salad with toasted walnuts, argula, and lemon thyme vinaigrette.

“We still want to keep the fine dining aspect, but we want to make it feel more approachable. I feel like our entire world has changed (since Covid), and we’re trying to curve with the change,” Thomason says.

BY Mark Spezia

Splashing Options Galore

Big Frankenmuth hotels look to lure more guests with expansions and updates at their water parks

Frankenmuth’s Bavarian Village and Zehnder’s are adding even more wet-and-wild fun.

A massive expansion of the Bavarian Inn’s indoor water park will make it the state’s largest, at 175,000 square feet. Zehnder’s Splash Village is Michigan’s fourth biggest, at 50,000 square feet.

Scheduled to open in the spring, Bavarian Blast boasts 16 water slides — meaning there’s something for everyone regardless of age, height, or courage level.

There’s also an 85,500-gallon not-solazy river, toddler and big kid areas, a thunderous wave pool, and Michigan’s first swim-up bar. This is all in addition to Ba-

varian Inn’s existing two water slides, four indoor pools, and three whirlpools.

At 51.5 feet and stretching more than 150 yards, a family raft ride is Bavarian Blast’s longest and tallest slide. Super Duper Dragon’s Flight is another raft slide option, while Willy’s Wild Ride is loaded with twists and turns.

Made of translucent fiberglass illuminating enclosed flumes, Rapunzel’s Racers is Michigan’s first dual-racing tube water slide, where riders reach speeds of nearly 20 miles per hour near the finish.

Featuring zero-depth entry and a maximum depth of 18 inches, Puddle Platz is designed for youngsters with five slides, two

Left: The massive Bavarian Blast water park, scheduled to open soon, will offer private poolside cabanas with comfortable furnishings, plus food and beverage service.

Below: Zehnder’s Splash Village entices its guests with lots of fun options: a splash water park, an atrium water park, and an outdoor pool.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BAVARIAN SPLASH

aqua domes, a water table, and a tot bounce.

Cuckoo’s Chaos is a pre-teen area boasting four more water slides with both open and enclosed tubes, including the Pretzel Twist and Schnitzel Swirl, which spiral riders through plenty of twists and turns.

Bavarian Springs is a spacious indoor/ outdoor spa. Poolside private cabanas complete with food and beverage service, comfortable furnishings, televisions, refrigerators, and lockable storage boxes are available for rent.

Bavarian Bootlegger, the 30,580-gallon swim-up bar with large-screen TVs is accessible through an indoor pool and a year-round, heated outdoor pool.

Dining options inside include Fritz’s Frozen Fun, a smoothie bar that offers quick bites, and Chef Willy’s, which features a larger menu. There are four other dining options within the Bavarian Inn complex.

More Fun: There also are three climbing walls, an adventure ropes course high above the floor, and an arcade with 180 games, air hockey, pool tables, miniature golf, mini-bowling, and laser tag.

European-themed hotel rooms can accommodate up to seven people, but staying overnight isn’t a prerequisite for experiencing Bavarian Blast. Day passes are also available.

SPLASH VILLAGE

Featuring three main areas — a splash water park, atrium water park, and outdoor pool area — Zehnder’s Splash Village entices with seven water slides, two lazy rivers, a dump bucket, two hot tubs, a toddler area, water sports, and more.

“We’re focused on offering the greatest guest experiences, not on having the biggest things. Still, we have plenty of thrills to offer.”

— John Shelton

“We do offer very similar elements (to those) found at other indoor water parks, but strongly feel what sets us apart is doing all those things in a better way,” Zehnder’s marketing vice president, John Shelton, says. “We’re focused on offering the greatest guest experiences, not on having the biggest things. Still, we have plenty of thrills to offer.”

Both the atrium and atrium water parks sport a retractable roof that can be opened during warmer weather. The atrium also houses Splash Village’s two largest slides.

