Central Michigan 2023-24

Restaurants

Bomber Restaurant

Mom-&-pop brunch diner adorned with model airplanes famous for an enormous breakfast platter.

306 E Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48198

Phone: (734) 482-0550 | Web: www.bomberrestaurant.net

Spencer

Hip, laid-back spot featuring seasonal locavore fare, plus curated wine & cheese lists & craft beer.

113 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Phone: (734) 369-3979 | Web: www.spencerannarbor.com

Aloha Cookin’

Family-run restaurant specializing in local-style Hawaii cuisine—a melting pot of flavors.

350 Albert St, East Lansing, MI 48823

Phone: (517) 657-7963 | Web: www.alohacookin.com

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Bellflower

Contemporary spot with a patio offering a seasonal, locally sourced dinner menu & cocktails.

209 Pearl St # 202, Ypsilanti, MI

The Chop House

Chophouse decorated with elegant gas lamps offers premium steak, wine & interactive tablet menus.

322 S Main St, Ann Arbor, MI

Altu’s Ethiopian

Low-key, independently owned outpost for traditional Ethiopian fare & combo meals.

1312 E Michigan Avenue, East Lansing, MI

The People’s Kitchen

Creative comfort foods & craft cocktails served amid colorful industrial decor, plus weekend brunch.

2722 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI

La Torre Taqueria

Laid-back, family-owned operation serving classic Mexican fare such as tacos & burritos.

1525 Washtenaw Ave, Ypsilanti, MI

Knight’s Steakhouse

Old-school outfit serving a variety of steaks, seafood & burgers in a comfy setting with a full bar.

2324 Dexter Ave, Ann Arbor, MI

Soup Spoon Café

Colorful & cozy cafe offers a diverse menu of home-style eats & regional beer.

1419 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI

Frita Batidos

Stark white space with picnic table seating serves colorful cuban street food & tropical cocktails.

117 W Washington Street, Ann Arbor, MI

Casablanca

Relaxed, halal mainstay preparing Moroccan & Middle Eastern recipes along with smoothies & desserts.

2333 Washtenaw Ave, Ypsilanti, MI

Piazzano’s

Unfussy bar/eatery serving pizza & Italian fare, plus Mexican grub, sandwiches, burgers & breakfast.

1825 N Grand River Avenue, Lansing, MI

AUG 26

2023 Meridian Pride Event

The 2023 Meridian Pride Event will feature food trucks, entertainment, a beer & wine tent, a dog pride parade, art vendors, advocacy resources and more! Learn more at lansing.org.

SEP 2

2023 Michigan Chicken Wing Festival

This 2-day family-friendly event is a staycation for those wishing to have a fun-filled weekend near home or while visiting the area. Live music, a kids’ zone, a VIP tent, food trucks, food vendors, merchant vendors, arts and craft vendors, and more. Learn more at eventbrite.com.

SEP 14

BluesFest Michigan

BluesFest Michigan is a two-day, open-air festival in the charming Old Town of Lansing, Michigan. We showcase diverse styles of Blues, attracting well-known and up-and-coming musicians from across the state and around the world. Lots of interactive family friendly activities as well. Learn more at lansing.org.

OCT 7

Water Lantern Festival

The Water Lantern Festival is a floating lantern event that is all about connections. Magical nights in cities across the U.S. include food, games, activities, vendors, music and the beauty of thousands of lanterns adorned with letters of love, hope and dreams reflected upon the water. Learn more at lansing.org.

NOV 17

Potter Park Zoo’s Wonderland of Lights

Thousands of lights create an extraordinary holiday display at the 30th annual Wonderland of Lights! Take a stroll around the zoo, enjoy holiday

music, and marvel at the twinkling light displays during this series of magical Michigan winter evenings. Learn more at lansing.org.

DEC 6

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

Grab your family and friends and let the dynamic performers of The Hip Hop Nutcracker take you on a journey that celebrates love, community and the magic of the holiday season.The Hip Hop Nutcracker is brought to life by a powerhouse cast of a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, who opens the show with a short set. Learn more at lansing.org.

JAN 26

48th Ann Arbor Folk Festival

The first Ann Arbor Folk Festival took place in 1976, and since then it’s grown in scope and depth. Two concerts of roots and acoustic music to benefit The Ark. The event features well-known acts along with musicians on the rise. Learn more at theark.org.

MAR 17

Ann Arbor Official St Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the greenest style this March 17th, 2024, at an exciting event that will take you on an Official St Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl adventure like no other. Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant spirit of the Irish as you crawl the city, exploring some of the best establishments and indulging in the festivities that await you at each stop. Learn more at eventbrite.com.

APR 6

53rd Annual Ann Arbor Hash Bash

The event is a blend of live music, street vending, speeches, and occasional civil disobedience. All the events have the goal of reforming local, state, and federal regulations on marijuana. Learn more at allevents.in.

