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Buy Michigan Now Experiment - June 1-22
Welcome to my BuyMichiganNow blog! I am halfway through my six month commitment to buy as many Michigan-made products from Michigan-based stores as I possibly can…and I’m LOVIN’ it! For those of you new to the blog, my boyfriend Pat and I...
Is Hollywood Buzzing About Michigan?
Michigan has the most aggressive tax incentives for the film and television industry in the nation. Nearly everyone agrees; however, that it is important to build an infrastructure for that industry that eventually leads to the demise of the incentives...
Buy Michigan Now Experiment - May 1-24
Hello all you fans of Michigan! Thanks for taking the time to check out the blog. To anyone who is new to the blog and the Buy Michigan Now experiment, here is a quick summary: I challenged myself and boyfriend Pat to buy...
One Product, One Purchase, One Person at a Time
Once upon a time there was no Buy Michigan Now campaign, just one frustrated Michigan resident...well, actually there were millions of frustrated residents, and one simple idea. If we all started paying closer attention to where our dollars were going,...
Buy Michigan Now Experiment: April 15th - April 30th
Hello all you fans of Michigan! Thanks for taking the time to check out the blog. To anyone who is new to the blog and the Buy Michigan Now experiment, here is a quick summary: I challenged myself and boyfriend Pat to buy...
Buy Michigan Now Experiment: March 31st – April 14th
Hello all! Entering the second two weeks testing out the Buy Michigan Now Experiment and I’m not starving, I’m not driving far off my route, and I’m not living off of apples and Faygo! These first four weeks have actually been a...
Buy Michigan Now Experiment: GETTING STARTED
My boyfriend Pat and I are big fans of Michigan, where we were both born and raised. I learned about the Buy Michigan Now campaign a couple of years ago at a networking event through my work at the Fillmore Theater. Since...
Making Census of April Fool's Day
I find it more than just a little appropriate that the official U.S. Census is designed to measure the nation's population on April 1st, a day otherwise known as April Fool's Day--but not for the reasons you might suspect. Quite simply, it...
Make March Michigan Madness Month
March has already come to be known around the country as a month of "madness" due to the fevered pitch surrounding the NCAA Basketball tournaments. This year I ask you to join me not only in rooting for the fantastic local teams that get tournament bids,...
Thoughts on the Pure Michigan Campaign
As a member of the State of Michigan Travel Commission, I would like to offer my comments on the Pure Michigan campaign. Last year’s Pure Michigan promotion budget was $30 million, the biggest in our state's history. In addition to our...
It's a Great Day to Be Polish in Detroit
Leave it to Detroiters to embrace a holiday built around a doughnut! Yep, that’s right, Paczki Day (pronounced: Punch-key) is finally here. The Detroit area, and particularly Hamtramck, a city within the city, is home to a large population of Polish...
How Strong Is Your Brand?
I recently read via twitter about Steven Tyler of Aerosmith threatening to sue management if they replace him as front man. (click here for article). Other long time artists have followed suit, pardon the pun, and sued to protect their...
Really, Oscar, Ten Best Picture Noms?
Normally, I reserve this space for talking about all things Michigan, but this morning I'm streching a bit because the latest nominations for the Academy Awards were announced, and I find myself wanting to explore their new direction. As Michigan becomes the Hollywood...
It's January, Do You Know Enough?
Those who know me well, know that I rarely talk about politics in a public forum. Humorously enough, despite that, many people think they know my thoughts on a variety of political issues, without ever having heard me express my point...
What Do We Want from This New Decade?
Nearly a week has passed since our "fresh start," and many a resolution has already fallen by the wayside. Sometimes it's because we aim for too many changes at once. Sometimes it's because our hearts weren't really in it in...
Michigan Winemakers Are Creating Some Great Sparklers
This is the time of year when our thoughts turn to festivity and celebration. It's the historical season for doing so, a tradition that may even have pre-historic roots. While our ancestors undoubtedly knew the value of a hearty celebration,...
Michigan's Star Turn in Movies
This is the season of celebration and good will without a doubt, but it's also the season of movies. Whether it's renting a flick and staying in with the family or friends, rushing out to see a blockbuster open on Christmas day,...
Give the Gift of Words This Season
I have always loved words. They have amazing power. They can comfort, amuse, and cajole. When artfully strung together words can, and have, changed the world forever. Now in this impetuous society full of texting and instant messaging, it seems increasingly important that...
I'm Holding Out for Some Heroes
For the past few weeks I've seen several advertisments for some kind of list of the "people of the year." When Barbara Walters does it, she calls them fascinating. Over Thanksgiving weekend, Matt Lauer took his foray into the genre. His...
Buy Michigan Now Started by Pure Accident
Two years ago on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I launched a little website. The idea was simple: times were tougher here in Michigan than in much of the rest of the country, and one way we could all help was...