Tantrum Twist takes riders down six stories of sharp turns and sizable dips aboard rafts that accommodate up to four people. The Super Loop Speed Slide is a solo undertaking in which guests step inside a cylinder, stand straight up, and fold their arms to their chest as a trap door opens beneath their feet, dropping them four stories through a 273-foot-long, 360-degree loop to the bottom within seven seconds.

The atrium contains a lazy river along with water basketball and volleyball, and a zero-entry toddler area with a frog-shaped slide. Private seating is available.

Cabanas accommodating up to 10 guests include a credenza with a mini-refrigerator, safe, house phone, towels, flat-screen TV, and food and beverage service. A splash play area has four slides, water cannons, an obstacle course, water geysers, and a mammoth dumping bucket.

The atrium and splash parks both have 20-person hot tubs.

During summer, an outdoor pool area overlooking the Tantrum Twist slide includes lounge chairs, tables, and umbrellas.

Zehnder’s offers day passes for its Splash Village amenities.

Dining options include the Mushroom Grille in the atrium and Elf Hollow Café in the main lobby, as well as a window inside the water park. Both Elf Hollow and the Mushroom Grille offer full bar service.

Visitors will find more than 40 games at Zehnder’s 2,500-square-foot arcade.

The Tower Suite, Splash Village’s most spacious lodging option, opened in January of 2024. The 1,100-square-foot, two-bedroom, three-bathroom suite has room for 10 people plus a kitchenette, dining area, large living room, and three TVs.

A three-phrase remodeling of all rooms began last year and is scheduled to be completed in early 2026. Some rooms will feature new balconies with views of Bronner’s.

Plan it!

Bavarian Blast Waterpark bavarianinn.com/bavarian-blast-indoorwaterpark

Zehnder’s Splash Village zehnders.com/zehnders-splash-village

Back in Bloom

BY Amy S. Eckert

Belle Isle’s Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory sparkles after an extensive renovation

After shuttering the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory in 2022 for extensive work that incorporated more than $12 million in two phases of renovations, Detroit’s Belle Isle landmark reopened last December. Dignitaries and project managers celebrated with an impressive ribbon-cutting ceremony — and

the public questioned what had changed.

“We knew we’d done a good job because visitors returned wondering what the heck we’d been doing for two years,” says Amanda Treadwell, urban area field planner for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the conservatory’s project planner. “This was a long project, and very costly, but also really subtle.”

The century-old building’s major improvements — swapping aging glass with safety glass, improving irrigation systems, and eliminating asbestos and lead paint — rank as unquestionable enhancements.

But they’re easily hidden by the building’s historic design, which was precisely what the project’s planners had hoped for.

The initial improvements to Detroit’s

Neoclassical jewel got underway in 2017, just three years after the island in the Detroit River became Michigan’s 102nd state park. Repairs to the conservatory’s lower level and the replacement of all 20 of the building’s soaring steel trusses were completed in 2019, at a cost of $2.5 million.

The lion’s share of the restoration, and its most costly phase at $10 million, began in late 2022, when the conservatory shut its doors for an undertaking that included replacing all the glass panels that make up the building’s iconic dome.

More than 1,500 panes of safety glass were placed within the 80-foot-tall conservatory dome, every one of them hand-cut because of the unique angles and curvature of each piece. The new glass provided improved light to the building and increased human safety in the event of breakage. The panels also better control the influx of UV infiltration, temperature fluctuations, and ventilation, enhancing the environment for the plants that live there.

Additional improvements to the building included installing new catwalks, restoring exterior limestone panels, putting on a new vestibule roof, and adding modern irrigation and ceiling fans. The cactus and tropical wings received new glass, the seasonal showroom got a new floor and planters, and a number of ADA-accessibility improvements were made.

Preventing harm to the facility’s thousands of unique and rare plants for the entirety of the two-year project added substantial complexity to the undertaking. Contractors encased the indoor plantings within an elaborate protective scaffolding and outfitted the shell with grow lights to make up for the loss of natural light.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Belle Isle’s conservatory was designed by Detroit’s own Albert Kahn, an innovative and prolific early 20th-century architect. Kahn located his botanical garden, then known simply as the Conservatory, alongside the Belle Isle Aquarium, which he also designed. The two buildings opened to the public on the same day in 1904 and quickly became leading attractions on Belle Isle. The aquarium completed its own two-year renovation in late 2024 (see the Michigan Blue Summer 2024 issue).