With lodging, food and entertainment all included in one price, choosing to do a vacation on a cruise gives great value. Traveling on the sea can be extremely fun, but it is important to choose the correct cruise line. If you’re going to spend a lot of your vacation time on a cruise ship, it may as well be one of luxury. Thankfully, there’s many luxury cruise lines ready to cater to your every

whim while ferrying you to and from some of the world’s most mesmerizing destinations in plush comfort. Some offer exotic voyages to faraway destinations, while others attract travelers with comfortable cabins and stimulating enrichment programs. Use this guide as a starting point to find out which luxury cruise fits best for your next vacation.

We made a list that factors in itinerary affordability, health ratings, and reputation among experts and travelers.

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SILVERSEA OCEANIA REGENT SEVEN SEAS

EVENTS

MAY 18 East Lansing Art Festival

The East Lansing Art Festival will be bringing high-quality art to the streets of East Lansing. The East Lansing Art Festival’s mission is to enhance the sense of community and appreciation of art, culture, and creativity in East Lansing and the greater Lansing region. Learn more at elartfest.com.

JUN TBD

3rd Annual Lansing Pride Festival

Lansing Pride is an annual event held in June to commemorate LGBTQ+ Pride Month. It typically features a colorful parade through the streets of downtown Lansing, followed by a festival in a nearby park. The festival includes live entertainment, food vendors, community booths, and opportunities to connect with local LGBTQ+ organizations. Learn more at lansingpride.org.

Jun TBD

Ithaca Festival

Ithaca festival is free to the public and features nearly one hundred local and regional vendors showcasing their unique creations. From jewelry to pottery, metalworking to dolls and toys, artwork to clothing, everyone can find items they will want to take home. The craft fair also features small batch craft foods and beverages, including syrup, honey, wine, and more. Learn more at ithacafestival.org

JUL 12

Capital City Comic Con 2024

Bringing on-screen, comic creator, and publisher Special Guests, vendors, artists, eSports tournaments, cosplay contests, replica cars, panels, Kid Zone, after-hours concert and events, tabletop gaming, and much more to downtown Lansing! Learn more at capcitycomiccon.com.

EATING THE PSYCHOLOGY

Control weight gain and compulsive eating behaviors by making better choices about the food that you eat.

Control

weight gain and compulsive eating behaviors by making better choices about the food that you eat.

ConsumptionSome of us more than others realize that what we eat can effect how we feel such as eating too little or too much. We should be able to enjoy what we eat but also feel better when we do.

Eating healthy is a challenging task that many of us

strive to achieve but often fall short.

Influences -

Cultural, social, family, and economical factors may be a direct influence linked to our food and eating behaviors. However, a more serious influence such as stress, boredom and anxiety can play a larger role as many of us eat as a coping mechanism. Although it can

sometimes help bring relief and ease feelings, it often leads to regret and build more negativity. Avoiding the problem with food will often create another problem with self-image when

suffering from weight gain or other negative affects caused by unhealthy eating.

Weight ManagementHere are tips to help you manage your weight.

For starters, never skip a meal. By skipping a meal, you’re allowing yourself to become hungry later which can result in reckless binge eating. Be sure to plan your meals ahead of time and limit night time snacking. This will allow you to always be one step ahead of your weight by creating a routine. If you’re getting a craving between meals, try to exercise or find another way to distract yourself from food.

Eating Diary - This is a great tool to keep track of your eating habits. Record what food you eat and when you eat it. Also take note of how you feel after eating and if you were doing anything while eating such as using your phone or watching TV.

By recording your habits, you will be able to pinpoint which foods and activities to avoid.

The diary can also assist you when you’re working with a dietitian to help you make the best decisions.

OZONE HOUSE

Ozone House helps youth lead safe, healthy, and productive lives. We are the only agency in Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and the surrounding areas) that provides free, confidential, and voluntary shelter and support services to homeless youth including runaways and high-risk youth ages 10-20 and their families.

Web: ozonehouse.org

YPSI PRIDE

Ypsi Pride aspires to unite the people of Ypsilanti through a celebration of LGBTQ+ Culture by reaffirming our visibility and inclusivity across this community.

Web: www.facebook.com/YpsiPride

SALUS CENTER

Salus Center serves Lansing’s LGBTQIA+ communities as a gathering space and information hub. We advocate for the rights of our community members by honoring and affirming the interconnectedness of oppression. Web: saluscenter.org

PFLAG

The mission of PFLAG is to build on a foundation of loving families united with LGBTQIA+ people and allies who support one another and to educate ourselves and our communities to speak up as advocates until all hearts and minds respect, value, and affirm LGBTQIA+ people. GreaterLansingPFLAG@gmail.com

STAND WITH TRANS

Stand with Trans is a 501(c)3 whose mission is to provide the tools needed by transgender youth so they will be empowered, supported, and validated as they transition to their authentic life. Web: standwithtrans.org

QUEERING MEDICINE

Queering Medicine is a grassroots advocacy organization made up of queer people working to improve health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ people in the greater Lansing area using science-informed knowledge and practice.

Web: www.queeringmedicine.com

TENDER HEART GARDENS

Founded in 2017, the Queer and Trans Growing Collective has evolved into a queer and trans-led microfarm focused on community engagement and education. Weekly work days during the growing season are on Sundays at 10:00 am.

Web: tenderheartgardens.com