The conservatory was originally constructed with ornate wooden frame framing on steel trusses. In the 1950s, deteriorating wood led officials to upgrade its five wings and central dome with aluminum

window casing, adding noticeable sparkle to the island on sunny days.

Another boon came to the conservatory in 1955, when Anna Scripps Whitcomb, daughter of Detroit News founder James Scripps, donated her collection of 600 exotic orchids to the conservatory. The gift gave Detroit the largest municipally owned orchid collection in the country, and the city renamed the building in Whitcomb’s honor.

“We wanted to retain the historic integrity of this building,” Treadwell says of plans to renovate and modernize the noteworthy conservatory, which, along with many other cultural resources on Belle Isle, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “We wanted to make sure we weren’t doing anything that was going to stand out from the original.”

ISLAND TREASURE

While it’s tempting to focus attention on the building’s beauty and historic significance, the conservatory’s unique horticultural and aquatic collections are themselves a treasure. Thriving within the building’s approximately 1-acre interior space are

more than 5,000 species of plants from around the world: palms, cacti, tropical fruit trees, ferns, flowering plants and bushes, and, naturally, orchids.

Outdoors, a lily-koi pond and flower gardens bloom in season. New sidewalks lead visitors through the outdoor gardens to the much-touted Oudolf Garden Detroit, which opened adjacent to the conservatory in 2021.

The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is one of the oldest joint conservatory-aquarium facilities operating in the U.S., and its building is considered one of the nation’s oldest turn-of-the-20th-century glass houses still in existence.

“This conservatory is really popular with Detroiters,” Treadwell says. “Whether they really like plants, or they’re an art history or architecture buff interested in Albert Kahn, or whether they’re out on Belle Isle on a cold day and just want to warm up inside, there’s reason to visit the conservatory.”

Plan it!

Belle Isle Conservatory belleisleconservancy.org

Swapping aging glass with safety glass and improving irrigation systems were two of the goals met during the conservatory’s renovation.

Opposite page: The daffodil gardens is one of the favorite stops for visitors, who become mesmerized by their gorgeous colors and cheery shapes.

Right:

Both child and pet friendly, our fully furnished rental cottages accommodate 2 to 14 people, and are

Nestled in the heart of Harbor Country, with only 6 cottages on 9+ wooded acres, there is a feeling of spaciousness and tranquility that makes tightly wound grown-ups sleep like babies. Each cottage has it’s own unique look and location, but all have every amenity needed for a comfortable retreat. The moss-covered paths beckon you to take a walk in the woods. The tree house, horseshoe pit and the volleyball court beg you to come and play. The screened porches, sunny decks and private hot tubs offer serene spots to just sit and rest. All year long Sweethaven is where beach excursions begin, snowball fights breakout, and campfires happen.

Patience Pays Off

A photographer required persistence and fortitude to match the bird she was stalking

Jocelyn Anderson

On a cool spring day, I took the time to watch a great blue heron fishing in a pond in Ann Arbor. I sat along the pond’s edge — it was a little muddy, but that was all right — to try to get eye-level with the bird for some photos. The heron caught several small fish, nothing big, mostly minnows. Great blue herons are patient fishers, and at times this large wader would freeze in place, observing, waiting for aquatic creatures to swim within striking range. I waited, as well, for photographic opportunities.

From time to time the heron would take short flights across the pond. I was able to capture this moment of the beautiful bird taking off, with an arching splash of water, as it headed to another fishing spot. The photo was taken with a Nikon Z9 with a 500mm lens.

I first got into photographing birds about eight years ago, and started with a basic cam-

era kit. I was inspired to take up photography while walking the nature trails and taking in Kent Lake at Kensington Metropark in Milford, where I was amazed and enchanted by all the incredible birds we have here in Michigan — many that I had never even noticed until I started looking.

We’re so fortunate to have a mind-boggling variety of birds: our breeding birds in the spring and summer, the birds that pass through on the migratory bird flyway, and all the winter visitors from up north (if you’re in southern Michigan).

Jocelyn Anderson’s work can be seen on her website, jocelynandersonphotographyshop. com, and you can follow her on Instagram at jocelynandersonphotography. She will lead a photography workshop June 7-8 at Kensington Metropark, in Milford. It’s hosted by Michigan Audubon. Information about the workshop is available at michiganaudubon.org.

The large and lanky great blue heron takes off while putting its neck in an S-shape.

TEXT AND PHOTO BY

Adventure North

Keweenaw National Historical Park | Isle Royale National Park | Keweenaw Dark Sky Park

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600 WASHINGTON AVE: This is Truly One-of-a-Kind Grand Haven Historic Landmark. Completely renovated into a stunning 8,000 sq ft home carefully thought out while keeping the original character and modernizing with today’s amenities. Some of the original materials include wood pews, ceilings, doors, & bell tower which have all been repurposed to accentuate the stunning architectural details.

1480 BUTTRICK AVE SE: Introducing a truly exceptional estate, nestled on a private 2+ acres, mere moments from the vibrant heart of Ada Village. This custom-crafted masterpiece by renowned builder Doug Sumner, with sophisticated interior design by Lynn Hollander, offers over 4,500 sq ft of unparalleled luxury, featuring 4 spacious bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms.

15730 CONNELLY AVE: Welcome to your dream waterfront retreat on Spring Lake! This exquisitely renovated home o ers 75 feet of pristine lake frontage and stunning, unobstructed water views. With 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, the residence seamlessly blends modern luxury with timeless charm, showcasing high-end ﬁnishes, elegant shiplap accents, and meticulous attention to detail.

4335 LAKES EDGE DRIVE : This charming 3 bedroom 2 bathroom home, nestled on the picturesque shores of Lake Michigan, o ers an idyllic wooded retreat with 80 feet of private lake frontage. The living room features vaulted ceilings, a stone wood-burning ﬁreplace, custom built-ins, and sliding doors leading to the expansive tiered lakeside decking with a built-in hot tub.

16076 HIGHLAND DRIVE: Experience luxury lakeside living at its finest in this custom-built DeHaan home nestled on Spring Lake. Boasting 115 feet of prime waterfrontage, this remarkable residence offers unparalleled views and amenities. The grand foyer features mahogany wood floors with a winding staircase, setting the tone for the rest of the house.

18619 130TH AVENUE: Custom designed and built, this one-of-a-kind home is situated on over 23 acres of organic farmland. An array of fruit trees, a pond, an accessory building, greenhouses, and high fencing o er an abundance of opportunities. This unique home combines luxury living with natural beauty.

18635 N FRUITPORT ROAD: With over 400’ of prime Spring Lake water frontage sits this incredible lakefront home known as ‘’Casa del Lago’’ castle upon the water. built in 1929, this piece of history o ers many of its antique features like crown molding, arched entries, massive 10 panel doors, 9 ﬁreplaces, and a grand staircase. this home has had an extensive addition and renovation for a total of 12,500 sq ft.

3095 N LAKESHORE DR: Discover this stunning 3-bedroom 3.5-bathroom Lake Michigan retreat, designed for ultimate relaxation, investment potential, or year-round living. Virtually new construction, this home has been completely updated inside and out, featuring highend professional design and landscaping. Offered fully furnished, it’s ready for you to move in or start generating income immediately.

17 S. 2ND STREET #1: Discover the allure of downtown living in this incredible Grand Haven 2-bedroom 2-bath condo in the historic Armory Building, exuding charm at every turn. Brick interior walls, reﬁnished original hardwood ﬂoors, and large windows accentuated by the wood-beamed ceilings are just some of the design elements which give this condo its one-of-a-kind character.